Avatar Roku
Shortly after explaining how they were going to speak to Avatar Roku, both Aang and Makoto decided to go to the temple alone...only problem is they were having some trouble getting Appa off the ground.
"Let's go, Appa! Come on, boy!" Aang told his bison.
Makoto patted Appa to try and get him moving. "We don't have much time left, Appa! Please! If we don't get to the temple before the solstice ends, we'll never find out what Avatar Roku wants to tell both me and Aang!" Appa still roared in disagreement.
"Look, I'm sorry, but Sokka, Katara, and Arven aren't coming to the Fire Nation with us." Aang said. "I still feel bad that I have to take Makoto along, but if they got hurt I'd never forgive myself. So get your big butt off the ground and let's go!" He tried to pull on the reins, but Appa just wouldn't budge.
Makoto sighed in a little annoyance. "Looks like we'll just have to count on Koraidon to take us there." He turned to see his Paradox Pokemon...who just roared sadly and shook his head. "Come on, Koraidon, not you too."
"Yeah, that's a sign that those two are trying to tell you something, little buddy." Arven told Makoto.
Both Makoto and Aang turned to Arven, Sokka, Katara, and the villagers. "Please don't go, Aang." Katara pleaded to the Airbender. "The world can't afford to lose you to the Fire Nation. Neither can I."
They both thought about it until they thought back to the visions of the comet and the rampaging Paradox Pokemon. "I know you guys are worried, but Aang and I have to go and talk to Roku to figure out what those visions mean." Makoto told them.
"We need to get to the Fire Temple before the sun sets on the solstice! That's today!" Aang added. They both got on their own rides and began to walk away.
They didn't get far because Katara, Sokka, and Arven blocked their path. "Hold it right there, Makoto!" Arven held up a hand. "You and Aang aren't going to the Fire Nation!"
"At least not without your friends." Sokka added. "We got your backs." Katara nodded in agreement. Momo got on Aang's shoulder, making him smile. Appa happily licked Sokka. "Ew!" Sokka cried in disgust.
Koraidon happily gave Arven a good licking too. "Hey, come on! Cut it out!" Arven cried out, making Makoto laugh a little.
The chief approached them and gave Aang some stuff. "It's a long journey to the Crescent Island. You'll have to fly fast to have any chance of making it before sundown. Good luck."
"Thank you for your-" Aang started to thank until the chief cut him off. "Go!" With that, Aang, Sokka, and Katara took off on Appa while Makoto and Arven followed close behind while riding on Koraidon.
Early the next morning, the chief yawned a little while stepping outside...only to come face to face with Zuko. "Having trouble sleeping?" He pushed the chief back to the doorway. "Seen the Avatar lately? Or perhaps you've seen a tamer of strange creatures known as Pokemon?"
With the sun rising, both Appa and Koraidon flew across the ocean.
"Come on boy, we've got a long way to go! Faster!" Aang told Appa. The flying bison roared and picked up his flying pace.
"Let's pick up the pace, Koraidon!" Makoto said to his Fighting/Dragon-Type. Koraidon roared and flew fast as well.
Following them in the water was a Fire Navy ship...Zuko's Fire Navy ship. The prince was looking up at them with a telescope.
"Sailing into Fire Nation waters." Iroh spoke, sounding both concerned and frustrated. "Of all the foolish things you have done in your sixteen years, this is the most foolish."
"I have no choice, Uncle." Zuko said.
"Have you completely forgotten that the Fire Lord banished you!? What if you're caught?" Iroh asked out of worry for his nephew.
Zuko turned from his telescope to his uncle. "I'm chasing the Avatar and the Pokemon Tamer. My father will understand why I'm returning home."
"You give him too much credit." Iroh said. "My brother is not the understanding type."
Zuko looked back at his telescope and spots Appa and Koraidon flying above them. "There they are! Helmsman, full speed ahead!"
Aang and the others are still in the sky. Arven looked down and noticed that a ship was gaining on them. "Hey, guys? Looks like we've got trouble!"
Katara and Sokka looked down at the ship and recognized it well. "Big trouble!" Katara mentioned. "And it's gaining fast!" Sokka warned.
Zuko and his crew were ready with a loaded catapult. Iroh was fanning himself. "Really, Prince Zuko, couldn't you shoot them down with something more fragrant?"
Zuko lights the ball on fire while the catapult was aimed at Appa and Koraidon. "On my mark...Fire!" The fireball was launched at the flying duo.
Arven looked back and gasped a little when he saw the ball of fire. "Incoming fireball!"
Makoto nodded. "Got it!" Both he and Aang steered Koraidon and Appa away while the fireball went over their heads. The ball was gone, but the five of them still cringed in disgust of the lingering smell.
Katara even held her nose. "We have to get out of Zuko's range before he shoots another hot stinker at us!"
Arven plugged his nose as well. "Can't Koraidon and Appa go any faster?"
Aang looked at what was ahead of them. "Yeah, but there's just one little problem."
