CHAPTER 2- An Unexpected Guest

Author's Note: Thank you for continuing to read this story I have enjoyed writing this so far and hope to be able to continue it. As a quick reminder, all characters have been aged up by three years. For example, Aang is 115 (physically 15) and Zuko is 19. I realize he may seem OOC in this chapter, but there are reasons behind this that I hope to expand on in a later chapter. Again, I feel as though this is unnecessary, but I don't own AtLA.

The Ocean

As night fell, the boat cut through the water like a knife. It's dark wooden hull and midnight sails made the craft almost indistinguishable from the surrounding ocean. A trail of villages razed to the ground followed the cutter.

Prince Sokka stood at the helm of the ship carefully guiding the ship along the Fire Nation coast undetected. Gazing out along the shoreline, he scanned the surrounding terrain for any trace of the village mentioned in the communication he had received from the reconnaissance report.

According to the report, a pillar of light penetrated the sky above a volcano in a coastal forest before abruptly disappearing. Still after almost four weeks of round the clock watch, the Avatar remained elusive. Searching every settlement and village spotted was yet to yield results, and yet, they had to be nearing their quarry, he thought.

Fire Nation- 4 weeks prior

With glowing eyes and arrows illuminated on his extremities, the imposing figure cast an intimidating shadow. As the blinding light faded the figure, a boy of about 15, sat on a hairy beast floating in the caldera of the volcano. Slowly, the pair rose until they were standing on solid ground.

Azula and Zuko gazed upon the scene with awe. As his feet touched the ground, the youth's knees buckled. Slowly he pulled himself up with his staff.

His clothing seemed foreign in its design. His features were even more alien to Zuko and Azula.

The stranger looked around scanning his surroundings before his eyes locked on the siblings. Immediately upon seeing them he struck a more defensive stance as though preparing for a confrontation. The creature next to the boy seemed to sense the energy and tensed, readying itself for whatever its owner decided the most prudent course of action would be.

"What do you want with me?" asked the youth.

Azula slowly raised her hands, displaying her open palms. In an effort to avoid a confrontation she explained, "Nothing, we were simply trying to hunt when we approached the volcano. As I went to gather the felled prey, you suddenly emerged. We mean no harm."

The stranger still seemed wary but relaxed as he realized there was some truth to the words spoken by Azula.

It was at that moment Zuko succeeded in summiting the volcano and saw the man still brandishing his staff at Azula. Sparing no time, Zuko quickly manifested a flame dagger in each of his hands before taking a savage swing in an attempt to defend his sister. In the blink of an eye, the young man turned to him and blasted him backward. Zuko leapt to his feet reigniting his weapons when Azula's voice reached him.

"Please Zuko stop," she pleaded, "he wasn't trying to hurt me."

Zuko quickly quenched his flame as he eyed down the youth standing across from him. The boy seemed about fifteen with grey eyes. He distinctly lacked hair on his head. Instead, blue arrow tattoos took its place, spreading across his body with a point on each limb.

Zuko decided to trust his sister Bowing to the stranger, he said, "Greetings, my name is Zuko, what is yours."

The young man still prepared for another onslaught opted to bow only his head in an attempt to prevent vulnerability.

"Hello Zuko, My name is Kuzon," he responded in kind.

Zuko felt as though the youth was not being entirely forthcoming with his true identity, but decided to hold off for the time being.

"Well Kuzon, I feel uncomfortable leaving you out here unprepared. Would you like to camp with us tonight?"

The boy thought about it before accepting the offer.

Zuko began dressing the meat to prepare to transport it back to their camp. Once he was finished, the trio began the hike back to their camp. When they arrived Zuko pulled Azula to the side.

"Azula, there's something strange about Kuzon. His clothes and appearance look different from anyone else I've ever seen, and I think he may have lied about his name. Combined with the fact he threw me against that rock without touching me, I think he might be an airbender."

Azula laughed, "There's no way Zuko. All of them died 100 years ago. Even if he managed to survive the genocide he would be an old old man not a teenager."

"I just think there is more to him than we know. Be careful," Zuko warned.

"So Kuzon," Azula asked, "we were going to travel back to our village tomorrow. Maybe you would want to come with us and resupply for your journey."

"That sounds like a plan," agreed the youth.

4 weeks later

After almost a week among the people of the Fire Nation, Aang finally felt comfortable to reveal his true name and identity as an airbender to them Confirming Zuko's suspicions. After a second, he had become a part of the thriving coastal community meeting many of the residents of the village. He was especially popular among the young children providing entertainment in a place where laughter and joy was a rarity.

It was during that time that a messenger appeared carrying news of a Water Tribe raid slowly making its way up the coast. For the first time in seven years, the villagers prepared to repel the invaders. With the majority of the able bodied men leaving to fight in the war, only about a half a dozen fighters were left to defend their home. A watch was set to warn of the incoming danger, and the beginnings of a defensive structure were constructed. The next morning, Zuko saw midnight sails on the horizon.

Author's Note - Thank you for reading this far. I have really enjoyed writing this and am looking forward to the next installment. Unfortunately with school starting up for me in about two weeks I will likely have a very irregular update schedule, but I will try to get one more chapter out before then. Feedback is greatly appreciated