Hello again. I know I said I would take a while to get part 2 started. But I honestly didn't think it would take this long. Of course when I last updated, the world was- Well not stable but you could still walk outside.

Anyway, scary times we live in. stay safe out there!

"Aang? Aang, I know you're awake. Please talk to me."

He responded but did not turn his head to meet his guardian.

"What's there to say?"

"Why don't you tell me what you're feeling? I know this is a lot to take in."

"Yeah. It is. But so what? Doesn't change anything. Doesn't change what they expect of me. Doesn't matter what I feel."

"It matters to me. Please, tell me."

Aang finally turned to his guardian. Gyatso stared back, eyes filled with concern.

"I don't believe you. You think I can anymore? After you kept this from me all these years?"

"It's not custom to tell the Avatar until they're sixteen. Give them time to – "

"To what? Adjust? Well, I guess that's not how it's going to work for me is it? Tell me at age 12? Expecting me to save the world? Me?"

"Aang, I know this isn't what you want- "

"No, it make so much sense now. Why dad did the things he did. Why you kept me around. Why you put up with me all these years. You didn't have a choice."

"I put up with you because I love you Aang. Like my own child."

"Spare me that bullcrap! Who would keep someone like me around willingly! Who'd want someone like me in their life?"

"I would."

They stared for a moment. Silence.

"Just… Leave me… Please…"

"If that's what you want. But please. When you're ready, talk to me."

Aang buried himself into his sheets as his guardian left him. He found himself laughing.

"Ridiculous. The world needs me. Me? Who needs me?"

"Excuse me Mr. Avatar! Wakey wakey! We need you!"

Aang sighed and opened his eyes. Not that he wanted to wake up to Papyrus' smiling face.

"You looked like you were enjoying yourself! All that tossing and turning! It's a good sign right?"

Aang wasn't in the mood to deal with Papyrus' nonsense.

"Uh, Captain? You said we were close right? How close now?"

Captain Undyne stared back his way from the front of Appa. She smirked.

"Up ahead. Look."

Aang stared at the ruins of the Northern Air Temple. It had apparently fallen on top of a mountain range which had resulted in pieces of the temple lying on different peaks.

"Seriously? That's your hideout? And no one thought to look?"

"oh sure they did, kid." Sans continued to grin. Nothing seemed to faze him. "they didn't look underneath though. welcome home avatar. can't say you'll enjoy it."

….

"Prince Zuko? Are you sure about this?"

Zuko looked back to his uncle angrily.

"Yes, I'm sure! You saw that bison! It was flying! Those people on it must have been airbenders!"

Iroh sighed and looked out over the forest beneath him. Soon, the balloon they were flying would pass over the mountain. Fortunate, they had thought to cover up the Fire Nation Insignia.

"Admiral Zhao's soldiers were quite polite. Very understanding despite the admiral's loss. I rather wish we had stayed with them. They made some fine tea!"

"For the love of Agni! Is tea all you care about? Maybe if you had cared a little more about the Fire Nation, we wouldn't have lost that airbender and those water tribe peasants!"

"And how do you expect to find them again? Keep flying north until we find them, was it? I believe that was your brilliant plan?"

"Forget them for now. We have four airbenders on that thing! We follow them and We'll find something for sure! I mean we've seen five airbenders in the last 2 months! And that can only mean that there's more than one! Don't you recognize the significance of that! If I bring father proof of an air colony or anything like it, he's sure to welcome me back! Avatar or not!"

Iroh pinched his nose.

"You heard admiral Zhao. Ozai wanted you kept in the dark. HE doesn't want you back, period!"

Zuko wasn't listening. His mind was made up. One way or another, he would have his honor back.

….

"Is that… Mr. Sans? Mr. Sans!"

A boy sitting in a chair attached to a glider angled said glider down to land on the ground. He then pulled the glider off the chair and wheeled himself over to Sans.

"It's been too long! Boy, have I missed your hot dogs! It's been years!"

"sure has teo. i bet those morons down below are just wishing they hadn't sent me away. they're probably tearing themselves apart from boredom!"

