Book I : Reincarnation

Episode 3: Answers

Ocean near the southern water tribe

The Banished prince of the fire nation stands on the helm of his ship, staring into the distance. His uncle, the disgraced general Iroh, approaches him.

"I'm going to bed now. Yep, a man needs his rest."

The man says yawning in between sentences. He stretches and pauses, peeking with one eye at his nephew. The prince gives him no reaction.

"Prince Zuko, you need some sleep. Even if you're right, and the Avatar is alive, you won't find him. Your father, grandfather and great-grandfather all tried and failed."

The prince still doesn't move, only continues staring and says,

"Because their honor didn't hinge on the Avatar's capture. Mine does. This coward's hundred years in hiding are over."

The old man shakes his head and starts to walk back to his quarters in the ship.

"Besides uncle, it's noon."

with James

Aang lies lazily on his back, his arms tucked under his head. I lean back and observe as Katara crawls to the front of the saddle again to have a better look at the boy. She leans on the front of the saddle and rests her head on her arm.

"Hey."

She says awkwardly.

"Hey. What'cha thinkin' about?"

Aang asks the water tribe girl.

"I guess I was wondering, your being an airbender and all, if you had any idea what happened to the Avatar?"

Katara asks.

"Oh, no. I didn't know him. I mean, I knew people that knew him, but I didn't. Soooorrryyyy."

Time seems to slow as I watch Aang lie through his teeth. Katara opens her mouth to speak but gets frozen.

"What the fuck!"

I shout and try to stand but I'm unable to move.

"what's going on!"

"Be calm James. We just need to talk."

I hear spirit Aang's voice. Suddenly three shimmering forms appear before me. Once they fully come into focus I see ragga, Haru, and Spirit Aang, in the outfit he was in when he fought Ozai.

"So, how is time stopped?"

I ask the spirits. They all smile.

"Time isn't slowed, just your perception of it. All of this conversation is happening in the matter of moments."

Spirit Aang says. I scratch my head and say,

"Ok so, what do we need to talk about?"

Aang's expression changes from happy to concerned.

"I've been observing this world and things are...off."

I raise an eyebrow.

"What do you mean, off?"

"Well for starters,"

Aang starts.

"They're all too old."

I try to tilt my head in confusion, but I'm still unable to move.

"what?"

The spirit sighs.

"I was 12 when I was frozen, he's at least 14, maybe 15. Katara was 14,this one is like 16. Sokka was 15, and this one is like 17 or 18."

I look closely at the group.

'oh shit'

I was so focused on my mission that I hadn't payed attention, but Aang was right.

"They're all older."

I shake my head.

"How?"

The spirits exchange concerned looks.

Haru speaks up first.

"We don't know."

"But our best guess is that Raava sending us here changed something or we were sent to the wrong timeline. However I doubt Raava would make a mistake like that, so it's most likely the first thing,"

Ragga says scratching behind his ear with his hind leg.

"yeah that's just it, i remember this. As if my memories are altering the further we progress. So this is my timeline but it's...off."

Aang says looking to Ragga for answers.

"So us being here somehow changed things?"

I ask and Ragga hums at my question.

"Most likely."

I sigh.

"So what do we do?"

Ragga,Haru, and I all look at Aang. He cups his chin and thinks for a moment.

"Hmmm, For now our plans don't change. We make sure the same mistakes aren't repeated."

I mentally nod at the Spirit's words.

"Starting with calling me, him, out on his lie."

I blink, thank god I can move my face muscles, and stare at the apparition before me. Then I ask,

"Really?"

He nods and says,

"yes, I should have been honest from the start."

"But Raava told me to follow the story the way it's supposed to go, and you lying is how it went."

Aang shakes his head.

"Yes, but everything is different already. Besides, if we get me,him...whatever, ready way before Sozins comet we can win easily."

I can't argue with that.

"yeah that's a good point."

I mumble.

"What do you guys think?"

I look to Haru then Ragga.

"I think it's fine... I guess,"

Haru says.

"hmmm, I'm not sure, but the boy has a point. This timeline has clearly been altered and as such we should take every advantage we can. We never know what's coming now. Both of your knowledge of the future could be moot."

I sigh heavily.

"I hadn't even thought of it like that, but you're right."

I look to Aang.

"Okay, let's get this over with."

next thing I know the spirits fade and time starts to speed back up to its normal pace.

