Avatar Book 6: Order

by morgman

With less than a year left to them the Gaang continue trying to discover how to save their world from the most powerful threats in the universe. The team splits up, mayhem, demons, the antiAvatar and all while trying to plan an unusual wedding.

21. Flying Away and Growing Closer

Chapter 21

Hearing a soft fear filled moan, she looked up from where she sat in a clear stream of shallow water, the water icy cold even late into the afternoon having made it's way here from springs in the hills to the north. Again her companion twitched where he lay on a bed of soft moss under the tree where they had both slept most of the day, another low moan rising from him. She had not been awake all that long herself, her own dreams rousing her though she suspected her infrequent dreams were a little different to his now, the man himself usually the focus of those dreams. Pushing aside thoughts of what had compelled her to come sit in the icy water, she rose to her feet and stepped from the stream as water ran down her pale, slightly golden tanned skin, her hair plastered to her head and neck. Then with only a small amount of concentration, she used a combination of Firebending and Airbending to set the air about herself spinning while pale blue flames whipped about her so that in moments she was dry herself. As her companion suddenly jerked violently, a louder fearful moan rising from him, she released her hold on those elements and walked silently up to him, kneeling at the sleeping man's side.

For weeks now she had been perfectly aware of her friends and family's not so subtle attempts at pushing them together and she had stubbornly resisted them at every turn. Just as she resisted her own urges and desires, those feelings still alien and more than a little frightening to the young woman. She thought then of the disastrous trip to the dragon elders and the way he had lost control briefly. The others had praised her for bringing him back to himself, saying her move in embarrassing him at that moment had been a masterstroke but in truth, at the time she'd kissed him because deep down inside, she'd simply wanted to. Sitting down beside the scarred man, she rested one hand on his chest and brushed his unkempt hair back from his forehead with her other.

"Daniel." Azula said softly, "Hey. It's ok. Wake up."

His eyelids fluttered and then sprang open revealing intense, white light which softened into green and red glows before those too faded and he drew a shuddering breath as he closed his eyelids tightly once more.

"Azula? Where," he rumbled softly with a frown, "Oh, Wolf and I were…dreaming."

"Do you want to talk about it?" she asked him in the same soft tone.

His frown deepened however and he rolled to his side, facing away from her but Azula only remained as she was, her hand now resting on his shoulder as she waited patiently.

"It's always the desert." he said after a time, his voice slightly confused and filled with pain, "Sometimes we're him again…the Nomad. Sometimes it's me doing…terrible things…but always, I dream of being back in that desert."

"Why is there a desert anyway?" she asked him, "I mean, it's the spirit world isn't it?"

"A soul has a tiny physical presence. Not…elements as we understand them but it's there." he said in a quiet voice, still facing away from her, "When a soul is consumed, their lifeforce and energy forcibly taken, that's all that remains. Just a handful of grains."

"But…what you and Aang have shown us." she began, understanding bringing a sense of horror, "How…how big is that desert?"

Rolling back, Daniel's hand brushed against Azula's thigh, her heart skipping a beat as he jumped and snatched his hand away, his face coloring quickly but she only reached out and pushed her hand into his, feeling him relax slightly as her fingers entwined with his and squeezed warmly.

"Life…and mind have existed a long time, Azula and the spirit world knows no limits." he told her with a deep frown, "Nor were Fate or I the only monsters who could consume."

"You're not a monster." she said simply then squeezed his hand again, "From all that I have seen and heard of the Nomad, you and Wolf are not him."

"Yet he rose from us. Our combined minds without a heart." Daniel growled, a flash of anger crossing his face before he finished softly, "But no. I might have his memories and as much as I tried to be him when I came here, I know now, we were never him."

"It's that bag isn't it? Your armor." she asked without hesitation and his face flinched away from hers, "Aang worked it out first but you haven't touched it since he took your Bending. Katara acts strangely around it too. The Nomad is the armor."

"I didn't know until Aang cut my connection to it. I couldn't know. The Nomad made sure of that." he said quietly, a deeper, furious frown forming on his face, "I don't understand how it can be…yet…but I will and then he will pay. For everything."

His hand tightened about hers though not painfully so, even as powerful shudders passed through him and his free hand at his other side clenched tightly. Unsure of what she could say or do, Azula only sat quietly until the anger faded from him and with a growling sigh he sat up, releasing her hand as he reached for the blindfold hanging about his neck and setting it about his missing eyes once more. Reaching for her small leather pack resting nearby with his swords, Azula withdrew her spare set of plain green clothes and passed Daniel the black trousers he'd worn the night before.

"At least Katara should be happy I've run out of buttflaps." Daniel growled with a wry grin as he and Azula rose and quickly dressed, "Thank you for watching over me again. It's nice to actually sleep although we must have slept the whole day away."

Standing nearby, the scarred man stretched and Azula bit her lip as her golden eyes roamed over him, pausing in the act of taking her silver chain from her pack. She had thought him handsome in the black, silken suit the night before but standing beside him as he stretched, taking in the sight of his muscled frame, the wide lines of his tattoos and even the many scars that adorned him, Azula could no longer deny to herself that a part of her desired him, those feelings rising not just from her heart. Deep seated fears still arose along with those feelings however and she pushed them all away with practiced ease, releasing a steady breath as she turned to look at the sun in the west.

"There's still a couple hours of daylight left but I suppose we should get back." Azula said as she tucked her chain with it's flame shaped sapphire under her shirt, "I only hope Zuzu's had time to settle down."

"Yes, well you can deal with him." Daniel said, turning back to her with a soft chuckle, "While I have fun dishing out Aang's punishment."

"Very funny." Azula drawled and then frowned at him, "Why are you training him first anyway? You said your aunt managed it first in your world so why can't you teach me to use the chi pathways?"

The scarred man stood still for a moment, his blindfolded gaze regarding Azula from a blank face for a full minute before he thrust out his hand.

"My aunt Suki only survived thanks to my father being present when she did manage it." he growled, suddenly pulling Azula close to himself as she took his hand, "Now, join me as deep as you can go in the moment and keep your thoughts close to mine."

His sudden serious manner almost unnerved Azula and she swallowed heavily as she did as he said, outwardly looking relaxed even as tension mounted within her. Without moving she felt herself accelerating, the sunlight fading even as the trees around them, the grass and mosses they stood on, even tiny fish in the stream and things that crawled under the dirt became visible to her as every living thing within her field of vision began to let off a soft glow. She knew these to be auras, representations of living spirits and something both Ty Lee and her Uncle had been blessed with the ability to see since birth.

Do you see it? part of her was still focused enough on Daniel to pick up his surface thoughts and she turned to him with a quizzical expression, The chi pathways, Azula. The very lifeforce of the world. It surrounds you, fills you and it's a part of you just as you are of it. Focus now, open your senses and see.

In truth Azula already could and she explained to him exactly what she saw.

It's almost like being underwater. I can see it, feel it all around us like faint mist and just as I have learned to feel the currents of the air, I can feel it flowing. From the air, from under the ground. It flows through every living thing and their energy in turn flows from them back to the world, to each other, everything.

Excellent observation. Daniel said in the same businesslike manner, And what does this tell you?

What I just said, she replied, a touch of impatience in her tone, All living things are connected to the world and each other.

The first and simplest lesson you've learned. Daniel continued, And as the Avatar of Nature, you can channel all that through yourself. All that lifeforce, all that energy. All of it rising from the Fountain of Life and flowing through you. Remember our little Agni Kai in Ba Sing Sa?

My Avatar state. She answered softly, her eyes still drinking in the glowing, shifting world around them.

Now answer me this. Daniel growled and she turned back to him.

In her eyes his body was a blazing inferno of red mingled with green, moving and shifting oddly as he bent down and scooped up a handful of moss, holding it up and then releasing it. With unnatural slowness the moss fell from his fingers, so slowly that at first it was difficult to discern it's movement at all.

How do we move this fast? He growled, his face hard and closed, How do we exist in the moment?

We went over all this weeks ago, Azula began with a frown.

Answer the question. Daniel snapped with his own frown.

Fine. Azula said with a shrug and rolled her eyes, By having our bodies, our senses and minds in peak condition and working as a single unit, we can push ourselves beyond physical restraints.

Do you understand how to enter the chi around you? Daniel snapped.

You explained that to me too. Azula snapped back but hesitated before she answered, Push yourself deeper into the moment and you become one with the chi paths.

But what does that mean? Daniel's thoughts barked at her.

I don't know. Azula shot back angrily and turned away from him.

Then she jumped slightly as she felt his hand come to rest on her shoulder.

Come on. he said softly.

