The children of the Northern Water Tribe were still near the moon and water spirits. Aang's eyes remained closed as he entered the Spirit World. While he was there, Sokka was searching the edges of their sanctuary. It kept them safe for the time being, but it also kept him unaware of what was going on outside.
"What if they kill Chief Arnook?" one of the waterbending pupils asked.
Yue heard him and her bottom lip quivered as she thought of the possibility. Katara held her hands, giving her a determined look.
"We'll save him. I know we'll find a way to."
"But there are so many soldiers," the princess said miserably. "Our warriors have already been stopped since my father will get killed if they fight back." She gasped and put her hands over her mouth. "What if the firebenders kill him because of what we do?"
"That won't happen," Sokka assured her. "Right now, our best weapon is the element of surprise. They don't know about Aang. That's why we need to find where they're keeping the chief. If they're stunned by us having the Avatar, it might not last long, but it could give us a small advantage. So, we'll need to work quickly to free your dad."
Yue's face took on a thoughtful expression. "They're probably keeping him at the palace. We have dungeons in the lower level."
Sokka turned to the other benders. "You all can go with Yue then."
"I'm not staying with you?" the girl asked, worried.
The boy shook his head. "You know the way and it'll be safer after you get to your dad and the other warriors. The three of us might not be able to protect you and it's risky to stay here alone."
"What'll you two be doing?" one of the students asked.
"We're going with Aang to help defend the tribe," Katara informed the boy.
"Okay, you doing that makes sense, but what about him? He's a nonbender."
Sokka frowned at the other boy. "Hey, I might not have bending, but I've got other ways to fight." He drew his sword, slicing the air. "Those soldiers won't know what hit 'em."
Suddenly, the group's attention was caught by Aang. His eyes had opened and were glowing just like his tattoos. In surprise, the other pupils stumbled back, but the siblings smiled.
"Okay," Sokka said, "let's save the tribe."
The rescue team left first. They created steam to hide themselves in as they ran towards the palace. While the waterbenders did, the trio moved out. The siblings noticed a difference in Aang's demeanor. He did not seem like the first time he entered the Avatar State. Then, he was emotional and out of control. This time, he looked like he had a mission to complete. When a line of soldiers crossed the friends' path, Aang used airbending to knock them backwards. Then, he used waterbending to put a wall of ice behind the people. Moving his arms in a sweeping motion, he lifted several soldiers off their feet and flung them so far that they fell into the ocean. For a moment, the firebenders were frozen in surprise. This hesitation was not ignored.
Katara moved the icy floor beneath the group, lifting it around them to trap the invaders. They blasted through the freezing prison and shot fire at her, but Sokka got in between them. He used the flat of his sword to deflect their attacks. Staying there, he continued to provide cover for the waterbender. Katara started to bend around him, using water whips to catch the legs of soldiers and throw them into each other. They did this to protect each other and Aang as more firebenders attempted to attack the airbender. When one blasted fire at his legs, Katara froze the invader completely. As this method continued, the team made their way through the tribe. More soldiers saw them and bent waves of fire at the trio. A strong gust of wind from the Avatar extinguished the flames, throwing the soldiers back. They shielded their faces with their arms, but the wind was too strong and would not stop. The firebenders shot fire through their feet to melt the snow enough so that they could dig their heels into something. This proved ineffective and the group was tossed backwards at a fast rate. They did not stop flying until they hit the palace exterior. Zhao saw them and got up from the throne, wanting to understand what type of attack had caused this. His eyes widened when he saw the one responsible.
"He's got airbender marks," he realized. "That boy's the Avatar."
Just as the firebender became aware of this, an idea came to him.
"You're much younger than we've expected," he commented.
"Tell the soldiers to stand down," Aang instructed.
His voice surprised the siblings. It sounded like there were several people speaking with him. The chorus of voices sent chills down the spines of even the soldiers. Regardless, Zhao was undeterred.
"No, I won't be doing that. You see, I actually have a proposition for you." Zhao gestured to the ocean. "Leave with us to return to the Fire Nation. If you do, we will leave this savage land."
"I won't negotiate with you. Tell your soldiers to board their vessels and retreat."
The admiral's smug expression melted into one of anger. "And I won't be given commands by a child!"
