Spirit World

Inside the creepy castle-like guild Tor, Zack, Luna and Zane enter a room. Once there Zane showed Luke his purple book revealing the portal. Luke looks into it and sees Lucy was traveling with Aang, Katara, Sokka and Ray. The rest of her teammates were with her as well.
"So Lucy was transported to a world with four nations?" Luke asked.
"Yeah. She was probably sent there after falling off the cliff." Zane answered.
"Shall we go there and capture her?" Luna asked.
"There's been a change in plans. Let's see how long Lucy can survive in this world." Luke replied.
"Aw, man! I wanna get her!" Zack complained. Luke then reared back a arm and punched him across the room.
"We'll see how she can handle herself in that world with four nations and that's final!" Luke yelled.
"Seeing how weak she is in her group, she won't last a second there." Tor said.
"Guess we'll see about that." Zane replied.
Meanwhile Appa was flying high above the clouds. Aang was laying back against him enjoying the ride, while Lucy, Wendy and Katara look over Appa's side as they laid down on their stomachs. Natsu and Gray laid down on the saddle, probably asleep. Erza looked at a map she unrolled while Sokka used a knife to make something out of wood. At the back of the saddle, Ray stared up at the sky.
"The clouds look so soft, don't they?" Katara asked.
"Yeah. Like you can just jump down and land in a big, soft cottony heap." Lucy answered.
"You two should give it a try." Sokka suggested jokingly.
"You're hilarious." Katara said sarcastically.
"Maybe I should throw you into the clouds and we'll see if you can land there." Erza replied.
"No thank you." Sokka said quickly.
"Think the clouds have any shapes?" Wendy asked before noticing Ray suddenly standing up.
"Wait for it." He replied.
"Maybe. I think I can see." Lucy trailed off as she fell off Appa.
"AAAAAAHHHHH!" She screamed as she fell into the clouds and everyone looked over the side of Appa as Lucy plunged into a cloud.
"LUCY!" Gray shouted.
"She can't fly." Sokka said.
Fortunately ShineGreymon was flying close behind Appa, so she landed on his back.
"That was close." She sighed in relief, though she was now soaked.
Lucy then climbed back onto Appa's saddle.
"Are you alright, Lucy?" Erza asked concerned.
"Yes I am." Lucy answered before adding. "Thanks to ShineGreymon breaking my fall."
"How did you get wet?" Happy asked.
"Turns out the clouds are made of water." Lucy answered before approaching Ray to dry herself off.
"At least you're okay." Katara said.
"Yeah." Lucy nodded.
Natsu then shot her a angry look.
"What?" Lucy asked, confused.
"Oh nothing, I'm just curious about somethin'." Natsu answered.
"What?" She repeated.
"Didn't you promise me something when we left Kyoshi Island?" Natsu asked. Lucy immediately figured out what he was saying.
"Now wait just a minute! I didn't jump off this time. I accidentally fell off the side while looking at the clouds!" Lucy exclaimed.
"Accident or no accident, you still promised me you wouldn't fall off of ANYTHING like that again!" Natsu shouted.
"Guess you don't care about how other people feel, huh?" He asked.
"That's not true! I didn't break my promise and fall off on purpose! I just slipped and fell off!" Lucy yelled.
"Yeah. Okay. Gotcha." Natsu said sarcastically.
"Tell me, did that happen when you fell off that cliff edge?!" He asked.
"Natsu, that's enough!" Gray interrupted, but Natsu ignored him.
"No. I did that because I was desperate and had to get away from Zack! It was either let him capture me again or fall straight into the water!" Lucy yelled.
"You could've let yourself be captured by those creeps so we could find and rescue you! But no, you decided to just fall off and let everyone in Fairy Tail worry over nothing. Talk about selfish and stupid." Natsu said. Lucy started to shake with anger.
"Uh oh." Aang and Wendy said at the same time.
"Good going, Flamebrain. Now you just lit the fuse and blew it up." Gray muttered.
"Stupid? Stupid?! STUPID! AT LEAST I'M NOT THE RECKLESS ONE ON THE TEAM! ALL YOU DO IS JUST BURN AND WRECK EVERYTHING UP WHEN WE'RE ON A JOB!" Lucy shouted.
"Well, at least I DO something! What do you do when we're on a job?! Oh, that's right! Nothin'! You just stand by while Ice Princess, Erza and I do all the work while you summon your spirit to do your dirty work too!" Natsu yelled.
"I don't do that to them! I summon them when it's necessary! That, and I never make them do dirty work! They help! THERE'S A DIFFERENCE!" Lucy shouted.
"Whatever." Natsu replied.
"You are unbelievable!" Lucy yelled.