"Okay. Just curio-"

"What a load a crap!"

I cut her off with a shout. Everyone's head snaps to me.

"W-What do you mean?"

Aang, alive Aang, asks.

"look kid it's not that hard to figure out. The Avatar was supposed to be an air nomad, you're an air nomad. All the air nomads were wiped out by the fire nation, and yet the avatar hasn't reincarnated, You were trapped in ice and last time I checked the only benders who use ice are waterbenders, so you must be the Avatar."

Aang just sits there in shock for, what seems like, forever.

"All the airbenders are dead?"

Aang asks in disbelief.

"Yeah, but everyone knows that. You'd have to be like a hundred years old not to know that."

Sokka says sarcastically, picking his ear. Then realization hits.

"Because he is."

Katara says putting her hand over her mouth in shock.

"it can't be! Gyatso, my friends, they're all gone!?"

Tears well in the young man's eyes.

"I don't believe you! They can't be-"

He stops himself from saying the word.

"I'm sorry Aang, but airbenders have been extinct for almost a hundred years."

Katara says softly.

'Uh oh.'

I hear spirit Aang in my head.

The "real" Aang's shoulders started to tremble. He lowers his head, hiding his face, and starts sobbing.

'what do you mean uh oh!'

I think to the spirit.

Aang's tattoos start to glow as his body stops shaking.The wind starts to pick up, swirling around us, creating a vortex.

'oh yeah I forgot about that. Fuck!'

Sokka quickly grabs his sister, holding her protectively, and shouts,

"what the hell's happening!?"

I shield my eyes from the wind and yell back.

"It's the Avatar state!"

The wind whips faster getting to almost hurricane speed. The water around us is lifted into the air in a vortex. Aang starts to float off the saddle as Appa, trying his best to fight the wind storm, thrashes around.

"the what? All I hear is wind!!"

Sokka shouts in an overly exaggerated whine. The wind finally reaches, what I assume is, its maximum velocity. It whips around me, striking my skin repeatedly like a million tiny ice needles. Aang's tattoos start glowing extremely bright right before launching a beam of light into the sky.

'I have to stop him!'

I think to myself and grit my teeth while trying to remain standing. I lift my hand above my head and focus on the water being slung around by the wind.

"Katara, try to talk him out of it!"

I yell and focus everything on bringing the water into a sphere above me, but nothing is happening.

"What am I supposed to say?!"

The water tribe girl shouts over the wind. I growl in frustration.

"Just try something, anything!!!"

I yell out to the girl.

'Ragga a little help here!'

I hear the spirit sigh.

'If I do it you'll never learn.'

"fucking do it or I won't have a chance to learn!!"

I scream still trying to get the water to move. The spirit just grunts then goes silent.

"Aang, please stop! We're all gonna drown!"

I hear Katara yell over the swirling wind. Aang continues as if he heard nothing.

'goddamn you wolf!'

I scream in my mind and squeeze my whole body in effort.

'ok kid, dont pop a vessel'

I hear Ragga before I feel a cool soothing sensation take me. The water around us starts to from a ring above my head, swirling into its own vortex. Then my arms move on their own and push out, sending the water flying at the avatar. The water wraps around the young man and quickly freezes, trapping his arms.

'Bring him to us Ragga.'

I hear spirit Aang.

My arms pull inward in one fluid motion and the young avatar comes flying at me. I quickly turn my palms outward stopping the young avatar just before me. His eyes and tattoos still glowing a bright white.

'place one hand on his forehead and one on his chest'

I hear spirit Aang's voice once again. I quickly place my hands in the spots the spirit told me.

'ok, now what?'

'clear your mind and get ready,'

Aang says.

'get ready for wh-'

The world swirls and contorts around me.

- Within Aang's mindscape-

"-at...the hell!?"

I hear my voice echoing throughout the void that I now stand in. I look around and see nothing but fog and white light.

"where am I?"

No response. But I do hear a faint noise coming from my right. I look in that direction but can't see anything through the thick fog.

"fuck that's just great."

I start cautiously walking through the fog, my senses going haywire. As I walk the sound starts getting clearer, now distinguishable as a soft sob. I can see a figure hunched over, hugging themself. I slowly approach and, as I get close, finally recognize the person.

"Aang?"

Aang quickly raises his head then jumps to his feet.

"You!"

