{Aang}

Sometimes, I wonder how our lives would have been if we had stayed oblivious. Kept to ourselves, not let our curiosities get us caught up in what should have been kept in the future.

When we focus on the present, we can move forward with dignity and pride. But now…now we know the truth…

And…perhaps that was the biggest mistake the universes ever made, that little 'truth sets you free' crap…

Well, the 'truth' is that some things are better left unknown.

And how did this craziness start, you ask? How did I get so caught up in finding the truth, waiting for the blissful innocence to shatter away and turn into bitter well-fought wisdom?

Do you really want to know? If so, listen carefully because things are going to get weird…

This all started with a strange metal box that fell from the sky. I'm sure you all know what this box is. What do you call it…a TV? Yeah, I'll stop there before you guys start spouting milk out of your nose holes.

That does happen when you laugh and drink milk at the same time, right?

Whatever, I digress…this all begins with that fateful hunk of metal. Our lives would never be the same…

And now I'll shut up and let you guys read the story. Yeah, and quit laughing while you're at it! I haven't said anything yet!

Darn, why did we ever agree to make this a fanfiction? You will pay dearly for this, Zuko…

[Excerpt from AvatarOfWisDom784 profile, author of Intermingled Affections…]

Chapter One: The stupid TV that fell from the sky

Reasons for chapter title: Pfft, it's straight forward enough. Don't want to give my readers a migraine with convoluted metaphors now…

Man, I don't really care. This was all Zuko's idea in the first place! Darn it!

Since when did being fire lord give a person the right to humiliate his friends? Ugh, not that they can do anything about it anyway…ah, I digress…

Let's just get this over with…

It was a beautiful and inspiring day, filled to the brim with sunlight that set the sky aflame and an amazing set of waves that made any good natured citizen strive to become a waterbender.

That's right, wavy waves, sparkling sunlight…welcome to the awesome beach located a somewhat short distance from Zuko's old summer family home!

It was a very relaxing place, perfect for parties and other stuff teens do for fun. It was also a quality gym since we could all practice our bending and other fighting techniques there.

By 'we' I mean my friends Katara, Sokka, Toph, Suki, and Zuko. They're the main group of people I wouldn't mind risking my life for (which I have done…a number of times actually. Relax. I'm not a masochist…I think).

Since they're all important people in my life-and important to the plot of this story-I think you won't mind me giving a short description of each. Don't worry, it will only take a second. I promise!

Let's begin with Toph. Thirteen-year-old, self-proclaimed master of earthbending aka 'the greatest earthbender in the world' (her words, not mine). She's extremely stubborn and quite brave for someone of her age and background. She used to be rich, but I'm not saying anything else. She hates it when I bring up her past…

Next is Suki. Kyoshi warrior, excellent fighter with fans, Sokka's girlfriend…ugh, why am I doing this again?

You know what, I'll just explain who everyone is when they get into the picture? Capiche? Everyone happy?

Good, because I'm happy! Okay, now where was I…

Beach! Yes, I was walking along the sandy shores of that wonderful, wet paradise. I was feeling pretty hyped up!

I mean, just two months ago I had defeated the most powerful firebender in the entire world. Ozai.

And I defeated him in my own way, without killing him. I'm very proud of the decision I made that day, regardless of what others think of the event. I defeated Ozai without compromising myself. Never argue with me on this, it will get very personal if you do! Don't test me.

Anyway, I was also on cloud nine (I think I used that right…) because I had become a fully realized Avatar. Sure, there were still many things I could learn from my friends in regards to bending and keeping the world at peace.

But, heck, I was in control of the Avatar state! I defeated the Fire Lord at the age of twelve and ended the hundred year war.

It was a very powerful accomplishment. I would never forget the joy that permeated the air that day… and none of it would have been possible without the support of my loving friends…

So, there I was completely content with life, a fully realized Avatar, just a regular fella looking to practice some waterbending. Simple as that…

I would have invited Katara to come with me (my girlfriend, for those of you who don't know. I'm looking at you, Zutarians!) but I felt like practicing alone that day. Sometimes, it's nice to have time for yourself…especially when you're tasked with keeping balance between every nation in the world.

