Dragon Avatar

by WolveHulk

AU: The world of Avatar but with the humans having tails like Saiyans. 100 years after being frozen in ice, 16-year-old Aang awakens to a world where the Fire Nation has nearly won the war and having a certain princess chasing him.

Hello, my dear friends and every fan of Avatar and Dragon ball out there. After seeing a great crossover years ago that's sadly no longer on the website where Aang acted more like Vegeta, and with how great my Dragon Ball Z and Legend of Korra stories have become, I've decided to make a crossover of both series. And, to not confuse any fans, planet Earth will be named planet Vegeta, but save for a few, there won't be any dragon ball characters in the story, humans will have Saiyan tails, but with the 4 nations having different views about keeping and getting rid of them due to having evolved that way.

Also, the ki blasts will be called Energybending, but 2 certain energy blasts will be used by a certain princess and Air Nomad and the Air Nomad will have the personality of a certain prince from a certain other universe, meaning he'll be prideful, arrogant and egotistical and will treat only certain people with respect when they earn it but people who annoy him and are a bit too soft for their own good as bleeding heart weaklings won't be so lucky, while forming a rivalry with a certain Fire Nation princess but their relationship will evolve as the story goes on.

Anyway, I hope every fan of Avatar and Dragon Ball Z will enjoy this crossover and the many twists and turns there'll be. And without any further announcements, let's get on with the story!

Ch. 1: Beginnings of Hope and a Rivalry

"Water. Earth. Fire. Air. My mother used to tell me stories about the old days: a time of peace when the Avatar kept balance between the Water Tribes, Earth Kingdom, Fire Nation and Air Nomads. But that all changed when the Fire Nation, my nation, attacked. Only the Avatar mastered all four elements; only he could stop the war. But when the world needed him most, he vanished. A hundred years have passed, and the Fire Nation is nearing victory in the war. But…this isn't where my part in the story begins, it begins during my uncle and cousin's campaign against the Earth kingdom. My name is Princess Azula, and this is how my path was started."

In the garden of the Fire Nation Palace

The young princess Azula and her 2 best friends, Ty Lee and Mai, were playing together in the royal yard by a man-made river and a rather large fountain. While Mai sat and watched under the shade of a tree, Azula tried a complicated flip but messed up the ending due to her tail getting in the way. "Shoot. My tail keeps getting in the way."

Ty Lee did the same flip, only she completed the ending perfectly, even with her tail, and landed on her feet, arms proudly up in the air. "Wow, I did it!"

"How come I can't do it, and you can, Ty, even with your tail?" Azula asked with just a bit of annoyance.

"Well, it just takes practice. Hmmm…maybe I could show you how to do it right since we've still got plenty of time." Ty Lee offered.

"Well, I wanna play something else, but I'll take you up on that." Azula said with a smile, accepting her friend's offer.

Mai looked at Ty Lee for a few seconds and smiled as she looked away while blushing while her tail rubbed her face to try to hide it. 'She's so…beautiful. Especially when she does those athletic moves.'

Azula noticed that Mai obviously had a crush on Ty Lee just by seeing this display and thought of something that could confirm it. Something fun. She then addressed Mai. "Hey, girls, let's all play a different game together."

Mai looked at Azula. "What kind of game?" She asked while standing up.

"Well, it's called 'Save the princess' The 3 characters are obviously the princess, the knight, and the dragon."

"And you're the princess, right Azula? Cause you're a princess?" Ty Lee asked with eagerness.

Azula shook her head. "No, I'm not the princess. Not in the game at least." Before looking at Mai. "You are, Mai."

"Me? Why me?" Mai asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Well, I figure you could be the princess, I could be the dragon, and Ty Lee could be the knight. Just to mix things up a bit." Azula answered.

Mai seemed to accept that. "Fair enough."

"Now, here's the way it goes: Mai, you're the princess, so you stand right here, I leap from the bushes there and 'capture' you. And then, Ty Lee'll jump from behind that tree right there, fight me off and then save you." Azula instructed, telling them how her game would work.

"Good idea." Ty Lee said with a smile.

"Sounds good." Mai added.

"Awesome. Okay, the game starts…now!" Azula said before running into the bushes, while Ty Lee hid behind the tree and Mai stood in front of the fountain.

And in 20 seconds, the game started as Azula jumped from the bushes. "RAAAAHHHH!"

Mai pretended to scream. "Ahhhh! A fire breathing dragon!" She said before Azula scooped Mai up in a fake capture.

But suddenly, Ty Lee jumped from the tree branch and said with bravery. "Don't worry, little princess. The knight in armor is here to save you!" Before she ran to Azula and the princess put her down and prepared to pretend to fight, but Ty Lee's tail tripped her, causing the 3 girls to fall into the fountain, getting soaking wet!

"Oh, man, we're soaked!" Mai complained.

"Sorry, guys, I didn't mean to do that." Ty Lee apologized.

"That's okay." Azula said before helping her friends up. "Come on, let's get cleaned up in the palace bathroom." Before she led them inside the palace.

Later, in the bathroom

After the servants had bathed the 3 girls, they left them alone to soak for a while to talk amongst themselves, with Ty Lee going 1st. "You know, Azula, perhaps your acrobatic skills will improve after your tail's removed when you turn 12."

But strangely, that made Azula a bit scared and sad as her tail rubbed against the water. "I…I don't want my tail to be removed."

That surprised both Ty Lee and Mai and the normally quiet girl asked with curiosity. "Why wouldn't you want your tail removed, Azula? All the big girls in the Royal Family had their tails being removed. 'A sign of strength', everyone always says."

Azula then explained why. "I don't know. I've just…never believed in that tradition. I've always thought it's outdated and disgusting. I even heard that there were a lot of firebenders in the Fire Nation's history that were perhaps even more powerful than the Fire Lord because they all had their tails. I… somehow feel that…someone removing their tails actually makes him or her weaker."

Mai and Ty Lee were very surprised at hearing that, especially from their princess and best friend. "Azula, where did you hear something like that?" Mai asked.

Azula then quietly told her friends. "I read about it…in a book in the restricted section of the Royal Library, that the Air Nomads found evidence that a person's tail is actually their source of strength, which is why they were the only nation that outlawed removing people's tails as they saw it as a crime against nature itself."

Mai and Ty Lee are fascinated by hearing that. "Wooooow." They both said.

"They actually found evidence of that? How?" Ty Lee asked with curiosity.

"Well…truth is I don't know how or where, or what it was. The details are lost to time now since they were all wiped out." Azula answered truthfully before vowing to herself with determination. "But I assure you guys this, if anybody ever tries to remove my tail, I'm gonna fight to the bitter end to keep it."

Mai and Ty Lee then supported their best friend. "Well, if you wanna keep your tail and fight to keep it. I'll support you all the way, Azula." Ty Lee said while waving her tail around.

"And so will I." Mai added while her tail waved around too, encouraging Azula to keep her tail.

Then, Azula also stated, forming a mischievous smirk. "Besides, I can also have more fun with my tail." And then used her tail to splash Mai and Ty Lee with water, which resulted in lots of water splashing. And it was long before the 3 girls used their tails to splash each other playfully, having great fun and laughing. After they rested, Azula thought of something. "You know, we never did finish our game. I mean, Ty rescued her princess from the dragon, now…the princess needs to… kiss her savior."

Both Mai and Ty Lee blushed red when they heard that before they both looked at each other and smiled a bit…before slowly leaning in and their lips touched only for 10 seconds before they quickly pulled away while blushing redder. "Eeewww…" They said together while covering their mouths.

"Hahahahahaha. Hahahahahaha. Oh, that was priceless." Azula said while laughing.

That was when a lot of very cold water was poured on them, making them scream out. "AAAAAHHHH!"

And a male voice laughed hilariously. "Hahahahaha! Hahahahaha! Hahahahaha! Aw, look at the trio of little girls screaming like babies." A male voice spoke teasingly.

Azula, shivering as she covered herself with her arms and tail, looked to her right and saw her older brother Zuko, making her and her friends a bit angered. "Oh, Zuko, you freak!" Azula spoke for all of them.

"Get outta here, Zuko!" Ty Lee told him. "You're not supposed to be in here anyway!"

"I'm not in here." Zuko said sarcastically.

Then all 3 of them stood up and told him. "Get out of here, NOW!"

"Zuko!" A much older female voice called out before Zuko turned around and saw Ursa, the Fire Lady and his and Azula's mother with a scroll in her hand. "Get out of this bathroom and stop teasing your sister!"

Zuko, not wanting to get into any trouble, quickly hurried out of the room. "Sorry!"

Ursa then turned to the girls and smiled. "I'm sorry that happened, dears."

"That's okay, Mom." Azula said with a smile, as her mother had always been loving to both her children and wanting to be a good mother that loved her children equally and did not favor 1 of them. "I know how Zuko loves to prank and tease me a lot."

"Yes. Anyway, I was just coming to get you. Uncle Iroh sent us a letter from the war-front." Ursa said, making Azula smile in happiness. "I don't want to interrupt your playtime with your friends, sweetheart, but it could be important and there's a surprise for you and your brother."

Later, in the living hall

Ursa read the letter that Iroh had sent. "If the city is as magnificent as its wall, Ba Sing Se must be something to behold. I hope you all may see it someday, if we don't burn it to the ground first!"

Both Zuko and Azula laughed at the joke their uncle made. "Hahahahaha."

Ursa continued reading. "Until then, enjoy these gifts." And the children excitedly ran to 2 white robed servants that had their gifts. "For Zuko, a pearl dagger from the general who surrendered when we broke through the Outer Wall. Note the inscription and the superior craftsmanship."

Zuko picked up the dagger admiringly, unsheathed it and read the inscription. "Never give up without a fight."

"And for Azula, a new friend. She wears the latest fashion for Earth Kingdom girls." Ursa continued as Azula picked up her present, which was a doll wearing a green dress.

Azula, despite being a bit weirded out, as unlike typical girls, she wasn't into the usual stuff girls played with but did appreciate the gift, as her mother always taught her that it was the thought that counted when it came to receiving gifts. "Well, not my style normally, but I do appreciate the thought." Before a servant showed her something else.

"But also, as an extra gift for Azula, a gauntlet with 2 very sharp wrist blades attached from a skilled and exceptional Commander who surrendered his weapon in exchange for his, his men's and his family's freedom, which we granted him. Note the inscriptions on the blades and the superior craftsmanship." Ursa continued with a smile as she looked at Azula.

Azula put the gauntlet on and once she closed her fist, 2 very sharp and very thick blades retracted out and Azula read the inscriptions on them. "Embrace every part of yourself. Keep getting stronger. Wow. These are very wise words, don't you think, Zuko?"

"They are. But those blades. Spirits, they're a work of art." Zuko said, admiring the blades himself. "You think they might be able to withstand extreme heat?"

"I doubt it, but you never know." Azula shrugged. "But I do like the doll a bit too." She said as she rubbed the doll on her cheek.

But then, Zuko asked. "If Uncle doesn't make it back from war, then Dad will be next in line for Fire Lord, won't he?"

But Ursa was appalled by that. "Zuko, we don't speak that way about family, you know that. It would be awful if Uncle Iroh didn't return. And besides, Fire Lord Azulon is a picture of health."

"Yeah, you remember what Mom always tells us: family is all we have, whether it be the people who share our blood and even those that don't." Azula reminded her brother.

"I still think our dad would make a much better Fire Lord than His Royal Tea-Loving Kookiness." Zuko said, giving his opinion while looking at his dagger. "But…I do really admire his gift, though."

Sometime later

As Zuko and Azula were happily playing together, Ursa sat in front of the fountain when a messenger in white approached her with a scroll. She took and opened it before reading it and when she did, she stood up and cried before turning to her dear children. "Zuko. Azula." She called out, making them stop before she reluctantly gave them the horrible news. "Lu Ten has lost his father. Your Uncle Iroh did not survive the battle."

This made both siblings gasp, as their only uncle was now forever gone. And the last things they had to remember him by were the gifts he'd sent them. "No. No." Azula cried.

Ursa knelt down and hugged her children close to her. "Shhh…it's alright, sweetheart. It's alright. I'm here. I'm here."

Sometime later

Zuko was playing with his dagger from Iroh, faking and playing to his death, dramatically falling to the floor with a groan while Azula sat cross-legged behind him, looking at her blades. When Zuko noticed it, he got up and spoke to her. "I seriously doubt you sitting staring at those blades is gonna do anything to bring uncle Iroh back."

"Nothing can ever bring uncle Iroh back, Zuko! Not us, not our gifts, not even the spirits can bring him back." Azula countered while agreeing with him.

"By the way, our cousin's coming home."

"I heard about that, too. And I already know why."

"Yeah, it means cousin Lu Ten is a quitter and a loser." Zuko said with disgust that his cousin was coming home instead of continuing the campaign against the Earth Kingdom.

"That's not what I meant, Zuko! Our cousin's not a loser!" Azula said, defending her cousin.

"Oh yes he is! He found out his father died and he just fell apart! A real Commander would stay and burn Ba Sing Se to the ground, not lose the battle and come home crying."

"You can't possibly know what he's going through right now, Zuko! Uncle Iroh wasn't just his general, he was his Dad! And now he's gone…forever. He probably didn't want to lose any more men to this war because he knew that they have families, wives, sons and daughters waiting for them and decided that he wasn't going to be responsible for turning them into orphans and widows. And personally, I think he made the right choice."

At that moment, Ursa appeared in the doorway. "Your father has requested an audience with Fire Lord Azulon. Best clothes, hurry up!"

Zuko ran past Ursa quickly to get ready, while Azula walked rather slowly. "Mom, do you think that…cousin Lu Ten made the right choice? Not just for his men, but for the Earth Kingdom, too?"

Ursa knelt down and hugged Azula. "Under the circumstances, sweetheart, yes, he did."

A bit later

In the Fire Lord's chamber, a large room with many columns and a wall of fire in front of the Fire Lord's throne. The younger prince Ozai, Ursa, Zuko, and Azula were all sitting on the floor some distance back from Fire Lord Azulon. "And how was it Great-Grandfather Sozin managed to win the Battle of Han Tui?" Ozai asked his children.

Azula wanted to answer, but looked at Zuko. "Zuko, why don't you answer?"

Zuko smiled before doing just that. "Because even though his army was outnumbered, he cleverly calculated his advantages. The enemy was downwind and there was a drought. Their defenses burned to a crisp in minutes."

"Very good, my son. It's a shame that your sister could not answer for herself." Ozai said with an annoyed tone at Azula. "Zuko, would you show Grandfather the new moves you demonstrated to me?"

