Avatar's Companion

-Maya's Point of View-

"Let's open it up!" Zuko shouted as he called on the other sages to help him open the door. They shot five fire blasts at it but it wouldn't open still.

"Why isn't it working?! It's sealed shut!" Zuko shouted. "It must've been the light, Avatar Roku doesn't want us inside." one of the sages answered.

"Just give up already! You won't get him to come out!" I shouted at them. Zuko suddenly turned around and walked in front of me.

"You better keep your mouth shut, or I will." he angrily said. I looked him straight in the eye and replied, "Make me." then suddenly, I felt dizzy.

-----------------------------------------------

-Zuko's Point of View-

"Make me." the water tribe girl said as she looked at me. I raised my hand and lit a fire and even before I can do anything to her, she suddenly fainted.

"HEY! WHAT DID YOU DO!" one of her friends shouted. "Nothing," I answered while lowering my hand and walking towards the traitor sage that the other sages has tied down to the ground.

"I SWEAR, I'M GONNA PUNCH YOU ONCE I GET OUT OF HERE!" the guy shouted as he struggled to get out of the chains. "Calm down Sokka!" the other one argued.

Struggle all you want peasant, you won't get out of there alive.

I stood in front of the traitor sage who was kneeling down. "Why did you help the Avatar?" I angrily asked. "Because it was once the sage's duty. It is still our duty," he answered.

I was about to reply back to him when we all suddenly heard a clapping sound from behind us. When I looked back, I saw Zhao with his small army of fire soldiers walking towards us.

"What a moving and heartfelt performance. I'm certain the Fire Lord would understand when you explain why'd you betray him." Zhao said with a smirk on his face. "Commander Zhao." One of the sages said as he bowed down. "And Prince Zuko, it was a noble effort, but your little smoke screen didn't work." Zhao continued.

I looked at him vengefully as he continued babbling. "Two traitors in one day. The Fire Lord will be pleased," he said and then one of his soldiers grabbed both of my wrists.

This old hag! He is such a nuisance to all my plans! I was so close! But he won't get to the Avatar just yet.

"You're too late Zhao! The Avatar's inside and the doors are sealed!" I yelled back at him. "No matter. Sooner or later he has to come out." Zhao replied.

I SERIOUSLY HATE HIS COOL TONE AS IF HE'S NOT BOTHERED BY ANYTHING! I JUST WANT TO SMOTHER HIM IN THE FACE!

"Tie the banished prince and the traitor sage on the columns! We'll deal with them once the Avatar comes out." Zhao commanded his soldiers.

"Oh, and what's this? We have three water tribe peasants as well. What a lucky day." he continued when he saw the Avatar's company.

"The Avatar is mine Zhao! He's mine to capture!" I said while struggling to get away. "Struggle all you want, you won't get out of there alive," Zhao replied with a smirk.

I let out a loud shout as he walked away. CURSES!

"Ready yourselves, soldiers! When those doors open, unleash all your firepower!" Zhao commanded as he together with the other soldiers faced the giant door.

---------------------------------------------------

-Maya's Point of View-

When I opened my eyes, I saw Ta Min who was already standing in front of me.

"Where am I? Is this the spirit world?" I asked. "Yes, I called out to your spirit once again." Ta Min replied.

"Oh... I see." I said to her and then I looked around and noticed that I wasn't tied up anymore and that the place doesn't look anything like a temple.

"Where are you right now? Is your body in a safe condition?" Ta Min asked. "No, I was tied up in a chain. Aang and I went to Avatar Roku's temple so that they would be able to talk but the fire nation caught us." I explained to her.

"I see..." Ta Min replied. I walked a step closer to her and asked, "Lady Ta Min, why do I have to go back to the fire nation? What is my purpose in there?"

"Listen carefully Maya." Ta Min said. "Your destiny is to be the Avatar's companion." she continued.