Undyne rolled her single eye.

"We sent you away because you couldn't move your ass to help! We have a whole colony to run and we need all hands-on deck to keep it running! That means not so many damn breaks when we need you!"

"hey, i offer folks a nice joke or too! that means now and then i gotta take a little break to crack a new one. speaking of, here's a good one. stay airborne!"

Everyone groaned except Teo who laughed out loud and Papyrus who leaped down from Appa and bowed.

"What about me dear Teo? Don't I get some recognition? Me, mighty Papyrus?"

"Huh? Oh yeah. Hey Papyrus. Been a while."

Papyrus looked quite annoyed.

"That's it? That's all I get? After all these years? After I returned with the Avatar? How can you be so dismissive?"

"Wait, who's the Avatar? This kid?"

"Hey! Don't ignore me!"

But Teo was already focused on Aang and looking him up and down.

"Seriously? The Avatar's just a kid?"

"You're really going to give me hell over that? You're a kid too!"

"Yeah, but I don't have the world on my shoulders. No pressure though."

Aang smiled at that.

"Yeah. No pressure. None at all."

"That's the spirit! Well at least you've got us all here! All the airbenders below should be willing to give you a hand! If you can convince them they've got a chance. Wish I could but, I'm not an airbender myself. Just a kid with no legs and nowhere else to go."

"the kid's dad passed away a few years back," Sans said. "real shame. liked that guy. kinda nutty, but damn good builder too."

"Nutty," Teo stared at him. "You're one to talk about nu- Wait, is that a flying dog?"

Momo floated in the air above Appa. Truth be told, Aang had mostly forgotten about him over the last few weeks they'd been traveling and left his feeding to Papyrus. He was too distracted by everything else.

"oh yeah." Sans patted him on the head. "this is the mighty avatar's pet pooch. don't really know how he got his invisible wings or whatever. this is just kind of his thing."

"Seriously? You've got a flying dog and a flying bison!" Teo hugged the dog close to him in joy. "You've gotta be like the luckiest guy ever!"

Aang smiled softly but not much. He wasn't feeling in the mood to play his usual games. Teo noticed.

"Hey, are you ok? You look out of it."

Sans placed a hand on Teo's shoulder.

"don't take it personally, kid. he's been through a lot. i'm surprised he was willing to come at all."

"Indeed," Undyne butted in. "But he has. And I think it's time he met his people. They're dying to meet him. Please follow Avatar."

He obeyed. Reluctantly. He didn't know if it was excitement or fear that drove him more at this moment.

….

"It's him! That's the Avatar! And there's more below! This is the chance of a lifetime! Let's go!"

"Wait Zuko. Let's think about this."

"Think? What's there to think about? We have an entire city of Airbenders living below! We need to go in there and bring them back in chains!"

"It's not that simple. We can't just- "

"It is! It is that simple! Or are you trying to hold me back again? Is this another attempt to keep me from regaining my honor? Are you trying to prevent the Fire Nation from winning? This is urgent!"

"I agree. You're right. We should take advantage of this. But not alone. We can't just go rushing in with only us two. We'll never make it."

"But he's in there! He's so close! I'm so close!"

"And it doesn't seem like he's going anywhere. Let's get help. I happen to know of a nearby outpost. We can make it there and back in about 3 days' time."

He turned his distraught nephew to face him.

"Zuko. You will have your honor. Just give it a few more days. I promise."

The prince finally nodded and turned back to the temple. His prize within.

"In the Fire Nation. Ha. I should have known Zhao was lying. I told you'd I'd get him Azula. Just you wait and see."

….

Most of the residents had saluted Undyne when she came in. Most showed kindness to Teo. Most had expressed annoyance at the return of Sans and his brother.

When they looked at Aang though… That was something else. Something hard to read.

Fear. Anger. Disgust. Awe. He saw all of these things on their faces.

Papyrus didn't seem to get their hints.

"Home sweet home! Didja miss me? Look everyone! Look what I found! The Avatar! Didn't expect that eh? You can all take your time thanking me! No rush!"

