AN: For those of you who saw this when it first came up, I re-wrote chapter 1. I'd recommend reading the new version before continuing with this one.

Zuko's mind was whirling as he and Sokka trudged back to the village with the flare they'd set off hovering in the sky as a testament to their utter stupidity. If he hadn't let Sokka go into the ship, if he hadn't gotten lost, if he'd seen the tripwire, if he'd just left the strange boy in the iceberg in the first place! Then he wouldn't have to worry about the Fire Nation showing up and. . .

Well, it was the same worry on the minds of the rest of the village. Must be why they'd all gathered to meet them. Their eyes were a sea of blue boring into Zuko's soul, harsh mutters like the cracking of ice sounding in his ears. Zuko ducked his head, ashamed.

As they got close, Gran-Gran stepped forwards to meet them. "What have you done?" she demanded, her dour face pulled into a frown.

"Is all this because of that flare?" Sokka spoke up before Zuko could. Zuko wanted to tell him to shut up, yell at him that this was all his fault. But he couldn't get a sound out around the lump in his throat. "Please," Sokka continued, "it's not like there's a Fire Navy ship lurking around the corner just waiting for someone to trip a century-old trap. Nothing's going to happen."

Oh, now he'd done it, saying nothing would happen. Next thing you know, there would be a Fire Nation ship sailing around the bend. And somehow it would be Sokka's fault too. Just in case, Zuko shot a covert glance at the ocean. Nope, they were in the clear, for now anyway.

"I hope you're right, airbender." Gran-Gran's voice was colder than the ice around them, and cutting as a polar-dog's teeth. "Otherwise, it might be the end of us. Now, I believe it best that you leave."

"What, over a silly flare? You've gotta be kidding me," Sokka laughed, crossing his arms.

Without a word, Gran-Gran turned on her heel and walked away, followed by the rest of the village. Except for one.

Zuko's stomach sank as he spotted Aang, hidden by the crowd before now. His brother was rubbing his arm, body angled away from Zuko slightly. He wasn't even looking at him!

"Well, that was melodramatic," Sokka said as Zuko took a step forwards to check on his brother.

Whirling about to face Sokka, Zuko stared at him. Melodramatic?! He thought being upset over drawing attention to themselves was melodramatic?! When they were a broken people made up of mostly women, children, and elders whose best chance of survival was to not call attention to themselves and hope and pray some Fire Navy commander didn't get the bright idea to eliminate them once and for all?

"It's not melodramatic," Zuko hissed. "If someone comes, they could wipe us out. We'd be dead, Sokka," he emphasized, searching the airbender's face for any sign he understood. That he could get how serious it was.

"And I'm sure there's an entire fleet just past the nearest glacier, headed this way right now," he drawled. "Lighten up Zuko, nothing's gonna happen. Right Aang?" he chirped, turning towards him.

Oh no, he was not dragging Aang into this. "Get out," Zuko hissed.

"What?" Sokka asked, glancing at Zuko and blinking.

"Get. Out." Zuko repeated, stepping forwards. "You've been banished, so leave."

Sokka pulled back, startled. Without a second glance, Zuko turned his back on the banished airbender and went to check on his brother.

"Well fine, I'll just leave then!" Sokka shouted from behind him. "Since I'm sooo unwelcome!"

Zuko ignored him as he reached his brother. "Hey, you doing okay?" he asked softly.

Silently, Aang glanced up. Zuko followed his gaze to the fading signal hanging over his shoulder. Ah, right.

"Look, Sokka's an idiot," Zuko said, resting a hand on Aang's shoulder as he glanced back at the airbender. He was already on his way, back stiff as he kept it firmly towards the village. "But he's probably right," Zuko continued, "Most likely, no one will come."

Some of the tension bled out from Aang's shoulders. "You think so?" he asked.

"Yeah," Zuko nodded. "But," he started hesitantly, "maybe we should go keep watch, just in case." If he could have promised everything would be okay and let Aang go back to being the happy-go-lucky kid he was supposed to be, Zuko would have in a heartbeat. But . . . if someone had seen that flare, then they were better off with both of them keeping an eye out, instead of just Zuko.

