Sokka sat in his cabin. Swaying with the rocking of the boat. The sound of distant battle echoes throughout the hall. Sullen and downtrodden, his mind drifted to a time long past.

"Sokka!," the old man screams, "You need to pay attention if you're going to become a man."

The old man is his dad, Nukilik of the Southern Water Tribe: Hakoda of the Snow Wolfdog House. The pair were on a canoe in the waters of the south.

Sokka didn't listen. A boy of only thirteen winter nights, Sokka stood on the bow of the canoe looking serious.

Hakoda shook his head. "If you put as much effort in being an adult like you do trying to look like one, you wouldn't be the only thirteen year old in the tribe still practicing for his Ice Dodging."

Sokka's voice took on a deeper tone, like a child trying to sound like an adult. "Yes, but it's all unnecessary. I'll pass it without any issues and be declared a man alongside the rest of them."

Hakoda sighed. "You haven't sailed once in your life before. You never even pay attention when I try to teach you. If you keep on like this, you're going to fail."

Hakoda put his hand on his son's shoulder as his voice shifted to a softer tone. "You're too young to understand it yet. You must think being the Nukilik's son is great. A time is going to come when people will expect you to lead because of it."

The old Chieftain looked down at the symbol of the Water Confederation on his chest. "Our people are flexible. We can adjust to a lot of change," he turned his gaze to the ice around them, "but we can also stiff up and become like boulders. The tribe had to stomach much when a nonbender's house took the throne." Hakoda turned back to his son. "But people realized I was a good leader and the tensions faded."

"Your mother," the aging widow's eyes turned heavy, "she helped as well. Kya was a nonbender too, but she was kind, caring, and always wanted the best for our people. And she would want you to succeed, like I do."

Sokka felt a lump form in his throat. "Dad," was all he could say.

Wordlessly, the father returned to demonstrating sailing techniques to his son.

Sokka returned to the present. A fireball had hit the side of the ship in front of his cabin. He was knocked back. Sokka got up and considered returning to the deck. However, the sound of water dousing the fire stopped him.

"What would I even do?," he mumbled.


The trio flew towards the scene of the battle. Sounds of chaos assaulted their eyes. The light of fireballs and the sparking reflection of water and ice besieged their vision.

Aang felt sick. He could feel a pit grow in his stomach. Zuko must have picked up on this as he began to speak.

"Aang, my uncle once told me that fools make war, heroes look for peace."

Before the reassurance could set in, Azula snapped back, "Yes, and Uncle also tried to make Tea Appreciation Day a national holiday. Sent a letter everyday for a year to the Shobo-shi Warlord about it."

Zuko slumped back in the saddle. After a pause, he mumbled, "They did make it a holiday, you just can't get off work for it."

As the trio fell into silence again, they arrived overhead. Beneath them, the Shobo-Shi kept their distance from the confederate battleship. Their tactic appeared to be a defensive one. The Shobo-Shi strafed the large boat from afar and pelted it with fireballs. The boats erratic movements seemed to protect them from the waterbender's attempts to capesize them.

It wasn't a perfect defense, however. The shobo-shi had lost one boat already. The confederates had made ice spikes in the intended path of the boat. The ship was run through before it could change course. The survivors were trying to board the confederate vessel, but were being rebuffed by nonbenders.

The chaos was uncomfortable for Aang. The young boy had never known battle before. The sounds of agony clawed at his ears. The reflection of the ice and steel spears hurt his eyes. The smell of burnt wood made him nauseous. This was war: no place for an airbender.

"What do we do to get their attention, Azula?," Zuko broke the silence.

"Why are you asking me? This was airhead's plan." Aang assumed that was now his nickname.

"You always have a plan," Zuko pleaded.

"And you always follow," Azula mocked, "Try taking charge, for once. Airhead seems too scared to even talk."

"You know, I can still hear," Aang gave Azula a weary look. She was right though, Aang hated to admit to himself: he was scared. Airbenders dodge and evade. Running into conflict felt wrong.