Zuko eagerly stood up and moved forward, beginning with some circular motions, warming himself up, and firebended. Ozai smiled as Zuko did many fairly complicated moves with ease, and Azula watched her brother in amazement before he finished off his routine with a jump and a powerful fire blast toward the throne, before landing on his feet gracefully.

"He's a true prodigy! Just like his grandfather." Ozai said proudly. "And once he comes of age, and his tail is removed, he'll be even stronger."

Zuko bowed before sitting back down beside Azula. "You're never gonna catch up with me, Azula." He whispered teasingly.

Azula stood up with determination. "I'd like to demonstrate what I've been learning."

Ozai frowned at this news, as he'd always despised his daughter for her weakness and impurity because of her tail.

Azula began and started off well, doing the same circular motions as Zuko earlier. She managed to produce a small fire blast, which did not impress Fire Lord Azulon. When she tried to create another one, this time with her tail, she fell. But she got back up, panting heavily, and tried again, only to fall harder before Ursa got up worriedly and approached Azula to comfort her.

"I'm sorry. I failed." Azula said sadly.

But Ursa assured her daughter. "No. I loved watching you. That's who you are, Azula. Someone who keeps fighting even though it's hard. And you even tried creating a blast with your tail, which is very impressive to me, as you used every part of yourself."

But Azulon was impatient. "Prince Ozai, why are you wasting my time with this pomp? Just tell me what you want. Everyone else, go!"

Ursa, Zuko and Azula started walking out of the throne room; however, Zuko pulled Azula off to the side just before they exited and the children hid in the curtains at the back of the room.

"Zuko, what are you…"

"Shh. Something tells me we need to hear this." Zuko said with worry.

Azula and Zuko stopped where the curtains opened and peeked back out at the throne room, exposing only their faces as Ozai spoke his desire. "Father, you must have realized as I have, that Iroh is gone. After his father's death, my nephew abandoned the siege at Ba Sing Se instead of staying to fight and avenge his death, and who knows when he will return home. But I am here, Father, and my children are alive."

"Say what it is you want!" Azulon told him.

"Father, revoke Lu Ten's birthright. He is weak. And you know that in this war, there is no place for weakness, especially in the royal family. I am your humble servant, here to serve you and our nation. Use me." Ozai answered, revealing his desire for the throne for himself.

But Azulon got angry at hearing that. "You dare suggest I betray Lu Ten? My first born grandson? Directly after the demise of my 1st born son Iroh?! The only living parent Lu Ten had left?! I think Ku Ten has suffered enough! But you ... your punishment has scarcely begun!"

Azulon's anger caused the flames around him to grow, while Azula, scared, ran away from behind the curtain as Zuko watched, but he stayed and continued watching with a very worried and concerned look on his face.

A bit later, in Azula's room

The princess was talking with her mother, wanting to be in her company after what happened. "I can't believe I messed up! I'm supposed to be the princess and yet I Firebend like a common street child!"

But Ursa assured her sweet daughter. "Sweetie, you're not weak, you're 1 of the strongest children I know, and because you're my daughter, it makes me even more proud of you. And the way you embrace every part of yourself, even your tail, makes you even stronger."

"But…how do you know, Mom? You got rid of your tail years ago." Azula said with confusion.

Auras, after checking to make sure no 1 was around, smiled at Azula and lifted her robes to reveal that she still had her tail, which she unwrapped from around her waist. "I'm afraid that nobody knows that I never got rid of my tail."

Azula was very surprised that her mother still had her tail, but kept it hidden. "Mom. Why? Why didn't you get rid of your tail when you know what the Royal decree demands of us?"

"Because…like the Air Nomads, I, too, believe that all benders are even more powerful because they all have their tails. And like them, I believe that to get rid of it, is an offense to nature, as our tails are a part of us." Ursa said before wrapping her tail around her waist and letting her robes down. "You know, Azula, you remind me of an old legend among Firebenders."

"What legend?" Azula asked with confusion.

Ursa took Azula in her arms and explained this legend to her daughter that would define her for the rest of her life. "Years ago, there was a brave young female warrior from an island not far from the homeland, who was considered weak among the other firebenders, but with her determination and her willingness to protect the people she loved, like yours, she became 1 of the most powerful firebender to ever live. Not because she was the most powerful, but because she was able to create blue Firebending. And an energybending attack she called…the Galick Gun."

That story about the powerful female blue-firebender amazed Azula, and even inspired her, as now, she wanted to create that same fire, to keep her legacy alive and to defend those she loved from anything…and anyone. "Then…I'll work really hard to recreate her blue fire and her Galick Gun, and I'll use them both to protect everyone I care about."

Ursa tickled Azula proudly. "I bet you will, sweetheart."

"Hahahahaha." Azula laughed in joy.

But that joy was interrupted when Zuko burst into the room. "Azula! Azula!"

"Zuko. What is it?" Ursa asked with concern.

Zuko didn't expect to see Ursa in the room, but decided that this was best. "Mom. Dad's going to kill Azula!"

But Azula didn't believe that, due to Zuko teasing her all the time and thinking that this was another chance for him to do it. "Ha-Ha, Zuko, very funny."

"I'm not teasing you, Azula, not this time! He's really gonna do it! I heard everything. Grandfather said Dad's punishment should fit his crime. He said that he must know the pain of losing a loved 1. By sacrificing 1 of your own. And with how much he dislikes you, Azula, there's no doubt that he's thinking about doing it to you. Azula, I'm not teasing or pranking you, I'm serious this time."

Ursa, believing Zuko, told Azula. "Azula, wait here, sweetheart." Before taking Zuko by the hand. "Zuko, come with me, we have to talk." Then they left the room, leaving Azula behind, who was beginning to think that Zuko was right.

Later, that same night

Azula was sleeping when a hand gently touched her shoulder and she awakened drowsily to see her mother dressed in a cloak. "Mom…?"

"Azula, please, my love, listen to me. I've told this to your brother, and now I'll tell you: Everything I've done, I've done to protect you both." Then she pulled the barely conscious Azula into a hug. "Remember this, Azula: No matter how things may seem to change, never forget who you are. And no matter what happens, always remember that… I love you more than anything in the world." Then she laid her down gently and stood up while pulling her hood over her head. "Goodbye… my brave little firebender…" Before sadly leaving for the final time.

Later

It was early morning and Azula was still in her bed in her room before she awoke startled, remembering what happened. "Mom?" Before she leapt out of bed and ran out of her room down the hallway, calling out. "Mom? Mom!" Then she entered a pillared room, where Zuko was looking at the inscriptions on his dagger before re-sheathing it and facing Azula. "Where's Mom, Zuko? Where is she?!"

Zuko put his hands on his sister's shoulders and looked at her sadly. "She's…gone, Azula. She…told me that…me and you…have to take care of each other."

Azula looked into her brother's eyes and saw only truth and sadness in them before she began crying and embracing Zuko in a sad hug, knowing that they only had each other now that Ursa was gone.

Sometime later

Row upon row of people were standing on the palace grounds, wearing red hooded cloaks and carrying long, red, rectangular flags. And at the top of the steps to the palace, a Fire Sage leader dressed in red, with several other Fire Sages in white behind him, stood behind an elaborate coffin while Zuko, Azula, and Ozai were standing to his right.

The Fire Sage leader spoke out. "Azulon. Fire Lord to our nation for twenty-three years. You were our fearless leader in the Battle of Garsai. Our matchless conqueror of the Hu Xin Provinces. You were father of Iroh, father of Ozai, husband of Ilah, now passed. Grandfather of Lu Ten, now passed. Grandfather of Zuko, and Azula. We lay you to rest." And with those words, two attendants in white firebended Azulon's coffin, which was on a layer of wood so it burned easily before the Fire Sage then held up the fire crown. "As was your dying wish, you are now succeeded by your second son." He said before he placed the fire crown in Ozai's top knot and stepped away. "Hail Fire Lord Ozai!"

The new Fire Lord Ozai stood up, and the group of mourners wearing red and holding flags all knelt down at once before their new king, as did the Fire Sages behind him and Zuko and Azula, who looked at the crowd with absolute fear in their eyes, but Zuko was more, as even though he got what he wanted, deep down, he regretted to have ever seen his father, his big example as a great man, only feel like he may be something else: a monster, maybe.

A few years later

As Ozai was Firelord, and Ursa was gone, he had manipulated Zuko and trained him to be loyal to the Fire Nation. And, being the firebending prodigy he was, he learned many Firebending techniques quickly and honed his skill to perfection and at a fast rate, while Azula, on the other hand, had to work even harder to get where she was now, still wanting to do what she vowed to her mother years ago.

But during her training, she failed multiple times, but always tried harder every time she did, though it did frustrate her every time. And during those years. She didn't have Mai, who had greatly despised her life in the Fire Nation, to the point that she would throw knives at her wall out of boredom, a habit that eventually allowed her to develop a skill in fighting with the weapons, which Azula noticed at the academy, had moved with her family to a major Earth Kingdom city, Omashu, and he was awarded governorship over the occupied settlement. And Ty Lee, who had run away to join the circus, much to Mai's sadness, as she'd hoped she'd go with her, to turn to.

But she did have her cousin Lu Ten, who loved both his cousins equally and was a calming influence on Azula during her training, which eventually helped her to make blue Firebending, which everyone found quite beautiful, except Ozai, as he felt Zuko should have been the 1 to create that color of fire. And Azula, under encouragement from Mai and Ty Lee before they left, as well as inspired by her mother, refused to remove her tail, while Zuko did, not wanting to make Ozai angry at him and to Azula's frustration, as she'd hoped he would follow her example, and as a result, their relationship began deteriorating. But it was when Azula had turned 14 and Zuko 16 that really created a rift between them.

Azula walked up to the curtains to get into the war room, but the guard on the left moved in front of the curtain to stop her. "Get out of my way and let me in!"

"Azula, what's wrong?" An older Lu Ten asked as he put his hand on his little cousin's shoulder.

"I want to go into the war chamber, but this fucking guard won't let me pass!" Azula answered as her tail banged on the floor.

Lu Ten tried to lead away with his left hand still on her shoulder. "You're not missing anything, trust me, cousin Azula. These meetings are dreadfully boring anyway from my experience."

Azula seemed to accept that but tried a different method as her tail waved around while pointing up. "I know they probably are, but I just wanna see how they work. Just this once. And once it's over, I'll not want to attend another 1 again. Promise."

Lu Ten accepted that and smiled. "Very well. But you must promise not to speak." He said as another elderly soldier walked by them into the war chamber. "These old folks are a bit sensitive, you know?"

"Hahaha. I'm sure they are." Azula laughed. And when they walked into the war room, the meeting started.

An elderly general named Bujing spoke to the others. "The Earth Kingdom defenses are concentrated here." And showed the place on the map. "A dangerous battalion of their strongest earthbenders and fiercest warriors. So I am recommending the 41st division."

"But the 41st is entirely new recruits. How do you expect them to defeat a powerful Earth Kingdom battalion?" Another elder general asked with some confusion.

"I don't. They'll be used as a distraction while we mount an attack from the rear. What better to use as bait than fresh meat?" Bujing countered smugly.

But Azula, despite Lu Ten whispering 'don't' to her, was infuriated so much that she banged her tail hard on the map and stood up in anger at that cowardly strategy. "FUCK THAT! You can't sacrifice an entire division of new recruits like that! Those young soldiers love and defend our nation! How the hell can you so easily betray them and not give a shit about their lives?!"

That made the entire room stare at Azula in surprise while Lu Ten was kneeling behind his youngest cousin. 'Azula, you don't know what you've done!'

Later, at the chamber of an Agni Kai

As Azula's outburst at the general was an act of complete disrespect and that there would be dire consequences, Azula misunderstood and said that she wasn't afraid to fight this general. So, when everything was prepared and Azula, ready to fight this heartless general, she stood up as the tippet that was on her shoulders fell down to the ground as she was in an outfit that covered her breasts and her tail was waving around in eagerness.

But when Zuko saw her opponent that stood a few feet away from her, she was horrified and surprised that it wasn't the general, but her own brother, Zuko. "Zuko? No! This isn't right! It was supposed to be me and that general, not you against me!"

"Azula…I don't have a choice. When you insulted that general, in our Firelord's war room, it was the Firelord who you really disrespected. But I want you to know that I didn't know. I swear that I didn't!" Zuko apologized as he got into a fighting stance. "But I have to do this…for the Fire nation…and my honor, and… so must you."

Ozai then spoke out from the left side of the ring. "Your brother has his loyalties, Azula, and has achieved strength that may 1 day rival even mine, especially when he finally did himself of that disgusting tail. And now, he will have the privilege…of making you rid yourself of your 2 great weaknesses: your compassion…and your tail." He said with an evil and smug smirk.

Azula, horrified beyond belief that their father would order them to do something like this, without a flicker of remorse, made her angry and she spoke defiantly. "No! No! Fuck this duel! FUCK YOU! I won't fight my brother! I WON'T! I was trying to save those recruits, you were trying to send them to their graves! You're not a Firelord, you're nothing but a FUCKING COWARD!"

Ozai got angry but kept calm and looked at Zuko. "Zuko, teach her a lesson she'll never, ever forget."

Zuko walked up to Azula as she pleaded with her brother. "Zuko! Don't do this! You know as well as I do that what that general proposed is an act of cowardice and would've sent those young recruits to their graves! That general is a coward, and so is this HEARTLESS BASTARD!"

"Azula, stop! You have to fight me…for your honor! Do it!" Zuko pleaded with his sister.

"No! I won't fight you for something I haven't lost! But if you try to lay a spark on my tail, I will hurt you!" Azula said while getting to her hands and knees as tears formed in her eyes.

But Ozai demanded. "Rise and fight, princess Azula!"

"NO! I TOLD YOU I WON'T FIGHT ZUKO FOR THE AMUSEMENT OF A COWARD! EVER!" Azula shouted defiantly.

But Ozai spoke his anger. "You will learn respect, you disrespectful and weak brat, and suffering will be your teacher." Then he looked at Zuko. "Zuko! Do it, NOW!"

But only Lu Ten, admiring Azula's bravery to actually stand up to Ozai, but couldn't do anything to help, only looked away as Zuko, very reluctantly prepared a fiery blast that he seemingly aimed at her face. "Azula…I'm so, so sorry." He said with a bit of sadness…before he fired his blast…right at Azula's tail, incinerating it as it slowly burned away to the bone!

"AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!" Azula screamed in agonizing pain as she felt her tail burn away. The pain was so great that it made her pass out from the shock while Zuko had grabbed the bone of his sister's tail and yanked it off hard.

