Author's Note: I have been working on this story so long I am not even sure I am following the main plot I had initially fleshed out. However, I have written till about the last few episodes of season 3. Which means, I was able to make sure things make cohesive sense without forgetting what I've done and having to quickly edit or change the newest chapter I'm writing!

I hope you guys like it, it follows a sort of unique take on a not so unique story idea of there being two Avatars. This story will follow the entirety of the show, as well as the comics, all while exploring an original idea from me. (Okay, original to me idea. I can't be the only one to think of it.)

I did my best with trying to figure out Nuclear Fusion and Fission but I did not do well, so give that some artistic freedom please!

~Start Chapter 1~

"It has Archeologists stumped all across the globe; Pictures that show humans manipulating the elements to their whims. Just fanciful fantasy? Or were these honest depictions of real people? This discovery might just give relevance to notions of witchcraft all over the world that practice 'bending' the elements, however, no solid proof of manipulating elements without the help of man-made machines, has ever been seen, until potentially today..."

"I wish they'd turn that shit off." My friend Naia snapped as she turned the page in her book: 'The Science of Evil.'

The T.V. continued to drone on in the background as I turned my attention to my best friend from University. She was seated in one of the reddish lumpy sofa chairs across from me with her legs crossed. Her small but sharp eyes didn't stray from her book as she spoke. She had curled chocolate coloured hair, coiling into tight ringlets, cut short to just below her ears. Today she was wearing one of her famous pin-up dresses in deep plum, Maleficent and her dragon form hidden within the pattern.

"Come on, aren't you curious? First they find those centuries old parchments with what looked like instructions on bending—" I attempted to say.

"Allegedly about 'bending', no one's been able to translate them yet." She interrupted rudely.

"Stop interrupting me, now, as I was saying, then they found those impossible to have built at the time temple like structures too high up for anyone to have climbed, similar ones on the underside of cliffs, and now they have found actual photo evidence, not drawings, but photo evidence of people bending!" I was a touch excited, sure, but who didn't want to be able to prove people could bend the elements to their will?

"Those 'temples' are mostly rubble, they've barely even been able to excavate much yet, and again, allegedly they found photographic evidence. It's super grainy, and old enough most of it was rotted, it's all speculation at this point." She sighed, finally putting her book down to regard me for a moment.

"You really are a fun ruiner." I pouted.

"I'd like to think I am a champion of reality." She re-opened her book and turned another page.

"Yeah, champion of being a pain in my ass..." I muttered under my breath garnering a glare.

"Either way, it doesn't change the fact that no one has ever successfully been able to 'bend' anything, look at all those silly little groups have barely been able to do anything." Naia waved me off with a hand as she turned back to her book.

"Yeah, but how would we know? If we lost everything, forgot everything, what if we keep trying to do it wrong?" I asked as I leaned back in my chair.

"Wouldn't someone do it right eventually? Even a little? It can't be that complex to figure out if someone did thousands of years ago, and enough people were doing it they built temples, which leads me to believe a lot of people would have been able to 'bend'." She retorted, her logic poking holes.

"There has to be something else we are missing with this, like...maybe not everyone can bend? Statistics and all that? What about those unnatural pipes under that mountain in China?" I tried to argue, grasping at straws.

"You mean the Baigong Pipes? What next, aliens exist? Stop listening to those mystery podcasts, they're rotting your brain." She sighed.

"They are not rotting my brain..." I crossed my arms with a huff and leaned back in my chair.

Naia laughed at me as she closed her book and stood up from the table at the cafe we were sitting at. I followed after her, gathering my own book and bag, before we left for home.

I took a final look at her as we parted ways with a smile. She had done her makeup today to match her dress. The realization made me smile again as I felt a sinking feeling in my stomach at her departure.

I'd see her again, I was just letting my anxiety get the better of me.

~Break~

I arrived home later than I'd have liked. I had school tomorrow, and the first block for me was 7 a.m.; I just had to be a keener during my first year of University. I wanted to prove I was a diligent student and make my parents proud in hopes it would overshadow the things that made them less than proud.

