"Are you sure?"

"Yes, June. I'm okay with moving on foot or flying with my glider if I need to", Aang replied. Declining the bounty hunter's offer to sit on the saddle behind her as she rode on Nyla's back. He wished she would cease her teasing, especially with all his friends there to witness it and doing nothing to hide the snickering behind his back. Katara being the only exception.

Nyla led the way to where the scent of the missing villagers guided her with team avatar following from the sky with Appa. The trail went a few miles deep into a forest east of Renu village. The further they went the trees blocked off any coverage from the sky so Appa would have to land for them to continue in their pursuit. The Shirshu eventually stopped in front of a large split underneath a massive oak tree.

They all stepped down and stood before the entrance.

"Trail ends here", June confirmed.

"Ominous-looking tree", Sokka commented. Behind him, Toph knelt and placed her hand on the dirt.

"Can you sense anyone Toph?" Aang asked.

"Hmmm…what is the estimated number of missing villagers?"

"Should be sixty-five total", Katara answered.

"I'm sensing a lot more than sixty-five people beneath us", the earth bender stood up, "at least a hundred."

"A hundred people? Is it possible the village leaders miscounted?" Kano wondered.

"No", Aang shook his head, "this just confirms whoever took those missing villagers aren't spirits."

"If this isn't the work of spirits then who?" Suki inquired and crossed her arms, "And why kidnap this many people?"

They all glanced back at the split entrance before them with the questions collectively swirling in their minds. Finally, Aang stepped up as he held his glider firmly in his hands.

"Whoever is behind this, we'll put a stop to what they're planning. Everyone, stay vigilant." Aang commanded. Leaving Appa and Nyla to remain on guard at the front of the entrance. The group walked through the dark entrance with Aang flame over his palm for light. No one said a word as they trekked further into the dark void. The walls seemingly narrowed as they kept going until they came upon an open space.

"Geez just all that walking, and we still haven't found anyone?" June complained.

"Yeah! Just how deep does this cave go?" Sokka wondered exasperatedly.

Toph stopped herself abruptly and stomped her foot lightly, "I'm sensing some movement…THEY'RE SURROUNDING US!"

Suddenly the direction they had all come in shut behind them as a swarm of soldiers dressed in red surrounded them from above. Every soldier stood in position with flaming fists aimed at the group.

Fire benders. Rebels who still believed in Sozin's ideology of world conquest were still loyal to the former fire lord Ozai.

"Ahh, the great Avatar Aang", a booming voice spoke out, "Finally…the fruit of my labor has come forth to me."

"What's the meaning of this?" Aang demanded. A man strapped in his war general gear came from the center of the soldiers. His face was wrinkled with age along with a short grey beard. Dark brown eyes watched Aang with disdain.

"We were so close…the war would have ended on our terms had you not interfered."

Aang narrowed his eyes, "The fire nation was going to create another genocide had my friends and I not put a stop to the madness the hundred-year-long war brought."

"And what of it? In a strong world led by my nation there is no use of inferior beings…", the man smirked, "just like the air nomads."

Aang tightened the grip on his staff. His anger rose at the hateful words this insane man spoke.

"Who are you?" Aang asked with a heavy breath.

"I am Aizo…Aizo of the great Ryoka", the General answered, "my clan has had a part in the war since the very beginning." A smug grin plastered on his face, "My great-great-grandfather, Hazan, led one of the first infantry to attack the air temples. Starting with southern air temple…"

The team gasped at Aizo's statement. Everyone's eyes immediately went to Aang. His body stood still. However, Katara noticed the small trembling in the air bender's hands.

"Over the years my ancestors spent time hunting down every air nomad they could find whether they were men, women, or children. Wiping them out in large numbers is what made the Ryoka clan so acclaimed in the fire nation army. Fire Lord Sozin himself was impressed with my forefathers. Finally, I will be able to continue the tradition by destroying the last air bender standing before me. Aren't I just lucky?"

"You're monsters", Katara growled, "You and your whole clan."

