Fire Creates, Not Destroys

by Zi_Xi_Zy

Summary:

One Hundred Years ago Firelord Sozin declared war against the other nations, and when the people looked for the Avatar to fight for order; he vanished. Until now no one knew whether the past Avatar was dead, alive, or surviving through the element cycle, while Crown Prince Zuko may not want to, he’s the Avatar and he’ll have to fight against his family, his nation, and his own being in order to create peace in the world.

Chapter 1: The Boy from a Conquering Nation

Fire, Air, Water, Earth. For centuries there has been peace between the Fire Nation, Air Nomads, Water Tribes, and the Earth Kingdom, with the Avatar-master of all elements keeping the peace between the four nations. Ever since my great-grandfather-- Firelord Sozin started the Great War, it has caused my family, and my nation nothing but conflict, both inside its borders and outside. 

 

My great-grandfather, Firelord Sozin, started this terrible war and after hearing the Avatar was an Air Nomad he ordered for their mass genocide. Nevermind the fact that when he reunited with the previous Fire Nation Avatar, Roku (my other great-grandfather (my mother's side of course)) reunited in their older years, (during an active volcano) Sozin chose to not help his once friend and left him to die, instead using the power of a comet to help Roku, he wiped out the Air Nomads and searched for the new Avatar who was found by Firelord Azulon amongst the Southern Tribe.

 

My grandfather Firelord Azulon was a militaristic person who led many conquests during his reign, including the near-destruction of the Southern Water Tribe imprisoning nearly all of the water benders letting them rot and slowly die (including the new Avatar). Upon hearing that Avatar Roku--the once best friend of his father-- had a granddaughter he forced an arranged marriage between her and his son, thinking he’ll create a line of unbelievable power (a smart idea: let’s arrange a marriage between the Imperial nation and offspring of the strongest bender and peacemaker that was once alive, that’s sure to not backfire).

 

My father, Firelord Ozai, has become nothing short of an absolute ruler during the five years he reignes and has constantly sought for control and rule over the other three nations. It didn’t help that he was a terrible father and never loved or cared for his wife and children. Or that he never actually joined the army, and has zero military experience.

---

“Remember your katas Zuko, progress means nothing if you can’t remember the basics. Firebending comes from the breath, not the muscles” As the formal General Iroh sat at a small table on the deck of the Wani playing Pai Sho with Lieutenant Jee, the pair were watching the former Crown Prince Zuko run through another set of drills before Zuko felt his frustrations bubble over, and let out a roaring gust of fire from his mouth into the sky, and reached for his dual Dao swords nearby. 

 

“Uncle, I’ve been running the same drills for the last two years. If I haven’t been able to master even the most basic drills that Azula conquered when she was five, how am I supposed to do the same when I’m 16! There’s no point in this, I’m going to practice my swords.”

 

“Now, now, Nephew. I told you not to compare yourself to your sister countless times. I believe this may be coming from your stalled attempts to capture the Avatar. Is this wrong?”

 

Zuko stopped running through his motions on the deck, he paused, dropping his swords and looked towards his uncle. Iroh motioned for him to walk towards his quarters to talk in private. As soon as they reached Zuko’s room, and the door was closed, Zuko started pacing, a solemn look on his face, as his uncle watched.

 

“Uncle, there is no search for the Avatar. They can’t be apart of the Air Nomads, Firelord Sozin killed them all, we saw the countless skeletons, when we journeyed to the Air Temples. They can’t be in the Water Tribes. Firelord Azulon captured several towns worth from the Southern Water Tribe, and no one can get anywhere near the Northern Tribe. Certainly, they can’t be Earth Kingdom! That place is overrun with Fire Nation troops! If my scrolls have told me anything, the Avatar from the Earth Kingdom was executed. Publicly! And Firelord Azulon watched this, only years before he died! That just leaves Fire Nation. This means that the next Avatar must be from home, and born on the day the Avatar was killed. If recent scrolls, say anything they were born the same year I was and the Fire Sages must know this and have kept it from public knowledge. Father knew this but he kept it from me. He sent me on a wild goose chase, with no intention of welcoming me back! Uncle! You must know who the Avatar is! Please what do I do now?!”

 

At this point, Zuko was in pieces; although the Agni Kai against his father, burned half his face, and left him deaf as well as nearly blind on his left side, he was bawling from the right side of his face. He felt a dull headache and faint pain forming around his scarred face, and inner turmoil but ignored them both, in favor of savoring the private moment he had with his uncle. 

 

It broke Iroh’s heart to hear this revelation from his nephew. While it’s not something diagnosed by healers and physicians, he knew something was different about Zuko. He was always a late bloomer; with his firebending, sometimes his school success, even in his social skills. By speaking with his fellow members of the White Lotus, they’ve coined the term autistic. His nephew tends to take things very literally and seriously, with a strong sense of morality and a near obsession with honor and all things noble. When his father banished him, capturing the Avatar and restoring his honor was all he could focus his energy on, by admitting this is a big milestone in his maturity and growth as a future ruler of the Fire Nation (he’ll be damned if Azula takes the throne--before she gets proper therapy, of course). He wonders how this will affect his inner fire since finding the Avatar has become his life’s purpose in the last couple of years.

 

“Zuko. It’s time for you to look inward and start asking yourself the big question: who are you can what do you want?”

 

“Uncle. While I would love to continue looking for the Avatar, I’m tired of looking. Maybe I just wasn’t meant to return to the Fire Nation. Father was right. I was just lucky to be born, Azula was always the talented one. Besides of all the people my age in the Fire Nation, what’s the chance that I’m the one? Or if the person who is the Avatar gains the gall to show their face to Father? Or if they’re even willing to fulfill their destiny as the Avatar!”

 

“Zuko. I know this may be hard, but you’re doing the right thing. It wouldn’t be honorable to capture another person who did nothing wrong besides existing, and fulfilling a past life’s purpose.” Iroh got up from Zuko’s bed that he was sitting on to place both his hands on his nephew’s shoulders-- steadying him as he began to sway slightly.

 

“Uncle… why are there two of you? What’s going on? I don’t feel righ--” His vision turned blurry, as his eyes rolled to the back of his head, knees nearly buckling underneath him. His body giving falling to the ground, and if it weren’t for Iroh grabbing hold of his body, he would have hit his destination with a hard thud.

 

“Zuko!”

Notes:

Zuko: *has a major epiphany, does something morally right and not inhuman in anyway*

His body: WTH man! Dis ain't what not what we gonna do! Abort mission! we going on lockdown!!

Iroh: by being so bad, you do something good and you get sick means you're going through a MeTaMorPhasis

~~~Please feel free to leave a comment or kudos (constructive criticism and tips are welcome) (^^)

Chapter 2: Into the Northern Water Tribe

Summary:

*takes place about 2 years after the first chapter, and is the timeline I'll be following from now on.
Zuko successfully fails at his attempt to enter the Water Tribe, Aang is slightly humbled, Zhao is in his beginning stages of failing, Katara grows as a bender, Sokka is an upcoming feminist, and Appa and Momo barely have screentime.

Notes:

Everyone is aged up, here are the new ages:

Zuko, Yue- 18, Sokka, Suki, Mai- 17, Katara, Azula & Ty Lee- 16, Toph & Aang-14 (technically Aang’s 114 but mentally & physically he’s 14)

 

*I don’t own Avatar: The Last Airbender or its characters. I only own the plot of this fic, there are lines said here that are from the show, I do not own or take ownership of those lines.*

Katara is head to head in a spar facing a boy about her age. Katara has a fierce and wild look in her eyes and on her face, while Sagnok is in a stagnant pose, hands shaking nervously.

 

Sagnok frightfully throws a medium-sized ball of ice towards Katara, who stops it mid-flight, melting it and letting it join the rather large wave of water she sends to him in return, throwing him several dozen feet in the air and freezing him in the giant wave.

 

“Take that Sangok! You need to widen your stance if you think a giant ice ball is the only thing that’s going to stop me. I’ve built igloos and ice lodges* that's a bigger struggle than this! Let’s do it again! I want a real challenge!”

 

Katara gives a smug look at Sagnok (and at Pakku but he doesn’t need to know that). 

 

Pakku strolls over to the pair, giving Sagnok a displeased look. 

 

“Nice try Xīnshŏu** Sagnok. A couple of more years, and you might be ready to fight a sea sponge.” With a downward motion of his arm, Pakku thaws the ice surrounding the student but giving him a slow descent to not give him a bruised ego. Pakku goes to stand next to his fast-rising best student, and next to the seven other students, who all look at him in various faces of shame, discontent, and fatigue.

 

“Would anyone care for a rematch with Katara?” All students shake their heads no. Pakku in silent astonishment turns to Katara. 

 

“Katara, you’ve advanced more quickly than any student I’ve ever trained. You have proven that with fierce determination, passion, and hard work, you can accomplish anything.” 

 

Katara although no one can see it, is blushing slightly at the ears from the praise, knowing she was able to impress the Master, and beat most of the Misogyny out of him in only a few weeks.

 

Unimpressed, Pakku turns to Aang, who is lounging next to a small pile of snow, twirling a ball of ice in the air with Momo on top of it with a lazy smile across his lips. “Raw talent alone is not enough.”

 

Pakku, while indifferent to the Airbender that has decided to sit in Katara’s lessons for the duration of their stay in the Northern Tribe, 

 

Aang on the other hand, is half-listening, and slightly angered from seeing Katara, Master Pakku’s newest student become his best in less than a month. But on the other hand, he’s incredibly proud and inspired by the 16 year old for having accomplished so much so quickly, and he’s excited for when they meet the next Avatar! They’ll have an amazing Waterbending teacher! 

 

“Xīnshŏu Aang! Care to step into the sparring circle? I know that you’re a master Airbender, but since you’ve found the time to play with house pets, you must want to learn the waterbending style. Perhaps it can help you in your journey to find the Avatar, you never know what you can learn from other benders.”

 

Pakku glowered at the young teenager. He had no qualms against men or women sitting in to watch (he scowled when women tried to learn from him, but now that Katara is learning from him he’s trying to keep it to himself), but when they were a nuisance or didn’t try to learn from what he was teaching to his class, that’s where he drew a line. 

 

Young, powerful benders like Shéntóng*** Aang, need to be humbled to make sure they don’t get comfortable in their skillset. Just because a Kata comes easy to them, doesn’t mean they’ve learned it all, the best teachers and students are the ones that are constantly learning, from the day they are born from their mother’s womb to the time the Spirits decided its best to take them into the Spirit World. 

 

Aang airbent himself into a standing position, before looking at the Master, and upcoming Master solemnly. 

 

“I wouldn’t say mastered , but check this out!” Aang used the air around him to swirl the surrounding snow on him, making a snowman… before Momo tackled his head, pushing him to the ground. 

 

When Aang looked up from the snow, he saw Pakku and Katara looking at him with the same expression written on their faces-- annoyed and unimpressed. 

 

~~~~~

Meanwhile, 

 

Yue was taking Sokka for a walk around the streets of the Northern Tribe. She was so interested in learning about her Sister Tribe! They were so different in terms of culture and architecture! Apparently, unlike the stuffy traditionalism of her home, people from the Southern Tribe were able to court and marry whoever they wanted! According to Sokka, there were Man/Man relationships, Woman/Woman relationships, even those who didn’t identify as either were able to court and marry who they wanted-- and no one cared that much about each relationship as long as they were kind to each other! 

 

Once the war is over, Yue will be sure to travel to the Southern Tribe to fully experience their culture and customs! 

 

“So, they don’t have palaces in the Southern Tribe?” Yue pondered as she walked along the sidewalk, while Sokka on her left, walked atop of the nearby railing. Sokka answered surprised by her question, as he stopped walking and sat on the railing.

 

“Are you kidding? I grew up in a block of ice, it’s not exactly a cultural hub.” Unbothered by the slight confession, Yue giggled slightly and placed her hand on Sokka’s shoulder. As he looked at her with a small lovestruck expression, Yue was brought to the reality of their situation. 

 

“Sokka, this is wrong. You know I’m to be engaged, what would happen should my betrothed see us together.”

 

 Sokka, however, was unbothered, and asked her “What’s wrong? We’re taking a walk! All my friends take a walk every now and then! Besides, if you’re betrothed were to see us together, they’ll probably just see as the Princess making sure visitors from the Southern Water Tribe are comfortable, especially since we’re traveling with the Avatar. What’s so bad about that?”

 

“It-- this just feels… um, nevermind forget I said anything.” Yue dismissed, turning away from Sokka and walking in the other direction. Sokka quickly caught up to her. 

 

“You know what Yue? You need to meet my good friend Appa. We go way back, he’s the one who brought Katara, Aang, and I to this place in the first place!”

 

After a few minutes of walking the pair quickly reached the stables where all of the Northern tribe’s animals were kept. While most were inside the stable, Appa was outside, feasting on a big pile of greens. 

 

“Hey, Appa! Agh! Easy! Down boy! Wait, no up! Up Appa!” Sokka called and was immediately tackled to the ground by the 5-ton bison, who started licking his face. 

 

Appa was ecstatic to see his blue-nation friend. Sokka was less than excited to be met by drool and slobber from the Bison. And, Yue was grateful for the small laugh she got from watching the exchange. 

 

“Looks like you haven’t been giving Appa enough attention.” She giggled, watching as Sokka unsuccessfully tried to pry himself from under the animal’s weight. Luckily Sokka was able to get himself and Yue onto Appa’s saddle, and by that time Appa’s welcome had calmed down and so had Yue’s laughs. 

 

“So, Sokka, how does this work? Do you tug on the reins and he starts to fly? Or is there a command you say that gets you in the air?”

 

“You hanging on tight Yue? Not too close to the edge? Alright! Appa, yip, yip.” And just like that, they were into the air, already above the Tribe’s tallest structure and into the open air just under the ocean. 

 

“Oh, my goodness! Wow! This feels amazing! I can’t believe you do this every day.”

 

“Gotta believe it, Yue. We pretty much live up here, no big.”

 

“It’s beautiful up here. Thank you for showing me this Sokka.”

 

“You’re beautiful Yue.” Yue’s faint blush deepened. I-I mean, whoo, yeah! This is a great view! Good times, good times.”

 

At that moment, the once white snow became a dark grey color. “Sokka? What’s happening? Why did the snow change its color?” Appa upon seeing it too growled at the snow. 

 

Yue looked at Sokka who had a depressed look on his face like he was caught in a memory.

 

“Yue we need to turn around. I’ve seen this before, right before my village was attacked. It’s soot mixed with snow, and it means the Fire Nation is coming. We need to go and warn the Chief.” 

 

“In that case, we must hurry Sokka. It seems an entire army is approaching.”

~~~~~~

 

Back at the Northern Water Tribe, 

 

All around citizens were awed and slightly terrified of the “black snow” that started falling. Only the elders and Chief’s council knew what it meant and were quickly starting to prepare for the incoming attack. 

 

The snow they walked on quickly became dusted with a dark grey tint, the waterfalls all around, in statues and sculptures as well as the surrounding outer wall, quickly became darkened and polluted. 

 

While there wasn’t outright panic and chaos, people were quick to head home, some waterbenders going as far as to barricade the windows and doors with ice several feet thick. They didn’t know what was happening but they did not want to end up like their sister tribe. 

 

~~~~~

 

Amid the blockade blackening the sky, was Admiral Zhao and (the formally) General Iroh. Both standing at the bow of the canoe they were on. 

 

“This will truly be a victory for the history books, General Iroh.”

 

“I have told you countless times, I am a General no more, Admiral Zhao.”

 

“Oh of course! Who can forget the legendary failure of the 600-day siege of Ba Sing Se? Unlike you, I will continue this battle until it’s the last man standing, whether they be from the great Fire Nation or lowly Water Tribe. Just think; Centuries from now, our people will be studying the Great Admiral Zhao, who destroyed the last of the Water Tribe Civilization, and their precious Moon Spirit along with it. You’re lucky, Iroh that you’re here to see it.” Ending his long monologue, Zhao turned to look at Iroh who had his eyes closed, a despondent look on his features. 

 

“Be careful what you wish for Admiral. You may not be the last man standing. If our descendants were to study you, I hope they study your failures. History is not always kind to its subjects. And I hope it has its way with you, for your sake.” Iroh while dying to speak out against the implications Zhao had of dangering the Moon Spirit, he held his tongue, the time was not right to pour that type of tea yet, and he did not wish for that decision to reap harm on himself or the crew around him. 

 

Zhao stepped closer to the edge of the bow, hands sternly gripping the railing as he looked on at the open sea. “Tell the captains to prepare for the first strike. As soon as they see the outline of the Tribe, start firing. If anyone, soldier or captains ceases fire without an order from me , throw them in the brig or directly into the hands of that savage tribe, and that includes you . We don’t want a repeat of what happened to dear Prince Zuko now do we?” 

 

Grimly Iroh nodded his head and walked towards the doors leading to the inside of the ship, there he went into one of the corners of the ship, a dead-end, making sure no one was around to hear what the two were talking about. Iroh quickly approached the only person in the corner, whose back was facing him, and in a low voice said,

 

“We’ll be landing soon. Do you have a plan?” The soldier turned around, faceplate in hand, and faced him. Iroh had to steel himself to the ground his feet were planted in, and even then it took much will, not to flinch at the bruises and scrapes his nephew’s face adorned, making his scarred side seem like old makeup. 

 

“I’m working on it, Uncle. I just hope they’ll be able to believe I’m you-know-who, and I want to help them not fight them. The Lotus’ training has greatly paid off. Thank you.”

 

~~~~~

 

Back at the frontlines of the Water Tribes, the streets were barren except for the dozens of (male) waterbenders that were running towards the front of the Chief’s palace. The drum, usually played during celebrations, was now sounding as a silent war cry, rallying all males to journey to the Chief’s palace, and all women and children to go back to their homes, despite their insistence that they could help.

 

Among the people running up the palace stairs were Sokka and Yue-- at least until Yue pulled back. 

 

“What’s wrong Yue? We have to go! The Chief’s waiting!” Yue hesitantly pulled her hand out of Sokka’s. 

 

“No, Sokka., wait. You have to go. I can’t see you anymore, not at all. Especially if we were to survive this attack.” 

 

“What? Yue, we’re just friends.”

 

“I wish we could be just friends, but I like you too much, and it’s too confusing to be around you. I’m marrying someone else, it feels like I’m betraying my soon to be husband. I love my people, and this is for their benefit.”

 

“But you don’t love him, do you? You don’t even seem to like him. You never even mention his name. This is for the betterment of the Tribe, but what about betterment for yourself? You’re not marrying your people if it’s not someone you like being with!” 

 

As careful as she could, while they were still on the stairs, Yue turned around a fit of delicate anger marrying her face. 

 

“Sokka, you don’t understand! I have duties to my father, to my tribe. If this is what my destiny is to make it better, I’ll do it. I have to do this. Goodbye Sokka, maybe if the war’s over my husband and I can make a journey to the Southern Tribe.” With that, Yue runs up the stairs and into the palace quickly taking a seat behind her father, on his right side, leaving Sokka to stare at her retreating figure. He slowly marched up the stairs, finding Katara and Aang and sitting by them, a troubled frown on his lips.

 

Once the chatter among the citizens died down Arnook started speaking. 

 

“Northern Water Tribe, the day we have feared for so long has arrived-- the Fire Nation is on our doorstep. It is with great sadness I call my family here before me, knowing well that some of these faces are about to vanish from our Tribe, and we may not see them again until we reach the Spirit Realm. However, they will never vanish from our hearts. Now, as we approach the battle for our existence, we will fight valiantly, without fear. I call upon the Great Spirits, Tui and La, Spirit of the Ocean, Spirit of the Moon, be with us and lead us to victory! I’m going to need volunteers who are able and willing to join arms with me, for a dangerous mission. All of those please step forward.”

 

Sokka bravely (or brashly depending on who you asked) was one of the first to get in line, he quickly marched over ignoring the face of concern and confusion from Katara and Aang respectively. As more and more men stood up, Arnook held a hand as a sign of wariness. 

 

“Be warned. Many of you will not return, come forward to receive my mark, and join me on the front lines.” Once he received his mark, Sokka looked at Katara before holding contact with Yue, both with great pain in their eyes. At once they turn away, Yue with silent tears streamed down her face, and Sokka withholding his.

 

~~~~~

 

“Shéntóng Aang, the stillness before a battle is unbearable, it is like waiting for a newborn to give their first cry. Such a quiet dread.”

 

While Aang tried to find solace in the comment, he reminded yet again of his failure to the monks and to his friend, the previous Air Avatar Naalan when they ran to Southern Tribe waters hoping to get away from responsibility, instead Naalan trapped him in the sphere of ice, asking him to watch over the next Avatar. It was as if he knew the war was coming...

 

“I wasn’t there when the Fire Nation attacked my home and my people. I’m gonna make a difference this time.”

 

More and more warriors, benders, and non-benders alike stepped up to the frontlines of the Tribe. Everything was quiet until the first ship was within eyesight, and immediately a fireball was released into the air, making contact with the wall of the Tribe, destroying it, and sending people sprawling. 

 

Suddenly more ships appeared on the horizon bringing more fireballs with it and making contact with the streets and canals of the Tribe. Aang and Appa quickly went into the air trying to stop the fleet from continuing further, but as soon as he successfully stopped one ship, dozens more arrived forcing the 14-year-old to retreat back to the Tribe and tell the others what he discovered. 

~~~~~

 

Even though the sun was starting to set, Zhao continued his relentless attack, at least until Iroh spoke to him. 

 

“It is almost twilight, Admiral. We must stop soon unless we feel the wrath of the waterbenders underneath this near full moon. As your military consultant, I must advise you to halt your attack. You need to wait and resume fire at daybreak.” Zhao however brushed off his concern. 

 

“Oh, Iroh. I am well aware of the moon problem and that’s why I plan to end it very soon. But yes, for now, tell the captains to cease-fire and continue at daybreak.”

 

At once Iroh headed to where the emergency canoes were held, relieved to see his son nephew still there. 

 

“If you are fishing for an octopus, my nephew you need a tight women net, or he will squeeze through the tiniest hole and escape. Please be sure you have thought it all out or else everything will fall apart. The world needs their Avatar, and I will be with you shortly to make sure nothing goes awry. I have a Lotus tile in the Northern tribe, it will be most valuable.”

 

Zuko was standing in front of one of the escape canoes, readying the small vessel to have all the supplies he needed.

 

“I don’t need your wisdom right now, Uncle. I can’t decipher it half the time. I know the world needs the Avatar, I’ve accepted that now.”

 

“I’m sorry, I just nag you because…. Well ever since I lost my son, I think of you as my own. I want you to know that should our destinies go parallel instead of continuing to intersect.” 

 

“I know, Uncle, you don’t have to say it. You shouldn’t say it. We’ll meet again, as soon as Zhao is defeated by the Northern Troops, we can find your Lotus Tile.” 

 

Zuko finally turned around. A downtrodden look as he looked at his dad uncle. He was happy to finally be able to play a part in ending the war his family stupidly started. He gave Iroh a proper flame bow, right hand in a fist and left hand just underneath giving the illusion of a flame. He gives Iroh a tight hug and walks over to his canoe, again facing his uncle and lowering the reins that hoisted the canoe above the deck.

 

It took all of Iroh’s inner flame not to descend back into the protective nature of a Tigerdillo he constantly fell into when lu Ten was still alive. 

 

“Please Zuko, remember your breath of fire, it could save your life out there, in the unforgiven nature of the Water Tribe waters.” 

 

“I will Uncle.”

 

“Don’t forget to put your hood up! The cold weather can irritate your scar further. Keep your ears warm--”

 

“I'll be fine Uncle! See you soon. After Zhao’s failure.”

 

Iroh sadly watched as Zuko’s canoe descended into the icy waters below. 

 

~~~~~

 

“What were you thinking Sokka! Getting into a fistfight with Hahn? You’re supposed to be able to get along with the co-captain leading the mission. Not to mention she’s Yue’s betrothed! This can have unspeakable repercussions on tensions between our two Tribes.”

 

Chief Arnook chastised Sokka after finding him futility restrained by three of his best warriors. 

 

“Well Chief Arnook, I fought him because he’s no good for Yue. He only sees her as a trophy, as a means for getting the advantages that come with being a chieftain. According to him, he’s ‘courted a lot of girls, but Yue is the finest. And she comes with the most perks.’ I couldn’t let him continue to talk about girls like that. Let alone my friend, your daughter. And I’d do it again, especially if he were talking about my sister Katara, or one of the younger waterbenders training with Yagoda! Not to mention how rude he was talking about the Southern Water Tribe! Saying ‘what would I know about the political complexities of their life? I know plenty!’ And he’s culturally incompetent! He can’t even say Admiral Zhao’s name right! The Fire Nation is my enemy but at least they respect most of us. Besides, who knows who long he’d continue if he wasn’t checked for that behavior.”

 

Arnook looked at Sokka, before taking a deep breath and trying to speak to Sokka in a calm voice. Now he understood all the times Yue tried to come to her with her concerns and wishes regarding Hahn. 

 

“Father...I have some concerns about my engagement with Hahn. I feel while this will be a great opportunity for our people, this comes with detrimental consequences for me. All Hahn talks about is what he wants to do as chieftain, as well as some… graphic and lewd things that he wants to do once we’re married. I feel like he may try to do these soon as well, and I’m fearful if that day comes.”

 

He failed twice. As Yue’s father and as her chief. Once this battle is over he’ll be sure to all in his power to reconnect and reconstruct her trust in him. 

 

“Well Sokka, I admire you protecting those important to you. In fact, you’re off the mission--”

 

“What?! But I thought you said you admired me! Why would you take me off the mission then?”

 

“If you let me finish, please. You’re off the mission because I have a more important one for you. You and a few other hand-picked warriors will protect Yue in case anything happens to me or Firebenders breach the line of defense guarding the palace. All of you along with Shéntóng Aang and Master Katara will be heading to the Spirit Oasis. The knowledge of the Oasis is very limited anyway, the only populations that know are the people of the Northern Tribe, other nations once knew of its existence but that was before the Hundred Years War. Do you accept this mission?”

 

Sokka nodded his head excitedly, nodded his head, and gave Arnook an outstretched hand as a means of accepting the task.

 

~~~~~

 

Meanwhile, 

 

Zuko was traveling in the middle of the icy, frozen waters along the borders of the Northern Water Tribe. Covered head to toe in compact but sleek clothes. His head fully covered, with his hair that now reaches shoulder length pulled into a faux phoenix tail, to those not familiar with the style it looks like a simple top knot, but for members of the White Lotus, it’s a symbol that shows each others’ status. While he wore a cloth mask that covered most of his face, save for his eyes, his scar was starting to ache, dull but it was slowly getting more painful-- he truly wished he applied more burn salve before he left.

 

Zuko looked around his surroundings, the current was strong and steady, so he figured he could stop rowing since his arms were sore, and let the current carry him. He found where he guessed was the first breach of the Northern Water Tribe. He must be close, there was a watchtower, probably in case of any surprise attacks during the night. Luckily he was able to skate by unnoticed, he guessed it could be because of the distance between them.

 

As he passed through the current, he continued seeing families and gatherings of Turtleseals. He parked the canoe on one of the banks of an iceberg and started climbing to see what was on the other side of it. 

 

He saw a harem**** of turtleseals taking turns diving into a medium-sized hole near one of the shallower sides of the iceberg. While it wasn’t his best idea, it’s definitely better than trying to enter the Northern Water Tribe through one of their main streetways which could be a major risk--for both himself since he looks obviously Fire Nation, and Zhao is currently laying a siege to the Tribe’s capital city.

 

Besides, almost every bending form and kata derived from the Fauna that the Spirits gave. If the turtleseals found a way out of the Tribe, there must be a way in. 

 

Zuko stalked over to the hole the animals dived in, lowered the cloth covering his face, and took a deep breath dived in after them, hoping to Agni he wouldn’t drown mid swim.

 

~~~~~

“Katara, do you know the story of the first Waterbenders? According to legends and the scrolls in our library, the Moon, Tui was the first waterbender. And that our ancestors saw how they pushed and pulled their partner’s tides from La, the Ocean, and began to mimic it themselves.” Yue told Katara and Aang, as they gazed at the moon from one of the open window balconies of the palace.

 

Katara looked at Yue in astonishment. When the War is over, she’ll be sure to travel constantly to the Northern Water Tribe and visit Yue to learn more about part of her culture from them, even if they aren't from her home Tribe. 

 

“I’ve always noticed my waterbending is stronger at night. This is great to know! I’m definitely practicing more under the moonlight.”

 

“Of course, Katara. And I’d love to watch you bend whenever you come here after the War. Our strength comes from Tui the Spirit of the Moon, and our life comes from La the Spirit of the Ocean. They work together to bring and keep balance and we in the Northern Tribe try our best to do the same within us.”

 

Aang listened with a far off look before a lightbulb idea emerged. 

 

“Guys. The Spirits! They can help! If we go to the most spiritual place here, I can try to contact them and ask who the Avatar is. Maybe they’d even bring them here to fight Admiral Zhao!”

 

“Wow, Aang! That’s a great idea, but how can you do that?”

 

“Air Nomads are supposed to be the most spiritual of the four elements. Since they’re the element of freedom, many masters of Airbending are very in touch with their awakened spirituality. According to Aang, a few were able to talk face to face with actual Spirits in their world and not just projections of ones in ours. He can definitely talk to them!” Katara answered on Aang’s behalf. Yue looked at Aang astonished! That was such valuable information about the Nomads, it’s amazing what benders and nonbenders alike can do in their element.

 

“That’s amazing Aang, Maybe they’ll give you the wisdom to be able to stop this attack from the Fire Nation, and win this battle.”

 

“Or…. maybe they’ll summon the Avatar to us and unleash a giant tsunami or ocean monster that’ll wipe them away from the North Pole!”

 

“Let’s not get too hasty Aang. Yue, could you find Sokka and the other warriors? They’re supposed to bring us to the Spirit Oasis to protect you from Zhao right? That could be the place where Tui and La are.”

 

“Amazing idea Katara. Come with me, it’s best to go in a group in case anything happened.”

 

Roughly 30 minutes later, Yue, Sokka, Katara, Aang (Momo on Aang’s shoulder), and 5 other warriors stood at the entrance of the Spirit Oasis, in front was a singular wooden gateway, the door was circular and half of Aang’s height. 

 

“So Yue. This is the way to the Spirit world? It looks like the entrance to the bathroom.”

 

Yue chuckles softly, “No Aang, this isn’t the entrance to the Spirit World. You get there on your own. This is the way to the Oasis, we’re going into the under-ice tunnel that leads to the Oasis. Come, everyone, single file, and stay close together. I’ve only been here a number of times so be sure to watch where you’re going.”

 

One by one everyone followed Yue, and after nearly a 10-minute walk, they reached the Oasis, completely surrounded by ice hundreds of feet high, a narrow waterfall, in the middle a single patch of grass with a small temple and pond in the center, and a small pathway on either side of the grass. Something everyone noticed almost immediately was how warm it was. 

 

“It’s so warm here! How is that possible?” Katara asked, taking off her parka, only wearing her everyday clothes with short sleeves underneath.

 

“It’s the center of all spiritual energy here in the North Pole. It’s thought that before the War, many Spirits would travel through here, whether to check on elders or important figureheads throughout Nations or just to see Tui and La here.” Yue said, gesturing at the two fish in the pond, both an opposite image of each, one black with a white circle, the other white with a black circle, both swimming around each other as if playing an endless game of tag. 

 

“You’re right Yue. I can feel powerful energy right…. here. Is this Tui and La? The fish? I thought they were supposed to be Spirits?” 

 

“These are Tui and La in their mortal form, but they are able to transform into a spiritual manifestation if need be. Now, Aang please focus on trying to talk to them. Surely they have an answer for our dilemma.”