A subtle change in his energy showed that Daniel had dropped from the moment and Azula followed, the colorful world of auras fading before afternoon sunlight bathed them once more. Still standing before her, Daniel wore a small, slightly embarrassed smile.

"I'm sorry. I don't mean to sound harsh but there is great danger in what I seek to teach you." he said to her softly, moving closer to rest a single finger over her heart, "To push yourself beyond what you've experienced so far, your body, mind and chi become one. In effect, you force your physical self to become chi and are in turn absorbed by the world's chi. To exist as energy, a living spirit, is something Aang understands but even still, it will be very dangerous even for him."

"But…why?" she asked him, "You said you can get lost in the chi paths but you didn't explain how."

"Words can't do it justice and the experience is often different for different people. You will understand when Aang helps me teach you and the other warriors." Daniel said seriously but he relaxed slightly, smiling softly again as he finished, "There is something I can show you however. My greatest secret and my greatest weapon. As far as I know, only Fate and myself have ever mastered it."

"What?" she asked simply, a touch of excitement creeping into her voice now.

"To push yourself into the chi pathways, you become energy but if you can hold yourself together, remain whole and physical, you can go further." Daniel said, excitement in his own rumbling voice, "I only discovered this myself a few weeks before I left my world. You can go all the way into the moment. Where even energy ceases to flow and time itself all but stops."

"Really?" Azula asked in wonder and then added with fresh excitement, "Show me."

"It will not be pleasant." Daniel said as his own excitement faded, a pensive frown on his face, "And…you asked me about the desert in the spirit realms? It is reflected here in the mortal realm, deep down at the lowest levels of the moment where there is no energy. Now come here. We must be as close as possible."

The scarred man's face colored slightly as he opened his arms but eager to see what he wanted to show her, Azula stepped into his embrace without hesitation. She wasn't sure what she expected but she was surprised when he wrapped one arm about her waist and pressed her closely to himself, his other arm going about her shoulders as he placed his open hand against the side of her head and held it gently but firmly to his shoulder.

"This close, huh?" Azula asked with a smirk, only able to turn her eyes upwards, "If I didn't know you, I'd think you were getting a little…fresh with me."

"For you to survive, my aura must overlap yours." he rumbled without humor and his next words quelled her excitement, sending a thrill of fear through her, "Do not let go, no matter what you see, hear or experience and when it becomes too much, let me know and I'll bring us out."

Her heart pounding in her chest, Azula felt them both drop into the moment far faster than she had experienced on her own, auras simply bursting into life around them but quickly the trees around them faded as well, even the ground beneath their feet and the sky above and leaving only the auras visible to her.

This is how I see now apart from what my physical senses show me. Azula heard Daniel's thoughts, his voice soft though his grip about her remained the same, If I released you now, you would fall into the chi around us and without knowing how to hold yourself together, you would be lost. To most, this would be the limit of how far they could go into the moment but I know better. Just…hold tight now.

The drifting, moving auras about them began to fade then and unconsciously Azula's arms tightened their grip about Daniel as the world drifted back into focus but it was a world of darkness and shadows. Only the suggestions of shapes gave clues to the landscape about them but Azula was having difficulty focusing on that as intense cold assaulted her while at the same time she felt hot inside as though gripped by a powerful fever, the sensation becoming more intense moment by moment. The shadows were intensifying, the landscape becoming almost impossible to see around them but something new was coming into focus. About them drifted shadows deeper than the darkness surrounding them and as she attempted to gasp, Azula's grip became crushing as she realized she could not draw breath. Her Bending senses were simply gone and the only thing her physical senses showed her were the shapes surrounding them and the man she clutched herself to. The cold was growing painful, as though it was literally gnawing at her flesh yet at the same time she felt as though she was burning from within. Still, her eyes remained wide as she stared.

Faces surround them. Some human, many…something different and they hung immobile, expressionless, so many that they overlapped each other, their features merging and blurring. As the darkness became complete, only the faces could be seen hanging before, above and below them, the entire universe seemingly filled with blank, staring eyes. The pain was growing and she shuddered, squeezing her eyes shut to block out that sea of empty faces as the heat and the cold simultaneously burned her inside and out.

It hurts. Make them go away. her mind shrieked, Danny, it hurts.

Instantly, warmth and sunlight surrounded them, the gentle breeze once more blowing through the trees around them but even though they were now out of the moment, Azula remained as she was with her arms about Daniel, trembling slightly as he gently stroked her back.

"How can you stand that?" she breathed after several minutes, "I've never felt…anything like that and all those faces. All those people just…staring."

"It takes some getting used to but the skill to do it has served me well." Daniel said quietly, the growl gone from his voice as he continued stroking her back softly, "Those you saw are the truly dead. Their energy, their lifeforce taken from them. Consumed. I've tried before to communicate with them but they are not aware and no time passes in that place."

"They almost looked like they were…waiting for something." Azula said after a moment, lifting her face from his chest to look up at him, "Can they be helped?"

"Only when Fate is defeated and the Fountain of Knowledge freed. Then their energy will return to them." Daniel said with a sad smile, his arms releasing her, "But…being able to see them down there…in a way it brings me comfort."

"Comfort?" Azula asked in surprise.

"That they are not just…gone. That those I…the Nomad, Fate and others consumed can be restored." he told her softly, "That is what my father believed and that is part of what I…what we fight for. So all spirits, living or otherwise can be free."

Taking half a step back from him, Azula drew a shuddering breath and offered her own small smile as she felt herself finally relax.

"You don't do things by halves, do you? You sure know how to pick a fight, Daniel." she said, her attempt at a playful smirk fading as he frowned suddenly and turned away from her.

"I failed my family, Azula and so very badly. I was supposed to be at my father's side when he faced our Fate but because of me…my world lost it's Avatar of Nature and my family three of their children. I fear what has become of them." Daniel said in a broken voice, a mix of anger and grief on his face, "That's the main reason why I fight to save this world, this family I have come to love so much. Even if he can never know of it…I have to make my Dad proud of me again…I have to."

"I understand." Azula said, reaching out to rest her hands on his chest, "But your father loved you. With all that you've already done, he would be proud."

"You didn't see the way he looked at me the day…the day I killed Kuzon." he said with scowl but sighed sadly as he continued, "But anyway, enough of this. We should be returning to the others so I can take Aang into the chi pathways. Then once you have learned as well, the three of us will start training the other warriors."

"Always with the training." Azula said though her voice was warm as she shook her head, "There's just one more thing while we're here."

Stepping back into him, Daniel stiffened in surprise as Azula embraced him, again resting her head on his shoulder and as he slowly placed his arms about her, she released a soft sigh.

"I just want you to know, I've…never been this happy since I came to realize that we were friends. It sounds stupid but…I see us as kindred spirits." she told him, pulling back enough to smile up at him, her face glowing crimson though she continued easily, "And for all that you've accomplished and done for me…and all our family, I'm proud of you. Just as they are and just as you should be proud of yourself."

"Tell me that again when we have defeated Fate and I might believe you." he growled softly then chuckled as he returned her smile, "But thank you. Your friendship means more to me…than I can put into words."

She remained as she was for a moment, her face inches from his and again she felt an urge to move closer, biting at her lip as her emotions swirled within but as always it came with a stab of fear. It was obvious to her that he sensed this as he relaxed his arms, letting them drop from about her as he smiled softly down at her. As she stepped back, both of them were flushed and slightly embarrassed but turning quickly away, Daniel bent down and scooped up his swords from where they had lain and then held out his hand to her, the scarred man hesitating for one moment as she took it in her own.

"Azula? We lo,…what Wolf and I mean," he began hesitantly as his own face darkened and then sighed, smiling at her again, "Just like our family, I'm proud of you too. Me and Wolf both. I know I keep saying it but…You're becoming an amazing Avatar of Body and Nature and…an even better friend to us."

At his hesitation and obvious slip, Azula tried something. Slipping briefly into the moment, she gazed into his aura and her heart skipped a beat at the depth of emotion she saw reflected there, his blazing energies difficult to read but both red and green of the man and his animal spirit shone brightly with undisguised love. Her fears rose again but this time when she pushed them away, for just a heartbeat she allowed her own emotions to shine forth from herself and relaxing slightly before her, Daniel smiled again and squeezed her hand before they fell into the chi pathways and were gone.

---

Zuko sat at his enormous desk in his spacious study, a scowl on his face as he read through several reports, Aang standing at his side wearing a pensive expression while Iroh stood at his other, reading several of those reports over his nephew's shoulder. The only others in the room reclined on a large couch against one wall, Mai sitting straight yet relaxed at one end while Toph lay on her back, her head resting on her lover's lap. All of them looked up as two figures materialized with a soft pop, Zuko's eyes narrowing as he took in the sight of his sister and the scarred man standing hand in hand in the center of the room.

