A/N: Alright! Time for the first surprises, hope you like them, now back to Five Elements.
Disclaimer- I own nothing.
Chapter 7
The gang was flying high above the clouds on their faithful beasts Appa and Icarus. They boys were basically relaxing while Katara stared at the clouds. "The clouds look so soft, don't they?" she asked. "Like you could just jump down and you'd land on a big soft cottony heap." "Maybe you should give it a try it," suggested Sokka jokingly. "You're hilarious," said Katara sarcastically, her fantasy ruined. "I'll try it!" cried Aang and Gohan before they jump off their rides and fell through the sky. The boys laughed as the fell towards a cloud and then through it while the water tribe siblings watched. After they disappeared Katara and Sokka looked around for their friends, only to discover that they had already flown back onto their pets while soaking wet.
"Turns out clouds are made of water." said Aang before he used his airbending to dry himself and his brother off.
"Skydiving is still fun though." said Gohan.
"Hey, what is that?" asked Katara. The gang was soon staring at a giant black mark in a valley. "It's like a scar. They landed inside a forest that was completely burned down. "Listen," said Sokka. It's so quiet, there's no life anywhere." "Aang, are you ok?" asked Katara but the Airbender didn't answer. As Gohan looked around, his mind drew him back towards a different time
Flashback- A four-year-old Gohan was standing in a large forest that was completely on fire. After few minutes the fire was gone along with the forest. All the animals including Icarus mourned over the loss of their home.
The scene changed to where a giant tree stood high and was surrounded by multiple dead plants. All life was being sapped away by the second. Along with that, a giant rampaging ape was going around destroying everything in its path. As the beast raged on two warriors/energy benders that looked exactly alike were fighting, the first energy bender had black spiky hair in the shape of a palm tree, black eyes, and wore the same gi as Gohan.
The second warrior had the same hairstyle and eye color but his faced show pure evil while he wore a set of armor that was similar to prince Trunks'. The two continued to fight until the giant ape turned towards them and pounced on the first fighter. Flashback ends.
Gohan suddenly snapped out of his daydream when he noticed Katara waving a hand in front of his face. "Are you ok Gohan?" she asked with concern. "Uh yeah. I just spaced out a bit." replied the young fighter. "Fire Nation!" shouted Sokka when he saw the footprints. "Those evil savages make me sick! They have no respect for..." "Shh!" Katara told her brother. "What, I'm not allowed to be angry?" whispered Sokka. Katara then pointed to Aang who was kneeling in sadness. "Why would anyone do this?" asked Aang as he picked up some ash. "How could I let this happen?"
"Aang, you didn't let this happen. It has nothing to do with you." Katara assured her friend.
"Yes it does," said Aang. "It's the Avatar's duty to protect nature, but I don't know how to do my job."
"That's why we're going to the North Pole, to find you a teacher." Katara reminded Aang.
"Yeah, a waterbending teacher," corrected Aang. "But there's no one who can teach me to be the Avatar."
"There has to be someone," assured Gohan. "Remember what Gyatso said?"
"He said that Avatar Roku would help me." replied Aang.
"The Avatar before you? He died over a hundred years ago, how are you suppose to talk to him?" asked Sokka. "I don't know." said Aang, Momo tried to comfort his friend by sitting on his lap, allowing Aang to pet him in sorrow.
Elsewhere, the Princes of the Fire Nation were searching through the woods for their teacher. "Uncle, it's time to leave!" called Prince Zuko. "Where are you?! Uncle Iroh!" They eventually stumbled upon a small pond full of hot water and steam, where the retired General was relaxing. "Over here!" called Iroh. "Uncle?" asked Zuko. "Sorry to interrupt Iroh, but we need to move on!" said Trunks. "That's right! We're closing in on the Avatar's trail, and we don't want to lose him!" said Zuko.
"You look tired Prince Zuko, why don't you and Prince Trunks join me in these hot springs and soak away your troubles?" Iroh offered his pupils.
"Our troubles cannot be soaked away! It's time to go!" Zuko urged his Uncle.
"Calm down Zuko. It's not like we couldn't use a break while we're on this hunt every once in a while,"" said Trunks.
"You should take you friend's and teacher's advice and relax. The temperature's just right, I heated it myself." said Iroh before he demonstrated by breathing steam into the water, heating it up a little more.
"Thanks Iroh, but we'll pass." said Trunks as he and Zuko waved steam from their faces.
