Chapter 3: The Tree of Time

The sound of Aangs feet splashing against wet concrete echoed lightly as he descended the steps of the cave. He paused, motioning for Appa and Momo to stay put until he confirmed that he was able to ensure the two's safety. The two companions began to settle themselves in, curiously awaiting what the young Avatar had in mind for coming to a place like this.

Just as he remembered entering this cave nearly a year ago, his ears picked up the hissing sound of a creature that trickled its way across the walls around him. He knew Koh was keeping a very close eye on him - but unlike before, it seemed to be taking more precautions this time around. Rather than lunging at him like a predator ready for it next meal, it decided to just follow him - trailing his very movements like he knew why he returned.

"You're back?" Koh's words echoed throughout the cave. "What brings you to me this time, Avatar. Surely it's not for riddles of mystical spirits of what not."

Glancing up at the spirit that was partly shadowed by the darkness of the cave, he spoke.

"Show yourself! It's time we have a chat about what you stole from me 113 years ago."

"Oh?" Crawling down the coldness of the rock, Koh approached the young Avatar. "I have no recollection of such a memory. 113 years seems to have been quite some time." He circled Aang, both wary yet anticipated once more to steal another Avatar's face. "I'm afraid you'll have to be a little more..." He pressed up near Aang's face, his face becoming sadistic and craving for a new addition to his collection. "...specific."

Pausing his thoughts for a short moment, he inwardly breathed in order to regain his bearing before he lashed out at this monster. "You know what I speak of." He stated. "That horrific and menacing night so long ago, the night you ransacked an entire village." He tightened his fist as he recalled the tragedy that occurred. "The slaughtering and stealing of faces who were innocent, and for what?" Rage had began to overwhelm his sense of rationality. "You... you!" His eyes hardened and his face morphed into a deep scowl as he stared directly into the spirits own eyes.

Koh's sadistic smile stretched far and wide. The moment he saw the first twitch of emotion stretch onto the Avatar's face, he lunged forward with the intent to swipe another source of identity from this world. "Game over, Avatar." He maniacally laughed inside.

Aang's eyes had tapped into its signature bright color, his anger taking over as the worst of him was being brought out from within. The sudden brightness caused Koh to squint his eyes due to the temporary light that blinded his vision. The effect was much faster than he could accomplish in closing the distance between him and the Avatar. Skidding off track of his intended target, his face smashed into the cave wall. He retracted his form before shaking his head from side to side to rid of the dizziness he felt. Returning his attention back to his convinced prey, his eyes began to widen in astonishment. However, within the next few moments a deep sense of fear had grown within its very depths as the Avatar had unbelievably tapped into his power within the spirit realm. It shouldn't be possible, he was not in his physical body - yet here he stood defying the facts. He backed away slowly, his thoughts rendering to one word to summarize this encounter.

"Impossible."

.

.

.

"Good, he's mentally weakened..."

Koh tensed at that terrifying voice. That bastard wanted for this to happen, it all made sense now. The reason why he was sent to maul that village so long ago was not to fulfill his lust for unbelievable power, it was just a reason to have the Avatar fall into a state of agony and animosity that all logical thinking would cease to compute. Aang's glowing eyes had temporarily scanned its environment seeming to search for him. Snapping his eyes directly into his own, the sudden movement caused him to jerk back in fright.

"Bring him to me!"

The two stared at each other as still and quiet as one can be. There was a tense and uncomfortable silence between them that rendered everything to slow down into an unusual level. A droplet of water hung from the end of a sharped stone hanged just above the two. As it loosened, the droplet fell between them where they were able to see it descend to the floor. The moment the drop of liquid made contact with the cold rock below, the chase was on. Koh turned and dashed away from the Avatar like a roach scattering to seek darkness as soon as the lights flickered on. Aang pursued right after him, boosting himself off the ground and using the air as a way to surf across the terrain to chase after the spirit. Bending the earth around him, he launched a few boulders at the spirit.

"Where is she!" The angered spiritual voice of Aang loudly echoed across the walls. "What did you do to her!"

Koh continued to flee heading deeper and deeper into the cave as it slowly turned into a giant maze.

"This way..."

Koh sharply turned right heading for the voice only he could hear. "I hope you know what you're doing." It thought while dodging another flying boulder that came sailing over his head.

