A/N: Chapter two of book four: Air. I figured the gang could use a vacation after all they've been through defeating the fire lord. Hey, even heroes need to relax. In here, the gang takes a vacation on Ember Island, and things are gonna get a little...ember island-y. You could say this is partly like "The beach" in book third: Fire, only that this will be the version of team avatar instead of...well, team Azula...I guess?

Chapter 2 - Vacation


Somewhere on the oceans of the western earth kingdom, team avatar rides on Appa. Appa flies across the sea, on his way to the fire nation territory. The gang settles in on Appas saddle. "It was really nice for Zuko to arrange us a vacation on ember island." Katara says.

"Yeah. It's nice for us to get a chance to relax." Toph says. "What with all the hard work of defeating the fire lord and stoping that airship fleet. Not to mention putting Azula in her place."

"Yeah. It's been really exhausting." Aang says. Appa flies towards Ember Island, then Aang spots it. "Look! There it is!"

Everyone stands on Appas saddle to get a view of Ember Island. Appa lands in front of the Ember Island building. As they hop off of Appa, Lo and Li approaches. "Welcome, young avatar." Lo says, her and Li bowing before Aang. "We have been expecting you and your friends."

Aang bows back at Lo and Li. The rest of the gang gathers behind Aang. "Welcome to Ember Island, young ones." Li says. "Follow us."

Lo and Li escorts team avatar into the building, towards their rooms. The gang arrives at a lovely suite on the top floor of the building. The whole gang is amazed at the suite, it's much nicer then any place they ever lived in.

"We hope you have a pleasant stay. Ember Island is a magical place." Lo says.

"You must keep a open mind, you may soon learn about yourselves and each other." Li says.

Lo grabs a rock and gives it a soothing feeling. "The beach as a way of soothing even the most rugged edges."

"Like waves whooshing away the footprints of the sand. Ember island gives everyone a clean slate. Ember Island reveals the true you." Li mentions.

Everyone just looks at each other in confusion. "Thanks...I guess?" Katara says.

"We've been on this island before and we've never experienced anything like this." Toph says.

Aang and Katara gives each other an awkward look, realizing something like that happened to them once. Lo walks ahead to another room. "Fire lord Zuko as a room specially reversed for you and your girl, young avatar." Aang and Katara follows Lo to another room. Aang and Katara were quite surprised to see their room. It's pink and red like on the walls and floors with hearts everywhere: A honeymoon suite. It's like Valentines Day lived here. "We'll give you and your friends a chance to settle in. We hope you enjoy your stay."

Lo leaves the room. Aang and Katara takes a look around the room, a little surprised, mostly Aang. "I can't believe Zuko reserved this room for us." Aang says.

"I don't know...I think it's pretty nice." Katara says. Katara walks up to Aang then wraps her froms around Aang from behind. "Besides, at least we can get to have some alone time in here."

Katara starts giving Aang a little tickle. Aang starts laughing. "Katara...oh, Katara. Stop!" Aang pushes Katara off of him.

Sokka just spies on Aang and Katara through a keyhole, then he dry haves. Toph walks up behind Sokka. "You just don't know when to quit, do you?"

Sokka jumps a little then turns around to see Toph. "Don't scare me like that!"

"You need to quit spying on them, snoozles." Toph says. "Have you ever seen me spying on you and Suki?"

Sokka gives Toph an obvious answer look. "Yes."

Toph widens her eyes, realizing that. "Oh...right."

Later at the fire nation palace, Zuko enters the war room for a meeting with the other fire nation soldiers. Zuko looks over the map of the earth kingdom lands. "Let's go over the facts. The colonies are around the earth kingdom. They will need to be removed."

The general stands up. "But fire lord, what about the citizens? Where are they gonna live?"

"We'll come up with something." Zuko explains. "We are not going to let our people live out in the streets." Zuko paces around, thinking for a moment. "How about we give each family in the colonies 100 gold pieces?"

One of the sergeants slams his fists on the table and raises from his chair. "100 gold pieces, you're out of your mind!"

Zuko glares at the sergeant. "Sit! Down!" The sergeant hesitates, but then realizes his errors. The sergeant bows then sits back on his seat. "Now, we are loyal to our citizens. If we are to tear down the colonies from the earth kingdom to restore balance to the world, we must find a way to take care of the citizens of the earth kingdom colonies. It's like I said, we are not leaving anyone out in the streets."

