Main story

Here, the new Avatar's story begins. The main story is divided in three chapters:

Book 1: Elements;

Book 2: Spirits;

Book 3: Humans.

# Book 1: Elements

NOTE: The episodes have only the storyboard and, sometimes, some dialogues that i considered important to the story. So, they are just a summary. There are a lot of things that could happen to make the episodes longer, but i've decided to make them shorter because of the number of episodes by chapter and to save time.

Wattpad link: https://www.wattpad.com/story/339352662-avatar-the-journey-of-vanko-book-1-elements

### Episode 1 - A NEW WAR

At the end of The Legend of Korra, the Avatar World underwent a series of transformations: spirits now inhabited both the Physical World and the Spirit World, as the Avatar's role as the bridge between the two worlds was renounced by Avatar Korra, who believed that spirits and humans should learn to live together.

However, this did not end well. Using the Third Spirit Portal, at the center of Republic City, a big and terrible group of humans of all nations called Anti-Spirit Society started to expell the spirits back to the Spirit World to reclaim the humans' territory that they believed to belong only to the humans and that the spirits were causing problems since they started to live together with them. They used the power of the ancient spirits (spirits that were more powerful than the others and had a incredible power) to build powerful spirit weapons to use the spirits' power against themselves and to become stronger in the battles. Once they has completed their first plan of sending the spirits back to their world, they would capture the Avatar to force him to close all the three Spirit Portals to separate the spirits from the humans, once only the Avatar could close the portals. Due to this, even Korra was in danger, but only in the future.

The society began with the envy of the humans of the great power of the spirits and the popular dissatisfaction due to the spirits' occupation in the Physical World, that was taking away the territory of the humans. The Anti-Spirit Society was led by Yuang, the first leader of the society and an extremely evil man. The invasion started when they took over Republic City, expelled everyone from there and started furious battles against the spirits to send them back to their world. Clearly, the spirits would try to fight them to stop this in every way possible, but the power of the humans was incomparably greater because they were more numerous and they were smarter and more intelligent than the spirits. The battles lasted for years and the spirits started to lose the fights and, as the time passed, they were forced to leave the Physical World and return to the Spirit World.

After the society's domination in Republic City, the humans had to build campings on the top of the mountains around the city. The plan of expanding the city to house both humans and spirits, proposed by the ex-President, Raiko, started very well, but with the powerful attacks in the city, the plan failed and the spirits were threatened of extinction. Zhu Li Moon, the new president of the United Republic of Nations, said that the Anti-Spirit Society had the power to combat the spirits using their own energy, in the form of powerful weapons, as well as Kuvira did, when she built her spirit weapon.

By controlling Republic City, creating several spirit weapons with the spirit energy and fighting against the spirits more and more, Yuang and his society became dangerous enemies to the spirits and their plans was just starting, once he had plans to turn the society warheroes for the humans and to make them be promoted as an elite group of warriors to defend the humans and finally control the humans by manipulating them with their ideas. They believed that the spirits always were a problem and that they had to be separated from the humans for ever. Only that way, the true peace would be brought to the humans.

The spirits started to die, suffering on the hands of the Anti-Spirit Society, that was confronting them more and more and had no mercy with the spirits that tried to confront them back and killed them or captured them and made them suffer a lot with painful tortures. During these hard times, no one could think of a good solution to end this new war. The Avatar had to spring in action once again.

Korra spent the rest of her short life, due to the physical and spirit debilitations she suffered in the past, trying to end the war and restore peace between humans and spirits. However, her efforts were futile and the battles continued to grow. In her untimely death at the age of 35, 14 years after the end of The Legend of Korra, she lamented that she failed in her mission to restore peace and balance.

- Korra: I'm sorry for my failure! I didn't want anything to end this way! I'm the worst Avatar ever!

- Asami: Don't say that, Korra! You changed the world more of all the Avatars in their whole lives! You are stronger than all of them. You helped the world more than anyone.

- Tenzin: Yes, Korra. It's true. You're one of the strongest Avatars ever. Even my father could not change the world as the way you did. We're very proud of you.

- Korra: Thank you, friends!

Korra decided to sleep for a while, but she couldn't. Then, she sat on her bed and started to meditate to communicate with Raava.

- Korra: Raava, can you hear me?

- Yes, Korra. I'm here.

- Korra: I could not end this war and restore the balance in the world. My mission is incomplete. And now the Avatar is in danger. What should my successor do?

- Raava: I know that we're facing difficult times and a lot of new challenges, and it's very more difficult without the help of our past experiences, that faced hard times too, but the Avatar is the protector of the balance in the world. I'm sure that we're not fail because we never failed before. I trust in the new avatar as well i trusted in you and in the past Avatars.

- Korra: Do you think that the new Avatar will be safe? The society is threating us too. Are you sure that he will save everything? It seems impossible to restore the peace and the balance in the world this time.

- Raava: Yes, Korra. Even if it seems impossible, the balance will come, earlier or later. Let's continue together in this new stage of our life. We will help him in everything possible to help him fulfilling his mission and restore the balance in the world, right?

- Korra: Yes, we will do that. I'm ready to became his past experience to guide him in his journey. Thank you for everything, Raava!

- Raava: You're welcome! Now, the time has come. See you in your next life, Korra!

After their conversation, Korra finally got to sleep and died in her deep sleep. Asami, Tenzin and Korra's parents saw her body disappear, becoming glowing particles in the air. Sad about her death, but proud of her great work as the Avatar, they left the room to give everyone the notice. Avatar Korra was dead. Those were hard days for everyone because everyone liked her. In the next day, her funeral happened in the Southern Water Tribe. People had so much difficulty to say goodbye to Korra. She should have a long and happy life, but died very young. The Avatar's death affected specially Asami and Korra's parents because they were her family. A big ice statue of Korra was erected in the center of the tribe in honor of her by the southern Waterbenders. And after her death, the Avatar Cycle continued and the Avatar was reincarnated into a person born with the power of Earthbending.

### Episode 2 - THE HARD MISSION

Before the story begins, it is necessary to understand the dificulties that the new Avatar will face in his life, starting with the break of the connection with past Avatars, when Raava was removed from Korra and destroyed by Unalaq and Vaatu. Korra made it to bond herseld with Raava again after her ressurection just before the end of the Harmonic Convergence because she could not be destroyed for ever, as well as Vaatu. However, the Avatar's connection with his past lives remained broken and nobody knows if it's possible or no to restore the connections with the Avatar's past experiences and save the previous incarnations.

After that, the Avatar's past lives were lost and the incarnations were restarted and this will be permanent and Korra will be the first past life of a new cycle if the original cycle is not restored and the connection with the past Avatars is not recovered. Because of this, the new Avatar couldn't connect with any past Avatar before Korra and, due to this, he could connect only with her because she is his immediate predecessor. So, his duty as the Avatar will be very hard to him because he is almost alone to learn everything about his mission and probably, his powers will be very limited.

