A.N. So, here's the start of the end! As I said before, I kept the episodes of the finale separated into their own chapters, so this one is a bit long. Hope you enjoy it!

Aang practiced his firebending sets as Zuko and Azara observed from behind him. Azara watched with a stoic, analytical expression, but Zuko was far more expressive with his arms crossed over his chest and a deep frown on his face.

"More ferocious! Imagine striking through your opponent's heart!"

"I'm trying!" Aang snapped, turning around, before resuming his form.

"Now let me hear you roar like a tigerdillo!" Zuko ordered. Aang tried to roar, small bursts of flames leaving his hands and his mouth. Azara winced at the display as Zuko growled in annoyance. "That sounded pathetic! I said roar!" Aang roared again, releasing bigger flames, and scaring Momo.

Azara picked Momo up and rubbed his head affectionately as Zuko nodded approvingly at Aang's display. Before Azara or Zuko could say another set for Aang to practice, Katara called out to them, holding up two watermelons.

"Who wants a nice cool glass of watermelon juice?"

"Ooh, ooh! Me, me, me!" Aang replied, running over to grab one. However, before he could make it very far, he was grabbed from behind by Zuko, who lifted him up off the ground.

"Hey! Your lesson's not over yet! Get back here!" Zuko snapped, holding him up by his shirt.

"Come on, Zuko, just take a break. What's the big deal?" Suki asked, shrugging from the stairs.

"Fine! If you want to lounge around like a bunch of snail sloths all day, then go ahead!" Zuko huffed before storming away.

Sighing, Azara released Momo, before turning to follow her brother. "I'll go talk to him," she offered to the group, before trailing after her brother. Finding him pacing by the side of the house, Azara crossed her arms over her chest. "What's got you all twisted up now?"

"How can you all act like nothing's going on!?" Zuko shouted, causing Azara to purse her lips together.

"Sometimes we just want to be kids, Zuko. Besides, Aang doesn't really do well with a lot of stress on him. Trust me, you weren't around to see his first few earthbending lessons with Toph."

"You're all driving me crazy!" Zuko shouted before storming off again. "And don't follow me this time!"

Azara rolled her eyes before returning to the house to change for the beach. She grabbed a towel before heading down to the shore, smiling at the calmer situation on the sand. Katara and Kesuk were surfboarding in the waves, trying to create bigger waves with their waterbending together. Azara spotted Aang and Toph standing by their sand sculptures. Sokka seemed to be making one of his own.

"Oh good, you're here!" Sokka called, turning to Azara with a bright smile. "Look, ta da!" He stepped to the side, showing off an odd-looking sculpture with seaweed hair, starfish nose, and shells for a mouth.

"Is that a blubbering blob monster?" Aang joked, walking over to inspect Sokka's sculpture.

"No, it's Azara!" Sokka yelled back defensively.

Aang and Toph looked shocked before bursting out into laughter. "Azara, we'll all completely understand if you break up with him over this," Toph chuckled, but Azara merely smiled at her boyfriend.

"I think it looks great, Cactus Brain," Azara winked as Sokka ran over and engulfed her in a hug, pressing several kisses to her face. "Sokka!" she laughed, pushing him off her lightly.

"But it doesn't even look like—" Aang started to argue before he was cut off by a fire blast. Aang covered his head as the sand and debris from Sokka's sculpture fell all around him. Zuko jumped down from the ledge and started to chase after Aang.

"Zuko! What are you doing!?" Azara shouted, running after her brother. Aang hid behind his Appa sculpture, glaring over at Zuko.

"Teaching him a lesson!"

Zuko destroyed the Appa sculpture with another fire blast before chasing Aang up to the house. "Zuko! Stop it!" Azara snapped, running after them, albeit a few steps back. Aang jumped up onto the roof, but Zuko followed him. The two boys continued their battle inside the house, though the sound of yelling and smashing furniture could be heard outside.

As Azara reached the house, Aang blasted Zuko out of the house with his airbending, causing the Fire Prince to fall at his sister's feet. "What is wrong with you!?" Azara huffed, yanking him up by his collar. "You could have seriously hurt someone! You nearly took out Aang!"

"What's wrong with me?" Zuko snipped, knocking Azara's hand away from him. "What's wrong with all of you? How can you sit around having beach parties when Sozin's Comet is only three days away!?" Everyone stared at him blankly for a moment as Zuko whirled around. "Why are you all looking at me like I'm crazy!?"

