With Appa's superior speed, they were able to fly away and lose any pursuers. After a bit, Aang turned to Zuko.
"Do you know where the Fire Temple of the Avatar is?"
"It's on Crescent Isle." Zuko pointed to it on the map. "It will take a while to get there. If I remember correctly, the temple is the only thing of note on the island."
"Have the Water Tribes taken it over?"
"They've taken over everything, except the capital," Azula said bitterly.
"True, but just like with Kyoshi, they hold an odd respect for the Avatar. In the last report I saw, which was months ago, the Fire Sages were allowed to keep the temple. But I'm sure they keep a close eye on it."
"I can't believe they have this weird respect for me...but also wiped out my people."
"I can't imagine what that must be like," said Ty Lee, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Your aura is very bright for someone who has gone through such pain."
Azula rolled her eyes. "Anyway, if we have to go there, let's do it. Will this help you learn waterbending?"
"I don't know," Aang answered, "but it will help me become the Avatar."
For the next several days, they traveled on, staying away from settlements. They remained near Earth Kingdom territory until the last moment, when they made a turn into the Fire Nation waters, now overrun with Water Tribe forces. A few hours of flying from Crescent Island, Ty Lee called out a warning, sending Momo hopping from her shoulder with a squeal.
"Ship, Water Tribe ships ahead!"
Azula and Zuko scrambled up from the saddle and to the edge. Coming up on the horizon was a small flotilla of Water Tribe vessels: several large cruisers and about twice as many frigates. The sails were full and the fleet was moving in their direction at a good clip.
Aang adjusted his grip on the reigns. "We can just fly over them. By the time they turn around, we'll be long gone."
"Don't underestimate them," Zuko warned. "Those ships can move fast, especially when they use waterbending."
As if on cue, the fleet turned towards them and began to increase in speed. Appa increased in speed and began to try to arc away from the fleet. While Appa might have been able to outrun them, he wasn't fast enough to get around them while continuing to fly toward their destination. It wasn't long before the ships were right in front of them.
There was a sharp whizzing sound, and something flew past them. "They've got ballista!" Ty Lee called out.
"Not for long." Azula leaned over the edge and sent a blast of fire at the nearest ship. It struck a ballista and set it alight. The waterbenders on the frigate scrambled to put it out. "Come on Zuzu, stop sitting around and help, if you can even send a blast that far."
Zuko hurried to the edge and looked down, concentrating on the scene below. It was unlikely for all but the most powerful waterbenders to reach them at this altitude. But even if their fire reached the ships below, the waterbenders could easily counter them. He noticed them preparing to fire another bolt and send a fast-moving fire blast at it. It struck true, and the crew stumbled back as benders scrambled to put the flames out.
They could see the sailors and marines scrambling about below, and they could hear the beating of war drums. There was a good chance they knew about the Avatar's return. The Water Tribes' ability to coordinate their troops and pass information was terrifyingly fast. The siblings sent more bolts down at the ships, trading a few good-natured barbs back and forth. The waterbenders countered their attacks, but at least it kept them busy.
Momo let out a series of chirps. "No, I can't do anything, unless I jump down there," Ty Lee joked. The lemur squeaked back. Ty Lee looked over the edge. "No, I don't think I could land safely from this height, but I could dive into the water."
"No need to do that," Azula said. "We'll be long gone in a moment."
"I wasn't going to...but it would be fun to try."
"Look!" Zuko called out. He pointed below at one of the cruisers. A Water Tribe warrior stood out on the deck with their hands raised. They were dressed in more ornate clothes with lots of bones and other trinkets hanging off of them. Their eyes began to glow. "It's a shaman. This isn't going to go well."
Aang was about to ask a question when Appa suddenly reared back. Aang's snapped his gaze forward and found himself face to face with a terrifying face. The almost black skin was pulled back from a mouth of needle-like teeth. The eyes were glowing yellow orbs with small red dots within, and tendrils burst from the face and snaked out without rhyme or reason.
