The Storm

Aang rode on Appa throughout the sky. While they were flying Aang saw Lucy using his glider while Natsu flew on a giant Happy on his left. They smile at Aang who smiled back. Then looking to his left while still smiling, he saw Katara, Sokka, Gray and Erza flying on a giant while Wendy was on the back of a giant Carla on his right. They wave at Aang and he waves back. ShineGreymon and Omnimon took up the rear with Ray standing on ShineGreymon's back.
"We need you Aang." Katara said.
"I need you too." Aang said with a friendly smirk.
His face changed when he saw rumbling storm clouds ahead, changing the nice bright day into one of misery. 
"Watch out, guys!" Aang said. When they didn't answer, he looked around for them.
"Guys?" He asked.
Aang found himself and Appa flying alone in the dark and cloudy sky. He was surprised to see a familiar face in a lotus position in front of Aang and floated.
"Gyatso?" Aang questioned.
"Why did you disappear?" Gyatso asked.
"I didn't mean to." Aang said sorrowfully.
"We need you Aang." Gyatso said. Aang placed his hand on his old master, but Gyatso dissolved into black dust. Aang and Appa then enter the storm cloud.
When Appa entered the storm cloud, he started screaming as the winds became rough while it started to rain. The bison and the Avatar were then knocked into the ocean. He started to lose his grip on the reins when a mixture of Gyatso and Katara's voices was heard.
"We need you, Aang. We need you. We need you, Aang." They repeated as the darkened figure of Fire Lord Ozai appeared.
"AHHHHHH!" Aang screamed which sent a chittering Momo running across Katara and Sokka as Happy woke up.
"AAAAAAHHHHHH!" Happy screamed as he pounces off of Natsu waking him up along with everyone else.
"Who? What? Where? How?" Natsu asked groggily as he looked around ready for a fight.
"What's goin on? Were we captured again?" He questioned.
"It's nothing, Natsu. Just a bad dream. Everybody go back to sleep." Aang said.
"Don't have to tell me twice." Sokka said as he laid back down. Aang then laid down and curled up.
"Aang, are you okay?" Katara asked.
"I'm fine." Aang answered as he laid there thinking.
"You know, you've been having a lot of nightmares lately. You can always talk to us if you feel comfortable about it." Lucy offered.
"Thanks, Lucy. I just need some rest. That's all." Aang said before closing his eyes.
"You guys wanna hear about my dream?" Sokka asked with a smile. Lucy and Katara shot him an annoyed look.
"No one cares about what happens in your dream." Gray commented.
"Yeah, well I didn't wanna talk about it anyway." Sokka shrugged as he went back to sleep. Everyone else did the same thing.
The next morning Lucy, Katara and Erza walked over with supplies while Aang adjusted Appa's reins before he pointed up to the sky.
"Clear skies today. That should mean we'll be in for some smooth flying." Aang said happily.
"Well, we should smoothly fly ourselves to a market. We're outta food." Gray said.
"In that case, that's our top priority today." Lucy replied.
"Guys, wait! We can't go to the market." Sokka warned the others.
"Why not?" Katara asked her brother.
"Planning to go on a diet?" Happy asked making Aang, Natsu, and Gray chuckle while Lucy and Wendy giggle.
"I'm being serious here! This happened in my dream." Sokka said.
"I'm gonna regret asking, but what exactly happened in your dream?" Gray asked.
"Food eats people." Sokka said and Aang, Lucy, Katara, and Erza shake their heads while Gray face palms as he actually regretted asking while Natsu and Happy look at each other nervous while Wendy looks at Carla who shakes her head to assure her that they'll be fine and Wendy nods. "Also, Momo can talk." Sokka said.
"What'd he say in your dream?" Happy asked.
"He said very unkind things." Sokka said.
"Whatever he said, then it must've been true." Lucy said and Aang, Natsu, Happy, and Gray chuckle while Katara and Wendy giggle making Sokka have a sour face.
Elsewhere, a certain Fire Navy Ship was sailing through the seas. Prince Zuko was looking at the skies through a telescope as Aiko looked at the sky while Iroh was sniffing the air.
"There's a big storm approaching." Iroh announced, smelling the air.
"You're out of your mind, uncle. The weather's perfect. There's not a single cloud in sight." Zuko retorted.
"I think Father is right. I believe the storm is approaching from the north. We should alter our course and head southwest." Aiko advised.
"We know that the Avatar and Celestial Mage are traveling northward, so we're doing the same." Zuko insisted.