The avatar takes a defensive stance, palms facing me, and shouts,

"How are you in my mind?!"

I shake my head in disbelief.

"First off, I don't know, secondly, How do you know we're in your mind?"

Aang rolls his eyes.

"Meditation is one of the first things the monks teach us. To master your body one must first master their mind. Now get the hell out!"

I sigh and pinch my nose.

"Ok, well lower your guard i mean you no harm. Sit with me, Let's talk."

I say plopping down on the ground and gesturing with my hand for Aang to do the same. Aang looks at me skeptically, but eventually lowers his hands, takes a few steps back, and sits down as well. After a few seconds of silence he finally blurts out.

"How are you here, in my mind?"

I just smirk and say

"Didn't I just say I don't know?"

Aang shakes his head.

"So how'd you know I was the Avatar?"

I smirk and lean back on my hands.

"well there are a few answers to that question."

I tilt my head mischievously.

"well start answering."

The monk says narrowing his eyes.

'is it just me or is he overly aggressive?'

I get no response to my thought.

"Well, where do I begin."

- with Sokka & Katara-

"well this is just great. stuck on a giant bison, who refuses to move, surrounded by water and the "avatar" is unconscious!"

Sokka yells and throws his arms up. Katara, who tended to the two boys after they fell unconscious, looks at her brother with irritation.

"Sokka your pessimism isn't helping right now."

Sokka scoffs and crosses his arms over his chest.

"I am not a pessimist, I'm a realist. But, Katara if this guy is the avatar, then-"

Katara rolls her eyes and sarcastically says,

"yeah sure, this kid is the Avatar."

She stands, walks over to her brother, and puts on a serious face.

"Sokka, did you see what this other guy did?"

Sokka sighs, he knew this was coming the second he saw the guy waterbend.

"Yes and no."

Katara blinks twice.

"No what?"

"you know, what. No ,Katara we don't even know this guy and besides, only thing your water magic can bring us is trouble."

Katara scowls and crosses her arms over her chest.

"First of all, it's not magic. Secondly, this guy saved us just now didn't he? I'd say we know him enough! Lastly-"

Sokka stops her with a wide eyed look of fear.

"Katara look."

The young man barely chokes out. He lifts his hand and catches a snow flake, then holds it out for Katara to see.

"oh god."

The girl says in horror as she uses one hand to cover her mouth.

"We need to get back to the village now."

Sokka says as black, ash coverd, snow falls from the sky around them.

-Aang's mindscape-

"-and I was sent here to make sure things go smoothly, you know guide you in the right direction."

Aang just sat there, dumbfounded by my words, his mouth agape. He seems to think about things for a moment before frowning.

"So, in the end I fail and the world is plunged into chaos."

I sigh and look to the boy with a serious expression.

"No, nothing is set in stone Aang. That was just a possible outcome. That's why I'm here to make sure you're ready to beat him."

Aang just gazed at the floor with a sad expression.

"But the monks told me that it was my destiny to bring balance and peace. That I alone could save the world!"

I sigh once again,stand up and say,

"Look, Aang you do have the power to do just that, but the choices we make are what determines the road ahead and not some predetermined path chosen by old guys. We forge our own destiny's."

I walk to the boy and place a hand on his shoulder. He jumps slightly but otherwise doesn't move.

"Besides we're not gonna beat the firelord because it's your destiny, but because he deserves it and it's the right thing to do."

The young Avatar looks up at me, tears streaming down his face, and says,

"but I've already failed! Gyatso, my friends, all of my people are gone!"

He balls himself up and begins to sob. I grunt in frustration and open my mouth to speak but get interrupted when spirit Aang shimmers into existence.

"Aang, get up."

The young man looks up at the new voice he heard. A look of shock and confusion twists his face.

"Aang meet Aang. Aang, this is Aang."

I say with a snort as I try not to outright laugh.

"Shut up, James."

Spirit Aang says without looking at me. I pantomime zipping my lips shut. Aang, the non-spirit one, jumps to his feet taking a defensive stance.

"What kind of trick is this!?"

Spirit Aang smiles softly.

"listen Aang, it may be hard to understand but there is no trick. I am you from a possible future."

Aang just stares at his spiritual counterpart with disbelief.

"How is that even possible?"

I clear my throat to get their attention. Both of them look at me with the same irritated face.I put my hands up in a surrendering gesture.