But I couldn't decide what I wanted to major in, so I was taking a bunch of different courses to try them out. I took just enough to qualify for housing assistance, which was nine. I was often tired and overworked but it wasn't all bad. I was able to schedule around my sword play.

I shouldn't complain too much either, I got to stay in a private dorm room that was self contained. It was basically a small bachelor, but I didn't care. I was out on my own for the first time ever. It felt freeing, like I was finally becoming an adult.

Naia was only taking afternoon classes, the fiendish genius! Her parents lived nearby so she didn't have to worry about affording a place to live. I suspect part of the reason my parents wouldn't help with my housing was so I would choose a local school.

Pfft, as if.

'Mira...'

Cursing my luck, my eighteen year old heart leaped when I heard my name. I twisted around to see who was calling my name while I was daydreaming, to find no one.

Nothing was there and I wondered for a moment if I was just that tired? I tossed my bag and purse onto the small loveseat I had managed to squeeze in, heading straight to my bed, shirt slipping off my form and being tossed towards the hamper outside my bathroom.

I pulled my below shoulder length wavy dirty blonde hair up into a bun, pulling on a pair of old high-school grad grey sweatpants and a black racer back tank-top. I turned to look at my vanity mirror, aqua eyes staring back at me. I took a moment to look at the dark circles under my eyes with a frown. With my dark freckles, the only reminiscent of my Irish heritage, it made me look incredibly washed out, like I was the living dead. With a heavy sigh I turned away

I fell onto the plush surface and bounced there for a moment. It wasn't a large bed, being the double that it was, but it allowed me some small measure of living space, so I went with it. Grabbing my water bottle I opened two small bottles and slipped three pills into my hand, before tossing my head back and swallowing it. Taking a swig of water I swallowed and laid down.

I snuggled my face into my pillow and breathed in a deep breath, calming my tumultuous mind. I tucked myself beneath a rumpled blanket, making sure my feet were wedged underneath what was left at the end of my bed, and closed my eyes.

~Break~

I awoke to find myself seated in a meadow, legs crossed, still wearing the loose sweatpants and thin tank top I had gone to sleep in. The flowers here bent and waved with the breeze. They were yellow in colour, with small green stems. The grass was the most interesting though. It was the most pigmented shade of blue/white I had ever seen. Pale in colour, but soft to the touch.

I plucked one of the small flowers, spinning it between my fingers with a hum. Strange, the flower looked like large buttercups, but the scent was more similar to lotus flowers.

"What an odd dream..." I murmured as I stood and took a look around. Nothing was near me, in fact all I could see was an endless sea of flowers. The breeze that blew by was warm and carried the scent of heady lotus. I took a deep breath and closed my eyes, savouring the somewhat fruity scent. Playing with a petal on the flower I began to pull it off in thought.

'He loves me...he loves me not.' I smiled as I sang to myself in my head.

After only a few minutes I heaved a sigh and opened my eyes. Picking a direction, I hoped to come across something, or someone, in my dream. I couldn't even lucid dream tonight, every time I tried, nothing would happen. It was...strange to say the least. I clicked my tongue ring against the top two teeth in my mouth as I took everything in; a habit that no doubt upset my dentist.

"Hello Mira, I've been trying to get in contact with you for awhile." A deep voice spoke from behind me.

Whipping around startled, I saw a tall man standing just behind me, angled face with brown facial hair. His head was shaved, showing off a large ice blue arrow tattoo. He was tall, towering above me, but his eyes were warm and kind. I wasn't as afraid as I should have been. In fact, I was merely...surprised. Weird.

"What the fuck?" I spluttered as I took a step back, my fight or flight starting to kick in.

"Ha, you remind me of Korra," The man smirked as he took a step forward. "Please don't be frightened. It's been a long time since anyone has been in contact with the current Avatar. I understand that you probably have questions"

"What the hell is an Avatar? And who the hell are you? Also, who raised you? Usually someone introduces themselves before going into such a heavy conversation." I pursed my lips and glowered at the man.

