Sokka's voice cut through the heavy silence, weighted with a despair that was unlike his cheerful self. "How are we supposed to fight that man?" he lamented, slumping against the wall of the dimly lit room.
Aang felt the weight of his friend's fear. "He said that I need to be in the Avatar state to keep up with him," he murmured, casting his eyes downward. "But I doubt even that will work."
A deafening silence filled the room as Aang's words hung heavy in the air. The very foundation of their beliefs shattered with each syllable. The end of the world seemed imminent, as if all their battles and victories were for naught. If even the all-powerful avatar state was useless against Kre'as, what hope did they have? Panic rose in their chests as they faced the grim reality before them, uncertain of what to do next.
Toph, usually as unshakeable as the earth she controlled, looked visibly disturbed. Her fingers twitched, as if itching for the solid reassurance of stone beneath them. "What he said was true. If there are more like him coming to the lands, we will have another war on our hands," Aang continued, the grim reality settling over them like a dark cloud.
"Kre'as is not just a formidable bender. He's also a blood bender, capable of controlling Yakone as if he were a master puppeteer," Aang added, struggling to maintain his composure. Toph's face twisted briefly, the memory of a fallen law enforcer, her colleague and friend, bringing a rare hesitation to her earthbending in front of Kre'as—a hesitation that spoke volumes.
The leaders present were still coming to grips with the revelation of Kre'as and his origins, after witnessing his bending prowess, it would be silly not to head his words.
"I need to seek guidance from the spirits," Aang exhaled deeply, the burden of leadership pressing down on him.
"He is too dangerous to leave roaming the city," Sokka interjected with a strategic edge to his voice, recovering from his earlier unease. "We must set a surveillance team to follow him."
Aang shook his head slowly, a gesture that seemed to carry the weight of the world. "If he wanted to destroy the city, I have no doubt he could without much hindrance. He wishes to fight me at my peak state. Only in the Avatar state will I have enough strength to stand up to him." The others nodded, solidarity firm in their eyes despite the uncertainty that lay ahead.
"Then we contact fire lord Zuko and all world leaders and warn them of what is to come," Sokka declared, taking charge of the situation as he often did.
"Let us give twinkle toes his time with the spirits and reconvene tomorrow," Toph suggested, her tone softer than usual as she turned to leave the room. One by one, they followed until Aang was left alone, the silence now his only company.
Closing his eyes, Aang surrendered to the familiar pull of the spirit world. Yet, upon arrival, he found it transformed into something unfamiliar and foreboding. No spirits roamed; instead, darkness enveloped the once vibrant landscape.
Stumbling upon a dark vine, Aang plunged into a vast sea. Surrounded by water but still breathing, he witnessed spirits bound by dark chains. Raava was conspicuously absent. "What happened here?" he asked a nearby spirit, whose form shimmered with distress.
"Vaatu has awakened and is now battling Raava in another dimension," replied the spirit, its voice echoing with dread.
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"Atlanteans... have you heard of them?" Aang inquired, desperate for answers.
The spirit's form quivered, along with others who heard Aang's words. "Monsters in human flesh," it growled, confirming Aang's worst fears.
"Is it possible to defeat them? They've resurfaced and are declaring war on every nation," Aang pressed, seeking any spark of hope.
"Defeat them?" the spirit scoffed at that notion, "They were sealed away because they couldn't be defeated or reasoned with. The original water benders—capable of drowning the world in chaos. If they have returned..." The spirit's words trailed off, sinking further into the depths as Aang reached out helplessly.
"Only a few have surfaced, is Raava capable of sealing them before they return in earnest?" Aang asked, "Raava together with the Avatar can seal them if Raava survives his battle with Vaatu."
Aang was then forced out of the spirit world.
Aang woke to find Katara bending water over his body. He flinched instinctively, the element now a reminder of the danger they faced.
"Aang, what's wrong?" Katara's voice was filled with concern. "I haven't seen you this afraid since learning how to bend fire."
