The Children in the Iceberg

Water... Earth... Fire... Air. My grandmother used to tell me stories about the old days, a time of peace when the Avatar and Guardian kept balance between the Water Tribes, Earth Kingdom, Fire Nation, and Air Nomads. But that all changed when the Fire Nation attacked. Only the Avatar mastered all four elements and the Guardian that can deliver element signatures a well as 4 worriers helping the Avatar and Guardian not from our world. Only they could stop the ruthless firebenders. But when the world needed them most, they vanished. A hundred years have passed and the Fire Nation is nearing victory in the war. Two years ago, my father and the men of my tribe journeyed to the Earth Kingdom to help fight against the Fire Nation, leaving me and my brother to look after our tribe. Some people believe that the Avatar and the Guardian were never reborn into the Air Nomads and that the cycle is broken as well as the next 4 Worriers were never found, but I haven't lost hope. I still believe that somehow the Avatar, the Guardian, and the 4 Worriers will return to save the world.

In the South Pole over an island of ice, the 4 ninja turtles landed on the ice in a pile. They groaned as they got up from the ground. Mikey said, "Should've grabbed helmets when I had the chance."

They looked around the place and saw nothing but ice and water. Donnie said, "Wish Splinter would've told us where we were going to land."

Leo asked, "How are we going to get out of here? There's nothing but ice."

Raph said, "Well we better think of a plan quick cause I'm getting cold out here." As he blew warm air into his hands, fire came out. "Woah! Did you guys see that?" He snapped his fingers and fire appeared. "Sweet I'm a firebender."

Mikey said, "Explains the temper." He started to laugh at Raph.

Raph started to get mad like he always did. Leo rolled his eyes. "Enough Raph." Then somehow he moved the water and it landed on Raph. Raph started to shiver and was wet. "I'm a waterbender. Least I finally found a way to cool you off Raph."

Donnie said, "That means you and me are either earthbenders or airbenders Mikey."

Mikey said, "Let me try something." He did his fighting stance and when he did a punch, he let out some air. "Guess you're the earthbender Donnie."

Donnie said, "Too bad there isn't any around I can practice." Then he got an idea. "Wait a minute. I think I got an idea." He did the same as Mikey and when he raised his hand he actually raised some earth from the ocean floor. "Awesome." He lowered it back into the ocean.

But as it went down, it hit an underwater ice sphere. It started to glow. The turtles from above saw the glow and grew scared. Leo said, "Donnie. Where did you land it?"

Soon the light got closer and closer to the surface and it got bigger and bigger. When the Sphere hit the surface, the small island that had the turtles was pushed back until the sphere was completely on top of the water. The turtles cautiously walked forward to the ice and that's when they saw a person inside. It was a girl and she looked like she was twirling with one arm in front of her and the other one behind her. They took a step forward and then the girl opened her eyes showing a while/blue glow. Raph said, "She's alive!"

Mikey said, "We have to get her out of there." They ran to the sphere and tried to use their weapons on it, but it wasn't making a crack.

Raph said, "Let me try. Fire melts ice." He firebend the ice and it started to melt after a while, it made a hole and a gush of wind came out of it as the hole got bigger until the roof of it was gone.

The turtles got back on their feet when they looked up and saw the woman floating in the air. Then the glowing stopped and she went to the ground. The turtles ran to her. When they got closer she was knocked out. She had brown hair in 2 pigtails, a white top and pants resembling a belly dancer, and there were white swirl tattoos on her face, stomach and wrist. She even has a gold jewel band on her upper arm. They turned her over and Donnie check for a pulse. "She's alive. She must have been asleep all that time."

Then she started to open her eyes. She saw them and asked, "What kind of herbs did Aang use?"

Raph said, "Were not illusions kid."

She sat up and rubbed her eyes. "Are you spirits?" she asked.

Leo said, "No we're not. We're as real and…somewhat human as you."

She asked, "What do you mean?"

They helped her up. Mikey said, "Well even if we tell you, you might not believe us."

She replied, "Believe me I've seen weirder stuff."

