Heya there, new story! woo! If you read my last story (harmony of the opposites) you'll know about the characters but if you haven't...then..you should read it :) But if not das okay too! sorry it took so long to get out though! Gosh I've been so darn lazy AND my computer broke...hooray...bottom line the main factor for my not writing would be ...procrastination
So on with it then!
I don't own avvie (sad) but I continue to be in ownership of the new favorites of my avatar cast (Tiana and Sai)
_______
Tiana finally exhausted herself and fell back into the bed, she called out his name one last time although her voice was dropped to a whisper "Zuko" she thought for sure this was probably the worst she's felt emotionally and physically in a long long time. Her voice was left unheard, he left her alone. Tiana didn't want him to leave her like this, hurt, dying. But he still left with a small hope to save her even though she'd rather died with him by her side than be alone feeling so close to death without him.
She wasn't sure exactly how long it had been since Zuko had left with Aang? days? maybe a few weeks? it seemed quiet around the palace. Tiana was under heavy surveillance in case her heart failed again but she seemed to be alright for now, Kanna came in every day to see if Tiana wanted to go out in the garden, but everyday she refused. Katara had left with her father to the southern water tribe and Sokka went with Suki back to Kyoshi Island to everyone's surprise Ty-lee was already better and had actually joined the Kyoshi warriors, Toph went back to be with her parents and from what she said in her letter which they had received that day in her own words "They were as angry as Sokka would be if Momo stole his food" nobody has seemed to be totally convinced that the war is over, they've been arresting Fire-nation people who aren't accepting the fact that the fire-nation no longer has total rule. Iroh took the throne as a temporary Fire Lord until Zuko comes back with both the cure and his decision. Sai had decided to stick around, Sai probably thought Kanna hadn't noticed when he paused to take a long glance at the door to the infirmary every day or when he was in the infirmary to have his bandages changed when he stared at Tiana's door. Kanna had told him that he could see her but he always said no. Ursa spoke to Zuko through his dreams every night telling him of what was going on and Zuko told her of their journey so far. They'd been following the map that Ursa had given them, they'd never seen a map quite like it. It was pretty much ancient, in fact it was! Aang knew the spot though he said he'd played there as a child...well a younger kid at least, but Zuko wasn't surprised. They were just in open air at the moment but were definitely in the right direction.
____
Kanna walked into the infirmary prepared to ask the same question she did every morning but deep down she knew today would be different. Kanna gently knocked on the door before opening it, Tiana barely acknowledged her presence. TIana ignored Kanna as she heard the old woman walk closer"Tiana?..Are you alright?" she asked softly pulling a chair up beside the younger girl "Zuko's doing the right thing" Kanna said hoping to at least lift her spirits slightly "We can get you a wheel chair and have your friends push you through the gardens if you'd like" Tiana looked at the woman staring into her blue eyes finally giving in to the womans request "..I'd like that" she said grabbing the first chance she got to forget about what had just happened.
Kanna smiled, patting Tiana on the hand before walking out to get a wheelchair, Tiana tried sitting up and although it took a few minutes she succeeded, staring out the window in the direction he had left in. Kanna re-entered the room with the wheel chair, helping her into it careful not to cause any further damage. "So who's still here?" Tiana asked trying to make the first bit of conversation since Zuko had left "Well most everyone has left except for Sai, and from what I know Katara is on her way back as we speak, she should arrive in the next three days. You know she's becoming quite a skilled healer, extremely gifted and she's just such a fine young la-" Kanna stopped herself noticing that she was boasting about Katara during a time she probably shouldn't be "Yes, she is a very nice girl" Tiana added finishing what Kanna had stopped herself from saying after a few minutes of silence. The two neared the entrance to the garden and saw Sai leaning against the arch leading into the gardens. Kanna noticed how his eyes lit up as they came into view "I wonder what Zuko would think of this? " Kanna thought idly, Sai rushed by their side motioning for Kanna to let him take hold of the wheelchair "You two have fun, but remember she needs to be back at the infirmary in an hour for medicine" Sai nodded.