"Zuko, please consider the safety of your crew." Flannery replied.
"The safety of the crew doesn't matter!" Zuko yelled. The lieutenant heard what he said as Zuko walked over to him. 
"Finding the Avatar and the Celestial Mage are more important than ANYONE'S SAFETY." Zuko explained then walked into the ship and closed the door behind him. 
"He doesn't mean that." Aiko reassured the lieutenant.
"Indeed. He's just worked up." Iroh explained.
The gang was currently in the process of purchasing food for their trip. Katara and Erza weren't entirely convinced about a melon and Erza looked at the watermelon suspiciously, displeasing the shopkeeper. 
"It's good! It's perfect! I'm telling you." The shopkeeper assured them as Erza shook the watermelon while it made a swishing sound.
"I'm not sure if I like the sound of that swishing." Erza said.
"Swishing means that it's ripe. It's the ripe juices swishing around, eh?" The shopkeeper replied.
"I think that's true, Erza. Swishing does mean that it's ripe." Aang said in agreement.
"We're gonna pass on the watermelon, as we're out of money." Erza said as she put the watermelon back.
"Let's go Katara." She ordered as the two walk away from the produce stand with the others following.
"Great. We're out of food AND money. What're we supposed to do?" Natsu asked.
"We could always find work." Ray suggested.
"But there are no job requests in this world." Wendy replied.
"No, but you can find someone to work for and get paid." Katara pointed out.
"True. Just get a job." Lucy said.
"But where can we find someone to work for?" Sokka asked.
"We shouldn't go out there. Please, the fish can wait. There's going to be a terrible storm." A woman said.
"Ah, you're crazy. It's a nice day. No clouds, no wind, no nothing so quit your nagging, woman." Her husband remarked.
"Maybe we should find some shelter." Aang suggested.
"Shelter from what? It's great out here?" Natsu asked.
"Aye." Happy nodded.
"My joints say there's going to be a storm. A bad one." The woman warned her husband.
"Well, it's my brain against your joints." Her husband said stubbornly.
"Well, then hope your brain can find someone else to haul that fish cause I ain't coming!" The old woman shouted.
"Then I'll find a new fish hauler and pay him double what you get! How do you like that?" Her husband replied.
"I'll go!" Natsu exclaimed.
"Me too!" Sokka added.
"You're both hired!" Her husband said, pointing at Natsu and Sokka. The two notice the troubled looks their friends are giving them.
"What? You guys said 'get a job'." Natsu said.
"Yeah and he says he's paying double." Sokka added.
"Double? Who told ya that nonsense?" The old man questioned.
Back on Zuko's ship four crewmen stood on the deck and saw the storm clouds roll in. The lieutenant turned to Zuko.
"Heh. Looks like your uncle and cousins were right about the storm after all." He said.
"Lucky guess." Iroh said, smiling.
"Lieutenant, you'd better learn some respect or I'll teach it to you." Zuko warned him.
"What do YOU know about respect? The way you talk to everyone here from your hardworking crew to your esteemed uncle and cousins shows you know nothing about respect." The lieutenant argued as Zuko became angrier. "You don't care about anyone other than yourself; then again, what should I expect from a spoiled prince." 
Zuko then stopped before turning to the lieutenant and glaring at him as Iroh and Flannery cover their faces. Aiko simply turned away.
Zuko then assumed a Firebending stance while the lieutenant did the same.
"Easy now." Aiko said, attempting to calm them down but Zuko and the lieutenant cross wrists preparing to fight. Before anything else could happen, Iroh came between them and separated the two. 
"Enough! We're all tired from being at sea for too long." Iroh pointed out.
"Father's right. Why don't we get some noddles to make everyone feel much better?" Flannery suggested. Zuko and the lieutenant glare at each other before turned away from each other.
"I don't need any of you to keep order on my ship." Zuko retorted. Iroh placed his hand on Zuko's shoulder but he rudely shoves it off and walks away causing Aiko to sigh.
Back at the harbor Natsu and Sokka were loading the old man's fishing boat while Aang looked at the sky with a worried expression on his face.
"Guys maybe this isn't such a good idea. Look at the sky." Aang advised.
"I'm still doin this job no matter what." Natsu declared.
"Yeah. We're not gonna back out because of some bad weather." Sokka added, trying to sound brave. 
"Idiots." Lucy muttered.
"What if something bad happens to them?" Wendy asked.
"If that's the case, we'll go after them." Ray answered.
"The boy with tattoos has some sense. You should listen to him." The old woman yelled at her husband causing him to stop moving the boxes. 
