A young monk found himself surrounded by his friends. They played in the courtyard. Laughter filled the air as they played their ballgame. The young monk felt as light as air.
Arms came out of the walls and grabbed the boy. He struggled as the hands pulled him into a small room. Four shadows loomed over him. The boy turned to the fifth figure, a kindly old man. The young boy ran to the old man. He was afraid of the shadows.
However, the shadows pulled the old man away.
Tears welled up in the young monk's eyes. He rushed to a large bison. Climbing on the saddle, he took to the skies. The boy looked behind him. The shadows were gaining on him. He flew faster. When he looked forward, a storm was overheard.
The storm raged. The wind and water attacked the boy's bison. In a frantic panic, the boy saw a light in the distance. Land. The boy moved the bison towards the light.
The bison dashed towards the light. As the pair got closer, the light got blurrier. The boy felt tired. In a daze, he noticed he was surrounded by smoke. He looked closer at the light. It was a fire raging at the top of the mountain. The boy wanted to turn around. He knew his bison did too.
But they were too tired.
The boy felt himself drift away as the bison began to fall.
A tattooed boy jolted awake with a quiet scream.
The world came into focus for the teenager. Looking around the room, the boy's eyes focused on the window. Beneath the night sky, he could see a small port town. The architecture felt familiar. His mind went to a distant vacation from long ago.
"The Fire Nation," the child muttered.
Rubbing his eyes, the boy sluggishly worked his way out of bed. Looking down, he could see his tattoos were on full display. To his left, his clothes and staff were hanging from a rack. Walking around in his underwear wasn't going to win him any friends. He got dressed quickly and moved to the door.
His energy was coming back and his head was clearing up. He couldn't tell what time of night it was, but he knew his rescuers could be asleep. He considered going back to bed until morning. Then it came back to him: Appa, his flying skybison! Where was he? The last thing the monk remembered was falling into a volca...the child's mind immediately focused: he had to find Appa.
Quietly leaving the room, the monk snuck his way to the staircase.
"If you're looking for your bison, he's sleeping outside," the woman's voice made the lad scream like a banshee.
"Keep it down," Azula scolded as two doors burst open.
Her brother came out first with his swords at the ready. "Identify yourself!," he screamed at the presumed intruder.
"Quiet down, Zuzu. It's just the Avatar waking up." Azula nonchalance falling on Zuko like a brick.
Zuko scoffed, "Just the Avatar," as he put away his swords.
"How did you know that?," the boy jumped back in shock.
"I didn't know it for a fact, until just now." Azula gave the monk a smug grin.
Ursa, having just finished putting on her nightgown, began to tut-tut the situation. "Zuko, Azula, this boy has been through a lot. Airbenders have been on the run for almost a century. Let him rest."
"We have!?," the boy exclaimed.
A confused look took Ursa. After a moment, she looked to her son. "He really was in a lava gem?"
"Oh look, mother didn't believe me and still looks to Zuko when I'm proven right." Azula let out in a huff.
Ursa wanted to start, but couldn't find the words. Luckily, the monk broke the silence.
"My people have been on the run? For a century? But, I was just at the Southern Air Temple a week ago." The monk seemed to never run out of breath.
"Airbenders stay away from Air Temples, last I heard," Zuko started, "Most of the Airbenders in the Fire Islands live in the Boiling Rock for safety."
"Courtesy of Admiral Zhao and the Fire Alliance," Azula added.
"Fire Islands? Fire Alliance? This is the Fire Nation, isn't it?" The child had moved from shocked to just confused. "My friend, Kuzon, said there were a lot of problems ever since the tsunami, but the Water Confederation was helping the Fire Lord rebuild."
The family suddenly looked crestfallen. The quiet was deafening.
"Maybe we can start over." The monk started. "My name is Aang. I'm...the Avatar."
Ursa looked to her room. "Maybe we will talk about this in the morning." Her children silently agreed. They both headed to bed.
Aang nodded. "Let me just check on Appa and I'll get back to sleep too."
Far from the island, a young man slept in an extravagant cabin. His ship was built from common wood, but his chamber was full of jewels, gold, and trinkets. His loud snoring ebbed and flowed with the gentle rocking of the water.
With a sudden thrust, the ship turned hard to its port sized, nearly capsizing. The boy was rocketed from his bed onto the hardwood floor.
