Summary: The Last Firebender tells a gripping story that combines elements from alt-history with a Days of Future Past main character. Follow Aang on his journey as he meets distorted versions of his former friends and enemies, while also encountering some unfamiliar faces. Can he defeat the Great Chief and return to his own world? Read and find out! (Expect at least one chapter each month)
Link: https://m.fanfiction.net/s/13785140/1/
Word count:270k
Chapters:18
Book 1: Fire
Episode 1: The raven-haired girl
Act I.
It has been three years since Aang last journeyed to the Spirit World. Three years since he spoke to any of his past lives, three years since the war has ended. Or at least since people have stopped fighting.
And it's not like he hasn't tried, to communicate that is. As far as the war was concerned, he and his friends were nothing more than broken soldiers, running from the clutches of the Fire Nation, which has since taken over everything. Six months after Sozin's Comet arrived, the Navy conquered the Northern Water Tribe, the South had already been lost for years at this point. In these desperate times, whenever Aang had a moment, he meditated, trying to reach out to Roku, Kyoshi – anyone. Most of the time the group was able to stay in one place for a few months before escaping. This should be their last hideout. Their last chance. Aang's last chance.
KATARA: How is he doing?
Katara's arms are crossed, her face reeks of the exhaustion of the last few years. She flinches at the explosions outside the temple.
ZUKO: It's the only chance we got. We have to trust him.
Zuko puts his hand on her shoulder in an effort to soothe her. A failed effort unfortunately. As the explosions and the shouting gets louder, more resistance members rush down the Air Temple hallway towards the battle.
Azula watches closely from above, like an eagle-hawk eyeing its prey, eagerly following the struggle below. Rows of Fire Nation soldiers and tanks roll towards the front entry of the Southern Air Temple. The fighting is vigorous, troops march onward, but at a high cost.
Azula is standing on the main platform of the flagship. It was recently re-decorated, with a golden dragon head on the very top, apart from being easily the largest one in the fleet. The admiral of the airship approaches her cautiously.
ADMIRAL: Your grace, we are advancing, but we are met with heavy resistance, much larger than we possibly expected-
AZULA: Not a problem. They are trapped. They came here to die.
The admiral pauses in awe.
ADMIRAL: Yes, but I'm afraid at this rate-
Azula turns around in anger.
AZULA: What?!
The admiral gulps.
ADMIRAL: I'm afraid at this rate our losses will far succeed what we calculated. Perhaps if we halt the advance-
AZULA: And let the rebels regroup? Perhaps we should provide them safe conduct as well while we're at it.
The admiral got the message. He bows, turns around and leaves. Azula stands there for a few more seconds, looking down at the battle in contempt.
AZULA: This is the last time you got away, Avatar.
Another explosion. The earth walls created by Toph and the other benders crumble into pieces as the tanks advance. Fire balls shoot at the main entrance, one of them hits Monk Gyatso's statue, destroying it in the process. Katara and Zuko exit the temple, ready to fight.
KATARA: This is it then.
ZUKO: We only have one chance...
Katara opens her water pouches.
KATARA: Please Aang...
Inside the temple sanctuary Aang sits in silence, meditating. His mind jumping all over the place.
For years Aang pushed the weight of the world off his shoulders. He wanted to be a kid, he wanted to grow up. He needed to grow up. He regrets it now. As he nervously scratches the hair on his scalp he tries to calm down, yet the more he hears the shouting, the explosions, the screams - the more he thinks about his friends in danger - the more he panics. His breathing intensifies. Momo anxiously crawls around him.
AANG: I should be out there... I should be helping them...
He can't take it anymore. He jumps up and, in a nervous breakdown, starts bending air and fire furiously in all directions. Momo hides behind one of the Avatar statues, some of them getting hit by Aang vicious outburst.
AANG: Please! Roku! Kyoshi! Anyone – I NEED HELP!
Another tank flipped over by Toph's masterful bending skill. Yet, as more Fire Nations soldiers advance, the more desperate it gets. Finally, a fire blast hits her in the shoulder, she falls down.
TOPH: OW!
KATARA: Toph!
Another fire blast is about to hit her, Zuko steps in and blocks it, retaliating and blasting the attacker away. Meanwhile Haru and Katara come to aid the blind girl.
TOPH: It's fine, don't mind me...
Katara covers her shoulder in a glowing water meant to heal her wound.
ZUKO: Katara, there's too many of them – we need to get back inside!
KATARA: We won't leave her out here, we don't know what Azula will do to-
TOPH: Katara!
