Sorry for the delay. Work takes precedent. This is where the path begins to deviate from the show, and you finally start to get an idea how I plan to merge these worlds together.
Also, sorry for the bad puns. I don't know many air-related ones.
"How goes the rat race?"
"You…. Just… go away."
"Go away? How can you say such a thing? You wanted me back so badly. Now here I am. We can be together again, as you always wanted."
"Except you're not here. You can't be. You're dead. Everyone's dead. Except me."
"Ha ha ha ha! Everyone dead, except you? What makes you special? What makes you think yourself a survivor more than anyone? Just because you got born with the soul of some overbearing spirit!"
"I… everyone says…."
"Oh, so you believe people? That's new. New indeed. Well take it from me. As you can see, public opinion is hardly the best source to follow. You are most certainly not the last. And neither is your mute friend."
"You mean there's more? Where? Tell me please!"
"Oh, now you want advice from someone who's not real? Just like the wind. Always going wherever it takes you. Never thinking for yourself."
The spectre of the girl floated in closer, smiling.
"I can tell you the answers are close. But I warn you. You might not like what you find."
"I need to know. I must know. I beg you. Please!"
"Oh, all right. For you. Anything for you." She placed her hand on his cheek.
"All you have to do is wake up." And with that, she stabbed him through the chest.
Aang obeyed and woke up in a tent. His staff and the few possessions he had brought with him lay to the side.
"It's ok. It's ok. It's just hallucinations. That's all. Nothing more. It's…. she's dead. She's dead. She's…."
That realization again brought tears to his face. Loss was all too familiar to him. But it didn't get easier when it happened.
He wiped them away. This was no time for sorrow. This was a time for action. The whole world was counting on him. And with just over a year to make it happen, he had to begin now.
"Ok first things first. Gotta find Frisk and get out of here. Where is here?"
He grabbed his things and ran out the flap to find himself in a grassy grove, overlooking a vast plain.
"Wow. I forgot how beautiful this country could be. Even after a century of war."
He snapped himself out of it and looked around. No sign of Frisk. But he couldn't call out her name lest that firebending girl was still lurking about.
That girl. With the blue flames, and the voice that pierced his mind. He'd never seen anything like it. And he'd seen a lot.
No time. No time. He had to find Frisk. Had to find Appa. Go home. Oh, right. Couldn't go home. Had to keep moving. Had to go.
So, he ran down through a nearby patch of trees, following the sound of water.
He couldn't be certain, but he got the feeling someone was following him. But looking back, he saw nobody.
He eventually reached the river but found no other soul. No other sound but the running water and his own heartbeat…. And then footsteps.
"avatar. don't you know how to greet a new pal? turn around and shake my hand."
Aang gripped his staff preparing for the worst and turned to face this new adversary.
Before he could strike his hand was grabbed, followed by the sound of passing gas.
"hehehehe. the old whoopie cushion in the hand trick. it's always funny."
The owner of the hand was a short bald man, no taller than him. He wore a casual blue vest with….. were those slippers?
"hey. whatcha checking out kid? like the slippers? can't blame ya. anyone would kill for them" The man grinned. Or rather, his grin grew. It was like he had no other expression.
"anyway, you're the avatar right? and you show up one year before the end of the world? that's hilarious. in a not so hilarious way. you know what I mean?"
Aang's confused expression suggested he did not.
"you know between you and me," he leaned in whispering. "i thought you'd be an old coot by now. but instead you're just a kid. so, you're just as full of air in the head, huh? weird."
Aang continued to blink. Not sure whether to fight or fly.
"Who…"
"who am i? i'm sans. sans the skeleton."
Aang's eyebrows raised.
"just kidding. kidding! don't take that literally. it's just full of air." He grinned even wider.
Aang's mouth gradually curled upwards followed by a burst of uncontrollable laughter. He grabbed his chest and reeled over.
"finally! someone who appreciates a good air pun. i like you already kid. i think we should get along just great."
"That… that was brilliant…. And awful."
