Chapter Text
What Makes a Hero
There were four battles going on.
One for survival. One for a city. One for a Nation. And one for the World.
Sokka, Suki, and Toph were still onboard the airship after taking down Ozai's airship fleet. While Sokka was operating the aircraft, Suki and Toph were outside on the decks either listening or watching the battle with Aang and Ozai.
"What's going on so far?" Toph yelled out through the air noise at Suki as she leaned onto the railings of the deck.
"It looks like Aang is just trying to defend himself from Ozai's attacks!" Suki yelled out to Toph, also leaning on the railings.
Toph frowned. "He has to do something!" she yelled out to Aang in the distance. "Come on, Twinkletoes! We know you can take him!"
Suki looked tentative as she watched the fight continue on the ground.
"He will win."
Suki glanced at Toph in surprise as the earthbender girl's head was down while saying it.
"Aang has to. He doesn't have to kill the Fire Lord or anything, but...he just has to beat him..." Toph told the older girl. "So we need to keep believing in him."
Suki stood there in silence for a second until she said, "You're right. We need to keep believing in Aang...I just hope...if worst comes to worst and Aang does have to kill the Fire Lord...he'll still be the same goofy kid we all know."
Toph went silent for a moment. "...I hope so too."
It was then Sokka came out onto the deck. "How's the fight so far?" he asked.
"Sokka? Aren't you flying the airship?" Suki asked with eyes wide.
"Babe, you would not believe the kind of things these airships have. Including all the complicated do-dads and whatnot, there's also a lever that says 'auto-pilot'. Meaning it pilots itself! Man, these Fire Nation technicians think of everything!" Sokka looks at the fight below him. "Oh...Aang is...not fighting back, why is he not fighting back!?" he says a little panicky.
"Cool it, Snoozles, Aang's going to do something. He can't keep doing this forever." Toph's expression turned slightly hesitant. "At least I hope not..."
Suki and Sokka didn't say anything about that as they kept watching the fight in silent apprehension.
"...Come on, Aang." Sokka softly said in a hopeful tone.
"Don't worry, Sokka. He'll win." Suki assured her boyfriend.
Sokka looked at his girlfriend and nodded back with a slight smile. All three of them looked back at the battle at hand, hoping and praying to whatever spirit out there will determine this fight to have a positive outcome.
Iroh and the White Lotus members, consisting of Piando, Pakku, Bumi, and Jeong-Jeong, all fought against the Dai Lee and Fire Nation officials that roam Ba Sing Se.
Jeong-Jeong evaded the Fire Nation soldiers' attacks and started shooting furious flames at them, the embers only powered by a margin thanks to the comet. Pakku started using water tendrils from his canteens to savagely whip the Fire Nation soldiers and Dai Li, either sending them either to a wall or whacking them aside, even just grabbing both opposing forces and tossing them around. Piando used his expert swordsmanship to either swat the weaker fire attacks from the Fire Nation, go in for a swipe when he saw an opening for the Dai Li, or render both defenseless. Bumi, meanwhile, is cackling away as he fires boulders at each opposer with force, the Fire Nation soldiers getting hit, causing them to retreat, while the Dai Lee try their best to fight back and hold their own towards the crazed old earthbender.
"GET CRACK-A-LACKIN!" Bumi yelled out as he pounded the ground, summoning a boulder and thrusting a punch at it to some Dai Lee.
Jeong-Jeong and Pakku both had their backs to each other as they used their bending on their foes. "So you hate to use your firebending, huh?" asked Pakku to Jeong-Jeong.
"That I do. Although desperate times call for desperate measures, so I guess I could just use it a little a bit for this occasion."
"Heh. You're pretty good with it." Pakku complimented him.
"Thanks. You too. It makes me wish I was a waterbender," Jeong-Jeong commented.
Pakku smirked. "We're gonna get along just fine."
