>The Earth Village >Over the Ocean >The Sea Blockade >The Fire Temple >In the Cavern >Aang and Roku
Avatar:The Airbender Novel
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Color: [?] Avatar Water Earth Fire Air
Water. Earth. Fire. Air.
Long ago, the Four Nations lived together in harmony.
Then everything changed when the Fire Nation attacked.
Only the Avatar, Master of all four elements, could stop them.
But when the world needed him most, he vanished.
A hundred years passed and my brother and I discovered the new Avatar - an Airbender named Aang.
And although his Airbending skills are great, he still has a lot to learn before he's ready to save anyone.
But I believe Aang can save the world.

[Previously on Avatar.........]
Katara: When the Avatar dies, he's reincarnated into the next nation in the cycle.
Aang:(dejected) There's no one who could teach me how to be the Avatar. Monk Gyatsu said that Avatar Roku would help me.
Sokka: The Avatar before you? He died over a hundred years ago. How're you supposed to talk to him?
Aang:(smiling) There's a temple on a crescent-shaped island. If i go there before the Solstice, I'll be able to speak with him.
Katara:(worried) But the Solstice is tomorrow.
Aang: Yeah. (turning his head away) And there's one more problem. That island is in the Fire Nation.
At the village. It is still very dark.
Tugging at Appa's rein, Aang pleaded with Appa,"Let's go, Appa! Come on, boy! Argggg!" Aang struggled.

Appa refused to budge, growling.

"Look, I'm sorry, but Katara and Sokka aren't coming to the Fire Nation with us. If they got hurt, I'll never forgive myself," Aang looked downwards. "So get your big butt off the floor and let's go!" Aang made another atttempt at moving the heavy bison, but instead fell on his butt on the floor, dejected.

"I think his big butt is trying to tell you something." Sokka's familiar voice rang out.

Aang peered behind to see all the villagers as well as his friends gathered behind him.

Katara pleaded, "Please don't go, Aang. The world can't afford to lose you to the Fire Nation. And neither can I." Katara's eyes stared at Aang.

He could see the pain in her eyes. He felt so confused. Should he go and risk losing his life and hurting Katara, or should he just stay here where it's safe? Aang thought hard. He remembered his vision: a giant asteroid flaming toward Earth.

Aang made up his mind. Standing, he decided to try persuading Katara once more.

"But I need to find Avatar Roku to find out what my vision means. I need to get to the Fire Temple before the sun sets on the Solstice. That's today!" Aang did an air spin, leaping up onto Appa. He looked back at Katara, imploring Katara to understand his predicament.

Appa begun walking forward. Suddenly, Katara and Sokka rushed ahead, blocking Appa's way.

"We're not letting you go into the Fire Nation, Aang," Katara said sternly.
"At least, not without your friends," Sokka grinned up at Aang. "We've got your back."

Momo glided onto Aang's arm and perched on it. Aang smiled. Appa licked Sokka affectionately.

"Eeewwwwww!" Sokka groaned.
"It's a long journey to the crescent island," said one of the villagers, bringing Aang a package of food, with chopsticks tied in a bowtie knot at the top. "You'll have to fly fast to have any chance of making it before sundown. Good luck."
"Thank you for your..."
"Go!" the villager commanded sternly.

With a growl, Appa lifted into the air....
Feeling a slightest of a headache, the villager got out of his wooden house for a breeze.

"Huh?" the villager had run smack into Prince Zuko, with a squad of Fire Soldiers. In the background riding a fire rhino, Uncle Iroh wore nothing but a simple cloth around his hips. It had been quite a rush. Having went right here after being rescued from his previous encounter with Earth soldiers, Iroh hadn't had time to get into better clothing.
"Having trouble sleeping?" Zuko pushed the villager back into his abode. "Seen the Avatar lately?" Zuko glared down at the fallen villager....
Appa is flying over the clouds, and it is daytime already. Sokka and Katara were diligently peering over the side of Appa, looking out for any trouble. Aang, at the reins, glanced back at them. He couldn't help but be worried for their safety.
"Come on, boy, we have a lot way to go. Faster!" Appa obediently listened to Aang and turned his speed up a notch.
A Fire Nation warship is too sailing right behind Appa unnoticed. Of course, it is Prince's Zuko's warship.

