As Katara, Sokka, and Azara discussed their supplies with the village leader, Aang attempted to sneak out on Appa behind them. "Get your big butt off the ground and let's go!" Aang yelled at Appa before tugging on his reins again. Appa, however, refused to budge.

"I think his big butt is trying to tell you something," Sokka commented as they walked over.

"Please don't go Aang. The world can't afford to lose you to the Fire Nation. Neither can I," Katara called softly as Aang looked away.

"But I have to talk to 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 airbended himself on top of Appa's head, leading him towards the edge of the village before Katara, Sokka, and Azara ran out in front of him.

"We're not letting you go into the Fire Nation, Aang," Katara stated firmly as Azara started to smile, standing up fully.

"At least, not without us."

"We got your back," Sokka added as Appa walked forwards, licking Sokka in appreciation. "Ew!" Sokka complained as he stared down at the saliva. They hurried to pack their supplies, thanking the villagers for the supplies, before taking off for Crescent Island. Azara sat at the front of the saddle, directing Aang on where to fly to reach Crescent Island.

"The Fire Nation border should be soon," Azara stated, glancing at the open ocean.

"How will we know?" Katara asked, looking up at Azara.

"Oh, you'll know. Can't miss it," Azara sighed, staring ahead at the open ocean.

"Aang, we've got trouble!" Katara called out, pointing at the Fire Nation ship behind them.

"Yeah! And it's gaining fast!" Sokka added as Azara ran to the back of the saddle, staring down at her brother's ship.

"Zuko wouldn't be dumb enough to return to the Fire Nation . . . right?" she questioned herself, knowing that Uncle was probably berating him as she thought. The sound of a fireball flying through the air broke Azara out of her thoughts.

"Fireball!"

"I'm on it!" Aang yelled back, pulling Appa to the side. The fireball flew by, dropping into the water harmlessly. The stench, however, stayed in the air.

"We have to get out of Zuko's range, before he shoots another hot stinker at us!" Katara warned, holding her nose.

"Can't you make Appa go any faster?" Sokka asked, moving up to the front of the saddle.

"Yeah. But there's one problem," Aang responded as Azara turned around, her eyes widening at the blockade protecting the Fire Nation.

"That would be the border," she pointed out, her stomach filling with dread at the sight of it. She hadn't been home since Zuko had been banished, and now she was returning as a traitor.

"If we fly north, we can go around the Fire Nation ships and avoid the blockade! It's the only way," Aang suggested, turning around. Azara shook her head.

"There's not enough time. We have to run it."

"This is exactly why I didn't want you to come! It's too dangerous!" Aang retorted, gripping Appa's reins harder.

"And that's exactly why we're here."

"Let's run this blockade!" Sokka stated, sounding confident despite the situation. Aang flicked Appa's reins once more, the flying bison increasing his speed. As they neared the blockade, the ships launched a series of fireballs into the air. Azara hurried to latch onto Appa's saddle as the flying bison bucked at the explosion in front of him.

"Why so much fire?" Sokka sighed as Azara shot a blast at a close fireball.

"Well, it is the Fire Nation," she replied as another volley of fireballs were launched into the air. Appa dodged several before bucking again as two fireballs collided in front of them. Azara look up as Sokka lost his balance, tumbling over the side. "Sokka!" Azara screamed, lurching forwards, and managing to grab onto his hand before he floated off. "I got you!" Azara yelled over the wind, but she spoke too soon.

Another fireball exploded close to Appa, causing the flying bison to twist again and Azara to lose her grip. Azara cried out as she was thrown to the other side of the saddle, Sokka's hand slipping out of her grasp. Azara looked up in horror as Sokka disappeared below the clouds. "Sokka!" 

Aang pulled Appa into a dive to catch Sokka. Flying underneath him, Katara reached up and pulled Sokka back into Appa's saddle as they skidded over the surface of the water. They continued to dodge the fireballs thrown at them, rising off the water to fly over the ships.

"Watch out!" Azara warned as another fireball was shot directly at them. Aang yelled out, jumping off Appa's head and sending a powerful air kick at the fireball. The fireball exploded around them as Aang fell back onto Appa, the group sailing over the blockade and into the Fire Nation.

"We made it!" Aang exclaimed, looking excited as Sokka and Katara grimaced.

"We got into the Fire Nation . . . great," Sokka stated, fear evident in his voice.

"Home sweet home," Azara replied sarcastically, looking back to see Zuko's ship pass through the blockade. Raising an eyebrow at the action, Azara turned to face the front, moving to direct Aang towards Crescent Island. A few hours passed before Azara could see the island in the distance. "There it is!"

"That's the island where Roku's dragon took me," Aang nodded, sitting up and directing Appa to land in a clearing below the temple. The four of them slid off Appa's back as the bison rolled over, clearly tired from the day. "You did it buddy. Nice flying," Aang smiled, rubbing Appa's side in appreciation.

