I do not own Avatar, either The Last Airbender or Legend of Korra. They both belong to their respective owners.

I know this chapter is a little short, but I figured I should get something out after the last update. The next chapter should be longer.

Enjoy!

Aang had never seen this boy before. Though he could feel the connection. Even if it was a weak one.

"How am I seeing you? Who are you?"

The other boy's frown deepened. "You seriously don't know? Hasn't the old man that you're with told you anything?"

"Gyatso? He said we came here so I could connect with the spirits. He didn't say anything about other people."

"Do you ever pay attention?" The other boy spat out the words, startling Aang. "You're here to connect with the Avatar spirit. Or whatever is left of it anyway."

"My Avatar spirit? Wait, does that mean..?"

It was clicking into place for Aang. He had seen the boy's face before, just not as flesh. He knew him, but not as a person. As a story. A tragedy from a hundred years ago.

"You're Tenzin. The avatar from before."

Tenzin scoffed. "Now you figure it out. And how long did it take you?"

Aang, who had hoped for the conversation to become more pleasant, only got more nervous. But he tried to hide it with an unsteady smile.

"Well, um, what do I owe the pleasure to?"

"Pleasure?"

"I mean, we're here talking. How is that happening?"

"Oh. That's probably the statue you were looking at," Tenzin waved off. "You realized who the statue was for. You felt a connection to the person you think I was. And since Raava is inside you, you were able to manifest that connection in the spiritual realm."

"Oh. Ok."

Aang didn't fully understand what Tenzin said, but he had a feeling that asking him to elaborate would only make the other boy angrier. And that wasn't something he wanted to test.

"So, what happens now? Are we supposed to talk?"

Tenzin sighed. "No. Right now, my job is telling you what you need to know going forward."

"Oh. What do I need to know?"

"First of all, stop playing around. Stop treating this like a game."

Aang's difficult smile evaporated. He had a feeling he would like this conversation.

"Also, you're going to need to learn the rest of the elements by the end of summer. That's your deadline."

Aang's eyes widened as his jaw fell.

"The end of summer?! Why do I have to learn all the elements by then?"

"Don't you know what happens by then? Don't you know what's coming back after a hundred years?"

"I... I don't..."

"Think. What did the Fire Nation use to start the war? What was a natural occurrence they used to their advantage?"

A natural occurrence? A massive advantage? What was it that-?

"The comet."

"Now you got it," Tenzin said condescendingly. "Unless you want to turn out like me, I suggest you actually focus on what your master is telling you. Stop being a kid and start being an Avatar."

"But... I-"

"It doesn't matter what you want. Unless you actually shape up and do what needs to be done, then you're going to end up-

"Tenzin. Enough."

A new figure suddenly appeared. One taller and more than either boy. An aged man in red robes and a long beard. And an unhappy expression focused on the boy without tattoos.

"Tenzin, I agree with many of your points. But this is not the way it should be done."

Scoffing Tenzin turned around. He didn't seem interested in talking to any of them anymore.

"You talk to him then. It's more help than you ever gave me."

Tenzin disappeared shortly after dismissing them. Leaving a disgruntled old man overlooking Aang.

"I apologize for him Aang. He... was left damaged by his own death. Please try not to judge him too harshly."

Aang, who was still trying to keep up with everything that was happening, simply nodded.

"I thought that people... mellowed after dying. Why is he still angry?"

"Some of the spirits of human beings do find peace when they cross over. But there are some that are unable to let go of past grievances," the elder explained. "In the case of Tenzin, he never got to live his life. And it is something that still makes him bitter."

Nodding, Aang accepted the explanation. Now he had another question to ask. One born from the man's resemblance to another statue Aang had seen.

"Um, you were the Avatar before him, right? The one from the Fire Nation?"

"Yes. I am Roku," the man said with a warm smile. "I am here to guide you on your journey as an Avatar. And do not worry Aang. I will do everything in my power to ensure that and Tenzin do not meet the same fate."

