I just wanted to take a moment to thank everyone for the follows and reviews. I know there are a lot of AU stories out there. I stumbled across a very popular one, which had a lot of good ideas. However, it made some odd changes to who was and was not a bender, while making a lot of the story a sort of direct mirror. I wanted to try to keep many aspects of the characters and nations the same at the core while exploring this reversal. We'll see how it goes, but I have some exciting ideas for how the rest of Book One plays out. I'll be on the lookout for any critiques and suggestions.

Azula threw off the firebender helm and helped her brother to his feet. "That was embarrassing. I don't think he is even a bender. You need to practice more."

"That stupid boomerang caught me by surprise." Zuko rubbed his head ruefully. He then turned to his sister with a more serious expression. "You were going to tell him about Aang."

"I wasn't going to let that 'Prince' take you."

"Aang was not just a surviving airbender...but the Avatar?" Zuko mused.

"I thought he might be," Ursa said, walking over to her children. "How else could he have survived a hundred years without aging, and unleashed that beam of light?"

"We can't let the Water Tribes have him," Zuko said resolutely. "We have to go after him. This could change everything."

"He's just a goofy kid," mocked Azula.

"He hasn't learned all the elements yet." Ursa turned and looked off in the direction the Water Tribe ship had disappeared in. "He'll need help, but the Avatar is the one who can bring peace at last. Fire Lord Iroh has kept a brave face, but the Fire Nation is on the verge of collapse. Ember Island was the last free island besides the capital. And the Earth Kingdom isn't doing much better."

"I can't think of anyone better at teaching him firebending nearby than me, and I better take Zuzu along. Someone has to cook the food."

"I'm glad you find me so useful." Zuko looked down at his uniform. "We should make sure we don't look like Fire Nation soldiers or the royal family." He reached up and undid his topknot, letting his hair fall messily. "Wait, how will we catch up with them?"

There was a loud bellow from the side of the ship. Zuko ran over and looked over the side at Appa, who was swimming alongside the ship. Somehow, the sky bison had gotten out of the hold and hidden on the other side of the ship.

"Great, I'm sure a swimming sky bison can catch up with a Water Tribe cruiser." Azula rolled her eyes. Appa let out a snort and leaped into the air, gracefully floating in the air before slamming into the deck with a loud thud.

"You go and get changed, and gather whatever you want to take with you. I'll make sure some supplies get loaded."

"Where will you and the others go?" asked Zuko.

"Try to make it to the outposts in the Earth Kingdom. There is no way we can make it through the blockade to the capital."

With that, they solemnly began preparations. Zuko and Azula changed into Fire Nation tunics that were still a bit too fancy for a commoner but didn't give a hint of being a royal family member, or a soldier. Zuko strapped on his sword after giving them a final cleaning and packed his cleaning kit. He also picked up a family painting framed near his bed. Two of the people in the painting were already gone. He wondered how many more would pass before this war would end.

Azula was not going to get rid of her bangs. She reluctantly packed away her custom armor but took it with her. At some point, it might be time for the Fire Nation's princess to make her presence known, and she would be ready. She also grabbed a firebending scroll she had managed to take from the library on Ember Island. At some point, she would master the advanced techniques within. It was only a matter of time.

The siblings rejoined their mother on the deck of the ship. Appa had been loaded with bedrolls, tents, and some food rations. The rest of the crew was gathered around, lined up at attention, even though half of them were not military or royal servants. Ursa stepped forward and hugged Zuko.

"Never let anyone tell you aren't an honorable man. The Avatar needs you. One day, You will be Fire Lord."

"I...guess I will be. I'll see you again, in the capital." Ursa nodded, keeping back tears, and then turned to Azula.

"Will you permit your mother a hug?"

"I suppose...please don't cry."

"Are you afraid if I start crying, you will?" asked Ursa, as she hugged her daughter. Azula did not cry, but she came closer than she would like to admit.

She stepped up to Appa resolutely. "Alright, Aang said you could fly. So, it's time for you to get your act together. If you want to save your master, you're going to have to stop flopping around and start flying!" Appa let out a yawn. Azula shot a bolt of fire into the air. "I'm being serious."