"Maybe we just land in between them?," Zuko's suggestion felt more like a question.

Azula laughed at the insane idea. Aang, however, looked down at the battle. With a sudden turn, he barreled towards the clearing between the ships.

"Are you completely out of your mind?," flew out of Azula's mouth.

Aang didn't respond. He has no other ideas. He couldn't run. He couldn't let people hurt each other. He couldn't think of any other way. This was the only way forward. This was what was expected of the Avatar, no matter how terrified it made him.

With a gust of air, Appa landed in between the attacking ships. The shock temporarily stopping the exchange of fire as the respective leaders sized up the noncombative entry. Bato, gave Aang a steely look.

Airbenders were pacifists by nature. They would rarely fight back. They'd rather evade. However, their selflessness was not unheard of either. Entering a battle to protect others fit well within their nature, even if they kept nonlethal.

Airbenders were also peacemakers by nature. They would rather try to settle a conflict verbally. The child was young enough to still fully believe in those ideals. Perhaps he was here to talk. Bato admired the bravery, but admonished the foolishness.

There was a tense moment in the air. Azula eyed the two sides. The Shobo-shi were still moving in formation, refusing to give the confederates a chance to strike. Smart. The Water Confederation troops were sitting at the ready. They could return to combat at a moment's notice. Smart. Azula looked back at Aang to see a young boy standing in the middle of this powder keg. Not smart.

Zuko was sitting back in his saddle. The boy was impatient. He was quiet, but he couldn't stop his leg from bouncing. Any moment, everything could pop off. They would be in the center of it all. Sweat went down the young swordsman's forehead.

Aang stood on Appa's head. The creature level with the opposing boats. That pit in Aang's stomach had grown. It felt like a burning fire in his stomach. It was too late to turn back, however.

"Everyone," Aang boomed, "This island is on the brink of a volcanic explosion. The people need to be evacuated. This battle has to stop."

There was a silence. An older gentlemen in red armor stepped forth from one of the boats. The man had a thin mustache and a stern face. "Get back to the Boiling Rock, airbender," he screamed, "I'd rather you didn't get killed in the crossfire."

Bato had already signal his men to stay at the ready before the Shobo-shi soldier had even spoken. "Surrender yourself, airbender, and we will pull out our forces."

"Aang, let's go!," Azula shot out.

Aang looked back at her before focusing on Bato." If I do, you will keep your word?"

Azula didn't let Bato respond. She wasn't letting everything go to waste because of this airbender's kindness. She pounced, sending a fireball at Bato. A waterbender extinguished the flame before it made contact. However, the return fire from a perched archer missed Azula and hit the shobo-shi boat. Scrambling for retaliation, the shobo-shi lit an oiled rock. With a mounted catapult, they sent it flying towards the confederates. Appa, spooked from the attack, used his tail to blow the strike off-course with a powerful gust of wind.

Only Aang kept his eye on the fireball as it flew past the group and struck the island. That's when the shake started up again. They were so violent that the water became hostile as if in retaliation to the land's assault. The mountain top exploded. A plume of smoke and ash began plummeting towards the village at high speeds.

Everyone looked on in horror. Aang mouthed a silent "no."


Sokka went back to his bed. He couldn't help out there. He looked down at his immaculate boots. Their glamour seemed to mock him. He wasn't worthy of the outfit. He could remember his first real failure from a long, long time ago.

Sokka was covered in freezing cold water. His father had dragged him from the depths. The wreckage of his boat was sinking into the southern waters. Hakoda sat in the ice with his head in his hands.

"They'll find us within the hour," Hakoda uttered. He let his face go free. He looked at the wreckage before looking back at the boy prince. "We can't say what happened."

Sokka was too cold to talk. The shiver of his body forced his mouth shut. The cold air tortured his wet skin.

