"Growing up we were taught that the Fire Nation was the greatest civilization in history. And somehow the war was our way of sharing our greatness with the rest of the world. What an amazing lie that was. The people of the world are terrified by the Fire Nation. They don't see our greatness. They hate us. And we deserve it! We created an era of fear in the world. And if we don't want the world to destroy itself, we need to replace it with an era of peace and kindness."

-Zuko to Ozai

🔥🔥🔥

I took Sokka's hand. "You ready?" 

I was supposed to go with Toph, him, and Suki, and stop the airships. From there I'd grab an airship of my own and head towards the Fire Lord, slowing him down while we waited for Aang to show up. Damn, that boy had been trapped in an iceburg for a hundred years when people needed him the most. I was praying that he hadn't gotten himself stuck in another one when the world needed him even more.

"Ready."

Katara and Zuko had split off from us. Aang was nowhere. Zian said he wanted to help the White Lotus take Ba Sing Se. "I've heard stories about you," he said. "I've always wanted to be a member."

Iroh chuckled. "You're a bit too young and need more experience."

"Well then that experience starts now. Please let me help you take back Ba Sing Se."

The White Lotus members glanced at each other. "Well," Master Piandao sighed, "I guess we need all the help we can get." 

We snuck into an airship. Sokka and Toph's job was to gather the guards up while Suki and I went to the control room.

"C'mon," I whispered, running up the stairs. The metal squeaked. We froze.

"Who's there?" a man called.

"Back against the wall," Suki ordered under her breath, and I did so. Then she took a few steps forward, punching the guard straight in the jaw. He opened his mouth to call for help, but a rush of fire threw him onto his back, where Suki tied him up and tossed him into an empty room. "Thanks," Suki looked over her shoulder. I nodded. The control room was the last room of the airship.

"How do we get there without them seeing us?" I asked, hiding behind a wall. About five guards stood around the room.

Suddenly, a voice rang out on the speakers. "Everyone, head to the bottom level. It's time to celebrate before we take over the world. General's orders." It was Sokka. I gave Suki a grin.

"Is this for my birthday?" I heard a curious guy ask another. He shrugged. "Let's go then."

We ran towards the control room, but inside was a surprise waiting for us. Two men sat there.

"I take the sitting one," I told Suki. I took a few steps forward and slammed my hand against the best of his neck, the part that knocked you out immediately. Next to me, the other guard punched fire. Suki grabbed his arm, raising it towards the ceiling where the attack hit. Sparks flew down. I kicked him in the stomach, and then Suki elbowed him in the head. He dropped like a rock.

"Okay," I said, fumbling with the controls, "which one opened the drop thing? And how was Sokka going to give is the signal?"

As if on cue, the speakers blared. "Mei, now!" Suki grabbed a lever, pulling it towards her. Metal grated, chains squeaked. I actually felt the load get lighter. Now we were the only passengers on the airship, the rest fallen into the ocean.

We met up with Sokka. "We have to set the ship in a way where all the others get destroyed," Sokka said.

Suki nodded. "Aim for the airships on the count of three, and then run to the roof."

"One," I counted.

"Two," Toph said slowly.

"Three!" Sokka and Suki ended, and the airship jerked as the route changed. It was headed for a straight collision with the others. That way, the entire fleet would burn to the ground.

"Run!" I yelled, throwing myself out the door. We raced for the ladder. I started climbing to the top, when the airship jerked and I fell back down. Someone grabbed my ankle. I looked down. It was a guard.

Sokka, Suki, and Toph had already made it out in the other direction. I was left with the guard trying to yank me down. I kicked his face and in anger he yanked my collar, choking me.

And then we crashed. The force knocked him off his feet. I desperately grappled at the ladder, but it tore off, falling on top of us.

"Let me go!" I yelled, pushing the man and the metal ladder. "We're both going to die down here."

"That's fair," he said with anger. "I know you. Princess Azula made sure we were to give up our lives in order to stop you. I will die a hero."

"No, you won't," I hissed. "Because you're going to die alone."

He punched, but I grabbed his arm and flipped him over my back, Suki style. Then, gathering up all my energy, I planted my legs on the ground like Toph, my fists at my sides. With one giant push, I blew him out the side of the ship, leaving a gaping hole. I had to change ships. Now.

Looking up at the ceiling, I pushed myself out with a fire blast. Crawling over the edge, I looked for Sokka. They were on another ship.

"Get to the Fire Lord!" Sokka's lips formed the words. I gave him a thumbs up to let him know I'd head him. "Get another airship," he pointed. They were coming after him. I couldn't find Suki.

Sokka and Toph dangled from the edge of the ship. Panic rose through me. They will be fine. Sokka's always fine.