"Companion??" I asked. "Yes, companion. You are destined to help the Avatar and do the things he won't be able to accomplish." Ta Min answered

"What do you mean?" I asked again. "The Avatar, despite being powerful, is not a perfect person, and will need someone to be by his/her side, for there are some things an Avatar can't do that his companion can fulfill." Ta Min answered again.

"I'm his companion? How did this happen?" I asked. "The story for that is long enough, and we only have such little time before the sun sets." Ta Min answered. "But—! What should I do?" I asked her.

"The Avatar probably knows by now what he needs to do, and his duty is to stop the Fire Lord from conquering the world. Your part is to be his support. You also have to stop the Fire Lord from causing any more harm." Ta Min explained.

"But how? What can a normal person like me be able to do?" I kept on asking.

"Remember this Maya, the Avatar will be put into a situation where he has to make drastic actions. The Avatar before him made a big mistake by choosing the wrong decision, and I am afraid that Aang might repeat that same mistake. You have to move as well Maya. Go back to the fire nation, and stop the Fire Lord from there. It is the only way for this war to end." Ta Min carefully explained.

"WHAT?!" I exclaimed. "The sun is about to set. I must go." Ta Min said. "Wait! Why do I have to leave?! I mean, I can be more useful as a companion if I'm beside Aang!" I argued.

"Maya, your journey as the Avatar's companion is different from his. There are a lot of other things that you will be able to do when you're inside the fire nation. Let your mother's letters be your guide." Ta Min comforted.

"My mother's letters?" I asked. "You have yet to discover who you really are, and what you're capable of doing. Maya, it is important that you figure out who your mother is, who your father is, and who you are. You must go back. People's lives are depending on your return." Ta Min said.

I crossed my brows and looked at her filled with disbelief. She looked back at me and said, "There is no other way."

I looked away and then I let out a sigh. "You're right, I do have to know who I am. I do need to figure out who my parents are." I agreed.

Ta Min smiled at me and she said, "The solstice is about to come to an end. We must go our different ways, for now."

"Wait! What if I have more questions? How will I talk to you again?" I asked. "I am in you and you are in me. When you need me, you'll figure out a way." She then closed her eyes and so did I.

With the use of our intellectual connection, we talked to each other through our minds and there she said, "The Avatar's companion is a tough responsibility, for you are something the Avatar is not. Like Yin and Yang, you are both complete opposites that balance out each other's differences. You and the Avatar are what will bring balance to the world. It was once my duty, and now it is yours. The question is, are you ready to face your destiny?"

I took a deep breath before opening my eyes and answering, "I'm ready."

Woah! My voice sounded like a combination of a hundred voices. It's as if all of my past lives had spoken all at once.

As soon as I said that, smoke went up and covered my vision, and the next thing I knew, I was back at the temple, still tied up to the column.

Another great blue light was coming out of the sanctuary door and it slowly opened. Is Aang done talking to Roku as well? Wow, talk about synchronized time.

As the blue light fades, an old man's voice can be heard saying, "Ready!" when I looked at where it was, I was shocked that there were a lot of other soldiers in the hall and that Zuko was tied up to a column as well.

"No! Aang!" I heard Katara shout. Wait, are they about to shoot Aang with fire?! NO! NO!!

"FIRE!" the old man shouted and then all nine of them blasted fire at Aang all at once.

"AANG! NO!" I shouted as well. Just when we thought it was over, the blasted fire suddenly turned into a huge sphere as if it was being bent by someone else.

The fire was then lifted up and from behind it, appeared Roku, who was indeed bending the fire. My eyes widened as I saw him.

Woah! It's just his spirit but I already sense immense power from him.

The fire that was shot at him, he bent it back toward the enemy soldiers and they were thrown to the ground, however, when the fire reached us, it didn't even give us a single burn. Instead, the chains got melted and we were free from being tied up.

Zuko's chains melted too and as soon as he was free, he quickly ran away. Following him right now isn't important, I'll let him pass this time.

I looked back at Roku and I started looking for Aang but he was not in sight. Where is he? And why is Roku in here? Whatever happened to their talk?