"Here we go again. You cryin' like a little baby." Natsu said.
"Natsu..." Happy warned him.
"Little baby, huh?! I'd rather be a baby than a brainless little kid all the time!" Lucy hollered.
"Who're ya callin a little kid?!" Natsu demanded.
"You, little kid." Lucy said.
"You wanna fight?!" Natsu asked, igniting his fists.
"Let's go! I can handle you by myself!" Lucy said as she assumed a fighting stance.
"Knock it off, guys." Ray said in a stern tone as he got between the two.
"Stay out of this, loser!" Natsu said.
"Hey, don't talk to him that way!" Lucy yelled.
"I'll talk to whoever I wanna talk to like!" Natsu yelled back.
"Loser, huh? You wanna go a few rounds, Natsu." He exclaimed, preparing himself for a fight. "Cause I'd be more than happy to take you on."
"All of you please calm down!" Wendy said, getting between them this time.
"I'm sure we're just tired from flying all day to the point we're getting on each other's nerves." She added.
"She's right. Let's just calm down and try to relax." Katara said.
"Fine by me." Lucy agreed.
"As long as I don't have to deal with her anymore." Natsu said.
"You're so immature." Lucy muttered.
"And you're so stupid." Natsu replied.
"Ugh. You're so infuriating that sometimes..." Lucy stopped talking.
"Sometimes what?" Natsu asked.
"Sometimes...I wish I never met you." Lucy said as she turned away. This statement shocked everyone including Natsu, but he turned away as well.
"Yeah well...sometimes, I wish the same thing and I also wished I never brought you to Fairy Tail in the first place." Natsu said. Everyone was still in shock and unbeknownst to them, a tear trailed down Lucy's face.
"Wow." Sokka muttered.
"So, they're never gonna talk to each other again?" Aang asked.
"That even I don't know." Erza answered.
"Those two have never had a argument like that before. I mean, Natsu and I always argue and fight, but him and Lucy? I'm stunned by this." Gray said.
"Aye. I hope they can find some way to make up." Happy nodded.
Appa was still flying through the sky along with ShineGreymon and Omnimon. Katara and Erza look past them and spotted something.
"What is that?" Katara asked. Sokka, Gray and Wendy stare at a giant black mark in a valley.
"It's like a scar." Sokka observed.
Appa lands in the clearing and the gang walked through a damaged area with burnt tree stumps around the barren landscape. They look around the destroyed area.
"It's so quiet." Sokka said.
"There's no life anywhere." Gray added.
"Aang? Are you okay?" Lucy asked.
Sokka and Erza then look down and see tracks in the ash and the two examine them.
"Fire Nation." Erza said.
"Those evil savages make me sick! They have no respect for..." Sokka was cut off by his sister placing a finger on his lips.
"What? I'm not allowed to be angry." Sokka whispered. Katara then pointed to Aang who was kneeling down sadly.
"Why would anyone do this? How could I let this happen?" Aang asked.
"Aang, you didn't let this happen. It has nothing to do with you." Lucy reassured him.
"Yes it does. It's the Avatar's job to protect nature, but I don't know how to do my job." Aang said.
"That's why we're going to the North Pole. We're going to find you a teacher." Katara reminded him.
"Yeah. A Waterbending teacher, but there's no one who can teach me how to be the Avatar. Monk Gyatso said that Avatar Roku would help me." Aang sighed as he looked behind him.
"The Avatar before you? He died over a hundred years ago. How're you supposed to talk to him?" Sokka asked.
"I don't know..." Aang turned away and closed his eyes. Momo climbed on his shoulder and Aang petted him on the back.
Elsewhere Zuko parted a few stalks of bamboo.
"Uncle! Flannery! Where are you two?! It's time to leave! Uncle Iroh! Cousin Flannery!" Zuko shouted as he walked over to where their clothes were. He eventually stumbled across a small pond of hot water and steam, where the two were relaxing.
"We're over here, cousin." Flannery called out.
"Uncle, Flannery we need to move on. We're closing in on the Avatar's and the Celestial Mage's trail and I don't want to lose them!" Zuko told them.
"You look tired, Prince Zuko. Why don't you join Flannery and I in these hot springs and soak away your troubles?" Iroh offered.
"My troubles cannot be soaked away! It's time to go!" Zuko urged his uncle and cousin.
"You should take father's advice and relax a little, Zuky. The temperature's just right." Flannery said.
"Indeed. We heated them ourselves." Iroh said before he breathed steam into the water with Flannery following his example before Zuko waved steam from his face.
"Enough! We need to go now! Both of you out of the water." Zuko ordered taking a step forward.
"Very well." Iroh groaned as he started to stand up and stretched his arms.
