Hey guys sorry for the cliff hanger type wait. Finals are almost over so I should be able to update faster cuz school will be done YAY! I'm a senior now! 2013! Well anyway, hope you guys enjoy the chapter!
~th3rdhal3~
She is not, one of us...~
Aang looked up at me with disappointed eyes. "Karuna, it's over. The Firelord probably relocated to a remote island so that he'd be safe during the eclipse." I shook my head.
""Nuh-uh." The Air Nomad cocked his head to the side and raised an eyebrow. "Every significant ruler has a secret catacomb to hide in at times like these."
"You mean, like a panic room?" Sokka asked. He was close.
"More like a bunker." I corrected. "And I'll bet you anything it would be under that volcano." Toph walked over to me.
"Underground, eh? We're just the girls to find it!" She beamed. Sokka pulled out a timing device the Mechanist had given him.
"Alright, it's ten minutes until the eclipse. That means ten minutes to find the Firelord." We were definitely pressed for time now. Could we do it in that short of time? We'd have to have the spirits on our side. Katara, the voice of reason, spoke up.
"Wait. If they knew we were coming, it could be a trap. Let's not risk that. We can use the time we have left to make sure everyone gets out safely." The water-bender's idea made sense. There was no telling what would happen once we started searching for the Firelord. And if we failed to find Ozai, everyone would be royally screwed.
Hakoda put a hand on his daughter's shoulder. "Everyone who's here today came prepared to risk everything for this mission. They know just what's at stake. If there's still a chance and there's still hope, I think they would want Aang to go for it." The warrior chief threw in his two cents. We all looked up at the air-bender. It was his decision after all, since he was the one destined to defeat the Firelord. The avatar turned to gaze at the volcano.
"Let's do this!"
"Toph, do you feel anything?" Aang asked. The earth-bender wiggled her toes on the volcano's side.
"Yep," She answered. "There are natural tunnels criss-crossing through the inside of the volcano."
"She's right." I dug my hand into the Earth. " I can feel something big, dense and possibly made of metal." I drew back for a quick moment and then rammed my fist into the ground. After, Toph jumped through the make shift entrance I had just created. There was no doubt that she'd be our guide in the dark. She'd be able to navigate the best.
"Nice punching, Sifu!" My cousin yelled over her shoulder. "This way!" Aang and Sokka followed the blind girl through the dark tunnel. I had to practically drag Katara behind me because she was so uneasy about wandering pitch black tunnels.
Toph's heightened sense of direction was our savior. Without her we'd "perish in burning hot magma" as she had put it. The girl suddenly came to a halt . "The tunnel continues on the other side!" My cousin informed us. But there was about eight yards filled with fire geysers in front of us. We'd need to be fast and careful if we wanted to cross it in one piece. Aw shit...Sokka was the first to move. He ran forward, winding around geysers like a madman. It was a wonder the clumsy boy hadn't been blasted sky high by the fire and steam; to be honest, I have expected it to happen. Aang and Toph soon took off in the same direction. I took hold of Katara's hand and together we dashed through the geyser field.
We stopped once we saw the other three halted on the edge of a rocky ledge. Down below was a sea of flowing lava. "There's no floor!" Sokka exclaimed. The look on Katara's face seem to say 'Are you shitting me?' It seemed like we had reached a dead end, but then Aang opened up his glider.
"Climb on and hold on tight." What? No. The kid couldn't be serious. The five of us would crash and burn in the lava if we tried flying together.
"Aang, there's no way we can all go over at once." I tried reasoning with the avatar. We'd get killed before even finding the Firelord. The Air Nomad knew that carrying everyone over at the same time couldn't be done.
"I'll have to make two trips. I'll take Toph and Sokka first, then I'll come back for you and Katara." The earth-bender and warrior boy climbed onto Aang's glider and took off with him. We could hear them screaming (it was mainly Sokka) like babies as they flew further down the tunnels. I turned to face the water-bender. Once the other three were out of sight, she threw herself into my arms.
"I'm so glad you're okay!" She rested her head against my collarbone. "When the explosion happened inside that battlement, and when you weren't moving on the ground-I thought that maybe you-" she trailed off. I held the water-bender around her waist and hugged her tightly. I kissed the girl on her forehead.