"What was that!?," the fine robbed teen exclaimed in fright. Rushing on instinct, he drew his boomerang and club from the wall mount. "Are those Fire Islanders attacking!?"
The door opened like a shot. An older gentleman dressed in blue warrior garb ran in. "Prince Sokka, are you okay!?"
"Yes!," the boy yelped before recognizing his station. Regaining his composure, he responded "Yes" again in a more dignified manner. "Are we under attack, Commander Bato?"
"No, your highness." The officer was at attention. "There was a massive wave that rocked our boat. It came from the direction of Umibe village."
"Where that spicy fire islander burnt my favorite underwear?"
"Yes, your highness." The soldier responded with the strongest poker face he could muster. "We had reports of seeing smoke come from their mountain."
"The volcano. It must have erupted. There'll be survivors." The Prince started. "Turn the ship around."
The Commander looked surprised. "That's very noble of you, your highness." However, inside his mind, he added "That's so unlike you."
The prince turned to his dresser. "Relay the order, Commander. Double time."
With a "Yes, your highness," the soldier left to make preparations.
The boy began looking through his wardrobe for his best attire. He already wore a smug grin. "Win some points with the Islanders, look like a good leader, and maybe even get that kiss I was looking for last week; Sokka, you are a genius."
Aang had left the house as quietly as he could. His rescuers had a lot to fill him in on, but he knew better than to pry now. "A lot must have happened while I was gone," he thought with a sullen expression.
Looking around, he could tell that this family must have been better off than the rest of this village. Everyone else had a single roof and simple exteriors. Humble accommodations that fit a fishing village. Their house, however, stood two stories and bore twin flags of the Fire Nation.
"They must be nobles," Aang mumbled. Though, that did seem odd considering how humble this abode was for a Fire Noble. Aang remembered larger homes for noblemen from his vacation to the Fire Nation.
Aang turned his attention to the adjacent alley. In a makeshift bed of hay, a large bison slept. Aang almost exploded with joy. Jumping on the sleeping bison's head, the beast slowly awoke.
Seeing its master, the creature let out a happy rumble. Its long tongue reaching up and licking the child's head. Laughing, the monk let the bison know that he loved it too.
Not too long after, the pair settled down. Moving to lay on his back, Aang opened up to the bison. He was talking about the strange things he already heard and how long they were gone. Aang got a mild grumble from the beast in reply. Content, Aang padded his pet on the head. Turning to his side, the child fell asleep on his bison. The beast of burden followed suit.
As the sun broke the sky, Prince Sokka came on deck with his finest silk robes. His men stood in two lines stretching from the cabin door to the bow. At attention, they were like a fence guarding his path forward.
Taking a moment to put on his wolfhead helmet, Sokka began to march. "Men, today we take a mission, not for the glory of the Water Confederation, but the nobility of its spirit." Sokka remembered his father opening a speech this way long ago. "The Fire Islanders once looked down on our people, but, today, they will look up to us as saviors." Stole that line from his sister. "Let us march off to new horizons." That one came from his late mother. It was from a budgetary meeting that the then-child prince was allowed to attend.
His soldiers, sensing the end of the speech, let out a "hurrah." Dismissing them with a gesture, the soldiers moved to their posts.
Commander Bato came to Sokka's side. "Good speech, your highness."
"Yes, it was quite good, wasn't it?" Sokka turned to the sunrise. His smile reflecting the sunlight.
"Yeah, it was great when I heard it from your father and your sister before," the Commander scolded in his head, "I bet you stole that last part too." He wasn't daft enough to say that outloud, however.
"We'll be approaching the village within the hour, your highness."
"Good, good," Sokka stroked his bare chin, "I'm sure the Islanders will be happy to see us. We did leave a good impression, after all."
Commander Bato's mind wandered to the 'burnt underwear' incident.
Ursa set the table, trying her best to endure the ever worsening heat. "Zuko," she called, "Can you get Aang? It's almost time for breakfast."
Zuko rolled out of bed without anything more than a grunt. Not seeing the Avatar in his room, the teen began to worry. The teen thought the monk may had runoff in the night. Running to the toliet, he found no one. Nor was the monk in any other room.
"The bison!," Zuko remembered as he ran down the stairs to the ally.
