Ok everyone! Here is the next chapter. Just a reminder that this is my alternate version of events, from the Fire Bending Masters forward.
It's too bad that the Mai/Ty lee betrayal won't be in here anywhere. (That was a twist even I could never have thought up!! Kudos to you Mike and Brian!!)
On with story!! Please have cookies and enjoy!! LOL!!
0o0o0o0o
Katara knocked on Zuko's door. No answer. Irritated, she pounded louder.
"Maybe we should leave him alone, Katara. After all…"
"Zuko! I know you're in there!" Casting a scathing look at Sokka, She marched inside. Darkness and silence greeted them. He was not here.
"Great. No prince and no sleep. I'm going to bed."
"Sokka, wait!" He looked at her. "We need to find him."
"Because…?" he raised his eyebrow.
"We need to apologise and he might need us." She looked away. "You saw what happened. Maybe we were really wrong about him. Sokka, he looked like he was going to fall apart before he left." Kataras' eyes came back to her brothers' face. He looked smug and crossed his arms over his chest.
"Oh no. We didn't do anything, Katara. You judged him, you find him, and you apologise. Although watching you admit you were wrong to his face would be nice…" He lifted a finger and tapped his lip, smiling while she fumed, "This late at night though, you can eat crow by yourself."
"Sokka!" Fists on hips, she opened her mouth to berate him. She never got the chance.
"Nope. I don't think so." Waving his arm airily at her he walked away "Have a nice night!"
"Fine! Go to bed!" She stalked off. I will find him. Her steps slowed to a halt. What will I say when I do?
0o0o0o0o
Zuko stood outside the control room of the Fire Navy vessel. Although the view was amazing, the prince hardly saw it at all. He didn't know what to think about his experience of Avatar Roku. Excluding Azula, I'm his youngest descendant. Unless there's more I don't know. He scowled angrily at the ocean. Is there always going to be something important I don't know that no one's bothered to tell me? He touched his cheek again, unwilling to believe the truth of it. Even the bold line of his brow had been restored perfectly. Tears pricked his eyes, though he bit his lip hard to hold them back.
"Zuko?"
Katara. Now what? She was behind him and he did not turn. "This isn't the time." She stood beside him now. "Go away."
"I'd like to talk to you." Silence. "Zuko, I want to apologise." Now he turned and stared at her. Katara knew he'd been healed, she'd seen it herself. Still, the pure beauty of his face this way was startling. She'd gotten used to his burn mark.
"Really? Apologise for what?"
The innocent way he asked irritated her. How did he dare! "As if you didn't know! For all the stupid suspicions I've had! For treating you horribly and for caring how you were today!" She turned on her heel and began to stomp away. The softness of his voice stopped her.
"So you're mad at me because you were wrong?" Zuko snorted and turned back to rail. "I was right. Girls are crazy."
Katara stared at him and felt ashamed of her behaviour. That was a great apology, Katara. "Can we go somewhere and talk? I want to work this out." Silence. "Please Zuko?" She touched his hand, holding it in both of hers. "I… I forgive you and want you to forgive me too." The silence was so complete; Katara could hear the soft, sharp intake of breath.
"You what?" Gold eyes held blue.
"I forgive you."
The tears that had threatened him earlier spilled over. Shielding his eyes with one hand he stepped back from her and turned away. "I need a moment." Silently, she waited while the prince composed himself. Then he faced her; calm serenity once more. "Would you like some tea?"
0o0o0o0o
"Sokka! Wake up!"
"Whoa. What's going on? Are we under attack?" Aang's face hovered over him, excitement clear in his eyes. "Uh, you need to get off me so I can get up."
"Oh. Sorry." Aang backed off and waited for his friend to collect himself.
"Ok. What's up?"
"I dreamed about Roku again. He told me to go into the desert and take my teachers with me."
Sokka raised an eyebrow and crossed his arms. "Yeah? What else did the voice say to do?"
"I'm serious, Sokka. He said to bring my bending teachers, especially Zuko. The answers we seek are there. This is just like the time he told us to go to that island!"
"Right, and we're still trying to decide what the point of that was." The Water Tribe teen rose and sighed, "Okay, if that's what we need to do we'll go to the desert. Flying around a sand bowl, with no clear objective, looking for answers. Sounds like good times." He thought for a moment. "Didn't we do that already?"
Aangs' face fell and he began to fidget. "Well, that's the thing. I'm taking my teachers with me and Zuko commands most of the fire benders." Sokka stopped and stared at him. "I know you're a really good leader, Sokka and…"
"And you want me to stay here. You want me to replace Zuko in the current Invasion Plan?" He rubbed his jaw, "I was going to be second in command of the Water Tribe segment and now you want me to lead fire benders into battle?"
"Yes and…"
Sokka his hands on the shoulders of the young air bender, looking into his eyes. "Aang, I'm not a fire bender. I'm not a bender at all."
The avatars' gaze hardened and he stood firm. "Why should that matter? You're the idea guy; you make plans and understand situations quickly enough to adapt to them. Zuko's right, you're a thought bender and an amazing tactician. You can do this, Sokka." He grabbed his arm and pulled to older teen down the hall. "Let's go find the others."
0o0o0o0o
Zuko could feel the heat of the candles in his body and his blood. The flames seemed to pulse in time with the rhythm of his heart, flaring bright then dull as he breathed. His eyes were closed, yet he could see them with all his other senses. Toph had given him the inspiration to 'see' fire through his senses in this deeper way. Once, he had meditated to clear the mind; now he did so to lift his spirit and merge with element he was born to. Since passing the judgement of the Masters; fire was no longer just a weapon. It was alive in him, completely.
Some one knocked on his door. The prince did not open his eyes. "Who is it?"
"It's Sokka and I." Without waiting for an invitation, Aang opened the door and went in. They paused inside the door, unsure of themselves. Neither had ever seen Zuko meditating. "Uh, I know what we need to do now." Sighing, the prince raised one hand, dousing the candles, and turned. Curious golden eyes pierced them both. "Why don't you and Sokka meet me on deck? I'll get Toph and Katara."
"Hmm? Get me for what?" Aang and Sokka turned towards the sound. Katara was sitting up in Zuko's bed, her hair hanging loose over her shoulders. Still clothed, she threw off the blankets and stood. "What are you guys doing in here?"
Sokka surveyed her and spoke dryly, "I was about to ask you the same thing."
Zuko stood as well. "Actually, we were having tea and your sister fell asleep. So I tucked the blankets around her."
The water tribe warrior was angry now. "Yeah? Where did you sleep?"
"On the floor." Zukos' stare met Sokkas' until Aang spoke.
"Let's meet on deck. We have a lot to talk about."
"You got that right." Sokka turned and marched away.
