Thanks to all my faithful readers. I know it's been a while between posts, but my new life is finally settling down to where I feel like myself again. This chapter is longer than the previous, but I wanted to complete this arc and I just couldn't see a good place to cut it off. Reviews are always appreciated. This is un-beta'd so all mistakes are mine.

Disclaimer: I don't own any part of Avatar, Nickelodeon does. I am making no profit from this, only getting it out of my head so it will leave me alone! Dang those plot bunnies are persistent!

Chapter 4

Aang glanced back from his customary seat on Appa's neck toward the saddle. With more than a little worry he took in his friend's pale, emaciated form, sleeping deeply against the provisions the Fire Nation had gladly provided for their journey. It was like a switch had been flipped inside Zuko, and since he no longer had to keep up pretenses, he gave in to the exhaustion he had been fighting off for years. For the last four days they had been making their way up the coast of the Earth Kingdom, flying at first light until the sun set and making camp on the white sandy beaches. Zuko had slept for much of the journey, both at night and during the day. He would wake to eat a meal with Aang or converse for a while, but then the pull would be too great and he would crawl back to the nest he had fashioned in Appa's saddle and sleep more. Aang hoped the sleep was restorative, and not a sign of Zuko weakening.

Zuko still would rouse first and do his morning training out by the water, and a couple of times Aang had joined him during the Firebending forms. Aang didn't miss the pain in his friend's eyes when clean yellow flames leapt from his hands and feet during their exercises, while Zuko's remained cold and dark. Thankfully General Iroh had warned Aang that Zuko had lost the ability to firebend as part of his illness, so Aang wasn't too shocked.

Aang couldn't imagine being unable to bend, especially if he couldn't Airbend…he shuddered. But Aang knew Zuko, and the last thing he would want was pity. No, they were going to find a solution to this problem, heal him and move on. Tonight would be different Aang thought resolutely; tonight he would take steps towards figuring out what was wrong with Zuko. General Iroh postulated in his message to Aang that Zuko's affliction was some sort of spiritual wound. Who better to figure it out than the Avatar: Spiritual Liaison? Aang had a couple of ideas about how he wanted to proceed, but he would need Zuko's cooperation.

After they had landed for the night and set up their small camp on a cove beach surrounded by boulders and a pine forest, Aang broached the subject he had been pondering all day while flying. "Zuko, I know it has been very frustrating for you, not knowing what's wrong…" Zuko rolled his eyes at Aang and snorted in derisive agreement while he continued to eat his bread and soup. "But I was wondering if tonight you would allow me to try a few things that might bring us closer to understanding your ailment." Zuko's eyes whipped up from his meal, keenly interested. "I honestly hadn't really thought about trying anything while we were traveling, but I'll try anything, if it means I can know what's wrong with me." Aang nodded to him and they finished their meals in silence, both thinking long and hard about what was to come.

Finally Aang put his bowl down, stood and walked away from the campfire toward the ocean. He stopped and stared out across the vast expanse, the waves calmly lapping onto the shore. Zuko stood and quietly followed him, unwilling to break Aang's concentration. Aang finally turned "Zuko, above all I want you to trust me, and trust that I truly do have your best interests at heart." Zuko eyed Aang thoughtfully as he stood facing his friend. "Of course I trust you."

"Good. Then take the fire from my hand." Aang swirled his wrist and had a tiny yellow flame dancing in his palm. Zuko blanched. "I can't…I can't firebend. I thought Uncle told you. I haven't been able to for…"

"Zuko" Aang interrupted "Iroh told me everything. He told me how you can't make fire. I want to see if you can still control fire. Please trust me, and know that I won't allow you to be harmed."

Zuko nodded sharply, and held out his cupped hands to Aang. This was an exercise for children, and he remembered long ago going through the same process with Aang when he was teaching him how to firebend. You had to learn how to control fire before you could make fire. Aang gently brought his palm over Zuko's hands and placed the tiny flame in them. Zuko watched in rapt fascination as the flame sputtered…waned and almost died, when suddenly he felt it connect and unlock the part of himself that was a Firebender, and it flared to life - bright yellow and clean.

Aang stood back and watched as his friend held the flame as if it was the most precious thing ever. "How" Zuko rasped with silent tears streaking down his cheeks, "How did you know I would be able to do this?"

"I didn't. I hoped you would still be able to…but I didn't know for sure."