"I could care less what a lowly water savage thinks of me", Aizo replied, "After I destroy the Avatar, I'll make sure to give the same treatment to every water and earth bender I come across."

"So that's what this is all about? You kidnapped all those villagers to lure Aang into your clutches", Suki said.

"I knew that if I was going to catch the Avatar's attention, I would have to round up worthless cattle for slaughter. It would seem that my intuition was correct", Aizo proudly stated as he moved into a strike position, "I will make sure to burn the Avatar just as my ancestors burned his people into nothing but ashes in the wind. NOW MY SOLDIERS! ATT-"

Aizo's body blew away, forced against the wall. The unexpected force looked to come out of nowhere. They all looked up to see Aang high in the air, slowly descending to the elevated platform Aizo and the fire soldiers stood from. His back faced his friends as he landed between the awestruck rebels.

"I didn't see him jump", Kano muttered.

"GET HIM!" One soldier cried out. The order shook the other rebels out of their stupor and moved toward the air bender. Before they could get close enough, Aang squatted down and extended his arms. The movement shattered the ground beneath the soldiers as they all fell.

"Oh man Twinkle-Toes is pissed", Toph remarked. They could all see how right she was. He stood up straight and said nothing as he stared at Aizo pushing himself off the cracked wall behind him. He fell to his knees and hands, raising his head to glare at Aang. The older man's eyes widened at the expression he saw staring back at him.

Aang's eyes blazed with an intense fury that seemed to pierce through Aizo. His face contorted with anger, the veins in his neck bulging and pulsing with every breath. His fists were clenched so tightly that his knuckles turned white. His muscles tense and visibly bulge under his robes. His body vibrated with a pent-up rage, like a coiled spring ready to unleash its power.

"Your family committed atrocities against my people", Aang's voice was low and guttural, his words coming out in a fierce snarl, "and you dare to be proud of it…the audacity to think you will do the same to me…"

"I don't 'think' Avatar", Aizo stood up, "I know I will. Exterminating the weak is what made the Ryoka clan a force to be reckoned with in the fire nation." The fire bender took a step forward, his eyes locked on Aang with intense focus. He extended his arm and summoned a powerful flame that blazed brightly in his hand. Aizo thrust his arm forward, sending a stream of fire racing toward Aang. The air bender responded with a quick movement of his arms, creating a wall of air that deflected the attack. But Aizo was undeterred. He launched a barrage of fireballs, each one exploding on impact with a burst of intense heat and light. Aang twisted his body and leaped out of the way, his movements fluid and precise.

While Aang fought Aizo, the fallen soldiers rose to their feet. Their eyesight set on the others as targets while Aizo kept the Avatar busy. The soldiers launched a barrage of flames at the group.

"You would think these rebels would get tired of losing so much. Hey! NEWSFLASH BUT YOU ALL LOST THE WAR", Sokka said as he quickly took out his boomerang and dodged the incoming fireballs, while Suki jumped into action, using her acrobatic skills to dodge and weave between the flames.

"Maybe it's an honor thing…that or masochism", June suggested and pulled out her whip. She lashed out at the fire benders, knocking them off their feet and disrupting their attacks.

Katara summoned the water from her flask and sent a stream to the fire benders, dousing their flames and sending them flying backward. Kano threw a massive water whip, knocking the soldiers off their feet. The two water benders continued moving fluidly, dodging and deflecting the fire benders' attacks while simultaneously launching their water-based attacks.

Toph positioned herself, crossed her arms, and raised them. Bending the ground beneath most of the fire benders split open and swallowed them up to their neck.

Meanwhile, Aang and Aizo circled each other warily, each waiting for the other to make a move. Aizo suddenly launched a wave of fire toward Aang. The air bender deflected the attack only to find the general running into a hidden corridor.

'You're not getting away from me!', Aang thought to himself as he sprinted after the fleeing Aizo.

"Aang wait!" Katara yelled out to him. She attempted to follow until Sokka pulled her back.

"Don't worry about Aang sis. He can handle himself", Sokka said, "right now we need to focus on finding the missing villagers."