Appa sneezed loudly, knocking Azula to the deck and covering her in mucous. "I see your tactic of asserting dominance is working well." Zuko reached out a hand, but Azula ignored it and stood up on her own, almost slipping and falling back to the deck.

"Do you have a better idea?"

Zuko stepped forward and rubbed his chin. "I think I do." He got over and climbed on Appa's back. He slid into the front and grabbed the reigns. "What did he say...Yip Yip!" And with that, Appa leaped into the air, this time flying. He circled the ship.

Azula's jaw dropped and then she ran towards the edge of the ship. "Hey, wait for me!" Appa gave a low pass, and Azula jumped, using a burst of flame to propel herself a bit further. She slammed into the basket and sprawled awkwardly. She quickly adjusted herself to a more dignified sitting position.

"Alright, Appa, let's go find your friend Aang." Zuko adjusted at the front of the saddle. Appa circled away from their ship and headed off in the direction the Water Tribe ship had sailed. The sky bison could fly fast. Zuko and Azula had never moved this fast. Even a Water Tribe ship wouldn't be able to outrun them.

"What an odd weapon...too flimsy to be an effective staff, no sharp edges." Sokka gave Aang's staff a few practice spins. "A warclub is far superior, or just a spear."

"It's not a weapon, it's a glider," Aang clarified, as the two water tribe warriors led him below decks. Sokka looked over some of the carvings on the staff. They were pretty nice, though clearly, they couldn't compete with Water Tribe scrimshaw. As his fingers ran along the edge of the staff, he hit something, causing the glider to deploy. The edge of the wing caught the Water Tribe Prince full in the face.

"Ouch...silly weapon. Here, take this and put it away, then store it in my quarters." Sokka handed the staff to a nearby waterbender. "And set course for the nearest Water Tribe port." To himself, as he walked away in a huff, he mumbled, "See if I'm not deserving a higher command than...my sister."

"Ah, Prince Sokka," Hama sighed. "you already are."

"Oh, I know, and hopefully, soon, everyone will see it."

Hama just sighed. "I'll be in my quarters, taking a nap. It's been a long day for an old woman."

Sokka just waved his honorary aunt off, and then headed after the guards after scanning the horizon one last time. As he headed down the stairs, he heard a loud commotion. As he stepped down into one of the lower decks, he saw the Avatar, hands still manacled, run a loop de loop around the room, the sound of rushing wind tearing through the cramped corridors.

"See, told you I could take you with my hands behind my back!" mocked Aang. "Oh, hey Prince Sourpuss."

"You idiots!" Sokka shouted at the guards. He pulled out his warclub. "I guess I'll have to deal with you myself." He charged at him and swung angrily. Aang danced about, dodging the blow, which only splintered his own ship's bulkhead. This continued for a few a little while longer, until Sokka had tired himself out with his violent redecorating.

"You're just smashing your ship up." teased Aang.

"Oh, you," Sokka gasped, "I never really like the interior much anyway."

"Do you need a moment to catch your breath?"

"No, no I'm just getting warmed up."

"If you really want a workout, you could unchain me."

"Good idea. I have the key right, here, just stand right over here." Sokka motioned closer to him with his warclub.

"On second thought, nah." Aang turned to leap away, but as he did so, he kicked back, sending a blast of air right at Sokka. It caught him by surprise and sent the prince slamming into the wooden bulkhead. He blacked out for a moment, and when he came to, he was manacled to a support beam. He saw the keys lying across the hallway, and a few warriors struggling into the hallway.

"One of you get over here and set me free...I didn't realize the Avatar would be such a jokester."

After he was freed, he hurried up to the deck of the ship to find the Avatar. He had reclaimed his staff and was using it to fend off several waterbenders. He moved up on the deck and spun his warclub in his hand. He would need a plan to secure the Avatar again. He glanced around and then smiled.

"You two," he called to a couple of warriors, "grab that net and bring it over here." The warriors complied and handed it to the Prince. Sokka began to swing the net over his head as he charged forward. Unfortunately, the deck was slippery, due to the flurry of waterbending. Sokka fell to the deck, the net whipping up and entangling one of the warriors standing nearby.

