Thanks to everyone who has read this far! Please Review and let me know what you think.

If you enjoy action then I hope you continue reading because the next chapter will be the "Siege of the North"

The Avatar's Redemption

Book 1: Awakening

Chapter 3: The Path Less Taken

The Path Less Taken Pt. 1

Terran walked down a path in the city of Cuong, one of the many cities he had saved in his siege of the southern Earth Nation. He was greeted and thanked by the joyous faces of the various people who were rebuilding their lives there. Terran looked out into the city and he could see that things were going to get better; he saw the desolate buildings being worked on by the construction workers that had been sent by the earth nation, he saw soldiers helping create small temporary homes with their earth-bending, he saw debris being moved out, the earth nation was bringing in food and clothing, but most of all he saw the change in demeanor of the people who lived here.

Terran's train of thought was interrupted when a little girl began tugging on his uniform. The little girl was smiling; this was probably her first smile in a long time. She had big bright emerald eyes that didn't match her tattered clothing. The little girl began to speak in a tone of curiosity. "Mister Avatar, are you going to stay here and keep me and my mommy safe? Those blue people made my mommy cry at night. I don't want the blue people to come back and make my mommy cry again." Terran lifted up the little girl to his shoulder. "What's your name?" asked Terran. "Layla," said the little girl. "Listen Layla, as long as I'm hear I promise the blue people won't hurt you anymore. This is your home now and you don't need to be afraid anymore. See the green men over there. They will be here to protect you too. They're going to be your guardian spirit." The little girl's face brightened up, "I can't wait to tell mommy that we have our own spirits to protect us!"

Toshi called out Terran from a distance. Terran put down the little girl and waved good-bye. Terran ran up to meet Toshi. "What's up?" Terran asked noticing Toshi's urgency. "The General wants to see us. He says we have to leave right now and get ready for some meeting with the other high ranking officers," said Toshi who was currently pulling Terran so he would hurry up. "All right Toshi calm down, I would like to get there without my arm being pulled out of its socket."

The General was waiting outside a transport bridge that had been set up and linked to Neo Ba Sing Se. He seemed more tense than usual. He greeted Terran and Toshi and told them to step in because they needed to head back to the capital. Terran turned around and took one last look at Cuong and then entered the transport bridge; he still wasn't used to the whirling rays of colors you had to walk through just to get to the other side of the transport bridge even if it only took a few seconds.

The trio made their way to the central meeting hall where they were greeted by a flurry of stern old men who were either spokesmen sent by the Earth Nation Leader or other army figures. The General made his way up to the front of the room and asked that the Avatar join him. "No need for formalities let's just say what we need to say," announced the General. Everyone sat down and waited for the General to address them.

"My friends as you all know the siege of the southern Earth Nation was a success thanks to the Avatar and all the brave soldiers who accompanied us," everyone began to cheer, "Yes. Yes. This is a momentous occasion but now it is time to address another matter. I believe that with the loss the water nation has just taken they will be unprepared to defend the remaining cities and areas that they hold in the various scattered locations further south and in the east and west. That is why I suggest we immediately send soldiers to take back those locations before the United Water Nations get a chance to send proper reinforcements"

Everyone in the room responded with agreement, but Terran began to wonder if this was really all they were brought in here for. He understood that taking back those areas was necessary but he doubted the situation would be so severe that he would be needed.

General Chao began to speak in a more strenuous tone as he eyed the Avatar, "While this attack is necessary it is not the main reason I called this meeting. I would like to discuss the possibilities of taking back the heavily fortified area of the northern Earth Nation," the room was once again filled with chatter but now it was in a more grave tone, "I believe that with the combined powers of myself and my top soldiers as well as the powers of the Avatar we can succeed in this ambition. I also believe that it is necessary we decide quickly as reinforcements will most likely be sent there now that news of our first attacks have gotten out," the General cleared his throat. "So what is your response?"

The men chattered for a few moments but seemed to have come to a quick agreement. One of the men who was sitting in front stood up, "We are in agreement as long as the Avatar is ready and also agrees with these terms." The General turned to Terran, "Well?"

Terran couldn't believe it. No one has attempted to take back that land since it was captured during the age of Avatar Umiko and for good reason. The land is held under a joint rule of both the fire nation and the water nation that was set up by Umiko who believed that taking a stand together against the Earth Nation was in the best interest of both the water and fire nation. No other joint agreement was ever made after that and it's amazing that this one hasn't fallen apart. Not only that but it is also heavily fortified with the latest fire nation technology.

Terran considered declining but then he remembered that little girl who was so happy that she was free and he knew he couldn't allow the people of the Earth Nation to suffer anymore. Terran stood up and looked at the members of the meeting. He could barely see Toshi in the back but he could feel Toshi's ambition. Toshi was always willing to do everything for the Earth Nation and he wasn't going to back down now. "I am also in agreement. We will take back the north and will free our people." Toshi nodded his head in approval and the General smiled with satisfaction as he patted Terran's back. The General knew Terran would make the choice that no one would; the General had groomed him well.