Ty Lee let out a yell and fell backward, nearly landing on Momo. Appa swerved and tried to get away, but this strange creature not only kept up with him, but its body began to wrap around the sky bison. Azula spun and sent a blast of fire at the creature. The flame burst through the strange dark flesh and tore out the other side, leaving a hole. Tendrils of shadow began to lace across the hole, pulling it back together. Ty Lee let out a whirling kick at a tentacle arcing across Appa's back. A puff of smoke whirled about her foot, but the tendril remained.
"It's like kicking a cloud!"
The creature let out a shriek as Aang tried to calm Appa and keep him flying. More tendrils burst from the creature's snakelike body. One wrapped around Ty Lee and began to drag her along the bottom of the saddle. She crashed into the wall as she fought back and braced against the saddle. Zuko sent a blast of fire, severing the tendril that vanished into smoke.
"Are you alright?" he asked the acrobat, helping her to her feet.
"I think so...it felt so cold, it was like touching loneliness."
Azula let out a warcry and sent out two arcs of fire with rapid kicks. They formed an "x" and slashed through the enraged beast. It roared in pain. The scream was not loud, but they all felt it shake through their core, and a sense of great pain and anguish coursed through them. The princess lashed out with a barrage of fire bolts.
"Get out of my head, you monster!" she snapped.
"This creature's aura is very, very bad." Ty Lee picked up Momo and held him close.
Aang faced the creature and stared into its eyes. "This is a spirit."
"No duh!" Azula shot back. "That's why shamans are so dangerous, they summon spirits into battle."
"Maybe if I can disrupt the shaman's concentration, it will flee." Zuko ran to the edge to look over but was knocked down by a flailing tentacle. He fore a blade of fire and cut himself free before jumping to his feet.
Aang was still staring at the creature. "I am the Avatar," he began softly. "This is not your natural state. The world is out of balance." The enraged spirit let out a harsh bark. "I was gone, I ran away, but I'm back. I will bring peace." He held out his hand and placed it gently on the spirit's forehead.
For a moment, Aang was overwhelmed with visions of the spirit world. It was a kaleidoscope of scenes, of spirits of all sorts, of those passed on, of strange creatures of all sorts, of fantastical worlds that nearly defied description. He pulled his hand and fell back onto Appa, lying stunned for a moment. The spirit glared down at him. Azula and Zuko raised their fists and prepared to strike, but Aang held up a hand.
"Please, there is no need to fight. Go in peace." The spirit let out another anguished bellow, and then broke away, twisting and writhing in the air. "Come on Appa, let's get out of here." Appa let out a grunt of fear and bolted away, glad to be free of the spirit.
A few more ballista bolts sailed past, and the spirit twisted about in the air as if in pain before returning to the ships below. Everyone on Appa's back sighed in relief.
"I can't believe the Water Tribe is doing this. I thought you said they attacked because the spirits were being hurt by the Fire Nation and the Earth Kingdom."
"That's what their propaganda says," Zuko confirmed, "but you see what they have done in the name of balance."
Aang sighed and sat down, holding the reigns limply. "I wasn't able to help as much as I wanted...I couldn't free him, or even give him relief. But I will become better. Now, we have to get to Crescent Island."
In another few hours, the island came into view. As the name would suggest, it was shaped like a waning moon, with a multi-tiered temple sitting in the widest part of the island. There was a small dock and a few buildings in the bay, but no ships. It seemed quiet, with a small column of smoke rising from the temple.
Aang guided Appa to a quiet part of the island, hidden from the temple and the bay by the peaks of the island. The sky bison was happy to have a moment to rest and get a snack. The spirit's attack and pushing himself so hard had put the poor beast under a lot of strain. Aang patted the side of his furry friend.
"Don't worry buddy, we'll be back soon. You just take a rest. You've been carrying this team for a long time." Appa gave a satisfied humph and munched on some of the island's sparse vegetation.
"I know, it is difficult to carry a team, whether figurative or literal," Azula answered.
"Come on, let's hurry to the temple, and hope the sages are willing to accept us." Zuko slid his swords on his back and motioned in the direction of the temple.
Leaving Momo and Appa behind, the small group began to wind their way towards the temple of the rough volcanic rock of the island. It was quiet but also peaceful, and there was a haunting beauty to it all. As they arrived at the back of the temple compound, they noticed a peaceful rock garden with some plants, and a door leading into the temple proper.