"Sailing into Fire Nation waters. Of all the foolish things you've done in your sixteen years, Prince Zuko, this is the most foolish!" Uncle Iroh is positively annoyed at his nephew's actions.
"I have no choice, Uncle."
"Have you completely forgotten that the Fire Lord banished you?" Uncle Iroh continued. "What if you're caught?" his face softened at the thought.
"I'm chasing the Avatar. My father will understand why I'm returning home!"
Doubtful, Iroh said, "You give him too much credit. My brother is not the understanding type."

Not wishing to continue arguing, Zuko turned back to his mounted rotary monoculars. Appa is clearly visible.

"There they are," Zuko commented. "Helmsmen, full steam ahead!" The command was given.
Katara spots the approaching warship. "Aang, we got trouble!" she shouted.
"Yeah, and it's gaining fast!" adds Sokka, eyes widening in fear.

Deep inside the Fire Warship, a clanging sound of metal was heard. A hatch opens, and the light streams down inside the compartment, revealing a weird contraption. As gases hissed around it, the machine is lifted up onto the deck of the ship. It is a metal catapult. Loaded onto it is a rock, onto which a Fire Soldier pours black fuming liquid.

"Erggggg! Really, Prince Zuko. Could you shoot them down with something more fragrant?" asks Iroh, who's fanning himself.

Ignoring his uncle, Zuko prepares the catapult for attack by directing a fire punch at the now black and pungent rock. It catches fire easily. Zuko raises his hand.
"On my mark. Fire!"

The standing soldier swung his sword downward at the restraining ropes. The catapult instantly unleashes its flaming load at Appa.

Katara spots the incoming threat. "Fireball!"
"I'm on it!" Aang skillfully pulled the reins to the right, and Appa narrowly avoided the fireball.

The stench of the fireball is overwhelming. It appears that Iroh wasn't kidding about the smell. Katara and Sokka covered their faces quickly to block out the smell. Aang sniffed the air. It IS stinky. His face twisted into a grimace and he held his nose shut with his hand.

"We have to get out of Zuko's range, before he shoots another hot stinker at us!" Katara cried.
"Can't you make Appa go any faster?"
"Yeah, but there's just one little problem," Aang replied with a frown.
Zuko had spotted the problem too. "It couldn't be," Zuko was shocked.

There was a giant barricade formed by a dozen Fire Nation battleships with catapults at the ready. They blocked up the path to the Fire Nation.

"Technically, you're still in Earth Kingdom waters. Turn back now and they may not have to arrest you." Iroh advised.
Meanwhile, Aang was coming up with a solution.
"If we fly North we can go around the Fire Nation ships and avoid the blockade. It's the only way."
"There's no time!" Katara argued.
"This is exactly why I didn't want you to come. It's too dangerous!"
"And that's exactly why we're here," Katara replied.
"Let's run this blockade!" Sokka grinned excitedly.
"Appa, yip yip!" The flying bison speeded up.
On the ship deck, Prince Zuko saw Appa speeding up.
"He's not turning around!"
"Please, Prince Zuko. If the Fire Nation captures you, there's nothing i can do! Do not follow the Avatar." Iroh commanded.
Lowering his head, and fully aware of the pain his actions will inflict on his uncle, Zuko murmured, "I'm sorry, Uncle."
His resolve hardening, Zuko barked, "Run the blockade!"
On a warship not far away, Appa and Zuko's ship were being watched.

"The Avatar. And that is the Prince." Lowering his monoculars, Commander Zhao commented, " This must be my lucky day."
"Commander Zhao, what are your orders?" the captain of the catapults asked.
"Shoot the bison down carefully."
"But there's a Fire Navy ship out there, sir. One of our own. What if it's hit?"
"So be it. It belongs to a traitor."
Turning, Zhao shouted, "Ignite!"

The Fire Soldiers dutifully blasted the flammable rock with flame.