"I have a question. How are you here? Ragga said time has a way of correcting itself, which means you shouldn't even be here."

The spirit sighs.

"you are the answer to your own question."

I tilt my head in confusion

"the fuck you mean?"

"language,"

both Aangs say in unison.

I roll my eyes.

"look James, you are an anomaly yourself. You have touched not two, but three separate worlds. You have the blessings of not one but two gods of reality. Your very being is a...pass from the effects of time manipulation."

I rub the back of my head awkwardly.

"I fucking hate time travel, the movies make it seem so simple...sometimes."

Both of them look to each other before looking back at me and speaking in unison.

"what's a movie?

- outside the mindscape -

"We have to go NOW!"

Sokka says as he frantically tries to get appa to move. Katara shakes and shouts at Aang and I. Then turns to her brother and shouts,

"Sokka they're not waking up!"

Pulling and jerking on appa's reins, the young man yells back,

"keep trying!"

She turns back to continue trying to wake us but, is instead, scared half to death as i suddenly sit up.

"woah!"

I say in an unintentional crash impression.

"hey, why is it snowing bla-"

my pupils dilate to pin pricks.

'Why is he here so early?'

I hear spirit Aang.

"We have to go, Now!"

I say and kick up to my feet. Aang slowly sits up and rubs his left eye.

"what's going on?"

The avatar says in a groggy voice.

"The fire nation is coming this way!"

Sokka yells, still trying to get appa to move. Aang tilts his head.

"And?"

I grab the teen and lift him to his feet.

"Look we have to go, I'll explain more later. Right now get appa moving and head..."

I look to Katara.

"where is the southern water tribe?"

The girl gives me a suspicious glance and says,

"a little to the east from here."

I laugh nervously and look back at Aang.

"we head east for now."

Aang reluctantly nods and airbends over to Sokka. I look back at Katara and immediately regret it. She stares at me with an expression that I can't quite describe.

"Umm, what's up Katara?"

The girl just keeps staring at me.

"ok, that's not creepy at all."

The girl looks away from me and goes to sit with Aang and her brother.

'fuck's that about?'

I think to myself before sitting in the saddle. Aang looks back at us.

"everyone good to go?"

we all nod.

"okay Appa, yip yip."

I lean back in the saddle, close my eyes, and try to prepare myself for what comes next.

-Outside Ramadi, Iraq-

"Sergeant Evan's!"

I startle awake, thinking my co caught me dozing off on the job, only to see my best friend's smirking face.

"Fuck off Ji, almost gave me a heart attack."

The young Korean-American man gives a short laugh and sits down beside me.

"so, we got orders from the captain."

I sigh and lean back.

"Fuck! What now?"

Ji pats my shoulder and says,

"Worry not my friend it's a simple escort. We will be transporting a scientist named Dr. Evelyn Jensen."

I drop my cigarette and slowly turn to look at him.

"Did you say Evelyn Jensen?"

Ji gives me a funny look.

"Yes, why?"

I instantly jump up and say,

"where's Lt?"

"why?"

I growl in frustration.

"where is he ji! I can't be on this!"

ji puts his hands up in defense.

"Woah, alright man calm down. He's waiting for us at the main gate."

I take off towards the main gate. I can hear ji scramble to his feet and run after me.

"hey slow down!"

As I make my way through the base I hear brief bits of conversation from other soldiers.

"-ome hot scientist chick-"

"-keeps asking for sarg-"

"-Lt seems pissed-"

I pass the basketball court and round the corner of the mess hall. The front gate comes into view, a HMMWV idling just in front of it. I spot the Lt talking with an engineer and run over,stand at attention, and salute.

"There you are, sergeant Evans, at ease soldier."

Lieutenant Park says in his thick Philly accent. He stood there, his dark hair barely hanging over his bandanna covered forehead, staring at me with a knowing smile. I stare at his gruff, tanned face.

"Lt. Park, sir, i can't be on this mission."

The lieutenant opens his mouth to speak but is cut off by a loud voice.

"No, ya daft cunt! If you drop that container we'll all be turned into smoldering piles of viscera!"

A young woman, with a heavy Irish accent and long red hair, says to a soldier loading a box into the vehicle.

"I swear yer all a bunch of Eejits!"

I try to hide my face by pulling up my ballistic mask.

"And you!"

