Okay, so here's chapter 10! I'll save notes for the end… enjoy!

15 YEARS LATER

Aang finally saw Tahn again. He hadn't been able to see his friend in 8 years, for security reasons. The changes they had made both physically and mentally were incredible. Aang's dark brown, almost black, hair grew out, and he had a long beard. The clothes Tahn had given him were still in the parcel, as Aang didn't see the reason to wear them until he got out. But now, as Tahn waited for Aang to give him the Air Nomad clothes, he petted Momo. Aang took the parcel and opened it up. Inside were a robe, a navy blue tunic, black pants, a cloak, and a headband. Aang was to keep his own boots.

As Aang undressed, Tahn saw his friend's tattoos, and he winced at the sight of the awful scar on Aang's back. "Geez, how'd you get that?" he asked.

Aang turned. "Fire Nation. 21 years ago."

As he continued to get dressed, Tahn saw all of the multiple wounds and scars Aang had received the last few years. He saw how Aang's leg wound had healed, but it left a terrible scar. Every now and then, he was let out when the Fire Nation was close to victory. He would fight, win, and then be led back in chains to his cell. For 15 years they did this to him. He still looked like the same young man Tahn had met years ago, but sadder and had a beaten look deep in his eyes.

Aang finished dressing and turned. "You got a knife?"

Tahn handed his dagger to him as Aang bent some water from the water pipe onto the ground and froze it into a mirror. He then took the knife, cut most of his beard off, and cut his hair to shoulder length. He put it up in the traditional men's style. He tied the headband around his tattoo, put the cloak on, and turned to Tahn.

"Wow! I don't even recognize you!"

"So you know the plan?"

Aang and Tahn had made a plan the last day Tahn had seen him, saying that the next time they saw each other, they would initiate the plan. However, neither of them knew that they wouldn't see each other for 8 years.

"Yeah. Fly Appa to here, you blow the bison whistle, he busts you out, and I fly away on him. Then you meet me outside the outer wall in the Hansho forest, and you're home free!"

"Good. But wait until midnight to two, when the guards are asleep. I'll work on already busting myself out. Okay?"

"Gotcha! Come on, Momo."

Momo climbed into Tahn's cloak as he left the cell.

"Katara," Aang whispered. "Please don't have given up on me."

Midnight came and went. Finally, Aang spotted Appa flying towards him, with Tahn and Momo. They landed silently next to the tower, and Aang took the whistle. He sucked in a big breath, and blew with all of his might.

Appa groaned angrily, as he hadn't seen his best friend in 15 years. He jumped and flew into the air, blasting open the jail. He saw Aang, and with all of a ten-ton bison's might, crashed into the cell, breaking it open.

"Appa!" Aang cried happily as the bison licked him all over. Even through the disguise, Appa knew his best friend. "We gotta go! Hurry!" Tahn cried as Aang jumped out of the cell into the street and put his hood on over his head.

"Good luck!" he yelled to Tahn as the bison took off, while Aang slunk off into the shadows of the street. Occasional cries of 'The Avatar has escaped!' were heard, but Aang knew he was safe, for now.

As dawn came, it found the young Avatar still wandering the streets, heading towards his freedom. He took his hood off and walked casually through the streets. Soldiers were running to and fro everywhere, passing out flyers of the missing Avatar to passersby. Aang was also passed a few, and he looked nothing like the picture now. That was good. He laughed inside.

As he got to the outer wall, two guards stopped him. "Halt, citizen. Where are you going?"

Aang tried to hide his voice, so he spoke with an accent. "I am going to the city of Omashu to visit my brother, Sho-Pong."

"And who are you?"

"Sho-Lee."

"Sho-Lee, do you have your passport?"

"Yes, sir," Aang took out the fake passport Tahn had given him.

"Okay, you're clear. Have a nice trip."

"Thank you."

As Aang walked away, he smiled and walked towards the meeting point in the forest a few miles ahead.

The sun started to set, and Aang saw Tahn. "Hey, you made it!" he said as he handed Aang a bowl of rice and chicken, and then sat down across the fire, his back relaxed against a log. "Hey, Tahn?"

"Yeah?"

"Thanks for everything, and thanks for being my friend through it all."

"No problem. But we need a plan from here."

"Well, Appa, Momo, and I can leave before sunrise. That way we'll have more cover and be well rested. I think, without stops, we should make it home in about 2-3 weeks. We'll leave before dawn, but now, we should get some sleep."

Tahn rolled over, his back to Aang. "Goodnight!"