"Ah, well...you see, the thing is..." He cleared his throat with a small cough into his hand and stood a little straighter. "This is harder than I thought it would be, I apologize if I act too familiar with you it's just—I suppose the easiest thing to tell you is that your assumptions about bending are correct, unlike your friend Naia."

"Wait, which assumptions?" I wrinkled my nose in confusion.

"That bending exists, that not everyone can bend, and that you are all missing important information that allows those who can bend, to bend. First wrong assumption was that everyone could bend, the next one was that people could bend every element, that's not true. You see people who were benders could only bend one element, except for one bender. That bender was called the Avatar and they alone kept the balance between the elements, as well as the spirits and the realm they come from. And that job? That job now belongs to you"

I stared at him with my mouth completely agape, confused as to why the fuck he was here dressed like some kind of monk.

"Oh, and my name's Aang, I was one of the previous avatars thousands of years ago before...well that's a story for another time. The reason I am here is because you are the current Avatar of this time." He stroked his chin and beard as he provided the afterthought.

I stared a bit more, before I burst out laughing.

"Oh my god, I must be on one hell of a trip." I clutched at my stomach as I stared at his pout.

"I'm not lying..." Aang's face fell looking as if I had kicked him.

"Look, this is a dream, why on earth would I believe anything that happens in it?" I raised an eyebrow, trying to figure out why I was arguing with myself.

"Well, you're the Avatar, spirits can communicate with you, and sometimes dreams can be prophetic, it's important to be in tune with—" Aang attempted to explain.

"I once dreamed a peanut butter and banana sandwich was trying to eat me, I really don't think you can blame me for not taking every dream seriously." I scoffed crossing my arms.

"Well, I suppose not..." Aang lowered his hands and just stared at me for a moment, almost sadly.

"I'm sorry for what is about to happen next, and I promise I will do everything I can to assist you." He spoke as the dream began to fade.

"Um, excuse me what? You can't just LEAVE and not tell me what you mean!"

But I was too late and the next thing I knew I was bolting up in bed to my alarm. My pill bottles staring at me as a reminder. Heaving a heavy sigh I grabbed them and my bottle of water, getting ready for the day.

~Break~

"All right! Now strike! Other side parry! Reset back to Porto di Ferro!" The instructor blared as I reset my sword.

I felt my muscles ache with a small burn. After two hours I was starting to become fatigued. I really wished I had time to up my stamina, trying for my next level was going to take forever at this rate.

Stupid school, even though it had been my choice to go.

"Once more, then we'll be done for today!" They shouted, walking past me.

As the thrust came, I did a triangle side-step, then extended to a thrust, striking my opponent in the face. I hit my opponents face, before dropping my hand and shaking my partners hard.

"Good job everyone!"

We finished our cool down stretching, and saluted out. I ran upstairs to grab a shower having been here most of the evening practicing my sword play, starting the day with Rapier and ending with Longsword. It was unfortunate that the archery range was only open on weekends, or I'd have been in even earlier since my only class that day was a morning one.

I enjoyed my swordplay, it was a way to help manage my mental health and disability. My doctor said the physical exertion helped calm my mind, whatever that meant.

With a sigh I took a glance at my phone and saw it was near 9:30 p.m. I quickly jumped into the shower, cleaned up, dried off and got dressed. Stuffing my leggings and sundress into my backpack deciding it was a touch too cold to change back into my street clothes. I bid everyone goodbye, and left into the cold night air, the street eerily bare.

I was walking towards the subway when I was grabbed from behind, a pinch, and someone slipping their hand over my mouth as everything went black. The last thing I remembered hearing was...

"We got her."

~Break~

I awoke groggily at first, my mind and body tingling as whatever drug they used on me wore off. Through bleary eyes I noticed I was elevated up a bit, strapped into some kind of machine. Strands of my caramel coloured hair stuck to my lips painfully from where they had dried into my chapped lips.