 

~~~~~

 

Zuko suddenly em͐erged to see a colony of turtleseals calling at him as he came up for breath in a hole, he could barely fit in. He nearly passed out from the cold and lack of oxygen, flopping onto a clearing of nearby ice, shivering. He quickly turned to the side to not scare the animals and started huffing and breathing heavily trying to release a breath of fire to warm himself up. 

 

After nearly 5 minutes of doing so, he carefully approached the turtleseals and reached out to pet one. 

 

“Hey there. Do you happen to know where I can find the entrance to the Northern Tribe?”

 

A few of the turtleseals quieted down and one-pointed its snout in the direction of a large tunnel. 

 

“Thank you turtleseal. Um… do you mind if I call you Akasuki as thanks for guiding me? I could give you all names if you want. Uhh, but if you don’t I’ll come back, and hopefully you won’t attack me. Okay…. Thank you again Akasuki for helping me.”

 

Zuko walked over to the tunnel and started climbing through the mountain of water in its entrance. 

 

He quickly reached the top of it and titled his head up for air. After he swam back down and headed into one of the other pathways, quickly coming to a dead end. Seeing that there wasn’t anything but water and ice around him and not wanting to dive back down, he lifted his hands up against the ice above him and warmed his hands slowly and steadily to melt enough ice to be able to narrowly make it through. He saw himself a ways above a small gathering of people. 

 

This must be the travelers from the Southern Tribe that Uncle told him about! As well as a few warriors guarding their princess. Of course, they’d have extra protection! That idiot Zhao was trying to invade them. Now, he had two options; either barge in now with no idea what he’s messing with, or wait a few minutes to observe who the people are in case he needs to fight. The second was the idea that won out--- mainly because he was rather breathless from nearly drowning a couple of times on the way to get here. 

 

~~~~~

 

Sokka was taking his job very seriously! There was no way any of the evil Fire Nation was gonna find them here and hurt Yue! But, who was that in one of the hollows of the ice around them? 

 

“Uhh, hey Tekaq. Do you see that person up there?”

 

“I do! Master Katara! Please get ready, we may be attacked, and your expertise will greatly help.”

 

~~~~~

 

Upon hearing the commotion, Zuko quickly jumped down from his hiding place, and onto the grass of the Oasis. 

 

Immediately he saw all of the Water Tribe put up their weapons. He, on the other hand, kneeled on the ground and put his hands up in surrender. 

 

“W-wait! Please! Before you attack me, I’m here to help you! I know it sounds crazy but I’m the Avatar and please spare me before you hurt me! I’ll answer any and all questions you have, you can even tie me up and hold me, prisoner! All I ask is that I see Master Piandao!” Zuko pleaded, forehead touching the ground and his hands out in front of them. 

 

He looked up to see the angry faces of the warriors and princess, before one of them-- a Waterbender-- sent a massive wave of water towards him, knocking him to the side. He didn’t try to send any fire towards them-- they don’t need to know he’s a Firebender anyway, not in these conditions. They then pushed another wall of water towards him, which sent him to the ice wall, freezing him in a ball around it (with a small window of transparent ice for them to see and hear him), as well as making a path for them to approach. 

 

~~~~~

 

Sokka was the one who approached him first.

 

“Look buddy, it’s not that we don’t trust what you’re saying. It’s that we don’t trust what you’re saying. How do we know you’re the Avatar? How’d you get here? Are you with Zhao as some way to distract us? And um, what’s your name?”

 

They all looked at the person in the ball of ice expectantly. They bowed their head, taking a slow breath, lifting their hands where they could see them, and answered his questions. 

 

“I found out I was the Avatar about 2 years ago. Ummm, I can try to enter the Avatar State after questioning? I traveled here with my Uncle. I hate Zhao, and would never side with him, nor would I help him. He almost killed me by exploding the original ship I was on with blasting jelly--that’s why I have all these bruises and scrapes by the way-- Oh! And don’t worry about my Uncle, he’s fine and was able to get off the ship before I did. Ummm I’m getting off-topic… My name is Zuko, but I go by Lee everywhere including the Fire Nation, because I’m kinda banished… but that’s a story for another time. I can tell you how, but after I’ve met with Master Piandao.”

 

This person was like the embodiment of nervous energy. Somewhere in the middle of their speech, their hands took down the hood and started fiddling with their hair and switching between that and fiddling with their fingers. There was no way this person would side with Zhao, Gran-Gran always showed Sokka and Katara how to detect lies and truths in a person, especially since they often had to take care of the village kids. They were telling the truth about everything…. So that meant they were the Avatar--- but they were definitely going to ask Aang to confirm. Sokka looked at Katara who held his eye contact and nodded her head. At once Katara melted her prison of ice, she gestured for the warriors to stand down, and Sokka stalked over to Zuko or Lee? And tied him up with rope he got from Zoa, another of the warriors. 

 

“Okay buddy, we trust what you’re saying but for our comfort and peace of mine, we’re tying you up until we can get to Piandao to confirm your identity.”

 

~~~~~

Elsewhere, 

 

The sun began to rise on the horizon. Zhao looked at the devastated Tribe with a wicked grin on his face. 

 

“It’s time. History will be made for Zhao the Moonslayer.”

Dozens of Fire Nation ships docked on the barrier of the Northern Water Tribe, making a wedge in the ice, and lowered their ramps, making way for hoards of Fire Nation soldiers to charge through, some on foot, others on Komodo Rhinos. 

 

“Admiral Zhao, please reconsider your actions while you still can.”

 

“Oh Iroh, I have thought about this for years since I discovered the mortal forms of the Moon and Ocean Spirits. It’s unavoidable. The Northern Water Tribe will fall today, as their Sister Tribe has done nearly 10 years prior.”

---

*Ice Lodges are based on the Yupik Earth Lodges or Barabara, which is one of the Indigenous cultures the Water Tribes are based on

 

**Xīnshŏu means student or novice in Mandarin,  (at least according to Google Translate. I apologize to any native or (semi)fluent Mandarin speakers if this is wrong, please correct me in the comments if need be)

 

***Shéntóng means prodigy in Mandarin (again according to Google Translate. I apologize if this is wrong or inaccurate, please correct me in comments if need be)

 

****A group of seals is called the following: A colony, rookery, herd, harem, or a bob

 

Notes:

This took nearly a week to write and I'm proud

Did I fit an entire episode in one chapter? Yes. Do I regret it? No, I love long chapters and this gives me more inspiration to write.

I tried to give Yue a bit more personality here. I love her but they gave her 2 ½ episodes of screen time before offing her. Let the girl live pls. Also, there won’t be a Sokka/Yue pairing here. I don’t think they’d connect romantically, but would definitely be platonic soulmates (people who see them in passing think they’re dating but Sokka is together with Suki, and Yue I think is a Femme Le$bian (if you’ve seen that TikTok please get this (Le dolla bean) as well as enby using they/she pronouns).

I feel like Yue would genuinely love her people and do what she believes is right for them like Zuko, and at the same time, I think she’d be like Katara, a raging feminist & womanist. She wants the best thing for herself as well, but because of the harshness and traditionalism of the NWT, the concerns and wishes for herself were brushed off until she stopped coming to the elders and her father about them. I didn’t include the scene with Hahn and Sokka because for the plot of this AU, it would be a lot more than just Hahn being a gold digger (if this is offensive lmk in the comments), and I felt including that convo would be triggering for some people.

Chapter 3: Into the Northern Water Tribe Part 2

Summary:

The invasion continues, Zuko manages to keep his mouth shut for once, Yue still dies, Zhao faces an ambiguous ending and I forget about Appa and Momo one more time.

Notes:

Please read all of this! I don’t like long notes but it’s important (*~*)

I’m alive! And in college!

did i write piandao instead of pakku? I need to read over my stuff more often. Also changing the rating to Teen because of some swear words I added towards the end of the chapter, it felt necessary.

Also I know I explicitly stated that Zuko is Autistic in the first chapter, but I’m revising it so it’ll be more implied with a few mentions every few chapters or so. (Yes I am Autistic, yes some of this is influenced by my own experiences, Tumblr, and Instagram infographics, I’ve done other research and analyzed almost every episode at least 3 times to write this as accurately as I can). Of course, any other criticisms and/or suggestions are welcome in my comments or my Tumblr @/thoughtsbynyx

Also Also, I’m changing the time of the war from 100 years to 64 years after reading a tumblr post about Lucky 8s in Asian cultures (The Chinese system of neurology primarily which has a lot of influence in the surrounding countries).
*Keep in mind I’m a Black American so if any of this info sounds wrong please correct me in the comments.*
Everything will be the same in my canon but I’m fast forwarding a few things (mainly going off timelines of real world events that have left lasting effects but only happened for a short while) : (reasons for all of these will be revealed in later chapters) the Air Nation g*nocide happened in a duration of a few days/weeks, the conquest and colonies of the Western Earth Kingdom over a decade, the raids of the Southern Water Tribe lasted over 25 years and since then there’s been riots, revolts and everything in between.

Note: I don’t own Avatar: The Last Airbender or its characters. I only own the plot of this fic, there are lines said here that are from the show, I do not own or take ownership of those lines.

Previously:

The sun began to rise on the horizon. Zhao looked at the devastated Tribe with a wicked grin on his face. 

“It’s time. History will be made for Zhao the Moonslayer.”

Dozens of Fire Nation ships docked on the barrier of the Northern Water Tribe, making a wedge in the ice, and lowered their ramps, making way for hoards of Fire Nation soldiers to charge through, some on foot, others on Komodo Rhinos. 

“Admiral Zhao, please reconsider your actions while you still can.”

“Oh Iroh, I have thought about this for years since I discovered the mortal forms of the Moon and Ocean Spirits. It’s unavoidable. The Northern Water Tribe will fall today, as their Sister Tribe has done nearly 10 years prior.”

We Continue: 

“Sokka! How could you say that? They’re Fire Nation! An Ashmaker ! How could we possibly be sure that Pakku knows Zuko?”

“Because Katara, look at him! The Fire Nation may be evil, but I’m pretty sure the obvious scar on his face should outweigh his really Fire Nationy eyes. I mean for all we know the guys mixed with Earth Kingdom, and the eyes are the only thing he got from his Ashmaker father. It’s not like he’s a Fire Bender! Wait-” Sokka turned away from his sister to the individual doused in water. He shot an accusatory finger, a stern look on his face (also a slight pout, but it’s outshone by the fierce stance he’s placed his feet in). 

“ Are you a-a Firebender?” 

The intruder immediately replies, “No, I’m not a Firebender. Yes, I am Fire Nation. No, I’m not a spy or have any affiliation with Zhao, I hate that guy. Does that answer all of your questions? Unless you want to hear some interesting facts about your fauna, I suggest you do something else besides interrogate me and decide whether my existence has importance to you .” 

It was at that point that Yue walked forward-albeit slowly and cautiously. “Warrior Sokka, Master Katara, please continue to guard Shéntóng Aang, I feel a dangerous battle coming to our sacred walls. I wish to speak to Zuko in a small audience.” As Sokka, Katara, and 3 of the 5 warriors followed her kind instructions, while the 2 remaining warriors stayed with their princess, guarding her from a distance to give her some privacy. 

“Prince Zuko. Son of Firelord Ozai and Lady Ursa. What brings you to the Northern Water Tribe?” 

“Princess Yue. Daughter of Chief Arnook and Chieftess Leyih. I am not affiliated with the Invaders from the Fire Nation. I’m not considered Fire Nation, and have not for years now. I come on my own terms and seek a way to talk with Master Pakku foremost, the Waterbender and her companions secondly if I am permitted.”

Yue looks at Zuko with curiosity before nodding and walks closer to discuss other matters. 

~~~~~

It took him a few minutes and immense concentration but Aang finally managed to journey into the Spirit World!

He wandered until he saw a baboon spirit, and carefully approached it.

“Um hello? I’m sorry to disturb you, I really need to find someone who knows where I can find the next Avatar.” 

The baboon slowly approached the young Airbender and began to circle around him before leaping off to the right and looking back as he ran away. Aang briefly wondered if he wanted him to follow before running after the animal spirit only to find a young person who couldn’t be more than 20 dressed in traditional Western Earth Kingdom wear. 

Aang came to a sudden stop before the teen and quickly bowed in a form he hoped was from the correct region. 

“Hello Aang. My name is Nang Wo, I was the Earth Avatar before I was killed by Fire Lord Azulon.”

“Hi Nang Wo! Wait, if you’re the Earth Avatar, ones that mean the new Avatar is from the Fire Nation? Is there any way I can find them? Can you tell me anything about them? What’s the Avatar’s name?” Aang leans in closer to whisper as if he’s saying a curse with Monk Gyatso in hearing range. “Are they one of the good guys?”

Nang Wo steps back to ponder the onslaught of questions from the young Air Master.

“I cannot tell you everything about the Fire Avatar as it is not my story to tell. But I can tell you this; his name is Zuko, his title I will not share. He is one of the ‘good guys’ as you put it, but be careful and patient with them for there are many things they struggle with or need guidance on. Lastly, they are closer to you than you think, when you return to the physical world look at your surroundings and the answer will be clear. Be careful though, young Airbender. There is trouble brewing towards the Moon Spirit.”

Aang takes in the words of wisdom to put together some pieces of the puzzle. Nang implied that the new Avatar uses the pronouns he and they, his name is Zuko and probably had a difficult childhood (or is having a difficult childhood, who knows how old they are). And that he might even be in the Northern Water Tribe! If he needs to look at his surroundings then Zuko might even be in the same area as him, Sokka, Katara and Yue!

“Thank you so much Avatar Nang Wo for your words. I’ll keep your warning in mind. I must return to the Northern Tribe now.” Aang says as he bows deeply and heads in the direction he came in, and sees the baboon spirit once again on a nearby tree branch where he entered.

~~~~~

In the Northern Water Tribe, Zhao and his men managed to breach a large part of the ice palisade and were currently in a heating battle of fire and ice, swords and spears. Standing behind on the lead ship was Zhao and Iroh. 

“I shouldn’t need to tell you this Admiral but removing the moon will not only wreak havoc on the Water Tribes but all the elemental nations. The Fire Nation in particular.”

As Zhao opens his mouth to start his backstory, he hears a commotion. 

“Admiral Choi! Prepare to meet your fate!”

Both men turn to see a person in an outdated Navy uniform, running full speed at Zhao with a spear in his hand. Before the spear can pierce Zhao’s skin, Zhao side steps him, grabbing his forearm and tossing the individual overboard.

As if the person tossed overboard was nothing more than an inconvenience, Zhao continues as if he was never interrupted. 

“Years ago when I was a newly promoted lieutenant serving under General Shu in the Earth Kingdom, I stumbled upon a hidden library, underground in fact. Turns out that very library was run by a knowledge spirit named Wan Shi Tong who collected information on all 4 nations. In one of them was a scroll detailing the mortal forms of the Moon and Ocean Spirit, which is only knowledgeable to the nobility of the Water Tribes, and with the Southern Tribe decimated I knew it was my destiny to journey to the Northern Water Tribe and deliver the final blow, starting with those lowly savages and ending with the Moon Spirit itself.”

Iroh looked at Zhao angrily, nearly using the breath of fire on the Admiral. 

“Are you crazy? Admiral Zhao, the spirits are not to be trifled with! Spirits, Zhao except the colonies, the Fire Nation is made of a group of islands. We’re surrounded by water, think of the consequences of your actions! Are you so entrapped in your pride, in your quest to be great in the Navy, that you are willing to risk the lives of hundreds of thousands, if not millions of innocent lives along the coasts for the sake of being ‘Zhao the Moonslayer’? You will be remembered as Zhao the Stupid if this plan of yours succeeds.”

Zhao looks at Iroh with poorly controlled boredom on his face as the retired general continues his speech of hopeful repentance. 

“Yes, yes general I know you fear the Spirits, I’ve heard of your rumored journey to the Spirit World. But if the Spirits were not to be messed with then why did the Ocean and Moon give up their immortality to be fish in a pond, living amongst us mortals. If I have to face the consequences of my choices, then so will those foolish fish. I’ve already gathered a select few of my men to come with me for a special fishing trip. Of course, General Iroh, you’re welcome to join.” Zhao smirks maliciously and heads out towards the center of the ship.

~~~~~

When Aang returns to the physical world he hears the bickering of Katara and Sokka first, looks around and finds Yue a few feet away, along with a person with a horrendous scar. 

Suddenly the words of Nang Wo surface back to him and he nearly trips over himself to greet the stranger.

“Hello! I’m Aang, what’s your name? Are you the Avatar? Why do you have that scar? Are you a firebender?”

The person looked at Aang in surprise, mouth agape before answering.

“My name is Zuko. Yes, I am the Avatar. I don’t know you enough to tell you the story of how I gained my scar. All I’m going to say is that it’s angered some Spirits and the Defense Minister and the War Council should count their days. And lastly, look at my eye. This eye doesn’t exactly say Water Tribe or Earth Kingdom does it? Now, is there a way I could talk to Master Pakku after this invasion or will I be sent to the nearest prison and freeze to death.”

Before anyone could respond Yue grabs her head and groans lightly, stumbling back a few steps. 

Sokka walks over to her and puts his hands on her shoulders in an attempt to steady her. 

“Are you okay, Yue?”

“No, Sokka. I feel faint. Someone must be coming to harm one of the Spirits.” Aang and Zuko look at her wearily, cupping their heads as well in their hands.

“I feel it too Yue. The previous Avatar Nang Wo warned me something was going to happen. The Moon Spirit is in trouble.” Yue gasps softly at the words.

“We must be prepared then. I owe the Moon Spirit my life. Sokka, Katara, have you heard of the tale?” The mentioned siblings shake their heads, and Yue begins her story.

“This a child’s bedtime story now in the Northern Tribe as a means of getting children to behave. I was born very sick and weary at daybreak, a bad omen for Water Tribe children. The midwives and healers think it’s because I was destined for Spiritual assistance that was taken from me at the last push from my mother. She died a few weeks after giving birth to me. Most babies cry when they're born, but I was born silent, as if I was asleep with my eyes closed and chest taking slow labored breaths. Our healers did everything they could but I was slowly turning blue in the face, and quickly told my parents to prepare my funeral rites. That night, under the full moon my Father pleaded to the Spirits for me to live as their first borne, and brought me to the oasis where he placed me in the pond. My dark hair turned white, and I began to cry. My parents were relieved that I cried and took it as a sign of me living. That’s why my mother named me Yue, for the moon.”

Before any of them had the chance to respond, a sinister voice cut through their heart to heart. 

“What a lovely touching story. I’ll be sure to tell His Majesty Firelord Ozai when I tell him I’ve killed the Moon Spirit and the last of the Water Tribes.” 

The 5 teens turn to see Yue’s guards disarmed and on the floor, small burns on their bodies, and Zhao with a bag in his hand, something in it causing a puddle to appear on the sac. They gather into various poses for combat, about to get closer to Zhao when he holds up a hand to stop them.

“And don’t bother getting closer, I wouldn't want to hurt your precious Tui . The Fire Nation for generations will tell stories of me! Zhao the one who darkened the moon. They’ll call me Zhao the Conqueror, Zhao the Moon Slayer. Zhao the Invincible!” 

He holds the bag in one hand, and in the other a flame, reds and oranges alight and circling each other viciously. 

Zuko stands slowly and looks at Zhao with fury in his eyes. 

“Don’t be ignorant. They’ll call you Zhao the Loser, Zhao the Idiot General. Zhao the Susceptible is one I will personally see to add to their history books. Destroying the Moon will hurt the Water Tribes because that’s one of their main Spirits sure, but this will cause harm to the entire world. It’ll hurt everyone, including you! The Fire Nations are made up of islands , dumbass! Not to mention you’re an Admiral in the navy! You travel the ocean to terrorize people in another country! And you think this isn’t going to backfire on you! I swear, they’re purposely giving the Nation poor education to create idiots like you.”

“Well said Nephew. He is right, Zhao.” Zhao whipped his head to stare at the retired General in mild disinterest.

“General Iroh. Why am I not surprised to discover your treachery? I’d expect this from the Banished Fire Prince, but you; the Dragon of the West. Well it’s no matter, I’m sure your brother will be pleased.”

“Enough, Zhao. Whatever you do to that spirit, I’ll unleash on you ten-fold. Let it go, and into the pond now!”

Zhao releases the koi fish into the oasis giving the teens and Iroh a brief moment of relief-emphasis on the brief. In an instant Zhao’s face twists into one of rage and performs a fire strike on the pond, aiming precisely for the newly released fish. In retaliation Iroh takes a bending stance and releases both the breath of fire towards Zhao’s face, and a swift kick towards Zhao’s arms. As the two begin to battle, Zhao's soldiers begin to engage in combat with the injured Water Tribe warriors. 

The teens quickly run to the koi pond, as the world around them gains a gray like tint. They see the remaining fish La circling around her lover protectively (as protectively as a fish can manage, but the intent is clear: someone please help my dear Tui ). While the group is hovering towards the beginning of the pond, Yue enters the water, a grim smile on her face as she looks directly at Sokka. 

“I’ve been given some of the Moon’s life when she saved me. I should return that gift back to her.” Yue bows in the water, holding the dead fish in her hands, closes her eyes and begins to concentrate. 

~~~~~ 

At the same time Zuko feels a pull towards the pond as well. He stands in front of it, next to Yue as a faint blue hue begins to come on him, and his scarred eye begins to turn a deep blue as water from around all over begins to circle Zuko. All noises die down as he hears an ethereal feminine voice speak to him. 

“Zuko of the Fire Nation. Lend me your mortal body so that I may exact revenge on that fool Zhao and his puny army.”  

Zuko looks up to see him encased in water, yet able to breath and move freely throughout the canals of the Water Tribe. He looks around and sees the fear of his people and Water Tribe citizens as they look at him in awe and fear.

They shake their head and responds to the voice in his head. 

“La the Ocean Spirit. Please look around and have mercy. It wasn’t these people that caused the damage to your lover. They are misguided by the lies of the Fire Nation that indoctrinated them. Only doing what their superior commanded. Let them live and face their punishments as your people see fit. Zhao is well deserving of a punishment you see fit and I will do my part to see that it happens. Again all I ask is that you have mercy on the soldiers and let your people deal with them. We can take out Zhao personally.”

The Spirit contemplates the statement made by Raava’s champion. They did make some good points. Tui and Agni have been keeping an eye on the Fire Nation as long as this foolish war has been continued, the soldiers truly believed the lies they were told, and to punish them without giving justice to the leader will be ludicrous. The Northern Tribe will see to it that they give out punishments fit for the invaders, especially if La manages to push a message to the Elders to journey to the Southern Tribe.

That's when she finds “Admiral” Zhao, running like the coward he is. 

~~~~~

As soon as Zhao ran leaving his soldiers for dead, Iroh rushes over to the Water Tribe warriors and Air Nomad. He looks at the young royal with stark white hair.

“You have been touched by the Moon Spirit. Some of its life is in you.”

The young woman looks up from her meditation to gaze at Iroh with a sad smile.

“Yes, you're right. If the Spirit gave me life, maybe I can give it back.”

The young man besides her reaches out to her, distress on his features. 

“No Yue! You can’t! There has to be another way. Your father entrusted me to protect you. What will I tell him if I say you died and turned into the moon? He’ll banish me!” Yue gives Sokka a sad smile and kiss on the forehead as she looks at the young man that has become her best friend. 

“Goodbye Sokka. Here’s something to remember me by.” She brushes a hand over his hair, a few of the stands turning as white as Yue’s hair as she glows and slowly fades away. Her last words being to the group:

“I’ll always be in contact with you Sokka and Katara of the Southern Water Tribe. Aang of the Air Nomads,if you need the guidance of a Spirit I will be the first to answer your call.”

~~~~~

A few days later, most of the debris from the invasion was cleared away, and the Fire Nation soldiers that haven’t been killed in combat were whisked away to the city jail to await their punishments and transportation to the nearest prison.

Quickly after the invasion was finished and the Ocean Spirit released Zuko from her hold, they were quickly surrounded by Water Tribe Warriors, spears sharp and ready to pierce at the slightest movement. It wasn’t until they brought the banished prince to the Chief bound in a combination of rope and ice, that Pakku was able to clear both Zuko’s and Iroh’s name as allies of his and an asset to the oncoming war that was quickly approaching their lands. 

It was now sundown and Katara stands near Pakku and a few men and women on boats.

“I’ve decided to go to the South Pole. Some blenders and healers want to join me. It’s time we helped rebuild our sister tribe instead of hiding and waiting for the action to pass.”

“What about Zuko? Are you sure you wouldn't want to stay a few more weeks and teach him the basics of Waterbending? They need a Master to teach them.”

Pakku looks at Katara with a small smile and puts one hand on her shoulder squeezing it in a comforting way. 

“Well it’s a good thing he has you then. Master Katara. I’ve prepared  another ship for you and your companions to travel on as you look for a place to teach the Avatar Airbending. I hope it suits you well.”

~~~~~

“Dear Azula, you have served me well the last few years. It’s time you gain some field experience. Iroh is a traitor and your brother Zuko has resurfaced claiming he’s the Avatar. A failure can only try to be something until his true nature is shown. I have a task for you.”

Azula rises from the kneeling position she’s in to face her father, with a malicious smile on her face.

“Thank you for the opportunity, Fire Lord. I won’t let you down.”

Chapter 4: Into the Earth Kingdom… please don’t crush my hands (part 1)

Summary:

Zuko embraces his inner Iroh to face his fears and journey to the biggest cities in the Earth Kingdom

Notes:

From Young Justice (HBO Max): “Thus order can serve chaos, and chaos can serve order. As long as the balance is maintained.”

Note: I don’t own Avatar: The Last Airbender or its characters. I only own the plot of this fic. There are lines said here that are from the show; I do not own or take ownership of those lines.

Previously:

Pakku looks at Katara with a small smile and puts one hand on her shoulder squeezing it in a comforting way. 

