Chapter 30

Avatar Aang

He had no idea where he was, but it sure was peaceful. There was nothing around him as for as far as he could see. Absolutely nothing at all. He just seemed to be suspended in an empty space, completely tranquil. He wondered off hand if this was what it was like to be dead. Then he wondered if that was what had happened. That, of course, led to thoughts of his friends that he left behind. In the middle of a fight.

Peacefulness and tranquility shattered.

"No, no, no, no, no, I can't be dead!" Aang whispered to himself. Why he was whispering he had no idea. "I've got to wake up! I've got to get back to my friends!"

"Calm yourself, young one," a voice echoed in his ear.

Aang turned his head left, right, then up and down. He could not see anyone anywhere, but he was sure he had heard a voice. He cast his eyes once again to the vast, seemingly endless nothingness that surrounded him. His search was rewarded with a single small light, no larger than a speck of dust. At first Aang thought that it was too far off to see its origin, but upon closer inspection he realized that it was right within his reach. As he extended his arm and grasped for it, the light expanded through the nothingness, momentarily blinding him with its radiance.

"We have waited for you for a long time, Aang," the voice said.

Aang blinked through the pain the new light had caused and allowed his eyes to refocus. There were four colossal silhouettes all around him. At first he could not make out any shape to them at all, but slowly they began to become clearer.

"Who are you?" Aang asked the voice.

"We are the Spirits," a softer voice answered.

One of the shadows moved closer to Aang. It seemed to be swimming through the space that surrounded it as it approached. It moved so gracefully that Aang was surprised to discover that it was indeed swimming. It was a giant koi fish.

"Spirits?" Aang repeated. "The spirits of what?"

"We simply are," a third voice told him. This one had more of a light screech in it. As the shadow moved closer Aang could clearly make out that it was some sort of furry animal with long, sharp claws on its feet. It looked very similar to a badger. "We are and we always have been."

"We are the Spirits," a soothing, rumbly voice repeated. This voice belonged to what looked like a bison, but it had six thick legs and a furry beaver-like tail. "We are a part of all worlds."

"What do you mean 'all worlds'?" Aang asked.

"All worlds," said the fourth shadow. This silhouette was serpentine in appearance until it snaked its way around Aang. Wings unfurled at its sides and Aang realized that it was a dragon. "All worlds are the places and realms that contain life of any kind. We are a part of them all."

"And you've been waiting for me?" Aang asked in clear awe. "Why me?"

An oddly familiar feeling began to surround Aang. All around him he could sense a presence, one that gave off an indescribable aura. From behind the Spirits another shape began to take form. Its size dwarfed the other Spirits so much so that Aang could only make out the being's face. It was very similar to a lion with piercing golden eyes that gave Aang the impression that they could see through him to his very soul. As terrifying an image as this creature posed, Aang felt strangely calm in its presence.

"We have been waiting for you because we are a part of all worlds and you, Aang, are a part of us."

Its voice carried a deep, almost regal, rumble. It stared down at Aang with a look of expectance and waited for him to ask the questions that burned on the tip of his tongue.

"How is it that I'm a part of you? How are we connected?"

"We Spirits watch over all of the worlds and help them to maintain the balance that sustains life. We do not directly interfere with the progression of any world, but at times this progression can threaten the balance of a world. For this reason we enlist the aid of a champion to restore and protect that lost balance. In your world, you are that champion."

"Is the balance of my world threatened?" Aang asked.

"Currently it is not."

"Then why chose me? I'm just a normal guy. I can't even stop one man that's trying to take over a city. How am I supposed to be able to help you protect the balance of the world if something happens?"

"You are much more than you believe yourself to be."

People began to appear all around Aang with the Spirit's words. Shadow of images of men, women and children of all different colors, cultures and ages. Some stood before large congregations of people as though speaking to them, while others still fought in great battles. One such battle was being fought by a young boy against a man that looked very similar to Ozai. The outstanding difference between Aang's world and this boy's was that the elements themselves were being used as weapons in their battle. Another person that caught Aang's eye was a young woman who stood surrounded by people with cameras and microphones and Aang could see the fear and uncertainty in her eyes, but also an intense determination.