"About Sozin's Comet . . . I was actually going to wait to fight the Fire Lord until after it came," Aang explained sheepishly, causing Zuko's eyes to widen in shock.

"After?"

"I'm not ready. I need more time to master firebending."

"And frankly, your earthbending could still use some work too," Toph added, causing Aang to grimace.

"So, you all knew Aang was going to wait?" Zuko asked, looking around the group, who nodded in response.

"Honestly, if Aang tries to fight the Fire Lord now, he's going to lose," Sokka replied. Azara frowned and elbowed him in the side. "No offense," he added sheepishly, looking over at Aang.

"The whole point of fighting the Fire Lord before the Comet was to stop the Fire Nation from winning the war, but they pretty much won the war when they took Ba Sing Se. Things can't get any worse," Katara argued, standing beside Aang.

"You're wrong. It's about to get even more worse than you could have imagined," Zuko warned as everyone's eyes widened.

"What do you mean?" Azara asked, taking a step forward.

"The day before the eclipse, my father asked me to attend an important war meeting. It was what I dreamed about for so many years. My father had finally accepted me back. During the meeting, they were discussing what to do to finally take complete control of the Earth Kingdom. They're going to use Sozin's Comet to burn the Earth Kingdom to the ground from their airships."

The group of teenagers looked horrified at Zuko's words. Zuko looked down for a moment, thinking back to the meeting. "I wanted to speak out against this horrifying plan, but I'm ashamed to say I didn't. My whole life, I struggled to gain my father's love and acceptance, but once I had it, I realized I'd lost myself getting there. I'd forgotten who I was."

"How did this not come up in conversation before?" Azara groaned, holding her head in her hands. "This is crazy. Even for the Fire Nation."

"I can't believe this," Katara whispered out, sinking to her knees.

"I always knew the Fire Lord was a bad guy, but this plan is just pure evil," Sokka replied, placing a hand on Azara's shoulder.

"What am I going to do?" Aang wondered, starting to pace.

"I know you're scared, and I know you're not ready to save the world, but if you don't defeat the Fire Lord before the Comet comes, there won't be a world to save anymore," Zuko stated firmly, staring over at Aang.

"Why didn't you tell me about your dad's crazy plan sooner!?" Aang demanded, storming away from Zuko.

"I didn't think I had to. I assumed you were still going to fight him before the Comet. No one told me you decided to wait!"

Aang stood with his head in his hands before sinking to his knees. "This is bad. This is really, really bad."

"Aang, you don't have to do this alone," Katara reminded him, walking over.

"Yeah, if we all fight the Fire Lord together, we got a shot at taking him down," Toph agreed, crossing her arms over her chest.

"All right! Team Avatar is back!" Sokka shouted before turning to the group. "Air! Water! Earth! Fire! Fan and sword!" Sokka listed off, pointing at the different benders in the group, before handing Suki a bunch of leaves, and holding up a long leaf of his own.

"Fighting the Fire Lord is going to be the hardest thing we've ever done together, but I wouldn't want to do it any other way," Aang stated, causing everyone to smile and nod. Everyone quickly joined Aang for a group hug, save for Zuko, who hung back.

"Yeah."

"All right."

"Come on, Zuzu. Being part of this group also means being part of group hugs," Azara called in a sing-song voice. Zuko sighed before begrudgingly joining in the hug. Appa chose that moment to fly over, knocking the entire group to the floor.

Once the team had decided to break up to plan out their next steps, Zuko took Aang and Azara aside to discuss another firebending technique. "There's one technique you need to know before facing my father—how to redirect lightning," Zuko told Aang, who smiled at his statement.

"Redirect lightning?" Azara asked, crossing her arms over her chest. "Where did you come up with that one?"

"Uncle showed me," Zuko explained, causing Azara to nod instantly. "If you let the energy in your own body flow, the lightning will follow it. You turn your opponents' energy against them." Zuko demonstrated the movement with his arms and Aang quickly jumped in to copy him.

"That's like waterbending," Aang noted as he followed along Zuko's movement.

"Exactly. My uncle invented this technique himself by studying waterbenders," Zuko replied, as he moved his arms back and forth.

"So, have you ever redirected lightning before?" Aang asked Zuko. The firebender nodded before straightening up.

"Once, against my father."

"Wait, what?" Azara cut in, looking surprised at Zuko's comment.

"What did it feel like?"