The woman screams and briskly walks in between me and the Lt. She pokes a finger into his chest and says,

"where in the fecking hell is jimmy! Your bleedin boss said he was here!"

The Lt sighs and says,

"First off, chill the fuck out. Secondly-"

He looks over her shoulder to see me slowly trying to sneak away.

"he's behind you. Isn't that right sergeant!"

I flinch and stop.

"fuuuuccck."

I straighten out and slowly turn around and pull down my mask. I make a halfhearted salute and say,

"sir, yes sir."

The woman whips around and lets out a loud screech. She runs up to me, wrapping her arms around me, and squeals again.

"jimmy! How ya been?"

I pat her back and sigh.

"Hello Ev."

she lets me go and steps back.

"Have tha treatments been workin?"

ji, who had been oddly quiet this whole time, speaks up.

"Treatments?"

Evelyn ignores him and looks at me.

"Okay just ignore me."

I laugh and look to ji.

"Don't worry about it ji, she's like this with everyone."

Lt clears his throat to get our attention.

"And about your request sergeant, the answer is no. You were hand picked because of your relationship to the doc here."

I look back to Evelyn's smiling face, her fiery red hair hanging in curls around her pale face, and see her emerald eyes peering into my soul through her glasses.

"What is it Ev?"

The world seems to dim and distort. She moves her mouth but my head is filled with ringing.

" What?"

I blurt. She moves her mouth again, but still all I hear is ringing.

"I can't hear you."

Her smile never fades as she opens her mouth to speak again.

"wake up, jimmy."

comes her voice in a low distorted pitch.

"what, I don't understand."

she still smiles. The world starts to fade more and more until all I see is a pinprick of light.

"wake up."

Suddenly the sound of fire burning fills my ears.

"Jimmy! Wake up!"

- outside the southern water tribe-

"wake up!"

I sit up in a panic.

"Eve!"

I look around and see Katara, Sokka, and Aang all staring at me.

"wha-What is it? Are we in trouble?"

"we're right outside the water tribe,"

Katara pauses mid sentence,

"but the fire nation got here before us. They haven't done much though, just stand there."

They all look and point. I follow their gaze and see zuko's fire nation ship.

"we weren't seen, but i have to go defend the village!"

Sokka says.

'what do we do?'

I think to the spirits within me.

'fight him.'

'let's just avoid him.'

comes the voices of Ragga and Haru respectively.

'he'll raze the village if we run and I don't know if Aang can beat him.'

I think to the spirits.

'I meant you kid.'

my eyes grow wide.

'me? Naw I don't think so, I need more training before all of that.'

The spirit grunts in disappointment.

'well you have to do something.'

Haru chirps.

'I think that I know what to do.'

Comes spirit Aang's voice.

'just take Katara and Sokka and let him search the village. Tell Aang to wait here, if things take a turn me and Ragga will help you fight.'

I hang my head and sigh.

"Fine, Aang!"

The boy snaps his head in my direction.

"yeah?"

I push to my feet and dust myself off.

"you stay here and stay hidden, Katara and Sokka will come with me to talk to them."

Katara and Sokka look at each other and then back to me.

"what?"

"Okay."

Katara and Sokka say over each other. I look at Sokka who can't believe I would even suggest that.

"What, do you not want my help?"

Sokka opens his mouth to speak but Katara cuts him off.

"well take all the help we can get."

Sokka glares at his sister but nods. I nod back and look at Aang to see him sheepishly fiddling with his glider.

"Aang, you okay?"

The young man nods and sets his staff aside.

"yeah. I'm okay, I'll be here when you get back."

I nod.

"Okay, let's go."

As the three of us approach the front of the ship we see the helmeted fire nation soldiers waiting. Some villagers huddle together frightened around the crack in the ground the ship caused. I sigh and ready myself. We stop in front of the soldiers and Sokka shouts,

"What have you come here for!"

no answer. The soldiers remain stoic, making Sokka growl in frustration. He opens his mouth to speak but is cut off when he catches sight of the bow of the ship opening and creaking forward in a burst of steam, forming a walkway. He backs up and falls to the ground once the bow hits the ground with a loud thud. I try not to laugh as Prince Zuko emerges from the ship, two guards following close behind him.

"hmm he's shorter than I thought he'd be."

I mumble to myself. Prince Zuko descends slowly from the ship along with the two guards.