"Look, there are a couple of guards by the door. Their aura's are kind of off." Ty Lee pointed at the door. A couple bored looking guards were leaning against the wall on either side of the door, holding spears.
"It isn't the only thing that is off with them." Zuko looked over the guards with a keen eye. "I've seen many guards stand at attention in the royal palace, and their form is sloppy."
"We can take them out easily." Azula prepared to step forward.
"Wait, they're just doing their job. If they are still loyal to the Avatar, they might just let us past with a bit of convincing."
"Aang, I'm not sure they are Fire Nation soldiers," Zuko warned.
"I can knock them out without hurting them much. They won't even see me until it is too late." Ty Lee began doing a few stretches. "Just step up and say hi Avatar, and I will take care of the rest."
Aang looked over at the royal siblings, and they both nodded. He stepped out into the garden and began to walk towards the guards. They both suddenly tensed up and changed their grip on their spears.
"Hey guys, it's me, the Avatar. Just coming to say hello to the sages." The two of them looked at each other in confusion and then began to step forward. It was then that a flurry of pink dropped in from above and let loose a flurry of punches at one of the guards, who stiffened up, dropped his spear, and then toppled to the ground, his eyes rolling back in his head. The other guard spun around to face Ty Lee, but she kicked the back of his leg, dropping him to one knee, and then landed a few more punches and sent him to the ground with a loud whump.
"That was awesome. You're quite the acrobat," Aang commented.
Ty Lee did a handspring. "I know. I practice a lot."
Zuko stepped forward and rolled one of the unconscious guards over. He pulled at a leather thong around his neck, revealing a carved bone amulet. "Water Tribe. Even if the sages are here, they are prisoners in their temple."
"We should hurry then, we will no doubt be discovered soon." Azula grabbed the other guard and began to drag him out of the way. The others pitched in and soon had both of the guards hidden and secured out of the way.
Once inside, they began to make their way deeper towards the inner sanctum. The insides of the temple were plain but beautiful. A few torches lit the way, illuminating smooth obsidian walls and lacquered wood frames. A couple of doors led to sparse bedchambers. They slipped in through a side door into a large center chamber. It was at least two stories high, with large pillars spaced evenly about it.
On one side, dominating the chamber, was a massive metal-plated door, with five openings shaped like the mouths of dragons. Two large brazers were mounted on either side of it, and a torch mounted on each pillar burned brightly. Through the main door on the other side, the sound of slight talking could be heard, but it was distant.
The four of them cautiously spread out around the room. "I don't think the sages have been around for a while." Zuko motioned to the base of one of the pillars. "The sages would never have allowed things to degrade to this state."
"The main thoroughfares still seem clear. People have been around recently." Azula motioned across the main hall. There was no build-up of dust leading to the large door.
Aang stood at the front of the door, examining the five dragon openings. "This must be the way to the inner sanctum...I have to get inside to speak to Roku."
Ty Lee walked over on her hands and then flipped up to her feet. "Maybe we just need to knock?"
"I doubt it will be that easy." Azula stepped up to the door and ran her hand along the snout of one of the brass dragons. "These are firebending locks. Fortunately for you, you just happen to have one of the most talented firebenders in the entire Fire Nation at your disposal, and one mediocre one."
"Don't worry Azula, you'll still be useful."
"Oh, Zuzu, you're deluded."
"You guys might want to stand back," the fire prince warned. Ty Lee and Aang stepped away, and Zuko and Azula prepared to open the locks. With a slight nod, they both unleashed a flurry of fire blasts at the locks. For a moment, the eyes of the dragons flickered, but they remained closed. After a few desperate minutes, both of them were bent over gasping with exertion.
"I see...that we can't...keep enough fire...in each lock...to open them," gasped Zuko.
"I guess...that's...why there are...five fire sages..." Azula wheezed back.
"Maybe if you taught me how to firebend real fast, I could handle one of them?"
"It might be possible, I don't know much about the Avatar. But aren't you supposed to learn the elements in a certain order?" asked Zuko.
"Yes, but I don't know if that is tradition or a requirement. It's more important..."