Zuko just stared at the tiny flame in his palms, reveling in the feel of it, the tiny fluttering that mirrored his own heartbeat, like a small life in his hands. Spirits how he had missed this! How he had ached for this! When he had realized he could no longer firebend it was like he was missing a limb. He couldn't even talk to anyone about it, or express his rage and sadness at what was happening to him, because no one would understand. Well, he thought bitterly, there was one person who would understand the horror of losing his bending, but he preferred not to think of his father if he could help it.

So he had faced it alone. He had raged on that isolated beach, yelling and attempting to bend until he would collapse in exhaustion. Finally he had slowly accepted it and still went through his Firebending forms, but he always felt dead inside when he would kick or punch and nothing would happen. And now this, this gift Aang had given him that made him feel alive again, made him feel hope for the first time in years…how could he ever repay that?

Zuko looked up and Aang was grinning at him in pure delight "you're welcome."

Zuko slowly grinned back, and then laughed for the first time in what felt like forever. "Zuko there's something else I want to try; will you put out the flame and join me?" Aang had waded out into the ocean until the gentle waves were lapping at his knees. He beckoned Zuko toward him. Though it made his heart ache to do so, Zuko softly extinguished the flame and waded out into the cool water to join his friend. "Zuko, General Iroh told me about your last attack, about how you said you could feel the moon, the ocean, the push and pull?" Zuko nodded mutely. "I want to see if you can feel that now. Will you try for me?"

"I'll try, but I don't really know what I'm feeling for. Before the moon was full and the feelings just overwhelmed me."

"It will be hard for you, because you're a Firebender, and you're the one kind of bender that your gift comes from within. The rest of the bending world…our gift, our element is external. You have to feel inside and outside of yourself, the weight of the water, the ocean, the push and pull inside of you, all around you…"

Zuko, used to meditation, let himself fall into a light trance with Aang's soft words. It was easier than he thought it would be, with the waves lapping rhythmically against his shins, his breathing in and out steadily matching this ancient rhythm, a rhythm of life. Suddenly he felt it, the sheer weight of it. The water was surrounding him, pushing and pulling something inside of him, deep within his core.

So accustomed to the weightlessness of Firebending, of it being created from within his very breath, he gasped at the difference. This felt like it was in his skin, in his belly, all around. He panted, barely able to breathe for the weight pressing down on him "Aang! I feel it! There!" he whirled to Aang who was standing at his side, his mouth in a firm line. Nodding once, Aang spoke slowly. "Zuko, I have one last thing I want you to try tonight. I want you to try a simple bending move with me…a waterbending move."

Zuko's eyebrows shot towards his hairline. "You want me to Waterbend? I can't even Firebend and you think I can Waterbend?" his voice raised with barely contained panic. If he, a born and raised Firebender suddenly could Waterbend, it would go against everything he was raised to believe, everything he thought he knew about the bending arts, everything he knew about himself. Aang turned to Zuko and rested a callused hand on his shoulder, feeling the tremors of Zuko's shock.

His gaze sympathetic he began softly "Zuko, I don't know if you will be able to Waterbend, it's just an idea I have. If you can't, fine. But if you can, I think it will bring us one step closer to knowing what's happening to you. Please try?" Zuko stood with his eyes closed and tried to get a grasp on his ragged breathing. He nodded his acquiescence, and centered his stance in the ocean once again. He found that place inside his core, the push and pull faster this time, like a pathway was already being carved in his soul. "Okay", he whispered barely audible above the splash of the waves on the beach, "now what"

"Now open your eyes, and move like this." Aang demonstrated the basic push - pull move that he had learned so long ago with Katara, and had been relearning every time he came back as the Avatar. Zuko copied the move almost effortlessly, years of martial arts training not for nothing. At first he felt nothing, and he was almost relieved, but then something caught, like a hook in a latch and he felt the weight of the water, around him, within him begin to move…shift and flow at his command. It was a rough start, and it took all his concentration to affect the waves at all, but once he gained some momentum, he began moving the waves around him to his rhythm.

A slew of emotions hit him at once, joy at accomplishing a feat of Bending; when he hadn't been able to in so long. Fear because he was bending an element he wasn't supposed be able to. Pride that he had done it so quickly, combined with panic that he had done it so quickly. Zuko barely had time to process these emotions when something inside him slipped, and then ripped loose. He didn't even have the breath to scream; he just gasped and collapsed to his knees, the world around him whiting out to the focus of the sharp pain deep within, where the tear was. He didn't feel Aang holding him up or hear him calling his name as the roar of the ocean became complete and overtook him.

