"No, you only just told us about this 'Dark Shoelace' guy," said Sokka around a mouthful of meat bun.
"I know, I just wanted to say that." Zuko gave them a slightly sheepish smile that faded into a frown as he scratched his cheek. "To be honest, I don't think I can tell the story the right way. I think it would be better for you to see it for yourself. Uncle?"
The older firebender took the offered hand in his own, offering the other to Yue. "Please, join hands, a physical connection is easier to follow," he said quietly. "Perhaps, with the Avatar here, you won't have to rely on me so much, Nephew. I'm not quite as skilled with the Force as you are."
"What are we doing?" Aang asked excitedly, grabbing the hands of the siblings sitting beside him. "Are you going show us more weird powers?"
"Yeah," the former prince admitted with a nod, taking Katara's hand while doing his best to ignore how pleasant such an action felt. "Projecting a voice is hard enough, but memories are even more so. Hopefully this works, otherwise I'm going to look pretty foolish." With a deep exhale, he closed his eyes and furrowed his brow, concentrating hard. A second later, he cracked an eye and frowned at them. "You have to close your eyes."
"Sorry," the young Avatar whispered, shifting slightly in his seat and shutting his eyes. "Okay, they're closed."
Zuko sighed, licking his lips nervously as he tugged on the eddies of the Force that bled from inside of him, intertwining it with energy flowing through the hands he held.
They gasped involuntarily as a sudden bout of vertigo hit; reflexively, they opened their eyes and found themselves in a metal room that swayed gently, a low bed in one corner and a small, candle-covered shrine in another. Beyond a pair of wide-bladed swords hung on the wall, the room was empty.
With the exception of two people. One was a younger Zuko, breathing heavily as he sat against a wall; at his side, a hooded man knelt. "That's good for today, Zuko," he said kindly, patting his shoulder.
"I can keep going!" The banished prince protested, though his weak struggles to get back up were defeated by a palm against the forehead.
"No, that's enough. Rest." The man ordered, standing with a sigh. "Your determination is admirable, kid, but recuperation is just as important as the exercise itself. Don't undo all of your hard work by pushing it."
"Fine," young Zuko grumbled, crossing his arms and trying very hard to appear as if he was manfully sulking and not pouting. Through the link, present Zuko felt amusement and an emotion that could be described as 'awww.' "I understand, Master."
"Ouch," the man grimaced, an amused smile curving his lips. "How many times am I gonna have to tell you to call me Solace? I was just having a little fun when I called you my Apprentice; I'm not a Sith anymore."
There were a few seconds of silence before the scarred teen spoke up. "Solace?" He asked carefully, "How…how did that happen? You told me before that your were a Jedi, then a Sith, but I don't know what any of that means."
"Ah," Solace clicked his tongue. "I forgot about that, sorry. Alright, I tell you the story, but let me get comfortable first." As the man took a seat by the young firebender, those linked in the present finally took in his features. And the fact that he was glowing.
He had a short black goatee and a rather handsome face, with eyes that seemed to shift between yellow and gold every second. He wore what looked like a mix of a robe and a long coat, cut around the thighs for mobility with a simple leather belt and a length of chain looped around his chest like a sash.
Darth Solace sighed, stroking his glowing chin. "I guess I should start from the beginning," he muttered to himself before clearing his throat. "You see, Zuko, I was born as a slave. For the first ten years of my life, all I knew were chains, pain and misery. But then, she came…Jedi Master Catrid. She killed the slavers and set us free…and when it was discovered that I could use the Force, she took me under her wing as her Padawan. Although I enjoyed learning how to fight, my true passion lay in healing others, in using the Force to save lives."
"…Can you teach me how to do that?" Young Zuko asked quietly, his hands clenching at his knees as he resisted the urge to reach up and touch his still-raw scar.
"Of course, that's next after we properly condition your body," Solace answered, giving him a ghostly pat on the shoulder. "I'd seen enough pain and suffering at that point to know that I never wanted to be the cause…" He gave a bitter laugh with a shake of his head. "What a damn fool I was. My Master trained me for nearly ten years before I gained my Knighthood, but even then, I was becoming dissatisfied with the way the Galaxy was. The Jedi and the Sith were locked in a kind of cold war, where they'd attack, ravage a city of innocents and then we'd retaliate, drive them away then try to pick up the pieces."
The former Jedi growled under his breath. "I advocated for a more proactive approach, fighting the Sith man-to-man before they could take anymore lives. But what did that Council of self-righteous droids say? 'Oh no, we can't, that would go against the Will of the Force.' They wanted to sit and wait until…something happened." He snorted in disgust. "So I left. I was so caught up in my loathing for the Jedi that, when the Sith came calling, I joined them without a second thought."
Young Zuko looked up at Solace with confusion written on his features. "But…they were the ones causing all the trouble. They were responsible for everything you hated," he pointed out with a frown.
"Yeah," Darth Solace agreed with a nod. "They were. At that point, I didn't care. If no one was going to face down the Sith, I might as well join them, try to mitigate the damage they were doing from the inside. Again, I was a damn fool; you don't stand in front of a tidal wave, you grab everyone you care for and get out of the way." He sighed softly. "As much as I dislike the Jedi, the Sith were worse. If it wasn't poison, a 'training accident' or a suicide mission, it was blatant assassination. It didn't matter if they were a friend or family member, if they got in the way of a Sith's ambition, they were moved, violently."
He chuckled humorlessly. "It was only because of my ability with healing that I survived; in fact, without all the attempts on my life, I wouldn't've become as skilled as I was. Them trying to kill me made me a better a healer." The spirit stroked his goatee thoughtfully. "Eventually, I worked my way up the ranks until they had no choice but to recognize me as a Darth, and grant me my name, Solace. See, most every Darth has a name connected to misfortune or violence; hell, I even knew a guy Darth Vilense. By naming me after something good, they thought they'd given me the biggest insult imaginable, but really, I took it as a compliment. You know why?"
"Because you're a healer?" Zuko offered carefully.
His ancestor laughed aloud, clapping in mirth. "Exactly! I made the Dark Council sit up, and pay attention…to a Healer! They really couldn't have complimented me more! That's why, even after I left the Sith behind, I still call myself Darth Solace. It just makes me all warm and fuzzy inside." He settled back against the wall, still quietly chuckling.
His descendant frowned thoughtfully. "Why did you leave the Sith? You said you hated them, but you were with them long enough to gain a title. Why leave after that?"
