Aang awoke with a start. His chest was burning as if the stab he'd received in his nightmare had followed him into the waking world, but when he looked down there was no wound. He laid back on his pillow and breathed slowly through his nose, his eyes falling closed again as he shook off the last remnants of the dream.
The nightmare was getting worse.
Instead of being engaged in a standoff against the unknown and deadly woman, the real fighting had begun. She was as quick and deadly as lightning as she lashed out with her sword. Aang was pressed hard to deflect her attacks. She was brutal and ruthless.
There was someone else Aang knew who fought like that. Azula. Was this woman supposed to represent her? And if so, what did that mean?
Aang worried that if he did have to fight her, whoever she was, he wouldn't be able to beat her. And if it wasn't Azula, who was the mystery woman? Could she possibly be the Conduit?
He looked over and saw that Toph was snoring quietly in the narrow bed in Iroh's guest room that he had offered them. He had voluntarily taken the bedroll on the floor, not that he minded. The weak light filtering in through the slats in the window told Aang it was almost daybreak.
There was a gentle knock on the bedroom door. It cracked open and Iroh appeared. When he saw Aang was already awake, he beckoned him forth. Aang got up and tiptoed silently from the room.
Iroh sat down before the Pai Sho table and gestured for him to sit across from him. A tea tray sat off to the side. Fragrant steam rose from the spout of the teapot.
"It's time, young Avatar," Iroh said gravely.
Aang stifled a yawn behind his hand. "Time for what?"
"To finish what you and Guru Pathik began. It's time to unlock your seventh chakra." Iroh filled a cup with tea and passed it to Aang. "Drink this. It will calm and relax you."
Aang obeyed. "How are we supposed to unlock my chakra? Guru Pathik said once it was locked, I couldn't undo it."
"There is one way, Aang." Iroh's voice was grave. "The guru did not mention it because he wanted you to open them the proper way, the natural way. The way we must complete it now is unpleasant, and painful. I must know if you are truly ready."
Unpleasant and painful...that seemed to be the story of his life now. It seemed that every way he turned led to more pain and disappointment. Shouldn't the Avatar have an easier go of it? But then he thought back over his past lives, and the trials and tribulations they had been through, and knew that wasn't the case.
Aang bowed his head reverently. "I'm ready. What do I have to do?"
"First we will drink tea and play Pai Sho. You must relax your mind and body. You must let the energies of the chakras flow through you. Your mind and body have to be clear before we begin. Can you do that?"
Aang had spent years mastering the art of meditation. This wouldn't be a problem. He nodded. "I am."
Iroh nodded. He hoped that Aang truly was. The fate of the world depended on it. "Let us begin then."
They drank tea and played Pai Sho without saying a word until early morning sunshine crept in through the windows. Iroh was the better player, but Aang knew the goal wasn't to win. He focused entirely on the game, letting his body and mind relax.
Eventually Toph came out from the guest room. Silently she settled herself on a cushion and saw the vibrations of their game. She could feel Aang's tension slowly ebb away as the tea took effect.
You better not mess this up, Twinkle Toes, she thought The world is counting on us.
She didn't know what lay before him but she knew the road he walked was not an easy one. Iroh wouldn't tell her exactly what would transpire when Aang opened his final chakra, only that he would endure great pain when he did. Toph wasn't sure she wanted to know any more than that, and she found herself feeling grateful that she didn't need to undergo this particular journey with him.
But I have to go to the Spirit World with him. I have to help him get the ancient knowledge from the Sieshin Lord. That much I know. She shuddered at the thought.
"You have successfully cleared your mind and body, Avatar." Iroh's voice was hushed in the silent room as Aang completed his final harmony. He gestured to the game before him. "You have won. And now you are ready for the second part of your journey. Come with me."
Iroh rose, and Toph, and Aang followed him. He led them through the backdoor of his house and down a narrow alleyway before opening a gate. Inside was a large and beautiful garden filled with fragrant, blooming flower beds and large willow trees. A small pond lay in its center, the boughs of two large willows trailing into its cool water.
The Dragon of the West sat cross-legged before the water, gesturing for Aang to sit on the far side. Toph sat beside Iroh while Aang sank to the ground on the other side of the pond.
"The ways of the spirits are unknown to most of humanity, and for good reason," Iroh said ominously. "The spirits are mighty and all-knowing creatures who live in a world so unlike ours. They have secrets, and hidden powers. This knowledge and power is not meant for everyone. Only the strong can accept their teachings.