"hey, from awful ideas are born things of beauty. look at yourself kid."
Aang's eyebrows raised.
"ok, bad example. but you know what I mean right?"
"…. Not really…. So, whose side are you on?"
"side? well I guess whoever's on my side. so, what about you avatar? are you on my side?"
"….. Just out of curiosity: What if I'm not on your side?"
His grin faltered a little, but never truly went away. His eyes took on a dangerous glint.
"then you're gonna have a bad time kid. you don't wanna have a bad time, do you?"
Aang's heart beat again. He didn't want to know what that meant.
"Well my whole life has been one big bad time it feels like. So, maybe just this once I'd like to have a good time?"
Sans' eyes glinted again, and his face lost its threatening edge.
"that's the spirit kiddo! bad times are such a headache, as you so eloquently said!"
Aang let out his breath. How did a guy in slippers alarm him like that?
"So, listen. I had a friend with me. We got separated in a cave. I don't suppose you saw a girl with a purple shirt?"
"oh, that mute? yeah my brother helped her while i got you out. he must be so disappointed. he wanted so badly to be the one to find the avatar. but i thought that girl with the blue flames seemed awfully clingy about you. might require a less passionate mind to handle it."
"Uh… right. So, Frisk is with your brother."
"frisk, huh? gotta love whoever came up with that name. got a nice slang to it."
"Yeah sure. So where is your brother?"
"huh. not totally sure. we agreed to meet on some mountain somewhere. like three hours ago or something, i guess."
"Three hours? Then why didn't you? You could've moved me couldn't you?"
He shrugged innocently. "slipped my mind? ah well."
"So… we should probably go find them right?"
"sure, thing kiddo. reckon you got any room on that glider of yours? i've never actually ridden one."
Aang's face took on a grin of its own.
"Do I ever. Let's catch some air."
Sans laughed again.
"for once kid, i'm actually liking my job."
…
Frisk never thought she would say this, but she was starting to miss Jet.
"So, listen, I know it's like kind of weird for me to keep saying this. But it's really an honor. An honor to finally meet the Avatar. I mean, like. A HUGE HONOR! THE BEST HONOR!"
Stop. Please. Please. Stop. Hell, she was even preferring that annoying girl with the midriff. Anything but this wacky bald guy.
"I mean, honestly everyone said it was nuts! Crazy! Babbaloon to try and find you! Even my own lazy brother kept trying to get me to try some roast duck or something! But no! I knew better! I knew I'd be the one! And I did it! I. DID. IT! Did it! Did it! Didit! Didit!"
Frisk gave an innocent smile while secretly looking about for an escape route.
"I mean oh my god! I finally did it! What an accomplishment right! The Avatar! Master of all four elements. Bridge between the humans and spirits! Expert on all sexual techniques! I mean really, oh my god! Undyne will….. I will…. I'll be so….. Popular! Popular! Popular! But now ahem…"
Oh god no. He was trying and failing to look serious. What now?
"Avatar! You shall not pass! Oh, wait that's not right is it? It's not like I'm trying to capture you am I? Let me start again. Avatar! You shall come with me to the capital, and then….. I'm not sure…. Ok, let me try again. Avatar! You shall try my cooking! And then…"
At that point, Frisk really did run. She had no interest in trying anything with this weirdo. Let alone his cooking!
"Wait come back! I've been practicing! I can even scrape the spaghetti off the table this time! I promise!"
…
"Wakey wakey, Avatar slayer. It's your big day! The Avatar is dead, and your father is eager to congratulate you!"
Azula's eyes shot open in anticipation, only to find the smirking face of her sourly "friend."
"Sorry, my bad. I meant to say the Avatar is gone. And you're no closer to proving yourself to your father than Zuko."
"Get off me, you harpy! Where is he, that little coward? Attacking from the shadows! A weakling like the rest of his people! I'll make him pay for that, with his blood! I'll roast his corpse to a crisp, and…"
"Azula!" Ty lee cut her off with a huge uncalled-for hug. "I'm so glad you're ok! We…. We lost the puppy!"