"All of these people are our champions; our avatars. All of these people are you. You have in you a greatness that no one else in your world has. All you have to do is continue to be who you are."

"Being who I am is what got me ki—" Aang paused for a moment. "What is this anyway? Am I dead?"
"Trust in yourself, young avatar," the lion told him. Its voice seemed to be farther away than before and the other Spirits were fading away, as was the light around him.

"But what am I supposed to do?" he asked ferverently. "Even if I could beat Ozai, how would I do it without having to kill him?"

"Remember this always," the fading voice said. "No life is without light."

"All of your allies are defeated, Long Feng."

"The Fire Lord still stands. Even if a few hired brutes are defeated, we will still be victorious. No one can defeat him."

"Yes, fool," Azula said confidently. "Hold onto your delusions for as long as possible."

"Talk while you can brat. Once this fight is over I will be sure that you join your bald friend there in the next life."

"Big talk from someone who could not even avenge the brother a little boy killed."

"That little punk's day of reckoning will not be too far off from tonight," Long Feng chuckled. "Without the Fallen Angels to protect him, I'll make sure of that."

Azula's eye twitched angrily before she stepped directly in front of Long Feng. Though she stood a few inches shorter than the man, she stared him down with a menacing glare.

"Know this, you worm: the only reason that I allowed you to leave that day at my uncle's shop was because I wanted to stay with Dwight more than I wanted to see you suffer, and that was by a very close margin. Right now there is absolutely nothing to distract me from ending you."

The terror invoking aura that seemed to pour out of Azula was causing Long Feng to sweat profusely. He took a visible gulp of air before she continued.

"However, I have come to know some measure of mercy and seeing as how my brother and his friends have not resorted to killing their opponents, I suppose I could let you live. I will give you a moment to decide: run or die."

Azula could see the gears turning in Long Feng's mind. His eyes darted from Azula to Ozai. He then turned his attention to the surrounding gang members and then back to Azula. Without a doubt this girl terrified him more than his other options. He turned on his heel and pushed his way through the throng of thugs as quickly as he could manage.

Katara knelt over Aang's body and gently began to check his neck and the back of his head for the severity of his injuries. A small amount of blood was coming from a cut on the back of his head, but his neck seemed to be in one piece. Katara had already noticed that Aang was not breathing, but she refused to accept that he could be dead. She placed her fingers at the side of his neck, then his wrist. She found no pulse. She bent down and placed her ear on his chest, and by then she was joined by Suki, Sokka and Toph.

"How is he?" Sokka asked.

Katara did her best not to look at Toph, but the young woman held such a dejected look on her face that Katara was sure she already knew the answer to Sokka's question. She lowered her head and just stared at Aang's face as tears tried to fight their way out. Then something odd happened. Katara noticed Toph shifting in place. The look on her face changed quickly from loss, then to doubt, and then suddenly a small, hopeful smile started to show.

"Twinkle Toes?"

Zuko stood prepared for one last fight. Before him stood his father, the man who scarred his face, terrorized his sister and killed his mother. Behind that man laid one of his best friends. It now fell to Zuko to end the pain and suffering this man caused.

"Are you finally ready to face me, boy?" Ozai asked.

"I'm not a child anymore, Ozai," Zuko replied. "I'm more of a man now than you ever were."

"Such bold words from a child that couldn't even kill a pathetic insect like Zhao," the Fire Lord smirked.

"It takes more strength not to kill, even if they may actually deserve it." Zuko's good eye widened momentarily before a smug smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. "And it looks like you aren't as strong as you think you are after all. It doesn't look like your first fight is over yet."

A/N: Can we all guess what the next chapter is going to be? Reviews are very motivational by the way.