“Well, it’s a good thing he has you then. Master Katara. I’ve prepared another ship for you and your companions to travel on as you look for a place to teach the Avatar Airbending. I hope it suits you well.”

~~~~~

“Dear Azula, you have served me well the last few years. It’s time you gain some field experience. Iroh is a traitor, and your brother Zuko has resurfaced, claiming he’s the Avatar. A failure can only try to be something until his true nature is shown. I have a task for you.”

Azula rises from her kneeling position to face her father with a malicious smile.

“Thank you for the opportunity, Fire Lord. I won’t let you down.”

---

We Continue:

 

“Do you want to talk about it?” Katara asks Zuko as she gently touches his shoulder, recoiling slightly when she sees Zuko flinch. 

 

“What is there to talk about? Every time I close my eyes, I’m back at the North Pole; I see the bodies of my people freezing in prisons, both because of the cold and the lack of sunlight. I can’t imagine the punishments that the Northern Tribe will inflict on them. When I bargained with La, I hoped to save them from being swept into the ocean like La wanted, now though I fear I just prolonged their deaths.” Zuko responded, leaning on the edge of the rail, looking dejectedly at the sea below the Water Tribe ship they were on.

 

Katara started responding when she saw Iroh in the corner of her eye. He shook his head sadly, and she nodded acutely. She stood up and walked to another part of the ship.

---

The next day, Pakku, flanked by two Water Tribe members, approaches the group, a few items in his arms. 

He first walks to Katara and gently places an amulet and a rather thick book in her hand.

 

“Sifu Katara of the Southern Water Tribe, I want you to have this. It’s an amulet that contains water from the Spiritual Oasis. This water contains unique properties; it can instantly heal minor injuries and ailments. This book contains additional information about healing that Taakti* Yagoda wanted you to have before she could teach it. It touches on ways to heal with waterbending, natural remedies for injuries and sickness, and  information on Tui and La. Do not lose it.”

 

Katara looks at the two items in her possession as if the Spirits had given them to her personally. 

“Thank you *Qulliq Pakku. I will always have this in my sight.”

 

Next, Pakku walks to Zuko and places a small satchel around his shoulders. 

“Zuko, although our time is short, know I am only a letter away. I know the Fire Nation has turned its back on you,” At this, Katara, Sokka, and Aang glance at each other. They didn’t forget that story the lanky teen owes them. Now it's when, not if, they’ll make him tell the story. 

 

“But while I am weary of your intentions, I know you mean well as the Avatar and the banished prince of the Fire Nation. General Iroh will remain here and advocate for the remaining soldiers as best as possible. You don’t need to worry about his well-being; I assure you that you will be reunited with him soon. However, heed this warning: if you do anything to convince me or your travel mates of allegiance to your father’s efforts, I will not hesitate to get rid of you. With that out of the way, here are scrolls that will help you master waterbending when the time comes. But remember, there are no substitutes for a real master. Look at the bag's contents when you are alone; it’ll be for the best.”

 

Finally, he walks to Sokka and Aang. Putting a hand on each shoulder, he pats them gently. He hands Sokka a map and guides them through the route to Omashu. He suggests the group stop at an Earth Kingdom base a few miles east of the city, stating that a general there will ensure a smooth journey. At this, Zuko pales considerably, his hands trembling.

He hopes someone will ask about his sudden hesitance. They don’t. 

 

In reality, no one looks up from the map Pakku had drawn their attention to. 

---

As the Gaang ventured closer to their rendezvous point, Aang noticed how distant their newest passenger was. 

 

Although everyone is wary- having never encountered a nonviolent firebender, it seems the Water Tribe siblings have all but forgotten the teen is also in Appa’s saddle with them. 

 

Hesitantly, Aang pats Appa on his head and slowly approaches Zuko.

 

“Um—hey, Zuko. You look a little blue. Is there something bothering you?” Zuko looks at the child before him, sees a kid barely his age when he was banished, and shakes his head.  

He decides that no, it isn’t time to disclose that to anyone, to a child. “It’s nothing worth sharing right now. Maybe when we can both trust each other fully, I’ll share the story, but this isn’t something I want to disclose so… haphazardly.”

 

As Aang opens his mouth to reply, Sokka interrupts him, saying they’ve reached the rendezvous point. 

---

On a metal ship, *Jâo Yĭng Azula is in command in front of two rows of soldiers. 

 

“As you all know, the Fire Lord- May Agni’s light forever shine upon him, has declared that my uncle and brother have disgraced the Fire Nation and all of us. It may seem treacherous to attack members of the Royal Family, but keep in mind two things. One, *Jâo Chaai Zuko, was banished from the Fire Nation 5 years ago today. Two, my uncle, the retired General Iroh, shed his royal ties when he disappeared following the death of his son. If we encounter either traitor and you hesitate, I will not bring you down with them. Dismissed.”

 

The captain of the ship, Ta, hesitantly walks up to Azula. 

 

“Your Highness. May Agni’s light endlessly shine on you. If I may, I believe it would be wise to dock at a nearby port for the night. The tides do not seem to be in our favor, which may cause a greater delay in our voyage.” Azula regards the man in thinly veiled disgust; she circles him, looking at the waves surrounding the ship before looking at the man again and speaking. 

 

“May I ask you a question, Captain Ta. This is still new, and I know little about the tides. Do the tides command this ship?”

 

“No, Your Highness.” He bows his head and assumes the position of a new recruit, feet apart, arms behind his back, and looking at the Princess in front just above her eyes. 

 

“Did the tides tell you themselves that it won’t allow us to traverse these waters?” 

 

“No, Your Highness.” Azula takes a step closer, harshly looking between the man and the vast blue surrounding the ship.

 

“Would the tides care if I threw you overboard, let the waters have their ways with you, and allowed you to crash into the nearest pointed rock, sink into the depths of the ocean, or have your ragged body float to the nearest wretched shore?” At this point, Azula is merely inches from the man, close enough to Captain Ta that she can see how harshly he’s holding his breath. As he opens his mouth to respond, Azula quickly cuts him off and continues. 

 

“The tides will be the least of your worries if you continue to question my authority. The tides and the oceans have already made up their mind about fate. I, however, am still mulling it over and will be more than ready to promote someone else on this ship to the position of Captain if you fail to meet the standards necessary of a Fire Naval Officer.” The princess finishes angrily, nearly snarling at the now groveling man before her. With that, she harshly turns away and heads towards her quarters, leaving the Captain with a shake in his knees. 

---

At the same time, Zuko, Sokka, Katara, and Aang approached the military base to which Pakku had sent them. In their position, descending from the clouds, they could see an open area. Soldiers in green were training, fighting each other with varying degrees of exhaustion and focus. One man stood tall amongst the small squadron standing at attention behind him. When the group finally landed, the General approached, along with one soldier standing slightly behind, something hidden in their hands.

 

“I anticipated a conglomerate of guests since Qulliq Pakku sent word, but to have young heroes in the making! I’m flattered. I am General Fong of the *Wán Shān Base. Appa, Momo, the Brave Sokka and Mighty Katara from the Water Tribe, and Acolyte Aang, welcome. We’re happy to have you!” 

 

Eyeing each young teen with a broad smile and wide arms as he approached the group, he seemed to notice a fourth companion—one vastly different from the previous teenagers he addressed. 

 

“Although who might this be with you? He has the eyes of a Fire Nation bastard. Qulliq Pakku didn’t mention him through the correspondence.” Fong addressed the group, scanning the fourth member of the group. His disdain hardly concealed, eyes squinted in discontent, and lips pressed into a thin frown. The use of such brazen language was hardly missed by the teens. Almost simultaneously, Katara, Sokka, and Aang winced, glancing at Zuko to see the reaction. 

Not wanting to make the interaction more awkward than it already was and hoping to spare himself from the gaze of his travel mates, Zuko stepped forward toward the General. He hoped he appeared braver than he felt. His pace was steady, but his hands shook slightly at his side as he tried to maintain eye contact with the intimidating man. 

 

Coming to a stop just a few paces before the man, Zuko bowed deeply, Earth Kingdom style, and introduced himself in what he hoped was the proper dialect for the region. 

“Hello, General. My name is Zuko, son of Ursa of Hira’a. I am long removed from my proper title, and I am the Avatar. I am accompanied by Katara and Sokka of the Southern Water Tribe, along with Aang of the Southern Air Temple, to complete my duty of mastering all elements to defeat the Fire Lord and end the Great War.”

Deeply repressing the memories that surfaced from bowing in front of a powerful bender well above his stature, Zuko rose to look Fong in the eye. The General gave the boy a long, hard stare, his mouth downturned in a stern frown. 

 

Before any of the Gaang has a moment to process, they see Zuko encased in a stone prison.

“Hey!”

“What do you think you’re doing!”

“Zuko!”

“Let me go!”

 

Fong regards the situation before and looks at the group before smiling. 

“Before any of you children move to protect this ashmaker, I suggest you consider who you have, now in my possession. This war child may be the Avatar, but he is a child of Fire nonetheless, and I must take the necessary precautions to ensure the safety of my base. I propose a compromise. If the child passes my tests, I’ll grant you men to guide you into Omashu. Deal Avatar?”

 

Katara is shocked out of her stupor and marches towards Fong, while Sokka and Aang run to the stone statue where Zuko is trapped. 

 

“Now, just wait a minute! To judge his character and his actions just because he’s from the Fire Nation, how rude of you! I know who and what he looks like, but this is the Avatar we’re talking about. Realistically, would he even be here if he didn’t want to end the war and perform his duty of mastering the different elements?” She yells at him, a stern finger pointed towards his chest. She looks ready to continue, even engaging in an argument with the General before he gently lowers her finger away from him.

 

“I understand your concerns as his Waterbending Master. However, Sifu Katara. It’s my job to ensure the safety of my base. All the Avatar has to do is pass my tests for him. It is elementary, and it won’t take more than 2 days. I know the slight delay may inconvenience you, but it won’t do you too much harm now, will it?” He turns where the three boys are and looks directly into Zuko’s eyes. 

“So what will it be, Avatar war child? Do you accept my test?”

“I-” Zuko looks at the General, his soldiers, and finally towards his traveling companions. “I accept and want to get the tests over with. May we start as soon as possible?”

 

The General looks at the young firebender with a small smile. He releases the hold of the Earth on Zuko and holds a hand out for him to shake. 

 

“It seems we have a deal. You have one hour to get settled. When the time is up, my men will gather and escort you to the training grounds.”

---

After the group was escorted to an empty barracks, Sokka immediately interrogated Zuko, while Katara and Aang watched in bewilderment. 

 

“I can’t believe you agreed to Fong’s terms! Like what were you thinking, Zuko!” Sokka yelled flabbergasted, shaking Zuko’s shoulders. Zuko had enough of the interrogation and slowly lifted his hands away. 

 

“Look. I know it doesn’t make sense because we all saw how he was talking to us–to me–yes, I’m the Avatar, but I’m the Avatar from the Fire Nation. No leader or nation will believe they can leave their soldiers, partners, or children to join my leadership until I prove myself to them and show I’m not like the foreleaders of my country. I’ll do anything to prove I’m not like those who came before me; I won’t stand by and let another person abuse their power if I can use mine to stop it.” Before they can give a rebuttal, a soldier opens the door to their room and motions for them to follow towards the training grounds. 

 

As Katara and Sokka looked at each other in worry, Aang vocalized their fears. 

“I have a bad feeling about this.”

---

Endnote: 

*Taakti means medical doctor according to the Iñupiatun dictionaries I found looking for translations (if there are better/more accurate terms, please feel free to correct them in the comments)

 

*Qulliq means leader/military officer according to one of the Iñupiatun dictionaries I found looking for translations. Within it, I found different definitions of a leader in different contexts, considering at this time, the Northern Water Tribe had a traditional stance on gender roles for the lifestyles of men and women. I figured this would be the most accurate since men would be responsible for hunting and warfare within different cultures worldwide. (if there are better/more accurate terms, please feel free to correct it in the comments)

 

*Jâo Yĭng translates to Princess in Thai (at least according to one of the Thai language sites I used). I recently discovered how much of the Fire Nation was based in Southeast Asian culture (Thai, Cambodia, and Indonesia specifically) and decided to honor that. 

*Jâo Chaai means prince in Thai

 

*Wán Shān roughly translates to stubborn mountain. Since we’re not told the name of Fong’s base, I made one up that slightly matches his personality.

Notes:

this was a year (now nearly three) in the making-
it's partly finished, and I'm uploading now because if I don't then it'd be another 3 months before I'm fully able to finish (and I don't have the patience for) so we're uploading a cliffhanger and I'll be back in December

Chapter 5: Propaganda Isn’t Everything the Fire Nation Taught Me

Notes:

I lied about this fic being canon-compliant; it’ll follow the original episode for about two scenes, then veer sharply left for the rest of the chapter/plot.
I don’t own Avatar: The Last Airbender or its characters. I only own the plot of this fic. Some lines in this text are from the show; I do not own or claim ownership of those lines.

From K-Pop Demon Hunters (Netflix): “I broke into a million pieces, and I can’t go back. But now I’m seeing all the beauty in the broken glass. The scars are part of me, darkness and harmony.”

---

Previously: 

“I understand your concerns as his Waterbending Master. However, Sifu Katara. It’s my job to ensure the safety of my base. All the Avatar has to do is pass my tests for him. It is elementary, and it won’t take more than 2 days. I know the slight delay may inconvenience you, but it won’t do you too much harm now, will it?” He turns where the three boys are and looks directly into Zuko’s eyes. 

“So what will it be, Avatar war child? Do you accept my test?”

“I-” Zuko looks at the General, his soldiers, and finally towards his traveling companions. “I accept and want to get the tests over with. May we start as soon as possible?”

~~~~~

As Katara and Sokka looked at each other in worry, Aang vocalized their fears. 

“I have a bad feeling about this.”

---

We Continue: 

The appointed hour passed with unnerving swiftness. A soldier arrived punctually and escorted the teenagers back to the same open training area where their initial encounter with General Fong had taken place. The General was already there, his figure silhouetted against the bright afternoon sky, accompanied by another soldier. This second soldier was meticulously pouring liquid from two distinct teapots into two waiting cups. One cup received a strikingly white, almost milky substance, while the other was filled with a murky, muddled brown.

Zuko, his expression unreadable, walked forward until he stood directly before the soldier. The soldier completed his task, then placed both cups on a tray and held them out between the General and Avatar. 

“You're punctual. Good,” Fong said, barely glancing at the others, attention solely on the oldest teenager. “This test is simple. Before you are two cups of tea. One is made from the purified herbs of Ba Sing Se, the other is steeped in roots used by the Dai Li to cause hallucinations. You’ll need to discern truth from illusion. That’s what this is about, isn’t it, Avatar? You’re asking the world to believe you see clearly.”

Fong picked up the cup filled with the brown liquid, motioning for the soldier to take their leave.

“This is your first test,” he said, voice sharp. “A test of truth.”

Katara’s brows furrowed together, eyes glancing at the older man with scrutiny as she crossed her arms. “What does that mean?”

Fong smiled, but there was nothing kind in it. “It’s a truth serum. Have no fear, it’s harmless and short-lived. But if the Avatar you claim to be has nothing to hide, there should be no reason to fear what comes out of your mouth.”

“Truth serum?” Katara gasped, her voice sharp with disbelief and fury. She took a step forward, arms dropping to her side as her hands clenched, a faint stream of water forming around her knuckles. “What kind of sick test is this? You drugged him!”

Sokka scoffed. “That’s the dumbest logic I’ve ever heard. You’re setting him up to say something you can twist against him.”

Aang, his face mirroring Katar’s anger, stepped forward to be at Zuko’s side. “You can’t just do that! That’s cheating! That’s despicable!”

“No,” Zuko interrupted, his face turned briefly to the younger teens before he stepped closer, hand outstretched. “It’s fine. I’ll do it.”

Katara moved beside him, whispering urgently. “Zuko, don’t. You don’t know what’s in that. What if—”

“I do know,” he whispered back, not looking at her. “And that’s the point.”

Fong chuckled dismissively, handing over the cup. “Despicable? Young Airbender, I am simply ensuring the Avatar’s intentions are pure. How else can we trust a Fire National, let alone their prince , supposedly ‘reformed,’ to lead the world?” His gaze hardened, returning to Zuko. 

“Drink, Avatar.”

Zuko tipped it back without hesitation. The liquid burned slightly, its taste bitter, with a sensation akin to plant roots. It slid down his throat and settled like a coil in his stomach.

His vision subtly sharpened, then blurred at the edges. A peculiar sense of detachment began to settle over him, as if his thoughts, usually so fiercely guarded, were now just drifting, untethered. He blinked, trying to clear his head, but the sensation only intensified. He could feel his face growing warm, a flush spreading across his cheeks.

He stood still for a moment, breathing slowly, testing how he felt.

After a few minutes, Fong stepped forward. “Who are you really, Prince Zuko of the Fire Nation?”

Zuko blinked. His tongue loosened before he could brace for it, and he tried to fight back his following statement. He felt a pressure in his chest, a near-physical need to expel the answer and relieve the pressure building in his body.

“I’m tired,” he said, making unfettered eye contact with the man in front of him.

“I was raised to believe power is everything. But power without direction is just destruction. I will be the Avatar to repair what my people have broken. Sometimes…” his voice cracked slightly, “sometimes I don’t know if that’s even possible. But I have to try, I have the power to do so. Because if I don’t, then I’m just another tyrant in red robes.”

Fong narrowed his eyes, stepping closer. “Do you think the world will forgive you?”

Zuko had no hesitation as he answered, eyes moving down to his feet. “No,” he said, breath steady. “But I’m not doing it for forgiveness. I’m doing it because I’d rather die young trying to fix it than live a long life pretending it’s not my responsibility.”

Silence.

Katara stared at him, a contemplative look on her features as her eyes drew together pensively. Aang’s eyes were wide, mouth agape slightly. Even Sokka looked like he didn’t believe what Zuko said. 

Fong exhaled, a pleasant smile on his face as he regarded the banished prince.

“The truth serum will fade in about two days,” he said. “Until then, I suggest your friends ask you whatever they want, while you can’t lie.”

Sokka smirked, finally finding his voice. “Ooh, this is gonna be fun.”

Zuko shot him a tired glare. “Don’t even think about it.”

Fong raised a hand. Earth groaned beneath their feet as the next section of the grounds began to shift and rise, forming jagged stone platforms and trenches.

“Rest while you can,” the General said, turning his back. “Phase two starts at dawn’s full rise. And next time… words won’t be enough.”

---

The sun had fully breached the horizon, turning the mist to liquid water, but there was no warmth in the light. The training grounds had transformed—stone platforms now jutted out from the ground like teeth, arranged in tight, erratic intervals over a chasm cut deep into the earth. The pit below was lined with jagged stone spikes, clearly constructed to intimidate more than injure, but the message was clear: fail, and you fall.

General Fong stood on the edge, arms behind his back. “The second test is simple: balance and control. Trust in yourself and your instincts. Cross the field without falling.”

Zuko raised a brow. “That’s it?”

Fong smiled. “While actively suppressing your firebending. No heat. No bending. Just discipline.”

Sokka leaned in to Katara in a mock whisper. “This guy woke up and chose psychological warfare. What’s even the point of this?”

Katara frowned as she leaned towards her brother. “He’s trying to break Zuko down.”

Zuko stepped up to the ledge. The stone platforms were spaced just far enough apart that each jump would require careful precision, just short of a leap of faith. The wind picked up as he stepped onto the first one, forcing him to lower his center of gravity.

The second platform wobbled underfoot.

By the third, his legs were shaking. His fire was instinctual; suppressing it felt like being a toddler again, learning to walk.

“Keep going, Avatar,” Fong drawled, voice slicing through the wind.

Halfway through, the wind shifted, and so did the platforms. With a loud grind, they began to spin slowly, unpredictably.

“What the—” Zuko began to curse as he swayed, knees bending reflexively to keep from toppling over.

He sucked in a breath. No fire. No fire. No fire.

He jumped.

Landed hard, his hands and knees burning from the effort.

Another leap. Another tremor.

On the final platform, just before the ledge, his foot slipped—and instinct flared. A surge of heat pulsed in his chest, fighting to release.

Zuko screamed inwardly, eyes clenched, and forced the fire down.

He stumbled onto solid ground, sweat coating his brow. His legs nearly gave way, but he managed to stay standing.

Fong nodded once. “Good. That’s the only thing harder than bending— not bending.”

Aang ran up to Zuko, catching his arm as he exhaled in a ragged breath.

“You okay?”

He nodded, barely.

“One more,” Fong said, already walking away. “And this one will not be as easy.”

---

The group was led to a different section of the base—one that looked like a mock battlefield. Training dummies were arranged in formations like those of an enemy, and targets were scattered across the field. In the center were three cages.

Inside one cage was a bound Earth Kingdom soldier, gagged and bruised. In another, a sobbing young woman. And in the third, a red-hooded figure slumped against the bars—Zuko’s breath caught when he saw the familiar armor of a Fire Nation soldier.

“Here’s your last test,” Fong said, voice devoid of emotion. “Three lives. Three cages. However, one key.”

He held up a small bronze key in his hand. “You may only unlock one. The rest will remain until my soldiers arrive to rehouse them. You may not know what happens to the others. You may never know. All you get is one choice, one action, one moment. Just like real war.”

Zuko stared at him, jaw clenched.

Aang’s voice broke the tension. “That’s not a test. That’s cruelty.”

Fong didn’t blink as he regarded the fourteen-year-old. “It’s reality.”

Katara moved to Zuko’s side. “You don’t have to do this.”

Zuko didn’t answer her. He stepped forward, hands curling into fists.

He looked at the Fire soldier—someone who served under his father. Someone who might’ve hurt people.

Then the woman. Terrified. Crying for someone who wasn’t there.

Then the Earth soldier. A brother? A rebel? Just another pawn?

He stared at the key in Fong’s hand.

“What’s the right answer?” Zuko asked bitterly.

Fong shrugged. “That’s for you to decide.”

Zuko reached for the key. His fingers hovered over it for a moment—then he pulled back.

“No.”

Fong raised an eyebrow. “Excuse me?”

“I’m not playing your game,” Zuko said. He turned to Aang and Katara. “Can you break the locks? All of them.”

The teenagers didn’t hesitate. A gust of air and a stream of water, and all three cages burst open.

Fong’s soldiers moved forward—but stopped as Zuko lit both fists, flames dancing in time with his simmering emotions. “Try me.”

Fong stared long and hard at him. Then, he chuckled. “Interesting.”

He waved his soldiers off. “Test passed.”

Zuko frowned. “But I didn’t choose. I rejected your test.”

Fong nodded. “Exactly. That was the point.”

Zuko blinked, his fire dissapating. “What?”

Fong turned away. “A true Avatar knows that some systems are built to fail the people inside them. The only moral choice is to break the system.”

Sokka muttered, “Okay, I hate that I kind of respect him now.”

Zuko turned back to his companions, drained and aching, yet standing tall.

Katara was already beside him again, quiet.

Aang gave a small smile. “You did the right thing.”

Zuko didn’t answer. He didn’t need to. The fire in his eyes said enough.

---

The group was led to a different section of the base—one that looked like a mock battlefield. Training dummies were arranged in formations like those of an enemy, and targets were scattered across the field. In the center were three cages.

Inside one cage was a bound Earth Kingdom soldier, gagged and bruised. In another, a sobbing young woman. And in the third, a red-hooded figure slumped against the bars—Zuko’s breath caught when he saw the familiar armor of a Fire Nation soldier.

“Here’s your last test,” Fong said, voice devoid of emotion. “Three lives. Three cages. However, one key.”

He held up a small bronze key in his hand. “You may only unlock one. The rest will remain until my soldiers arrive to rehouse them. You may not know what happens to the others. You may never know. All you get is one choice, one action, one moment. Just like real war.”

Zuko stared at him, jaw clenched.

Aang’s voice broke the tension. “That’s not a test. That’s cruelty.”

Fong didn’t blink as he regarded the fourteen-year-old. “It’s reality.”

Katara moved to Zuko’s side. “You don’t have to do this.”

Zuko didn’t answer her. He stepped forward, hands curling into fists.

He looked at the Fire soldier—someone who served under his father. Someone who might’ve hurt people.

Then the woman. Terrified. Crying for someone who wasn’t there.

Then the Earth soldier. A brother? A rebel? Just another pawn?

He stared at the key in Fong’s hand.

“What’s the right answer?” Zuko asked bitterly.

Fong shrugged. “That’s for you to decide.”

Zuko reached for the key. His fingers hovered over it for a moment—then he pulled back.

“No.”

Fong raised an eyebrow. “Excuse me?”

“I’m not playing your game,” Zuko said. He turned to Aang and Katara. “Can you break the locks? All of them.”

The teenagers didn’t hesitate. A gust of air and a stream of water, and all three cages burst open.

Fong’s soldiers moved forward—but stopped as Zuko lit both fists, flames dancing in time with his simmering emotions. “Try me.”

Fong stared long and hard at him. Then, he chuckled. “Interesting.”

He waved his soldiers off. “Test passed.”

Zuko frowned. “But I didn’t choose. I rejected your test.”

Fong nodded. “Exactly. That was the point.”

Zuko blinked, his fire dissapating. “What?”

Fong turned away. “A true Avatar knows that some systems are built to fail the people inside them. The only moral choice is to break the system.”

Sokka muttered, “Okay, I hate that I kind of respect him now.”

Zuko turned back to his companions, drained and aching, yet standing tall.

Katara was already beside him again, quiet.

Aang gave a small smile. “You did the right thing.”

Zuko didn’t answer. He didn’t need to. The fire in his eyes said enough.

---

As the group moved to return to the inside of the base, Fong began to speak again. 

“Not so fast, there’s one more test.” At the bewilderment and weariness of the teenagers, a soldier stepped forward, pushing a cage before slowly pulling back a heavy canvas. What lay revealed within the cage made Katara gasp, Sokka swear under his breath, and Aang’s eyes widen in horror.

Cowering in the corner of the small, metal cage, no larger than a badger-mole’s den, was a small, terrified, and lightly bruised child. She couldn't have been more than five or six, with wide, watery brown eyes and hair the color of rich soil pulled into a braid. She clutched a worn, fabric doll to her chest, trembling visibly as she surveyed the assembled adults. Her whimpers were obvious, but barely audible, and they cut through the air like a knife.

“This, ashmaker,” Fong announced, his voice now devoid of its earlier false charm and warmth, was replaced by a cold, cutting edge, “is little Mei. An orphan, whose village was recently… requisitioned by our forces. A vulnerable, helpless soul. And your next test.”

The remnants of the truth serum surged through Zuko’s veins, amplifying the horror he felt. The image of the trembling child, so small and helpless, hit him with the force of a physical blow. His stomach churned. His hands, slightly shaking, clenched. He could feel a cold sweat trickling down his back, the desperate need to vomit fighting with the dizzying effect of the drug. 

Katara, furious, stepped up to the General, hands ready at her waterskin as she roared, "You monster! You can't involve a child in this! This is barbaric!" She surged forward, but two Earth Kingdom soldiers quickly moved to block her.

Sokka pulled out his boomerang, his face contorted with similar fury. "Let her go! She’s just a kid, Fong! He passed your stupid tests, this isn’t necessary!"

Even Aang radiated a quiet, fierce anger. “General, this has gone too far. You cannot do this.”

Fong ignored them all, his gaze fixed solely on Zuko. "Well, Avatar ? What will it be? Will you show us the compassion your lineage denies? Or will the 'war child' resort to his true nature?"

Zuko stumbled forward, the ground feeling odd beneath his feet. The child in the cage whimpered again, her eyes wide with fear as she watched him approach. He saw his reflection in her terror, a mirror to the fear he had often felt as a child. 

"General… this is wrong," Zuko gasped, his voice tight, the words barely his own. He wanted to scream, to lash out at Fong, but the internal battle for control over his own mind and body was all-consuming.

"Wrong?" Fong scoffed, leaning in closer, his voice a malicious whisper. He stepped closer to the cage, gesturing with a dismissive hand. “The Fire Nation has a long history of preying on the weak, of using the innocent to achieve their ends. This test is simple: you will prove your loyalty, not to some abstract ideal like the last test, but to the harsh realities of power.” He turned back to Zuko, his eyes burning with malice. “You, ashmaker, will demonstrate the true nature of Fire Nation might to this child. You will use your firebending to make her understand fear. A small blast, perhaps, aimed to singe her doll. Or a controlled flame, stopping inches from her face. Show her what happens to those who stand against your home Nation. Show us you are truly your father’s son.”

The truth serum surged through Zuko’s veins, not dulling his senses but amplifying every horrific implication of Fong’s command. The image of the trembling child, so small and helpless, hit him with the force of a physical blow. His stomach churned, a wave of nausea threatening to overwhelm him. He saw the fire-scorched faces of villagers he’d encountered during his travels with his uncle and White Lotus training, as well as the terror in the eyes of innocent bystanders. His hands clenched into fists, burning rage at Fong’s cruelty. No. Not this. Never this. I won’t be him. The mantra screamed in his head, battling against the drug’s disorienting effects.

Zuko stumbled forward, the ground feeling oddly spongy beneath his feet as the truth serum continued its assault. He looked at the child, her small face streaked with tears, clutching her doll as if it were a lifeline. He felt the cold dread, the sick realization of what Fong was asking. His mind, usually a chaotic storm, felt unnervingly clear on this one point.

He wouldn't do it. He couldn't.

He turned his blazing, unfocused eyes from the child to General Fong. His voice, though slightly slurred by the serum, resonated with a chilling, absolute refusal. "I won’t hurt her. I’m not rising to that bait. I am not like him. I won’t abuse my power to harm the innocent, especially not a child."

General Fong’s face went from a sneer to a mask of pure, unadulterated fury. His jaw tightened, and his eyes blazed. He had been so confident Zuko would cave, would reveal the monster he believed lay beneath. 

“You refuse‽” Fong bellowed, his voice echoing across the training ground. His hands shot out, and two sharp spikes erupted from the ground, one on either side of Zuko, narrowly missing his feet. “You dare defy a direct order, Fire Nation scum? You failed my tests!”

Zuko stood his ground, swaying slightly, but his gaze remained fixed on Fong, a silent challenge in his eyes. The serum made him feel vulnerable, exposed, but also utterly, terrifyingly resolute. He would not compromise on this.

"You are not the Avatar if you refuse to understand the true nature of power!” Fong snarled, taking a menacing step forward. “You are a pathetic, disobedient excuse of a prince who cannot own up to his own lineage!” He gestured to his soldiers, his voice low and dangerous. “Seize him! This Avatar is not ready. He will learn who he truly is, one way or another!”

Earthbending soldiers immediately began to converge, ready to obey their General’s enraged command.

~~~

Katara engaged first. Her eyes blazed with fury, and with a sharp twist of her arms, a surge of water from her pouch whipped out like a viper, coiling around the legs of the two nearest soldiers and yanking them to the ground. “No one touches him!” she shouted, her voice slicing through the tension like a blade.

Sokka rushed forward beside her, boomerang in hand, slamming the blunt end into the temple of a soldier reaching for Zuko. “You’re all insane if you think we’re going to let this happen!”

Aang was suddenly airborne, his staff spinning. He surged above the field and dropped into a powerful gust of air that knocked three Earthbenders off their feet. “You said this was a test. What monster uses a child for that‽”

Zuko remained still in the center of the storm, the drug still clouding the edges of his senses, but his fire was rising, burning not out of anger, but clarity. He watched Mei crawl away from the open cage, the doll still clutched in her small arms. The moment she was clear, something inside him snapped .

He turned to Fong, eyes beginning to glow. “You’re no general. You’re a tyrant playing with power like a child with toys.”

Fong growled, slamming his palms into the ground. A wave of rock burst toward Zuko, but before it hit, a wall of flame surged up, slicing the stone attack in half. 

“Enough!” Zuko shouted. “You wanted to see who I really am? This is me. The Avatar who doesn’t burn children. The Avatar protects them.”

Fong’s face twisted in rage. “You will regret defying me, boy.”

“I know I won’t.”

They clashed like storms colliding. Fong launched a barrage of jagged pillars, and Zuko dodged, leaping to counter with a spiral of flame that forced the general to shield himself with a raised wall of stone.

Aang soared, dropping gusts to scatter soldiers before they could regroup. Katara fought feverishly, water slicing through the battlefield, drawing soldiers away from Mei. Sokka used his boomerang to break through the cage and dragged the small girl to safety behind a wall of rubble, shielding her body with his own.

“Stay down, kid,” he whispered. “We’ve got you.”

Zuko’s flames grew brighter as he fought Fong, glimpses of color flickering through his fire. 

Fong, though powerful, was tiring. He hadn’t expected resistance like this. The tension on the field shattered as General Fong’s patience finally snapped.

“You refuse me?” he growled, teeth bared. “You let the Fire Nation’s guilt keep you from power, and you call it righteousness ?”

Zuko stood his ground, chest heaving, fire licking at his fingertips. “There’s no power in cruelty.”

Fong’s face twisted. “No? Then maybe I need to remind you what power really looks like.”

Without warning, Fong turned—not toward Zuko, but toward Sokka and the small child cradled in his arms.

“Sokka!” Katara screamed.

Zuko moved a half-step, but Fong was faster.

The general slammed his palms to the ground. A jagged shard of stone burst from the earth, rushing toward its target.

Sokka’s eyes widened as he tried to twist his body, turning to shield the girl. He wouldn’t be fast enough.

“No!” Zuko roared.

And something else answered.

~~~~~

The ground trembled. The air stilled.

The flames at Zuko’s fists, his eyes flared white, and a wave of blistering heat blasted outward in all directions.

Katara stumbled back, shielding her face.

Aang froze, shifting to use his glider to protect himself.

Even Fong, mid-strike, flinched.

Zuko began to levitate off the ground, cloaked in roaring fire. The stone spear heading toward Sokka and Mei melted mid-air, crumbling into molten dust before it could land.

General Fong backpedaled, for the first time, afraid.

Zuko turned his head slowly toward him, the movement unnatural, but precise. His voice came layered with others—thousands of others, years, if not centuries, older.

“General Fong of the Wán Shān Military Base. You threatened the innocent. You struck at those who could not fight back, and weren’t fighting you. You would use pain to shape power, aiming to benefit your military. That is tyranny; the very thing you are supposed to fight against.”

Fong screamed and sent a wave of earth toward Zuko.

Zuko raised a hand, and the ground shattered beneath it. Cracks spread like a spiderweb from his feet outward, and Fong’s army stumbled as the earth turned against them.

With a surge of his arms, a ring of spiraling flame erupted from Zuko’s body, forcing all soldiers back. 

Fong threw everything he had—stone pillars, razor disks, seismic pulses—but it was like attacking a storm and tornado.

Zuko floated forward, expression blank as a pillar of fire burst from his hands, slamming down between Fong’s feet. He flew backward, landing hard, his armor singed.

Zuko stood over him, a colossus of flame and judgment.

Katara’s voice pierced the chaos.

“Zuko! That’s enough!”

Aang joined her, yelling, “You’re not him! You don’t need to play his game to prove that!”

Sokka held Mei close, watching silently as the light behind Zuko’s eyes flickered.

Zuko’s chest heaved. He looked down at Fong, a pathetic, broken shape in the dirt, whimpering and dazed.

Slowly, the glow faded.

The fire was extinguished.

Zuko dropped from mid-air to his knees, exhausted, steam rising from his skin.

Katara and Aang rushed to him.

Fong didn’t move.

Zuko exhaled and nearly collapsed. His voice was low, ragged, and raw. “He was going to kill them. I had to stop it.”

“You did,” Katara whispered, placing a steadying hand on his shoulder.

Aang looked at the scorched battlefield, at the stunned Earth Kingdom soldiers watching from a distance. “You didn’t just stop him. You saved everyone.”

Zuko looked toward Mei. She clutched Sokka’s shirt, eyes wide, no longer crying, but watching him, awe clear on her face.

He swallowed hard, looking away from her as his vision swam.

Sokka approached them, Mei still huddled at his side. “Well, I think that officially makes you the Avatar and a better man than some high-ranking general.”

Zuko, despite his exhaustion, gave a ghost of a smile towards the little girl. “Let’s just… get out of here.”

Katara nodded, glancing around warily. “We should go before anyone tries to attack again.”

She helped Zuko to his feet, and as the group made their way toward the area where Appa was housed, the knees of the eldest teen buckled; adrenaline finally wearing off, his eyes rolled to the back of his head before closing, leaving him oblivious to the panic of his companions.

Notes:

I just found out there’s a name for “?!” combined. It’s called an interrobang, I used it a few times here (‽)

Chapter 6: Pain Before the Gain

The moment Zuko collapsed, Katara was already reaching to catch him.

“Zuko!” she shouted, panic evident across her face.

He was burning hot to the touch, steam lazily rising from his clothes as the last remnants of the Avatar State’s overwhelming energy. His face was pale, while his breaths were shallow.

Katara and Aang gently lowered him to the ground, the young woman cradling his head as Aang knelt beside her.

“He’s not waking up,” she whispered, voice tight. “It must have been too much.”

“I’ve never heard of the Avatar State doing that to someone before,” Aang said, frowning. “Sure, you may feel a little weak, but it shouldn’t cause you to pass out or become sick. In everything the monks taught me, there must be something different with him.”

“Different how?” Sokka asked, kneeling beside them, Mei still holding his hand tightly.

“I don’t know.” Aang looked nervously at Zuko’s unconscious face. “Maybe it has something to do with his lineage, but that’s just another thing for him to tell us eventually.”

“Great,” Sokka muttered. “That’s very inspirational and logically strong, but we’re still in newly discovered enemy territory. That crispy general is going to wake up very angry.”

Katara carefully uncorked a stream of water from her waterskin and used it to scan his body, eyebrows drawn together in concentration. “He’ll be alright with some water and rest, but Sokka’s right; we need to move, now.”

She turned to Aang. “Can you go ahead of us and get Appa so he can carry all of us and get far enough away before Fong comes to?”