The 4 looked at each other and gave up. They told her where they were from, how they became mutants, and who their master was. Leo said, "And Master Splinter gave us names. I'm Leonardo."

Donnie was next. "I'm Donatello."

Then Raph. "I'm Raphael."

Mikey said, "And last but not least, I'm Michelangelo. We were named after Renaissance dudes in our world."

The girl's eyes widen. "Then you're the 4 worriers."

Leo said, "Technically we're ninjas."

She shook her head. "No, no, before me and my brother was born, there were 4 worriers like yourselves here."

Donnie said, "Guess Master Splinter wasn't lying about that either. By the way we didn't get your name."

She bowed to them. "I'm Carabelle. If you don't mind me asking, what element do you bend?"

Leo said, "Waterbender."

Donnie said, "Earthbender."

Raph said, "Firebender."

Mikey said, "I'm an Airbender. What about you?"

Cara said, "I'm an Airbender. But I can change my tattoos to use other elements, though I can't summon them yet." Then they saw a pillar of light. "That's my brother. Leo can you waterbend us there?"

Leo smirked. "You got it. Raph, use your firebending for speed." The 2 did their bending and soon all 5 of them made their way to where the light was coming from.

Elsewhere an iron hulled battleship with a spiked prow cutting through the sea also nearby. It is apparently steam powered as it has a single smokestack. The foredeck is much longer than the afterdeck. The bridge appears to be several decks above the main deck. A young man on the foredeck dressed in red, also shaven-headed except for a ponytail, staring intently at the shaft of light in front of the ship. The left side of his face is badly scarred around his left eye. This is Prince Zuko. The light from the light shaft dissipates. Zuko said, "Finally." He turns to address someone playing a game. "Uncle, do you realize what this means?

The old man seated cross-legged at a low table, drinking tea and playing a game-involving domino like objects. "I won't get to finish my game?"

Zuko said, "It means my search - it's about to come to an end." Iroh groans. "The first and second light came from an incredibly powerful source. It has to be them!"

Iroh said, "Or it's just the celestial lights. We've been down this road before, Prince Zuko. I don't want you to get too excited over nothing. Please, sit. Why don't you enjoy a cup of calming jasmine tea?"

Zuko exploded in anger. "I don't need any calming tea! I need to capture the Avatar and the Guardian. Helmsman, head a course for the light!"

Back the exploded iceberg where the light came from, which quickly shifts to Sokka still shielding his sister from the blast that just dissipated. They look up to see residual blue light still swirling around the top of what is left of the iceberg. Suddenly, the boy appears, his eyes and arrow markings still aglow. Sokka raises his spear at the boy. "Stop!"

The boy stands up as the glow and residual energy fades. He seems to pass out and slides down the side of the ruined iceberg to Sokka and Katara, who lunges forward and catches him as he falls. Sokka pokes Aang in the head with the blunt end of his weapon. Katara yelled, "Stop it!"

She gives Sokka the Heisman and turns to the boy. She gently turns him over so that he is lying on his back. He begins to wake up. He slowly opens his eyes and he had a view of Katara. A breeze gently blows her braids and we hear him intake a breath. Aang whispered in a weak voice, "I need to ask you something."

Katara asked, "What?"

Aang still whispering, "Please... come closer."

Katara got closer. "What is it?"

Aang woke up. "Will you go penguin sledding with me?"

Katara was taken back. "Uh... sure. I guess."

Aang airbends himself to his feet as he starts to rub the back of his head. Sokka yelled out, "Ahh!"

Aang asked, "What's going on here?"

Sokka asked, "You tell us! How'd you get in the ice?" He poked Aang with his spear. "And why aren't you frozen?"

Aang batting the spear away, absently. "I'm not sure."

Aang gasps as a low, animal like noise is heard from behind him and begins to frantically climb back up the ruined iceberg. He jumps over the lip of what is in fact now a crater and lands on a huge furry animal. Aang smiled. "Appa! Are you all right? Wake up, buddy." He leans down and opens one of the beast's eyes. He closes it again. Aang hops down and tries to lift the animal's huge head, but without effect. Katara and Sokka come around the corner and their mouths drop in shock as the see the monster, whose mouth opens and licks the boy trying to wake him up. Aang laughed. "Haha! You're okay!"

