"So, we think there's a portal to the spirit world in either the north or south poles?"
Sokka sounded skeptical, even as they were journeying to the south pole, Sokka and Katara's home. He was never much into spirituality, preferring to be practical in the material world so finding spirit portals was outside his line of work.
"Not think, Sokka. Know." Aang corrected, sitting on Appa's back as he was transporting him and the rest of Team Avatar to the South Pole. "It's one of two portals that was actually the main source of travel between the mortal and spirit realms."
"So how come we never heard of it?" Sokka questioned.
"Because it was sealed by the fist Avatar when they believed it was impossible for humans and Spirits to live together."
"Ah." Sokka simply nodded. "So where is it?"
"Well, I have an idea of the general location but given how it's been the portal's probably buried underneath ice." Aang answered. "So, we'll need to be careful in how we unearth it."
"Don't you mean 'un-ice'?" Sokka asked with a cheeky grin.
Toph rolled her blind eyes. "And we're bringing along, why?"
"Hey, I'm the team strategist!" Sokka complained.
"Right." Toph simply said.
Zuko and Katara were sitting on the other side as Zuko turned to Aang. "If we do find the portal we'll have to be careful. Depending on how deep it's buried, if we apply too much force we could end causing severe damage to the South Pole and the Southern Water Tribe would be affected."
"I agree. I hope it's not too close to our village." Katara muttered.
"It's located in a forest in the center of the South Pole. I don't think we have to worry." Aang replied. "At the very least, the Southern Water Tribe village will be too far away to be in any immediate danger. It's what comes after that worries me."
"What comes after?" Katara asked.
"The Southern and Norther spirit portals are the original portals that allowed for travel between our worlds…" Aang looked ahead, seeing a pair of cliffs. "There it is."
The group sans Toph looked ahead, seeing the cliffs and as they came closer, they saw the frozen forest surrounding a single spot in between the cliffs.
Aang narrowed his eyes, seeing dark clouds forming overhead. "The Spirits aren't happy."
Sokka glanced at Aang. "How can you tell?"
"…"
"Right, you're the Avatar." Sokka simply said before Aang could answer.
Aang directed Appa down to the center in between the two cliffs where dark clouds were circling overhead. Once Appa had landed, Aang was the first to hop down and approached the center. Katara was next, followed by Zuko, Sokka and Toph. They stopped to see Aang's tattoos glowing briefly.
"Aang…" Katara reached out with one hand.
"It's all right, Katara." Aang reassured her, making her halt her approach. "It's all right."
Katara lowered her hand while Sokka placed his on her shoulder in a comforting gesture. Aang took several more steps forward and his eyes along with his tattoos started glowing. He made several gestures with his hands before spreading them outwards and there was a flash of light, forcing everyone to cover their eyes.
Except for Toph of course but she was shaken by invisible shockwave that blew out from whatever was happening.
Once the light vanished, they opened their eyes and lowered their hands to see a bright light in front of Aang.
The portal to the Spirit Realm had been open.
"This is it, everyone." Aang said as his tattoos stopped glowing. "Once we go inside, we'll be in the Spirit Realm."
Katara walked up next to Aang. "I'm ready."
Katara had been by Aang's side since the day they had first met and she would be by his side to the very end.
"So am I." Sokka was next.
Sokka had been skeptical of Aang's status as the Avatar in the beginning but as they journeyed around the world, he and Aang had become as close as brothers and he planned on sticking him even if the fight ahead would be the last one.
"Of course, I am ready." Toph stepped forward with no hesitation.
Toph of course had little respect for Aang in the beginning but Aang and his friends had been the first to accept Toph as she was, offering her real friendship and that was something she had treasured deeply.
"And I am ready too." Zuko was the last. "It's time the curse of my family is put to rest for good."
With them all in agreement, one by one they stepped into the portal and entered the Spirit Realm.