"Get off me, you circus freak! I don't care about pets! I want the Avatar and I'm going to get him, no matter what! I've trained my whole life for this! I won't fail! I…. I can't!"
"But you've done so well! You've come closer than anyone else before! I'm sure your father will be impressed with that at least! Second place right?"
Mai smirked at that while Azula looked at Ty lee with disbelief.
"Second place!? SECOND PLACE!? There is no prize for second place! Second place is for losers! Second place is for Zuzu!"
Mai's smirk faded but Azula was too angry to mock this time.
"I will not be second place! I will not be some weak-willed princess forgotten to history! I will not be a tool for my father to use and cast aside! He thinks I can't handle the responsibilities of being fire lord. Well, I'll show him! I'll show everyone! I will be the greatest fire lord in history!"
"Hate to break it to you Azula. But that little coward took you down easily. You don't look in the best shape of your life. Plus, your dad wanted you back like yesterday. So, probably best not to-"
Azula grabbed Mai's head with one of her hands. She did not burn it, but her threat was clear.
"I will see my father again. With the Avatar in chains, or his head on a plate. And I will not return a second sooner. Any questions?"
Ty lee raised her hand.
"Can I still keep the puppy?"
…
"almost there. just another half hour that way."
"Pretty sure you said that a half hour ago!"
"did i? whoops. i must have meant in the other direction! or did i?"
"….. You have no idea where we're going, do you? Kind of like me, I guess"
"eh, well look at it this way, kid. i don't not know where we're going right? eh? eh?"
Aang looked for a long time in disbelief at the strange bald man who had both saved him and now led him astray.
"uh, kid. maybe watch where you're going?"
Aang turned to find himself about to fly into a cliff. Out of instinct, he closed his glider before remembering he had a passenger.
"Oh no! Hang on!"
"hang on? nah, not a problem, kid. allow me to stretch these legs!"
"Now's not really the best time Mr. Sans! Trust me I've tried that before!"
But it seemed that the older man really did know what he was doing. With barely a twirl of his arms, a cyclone was formed from the air around them, slowly depositing them on the ground.
"boy, i'd forgotten how fun that was! if only i weren't such a lazy bone, i might remember to do it more, huh?"
Aang stared as if he were facing a ghost.
"wait, that doesn't make much sense does it? it would if i were a skeleton, which clearly i am not! why do i keep getting that mixed up?"
"You…. You're an airbender?"
"huh? oh right…. guess i am…. did i forget to mention that? how silly of me."
"But… How…. I thought…. I mean… I saw the temple…. I saw…."
"the skeletons? yeah. i know kid. i know." Sans' voice became more sympathetic and he placed his hand on Aang's shoulder.
"But how? How is that possible? I mean…. That's impossible!"
"impossible? why, cause your mute friend can be the only one besides you? trust me kid, it ain't' impossible."
"So, there's more? How many more?"
"loads. well, maybe not loads. but still more than two. course that was still too much for me, so I left. but they're still there i reckon. guess i should check in sometime huh?"
"But that's….. incredible! You mean I'm not the last Airbender?"
Sans merely shrugged.
"yeah kid. you ain't. there's a whole city of them. and they've been waiting so long for you to return."
The tears began to run down Aang's face. He had never been so joyful in his life. Not since he first flew Appa.
He wasn't the last. Sozin had failed. There were more. He hadn't failed. Not entirely.
He fell to the ground with his head in his hands, sobbing with relief and sadness. The skeletons from the temple floating through his mind.
Sans stood there, looking somewhat embarrassed and scratching his head, unsure what to do.
Eventually, Aang got back to his feet only to find noon had come, and Sans was sitting over on a nearby log, waiting for him.
"feel better? i find it always helps to let it out like that every now and again. followed by a nice big hot dog!"
"What's a hot dog? Never mind. You said I'm not the last Airbender? That there's more?"