Being forced to carry these hardships on his shoulders, the new Avatar will get help only from Korra to complete his mission of bring back the peace and the balance to the world. But there's a problem: how can the new Avatar stop the unbeatable AntiSpirit Society with these debilitations in his spirit? How can he fulfull his destiny and finish Korra's mission being spiritually weak? His mission would be impossible if he doesn't discover a way to recover his spirit of the damages that he suffered as Avatar Korra.

As Korra and Raava combined, they would guide the new Avatar since the beginning of his life to do everything by the right way. She would communicate with him and give him her councils all the time. Then, he would not fail as her did and in the mission, that would be finally fullfiled with the return of the balance and the peace between humans and spirits.

NOTE: Sorry by this short episode. It serves only to explain all of Korra's traumas in the past. It could be made entirely of flashbacks and important lessons that Korra learned along her life as the episode narrates the text slowly and gradually.

Sincerely, 0UT3R\_5P4C3.

### Episode 3 - AVATAR VANKO

Vanko was a middle-class boy born in Ba Sing Se, the capital of the Earth Republic (the former Earth Kingdom, which was turned into a republic by King Wu, who abolished the monarchy and replaced the kingdom with a republic after the defeat of the Earth Empire for that there could be more equality and freedom for all). Since he was a little boy, Vanko knew that he was the Avatar and shown ease in the advanced Earthbending techniques and in some very basic as well as Korra at the same age.

But Vanko never revealed his identity to anyone, even to his parents. He was afraid that he could be separated of them because of his duties with the world. He was very young to understand, but being the Avatar is one of the biggest responsabilities of the world. By this reason, he kept his identity hidden and, sometimes, he tried to understand why he was selected as the new Avatar, once he never wanted to be.

Due to this, Vanko always trained his bendings hidden from everyone. His parents never suspected anything about their son's secret identity. Unlike Korra, who was more explosive and agitated when she manifested her bendings, Vanko demonstrated to have more control and patience and did not like to use it to fight or to show off or compete, but to learn them by the original way, with the objective of use them as his lifestyle. Vanko was a very calm and patient person, he almost never lost his control. His good personality helped him to delevop his bendings more easily and to become more powerful and wise.

When he was a little kid, Vanko became friend of a female fox antelope, that was found by him lonely in a square when it was just a cub and adopted it. Vanko named her Kalla and she became his animal partner.

Until he was 13 years old, Vanko kept his identity hidden from everyone, including his family. After he reached the age of 13, the Middle Ring, the residence of the middle-class people and where Vanko lived with his parents, was attacked by a very big group of residents of the Lower Ring, poor people who revolted for the terrible conditions they lived in and wanted more equality. The Earthbenders of the Middle Ring fought the invaders, causing a long and intense battle. Vanko's mother was a strong Earthbender, so she helped in the fight. Unfortunately, there were too many enemies. During the battle, she was knocked out and captured with the other Earthbenders by the invaders. His father was a non-bender, so he could not do anything.

Seeing his mother defeated and captured made Vanko's emotions explode, awakening his Avatar spirit for the first time. He said:

- Vanko: Let; my; mother;  go; NOW!

Vanko entered the Avatar State and expelled all the invaders from the Middle Ring, throwing all of them back to the Lower Ring, using a very powerful sandstorm, that was a combination of Earthbending and Airbending. During his rage, in the middle of the sandstorm, his parents tried to calm him until he finally woke up from the Avatar State. After making the invaders fly back to their ring, he used Earthbending to rebuild the wall that divided the Lower Ring and the Middle Ring, that was destroyed by the invaders to start the invasion. He saved his parents and all the other Earthbenders that were captured, ending the battle between the two rings.

Everyone, especially Vanko's parents, were surprised for discovering that he was the new Avatar. He was immediately sent with his parents to the Palace of the Earth Republic, the former home of the Earth Kings and Earth Queens and now the home of the President of the Earth Republic and the city's regents. They were sent there to make an audience with Manny, the first and current president of the republic and a very wise and sympathetic man. In the audience, Vanko's parents said that they never knew about his identity, only coming to know about it that same night. After talking everything that happened, president Manny explains Vanko that being the Avatar, his duty with the world would be learning to bend all the four elements, so that he could use these powers to restore the peace and the balance. Vanko is convinced by the president to leave the capital of the Earth Republic and start the journey. When they got home,  Vanko's parents had a conversation with him to decide about his journey and his duty. They told him that he needed to start his journey by finishing his training in Earthbending and that they would send him to his grandmother, in Zaofu, because she would help him.

Vanko was son of Kuvira and Baatar Jr. After she was released from house arrest for her repentance and becoming a good person again, she was forgiven by her family. Baatar Jr. was slow to forgive her, but in the end, he still loved her and they finally got married, as they always wanted, and moved to Ba Sing Se to live a new life.

Suyin Beifong was Vanko's maternal and paternal grandmother at the same time, once she was the mother of Baatar Jr. and adoptive mother of Kuvira. At that time, she was already very old, but she still could Earthbend and Metalbend like a master. So, she could teach her grandson Earthbending without any difficult. Kuvira sent a letter to Suyin, explaining that her that the Avatar was her grandson and now he needed her help. Then, Vanko packed his things, said goodbye to his parents and finally traveled with Kalla to Zaofu to start his first step in his Avatar journey: finish his trainings in Earthbending.

### Episode 4 - EARTHBENDING MASTER

After Vanko left Ba Sing Se, his mother, Kuvira, started to act strange. She was serious all the time and did nothing but stay quiet and think and she couldn't even sleep. Then, Baatar Jr. had a conversation with her:

- Baatar Jr.: What is wrong with you, honey? You are acting strange since he left.

- Kuvira: Nothing. I'm just worried about him.

- Baatar Jr.: Oh, come on!  You never hid anything from me!

- Kuvira.: Ok, i will tell you. I still cannot believe that our son is the Avatar. You remember everything we did with Korra, don't you? How many times we tried to kill her! How bad we have been with the Earth Empire! I betrayed her and i almost kill her many times! And now, our son is the next Avatar? How can i accept being his mother after everything i did against the Avatar?

- Baatar Jr.: Don't do this with yourself, honey! You are not a bad person! I forgived you because i was bad like you and we learned together to forget this and have a normal and good life. You are the most good and incredible person i know, Kuvira! You became bad, but you made it to turn yourself good again.

- Kuvira: Oh, honey! Thank you! I love you very much!

- Baatar Jr.: I love you very much too!

They kissed each other.

After leaving his family in Ba Sing Se, Vanko arrived in Zaofu, where he found his grandmother, Suyin, and began his training in Earthbending. For 2 years, Vanko learned everything he still had to learn in Earthbending, as well as learned to bend lava and metal. During the first year, his grandmother trained him in the advanced techniques of Earthbending and taught him Metalbending. Vanko took a few hours to understand, but he finally found out that metal has earth inside it, so it can be bended. Finally, he started to bend the metallic pieces of the asteroids and a short time after that, he already could bend big and heavy metal things, like sculptures or airplanes, and he also learned how to bend metal weapons, like metal cables and metal strips, used by the Metal Clan or the Republic City Police. He also learned to give the form he wanted to anything made from metal. He learned everyting very fast and had no difficulties. Earthbending was a very easy bending for him. Besides Suyin, Vanko was assisted by Raava in all of his trainings and due to that, he had success in all the trainings. For the Lavabending training, Suyin invited a special person to teach him: Bolin, a powerful Lavabender and friend of Avatar Korra.