Meanwhile at Ember Island, the gang makes their way to the beach. Aang and Toph plays in the sand, Suki just lays a while, Sokka and Katara are swimming in the ocean. Toph works on her sandbending on the sand. Aang is coming some kind of sculpture.

In the water, Katara waterbends an iceboard and starts surfing on the waves. Aang watches Katara surfing, then smiles. "Wow. Look at her go." Aang whispers. "She's just so amazing."

Toph walks up to Aang. "Yea, yea, Twinkletoes. We know how much you love, Katara."

"Not, she really is amazing." Aang says. "You should see her surfing the waves."

Toph just turns away from Aang, rolling her blind eyes. "If I could see that is."

Aang resumes working on his sculpture. Sokka leaves the ocean to join with Suki. Katara surfs towards the shore, then her iceboard completely turned back to the water when Katara reaches to the sand. Katara walks up to Aang, noticing what he's making.

"Hey, what are you making?" Katara asks.

Aang hops down and stands in front of her. "It's you." Aang says.

Katara gets a look at the sand scuplature. It looks like a person, but it hardly looks like her, but it wouldn't matter, even since Suki didn't care about the blob monster sculpture that Sokka made that was suppose to be Suki.

Katara looks at Aang. "I think it's sweet." Katara says, wrapping her arms around Aangs neck and giving him a kiss on the forehead.

Aang blushes a little. "I'm glad you like it." Aang says, hugging Katara. "You know, you were really good out there surfing."

Katara smiles at Aang. "Thanks, I can teach you if you want."

Sokka just watches Aang and Katara together, then he dry haves. Suki just rolls her eyes, looking at Sokka. "Oh Sokka. Just be happy for your sister. Aang is a nice guy, she's lucky to have him."

Meanwhile, at the fire nation palace, Zuko just sits on the table, tiresome. Mai walks up behind him, putting her hands on his shoulders. "Hey, how's it going, fire lord?" Mai asks.

Zuko looks back at Mai. "Hey, Mai. Rough." Zuko answers. "I'm trying to figure out what I'm gonna do about the colonies."

Mai sighs bored-some. "I see. You don't want to leave the citizens abandoned do yea?"

"How can you tell?" Zuko asks.

"You were always like this since your first war meeting." Mai says.

"Is there something wrong with trying to help the people we love?" Zuko asks.

"Not really, just sounds boring." Mai says. "But I think it's nice that you care."

Zuko and Mai hears a door opening then closing, then a messager walks inside. "Fire lord Zuko. A letter for you from the earth king." The messager says, handing Zuko a scroll. Zuko unrolls the scroll and reads it.

"The earth king is proud to announce the celebration of the fire lords defeat. In the middle of fall, there's going to be a ball at the earth kingdom palace. With special guests: The Avatar and the new fire lord, fire lord Zuko." Zuko notices the fine print under the poster. "Fire lord Zuko, you are to write a speech for the citizens of the earth kingdom. Make it something good. The Earth King."

Zuko just plants his head on the table, sighing. "Oh great. Just what I need, a speech to write." Zuko says. "Still, the ball seems like fun." Zuko turns to face Mai. "You wanna come?"

Mai just rolls her eyes. "Eh, I don't know. Balls sounds boring." Mai just walks away. Zuko just lays his head back onthe table, thinking about what to do for a speech.

At nightfall on Ember Island, everyone gathers around the campfire by the beach. Suki looks at the campfire then back at Sokka. "Campfires are romantic, wouldn't you say?" Suki asks. Sokka doesn't paying attention, for he's just watching Aang and Katara, who are seating next to each other, holding hands. Suki just frowns a little, noticing Sokka isn't bothering to pay attention to her.

"I would think it is if I could see what it's like." Toph says.

"Well, I think it's romantic, don't you Aang?" Katara asks, looking into Aangs eyes.

Aang nods. "Yeah, I do." Aang and Katara snuggles with each other.

Sokka gets on his feet. "You leave my little sister alone!" Sokka yells.

Aang and Katara disbands, Katara is standing on her feet, glaring at Sokka. "Sokka! You leave Aang alone! He's not doing anything wrong!"

Toph just seats back, with her head resting in her arms. "Wow. Sugar queen's sure has gone sour." Toph says, with a smile.

Katara looks at Toph angrily, then Aang grabs her arm. Katara looks at Aang, who's giving her a sad look. Katara starts to calm down then sits next to Aang. Katara lays her head on Aangs chest, then Aang wraps his arms around her.

"Aww...That's sweet." Suki says.