"Launch!"

Like some sick display of fireworks, the twin pillar catapults, capable of higher distances and speeds, launched flaming specks into the sky. Except that these flaming specks were not for entertainment, they were to kill Appa.
Prince Zuko looked on fearfully. It was obvious that Zhao wished him dead too.
"Ahhhh!" Everyone onboard Appa screamed, as the fireballs flew upwards at shocking speeds.
Aang held the reins tightly, as he pushed Appa to its limits. There was just too much fireballs coming up at them! They were everywhere! Fireballs exploded in midair around them. Two of them collided right in front of Appa, but it was too late to swerve. Appa flew right through the flaming cloud of smoke. As Appa came out, there were some patches of intensely hot black liquid that had hit it. Appa growled in pain. Katara and Sokka quickly patted the heat out of the hot liquid. Even Momo joined in.

"Appa, are you okay?" Aang was concerned for his friend.
Appa growled a growl of assurance. He was still okay.
Meanwhile, Zuko was receiving the remnants of the fireballs that had missed their mark, the Avatar. All the fireballs missed Zuko's ship too. Fountains of water burst upwards into the sky all around them. A close miss sent a wave up onto the ship, threatening to wash off the ship anything that wasn't anchored down onto the deck. But Zuko's luck did not hold. Finally, one fireball hit straight onto the rear end of the ship. Zuko was knocked onto his knees by the impact.

"Prince Zuko, the engines are damaged! We need to stop, and make repairs!" a heavily accented sailor came running out of the engine room to report.
Zuko was determined. "Do not stop this ship."
"Launch!" As Zhao's order rang out, another volley of fireballs was sent out.
Aang had quickly pulled Appa upwards into the safety and cover of the clouds. But whatever protection the clouds may have was pitifully minimal. The barrage of fireballs continued endlessly. There was no stopping it. Another two fireballs collided in front of Appa again. This time more confident, Appa flew straight into the smoke. As it came out, it opened its mouth and stuck its tongue out. The smell lingering in its mouth was disgusting.

"Aaahhhh!" Sokka was knocked off Appa by the impact of the explosion.
"Sokka!" Katara reached out to grab her brother's hand, but it was too late. Sokka went sinking beneath the clouds.
"Sokka!" Aang turned Appa around and straight downwards.

Appa plummetted like a rock, catching up with Sokka on his descend. Pulling Appa up just before it hit the sea, Katara managed to pull Sokka back onto Appa. Appa skimmed on the sea. A fish flew out of the water from Appa's impact. The fish went right smack onto Sokka's face, then went flying backwards. Momo leaped up quickly and caught the fish right before it dropped back into the sea.

Another volley of fireballs began. Appa instinctly dodged the fireballs as they came. The fireballs harmlessly fell into the ocean, making a splash. Slowly, Appa drew closer to the Fire battleships.

Commander Zhao prepared his final, last attempt at knocking down the Avatar. He raised his hand, waiting for the right moment.
"Ready........ Fire!"

The lone fireball came quick and fast, directly at Appa. Too fast, Aang thought. Time to stop dodging and attack. Aang leaped straight forward at the fireball. With all his might, he gave a powerful air kick. The strong blast of air totally disintegrated the fireball. Tired, Aang lost his balance and collapsed back onto Appa, where his friends comforted him.

Having lost his final chance at catching the Avatar here, Commander Zhao had to watch helplessly as Aang rode straight through the blockade, only metres away from him.

"We made it!" Aang punched the air in victory.
Sokka and Katara were still dumbstruck at what had happened. "We got into the Fire Nation. Great." Sokka made a weak attempt at sounding enthusiastic.
Back on the blockade, the captain approached Commander Zhao for further instructions.
"Where do you think the Avatar is headed, sir?"
"I'm not sure," Zhao replied. He turned his head to look at an approaching Fire warship. "But I bet a certain banished prince will know."

Two Fire battleships sailed towards each other. They were closing up the only gap left through the blockade. The approaching Fire warship had no way to pass.

"We're on a collision course!" Iroh said.
"We can make it!"