When he rounded the corner, he was relieved to see Aang sleeping on top of his bison. However, his eyes darted to his sleeping sister, sitting at a right angle with the wall.
"She must have been keeping an eye on him," Zuko mused as he went to wake them up. Azula snapped into a martial arts pose whereas the Avatar simply asked for more sleep. The two frustrated Zuko in the complete opposite ways.
After a short, quiet breakfast of miso soup and white rice, the family decided it was time to address the elephant in the room.
"Aang," Ursa started, "I know there is a lot you want to ask of us, but please understand that now is not the time."
Aang, who was mostly silent, was taken aback by the lady's forwardness.
"What? I haven't even asked anything." The monk stopped putting aside buck chow for his bison.
"Yes, but you were clearly just waiting. For once, mother is right: getting to the point." Ursa gave Azula an annoyed look.
"What my daughter means is that our village is expected to emigrate to Ishigaki today." Ursa tried her best to sound unphased while giving such grim news. "Mtn. Hi has been acting up for the last month. We were ordered by the Shobo-Shi militia to be ready by noon."
"It's either that or they're leaving us to our fate." Azula chimed in.
"They said they wouldn't have enough ships to spare at first. But, they changed their mind when Prince Sokka entered our waters." Zuko practically whispered.
"That chauvinist probably diverted enough vessels to our waters that they thought they might as well rescue us while they're here." Aang was surprised how Azula said this as if it was the most normal thing in the world.
Aang looked into his soup. For a second, he let a sullen look take over. But, it soon turned into a smile. "Well, guess I better do my best to cheer them up," he thought.
"So, guess it's good Appa and I are already packed." Aang joked. The humor fell flat, however.
Sensing the dead room, Aang sprang up from the table. "The monks used to say that in times of trouble, hope is something you give yourself." Aang moved like a showman to the door. "And nothing gets one's spirit's up like a trip through the clouds. Luckily for you, I have my very own flying skybison!"
The family seemed unmoved. "That's nice, Aang," Ursa tried to be polite, "But we really just want to take some last moments with this place before we have to leave it." Ursa turned to her son. "We were thinking of looking around town one last time."
"Well, why not do it from the air?" Aang pointed to the sky. "Bet you've never seen your town like that before."
"That's the problem," Zuko dragged in, "My mother wants to see this place as she remembers it."
"Well, I never loved this commoner's hovel," Azula got up, "Aang, get the bison ready. My mother would rather be with her favorite child anyway."
Ursa argued that she had no favorite child, but Azula ignored her as she dragged Aang out the door.
As the pair rounded the corner to Appa, Aang tried to speak up while he fed Appa. "Should I say something? About that fight?"Aang tossed these thoughts around in his head. "They're is definitely something going on with her and her mother."
With App fully and hearty, Aang helped Azula onto the saddle. "Maybe later," he thought. Saying "Yip Yip", Appa took flight and burst into the sky.
Not far from Umbie, a familiar wooden ship approached. It's plain wood exterior had been adorned with the flag of the Water Confederation.
The flag centered on an emblem that consisted of an ocean current flowing into a crescent moon. The emblem was centered on a simple blue background. The outer lining of these particular flags were adorned with silver trimmings. Jewels had been encrusted into the holes present in the trimmings. A commoner of the Fire Islanders could eat for three years if they could sell a single one of those jewels.
At the bow of the ship, Prince Sokka was in deep contemplation. "No ships in the harbor and the island itself looks untouched," the teen prince mused.
Not long after, Commander Bato had appeared behind the prince. "Your highness, we see no signs of volcanic eruption. Nor do we any lifeboats with evacuees."
The Prince stood back in thought. "At the end of the day, this was only a mild delay. A day's travel wasted on a trip with no real destination. Perhaps I misjudged. I remember some rumblings from the mountain last week. The elder islander told me it was nothing to worry about. That wave, however. Something isn't right with these waters."
"I'll look like a fool, if I'm wrong." Sokka thoughts turned suddenly, "My noble gesture turns into just another mistake in a long line of mistakes."
"Sir, what is that?" Sokka overheard one of his men exclaim to their superior. Snapped from his daze, Sokka turned to Commander Bato, requesting a telescope.