The boulder crashed against the walls causing the surroundings to cave downward blocking every and any chance of escape. Koh skittered to a halt in front of the rubble that nearly caved in on his head. A state of panic began to swiftly build inside him as he realized he was trapped. Turning around to face the Avatar that drove him off, he backed against the rubble as Aang levitated before him while presenting a malicious glare. He watched as the Avatar lifted his hands while nearly a dozen large rocks rose from below. A few were crushed into tiny hardened shells that were no later sent hurling towards him. Reacting quickly, Koh encircled himself with the out layer of his shell that was powerful enough to withstand the thousands of small rocks that pelted violently against him. He may have blocked the first attack with his quick and timely reaction, but even then he was unprepared for the much larger rocks that smashed him against the rubble that caved behind him. The attack was repeated time and time again with the remaining boulders he had levitated around him. Each impact the Avatar gave began digging him deeper and deeper within the earth. The final boulder shot him through the rubble and outside of the cave into a much wider and open terrain.

Koh struggled to get onto most of its legs to support its weight as it made a desperate yet futile attempts to flee. Aang walked through the smoking debris, the urge to kill and take revenge still clearly distinguished on his face. Koh backed away fearfully as best his injured limbs would allow him

"P-Please, I didn't mean to intrude in the mortal realm. It was not my own intentions to cause such harm. Please, I-I was set up!"

"Koh." Aang spoke as the Avatar's before him were also heard along with his voice. "The crimes that you have committed throughout your life has caused nothing but pain and suffering for those involved directly and indirectly. To answer for these acts of criminality, you shall pay the ultimate price!" Raising his hands into the air, he gathered the elements and combined them in a way all benders and Avatar's would consider... unnatural.

"N-No, please! I beg you" Koh cried!

Aang's anger grew more and more as he stared at this pathetic excuse of a spirit. How dare he, how dare he cry and plead for mercy when he showed none to those he murdered! His parents, his own parents who he's never got to speak with was because of the animosity this pathetic creature exploited. They called for mercy, and he ignored it. Just as he was just about to do now. His arm holding the combined elements shook in rage as the energy continued to build; and just as he was about to unleash the wrath of hell's gates upon the being, he heard her voice again...

"Aang..."

He halted and turned his head towards the source. His eyes widened and his lips parted in absolute disbelief. An enormous tree that towered higher than anything and everything he's ever witnessed stood before him in all its glory, and next to it a woman of absolute resemblance to his vision. She stood unaware of his presence and uncaring for what was around her. She just stood there facing the opposite direction staring at the horizon undisturbed.

"M...Mom?" He spoke all too knowingly.

The glow in his eyes faded and his arm dropped the elements that were crushed together. The person who stood a good distance away was too far for him to clearly identify with his eyes; But without a shadow of a doubt he knew who that person standing just over this ravine that separated them. There was no other explanation.

Appa and Momo approached from behind, making themselves known to the Avatar. The two creatures took a glance at Koh who lay helpless and still in somewhat of a shock. They sneered at it and squinted their eyes into a glare after sensing bad vibes radiate off of the spirit

"Guys, what are you doing here? I thought I told you to stay put?" Aang stated once he noticed the two's presence. Releasing a sigh in frustration, a small smile soon embraced his lips. "Well, your timing couldn't be more perfect either." He hopped on Appa's back. "Appa, can you fly me across this ravine, I believe it's time I introduce you two to someone very, very special to me." His smile grew after every second as he thought of his mother. "Yip, yip!"

Appa headed his command and launched himself in the air. The fly across the ravine took no more than a minute to go over. Landing just before the still clueless woman, Aang hopped off Appa and made his way up to her full of excitement and anticipation.

"Mom..." He spoke again, his steps stopping just inches away from her. "It's... it's me, Aang." He began. "I know we've only met once before... I was too young to even remember. But I heard your call. I won't lie, at first I was scared to find out about you and Dad. I thought... I thought that you guys never loved me." A saddened gaze fell upon him as he finally admitted what he truly felt. "I thought you guys abandoned me and never gave me another thought. Just like how Katara abandoned my feelings without so much of a warning or explanation as to why. I-I thought we had something special. I thought it would be something that no one in this world has ever had before. The ability to find true happiness and love within each other even after the nightmares and betrayals we overcame. I connected with her unlike any other person I've ever met. But... she didn't feel the same. Though I was also wrong about you too!" He smiled again. "Even though you guys weren't with me since the beginning of my life, I couldn't help but know that I wouldn't have been abandoned willingly. That there had to be a reason as to why. I'm just glad I was right for once. So, I just wanted to say that I... I found you, mom." His breath became ragged. "I - I finally found you."

The silence that followed through wasn't one he expected, nor did he presume the lack of a response. It was as if she took no notice to his words rendering the uncomfortable thought of speaking to an inanimate object. Squinting his eyes slightly in concern, Aang slowly closed the distance with his mother in curiosity.

"Mom?" He reached out and grabbed a hold of her shoulder.