Aang's face closed off for a moment, before his usual bright grin made its reappearance. "Sure!" he chirped. "Bet I can spot more tiger-seals than you!" he challenged, grinning.

"In your dreams," Zuko scoffed, flicking Aang's hair beads.

Together, the two walked back to the village. And if Aang's smile was a little strained around the edges, the corners of his eyes a little tight, if he'd never stopped gripping his arm; well, Zuko wasn't going to call Aang on it.

The entire Southern Water Tribe were jerks. Paranoid jerks that he didn't want to hang out with anyway! Except maybe Aang, he seemed okay. But he was the only one, and his brother was the biggest jerk in the whole village.

Sokka folded his arms, sinking back into Appa's fur. "Who needs them anyway?" he said aloud. "I've got the bestest friend in the whole wide world right here," he declared, tossing Appa a dazzling smile.

. . .

The Fire Princess Toph was getting ready for battle. With head held high, she allowed her attendants to buckle her armor on and settle the shoulder piece on top of that. Stiffly, she held out her arms to allow them to tie it on as someone approached with her helmet. Solemnly, she lifted it from his hands and settled it on her head. Finally, she allowed herself a slight quirk of the lips. Her quest was nearly over.

. . .

"And just what do you mean by that?" Sokka very reasonably and calmly inquired of his Sky Bison, hands on hips and tapping his foot. He was absolutely not shrieking like a little girl, nope. This was a very calm, reasonable discussion with his giant roaring fluff monster.

Appa chuffed, not even looking at Sokka. Rude!

"I am not being ridiculous," Sokka declared with wounded dignity. "I am the only sane one in the entire South Pole!"

At Appa's answering rumble, Sokka slumped. "Yeah, I thought so too," he sighed, breezing back up to settle on Appa's head. Idly, he scratched at the base of Appa's horn as he squinted out over the chilly landscape in front of him.

It hadn't changed in the last five minutes; there was still that funny glacier, there was that boring glacier, there was the Water Jerk village and there was the funky Fire Nation ship headed right for it.

Wait a minute.

There was a Fire Nation ship headed towards the village?! Maybe he could get someone to show him how it worked!

"Appa! Yip yip!" Sokka shouted gleefully, sitting up and grabbing at the reins. He couldn't wait!

But . . . what about that roomful of weapons? The Fire Nation were the Bad Guys now. And . . . everyone had been so scared of this exact thing happening when he and Zuko had set off that flare.

Sokka swallowed heavily. He had to hurry, the village was in danger and he had to protect them! It was his job!

He was the Avatar, after all.

It was a lot quieter at the village than Aang was used to.

Usually the kids would be running around, laughing, playing and getting underfoot. Usually the women would be chattering as they went about their chores, calling to the children, clanging spoons against the sides of the pot, rustling hides and other small day-to-day noises that weren't noticeable.

Until they were gone, that is.

Now it was silent. No one was talking, or rustling, or clanging. Nothing penetrated the thick, suffocating fog wrapping around him like a thick, wet blanket.

Aang couldn't stand it! Forget having a 'larger field of vision', if he had to stand out here, he was at least going to be with his brother. With his footsteps ringing abnormally loudly in the dead air, Aang trod over to join Zuko on the other end of the wall.

Zuko met him halfway, somber but not angry. Neither one of them said a word as they stood side by side, not even when Zuko rested his hand on Aang's shoulder. Huffing out a breath, a brief flash of white in the sea of grey, Aang leaned against his brother slightly. At least he wasn't alone any more.

Suddenly Zuko stiffened, his grip on Aang's shoulder tightening painfully. Aang squinted against the mist, searching for what had caught his brother's eye. But he couldn't see anything but hazy grey.

Until out of the mist it came, looming above them like a steely eclipse, blocking out their hope.