Zuko looked ahead with wide eyes. "A blockade!" It's true, up ahead were lines of Fire Navy ships stretched out across the water, each one had catapults ready to launch.
"Technically you are still in Earth Kingdom waters, turn back now and they cannot arrest you." Iroh advised Zuko.
Makoto sweated a little while looking down at the blockade. "Any ideas on how we can get through this?"
"If we fly north, we can go around the Fire Nation ships and avoid the blockade." Aang suggested. "It's the only way."
"There's no time!" Katara told him.
Makoto sighed a little. "This is exactly why Aang and I didn't want you guys to come! I knew this was going to be dangerous!"
Arven patted Makoto on the shoulder. "And that's exactly why we're here! Remember, we're a team! If you plan on speaking to this Roku guy with Aang, then I'm going to make sure you do just that!"
Katara and Sokka agreed with him. "Let's run this blockade!" the latter even said.
"Appa, yip yip!" Aang called out. The bison flew off towards the blockade. "Let's do this, Koraidon!" Makoto told his Pokemon. Koraidon roared in determination and followed Appa in the direction of the blockade.
Zuko watched them fly towards the blockade. "They're not turning around!"
"Please, Prince Zuko. If the Fire Nation captures you, there's nothing I can do. Do not follow the Avatar and the Pokemon Tamer." Iroh begged.
Zuko closed his eyes with regret. "I'm sorry, Uncle. Run the blockade!"
On one of the ships in the blockade, someone was looking at Appa, Koraidon, and also Zuko's ship through a telescope. "The Avatar, a person with an unusual kind of dragon, AND the banished prince." The person seeing them coming was actually Commander Zhao. "This must be my lucky day."
"Commander Zhao, what are your orders?" a soldier asked.
"Shoot the bison and the strange dragon down." Zhao ordered.
"But there's a Fire Navy ship out there, Commander. One of our own." the soldier pointed out. "What if we hit it?"
"So be it." Zhao answered, surprising the soldier. "It belongs to a traitor." He turned to the other soldiers. "Ignite!" Each of the soldiers lit their ammo on fire. "LAUNCH!" At Zhao's command, the fire balls were launched in Appa and Koraidon's direction.
Aang, Katara, Sokka, Makoto, and Arven screamed when they saw more fireballs coming at them. Both Appa and Koraidon moved around in the sky to avoid getting hit by the balls of fire while Aang and Makoto tried their best to help the flyers. One of the fireballs managed to graze Appa in the back. Katara, Sokka, and Momo were able to put out the small fire on the bison. "Appa, are you okay?" Aang asked. Appa replied with a growl as if to say yes.
Makoto noticed another fireball in front of him. He and Koraidon looked at each other and nodded...before flying in the direction of the fireball. Since he was on the Pokemon's back as well, Arven's eyes widened, not knowing what his little buddy had in mind. "What are you doing!? Turn away!"
"Time to put a little special training Koraidon and I were doing back home to a little test!" Makoto's eyes narrowed a bit as did Koraidon's. "Koraidon, keep on flying, but use Dragon Claw to break the fireball!" Koraidon nodded and got his claws ready.
"WHAT!?" Arven looked at Makoto like he was crazy. "B-But Koraidon's not even in his battle form! Using attacks in his current form hasn't even been attempted before!"
Makoto nodded, still looking ahead. "You're right, it hasn't...not until NOW!" Arven was taken by surprise when he saw Koraidon's claws glow and he couldn't believe it when Koraidon actually destroyed the fireball in front of them with a Dragon Claw attack. Seeing that his plan worked, Makoto pumped both of his fists in the air and cheered. "YES! It worked, we did it!" He gently rubbed the side of Koraidon's head. "Awesome work, Koraidon!" Koraidon happily growled at the success as well.
Arven kept blinking in shock. "...I can't believe it."
The fireballs were hitting the water around Zuko's ship, one of them even hit the back part. Zuko was trying to stay standing.
The engine master came out of the burning part of the ship. "Prince Zuko, the engines are damaged! We need to stop and make repairs!"
But Zuko wasn't going to let Aang and Makoto get away. "Do not stop this ship!"
Some more fireballs were ready behind Commander Zhao. "Launch!" The fireballs were launched at the group trying to get to Crescent Island. They were able to either dodge them or slice them with Dragon Claw.
Zhao sees them coming closer and raises his right arm. At least one more fireball was ready...one that was an odd shade of purple. "Ready?" Both Appa and Koraidon were flying down head first to the blockade. "Fire!" the purple fireball was launched.
Aang saw it coming, jumped off Appa's head, and with a mighty kick, hit the fireball with a blast of air that caused it to blow up. Aang fell, but Koraidon caught the Avatar and placed him back down on Appa. They flew right passed the blockade and are now on their way to Crescent Island.
"We made it!" Aang pumped his left fist into the air.
"Alright!" Makoto cheered.
Katara, Sokka, and Arven had looks of shock and amazement on their faces. "We got into the Fire Nation...great." Sokka slumped a little.