"I have been to the Spirit World, once. While I was there, I was graced with some of their knowledge, for they knew what my future held. They knew that one day I would have to help the Avatar in his greatest challenge yet, even if I did not know that was my destiny at the time." Iroh looked at the Aang. "So now, Avatar Aang, I will show you the way."
"I'm ready," Aang said.
Iroh nodded. "Begin to meditate now. Open yourself up to the influence of the spirits, and focus on the words I will speak to you. This journey will be painful, and hard. But you cannot stop. Once you begin, you cannot leave this place. You must remain. Will you do that?"
Aang's eyes were stormy and determined. "I will."
With a deep breath, Aang closed his eyes and brought his fisted hands together. He cleared his mind of all thoughts, searching within himself for his connection to the Spirit World. It was always there, but most of the time it was dormant. But he was the Avatar, the Bridge Between Worlds, and he felt its presence almost immediately. He felt himself drifting toward the thin veil that separated this world from the next. Iroh's voice seemed far away.
"The seventh chakra requires you to let go of your earthly attachments. What earthly attachments hold you to this plane of existence?"
Aang answered with no hesitation. "The Air Acolytes. My friends. Katara."
Images passed before his mind's eye, almost too quick to decipher: his disciples learning the ways of the Air Nomads, his friends and their adventures. Katara lingered the longest. Her blue eyes. Her laugh. Her nurturing touch.
"Now you must let them go, Aang."
The Avatar took a steadying breath. In his mind's eye, he could see an invisible blade severing the tethers that bound him to his earthly attachments. The Air Acolytes fell away into darkness. His friends faded into nothingness. He was left staring into Katara's ocean eyes. She was smiling at him, and she reached out with one hand to gently stroke his cheek. He had to let her go.
He couldn't do it before. He was determined to do it now. He had to. He was older now, and he understood what it meant to be the Avatar more. He wasn't a scared little child anymore. He was a fully-realized Avatar, and he understood the importance of what he had to do. Even if he still loved her. Especially because he still loved her.
But he still didn't want to do it. The agony ripped into him, feeling as real as though a physical weapon was scoring his skin and gouging at his heart. Aang gritted his teeth. He knew he had to. He understood it better now, as an eighteen year old young man versus the twelve year old boy he had been. This was so much bigger than him and his feelings and wants. This was his duty. His birthright. Whether he wanted it or not, this was his burden alone to bear. But the blade would not sever the image of Katara.
He still couldn't bring himself to let her go.
"I can't let go of her," Aang whispered despairingly.
Toph's hands fisted at her side. You have to, Aang. You have to. She wished she could tell him what she knew to encourage him, but Toph knew this was something only he and Iroh could do.
"Then you must look deeper within yourself. What keeps you fastened so tightly to her? You must find the root of your attachment, and break it." Iroh watched the Avatar closely.
Aang looked beyond Katara's image on the surface of his mind. He passed through over five years of memories. Throughout everything, she had been there, encouraging him, teaching him, caring for him, protecting him. She had been his biggest support through it all. She had never given up hope. She had been the one to save him when Azula's deadly lightning nearly killed him.
And when he had first emerged from the iceberg, it had been her face he first saw. It didn't matter that they were no longer together. He still loved her, and he felt the pain of that love cut into his heart.
Her images fell away then, and in her place, he saw Monk Gyatso, his mentor. Gyatso had been his first mentor, his first supporter, his first protector. Aang had let him down. He had run away from his responsibilities and the war happened. The genocide against his people happened. Thousands of people died because he wasn't there to stop it. The guilt gnawed at him even now. When Katara had found him in the iceberg, he swore he would never let that happen again. He would never let anyone hurt the people he loved. Immense guilt washed over Aang in waves. Tears burned behind his eyelids, threatening to escape.
"What do you see, Aang?" Iroh asked quietly.
"Monk Gyatso. My first teacher. My attachment to Katara is tied to him. Tied to my guilt. I thought I came to terms with that. That's why I formed the Air Acolytes. What does it mean?" His voice was little more than a whisper. Hot tears rolled down his cheeks.
"Healing is not linear, Aang." Iroh's voice was gentle. "It is messy, and it hurts. Now you understand the true blockage of your chakra. It is tied directly into your duty as the Avatar. You equate Katara to Monk Gyatso because they held similar roles in your life. They were your mentors, your teachers, your protectors. Your family." Iroh let the weight of his words sink in. Tears escaped from Aang's closed eyes. "Sever the ties, Aang. Let go of your earthly attachments."