"It's about time." the young Firelord growled grumpily and jerked a thumb toward Aang, "I was going to have him go looking if you didn't come back soon."

"We were busy." Daniel said curtly, frowning darkly as he turned his blindfolded face toward Aang, "And I only came back to deal with him."

"Me?" Aang said in a small voice, his face blanching as Daniel grinned.

"We have training to attend to." the scarred man growled, releasing Azula's hand to march toward him.

"Wait." Zuko said sharply, picking up several pieces of paper from his desk, "I need your help with something. I received a message hawk from Jeong Jeong earlier this afternoon. The new fire temple on the southern coast sent him a message to say they were under attack."

"That was the day before yesterday and he has heard nothing since." Iroh added with a frown, "Plus what soldiers he sent won't have arrived there yet and this needs to be checked out immediately."

"That would be the temple on the Bone Coast?" Daniel asked with a frown and as Zuko nodded, the scarred man held his hand out toward Aang, "Then we'll investigate that first."

Looking unsure, Aang stepped around the large desk and approached Daniel, hesitantly reaching for the scarred man's hand. He jumped as Daniel snatched his hand, jerking him close before they both vanished with a soft sound, the only other sound after they'd gone a quiet sigh rising from Azula.

"So, did you like that play last night, big Sis?" Toph asked from Mai's lap.

"For the most part." Azula replied, inclining her head, "Although the actor playing you was the most realistic."

"Yeah, I love that bit." Toph said with a laugh, "Come over here so I can scream at ya and get a good look."

Smiling softly at her lover's humor, Mai's golden eyes appraised her friend, noticing the quiet tension in Azula though she suspected this had little to do with the play.

"I go to see that play every time I come here." Iroh said with a soft laugh from where he stood beside Zuko, "I especially love those scenes with Zuko and myself."

"That actor playing you obviously did his research." Azula told the older man with a smirk, "He even looks a bit like you."

"True but he does tend to focus on my love of tea and cake." Iroh rumbled in a serious tone before the old man grinned hugely and gave his niece a thumbs up, "I prefer treachery. It's more fun."

Toph laughed uproariously as Mai and Azula smirked at the man's antics, Zuko however only hung his head and shook it sadly with a heavy sigh.

"Actually, I argued against sending you to see that." Mai admitted in a soft voice, "Are you sure you're alright?"

"It wasn't all…pleasant but the company I had made it tolerable." Azula told her, offering a quick smile that grew into a smirk, "Then we had a fun night out on the town."

"So I noticed." her brother said dryly, picking up a thick pile of papers from his desk and letting them flutter back down, "Nearly twenty thousand gold, Azula. You've practically bankrupted the royal family with your little shopping trip."

"Oh, get over it, Sparky." Toph said with a lazy wave of her hand, "Magma will float you anyway."

"Bankrupted?" Azula asked him incredulously, "You're the Firelord. You have the wealth of the nation at your disposal."

"Things have changed from what our father and grandfathers did to this nation, Azula." Zuko told her, his face serious, "Our nation's wealth comes from the people's freedom to earn that without fear of it being taken from them and as their leader, even the Firelord must earn his keep. I have a small stake in Mai and Toph's company but apart from that, the royal family only receives a small stipend each year."

"Really?" Azula asked, slightly amazed but she smiled and bowed her head to her brother, "I'm impressed. You've become a much better Firelord than I would have."

"Or even I." Iroh said warmly, resting a hand on Zuko's shoulder, "Just like you my niece, he makes me prouder of him each and every day."

"Thank you. That means a lot…coming from both of you." Zuko said but he frowned at Azula again a moment later, "So what have you been doing all day since you spent all my money?"

"Not a great deal." she replied with a shrug, "We slept mostly."

"Azula…little sister, I wonder," Zuko began, ignoring the warning look Mai directed at him, "This…closeness growing between you two. Daniel's a good man but he…he has his problems and you are…very inexperienced. I just hope you'll be careful, that's all."

For a full minute Azula glared back at her brother, her anger only slightly softened by a touch of sadness about her eyes.

"I've always been suspicious of other people. Their motives. What they might try to take from me. That's just part of who I am." Azula snapped harshly, striding forward to rest her hands on Zuko's desk as she leaned closer to him, "But of him, I am absolutely certain. Daniel is my friend. He cares about me just as much as you do and he would 'NEVER' try to take that further or take advantage of me unless 'I' wished it and for that, I care for him just as much."

Blinking in surprise at his sister's open if angry honesty, Zuko swallowed as she leaned closer still over his desk, her face inches from his, eyes so like his own boring into his as a smirk formed on her face.

"You want to know what we did today?" she said in almost a whisper, "We went hunting. I ran as a tiger alongside Wolf and a family of Saber-toothed Moose. Working together we brought down a Mongoose-dragon and I made the kill so I got it's heart. So hot and filled with the richest blood." Zuko grew pale as her smirk widened, the tip of her tongue sliding across her lips as she leaned closer still, almost climbing onto his desk as she placed her lips next to his ear, "Then, we found a nice spot next to a stream where Daniel laid down under a tree and I curled up at his side and that's where we spent the rest of our day. Just the two of us, laying there together…naked."

As she spoke, Zuko's hands lay flat on his desk and at her final word, the papers resting there curled and started to give off smoke before bursting into sudden flame causing the young man to jump and hastily pat out the fires as Azula stood again and grinned at him. Turning away with one last smirk over her shoulder and a wink at her uncle, Azula walked away from them, slowing as she passed Mai and Toph, her future sister-in-law raising a hand that Azula slapped her own palm against before she stepped through the door and was gone. But Toph slowly sat up with a curious frown, her, Mai and Iroh turning to look at Zuko with surprise as he chuckled softly, the young man shaking his head with a wide smile.

"Annoying, arrogant and pushy. Always got to have her own way and the always has to have last word." Zuko said quietly, speaking mainly to himself as he smiled, "But how can I not love him too? He gave me my sister back."

---

The landscape was a coastline of bleak, broken and barren rock. Heavily weathered and with only a few dried and straggly bushes dotting the landscape it did not appear to be a pleasant place, all but inaccessible except for a single road cut into the jumbled stone. Most of the rock around had turned grey from the lichen that grew everywhere or the salt in the air but for one place near the coast, a jumble of blackened stones showing where a structure had once stood overlooking the sea in the south. A single figure stood near these ruins, the steady wind making his tan and yellow clothes flap about his body as he stared white faced.

"How can the temple just be…gone?" Aang breathed, a noncommittal grunt from his companion his only reply, "I was supposed to come for a statue to be made and I kept putting it off. The Abbot only wrote to me a few months ago."

While Aang stared at the black and pitted stones that had once made up the temple, Wolf trotted to and fro, his nose close to the ground as the large grey animal sought clues amongst the rubble. Thick ash coated the ground around the black and crumbling stone and Wolf paused in his sniffing to dig suddenly, unearthing a cracked and charred skull. Moving on, the animal uncovered several others then trotted back toward Aang, his nose still close to the ground as he moved from the area of destruction to the worn road just beyond.

Many died here but not all. At least thirty entered the temple. Aang heard the animal's thoughts as Wolf turned back to him, Some left willingly with the others but their scent is…altered. Wrong.

"In what way?" Aang asked and then blinked as Wolf rose upwards, changing into Daniel who stood with an angry frown.

"That is difficult to put into words. Wolf's nose is powerful but not a precision instrument." the scarred man growled as Aang passed him his black trousers, "Can you sense anything in the energy of this place?"

"Actually, I have to agree with Wolf." Aang replied with a shrug, "Something here just doesn't feel right but I can't pick up anything solid."

"You're not wrong about that." Daniel growled, moving away with a scowl.

He walked back to the ruins, marching straight up to a blackened and broken column of stone when he suddenly kicked out, the thick stone crumbled into gravel and ash as he slammed his foot into it.

"What can do that to stone?" Aang breathed moving up to join him.

"You, Azula, me if I had my Firebending, Zuko or maybe Iroh. Only the most intense fire can make stone burn like this." Daniel growled in response, the scarred man crouching and scooping up a handful of gritty black ash that he held up to his nose, "The only other source of heat on this world capable of this is dragon's fire."

"Dragons?" Aang asked as his eyes widened.

"I doubt any of Ran's children are responsible." Daniel growled as he rose back to his feet, "She would never allow it."

"So…what do you think did this?" Aang asked him.

"I have no idea and there's nothing more we can learn here." Daniel growled, a furious expression on his face, "But rest assured, Fate is responsible. She's up to something and no doubt we'll learn what that is soon enough."