Sans shrugged. "i said that right? i'm pretty sure that's what i said, yeah? i don't know. sometimes i wonder if i'm high on cactus juice."
"Well, where are they? How did they survive? I saw the temples. I heard all the Air nomads were destroyed by Sozin's comet. I mean…. How is this possible?"
Sans sighed. "you sure you want to hear this kid? this isn't the lightest stuff for a- what are you 12 years old? you might not like the answers."
The specter's voice rang in Aang's mind, but he remained determined.
"I've haven't faced light stuff my entire life. I can take it. Now I demand you tell me. What happened to my people?" His own eyes began to glow dangerously. "Tell me. Now."
"woah. woah all right, chap. take it easy. look it's just…. what we used to be. it ain't us anymore."
"You're still alive apparently. Again, I ask how that's possible. How did you all not burn?"
"because we're airbenders kid! hiding and ducking are our specialties. while those ash lovers focused on downing the temples, a few managed to escape in the smoke. those that survived went their separate ways. some tried to get a little payback. or maybe they just wanted to prove they had balls. either way they didn't do great. those with more sense eventually met up at the rendezvous site. a little mountain in the Earth Kingdom. now our own little slice of hell."
"Hell? Isn't that the whole world today?"
Sans smirked. "yeah I guess so. From what i've seen, everywhere's a rotting pile of dog residue. but for us, we have our own special example. we live in…." he shuddered. "a lovely place called the underground."
"Underground?" Aang's mouth opened in shock. "Airbenders living underground? How is that possible? It's monstrous? It's an outrage!"
"killer hot dogs though."
Aang shook his head. "What?"
"err, beyond that though, yeah it's pretty bad. but it's also the least likely place to search for an airbender, right?"
Aang smiled a bit at that.
"Clever. Sounds like something Gyatso would have come up with."
Sans' grin turned confused. "who?"
"I'll tell you later. But this… Underground place. That's where our people have been all this time?"
"the ones that i know of kid. We're specialists in dodging and whatnot. reckon there's a few more hiding out there, trying to get by. but hey, what do i know?"
"Apparently a lot…. So where is this… hell?"
"hang on kid. do you hear that? sounds like machines."
"Wait. Where is it? Come on Mr. Sans, tell me! I've waited a century!"
"pretty sure to you it was a few days. seriously, though. i hear something. i can't believe i'm saying this, but break's over."
"But-" Aang stopped midway and stretched his ears, indeed hearing the whirrs of a machine.
Following Sans' example, he ducked behind some rocks and peeked out to see the drill driving along. It stopped not far from them, and to his horror opened to reveal…. Her.
"No bodies. Where are the bodies? And more importantly, where's the puppy?"
"Bummer! Looks like the Avatar died and left no remains. Life keeps screwing you over, huh Azula?"
"Quiet Mai! They're not dead. They can't be. They fell around here. If they were dead, we would have found them. They're alive. And not far."
"They should be easy to find. We just have to keep an ear out for the puppy!"
Azula placed her head in her hands and groaned. "Ty lee. Really?"
"yep. those are the girlies that gave you such a hard time. gotta give them credit. they don't give up easily. pretty impressive for teenage girls. of course, i'm sure you've already noticed." He grinned at Aang who blanched.
"What do you mean?" He whispered.
"you sure are looking at them intensely is all i'm saying."
"Oh, come on. I don't… I mean… we Airbenders are above that! I swear! Stop looking at me like that!"
"hey, i don't blame you. they're quite stunning. especially that one with the blue flames. princess, isn't she? fitting for the Avatar, don't you think?"
Sans' smile grew as Aang's face blushed.
…
"Hey, hey wait! Come on Avatar! Wait up!"
"Ruff! Ruff!"
"Hear that! Your dog agrees! If not me, listen to your dog, right?"
No, do not listen to the dog. Do not listen to the whack job with the dog either. Just run. Run, find Aang and… well do something.