As soon as a Fire Nation soldier was about to strike the two while they were distracted, the soldier yelled in surprise when he felt a sharp stinging pain on his back. It was none other than Piando who made the slash across the soldier's back as the latter fell on the floor.
"You two should probably concentrate on the fight at hand instead of chatting with each other!" Piando called out to them.
"Hey, I never had the pleasure of meeting a waterbending master," Jeong-Jeong said with a shrug.
"HEY, GUYS! LOOK WHAT I CAN DO!" Bumi hollered as he pounded both feet and made four pillars of earth around him, which sent a good portion of the Dai Lee flying. "HEHEHEHEHEEEE!"
All three men stared at Bumi for just a moment, until Piando asked, "Where's Iroh?"
Soon as he said that, someone glided past them with enhanced firebending, causing this person to jet and propel himself like a rocket. Once he skids toward a stop in front of the crew, he calmed his stance for a moment and called out to them, "We must keep moving! Onward!"
The three, plus Bumi, didn't have to be asked twice as they rush towards the Earth Kingdom Palace.
Iroh, as he ran, was thinking to himself. Zuko, Aang, everyone. I hope they are faring well.
Meanwhile, at the Fire Nation Palace courtyard, a fiercer battle is taking place between three fighters, a banished prince and a waterbending girl against a crazed soon-to-be crowned Fire Lady. The two were dodging Azula's amplified firebending as well as some of her lightning, side-stepping and running to throw her off. Although, she seemed to be missing them either way while she tried to aim at them.
"STAND STILL!" Azula yelled as she kept firing at them with blue fire.
Zuko kept running towards his sister as she was firing at them. Katara took the time to use her waterbending while Azula was distracted by Zuko, getting a water whip and ready to swipe it toward her. However, the princess saw her from the corner of her eye and fired a powered-up fire attack at her, which she barely dodged in time. Zuko, seeing that Katara was in danger, jumped up and delivered a flaming downward kick at Azula. The arched fire swipe kick came towards the princess, but she deflected it as soon as she saw it. She swiped her arm to make an equal firebending move, a horizontal fire swipe, to diffuse Zuko's fire kick.
Zuko landed on the ground and jumped back to avoid any range from Azula's attacks. Katara went up to Zuko's side, ready to fight Azula once more.
As Katara went to regroup with him, she asked him, "What do we do, Zuko?"
Zuko observed his sister and said, "Something isn't right."
Katara looked at him in slight confusion "What do you mean?"
"I mean the way Azula is moving...it's almost like she's not as in tune with her bending. She's still alert though, but something in her stance is...off."
Katara glanced at Azula, seeing that the young girl almost looked unstable, stopping her bending to stare them down, eyebrow twitching upward as she grinned maniacally. The waterbender recoiled upon seeing her expression.
"Katara, I think I can handle her," Zuko told her. "Azula might be losing her edge a little bit. I'm going to try to fight her one-on-one."
"Are you sure, Zuko?" Katara softly asked in worry.
"Don't worry about me. I can take her. She's not herself, I know it."
Katara, torn from not helping her friend, looked back at Azula, who still stared at them expectantly, ready for them to take the next strike.
"Anytime now, Zuzu! What's the matter?! Are you and the water peasant finally admitting defeat!?" Azula screeched, having a crazed look in her eyes.
Katara winced and turned back to Zuko. "Just...be careful, okay?"
"I will." Zuko nodded. Katara stepped back while Zuko stepped forward. "Azula! This is our fight! Leave Katara out of this!"
Azula cackled, "Oh how cute of you, brother! Not only do you want to protect your little water-gal pal there, but you want to try to defeat me! Ha! You and your honor! Once I'm done with you, I'm coming after the peasant as well!"
Zuko narrowed his eyes. "We're going to end this, Azula. I challenge you to an Agni Kai."
The princess's eyes widened as her smile grew dangerously wild. "Oh? Well, if you insist, Zuzu! We can finally decide who the TRUE superior firebender is, now won't we!?"