Indeed, no one rushed up to greet them. Not one. They couldn't bring themselves to go near the bald boy. Sans noticed this.

"don't take it too bad kid. think of yourself as a celebrity. one of those legendary figures everyone's heard of."

"A celebrity huh? Look over here! The kid who ran from home! Some celebrity."

"a celebrity who's going to save the world. at least, that's the plan."

"Yeah, sure. When have things ever gone to plan?"

"What are you talking about? Things have totally gone to plan! Look! We found you and here we are! Basking in the love!"

Undyne sighed but smiled.

"It is good to see you again Papyrus. Really, it is."

"I'm sure it is! I've uh… I've been working on my cooking. I'd like you to try."

Undyne raised her eyebrow.

"Not that I wouldn't love to try Papyrus, but the kind is waiting for us. Shouldn't we- "

She was interrupted by her stomach growling. Followed by everyone else's stomach growling. Everyone remained silent for a time, until Aang laughed.

"Yeah! I am pretty hungry! Can we catch a bite before we meet the king?"

Undyne looked like she wanted to argue but nodded.

"True. We should make sure the Avatar is well fed. And frankly, I'm a bit tired of the food we've been eating recently."

"So have I. That's why I'm going to offer you a multiple in a lifetime chance. You get to try my new and improved spaghetti!"

Undyne immediately frowned.

"Wait, that's not what I meant. I meant let's- "

She paused when Papyrus' lip quivered. Tears began to develop in his eyes.

"All right. I'll give it a shot."

"Yes! You won't regret it! I swear it!" Your house is up ahead right? Can we use your kitchen?"

Undyne nodded and they pressed onwards.

Aang in the meantime examined his surroundings. He found it quite appalling.

Just… Tunnels. That's all the underground was. An interlocking series of tunnels carved throughout the mountain. The light came from torches and here and there he could see small caverns filled with pots and beds and the like. A far cry from home.

"Spirits. Look at this. Nothing! Not even a word or two about the teachings of Guru Laghima!"

"Huh? Who's that?" Teo looked at Aang curiously.

"You know. Guru Laghima. Well, ok maybe you wouldn't know. But surely proper air nomads would. Right Captain Undyne?"

Neither she nor any of the airbenders showed any indication that they understood. Aang's jaw dropped.

"You're kidding! None of you know Guru Laghima?"

"is he a dancer?"

"A dancer? A DANCER? How can you not know him? He was – "

"We're here!"

Papyrus ran into a somewhat fancier hole. Undyne took issue with that.

"Papyrus! I told you to wait for me to- Oh what the hell. He doesn't listen anyway. Please, sit down."

They sat cross legged on some dirty mats. Except for Teo who remained in his chair. Aang turned to them while Undyne and Papyrus made food.

"Seriously, you don't know Guru Laghima? He's one of the most renowned air nomad poets of all time! How can you not know that?"

"uh… because we didn't think it was necessary? we checked the list of necessities and for some reason some guru who wrote a few pages didn't really strike us as important."

"A few pages? A FEW PAGES? You did not just say that! You did not!"

"give it a rest kid. wait till we win the war then we can have a poetry slam."

Aang shook his head in astonishment.

"No Guru Laghima and no pies. This place has quite a lot to learn. And they will learn. I guarantee it!"

"Is that him? Is it really him! I'm so hyped!"

Aang looked towards the entrance to the room. He saw nothing.

"Did you guys hear something? It sounded like…"

"yeah, we heard it kid. i'm just gonna sit over here. coming teo?"

"Why? Oh wait. Is that them? Crap. Yeah sure I'm coming. Sorry Avatar!"

"What are you talking about? Wait!"

"Hey! Check it out! You're like, the avatar right!"

Two girls practically threw themselves on him. One fat and short. The other tall and thin. The look in their eye gave them the impression of having taken cactus juice.

"It's like… uh… such an honor and stuff to meet you! We've waited all our lives to meet you! So like, why'd we have to?"

Aang shook his head to bring himself back to reality.

"Sorry. Why'd you have to what?"

"Like, why'd we have to wait so long? What kept you?"