"I'm just happy you're alright too." I smiled at her. "Let's keep it that way." We let go of one another once we saw Aang flying back in the distance. As he drew closer, more violent thoughts clouded my mind. I wanted him to fall. I wanted the searing, hot embers to burn holes into his glider, taking him down to where the boiling hot magma would envelope him in a scalding prison in which he could not escape. He had tried to steal my girlfriend from me. He deserved to perish. Then my conscience spoke up. What's wrong with you? Aang is your friend. Regardless of what happened earlier,he is your companion and the world's beacon of light. How dare you? I was feeling pretty guilty once Aang reached the ledge. It was to the point where I couldn't look him in the eye. I was ashamed.
The ride over to join Sokka and Toph was terrifying. Though I knew Aang had complete control over the glider, I kept feeling as if I was going to fall off. After what felt like hours of careful maneuvering, we made it to the other side. Toph tore through the metal door that obstructed our path. She bent it open with her elbows as if it were nothing! What in Agni?
"I'm so glad we added you to the group!" Sokka squealed ecstatically as he followed her through the opening she had made. I was still in amazement and shock.
"You can metal-bend?" My cousin giggled in the lead.
"Yeah, I'm that awesome!"
As we wandered the winding and twisting corridors of the underground bunker, we came across a Fire Nation diplomat who was all too eager to reveal Ozai's location before we really even threatened him for information. According to the middle aged man, the Firelord was: down the hall, to the left and up the stairs. With the newly acquired whereabouts, we raced in the direction he told us. As we sprinted up the stairs, Sokka informed us all that it was only about a minute until the eclipse started. Then we reached another metal door, bigger than the first. The Fire Nation insignia was engraved on the metal.
"This is it." Sokka breathed, studying the door. My blood boiled. We were moments away from confronting Ozai; one of the most powerful men on the planet. The man who I had once been inspired by. The monster that I once held such high respect for. There was a tingling sensation in my palms.
"Wait!" I put a halt to further action in our group. A sudden thought occurred to me. "This doesn't feel right. That diplomat handed over the information at a drop of a coin. The Fire Nation despises treacherous actions like that."
"Yeah, well it was either squeal or face a world of pain. Anyone would have done the same." Toph argued. The blind girl did have a valid point.
"Don't you think the Firelord's chamber would have more protection?" I asked.
"Hence, the barricade." Sokka sarcastically pointed to the door with both hands. Aang stood there with his eyes closed, facing the door. He listened to us bicker for a short moment before intervening.
"We don't have the time to be over cautious and analytical." The Air Nomad set us all straight. "If we wanna win the day, we need to strike now. Ozai is cowering behind these walls and I'm ready to fight him!" The avatar drew his staff back and then swung it forward. The metal doors smashed inwards from the force of the air. The five of us stepped into the narrow chamber. There was a throne all the way at the end, but Ozai was not the one occupying it.
"So...you are alive after all." A condescending feminine voice greeted us. Lounging about the throne, clad in black, gold and red battle armor, was the Fire Nation princess. My gut dropped. Azula. The others' jaws had practically hit the floor. "I had a hunch you survived," Azula continued. "But it doesn't matter. I've known about the invasion for months." She snickered. But how was that possible? Then it dawned on me. Ba Sing Se. She must have gotten the info out of Kuei in her Kyoshi warrior disguise.
"Where is he? Where's the Firelord?" Aang demanded, not letting his guard down. Azula played if up next. She pretended to be offended.
"Hm. You mean I'm not good enough for you? You're hurting my feelings." Psh! Like you have feelings. I remarked internally. Sokka pointed his space sword at her.
"Stop wasting our time and give is the information! You're in no position to refuse-you're powerless now!"
"Stick to the truth!" My cousin warned her. "I'll be able to tell if you're lying." Azula didn't seem phased one bit by the threats. She slowly descended the throne stairs.
"Are you sure? I'm a pretty good liar." She speaks the truth! With a straight face, the princes said, "I am a 400 foot tall purple platypus-bear with pink horns and silver wings." I really wanted to laugh because I fond it hysterical. The delivery was simply perfect. But, if I did, I knew that Katara and the others would hold that over my head until my dying day. I had to control and save my laughter for a more appropriate time. Toph paused for a moment because she didn't know what to say to the princess.
"Okay. You're good. I'll admit it." The blind girl agreed. She then punched forward, trapping Azula neck down in earth. The princess remained stuck for a few moments. Then, the Earth surrounding her began to crack and she busted out of her restraint. What? I knew the fire-bender was strong, but that was something else! Azula brushed the dirt off of her shoulder pads.