"Please, don't do this! It's not right!" Aang hollered out to Ozai as he defended himself, "You can't burn down the whole Earth Kingdom just for this!"
"Oh, isn't that cute?" Ozai said in sarcasm, "You're trying to reason with me like an Air Nomad would. I expect next you want me to sit down and discuss things civilly while drinking tea like my fool of a brother?" Then, Ozai fired a strong fire stream at Aang, which he dodged by air cartwheeling away from its path.
However, Ozai fired another fire stream blast, directly at the moving Aang. When Aang saw the blast coming at him, he stopped and spun a rock tornado to let it shield himself from the blast.
It made a direct hit.
BOOOOM!
It sent Aang flying, hitting his back...against a rock wall.
"Ooff!" Aang grunted and slid off the wall and onto his rear.
"Tch. This is the Avatar? The so-called 'keeper of harmony', the 'bridge between the Spirit World'? A pathetic child?" Ozai walked casually over to the downed airbender, "Hmph. I have to say, I'm a little insulted that you haven't even used your firebending on me. It's twice as strong now because of Sozin's Comet, so why are you fleeting around hesitating? Fight me like a man!"
Sokka, Suki, and Toph
"Um..." Sokka looked on at the fight at hand in worry, "Aang is...just sitting there..."
"What? What do you mean!?" Toph asked him in a slight panic.
"Hold on, Toph, I don't think he's injured that bad," Suki reassured Toph, albeit a little worried herself, "...Although, he's...not getting up-oh, oh wait! H-He is, he is! He's getting up! Just...a little slowly," she said in relief.
Toph frowned, "What is he doing? He needs to fight back!"
"Don't worry, Toph, he just needs to...get his bearings?" Sokka turned his head to Suki and shrugged in a sheepish way. Suki gives him a 'really?' look.
"He needs to face it head-on like a rock! There's no time to get his bearings!" Toph exclaimed. She then gave out a yell, "COME ON, TWINLETOES! YOU CAN DO IT! GET YOUR BUTT INTO GEAR!"
"Uh, Toph? M-Maybe shouting out to Aang and the Fire Lord isn't a good idea-" Sokka began to say, until-
"COME ON, AANG! SHOW HIM WHO'S BOSS!" yelled out Suki, "MOP THE GROUND WITH HIS FACE!"
"YEAH! WE BELIEVE IN YOU, TWINKLESTOES!" hollered out Toph.
"..." Sokka sighed, "Well, if you can't win them, join them, I guess," he mumbled. With that, he hollered out as well, "GO AANG! KICK HIS FREAKING BUTT TO THE SUN AND LET HIM STAY THERE!"
"YEAH!"
Iroh and the White Lotus
Meanwhile, the White Lotus charged forth the streets of Ba Sing Se, fighting through the throngs of the Dai Li and the Fire Nation soldiers. Iroh and the others fired their bending at every offender that came their way, the charging push successful as they moved forward.
"Quickly! We must keep moving!" Iroh told them all as he lead the way.
The group of fighters and benders trudged toward the upper ring of the city. As they entered the upper ring, however...they were met with a surprising sight.
There were more firebenders and more Dai Li stationed around the ring, but there were two people in the center of their path.
Long Feng...and the Combustion Man.
Iroh and the others skid to a halt.
"That's...the Exterminator?" Iroh narrowed his eyes at the huge man as he got into a firebending stance. "He's still alive?"
"Hm," Long Feng hummed with a smirk, "You know, the Dai Li would always make sure that their enemies are dead."
"What's the big guy's story?" Pakku asked either one of them.
Jeong-Jeong grunted, "He was an experiment for the Fire Nation. Simply put, it seems they succeeded. Now this man can shoot a fire beam out of his forehead."
"Oooh, cool!" Bumi's eyes sparkled.