Toph grabs her hand and pushes the glowing water away from the wound.
TOPH: I trust Aang. Please.
Katara tears up.
ZUKO: We need to get back inside.
HARU: I'll stay with Toph.
Zuko runs ahead. Katara hesitates.
ZUKO: Come on!
TOPH: Go on, I'll be alright.
Aang is nervously pacing up and down.
AANG: What was the point of any of this? Why did Roku even try to help me if he knew I would fail? Was I destined to fail?!
Momo looks at him curiously, wondering why the human is talking to himself.
AANG: And meanwhile I'm in here, unable to do the basic thing that any Avatar is able to do – when my friends are out there, maybe dying-
While unable to really calm down, he slowly runs out of steam. He halts and looks at the lemur to his left. He sighs.
AANG: What should I do Sabachi...
He plunges on to the ground and sits with his head lowered. He does this for a few seconds, when...
AANG: "Sabachi"?
Momo looks at him in confusion.
AANG: I meant Momo of course.
The lemur now reacts and climbs on his shoulder.
AANG: Who is Sabachi? Am I losing my mind?
Momo purrs at him and licks his face. Aang can hear more and more sounds of the raging battle. He takes a deep breath and gets up.
AANG: No. I can do this.
He assumes a fighting stance. Momo flies on to one of the higher shelves.
Inside the main hall Sokka and Suki are tirelessly fighting off Fire Nation soldiers. Many of the leftover volunteers of the resistance are bravely doing the same, yet, as a sheer endless number of soldiers enters, the resistance shrinks.
SOKKA: I don't know how much longer we can take this.
He cuts away a gout of flames with his sword, Suki jumps in to kick the attacker away.
SUKI: I trust Aang, but if he fails-
SOKKA: He won't fail.
Another flame blast hits, without bearing much success, as a sudden water flash extinguishes it. Zuko jumps in, pushing the soldier against a wall, Katara right behind him.
SOKKA: Where's Toph?
AZULA: Oh, don't worry, she will be fine.
Everyone flinches in fear and turns towards Azula, who has entered the hall with a flock of soldiers behind her. For a moment, the fighting stops.
AZULA: I was hoping to get a better challenge from the Avatar and his little resistance, yet all I'm seeing is a bunch of loser children.
Zuko and Katara exchange looks. Katara shakes her head.
SOKKA (quietly): Do it.
Katara tears up again.
A huge fire blast hits the few defenders remaining, the combined power of earth benders, Katara's water, and Zuko is able to partially block it. Zuko retaliates, slowing down the attackers, if only for a second.
ZUKO: GO!
Katara runs for it. Azula immediately catches on to the diversion, but Zuko manages to distract her for at least a little while longer.
Katara surfs on a stream water, not quite as elegant, but at least it is a quick way to navigate through the temple halls. She eventually reaches the correct hallway; the Temple Sanctuary is within her reach, until suddenly, flames hit her wave and she crashes on to the floor. Four soldiers have been able to follow approaching her with caution. Katara expects the worst, when a sudden gust of wind flings them all away. Appa lands in front of her and grunts happily. She pets his head.
KATARA: Aang is still in there. What is taking him so long?
Appa grunts in horror, as more flames shoot above him. He turns around, only for him and Katara to realize that the flames are blue.
AZULA: Finally. I bet your boyfriend is in there.
KATARA: You'll have to go through US to get him!
Azula shrugs.
AZULA: Very well.
With quick precision she shoots lighting directly at them. Katara and Appa both jump aside, the projectile hits its intended target – the Sanctuary's doors.
The bang of Azula's flash triggers a great many emotions in him. His vulnerability, his guilt. But there is no time left for that.
The lightning opened the door only by an inch, but enough for Aang to see a flash of what's outside. His eyes meet Katara's. With great determination, he sits down in a meditative stance. He takes a deep breath.
KATARA (from outside): Aang, you can do it!
And with tears in his eyes, the glowing finally returns to Aang's body.
Act II.
Aang opens his eyes again. He finds himself within the Sanctuary, yet something is off. The sounds of battle are gone.
AANG: Katara? Hello!?
His heart is beating out of his chest. He can't wait any longer and rushes towards the door, trying to burst it open with an air blast, unsuccessfully. He instead opts to crash against the door, pushing it open in the process. He looks outside and, instead of seeing the corridor, or Katara, he sees a wide, grassy field, spanning endlessly into the distance. He made it.
AANG: Finally. The Spirit World.
He steps outside and, for the first time in ages feels cozy, one might even say a little bit happy. He smells the fresh air as it breezes across his face.