"Aang!" Zuko shouted as he tackled him to the ground, just as the ship plowed into where Aang had been standing moments ago. A crack snaked its way into the village, beneath the feet of anyone unwary enough to be caught by it.

The village exploded into action. Mothers grabbed their children, frantically counting heads while running away from the treacherous ground beneath them. Girls dashed about, trying to save their most precious belongings; Aang saw his cousin running out of her collapsing home, carrying her unworn wedding dress. Some stopped to help the elderly get to safer ground. Wait a minute, Gran-Gran! She'd fallen and gotten her foot stuck!

Scrambling to his feet, Aang took off after Zuko to help their grandmother as the ship finally screeched to a halt. As most of the village stared up at it in silent fear, Aang and Zuko ducked under Gran-Gran's arms and helped her to safer ground.

Aang couldn't help but stare at the ship once they had Gran-Gran settled. It was a lot bigger than the old one by the penguin-sledding slopes, maybe twice as big in fact. Stepping in front of him –and blocking his view! — Zuko slid into a battle stance, spear at the ready.

Hey, he wanted to see! Aang huffed and stepped to the side slightly, peering around Zuko, just as the front of the ship detached with a hiss and began lowering into the snow. Aang's breath caught and he clenched his fists nervously.

And the ice around him cracked.

It was time. Toph pulled her shoulders back and took a deep breath, locking her hands behind her back. It was time to show the world, show her father, what she was made of.

With a shudder, her ship stopped, and it seemed like the world stopped with it for a moment, before the front of the ship detached with a hiss and began its tortuously slow descent. She was going to have a chat with the engineers after this, because it took forever!

Impatient, Toph stepped out before the ramp had completely settled, only to stumble slightly with her arms flying out to steady herself as it did. Urgh, there went her dramatic entrance! She'd just have to make up for it in attitude.

Sauntering down the ramp, Toph took in the sight around her. The villagers were clumped together like wet sand, life-heat pulsing with fear. Good. Behind her, her uncle was following her down, heat radiating from him since he'd decided to forgo a shirt, and shoes for that matter, and keep himself warm with his bending. After them were six soldiers, benders and spearmen alike. As Toph set foot on the snowy ground, she smirked and cracked her knuckles.

"All right, you ash heaps!" she bellowed. "Where's the Avatar?"

The only reaction she got to that was confused murmurs. No sudden spiking heartbeats, no new flush of adrenaline, nothing that might indicate they actually knew what she was talking about. Urgh, he must have kept what he was a secret. Stupid Avatar, making her job so much harder.

"Okay, let's try this," Toph announced, pacing in front of the water peasants. "How about a guy who's, oh say about a hundred years old? Airbender, though maybe you flamebrains didn't happen to notice that?"

Well, that was interesting, one of the water peasants actually reacted to that one. Heartbeat spiked, flush of adrenaline, the whole nine yards. Toph focused in on it, him, a little closer. Hm, he was short, only a little taller than her. No, not short, young; about her age in fact, going by his body rhythms.

Really? The one person in the whole Southern Water Tribe that had a clue was a twelve(ish) year old kid? Grownups.

"You," Toph declared, pointing at him. "Where is the Avatar?"

The kid didn't seem to know what to think about that. He jumped, looking around.

"Yeah, you," Toph drawled, crossing her arms. "Who else would I be talking to, Granny?" she gestured to the old lady next to him.

"But I don't know anything," he protested, trying to hide behind somebody else, male, about sixteen-seventeen.

"Leave him alone!" the other boy shouted, stepping forwards and brandishing some sort of stick-thingy. Really, and what exactly did he think he was going to do with that? Whatever, she'd just blast him if he got to be too much trouble.

"Sorry, no can do. He hasn't answered my question. So if you would step aside, I might not feel the need to set your face on fire," she threatened with a bright, cheerful grin.

That had an effect. The guy stepped back and lowered his stick slightly. "Aang said he didn't know anything," he defended, but cautiously.

"I heard," Toph said flatly. This was getting annoying. "So 'Aang'," she called back, "something sparked in that head of yours, now what was it?"