"If you say so." Flannery also groaned as she stood up as well. Zuko quickly covered his eyes.
"On second thought, you two can have a few more minutes but be back at the ship in a half hour or we're leaving without you." Zuko warned them before walking away.
"Ahhh!" Iroh and Flannery sighed as they relaxed in their baths.
Back at the burned forest Aang was still sitting in the ash when Katara, Lucy and Wendy walk up to him.
"Hey Aang, are you ready to be cheered up?" Katara happily asked.
"No." Aang answered sadly. Then from out nowhere a acorn hit him in the head. He turned to see Katara holding a acorn. Lucy and Wendy were also holding acorns.
"Hey! How is that cheering me up?" He asked as he rubbed his head.
"That cheered me up." Sokka laughed before Lucy and Wendy throw their acorns at his head.
"Ow!" He whined.
"You deserved that." Gray said.
"Yeah. I guess I did." Sokka said as he proceeded to rub his head as well.
"You're lucky I didn't punch you in the head again." Erza remarked.
"These acorns are everywhere, Aang. Which means the forest will grow back." She came closer, then knelled down and told him what the acorns meant.
"Every one of these acorns will be an oak tree someday." Lucy said.
"That's right and all the birds and animals that lived here will come back." Wendy pointed out as she handed Aang a acorn causing him to smile.
"Thanks." Aang said as Katara, Lucy and Wendy smile.
"Who's there?" Erza asked as approaching footsteps made them look up. An old man in green clothes using a walking stick slowly approached them.
"Who're you?" Natsu asked.
"When I saw the flying bison, I thought it was impossible, but those markings...are you the Avatar, child?" The old man asked. He looked at Katara who nodded.
"I am and this is the Celestial Mage." Aang introduced Lucy who waved at the old man.
"Nice to meet you." Lucy said.
"My village desperately needs your help." The old man explained, getting straight to the point.
The sun was setting and the old man led them back to a small village that seemed to be in the middle of construction. Some of the buildings were damaged or smashed. They walked into a small home where the old man introduced Aang and Lucy to his people.
"These young people are the Avatar and the Celestial Mage." The old man said.
"The rumors of your return are true, Avatar and you have actually arrived as we had hoped, Celestial Mage." The village chief said as he approached them.
"It is the greatest honor of a lifetime to be in both your presences." The village chief added.
"Nice to meet you too." Aang said as he bowed.
"So, what seems to be the problem?" Lucy asked.
"I'm not sure." The village chief replied.
"Our village is in crisis. You two are our only hope. For the last few days at sunset, a spirit monster comes and attacks our village. His name is Hei-Bai, the black and white spirit." The old man said.
"Why is it attacking you?" Sokka asked.
"We do not know, but each of the last three nights, he has abducted one of our own. We are especially fearful because the Winter Solstice draws near." The village chief explained.
"What happens then?" Gray asked.
"As the solstice approaches, the natural world and the spirit world grow closer and closer until the line between them is blurred completely." The old man explained.
"Hei-Bai is already causing destruction and devastation. Once the solstice is here, there's no telling what would happen." The village chief said.
"Who better to resolve this crisis between our world and the spirit world than the Avatar himself? You are the great bridge between man and spirits." The old man told him.
"Yeah...that's me." Aang said with uncertainty.
"Aang, can Katara and I talk to you?" Lucy asked as she and Katara move to a corner. Aang follows them and Sokka, Gray, Erza, Wendy and Ray joined them.
"Aang, you seem a little unsure about all this." Katara said.
"Yeah. That's because I don't know anything at all about the spirit world. It's not like there's someone to teach me this stuff!" Aang admitted.
"You still gonna help these people?" Lucy asked.
"I gotta try right? Maybe whatever I have to do will just...come to me." Aang replied.
"I know you'll think of something, Aang." Lucy said.
"Thanks, Lucy." Aang replied and everyone smiles.
"I think you can do it Aang." Katara said as she smiled.
"Yeah, we're all gonna get eaten by a spirit monster." Sokka said.
"Should I feed you to a bear instead?" Erza asked.
"No thanks." Sokka answered backing away.
"You can do it Aang. You just gotta believe you can." Lucy said.
"Yeah." Aang agreed.
"You really think Aang can stop this spirit monster?" Natsu asked Lucy, who didn't say anything and looked away from him.
"C'mon. You're still mad? I'm sorry for what I said earlier." Natsu apologized but Lucy just walked away from him without saying anything.
"I wouldn't talk to her right now if I were you. What you said earlier actually hurt her." Gray said.
"She's never gonna talk to me again, is she?" Natsu asked.
"That depends." Erza answered.