Rather than be assured, Aang became more nervous at the mention of old history. And a fate that he was now considering a possibility.

"Much of what Tenzin told you was true. But there is more to be told, so listen closely Aang."

Foggy Swamp

"Raava? Nephew, are you certain?"

"Vaatu wouldn't lie about something like this uncle. There's another Avatar in the world. And he's going to be headed to the North Pole."

"The North Pole? What makes you so certain?"

"The new Avatar is an Airbender. And since they would follow the traditional order, they would need to earn waterbending next. North is their only option."

They would need to refer to Raava and her new Avatar. As far as Iroh knew, that was the only other person in the world with a body comprised of more than one spirit.

But there were still other questions in need of answers.

"Nephew, how can you be so certain? Why are you so convinced that the Avatar has returned?"

"Vaatu showed me, uncle. Whatever the other avatar is doing right now, it's making a massive wave in this world's spiritual energy.

"Then how is it that only you know of this? This swamp is full of spiritual energy. Surely someone here would have noticed."

"None of them are as connected to Raava as Vaatu is," Zuko pointed out. "Don't you remember? He was the first one to figure out that Raava was back. No one else figured that out."

Iroh had to concede to that logic. If anyone would anything about Raava, it would be Vaatu. But Iroh was not to start condoning his nephew's recklessness.

"Very well. We will begin traveling again nephew. But not to the North."

"What? Why?"

"Because you don't have a plan."

"What are you talking about uncle? I have a-"

"A desire. You and Vaatu want to find the other avatar. But have either of you considered why you wish to do it?"

Zuko opened his mouth, but no sound came out. And Iroh pressed further.

"What's more, have either of you considered the dangers of your goal?"

Again, Zuko had no answer.

"Zuko, do you know why the Fire Nation had to cease all attempts to overtake the northern tribe?"

Zuko did know that. And it took him a while to admit it.

"Our navy focused more our their power on the south. Being mostly ignored the North to set up a defense of ice."

"One that we have not been able to surpass in decades," Iroh elaborated. "More than that, getting to the North Pole will be a hurdle all its own. Doing so would require a ship, a crew to run it, supplies to last months at least, and so many other things I cannot currently list. Do you have them prepared Zuko?"

Firming his jaw, the young avatar could only give one answer.

"No."

"Then tell me. Why should we risk all the progress we have made so that you can follow a spirit's demand?"

"I have a name old man," Vaatu said with mock hurt. He had been standing at the edge of their discussion the whole time, taking pure delight in the discord. Until that point at least.

"Tell me Zuko. Give me one reason we should through with this folly."

Zuko needed a good reason. One that could convince his uncle. One that could convince Toph and Druk too. Iroh hadn't said it, but Zuko knew that neither of them would be thrilled to go to the frozen north. Toph wouldn't be able to see without the earth, so ships and ice wouldn't help. And Druk was an original firebender. Being in a place full of ice and with little sun wouldn't be good for him. Especially so young.

With all of that in mind, it was impossible for Zuko to come up with a good reason for them to brave that trip.

Fortunately (or unfortunately for some), Vaatu had a reason.

"My vessel must meet Raava's new vessel if he is to become complete."

Both frowning, Zuko and Iroh turned to Vaatu.

"When I noticed Raava, do you want to know what I felt?" Vaatu asked rhetorically. "I felt what you humans would call... a breeze. A sudden gust of wind."

It took a moment, but Iroh and Zuko both realized what Vaatu was saying.

"She has chosen an Airbender as her vessel. She has... either forsaken or restarted her cycle," Iroh discerned. "For something like that to occur, the chaos must have been ripe."

"Why thank you. I do my best," Vaatu gleefully said. "But that's not the point. Tell me vessel, now that you have a grasp of water, what remains?"

"Air," Zuko said. "That's the last element I need to learn."

"And if the new avatar is headed to the northern tribe, what do you believe he has already mastered?"