"Goodnight."

Aang went over to Appa and hugged him the hardest he could. He had missed his best friend. Appa closed his eyes, content, and Aang crawled onto the bison's back. He lay on his back, Momo on his stomach, and looked at the stars. To himself and the sky, he thought about Katara. 15 years was way too long. "I'm coming, Katara. I'm coming home." He soon fell asleep.

A buffalo-wolf's howl woke him up. Tahn was already up, packing Appa's saddle and clearing the fire. Aang pulled his cloak on and walked to his friend. "Guess this is it, huh?"

"Yeah," Tahn said. He held out another parcel. "These are your old clothes. I guess you need them for the time when the Fire Nation will know that the Avatar is back again."

Aang took them and hugged Tahn. "Thanks for saving my life, buddy."

"Thanks for saving my life more."

"Well, Tahn, g—"

"No, Aang. No goodbyes. We'll meet again; maybe on another battlefield. Take care."

"You too. And thanks for helping me escape! Finally!"

"Don't mention it!"

Aang jumped onto Appa and Momo jumped into Aang's lap. "Yip yip!" He cried, and Appa took off into the slowly rising sunrise.

Two weeks later, Aang noticed it was colder, so he knew they were closer. As he bunked down for the night, he decided to meditate and calm himself before going home. But he was so tired that he fell asleep right in the middle of the meditation.

He was surrounded by darkness. One flame lit up the room, and before him, Roku appeared. "Hello, Aang."

"Roku!"

"You've grown up quite a lot, haven't you, since the last time we talked."

"A little," he said as he smiled.

"Aang, many changes have taken place since you left. I will warn you of some things, but rest now. Contact me in the morning."

"Okay, Roku."

Aang sat up. Appa and Momo were asleep, and the moon was full. It was just a dream.

Aang fell right back to sleep again.

In the morning, he felt refreshed and energized. But he had to talk to Roku first. He meditated and went into the Avatar state. He opened his eyes and Roku stood in front of him. "Come, Aang. We have much to talk about." Aang took Roku's hand as he climbed onto the dragon's back.

"The fate of the world still rests on your shoulders, Aang," Roku started. "But you are not alone. You have so many friends and family that will join you to win this war. And now, there is one more that can and will help you defeat Ozai and Azula once and for all."

"Who?"

"All I can tell you is her name. You must find out the rest yourself."

"What is her name, Roku?"

"The girl's name, Aang, is Ara. She is still young, but is growing to become a very powerful bender, one of the best. She will help you win the war. You will find her when the time is right."

"Okay, Roku."

"And Aang, there are many changes awaiting you at the Southern Tribe. Keep your disguise and identity to yourself until the right time."

"When is the right time?"

"You will know. Good luck, Aang."

Aang opened his eyes and was in his camp again. Appa and Momo were grazing, and the sun just peeked over the horizon.

As he packed up the camp, Aang thought about what Roku had said about keeping on his disguise, even in the Water Tribe. Something must have happened, he thought, something about me that is dangerous to the Tribe.

He just shrugged it off and continued to pack.

As the sun rose higher, Aang was flying about the water at the cloud's elevation, when he spotted the South Pole. He breathed in a burst of cold air. "It's good to be home," he said. But something caught his eye. A giant city, carved into the ice.

"Am I at the right pole?" Aang asked Momo questioningly, but decided to land with Appa safely a few miles away, hide him and Momo, and make and ice boat. He paddled to the fortress.

When he got there, he couldn't believe how much had changed. His mouth gaped at just the sight of the wall!

He stopped when the guards saw him. He yelled up. "Do I have permission to enter the city?"

A guard yelled down, "What is your business?"

"I need to speak to Chief Hakoda; my business is my own to know."

"Very well. We will escort you in."

The gate opened, Aang paddled through, and was again stunned. The great southern tribe had still kept its simplicity, but was much more protected, and looked more like the northern tribe.

As the gate closed behind him, Aang got out of the boat and followed the guards. He kept his cloak over his head and dared not show his clothes, in case they thought he was a spy. But he couldn't help but gaze in wonder at the magnificent sight around him.

They went up a few flights of steps, and Aang turned and looked at the whole tribe. Tears filled his eyes. He was glad to finally be home. He turned and continued his walk. The guards led him to a large tent, where a map of the world was set up on the floor and a round table circled it.

Aang looked at the guard. "You will wait here. The chief will be with you when he can." Aang nodded and sat down, his face facing parallel to the door. But he didn't have to wait long when he heard Hakoda's voice outside the tent.