Roku looked angrily at the sages and then the temple suddenly started shaking. All the other soldiers and sages hurriedly evacuated the place, but Katara, Sokka, Xia Yu, and I stayed there.

"Avatar Roku is going to destroy the temple! We have to get out of here!" Xia Yu said but I replied, "No! Not without Aang!" and then I hurried to get a little bit closer to the sanctuary door.

"Maya! What are you doing!" I heard Sokka shout. "Please go on ahead sir Xia Yu, we can't leave without Aang. Go! Get yourself to safety!" I heard Katara calmly say.

I looked back at them and there I saw Xia Yu running away as well.

Suddenly, Avatar Roku sliced the floor in half using some kind of melting powers and then he firebent the lava into the temple. A huge fountain of lava burst in the middle of the hall and the temple was slowly collapsing.

"Maya! Watch out!" I heard Sokka shout and then I suddenly felt something hot touch my shoulder. "OUCH!" I exclaimed. I looked at my shoulder and it was a small drop of lava that burned my clothes and slightly burned my skin. I didn't really mind it and I just continued to search for Aang.

When the lava has done much damage to the temple, Roku stopped bending it and he calmed down. All the smoke that was coming out of the sanctuary was sucked back in and it covered up Roku. When the smoke was gone, it revealed Aang whose eyes and arrow tattoos are glowing.

"AANG!" I hurriedly ran as fast as I can to him and then I held him by the shoulders as he knelt down to the floor. Katara and Sokka ran towards us as well and then he helped Aang stand up.

"We got your back," Sokka said as he placed Aang's arm over his shoulder. "Thanks..." Aang said. "Where's Xia Yu?" Aang asked. "He evacuated the place together with the other sages," Katara answered.

"Are you okay Aang?" I asked. "I'm fine," he replied. Suddenly we felt the temple leaning down and being melted by the lava. "We need to get out of here— fast," Sokka said and then the four of us ran towards the temple's stairs but as soon as we got there, we saw that half the steps are already drenched in lava.

"There's no way out!" Katara shouted. A huge room column fell down right behind us and we were startled by it. There was a huge hole on the wall right in front of us and we can see how the building is slowly getting eaten by the lava.

"What now?" I asked. We suddenly heard Appa's big roar and Momo was flying beside him. I didn't even notice Momo going out, but thanks to him we were saved!

"We're gonna have to jump!" Aang said, and then one by one, the four of us jumped onto Appa's saddle.

Appa hurriedly flew away from the island and while we were flying, we were looking back at the temple, we witnessed it get devoured by the magma.

"Why did Roku destroy the temple?" I asked Aang. "I don't know," Aang answered seriously. "What happened Aang? What did you and Roku talk about?" Katara asked.

"The comet that came 100 years ago, the comet that Fire Lord Sozin used to start the war, that very same comet will come back again by summer's end, and Fire Lord Ozai will use that comet again to end the war once and for all," Aang answered.

"By the end of this summer?! But... that's very soon." Sokka said. "I KNOW! AND ALL I KNOW IS AIR BENDING! UGH!" Aang shouted. "HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO MASTER ALL FOUR ELEMENTS IN JUST THAT SPAN OF TIME?! I EVEN ALSO HAVE TO CONTROL MY AVATAR SPIRIT!" Aang continued while shouting.

"Aang! You have to calm down! We'll help you through this." Katara comforted. "HOW KATARA?! HOW?!" Aang shouted. Katara didn't answer him back and she just looked at him. Aang was somewhat caught off guard and he suddenly calmed down.

"I'm sorry... I didn't mean to shout at you. It's just that..." Aang said but he wasn't able to finish. He sat down while facing away from all of us and he buried his head in between his knees.

Looking at Aang, I was then reminded of the duty that Ta Min told me. I guess she is right. If some way I would be able to stop the Fire Lord from the inside, then Aang wouldn't have to be this worried. I now know the reason why.