Back at the hot springs Iroh and Flannery were sleeping in their baths until their eyes snapped open after they heard rustling in the bushes.
"W-what was that?" Flannery asked shocked as Iroh looked around the bamboo then spots a little animal on the tip of his bath.
"Oh, it's just a meadow vole. I should have known. You startled us little one." Iroh said. The meadow vole ran away as Iroh leaned back again.
"I thought it was an assassin." Flannery admitted.
"Not to worry, my daughter. We must have dozed off and missed Zuko's deadline, but it was a very sweet nap." Iroh said.
"You can say that again." Flannery nodded.
Suddenly the ground started shaking as a dust cloud came their way. Before Iroh and Flannery could get out of the way, four jagged and pointed rocks burst through the water. When they were unable to move, three Earthbender soldiers jumped down close to the captured pair. Another soldier examined Iroh and Flannery's clothing.
"The old man is a Fire Nation soldier." One of the Earthbender soldiers said.
"He's no ordinary soldier. This is the Fire Lord's brother, the Dragon of the West." Their captain explained. "The once great General Iroh, but now he's our prisoner."
"What about the girl?" A soldier asked.
"No doubt she's one of his daughters. Now she's our prisoner as well." The captain answered.
Back at the village, Aang stood outside with his staff and slowly started walking towards the village gate.
"Hello? Spirit? Can you hear me? This is the Avatar speaking. I'm...here to help stuff." Aang said as he reached the village gate.
Inside the house, everyone was watching as Aang approached the gate and Lucy had a worried expression on her face.
"This isn't right. We can't just sit here and cower while Aang waits for this spirit monster to show up." Gray said.
"If anyone can save us, he can." The old man assured them.
"He still shouldn't have to face this alone." Lucy argued for her friend.
The sun had gone down and the sky had turned dark.
"The sun has set! Where are you Hei-Bai?!" Aang called out, but didn't receive a answer.
"Well, I hereby ask you to please leave this village in peace!" He ordered, but there was still no response.
"Okay then, I guess that's settled." Aang then turned away from the gate and slowly made his way back to the central building.
Unbeknownst to him, a large black and white creature with six legs and razor sharp teeth followed Aang through the village until he heard breathing behind him, he slowly turned around and saw the spirit behind him.
"You must be the Hei-Bai spirit." Aang said as he bowed. "My name is..." His introduction was cut off when Hei-Bai roared at him and stood on it's back legs.
It walked over the Avatar and headed towards the village.
"My name is Aang! I'm the Avatar and I would like to help you!" Aang yelled.
Hei-Bai started destroying buildings as Aang ran after it.
Back in the meeting house everyone was watching this. Lucy wanted to go out and assist Aang, but Erza stopped her.
"The Avatar's methods are...unusual." The village chief commented as they avoid falling debris.
"It's like he doesn't have any interest in what Aang is saying." Sokka deduced.
"Somebody has to help him." Lucy said.
"Forgive me Celestial Mage, but only the Avatar stands a chance against Hei-Bai." The old man said.
"Aang will figure out what to do, Lucy." Katara reassured her.
"He'll be okay." Natsu said as he placed his hand on her shoulder, but she swatted it away while trying to ignore him.
Hei-Bai continued causing destruction as he walked through the village. Aang ran to a building behind Hei-Bai.
"Please, will you stop destroying things and listen?" Aang asked the spirit, but Hei-Bai ignored him.
"I'm trying to do my job as a spirit bridge. Excuse me, can you turn around please? I command you to turn around!" Aang shouted. Hei-Bai turned around and swatted the Avatar away. He was sent flying into the roof of another building and grunted as he slid down. Lucy saw the whole thing and became angry.
"That's it! I'm helping him!" Lucy yelled as she began to leave, but Natsu grabbed her arm.
"No! It's too dangerous!" Natsu protested.
"Let me go, you jerk!" Lucy yelled before she punched Natsu in the face, knocking him out. Then she left the building.
"Lucy!" Gray called out as he ran after her. Although the old man tried to stop him, he left the house as well.
Lucy ran through the village and found Aang trying to get to his feet.
"Are you okay, Aang?" She asked, concerned.
"Yeah." Aang answered.
"We'll try to reason with it together." Lucy said. Gray suddenly sneaked up behind Hei-Bai and prepared his Ice Magic.
"Hey, Hei-Bai over here!" Gray called out, but Hei-Bai ignored him.
"Ice-Make: Cannon!" He yelled as he created a large, long-barreled cannon made of ice. Gray then fired a cannonball made of ice, but nothing hurt it. Gray then ran over to Lucy and Aang.
"Gray! Get back inside!" Lucy ordered.
"We can fight em together, guys." Gray declared.