"Enough! We need to leave now, get out of the water!" ordered Zuko.
"Very well," groaned Iroh as he stood up, the Princes quickly covered their eyes before they could see the Dragon of the West naked.
"On second thought, why don't you take another few minutes? But be back at the ship in half an hour or we're leaving without!" instructed Zuko before he left.
"Don't worry Iroh I'm sure he doesn't mean that," assured Trunks as he left. "We'll see you later!"
"Ahh!" sighed Iroh as he got back in the water.
Back at the burned forest, Aang was still brooding when Katara asked, "Hey Aang, are you ready to be cheered up?!"
"No." replied Aang, before he was pelted in the head with and acorn, courtesy of Katara. "Ow! Hey, how is that cheering me up?!"
Sokka laughed and said "Cheered me up!" before he was hit with and acorn by his sister. "Yeah, I probably deserved that."
"Yeah, you kinda did," said Gohan before an acorn hit him in the head. "Ow! Ok, if you're done hitting us with acorns, you can cheer Aang up for real!"
"These acorns are everywhere Aang," said Katara as Momo dug up more acorns and stuffed them in his mouth. "That means the forest will grow back! Every one of these will a tall oak tree some day and all the birds and animals will come back." she placed the acorn in Aang's hand and closed it. "Thanks Katara." said Aang as he smiled which Katara returned with her own smile. "That's a nice way to cheer people up, but I've got a better way." said Gohan before he threw an acorn that hit Katara in the head.
"Who are you trying to cheer up?" asked the Waterbender.
"Me!" replied Gohan as he threw another one at Aang.
"Oh, you are so going down!" said the Air Nomad.
The gang eventually started playfully throwing acorns at each other and laughing until Katara gasped as she noticed and elderly man slowly approaching them. "Hey, who are you?!" asked Sokka. The old man ignored Sokka's question as he continued to approach Aang. "When I saw the flying bison, I thought it was impossible, but those markings," said the old man as he pointed to Aang. "Are you the Avatar, child?" Aang looked towards Katara who nodded to him and Aang nodded to the old man. "My village desperately needs your help."
The gang was soon lead back to a small village that seemed to be in the middle of construction. Some of the buildings were damaged or smashed. They walked into a small home where the old man introduced Aang to his people. "This young person is the Avatar." "So the rumors of your return are true," said the village leader as he approached Aang and bowed to him. "It is the greatest honor of a lifetime to be in your presence."
"Nice to meet you too." said Aang, after a moment of awkward silence, Aang asked, "So, is there something I can help you with?"
"I'm not sure." replied the leader.
"Our village is in crisis, he's our only hope!" urged the old man before he spoke to Aang. "For the last few days at sunset, a spirit monster comes and attacks our village. He is Hebi, the black and white spirit."
"Why is it attacking you?" asked Sokka.
"We do not know, but each of the last three nights he has abducted one of our own," explained the village leader as he stood by the doorway and stared at the sun. "We are especially fearful because the winter solstice draws near."
"What happens then?" asked Katara.
"As the solstice approaches, the natural world and the spirit world grow closer and closer, until the line between them is blurred completely." said the old man.
"Hebi is already causing devastation and destruction, once the solstice is here there is no telling what will happen." said the leader.
"So, what do you want me to do exactly?" asked Aang.
"Who better to solve a crisis between our world and the spirit world, than the Avatar himself?" asked the old man to Aang. "You are the great bridge between man and spirit."
"Right, that's me." said Aang uncertainly.
"Hey great bridge guy, can I talk to over here for a second?" asked Katara.
The boys moved to a window where Katara was waiting to speak with Aang. "Aang, you seem a little unsure about all this." said Katara.
"Yeah, that might be because I don't know anything at all about the spirit world." said Aang which made his friends look at worriedly. "It's not like there's someone to teach me this stuff!"
"Relax bro, we're just very concerned." said Gohan.
"So, can you help these people?" asked Katara
"I have to try don't, I?" replied Aang. "Maybe whatever I have to do will just…come to me," the monk smiled as Momo jumped onto his shoulder.
"I think you can do it Aang." said Katara as she smiled.
"Yeah, we're all gonna get eaten by a spirit monster." said Sokka.
The Energy bender nudged him and said "What Sokka means is that we're with you to the end bro,"
"Even if the end is being eaten by a spirit monster." said Sokka.