Aang watched in horror as Zuko collapsed in the shallow water gasping. Aang made it to him before he could fall completely in the water, and he watched as Zuko fell completely unconscious, his eyes rolling up in to his head. Aang half carried, half dragged Zuko back to the fire. Using waterbending he dried Zuko then himself against the nights chill. Zuko remained unconscious, and in spite of his efforts began to shiver, high pink marks on his cheeks of a fever setting in. Aang paced, his normal inner calm all but forgotten. Spirits! He needed answers now! Resolved on his course, he tucked a blanket securely around his friend's shoulders and went and sat on the opposite side of the fire. He now had enough information (he hoped) to bring to his past lives, to see if they had ever encountered something like this.

Aang sat down cross-legged in the sand and took a deep breath to relax. Closing his eyes he centered himself and searched for the conduit inside his soul that would lead to his previous lives. Over the years he had become quite practiced at this and the hallways of his mind were warm and familiar. He felt the customary tug on his own soul and opened his eyes to face the glowing blue specter of Avatar Roku. Bowing his head out of respect for his friend and mentor he quickly outlined everything he knew about Zuko's illness and what they had discovered tonight. Roku's eyebrows traveled to his hairline as Aang described asking Zuko to attempt waterbending, and then watching as the young Fire Lord accomplished the task. Being raised as a Firebender himself, Avatar Roku couldn't imagine the turmoil that Zuko was going through.

"What you have described to me is amazing Avatar Aang, but unfortunately I have never heard of such an affliction in my time. I will ask you to watch over Fire Lord Zuko carefully, I fear for his very soul. While you and I are accustomed to bending all of the elements, the rest of the world is not. To suddenly be able to bend more than one's own element would be…terrifying."

Aang glanced back over at Zuko's sleeping form. "I will do everything I can to help him. Thank you Avatar Roku." Aang bowed again and brought his fist to his palm. Avatar Roku's translucent form nodded once and dissipated into the salty sea air. Aang sighed and stared out across the black ocean waters. A phrase Avatar Roku had said was bothering him. "In my time…" Aang thought about his own time, and that of Avatar Roku's. They were divided by war, nation pitted against nation. Nations…Spirits! That was it! He needed to go back, farther back than he had ever gone before, to a time he had only read about in ancient lore, when there were no nations, and everyone shared the land and sea and air.

Resolved Aang stood up and banked the fire with wood and took a deep drink of water from one of their freshly filled skins. He had no idea how long it would take for him to search that far into the past, but he wanted to make sure Zuko would be alright. Patting Appa on the nose he made a soft request. "Keep an eye on him for me boy?" Appa blinked slowly at him and rumbled his assent.

Aang sat by the fire once again, and searched for that place inside himself where his past lives existed. This time he concentrated on making his mental surroundings more concrete. He grasped onto the image of a long hallway with doors, stretching off into the distance. Looking carefully to his right he read the name above the first door: Roku. Taking a few steps he came to the second door: Kyoshi. His mouth set in a determined line he took off at a sprint down the hallway, passing innumerable doors until he noticed the hallway began to change. Instead of the fine woods and carpets with lights in sconces he had decorated with, the floor and walls turned to stone, becoming more ancient looking. Grinning now Aang raced along even further until the floor was packed earth, and the doorways were roughly hewn logs. Stopping and taking in his surroundings, Aang walked up to the nearest door marked Danar, took a deep breath a walked through.

Expecting the familiar tug of a former life appearing before him, Aang was shocked when he felt a great deep pull start inside him that wrenched a gasp from his lips. It was a slow and excruciatingly painful ache deep in his bones, as he felt the ancient spirit being drawn into his own time. He gritted his teeth and clenched his fists as he felt his own life force being tapped. A deep thrumming began around him, coming from the earth itself that began to pick up pace until it was the same rhythm as his frantically beating heart. Finally when Aang didn't think he could take any more, the threshold breached and he was surrounded by light.

When Aang opened his eyes, he had no idea how long he had been out. It was still dark and the stars continued their dance above him. Turning his head to the side he saw the fire had burned down by nearly half, and Zuko had rolled himself over. So out for a while he mused to himself. Sitting up slowly he groaned. Every joint in his body was voicing its protest to the movement, and he could feel sand sticking to his skin where he had been sweating. Glancing down at his palms he grimaced. They were coated with sand and dried blood where his fingernails had punctured his skin. Working his way to his feet, he stood swaying, gulping the cool ocean air like a fish-eel.

