As everyone on Air Temple Island tried to recover from what had happened, Bumi grabbed Sokka's sword and looked for a boat.
"Bumi, what are you doing?" Izumi asked. The normally composed Fire Princess was noticeably exhausted and afraid. And she hadn't even learned her brother was dead yet. "We need you to help. Your mom, brother, and sister, along with my brother and Lin, need help. We don't even know where Toph is."
"I heard what that...obsidian knight said into his radio thing," he related in a panic. "He wants a crystal and he's headed north. My dad has a strange crystal with him and is up north." As Izumi processed this, her eyes flashed into a panic.
"Okay, we'll call them on the radio and tell them he's coming-""It won't matter without this," Bumi interrupted his wife as he held up the sword made from a meteorite. "This was the only thing that beam sword couldn't cut through."
"How will you get it to him, in time?" she asked.
"Appa's at the vet on the mainland," Bumi said, looking to the city that was largely lit by flames in the distance. Clearly, whoever the Obsidian Knight had been working with had managed to do a lot of damage to ensure there would be no reinforcements to help them. That is when they saw a boat approaching. It had the Kyoshi Warriors aboard, alongside a soaking Toph whose leg had a splint on it. She had also discarded her metal armor so she wouldn't sink to the bottom of the harbor even faster.
"What the hell happened?" the police chief asked.
"I don't know even where to start," Jin said sadly as she helped Toph walk onto the island. Toph was downright lucky, not only had the blind woman never learned how to swim, but thankfully, the Kyoshi Warriors had been there to pull her out.
"I need to get to shore," Bumi explained as he got onboard. After some hesitation, the Kyoshi Warriors took him to the shoreline. Finding his Satomobile was still working, Bumi jumped in and sped off toward the veterinarian where Appa was. Charging in, as the lights had just started to come back on in this part of town, he was met by a doctor.
"Sir, your father's sky bison is still-""Things change!" Bumi yelled, throwing this guy to the side. Charging in, he found Appa. His father's oldest companion had been feeling rather tired, as age was finally catching up to the flying creature, but he still opened his eyes to see someone from his family.
"Sorry, big guy," he said sympathetically. "Dad needs my help, and you're the only one who can get me there."
At that moment, Aang's airship was flying over the Wulong Forest. It was only fitting, for fifty-five years ago that day, Aang had depowered Ozai, the self-proclaimed Pheonix King, while Sokka, Toph, and Suki destroyed his entire airship armada before it could incinerate the Earth Kingdom. That battle had ended the war, and there was now a great monument that Aang himself rarely visited. Just then, there came an urgent call on the radio.
"Aang, Aang, pick up!" yelled the voice of Toph. Hearing the frantic voice of their old friend, Aang and Sokka ran to the radio.
"Toph, I'm here, so is Sokka," Aang answered.
"Listen up, twinkletoes," she continued. She sounded downright exhausted and a little in pain. "The crazy guy you're looking for up north? He's headed for you, and he just ripped up half of Republic City."
"What!?" asked Aang. "Is everyone okay?"
"Bumi charging to you on Appa because-" Aang and Sokka were interrupted by an explosion above them. Another rocked the airship, and they went crashing into the ground. Aang grabbed Sokka and jumped out before the zeppelin exploded. Landing on a small rock, they saw a bizarre aircraft in front of them. It was shaped like a triangle, and Sokka, being the engineer that he was, had no idea how it could stay in the air the way it was. A hatch on its bottom opened and out dropped a dark figure, as the craft turned around and withdrew, exposing a set of glowing blue engines as it turned around. The figure before them looked almost exactly like the drawing Malina had sent them of the Northern Tribe's attacker. His cape was noticeably burnt and coming from inside him was this terrible sound of mechanical breathing.
"Whoever you are, you better surrender," Sokka boasted. "Aang's defeated worse than you."
"No, he hasn't," figure replied in a deep voice, at which point he unclipped what looked like a sword hilt from his belt and a red beam shot out of it. Realizing there was no chance of talking this foe down, Aang Earthbent a massive bolder towards this horrifying foe. And with a single slash, the dark warrior cut it in half.
"Well, that's a neat trick," Sokka remarked. He jumped over to another rock formation and began heading for the ground as Aang took out his staff. Aang knew that he couldn't let this foe get close as long as he had that strange sword, so he opened with an Airbending wave against this strange foe. The figure weathered the gust of wind, even as it pushed him almost off the edge of the rock. Aang moved faster, earth bending a giant rock, bigger than his foe could cut through, and it was hit by a blast of energy that shattered it and sent Aang flying backward. It was then that the Avatar realized this was perhaps the strongest adversary he had ever fought. The figure jumped with surprising agility to the ground. Reaching out his left hand, a barrage of small rocks went flying at Aang, and he was forced to head for cover. The figure then caught something in his hand as well. It was Sokka's boomerang, and Vader turned to face its owner. He broke the metal weapon in half with his left hand and tossed the two broken shards back at its owner, the two pieces moving unnaturally. Before they could hit Sokka, however, his brother-in-law rushed forward and stopped them with an air shield.