"Exhilarating . . . but terrifying. You feel so powerful holding that much energy in your body, but you know if you make the wrong move, it's over," Zuko replied solemnly. Azara looked over at Aang nervously.

"Well, not over over. I mean, there's always Katara and a little Spirit Water action, am I right?" Aang asked Katara, who was sitting on the steps of the courtyard.

"Actually, I used it all up after Azula shot you."

"Oh."

"You'll have to take the Fire Lord's life before he takes yours," Zuko told Aang, who looked away at his words.

"Yeah, I'll just do that," Aang mumbled, staring at the floor.

"You really redirected Father's lightning back at him?" Azara asked, trying to cut through the tension in the air.

"Yeah, right after the eclipse," Zuko replied, straightening up.

"I wish I was there to see the look on his face," Azara commented, a small smirk tugging at her lips. "About time he got a taste of his own medicine."

That afternoon, Sokka had planned out a new training exercise for the team. They went to a more deserted hill not far from the house that would allow them to actually train and prepare for their mission without anyone noticing.

"Gather round, Team Avatar. In order to take out the Fire Lord—or in this case, the Melon Lord—our timing has to be perfect." Sokka picked up a stick to draw out the plans. "First, Suki, Kesuk, and I will draw his fire. Then, Katara, Azara, and Zuko charge in with some liquid-y hot offense, and while the Melon Lord is distracted, Aang swoops in . . . and bam! He delivers the final blow."

"Uh . . . what about me?" Toph asked, her arms crossed over her chest.

"For now, you're the Melon Lord's forces," Sokka stated, straightening up.

"So, I get to chuck flaming rocks at all of you?" she clarified, a smirk creeping up her lips.

"Whatever makes the training feel more realistic." Azara noticed the look on Toph's face and winced.

"Sweetness."

"Just don't crush anyone, Toph. Please," she spoke, slightly concerned about everyone's safety.

"Don't worry. If you dodge properly, you won't get crushed." Toph waved off Azara's concern before vaulting up to the top of the mountain.

"She's going to crush us . . . isn't she?" Kesuk asked, watching Toph get in position at the top of the hill.

The group broke up into their separate teams and took their positions. Sokka, Suki, and Kesuk hid behind boulders on the left face of the hill while Azara, Zuko, and Katara knelt below a rocky outcrop on the right side of the hill. Aang was by himself, in position to strike the final blow.

"Mwah-ha-ha-ha!" Toph laughed, holding her arms up in the air.

Sokka signaled to the other teams start the offensive, beginning the drill. Azara ran in between Katara and Zuko as they charged up the hill. Toph released her first set of fire-covered boulders at the teams. Azara, Zuko, and Katara managed to dodge theirs before continuing with the drill.

"Watch it, Toph!" Azara could hear Sokka yelling from his side of the hill.

"I am not Toph! I am Melon Lord! Mwah-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!"

Azara ran to dodge another fire boulder with Zuko and Katara when they were suddenly surrounded by rock Fire Nation soldiers. Working together, they quickly destroyed them with their respective bending techniques before moving forward with their portion of the plan.

"Now, Aang!" Sokka called as the groups advanced.

Azara spotted Aang jumping down, ready to strike the Melon Lord with his staff, when he suddenly stopped. Aang held his staff a few inches away from the Melon Lord's head, before stepping back, and lowering his staff to his side.

"What are you waiting for? Take him out!" Zuko snapped as they reached the summit.

"I can't," Aang sighed, shaking his head.

"What is wrong with you!? If this was the real deal, you'd be shot full of lightning right now!" Sokka added, storming over to Aang and the Melon Lord.

"I'm sorry, but it just didn't feel right. I didn't feel like myself," Aang stated, looking away.

Without a word, Sokka pulled out his sword and sliced the Melon Lord in half with one clean strike. Azara watched Aang wince as the melon dropped to the ground. Momo jumped forward, already eating the melon pieces that had fallen down.

"There, that's how it's done," Sokka snapped with a sense of finality, sheathing his sword, before storming off. Aang watched him walk away with a guilty expression.

Azara stepped forward, squeezing Aang's shoulder reassuringly, before following after Sokka. He hadn't gone far, pacing in a circle at the base of the hill. Walking over to him, Azara reached out, and grabbed his shoulder, stopping his pacing.

"Are you okay?" she asked softly, turning Sokka to face her.

"I'm just . . . I'm so frustrated!" Sokka huffed, beginning his pacing again. "How can he not understand what has to be done?"