"Officially, you passed. That's what we'll tell them. Bato is the one who'll find us. He can keep a secret." Hakoda sighed. "You will be a man."

"B-but," Sokka found his words, "I failed."

Hakoda's face showed a flash of anger. But it went away as fast as it came. "For the sake of our house, you can't fail."

"It would be a l-" Sokka was cut-off by his father.

"And if they found out that my son failed his ice dodging, they will think the spirits have turned on us!" Hakoda shouted, suddenly fierce. "We would lose everything! You and your sister will have to live in exile!"

Sokka fought back tears. Hakoda relaxed as best he could. Frustration still warped his features. "Sokka, my son," he tried to get out, "my boy, we just can't tell the truth. You'll understand when you're older. We just can't."

That is the last thing the pair said before Bato found them. His father was right: Bato said nothing of what really happened. They claimed Bato's boat was the one Sokka sailed on. Hakoda had made sure they were identical in the morning, as Sokka later found out. The wetness of their clothes blamed away on some rough waters. Nothing that would disqualify one from their rite of passage.

Sokka spent the next few days in a daze. He remembered waking up one night to hear his father and his sister talking.

"People have been talking," Sokka could hear Hakoda through the walls, "Some of them think that Sokka failed his test."

"Didn't he, though?" Sokka could hear his sister, Katara, respond.

"He did." Hakoda relented. "How did you know?"

"Dad, I've practically had to be mom for this family after what Admiral Zhao did," Sokka could hear the contempt in his sister's sweet voice, "I know when something is wrong with you two."

"I never could hide things from your mother," Hakoda joked through the stress, "But, we can't let people know."

"They would turn on us."

"We are so lucky you were born a bender," Hakoda's words struck at Sokka's heart, "If we were all nonbenders, I don't think our family would endure these rumours. At least you give legitimacy to our blood."

"Then," Katara grew stern, "make me the crown heir."

Sokka froze in his bed. Could his sister really have just said that?

"Katara," Hakoda started but Katara cut him off with a demand of no excuses.

"The north already calls us the 'tribe of queens.' You know what they think of us. Where we stand. A woman can't be nukilik. Our house wouldn't just suffer, our tribe would."

"Who's to say it needs to be official?" Katara's voice grew devious. "Sokka doesn't want to lead. Not in the ways that matter. He's always been more obsessed with the glamour of it."

Sokka could hear Katara rise from her seat. Her voice was full of impassioned fury. "He could go out and do the silly things he likes. Give speeches, put on shows, hit on commoners. I can do what really matters."

There was a silence. Sokka could hear his heartbeat.

"A test," his father finally said, "We'll test this out. For both of you," his tone turned cold with that last phrase.

"Sokka will go out in search of the Avatar. If he captures the Avatar, or maybe just enough airbenders, he can return. In the meantime, I will give you some of my responsibilities. Claim it is to help out since I never remarried. We will see how you do." Hakoda spoke like this was sports or the weather, not the fate of Sokka's future. "If Sokka can handle such a task on his own, he'll have proved himself. If you can handle my responsibilities, you will have proven yourself."

"And all the while Sokka is away so people will stop talking?" Katara knew her father better than anyone, Sokka thought.

With the sound of a far off explosion, Sokka was snapped to reality. The boat's rumbling knocked him from his bed. The cries and screams spooked the young prince.

With a yelp, he headed off to the deck to see what had happened.


Zuko was the first to speak up. "We need to get back. My mother…" He trailed off.

"The plume is going to rocket down that mountain. If we go now, we're going to be trapped." Azula wasn't her cool self. There was a hint of worry.

"Azula!," Zuko reprimanded.

Azula looked back at Aang. "Can we get there in time? And get back?" Azula seemed lost. "We can't lose the Avatar. Not now. Not twice to this damn place." She paused. "But, Ursa...Ursa is of the royal line." She tried her best to hide her real concerns.

Aang wasn't sure. The plume was rocketing to the ground. There were people there. If the plume consumed them, it'd be over.

