(Originally posted November 16, 2022 on AO3)

Aang blinked his eyes blearily. They had been flying north all night. The Southern Air Temple couldn't be that much further.

He was grateful he had been able to make it away from the outpost unscathed, though he still wasn't sure how he was going to be able to trust Zuko not to stab him in the back again. Iroh, he noted, strangely did not give off the same hostile energy that his nephew did. Aang didn't know why, but something deep within him told him that the old man was trustworthy, despite being complicit in his capture.

He turned to glance behind him, noticing that Iroh was fast asleep, snoring loudly and quite comically. Zuko, meanwhile, was awake. The dark circles under his eyes indicated that just like Aang, he had probably been awake this whole time. He stared down into the ocean below with an unreadable expression, arms resting on the railing of the saddle.

Aang didn't know what this kid had been through, but he could guess it had been something traumatic. Zuko's burn scar was evidence enough for that. Despite everything that had transpired between the two so far, Aang felt pity for him. It was not in his nature to feel hatred towards anyone, regardless of what they had done. He decided to show Zuko some kindness and began an attempt to build some rapport.

"So... you're awake too?" Aang decided to ask.

Zuko started, evidently not expecting to be spoken to by anyone. "It's pretty difficult to sleep when you're miles in the air," he replied after a moment of hesitation.

"Don't worry, you won't have to worry about falling off. I'm an excellent flier," Aang said with a wide grin. "You'll get used to it after a bit."

Zuko did not return Aang's smile and turned back to face the ocean again, remaining silent.

"Hey, by the way, I wanted to say thank you for not turning me over to that Zhao guy. From what your uncle said, he sounds pretty scary," Aang continued.

"This doesn't mean that we're just going to let you go, you know," Zuko replied, to Aang's surprise, still staring down into the ocean with a hardened expression. "I can't go home unless I bring you with me."

"Well, you don't exactly have your ship or crew anymore," Aang said, and Zuko frowned in irritation. "So you'll just have to stick with me for a bit longer. Maybe we'll even become friends, who knows?"

Zuko said nothing, and huffed angrily through his nose.

Aang sighed, turning back to face north. So much for striking up conversation. He yawned and rubbed his right eye with his free hand.

Eventually, he caught a glimpse of rock formations peaking through the clouds, and as they grew in size as they flew closer, he could finally make out where they were. "The Patola Mountain range!" he said excitedly, feeling relieved. "We're almost there!"

He immediately felt much more energized at the thought of returning home. Despite all that he had seen and been told by Zuko, a part of him desperately hoped that it had all just been some tactic to scare him, that he hadn't suddenly been transported nearly a hundred years into the future, and that when he arrived home, Monk Gyatso would be there to greet him with a hug and warm smile.

"Young airbender," he heard Iroh say, having woken up. "Are you certain you want to return to the Southern Temple?"

Aang turned to face him. "Why wouldn't I be? I know it will be different considering how much time has passed, but I'm excited to see it," he said.

"Yes, but surely there is somewhere in the Earth Kingdom where we could hide from Zhao's forces?" Iroh asked, not unkindly.

"We're already almost there, we don't have to stay long!" Aang replied. He did not fail to notice the look that passed between Zuko and Iroh, but neither of them protested further.

Soon, they were ascending again as Aang took them even higher above the clouds, flying over a tree-covered ridge as the Southern Air Temple finally came into view. "There it is! The Southern Air Temple," he breathed. He knew in reality it had been almost a hundred years since he had been there, but it felt like he was returning after having only been gone a few days.

However, as Appa flew closer to the temple, he couldn't help but be shocked by how... empty and lifeless it seemed. It really appeared that nobody had inhabited the temple for years. He felt a pit of anxiety take root in his stomach.