"When I left Ba Sing Se, I brought home some souvenirs...Dai Li agents!" Down from the ceiling dropped two figures clad in green. The princess was brilliant as always. She couldn't bend for the time being, but they could. Aang went in for the attack. He swung his staff at them with a huge force of wind behind it, but the Dai Li shielded themselves and the princess with stone blockades.
Aang tore down half of the Earth walls and faced off with the Dai Li. Another barricade was raised once he broke through. My cousin blasted a hole up top in it and leaped through. I was about to follow her when I glanced back at the Water Tribe siblings.
"Don't worry about me! I'll climb over, and Katara's got this end of the room!" I gave the warrior boy the thumbs up sign and then earth-bended myself up through the hole. Once I joined the other two, Toph was already preoccupied with fending off from the Dai Li. The members had planted themselves on the sides of the chamber and were attacking her diagonally. My cousin was definitely a match for them and it looked like she didn't need any help at the moment. Aang went after Azula, but every time he went to strike the princess, she performed some type of effective aerial evasive move to get herself out of the way. Her moves were acrobatic and I had never seen do anything like this before. The princess ran up the side walls and flipped over pillars; she was avoiding very attack like it was a plague. I pulled the long bow off my back and took aim. It was extremely hard to target her. I was only aiming to pin her by her armor but at the speed she was moving, I was afraid I'd make a fatal error. I lowered my bow in cowardice, but then turned around quickly and took fire. The arrow caught the top of one of the Dai Li agent's robes and pinned it to the wall. I shot another one which snagged the other side of his uniform.
Azula ran towards the hole in the Earth barricade. Aang and Toph were in pursuit. With the help of one agent, the princess sprang up off of a raised column and soared through the hole, just as Sokka was making his way through. They had missed each other by inches. Spirits, Sokka...KATARA! I followed Aang and Toph through the hole and over the warrior boy. Down below where the door once stood, Katara stood in the entrance way to block the princess. The Water Tribe girl unleashed a water whip from her pouch which caught Azula around the ankle. The fire-bender started to stumble and then dodge rolled to get back on her feet. She then jumped completely over the water-bender's head, dive rolled and continued on. Where did she learn this from? Ty Lee?
"I can't pin her down!" Aang hollered to Toph and I who were running at his side after the Fire Nation princess. "She's too quick!" Azula darted out of the chamber through one of the tunnels. A Dai Li agent was following us. Toph lunged at him and shoved him into a metal pillar. She bent the sides of the pillar inwards so that he couldn't escape. Using water from her pouch, Katara froze the man there just for good measure. Aang and I were in the lead now. We sped after the princess with the other three behind us.
"Aang! Karuna! Stop attacking!" Sokka commanded, screeching to a sudden stop. The avatar and I stopped fast and up ahead surprisingly, so did Azula. "Don't you see what she's doing? She's just playing with us. She's not even trying to win this fight!" The warrior boy brought this to our attention.
"Not true!" Azula objected in the same fake perkiness as earlier. "I'm giving it my all." I couldn't believe I used to miss the princess' sarcastic and mocking tones.
"You're trying to keep us here and waste all of our time!" Toph accused her. Azula looked a bit annoyed and then sighed to herself.
"Um, right. I think your friend just said that, genius. And since you can't see, I should tell you I'm rolling my eyes." Ouch. A wicked grin was plastered to the princess' face. We had made plenty of blind jokes with the small girl before but that was out of line; especially because the remark came from our antagonist. My cousin cracked her knuckles.
"Ill roll your whole head!" She challenged the princess, but Sokka put a hand on her shoulder.
"She's just baiting you again! Guys, we need to get out of here and fine the Firelord before it's too late." The warrior boy was right. Azula had already proved to be a time consuming distraction. We had to ignore her and keep moving. Katara, Toph and I followed Aang and Sokka back the other way we came.
"Sooo...Sokka's your name, is it?" the princess' tone sounded dangerously chipper. Usually when it sounded like that, it meant bad things were about to happen. "My favorite prisoner used to mention you all the time." The Water Tribe boy paused and turned around to face her. "She was convinced you were going to rescue her. Of course, you never came and she gave up on you." It was the first time I had ever seen the darker skinned boy shed tears. He growled and then sprung forward in a charge. I grabbed onto the older boy before he could get far.