"The boarding party is ready to apprehend Prince Zuko, sir," the captain reported.
"Wait! Cut the engines and let them pass."
"Sir?"

Just when the ships were about to collide, Zhao's 2 battleships braked. Commander Zhao and Prince Zuko exchanged cold, hard stares as the ships passed each other safely. As the warship left the vicinity, Iroh stroked his beard in suspicion.
The group continued flying towards the Fire Temple, endlessly from day to dusk. Everyone was tired out, drifting to sleep.

"Chit chit chit!" Snapped out of his daze by Momo's chittering, Aang opened his eyes to see his long-awaited destination.
"There it is!" Aang's eyes shone with excitement. "The island where Roku's dragon took me." said Aang as Appa began its descent.
At a small hidden plateau, the group rests and prepares their entry into the temple. Sokka is stretching himself.

"You did it, buddy. Nice flying!" Aang hugged Appa's enormous head. Appa replied by rolling over onto his back, giving a great big yawn.
Katara caressed Appa's stomach affectionally. "Orhhh, you must be tired."
"No! I'm good! Refreshed and ready to fight some Firebenders!" Sokka replied, bursting with energy.
"I was talking to Appa." Katara replied irritably.
"Well, I was talking to Momo," Sokka rebutted. Momo stared innocently at them.
The group slowly approached the temple via its main arched bridge. They sought cover behind a raised platform not far from the temple doors, preparing their next move.

"I don't see any guards." Sokka was puzzled.
"The Fire Nation must have abandoned the temple when Avatar Roku died."
"It's almost sundown. We better hurry!" Aang jumped up and ran into the temple, followed by his friends.

The sun was setting fast. The group raced through the temple's arched corridor and entered a vast hall, with mutiple doorways leading to places unknown. They crept silently across the hall.

"Wait. I ... I think I heard something." Sokka whispered.

Turning around, they spot 5 monks of the temple.

"We are the Fire Sages, Guardians of the Temple of the Avatar," said the head monk.
"Great! I am the Avatar." Aang spoke up, walking forward.
"We know." Focusing, the head monk moved his hands upwards across his chest as he drew a deep breath. Then he punched the air and 3 balls of flame shot out of his fist.

Aang acted quickly. He swung his hands around in an arc, creating two slices of air that extinguished the incoming flames.

"I'll hold them off. Run!" Aang shouted. After making sure his friends are at a safe distance, Aang turned around 360 degrees using his leg to make a sweeping action. A powerful gust of air sped towards the monks and swept them off their feet. They skidded a few metres backwards on their faces. Aang seized the chance to escape.

"If the Avatar contacts Roku, there's no telling how powerful the boy will become. Spread out and find him." The monks scattered in all directions.
Katara, Sokka and Momo were running along one of the many corridors. Suddenly, Aang came skidding out of one of the pathways.

"Follow me!" He led the way.
"Do you know where you're going?" Sokka asked.
"Nope." Aang rounded a corner and disappeared. Then he reappeared running in the opposite direction. "Wrong way!"

Katara and Sokka continued to stare numbly, until one of the monks appeared from the corner. They ran away.

"Come back!" cried the monk.

The group raced down another corridor, but were astonished to find it a dead end. The monk had also followed them and had them cornered. The group backed to a wall slowly. Aang raised his hands and prepared to attack.

"I don't want to fight you. I am a friend." the monk tried to win their trust.
"Firebenders aren't our friends." Sokka shot back.

The monk walked towards them. They prepared for the worst. The monk suddenly kneed in front of Aang.

"I know why you're here, Avatar."
"You do?"
"Yes," replied the monk as he got onto his feet again.
"You wish to speak to Avatar Roku. I can take you to him."
"How?"

The monk lifted the lantern beside him. It hinged sideways to reveal a tiny hole. The monk pressed his palm over the hole and with a deep breathe, forced a burst of flame from his palm into the hole. The flame travelled inside the wall and split into two lines. Rapidly, the two lines went around and converged to form a rectangular ring of fire. The ring of fire burnt into the wall and a creaking door slided inwards and to the side, revealing a cavernous area with steps leading down.

