Author's Note:
This is a series called Epilogue 100. It will consist of 100 short chapters that bridge the gap between two major fanfics. It will contain excerpts of what happens to the character, both canon characters and OC (other characters) through the space between ATLA book 2 and Book 3, as well as key scenes throughout Book 3 that help tie my fanfic to the series and leads us into the next fanfics. Enjoy!
Epilogue 1: Spirits Fall
The days flowed into weeks, winter into spring. The avatar remained hidden on a ship of the Southern Water Tribe, Chief Hakoda's ship. Sokka learned and discussed military strategy and shared some of his inventive and creative ideas with his father, other Water Tribe warriors and some Earth Kingdom officers that had joined them. Katara spent most of her time healing and caring for Aang, who still had not woken from the coma induced by the deep injury Azula inflicted upon him. The fleet collected refugees and other resistance fighters in their travels. They kept on the move in order to keep Aang safe. The world, however, believed that avatar was dead.
Fire Lord Ozai also believed, with delight, that the avatar was dead. His trusted daughter reported this herself, having witnessed it with her own eyes. The spirits and moral of the people around the world fell as hope was lost.
The Earth King, seeing the world for the first time and not from the pages of a censored university book, threw caution to the wind! He abandoned everyone and everything the first moment they landed to collect more people. He and his bear, Bosco, chose to walk the rustic world, see and experience what they can before all was completely lost.
The conquest of the Fire Nation was immanent.
Zuko knew it. The knowledge sat like stone cold coal in the pit of his stomach. He hated how people now looked upon him with certain recognition. The name Huo Long was a curse whispered on their lips. He wanted desperately to see his uncle, to see Mu-Tan, to see Faelin and Ty-min. He dared not. Azula kept far too close a watch on him. And if Azula was not there, Mai was. The people he loved were at least alive and safe. He would not risk them. And Mai? Sometimes Zuko wondered about where her loyalty actually lay.
She often invaded his nightly meditations, quietly sinking down behind him in pools of fabric and deadly knives. She would slide her arms very gently around him like he was a deeply wounded animal she actually cared about, if she cared about anything at wall. Zuko often wondered this. She would press her cheek against the back of his shoulder and hold him while he breathed through his chakras and watched the candle flames rise and fall in a soft rhythm. In an odd way, this comforted Zuko. At least one person wanted to be close to him. At least one person wanted to hold him.
It created confusion and inner conflict and frustration. The candles flames flared violently. Mai sat straight, releasing Zuko. Then she stood and silently walked out with an air of calm. Zuko had felt the betrayal of her body though. She had flinched. He hung his head for he had managed to push even Mai from him that night. Faelin's worry for him was a constant in the back of his mind. Part of him regretted binding his spirit to hers. Be her Silver Circle Guardian and protect her. The candles flared again in his futile frustration. I am protecting her, aren't I? My sister knows nothing about her… or… our child. Faelin must be nearly three months along. Remembering the pregnant woman who sometimes cared for Ty-Min, he wondered if Faelin's belly showed the proof of their child within yet. He buried his face in his hands, digging his fingers into his scruffy hair, still not quite long enough to tie back.