Aang nodded. “Of course, I’ll be back in five minutes.”

He darted off toward the stables with a surprising burst of speed. Katara soaked a cloth from her pouch and gently dabbed it against Zuko’s temples. His skin softly sizzled at first, despite her unfamiliarity with treating a firebender. She swallowed her trepidation and focused.

He looked young like this. Not like an Avatar. Just a boy who’d carried too much for too long.

Mei stood a few feet away now, no longer clinging to Sokka, watching silently. Her doll—its ear singed and smudged with soot—was still clutched tight in one arm.

“You saved me,” she said softly.

Katara turned, eyes softening at the little girl. “Zuko did.”

Mei nodded solemnly. “He didn’t look scared.”

Katara smiled faintly. “I’m sure he was. But being brave doesn’t mean not being scared. It means doing what’s right anyway.”

Aang returned on Appa’s back moments later. “Okay, we’re good. I gathered everything from the base as secretly as I could. Let’s load everyone up and get out of here.”

They moved fast. Sokka lifted Mei gently into the saddle, then climbed in after her. Katara and Aang maneuvered Zuko’s limp form carefully onto Appa’s back, propping him against some bundled blankets. Katara sat beside him, rewetting a cloth and applying it to his forehead.

Aang took the reins. “Yip yip!”

Appa’s massive body lifted from the ground with a gust of wind. Below them, the training grounds still smoldered. Fong hadn’t moved. Soldiers stood at a distance, not daring to interfere. The group soared into the sky, vanishing into the blue.

---

The sun began to sink low. Sokka sat in the middle of their camp, sharpening his boomerang more for stress than necessary. Aang was meditating a short distance away, while Momo lay near Mei, who slept curled up on a bedroll, her doll still bundled in her arms.

Zuko was still unconscious, and Katara hadn’t left his side.

She pressed a fresh cloth to his forehead. The heat had finally died down, and his skin was clammy now.

“I know you can’t hear me,” she murmured, “but… I need you to wake up soon. You scared the hell out of us. And I need to yell at you properly for nearly dying and taking us out with you.”

There was a slight flutter of his eyelids.

She sat up straighter. “Zuko?”

His eyes fluttered open, unfocused. Then his gaze found hers.

“…Katara?” he rasped.

She exhaled like she’d been holding her breath. “Yeah. It’s me.”

He groaned and tried to sit up.

“Nope,” she said firmly, pushing him gently back down. “You don’t get to move. Not yet.”

He sank back, blinking slowly as he slurred his question. “What happened? Did we get away?”

“You incinerated the battlefield. Then passed out like a dramatic hero in a play. Aang got us out.”

Zuko’s lips twitched faintly. “Sounds about right.”

He looked toward the fire. “Is the girl okay?”

“Mei’s safe. She was concerned after seeing you pass out, but she’s asleep now.”

He was quiet. Then, softer, “Good.”

Katara watched him for a moment. “You know, you didn’t have to go that far. You could’ve let us handle Fong.”

“I couldn’t risk it,” Zuko murmured, voice getting quieter. “I couldn’t let her be hurt. Not another child.”

His voice cracked. Katara didn’t push. Instead, she reached out and took his hand.

“I don’t know what you’re thinking, but you’re not like any of those monsters, Zuko,” she said quietly. “And you never will be.”

~~~

The sun had just begun to dip below the horizon, casting long shadows across the makeshift camp nestled at the edge of a dense forest. 

Zuko lay bundled in his bedroll beneath a patchwork tarp tied between trees. His skin was clammy, his breathing uneven. His eyes would flutter open, track a movement or a sound, then close again.

Katara sat beside him, changing out the cloth on his forehead for the fourth time. She frowned at the heat radiating off his skin. 

His body must be trying to repair itself , she thought with a frown, putting the cloth into a bowl of water.

Aang stood a few feet away, arms folded tight across his chest. “I’ve never seen the Avatar State do that before. Not like that.”

“Maybe he wasn’t ready,” Katara replied. “It seems like something instantaneous, so maybe he went in without control. He did it to protect us.” She wrung the cloth in the bowl of cool water and placed it gently across Zuko’s temple again. “But combined with taking the truth serum only yesterday, it must’ve been too much for his body to handle at once.”

Mei sat silently near the fire, hugging her knees to her chest, her eyes never leaving Zuko. Sokka had tried to coax her into eating something earlier, but she hadn’t touched the food. Her doll was held between her knees and chest, looking at the group as though it was also concerned for the firebender.

Sokka crouched beside Katara, handing her a bowl of roasted fish. “Should we move him? We’re still too close to the garrison.”

Katara shook her head, gently taking the bowl and setting it down next to her. “Not tonight. He can’t ride Appa long-term like this. He can’t even stand. We’ll need to wait until morning and hope no one comes looking in the meantime.”

Zuko stirred. A slight, strangled sound left his throat as he tried to sit up.

“Whoa, hey—don’t,” Katara said quickly, placing a hand on his chest. “You’re safe. We’ve got you.”

Zuko blinked slowly, eye glassy and barely focused. “Where…”

“You’re at the camp we set up a few hours ago,” Aang said gently, stepping forward. “Everyone’s okay. You did it.”

He didn’t seem to register their words fully, but he stopped trying to move and let himself fall back against the pillow of his bedroll. A harsh cough wracked through him, and Katara helped tilt him just enough so he didn’t choke.

Afterward, he lay still again, blinking up at the tarp, face pale, lashes dark against sunken cheeks. “Where’s the little girl with us?” he whispered.

Mei stiffened, then stood and walked over to him. She didn’t speak at first, just knelt beside him and looked down at the wrecked teenager. 

“I’m here,” she said quietly.

His eyes fluttered toward her. “Are you… okay?”

She nodded. “Yeah. You caught us. Before it got bad.”

Zuko closed his eyes and exhaled. “Good.”

That was all he could manage. He was already fading again.

Katara brushed damp, dark brown hair from his forehead. “He needs sleep. That’s the only thing that’ll help now.”

Mei didn’t move. She sat beside him in silence as the others stepped away, murmuring near the fire. 

Zuko slept fitfully that night, flinching at unseen threats, murmuring things none of them understood. Mei didn’t leave his side once. She watched the firelight flicker across his face and whispered to the night, to herself, and maybe to him:

“You saved me, mister Zuko. I’ll stay until you come back.”

---

The moon hung high overhead, casting a soft glow that shone silver across the clearing. The camp had gone quiet. Katara and Sokka were asleep, huddled near the still-smoldering fire. Aang was somewhere just beyond the treeline, Momo curled around him while Appa stretched his legs in the open night air, feeding on grass in an open field.

Zuko sat alone, half-wrapped in his bedroll, his posture slouched and eyes unfocused. A damp cloth sat forgotten on his forehead, slipping slowly toward his temple. His breath was shallow as a flicker of golden flame sparked unconsciously at his fingertips before dimming out.

He was barely there. Not unconscious, but drifting. 

Mei stood a few paces away, uncertain. She’d woken from a nightmare. Instead of curling back under the blanket Katara had given her, she’d followed the soft flicker of light near the fire.

She hugged her doll to her chest and approached quietly, the hem of her too-long borrowed tunic brushing against her ankles.

“Mister Zuko?” she said softly.

His head tilted just slightly, eyes blinking slowly, like he was struggling to remain awake.

She stepped closer, sitting cautiously on his left side. “You’re awake, right?”

A beat. Then: “Sort of,” Zuko rasped.

“Your eyes were kind of open and glowing in your sleep.”

His brow furrowed. “I didn’t mean to.”

Mei shrugged and sat down next to him. “It was pretty. I didn’t mind it.”

Zuko let out a breath, slowly sitting up, then turned his head to glance sideways at her. “You should be sleeping.”

“So should you,” she shot back, eyes staring at him innocently.

He didn’t argue, just stared into the fire remnants, as he tried to regain his breath.

Mei hugged her knees. “Is it always like that? When you’re the Avatar?”

“No.” He shook his head, wincing. “Sometimes it’s better, but other times it’s worse.”

She was quiet for a while. Then: “I thought you were going to die.”

Zuko flinched from the blunt honesty in her voice. Oblivious to the reaction, the child continued.

“I’ve seen people die,” she continued, her voice small. “Soldiers came, but my biǎojiě called them no good troublemakers. Then my yímā came crying to my house and told my bàmā that she died, but the no good troublemakers came to our house and said they were gonna make them die, and bàmā screamed at me to run away. That’s how the big man got me. When he was gonna hurt me and Mister Sokka, I was scared because I couldn’t do anything. And then you looked like someone else. Your eyes glowed like the moon was inside. And then you saved us!”

Zuko’s gaze didn’t waver from the fire, but his hand moved—shaky and hesitant—and rested lightly on top of hers. Her fingers twitched, then stilled beneath his. She slowly moved closer to lean on his side.

“I didn’t want you to see that,” he said quietly.

“But I did.” She looked up at him. “And I’m not scared of you.”

He blinked down at her.

“You don’t look like the scary soldiers back home,” she said. “You stopped one.”

Zuko’s throat worked around the lump forming there. “I’m still Fire Nation. Everyone thinks I’m scary.”

Mei frowned as she shook her head. “No. You're not.”

The wind whispered through the trees.

He leaned back slightly, finally letting the weight of the night settle on him, hand gently curled over hers.

“Thanks,” he murmured.

“For what?”

“For still talking to me.”

Mei smiled faintly, closing her eyes.

“You saved my life, gēge. I’m never going to stop talking to you.”

Notes:

I haven’t written a child before…I hope it came off realistically. I just imagined having a conversation with one of my cousins and tried to match that cadence and brute honesty.
Mei’s story is a genderbend of Zuko’s (and slightly more extreme): she loses her older female cousin on her mother’s side (Zuko loses Lu Ten, the child of his paternal uncle), then she loses her maternal aunt and both parents (in canon Zuko briefly loses his paternal uncle, and through various circumstances loses both parents)
All of the translations are from Mandarin Chinese. If anyone has any corrections, please let me know!
Biǎojiě means older female cousin on a mother’s side.
Yímā refers to a mother’s sister (maternal aunt).
Bàmā casually refers to both parents.
Gēge means 'older brother,' but it can also be used for a close friend, someone you admire, or any older male as a term of endearment.

Chapter 7: Journey to Gaoling and the Blind Bandit

Summary:

More interactions with Mei, and we see Toph!

Notes:

I’m going to try writing an episode within each chapter, so expect them to be a bit longer

By the next morning, the forest was bathed in dew, and a soft mist clung to the underbrush. Light filtered gently through the trees, and the fire from the night before had burned down to warm embers. 

Zuko stirred, his fingers twitching beneath the blanket. This time, when his eyes opened, they were clearer. The haze was gone. His skin was still pale, but the weight behind his gaze had returned. He sat up slowly, wincing, his muscles stiff and sore, and glanced around.

Katara, who was packing up their camp, immediately noticed and walked toward him. “You’re awake.”

He gave a slow nod. “Feels like a badgermole trampled me.”

Sokka, coming back from putting their bedrolls on Appa, looked over and yelled, “Well, you did drop out of the sky like a bag of rocks! That might’ve contributed!”

Zuko gave him a tired half-smirk as he half-heartedly yelled back. “Noted.”

Aang landed lightly nearby, returning from a short glide to check the perimeter. “Good news: no sign of Fong’s soldiers. Either they’re regrouping within the base, or they’re smart enough to leave us alone now.”

Katara helped Zuko to his feet. He swayed slightly, but held steady. “Think you can ride Appa?”

“Yeah,” Zuko said with a quiet grunt. “I think I can walk, too. Just don’t count on it being fast-paced.”

Nearby, Mei sat cross-legged, picking pebbles out of the dirt as Momo watched her curiously. Her doll lay on her lap, its singed ear now sewn back on with rough blue thread. When she noticed the group glancing her way, she looked up.

Katara approached her and crouched beside her gently. “Mei, now that we’re all okay, we wanted to ask, do you have any family? Someone we can bring you to?”

Mei hesitated, staring at the doll in her lap. Then, hesitantly: “My uncle lives in Gaoling. He works in the mines. And there’s a healer there, too. She used to visit my village. She knew my māma.”

Katara’s hand softened over Mei’s. “We can get you there. It’s not far. We’ll make sure you’re safe.”

Mei just nodded, hugging her doll tight against her chest.

~~~

In the next hour, the camp stirred to life slowly, less like a team of young warriors and more like a groggy group of teenagers who had been through way too much in the last forty-eight hours.

Breakfast was small: stale rice cakes, campfire-grilled root vegetables, and tea that tasted like it had been made from burnt twigs (because it had).

Sokka poked at his rice cake with the end of his knife. “Okay, I know we’re basically out of supplies, but this has to be some kind of war crime.”

“You’ve eaten worse,” Katara said flatly, sipping her tea and giving her brother a side eye.

“Yeah, Kat, and I complained then too .”

Zuko sat across from them, cross-legged with a blanket still draped over his shoulders like a cape. He looked better, with more color in his face, his movements more fluid, but he still ate slowly.

Mei was nestled beside Appa a few feet away, quietly munching on a chunk of fruit Aang had managed to scavenge from the forest. She was alert again and glancing at Zuko with unreadable eyes.

“So,” Aang said, setting his empty bowl aside and looking around the circle, “we need to talk about next steps.”

Katara nodded. “Agreed. We’re too close to Fong’s territory, and we’ve still got to get Mei to Gaoling.”

“Appa’s fed and rested, given that it should be less than a day’s flight,” Aang said, looking at Sokka, who chimes in affirmatively, “I checked the maps while you finished breakfast. If we leave by midmorning, we should be able to drop her off before nightfall.”

Zuko shifted slightly. “Katara said she had an uncle and a healer there. If it’s anything like most Earth Kingdom towns, they’ll have someone at the entrance asking questions. We’ll need to be careful not to draw attention.”

Sokka rolled his eyes. “No need for that. We’re the definition of subtle. Just a flying sky bison, Airbender no one has openly seen in a hundred years, two obviously Water Tribe siblings, plus a seemingly random Fire National with sometimes glowing eyes. No one will notice a thing.”

Katara gave him a deadpan glare.

“What?” he shrugged, going back to his meal. “I’m just stating the obvious.”

“We’ll go in quietly,” Aang said, looking at the teenagers. “No bending in the open, and we use side roads. Appa lands just outside the city, and he and Momo stay out of sight as we walk Mei in. We’ll get her to someone she knows and trusts. Then we reassess where to go from there.”

Zuko looked over at Mei. “She shouldn’t be with us when the next fight comes.”

Katara followed his gaze. “No, she shouldn’t, it would be too dangerous for a child.”

Sokka leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “Okay, but what is the next move? After Gaoling?”

Everyone went quiet for a beat.

Aang exhaled, closing his eyes. “Ba Sing Se.”

Katara frowned. “You’re sure?”

Zuko replied as Aang nodded. “It’s the capital of the Earth Kingdom, and likely a center hub for information. Fong is only a general on the west side, but there are more like him—military leaders who think the Avatar is a weapon they can wield to end the war. Ba Sing Se is where they coordinate. If we’re going to change how the world sees the Avatar… it starts there, and I need to talk to the king.”

Sokka groaned. “Great. Earth Kingdom politics.”

Katara elbowed him. “This is literally about the future of the world.”

“And I’m literally starving,” he shot back, holding up his empty plate. “You want me to care about conspiracies on an empty stomach?”

A chunk of grilled root sailed across the fire and hit him square in the forehead. Zuko didn’t look up.

Sokka blinked. “Did you just—”

“Yes,” Zuko said blandly, looking pointedly at his food that was missing a root.

Aang snorted, eyes crinkling in the corners.

Katara stood, brushing ash from her deel. “Let’s finish breaking camp. We’ve got a girl to get home and a capital to infiltrate.”

Sokka groaned again. “Why is it always infiltrating with us?”

Zuko just sipped his twig tea, eyes narrowing at the horizon.

---

The wind rushed around them as Appa soared over hills and river valleys. Zuko sat near the front, legs crossed, arms resting on his knees. His color had returned somewhat, and the bag under his eye had lessened, though it was still a stubborn shadow. Aang sat across from him, the two separated by only a few feet and several days' worth of unspoken questions.

Aang broke the silence first.

“So… back there. The Avatar State. It hit you harder than I’ve ever heard of.”

Zuko glanced at him, the wind brushing his dark hair back. “Yeah. I noticed.”

“I mean—I’ve seen you tap into it before. Back in the Northern Tribe. But this… this was different.”

Zuko exhaled, eyes scanning the clouds above the horizon. “It’s different because it is different. I wasn’t supposed to be the Avatar.”

Aang frowned, arms folded, the wind tugging at his sleeves. “But you are the Avatar. You were born into it. The cycle chose you.”

Zuko shook his head, a bitter smile flickering across his tired face. “Roku was the last Avatar from before the war. After his death, the next reincarnation went to the Air Nomads, but that Avatar died during Sozin’s Comet. Because of the order, the cycle continued to the next element, but it happened too quickly; the Fire Nation nearly completely wiped out the Air Nomads, and then the Southern Water Tribe was being raided for at least 70 years, who knows what happened to the Northern Water Tribe, and now the Earth Kingdom has been set ablaze on opposite sides of the continent and closing in to Ba Sing Se and Omashu. Avatar after Avatar died before they could even be the Avatar.”

Aang’s brows furrowed. “How do you know this?” 

“A group called the White Lotus,” Zuko said quietly. “They tried to protect the cycle, but it kept breaking, over and over, until there was nowhere else for it to go. Until it ended up here.” He pressed a hand to his chest, jaw tightening. “Fire. Me.”

Silence settled between them, heavy with the wind’s rush.

Aang swallowed. “Your uncle tried to keep you out of it, didn’t he?”

Zuko’s eyes softened, pain flickering across them. “He didn’t want to see it at first, but things changed, and he was forced to show a path that was hidden from me originally. He taught me to meditate and how to manage the power because he knew what it meant for the Fire Nation Avatar.” His eyes darkened. “I was born into an era of a nation built on conquest, carrying power meant to stop that conquest.”

Aang lowered his gaze. “Is that why the Avatar State drains you so badly?”

Zuko nodded, looking away. “At the moment, it’s not something I can control. It’s like a dam constantly cracking, water forcing its way out. The spirits, the past Avatars, the weight of my life up to this point—it’s not calm for me, and it certainly doesn’t feel natural. Every time it takes over, I feel like it’s trying to burn its way out of me. And when I let go, even for a moment, it’s like lightning in my blood.” His hands flexed unconsciously, small embers dancing before fading. “And every time, I think it’ll be the last.”

Aang was quiet for a long moment, wind tugging at the edges of Appa’s fur as he contemplated the revelation.

“And yet,” Aang finally said softly, “it seems you always come back.”

Zuko’s eyes flickered toward him, the gold glinting in the light. “I try to remember I’m still a person first. Not just the Avatar or someone banished. And certainly not just a weapon.”

Aang gave a small, sad smile. “You’re not alone, Zuko. You never have to be.”

Zuko blinked once, looking away, but the tension in his shoulders eased as Appa flew steadily toward the next destination.

---

Aang’s words, “ You’re not alone, ” hung in the air.

Zuko didn’t answer at first. His eyes stayed on the open sky in front of them, jaw locked, hands clenching on his knees until his knuckles went white. Appa’s steady pace filled the silence, reminding him that the world kept moving, even if parts of him still felt trapped back there—on the scorched ground, in the screams, in the frantic vision of the Avatar State.

“I… wasn’t always wary of it,” Zuko said quietly, so softly Aang almost didn’t hear.

Aang tilted his head. “The Avatar State?”

Zuko nodded, his voice like gravel. “When I first started my training, after…everything, it was just with fire. It was my home element, warm yet powerful at the same time. The more intune I felt with my element, the more I’d see things sometimes—faces, places I’d never been. I’d hear voices when I trained.” His eyes were distant, far away. “Uncle tried to get me to listen instead of forcing them away. He told me it was the past Avatars trying to reach me.”

A muscle twitched in his jaw. “I didn’t want them. I didn’t want their pain, or their visions of wars and failures I couldn’t stop. I didn’t want to be them.”

The wind caught Zuko’s hair, pushing it back from his eyes, but he didn’t blink as he stared ahead.

“Then the day came when it first took me, really took me.” His voice dropped lower, ragged. “It was a year after I began my training. I was alone, angry, and felt out of control. I remember feeling like my body was on fire, and then nothing but light—white, endless light—and screams that weren’t mine. It was like drowning, seeing every death, every choice, every regret of my life and others. When I snapped out of it, it was because Uncle was kneeling next to me, crying and pleading for me to come back to him.”

Aang felt the chill sweep across his skin despite the sunlight.

Zuko’s eye glistened, but no tears fell. “I thought it made me a monster. Uncle tried to explain it wasn’t me, that the cycle had chosen me, that it wasn’t my fault. But I knew what the Fire Nation was, what my family was. And I swore I’d never let it happen again.”

“But it did,” Aang whispered.

Zuko swallowed, voice tightening. “Yeah. It did. Over and over. Every time I was angry, or afraid, or pushed too far, it took me . And every time I came back, something was missing. Something burned away.” He let out a shaky breath. “And I was terrified that one day, I wouldn’t come back at all.”

They sat in silence for a long while.

“I’m sorry, Zuko,” Aang said finally, eyes wet. “I didn’t know.”

Zuko’s lips twitched, but it wasn’t a smile. “I didn’t want you to know. You deserve better from the Avatar.”

Aang placed a firm hand on Zuko’s forearm, grounding him.

“Zuko. You are the Avatar. And you’ve chosen to protect people, even when it hurts. Even when it costs you pieces of yourself, that’s what makes you worthy of it.”

Zuko closed his eyes, exhaling, the tension in his shoulders shaking as he let the words settle.

Aang pulled back, his expression resolute. “We’ll figure it out. The Avatar State, the cycle, all of it. Together.”

Zuko finally turned, eyes meeting Aang’s, before turning and looking at Katara and Sokka.

“Yeah,” Zuko whispered, the word tasting foreign but needed. “Together.”

~~~

Behind them, Katara adjusted a blanket over Mei, who was dozing between her and Sokka. The younger girl had finally relaxed enough to sleep properly, her breath even and slow. Sokka glanced up at the conversation. The siblings had been eavesdropping on the latter part, but seemed content to let the pair have their privacy.

“Well, mystery solved,” he said, catching the attention of the two teenagers in front. “Zuko’s a living lightning rod for the spiritual energy of the universe. No big deal.”

Zuko smirked. “Takes one to know one.”

“Hey, I’ve never gone full glowy eyes—yet,” Sokka shot back, his hand scratching lightly at his hair, a few of the white strands falling loose from their place in his wolftail. “Give it time.”

Aang spoke again, more seriously now. “Thank you, Zuko. For what you did.”

Zuko met his gaze. “I wasn’t going to let him hurt her.”

“No,” Aang said softly, “I mean for speaking about it. For trusting us with all of this.”

Zuko gave a quiet nod. “We’ll be traveling together, you deserve to be in the know about things, even if it takes some time for me to tell you all of it.”

---

Appa landed in the hills outside Gaoling just as the sun dipped into late afternoon, turning the wheat fields into rivers of gold. The city loomed ahead, ringed by tall stone walls and guarded gates, bustling with carts, traders, and Earth Kingdom soldiers scanning each arrival.

They dismounted quietly, feet pressing into the dry grass, the sky bison rumbling low as Aang patted his fur. “We’ll be back soon, buddy. Stay low and watch over Momo.”

Appa groaned but settled into the grasses, the lemur dunking low into the bison’s saddle and blending as much as the pair could.

Zuko’s eyes, though tired, were focused, tracking the guards, exits, and the flow of people like a seasoned soldier.

Katara checked over Mei’s hair, finishing pulling it into a quick braid tied with a strip of cloth. “Stay close to me, alright?” she murmured.

Mei clutched her doll, her eyes wide and wary as she looked up at the walls of Gaoling. “Okay.”

Sokka, carrying the bag of what little supplies they had left, glanced at the gates. “This place looks busy. Think we’ll be stopped?”

Zuko’s jaw tightened. “We might. Just let me do the talking.”

Aang looked at Zuko. “You good?”

Zuko’s hand hovered near his side, shaking slightly before he clenched it. “I’m fine.”

They moved toward the gates, Aang and Sokka walking behind Katara and Zuko, who had Mei walking between them. They blended into a small group of merchants arguing about melon prices, timing their entrance with a small convoy of carts. The guards eyed them but didn’t stop them immediately.

Almost through.

“Hey, you there!” one of the guards called, gesturing at Zuko.

The group froze.

Zuko stepped forward, pulling Mei slightly behind him. “Yes?”

The guard frowned, eyes narrowing slightly. “You’re not local. What’s your business here?”

Zuko’s face didn’t flinch. “We’re here to see the healer. The girl—” he glanced back at Mei, “—she’s sick, and she has family here.”

The guard’s eyes flicked to Mei, then to Katara, Sokka, and Aang, who were all doing their best to look like worried travelers.

After a tense moment, the guard nodded lightly. “Alright, get her to the healer, then move along. We’ve got enough refugees flooding in already.”

“Thank you,” Zuko said calmly, bowing his head slightly.

They passed under the shadow of the gates, stepping into the crowded streets of Gaoling. Stalls lined the roads with vibrant fabrics, spices, clay pots, and fresh vegetables. Children ran barefoot past carts, and the air was thick with the scents of dust and frying dumplings.

Mei’s eyes were wide, trying to take in everything while staying pressed to Katara’s side. Sokka and Aang’s stomachs growled, shooting a look at the food stalls, earning a stern look from Katara.

“Later,” she hissed, looking between her brother and Aang.

Katara glanced at Zuko. “That went well.”

Zuko nodded, but his eyes were scanning the side streets, muscles taut. “Let’s not blow our luck. We need to find Mei’s uncle and this healer quickly, then get out.”

They pressed forward into Gaoling’s heart, the noise of trade and laughter swirling around them, another step deeper into the Earth Kingdom’s troubled underbelly, where their next move—and next teacher—waited, quietly, among the crowded streets.

---

Gaoling was loud in a way the forest never was. The clang of blacksmiths, the rumble of carts, children laughing and shouting, merchants calling prices over each other—it pressed in on all sides as they moved through the city, Mei clinging to Katara’s hand. At the same time, her eyes darted from stall to stall, drinking in the color and noise while flinching at every sudden shout.

Zuko moved ahead, head low, scanning alleys and signs, posture tight with alertness. Every clatter of a dropped pot, every sudden shout made his shoulders tense, gaze flicking to rooftops and corners like he expected an ambush.

They paused under the shade of a faded awning, the scent of frying dumplings and coal smoke drifting around them. Sokka and Aang approached, arms full of a few vegetables and sweets, wide-eyed from the bustle.

“Let’s split,” Sokka suggested, licking sugar from his thumb. “We’ll look for supplies, maybe see if there’s anything useful at the market.”

Aang nodded, finishing a mini egg custard tart. “We’ll meet at the south gate by sunset.”

Katara glanced at Zuko, who gave a tight nod, and the boys melted into the crowd, Sokka already pointing at a pottery stall while Aang tried to keep him from spending their meager coins.

Katara tightened her grip on Mei’s hand, and together with Zuko, they pushed deeper into the city.

They found the miners’ quarter near the edge of town, where the streets narrowed and the stone homes were patched with clay and scrap wood. Here, the air smelled of iron dust, and men and women passed by with coal-smudged faces, their conversations low and voices tired.

Mei’s steps slowed as they reached a cracked well, the wooden cover missing a plank. Her small hand lifted, trembling slightly.

“That’s… that’s his house,” she whispered, her voice so quiet it nearly vanished under the rumble of a passing cart.

Zuko’s eyes followed where she pointed: a squat, single-story home with a sagging roof, a small vegetable patch by the door trying its best to stay alive in the dusty air. A man knelt near a cart with a broken wheel, the rhythmic scrape of sandpaper against wood breaking the hush of the alley. He was broad-shouldered, with thick arms that looked accustomed to hard labor, dark hair tied back, and heavy lines etched into the corners of his eyes like scars of a hard life.

Mei opened her mouth, her breath hitching, before she called out, voice cracking, “Uncle Bo?”

The man froze. The sandpaper slipped from his fingers, falling to the ground as he turned, eyes wide, lips parting in shock. “Mei?”

She didn’t hesitate. She ran, her small feet kicking up dust, and he dropped to one knee just in time to catch her as she launched into his arms, burying her face against his chest as her thin shoulders shook with sobs that had waited too long to escape.

He held her tightly, rocking back and forth as tears slid down the grime on his cheeks. “My sweet little flower, I heard what happened… oh, spirits, you’re safe now, you’re safe…”

Katara looked away, blinking quickly as she wiped her cheek with her sleeve, her hand squeezing, touching her mother’s necklace as if grounding herself.

Zuko let out a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding, the tension in his chest easing as he watched the scene, the knot in his gut loosening slightly.

Uncle Bo pulled back just enough to cup Mei’s face, thumb brushing her tears away. “You’re home now, Mei. You’re home.”

She nodded, clutching his shirt with one small hand, her doll pressed to her chest with the other.

Bo looked up, eyes meeting Zuko’s and Katara’s. He stood slowly, setting Mei gently on her feet while keeping a steadying hand on her shoulder.

“You brought her back to me,” Bo said, voice thick, his gaze resting on Zuko, reading the tension in his stance, the weariness in his eyes. “Thank you.”

Zuko shifted, uncomfortable under the gratitude. “She needed to get home. We just… helped.”

Bo stepped forward and offered his hand, rough and calloused. Zuko hesitated before taking it, the older man’s grip firm, grounded. “You did more than help, boy. You gave her back her family. That’s no small thing.”

Katara smiled softly, glancing down at Mei, who was wiping her face, trying to look brave as she stood beside her uncle.

Bo glanced back at the house, then down at Mei. “Come on, little flower. Let’s get you inside, get you washed up. Ying will want to see you.”

“Ying?” Katara asked gently.

Bo nodded. “Our family friend. She’s the best healer in the quarter—patches up the miners and keeps us breathing. Works part-time at the Earth Rumble, too, patching up those idiots who get knocked around for sport.” His lips quirked into a tired smile.

Mei brightened slightly, her tears drying as she looked at Katara. “Auntie Ying makes the best stew.”

Bo chuckled, ruffling her hair. “That she does. I’m sure it was a long journey here. Please come in; a little time to sit would be the least I can do for you bringing my wài shēng nǚ safely to me.”

He led them inside the small home, where it was cool and dark, the air thick with the scent of simmering herbs and warm clay. The furniture was simple yet well-maintained, with small trinkets from the mines displayed on shelves, and a faded tapestry of a mountain hanging above a small hearth.

A woman emerged from the back room, wiping her hands on a cloth. She was middle-aged, hair streaked with silver, her dark green eyes sharp but kind.

“Mei!” she gasped, moving forward and pulling the girl into a hug.

“Auntie Ying,” Mei whispered into her shoulder.

Ying pulled back, eyes glassy, before looking up at Zuko and Katara. “I heard what happened to her village. I feared the worst.” Her gaze softened. “Thank you for bringing her here.”

“Of course. She’s safe now, and we were glad to make sure she’s back with her family.” Katara said softly.

Ying nodded, then gestured for Mei to come help in the kitchen, the girl’s eyes lighting up at the familiar comfort of home.

Bo turned back to Zuko and Katara. “You look like you need a meal—and I owe you one.”

Zuko shook his head. “We should go—”

But Katara placed a gentle hand on his arm. “We have time for food.”

Zuko glanced at her, at the calm steadiness in her blue eyes, and relented.

They sat at the low table as Ying served them steaming bowls of stew, the rich scent filling the air. Warm bread was passed around as Mei settled beside Katara, her small smile returning for the first time in days.

For a moment, the world outside fell away—the war, the fear, the weight on Zuko’s shoulders—and there was only warmth, the soft hum of the hearth, and the quiet relief of a child reunited with her family.

And for that moment, Zuko allowed himself to breathe.

---

The bowls of stew steamed between them, the scent of garlic and herbs settling into the cracks of the table as they ate quietly. Katara watched Zuko for a moment, noticing how his shoulders, always drawn tight like a bowstring, had relaxed ever so slightly.

“You eat like you’re expecting to have to get up and run any second,” she said softly.

Zuko paused, the spoon halfway to his lips, his gold eyes flicking up to meet hers. “Habit.”

Katara hummed, tearing a piece of bread and dipping it into her stew. “You don’t have to right now.”

“I know.” He took the bite anyway, chewing slowly, as if trying to deny her earlier point.

In the kitchen, Mei was helping Ying with the washing, her small voice lifting in an uncertain hum as she stacked bowls, trying to mimic a tune. Bo stepped back into the main room, wiping his hands on a rag.

“I’m glad you stayed to eat,” Bo said, lowering himself to sit across from them. “Mei’s been through enough, and seeing her safe means everything.”

Katara nodded, smiling softly at the little girl. “She’s stronger than she knows.”

Bo’s eyes flicked to Zuko, lingering on the tired set of his jaw, the way his gaze tracked every creak of the house. “You’re not from around here, are you?”

“No,” Zuko answered quietly.

Bo studied him for a beat, then let out a low laugh. “Didn’t think so. Besides those light eyes of yours, you’ve got the look of someone carrying too much on their back.”

Katara opened her mouth, but before she could answer, the front door creaked open as a young man with soot-smudged hands poked his head in.

“Bo! They’re saying the champion’s back at the Earth Rumble tonight. You’ve got to see ‘em knock down grown men like they’re sacks of flour!”

Bo chuckled, shaking his head. “Earth Rumble’s a mess. But it keeps the young hotheads busy. If you two are staying in Gaoling tonight, you’ll hear it. The quarry shakes when they start stomping.”

Katara’s brows lifted. “Is it really that exciting?”

The young man nodded enthusiastically. “The ring will show the best fighter they’ve seen in years. Even the rich folks from the upper ring are coming to watch.”

Zuko’s hand stilled on his bowl. A low thrum beneath his skin, the same pull he had felt in the Northern Tribe before meeting Pakku. It echoed, subtle but insistent.

“Where exactly is this Earth Rumble?” Zuko asked.

Bo eyed him, then pointed out the window toward the quarry on the city’s edge. “Down there, under the main mining pits. You’ll find it if you follow the noise after dark.”

Katara shot Zuko a look, reading the tension in the way his fingers drummed against the table.

“Lee,” she said softly, “do you think—”

“I think we need to see this fight,” he agreed.

Katara nodded, gripping her cup. She didn’t know exactly what he felt, but the weight in his voice was clear. And she trusted it.

