The Lost Books of Avatar

Chapter 1: Reunion

By: Farren O'Blivion

He knew they were coming long before they arrived; his guards tipped him off as soon as they were spotted flying over the border. Emotions raged within him; he wanted to see them, he really did... but just the thought of their pity, their condolences made his heart grow, if possible, even heavier than it already was. He felt like it had been steeped in exhaustion and it almost made him smile. What an odd metaphor.

He finally decided to just meet them head-on.

When the giant Air-Bison landed in the palace courtyard, Zuko was ready for them, hands clasped behind his back, face calm. Katara was the first to approach him.

"Zuko..." her soft greeting trailed off. She reached for him, placed a gentle hand on his shoulder, gripped lightly. "I'm sorry. She will be missed." Her cobalt eyes misted over.

Zuko merely nodded. He had already shed his tears, there was nothing left in him now, only a dull ache. "Ty-Lee is inside. Perhaps you could... try and cheer her up. She's not been herself since..." The usually insufferably cheerful acrobat was now despondent, quiet, even her hair seemed less perky to the young man.

Katara nodded. "Of course." She began to step around him but stopped. "I... I'm sorry I wasn't here for her, Zuko."

Zuko's face remained impassive. "I doubt it would have made a difference, Katara. She... just wasn't built for child-birthing."

"The child?" Her voice was so soft, almost inaudible.

"Healthy," Zuko assured. His voice lightened. "He looks just like her."

A small smile ghosted over her lips. "We all thought 'Maiko' was a wonderful name..."

"Thank you."

"I'll see to Ty-Lee, now." She went inside.

Aang walked slowly forward, Sokka and Suki following closely behind. Zuko examined the young Avatar with a critical eye; he was a bit-- a lot taller now, his body still as lithe as ever, his face had narrowed a bit, cheekbones and jaw more defined. He'd been a boy of twelve at their first encounter and now... he was a man. Zuko himself was just barely twenty-one. He did the math in his head. Aang is... eight and ten summers now. Has it really been six years? It seems like so much time has passed, but at such a slow rate...

He was pulled from his musing by the Southern Water Tribe swordsman clearing his throat uncomfortably. "We're sorry for your loss, Zuko..." He trailed off.

"Mai was a very talented warrior," the Kyoshi warrior said. Zuko knew that this was meant as a high compliment. He bowed his head in acknowledgement.

"Yes. Though I suppose some battles just aren't meant to be won." He saw the two exchange glances. He hadn't meant to be so morbid, but it didn't matter. He was sure that if Mai had heard, she wouldn't have minded. She'd always had a rather twisted outlook herself, after all.

Aang seemed to understand. He lightly poked the young fire-bender with his glider-staff. "Sometimes, even defeat is accompanied by a blessing," he said sagely. "How is your little Maiko?"

Zuko smiled. "Princely."

Aang chuckled. "I imagine your uncle has taken quite a liking to him?"

Zuko rolled his eye. "That would be an understatement. He's already threatened to whisk him off to Ba Sing Se and raise him as a tea-server." They shared a laugh before Zuko sobered. "Toph couldn't make it, then?"

"She's... she's still on Appa," Aang admitted. "She hasn't spoken a word to anybody since the news came. Momo's keeping her company."

"Ah." Zuko reflected on the bond that had formed between the blind earth-bender and his wife. Their quick friendship had surprised everyone, including Zuko. But it made sense. Though Toph was the same age as the light spirited Avatar, she possessed a well developed sense of dark humor, something she shared with the older Mai. Both strong, unyielding women, they'd become close friends over the last five years. Toph must feel awful, right now. Mai had wanted her here for the birth... It's not her fault the birth came early or that Mai... Mai lost the battle...

He glanced toward the Air-Bison, now contentedly munching on a mountain of fresh alfalfa. "I can try and talk to her."

The others exchanged sullen looks. "You can try," Sokka said. "But I guarantee she won't listen."

"Sokka," Suki admonished.

"Well, it's true!" the young man insisted. "We've all been trying to talk to her but when Toph is miserable, Toph stays miserable."

Suki shook her head and tugged at her husband's arm. "Let's find Katara." She paused, turned back to the Firelord, bit her lip uncertainly. "We weren't the best of friends, and I don't think we ever completely trusted each other, but... I'm sorry she's gone."

Zuko again bowed his head in acknowledgement. "Gone, but not forgotten. Thank you, Suki." He smiled as his gaze shifted to the Water Tribesman. "I think Ty-Lee will be happy to see you." There was just the slightest emphasis on the word.

Suki frowned and nodded briskly before dragging a suddenly reluctant Sokka through the palace door. Zuko and Aang looked at each other and shared a devilish chuckle. Though Ty-Lee had been welcomed into the Kyoshi fold, she'd made a rather tipsy spectacle of herself at Suki and Sokka's wedding the previous summer. Suki held no grudge but Sokka was far more wary of the Kyoshi-initiate than he had been.

"Hopefully that will cheer our dear Ty-Lee," the Firelord murmured.

Aang gestured toward Appa with his glider-staff. "I think you should try talking to Toph," he said, back on task. "I think she might actually listen to you."

"Indeed?"

"Well, how can we expect to comfort someone successfully when they don't believe we understand how much they're hurting? You and Toph are the deepest in grief, now. And besides, hasn't Toph always wanted her very own Zuko-field-trip?" Aang asked, a smile touching his lips. He rested his hand on the Firelord's shoulder, serious again. "You're both hurting, now. And neither of you should be alone. 'Life is weaker than death, but death is weaker than love.'"

Zuko marveled at his young friend. "A proverb, Avatar? Have you been talking to my uncle?"

Aang grinned, almost sheepish. "Iroh is a very wise man, you know."

"Indeed." He returned the grin. "My favorite was, 'Are you so busy fighting you cannot see your own ship has set sail?'"

Aang snorted in laughter and shook his head. "Pirates." He glanced over his shoulder toward Appa and his lone passenger. "We hadn't met Toph yet."

"I'll talk to her," Zuko assured him. "This is a time for grief but also a time for rejoicing. Toph should meet her surrogate nephew."