On board the ship, Zuko, who had changed out of his tight armour, was saying his farewells to his uncle, in preparation to leave.

'Hello, Avatar. I am honoured to meet you at last.' Iroh bowed respectfully. 'You know, my nephew has been searching for you for three years, you know. Three years of searching, and looking, and now – finding.'

Aang smiled. 'I know.'

'Listen, uncle.' Zuko took his uncle to one side, 'I need you to take control of the ship, I'm going with Aang to the North Pole.'

'Won't this be a little hard to explain to the crew? They are still loyal to your father, after all. If you four leave now, there will be questions.'

'Then tell them something creative.'

'And what if it gets back to Azula?'

'It won't.' Zuko was deadly serious. 'Tell them I was captured. Hell, tell them I fell into the water, drowned and the Avatar escaped. Just make sure there is no suspicion. Surprise is essential to my plan.'

'As you wish.'

'Goodbye, Uncle.'

'Farewell, nephew.' Iroh pulled him into a fierce hug. 'I hope this is not our final goodbye.' Without another word, Zuko jumped onto the saddle of the gigantic flying bison, and along with Aang, Sokka and Katara, left.

In order to cover his nephew, he ran into the control room and shouted 'Help! The avatar has knocked Zuko overboard and escaped. He is drowning!' Naturally, the entire roomful of Fire Nation soldiers ran out, and peered over the sides of the railings, casting down ropes for the fictional drowning Zuko to cling onto.

Iroh spared one last glance at the disappearing bison, before stepping into his part as a 'distraught' uncle.

* Later, by the river *

'Wait 'til you see it, guys. The air temple is one of the most beautiful places in the world!' said Aang, tightening the ropes around Appa's horns.

Katara, who was much less optimistic than usual, attempted to calm him down. 'Aang, I know you're excited, but it's been a hundred years since you've been home.'

'That's why I'm so excited!'

'It's just that, a lot can change over a hundred years.'

Meanwhile, Zuko and Sokka were relaxing by the river, dangling their feet in the cool water. 'I did tell Aang what the Fire Nation did to his people, right?' Zuko asked Sokka.

'You did. Twice.'

'I know, but I need to see it for myself.' saud Aang.

'So long as you know.' Zuko sighed and lay back on the grass.

'Come on, guys! Air temple – here we come!'

* Fire Nation docks *

As the ship formerly captained by Zuko entered the dock, Iroh stepped off with the impression of a heavy heart. He barely went five feet before the arrogant Zhao approached him.

'I have heard about your loss. I am deeply sorry. It was such a shame that Zuko died before he could find the Avatar.'

'Thank you for your condolences, Captain Zhao.'

'It's Commander now, you know. But, please, the Fire Lord's brother is my welcome guest any time. What brings you to my harbour?'

'We need more men. We lost some in the South Pole. My nephew included.'

'Well, then you are in luck. There is a tent, reserved especially for recruitment.' Zhao pointed to the correct tent.

'Thank you for your help, Commander. And, congratulations in your promotion.'

Zhao waited until Iroh was out of earshot before speaking to his right-hand, Captain Zhin. 'I want you to gain a place on that ship. I want to find out everything that goes on in that ship. Am I understood?' She bowed.

'Yes, Commander. It shall be done.'

* And, back to Aang! *

'Aang, before we get there, I wanna talk to you about the Airbenders.' Zuko slid next to Aang, a serious look on his face, which Aang ignored.

'What about them?'

'The Fire Nation was ruthless. At school, we were taught about how we defeated the Air Nomads. Now I see that was just a lie. The Air Nomads were wiped out. I need you to be prepared for what you will see.'

'Zuko, just because no-one has seen an airbender, doesn't mean the Fire Nation has killed them all. They probably escaped.'

'I know that it's hard to accept.' Katara joined in, sliding down Appa's neck to rest on Aang's other side.

'No, you don't understand, Katara. The only way to get to an Air Temple is with a flying bison. Does the Fire Nation have flying bison, Zuko?'

'No, but-'

'Well then. Yip yip, Appa!' suddenly, they saw the Southern Air Temple for the first time. 'There it is. The Southern Air Temple.'

* Airball interval! *

As Sokka was knocked off his pole for the fifth time in a row, Zuko's eyes began to wander. His sight fell on something sharp and red, poking out of the white snow.

'Hey Katara, look at this.' he said as he brushed off the snow, revealing a Fire Nation helmet.

'We should tell him.' There was a thud, as Sokka was knocked off the pole for the sixth time. 'Hey, Aang, there's something you need to see.' As he ran towards them, a carefree look in his eye, Katara was gripped by sympathy, and discreetly bended the pile of snow on an overhang to fall on the helmet – and Zuko.

'What is it Katara?'

'Urr… just a new waterbending move I learnt.'

'That's great, Katara, but we've got a whole temple to explore. Come on.' Aang sprinted away, and Zuko burned himself out of the snow.

'You can't keep protecting him forever, Katara. Sooner or later he'll find out what happened to his people. You can't pretend the Fire Nation wasn't here.' said Zuko, excess snow quickly evaporating off him.

'I can for Aang's sake. If he finds out they invaded his home, he'll be devastated.'

* Later *

'Aang? You in here?' Zuko and Sokka tumbled through the curtain, to find Aang kneeling on the floor.

'Hey, relax.' said Sokka 'I wasn't really gonna eat him.'

'Aang,' Zuko put his hand on his shoulder, to turn him towards them, when he noticed the skeleton. 'Oh no.'

And then, Aang snapped. His eyes and tattoos began to glow, he lifted off in the air, and blew Zuko and Sokka away. 'What's happening?' shouted Katara, approaching steadily, despite the hurricane winds rippling against the mountain.

'I don't know. Aang found out that firebenders killed Gyatso, and it triggered his Avatar spirits!' shouted Sokka, through the wind.

'I'm gonna try calm him down.' she shouted back.

'Well, do it, before he blows us off the mountain!' at this stage, the wind was tugging as the boy's feet, lifting him off. He grabbed onto the only thing near - Zuko.

'Let go of me!'

'You want me to fly off the mountain?'

'No, and I don't want you to take me with you either!' Zuko wrapped his arm around a pole. 'Grab onto this, before you take us both off!' As Sokka placed his hands on it, the winds died down, and all was calm. With gravity restored, Zuko crashed to the ground, and Sokka crashed onto Zuko. 'Get off of me!'

'What happened? Did we die?'

'No, we're alive. I think your sister calmed him down.'

'Hoo-rah.' said Sokka, completely devoid of happiness, punching the air limply. 'Can I get some lunch now?'

Author Note: So, Chapter 3: The Southern Air Temple, is complete!

As you may have noticed, I've introduced a new antagonist - Zhin. She wasn't in the original show, but I did throw canon out the window in the first chapter, didn't I? Anyway, Zhin exists as a backup, to keep the story interesting! At this point she has been accepted onto the crew.

Truthfully, I wasn't expecting to do another chapter until wednesday, but lo and behold, the power of reviews urged me to stay up until 2am (GMT) last night finishing this!

Is anyone yet wondering what pairings I'll weave into my little tapestry of fiction? Well, wonder on. If you message/review me, I may tell you, however.

Please review! Praise, criticism and urgings to update are all welcome!

Read on, Flame-o,

Fere

PS, If scenes are missing, imagine a) they are the same or b) they could not be incorporated.

PPS, Dear Kataang-or-Zutara, I would love a beta reader, if you would be up for the job, that would be great!