"Like, it's only been a hundred years at least? Why couldn't you get here sooner? Unless… Bratty, you thinking what I'm?"

"Totally girlfriend! Gotta be, right? You like wanted to increase your stardom!"

"Yeah, totally girl! Pretty clever! Pretty mean too. But pretty clever! Hot damn!"

Aang rubbed his nose. Was he really going to have to deal with this?

"I was frozen in a block of ice. I didn't really chose it. It just happened. I didn't do it for stardom or anything. It just… happened."

The girls stared at each other.

"Just… happened? Just happened?"

"Like, that is not the kind of thing that just happens. That takes like… I don't know? Skills, I guess?"

"Yeah. Skill at failing!"

Sans snickered from across the room. Aang took offense.

"Hang on. I am not a failure! See these tattoos? These are the mark of an airbending master!"

The two girls looked at the tattoos. The short one (Catty was it?) reached her hand out and touched it. Aang pulled back.

"Please don't touch."

"Wow. That's like…"

"Cool? Is that the word? I guess it's kind of cool."

Aang's face turned red.

"Kind of cool? It's the coolest thing ever! Do you have any idea how hard it is to get something like this?"

"Uh…. Pretty hard?"

Aang sighed in frustration.

"Yes. Pretty damn hard. Seriously, don't you know about this?"

The girls giggled. The tall thin one (Bratty was it?) responded.

"Why would we need to know about that? Like all we need to know about is how to survive. Isn't that enough?"

"But you need to know more! You also need to know how to live! Once you've gained the necessities for life, you need directions! Goals! Guru Laghima's ways explained that!"

The girls continued to stare. Not showing any indication that they understood.

"Wow. That's like deep man! Real deep!"

"Yeah! We'll have to talk about that over the fire someday! The kids will ask us what's the first thing the Avatar said to you? Something about a Guru!"

"Actually, I think the first thing he said was sorry. Why'd you have to what?"

"Oh yeah! That's so weird! And then we'll be like we didn't think this kid had it in him to kill the Fire Lord and his family. But he sure proved us wrong."

"Like, I sure hope so! It's still pretty early so we don't know for sure, but yeah probably!"

"Kill the Fire Lord and his family?"

"Yeah! That's why you're here right! It's the sign! The first sign for the fight to take it all back!"

"Like, I'm so hyped for the destruction of the Fire Nation!"

"Like, me too! Especially that bitch daughter of his! I've just heard the worst things!"

"I know right! Like, what a bitch! What do you think?"

He thought of said bitch daughter. Her sadism. Her smugness. The pain in her eyes.

"that's a bit complicated, kiddies. and not one i think he feels like answering right now."

Sans walked over carrying a bowl with spaghetti. He placed it in Aang's lap.

"the avatar needs his din din girls. you can drive him insane later. so scram."

The girls wanted to say more, but something in Sans' eyes told them off. Aang sighed in relief.

"annoying brats ain't they? well, you dealt with them so here's your prize! hope you don't choke."

Aang stared at the… substance in his lap. He still had no idea when this became part of air cuisine. Sans could apparently read his mind.

"the world's changed kid. we've changed. in order to survive, we've had to move on. forget some things. it'll take time but you'll get used to it."

He doubted that. Very much. Nor did he feel he ever wanted to get used to it.

….

"Prince Zuko. Never thought I'd see you this far north."

"I wouldn't if it weren't urgent! Why don't you get that?"

"Right. The Avatar. And a whole contingent of airbenders. Don't you think we would have found something like that by now? I mean, didn't you visit that temple yourself?"

"I never saw any signs of life! Nothing! We searched the whole temple!"

"And you just happened to see the Avatar and a few airbenders this time? That's somewhat hard to believe."

"I confess it is somewhat hard." Iroh sipped from his tea. "But my nephew speaks the truth. We heard it from their lips. There's some kind of gathering of them down there. We don't know how long they've been there. But they could pose a threat with the right motivation. And the Avatar might be that motivation."

The guard seemed to think this over before nodding his head.