"Boy with tattoos?" He questioned before turning to look at Aang. 
"Those are Airbender tattoos. Well I'll be a hog monkey's uncle, you're the Avatar." The old man said, pointing at Aang.
"That's right." Lucy said with a smile.
"Don't be so smiley about it! The Avatar disappeared for a hundred years. You turned your back on the world!" The fisherman said angrily as he poked Aang's chest.
"Don't yell at him!" Katara shouted, defending Aang.
"You don't even know what you're talking about! Aang would NEVER turn his back on anyone!" Gray snapped.
"Oh, he wouldn't, eh? Then I guess I've imagined the last hundred years of war and suffering." The old man causing Aang to feel guilty. 
"It is clear you've gone senile! Aang is the bravest person we know!" Erza shouted.
Ray remained quiet. He knew everything the fisherman was saying is true.
"She's right. Aang has done nothing but help people and save lives since I met him." Katara said.
"Besides, it's not his fault he disappeared. Right Aang?" Lucy asked and saw the guilty look on his face as he slowly backed away.
"Aang, what's wrong?" Wendy asked. Aang turned and quickly took off on his glider.
"Aang, wait!" Gray called out.
"That's right! Keep flying!" The fisherman shouted. A ticked off Lucy punches him into the water.
"YOU'RE A HORRIBLE OLD MAN!" Lucy shouted.
"Imagine how you would feel if Aang wasn't there to save you!" Katara yelled.
"Eh." The fisherman said as Lucy, Katara, Erza, Gray and Wendy board Appa.
Ray wordlessly ignited his feet and flew after Aang.
"Appa, yip yip!" Lucy shouted as she took the reins. Appa took off as the fisherman got out of the water.
"Hey. They left without saying goodbye." Natsu said.
"Your friends ain't too polite, are they?" The fisherman asked. 
"I know. This one time, I was..." Sokka started to tell a story.
"Yeah, yeah, yeah. Get below deck." The fisherman said, not interested in hearing his story. He picked up a crate and handed it to Sokka.
The rain started to pour as Appa flew along the mountains. Lucy was driving him as Katara, Gray, Erza and Wendy sat on the saddle, shielding their eyes while they searched for Aang. As Appa rounded the side of a mountain, they noticed a small cave with a path attached to the ledge. They looked to each other and then looked to the cave before seeing a figure sitting on the cave floor. Appa landed near the ledge, then Lucy and Katara entered the cave with Erza, Gray and Wendy behind the two. 
"I'm sorry I ran away." Aang apologized.
"You're not the one who should apologize." Katara told him.
"Yeah, that fisherman was way out of line." Gray added.
"No he wasn't." Katara and the others were startled by Ray's voice.
"What are you talking about?" Erza questioned.
"It's a long story." He sighed.
"That I don't want to discuss." Aang admitted.
"It has to do with those nightmares, right?" Lucy asked Aang, who remained quiet.
"If you have a problem Aang, then talk to us. We're here for you." Erza said.
"Well, it's kind of complicated." Aang admitted as Momo, Happy and Carla enter the cave.
"Long or short, we're willing to listen to what you have to say." Carla told him as Appa entered and nudged the Airbender.
"Allow me to start a fire." Ray bent a small fire in the cave.
Aang, Lucy, Katara, Erza, Gray, Wendy, Happy and Carla sat on the side next to the fire.
"I'll never forget the day I became the Avatar." Aang began his story.
Flashback:
Young Airbenders played outside the Southern Air Temple while flying bison soar across the sky. Aang and a few others stood next to a staircase.
"First, you form the ball then you got to get on quick." Aang told them as he jumped onto his Air Scooter. Aang then starts moving around the plaza at amazing speed and went upside down on the arch of the bridge, before running up alongside a wall. When he landed he kept himself and the Air Scooter balanced on the railing of the bridge before riding down the stair railing and shouting, "Oh yeah!"
"Okay. Here goes." An older Air boy said before forming the scooter in his hands. 
"Quick! Get on!" Aang shouted but the boy then landed on his rear.
"You have to balance on it like it's a top." Aang advised.
"That's hard." The older Air boy admitted, sitting up and placing a hand on the side of his head.
Another kid came up to Aang and tugged on his sleeve before asking, "Where'd you learn that trick, Aang?" 
"I made it up." Aang answered with a shrug and a smile. 
"Wow!" The younger boy shouted.
Aang then saw Monk Gyatso and four other elders. 
"Aang, come with us. We must speak with you." Aang looked at his friends before following them. 