"So...Why'd you stay behind?" She asked not bothering to look at him in the eyes "I..um..." he tried to find an answer "What do I say uh..well I'm staying because I want to be near you?" he wracked his brain unable to find a valid answer "You don't have to come up with some valiant answer.. Do you just have no where else to go?" She asked "Um..yeah" He parked the wheel chair beside the turtle-duck pond "Its really nice this time of year...really nice.....weather" he could've mentally kicked himself at that point "Really?! The weather gosh thats the number one lamest ways to start a conversation!" he was pulled out of his mental beating by soft laughter that slowly grew, he couldn't help but join in "Really? The weather? C'mon Sai, we went through a war together I think you can do better than that" she said finally meeting his eyes he plopped down on the grass beside her "Yeah, guess you're right" she continued to smile. which was good.....right? "Umm...during the invasion... when well, you know...did I really..um..." He didn't want to bring this up but just to make sure it wasn't a dream "Yes...yes you did" he blushed "Oh...sorry about that.." she smiled giving him a light punch in the arm "Its fine" the two continued to talk and laugh, all awkwardness just faded away. The two lost track of time and before they knew it the sun was already setting. "Oh no.." Sai said jumping up from where he was sitting "What? Sunset.. You going to turn into a pumpkin now?" she teased "No but you and I might be sharing a room in the infirmary if I don't get you back right now" He said obviously referring to the fact that Kanna just might beat him up if he doesn't get her back soon.
Just as the two tried sneaking back into the infirmary they were stopped by Kanna who stood in the doorway with a irritated look on her face seeming to not fit. "Umm...I can explain!" Sai said, Kanna remained silent waiting for his excuse "Well... umm... you see... We were sitting there minding our own business feeding the baby turtle-ducks when suddenly this giant turtle-duck came out of the water! it took forever but I managed to make it go away" Tiana tried to muffle her giggles but she couldn't any longer when he finished his insane story, Kanna also fought smiling due to the semi-seriousness of the situation so she deepened her frown. "Alright, I'll let you off this time.. But don't let it happen again" Kanna said in a serious voice causing the two to immediately stop laughing. Kanna took hold of the handles lightly nudging Sai away "Thanks Sai...I needed that.." she said smiling while lightly holding his hand before being wheeled back into her room.
Sai watched as the door opened and closed standing there a few minutes before turning to walk back to his room he lazily put his arms behind his head while walking through the large halls lightly lit by the torches that lined them "Hope we can do that every day" he thought while having a small fantasy of the possibility of romance between the two, sure he knew he couldn't give her a palace or a title but he could give her love, although he tried to deny it he also knew that Zuko loved her just as much, and he proved that by making the sacrifice to leave her so he could save her... Sai put himself in that position and knew that he would've been selfish and watched her die slowly instead of going out and finding the cure. "Sai?" Sai whipped around dropping his arms by his sides he looked and saw Ursa who's face was lightly shadowed but that didn't hide the distressed look on her face. "What's wrong?" Ursa took a deep breath "Mai and Azula have escaped, we think that they're roaming the castle. I need to warn Zuko so I also need you to watch for me while I contact him" Sai nodded quickly rushing with Ursa into the living room.
She sat with her legs crossed and chanted some spell but he couldn't hear her, smoke rose beneath her, he had never seen anything like it. He pulled himself away from the entrancing spectacle and kept watch in case Azula came in to 'visit' Ursa.
____
Zuko and Aang were still flying high and strong through the sky looking for what Ursa had said looked like a 'floating temple' due to the fact it was built on the highest mountain in that region and it sat above the clouds . Aang thought it would've been an easy find if they just looked straight across the skies but boy was he wrong, once they got up above the clouds they became lost but Ursa had given them a cryptic code 'you must be lost before it can be found' Zuko was quite furious at the crazy puzzle although he restrained his anger... until he stopped talking to his mother.
"Zuko, I still don't see it. Maybe we're supposed to stop looking for it in order to find it?" Aang asked "Perhaps s...." Zuko seemed to just collapse on the spot which was strange "Zuko?" Aang asked while looking back and trying to still keep his eyes on the sky. "Zuko!" the young airbender started to grow worried.
