TheOrderOfTheWhiteLotus

7/16/12-7/18/12

I always finish what I start… Just another Sokkla Fanfic, takes place after 100 year war and Promise Part 2. (After Promise and before the Search).

I don't own Avatar: The Last Airbender.

Chapter: 1 "The Confrontation"

Sokka rubbed his eyes lazily as he walked over to igloo that Aang and Katara shared. It was the earliest he had woken up in months and he was still feeling the effects of his late sleeping habits. The sun was just rising over the horizon embracing the frozen arctic landscape with its warming light. Sokka thought to himself how lucky he was that Aang just happened to be in the South Pole this very morning and also how sleepy he felt at that very moment. As he walked along the city streets people were already setting up market stalls and getting ready for the day ahead of them. Children lined up in front of the small water bending school that his step-grandfather Pakku had established during the last days of the war. Adults were working hard for the day and the children were working hard for the future. Life was good for his people. Sokka continued on his way towards his destined location at the east end of the city.

He turned the corner and entered the small square where their house sat next to. There in the center of the quiet tranquil square sat the Avatar doing his morning meditation. Sokka knew that Aang hated being bothered while meditating, but he was in desperate need of his assistance. Plus wasn't it his job as Avatar to help people anyways? Aang opened his eyes as Sokka approached sensing his presence by the steady crunching of his steps against the snow. His eyes scanned the Water Tribesman as he got closer, noticing his unusual serious demeanor meaning one thing; whatever it was, it was important. The young Avatar stood up as Sokka continued on his way over.

Aang had changed much during the year and a half since the war. He was no longer the short playful child he once was. He was now a 13 year old fully realized Avatar and looked every part of it. Standing half a head over Katara, Aang had finally hit puberty and as a result he had been going through quite a growth spurt, developing muscle mass at an alarming rate. Though no one was complaining, especially not Katara. Along with his bodily maturity came his mind as well. Although he still retained most of his playful child like attitude; he had attained a new more serious and quiet side to him. To sum it up, Aang had grown up.

Sokka stopped and before Aang and smiled quickly before greeting his friend with a simple "Morning." Aang returned the smile and replied.

"Hey Sokka, you're up early. Is everything ok?"

"Actually no, theres something that I need to talk to you about." Sokka straightened the wrinkles on his blue parka before continuing. "It involves the spirits, so naturally I can only talk to you about it… preferably in private." Aang was a little taken back at the rushed conversation taking place and the subject matter. As Sokka was often skeptical of the spirit world and rarely mention it.

"Spirits?" inquired Aang. His mind naturally brought up the only spiritual subject that Sokka was truly immersed in. Without thinking he opened his mouth to talk. "Is this about her?" He said "her" referring to Yue and Sokka knew this.

"Well, yes and no." Sokka replied hesitantly. Aang looked at his friend with a puzzled look on his face. Seeing this Sokka continued. "I can explain, somewhere safe." The young Avatar nodded and made his way towards his and Katara's home with Sokka in suit. Once inside Aang made his way to an already awake Katara who was standing over a boiling cauldron of sea prune stew. She turned to Aang and they exchanged a quick chastise kiss before turning in surprise to see her brother standing in the door way. Sokka noticing their kiss felt a small quezzyness in his stomach but his case of ogies quickly went away when the aroma of the sea prune stew reached his nose.

"Good morning." Greeted Katara to Sokka.

"Hey" he replied. "That smells good" pointing towards the stew. "And looks good too."

Katara smiled at her brother's predictable behavior. "Would you like to join me and Aang for breakfast?"

"Yes please!" Sung Sokka happily. His stomach grumbled hungrily as Katara poured the contents of the cauldron into three bowls. She then set them down onto the table as they all sat down and handed them each a spoon to eat with. Sokka started right away, eating with an unmatched gusto as the couple slowly sipped their shares. It had taken sometime but Aang had finally acquired a taste for sea prunes; mostly due to a few various trials forced by his girlfriend. They ate with a comfortable silence. When they were all finished Sokka was first to speak. "Now Aang can we talk?" The Avatar nodded his head motioning for Sokka to continue. Katara confused at what the 2 were talking about focused her attention on him. Sokka continued "What I'm about to tell you, you can't reveal to anyone else. Is that understood?" The 2 nodded back in response. "Last night I was at my spot thinking when she came. Yue came." Katara face changed from curiosity to surprise. Aang on the other hand wasn't fazed. He suspected something such as this had happened; it wouldn't have been the first time.