~~~

Elsewhere in Gaoling, the market was alive with the bright chaos of the crowd. Stalls overflowed with dyed silks, baskets of mountain peaches, sticky rice cakes wrapped in leaves, and glinting clay pots.

Sokka held a bundle of apples like a prized treasure, inspecting each one carefully while Aang tried to keep up, arms already full of herbs and dried fruits for Appa and Momo.

“We need protein, Sokka,” Aang protested as Sokka inspected another apple for bruises.

“Protein is expensive,” Sokka shot back, “but apples are morale food, and morale is priceless .”

Aang rolled his eyes but smiled, the warm air filling his lungs. For a moment, this felt like normal teenage nonsense rather than war.

They passed a stall where a wiry young man was shouting over the din, waving tickets in the air.

“Earth Rumble! Earth Rumble tonight! Come see the Blind Bandit knock grown men into the dirt! Tickets are cheap, guaranteed fun!”

Sokka paused, eyes narrowing. “Blind Bandit?”

The ticket hawker spun toward them eagerly. “Yeah! She’s the star of the Earth Rumble. Never misses a step, and she’s like, this tall—” he gestured around his shoulders, “—but she sends men twice her size flying.”

Aang’s eyes widened. “A blind earthbender?”

“Best show in town,” the hawker continued, practically bouncing. “They say she’s undefeated.”

Sokka exchanged a look with Aang, who was already bouncing on the balls of his feet.

“You thinking what I’m thinking?” Sokka asked, smirking.

Aang nodded, eyes bright. “Lee’s going to want to see this.”

Sokka grinned, tossing the last apple into the bag. “And hey, if we’re going to find him an earthbending teacher, we might as well start with the best.”

They turned back toward where the group had separated, the late afternoon light slanting across the rooftops, the noise of Gaoling washing around them as they hurried to share the news that would shape the next step of their journey.

---

The streets of Gaoling glowed orange as lanterns flickered to life, smoke from street vendors curling into the evening air as the Gaang made their way toward the lower quarter, walking from their meeting spot.

Katara was waiting, arms crossed, lips twitching upward, when she saw them. Sokka proudly displayed a few apples he’d “totally gotten for a bargain,” while Aang looked sheepish about buying a new brush for Appa.

“Find everything?” she called.

“Only the best apples in Gaoling,” Sokka announced proudly, holding one up for inspection.

Aang grinned. “We also found out about the Earth Rumble. There’s a blind earthbender competing. She sounds amazing, Katara.”

Katara’s eyes flickered to where Zuko sat on a nearby staircase, his elbows resting on his knees. His gaze lifted, meeting Aang’s with a quiet intensity.

“We have to see her,” Zuko said, voice low. “She’s the one.”

Sokka raised a brow, shifting the apples in his arms. “The one what?”

“The one I need to learn from,” Zuko answered, standing, the dying light casting sharp lines across his scarred face. “If she’s what they say she is, she’s the teacher I’ve been waiting for.”

Sokka whistled. “Well, we were going to go anyway. Looks like it’s a team event now.”

Katara placed a hand on Zuko’s arm, grounding him. “We’ll find an inn, get our room, and then we can go together.”

Zuko nodded, exhaling slowly.

~~~

“I’m telling you, the apples and desserts were a necessary purchase,” Sokka insisted, hugging the sack of fruit to his chest as they weaved around carts packed with straw and crates of coal.

“Sokka, we need food food, not just sugar and apples,” Katara said, exasperated but too tired to argue further.

Aang skipped ahead, Momo fluttering around him before landing on his shoulders. “We also need somewhere with a stable for Appa and Momo.”

Zuko walked slightly behind them, deep in thought with his head down, every sense alert as they passed loud groups of miners and gossiping children, their laughter echoing off the clay walls. The noise scratched at him, but he kept his breathing even.

They paused in front of a narrow building wedged between a pottery shop and a weaver’s stall, its wooden sign creaking in the breeze: Humble Hearth Inn.

It wasn’t much: a faded green door, a cracked lantern above it, and an old man sweeping the step with deliberate care.

“This looks promising,” Aang said, stepping forward to peek inside.

The innkeeper, a wiry man with bushy eyebrows, glanced up. “You need a room?”

“We do,” Katara answered. “Just for one night.”

The man looked them over, pausing on Zuko’s half-covered face, at Aang’s staff, then to the animal on the younger teen’s shoulders, and finally at the sack of food clutched to Sokka’s chest. “You lot trouble?”

“No, sir,” Zuko said quietly, his voice calm but firm.

The innkeeper grunted. “Good enough.”

They stepped inside, the air warm with the scent of steamed buns and wood smoke. A single, small hearth crackled in the corner, and a few travelers were already settled on floor mats, eating quietly.

“Two beds, one mat,” the innkeeper said, leading them upstairs. “And a stable out back for your animal, you feed him yourself.”

Aang’s grin split across his face. “Thank you! He’ll love it here.”

They entered the small room. It smelled of clean straw and ash, the wooden floor creaking under their boots. The beds were small, with thin quilts patched in places, and the mat was rolled tightly in the corner.

“Not bad,” Sokka declared, dropping the sack with a thump. “Home sweet temporary home.”

Katara set down her pack, rolling her shoulders, and turned to Zuko. “Are you okay with the bed by the window?”

Zuko blinked, surprised she asked, then nodded. “Yeah. Thanks.”

A moment passed between them, quiet, before Katara turned away to help Aang with his pack, her cheeks warm from the way Zuko’s eyes had softened for that heartbeat.

Sokka flopped onto the other bed with a sigh. “So, food, then Earth Rumble, then sleep.”

Katara raised an eyebrow. “You mean we get food while you eat another bun and apple on the way there?”

Sokka scowled but pulled an apple from the sack anyway, biting into it loudly. “Priorities.”

Aang chuckled, bouncing lightly on the mat before settling cross-legged. “I can’t wait to see the Earth Rumble.”

Zuko crossed his arms, looking out the window, where the last threads of sunset bled over the rooftops. “Neither can I.”

Katara glanced at him, noting the tension in his jaw, and she smiled softly before turning away.

“Alright,” she said, tying her hair back. “Let’s get going before the best seats are gone.”

---

Night fell hard, lanterns coming to life along Gaoling’s winding streets as the Gaang slipped into the current of townsfolk heading toward the quarry.

They passed hushed groups of gamblers, young miners excitedly jostling each other, and well-dressed spectators, all eager to see the “Blind Bandit” who had been making waves.

Zuko’s steps were steady, but inside, the hum of the Spirit tugged at him, the same pull he felt before meeting other members of the Order, but deeper, louder . It was as if the earth itself was calling to him, telling him this is the path .

Katara stayed close, occasionally glancing at him, her lips parted as if she wanted to speak but thought better of it. Aang, beside them, was practically bouncing, while Sokka scanned the crowd for snacks and potential bet opportunities.

They descended into the quarry, the open pit lit by torches, shadows dancing along the rough stone walls. A makeshift ring of packed earth sat at the center, with crowds pressed close along the ledges.

Cheers erupted as an announcer, thin and wiry with a voice that cut through the noise, stepped forward. “Ladies and gentlemen! Are you ready for your champion? The undefeated, the unstoppable— the Blind Bandit! ”

Sokka started yelling with the crowd, fist pumping in the air, while Aang and Katara watched with concern.

“Is this really necessary?” Katara asked.

“Research,” Sokka yelled back, barely heard over the roaring crowd.

Then, everything shifted when she entered the ring.

A petite teenager, younger than any of the fighters, walked barefoot onto the stone, white eyes unseeing yet unblinking, her posture bored and loose. Her feet touched the ground with precision, and the instant she did, Zuko felt it—a pulse through the earth, a whisper through the stones, a vibration humming against his bones.

Zuko’s breath caught.

She moved like the earth itself bent toward her, each stomp, each flick of her wrist sending massive opponents flying as if they weighed nothing. The ground spoke to her, waves of power rippling with every confident step.

Katara leaned closer to Zuko, whispering, “She’s incredible.”

Zuko didn’t answer. He couldn’t. The pull in his chest was unmistakable, a quiet certainty that rang like a bell in his mind:

There she is. She is your next teacher.

She smirked as the first challenger stepped forward, a burly man twice her size who barely had time to bend a rock before she flicked her foot, sending a ripple through the ground that knocked him clean off his feet and out of the ring.

The Blind Bandit took down two more challengers with ease; each movement was precise, efficient, and certain. It looked like the ground bent for her, not the other way around.

“She’s good,” Katara breathed.

“She’s perfect ,” Zuko murmured.

Finally, when the crowd demanded a new challenger, Zuko darted forward towards the ring before he could second-guess himself.

“Lee, wait—” Katara reached for him, but he was already moving.

The announcer blinked. “And who do we have here? Another challenger? Looks like we’ve got a brave soul tonight, folks!”

She turned her head, her unseeing eyes scanning, pausing as her feet scuffed the ground. Her head tilted, smirk widening.

“You’re different,” she said, voice low enough that only Zuko could hear as he stepped into the ring.

Zuko approached gingerly, letting the lantern light hit his scar, while the crowd murmured. “I need to test something,” he said simply.

The Blind Bandit's smirk softened, head turning in curiosity. “Good. So do I.”

The bell rang.

She moved first, the ground shifting as she launched a chunk of earth at him. Zuko ducked, sliding under it, his fingers sparking as he sent a controlled burst of flame to deflect a second rock. She felt it, feet shifting, smirk sharpening.

“You’re good, fire boy.”

Zuko breathed, dropping into a low stance as his foot scuffed the dirt, and for a moment, he felt the hum beneath him, the way she did, the Avatar Spirit reaching for the same rhythm she controlled so effortlessly.

“Teach me,” he whispered, just as she struck again.

She blinked, pausing for the smallest fraction of a second.

And that pause was enough for Zuko to redirect her next attack with a burst of air-charged fire, sending the rock harmlessly into the sky. The crowd gasped, the silence sharp and sudden.

The young teen’s smirk returned, slow and dangerous.

“Find me after,” she mouthed, her foot stamping once, sending a wave through the ring that swept Zuko’s feet out from under him with perfect precision.

He hit the ground with a grunt, staring up at the dark sky as the crowd roared, the announcer declaring the Blind Bandit the winner.

But Zuko was smiling as Katara and Aang rushed to the ring to help him up, Sokka cheering wildly at the fight.

“She’s the one,” Zuko said breathlessly, dirt smudged across his cheek.

Katara’s lips parted, seeing the light in his eyes that hadn’t been there before. “Then we’ll find her.”

---

The quarry was nearly empty, dust hanging thick under the torches as workers cleared broken stones and gamblers argued over lost coin. The Earth Rumble’s echo still vibrated in the stone walls.

Zuko pressed a hand to his ribs, wincing where the Blind Bandit’s final wave had thrown him down. Katara hovered beside him, her eyes flicking over him for injury while Aang and Sokka argued about who owed whom for the “unofficial” bets.

“Hey, fire boy.”

The voice came from the shadows, small but sharp. Zuko stiffened, turning.

The Blind Bandit stepped into the torchlight, feet bare, arms crossed. She was shorter than Zuko had realized, but the confidence radiating from her made her feel taller than the Rumble’s walls.

“You hit harder than the usual morons who think they can take me,” she said, chin tilting up. Her eyes stared past him, but her feet shifted slightly, reading every vibration he made.

Zuko inclined his head, wincing again. “You’re good.”

Her lips curled in a cocky smile. “I know I’m good.” She paused, cocking her head. “You said something in the ring. About wanting me to teach you.”

Behind Zuko, Katara, Aang, and Sokka exchanged glances.

“I did,” Zuko said, meeting her unseeing gaze with steady calm.

The young teenager smirked. “You’re Fire Nation .” She said it like an accusation.

“I’m the Avatar,” Zuko corrected softly. “And I need an earthbending teacher, someone who can stand against me, not follow me.”

Her smirk didn’t fade. She stomped her foot lightly, bare toes curling against the dust. “Maybe I’ll consider it. But on my terms.”

“What terms?” Sokka asked, curiosity piqued.

The question caused her head to turn sharply toward him, causing him to flinch.

“One, you don’t whine when I kick your butt during training. Two, it doesn’t happen here.”

Aang’s eyes softened. “You want to leave Gaoling.”

She didn’t answer immediately, but her smirk faltered. “Yeah.”

Zuko nodded once, resolute. “Deal.”

“Not so fast, Sparky,” She retorted, walking closer to him and jabbing a finger into his chest, finding him precisely despite her blindness. “If you want me to teach you, we leave tonight .”

Katara frowned. “Tonight? You don’t want to say goodbye?”

The girl’s face hardened. “No.”

A silence stretched between them. Then Zuko nodded again, slower this time. “Alright. We leave tonight.”

She grinned, turning on her heel. “Give me 2 hours.”

“Alright, we’ll be at the Hearty Hearth Inn.”

She quickly agreed to meet them and vanished into the dark, leaving only the faint vibration of her confident steps behind.

---

While Appa waited patiently at the Inn, chewing on hay Aang had found for him, as they waited for the Blind Bandit, they decided to say their last byes to Mei, Katara and Zuko leading the way.

Mei clung to Katara’s waist, tears shining in her eyes, but not falling; her small chin was lifted in defiance of the goodbye. Uncle Bo stood beside her, one hand on her shoulder, the other clutching the strap of his old miner’s pack as if to keep himself steady.

“You’re sure you don’t want to stay longer?” She asked softly, Katara reached down, brushing a thumb across Mei’s cheek.

The older teenager shook her head, lips pressed tight. Then she turned, stepping toward Zuko. Mei had to tilt her head back to see him, her tiny hands fumbling at the ribbon tied around her wrist.

“I want you to have this,” she said, voice thin but steady.

She pressed the ribbon into Zuko’s hand—a simple strip of pale green cloth, frayed at the ends. 

“Uncle told me that my māma used to wear one like this. I want to give it to you,” Mei whispered. “To keep you safe.”

Zuko froze, slowly and carefully tying the ribbon around his wrist, his hands shaking just slightly.

“Thank you,” he said, voice low, rough, but warm.

Mei stepped back to Uncle Bo, who hugged her tightly, burying his face in her hair as Sokka and Aang stepped up to say bye to Mei as well. 

Katara’s hand found Zuko’s forearm, steadying him as he exhaled.

“You’re going to do good things, Zuko,” she said, lifting her chin again.

Zuko nodded, unable to speak, but the ghost of a smile touched his lips as he looked at her.

~~~~~

Back at the inn, Appa was already saddled, while the room was stripped of belongings in the dim glow of the single lantern they had left burning. Aang and Sokka were outside with Appa, preparing their belongings to fit comfortably in anticipation of another travel companion.

Katara gently pressed a damp cloth against Zuko’s ribs, the scent of healing herbs rising between them.

“Sorry, I’m still learning from Taakti ’s book, so I’m not comfortable trying to heal something like this with waterbending,” she murmured, shifting closer to dab at a cut along his collarbone. Her hair brushed his arm, her breath warm.

“It’s fine,” Zuko whispered, eyes fixed on the floor, every muscle tense beneath her touch.

“You’re still too tense.” Her hand flattened against his chest for a moment, warm and steady, grounding him. “You don’t have to be so on guard around us.”

Zuko’s breath hitched, his gold eyes meeting hers, shadows shifting in the lantern light. “I’m not used to people… caring.”

Katara swallowed, her thumb brushing lightly against a forming bruise. “Well, get used to it.”

His eyes softened, the exhaustion in them mingling with something unspoken, something raw and careful. Her fingers hovered, then moved to adjust his tunic, pulling it back over his shoulder. She didn’t step away, didn’t break eye contact.

“Katara…” he said, her name breaking the silence like a confession.

Her lips parted, the space between them charged, quiet, the weight of what neither of them could say pressing against their chests. Her hand lingered on his shoulder, thumb brushing once, twice, before she let it fall away.

“We should get ready to meet the Blind Bandit,” she whispered, though neither of them moved.

Finally, she stepped back, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, turning away quickly, and feeling heat rising in her cheeks.

Zuko exhaled shakily, closing his eyes, the ghost of her touch still burning against his skin.

Outside, Aang’s quiet laughter and Sokka’s teasing carried through the window, a reminder of the world still waiting for them.

~~~

A sharp knock at the door.

Toph stepped in, a small sack slung over her shoulder, chin lifted. “Ready.”

Zuko stood, ignoring the pull in his ribs, and Katara stepped to his side, blue eyes bright with determination.

“We’re ready too.”

Toph’s lips twitched. “Then let’s get out of here.”

They stepped into the night together, the quarry lights of Gaoling fading behind them, the next chapter of their journey beginning under a moonlit sky.

Notes:

I was looking for other descriptors of Katara’s clothes, and one that looked close to it was the Mongolian Deel.

The description I have for the Avatar State is loosely based on what I interpret as Zuko's and his path from S1 to S3, and remembering the dreary environment of Aang’s Avatar State versus Korra’s. If i’m remembering a tumblr or reddit post I read a while ago correctly, it’s that for 12 year old Aang the Avatar State wasn’t a pleasant thing, he looked drained the first few times we’ve seen him enter it and the vision we see of the past avatars was in a dreary, clouded plane and it was terrifying to see.

I also adjusted the timeline of the Gaang's journey because I have other plans for the first few episodes that wouldn’t make sense if we were following the canon timeline (and I have no clue how to write Bumi and everything that happened with Omashu).
Wài shēng nǚ means niece on the sister’s side in Mandarin (I scoured the internet for so long trying to find the proper term for it…). If it wasn’t implied, Mei’s mother and aunt are sisters.
I decided to have Zuko firebend without any surprise or backlash, because 1. The Gaoling I’m writing about is an affluent town, so they’ll be accustomed to traders and individuals from different parts of the world. 2. I forgot to give Zuko his dual duo, and going hand-to-hand against Toph probably wouldn’t turn out well. 3. With how long the War has been going on, mixed children are going to exist, and Fire-heritage people likely live outside of the Fire Nation & Colonies. Hence, it’s not unlikely for everyone in this town/arena to have an adverse reaction to it.
This episode diverges slightly from canon, but a big part of why Toph is more readily willing to leave here is her age. At 12, you’re just beginning puberty/becoming someone separate from your parents’ wishes. By 14, many start to rebel or have a strong drive to be independent, even if there’s still some input from your parents. This version of Toph would have tried to be more independent, but it wasn’t happening, and her parents continued to coddle her. Hence, she would take her first chance to prove herself and force them to see her with and without her there.

Chapter 8: Clashing Personalities

They climbed onto Appa’s saddle as Gaoling shrank beneath them, the wind picking up as Appa rumbled a sleepy groan.

Toph climbed in last, dropping her small sack to the floor of the saddle, planting her feet with absolute confidence despite the height and sway. She cracked her knuckles, tilting her head toward Aang’s excited babbling.

“So, this is a flying bison, huh?” she said, running her hand along Appa’s fur. “He feels… big.”

Aang beamed. “He is big! And the best. Aren’t you, Appa?”

Appa rumbled in response, making the saddle sway slightly.

Toph’s smirk widened. “Not bad, Twinkle Toes.”

Aang blinked, his smile faltering at the unfamiliar name. “Twinkle… what?”

“Twinkle Toes. I can feel how you walk. You’re light on your feet. It suits you.”

Sokka burst into laughter, nearly dropping the bag of travel rations he was organizing. “Twinkle Toes! Oh, that’s perfect !”

Aang groaned, burying his face in his hands while Toph leaned back, crossing her arms, a smug grin on her face.

Zuko, seated near the front, allowed himself a chuckle, the sound surprising Katara as she glanced back at him. For a moment, the tension in his shoulders loosened, replaced by something softer.

~~~

The stars were sharp above them that night. Appa glided in smooth sweeps through the cold air, the saddle draped with blankets to keep out the chill.

Toph was curled near the back, one hand resting on the floor of the saddle, a faint, thoughtful smile on her face as she felt the vibrations of the wind against Appa’s massive body.

“It’s weird,” she muttered to Sokka, who was half-asleep beside her. “Not having the ground beneath me. I can’t feel where I’m going.”

Sokka cracked an eye open. “Well, you’ve got us. And Appa. Best team around, we’ll keep you safe.”

Toph snorted softly but didn’t argue.

At the front, Katara sat beside Zuko, her water skin tucked into her side, her hair loose from its usual braid and flowing in the wind.

“You okay?” she asked, voice low.

Zuko was holding Mei’s ribbon, turning it slowly around his wrist, the pale green stark against the burn scars on his hand. He nodded, though his eyes were distant.

“She reminded me… of what I’m doing this for,” he said quietly.

Katara hesitated, then shifted closer, her shoulder pressing lightly against his. “And you’re not alone in it.”

The wind pulled strands of her hair across his shoulder, and Zuko’s hand lifted before he could stop himself, gently brushing the hair away, his fingers grazing her collarbone before pulling back.

Katara’s breath caught, but she didn’t move away. Instead, she let her head drop to his shoulder, her eyes closing as the wind rocked them gently, Appa’s low rumble the only sound beneath the hush of the night.

Zuko exhaled, letting the tension drain out of him as he leaned his head against hers, the green ribbon on his wrist fluttering softly in the wind.

Above them, the moon climbed higher, and for a rare, fleeting moment, peace settled around the Gaang as they flew toward the next step of their journey—toward Toph’s training, and whatever the world would demand of them next.

---

They landed in the cool hush of dawn, mist rising from a thick pine forest that bordered a quiet trade road leading toward the next small town.

Appa settled with a tired grunt, legs folding gently to bear the landing as he nestled into the grass, while Momo scurried along the saddle to sniff the new scents of damp earth and pine sap.

Zuko stepped down first, turning to help Katara, who jumped lightly beside him. Aang rolled off the saddle with practiced ease, while Sokka groaned, clutching his back as he slid down the saddle’s fur.

Toph jumped off last, landing hard enough to send a pulse through the ground. She smiled faintly, the feel of stable earth beneath her feet bringing visible relief to her face.

They set up camp quickly: Katara rigged up a tarp for rain, Sokka laid out their dwindling supplies, and Aang tended to Appa while Zuko quietly collected branches for the morning fire. Toph lay back on the grass, one hand pressed to the ground, her face turned toward the sky.

When the fire crackled to life, they all sat around it, steam from Katara’s tea rising into the crisp morning air.

~~~

Aang clapped his hands together, breaking the quiet. “Okay! I realized we haven’t really formally introduced ourselves yet.”

Toph snorted. “What, you need a name tag, Twinkle Toes?”

Aang grinned sheepishly. “I just thought it would be nice.”

Sokka cleared his throat dramatically, standing. “Sokka of the Southern Water Tribe, mighty warrior, and strategic genius .”

Katara rolled her eyes but smiled, standing beside him. “Katara, his sister. Master Waterbender and healer.”

Toph tilted her head, considering, then stood with her feet firmly planted. “Toph Beifong. Greatest Earthbender in the world.”

Aang chuckled, stepping forward. “Aang. Nomad from the Southern Air Temple. Monk… in training, I guess. And your friend.”

They all turned to Zuko, who looked at them for a long moment, the firelight dancing in his gold eyes before he sighed and stood.

“Zuko,” he said simply, his hand brushing the green ribbon on his wrist. “Call me Lee while we’re in public. Um, Firebender and Avatar, also in training.”

The word settled in the air, heavy and true, but not sharp as it once would have been.

Aang smiled softly. “And our friend.”

Zuko’s eyes flickered, and he nodded, something warm and hesitant in his chest.

---

After breakfast, Aang led Zuko a little way from camp, the two standing on the damp grass beneath swaying pine branches.

“I’ve been thinking about how to start you with airbending,” Aang said, rocking on his heels, staff in hand. “It’s not just the movements, Zuko. It’s about being air.”

Zuko lifted an eyebrow. “Being… air.”

Aang nodded seriously. “The Air Nomads taught the belief that air is freedom. It moves without resistance, goes around obstacles, never forcing, never clinging. It’s about letting go.”

Zuko’s jaw tightened, his eyes drifting to the trees, remembering chains of duty, of fire, of fear. “Letting go isn’t easy.”

“I know.” Aang’s voice was gentle as he sat down, crossing his legs and holding his hands on each knee, palm facing the sky. “But you can’t bend air with anger. Or with fear. You have to breathe and be here . It’s like when I meditate: we acknowledge thoughts, then let them pass, like clouds across the sky.”

Zuko took a slow breath, the pine air cold in his lungs. He tried to mimic Aang’s stance.

“Start with breathing,” Aang encouraged, demonstrating the slow, mindful inhale and the soft, complete exhale.

Zuko followed, his exhale shaky, but he tried again. And again.

Above them, the leaves rustled, and for a moment, Zuko felt the edges of himself soften, as if he was not fire nor burden but simply breath.

~~~

Back at camp, Katara and Sokka were sorting their packs.

“We’re running low on rice, and Appa needs more feed,” Katara noted, checking the last of their supplies.

Sokka patted his stomach. “And meat . We need meat .”

Katara ignored him. “There’s a small market in the town down the road. We can go after Zuko finishes with Aang.”

Toph piped up from where she was balancing on a rock. “I could use some new clothes. This fancy stuff isn’t exactly travel-friendly.”

Sokka raised an eyebrow. “We could all use some, but we’re not exactly flush with coin, princess.”

Toph grinned, flipping back onto her feet. “Don’t worry about it, Snoozles.”

~~~

As they organized the camp, Toph flicked a small rock toward Katara’s pile of folded blankets, knocking them over.

“Really?” Katara snapped, looking at Toph frustratedly.

Toph smirked, tilting her head. “What? Didn’t see it coming?”

Katara’s eyes narrowed, water shifting in her skin. “You need to learn to respect other people’s space.”

“And you need to stop fussing over everything,” Toph shot back, crossing her arms. “It’s a blanket, not a royal heirloom.”

It was at that moment that Zuko and Aang returned. The latter glanced nervously between them.

Sokka muttered, “Here we go…”

Katara’s jaw tightened. “You may be teaching Zuko, but that doesn’t give you the right to act like a child.”

Toph’s face went cold. “You don’t know anything about me, Sugar Queen .”

They stared each other down until Aang stepped between them, hands raised.

“Hey, hey, we’re all tired. Let’s just take a breath, okay?”

Katara closed her eyes, taking in a long, slow inhale, letting the water in her skin settle again.

Toph huffed, turning away to stomp off, but Zuko caught the faint tremor in her lip before she turned.

---

That evening, as the stars came out, the camp was quiet, save for the soft pop of the fire.

Zuko stood to the side, practicing Aang’s breathing exercises, arms rising and falling in slow arcs as he inhaled deeply, trying to feel the air within and around him, not just the heat that always wanted to rise from his chest. Each breath was deliberate, a quiet battle between control and surrender.

Katara silently stirred the stew, the gentle clink of the wooden spoon against the pot filling the silence. Her eyes flicked occasionally toward Toph, who sat apart with her legs crossed, one hand pressed to the ground, her chin tilted up, feeling every movement around them through the subtle language of vibrations. Her face was unreadable, calm but distant.

Aang and Sokka sat near Appa’s leg, half-shadowed by the firelight as they spoke quietly about the route ahead.

“We’ll need to skirt the Si Wong Desert if we want to avoid patrols and any shoreline Fire Nation soldiers,” Sokka said, drawing a quick map in the dirt with a stick.

Aang nodded, twirling a strand of Appa’s fur between his fingers. “I just hope we can find another safe place to stop. Zuko’s training is important, and Katara and I will need a fruitful area to teach him properly.”

Katara set the spoon down with a soft sigh, pushing her hair back from her face. She glanced again at Toph, debating, then walked over, her feet quiet on the pine needles.

“Dinner’s almost ready,” she said gently.

Toph tilted her head. “Okay,” she replied, her fingers drumming lightly on the ground.

Katara pressed her lips together, trying to hold back frustration. “You’ve been quiet all day.”

“Doesn’t mean I have something to say,” Toph shot back, her face unreadable.

Katara folded her arms, taking a deep breath before responding. “I get that you’re probably used to being alone, but we’re a team now. We work together and try to collaborate in every part of camp.”

Toph’s jaw tightened, her bare toes digging into the dirt. “You think I don’t know how to work with people? I’ve had to deal with people telling me what to do my whole life.”

“I’m not telling you what to do,” Katara said, her voice tightening. “I’m asking you to try . We’re not your enemies.”

Toph opened her mouth to snap back, but Zuko’s low voice cut across the tension.

“She’s right.”

Both girls turned toward him. Zuko stood with his eyes closed, the soft glow of the fire catching the edge of the green ribbon on his wrist.

“I know what it’s like to feel like you have to fight for every step of space you get,” he said, lowering his arms slowly, eyes opening. “But we’re not here to control you, Toph. We’re here to fight for the same thing, and we need to work together to make that happen.”

Toph’s lips parted, but no words came out. Her fingers flexed against the earth before she finally looked away, her shoulders slumping just a fraction.

Katara exhaled, softening, stepping forward to lay a hand on Toph’s shoulder. “Come eat.”

Toph hesitated, then stood, brushing the dirt from her pants. “Fine. But only because I’m starving.”

Sokka lifted his head. “Glad that’s settled, because this stew smells amazing, and if I wait another minute, I’m going to die .”

Katara rolled her eyes but smiled, returning to the pot and ladling stew into bowls. She handed one to Zuko as he approached, steam curling into the night air.

Their hands brushed, and for a moment, Zuko looked up, his gold eyes reflecting the stars above them. Katara’s breath caught, but she didn’t pull away, letting her fingers linger against his before letting go.

“Thank you,” Zuko murmured, taking the bowl.

Katara nodded, turning back to the pot, her heart beating just a little too fast.

They gathered around the fire, the warmth of the flames easing the lingering tension as they ate quietly. The crackle of pine needles in the fire and the occasional hoot filled the spaces between them.

---

The forest was still damp with dawn, mist clinging to the undergrowth as the creek babbled over stones. Katara knelt on a flat rock at the edge of the water, sleeves rolled above her elbows, scrubbing Zuko’s tunic with quick, practiced motions. Her breath misted in the cool air, and every muscle in her back was tight.

Toph sat on a fallen log nearby, her feet swinging idly above the moss, her head tilted as she flicked small pebbles into the water with a snap of her fingers. Each pebble skipped the same way: once, twice, three times, before sinking in the same spot with a soft plop .

Katara dunked the tunic under the water, wringing it out, the water dripping back into the creek with sharp splashes.

“You could help, you know,” she said, her tone carefully neutral.

“I am helping,” Toph replied lazily, cracking her knuckles before flicking another pebble, her blind eyes angled toward the trees.

Katara paused, lips pressed together. “And how, exactly, is this helping?”

Toph smirked, turning her head. “I’m making sure you’re not alone out here. Bandits and pirates could be lurking.”

Katara snorted under her breath, turning back to the laundry, scrubbing harder than she needed to. “Some of us don’t get the luxury of doing nothing.”

“Doing nothing?” Toph’s voice dropped, the pebbles in her hand trembling before she crushed them into dust with a flick of her wrist. “That’s what you think I’m doing?”

Katara didn’t look at her, but her shoulders stiffened. “All I see is you sitting there while the rest of us work to keep this group alive.”

Toph’s jaw clenched. She stood, stepping off the log with a soft thud, bare feet sinking into the mud as she stalked closer. “You don’t know anything about me, princess.”

“Stop calling me princess ,” Katara snapped, looking up, water dripping from her hands.

Toph’s blank eyes narrowed. “Then stop being bossy, and I won’t call you one.”

For a moment, the creek’s steady babble filled the tense space between them, water flowing relentlessly past their feet, each waiting for the other to back down.

Katara inhaled, turning away, dunking the tunic again with force. “Fine. Just stay out of my way.”

Toph’s hands curled at her sides before she turned, her feet thudding back toward camp, each step leaving minor dents in the muddy ground.