Not long after, the prince saw something that gave him devilish delight. "Men, it appears an airbender has strayed from the Boiling Rock. Let's give him some Water Confederation hospitality. With luck, we might even get the Avatar today." Sokka spoke the last part with a hint of sarcasm. After all, what were the chances this unlucky airbender was the real Avatar?
"At least this will make the whole trip seem worth it to the men," he reasoned.
Soaring above the clouds, Aang could feel the weight of the town fall beneath him. There were kids walking to the port. Their parents carried their entire lives on their backs. Aang could see the sorrow from even this high up.
Then, Aang would fly by overhead and their expressions would turn to laughter and play. Even some of the adults joined in.
"Azula, are you okay if I do some tricks? Like a loop? Or maybe ten?"
Azula was grabbing on tightly to the saddle. Her face had turned a sickly green. Her cold, stern demeanor had failed under the chaos of flight. With all her willpower, she tried to plead with Aang to slowdown. The airbender did not hear her well over the wind.
Her screams of terror, however, he heard well. By the end of the third loop, Azula's throat had practically gone red from yelling. Finally, Aang relented.
Leveling out, Aang tried his best to bury his laughter and ask his passenger how she was doing.
"Awful, you maniac!" was spat back at him with venom, "If you don't slow down, I'll usher in the reign of the next Water Confederation Avatar myself!"
"Come on, you can't tell me you ever had this much fun before."
Azula let go of the saddle as Appa slowed down. Falling back in a daze, she tried her best to get her malice across. "If this is your idea of 'fun', then perhaps the Water Confederation was right to hunt you down all these years."
"Wait, they've been hunting me?," Aang turned back in shock.
"Ever since the last Great Comet Festival." Azula turned back to her serious demeanor. "They waited until the day right after we'd be at our strongest to start the war." With a nonchalant shrug, she continued. "Good tactic. Gave them a hundred years to entrench themselves against the next one."
"But what does that have to do with me?"
"You're the Avatar. That alone is enough reason to hunt you. This war isn't exactly 'balance,' is it?" Her eyes narrowed. "Besides, you do remember that the Avatar reincarnates in the Water Confederation next, haven't you? You'd make the perfect countermeasure for the next Great Comet."
Aang shuddered. "They want to kill me so they can use the next me as a weapon?"
"Of course," Azula seemed to have a habit of saying awful things like they were commonplace, "It's not too different from what I plan to do with you."
Aang got quiet. "You plan to use me as a weapon?"
"Aang, you seem nice and all. I'm sure that is enough for some people. But my people have been barely scraping by for a century." Azula words felt like daggers. "While it must seem like seconds to you, my people have lost our name, our unity, and our honor. We're not even in the Fire Nation anymore. It's gone. Broken into shards. This is Shobo-Shi, an insignificant 'nation state' of the Fire Alliance." Azula's face contorted in anger.
"I should be crown princess of the Fire Nation and my uncle should be Fire Lord. Instead, we're a joke. My grandfather spent all our riches failing to take back the capital. He died a pauper's death." Her nails were digging into the saddle.
"Now, my father and uncle serve as generals to a cowardly warlord. My brother and I have nothing to look forward to. We're either going to be soldiers in a hopeless war or political pawns for warlords looking for legitimacy!"
Azula gripped her own shoulders. "My family is nothing now. We aren't royals. We're hardly nobles. Thrown into a tiny, forgotten village for our 'safety.' And yet foreign princes can just enter our waters and flirt with me like some commoner whenever they feel like 'gracing us with their presence!'"
The end of her rant devolved into a scream. Aang could feel the heat rise in the air. Azula struggled to capture her breath.
"She must have been holding that in for a while," Aang mused. He wasn't sure what to say to her. The monks had a few applicable lessons, but now did not seem the time.
Azula composed herself. "So, you know the situation. It's your duty to restore balance. You will master all four elements by the comet's arrival and we will finally end this war." Her demeanor had completely changed. What was once frustration had been replaced with blind aspiration.
Aang was taken aback. "Is that really your decision, though?"
"It doesn't matter. You're the Avatar. It's your duty."
Aang could feel a chill. "Yeah, but...maybe, this is a bit much. I mean, trying to learn all four elements before this comet arrives. I'm not even sure why the comet is so special. Couldn't I take my time with everything?"
Azula sneered. "Absolutely not. The Great Comet comes only once every one hundred year."
