I do not own ATLA
The gang woke up in the morning; the majority far from refreshed. Sokka still did not know of the plan to fly into the Fire Nation. Both Katara and Aang had tossed and turned for the majority of the night after learning of the plan. So in different stages of rest the gang sat down to eat breakfast.
Sokka didn't even notice there tiredness; he was to busy wolfing down the scant remains of last nights dinner. Katara looked at him warily, knowing that the news she was about to deliver would make him angry. Clearing her throat she spoke up.
"Sokka, there is something I need to tell you" she said calmly, Sokka just grunted so Katara continued "Aang had a vision last night and he needs to fly to the fire nation today to talk to the old avatar Roku" she said in a rush.
This information took awhile for Sokka to digest; it had been a long awkward 50 seconds before Sokka yelled "WHAT?" Aang looked at Katara worried, but she just reassured him with a smile. Sokka vented his thoughts by yelling for a few more minutes but they all fell on deaf ears; Katara's who were used to Sokka's rants and Aang who was trying so hard to block his friend out. "Fine" Sokka said with a sigh. Katara smiled at him brightly and walked over and kissed him on the cheek.
"Well I'm glad that's settled" Katara said brightly starting to pack up camp. After she got the pile of their stuff together near Appa, Aang airbended their belongings onto the flying bison and jumped onto his head. "Come on Sokka, get on" Katara called from the saddle. Sokka sighed and scrambled up Appa's side and into the saddle.
"Lets just get this over with" Sokka huffed impatiently. Aang grinned and sent Appa into the sky, flying his companions into the dangerous Fire nation.
Zuko rode into the small Earth Kingdom village on his rhino. After spotting the Avatar landing somewhere near this region he was determined to capture him today. An old man came out of the large house near the middle of the village square, noticing the Fire Nation in his town he rushed up to Zuko and yelled quite bravely "What are you doing in my town scum? My town has not been in fights with your Nation so leave" the end of the speech was said fearfully as Zuko dismounted and strode over to the man. Easily taller than him Zuko glared down at the old man.
As predicable as it was he said "Where is the Avatar? Tell me and I will not report this town to my father" he yelled. The man realising he was the Fire Prince dropped to the ground in a low bow at Zuko's feet. "Get up peasant" the Prince sneered, pulling the man to his feet. Zuko held him up off the ground and repeated again this time right in his face "Where is the Avatar?"
The old man who was genuinely afraid of him now replied "He did not stay here" but after seeing the dangerous glint in the Prince's eye he continued hastily "But my men reported having seen his bison land in the woods last night. I sent a scout out this morning though" swallowing nervously the old man continued "My scout overheard that the Avatar is heading to the fire nation to the Fire Temple" Zuko looked pleased and dropped the man to the ground.
"Men head back to the ship" he commanded. The fire nation filed out of the village and back onto their ship. "Uncle" Zuko yelled as he dismounted on deck. His rhino was taken away by two firebenders as he faced his uncle. "The avatar is heading to the Fire Nation, to the fire temple there" turning to the captain he yelled "Set a course for the Fire temple"
Iroh stood at the rail watching the water as they headed for there homeland. Zuko came and stood next to him with a calm look on his face. "Zuko this is a very unwise decision" he said sternly looking at his nephew.
Zuko sighed "I have no choice uncle"
Iroh looked at him angrily "Have you completely forgotten that the Fire Lord banished you? What if you're caught?" Iroh face turned very worried.
Zuko turned to look at his uncle "I'm chasing the Avatar. My father will understand why I'm returning home" Iroh looked at him disappointed, after all this time he still trusts his father.
"You give him too much credit. My brother is not the understanding type" Iroh said steadily. Zuko pulled his spyglass out and scanned the sky, after spotting the Avatar on his bison he lowered the spyglass and pointed.
"There they are! Helmsman! full steam ahead!" Zuko yelled excitedly. Iroh watched his nephew's excitement in worry. "Fire the catapults" Zuko yelled to his crew.
A big fireball came rushing at them from the water. "Aang, fire ball" yelled Katara desperately.
"I'm on it" Aang shouted back, he directed the ball of fire away from Appa with his airbending. Katara peered above the saddle and down onto the water gasping she realised Zuko was right behind them and firing.
"Aang its Zuko" Katara called just as another ball of fire was sent up.
"Ah Katara I think we have a bigger problem" Aang gasped. All three of them looked in front of them not believing what they saw.
"A blockade" Zuko gasped looking out ahead of them.