A few weeks later

For Azula's 'disrespect' to Ozai, and for breaking the Fire Nation's royal family's sacred tradition of removing her tail, Azula was banished from her homeland, and would only be allowed to return, and regain her honor, if she fulfilled an impossible task: finding the Avatar and bringing him back to the Fire Nation alive, which she knew would be next to impossible, as he hadn't been seen in over a century.

But Lu Ten, who was inspired by Azula's bravery, decided to go with her to continue her training and keep her company. Zuko tried to say goodbye and apologize to Azula, only to be coldy rejected by an angered Azula, as she knew that his obsession with his 'honor and duty' to the Fire Nation was stronger than his love for his sister after everything that had happened when their mother left. And the fact that even if he apologized beforehand, the loss of her tail was unforgivable to her, and she punched him in the face before leaving, telling him that they were done.

But Azula had plans of her own: she would search for the Avatar, recruit him and any other strong Bender and Non-bender, water and Earth, and even some non-firebenders and firebenders out there for a stronger rebellion to end this senseless war once and for all before more innocent people and soldiers died to it while getting as strong as she possibly could.

Lu Ten admired that plan and vowed to help her however he could, even completing her training before anything else as her body adjusted to the loss of her tail, which they did weeks after Azula's banishment. "So, Azula, since you're planning on recruiting people for your search for the Avatar, who will it be?" Lu Ten asked curiously as they shared a meal together after completing her bending training.

Azula smiled, as she thought of only 2 individuals that came to mind. "My 2 old childhood friends." She answered, making Lu Ten smile, as he knew there were only 2 individuals that Azula would trust besides him who he was very fond of.

A few weeks later

Azula and Lu had managed to find the circus that Ty Lee was performing and lived with. And after a bit of searching, she had found her best friend. "Ty Lee, could that possibly be you?" She asked with a happy smile.

Ty Lee, standing on her index fingers, smiled when she saw Azula. "Azula!" Before she flipped from her stance and spinned around in a graceful twirl to bow down before Azula, then ran forward to embrace her. "It is so good to see you!"

Azula embraced Ty Lee and saw Lu here too. "Wow! Lu, you're here too!"

"Hello, Ty Lee, it is an honor to see you after so long." Lu said with a happy smile.

But then, Ty Lee gasped when she saw that Azula was missing something. "Azula! Your tail! What happened to your tail?"

Azula looked away, as she still didn't like remembering that day. "I…don't wanna talk about it, Ty." But returned to the matter at hand. "But…I'm here for an important proposition for you." Before she looked as 3 men were trying to move a platypus bear and the animal groaned and moved up to reveal that it had laid an egg. Azula looked at this in a bit of happiness but quickly turned her attention back to Ty Lee, grinning a little. "I've been searching for you for weeks to recruit you…for something I can't do alone and even with cousin Lu."

"And what's that?" Ty asked with a raised eyebrow.

"To find the Avatar." Azula answered. "I know what you're thinking and we know that he's…not been seen in a century, but we've always known that he's out there somewhere. And…I need you to…help me find him. I would be honored if you would join me on this."

"But…why?" Ty asked while holding Azula's hands.

"I want to get back what was taken from me. In all of history, only the Avatar has been able to regrow his or her tail." Azula answered, though not wanting to tell anyone about her main plan. "Please, Ty, I know you're happy here, and the last thing I want is to take you away from this…but…besides cousin Lu, there's no 1 else that I would trust with my life."

Ty saw the desperation in Azula's eyes, as well that there had been something broken about her that needed emotional healing and support. And despite the fact that she was happy, she knew that right now, the best place she could be is by Azula's side. And so, with a smile, she made her decision. "I'll come with you, Zu, and no matter what happens, we'll find the Avatar and you'll have your tail back."

Azula wiped away her tears and smiled, as did Lu. "We'd be honored to have you, Ty." He said.

"But 1st, let's catch your show, Ty." Azula said, needing a little break, as Lu taught her about taking a break every once in a while.

After Ty had put on a great show that Azula and Lu really enjoyed, they left the circus and boarded the ship Azula had taken after her banishment, and sailed away. "So, Azula, where's our 1st stop?"

Azula smiled. "Omashu. We're reuniting our trio."

Ty became nervous, as she knew what that meant and blushed. 'I can't believe that I'm…actually gonna see her again. I wonder if…she still has feelings for me?' She thought mentally.

Sometime later, at the governor's house in Omashu

Azula was walking up the stairs of the house and the lonely figure of Mai awaited the arrival of her 2 friends, making her blush when she saw Ty Lee for the 1st time in years.

They walked over to Mai and she asked in a bored tone. "Please tell me you're here to kill me." Before a smile appeared on her otherwise emotionless features and both girls started to laugh. "Hahahahaha."

Azula placed her hands on Mai's shoulders. "It's great to see you, Mai."

Ty Lee walked up to Mai and said with a blush. "Hey."

Mai blushed too. "Hi, Ty, it's…wonderful to see you again. But…I thought you ran off and joined the circus. You said it was your calling."

"Well…Azula called a little louder. And…I really missed you…so much." She explained with a blush as her tail rubbed her cheek.

Mai smiled and blushed redder as her tail did the same thing against Ty Lee's cheek. "I…missed you, too, Ty. I've…thought about you every day since I left." But then, she noticed that Azula's tail was gone. "Oh, my spirits! Azula, what happened to your tail?"

"I'll tell you later, Mai, I promise. But right now, I have a secret mission and cousin Lu and I need your help." Azula explained as she put her hand on her friends' shoulders.

Mai was eager to do that, as there was nothing but boredom for her around here. And if she could be with her friends again, especially Ty Lee, she'd definitely do it. "Count me in. Anything to get me out of this place." She accepted, making Azula smile before they left the city and went to the docks to board her restocked ship to search the world for the 1 hope that could end this insane and senseless war once and for all, as well as get Azula back what Ozai and Zuko had taken from her.

2 years later, at the South Pole

Sokka, a Watertribe teenage boy, and his younger sister, Katara, a teenage girl, were sitting in their small canoe as Sokka held a spear at the ready for a fish, while Katara simply stared into the water on the other side of the boat. "It's not getting away from me this time." He said with confidence because telling his sister. "Watch and learn, Katara. This is how you catch a fish."

Katara seemed indifferent to his claim and turned back to her side of the boat again before her expression changed to surprise as another fish quickly swam by her. She shot a quick glance toward her brother, removing the glove from her left hand before she stretched her arm out in the direction of the fish, taking a deep breath and concentrating hard. As Katara continued to move her hand, the water in front of her started to ripple and suddenly, a bubble of water rose up from the ocean containing the newly trapped fish.

Happily, she called out to her brother. "Sokka, look!"

But Sokka, only focusing on his fish, whispered. "Sshh! Katara, you're going to scare it away. Mmmm…I can already smell it cooking."

Struggling with the water that passes right in front of her, Katara called out again. "But, Sokka! I caught 1."

But the bubble containing her fish slowly drifted around her to hang over Sokka, who was still oblivious. As the bubble hovered over his head, Sokka raised his spear to strike the fish he was following, but burst the bubble of water with the blunt end of his weapon, causing Katara to lose control of the water before it rained down on him, soaking him.

"Hey!" Katara shouted.

As Sokka let out a gasp of discomfort, the fish tumbled through the air and Katara followed its arc with her eyes as it flew over her head and splashed back into the sea. "Why is it that every time you play with magic water, I get soaked?"

But Katara tried to correct him. "It's not "magic", it's waterbending! And it's…"

But Sokka cut her off. "Yeah, yeah, "an ancient art unique to our culture", blah, blah, blah. Look, I'm just saying that if I had weird powers, I'd keep my weirdness to myself."

Katara raised an eyebrow skeptically, her arms crossed and her tail waving around. "You're calling me weird? I'm not the one who makes muscles at myself and has my tail around my waist every time I see my reflection in the water."

And to prove her point, Sokka was flexing at his reflection in the water and grinning confidently. But his happy look vanished upon hearing his sister's remark and he turned around slowly, meaning to face her. But before he could say anything, however, the canoe suddenly shuddered. As they both tried to keep from falling over, Sokka whirled around toward his end of the canoe, with a frantic look on his face.

The boat was caught in a rapid current, which was pulling it swiftly toward a jumble of large icebergs which blocked the end of the narrow passage formed by the towering walls of ice. Sokka paddled the boat in an attempt to stay clear of any floating chunks of ice and managed to gain just enough speed to keep the boat from being crushed by two icebergs which slammed together behind the boat. The canoe moved through the water as Sokka rowed furiously as the boat was nearly pinned by a number of smaller chunks of ice.

"Watch out! Go left! Go left!" Katara commanded her brother.

But the ice floes moved closer together in front of the boat, narrowing their path. The boat managed to stay clear of some of the icebergs, but it veered to the right with the current and became pinned by three large chunks of ice. As the canoe was completely crushed by the ice, Katara and Sokka threw themselves from the canoe and onto one of the floes. Katara nearly slid off the other side into the water, but came to a halt at the floe's very edge. As she raised her head, looking around, she saw that they were floating on one floe among dozens.

Katara spoke with a touch of bitterness in her voice. "You call that left?"

"You don't like my steering? Well, maybe you should've waterbended us out of the ice." Sokka said as he waved his hands, mockingly imitating waterbending.

"So it's my fault?"

Annoyed, he said. " I knew I should've left you home! Leave it to a girl to screw things up!"

Katara got angry at that sexiest remark. "You are the most sexist, immature…nut brained…" She said while waving her arms crossed and unknowingly, the water moved with them. "I'm embarrassed to be related to you!"

Sokka, who wore a somewhat disinterested expression, glanced briefly in his sister's direction and saw the iceberg behind her, making his face turn into terror.

Katara pointed to herself. "Ever since mom died, I've been doing all the work around camp while you've been off playing soldier!"

Pointing to the iceberg behind her, Sokka's voice subdued by fright. "Uh... Katara…"

But Katara added as she saved her arms and the water, unknown to her, cracked the iceberg. "I even wash all the clothes! Have you ever smelled your dirty socks? Let me tell you, not pleasant!"

Soka tried to get his sister to calm down. "Katara, settle down!"

"NO! THAT'S IT! I'm done helping you. From now on, you're ON YOUR OWN!"

But her last movement was her most agitated and it created a huge wave which, when it impacted the iceberg, sendt a number of fissures to snake their way up the iceberg; one of them reached the top of the iceberg, splitting it completely in half!

But when Katara looked behind her, she noticed it as well before the split iceberg went down into the ocean and caused a wave that sent the siblings going a few feet away from where they were. "Okay, you've gone from "weird" to "freakish", Katara."

Astonished, Katara asked. "You mean I did that?"

Sarcastically, glancing at her and smirking, Sokka answered. "Yep." Before nudging her with his elbow. "Congratulations."

But suddenly, bubbles began coming from the water and it began glowing a bright red before a glowing iceberg burst out of the water, making both siblings gasp before Katara saw what appeared to be a teenager perched in lotus, with glowing arrows on his head and hands. And as she looked closer, the figure opened its glowing eyes in a glaring look, but a brilliant crimson light emanated from them, eliciting shocked gasps from both of the siblings.

"He's alive! We have to help!" Katara said as she took her brother's club and ran towards the iceberg.

Sokka followed her while quickly getting his spear. "Katara, get back here! We don't know what that thing is!"

Katara hopped across the short distance between her floe and the iceberg on five tiny chinks of ice and Sokka did the same. Reaching the iceberg first, Katara repeatedly struck the iceberg with Sokka's club. And on her fifth strike, the club broke through the surface and a great gust of wind, which escaped from within the iceberg, threw her and her brother back from the side of the dome. Fissures quickly snaked their way over the whole iceberg and, in a massive outward explosion, the entire orb of ice destroyed itself and a beam of light burst from the core of the iceberg and rocketed into the sky. And the shallow sea bottom emitted ripples of light and tiger seals sat themselves up to growl at the distant beam of light!

Meanwhile, not far

Azula was playing a game with Lu Ten, while Mai and Ty Lee were standing close together, looking at the beam of light. "Whoa! Azula! Lu, look!"

Azula stood up and saw the light as well. "Hmmm…that's an interesting light, but I don't wanna get my hopes up for nothing like so many times before."

Lu smiled. "Well done, Azula, you're taking my lessons to heart. It could just be the celestial lights."

"But…what if it's not? What if it's actually him?" Azula asked with a bit of hope.

"Then let's just check this out, just in case." Mai suggested.

"We should." Azula said before ordering the helmsman. "Helmsman, set a course for the light!" Before she sat down and poured herself a cup of jasmine tea before taking a sip. "I have to admit that…your tea is very good, Lu."

"I know. Father gave all his recipes before…" Lu said sadly, as he still missed his father.

"I know. I miss him too." Azula said kindly. "I still have the Earth kingdom doll he gave me. I don't sleep with it anymore, but I keep it close. And don't forget about my gauntlet blades."

"And I'm glad you've kept them both." Lu said with a proud smile.

Back with Katara and Sokka

The 2 siblings watched as a 18 year old looking human came from the ice, walking up to them with a crimson glow on his head and arms arrows and in his eyes as well. He was wearing a blue baggy pants and for a top, it looked like he wore some type of armor, white with red spots on the bottom middle part and with shoulder pads that were the same color. And what's more, he had a tail that waved around before the glow faded and the teen passed out, seemingly from exhaustion and began to fall.

Katara, wanting to help, rushed to this stranger and caught him before he hit the ground and held his head before Sokka poked it with the bottom of his spear 4 times before Katara told him. "Stop it!"

The teen about their age opened his eyes with a glaring look before seeing the girl. "Let me ask you something."

"Yes?" Katara asked curiously.

"Can…you fight?" He asked, getting no answer and making him grab her by the coat. "I said, can you fight?!" Before getting annoyed and shoving her back.

"Hey! That's my sister you just shoved! Who are you? How'd you get in the ice?! And why aren't you frozen?!" Sokka demanded.

But Aang, due to knowing instantly that this paranoid idiot wasn't even a challenge for him, just scoffed. "Humh. Why would I waste my breath telling you anything…weaklings trash?!" Before he heard a roar and jumped up on the hill, making Katara and Sokka follow him before they saw what looked like some kind of lizard. "Ah, Raditz, good to see you're alive, my loyal friend."

The mongoose lizard creature sat the water tribe siblings and growled while walking up to them, making Sokka point his spear at him. "Stay back, you freak!"

But Aang stopped him. "Easy, Raditz. That weakling isn't worth eating."

"What is that thing?!" Sokka asked with suspicion.

"He's Raditz, my Mongoose lizard." Aang answered. "But don't get any ideas, I've trained him to kill any and all threats to himself and me."

"Oh yeah?" Sokka asked before pointing his thumb at Katara. "And this is Katara, my Mongoose sister."