They finally touched down on the large platform next to the bison stables. Usually, one would see multiple bison flying around or resting in their stalls, but the stalls were empty, and there was an eerie sense of quiet. Aang didn't even see any flying lemurs. The pit of anxiety continued growing in his stomach and was bordering on dread, but he forced it down. Just because nobody in the Fire Nation has seen an airbender in a long time doesn't mean Sozin just killed them all a hundred years ago. Maybe there are a few still living here, and there just aren't enough people to take care of things like they used to, Aang thought to himself, desperately trying to maintain his optimism. Besides, the only way to get to an air temple is on a flying bison, and I doubt the Fire Nation has any flying bison!

"So that's where my friends and I would play airball," Aang said to Zuko and Iroh as they dismounted and began walking the cliffside path, pointing to the empty stadium area where the wooden airball poles still stood, now worn with age. "And over there where we first landed is where the bison would sleep, and..." he stopped. He was trying hard to maintain optimism, but it was very jarring to see how different his home looked.

Iroh and Zuko had been virtually silent this whole time. Aang wasn't stupid - he knew they probably knew something he didn't, but he couldn't bring himself to demand they tell him. He turned to face them, noticing that Zuko refused to meet his eye and that Iroh was looking back at him with intensity, though not unkindly. His brows were furrowed and his mouth formed a frown.

Aang sighed and looked out over the edge of the cliff. "This place used to be full of monks and lemurs and bison. Now there's just a bunch of weeds. I can't believe how much things have changed..."

He turned back around to continue walking along the path, and Iroh and Zuko followed silently.

Zuko had never felt such a confusing mix of thoughts and emotions before meeting Aang. He had saved his and his uncle's lives, despite everything they had done to him. He didn't go back on his word like Zuko had assumed he would. In fact, he had been nothing but kind and friendly since Zuko had first met him... and Zuko had betrayed him the first moment he got. He felt the hot sting of guilt pierce his chest. I really hate this feeling, Zuko thought with irritation, gritting his teeth.

As they followed Aang along the barren path leading up to the main area of the Southern Air Temple, he longed to ask his uncle if he knew more about what exactly happened nearly a hundred years ago between the Fire and Air Nations. Zuko knew that this was one of the locations where the most momentous battle in Fire Nation history took place, and so far it looked just as abandoned as the Western Air Temple had.

Zuko had never really questioned what he knew about this battle before - this piece of history was taught in every Fire Nation school from a young age. "Fire Lord Sozin battled the Air Nation Army because they disagreed with Sozin's vision for the world," his teacher at the Royal Fire Academy had said. Every Fire National had been taught that the Avatar was the one leading their people against the Fire Nation Army, that "we had no choice but to stop them for the greater good." The Fire Nation had won this battle in a landslide due to the arrival of a powerful comet - aptly named Sozin's Comet, after his great grandfather's victory - that increased a firebender's power tenfold.

Of course, Zuko knew this battle had resulted in the death of many Air Nation people. Casualties were to be expected in any war. However, one thing that Zuko had not really bothered to consider before was exactly why nobody had seen any airbenders since the battle had occurred. The Avatar had escaped, so wouldn't it have made sense that other airbenders did, too? It would certainly make sense that they would want to stay away from any Fire National after such a defeat. Many of them most likely perished in the battle, but there were surely other Air Nation citizens existing somewhere in the world. Zuko had just assumed that maybe they had escaped in hiding to the Earth Kingdom mainland. Or maybe there were some who were living in Agna Qel'a or elsewhere in the Northern Water Tribe territories. They certainly weren't in the Southern Water Tribe - the Fire Nation had long since searched for the Avatar there and found no traces of Air Nation people living there.

Suddenly, Aang's words from the day prior echoed in his head: The Air Nomads don't even have a formal military, we are a peaceful people! We've never gone to war with anyone!

From what he had learned about Aang so far, Zuko had a hard time believing he would lie about something like that. He suddenly felt sick to his stomach, but tried his hardest to push the feeling down.

Whatever had happened to the rest of the Air Nation after his great grandfather had battled them, they clearly weren't inhabiting the temples anymore. He had sensed that his uncle may have been about to tell Aang this earlier, but for whatever reason, he had not. He glanced at his uncle, and was shocked to see a very intense expression on his face.