"What the..." I began as I heard someone hiss my name.

"Mira, stop! Don't let them know you are awake just yet. This is where things go from bad to worse, and for that I am so sorry." Aang spoke causing me to bite my tongue to hold back a scream.

"You're real ?" I hissed, mouth hanging open.

"Yes, I am, and you are still the Avatar. What they are about to do is going to hurt, a lot, or so you told me anyway." His musings were really beginning to get on my nerves.

"What is going to happen to me?" I asked, eyes started to sting with tears. I was becoming really scared as my situation began to sink in.

"I'm sorry, we don't have time; they're here." Aang spoke, eyes steeled towards the door as several young men and women shuffled into the room.

"We have finally found the Avatar sir, all the tests concluded she's the right one. We can start the machine at your ready." A woman in a white coat spoke to a man who seemed to be leading the rest, save for a young guy standing off to the side of the woman.

He was tall, taller than the man speaking to the woman. His hair was cut short and clean, the colour of dusty sand. His arms were crossed, his glove covered hands clenching his biceps in excitement. He was dressed in all black, a combo of cargo pants and a turtleneck sweater. His blue eyes were watching me intently, filled with excitement.

"I see. Excellent. Is everyone ready and prepared to go?" The man spoke as he locked eyes with me.

Ice met lapis and I had to fight not to shut my eyes.

"Yes, project Perfect Storm is a go." The woman spoke. The man nodded off to the woman standing at his right, who left without a word. He stared up at me, an evil grin spreading across his lips.

"With our technology, and their bending, we will be unstoppable." The wicked man laughed, his eyes moving slowly up my form before locking with mine once more.

"Please..." I begged.

The man tilted his head in wonder. His eyes opening wide as he seemed to suck in an excited breath. I had a feeling I didn't want to know what he was thinking in that moment. I could feel my anxiety rising into my throat now, the constriction of my chest a tell-tale sign I was on my way to a panic attack.

"I'm sorry sweetheart, luck of the draw." He adjusted the fit of his dark leather gloves and sent me a wink.

He turned to step away and I felt my entire world began to crumble; there was no escaping this. Was I going to die? The panic shot through me and I began to struggle against my binds, tears slipping down my face.

"We don't have much time. Listen closely, or everything ends right here. They are about to use the Avatar State to power their machine. Their goal is to go back to my time, back when the world was torn apart by war, master whatever bending they can, use their advanced weapons, and take over the world when it was weakest and without a full-fledged Avatar. I need you there to warn me, to help me stop them, or everything is over. All benders will become enslaved and the world will become a horrifying dystopia for benders and non-benders alike. Their leader, Sader, is a monster, a true psychopath."

"How do you know?" I asked, my eyes linking with his as I gave up my struggle.

"Sometimes the spirits can show us glimpses of the future, sometimes they give us warnings. Usually the previous Avatar guides the new one, but not always. In this case, there hasn't been an active Avatar in a thousand years or so, so it had to fall to an even further back Avatar. Which complicated things because I needed it to be me. I know what is going to happen next for you, and through you, I need you to guide my younger self. I wish I had the time to explain everything properly, but I don't. I'm sorry, but I'm going to be asking for your blind trust and not much else." He turned to me now, very serious.

"That's a tall order." I swallowed, my nose beginning to run from my pouring tears. I was doing my best to pay attention to him and not the strange woman checking the IV in my arm.

"I know, and I'm sorry. Before they activate their machine they are going to use a different one to intravenously administer a drug to force you into Avatar State, that is why you are hooked into an IV. The right cocktail of drugs will be pushed into you, causing your body to shut down and enter that state. Then, they are going to siphon that power, drawing the energy from the spirit world and previous Avatars, to power their time machine, allowing them, and the machine, to combine helium with hydrogen efficiently." He was speaking clinically and I gave him a funny look.