Darth Solace snorted. "You don't go for the easy questions, do you? I left because I realized that for all my skill, for all the power my title gave me…I couldn't do a damn thing to change the Sith. Eventually, I grew tired of doing nothing, and I left." He closed his eyes tightly, long-set pain on his features. "And that…that is when I met the love of my life, and my eventual wife, Ridia. She was…so beautiful, so kind and loving but a fearsome warrior in her own right. And she was like me, someone tired of the war between the Sith and the Jedi, tired of seeing the death and destruction they wrought. Two like-minded people couldn't have a real effect on the war, but they could comfort each other. That comfort grew into love and eventually marriage."
The Darth trailed off with a wistful sigh, and he looked so peaceful at that moment that Zuko was loathe to break it. But the story still wasn't over, and he hated leaving stories unfinished. "What happened after that?" he started, then hurriedly added, "And don't tell me a-about the stuff old people do!"
Solace chuckled knowingly. "You read my mind, Zuko." His visage grew serious. "My love and I were together for five years…five amazing years of love and joy I had never thought possible. But then…she fell to a wasting illness, one that had no cure. For all my skills, they were useless in saving her. When my last attempt failed, I fell into despair…and from my desperation, I created my greatest achievement…and my greatest mistake."
He stood from the wall, turning face Zuko with a face that might as well have been carved from stone. "I developed a technique of unprecedented utility, although that only became obvious later," Darth Solace began. "The Force penetrates us and binds us all together, but every living being, even plants and rocks, emanate the Force. It is what gives us life…and I learned how to siphon that energy away, turning it into pure Life Force. With it, I could heal even the most grievous wounds, regrow limbs in an hour, eradicate even the most fatal disease…or crush a ship into a ball of scrap, generate a bolt of Force Lightning strong enough to disintegrate a rancor, choke a score of men with a thought…"
As he looked up at the man towering over him, the banished prince felt a sense of dread, a sense of impending terror that he could not comprehend. Though they shared the golden eyes, what he saw behind Darth Solace's was a breadth and depth of knowledge and power, and in that moment Zuko understood just what it was like to be an insect. He thought he'd known what being insignificant was like.
He'd been wrong.
"…And all I wanted was to save my wife," Solace said softly, his presence diminishing slightly. "So excited I was, to discover something that could save her, that I neglected the first steps of any treatment. Make sure it works. As. Intended. I…did not. And by doing so, the technique I developed to save her, to siphon my own Life Force into her…backfired."
"…W-what?" Zuko asked faintly. Echoes of disbelief and horror echoed through the link.
"I absorbed her Life Force," he stated, "In my desperation to save her life…I killed my wife."
"That…that's…you-you killed-!" The banished prince stuttered in disbelief. "That's-!"
"Unforgivable? Dishonorable? Evil?" Solace offered flatly. "Believe me, Zuko, there aren't any words for what I did, none that I haven't repeatedly said of myself. I won't make excuses for my actions, but you must understand…no one could hold me more accountable than myself."
Young Zuko sat back against the wall, running a hand over his sweaty forehead. "…What," he started, pausing to clear his throat. "What happened after that?"
"I tried to balance the scales," the former Sith said, pacing in front of his descendant. "After I laid her to rest, I traveled across the Galaxy. At every world I visited, I found the worst scum…and every one of them, I used my new technique on. I drained their Life Force and then, I found their victims. I healed those on the brink of death, those who couldn't be saved by medicine. I hoped that by doing so, I could earn some sort of forgiveness…instead, I only made things worse."
Zuko coughed in disbelief. "H-how?!"
"Life Force, Zuko, pure Life Force," he turned to the young firebender, reaching a hand up to touch his face. "Manipulating such power…even age is no consequence. By the time I drew the attention of the Jedi and the Sith, I'd traveled to a hundred worlds, saved thousands of lives and ended thousands more…and yet, over the decades, I remained the same. I was, for all intents and purposes…immortal. The Jedi saw me and my technique as an abomination, something to be wiped from history, while the Sith…they just wanted more power."
Solace shook his head. "I ran from them for years, vainly hoping that they would lose interest if I was fast enough. Obviously, it didn't work; chaos, death and destruction followed wherever I went and I eventually came to realize that, after all the time I spent cleaning up after all the battles and disasters between the Jedi and the Sith…I had become the disaster." He laughed bitterly. "Yet another failure. I knew that it could not continue, though I killed every Jedi or Sith that came after me, they just wouldn't stop…eventually, they even banded together, once I had left one alive to spread the message that I was intending to use my new power and take over the Galaxy."
Zuko tilted his head curiously. "And they believed that?"
"Of course they did. Once someone gets powerful enough, they seem to always want to take over the Galaxy," he huffed softly. "Of course, that was just a distraction while I made a plan that would end the chaos for good. I found an uninhabited planet, barren for the most part but still life-supporting. Then, over several months, I siphoned the Life Force of the planet into myself."
The banished prince gaped unabashedly at his ancestor. "…You can do that?" He whispered, unsure if he was horrified or awed.
Darth Solace nodded solemnly. "Everything, Zuko, everything exists as part of the Force. Of course, I couldn't drain the entirety of the planet's Life Force, I would've exploded, but I eventually had enough for my purposes. And, when I was ready, I made myself a beacon in the Force, drawing the combined fleet of Sith and Jedi to that barren rock. As they descended on me, I enacted the second part of my plan." He smiled viciously, his eyes glinting even through the glow. "I Pulled a portion of the local asteroid belt into the planet's orbit."
"Asteroids?" Zuko asked, "What are those?"
"Free-floating rocks, anywhere from the size of a pebble to a mountain," he explained, tapping his chin in thought. "Like that comet you told me about, except that they don't move…not exactly, I don't want to get into physics with you. Needless to say, asteroids are extremely dangerous by themselves, but especially so when they've been pulled into the path of a fleet. Less than a third of the ships escaped the destruction, and the few that made it through were destroyed when the asteroids rained across the surface of the planet. In the end, with most of their forces gone and the planet ruined, they thought I was dead and left to recover…just as I planned."
Solace sat down in front of Zuko, resting his chin on his fist. "I took my ship and I headed for Wild Space, beyond the reach of the Sith or the Jedi. I don't know long I traveled, I spent most of it in meditation, but eventually I came upon a system with a single planet capable of supporting life. It was wild, with only pockets of primitive tribes, but it was…perfect, for someone who just wanted to get away." He paused, sighing deeply. "No one could know who I was, and I wanted to leave my past behind me. When I landed, I buried my ship and approached the local tribe, offering to help in any way I could. At that point, a simple life was all I wanted. But then…"
"Then what?" The young firebender grouched. "Did your ship explode and cause an earthquake?"