"Ah, there you are. You have been most hospitable, but I'm going to head off."

Sokka struggled to his feet. "Are you sure you don't want to stick around? You haven't even tried my Aunt's seal jerky."

"I'm a vegetarian." Aang turned and began to run towards the bow, engaging his glider as he ran.

Sokka took off after him, throwing his boomerang ahead. It sailed past Aang and began its return journey. The prince then made a wild jump, managing to grab onto a leg with his free hand. The glider listed violently, and Aang struggled to keep it upright and flying. Right before the glider passed over the edge of the ship and into open waters, the boomerang cut through a wing, sending the glider into a spin.

Sokka slammed into the rail of the ship and fell to the deck. Aang and his glider flipped over the edge, toppling into the ocean below. He struggled to his feet and rubbed his head ruefully. After looking over the side for a few moments, he saw nothing.

"Prince Sokka, something is chasing us!" a lookout called. Sokka looked up and saw a large creature flying towards them. It looked like something he had seen as being part of the Air Nomad forces in his training.

"We need to lower some waterbenders down and see if we can find the Avatar. He hasn't surfaced yet," he called out. He turned and hurried over to Hama. "Admiral, we have more company."

"I see them. It appears to be sky bison."

"Prince Sokka!" one of his marines called out. He spun around and saw Aang rising from the water, his tattoos glowing bright blue, nearly white. The airbender was riding a massive column of water into the sky, reaching above the sails of the ship. His jaw dropped. Even Admiral Hama stared in awe.

"There is no doubt now," she whispered, "he is the Avatar."

"Fly towards Aang, we have to get him onto the sky bison!" a female voice called from above. A girl leaned over the edge of the sky bison's saddle with a determined look on her face and unleashed a barrage of flaming red blasts. Hama effortlessly bent a wall of water from some barrels on the deck and created an ice wall. The fire slammed into it, melting but failing to penetrate.

Right then, the Avatar began to waver. The column began to unravel sinking lower and lower, until the Avatar slammed back into the deck. A spray of water swept across the deck from the point of impact as the pillar of water collapsed completely. The tattoos flicked for a moment and then the light was gone. The Avatar lay unconscious on the deck of the ship.

"Quickly, secure the Avatar!" Sokka began to make his way towards Aang with the other members of his crew.

"What are you doing Az...sister!" a male voice called out from above. The female firebender dropped right onto the deck of the ship, using jets of flame to try to slow her descent. She hit the deck and rolled, but when she tried to stand up, she realized one of her ankles was sprained.

"Ugh," she gritted her teeth, standing up gingerly. "Saving the stupid Avatar." She unleashed a flurry of fire blasts, knocking back several marines. One waterbender blocked several blasts with a shield of water, then sent a stream of water right at Azula, knocking her back to the deck.

The Water Tribe crew began to close in when Appa slammed into the deck, sending a blast of air bursting out. Water Tribe warriors went flying in different directions. Sokka was almost bowled over by one of his crew.

"No, no, no, I won't let you get away. Not after all this." He turned to Hama. "Freeze them to the deck!"

Hama nodded and began to bend. Large tendrils of water rose from barrels and the deck and began to shoot toward Appa. The Fire Nation prince, Zuko, leaped from the back of the animal and sent a flurry of fire blasts at the tendrils, trying to stop them. Azula struggled to her feet despite the pain and joined her brother. She somehow managed to kick, sending a scythe of fire through multiple water tendrils. She nearly fell over and had to use Zuko to remain upright.

"Get Aang onto Appa!" Zuko said. "I'll hold them off."

"Fine, fine." Azula grabbed Aang and began to drag him to Appa.

Sokka rushed ahead, his warclub raised high. He had to act now, prevent the Avatar from escaping. Appa sneezed in his face, and a spray of mucous slammed into him. He lost his balance and fell to the deck, again.

"Ah, gross..." he gasped. His warclub slipped from his hand. "And I thought froggeese were slimy."