Zuko grinned. This wouldn't be like the disaster with Zhao. No airbenders escaping him this time.

The Avatar would be his.

….

"Oh. So you're the Avatar. It's uh… It's ok. So how are you doing… No actually don't… It's better that you don't…"

Aang stared at the man dressed in sheets. He couldn't figure out what the heck had just happened.

"I'm sorry. What are you trying to say?"

"Well I'm just trying to say that…. You know you shouldn't… Ask… Are you ok…."

"hey kid! get away from that freak!"

"Oh….. Mr. Sans.. Nice to see you again….. Thought you were dead….."

"listen kid. just stay away from that one. he'll drag you down into misery. come sit down here! you're gonna like this."

Aang sat down next to Sans on one side of a…

"Uh, Sans. What is this?"

"this? oh this is the thundersnail track! our national pastime!"

"Thundersnail? What the hell? What kind of nonsense is that? Our pastime is airball!"

"again kid. different time! trust me. this is the real deal."

The real deal apparently involved snails placed at one end. One guy then counted down from three. And the snails… moved. As fast as snail could go apparently.

"Go snaily!" Papyrus was jumping up and down. "Make daddy proud!"

Aang stared at the snails for a short while then looked at the cheering airbenders. This was fun? Where was the movement? The freedom?

"Come on! Come on! Damn it snaily! You promised! You promised!"

"Sorry Papyrus. Mine won again. Pay up!"

"And I'd just gotten these sweet rolls too." Papyrus mumbled.

Aang placed his hands over his ears, trying to block out the cheers. This is what his people had been reduced to?

"Feeling like garbage huh….. Yeah that's ok… It's good to feel like that sometimes….. You know what would help….. Actually you know what…. I'm just going to stop talking….. Don't mind me….. Over here…. Not existing…."

….

"What the… Undyne! You're… You're back? I… I can't believe it!"

"Long time no see Alphys. Well actually only a few months. Sure feels like a long time though huh?"

"We've been gone a long time though! You can believe it! A super long time! Years in fact! But fear not! I Papyrus, have returned! With the Avatar! You can all thank me now."

Everyone in the room turned to look at the avatar. Alphys hesitantly walked over to get a better look.

"You… You're the Avatar? Really? No. No. That's not possible. That's a kid."

"And the Avatar," Undyne insisted. "One and the same."

A collective gasp rang around the room. Nobody could believe their ears or eyes. Sweat formed on Alphys' brow.

"This? This is the Avatar? This kid? No. No. This isn't good. This is bad. Oh spirits. Oh spirits. This is very bad. So bad. Very bad. What can we do? What can we do?"

"Alphys! Get a grip! This is the Avatar! I've seen him airbend and firebend! He has the power! He is the bridge!"

"No. No. No. We can't do it. Not with a child! It's not possible! We need- "

"what? what do you need? or rather, what do you want? you want some badass unstoppable juggernaut? someone who could absolutely totally without any challenge any beat the fire army by themselves? well, that's not what we've got! we've got this skinny untrained kid! that's reality! live with it!"

Aang looked at Sans annoyed.

"Gee Sans. Don't oversell me!"

"he's like us. desperate. afraid. but he has the potential to do more if he puts his mind to it. i've seen him. he can do it. he just needs a helping hand. someone to watch his back. and slap him upside the head when he screws up. which is admittedly, a lot! but who here hasn't? it doesn't mean he's incompetent or incapable! it means he's human! like all of us! and he's the best chance we've got to kill those ash makers!"

"Wait, kill? Come again?"

But that seemed to get their attention. The airbenders looked at each other. Some even nodded.

"You know I can't really recall a time Sans ever spoke so passionately about someone. Or anything for that matter. Can you?"

"No. Can't say I have. That means something. At least I think it does."

"That's right," Papyrus intervened. "We've been given a second chance! We need to take it!" He waited a few seconds. "Don't everyone thank me at once!"

"So. This really is the Avatar? This is really him Undyne?"

"Yes Alphys. I swear."

Papyrus huffed while Alphys approached the Avatar.