"Sokka, no! She's just reeling you in like you said. We can't fall for that!" The warrior boy fought against my grasp to get at the princess. "Suki's fine. She's okay. I promise. I promise you!" It took a lot to restrain Sokka and I was sure he was going to knock me over very soon. "Don't listen to her!" I eventually got him to calm down and he stopped fighting me. I urged him to keep moving with us and reassured him several times that nothing had happened to his girlfriend. He threw nasty glances at the princess as he walked backwards. We were still in the process of exiting the scene when things took a turn for the worst.
"Oh, Kari!" Azula's false enthusiasm returned. "I almost didn't recognize you in this...motley crew." I should have ignored the fact that she was speaking to me and kept on going. However, I turned back. "Funny. I never pictured you in green and brown. I think red is more your color," She emphasized the word. "Wouldn't you agree?" My heart rate began to slowly increase. Great. She was targeting me now. I should have walked away then, leaving her behind, but for whatever reason, those weren't my actions.
"Watch yourself, Azula!" I found myself snapping at her. The princess seemed amused by my reaction and my friends were now very confused.
"You know her?" Aang asked me, bewildered. The Fire Nation princess placed her hands on her hips and laughed.
"Boy, does she know me." A smirk was on her red lips. I was starting to grow irritated. I took a step forward but Katara grabbed my arm and pulled me back. I pulled against her for a moment, but she had a firm grasp.
"Come on. Let's go." Katara glared at Azula, who narrowed her gold eyes and returned the cold stare. I could only imagine the internal insults they were shooting at one another in that moment. The princess' irises returned to normal shortly and it seemed as if she was calculating something. I started to go with Katara and the others down the tunnel.
"Why'd she call you a different name? What's going on?" Sokka questioned me. I told him I'd explain later when we weren't crunched for time. I didn't want to talk about it at the moment.
"Walk away, Kari." The princess mocked me once I turned my back on her. "It should be easy for you. You've done it before." I could feel the blood gushing in my ears. My adrenaline was at an all time high. The old anger I was once burdened with returned. I slammed my foot into the Earth and a structure rose up diagonally and struck the princess. The impact sent her flying back into a tunnel wall. I ran at her with my fist drawn back; it was terrible form, but I wasn't thinking clearly. The princess got up quickly and waited for me to get closer. From her sleeve, she had drawn a knife. I didn't notice the concealed weapon until seconds before she raised it. All of a sudden, an arrow pierced her sleeve and pinned her arm to the wall. Azula was taken by complete surprised and I used the moment to trap her hands to the wall by enclosing them in rock. The Princess scowled at the warrior boy who lowered his recurve bow.
"Who do you think you are? The Yu-Yan Archers?" Sokka glared at the fire-bender from a distance. His blue eyes never shifted once.
"No. We're Team Avatar." The boy declared. His words filled me with inspiration. The five of us were in this together. And we all looked out for each other. Team Avatar...I sighed in my head. The moment would have been even greater had Azula not ruined it.
"Well I hate to crush this heart warming moment, really, but it might interest you to know that within your oh so self-righteous group one of your comrades has been hiding something." It was my turn to smirk and laugh.
"Nice try, princess. They already know I'm from the Fire Nation." I turned my back on her once more and retreated. Azula would have to do better than that if she wanted to black mail me. But of course, the fire-bender would not give up so easily.
"I'm surprised the avatar allowed you to join his posse, despite your military background." I wanted to kick her in the face. Anything to get the woman to can it. Aang gazed upon me with a confused expression.
"Karuna, what does she mean? What is she talking about?" I brushed it off the best I could.
"Nothing, Aang. Don't worry about it."
"Oh don't sell yourself short, Kari. You were pretty famous back in the day." The fire-bender continued. "Every man, woman and child knew your name. The youngest warlord in Fire Nation history."
"Shut up." I warned her. I picked up the pace of my walk, but Sokka stood in my way and held me back.
"What is she talking about?" The warrior boy repeated Aang's question in a harsh voice. My hear raced a mile a minute and I was scared as hell. I knew what Azula was doing, but the princess couldn't break me; I wouldn't allow her to.
"How many villages did you conquer? Seven?...Twenty? I can't seem to remember." Sadistic, golden eyes stared into my soul.
"Shut up!" I shouted at the fire-bender. She was getting inside of my head and I couldn't shut her out. Azula only snickered at my anger and agitation. The girl thrived on the misfortune of others. No, no no! This couldn't be happening. Katara stared at me both desperately and frantically.