Toph felt the changes within Aang as clearly as if they were happening to her. His heart raced in his chest and his breathing was quick and shallow. The air around them had changed. The breeze had stilled; the birds had ceased calling. Everything was utterly still, as though frozen.
Aang's face pinched as he struggled within himself. Let her go, Aang. You have to let her go.
His arrow tattoos glowed blue. His entire body began to vibrate with energy. He held the blade above her in his mind, ready to cut the attachment. But the longer Aang looked into her eyes, the harder he found it to be. All that I am and hope to be, I owe to you, he said to the image of her in his mind.
With a deep-throated cry, Aang swung the blade. The image of Katara broke, shattering into thousands of multifaceted pieces like shards of ice. They fell away into the blackness until Aang was completely, and utterly, alone.
Toph felt Aang collapse to the ground at the same moment his heart slowed until it almost stopped. She froze, barely breathing, reaching out with her seismic sense. He was alive, but unconscious.
"What happened to him, Iroh?" Toph asked, fighting back the surge of panic she felt.
She felt him shift beside her. "He is going through a metamorphosis, Toph. He has severed his earthly attachments. His mind and spirit will undergo changes to accommodate this. When he awakens, he will be ready to go into the Spirit World."
Toph's mouth went dry. She could put on a brave facade for others all she wanted, and even though she knew it was her destiny to go on this journey with Aang, she was afraid. She was scared for herself and for Aang. She had heard unsettling stories of the Spirit World and its inhabitants from Aang and Iroh. And as if that wasn't enough, her dreams terrified her. But she would still do it.
It was as if Iroh could read her thoughts. "Everything will be fine, Toph. You and Aang will accomplish what you need to do in the Spirit World, and will come out stronger and ready to fight the Conduit."
The brave face was back. "I know. I guess what I'm just curious about is why I have to go with him. I'm not the Avatar."
"You must go with him because the prophecy calls for it. You will go to tie him down to our world. He is the Avatar; he is man and he is spirit. You are human. You don't belong there, so you cannot stay. You will have to guide him home."
A shiver ran through her, and Toph resisted the urge to wrap her arms around herself. "He has to talk to the Sieshin Lord."
"Yes. He must gain the insight he needs to defeat the Conduit. The Sieshin Lord is the Lord of Spirits, an ancient and powerful being. He did not create the spirits, but his mother did. He will have the knowledge that has been lost to us."
She frowned. "What about Katara and Zuko? How can you be so sure they'll succeed? If the Conduit is so dangerous that Aang has to go to the Spirit World for special training, how will they be able to capture the Conduit and bring him to us?"
"Who said they were meant to capture the Conduit?"
Toph's eyes widened. "I thought that was why you sent them after him. If that's not what they're supposed to be doing, then what is it?"
"They are to find the Conduit, and to find themselves along the way. Then Aang and the Conduit will fight for the balance of the world."
Sitting at the desk before the tall windows, Ursa felt like she was being watched. She couldn't say what made her feel that way, but it was a deep, primal instinct in her gut that warned her she was not alone.
Ursa knew the sensation of being watched well: Ozai had kept eyes on her movements for a long time before she left the Royal Palace. And this wasn't the first time she had felt it. In truth, Ursa had felt unseen eyes on her several times in the few weeks since Zuko and Katara had departed.
Ursa stood up casually and tucked her hands into the wide sleeves of her robes. She walked over to the wide windows and pretended to watch the sunset. Carefully she surveyed her surroundings, hoping to find something amiss. Zuko's study windows looked out over her garden. She couldn't help but suspect that had been his choice location for a reason. Down below she could see Kayo and Kiyi feeding the turtleducks.
She could also see other portions of the Royal Palace all around. Moving only her eyes, Ursa slowly peered through every window, down every corridor, into every doorway she could see. Her skin prickled, but she couldn't see anything out of place. It was just the normal hustle and bustle of the palace. Maybe I am just paranoid. Perhaps it comes with the job description, she thought distractedly. She thought of her son and her ex-husband with the Fire Crowns on their head, and what that diadem had done to them. I'm just grateful this is only temporary.
Finally Ursa turned away. She left the study and locked the door behind her. She searched up and down the many halls of the Fire Nation palace for a particular warrior. Two guards trailed behind her unquestioningly. Ursa could almost forget they were there. They followed closely, silent and watchful, always on the alert for danger.