Forcing her body to face him, Aang stumbled back and fell on his rear as horror began to set in. The reason why her mother was so unresponsive to her words was because she was also a victim. A faceless woman that was stripped of her eyes, ears, nose, and mouth. She could only be rendered a living corpse at this point. A living corpse that could be decorated or altered in anyway possible.

"No!" Aang voiced out. "No, no, no!" He stumbled to his knees and crawled a few inches before pushing himself up to his feet. He grabbed his mother by the shoulder and repeatedly shook to get something, anything besides a blank face out of her. "What - What did he do to you!" Bringing her to the floor with him, he wrapped his arm around his mother and stroked her hair. He was heart shaken. "Mom, I'm... I'm so sorry." He cried. "If only I knew you were alive, I - I would've come for you! God, I-I would! Please, not you too mom." His tears fell onto her empty face and slid down her cheeks as if it was crying for her. "God dammit, it's me!" He continued, desperate for a response. "Can't you recognize me!"

Appa and Momo walked up to their friend. Concern had overwhelmed them once they witnessed Aangs sorrow filled aura. They didn't like it when he got like this. Each time he's become like this, the after effect would have him a little less cheery and hospitable the two grew accustomed to.

Aang looked back at Appa after feeling his soft and gentle nudge against his arm along with the familiar sensation of his warm breath. The tears that were uncontrollably shedding from his eyes provided no means of an end any time soon.

"Appa! Wh-what should I do?" Aang choked out. His words were getting caught up in his throat as he struggled to voice a solution. "I don't know what to do, Appa! S-She's-"

Despite Appa's lack of ability to speak, the way he carried himself around Aang showed him that he understood his pain to an extent. He licked Aang's cheek softly trying to comfort him as best as he can with his presence. Momo doing the same as he scurried his way up Aangs shoulder and embraced him. Appa turned its attention towards the woman with no face. Leaning down at this person who Aang cradled in his arms, he pressed his forehead against hers as if trying to read her thoughts. A blue light began to slowly emit from the contact the woman and Appa made. Watching the interaction between the two, Aang stared bewildered as the outlines of the twos body's engulfed itself in light. He shielded his eyes temporarily with his forearm. He was unable to move from his spot at the risk of interrupting whatever might be happening between his mother and friend. The light began to dim, and with that Appa's physical/spiritual form was sucked into his mother who's body still shined, but less intensely than before. He watched in awe as the remnants of the light fade from her body. An astonished gaze fell upon him as he realized his mother who was once faceless now slowly begin to open her eyes for the first time since who knew when. Blinking the exhaustion out of them, she adjusted her vision to the new sight before her. A young boy who looked to be no older than 14 stared down at her in concern and delight.

"Y-Your, eyes. They've opened." He smiled.

She slowly rose to a sitting position; Confused as to where she was. Looking around, scanning the unfamiliar and abnormal terrain, she could only wonder. After getting a good view, she looked at the young boy in confusion.

"I'm sorry, but do I know you child?"

Aang opened his mouth, his smile still plastered on his face. "I-"

Clutching her hair, she let out a painful groan as she felt memories of what recently transpired fill her thoughts. The bump within her belly, the screams of all those who fled from her presence, the creature that snatched all who once accompanied in the isolated room - taking them away while leaving her alone to fend against its wrath, and finally the crying of her baby that she was taken away from.

"My child." She stood to her feet immediately. "I-I have to get back! My child could be in danger." She began to grow hysterical.

"Woah, there." Aang stood to his feet as well. Her mother was only a few inches taller than him, but he had no issues gently restraining her from doing anything that could be of concern. "It's okay." He tried to explain. "It's alright, it's over now."

"No, you don't understand." She pleaded. "My child, my new born baby is out there all alone. He needs me."

Aang let out a small breath as soft and saddened smile filled his thoughts and lips. "You don't realize how long it's been, have you." He began. "I shouldn't be surprised, given how you don't even know where you are."

"What do you speak of?" Her attention now completely on him. Her face leaned slightly away in wariness, but her eyes stay locked onto his.

"Mom." He finally said. "It's me, Aang."

Turning to face him completely, the look of surprise and disbelief said it all. She slowly extended her arm out as if to touch him, but just before she could she swiftly retracted it to her chest. "No, it can't be." She finally said. "My son, should weigh no more than 7 pounds. I should be able to hold him in my arms." She clarified. "I'm sorry, but you must got the wrong person."

Shaking his head, Aang voiced his sureness. "Mom, it really is me. I saw the Spirit, Koh took you and father away from me so many moons ago. You protected me in your arms as it tried to take me as well. However, instead of taking me you allowed him to take you away in exchange to save my life."