"Well uh… Sorry about all that. We all just expected the Avatar to be…. Well…"

"Uglier?"

The short stout woman laughed silently.

"Alphys. Head inventor. It's an honor to meet you."

"Inventor? What do you invent?"

"My glider for one," Teo intervened. "This is an amazing invention! Without it, I wouldn't have anything worth living for!"

"Yes. I actually had some help with that. Teo's… Uh… Oh shoot. Sorry Teo. I didn't mean- "

"It's fine. Don't worry."

"Oh. Wow! That was close! I mean I didn't think…. Well never mind. Now uh… What was I doing?"

"Ahem."

"Oh right! The Avatar! Oh spirits! I'm so so sorry! I can't believe I forgot! So stupid!"

"Ok. Ok. Easy. Sheesh. So like, what other inventions have you made?"

"A robot."

"I'm sorry, what?"

"Shoot. Did I say robot? I apologize. Forget I said that. We don't mention that. It never happened."

"Then why did you bring it up?"

"NEVER. HAPPENED. So anyway, I also work on the orb for this temple."

"The orb? You mean the thing that kept these temples afloat?"

"Correct. We've been trying to get them floating again for some time. No success. I was wondering if maybe- "

"Uh, Mr. Avatar sir? King Asgore will see you now."

"Wait. Hang on. Alphys was just saying- "

"No! No! Don't mind me! It was stupid anyway! I'll just uh… Go get some pudding. Yes, that's it! Pudding! Bye now!"

"Mr. Avatar sir. This way please."

"Spirits. Is anyone in this place slightly normal?

….

"Are you sure it's secure?"

"Yes. Prince Zuko. The bomb won't go anywhere until we drop it."

Iroh looked it over.

"An impressive piece of engineering commander."

"Indeed general. It took a great deal of testing and patience. And even some lives."

"And you believe it will be enough to penetrate through the surface of the temple?"

"I assure you general. If this doesn't, nothing will."

"And once we're in, what can we expect?"

The general looked at Zuko like he couldn't believe he actually asked that.

"How can we possibly know Prince Zuko? Until yesterday, we didn't even know anyone was here!"

"If I were general, I'd seriously question your rank over that. I mean you've been situated nearby for what, 3 years? How could you not know?"

"Thank the spirits that your uncle is general then. And might I point out that you never found them during your last visit?"

Iroh stood between the two and placed a hand on both their shoulders.

"Gentlemen, please. No time for infighting when we have another coming up! We must work together if we are to achieve our goal."

"And capture the Avatar. We do remember who is going to bring him in. Don't we?"

The captain smirked.

"I certainly do Prince Zuko. The question is, do you?"

….

Aang walked alone into the garden full of flowers. A ray of sunlight from above fed them. He felt a tear run down his face as he recognized the flowers for their ceremonial purposes.

"I thought they were all wiped out. But here they are. Like me. Survivors."

An immensely tall man was watering the flowers with his back to Aang. Unlike the nomad men he'd known in the past, this one had hair running down to his shoulders. Something rested upon his head. A crown?

"Uh…. Excuse me, sir?"

The man straightened up. He turned around and stared at Aang with wide eyes. Aang stared back. Mainly at his beard.

"Those tattoos. That staff. It's you right? The chosen one?"

"Not by my choice. But yes. I am the Avatar."

They stared at each other in silence for some time. Despite his intimidating size, the man seemed uncertain how to respond.

"I knew you were a child from Sans' letter. But still. To see you in the flesh."

"Hoping for more, I know Sorry I kept you waiting all this time. Guess it wasn't worth it."

"No. No! Not at all! You escaped the Fire Nation. Faced off against the Fire Lord himself! Child or not, you deserve our respect and admiration for… for…"

He stopped and sighed.

"I'm sorry. This must be just as overwhelming for you. To come here and see what we've been reduced to. I wish we could offer more."

"I'm not the last airbender. That's enough for me."

"Yes. I suppose we should all take whatever good news we can. However small it may be. I… I just want you to know that it's an honor to have you here. Welcome to HOME!"

"It's an honor to be here. Thank you for having me. Wait, HOME?"