Well, this is when the universes decided to give me…okay, all of us crap! (But mainly me…).

I remember the feeling of dread that passed over me when I noticed something falling from the sky. It was like the meteor that Sokka had used to make his sword, but instead of blue fire it was sprouting black coals and dust. It looked like a dark flame of moth balls (I know, unpleasant imagery. I apologize…)

The thing nearly killed me! It landed right next to my foot, spraying sand in streams at my face and clothes (regular air nomad garments, nothing fancy…).

I was shocked and amazed. I had never seen anything like this 'box' before. Instead of listening to the foreboding feeling in my gut, I just had to pick up the big rectangular hunk of metal and carry it back to Zuko's summer house.

It really is amazing how everything looks stupid in hindsight.

Anyway, I brought the heavy piece of metal to the house, being greeted by all my friends I mentioned earlier.

Zuko, or should I say Fire Lord Zuko, was reading a bunch of secret reports. Toph was playing with some rocks and trying to get my lemur, Momo, to catch them. Sokka was currently telling his girlfriend why it was important to keep a full supply of meat (of all things), and Katara was in the middle of preparing dinner.

Just a perfect evening about to be made more interesting by my latest discovery…

Excuse me while I take on a more perky tone. I was quite excited back then… "Hey, guys! Check this out!"

Toph, of course, gave me one of her 'no nonsense' looks. "Wow, I can't wait to see what you have in store for us!" Her voice was completely high and fake, the mocking edges cutting into my excitement like a fresh knife to butter.

I blushed at the hidden insult. "Come on, Toph! You know I didn't mean it like that!"

She rolled her eyes at me. "Yeah, suuuure."

Sokka, being the curious inventor in our group, glanced at my metal box with bright eyes. "Wow, this looks impressive! How'd you get it?"

I smiled, proud to see someone happy about…whatever the heck I had found. "It just fell from the sky, like a shooting star! It was quite strange, actually…"

And dangerous. Don't forget dangerous. But, naturally, I wasn't thinking about that…

Katara came into the room at that point, carrying a full pot of her special sea-prune broth (nasty stuff…). "Huh? Wow that definitely doesn't look like a meteor."

I shrugged, setting the object down on the floor. I tapped my knuckles against the top. "I don't know. It seems like it's made out of metal…"

Toph's eyes lightened up considerably after that statement. "Seriously? Why didn't you say so before?"

She stood up with a mischievous spark in her dull, green eyes. Me and Sokka were probably shaking like scared little girls who were waiting for their death from some deranged serial killer (don't know why they do that in so many horror movies. Waste of talent if I do say so myself. Why do people like watching others die so much?).

The simple truth of the matter was that whatever thing we had found would be destroyed by the time Toph was done with it.

Sokka immediately stepped protectively in front of my metal box. "Hold on a second there! We don't even know what it is? Let's check it out before we smash it to smithereens, okay?"

As our blind companion started pouting, Zuko walked over to our box with a look of concentration. "Did you guys read the note?"

My eyes shot upward towards my forehead in shock. It was a pretty surprising thing to miss, especially since the paper was placed right on the front of the box. I still to this day don't know how something so obvious escaped my attention.

Maybe it was camouflaged? "Wow…I totally didn't see that…"

Sokka was staring at the note with the same disbelief that I had. "Neither did I…"

Katara, as practical as ever, shrugged. "Let's read it."

Zuko cleared his throat, taking this as his cue to begin. "It says…"

Never give in to temptation…curiosity was the one that started it all, and now it's your turn…

Spirits look down at heroes with pride, now is the time to seek your prize…

This requires no payment, only made for your enjoyment…

Beware…the truth may bring in a few scares…

Are you ready to see the future, or would you rather wallow in the past?

Well here's your test, I hope you all pass…

The White Spirit…

"…and that's the end of it," Zuko said, with a frown might I add. He can be pretty moody sometimes, but don't worry. He's not the whiner overflowing with angst that he was in season one. Oh wait, I think I broke something…

Ah, who cares? Just forget I said that…

Katara chose this moment to make a query. "Who's the White Spirit?"