"This way." gestured the monk.
An echo rang along the corridor. "Find them."
Worry flashed across the monk's face. "Time is runnning out. Quickly!" he urged.

Aang and Katara exchanged looks. They believed the monk's sincerity and wish to help them. Nodding their heads, they entered the cavern. After everyone was in, the monk twisted a knob and the entrance slided shut again, as if nothing had concurred here.
Prince's Zuko ship was sailing down the ocean, leaving a great black trail of smoke in its wake, a result of its damaged engines.

"What is he up to, Uncle? Why didn't Commander Zhao arrest me?" Prince Zuko asked.
"Because he wants to follow you. He knows you'll lead him to the prize you're both after, the Avatar." Iroh said.
"If Zhao wants to follow the trail of smoke, then that's exactly what I'll let him do." Zuko had thought of a plan.
Back in the temple, Aang and his friends were travelling down the steps of the cavern.

"Avatar Roku once called this temple his home. He formed these secret passages out of the magma." explained the monk.
"Did you know Avatar Roku?"
"No. But my grandfather did. Many generations of Fire Sages guarded this temple long before me. We all have a strong spirit of connection to this place."
"Is that how you knew I was coming?"
"A few weeks ago, an amazing thing occured. The statue of Avatar Roku - its eyes began to glow!"
Katara remembered. "That was when we were in the Air Temple! Avatar Roku's eyes were glowing there too!"
"At that moment, we knew you had returned to the world."
"If this is the Avatar's temple, why did the Sages attack me?"
"Things have changed. In the past, the Sages were loyal only to the Avatar. When Roku died, the Sages eagerly awaited for the next Avatar to return. But he never came."
"They were waiting for me." Aang was upset to hear of this.
Sokka comforted Aang, at least, sarcastically, " They don't feel bad. You're only a hundred years late." Aang threw a stare at Sokka.
"They lost hope that the Avatar would never return," his face hardened, "when Fire Lord Solzen began the war, my grandfather and the other Sages were forced to follow him." he bowed his head in shame. "I never wanted to serve the Fire Lord. When I learnt that you were coming, I knew I would have to betray the other Sages."
"Thank you for helping me."
The monk smiled gratefully. They continued walking along the magma cavern and came to a spiral of staircases leading to the top.

"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."

At the top of the stairs, the monk pushed a hatch open. Making sure that no one was around, they came walking out of the floor of the Sanctuary entrance.

As they approached the Sanctuary, the monk gasped. "No!" He stared at the doors to the Sanctuary.
"Shayu, what's wrong?" Aang asked.
"The Sanctuary doors, they're closed!" Aang moved forward to push them, not wanting to believe Shayi's words. They were really locked. They had come so far for nothing?

"Can't you just open them with Firebending, like you opened that other door?" Katara asked.
Shayu explained. "No. Only a fully realized Avatar," Aang fell downcast at that thought, "is powerful enough to open this door alone. Otherwise, the Sages must open the door together with five simultaneous fire blasts."
"Five fire blasts, huh?" Sokka rubbed his chin in deep thought. He glanced upwards at the fire lantern glowing above him. Ting! Sokka had a rare outburst of intelligence. "I think I can help you out."
On the seas, a ramp opened at the smoking end of Zuko's ship, and a tiny Fire vessel slided out of it onto the waters.
"Uncle, keep heading North," commanded Zuko from the vessel, "Zhao will follow the smoke trail while I use it as a cover."
"Hmmmm..." Iroh stroked his beard, shaking his head slowly.

The Fire vessel quietly went off, hiding in the smoke trail.
A distance away, Zhao spied on the Fire Warship through a scope. The gigantic smoke trail, Zhao thought. Something's amiss.
"This is a little trick I picked up from my father," Sokka said, as he disassembled the fire lantern and took out the bottle of fuel from inside it. He poured the contents of the bottle of fuel inside a satchel. "I seal the lamp oil inside an animal skin casing. Shayu lights the elloso twine and, Ta Da! Fake Firebending!"
"You've really outdone yourself this time, Sokka," Katara was impressed.
"This might actually work," even Shayu agreed.