"Uh huh, I noticed." Aang said sarcastically. "Now you answer me this: where is the nearest village around here?"

But Sokka told Katara. "Don't answer that! Did you see that big bolt of lightning? He was probably trying to signal the Fire Navy!"

But Katara, despite having a bad feeling about this stranger, wasn't intimidated. "Oh yeah, I can tell he's a spy for the Fire Navy by that evil look in his eye." Causing Aang to cross his arm and wave his tail around. "The paranoid 1 is my brother Sokka. You never told us your name."

"Aang, but besides that, that's all you're going to get from me." Aang answered before using an airbending technique to grab Sokka's spear and throw it away! "Anything else you want to know?"

Katara gasped before realizing what this Aang stranger was. "You're…you're an Airbender!"

"Giant light beams, mongoose lizards, airbenders." Sokka said before beginning to walk away. "I think I got midnight sun madness. I'm going home to where stuff makes sense." Before he realized, however, that he was stranded in the middle of the ocean with no way home.

But Aang, wanting to get out of here for his own reasons, offered reluctantly. "Well, quite the situation, huh?" He asked mockingly. "But, Raditz knows how to swim. Show me where your home is, and I'll take you there before we go our separate ways."

"Okay. I'm up for it." Katara said before Raditz growled at her before Aang patted his head, making the lizard creature nuzzle him before he let Katara on him.

"No way, I'm not getting on that freak creature." Sokka said with paranoia.

Aang huffed before looking at Raditz. "Raditz, grab him." Before the mongoose lizard creature grabbed Sokka between his teeth and began swimming in the water while Katara guided the creature and Aang to the village.

Along the way, Katara stared at him with interest, much to Aang's irritation. "What are you looking at, girl?! Do I interest you?!"

Katara didn't like this Airbender's attitude and huffed. "Sorry. Never mind."

Later, on Azula's ship

The Fire Nation princess was in a robe, snuggling warmly in her bed when Lu Ten came in. "Azula, I'm going to bed now. Do you need anything?"

"No, thank you, cousin Lu, I'm alright. I'm…just anxious, that's all." Azula admitted, as Lu Ten, Mai and Ty Lee were the only ones Azula could confide in.

"I'm sure you are, Azula. But I advise you not to get your hopes up for nothing. Your father, grandfather and great-grandfather all tried and failed to find him." Lu said gently.

"My great-grandfather committed genocide of the Airbenders! Azulon and that…that fucking monster Ozai were too busy building their own legacies as Firelord, with the goal of killing the Avatar if they did find him. But my plan for him is far different than theirs." Azula said with hatred for her great-grandfather, grandfather and especially Ozai for what he made Zuko do to her. "When he joins my cause, this insane and senseless war can finally be over."

Sometime, the next day

As Aang had a dream of the events that led to him and his loyal mongoose lizard friend being frozen in ice, he suddenly burst to his feet before Katara eased his mind after coming into his tent. "Aang! Aang! It's okay. We're in the village now. Come on, get ready. Everyone's waiting to meet you."

"Argh!" Aang growled before seeing his top half of his sleeveless blue body shirt and armor on the floor before putting them on, with Katara gasping at his blood red arrow tattoos before he was fully ready and Katara pulled him out of the tent and walked him a few feet before stopping.

Aang eyed the small congregation of villagers, who were mostly women, 1 being old, and children, and a wolf by the look of it. 'Not a single warrior here at all. Damn it!"

"Aang, entire village. Entire village, Aang." Katara introduced.

Aang snatched his hand back. "Don't drag me like that again!" Before looking at the village. "This is your village? This is just a small camp with no warriors here to challenge me!"

The elderly woman, named Kanna, stepped forward out of the line of villagers. "Well, no one has seen an airbender in a hundred years. We thought they were extinct, until my granddaughter and grandson found you"

"What?" Aang asked with seemingly disbelief, but by the tone of his voice, he didn't really seem surprised.

"Aang, this is my grandmother." Katara introduced.

Kanna said flatly, with a dull look on her face. "Call me Gran-Gran."

Sokka walked up to him and told Aang. "Listen, pal, I got my eye on you." Only for Aang to airbend him away.

"Magic trick! Do it again!" A little village girl said with excitement.

"It's not magic, you little brat, it's airbending!" Aang told her before using a bigger airbending blast that destroyed Sokka's watchtower.

"My watchtower!" Sokka said with shock before getting annoyed. "Great. You're an airbender, Katara's a waterbender. Together you can just waste time all day long."

That got Aang's attention as he looked at Katara. "What? You're a Waterbender?!"

"Well, sort of. Not yet." Katara answered nervously.

That was when Kanna came up to her granddaughter. "Come on, Katara, you have chores." Before she led Katara away from Aang.

Excitedly, Katara spoke to her grandmother. "I told you, he's the real thing Gran-Gran! I finally found a bender to teach me!"

"Katara, try not to put all your hopes in this boy." Kanna warned her. "I sense there's something…troubling about him."

"I kinda sense that too, but he's special! I can tell!" Katara said before she clenched her fist and closed her eyes in hope. "I sense he's filled with much wisdom."

But Aang wasn't interested in anything else, only a challenge. 'If this is what this village has to offer, then this is just a waste of my time! I will have a worthy opponent!"

Meanwhile, on Azula's ship

The princess was finishing up practicing her Firebended and her new and improved Galick Gun, much to Lu Ten's joy, as his youngest cousin was indeed better, especially with her blue fire. "Well done, Azula. You've gotten so much better than you were 2 years ago. Your dedication and commitment have served you well."

Azula smiled at her cousin. "Thank you, Lu, but I can't take all the credit. Mei and Ty Lee have taught me many things too. And your training and mentorship taught us all well. Mother would have been proud of all of us…if she was here."

"I'm sure she would, Azula. She was always so kind to all of us." Mai said with a smile while Ty wrapped her tail around Mai's, as Azula's mother always had a special place in their hearts.

Back at the village

With a stern expression, Sokka said to uninterested boys of the tribe. "Now men, it's important that you show no fear when you face a firebender." Then he brought out his club and held it proudly. "In the Water Tribe, we fight to the last man standing! For without courage, how can we call ourselves men?"

1 of the boys said. "I gotta pee."

"Listen! Until your fathers return from the War, they're counting on you to be the men of this tribe, and that means no potty breaks!"

"But I really gotta go!"

Sokka sighed reluctantly. "Okay, who else has to go?" He asked, making them all raise their arms and making him facepalm himself.

Katara came up to her brother and asked as the kids went to the potty. "Have you seen Aang? Gran-Gran said he disappeared over an hour ago."

But then, they saw Aang, throwing rapid punches and kicks at incredible speed, while jumping and flipping in the air before he landed and fired a big airbending blast at Sokka's rebuilt watchtower, bringing it down!

Sokka was definitely annoyed. "Katara, get him out of here! This lesson is for water tribe warriors only!"

But then, he noticed the other children trying to play with Raditz, who was sitting, seemingly uninterested in the kids as he only had his eyes on Aang and his training. 'Argh! Energetic little things.' He thought with annoyance as 1 of the kids grabbed his tail.

Sokka rushed forward, yelling angrily. "Stop! Stop it right now!" Causing the laughter of the children to be stifled immediately and Raditz turns his head to look at Sokka, who accusingly directed his anger to the mongoose lizard. "What's wrong with you?! We don't have time for fun and games with the War going on!"

But that made Raditz growl at him , causing Sokka to fall on his butt in fear before Aang settled his reptile friend. "Easy, Raditz, he isn't even worth the effort of eating." Before he got on his back. "Let's go exploring. This place is just wasting my time." Before Raditz nodded and ran fast out of the village.

Katara followed them, running as fast as she could until she finally caught up with them in a penguin habitat, with the flightless birds back away from Aang and Raditz, as they seemed very afraid of him. "Hey Aang, I'll help the penguins not be afraid of you and Raditz if you teach me waterbending."

Aang turned to Katara with a glare. "Well, there's a problem with that, idiot: I'm an AIRBENDER, NOT A WATERBENDER! Ask your precious Gran-Gran to teach you."

Katara got a bit angry and told him and banged her tail on the ground. "Well I would, but you're looking at the only Waterbender in my tribe!"

"Then find someone at the North Pole. They must still have plenty of Waterbenders who'll be more than happy to teach you!" Aang said while swiping his tail.

"Maybe, but we haven't had contact with our sister tribe in a long time. It's not exactly "turn right at the second glacier". It's on the other side of the world." Katara pointed out.

Aang Airbender a fish in his right hand and took a bite from it before swallowing it. "Then leave here and go there."

Katara, despite being disgusted with Aang eating fish like that, only said. "I've…never been away from home before."

"Humh. Too bad." Aang said sarcastically before finishing his fish and continuing to ride on Raditz, with Katara following him as fast as she could until they came upon something. "What the hell is that?!"

Katara answered in a slightly dark tone. "A Fire Navy ship. And a very bad memory for my people." And when Aang got off Raditz and tried to approach the ship, Katara tried to stop him. "Aang, stop! We're not allowed to go near it! The ship could be booby-trapped!"

But Raditz blocked Katara and growled at her before getting on his hind legs and grabbing her by her arms, picking her up and throwing her away. 'Bahh! Pathetic excuse for a Waterbender! No 1 tells my friend…or me what to do! Not anymore."

Aang was amused by his friend's display. "Hahahaha. Well done, Raditz." Before going in and exploring the ship, finding weapons in 1 room. "Interesting. So…the war spread after all. Hahahaha. I told those pacifist elder fools that this would happen if they didn't prepare."

Katara approached Aang, not having heard what he'd said. "This ship has haunted my tribe since Gran-Gran was a little girl. It was part of the Fire Nation's first attacks."

"I see. If you ask me, the last Avatar should've killed the bastard Firelord who started this war in the 1st place. Pathetic fool." Aang said with contempt for the past Avatar for not preventing this war before it began.

"The War is a century old. You don't know about it because, somehow, you were in that ice the whole time!" Katara told him. "And maybe the last Avatar just wanted to be a keeper of balance and not a killer!"

"Humh. And look what that sentimental crap got him…and this world." Aang said before continuing to explore the ship. He then found a rope and saw that it might be connected to something.

"Aang, don't touch that! That could be a trap!" Katara told him.

But Aang smiled. "Really, huh? Let's see then." He said before pulling the rope, making the gears and engines of the shipwreck suddenly power up, beginning to function. Katara, In shock, and Aang, smirking, followed the movements of the machines until suddenly, a flare was fired and exploded high in the sky!

Aang then grabbed a still shocked Katara and jumped out of the ship's roof before he used his Airbending to get off the old vessel before throwing Katara down before she got to her feet in fury. "YOU BASTARD! WHY DID YOU DO THAT?!"

Aang smirked and answered. "Oh…just to signal the Fire Navy and attract a worthy opponent."

Katara was shocked at that. "You…you put us in danger…ALL TO FIGHT A WORTHY OPPONENT?! WHAT THE FUCK IS WRONG WITH YOU?!"

"Hummh…. Nothing! What happens to your little camp is none of my concern, as long as I get a worthy fight." Aang answered as Raditz came up to him and Aang got on his back before the mongoose lizard grabbed Katara in his mouth and began running back to the village.

Meanwhile

Azula looked through a telescope and saw Aang, Raditz and Katara, making her smirk. "The last Airbender. He looks so…young for someone who's supposed to be 100 years old." Before she then turned to the direction of the village, making her smirk before she turned to a soldier and told him gently but firmly. "Wake Mai and Ty Lee and cousin Lu. Tell them I just may have found the Avatar…and his location."

A bit later, at the village

As Aang and the still infuriated Katara walked towards the village, the children were a bit afraid and stood close to the teens and the elder. "It's him!" They said with a bit of fear.

Sokka walked up to them and glared at Aang. "I knew it! You signaled the Fire Navy with that flare! You're leading them straight to us, aren't you?"

"Hahahaha! What gave it away, idiot?" Aang asked with a prideful grin as his tail waved around.

"Katara, what happened?" Kanna asked her granddaughter.

"I saw Aang going into the ship and I just wanted to know what he was doing and by the time I got there, he'd already shot the flare up. And when I asked him why, he told me he deliberately did it to draw the Fire Navy here just to draw a worthy opponent here just so he could fight!" Katara answered while glaring at Aang.

That was your reason?! You put us all in danger just to fight a worthy opponent?! What kind of Airbender would do that?!" Kanna asked with extreme disbelief.

"Hahahahahahaha! What happens to this village isn't any concern of mine, old fool! I will fight a worthy opponent. The best thing for you and this entire village to do is stay out of my way." Aang said with eagerness.

Angry and triumphant, having found an excuse, Sokka said. "Aha! The traitor confesses! The foreigner is banished from our village."

But Aang wasn't about to go anywhere, especially not by this pathetic weakling idiot. "No, I think I'll stay. And what do you possibly think you'll accomplish if I did just leave, idiot?"

"I'll keep my promise to my Dad: protecting my village from threats like you!" Sokka answered.

But Aang warned him. "Careful. Daddy's not here to back you up, fool."

"Get out of our village! Now!"

"And what will you do if I don't? You're all alone here with no 1 to back you up, especially not those brats." Aang said defiantly.

Kanna stepped up and told the prideful Airbender. "You put us all in danger just to fight someone worthy, for nothing but foolish, arrogant pride. Sokka is right. I think it best if you leave now!"

Aang got angry that this Elder would try to tell him what to do. "ARGH! SILENCE!" He shouted as he swiped his arm, using held back airbending to swipe her aside like an insect but fortunately, he didn't hurt her. "This doesn't concern you, old 1. I will fight a worthy opponent, and no 1 here will stop me!"

"Grand-Grand!" Katara yelled out rushing to her grandmother and helping her.

Sokka, angry at this insolent disgrace of an Airbender for assaulting his grandmother, drew his club and rushed to Aang to hit him. "AAAHHHH!" Only for Aang to easily dodge and trip him down before he rolled on the ground.

Aang grinned in amusement. "Are you challenging me, brainless idiot? I wouldn't recommend it, but it's your choice. Go ahead and try!"

"You…you…YOU'RE A DISGRACE TO AIRBENDERS!" Sokka yelled before he rushed to Aang again and tried to hit him but Aang easily blocked and dodged his blows for a few minutes before getting annoyed.

"This is getting annoying!" Aang said before grabbing his club and kneeing him in the ribs before swapping him away. "Stay down, you weakling idiot! You're obviously no match for me!"

Sokka then through his boomerang at Aang, only for him to dodge it…before it came back at him and hit his head and Sokka used that opportunity to hit Aang with his club, 1st in his right cheek, then his chest, then under his chin, and finally in his face, sending him crashing to the ground and skidding back! "LEAVE THIS VILLAGE BEFORE YOU REALLY GET HURT!"