"I don't wanna fight him. We're gonna..." Aang didn't finish as Hei-Bai appeared behind Gray and grabbed him before starting to run.
"Gray!" Lucy called out. She pulled out her whip and tried to attack Hei-Bai, but nothing happened. Hei-Bai then appeared behind her and grabbed her as well.
"Lucy! Hang on guys!" Aang said as he quickly picked up his glider and flew after it. Hei-Bai ran back into the forest taking Lucy and Gray with it as Aang pursued them.
Katara and Natsu run through the village to try and help Aang but they stop at the gate as they were unable to keep up. Katara had a worried expression on her face while Natsu sadly looked down as a tear rolled down his face.
That night Zuko, Aiko and three soldiers begin searching for Iroh and Flannery.
"Uncle! Flannery! Where are you two?" Zuko asked.
"Sir, maybe they thought you left them." One of the soldiers suggested.
"Something's not right here." Aiko said as she noticed the three hot baths and sees three triangular stones in the tubs.
"A pile of rocks?" Zuko asked, inspecting them.
"It looks like there's been a landslide, sir." A soldier said.
"Land doesn't slide uphill. Those rocks didn't move naturally. This could only mean one thing..." Aiko said.
"What is it, Aiko?" Zuko asked.
"Father and Flannery have been captured by Earthbenders." Aiko deduced.
Meanwhile Aang flew close behind Hei-Bai who still held Lucy and Gray. Aang saw Hei-Bai before a branch slows him down.
"Aang!" Lucy called out.
"Over here!" Gray shouted.
Aang flew above the trees and followed Hei-Bai to the burnt out forest. He flew down and got closer to Lucy and Gray.
"Hang on, guys!" Aang said as he stretched his hand out to Lucy who was able to grab it. She then extended her hand to Gray who was able to grab it. Aang was about to pull the two free when Lucy, Gray and Hei-Bai suddenly vanish. Aang gasped and lost his balance in the sky. He then fell to the ground with a yell before crashing.
He crashed in front of a ring of bear statues, with one standing taller than the rest.
He then got up and looked around.
"Lucy! Gray!" Aang called out but there was no sign of them.
"I've failed." Aang said, looking down sadly.
Meanwhile the five soldiers were riding on four war-ostrich horses through the forest with a chained General Iroh and Flannery.
"Where are you taking us?" Flannery asked.
"We're taking you and your father to face justice." The captain answered.
"Right, but where specifically?" Iroh questioned.
"A place you're quite familiar with actually, General Iroh. You once laid siege to it for six hundred days, but it would not yield to you." The captain explained.
"Ah yes! The great city of Ba Sing Se." Iroh said as he realized where they were going.
"It was greater than you apparently." The captain commented.
"Shut your mouth! You know nothing about my father!" Flannery yelled.
"I acknowledged my defeat at Ba Sing Se. After six hundred days away from home, my men were tired and I was tired." Iroh said indignantly, before yawning.
"And I'm still tired." He then fell asleep and fell off the ostrich horse.
The soldiers stopped and picked him up, and as they rode away Flannery noticed the sandal that was left behind. She smirked and Iroh produced a sly smile as the plan to leave a trail was a success.
Back at the village, Natsu was sitting near the gate looking into the forest with a depressed expression on his face. Happy was by his side along with Katara, who placed a hand on his shoulder as Erza and Wendy approach them from behind.
"I'm sure they'll be back." Wendy said.
"I know, but this is all my fault. I shouldn't have yelled at Lucy. I know her falling off earlier was an accident, but I was scared of losing her ever since..." Natsu stopped talking for a minute.
"I shouldn't have called her selfish and stupid. I'M the stupid one. Now she hates me and I'll probably never see her again." He said. Katara got a cover and placed it over Natsu's back.
"What about Gray? Aren't you worried about him too?" Happy asked.
"A little, but he can take care of himself." Natsu answered.
"Gray got captured by Hei-Bai as well. You should be worried about him too." Erza said.
"Okay. I am worried about him." Natsu admitted.
"But mostly Lucy." He mumbled under his breath.
"You should get some rest." Katara said as Natsu stared at Lucy's whip.
"Everything's going to be alright." Natsu said, trying to remain hopeful.
"I'm sure Lucy and Gray are in good hands. I would be shocked if Aang returned without them." Erza replied.
Aang stopped a few feet from the gate and spots Katara, Natsu, Erza and Wendy before noticing Natsu's downcast expression. He then walked over to them.
"Guys, I...I lost them." Aang said sadly but they didn't see or notice them.
"The sun is rising." Happy said.
"Let's just hope they return soon." Katara replied.
