I know this is pretty late... I haven't updated in so long... and I dislocated my leg... oh dear. Well I'll still post this. It's more like an prelude to the actual chapter but you all deserve something to be posted for progression.

Thank you all who helped with continuing the story! You all gave me hope, and there were so many of you I just want to cry :'D When the true next chapter comes out, I'm listing everyone who helped me right at the top in bold for everyone to see! Hugs to you all, and here is the intro! Enjoy!

Prelude: Spirit Scars

The clouds shot past the group as Appa lazily drifted across the sky. Danny draped his arms over the saddle and watched the scenery, his hair taking off in the wind and teasing his skin with the cool air. 'I wish I can go flying, we've been sitting forever! Maybe Aang will do something to distract Katara and Sokka...'

"Those clouds look so soft, don't they Danny? Like you could just jump down and you'd land in a big, soft cottony heap," Katara stated as she gazed from here sitting place.

Sokka turned around and gave his sister a frown, showing his impatience with their journey. "Maybe you guys should give it a try."
Danny nervously laughed while Katara gave her brother a straight face and replied to his ridiculous question. "You're hilarious."

Out of the blue, Aang jumped up from his driving spot and started running across the saddle, staff in hand.

"I'll try it then!" With one giant leap, Aang threw himself off the side of Appa and laughed as he plummeted through the clouds below them. Katara and Sokka leaned over the edge just in time to witness the young monk break through the nearest cloud, creating a neat hole.

'Now's my chance to stretch,' Danny thought excitedly as he jumped off while the siblings were busy looking for they're friend. As he broke through the nearest cloud, he let his ghostly rings surround him and transformed, automatically creating his spectral tail and flying under the cloud cover out of site.

"Ahhh!~ Nothing like chilling in the sky. No ecto alarms, no publicity, no hiding at night... Its perfect..."

"You can fly? Awesome! Are you an airbender?"

"Ahh!" Danny screamed as he dropped from the sky and turned to face his friend who was gliding behind him.

"So cool! How are you doing that? And why are you following us? And your clothes look amazing! And cool hair!"

The half ghost paled suddenly but relaxed when he realized that Aang didn't recognize him. With a shaky chuckle Danny flew closer and tried to ask his own questions. "Uh... well... It's a really long story. I'm sort of like Danny's protector... We're not from this, uh, universe. In my world there are ghosts, and most of them are evil. I'm not though I promise."

Aang shrugged and held out a hand for Danny to shake. "That's cool... I think. We do have the spirit world and the monks taught me about life. There are bad spirits but your good. I can tell. You can trust us now alright? Katara Sokka and I will help you and Danny too!"

'I think it's time I trust Aang a little more,' Danny pondered as he reached out a gloved and hand took the monks own. "Can you not tell Ka... I mean your friends... yet though? The less people know about me, the less danger they'll be in. It's bad enough I'm in a world I don't belong in, and I really don't want anyone else carrying my problems."

Aang shook his head enthusiastically and smiled at his request. "Sure! I'll keep you a secret! Does Danny already know about you? Oh yeah what's your name?"

"Can you really keep a secret? Katara knows I'm around but she doesn't know I'm following you guys," Danny asked hesitantly, not sure if his decision to reveal himself to Katara was wise.

"I'm awesome at keeping secrets! This one time I.."

"Aang! Where are you?!" Katara yelled, startling the two flying heroes and causing them to laugh.

"Want to hang with us up there? If your a spirit you can stay unseen," the Avatar asked.

Danny shook his head and gave a lopsided smile. "Nah, I'll keep below the clouds right behind you guys. I'll tell you everything when I have the time. Deal?"

Aang shook his head and started to head back up. "Deal!"

Without looking back at Danny, Aang used his bending to shoot up from another cloud and onto the saddle, dripping wet and sporting an gleeful grin.

"Hi guys! Turns out clouds are made of water!" With a burst of airbending he flung the water off of his body, leaving him perfectly dry. Sokka turned to Danny to make a witty comment, but stopped and dropped his jaw when he saw an empty spot.

"Guys! Danny's gone! He must of fallen off! Oh my gosh!" he screamed with his arms flailing and looking up at the sky in despair. Both turned around at Sokka's outburst only to scratch their heads in confusion.

"I think we need to take a break from flying. Are you okay Sokka?" Aang stated while pointing at the raven who was sitting innocently in the same spot he was before. Sokka's jaw dropped even lower while Katara scratched her head in confusion. With a small blush and a hand on his neck, Danny tried to make his lie.

"I just... uh... hopped down on Appa's foot... to see the view better?"

Sokka and Katara eyed both boys strangely but decided not to ask any more questions while Aang looked anywhere but at his friends.

XXX

Later in the day, Katara spotted something in the distance and motioned Danny to come over and look. "Hey Danny... what is that?" She asked while pointing up ahead, the floor of the valley below around the river that was devoid of any color except black.

"It's like a scar," Sokka whispered in fear, shaking a little at the horrific image.

The next chapter will probably come in the summer... I'm so sorry, but I will never give up on this story, even if its the last fanfic I finish on this website! I might have to time skip some episodes to make it more realistically progress, but I won't leave them out ;) Until next time,

Chow! : )