"I think I saw my life flash before my eyes..." Arven couldn't help but mutter. Suddenly, his nose caught a lingering scent. It wasn't the same smell as Zuko's fireball, but one that was different.
Zhao watched as both Appa and Koraidon kept flying away until they were out of sight. "Where do you think the Avatar is heading, Sir?" a soldier asked the commander.
"I'm not sure." Zhao turned back to see Zuko's ship still heading their way. "But I bet a certain banished prince knows."
As Zuko's ship got closer to the blockade, the ships were closing in to keep him from going any further. "We're on a collision course!" Iroh warned.
"We can make it!" Zuko said with confidence. They got closer and closer to the blockade.
"The boarding party is ready to apprehend Prince Zuko, Sir!" a soldier informed Zhao.
But the commander had another idea. "Wait! Cut the engine and let them pass."
The soldier was confused by the order. "Sir?" The commander didn't answer, but watched as Zuko's ship sailed through the blockade. Both the prince and the commander even looked at each other while Zuko kept on going. Iroh looked back at the blockade, knowing too well that Commander Zhao was up to something.
Just then, Iroh caught a whiff of what Arven smelled earlier. He was a bit confused, but he knows what the smell was. "...Poison."
Appa and Koraidon kept on flying for a good while to get Aang and Makoto to the spot where they could both speak to Avatar Roku. The two flyers were getting tired, but they kept on going.
Aang finally spotted Crescent Island and informed his friends. "There it is! The island that Roku's dragon took me and Makoto!"
Makoto smiled when he heard that and spotted the island himself. "We're here!"
They landed on the island. Just after Makoto and Arven got off of him, Koraidon slumped in exhaustion. Makoto gave his Pokemon a soft smile. "You gave it your best, Koraidon. You deserve a nice rest in the Poke Ball." He returned Koraidon to the Poke Ball to get a well deserved rest.
Aang hugged Appa. "You did it, buddy. Nice flying."
Appa moaned and rolled on to his back. Katara rubbed the bison's belly. "Aw, you must be tired."
"Nope, I'm good." Sokka was stretching, he thought Katara was talking to him. "Refreshed and ready to fight some Firebenders."
Arven gave Sokka a dull look. "I'm pretty sure your sister was talking to Appa."
That got Sokka to stop what he was doing. "Well...I was talking to Momo." He gestured to the lemur hanging on a tree.
Arven rolled his eyes. "Sure you were."
The five of them walked up to the temple carefully. They hid at the entrance. "I don't see any guards." Sokka said after looking around.
"That's odd." Arven said. He remembered what Makoto and the other three told him about the trouble in this dimension.
"The Fire Nation must have abandoned the temple when Avatar Roku died." Katara guessed.
"It's almost sundown, we'd better hurry." Aang told them.
They ran into the temple. When they made it inside, they quickly snuck around to try and find the room that had the statue of Avatar Roku. Makoto and Arven each even held a Poke Ball just in case.
"Wait." Sokka suddenly stopped them. "I think I heard something."
They turned to see five old men in Fire Nation clothing. "We are the Fire Sages. Guardians of the Temple of the Avatar."
Aang smiled. "Great! I am the Avatar!"
"We know." Suddenly, the Fire Sages launched some fire at Aang.
Thinking fast, Makoto threw the Poke Ball he was holding. "Armarouge, take the fire!" The Fire Warrior Pokemon appeared in front of Aang and took the fire without a problem.
"Nice work, little buddy!" Arven commented.
Makoto turned to Aang and the others. "We'll hold them off! Go!" Aang, Momo, Katara, Sokka, and Arven ran off while Makoto and Armarouge stayed to confront the Fire Sages. "Have a taste of your own medicine! Armarouge, Mystical Fire!" Armarouge unleashed his attack that knocked the Fire Sages off their feet. That gave both Pokemon and trainer to run off to catch up with the others.
The sages got back up, but saw no sign of Makoto, Armarouge, or even the Avatar. "If the Avatar contacts Roku, there's no telling how powerful that boy will become. Split up and find him!" They split up and began to search for Aang.
Aang, Momo, Katara, Sokka, and Arven were running through a hallway until they saw Makoto and Armarouge running over to them. "Quick, follow me!" Makoto took off down another hallway.
"Wait, Makoto!" Arven called out. "We're still new in this dimension! Do you even know where you're going!?"
"Nope!" Still, Makoto ran around a corner...only to quickly come back. "WRONG WAY!" He ran passed his confused friends. They turned and realized why Makoto ran back, so they ran after him and away from another Fire Sage.
"Come back!" the Fire Sage ran after them. He finally caught them when they reached a dead end.
Arven got his ball ready. "Looks like we're gonna have to do this the hard way! Garganacl!" He brought out his Rock-Type who stood next to Armarouge.
"I don't want to fight you. I'm a friend." the sage told them.
"Firebenders aren't our friends!" Sokka said. They were still ready to fight if needed.
They were surprised when the sage got down to his knees and bowed to Aang. "I know why you're here, Avatar."