"No, Bumi, that's not cool," Piando told him in a monotone.
"Everyone! Keep fighting! I will take care of these two!" Iroh ordered them.
"Are you sure, Iroh?" Jeong-Jeong asked him.
"Do not worry about me! We must not let their numbers daunt us! Now go!" Iroh commanded them.
Not once hesitating, the other members of the White Lotus start their battles with the soldiers of the Dai Li and the Fire Nation. Iroh stood his ground when staring down Long Feng and Combustion Man.
"Ah, the famed Dragon of the West," Long Feng said with an evil smile, "Who would've known that such a famed individual is ironically fighting against his own country?"
"You should have fought back against them! Why didn't you do so if you did care about your city and your country!?" Iroh called out.
"Hmph. Well, at first, I was a little peeved that the princess took total control of my Dai Li, but it was then...she offered a proposition to me. That I would rule this city if I pledge allegiance to the Fire Nation," Long Feng explained.
Iroh's eyes narrowed into a glare, "You do not care for your city or your country! You just care about having power over people lesser than you!"
"And is that ever so wrong?" Long Feng asked matter-of-factly.
"You will be stopped, and Ba Sing Se will be liberated!" Iroh warned him.
"Oh, now see, that's where I have to disagree. Ba Sing Se is mine now. And quite frankly...I don't have to do a thing," Long Feng turned to Combustion Man, "As they call you, The Exterminator?"
The large man turned his head to Long Feng, waiting for what he had to say.
"...Eliminate him," Long Feng said with a demented grin.
Zuko and Katara
"RAAAAUGH!" Azula fired her blue firebending at her brother.
Zuko dashed and dodged, rolling out of the way as he fired his firebending at her, doing jump-kicks as he firebend to shoot them towards Azula. She swatted some of the fire and dodged by also jumping, as she jump-kicked flames and swiped her leg horizontally to create a fire arch that came directly toward him.
It felt like a rain of fire was coming down as Azula and Zuko viciously fire-bent at each other, each of them doing the exact same strategy.
It was then, Zuko decided that they had to end this now. As soon as he landed from doing a fire jump-kick, he got into a stance and began to conjure up lightning in his hands, and fired it at Azula, who dodged it by backing away to the side, stumbling until twisting around to fire lightning at Zuko!
Zuko caught the lightning and shot it upward into the sky, making the streak of light penetrate through the dark clouds. He then jabbed his right hand to fire another lightning blast, which Azula deflected by shooting it to the side, striking a wall.
"You're getting sloppy, Azula," Zuko challenged her, "What's wrong? I thought you were better than this?"
"SHUT UP!" Azula roared, "You shut up! I am better! Better than you ever will be! Father saw no value in you, so he burned that part of your smart-aleck face because of this fact!"
Katara, who was on the sidelines, heard this fact and looked shocked. Gasping, she had her hand up to her mouth in horror.
Hearing the gasp, Azula turned her attention to Katara, "Oh, he hasn't told you? Well, that's a shock! You think he would depending how much he might resent father because of it!"
Zuko just glared at his sister.
"If you want the shorter version, Zuzu here spoke out against a general for not sacrificing proud soldiers out into the battlefield so the stronger battalion could move in once the opposing force is weakened! The general suggested an Agni Kai, exactly like this one, to fight it out. But it was Father he had to actually fight. Thus, Zuzu begged Father to forgive him, but alas, he was put in his place!"
Katara turned to Zuko in shock, while the latter stood there, just glaring at Azula.
The princess cackled, "Brings back good memories, doesn't it, Zuzu?"
Iroh
Iroh fired his firebending at Combustion Man, whilst dodging the large man's fire beam. Combustion Man kept firing his beam at Iroh, while also expertly ducking and dodging Iroh's bending.
This can't go on much longer! I have to end this! I need Long Feng to give up the city so we can give it back to the Earth Kingdom!
