The Southern Air Temple

Azira sat near the edge of the lake, eyes set on the water in front of her. The sun was just beginning to rise, a soft orange peeking into her vision. For the first time in her life, she wasn't waking up to do something awful.

For the first time in her life, she wasn't waking up as a Fire Nation citizen. She was just Azira. It felt exhilarating and absolutely breathtaking, just being able to sit in her gray clothes, pushing and pulling the water in front of her.

Atop Appa, Aang was adjusting the saddle and Katara was packing up. Over the past two days, the only person who had really spoken to her in all of this time was Aang, not that she had particularly minded that.

She couldn't say that she really blamed them. Considering the fact that she was technically Fire Nation, had attacked

their village, and they knew nothing about one another, they were practically free to assume that she was still an

enemy.

Still, she had managed to learn a few facts.

One: She and Sokka were the oldest of the group, at the age of 17 respectively.

Two: Katara was younger than Sokka by two years, placing her at 15. The two seemed to bicker a lot, and the younger girl didn't have much waterbending experience. That didn't set Azira at a lot of ease.

Three: Technically speaking, Aang was 114 years old, considering that he had been frozen in an ice cap. Which explained a lot, and left her with hundreds more questions at the same time.

Their next destination was the Air Temple, which left Azira a bit uneasy. Finally tearing her gaze away from the water, she turned, finding Aang poking Sokka awake. "Come on!" He encouraged.

"Sleep now, temple later" Sokka insisted, turning back over in his bed roll.

For the past two nights, Azira had slept on the ground. And yes, she had been cold, but it hadn't bothered her all that much. She wasn't sure that much could at this point. She was free and that was all that mattered.

"Is that a snake?" Azira asked, eying Aang with a slight grin.

Sokka shot up out of his sleeping bag, letting out a shriek. Aang giggled as Sokka clambered to his feet. "Great! You're awake! Let's go!"

Letting out a huff, Sokka's gaze trained on her. "Seriously?

"if I didn't do it, Aang would have." Azira said simply, gesturing at Appa. "After you." The boy just grumbled, moving forward and mumbling to himself,

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Soaring high above the clouds, Azira felt a peace that she had never felt before. This was, of course, despite the glaring that was coming straight from Sokka. She let out a sigh, turning to face the boy.

He instinctively scowled. "You know Azira began, voice silky and low against the wind. "If you're going to glare so much, you could at least try to be subtle about it."

"What's there to be subtle about? You're Fire Nation." Sokka insisted, crossing his arms.

Katara and Aang just exchanged the same weary glance. Here we go again.

"Im a wa-ter-bend-er." Azira corrected, emphasizing her syllables. "I didn't choose to be born in the Fire Nation."

At that, Katara decided to pipe up. "How does a waterbender end up in the Fire Nation anyway?"

Finding all three sets of eyes on her, Azira just leaned back against Appa's saddle, holding onto the edges. "My grandmother, at the beginning of the war, she was taken. She escaped in the Fire Nation capitol and made a life

there."

"That must have been very hard" Katara said quietly. "I can't imagine."

Azira didn't have any sympathy in her blood for Hama. It was too difficult. She just forced a smile on her face. *Yes, I was. She had one child, my mother. My mother wasn't a waterbender. It skipped a generation. ButI have it. And I knew that I wanted to get out of there. So I took my chance.

"Well you betrayed your own country-" Sokka started.

"Just because I was born there does not mean that I agree with murdering innocents and wiping out the other nations." Azira said in a vehement tone, crossing her arms. Her stormy gaze burned into him and he finally tore his eyes away from her.

"Yeah whatever" Sokka mumbled, beginning to dig through the packs for some food. After a little while he came up empty. "Who ate all of my blubbered-seal jerky?" He questioned, looking around suspiciously.

"Oh Aang said awkwardly. That was food? Iused it to start the campfire last night. Sorry" He apologized, glancing up at Sokka.

"I'm sure we'll find food soon." Azira started.

"I don't need you telling me anything!" Sokka insisted.

Aang, ignoring their squabbling again, lit up at the sight of a mountain range. "Look! The Potala Mountain Range! We're almost there!" He exclaimed, excitement beginning to bubble through his system.