Azula somehow managed to get Aang onto Appa's saddle, and then pull herself up. "Make sure to get his staff-glider thing!" She then turned, and instead of targeting the tendrils, sent a blast straight at Sokka. Hama whirled her arms about, bending several tendrils to block the blast.

Zuko nodded and used his boot to flip the staff up and grab it. He then turned and pulled himself up onto the saddle, tossing the staff in ahead of him. He then managed to pull himself on. "Yip Yip, hurry, yip, yip!"

Appa did not need any other encouragement and shot straight up into the air. Hama and other waterbenders were gathering on the deck, forming a ring. Sokka was yelling something at them, waving his warclub around. Aang, lying in the center of the saddle, began to stir.

"Avatar! Are you alright?" Azula asked, shaking him a little.

"I...I think so."

"Well, we are about to not be," said Zuko, who was climbing into the front of the saddle. Appa let out a groan, and the saddle suddenly tipped as the sky bison struggled to stay afloat. Azula looked over the side to see a massive column of water wrapping itself around a couple of Appa's legs. The waterbenders on the deck of the ship were moving in synch, their arms rotating in long smooth motions.

Aang crawled next to Azula and looked over the side. The water was beginning to freeze and drag the sky bison down. "Watch this princess!" He whirled his arms around, forming a sphere of air, and then launched it at the center of the massive water tendril. It struck, and then exploded in a blast of air, sending water and some ice flying in all directions. Appa shot skyward with the weight suddenly lifted.

Down below, a shower of water and ice reigned down on the ship, only partially blocked by the benders. The sails were shredded and the boat rocked wildly as it slammed into some chunks of ice. Sokka put a hand up to his forehead and sighed.

"Get this boat moving again!" he called out in frustration. "I will not come so close to finding someone missing for a hundred years, and then fail."

The Water Tribe ship rapidly disappeared into the distance. Aang sat with the Fire Nation siblings in the back of the ship. He looked at Zuko and then Azula. "Sorry, I should have been honest about being the Avatar, it's just, that I never wanted it all."

"I'll let it go, this time," Azula said, staring at Aang. "What was that glowing tattoo thing?"

"That's my sister's way of asking if you are doing alright."

"I'm not...sure. I'm feeling okay right now, but I could feel all the Avatar's before me and..." Aang thought for a moment, trying to think. The last thing he could remember was hitting the railing while trying to escape. After that was a whirlwind of vague impressions until he woke up on Appa again. For a moment, he felt a sudden burst of fear at being near Azula and Zuko, but that faded quickly as if it had never been there.

"Well, Avatar we are here to help you, and considering you pass out as soon as you use your magical Avatar powers, you need it." Azula sat back against the saddle with a satisfied look.

"You can just call me Aang." He turned to Zuko. "Do you have a map?"

"We do." Zuko grabbed a long canvas tube from their supplies. "This is one of the best maps the Fire Nation has to offer." He slid the map out and spread it out as best he could in the saddle. He motioned toward the bottom of the map. "We are around here. Does any of this look familiar?"

Aang scanned over the map. "I think so. This is the Southern Air Temple, where I'm from."

Zuko nodded. "That sounds about right." Zuko ran a hand through his hair. "I understand why you might want closure, but you might not like what you find."

"Oh, I know the Water Tribes attacked the Air Nomads, but you think they could take out the Air Nomads, who can all fly away on sky bison like Appa here and can fly with gliders? How often do birds drown?"

"I've seen an archershark take out birds before, but it would make sense most could escape," mused Azula.

"That's true, and according to reports, the Water Tribes haven't been near the temples for a long time." Zuko nodded to Aang. "If there is a chance any Air Nomads survived, you deserve to know. I just want you to know you might not find anything."

"Oh, you Fire Nation people are so dour and serious. You're going to love the temple." Aang hopped to the front and grabbed the reigns. "Let's go Appa, we are going home."

"I don't think he took your message to heart Zuzu."

"I guess not. I suppose some could have survived..."

"Maybe, but not after the Water Tribe hunted them down for the next hundred years or so." Azula pulled out a mirror, adjusted her bangs, and ensured the rest of her hair was in place for her incognito hairstyle.