Aang didn't have time to finish before the door at the other end of the room flew open. An entourage of warriors burst in. In the front were five firebenders, though their skull masks were gone, and the firebenders beneath had looks of utter terror and pain on their faces and moved with stilted awkward movements. There were four more "Fire Nation" soldiers behind them but with Water Tribe accouterment hanging from their belts and around their necks. There was also an older Water Tribe leader, with the sleek blue and white uniform and fur cape of a Northern Water Tribe captain.
But what drew the attention of everyone was the remaining two figures. Skulls of horned creatures adorned their heads, covering most of their head and face. Their mouths could be seen, but it would have been better if they had been hidden. Cord sewed their mouths shut, and ritual scarring could be seen along their bare arms and legs. Other plates of bone had been strapped to them in the form of armor, and many necklaces hung from their necks, some going past their waists, from which hung scrimshaw, carved rocks, and metal shards. They waved their arms above their heads, fingers splayed out and wiggling, muttering through their swollen lips.
"What do we have here? Intruders? Is that an air nomad?"
"I see from your aura that you are a very inquisitive person. Not a very successful one though," Ty Lee said with a smile. The Water Tribe captain was not impressed.
"The air nomad must be the Avatar, who of course would come to visit his predecessor's temple."
"Your abilities of deduction are awe-inspiring," mocked Azula.
"Enough. I thought they were only rumors, but it seems I have been given a great opportunity. Take the Avatar prisoner, do what you must to subdue the rest. Chief Arnook will regret sending me to this tiny island, and give me command of a fleet, as is deserving of my station."
The two skull-wearing warriors raised their hands in a flurry of movement, and the five fire benders awkwardly moved in unison, sending out five bolts of fire at Aang's allies. Zuko raised his arms and spun them in a wide motion, bending the blasts of flame around him and sending three of them at the dragon mouth locks. The eyes of all of them blazed to life.
"Now Azula, the other two!" Zuko shouted.
Aang formed a large sphere of air and disrupted the other two fire blasts. Ty Lee leaped and ran up one of the pillars, then flipped over the line of firebenders, landing between the two emaciated and creepy tribesmen.
"It must be hard to defend yourself trying to bloodbend five others. Your aura's look very strained." Ty Lee prepared to attack, but before she could, the Water Tribe captain sent a barrage of icicles at her, moving with surprising celerity.
"What are those benders doing?" Aang asked. Azula turned and fired long blasts at the remaining two dragon locks.
"Bloodbenders, now get through the door." As the eyes on the last two locks blazed to life, the door began to swing open with a loud groan. Aang nodded, leaped over Azula, and slid through the door as soon as it was wide enough.
As soon as Aang was through, Azula and Zuko spun around to attack. The door immediately began to close again. With a quick flick of their wrists, the bloodbenders sent all five firebenders slamming into the floor. Zuko and Azula immediately prepared to attack, but suddenly found their muscles locking up, then twisting about. Azula spun out with a kick at Zuko sending a blast of flame at him.
Zuko tried to react, but couldn't block in time. The blast sent him flying into a pillar. Azula's face became a gasp of horror, right before her arms and legs twisted up and sent her dropping to the floor, helpless. Ty Lee tried to attack one of the bloodbenders, dodging over a snake of water. Unfortunately, a patch of ice appeared right under the landing foot as she prepared to kick. With a quick slip, she slammed into the stone floor and the light went out.
As the door slid shut behind him, the sounds of battle were immediately shut out. It was quiet and peaceful within. Unlike the corridors in the rest of the temple, brass reliefs decorated the walls, showing the various exploits of Avatar Roku, the previous Avatar. The last showed his desperate struggle against a volcano, and finally, Fire Lord Sozin mourning at the grave of his friend.
Underneath it was writing reading, "You saved my family, but I was not there to save you." Aang stared about the room mouth agape. But what drew his attention most was the massive statue of Roku which dominated the center of the room. It was at least as large as Kyoshi's, perhaps even larger. A beam of moonlight shined down on it from above with a small square opening at the peak of the roof. Under a full moon, it would have been truly impressive.
The Avatar stepped forward and stood beneath the statue. "Well, what did you need to tell me?" Aang looked up expectedly, but nothing happened. He rubbed his head and then sat down, crossed his legs, and began to focus his mind. He stared back up at the statue, focusing on his mind.