Back at the hot springs, Iroh was snoring peacefully until his eyes snapped open once he heard some rustling in the bushes. "Who's there?!" he asked. A small mouse-like creature soon revealed itself, relieving old Firebender. "A meddle ball, I should have known." said Iroh as he placed it in his hand and played with it. "You startled me little one." he yawned as he placed the critter down. "It seems I dozed off and missed my nephew's deadline, but it was a very sweet nap." The retired General laid back and closed his eyes; the critter started jumping frantically as if it was trying to warn Iroh. The ground started to shake and the critter ran away, three earth spikes suddenly shot out of the springs at Iroh, spilling the water and imprisoning him.
Three Earthbenders suddenly appeared; one of them examined Iroh's clothes and said, "He's a Fire Nation Soldier!" He's no ordinary soldier," said the Earth leader "This is the Fire Lord's brother, the Dragon of the West! The once great General Iroh! But now, he's our prisoner!" The Earth Soldiers smirked at General Iroh, who glared at them in return.
Back at the village, the sun began to set as the Avatar stood outside with his staff. He slowly walked towards the village gate as he spoke to no one "Hello? Spirit? Can you hear me? This is the Avatar speaking," Aang got no response as he walked on and looked around. "I'm here to try to help stuff!"
Inside the building, everyone was watching as Aang approached the gate. "This isn't right," said Sokka. "We can't just sit here and cower while Aang waits for some monster to show up!" "We should be out there helping him!" agreed Gohan. "If anyone can save us, he can!" assured the old man. "He still shouldn't have to face this alone!" argued Sokka. The sun had finally gone down and the sky had turned dark, but there was no sign of any rampaging spirit. "The sun is set, where are you Hebi?!" Aang called out, but still received silence. "Well spirit, uh…I hereby ask you to please leave this village in peace!" ordered the Avatar as he twirled his staff and slammed it down. When nothing happened once again, Aang "Well, I guess that's settled then." and walked away from the gate.
As the young Monk walked away, a giant black and white, six-legged creature with fangs appeared behind him. It stalked him until he noticed something behind him; Aang turned around and was face to face with the Hebi. "You must be the Hebi spirit," said the Avatar as he bowed. "My name is…" his introduction was interrupted when the Hebi roared at him and stood on its back legs.
It walked over the Airbender towards the village. "My name is Aang! I'm the Avatar and I would like to help! Hey, what up!" yelled Aang, he was ignored as the spirit beast started destroying buildings. Hebi moved like a ghost as it destroyed building after building with Aang running after it. "The Avatar's methods are…unusual!" commented the village leader. "Cut him some slack, at least he's trying! And we should be with him!" said Gohan defensively. "Hebi doesn't seem interested in what he's saying," said Sokka. "Maybe we should go help him?" "No! Only the Avatar stands a chance against the Hebi!" said the old man. "Aang will figure out the right thing to do guys!" said Katara.
Hebi continued to smash building while ignoring Aang. "Please! Would you stop destroying things and listen?!" asked Aang as he jumped onto the roof of a building behind Hebi. "I'm just trying to do my job as Spirit Bridge! Excuse me, would you please turn around?!" Hebi didn't stop rampaging, which began to annoy the Avatar. "I COMMAND YOU TO TURN AROUND NOW!" shouted Aang. Hebi suddenly bashed the building Aang was on, sending him flying onto another roof and sliding to the ground.
"Aang!" cried Gohan.
"That's it he needs help!" said Sokka.
"Sokka, Gohan, wait!" cried Katara.
The two boys ran outside to help the Avatar, Katara was about to run after them but the village leader stopped her and said, "It's not safe!" "Hebi, over here!" called Sokka as he threw his boomerang at the spirit; it bounced off its rumpus having no effect. The boys looked a little surprised before Gohan said, "Let me try!"He then raised his hand over his head and channeled energy into his palms. "MASENKO...HA!" shouted the Ki user as he fired his signature attack at Hebi, the energy blast exploded on impact but still did nothing to slow down the beast. The boys looked at each other before they ran up to join Aang.
"Sokka, Gohan, go back!" cried Aang when he saw them.
"Not a chance bro! We're a team!" argued Gohan.
"That's right! We'll fight him together Aang!" said Sokka.
