Greetings to you! The story you are about to read was written before Korra and follows the lives of the Air Nomads. If you are wondering, I'm one that likes to stay true to the characters and story as much as possible. The elimination of every Air Bender was such a great loss to the world I felt compelled to reveal their fate in detail through writing.

This story will take you on their journey beginning with that fateful day to the present and a bit beyond. I hope you enjoy this story that I, along with the help of my sister, crittle247, created. And I especially look forward to your thoughts when Iroh comes into the story (grins devilishly) but sadly a lot has to happen before then. So I hope you will accept my offer to come along with me on this journey of mine to discover what really happened to the Air Benders...

[Note this used to be 3 different chapters but I decided to put them all together.]

Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar, their world, or the characters from the show that will eventually follow.

"Element Island"

Water, Earth, Fire, Air

Long ago the four Nations lived together in harmony. Then everything changed when the Fire Nation attacked.

Throughout the known world, peaceful towns with mixed nationalities were torn apart by the war and Benders had to return to their respective nations regardless of where they were born. This was especially true for the Fire Benders. Yet despite all the separation and war; one small island remained sheltered from the brutalities of battle. There all four elements lived together in peace.

Chapter 1: The Air Temples

The Western Air Temple

The clear dark blue skies over the Western Air Temple were filled with flying bison, and air gliding nomads who were all gearing up for a special night. Laughter from the little girls echoed across the canyon walls and throughout the court yards while the sweet smell of fruit pies created an aroma that drove the indigenous spotted lemurs crazy with hunger. Everyone within the Temple was excited to see the upcoming comet that only trailed across the sky once every century or so. Even those of their people who usually move across the skies from land to land had returned to their respective temple for the special occasion.

The large comet was predicted to pass over the North Western sky heading southeast within a few minutes time, so all of the Air Benders that were in flight landed to find a good seat to watch the epic event. Despite the fact that the Temple was built on the underside of a cliff face, the Air Nomads still had plenty of open sky to watch the event from their own balconies when suddenly the twilight sky became pitch black.

One of the younger Sisters turned to a head council member, "Is the sky supposed to do that? It seems more like an eclipse?" she asked in confusion.

"This darkness is not natural," The Sister replied as an unknown fear began to grow within her.

Everyone was bewildered and looked around waiting for something to happen. An eerie silence fell over the crowds as the mouthwatering smell of fruit pies were then slowly overwhelmed by the smell of ash and burning coal, yet no one made a move. Then the sky turned bright and fiery orange, casting a haze over the temple. Everyone stood in awe at the colors above and continued to stare at the smoky opening above them. Suddenly, balls of fire fell from the sky, punching into the walls of the temple. Screams erupted, and panic washed over the Air Benders as they scattered to find shelter. The grounds shook as statues and rubble from the surrounding walls crumbled unmercifully onto various unfortunate souls, killing them instantly. The bison that tried to fly from the ravine were shot down; their dying cries echoed throughout the war torn skies.

The Air Nomads had no army of any kind, nor had they any weapons to defend themselves. They were a peaceful race, but those that did try to resist, were soon cut down. It wasn't long before soldiers descended down on the temple grounds. Red and black uniforms of the Fire Nation flooded the world of orange, blue, yellow and white. One brave Nun was able to send three messenger lemurs to the other Air Temples, warning them of the brutal attack. A bison flew behind the lemurs to protect them from the following fire balls that perused them. The messengers and their guardian flew higher and higher until the bison could take no more fiery hits, and fell back down to earth to be lost in the depths of the canyon. A Fire Nation soldier spotted the now exposed lemurs from the corner of his eye, but they were out of range. Not seeing the point in chasing them down, he let them fly off knowing they couldn't help anyone now.

The raw power from the comet was the fuel of the soldiers' attack. The soldiers of the Fire Nation were overwhelmed from the great strength the comet gave them; making their own power and attack all the more fierce.