- Bolin: So, you're the new Avatar, right? Nice to meet you!

- Vanko: Yes, Bolin! I'm glad to meet you too!

- Bolin: Did you know that Korra and i were good friends?

- Vanko: Wait, who is Korra?

- Bolin: What? You don't know? She was the...

Suyin interrupted him.

- Suyin: No! He is not ready to know her yet! In the right moment, she will reveal herself for him.

- Bolin: Oh! I'm sorry, Sue!

- Vanko: Why can't you tell me who she is?

- Suyin: Because you need to discover this by yourself.

- Vanko: But how can i discover who she is if i don't even know anything about her?

- Suyin: Oh, no, Vanko! You know her very well. You've never seen her or heard anything about her, but you know her somehow. Look inside you, inside your spirit, and you will find the answer you're looking for.

- Vanko: Okay! I'll try.

- Bolin: But first, let's start your training, little boy!

- Vanko: Great, let's start!

Vanko learned that lava is different from earth and metal. He had to change his posture and let the heat flow by his body. After some hours, he started to melt small pieces of earth and in some weeks, he already could melt metal things. He evolved in his training as the time passed and had his doubts solved by his teacher, Bolin, or by his grandmother. During his time of resting, Vanko meditated several times to try to solve the mystery of the identity of Korra. Her name sounded familiar to him, but he could not remember her anyway. Thinking alone in the void, he started to force his memory, but he didn't find anything.

He knew that Bolin was friend of someone called Korra. His grandmother seemed to know her very well too, but they didn't reveal anything, even a tip. She seemed to have been a very important person for the whole world in the past because Bolin expected him to already know her, but my grandmother wanted him to find out this by himself. Could be something important particularly for him. She could be the key for him to discover his duties with the two worlds and how to restore and keep the balance.

It was clear. She was past of his past, one of his past lives, an Avatar. But why she would be more special than the other past lives? Keeping in mind that she was his past life, Vanko meditated again and in the darkness of the void, he felt something, a light. It connected him with a glowing spirit that later revealed to be a woman wearing a Southern Water Tribe costume and with short hair. An Avatar of water. Yes, it was her.

- Vanko: Korra!

- Yes, young Avatar. It's me.

Her importance was now perfectly clear. Following the Avatar cycle and considering that Vanko was an Avatar of earth and that she was an Avatar of water, she was his antecessor as the Avatar.

- Vanko: You're my antecessor! But why no one could told me about you? Why i had to discover this by myself?

- Korra: Redescovering your past experiences is something that no one can do for you because it's inside your spirit. You know them better than anyone.

- Vanko: I understand now, you're inside the Avatar spirit, with your spirit bonded with him.

- Korra: Well, more or less. The Avatar spirit is bonded with me for ever, as well as with you and with all the other past Avatars. We are part of a whole, but even sharing the same Avatar spirit, our human spirits are individual and each one of us have one. Due to this, our spirits are in the Spirit World, as well as anyone who leaves the physical life. Becoming a spirit is part of the afterlife of any living being in the world.

- I got it. But i didn't felt any other signal of my past lives. I can feel only your presence. How is it possible if the Avatar exist since... uh, i don't know... a long time ago?

- Korra: This question is something that i cannot answer you. At least, not yet. You still have much to learn. When you find this out by yourself, we can talk about it.

- Vanko: Discovering everything is something that i will do again and again, right?

- Korra: Yes, Vanko. It's part of the training of an Avatar learn to discover things by himself. Of course that you can ask for help, but not if you haven't tried it by yourself yet. The Avatar must be wise, smart and independent. Autonomy is essential not only for the Avatar, but to everyone.

- Vanko: Alright. I'm glad that i found out the first Avatar mistery of my life. Thank you so much, Korra! You helped me to understand my position as the Avatar and to pay attention to my trainings because i'm learning what i will face in the future. I want to talk with you more times.

- Korra: You're welcome! Now that we're connected, you can talk me whenever you want. I'm happy to know you, young Avatar. See you in the next time you need to talk with me.

- Vanko: Bye, Korra! See you!

Vanko finally woke up. He told his grandmother about his discovering. She told him that he did well. She knew the importance of learning how to be autonomous and independent. Now, she could help him with his difficulties that he could have after thinking and not seeing any exit by himself. Boling congratulated him and told him that was the time to continue the trainings. Vanko agreed and continue to train.

Because of his patience and self-control, Vanko learned everything very fast. Learn how to bend the elements was fun. The second year has passed and Vanko was ready to finish this first step. After all the trainings, at the age of 15, Vanko became an complete Earthbending master and thanked Bolin for being his master in Lavabending. Then, he had a conversation with his grandmother about the time that he discovered that he was the Avatar:

- Suyin: Vanko, you are ready now. We finally completed your training in Earthbending and Metalbending. Did you enjoy it?

- Vanko: Well, granny, it was very great training and i loved to learn Earthbending with you. It is my favorite bending.

- Suyin: Of course it is! You are an Avatar of earth.

Laughs.

- Vanko: Granny, my mother once told me that she was consumed by her obssession of dominating the Earth Republic when it was still a kingdom after the death of Queen Hou-Ting. It is true that my mother was enemy of the Avatar before me?

- Suyin: Well, your mother and i have been great friends of Korra, but when the Order of the Red Lotus almost killed Korra, she was very debilitated and she had to return home for three years to heal her wounds. Then, your mother and your father had the idea of take over the Earth Kingdom with the objective of restore the peace until the coronation of a new monarch. I didn't agree with them and we had a discussion. They took my armies to Ba Sing Se and tried to take over all the former Earth Kingdom to establish order and create an empire. As the time passed, they became corrupted by all the power and the domination that they established in the kingdom. When Korra returned from her recovery, she tried to stop them, but they became enemies. When Korra captured your father, your mother almost killed him, chosing the empire instead of him. Then your father found out that she was wrong and surrended. Only when your mother was defeated at the end of the great battle in Republic City and saved by Korra, she found out that the Avatar was right and she should restore the balance in the world. Then, your mother finally surrended and declared the end of the Earth Empire. After a long time, she was forgiven by our family and your father, that was mad at her,  forgave her fell in love with her again after a time. Then, the Earth Kingdom became the Earth Republic after the renouce of King Wu and after that your mother married your father, they moved to Ba Sing Se to restart their lives positively. And after five years, they had you. Now that your mother knows that you're the Avatar, she is more sorry than ever and even though that this is a punishment because of her attempts to destroy the Avatar and conquer the world, disturbing the balance.

- Vanko: Wow! What a big and complicated story!