He hugs Appa, then cut to a wide shot of the destroyed iceberg. Appa occupies most of the crater left by the explosion. He is a huge flying bison with six legs and horns like a steer. He gets up and shakes himself off a bit. Sokka asked, "What is that thing?"

Aang answered, "This is Appa, my flying bison."

Sokka didn't believe him. "Right. And this is Katara, my flying sister." Aang is about to reply, but doesn't as Appa begins to sneeze. Aang ducks in time as Appa proceeds to sneeze all over Sokka. "Ewww! Aahh!" Sokka, covered in snot, tries to get rid of it by rolling around on the ice and snow.

Aang said, "Don't worry. It'll wash out."

Sokka got gross when there was still some on him. "Ugh!"

Aang asked, "So, do you guys live around here?"

Sokka didn't give time for Katara to answer. "Don't answer that! Did you see that crazy bolt of light? He was probably trying to signal the Fire Navy."

Katara rolled her eyes. "Oh, yeah, I'm sure he's a spy for the Fire Navy. You can tell by that evil look in his eye." Aang did an innocent face with a smile. "The paranoid one is my brother, Sokka. You never told us your name."

Aang said, "I'm A... aaaahhhh... ahhhhhh... aaah aaah aaah AAAAAAACHOOOO!" As Aang sneezes he zooms of the ground far into the air. He responds to her question after he lands to the whistling sound of a bomb dropping. "I'm Aang." He sniffles and rubs his nose.

Sokka was incredulous. "You just sneezed... and flew ten feet in the air."

Aang asked, "Really? It felt higher that that."

Katara gasped, "You're an airbender!"

Aang said, "Sure am."

Sokka couldn't take it anymore. "Giant light beams... flying bison... airbenders... I think I've got Midnight Sun Madness. I'm going home to where stuff makes sense."

That's when Carabelle and the 4 turtles arrived where the 3 were. Aang saw her. "Cara!" He ran to her and hugged her.

Cara smiled and after the hug, she gave him a scolding. "You do know you're in trouble right young man?"

Aang asked, "How big?"

Cara pinched his ear and used her sharp thumbnail to cause pain. "How's this?"

Aang cringe and went to the ground. "Okay, okay, uncle, uncle." She let him go. Aang rubbed his ear. "By the way what's with 4 turtles?"

Cara said, "Oh, these 4 woke me up. Meet Leonardo, Donatello, Raphael, and Michelangelo. They woke me up from my sleep."

Sokka said, "So they're spirits or what?"

Leo said, "No real as you."

Sokka said, "Yeah it's Sun Madness alright if they're walking talking turtles."

Sokka turns to walk off, but is stopped at the iceberg's edge. The group looked around on how desolate the area is. Just sea and ice. Aang said, "Well, if you guys are stuck Appa, Cara and me can give you a lift."

Aang and Carabelle airbends themselves onto Appa's head, then to the top of his back where rests an enormous saddle. Reigns are attached to both of Appa's great horns. Raph said, "Don't know about you guys, but I'm in." He got on.

Donnie said, "Same here." He did the same. Mikey got up too along with Leo.

Katara said, "We'd love a ride! Thanks!" She gets on Appa.

Sokka said, "Oh, no... I am not getting on that fluffy snot monster."

Katara asked, "Are you hoping some other kind of monster will come along and give you a ride home?"

Leo added in, "You know... before you freeze to death?"

Sokka starts to say something and gives up before he does. He sighs. Everyone was on the saddle. Katara and the turtles looked excited but Sokka looks grumpy, arms folded across his chest.

Aang said, "Okay. First time flyers, hold on tight! Appa, yip yip!" Aang shakes the reigns and Appa makes a low rumble. Appa flaps his huge beaver tail and then launches into the air. He spreads his legs wide, but then comes right back down into the water with a huge splash. He begins to swim them forward.

Carabelle said, "Come on, Appa. Yip yip."

Sokka said, "Wow. That was truly amazing."

Aang said, "Appa's just tired. A little rest and he'll be soaring through the sky. You'll see."