"What? No! I'm right here!" Aang said; he tried to get their attention by placing his hand on Katara but she didn't feel it, surprising him. He then looks up at the sun and sees he's glowing blue before realizing something.
"I'm in the spirit world!" Aang exclaimed.
Zuko and Aiko eventually stumbled across the sandal Iroh intentionally left behind last night. Zuko picked it up and sniffed it, then covered his mouth in disgust.
"That's Uncle Iroh." Zuko muttered before handing the sandal to Aiko.
"And I'll bet those Earthbenders are taking Father and Flannery that way." Aiko said as she pointed straight ahead before getting on her komodo-rhino.
"Let's go." Zuko said.
Meanwhile Katara, Natsu, Erza and Wendy were waiting by the village gate as Sokka joined them. Aang was sitting next to them, but they couldn't see or hear him.
"Don't worry, guys. I'll figure this out. I promise. It's like they said, I'm the bridge between the two worlds, right? All I have to do is...figure out what I have to do and once I do that, no problem." Aang said. Just then he saw Appa approach the gang.
"Appa! Hey buddy, I'm right here! But I guess you can't see me either." Aang said, depressed.
"It's okay, Appa. I'm sure they're on their way back." Katara rubbed Appa's nose as she said this.
"They probably even have moon peaches for you as a treat." Wendy pointed out.
"Or maybe a treat for all of us." Sokka added.
"We'll see." Erza noted as she, Wendy, Katara and Sokka walk back to the village with Appa following them.
"Natsu, are you coming?" Happy asked.
"Yeah." Natsu nodded before he turned and looked at the forest one last time.
"Luce, come back soon okay?" He asked before he and Happy walk back to the village and Aang turned back to the forest.
"What am I supposed to do?" Aang asked himself.
"Avatar Roku! How am I supposed to talk to you?" He questioned out loud but received no answer. He sadly turned and looked down. Then he heard something approaching and hopefully asked.
"Lucy? Gray?"
A bright light then shined through the forest and then noticed a blue spirit dragon flying towards him.
"That's not Lucy or Gray!" Aang opened his glider and tried to take off. But he only got a few feet off the ground before falling and landing with a grunt. Getting up, he found that weird and then with his arms parallel he tried to make a rush of air, but nothing happened. He tried again, but received the same results.
"What? I can't airbend in the spirit world?!" Aang asked horrified.
The blue dragon spirit continued to get closer while covered in blue fire. Aang screams at the dragon coming towards him but it landed in front of him.
"You don't know where Lucy and Gray are, do you?" Aang asked as the blue dragon lowered it's head. It then moved one of it's whiskers to where it could touch the whimpering Aang's forehead. When it touched him it gave him a vision of the past. He saw the same dragon, but when it was alive. It had a more reddish appearance and carried a man upon the back of it's neck. When the whisker removed itself from his forehead Aang understood.
"You're Avatar Roku's animal guide like Appa is to me." He said.
He then told the dragon his predicament.
"Please I need to save my friends, and I don't know how. Is there some way to talk to Roku?" Aang asked as the dragon lowered it's head again. He then turned to see Natsu sitting outside the house with a downcast expression.
"I'll be back, guys. Take me to Roku." Aang said as the blue dragon took off into the sky.
On a mountain pass, the Earthbenders continued their trek towards the Earth Kingdom capital. Iroh and Flannery look up and notice the blue spirit dragon and Aang flying through the sky startling them.
"What's wrong?" The captain asked the two.
"Nothing." Flannery answered.
"Actually, there is a problem. My old joints are feeling sore and achy and these shackles are too loose." Iroh replied.
"Too loose?" The captain asked.
"That's right. The cuffs are loose and they jangle around bumping Father's wrists. It would help him if you tighten them so they wouldn't shake too much." Flannery said.
"Very well. Corporal, tighten the prisoner's handcuffs." The captain ordered.
The ostrich horses stop and the corporal gets off then moved to fix the cuffs. Iroh took a deep breath and released a stream of hot steam onto the metal. When the corporal put his hand on it, Iroh smirked as he kept the Earthbender's hand pressed against the hot metal as the corporal starts screaming allowing Iroh to jump off and Flannery follows himself. Launching himself into the air, Iroh shot a fireball with his feet. Flannery also shot a fireball with her feet. The two then roll off the path and down the hill.
Roku's dragon flew Aang towards a crescent island with a volcano and temple on it. The dragon flew straight into the temple, and once it reached the central chamber it maneuvered itself to fly towards the ceiling.
"Hey! What are you doing?" A terrified Aang asked. They passed through the ceiling harmlessly and enter a secret chamber at the top of the temple which only contained a statue of Avatar Roku. Aang jumped off the dragon and looked at the far end of the room.