"Technically you are still in Earth Kingdom waters. Turn back now and they cannot arrest you" Iroh said quietly, hoping that Zuko would listen. Zuko just glared at his uncle.
"We have to get through" Aang said desperately "This could be my only chance"
"Lets run this blockade" Sokka shouted excitedly. Aang nodded excited and Katara just bowed her head in submission.
"Appa yip yip" Aang yelled enthusiastically.
Zuko whispered unbelievingly "He's not turning around"
"Please Prince Zuko; if the Fire Nation captures you, there is nothing I can do. Do not follow the Avatar" Iroh pleaded with Zuko but knew it was hopeless.
Zuko sighed "I'm sorry, Uncle" Turning to the helmsmen he yelled "Run this blockade"
Up in the air Appa was ducking and swerving all the fireballs the blockade started to send over. Appa groaned loudly when one grazed his shoulder and lurched to the side; tipping his saddle's contents all over the place. Katara jumped back up and rushed to where he was hit, she patted out the flames in his fur. Sokka grabbed Katara from behind and forced her down just as another round of fireballs came over.
Appa started to descend further towards the water, as soon as his feet touched he flew back up again just above the water. One single deadly fireball came directly into their path; Aang jumped up on Appa's head and blasted it away with his air. Appa flew straight through the blockade to the other side.
"We made it" Aang cheered
"Zuko, we are a collision course" gasped Iroh as the fire ball damaged ship moved closer to the blockade.
"We can make it" Zuko yelled determined as usual. Iroh just slapped his head in frustration.
Commander Zhao stood on one of the ships that made up the blockade; watching Zuko's ship get closer.
"Sir" one of his crew rushed up "The boarding party is ready to apprehend Prince Zuko" the soldier said with a salute.
"Wait, cut the engines and let them pass" Zhao commanded suddenly coming up with a plan.
"Sir?" the soldier questioned him confused.
Zhao didn't say anything as he watched Zuko's ship slide past in the gap that was created by cutting the engines. Zhao didn't know where the Avatar was headed but he knew Zuko was following him and Zhao intended to catch the Avatar first; he might as well let Zuko lead him right to there.
Zuko and his uncle were suspicious when the blockade stopped and they passed right through. Zuko ignored the feeling and continued after the Avatar.
Iroh stroked his beard and contemplated why it had been so easy to get through.
"There it is" Aang yelled excitedly, Katara and Sokka joined him and looked out over Appa's head. "Avatar Roku's island"
A crescent shaped island appeared in front of them; in the centre is a large volcano. Appa flew down and landed nest to the temple just underneath the volcano. Aang patted Appa and congratulated him on his flying success; Appa groaned in appreciation.
The three of them and Momo set off towards the temple. The three of them peered over the wall before entering the temple.
"I don't see any guards" Sokka whispered.
"Maybe it is abandoned" Katara said positively.
"Only one way to find out" said Aang as he jumped over the wall with the other two following him.
The three of them walked into the temple's centre when suddenly they were surrounded my dark shadows. "Who are you?" Aang yelled out. Five old men stepped out from around decorated pillars.
"We are the Fire sages, guardians of the temple of the Avatar" one of them spoke up. Aang eyes lit up.
"That's great" he beamed "I'm the Avatar"
"We know" he replied.
The fire sage who spoke then went into a firebending position and shot a fireball at Aang.
"Run you guys" Aang yelled. Katara and Sokka took off down the hallways; behind them they could here the fighting.
Aang came running down the hall after them "Follow me" he said running in front.
Sokka yelled out "Do you know where you are going?"
"Nope" Aang admitted.
Just then Zuko stepped out in front of them "Surprised?" he sneered walking towards them. All three stopped and gasped.
"Split up" yelled Sokka running towards a courtyard. Aang jumped right over Zuko and headed to the centre of the temple. Katara was left standing there but before she could move Zuko grabbed her firmly and held her against his body.
"Get off" yelled Katara furiously, kicking her legs against his.
"Not a chance" Zuko whispered into her ear. Something about the way he said it and the warm breathe that tickled Katara's ear made her shiver; which luckily for her went unnoticed as he started to drag her off in the direction Aang went.
Aang ran into a decorated room and slammed the big doors behind him with his airbending; they locked straight away. Looking around him Aang gasped to find that his was in Roku's sanctuary. He saw the big statue of Roku that was in his visit to the spirit world and walked towards it. Aang reached out to touch the carved face of his former life when a light from a window in the wall behind him shone on Roku's eyes.