"I have a visitor? Who?"

"A stranger, sir. He said his business was his own."

"I will talk to the man. Thank you. You may leave." Aang heard the guards walking away down the steps, and the tent flap moving as the warrior pushed it aside.

"I am to understand that you requested my presence," Hakoda said as he walked toward the hood figure. "May I ask your business here with me?"

"Family matters," Aang said deeply. He looked up. His father's face had the same proud look like he remembered, just a little older and more tired.

Hakoda looked at the hooded stranger. He looked familiar, but he didn't know where from. He hadn't seen his son-in-law in 15 years. How could he remember, especially since Aang was in disguise?

"I have come to unleash secrets hidden to me, to find my lost family even though I was the one lost, and to save the world."

Hakoda stared into the stranger's eyes. Only one other person he knew of at the moment had grey eyes like the stranger. He gaped.

"Aang?"

"Hey dad."

He stood up, took off his hood, and ran to his father. Hakoda embraced his son, tears filling his eyes. "Aang," his father sighed. "We almost gave up hope! Why didn't you come back? What happened? Are you okay? Why didn't you write? Aang, you've missed so much…" Hakoda stopped. "Wait. I need to know it's really you. Show me your arrow."

Aang removed the headband, and Hakoda smiled. "It is you. But you should rest now. We will talk later. A guard will show you to a tent. Aang, you have no idea how much this means to me."

He smiled. "Me too, dad." He walked out, and Hakoda couldn't help but notice a slight limp in the Avatar's gait.

As Aang walked to his tent, he again noticed how much the tribe had changed. But he was too tired as he crawled under the sleeping skin and fell asleep.

Hakoda ran to find Zuko. He was practicing firebending, but stopped when he saw Hakoda running flat out towards him. "Hakoda, what's wrong?" he said as Hakoda grabbed him. "Nothing; but Zuko, he's…he's back…he's alive!"

"Who?"

"Aang!"

The prince gaped. "Are you sure?"

"Zuko, I know my own son in law. He's back, and resting! Come on! See for yourself!"

As the two men ran back, Zuko ran faster to the tent Hakoda said he was in. He stopped, caught his breath, and walked in. And sure enough, his friend was sleeping like a rock. And Zuko couldn't believe how much Aang had changed. He had long hair, new clothes, and he looked older and worn-down, as if the weight of the world had finally caught up with him. "Sleep well, buddy," Zuko whispered. "You need it before you hear news that'll change your life."

As he walked out, Hakoda met him and they went inside the main tent to talk. They sat down and Zuko heated some tea for the both of them.

"Does he know?" he asked.

"As far as I know, no. And he didn't seem to know about Katara, Sokka, and Toph. But when he wakes up, we need to tell him about Ara. She's growing up. She needs to meet her real father. Zuko, you have been her adoptive father since the day she was born, but now she needs to follow her father."

"I know."

"Well, we'll just wait for the Avatar to wake up so we can shock him out of his shoes."

Aang woke up the next day. He couldn't believe how tired he was. He grabbed his cloak, redid his hair, fixed his headband, and walked out. He was still looking around at the beauty of the tribe which he had come to love when he bumped into someone. She fell down on her face and the basket of fish she was carrying spilled all over the icy ground.

Aang got up. He hood was covering her face. "I am so sorry, miss. I didn't see you. Are you alright?"

"Yes, I'm fine, thank you. Don't worry about it. I'm always a little clumsy." She laughed. As he helped her up, he took her hand and suddenly stared into the face of a beautiful young teenage girl who looked extremely familiar. She looked in his eyes, and he in hers: they both had the same soft grey eyes. They just stared until Aang broke the silence. "Uh, here, let me help you clean up your fish," he said as he made a face at himself and helped her pick them up. She looked so much like Katara, but at the same time, different. "Thanks," she mumbled, and walked away. They both caught each other staring back towards each other. Aang walked quickly away the other way and went to Hakoda's tent, trying to forget about it.

Okay, so Aang finally gets out! AFTER 15 YEARS!! Can you believe it? I guess it's kind of based off of the novel Tale of Two Cities, where the father is kept in jail for 18 years, but it's a bit different…

The Water Tribe is a huge fortress! Good job Zuko!

Aang bumps into a girl. Can you guess who she is? Hint hint…

Aang's back. He's finally home. But where is the gaang?

I hope you guys like this chapter, and please, READ AND REVIEW!!

Thanks for all of your support, and please keep reading!

Avatarone3