Disclaimer: I don't own Avatar the last air bender except for my OC Tayoh
(A/N: I'm changing my OC name to Tao so it will be easier to write, it still has the same pronunciation.)
Everyone looked back only to be surprised to see who Tao brought along with him.
It was some kids that were the same age as Tao with supplies "maybe their friends with him" thought everyone in relieve that he didn't betray them even though they didn't welcome his help.
"See we're here to help" said Tao in a reasoning tone.
"Look there kids he didn't betray us he's here to help" said Katara relieved.
With that Aang stopped in mid to descend to the floor and gladly take the supplies from the children.
"Thanks we appreciate it" said Katara with a smile and so did the children.
"I just thought I should help the avatar even though he's a big jerk!" said Tao a little angry.
Aang looked at him a little angry but felt depressed seeing that his doubt on people especially the citizens of the fire nation made him turn down help that was offered to him, he hated feeling this way so he decided to bury the hatchet.
"Look I'm sorry I acted that way but it's just that we've been through a lot and it made me doubt myself on how I was doing my job as the avatar" said Aang explaining.
"Don't worry about it I'm just glad that your not as bad as I thought" said Tao smiling so did everyone else.
After the supplies were put up on Appa's back and the kids left back to the festival to have for fun leaving Tao to say goodbye since the gang decided its best if they leave since they were near a fire nation town and need to avoid trouble but it left Tao a thought.
"Hey can I go with you guys?" pleaded Tao.
"Um well I don't know what about your family?" wondered Katara.
"My father and brother were forced to fight in the war and my mother was killed by some earth bending thugs because they wanted to prove what the war was doing to people so all I have is my grandfather, he gave me hope because he said that he knew the avatar and that he must have a good reason for disappearing which made me hope that you would sooner or later put an end to this horrible war that's why I want to join you to stop the fire lord to put an end to this endless war" said Tao wisely unknowing that he could sympathize with everyone including the earth king but for a brief moment a thought struck Aang.
"Hold on your grandfather knew me his name couldn't be Kuzon would it?" surprisingly said Aang.
"Yah was he a special friend?" asked Tao awaiting an answer, so did everyone.
"Yah before the war I would go to the fire nation just to visit him and play pranks all day and was always teaching me that you have to take chances to get what you want" said Aang reminiscing about old times.
"Can I see him?" asked Aang
"Sure he'd be happy to see you" said Tao delighted.
"Don't worry this will only take a sec" said Aang excited while walking with him back to the festival.
"Where is he going we're wasting the night here?" said Sokka.
"This is Aang's friend from long ago that managed to stay a live this long he disserves to see him we'll just take a nap until he gets back" said Katara.
In the festival Aang covered in a black came and hood was following Tao who was wearing a red short sleeved shirt with a sash colored orange with grey bagged pants that reached the knee and boots brown just like Aang. They were both wearing masks to blend in with the crowd. They hurried through the crowd to get to the fountain, it was in the part of the town where the festival wasn't happening, and a lot of people were there to calm down because they were tired of the festivities. Aang and Tao stopped to look around then Tao spotted him and ran to him, Aang followed.
"Grandpa, Grandpa look, look who I found!" said Tao to surprise.
"What is it? ... Huh well I be" said Old Kuzon.
"KUZON!" said Aang happily taking off his mask to hug his long lost friend.
"Aang it's good to see you, when I saw your wanted poster it was strange to see that they drew you young but seeing you young it makes sense, where have you been?" asked Old Kuzon.
"I'm sorry but back then when the monks told me I was the avatar I was confused, everything was changing for me, the monks wanted to send me away to train, they wanted to take Gyasto away from me, they wanted to take my life away from me to turn me to workaholic, all I could think about was running away but a storm hit and it dragged me and Appa down into the ocean, I entered this special state called the avatar state which gave me the powers of my previous avatar lives and incased myself in an iceberg and next thing I knew I was waking up in the southern water tribe in a girl's arms, she told me about the war" explained Aang.
"I see that explains it but Aang I can't say it was a nice 100 years since you've been gone, you never came to play anymore so I went looking for you, I found out you were the avatar then I was forced to fight in the war, I didn't want to but my first mission was to attack the southern air temple" said Old Kuzon shocking Aang.
"My general was giving out orders with this air bender Afiko, he was jealous because you were the avatar so he helped the fire nation kill all the air benders, I thought he was insane so I quit and had my rank lowered so I had go guard the coasts of any invasion plans" explained Old Kuzon feeling sorry.
Aang was speechless but getting more and more angry at the fire nation deep inside.
"Aang I'm so sorry" said Old Kuzon
"No thank you for telling me, I wanted to hear that" said Aang expressionless.
"See this is why I want to join you Aang, there are people out there that are blaming not just me but children that had nothing to do with this war and not only that these fire nation thugs are letting us believe that we're the better element so we don't need earth, wind and water so they brain wash us to kill and murder, Aang please let join you on your quest" pleaded Tao.
"Sure but you know when you come along everyone we meet that's not fire nation will hate you" assured Aang.
"More reason to stop this war right" said Tao bluntly.
"Okay but are you okay with this?" said Aang turning his attention to Old Kuzon.
"Like you need to ask, it will be lonely with my only family gone but I want all of them back so I need you guys to finish this war as soon as possible so good luck" said Old Kuzon smiling.
"Kuzon it was great seeing you" said Aang.
"You too Aang, and you" said Old Kuzon turning his attention to Tao "come back in one piece I'm tired of loosing loved ones" and with that Tao hugged his grandfather, so did Aang.
As they left Aang said one last thing before putting on the mask and leaving to his friends "Don't worry this war will be over by the end of this summer!" and with that Tao and Aang left the festival and into the woods to find their friends.
While walking into the forest Tao and Aang were talking on what they were going to do next.
"So what are the plans for our next trip?" asked Tao.
I'm not sure but I do know that I need to learn all the elements in time before the summer ends" said Aang looking down thinking of a plan.
"Why before the summer?" said Tao making sure there was a reason why Aang wouldn't finish the war now.
"The thing is Sozin's comet is going to hit this summer and" Aang was cut off by Tao.
"It will give fire benders immense power, probably so much power you won't be able to stop them right" finished Tao.
"Right and I'm already mastering water and earth but I'm afraid of using fire" said Aang looking straight ahead.
"Aang you're the avatar you need to master fire and I can teach and since your mastering water and earth it makes you so much prepared especially since you're an airbender" said Tao as if it wasn't a big deal.
"No it's not that it's because I hurt someone while fire bending, someone I loved" said Aang guilty.
"Someone you loved?" said Tao making sure he heard right.
"Uh yah" said Aang sweating, I can't believe I said that out loud.
(A/N: When the words are bent it means that there thinking, just giving you guys the heads up.)
Tao places his hand on Aang shoulder for comfort, "Aang don't worry with my guidance you won't be able to hurt anybody close to you okay" said Tao smiling.
"You know what you're a nice guy Tao" said Aang happy knowing that there is some hope for the fire nation.
"Thanks Aang that really means a lot coming from you" said Tao while smiling.
They finally made to the bison to see that everyone made camp and went to sleep.
"Come on you could sleep on Appa" whispered Aang while pointing to the bison.
"Really, thanks" whispered Tao in excitement as they tip toed all the way to Appa not to wake anyone.
"Wow this is great and tomorrow we're going to the mountains to finally start your fire bending training, deal" said Tao looking at the nigh starlit sky.
"Deal" said Aang and with that both of them fell a sleep.