The five Air Monks and Aang then stood inside a chamber as the older monks sat on five stools. Aang knelled in front of them. The five monks proceed to tell Aang what they need to say to him, puzzling the young boy.
"How do you know that it's me?" Aang asked when they told him the news.
"We have known you were the Avatar for some time. Do you remember these?" One of the monk removed something from his sleeve. He showed Aang a rolled up package and airbended it over to him. It lands in front of him while opening by itself and inside the package were four toys. A little turtle toy, a propeller toy, a little monkey toy and a rattle toy with yellow and red swirls.
"Those were some of my favorite toys when I was little."  Aang said as he picked up the propeller toy.
"You chose them from among thousands of toys, Aang. The toys you chose were the four Avatar relics. These items belonged to Avatar's past - your own past lives." The fourth monk explained.
"I chose them because they seemed fun."  Aang admitted before pulling the string.
"You chose them because they were familiar." The fourth monk explained.
"Normally you were not told of your identity until you turned sixteen, but there are troubling signs. Storm clouds are gathering." Gyatso said.
"I fear that war may be upon us, young Avatar." The senior monk said.
"We need you, Aang." Monk Gyatso said. This caused Aang to lower his head and think.  
Aang's head was still lowered as Lucy, Katara, Erza, Gray, Wendy, Happy and Carla shoot him concerned looks.
"Gee, that must have been very tough for you." Lucy said.
"Yeah." Aang sadly replied.
Meanwhile Prince Zuko's ship continued to sail. Down in another section, the lieutenant took a sip of tea before complaining. 
"I'm sick of taking orders from him and I'm tired of chasing the Avatar and the Celestial Mage! Who does Zuko think he is anyway?" The lieutenant questioned.
"Do you really want to know?" Iroh's voice spoke up from a higher level. He was accompanied by Aiko and Flannery. The four crewman stood up in respect.
"General Iroh, we were just..." He quickly raised a hand to stop him.
"It's alright. May my daughters and I join you?" He asked.
"Of course, sir." The lieutenant said. Iroh, Aiko and Flannery took a seat with the three men.
"Please try to understand. My nephew is a complicated young man." Iroh told them.
"Yeah. He's been through much." Aiko added.
(Flashback)
A younger and un-scarred Zuko came down a path leading to the war room. Before he could enter, two guards stood in his way. 
"Let me in!" Zuko demanded. Iroh and Aiko came up behind him. 
"Prince Zuko, what is the matter?" Iroh asked.
"I want to go into the war chamber, but the guards won't let me pass." Zuko said, gesturing to the guards.
"You're not missing anything, cousin. Trust me, these meetings are dreadfully boring." Aiko said.
"But if I'm going to rule this nation one day, don't you think I need to start learning as much as I can." Zuko pointed out. General Iroh thought this over and then said.
"Very well." Then he warned Zuko. "But you must promise not to speak. These old folks are a bit sensitive, you know."
"Thank you, Uncle." Zuko said with a bow.
The three walked in together. Inside the war room Fire Nation generals sat around a large map of the Earth Kingdom that was on the floor. The Fire Lord sat on his throne surrounded by flames listening to the generals discuss their plan.
The Earth Kingdom defenses are concentrated here." He pointed to a spot on the map, "A dangerous battalion, their strongest Earthbenders and fiercest warriors." Then he told them of his plan, "So, I am recommending the Forty-first division." 
"But the forty-first is entirely new recruits." Another member of the meeting questioned, "How do you expect them to defeat a powerful Earth Kingdom battalion?"
"I don't." The general revealed. He sounded sinister as he said, "They'll be used as a distraction while we mount an attack from the rear. What better to use as bait than fresh meat?"
"You can't sacrifice an entire division like that!" Prince Zuko angrily said standing up. He tried to speak to their hearts by saying, "Those soldiers love and defend our nation." Then he glared as he questioned, "How can you betray them?!"
Mostly everyone in the war room looked to the prince with silent looks.
All five men looked to the general as he said, "Zuko was right, you see, but it was not his place to speak out, and there were dire consequences."
He hung his head as he remembered what happened.
"So you were upset that you were the Avatar?" Gray asked.
"But why weren't you excited about it?" Katara asked.
"Well…" Aang stared to say. Then he honestly admitted while hanging his head, "I didn't know how to feel about it." Then he looked up and said, "All I knew is that after I found out, everything began changing."
Air Temple courtyard
The other young Airbenders were laughing as they mastered how to do the Air Scooters. Aang walked in on them and saw how well they were doing. He complimented them, "Hey, not bad! You guys have been practicing."