"Aang," Zuko yelled, "We got to go now!"

Aang snapped from the indecision. He told Appa to move and they blasted off to the town square.

As they left, Sokka arrived on deck to the scene of his men still in battle. While the sights and sounds of the skirmish took him at first, he was shocked from the sight of the volcano in the distance. Stunned, he walked through the battle to Commander Bato.

"Is that real?" Sokka was in disbelief.

Bato didn't even bother looking at Sokka. "We're in battle, Sokka. The shobo-shi aren't letting up. Try not to be distracted." Bato paused. "Besides, we originally came here because of that damned mountain."

"I never realized how horrifying an eruption was." Sokka felt guilty, his mind wandering back to his true intentions.

"Consider this a crash course," Bato told the archers to reposition towards the stern.

"There are people there." Sokka practically whimpered.

"Yes, there are, but we can't go help them as long as the Shobo-shi are firing on us." Bato directed two men to take down a fire that had started on the port side.

"And they can't help them as long as we're fighting them," Sokka mumbled.

"Welcome to war," Bato grimly mused.

Sokka looked around him. This was pointless. There were people dying. They both wanted to help them, but they were too busy fighting each other. This had to stop.

Sokka rushed to the side of the ship and screamed out, "Everyone stop!"

Bato rushed to grab the boy. The old commander had promised Hakoda he'd keep the boy safe. Sokka pushed him back. When the ships fired a fireball at him, Sokka threw his robe into the blast to take the hit. Holding its charred remains, he began to flail it about like a flag. Screaming "Cease fire, Cease fire," as loud as he could.

Bato, wrestling with the boy, noticed that the sounds of battle had stopped. Letting Sokka go, the old commander was surprised to see the old fire nation solider waiting expectantly. Did the boy really do it?

Sokka had noticed as well. "Please, we have to stop this. Right now, there are innocent people in that town. People I shared food and dinner with only a week ago. They are your people too." Sokka hit his exposed chest. "I am Sokka of House Snow Wolfdog, crown prince of the Southern Water Tribe, and I vow on my life that I will give your people safe passage on my ship to your closest city. I only ask for a cease fire and aid in evacuating."

There was silence for a moment. The old fire national combatant seemed lost in thought. His eyes turned back to the island. Then back to Sokka. "We were sent here to capture the prince," the old soldier mused, "but we were also sent to save those people. I'll be damned if I let Roku Village burn twice."

With a relieved smile, Sokka began to direct his men. He called for them to reorganize their vessels towards the island on a mercy mission. Bato was floored. A strange sense of pride took over him.


Appa howled as it moved through the sky. The citizens were already running to the port.

"We got to find mom," Zuko let out as they were overhead. He had perched his head out, looking over the crowd. She wasn't there. He looked towards the city center and then, to his horror, he found her.

She was helping some of the elders move. The plume coming hot right behind them. Azula moved to speak, but couldn't. She was out of her element. Her plan had fallen. She was in between two situations and couldn't reconcile what to do.

Aang didn't wait. He had a voice in his head. It was an old man. It was screaming at him to move. Pulling out his glider, he flew forward on his own toward Ursa and the elders. "Take care of the rest."

Azula found her senses. "What are we supposed to do?" She paused. "Zuzu, go down and keep these people from trampolining each other. I'll direct people from the air where to go." Zuko nodded as he hopped off.

Azula moved to the head of the skybison and began moving it above the crowd. "Follow my lead," she bellowed, "I'm heading to shore."


Aang closed in on Ursa. Landing in front of them, he took some of them by their shoulder and said, "I can help carry them."

Ura gave him a nod. The two kept moving as best they could, but Aang could hear the plume get closer and closer. Aang kept looking back. It was gaining on them.

"I'll buy us time," Aang shouted. He let the elder go and handed them off to Ursa.

Ursa looked like she was going to speak, but she stopped herself. She focused on the path in front of her.