"I know you must be disconcerted having your aging halted for over a century. But fear not, I Papyrus will lead- no protect- no wait. I guess you're the Avatar, so you probably don't need- But you still need food, right? That's right! Well fear, not! If all else fails, I shall still-"
Shut up. Shut up. Shut up. Shut up. Why is he still talking? Oh Raava. Jet. Somebody. Make him mute, please!
"Wait. I have observed something in the distance. Wait here. I will prove my worth to you and the rest of the underdwellers! Fear not!"
Great he's leaving. Now just to get away before…..
"Ruff! Ruff!"
She quickly pushed the dog off and made to sneak off when she saw something she never thought she'd see from anyone other than Aang again.
The strange bald man with a flick of his wrists made a gust of wind that launched him to the top of the nearby hill, from which he struck a rather hilarious heroic pose.
Airbending? The fool can airbend? Wait, what? Hold on!
She launched herself up to the top of the hill. He turned around, the grin still splashed on his face.
"Come to observe the future captain of the guard in action? I'm honored, Avatar. Truly honored."
She ignored that and began using sign language to ask who he was and how he could airbend. Of course,, he couldn't understand.
"I appreciate your concern. But you needn't fear. With Undyne as my teacher, there's no way I can lose."
Frisk slapped her hand against her face as he turned back to the horizon. Against the darkening sky, he could make out something moving their way.
"Well well. That cursed drill again. Those lasses don't give up easily do they? They want you bad!" He paused.
"Sans told me to wait for him here. But he didn't tell me what to do if trouble came a brewing? That's just like him! Never thinking more than a step ahead!"
He thought, tapping his chin then again smiled.
"Looks like we'll have to deal with them ourselves then, huh? Nothing a future captain of the underground guard, and the Avatar can't handle right?"
Frisk sighed silently while the buffoon looked at his hands as if they had no skin or something.
"Come on then. Let's set up a trap! I've got a few ideas in mind. What do you think of colored tiles?"
Oh, Aang, where were you?
…
Not that far actually. They were following the drill, taking cover behind peaks, trying to stay out of sight.
"can't decide where to go, so you let the enemy decide for us? huh. interesting. never thought of that before."
"Wherever they go, that's where Appa must be. Maybe Frisk as well, if they caught her…. And your brother."
"eh. i wouldn't worry about that. he's a crafty devil." He winked.
"Look, I know it's not a great plan. But maybe if you could remember which mountain you told him to meet us on…."
"sorry, i can't kid. sometimes there's not a lot up in my noggin but air."
Aang guffawed again, nearly losing his grip on the glider and falling.
"Damn. Where were you 100 years ago? You would've made life at the Air Temple so much more fun."
"you didn't find it fun? the eldest among us described it as a paradise before they passed on. i would've thought a survivor with fresh memory like yourself would think the same. You have a bad break up or something?"
Aang paused.
"I just…. Wasn't like the others. Never really fit in. And just as I was starting to figure it out…."
Sans nodded but didn't respond. Instead he looked out in the distance and his eyes widened.
"say, i think that's the one! out there! the one that looks like someone flipping the bird!"
"I actually know what that means. How did you suddenly remember?"
"hell, if i know. sometimes you see something, and it just flips a switch, ya know?"
As Aang observed the mountain Sans was pointing to, he remembered the other thing he was supposed to be watching out for. And to his worry, he saw the drill headed for the same mountain.
"Uh oh. Looks like those girls are headed for the same place. Could they know they're there?"
"who knows? maybe i left it on a sheet of parchment somewhere and they saw it?" He just shrugged again.
Aang sighed. "Guess this is just how things are going to be as the Avatar, huh?"
Sans grinned. "like i said. welcome to hell, kid."
…
"Any particular reason we're exploring this mountain, Azula?"
"It looked like a convenient place to hide out, based on the shape. It provides cover from the top and allows a view of the surrounding land. Plus, the nearest port aside from the temple is in this route."
"Oh, really! You sure you didn't just get a hunch and want to check out the mountain flipping you off?"
"Whatever could you mean Mai?"