But then, a boulder came shooting toward Iroh, which he barely dodged. The retired general looked where the boulder came from.
"Now, you don't expect this man to have all the fun, do you?" Long Feng said with a cocky smile as he was in an earthbending stance.
Before Iroh could react, Combustion Man shot another beam out of his forehead, which Iroh barely dodged by moving to the side. However, Long Feng slammed his foot onto the ground to create a projectile out of it, thus striking Iroh in the stomach, sending him flying a bit and landing on his back on the ground in pain.
Before Iroh could get up, he was pushed back up with a rock pillar making him stand. Soon, more pillars of the earth came protruding out of the ground, and just like that, Iroh was trapped by multiple pillars crisscrossing around his body to trap him in.
"Well, I could talk some more about how it was a pleasure fighting the great Dragon of the West, but that would delay your demise...and I would be lying, depending on how easy that was," Long Feng said as he walked up to the trapped Iroh with a wicked smile. He turned to Combustion Man and told him, "Do as you wish."
Combustion Man smirked and was about to use his forehead beam on Iroh.
Iroh could only just glare at the two, standing strong.
Aang
Aang got up in his weakened state after that blow, ready to try and fight again...if he could.
I...I can't...what can I do? I can't kill him. I just can't! All life is sacred like the monks said! I just...don't know how to beat him at this point!
"...Come on, Aang! Kick his butt!"
"Yeah! Show that jerkbender who's the real deal!"
"Give ol' Jerk Lord a one-two!"
Aang heard the cheers that were in the distance and blinked, looking at the only airship that was left in the sky.
"...Guys?"
"Hm?" Ozai directed his attention at what Aang was staring at, as well as what he himself was hearing also, which seemed to be a lone airship in the distance. "...Hmph. Well...your friends must be on that ship, then?"
The airbender blinked and looked at Ozai warily.
Ozai looked on at the ship in the sky, "Ah, yes...they must be the ones that took down my fleet...no matter," he glanced back at Aang with a cryptic smile, "I can burn this whole place down without them...but still, it is rather annoying...I think they need to be...punished."
Aang's eyes widened in horror at the suggestion.
"Oh yes...in fact..." Ozai then shot a powerful fireball blast up in the air, straight toward...the airship!
Sokka, Suki, Toph
"...Uh, guys?" Sokka said as he sees the raging fireball coming at them.
"...Oh no," Suki said with wide shocked eyes.
"...Guys, why is it hot all of a sudden?"
"GOOO!" Sokka yelled out to the girls.
Zuko and Katara
"And you know what, Zuko?" Azula said in a giddy tone as she looked on with wild crazed wide eyes, "You're still who you are. A failure. A failure of a brother, a failure of a son, and a failure of a firebender! In fact...here's another failure for you to chew on! Say goodbye to your gal pal!" Azula then charged a lightning bolt-
Zuko's eyes went wide and looked at Katara, who was just standing there in shock.
"NO!" Zuko then raced over to Katara.
"HAHAHA! SO PREDICTABLE, ZUZU!" Azula then fired a lightning bolt at the waterbender.
Iroh
Combustion Man charged up his head beam...
Long Feng looked on in amusement.
And Iroh...waited for the inevitable.
I can only hope the others will come through...I am sorry Zuko…
Sokka, Suki, and Toph
BOOOOOOM!
"AAAAAAAHHHH!" Toph and Suki screamed as they jump off the airship.
"AAAAAAUUUGGGHH!" Sokka yelled out as he jumped off the airship as well, the explosion rocking the sky as they all fell straight down to their deaths.
Zuko and Katara
Zuko jumped in front of Katara as best as he could...the waterbender looking on in horror as the lightning was about to strike her...
Aang
"NOOOOOO!" Aang shouted out.
"And now...the finishing touch!" Ozai then sped towards Aang with his enhanced firebending blasts from his fists as he shot them backward, propelling him to the airbender.