___
Zuko found himself in a very familiar place "Mother?" he asked while seeming to float through the fog that surrounded their feet "Yes Zuko, I'm sorry that I had to pull you into the dream like this" she said making her quick apologies "How'd you do this? I thought you could only enter a empty mind when no thoughts are coursing through" Ursa shook her head "Zuko I'll explain later but something has happened" Zuko's heart stopped what if something happened to Tiana? What if she died? And he wasn't there to be with her during her last breath? "Azula and Mai have escaped" while usually upset about this he actually felt a slight bit of relief at the news because Tiana hadn't died "We need you to find the healer and quickly, there's no telling what havoc they may bring to the nation. Right now our nation is fragile and conflicted if she overthrows Iroh then she could take over not legally but she could force them all to listen to her needs and wishes" Zuko listened to his mothers words carefully "We have to turn back, there must be someone else thats easier to fi-" Ursa shook her head again "No! Zuko nobody else can treat her" Zuko would have forfeited the throne for Tiana any day if that meant she'd be alive and well so that meant they definitely had to find this guy "Alright I'll let Aang know" Zuko said finally after a long silence. Ursa moved forward placing a steady hand on her sons shoulder "Don't worry, we'll protect her" she said reassuring him, knowing his worries "Thanks mother I knew you w-... We?" Zuko grew suddenly curious of what she meant by 'we' he hoped to agni she didn't mean "Yes Sai is still with us and Katara will be joining us soon" Zuko's temper flared up but he kept it under control "What about father" he asked trying his hardest not to think too much on the fact Sai was with his Tiana "As far as we know he's still in the prison cell at the boiling rock , but Zuko I must leave you now" Zuko nodded closing his eyes and letting himself drift back into consciousness
_____
Aang let out a sigh of relief as he saw the Prince or now Fire lord quickly sit up "Good! I thought something was wrong with you!" Aang said while hopping back on top of Appa's neck taking the reigns "What happened?" the younger boy asked "Azula and Mai escaped the cells below the castle, they're not sure if they're roaming the castle or just ran away" Zuko quickly said, anxiety rising and his patience wearing thin 1. because his love was dying 2. his insane sister and crazy ex- were on the loose 3. the worst of all..... Sai was with her. Zuko couldn't stop thinking even for a moment anything other than Sai and Tiana together he was probably staring at her, telling her she was beautiful...Truth was that Zuko didn't really have anything against Sai.... Nope, he was jealous that it was Sai instead of himself. It wasn't fair, he wanted.. wants to be with her, he would've taken her with him hadn't it been for the condition she was in when they left and from what Kanna said, it was only going to get worse over time and the herbs she was giving her were dulling the pain so it'd seem like nothing was wrong.
"Zuko!" Aangs voice boomed through Zuko's thoughts pulling him back into the harsh reality of things "I think I see something!" Zuko crawled over to the opposite end of the saddle so he was sitting beside Aang, squinting slightly he too saw something. It was shining bright and it was gold, the clouds seemed to surround it "I think thats it!" Zuko nodded motioning for Aang to land "We found it Tiana".
_______
Ursa fell to the floor and Sai rushed to her side "Thank you Sai but I think I can manage to stand on my own" despite Sai's attempts to help she proved that she really didn't need it "Sai, I must ask a favor of you though..." Ursa began,Sai sat in silence as he waited for her to continue "I want you to keep this between you and me... I've told Zuko already but I don't want any panic to begin, the last thing we need is chaos" Sai nodded "I understand" Ursa thanked him and he continued his walk back to his room.
He walked over to his bed pulling back the red silk sheets, he'd been given that room about two weeks ago and added a bit of his own touch to it, adding a few pieces of jade here and there bringing some earth kingdom into the room he laid down in the bed putting his hands behind his head and thought of the events that unfolded on this surprisingly busy day. He spent basically the whole day with Tiana, yet still knows hardly anything about the girl with that thought he quickly made a mental note to ask her about herself, anyways after that it turns out the psycho and her sidekick got loose and he has to keep that a secret from everyone including her when they know very well that she's probably going to get targeted 1. because Mai wants revenge 2. they know that the easiest way to get to Zuko is through her.
Sai eventually did fall asleep but instead of thinking about it he dreamt it.....Great
______
"Zuko, Where is it? I feel as if we've been walking in circles for the past few hours!" Aang complained while throwing his arms up in the air "Stop complaining!" Zuko roared finding himself losing it a bit "Aang stop poking me,I don't know where it is nor when we'll get there!" Zuko said, not bothering to look at Aang "Uh..Zuko I'm not poking you" Zuko rolled his eyes unamused if the avatar was trying to play a prank "Seriously Aang stop it before I-" Zuko whipped around to see a man clothed in animal skins , poking a wooden spear at him. The man eyed Zuko cautiously before grunting slightly in an obvious attempt at communication "What's he saying?" Aang whispered "You think I know?" Aang thought for a moment before reaching his hand out to shake hands with the man "Hi I'm-Woah!" The man quick as lightning had twisted the Avatar's hand behind his back "Zuko help!" he cried "Let my friend go" Zuko said, taking a bending position. The man growled and yelled out a strained call which Zuko guessed was a battle cry... unfortunately Zuko was right.
Zuko found himself surrounded by three men aside from the one holding Aang captive. All were clothed in similar animal skin attire which did make Aang slightly uncomfortable. Zuko knowing he couldn't take on all these men due to the fact they were all at least a foot taller than him and probably at least three hundred pounds heavier surrendered. The man holding Aang grunted again and the four escorted Zuko and Aang back to what Zuko was guessing to their leader. "I told you I wasn't the one poking you" Aang added trying to make light of the situation, only to be blown off completely by Zuko who ignored him completely.
____
Haha! YES first chapter complete...Although I admit I am not that thrilled with this chapter....sadness, ah well alls fair in love and writing :)
Rate review etc so on, be merry and joyful ^_^ (Dunno what's up with that last add-on o_0)