Aang rushed to plume. Staff in hand, he threw forward the strongest gust of air he could muster.

Nothing.

The plume flew forward and engulfed Aang.

Ursa looked back at the worst time. The second it happened, she closed her eyes. She tried her best to drive the thought deep down.

Suddenly, there was an earthquake. The ground below Ursa turned into a slide, carrying the elders and herself to the port at double speed. As she turned back, she could see two glowing eyes in the center of a tornado.

She wasn't the only one.


Sokka's men and the shobo-shi milita reached the shore at the same time. Opening their cargo holds, they huddled as many people as they could into the holds. Overhead, Sokka could see the skybison circling in the distance. He noticed something on the creature that looked familiar. It was the girl from last week! Azulon. No, Azula! Sokka laughed a bit. He partly came back to hit on her. How stupid was that?

Sokka didn't have time to dwell on that thought. No one did. The plum in the distance had turned into a rancorous tornado. The black soot spiraling into the heavens and dispersing into a black snowfall.

"What is that?" Sokka was amazed.

"The avatar," Bato said sternly, "no ordinary airbender could perform that."

Bato gave Sokka a look. Were they going to go after him?

Sokka shook his head. "I can prove I'm worthy of my crown some other day," Sokka sighed, "Today, we have more important things."

Bato smirked. Wise choice.

When the last of the men and women were on board, Sokka called out asking if anyone else was coming.

Zuko in a frantic hurry scream, "Where's mom? Where's Aang?"

"Don't worry, Zuzu," Azula seemed to joke, "Mommy's coming."

Before Zuko could react, he was knocked aside by the parade of elders, led by Ursa. Their slide formed unexpectedly along the cobblestone road.

Zuko didn't care. As he got up, he hugged his mom. Azula tried not to gag. Though, she did smile a bit at the scene. Just for a moment.

Then she remembered.

"What about Aang?" Azula shot at his family. "Did he escape?"

Ursa shook her head. "I saw a tornado, but I didn't see him leave it."

Azula spat. "I could see the tornado from here." Getting herself firm in the seat, she said "move it furball, save your airhead master already."

While Appa growled, it shot off to the volcano.

Ursa moved to board the ship. Zuko went to follow her, but he was hesitant. "It's okay if you want to help your sister, Zuko."

"I need to make sure you're safe too."

"I am safe," Ursa joked, "now, go keep an eye on her. We both know she's capable, but she's too much like me." Zuko was shocked. Azula and mom were nothing alike. "She likes taking risks and will sacrifice everything for her goals. Just like great grandfather."

Zuko got the secondary meaning. With a nod, he ran off after her.


As Appa got closer, the winds of the tornado whipped at Azula. She could barely keep her seating. "How did Aang stay on this without a strap?," she complained. Looking down at Appa, "don't let up now, beast, I don't plan to lose everything this close to my prize."

Appa just growled.

Fighting their way to the edge of the tornado, Azula could see the outline of Aang. Really she could only see his glowing eyes and tattoos. The rest was speculation. The winds lashed at the pair. Pushing them ever further back.

"Aang," Azula started, "let's get out of here airhead."

The words hung in the air, but no response. Aang was moving, judging from the glow, but he wasn't moving towards her. The movement suggests some kind of airbending form. A circular pattern of movement around a fixed point. What was he even doing? The place was safe. The plume was almost completely gone. The people were out. All that was left were buildings.

"Airhead, listen to me! If you keep on like this, you're going to die like a fool!"

No response.

Azula could feel her bloodboil. Was this how great grandfather was? She wasn't dumb. She knew something had taken over him and left him this mess. Some kind of Avatar state.

"I can't get through to him," she muttered. She considered fleeing, but what would be the point? Without Aang, the war was over. They lost.

"Aang," she looked down to see Zuko screaming, "You can stop! Everyone is safe! Don't waste your life on some buildings! You did your job, now let's get out of here!"