"Katara, the Atlanteans... what I learned from the spirits..." Aang's voice broke, betraying his inner turmoil. "We must prepare for the worst. You and the kids need to go to the Earth Kingdom. It should be the safest place, furthest from any bodies of water."
Katara's resolve wavered. "But I can help you," she insisted.
"Please, I need you to keep our children safe. I'll be able to fight freely, knowing you're out of harm's way," Aang pleaded, his hands gently cradling her face. Finally, she relented.
"Fine. When do we leave?"
"Now," Aang whispered urgently. "You must leave now."
Embracing her tightly, memories flooded Aang's mind, echoes of a past confrontation with Fire Lord Ozai. "Please be careful," Katara urged softly, leaving a kiss upon his cheek before exiting the room.
In the adjacent chamber, Aang could hear his children's voices, filled with innocent questions, while Katara prepared them for the sudden journey. Longing to bid them farewell, he remained still, rooted by the necessity of his role. The Avatar must show strength, he reminded himself, even if his heart ached with the desire to hold them close one last time.
The room fell silent as Aang sat alone, his heart heavy with the weight of their absence. His whispers were barely audible in the emptiness, a desperate plea for a glimmer of hope. "I can only pray that there is still a spirit world where I may one day reunite with them."
————
The first rays of dawn had barely kissed the sky when Aang's eyes flickered open. With a weary groan, he pushed himself off the floor where he had spent the night in restless meditation. His muscles protested the sudden movement, but there was work to be done. "No rest for the damned," he muttered to himself, summoning a stream of water from the basin nearby and splashing it across his face. The coolness was a brief respite, a momentary escape from the weight of the world that rested on his shoulders.
The night Aang spent honing his water bending, if he were too afraid to use it during his fight, he would be down an element at his disposal.
As he dried his face with the air around him, he turned to find his living room occupied by familiar shapes. light spilled through the windows, preparing the way for the sun to make its ascent, casting long shadows over Sokka, Toph, and a few other members of their makeshift war council who had gathered unannounced.
"Make yourself at home," Aang scowled, though the mild irritation in his voice was undercut by the affection he held for his friends.
"We did," Sokka replied, the words muffled by a mouthful of sandwich that he seemed to inhale rather than eat. "It is not looking good, twinkle toes," he continued after swallowing. "Many places were attacked last night, creating worldwide chaos. We barely had time to inform the world leaders before they were attacked."
Toph's voice cut through the ensuing silence, as heavy as a mountain. "The only solace we can find is that by the information we gathered, they are not as powerful as Kre'as and retreated after being met with local forces."
A flicker of hope sparked in Aang's chest. He had feared that each of the Atlanteans would be as formidable as the one who had bested them so easily. But as quickly as hope came, it was extinguished by the reality of their situation.
"However, it is safe to say that they were equivalent to ten benders of a high level. If there are hundreds or thousands of soldiers, we will be completely outmatched and outclassed," Sokka finished grimly.
Aang's heart sank. He had been prepared for many things when he took on the mantle of Avatar, but the thought of facing an army of such might was daunting. He glanced around at the faces of his friends, seeing their own resolve mixed with concern. They were all warriors in their own right, but this was a threat unlike any they had faced.
He wanted to tell them everything—the dark chains binding the spirits, the battle between Raava and Vaatu, the dire warnings of a spirit about the Atlanteans. But he hesitated. Some burdens were for the Avatar alone to bear. Instead, he drew a deep breath and steadied himself.
"However, they did not attack any of the fire nation territory, we can hope they are weak to fire bending" Sokka's voice trailed off as he looked to Aang, awaiting guidance.
"Great news, then we'll do what we've always done," Aang said, his voice firm despite the uncertainty gnawing at him. "We'll face this together. And we'll protect our world." The conviction in his tone belied the turmoil within, but Aang knew one thing for certain: as long as hope remained, so too would their fight.