She was surprised of how well he knew of what happened. It sounded believable to her. But if this young boy really was her child, then how long has it been since she disappeared. Her thoughts became jumbled, and suddenly she found herself reminiscing of unfamiliar memories that she never fully understood. She was flying along with nearly a dozen other baby flying bisons along side what she could only assume was the mother. From there she flew down to a group of children dressed in orange/yellow garments. She realized that these were the Air Nomads that had been neighbors to their small village. She approached what she could see was a younger version of Aang. He held out an apple to her, and she greedily yet happily took it. She then pounced on him, licking him with affection. Aang giggled at her antics.

"I guess this means we'll always be together." He said between laughs.

Despite Aang being a few years younger than he currently is, she was able to see the easy comparison between her newborn child and the boy in her memories. Coming out of her vision, she was struck in the heart when realization fell before her. She reached her hand out once again, using her fingers to lightly caress Aangs cheek in sheer curiosity and incredulity. Finally allowing the rest of her palm to feel his skin, the familiar resemblance to her own baby's skin when he was born compared to this boy was unmistakable. She wasn't sure how she knew, but she did. It really was him.

"A-Aang." She finally voiced. A lump clogging her throat. "Is it, Is it really you?"

Aang couldn't contain the joy that he was currently experiencing. "Mom..." He softly replied. The two finally embraced one another in a loving hug. "I found you."

"You did." She cried in his neck. "You actually did, just like I knew you would."

The two stayed embraced for a full silent minute as they just enjoyed feeling each others warming embrace. It would've been longer if Momo didn't interrupt this loving moment. Jumping back in surprise, the mother looked at the creature bewildered by its sudden appearance.

Aang laughed. "It's okay, mom. That's just my friend, Momo." He explained. "I'm not too sure how he was able to follow me here, but it's nice to have more company around."

Smiling, she regained her composure and let out a soft giggle. "I see, well I'm happy someone kept you entertained." After the giggling stopped, her smile dropped and questions began to emit from the bottom of her thoughts. "Aang, how... how old are you?"

Raising an eyebrow, he answered. "Me, oh uh. Well I'm 13."

"13 years?" She sadly replied. "I missed 13 years of my baby's life." A dejected aroma came over her as she heard of how long she was absent she was for the majority of his childhood.

"Well..." He began again. "Technically, I'm 113 years old."

"113?" She now began to doubt him. "Impossible, with how young you look I wouldn't guess you were a day above 14 at least." She crossed her arms.

Sighing, Aang slowly went down and crossed his legs while sitting. "Can you please have a seat mom?" He asked. "There's... there's a lot I need to tell you that has happened to me these last 113 years."


"So let me get this straight. You were frozen in ice for a century; And during that time a war that was initiated by Fire Nation had spread across the globe. Not only that, but my son is so happened to be the heir to claim the title of the Avatar that the world had been searching since the start of the war to bring peace. After reemerging from the ice, you had mastered all four elements accompanied by numerous companions you've gained throughout your journeys through the different lands. And finally you faced against the now Ex Fire Lord Ozai to put an end to this absurd and unnecessary war?"

Staying quiet, he thought about the general summed up story her mother repeated to him making sure no major events were left out. "Yeah." He confirmed. "Pretty much."

Rubbing her temples, she let out a small laugh. "Aang, I know you're a special child, because you're my special child; But to think that my kin was actually the next in line to claim the title of the Avatar. It's, It's..."

"Hard to take in." He answered. "I know mom." A gloom began to fall over Aang, and being the mother of the Avatar came with a motherly instinct to know when something wasn't quite right with your offspring. Scooting next to her son, she leaned onto his shoulder and wrapped an arm around him, securing his figure in her grasp.

"I feel as if you're hurting inside, Aang." She gazed ahead. "Tell me, what's wrong."

Thinking deeply at her words, Aang pondered about the events that led up to this point and how destiny seemed to be keeping him on a single mandatory path. He felt restricted, confined, and secluded. He wanted to be like others his age. To be carefree and on a search for adventure, for happiness, for love. Much of the joy that he's desired for a childhood felt stripped and robbed from him. Even now, with everything's he's gone through. All the accomplishments and victories he's changed in this world, he still felt as if it wasn't enough - That it would never be enough.

"I - feel like something's got a hold on me, and I can't quite make out what it is." He tried to explain. "This feeling I have, it's like I'm always in motion, always looking... always searching for some sense of liberty. The childhood I wasn't able to live in, the one which was lost and replaced by a sudden sense of fear." He looked in her eyes, tears beginning to swell "Fear of not being enough for anyone, or anything."

