Aang awakens to find himself weakened, his head full of hair, and all of his friends dressed in Fire Nation clothing as they travel on a stolen Fire Navy ship. He is dismayed to discover that the world once again believes him to be dead, just like when he was frozen in the iceberg. Sokka believes that this is a positive development, since the Fire Nation will not pursue them anymore, and insists they should maintain the ruse as long as possible. Zuko and Azula are welcomed home as heroes, and Fire Lord Ozai makes his first full appearance in the series, as he congratulates Zuko for killing the Avatar and apprehending Uncle Iroh. Zuko realizes that Azula credited him with killing the Avatar for her own ulterior purposes. Aang tries to run away by himself, but is pushed to the brink of exhaustion. He is contacted by Avatar Roku's spirit, who tells Aang that he inherited Roku's problems and mistakes, but is destined to redeem Roku. He accepts that with the fall of Ba Sing Se, secrecy is their greatest advantage until the invasion, and gives up his trademark glider to the lava flows of Avatar Roku's island.