Katara let out a deep sigh and nodded. She knew her brother was right. The missing villagers were still the main priority. From the corner of her eye, she saw Kano stomp toward the crumbled soldiers. Kano picked up the nearest soldier and freezing his body to the wall.

"Where is Ino? Where are the people you've kidnapped?!" She demanded.

"I'm not spilling to a water savage", the soldier remained defiant, sneering at her.

"We'll see about that", Kano replied as she reached out her arm, summoning the water from her flask and raising it into the air. She shaped the water into a short, sharp icicle. Kano pressed the tip of the edge against the soldier's neck. The sharp tip drew out a smidge of blood, dripping down the edge of the icicle.

"Stop that!" Katara cried out and pulled Kano away from the frozen soldier.

"What's your deal?" Kano retorted, shoving Katara's hands off.

"You're going too far! There is no need for you to start slicing him with an icicle."

"Quit being so dramatic. I wasn't going to slice his head off", Kano rolled her eyes.

"Oh, sure because cutting his neck would have gotten you the answers we need", Katara replied with a sarcastic tone, "Any further pressed you could have cut his vocal cords! Then how would we get any information out of him then?"

"There are plenty of these scumbags we can ask! I don't care about many of them I have to cut through to find Ino!"

"Okay, that's enough arguing!" Suki intervened, getting in between the water benders. "We need to focus on finding the villagers."

"Plus need I remind you that the world's best earth bender is here", Toph spoke up, "I can sense any movement in this cave. I have an idea of which direction the villagers might be."

"Lead the way Toph", Sokka said.

"Got it Snoozles", the earth bender acknowledged. She raised her hands and began to bend the earth with swift precise movements. She focused her energy on a single spot on the wall. Slowly but surely, an opening began to form, big enough for all of them to fit through.

"This should lead us straight to them", Toph said. Sokka, June, Kano, and Toph ran through the newly made corridor. Katara looked back in the direction Aang went after Aizo.

"You coming Katara?" Suki inquired.

The water bender glanced back at her, "I'm following Aang. I have a feeling that I should be there to help. I can't explain it, but I need to go to him."

Suki nodded, "Fine. Be careful."

"You too", Katara responded. With that said, they went their separate ways.

Aang raced through the dark cave, his heart pounding in his chest. He could hear the sound of Aizo's footsteps echoing off the walls, his heavy breathing filling the air. With fierce determination, Aang sprinted forward, his staff at the ready. Aang trusted his friends to find the missing villagers. He knew that he had to catch the fire general before he could do any more damage before he could harm anyone else.

As he rounded a corner, Aang caught sight of the fire bender up ahead, his back turned to him as he raced towards the exit. Aang gritted his teeth and quickened his pace, closing in on Aizo with every passing second.

Aizo turned and saw Aang. He hadn't expected the air bender to catch up to him so quickly. But still, he refused to give up without a fight. With a fierce roar, the fire general turned and launched a wave of flames at Aang, hoping to catch him off guard and gain the upper hand. But Aang would cut through the flames with a stream of fire charged from his fist.

Seeing his efforts bearing no fruit, Aizo dashed to the right and dove into his war room. Slamming the door behind him, Aizo jumped over his desk and flipped it over to provide cover. Aang raised his arms and blew a powerful gust of wind. The wind slammed through the door with incredible force, rattling in its frame. The air bender pushed harder and then, with a sudden burst of force, the door flew off the hinges and was sent flying over Aizo into the wall.

Slowing down his pace, Aang stepped through the frame. Before he could step closer, Aizo stepped up and sent a blast to Aang. Raising his staff, Aang spun it at great speed. The flames slammed into the staff, but the air bender used the momentum of the attack to redirect the flames back at the fire bender.

Aizo stumbled back as his attack hit him. Aang saw his chance and stomped the ground, bending the earth to rise and swallow Aizo's feet. The fire general grunted as he tried to move but the risen earth kept him grounded where he stood.