He makes a "soaring through the sky" motion with his hand, his eyes finally resting on Katara. He leaves them there, a smile on his face as he looks at her. Katara asked, "Why are you smiling at me like that?"

Aang asked, "Oh... I was smiling?"

Sokka was disgusted. "Uuuuugh. I will admit though this saddle is pretty big to carry all of us. So to cut the mood, where are you turtles from?"

Donnie said, "You wouldn't believe us even if we tell you. Let's just say, before today, we didn't know we could even bend elements."

Sokka asked, "So you're the 4 Worriers right?"

Mikey said, "That's what Splinter told us."

Katara asked, "You don't believe that Cara and Aang are good, but you believe in the 4 Worriers?"

Sokka said, "When you're a fighter like me, you do research."

Back to Prince Zuko's Fire Navy ship, Iroh approaches Zuko, on the spotting deck off the bridge looking forward. It is now night. Iroh said, "I'm going to bed now." He makes an exaggerated yawn. "Yep. A man needs his rest. Prince Zuko, you need some sleep. Even if you're right and the Avatar, the Guardian, even the 4 warriors, are alive you won't find them. Your father, grandfather, and great-grandfather all tried and failed."

Zuko said, "Because their honor didn't hinge on the six's capture. Mine does. The cowards' hundred years in hiding are over."

Iroh shook his head at his nephew as he went down. What Zuko didn't know but he does, is that the 4 worriers are stronger then Zuko knows about and that the Guardian's fate will intertwine in more ways than one.

Meanwhile, Appa was swimming with his friends on his back. Aang lies back on top of Appa's head. Katara, in the saddle on Appa's back with her brother, crawls forward and looks down from the saddle at Aang. Cara was looking at the turtles' weapons.

Katara said, "Hey."

Aang replied, "Hey. Whatcha thinkin' about?"

Katara said, "I guess I was wondering – you and your sister being an airbender and all – if you had any idea what happened to the Avatar and the Guardian."

Cara looked at Katara and Aang looked disconcerted. "Uhh... no. I didn't know them... I mean, I knew people that knew them, but I didn't. Sorry."

Sokka said, "That's weird. In legend when the 4 Worriers arrive that means the 2 are not too far gone."

Cara said, "Sorry but my answer is the same as Aang."

The turtles knew the truth but kept their mouth shut. Katara said, "Okay. Just curious. Goodnight."

Aang said, "Sleep tight." Katara turns away and Aang had an expression of fear on his face.

As Aang slept he started to dream. The colors are grays, crèmes and pale browns. He wakes up on top of Appa and the view rotates with Aang in Appa's saddle, then Aang was struggling against Appa's reigns with heavy rain coming down. Cara was already long gone. "Aaahhh!" Then Aang and Appa suddenly penetrate the surface and enter the watery depths. They come up briefly for air, Appa groans, but they are once again driven under the storm tossed waves. As they drift downward, Aang drops Appa's reigns and begins to lose consciousness. Suddenly, Aang's eyes and markings glow white. He puts his hands together and he freezes himself and Appa in a huge ball of ice. Then he heard a voice. "Aang! Aang, wake up!" He wakes up, gasping. "It's okay. We're in the village now. Come on, get ready. Everyone's waiting to meet you. Cara and the turtles already up."

Aang gets up and puts on his shirt and hood. Katara looks at his airbender tattoos. She grabs Aang by the hand and drags him outside. He carries a staff with him. "Whaaaa!"

As Katara pulls him out a small crowd has gathered to greet him. It is composed of women of various ages and children. Cara saw him. "Well it's about time you got up." The turtles had on water tribe clothes for the time being, but it wasn't easy finding some in their size.

Katara said, "Aang, Carabelle, this is the entire village. Entire village, Aang and Cara. Also these 4 are the ninja turtles. Leo, Donnie, Raph, and Mikey"

The 6 bows to them in a friendly manner, but the people pull back from them anyway. The 6 were taken back. "Uh... why are they all looking at me like that? Did Appa sneeze on me?" asked Aang.