The former Sith turned a blank look on the younger man. "No," he said carefully, "Though I can see why you would think that. No, what happened is that one of the women was heavily pregnant, and went into labor. Naturally, being a healer, I was present and helped deliver the child safely. It was as I watched this new family, their baby girl crying in their arms, that I realized how much I missed being a healer. Death and destruction had been my instruments for so long that I had forgotten how happy it made me to save lives. So, I dedicated myself to helping the primitive people I'd met. I taught them medicine, taught them how to speak Trade and then…I left to find the other tribes and spread the knowledge to them."
"You didn't teach them about the Sith or Jedi?" Zuko asked confusedly. "Why?"
The former Jedi frowned at him. "Why the hell would I? I faked my death to get away from that, and it's not like they'd just show up one day, the Galaxy would need to be unified into a singular force before they'd expand passed known space, and that's never going to happen. Don't worry about them, they're never going to be a factor here." He opened his mouth continue, but stopped. "Where was I?"
"You were traveling the world," his descendant said, stretching his arms out over his head and wondering when the story would be over. He needed a shower something fierce.
"Ah yes, I traveled around the world, visiting the other tribes to teach them about medicine and such. In thanks they gifted me with the most valuable thing they had to offer." He gave Zuko a dry look. "Fertile women; though I'd picked up some followers along the way. By the time I had finished, I had ten wives and over a hundred followers, and I was tired of traveling. I was satisfied with what I'd done, and I wanted a place to call my own, so I settled us in the blasted-out crater of a dormant volcano, a caldera."
"Caldera City," Zuko whispered in revelation.
"That's what it came to be called, yes," Solace nodded. "During my travels, I'd come across something strange. There were these people, on the outside indistinguishable from everyone else but on the inside…before, I thought it was the Force, simply moving things with their mind…but when I looked deeper it was…something else. Wilder. Still the Force, but…different. These people could bend the elements to their will. Even my children could do so, but with fire. And for some reason, they treated this new, unique ability like a tool. Just something to start a campfire, cook a meal or light a path in the night."
"Wait," the banished prince spoke up, "Your children, my ancestors…could they use the Force?"
Darth Solace shrugged. "Some of them, yes. Some of them were benders who could also use the Force, but others could only bend or had no special ability at all. I loved them all equally, but I will admit a slight bias towards my bending children. See, I saw them draw on this Wild Force but their flames were weak. I taught them how to draw on their emotions, to fuel their fire with their passion and defend themselves against the stronger benders." He chuckled ruefully. "At the time, I thought I was showing them how to protect themselves, but now…all I did was create a smaller pyromaniac version of the Sith."
Zuko didn't know how to address that. "If you were almost immortal, how did you die?"
"I had lived long enough to see my wives grow old and die, and my children had children of their own. My time had passed, so I began to siphon my Life Force into this world and eventually, I began to die." His face hardened as he turned to Zuko, his golden eyes glowing. "But on my deathbed, I had one last vision. This world, consumed in flames…and standing before it, laughing, was a man with my eyes. With the last of my strength, I created my holocron, turned it into a container for my spirit, and hid it inside the temple; hoping that one day, the one who could fix my mistakes would come."
"…And you think that's me?" Young Zuko asked quietly. "But I…I'm just a Firebender. A failure of a Crown Prince."
"No, Zuko," Solace said softly, kneeling in front of him. "You are so much more than what you believe. You may not see it yet, but I do. You are my only hope. The last chance for my legacy to be more than failure after failure. It is my fault the world is how it is…it is up to my descendants to fix it. But that doesn't mean I won't give you all the help I can."
"I…" The banished prince swallowed thickly. "…I will try," he whispered. Through the link, they felt embarrassment and amusement in unequal measures.
"That is all I ask," Darth Solace squeezed his shoulder gently. "Tomorrow, we will continue your training. Until then, go get washed up. You smell-and I'm dead-so you know it's bad."
Vertigo struck and the ship faded away in a black swirl and suddenly, they were back in the North Pole, sitting before a table of food in a comfortable room. Zuko dropped Katara and Uncle's hand, leaning back heavily in his short chair as sweat beaded on his forehead. He rasped dryly, motioning for a jug of water. Uncle reached for it but stopped as water flowed from the mouth, across the table and into the cup Katara held, which she quickly handed off.
Taking a deep drink, the former prince wiped his face with his sleeve and gave her a grateful nod. "Thank you," he murmured, sighing as he shook his head tiredly. "Sorry, I didn't think it would take so much out of me."
Sokka sat back in his chair, one hand rising to rub his cheek while the other squeezed Yue's. "All of…that was beyond crazy," he said faintly, lifting a serious look on the firebenders. "And this isn't some kind of insane prank?"
"I'm afraid not," Uncle intoned solemnly, folding his arms into his sleeves. "Everything Solace said is true. Perhaps you've heard the stories, the myths of the Wiseman who gifted our ancestors with knowledge?"
The Princess gasped. "I do!" She breathed, before frowning in confusion. "But…the legend said he had blue eyes…"
"Who would you be more willing to trust?" Iroh offered with a shrug, "A strange man? Or one who looks like you?"
The Tribals conceded his point with a nod, with Katara glancing at Zuko as he regained his breath. "If he was a healer and he taught you…" She began slowly, frowning in thought. "…Does that mean you've been able to heal this entire time?"
"Yeah," Zuko nodded. "I'm not quite as good as he was-I don't think anybody could be-but I can heal."
The Waterbender blinked at him in surprise before she scowled. "Then why didn't you heal yourself before the invasion?!"
"That's what I said, as well," Uncle muttered disapprovingly.
"And I told you, that's because they wouldn't be facing a Force-user, and Firebenders can't heal!" The former prince shot back, setting his cup on the table and crossing his arms. "If we had to act like enemies, then we had to do it right. Healing myself would've broken character."
"Well then, why didn't you heal after you stopped Zhao?" Katara continued, unwilling to drop her point even as she mimicked his pose.
The firebender gave her a dry look. "I need to focus to heal with the Force," he said simply. "It's a little hard to focus with a punctured lung."
"Oh," she realized, looking at the table with an embarrassed blush. "I said I was sorry about that," she murmured, playing with a hair loopie.
"Don't be. You took advantage of my distraction and laid me out with one move," Zuko smiled slightly in approval. "I respect that."
The waterbender flushed deeper, and both Aang and Sokka frowned at him, though for different reasons. "Zuko…" The Avatar began, "What Solace could do, that life force thing…can you do that, too?"