"Alright but what do you think," Aang began but stopped as Daniel spun and stomped away from the ruin.

"We have training to do." the scarred man growled curtly.

"Daniel." Aang called, hurrying to catch the man, "Why are you still angry at me?"

"Why do you think?" he snarled in return, spinning back to glare furiously, "Isn't it bad enough you play around with my sanity then you decide to go and shove her past back down her throat?"

"I was hardly playing and you know that." Aang shot back at him, "Neither your sanity or Azula's were ever in danger. I wouldn't have tried what I did if I wasn't certain and I've learned more than enough from the older Avatar spirits within me."

"Learning is not the same as experience." Daniel growled, moving closer until his face hovered inches from Aang, "You weren't there. You didn't see the pain you put her through. Hasn't she suffered enough?"

"Haven't you?" Aang replied softly and Daniel jerked back, "I know what she has suffered just as I know what you have but we have until the solstice, Daniel. Less than nine months now and we need you both sound and whole. I'm sorry to sound so cold and callous about it but it's the truth."

"I know that but she deserves to be treated with care and respect. Let her come to terms with her father in her own time." Daniel growled softly, his face again creasing in anger as he finished, "As for me, I don't care what you do to me anymore. I am the weapon and shield I made myself into to preserve you. That is my purpose. Mine and that…damned bag's."

"So," Aang said, dropping his gaze briefly, "You've worked that out have you?"

"The instant you cut it from my mind." Daniel growled and Aang blinked in surprise, "You could've tried telling me though."

"I've barely seen you, Daniel." Aang said insistently, "You've been avoiding me and isolating yourself from the rest of us since then. Katara's been deeply worried about you. So have I."

The scarred man stood half turned from Aang, his face still creased in anger but he turned back a moment later, a touch of worry on his brow.

"Is it aware?" he growled softly, "Can the Nomad still influence the world…or me?"

"No, it's inert. It's a mind but disconnected from you it cannot function." Aang said, moving forward and raising a hand but Daniel flinched away from his touch. Sighing sadly, Aang continued, "I've discussed this with the older Avatars and we believe that when you and Wolf first joined in the spirit realms you became an Avatar like me, of spirit and mind instead of Nature. But that being that rose from your minds knew it could not last. The imbalance within you would destroy it so it created a…a copy of itself using your ability to create that armor and while you were in the spirit realms that mind, the Nomad's mind dominated yours and Wolf's and controlled you."

"I suspected as much and to think I carried that…thing…on my back all this time." Daniel said softly, then turned back to Aang and snarled savagely, "But I want you, all the Avatars to find a way to destroy it. I want the Nomad DEAD!"

"Daniel. Even if I wanted to, I don't think that's possible." Aang said softly, finishing quickly as the scarred man growled, "Listen to me. All those souls the Nomad consumed, all that energy is locked up in the substance of that bag. Tampering with it or trying to destroy it could simply release it all and unleash the Nomad's final solution. It's simply too dangerous."

Shaking his head as though in denial, Daniel turned away and with an angry shout kicked at the ground, sending a fist sized stone rattling away over the rocky landscape. Unsure whether anything he could do or say would be welcomed, Aang waited silently as the man slowly calmed himself.

"At least…at least Wolf and I know now that we were never him and for that at least, we are grateful to you." Daniel growled quietly, heaving a heavy sigh, "I think all my troubles with the imbalance between myself and Wolf started when I consumed that demon in Ba Sing Sa. It felt…awful. Unnatural. I couldn't understand why at first, I carry the Nomad's memories and he did it with such ease but I know now why it felt like it did. Simply because 'I' had never done it before and now I've experienced it for myself, I can guarantee you I'll never consume again."

"I'm glad to hear that." Aang replied warmly, "You…and Azula both have been doing well in finding your Way. By respecting life instead of taking it, you are well on your way to enlightenment."

"Tell that to the previous Elder of the water dragons and from what we have seen here, I imagine we will be fighting again and soon." Daniel growled with a mixture of regret and anger before he sighed again, "We should be concentrating on your training. Think instead about how good it will be to return to the others under your own power if you succeed."

"And if I don't succeed?" Aang asked and then added hastily, "You were a bit vague on that."

"Because it's something I'd rather not dwell on." Daniel growled ominously, straightening before Aang, "You understand all I have told you of using the chi paths? I have shared with you all that I can from my memories."

"I guess but like you said, learning isn't quite the same as experience." Aang said, offering a brief smile, "How do we begin?"

The scarred man sighed heavily again, the anger slowly fading from him as a flash of concern crossed his blindfolded face and he stepped closer to Aang.

"As the Avatar of Spirit you are able to separate from your body, traveling the world that way but this is about drawing your body into the chi paths with you and therein lies the danger." Daniel rumbled in a serious manner, "This first time I will take us into the chi of the world but instead of traveling, we will remain there for a time. You must focus and focus with all your being on holding yourself together. To become chi and immerse yourself in the world's chi is almost…sensual. Euphoric. It can be very tempting to let yourself go, to let your awareness and physical senses flow and merge with the world's chi but if you open yourself too much, your energy becomes the world's energy and you will be lost. Remember who you are and remember too those you love. Hold those thoughts and memories close. Do you understand?"

"I think so." Aang replied, frowning a little, "You're kind of worrying me Daniel."

"Good." the scarred man snapped, reached out to grip Aang's shoulders in both hands, "Just do as I say…only as I say and you will come through this fine."

Before he could reply or even think, Aang was plunged into darkness and crushing pressure, his head spinning furiously as the sensation continued.

Errgh. Aang moaned with his thoughts, I hate this bit.

That is because I am holding you here. Daniel's thoughts came to the other man, I will release you now. Do not attempt to move yet and focus.

Light suddenly exploded about Aang, his vision returning to him though the pressure and discomfort remained yet he almost forgot that as he stared about himself in all directions at once. The world was a kaleidoscope of shifting, moving energies, all of it glowing brightly and almost washing out the landscape surrounding them. He knew what it was he saw, the living spirits of the few things that struggled to exist in this rocky landscape all of it immersed in the world's own living spirit.

We're still here? Aang asked in surprise, even though Daniel had said they would remain where they had been.

But looking down at himself, Aang was astounded to find himself a dense, shifting and multilayered being formed of blue edged, white light. Trying to raise a hand to his face, he saw instead a tendril of blue white that extended out from himself but concentrating upon it, it quickly shaped itself to look like a hand.

Excellent. You'll need that kind of focus to get back. he heard Daniel's thoughts again, the man's voice a little strained.

It was not difficult for Aang's awareness to find Daniel, even in a landscape of shifting and moving colors the scarred man blazed like a sun, in this state the man an inferno of reds and greens surrounding a spinning core of brilliant white.

This is amazing. Aang said excitedly, This isn't like moving about as spirit. I feel…so much more. Like I could do anything, go anywhere.

Traveling is easy but you cannot Bend like this. Daniel returned, Nor can you communicate with anyone who is not here with you.

How do we travel? Aang asked, his excitement growing.

For this first trip…slowly. he heard in reply, his excitement making Aang deaf to the warning in Daniel's tone, Now focus on the memory of the courtyard at Zuko's beach house. Hold it tightly in your thoughts and let your awareness expand. Slowly Aang.

It was easier than he imagined, surprising him a little as his awareness suddenly overlapped Daniel's but he felt the scarred man's energies growing along with his. The ruined temple, the broken coastline and the landscape around seemed to shrink and more of the world came into focus, the land of broken and barren stone giving way either side to dense forest and yet still Aang's awareness grew. It was almost like flying as the Firenation opened up below and around him but it was also inside him, every rock, every tree, animal and blade of grass clear to him and shinning like a beautiful carpet of light. Further and further the pair opened themselves and grew, the Gates of Freedom, once named the Gates of Azulon flew into their awareness, fully half the Firenation and the oceans around visible to Aang now when Ember Island at last came into view.

Good Aang, you're doing great. Daniel heavily strained thoughts came, Focus on the courtyard now. Remember it. See yourself standing there and let yourself come back together.

But…but I could see the whole world this way. Aang replied in an awed tone.

Don't you dare. Stay focused. Daniel's thoughts barked at him.

I could BE the world. Aang breathed.

AANG! the scarred man's thoughts were like a roar, I usually do this instantly. Remaining here is too much like Spiritbending. It's…I cannot…FOCUS ON THAT DAMN COURTYARD!

The courtyard. Yes, of course. Aang began apologetically but almost without his conscious control his thoughts turned outwards once more, And yet…I am the spirit of this world am I not? I am the world.

AANG! What are you doing? NO!