"Karuna, what is she talking about?"
"Open your ears, water peasant!" The princess spat. I stepped forward and raised my fist.
"Back off, Azula." I would not tolerate anyone talking to my girlfriend in such a way. Especially not an ex. Azula had no right to speak to her like that. The princess then raised an eyebrow.
"Well, when did you join the Water Tribe?" She jeered at me. I felt my cheeks burn pink for a short moment. "Why it seems like just yesterday when you told me how you longed to lead the siege on the Northern Tribe. How Zhao was incompetent for such a task." I instantly regretted that memory. I had been an entirely different person back then. Katara stared up at me with hurt eyes. I wished it was a lie. I wished it was a filthy lie, but the princess spoke the truth. The flood gates of my past had opened. "General Sankari," The princess' words stabbed me, each one of them. "Pride of the Fire Nation after the Dragon of the West. But they already knew that, didn't they?" I hated her condescending tone, and I hated her patronizing demeanor. My friends were absolutely awestruck. Not one had anything to say to me. Toph was the one who finally broke the deafening silence.
"She's lying." The stubborn girl insisted. "She's lying, isn't she Karuna?" She of all people should have known the answer to her question. The fact that she was asking it, tore me in half. My throat was dry. I stared down at the floor. My cousin grew uneasy at my silence. "Isn't she?" The fragility of her voice was what caused me to break down. Clear rivers ran down my cheeks from my eyes. I shook my head.
"No, Toph." There was no way of hiding it anymore, and I felt like a monster from keeping the truth from her. "She's not." It was all over. My secret redemption was done. My friends now knew the awful truth. And I was sure they would soon see me as a villainous foe. Azula smiled wickedly from against the wall. The princess seemed very pleased with herself.
"But she's wrong." I forced my voice to come out strong. The fire-bender's facial expression suddenly changed. "My color is not red. My past is filled with wrongdoings and mistakes, this is true. And many I cannot atone for. But I'm not fighting for control anymore. I'm fighting to restore. And I am not supporting the Fire Nation anymore-I made that decision a long time ago. I represent the Earth Kingdom now and any other nation that stands for peace and harmony. This is my statement." My whole body shook and I was trembling. I turned to gaze upon my friends. If they even wanted to see my face now was beyond me and I couldn't blame them. Katara kept avoiding eye-contact and Sokka was shaking his head at me in denial. The avatar was the only one who would face me now.
"You have to find Ozai. Go now! Before the eclipse ends." I advised him. The Air Nomad continued to stare at me with the same somber face. This caused more tears to spill out of my eyes. "I'm so sorry..." I whimpered. I saw a small tear appear on Aang's face before he nodded at me and started to leave the scene.
"Hmm. Sounds like the fire-bending's back on." Azula mused. She kicked her leg in a crescent formation, sending a jet of blue flames at my friends before she broke free of her restraints. I reacted quickly and stood in front of them. I juggled the fire as it reached my fingertips and in a flash, blue became white. I redirected the attack and that end of the tunnel was now engulfed in bright, white flames. When they extinguished, the princess was nowhere to be seen. She must have fled. Coward!
"You have to go, now!" I urged them. "The Fire-benders aren't hindered anymore." Toph, Katara and Sokka were in awe of what I had just done. Aang was the first to respond and least surprised.
"The eclipse is over, but I can face the Firelord anyway." The brave avatar declared. I didn't think his decision was a good one. Ozai was extremely powerful, and it wasn't that I doubted Aang, but the Firelord was for more experienced in the art of war.
"No, I don't think that's such a good idea." Sokka shared. "The element of surprise wasn't with us today. We all need to fall back and wait for another opportunity to strike." The young avatar was reluctant, and rightfully so. He had come to the palace with a mission: to take down the Firelord. But his chance would come soon.
"Alright, let's move!" The five of is raced back through the tunnels.
As we flew down to join the invasion force, I looked up at the sky. Fire Nation airships and war balloons were drawing near. Oh no! "It was all a trap!" Sokka told Hakoda once we landed Appa. "They knew we were coming! We need to make it to the beaches as fast as we can. If we can get to the submarines in time we might be able to get away safely."
"I'm gonna try to slow them down." Aang decided from atop Appa. "They're not the only ones with air power!" The boy took off towards the airships on his glider. Katara stayed on the bison's head.