Sokka proceeded to stuff the animal skin satchels inside the animal head statues on the door.

"The Sages will hear the explosions, so as soon as they go off, you'll rush in." Shayu told Aang.

Having completed the preparation of the satchels, Sokka scampered back to the safety of a nearby pillar.

"It's almost sunset. Are you ready?" Katara asked.
"Definitely." Aang was confident.

Shayu lifted his fingers and shot a tiny jet of flame across the locked door, lighting the fuse of the satchels. That done, he went behind the pillar and waited.

"Boom!" With a great blast of fire, smoke engulfed the place. Aang quickly sped to the door and tugged at it. To his surprise, it refused to bulge.

"They're still locked!"

Shayu's face fell. "It didn't work."

Everyone was out of ideas. Aang furiously blasted the doors with everything he got but it was a futile attempt.

"Aang, stop! There's nothing else we can do." Katara comforted Aang.
"I'm sorry I put you all through this for nothing."

Sokka rubbed the soot residue on the door. "I don't get it. That blast was the strongest in the firebending I've seen."
Suddenly, Katara shouted, "Sokka, you're a genius!"
"Wait! How is Sokka a genius? His plan didn't even work." Aang didn't get it.
"Come on, Aang, let her dream." Sokka smirked.
"You're right. Sokka's plan didn't work. But it looks like it did." Katara answered.
"Did the definition of genius change in the last hundred years?" Aang was still confused.
The Fire Sages have finally arrived at the Sanctuary. They spotted the soot covered door.

"Come quickly! The Avatar has entered the Sanctuary!" Shayu reported.
"How did he get in?" The Head Sage was furious.
"I don't know! But look at the scorch marks! And down there!" Shayu pointed.

A shadow was seen moving around underneath the heavy metal doors.

"He's inside! Open the doors immediately, before he contacts Avatar Roku!" The Head Sage had no more doubts.

Hidden away from sight, Aang leaned against a pillar and peered around it at the Sages.

The Five Fire Sages drew their breaths and punched a stream of flames at the steel doors. That done, the Sages stopped. The five metal dragon heads on the door rotated on their hinges, coming together. The six sharp points of the Fire Nation emblem on the door split as the door opened with a loud hiss. As the red glow from the door subsided, the Sages saw ... Momo! Momo sneezed and looked up at the Sages.

"It's the Avatar's lemur. He must have crawled through the pipes! We've been tricked!" As the head Sage spoke, Momo leaped onto his face and attacked wildly. The Sage toppled. As the others looked on in bewilderment, Sokka and Katara went forward and used the Sages' long robe against them by wrapping their heads up with it. The remaining Sage tried to help but Shayu had caught his arms behind his back, stopping him.

"Now, Aang!" Shayu beckoned.

Aang did not appear.

"Aang! Now's your chance!" Katara shouted.

There was no response. Slowly, Aang emerged, but he was captured by Prince Zuko.

"The Avatar's coming with me!" Zuko said.

The tables have turned on Aang and his friends. The Sages have regained their strength after the momentary surprise and now are the ones holding his friends down. Momo also could not hold on and flew away in fright before the Head Sage could capture him.

"Close the doors, quickly!" Zuko commanded. He didn't want to risk the Avatar sneaking in again, if he ever escaped.

Aang turned back and saw his friends being tied up with chains as he left. Gritting his teeth, Aang spun around suddenly, loosening Zuko's grip on him. Aang then gave a powerful kick, sending Zuko tumbling down the stairs. Aang ran to save his friends, but Katara motioned towards the doors. "Go!"

Aang obeyed and headed for the doors. The Sages fired bursts of fire, but Aang somersaulted over, using their heads as platforms. He went in just before the door shut. The dragon heads rotated again, this time to lock the door securely.

"He made it!" Katara was overjoyed.

Her joy was cut short as a bright blue light shone across the Sanctuary doors, enveloping the room with holy light.
Aang stared at Avatar Roku's statue. The ray of light was shining directly upon the statue's chest. The red gem on the chest gleamed.