In only a few hours' time, the great Western Temple fell. The once happy sounds of lemurs, bison and laughing little girls were now forever silenced and replaced by the crackling of fire. The smell of burning flesh and overall destruction ascended into the empty night sky. The massacre had begun and as tragic as each death was, the night was not yet over… there was more blood yet to be shed.

It was the greatest tragedy the world had ever seen; the elimination of an entire race. The Fire Nation had attacked the Western Air Temple with an overwhelming force. The Air Nomads fought valiantly but alas they never had possessed a heart of violence and battling as an army was never attempted before, and with the power of the comet, soon after named Sozin's Comet, was just too much for them… they never had a chance. Sozin's armies had all been pre-staged in the foregrounds of each temple laying in wait for the comet to pass by overhead. Once the Western Air Temple fell, the others would soon follow. Now as history portrays it the Air Nomads were all wiped out. And who would think otherwise? For a hundred years no one had witnessed Air Bending. It truly seemed the Fire nation had caught the world off guard, but we know that's not entirely the case.

"Storm clouds are brewing" Monk Gyatso had said. Aang, a young Air Bender, was told 4 years early that he was the Avatar. Why was tradition cast aside now? Because they knew destruction was on the horizon.

Long ago, further back than any could recall, the first Air Nomads had discovered that there were hundreds of small jet streams of air high above their mountain tops. Those tiny currents of air were unnaturally fast and were thought to be the work of spirits. However, the ancients were able to track and map out each invisible current in the heavens above. The altitude was, and is, too thin for humans breathe, however in today's culture some lemurs, which by nature can breathe in thin atmospheres, were taught to be messengers between temples using those tiny jet streams. It was by this manner that the three messenger lemurs were able to warn the other Temples of the sudden attack before the comet was overhead. They had flown faster than the speed of sound!

The Southern Air Temple

The spotted colored messenger lemur from the West arrived to the Southern Air Temple within seconds of its departure. The shaken up lemur made a bee line directly to the main hall and violently into the arms of a councilman.

"The Fire Nation is attacking

Their power is stronger tenfold

The comet is their weapon

We will not survive the hour"

The message was read leaving the Southern elders in shocked silence.

"…At least we can have hope in this," Monk Gyatso reflected, "If an attack is truly at our doorstep, and the temples are destroyed, at least we can be thankful that Aang will be safe."

"How can you say such things? He could have protected us from our impending destruction!" one of the older crotchety elders yelled in panic.

"Now is not the time to argue," the Head Monk, Pasang, spoke out. "It is in the past. Our only hope now is to escape to ensure our future."

"How shall we escape?" Another elder asked with fear etched in his old wrinkled face, "If the Fire Nation is using the approaching comet, they will be upon us within minutes."

"We will evacuate the children and a quarter of our people to the Eastern Air Temple while the rest must stay and fight." Monk Pasang quickly decided. "We can't let the Fire Nation think anyone is missing from this Temple," he added.

Monk Pasang looked around him and saw the fear and doubt begin to spread across everyone's faces so with a smile he offered words of encouragement. "Do not look so down. We are a powerful people and we have been blessed with a warning… do not doubt our strength yet."

With that, the counsel went to work with great speed. Once the refugees were organized and packed up onto half a heard of bison, the remaining monks, with one unified motion, created a strong wind to send them off. The blast of air carried the bison away in a large manmade jet stream.

As Monk Gyatso stood and watched as the refugees disappeared into the distance, the sky lit up from the light of a comet. He looked up to it and couldn't help but marvel at its beauty. 'Perhaps there will be no attack against the Southern Air Temple,' Gyatso hoped. However, just as those thoughts had formed in his mind, a fiery blast hit the west side of the Temple, shaking the earth beneath him. Monk Gyatso spun around and stood gaping at the rising army before him.

As another fiery blast hit, Gyatso's eyes changed from alarmed to sharpen daggers.

'I must hold them off long enough for the children to get a good head start,' he thought. He then flew into the fray of battle displaying every skill he possessed as an Air Bending Master … 'I must protect Aang!' his heart echoed though he still did not know where the boy had gone.

