Yay new story! This may take a while to get the next few chapters up but I promise it will get finished! Don't own ATLA.
Zuko sighed as he watched the small group from a distance. They seemed so happy to laugh and talk. However laughing and talking weren't what was going to win this war. Zuko's breath and hands shook nervously as he looked down at the paper he held in his hands.
He had spent all night working on it. What it was, was some new plans to win the war, but it would cut it close to Sozin's comet so there would be no room for mistake. With a deep shaky breath Zuko approached the group as he desperately tried to calm his nerves.
Oddly enough it gave him a sense of Daja vu from when he lost his bending. However Zuko swallowed the bad feeling he had in his stomach as he stepped forward "Can I have everyone's attention?" he asked. Instantly the air became cold as everyone diverted their attention to him.
Only Aang gave him a friendly smile "Listen, I think we should make some plans for a new invasion" he stated nervously. Katara glared at him "And how would we do that? Your sister will be watching for us like the cold hearted hawk that seems to infest the Fire Nation" she said darkly.
Zuko bit back a retort and instead laid out the plans in front of Sokka who studied them in shock "This is…wow" he said, not knowing what to say. Toph glared darkly "What does it say?" she asked in annoyance.
Sokka cleared his throat and looked at Zuko "Did you make these plans?" he asked. Zuko nodded stiffly. Sokka gaped before turning back to them "These are completely…foolproof! Even if they had a trap planned then nothing bad could happen" he said.
Katara crossed her arms "What does it say?" she asked in annoyance. Zuko sighed and took a seat next to Aang, taking out a large map of the world.
He pointed to the location they were at "If we cut through the Fire Nation and wear disguises we can get to this port and I took enough money before we left that we should be able to buy a ship. Once we have a small ship we need to head to the Water Tribes, we need to send two groups, one by ship and one on Appa. The Earth Kingdom may be down but we can enlist the help of the Water Tribes for a second invasion that will take place the week of Sozin's comet. By that point Azula and Ozai will begin to think we have lost hope, either that or they will be very nervous and jumpy as they wait an attack leaving them perfect to attack" he said.
Everyone stared at him in shock "Yeah and How do you expect for us to get through the Fire Nation?" Katara asked darkly. Zuko sighed "I believe Aang mentioned you did it once? You just have to do it once more, however you need to decide the groups" he said.
Sokka sighed "Well I'm going to the South Pole and Katara is the only one of us with good standing with Pakku but if she goes Aang, Zuko, and Toph have to go as well leaving Teo, Haru, and The Duke to go to the Northern Tribe" he said.
Teo smiled "My dad used to take me to the Northern Tribe as well, he is really good friends with the chief up there" he said. Sokka sighed "Aang do want them or us to take Appa?" he asked. Aang froze hesitantly, looking over at his furry friend and companion.
Finally he sighed in defeat "I think it would be best if Teo's group took Appa, but where do we meet?" he asked.
Zuko pointed to a small Island "This is called Abandon Hope Peak, it's a small island with an active volcano on it, the thing that most people don't know though is that it only goes off on the solstices so we will be pushing our luck but it will be safe. People generally avoid it and we will make it our rendezvous and meet there seven days before the solstice" he said.
Aang nodded "We had better get ready, everyone go pack" he said before leaving. Zuko shot a look at Katara "Mind if I talk to him?" he asked. Katara shot him a dark glare "I'll be watching" she said. Zuko nodded in acceptance as he got up, Katara following his lead.
Zuko easily found Aang sitting on a cliff, staring off into the distance. Zuko stayed silent as he joined him, Katara discreetly keeping her distance. For a few minutes they just sat in silence before Aang turned to Zuko "Last time I left Appa behind he was kidnapped, after that I promised myself I'll never leave him alone again" he said.
Zuko sighed "I saw you're your flyers in Ba Sing Se, for a while I felt so relieved because there was my chance. You were in the city, your bison was missing and so I cornered a Dai Li agent, scared him half in the process. But once I got to the bison my uncle showed up, he told me that I should choose my own destiny and not my fathers destiny for me. I felt so confused and didn't know what to do. It was then that I freed the bison in hopes he would find his way back to you, and he did" he told the young Avatar.
Aang remained still for a while "Isn't it funny how you always seemed to find us? Sometimes it seemed like we were so hidden yet somehow you always found us, even here" he said, his brow furrowing in confusion.
Zuko frowned "Have you ever heard that some friendships are so strong they can transcend life times?" he asked his young companion. Aang smiled "Yeah I went on a trip with Roku through his history…you don't think we could be like Roku and Sozin?" he asked fearfully.
Zuko smiled "Yes but perhaps we are opposite as well, they started out as friends but became enemies, e started as enemies and became friends" he said. Aang looked down "True, but it feels as though there is something bigger connects us, a spiritual connection deeper than some past friendship" he said uneasily.
Zuko sighed "I know the answer to that, however now it will only distract you" he said before getting up and leaving a puzzled Aang.