The Lord Chamberlain, Mal-Chin, intercepted her search. "Princess Ursa, may I be of assistance?"
Ursa brushed him off. "That's alright, Mal-Chin. Thank you though."
Mal-Chin was insistent. "I would hate for the Fire Lord to feel I was not an adequate servant to his lordship's mother. Please, Princess Ursa, it would be an honor to help you in any way I can."
Ursa relented and graced him with a distracted smile. "Thank you, Mal-Chin. I'm looking for Suki. Have you seen her lately?"
"Why yes, Princess, I have. I believe she and the other Kyoshi warriors are training in the southern courtyard," Mal-Chin replied readily. "Is there anything else I could help you with?"
"No, that's quite alright. You've been helpful enough."
Ursa swept away down the hallway with her robes billowing out behind her, her guards in tow.
Mal-Chin watched her until she disappeared around a corner before he hurried down to the Fire Lord's now-empty, unguarded study.
It had been difficult to get into the room. Ursa spent much of her time there, and at night it was locked and patrolled frequently by the Kyoshi warriors instead of their own guards, whom Mal-Chin was certain he could sway to his side. Before he had left, Zuko was usually in his study if he wasn't tied up in meetings. The study was seldom empty.
Why does our dear Fire Lord have to be so paranoid? Mal-Chin thought as he approached the sturdy doors. If our own soldiers guarded his study, it would be much easier to slip into it.
From his pocket he withdrew a key. It was a copy he had made in secrecy, along with several other locks that Zuko believed he only had the key to. It had been more than useful; it had been invaluable in their mission. Mal-Chin had been rewarded handsomely for his treachery.
He unlocked the door and hurried inside. He went to the desk and quickly looked over the paperwork. He knew he had time; he had fed the princess a falsehood. Truthfully, he hadn't seen the Kyoshi warriors anywhere near the southern courtyard. They were in the northern one. But just because Princess Ursa would be occupied for a while didn't mean that Mal-Chin wanted to be there any longer than he had to be.
There was nothing of interest on the desk. Frustrated, he produced another key and unlocked the top drawer. There, on top of a pile of letters, was a new letter. Mal-Chin recognized the silver silk string and the broken seal as the one belonging to retired General Iroh. He took the letter out and read it over, committing the details to memory.
The treasonous Lord Chamberlain placed the letter back exactly where it had been, locked up the drawer, and slipped from the room. This was possibly the most valuable piece of information he had come across yet. It was hard to keep his excitement contained.
He would be rewarded for this. Yes, he would be rewarded well.
At last, Ursa found the Kyoshi warriors. Mal-Chin must have been mistaken; the girls were training in the northern courtyard, not the southern one. He is rather old, Ursa thought as she approached the warriors. His memory might be slipping. She filed that thought away. She would speak to Zuko about it as soon as he returned.
Suki spotted the princess and straightened, holding an arm out to stop her troops. The other Kyoshi warriors fell in line behind their leader, bowing respectfully to Princess Ursa. Suki did the same.
"Princess Ursa, is everything alright?" Suki asked, alarm flashing in her eyes.
"Yes, everything is quite fine." Ursa held up a placating hand. "I would like to speak with you and Ty Lee, Suki, if I may take you from your training."
"Of course, Princess." Suki looked at her warriors. "Good work so far, girls. Let's take five. Be ready for more kicks when I get back."
The Kyoshi warriors looked relieved to have a small reprieve. They huddled together, and even under their makeup, Ursa could see their girlish giggling and flirtatious smiles aimed at the Fire Nation guards. She arched a brow as she briefly watched the exchange; the soldiers were smirking crookedly back at the girls.
Ursa turned to her guards, trying to keep her expression neutral. The soldiers snapped to attention, light blushes tinting their cheeks. "Wait here for me, please. I'll just be a moment."
"Yes, your highness."
Suki and Ty Lee followed Ursa to the far end of the courtyard. Ursa looked around to ensure they were alone. The feeling of being watched had finally subsided, but Ursa didn't trust it one bit. One never knew if there were listening ears about.
"What's going on?" Suki inquired. "Did you receive word from Grandmaster Iroh again? Or Zuko and Katara?"
Ursa shook her head. "No, I haven't heard anything new yet. That's not what I wanted to speak with you about."