"I don't want to fight unless I…" before Aang could finish, Gohan cried "Lookout!" as he pushed the two aside. Hebi suddenly swatted the spiky haired teen a few feet away, it then appeared in front of him and attempted to grab him. Acting quick, Gohan jumped to avoid Hebi's grasped, this left him vulnerable and he was blown away by Hebi's roar into a smashed building. The young fighter crawled out before he fell unconscious.
"Gohan!" cried Aang and Sokka.
The Hebi suddenly grabbed Sokka and ran off; Aang quickly picked up his glider and flew after it. Hebi, Sokka, and Aang disappeared into the woods. "Sokka!" cried Katara. All the villagers came out at stared at the woods in sadness.
"Uncle! Uncle, where are you?!" cried Prince Zuko as he, Trunks, and three Fire soldiers came searching for Iroh at the dried out hot springs. "Sir, maybe he thought you left without him." suggested one of the soldiers. "Something's not right here." said Zuko. "That's for sure, look at those pile of rocks!" said Trunks. "There seems to have been a landslide." said a soldier. "Land doesn't slide uphill, those rocks didn't move naturally!" said Trunks as he and Zuko examined the spikes. "That means, my Uncle been captured by Earthbenders!" deduced Zuko.
Hebi ran through the woods with Aang flying close behind. Avoiding every tree and flying as fast as he could, the Avatar struggled to catch to the spirit holding his scared friend. "Aang, over here!" cried Sokka. The Airbender flew above the trees and followed the Hebi back to the burned down oak forest. "Help!" cried Sokka. "Hang on Sokka!" yelled Aang. When he got close enough, Aang stretched his hand out to Sokka. The two friends reached for each other, Aang managed to grab his friend before the Hebi suddenly vanished with Sokka, causing Aang to steer out of control and crash into the panda bear statue, losing consciousness.
A few minutes later, Aang woke up and cried "Sokka!" He tapped his head as he remembered what happened earlier, he then looked down in sadness and saying "I failed."
Elsewhere, seven Earth soldiers were riding on ostrich horses, holding lanterns, and a chained General Iroh. The Firebender sat on one of the ostrich horses, leaning against the soldier riding it while wearing nothing but a loin cloth.
"Where are you taking me?" asked Iroh.
"We're taking you to face justice." answered the leader.
"Right, but where specifically?" Iroh asked again.
"A place you're quite familiar with actually," explained the leader. "You once laid cease to it for 600 days, but it would not yield to you."
"Ah, the great city of Ba Sing Se." said Iroh as he realized where he was going.
"It was greater than you were, apparently," said the leader.
"I acknowledged my defeat at Ba Sing Se," said Iroh indignantly. "After 600 days away from home, my men were tired, and I was tired," he yawned and leaned against his carrier. "And I'm still tired." He then fell asleep and fell off the ostrich horse. The Earth soldiers stopped and picked him up, as they rode away, none of them noticed the sandal that was left on the ground, Iroh smirked as his plan to leave a trail was a success.
Back at the village, Katara waited patiently for Aang and Sokka to return. "I'm sure they'll be back." said the old man when he came to see the Waterbender. "I know." said Katara as she held her brother's boomerang. "You should get some rest." advised the old man as he put a blanket on the sad girl. "Everything's gonna be ok." said Katara. "Your brother is in good hands," assured the old man. "I would be shocked if the Avatar returned without him." None of them seemed to notice Aang walking towards them in shame. "Katara, Katara I lost him." said Aang but she didn't seem to hear or see him. Aang walked up to them but they still didn't notice him. "The sun is rising, perhaps they will return soon." said the old man. "What? No, I'm right here." said Aang; he tried to get their attention by waving his hand in their faces, only to find that his hand along with the rest of him was intangible. "I'm in the spirit world!" said Aang in realization.
Meanwhile, the Fire Princes were busy tracking down their teacher. They eventually stumbled upon the sandal Iroh left for them. Zuko picked it up and sniffed it, as did Trunks. They reared back from the smell and said at the same time. "Yup, that's Uncle Iroh." The Princes climbed back onto their Komodo Rhinos and continued their search.
"I'll figure this out Katara, I promise," said Aang to Katara who was resting by the village gate, unable to see or hear him. "Like they said, I'm the bridge between the two worlds right? All I have to do is...figure out what I have to do, but once I do that no problem!" Just then Appa came up to Katara. "Appa, hey buddy I'm right here," said Aang, he got the same response he got from Katara. "But, I guess you can see me either." Appa groaned which woke up the Water Tribe girl. "It's ok Appa, I'm sure they're on their way back," said Katara as she petted the bison. "I bet they even found you a bunch of moon peaches, for a treat." The two walked passed Aang, who entered the village gate feeling lost.