Aang blinked. "You do?"
"Yes." the sage stood up. "You wish to speak to Avatar Roku. I can take you to him."
The five of them looked at each other. "How?" Makoto asked the sage.
The sage moved a lamp to the side, revealing a small hole. He even shot fire into the hole, which opened a secret door that lead to a tunnel in the volcano. "This way." the sage told them. The five of them hesitated, still not trusting the sage in front of them.
"Find him!" they heard the voice of the Head Sage, meaning the other sages were getting closer and closer.
"We're running out of time! Quickly!" the kind sage warned. They nodded and walked down the tunnel. When they got in, the Fire Sage quickly followed after them and closed the door.
Back outside, Zuko's ship was getting closer to the island. The ship now had a smoke trail behind it.
Zuko gripped the rails on his ship, one question on his mind. "What's he up to, Uncle? Why didn't Commander Zhao arrest me?"
"Because he wants to follow you." Iroh answered seriously and knowingly. "He knows you'll lead him to the prize you're both after: the Avatar and quite possibly the Pokemon Tamer as well."
"If Zhao wants to follow our trail of smoke, then that's exactly what I'll let him do." Zuko said. The ship still sailed over to the island...unaware that something was following them close in the smoke trail.
The Fire Sage, named Shyu, kept leading Makoto, Aang, Katara, Sokka, Arven, Momo, Armarouge, and Garganacl down a path in the tunnel to get to Avatar Roku's statue.
"Avatar Roku once called this temple his home." Shyu explained while they kept walking. "He formed these secret passages out of magma."
"Did you know Avatar Roku?" Makoto asked.
Shyu shook his head. "No, but my grandfather knew him. Many generations of Fire Sages guarded this temple long before me. We all have a spiritual connection to this place."
"Is that how you knew I was coming?" Aang asked.
"A few weeks ago, an amazing thing occurred. The statue of Avatar Roku, its eyes began to glow." Shyu told them.
Arven raised an eyebrow. "The eyes of a statue glowed?"
"That's when we were at the Air Temple, Avatar Roku's eyes were glowing there too." Katara said in realization.
"At that moment, we knew you had returned to the world." Shyu said. They walked through another tunnel that was next to a river of magma.
"I'm still kinda lost." Arven spoke again. "If this is the Avatar's temple, then why did those Fire Sages back there attacked us once Aang told them he's the Avatar?"
"Things have changed." Shyu sadly answered. "In the past, the sages were loyal only to the Avatar. When Roku died, the sages eagerly waited for the next Avatar to return, but he never came."
Aang was feeling guilty after hearing that. "They were waiting for me."
Sokka placed an arm around Aang's shoulders. "Hey don't feel bad, you're only a hundred years late." That just made Aang glare at him a little.
"You're not helping, Sokka." Makoto deadpanned.
Shyu continued to explain. "They lost hope that the Avatar would ever return. When Fire Lord Sozin began the war, my grandfather and the other sages were forced to follow him. I never wanted to serve the Fire Lord. When I learned you were coming, I knew I would have to betray the other sages."
"Thank you for helping me." Aang said, making Shyu smile.
They walked up a set of stairs towards the temple. "We'll follow these stairs to the sanctuary. Once you're inside, wait for the light to hit Avatar Roku's statue. Only then will you be able to speak with him." Shyu told Aang.
Makoto spoke up. "It's not just Aang that need to speak with Roku. I think the previous Avatar wants to talk to me as well."
Shyu was confused by what the Pokemon Trainer just said. "Strange, none of the sages have heard of something like that before." He said while he opened the door and walked towards the sanctuary...only to gasp when he saw the closed doors. "No!"
Aang and the others joined the Fire Sage. "Shyu, what's wrong?" Aang asked.
"The sanctuary doors, they're closed!" Shyu answered.
They turned to the doors and Aang and Makoto tried to get them open themselves. "Can't you just open them with Firebending, like you opened that other door?" Katara asked Shyu.
Shyu shook his head. "No. Only a fully realized Avatar is powerful enough to open these doors alone. Otherwise the sages must open the doors together with five simultaneous fire blasts."
"Five fire blasts, huh?" Sokka was thinking about it, until an idea came to him. "I think I can help you out."
The back of Zuko's damaged ship opened up. Zuko's now in a smaller ship, attempting to give Commander Zhao the slip. "Uncle, keep heading north. Zhao will follow the smoke trail while I use it as cover."
Iroh shook his head in doubt while Zuko takes the smaller ship and disappears into the smoke.
Commander Zhao kept following the ship, but he also had a suspicious look on his face. However, the look changed to a small smile when he heard some sort of buzz sound getting close to him.
At the sanctuary, Sokka was putting the finishing touches on his plan. "This is a little trick I picked up from my father." He poured lamp oil into five separate bags. "I seal lamp oil inside animal skin casing, Shyu lights the oil soaked twine and ta-da! Fake Firebending!"
Makoto smiled and nodded. "You've really outdone yourself this time, Sokka."
"This might actually work." Shyu agreed.