"Now Sokka I know what you're thinking, but don't-"

Sokka lets out a battle cry and charges at the prince, pulling his boomerang as he did.

" -do anything stupid."

When he reaches Zuko, the prince merely kicks the club to his left and, without ever resting his leg on the ground, kicks Sokka over to his right, sending him into the snow, where his head becomes trapped. I sigh and pinch the bridge of my nose as Katara just facepalms.

"why? Why is he so dumb?"

I say and look to Katara, who just shrugs. Sokka desperately tries to free himself as Zuko continues on his way to us, followed by four more men. Zuko approaches me and looks me up and down. He passes to the right when he does not seem to find what he is looking for and stops in front of Katara.

"Where are you hiding him?"

The teen shouts angrily. Zuko surveys the crowd of villagers, who fall completely silent. When no one answers him, he extends his arm out and grabs Katara, holding her by the hood of her parka.

"I'm looking for an old man, master of all elements!"

he shakes the girl a bit before shoving her forcefully back. I catch her from falling and make sure she has good footing before glaring at Zuko. Receiving no response, Zuko swings his arm out and releases an arc of fire that passes just over our heads.

"shit!"

I shout as I duck the flame. I'm about to cuss this jerk out when I hear Sokka let out another battle cry as he charges toward the prince. Zuko swiftly turns around just as Sokka approaches. He ducks under Sokka's wide swing and hurls the warrior forward. Sokka lands on his rear in the snow and is quickly forced to dart from his spot when Zuko fires a blast at him. He spins to the side and tosses his boomerang at the prince, who barely manages to miss getting hit by the weapon. Zuko growls and glares at Sokka in anger at the near hit; he follows the course of the weapon until it vanishes before looking back at Sokka in anger. One of the village boys tosses Sokka a spear.

"show no fear!"

Comes the boys adorable voice. Sokka handily catches the weapon and charges at Zuko once more.

"got to give it to your brother, he ain't got no quit in em."

I say to Katara, who nods worriedly. When I look back, Zuko breaks off pieces of the spear with his forearms, pulls the remains of the weapon out of Sokka's hands and pokes him thrice in the head with the blunt end. Sokka falls to the ground as Zuko snaps the spear in two and tosses the pieces to the ground on both of his sides. Sokka rubs his head in pain and groans. Zuko stands over the boy and looks ready to strike as a sparkle of light shines briefly in the distance. Sokka's boomerang spins into view, unnoticed by Zuko. The weapon strikes Zuko on the back of his helmet with a loud cling spinning it sideways. Zuko rearranges his helmet and growls at Sokka. The boomerang has plummeted into the ground in front of Sokka's feet. Enraged, Zuko readies two fire daggers.

"I don't think so."

I say as my body moves on its own. I move my hands in a circle, and the snow around my feet form into a whip made of water. I use the whip to hook one of the princes legs and pull it out from under him. He falls to the snow with a soft thud. The prince pauses on the ground for a moment, slowly realizing what just happened.

"A water bender. He's a water bender!"

The prince jumps to his feet and gives a signal, his men spread out, surrounding me while Zuko assumes a fighting stance.

"woah, hey wait, guys before we start...I have to tell you something."

All the soldiers look to Zuko then back to me. Zuko narrows his eyes.

"what?"

he says with malice. I smirk and take a fighting stance.

"I'm not wearing my flame retardant clothes."

Zuko growls and launches a fireball at me. I dodge left, flipping over another fireball from a soldier, and get kicked out of the air by another. I hit the ground with a thud and arch my back in pain.

"fuck!"

Zuko jumps into the air and comes down with a fiery kick aimed at my head. I roll out of the way at the last second and quickly scramble to my feet.

'umm guys feel free to help at any time!'

I think to Ragga and Aang.

'we are, I'm gonna make sure your water bending doesn't fail, just keep fighting kid.'

I hear Ragga say back. My heart is racing, but I steel myself. Another soldier charges in, swinging a fire covered fist. I duck under the swing, spinning around to deliver a powerful kick to the attacker's midsection. The soldier crumples to the floor in pain. Zuko growls in frustration.

"Get him already!"