He wandered all the way to the infirmary where his brother was still unconscious from Hebi's attack. "At least Hebi didn't take you bro." said Aang. Gohan suddenly woke up; he slowly sat up and grasped his head as he recalled what happened the previous night. "Gohan, you're ok!" said Aang.
The Energy bender turned towards his brother and replied, "Of course I am, don't you know it takes more than a spirit beast to keep me down?"
"I don't know Hebi got you pretty hard." said Aang.
"Trust me squirt, I'm fine." assured Gohan.
"That's good to hear," said Aang before he realized something. "Wait a minute?!" The Avatar ran up to his brother and looked him right in the eye and started waving his hand in his face. He then made faces at Gohan who starred in confusion. "What are you doing Aang?"
"AAAH!" screamed Aang before he asked "You can see me?!"
"Uh yeah." said Gohan, a little confused.
"But I'm in the spirit world, you shouldn't be able to see me!" said Aang.
"You're what?!" asked Gohan but instead of waiting for an answer he tried to touch him, his hand went right through him. "Whoa, you're really in spirit world! But are you sure no one can see you?"
Aang frowned and said "Follow me."
The brothers went outside where they saw Katara was still with Appa, she didn't see either of them. Aang then walked up to the Waterbender and tried to kiss her forehead but he simply fell right through her. The Avatar walked back towards his brother who was trying not to laugh. "Ok, I guess you can't be seen." said Gohan.
"Except by you! Why's that?" asked Aang.
Gohan shrugged as he said "Beats me, maybe it has something to do with me being in the spirit world for 100 years."
"Ugh! Why isn't there someone to answer all my questions about this Avatar stuff?!" cried Aang. "What am I suppose to do?! Avatar Roku, how can I talk to you?!"
The boys suddenly noticed something coming their way. "What is that?" asked Gohan. "Sokka?" asked Aang hopefully. Looking at it closely, the brothers saw that it was a large blue dragon flying towards them. "That's definitely not Sokka!" said Aang. He opened his glider and flew away with Gohan right behind him, but after a few seconds, Aang fell to the ground. "Aang come on, let's go!" said Gohan. "I'm trying!" said Aang. The young monk tried to airbend his glider but nothing happened. "What?" said Aang in confusion. "What's wrong?!" asked Gohan. "I can't airbend in the spirit world!" replied Aang. The Dragon finally in front of the boys, and stared at them. "You don't know where Sokka is, do you?" Aang asked the dragon. Instead of answering, the dragon extended its whiskers towards the boys.
When the boys were touched by the whiskers, they saw a vision of the same dragon back when it was alive, with Avatar Roku riding on it. When the vision ended, the boys looked at the dragon with understanding.
"You're Avatar Roku's animal guide like Appa is to me, and Icarus is to Gohan," said Aang. "I need to save my friend and I don't know how; is there any way for me to talk to Roku?"
The dragon lowered its head toward the boys. "I think he wants us to get on," said Gohan. The Avatar climbed onto the dragon's head but his brother didn't move. "Gohan, come on!" said Aang. Gohan shook his head and said, "Just because I can see you, Aang, doesn't mean I can ride on that dragon. I'm not in the spirit world." The dragon then extended its whisker to the Energy bender; when it touched him, Gohan's spirit was pulled from his body. Gohan stared at his body in shock as it was laid against the village gate as if he was asleep, he then looked at his hands and saw through them. "I'm in the spirit world again!" exclaimed. "Great, now let's go!" said Aang. Gohan nodded as jumped onto the dragon's head and sat behind Aang.
"We'll be back Katara." said Aang before he looked at the dragon and said. "Take us to Roku!" The dragon then flew off into the sky with the two boys, while the Waterbender petted the bison, unaware of her friend's departure.
Somewhere in the mountains, the Earth soldiers were still carrying General Iroh when he suddenly looked up and saw Aang and Gohan riding on Roku's dragon, he gasped as the dragon flew over his head. "What's the problem?" asked the Earth Captain.
"Nothing," replied Iroh before he said. "Actually there is a bit of a problem, my old joints are feeling sore and achy, and these shackles are too loose."
"Too loose?" asked the Captain.