Sokka lifted a hand to his chin. "Well, there's a Blue Spirit…perhaps they made spirits for all of the colors?"

Toph laughed at this. "Please, you're the worst at figuring out spirits, boomerang boy…"

A deep voice caused by the effects of puffing out the chest answered, "I resent that…"

I stared at the metal box, curiosity already building up in my chest. "What should we do with it?"

Suki walked over to our mysterious item and pressed her finger into a circular hole that was located in the far bottom corner of the box. We all looked at her like she was crazy.

She raised her eyebrows. "What? I was just touching it? Maybe we're supposed to activate it somehow…"

Sokka glared at his girlfriend. "Well, excuse me! You can't just go around touching who knows what!"

His rant is cut off when the box suddenly screams to life. A strange white light flickered on the front left side, a blank weird sound scattering across our ears as various colors flashed on the thing. The front looked like it was made out of some type of glass…or was it metal?

We were all pretty freaked out, but Zuko just had his arms crossed and was studying the thing dubiously. He wasn't one to get hyped up over something like this (even if it was from a different planet. After all, we had never seen anything like it before…). Becoming ruler of a powerful nation at seventeen does that to you I guess…

After a couple of minutes of us gawking, a strange sound started playing from the machine. An older man, probably in his fifties, started speaking out of the box…

"When I was a boy, my father told me the story about how he and his friends stopped the fire nation and heroically ended the hundred year war. Avatar Aang and Fire Lord Zuko transformed the fire nation colonies of the Earth Kingdom into the capitol of the world, a place where benders and nonbenders could live together in peace and harmony…"

"They called this great land Republic City."

The eerie voice continued as all of our mouths (yes, even Zuko) dropped to the floor in astonishment. "Avatar Aang accomplished many remarkable things in his life, but sadly his time in this world came to an end. And like the cycle of the seasons before, the Avatar cycle began anew…"

Deep, throaty music sprouted out from the contraption before bold letters in tan-ish font flashed next to a bright sun in the distance…

The Legend of KORRA

Katara's eyes were bulging out of her sockets. Sokka currently looked like he swallowed a lemon. Toph had an angry countenance, like she had caught someone in the act of performing a really stupid joke. Suki just glanced at all of us, as if we would confirm the strange sites before us.

Zuko looked as calm as ever, despite his one good eye widened to the point where one would suspect that he had been shot with lightning.

I, for one, don't remember my facial expression or actual reaction at the time. I mean, it was pretty surreal…there weren't any mirrors nearby so I can't enlighten you about how my eyes popped out or about the slobber exiting my mouth because I couldn't close it.

No, I can't tell you that. But I do remember one distinct shout that blasted from the room at that moment…

"What the fudge? I'M DEAD?"

{Aang} And that my friends…was the beginning of the end…

{Zuko} Jeez, you make it sound like a bad thing…

{Aang} Don't you go looking at me like that? It was bad!

{Zuko} Everyone, I'm sorry for my friend's reaction. Please forgive him. This particular scene just brings him…bad memories…kind of…

{Aang}Real smooth Zuko…real smooth…

{Zuko} Shut up!

Well, don't worry people. I'll be writing the next chapter so you won't have to deal with Mr. Depressed over here…

{Aang} Whatever. Anyway, we're getting off topic. Listen everyone, I'm kind of nervous about posting this so…please review and tell us this is the worst idea in the history of ideas. I'm sure you guys have many other important things to read.

{Zuko} Ugh! Ignore him please! In fact, send us comments about the OPPOSITE of what he said! Besides, everyone liked this idea, Aang. There was a poll.

{Aang} Say WHAT?

{Zuko}Anyway, thank you for checking this out! I know you guys have been busy…

Ah, I'm not gonna lie. It's summer! You guys are doing nothing! Anyway, let us know what you think. Until next time.

Oh, and by the way Aang…I think you broke the fourth wall.

{Aang} Oh, was that it? Huh…wait, I did not!

{Zuko} The Avatar reference…and by the way, I wasn't being a "whiner overflowing with angst" if I quoted your description correctly…

{Aang} Yeah, you were…hey, is this thing still on? Monkeyfeathers! Turn it off!

{Zuko} Oh, sorry…