But the young man simply wasn't listening. It was almost too easy. He relaxed and without effort his awareness expanded once more, in heartbeats encompassing the entire Firenation and a heartbeat after that half the Earthen Kingdoms as well. Thought had little to do with what he did now, his awareness doing as he wanted as he enveloped the world and just like that he was the world. Deep in his core he felt his heart beat, it's steady, eons long pulse filling him with life and energy that in turn he shared with the life that crawled, walked, swam or flew over his skin.

And yet still his awareness turned outwards to the tiny world that circled him, seeing instantly the connection between himself and his moon. Without any effort at all he expanded his awareness again to encompass that satellite, smiling down briefly on the beautiful jewel that was himself before he looked outwards once more. Worlds he sensed there, all a part of himself and connected to him just as they and he were to the huge glowing ball of the sun.

---

Next to the ruined temple, Daniel reappeared and stumbled to his knees, panting hard as he ran a forearm across his face leaving a smear of blood across both, more running from his nose as he tipped his white face to the sky.

"Why didn't he listen? I warned him again and again." Daniel moaned, the fear in his voice reflected in the shudders that ran through his body.

Your father attempted this with much more caution after nearly losing your Aunt. Wolf growled in reply, the animal's voice just as fearful, Aang has thrown caution aside. He will be lost to us.

"No." Daniel suddenly snarled harshly, wiping one hand across his bloody face again, "He carries the blood of my father. We can get him back."

My boy. To act as spirit is destroying our balance. Wolf growled in warning, Such a thing could kill us.

"I don't care." Daniel said just as harshly, adding in a softer tone as his face crumpled in grief, "I need him."

As does Wolf. Come now, my boy. Wolf said quietly, Merge with Wolf once more. Our best chance is through the animal within.

"Yes. I'm sorry Aang." Daniel said softly as he rose to his feet, "But the beast is coming for you."

He reached up and pulled down his blindfold as he tipped his head to the sky once more, red and green already blazing from his eyes before his tattoos reflected that glow a heartbeat later. By the next heartbeat, his eyes burned white, the pure light washing away the red and green lines that adorned him and the heartbeat after that, white flames burst to life surrounding him in a new blazing aura that cast shadows across the ground. His lips curled back as Daniel snarled briefly and then he vanished, a small thunderclap rolling away over the barren landscape.

---

Aang was in awe of himself. His heart was the blue, green and brown jewel of that world he had arisen from but he was barely aware of that now, the inferno of the sun filling his core as his awareness flew past worlds of stone then enormous worlds of gaseous air that, for reasons he could no longer explain to himself, filled him with joy to see. When his awareness reached the last of these worlds and small rocky, icy lumps beyond, Aang paused to look back but only briefly. His heart, the source of life still shone in his awareness but when Aang turned outwards again he felt a pang, seeking other such jewels as himself but seeing none. He did not understand, could no longer formulate thought as he once did or even remember doing it yet simply longing to find another such as himself. Around him now were other suns in their uncountable billions almost all with worlds of their own and all of them sharing their energies, the elements which made them connected to all elements everywhere. Relaxing into those connections, Aang's awareness spread outwards once more.

More suns and worlds became a part of himself as he accelerated, clouds of dust and gas so huge that suns were born from them, things like suns yet so heavy they swallowed even light itself, the largest of these dominating his core now, the elements that made him circling about that unimaginable weight. All thought and emotion was gone from him now, only impulse remained. A desperate need to find another like himself. But looking outwards he saw many collections of elements, suns and worlds, dust, gas and ice all circling about their centers but nowhere could he sense life. Yet he could see so much and knew there was more beyond, all of it connected to him.

A strange sensation struck him then. Something terribly unpleasant and Aang's awareness contracted slightly as he sought it's source. Again it came, seemingly from everywhere at once and Aang pulled in upon himself again, the worlds that made him fleeing from his awareness. He looked inwards then, back to the shinning jewel that was his heart, grown so very tiny in his awareness yet as that terrible feeling came over him again he drew in upon himself once more.

Pain. That's what he felt, he realized and again and again it struck, Aang's awareness still contracting down upon itself in an effort to escape it. Now the yellow sun that bathed his heart in warmth grew to fill his core once more yet the pain continued and Aang shrank past the worlds surrounding it, that jewel growing quickly. With his retreat from the pain came memories, understanding and horror. The pain lessened but Aang knew now it was not his own, the pain shared with him by another. Focusing on the little blue, green world of his heart, Aang fled toward it as his mind slowly returned to him, more memories flooding his thoughts.

Katara. Ana. Gyatso. he thought, understanding he had almost lost them forever yet now he could also sense the one who was with him, the one who shared his pain with him, Daniel?

---

By the ruined temple on the southern coast of the Firenation, a haze appeared in the air like rising heat and a moment later that patch of air began to glow softly. The glow quickly increased and split, two figures forming within that light and as suddenly as it had appeared the light vanished, two men dropping to their knees facing each other.

Aang's eyes slipped in and out of focus as he blinked rapidly while before him, Daniel fell forward onto his hands, retching onto the ground as blood almost poured from his nose, more running from his ears and down the side of his face.

Feeling worse than he'd ever felt in his life but slowly improving, Aang's eyes gradually focused on the man before him and through the throbbing in his head came the memories of what had just happened.

"Daniel?" Aang breathed, reaching out for the scarred man's shoulder but missing on his first attempt.

"Aang?" Daniel moaned, his head shooting back up.

The young man recoiled at first, Aang staring in horror at the bloody tears that ran from Daniel's sunken eyelids and the greater volume of it that trickled from his nose but next moment the scarred man lunged forward, Aang finding himself crushed in the other man's embrace.

"I thought I'd lost you." Daniel said in broken sobs, the scarred man trembling as he held Aang close, "I thought I'd lost you."

"I'm ok." Aang wheezed, smiling at the other man as Daniel released him, "Are you?"

"I had to…use our blood." Daniel breathed, his hand reaching out to cup Aang's cheek, "Your blood is my blood. My father's. I had to…force my pain into you…I'm so sorry."

"Hey. You did the right thing. You brought me back." Aang said soothingly and gave Daniel an embarrassed smile, "I'm the one that should be sorry. I didn't listen to you and I'm surprised you're not even angrier at me."

"No I…it's my fault." Daniel said with a shake of his head, "I didn't think…the temptation would be so great for you."

"Tempting? Yeah…it was so…easy and I felt so…free." Aang said, his face coloring as he rubbed at the back of his neck. Then looking up into the blue sky, Aang said softly, "Daniel, I was a…a galaxy. A billion, billion suns and all their worlds and I could see so many more. I tried so hard to find life, another world like ours but there's none. Not anywhere. The universe, it's…empty."

"Not empty. Waiting." Daniel answered quietly and Aang looked back to him in surprise, "Fate has kept the minds that have arisen here suppressed, docile and under her control. Through her actions, she keeps life trapped on this world but that too is something we fight for. When she is defeated…spirits will be free to move on and life will be free to fill the universe guided by minds. Minds like yours."

"You've spoken about it before but…to hear about it is one thing. Yet in a way, I'm kind of glad I've seen it for myself. I know now what we fight for in this realm and the next." Aang said wistfully but turned a worried expression onto Daniel, "It, uh, it won't be like that for the others though will it?"

"No. With your mental abilities you'll be able to guide them far better and prevent that. Your way will be a lot less…painful too." Daniel said with a small smile, "I'm almost relieved you let your awareness go outward instead of in. If you'd tried to enter the Fountain of Life, all that is you, your identity, your memories, your Id would have been washed away. Your energy becoming the world's. There's no coming back from that."

"Oh." was all Aang could say to that at first but as Daniel shuddered again, his face creasing in a frown, Aang's face showed his concern, "Are you sure you're alright?"

"It's…passing. I'll be alright." Daniel breathed and suddenly smiled warmly, "And do you know what?"

"What?" Aang asked.

"Wolf and I. We did it. We merged as one. Became…Avatar." Daniel breathed, his shudders ceasing as he smiled at Aang, "We held you in our heart and became the animal within and for a time we were…whole."

Again the scarred man lunged forward and Aang found himself in Daniel's arms, not crushed this time but being held warmly.

"Thank you, Aang. I'm sorry I've been so mad at you." Daniel breathed, his voice hitching slightly with the emotions swirling within, "To be whole is our dream and you did that for us. It was only for a short time but…thank you."

Only smiling in reply, Aang returned Daniel's embrace and the two men remained on their knees this way for several minutes, both smiling as they sat back afterwards.

"Perhaps we should head back." Aang said after awhile, turning to look at the sinking sun on the western horizon, "We'll need to report to Zuko what we found here and the others are probably getting worried."