Zuko knew the answer, but there was another implication that his mind went. One that he wasn't so sure about.

"You want me to learn airbending from him?"

"Absolutely Not!" Vaatu exclaimed. The suddenness and severity of the outburst caused both Zuko and Iroh to take a step back. "I would rather spend five hundred years in another tree before I see any vessel of mine learn from the vessel fo Raava. Can you imagine the corruption she could cause?"

"He could learn careful planning, strategy, how to be less reckless," Iroh suggested.

"Exactly! Best we avoid that," Vaatu agreed, much to Iroh's dismay. "No, my suggestion is that you have the new avatar reveal the location of his people. Have him tell you where you can find a final master."

That wasn't a bad idea. It was flawed, certainly, and Iroh would be the first to say that. But it had merits.

Not only would stopping the airbender before he reached the North Pole be better for their companions, making sure Toph could see and Druk wouldn't face health concerns so young, but it would also prevent Zuko and Iroh from having to brave such cold.

Also, this meant something else. In terms of bending arts learned, Zuko was ahead of his competition. Once he learned airbending, he would have a functional understanding of all four bending styles. He wouldn't be a master, he still needed a lot more work for that, but he was ahead.

"What are you two doing? I heard Sparky going on about an airbender or something?"

Looking at the door of their tent, Zuko and Iroh saw Toph staring at them with her usual blank eyes. Druk was right beside her, genuinely curious as to what was going on.

"We're figuring out our next move. We won't be staying here much longer," Zuko explained.

"Really? And I was just getting used to the mud," Toph said playfully as she held up a dirty foot. "Where are we headed?"

Zuko and Iroh both did their best to explain their new course of action to her. Druk took it in stride, happy to be able to travel again.

Though Toph did want some elaboration.

"So the plan is to find a kid and beat him up until he tells us what we want to know?"

Zuko blinked. 'Uh, basically. Yeah."

Toph beamed. "Sweet. I'm in."

Sighing, Iroh went to go and grab his things. He knew that this journey would be difficult. For many reasons. Not only would he have to keep an eye on his nephew, an overconfident earthbender, and a dragon, but also Vaatu. The chaos spirit was having more of an influence on Zuko than he liked. And while it was likely would have always gone forward to hunt the avatar under different means, having Vaatu around to egg him on was not ideal.

Shaking his head, Iroh wondered for the first time if he should have stayed retired.

Southern Air Temple

When Aang first opened his eyes, the first thing he saw was Gyatso's worried expression. And expression that changed to relief.

"Aang! Thank the spirits you are alright! What happened to you?"

Sitting back up, Aang tried his best to condense his experience.

"I connected with the past."

Seeing his mentor's confused expression, Aang told Gyatso everything that had happened to him. From meeting Tenzin, then Roku, to the information that he had just learned.

Upon learning about the comet, Gyatso's concern shifted from just his pupil to the world at large. The last time a Fire Lord abused the power of that comet, the world suffered for it. There was no telling what would happen now, with the world still so unstable.

"Aang. What do you intend to do with this knowledge?"

"What else is there to do?"

The boy's voice was free of its usual playfulness and jovialness. And Gyatso wasn't sure if he liked that.

"I need to learn the other three elements as soon as possible. And I need to stop the Fire Lord before the comet."

This is where I will be stopping for now. The conversation between Aang and Tenzin was interesting to write down. It had to be a mix of bittersweet and hopeful, with a degree of resentment thrown in.

As for Zuko and his Avatar team, they now have a goal to reach. Find Aang and get the location of other airbenders for Zuko to train. Let's see how well that idea holds up in the future.

In other news, I did it. I mentioned in the last chapter that I intend to start doing some original writing. Well, last Saturday is when I published the first chapter of my own story. While there is currently a fee to see it (I'm trying to not end up broke), it is a small fee. Less than $5 at current. If anyone is interested, feel free to PM me, and can send you a link.

Anyway, please leave reviews, tell me what you think, and I will see you all next time.

Bye!