~~~~~

Later that morning, as the sun climbed higher, Zuko stood in the clearing near camp, sweat already on his neck as he mirrored Aang’s stance.

“Relax your shoulders,” Aang instructed, gently pushing Zuko’s arms down. “Remember, Airbending is about letting go.”

Zuko exhaled, closing his eyes, trying to feel the air instead of the constant heat in his chest. He extended his hands slowly, fingers spread, following Aang’s movements.

“Imagine the air moving around you,” Aang continued, stepping back, letting Zuko take the lead. “It’s not something you force. It’s something you invite.”

Zuko’s brows furrowed, the urge to control, to direct, to fight rising instinctively. He sucked in a breath, steadying it, recalling the meditation Uncle had forced him to do on stormy nights when his fire threatened to consume him.

He felt it, a gentle breeze, barely a whisper against his palms. It circled, playful, swirling a few fallen leaves around his feet. His eyes opened, golden irises reflecting the soft wonder of the moment.

Aang grinned, his arrow tattoos bright in the sun. “You did it! You felt it, didn’t you?”

Zuko let out a breath, the smallest of smiles crossing his lips. “Yeah. For a moment, it felt like…”

“Like you weren’t alone?” Aang finished, eyes softening.

Zuko nodded, shoulders easing as he let his arms fall. “Yeah.”

They stood in the clearing, the forest alive around them with the sounds of birdsong and the rustling of branches. The breeze continued to dance between them, light and effortless, a stark contrast to the heavy tension that had crackled between Katara and Toph earlier by the creek.

Aang clapped Zuko on the back, laughing as he pulled him toward the center of the clearing. “Let’s try it again!”

And for a while, as the air swirled around them and Zuko felt light for the first time in what felt like years, the weight of his destiny and the storms ahead faded into the summer wind.

---

That evening, Katara stirred the stew with practiced motions, tasting it carefully before adding another small pinch of herbs.

Toph sat a few feet away on a flat rock, rolling her shoulders, dirt clinging to her clothes. She sniffed the air, her nose wrinkling.

“You’re adding too much,” Toph said, shifting her weight. “You’ll drown out the actual flavor.”

Katara’s spoon paused mid-stir, the tension in her shoulders returning, leading to them hiking slightly. “I’ve cooked for this group since before you joined us, Toph. I know what I’m doing.”

Toph shrugged, her feet tapping lightly against the rock. “I’m just saying, maybe if you didn’t hover over everything, it wouldn’t be such a chore for you.”

Katara’s jaw tightened, the spoon clinking against the side of the pot. “I’m not hovering. I’m taking care of all of us.”

Toph turned her head, her eyes narrowing, lips twisting into a smirk. “You act like you’re the only one who can do that.”

Katara’s breath came sharp, the water in the pot rippling, small steam tendrils rising where her frustration slipped into her bending.

“Maybe if some people actually helped instead of criticizing, it wouldn’t be so hard to keep this group fed, especially since we have limited supplies as is.”

Toph stood, her arms crossed, her chin lifted in defiance. “Maybe if you stopped acting like everyone’s mother, you’d realize we’re not helpless.”

The air crackled between them, the campfire snapping as a piece of wood split. Sokka and Aang exchanged worried looks but said nothing.

“Fine,” Katara said, voice cool as she turned back to the pot. “Do whatever you want.”

“Trust me, I will,” Toph shot back before turning sharply and stomping away, dirt crunching under her feet.

The forest filled with silence, the stew bubbling quietly in the pot, Katara’s hands trembling as she stirred.

~~~

Later, Toph sat alone on a boulder, tracing the vibrations of bugs crawling beneath the soil to calm herself, jaw still clenched.

Sokka approached with cautious steps, his hands tucked into his belt, his posture relaxed but his eyes watchful. He sat on a nearby stump, letting the silence hang.

“You know,” Sokka began, “for someone who likes throwing rocks around, you’re pretty good at throwing words, too.”

Toph’s lips twitched, but she didn’t turn. “What do you want, Sokka?”

“Just… checking in,” he said, leaning forward, elbows on his knees. “I know Katara can be… Katara. But she’s just trying to keep us together.”

“She thinks she knows everything,” Toph muttered, digging her heel into the dirt.

Sokka laughed softly. “Yeah. She kind of does.”

Toph’s shoulders relaxed a fraction, her mouth quirking. “You’re not helping your case.”

“I’m not here to take sides,” Sokka said softly. “Just… maybe give her a break. She’s scared, too.”

Toph was quiet, her fingers tapping on the rock, feeling the echoes of Sokka’s steady heartbeat. “Yeah. Maybe.”

~~~

Back at the fire, Katara sat alone, her bowl of stew untouched, the warmth of the flames dancing across her face. She blinked rapidly, willing the frustration and shame to sink into the earth.

Zuko approached, his steps silent, the breeze rustling the leaves behind him. He settled down beside her, careful not to sit too close.

“You okay?” he asked quietly.

Katara exhaled, shaking her head. “I don’t know what to do with her.”

Zuko poked the fire with a stick, embers swirling upward. “For starters, remember she’s a teenager like you. I imagine Toph doesn’t like feeling controlled.”

Katara looked at him sharply, defensiveness rising, but Zuko’s calm gaze softened the edge of her anger.

“And I think you don’t like feeling unappreciated,” he continued. “Neither of you are wrong. You’re just… loud.”

Despite herself, Katara’s lips twitched. “Loud?”

He smirked slightly, shrugging. “It’s not a bad thing. But maybe give her space. She’ll come around.”

Katara’s shoulders dropped, the tension easing as she looked down at her hands. “I just want everyone to be okay.”

“I know,” Zuko said, the quiet conviction in his voice catching her off guard. “And you’re doing your best.”

She looked up, meeting his eyes, the firelight flickering in the gold of his gaze. The forest around them felt still, a moment of quiet understanding threading between them.

“Thanks,” she whispered.

Zuko nodded, looking back at the flames, the warmth of the fire nothing compared to the warmth quietly building in his chest.

---

The forest was heavy with the sticky warmth of early evening, insects droning in the thick air as the group began to get ready for bed. Katara carefully arranged the blankets and cooking supplies near the fire, her jaw tight, eyes scanning each corner to ensure everything was ready.

Toph arrived last, her hair damp from washing in the stream, feet leaving muddy prints as she stomped across the campsite. She dropped her bedroll with a thud close to the fire, dirt scattering across the blankets Katara had just laid out.

“Could you at least try to keep things clean?” Katara snapped, straightening, her hands on her hips.

Toph’s head snapped up, her sightless eyes narrowing. “Sorry, didn’t realize the dirt offended you so much.”

Katara clenched her fists, the water in the air trembling around her. “I just spent an hour setting up so we’d have a clean place to sleep.”

Toph smirked, shrugging. “Maybe you should relax. Dirt’s dirt. We live outside.”

“It’s called basic hygiene !” Katara’s voice rose, water swirling around her hands, a droplet falling onto the dirt and hissing as it steamed.

“Oh, please ,” Toph retorted, stepping forward, feet thudding heavily, the ground trembling faintly under her. “You act like you’re the only one keeping this group together. Newsflash: I’ve been doing fine on my own for years.”

Katara’s eyes flashed in anger, her eyebrows creasing together. “We’re not on our own anymore, Toph! We’re a team!”

Toph’s lips twisted, jaw tightening. “Then stop acting like you’re the team leader .”

The air felt charged, the forest silent except for the crackle of the fire and the distant call of a nightbird. Katara’s breath was ragged, her fists shaking at her sides as she fought the urge to unleash the water swirling around her.

Toph’s feet pressed harder into the earth, vibrations singing up her legs, waiting for the fight she half-hoped would happen.

“Fine,” Katara ground out, spinning on her heel and stalking toward the stream, the water following her like a restless spirit.

“Whatever,” Toph snapped back, dropping heavily onto her bedroll, arms crossed, scowling into the darkness.

~~~

A few feet away, under the soft glow of the campfire, Aang, Sokka, and Zuko sat in a tense circle, bowls of half-eaten rice cooling in their hands.

“Well, that was fun,” Sokka muttered, breaking the silence.

Aang sighed, poking at his rice with his chopsticks. “They’ve been arguing all week.”

Zuko winced, shifting his bruised shoulder where Toph had knocked him down when he tried approaching her earlier by the stream. “Toph doesn’t like being told what to do.”

“And Katara loves telling people what to do,” Sokka added, rolling his eyes. “Trust me, I know.”

Aang glanced toward the stream where Katara had disappeared, worry flickering across his face. “I just… I wish they’d get along.”

Zuko stared into the fire, the flames dancing in his gold eyes. “They’re both stubborn. And they both care too much.”

“Too much?” Sokka raised an eyebrow.

Zuko nodded. “Katara wants to keep us safe. Toph seems to want to prove she can take care of herself. They’re the same, in different ways.”

Aang looked between them, hopeful. “So… what do we do?”

Sokka let out a breath. “Honestly? Nothing.”

Aang blinked. “Nothing?”

Sokka shrugged. “Have you ever tried to get in the middle of Katara when she’s like this? Or Toph, for that matter? Zuko’s proof, you’ll probably get a face full of ice spikes or a rock to the knee.”

Zuko’s mouth twitched in a mock smile. “He’s right. They have to work it out themselves.”

“But… shouldn’t we help?” Aang’s voice was small.

“We are helping,” Sokka said, leaning back. “By staying out of the way. And being here when they’re ready to stop fighting.”

Zuko nodded, his eyes still on the fire. “They’re teenagers, just give them time to sit with their emotions, and eventually they’ll go to each other and figure it out.”

From the edge of the light, Toph shifted on her bedroll, pretending to sleep, the low voices of the boys’ conversation finding their way to her. Her jaw relaxed, just a little.

By the stream, Katara knelt in the shallows, hands in the cool water, the distant murmur of the boys’ voices reaching her over the rustle of leaves. She closed her eyes, letting the water still around her.

---

The next morning, before dawn, Toph shot upright, hand flat on the ground and face tense.

Zuko, who had been stoking the fire, froze. “What is it?”

Toph didn’t answer immediately, her face pale as she pressed her palm deeper into the dirt. “Something’s coming.”

Sokka groaned, half-awake. “Can it come later? Like after breakfast?”

Toph stood, hair wild, her usual smirk gone. “No. It’s been following us. I felt it last night. It’s getting closer.”

Katara’s jaw tightened. “Are you sure?”

Toph’s head snapped toward her, blank eyes hard. “I know what I’m talking about.”

Katara opened her mouth, ready to argue, but Zuko’s voice cut in, low and sharp. “Pack up. Now.”

Within moments, the camp was in motion—blankets rolled, fire doused, Appa’s saddle loaded in practiced silence. Katara’s hands shook as she folded the tarp, Toph’s steady, silent presence at her side as they worked.

As Appa rose into the sky, Katara and Toph found themselves seated beside each other, breathing hard, their shoulders bumping as the bison tilted upward.

Neither spoke, but they did not move away from each other.

---

The forest was barely waking when it happened.

Katara was at the creek, refilling the waterskins, when the air shifted, becoming heavy and charged with energy. The water in her hands trembled, rippling violently before she dropped it, turning toward camp.

Toph’s head snapped up from where she was seated, sharpening a rock into a throwing disc, bare feet pressing into the ground, reading the vibrations that surged toward them like a drumbeat.

“Katara!” Toph shouted, standing abruptly, eyes narrowing. “Someone’s coming.”

From the tree line, a blast of fire cut through the dawn mist, searing a tree trunk, sending birds screaming into the air.

Katara’s eyes widened. “Who is that?”

~~~

Katara sprinted toward the camp, water swirling around her arms, steam rising in the cool air. Toph was already there, feet apart, hands raised, the ground shivering beneath her touch.

“We need a wall!” Katara shouted.

Toph shot her a look, eyes hard. “Then stop yelling and help me make one!”

Together, Katara pulled water from the skins and creek, forming a shield as Toph thrust her hands downward; the earth rose in a jagged barricade in front of the camp, just as another fireblast exploded against it, sending shards of rock and sparks flying.

The boys scrambled to pack. Sokka and Zuko grabbed bedrolls and food, tossing them into Appa’s saddle. Aang leapt to help, eyes darting anxiously toward the battle.

“Go!” Katara shouted to them, her voice tight. “We’ve got this!”

“Don’t die, Sugar Queen!” Toph yelled, smirking even as she planted her feet deeper, sending a quake through the ground that split the earth under the approaching threat, knocking them off balance.

“Stop calling me that!” Katara retorted, swinging her arms in a wide arc, a whip of water slicing through a wave of fire sent by a blue-clad figure in the trees.

A young woman stepped out, smirking, lightning crackling at her fingertips.

“Such teamwork,” she purred, tilting her head. “Pity it won’t save you.”

Katara’s breath caught, fear flashing in her chest, but she squared her shoulders. Toph shifted beside her, silent, steady, ready.

Azula raised her hand.

“Katara, Toph, now!” Sokka shouted.

Aang dropped from above, air swirling around him, staff spinning as he deflected a burst of lightning the young woman launched, sending it cracking into the trees.

“Time to go!” Aang urged, reaching out.

Toph hesitated, turning her head toward the vibrations of their assailant’s steps, teeth gritted.

“Toph!” Katara yelled, grabbing her arm.

Toph exhaled sharply, pulling the earth down to collapse the barricade into a cloud of dust, buying them precious seconds as they sprinted for Appa.

They scrambled onto the saddle, Appa’s rumbling bellow shaking the forest as he lifted off. Below, Azula’s furious scream cut through the dawn, fire streaking after them as Appa climbed higher, wind whipping at their hair and clothes.

Katara’s chest heaved as she clutched the saddle, the adrenaline still burning in her blood. Toph sat beside her, breathing hard, fists still clenched, dirt under her nails.

They didn’t speak, the wind roaring around them as their latest camp spot disappeared beneath the clouds.

---

That night, they made camp in a high mountain pass, the wind cold, the fire crackling low.

Toph sat apart, head down, palms pressed into the earth, feeling the vibrations of her new surroundings, the steady breathing of the others, the crackle of the flames.

Katara was silent, meticulously checking their supplies, her jaw tight.

Toph exhaled, standing and dusting off her pants before stepping toward the fire, where Katara was working.

“Hey,” Toph said.

Katara didn’t look up. “What?”

A beat of silence.

“I’m sorry,” Toph said, voice rough. “For earlier. For… everything.”

Katara’s hands stilled, her shoulders softening, but she didn’t look up yet.

“I’m used to being alone,” Toph continued, shifting her weight. “I don’t… know how to do this team thing. I didn’t think I needed it.”

Katara raised her eyes—despite knowing she was blind—meeting Toph’s sightless gaze, seeing the honesty etched across her small, proud face.

“We all need it,” Katara said quietly.

Toph nodded, scuffing her foot against the ground. “Guess it wouldn’t be good to feel the world alone anymore.”

Katara’s lips quirked into a small smile. “No, it wouldn’t.”

A small silence settled between them, warm, the fire crackling softly.

“Come on,” Katara said, patting the ground beside her. “Help me sort what’s left.”

Toph hesitated, then dropped down beside her, their shoulders brushing as they worked, the mountains silent around them, the warmth of understanding and hard-won trust settling in like dawn.

---

The sky stretched endlessly and pale above them, Appa’s fur rippling in the high, cold wind. Below, the land rolled by in patchworks of forest and plains, rivers glinting like silver threads in the dawn light.

The group was quiet at first, exhaustion weighing heavily on their shoulders. Sokka lay on his back, staring at the clouds, arms crossed behind his head, while Aang guided Appa, his eyes distant, replaying the chaos that had just unfolded.

Katara sat near the saddle’s edge, clutching her waterskin, gaze locked on the horizon. Toph sat cross-legged, one hand resting on Appa’s fur.

Finally, Sokka exhaled loudly and sat up. “Okay, can we talk about the actual giant Komodo-Rhino in the room?”

Katara glanced back, tension in her jaw. “You mean the blue fire that almost roasted us alive?”

“Yeah, that,” Sokka said, waving a hand. “And the freaky girl in blue armor, wielding it, was trying to fry us.”

Toph snorted. “I felt her steps before she even showed herself. It was light, precise, and confident. She didn’t miss a beat.”

“She was fast,” Katara added, a shiver running through her despite the rising sun’s warmth. “And that lightning… it was like nothing I’ve seen.”

Aang frowned, tightening his grip on Appa’s reins. “She was aiming to kill us.”

Toph turned her head, sightless eyes narrowing. “Who was she? She moved like she owned the ground.”

Silence fell again, the wind whistling through Appa’s fur. All eyes turned to Zuko, who sat near the saddle’s back, arms wrapped around his knees; his head lowered, golden eyes shadowed.

“Zuko?” Katara pressed, her voice soft but firm.

He didn’t look up at first, the wind tossing strands of dark hair across his scarred face. When he finally did, his eyes were tired but steady.

“That was Azula,” Zuko said quietly, his voice barely rising over the wind.

“Azula?” Aang echoed, confusion in his wide gray eyes.

“My sister,” Zuko clarified, his jaw tightening.

Toph raised an eyebrow, shifting her weight. “Your sister throws lightning? That’s… nice.”

Sokka’s brows shot up. “Your sister is trying to kill us?”

Zuko’s gaze flickered, pain flashing across his features before he shut it down. “She’s always been… precise. She doesn’t leave things unfinished.”

Katara’s lips pressed into a thin line, reading between what he was saying. “And now she’s coming after us because of you.”

Zuko flinched slightly but nodded. “Yes.”

Aang’s voice was soft but shaking. “Why? Why would your own sister try to hurt you like that?”

Zuko looked away, his eyes fixed on the distant mountains as if searching for a memory that hurt to hold.

“When we were kids,” he began slowly, “Azula was always better at everything. Firebending. Strategy games. Winning Father’s approval. She was a prodigy; I was not.”

He swallowed, shifting, his hand clenching around a loose thread on Appa’s saddle.

“She was only nine when she started bending blue fire. Father praised her for it. She would… she would trap animals in the garden with it, just to watch them squirm. I tried to stop her once. She burned me, just a little, to show me she could.”

Toph’s head tilted, her mouth tightening. “Sounds like a real gem.”

“She liked to scare people,” Zuko continued, his voice distant, as if he were talking to himself. “And Father, he encouraged it. He called it strength.”

He looked up finally, his golden eyes haunted but steady.

“I want to help her, but Azula doesn’t stop to listen. If she’s found us, she’ll keep coming until she finishes what she started.”

A cold hush fell over the saddle. Even Appa’s usual groans seemed to occur quieter as they processed the weight of his words.

Katara’s hand tightened on her waterskin, her eyes softening. “You didn’t choose her, Zuko.”

“No,” he said, voice rough, “I love her, but she chose this, to prove she’s better by finishing whatever task our father gave her. Probably to finish what our family started.”

Aang closed his eyes, breathing deeply, the wind catching in his robes. “We’ll protect each other. No matter what.”

Sokka let out a breath, running a hand through his hair. “Great. So now we’ve got a lightning-throwing princess on our tail.”

Toph cracked her knuckles, a small, feral smile on her lips. “Let her try.”

Despite himself, Zuko huffed a small, humorless laugh. “She will.”

Katara reached out, touching Zuko’s arm gently, the contact brief but grounding.

“We’ll face her together,” she said, voice steady.

Zuko didn’t reply, but his shoulders lowered, tension bleeding out as he stared into the clouds, letting the promise sit in the air between them.

Chapter 9: Love is Helping Her with Grocery Shopping

Summary:

Mainly, just Katara and Zuko go to the nearest town to get more supplies and food. There's also airbending and a group trip to the bathhouse!

Notes:

furthering the pining & Zutara build-up ...

They flew until Appa let out a tired bellow echoing over a marshy coastline. Aang found a crescent of high ground near the reeds, hidden by a copse of wind-bent trees, guiding his companion to rest without sinking into mud.

The teenagers moved quietly, unstrapping supplies, rolling out blankets, and gathering driftwood. The sea wind smelled sharp and clean, cutting through the heaviness left by Azula’s pursuit.

Toph pressed her palms into the ground, feeling for vibrations, ensuring they were alone. “Nothing but bugs and a turtle-duck family nearby,” she muttered, settling down against a tree, letting out a breath.

Zuko helped Aang unpack the last bundles of rice, feeling the exhaustion in his bones, but grateful for the hush that came with stopping.

Katara moved to the water’s edge, pulling saltwater with practiced ease, filtering it into clean water they could drink. The waves rolled softly, a rhythm that calmed the edge in everyone’s shoulders.

For now, they were safe.

---

The stars spilled across the dark sky, the crash of waves a low heartbeat beneath the crackling of the small fire.

Zuko crouched near Appa’s side, using a damp cloth to wipe salt crust from his fur, careful around a small scrape on the bison’s flank. Katara joined him, her waterskin in hand, kneeling and pressing her palm to the wound.

A soft glow pulsed under her hand, and Appa let out a contented groan, leaning into her touch.

“He’s tougher than he looks,” Katara said softly.

Zuko nodded, brushing a strand of dark hair behind his ear. “He carries all of us, and never complains.”

They worked in silence for a moment, the night air cool against their skin, Appa’s warm breath rumbling around them. Katara glanced sideways, catching the shadows under Zuko’s eyes, the quiet exhaustion in the way he moved.

“You’re not alone in this, you know,” she said, rinsing her hands in the sand.

Zuko didn’t look at her right away, eyes focused on the stars reflected in the shallows. “I know,” he hummed, voice low, almost disbelieving.

She reached out, trying again, brushing a bit of Appa’s fur off his arm. “You don’t have to carry everything yourself.”

His eyes flickered to her, gold catching the firelight, and for a moment, everything the fear, the running, the weight of the Avatar Spirit inside him—fell away.

“Thank you,” he said.

They stayed close, Appa’s warmth against their backs, the hush between them as steady as the tide.

~~~~~

Later, as the teenagers gathered near the fire, Sokka began scratching lines in the sand with a stick.

“We can’t keep running in a straight line,” Sokka said, continuing the map he was drawing. “Azula seems too smart for that.”

Toph cracked her knuckles. “I can collapse a few trails, make it look like we doubled back.”

“I can leave footprints leading toward the marsh,” Katara added.

Aang frowned, thinking. “If I airbend from a higher current, I can blow leaves and dust to cover our tracks here when we leave.”

Zuko studied the map, tapping a finger near a ridge inland. “We can send false smoke signals here. She’ll think we’re making camp.”

Sokka grinned. “I like that! Now we’re thinking like a team.”

They spent the next few hours setting up the trails, Toph shifting the earth, Katara guiding small streams of water across misleading paths, Aang using airbending to scatter sand, and Zuko lighting small, smoky fires before stamping them out.

When they finally returned to camp, sweaty and tired, there was a quiet satisfaction among them, hoping to have outsmarted their opponent.

---

Zuko was up first, rolling his shoulders, the faint dawn light outlining the green ribbon tied around his wrist, a reminder of the promise to protect those who could not defend themselves. The morning air was cool against the warm embers of the campfire as he checked the small pouch of coins and the neatly folded list Sokka and Katara had written the night before.

He took a steadying breath, grounding himself, letting the quiet settle in his lungs before the day’s chaos began. Each inhale was crisp, tinged with the scent of pine and salt from the distant coast, the cold air steadying his thoughts. He rechecked the small pouch of coins, the weight reminding him how thin their margins were, how careful he needed to be. 

Katara appeared next to him, her hair loose and tumbling over her shoulders, her eyes still soft with sleep. She hugged her arms around herself against the cool air, a shiver rolling down her spine.

“Ready?” she asked quietly, voice still riddled with sleep.

Zuko nodded, slipping the coins into his belt pouch. “Yeah. Let’s go before the streets fill up.”

They walked side by side down the dirt road, grass crunching softly under their shoes, the forest giving way to Hécūn’s outskirts. The scent of damp pine eventually gave way to the aroma of warm bread, clay, and wood smoke as the cobbled streets came alive. 

~~~

The village was still waking; shopkeepers swept their steps, merchants lifted stall doors, carts rattled slowly over stone, and the faint clang of blacksmiths was in the distance. The smell of steamed buns, frying scallion pancakes, and salt fish drifted on the breeze.

At the first stall, a round woman with a scarf tied around her graying hair, who was stacking bundles of rice, turned and frowned, shaking her head at his price.

The woman sniffed, unimpressed. “The price I gave you is fair, young man. Don’t try to cheat me.”

Katara stepped forward, her hand resting lightly on Zuko’s arm, offering a small, warm smile. “Please, ma’am,” she said gently, “we’re travelers with children to feed. We can’t afford much, but we’ll remember your kindness.”

The woman’s eyes softened as she glanced from Zuko’s tense face to Katara’s patient gaze, and with a sigh, she dropped the price, muttering about stubborn boys and soft-hearted girls.

Zuko let out a breath, passing the coins with a deep, respectful nod, and Katara offered a quiet “thank you” before moving aside.

“We got this for a good price, you’re good at this,” she said as they stepped away, Zuko slinging the rice bundle over his shoulder.

Zuko shrugged. “You learn to stretch a coin when you’re on the run.”

Katara tilted her head, studying the faint tension around his eyes, the way he kept scanning alleyways as if expecting to be attacked.

He stopped suddenly, turning to look at her, a soft look in his eyes.

“Thank you. For… helping.”

Katara blinked, a strange feeling manifesting in her chest. “Of course.”

They stood there, the market slowly waking around them, a bubble of quiet suspended between the calls of vendors and the roll of cart wheels. Katara offered him a small, encouraging smile, and after a breath, Zuko returned it with a slight curve of his lips.

~~~

They moved through the market in easy rhythm: Zuko haggling, Katara softening the edges of the vendors, their words few but efficient, hands brushing occasionally as they passed coins or parcels, each contact sparking a warmth that settled in Zuko’s chest.

At a herbal stall, Katara picked up a bundle of lavender and mint, holding it to her nose, inhaling with a small, peaceful sigh.

“It reminds me of home,” she murmured.

Zuko paused, watching as her eyes softened and a brief smile pulled at her lips. “You must miss it,” he said quietly.

Katara turned the bundle over, fingers picking at the twine. “I do. But… I wouldn’t return to it just yet. Not with everything that’s happening.”

Zuko’s chest tightened, warmth pressing beneath his ribs, heavy but comforting. “Thank you,” he said again, voice softer this time.

Katara looked up, meeting his eyes, the air pressing around them, thick and warm despite the morning chill. For a moment, the noise of the market was distant, the world narrowing to the two of them standing close, herbs between them.

“Excuse me,” a voice interrupted. A middle-aged vendor with bright scarves draped over her arm stood nearby, eyes twinkling with amusement. “I couldn’t help but notice, are you two newlyweds? You make a sweet couple.”

Katara’s eyes widened. Despite not being visible, she felt a blush rising to her cheeks as she stammered, “Oh, um, no, we’re not—”

Zuko’s mouth opened, then closed, his ears visibly turning red as he tried to find words. “We’re just—”

The woman laughed lightly, waving a hand. “Ah, young love,” she said, moving on to the next customer, leaving a stunned silence in her wake.

Katara cleared her throat, clutching the herbs to her chest. “That was… awkward.”

Zuko rubbed the back of his neck, eyes darting away, a small, crooked smile tugging at his lips. “Yeah.”

As they started walking again, Katara’s hand brushed against his, and a brief but electric spark ran up Zuko’s arm and left a warmth there. She didn’t pull away, and neither did he, letting their hands brush again, and again, as they moved through the crowds, the scent of herbs and the warmth of the sun following them.

~~~

They stopped at a stall selling bundles of dried fish, seaweed, and salted vegetables. Zuko once again haggled over the price of fish, the vendor arguing fiercely in return until Katara leaned in with a soft, teasing smile, asking about the vendor’s family. The man’s face eased, and after a few minutes, he dropped the price, handing over the fish with a small nod.

“You’re scary good at this,” Zuko muttered, hoisting the tightly wrapped bundle onto his other shoulder.

Katara grinned. “You’re not so bad yourself, Lee.”

Zuko’s lips twitched, nearly a smile, as they moved to a stall with soap and thread. A child darted by, nearly knocking into them, and Zuko instinctively reached out, steadying Katara with a hand on her waist, the brief contact sending heat racing up both their spines. Their eyes met, breath catching, before Katara stepped back, adjusting the herbs in her arms.

“Thanks,” she said, her voice quiet.

“Anytime,” Zuko replied, clearing his throat as he shifted their bundles on both shoulders.

---

By the time they returned to Appa, the sun was climbing, warming the cobbled streets. Together, their arms and packs were full of rice, vegetables, seaweed, soap, and herbs. Zuko’s pouch was lighter but still held a few coins for emergencies.

Katara’s arms were full of parcels, a few stray sprigs of mint and lavender sticking out of the bundles. She glanced at Zuko as they walked, catching the faint, rare softness in his eyes, the faint curve of a real smile pulling at his lips.

The market noise faded behind them, replaced by the rustle of pine as they returned to the forest edge, Appa waiting with a low, welcoming rumble.

For a moment, as Katara handed off the herbs and Zuko adjusted the heavy bundles, their eyes met again, lingering in a quiet, unspoken moment. Neither said anything, but in that silence, something settled between them—soft, unhurried, and deeply felt.

They arrived at their camp with bundles of vegetables, rice, fish, herbs, and soap, Zuko unloading the packs while Katara began sorting them. Aang and Sokka returned from their own outing, having left shortly after them. Aang carried dried fruit and a few extra water pouches, while Sokka proudly carried sweet buns.