"That's right, the cuffs are loose and they jangle around and bump my wrists. It would help me if you would tighten them so they wouldn't shake around so much." said Iroh as he smiled.
"Very well. Corporal, tighten the prisoner's handcuffs." ordered the Captain.
The soldiers stopped so that the one carrying Iroh could make the adjustments, but before he could, Iroh heated the handcuffs the same way he did the hot springs and pressed the soldier's hand onto it. "Ahh!" the soldier cried in pain as his hand was smoking. Iroh then jumped fthe ostrich horse and shot fire out of his feet. The flames landed by the other ostrich horses and startled them, as they soldiers tried to calm down their animals, Iroh rolled off the Cliffside but not before the Captain saw him.
Roku's dragon flew the boys to a crescent shape island with a volcano and a temple on it, they flew inside the temple and headed towards the ceiling. "Hey, what are you doing?!" asked Aang. "We're gonna crash!" cried Gohan. The boys closed their eyes as the dragon just phased through the ceiling, they landed inside a room with a gold statue of Avatar Roku. "Guess spirits don't need doors." said Gohan. The boys climbed off the dragon and approached the statue.
"I don't understand, this is just a statue of Roku." said Aang.
Kinda like the one at the southern air temple." said Gohan.
The dragon then extended his whiskers to the boys, this time they saw a vision of a comet. "Is that what Roku wants to talk to me about, a comet?" asked Aang. "When can I talk to him?" The dragon lowered its head, revealing a beam of light that was pointed right beside Roku's head. The dragon touched the boys with its whiskers again and showed them a vision of the days passing by, the large design on the floor, and the beam of light moving closer to Roku's statue each day until it hit his face. "It's a calendar," said Aang as he looked at the floor design. "And the light will reach Roku on the solstice. So that's when I'll be able to speak to Roku?" The dragon growled to say yes. "But I can't wait that long, I need to save Sokka now!"
"Then we'd better get going, it's almost sundown." said Gohan.
The boys climbed back on the dragon and flew away from the temple.
Iroh continued to slide roughly down the cliff until the Captain Earthbend a pile of rocks to stop his descent. Three of the earth soldiers and the Captain slid down the Cliffside to where Iroh was buried in rubble. "He is too dangerous Captain! We can't just carry him to the capital, we have to do something now!" suggested the soldier. "I agree, he must be dealt with immediately and severely." said the Captain. Iroh spat out a pebble as he smirked deviously.
Meanwhile, Katara was riding Appa in the sky while searching for Aang and Sokka. When she didn't find anything, she said the Appa "It's no use Appa, I don't see them anywhere. Our best hope is to go back to the village and wait." before steering the sky bison back towards the village.
Down below, Zuko and Trunks discover ostrich horse tracks. The Princes were about to follow the tracks when they noticed the sky bison in flying above them. "The Avatar." said Zuko as he turned his Rhino to follow the bison. He looked at the track before looking back at Appa, trying to decide on what to do. Trunks saw his friend's dilemma and said "We could split up. You go after the Avatar while I track down Iroh." Zuko didn't reply as he looked down.
Roku's dragon took the boys all the way back to the burned down oak forest where Aang's body sat in a meditation state on top of the same panda bear statue he crashed into. "I guess this is where you get off!" said Gohan to Aang. The dragon phased through the statue and flew into the sky towards the village with Gohan while Aang's spirit was placed back in his body. The Avatar jumped off the statue and stared at it before opening his glider and flying back to the village. Pretty soon Gohan was within his own body and inside the village building waiting for his brother's return. The villagers all waited with the water tribe girl who was looking down in sadness until she saw Aang flying towards them. As he landed, Katara quickly ran up to hug him while Momo jumped onto his shoulder. "You're back!" cried Katara before she asked "Where's Sokka?"
"I'm not sure." replied Aang while looking down.
The sky grew dark and the sun was no longer visible. Gohan approached Aang and said "The sun is set again, I hope you can do it this time bro."
"Me too." said Aang.
Deep in a canyon, the Earthbender were preparing to "deal" with General Iroh. The Dragon of the west had his hands laid against a rock. "These dangerous hands must be crushed!" said the Captain as he hoisted a large rock into the air, he moved it over Iroh's and brought it down. The boulder was suddenly destroyed by a ki blast before it could crush Iroh's arms. Trunks and Zuko soon appeared beside their mentor and Zuko used his ankle to break his Uncle's restrains.