Suddenly, the room tore away, and Aang found himself sitting at the bottom of an infinite stair. Far Then he saw a dragon flying towards him, twisting around the stairs. It lighted on the stairs, and a figure dismounted from the back of the majestic beast. Avatar Roku stepped forward and smiled.
"Avatar Aang, it is good to finally meet you." He flickered for a moment, and Aang felt another small burst of pain. "I...things are going wrong, and your young shoulders will be forced to carry a great weight."
"I know...I ran away, and the world descended into chaos, and then I tried to run away again."
"You did, and admitting your mistakes is the first step. But there is something I must tell you. There is a reason that the Water Tribes delayed their attack, allowing you to grow even older. There was a comet, now called Sozin's Comet in honor of the Fire Lord at that time. He had a bit of an ego." For a moment, Roku seemed to be reminiscing a bit in his mind. "It gave firebenders great power, and the Water Tribes dared not attack. At the end of the comet's orbit near our planet, the Water Tribes attacked the Air Nomads, as you know."
"I do...I saw the aftermath."
"They unleashed terrifying forces. With one nation removed as a threat and the power of another waning, they pushed their attack. But the comet is returning, by the end of the summer. Knowing this, they will pull no punches to stop you, and finish taking out Fire Nation before the comet returns. There is also something else."
For a moment, Roku's form became dark and flickered. Aang began to stand up in alarm. "Avatar Roku, are you alright?"
"In their quest for power, and in the name of balance, they have shattered the peace of the spirit world and thinned the veil. Once, they may have believed in their goals, back in my time. But as the war has gone on, they have become more and more desperate. In response, the radical forces of the Earth Kingdom and the Fire Nation have pushed the limits of their war. You do not have just one enemy, but a whole world desperately in need of balance. Remember that."
"Just one more thing to worry about."
"But at least you have friends, they will be there to support you when you need it. Speaking of which, they require your help. When you return, your enemies wait, but I will give you a taste, a taste of what the full power of the Avatar is capable of."
Zuko, Azula, and Ty Lee were chained to one of the pillars. Zuko's swords were being held, with a level of reverence, by one of the disguised Water Tribe marines. Right now, the leader of the Water Tribe forces guarding the temple was arguing with Prince Sokka.
The Prince had burst in right after the Fire Nation members had been secured. He had immediately tried to take control, throwing his weight around. The Northern Water Tribe forces were not impressed.
"Look, Prince Sokka, I heard you were demoted...must have been embarrassing."
"I went on a journey, of my own accord. I am on a secret mission."
"Oh yes, we've been informed of that. You were so incompetent, that the only thing they could think to do with you was send you on a fool's errand. It just so happened you stumbled upon the Avatar anyway. Of course, it was I who now have him contained, and have captured his allies."
"Funny you say that," Hama said, shuffling forward after watching the exchange with amusement. "I was under the impression Arnook sent you to this outpost because of your incompetence"
The Water Tribe captain grimaced and clenched his fists. "This is my charge, not yours. The Southern Water Tribe should stick to its problems. And Admiral Hama, is that not the pelt calling the fur hairy, to accuse me of being given a pointless position to get me out of the way?"
"We get it, you are all incompetent washed-up commanders," Azula mocked. "And it seems to me that none of you have captured the Avatar."
"You are quite funny, Fire Nation peasant," Sokka teased. He gave her a wink. "And was having one bang longer than the other on purpose, or are you just bad at personal grooming?"
Azula growled and struggled at her chains. "Peasant! Peasant!" Zuko kicked her leg. Azula hissed. "The lowliest peasant in the Fire Nation has better grooming than the royal family of either Water Tribe."
Sokka laughed. "Whatever the case may be, when the Avatar emerges, I will take him and his allies into custody, and depart from your island."
"You will not. You will leave my island, right now, and I will consider not telling you sister of your bungling."
"Fine, you can have his allies, as you did take them prisoner. But the Avatar is mine." Sokka motioned to the waterbenders and marines who had entered with him, and they approached the door in a semi-circle with their spears and water at the ready.