"And why is the comet so important?," Aang tried his best to follow along.
She turned her head to the horizon. "When it hits the sky, a firebender's power is unmatched."
"Then, wouldn't the Comet solve everything?"
"Hardly," Azula chided, "The Water Confederation learned of the comet's coming. My great grandfather was convinced they spied on us. My father says my great grandfather used to scream about how that was the real goal of their humanitarian aid, whenever my great grandfather had the chance."
"You don't know that they did that. Maybe they really did just want to help? I knew people from all over the world in my time including the Water Confederation. They aren't all bad people."
Azula gave a side-eye to the young Avatar. "Oh really? They weren't spying? They planned the war around the comet: starting the war the day after its last coming. That gave them one hundred years to prepare for the comet's return."
Azula pointed to the horizon. "Right now, their forces are too entrenched across the world for a single assault to rout them all. All the Great Comet will do is help us take back some territory." Her eyes darted to the water below. "The next full moon, the confederates will take any gains back."
Focusing, Azula continued. "If we had you, however, you could use the Fire Alliance's advance as a means to confront one of the confederacy's nukiliks and force a surrender. If even one of those two surrendered, victory would be assured; The twin tribes can't win without each other. Divide and conquer: classic Fire Nation military tactic."
Aang had moved into a contemplative posture. Deep in thought, he started slowly. "It seems a lot has happened. But, is this war really the solution? The monks always taught me to seek peaceful resolution to conflict. Maybe there is a way we can work things out between your people? Maybe I could get the Earth King to mediate. And the Air Nomads would definitely be willing to send the invitation."
Azula looked puzzled. Then she burst out laughing. Her laugh was uncomfortable for Aang. It wasn't the mocking intent, but the strange sinisterness to it all. With her wits returning, she wiped tears from her eyes.
"I thought Zuko was the dum-dum, but you?" Azula took a moment. "The Earth Kings," she placed emphasis on the plurality of the last word, "won't mediate a war that they're fighting in. Least of all while they're still fighting each other."
Aang could feel his mouth drop as Azula continued. "And the Air Nomads? They're hiding all over the globe. Boiling Rock, Ba Singe Se, Omashu, whoever will protect them. The Water Confederation wants to wipe you all out. All in the hopes one of you are the Avatar."
Aang could feel a deep guilt begin to form in his stomach.
"Listen, dum-dum, my mother was trying to be nice by sparing you from this earlier. Zuzu, was too." Azula continued her ridicule. "I don't see the point. I suppose they don't have the stomach to relive it on the same day they have to flee. Maybe she picked up how clueless you were last night. Not sure what that accomplishes."
Aang, feeling an opening, interjected. "You know, you could be nicer to your mother. She seems like a very nice lady."
There was a sudden dry heat in the air. Aang could tell he had crossed some line. Azula looked at him with cold, striking eyes. As her mouth opened, however, Appa let out a howl. The pair grabbed the beast tightly as it banked hard to the left.
Sokka was proud as he looked through his spyglass. "My men are happy. I will capture my first airbender in two years. He might even be the Avatar!," his joke from earlier had morphed into willful confidence, "Then, father will let me return home and claim the throne."
Sokka stroked his chin while he continued in his thoughts. "Yes, everything is coming together."
Above the teen prince, water tendrils had come from the ocean and grabbed the sky bison by its feet. The beast rocked hard but could not break free. On the deck, four soldiers stood in a waterbending stance. The soldiers looked like they were pulling back an imaginary rope. Their fluid hand motions made the tendrils slowly come back to the sea, dragging the bison down with them.
"Keep at it, men," Sokka exclaimed, "We almost have him."
Commander Bato, standing next to his charge, looked back at the young royal with contempt. "Strong talk from a spoiled brat. When's the last time you ever worked for anything?" Bato cursed, "A prince who can't bend? Just like his father. At least my friend had some leadership sense to make up for it. How did Hakoda's house ever take power with such weak blood?" As usual, Bato kept these thoughts to himself. "Hakoda, you better be glad your other child turned out so much better, even if she is a woman. You'd never ask me to babysit her like this brat."
Aang and Azula tried their best to regain their sense. Questions about the situation were flying out of Aang's mouth. Azula answered Aang's panicked questions with a simple phrase, " Confederate hunting party."