"I don't know who you are, but I know you are going to regret coming here," Sokka stated angrily.
"You can thank your son-in-law for this, Councilor," the dark figure stated. "He is the reason I am here. And why I butchered your party on that island." Just then, a tree branch snapped off and flew into Sokka's back, piercing his right side and coming out the front. At that moment, Aang had enough. Whoever this was, he had already murdered many people and tried to murder the people he loved. Now was the time for the Avatar state, and Aang's eyes began to glow.
"You shouldn't have told me that," an enraged Aang exclaimed. At that moment, the Avatar started tossing as many rocks as possible at the figure, and water bent the nearby river at him as well. The dark warrior was agile enough to evade most of the debris, but Aang hit him square in the chest with a fire blast, knocking him backward onto the ground with a groan of pain. The figure quickly recovered and dodged the first attempt to Earthbend his hands and feet to the ground and tossed his sword at Aang, who Airbent it away and who closed the distance between him and his adversary. The armored warrior grabbed Aang's staff and headbutt the Avatar but Aang sent forth a massive fire blast that sent the enemy flying.
The dark warrior with strange bending landed on his feet, but both his arm sleeves had been ravaged. Everything up to the elbow was mechanical for both of them and what was above the elbows appeared to have been severely burnt at some point.
"Perhaps you are as strong as I have been told," the dark armored figure admitted. He then charged and punched Aang in the stomach, sending him crashing into one of the rock walls as the Avatar coughed some blood. Aang quickly dodged the next strike and Earthbent a restraint around his enemy, but the figure quickly broke free and kicked Aang's shin so hard it shattered.
Despite the unimaginable pain, Aang Earthbent a makeshift cast of rock around it and continued the fight. Encasing his arm in rock, he punched the strange panel on the figure's chest, causing him to gasp for breath. Aang followed that up by Earthbending cuffs around his enemy's feet and punching him in the helmet. The armored warrior fell onto his back, allowing Aang in the Avatar state to Earthbend cuffs around the man's artificial hands as well. With his adversary down for the moment, and in a rage Aang hadn't experienced since Appa was abducted by Sandbenders, Aang continued punching the man's helmet with his rock-encased fist, cracking the left side and breaking the eye lense.
Bumi had been riding Appa as fast as the old bison could go, to deliver his father the sword that could stand up to the Obsidian Knight's sword. As he made it there, he saw the wrecked airship and signs of battle below. He and Appa headed there as fast as they could but then, the strange aircraft that the Obsidian Knight flew inside appeared behind them. It was so close, that Bumi could see the man inside. Before he could react, streams of green fire shot out from the sides with a shriek and he and Appa had to rapidly evade them. But one of the green beams hit Appa in the side and they fell rapidly to the ground, crashing right in front of his father.
Vader had been surprised by just how powerful the Avatar had been, never expecting him to pose this great a threat. His armor had been heavily damaged, and if he didn't get back in control soon, there was a real possibility the Avatar would kill him. Even if Aang wanted to depower him, like he had with his other most powerful enemies, there was no guarantee that it would work, and it would require damaging so much of Vader's suit that he'd probably die regardless. Then, as he heard the familiar sound of laser cannons firing, his adversary fumbled back in pain. This gave Vader the opportunity to break free of the meager restraints and knock Aang backward with a powerful kick. Looking to the side, he saw the Avatar's pet flying creature along with his oldest son, holding that strange black sword in his hands. No doubt to give his father something his lightsaber couldn't cut. Reaching out with his senses, he realized the sky bison was badly injured and that it had a powerful bond with his master. While their psychic link wasn't as advanced as that between a master and apprentice, it was still quite powerful.
"Bumi, what are you doing here?!" Aang asked his son frantically.
"Uncle Sokka's sword!" Bumi yelled as he tossed it to his father. "It's the one thing he can't cut through."
"You have given me a far greater weapon," Vader boasted. Reaching out with the Force, he grasped the sky bison's throat and rapidly choked it. Before Aang could do anything, Vader closed his fist, breaking the animal's windpipe and killing it. Aang fell to the ground in pain, fully aware of the suffering of his lifelong companion as he died. Vader then held out his left hand and his lightsaber returned to it, reactivating. "Let's see if you are as good with swords as you are with staffs."
