Welcome back!

Or just welcome…

If you just found this story without reading the OSaB Book One, I don't if everything will make sense so at first I recommend you to read the first one first.

Then lets this show on the road as the first chapter of book two!

Gotta say I feel a bit proud of myself... That's allowed, right? Right.

Chapter 1

Aang woke up in a sweat.

Another nightmare.

They had been frequent since he let the Ocean Spirit La guide him at the North Pole.

It was always the same. He would see himself in the Avatar State, angry and out of control, destroying everything and everyone around him. It was scary… He was scary…

Katara had tried to talk with him, but it didn't help.

It had been a couple of days since they left the North Pole behind and it had been a rough start. On the surface, everything seemed normal, seemed alright. They were still together, their small family. Sokka was still the sarcastic skeptic, Katara was still the kindhearted girl with a passion for waterbending, Momo still thought with his belly and Appa… Well, it was obvious Appa worried about Hari, all of them did.

Hari hadn't been the same since Yue… He tried to. He still joked, made food, trained and helped them train, but it felt like a part of him was gone.

Dark circles were starting to form around his eyes as he stayed up to watch the moon. He trained himself harder and still trained with them.

Yes, they were worried but they didn't know what to do. Normally they would turn to Hari in this kind of situation but now…

Aang sighed.

"Nightmares again?"

Aang turned and saw Hari putting another log on the fire to keep them warm.

"Yeah. But don't worry, I know it's just dreams." Aang said, scooting closer to the fire, holding up his hands to feel the warmth.

"Just dreams, huh." Hari said, sitting down next to Aang.

"Don't worry. It's fine." Aang tried, but he ended up getting a noggie from Hari.

"I'll worry about my little brother if needed." Hari said, making Aang smile.

"But what about you?" Aang asked, looking up at him.

Hari looked at Aang. He knew he wasn't hiding it well that he was hurting.

In a short time, Yue had come to mean so much to him. He understood why she did it. He really did! He told it to himself every evening, but it still hurt so much. He needed to push it down and move on… that's what Yue would ha-... He needed to be strong.

"Little brothers shouldn't worry about their big brothers." Hari said patting Aang on the shoulder. "I'll be okay Aang. I promise you." Hari smiled at Aang. "Now tell me about this 'just a dream'."

As Aang explained, Hari didn't say anything, just listened. So much fear in one so young. A seed was planted by Jeong Jeong, watered by fear and sprouted during the battle of the North Pole.

After Aang was finished they sat for a moment.

"You think you can take me in a fight?" Hari asked, making Aang look at him like he grew a second head.

"No." Aang said, turning back to look into the flames.

"You afraid of me?" Hari asked.

"No!" Aang said looking at Hari like he grew a third head.

"Neither am I of you." Hari said with a smile, pulling Aang in for a sideways hug. "Remember that I came from a world where you could control, torture or kill someone with a single word. It wasn't the word itself or the power that was dangerous, but the intention behind it." They were both looking into the fire again, "Aang, you didn't hurt anyone you cared for when you were in the avatar state. Does that sound like someone out of control?"

"No…" Aang said with a sigh.

"Can you say anything else than no?" Hari asked, hitting Aang on the shoulder.

"Hey!" Aang exclaimed while rubbing said shoulder.

"Oh, he can!" Hari said as they both laughed.

"We're gonna be okay, right?" Aang asked, looking at his brother in all but blood.

Hari laid back on the ground with his hands behind his head and looked up into the sky.

"We're gonna be okay." Hari said

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"Look! There it is!" Soka was standing in Appa saddle using his hand to ward off the sun to see clearer. Ahead of them was an Earth Kingdom military base.

Before leaving the North Pole Pakku had told them to travel to the eastern Earth Kingdom base where they would meet General Fong who would provide them with an escort to Omashu where Aang would begin his earthbending training with King Bumi. Pakku then gave Katara a flask-like amulet that contained water from the Spirit Oasis, which had 'unique properties'. "Don't lose it." He told her.

He then gave Aang scrolls that would help him master waterbending. "But remember, they're no substitute for a real master." Pakku said as Aang looked towards Katara.

Sokka got a pat on the shoulder and Hari, a bow.

Landing inside the walls of the base they were met by General Fong and his soldiers.

"Welcome, Avatar Aang!" General Fond said, spreading his arms in welcome, "I am General Fong, and welcome, to all of you great heroes! Appa, Momo, brave Sokka, the mighty Katara, fearless Hari…"

"Mighty Katara? I like that." Katara said with a smirk as she crossed her arms.