An old woman enters as Aang inspects his clothes for bison snot. She said, "Well, no one has seen an airbender in a hundred years let alone 2 of them. We thought they were extinct until my granddaughter and grandson found you, Aang and Cara. As for you 4, it's the same. Though the last 4 were rumored to be less buff."

Raph whispered to his brothers, "Must have been talking about the another group of turtles we know."

Aang and Cara asked, "'Extinct'?"

Katara said, "Guys, this is my grandmother."

The old woman said, "Call me Gran Gran."

Sokka grabbed Aang's staff. "What is this, a weapon like Donnie's? You can't stab anything with this."

Aang said, "It's not for stabbing." He creates a jet of air that sucks the staff back into his hand. "It's for airbending." Aang opens the staff into a glider with red wings.

A little Girl said, "Magic trick! Do it again!"

Aang said, "Not magic, airbending. It lets me control the air currents around my glider and fly."

Cara said, "I wanted one, but my teachers said, I don't need one."

Sokka said, "You know, last time I checked, humans can't fly."

Leo said, "Then you should've gone to our world."

Aang said, "Check again!" Aang launches himself into the air with his glider. He soars through the air, doing loops as the villagers on the ground point to him in wonder.

Raph asked, "What can you do Cara?"

Cara said, "Watch this." She bended some air and with the holes in her pants, she airbend up to the sky like she was a flying superhero.

Mikey said, "Wonder if I can try that."

Cara said, "It takes practice Mikey."

Mikey tried and to his and his brothers' surprise, he made the air scooter. "This is awesome!"

Aang looks down at Katara who smiles at him. He is so enthralled with her attention that slams right into Sokka's guard tower. He pulls his head out of the tower and falls to the ground with his glider. "Oof!"

Donnie said, "Think we have another Mikey."

Sokka gasped, "My watchtower!"

Katara said, "That was amazing."

She helps Aang back to his feet. He twirls his glider shut as Sokka examines the damaged tower behind him. After Aang closes the glider a huge bank of snow buries Sokka. "Great. You and your sister are airbenders, 4 turtles popped out of nowhere, and Katara's a waterbender, together you can just waste time all day long."

Aang said, "You're a waterbender!"

Katara said, "Well... sort of. Not yet."

Leo said, "I'm one too."

Katara asked, "You are?"

Leo said, "Yep. Though I just found out a few hours ago."

Aang asked, "There's no benders where you were from."

Leo said, "Not a one."

Gran Gran said, "All right. No more playing. Come on, Katara, you have chores."

Gran Gran leads Katara away. "I told you! They're the real thing, Gran Gran! I finally found benders to teach me."

Gran Gran said, "Katara, try not to put all your hopes in this group."

Katara argued. "But they're special. I can tell. I sense they're filled with much wisdom." She looks over to her right and Aang with his tongue frozen to his staff, children gathered around him. Cara tried to pull it off which made Aang scared. The turtles were laughing.

Aang slurred, "Sthee? Now my tongue ith thuck to my sthaff."

A child next to him grabs the staff and yanks, but Aang's tongue stays stuck. "Tee hee!"

Fade to an afternoon or sunset shot of Zuko's ship cutting through the waves Zuko was facing two Fire Navy seamen. Iroh sits nearby. "Again."

Zuko blasts fire from his hands at the guards, but misses. Then the guards attack Zuko with blasts of fire from their fists, but Zuko dodges. He back flips over the guards to land behind them. "Ha! Heeya!"

Iroh sighs and gets up. "No! Power in firebending comes from the breath. Not the muscles. The breath becomes energy in the body. The energy extends past your limbs and becomes fire." Iroh demonstrates, releasing a controlling plume of flame that bursts in front of Zuko, but does not hit him. "Get it right this time."

Zuko said, "Enough. I've been drilling this sequence all day. Teach me the next set. I'm more than ready."

Iroh said, "No, you are impatient. You have yet to master your basics." Then he said more forcefully, "Drill it again!"

Zuko got annoyed. "Grrrr... huh!" He blasts one of the guards backwards with a gout of fire. "The sages tell us that the Avatar and the Guardian are the last airbenders. They must be over a hundred years old by now. They had a century to master the four elements. As for the 4 warriors, they're probably dead by now. I'll need more than basic firebending to defeat them. You WILL teach me the advanced set!"