The airship trembled and metal creaked as it pushed into the other one. I looked up at the sky. The sky was red. Power surged through my blood like never before. I balled my hands into fists, taking a deep breath through my nose, and letting it out through my mouth. I felt indestructible.

I stood on the blimp, alone. I shivered as the strong wind blew through my clothes. I felt the power from the comet. The dangerous, pleasant power. And then I heard the voices.

"Run!" a voice yelled. It was Sokka. "Get off the airship! It's about to blow!" I tried to, but a giant jerk caused me to fall hard. I started sliding off the edge. I scrabbled at the sides, trying to hold onto something.

"Sokka!" I screamed. "Hold on to Toph. Don't let go of Toph!"

I slid. My hands caught onto a metal rod. The ropes burned at my palms like fiery snakes. I tried to keep my grip on the ropes, the rod; I fell.

The airship below me remained in tact. There was an explosion. All I felt was pain on my arm. Pain, pain. Tears slipped down my face as I rolled onto the other airship. My arm, my arm . . .

The fire from the explosion had seared through my clothing, burning my skin. It would definitely leave a scar. Zuko's scar flashed before my eyes. "He can take it. So can I." I looked up to see Toph and Sokka struggling. My ship was sinking.

Toph hung onto Sokka's hand. She was slipping. Below me, the sea started to rise. I focused every muscle in my body, every inch of my power, all my concentration, and the sea rose up like a monster. Water serpents grabbed the arships, ripping them down one by one.

Toph screamed. Sokka's leg was in pain. I raised my hands, and the sea took the airships under. And then I started to bend the fire in the engine of my airship. Catch them. Catch them please.

I didn't make it. Toph's hand slipped out of Sokka's grasp. "No!" I yelled, reaching out. I didn't make it.

But Suki did. Toph dropped, and Sokka followed, and Suki stood below them on the ship, hanging to the ropes like a super hero. Sokka landing with a bone crushing thud, crying out in pain as he landed on his already damaged leg. Toph fell on top of him. They were safe, even if Sokka had broken his leg. We did it. "Thank you," I whispered.

I cradled my burn, fighting the wretched pain. I had to get to the Fire Lord. Sokka, Toph, and Suki were safe. They waved to me.

I jumped airships, onto a less-damaged one. I pulled my arms back, bending fire into the metal hull, sucking the energy from the comet. An explosion caused the airship to go haywire. The metal split and I tumbled inside, crashing right in front of the steering wheel. I fought the firebenders, one by one, going the easy way out. I bloodbended them through the windows.

The airship was crashing.

I prayed, I prayed I would make it, yanking the wheel back. If it fell, I would fall and burn with it, and the Fire Lord would be victorious. The airship turned in midair. I needed to fix the hole I'd made. I looked at the ceiling, raising my hands. Heated metal turned to liquid, right? Maybe I could bend liquid. I took a deep breath, doing a few nervous hops, wringing my hands. It was now or never. I'd felt enough pain to do this. I could do it.

Blue fire shot from my fingertips. I burned the metal steps, trying to keep my head in the game. Blue fire. It had been ages.

The airship careened, spinning in the air. I knew Toph, Sokka, and Suki were watching. I needed to bend liquid. I needed to be a liquidbender today, not a waterbender.

The metal burned red hot. I clenched my fist. Please, please work. Please. I focused on its property, instead of its components. I opened my fist. And then I squeezed it shut. The metal bent, flattening. A sigh of relief escaped my lips. I took my hands, raising them towards the hull again. With one hand, I flattened the cooling metal against the open hole. The ship jerked. With my other hand, I sucked the remaining moisture from the air around me, my knapsack, and the pipes. The water steamed against the metal as I held it up, letting it cool. With a final push, the hole was sealed. I collapsed to my knees, hanging onto the steering wheel.

The airship stayed floating. I burst into tears with relief. Wiping my eyes quickly, I got to my feet, walking towards the engine. I gathered up the water with one hand, ripping off my sleeve and pressing the cool liquid to it. A sigh escaped my lips as the terrible searing pain ceased for the time being. With the other hand, I fueled the fire. The flames roared as if congratulating me on my small victory.

I wasn't a waterbender, I was a liquidbender. That's what the lionturtles had gifted me with. I wondered if I could bend plasma. Lava?

I hung onto the wheel, single handedly wrapping cloth around my searing wound, crying out a few times as I did. Just imagining the same pain only on my face made me weak in the knees. I would never have been able to handle it.

The ship did crash, but only when I wanted it to. Right into the Fire Lord's airship. And then I took the leap of life, hurtling towards the ground.