The Firebender sighed uncomfortably. "Yes," he answered, raising a hand when Aang made to protest. "I know how to use it, but I've only ever used it once and that was on a fish. After that, I swore I'd never use it again."
"Why not?" Sokka asked, hurriedly adding, "Not that I can't see why, I'm just asking."
Zuko sighed again. "So many problems could be traced back to the instant Solace created that technique," he said softly. "His wife, being chased…coming to our world. The one time I used it, the power I felt was…intoxicating, like I'd eaten the finest meal and had the best night of sleep in my life, like I could do anything…I didn't like it. And I didn't want to learn it in the first place. When I told him that…"
Zuko and Iroh shuddered at the memory of the metal of their ship groaning under the weight of Solace's displeasure. "'There will come a time where your skills will fail you,'" the older firebender murmured, staring at the steam rising from his tea, "'And when they do, someone you love will pay the price. When their blood runs thick through your fingers and you know true despair, then you will see the benefits of my technique.' That is what he told us."
"And I figured it was better to have it and not need it than the opposite," the former prince added. "I just hope that time never comes."
Uncle hummed in agreement. "So, Avatar," he began, the atmosphere lightening as he smiled warmly. "Have you and your friends heard enough of our story to make a decision?"
"Yeah! You can totally-!" Aang paused as he looked at the Water Tribe siblings. "I mean, this should be a team discussion, so we should discuss this-as a team." The three of them huddled together in a circle about three feet away from the table, with Momo circling their heads. "Guys, what do you think we should do? I mean-"
Zuko leaned towards his Uncle, whispering out of the corner of his mouth. "Do they think we can't hear them? We're not that far away."
"Then we should pay them of courtesy of pretending we aren't eavesdropping," Iroh said back, turning to the amused Water Tribe Princess with a smile. "So, Princess Yue, Zuko told me the story of your birth. It's quite amazing to be so connected to a Spirit as you are."
"Oh, indeed, General Iroh," Yue replied with a hint of color in her cheeks, playing with a strand of her white hair. "I sometimes get flashes of emotion from Tui and what I think are thoughts, but they're so…different. It's humbling, and reminds me how of fortunate I am to have been saved. Also, I know exactly when the tides come in or out."
"Fascinating," Zuko murmured, the princess flushing further under his searching golden eyes. "You must be quite the Waterbender, then."
She shook her head slowly. "Oh no, I'm not a Waterbender."
The Firebenders traded frowns before looking at her curiously. "Are you sure?" Iroh asked gently, "You are connected to one of the fundamental forces of Waterbending. I don't see how you could be anything other than a Waterbender, Princess, and a phenomenal one, at that."
"…You make a good point," Yue muttered to herself, tapping her chin in thought. "I suppose learning how to heal would be beneficial."
"Just healing?" Zuko asked, gesturing at the still-huddled group. "Not fighting? I'm sure if you asked Katara, she could help you get started."
"Oh no, Master Katara is a special situation," the Princess denied with a shake of her head. "Here, all Waterbending women become Healers, that's the tradition."
The former prince frowned at her. "That's stupid," he said bluntly.
"Nephew," Iroh warned softly, turning back to the Princess. "What he means to say is that we find that tradition to be quite strange, especially in these times of strife. In the Fire Nation, men and women are considered equal in all things, and advancement is based on personal ability and power. Firebenders and non-benders aren't quite the same, but everyone has a place, should they strive for it."
Yue sighed, playing with her empty teacup. "That does sound nice," she muttered to herself. "You've given me a lot to think about, General Iroh."
"Please, call me Uncle," Uncle said warmly. "More tea?"
"Oh, yes please."
As they began a polite conversation, Zuko turned his attention to the food, a thick brown stew in particular. Serving himself a bowl, he poked a chunk of what looked like meat with a spoon, taking a scoop and carefully eating it. As he chewed, his eyebrows slowly rose as he looked down at the stew like he'd never seen anything like it before. Reaching over, the former prince tugged on Uncle's sleeve. "Uncle, you have to try this," he stated firmly, holding the bowl under the older firebender's nose.
"Ah, stewed sea prunes," Iroh recognized, gently pushing it away. "I have tried them before, Nephew, and they are not to my taste. Are you enjoying them?"
"Yes," Zuko muttered, shoving another spoonful in his mouth. "They're really good."
"Alright!" Aang declared, spinning around to face the table with a wide grin. "We've come to a-Zuko?"
The former prince looked up from his bowl, his cheeks stuffed with prunes. Flushing horribly, he chewed and swallowed, wiping his mouth with a napkin. "Yes?" He asked, surreptitiously serving himself another bowl.
At his side, Katara muffled a giggle behind her hand. "Uh, we decided you guys can come with us! Welcome to the team!" The Avatar declared happily, the flying lemur on his shoulder chittering. "Although…you're still prisoners. I'll talk to Chief Arnook, he'll let you go!"
"Do not worry, Avatar Aang," Iroh smiled, "We have already secured our freedom. We were simply waiting to hear your decision, and we are honored to accept a place with you."
"Oh, that's good," Aang said cheerfully, leaning back in his seat with his hands behind his head. "This is gonna be so fun!"
…
The doors parted before her, swinging open silently as she walked into the throne and knelt before the throne, a wall of pulsing fire between her and the Fire Lord. As it was the only source of light in the room, she couldn't see his face, but she could feel his burning gaze on her. "Princess Azula," he began, his sinister voice echoing through the room. "I have a task for you."
"How may I serve the Fire Lord?" Azula asked softly, her eyes on the floor.
"It appears that your traitorous uncle's presence has finally poisoned the Crown Prince," he growled. "Your brother-" the fire before him briefly burned brighter, with a blue tinge before it faded, "-has turned his back on us, his home, and his Fire Lord. You will find them, Princess Azula, and you will bring their heads back to me. Wipe this stain from our glorious line…For the Fire Nation."
"I will succeed," she promised, tilting her head up to look at him, a smile curling her lips.
"Of that, I have no doubt…my daughter."
It was not a nice smile.
…
They stood together on the deck of a wooden ship, the Avatar, two members of the Southern Water Tribe and two former members of Fire Nation Royalty. Chief Arnook, Waterbending Master Pakku and Princess Yue stood with them, bearing smiles and sorrow in equal measure. "Although I am sad to see you leave, I am thankful for all you've done, personally," Arnook glanced at his daughter, her eyes locked with Sokka's, "And for the Northern Water Tribe as a whole."
