Azara sat in between Sokka and Katara around a campfire as a storyteller rattled on about airbenders. "So, travelers. The next time you think you hear a strange, large bird talking, take a closer look. It might not be a giant parrot, but a flying man. A member of a secret group of air walkers, who laugh at gravity, and laugh at those bound to the earth by it!" the storyteller finished, standing up dramatically to end the story.

"Aren't airbender stories the greatest?" Aang asked as the storyteller shuffled around, holding out his cap for money.

"Was it realistic? Is that how it was back then?" Katara questioned, smiling at Aang.

"I laugh at gravity all the time," Aang waved off, chuckling to himself. "Gravity." Azara looked up as the storyteller stood in front of Sokka, jingling his hat as Sokka riffled through his coat pockets. Azara knew that they were nearly out of money, if they already weren't, as Sokka sheepishly pulled out a bug and a few crumbs from his pocket.

"Cheapskates," the storyteller huffed, before stomping away. Azara shivered as another gust of wind blew by, hugging herself to stay warm.

"You know for a firebender, I would think you would be . . . you know, warmer," Sokka joked as Azara shot him a look.

"Yeah, well, not when it's been freezing for days," Azara huffed as she shivered again. "Just because I'm a firebender doesn't mean I can miraculously stay warm for forever." 

Azara stared at the fire in front of her, trying to feel for any warmth from it. Feeling something heavy on her shoulders, Azara picked her head up to see an extra blanket on her back. She looked at Sokka with surprise at the action before pulling the blanket tighter around herself, smiling softly. "Thanks."

"I think you need it more than I do," Sokka replied as they shared a smile. Azara felt her cheeks tinge red as Aang ran back over from the storyteller.

"The guy said that he saw those people last week. Do you think that some airbenders actually survived?" Aang asked, hope filling his voice.

"There's only one way to find out," Katara nodded, as Sokka and Azara shared grim looks. If this were anything like the Southern Air Temple, it would be better to bypass the whole thing. 

The next morning, they awoke early and Aang directed Appa to fly towards the temple.

"We're almost to the Northern Air Temple. This is where they held the championships for Sky Bison Polo," Aang explained, looking ahead into the clouds.

"Do you think that we'll actually see real airbenders?" Katara asked, turning to her brother.

"Do you want me to be like you or totally honest?" Sokka scoffed as he carved a wooden stick. 

"Are you calling me a liar?" Katara snapped, causing Azara to sigh at the sibling bickering.

"I'm saying you're an optimist. Same thing," Sokka shrugged as Katara glared at him.

"Hey, guys! Look at this!" Aang shouted, pointing up at the Northern Air Temple. Azara gazed in amazement at the tall spires of the temple, the tallest of which was being continuously circle by several small specks.

"They really are airbenders," Katara gasped in surprise as they neared the temple. Azara could see Aang deflate, however, and shuffled over to him.

"Aren't those airbenders?" she asked quietly, but Aang shook his head.

"No, they're not."

"What do you mean they're not? They're flying!" Sokka pointed out, staring at the flying people. Azara could see the people flying around on gliders that were similar to Aang's own, but Aang continued to look disheartened.

"Gliding maybe, but not flying. You can tell by the way they move, they're not airbending. These people have no spirit," Aang sighed, upset at the reminder that he really was the last airbender. Azara placed a hand on his shoulder in comfort.

"I'm sorry, we don't have to check it out if you don't want to, Aang," she replied softly as a kid swooped low over Appa, his loud laughter echoing around them.

"I don't know, Aang, that kid looks pretty spirited," Katara smiled, pointing at the boy who had nearly hit them. Aang smirked and flew off on his glider while a bunch of the other gliders surrounded them. Appa roared as he narrowly missed one, causing Azara to tumble back into Sokka.

"We might want to land," Azara pointed out as Sokka helped her up. Shuffling to the front of Appa's saddle, Azara grabbed Appa's reins and directed him to land in the main courtyard of the Northern Air Temple. Safely on the ground, Azara watched alongside Katara and Sokka as Aang and the kid weaved through the sky, pulling off various tricks.

Aang and the kid, who several people at the temple seemed to refer to as Teo, continued to try to perform the better trick. Using his momentum from a large swing around, Aang ran along one of the walls of the temple before hopping back onto his glider. 

In response, Teo created a smoke outline of Aang's unimpressed face in the sky, causing the residents of the temple to cheer and Azara to hide a chuckle behind her hand. 

As Aang landed quietly next to them, the kid wheeled over, pulling up his goggles. "Hey, you're a real airbender. You must be the Avatar. That's amazing! I-I've heard stories about you!" he exclaimed, looking up at Aang with a sense of wonderment.

"Thanks," Aang replied bashfully, rubbing the back of his neck.

"Wow! This glider chair is incredible!" Sokka gushed, inspecting the craftsmanship.