"Excellent form my princes." complemented Iroh.
"You taught us well," said Zuko.
The Earthbenders surrounded the royal family members of the Fire Nation, both sides ready to fight. "Surrender your selves" instructed the Captain. "Its 7 against 3, you're clearly outnumbered!"
"Oh, that's true but you are clearly outmatched!" said Iroh.
All the Earthbenders attacked by throwing rocks at them, acting quickly, Iroh used his chains to destroy the flying boulder. Zuko fired to fire blasts at two Earthbenders which knocked them out, Trunks dodged a flying rock and kicked him in the face, making the soldier fall unconscious. The lavender haired then back flipped behind an Earth soldier and nailed him with an energy blast to his back which took him out. Another boulder was launched at the princes by two more Earthbenders, but Iroh managed to grab it and swung it back at the soldiers, knocking them into a wall. The Captain threw many earth based attacks but the princes managed to dodge them swiftly, the princes countered with their own attacks that the Captain dodged. They fired one last attack that was blocked before the Captain hoisted a lot of rocks from the ground. Trunks got in front of Zuko and prepared to blast the Captain, but the Captain's legs were tied with chains and he was pulled off his feet, causing his attack to collapsed on himself.
The Earthbenders groaned in pain as the members of the Fire Nation stood together, Zuko placed his hand on Iroh's shoulder and asked "Now would you please put on some clothes?!" just as Trunks brought the clothes over to Iroh.
At the village, Aang waited outside the gate for Hebi to return again while the villagers watched from indoors. The wind blew greatly as Aang stood at the gate, but he eventually turned away wearing a sad look. As he walked away from the gate, Hebi suddenly appeared and started smashing a building, Aang quickly created an air bubble to protect himself from the falling debris.
"Aang, What are you doing?! Run!" Katara yelled to her friend.
Hebi roared and went to smashing more buildings while ignoring Aang again. It ran towards the village sanctuary while Aang chased after it. The Avatar jumped over the beast and touched its forehead, allowing him to see its true form; which was a panda bear spirit. "You're the spirit of this forest," said Aang as he landed in front of Hebi. "Now I understand. You're upset and angry because your home was burned down." as Aang spoke the Hebi seemed to listen and calm down. "When I saw the forest was burnt, I was sad and upset, but my friend gave me hope that the forest would grow back." He showed the acorn that Katara gave him to the Hebi and placed it on the ground.
Hebi picked it up with its paw, and turned into a giant panda bear. Hebi then left the village now filled with peace; as it left the gate, bamboo immediately grew from the ground and all the missing villagers stepped out of the forest along with Sokka. Those with loved ones ran to hug them from among the returned people.
"Sokka!" cried Katara as she ran to embrace her brother.
"Nice job bro!" said Gohan.
"Thanks bro!" said Aang.
"What happened?"asked the water tribesman.
"You were trapped in the spirit world for twenty for hours," explained Katara. "How are you feeling?"
"Like I seriously need to use the bathroom!" replied Sokka.
Later the gang stood with the village leader and the elders. "Thank you Avatar," said the leader. "If only there was a way to repay you for what you've done."
"You could give us some supplies and some money," Sokka.
"Sokka!" said Katara as she nudged her brother.
"What? We need stuff." said Sokka.
"It would be an honor to help you prepare for your journey." said the village leader before he left to get things for the gang.
"I'm so proud of you Aang," said Katara. "You figured out what to do all on your own."
"Actually, I did have a little help," confessed Aang "And there's something else." His thoughts were brought to the comet that Roku's dragon showed him and Gohan. "What is it? asked Sokka. "I need to talk to Roku, and I think I found a way to contact his spirit." explained Aang. "That's great!" said Katara. "Creepy, but great!" said Sokka. "There's a temple on a crescent shaped Island, and if I go there on the solstice, I'll be able to speak with him." said Aang."
"But the solstice is tomorrow." said Katara.
"Plus there's one more problem," said Gohan.
"The island is in the Fire Nation." said Aang which caused Katara and Sokka to have looks of fear and shock on their faces.
A/N: Ok time to find out what Aang and Gohan's mission will be! The next chapter has a special surprise that I doubt any of you would've guessed, but you can try if you want. Chapter 8 will mostly be out by the beginning of February unless I'm lucky and finish faster than expected. Until then TTFN Antihero out!