Aang's demeanor changed. The face of the caring child had soured. Brandishing his staff like a club, he jumped to the back of Appa. Smashing the staff downward, a gust of wind shot forward. The tendrils dispersed into mist.
"Aang, we must move now!" Azula cried, but it was too late.
Sokka laughed. "Men, it looks like this airbender has a little spunk. Care to show him how the Water Confederation deals with spunk?"
Bato rolled his eyes at the comment. Ordering the men wordless, Commander Bato knew what tactic the prince alluded towards. The waterbender shot their hands out again and grabbed the beast's legs with water tendrils. With a twist of their wrists, the water turned to solid ice.
Commander Bato nodded and his men wheeled up a ballista. "You may fire when ready," confidence dripping from Sokka's lips.
Aang tried to chip at the ice with his staff. He kept pleading for the ice to yield. It did not.
"I need to go down there and stop them." Aang screamed.
"You'll never make it in time," Azula pointed at the ballista, "You're an airbender. Let's glide out of here with your staff."
Aang had murder in his eyes. "No!"
"We can't let them get the Avatar!," Azula fought back.
"I'll never abandon Appa!"
Frustration took Azula's features. Azula jumped forward onto Appa's tail, "Aang, hold my obi." Azula gestured to her belt, now tied like a harness and rope.
With his support, Azula moved down to the ice itself and began holding a fire at each pillar. While it began to melt, the thick icicles refused to yield.
Suddenly, the two could hear a "whizzing" sound. Azula's focused face turned to shock: she saw a fireball coming for the attacking ship.
"The Shobo-Shi militia!," she exclaimed.
Aang turned to see a set of smaller wooden ships. They weren't the size of the battleship that attacked them. They were smaller sailing boats that were roughly a third of the size. Each one seemed crewed with about five men, less than a tenth of their attacker's force.
Azula screamed in panic, "Pull me up." Aang turned and saw another fireball coming for the ice chains. In a frantic hurry, Aang yanked Azula to safety.
As harrowing as that was, Aang was relieved when their next shot destroyed the ice tethers. Without a word, Aang returned to the driver's seat. As the Water Confederation turned its attention, Aang used the chaos to escape back to the island.
"What are you doing?" Azula demanded an answer. "Why are you heading back to the village?"
"We should head back and evacuate who we can." Appa started their descent. "They're going to get caught in the middle of this battle." Aang pointed to the smoking volcano. "And that mountain is still going to blow any day now."
Azula's face was sour. "The shobo-shi will handle it. That's why they came here. To evacuate us."
Gesturing to the saddle, "besides, this seat is only big enough for four people."
"Azula," Aang words were full of disappointment, "your family is still there."
Azula moved to speak but stopped herself. She didn't try to look Aang in the eye. After a short while, she found her words. "Make it quick."
Sokka was knocked back on his rear. The shock of the fireball had knocked his ship back. As he fell, a shrill scream escaped.
"Your orders, highness?" Commander Bato managed to avoid laughing.
Sokka scrambled to his feet. He wobbled as he returned to his full height. "We, uh, we attack them with our…" Sokka looked around and spied his hip, "our boomerang."
Bato had had his fun. "Your highness, I think you're a bit dazed. Permission to assume command for this attack?"
Sokka meekly nodded. Per Bato's recommendation, Sokka returned to his cabin.
Bato barked, "Benders, create a wave. Capsize their boats. Nonbenders, get your shield and spears. Be prepared to fight off a boarding party."
In Umbie's center, there stood a statute of a regal old man. The old man appeared to be in combat, but his opponent was not immortalized in stone alongside him.
The entire village seemed to huddle around the statute. There were furlong faces throughout the crowd.
Ursa seemed lost in thought. Her son stood besides him, trying to hide his disinterest.
"Zuko, do you remember why they built this statute?"
Zuko tried his best to seem interested. "They built it because great grandfather died here."
"Yes, he died right here saving the village a hundred years ago." Ursa sounded almost whimsical. "Fighting back a volcano itself. The same one taking us from our home."
Zuko stared at the statute. "Why?"
Ursa seemed confused by the question.
"You always tell me that story but why is it a good thing he died here? Shouldn't he have just fled with everyone else? Why did he stay and fight? Were the buildings that important?"
