| idk man but this one looks real After the failure of the long-planned invasion, Aang and the rest of his team take refuge in the Western Air Temple, which is known as the training place for Female Air Nomads and was supposedly the first target of the Fire Nation when the war began 100 years ago because of its closeness.
After a long and tiring trip, the Avatar gang is arriving to the Western Air Temple. As soon they reach seeing the Temple far ahead, Aang sadly remembers the very first impression he had when he witnessed the Southern Air Temple devastated by the Fire Nation, and therefore he believes it will be the same at the Western Air Temple. But surprisingly, when they arrive, this place seems to be pretty much intact and with not Fire Nation traces, but apparently uninhabited. Teoh remembers that the Northern Air Temple where he lives was also abandoned when his people first arrived, and it was not until one year after these Earth Kingdom refugees settled that the Fire Nation actually found the place (See "The Northern Air Temple"). The Duke suggests that maybe these Temples were abandoned before Fire Nation attacked (Just as Aang said in the "Southern Air Temple") so Aang seriously wonders himself what actually happened to his people. Everybody begin to tour the Temple for answers, but while progressing, somebody without identifying is observing them between the shades.
While our heroes try to discover the secrets about the true disappearance of the Air Nomads, Iroh has met with the secret society of the White Lotus, which he is known as a senior member (See "The Desert"). At this meeting we can see some unknown people from different nations (Some of them were wearing yellow/orange suits-like, but it's not sure they were Air Nomads) and some known characters like the Master of Sokka with his butler and the elderly who helped Iroh and Zuko in "The Desert", but also appears others who were unaware of their connection with the White Lotus society, just like the Guru, Jeong Jeong and even Ursa, Zuko's Mother, who apparently is preceding the meeting alongside Iroh and the others. It is briefly explained that they have guarded the steps of the Avatar since his reappearance after 100 years and that it's time for revealing to him the true meaning of the existence of that secret society. Iroh also mentions a plan that he had been developing since a some time ago: a coup against Fire Lord Ozai to regain the throne that rightfully belonged to him. (Maybe that's the reason why Iroh has pretended to be an old and good man this whole time with the hope of suspicions never rising against him, what do you think about it?)
Returning to the Air temple, while Sokka is playing with the White Lotus tab he got from his master (See "The Sokka's Master"), he mentions that it is very likely that not all Air Nomads had to be in the Air Temples when the Fire Nation attacked, after all, as nomads they are always traveling. Katara congratulates sarcastically to Sokka because his brilliant deduction, but this gives hope to Aang that perhaps some Air Nomads might still be alive and might be hiding somewhere. In order to obtain answers, they go to the Air Sanctuary (The secret chamber that all the Air Temples have). Nevertheless, before Aang could open it, Zuko shows himself to the group and Toph exclaims that she knew someone was following them. Everybody attacks him and although Zuko try to defend himself with his swords, he is easily contained and caught. Zuko tell them his decision to join the Avatar for helping him to defeat his father and even proposes Aang to teach him Firebending. Although Zuko insists that he has changed, nobody trust him for obvious reasons (See "The Cross of Destiny") and Toph take all his words as a lie thinking he was acting as Azula (See "the Eclipse") and even Katara rejects him, so they keep Zuko as a prisoner (Zuko doesn't offer resistance maybe in an attempt to demonstrate humility on his part). When everything gets under control, Aang opens the chamber's doors with Airbending and when entering it, finds a series of pictures painted on the walls that illustrate what appears to be a secret technique of the Airbenders, so devastating that it is considered prohibited: Climate bending. Aang says that as a Mastered Air Bender, he understands how to do it, but fears its consequences. It was also inferred by the mural that there's a method to recover the Avatar State that Aang lost, but unfortunately, only the Air Nomads may have this knowledge. Then Toph detects a secret chamber, which she opens and inside they find a map of the Air Nation that describes all the inhabited locations by the Air Nomads, among which, in addition to the temples known so far, a monastery where Air Nomads presumably have been hiding all these years secretly, which gives Aang greater hopes to find some of his people. Nevertheless, his happiness is interrupted by an Airship and Air balloons from the Fire Nation led by Azula, which recalls the fury of her father for disgracing him by lying about the death of the Avatar and as punishment was ordered to follow Aang and to end him along with her treacherous brother.
Everyone blame Zuko for bringing the Fire Nation Army even though he insists he didn't and implore his freedom for helping. All those who can fight are thrown into battle and Zuko is retained by mistrust, but he find a way to escape later. During the battle, Toph is wounded by a fire attack she didn't "see" coming from a air balloon (She can't "see" things in the air) and when another attack was coming, she's protected by Sokka, to which she later kisses him in gratitude, and makes sure he is the one who receives the kiss this time (See "The Serpent's Pass"). Katara is on Appa breaking down the Air Balloons meanwhile Azula and Aang fight on the armor of the Airship, battle which Aang seems to be losing although Azula strangely uses her powers moderately. But then Zuko appears and he attacks Azula Furiously, making her being a little nervous and backing down for some reason. Azula is cornered by Zuko and Aang, but the ship makes a sudden movement that causes them to distract. Azula takes advantage of this and she send a powerful flame directly to Aang but Zuko intervenes and splashes the flames so that they provoke an uncontrolled fire on the ship. Then the Airship begins to explode by the gas that maintains it afloat (Which obviously was the reason why Azula avoided the use of much fire in her attacks and was making her nervous). Seeing the danger, Aang escapes in his Glider saving Zuko and tries to do the same for Azula, but is too late for her. Azula is surrounded by explosions and the airship collapses in flames into the abyss.
After this victory, they welcome Zuko to the group, and fearing further attacks, they leave the Western Air Temple in search of a safer place to start training Aang Firebending. Nevertheless, a mysterious figure who had been observing them emerges from the shades, revealing a young-looked woman of unknown aspect that, once Appa disappears in the horizon, takes a staff which becomes a Glider and takes flight in their direction, which portrays her as an Airbender but mysteriously without its tattoos. |