- Suyin: Yes, it really is! But i'm very happy and surprised that my grandson is the new Avatar! Your mother, despite surprised and regretful, is happy with your destiny too, you will see. Now, it's time to you go back home to start your next step in your journey. I'm sure that you will discover a lot of things and that you will learn everything to bring the peace to the world again. Say to your mother and your father that i love them very much.

- Vanko: Yes, i will tell them. Bye, granny! Hope to see you soon!

- Suyin: Bye! Hope to see you soon too!

They waved at each other and Vanko went back with Kalla to Ba Sing Se.

Passing through the Middle Ring, he found his parents. They were very happy to see him again and very proud of his first success. After one day, he went to talk to the president again and start the next step on his journey. During another audience, president Manny tells Vanko that he had invited a very special person to talk with the Avatar. Entering the meeting room was a tall man with black and short hair, wearing a Fire Nation costume and a big crown in his head. It was the Fire Lord Iroh II, former general of the United Forces and son of the former Fire Lady, Izumi.

- President Manny: Vanko, this is the Fire Lord Iroh II.

- Vanko: Nice to meet you!

- Fire Lord Iroh II: Nice to meet you too, young Avatar!

- President Manny: Well, Vanko, your next step in your Avatar journey is learning Firebending, and the Fire Lord Iroh II is the best master to train you. So, you will travel to the Fire Nation to learn Firebending with him.

- Vanko: Yeah! Of course i will! I'm more than ready!

- Fire Lord Iroh II: Yes, you are! And i cannot wait more to be your master! So, let's go?

- Vanko: Yes! Let's go now!

- President Manny: Good luck for you!

- Bye, president!

Very happy, Vanko accepted the next step of the journey and traveled with Kalla and the Fire Lord Iroh II to the Fire Nation, where he would begin to train Firebending. Vanko was happier than before, he was very anxious to start.

### Episode 5 - THE OPPOSITE ELEMENT

As soon as he arrived at the Fire Nation, Vanko was surprised to see how much all the benders around the world admired the Avatar. Iroh II told him the entire history of the Fire Nation and the Hundred Year War:

- Iroh II: After leaving the fire lion turtle, a fearless, proud, powerful and brave group of firebenders wanted to live in a new place, without so much inequality, misery or hierarchy. Then, they found the territory that is the Fire Nation currently. They started with villages, evoluting later to cities and, after a long time, our nation as we know it. During the evolution time, people faced a lot of difficulties, like the tyrannical rulers of the villages or the Kemurikage. One day, a very powerful firebender ended with the wars and unified the territory, creating the Fire Nation. After a long time, Fire Lord Sozin tried to conquer all the Four Nations because of his ambition, but your past life, the Avatar Roku, stopped him. Unfortunately for him, it didn't last long. During the volcanic eruption in Roku's island, the Avatar stopped the lava while Sozin saved everyone, except him. He finally could continue his plans of conquering the world and killed all the Air Nomads using the power of Sozin's comet with the objective of killing the new Avatar, but luckily, he survived and kept himself hidden from the Fire Lord's eyes. Meanwhile, the Fire Nation continued the Hundred Year War, tooking over the other nations and, after these 100 years, when the fire nation was almost winning the war under the command of Fire Lord Ozai, the Avatar Aang woke up and travelled around the world to bend the four elements to stop the war. Then, during Sozin's comet, Aang fought agains Ozai and defeated him in the Avatar State. With the help of his Team Avatar and the other nations, he ended the war and brought the peace again to the whole world. His friend Zuko, son of Ozai, became the new Fire Lord and, together, they created the United Republic of Nations. Many years later, my mother, Izumi assumed the throne and continued with her father's work to keep the peace in the Fire Nation and help the other nations with this mission too. After the Hundred Year War, the Fire Nation became good again and now, i'm continuing my mother's mission.

- Vanko: Wait a moment... my past lives? Avatar Roku? Avatar Aang? I know my antecessor, Korra, but i have no idea of who are them.

- Iroh II: They are experiences that you already had in the past, as the other Avatars.

- Vanko: But i fell like i never was them. I feel like they never existed.

- Iroh II:  I know why. And it's time for you to have a tip after thinking by yourself, but without any discovering.

- Iroh II: Your antecessor, the Avatar Korra, had a battle with a very powerful and evil villain during her first journeys. His name was Unalaq, a member of the Order of the Red Lotus, an extremely evil society that thought that the Avatar is the world's greatest problem and due to that, they tried to destroy the Avatar several times. Unalaq was the one who almost made it, removing Raava, the spirit of the Avatar, from inside of Korra and destroying her. When that happened, the Avatar's past lives were lost and Korra could not fix this. Due to this, you cannot have any connection with one of your past lives before Korra.

Vanko made a really sad expression.

- Vanko: B-but, Korra is my immediate antecessor. It means that i can communicate only with her.

- Iroh II: Exactly.

Noticing his insecurity and unhappiness, the Fire Lord said:

- Iroh II: What your first conversation with Korra was about?

- Vanko: We've just connected our spirits through the Avatar spirit. She said that i have to learn by myself and when i have doubts, i should ask for help. She said that i would discover this looking deep inside me, inside my past as the previous Avatar.

Vanko tried to meditate for a while, searching in his past memories, but he could only hear distorted voices and unclear images of the past.

- Iroh II: You need to practice your memories to learn how to solve this mistery with her. Only her can help you with this because the experience is part of the life of you two.

- Vanko: Thanks anyway, my lord! I will practice this later. So, when will we start the Firebending training?

- Iroh II: It depends on you. Are you feeling good to start?

- Vanko: Of course, i cannot wait!

- Iroh II: Good! I have some things to solve today. Let's rest today and we start tomorrow, okay?

- Vanko: Perfect, my lord!

- Iroh II: Vanko, if you prefer, you can call me only as "Iroh".

- Vanko: Okay, my l... i mean... Iroh.

Iroh II smiled and retired to carry out his tasks. He gave Vanko a room at the Royal Palace and he could see from very close how the government of the Fire Nation worked. When he passed through somewhere, nobody stopped looking at him. He felt a little bit uncomfortable, but soon got used to it.

The sun rose and the daylight started to shine. Vanko and Iroh II woke up earlier than the others because the Fire Lord wanted to show him a very important thing before they could start the training. Vanko and Iroh II saw the sunrise together. Then, Iroh II said:

- Iroh II: The sun, the source of a firebender's power. It brings heat, energy and light for everyone.

- Vanko: I think i didn't understand. I didn't had this lesson during my Earthbending training. How can i learn to use the energy of the sun?

- Iroh II: To learn all the other elements, you need to stop thinking as a bender of one single element. You need to be flexible and adaptable for all the changes that will appear in your future. The flexibility that i'm talking about is inside you, it is in your spirit. You need to look for it deep down and release it from within you. Bending is not only a fighting style. It's a lifestyle. And the Avatar's lifestyle is keep the balance between all these different styles.

- Vanko: Uh, i think i'm starting to understand.

During the first day in training, Vanko didn't learn anything and had a lot of difficulties and doubts. He was unhappy, but tried to keep his emotions controlled.