Sokka placed the bags on each of the lion heads on the doors before running off to join the others behind one of the columns for protection from the blasts.
Shyu turned to both Aang and Makoto. "The sages will hear the explosions, so as soon as they go off, you two rush in."
"It's almost sunset. Are you two ready?" Katara asked them.
"Definitely." Aang answered. Makoto silently nodded and got ready.
Shyu used a little Firebending to light up the bags before taking cover with Aang, Makoto, and Armarouge. Everyone waited just before the bags blew up.
Just after the explosion, both Aang and Makoto rushed to the doors and tried to open them, but there was just one problem... "They're still locked up tight!" Makoto told them.
"It didn't work." Shyu added.
Aang turned back to the doors, and in anger used some Airbending on them. "Why. Won't. It. Open!?"
Katara grabbed his arm. "Aang stop! There's nothing else we can do."
Makoto looked over at Armarouge and an idea came to him. "Maybe we can get Armarouge and some of our other Pokemon to use their fire power on the doors. Maybe they can get the door open."
Arven looked at the locks on the doors, discovering a little problem with Makoto's idea. "Slight problem, little buddy. There's five locks on the door and we only have three Pokemon that can blast fire. And even then, I think Koraidon's still resting from the long flight to get over here."
Makoto slumped a little. "Oh, right." Armarouge even closed his eyes and sighed a little. "Arma."
"I'm sorry I put you through all this for nothing." Aang apologized.
Sokka looked at the spot carefully, even running a finger through some of it. "I don't get it, that blast looked as strong as any Firebending I've ever seen." Momo stuck his head in one of the lion heads.
"Sokka, you're a genius!" Katara suddenly said.
"What? How is Sokka a genius?" Arven questioned. "His plan didn't even work."
"Come on, Arven. Let her dream." Sokka told the Pokemon Trainer.
"You're right. Sokka's plan didn't work, but it looks like it did." After saying that, Katara began to think.
"Does the word 'genius' have different definitions in different dimensions?" Arven asked in confusion. Garganacl just silently shrugged his shoulders.
After a few minutes, the other Fire Sages made it to the sanctuary where they saw Shyu standing by himself. "Come quickly! The Avatar has entered the sanctuary!"
"How did he get in!?" the Head Sage asked.
"I don't know, but look at the scorch marks." Shyu pointed at the marks on the doors. "And down there." He pointed at the shadow that could be seen from the inside.
"He's inside! Open the doors immediately, before he contacts Avatar Roku!" the Head Sage ordered.
What they didn't know was that it was just a trick. Aang, Makoto, and even Armarouge were hiding waiting for the right time to sneak in to speak to Roku.
The Fire Sages fired at the locks, making them turn while the doors slowly opened. The sages were prepared to attack the Avatar, but when the doors opened completely...they saw that it was just Momo covered in ash. "It's the Avatar's lemur! He must've crawled through the pipes! We've been tricked!" the Head Sage said just before Momo jumped onto his face.
Sokka and Katara restrained two other sages while Shyu went for another sage.
Arven and Garganacl came out of their hiding spot. "Use Stone Edge!" Arven called out. Garganacl slammed his foot on the ground, making stones that surrounded the sages.
Shyu smiled when he saw the stones. "Now Aang!"
Makoto and Armarouge ran out of their hiding spot, but Aang wasn't with them. "Aang, now's your chance!" Katara called out.
Makoto stopped and turned around...and saw Aang struggling against Zuko's grip. "The Avatar's coming with me!" Zuko turned to Makoto. "And so are you, Pokemon Tamer!"
"Pokemon Tamer?" Arven repeated in confusion.
Zuko turned to Arven, noticed Garganacl next to him, and he blinked. "Wait, there's TWO Pokemon Tamers!?"
While that happened, the sages turned the tables and restrained Sokka, Katara, and Shyu. The Head Sage was about to get Momo, but the lemur flew off with the sage's hat, so the Head Sage decided to restrain Arven.
Zuko shook his head and began to drag Aang to the exit. "Close the door! Quickly!"
The doors began to close. Makoto saw this and took the chance to run over to them with Armarouge close behind him.
The Head Sage saw the trainer and his Pokemon run over to the door. "Stop him!" But Garganacl got in the way with more Stone Edge while Makoto and Armarouge jumped through.
The Pokemon Trainer poked his head to the Avatar. When he looked over at Garganacl, an idea came to him. "Garganacl!" The Rock-Type turned to the trainer calling him. "Earthquake!" Even though it wasn't from his own trainer, Garganacl stomped his foot on the ground, causing it to shake.
Zuko struggled to stay on his feet while holding Aang down, but he couldn't do both so he fell down, letting Aang go.
Makoto smiled just as the shaking stopped. "Yes, it worked!" He noticed that the doors were still closing. "Aang, hurry!"
Aang nodded and raced to the closing doors. The sages tried to stop him, but he managed to dodge the attacks before diving through the doors, knocking into Makoto. Just after Aang made it, the doors closed and locked.