"Right here is the statue where I talk to Roku. So why isn't anything happening?" Aang didn't know what to do.
Outside, the Sages and Zuko blasted the door together. But the door refused to unlock.

"Why isn't it working? It's sealed shut!" Prince Zuko was furious.
"It must be the light. Avatar Roku doesn't want us inside." The Head Sage replied.

The sun is setting.
"I don't know what I'm doing! All I know is Airbending! Please, Avatar Roku, talk to me!" Aang pleaded.

By know, the ray of light has travelling upwards from the statue's chest to its face. As the face glowed in the setting sun, so did its eyes. Smoke spun and enveloped Aang. The walls of the temple disappeared, to be replaced by that of a drab brown mountainous terrain. Avatar Roku stood in the middle of it all.

"It's good to see you, Aang," Roku said, "What took you so long?"

Aang stared with his mouth wide open. He quickly regained his senses and pressed his right fist against his left palm, bowing his head in respect.
Outside, Shayu was under interrogation.

"Why did you help the Avatar?" questioned Zuko.
"Because it was once the Sages' duty. It is still our duty." replied Shayu fearlessly.

Shayu lifted his head in surprise; he had heard faint clapping.

It was Commander Zhao. "What a heartfelt and moving performance. I'm certain the Fire Lord will understand," Zhao said sarcastically, "When you explain why you betrayed him."
He smiled.

"Commander Zhao," said the Head Sage.
"And Prince Zuko," said Zhao. "It was a noble effort, but your little smokescreen didn't work. Two traitors, in one day. The Fire Lord will be pleased."
"You're too late, Zhao! The Avatar's inside and the doors are sealed." rebutted Zuko.
"No matter. Sooner or later, he has to come out."

Katara and Sokka, now tied together at the pillar, glanced at each other in worry.
"I have something very important to tell you, Aang. That is why, when you were in the Spirit World, I sent my dragon to find you." said Roku.
"Is it about that vision? The one about the comet?"
"Yes."
"What does it mean?"
"One hundred years ago, Fire Lord Solzen 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 them stronger?"
"Yes, stronger than you could even imagine."
"That happened a hundred years ago. What does the comet have to do with the war now?"
"Listen carefully. Solzen'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 continued, "Aang, you must defeat the Fire Lord, before the comet arrives."
"But I haven't even started learning Waterbending! Not to mention Earth and Fire!"
"Mastering the elements takes years of disclipline and practice. If the world is to survive, you must do it by summer's end." Roku gave the ultimatum.

Aang felt so hopeless. He was just like a fish pushing against the tide of fate, but never able to have a moment's rest, and never to be able to outswim it.
The Fire Soldiers outside prepared themselves in a firing stance. They stared stonely through the metal skull-like helmets at the door, waiting for the Avatar to appear.

Commander Zhao repeated his last command for emphasis. "When those doors open, unleash all your firepower."

Katara was feeling too optimistic about the situation. "How's Aang going to make it out of this?"
Sokka was even more realistic and practical. "How are WE going to make it out of this?"
Aang was voicing his doubts to Roku. "What if I can't master all the elements in time? What if I fail?"
"I know you can do it, Aang. For you have done it before." Roku gave Aang a look of reassurance. Aang felt much better now.
"The Solstice's ending. We must go our separate ways, for now."
"But I won't be able to come back to the Temple! What if I have questions? How would I talk to you?"
"I am a part of you. When you need to talk to me again, you will find a way."

Avatar Roku closed his eyes, and telepathically, transferred his thoughts to Aang.

"A great danger awaits you at the temple," an image of a fleet of Fire Battleships surrounding the Temple was transmitted to Aang's mind, "I can help you face the threat," Aang saw through Roku's mind Zhao and his batch of soldiers eagerly awaiting at the Sancuary doors, "But only if you are ready."

Aang's arrow tatoo on the forehead began glowing a heavenly blue and a blue halo appeared around his body. He opened his eyes, blue eyes, and spoke. It was not his voice. It was a voice of a being, a great powerful spirit within him. "I am ready."