Unfortunately for him, the next weeks were even worse. He thought that he was going back instead of learning and going foward.

Iroh II realized that the fire was Vanko's opposite element. Due to this, he would have so many difficulties and obstacles until he could understand this element, that would be seen by him as an element different of the others.

Vanko couldn't comprehend the fire. He was interpretating Firebending as too much hard for him. He almost gave up.

- Vanko: Iroh, i'm tired! I cannot continue learning Firebending, i will never learn how to contol the fire! Is too much for me! It's my opposite element. I'm too calm for it.

- Iroh II: No, Vanko! Anyone can learn anything. You will learn at the right time. Is your duty winning all the difficulties in your way to restore the balance in the world. You can only do this if you become a balanced person. And this type of person need to win her difficulties and not ignore them. You cannot do this with your enemies that you'll face in the future. You need to face the problem, concentrate in what you've learned and keep your inner-balance to win any difficulty in your way.

Vanko smiled to the Fire Lord as if he had restored his hopes. And that was exactly what he had done.

- Iroh II: You need a rest. I'll give you a week in Ember Island to cold your mind and to control your stress. After that, we can restart our trainings more patiently.

- Thank you, Iroh! It will help very much.

Vanko spent a week relaxing in Ember Island with his animal Partner, Kalla, calming his emontions and his stress and meanwhile meditating and learning with Korra how to mediate his self-control and inner enegry to face his opposite element.

- Korra: When i was young, during my trainings, i was explosive and this helped me to bend the fire. My personality was the opposite of you. You don't need to be explosive, but instead, you just need to get your inner energy and use it. It is your force to bend the fire.

During the time she was telling this story to him, she showed the past memory about her ease in her Firebending trainings to him and also how she was an emotionally explosive person.

- Vanko: If fire was easy to you, what element was your opposite?

- Korra: It was the air. It required me to learn self-control, a thing that you already are and know very well. What is missing? Just find this energy inside your spirit and release it. When you do this, you will became a firebender.

Then, another memory of the past was showed to him. But this time, she showed him her difficulties in learning Firebending through self-control.

- Vanko: You are being very helpful, Korra! And i thank you very much.

- Korra: Now that i'm a past life, it's my work to guide you in your doubts.

- Vanko: Oh, one mor thing before we stop: when am i going to learn about what happened to my other past lives?

- Korra: Vanko, an important lesson that everyone have to learn one day is that everything has it's right time. Don't worry, you will recieve a tip of what happened from a very wise person. You probably will remember an unclear memory. When it happens, you will know the story, and i will just need to show you the clear and real memory for you to remember this past experience of the Avatar.

- Vanko: Oh, right. Thank you once again, Korra!

- Korra: You're welcome, Vanko! Good luck in your Firebending training!

Vanko smiled to her and she disappeared in the dark. He woke up

The next day, Vanko and Kalla returned to the Fire Nation. Iroh II took vanko to the Firebending academy, where the best young firebenders practice every day. They made a brief demonstration of Firebending to Vanko to inspirate him and thay demonstrated be very balanced and controlled.

- Iroh II: Vanko, let's go to my training room. I need to start the simple Firebending lessons with you.

Then, one of the students said to him "Good luck, Avatar!". He smiled and continued

In Iroh II's training room, the Fire Lord asked him to seat down in the carpet and watch him while he demonstrates how to have self-control and let the fire flow through you. Vanko observed everything with the maximum of attention. Iroh II took a deep breath and lit the candles around the training room, showing Vanko the source of Firebending.

- Iroh II: See, Vanko? The source of Firebending is your breath. Breath is the way to control the energy inside you and to lead her over your body, releasing all this energy in the form of fire. The fire shows that you're alive and that you have a lot of energy inside you. However, you need to be careful. This great energy requires you to learn how to be calm and balanced to control this energy without any accident or loss of control.

- Vanko: Yes, i see it now. Each bending has it's own source, and for the fire, it's your energy and inner force. You control it using your breath, letting the energy flowing through you, creating Firebending.

- Iroh II: Yes, yes! You got it. Now, you try.

Vanko closed his eyes and started taking a deep breath. Then, he focused in his inner energy and released it controlling the candles of the room, just like Iroh II did. A few days have passed and Vanko learned from basic techniques to super advanced movements. He trained with the other students of the Firebending academy and became as good as they were. One of the students particularly liked to train with him, the same person who had greeted him upon his arrival at the academy. His name was Bob, nickname for Albert. Besides being the best Firebending student and who trained exhaustively every day from the time he woke up until the time he went to sleep, he was also the most balanced and self-controlled student, who've learned the most important lesson of Firebending best that any other student.

He liked to develop his own techniques and to train his control, his emotions and patience. He used his Firebending not for fighting or to show himself to anyone as everyone used to do. He trained only for himself. Develop, learn and use his bending correctly was his biggest objective. not to fight, but to have his own way life. He only used his Firebending to fight just to defend himself, for example, of some students that used to bully him or other students that they considered as weak or different of the standard learning techniques.

During his trainings with Vanko, Bob found impressive the way the new Avatar controlled his bending, feelings and emotions. Just like him, Vanko liked to train hard every day to learn something new and he doesn't like to fight.

During one training with everyone, the bullies started to bother Vanko and Bob because of their differences, but specially Vanko because of his identity. Despite being annoying, they were very good in Firebending and they would not hesitate to use their violent flames against him.

- Bully 1: Look who is here, the weakest Avatar of the story! I imagine that you can't make a simple flame!

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

- Bully 2: Yeah, you can't even produce a small ember, i bet!

- Bully 3: Hahaha! No! He can only fart smoke with his butt!

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

- Bob: Enough, fools! If you bother him, you are bothering me too!

- Bully 2: Oh, and what you're going to do, master spiritualist?

-Bully 1: He will teach us a self controlling lesson!

HAHAHAHAHA!

- I will teach you a lesson about let people be whoever they want to be! Let's se if you will laugh or if you will cry after my move!

Bob released a big fire wave that sent them to the other side of the academy's big garden. The bullies ran away but sweared revenge.

- Bob: And don't come back if you don't want to be burned again!

- Vanko: Thanks, Bob! I don't know what i would do without you.

- Bob: Well you just have to scare them with a simple move. But you have to be careful, when you are bothered by guys like them, you can lose your control and become just like them.

- Vanko: So, they are like that because they were dominated by negative feelings? Someone should teach them how to revert this.

- Bob: Yes, but i don't think they still have hope. Only a few people can free themselves of this terrible mental prison. Maybe someday, they will change.

- Vanko: Maybe someday i can teach them. The Avatar can't lose his hope.

- Bob: Oh, yes! I understand. But let's concentrate in the trainings now, ok?

- Vanko: Yes, sir!

They laughed.

Vanko continued his trainings until the next year, when Iroh II said:

- Iroh II: You are ready now, Vanko.

- Vanko: What, my training is already over?