The Northerners readied themselves as well, the bloodbenders preparing the poor, captured firebenders to attack. The leader looked at one of the female waterbenders in Sokka's forces and shook his head.
"Pathetic, your forces do not stand a chance." Hama just smiled and raised an eyebrow.
And then the door slowly opened. The sight inside caused all of them to step back. A figure stepped from within. As soon as Zuko, Azula, and Ty Lee could see, they also gasped. The figure of a tall man, with long flowing gray hair and beard stepped forth, clad in a flowing ornate robe of red with golden trim.
"Fools!" the voice boomed. "You have desecrated this temple, and now, the temple's time comes to an end. Better to cleanse it in fire, than let your filth reside in it anymore!" There was a low rumble, and the whole temple shook. Cracks began to form in the floor and debris began to reign from the ceiling.
The cracks loosened the chains, and the three of them wiggled loose. Zuko grabbed his pair of swords from the hands of the stunned warrior. Sokka and the Northern captain began shouting orders, and their forces finally galvanized into action. Blasts of water, ice, and fire shot toward the Avatar, but a cyclone of air knocked the attacks aside.
Then magma began to burst from the floor. One of the pillars collapsed completely. One of the bloodbenders lost his footing and nearly fell into a crack in the floor. Two of the firebenders turned on him and unleashed two long blasts of flame. The bloodbender let out a scream of pain, blood pouring from his lips. It stopped as he was engulfed in flames.
Sokka charged at Roku, his warclub held high, but a blast of air sent him flying across the room and into the back wall. Hama hurried over to him and helped him to his feet.
"I suggest we leave while we can, The temple is finished." Sokka glanced around.
"You're right, let's get the ship ready to go. When the Avatar flees, we will follow him." Sokka called out to his forces to retreat. As one of the younger waterbenders tried to flee, she fell into a crack in the floor. Glowing magma pushed up from below.
Sokka gritted his teeth and ran forward, grabbing her arm, and tried to pull her from the crevice. Her arm was slick with sweat, and he couldn't pull her up.
"Let me help." The scarred face of Zuko appeared near him. He reached down and grabbed the other arm, and they pulled her from the crevice. Sokka gave a nod of thanks and then hurried away.
The rest of the room was devolving into utter chaos. Roku was not targeting anyone in particular, but focusing on bringing the temple down. The remaining bloodbender forced two of the firebenders to blast each other. Another tackled the bloodbender and sent both of them into a crevice. The Northern leader fled the room, leaving his underlings to flee for themselves. Zuko tried to help one of the remaining firebenders, but the floor opened up and separated them.
"Go, Prince Zuko," he called out. "We will escape, you must ensure the Avatar's safety."
Zuko nodded. "Your sacrifice will not be forgotten." Zuko, Azula, and Ty Lee fled from out the side door and across the island. Magma could be seen bursting from the temple's ruins, bubbling from deep in the island. A red glow flowed out into the bay.
"Wait, where is Aang?" asked Azula. "He was Roku, right?
"I'm not sure...maybe it was some sort of projection from the spirit world," suggested Zuko.
"There he is, flying on his glider." Ty Lee pointed up. A small orange glider drifted over the horizon and wiggled its wings as it passed overhead. Soon all of them were back aboard Appa, flying off into the night.
"Did you learn what you needed to?" asked Zuko.
"I did." Aang told them about the comet and Roku's warning.
"Right...I had forgotten its return was so soon," Zuko mused. "It would make sense. I wonder what they are planning to do."
"Is there somewhere to go, to get more recent reports on what the Water Tribes could be planning?"
"There is Cranefish Town," Azula suggested. "It is an Earth Kingdom port, which has long been part of a joint effort between them and the Fire Nation at fighting a naval war. In recent times, a large number of Fire Nation refugees have fled their, mostly military families, to continue the battle. There would be recent reports there."
"Perhaps, but there are other options," Zuko said, nervously rubbing his forehead.
"Come on Zuzu, it has a large message terminal, it's nearby, it would give us a chance to rest and resupply, and we have a connection to the Fire Nation governor there."
"That sounds like what we need," Aang said.
"Fine," Zuko said with resignation. "Let's go."