"You summoned me, Avatar?"

Aang whirled around as though shocked by lightning. There on the beach was the pale apparition of a young woman dressed in light robes, transparent and glowing almost white. Aang cleared his throat, brushed as much of the sand off that he could quickly, stood before her and bowed. "I am Avatar Aang of the Air Nation, and I did summon you."

She smiled and bowed back. "I am Avatar Danar of the Misty Mountains. But you can just call me Danar. How can I help you?"

Aang felt he should deal with the most important question first, the reason he had reached back so far. "Danar, in your time, were there separate nations of Benders, each divided by the element they commanded?"

Danar tilted her head at him looking puzzled. "What would be the purpose of that? How would you solve the problems you encountered? We all live together sharing our gifts and talents to better the village.

Aang persisted. "What do you mean by 'how would I solve the problems I encountered'"

She slowly replied "If I need a new building I would go to an Earthbender, if I need my crops irrigated, or my wound healed I go to a Waterbender. If I need a new metal dish or oven, I go to a Firebender for no one is as skilled at heating and working metals."

"And why would you go to an Airbender?" Aang asked his curiosity piqued.

"They are the keepers of the ancient lore, they maintain the Balance…and if I wanted to play a round of Air-Sling!" she grinned at him, and he found himself grinning back.

"Danar, I need your help. I have a friend who is…was a Firebender. He was gravely injured six years ago, and now he can no longer Firebend. He is struck down by great pains in his chest on the full moon, and tonight I discovered not only can he feel the push and pull of the ocean, but he can Waterbend. I taught him a basic waterbending move, and he could do it, for a while…then he groaned in agony and collapsed. In my time it is unheard of that a bender of one element can suddenly bend another."

Danar pursed her lips and looked out across the ocean. "It sounds as though he is bound, but not truly. Tell me; is his Life – Beloved a Waterbender?"

Aang blinked at her. "His life what? No Zuko is not married, or with anyone that I know of."

She rounded on him. "He is not with his Life-Beloved? But how could this happen without him consenting…" She stopped suddenly and furrowed her brow thinking hard. "It is possible" she murmured.

"What's possible?" Aang wanted to grab the woman and shake her, make her share all the thoughts he could see racing through her mind.

"Tell me Aang, when your friend was injured six years ago, did he die?"

Aang thought back to that fateful day when everything had changed. He had never really asked Zuko or Katara for details about what had happened with Azula. They had told him the basics about the Agni-kai, and how Zuko had taken the lightning bolt instead of Katara, and how Katara had saved him. When he thought about the wound on Zuko's chest and how pale Katara had been for days afterward… "I don't know. I wasn't there, but seeing the wound he received I believe he could have." Aang shuddered; thinking of what his world would have lost if that had come to pass.

"Here is what I think has happened Avatar Aang. In my time it is common knowledge that the Avatar's soul is not the only one reborn. There are pairs of souls throughout the land that are reborn. They are called Life-Beloved. These pairs are always destined to be with each other, they are always great Benders, and they are always of opposing elements: water and fire, earth and air. Once the two persons come of age and they are found to be Life-Beloved, they complete the Binding Ceremony and are joined as they always have been throughout time. Once a Binding is complete they are stronger than when they were alone, with the ability to bend their partner's elements. It is still a rare occurrence in my time for two Life-Beloved souls to find one another across the distances, but I have seen two Binding Ceremonies in my lifetime, one when I was very small, and one a year ago."

Aang thought about this, and asked the first most obvious question: "But Zuko isn't bound to anyone…how can he be one of these ancient souls?"

"I think he is half bound, that when he was mortally injured or dead, his Life-Beloved was there and poured their soul into him to save him. It would save his life, but in the end if balance is not achieved…it will kill him. His body is desperately trying to contain his own ancient spirit, and part of his Life-Beloved's spirit. It cannot continue indefinitely. Only when the two are together, and the Binding Ceremony completed, with both sharing the flow of energy equally will your friend be saved. You must also know, that if he dies, his Life-Beloved will soon follow, for the two cannot be separated in this world or the next."