- Iroh II: No, no! You are ready for the next step: you are coming with me in a special journey for you. It's time for you to know the origins of Firebending and the true and first human firebenders of the story. You will face the judgment of the masters Ran and Shaw.

- Vanko: Ran and Shaw? Are they firebenders like us?

- Iroh II: Yes, but they are not like us. You will understand when you meet them.

Vanko demonstrated to be a little scared, but he was very anxious to meet these masters and to meet the first humans to learn Firebending.

- Iroh II: There it is, the ruins of the city of the Sun Warriors.

- Vanko: Bob knew about them. They are a secret and millenial society, right?

- Iroh II: Yes. You learn very fast!

- Vanko: Just because of Bob. Hahaha!

They made it to an old training ring, where Iroh II taught him the Dancing Dragon Technique. Vanko was confused about the technique:

- Vanko: I don't understand the motive of this technique. For me, it's just a dancing.

- Iroh II: This ancient technique shows you a sequence of movements that initially can remember a dance, but with practice, it reveals the most powerful technique of Firebending. For now, you need to learn the sequence just to show the masters your Firebending. You understand?

- Vanko: Yes, i guess.

Passing through the city courtyard, they found the Sun Warriors at the top of a pyramid with a big flame inside a container, such as a receptacle for the fire. Iroh II greeted the leader of the tribe and asked them to take the Avatar to be judged by the masters. They agreed with him because he was training the Avatar. Then, Vanko recieved a piece of the original flame given to the humans by the dragons, the original firebenders and he would have to transportate his flame to the top of the mountain to show it to the masters Ran and Shaw. Iroh II said:

- Iroh II: Vanko, remember of our trainings. You need to be self-controlled even you're scared. Take the flame to the masters and proof your value to them.

- Vanko: Right, Iroh.

Everyone went to the top of the mountain. Vanko went alone by the forest way, always being careful not to put out his flame, but very energetic so that his flame could remain alive. He finally made it to the top of the mountain, where Iroh II was watching and the Sun Warriors were preparing to call the masters.

- Leader of the Sun Warriors: Young Avatar, if you want to see the masters, show your flame!

Vanko rised his hands, holding his flame.

- Leader of the Sun Warriors: Call the masters!

The Sun Warriors started to play the drums and used a piece of Vanko's flame to start the ritual. Vanko was scared but determined to continue.

- Leader of the Sun Warriors: Blow the bugle!

The signal was sent to the masters and Vanko went upstairs to the center of the two mountains, where he saw two caves. Suddently, he felt a tremor. Two big dragons, a red one and a blue one, emerged each one from one of the two openings of the two caves and flew around him. Vanko showed his flame and together with the dragon masters, he performed the Dancing Dragon Technique, using his flame to bend the fire. Then, when the dance stopped, the masters blew a big and colored flame together, creating the big spiral colored fire. Vanko understood the lesson of the two masters and proved his value to them. After being spared, he went downstairs back to the ritual circle, where the Sun Warriors greeted him and congratulated him for his success, wishing him good luck on the remainder of his Avatar journey. Vanko thanked them and went with Iroh II back to the Fire Nation.

There, in the academy, Vanko and Iroh II trained for the last time. Iroh II and Vanko practiced the Dancing Dragon Technique and used it to bend the fire. At the sunset, Iroh II said:

- Iroh II: And how about now? You still think that the technique is just a dance?

- Vanko: No, Iroh! Is the best Firebending technique i've learned! Probably, the most exciting technique that i have ever learned!

- Iroh II: Good! Now that you knows it very well, this was our last training. Success! Your second step in the elements journey is finally completed.

Vanko demonstrated to be happy, but sad at the same time.

- Iroh II: Why the sadness, my apprentice? Vanko? Are you ok?

- Vanko: Yes, master. But i will miss the Fire Nation and our trainings so much.

- Iroh II: Don't worry, Vanko. You can visit the Fire Nation and our academy whenever you want. Specially, if you have another doubt about Firebending in the future. We are very happy for you and we hope to see you again too.

- Vanko: Well, then thank you very much, master!

- Iroh II: You're welcome, young Avatar! Let's go to my palace, so i can send you back to the Earth Republic to start your next step in your big journey.

Vanko packed his things and was waiting for the Fire Lord to go with him to the Fire Nation's Royal Palace. Suddently, the Bullies appeared again and started to bother Vanko once again.

- Bully 3: Ah, guys! Finally our weak friend will get outta here!

HAHAHA!

- Bully 2: Better for him, we don't want him here!

Vanko couldn't hold his emotions with this stupid guys anymore.

- Vanko: Hey! You have already gone too far!

Vanko almost entered the Avatar State, but he didn't. Using Earthbending, he trapped them in the ground and would use Firebending to destroy them, but happily Bob stopped him.

- Bob: Vanko, remember of self-controlling. It was losing the control that made them become like this.

- Bully 2: Well, this was our plan. We are trying to wake up his fury, so he will become like our, and you can't do anything to stop us! HAHAHAHAHA!

Vanko interrupted their happiness.

- Vanko: Yes, he can't.

They looked bad at him and Bob said with a surprised face:

- Bob: WHAT!?

- Vanko: Because i chose stay with him and be self-controlled.

- Bob: Oh, thank you, Vanko! I knew that you would never become like them.

- Vanko: Of course, my friend.

- Bully 1: You will pay for that, Avatar! Release us now!

- Vanko: No, until you think about what you three have done all the atrocities against the strange or the weak persons. For other people, that would be unforgivable, but i will spare you. I am self-controlled and i will never let the hate grow inside me.

When the bullies heard that, they rethought about all their lives. Then, they regretted and told Vanko the truth about them:

- Bully 3: Look, i'm sorry for all the horrible things that we've thon with you two and with everyone. But, we've learned to be bullies by the same motive we wanted to transform Vanko in a bully too. We were bullied and bothered in the past and, letting the hate grow inside us, we became bullies too, so nobody would bother us anymore But, only now we've realized that we were wrong. Please, let us go and we'll never bother anyone again and we will be friends of everyone.

- Vanko: I see that you've finally learned the lesson. Forgive someone is giving the opportunity for this person to restart her life in a different and good way. By this reason, we all have to forgive a person, so she can change her life and future and the life and the future of other persons too. It doesn't matter what she had done, she will never be a lost cause.

Vanko released them, they thanked him, apologized him once again and promised to be good and went back to the academy.

- Bob: Wow, Vanko! You are very wise.

- Vanko: Well, i always try to do my best! Hehehe!

Then, the Fire Lord Iroh II appeared and told Vanko that it was time for they to go.

- Iroh II: Let's go, Vanko?

- Vanko: Oh, right, Iroh! Well, Bob, i have to continue my journey now that i've finished my training in Firebending. Thank you very much for being my friend and for accompaining me through this important step. Maybe i come back to visit you after the end of my journey.

Bob look very sadly to him.

- Bob: Ah, right. I will miss you very much, Vanko. I know that you have a duty with the world.

They hugged and Bob let a tear fall.

- Bob: I'm the one who should thank you for being so special and for becoming my friend.