"I'm just sorry the invasion happened in the first place," Aang said quietly, before perking up. "But I'm glad we could help! That's what the Avatar does, after all!"
"Indeed," the Chief chuckled lightly, pulling Zuko and Iroh aside as Pakku stepped forward. "Listen, I may not like you or the Fire Nation, but I can respect the risks you've taken and the danger you've put yourselves in by allying with the Avatar."
Even without the Force, Zuko could see that there was more to the conversation. "…And?"
Arnook sighed, looking over at his daughter who was now softly murmuring to Sokka in-between kisses. "The night my daughter was born was both the best and worst day of my life. We thought she'd been stillborn, but the Moon Spirit blessed her with life…but at the same time, I received a vision. A vision of a beautiful white-haired girl sacrificing her life to become the Moon Spirit." He leveled a serious gaze on the two Firebenders, his eyes shining with a depth of pain and pride only Iroh could recognize. "But thanks to you two, that vision hasn't come to pass, and I still have my daughter. As a Chieftain, you saved my heir and our Princess; and as thanks, I gift you with these."
A pair of guards stepped forward, handing off bundles to the Firebenders. Iroh unwrapped his to find a Pai Sho table stitched into a sturdy blanket, along with tiles carved from ivory and several pouches of herbs and tea leaves. Zuko opened his bundle, finding within a hooded robe of tough but flexible leather, cut around the thighs for mobility and without sleeves. And wrapped within was a pair of dao blades, a sheathed knife, black clothing and a mask depicting the toothy grin of the Blue Spirit.
"You have no need to thank us, Chief Arnook," Iroh said formally, bowing at the waist. "But your gifts are most appreciated."
"Indeed," Zuko murmured, hiding the mask within the bundle and tucking it under his arm to bow as well. "We are just trying to balance the scales."
"In any case, that's not all I have for you," Arnook continued, his smile fading as he stepped forward, lowering his voice. "This morning, I asked Tui and La for a suitable reward because as a parent, you saved my darling little girl from sacrificing herself and that's not something I can ever repay…but I think these will be a good start."
He handed something to the former prince, something that clinked softly and felt like ice in his hands. Peering down, Zuko found a pair of crystals, each less than three inches long. One was a deep, dark blue while the other was a light, almost white blue. He stared at them for a long second, uncomprehending, before realization struck. "Uncle-!"
Iroh chuckled deeply, amusement plain on the lines of his face. "The Spirits always find a way to surprise us, Nephew."
"I don't know why the Spirits would give you crystallized water from the Spirit Oasis," the Chief shrugged, "But please, use them well."
"We will," Zuko promised, bowing again. They joined the main group as Pakku handed Katara a vial containing water from the Spirit Oasis and gave Aang a scroll of advanced Waterbending techniques.
"-The Avatar will have to get used to calling you 'Master' Katara," Pakku finished warmly. "And the time has long since passed that our sister tribe has been left alone. I, and several of my students, are traveling to the South Pole. And perhaps I will carve Kanna a new necklace."
Katara lunged forward, grabbing the old man in a tight hug. "I think she'll be happy to see you," she said happily, stepping back and sharing a deep bow with the older Waterbender. "Master Pakku."
"Master Katara," Pakku nodded, his eyes falling on Sokka and Yue. "Ahem. I think it's time to get going, Princess."
They parted with equal blushes. "Yue, the next time we meet," Sokka promised lowly, "I'll have a necklace for you…i-if you want me to, I mean."
"I would like nothing more," Yue replied softly, a beautiful smile lighting up her face. "And by the time we meet again, I'll be a Master Waterbender…hopefully. It'll be quite a challenge living up to the standards Master Katara set."
"I believe in you, if that helps," the Water Tribe warrior offered with a wink. "But we've gotta go, now…have to save the world and all that stuff."
The Northern Water Tribe Princess clasped his hands in hers and gave him one last lingering kiss before stepping back. "I believe in you too, Sokka. Keep in touch, okay?"
"I will," he swore, squeezing her hands before letting them go, climbing into Appa's saddle with the others. He leaned against the edge, smiling goofily as Aang flicked the reins and they took to the air. They watched as the Northern Tribals waved, even as they grew smaller and smaller on the wooden deck of the ship.
Before long, they were flying over an empty stretch of water, the blue ocean reaching out in all directions. Sokka sighed longingly, still looking in the direction of the North Pole. "Soaring through the sky, like a dragon of old," Iroh murmured, enjoying the feel of the wind on his face. "Truly, your sky-bison is magnificent, Avatar Aang."
"Yep, Appa's the best!" Aang chirped, rubbing the bison's head affectionately. Another longing sigh came from the warrior. Hopping into the saddle, the Airbender smiled widely at the two firebenders. "It'll be a while until we reach ground! Anyone want to tell a few stories?"
Uncle chuckled genially, folding his hands into his sleeves. "I would love to. Tell me, have you ever heard the Tale of the Turtle-duck That Wanted to Become a Dragon? It was Zuko's favorite bedtime story."
"Uncle…" Zuko groaned under his breath, palming his face in embarrassment as Aang and Katara giggled. Sokka sighed again. "I'm going to meditate." Ignoring the voices and the rush of wind in his ears, the former prince closed his eyes and sank into the Force, setting himself adrift in the tides. As he floated peacefully, he flexed his senses and felt the presences of the people around him.
Uncle's spark was small but steady, and although he could use the Force to push and pull, he mainly used it to cheat at Pai Sho. Zuko felt like frowning when he sensed another presence in the saddle, but the amount of Wild Force energy Aang bled out overwhelmed the search.
Turning away from the his new team, Zuko cast his mind out into the energy of the world, noting the presences of unknowing Force-users near and far, though he couldn't pinpoint them exactly. He mentally perked up as he felt that feminine presence join him in the eddies of the Force, noting with some concern the irritation she felt. He sent the impression of an understanding smile, the brush of a warm hand over tense shoulders that became a gentle hug.
The woman sent back an impression of grateful eyes, the relaxing of muscles and a head leaning into his shoulder, all the tense dissatisfaction escaping in a breath that brushed his throat. He resisted the urge to ask, who are you? Every time he did, the feminine presence would shy away as if ashamed and vanish, usually for a day or two before returning, subdued and sad. Whoever the presence was, he hated making her feel unhappy, and so refrained.
He felt a touch of wordless concern, like a fingertip on his chin. Don't worry, I'm safe, he sent with reassurance. Things are going to get a bit more chaotic, but I will try to meet you here…before I find you outside of the Force, that is.