"The name of our home! Had another name before I came in, but I decided against it."

"Right." Aang kept his face blank and stifled his laughter.

"Of course if you're here then that means…" His voice trailed off. He looked away. "That means it's time for war."

"As I understand it, the war has already begun."

"Yes, but we've sat out most of it. We've barely been able to keep ourselves alive. And we've lost all hope. We haven't had any source of it for a long time. There was a time when we thought we could change our fortune. When we thought we might even make the Fire Nation recognize their wrong."

The man's fists clenched and shook. He collected himself and looked back at Aang. Aang wanted to ask more about that time but held back for the moment. He asked him something else.

"Why do they call you king? There are no kings in the Air Nation."

"Weren't there? I didn't want the title to be honest. But I was the leader and they dubbed me thus."

"But it's an improper title! Kings are for the other nations! They suggest absolute authority! That's not what the- "

Aang realized again this might not be the best time for this.

"I'm sorry. I'm just… This is a lot to take in."

The king smiled.

"Nothing to apologize for. I understand. It is a terrible burden we must ask of you."

He stared down at the flowers.

"I share this much in common with the nomads of old. I detest violence. I much prefer to give life than take it. That's why I set my room here. It's one of the few things that gives us anything to look forward to for the future. Until you."

He looked up at the light.

"There's a world out there waiting for us. A world that was taken from us. We've been waiting for the time to take it back. And to make those who ruined our lives pay. The time has come for war."

As if the world itself was listening in, a blast from above caused the ceiling to collapse and the outside world poured in.

….

"So this is how they've been living? Pathetic."

"Now captain, show some respect. People make the best of what they can with what they're given. I think they deserve some credit for staying hidden this long. And these flowers are beautiful! So well taken care of considering the circumstances!"

The captain looked at Iroh with raised eyebrows. "General, whose side are you on?"

"The Fire Nation's of course. That doesn't mean I can't show respect where it's earned."

"Both of you quit this bickering," Zuko argued. "I saw two people running that way. A big man and a boy. One of them must have been the Avatar!"

"It's going to be difficult. They have the advantage of familiar terrain."

"But we have the power of fire, light, and greater numbers," Zuko huffed impatiently. "Let's get in there and wipe them out! Except for the Avatar of course."

"Zuko," Iroh replied with alarm and horror on his face. "Surely you're not advocating for total genocide? This may be the last organized cluster of airbenders anywhere in the world!"

"All the more reason to exterminate them I'd say," the captain grinned. "My men will take point. You two remain in the back"

"Why? So you can take the Avatar for yourself? Think again!"

"Not at all prince Zuko. The avatar is yours. I simply wish to keep the heir to the throne and the Fire Lord's brother safe."

"I don't think putting us at the back makes us safer, captain. Won't they be more likely to attack the stragglers once the whole group has passed?"

"I… That's not how these things work general. I know that from experience."

"Really? Are you saying you've regularly fought in close quarter tunnels?"

"…Yes of course! Enough of this debating!"

"Are you sure? You paused for a moment there."

"I said enough! It's time to finish the job Sozin started! Men! To me!"

In the tunnels ahead, the fires had all been extinguished. The airbenders had no light by which to guide them but Asgore kept Aang's hand in his and pulled him along.

"I've spent enough time in these tunnels to have them memorized. Down to every turn and corner."

"How are we to see without the flames?"

"Fear not my boy. We have our ears."

"Ears? Oh! Sound bending!"

"Yes. We've perfected it in these tunnels. And prepared for this day. We will not fail."

"Great. Awesome. So what do we do?"

The king paused and spoke with a heavy voice.

"What is necessary."

"This is embarrassing uncle."

"Don't worry prince Zuko. We will get the avatar. One way or another."

"We'd better. I've waited too long."

"And what will you do then? Go home? After what admiral Zhao said?"

"I don't care what that oaf spews from his mouth. My father will forgive everything! He has to!"

"You give him too much credit. My brother is not the forgiving type."