"I don't understand. It's just a statue of Roku." Aang said, confused.
Aang continued to stare at the statue before turning to the dragon as it moved it's whisker towards him again. When it touched his forehead, it showed him a new vision. A comet blazing through the sky.
"Is that what Roku wants to talk to me about? A comet. When can I talk to him?" Aang asked.
The dragon lowered it's head again revealing a beam of light that was pointed right at Roku's statue. The dragon then touched Aang with his whiskers again and showed him a vision of the days passing by, the large design on the floor and the large beam of light moving closer to Roku's statue until it hit his face.
"It's a calendar. The light will hit Roku on the solstice. So that's when I get to talk to Roku." Aang said. The dragon spirit let out a low grunt in response.
"But I can't wait that long. I need to save Lucy and Gray." Aang said before he and the dragon fly out of the temple at amazing speeds.
Back on the mountain trail, Iroh and Flannery continued to roll down the hill. From the top the captain came to the edge and with a kneeling stomp, sent a landslide down after them. The landslide was faster than the two as it caught up with them and stopped their roll. The captain and two other Earthbenders skate down the slope and came to a stop at the nearly buried Iroh and Flannery.
"They're both too dangerous captain. We can't just carry them to the capital. We need to do something now." The corporal said.
"I agree. They must be dealt with immediately and severely." The captain said. Iroh and Flannery look down with disdain.
Meanwhile Katara, Sokka, Erza, Wendy, Ray, Happy and Carla were riding Appa in the sky while searching for them.
"It's no use. I can't find them anywhere." Erza said.
"Me neither." Wendy said.
"Same here." Katara added.
"Ditto." Sokka said.
"Aye." Happy nodded.
"Our best chance is to go back to the village and wait for them." Carla said.
"Or maybe that spirit monster ate those three already." Sokka said. Katara and Erza gave him a evil making him shake in fear.
"Don't be ridiculous, Sokka." Ray sweat dropped.
"They can't be eaten! C'mon. Let's wait for them to come back." Happy said as Katara steered Appa back towards the village.
On the trail of the ostrich-horses, Zuko looked up and saw Appa flying overhead.
"The Avatar and the Celestial Mage!" Zuko exclaimed.
"We'll go after them later, Zuko. Right now we must help Father and Flannery." Aiko told him.
"You're right, Aiko. Let's keep moving." Zuko agreed with his cousin as they follow the tracks.
The sun was about to set when Roku's dragon brought Aang to the burnt forest and flew over the trees. As they passed the burnt trees, Aang saw where they were heading and muttered, "Whoa."
He saw his body holding his staff sitting on top of a bear statue. He gasped as the dragon headed right for it and shielded himself with his arms. Roku's dragon folded it's wings as it phased into the statue and Aang's spirit back into his body. With his spirit returned, Aang opened his eyes and looked around then jumped off the statue and into the ring of bowing bears. As he looked up to the statue, he started to understand it a little more.
Knowing what he had to do, Aang opened his glider and took off to the sky towards the village.
He made it back to the village around sunset. Natsu was sitting on the porch of the meeting house still downcast and Happy sat next to him. Katara, Sokka, Erza, Wendy and Carla look at them with worried expressions. Then they seen Aang approaching them on his glider before landing to meet them. Katara ran up and hugged him.
"You're back!" Katara cried.
"Where's Gray?" Erza asked.
"Where's Lucy?" Natsu asked as well.
"I'm not sure." Aang replied looking down.
The sky grew dark and the sun was no longer visible.
Meanwhile Iroh and Flannery were chained to a boulder with their hands stretched out before them.
"These dangerous hands must be crushed. The Fire Nation general is first." The captain said as he raised a boulder from the ground. Then moving the boulder over Iroh's hands, he lowered his fist to drop the boulder on Iroh's hands. But right before the boulder could be dropped, Prince Zuko came in with a flying side kick. Aiko arrived with him and Zuko destroyed the chains on Iroh's hands while Aiko destroyed the chains on Flannery's hands.
"Nice form, you two." Iroh complimented them.
"You taught us well." Aiko said as she assumed a firebending stance.
"Yeah." Zuko nodded also assuming a firebending stance.
"Surrender yourselves. It's five against four. You're outnumbered." The captain ordered as he and the soldiers surround the four.
"Ah, that's true. But you are clearly outmatched." Iroh admitted, before continuing.
All of the Earthbenders attack by throwing rocks at them. Acting quickly, Iroh and Flannery swing their chains and destroy the boulder. Zuko and Aiko fired two fire blasts at two Earthbenders knocking them out.