"Alright but you should try the chi pathways again, now while the memory is fresh in your mind." Daniel said and then grinned lopsidedly, "Provided you're not going to go soaring off into the cosmos again."

"Once is enough for all of my lifetimes. I've learned my lesson." Aang said returning the grin and then waved a hand in the air at his side, clear water condensing about his hand from the moist air, "But let's get you cleaned up first. Katara would give me the death stare if we went back with blood all over us."

"Or worse yet." Daniel growled softly, a fearful expression on his face, "She'll make me have another bath."

Aang laughed as he began Waterbending his few handfuls of water around and over them both to clean away the blood spilled from Daniel and smeared onto himself. It was as he cast that dark, murky ball of water away that he noticed Daniel sway slightly on his knees.

"Daniel." Aang said urgently, reaching out to grasp the scarred man's shoulders, "You're not alright. What's wrong?"

"I will be. I know it wasn't proper Spiritbending but staying inside the chi pathways like that is close enough." Daniel replied softly, placing one of his own hands atop Aang's, "You know how it affects my emotions. My balance. Everything goes haywire for a time but I'll be ok once we get back."

"You should meditate for awhile." Aang told him and then smiled warmly, "Or spend some time with Azula and the kids. I know you're always calmest when you're with them."

Daniel nodded to Aang's suggestion but a troubled frown came over his blindfolded face and when he spoke next, his voice was quiet and unsure.

"Aang…am I wrong to love her?" Daniel asked uncertainly, "I know I shouldn't but…I can't help it anymore. I tried to push those feelings away but they keep coming back, stronger and stronger."

"Have you tried talking to her about it?" Aang asked him, "Does Azula know how you feel?"

"We kind of…showed each other today in our auras." Daniel admitted, his face darkening in a deep blush, "I knew she liked me but…I had no idea how much."

"It's been pretty obvious to all of us that something is growing between you two." Aang said warmly, squeezing the other man's shoulders, "I know the others tease but…they're just happy to see the two of you are happy."

"I don't know, Aang. I'm afraid." Daniel rumbled quietly, his face dropping to his chest, "I promised June I'd keep my heart open but…I couldn't bear it if I hurt Azula…or lost her too."

"Love is never certain my friend and trust me, it's often terrifying." Aang said, smiling as Daniel raised his head, "Katara and I have had our ups and downs and when the Avatar and the world's greatest Waterbender have an argument, half the world hears about it. You should have seen the way she went ballistic when I got drunk at Zuko's first bucks party. Sokka slipped me some of his cactus juice in my fruit juice and when I came to I was passed out naked in an alley with Katara standing over me. I swear, the whole Firenation heard her yelling at me all the way back to the palace."

"Yeah, my parents had some wild rumbles too." Daniel said, a small smile appearing on his face, "I'm still not sure who got the better deal. You or my dad."

"I just can't imagine myself with Toph." Aang said thoughtfully, "Katara can get a little…excitable sometimes but with Mai AND Toph I'm amazed Zuko can still walk."

Unable to help himself, Daniel chuckled even as he shot Aang a sour expression and the two men shared a brief laugh.

"Now that's better. I like when you smile, Daniel." Aang said, "And remember, there are no guarantees or certainties when you love someone. If there was, it wouldn't be love. Just be Azula's friend as you have been and when she's ready to embrace your heart with her own, she will let you know."

"I understand. She still has a lot of pain and fear inside from what she went through as a child." Daniel said, his smile fading, "I want to help her through that but…I don't want her to suffer anymore."

"Which only shows how much you do love her but you understand too it's going to hurt before she comes to terms with what she suffered at her father's hands." Aang said warmly and Daniel nodded sadly at him, "But perhaps confronting her with that aspect of her past isn't the right way. I know you two talk about your pasts and you have already helped her much just by listening. Keep that up for now and when she's ready, you should encourage Azula to talk to the rest of our family about it. When she can talk to others as openly as she does with you, she will be well on her way to recovery."

"Thank you, Aang. For understanding me and her." Daniel said, the scarred man sighing heavily as he offered a small smile, "I wish…I had been more of a friend rather than just a son to my father. You're just like him obviously but getting to know you as a friend these last few months has meant…everything to me."

"Me too." Aang replied warmly, "And anytime you miss your father or just need a friend to talk to, I'm always here for you."

Again a shudder passed through Daniel, his face tightening but knowing how the man struggled with his emotions, Aang only smiled warmly again as he lent forward, drawing his friend into his arms.

---

Within the large courtyard of Zuko's family mansion, many people reclined about. Waiting as they were for Aang and Daniel to return, the Gaang and their companions had elected to dine outdoors on this warm, pleasant evening. Iroh, along with Piandao and Lao relaxed together on a wide set of steps near to Zuko, Mai and Toph while before them Reena and Gyatso played with a small set of colorful rings, a new toy their aunts had bought them (courtesy of their uncle) that they tried throwing onto a small blunt spike set out nearby. Surprisingly, three year old Reena got her rings onto the spike with every throw, her mother and father beaming with pride from where they sat across the courtyard. Suki however sent occasional glares at their twin sons, Hakoda and Maki sitting sullenly with their new instruments but forbidden to do more than strum the strings on the guitar or tap the drums as lightly and quietly as possible. Ana sat near to her own mother, Azula sitting beside Katara watching the young girl running a silver backed brush over her small air bison, the animal almost purring in contentment as one of her hind legs waved frantically at the air, causing the gold chain almost hidden in her thick fur to jangle about. The rest of their number, Sanna, Manny, Linka and Tiki sat nearby while Koko sat a little apart from them, giggling as the aged king of Omashu at her side leaned into her occasionally, whispering into her ear.

Only two were not in evidence this evening but their whereabouts soon became apparent as Daniel popped into existence next to the fountain in the courtyard's center.

"Danny." Suki breathed with a wide smile as Azula jumped to her feet opposite him.

"Where's Aang?" Katara asked with a touch of worry.

Her worries were unfounded though and everyone jumped as a loud shriek rose from a high window on one side of the courtyard. From that window a red faced Aang suddenly burst, dropping down into the courtyard beside Daniel who smirked at him.

"I, uh," Aang started, looking around at everyone as his face quickly darkened further, "I missed."

From the window where he'd emerged, Ty Lee suddenly thrust the upper half of her body out, glaring down at Aang while half of those in the courtyard stared back at her with open mouths.

"Aang, what do you think you're doing barging into our room when me and Gar are," realizing the number of eyes staring back at her, Ty Lee slapped both her arms across her bare breasts as her own face darkened in embarrassment, "Uh, heh, hi everyone."

As she fled back into her room, loud laughter rose from the courtyard but Azula only rolled her eyes, her heart beating faster as those golden orbs came to rest on Daniel.

"So, he did it?" Azula asked with excitement, making her way over to Daniel and looking at Aang, "You made it through the chi pathways?"

"With one…minor hitch but yes." Daniel said warmly, smiling at Azula, "Tomorrow we'll teach you and together, we'll pass that on to the rest of our warriors."

Smiling over at Katara less than a dozen yards away from him, Aang closed his eyes and concentrated, the young man vanishing with a soft pop and reappeared standing at her side. He blinked rapidly as he appeared however and rubbed one hand against his temple.

"It still feels awful but I can do it." Aang said with a grin at his wife, "I'll show you the memories of it later Babe. You won't believe the things I saw."

Sokka and Suki along with most of the Kyoshi Warriors rushed over, all of them full of questions for Aang but Azula turned back to Daniel with a frown as she sniffed briefly at the air.

"I smell blood on you." she said in a whisper, her eyebrow raising questioningly.

"Things didn't go…exactly as planned." Daniel admitted, his voice just as quiet though he smiled as he finished, "But the end results were definitely worth it."

Her golden eyes searched his face, seeing only a quiet confidence shining back at her from him before he reached out to hook one of his fingers about one of hers then turning away the pair walked across the courtyard. Zuko narrowed his eyes briefly, his own golden orbs taking in the sight of the pair's joined fingers as they walked toward him but with a sigh he offered Daniel and Azula a friendly smile. Bowing to the trio, Daniel rose with a smile of his own and turned his blindfolded face to Mai.

"You still have Hu's piece of heartwood?" the scarred man asked softly and Mai reached into her sleeve to draw forth a small chip of dark wood, "Would you call to her please?"

"That tree spirit?" Azula asked him.

But before Daniel could reply, Mai had closed her eyes and held the piece of wood tightly in her hand, holding her closed fist to her heart as she thought of the little spirit.