"Zuzu, it's pointless," Azula chided. However, she noticed the air began to die down. Looking back at Aang, the glow was fading.

"Zuko, get ready to jump." Azula yelled. Appa dived down. Azula grabbed Zuko's arm and threw him on Appa's back. "Get ready to grab Aang!" She instructed her brother.

With Aang's ceased movement, the tornado was unraveling. The plume was burning hot. If they didn't get to him at the right moment, it was going to collapse and destroy him.

The soot and ash burned their eyes as they got close. Her eyes watered. Her nose and throat burned with every breath. Her skin felt like it was being pelted with hot coals. Through the haze, she could see him.

"Zuzu!," she cried.

Zuko got the message. He leaned out. The second he felt cloth, he grabbed on tight. Pulling up, he got Aang on board.

"Get us out of here, beast!" Azula cried as she turned Appa around.

With a pain cried, Appa flew up and out of the plume. High in the sky, the trio could take the moment to breathe. The soot and ash had left them hacking and coughing. No matter how hard they tried, their eyes wouldn't stop burning. Appa was in pain alongside them. After a good ten minutes, things cleared up.

Looking down, the siblings could see the lava engulfing their home. Once again, the island was gone in a single eruption. Hearing Aang cough and rustle, Azula felt good knowing that, at least this time, the Avatar lived.


Sokka and his men had left port a long time ago. Their vessel sailed alongside the shobo-shi to Ishigaki. Sokka himself was resting on the bow of the ship, looking at the sky. It was past midday and the orange of nightfall had begun.

Bato came up besides Sokka. "Everyone has been fed," he started, "The Shobo-shi have promised to replenish our supplies in town, however. It won't impact the trip."

"Isn't that something?" Sokka laughed, "We're at war and yet they're giving us supplies."

"They felt honor-bound. We had saved their people when we could have captured the Avatar. The old captain seems to be quite impressed with you, actually." Bato laughed. "Keep this up and maybe they'll just surrender and make you the new warlord of these islands."

Sokka laughed back. "Yeah, if only dad saw things that way."

Bato leaned on the railing. He looked out in the ocean. "Your father loves you, Sokka."

"He doesn't trust I can be king."

"Yes, but only because you never tried to be one before. You were just focused on your status." Bato put his hand on the boy's shoulder. "Today, you acted like a king. I'm sure he'll be happy when he gets my messenger puffowl."

Bato patted the boy's shoulder and went back to the cabin.

Sokka turned back to sea. A smile on his face beaming.


Aang had come to after some time. He had acquired a bit of a raspy cough, but they expected it gone by morning. Overall, none of their injuries were severe, despite the lingering pain.

"You don't remember any of that?" Azula was quizzing the young Avatar, "Making a tornado? Saving the village?"

"I remember trying to stop the plume with my airbending. And the cloud taking me. Then, blank."

Zuko was half paying attention. He was focused on the horizon. "So, where to next?" Are we going to meet up with mom at Ishigaki?"

"No," Azula dismissed, "we know the confederation is going to be there now."

Zuko looked annoyed, but let it go.

"If Aang is going to end this war, he's going to need to master all four elements. Our next step is to find him a firebending teacher."

Aang and Zuko both looked like they wanted to speak up. Zuko beat Aang to it. "The Avatar is supposed to learn all four elements in a certain order. Air, Water, Earth, Fire, right? We can't start with fire." Aang nodded in agreement.

"Yes, and how do you plan on Aang learning waterbending?"

"But they say bad things happen to Avatars who learn elements out of order," Aang whined back.

Azula sighed and said again, "Yes, and how do you plan on learning waterbending?"

The other two grew quiet.

"Good," Azula felt victorious, "It's off to Shu Jing village. Father mentioned that General Jeong Jeong of the Akatatsu had retired there some time back." Azula gave a sly look to her brother. "And maybe Master Piandao will finally teach Zuko how to use those swords."

With that, the trio set off to the far-off island.