“Score!” Sokka announced, holding up the buns. “We deserve it after the week we’ve had.”

Toph smirked, crossing her arms. “You mean after I carried half your heavy butts through the last marsh crossing?”

Sokka stuck out his tongue, and Aang laughed, the tension of the past week easing slightly.

They organized their packs, with Zuko checking the coins and beginning to make rations, while Katara tucked the herbs and soap into the packs. For a moment, it felt like a small family, working in quiet coordination under the late morning sun, the salty breeze of the coast ruffling their hair as Appa munched on hay, a large bundle of fruits and vegetables waiting for him and Momo nearby.

~~~~~

Continuing their goal from the previous day, they walked to a different commercial area of the village, with another list of goods to purchase in mind.

Zuko adjusted his hair to cover the scar on his face while Katara secured her waterskin. “We’ll get some more rice and vegetables, maybe some additional dried fish; Sokka goes through it so quickly,” she muttered, eyes scanning the market as the scent of fish and salt filled the air.

“Don’t forget salt,” Sokka added, grinning. “And maybe some extra clothes if they have them.”

Toph rolled her eyes but smirked. “Maybe we can find a bathhouse that doesn’t leak mud. I’ll take it as a sign the universe doesn’t completely hate us.”

They split into pairs and moved through the crowded market lanes. Katara and Zuko bartered for seaweed, dried rice balls, fish, and salted vegetables, their teamwork now seamless, with quiet but confident words. Sokka haggled dramatically over clothes and satchels, while Aang helped an elderly vendor lift a basket, earning dried fruit as thanks.

Toph leaned against a post, her bare feet pressed into the ground, as she explored the area, feeling for a bathhouse to take her companions to later that day.

Amid the tension of the hunt, laughter returned in small, quiet moments. Zuko’s eyes crinkled as Katara teased him for nearly overpaying for rice balls, while Aang passed around bits of sweet dried plum, the tartness making them all laugh as they puckered.

---

They returned to Appa and Momo soon after in separate pairs, the soft clatter of wrapped bundles and clinking coin pouches breaking the forest’s hush. In a few minutes, Sokka was sprawled on a log, inspecting a half-eaten rice ball, while Aang, sitting cross-legged, fed the flying lemur handfuls of fruit and insects, patting the mouth of his sky bison as he ate some vegetables.

Toph was lying on her back in the grass, toes wiggling, and eventually her head tilted toward them as they approached.

“About time, shopping couple,” she teased, a grin flashing across her face.

Katara flushed. “We’re not—” she started, but the way Zuko stiffened, shifting a bundle on his shoulder, before they could respond, Sokka interrupted them, delighted by the surplus of food.

Sokka whooped when he saw the salted fish, practically snatching it from Zuko’s arms.

“Food, glorious food!” Sokka crowed, a broad smile on his face.

Aang laughed, catching a stray bundle of herbs Katara tossed him. “You’d think you hadn’t eaten in weeks.”

“Hey, rationing is hard,” Sokka retorted, puffing out his chest. “And fish is essential for my morale.”

“You think any kind of salted meat is essential for your morale,” Katara muttered, rolling her eyes as she started sorting vegetables into neat piles.

Zuko found himself smiling quietly as he unpacked the contents from their last two days, handing Katara bundles of herbs and dried seaweed. The mundane moment—sunlight dappled through the trees, Sokka and Aang bickering over how much rice should be stored and what could be eaten now, Toph beginning to flick pebbles at Momo to watch him scurry to catch them—felt peaceful.

---

The group settled into a quiet, working rhythm, laughter trickling back into the clearing. Aang and Sokka juggled rice balls between them for a moment before Sokka missed a catch, the food splattering across his face as Toph cackled.

“Nice aim, Twinkle Toes,” she said, smirking.

“I didn’t even throw it that hard!” Aang protested, but he was laughing, cheeks pink.

~~~

They started preparing lunch, Katara crouched by the small campfire, rolling rice into balls with salted fish or vegetables tucked inside, while a pot of seaweed soup simmered.

“Hand me that bundle of herbs?” she asked, glancing up.

Zuko passed it to her, then crouched down beside her, quietly reaching for the rice pot when it threatened to boil over.

“You don’t have to help, you know,” Katara said, her eyes flicking to him.

“I know,” Zuko replied, carefully stirring the soup so it wouldn’t burn. “But it feels nice to.”

She paused, watching him, noting the careful way he moved, the small furrow between his brows, the faint tension in his jaw.

“You’re always so… stern,” she observed softly.

He snorted, a faint, dry sound. “I don’t have a choice; someone has to be.”

Katara shaped another rice ball, her hands working, but her eyes on him. “Does it ever scare you? Being the Avatar? Having to carry all this?”

Zuko’s hand stilled on the spoon. A gust of wind shifted the smoke, and the air felt heavier for a moment.

“Yes,” he admitted, voice low, the word almost catching. “Every day.” He shook his head, continuing as a harsh exhale escaped him. “If I let go, people get hurt. I can’t afford to—”

“To be afraid?” She finished quietly. He nodded but didn’t elaborate further.

Katara swallowed, her hands pausing. “Me too. Well—not exactly like you, but… I’m scared sometimes. That I won’t be enough to keep everyone safe.”

Their eyes met, blue and gold, the crackle of the fire filling the silence.

“Fear isn’t weakness,” Zuko said lowly, the rasp of his voice made more apparent. “It’s just… proof that you care.”

Their eyes met, the steam rising between them. Zuko swallowed, throat tight. “I’m always afraid,” he admitted quietly, the words tasting like ash. “Like I said, I just can’t afford to show that outwardly. I was taught to swallow my fear unless I wanted to appear weak and fail to meet someone’s expectations.”

Katara’s gaze softened, and for a moment, she reached out, brushing a stray strand of hair from his eyes before pulling back quickly, her fingers burning from the touch.

“Fear doesn’t make you weak, Zuko,” she echoed. “It means you care.” 

He looked like there was more he wanted to say, but his gaze flicked down from Katara’s eyes to her lips. In turn, her lips parted, the softness in her gaze pulling something loose in him, something fragile. She looked at him, taking in details on his face before her eyes darted to his lips, and gave a smile as her shoulder leaned on his, which he returned.

They sat there, close, the fire crackling, the warmth between them layered and heavy, until Sokka’s loud “Is it ready yet?” shattered the moment, and Katara turned back to the pot with a flustered shake of her head.

---

After lunch, Aang and Zuko moved to a small clearing near the stream, the afternoon sun dappling through the trees.

“Remember,” Aang said, adjusting his staff, “airbending isn’t about force. It’s about yielding, moving around obstacles, letting go.”

Zuko closed his eyes, trying to mimic the slow, controlled breathing Aang demonstrated. His body felt stiff, his breath catching, fire coiling in his chest, impatient and hot.

Aang guided him through spiraling arm movements, each sweep meant to catch the air, redirect it, feel it rather than control it.

“Like this,” Aang said, turning gracefully, the wind lifting his robes slightly.

Zuko followed, his movement slower at first, until a gentle breeze swirled around his fingers as he moved.

“Good!” Aang grinned, “That’s it, Zuko. Don’t force it.”

Zuko exhaled, a small, disbelieving smile tugging at his lips before fading as he refocused, feeling the brush of air like a promise he couldn’t quite hold onto.

“Breathe in, let the world enter you. Breathe out, let yourself enter the world,” Aang instructed, his voice calm, steady, echoing the words of his mentors.

Zuko stood, feet bare in the grass, eyes closed, trying to mirror Aang’s gentle swaying movements, air moving around him with subtle currents.

“Airbending is about yielding, Zuko,” Aang continued. “It’s about letting go.”

Zuko’s brows furrowed, frustration evident, but he tried, shifting his weight, exhaling, letting the wind catch in his palms as he moved. His movements were clumsy at first, but as he exhaled, his shoulders lowered, and for a moment, the breeze shifted around him, catching in the ribbon at his wrist, lifting it gently.

Katara watched from a distance, a quiet pride blooming in her chest as she saw Zuko’s jaw relax, the wind playing with the ends of his hair.

Zuko stood barefoot on the damp grass, shirt sticking to his back as he moved through the stances Aang had shown him, focusing on the feeling of the air brushing against his skin.

Aang circled him, hands behind his back, an amused smile on his face. “You’re trying to push the air, Zuko. You can’t push it. You have to invite it.”

Zuko’s brow furrowed, gold eyes narrowing. “Invite it to do what?”

“To dance,” Aang replied simply, shrugging and spinning lightly, letting the breeze catch in his robes, fabric fluttering around him like a bellflower. “Airbending is about freedom, movement, letting yourself go.”

Zuko exhaled sharply, shifting back into a stance, trying to mimic Aang’s loose posture. “I don’t know how to let go.”

Aang’s smile softened, and he stepped closer, placing his hands over Zuko’s shoulders, gently pushing them down. “You seem to always brace for a fight,” he hummed. “Even when you’re standing still.”

Zuko’s jaw twitched. “I was raised to brace for a fight.”

“I guessed as much,” Aang said gently, stepping back. “But air is not about bracing. It’s about adapting.”

Zuko closed his eyes, inhaling, letting the cool, damp breeze slide over his skin. He tried to move with it, shifting his weight, loosening the tension in his shoulders.

For a moment, he felt a gentle lift, the air curled around his fingers and circled his arms, shifting his clothes a bit more forcefully.

Aang beamed. “That’s it! Did you feel that?”

Zuko opened his eyes, a slight, cautious nod. “Yeah. I did.”

Aang smiled at the older teenager, sitting cross-legged on a nearby rock. “Air wants to move. It wants to flow. It’s patient but will flow without additional help.”

Zuko’s brows drew together, thoughtful. “Fire isn’t patient. If you’re not careful, it devours everything in its path.”

Aang’s eyes softened, nodding. “That’s true. Air can destroy, too, in its own way. I remember one of my friends telling me fire is about power, drive, and passion; it’s alive because you feed it. On the other hand, air is alive because it wants to be; it just exists.”

Zuko stepped back, rubbing his wrist absently where the green ribbon fluttered in the breeze. “So how do you—so it doesn’t control or consume you?”

Aang tilted his head. “Well, no. I let it guide me instead of trying to master it. Mastery of airbending isn’t about control. It’s about trust.”

“Trust,” Zuko echoed, tasting the word, heavy on his tongue.

Aang stood, moving into a simple airbending form, demonstrating how his body swayed with the breeze and how his feet glided lightly over the grass.

Zuko watched, then took a deep breath, moving to follow, letting his feet slide instead of stomping, letting his arms curve instead of cut.

The breeze shifted, catching the ends of Zuko’s hair, lifting it off his forehead. For a moment, the air around him felt alive, welcoming.

“You’re getting it,” Aang encouraged, smiling widely.

Zuko exhaled, a faint smile pulling at the corner of his lips. “It feels… different.”

“It should,” Aang said, stepping forward. “I read that firebending comes from your breath, your drive. Airbending comes from your breath, too, but not from releasing it calmly instead of forcing it out.”

---

Afterward, they sat on a fallen log, sweat cooling on their skin.

“Fire needs fuel,” Zuko said quietly, watching the leaves rustle overhead. “In nature, it needs wood, air, something to burn, something to consume.”

Aang nodded, swinging his legs. “Air needs nothing. It just is.”

“Fire is alive,” Zuko countered, “but it’s hungry, constantly looking for fuel. If you’re not careful with how you use it, it can continue to take until there’s nothing left.”

“And air gives,” Aang said softly. “It fills spaces, it carries seeds, it brings rain. But when it’s angry, it can take everything too.”

They sat in silence, the breeze shifting through the clearing.

Zuko let his fingers drift through the air, feeling the way it curled around them. “So to learn airbending, I have to let go of the hunger and the need to control.”

“Yes,” Aang said, his voice light but earnest. “And I think you’ll get there sooner than you think.”

Zuko glanced at him. “Why?”

Aang’s eyes sparkled. “Because you’re trying and you’re already making a lot of progress.”

---

Later, the clearing was filled with soft laughter and the swish of fabric as Aang guided Zuko through another series of movements.

“Loosen your shoulders, Zuko,” Aang called, demonstrating a sweeping motion that sent a small gust of wind tumbling through the grass.

“I am loose,” Zuko grumbled, his arms rigid as steel as he attempted to mirror Aang’s movements.

“You look like a stiff tree branch,” Toph called from her seat on a rock, feet kicked up, smirking as she tilted her head toward the vibrations of their steps. “I can tell you’re tense, and I can’t even see you,” she added, grinning.

Sokka, who was sitting cross-legged next to Toph with a piece of dried meat sticking out of his mouth, snickered. “If we ever run out of firewood, we can just use Zuko’s posture.”

Zuko shot them both an annoyed look, then sighed, rolling his shoulders before trying again. This time, he focused on the release Aang spoke of, letting his breath guide him instead of the tension in his spine.

Aang clapped, beaming. “That’s it, Zuko! Let it move through you.”

Zuko exhaled, the air swirling faintly around his hands, brushing his hair away from his face. For a moment, a small, surprised smile crossed his lips before it quickly faded into his usual guarded calm.

Katara, who was hanging up damp clothes near Appa, paused to watch. She felt her chest tighten, a quiet warmth sparking beneath her ribs.

Toph’s smirk widened. “Not bad, Sparky.”

Sokka nudged Toph, “We’re making progress. Soon he’ll be so zen he’ll let me have the last rice ball.”

“Don’t push your luck,” Zuko shot back, but there was no heat in it. 

---

Later, Katara found herself kneeling beside Appa, brushing out bits of grass and smoothing his fur while Zuko helped refill their water skins. She stole glances at him, watching how his movements were less sharp.

“You’re getting better,” she said, tying off a skin and setting it aside.

Zuko glanced at her, brow furrowing before softening. “It’s not easy,” he admitted, his voice low. “Learning to, um, let go. I’m not even sure what I should let go of.”

Katara smiled faintly, lightly tossing some hair over her shoulder. “I’ve learned the hard way that letting go doesn’t always mean giving up control. Sometimes it just means trusting yourself and trusting those around you.”

He met her eyes briefly, a slight smile on his face.

“Thank you,” he said, voice almost a whisper, before returning to the task at hand, the tips of his ears flushed pink.

~~~~~

That evening, the Gaang sat in a circle, a small fire crackling in the middle as dusk settled over the forest.

“Azula has to be close,” Toph announced, cracking her knuckles. “I know we slowed her down a little, but we can’t count on that singular path working long-term.”

Sokka frowned, drawing a rough map in the dirt. “We need to slow her down, give ourselves some time and space between us.”

“We can keep creating false trails,” Aang suggested. “Appa can fly low over one direction while we head another way on foot for a bit, leaving tracks in different directions.”

Katara nodded, “If we’re careful, we can buy ourselves at least another week.”

Zuko’s jaw tightened, eyes focused on the small flames dancing in the fire pit. “Maybe, but sooner or later she’ll catch on; she won’t stop chasing us.”

Katara reached over, touching his wrist lightly, grounding him. “And we won’t stop either.”

---

The following day, it was late afternoon when they left Hécūn, packs newly filled and Appa resting in a hidden cove. The air was thick with salt, the breeze cool, but everyone was sticky with sand and sweat from the supply run.

“Alright, listen up, especially you, Sparky and Water Girl,” Toph declared, standing with her hands on her hips. “You all smell like Appa’s fur after rain. We’re going to the bathhouse.”

“To put it simply: We stink,” Toph said, cracking her knuckles.

“You stink,” Sokka shot back.

“No, you stink,” she retorted, grinning, before pointing toward the village’s upper street. “I felt a natural hot spring over there earlier.”

Katara looked at Zuko and Aang, then back to Toph, eyebrows raised. “A bathhouse?”

Sokka groaned. “Do we have to? Public baths are weird.”

Toph grinned wickedly. “Don’t worry, it’s only co-ed, but hey, you get used to it.”

Zuko looked mortified, but Aang brightened. “A bath sounds great!”

“Please let’s go,” Sokka groaned, “if I have to sleep next to any of you tonight without washing, I will voluntarily jump off Appa.”

They walked together up the winding path, their shoes crunching on the gravel, passing painted fences and gardens where wild sea herbs grew. Zuko walked quietly near the back, his gaze on the ground, while Katara stayed near him, stealing small glances when she thought he wouldn’t notice.

They trudged into Hécūn’s bathhouse, steam rolling from the open windows. The baths were divided only by low screens, and the mineral-scented steam clung to the air.

~~~

The bathhouse was a weather-worn building of dark wood and smooth river stones, with plumes of steam rising from vents along the tiled roof. Inside, the scent of cedar and herbal oils hit them, comforting and warm.

A kindly woman at the counter blinked at the sight of the ragtag group.

“We’re, um, together,” Aang offered brightly, hoping what he said didn’t come off weirdly.

The woman’s eyes crinkled with amusement. “Ah, travelers. You’ll want the private room.”

Toph smiled politely, nodding her head slightly. “Yes, please. Thank you for your service.”

Zuko coughed, turning slightly pink, while Katara elbowed Toph lightly as she paid with a small pouch of coins.

They were led down a hall with wooden slats and paper lanterns, the floor warm under their feet, to a large private chamber where steam rolled from a natural hot spring pool edged with smooth stone. A bamboo screen offered a place to leave clothes and towels, and a small table held buckets, soap, and herbal oils.

~~~

They set their packs aside, each grabbing a towel, the awkwardness creeping in as they prepared to undress.

“Eyes up, Snoozles,” Toph warned Sokka with a smirk.

Sokka yelped, tossing a towel over his head in mock offense. “I have standards , you know. Besides, I grew up with Katara.”

Katara rolled her eyes before turning her back politely, untying her tunic and slipping out of her clothes, until only her wrappings were present, then wrapping herself quickly in a towel and moving to the edge of the pool. Even with her hair in its singular braid, it tumbled down her back, strands dark with dampness as she stepped further into the steaming water.

Zuko’s movements were quiet, precise, folding his clothes neatly before ensuring his wrappings were secure, wrapping himself in a towel, and slipping into the pool with minimal splash. His golden eyes flicked to Katara, quickly away, the steam hiding the faint flush at his ears.

Aang, already stripped down to his wrappings, went to the other end, eyes closing in satisfaction.

“Ahh, that’s the stuff,” he sighed, floating on his back.

Toph stomped over, getting Sokka to help her into the water, before tossing her towel aside, sliding into the water with a pleased sigh. “Now this is living.”

~~~

They all found places around the warm pool, leaning against the smooth edges as the heat loosened their tired muscles. Katara sank up to her shoulders, her eyes closing briefly, as the warmth soothed away the tightness in her back.

Sokka, hair sticking to his forehead from the steam, grinned. “Okay, who knew hot water was this good after living in the forest?”

“I did,” Katara retorted, her eyes still closed, but a small smile slipped through.

Aang floated by on his back, eyes closed, arms spread. “Air Temples had bathhouses, but they weren’t this hot. This is amazing.”

Toph stretched out with a blissful sigh, tapping her fingers against the stone. “Yup, this makes up for all your snoring.”

“I do not snore,” Sokka protested.

“You totally do,” Katara and Toph said in unison, then shared a look that ended in a soft huff of shared laughter.

~~~

Katara shifted closer to Zuko, who sat with his knees up, arms draped over them, steam curling around his face.

“You look like you’re thinking too hard,” she said softly, her voice barely above the hush of water.

Zuko’s eyes flicked to her, then back to the water’s rippling surface. “Just… it’s quiet here. Easy to forget what’s coming, I feel like I have to stay on edge.”

Katara watched him, the way the steam clung to his hair, the soft flicker of gold in his eyes in the lantern light. “You can let yourself rest. Just for now.”

His jaw worked, as if arguing with himself, before he nodded once. “I’m trying.”

She lifted a hand, letting it float on the surface, near his, the steam hiding the faint tremble in her fingers. “You don’t have to try alone, you know.”

His eyes softened, meeting hers, the moment stretching between them until a splash broke it.

Aang, laughing, had dunked Sokka, who came up spluttering. “This is a sacred place of relaxation , Aang!”

Toph cackled from the other end. “Never thought I’d agree with Snoozles, but he’s right. Keep the splashing to a minimum, Twinkle Toes!”

Zuko and Katara broke into small, reluctant smiles, a soft warmth between them that lingered even as they turned to watch the others.

~~~~~

As the bath stretched on, the group relaxed fully for the first time in days.

Gradually, Zuko sank into the water, the heat soothing the knots in his shoulders. Katara entered moments later, her braid pinned up, steam glistening on her collarbones. She settled across from him, trying not to meet his gaze as the water lapped gently around them.

Toph splashed water in Sokka’s face, laughing, while Aang floated on his back, letting the warmth soak into his bones.

Despite the awkwardness, laughter returned—Sokka making fish faces, Toph teasing Zuko about scowling even while relaxing, Katara rolling her eyes but smiling, and Aang humming as he made tiny air currents to swirl the steam around like clouds.

It was the most normal they had felt in weeks.

Katara tilted her head back, hair floating around her like ink in the water, eyes closed as she let herself feel the heat, the steam, the faint safety of being together.

Zuko closed his eyes, letting the warmth seep into the aches from training, from carrying the weight of the Avatar’s spirit. His breathing slowed, the memory of Katara’s words anchoring him.

You don’t have to try alone.

The tension in his shoulders eased, leading his shoulders to drop minutely in height.

~~~

When they finally stepped out, wrinkled and flushed, the evening air felt like silk on their skin. They dressed in clean, warm clothes, laughter and soft conversation following them as they walked back toward Appa under a sky streaked with the last pink of dusk.

The world still held danger. Azula was still coming.

But for this small slice of time, under the stars and the quiet hush of the night, they were simply young, alive, and together.

Notes:

Hécūn (河村) means river village in Mandarin, very much on the nose, but I didn’t want to keep calling it “the river village.”
If it seems unrealistic that they don’t have a lot of money but are buying all these things, it’s because 1. Pakku and the NWT ensured the teenagers were well stocked, and 2. With Katara and Zuko more in charge of the money, they’ll give the others a smaller amount of money to spend, so it can be budgeted better

Chapter 10: Light in the Dark

Summary:

(alternate titles: Between Sunlight and Shadows & The Desert’s Secrets, the Cave’s Heart)

Notes:

i was hunched over a map of the ATLA world for at least 3 days trying to figure out where I wanted them to go and how it was going to tie into the plot points I wanted to meet...

The desert was a living furnace.

Each step sank into burning sand that hissed and whispered, as if it were laughing at them. The horizon swayed and blurred with heat, bending light into cruel mirages. Even Appa’s legs drooped into the sand, his fur dulled by grit and exhaustion.

The dunes stretched endlessly in all directions, molten waves of sand that shimmered and distorted in the relentless sun. Every step felt heavier than the last. Zuko trudged at the front, map in one hand, his water pouch already sagging and light.

“See?” he rasped, his lips cracked. “Just as the parchment said. The Library of Wan Shi Tong should be right here. The greatest collection of knowledge in the world… in the middle of nowhere.”

Aang rubbed the back of his neck. “You sure you didn’t, I don’t know, misread it? Because right now I see about a thousand dunes and a very cranky badger-mole.”

Behind them, Toph dragged her bare feet through the sand, grimacing. “Sand is the worst . It’s hardly solid, and it’s so hot, I think I heard a buzzard wasp frying 20 minutes ago. My feet are burning too! I might as well be walking blind.”

“You are blind,” Sokka muttered, then sighed. “Sorry. Dehydration’s making me cranky. Are there any cacti around?”

Katara glanced sideways at Zuko. His golden eyes scanned the horizon, narrowed, brooding. The others thought he was only looking for the Library. Katara suspected differently; it’s been a week since they last ran into his sister. Azula was out there. Somewhere. 

When Toph finally felt the hollow echo beneath her feet, she stopped abruptly. “There,” she said, tapping the ground with her heel. “Big, hollow space underground. That could be your library.”

Aang whooped. “Knew it wasn’t a wild goose chase!”

“Finally,” Sokka groaned, shielding his eyes with one hand. The Water Tribe teen practically fell to his knees and began digging with both hands until the sand caved inward, revealing the sun-bleached tip of a tower. “If we didn’t find that library or shade soon, I thought I was going to melt into a puddle of meat and sarcasm.”

“You’d still talk,” Toph called out, her voice dry as the air around them.

Zuko kept looking at the library, or what was left of it. The desert’s heat clung to him, soaking into the scar on his face until it throbbed painfully, but he didn’t slow. “Wan Shi Tong’s library is rumored to be one of the last relics of a spirit continually here in the mortal world. It’s a treasure trove of knowledge, and it should give us a way to end the war before Sozin’s Comet comes.”

Aang stepped closer to Zuko and Katara, looking at what was left of the library. “If this spirit really has all the world’s knowledge, it could help with more than just the comet. We could—” He hesitated, eyes darting toward Zuko. “— you could learn things from your past lives or parts of history that the Fire Nation would never want you to know.”

The tower rose like a broken fang from the dunes. Carvings—half-eroded by wind—spoke of a forgotten age. When they entered, the air turned cool and dry, heavy with dust and knowledge.

~~~

Before they could get closer, the vulture-like spirit Wan Shi Tong glided toward them, eyes narrowed at the arriving travelers. His wings stretched like night over the landscape, his voice deep as thunder.

“I know who you are,” the spirit said to Zuko, his voice echoing. “The Avatar who carries the memory of fire in his blood. Are you here for pure knowledge, or knowledge to destroy?”

Zuko bowed deeply, forcing the words past his throat. “I’m here to end the war. I seek guidance from past conflicts to inform my approach. If that means disarming the Fire Nation’s warmonging machine on itself and the other nations, then yes.”

“You… humans,” the owl intoned. “You come to steal my knowledge, to misuse it for your petty wars.”

Everyone froze. Katara stepped forward quickly, her tone steady, respectful. “Great Spirit, we only wish to learn. The world is suffering, and knowledge is the only way to heal it.”

Wan Shi Tong’s golden eyes flicked from her to Zuko. He seemed to weigh the boy’s fire-scarred face, the set of his jaw.

“You may look,” he finally said, though suspicion dripped from every word. “But remember and be warned—those who seek power for destruction will find only ruin. Knowledge is not a weapon to be mistreated; it can be wielded harmfully by those with impure intentions.”

---

The desert heat shimmered around them as they stumbled toward the tower half-buried in the dunes. From the outside, the library was nothing but a spire of pale stone, weathered and leaning, an ancient sentinel defying the endless sands. But as a fox spirit guided them down, deeper and deeper into its cavernous interior, the world shifted.

The air grew cool. Dust lay thick on shelves that reached far beyond the eye, ladders leaning against stacks carved directly into the sandstone walls. Books, scrolls, clay tablets, ancient tomes bound with cords of leather, every form of record stretched into the dimness, glowing faintly in the lantern-light.

~~~

Zuko trailed his fingers along the spines of volumes so old they seemed to hum with history. Most bore unfamiliar scripts, Air Nomad symbols curling beside crisp Fire Nation calligraphy, Water Tribe runes scrawled next to Earth Kingdom seal marks. He paused when he found a Fire Nation scroll half-crumbling on a lower shelf. Gently, he unrolled it, only to find a meditation text from centuries before Sozin, talking not of conquest, but of balance.

The words clawed at something inside him. His people had not always been this way. The Fire Nation had not always been a weapon.

He rolled the scroll back, hands trembling, as if Wan Shi Tong himself might sense the treason in his heart.

~~~

Katara gravitated toward shelves wrapped in blue-tinted parchment. She pulled down a Water Tribe binding so old its leather was gray and fraying. As she skimmed, her breath caught. 

Maps of currents, drawn by long-forgotten navigators, detailed routes across the polar seas. She found sketches of healing techniques she had only half-learned from her time in the Northern Tribe, notes on rare herbs and poultices from the southern reaches, knowledge her people had lost in raids and fires.

Her fingers shook. The Southern Water Tribe was gone, scattered, diminished to almost nothing. But here, they still lived, in ink and memory. Searching for spare parchment and a quill, she had to find a way to bring this knowledge to the surface.

Zuko noticed her biting her lip, eyes brimming, and quietly let her have the space.

~~~

Sokka darted like a child in a candy shop, devouring every shelf he could reach. He found a massive tome of star charts, inked with glowing paint that still shimmered faintly when he tilted the pages to the lantern light. He flipped to a constellation map and grinned.

“These are calendars, navigation tools! It even marks lunar eclipses centuries in advance—” His words trailed off, a spark lighting in his eyes as he realized what that could mean for their war.

He looked back at the others, almost afraid to voice it—a weakness. He had to look deeper and see if it was possible.

~~~

Aang wandered the aisles in near-reverence, feet padding softly. Every breath felt like stepping backward into the lives of those who had come before him. He stopped before a towering column of scrolls written in Air Nomad script. His hands trembled as he touched the faded lettering.

He unfurled one and, for the first time since waking from the iceberg, saw the handwriting of his people. It was a treatise on sky bison care, advice for grooming fur, soothing them with songs, and recipes for their favorite fruit pastes.

Aang’s eyes blurred with tears. He had forgotten the lullabies written there, forgotten the taste of the fruit paste mentioned, forgotten…so much.

---

The deeper they wandered, the heavier the weight of history seemed to press down. None of them left untouched: their roots, their losses, their longings. It was a reminder of what had been taken from each of them.

Rows upon rows of scrolls, tomes, and ancient tablets stretched farther than the torchlight could reach. The shelves themselves seemed alive, curving like ribs into the vaulted ceiling. The silence was sacred, broken only by their footsteps.

“Whoa,” Aang breathed. “It’s like… the whole world is in here.”

Sokka immediately began pulling scrolls from shelves, skimming, discarding, muttering to himself. “Water Tribe navigation charts, Ba Sing Se court records, Fire Nation treatises on agriculture…boring, boring—aha! Wait, no, still boring.”

“Focus,” Zuko said, his voice echoing softly. “We’re looking for anything that can help end the war.” 

---

They scattered among the shelves. Aang drifted toward old airbender scrolls, reverently touching each one. Katara moved beside Zuko, brushing dust from brittle maps. Every so often, their fingers felt over the parchment, and each time she’d pull back a little too quickly.

Hours passed as they scoured the archives. Dust clung to Katara’s hair, scrolls piled around Sokka like fallen leaves, and Zuko lit torches as they burned low. 

It was Sokka who found it—a black-ink solar calendar marking the estimated dates of an eclipse that would strip every firebender of their power for a few minutes. 

“The Day of Black Sun,” he whispered. “A solar eclipse. It’s not for roughly a year, but on that day… the Fire Nation’s firebenders will be powerless. We can strike them and they won’t even see it coming!”

Despite the teenager’s whisper, Wan Shi Tong’s voice cut through the room like a harrowing blade. “So you came for weapons after all.”

The words hit like a hammer. Even Zuko’s breath caught. While the young Avatar understood, it wasn’t just knowledge—it was a weapon, the kind of chance that could change everything.

But Wan Shi Tong’s screech shattered the moment. The owl’s wings unfurled, feathers raining dust like ash.

The ground lurched as sand began to pour through the cracks in the walls.

“You plot to use my knowledge for war!” he roared. “You dishonor my library!”

“Run!” Zuko shouted, grabbing Katara’s wrist as shelves toppled and the floor trembled.

“No—Aang!” Katara twisted free, looking back. The young airbender was still tucking scrolls into his arms.

“I’ve got them!” Aang leaped forward, airbending himself across the room to land beside them. Safely accounted for, all of them bolted upward as the library groaned and buckled.

---

They fled through corridors that seemed to twist and rearrange. Sokka clutched the scroll, while Aang swept air to clear pathways.

Above ground, Toph stood braced in the sand, arms straining as she held Appa steady against the sinking earth. “Hurry up!”

Toph, still at the surface, felt the entire structure shifting beneath her feet. Panic surged through her. She slammed her palms down, trying to hold the tower steady. The effort ripped the skin from her hands, the sand biting and burning as she fought to keep the library from swallowing her friends alive.