"Not only that," Another young Airbender shouted as he went around Aang. He informed him, "we made up a game you can play with the Air Scooters!"
"Great!" Aang shouted in excitement before creating his own Air Scooter. But everyone else released their Air Scooters before Aang could play. Aang was confused by this and asked, "What's going on?"
"Now that you're the Avatar," the tall kid from earlier reluctantly said, "it's kind of an unfair advantage for whichever team you're on."
"But I'm still the same; nothing's changed." Aang tried to reassure them with a smile. But it faded when he asked, "So, what, I can't play?"
"That's the only fair way." The tall kid said. Aang dropped the Air Scooter before saying in disappointment, "Oh. Okay."
"Sorry, Aang." All the Airbender kids watched him go. Then the tall kid turns and asks with a pointing thumb, "Okay, now who wants to have Jinju on their team?"
Standing next to the wall was an Airbender coated in dust. The kid placed a hand on his chest with an awkward laugh and felt honored as he nodded in wanting to play.
Later that day…
In a room somewhere in the dorms, Aang and his mentor Monk Gyatso were playing Pai Cho. Aang was still glum as he pushed a tile from one side of the board to a spot next to a lotus tile. Monk Gyatso looked at it and said, "Very interesting move young one."
"What do you mean?" Aang asked in confusion. Placing a hand behind his bac, Gyatso secretly airbended a silent spiral of air that arch over their heads and threw Aang's shawl over his surprised head. Then while Aang was distracted, Gyatso quickly moved the tiles. When Aang lifted the clothing, he noticed what Gyatso did and said with a smirk, "Hey…"
The both of them started laughing, forgetting their troubles. That was until Dour Monk from earlier opened the door. Then he questioned Gyatso, "You're playing games with him?" He then said, "The Avatar should be training."
"Aang has already trained enough for today." Monk Gyatso said, taking his role as a mentor seriously. But the Dour Monk acted like he knew what was best and said, "Time is short." Then gesturing Aang to follow he said, "Come with me, I must test you on some high-level techniques."
Aang stood up to follow the Dour Monk, but Monk Gyatso knew what Aang needed most and said, "No." This surprised Dour Monk as Gyatso explained as a teacher, "As long as I am his guardian, I will decides when he trains…" And then he threw in a fatherly note by saying, "and when he gets his butt kicked at Pai Cho."
"Humph!" Dour Monk said before walking away. Aang looked to his mentor with a smile. 
This left the three of them sitting in front of the fire thinking.
"After Zuko's outburst in the meeting," General Iroh continued the tale, " the Fire Lord became very angry with him."
In the throne room, Prince Zuko looked to his father as the Fire Lord made the flames rise higher. 
Iroh said as he stared into the fire, "He said that Prince Zuko's challenge of the general was an act of complete disrespect," But he became ashamed when he said, "and there was only one way to resolve this."
"Agni Kai: A fire duel." The lieutenant said in realization. General Iroh said, "That's right." But then told the rest of the tale, "Zuko looked upon the old general he had insulted and declared that he was not afraid."
"But Zuko misunderstood." Iroh said as he remembered that day.
Both Prince Zuko and his opponent knelt on one knee as they mentally went over their training.
"When he turned to face his opponent, he was surprised to see it was not the general." Iroh told him of how the Agni Kai went.
Prince Zuko turned and assumed his firebending stance as he readied himself. But it fell when he saw his opponent. His cloth slowly fell to the ground as he stared in shock at his opponent.
"Zuko had spoken out against the general's plan, but by doing so in the Fire Lord's war room," Iroh explained about who was insulted, "it was the Fire Lord whom he had disrespected.
"Zuko would have to duel his own father." Iroh gravely said. Prince Zuko's eyes turned from surprise into fear.
"Then, just when I was starting to feel better, something worse happened." Aang said as he remembered what happened next.
Monk Gyatso and Dour Monk had come before the Elder Monk to discuss Aang and his training.
"Aang needs to have freedom and fun." Monk Gyatso argued for Aang's sake. He was looking out for him as he said, "He needs to grow up as a normal boy."
"Hmm." Dour Monk said before turning to his fellow monk and said, "You cannot keep protecting him from his destiny."
"Gyatso, I know you mean well," The Elder Monk said. But then he said, "but you are letting your affection for the boy cloud your judgment."