But Aang, chuckling with delight, got to his feet and banged his tail on the ground, sending vast amounts of snow up. "Hahahaha. Hahahaha. Fool. I told you that you were no match for me. But if you want to keep challenging a superior warrior, you can. But I promise you that it'll be your last mistake!"

Sokka, still determined to keep his promise to his father, only rushed to Aang to attack again with his club, only for Aang to kick it out of his hands and punch him hard in the face, sending him back! "AHHH!"

But Aang wasn't through and jumped in front of him. "Where do you think you're going? Hmmm?" He asked before grabbing his hair and punching him in the face, chest and gut multiple times, thankfully holding back his full strength but laughing while he did so. "Hahahaha. Hahahaha. HAHAHAHAHAHAHA! What's the matter, fool?! I thought you were keeping your promise to Daddy?! Brainless idiot! YOU LOST THE SECOND YOU CHALLENGED ME!" Before letting Sokka go and punching him away before following him and kneeing his rib before he ax handled him into the air and overhead smashed him to the ground again. He then Airbended Sokka up to him and punched him in the face, sending him back before flipping to him and kicking him down, crashing him before swapping him to the right, jumping towards him and double ax handling him to the ground before putting his foot on his face. "Now, idiot, unless you want to be crippled, beg my forgiveness."

"I'll…never beg forgiveness from…someone like you!" Sokka said, thankfully not injured, as Aang had held back on him.

"Humh." Aang huffed before Airbending him away. "You're not even worth the effort of beating. A weakling like you was just a waste of my time. But I am curious to see if you can actually defend this village and keep your promise to daddy. Go ahead and take your shot." He said before using his Airbending to create a snow mountain big enough to stand on and watch the coming events.

Sokka, determined to prove this disgrace of an Airbender wrong, told the other children. "Warriors, ready our defenses! The Fire Nation will be on our shores any minute now."

1 child tried to say. "But I gotta…"

"And no potty breaks." Sokka told him before going to get away himself after getting his club and boomerang weapons. He then went to his tent and prepared himself for battle, donning gloves, boots, bindings, and applying face paint. After the necessary preparations, he put his boomerang away on his back.

Meanwhile, on Azula's ship

"Azula, are you sure you don't want to prepare for battle?" Ty Lee asked with concern.

"I'm sure, Ty. I'm going there strictly for answers. But if it comes down to it, I'll fight. If it isn't who I think it is, we'll leave and head somewhere else. But if it is him, I'll try to inform the people there that I'm only there for recruiting and nothing else." Azula answered.

"I doubt there's any warriors in that camp. But if someone does try to fight, let us deal with it unless you think it's absolutely necessary." Mai suggested.

"I will. But honestly, I hope it doesn't come to that, despite the training I've done for the last few years." Azula said with a small smile, not knowing that who she would meet would change the lives of many people forever.

Back in the village

As Sokka was keeping watch, the ground suddenly began to quake, making everyone, including Katara gasp as they were frightened at what the cause of the quaking was. In a few more seconds, a rumbling sound was getting closer as the adults grabbed their children and moved as far back as possible, with Sokka watching his watchtower collapse.

"Aw, man!" Sokka said with annoyance.

Katara ran up and looked up at her brother still standing atop the wall, and her look turned to one of horror as the bow of a Fire Nation ship was very close.

"Oh maaan…" Sokka said, horrified.

Kanna, standing in the snow, looked up in terror at the vessel while backing up slightly while the other villagers passed her in their haste to get to safety and the shadow of the large ships descended over her, with the ship's bow plowing through the snowy shores, splintering the ground. Sokka looked up, terrified by the large ship as its approach created a large crack that quickly traveled toward the village and over the wall.

Katara was helping her grandmother into a tent, when she heard a frightened scream and gasped in terror when she realized that the sound came from a small boy, kneeling on the ground, with the fissure rapidly approaching him, but Katara quickly ran over and scooped up the child before the ground splintered underneath them. She sat the child down again in front of a tent which he quickly entered, and Katara turned back to view her brother. "Sokka, get out of the way!"

The bow of the ship plowed through the snow as Sokka raised his club in defense, ready to strike. But before he could make his move, however, the bow crumbled a large portion of the wall into snowy ruins and the snow slid downward, pushing Sokka several feet back before he landed to a halt, as with a loud hiss of steam, the ship had come to a halt as well.

The villagers curiously came out of hiding and stared in complete shock at the large vessel. Sokka and the villagers gasped when they caught sight of the bow of the ship opening and creaking forward in a burst of steam, forming a walkway. Sokka backed up and fell to the ground once the bow hit the ground with a loud thud. The villagers gathered closer around for support, with several even covering their eyes as Katara took a step back upon noticing the shape of three figures cloaked in the mist.

Azula then emerged from the mist, with Mai and Ty Lee following her as they walked down the walkway. And Sokka, like an idiot, let out a battle cry and charged at the princess and hercbest friends with his club to the ready but Mai easily pushed him aside headfirst into the snow, allowing Azula to walk up to the villagers before greeting them politely. "Greetings. My name is Azula. And before you think I'm here to cause trouble, I'm not. I'm here to ask if…you know anything about that large surge of energy from earlier."

Kanna, looking into this girl's eyes and seeing that she wasn't here for trouble, only told her. "Why, no, of course not. We were just as surprised as you were, Azula."

Azula saw that the elder wasn't telling her the whole truth, but still didn't want anyone here hurt. "I see. Well, I came here for another reason and…I'm hoping that anyone here would be interested in considering my proposal."

Sokka, getting free, ran over to his club and picked it up, most of his war paint having come off at this point, before foolishly letting out another idiotic battle cry as he charged toward the princess. "AHHHHHHH!"

But Ty Lee just tripped him down, disarming him easily before he threw his boomerang at Azula, who easily dodged it. "Stop acting like an idiot! We're not here to fight!"

Sokka quickly got the spear from a nearby boy and charged forward to Impale Azula, but Mai, grabbing the spear with her tail, broke the tip off before taking it apart and poking Sokka, who had his fists up, with the other end 3 times, sending him on his rear before throwing it away…before Azula, hearing the boomerang coming back, easily caught it in her hands and threw it at gently at his feet.

"Azula, let us take care of this idiot. The sooner he stops acting like a showoff and embarrassing himself, the sooner we can get outta here." Ty Lee suggested.

Azula nodded and accepted that. "Sure, Ty. Don't hurt him too much, just make him stop embarrassing himself in front of everyone."

Aang, meanwhile, was watching the entire thing, but paid special attention to Azula. 'Hmmm…this Fire Nation warrior seems to be quite powerful from what I can tell.'

"I'm not gonna let you Fire Nation scum hurt my village!" Sokka said, not realizing that they weren't here for fighting before he threw the boomerang at Azula again before she easily dodged it and grabbed it before throwing it in the snow away from them at incredible speed.

'And she's fast.' Aang noticed.

"Just deal with this idiot so we can leave. This village doesn't have anything we'd need, so let's just leave them in peace and set a course for Earth kingdom territory." Azula told her best friends.

"With pleasure." Mai said with a smirk as she and Ty Lee walked up to Sokka.

"However, I'd strongly recommend that you don't try to attack again before you really get hurt." Ty Lee advised him. "From the way you've been handling yourself, Mai and me don't even need to be firebenders to take you down, which we're honestly not."

"That's right. If we can take you down this easily, Azula doesn't even need to use her firebending or even her Galick Gun against you."

Aang seemed a bit surprised that these obviously trained warrior women weren't firebenders, despite having his eye on Azula still, despite being more surprised at this Galick Gun. "Huh? Galick Gun?"

Sokka foolishly tried rushing to Azula again. "You guys don't scare me! Nobody but nobody intimidates the mighty water tribe soldier SOKKA!" Before trying to tackle the princess…only for Azula to jump up and kick Sokka in the back of the head and send him falling in the snow before she landed!

'What?' Aang asked mentally, surprised and shocked at this Azula girl's speed.

Kanna shook her head. "Sokka, you're only embarrassing yourself."

Sokka sat up and held his head. "How'd you do that? You…you…!"

Azula turned around and voiced her opinion. "As much as you say you're a 'mighty soldier', I'm extremely disappointed."

Sokka was shocked to hear that. "Ah… what…what did you say?!" He asked, getting to his feet. "Are you guys…are you trying to tell me I'm all bark and no bite?!"

"If this flailing around and throwing that Boomerang is all you have to offer, then yeah." Mai answered, annoyed.

But Sokka was in denial. "Oh yeah? Maybe you should teach me a thing or 2." He said before foolishly rushing to attack again, trying to land punches that Mai and Ty Lee easily blocked and dodged.

Aang was extremely impressed with this display, especially Azula's. "Not that I couldn't tell from the moment I laid eyes on them, but those 3 are obviously well trained."

Mai and Ty Lee got annoyed and jumped into the air and Sokka tried looking for them before Ty Lee shouted out. "Over here, you idiot!"

Sokka saw them and was shocked. "How'd you guys get over there?!"

'Hahahaha. This fool is pathetic. Not only that, but he's embarrassing me just making me watch!' Aang thought mentally as his tail waved around.

Ty Lee and Mai both rushed to Sokka at an incredible speed, surprising him before Mai got close enough for Sokka to try and hit her with his club, only for her to duck before tripping him off his feet, allowing Ty Lee to slide below him and kick him up before they both grabbed his legs and smashed him to the ground!

"Just so you know: that was for acting like an idiot and starting an unnecessary fight you obviously can't win." Ty Lee said.

This made Sokka angry as he tried attacking again, only for Mai to swipe and kick him away. "AND THAT…WAS FOR EMBARRASSING YOUR VILLAGE!"

Sokka got to his feet and got his boomerang that was right beside him. "Filthy, arrogant, stupid Fire Nation scum!" He said before throwing his boomerang at them.

"Seriously?! That stupid trick again?!" Ty asked with annoyance before easily dodging and Mai using her knives to make it fly in another direction.

"What the.. ?!" Sokka asked with shock.

Katara was a bit annoyed too. "Ugh, he's acting like a fool in front of everybody!"

But Sokka still denied it. "That…that was just luck, that's all!"

But Mai rushed to him. "Stop embarrassing yourself!" Before kicking him away.

"What's wrong with me?! I should be owning these non-benders easily! I'm a mighty soldier of the water tribe!" Before Ty went next. "Wait, no!"

"And stop embarrassing your village and yourself!" Ty said before grabbing his right arm in her legs and throwing him in snow before flipping next to Mai gracefully.

They both walked up to Azula and stood beside her before Sokka got out of the snow, completely angry. "Fire Nation SCUM! AHHHH! YOU'RE GONNA PAY FOR EMBARRASSING ME IN FRONT OF MY VILLAGE!"

And when he threw snow at them, Azula just melted it into water, surprisingly with blue fire. "You're just embarrassing yourself and your village, you idiot. Some soldier you are! Anyway, we're leaving now. Just rebuild your little wall and you can get back to the rest of your day."

"YOU'RE NOT GOING ANYWHERE! I'M A MIGHTY SOLDIER OF THE WATER TRIBE! I WON'T BE MADE A FOOL OF BY A COUPLE OF NON-BENDING GIRLS! YOU'RE GONNA BE BEGGING FOR MERCY WHEN I'M DONE WITH YOU!"

But Katara called out to her brother. "SOKKA, JUST STOP! IT'S OBVIOUS TO EVERYONE HERE THAT YOU CAN'T WIN! JUST STOP AND LET THEM LEAVE!"

But Sokka, blinded by his promise to his father, wasn't about to let them leave, despite being completely outmatched. "No way, Katara, I'm keeping my promise to Dad. I'm not about to let him down."

Aang only eyed this embarrassing display with anger. 'Brick-headed spastic! The way things are going, he'll be defeated in seconds!'

"Sorry, ladies, but after you embarrassed me in front of everybody, I deserve some payback." Sokka said arrogantly.

"You've been doing nothing but embarrass yourself! Just save yourself and your village further embarrassment and let us leave. We're done here." Azula offered.

"Ha. You sure like to talk big, don't ya, Ms. Nobody."

"She isn't a nobody, you idiot! She's princess Azula. Daughter of Ursa and, unfortunately, Firelord Ozai, princess of the Fire Nation, and heir to the throne." Mai said with pride while introducing Azula and revealing who she is.

Aang was very surprised now. 'Ahhh…so she's the princess of the Fire Nation, huh. Yes, she must be the opponent I've been looking for.'

Sokka decided to try something else and went to a line that he pulled. "Let's see if you can bend while covered in snow, sweet princess." He said, mockingly.

As a big pile of snow came at Azula, getting inches from her, she scoffed and blasted a big blue fire that melted all the snow in seconds. "Anything else?"

'She's a freak of nature! No Firebender could strike so quickly at such close range!' Aang thought mentally with shock.

"What?!" Sokka asked with shock. "But…that was my plan B and she just melted it like it was nothing."

"If you're through with embarrassing everyone, we'll be leaving now. I have more important things to do than waste my time playing around with an idiot playing soldier." Azula said, completely annoyed with this.

But as they were about to leave, Aang called out as he jumped from his mountain, swiping snow on Sokka. "That's enough, weakling, back down! I believe this Fire Nation princess and her friends have proven themselves to be more than your match."

Sokka looked at Aang with anger. "What?! You stay outta this!"

"Don't look at me like that! Thanks to your monumental incompetence, you've done nothing but embarrass me with that worthless display. And I think it's gone on long enough!" Aang told him.

Kanna and Katara didn't like this. "It looks like the Airbender will get his worthy opponent after all."

"I don't like this, Grand-Grand, we all saw what he did to Sokka." Katara said while embracing her grandmother with concern for what was about to happen.

But Sokka, even though he now knew that he couldn't win whatsoever, wasn't about to let this disgrace of an Airbender fight and endanger his village anymore. "No! No! I can do it! For Dad! I can take these girls easily!" Before rushing to Azula, Mai and Ty Lee again for a pointless and foolish attack. "AAAAHHH!"

But Azula stepped up and drew upon an unknown strength she'd trained her entire life to master, which Aang noticed and, in an incredible display of speed, punched Sokka in the gut, making him fall to his knees before throwing him right in front of Aang. "Perhaps that'll teach you not to pick battles you can't win." Then she looked at Aang. "If you are who I think you are, would it be okay if you came with us so this village can get back to their day?"

'What did I just witness? For a very brief second, her speed and strength seemed to…increase." Aang thought with surprise…and eagerness to test the strength of the princess.

"Looks like he finally got the message, Azula. But I think that Airbender just might be an entirely different matter." Ty said as she looked at the Airbender.