"What did she want?" questioned Aang.

"That's the weird part, she came to me with someone you know very well Aang and together they requested that I do something unthinkable."

"Who else?" Questioned Aang.

"Your past life… Avatar Roku."

"WHAT?" Screamed Aang clearly confused. "Why would he appear to you?"

"Exactly that's what I came to you for. I was hoping you could clear up some things for me. I mean is it even possible for a past Avatar's spirit to visit someone like me like that?" Aang took a moment to think before answering, well aware of the questioning looks from his girlfriend and her brother.

"I don't have the answer to that question, but I suppose it is possible due to last night's events. It is possible for spirits to visit as you've seen during our travels. But it is extremely rare for a spirit such as the Moon Spirit and Roku to visit at once on the same night, it's only happened to me once. It means that their visit signifies something very important… what was it that they wanted?" Katara and Aang shifted their eyes back towards the young warrior. Sokka began to sweat nervously at what he was about to say.

"Well, I don't know how to put this. But they want me to help somebody that's in need. And this somebody isn't exactly someone that we're on good terms with." Seeing that they remained silent he went on. "That someone is Azula." Upon saying this the mood of the room changed immediately. After a moment of stunned silence, Katara who had not said a world during the whole conversation broke the silence.

"THEY WANT YOU TO DO WHAT!" Standing up she continued shouting. "WHY DO THEY WANT TO HELP HER?"

Aang looking alarmed stood up putting an arm on Katara's shoulder trying to calm her. "Sweetie you need to calm down and listen with a cool head." She nodded and sat back down still steaming with anger, looking towards Sokka with a murderous glare. Sokka put his hands up in surrender.

"Hey don't get mad at me. It's not my idea, they just came to me." Katara just nodded response. If Sokka knew his sister, she was probably angry enough to rip their entire continent in half with her water bending. He was better off not bothering her. So he turned his attention towards the Air Nomad. "What do you think?" Aang shook his head and said.

"I don't know. Did they tell you anything else?"

"No not much; just explained that I was chosen for specific reasons beyond me and that she has actually recovered from her breakdown and deserves a second chance. That she has an inner goodness and it's my duty to take her out of her cell to show her the error of her ways... I'm actually really skeptical about it."

"Yea right." Mocked Katara sarcastically. "Like that monster has any good inside her. She deserves what she got. She killed Aang! And attempted kill me!"

"Katara stop it." Said Aang suddenly, the siblings turned their attention to him. He seemed strained but he continued. "Although I don't like the sound of this plan, I do believe in second chances. And if the spirits believe that she deserves better then I'll throw in my support too. Did they give you any other information Sokka?"

"No that's why I came to you. I thought since you knew about these things you could contact Roku and see what else you can get from him. " Aang nodded. "And if I needed maybe I could get some support from you when I need it." Aang relaxing his features from a scowl offered a friendly smile to Sokka.

"I will help, I'm curious why you were visited by these spirits and why they chose you. I'm also curious why they are attempting to help her." He stood up. "Let me contact Roku and see what his side of this story is."

"Are you sure?" Asked a concerned Katara. She saw that Aang had put on his façade of seriousness, making her forget about her anger. "Yes, Sokka will have my support; it's my duty as Avatar to help as much as possible." And with that Aang walked out to meditate.

…

Aang was seated on the snow ridden ground in the center of the quiet square once again as Sokka watched from a distance. Katara had decided to stay inside putting in an effort to vent some of her anger from their earlier discussion by cleaning up after their breakfast. For Sokka it was still a strange sight to see them as a couple. Not them together, as he had gotten over that months ago. But it was rather odd seeing them living together now, almost as if they were a family. But then again they spent most of their time together anyways during their travels. Maybe one day he and Aang would really be family, thought Sokka. If Aang managed to make Katara a betrothal necklace and everything. Sokka decided right there and then that he would have no problems calling the Avatar his brother in law; his father would certainly be thrilled. After all Aang and Katara were very close and Aang was one of his closest friends.