"Anny!" came a shout and exclamations rose from all about the courtyard while Daniel only turned about and dropped to his knees as he opened his arms.

A little girl, apparently no older than four or five years old with deep brown hair and wearing a leafy green dress had appeared next to the fountain, sprinting across to throw herself into the scarred man's arms the instant he'd turned. Watching silently at first, Azula was no longer surprised at the way Daniel's tensions seemed to simply drop from him, the scarred man smiling warmly as he held the little girl to himself. When she pulled back, Hu smiled sadly at Daniel while she stroked his cheek with one hand, her smile growing again when she turned her strange, green on green eyes up to Azula.

"Pretty Avatar lady." the little spirit squealed, suddenly lunging across to hug herself to the surprised woman's leg, "Pretty tigger. Grrrr."

Blushing darkly as the others laughed softly, Azula reached down to return the child spirit's embrace as best she could, rolling her eyes at Daniel as he rose with a deep chuckle.

"Now who's the sucker for kids?" he rumbled and Azula stuck her tongue out at him as Hu stepped back and giggled.

The tree spirit squealed again with excitement as she spied little Reena and Gyatso standing nearby, bouncing on the balls of her feet as she turned to see Ana giving her a little wave from beside her bison and the twins staring back at her. Dropping back to one knee, Daniel reached out to stroke the spirit's hair, his fingertips brushing across the skull shaped band there as he smiled at her.

"I'm sorry to bring you so far from home, Hu but I wanted you to speak to the Elementals for us and ask them to join us here in a few days. It's time we discussed how we are going to defend this world." Daniel said and as the little girl suddenly pouted he continued quickly, "But not tonight. I was going to come see you but I thought you might prefer to stay with us for a few hours. Reena and Gatty would love to have a little playmate."

Grinning hugely at the man, Hu turned and skipped away toward the two smaller children, not a word passing between the three, only smiles shared between them as Reena passed the little spirit one of the colorful rings and turned to throw another, Hu clapping with delight as the ring dropped squarely onto it's target.

"You really care about her, don't you?" Zuko asked from before Daniel and the scarred man turned back to him with a small grin.

"In the world where I was raised, that Hu was almost like an extra sister to me. My baby sister Kyra loved her very much." Daniel said, a distant expression on his face, "And she's been alone in her forest for so long. She deserves family to love, who love her. Even a tree has a heart."

Rolling her eyes, Azula leaned into him and nudged Daniel with her elbow, shooting him a wry grin.

"Sucker." she drawled at him.

"So, I guess I miss out on learning to use the chi pathways for now?" Mai said softly to him, her hand resting on the growing bulge of her lower stomach.

"I'm afraid so. With the way it affects Benders I wouldn't like to put Kuzon through that. He should be safe in the womb, but still." Daniel said, his face suddenly brightening, "There is still much you can learn. How about you and I start working on self healing techniques tomorrow? You might not be able to enter the chi pathways yet but there are ways you can learn to draw on it to strengthen or replenish yourself and that would only benefit Kuzon too."

"I'd like that, Daniel." Mai replied warmly and then stretched out her legs before herself, revealing bare feet from beneath her long dress, "The ability to heal like you would be wonderful. Lately my feet tend to swell and ache something terrible."

"Hey, that's what you got me and Sparky for." Toph said and then added suggestively, "Or don't you recall complimenting us on our rather…talented hands last night?"

"Oh yes and the compliment was well deserved." Mai answered pleasantly, "But I also recall last night had little to do with my feet and far more than just your talented hands."

A loud chuckle rose from Toph at Mai's humor while between the two young women, Zuko's face flushed crimson and he cleared his throat loudly as he looked up at his sister and Daniel, the pair looking back with a slightly sour expression.

"So, the Elementals hey?" Zuko said in an effort to change the subject, "Would this have anything to do with that plan Aang was talking about the other day? He wouldn't go into details but he didn't seem particularly comfortable about it."

The transformation that came over Daniel at this was almost alarming, his good humor fleeing from him instantly and he scowled darkly, his shoulders hunching as a low growl escaped him.

"It was my father's plan and he wasn't exactly enamored of it either." the scarred man said, his voice lowering as he knelt before the trio, "But during the solstice, there is a way to force Fate and her demons to enter the world in a place of our choosing. A way to force Fate into the open and fight for her very survival."

"How exactly?" Zuko breathed, leaning closer to Daniel as Mai and Toph did the same, Azula kneeling beside Daniel and looking at him curiously.

"It will not be easy to convince the Elementals and I think…it will be just as hard to convince all of you." Daniel growled uncomfortably, "In many ways this plan is worse than the Nomad's final solution and I'd rather not get into it now. It would be best if we discuss it as a group when we can sit down with the Elementals so everyone can have a say."

"Alright. But," Zuko began.

"I said not now." Daniel suddenly snarled, fury clouding his features and as everyone leaned away he dropped his face into his hands, growling softly, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean it…like that."

"It's alright. It'll pass." Azula said softly, reaching out to grasp Daniel's forearm as she raised an eyebrow at him, "You said training Aang would be dangerous to him but whatever happened, I can see your energy's messed up."

"I'll tell you about it later." Daniel growled softly, turning briefly to Azula before he dropped his face again, "I had to…take some risks but I'll be alright."

As the trio before them watched, Daniel did indeed calm quickly as Azula gazed sadly at him, the scarred man looking back up at Zuko with regret on his blindfolded face.

"There's no need to apologize." Zuko said quickly before Daniel could open his mouth, "Whatever the plan is, we'll discuss it when the Elementals come."

"Yeah, don't get sore Chuckles." Toph said warmly from Zuko's side, "I can feel you chewing yourself up about this. That and Twinkletoes being all secretive about it has us curious, that's all."

"Aang…kept this secret because I asked." Daniel said quietly, his face turning toward the group surrounding the young Airbender and his wife across the courtyard, "He…does so much for me and I behaved like a complete idiot to him but then…that's to be expected by now I suppose."

He turned his flushed face to smile at Azula who smirked back at him, then turning back to the trio before them she noticed that while Zuko and Mai smiled warmly, when Toph grinned her features became hauntingly similar to the scarred man's.

"So…you're not angry at Aang anymore? Either of you?" Mai asked and both Azula and Daniel nodded to her, "I'm glad. But while I have you here Daniel, I wonder if you might,"

Her voice trailing into silence as she bit at her lip, Mai lifted one of her pale feet from the ground, leaning back on the steps as she waved the appendage at Daniel. Chuckling quietly, Daniel sat on the ground and set Mai's foot atop his crossed legs, the young Firelady's eyes rolling as Daniel's fingers dug into the sole of her foot. Noticing her friend's reaction, Azula made a mental note to ask Daniel for a foot massage of her own, the man obviously skilled at what he was doing. Watching him work, Azula went to sit at his side, reaching for Mai's other foot.

"Actually, Azula?" Zuko suddenly asked, "Can we talk? Alone?"

Rising to his feet with a curiously hopeful and unsure expression, Zuko held out his hand to his sister and she rose hesitantly to her own feet. Reaching for his hand, her eyes widened as she felt his Bending take hold of them both, brother and sister rising quickly into the night sky above the courtyard. Daniel's hands slowed as he tipped his blindfolded face to the sky but Mai suddenly jiggled her foot in his grasp, shooting a mock glare at him as Toph laughed, moving to sit at the scarred man's side and taking Mai's other foot.

"Don't worry, Chuckles. Sparky just wants some time with his sis." Toph said as she began massaging Mai's foot, "He's not about to go all big brother and tell her she can't see you anymore."

Both Mai and Toph laughed as Daniel's face flushed darkly and he quickly bent back to his work, Mai laying back on the steps where she sat, groaning with pleasure from the double foot massage.

"I'm not sure we'd get our Zuko back in one piece if he was foolish enough to say something like that to Azula." Mai said pleasantly then another loud moan escaped her as both Daniel and Toph's fingers continued tending to her feet.

At least until she moaned even louder, her head lolling back briefly but rising quickly with a frown as Daniel dropped her foot into his lap.

"Mai? I don't mind doing this. I was always happy to do this for my Mom when she was pregnant with my sisters." Daniel rumbled softly, his face almost glowing red, "But can you not make all the…sounds? It's…weirding me out."

If anything, the scarred man's face grew darker with embarrassment as both Mai and Toph laughed loud enough to draw looks from the others in the courtyard before Toph's arm swung up, slamming her elbow into Daniel's bicep.

"Geez, Chuckles." Toph said, still chortling, "We have so gotta get you laid."

"I think not." Daniel shot back with a frown as he picked up Mai's foot once more, "What I need…and the one thing none of you can give me yet, is a damn good fight."