Then fireworks went off, filling the sky with loud pops and a beautiful display of colors, launched by the soldiers using earthbending.

Sokka whistled.

"Not bad, not bad."

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Sitting around a round table inside the base compound, the team and General Fong are finishing up a light meal.

"Avatar Aang," Fong started as he set down his cup, "we were all amazed at the stories of how you single-handedly wiped out an entire Fire Navy fleet at the North Pole. I can't imagine what it feels like to wield such devastating power. It's an awesome responsibility."

"I try not to think about it too much." Aang said embarrassed.

"Avatar, you're ready to face the Fire Lord now." General Fong said.

"Nope, we're leaving." Hari said as he stood up and walked towards the door.

"Okay!" Sokka said as he started to gather as much food as he could carry and stood.

"What? Why!?" General Fong said.

"Aang still needs to master all four elements." Katara stated as she stood as well, Aang following the others' example.

"Why? With the kind of power he possesses, power enough to destroy hundreds of battleships in a matter of minutes, he could defeat the Fire Lord now!" General Fong tried.

"But, the thing is, sir," Sokka said, putting a bit pressure on 'sir', "Aang can only do those things when he's in the Avatar State."

"It's this special state where-" Aang started but he was cut off by General Fong.

"I'm well aware! Your eyes and tattoos glow and you're able to summon unbelievable power. Without you, we'd be slaughtered before we even reach their shores. But with you leading the way," He said while pointing to a map lying in front of him, "as the ultimate weapon, we could cut a swath right through to the heart of the Fire Nation."

"And that right there is why we are going." Hari said loudly over his shoulder, "Aang is not a weapon."

"Also," Aang said, "I don't know how to get in or out of the Avatar State, much less what to do once I'm there."

"So, it's decided then. I'll help you figure out how to get into the Avatar State and then you'll face your destiny." Fong stated happily.

"No, nothing's decided. We already have a plan. Aang's pursuing his destiny his way!" Katara said, looking at the general angrily.

"Well, while you take your time learning the elements, the War goes on." Fong said in a solemn voice, "May I show you something?" He said as he led Aang to a window where he pointed down at an open tent, where several soldiers were visibly injured, covered in bandages and in pain, "That's the infirmary, and those soldiers are the lucky ones… They came back… Every day, the Fire Nation takes lives. People are dying, Aang! You could end it, now. Think about it."

Aang closed his eyes, a pained expression darkening his face.

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Outside, Hari was packing up stuff in Appa's saddle.

Groaning Appa turned to get Hari's attention.

"What?" Hari asked.

Another groan came from Appa followed by a shake of his big head.

"Yeah, I know." Hari said, closing his eyes. Then he felt the soft fur of Appa's forehead against his own and a calm filled him, making him take a deep breath.

"I just feel like I could have done more." Hari told him, receiving another groan.

"You're probably right. Thanks buddy." Hari said, scratching Appa's cheek, getting a pleased rumble in return.

He heard footsteps coming up behind him.

"You ready to go?" He asked as he turned, but when he saw Aang's expression, he knew the answer.

"I told the general I'd help him, by going into the Avatar State." Aang said.

Shaking his head, Hari didn't say anything for a couple of seconds.

"I guess you already tried to talk him out of it?" Hari asked the siblings.

"Well, he was pretty incredible at the North Pole." Sokka said, shrugging.

"But still, the right way to do this is practice, study, and discipline! Not shortcuts!" Katara said in frustration.

"So I take it as a yes." Hari said.

"I'm just being realistic!" Aang defended, "I don't have time to do this the right way!"

"Can I please say 'I told you so' later?" Hari said innocently.

"No way! That's mine!" Katara growled.

"Whoa there little saber-tooth moose lion! The honor is yours." Hari said smiling, holding his hands up in defeat.

"This is serious…" Aang mumbled, casting a mournful look at the floor.

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The next day General Fong, the team, and an older tactician were sitting in an outdoor room, ready to help Aang achieve the Avatar state.

The tactician poured tea into a cup and dropped something white into the tea and mixed it.

"This rare chi-enhancing tea is a natural stimulant." The tactician said, "In an ordinary warrior, it improves strength and energy ten-fold. In you, it may induce the Avatar State."

"Ten-fold energy, huh?" Aang said as he drank the tea, finishing it.

Everyone looked expectantly at him, noticing his eyebrow twitching.

What followed was not ten-told strength but ten minutes of a hyperactive Aang riding his air scooter and talking just as rapidly as he was moving, the only thing stopping him was when he rode straight into a pillar.