Snow crunched as the kid shuffled his feet for a moment, before he finally stepped forwards to face her. "I don't know for sure, he never said he was the Avatar," he hedged.

Why couldn't anyone get to the point around here?! Toph stomped forwards; she was going burn it out of that boy if he didn't tell her what she needed to know right now!

Then Stick took a swing at her head.

Toph ducked, waving off her soldiers and uncle's instinctive surge to her defense. "You wanna fight, Stick?" she asked, smirking. "Then let's go." Maybe she'd get some answers once they saw what she was capable of. Not that Toph needed an excuse for a good fight.

Stick hesitated, fingers tightening around his weapon. There was something funny about the one end of it though, there was something there, but Toph couldn't quite figure out what.

Wait, the water peasants used bone on their spears, not metal. That's what that is. Toph, you dummy. Stick lunged. If she hadn't been watching the spear head, it would have skewered her. She slid to the side, only for Stick to slash towards her.

Toph blocked, trying to grab the shaft to twist it out of his hands. Stick was smarter than that though, jerking it back quickly and catching her hand in the back of the spear head. It actually knocked her off balance! And was she bleeding? She was! That flamebrain had cut her!

"We don't have to fight," Stick said. "Please, if you'll just leave my brother alone," he begged, spear tip dipping downwards.

Lowering her hands slightly, Toph cocked her head, "So you want me to just pack up and leave, with nothing to show for it?" she asked, and didn't even put any bite into her tone.

Stick tensed, spear coming back up and body shifting as he prepared to attack. Toph didn't let him get that far. A quick blast toward his foot sent him stumbling—right over Toph's waiting ankle. This time, she didn't give him time to recover, grabbing onto his spear shaft as he fell and pushing him down with all her might.

His heartbeat spiked in fear. Good. Baring her teeth at him, Toph growled "No way under Agni's great eye," and turned his stick to ash.

"You're a firebender," he said dumbly, their hands still hanging where his stick used to be, almost close enough to touch.

"What, like threatening to set your face on fire wasn't enough of a clue?" Toph snarked. "Now hold still," she said, pulling her hands together and forming a crackling ball in between. "Wouldn't want to miss," she added with a feral grin.

As she started to roast him her fire sputtered and died. Her hands were shaking. Stick didn't notice; he was scrabbling backwards with his arm over his face.

Then the snow reared up into a wave and soaked her. "Waterbender!" she shouted, the cold snapping her mind back in the game. Toph slid into a defensive stance, ready to fight with whoever had dared to attack her.

It was easy to tell who it was. The same stupid kid from before; standing there, arms outstretched, his only movements the quick, shallow rise and fall of his chest.

He bolted. "Get the Stick kid, I've got the waterbender!" Toph shouted as she chased after him.

The kid was fast, Toph would give him that. On top of that, he knew the village and he was a waterbender. In the South Pole.

He ducked behind an ice hut, Toph hot on his heels. Until she stepped in an ankle-deep puddle that promptly froze her foot in place. The kid was already turning on his heel as Toph realized what had happened. "Sorry!" the kid shouted over his shoulder as he ran. Right into her uncle. Both of them radiated shock, but Bumi snatched the back of the kid's coat before he could run again.

"Yeah, you get him, Uncle!" Toph cheered, punching the air. With a moment of concentration, she poured heat out of her foot, melting the ice around it until she could yank it out from its icy prison.

While she was doing that, the kid tried the puddle-and-freeze thing on Bumi. Toph's uncle was smarter than that though, jumping to the side and dragging the bender brat with him.

"Hold onto him!" Toph barked, but Bumi was ahead of her. Already he had twisted the boy's arm behind his back and was forcing him to his knees. The kid struggled, but Bumi was a lot bigger and stronger and kept him there easily.

Toph smirked, stopping in front of the boy and crossing her arms. "Now, let's get down to it, shall we?" she said and crouched down so their heads were level, even if hers was tilted down. "Where. Is. The Avatar?" she questioned, putting every ounce of menace she could into her tone.