Finally, they arrived at a small courtyard with a fountain in the center. Atop the fountain was a carving of an elderly monk. He was sitting cross-legged, a serene expression on his face. Aang smiled. "Monk Gyatso! The greatest airbender in the world," he said aloud, partially to himself, partially to Iroh and Zuko, who were still behind him.

"He taught me everything I know," Aang continued. As he brought his fists together and bowed towards the statue, memories began to flood his mind. He remembered how Gyatso had taught him to make orange fruit pies just last month - or what felt like last month to him, even though that was actually over 90 years ago by now.

He remembered feeling distracted that day. My ancient cake-making technique isn't the only thing on your mind, is it, Aang? he remembered Gyatso asking.

This whole Avatar thing, m-maybe the monks made a mistake, Aang had replied. That same morning, he had been told he was the Avatar by the monk council. It had been a lot to take in, and he wasn't sure he even believed it.

The only mistake they made was telling you before you turned sixteen, but we can't concern ourselves with what was. We must act on what is, Gyatso had said, gesturing to the beauty of the temple. Aang's heart ached as he remembered it as it had once been: sky bison and flying lemurs everywhere, sunbeams gently shining through the canopies of the golden-leafed trees. Airbenders-in-training laughing and playing airball, the distant sound of monks chanting.

But Gyatso? How do I know if I'm ready for this? Aang had asked.

Your questions will be answered when you're old enough to enter the air temple sanctuary. Inside, you will meet someone who will guide you on your journey, Gyatso had replied.

Who is it? Aang had questioned excitedly.

When you are ready, he will reveal himself to you, Gyatso had replied cryptically, much to Aang's annoyance. Now, are you going to help me with these cakes, or not? Aang smiled as he remembered how his mentor's grey eyes had twinkled with mischief.

All right, Aang had replied, mood lifted. He chuckled to himself as he remembered the two of them launching four fruit pies high in the air, where they had dropped out of the sky and hit each of the council monks squarely on the head where they had been meditating on the platform below.

Aang and Gyatso had laughed heartily at the scene, and as the two monks had bowed to each other, Gyatso had said, Your aim has improved greatly, my young pupil. Aang's heart ached as he remembered the fondness evident in his mentor's eyes and voice as he had pat the young airbender on the head.

As his mind slowly returned to the present, Aang opened his eyes, pushing down the waves of grief that were threatening to overcome him by taking a deep breath. They can't all be gone, Aang tried to reassure himself. He tried not to think about the fact that Gyatso was most likely dead - if not due to firebenders, almost certainly due to old age, as the monk had been pushing 70 when Aang had left. He remembered being told once that Avatar Kyoshi had lived to be over 200, but she was an Avatar. It was unlikely that Gyatso would have been able to live longer than a hundred years.

"You must miss him," he heard Iroh say kindly, gently placing his hand on Aang's shoulder. Zuko was still uncharacteristically quiet; he was holding his arms tightly, knuckles turning white, and his brow was furrowed. He refused to meet Aang's eye.

"Yeah," Aang said solemnly, and turned away from him to walk up the stairs to the right which led to the temple sanctuary.

"Where are you going?" He heard Zuko ask, his tone half-demanding, half-curious. It was the first time he had spoken in quite awhile.

Aang turned, smiling down at them. "The air temple sanctuary. There's someone I'm ready to meet."

Zuko couldn't repress his sense of awe as they stepped into the air temple sanctuary. It was absolutely beautiful. Embedded in the floor below them was a round symbol of intertwined air currents - what he assumed to be the symbol of the Air Nation. He soon noticed a giant wooden door to his left, which supported a combination of metal colored pipes also arranged in the symbol for the Air Nation.

"What exactly makes you think that anyone could have survived in there for nearly a hundred years?" Zuko said. He wasn't trying to be rude, but from what he had seen of the temple so far, he felt it was a valid question.

Aang didn't seem to take offense at his statement. "It's not impossible. I survived in that iceberg for that long."

