Disclaimer: Avatar the Last Airbender is created by Michael DiMartino & Brian Konzieko and owned by Nickelodeon.

Aang took a step back when the others appeared in front of him.

"What are you doing here?" Aang asked surprised.

"We wanted to talk to you," said Katara.

"Are you sure you're ready to face him?" Zuko asked.

"It's something I have to do," said Aang. "And I don't want you to stop me."

"We aren't here to stop you," said Zuko. Everyone looked at him. "We're here to help you."

"It's not like you can just walk in and tell the Fire Lord to give up," said Sokka. "Why don't we work together and come up with a plan?"

Aang sighed and looked down dejected.

"Where are we going?" Aang asked as he followed them.

"Back to Appa and Momo," Toph replied as she tunneled back the way they.

Once they reached Appa and Momo, they rode on Appa underwater to Roku's Island. Katara and Aang bent the water to create air bubbles. After they surfaced, Katara and Aang took a rest by the beach. Sokka and Zuko went to collect firewood and Toph and Suki went to explore.

"Are you okay?" Aang asked Katara.

"I'm doing fine," Katara replied. "I didn't kill him. I wanted to do it. I wanted to take out all my anger at him but, I couldn't." Katara closed her eyes sadly. "I don't know if it's because I'm too weak to do it or if it's because I'm strong enough not to."

"You did the right thing. Forgiveness is the first step you have to take to begin healing," Aang replied. Katara stood up and walked toward Aang.

Katara furrowed her eyebrows in anger and replied, "But I didn't forgive him. I'll never forgive him." Her face softened as she looked up at Zuko, who had just finished building the wood pile up.

Katara walked over to Zuko. She paused and then threw herself into Zuko's arms in a hug. They parted after a while as she laid a hand on Zuko's shoulder in a gesture of thanks and walked off. Zuko turned and looked on. Katara walked toward Appa. Sokka was waiting for his sister at the side of the bison and feeding Appa apples.

"You were right about what Katara needed," said Zuko, while Aang smiled. "Violence wasn't the answer."

"It never is," Aang replied.

"Then I have a question for you," Zuko said as he turned toward Aang, "What were you planning on doing if we hadn't stopped you?"

Aang was stunned. He knew his decision to go after the Fire Lord alone was rash, but he wanted Katara to like him even though he knew deep down she never would. He thought he'd let go of her at Ba Sing Se, but as time passed his attachment seemed to come back.

"Zuko," Aang called to the older boy as he started to walk away. Zuko heard him and turned around and looked at the younger boy. "I've never taken someone's life before, and I don't know if I can do it."

"You'll have to," said Zuko. Then he added, "My father won't hold back."

"I know, but," Aang replied. Sokka came over to them.

"What's going on?" Sokka asked.

"It's wrong to take someone's life," said Aang.

"Are you talking about facing the Fire Lord?" Sokka asked.

"Yes," Aang replied.

"I'm sure the universe will forgive you," said Sokka.

"You don't understand," Aang replied angrily. "None of you understands!"

Katara and Toph came over.

"Aang, we understand we are just trying to-" Katara stopped when she saw the expression on Aang's face. It was one she had never seen before. Aang walked away. Katara started to go after him, but Zuko took put his hand on her shoulder and stopped her.

"He needs time to himself," said Zuko.

"I just don't want him to run off," said Katara. She sighed then added, "Not when we could help him."

Aang went off and meditated alone. He thought about his adventures and what life was like a hundred years ago. He knew as he had always known he'd have to end this war. He thought about Katara, Sokka, Toph, and Zuko; his friends he made since he got out of that iceberg. He also thought about Raava, and good and evil.

After a while, Aang went over to the fire that was built. Everyone sat around it and all of them turned in Aang's direction when he appeared.

"I need to face him," said Aang. He paused and looked at the faces of his friends. They had serious looks on their face and nodded. "But I can't do it alone." He turned toward Sokka and asked, "Do you have a plan?"

Sokka smiled and replied, "Water, earth, fire, air, fan, and sword. Team Avatar is back!" Then he went away from the fire and drew in the dirt with a stick. Everyone gathered around the drawing.

"Suki and I will draw his fire," said Sokka as he used the stick and drew a curved line to the left toward the face. "Then, Zuko and Katara," he said as hedrew a straight line in the middle, "charge in with some liquidy hot offence and while the Fire Lord is distracted, Aang swoops in and BAM!" He drew a line curving to the right which ran through the face. "He delivers the final blow." Aang stared at the drawing with slight disgust.

"Err...what about me?" Toph asked.

"You'll help us sneak into the palace," Sokka replied. "Let's do a practice run in the morning. Toph, you'll be the forces."

"So, I'll get to chuck flaming rocks at you?" Toph asked.

"Whatever we need to make it feel real," Sokka replied.

"Sweet," Toph replied.

"For now, we should get some rest," said Sokka.

To Be Continued...