"I don't know!" the boy cried, his heart racing in fear. Urgh, with all the stress in his system she couldn't get a clear view if he was lying or not. "We banished him! I don't know where he is!"

What, really? They banished the Avatar? Or was he lying? Toph didn't think so; she'd go with it for now. "Which direction did he go in?" Toph pressed.

"I— I don't know," the boy said. Hah! Now that was a lie. His head had turned slightly, like he was trying to avoid her gaze.

"I can tell you're ly-ing," Toph sing-songed, smirking. She had him now!

"He's my friend," the boy protested weakly.

Toph was about to push further, maybe throw a little fire around while she was at it, but Bumi beat her to it.

"He's your friend, you say?" he asked curiously. What was he up to? She leaned back, letting him take charge. Her uncle was crazy, but his schemes usually worked out.

"Yeah," the boy said slowly. He tried to squirm away, but Bumi twisted his arm a little harder and that was that. Heh, served him right!

"So then," her uncle said with a huge, bright grin, "if we take you prisoner, he'll come to rescue you!"

Oooooh, the kid did not like that. He froze up, didn't even breathe for a couple seconds! "Good idea, Uncle!" Toph crowed. Hm, now what kind of trap should she lay in order to catch herself an Avatar?

"You can't!" the kid protested, struggling wildly. Not that it did him any good. Bumi had a good grip and if the kid wasn't careful—yup, there he went, wrenching his shoulder. Letting out a moan of pain, the kid slumped.

Toph snorted. What an idiot. Well, they better get going; they had an Avatar to trap! "C'mon Uncle," she said, standing up and brushing the snow off her clothing, "let's get bait-boy back on the ship."

As she strode back towards the center of the village, Bumi pulled their bait to his feet— by his uninjured arm, she noted. Eh, if he wanted to be soft, that was his business. She wouldn't show weakness.

When they were in view of the rest of the water peasants, Toph gestured for Bumi to move on as she stopped. She had a speech to make.

"Listen up, ash heaps!" she bellowed. "We're leaving, and we're taking the Avatar's buddy over there with us," she jerked a thumb over her shoulder at uncle and the kid.

Of course, Bumi had to stop a moment and give a cheerful wave to the terrified villagers before continuing on his way. Toph snorted, suppressing a grin before she continued. "Now, I need you guys to do me a favor. I need you to tell the Avatar about this when he gets back. Otherwise," she summoned a small flame to crackle in her palm, "I'll come back and burn this place to the ground."

And then, because Bumi was a terrible influence, she plastered a bright, sunny grin on her face, said "Thank you!" and skipped up the ramp, leaving a trail of fear, destruction, and confusion in her wake.

"You!" she barked at the nearest soldier. "Tell the helmsman to set a course to the Fire Nation capitol!" He scurried off to do her bidding and Toph stopped to lean against the wall, listening to the ramp swing upwards, closing the ship off from the world. She allowed herself a small smile. She was finally going home.

It was a strange thing, people and their relationship with fire. Cruel and greedy, devouring homes, belongings, even loved ones. Yet they depended on it to keep them alive in her people's frozen homeland. The firepit was a place to gather around during the evenings, and even with the evil beast at their heart they still laughed, loved, lived their lives as if it wasn't waiting to escape its prison and destroy them all.

Staring at the gleefully taunting flames dancing in their pit, Kanna allowed herself to hate them. But only for a moment, before she lifted her head and looked around at the wreckage of her home.

Every able-bodied woman and child was busy rebuilding homes and doing their best to patch up the cracks in the snow beneath their feet, and here she was stuck sitting by the fire with a sprained ankle. Waiting for someone they'd told to never come back.

"Mama, look! It's the fluffy land whale!" a little boy shouted, pointing and hopping excitedly.

Speaking of which, that sounded like him already. Kanna turned, peering at where the young lad was pointing. It certainly did look like the Avatar's giant whatever-that-was too.

