A/N: For those who have read Kirana before, I've made some changes that would make it best if you re-read the story. Much of it remains the same, but there are some significant changes that will come fully into play later. I apologise for this, and I also apologise for the time it's taken me to revise Kirana to the right direction. Procrastination is my enemy… procrastination is my enemy…
Prologue: Prologue or Epilogue?
Toph
After being a guest at Zuko's coronation and enjoying a final relaxing day with Iroh at his teashop in Ba Sing Se, the earthbender was approached by Zuko with an amazing proposition: to become the aide to his ambassador to the Earth Kingdom. He had asked the same of Katara and Sokka, but they had to return home to help with rebuilding and thus turned him down. For Toph, however, the only obstacle was the fact that she was still a runaway. When she explained this to him, she didn't expect that a week later, she would find herself just outside the boundary of her hometown, being escorted by not only by the gaang, but Prince Iroh and King Bumi.
Her parents didn't have a chance.
At first, they protested the rulers' rather subtle accusations of stifling her; their protest that they were trying to protect her had no impact on these august personages "anger" at their refusal to see her as she truly was, to teach Aang, and to send bounty hunters after her. She could sense their confusion at how they'd found themselves eagerly agreeing with Iroh's hints that the Fire Nation needed her; Zuko's sudden subtlety in referring to the position awaiting her. As she "watched" them leave, allowing her some time with her parents before assuming her new position, she could sense the bewilderment of the two people behind her.
But then again, when one was cornered by a determined master waterbender, a valiant (and furious) warrior, Prince Iroh, King Bumi, Fire Lord Zuko and Avatar Aang, what else was to be expected?
Iroh
On his return to Ba Sing Se after its liberation (and Zuko's coronation) Iroh re-opened the Jasmine Dragon and extracted a promise from his nephew and friends to visit for the grand re-opening. After their departure, the old man found himself at odds with his new life. But he didn't have long to meditate on the cause; an urgent summons was received by him from an Earth King overwhelmed by what he had learnt during his travels. After that initial summons, many an evening found Iroh at the palace, talking to the King (who'd given him leave to call him Kanan), or relaxing with him at the Jasmine Dragon over a fresh pot of jasmine tea- which they had discovered both had a weakness for.
The last time Iroh was seen, he was in the merchant district of the city with Kanan, trying to persuade him to try his hand at a game of Pai Sho, and purchasing a Sungi horn and a Pipa. When questioned about these purchases, Iroh only smiled and informed Kanan that his nephew and some friends would be visiting again in a few months- and would he like to spend the evening with their little party?
And there was a young lady whom he'd like him to meet…
Sokka and Katara
Sokka, Katara and Suki left the others after returning Toph home, heading for the Kyoshi island- and onwards to the South Pole. Aang, unable to take them himself due to an emergency at the restoration of the Fire Temple, instead had to be grateful to Zuko's provision of his flagship for their use. Katara and Aang had an affectionate farewell, with promises by the latter to visit as soon as he was free. Sokka and Suki had a more tearful parting on their arrival at Kyoshi island: Katara sighed at her brothers' tears and promised Suki to take care of him till they met again in three months' time at the Jasmine Dragon.
On their arrival at the South Pole, a huge feast and warm welcome awaited the young heroes. Katara was pleased to find that several of the younger children had been found to be waterbenders. Taking pity on Pakku, she took it upon herself to teach them, while Sokka headed the efforts to restore the village at his father's side. He was overflowing with ideas: bringing water into their homes that were finally more than just tiny igloos, improving the designs of their ships, inventing new traps that made hunting easier. He was a blessing the entire village- North and Southern Water Tribe members- began to turn to. Katara watched as he blossomed, and began to take the form of the leader it became obvious he was destined to be.
There was one cause of contention, though: the Fire Nation ship that was still frozen into the tundra. Katara refused to allow the Northern waterbenders to free and sink it. After all, it was this ship that had brought about their meeting with Zuko, their discovery that Aang was the Avatar- and the catalyst into the journey that had saved their world. The iceberg that he had been trapped in was gone: the ship was all the sign she had left of the start of their journey.
The Tribe had learnt that they were not to worry when the siblings disappeared. Often, they were at the ship, or with the penguins, comforting each other in the knowledge of the loves that awaited them across the ice and sea.
Zuko
Firmly holding to his values and principles- lessons hard- learnt- Zuko began the work of healing a nation ravaged and worn out by war. He first removed his father's power-hungry advisors, replacing them with men and women who would prove invaluable in the work to come. In this task he found an unexpected blessing in Mai: his exile had left him unfamiliar with the undercurrents of Fire Nation politics. Without her- and the advice of a strangely wise young monk, as well as regular correspondence with his Uncle- he would have found the task impossible. But it was done, with minimal damage. Though Toph had returned after the time with her family unscarred but eager to assume her new position, none of Zuko's persuasions could get Aang to agree to be one of his advisors. But that didn't stop him from going to his friend for advice- and what a strange friendship it was. Zuko still wondered how he had been persuaded into holding public parties, and dancing- an activity he hadn't taken part in since he was a child, playing with his cousin. Again on the monk's advice, he held regular meetings with the rulers of the other tribes, assuring them of his determination to heal the damage of a hundred years. It was not easy to gain their trust- after months of work, some still didn't trust him. But he had expected that, and learnt to live with it, doing whatever he could to aid the nations- including his own- in healing.
Still, there were times when the young ruler, like the water tribe siblings, disappeared. At these times, only a select few knew that he had gone to his father and sister's prison. But there, he never succeeded in getting an answer to the one question that still plagued his heart.
Aang
Clad in the full robes of a master airbender, the young monk spent much of his time right after the war's end in the Fire Nation, helping Zuko lead a nation bred for war into peace. A large part of it was reminding the people of what it meant to enjoy life- and to this end, he finally convinced Zuko to hold regular dances in the capital. The second half of that battle was persuading Zuko that yes, he too was to dance in public. VERY public.
But he was the Avatar; his duties were to the entire world. So he set out on Appa with Momo to visit the Earth Kingdom and Water tribes. Needless to say, his welcome at the Southern Water Tribe was particularly warm, and it was only an urgent summons from Zuko that persuaded him to finally leave. Katara, however, stayed behind, promising that she'd see him in a few weeks' time in Ba Sing Se. On his way back, Aang stopped and watched over the loving care one village was giving to a formerly scarred land, where the beginnings of a forest were sprouting. Stopping for a time there, he gathered a few acorns to take back to the Fire Nation- as a reminder for Zuko, and himself.
But there were times when Appa, Aang and Momo disappeared with no word as to their destination. When he came back from these, he always seemed just a bit more troubled: for despite the new peace, their world still lacked balance.
For among the millions that inhabited it, there was still only one Airbender.
Kirana
A world and a half away, a young girl tossed and turned in her sleep, muttering incoherently, plagued by yet another version of a familiar nightmare. She suddenly tensed, her mouth wide open, letting loose a scream that should have brought someone running- but none came. The noise finally woke her, though, but her eyes never opened. Instead, she curled into a tight ball in the middle of the bed, arms tight around the stuffed toy she still slept with, and wept- terrified of the memories of fire and death that plagued her dreams.