Iroh II realized the importance of their friendship and the importance of Bob's presence for Vanko to continue to practice his Firebending during the rest of his journey. When Vanko and Iroh II left the Firebending Academy and went inside a ship to go to the Fire Nation Palace, Iroh II left a letter to Bob. When he read it, his expression changed from sad to determined, as if he had a plan in mind.

At the Fire Nation Royal Palace, the Fire Lord Iroh II invited Vanko to participate a special celebration. There, they said goodbye to the Avatar and wished good luck for him in the next step. Vanko was happy, but he would miss so much the Fire Nation and his Firebending training. Then, the Fire Lord talked to him particularly:

- Iroh II: Don't think that because your Firebending training is over that you will not practice it, right?

- Vanko: Of course, Iroh. I know that apprenticeship is constant and will never stop. For all the elements.

- Iroh II: Yes, good. But you can't do this alone, you will need a guide.

- Vanko: Who?

Bob entered the room.

- Vanko: Bob, but how you will come with me? You have a life here.

- Bob: Don't worry. I've already finished my mission here, as well as you. We have learned together at the academy everything that we had to learn to become strong firebenders. Now, we are by ourselves in our trainings and constant improvement.

- Vanko: Did you told your family about your decision?

- Bob: Yes, for sure. They agreed with me and wanted that me to live a lot of great adventures in Team Avatar.

- Iroh II: He's perfect for you to continue practicing your firebending. And don't forget: for each element, you will need to practice even with your trainings complete. And to do that, you will need strong and true friends at your side to guide you, as Bob will do. You will need to build your Team Avatar.

- Vanko: Yes. i know. Well, thank you once again, Iroh! I loved the experience of learning Firebending with you.

- Iroh II: You're welcome, my boy! Now, you have to go. The ship is waiting for you. Come back home and ask Manny for the next step. And don't forget: Your new friend, Bob, will be your first guide in the training of the elements. Good luck for you all from now on!

- Vanko: Bye, master! See you!

- Iroh II: See you too, someday!

Finally, Vanko, Kalla and Bob took one of the Fire Nation ships, which was going to the Earth Republic, where Vanko would meet his parents once again and would take his next mission in his Avatar Journey with president Manny. They looked at the sunset in the sea and started to reflect on their future adventures and journeys together.

Bob, the first human member of Vanko's Team Avatar, was now starting his mission of helping him during the future Firebending lessons.

### Episode 6 - A POLITICAL PROBLEM

As soon as they arrived at Ba Sing Se, the Team Avatar now with a now member on it, was very excited to enter the big walls of the capital of the Earth Republic. However, this happiness and anxiety were short-lived. When they got to the train that gave entrance to the city, they came across guards and Dai-Li agents everywhere. All the time, they took someone to prison or started a discussion with the newcomers to the city.

They were already scared when a guard stopped them from entering the train and started to make a series of questions.

- Guard: Who are you and why are you here?

- Vanko: Hey, this is not necessary! I live at the Middle Ring. And this is my friend.

- Bob: Hi!

- Guard: Oh, my gosh! You are the new Avatar! I'm sorry by treating you like that, specially because you belong to the Middle-Ring.

- Bob: "Middle Ring"? What does he mean, Vanko?

- Vanko: I will explain it to you on the way to my home.

- Guard: Allow me to accompany you, please. We have a lot to talk about.

Already accomodates inside of the train, the guard presented himself:

- Guard: It's an honor to meet you, Avatar Vanko! My name is Bratt and i'm one of the guards of the palace.

- Vanko: Nice to meet you, Bratt! But wait a moment, if you are a guard that works at the palace, then why you are working restricting the train's entrance now? And the most important: why all the guards and the Dai Li are working around the city, as if Ba Sing Se is under attack?

- Bratt: It was by these questions that i asked to come with you. I need to explain you all the story: since the proclamation of the Earth Republic, there was a criminal group of Earthbenders that who were always against the change from a kingdom to a republic. Furthermore, the group is also made of former servants of the Earth Empire, who seek it's return and a new ruler to command the empire.

Vanko had an unhappy look on his face. Remembering that his mother commanded the Earth Empire and made the Earth Kingdom, created chaos during her tyrannical rule and almost destroyed Avatar Korra and Republic City made him sad. Clearly, he and his parents were over it, but the memories of the past, were terrible, especially for Kuvira.

Continuing the story, Bratt said:

- Bratt: When the Earth Republic began, they carried out several criminal actions with the aim of converting the thining of the inhabitants of the republic and tried to overthrow the presidents on several occasions. We thought that we've finally stopped them after winning lots of battles, but recently, they've attacked again. And each attack was bigger than the previous one. In the last attack, that was last week, they kidnapped the president. And now, without him, the Earth Republic is in chaos. We don't know what to do. But you are the Avatar, you can think a way out of this big problem, can't you?

- Vanko: Well, i will do my best to help everyone.

- Bratt: Alright. Let's go to your parents' house and, after that, let me take you to the palace, they want to see you.

- Bob: They who?

- Bratt: Authorities that command the republic when the president is absent. They asked me to take the Avatar to the palace when i found him.

They Arrived at the Middle Ring. When Vanko got home, his father opened the door.

- Vanko: Hi, Dad! I missed you.

- Baatar Jr.: I missed you too.

Kalla hugged Baatar Jr.

- Baatar Jr.: I missed my little fox too. Son, who are these two?

- Vanko: Well, they are Bob and Bratt. I met Bob at the Fire Nation, during my Firebending trainings.

- Bob: It's such a pleasure, sir.

- Baatar Jr.: Nice to meet you, Bob. So, it means that you've finally finished learning Firebending?

- Vanko: Yes and no. Me and Bob need to continue practicing during my journey.

Then, Vanko and the others went inside. Vanko finally met his mother again.

- Kuvira: Vanko, It's you!

- Vanko: Yes, mom! I'm home.

They hugged each other very tight.

- Kuvira: Are you enjoying your journey, son?

- Vanko: Yes, it is very great. I want you to meet my new friend from the Fire Nation, Bob.

- Bob: Nice to meet you, Kuvira.

- Kuvira: Nice to meet you too. So, you're following my son in his journey?

- Bob: Yes. We've finished our Firebending trainings at the Firebending Academy and now, we are ready for the next step.

- Vanko: Yes, and we'll continue practicing during our travels. Oh, and this is Bratt, the Guard who recieved us at the train station.

- Kuvira: Oh, that's awesome.

- Vanko: How are you, mom? You aren't thinking about the past anymore, are you?

- Kuvira: Oh, no, son. Me and your father are ok about this now, you don't need to worry about anything.

- Vanko: That's good.

- Bratt: Well, as all we know, there's a problem about criminals and the presidence of the republic. The president was kidnapped, the other authorities have no idea of what we're going to do without him and the chaos is everywhere. The three rings of the city are in panic since the last two weeks.

- Baatar Jr.: Yes, we know. And we've been working in some plans. The authorities need to agree with each other to initiate a movement to restore the balance in the city. At the other hand, it will be possible only if the criminals are defeated.