At that moment, the Sith Lord charged forward, and quickly attacked. Aang parried but it was clear he knew nothing of swordsmanship. He kept using it as a shield as opposed to a sword, hiding behind it while he fire bent at Vader. But Vader was undeterred, and as he sensed Bumi charging behind him, Vader sidestepped the non bender, and sliced off his left leg with a quick slash, kicking him aside afterward. Aang charged at that, and Earthbent a huge pillar next to Vader, but the Force was greater than simple bending and the Sith forced it backward. Vader blocked Aang's clumsy sword swing and knocked it out of his hands. Aang narrowly dodged it and let loose a powerful Airbending blast that sent Vader flying back.
Normally, Aang would never have considered killing someone but today was far from a normal day. Rushing to his son, he bent water to him. He was nowhere near the healer his wife was, but he knew enough, and knelt, looking at the stump where's son's left leg had been. It appeared to have been burned shut but it was better to be safe than sorry.
"Dad, where's Uncle Sokka?" Bumi said.
"We'll help him soon, don't worry," Aang reassured him but before he could continue, they both heard a loud crash as the armored figure leapt in the air toward them. Aang had nothing to stop him, not even the sword, and he could only turn to face his enemy just in time for his red sword to stab him below the ribcage.
Vader stuck his lightsaber through Aang's chest, his blazing yellow eye staring into Aang's and that of his son's through the broken part of his helmet.
"That injury you tended to, is not fatal," Vader revealed to the Avatar as his breathing apparatus strained from the damage inflicted in battle.
"But, I didn't know that," Aang replied. Vader looked with understanding at this loving father and his son. At which point he deactivated the blade and Aang fell back into Bumi's arms. As Bumi yelled to his father to keep awake, even as he had trouble staying awake through the pain, Vader was reminded of his own mother's death. Then, the sound of a blaster bolt rang out and Agent Namada ran up to her master with a sense of urgency.
"My lord, we have the crystal," she said. "We can go home, now. And another airship is headed for our position."
"Prepare for liftoff," Vader said as he limped back to his shuttle. When they got home, his suit would need to be repaired but he was still capable of walking to his own shuttle by himself. As the shuttle took off and made into orbit as the Avatar's reinforcements arrived, Vader used the Force to activate the crystal. A portal before them opened, and they were back in front of the same star destroyer they were returning to over a week ago.
"We lost you there, for a moment," traffic control said over the holocom.
"It was more than a moment," Vader said, shocking the technician who wasn't expecting to hear from the Imperial Executor directly. "Prepare my medical chamber and inform the Emperor that there is much I have to tell him of."
Bumi didn't know how long he was out, only that he awoke in a hospital with Izumi by his side.
"Oh, thank Agni, you're awake," Izumi broke down, crying tears of joy as she knelt over and kissed her husband's forehead. Bumi cried tears as well, from all the horror he had just experienced, before returning the hug.
"How is everyone doing?" he asked frantically.
"Lin, Kya, and Tenzin are fine," she informed him through her cries. "Iroh and mom are unharmed. Toph is still in crutches. You and dad are getting fitted for prosthetics." Bumi looked down, seeing the flat area on the bed where his left leg should be.
"I'm sorry I didn't tell you about Lee," he said, crying at the knowledge his brother-in-law was dead. Izumi nodded with understanding. "Where's my mom and dad? Where's my uncle?" Izumi looked back with sad eyes.
"Your mother's right leg was broken pretty badly," she said. "Your father and uncle..." she couldn't bring herself to say it. But Bumi heard what she meant anyway and broke down crying.
Two days later...
Unalaq was getting fitted for his coronation now, when his wife was given an urgent letter. Soon, she broke down, crying in the corner as she held it.
"Malina, what's wrong?" he asked, sounding gentle like when he was courting her.
"Dad is dead!" she sobbed. "So is Uncle Aang, and Prince Lee. Cousin Bumi and Uncle Zuko have been maimed. It was by the same person who killed your father." That was very surprising to Unalaq. He expected the mysterious adversary to be formidable but not enough to kill the Avatar. Ghazan had speculated that this person was actually the son of Yakone, the master blood bender, out to avenge his father, before everyone reminded him of the strange vessel they had found crashed in the ice. After sifting through it, they found a lot of writing and technology they couldn't comprehend, alongside a second crystal that they had very carefully stored in a lead box for later study. If whoever killed the Avatar was connected to this craft with the lizardmen within, it warranted further study.
But for now, Unalaq had to play the role everyone outside the Red Lotus expected of him: the grieving son reluctantly ascending earlier than he ever wanted. And, in Malina's case, the loving husband who had just become a father.
"My love, I am so sorry," he said convincingly. "This is horrible news. We must do whatever is possible to bring this fiend to justice." Just then, they heard one of the twins crying, and Malina walked into their room, as much as to look after her children as to take her mind off her grief. After she left, the servant who was measuring Unalaq spoke up, as it was Zaheer in disguise.