"You think this is good, wait until you see the other stuff my dad designed," the kid, who introduced himself as Teo, smiled, before leading the group into the Northern Air Temple. 

Azara looked up at the network of pipes and machinery, the set up reminding her greatly of Fire Nation factories. Azara could feel Aang growing tenser as they continued through the temple. The farther they walked the more airbender artifacts and monuments were defaced by the machinery.

"My dad is the mastermind behind this whole place. Everything's powered by hot air. It even pumps hot air currents outside to give us a lift when we're gliding," Teo explained, looking proud of his father's accomplishments.

"This place is unbelievable," Aang muttered, monotone.

"Yeah, it's great isn't it?" Teo smiled, but Aang shook his head.

"No, just unbelievable," Aang replied, walking off to stand in front of a mural. Katara followed after him, leaving a hurt looking Teo behind them.

"He's just upset because he used to come here, a hundred years ago. He's just . . . shocked at the change. I'm sure it's so different," Azara sighed, looking over at Aang.

"So better!" Sokka called out, as Azara shot him a look, her arms crossed over her chest.

"Not. Helping," she hissed as Aang walked back over with Katara.

"Is there any part of the temple that are still the same as before?" Katara asked softly as Teo nodded, perking up as Aang returned. Aang looked relieved at the information, a small smile adorning his face. 

Teo led the group into a different part of the temple, a large room over a bridge with various statues around it. "It's nice to see that at least one part of the temple that isn't ruined," Aang sighed in content as they stared at the courtyard.

"Look out!" someone called out as a wrecking ball took out a wall, kicking up dust. Azara covered her head, coughing as the dust settled, revealing a couple of men on the other side of the wall. "What the doodle? Don't you kids know to stay away from construction sites? We have to make room for the bathhouse!" a man with oddly spaced eyebrows spoke, walking over.

"Do you know what you did? You just destroyed something sacred! For a stupid bath house!" Aang snapped, as Azara looked worriedly over at him. The last thing they wanted was for Aang to go into the Avatar State, and that possibility was looking more likely by the second.

"Well, people around here are starting to stink," the man shrugged, waving a hand over his nose.

"This whole place stinks!" Aang shouted, blasting one of the cranes off the side of the cliff. "This is a sacred temple! You can't treat it this way! I've seen it when the monks were here! I know what it's supposed to look like!"

"The monks? But . . . you're twelve," the man pointed out, looking confused.

"Dad, he's the Avatar. He used to come here a hundred years ago," Teo explained, wheeling over.

"What are you doing? Who gave you the right to be here?" Aang demanded, stepping forwards threateningly.

"A long time ago, but not a hundred years, my people became refugees after a terrible flood. My son, Teo, was badly hurt and lost his mother. I needed somewhere to rebuild, and I stumbled along this place. Couldn't believe it! Everywhere! Pictures of flying people! But, empty, nobody home. Then, I came across these fan-like contraptions," the Mechanist rattled on, acting out the sequence of events.

"Our gliders," Aang deduced, gripping his own tightly.

"Yes! Little, light flying machines! They gave me an idea. Build a new life for my son, in the air! Then everyone will be on equal ground, so to speak! We're just in the process of improving upon what's already here. And, after all, isn't that what nature does?" the Mechanist shrugged as Katara wiped her tears away on Aang's shirt.

Azara glanced over at Teo, who looked emotional himself at his father's story. Admittedly, she was moved by the fact that the Mechanist had gone through all the struggle and effort just for his son. Her own father was willing to sacrifice his children if it meant he secured further power for himself. Meanwhile, the Mechanist had built a whole new society for his son.

"Nature knows where to stop," Aang replied, causing the Mechanist to nod.

"I suppose that's true. Unfortunately, progress has a way of getting away from us. Look at the time!" the Mechanist yelled out, pointing at a candle with several markings. "Come, the pulley system must be oiled before dark!"

"Wait, how can you tell time from that thing? The notches all look the same," Sokka asked, walking over to inspect the candle.

"The candle with tell us. Watch," the Mechanist spoke as the candle popped four times.

"You put spark powder in the candle," Sokka deduced, staring a look of wonder with the Mechanist.

"And varied the amount by the time," Azara added, moving to stand next to Sokka. 

"Very good. Four flashes, so it's exactly four past mid-day. Or, as I call it: four o'candle," the Mechanist joked, causing Sokka to chuckle loudly.

"Great, now there's two of them," Azara thought to herself.

"If you like that, wait until you see my finger-safe knife sharpener," the Mechanist smiled, holding up his hand with fake fingers. "Only took me three tries to get it right." Azara and Sokka shared similarly horrified expressions as the Mechanist tossed Sokka his three fake fingers. 

"Follow me!" the Mechanist shouted, running off, Sokka behind him. Azara sighed and walked after them, telling Aang and Katara that she would catch up with them later.