"I'm going to help him!" Soon, the water-bender was soaring towards the war balloons. That meant the rest of us were in charge of getting everyone back to the submarines in one piece.
As we ran toward the beaches, the airships began to drop bombs. It forced everyone to duck and cover. I grabbed Raiden and Jin and shielded us with an earth blockade while the other earth-benders shielded others. "Guys!" I shouted out as the airships flew on ahead. "They're gonna destroy the subs!" I called out to them. Sokka looked on in horror and dismay.
"How are we all going to escape?" The Water Tribe boy whimpered. Things looked very grim. Next to him, Toph looked nervous. Soon, the other Water Tribe warriors joined us.
"We're not." Hakoda said gravely. "You kids have to leave. You have to all escape on Appa." The Water Tribe leader was right. We needed to retreat.
"What? We can't leave you behind!" Katara ran to her father. "We can't leave anyone behind!" Hakoda held his daughter's hands in his.
"You're our only chance in the long-run. The four of you need to go somewhere safe with Aang for the time being. The youngest of our group should go with you. The adults will stay behind and surrender." No! That meant that everyone else would be captured and taken as prisoners. I couldn't believe it had all boiled down to this.
As the subs were being destroyed, we loaded those departing with us onto Appa. Families were being separated and it pained me inside that we had to split up. Katara and Sokka had just been reunited with their father and how they would be apart once more. Teo had never been separated from his father and the same went with Pipsqueak and The Duke. Haru was the last to board Appa after embracing Tyro. Tears flooded down Aang's cheeks and he wiped them away shortly after. The avatar stood on Appa's head.
"Thank you all for being so brave and so strong. I'm going to make this up to you." He promised the rest of the warriors. That was enough for me. I couldn't stand idly by while these courageous people sacrificed their freedom for us. I, of all people had no right to let them take the fall for me. Aang grabbed the Sky Bison's reins.
"Wait," I stopped the boy from starting our departure. I hopped out of Appa's saddle and down to where the others had gathered. I took a stand next to my brother, who was beside Bato and the other Water Tribe warriors. "I'm staying." I proclaimed. From in the saddle, Sokka gave me a worried look.
"Karuna no..." He tried to discourage me. I didn't want to hear it though.
"These people are laying down their lives. I have not right to do anything but the same." Aang gave me a pleading glance alongside the warrior boy. Raiden looked down at me.
"Do you really think I'm going to let you go through with this?" He teased lightly. "You're not staying."
"Yes, I-" The bounty hunter cut me off.
"No. You're not." He stated matter-of-factly. Strangely, he sounded like my father for a moment. "You're going with Aang and the others." Raiden untied his headband and took my hand. He wrapped the green cloth around my palm, and I clutched this symbol of the Bei Fong family. "Keep it safe until we get out, okay?" I nodded obediently. "You hide out somewhere, you hear me? Wait until a better time to attack arises." I nodded again at him. He capture me in a brotherly embrace and it was then that I realized how much I didn't want to be apart from him. He was the only immediate family I had left. "Don't worry about me. Focus on the goal." He smiled weakly. I tried my best to return the expression. It was near impossible to find happiness in this moment. Then, Hakoda approached me.
"It looks like we won't be able to square up for a little while yet." The warrior patted me on the back. I managed a small chuckle at his words. The Water Tribe chief added so that only I could hear him: "If I can request another favor..." I remained silent, letting him continue. "Look our for Katara for me." I was all too happy to comply.
"I will." The man gave me a relieved and grateful smile and then bowed his head. I bowed back and then approached Appa again. Zaida held out her hand to me from in the saddle. I gladly accepted the lift on top of the Sky Bison.
"We will avenge this day." Aang said to the invasion force before snapping Appa's reins. Moments later, the bison was airborne and we were leaving the others far behind. Aang took us higher into the clouds as we soared on. "I know a place we can go where we'll be safe." He told everyone on board. "The Western Air Temple!" It was a good thought, but to me it didn't seem like the ideal place for keeping a low profile.
"Aang, are you sure that's best?" I inquired. "An Air Temple would probably be the first place they'd l-" My speech came to a halt at Aang's hardened stare. It was a cold expression that looked foreign on the boy's face. It seemed to say 'You have no right to question my judgment.' I dropped my gaze to the bottom of the saddle, feeling ashamed. The door to my past had been open. And now that it had been stepped through, I couldn't begin to comprehend what this would mean for me and Team Avatar...