With Zhao distracted, Sokka noticed the group entering the palace. They ran down the halls, freezing soldiers to the walls when they went past some. Hurriedly, the waterbenders followed Yue down to the dungeons. There, they found the chief and several warriors, each looking more wounded than the last. Arnook went towards the bars when he saw his daughter.
"Yue, you have to get out of here. Take the other children with you," he insisted. "The soldiers could return at any moment."
"They won't," she told him as the waterbenders froze the cells' locks.
Taking their machetes, the boys broke the ice and the locks in one blow. Arnook exited the cell, but he was still visibly tense. Knowing that there was not enough time to ask all his questions, the chief led the others out of the prison. As they headed upwards, Zhao was still seething at Aang.
"I'm so close," he thought. "If I bring in the Avatar, I'll be known as the greatest admiral in Fire Nation history. Fire Lord Ozai might even make me a general. I can't afford to let this opportunity slip through my fingers."
"Focus your firepower on the two behind him!" Zhao ordered.
The surrounding soldiers agreed and began blasting at Katara and Sokka, forcing the girl to make a band of water around them to stop the fire. Aang manipulated the ice on the ground, creating a tremor everywhere except where his friends stood. The soldiers struggled to stand and fell, falling further as the ice melted underneath them. This, coupled with the blast of air from above, sent them into the freezing waters. Aang had nearly gotten rid of all the soldiers, but this had drawn his attention away from the admiral. Zhao lit a flame in his hand behind the boy's back. The airbender would survive, but he would also be too injured to continue fighting. It would make capturing him simpler. Zhao moved to execute the move, but Sokka's boomerang hit him on the side of his head.
Stunned and dazed, Zhao's knees temporarily gave out on him. He soon did not need to stand. Looking to his right, he saw an ice blade being pressed to his throat by the chief as the warriors forced him to his knees. His eyes were wide and his heart raced. Then, he smirked at them.
"You savages were easy to conquer. If you didn't have the Avatar, you'd all be killed like the animals you a–"
Zhao choked on his blood when the blade pierced his skin and went deep into his tissue. Arnook scowled at him as the firebender slumped forward.
"The Water Tribes will never be conquered."
The firebender could say nothing as the light faded from his eyes. He went limp in the warriors' grasps. The light also began to fade from Aang's as he exited the Avatar State. He stumbled back a little, getting caught by the siblings.
"How'd we do?" he asked, tired.
"How'd we do?" Sokka echoed. "Uh, I'd say we kicked Fire Nation butt!"
Katara nodded. "We really did. You were great!"
She hugged the airbender who happily returned the embrace. His eyes widened upon seeing the body of the admiral in a pool of his own blood.
"I-I didn't do that, did I?" he inquired fearfully.
Sokka shook his head. "No, that one was the chief."
Aang tore his eyes away from the red on the snow. The chief left the corpse to approach the friends and shook hands with each of them.
"I can't thank the three of you enough," he said sincerely.
Yue went over and hugged Sokka. The embrace was as grateful as it was sad.
"You're not going to stay for much longer, are you?"
Sokka glanced back at the others. "No, we can't. I wish we could, but we still need to find an earthbending master for Aang. Master Pakku has shown him a lot and Katara can continue helping him train, so we have to leave."
Sadly, the princess kissed his cheek, making him turn slightly pink. Katara noticed and giggled at her brother, earning a frown directed her way.
"If you three ever need aid," Arnook said, "you can trust us to provide it."
The friends thanked him and saw Pakku coming up, having returned from the end of his own battle. He took in the scene and realized how the children were going to leave.
"Good luck on your mission," he stated, a subtle warmth to his voice. "Also, tell Kanna hello for me the next time you see her."
"We can do that. Thanks for the lessons, Master Pakku," Katara told him, waving.
The friends started heading towards where Appa was and got on his saddle. He got the bison to fly and suddenly, Sokka chuckled.
"Tell your soldiers to stand down," he mimicked, making his voice sound more serious.
"Is that what I sounded like?" Aang asked, laughing.
"Oh yeah. You were almost scary," Katara admitted. "It was a little cool, though. I didn't know you'd be able to control the Avatar State so well."
"It was weird. It was like I was doing some of the talking and bending, but I wasn't alone. I could see all my past lives and they were helping me."