"All I want is what is best for him." Monk Gyatso said for Aang. But the Elder Monk knew this but felt that Aang's destiny would get nowhere, "But what we need is what's best for the world." Then he made an uneasy decision, "You and Aang must be separated. The Avatar will be sent away to the Eastern Air Temple to complete his training."
The declaration shocked Monk Gyatso, but it was more shocking and depressing to Aang as he listened in through a hole in the ceiling with wide eyes.
"That's awful." Wendy said.
"I agree. I don't even know what to say about this." Erza said and Katara places her hand on Aang's shoulder but he gets up angry.
"How can they do that to me?! They wanted to take away everything I knew and the people that I loved!" Aang yelled as his arrows and eyes glow again and energy is forming around him again causing the fire to swirl around the others.
"Whoa! Hot cinders!" Gray said as cinders get close to him.
Lucy quickly puts her hand on Aang's shoulder to make him calm down and his eyes and arrows are not glowing anymore.
"Thanks, Lucy. I'm sorry I got so mad." Aang said.
"Nobody blames you. We all know how you feel." Lucy said.
"I'm with Lucy. You have the right to be angry after the monks sent you away like that." Katara said.
"I would be ticked off too if that happened to me." Gray said.
"Actually, that's not what happened." Aang said.
"Then what actually happened?" Happy asked and Aang sighs as he has a guilty look on his face.
Flashback:
Aang is in his room and he's watching the other Air children playing outside with their air scooters from his window with a sad look as he wished to join them and play with them again like he used to and then he walks away from the window and lays down on his bed still sad.
"I was afraid and confused. I didn't know what to do." Aang said as he's narrating during the flashback.
It is now nighttime and Gyatso goes to Aang's room, knocks on his door, and enters the room.
"Aang, I'm not going to let them take you away from me." Gyatso said but doesn't see Aang. "Aang?" Gyatso asked as he looks around the room for Aang but while he's searching he finds a rolled up scroll on Aang's bed and so Gyatso picks up the scroll, opens it, and reads it but after he read the scroll he gasped and is shocked and he looks outside the window that's showing a very violent storm.
"I never saw Gyatso again." Aang said.
Aang is flying on Appa through the stormy sky but then while Appa keeps flying the storm tossed the ocean under them and Aang and Appa plunge into the sea while the storm is still happening and the two drift in the ocean but Aang activates his Avatar Spirit and creates an air sphere encasing himself and Appa in ice.
Flashback end.
"Next thing I knew, I was waking up in Katara's arms after she and Sokka found me in the iceberg." Aang finished explaining still guilty.
"You ran away. Believe me, I went through that too." Lucy said.
"Yeah and then the Fire Nation attacked our temple. My people needed me, but I wasn't there to help them!" Aang said.
"You don't know what would have..." Carla was cut off by Aang.
"The world needed me, but I wasn't there to help!" Aang said.
"Aang..." Gray was cut off
"The fisherman was right! I DID turn my back on the world!" Aang said, scolding himself
"Enough." Ray said strongly. "If you didn't run away, the war would be over by this point."
"I agree. If you had remained there, you would have been killed along with all the other Airbenders." Erza added.
"You don't know that." Aang said, not looking at his friends.
"I think they're right, Aang. I too think it's meant to be this way." Happy said.
"Yeah. The world needs you now. You give people hope." Katara said.
"And with me at your side, we'll give the world even MORE hope than ever." Lucy said as she places her hand on Aang's shoulder and Aang smiles at them and they smile back.
"Thanks, guys." Aang said.
Meanwhile Iroh continues telling the crewmen his story with a cup in his hand.
"When Prince Zuko saw that it was his father who had come to duel him, he begged for mercy." Iroh said.
Flashback:
Zuko who is now shirtless for the Agni Kai is in a rectangular arena and while Zuko is ready to face his opponent his expression is now horrified to see a shadow figure is his father instead of the general he spoke against to and the Fire Lord walks toward Zuko.
"Please, Father. I only had the Fire Nation's best interest at heart. I'm sorry I spoke out of turn." Zuko said as he kneels to the floor, begging for mercy.
"You will fight for your honor." The Fire Lord demanded.
"I meant no disrespect. I am your loyal son." Zuko said still knelt on the floor.
"Rise and fight, Prince Zuko!" The Fire Lord demanded.
"I won't fight you." Zuko said in a determined tone.
"You WILL learn respect and suffering will be your teacher." The Fire Lord said as he's now standing in front of Zuko who raises his head to his father while tears are flowing from his face.