"What's he doing back already? We banished him," someone hissed behind Kanna, setting off a wave of hostile mutterings.

"I'll speak to him," Kanna said, raising her voice above the crowd, which promptly fell into silence. "Now go on back to your tasks," she instructed.

Not bothering to watch as they went back to work, Kanna instead focused on watching the great lumbering beast come closer. In fact, it was just outside the village now and had stopped, and she could see the boy hopping down and heading her way.

"Hello, Avatar," she greeted once he was close.

Twitching, the Avatar gave her a guarded look. Kanna gave a tight, humorless smile. Yes, she'd figured it out.

"Hey, Zuko and Aang's grandmother," he drawled, leaning on his staff. "So, I happened to notice a Fire Nation ship hanging around here, you wouldn't happen to know anything about that would you?"

"No, I somehow managed to miss the giant ship crashing into my village and the vicious little fire brat that threatened to burn it down," Kanna said flatly.

"There was a kid in charge of this mess?" the Avatar asked, surprised. Taking a look around the village, he commented, "Wow, he sure messed up this place good."

Kanna closed her eyes, taking a deep breath. Shouting at the boy wouldn't do any good. She needed to pass on the important information and send him on his way. "It was a girl, perhaps twelve. I believe she was blind, but she had no trouble getting around. She was looking for you, wants you to follow her. Went that way," Kanna finished, gesturing.

"What, really? And why would I follow her? Is she gonna track me down and throw a tantrum if I don't?" he snarked.

"She took my grandsons," Kanna snapped, hands balling into fists. "She took the only family I have left and you have to go rescue them, Avatar."

The Avatar stared at her in stunned silence. So did the rest of the village. Well, even if she had gotten a bit loud it was still rude to stare. Kanna turned and met their eyes with a quelling glare, and soon her people were back to work. Finally, she turned back to the Avatar.

"You know, this is why I didn't want to tell anyone I was the Avatar," the Avatar said flatly. "All of a sudden it's 'now you must bring balance to the world Avatar' 'it is time for you to realize your destiny Avatar' 'please save my idiot grandkids Avatar'. No one ever wants to talk to Sokka anymore!" he complained, crossing his arms and scowling.

Oh spirits be praised, the Avatar was going to save her grandchildren. "Thank you," she croaked, clasping her hands together. "Thank you for saving my grandsons." Taking a shuddering breath, Kanna blinked a few times and let her clenched hands fall in her lap. "But before you go, I packed a few things for your journey."

"Were you actually listening to me?" the Avatar questioned as she passed him a bag, which he breezed up to secure on his creature before coming back down. "Because I didn't actually say I would go do that you know," he continued as Kanna passed him another. Once again he went up, came down, still speaking, "I mean, I am the Avatar, so of course I will." This time, Kanna got to her feet, careful on her throbbing ankle, and proceeded to pile the rest of the bags on him. "But you just kinda oof assumed that- okay this is getting kinda heavy- I would."

Did this boy ever shut up? No matter, he would be on his way soon and it would be her grandsons' turn to put up with him. "Avatar-" she started to say.

"Um, is this gonna be some sort of long speech? Cause I'd like to put these away first if it is," the Avatar interrupted, hefting the packs.

Only years of experience raising three sons and two grandsons kept Kanna from sighing in exasperation. "Yes, go on," she said patiently. Sinking back down to her seat, she stared back at the crackling flames as she waited for the Avatar to return.

This time, it was only a minute before he was plopping down nearby, resting his chin in his hands as he looked up at Kanna. "So, you were saying?"

"There is a reason my grandsons were the ones to find you," Kanna said somberly, still staring at the fire. "So as it is your destiny to stop this war, it is their destiny to help you."

"Riiiiight," the Avatar drawled. "So, are we done here?" he asked, getting to his feet and brushing the snow off his pants.

They were always difficult at this age, Kanna reminded herself. Zuko had been terrible. She'd wanted to strangle him, and his mother for leaving him with her. Just for that, they were on their own when Aang got to be that age. "Yes, we're done," Kanna drawled.