"Then what is?" Ty Lee prompted.
Ursa cast one more look around before speaking in a low tone. "I'm beginning to think Zuko wasn't paranoid, Suki. I can't help but feel as though I'm being watched."
The Kyoshi warrior stiffened. "Have you seen anything out of the ordinary? Has anything been happening?"
"No, not that I can tell. I've been extremely cautious and observant. The study and the desk are never unlocked, and I haven't noticed anything being moved around. But I just can't shake the feeling." Ursa shook her head. "I open the curtains in there, you know, for the natural lighting. I haven't been closing them because I didn't want to arouse suspicion, and I've been paying attention to see if anything is going on."
"But you haven't seen anything." Ty Lee frowned.
"What do you need us to do?" Suki asked. "Whatever you need, the Kyoshi warriors and I are here to assist you."
"I want you to focus your warriors on guarding my daughter Kiyi, and myself. If there was an attack, or a coup, we would be the main targets until Zuko's return," Ursa said. "I want someone to be protecting us twenty four hours a day." She sighed. "It's times like these I'm grateful my husband travels often for work. I just wish I had let Kiyi go this time."
Suki and Ty Lee bowed. "It will be done, Princess Ursa," Suki said devoutly. "We would never be able to live with ourselves if anything happened to you or Princess Kiyi."
"Let alone what Zuko would do to us," Ty Lee added darkly. The Fire Lord's temper was legendary. She had known Zuko since their childhoods, and while he had learned to control his explosive anger as he grew older, she had witnessed him lose his temper on more than one occasion. And if Ty Lee were being honest, when he got into one of his rages, Zuko was downright scary. He almost reminded her of Ozai, and that was a chilling thing to see.
The princess smiled wanly. "I know you won't let anything happen to us, Suki. My son trusts you. I trust you." Ursa paused, her expression darkening. "And truthfully, I'm beginning to fear that those my son holds close in the court, are not as loyal as he thinks they are."
Suki's brow knit in anger. "Who? I'll be happy to dispose of them."
Ursa shook her head. "No, I won't ask you to do that until I'm sure. It is only a suspicion right now. But I will be keeping a close eye on my son's advisors."
"We will do the same," Suki said. "Is there anything else we can help you with, Princess Ursa?"
"Yes, there is one more thing." She pursed her lips thoughtfully. "I need the two of you to guard the study at night for me. And I don't mean stand outside of it."
"You want us to hide inside of it, like I did for Zuko." Suki nodded in agreement. "I'd be more than happy to, Ursa."
"Count me in," Ty Lee chirped. "I'd like to see a conspirator get past the two of us."
Ursa smiled, but it did not reach her eyes. "I am so glad my son has made such wonderful friends. I don't know what we would do without you in these uncertain times. Thank you."
When Aang opened his eyes, he was no longer in Iroh's garden in Ba Sing Se. Instead, he was surrounded by an impenetrable darkness. All around him silvery fog swirled. The darkness surrounding him was arctic. No sound, even that of his own breathing, reached his ears.
Aang climbed slowly to his feet. He sensed a path ahead of him; a narrow, straight line. He started down it, unsure of where it would lead, but knowing it was his destination.
Aang followed the path until he realized the area had taken on a silver glow, and he could actually see the ground he walked on. He realized he was surrounded by a petrified, skeletal forest. It was haunting.
With a fresh burst of speed Aang pressed on, determined to see where the path went, eager to be free of the melancholic forest. He sensed that it was important for him to reach the end.
Suddenly he broke through the treeline and found himself in a beautiful, unsettling glade. It was a perfect circle, with dewy, silvery grass that surrounded a large willow tree that stood tall and proud in its center. In front of the tree was a round pond filled with dark, reflectionless water.
Sound had returned to his ears: he could hear his own breath, and he could hear faint whispers carried on a breeze he did not feel.
Compelled forward by an unseen force, Aang approached the willow tree before dropping reverently to his knees and bowing his head. This was no ordinary tree despite its appearance. He could feel its ancient power, and its sentience.
"Young Avatar, it is time we talked." The genderless voice seemed to speak inside of his head. "You are about to face your greatest threat, and you must be prepared if you have any hope of defeating your nemesis. You will need the proper help. You must go into the Spirit World."
"Yes, I understand and I'm ready to do that," Aang said impatiently. "But if you can't help me, then why have you brought me here?"