"So they can access the potentially infinite energy within? That's virtually nuclear fusion...no one has ever successfully made a reactor that can do it yet. I mean, there are whispers of scientists who think they might have, but that's it. Wait...how do you know all of this?" I gave him a funny look, his clothing was obvious from a time long before nuclear fusion .

"I don't, you told me to tell you exactly that. They won't need a reactor because they have you." He spoke as I noticed a machine starting to pump drugs into my IV. "Now listen, this is the important part. Once you enter that state, you will have access to all of the previous knowledge and power of the Avatars, allow us to guide and help you. What you need to do is focus on finding me, focus on a large iceberg within the frozen waters of the South Pole. You will be partially within the spirit world when this occurs, as the machine relies on it to be able to travel between times.

"Time doesn't really exist in the spirit world, so you will be able to manipulate a little bit and pull your spirit there. Once you have left your body, I will be able to guide your spirit to the right time. Once you get there, you won't have a body. That is where the time machine comes in. They will end up in the South Pole as well, and your body will be left frozen and almost dead where they land. You need to get to your body as quickly as possible, and enter it."

I wanted to ask more questions, but the cocktail had already hit me and I felt nothing but blind pain, fury, and fear. My body lit up, ablaze, and I felt my booming voice echoed out of my control.

What was it Aang told me again?

The pain came fast, hot and electric, going straight through my core and down to my toes. I saw the man from before staring at me, his twisted grin splayed across his face like a macabre mask. All I could think about was how blue his eyes were. I wondered if they were as cold as I felt.

"Your sacrifice will never be forgotten." He spoke, his voice slithering up my spine.

I screamed, a myriad of voices echoing through my skull as I tried to grasp onto anything.

But the only thought that seemed to take root was that I was dying. I was never going to see my friends or family again, I was never going to graduate. I saw flashes, brief glimpses of my childhood and beyond. I could see my parents smiling faces, the feel the sand between my toes at my favourite beach. It was all encompassing. The good, the bad, the things better left forgotten. They came unbidden, searing through my mind like the agony I was feeling.

I couldn't feel the tears or hear my screams anymore. The only thing that let me know I was still alive was the heaving of my chest, gasping through cries to catch a breath. What was it I was supposed to remember again?

What was it Aang said?

'Focus...'

So I did. I focused on him, an iceberg, and the South Pole. I thought hard about the sound of crunching snow, waves hitting ice, and the sight of my hot breath in winter. My head felt like it was splitting and I could smell my skin burning. The screaming didn't stop, but I wasn't sure if it was coming from me anymore. My throat felt raw and torn, the copper taste of blood already littering my tongue.

Everything lifted off as I saw an army of soldiers and scientists march towards an archway.

There wasn't a thing I could do except jump.

So I did.

~Break~

I awoke in the same field of yellow flowers, finding Aang smiling down at me proudly. The scent from my dream bombarding me as the breeze tickled my hair.

"Good job." He spoke, holding out a hand.

I reached out and allowed him to heave me to my feet, his hands coming down on my shoulders. He squeezed gentle before letting me go, his hands lingering as he gave me a soft, sad, smile

"Thanks." I smiled, returning his.

"Follow me and I will let you know a few things." He spoke as he turned and motioned for me to follow.

"Mmkays, shoot." I spoke as I followed after him, noticing I was still in my work out clothing, a pair of workout tights and my black swordplay school shirt, huh. At least they were comfy, but wasn't I about to head into snowy terrain?

"In my time there is a war, one I wasn't prepared for or aware of. It had been raging for one hundred years. Before the war started, I was only twelve and had run away from my home with the Air Nomads, and ended up frozen in the South Pole. It was around that time my people were attacked, and slaughtered by the Fire Nation who had wanted to control all the nations as superior.

"The war continued and they almost decimated the Water Tribe, the element the Avatar was meant to be born to next. They were afraid the Avatar would still be able to stop them, and had assumed I perished with my people at the Southern Air Temples. They were wrong, but it didn't stop the genocide at the Southern Water Tribe from happening all the same.