Sokka walked back over towards Aang's igloo and walked through the door way deciding to stay inside for the remainder of Aang's spiritual visit. He didn't want to be around Katara during one of her temper tantrums but he'd rather stay in the warm house than stay outside watching Aang meditate. At least with Katara he could have someone to talk to.

Aang sat in his traditional yellow and orange Air Nomadic robes on the icy cold floor. The morning sun was now out in full effect and was basking the young Avatar in its warm glow. Aang had to concentrate hard to reach the Avatar State in order to contact any of the past Avatars. It was a plus that the square that his temporary South Pole home was situated at was always empty and quiet; it being sheltered off from any main paths. It was a peaceful and tranquil place in other words, the perfect meditation place. A few minutes into quiet meditation Aang felt his concentration ease and release easily letting him know that he was entering the Avatar State. He opened his eyes and saw that his tattoos were glowing, and in front of him sat the person that he wanted to talk to. "Roku!" Aang said with a smile on his face.

"Hello Aang." Countered Roku with a calm demeanor.

"My friend Sokka told me about what happened last night; he asked me to talk to you regarding this task you have set on his shoulders."

"I have asked Sokka to help the former Princess Azula in her time of need."

"I know Roku, but what I don't understand is why?"

"Aang there is much I haven't revealed to you. I have asked Sokka to tend to her because she is my great granddaughter." There was a moment of silence as Aang collected this new information. He was surprised and maybe even a bit angry? He didn't know how to feel. But it was defiantly a first for him.

"What! How could this have had happened!"

"I always told you Aang, me and Sozin were more than friends. In the end we were brothers. Due to me and Sozin's ties our families bonded and over time my granddaughter Ursa married into the royal family to Azulon's second son Ozai. Together they had Zuko and Azula." There was another moment of silence as Aang placed all the pieces together.

"Oh. It's all so clear now. Everything makes sense. The reason Zuko had such an internal fight between good and evil was because of his ancestry. That's why he was deemed worthy by the dragons Ran and Shaw. That's why his uncle insisted that he had good inside of him and why he eventually joined us in defeating Firelord Ozai." Aang paused before continuing. "And your granddaughter, Firelady Ursa, Zuko's mother was the one that got banished?"

"Yes, very perceptive Aang. She was the only beacon of light in that wretched palace. Because Zuko was so close to her much of her ideals rubbed off on him; making him the man he is today. But Azula even during her youth was pulled away from Ursa by her father Ozai. Once he saw the potential in her he sought to make her his perfect soldier and future heir. Once their mother left to save Zuko's life, Azula was under complete control of her father. Overcome grief at her mother's absence; she was secretly saddened and came to believe that her mother didn't love her. Azula believed that since her mother didn't say goodbye to her that terrible night that she thought she was a monster. She secretly became jealous of Zuko for the love that her mother had shown to him and began to blame him for all the wrongs in her life. Over the years she under Ozai tried to forget about her mother's actions and tricked herself into believing that she had a perfect life. But secretly she yearned for the love that Ursa had shown to Zuko, love that was continuously put down by Ozai. So she tried to gain his love by doing his bidding, something she knew pleased him; just as Zuko did until his realization of the situation. That is why she committed all those acts of evil. Ozai continued molding her and told her that emotions such as love and trust were for fools; that fear and initiation were the only ways to control people. She took this to heart based on her own experiences of rejection, only allowing herself to truly trust her father, her 2 friends Mai and Ty Lee as well as eventually her brother. But they all abandoned her in the end just as her mother did. At this she grew paranoid thinking that everyone would betray her and that no one cared for her. When Zuko and Katara fought that Agni Kai with her on the return of Sozin's Comet she focused all her hatred on Zuko as she saw him as the cause of all her suffering. She was infuriated by her jealousy of him and the fact that he was there to claim the throne from her. Taking all that she had worked for her entire life away. In the end following her defeat; stripped of her last attachment to sanity her anger and pain consumed her and she slipped into an unstable state of mind."

Aang who had been listening to Roku's tirade absorbed all of the information that had been presented to him. He thought of all the times he had heard the stories from Zuko and Katara and of the last time that he had seen Azula; being taken to her imprisonment in chains following their victory over the Fire Nation. She was distraught and insane he had noted. But he had never thought about the other side of the story. If Azula had really gone through all those events then she did deserve another chance, reluctant as he was to admit it; permitting that she still wasn't bent on ruling the world. Aang opened his mouth to speak. "Wow. I have heard the stories that Zuko shared with us at the war's end, but I never thought about it like that. If I had known I would have tried to help her earlier on."