"Indeed. I can sense there's something…different about him." Azula said, interested in this unusual Airbender.

Sokka, hurt, reluctantly held his hand out to Aang. "Hey, air boy, you…can help me. Help me and…we'll beat them together." And Aang took his hand, seemingly accepting the offer and making Sokka smile. "Haha…I knew you weren't all bad."

But Aang smirked with a darker intention. "Hahahahahaha. Sure, weakling." He said before squeezing his hand.

"Ow!" Sokka yelled, and Aang grinned and threw Sokka into the air! "AHHH…WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU?!"

"I have no interest in helping an idiot like you! You're nothing but a pathetic weakling to me!" Aang said before gathering air that formed around him and caused big winds that made everyone close their eyes, even Azula, Mai and Ty Lee. "Don't worry, I won't kill you, but I think you'll be better off not getting in my way!" Before he gathered the air around his arm and sent it all in a blast that hit Sokka.

"AAAAHHH! YOU BASTARD! I HATE YOUUUU!"

"Hahahahahaha!" Aang laughed before stopping his blast but sending Sokka falling on the ground hard, but thankfully not hurting or killing him.

"SOKKA!" Kanna and Katara yelled out before rushing to Sokka to check on him

Aang then looked at a stunned Azula, Mai and Ty Lee, who were shocked at what they'd just seen. "Whoa, he's…that Airbender's crazy." Ty said.

"Crazy…and ruthless." Mei added with a shocked face, despite rarely showing emotions.

Azula's eyes met Aang's and knew that if they fought here, the entire village would be in danger. "Mai, Ty, I need you to listen to me. If this Airbender is who I think he is, I can't have anything or anyone distracting me. Just stay with the ship and, if necessary, get the villagers out of here."

Mai understood. "Okay, I get it." She said before looking at Ty. "Ty, you heard her, let's just stay with the ship."

"But…we can't just let Azula face this guy alone!" Ty Lee said with concern for her princess.

"Azula needs to focus fully on the fight. If we're with her, we'll only cause her to worry about us and the villagers getting caught in the crossfire." Mai reasoned. "The best thing we and the others can do is make sure the women and kids are safe."

Ty Lee understood that reason, as this Airbender appeared to be powerful. Powerful and, unlike the airbenders they'd heard stories about, ruthless and seemed to enjoy the thrill of a battle. So, reluctantly, she nodded. "Okay. We'll do as you want, but I hope for all our sakes you can get through to that guy. He's unlike any Airbender we've heard stories about."

"I will. Keep the villagers safe until I return." Azula said with a smile. 'If we don't end up killing each other, that is.'

Azula stepped up, much to Aang's pleasure. "Ah, excellent. I take it, you know what's coming?"

"Not here! If you wanna fight, we're doing it away from this village." Azula told him.

Normally Aang wasn't the type to take orders, but this Fire Nation princess interested him in some ways he hadn't realized yet. So, he reluctantly agreed for once. "Fine. Makes no difference to me." He said before Azula used her Firebending to get into the air and move far away from the village, with Aang using his Airbending to follow her.

Azula looked at Aang for a moment, thinking to herself. 'There's no doubt in my mind about it: he is the Avatar. But he's ruthless and an obvious looking warrior by the way he's dressed. He's also as confident as me, so he must have been in a couple of fights before.'

Mai and Ty Lee walked up to Kanna and Katara, who were still helping Sokka as they walked back to the village. "Hey." Mai greeted them.

"Hello, child." Kanna greeted them politely, as she saw that these 2, despite being from the Fire Nation, were actually more honorable than any others that had attacked her village since she could remember.

"Listen, I know you guys don't have any good reason to trust any of us. But right now, the safest place for you all is with us. It's all up to Azula beating that Airbender if this insane and senseless war can finally end." Ty Lee explained.

"She's right, you know. Despite how ruthless and different that Airbender is, he may be the only hope this world has." Mai added. "But to do that, you have to let them fight…and stay as far away from it as you can."

Kanna actually believed them but wanted to know something. "How do you know that this…princess Azula will win? And what makes that Airbender so…special?"

"Well, in all honesty, we don't know if she'll win or not. But I can tell you that it's out of our hands." Ty Lee answered.

"But…to answer your 2nd question…Azula believes that Airbender…could actually be the Avatar." Mai answered, getting a shocked look from Kanna and her grandchildren.

"No way! He can't be the Avatar! He's too arrogant, too proud and too much of an egomaniac to be the Avatar!" Sokka said with disbelief that that arrogant disgrace of an Airbender could possibly be the Avatar.

"I'm sorry, Sokka, but there's no other Airbender around besides him, so, as much as I don't like it, he may be the world's last hope." Kanna said with a sigh.

Meanwhile

When they were at least a mile away from the village, Aang and Azula landed on the ground several feet away from each other, with the Airbender crossing his arms and waving his tail around while Azula thought to herself. 'Well, we're at least a mile away, so I guess no 1 will be hurt.'

Aang, thinking that this Fire princess could be useful to him, offered to her. "Azula, is it? I have a proposition for you. I'm only going to say it once, so listen carefully. I, Aang, the 1st and only warrior of the now extinct airbending race, would like to offer you and your…bodyguards, the opportunity to stand beside me in the coming battles. They were obviously well trained by the way they handled that weakling, but you must be in another league compared to them. Think about it, princess, we could travel planet Vegeta together and fight for the thrill of it, and under my protection you can have anything you desire. Once the Firelord is dead, there'll be no 1 on this Vegeta that can touch us! Nothing would be out of your grasp!"

But Azula had another idea. "While I would like to fight beside you in the coming battles, I don't fight for the thrill or to feed my pride. I only fight so I can end this insane and senseless war because it's gone on long enough! It's caused nothing but misery and has cost many innocent people, hundreds of families, their loved ones and it's only been getting worse! It has to end! So, I princess Azula, offer you, Aang, the opportunity to join my resistance movement and finally end this war! Besides, I've seen how you treat people asking for your help, even if he is an idiot, and I'm about to humble you."

But Aang smiled in amusement. "Hahahaha! All right then, so be it, Azula, you had your chance." He said before getting into a fighting stance. "Now…allow me to show you a power and will that not even yours can humble!"

Azula got into a fighting stance as well and smirked. "By all means, show me."

And after a few seconds, as a wind blew between then, as if signaling them to begin, Azula rushed to Aang and she tried landing a few precise punches on him that he easily blocked and deflected while he tried landing an Airbending punch that Azula dodged and she tried to roundhouse kick him but he jumped in the air to avoid it and jumped back, making Azula follow him before Aang jumped to her and landed a hard punch to her face that made him chuckle before she jumped up and saw that he'd disappointed!

"Hey, Azula, right behind you!" Aang yelled before coming down behind her and tried landing a swap punch that she ducked and deflected more of his punches before they traded blows at incredible speed until Aang got the upper hand, landing several punches on Azula. "What's the matter, Azula, can't you fight better than this?! I saw your friends do far better when they beat that idiot, so why can't you do the same for me?! LET'S SEE WHAT YOU CAN REALLY DO!" He yelled out before landing a spinning kick that sent Azula flying back before she spinned herself and landed on her feet!

Azula was very amused by this Aang's fighting technique. "Very impressive. We've only just begun and already he's even better than I thought he'd be. I have to admit, this is actually…kind of fun."

"What's the matter, Azula? I was expecting a far more interesting fight than this. I deliberately triggered that flair in hopes that a worthy opponent would come, and this is what I get?! I was hoping for a challenge!"

But Azula wasn't about to lose so easily. "Don't worry, Aang, I'm full of surprises." She said before using the lessons Lu Ten had taught her and used her blue fire to speed herself up and punch a caught off guard Aang by surprise before landing a few more blows on him until he kicked him away. But Aang recovered and speeded to her using his Airbending, landing a rushed knee attack to her face, sending her fly back a bit before she righted herself.

"That is a nice trick, but I've used it before against many Firebenders and even my own people." Aang revealed with a grin.

Azula was surprised but smiled. "Maybe. But still, as this probably is a fight to the death, I see it as a very exciting challenge, and I bet you feel the same way, right?"

'Look at her, smiling and ready for more. The others I encountered would have quit by now, but she's far different. What could she be hiding? Guess I'll just have to find out.' Aang thought before speaking to her out loud. "I do. And for that, I'll show you something before you join your foremothers: the true skill of the 1st and only Airbending warrior!"

Aang then used his Airbending to fly into the air and, to Azula's amazement, he conjured up very strong winds the size of the biggest cold storm in the South Pole that caused massive amounts of snow to come up and blow everywhere while it and massive amounts of wind formed around Aang as Azula blocked her eyes while the wind turned into energy! "Wow! Incredible! This wind's like a hurricane and…he's turning it into…energy!"

Back at the village

Everyone felt like the planet was shaking, causing some of the children to hang on to the women, with a girl even hugging Mai close. "It's okay, sweetie, it's gonna be alright."

"What's going on!" Kanna asked with concern.

"Something tells me it's because of that Airbender." Ty Lee answered. "I just hope Azula's okay."

"I can't believe I'm saying this, but me too." Katara said with surprise that she was rooting for that Fire Nation princess.

Back at the battle

As the winds continued, Aang grinned with delight before he suddenly burst the winds everywhere, along with the blueish energy. "HAAAAAAAA!" He yelled before they all stopped.

Azula uncovered her face and saw that everything Aang did had stopped. "Well, everything's stopped." Before she looked at the landing Aang.

"It's time, Azula." Aang said darkly, making Azula a bit shocked before he rushed to Azula and hit his head on her face, followed by kicking her up before she flipped and looked for Aang, who had disappeared. "Hey, fool, behind you!" Before rushing at Azula and kicking her away but she flipped back 3 times before she saw him in the air and strangely fired an energybending blast.

"What the fuck?!" Azula yelled before jumping up to avoid the energy before she barely dodged another blast that only grazed her shoulder! "AHHH!"

Aang was very amused. "Very impressive. You're the 1st to ever dodge my energybending. But of course I made that 1 weaker. I can vaporize you at any time if I wanted, but I want to see what else you can do, because, to me, it wouldn't be fun if you died so soon."

Azula was very surprised that this Airbender was quite the warrior with the spirit of a Firebender. 'Damn. He's an Airbender, but fights like a Firebender. He truly is the Avatar, but unlike others I've read about, seems to have a pride and arrogance problem. But…there's still a chance I can win. But…I can only hope my body can take it…especially without my tail.'

But Aang was eager to continue. "Why are you hesitant, Azula? It's your move. Unless that's all you can do against me. If that's true, I'm very disappointed. But then again, no Firebender I encountered weren't even a fraction as strong as you are. But among those stupid pacifist Airbenders, I was always the most powerful because I knew what would happen."

'It seems he's quite the smart 1. Far different from any Airbender I read about. But that doesn't change anything. He must be humbled and he must end this war for the sake of restoring balance, not for the thrill and sport of fighting!' Azula thought before closing her eyes and drew upon a strength that all benders had and only used in dire situations. "Now, it's time to end this! IT'S TIME TO USE MY HIDDEN STRENGTH!"

Meanwhile, on Azula's ship

Lu Ten, having developed a sense for most things, sensed that his cousin was about to be in trouble…from herself. "Azula, please tell me that you're not doing what I think you are. Your body can't handle the full 10x strength you have. Ohhh…Azula, don't do it. I can't lose you too." He said with extreme worry, not wanting to lose another loved 1 to this pointless war like he lost his father.

Meanwhile, in the village

"Mai, do you feel that?" Ty Lee asked with worry.

"Yeah. Azula's gonna do it." Mai answered.

"Do what?" Katara asked.

"Something crazy and possibly life-threatening…to herself." Mai answered with worry.

Back at the battle

Aang stood in surprise as bright blue flames surrounded Azula's body before it engulfed her, seemingly setting her aflame but Azula controlled it with all her willpower and strength she until the flames grew big and spread out, making Aang step back before her entire body appeared to be a blue humanoid shape. "NOW, AANG, PREPARE…FOR THE REAL FIGHT!"

Suddenly, much to Aang's shock and surprise, Azula rushed to him at a speed he could barely follow and the Fire Nation princess punched him hard in the face enough to send him back before following with a hard kick on his back that sent him flying away before he stopped himself and tried to shoot an energy blast at her that didn't hit her due to her increased speed before Azula appeared from the right and hit him hard, sending him flying in a mountain of snow!

But Aang recovered and air blasted the mountain off him before trying to hit Azula as she rushed at him again. "You…wretched little…!" He said, only to get hit on his back again before he stopped himself, covered his right hand in energy and rushed to hit Azula with it…only to get hit hard in the gut, fortunately his armor protected him from the fire but he still stumbled back while holding his gut, while coughing out spit. 'How…is she doing this?!' Aang then tried to punch Azula again only for her to grab his hand, get behind him and start to twist it hard, making him yell in pain. "AAAAAHHHH! AAAAHHH! AAAHH!"

Aang then elbowed Azula in her right ribs, forcing her to let him go before she retaliated by headbutting him hard, followed by many hard and powerful blows to every part of his body until she brought him to the ground, landing her right knee on his ribcage, injuring him but not killing him, as that wasn't her goal. Azula jumped back and backed up, thinking to herself. 'This power…it's…it's overwhelming me! But…I have to fight it. I…have to win!'

Aang rolled on his side, thinking to himself in disbelief that this could happen to him. 'I refuse to believe that this is happening! It's not…possible that she's more powerful than me!'

Azula saw Aang get to his feet, but still obviously injured. "He…really is a born warrior. I can't believe the other Air Nomads never trained, at least to protect themselves. But…this can't go on. I have to end this quickly."

Aang wiped something off his mouth and when he looked at it, he was enraged to see what it was. "Blood. My blood spelt by…by this Fire Nation princess?! No, I won't allow this to stand! I WILL NOT ALLOW THIS TO STAND! AZULA…YOUR INSOLENCE JUST COST THAT ENTIRE VILLAGE AND YOU YOUR LIVES! I WILL WIN, EVEN IF I HAVE TO KILL YOU ALL TO DO IT!"

Azula was shocked at hearing that. "He'll…what?!"

Aang's body then began to glow a bright blue and he jumped into the air, using airbending to stay up as he prepared his ultimate weapon. "Try to dodge this if you want, but if you do, that village will be doomed!"

Azula knew that she couldn't let that village die, as they, and countless other innocent people, had suffered more than enough over the past century. "I have no choice! I have to risk it!" She said before preparing her ultimate blast. "Prepare to see if you can do what you said while struggling with my ultimate weapon, Aang!" She said before getting into a stance.

"HAHAHAHA! NICE BLUFF, AZULA! TRY TO STOP ME IF YOU WANT! KAMEHAMEHA!" He yelled before firing his ultimate blast.