"When I eventually awoke, I had only mastered air. You are going to have much the same problem, but it's going to be a bit more complicated for you. You told me you assumed your born element was fire, as it was the first element you learned, in fact, it was the first element you bent on accident. You had the biggest ease learning it too. You will also have to hide that you are the Avatar, everyone will be focused on me so that shouldn't be too hard, but that means mastering the rest will have to come later. I promise I will be able to help with that when the time comes."

"Who teaches me fire?" I asked as I stared at him with worried eyes.

"You learned fire from someone else before we joined up. My physical self will not be able to assist you for a long time as we won't initially be traveling together. But I, as a spirit, will be with you the whole way."

"Are past Avatars usually this nosy?" I asked as I wrinkled my nose.

"No, but most Avatars by your age have already mastered all the elements. Unfortunately you are a bit of a special case, so I am here to guide you for the long haul." He grinned and I gave him a sceptical look.

"All the time? Even when I pee, or have sex? What about when I shower?" I asked, a mock scathing look plastered on my face.

"Wha-no! Not like! I just meant you can call on me whenever you need." Aang's face was cherry red and I laughed even harder.

"I know, I know, I'm just bugging you. Besides we are technically the same person, so I really don't think you're some sort of predatory creep." We suddenly stopped walking as Aang gave me a sad look.

"This is where our walk ends I'm afraid. It's going to be very cold, my suggestion is you are going to see a boat in the distance, as well as a flare, walk towards it." Aang said as he placed his hands behind his back.

I moved towards a small mirror and gave him a funny look,before I felt myself falling through the sky. I couldn't really feel the wind, but my belly was doing flops anyways. As I neared the ground, my descent slowed and I saw the machine I was strapped in being disassembled, as my cold, bluing body was tossed onto the ice and left like trash.

I floated towards it, watching the men as they quickly gathered the rest of their machine and started to hike off into the frozen unknown. I wasn't sure if they had a destination, but I still waited a good twenty minutes, too afraid to enter my body in fear they would come back and find me alive.

Once I was sure I moved towards my body and felt myself sucked in before I could ask myself how this would work. My eyes fluttered and my frozen limbs were burning cold. I shuddered, teeth chattering, and found I could barely move.

I sobbed once more, hating how sore and cold I felt, the pain reaching unbearable levels as I felt my toes starting to literally freeze off.

I didn't want to die, not like this, so I slowly got to my feet, moving in timid movements, trying to warm my aching muscles. I breathed into my hands and rubbed them against my bare arms, trying to focus on any bit of warmth to ignore the pain.

What about...the sun, a warm hot summer day in Hawaii. Yes, that sounded lovely.

I focused on the warm sun beating on my back, as the tepid waters licked at my toes. I felt it tingle up my spine, toasting me to the bone like a roaring fire.

My movements became less stiff and I began trudging forward, my arms shuddering, muscles straining, but moving faster nonetheless. I could feel the metal of my tongue ring burning against my sensitive skin. Ok, I needed to find the boat and fast...I turned my head around, trying to peer across the white expanse of land all around me finding myself incredibly alone.

Nothing but sparkling white met me, along with a thin blue skyline. I sighed out a steamy breath, the air fogging like smoke as I breathed out. What the hell was I supposed to do? Wait for a sign? I stared up into the sky debating if I should scream for Aang or something.

Suddenly, a shot of orange light went off before me, before slowly descending and lighting up what looked like the front of a boat.

"Oh thank god..." I cheered to myself. I started to sprint, desperate to reach the boat and whatever promised relief it held. My joints ached as they knocked against each other, my feet sloshing inside my boots from the snow, causing me to slip as I tore towards the boat.

'Just a little farther Mira, you can do it.' I chanted to myself as my lungs wheezed in the frigid arctic air.

~Break~

The boat was surprisingly farther away than I had thought, but I still desperately rushed towards it. I had begun to sweat from the exertion it took to jog through the knee high snow, cheering the fact I had switched out of my indoor trainers and into winter boots. But, then again, they didn't do much for the snow above the boot. My legs were still soaked, as were my feet from where snow has spilled in at the top. Wonderful.