Aang looked back at the Fire Lord, the Phoenix King, and was about to fight back, strike back, when he realized...that Ozai was coming towards him at an alarming rate.
The king then raised his left fist once he was at close range to the boy, and soon swung his flaming fist down at Aang's head.
"AAAH!" Aang screamed, doing the only thing he could do...
He closed his eyes and waited for the impact...
...But it didn't come.
"...Huh?" Aang opened his eyes and sees...
...Nothing but...ethereal white...
...But there was...something...no, wait...someone?
Aang looked at this...person?
It was shaped like a person...but the person had no features on them. The being was just...all ethereal white. Then suddenly, the surroundings changed into some form of dark space...
Wait...
...In fact, it was space. The shining lights and dots of the stars littered around them.
Either way, the being had no clothes, making it look like some form of a man, with a strong build and figure just like a man's. Although this man didn't have any features, it does have eyes, and these eyes were a distinct bluish-white. They look clear as they can be, not having any pupils in them.
However, this being seemed to be...floating in the vastness of space.
...Wait a minute! I'm...I'm floating too!
"That you are," said the...person?
"Huh!?" Aang looked at the being in awestruck wonder, "Wait...did...did you read my thoughts?"
"Indeed I have," said the entity.
"Wha...what are you? Are you a Spirit? W-Where are we?" asked Aang.
"I am a being that existed before your mankind's time as well as spirit-kind," the being said, "For now, you shall call me High Spirit."
"High...Spirit?" Aang raised a brow.
"I have many names. But this name should suffice for you and your world."
"Uuuh...okay..."
"As for your last question, you are in the realm of the cosmos. I see all through this realm."
"You do? But...why am I here? I mean...I'm not..." Aang gulped, feeling cold with dread all of a sudden, "...d-dead, am I?"
"Thankfully, you are not. I have frozen time and the events that take place in your world. You are now out of your physical body and into your spiritual body."
"Whoa...you can do that?"
"I can. I am but a divine being that created all things."
"Huh?" Aang raised an eyebrow, "Wait, wait, created all things? Like...all of this?" he spread his arms out to the vastness of space.
"Yes. Even Spirits that you know such as Tui and La, and Agni."
Now Aang's eyes widened in surprise. "What!? You mean...are you saying that...you even created-?"
"Raava and Vaatu. Yes. That is correct."
"...I...I need to sit down," Aang said as he tries to…but is actually floating around in place as he turns upside down and back upright in front of the High Spirit, "...Oh...uh, yeah..."
If the being could smile, he would. He then said, "This information is indeed a lot to take in. But as of right now, I must discuss with you something dire."
"Something dire?" Aang asked big ears and all.
"Yes, my child. You see, as of this speculated moment, when I unfreeze time, what will happen to you and your friends will resolve in all of your deaths."
"...Oh...um...that's...that's not good."
"It is not. Which is why I froze time in your world to prevent this from happening."
"Wait, even my friends?! You mean, they're going to die too?!" Aang asked the High Spirit in a panic.
"Yes, child. And with this, I will tell you that there is one way to save not only yourself, but your friends as well."
"Uh...o-okay, okay, um...I...I actually have a lot of questions right now, but...I guess I'll just go with this one: Why did you stop time when we were about to die?" Aang asked the being.
"Simply put, this moment should not happen in your world. For if it does, and if I let it happen, then all hope in your world will be lost. And before you ask, I cannot simply rewind time, for if I did, you will relive the same scene without any memory of me and this meeting. For this, I will tell you again, there is another way for you and your friends to live."
"Well...what could that be? If I can't come back to the real living world because I'll die from Ozai if I do, then what else is there?"
"This decision is a last resort, but I will send you and your friends, as well as your enemies to another world."
"...Say what now?"
"I did say it was a last resort."
"Wh-Wait, wait, wait, another world? Uuuh...and...you're sending in our enemies? Like Ozai? Wha-uh...wh-why is that?"