While this is happening there are people watching this and it's the generals from the war room, a grinning Zhao, Aiko who has a concerned look, Shasta who also looks concerned, Flannery who looks fearful and tears are flowing from her face and she turns away and is hugging her face on Aiko and Shasta and they are holding her, Iroh who also looks fearful and looks away from what will happen to Zuko, and finally a cruel looking girl with black hair that's tied to a short bun and has two bangs on her shoulders, yellow eyes, and is wearing a soldier's uniform and she has an evil smirk on her face as she raises her fist in anticipation of what will befall Zuko.
"I looked away." Iroh said as he's narrating during the flashback.
"AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!" Zuko screamed in agony as the watchers are illuminated by flames.
Flashback end.
After Iroh finished explaining he had a sad look on his face while Aiko looks down in despair as well while Flannery is about to cry from hearing the story and the crewmen including the lieutenant are shocked and dismayed.
"I always thought that Prince Zuko was in a training accident." The lieutenant said, shocked.
"This was no accident." Aiko said.
"Indeed. After the duel, the Fire Lord said that by refusing to fight, Zuko has shown shameful weakness. As punishment, he was banished and was sent to capture the Avatar, only then could he return with his honor." Iroh assured the lieutenant.
"So that's why he's so obsessed. And since the Celestial Mage is with the Avatar now, capturing both of them is the only chance he has of things returning to normal." The lieutenant realized.
"Things will never go back to normal." Flannery said.
"Yes, but the important thing is that the Celestial Mage and the Avatar both give Zuko hope." Iroh told them. 
In his bedroom, Prince Zuko sat in front of the table with his candles lit. The prince was in deep thought as he remembered his past. He remembered screaming with joy as he and another child played on a hillside. Then he remembered looking over a horizon with his uncle's hand on his back. Prince Zuko thought about when he was much happier, before he became what he was today. The sound of crashing thunder broke him from his thoughts.
On the outside of the ship, lightning crashed against the side of the ship.
Meanwhile Aang, Lucy, Katara, Erza, Gay, and Wendy turn to see someone entering the cave and it's the old woman from before.
"Help! Oh, please help me!" The old woman begged, shouting as Katara and Erza rush over to help the old woman.
"It's okay. You're safe." Katara said as they enter the cave and sit next to the fire.
"But my husband isn't." The old woman told her.
"What do you mean? Where are Natsu and Sokka?" Erza asked.
"They haven't returned. They should have been back by now and the storm is becoming a typhoon. They're caught at the sea." The old woman informed them.
"Not good." Ray muttered.
"I'm going to find them." Aang said as he stood up.
"I'm going with you." Lucy added also standing up.
"I'm staying here." The old woman said sitting down turning her head away.
Aang and Lucy get on Appa who is ready to take off despite the bad weather happening.
"We'll be back soon." Aang said.
"Watch over her, okay?" Lucy asked and Katara, Erza, Gray, and Wendy nod. 
"Yip yip!" Lucy said.
Appa and ShineGreymon headed directly towards the storm.
The ship struggled to keep itself afloat as it sailed through the storm. Mostly everyone was on deck, searching for wherever the lightning struck.
"Where were we hit?" Zuko shouted to the lieutenant.
"I don't know." The older man said.
Flannery came up to them and pointing to the top of the ship. "Look!"
Zuko and the lieutenant looked up to see a man hanging for his life on the railing.
"The helmsman!" Zuko shouted in fear.
The metal creaked as the ship went through the raging storm. Prince Zuko and the lieutenant quickly climbed up the rungs to reach the helmsman. The ship continued to creak and groan as it swayed on the water. Iroh looked about until he had a certain feeling. Then as a bolt of lightning crashed towards the deck, he stuck two fingers in the air. The older man redirected it away from the ship. The natural electricity crashed into the raging water.
The ship rose with a wave and caused the helmsman to lose his grip. He yelled as he fell, but a hand quickly stopped the man from falling. Prince Zuko gently lowered the helmsman to the lieutenant. The lieutenant gives a grateful smile to the prince who gave one back. Thunder continued to rumble as the storm raged on.
Waves slapped the surface of the ocean as Appa flew through the storm. Aang and Lucy looked for any signs of the boat.
"Where are they?" Lucy questioned when she couldn't see anything.
They soon watched in shock as a giant wave came barreling towards them. 
"Come on, Appa!" Aang lifted the reins and shouted.
The bison growled as he tried to climb higher above the waves. Aang and Lucy were in shock when it seemed that the wave would hit them. But Aang's face became serious as they tried to climb. Then picking up his staff, Aang twirled it fast to where he could drill through the water. They came out the other side as they climbed higher into the air. Lucy used her Waterbending to open a hole in the wave. Aang soon saw the ship as it was being rocked by the aggressive sea.