"He won't have a choice. I'll have done the impossible! What he and Azula couldn't! They had the Avatar in the country and they still couldn't take him! If I do that, they have to take me back!"

"He is just as likely to be offended by a young man achieving what he could not. You cannot predict him, Zuko."

The echoes from behind reached the commander up front. He smiled.

"The tragedy of Prince Zuko. Like Sozin he strived for greatness. Gave his final days to the Avatar's death. And it resulted in his own."

"you could say the same pal. you're just dust in the wind. get it?"

The commander looked about in shock. As did the soldiers behind him. A flame arose in their other hand to match the one already shining light in the tunnels.

"Who…?"

"damn. why does nobody get my jokes? oh well. you'll like this next one."

The flames in their hands died out.

"Uncle? What's happening?"

Iroh didn't respond, but instead took a fighting position.

Screams came from the darkness in front of them. Blood curdling screams.

"It's been an honor nephew."

"Uncle?"

….

"You killed them. How could you?"

Aang looked over the corpses lying along the ground. He'd seen death before. But not from his own people. King Asgore himself appeared to be trying to look anywhere but the bodies.

"I… I can regret their deaths. But it was necessary. As king, I must do whatever I can for the safety of my people. Our people."

"Did you see Undyne? I got that one good!"

Undyne looked at the soldier Papyrus pointed to. He looked like a teenager. No older than thirteen.

"I guess you did. Nice one Papyrus."

"Thanks! My first kill! My first spill of Fire blood! Feels good!"

Aang shook when he heard that.

"That is not the way of the Air Nomads! This is a travesty!"

"And what is the way of the Air Nomads, Avatar," asked Undyne. "Would they have sought peace? Would they have sought a truce? That's not the world we live in. This is how we survive. How we're all going to survive. How we win this war."

Aang stared at her. Then looked to Papyrus.

"Avatar, what do you think? Not bad huh? Impressive right?"

Asgore placed a hand on Aang's shoulder.

"It's a terrible thing we must do for the survival of the world. But survival is everything. We must do everything necessary to ensure that survival."

Aang couldn't meet his eyes. He kept staring at the corpses. Memories came flooding back.

Fields of corpses. An entire city. All gone. No one but him. Alone with her body.

He had a panic attack and fled. In his haste, he knocked Alphys out of the way.

"Wait, Avatar!"

"Let him go. He needs time to adjust."

"If that's how he reacts to bodies, I'm not sure we have much of a chance your highness," Undyne said.

"He's our only chance," Asgore responded. "Without him, we have no rallying cry. The Earth Kingdom will not come to our aid. Nor will the tribes north and south. They'll come for him."

"Your highness," Undyne said, "if that's how he responds to dead bodies how can we expect him to do what's necessary for the greater good. He'll have to kill sometime eventually. How is he going to react when he has to make his first kill?"

"He already has reacted I imagine. Didn't you see his eyes?"

"Not very well. Why?"

"I know those eyes. I've had them myself. There was regret in those eyes."

"Regret?"

"Yes. He's killed before. I'm sure of it."

Aang ran outside and stood amongst the ruins. He stared out over the horizon. He didn't hear anyone coming and was shocked when he felt Sans' hand on his shoulder.

"not the best first impression, huh?"

"Why didn't you tell me? Why didn't you tell me how low our people had fallen? You could have warned me."

"truth is kid, i didn't know we'd fallen. i didn't know anything about our type before the war. didn't know how you did things in the past. we just did what we could to survive. never had time to think about tradition and peace and all that. we tried to be the best we could. guess we could've been better."

The enormity of what his people had been reduced to along with what he would have to do finally caught up to Aang. He felt the tears run down his face.

"I don't think I can do it Sans. I can't give you what you want. I can't win this war. I'm just a kid."

"sure you can. it'll be tough, and you'll probably kick yourself a couple times over some of the things you do. but i've traveled with you long enough to have faith in you."

"How can you say that? What do you see in me that I don't?"

"determination."

The boy kept sobbing. The older man pulled him into a rare hug.

Through his tears, he saw the ruins, the mountains. Her. She smiled.

"Funny. All I see is fear."