"Aang..." I said as I reached out a hand and placed it on his shoulder. "We don't have to worry too much about what tomorrow brings. Instead, let's focus on what we can do today. From now on, we will focus on bringing you to the north pole, getting you a waterbending master, and once we're done with that, let's plan out a way for you to learn the other elements." I continued.

"Let's take things one step at a time okay?" I added, but he didn't say a word nor did he look at me.

I let out a sigh and then I said, "You know what you need? You need a hug. Come on guys, let's hug it out." I said and then I signed Katara, Sokka, and Momo, into a group hug and we all cuddled for a few seconds.

"Thanks, guys. I knew I can count on you." Aang said. Appa suddenly roared and Aang shouted, "Sorry Appa! You can't join the group cuddle for now, but I'm thankful to you as well!" and then the bison roared once more.

"Alright everyone, let's all get some sleep and call it a day," Katara said. "You guys go ahead and have some rest. I'll go ahead and lead Appa. I'll also try to find land to camp on so that Appa can rest before flying again tomorrow." I said to them.

"Are you sure Maya?" Katara asked. "Yup! I got it! You guys go ahead and sleep." I answered. "Yeah, Katara she can handle it, she fainted a while ago, back in the temple, the whole time Aang was inside the sanctuary, so she got some rest already." Sokka agreed.

"Yeah Maya, what was up with that? Why did you faint?" Katara asked. "Oh... it was nothing, I just felt dizzy and then suddenly I blacked out," I replied.

What a great liar I am.

"What? Really? Are you sure you're okay now?" Aang asked this time. "Yes! Yes! I'm completely fine! Go ahead get some rest! Leave the rest to me!" I assured all of them.

A few hours later, the moon has now risen, and everyone is asleep. I was sitting on top of Appa's head while patrolling the surroundings when I suddenly remembered the lava burn I got a while back. So I stood up to get some bandages and some water to ease and cover up the burn.

I took out bandages from Sokka's bag and borrowed Katara's bending water. I'm just going to fill this up later when we get to somewhere near a river.

I went back on top of Appa's head, and then I poured a little amount of water on the burnt skin. I let out a faint hiss as the water touched my skin. It hurts badly, to be honest. It wasn't that big but still.

"Need some help with that?" I suddenly heard Sokka say. It freaked me out a bit, making me dump a huge amount of water on the burn. "Ah!" I shouted while holding onto my shoulder.

Sokka sat next to me and then he took the water bag from my hand. "Let me see that," he said and then he removed my hand which was covering the burn. "It looks bad." he continued. "Nah, it's fine. It's just a small burn." I replied.

"Let's camp out first before curing this," he said and then he proceeded to lead Appa. "Appa, let's land down there." he continued and then we safely landed on the ground in the middle of the forest.

He helped me get down off of Appa's head and then he made me sit down on a rock. He poured a handful of water on the burnt area making me hiss once more. After that, he took out an ointment from his bag and applied some on the burnt skin, before fully covering it with a bandage.

"There. All better," he said. I held on to the bandage and then I replied, "Thank you Sokka." He looked at me while fixing his stuff. "Hey, no problem. I'm glad I could help. Now help me unpack the sleeping bags." he said and then we went up on Appa's saddle.

"Should we wake them up?" I asked Sokka. "Wake up Katara," he said and then he proceeded to take his sleeping bag and got down first.

"Katara, wake up. We've landed." I said. She easily woke up and looked around the area. She sat up and started grabbing her sleeping bag. I grabbed mine too but before going down I asked her, "Should we wake up Aang too?" I asked.

"No, let him sleep. He usually sleeps on top of Appa anyways." Katara answered. I nodded my head as a reply and then the two of us went down.

We set up our sleeping bags on the ground and just a few minutes later, the siblings have fallen asleep. I'm even hearing Sokka's snore.

They all seem so tired because of what happened today. Well, it is a tiring day.

I let out a big yawn and then the next thing I knew, I already had my eyes closed.