"Sokka, I think he understands what has to be done," Azara replied carefully, not wanting to stress Sokka out more.

"Then why can't he do it! If he can't even smash a melon, how's he ever going to actually go through with it?" Sokka demanded as Azara sighed.

"Sokka, he's just a kid. A kid whose culture is founded on the principle of nonviolence. That all life is sacred. Asking him to kill someone, even someone as vile as the Fire Lord, it's . . ."

"It's what?"

"Wrong," Azara spoke finally, causing Sokka to sigh.

"Maybe it is, but we don't have another choice. He doesn't have another choice," Sokka stated, pointing up the hill where the rest of the team were gathered. "War doesn't give you extra options just because your morals go against the mission. Sometimes you just have to do what has to be done."

"I know." Azara paused for a moment, staring with concern at her boyfriend. "But maybe there's another way."

"What are you suggesting?"

"I don't know, really. But maybe if we could somehow unlock the Avatar State, then Aang can figure something out and we solve all of our problems."

"And how are we going to do that?" Sokka asked, looking confused. Azara thought over an idea in her mind before straightening up.

When they returned to the beach house, Azara pulled Aang aside in the courtyard. "How are you doing?" she questioned softly. Aang sighed, lowering his head.

"I'm conflicted. Very conflicted."

"I don't blame you for feeling that way," Azara assured Aang, who looked up at her with surprise at her words.

"You don't?"

"No, I don't. I understand . . . not wanting to go through with it."

"Really?" Aang inquired, raising an eyebrow. "I would have thought that you of all people who agree with Sokka and want me to go through with it."

"Believe me, I want the Fire Lord gone," Azara spoke firmly, frowning for a moment, before turning back to Aang. "But I don't . . . I don't blame you for not wanting to be the one who has to do it."

"Can I ask why?" Aang asked. Azara sighed, lowering her head slightly.

"Because I tried to . . . and I couldn't go through with it."

"You tried to . . ." Aang trailed off, pausing as he stared up at Azara with shock. She nodded slowly, looking away.

"It's why he brainwashed me with the Dai Li. Probably thought that if I wanted to play assassin, he'd make me be an assassin for his purposes."

"Why couldn't you . . . what stopped you?"

"I don't know exactly, but I . . . I just knew that no matter how much I hated him for what he did, is doing . . . I couldn't go through with it. The whole thing felt . . . wrong." Azara sighed, glancing back at Aang. "If you think of a way to end this war without killing Ozai, I'll be the first one to support you."

"You have any ideas?" Aang asked, looking over at Azara. "Maybe some Sun Spirit sacred wisdom to offer me?"

"I might have one," Azara admitted, though she looked nervous. "It's not exactly a fully formed idea and I haven't really even tested out the full capabilities of my abilities, but . . . maybe I could help you open your seventh chakra. Or clear whatever blockage is preventing you from going into the Avatar State."

"Really? How would you do that?" Aang questioned, looking slightly amazed. "I've tried so many times, but it just won't open."

"After I unlocked my abilities, I was able to sense and clear Zuko's chi paths. I was even able to reverse my chi blocking on his arm," Azara explained, causing Aang's eyes to widen in shock.

"So, you think you can do what you did for Zuko with my chakra?"

"It's worth a try," Azara replied with a shrug. "Unless of course, you don't want—"

"—No, no. I'm willing to try anything at this point," Aang assured Azara.

Azara stepped forward, placing one thumb in the middle of Aang's forehead and the other in the center of his chest. Aang closed his eyes, going into a semi-meditative state, as Azara began to concentrate. Taking a deep breath, Azara exhaled and reached out with her inner fire. She could sense Aang's chi paths and began to search for the blockage.

Finding the blockage at the base of Aang's spine, Azara released another breath. She pushed gently with her inner fire, gently nudging against the blockage. Aang tensed as she worked, but he didn't push her away or tell her to stop, so she kept pushing forward. She could feel some of the blockage clearing the more she worked.

"I'm starting to—"

Azara was cut off by a surge of energy. She let out a startled scream as both she and Aang felt like they had taken a bolt of lightning to the back. Letting out a gasp before promptly passing out, Azara dropped to the ground immediately. Aang swayed on his feet for a moment before landing on his stomach, face down in the dirt.