Azira narrowed her gaze at Katara and gestured at Aang with her head. Katara let out a sigh and turned to Aang. "Before we get there, I want to talk to you about the airbenders."

"What about them?"

"Well, just want you to be prepared for what you might see. The Fire Nation is ruthless. They killed my mother. They could have done the same to your people." Katara said in a soft tone.

"Just because no one has seen any airbenders doesn't mean that the Fire Nation killed them all. They probably escaped!"

"You dont understand Katara started in a helpless tone.

"The only way to get to an Air Temple is by flying bison and | doubt that the Fire Nation has any of those." Aang insisted.

He flicked the reins and they began soaring upwards. Azira clung to the saddle, eyes wide as they ascended above the clouds, going parallel to a mountain. Wind whipped wildly at her eyes until they summited the mountain.

Aang just grinned. "There it is! The Southern Air Temple!"

"Aang, it's amazing!" Katara said in surprise.

Azira had to agree with the girl. The Air Temple was beautiful, with carefully carved towers and light blue shelled accents surrounding it. Who knew that so much beauty could just be tucked away and hidden?

It didn't take them long to land, starting on the treacherous path to the Air Temple entrance. Aang was first, with Azira at his side. If there was one thing she was good at, it was protecting.

And she could protect him, if it came down to it. Who knows what kind of traps or things the Fire Nation had left lying around from their siege?

"So you're pretty good at the whole waterbending thing Aang started out his sentence, testing the waters around

Azira.

She gave a shrug as she walked, sword strapped to her back. "I mean, I suppose so."

"So couldn't you just teach me waterbending?" He questioned, gray eyes flicking to her curiously.

Azira bit down on her lip, thoughts shifting and turning in her mind. "I could teach you and Katara a few basics. But believe me, I'm not someone who should teach the avatar anything."

"You seem nice"

"Nice doesn't equate to being a master," Azira said carefully. "But I will do my utmost to protect you, Aang. I promise you that."

He just beamed at her. "I knew you had a good heart." She wasnt quite sure that she would agree.

Pointing ahead, Aang grinned. That's where my friends and I would play Air-Ball! And over there is where the Bison would sleep! And..this place used to be full of monks, lemurs, and bisons. Now there's just a bunch of weeds." Aang said glummy. "I just cant believe how much things have changed."

Katara and Sokka locked eyes. "So this Air-Ball game, how do you play?" Sokka piped up.

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"You cant protect him forever. He needs to know." Sokka insisted, looking at Katara.

"If he finds out that the Fire Nation invaded his home, he'll be devastated." Katara murmured.

"Would it be worse to let him find out on his own than coming from his friend?" Azira questioned, crossing her arms.

"Then you tell him!" Katara snapped.

"They're your people!" Sokka added pointedly.

Azira just stared between the two of them for a long time. "You know, your mother isn't the only mother who the Fire Nation took. You should remember that." She said, then turned, leaving them both speechless as she caught up to Aang.

Aang was staring at a statue, eyes full of light. "Who is this then?" Azra asked, appearing beside Aang.

"Everyone, this is Monk Gyatso! He taught me everything I know." Aang explained, pointing at the statue.

Aang seemed lost in a memory for a moment, eyes glazing over as he stared at Monk Gyatso's statue. "You must miss him very much." Katara murmured.

"Yeah.." He moved forward, eyes set on the interior of the temple.

"Where are you off to?" Azira questioned.

"The sanctuary! There's someone I'm ready to meet!"

Azira just looked at the others, eyebrows raised. Sometimes, this kid, even if he was the avatar, confused her. They followed him through the darkened corridors.

"But Aang, no one could have survived in there for over a hundred years." Katara pointed out, looking at the large door in front of them.

"It's not impossible. I survived in the iceberg for that long." Aang said.

"Something tells me that was a special case." Azira deadpanned.

"Whoever is in there might be able to help me figure out this whole avatar thing!" Aang insisted.

"Or they could have food." Sokka said, staring sadly at the door.

Azira didnt really blame him. They hadn't brought a lot of food on the journey anyway. Sokka pushed against the door, a frown on his face as the heavy wooden door did not move an inch.

