Chapter 1
ZUKO
Zuko sat, staring into the fire for quite some time.
"Do you think we could be friends?" Aang's voice echoed in his head.
"Maybe…" he said to himself. The fire crackled and popped as he sat, lost in his thoughts. He had chosen to sleep outside tonight, for the 100 year old bed he was given was horribly uncomfortable. Even the cold stone floors of the fountain corridor were more comfortable.
"…but now's my chance to find out."
'Do you think they can trust me at all?' he thought, 'After all that's happened…I'll have to make it up to them. I've dome some things I'm not proud of , and I need to clear my conscious."
Finally, after hours awake thinking, he laid his head down on his pillow to sleep, and… Rustle… "Wh—huh? Who's there?
AANG
"Could we have been friends? Can we, after all that's happened?" Aang asked himself as he stared at the ceiling in his room. He too was awake thinking about how things would be different with Zuko in the group.
Aang tossed and turned in the ancient bed. "Man this bed is just awful! Zuko was smart sleeping outside! Maybe I could join him."
Aang sat up and slid on his pants and tunic. He grabbed his sleeping bag and made his way to the door. He quietly opened the door and crept down the stone corridor. He got to the fountain in the center of the room when he saw Zuko's face by the light of the fire.
'He's sleeping,' he thought, 'I better be quiet.' He paused for a second, looking at Zuko's face. 'He seems so, calm and, peaceful…I've never seen him like…' Rustle. His sleeping bag had gotten caught on a small tree growing through a crack in the floor.
"Wh—huh? Who's there?" Zuko asked, his voice tired and groggy.
"Uh, hi! Sorry to wake you, I was just coming out here to sleep because…"
"…you couldn't sleep on the cot?" Zuko finished. Aang nodded. "Me neither."
"Mind if I join you?"
"Not at all. And, I wasn't sleeping, by the way."
"What?" Aang asked.
"When you shook the tree, I wasn't asleep. I had just lain down."
"Oh…why were you up so late, anyway?" Aang asked, setting out his mat.
"Just," –sighs- "lost in thought, I guess."
"What were you thinking about?"
"Well…"
"That's alright; you don't have to tell me. Everyone has to have some privacy."
Zuko sighed, and added wood to the fire, knowing they wouldn't be falling asleep anytime soon.
'Here we go…' Zuko thought. "Do you remember when I was knocked out rescuing you from Zhao?'
Aang nodded.
"You saved me by getting me into the woods, and when I woke, you asked me…" his voice trailed off.
"…if we could've been friends?" Aang finished. "Yeah I remember. Why?"
"Well, that's what I was thinking about. Do you think we…-sighs-…could be friends now?"
"I don't see why not."
"I will make it up to you, and your friends. I promise I will." Zuko said, with determination in his voice. "I've done some things I'm not proud of, and I want to make amends."
"The monks used to teach us that no matter what a person's past may be, everyone should be given the chance to undo the damage done."
"What was this place like before the war?"
"This temple was used by the nuns, and was where the bison were born and raised. I can remember them flying through the buildings, gliders soaring through the canyon…"
"It must have been a magnificent sight. I only wish I could've seen it. Is this where you got Appa?"
"No. I got him from the Eastern Air temple. Bison were raised there too."
"I came to this temple one week after my banishment, to, um, look for you. I couldn't believe how beautiful the temple was. I wandered through the entire complex. I found amazing sights and beautiful pieces of artwork. Unfortunately, I was caught up in my motive and didn't take time to appreciate the grandeur."
"I remember the Fire Nation before the war, too." Zuko's golden eyes stared at him for a moment, then he nodded. "It was also very beautiful. I used to go every spring to visit my friend Kuzon, to see the Fire Lilies in bloom. It was a peaceful place then."
"I wish I could've seen that, too."
They looked at each other for a moment, wondering about the other's past.
"I guess we should go to bed now." Zuko said. He laid back and quickly fell asleep. Aang looked one last time into the fire.
'I think we can be friends…'
ZUKO
He woke the next morning at sunrise. He looked over at Aang.
'Why isn't he breathing?'
Aang's chest lay still, his body limp. Zuko quickly scuffled his way to Aang's side. He held Aang's hand, tears streaming down his face. Aang was dead.
"What's happening?! Why?! Aang! Please wake up!" The small body didn't stir. "Noooooooo!" he cried as his body shot up. He looked around. It was night, and the fire was dwindling. Aang was sitting up, watching him.
"Zuko, what's wrong? Why were you yelling?" Aang asked as he made his way to Zuko's side.
"Just a bad dream. Go back to sleep."
"Do you want to talk about it? It can help you from having another one."
"No. I'll be okay." He closed his eyes and fell asleep again.
Aang sat and watched him for a moment. He face was calm and relaxed.
'I don't think I've ever seen him so calm before...' Aang thought as his eyes drooped and his head became heavy. He fell asleep next to Zuko. A cold wind blew and his body shuddered. His hand subconsciously reached out and rested on Zuko's side. Aang felt warmth and pulled himself closer. Ha lay next to Zuko, his head near Zuko's chest, and his arm wrapped around Zuko's waist. Aang slept soundly that night, and Zuko never stirred.