"Guess I'm off to save the world then. See ya, old lady!" the Avatar said cheerfully and lightly jumped up on his beast's head.

Kanna finally took her eyes off the now-dying fire to watch him go. Spirits help them, that was the Avatar. Well, there was no use worrying about it, he was off to do his job. Kanna turned back to the sputtering fire. For a moment, she thought about letting it die. A statement of faith.

Bah, she was too old for such flights of fancy. Kanna threw some kindling in the firepit.

This was ridiculous. Here he was, off to rescue those two poor, helpless Water Tribe kids and they didn't even bother to give him a coat. Did they not notice it was freezing?!

"I can't believe these people," Sokka complained, thumping back against Appa's hump. "First, I'm welcome, then they kick me out, and now they want me to go help them out without un-banishing me. That's just shallow."

Appa rumbled deeply enough that Sokka felt it in his bones.

"Exactly!" Sokka agreed, nodding firmly. "They were jerks and now I've gotta go help them. If I wasn't the Avatar I wouldn't have to do this, but I've got the whole 'fate of the world' thing on my shoulders. You'd think that'd earn me a little more respect."

Which prompted Appa to toss his head in agreement. Sokka had to cling to his fur to stay on.

He just loved Appa so much! It made him wish Appa was small enough to squish to his chest and really show him how much Sokka cared about him. Well, he'd just have to make do with clinging to Appa's horn.

"I'm so glad we're on the same page," he told Appa happily, rubbing his cheek against the not-actually-all-that-huggable, in fact kinda hard and—ow! Sharp too!

As Sokka let go and slid back to his normal seat, Appa let out a low groan that kinda sounded like 'uuuuuuuhhhhhhggggggg'. What was that all about? Appa had a strong stomach, he usually didn't get indigestion.

"I mean what's making me go rescue them?" Sokka asked, rhetorically of course. "Nothing! I'm just doing it out of the goodness of my heart! And if I happened to decide. . ." he trailed off, hands dropping into his lap.

For a moment the only sound was the swish of Appa's swimming.

"Okay, on the one hand, rescuing Zuko and Aang is, objectively, the right thing to do, right?" Sokka said, balancing his hands as if they were a scale. "On the other, it's distracting me from fulfilling my destiny as the Avatar," he continued.

Appa snorted. Okay, he had a point there. "I know, but you know it's not like they're in any danger," Sokka pointed out. "Besides, Zuko could use some time to cool off. And then I could always go back later, when I'm better prepared, too."

With that groany-huffy noise that was one of Appa's favorites, the bison ducked around one of those floaty ice chunks. Well, that settled it.

"I completely agree. Appa, prepare for a rescue mission!" Sokka declared grandly. And just as he started to give the command to fly, it hit him.

He could find his people.

Groaning, Sokka thumped his head against Appa's hump. "I hate my brain," he announced sourly as the pieces began to click into place. The Southern Air Temple wasn't too far from here, and after he rescued the Water Tribe boys, he'd have to go to the North Pole for his waterbending training. There wouldn't be time to search. But if he postponed the start of the Avatar's journey, took some time for Sokka then he could at least drop by the Southern temple, find the hidden survivors that had to be there somewhere.

Sure, he felt guilty about abandoning the boys, but it would only be for a little while. They'd be fine. Right? Right.

Reluctantly, Sokka sat up again and tightened his grip on Appa's reins. "Change of plans, buddy, we're headed for the Southern Air Temple. Yip yip."

Moaning,—and it had to be because he was tired, no other reason at all—Appa slapped his tail against the water and then they were flying. Which was great! Flying was fun! It was awesome. All your troubles just melted away. Just you, your bestest friend and the sky. No cares, no worries, no way was he fooling himself. Can't quit thinking about Zuko and Aang, can he?

Forget them! Sokka needed to find his people. Hey, some of his friends might still be around! One hundred and fifteen wasn't that old, right?

After one hundred years, or a week, depending on your point of view, Sokka was going home.