"It's ok Aang. It's not your fault things turned out the way they did for her. She has lived a sad and painful existence based on this horrible war that I should have prevented. Her fate is ultimately my fault alone. If only I had taken decisive action then I could have saved her along with all the souls that perished during these past 100 years."

"There is just one thing I still don't understand though Roku."

"What is it Aang?" Asked the old man.

"Why have you chosen Sokka for this mission? Shouldn't you have chosen someone more suitable?"

"I along with the spirits have chosen him based on a testimony from the late Moon Spirit…" Aang's eyes widened from realization.

"Yue!"

"That's right. She herself volunteered him explaining that she knew him personally and that he had all the right characteristics to help a young woman in distress. Even one such as Azula."

"So you really believe that she has good in her like Zuko and that she can change her ways with support from Sokka?"

"Yes I have my faith in your friend. You have redeemed me Aang in saving the world and restoring balance. But it is now time for Sokka to do the same for my family's sake. It is his destiny."

"Fine then I will help and support Sokka as much as I can while he is rehabilitating her." He smiled. "And hopefully Azula will realize the error of her ways and redeem herself by changing for the better." His smile left his face as it became serious once again. "But if she steps out of line again or tries to harm anyone I'll be forced to take immediate action."

"I agree with you Aang. It is wise to commit to that. Although I doubt Azula will be up to anything of the recent because she is very weak at the moment. And although she has regained her sanity at a stable mental state; her pride has been hindered greatly as well as her ability to control herself emotionally and physically." Before Aang could open his mouth to talk Roku continued on. "And Aang there is one more aspect of this issue that you have failed to see. I know that although you have solved most of the issues plaguing the former colonies; there are still a few of those in the colonies and Fire Nation that preach a continuation to the war. These rebels may try to use Azula as a figure head to replace Zuko as Firelord. As I said to Sokka; if you were to publicly have her side with you, you would have quelled these upstarts." Aang nodded his head in understanding.

"I understand, I will try my best to help in any way possible."

"Bring Sokka with you to the Fire Nation Capital City. There he will need your help in convincing Zuko that he is there to help. Once he has been allowed to assist Azula, he is on his own. Understand?"Asked Roku easily.

"I do Roku." And with that Aang's glowing stopped and Avatar Roku dissolved into nothing.

…

Sokka and Katara looked up from their conversation they were having at the table as Aang walked in. He looked serious Sokka noticed. Aang stopped in front of the 2 before speaking. "Roku explained everything to me. I agree with what he has to say. I will help you convince Zuko to let you help Azula." Sokka was nervous suddenly, he was scared that the Avatar knew the real reasons as to why he was willing to accept. Firstly it was out of a promise for Yue. And secondly he was trying to get out of this slump he was in. And the prospect of an adventure excited him. Basically it was more for him than for Azula's sake.

Katara still not 100 percent aware of the details surrounding the situation asked Aang to explain it for her. He did and Sokka was relieved that Roku had left out the part of him finding himself on this trip and of Yue. Although he was intrigued by the idea of Yue selecting him out of all people, that was news to his ears. After they had all been updated by Aang's explanation they sat around the table discussing their next move. Aang looked over at Sokka and said "All I know is that your mission is important and that we need to get you to the Fire Nation as soon as possible."

"He could come with us on our next journey to Yu Dao. We could stop by early at the Fire Nation Palace, drop him off then leave to do more negotiations with the Firelord and Earth King." Offered Katara. Aang nodded his head and turned towards Sokka.

"Is that alright with you?" Sokka in turn also nodded his head. "Alright then its settled then we leave for the Fire Nation tomorrow. Make sure you pack tonight." Finished Aang.

Sokka smiled flashing his white teeth before screaming "NEXT STOP FIRE NATION!" excitedly. Although he was dreading seeing Zuko and Suki after over half a year, he was excited by the prospect of adventure. He wasn't going to let depression get to him this time. He had had enough of it already and it was time for a change.

Thanks for reading; I'm trying to make this as accurate as possible. Realized in the introduction that I spelled Aangs name wrong. Sorry.