"Aang...Aang? AANG?"

The young avatar awoke to the distant sound of bells ringing and the dulcet tones of his maid; Akiko. He lay still as she busied about his bed chamber, preparing the day's clothes and sweeping the already immaculate floor. Three years ago today he had defeated Fire Lord Ozai in a war to end all wars, and it was today that his best friend, and son of Hakoda (leader of the Southern Water Tribe), Sokka, would be marrying Suki, a pretty, eighteen summer-old Kyoshi warrior.

The sound of a cascading waterfall could be heard through the window Akiko had just opened. A small smile appeared on Aang's face. It had reminded him immediately of Sokka's younger sister, Katara, for whom he'd loved ever since he'd first laid eyes on her. His smile fell as he remembered their last goodbyes in Ba Sing Se. He blinked away the sudden tears which threatened to fall and slowly pushed himself up into a sitting position. Akiko pointed silently to the clothes neatly folded at the end of his bed and then exited his quarters. Aang sighed, and got swiftly to his feet.

"Avatar," Jiro muttered with a low bow, as Aang passed his Royal Adviser. "Glad you could join us,"

A collection of important looking people were sitting around a long glass table, each with a smaller, less important person standing beside them. He was guessing that these were the apprentices Jiro had told him about.

"This is Commander Mosumato," Jiro said, indicating to a portly man dressed in a flaming red silk kimono.

Aang bowed, "It is a pleasure to meet you, Commander Mosumato," he said as if he had practised saying this many a time.

"Same to you, Avatar Aang," Mosumato replied, his voice uncannily squeaky. "A great honour it is to finally meet the boy who stopped Ozai,"

"Thank you," Aang said modestly, bowing again.

"And this…" Jiro introduced each of the men in turn, but Aang wasn't really listening. He was gazing longingly at a window in the far corner of the room which revealed an excellent view of the surrounding area. Jiro told him this was the most beautiful house in the Earth Kingdom, but despite Jiro telling him numerous times, he didn't know exactly where it was. They moved around so much it was impossible to keep track of things.

He pined for a bit of freedom, to see his old friends, but Jiro said an Avatar had no time for friends. Even though the war had ended three years ago people from the other three nations were still raging attacks on the Fire Lord and his people and it was the Avatar's job, his job, to try and keep peace. Aang knew the Fire Lord personally; in fact, he had been trained in the art of fire bending by him. He smiled. He missed Zuko, like he missed all the people he'd left behind.

"Aang?" Jiro snapped, tapping him on the shoulder. "It is time to speak,"

The young Avatar swallowed nervously before beginning; he had never been good at public speaking, especially with all these important people watching him with interest. "Three years ago today I defeated Fire Lord Ozai and ended the Great War," He paused. He hoped it didn't sound like he was gloating, "But even now people hope to disrupt the peace we yearn for. Only through brotherhood…" He'd spotted Momo, gliding through the trees, quickly followed by Appa who was grunting in protest. It seemed Momo had a large red fruit clasped tightly in his fore paws and the flying bison wanted it badly. That reminded him, he need to feed Cheza, the messenger hawk Akiko had bought him for his birthday.

He felt a prod in the back from Jiro and hastily continued, "Only through brotherhood can we hope to restore this world to what it should be," He looked at each of the men and their apprentices in turn, "And I need your help to do so,"

Jiro nodded approvingly and indicated for Aang to sit down, before starting a long and boring speech about the importance of being well prepared. Of course Aang had heard it all before. Everywhere they went Jiro always said the same things, over and over. He stifled a yawn, after half an hour of day dreaming, and let out a sigh of relief when his advisor said he could leave.

He exited the room hurriedly, glad to be free at last and ran out of the house skidding to a stop when he reached the edge of a large cliff. The wind gently caressed his face and he closed his eyes contently. Peace…

Aang's eyes snapped open, "Cheza?" he said, frowning slightly as the hawk landed on his shoulder. There was a letter strapped to her back and Aang hastily extracted it from her carrier. "Avatar Aang," he read, his eyes darting across the page, "Fire Lord Zuko is missing. The Fire Nation calls upon your help in this grave and distressing time, please come swiftly. Yours sincerely, Advisor Ping," Aang blinked in disbelief. Zuko missing? He sighed anxiously, before turning and walking back towards the house. He needed to write a letter, a letter that was not addressed to the Fire Nation, but to the Southern Water Tribe.

"Cheza," he said to the messenger hawk as he knocked gingerly on Jiro's chamber door, "I think it's time to reunite the old gang," He swallowed as the door was opened.

"What is it Avatar Aang?" Jiro said, glaring down at him. He seemed a little flustered.

"Fire Lord Zuko… Is missing." Aang's gaze hardened, but inside it felt as if a chunk of his soul had just floated away. Dark times were ahead.