"I have brought you here, Young Avatar, because the spirit you will seek is my son. The Sieshin Lord is not as kind and generous as I. His knowledge will come at a cost. I did not disclose that information to the Grandmaster because I knew he would try to circumvent it. But you have severed your earthly attachments and fully opened the final chakra. Now you will be able to give the sacrifice that my son will ask for."
Aang looked up at the tree in surprise. "What sacrifice?"
"In order to gain the knowledge you seek, the knowledge you need, you must sacrifice the blind girl who will travel with you into the Spirit World."
Aang suddenly felt cold. "I can't do that! I can't take a life. That's wrong and it goes against all of my teachings. And she's my friend! She trusts me."
"There is no other way, Avatar. The Sieshin Lord demands a sacrifice. It must be the blind girl."
"No, I won't do it! There has to be another way!"
The voice thundered in his head loud enough that he clapped his hands to his ears against the sound. "You would throw the balance into chaos for one human? You would ruin any chance of harmony in the world for one girl? Avatar, you must look beyond yourself and what is in front of you. The world is counting on it."
Aang got to his feet, defiant. He glowered at the tree. "I will not sacrifice my friend. I'll find another way to get the information I need."
"Such is the Air Nomad way, isn't it? If you can't approach a problem directly, you will find another way around it, won't you?"
"Yes!"
"Then you will fail, Avatar." The voice sounded forlorn. "It seems it was not enough to sever your earthly attachments. So I will show you the consequence of your choice."
Below him the ground opened up, and Aang fell into a cold, dark void.
Toph felt Aang stir. He grunted in his unconscious state. She started to rise, but a hand gripped her wrist and held her in place.
"No, Toph," Iroh warned. "We cannot disturb him. He must complete this part of his metamorphosis on his own."
"What's happening to him?" Toph demanded to know. Even with her impressive sense of sight, she couldn't tell what was going on with Aang. She could feel the rapid flutter of his heart, could smell the sweat that slicked his skin. In a rare occurrence, she loathed her blindness.
"I think the Mother Willow has reached out to him." Iroh's voice was low and reverent.
"The Mother Willow?"
"She is the Creator of All. And she usually doesn't trouble herself with the going-ons of the world she has made, instead choosing to be a passive spectator. But she has recently reached out to me to warn me and the other Grandmasters that the prophecy was beginning. And now she has reached out to Aang."
"But why?" Toph frowned. "I don't understand, Iroh."
"I do not have all of the answers. I wish there was more I could tell you." Iroh's voice was soft and sad. Toph knew he was lying. But she wouldn't call him out on it. If there was anything she had learned about Iroh, it was that he didn't tell the whole truth only when he felt it was necessary.
Toph turned her sightless eyes back to her friend. "What do we do now?"
"We wait."
Aang found himself suspended in mid-air. He recognized the walls of Ba Sing Se, but something was deeply wrong. For inside of the city was flame and carnage, black smoke reaching for the stars Aang looked around. All across the land, plumes of smoke rose toward the inky, smoky sky. Fires blazed everywhere he could see, swallowing all life.
"No!" Aang cried out. He reached out for the city, wanting to extinguish the fires and save its citizens. But he was rooted where he floated in the air, unable to bend in this astral form. He could only look upon the destruction, helpless.
The voice sounded in his head. "This is the fate of the world if you do not do what must be done, Avatar."
"But I already stopped this! Ozai was going to burn everything down! How is it still happening? Why are you showing me this?"
"Because the Conduit will continue Ozai's plan. Without the proper tools to defeat them, the Conduit will destroy you. And then they will destroy the world. Their power has never been fully unleashed before. They have the power of a thousand spirits at their disposal. Unless you can incapacitate the Conduit, this is what the future holds. And you will only be able to do so if you gain the wisdom to defeat them."
"But if you created everything, then you have the knowledge. Why can't you tell me?"
"It is not my place. We all have a part to play. I think you understand that."
"No, I don't." Aang felt terrible rage and sadness within himself like a powerful storm. "I would do anything to save the world. Whether it was my place or not!"
"Then you know what you must do. You will sacrifice the blind one."
"I will find another way," Aang said determinedly. "Everyone told me I had to take a life to end the war. But I held fast in my belief and I found another way. I'll do it again. Take me back. I don't need any more help from you."
"As you wish."
And the world fell away.
Author's Note: I know...I know...there's no Zutara in this chapter. Forgive me 3 I promise I make it up to you guys in the next few chapters.