"Tell them thanks for us then because that was pretty great," Sokka said. His grin became a serious expression. "Where are we going now?"
Aang looked ahead of them. "If I'm going to have an earthbending master, then we need to go to Omashu and talk with Bumi."
"Alright. Omashu it is then. After this, we can handle anything," Sokka said confidently. "Bring it on, Fire Nation!"
The children began to head in the direction of the Earth Kingdom. While they traveled, the Fire Nation was experiencing tension. Ozai received word that the messenger he sent to Mai's family had arrived and delivered the information. The next day had been filled with little more than enforcing his new order and viewing the citizens who passed the tests to be made soldiers. He wanted to handle these matters before tending to another. If he did that first, he would be gone for a while and unable to see this through. Once the Fire Lord was satisfied with the new recruits, he rose from the throne and went in search of the prince. Zuko was in the middle of practicing firebending when he saw the man out of the corner of his eye. Immediately, he stopped and began moving back.
"You tried to influence the warden at the Boiling Rock," Ozai stated, hatred in his eyes.
Zuko knew better than to deny the accusation. "If the guards go to the war, I thought–"
"That's not your place," the older firebender hissed. "You undermined me."
"I'm sorry, Father," Zuko said, nervously bowing his head.
"If you meant that, you never would have gone against my orders in the first place."
The room was starting to get warmer. Zuko noticed as flames spread out, creating a ring of fire around them. A larger blast shot out from Ozai's hands. The prince barely had time to deflect the attack with his own fire. It was too strong and made him fall backwards. The other flames got closer when he did, burning his hands and back. Zuko quickly tried to stand, but his collar was grabbed by the Fire Lord. His feet left the ground as he was lifted slightly into the air.
"Innocent people are going to die!" he insisted. "They aren't ready for war! Th-there won't be anyone left to serve you if you send them all!"
For a split second, it looked like Ozai considered this possibility. A ruler without subjects was just a person with a title. The man wanted to be revered–feared. He could not be either by corpses. Unfortunately, the boy had still contradicted his wishes.
"That doesn't change the fact that you opposed me," Ozai stated bitterly.
Zuko felt a little heat on the man's hand by his neck. He tried to steady his breaths to make them stop quickening. The prince winced when he saw one of his father's hands turn into a flaming fist.
"Ozai," a third voice greeted.
Zuko's eyes widened and Ozai's did as well. He turned behind him to see the person attached to the familiar voice. In the entryway, he saw Iroh. The general had an unreadable expression on his face. Ozai stared at him for a while before smirking.
"Iroh, it's good to see you. It's been too long."
The man lowered Zuko back to the ground, but he did not let him go. Iroh took notice of this, but he tried to not let it show on his face.
"No one knew where you were. Some of them feared the worst, but I knew you were alive, wherever you were hiding."
"I should have come back sooner," Iroh stated calmly. "I'm sorry I missed your coronation."
"It's perfectly fine." The man's voice became crueler. "It's just a shame you weren't there for the funeral."
Briefly, Iroh considered roasting the younger bender alive. He forced himself to stop thinking about this. Ozai used his free hand to gesture to the room.
"I've changed a bit of it, but there's a lot more I plan to alter. What do you think? Would you say being Fire Lord agrees with me?"
The elder bender just gave a small nod of his head, putting a content smile on Ozai's face. His grip on Zuko's collar lessened, then he let go completely. The prince quickly moved out of his reach in case he changed his mind. Ozai glanced between him and the newcomer.
"Brother, maybe you can talk to the boy. He seems to think it's a wise decision to disrespect me. Hopefully, you can get through to him. He doesn't seem to learn from pain."
Amused at the fury which was starting to be visible in the uncle's eyes, Ozai left the throne room. As soon as he was gone, Zuko and Iroh hugged.
"I'm sorry about Lu," the boy said sadly.
"I'm sorry that I wasn't here," Iroh told him, frowning at himself.
The man saw the burns on the clothing and frowned deeper. He wondered how many more injuries had occurred while he was away. Zuko noticed the regretful expression on his uncle's face.
"I'm glad you're back now." A determined look was in his eyes. "Uncle, he's going to destroy the Fire Nation and the rest of the world. We have to find some way to stop him."