Following this they tried many things but nothing seemed to work, neither scaring him nor wearing ceremonial pieces of clothing from each of the bending nations and 'connecting' with the elements, which basically meant they poured water and earth together in a bowl, lit it on fire and blew it out and threw it on Aang.

As the shadows were getting long they decided to call it a day.

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Aang and Katara stood on a balcony of the main compound watching the sunset.

"Can we talk about something?" Katara asked him.

"Sure." Aang said.

Katara took a deep breath.

"Do you remember when we were at the air temple and you found Monk Gyatso's skeleton? It must have been so horrible and traumatic for you. I saw you get so upset that you weren't even you anymore. I'm not saying the Avatar State doesn't have incredible and helpful power… but you have to understand… for the people who love you, watching you be in that much rage and pain is really scary.

Aang hung his head and sighed.

"Are you afraid of me, Katara?" He asked in a quiet voice, yelping as he received a smack to the back of his head.

"I'm afraid for you!" She said forcefully.

Rubbing the back of his head, Aang looked out over the compound.

"I'm really glad you told me that. But I still need to do this." He said.

"I don't understand." Katara said with frustration in her voice.

"No, you don't." Came from behind them. They turned and saw Hari walking up to them, "And you should be happy that you don't."

"Every day, more and more people die." Aang said, shaking his head, "I'm already one hundred years late. Defeating the Fire Lord is the only way to stop this war. I have to try it!"

"You feel like you're ready?" Hari asked, looking Aang in the eyes.

Understanding that Hari talked about the dreams Aang looked down.

They stood there for a while until Aang let out a shuddering breath as he seemed to come to the end of an internal fight with himself.

"No…"Aang relented, "No, I don't feel ready and it doesn't feel right to force it. You might not be scared of me, but I… I still am." He hung his head in shame, but it didn't last long as Katara pulled him in for a hug.

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The next day found Aang in General Fong's office.

"The thing is," Aang said as politely as he could, "I don't think we'll ever be able to trigger it on purpose. So I guess that's it."

The general stroke his beard.

"You sure I can't change your mind?" He asked.

"I'm sure." Aang said, "I can only reach the Avatar State when I'm in genuine danger."

At this General Fong closed his eyes in defeat.

"I see. I was afraid you'd say that."

Using earthbending, the general blasted his entire stone desk at Aang, sending him soaring across the room, crashing through the wall and out of the building. Twisting in the air and airbending a blast under him Aang made a controlled landing before he crashed into the ground.

Walking over toward the new hole in the building, Fong looked down at Aang and the confused soldiers.

"Men! Attack the Avatar!" He shouted.

Everyone looked confused and the soldiers turned to stare at Aang, trying to make sense of the order.

General Fong then jumped out of the hole and as he hit the ground, he sent a rock wave at Aang which pushed him back further.

"What are you doing?" Aang shouted confused.

"I believe we're about to get results." General Fong said as he took a stance.

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Katara, Sokka and Hari were packing their things when an explosion rocked the building.

As they rushed out they saw Aang avoiding huge coins made of stone as he was attacked by the Earth Kingdom soldiers.

"What's going on?!" Katara shouted in confusion.

"It looks like the general's trying to force Aang into the Avatar State!" Sokka shouted over the noise of the fighting as he pulled out his boomerang and threw it at one of the soldiers.

Katara summoned a water whip and started to trip soldiers left and right, making them hit the ground hard.

Aang was being chased by a spear-wielding soldier mounted on an ostrich horse. Suddenly the head of the spear snapped off making him slow down, looking at his broken weapon. The next thing he knew he was pulled to the ground by the same whip that destroyed his spear next to a pissed-off Katara.

"Good… bird… horse thingy…" Sokka said as he approached the ostrich horse carefully. Getting close enough to take the reins Sokka mounted it and galloped through a group of soldiers, making them jump out of the way.

Hari was using airbending to send up clouds of dust and sand, obscuring the soldiers' field of vision, unfortunatly he was so concentrated on his task that he didn't notice that someone was watching him.

"Maybe you can avoid me ... but he can't." General Fong said threateningly as he lifted his hand, palm up and fingers splayed. Then slowly he curled his fingers into a fist.

When Hari felt it, it was too late, he was pulled down spinning into the ground to his knees.

"This isn't good." Hari said as he looked down at his buried legs.

Katara tried to run to him but she was blocked by soldiers.

Aang looked at Hari who in vain tried to get up.

"Let him go!" Aang shouted as he sent a gust of wind at the General, who bended an earth wall to block the attack. Fong, bringing down the earth wall looked at Aang before he sank Hari further into the ground, this time to his waits.