"They made it!" Arven grinned. "Way to go, little buddy!" After that, a blast of light came from behind the doors.
Inside the sanctuary, Aang, Makoto, and Armarouge looked at the statue of Avatar Roku and the red light slowly going up to the head.
"The light hits the statue and we'll talk to Roku." Aang said, but they saw that nothing was happening. "So why isn't anything happening?"
Outside, Sokka, Katara, Arven, and even Garganacl were chained up. Zuko and the other sages tried to use Firebending to open the doors, but they stayed shut.
"Why isn't it working? It's sealed shut!" Zuko said.
The Head Sage had a feeling why it wasn't working. "It must've been the light, Avatar Roku doesn't want us inside."
The sun was now set and the light was pointed directly at Avatar Roku's statue.
Makoto looked around. "The sun's set and the light's on Roku's statue, but why isn't anything happening?"
Armarouge shrugged. "Arma..."
"I don't know what I'm doing!" Aang said to no one, a little annoyed that nothing was happening. "All I know is Airbending! Please Avatar Roku, talk to us!"
Just after Aang said that, the eyes of the statue began to glow and smoke swirled around the three of them.
"Aang, I think you said the secret word!" Makoto told the Airbender.
The smoke cleared and they found themselves surrounded by mountains. A figure was standing in front of them...and the figure was none other than Avatar Roku.
"It's good to see you, Aang. What took you so long?" Roku greeted the Airbender.
The boys bowed in respect to the elder Avatar. Roku turned to Makoto and Armarouge. "Ah, good, I see you brought your friend along with you."
Makoto nodded. "Sir, my name is Makoto and I'm actually-"
Roku raised a hand to stop him. "I know who you are, child. I've been expecting you as much as I've been expecting Aang." That just made Makoto and Aang look at each other.
Zuko and the Fire Sages were confronting Shyu who had his hands tied behind his back. "Why did you help the Avatar?" Zuko asked.
"Because it was once the sages duty. It is still our duty." Shyu answered the question.
The sound of clapping was heard. Everyone turned to the source and noticed Commander Zhao walking into the room with his soldiers. "What a moving and heartfelt performance. I'm certain the Fire Lord will understand when you explain why you betrayed him."
"Commander Zhao!" the Head Sage bowed.
Zhao turned to Zuko. "And Prince Zuko, it was a noble effort, but your little smoke screen didn't work. You could've tried anything to fool me, but that still wouldn't have helped you against the eyes of my new ally." A buzzing sound was heard, they looked and were surprised to see what looks like a robot moth floating next to the commander.
Arven smelled a familiar smell. "There's that smell again...wait!" His eyes widened when he looked at the robot moth. "That's what I smelled shortly after we made it through the blockade! I should've known that it was a Poison-Type's poison!" He began to sweat a little as he kept thinking to himself. "If that's the case, then is that robot...actually a Paradox Pokemon!? I've never seen one like that before, not even in Area Zero! It doesn't look exactly like a Slither Wing!"
While Arven was thinking to himself about the mysterious Paradox Pokemon, Zuko was struggling against the grip of one of Zhao's soldiers. "You're too late, Zhao! The Avatar and one of the Pokemon Tamers are inside and the doors are sealed!"
"No matter. Sooner or later, they'll have to come out." Zhao turned to mainly Arven. "I was told that there have been strange creatures roaming around here lately, my new ally included." the robot moth buzzed in response, snapping Arven out of his thoughts. "So you must be one of the tamers of these...Pokemon, correct?" Zhao asked.
Arven glared at him. "We're called Pokemon TRAINERS, actually."
Zhao looked at Arven and then at Garganacl. "Trainers, tamers, makes no difference to me. Once the Avatar and the other 'Pokemon Trainer' comes out, neither one of you will be leaving soon."
Arven eyed the robot-like Pokemon again. "Tell me one thing! Where did you find that...thing?" He still wasn't sure if he should even call it a Pokemon.
Zhao gently ran a hand through the moth's head. "Funny you should ask that. Shortly after left to hunt down the Avatar and the Pokemon Trainer I've been hearing so much about, one of my soldiers found this interesting creature roaming around the inside of my ship. At first, I ordered my soldiers to exterminate it, but it surprisingly fought back pretty well using both fire and what we realized was actually poison." The moth released a little drop of purple liquid that sizzled a bit once it hit the floor.
Zhao fully turned to Arven to complete his story. "I realized that this being could be of some good use and try to help Fire Lord Ozai win the war, so I decided to keep it along with me. It was surprisingly loyal after that, it's been very helpful."
Katara and Sokka looked at each other with wide eyes. "You don't think it could be...?" Sokka quietly started, sweating a bit.
"A Paradox Pokemon?" Katara finished for him. "It might be."
Inside, Avatar Roku began to speak to the boys in front of him.
"I have something very important to tell you, Aang. That is why, when you and Makoto were in the Spirit World, I sent my dragon to find you both." Roku said.
"Is it about the vision? The one with the comet?" Aang asked.