Through the rest of that day, and a a good portion of the next, Appa flew on. They stopped overnight on a small island but didn't set a fire, just in case. They saw a few Water Tribe ships on the horizon but didn't get closer. Azula tried very hard not to admit she was warming up to Appa. She did admit his flying was very tactically useful, which was pretty high praise from the Fire Nation princess.

At last, they arrived at the mountain upon which the Southern Air Temple was perched. Appa landed on a grassy field outside the gate. Aang leaped up with a small whirlwind of air around landed with a flip, then bounced up to the gate. It was hanging open, one door askew on its hinges.

"The gate doesn't seem to be in use," commented Azula.

"If they fixed the gate, the Water Tribe would know there were Air Nomads around," Aang replied, skipping through. Appa let out a cry and followed Aang.

"Even Appa has suspicions," Azula quietly said to Zuko. "He's being a little naive."

"Uh huh," Zuko answered, a little distracted. He walked up and examined the gate more closely. "I think that water blew this door open...but from the inside." Azula walked over and looked around.

"That seems strange, but you seem to be right."

The two hurried after Aang who was making his way closer, occasionally calling out names. There was no response. They reached another low wall along a spiral path leading even higher. Several breaches had been made in the wall, the rubble all piled on the outside, with more evidence of a stream of water bursting out from within.

Zuko tripped over something and sprawled on the ground. Azula offered a hand and then pulled it away a the last moment. Zuko tripped over again but then noticed what he had tripped over. He dug around it a bit and pulled it out. It was a warclub, the Water Tribe scrimshaw unmistakable, though the club was decaying and nearly broke in half when Zuko pulled it out.

"Well, this doesn't bode well," Zuko remarked.

"Hey guys, hurry up, the main square is just ahead." Aang had run ahead, his enthusiasm overcoming his reason.

"He's going to have a rude awakening," Azula said. "I have a feeling."

The two Fire Nation siblings followed after, catching up to Aang and Appa in the main square. Simple buildings were arrayed about, all of them overgrown. There was more structural damage, long dried mud piled up here and there, and furrows tore through broken paving stones.

"Gyatso, hey, it's me, Aang, I'm back." Aang bounced around like a hyperactive rabbitsparrow, but there was no answer. "I'm sure if anyone is left, they hid in the main temple." Aang began to make his way towards the large building at the peak of the village. Just then, Appa let out a small roar and dashed off in another direction.

"Do you want to follow Aang or the sky bison?" Zuko asked.

"Hmm, I'll follow Appa."

"Hm, one would think you actually kind of like him."

"I'll still take a mongoose lizard any day."

"Sure." Zuko turned and followed Aang, and Azula hurried after Appa.

Azula hurried after the sky bison, mumbling to herself. She reprimanded herself for going soft, and her ankle still hurt a bit, but nothing could stop the princess of the Fire Nation. After a few minutes, she found Appa running about a field, chasing a small white-furred creature with very large floppy ears. It also appeared to have wings. Azula was not sure what it was, but it seemed harmless enough.

"Hey, Appa, stop chasing animals around. I didn't think you ate meat anyway." She chased after but began to limp more and more noticeably as she tried to follow after. Just then, the other creature turned and headed right towards her, and jumped right on her head. "Ah, stop it, you are messing up my hair, you stupid flying rat."

It let out a shriek in her ear. Appa roared at her, or the creature on her head. She stumbled back and fell over. The flying creature flapped into the air and then landed on her chest. Azula lay on the ground, wishing she was dead. The two animals began to make noises at each other until they came to an accord of some sort.

"Glad you two are having fun." She rolled over, sending the flying lemur flapping away. "Now, we have to go find Aang and Zuko and stop..." Azula herself stopped at that, noticing something carved in the earth. The grass had overgrown it, but now that she was so close to the ground, she could see. She scrambled along, clearing away dirt and grass. And then she found the bones.

A few minutes later, Azula stepped back after some frantic gardening. A series of concentric circles with runes carved in between marred the field. And along this ring were skeletons of long-dead Water Tribe shamans, marked by their amulets and sashes. There was an indication of flooding bursting from the circle and outward, though the years had changed it. Azula also felt a strange feeling of being watched.