The Avatar Spirit has been triggered.
Smoke billowed out of the gaps between the doors, glowing brilliantly. The Fire Sages stood in awe before this great occurence. The light emitting was too bright. Everyone tilted their heads to block out the glaring light as the doors groaned open. Only Zhao and his men were motionless.

"Ready...." Bright white eyes glowed in the darkness of the Sanctuary.

"No, Aang!" Katara shouted. Sokka struggled vainly against the chains of steel.

"Fire!" 9 Firebenders released their flames at the figure behind the Sanctuary doors. To their surprise, not only did the flames fail to hurt, they actually began to orbit around their target like a giant ball of flame. The flames began to clear at the front, revealing the person inside. It was Avatar Roku! It was he who was controlling the flames so expertly!

Zhao stared mouth wide open in shock. Nobody could believe who, or what they saw.

"It's Avatar Roku!" Shayu finally managed to say.

Avatar Roku compressed the swirling flames into one ball of fire between his palms. He then released the pressurized fire right back at Zhao and his men. It formed a great expanding wave of flame, sweeping right into Zhao and his men, blasting them onto the floor. The flames then went past the captive Sokka, Katara and Shayu so quickly, it burnt away the metal chains to nothing, leaving them unscathed. Unfortunately, Prince Zuko too enjoyed this privelege, as he struggled free and fled to the stairs.

The flames bust a hole in the walls of the temple. Avatar Roku then turned his stone cold stare to the Fire Sages. Realizing that they were his next target, they fled in terror.

Meanwhile, Shayu realized Roku's intentions. "Avatar Roku is going to destroy the Temple! You have to get out of here!"
Katara refused. "Not without Aang!"

Roku continued his destruction of the temple. He raised his right hand and mightily smashed down on the floor, sending a trail of flame across the floor that melted right through to the magma cavern below. Roku then bended the red-hot magama upwards like geysers, bursting holes in the Temple as the magma jetted upwards. It tore bricks and began the last few minutes of the Temple's existance. Zhao and his men were still fleeing down the stairwell.

Finally, the destruction came to a close. Avatar Roku breathed out as he tuned down the velocity of the magma spurts. The light slowly shifted out of Avatar Roku's statue's eyes and they stopped glowing. The heavy smoke around Avatar Roku began to blow backwards, engulfing him entirely in the brown smoke. As the smoke spiralled clear, it revealed Aang, standing wobbly at the center.

Katara and Sokka quickly ran forward to assist him. "We've got your back." Sokka said.
"Thanks. Where's Shayu?" asked Aang.
"I don't know." Katara answered. She had no idea too. She had lost him in the confusion.

The Temple began leaning sideways into the magma bed which it is sitting on. The stairway was totally covered with magma; that way was blocked. A toppling pillar smashed down, driving Aang and his friends to the edge of the wall. They noticed the hole in the wall, created by the initial attack by Avatar Roku. There was no way out.

Suddenly, they noticed something large coming. It was Appa and Momo to the rescue! Appa positioned himself beneath the gaping hole and let his friends leap onboard. Then, Appa quickly flew out of the range of the leaning Temple. Aang sat looking at the Temple as Appa flew further and further away.
On the Fire Battleship, ranted a Commander as Appa flew overhead. "No Prince! No Avatar! The only thing I do have, is five traitors!"
"But Commander, only Shayu helped the Avatar." the Head Sage tried to get himself out of the mess. Shayu stared at him defiantly.
"Save your stories for the Fire Lord. As far as I'm concerned, you're all guilty!" spat Zhao. "Take them to the prison hold!"
On another Fire vessel, Prince Zuko watched helplessly through his monoculars as Appa flew away.
It is a full moon night. Appa is flying slowly onward. Still feeling very depressed at what he had learnt from his meeting with Roku, Aang sat hunched and stared desolantly at nothingness. Seeing Aang so upset with himself, Katara and Sokka went forward to comfort their friend. Momo flitted around Aang and landed beside him, looking at him .....