The rest of the group quickly ran over, screaming for the two of them. Katara grabbed Aang and rolled him over, quickly bending water out of her pouch to see if anything was the matter. Sokka slid beside Azara, rolling her over, as Zuko hurried to check her over for any injuries. Toph stood in between the group, feeling out for Aang and Azara's heartbeats.

Aang was the first to come to, groaning as he tried to sit up slowly. Katara pushed him back down, a concerned look on her face. "What happened? Are you alright?" she asked quickly. Aang blinked at her, thinking back to what had just happened.

"Azara tried to unlock my Avatar State," Aang replied, still sounding a little out of it.

"Then what happened!?" Zuko demanded as Azara was still passed out in Sokka's arms. "What happened to my sister!?"

Sokka cradled Azara to his chest, his eyes clenched as he fought back the memories of the Spirit Oasis. She was breathing, he reminded himself. She was breathing and she had a strong heartbeat. She was just knocked out. She wasn't dying. She couldn't be dying.

"It brought me back to the Catacombs. The lightning," Aang explained, rubbing his back where the scar still had a residual sting to it.

Azara groaned suddenly in Sokka's arms. Her eyes opening slowly as she slowly regained consciousness. "Azara? Can you hear me? Are you hurt?" Sokka rattled off, clearly concerned for his girlfriend.

"I'm okay," Azara assured him, though she still seemed weak.

"Don't you ever scare me like that again," Sokka growled out, hugging her to his chest tightly.

"I'm sorry," she mumbled against his shirt. "I thought I could . . . I could fix it."

"There is no other way," Zuko stated, getting to his feet, and shooting disapproving looks at Azara and Aang. "Aang has to go through with it. There's no other way."

After Katara had checked Aang and Azara over with her healing water, the group settled in for the night. Aang was back to his normal self, though Azara still felt exhausted. The group hung around on the courtyard steps, chatting, when Katara walked over, holding a scroll in her hands.

"I have a surprise for everyone!"

"I knew it! You did have a secret thing with Haru!" Toph yelled, pointing at Katara. Everyone else looked at Toph in surprise as Katara raised an eyebrow.

"Uh, no. I was looking for cooking pots in the attic, and I found this!" Katara revealed a scroll with a painting of a baby playing at the beach. "Look at baby Zuko. Isn't he cute?" Recognizing the scroll, Azara looked away as everyone else laughed. "Oh, lighten up, Zuko. I'm just teasing."

"That's not him," Azara stated, causing the group to pause in their teasing laughter.

"That's our father," Zuko revealed, staring over at the poster.

"But he looks so sweet and innocent," Suki pointed out. Azara glared down at the ground.

"Well, that sweet little kid grew up to be a monster, and the worst father in the history of fathers," Zuko retorted, sounding frustrated.

"I think that's putting it lightly," Azara muttered dryly, glancing up at the scroll.

"But he's still a human being," Aang argued, walking over to the group.

"You're going to defend him?"

"No, I agree with you. Fire Lord Ozai is a horrible person, and the world would probably be better off without him, but there's got to be another way," Aang insisted, staring down Zuko.

"Like what?"

"I don't know. Maybe we can make some big pots of glue, and then I can use gluebending to stick his arms and legs together so he can't bend anymore," Aang suggested, perking up a little at his newest idea.

"Yeah, then you can show him his baby pictures, and all those happy memories will make him good again," Zuko scoffed sarcastically, earning a few laughs. Azara glared over at her brother.

"Do you really think that would work?" Aang asked, looking excited.

"No!"

"Zuko, don't yell at him!" Azara snapped to Aang's defense.

"You're taking his side?" Zuko huffed, rounding on his sister. "You of all people should understand—"

"—I completely understand!" Azara yelled back. "And even though I want the Fire Lord gone, that doesn't mean that I get to project that onto Aang!"

"This goes against everything I learned from the monks. I can't just go around wiping out people I don't like," Aang spoke up, holding his head in his hands.

"Sure, you can. You're the Avatar. If it's in the name of keeping balance, I'm pretty sure the universe will forgive you," Sokka tried to joke, but it only pissed Aang and Azara off more.

"This isn't a joke, Sokka! None of you understand the position I'm in!"

"Aang, we do understand. It's just—"

"—Just what, Katara? What?"

"We're trying to help!" Katara huffed, shooting a look at the airbender.

"Then, when you figure out a way for me to beat the Fire Lord without taking his life, I'd love to hear it!" Aang snapped, before storming away from the group.

"Aang, don't walk away from this!" Katara called, about to follow him, when Zuko stopped her.