Amusement, like a giggle, echoed from her. Not for a while yet, he received, resisting the urge to frown. All in good time. Her presence settled against his comfortably and they fell into a lull, rocking together in the tides of the Force until he felt a poke on his physical shoulder.
With a regretful sigh, he pulled away from her, reaching up to rest a hand on her cheek as she did the same. I've got to go. I'll see you soon. With one last touch, they broke away and Zuko inhaled sharply as he sat up in the saddle. "What do you want?" He asked shortly.
Katara arched an eyebrow at him. "I thought meditation is supposed to make people less grumpy."
He frowned at her grumpily. "It is…when it isn't interrupted." Sokka sighed longingly. "Sokka…"
"Ah, you were with her again, weren't you?" The older firebender nodded knowingly.
"Her who?" The Waterbender asked intensely, narrowing her eyes on Uncle.
Zuko sighed, brushing a hand through his short hair. "There's a presence I can feel in the Force, someone who feels like a woman. She feels familiar, but I don't know who or where she is." He shrugged, leaning back against the saddle. "We always seem to find each other when we meditate. What did you need me for?"
"We're trying to come up with a schedule!" Aang chirped, holding Momo's tail as the flying lemur streamed out of the saddle like a flag. "It'll take about a week to get the Earth Kingdom base, but there's some stuff we gotta do along the way!"
"…And this stuff is more important than learning Earthbending?" The former prince asked slowly.
"All practice and no maintenance leads to a dull blade, Nephew," Iroh offered with a genial smile. "And there's a lovely hot springs resort on the way. I haven't exfoliated my pores in weeks, Zuko. Weeks."
"It's better to learn at our own pace," Katara added with a small smile. "Besides, Aang still needs to work on his Waterbending."
Zuko shrugged. "That's fair, I guess," and Sokka sighed once more. "Sokka-!" Zuko and Katara paused in their growling, blinking at each other before he nodded.
She nodded back and lightly punched her brother's shoulder. "Sokka! I swear if you sigh one more time, I'm going to push you out of the saddle and you can swim back to the North Pole!"
"But Katara!" Sokka whined, slumping bonelessly in the saddle. "I miss my Snow Princess so much!"
"Ah, young love," Uncle sniffed. "They say absence makes the heart the grow fonder."
"Right." Zuko snorted, his mind on his 'father' and 'sister.' "Why are we going to an Earth Kingdom base? We don't need supplies."
"They're going to escort us into the city of Omashu, officially this time," Aang replied, perking up as Appa grunted. "Hey, look! Land! I think we've traveled far enough for today, guys." He hopped onto the sky-bison's head and took the reins, directing them to land in a clearing amidst the sea of grass and brush below.
Appa landed with a quiet thump, lowing contentedly as the Avatar dropped from his head and gave him a loving scratch. Zuko hopped down from the saddle, reaching up to offer a hand to his uncle. The older firebender took the help with a gracious smile, hitting the ground with a grunt as he shook out his numb legs. Katara stood in the saddle, unpacking the saddle-bags and handing supplies down to the men below. "I think I saw a stream over that way," she called, pointing to the east. "Let's get settled in and then we'll practice our forms, alright Aang?"
"Gotcha, Sifu Katara!" The Avatar answered cheerfully, already gathering stones for a firepit. "Hey guys, you wanna watch us practice? Maybe you've got some advice!"
"I would very much enjoy that, Avatar Aang," Iroh smiled, unrolling his bedroll with a flick of his wrists. "I've studied Waterbending in my spare time; perhaps I can offer an outsiders point of view."
"That'd be great," Katara replied, handing a cooking pot and bags of food down to Zuko, hopping down after them. "Hard to believe a Firebender would study a Waterbender, though."
"Know your enemy," Zuko murmured, giving her a flat stare that made her blink, before breaking into a small smirk. "There's a lot we can learn from each other, especially when it comes to Bending. Uncle and I incorporate Airbending styles into our Firebending."
He nearly dropped the pot when Aang popped up next to him, wide grey eyes sparkling. "Really?!" The Avatar gasped, nearly seizing Zuko's arm in excitement.
"We traveled to several of the Air Temples in search of you, Avatar Aang," Uncle spoke up, chuckling as he fed Momo a piece of dried fruit. "While most were destroyed, we found a few scrolls that had survived the invasions and learned from the techniques within."
"…Really?" Aang asked with quiet hope. "Do you have them?"
"Unfortunately not, Avatar," Iroh said regretfully. "But rest assured, they are kept in the safest place we know of, and they will remain there until you wish them returned."
The Avatar sighed quietly. "It's probably better to keep them hidden," he muttered, scratching his bald head. "But it's good to know we're not the only thing left, right buddy?" And just like that, he was back to being chipper as he hugged Appa's head.
Katara hummed as she looked at their food supplies. "Tonight seems like a soup night," she said to herself, hefting the pot onto her shoulder. "Sokka, can you gather some firewood? And if you're not done by the time I get back, you don't get dinner."
Zuko matched her pace as she set out from the clearing. "I'll come with you," he stated, meeting her surprised look with a blank, "What?"
"Nothing," she shrugged, a small smile on her lips. "I just think it's nice we aren't fighting anymore."
"Yeah," he agreed with a nod. "I still want to spar with you on occasion, though. Keep our skills sharp." Zuko paused, dropping to one knee as he examined a small, leafy plant nestled in the base of a tree. Drawing his knife, he bundled the herb together and cut through the stems. "Wild mint," he said simply, cleaning his knife and storing the herb away in a pouch.
"You know how to forage?" the Waterbender asked, slightly impressed. "I thought you'd have people to do that for you."
"Uncle taught me how to identify herbs and spices," the former prince replied, "When you live on a ship for the better part of three years, you get tired of salted fish really quick." Stopping again, he knelt to examine a small flowery plant with almost violently purple petals. With a quiet, "Ah," Zuko burnt it to a crisp with a burst of flame. "Strangle Violet," he said simply.
"Oh," Katara murmured, perking up slightly at the sound of running water. Setting the pot down by the stream, she took a moment to dip her hands in the water and splash her face. Blinking droplets from her eyes, she peered into the shallows, tracking the slim silver forms darting in and out of sight. "I think roasted fish would go well with vegetable soup. And it'd be seperate so Aang won't have a problem…besides the fishing, anyway."
"I'll clean them if you catch them," Zuko offered, drinking steaming water from his cupped hands. "I can smoke a few if you want, help stretch our supplies a little."