The remaining three come at me together. I use their momentum against them, dodging their attacks with fluid grace. I deflect a punch aimed at my face, countering with a sharp ice shard I formed from the snow to one's ribs. It doesn't go through the armor but it does knock the wind out of him. The man staggers back, gasping for air as he falls to his knees. I duck low as another soldier swings a fire laden fist, narrowly avoiding the blow, just for zuko to give me a mouthful of boot. My head snaps back violently and I start to fall to the ground. I quickly command the ice behind me to shoot up, keeping me upright. I shake my head to clear the stars.

"That...hurt."

zuko smirks and keeps up the pressure by firing two fireball's at me. I dodge the first one by sidestepping it. The second hits me square in my chest, knocking me off balance and igniting my shirt.

"shit!"

I shout as I flail around and quickly remove the thick, water tribe garment. The freezing air hits my chest, sending a chill down my spine. Everyone stops and stares at me, even the fire benders.

"umm, what?"

Zuko, still in a fighting stance, speaks up.

"Those markings on your body, what are they?"

I look to my arms and chest to see the wave like tattoos glowing blue.

"would you believe me if I said that I don't know?"

Zuko scoffs and charges me. I quickly use the ice beneath me, like a catapult, to launch myself over him and onto one of the three remaining soldiers, knocking him unconscious. The other two soldiers attack me at once, both launching fiery kicks my way. I use walls of ice, on either side of me, to block the blows. The kicks blow through the ice walls, forcing me to roll backwards to avoid the debris. The two soldiers keep on the attack, each firing a fireball at me. I quickly bring up a wall of ice to block them, making sure it was thick enough to not shatter on impact. The two soldiers and Zuko all charge at me again. Thinking quickly, I create a hole in the ice, causing one of the soldiers to fall into the icy water below. I can feel the fatigue setting in, but i press on. Zuko and his remaining ally approached cautiously. As they close in, I drop to the ground and sweep the soldiers legs out from under him with a low kick. He hits the floor with a thud, right before I bring my foot down on his head. I stand over him, breathing heavily, eyes scanning for Zuko.

"where did he g-"

Im interrupted by the sharp pain of a boot connecting with the back of my head, before I'm launched forward. I land on my face and skid to a stop. I lay there for a moment, trying to regain some strength, then weakly push to my feet. The five soldiers lay sprawled around me, groaning in defeat. The one id dropped into the water had crawled out and was trying to use his fire to warm himself.

"Enough of this!"

Zuko shouts as he runs right at me. Right before he reaches me, he jumps into the air, spins and hits me with a spinning back kick. I'm thrown off my feet and launched away once again. I land on my back and all I can do is groan in pain. I try to rise but my body is dead weight. Zuko walks up to me and his fist ignites. He bends down and grabs a fistful of my hair, lifting me up slightly.

"Where is he? I know he's here!"

He cocks back his hand, ready to strike. I cough and spit out some blood.

"Wait, you're not looking for me?"

The prince growls and is about to take my head off, when I hear Aang's voice.

'tell him you're the avatar!'

"it's me...I'm the avatar! These markings prove it!"

Zuko stops and looks at me skeptically.

"I'm who you're looking for."

Zuko drops me, his face expressing pure shock, and steps away from me.

"You're the airbender? You're the Avatar?"

Katara and Sokka both express shock.

"I've spent years preparing for this encounter. Training, meditating. And that is all the fight you have? I don't believe it!"

"I left the air temple when they told me and refuse to use air bending ever again."

Zuko laughs and says,

"then prove it! Bend another element!"

I feel a warm sensation flow through my body. My fatigue seems to disappear as I push myself to my feet. I look down at my arms and see my left arm tattoos glowing as if fueled by magma. I slowly lift my hand and create a fireball. Zuko's eyes grow wide as he takes another fighting stance.

"no need for that, If I go with you,"

I hold out both my arms in surrender, making sure Zuko understands that i do not wish to continue fighting.

"will you promise to leave everyone here alone?"

After a brief moment of hesitation, Zuko erects himself and nods in agreement.

"All of you get up!"

Zuko shouts at his men as he grabs my arms and puts them in cuffs. The soldiers who hadn't already got to their feet slowly do so. One soldier helps the one I jumped on walk, while the other Two grab me from Zuko.

My eyelids grow heavy. Right before everything goes black, I see Katara looking on in horror, and Aang peeking from around a corner, as I'm dragged away.

AN: sorry for the slowness of this one , I been in the hospital, anywho yeah here it is *tada* thanks for the support thus far. Now bugger off dadie's gotta cook lol

-Sage