"Nothing. Just that you might be responding to your own personal insecurities."
Azula's face took on an angry expression.
"What insecurities? I am the future leader of the world. And soon the destroyer of the Avatar. I have nothing to be insecure about."
Mai shrugged sarcastically.
"Quit your sarcasm Mai. I'm getting the Avatar before Zuko and nothing can change that."
"Hey Azula, how about that patch of snow right there? Could that stop us?"
The patch of snow she referred to had several tracks in it leading across it in a peculiar line.
"Looks like some kind of trap," Ty lee said worriedly. "How do we get across?"
Her two friends looked at her with a look saying, really?
…
While the girls dealt with that "impossible" problem, the airbenders flew to the peak of the mountain, where each of them was faced with both a familiar face, and a not-so-familiar face.
"Sans! There you are! What the heck took you so long? I would have thought you'd be more excited to meet the Avatar!"
Aang looked at Frisk with a bemused look. She just made a cuckoo symbol with her hands.
"And who is this? Another airbender! Why it's quite the honor to meet you! I, the great Papyrus: Future captain of the royal guard and locator of the Avatar, pronounce judgement upon you!"
"uh papyrus? that's a glider."
"Huh? Oh, so you're right! My apologies! I don't know why I thought otherwise."
"uh, look to your right."
Papyrus looked to his right and came face with Aang. His face lit up.
"And who is this? Another airbender! Why it's quite the honor to meet you! So sorry for mixing you up with that glider! Is that yours! Quite a work of art! May I try it sometime? Maybe even get some lessons on it? In return, I could show you my mad cooking skills! Why only just recently, I've managed to make spaghetti without sticking it to the table! Pretty impressive, don't you think?"
Sans grinned somewhat embarrassed while the two newcomers looked at each other, totally unsure what to do.
"Oh, and I take it you know this woman, already? Awfully quite for the master of all four elements! I would think they'd be a little more boastful about their achievements! Though I guess abandoning the world doesn't-"
He cut himself off but resumed speaking before Aang could interrupt.
"What I mean to say is that it's so good to finally meet you after all this time my lady? Er, lady Avatar? Er, mute Avatar? Damn it! Hold on. I'll get it right. Anyway, who are you young man? The Avatar's personal bodyguard?"
Aang, starting to get annoyed, opened his mouth to make things clear. But again, Papyrus beat him to it.
"Well never fear, good sir! I Papyrus, future captain of the royal guard, shall defend her majesty the Avatar from here on! And you good sir may return to your previous career of jester!"
Aang's mouth dropped open while Frisk and Sans guffawed. He never wanted to be the Avatar but come on! He was! So, he deserved a little respect! Even if he had run from it and doomed the world….. But never mind that!
"I… appreciate your enthusiasm. But I think you've got it backwards. See I'm actually…"
"Puppy! Where are you!"
The airbenders all jumped in surprise from the sounds coming up from a nearby cave. From within, they could see a blue glow rising from below. The puppy, Momo responded with a bark.
Shut it, you stupid dog! Frisk grabbed Momo's mouth and held it shut. But too late. They could hear the footsteps approaching faster.
"Ty lee! Keep it down would you? We want the element of surprise!"
"But we don't want to scare the puppy, do we?"
"What is this? More enemies come to end our hopes and dreams? Well fear not! Papyrus will lead the way!"
"uh, hang on there bro. why not give the kids, especially the avatar the chance to prove himself?"
"Huh? Himself? You mean?"
"Puppy! I'm coming!"
"Oh, for Agni's sake, Ty lee! Why don't you just yell for the Avatar to run?"
That voice. It was her. The girl with blue flames. Sans grinned.
"what'd i tell ya kid? that one's got fire in her blood. literally! guess you'd better go have a talk with her, huh?"
Frisk looked at Sans with her eyebrow raised then looked to Aang who merely shrugged.
"Hold on Sans. What did you mean about giving the Avatar a chance to prove "himself?""