- Kuvira: We understand a lot about this subject because we're trained by Zaofu's intelligence and we used this strategies during the Earth Empire too. If anyone needs help at the palace, i'm sure that we can help them.

- Bratt: Thank you, Kuvira! And thank you too, Baatar! I need Vanko to some important tasks about the chaos out there and about ideas of defeating the criminals. As the Avatar, he need to participate this.

- Baatar Jr.: Yes, we know. Son, be careful, ok?

- Kuvira: And remember: We love you very much.

- Vanko: Thanks, mom! Thanks, dad! We're going to solve this, i promise. Let's go, Bob, Kalla and Bratt!

- Bob: Yes, we'll follow you.

At the Upper Ring, they've decided to separate the group.

- Bratt: The criminals use the Lower Ring's sewerage as their secret base. The Dai Li already localized it, but they are too strong for them. I think that you too could beat them if you combine your bending skills.

- Vanko: Ok, Bratt! I will help everyone to solve this chaos. Bob, you go with Bratt to the palace. Try to keep the control between the authorities and give good ideas to them about solutions to the problems. Me and Kalla will face the criminals and save president Manny and the other prisoners. I'll go by myself this time, i need to know what a fight really is. Let's go!

- Bratt: Are you sure that you want to do this by yourself?

- Vanko: Yes. I need to live this experience, i'm sure that i'm going to need it in the future.

- Bratt: Well, ok, then. Let's go, Bob!

At the palace, Bob and Bratt saw a lot of Dai Li Guards and the President's Guards. Entering the meeting room, they met with the authorities of the Earth Republic. Bob presented himself to everyone and explained that he was sent by the Avatar to help them to solve the conflicts between them and think together about a plane to calm down the citizens. Then, Bratt suggested sending normal guards to the rings to explain that the threats were already being neutralized by the Avatar and that they could continue living normally. Bob accepted his suggestion and started to convince the authorities to put it into practice. Gradually, they all were convinced by him and the troops marched to the rings. Baatar Jr. and Kuvira helped the guards to calm down the inhabitants of the Middle Ring.

Meanwhile, Vanko and Kalla arrived at the Lower Ring using a train and entered the sewerage. The smell was much worse than up there and it was very dark. Vanko needed to create a flame using Firebending to see. They arrived at a locked platinum door.

- Vanko: Ah, great! I can't metalbend this time.

Suddently, the door opened and two big rocks were shot in him. Two tall earthbenders tried to capture him. Using his Earthbending and Metalbending, he broke the rocks and launched metal slices to neutralize the earthbenders. They tried to stop the metal slices, but Vanko launched more and more metal slices. They were finally neutralized. Vanko discovered that they were protecting the prison. Then, he picked up the key from one of them and started to search by the president. After some minutes, he heard Kalla calling him. When he arrived, Kalla showed him the president inside one of the cells. He was very weak and chained in the arms and in the legs. Using the key to enter the cell, he used his Metalbending to take off the chains from the president's hands and feet. Then, president Manny, looking at him with a happy face, said:

- Manny: Vanko! You came here only to save me?

- Vanko: You are my friend. You very important for me, as well as for all the inhabitants of the Earth Republic. We need you, and i would never leave you behind.

- Manny: Oh, thank you so much!

- Vanko: You're welcome! Can you walk, president?

- Manny: Yes, i think so, but i can't fight.

- Vanko: Don't worry, i can do that. Let's get out of here, Everyone!

Using the key, Vanko released everyone from the cells and took them out. The metalbenders from the criminal group started to fight against him once again. Then, after knocking them out using Earthbending and Firebending, he used Lavabending to create a lava hole in the platinum door to stop them from passing through it. When they were leaving, Vanko realized that he forgot that Earthbenders could use the walls to escape. Then, they emerged from the ground and knocked him out. Suddently, Firebending explosions pushed them away. It was Bob, that saved him and took the president and the other prisoners to a safe place.

- Bob: Looks like you still need my help.

- Vanko: Bob! Thank you, my friend, for saving me! I was wrong, i shouldn't have done this alone. I'm sorry.

- Bob: You're welcome my friend! And don't worry. We've learned an important lesson today: we're more than friends, we're a team, and we will be together until the end. And even separated, we had success.

Vanko smiled.

- Vanko: Yes, we had.

Back to the citizens, the guards warned them:

- Guard: Pay attenton, citizens: The Avatar stopped the criminals and saved the president and the other prisoners. You just need to relax and continue living normally.

- Citizen: But what about the attacks? We are safe now?

- Guard: You don't need to worry about it anymore. The attacks are over. And the peace is restored.

The citizens started to celebrate because they were happy that they finally were saved. They started to scream "AVATAR! AVATAR! AVATAR!" and "VANKO! VANKO! VANKO!" to celebrate their victory against the criminals.

In the Royal Palace, Vanko, Bob, Kalla, Bratt, Baatar Jr. and Kuvira were called by president Manny for an important acknowledgment dinner.

- Manny: Thank you, Vanko and Team Avatar, for saving my life and the future of the Earth Republic.

Authority 1: We're very proud of you, Avatar.

Authority 2: Yes. And if was not you, we would never learn how to cooperate and how to agree with the others.

- Vanko: I am very happy that we made it. It was my first important mission.

- Manny: And now, it's time for you to go to the next mission: Airbending. I think that you will like it very much because it requires you to be calm and self-controlled, exactly what you like to be.

- Vanko: Wow, i'm very, very excited to go. Are you ready, Bob?

- Bob: Of course i am!

They smiled at each other.

- Vanko: And you, my girl? Are you ready to go too?

Kalla aswered positively.

- Vanko: So, it's time to go!

Kuvira and Baatar Jr. smiled at each other. Vanko said goodbye to the president once again and to Bratt and the other authorities too. Then, the Team Avatar spent the night at Vanko's house, at the Middle Ring. In the moring, Vanko said goodbye to his parents and went with Bob and Kalla to a ship on the way to Republic City, to the Air Temple Island, where Vanko would start his next step in his journey, the Airbending trainings. Kuvira and Baatar Jr. saw the ship disappear on the horizon together as they waved at Vanko:

- Baatar Jr.: Bye, son! Have fun!

- Kuvira: Bye, Vanko! We love you!

Vanko waved at his parents and looked at the beautiful sun, that was lighting up the sky in that morning.

### Chapter 7 - AIR NOMADS

After a few days of travel, Team Avatar finally arrived at Republic City: formerly a large metropolis, but now a city emerged in forests and spirits fighting against the Anti-Spirit Society. The friends saw that chaos and looked to each other surprised and were speechless. When the ship arrived at the Air Temple Island, they got off extremely scared, as if they had died and come back to life. Then, they saw three airbenders descending from the top of the hill where the temple stood, they were Master Kai, Master Tenzin (former leader of the temple and now a retired airbender) and Master Jinora (the new leader of the temple and Master Kai's wife).

The paleness and the fear of the two boys were noticed by the airbenders when they got close to them. \*CONTINUE FROM HERE\*.