This is going to be my last chapter. I wrote it cause of the encouragements of Story Critique. But if there are going to be more people who ask / encourage me to continue I'll.

Water

Earth

Fire

Air

Long ago the four nations lived in harmony. Then everything changed when the fire nation attacked. Only the avatar master of all the four elements could stop them. But when the world needed him most he vanished. A hundred years past and my brother and I found the new avatar. A young air master named Aang. And although his airbendings are great he has a lot to learn before he can save anyone. But I believe that Aang can save the world.

Book 3: fire

Chapter 6: before the battle.

Golden rays of sunlight blinded her from the otherwise pleasant view of the two fire benders standing on the beach. They had been there since dawn, focusing on the warmth of Agni, storing as much of its energy as they could before the battle. To Mai's enjoyment they exposed as much of their body within the line of common dignity in order to feel Agni's power on almost their entire body. She was surprised about Iroh. He had proven to be far less fat as she though he would be. Still it was disgusting to look at him. Zuko's body on the other hand was an enjoyment to watch. It was a waste it had to be destroyed.

Zuko was concentrating too much to notice Mai staring at him. Iroh however couldn't help himself but grin.

"Do you really believe this is going to work?" Asked a skeptical Hakkoda, he was smart enough to ask this to Mai instead of brining the benders out of their concentration.

Mai was slightly surprised. Hakkoda hadn't said a word against her since they had arrived. But as usual she didn't let emotion in her voice, neither the fact that she was surprise nor the slight depression she felt. "No. But it's the best shot we have."

When you came to think about it was quiet a good plan. Iroh and Zuko would perform a astonishing piece of fire bending. They would vaporize a huge amount of sea water, enough to fill the sky with a thick mist. Then they would all sail unnoticed to the flagship and capture the commander of the fleet. And then just hope Iroh could convince them to surrender.

"Well then I better get back to my men. We have to prepare ourselves. We've got certain traditions for when we fight a desperate battle." His voice was just like Mai's, emotionless. If he allowed any emotion at all, it soon would lead him to great sadness. And he wouldn't be able to stand that sadness, the sadness about the fact that he wasn't going to see his children ever again.

He didn't notice Mai's soft reply. "Haven't we all?"

XXX

They allowed themselves to have one last breakfast together, possible the last moment with the group still intact, a last moment before they would go on their deathly mission. They never had plunged themselves into this much danger so consciously.

They had tried to make a bit of fun together, making this morning a moment to cherish and remember. But the dread they felt was too great to do so. And instead of talking and laughing none of them spoke a word.

Mao was the first to break the silence. "Perhaps it would be best if we took a few last moments alone, calming our minds before we risk our lives." And he walked away from the group. He needed a calm mind when he plunged into battle. For him that meant he had to meditate.

Sokka didn't contradict him as he had frequently had done. Instead he too left the group. He needed a calm mind as well. Although he claimed he sharpened his boomerang just to have it sharp.

Katara rather would have a last 'family' moment. But she too welcomed a time alone; a time when she didn't had to put on the brave mask and could openly fear for all their lives.

Kuei's reasons to leave the group were less emotional. If he had to win the Dai Lee to his side he probably could use a speech. And writing a speech whit a bunch of children around you who fear for their lives is a hard job.

The monks had tried to teach Aang not to fear death, they had failed sadly. But having some time alone to be scarred wasn't the reason why he was glad with this split up. Now he would have a time alone with Katara, and he followed her away from the group.

Toph has left alone. Despite her own fear of losing any of them she still took notice of Aang's raising heart beat when he walked after Katara. She never had felt lonelier then she did now. And when she was sure there wasn't someone who saw her she allowed herself to cry.

XXX

The smoke of the Fire Nations ships was now visible and the water tribe men took the last preparations for the battle. So did Zuko. He never had felt so unsure in his whole live when he walked to Mai. Yet he knew this was the right thing to do. When he finally reached her after a time that had felt like an eternity he had lost the words he had planned to say. When he finally brought up the courage to speak his voice held no relation his normal voice whatsoever. "Mai?"

She had been expecting this, at this very moment actually. And she couldn't help herself to feel a bit of joy. Her voice too wasn't anything alike her normal one when she replied. "What's the matter?"

Again Zuko had to gather his courage. It was funny. When he had 'lain siege' on the south pole and faced the Avatar for the first time he hadn't had to gather his courage. And that was while he still had though of the Avatar as an almighty master of all of the elements. Neither did he need to gather his courage for his Agni Kai with Admiral Chau. He didn't have to gather his courage for all the dangerous things he had done in his live. Because it always had been there in a more then sufficient amount. But now all that courage had gone and he feared any word he had to say. "Eeeum, we might not live through this. And I don't think I can fight with the thought I didn't told you this. I think I lo.."

He didn't get the chance to finish that sentence. And he was thanking Agni he didn't have to. Mai made further words pointless when she kissed him.

His eyes widened of the surprise, but they soon closed and he warped his arms around Mai. Not caring that he was standing in the middle of the camp where all of the men were working (and now grinning), not caring for the smiling Iroh. At that moment he only cared for Mai, she was the only thing that was real.