"As unfortunate as this is for your family, Unalaq, it is a wonderful opportunity for us," he noted sympathetically.
"Yes, we won't have to worry about the Avatar coming to investigate our efforts to understand the crystal," Unalaq replied.
"Yes, but that's not what I meant," as Zaheer continued his measuring. As much as the anarchist leader hated hierarchies and playing the role of a servant, he knew how to emulate the role, going so far as to learn tailoring to help with his cover. In fact, he was the only one of his quartet who managed to convince others he was such a thing. The rest were too unusual, in behavior or appearance, to maintain a cover for long. "If the crystal backfires like the other one, the only way to open the spirit portals will be with the Avatar. Specifically, in about eighteen years. If we could find the new one, and bring them to our side, we would have the perfect way to open the gates on that day."
"I thought we agreed that the Avatar had to die, permanently, afterward," Unalaq replied. "Are you planning to kill who you would be a father too? Who P'Li would be a mother for? Who Ming-Hua and Ghazan would be the wise aunt and uncle for?" He said it in a very surprised tone. While Unalaq knew that Eska and Desna would most likely have to sacrificed for his plans, he was fine with that. But Zaheer didn't see others the same way Unalaq did. It would be extremely surprising if Zaheer was willing to do such a thing. After a moment's hesitation, Zaheer replied.
"Perhaps opening the portals themselves will be enough," the Red Lotus leader said. "And that with an Avatar who understands the true meaning of freedom, the Balance of Tyranny will not be maintained. That is what I think will happen." Unalaq smiled at his pawn, knowing Zaheer was trying to convince himself. Still, his idea had merit, if not for the reasons the Red Lotus believed.
Two weeks after the death of Aang, in the South Pole...
"Authorities continue to hunt for the figure now dubbed the Obsidian Knight," the radio announced. "This man is considered a master level bender of unknown talent. The murderer of Avatar Aang has already caused no shortage of havoc across the world. In addition to the havoc wreaked upon Republic City, the death of King Kuei has led to the ascension of his sister Hou-Ting to the throne in Ba Sing Se. The wife and children of the late king have disappeared from public view. In the Northern Water Tribe, Prince Unalaq has just been anointed Chieftain of the Waters. And his first duty is to attend the funeral of the Avatar who did so much for the world. The new Earth Queen has declined the request for attendance."
"Turn that off, Tonraq," Senna told her husband. "We have more important things to worry about." She was still cradling their new daughter, Korra, in her arms. They had planned to have her back in the Southern Water Tribe, but Senna's water broke two days before their ship pulled into port. When they arrived in port, they made their way home and spent the next several days gathering baby supplies. Then, four days after their return, they learned that Avatar Aang and Councilor Sokka had been killed, Fire Prince Lee had been killed, and Republic City had suffered the worst night of bloodshed in its entire short history. And at the center of it all, was a figure dubbed the Obsidian Knight, who they knew as Darth Vader.
"Do you think he planned it?" he asked.
"Planned what?" Senna replied to her husband.
"For Aang to die during Korra's birth," Tonraq explained. "So that she would be the new Avatar."
"Why would he do that?" she asked. "How could he know when I would go into labor?"
"You saw his powers, he's something else," Tonraq noted.
"I think he told us the truth when he helped us, and that telling others of our encounter will accomplish nothing," his wife replied. "I think that if he hadn't helped us, we would be dead. Doesn't that deserve some consideration?" After a moment, Tonraq relented.
"Yes, it does," he agreed. "Whatever the case, I'm worried that his predictions of Unalaq will come true. Even if they don't, I will not live under his thumb for the rest of my life. Neither will either of you."
"What are you going to do about it, then?" Senna asked her husband.
"I'm going to be chief here," Tonraq stated. "I might have to say 'my lord' when he comes for something, but the Chieftain of the Waters title means nothing. The South isn't the North, and we all know it. But that can wait. Right now, I think it's that time." He picked up a baby bottle as Senna handed their daughter to them. The two of them smiled as Korra began to feed. Whatever else the future might hold, this was perfect.
Okay, that's finished the set up. Next chapter will contain a few flashes from the show, demonstrating what has been changed because of Vader's adventure. I hope that I demonstrated he and Aang were equals in power but had advantages the other didn't. For Aang, that was the Avatar State. For Vader, it was his skill at swordsmanship. Aang also had a weakness, in his animal guide. Given how Fang was willing to die with Roku rather than live without him, it's obvious that the bond between an Avatar and their pet is psychic to a degree. When Vader killed Appa, he disoriented Aang to the point that he couldn't go back into the Avatar state.