"That sounds great, thanks," she said with a smile, already moving through simple, flowing motions as she bent a thin stream of water into the pot. "Hey, Zuko." He arched an eyebrow at her in question. "Think fast!"
The firebender frowned at her before his eyes widened and he leaned back, just in time to dodge a silver fish as it sailed passed his nose. He dipped, ducked and dodged a veritable salvo of fish as Katara launched them from the stream. When she stopped, Zuko looked down at the silver fish as they flopped weakly on the grass, a small smirk on his lips. "You miss-" With a flick of her fingers, another jumped from the stream and slapped his face. "…Ow."
Katara giggled loudly at the surprised and slightly wet look on his face. "Gotcha!" She crowed, a hand coming up to cover her mouth as he wiped the moisture from his face. He scowled at her, but was unable to hold back a smile at her laughter, shaking his head as he knelt at the stream to clean his cheek.
"See if I make you any tea, now," Zuko muttered, lying through his teeth.
"Right," the waterbender said knowingly, tapping her nose. Her mirth faded as she found herself staring at the suffocating fish. "Hey, Zuko?"
"Yeah?"
"When you used that…thing on a fish…what happened to it?" She asked carefully.
He sighed, running hand through his short hair. "After I absorbed all of its energy, it collapsed into dust," he explained shortly. "Life Force isn't just our life, it's what animates us, what makes us move. And when there's none of it left…"
Katara blanched as a vision hit her of a beautiful woman, once strong now gaunt and pale, collapsing into dust as a horrified man with golden eyes stood over her. She tried to shake the image away, her hair loopies smacking against her cheeks. "…I wish I didn't ask."
Zuko grunted, toeing a still-struggling fish into the water, watching as it darted away. "Yeah."
She slapped her cheeks gently, kneeling in the grass as she retrieved a fishing line, threading it through the gills of the dead fish. "Can you carry the pot back? I'll carry the fish." He grunted agreeably, heaving the pot up into his arms as they set off back to camp. "I'm sorry I brought it up."
"You're curious, it's understandable," he muttered, pausing as a small cluster of brown mushrooms caught his eye. "Will you grab those for me? I'll add them to the soup." He held a leg out toward her. "You can use my knife."
"Good idea," she murmured, kneeling down to harvest the mushrooms, the characters on the almost pearlescent blade catching her eye. "Huh. This is a really nice knife, Zuko."
"Uncle gave it to me," the former prince recalled fondly. "I've learned to live by the motto."
"'Made in the Earth Kingdom?'" She read aloud.
"Other side," he corrected.
"Oh," Katara flipped the blade around in her hand. "'Never give up without a fight,'" she whispered, the words resonating through her comfortably, sparking something warm in her chest. She slipped it back into his boot as she stood, her eyes meeting his. "Good motto."
"Yeah."
They returned to camp in comfortable silence to find a patient Iroh trying to teach a bouncing Aang Pai Sho, while a depressed Sokka lay face-down next to a pile of wood with a chittering Momo tugging on his wolf-tail. They shared a sigh and a smile as Katara began to cut up the ingredients for the soup and Zuko lit the fire with a quick breath. "Aang, why don't you head for the stream and I'll join you once the soup's started?"
The Airbender noticed the dangling forms of the fish and turned slightly green, nodding quickly before scooting off, with Iroh rising to follow him. "I'll keep an eye on him," he said with a wink.
With Aang gone, the former prince got to work gutting and cleaning the fish, spitting a few next to flames to roast while setting the rest aside to be smoked. "I'll watch the soup while you work with Aang," Zuko murmured to the waterbender. "It should be close to done by the time you get back."
Katara flashed him a bright smile and gave the soup a final stir before standing up. "Thanks Zuko," she said, glancing at her sighing brother. "Sorry to leave you with Captain Mopey, though."
"I'm an Admiral in that Navy," he replied dryly, drawing another giggle from her before she left camp. Sokka sighed loudly. "Really, Sokka? Still?"
"Come on, man!" The Water Tribe warrior threw his arms up. "You had a girlfriend before, right? You can sympathize with me, Zuko!"
The former prince arched an eyebrow at him. "'Sympathize,' huh?" He muttered. "Big word."
Sokka frowned at him. "Hey now, just because I have simple needs doesn't make me a simple man!" Zuko stared at him, and his frown turned into a pout. "Yue likes hanging out at the library and reading together is nice."
"Mm," the firebender grunted, rotating the fish and stirring the soup. "And I've never had a girlfriend, Sokka; so no, I can't sympathize with you. It's just annoying."
The boomerang enthusiast sat up, an incredulous expression on his face. "…Really?" He asked slowly. "You, Zuko, have never had a girlfriend before? You?"
Zuko gave him an extremely flat glare. "What's that supposed to mean?" He growled, the fire flaring in response.
"Woah, man, no need to get sparky," Sokka held up his hands. "I'm just saying, some ladies find the whole 'damaged, brooding loner' look attractive, and you're not bad too look at, Zuko." He paused, flushed slightly and hurried to add. "That's what girls think, I mean. A lot of girls, actually. Jerk."
"I'm too busy for that sort of thing, Sokka," the former prince muttered, turning his attention back to the fire.
Now fully invested, the warrior scooted over to the pit. "Come on, Zuko, you've never been close to a lady before?" He needled, ripping up blades of grass and tossing them on the flames. "Personally, I find that hard to believe."
Zuko sighed deeply. "I was close to a girl when I was younger," he admitted, the image of a shyly smiling girl flashing before his eyes. "But anything that could've happened between us ended when I was banished, and definitely can't happen now that I'm a known traitor. I'm not looking forward to her letter next month…if it can even find me."
"Oh yeah," Sokka hummed. "That would be a bit of a turn-off. But hey, maybe once this is all over, you can try again?"
"I don't want to talk about this anymore," Zuko grunted, "And I don't want to hear you sigh every minute…do you know how to play Pai Sho?"
"No," the warrior replied, sitting up interest. "What's it about?"
"It's a game of wit and strategy," the firebender explained, pulling the blanket-board in between them and starting to sort the tiles.
"I do have both of those," Sokka muttered, stroking his chin thoughtfully. "Alright, how do we play?"
Zuko smiled slightly as he set the board up. "It's all about harmonies…"
…
When Aang, Iroh and Katara returned to the camp, the scent of hearty soup and cooking fish filled the air while Sokka and Zuko sat opposite of each other, staring thoughtfully at the board. The firebender hummed to himself and moved a tile, smirking victoriously as the Tribal gasped in disbelief. "I win. Again."