Aang's eyes narrowed as he stared down at the old general. The air around him crackled with energy, and his fists clenched at his sides. This old man proudly stated his clan's involvement with the genocide of the air nomads. How his great-great-grandfather led an attack at the place Aang called his home.

He thought of the kids he played with, the elders he learned from, and finally Gyatso. As he moved over the table, Aizo sent a desperate stream of flames toward him which Aang cut down easily with a slice.

Finally, Aang stood face-to-face with Aizo.

"What's wrong Aizo? I thought you were going to wipe me out", Aang taunted.

The old man growled, "This isn't over Avatar! I will destroy you! I will-UCK!"

Suddenly Aizo's face was smacked. Aang would not let him finish whatever he was going to say. To him, it was nothing he had not heard before during the war.

"You just love to hear yourself talk don't you", Aang muttered with a dark tone, "Do you know how many times I heard similar words from other fire benders since I got out of the ice?

'I'm going to kill you Avatar!' 'It's over Avatar!' 'I'm taking you down Avatar!' 'Your end is here Avatar!'"

He pulled Aizo closer, "I've heard it all Aizo…and guess what? I'm still here."

Aang clasped his hand on Aizo's uniform collar. Cocking back his fist, Aang threw a heavy punch at Aizo's face.

POW!

"My friends and I ended this war but somehow you have the audacity to think you can start it again!"

POW!

"The audacity to think you'll wipe me out when Ozai couldn't do it himself on the day of the comet!"

POW!

"The audacity to believe that you'll destroy me like your grandfather destroyed my people."

POW!

"The audacity to be proud of your grandfather leading an ambush on my home, my people. THE AIR NOMADS THAT I GREW UP WITH! THE AIR NOMADS I LOVED!"

POW! POW! POW! POW!

He kept going. Punch after punch. Letting the rage take him over. It wasn't Avatar's rage. It was just Aang's rage. Rage over his loss. Rage over the innocent villagers kidnapped. Rage that built from the time he was freed from the ice. Rage that he could not stop and possibly did not want to stop. Aang's eyes blazed with anger as he glared at the man in front of him. He wasn't going to stop and pulled his fist back again.

Suddenly he felt his arm being pulled back. He turned to see Katara holding him back from behind with a worried but calm expression.

"Aang, stop", she said firmly, her voice steady and reassuring. "This isn't you."

Aang bristled, letting go of Aizo who only crumbled to the floor. His face was bloody and swollen from the relentless punches.

"But he deserves it", he spat, his eyes still locked on the fire bender.

Katara let go and stepped around him, placing a gentle hand on Aang's shoulder. "I know how you feel," she said softly, "but you can't let your anger get the best of you. It will only make you feel worse in the long run."

Aang hesitated, his eyes flickering uncertainly. He knew that she was right, but the anger still burned inside him. Katara continued to hold Aang's gaze, her expression steady and unwavering.

Then she wrapped her arms around him, holding him in a tight embrace.

Slowly, Aang's anger began to dissipate, replaced by a sense of calm. "You're right", he said, his voice low and eyes closed, "I can't let my anger control me."

Katara smiled as she pulled herself back from Aang and cupped her hands onto his cheeks. "That's the Aang I know," she said, her voice filled with warmth and encouragement.

They both turned to Aizo who only groaned in pain from the beating he took at the hands of Aang. The air bender looked away in shame at what he had done.

"The others?" He wondered.

"They should be freeing the villagers by now. Toph was able to find them and create a corridor leading to them," Katara explained. "We should go help them. It doesn't look like he will get up anytime soon. We'll come back for him."

Aang nodded his head and the two of them headed toward the door frame. Just before they stepped through a crackling sound echoed in the room. Katara and Aang turned around to see Aizo somehow back on his feet with lightning permeating from his fingers.

"I-i-I…meant what I said…when I said I would d-destroy you Avatar", Aizo stuttered heavily and sent a bolt of lightning at Katara and Aang.

BOOM!

I apologize for taking so long with updating this story. I've been dealing with a lot on my own and didn't have enough time to write until recently. Hope you all liked this chapter. Have a good week!