Wiping her sons tears with her finger that threatened to spill out of his eyes once more, she gave him a smile seemingly understanding what he was going through. "Listen, my child. I was once a very small girl, similar to you - and during then I've always been the one who people would talk to. I was the popular one, the sought after individual in a group. However, something had changed the moment I realize I had been carrying you. It was unnatural, and suddenly all had begun to fear of what they saw in me. But I came to realize - that at one point, that's the price that we all will eventually pay. A valued life and destiny that would soon come to nothing. I can't tell you where you'll be going from here, and there is probably really no way of knowing, but just know that you aren't alone anymore." She smiled. "You'll never be."

Aang took her words to heart, and for the first time in months he felt as if his smile was true and honest. "Thank you, mom."

Looking at the sunrise, Aang seemed to be genuinely surprised at the suns appearance in the spirit realm. "That's odd." He thought

Tightening her hold around Aang, his mother sighed in happiness. "It's been so long since I seen her warmth. The sun brings about a comforting aroma. I've never thought that I'd once again be blessed to be under its shade."

"Neither have I" Aang responded with his own smile. They stayed silent for another few seconds until he spoke. "Mom..."

"Hm?"

"You said that there were other little girls who you grew up with that began to fear you. Why is that?"

Closing her eyes, she let breathed in and out a deep breath. "It's... It's something that is quite strange; and I do not like to talk about it. It almost feels like I was violated without my knowing, but there was no such evidence to uncover." She admitted. "But through time and healing, I was able to put behind such a haunting thought. It terrified me at one point, however I was still able to find a sense of enlightenment and appreciation for the life that had been growing inside of me. I figured it to be destiny, destiny that brought you to me. Destiny to be able to call you my child, my son, my little Aang."

"...wow." He smiled. "I never realized how old my mother sounded until now."

"Hey." She flicked his forehead with her finger. "Respect your mother or else I'll tear you a new one." Despite the innocence in his insult, she couldn't help but feel that their interaction couldn't have gone more natural between mother and son.

Aang flinched and rubbed the spot that directly felt his mothers sting against his skin. He chuckled lightly, glad that he was able to bond in such a natural way right off the start. However, there was another thought that he was curious of, something that he believed her mother could answer.

"Mom, who was my father? You must've known him, right?"

Those words had ceased her thoughts of joy and love as she was reminded of the absence of a man who should've conceived this child with her.

"There - There was no father." She finally said.

A short silence fell between them, and Aang found himself confused beyond recognition.

"What?"

"It's true." She continued. "I... can't entirely explain what happened either. I carried you, I gave birth to you, and I should've raised you - all without the knowing of how I was impregnated."

"How - Is that possible?" He seemed stunned and almost rejected her answer. If only the clear honesty in her throat didn't seem so true, he would've called her a liar. "But the visions, I saw a man that most certainly acted as my father. You two spoke to each other, and said of how you loved one another before he was taken."

"Visions?" She raised her eyebrows. "There is no doubt that there was a massacre; But I recall loving no man. I was accused to be carrying the spawn of a demon within my womb, and at first I thought I was going to be killed for it. The night I went into labor, it was like an awakening of some sorts. That spirit that came and ransacked the entire village of faces and lives, it was almost as if the delivery of you was the trigger. We should've died that night, as they wanted to kill us both. However, that spirit interrupted such a catastrophe. But at a price, it took me along with it."

The look in his eyes said it all. "I... I don't understand. Just, just what's going on?" He grabbed his head as his thoughts jumbled together, unsure as to what or who to believe.

His Mother looked solemnly down at his confused figure. "Aang, I do not know what you saw, but always know that nothing is ever as it seems. Always question what has been handed to you, and never accept an answer for what it is." Her gaze saddened as she felt a small tug in her soul. "I believe it's time for you to go."

"B-But we just reunited! Mom, there's still so much I have to tell you."

"I know." She answered. "But as your mother, I'm saying that your place isn't here." The look in his eyes saddened her even further, and she was afraid that she was being misinterpreted. "I'm not dead, Aang." She smiled. "But I can't leave this place, I feel its boundaries weigh on me the moment I started moving away from this tree." She looked up at the enormous spiritual essence that reached miles in the sky. "Besides, I can't keep your friends spirit inside me forever. I'm sure he'd like to have his own body and mind back as well. Appa, correct?"

He sniffed a little and smiled. "Yes, mom. His name is Appa, my best friend for life."

Smiling in return, she let out a small chuckle. "See, I don't want to keep your best friend confined forever. I'm sure he's already getting angsty to have his body back."

"Knowing Appa, he's probably alright with it." Sighing, he took another good look at her mother before he throwing himself in her arms. "I... I just don't want things to change anymore."