"Let's go find Zuko, okay? No more running off." She turned and hurried away, not paying attention to whether Appa followed or not.

Zuko hurried after Aang, following him through the rest of the settlement. Another small gate was on the path ahead, hanging open, but not blown open like the main gate. Not far after was a small courtyard, with a door leading into the center chamber of the temple, beneath a dome.

The Fire Nation prince reached the door just to hear a cry of anguish from within. He stepped inside to see Aang kneeling before a body leaning against the back wall. Ragged robes covered a skeleton, a large amulet bearing the Air Nomad sigil around his neck. Scattered around the room were more skeletons, broken warclubs, and decaying water pouches.

"Aang...I'm so sorry." Zuko finally spoke after a moment. He slowly approached and awkwardly placed a hand on the boy's shoulder. For a moment, there was silence. Then Zuko felt Aang tense, and there was a feeling of power in the air. The tattoos began to glow again. Zuko removed his hand and stumbled back.

"They killed him!" Aang screamed. "They must be punished!" The air nomad's jovial self had been ripped away, replaced by raw fury. He rose into the air, a tornado of wind beginning to form around him. He swung his arms out wide, and gale-force winds sent Zuko toppling backward. He barely managed to scramble out the door before another blast shook the entire temple.

Zuko scrambled across the ground as Aang emerged from the temple, encased in a visible sphere of whirling air, sucking dirt, detritus, and vegetation into it. His tattoos were nearly blinding, and only raw emotion coursed across his face. Azula was following up the path, a look of concern across her face. He couldn't see Appa at the moment.

"What did you do?" his sister asked, rushing up to him. She had to shout to be heard over the wind.

"He saw his mentor, I think, went down fighting inside the temple."

"If only he had listened to us, and not lived in a fantasy."

"Have a little sympathy Azula." For a moment, her face changed a bit.

"Fine, but we have to stop him. Maybe if we wear him out, he will collapse again."

"Only as a last resort. I have a better idea." Zuko stepped towards Aang.

"Zuzu, what are doing?" she hissed.

"Aang, listen to me. I don't know all of what you are going through, but I have felt pain and loss from losing loved ones. I know the pressure of the weight of responsibility pushed upon you while young." Aang turned and looked at Zuko, and began to float forward slowly, tearing up grass and paving stones. "Listen to me. You don't have to bear this alone. Take control, I've only known you a few days, but this anger isn't you."

Aang moved only a few feet in front of Zuko, who struggled to stand in the force of the wind. Azula stepped up to join her brother. After a tense second, the wind dispersed in a sudden and violent blast, and the airbender fell forward, his tattoos fading. Azula and Zuko rushed forward and caught him.

Aang looked up weakly, remaining conscious. "Thank you. I thought all my friends had died long ago."

"Well, you still have Appa," said Azula. Zuko shot her a look. "Okay, I'll be your friend too."

Just then, the flying creature leaped onto Aang's head. He raised his eyebrows. "A winged lemur?"

"Appa was chasing him around in a field. I think they worked something out."

"What's he holding there?" asked Zuko.

"A moon peach," Aang said, sitting up. "Well, if you can find moon peaches for us, I think you should come along. I think I'll call you Momo." The lemur let out a happy squeak and smacked Azula in the face with his tail as he leaped around. She let out an exaggerated sigh and snatched the peach, taking a bite.

"Oh, this is delicious," declared Azula after swallowing the bite. "I guess we have a new pet." Momo squeaked and snatched the peach back. "Okay, fine, a friend."

Not only did Momo find them more moon peaches, but also some other fresh fruit and vegetables growing wild among the temple settlement. Azula decided to keep the circle for later, but she planned to tell Zuko and Aang. Before they left, Aang buried Gyatso, spending some time in meditation. It seemed uncharacteristic of the airbender, but Zuko and Azula were happy to comply. It had not been too long since they had stood in vigil at the deaths of their father and cousin. When the ceremony was completed and fresh supplies were gathered, they continued onward.