XXX

He had planning to do this for so many times. What made it so hard this time? Sure he had been unsure and a bit scarred every time he tried to say Katara how he felt about her. But this was far worse then that little bit a fear he had felt on those occasions. Was it because they were planning to risk their lives? Aang didn't know, and he didn't care. He just needed a moment to pull himself together before he faced Katara.

That moment was longer then he thought it would be. But the moment was now finally there. He would go to Katara and express his love for her. His voice was so strange when he finally spoke. "Katara?"

She gave a small snob and whipped some tears of her face and gave a horrible attempt of a reassuring smile. "Yes?"

Normally Aang would be shocked to see Katara like this, and he would have tried to comfort her. But not now, he couldn't let anything stop this. "Katara, I've been trying to say this for a long time, several months actually. I'm in"

"Sweetness, Meathead says he wants his big sister. He will deny it of course if. But I can feel his vibrations and heard him muttering about his sweet sister." Toph rudely interrupted while she was running towards them.

"Thanks for telling me Toph, and I won't tell Sokka you told me it." And she ran to back to camp, back to Sokka.

Toph had to make a thick earth wall to shield her from the huge boulder Aang shot at her. "Well that's a bit of an overreaction." She calmly said.

"An overreaction! You say I'm overreacting!? This may have been my last chance to tell Katara what I feel for her. And you ruined it while you knew I'm in love with her!" It wasn't Aang's voice alone who said this, hundreds voices from the past avatars echoed it. He calmed when he continued and became himself again. "Why did you do it Toph?"

"Sokka needed her." She replied with a matter of fact voice.

"Don't lie to me Toph!"

"I'm not lying! Sokka does need her!" she began to sound slightly irritated.

"But that's not your reason!!" He emphasized it by making cracks in the earth.

"I tried to protect you, okay!"

Taken aback Aang calmed once more. "Protect me from what?"

"From getting your feelings hurt." Now she was the one to lose control. Was that a tear in her eyes? "I'm sorry Aang. But I can feel her heartbeat and she just doesn't feel the same way for you." She had expected Aang to get depressed, realizing Katara didn't loved him. She was surprised to see Aang only a little bit disappointed, and that disappointment was not about Katara.

"Toph didn't you think I didn't realized that? Of course I knew Katara isn't in love with me. But that doesn't mean I give up trying. If I tell her how I feel about her maybe she will start to feel the same way."

This was completely most irrational, most reckless and down ride stupidest thing Toph ever had heard. "Aang you don't stand much of a chance, and you're going to be hurt very bad by this."

"Toph I know!! Do I need to say again that I'm not giving up? Really and you call yourself an earth bender? Where did your stubbornness and guts go?"

Slightly offended Toph replied. "Beeing an earth bender is not about doingt stupid things."

Aang started to grow impatient. "No Toph it's not stupid. You're just stupid. You're just Hippocratic you always say you should face your problems head on instead of running away for them. Yet you always running away from you're feelings. Never really exposing yourself to someone."

Toph sighed, she really didn't want this discussion, especially not because she was losing it. "Fine! Have it your way next time I'll let Katara break your heart."

"Thank you!" Aang sneered while he walked away.

"You're welcome!" Toph shouted after him.

XXX

"Zuko, remember I always told you that for superior fire bending you should be free of emotions?" They were standing in the sea, just a few moments before they would vaporize a great amount of it's water.

Zuko hated his uncle talking while he was concentrating, so his answer came out a bit irritated. "Yes."

Iroh knew Zuko well enough to know he could ignore his irritation. "Well forget about that. Some of the most powerful fire bending is fuelled by emotions, they are indeed less controlled then the fire bending fuelled by nothing then pure energy. But we're not trying to precise now, are we? "

Zuko choose for a witty reply "It would be kind of hard to miss the ocean."

Was that a joke? His nephew joking, he hadn't thought he would live the day to see it. "Indeed, so I advise you to do get your emotions involved this time. And one of the most powerful emotions is love."

He really should have seen this coming. "If we survive this, you're going to make my live miserable for me kissing Mai aren't you?"

Iroh was truly surprised. "Make your live miserable? Of course not! Why would you think that? I'll only give you some good advice and ask you a few questions to feed my curiosity."

Iroh didn't hear Zuko's muttered reply. "Like I said, you're going to make my live miserable."

Steam was already rising from Zuko's spot. A long and strong sigh he let out. He closed his eyes, concentrating on Agni, concentrating on love. Me made a bowl from his hands and aimed it forwards releasing a flame bigger then all the flames he had ever made. The pillar of fire spread out of his hands, hitting a huge surface of the water. His uncle next to him did the same and huge amounts of steam rose from the water only to hover slightly above it. Better know as mist.

XXX

Doubt was in their hearts. Of course this was the most depressing moment of their mission. They al felt that the retaking of Ba Sing Se had began when Katara bended the water and they could walk underneath it. Now they were walking to danger in a huge bubble of air and except Katara none of them could do anything point full.