Aang took a step back gasping. To lose Zuko would be unspeakable, but to lose Zuko and Katara…his mind was reeling.

"Please…tell me" he rasped still in shock, "Tell me about this Binding Ceremony so that I can save my friends."

Danar nodded solemnly and began to speak in earnest, with Aang hanging desperately on to every word.

When Zuko awoke the sun was barely above the horizon and the morning was still crisp and cool. He sat up slowly and took in his surroundings. The campfire had almost burned out, and Appa was still asleep behind him, a behemoth of warmth and protection. Zuko stood slowly and stretched his aching muscles. Taking a long drink from one of their water skins, he let some flow over his face and hair, enjoying its cold bite on his fevered skin. Munching on a biscuit he began searching for Aang, knowing his friend probably hadn't gone far.

Finally spotting him on the edge of their little cove out standing on the rocks he called out to him. When Aang slowly turned to face him, Zuko was shocked by his appearance. Jogging up to his side he examined the Airbender closely. He looked exhausted, with red rimmed eyes and bandages crudely wrapped around both his palms. "Aang, what happened…why are your hands bandaged!"

Aang looked at his hands as though seeing them for the first time. "This is nothing, I'm fine." Aang gestured that they should walk back to Appa. "Well, at least let me redress them while you tell me what happened? I know how difficult it is to bandage your own hands." Zuko pressed.

"Okay" Aang relented.

They sat in the shade while Zuko slowly began unwrapping Aang's palms, leery of what he would find while Aang started talking.

"I went in search of answers last night. I communicated with Avatar Roku about your condition, but he didn't know anything." Zuko bowed his head, pausing momentarily in his ministrations letting the disappointment flow through him. Noticing this, Aang leaned over and grabbed Zuko's shoulder "I'm not done! He did however; give me an idea of who to ask. I had to go back to a time when the Bending Nations didn't exist." He grimaced as Zuko finally revealed his palms, with the deep fingernail marks in them. "It was more challenging than I anticipated reaching that far back" he whispered. Zuko stared in horror at Aang's hands. He knew what the Avatar was capable of, that pain was no stranger to his friend…for something to make him clench his hands that hard must have been…Zuko stood up and backpedaled. Standing at the ocean's edge he hung his head in shame. Not only was his "condition" affecting him, now it had hurt his best friend.

Aang approached Zuko carefully, as though he were a skittish colt. Coming to stand next to him he bumped Zuko's shoulder with his own and stared at his palms ruefully. "Yeah, that wasn't the most fun thing I've done…recently. But I would do it again in an instant if I had to. Spirits Zuko! I will do it again if we need more information…now that I know who to ask." Zuko's eyes met his in shock. Aang rolled his eyes and continued. "You still don't get it do you? I'm your friend! I care about what happens to you. If it came down to it I would die protecting my friends…my family!" Aang finished fiercely.

Zuko was reeling. "But you can't…you're the Avatar… you're so much more important"

"Don't you dare finish that sentence Zuko!" Aang blazed his eyes starting to glow blue. "Every life is precious. Even yours. Yes I happen to be the Avatar, but first and foremost I'm Aang, your friend. I consider you my best friend, my brother. What kind of Avatar would I be, what kind of person would I be if I believed myself above everyone, even those I care about most." Aang sighed and Zuko was relieved to see his eyes return to their familiar shade of grey.

"Zuko" Aang whispered tiredly. "I just need some time to think about all the things I've learned. I promise I'll share them with you tonight. Do you think you can fly Appa today? I need to rest. There's one more thing I'd like to try tonight, if you still trust me. But I need to sleep and get my strength back for it." Zuko nodded his assent his heart warmed by Aang's words. "Of course I trust you. I'll fly today and we'll talk tonight. First let's get your hands bandaged properly and something to eat."

As they flew toward the northern horizon, Zuko glanced back at Aang. He was sound asleep wrapped in blankets against the chill. They were definitely making progress in their journey Zuko thought as he wrapped his coat more tightly around him. The air was definitely getting colder. He wouldn't be surprised to see snow soon. Even Appa noticed the change and seemed more energetic. His heavy fur was usually a detriment in the summer months, but here he flew happily, letting Zuko ride on his neck and steer.

