In the dawn, the sun had risen and Appa had flown into the mid thin air for countless hours. Aang and Katara had bended a large fog-like cloud big enough to surround Appa's giant body as he flew pass many islands. Sokka remained on the lookout, while Toph and Zuko were sleeping.
"Look! I see a cave below!" Aang yelled.
As Aang said that, Appa flew closer to the waters until he saw an abandoned island with a cave.
"Shh! Keep quiet!" Sokka said in a sneaky tone.
Katara released the clouds, revealing Aang bending a large sphere of wind surrounding Appa's body, the pushed his hands forward, releasing the wind. The native Puffins squawked as the felt the wave hit them, then flew off. Sokka quickly jumped off the saddle, tied to Appa's back and hid behind a few rocks under stealth, staying alert.
"Great job with the cloud camo, but next time, let's disguise ourselves as the kind of cloud who knows how to keep its mouth shut." Sokka suggested, as he crossed his arms.
Toph and Zuko slid off of Appa's tail, while Aang and Katara climbed down Appa's side and walked towards Sokka. "Yeah. We wouldn't want any birds to hear us and turn us in…" Toph said sarcastically.
"Hey. We're in enemy territory. Those are enemy birds." Sokka pointed.
"Those are just native puffins. They're harmless." Zuko stated.
Suddenly, one of the birds hops on top of Sokka's head and squawked. The gang giggled. As they were walking to the abandoned cave, Sokka leaped like a frog and landed face first into the dirt.
"What are you doing, Sokka?" Katara asked as she looked down at her brother.
"Can't you tell? I'm making sure there aren't any booby traps." Sokka whispered, as Katara sighed. The group continued to walk until they made it inside the cave.
"This is place seems dark and lonely." Zuko commented.
"You said it. Not me." Toph replied.
Sokka turned to his group. "Well, this is it. This is where we're going to live until the invasion begins."
"By living in a cave?" Aang asked.
"Well, yeah. Living in cave, after cave, after cave…" As the more times Sokka said cave, he started getting depressed and hung his head downwards.
"Sokka, we don't need to become cave people," Katara looked down at her dirty attire. "What we need is some new clothes."
Aang placed his hands on his hips. "Yeah. Blending in is better than hiding out. If we get Fire Nation disguises, we'll be as safe as hiding in a cave." Aang smiled, as Momo's ears shot up.
"Plus, they have real food out there," Toph said, as she lied on rocks, as if she was lying on a couch. "Does anyone want to sit in the dirt and eat cavehoppers?" Toph backhanded a wall, and a dozen white cave hoppers shot up out of their hiding place and started hopping around. Momo caught one of them and started devouring its torso.
Zuko was a little grossed. "Not me."
"Looks like we got outvoted, sport." Sokka told Momo.
"Alright. We're getting new clothes." Zuko said.
As the fives teens ventured across the island, they discovered a house with smoke coming from dirt holes and native Fire Nation clothes hanging from a group of hangers, drying. There was also a nearby waterfall. The five teens crawled in hiding, as they stared at the native clothing, lying in wait.
"I don't know about this. These clothes belong to somebody." Aang started getting second thoughts.
"I call the silk robe!" Katara yelled as she ran forward and grabbed whatever clothing she needed.
"My turn!" Zuko went after and grabbed a man's shirt and pants that could git him properly.
"Well, if it's essential to our survival," Aang smiled. "Then I call the suit."
Aang jumped from behind the rocks and grabbed an academy suit. Toph and Sokka went after Aang and grabbed whatever clothing they needed. There was a man on watch duty but was too busy catching z's. Shortly after, the group fled the scene and tried on new native clothes.
"Tada! A normal kid." Aang said after tying a bandanna to his forehead.
"This isn't the best clothing you can get in the Fire Nation, but it'll do." Zuko said as he looked down at his attire.
"Hm. I should probably wear shoes, but I wouldn't be able to see as well," Toph sat on a rock. "Sorry shoes." Toph kicked forward, causing the flippers to shoot and hit Sokka's face.
"Ow." Sokka squeaked.
"Finally," Toph stood. "A stylish shoe for the blind earthbender." she said with confidants.
"How do I look?" Katara stepped from behind the rock and approached her friends with her new attire. She wore a one-strapped top, exposing her stomach and navel, dark purple trousers under her bright red skirt, with golden bracelets and armbands and she wore her mother's necklace.
Zuko and Aang were stunned at her appearance. Zuko coughed a little while Aang rubbed the back the back of his head.
"Is there something wrong, Zuko?" Katara caught him staring.
"N-no. It's just... your hair." he answered.
"What about my hair?"
"My mother used to wear it in that particular fashion." Zuko answered honestly.