It wasn't long until Monk Gyatso could fight no more. His breath was ragged. He had taken out another three men to his disgust. He gasped again in exhaustion and stammered around but failed to see an attacker come up from behind him. By the time he realized someone else was with him amongst the rubble it was too late. His attacker hit him in the back with a sharp focused blast. The great Monk Gyatso painfully turned to face his opponent but had no life left in him. He immediately fell onto the blood stained ground, arms open, dead on his back.

As for the Northern Air Temple, they had attempted to fight and defend themselves, however much like the Western Air Temple, they were completely wiped out having failed in both defending and escaping alive. Those that remained in the Southern Air Temple all perished in battle as well. By now the comet was high in the sky and passing over the Earth Kingdom. Three Temples were completely wiped out, and yet the Fire Nation Generals would receive no report of an Air Nomad with the glowing blue eyes they sought.

The Eastern Air Temple

The Eastern Air Temple received the spotted messenger lemur just moments before the Southern Sky Bison arrived close behind. No other survivors ever appeared. They could only wonder what their brethren were facing at that moment.

"This is grave indeed," Mother Superior said after reading the note. She was growing pale at the thought of her lost sisters.

A crowd quickly lined the paths and balconies to watch as the caravan of bison landed.

"We left as fast as we could," one of the children spoke as he slid off his young bison, "But even as we left a blast could be heard behind us."

"Mother Superior" a strong and sure voice called. Lio turned to see Monk Pasang approaching her.

"What is happening?" she asked unwavering.

"Fire Lord Sozin has set his sights on our destruction. I fear the comet will soon appear here, it will be the tool of our demise." He replied without fear. "We must act quickly! We haven't much time," he finished as he was already walking away from the group.

Time was nonexistent. He'd collect the main documents and few important treasures of the Temple and set off.

The people of the eastern mountain tops were quick in packing up supplies, as well as the few possessions the children had.

Once they were sure those chosen to escape were packed, the men from the south gathered in a great circular room with a massive mosaic wall. Depicted on the wall was a detailed map of the world comprised of various small pieces of colored tile. They needed a safe place to flee to. They had to protect their children if they could. A small island off the north eastern end of the Earth Kingdom was chosen just a lemur from the Southern Air Temple arrived with a blood stained message of their defeat.

"We cannot fail." Sister Zhibde declared after the second message was read.

"Then let the chosen depart." Monk Pasang said sternly and then departed the room with the others. He couldn't take even a second to emotionally compute what that message would mean to him personally. They had to leave.

Only one third of the inhabitants decided to evacuate. Fresh bison were offered to the southern survivors but they respectfully turned them down. They could not leave their bison behind. A few of the monks, who had escaped, now chose to stay and fight.

All at once the bison took flight, with dozens of lemurs following. Pasang was worried that possible scouts might see their departure in the night sky, but as he looked up at the bright moon it quickly faded away from sight. There were no clouds to be seen; it seemed the Moon Spirit was granting the wish in his heart and provided total darkness for their flight. In doing so they were not observed on the ground.

'Thank you,' he silently prayed as their flight took him from the high mountains out and over the ocean. Apparently the Moon Spirit was a kind one who valued life.

Not long after their escape the comet came overhead and lit up the sky. The Fire Nation armies, who were lying in wait at the mountains base, then emerged and attacked. The remaining Air Benders fought harder than ever, but soon the Fire Nation over took them as well. Fire Lord Sozin claimed victory over the Air Nomads that night.

As the comet veered towards the south east, the fleeing Air Nomads continued north east into the darkness of night, using the stars to guide them. It took hours to reach their destination. The group was weary from the journey, especially the bison from the south, who were beginning to lag behind. They were a massive caravan to land on those empty shores, all the while praying that they had not been followed.

After ensuring everyone made it safely, Monk Pasang spoke loudly for all to hear.

"We shall wait here for word from the Eastern Air Temple," he informed the large group. "Sending a lemur to tell them of our safe arrival is unwise. Until we hear from our brothers and sisters, we shall remain here on this island."

Three weeks passed and no word ever came.