"GALICK GUUUUUNN!" Azula shouted before firing a purple blast just like Aang's before they collided in an intense struggle, creating a massive wave of snow.

Aang was shocked at this, as that blast was almost exactly like his Kamehameha. "It can't be! Her blast is as strong as my Kamehameha!"

After a few minutes, Azula had no choice if she wanted to end this. "Alright, Aang, if that's how you want it?! THEN YOU'LL GET IT!" Before she drew upon more of her hidden strength and more energy was put into the Galick Gun blast before it forced Aang's Kamehameha back!

"AAAAAHHHH…NNNOOOOOO!" Aang yelled before he was sent flying back far away. But…after some minutes, he finally got free from the blast and landed on the ground, growling with anger as he couldn't believe what was happening. "AAAAAHHHH! WHY?! WHY IS HER STRENGTH SUPERIOR TO MINE! I AM NOT JUST AN AIR NOMAD, I AM THE 1ST AND ONLY WARRIOR TO EVER BE BORN AMONG THEM AND…EVEN MORE!" Before he calmed down and thought of something. "Wait! Azula may have that strength, but she doesn't have what I do! I'll go into my state and grind her to a bloody mess! Argh! It disgusts me that I must do this now! I was saving it for the Firelord, not her! Curse that bitch of a princess!"

A few minutes later

Azula, who was no longer covered in her bright blue fire, saw Aang coming back and smirked. "About time you came back, Aang. I was worried this battle would be over so soon."

But Aang just chuckled. "Hahahaha. Very clever, Azula, showing that kind of strength to me, but I'm afraid I haven't been showing you mine yet! There's something all avatars had that was their greatest weapon against their enemies: the Avatar state! Hahahaha. You've studied the Avatars, right? So surely you know what the Avatar State is."

"I do. The Avatar state is a powerful ability that can be accessed only by the Avatar, the only person capable of bending all four elements. When in the Avatar state, the Avatar gains access to incredible power and knowledge from all their past lives. This allows them to perform extraordinary feats of bending and gives them an enhanced connection to the spiritual world. However, entering the Avatar state requires a deep emotional trigger and can be dangerous if it's not used wisely." Azula answered.

"Excellent description, Azula. But unfortunately for you, you've just made me emotional enough to trigger that state. Hahahahahahaha! Boy, would that long lost tail of yours ever come in handy with that hidden strength right about now!" Aang boasted before his eyes and arrow tattoos began glowing a crimson red and he began hovering in the air! "Hahahahahahaha! Hahahaha! Hahahahahahaha! You're finished now, Azula! Let this be a lesson to anyone who challenges me!"

Meanwhile, at the village

Mai and Ty Lee both got a bad feeling and looked in the direction where Aang and Azula had gone to settle things, which Kanna noticed. "Mai, Ty Lee, are you both…alright, my children?"

"I…I can feel it. Something's about to happen. Something bad." Ty Lee answered.

"Oh come on, you're both just paranoid." Sokka said with disbelief and annoyance.

"Oh, shut it, Sokka!" Katara told her brother.

Kanna put her hands on Mai and Ty Lee's arms. "My children, you must keep your faith in your princess." She said with sympathy, as Mai, ty Lee, and even Lu Ten had told her everything that had happened in Azula's younger years.

"No. We can't just stand around anymore. We have to go help." Mai said with determination.

"Mai's right, Azula needs us now more than ever. I…can't explain it, but…it's just a bad feeling that if we don't help now, something bad will happen to Azula." Ty Lee added with equal worry.

"But…you said Azula's been training for this moment ever since she was a little girl, right? She can more than handle herself. And, despite the fact that you're both extremely skilled in combat, how can't you help Azula against an unusual Airbender who knows how to fight the way he does?" Katara asked them with faith in Azula's abilities, as after being told about her past, she, along with her whole village (with the obvious exception of Sokka) felt sympathy for her.

"We know, but so what? We will help Azula end this war no matter what! We both made that promise years ago and we won't break it again!" Mai said before Ty Lee took her hand and they both began running to the battlefield, with Katara following, along with an extremely reluctant Sokka.

Back at the battlefield

After Aang was completely in the Avatar state, he grinned with delight. "Hahahahahahaha! What do you think, Azula? Impressive, isn't it?!" He asked before trying to land several punches and kicks that Azula barely dodged. "And as you said: When in the Avatar state, the Avatar gains access to incredible power and knowledge from all their past lives. This allows them to perform extraordinary feats of bending and gives them an enhanced connection to the spirit world! But for me, it boosts my abilities tenfold!"

But Azula wasn't afraid as she stood her ground. "I am a Fire Nation princess, Aang! Avatar state of not, I will win this fight! I swear it!" Before she activated her full power form, engulfing her body in her bright blue fire before rushing at him and they began trading blows until Aang, due to Azula being in that state for too long, got the upper hand on her and landed several precise punches and kicks on her before kicking her to the ground!

But Azula thought of a different tactic, a technique that could be useful for a quick escape that she made once in her childhood. She got to her feet and jumped close to Aang. "Let's see how you like this, Aang! SOLAR LIGHTNING FLARE!" Before she created a lightning ball and spread her hands, making the bright light spread!

"AAAAHHHHHH! MY EYES! MY EYES!" Aang said with pain as he held his eyes.

Azula quickly speeded away from him to get some distance. "That'll slow him down for a few seconds at least. It didn't kill him, but it doesn't have to tickle either." Before she hid behind another show mountain and went into her inflamed form, beginning to gather it all, while putting more energy from her body into it into her hand. "If this doesn't work, then I don't know what will. My ultimate Firebomb."

"AAAAHHH! Azula, you coward! I'll get you for that sneak attack and pay you back tenfold for it! Don't even think about trying to escape! I'll hunt you down from anywhere across Vegeta!" Aang vowed with his pride leading him on to pay Azula back.

Azula peeked and saw that Aang was about to get hit vision back. "His vision's begun to come back. Hopefully I can gather all the energy I can before he spots me."

Aang jumped in the air and after looking for a second, he found Azula behind the snow mountain. "There you are!"

"Okay, Aang, you want me, COME AND GET ME!" Azula said while jumping on the top of the mountain and preparing her Firebomb into her right hand. But as she prepared to throw it, Aang suddenly fired a blast merged with his Airbending that came at Azula and caused her to fly back, but put the Firebomb back in her body for a better time to use it!

Aang chuckled with delight before jumping to Azula, weakened from her use of her inflamed form for too long. "You actually put up a decent fight more than any others I've faced, but it seems you've reached your limit, is that right?"

Azula panted, trying to catch her breath. "He's more powerful in that state, it's almost unbelievable. At this rate, I can't use my Firebomb unless I can find an opening. But I…don't have any energy left."

Aang then raised a fist with an energy ball forming. "And now…to finish you off!" But Azula, while managing to avoid the attack, was grabbed by the right arm by Aang's tail and thrown back to the ground before he came down, landing his knee on her ribcage. "Oh, I'm sorry, did I just crack a rib or 2? Too bad! You're lucky I only did that, Azula." Before he then pulled her up by her hair. "It would seem like I've won. But unlike other Air Nomads, I finish what I begin. So…prepare to meet your foremothers in the Spirit World . I'm sure they'll be very happy to see you."

But Azula had another tactic she'd been prepared to use for a while. And much to Aang's shock and surprise, she grabbed the back of his head and pulled him into a kiss that made his eyes widen as Azula retracted her claws and slashed Aang across the chest, leaving 2 bleeding cuts but fortunately didn't kill him as Azula broke her surprise kiss. "Consider that kiss and those scars my parting gifts for you. At least you'll have something to remember me by, Aang." She said with a smirk.

Aang held his chest where his new scars were and was very rageful. "DAMN YOU! HOW DARE YOU LEAVE SCARS ON ME?! Just for that, I'll freeze you!" He vowed before raising her up with airbending and, focusing hard, moved waste amounts of snow and turned it to freezing water forming it around her body and squeezing her, slowly freezing her in the process!

Meanwhile

As Mai and Ty Lee were rushing to help Azula, they saw what Aang was doing. "Mai, look!"

Mai was shocked at seeing this. "It looks like he's trying to freeze her. Come on!"

But as they rushed in to help, Sokka blocked their way. "Hold on! You're not thinking about fighting him, are you? That guy's crazy! Do you have any idea what he did to me?"

"Let me guess: he beat the hell out of you? Big surprise." Mai answered sarcastically.

"How are you gonna save her? If I've read right, that's the Avatar state he's in. You can't beat him like that!" Katara objected.

"Perhaps not, but I have a way. I have the ability to chi-block him. If I can hit him fast and precisely in his pressure points, he won't be able to bend for a while and we can end this." Ty Lee added.

"How?!" Sokka asked.

"Simple, I'll distract him so Ty can get close enough to paralyze him." Mai answered.

"Oh come on, he'll know something's up." Katara complained.

"Maybe, but there's no other choice." Mai said before she and Ty Lee split up.

Aang, using his other senses, heard footsteps running towards him from different directions and guessed who it was. "Ah, it looks like Azula's friends are here. How nice of them."

Mai then called out. "Hey, Airbender! Getting Aang to look at her. "Put Azula down right now!"

"Ah. The knife girl. Mai, I believe. How sweet of you to come and join this little party just in time to see your princess lose. And I was just thinking the moment needed something to give my victory the extra kick!" Aang said with great delight while Ty Lee ran in different directions but set the course to get to Aang.

"Okay, Aang, time to make you let her go!" Ty Lee said before getting close enough to Aang and using her acrobatic abilities to try to hit Aang in his pressure points, only for Aang, who had anticipated something was up, quickly jumped in the air and fired an Airbending punch that sent her flying straight into Mai!

"What?! No way he saw that coming!" Ty Lee and with shock, as no opponent had anticipated her like that before.

But Aang just grinned. "I hope for your sake, you weren't thinking I'd be stupid enough to fall for whatever trick you were hoping to pull. As if Mai would be stupid enough to try something on her own. But I'll give some credit, though, it was a very clever move to go after pressure points…chi-blocker!"

But suddenly, the Airbender felt something inside him and his glowing eyes and arrows began to leave him, keeping him still long enough for Sokka to hit him with his club before he ran. "He's all yours now, girls!"

Ty Lee then jumped behind him and landed very precise light punches to his pressure points and kicked him away, causing Aang to lose his Avatar state completely and making the freezing water around Azula fall off her before Mai jumped up and caught her. "Yes, we did it!"

But Aang knew this feeling all too well as his crimson glow faded completely, but he was still standing and catching his breath, feeling weak. But, conjuring up enough adrenaline to keep going through anger, he stood up. "You're…all…going…to PAY! You're about to suffer in a way you can't even fathom! I'll make you regret humiliating me like this! I swear it!"

But instead of going for Ty Lee, Aang turned his sights on Mai and a shivering Azula before rushing at her and landing a hard kick that caused Mai to drop Azula before he jumped in front of her. "What the fuck?" Mai asked while rubbing her head.

"No reason I can't start with you, right, Mai?" Aang asked before punching her hard in the gut, stunning her. "What's wrong? You and your chi-blocking friend displayed such skill when you so easily defeated that idiot Sokka. Why don't you try some of that on me?!" Before he saw Ty Lee coming at him, making him land a quick kick that sent her flying away a few feet. "Humh. Wait your turn, Ty Lee, I'll come for you next."

"Aang, leave…t-them alone. I-i-i-it's me…you w-want." Azula shivered.

Aang seemed reasonable and picked up Azula by the collar and brought her up to look in her eyes. "Yes, it is you I want. Now…show me you can still fight, even in that frozen state. Come on, impress me like you did before. Unless…you'd prefer to die shivering." He asked before headbutting her and began to walk away from Mai with Azula. "Well, you certainly can take vast amounts of punishment. That's good, it only makes it more fun. You may have lost, but for you pushing me to this point and bruising my pride, I'll give you a warrior's respect and give you a decent burial."

But Mai wasn't about to have that. "No way! You'd better let her go, now!" She called out, getting to her feet and preparing for a fight.

"You wanna fight?! Let's go!" Ty Lee added while jumping beside her.

Aang seemed amused at this, but welcomed the challenge. "Ahh…now you wanna fight me? Okay." He said before throwing Azula on the ground.

Mai then slipped 2 of her knives out her sleeves and threw them at Aang, who was surprised but jumped in the air to avoid the blades, only for Ty Lee to jump into the air after him and land a rushing kick on his head but as she rushed after him again, Aang flipped backwards and kicked her under her chin! As Aang rushed after Ty Lee, remembering her fighting skill, he used careful dodging and blocking to avoid her attacks and got a hard punch on her face.

"Haha. Haaa. That's right. Learn your place, Ty Lee!" Aang said with a crazed grin…only for Mai to appear behind him and land a knee to his upper back before he recovered from the blow and began trading multiple punches and kicks with them…until Mai landed a left knee to his left eye! "AHHH!" Before he got angry. "YOU BASTARD GIRL!" Before he double ax handled her up and spin kicked her in the face! "I've had enough of you 2!" He said before blocking another attack from Ty Lee and landing a knee to her ribs and spinning her around by her right arm and throwing her into Mai!

Azula knew that she needed to end this fight now before it ended with someone dying, but she needed to concentrate hard to recreate her ultimate Firebomb. 'This is the only way to end this. His bending is paralyzed, but it won't be long before he gets it back. But…he's probably weak enough to where this could at least knock him out without killing him.' Before the fire formed in her arm and she concentrated, reforming it into a Fireball.

As Aang grinned, Mai was in disbelief that an Air Nomad could fight for this long. "Damn. I never expected him to still be fighting so well. And after all that fighting he did against Azula and you chi-blocking him, he's probably too worn out to fight his hardest."

"Yeah. Anyone else would have just given up or passed out by now, but this guy's some kind of machine." Ty Lee added in agreement with her secret crush.

'Hahahaha. They're both exceptional fighters, even without any bending. But I'll soon fix that!" Aang thought with determination to win despite the odds. He then rushed at them and concentrated before firing an Airbending punch and an energybending blast that they jumped up to avoid before Mai began to throw multiple knives at Aang, much to his amusement. "Is that all you have?" He asked before running very fast to avoid them until she eventually ran out, allowing him to stop running and laugh. "Hahahahahahaha! All out of blades? Too bad. You can join forces like you've been doing, but it won't make any difference against me. This battle was over the second I had Azula in that little freezing water trick or mine. Now, it's time we put an end to this." Then he fired multiple blasts and airbending punches, causing Mai and Ty Lee to be thrown back into a glacier wall. Aang then ran to them to finish them off, calling out to Azula. "I hope you're watching closely, Azula, because this is the last time you'll ever see your FAITHFUL BEST FRIENDS!"