Katara blushed a little. "Oh, I get it." she said as she held a piece of her hair.
"Um, your mother's necklace." Aang pointed out.
"Oh, right," Katara removed the Water Tribe necklace around her neck. "I guess it's pretty much Water Tribe, isn't it?" she softly grasped the necklace in her fist.
"Let's find some grub!" Sokka yelled in excitement.
Inside of a prison cell lied Iroh, whom was sitting on the cold ground, staring at roaches. He wore a dark grey robe, his beard is bigger, the hair on his head has gotten longer, but not on the absolute top, except the center of his head where he is bald. Suddenly a door had opened and someone had walked in the room.
"Good to see, uncle," Azula said as she walked in. "You look better than before."
Iroh remained silent and moved his body to another side of a wall.
"Playing the silent treatment, are you? Good." she smiled. "I don't want you to talk. Just listen what I have to say," Azula walked closer to Iroh's cell. "Father has placed a bounty on the head of your favorite nephew for betraying the entire Nation. Everyone all around the world will be looking for him, and there's not a thing you can do to help him."
Iroh still remained silent.
"You should know that treason against the Fire Nation is punishable by death. First, we'll execute you, then your favorite nephew."
"He's still your brother." Iroh muttered.
"I don't care. He's no brother of mine," Azula began to walk towards the door. "He'll suffer the same punishment as you when we find him." Azula said with confidence." she closed the door behind herself and turned to one of the guards. "Make sure he doesn't eat for at least three days."
"Yes ma'am." The guards replied.
Meanwhile, Aang and the others were inside of a shop purchasing for accessories. Katara wore a Fire Nation necklace, Toph wore a golden tiara on her head, Sokka tied an accessory onto his head, Zuko wore a beany hat with a Fire Nation symbol on the front and Aang stuffed a curled up Momo in his vest. They hid behind a corner of a house, waiting for Aang.
"I used to visit my friend, Kuzon here a hundred years ago. Everyone just follow my lead and stay cool. Or should I say... Stay Flaming."
Zuko facepalmed himself in annoyance after hearing that boring line. 'No one says that anymore.'
"Greetings, my good hot man!" Aang said as he passed by a middle-aged man enjoying a ca bob.
"Uh, hi... I guess."
'This just couldn't get any worse.' Zuko thought as he passed the guy.
The gang suddenly stopped at a meat restaurant.
"We're going to a meat place?" Aang asked.
"Come on, Aang. Everyone here eats meat," Sokka points at the giant cowhippo eating large chunks of ham. "Even the meat eats meat."
Aang was discusted after watching the cowhippo eating rotten meat. "You guys go ahead. I'll just get something out of the garbage."
"Are you sure?" Zuko asked.
"Yeah. You see, I'm a vegetarian." Aang admitted.
"Alright. You know where to find us." Zuko entered the restaurant last.
"Ah!" Zuko went back outside a few seconds just to check on Aang only to see him be dragged away by Fire Nation guards.
"Uh oh."
Later that day during the dusk, Aang had arrived at the cave where Appa was resting and Zuko, Toph and Katara were sitting at a camp fire.
"Where have you been? We were worried sick!"" Katara questioned.
Zuko quickly walked up to Aang. "Did they find out about your identity?" he asked worriedly.
"What?" Katara asked.
"Early today, Aang was taken by guards." Zuko explained.
Sokka jump up in surprise. "Wait, what!?" Sokka dashed towards Aang. "You didn't get caught, did you!"
Aang shook his head no. "No. They had no clue. It turns out the guards thought I was playing hooky, so they took me to a Fire Nation school, and I enrolled. I'm going back tomorrow." Aang grinned as he removed his headband.
The rest of the group had shocked looks on their faces, especially Sokka.
"Enrolled in what!?" Sokka quickly dropped to the floor.
Minutes later, they all sat down at the campfire.
"Aang, I'm trying to be mature not to shoot on your ideals, but it sounds real... terrible." Sokka said honestly.
"Yeah. We have outfits. We do you need to go to SCHOOL for?" Toph's eyes widened when she said the word "school".
"Every minute I'm in that classroom, I'm learning new things. I already have a picture of Fire Lord Ozai," Aang showed the group Ozai's picture. "And here's one that I made out of noodles." he showed the group the noodle sculptured picture of Ozai. Zuko quickly detested the pictures, he quickly snatched the pictures from Aang and threw them into the campfire.
"Hey!" Aang yelled at Zuko.
"What was that for, Zuko?" Katara asked in confusion.
"Sorry. I'm just not very fond of my father right now." Zuko answered.
"Someone's having daddy issues." Toph giggled.
Sokka placed a hand on his chin in cleverness. "Good thinking, Zuko," he turned to Zuko. "But I still think it's too dangerous." he detested against Aang.