Ursa seemed tense for a moment. "Zuko, Roku was someone...who felt bound by his duty to the world. It wasn't just buildings he tried to save, but people who couldn't escape the carnage. He could have run with everyone else, but then others would have died. People he could have saved. He couldn't allow that. A lot of this village's ancestors are alive because of his sacrifice."
Ursa adjusted herself. "Though you are right. If there weren't any people left to save, there isn't any point in losing one's life over it."
Before Zuko could respond, a far-off explosion shook the crowd. There was panic as people looked for the source. Some were screaming the volcano had erupted. Others cried of a Water Confederation attack. Others tried to calm the crowd from hysteria.
The confusion was heightened when a strange creature came overhead. Some even screamed for weapons. Zuko, recognizing the beast, yelled over the crowd. "It's a skybison! My sister's up there!"
The crowd gathered around as Appa landed in the center square. Aang and Azula popped up from their seats. Azula gave Aang a knowing look. The young airbender face grew grim.
As Azula had said, Appa could only seat a couple villagers. Four tops. Aang wasn't sure how to move forward.
The silence broke when a villager asked what had happened. Aang, nervous, tried to speak. The town center became a cacophony of questions. Azula seemed willing to leave Aang to his fate.
That's when Zuko jumped up. "Will everyone please shut up!?," he barked, "let the Avatar speak!"
The crowd immediately turned. There were murmurs and denials. People seemed stupefied while others mocked.
"Yeah, him and everyone other airbender, bokkei!," one screamed.
Azula shot a fireball at the speaker's feet. "What did you call your prince?"
The speaker, who barely avoided losing his feet, was incredulous. "You're titles ain't worth spit! There is no royal family anymore." Azula seemed ready to make the man eat his words.
Aang felt like the world was collapsing around him. "This is why I never wanted to be Avatar!," his thoughts spinned, "all these people, all these problems: they're all my fault."
The ringing sound of iron and brass stopped the cries. The group turned to see Ursa at Roku's statue, banging an iron against the statute.
With their attention, she started. "Please, everyone, let's see what Aang has to say." She spoke regal and calm despite the sounds of far-off fighting.
Zuko saw his mother, caring and kind. Aang saw someone reasonable, capable of getting people to listen. Azula was confused: she saw herself in the woman's actions, capable of taking rash yet logical action to get results.
Azula nudged Aang. Summoning his courage, he began.
"Listen up, right now the Water Confederation and the Shobo-Shi milita are fighting off the shore of the island. We need to get everyone as far from the battle as possible."
Aang pointed to Appa. "Where is the village shelter? Or the closest island?"
There was murmur through the crowd.
"Aang," Zuko spoke up, "the closest island is Ishigaki. It's about a few hours away."
Aang looked at Appa's saddle before turning back to the hundred plus crowd. "Shelter?"
Azula chimed up this time. "Yes, in the mountain, that's going to erupt."
Aang looked at the crowd. Their faces were expectant. Whether they really thought he was the Avatar or not, they needed him to be. Aang soft features grew stern. "The monks always said to live life in service to others. That's why I am going to go out and try to convince them to cease fire and continue with the rescue."
Azula was flummoxed. "You can't be serious, they'll kill you." Her words were drowned out by the crowd chanting. Something about Aang's bravado had swayed them.
Zuko looked conflicted. "Sometimes, when lives are at stake, you have to put yourself in harm's way. That's how great grandfather saved the town from the last eruption."
Azula shot her finger in her brother's chest. "Great grandfather was a fool, losing his life for this place. If he let this place burn, he could have stopped the Water Confederation's war at the start." She gestured towards Aang. "Instead he saved this worthless pit and gave the Water Confederation the opening they needed. Then his reincarnation vanishes for a hundred years and the world drowns. Now, he's rushing off to die for the same lava pit?"
Aang was taken aback by the implications of her words. He was their great grandfather? His previous life was, at least. What does that make them? But he had no time to consider them fully. He moved towards Appa's head and grabbed the reins. Azula wanted to yell but let out a sigh of resignation instead.
"Don't think I'll let you leave without me," Azula chided as she climbed onto the saddle. "Come, Zuzu, you encouraged him."
Zuko looked back at his mom. Seeing her approval, he climbed aboard. The trio took off to return to the battle.