Wrapping her arms around his son, she smiled. "But you can't stop the change, just as much as you can't stop the sun from setting."

Pulling back from her chest, he looked at her beautiful face. Feeling the familiar liquid building in his eyes, he blinked them away refusing to let anymore tears spill. They have both cried enough as it is. There was no need for more.

"Will I ever see you again?"

Chuckling, she caressed his cheek. "Tell me, what does your heart tell you?"

"I don't know..." He hesitantly answered. "I hope so."

Her mother raised an eyebrow at him causing a grin to grow on his lips.

"Yes." He finally said. "I guess."

She'd take that, it was better than nothing. "Then we will see each other again."

Looking into her eyes, he spoke with a new found purpose in his heart. "I will come back for you." He stated with such determination. "After I figure out how to separate you from this place, I will bring you back, I promise."

She smiled, and with sudden realization she noticed that she had never told him her real name. "Aang." She placed her hand on his shoulder. "I realized I have yet to tell you my name... no, our name! It is one that holds great value, for it will always forge our bonds even after death. My name is-"

Silence overtook her, and Aang saw the air come out of her mouth. Confusingly gazing at her mother, his looks of puzzlement turned into horror as he realized what was happening to her.

"Mom!"

She grabbed her throat, suddenly unable to breath. Her heart began beating faster as it searched for the lack of oxygen its lungs couldn't give it. She was suddenly lifted off the ground with a gust of air, levitating for a short second before being pulled towards the tree. Aang reached for her mothers hand, and she to his; But they were a fraction of a second too late as she now levitated in front of the large hollow the tree held.

"Avatar!" A glowing red spirit made its presence known. It's anger was like an overwhelming aroma of perfume, and it was directed at Aang. "I have been waiting for you." His voice was filled with unimaginable hatred and anger.

Aang glared at the spirit in the cage. "I'm not sure I've made your acquaintance." He responded.

The spirit chuckled, yet the anger in his voice was still clear. "I'm surprised you could've forgotten me so easily, after I nearly killed the host of your power; And you left me for dead in this cell." His menacing tone began to grow more and more hostile as he spoke. "You may have forgotten me, but I could never forget you! No, you could not imagine the excruciating measures I went through to stay alive! Fueled by this unquenchable thirst of vengeance, for you!"

"I guess whoever was the Avatar before me didn't quite finish the job." Aang glared. "No matter, If I have defeated you before then I can surely defeat you again." His eyes began to glow as he tapped into the Avatar State.

Laughing maniacally, the spirit couldn't help but be amused by his threats.

"Don't - Be - So - Certain."

Using its power unlike anything Aang's ever seen before, he watched as the spirit forcefully extract something from within his mother. To his complete terror, he watched as Appa was brought out entirely and was restricted to the same state the woman was in

"No!" He cried, the glowing light in his eyes subsiding to his normal colored pupils

"It is time to face your guilt, and embrace the cruelty known as reality!" It proclaimed.

Struggling and kicking, his mother looked at Aang in fear. "What ever it wants, don't do it Aang!"

He looked back and fourth between the two, torn by the vulnerable state they were in. Momo climbed onto his shoulder and screeched at the spirit while reaching his arms out for Appa as if trying to pull him away from it.

"Let them go!" Anger began to boil inside him. "I will not, play your games."

"Oh, but I think you will." Its voice now turned into one of satisfaction as he fed off the hate the Avatar leaked. "You see, If you don't. Both of your loved ones will perish in my grasp. The real question is, which one will you choose to save?" Lifting the woman up, he brandished her like a prize. "Your Mother?" Bringing her down but still keeping her held in the air, it then did the same to Appa. "Or your friend? You must now face reality, and free yourself by choosing!"

"Aang." His mother cried. "It's powers is too strong, even for you! Save your friend and get out of here!"

Appa gave a small cry in pain as he felt a tug on his life essence. Torn between his mother and Appa, he was left helpless and distraught. He wanted to save Appa just as her mother said he should, but he didn't want to leave the only person that could possibly ever truly understand him at the mercy of this monster.

"Let. Them. Go!" He growled again, the boiling anger within him already blowing pass its peak.

"Only you, The Avatar, can make me release them!" He declared, its voice sounded pleased as to where this was headed.

Breathing in, Aang allowed his anger and fear for his loved ones to slowly fill his veins and overcome his senses. "You will let them go!" He tapped into the Avatar State once more, however this time his eyes turned into a glowing white with a mixture of a voided black that outlined its opposite color. Raising his arms to his chest, he summoned the power he felt within himself to gather in concentration. The air began to swarm around him violently as he did this, and with a snap of his arms, he brought them forward unleashing a storm of wind that blew anything and everything around him out of his path.