Two other soldiers fire rocks at them as Zuko and Aiko prepare to destroy them, but Flannery wrapped her chains around them and swung them back at the soldiers, knocking them down. The captain raised three boulders and shot them at the four. They dodge it and Aiko threw white fire at the captain who blocked it with his helmet then raises two sheets of rocks and threw them but Iroh wrapped his chains around the captain's legs and pulls him to the ground. His attack then fell on top of him.
The four proudly stood together as they viewed their work.
"Now will you please put on some clothes?" Zuko asked.
"Please." Aiko begged.
"Okay. We will. Relax." Flannery said.
Meanwhile the sun set again and Aang stood before the gate waiting for Hei-Bai to return. From inside the main building the villagers, Katara, Sokka, Natsu, Happy, Erza, Wendy, Ray, Carla and Momo look through the meeting house window. The wind blew as Aang waited again. But when Hei-Bai didn't show like last time, Aang turned and went back into the village.
Wind chimes jingle as the wind blew. Before Aang made it half way past the second, Hei-Bai appeared roaring and started smashing a building. Aang screamed as he formed an air shield around him to block the falling debris.
"Aang, what are you doing? Run!" Katara shouted.
Hei-Bai went to another building but Aang ran under it's legs and then jumped over Hei-Bai. As he came down before the spirit's head, he placed a palm on Hei Bai's forehead and was able to see the monster's true form. Aang then landed on the porch and realized something.
"You're the spirit of this forest. Now I understand. You're angry because your home was burned down. When I saw the forest was burned down, I was upset but my friends gave me hope that the forest will grow back." He smiled as he showed Hei Bai the acorn Wendy gave him earlier as he gently placed the acorn down on the porch. Hei Bai picked it up and smiled before turning into a panda bear and turned to walk out of the village. As the spirit disappeared, stalks of bamboo grew between the gate posts. Then several villagers, Lucy and Gray walk out of the bamboo.
The villagers run up to their loved ones and hug them.
"What happened?" Gray asked.
"I don't know." Lucy answered as Wendy, Erza, Happy and Carla run up to the two then hug them.
"I'm so glad you two are still alive." Wendy said.
"You guys know what happened?" Gray asked.
"Yeah, Hei Bai took you two to the Spirit World." Ray answered.
"You were trapped there for twenty-four hours." Katara added.
"How do you two feel?" Erza asked.
"I feel a little weird, but I'll be okay." Lucy said.
"I feel like I need to use the bathroom." Gray said. Natsu then ran up to Lucy and hugged her before spinning her around wildly.
"LUCE! YOU'RE STILL ALIVE!" Natsu cried happily still hugging her to the point he almost crushed her and then let go.
"Listen, Luce I'm REALLY, REALLY, REALLY sorry for the stuff I said to you. I shouldn't have been angry with you for falling off accidentally. I'm also sorry for calling you selfish and stupid and..." Natsu was interrupted by her.
"It's okay, Natsu. I'm sorry for saying that I wished I never met you. I didn't really mean it. I was just angry because you were blowing a fuse after I accidentally fell this time." Lucy apologized.
"Let's just put that argument behind us, okay?" She asked.
"You bet!" Natsu said and the two hug causing Aang, Katara, Sokka, Happy, Gray, Erza, Wendy and Carla to smile. Ray turned his head to the side giving them a 
blank stare as he faced away from the rest of the group.
"I'm glad they finally made up." Happy said.
"I just hope that never happens again." Sokka replied.
Much later the gang stood in front of the village chief as two villagers stood behind him.
"Thank you, Avatar. If only there was some way to repay you for what you've done." The village chief said.
"You can give us some supplies and some money." Sokka said. Erza and Gray then punched him in the head.
"You fool!" Erza yelled.
"Idiot!" Gray shouted.
"What?" Sokka questioned as he rubbed his head. "We need stuff."
"It would be an honor to help you prepare for your journey." The village chief said as he bowed and left.
"I'm so proud of you Aang. You figured out what to do on your own." Katara said.
"Actually I did have a little help." Aang confessed, feeling downcast.
"What is it?" Lucy asked.
"I need to talk to Roku and I think I've figured out how to contact your spirit." Aang said.
"That's great!" Katara smiled.
"Creepy, but great." Sokka commented.
"You think everything's creepy, stupid." Gray muttered.
"So what are we supposed to do?" Erza asked.
"There's a temple on a crescent island and if I go there on the solstice, I'll be able to speak to Roku." Aang explained.
"But the solstice is tomorrow." Katara pointed out.
"That's not the only problem." Ray said out of nowhere, causing the rest of the group to look at him.
"The temple on the crescent island you just mentioned. Well, it's in the eastern part of the Fire Nation." He explained, shocking everyone else.