Iroh said, "Very well. But first I must finish my roast duck." Begins eatin. "Num num... num..."

Meanwhile, back at the Water Tribe, Sokka was lecturing the young fighters. But they were just little kids. "Now men, it's important that you show no fear when you face a firebender. In the Water Tribe, we fight to the last man standing. For without courage, how can we call ourselves men?"

A little Boy raises his hand. "I gotta pee!"

Sokka said, "Listen! Until your fathers return from the war, they're counting on you to be the men of this tribe. And that means no potty breaks."

The Little Boy said again, "But I really gotta go."

Sokka sighs. "Okay... who else has to go?" All six raise their hands. Sokka slaps his forehead in disgust as all six left.

That's when Raph put a hand on his shoulder. "Not as easy being the oldest huh?" he asked.

Sokka asked, "Like your master was any better?"

"He would swat us with his cane."

Katara went to them. "Have you seen Aang or Cara? Gran Gran said they disappeared over an hour ago."

Aang emerged from a small igloo type bathroom stall. He adjusts his pants and smiles at the trip of boys coming to use the toilet. Aang gestured over his shoulder at the toilet. "Wow! Everything freezes in there!"

The kids laugh. "Aang that's gross." said Cara.

Sokka didn't like this. "Ugh! Katara, get them out of here. This lesson is for warriors only." At Appa, Aang was on his back. They have propped up his tail using a makeshift sawhorse. A kid has used Appa's back and tail as a slide to land in a pile of snow. The children, and soon Katara, all start laughing. Cara just stand there incase someone gets hurt. "Stop! Stop it right now!" He turned to Aang and Cara. "What's wrong with you? We don't have time for fun and games with a war going on."

Aang and Cara asked, "What war?"

Aang hops down off of Appa. "What are you talking about?"

Cara said, "There's no war."

Sokka asked, "You're kidding, right?"

Then Aang saw something. "PENGUIN!" He ran to it. Katara was following after him.

Cara face-palmed. "Great. Just great."

Sokka asked, "He's kidding, right?"

Donnie went to Sokka said, "Maybe when he was frozen he doesn't know. Heck you even know if there's trouble we'll be here."

Sokka said, "Yeah but I don't think he knows that."

Mikey said, "Come on you guys live a little. Everyone needs fun once in a while."

Sokka yelled, "And there's time to be serious!"

Raph stopped him. "Don't even try it. He's not the serious type."

Mikey said, "Have to agree with hothead. In fact you 2 could be twins with the same ticked off look you have on now." And he was right. Both Raph and Sokka have the same ticked off face.

Back on the beach loaded with penguins Aang was waddling around squawking. Katara was looking for Aang. "Aang?"

Aang chasing some penguins, but unable to catch them as the waddle away. "Haha! Hey, come on little guy. Wanna go sledding?" Aang lunges, but falls flat on his face. He gets back up as Katara approaches. "Oof! Heh heh, I have a way with animals." He puts his arms out and waddles in imitation of the four flippered penguins. "Yarp! Yarp yarp! Yarp! Yarp yarp! Yarp!"

Katara giggles. "Hahaha... Aang, I'll help you catch a penguin if you teach me and Leo waterbending."

Aang said, "You got a deal! Just one little problem. I'm an airbender, not a waterbender. Isn't there someone in your tribe who can teach you?"

Katara looked away in sadness. "No. You're looking at the only waterbender on the whole South Pole and as Leo said, he just found out today he can."

Aang said, "This isn't right. A waterbender needs to master water. What about the North Pole? There's another Water Tribe up there, right? Maybe they have waterbenders who could teach you."

Katara said, "Maybe. But we haven't had contact with our sister tribe in a long time. It's not exactly 'turn right at the second glacier.' It's on the other side of the world."

Aang said, "But you forget: I have a flying bison. Appa, Cara and I can personally fly you and the ninja turtles to the North Pole. Katara, we're gonna find you a master!"

Katara was happy. "That's..." Then went uncertain. "I mean, I don't know. I've never left home before."