The spirit was slightly taken by surprise by his sudden unleash of power, but he was able to withstand it. He watched in glee as the Avatar before him lifted both of his companions along with itself, trying his best to break its grasp from his loved ones. His glee only spiked when he saw the prison before him began to flicker as the Avatars power interfered with the cell that chained him into this tree.

Aang's eyes narrowed, his teeth clenched, and his arms were shaking as he struggled to maintain this state. The sky above him began to swirl in a mixture of day and night. Something about this was abnormally different than before. It was more... dark, and mysterious. Its power fed off his anger, and at the rate he was going he felt as if he didn't have enough. Sweat emerged from his pores and dripped down his face as he continued his struggle; And then with nothing more to give, he collapsed on one knee, panting and out of breath. The mixture between the night and day above them subsided with the light overcoming its opposite.

The spirit stared down in disappointment. "Weak." It insulted. "You are still too weak."

Aang looked up. A glare still in his eyes as he fought to regain his breathing and try again.

"I guess in the end, you aren't able to save either. Oh, but don't worry, I don't blame you." It's sadistic voice returned. "Instead, let me help you!"

Using the tree that entrapped it, it shot two sharp wooden stakes at the two captives and pierced both of their life essence that was entrapped in their hearts before snatching them away.

"NOOOO!" Aang screamed a long painful cry in horror as he watched the two suffer the consequences of his weakness.

Throwing the two soon to be lifeless corpses just a few feet in front of him, Aang stumbled to the closest person he could reach. His mother.

"Mother." He whispered as she cradled her in his arm and brushed the hair that covered her face with his fingers. "N-No..." He softly cried.

Looking up at her son, she weakly reached her right hand up to cradle his cheek just one last time. Aang sadly nuzzled into her touch. "Remember my dear child." She whispered lovingly. "I loved you, always." Her vision became fuzzy as she struggled to stay awake. "I - always will..." Her mother fell limp not a second later. Aang held onto the hand that caressed his cheek and gave it one final kiss before gently setting it down on top of her heart.

"Look at you, how embarrassed you must be; And even now, you claim to be this worlds Avatar. Yet despite this tragedy, I still feel is if it is not enough." It began speaking once more. "Tell me, child. Who stands in your way to power? Who holds you back? Who keeps you subjected and decrepit within your boundaries? Anyone?"

Aang glared up at the spirit but said nothing

"If so, only your hate will eradicate them. Use it!" It declared. "You felt its power, did you not? It lays dormant yet rabid within you! Master its power! Relish in the gifts it will bestow upon you! Only then will you be able to cast off the chains that bind you, and achieve a power unlike anyone has ever seen before! Only then will you be able the destroy the rival, who stands before you."

Without another word, the spirit forced Aang along with the other two out of spirit realm and back to the mortal world, all while maniacally laughing at the mental damage he's inflicted. It was all going according to plan, all he had to do now was sit back, and wait.


Aang snapped his eyes opened. Looking around, he noticed the slight inability to see clearly around him. It was dark outside. He spotted Momo sitting alongside a very weak Appa trying to comfort him as best he could while he battled the very nature of death itself. Aang rushed over to Appa's side and wrapped his arm around his giant stomach as wide as his arms would allow them. He knew he wasn't able to save him, and his heart was struck harder than ever before as he never felt so useless in his entire life. He felt two new voids burst through his very heart as all of his pent up despair began to leak out of him.

"Appa..." He cried. "Don't leave me... please."

Appa slowly and softly moved his head and tail to wrap his friend in a hug. The Sky Bisons thoughts drifting away as he thought of the first words the young Avatar had ever said to him.

"I guess this means we'll always be together!"

Appa closed eyes, satisfied that even if his journey did end here, Aang did keep his promise that they would always be together. He was happy that promise had been fulfilled. The only regret he parted from this world, was that he couldn't be there for him like it was promised to himself.

Aang only held on tighter as he felt Appa's heartbeat stop. "I'm sorry." He begged for forgiveness. "Forgive me, Appa... just, please. Don't leave me!" The moon and ocean cried for the Avatar that night as they as well were unable to bear its pain that came with it.

A few hours later into the night, Aang cried himself to sleep unable to bear the pain of the permanent separation from his dearest friend of all. Waking up again in the spirit realm, he was greeted by Roku along with Kyoshi, Kuruk, and Yangchen.

"Aang." Roku wasted no time. "We have brought you here, because we are concerned."

"You're conflicted young one." Kyoshi interrupted. "This path you have began treading on is of no concern to you."