"Because if I leave them in your world, they will not be affected by the placement I will put your friends in. With that, I have to bring them into this other world as well, so they will not continue to kill your friends."
"Oh...I...guess that makes sense," Aang scratches his bald head, "But...wait, why are you sending us to another world?"
"I will be blunt, Avatar Aang. You need to master the Avatar State. You will not win if you do not gain control of it. This is why I stopped your timeline to do so. I foresee everything that is good, everything that is at peace, and everything that is in harmony. This future you once have lived will not be it."
"Oh...so, that's why you stopped time?"
"Indeed. I stopped it just as Ozai was about to deliver the final blow to you."
"Um...okay then...but, you have to understand! I couldn't do it! The monks taught me life is sacred and that violence would lead me to more violence! I mean, if you created everything, then you must know that! I...I don't want to be a killer..." Aang looked down with a frown, the conflict consuming him.
"...Aang. You must do what is right."
"...But...I...I don't know what the right thing is..."
"...In due time, you will know. And yes, life is sacred...I should know...but you have to make the actual decision to know what is right and wrong."
"...I...I basically failed, didn't I?" Aang asked, closing his eyes shut in shame, bracing for the answer that the High Spirit will tell him.
"...For now. But, you can still change the course of events. When I send you to this new world, you must try and master the Avatar State as much as you can. In the meantime, you will meet the inhabitants of this world and the heroes that reside in it."
"The heroes?" Aang looked up at the High Spirit in interest.
"Yes. One of them resides in a city, a dark city of sin and crime, and the protector, as well as his comrades, who watch over it and fight the wrongs of this city, will soon meet you and your friends. Until then, this hero, this man, will show you through action what it means to be a true hero."
"A true hero?" Aang blinked at that.
"Indeed. You must follow his example. But it will be your decision, your choice, on what you should do to Ozai or any of your enemies. The important thing at this moment is that you will try to control the Avatar State to fulfill your destiny."
"...What is my destiny?" Aang asked out of the blue, moreover to himself as he glanced down.
"That...is for you to find out along the way."
"...Okay..." Aang looked unsure, but he nodded nonetheless. He looked up at the High Spirit and said, "I have a couple of questions to ask before you send me to this new world."
"You may ask."
"Okay...what is the name of this city?"
"The name of this city is called Gotham."
"Alright...who is this hero that I have to follow his example?"
"...Batman."
"...Bat...man?" Aang looked a little confused by that name.
"You will see and know why soon. Are there any more questions you wish to ask me before I send you and your friends and enemies to this new world?"
"Um...oh, uh, will I be able to see my friends along the way?" Aang asked the being with hope.
"You will. However, you need to find them first, as well as the Batman."
"Okay. Um...one last question, if that's okay?" Aang said a little sheepishly.
"You may ask."
"...What, uh...What is the meaning of life?"
Once again, if the High Spirit could smile, then he would. "That, I cannot answer upright. You have to figure that one out on your own."
"..." Aang sighed, "Of course..."
The High Spirit chuckled softly, "Now...I will send you and your friends, as well as your enemies, to this world."
"...Alright then," Aang took a deep breath and exhaled, nodding as he floated there in determination, "...I'm ready."
"Then I bid you and your friends' good will. Master the Avatar State. And save your world."
"...I...I will," Aang said with resolution.
And then...another blinding flash of light.
"...Ugh..." Aang stirred in the spot he was leaning his back against...
...Wait...
"Huh?" Aang's eyes fluttered open.
...He sees a brick wall across from him, along with some trash scattered around. There was also a trash can next to him, as well as some trash bags on his other side.
"What...?" Aang then slowly got up, by pushing his hand on his knee and standing a little sluggishly. "What...where...?"
He regained his bearings and surroundings and looked around the area he was in...
It looked like some sort of...alleyway...
...His clothes feel different.
Aang looks down at himself.