Aang said, "Well, you think about it. But in the meantime, can you teach me to catch one of these penguins?"

Katara mock teacherly tone. "Okay, listen closely my young pupil. Catching penguins is an ancient and sacred art. Observe." he produces a little fish from her coat and tosses it at Aang. He is instantly surrounded by a horde of hungry penguins.

Suddenly, Katara and Aang rocket off the ice bank, each sitting on top of a penguin. The land on the bank below and continue down at high speed on the penguin's belly. Aang and his penguin take a jump off a small ramp, eventually landing in front of Katara. She takes the jump and lands near him. They laugh and whoop happily. Katara said, "I haven't done this since I was a kid!"

Aang said, "You still are a kid!"

They continue to rocket across the frozen landscape, eventually entering system of ice tunnels. The tunnels are having periodic gaps where sunlight pours through. They emerge from the tunnels and get off their mounts, which stand up and dizzily wander away making little chirping noises. They walk forward, looking at something in front of them. Aang was in awe. "Whoa... what is that?"

In front of them was a huge ship locked in the. It is a derelict Fire Navy ship, silhouetted by the sun behind it. Katara said in a deathly serious voice, "A Fire Navy ship, and a very bad memory for my people." Aang begins to walk to the ship. "Aang, stop! We're not allowed to go near it. The ship could be booby trapped."

Aang said, "If you wanna be a bender, you have to let go of fear."

She looks uncertain, and then follows him to the ship. They climb up and enter the ship through a gaping hole in one of the forward compartments below the water line. They walk around the dark corridors inside past many a darkened room. Katara said, "This ship has haunted my tribe since Gran Gran was a little girl. It was part of the Fire Nation's first attacks."

Aang said, "Okay, back up. Sissy and I have friends all over the world, even in the Fire Nation. We've never seen any war."

Katara asked, "Aang, how long were you and Cara in the icebergs?"

Aang shrugged. "I don't know... a few days, maybe?"

Katara said, "I think it was more like a hundred years!"

Aang was in shock. "What? That's impossible. Do I look like a hundred-twelve year old man to you and sissy a hundred-sixteen year old woman?"

Katara said, "Think about it. The war is a century old. You and Cara don't know about it because, somehow, you 2 were in there that whole time. It's the only explanation."

Aang puts his hand to his head and walks backward. Stunned by this realization, he sinks to the floor. "A hundred years! I can't believe it."

Katara kneeling next to him. "I'm sorry, Aang. Maybe somehow there's a bright side to all this."

Aang said, "I did get to meet you, Sokka, and the turtles."

Katara smiles. "Come on. Let's get out of here." She helps him back to his feet and they start walking once again. Aang enters a darkened room on the ship, Katara behind in the hallway. "Aang? Let's head back. This place is creepy."

Aang asked, "Huh?" Then Aang's foot dragged a trip wire on the floor. Behind them a grate that drops from the ceiling blocks the door. They grab it just after it falls shut. They are trapped. "What's that you said about booby traps?" Around them, machinery in the room starts to operate. Gauges show steam pressure and wheels begin to turn. Steam begins to pour out of some of the equipment. Suddenly, a bright flare explodes out of the Fire Navy ship and into the sky, leaving a trail of smoke behind it. Aang and Katara looking out the window of the ship's bridge. "Uh oh." When it reaches its zenith it explodes with a small shower of sparks. "Hold on tight!" He grabs Katara, who cries out in surprise, and launches them both through the hole in the ceiling. He lands with her in his arms on top of the bridge.

The falling flare was seen through the lens of a telescope. The telescope follows the flare down for a few moments, before shifting downwards to show Aang hopping down the ship and the ice, which encases it to the ground below, Katara still in his arms. Zuko spotted the flare "The last airbenders." Zuko looked through his telescope. "Quite agile for their old age. The 4 shouldn't be far behind. Wake my uncle! Tell him I found the Avatar and the Guardian..." Zuko looks back into his telescope to see Aang and Katara running across the ice away from the ship. He then scans left quickly, then pulls it back right to focus on Katara's village. "...as well as their hiding place."