AANG: I haven't been to the Spirit World since-
ROKU: Since you last used your powers in Ba Sing Se.
Aang looks to his right and suddenly sees Roku, his past life.
AANG: I swear, two seconds ago I looked, and you weren't there.
Roku laughs. Aang shares a smile with him.
ROKU: You haven't been in touch with your spiritual side lately, have you?
Aang's smile slowly disappears.
AANG: No...
Roku sighs.
ROKU: The injury Azula inflicted on you hasn't healed yet.
Aang reaches for the gaping scar on his back but flinches before touching it.
AANG: No. Katara tried everything, it's just-
ROKU: It's a wound that affects you in more than one way.
Aang feels how he is filling up with emotion.
AANG: I know! And I've tried to get rid of this spiritual blockade but...
He tears up.
AANG: I just CAN'T! The world is in shambles – it's more unbalanced than it has ever been before, and it's my fault!
He collapses on to his knees and starts sobbing. Roku unfolds his hands and kneels down in front of him.
ROKU: I know your pain Aang. I can feel it.
Aang clenches his fists, and his sorrow turns to anger.
AANG: No. You don't know what this feels like.
He gets up. Roku looks up in shock.
AANG: You don't know what it feels like to lose – you died before the war started – I am in it!
Aang turns around.
AANG: You don't know what it's like be a failure.
The soft breeze that was sweeping across the hills and fields just a moment ago turns into heavy wind; the sky turns into a dark shaded grey.
ROKU: I do.
Roku gets up, Aang starts to regret his tantrum.
ROKU: I do, because I am you-
AANG: But you're not me.
Aang looks at the ground with grief in his eyes.
AANG: My friends are getting captured - or worse. And there's nothing I can do about it...
Roku now also gets up and turns around. Aang doesn't see this, but his skin looks pale and sick, his voice sounding fittingly weak.
ROKU: I was afraid things would turn out like this.
Aang's rage slowly dwindles as he turns around. Though he can only see Roku's back, he notices something is wrong with his prior incarnation.
ROKU: The other Avatars always try to think about possible alternatives in case things go bad. And so, I have always known that should you fail...
The winds grow heavier. Aang can hear screams, voices that sound familiar, but also don't.
AANG: What's going on? Roku, what's happening?
Suddenly, Aang's tattoos and eyes start glowing again. Roku turns around and Aang watches the decay. All other previous lives loop in front of Roku, until eventually, after Kyoshi shows herself for a moment, Roku begins to disintegrate. Aang tries to reach out for him.
AANG: Roku...
ROKU: I'm sorry Aang. I should never have let this happen...
Roku turns to ashes before Aang's very eyes. When it is done, the glowing fades away and Aang looks around in horror.
AANG: Roku? Roku?! What am I supposed to do – WHAT AM I GOING TO DO NOW?!
The lush grass turns to dry, yellow bush, the winds get heavier – ash falls from the sky.
AANG: How can I save my friends?! HOW CAN I SAVE THE WORLD!?
Kyoshi appears in front of him one last time.
KYOSHI: We will guide you, Aang.
She disappears, as the winds clash against Aang, smashing him against the ground. He tries to get back on his feet, yet the winds have become too strong, dragging him across the hillside which is now losing all the died of grass it previously had.
AANG: No! Kyoshi!
An especially strong wave hits him, and he flies across the plain, eventually smacking against solid rock. He turns and gazes at the previously non-existent mountain and identifies it as an erupting volcano. The winds drag him uphill, and he realizes that, instead of being pushed, he is getting sucked in by it. In a panic, he desperately tries to hold on to something.
AANG: No!
He reaches the peak of the volcano and is pushed inside. He falls into a gaping black abyss.
AANG: KATARA!
Act III.
The raven-haired girl looks annoyed at her brother, who clumsily tries to sneak towards a flying guinea pig, sitting in a dry jungle tree. As he lays on his stomach, he awkwardly crawls across the yellow, grassy ground, one broadsword in each hand. As he does so, Azula sighs, flicking her bangs behind her ear. The girl is wearing a combination of pink pants and shirt, with red fabric covering it, creating a dress-like shape. Her hair is long, black and hangs loose across her shoulders.
AZULA: Zu-Zu, how do you expect to catch a flying rodent on the ground?
His snake-like movement halts. The boy is wearing a crimson shirt and pants, with a vest on top in an even darker shade.
ZUKO: I know perfectly well what I'm doing.
He continues to crawl like a snail, with comical sound effects accompanying it. Azula slaps her forehead.