"Let him go. He needs time to sort it out by himself."

"You're seriously on Aang's side?" Sokka asked Azara, turning to his girlfriend. "Azara, he—"

"—I know exactly what the situation is, Sokka," Azara replied in a rough tone.

"Then why don't you want Aang to finish the job?" Zuko demanded, glaring at his sister.

"Because we shouldn't be demanding that a kid commits murder! Even if it is against the Fire Lord! That's so messed up!"

"But Aang's the Avatar—"

"—And I hate my father with every fiber in my being and I still couldn't kill him when I had the chance!" Azara snapped, causing the group to fall silent again.

"Wait, what are you talking about?" Katara questioned, looking confused.

"Forget it," Azara mumbled, getting up, and heading inside the house.

She stood out on the small balcony off her childhood bedroom. Leaning on the railing, she stared up at the moon as the night breeze fluttered through her short locks. A knock came from the door, but Azara just ignored it. She could hear the door opening behind her, but she kept her place on the balcony, staring up at the moon. Sokka walked over silently, standing beside her. He glanced at her with concern, but Azara merely turned her gaze to the ground.

"Did Zuko tell you?"

"He did," Sokka confirmed, resting his arms on the railing.

"Well, what did you think about it?" Azara asked, turning to her boyfriend. "About me almost . . . you know."

"I don't blame you, if that's what you think I'm going to say," Sokka replied calmly as Azara turned back to the moon. "That man has put you through more than enough shit to warrant a knife to the chest."

"Then you think I'm weak?" Azara sighed, lowering her head again.

"No. I don't think anyone would ever be able to call you weak," Sokka spoke, placing a hand on her shoulder.

"You sliced through the Melon Lord without a single blink. No hesitation. I should be able to do that . . . but yet I'm not," Azara replied, turning back to Sokka, who nodded slowly.

"You know . . . I don't actually want to kill anyone," Sokka started before looking down. "But . . . if it's what has to be done, for all of this to finally be over . . . then it's what has to be done."

"I know," Azara sighed, staring back up at the moon. They stood in silence for a moment before Azara closed her eyes for a moment. "Sometimes it's hard to believe that so many generations of adults screwed up to the point where the fate of the world rests on the shoulders of a couple of teenagers."

"It's definitely a scary thought," Sokka agreed, leaning on the railing.

After a moment, Azara opened her eyes, and turned back to Sokka. "I should have told you guys . . . about the incident . . . a while ago."

"You don't have to apologize for anything," Sokka assured her, grabbing her hand, and squeezing it. "It's been a crazy couple of weeks."

"Yeah, it has. We've barely even had any time to ourselves," Azara mumbled out, glancing up at Sokka, who smiled softly. "And it's only about to get crazier, isn't it?"

"Well, we have tonight," Sokka offered, straightening up.

"Yeah, we do," Azara agreed, a bittersweet smile on her lips.

Pushing off the railings, she grabbed Sokka's hand properly, before leading him back into her room. She turned around to shut the doors to the balcony but paused as she stared up at the moon for a second. Sighing to herself, Azara shut the doors.

The next morning, the group prepared to head out for their final mission. "Okay, that's everything," Sokka noted, walking over to Appa, who had already been saddled up with their supplies.

"No, it's not. Where's Aang?" Toph pointed out, standing next to Appa.

The group fanned out around the beach house, searching frantically for the Avatar, but there was still no sign of Aang anywhere. Regrouping outside the house on the steps to the beach house, the group looked up as Sokka walked over with Aang's staff.

"He left his staff. That's so strange."

"Aang's not in the house. Let's check the beach," Zuko directed, leading the way down to the sandy shores of Ember Island.

As they walked down to the beach, Sokka was the first to spot Aang's footprints leading from the house down to the water. "Look, there's his footprints! The trail ends here," Sokka stated, standing at the water's edge.

"So, he went for a midnight swim and never came back?"

"Maybe he was captured," Katara replied, looking concerned for Aang.

"I don't think so. There's no sign of a struggle," Sokka argued, examining the footprints more closely.

"I bet he ran away again," Toph sighed, her arms crossed over his chest.

"Uh-uh, he left behind his glider and Appa."

"Then what do you think happened to him, oh sleuth-y one?" Toph asked Sokka sarcastically.

"It's pretty obvious. Aang mysteriously disappears before an important battle? He's definitely on a Spirit World journey," Sokka deduced, standing up straighter.