The chamber started filling up with white smoke and as suddenly as it appeared it vanished leaving the former Avatar Roku in its place. Roku smiled and said "It is good to see you Aang, what took you so long?"
Outside the sanctuary doors the Fire Sages found them locked. After repeatedly trying to get in they had just about given up; obviously Avatar Roku didn't want them in there, but they knew the avatar Aang was with him.
"Where is he?" Zuko shouted as he entered the outer room of Roku's sanctuary dragging Katara after him. The Sages looked up surprised to see him.
"He is in Avatar Roku's sanctuary Prince Zuko" explained one of them gravely. "But what are you doing here, your father has forbidden your return to our nation" the sages started to get angry.
"It is none of your business why I would be here" Zuko snapped
"But it is mine" said Zhao as he stepped out from the pillars, with his fire nation troops. "Prince Zuko, it was a noble effort but your little smoke screen didn't fool me. Did you really think I wouldn't notice a small boat slip away from your ship in a scant cloud of smoke? Obviously you did or you wouldn't have bothered to come here" he laughed; amused at the Prince's attempt.
Zuko just stayed silent trying to control his anger. Only Katara could feel what Zhao's words had done to Zuko because his temperature had risen dramatically, almost enough to make Katara feel dizzy.
Zhao continued to humiliate Zuko "And now I have caught two traitors in one day" And after glancing at the girl captured in Zuko's arms added "And maybe something on the side" he smiled dangerously.
Zuko growled at that comment and Katara gasped. Zuko loosened his grip on her and shoved her behind him shielding her from the attack that was about to come. Katara complied and stayed behind Zuko as they both backed towards the wall as Zhao and his troops advanced on them.
"Aang" avatar Roku said "that should be enough information for now"
Aang looked at him worriedly "How will I know I am ready?" he asked
Roku smiled at him and said "You'll know; you have done this before" Aang smiled and started to leave. "Aang a great danger awaits you at the temple" a vision of Zhao and the fire sages outside the door flashed in Aang's mind. "I will help you defeat them. But only if you are ready" Aang's tattoos started glowing.
"I'm ready" Aang said determinedly.
Suddenly a white light poured from the cracks on either side of the sanctuary door distracting the firebenders. The doors burst open with a hiss and white smoke flowed out. As the light started to fade two glowing eyes could be seen in the dark making Katara gasp as she peeked out from behind Zuko.
"Aang no" she yelled trying to run over to the Avatar. Zuko grabbed her held her firmly to him not allowing her to escape.
Zhao turned around and directed his firebenders towards the sanctuary. "Ready" he barked. "Fire" he yelled loudly. Zhao and his firebenders simultaneously fired their fire into the doorway. The fire did not go past the sanctuary door and instead formed into one big swirling fireball, Avatar Roku appeared in the middle of the fire eyes glowing dangerously.
"Avatar Roku" the fire sages gasped. Roku gathered the fireball and shot it at Zhao and the fire sages blasting them across the room. Zhao and his troops fled running through the temple. The fire sages cowered and ran after them. Roku magma up from deep in the volcano and started to destroy the temple.
"Katara" Zuko yelled at her "Get out of here" she looked into his eyes, blue locking with gold. There was no malice there; only concern.
"No" she yelled back "Not without Aang. Save your self" she pleaded. He looked at her one last time and ran from the room. Katara watched him go with worry.
Roku had stopped his destruction and was sucked back into the temple. In his place Aang fell to the ground. "Aang" Katara cried rushing over to him.
"Hi Katara" Aang said softly.
"Come on Aang we have to get out of here" she said with a worried face. Katara helped Aang up and they ran for the nearest balcony. "Oh no" Katara gasped, they were trapped with the temple sinking into the lava.
Appa suddenly flew by their balcony with Sokka steering him. "Hey guys, need a lift?" he asked nonchalantly. Aang and Katara jumped on and Appa flew away from the temple before it sunk completely.
Zuko watched from his boat as the Avatar flew away. He sailed from the temple in his boat to his ship where Iroh greeted him with a hug. "Save it Uncle" he said walking away from his uncle's embrace. Zuko turned and yelled up to the helmsmen "Follow the Avatar"
Iroh just shook his head here we go again
Up in the clouds Appa flew silently. Aang had just finished telling his companions about the comet and they listened with heavy hearts.
Aang turned away visibly upset and Katara gave him a hug which Sokka joined and they flew into the night.
This chapter is very much like the 2nd part of the winter solstice, but is essential for later parts of the story.