Puffing out a hot breathe, I continued forward finally nearing the massive fucker. Closer to it now, I realized just fucking huge the damn ship was. I quickly entered and sat on the deck, trying to catch my breath.

Ok, now what?

"Now you wait. If you'd like, I could teach you how to meditate?" Aang asked with a grin.

"How will that help me not freeze to death?" I scoffed, irate from pain and temperature.

"You won't freeze to death, you've been using your breath of fire. You did it almost instantly, you told me once it was al-" Aang began to explain.

"Always something I've done, even as a kid I'd imagine I was somewhere warm, imagine a fire burning deep inside me whenever I was cold, and it always seemed to warm me up. Yeah." I spoke, feeling decently comfortable in the cold elements.

"Told you that you were a firebender." Aang laughed as he sat beside me, crossing his legs.

"What happens next?" I asked as I copied him and crossed my legs.

"What happens next depends on you. I can't tell you everything that is going to happen, as it's possible it may not happen at all. Time is fragile and ever shifting. I can guide you, help you learn, and make sure you don't die, but I can't tell you what to do. What happens now is entirely up to you." He explained, his eyes closed by the time he was done.

I followed suit and let out a deep breath.

"How will I know I'm making the right decision? And why am I not more freaked out?" I asked as I felt myself feeling more grounded.

"You won't ever know if you're making the right decision. That's why being the Avatar is such a tough job. But, you aren't alone. You have the wisdom and guidance of everyone who has come before you. The reason you aren't more freaked out, is because you ARE the Avatar. You've fought many wars before." I heard him take a deep breath as well.

"Can you at least tell me how long I am going to be out here waiting?" I asked, steadying my breaths. "Aang?"

I opened my eyes to find him gone, the boat swaying slightly. I stood up and looked out into the ocean and focused on my breath of fire.

God damn it, I wish I knew what I was waiting for.

My anxiety started to increase once more and I had to wonder how fucked I wear now. All the worst case scenarios flitted through my brain as I took a deep breath.

"I am still in control, I can still do something...I just have to wait." I tried to talk myself down.

~Break~

I had looked around the ship a bit and had found a sword. At least I knew how to use that. It was a saber though, and I wasn't as fluent with them. But still, it was better that nothing, rusted as it was, and at least I had a comfortable amount of training.

I affixed it to my belt, moving towards the deck of the ship as I felt the waves grew more aggressive. A boat was fast approaching. It had soldiers running around on deck as a man was standing at the bow of the ship, glowering out towards the shore.

Well shit. Taking a step back I readied myself for the worst, as they pulled in close. Boards came down allowing him and a small army to cross over. The wood thudded against the rusted metal of the ship and I took a defensive step back.

I had no idea who these people were, for all I knew I had already fucked up.

"Who are you?" The boy before me growled.

His hair was tied tightly atop his head, and shaved everywhere except for a topknot extending out into a long ponytail. He had a massive burn scar spanning the side of his face over his eye and onto his ear. His eyes were a sharp almond shape in the most amazing amber colour I had ever seen; he reminded me of a wolf ready to strike.

The most interesting aspect about him was how he was dressed. Similar to the soldiers he donned red armor with gold trim, but unlike them his had a different cut to it with more intricate gold detail. His shoes curled upwards at the ends with matching golden trim. It reminded me of the ancient armor and clothing they found in East Asia during my time.

"Mira..." I answered, kind of bewildered.

"I'm looking for the Avatar. I saw a flare go off from this ship, and right before I saw strange lights in the sky—" He started to accuse.

"You sure it wasn't the northern lights?" I interrupted.

"We're in the south." He said sourly.

"Southern lights then." I responded lamely.

"The Avatar, should be a hundred year old airbender, have you seen him?" The boy drew in close and I took a step back, my hand going towards my sword.

His eyes flickered towards my hand and he shot me a warning glance. His eyes zeroing in on my movement and weapon with a keen awareness.