"No, he's not. If he was, his body would still be around here somewhere," Azara pointed out, placing her hands on her hips.

"Oh, yeah. Forgot about that."

"Then he's got to be somewhere on Ember Island. Let's split up and look for him," Katara suggested, causing Toph to run and latch onto Zuko. The older boy blushed at the action, staring at the earthbender with surprise. If the situation had not been so serious, Azara would have laughed.

"I'm going with Zuko!" The group stared at her in silence as Zuko continued to blush. "What!? Everyone else went on a life-changing field trip with Zuko. Now it's my turn."

They split up into teams. Zuko and Toph continued to comb the beach while Kesuk, Katara, and Suki headed into town to see if they could find Aang. Sokka and Azara rode Appa around the island, trying to use the higher angle to see if they could spot the missing airbender.

"I don't see any sign of him," she told Sokka after they had completed their third circle of the island.

"Let's head back." Sokka landed Appa outside of the beach house. Everyone else was waiting for them on the stairs, wearing rather dejected expressions. "Judging by the looks on your faces, I'm guessing you guys didn't find Aang either."

"No. It's like he just . . . disappeared," Zuko sighed as Azara and Sokka slid off of Appa.

"Hey, wait a minute. Has anyone noticed that Momo is missing too?" Toph asked, picking up her head.

"Oh no!" Sokka gasped, turning back to Appa. "I knew it was only a matter of time! Appa ate Momo!" Sokka jumped down to Appa, opening his mouth as the sky bison rested his eyes. "Momo, I'm coming for you, buddy!" Sokka yelled, looking around Appa's mouth.

"Sokka, Appa didn't eat Momo," Azara sighed, shaking her head at her boyfriend.

"He's probably with Aang," Katara added, resting her head on her hand.

"That's just what Appa wants you to think!" Sokka shot back before climbing into Appa's mouth.

"Get out of the bison's mouth, Sokka! We have a real problem here. Aang is nowhere to be found and the Comet is only two days away," Zuko reminded the group, frowning slightly.

"What should we do Zuko?" Katara asked, turning to stare up at Zuko.

"I don't know." Noticing everyone staring at him expectantly, Zuko stood up from his position on the stairs. "Why are you all looking at me?"

"Well, you are kind of the expert on tracking Aang," Azara pointed out, shooting her older brother a look.

"Yeah, if anyone's got experience hunting the Avatar, it's you," Toph agreed, nodding along.

Zuko seemed to be thinking something over in his head before ordering everyone onto Appa. He climbed up onto Appa last, taking the reins, before directing Appa to fly in the direction of the Earth Kingdom. Sokka, usually the group's navigator, noticed Zuko's course and leaned forward.

"Zuko, I don't want to tell you how to do your job, but why are we heading towards the Earth Kingdom? There's no way Aang's there," Sokka spoke as Zuko stared ahead.

"Just trust me," Zuko replied elusively, clearly determined.

After a few hours of flying, Zuko directed Appa to land outside of a rather rowdy-looking Earth Kingdom tavern. Zuko led the way inside the building, the rest of the group following behind him with confused looks on their faces.

"And the reason you've brought us to a seedy Earth Kingdom tavern is what now?" Katara asked, looking unamused.

"June," Zuko replied, pointing towards the bounty hunter in question. June got up from her seat, easily outmaneuvering the various thugs that tried to put their hands on her, all while keeping her drink from spilling over the floor.

"Oh yeah, that weird bounty hunter with the giant mole," Sokka nodded, thinking back to their adventures at the abbey.

"Mole? Her skin is flawless," Suki pointed out, looking confused.

"It's a shirshu," Azara corrected, staring over at June.

"And it's the only animal that can track Aang's scent anywhere in the world. It's the one shot we have of finding him." June dodged another set of thugs before catching her drink easily with one hand and taking a sip from her cup.

"I don't know who this June lady is, but I like her," Toph voiced, a smirk on her face.

A.N. And here's the first episode of the finale!

That little bit between Aang and Azara where they passed out was to show that Azara isn't all powerful, and certainly not powerful enough to be meddling with the Avatar State even though she is the Dragon Princess. 

And also, to reaffirm Sokka's trauma related to the Spirit Oasis, since throughout the canon series he clearly still has a lot of baggage around losing Yue the way he did (that's rough buddy) so, he'd clearly still have trauma related to Azara's stunt too.

Thanks for reading, voting, and commenting as always!