After Azula's ultimate Firebomb was complete again, the Fire Nation princess began feeling for Aang's life force and once she got a lock on him, she then threw the attack at Aang and it began flying straight at him. 'Don't sorry. Aang, with luck, you'll survive.'

Mai and Ty Lee saw the attack coming and smirked at each other before rushing at Aang and landing a hard team knee to his face that sent him flying right for it, much to his shock. "W-WHAT…IS THAT?!" He asked with shock before the attack collided with him and began growing as it began to shoot high into the air. "AAAAAHHHH! AAAHHH! AAAHHH!"

Mai and Ty Lee then walked up to Azula and sat beside her. "That was…amazing." Ty Lee said with excitement.

"Yes, it was." Azula said with a smile…before Katara and Sokka walked up to them.

"What the hell was that thing?" Sokka asked with shock.

"Something an idiot like you wouldn't understand." Mai answered with annoyance.

Suddenly, Aang's body came falling down from the air and landed on the ground, but fortunately, he wasn't burnt that much, only in a few places. "What?! He should have been fried after an attack like that." Sokka said with shock before he and Katara walked up to him, thinking he was dead. "Looks like that attack did you in. Good thing, cause he was bad to the core. Well, at least now we won't have to look at his ugly face anymore."

But then, Aang's eyes opened. "Whose face is ugly?" Shocking him and Katara, and even Ty Lee and Mai before he leaned up and slowly stood. "Here's some advice: if you're going to shoot someone in the back, make sure to finish them off. Hahahaha. Azula may have wounded me, but I can still fight enough to take care of all of you!" Before he kicked Sokka away and grabbed Katara by the wrists with his tail and threw her away from him. "Once I'm done here. I'll find that sacred watering place that Waterbenders use to heal and see my own plans through." Then he walked up to Azula, Mai and Ty Lee. "You've all pushed me to a point I haven't been pushed to in a very long time. "And to think it would be a Fire Nation princess that did this. An embarrassment I'll soon wipe off the face of this planet!"

But Mai and Ty Lee stood up to defend Azula. "Just give up, Aang. In that state, you're already beaten!" Mai told him.

"That's right! You're injured enough as it is! Don't make it even harder for yourself!" Ty Lee added.

But instead of listening, Aang just conjured up a big airbending punch with whatever strength he had and blasted both the girls away from Azula. After the attack, Aang panted, as he'd lost more energy and stamina than he thought. "That attack was pathetic. I'm weaker than I thought. Those 2 are obviously hurt, but alive. And…I'm injured…more than I thought. I…have to finish this quickly."

But as Aang walked up to Azula and slowly grabbed her, he then tried to land a final blow. But then, Sokka yelled as he came up to Aang and brought his boomerang down on his back with the sharp end, cutting him and making him yell in pain before he collapsed. Sokka stood up and smiled widely as he looked at Aang's seemingly dead body. "HAHAHAHAHAHA! HEY, KATARA, LOOK WHAT I DID, I BEAT HIM! HAHAHAHA! I told you guys he wasn't so tough!" He said before beginning to brag. "I knew I was always better than you! You hear that, Avatar! Nobody but nobody can beat the mighty water tribe soldier SOKKA! HAHAHAHA…AHHHH!"

But then, Aang began slowly getting up. "Why, you spineless…idiotic…clown!"

And when Sokka tried to hit him again, missing every time until Aang grabbed the boomerang with his tail and threw it away, he tried to talk his way out of a beating. "Hey, hey, hey! Calm down! I…I was just kidding! Hahahaha. No way I'd ever try to kill someone like you, Aang. In fact, I was thinking we could be buddies."

But Aang, obviously not buying his cowering, kicked him in the face, sending him flying back before he walked up to him and growled before landing a hard punch that sent him flying back a few feet away. But he wasn't done yet. "If you think you can spill my blood, you are sadly mistaken!"

But Azula, having recovered some of her stamina, sat up and began getting to her feet. 'I've…gotta stop this.'

But Aang, seeing this, rushed back to Azula. "No, you don't! You Fire Nation scum! I'm GOING TO LET YOU WIN! I WON'T!" Before Ty Lee, who'd recovered from Aang's last attack, lightly punched his right arm and ribcage, paralyzing his right side.

"Knock it off, Aang! Just give up already!" Azula told him.

'NO! NO! I HAVE TO WIN AT ANY COST!' Aang thought to himself before he jumped and landed a swift kick on Ty Lee's face that sent her flying back!

"Damn. He's really something else. Paralyzed from the right, and he's still barely fighting!" Katara said with amazement as she watched everything.

Aang tried attacking Azula again but she blocked it and spin elbowed his chest before deflecting his left arm to avoid another airbending punch before kneeing him under the chin and kicking him up high into the air before following after him using Firebending from her feet, getting above him. "1 more…attack! AZULA, TAKE THIS!" Before firing an Airbending energy blast that Azula aimed her fire at, using her hands to add extra power and causing Aang to be overwhelmed. "No! I can't stop it with my right side paralyzed! NO! NOOOOOOO!" He yelled before landing on the ground, creating a small crater!

Meanwhile, at the outskirts of the village

Lu Ten and Kanna, having decided to see for themselves what was going on, surprisingly, with Raditz's assistance due to the mongoose lizard giving them a lift, saw the battlefield. "By the Spirits, what happened here?" He asked himself before getting to the battlefield and getting off Raditz when seeing Azula, Mai and Ty Lee before he ran to them while Kanna ran to Sokka and Katara.

Raditz saw the state Aang was in and quickly rushed to him before the Air Nomad saw his loyal friend. "Raditz…finally." Aang said weakly as he began to slowly crawl to him. "I…don't believe it. I never thought a fight with people of the Fire Nation could come to this. Me, Aang, the 1st and only warrior born among those weak fools is actually being forced to retreat like this!"

But Sokka wasn't about to allow Aang to get away and, seeing 1 of Mai's mini sais that she'd thrown at Aang, quickly grabbed it and ran towards Aang before he could get to his mongoose lizard. Once he got to him, Sokka said to him. "Hey, Air Nomad disgrace!" Getting Aang's attention. "You think you can just get on your lizard and leave like nothing happened, huh?! Well…" He said as he raised the sai to finish Aang off. "...think again!"

"No! You can't do this to me!" Aang said despite not having enough energy left to stop him.

"Now…you can just…DIIIIIIIEEE!"

But before Sokka could stab Aang in the heart, Azula called out to him. "DON'T YOU DARE!" Stopping Sokka just inches away from Aang's chest.

"What?!" Sokka asked before looking at Azula, who'd walked up to him with Mai, Ty Lee and Lu Ten, while Katara watched. "But…why don't you want me to kill this guy?! You guys saw and experienced 1st hand what he's capable of!"

"No! You must not do this! It's over. So please, I'm begging you to let him go." Lu Ten said softly.

"What, are you crazy, sir?! This guy's pure evil! If I let him go, he'll just find a way to heal and try to finish what he started! No way I'm giving him that chance!" Sokka protested.

"Maybe he will." Azula told him.

"He will! I mean, you guys may not be so bad, but he's pure evil!"

"No he's not! Believe me, I know how strong he is and how much damage he can do, but you can't kill him." Azula said before explaining why. "Because he's…the Avatar. Think about it. There's no Airbenders left that anyone knows of. But I know that he's the Avatar because, according to the rest of the world, he's never been found."

"And according to the Avatar cycle, the last Avatar was a Firebender, right? Meaning the next Avatar would be born an Air Nomad, and look what's in front of us right now." Lu Ten added.

Katara was shocked at this and asked. "Are you saying that this Airbender could actually be the Avatar?! Truly?!"

"Yes. He's the only 1 that can end this war, Katara. And despite what your idiot brother thinks, if he dies now, it'll take years before the next Avatar will be ready after he or she is born and the Fire Nation will have already had the entire world under its banner. And that's something we can't let happen." Ty Lee answered as she, Mai and Azula walked up to him.

"And besides, it'd be such a waste. I want to challenge Aang again 1 day…after the war's over. If we wanna have any hope of ending this senseless war and ending the suffering of millions of people and families everywhere, including the future generations of our nation, Aang must live.

Kanna then spoke out her opinion as well. "They're right, Sokka. Prideful and arrogant, though he is, he's the best hope the world has now."

"But…I have to keep my promise to Dad! I have to." Sokka protested.

But Kanna begged him. "Sokka, you don't want what you're about to do take you to a place you'll never come back from. If you kill him, it'll haunt you for the rest of your life. So please, my brave warrior, don't become a murderer and a killer. Please, just let him go. Please, for your father…and your mother…me and especially Katara. They wouldn't ever want that for you and neither do we."

"Gran-Gran's right, Sokka. Don't turn into something you're not. Please, just let Aang go, please." Katara added with pleading eyes.

Sokka, despite wanting to keep his promise to his father, knew they were all right. And even his and Katara's father and especially their long dead mother would never want to see her boy turn into a murderer, even if Aang did try to kill his village. So, with great reluctance, while Mai held her hand out…. slowly gave her her sai, sparing Aang's life.

They all smiled as Lu Ten put his hand on Sokka's shoulder. "You made the right decision, Sokka. And you've proven yourself to be the better person than even me."

Azula smiled as well, along with the others before she looked seriously at Aang, who was fully on Raditz's back. "This isn't over, it's just the beginning. We will see each other again very soon, Aang. I promise you that. And when we meet again, I assure you that I'll be stronger than I was before. And even then, I'll keep getting stronger to prevent you from trying something like this again. That, I can promise you."

Aang chuckled before making his own promise. "Hahahaha. You…haven't beaten me. I swear… you haven't. When we… see each other again, Azula, there won't be a miracle that'll save you next time, and I will be sure that I will have you bowed at my feet when I win. That I can personally guarantee." Before Raditz began running far away from the area, intending to find some place where Aang could heal.

Later, at the village

After Azula was placed back on her ship and into her quarters to recover by Mai and Ty Lee, Lu Ten spoke with Kanna after the ship had given the village food and warm blankets so the children could sleep better and warmer at night. "I'm sorry for all this trouble your village went through, Kanna. But I assure you that your village will be safe. Princess Azula has some influence here and the warriors we've recruited will ensure the villagers' protection. You have my word."

Kanna smiled, something she'd not done in a long time. "I'm…grateful for your help, Lu Ten. And…I sense that Azula and Aang's destinies, though they don't realize it yet, have become intertwined forever." And when she spotted Katara and Sokka trying to sneak on the ship, she asked them accusingly. "What do you two think you're doing?"

The 2 siblings turned around, looking at her and trying to act as innocently as possible as Sokka grinned broadly.

Smiling warmly, Kanna said. "You'll need these." As she held up their sleeping bags. "You have a long journey ahead of you." The siblings glanced at each other in surprise before Kanna walked over to face Katara. "It's been so long since I've had hope, but you brought it back to life, my little waterbender…and so did Azula and her friends today." Then she hugged Katara and who at the end took the sleeping bags out of her hands; to Sokka. "And you, my brave warrior, be nice to your sister. And try not to annoy everyone too much along the way."

Kanna hugged Sokka, who, slightly embarrassed, patted her back. "Yeah, okay Gran." Then he smiled broadly when she released him.

"As much as I strongly dislike him, Aang is the Avatar. He's the world's only chance. You both found him for a reason. Now your destinies are intertwined with his, as are Azula's and her friends, and Lu Ten's."

Lu Ten held his hands out. "Come, children, we've no time to lose."

Katara, and reluctantly, Sokka, took his hands and followed him aboard the ship, waving goodbye to Kanna and the villagers, especially the innocent little boys and girls, who'd grown very fond of Mai and Ty Lee.

"Bye! Bye! Bye!" The children all said together.

And after some minutes, the ship began to sail away from the village, changing course to head somewhere else. Katara and Sokka then went to Azula's quarters, knocking before she said. "Come in!" Before the siblings came in, along with Lu Ten.

"It would seem like we have 2 passengers, princess Azula." Lu Ten said politely.

"Why are you 2 coming along?" Mai asked while giving Azula some tea.

"Because, as Kanna told you, Katara is the last Waterbender of the Southern Watertribe and must journey to the North Pole in order to master her abilities, Mai. Having a Waterbender with us could prove to be useful to us in our resistance movement against the Firelord." Lu Ten explained. "I assure you, she has great potential."

"And what about him?" Ty Lee asked while pointing at Sokka.

"Oh, I'm sure we'll find some uses for him, despite his occasional idiocy and stupidity." Lu Ten answered before grinning. "Besides, I find it amusing."

"So, Azula, where're we going 1st?" Katara asked Azula as she finished her tea.

Azula answered while standing up, wearing a robe. "1st, we resupply at the nearest town, then…I'm going to track down Aang again. He'll need to heal his wounds 1st but then, he'll most likely head to the Southern Air Temple. I can't explain why, but I have a feeling that he'll be heading there after he's healed."

"Well, I think I know where he's going. I'll…guide you there, if you'll let me. It's a sacred watering place that can heal very bad wounds, broken bones and even near death wounds." Katara suggested. "Trust me, I've been there at least once before."

Azula accepted that answer, feeling she could trust Katara. "All right. Cousin Lu, give Katara the helm. And you, Mr. Fucking idiot, you have cleaning duty for 2"weeks."

"WHAT?! CLEANING DUTY?! I'm a soldier, not a cleaner! I've never cleaned anything in my life! Can't I just…make Katara do it all for me?" Sokka said nervously.

"No! Consider this your punishment for starting that pointless and pathetic fight with us…and for embarrassing yourself in front of your village." Mai said with a smirk before she and Ty Lee grabbed his arms and escorted him.

"Besides, it's high time you learn how to clean up after yourself for a change." Ty Lee added with a smirk. "That, and the rest of the crew could use a little help around here."

When everyone left, except Azula, she got on her bed and pulled the covers over her to get some sleep, but her thoughts were only about Aang. 'We will see each other again, Aang. And when we do, I'll make sure you and your arrogant pride are kept in check. Even if I have to break you to protect innocent people.'

There you go, my dear friends, the 1st chapter is complete at last. Hope you all enjoyed this chapter, especially the action scenes. Next will be where Aang heals, followed by the Southern Air Temple. As you can see, Sokka and Katara are with Azula and her crew, and will be all the way until Book 2, while Aang will be mostly alone but will have multiple encounters with others, especially Azula.

Be sure to thank my good friend, SreznoJIG, for this and the ideas he helped me with for this chapter. And also, this is my early Christmas present to him and all of you, my dear friends. He and I have big plans for this story. So, I hope you all enjoy it. Rate and review and I'll see you all next time, my dear friends.