AZULA: Just let me use my little trick.
She takes on a combat stance. Zuko realizes this and quickly gets back up on his feet.
ZUKO: Azula – DON'T!
He tackles her, and the tiny gout of fire misses the flying guinea pig, shooting only barely above the tree and into the sky. Azula rolls over and sits up, massaging her temple.
AZULA: Great job dum-dum, you lost us our dinner.
Zuko gets up on his feet in a fury.
ZUKO: You almost hit the tree with your little fire-magic! You know what happens if we hit one something on this island – did you forget what fire does to dry grass?!
Azula frowns on the ground, refusing to admit the mistake to herself or her brother.
AZULA: Whatever, now it's gone.
Zuko retracts back his swords and begins to walk in the other direction.
ZUKO: Come on, Azula. We need to head back home.
Like a spoiled child she remains seated for a few more seconds. When does she finally decide to get back up, she hears a high-pitched squealing coming from behind her. The flying rodent decided to fly back on to the same branch and is now making squeaky noises at the raven-haired girl. Zuko is already a few meters away and stops.
ZUKO: Azula?
The guinea pig continues to squeak. Azula clenches her fists.
AZULA: Oh no, you don't.
As soon as Azula begins the chase, the rodent flies off.
ZUKO: Damnit, not again...
Her brother chases after them.
As the rodent soars from tree to tree, Azula runs on the ground with a certain kind of grace that Zuko can't quite comprehend. Or keep up with.
ZUKO: Azula, come back!
She jumps above a dry tree trunk, and slides below the one following after, meanwhile Zuko clumsily climbs over both and even manages to drop from the second one. As his face is firmly planted on the ground, he begins to notice something in between the dried grass. Small flakes of ash. He starts to worry.
ZUKO: Azula, please wait!
His words don't reach her. With cat-like precision and with extreme endurance she chases the rodent, coming a little bit closer with every leap.
AZULA: I almost got you now...
The crescendo of the chase forces the rodent to land on a tree side, with Azula starting to leap from branch to branch in order to climb it. The rodent screams and climbs towards the treetop.
Zuko is, in the meantime, trying to catch up. His movements are not as acrobatic as those of his sister, but he manages to get a hold of it. He looks to his right, and sees the jungles density lowering, behind the mighty wood Zuko begins to recognize the shape of a mountain.
ZUKO: Azula!
This time his sister did hear him, almost causing her to lose her balance, but she manages to hold on. The chase continues and the rodent looks down in terror.
AZULA: You'll regret the day...
The rodent reaches the top and quickly digs through a pile of dry foliage. Azula grabs on to a tree branch.
AZULA: ...you insulted...
Zuko looks up and sees what is happening.
ZUKO: Azula, stop!
Azula breaches through the treetop and shots a blast of fire straight upwards.
AZULA: The last firebender – AZULA!
She stops and comes to her senses. In front of her is a giant mountain, a volcano to be exact. It is one of two volcanoes, which gives their home the appropriate name of the Twins Island. One of the volcanic twins stands firmly in the ocean, while the other one, the one Azula is looking at right now, is located on soil. Her stare finally focuses on the little rodent, which has managed to escape on to a small mountain ridge, where it starts running towards the top. Azula hesitates.
ZUKO: Azula come down here, you know we're not allowed to intrude on the Twins!
She looks down and thinks about it for a second. Azula has already lost track of the rodent but is somehow magically intrigued by the twin volcanoes. A feeling she can't quite explain.
She decides to leap from the tree and grab on to the ledge.
ZUKO: Oh, uncle is going to get so furious.
He makes a praying motion with his hands.
ZUKO: Please forgive us, Agni.
He runs towards the volcano.
Standing on top of the ledge Azula holds on for a few moments. Looking down, she stares in awe at the dense, dried out jungle. She can't see the village from here, but she can see a tiny smoke trail in the distance. She can also see her brother, climbing up towards a lower side of the ledge.
AZULA: Oh no, uncle is going to get furious at me.
She decides to follow the trail upwards, coming closer to the top of the volcano. She claps nervously.
AZULA: Okay little rodent, come out come out, wherever you are!
Her steps become more and more cautious, as the volcano seems less hospitable. Azula starts to get annoyed.
AZULA: Come on! If I'm already breaking the rules, I might at least get home some dinner home.
She takes a turn and finds herself on some kind of plateau. From here she has a pretty clear view of the other volcano, the other sister so to speak, with the vast ocean behind it. The water below looks grey and toxic, her uncle claiming it was a blessing from the spirits, who tried to protect their village from the Water Tribe raids. That was about the age Azula stopped believing the stories of her uncle.