"...Huh?" he blinked at this... bizarre-looking shirt he has on...as well as these...pants...and shoes. "What the...?" he spun himself around to check his attire out.
Aang was wearing a black shirt with a white printed image of an animal...that animal being Appa. He was also wearing orange-brown cargo jeans and black and white sneakers...
There was also something on his head.
He reached up and felt the top of his head...and it was then he learned that he was wearing something else.
It was a black skullcap with a blue arrow pointing downward.
"...O...kay...why am I wearing this?" Aang asked himself.
It was then, he remembered.
"Oh! Th-That's right! That Hight Spirit guy sent me to this world! And...I guess I need new clothes to blend in this world...I think."
Aang picked off his shirt to observe the fabric and material he was in.
"Well...I'll look at myself later. I got to know where I am first!" he then turned his head to his left and saw the alleyway's opening...which he could see colorful lights in the distance. "Huh?" Aang walked his way over to the alleyway opening...and when he reached the end of it, he paid full attention at what he was seeing.
"Wha..." eyes widening at the sight he's witnessing, Aang looked around the area he was in.
It was nighttime for one thing...but the night sky was illuminated by...lights...on really tall buildings!
And there were even more tall buildings surrounding them! Each of them in the distance, with some nearby!
Aang looked on at the sight, awestruck at all that he was seeing…
Then, a noise rang through the air. It sounded like a low flapping noise, and from where Aang could see, there was some sort of...airship? Either way, it was high up in the sky and hovering above him, showing a light onto buildings and possibly streets.
Then, suddenly, a thing came speeding past through!
"ACK!" Aang jumped back in fright. He looked to his right to see that...something passed him...it had red lights on the back of the thing, but it also had blinding lights on the front of it. It sped past Aang like an airbender would, except...it looked like a tank...almost?
Trying to see what it was, Aang walked on the black surface next to the sidewalk that he was on and was about to gaze at the thing, when-
HONK-HONK!
Aang jumped and turned around to see another pair of blinding lights about to come closer to him!
SCREEEECH!
The thing made a high-pitched noise as it skid to a stop.
"AAH!" Aang exclaimed.
Once the thing stopped, something opened on its right side, that something being...a person.
"Hey! You stupid kid! Get off the road!" the person, that being a man, called out.
"U-Uh, I'm, uh, s-sorry, I, uh-"
"Feh!" the man went back in the device and swerved to Aang's right, passing him.
HONK-HONK!
"ACK!" Aang then turned around to see another one of those things coming up to him. Aang then did the wise thing and went back to the sidewalk and off the road.
The thing went past him, and soon it went to the right like all the other contraptions that went on this road.
HONK-HOOOONK!
Aang looked on at the things in bafflement.
"Uh..."
"Hey kid?" said a voice next to him, "Got any change?"
"Huh?" Aang looked to his right to see a very raggedy old man giving his hand out for said change. He smelled pretty bad too.
"Oh, uh...n-no, I-I'm sorry, I don't."
"...Baaaah," the homeless man waved him off and kept on walking.
"...Uh, okay?" Aang said in confusion. He looked at his surroundings once more...
This is...Gotham?
This place felt a lot like Ba Sing Se...
Except...these buildings are really tall.
And...there were lights all around this place...but...how?
...Aang is starting to feel...overwhelmed.
"Um...okay...so...this is Gotham. A city...a very tall city..."
He walked down the sidewalk and kept looking up at the buildings and lights that were shown around him, when he knocked into someone.
"Ah!"
"Ack! Hey, watch where you're going, kid!" said another man with a thick accent and wearing an outfit that also looked foreign to Aang, that being a trenchcoat, pants, and shoes.
"Oh, uh, I-I'm sorry! I was just, uh, I...uh..." Aang began to say, but the man continued to walk away from him, "...Um...o-okay then."
It was then Aang realized...
What have I gotten us all into?
End of Chapter 1