Good point, Zuko thought. The fact that Aang had survived in there for that long defied all logic and reason, Avatar or not.

"Whoever's in here might help me figure out this Avatar thing." Aang continued brightly. It both amazed and slightly irritated Zuko how positive Aang could be in a situation like this. He forced down another uncomfortable jab of guilt as a small voice in his head whispered, Your people put him in a situation like this. Zuko shook his head to banish the thought. There had to be a reason, an explanation as to why his people did what they did.

He watched as Aang widened his stance and stretched out his arms, sending an air current through both of the pipes on the door. The three curled tubes each flipped around, the sound of a horn emanating from each as the air flowed back out. Airbending must have triggered a mechanism in the door.

The large door finally clicked as the doors slowly opened. The inside of the room was not visible, but it looked to be large.

Aang grinned and darted inside, and Zuko and Iroh followed after exchanging a nervous glance. The room was indeed large, and Zuko blinked as his good eye adjusted to the darkness inside. He nearly jumped out of his skin when he noticed shapes of people surrounding him, and instinctively broke into a fighting stance. Iroh, however, was clearly in awe. "Prince Zuko, this is incredible," he breathed.

As Zuko's good eye finally adjusted to the darkness, he realized that it was not people he was seeing, but statues . Hundreds of them, all lined up next to one another in a spiral pattern that circled all the way up the walls and into the top of the tower. What is this place? Zuko wondered in awe. "Who are all these people?" he wondered aloud before he could stop himself.

"I'm not sure," Aang replied pensively. "But it feels like I know them somehow. Look!" He pointed to one of the statues, which had the unmistakable Air Nation tattoos. "This one's an airbender!"

Zuko looked to the right at the next statue. "This one looks like a waterbender. And this one's an earthbender." He began to realize there was a pattern: air, water, earth, fire.

"This is the Avatar Cycle," Aang said.

"Yes, these are your past lives, young Avatar," Iroh confirmed.

"Wow! There are so many!" Aang replied, gazing up into the tower. He began to walk further down the line of statues, studying each one.

Zuko turned to Iroh, who was studying the statues with an expression of what Zuko could only describe as a mix of wonder and reverence. He turned back to Aang and noticed he had stopped right in front of what looked to be the very last statue in the lineup, which was very close to the center of the floor. His eyes were fixated on it and he had a blank expression on his face, unblinking, almost as if he were in a trance.

Zuko began to study the statue as well, noticing that it was a tall, elderly man with a topknot and a long beard. He wore unmistakable Fire Nation style robes, and the symbol of the Fire Nation was evident on his chest.

He looked back to Aang, who was still entranced, and snapped his fingers in front of his face. "Hey, snap out of it," Zuko said, frowning.

Aang shook his head. "Huh?"

"Who is that?" Zuko asked, curiosity overpowering all other thoughts and feelings.

"That's Avatar Roku, the Avatar before me," Aang replied without missing a beat.

Zuko's brow furrowed. Why had he never heard of Avatar Roku before now? Come to think of it, he was fairly certain that had never learned anything about any past Fire Nation Avatars, despite the room they were in providing evidence that there had been hundreds of them in the past. There were no temples, no portraits, no statues... Surely the Fire Nation would revere such a powerful member of their nation?

As he continued to study the statue, he began to take notice of how familiar its eyes looked. He cocked his head to the side, wracking his brain to remember where he had seen such eyes before.

At this point, Iroh had joined them. Upon realizing whose statue they were staring at, his eyes widened, and he bowed deeply. This baffled Zuko.

"Uncle, you know who this Roku person is?" Zuko asked.

Iroh rose from his bow, and looked as if he wanted to say something, but decided against it. "I will explain at a later time, Prince Zuko."

Zuko felt a spike of irritation fueled by both impatience and intense curiosity, and opened his mouth to demand his uncle tell him more when he heard a "Shush!" from Aang, who was motioning for them to move behind the statues.

A shadow of a figure had appeared through the light of the doorway, and it was making its way into the chamber.