"The boat! There!" Aang shouted.
Unbeknownst to the two, they passed directly over Prince Zuko's ship. The prince and his crew stared in surprise.
"The Avatar and the Celestial Mage!" Zuko shouted.
"What do you want us to do, sir?" The lieutenant asked. Prince Zuko wanted to go after the Avatar and the Celestial Mage, but knew what was important at the moment.
"Let them go. We need to get this ship to safety." Zuko ordered.
"Then let's head directly into the eye of the storm." Aiko said with a smirk.
"Agreed." Iroh added with a smile. The ship then turned towards it's new destination.
The fisherman's boat was violently thrown over the waves as it tried to stay afloat. Natsu, Sokka and the fisherman held on to some mooring ropes.
"I'm too young to die." Natsu said.
"Me too." Sokka added.
"I'm not, but I still don't want to." The fisherman said in agreement. 
Appa growled as he flew to the ship. The bison circled around and Aang quickly jumped off before running to them. A flash of lightning struck the mast causing it to fall over. Aang gasped before acting quickly by throwing his arms up to raise three water spouts. The water cut through the wood and made it divide right before it landed on the three. As Aang came up to the three, Sokka quickly tied it around his, Natsu's and the fisherman's waist.
"Hang onto the rope." Aang told them. 
Then taking one end, he ran over and jumped on to ShineGreymon's hand. He wrapped it tightly around the dragon's arm and he pulled them to safety. ShineGreymon flew over Appa and they fell into the saddle.
Lucy looked behind her to see a wave carrying the boat rise high over the bison. Appa tried to outfly the wave, but he and all his passengers were caught in it. They all sank below the waves. As he lost his grip, Aang looked to see the same scene happening again, only this time more than him and Appa were on the line. He stared to see Lucy, Natsu and the fisherman all trying to hang on. Not wanting them to die, Aang quickly grabbed onto the reins as his Airbender tattoos glowed again. Then doing what he once did one hundred years ago, he slammed his fists against each other and formed a giant air sphere around them. When it completely surrounded them everyone else fell into the saddle as Appa made a U-turn towards the surface.
Prince Zuko's ship had just reached the eye of the storm, a spot in the rain and rough spots that were much calmer than anywhere else. As the rain lightened around the ship, Prince Zuko bowed his head.
"Uncle, Aiko, Flannery I'm sorry." He humbly said.
"Your apology is accepted." Iroh graciously said as he placed a hand on his nephew's shoulder. Then something tremendous happened on the port side of the ship as the Avatar's bison and ShineGreymon burst out of the water. Aang and Lucy looked down to see Prince Zuko looking up at them.
Neither side did anything as the two flew up and away through the eye.
When the group had returned to the cave, the fisherman's wife was happy to see her husband. 
"Oh, you're alive!" She happily said.
"I hate to ruin this moment, but you have something to say to Aang right now, old man!" Gray shouted.
"He's right, you owe this boy an apology!" She told her husband pointing to Aang.
"He doesn't have to apologize." Aang said, trying to be humble about it. 
"What if instead of an apology, I give him a free fish and we call it even?" The fisherman offered.
"Actually, I don't eat meat." Aang politely declined.
"Fish ain't mean." The fisherman said.
"Yes it is!" Happy argued.
"Seriously, you're still gonna pay us right?" Sokka walked up to the fisherman and asked. They closed their eyes and held out their hand. Their payment was rewarded with a fish put into their hand. 
"Give me the fish." Natsu instructed. Sokka passed it to him. 
"Here you go, Happy." He gave him a pair of fish.
"Yay!" Happy cheered as he starts eating the fish.
"I think you guys were right before. I'm done dwelling in the past." Aang said.
"Really?" Katara asked.
"I can't make guesses about how things would have turned out if I hadn't run away. I'm here now and I'm gonna make the most of it." Aang said.
"I don't think you're going to have those nightmares any more." Lucy told him with a smile. 
"If you weren't here now, then I guess I wouldn't be here either. Thank you for saving my life, Avatar." The fisherman gratefully said as he came up and placed a hand on Aang's shoulder.
"You're welcome." Aang replied.
"Guys, do you hear that? It stopped raining." Wendy said.
Everyone came out to enjoy the beauty. But the moment was ruined when Appa growled and shook the water off of him and onto them, making them huddle up and groan.
"Appa!" The group whined, but later started to laugh.