"Conflicted?" Aang scoffed. "I just watched my mother, and my friend forged by an unbreakable bond since early childhood murdered before my very eyes." He glared. "So yes, Kyoshi. I am conflicted. I'm very fucking conflicted!"

"Listen to me Aang." Kuruk began. "You've caused a great deal of damage as it is. If you continue this path you'll be threatening the very existence of the Avatar!"

Yangchen stepped forward. "Let go of this hate you've built yourself upon, child." She addressed more caringly and motherly than the other two Avatars who spoke before her. "It is not good for you. Nor is it for us."

"Aang." Roku stood in front of the three. "Listen to them. This isn't your fight. You've done your part in this world, you just have to maintain it for the next Avatar to come around."

"And let this murderer roam the spirit realm?!

"Aang." Roku softly spoke. "You may be the Avatar, but you're not all powerful."

"Well I should be!" He boldly stated as he faced away from the four predecessors.

Kyoshi glared. "What's that suppose to mean?"

"It means that some day, I'll be the most powerful Avatar ever!" He declared, his thoughts of his mother and Appa dying in his arms deepened his determination for success. "I will even learn how to stop people from dying."

Closing her eyes, Kyoshi sighed. "Very well. If you are ever in need again, do not seek our guidance - we will not answer." Without another word, she faded away along with Yangchen and Kuruk.

Roku sadly stared at the young Avatar. As his direct predecessor, he felt as if it was his primary duty to enlighten the new Avatar with knowledge and wisdom. As a mentor and an ally, he felt obligated to do so. "Tell me Aang, do you believe you are the Avatar?" He began.

Aang straightened slightly at the question. The question even he asked himself for so long. "How... How can I know?"

"I can tell you what I believe." He replied. "I believe you are the key to rid of wickedness that still hides in this world. Even now, its presence still stains the lands for years to come. I believe you are the one who will exploit these demons who hide not only within yourself, but this world - and once again save this universe from destruction. Remember your training Aang, trust your instincts. You will find another way."

With that said, he faded from view as well allowing the young Avatar to reawaken back into the physical realm. Sitting up from his nap, Aang noticed that they had been drifting close to land. Appa's corpse had still protectively been wrapped around him and Momo who whimpered in his sleep. Picking up his last remaining friend who accompanied him, he allowed Momo to cradle in his chest still in his broken slumber. It was best for him not to witness what he was about to do. For his sake of course. Bringing his leg up, he stomped on the floor as boulders shot up from the ground and neatly stacked against Appa until they completely engulfed the sky bison within the earth. He then widened his stance and took a deep breath, shifting his weight towards his rear leg that he brought forward, he shot a fist full of fire at Appa - completely engulfing its corpse. He kept at it for a few seconds ensuring that as soon as he stopped the source of the flame, it wouldn't die out. He stared at the bright flaming light that reflected its rabid nature to consume. Its color reflected off its pupils as he continued to watch it dance in the air.

"I wasn't strong enough to save you, Appa." He softly spoke. "I wasn't strong enough; But I promise, I won't fail again."

Turning to face the land once more, he clenched his fist in anger as he thought of the murderer. He knew what he had to do, he just needed the knowledge and power to do so. Elegantly moving his body like that of the ocean, he created a large tidal wave that came crashing against the Lion Turtle forcing it to stumble onto the sandy shore next to it.

"What is the meaning of this?!" The beast roared, daring for the individual who would do such an act reveal himself. It scanned its surroundings for a few seconds until its eyes caught a human figure standing just below it, the Avatar. His face just stared down into the sand that the beast partially stood on.

"I know what I have to do, but I don't know if I'm capable of doing it."

The beast narrowed its eyes sensing the danger that radiated off of its aura. Despite hearing that of a human's voice, what he heard sounded odd. It was bone chilling, unnatural, out of this world; But most of all, it sounded... monstrous.

Looking up at the beast, Aang's eyes were void of any emotion. The joy it once held was now replaced by ones that held no reason for mercy, guilt, or patience for what it would do if the Lion Turtle wouldn't cooperate.

"Will you help me?"

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That wraps up this chapter. That was quite something, I actually poured my heart out a bit on this one and I am quite satisfied by the outcome. I left quite a good amount of Star Wars references in this chapter, too. So if you know, you know.

Anyways, please review any thoughts, questions, or concerns about where this story could lead. No spoilers but I can say small things if I deem it's not spoily enough. But yeah, reviews also helps writers commit to their stories by letting them know that someone is actually taking their time to read the story instead of just viewing it. So if you do have the time, please do review. Thank you all, and I'll see you in the next chapter.

TheLivingMyth