"I don't suppose you have a key or something?" Azira questioned, turning to Aang, hand on her hip.

"No. I have airbending" Aang said, then raised his arms and gave an exhale. Wind rushed through the tunnel, pushing up through the tubes in the door, slowly unlocking itself.

Ever so slowly, the door creaked open. A grim feeling set in Azira's stomach. If she had to pick a place to have a last stand, it would've been in here. In their stronghold.

Aang started forward and Azira's eyes landed on-statues. Hundreds and hundreds of statues. "What.is this place?" Azira breathed out, the lifelike quality haunting her.

"Who are all these people?" Katara added.

"I'm not sure. But I feel like I know them somehow" Aang admitted. He stopped in front of one, surveying the airbending tattoos. "This one was an airbender"

"And this one's a waterbender!" Katara called.

"I think they're the avatars." Azira said, eyes landing on the closest avatar to the center. Avatar Roku. She had seen paintings of him, in the royal archives in the Fire Nation. But that had been a long time ago.

"Azira is right. They must be your past lives!" Katara exclaimed in recognition of the pattern.

"Oh don't tell me you really believe in that stuff, Katara." Sokka stated in annoyance.

"It's true! Katara insisted. "When the avatar dies, he's reincarnated into the next nation in the cycle." Her eyes flicked to Aang, who was now staring at the statue of Avatar Roku. "Who is that?"

"Avatar Roku." Azira answered.

"He was the avatar right before me." Aang added on

"You were a firebender before?" Sokka asked, disqust in his tone. "No wonder I didn't trust you when we first met"

Azira flicked the back of his head. "Roku tried to stop Fire Lord Sozin. Honestly, don't you know history?

"There's no writing. How do you know his name?" Katara questioned.

"l just know." Aang answered.

There was a rustling sound from behind them and they all locked eyes, diving behind two of the statues. Azira's hand went to her sword and she looked at Sokka, whose hand was on his boomerang.

Simultaneously, they gave a nod. The shadow grew larger and Azira's face contorted as she stared at it. There was no way that it was a-

"A lemur!" Aang exclaimed in excitement. He rushed the creature and it began clambering away.

Aang ran after it, Sokka close behind him. Azra and Katara just let out a deep sigh, following after them. "Boys." Azira murmured in annoyance.

"Tell me about it!" Katara said with a slight laugh.

They climbed down the hill, following after Aang and Sokka's trail. After a moment, the wind began to pick up and Azira's eyes landed on the epicenter of the miraculous storm: Aang.

Rushing forward, she hauled Sokka behind a rock. "What happened?" She bit out harshly.

"He found out Firebenders killed Gyatso!"

"It's his avatar spirit! The grief-it must've triggered this!" Katara said, mind racing. "I need to calm him down!"

"Well do it, before he blows us off the mountain!" Sokka yelled. His hand slipped off of the rock he was clinging to and Azira's arm shot out, clinging onto him. "Don't let go!"

"Not a chance!" Azira snapped in annoyance, shoving him forward and against the rock.

Katara slipped forward, eyes still on Aang. "Aang, lI know youre upset! And I know how hard it is to lose the people you love! I went through the same thing when I lost my mom! Monk Gyatso and the other airbenders may be gone, but you still have a family!" She insisted.

She glanced behind, at Azira and Sokka clinging to the rock, eyes wide at her. "Sokka, Azira, and 1? We're your family

now!" Katara called.

Slowly , Aang began to drop down from the sky, landing lightly on his feet. The wind died down and the group started forward. Sokka just smiled softly at the boy. "Katara and I aren't going to let anything happen to you. Promise. And.. neither will Azira."

"I meant what I said, kid." Azira added, shooting a grateful glance at Sokka.

Aang nearly collapsed against Katara, tears in his eyes. "Im sorry.

"it's okay Katara reassured him. "it wasn't your fault"

"But you're right. If the Firebenders found this temple, then that means that they found the other ones. I really am the last airbender." Aang whispered.

"Aang, I know that right now, it seems like there's not any hope. But you're here. And that means that a piece of them is with the world. You carry them in you. It's all you can do. Azira said, kneeling next to the boy. "You're not alone.

Aang just swallowed dryly. "We should go now."