"How can you enjoy that? It gives me oogies." Sokka says

Katara feels offended hearing that. "I enjoy it cause it's romanic. That's what Aang is, romanic. And Katara deserves him. I begin to wonder why I deserve you?"

Sokka feels shocked to hear that. "What do you mean?"

Suki glares at Sokka. "Unlike you, Aang is paying his attention to Katara, where as you aren't even paying attention to me. All you've ever been doing is keeping an eye on Aang and Katara. When are you ever gonna pay attention to me? Be...romanic?"

Sokka is surprised to hear that. "Suki...I never knew you felt like that."

"Yeah, who knew? Relationships are crazy." Toph says.

Everyone glares at Toph. "Oh yeah? What about you? You had a boyfriend once." Aang mentioned.

Toph just frowns hearing that. "No, I didn't."

"Yeah, you did. It was that little boy...Ohev was it?" Katara says. "How can you pretend he doesn't exist?"

"You want to know why?" Toph asks. "Ever since I was a little girl, my parents kept seeing me up with other boys. Forcing me into a relationship. If I want to be in a relationship, I can do it myself!"

"We understand how you feel, Toph. But we just want you to be happy." Katara says.

"Happy? Happy!?" Toph yells. "You sound just like my parents! They think that putting me in a relationship would make me happy, even since I've been nothing but sad and upset ever since they mistreated me. Well guess what? I don't need to be in a relationship to be happy! I can be happy without one. Why is it people can't understand that?"

"I understand." Aang says. "I've never had a relationship, and I've been happy without it."

Katara looks at Aang. "You saying you'd be happy without me?"

Aang gets a little nervous. "No, no, no. I am happy to be with you. I'm just talking about before I met you. Back when I was with my friends from a hundred years ago. But...it was because...all the girls who ever loved me...they are only interested in the avatar." Aang looks down, a little sad. "They never cared about me. I just wish...there would be one girl out there...who would care for me."

Katara places a hand on Aangs back. "But there is one girl." Aang looks at Katara, who is smiling at him. "I care about you."

Katara hugs Aang, in the hug, Aang smiles. "Aang, Katara, you're giving me oogies."

Katara disbands the hug. "Oh, Sokka. Would you just shut up!"

"Yeah, Sokka. What is your problem with Aang?" Toph asks.

"I don't have a problem with Aang...I'm just looking out for my sister." Sokka says.

"Well, I don't need you to look out for me. I can take care of myself." Katara says. "Ever since dad left to go fight in the war, you've been treating me like I'm a helpless little girl!"

"Well, you were once, even back Aang arrived." Sokka says. "I'm just looking out for you cause I promised dad."

"I know about your promise, but you need to let go and know the fact that I'm grown up. I can take care of myself." Katara snaps.

"I know! But...I just can't let go." Sokka says.

"Let go of what?" Suki asks.

Sokka looks at Suki, but he doesn't say anything. "Of what?" Toph asks.

Sokka clenches his fists, trying to hold in his emotions. "Of what?" Aang asks.

Sokka looks down, closing his eyes. "Of WHAT?!" Katara yells.

"Of you!" Sokka snaps. Everyone doesn't say anything, Katara was even surprised as well. Sokka just sighs. "It's just that...after mom died...and dad left...I didn't want to let you go...you're my little sister. I know you're grown up and you can take care of yourself but...I'm your older brother, I just can't..."

Katara walks up to Katara and places a hand on his shoulder. "It's okay, Sokka...I understand." Sokka and Katara hugs it out. "I'm sorry for getting mad at you like that."

"It's okay." Sokka says.

"Wow...I can't believe it." Suki says, realizing something. "Lo and Li were right. This island really does refill the true you."

"Yeah. I've been on this island before and I've never felt like this." Toph mentions.

Sokka and Katara disbands the hug. "I think we're just tired. It's getting late." Everyone nods in agreement.

Everyone turns to their room in the building. Everyone heads into their rooms. Aang sits on the bed, looking down. Katara lays in the bed, then soon, Aang joins her under the covers. Aang doesn't fall asleep, until he heard Kataras voice.

"Hey." Aang turns to face katara. "Was that true about what you said. No girl loved you personally?" Aang nodded. Katara places a hand on his cheek. "I'm sorry...must be tough being the avatar."

Aang nods again. "It is." Aang murmurs. "But...I'm just glad to be with you."

Katara smiles, then gives Aang a kiss on the forehead. "Me too." Katara whispers.