Aang's eyes shifted to the right. "I guess we will never find out about the secret river then... It goes right to the Fire Lord's palace. We were supposed to learn it in class tomorrow but-"
"Did you just say secret rivers?" Zuko asked.
"Yeah. Why?"
"I only know a few of them that leads to my father's palace. I haven't been there for three years. It's most likely blocked off or guarded." Zuko explained.
"Hm. I am a fan of secret rivers," Sokka thought it through. "Fine. Let's stay a few more days."
Aang jumped up from a rock. "Yes! Flameo hotman!" he ran to his side of the cave.
"Please stop talking like that." Zuko muttered.
"I don't know. I'm starting to like his new accent. Flamey boy." Toph joked as she nudged Zuko in the arm.
"Please don't call me that again." Zuko asked nicely.
"By the way, just to be clear. There are a thing called secret rivers, right?" Sokka asked and Zuko nodded.
The next day.
"That settles it. No more school for you, young man!" Sokka said as he is acting like a parent, as he is stroking his fake beard.
"But I'm not ready to leave. I'm having fun for once," aang stood up and began walking towards Appa. "I'm getting to be a normal kid. You don't know what it's like, Sokka. You get to be normal all the time."
"Haha!" Toph mocked Sokka, which caused him to scowl at her.
"Listen, guys. Those kids at school are the future of the Fire Nation. If we want to change this place for the better, we have to show them a taste of freedom." Aang protested.
"Wait, what do you mean by that?" Zuko asked.
"You'll see." Aang answered.
"What could you possibly do for a country of depraved little fire monsters?" Sokka grumbled, then thought about Zuko's feelings. "No offense or anything, Zuko."
"None taken." Zuko replied.
Sokka turned his head back to Aang. "Well? What it is?"
"I'm going to throw them... A secret dance party!" Aang said while showing off.
The group stood there and stared at Aang as they just heard his idea. Sokka was the first to react to Aang's response. "Go to your room!" he said in his fake parent voice.
Later that day, Toph had earthbended setting up stands, while Katara had bended water to create an ice sculpture, Sokka, and Zuko had set up and lit candles. "I can't believe we're having a dance party. It seems so... silly." Sokka shrugged.
"Don't think of it as a dance party, think of it as a celebrated art of footwork." Aang danced a little.
As the crowd of kids had gotten closer to the cave, Toph could feel dozens of footsteps getting closer and closer. "Everyone stop bending! People are coming!"
Sorry buddy. You should probably wait out back." Appa moaned as Aang ushered him to the other end of the cave. "I know. You have fancier feet than anybody. And six of them!"
"See you on the other side, my friend." Sokka said as he, Toph and Zuko went right after Appa in the darkness.
Fifteen minutes of dancing, Aang had finally caught up after escaping the principal and the guards. He earthbended sealing one part of the cave. Aang had ran towards his friends, whom were already on Appa's saddle.
"Guys, I'm here." Aang whispered.
"You're early. Did something happen?" Zuko asked.
"Yeah. The principle came. We have to go right now." Aang jumped on top of Appa's head and gripped the reins. "Appa! Yip yip!" Aang silently moaned and flew out the tunnel and into the sky, leaving the cave for good.
"We'r safe, Sokka. You can take off the fake beard." Katara looked at Sokka.
"Oh no I can't," Sokka stroked his beard. "It's permanently glued to my skin."
"Way to go, dancypants," Toph turned to Aang. "I think you did help those kids. You taught them to be free."
Aang scratched the back of his head. "Oh, I don't know. It was just a dance party, that's all."
"Well, that was some dance party Aang." Katara said, then looked at Zuko. "What do you think, Zuko?"
Zuko had spaced out until Katara called his name. "Huh? Oh It was okay."
"Well next time, we'll have to invite you to another one of our traditional dance parties. Right Aang?"
"Yeah." Aang grinned happily. Zuko couldn't help but smile.
"Flameo, Aang. Flameo." Sokka applauded.
Meanwhile in the underworld, the slums of the Fire Nation was a large muscular man with a metal arm and leg. He had a third eye on his forehead, a shaved head, dark eyes and a dark beard.
Azula had approached the Combustion bender in the dark. "Hello, there. You probably already know me as the Fire Nation Princess—soon to be Fire Lord, though. But never mind about me. There's something I want you to do for me."
The Combustion bender remained silent.
"As you know, my brother, Zuko is still out there." Azula pulled out a flyer and showed it to the Combustion bender. "He is currently roaming the world with a group of small rebels. Your mission is to find the rebels and annihilate them. ALL of them. I'll pay you handsomely once the job is done." Azula said then put a hood on and left.
The Combustion Man put a smile on his face and walked into the shadows.