"And the one about the rampaging Paradox Pokemon?" Makoto added.
Roku nodded. "Yes."
"What does the comet mean?" Aang asked.
Roku started by talking about the comet. "One hundred years ago, Fire Lord Sozin used that comet to begin the war. He and his Firebending army harnessed its incredible power and dealt a deadly first strike against the other nations."
"So, the comet made the Firebenders stronger?" Makoto asked.
"Yes." Roku answered. "Stronger than you both could even imagine. And if anything, it could make Pokemon like your Armarouge stronger as well."
Armarouge blinked a couple of times. "Armarouge?" He even pointed at himself.
"But that happened a hundred years ago." Aang mentioned. "What does the comet have to do with the war now?"
"Listen carefully, Sozin's Comet will return by the end of the summer. And Fire Lord Ozai will use its power to finish the war once and for all. If he succeeds, even the Avatar won't be able to restore balance to the world." Roku explained.
"That seems really bad, but what about the vision of the Paradox Pokemon?" Makoto questioned. "I know I'm supposed to catch them and get them out of the Elemental Nations, but I'm still not sure why you want to talk to me about them."
"So that's what those things on the stone are called." Roku looked down a bit.
"Stone? What stone?" Aang raised a confused eyebrow.
After a bit, Roku looked at the Pokemon Trainer. "Back when I was alive, I found a prophecy written in stone. It told of strange creatures from another dimension bringing doom and destruction not only to the Elemental Nations, but to what seemed like other dimensions as well."
"Other dimensions?" Aang repeated.
Roku nodded. "That is correct. The prophecy also showed me that two brave souls were in a very dangerous battle, going into a war of their own: one side was of the ancient past and the other was on the side of the distant future."
"So you think me and the Paradox Pokemon being here is somehow linked to this prophecy you found?" Makoto asked.
"Yes." Roku answered. "Makoto, this may be even bigger than I originally thought. As we speak, Fire Lord Ozai has been able to get some of these Paradox Pokemon on his side, increasing his chances of victory in the war. I have no doubt he will try to find a way to cross over to other dimensions to build his Paradox army."
Makoto looked pretty pale after hearing that. "Oh no. If he gets his hands on the Dimension Diamonds, then even my home will be in danger!"
Avatar Roku turned to Aang first. "Aang, you must defeat the Fire Lord before the comet arrives." He turned to Makoto next. "And Makoto, if you want to stop Fire Lord Ozai from adding anymore Paradox Pokemon to his army and prevent him from leaving this dimension, you must get to the Paradox Pokemon and these Dimension Diamonds you speak of before he does."
Makoto took out the Ultra Ball containing Great Tusk. "Well, I've already caught one I was in Omashu so I guess that's a good start. Still, I don't know where I can find the other Paradox Pokemon or even one of the Dimension Diamonds."
"And I haven't even started learning Waterbending, not to mention Earth and Fire." Aang added.
"Mastering the elements takes years of discipline and practice. But if this and all the other dimensions are to survive, you must do it by summer's end." Roku told them. Aang and Makoto gave each other worried looks.
Commander Zhao, his troops, and the robot moth Paradox Pokemon were in front of the doors, waiting for the right chance to attack Aang and Makoto.
"When the doors open, unleash all your Firebending power." Zhao told his soldiers and the Paradox Pokemon.
"How are Aang and Makoto gonna make it out of this?" Katara quietly asked Sokka.
"How are WE gonna make it out of this?" Sokka asked back.
Arven just looked at the doors, couldn't help but worry about Makoto. "Come on, Makoto. Find a way to make it through this, little buddy."
"What if I can't master all of the elements?" Aang couldn't help but ask his past life. "What if I fail?"
"I know you can do it, Aang, for you have done it before." Roku assured him. He turned to Makoto. "Aang isn't the only one who needs to master something. You have something to master as well."
Makoto knew what Avatar Roku was talking about. "The Synchro Forms." He looked down at the Synchro Machine on his left wrist and also at Armarouge.
Roku nodded. "Yes. Those Synchro Forms play a very important role in your quest. You must work together with your Pokemon to master those transformations if you want to catch the Paradox Pokemon." He gave a serious look. "But be warned. Out there, someone else also has the ability to use the Synchro Forms with his Pokemon. He will stop at nothing to take the Paradox Pokemon himself to cause death and destruction alongside Fire Lord Ozai."
Makoto gave his Synchro Machine another look, one that was serious. That's when a random question came to him. "Avatar Roku, I cam to this dimension with some friends. Would it be possible to give them a chance to use Synchro Forms as well?"
Roku closed his eyes and shook his head. "I'm afraid I don't know if such a thing will be possible. That is something you'll have to discover on your own. The solstice is ending. We must go out separate ways."
"But I won't be able to come back to the temple." Aang said. "What if I have questions? What if Makoto has questions? How will we talk to you?"