Zuko burned with curiosity about the information that Aang had learned, and he would admit to some trepidation as to Aang's newest experiment as his last one had ended with him unconscious on the beach. But I do trust him, with my life and if this is what it takes, then I'll do it gladly Zuko thought viciously. Besides, it's not like I'm the only one who ended up unconscious on the beach this time. When Zuko had asked Aang how he got sand all over his back, Aang had genuinely laughed and said he had "pulled a Zuko." Zuko had tried to feel bad about it, but with Aang laughing so hard, it was difficult. Mostly Zuko just flew, gazing at the horizon and trying desperately not to hope…because hope was a dangerous thing.

By the time they landed and set up their small camp, Zuko was practically humming with nervous energy. He had a million questions he wanted to ask Aang, but so far he had managed to keep them in. Tonight he would finally have answers, after years of not knowing what was wrong with him, what was happening to him it seemed like Aang was going to come through for him. He glanced anxiously at his friend, who was standing on the edge of the cliff they had settled on, staring out at the ocean.

Aang sighed. He could feel Zuko's tension, and he appreciated that he had been given some space to collect himself. He knew it was only a matter of time before Zuko would confront him for answers. Aang knew he had to do one more thing, and right now he had to breathe and get his nerves under control, or he would never pull it off. Finally feeling calm and centered, he turned back to the camp. "Zuko come here please."

Aang faced his friend grey eyes meeting amber.

"Zuko, I know you must have so many questions for me about what happened yesterday, and what I found out. With what I've learned, I do believe I know what's happening to you, but Zuko I want to be sure before I tell you, because if it is true, it's going to change everything. Will you let me try one more thing?"

"Anything! If it will get us the answers we seek!" Zuko replied vehemently. "What do you want me to do?"

"You don't have to do anything Zuko." Aang swallowed hard and met Zuko's gaze unflinching. "I need to look at your soul."

Zuko's mouth fell open in shock and the irony of the situation was not lost on him. Here he was with the Avatar, up on a rocky cliff with the ocean crashing far below and the sun setting on the horizon. Much like his father…

"I'm not going to lie Zuko, if things are the way I think they are, this could be…unpleasant."

Zuko's innate stubbornness reared at this remark. He had come this far and endured so much, if giving himself, his very soul over to Aang was what it took, then by Agni he was ready.

"Do it." He gritted out, teeth clenched. Aang nodded solemly.

"We should probably kneel, I don't know how this will end, and I've fallen on my face enough recently." Zuko nodded and knelt, Aang joining him. Zuko had never been more aware of his surroundings, the ocean far below, the sun setting to his left, the smell of the pine trees surrounding their camp. He faced Aang and saw for the first time the lines of worry around his mouth that made him look years older than he was. Zuko held out his forearm to his friend, brushing the fabric of his tunic. "Aang, no matter what happens; I just wanted to thank you for being here, and for doing all this for me."

Aang gripped his forearm tightly with his own, and grinned back softly "Anytime. So just…close your eyes and try to relax."

Zuko complied, and Aang looked at him for a moment, kneeling there with his eyes closed arms hanging loosely at his sides and he marveled at the changes he saw in the man before him. Years ago the proud and angry Prince Zuko would never have submitted or made himself vulnerable to anyone. Now he literally trusted Aang with his soul. Spirits he had to get this right. Aang placed his left hand on Zuko's chest, his right on Zuko's forehead and closed his own eyes. He could feel the tremors racing through his friend's body, feel his heart pounding, then the Avatar state took over and Aang took a back seat to the raw energy that slammed through him and his friend. Dispassionately the Avatar slashed through Zuko's being until his soul was laid bare before him, glowing with a golden yellow light.

At first glance it seemed pure, flowing and leaping like flame…but there! In the center of the light was a flickering darkened area, like an angry bruise of purple and brown, it was unseemly in the purity of the surrounding yellow. The Avatar State recoiled in disgust but Aang pushed it forward, forcing his own light blue energy to pierce the angry dark area. And then he glimpsed it, only for a moment as the discoloration split for a second, a sparkling cerulean blue tendril of energy coiled in the center of the darkness. Almost like it was hiding. Enough. He had seen enough. Pulling back into himself he was slowly aware of being just Aang again. He was on all fours gasping for breath and Zuko was sprawled on his back next to him, pale, sweating and gasping as well. "Well" Zuko croaked after a few minutes. "That wasn't so bad." And Aang would have laughed if he could.

Later when they were wrapped in blankets and huddled against Appa with the campfire in front of them, Aang finally turned to Zuko.

"Zuko…I know what's happened to you..."