"I wouldn't if I were you."

"Then back off." I growled, my back leg positioning itself in the ready.

"I don't have time for this. Take her and throw her in the prison cells. We need to find the Avatar before he gets away."

To my credit, my Saber skill was pretty good if I do say so myself, but I wasn't really prepared for fists of actual fire.

My sword was out of my hands before I knew it, and I was muscled onto the ship kicking and shrieking.

~Break~

Picking at a loose thread in my shirt, I wondered if this was punishment for skipping that multiple opponents workshop.

Nah, who was I kidding? There was no way I stood a chance unless I had taken a 'How to fight a firebender' workshop instead.

So here I was, still lost, still alone, still warm, thank god, but now swordless.

Everything was NOT coming up Milhouse at all.

I was startled from my thoughts when a fat old man came sauntering down the steps, arms tucked into his sleeves as he smiled warmly at me. He had long grey hair, a long silver beard, and small kind eyes. He was smiling as he approached me, dressed in red robes and red outer armor with similar golden trim as the man before.

"I'm sorry about my nephew, he can be a little headstrong sometimes. I heard you had some skill with a saber? Is your family Fire Nation?" He asked as he approached the bars.

Ahh, they were related, that must be why they matched. I cleared my throat and tried to think of something to say, but all that came out was a jumbled response of information.

"I don't know, I have no idea what nation my parents were from." It wasn't technically a lie. I really didn't know what nation they were from, and my parents were most definitely not alive anymore.

Well, they weren't technically born yet, but that still counts as not being alive in my books.

"I am so sorry to hear that. My nephew just needs you to answer some questions, and then I am sure we can let you out at the nearest port -"

I snorted at his suggestion, like that would help me.

"I'm lost, and have literally nothing. I wouldn't make it far with what I've got." I spat out; I couldn't end up out in the snow again, and Aang said the boat would lead me to where I needed to be.

"My my, maybe you and my nephew share something in common," He laughed as he sat down. "My name is Iroh, I heard you said your name was Mira, is that correct?"

I couldn't tell the importance of bringing up his nephew so I curled up on myself eyeing him warily.

"Yeah, it is." I shrugged, pulling my arms tighter around myself.

"How did you survive out there in the cold? Considering what you are wearing, you should have frozen to death." Iroh stroked a hand through his beard.

"...cause of my breath of fire..." I shrugged like it was nothing. I had nothing else at this point, except establishing myself as a friend as opposed to foe.

"You're a firebender?" He asked in surprise.

"Yeah, not that I know how to actually firebend, that's the only thing I can really do." I shrugged, pulling on a loose thread now.

"I'm sorry to hear that. If you'd like we can drop you off at a Fire Nation colony so you can take a ship back home?" Iroh pressed further.

"I've never been to the Fire Nation, seriously, when I say I am lost, I mean I am LOST." I all but sprang up as the desperation began to seep in. My situation wasn't what I would call good.

"Hmm, your swordplay isn't terrible from what the soldiers have said, if you're ok with doing some of the busy work, like helping the cook, and committing to training your firebending and swordsmanship, then I wouldn't mind hiring you on. But, you are going to need to be honest with me." Iroh spoke firmly.

"I didn't see the Avatar, I saw the flare too and followed it. I didn't even know what to expect...I hoped to find people needing help, but it was empty. I figured if I waited, maybe someone else would have come to investigate the ship as well." I spoke, completely honest.

Huh, that must have been part of why Aang wanted me to make my own decisions instead of having him tell me what to do; I didn't have to lie to Iroh at all.

He smiled at me and clasped his hands in front of himself.

"Smart thing to do after finding yourself lost in the South Pole. Come, you must be hungry." Iroh opened the door to the cell I was in, and I stared at him.

"It wasn't even locked?!" I squeaked.

"I wanted to see what you would do." Iroh smiled, a twinkle in his eye, "Come, let's eat."

I followed him feeling suddenly very distrusting of the old man.

~End Chapter 1~