"Okay, deep breaths Hari. He might be crazy but he isn't stupid… right?" Hari mumbled to himself, his arms raised so as to not get them stuck.

Sokka tried to reach him but the legs of the ostrich horse sunk into the ground that had become sand, flinging Sokka off and into one of the giant earth coins.

Aang who had reached General Fong tried to reason with him

"Stop this! You have to let him go!"

"You could save him if you were in the Avatar State!" The general stated emotionlessly.

"I'm trying! I'm trying!" Aang said, tears starting to form.

Hari twisted around once more, now buried chest-deep.

"I don't see glowing!" General Fong said threateningly as he lowered his right arm as Hari was buried neck deep.

"You don't want to do this." Hari said in a harsh voice.

"Apparently, I do." General Fong answered as he clenched his fist tight, sinking Hari completely.

Aang leaped forward and attempts to save her, but was too late. Then his tattoos began to glow brightly and he turned to face General Fong, his eyes shining and a hateful expression on his face.

"It worked! It worked!" The general said triumphantly, but his joy didn't last long as an air blast was sent his way and blew him on his back. Looking up he saw Aang, floating above them on an earth vortex, stones, rocks and debris flying around endangering everyone within the area.

"Avatar Aang! Can you hear me?" The general started to plead, "Your friend is safe!" He said as he brought Hari back above ground, "It was just a trick to trigger the Avatar Sta-" He didn't get farther as he was knocked out with a single punch to the chin, courtesy of Hari.

Aang dropped into the vortex and hit the ground hard sending a wave of blocks of earth, like a ripple after a drop hit still water.

As the dust cleared the yard was destroyed a spiderweb-like pattern covering the ground.

Aang suddenly found himself floating above his body as he rose into the air, where waiting for him on his dragon was Avatar Roku.

"It's time you learned." Avatar Roku said as Aang sat behind him and they flew higher above the clouds into the dark-blue sky where many small figures were visible in the distance.

"The Avatar State is a defense mechanism, designed to empower you with the skills and knowledge of all the past Avatars." Avatar Roku told him, "The glow is the combination of all your past lives, focusing their energy through your body." Roku closed his eyes for a moment and then looked into the distance. "In the Avatar State, you are at your most powerful, but you are also at your most vulnerable."

"What do you mean?" Aang asked confused.

"If you are killed in the Avatar State, the reincarnation cycle will be broken," Suddenly Aang found himself standing in the line of Avatar's next Roku. Then they started to disappear from the one furthest away until only Aang and Roku were left, "and the Avatar will cease to exist." Then Roku was gone.

Roku's dragon then flew Aang back to the base where Aang's body was surrounded by a dome of air. Fang flew downward, head first through Aang's body and into the ground. Being forced back into his body, Aang's spirit was brought back to his physical self and the Avatar State stopped.

He fell to the ground, catching himself with his hands. Lifting his head he looked at the damage he caused to the base. The ruined arena around him, houses destroyed and earth coins flung about. Katara walked up to Aang and hugged him, Aang hugged her back.

"I'm sorry, Katara. I hope you never have to see me like that again."

"Are you joking?" Apparently, the General had regained consciousness. "That was almost perfect! We just have to find out a way to control you whe-" and once more he was knocked out by Hari, but this time with a stone over the head.

"Anybody got a problem with that?" Sokka asked from atop the ostrich horse.

The soldiers all collectively shook their heads, though one of them stepped forward.

"Do-do you still want an escort to Omashu?" He asked.

Katara looked at him with a look of annoyance and frustration.

"I think we're all set." She said in a menacing voice.

Hari cupped his hands and called for Appa who flew down to them, their stuff packed and ready.

They all got up and took a last look at the base before they took off.

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As the others were sleeping off the exhaustion of the day's events Hari was sitting up on Appas head as they flew towards Omashu.

He needed to get his head back on track. He had become a liability by being caught so easily. That couldn't happen again! If it had been for real he would've been a goner. He sighed in resignation.

One thing though was that he believed that he was getting an understanding of the gift Yue gave him. He had seen Aang in spirit form as well as the dragon. Did that mean he was getting closer to the Spirit World?

Rummaging in his bag he found the forgotten stick he got from the Spirit World. Closing his eyes he focused inwards on the now familiar feeling of Mul and the river of energy within. Being guided by Mul, he followed the energy from his core, where Mul normally was, up his chest, to his shoulder and slowly but steadily to his hand and… he felt that if he let it, it would flow to the stick.

Getting an encouraging push from Mul he let it and a very familiar sense of warmth filled the palm of his hand.

"Lumos." He whispered and a small soft white glow lit before his eyes.