"I am a part of you, Aang. When you need to talk to me again, you will find a way. As for Makoto, he'll be able to find someone else that will help guide him on his quest." Roku closed his eyes and an image of Zhao, his Firebenders, and his Paradox Pokemon ally came to their heads. "A great danger awaits you both at the temple. I can help you face the threat, but only if you both are ready."
Aang had his eyes closed while Makoto turned to Armarouge. While the trainer and his Pokemon nodded with serious looks, Aang opened his eyes as he glowed. "We're ready./Armarouge." The three of them answered. Makoto's Synchro Machine gave off a glow as well.
Smoke began to swirl around them very fast.
The locks on the doors began to unlock and slowly open.
"Ready?" Zhao asked. The soldiers and the moth looked ready.
Two figures were now seen behind the doors. "Aang, Makoto, NO!" Katara cried out. Arven, Garganacl, and Sokka struggled against the chains.
"Fire!" Zhao commanded. The soldiers shot fire while the moth spun around before unleashing its own fire at the figures. Surprisingly, the fire swirled around the two targets.
Arven was blinded by the light of the fire, but he was still able to see...he just couldn't believe his eyes. "Makoto!?"
They saw that one of the figures was Makoto...only he was in another Synchro Form. In this one, his clothes turned to the same shade of red as Armarouge's skin, some of Armarouge's armor was now on Makoto and a mystical looking fire was now surrounding his hat.
Next to Makoto wasn't Aang, but someone else. "Avatar Roku!" Shyu said in awe.
Roku and Makoto both shot the fire right back at Zhao and his soldiers, knocking them off their feet. The heat even melted the chains off Sokka, Katara, Arven, Garganacl, Shyu, and even Zuko.
The moth Pokemon flew up and dived down to attack the two of them, but Makoto's eyes glowed and he held his hand out, making the moth freeze in place. He used some sort of psychic powers to toss the moth over to a nearby wall.
The fire blast and the moth crashing against the wall caused a good amount of damage to the temple. The Fire Sages realized what was happening and ran away.
Shyu figured out what was going on as well. "Both Avatar Roku and Makoto are going to destroy the temple!"
Arven returned Garganacl. "We need to get outta here!"
"Not without Aang!" Katara argued.
Avatar Roku made magma rise and spurt around the temple. Even Makoto helped by directing the magma around as well. After a while, Makoto and Roku glowed bright. Once it was done, Makoto was back to normal and Aang was in Roku's place. They both groaned and sank to the floor.
Arven, Katara, and Sokka raced over to them. "Don't worry." Arven assured them both. "We've got your backs."
Makoto smiled a little, but frowned when he realized that he let a Paradox Pokemon get away. "I didn't catch a Paradox Pokemon this time, did I?"
Arven patted him on the shoulder. "We'll get it next time."
"Where's Shyu?" Aang asked, seeing that the Fire Sage that helped them wasn't with them.
"I don't know." Katara answered.
"He must've found another way out." Sokka guessed.
Lava was now flowing all over the volcano, and the temple was sinking into it. Not only that, but lava was flooding the stairs, preventing them from using them to leave. The building also began to tip over. It looked like there was no escape, but that's when both Momo and Appa came flying in. The bison flew under the hole of the building, giving the five of them a chance to jump onto the saddle. Appa flew away from the destroyed temple while the other five and Momo looked back to see the damage that was done. The lemur was wearing the Head Sage's hat the entire time.
Zhao watches as Appa flew away, an angry look was also on his face. "No prince, no Avatar, and no Pokemon Trainers." He turned to face the Fire Sages. "Apparently the only thing I DO have is five traitors!"
"But Commander, only Shyu helped the Avatar!" the Head Sage argued.
"Save your stories for the Fire Lord! As far as I'm concerned, you're all guilty!" Zhao turned to his soldiers. "Take them to the prison hold!" As the sages were being taken away, the moth Paradox Pokemon floated next to the commander. Zhao gently petted the moth on the head again. "We'll both be ready for them next time." The Paradox Pokemon buzzed in agreement.
Someone else was looking at Appa's retreating form through a telescope, and that someone was Zuko. His ship was leaving island to continue the hunt for both Aang and Makoto.
Night time came and Appa was still flying off. Both Aang and Makoto looked pretty sad, remembering the situation that Avatar Roku told them. The other three approached them, Katara placed her arm around Aang to comfort him. Arven smiled softly and wrapped his arm around Makoto to give him comfort as well.
While some things were still a bit of a mystery, some things became perfectly clear: Makoto and his team must find his friends, the Dimension Diamonds and the Paradox Pokemon no matter what. And they must also help Aang master the elements to stop Fire Lord Ozai before it's too late.
And there ya go, another chapter edited! As you can see, the news about someone else with the ability to use Synchro Forms is still there, the prophecy was still a thing Roku found back when he was still alive, but I also gave Zhao's Paradox Pokemon a bigger role in this than I did in the original. The reason I gave the Pokemon, Iron Moth, a bigger role was because I wasn't really pleased with how I presented it in the original, but the edit fixed that pretty well for me. Now I can safely say that I only have one more chapter left to edit before we can move on with this story!