Sokka was the first to speak, well actually he whispered to Toph. "Can we trust Mao? We don't know anything about him. For all we know he works for the Fire Nation and he is leading us into a trap."

What happened next was too fast for anyone to stop it. Mao grabbed Aang by the throat and lifted him up while he put a small knife against Aang's neck. Something in Mao's grip made it impossible for Aang to bend. He never had fought Ty Lee, and he never had felt her punches but this was what it must be like.

Mao's voice was hard and cold. "Really you should whisper softer, it's easy to be overheard. But I think I just proven I'm worthy your trust."

"What? By attacking Aang?" Katara yelled. This boy must be crazy

"No, by not killing him. If I was Fire Nation I would have killed the Avatar, wouldn't I?"

"You know he's the Avatar?" Toph asked curiously.

"He got a big blue arrow on his head ad his wanted posters are spread all over the world. How could I not know?" Really were these people that stupid?

"Well why didn't you say you knew who Aang was?" Toph was still confused.

"Why would I?" Mao shrugged.

In Mao's opinion Sokka was the first who began to ask rational questions. "Okay you've proven you don't want to kill him now. Still that doesn't prove you aren't Fire Nation. The Fire Nation wants him alive."

This boy wasn't as stupid as he looked. Still he was pretty stupid Mao thought. "You're wrong." He said coldly. "The Fire Nation wants him death now. Haven't you read the last wanted posters? They don't care about the fact he'll be reincarnated. If he's killed now the Avatar will still be a baby when the Fire Nation has won the war. And after they've won no-one will be able to return the balance in the world. And after three lifetimes the Avatar will seize to exist."

"What!!" Aang yelled. "How!? Why!?"

"Water, earth, fire, air the Avatar cycle. You're the last air bender. If you die now the air benders will be extinct and the Avatar won't be able to reborn as an air bender. Because of that the Avatar won't be reborn after he or she lived his or her life as a born fire bender. At least that's how the priest at the Avatar temple in the Earth Kingdom thought about it."

"There's an Avatar temple in the Earth Kingdom?!" Aang only seem to have heard the last part. It's flattering to have temples dedicated to you.

"There was one. Every nation had his Avatar temple before the war. It was there were the Avatars were educated to master the Avatar state. The earth temple was destroyed just recently. I suppose the Fire Nation has demolished his own temple. The air temple wasn't destroyed people only forgot about it. What happened to the water temple is a mystery to me."

"Wait, a minute you're saying that if Aang dies the Avatar is doomed." Katara had always prayed and hoped for the Avatar. If Aang died that would be traumatic enough. But if that also meant there won't be any other Avatars that put the icing on the cake.

"If he dies now, then yes." Mao replied as always with his casual voice. It was a mystery for Katara how someone could be so uncaring about the fate of the Avatar.

"So basically you're saying no more Avatars unless Aang gets babies." Sokka said somehow cheerfully.

"Sokka!" How could her brother be so insensitive?

"He won't need to 'produce' a child himself. If he can establish a strong spiritual bound with the mother, the father and the unborn child itself it may work also. But other than that you're right. Don't worry though, that's not really a problem for now. You can focus on children years after you've won the war. If you don't win the war you're just death."

"Eeeum. How do you 'produce' babies?" Asked a heavily blushing Aang, he was raised by monks after all.

Mao couldn't help himself from laughing. "Well that's something you need to figure out for yourself." He teased.

Sokka was as always the first to become serious again. "Okay. Killing the Avatar might be what the Fire Nation wants. So it makes sense in a way that you're not Fire Nation since you don't kill Aang. But if you killed Aang now you would have to fight us all. Three to one, doesn't seem very healthy for you."

Mao gave a small grin. "Do you really think your first reactions will be to fight me? You have become a family, one can easily see that. If I killed Aang now you would be too shocked and horrified to do anything. I would have jump out of this bubble, by the time you've turned the pain into rage that you can direct on me" He put Aang down again, his arm had become tired from holding him in the air for so long.

"Well it's a odd way to earn one's trust, but it worked on me." Aang said.

Sokka's logical mind forced him to agree with Aang. Mao was right, for an enemy there wasn't any reason not to kill Aang right now. He gave a small nod to show he agreed.

Katara trusted however Aang trusted. "Well I'm fine with you too."

Toph was the only one to object. "Wait a minute. How do you know all that Avatar stuff?!" she yelled aggressively.

Mao raised his eyebrow. "Haven't you guessed? I visited the Earth Kingdom Avatar temple." Although one could not hear it in his voice he was scarred for that little earth bender. And he wasn't comfortable her not trusting him.

"Yeah, but why did you visit an Avatar temple?!"

Silence. "Think Mao think"! Once again he thought about them telling the truth. No that would have to wait for Ba Sing Se where he could prove the existence of the White Lotus. "A good question. But that's a different story and will be for a different time."

"And you think you can get away with such an answer?!" She yelled.

Mao's voice lost it causality and became quiet cold. "Well you're just going to have to take it."

A bit short. I planned to do the fights for Ba Sing Se in this chapter. But this alone is big enough to be one chapter. If I had to add the fight to it, it would become way to long.