The Path Less Taken Pt. 2

It had been a week since Calais learned the truth of the Avatar and his past and he was filled with feelings of motivation he had never felt before. He got up early to train and hone his skill with the other monks, much to Dalah's approval, he spoke with the other young air nomads about the recent discoveries and helped calm them down, and he was always meditating as if he was trying to contact the ancient spirits of the previous Avatars.

The older monks believed that Calais was simply in brighter spirits now that he knew the truth but Calais was actually planning something. There was a bigger reason as to why he pushed himself so much in the recent days. Calais was planning his departure and his journey. He was preparing to go meet the Avatar himself. He believed that if he could just get the Avatar to see what he had seen then things would change. He thought that if he could somehow get the Avatar to reconnect with his spiritual side then the Avatar could understand. Calais wasn't very spiritual himself but he thought if he could sit down and meditate then maybe he could convince the Avatar to try and listen to him.

After failing every attempt to connect with the spiritual world, Calais believed it was necessary to speak with Dalah and relay his idea with him.

Calais met with Dalah early the next morning after his new ritual of feeding the birds in the courtyard. "Dalah I need to speak with you about something very important." Dalah was somewhat taken aback by the seriousness that was in Calais' tone. "What is it Calais?" "Dalah I need to understand how to connect with the spirits and the spiritual world." Dalah held his eyes shut tight and gnawed his teeth. He was hoping that no one would ever ask him this; he didn't want to relive his first and only encounter with the Spirit World. "Calais that is impossible." Calais didn't believe Dalah for a second and knew he was hiding something from him, "Dalah you're not very good at lying are you? Come on I need to know."

Dalah sighed in exasperation, "Calais the Spirit World isn't the same since the Avatar lost contact with it. It is a dark, unbalanced, and distorted world. Only savage dark spirits can be found there. Those beings will try to drag you there body and soul to torment you and satiate their desire for chaos and disruption…not only that but Koh, the face stealer, runs on a rampage as he tries to take every face he can find." Calais wasn't disheartened in the least, "Well are you going to tell me how to enter it or not?"

Dalah was infuriated that Calais was taking this so lightly. "Calais you can never enter the Spirit World! It is far too dangerous! Do you not understand the gravity of the situation there?" Calais shook his head, "Of course I do Dalah but I have to at least try. It's necessary that I do."

Dalah was just about ready to erupt in anger, "Why on earth is it necessary in the least Calais?" Calais readied himself for what was coming for him next. "Dalah I need to learn how to enter the Spirit World so that I can help the Avatar enter it and understand his purpose." Dalah was blown away by this revelation.

"What! There is no way you will leave this place in search of the Avatar!" Calais shook his head again, "Dalah you don't understand I have to. I need to." Dalah couldn't understand Calais' foolishness, "Calais there is a reason we stay here and that is to avoid the horror the Avatar bestows on the world. Meeting him will be your death!"

"I have to. I know that he can save this world if he just understands. I can't just stand by and know that there is a solution to this problem and not act on bringing it about." Dalah calm down and whispered, "No…you can't…I can't let you harm yourself in a pointless attempt…I wouldn't be able to forgive myself…" Calais felt his heart sink, "Dalah please I…" "No. Calais you will be placed under watch by the monks and you will not be allowed to leave your room until further notice."

Calais was in shock, "What? No you can't!" "ENOUGH!" shouted Dalah. Dalah grabbed Calais and pressed on his forehead causing Calais to black out.

Calais groggily awoke in the middle of the night in his room. "Man, I didn't know the old guy had it in him." Calais leaped off his bed and stretched his sore muscles. He lifted up a floorboard. He had prepared for this event just in case it happened. He picked up two small bags, one with supplies and the other with scrolls he had taken from the Chamber of the Avatar.

Calais could hear snoring outside his closed window. He snickered to himself. He recognized the snoring as belonging to one of the older monks who was nicknamed Drowsy. "I guess Dalah thought I wasn't going to wake up so quickly." Calais picked up his glider, a relatively ancient way to travel he thought but a way to travel nonetheless.

Calais opened the window and carefully stepped over the monk. He looked up at the starry sky. There wasn't even a single cloud out and the moon had a beautiful glow tonight. Calais opened his glider and took one last look at the old monastery. It was actually a nice place and was a spitting image of the temples he had seen in the scrolls he read in the Chamber. He wished the old monastery and the birds that always greeted him a good-bye and flew off.

Calais was one of the few air nomads to leave the monastery and even though he felt he was ready he had no idea of the terrible destruction he was about to witness. He was about to witness an Avatar who had already decided his fate and purpose a long time ago.