Frisk pulled hard on Aang's hand to get him out of there. And just in time into the shadow behind the rock as the princess and her "friends came out of the cave.
"Oh bother. Looks like Ty scared them off with all her chatter. Now however will she get her puppy, and Azula her one true love?" Mai mocked.
Ty lee looked nervously at the princess who herself looked about. Her face was impassive, concentrating.
Aang looked worriedly at the foes. He then looked over to the odd brothers. He couldn't see a way off this mountain top. Not with them.
"you look worried, kid. not the best first impression of an avatar i gotta say."
Aang turned to Sans who had somehow managed to sneak over silent as a mouse.
"i know that look. you wanna flee, the airbender way, don't cha?"
"Uh, well…."
"hey i get it. it's what they taught you isn't it? hard to get over that peace and love stuff when for you it must only seem a few days ago. and, hey it's not like fighting has helped our people in the past right?"
"I can't imagine why," Aang muttered looking at the girl's confidence as they walked.
Frisk balled her fists and made a stabbing motion with her staff. She wanted to fight. She wanted revenge for Toriel.
"hold on kid, let's let the avatar decide."
"But isn't she the Avatar?"
"papyrus, shhh."
Too late. The girl heard, and strode over, her hands covered in flames.
Aang looked with worry at his fellow airbenders. Members of a race he couldn't save.
Only his guilt was now filled with determination. His people lived despite his failures. Despite the Fire Nation's best attempt. Even with the power of the comet on their side. They still survived.
And damn it, no way in hell a trio of schoolgirls was taking that away!
"Stay. That's my decision. Stay and wait for the chance to run."
"Absolutely not! Papyrus will never-"
A blast of flame hit the front of the rock which he was behind, causing him to yelp. Aang took that moment to fly with his glider off into the sky.
"There!" Azula shot another blast out at him but he dodged. Even this close, she still couldn't get a good look at his face.
She growled. He was not getting away again! She ran and launched herself off with a blast of flame from her feet. She managed to grab his own and the two disappeared over the edge.
"Azula! What do we do?"
"Oh, relax Ty, it's Azula. She couldn't die if she tried. Believe me, I'm pretty sure she's tried."
"well this is unfortunate. the avatar has gone paragliding and left us up here with these two naughty children." Sans grinned. "whatever shall we do?"
Frisk cracked her fists.
…
The two tumbled over each other, each trying to stay on top. It was a miracle neither had died. Even more a miracle it was too dark for them to get a good look at each other's face.
It wasn't so dark that they couldn't see the ground coming up however. And with barely a moment before hitting, Aang let out a blast of air that softened the impact.
Barely a moment after landing, Azula was back on her feet, while Aang bounded away. '
"Get back here, coward!"
Aang did not get back. He had to get her away from the team. Away from his people. Which suddenly became harder to do when she got his feet with the flames.
He screamed and dived behind a rock to dodge another blast. He looked around for an exit, but the girl dissuaded his hopes.
"You got lucky back there boy. No shadows to save you now. Come out now and show me what the oh mighty Avatar can do."
He tried to ignore the sarcasm in her voice and concentrated on rule #1 in the Airbending handbook. Run.
Or at least he tried, but that girl whatever her other faults, had amazing aim. He toppled to the ground again.
"Guess there's no way around it. Good old-fashioned brawl, huh?"
However, one quick look at the girl's determined and frightening face told him his chances were slim. At least in a direct fight.
"What's the matter monk? Don't you want to avenge your people? Oh, that's right. They told you never to hurt a fly, didn't they? That's probably why they're all skeletons."
He felt his pulse spike. That old urge to beat the daylights out of that smug face. He had to. She deserved it…
Deep breaths. Easy, slow. That's going to get you killed.
Instead, he conjured up a gust of wind around him that sent sand at her. While she covered her eyes, he rushed towards the cave entrance.
He gasped as she quickly recovered and hurtled more flames his way. This girl was good. Who the hell was she?
He heard her give an annoyed growl as he darted into the blackness. Only for it to fade before her blue glow.