"Aww, you definitely deserve a bushel of apples after this. You must be so tired," Azara cooed, rubbing Appa's head as he nudged her back in appreciation.

"I'm good, actually. Refreshed and ready to fight!" Sokka called from behind her, causing her to raise an eyebrow and turn around.

"I was talking to Appa," Azara replied, causing Sokka to stop his stretches.

"Well, I was talking to . . . Momo," Sokka lied, as Momo chittered next to him.

"The sun's setting. We have to hurry. And watch out for the Fire Sages," Azara stated, adjusting her metal vambraces and leading the group up the path to the temple.

"But I'm the Avatar, they'll protect the Avatar, right?" Aang asked as they reached the entrance to the temple.

"Not necessarily," Azara sighed as they ran inside.

"Wait, I think I heard something," Sokka whispered as the four of them spun around to face the five Fire Sages. Azara hurried into a defensive stance as Aang stared at the sages.

"We are the Fire Sages. Guardians of the temple of the Avatar," the Great Fire Sage explained as Azara narrowed her eyes.

"Great! I'm the Avatar!" Aang smiled, stepping forwards.

"We know," the Great Fire Sage drawled before the Fire Sages launched a volley of fire blasts at them. Azara jumped forwards and blocking and directing the fire blasts away. "And you have brought Princess Azara with you," the Great Fire Sage noted before Azara turned to her friends.

"Run!" Azara yelled, leading the way through the temple as Aang sent an air wave at the Fire Sages, knocking them off their feet.

"Do you know where you're going?" Sokka asked as Azara turned the corner, backing up when she spotted a Fire Sage in front of her.

"No, but I'm open to suggestions." Azara grunted as she sent several fire blasts at the sage before turning around and following after Aang.

"Come back!" the Fire Sage called, but the group ignored him. Aang turned a corner, leading the group into a dead end. Turning around, Azara raised her hands threateningly as the sage stepped in front of the hallway, blocking their escape.

"I don't want to fight you! I'm a friend," the Fire Sage spoke as Azara snarled.

"Right, well, that was a really warm welcome for friends back there," she snapped as the Fire Sage raised his hands to show he meant no harm. He walked forwards, lowering himself to the ground, and kneeling in front of Aang.

"I know why you're here, Avatar."

"You do?" Aang questioned, sounding surprised.

"Yes, you wish to speak to Avatar Roku. I can take you to him," the Fire Sage explained, standing up from the floor.

"How?" Azara inquired, lowering her hands. The Fire Sage walked to the lamp on the wall. Moving it to the side, he placed his hand over the hole and firebended, revealing a secret passageway.

"This way," the Fire Sage spoke, gesturing to the secret passage. The sound of the other Fire Sages caused the group to jump. "Time is running out! Quickly!" Azara nodded and lead the way into the passageway, the Fire Sage entering last and closing the door behind him.

"Thank you for your help," Azara sighed as the Fire Sage lead them through the lava catacombs below the temple. "It's nice to see there are friendly faces back home."

"There is more support for you in the Fire Nation than you would believe, Princess Azara," the Fire Sage smiled, causing Azara to smile back and nod in response.

"Thank you. And Azara is fine, really. I'm not much of a princess anymore. What's your name?" Azara asked as they continued to walk through the catacombs.

"Shyu," the Fire Sage nodded, before turning to Aang. "Avatar Roku once called this temple his home. He formed these secret passages out of the magma."

"Did you know Avatar Roku?" Aang questioned, walking alongside Azara.

"No. But my grandfather knew him. Many generations of Fire Sages guarded this Fire Temple long before me. We all have a strong spiritual connection to this place," Shyu explained as Azara stared in amazement at the catacombs.

"Is that how you knew I was coming?"

"A few weeks ago, an amazing thing occurred. The statue of Avatar Roku; its eyes began to glow!" Shyu revealed as Katara realized the significance.

"That's when we were at the Air Temple. Avatar Roku's eyes were glowing there, too!" she noted as Azara thought back to all of the statues lighting up as Aang reached the Avatar State.

"At that moment, we knew you had returned to this world," Shyu nodded, smiling at Aang.

"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 waited for the next Avatar to return. But he never came," Shyu sighed, turning around.

"They were waiting for me," Aang realized, looking at the ground in guilt.

"Hey don't feel bad. You're only a hundred years late!" Sokka joked as Aang scowled at him, Azara sending him a withering look of her own.

"They lost hope the Avatar would ever return. When Fire Lord Sozin began the war, my grandfather and the other sages were forced to follow him. I never wanted to serve the Fire Lord," Shyu continued, shaking his head.

"Join the club," Azara mumbled to herself.

"When I learned you were coming, I knew I would have to betray the other sages."

"Thank you for helping me," Aang smiled up at Shyu, who returned the smile. They reached a long series of stairs to the sanctuary.

"Once you're inside, wait for the light to hit Avatar Roku's statue. Only then will you be able to speak with him," Shyu instructed as they reach the top of the stairs.