Inside, the walls folded like paper. Wan Shi Tong’s screech rattled their bones, urging them to run faster from the impending doom.

“Come on!” Katara cried. “Toph’s holding it—move!”

They burst out into the blinding sun, tumbling into the sand. 

They scrambled out of the tower, fighting against the angry spirit behind them and the rapidly falling sand in front of them. 

As they neared the top of the tower, nearing the quickly shrinking exit, Aang glanced back, guilt etched in his face. “We destroyed a piece of history…”

“No,” Zuko yelled back. “It would have been buried sooner or later, especially by people with far worse intentions than us; we were one of the last people to see some of its glory. That’s what matters.”

While well-intended, the relief was short-lived. A dark shadow swept across the dunes.

---

The buzzard-wasps came first, wings like knives, screeching. But behind them loomed something worse—an immense, slavering beast, its pincers snapping: a monstrous serpent-creature quickly being trailed by sandbenders.

Appa bellowed, rearing in terror.

Appa thrashed against the ropes the sandbenders hurled, his bellows echoing across the desert.

“Appa!” Aang’s voice broke, raw and panicked. He lunged forward, but Zuko grabbed him by the shoulder, yanking him back.

“You’ll be dragged under, too!”

The sand churned, the beast shrieked, and the storm swallowed Appa’s massive form. His final cry split the sky—then was gone.

Silence, except for the collapse of the tower sinking fully beneath the dunes.

Toph crumpled into the sand, hands bloody. Katara fell to her knees, tears streaking dust from her face. Sokka just stared at the empty horizon, hollow. Aang screamed Appa’s name into the desert until his throat tore.

And Zuko…stood frozen, guilt crushing his chest. He was the Avatar. He was supposed to protect them, protect the world. But in one desperate, blinding moment, he had failed them all.

---

Aang dropped to his knees, fingers clawing the hot sand like he could dig Appa back out. “No—no, no, no, no—” The words came out broken, too small for the cavern of his grief. Appa was not just a bison. He was home. He was family. He was the last link to a people already gone.

His body trembled, air crackling around him, bending wild without his consent. The sky seemed to shrink, the dunes bending as if they might collapse inward.

Katara’s hands found his shoulders, grounding him, but her voice was distant, muffled under the roar in his ears. “We’ll find him, Aang. I promise. We’ll find him.”

But he couldn’t breathe.

Toph stood apart, fists clenched in the folds of her tunic. She had felt them take him. Felt the sand shiver with the scrabbling of claws, the slam of rope, the beating of Appa’s heart, panicked and strong until it was dragged farther and farther away.

And she hadn’t stopped it.

“It was the sand,” she spat, hating how thin her voice sounded. “I can’t see in it. They came, and I—” She cut herself off, biting down on the tremor. Father always said, no one wanted excuses.

She waited for them to lash out. She almost wanted it.

But when she risked a glance, Aang wasn’t looking at her. He was breaking. And Katara—Katara only tightened her hold on him.

It didn’t make the guilt smaller. It made it crush harder.

~~~

Sokka wiped sweat off his brow, pacing in jagged steps. The scroll still clutched in his hand felt heavier than any weapon. “We had it. The library. The knowledge that could end this war —and now Appa’s gone! We’re stuck in the middle of nowhere with no water, no food, no—” His voice cracked, and he kicked at the sand, which only swallowed the blow whole.

He hated it. He hated being helpless. He hated watching everyone crack apart while the sun bore down on them like a punishment.

He hated himself most of all for thinking, Appa’s gone, but at least I still have this.

~~~

The heat pressed on Katara’s skull, but she forced her voice steady, steady for them when she was falling apart inside.

“Yelling won’t bring him back.” She looked at Sokka, at Toph, at Zuko, finally back to Aang, still trembling in her hands. “We need to move. We can’t stay here—we’ll cook alive.”

Her words landed like water on hot stone, hissing but not sinking in. But she repeated them anyway, every time the silence thickened. If she let go—if she let her grief show—everything would crumble.

She caught Zuko’s eyes once, and there was something there: not anger, not even the usual smoldering pride, but shame. And it scared her more than his fire ever had.

~~~

Zuko trailed behind as they finally staggered forward into the endless gold. The sun baked his scalp, his tongue stuck dry in his mouth, but none of that mattered.

Because this was his fault.

He hadn’t been fast enough, sharp enough. He’d seen the fox spirits watching, felt Wan Shi Tong’s gaze judging him, and he had still chased knowledge like a weapon. He had pulled them into this library of ghosts and dragged them into its wrath.

And now Appa was gone.

---

The sun was merciless. Every grain of sand burned against their skin, every breath seared dry in their throats. The library had vanished into the dunes, swallowed as though it had never existed. 

They stood in a loose, broken circle. No one spoke at first. Only the whine of wind across the dunes, only the silence of something irreplaceable torn away. The dunes stretched endlessly and mercilessly, shifting with each hot breath of wind. The sun pressed down like a physical weight, bleaching the world into gold and white—no Appa. No shade. Hardly any water left worth counting.

They stumbled across the sand in silence until the silence itself cracked.

---

Sokka was first. “This is hopeless!” His voice was raw, cracked from thirst. “We had a plan. We had Appa. And now—” He jabbed a finger at Toph, eyes alight in anger. “You let him get taken!”

“I did not!” Toph shouted, voice rising from the accusation, her own throat hoarse. Her fists trembled, burning from the brunt of the work she endured. “I couldn’t see them, it’s all sand! Don’t you get it? I’m blind out here!”

“I don’t care! This is your fault!” This time, it was Aang who stepped in, continuing the assault, voice cracking from rage and helplessness. “You say you’re the greatest Earthbender in the world, so you could’ve stopped them! You could’ve held onto him—”

Toph’s shoulders jerked as if struck. “I was holding up an entire library!” Her voice cracked, like she was on the verge of tears. “I can’t see in the sand, and yet I was holding up your asses! Do you get that? The moment I let go, you’d all be buried alive!”

“You should’ve done something—!” Aang interjected, stepping forward before Sokka’s arm kept him from walking towards the young teenager.

Katara stepped between them, lightly pushing them away from each other. “Enough! Fighting won’t bring him back.” Her tone cracked with exhaustion, but she remained firm. “We need to stay together if we’re going to survive this and get Appa back.”

Her words fell like drops of water on parched stone: absorbed, but not enough.

The argument died, but the resentment lingered, a palpable heat thicker than the sun-baked air. Sokka turned away first. He began to scratch lines in the sand with his finger, his frustration channeled into meaningless patterns. 

Aang, meanwhile, just stood there, his gaze fixed on the empty horizon. His arms hung limp at his sides, the air around him still and heavy. His grief was a wound that bled silently; while he was looking at lost relics of the Air Nomads, he couldn’t even protect his best friend, and the realization left him reeling. He couldn’t bring himself to look at Toph; in his mind, she had failed just as he had.

Toph, left in the wake of their silence, felt the sting of their betrayal sharper than the sun on her skin. She had saved their lives! She had held up a massive collapsing library for them, and this was her thanks. 

Used to the ground, awake in her emotion, the stillness of the sand beneath her felt alien, and the shifting grains remained a reminder that her usual connection was gone. She stomped her foot, a frustrated huff leaving her throat. They don’t get it, she thought, her throat tight. She wrapped her arms around herself, turning away from the rest of the group and stewing in the negative emotions that refused to leave her.

Katara watched them all, a chasm of silence growing wider with every passing second. She felt a familiar weight on her shoulders, the burden of holding them together. But what was she supposed to do now? The water in their pouches was nearly gone, the sun was relentless, and the one thing that kept them moving forward— hope —had vanished with Appa.

The desert didn’t care about their fighting, their accusations, or their pain. It only cared about their survival, and right now, they were doing a terrible job of it.

~~~

The argument, a firestorm of accusations, had burned itself out, leaving only a smoldering resentment that radiated from the others. Zuko stayed a step behind them all, quiet. The words tore at him, each accusation twisting into his chest like a blade.

I should’ve seen it coming.

He had been deep in his own search, deep in the Fire Nation's history scrolls, drawn in by the promise of answers. He had let himself linger too long, hungry for scraps of a past where his people had not been conquerors; they were healers, scholars, as astute in spirituality as the Air Nomads had been. Knowledge had cost them Appa. His indulgence had cost them everything.

I should’ve been faster.

He remembered the Fire Nation scroll he’d touched in the library, its characters preaching balance instead of conquest. And yet here he was, unbalanced, unable to save the only creature tethering Aang to his lost world. He was the Avatar. He was supposed to protect them. The irony was a bitter taste in his mouth.

When Sokka’s voice rose again, gearing up to complain into the hot void, Zuko snapped. “Shut up, Sokka, enough! Do you think I don’t feel it? That it doesn’t eat at me every step we take in this cursed desert? I should’ve protected him. I should’ve protected all of you.”

The silence that followed was heavy as they took in the words from the oldest in the group.

Katara and Toph’s eyes were wide, Sokka just stared, his mouth slightly agape, and Aang’s head snapped up, his own grief momentarily forgotten as he turned to face Zuko. Their own despair had so consumed them that they hadn’t even considered his.

It seemed to be a pattern within the group: ignoring the pain of others because they were so deeply entrenched in their own wounds, a glaring reminder to each of them that they were only teenagers, far removed from the help or guidance of someone much older than they. 

Zuko looked away, his jaw tight. He hadn’t meant to say it, but the guilt had quickly become a living thing, a monster with sharp teeth that gnawed at his insides. He was the one who had ushered them into this desert. He was the one who had brought them to the library. He was the one who had failed.

He took a shaky breath, the dry air burning his lungs. "I was distracted," he admitted, his voice barely a whisper. "I was so focused on finding answers about myself that I forgot about you. I...I am so sorry."

The words hung in the air, a fragile offering. Aang took a step forward, his expression softening as the full weight of Zuko's confession settled over him. "Zuko," he said, his voice raw. "It wasn't your fault."

But it was. Zuko knew it was. The world wasn’t a fair place, and sometimes, the price for knowledge was far higher than he ever could have imagined.

He stopped walking. The sand slipped under his boots, but he stood still anyway, fists clenched at his sides.

“We’ve lost too much,” he muttered, his voice hoarse.

Katara glanced back at him, her braid hanging limp against her sunburned neck. He didn’t look at her. “The library. Appa. I should’ve done something.” His voice cracked, rough and low. “I was supposed to keep us safe.”

Sokka’s head snapped toward him, eyes flashing despite the hollow tiredness behind them. “Don’t you think we all tried?” His voice was sharp. “We all failed, Zuko. Not just you.”

For a moment, the air trembled between them, the silence louder than Sokka’s outburst. Aang looked down at his hands, fingers twitching as if he could still feel Appa’s fur slipping through them. His voice was barely above a whisper.

“He was my family.”

Toph spoke next. “Don’t pin this on yourself, Sparky. I was the one holding that library up. I couldn’t stop it. I couldn’t save Appa.” Her hands shook, and she jammed them into the folds of her clothes as if hiding the tremor could hide the shame.

“I should’ve held tighter. I could’ve kept him. I felt them grab him, and I couldn’t…” She continued, her face in her hands, frustration evident in her admissions.

Zuko looked at her, hoping to ease the burden she felt, though his own throat ached with words unsaid. “It wasn’t your fault.” He touched her shoulder gently, surprising even himself. “Wan Shi Tong wanted us gone. No one could have stopped that library from falling while being actively attacked by another force.”

She didn’t lift her face. “You’re wrong. I should’ve.”

Zuko wanted to argue, but the words stuck. Because wasn’t he thinking the same? That he should’ve been stronger, wiser, faster, that he should’ve saved them all?

Katara, thankfully, was able to voice a counter, though her voice ached as she spoke. “None of us could’ve…none of us were strong enough alone. This desert is riddled with unknown elements for us.” Her eyes drifted upward, where the sky stretched into forever. “But we’re still here, and together we still have a chance to find Appa.”

Zuko finally looked at her then. Her eyes were tired, hollowed out by loss and exhaustion, but still steady. Still full of that maddening, unbreakable resolve. For just a flicker of a second, he let himself breathe in the calm of her presence, an anchor in the endless sea of sand.

But as quickly as it came, the guilt swallowed it whole.

The group pressed forward again, every step heavier than the last.

---

While the others drifted in uneasy sleep, Zuko lay awake, staring at the vast, indifferent stars. His lips cracked with thirst, his chest heavy with failure. Slowly, his eyes closed, and fire opened behind them.

He stood in a field of ash. The library’s scrolls burned around him, curling into embers. A voice, low and ancient, emerged from the shadows, robed in the elements of air, water, earth, and fire. Its voice echoed, ancient and layered:

"You are not the Avatar they expected, but you are the Avatar they have. You carry fire, but you must learn to carry loss as well. To master balance, you must be split open. Burned. Forged again."

“The Avatar is not balanced unless he bears the weight of loss.”

Zuko staggered back as the robed figure lifted its hands. The sand around him turned to chains, tightening around his arms and chest. He couldn’t breathe.

Then, in the distance, he saw Appa, shackled, wings dragging. And behind him, Azula’s smirk, a spark of blue flame in her palm.

He tried to shout, but the chains dragged him under, down into endless sand.

Then he saw Katara’s face, wet with tears, her silhouette against the moon—torn away into the dark.

Zuko woke gasping, heart hammering, night air cold on sweat.

---

The days bled together. Mirage after mirage taunted them. Once, they swore they saw an oasis, cool water shining beneath palms. Katara sprinted toward it, her cry breaking into sobs when her hand plunged into hot sand. Another time, Toph staggered and whispered, “I hear water.” But there was nothing but wind.

And then, there was the cactus.

Sokka found it half-buried in the sand, spines glinting. He cracked it open with a laugh that bordered on hysteria and drank deeply before Katara could stop him. “Cactus juice!” he declared, his grin wild, his eyes shining. “It’ll quench ya! Nothing’s quenchier! It’s the quenchiest!”

Katara pinched the bridge of her nose. “Oh no.”

The juice loosened the knots of despair, if only for a night. Sokka danced, sand swirling around his feet. Toph snorted despite herself. Even Katara laughed when he tried to serenade the moon.

For a fleeting moment, bodies temporarily soothed by the cactus juice, they weren’t lost or at each other’s throats. 

But Zuko couldn’t join in the laughter because visions continued to haunt him.

It came in the moments between waking and sleep: fire roaring, cities burning, the shadow of a comet overhead. He stood in the ruins of Ba Sing Se, the wall behind him split open, the air choked with ash. And there, in the heart of it all, a voice—low, insistent, echoing across lifetimes.

“You are not only fire. You are the bridge. Fail, and the world falls.”

He woke in cold sweat, heart hammering. Every time, Katara’s gaze found him in the dark. She didn’t ask, not yet. But he saw the questions in her eyes. And a strange warmth stirred beneath his ribs whenever she held the group together, her voice soft but unyielding.

---

"We can't just stay here, wandering blindly," Katara said. She knelt beside Sokka, offering him a small sip of water from her last pouch. "Either this desert will do us in, or Azula will find us and hurt us worse than this heat. We have to move."

"Move where?" Sokka rasped, his lips cracked and dry. "There’s nothing but sand for miles. We don’t know what direction we’re going in, and Appa is gone. This is it. We're finished."

Aang, who had been meditating, opened his eyes. "There's a legend," he said softly, pointing a finger toward a distant, jagged rock formation that looked like a pair of enormous teeth biting into the earth. "The Cave of Two Lovers. It’s said to lead through the mountains and out of the desert."

"Sounds promising," Toph grumbled, trudging forward. "As long as it leads to a place with shade and food, I'll take it."

Hope, though a dangerous and fragile thing, sparked in the group. They staggered toward the jagged rocks, the sun beating down on their backs. The entrance to the cave was a narrow fissure, a welcome scar in the otherwise arid landscape. The cool air that rushed out was a shock, a taste of life after so much heat.

Inside, the world changed. The temperature dropped considerably, and the oppressive silence of the desert was replaced by the low, echoing drip of water and the scuttling of unseen creatures. As they ventured deeper, the path forked. Toph, using her earthbending to feel the vibrations, warned them. "The ground here, but it’s a mess. There are at least a dozen tunnels, maybe more."

Hoping for a better outcome, the inevitable happened. Sokka, Toph, and Aang took one path, and before Zuko and Katara could take a step, like magic, the rock sealed the way behind them, leaving them alone. The dust settled, and a new, more profound silence took its place.

"Well, this is just great," Katara muttered, brushing dust from her clothes. Zuko opened his palm, the small ember of light casting long, dancing shadows.

"We have to go on," Zuko said, his voice quiet. The cave was filled with twists and turns, a labyrinth of rock and shadow. "The others will be alright. Toph can feel her way through, and Sokka is a good strategist."

"And Aang knows the legends," Katara finished, a small, tired smile on her face. "Looks like it's just us."

They walked in silence for a time, Zuko’s small flame their only guide. The air was heavy with the smell of damp stone and dust. The walls were covered in faded carvings—not of battles or great kings, but of two figures dancing, their forms intertwining.

"Aang said this was Oma and Shu," Katara whispered, tracing a finger over a carving of a woman. "One of the original earthbenders. They were from two warring villages, and they met in secret in these caves."

Zuko looked at the carving, a flicker of something in his scarred eye. The idea of two people from opposite sides finding common ground and creating something new from conflict resonated deeply with him. 

"The carvings show they used earthbending not to fight, but to meet," he said, the words feeling foreign and heavy on his tongue. "To create paths and find each other."

They reached a point where the path branched into three distinct paths. Zuko raised his small flame, trying to find a clue. His firebending was a controlled thing, right now a tiny beacon, and a far cry from the destructive infernos of his past before he trained with Uncle. The warmth was a comfort, a reminder of who he was trying to be.

"I think we need to follow the light," Katara said, her gaze fixed on a small, glittering speck far down one of the paths.

"What light?" Zuko squinted. He couldn’t see anything.

"The glimmer of crystals on the wall," she explained. "See? They’re catching the light from… well, from your fire."

It was a slow, painstaking process. They moved together, Zuko holding the flame high, Katara pointing out the faintest of glimmers. Their hands brushed often as they navigated the narrow passages, and an electric current seemed to pass between them with each touch. 

At one point, they came to a sheer drop. Zuko, who was still trying to master airbending, having not attempted earthbending, felt the inadequacy of his abilities. He could try to move small stones, but he certainly couldn't shape the rock into a bridge. He closed his eyes, trying to remember teachings from scrolls he once read. 

Katara saw his struggle. "Hey," she said softly, placing a hand on his arm. The gesture was a simple kindness that seemed to ground him more than any earthbending ever could. "You're trying. That's all that matters. When this is over, we’ll continue your training with Aang, and I’m sure Toph will start you off slowly—or whatever her equivalent is."

He opened his eyes, looking at her curiously.  "How did you get so good at reading people?" he asked, a hint of genuine curiosity in his voice.

She shrugged, a small smile playing on her lips. "I spent a lot of time alone with a brother who was very, very good at pretending everything was okay, and little kids who thought they were good at hiding something. In time, I learned to look closer."

He looked at her, at the strength in her eyes, at the way the firelight caught the curves of her face. "I…I miss my uncle," he admitted, the words a heavy stone in the pit of his stomach. "I know we agreed to separate, but I don’t know what he would tell me to do now. We have the information we need, but we're stranded. And I failed to protect Appa."

Katara took a step closer, her voice a low, comforting murmur. "Maybe he'd tell you not to lose hope," she said, her hand still on his arm. " I’d tell you that a true leader knows when to trust others. You have to trust that Sokka, Toph, and Aang are okay. And you have to trust yourself, we’re going to get out of this, okay?”

He nodded, grateful for the words of encouragement, and with renewed determination, he looked at the chasm. He didn't try to move the earth. Instead, he reached out, looking at the walls of rock, and with a careful movement, he moved his flame towards it, creating a brief, shimmering arch that condensed on the cave wall, illuminating a series of handholds they hadn't seen before. 

They climbed, slowly and painstakingly, their trust in each other the only thing holding them together. When they emerged, the sun was low on the horizon, painting the sky in hues of orange and purple. Before them lay a vast, green valley, and in the distance, a small village. They were safe.

For now.

Zuko felt a shiver run down his spine, which had nothing to do with the cool evening air. He looked back at the cave mouth, a fissure in the rock face that now seemed like a symbol of their new connection. 

As they waited for the others, his gaze shifted, eyes widening—a faint glint of polished steel on the horizon, followed by a flash of blue fire.

Azula was here.

---

Azula’s arrival wasn’t a stealthy one. She was riding on a large, armored ostrich-horse, a half-dozen Fire Nation soldiers following behind her on similar beasts. Her face, half-shrouded in the twilight, was a mask of cold satisfaction.

"There you are, my dear brother," she called out, her voice carrying on the still air like a venomous melody. "What a surprise to find you with such…common company." 

Zuko’s hands clenched into fists, a low rumble in his throat. He wanted to fight, but before he could act, Katara’s hand reached out, pulling him back. It was a quiet warning. Don't. She shook her head almost imperceptibly, her eyes scanning the small army behind Azula. They were exhausted, parched, and outnumbered. A fight here was a losing battle.

"We can't fight them," she whispered, her voice a low command. "Not now. We need to get away from her."

Zuko hesitated, but the feel of Katara's undeniable logic won out. He nodded, looking at her. "Fine," he breathed.

"Oh, planning your escape already?" Azula taunted, dismounting her ostrich-horse with a practiced grace. "You always were so predictable, Zuzu. You can't run forever."

"That's what you think!" Katara shouted back, pulling Zuko with her. "We've got a secret tunnel!"

Azula’s eyes narrowed in confusion as Katara dragged Zuko to the fissure. The ancient rock, so unforgiving just moments before, now seemed like their only refuge. Zuko, recalling the path he and Katara had just taken, scrambled back inside, pulling her in behind him.

"You won't get far!" Azula yelled, her firebenders unleashing a volley of fireballs at the cave mouth. But the ancient stone held firm against the barrage, and as if sensing the danger shut behind them.

Inside, the cool darkness enveloped them once more. They ran, a single unit, their rhythm a testament to the trust that had bloomed between them. The handholds Zuko had created were still there, a lifeline, guiding them deeper into the maze. As they ran, Katara found herself humming a tune. It was a simple, repetitive melody that Aang often sang to annoy her. She'd always found it insipid, but now, the words were a beacon of hope.

Secret tunnel! Secret tunnel! Through the mountain! Secret, secret, secret, secret tunnel!

Zuko glanced at her, a hint of a genuine smile on his face. "What's that?" he asked, his voice a little less strained than before.

"Just a song about a secret tunnel," she said, her chest heaving. "Aang said it was an old Nomad love song. He sang it to us on our way to Omashu. I think it’s just something he made to go along with the story of the tunnel when he first heard it."

The tunnel grew brighter, a warm light shining from a distance. They rounded a bend and found themselves in a large, open cavern. Toph was there, using her earthbending to clear a small stream of water carefully. Sokka was beside her, and Aang was playing with a small ball of pebbles he manipulated with the air. 

"Katara! Zuko! You're okay!" Sokka exclaimed, a look of immense relief washing over his face.

"Of course we are," Katara said, breathless but triumphant. She looked at Zuko, and in his eyes, she saw a reflection of her own relief. They had made it. They had survived, together.

"We found a secret path," Zuko said, a hint of pride in his voice. "The one from the Oma and Shu legend."

Sokka groaned. "You mean the one Aang was singing about? That's what you two found? How'd you two figure that out?"

Zuko and Katara exchanged a knowing smile. "It's a long story," Katara said.

Sokka, however, was not one to be denied a good story. "Well, ours isn’t! We went down the other path, and it was totally different! We found these guys, a bunch of singing nomads who were, like, obsessed with the love story. They knew the song too!" He pointed to Aang. "Aang told them that it was a song about Oma and Shu. He said the tunnel was for them to meet each other without the two warring villages knowing. And they—the singing nomads—had a whole caravan of instruments leading to—well, let's just say there was a lot of singing after that."

Toph grunted in agreement. "They were really annoying. Before they found another tunnel to go down, I was a ballad away from sealing them in one of these passages." She then pointed a finger at Zuko and Katara. "The whole time, I was trying to feel for you guys, but the earth was all scrambled from those bozos moving around. It was a mess! Could you tell us about the original path you took? Did you see anything more about Oma and Shu?"

"We didn't, but we saw carvings along the wall and followed a path of light," Zuko said, feeling a sense of accomplishment. "Katara was the one who figured it out. It was a good thing we had each other." He looked at her and smiled a small, genuine smile.

Katara returned the gesture, elbowing him slightly in jest. She wasn't used to Zuko complimenting her, but the feeling was warm and comforting. "It was your fire that made it possible," she replied, her eyes meeting his.

Their moment was interrupted by the sound of muffled explosions from outside the cave. The rock shook, and small pebbles rained down from the ceiling.

"Azula's out there, why didn’t you guys tell us that first!" Sokka yelled in frustration, clutching his boomerang. "She's trying to blast her way in!"

"We need to get out of here," Zuko said. "The way we came leads to a valley, but we can't get out with her waiting for us."

Aang, who had been listening intently to the whole story, nodded. "I think there’s a way out, that’s different from the way we came in and where you got out. The legend talks about two paths—the one Sokka, Toph, and I took and the one you and Katara took—joining together in the heart of the mountain. That's how Oma and Shu met and kept each other safe. The two paths join at the end, right before the big exit."

"So the cave has a single exit?" Zuko asked. Aang nodded. "Then we have to find the end of the cave. That's the only way we'll all get out."

Toph stomped her foot hard on the ground, digging into it slightly and closing her eyes. "I feel it," she said, her expression serious. "There's a massive cavern up ahead, and the vibrations are stronger there. That must be the end."

"Alright," Sokka said, taking charge. "Team Avatar, let's move out!"

As they ran toward the end of the cavern, they heard another series of explosions. It was clear that Azula was getting closer. The group sprinted, their exhaustion forgotten, their minds focused on one thing: escape. Sokka and Toph held the front, guiding them to the exit, while Aang was in the middle, keeping any debris from falling around them. At the same time, Zuko and Katara ran side-by-side, holding up the rear, their hands occasionally brushing, though both ready to fight if needed.

They reached the massive cavern Toph had felt. It was a breathtaking sight. A giant waterfall cascaded down from a hole in the ceiling, creating a crystal-clear pond. The walls were covered in glowing crystals that cast a soft, ethereal light on the scene. And at the far end of the cavern, a massive fissure in the rock face led to the outside.

"This is it," Aang said, his eyes wide with wonder. "The heart of the mountain. Oma and Shu's sanctuary."

Just as he finished speaking, the entrance to the cavern exploded. The dust cleared, and standing in the entryway, with a wicked grin on her face, was Azula.

Azula strode into the cavern, her blue flames a stark contrast to the gentle, glowing crystals that surrounded her. Her soldiers fanned out behind her, ready to attack. Her laugh drowned out the sound of the waterfall.

"This is it, Zuzu," she said, her voice echoing off the walls. "The end of your little rebellion. Surrender now, and I promise you a swift return home. As for your friends..." Her eyes lingered on Katara and the others, a predatory gleam in their depths. "Well, they'll have the honor of being my prisoners."

Zuko stepped forward, his fists alight with orange flame. "You're not going to touch them, Azula," he growled.

"Oh, brother, you're so sentimental," she sneered. "But it won't help you now. You're an Avatar without mastery of the elements. And a prince without a throne. What hope do you have?"

Katara, standing beside him, gripped her last water pouch. It was only enough for a single, powerful attack, though thankfully, she had the waterfall at her disposal. Sokka nocked his boomerang, Toph raised her fists in front of her, her body poised in an earthbending stance, and Aang took a defensive stance, his face a mask of fierce determination.

"We have each other," Aang said, his voice steady and strong.

Azula’s laugh cut through the air. "Is that what you think? You really think you can defeat me? Let me tell you how your little journey ends, brother. Remember your big, flying beast? Those sandbenders you met were kind enough to tell me about him. They sold him to the merchants of Ba Sing Se. So, while you're busy playing Avatar in a cave, your pet is probably already a delicacy on some Earth Kingdom nobleman's dinner table, maybe even better, a rug for the Earth King!"

The words stabbed through Zuko like knives. His flames guttered and hissed into smoke. For a moment, the cavern seemed to tilt around him, the floor rushing away. His chest tightened, breath clawing at his throat. He remembered the desert, the storm of sand, Appa’s bellow vanishing into the distance. He had sworn that he would not fail again.

"You're lying," Zuko whispered, his voice trembling.

"Am I?" Azula's smile widened, her voice taking on a condescending tone. "It's what happens when you fail, Zuzu. You lose everything. You failed to protect your groupies in the desert, and you failed to protect that big, furry pet. You are a failure."

Katara took a step closer, her body aimed to shield his scarred side. 

"She's trying to break you," Katara said, her eyes locked on Azula. "Don't let her. We have to fight. Together."

Zuko looked at her. Her words anchored him, Zuko’s gaze met hers—steel-blue meeting ember-gold. He drew in a shaky breath.

"She's right," Zuko said. "I did fail. But I'm not going to make the same mistake twice."

Katara’s grip tightened on her water skin. 

Azula looked at them in fascination, her fingers twirling deftly at her sides. "Adorable. Both of you." She raised her hands, blue flame already gathering at her fingertips. 

Katara and Zuko moved as one. Katara swept water into the air, a gleaming torrent arcing toward Azula. Zuko’s flames roared forward, merging with the wave. The elements collided midair, and steam exploded outward in a loud hiss. 

"Now!" Katara shouted.

The steam, thick and disorienting, became their escape. Azula, momentarily blinded, roared in frustration as Toph, using her seismic sense, guided the group toward the cavern's exit. Through the smothering steam, Aang whipped his staff, a blast of air spiraling outward. Stones tumbled down in a small rockslide, not enough to seal them in, but deep enough to buy them some precious time.

They stumbled toward the exit, half-blind, hearts hammering. The tunnel sloped upward, toward the faint silver glow of moonlight ahead. Freedom.

But Azula’s voice cut through the haze, venomous and triumphant.
"You can’t run from me, Zuzu!"

The air screamed. Lightning ripped forward, Zuko barely had time to spin, his body angling instinctively to redirect as Uncle Iroh had taught him only months before. He caught the bolt with his palms, the force burning through his arms like molten metal. He twisted, tried to channel it away—

But he was too slow.

The lightning tore across his side, searing through fabric, biting into scarred flesh. Zuko cried out, the sound torn raw from his chest, before collapsing to his knees.

"Zuko!" Katara’s voice was frantic, panicked. She was at his side in an instant, catching him before he hit the ground. The acrid smell of charred cloth filled the cavern.

"Aang, move the air! We need cover!" Sokka barked, voice rattled with desperation.

Aang whipped his staff again, wind surging, pushing steam into a dense cloud. Toph, gritting her teeth, stomped her heel and raised a slab of stone behind them, a makeshift wall as they scrambled toward the exit.

They ran. Katara half-dragged, half-supported Zuko, who gritted his teeth against the pain, trying not to collapse again. The moonlight grew brighter, closer, until at last they burst out into the open valley.

The night air was cool against their sweat-drenched skin. They had escaped—for now. But Zuko’s body trembled with pain, and Azula’s words, sharper than lightning, still burned in his chest.

Notes:

What’s one way to get things moving along? Grave injuries and graver escapes!
If it wasn’t evident from the chapter, this one combines The Library & The Desert with The Cave of Two Lovers. Because Zuko is traveling with the Gaang instead of his uncle (and already had his change of heart off-screen), I have more freedom to play around with how they navigate the Earth Kingdom. Instead of going from the eastern EK and going west towards Ba Sing Se at the end of "The Desert", the Gaang is traveling west from the end of "The Library" (so they haven’t made much progress into the desert from the library before they turn toward BSS) and ends up more on the edge between the FN & EK.