Azula turns her head and sees the flying guinea pig soaring back into the jungle. She crosses her arms.
AZULA: Well, great.
ZUKO: Azula!
She turns in slight fear of hearing her own name but tries to keep her composure.
AZULA: Look who made it. I guess I won that little race.
ZUKO: Azula, stop. We need to get down from here. It is forbidden-
AZULA: I guess technically the rodent won, but we can discuss that later if you want-
ZUKO: Azula! It's dangerous up here!
AZULA: Oh please, don't bother me with your fairy tales! The last time the sisters erupted was... what? A hundred years ago? What are you so worried about?
A gap in the ground right next to her cracks open all of a sudden, with a blast of toxic volcano fumes shooting out of it. Azula flinches to the side, stepping on to another crack.
ZUKO: Watch out!
He runs towards her and pushes her aside, right as a second stream of gas blasts open. It hits Zuko, who, despite covering his face, gets dizzy and walks off the volcano edge.
AZULA: Zuko!
Several eruptions now cover the plateau in toxic fumes, impairing her view. Azula tries to stand upright but can't get anywhere. She begins to panic.
AZULA: ZUKO!
This was all her fault. She begins to tear up.
AZULA: No...
Her sadness erupts into anger.
AZULA: NO!
She starts violently blasting gouts of fire in random directions. They are significantly larger than the two shots she has performed before, yet they are also much more sporadic und lack the usual precision of Azula's movement. She shoots one last flame charge, unknowingly, directly at the volcano. After a few seconds, a sudden air wave smacks her on to the ground, but also blows away any remaining volcano fumes. After Azula gets up and choughs a bit, she realizes she has regained clear vision again. She rushes towards what she can now identify as the plateau's edge.
AZULA: Zuko!
She halts and looks down. Her brother landed on top of a large tree, only a short distance below the volcano. Zuko grunts.
AZULA: Thank Agni you're alright!
Zuko gets up in pain.
ZUKO: Don't use the Lord's name in vain.
Azula rolls over her eyes but smiles in relief.
ZUKO: What are you smiling about?
AZULA: Nothing. Come back up here.
She offers her hand. Zuko sighs.
ZUKO: Might as well, we're alrighty screwed.
He takes a leap, grabbing on to Azula, almost pulling both down in the process. With combined strength the two siblings get back on top of the plateau. They both gasp and cough in exhaustion.
AZULA: Okay... next time you pull me!
ZUKO: What is that?
She shuts up and turns around. Only now does she notice the ominous red glow coming from behind her.
Inside the volcano wall, behind the tiny crack Azula blasted earlier, she can see a glassy, shiny object hidden inside.
ZUKO: That wasn't there earlier, was it?
AZULA: ...I think I made that.
Zuko looks at her in disbelief.
ZUKO: You? How?!
She steps closer toward it and takes a peek inside the crack. The crystal light blinds her at first, but once she looks inside, she hops back in utter shock.
AZULA: Zuko! There's someone inside there!
ZUKO: No way.
He also takes a peek. Azula is trying to calm down, yet she can't believe her eyes.
ZUKO: Holy Agni!
Azula is shocked. Zuko rarely every uses the name of their god, Agni, so loosely.
ZUKO: I think he's alive.
Azula looks down at the ground in horror. She takes a deep breath.
AZULA: Step back.
Timidly, he follows her command.
Azula takes on a bending stance, one she has learned from the forbidden books in uncle's collection. Her legs apart and firmly on the ground, she does a powerful pushing motion with her arms, creating a stable and precise flame, one that smashes against the red crystal. Nothing happens, Azula is dumbfounded.
ZUKO: That was... pretty good, I think.
She stands back up and crosses her arms.
AZULA: Oh, don't pity me with your-
A second, much more powerful gust of wind erupts, shattering the red crystal in an instant. If it had hit either of the siblings, they would have been blasted somewhere into the jungle woods. Behind the crystal Azula sees a wall of air, a second protective sphere so to speak. The lava inside the volcano, which would have started to flow out by now, gets instantly cooled down and dried to form solid rock.
The boy in the volcano steps forward. His glowing tattoos and eyes have an intimidating aura towards Azula. Perhaps this was the voice that called her to come here.
The glowing disappears and the boy collapses.
ZUKO: He's... alive. I can't believe it.
Azula rushes towards him and holds him in her arms.
AZULA: Come on, wake up.
Aang begins to open his eyes.
Link: https://m.fanfiction.net/s/13785140/1/