"Aggh!" Sokka grabbed his head frustratedly. "How?!"
"The Red Lotus and White Lotus are disharmonious," Zuko pointed out, tapping the offending pieces with a fingertip.
"But they're both flowers!" The warrior protested, growling as he reset the board. "One more time!"
Katara cleared her throat, making the two look up at her in surprise. "Having fun?" She teased, stepping over to the fire to check the soup.
"I am," the former prince shrugged. "Sokka, not so much."
"I'll get this down soon, just you watch!" the Tribal growled, glaring at his tiles as if they'd offended him.
"I bet," the waterbender murmured, frowning as she found some resistance to her stirring. "Zuko, the bottom of the pot's scorched."
"Oh," Zuko blushed in embarrassment. "Sorry, I wasn't paying attention." He moved over to help her fix the soup, leaving an open space for Uncle to slip in.
"It's better to test your strategies against multiple opponents, Sokka," the older firebender smiled. "Mind if I play against you?"
"Sure!" Sokka grinned, rubbing his hands together as Aang sat nearby, watching with interest. "I think I've got a better strategy this time!"
Zuko blew on a spoonful of soup and tasted it, smacking his lips. "A little more salt," he told Katara, before turning a knowing smirk on his uncle. "Watch out, Sokka. He cheats."
"Oh, Nephew!" Iroh cried dramatically, a hand on his heart. "You wound me with your false accusations!"
"Really? So I just imagined your Jade Camilla tile moving two spaces when we played last week?" The former prince replied sarcastically. "Even though you didn't touch it?"
Uncle paused in thought. "Yes."
Katara shook her head in amusement, ladling up bowls of hot soup. "Dinner's ready," she said, passing dishes out to everyone as Zuko handed the roasted fish to those who wanted it, before adjusting the low-burning logs and setting the remaining fish to smoke. They settled in to eat, watching as Sokka and Iroh battled it out with tiles and harmonies, Aang alternatively cheering and booing on a whim.
Zuko smiled, the memories of dining with his crew and the occasional music night merging with the comfortable atmosphere of the present before a frown made its way across his face. He hoped Lieutenant Jee and the others hadn't been at the North Pole when the invasion went down.
"Zuko?" He glanced up at the soft utterance of his name, finding Katara peering at him with concern in her eyes. "You alright?"
"Yeah," he muttered, stirring his soup. "Just thinking."
"About what?" She asked, setting her empty bowl aside to focus on him.
Zuko sat up, looking seriously at the others. "Actually, this is something I need to tell all of you," he said aloud, garnering their attention. "Earlier today, I sensed something. One of you…one of you can use the Force."
Sokka pointed his spoon at Iroh, who was making Momo chase a chunk of carrot around with telekinesis. "Yeah, him," he garbled around a mouthful of soup. "We know that already."
"No," Zuko stated firmly, before faltering. "I mean, yes he can, but I'm not talking about us."
The fire crackled loudly as he looked at them over the flames, light dancing across his serious visage. "Katara," he pointed at her, then Aang and her brother, "Sokka and Aang. One of you can use the Force."
…
Azula paced across the metal deck of her ship, her brows furrowed in thought as the dying light of the sun grasped at the clouds. "The Avatar has a Sky-bison," she muttered to herself, her heels clicking as she walked. "That means he can move quickly, quicker than my ship. And he's no longer at the North Pole, which means he's mastered Waterbending, or is so close it makes no difference, so he'll be searching for an Earthbending teacher."
Two elderly women watched the Fire Nation Princess pace, watching her through squinted eyes and offering no advice.
"So, I must move quickly over land, but with Iroh and Zuko traveling with them, they'll be more prepared to face Firebenders," Azula said, pausing as a thought occurred. With a cunning smirk, she turned on her heel to face an armored Firebender standing at attention and sweating, resisting the urge to flinch as her gaze came to rest on him. "Captain! Prepare the tank! We're heading out!"
"Yes, Princess! We'll begin pursuing the Avatar immediately!" He saluted and made to move off, freezing in place as Azula held out a hand. "P-princess?"
"The Avatar can wait," she said simply, her eyes glinting dangerously. "I need Mai and Ty Lee."
…
…
…
…
A/N: And wouldya lookit that, another chapter for the new story coming a little more than a week later. GEE, THAT'S NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE.
I do have more ideas for the next few chapters, but I'm going to work on something else, maybe Console or Not A Hero, Not For Hire, let this one steep a bit before I come back.
Let's talk about characters, and Zuko in particular: with the divergence in his backstory and I'm not just talking about Solace, he's much more at peace with himself, his abilities and his place in the world. Basically, late-Book 3 Zuko in Book 1, or 2 now, I guess. Iroh, the Gaang and the like really haven't had much of chance to show their changes yet, not like Iroh needs any changes. He's perfect just the way he is.
Azula, though…let's just say she might surprise you. If you want a hint about her characterization, take a look at my latest chapter of Console. That's all I'll say about that, I'll let the story do the showing when the next chapter comes.
Also, timeline: I fucked with it. I mean, usually I do so in my stories, but I got reason here. So, at the end of Book 1, the Gaang leaves the North Pole, but in Book 2, they're traveling with Pakku, then they set out for the Earth Kingdom base. Meanwhile, Uncle and Zuko are at some kind of resort, and Uncle mentions they survived for three weeks on a raft or something.
To make it less confusing, here's what happened here: The Invasion happened, two days later the Gaang and Yue visit Iroh and Zuko in prison and get the story. Then, three days after that, they set off after getting gifts from Pakku, Arnook and Yue. And it'll take them a week to get to the base, which is where 'The Avatar State' episode takes place.
Which means there's plenty of time for more character interactions! Yay!
Big thanks to AJR3333, NorthSouthGorem, Dareigh and Kurogane7 for editing, being sounding boards and all that. Give 'em all a look and a shout out from me~!
Stay Awesome.
~Soleneus
P.S.: You're probably thinking I'm gonna do another thing like I did in the first chap, but I'm not. Instead, I'm going to talk about Zutara. I like it and not because of some stupid Fire/Water 'opposites attract' BS.
I like it 'cause, at their cores, Katara and Zuko are a lot alike. They're both passionate, driven people who care deeply about the people around them, sometimes to their detriment. 'Never give up without a fight' could be ingrained in their very souls, really.
And that's why I like them.
That's it.
I'm done now.
Stay Awesome Some More.
~still Soleneus
I'm serious, I'm done.
That A/N was like, a page.
Why are you still here?
Show's over, go home.
…
…Ty Lee's adorable.