"Come on Avatar don't leave a girl hanging. You had such passion yesterday in that other cave. You can't have such low stamina, can you?"
Aang blushed from the awkward wording of that statement. Azula herself stopped for a second to contemplate what the hell she just said.
"Just… come out and give yourself up. It's customary for your kind to surrender, I believe?"
All right. That bitch needed to be taught a lesson. From the shadows, he launched his assault… Only for her to dodge it!
She smirked sadistically and began moving her hands in a spiraling motion. Electricity began to dance from her fingertips. Aang's pulse picked up.
"move airhead!"
Sans' voice caught both him and Azula off guard. With that sudden surprise, Azula lost concentration and the lightning zapped the ceiling above her.
"Azula? Azula!"
She opened her eyes to see her precious circus freak looking over her with tears in her eyes.
"They're gone! And they took the puppy with them!"
Azula pushed her off angrily and rushed towards the cave entrance, only for her to leg to snap.
"Arrrgggghhhhhh! What in Agni's name!?"
"Your leg is broken genius." Mai looked down at her friend apathetically. "You screwed up lightning again and brought the ceiling down on you."
Azula ignored the pain and limped out. She had to catch him! She could not fail again!
"Did you hear me? He's gone. Again. You failed. Again."
"I. Do. Not. Fail!"
She hobbled outside, looking this way and that. But nothing. Just like Mai said. The avatar was gone. Again. She had failed. Again. She screamed in rage out to the heavens.
"Should… should we do something Mai? Help somehow?"
"I think any help we give would only make things worse. Besides, she deserves it." Her voice contained barely suppressed anger.
…
"so, looks like i saved your life again. and in a cave. gotta say kid, you haven't lived up to your potential so far."
"Yeah. I guess not." Aang rubbed the back of his head somewhat embarrassed.
"hey i'm just pulling your air pocket kid. i'm sure you'll get your shot again."
Frisk looked at Aang with raised eyebrows. Air pockets?
"We have to get Appa back. No matter what."
"Appa? Who is this Appa? Another servant of yours Avatar?" He looked at Frisk.
"Servant?" Aang's face flushed red. "Call him that again, and see what happens, animal abuser!"
Yes, punch him! Shut him up, thought Frisk excitedly.
"now now. that's not very avatar like of someone, is it? how do you expect to save your friend, let alone the world by being such a sour puss?"
Aang pried away from the taller but otherwise nearly identical brother and remembering Gyatso's training took deep breaths.
"that's the spirit kid. so, you wanna save your bison, and the world? do you really reckon we have time for both?"
He's not just a friend, Frisk signaled with her fingers. He's transportation. We won't get far without him carrying us on his back.
"You fly on his back?" Papyrus looked around confused. Seems like a poor way to treat a servant, Avatar."
Sans placed his hand on Aang's back before he could lash out again.
"as an air bison, and the avatar's personal steed at that, i doubt he's destined for any old stable. they'll take him to the capitol. no doubt in this old airbender' s head."
Aang shared a look of fright with Frisk. The capitol. They were going to have to go straight into enemy territory and rescue their friend right out from under the fire lord's nose himself. He had so not signed up for this!
"i know that look. that's the look of someone who had a slice of snail pie for the first time, and realized it contains actual snails."
"Uh… is that bad?"
"it means you'd like to go anywhere but the fire lord's front door. i get it. it's not what I'd wish on a 12-year-old kid. but if you want your friend back, that's what you gotta do."
Aang looked down for a bit secretly hoping for common sense to take over. But no. This time his fighting spirit was reignited again.
"Let's do it then. Let's go get him back….. and maybe face the fire lord."
Sans grinned wider.
"that's the spirit kid. now how to get to the capitol, hmm?" He grinned.
"i think i've got a way. hope you don't get seasick."
"I must say Avatar," said Papyrus to Frisk. "Between one servant whose back you ride on, and another with a temperament, you have strange taste."
Frisk slapped her hand across her forehead while Momo barked.