While Toph raised a curious eyebrow, Daniel took up Mai's foot again, digging his fingers in even harder. He gave a growling sigh and Toph grinned as this only brought another loud moan from Mai, the young Firelady's head rolling back with a wobbly smile on her face.

---

"Why did you bring me here?" Azula said darkly, she and Zuko standing before a dark house, "I have no interest in seeing those…trolls."

"You shouldn't think of them that way. They did more for us than you know." Zuko said, turning to his sister with a sad smile, "And I guess you've forgotten although it was a long time ago. You were still in the asylum when I told you."

"Told me what?" Azula asked, fear and something she couldn't identify causing her chest to tighten.

"Li and Lo became ill just a couple years after the war. They passed away here." Zuko told her, pointing toward the dark and obviously empty house, "I offered them permanent residence at the palace or even the private holiday mansion but they insisted on staying here, in the home where they grew up. I made sure they wanted for nothing though. The best doctors and care our nation could provide and it annoyed Mai a little but I came to see them as often as I could."

"Why?" Azula shot at him, "You know they worked for our father. They…encouraged me to be what he wanted."

"And what choice did they have, Azula? What choice did any of us have?" Zuko replied softly, "Even I knew, you obeyed the Firelord or you suffered and died. And he had a…talent for inflicting suffering."

Looking up into her brothers sad face, for the first time she could remember Azula reached up hesitantly with one hand, her fingertips brushing the scar that covered his left eye and nearly a third of his face. He smiled softly at her, his own hand reaching up to cup hers and she was surprised at how soft the damaged skin was.

"Actually, I was thinking of you." Zuko told her, "You suffered the worst of his attentions."

She jerked her hand from his as she turned away, a shudder passing through Azula that only intensified as he rested his hand on her shoulder.

"Come with me, please." Zuko said in a hoarse whisper, "I want to show you something."

Leading her away, Azula followed Zuko up the small path to the house, noticing that the house itself and the gardens around had been maintained and cared for. She hesitated as Zuko pushed the door open, the darkness inside bringing painful memories to the surface of Azula's mind. Moving within, Zuko's eyes flicked about the front room, lanterns hanging from the walls flickering into life as he breathed energy into them. From the doorway, Azula saw a room directly out of her memories, unchanged from the one and only time she had been here before. Zuko walked with familiar confidence through the colorfully decorated room, the ocean being the main theme with shells and fishing nets covering most of the available wall space.

"Come and see." Zuko called when he had passed beyond her sight and Azula hesitantly stepped into the house.

She found him standing by a large painting on the wall depicting two young, attractive women in outdated swimsuits, obviously twins who stood back to back and slightly bent forward, their faces grinning suggestively from the portrait.

"Remember this?" Zuko asked and even through her discomfort, Azula grinned at him, "Li and Lo as beautiful young courtesans."

"Yes, I remember." Azula said as she smirked at the painting, "I remember you nearly throwing up when their ninety year old selves tried that pose."

"I'm glad Mai covered my eyes when they stripped down to their bathing suits." Zuko added with a laugh, "I might have lost control of my passions."

"Oh, yuck." Azula returned with a sneer and Zuko laughed loudly.

"What I wanted to show you is through here." Zuko said, surprising Azula as he reached for the wall beside the painting, sliding it aside to reveal a doorway, "I've kept this house as it is partly as a remembrance to Li and Lo but also to always remind myself that we were loved."

He disappeared through the dark doorway and again lanterns within flickered into life as he turned his Firebending upon them. Azula followed slowly, her eyes growing wide as she took in the sight of a large bedroom. Portraits and paintings lined the walls, crowding a large chest of drawers and the two nightstands either side of the huge bed. Some were of Li and Lo at various ages but by far the majority were of Azula herself. In some she was with her brother, her and Zuko grinning from their frames as small children, in others they were with her mother and in just a few, the ones depicting them as very young children, their father sat smiling warmly beside their mother.

"What?" Azula began, turning an incredulous look on her brother, "What is all this?"

"Did you know they were our mother's governess's before Father took them on as your tutors?" Zuko asked softly, a small smile on his face as he watched Azula's wide eyes scan the room, "They served our family for most of their lives but…they were only servants. Under our father and grandfathers rule, it would have meant death or worse for them if they had dared show their true feelings for us."

"So…they really cared for us?" Azula asked quietly, picking up a small frame with a picture of a tiny baby girl smiling on her mother's lap, "But…they were always so strict. So demanding. They taught me…to seek perfection in everything I did. That was the only way to get father's love."

"Yeah, I remember that. Just like my honor." Zuko said harshly and then sighed as he sat on the edge of the bed, "Li and Lo, they demanded perfection from you because they knew that was the only way to protect you from father's…punishments."

Azula stiffened, shaking her head in denial but then her eyes fell onto her brother, surprised to see Zuko sitting hunched upon himself, a loud sniff rising from him as his breathing hitched.

"Some of what he did to you I learned from your…ramblings, your nightmares when you first went to the asylum. And the scars he left on you." Zuko said in a broken voice, "But most of it I learned from Li and Lo. It broke their hearts to see what he was doing to you and knowing there was nothing they could do to stop him so they tried to be the best teachers they could be to you. In the hopes of…limiting your suffering." raising his head, Azula was slightly shocked to see tears spilling from her brother's eyes but his face suddenly creased in anger, "There have been so many times I've walked into our father's cell to kill him for what he did to you, to me and our mother. I don't want to be like him but it's so hard not to just burn him until nothing is left or sometimes…I just want to go into his cell and beat him. Smash his face against the floor until the pain goes away. The pain 'HE' inflicted on us."

"Zuko." Azula breathed, her own pain pushed aside as she sat at his side, reaching out with a shaking hand to rest hers atop his.

"But I'm not like him and I will never be. I just…I mean," again Zuko's face collapsed in grief and fresh tears flowed from him as he spoke in a strained, broken voice, "I'm so sorry Azula. If it wasn't for that stupid meeting, if I hadn't gotten myself banished I could've…been there. I could've helped you or…I…I,"

As the young man broke down in sobs, what Azula might once have considered weakness she now felt keenly in her own heart, her own eyes blurring as her brother cried quietly at her side.

"There was nothing you could have done." she said, reaching out to gently cup his chin and lifting his face to hers, "There wasn't much of me left by then. Father had been…touching me for a long time and by the time he banished you, to be just like him and share his power was something I craved. I was his perfect princess. Even if you'd tried to help me, I would only have betrayed you."

"Maybe…but," Zuko started hesitantly, wiping his free hand across his eyes, "I could have tried…something. I didn't even know what he was doing to you. I was too caught up in myself when I should have been looking out for you."

"Only our mother knew and I should have realized Li and Lo did too but there was nothing they could do either." Azula said, her own voice breaking as she spoke directly from her heart, "And you were looking out for me, Zuzu. You've always been there for me, even when I treated you so badly. And when I lost it all, when I lost my mind you could have locked me away like father and forgotten about me but you didn't. You cared for me, you nursed me and you brought me back from the nightmare I was living in. You've been a better big brother than I ever could have hoped for and I…I love you. I always have."

His eyes blinking rapidly, it took a moment for the words to register, words Zuko had never heard his sister speak before but it didn't take him long to smile warmly, half turning and opening his arms.

"I love you too." he answered quietly.

Almost as though a dam had burst inside her, Azula flew into her brother's embrace, holding him tightly as she began to cry quietly, stronger shudders wracking her as he stroked her back and spoke soothingly to her. That was how they remained for many minutes and when they at last separated, each noticed something new in the smiles they shared, their family bond strengthened by the moment they had shared.

"Thank you for showing me this." Azula said after awhile, waving her hand about the room, "I had been thinking...unjustly of Li and Lo. I'm glad you took care of them…at the end."

"They were family. Even if I didn't know that until it was almost too late." Zuko replied, "And family…is everything."

Azula nodded, sharing another smile with him before she turned and lent into Zuko's side, resting her head on his shoulder. They sat in silence for a time, brother and sister enjoying the moment of peace between them as they gazed about at the many paintings of themselves and their parents.

"Zuzu?" Azula breathed after a time, a frown creasing her face, "There's something I want to ask of you. A favor."

"Of course." Zuko replied simply, "Name it."

"I know what the plan is Daniel intends to propose to the Elementals." Azula said quietly, lifting her head to look into her brother's curious expression, "It's…a sound plan and I promised him I would support it but…when he makes the proposal, I want you to stand against it and try to convince the others…not to support him."

"What?" he said in surprise, "But…what is it?"

"The way Daniel's father discovered to make all the chi pathways open at one point. It's…terrible but it will work." Azula told him, her eyes puling away from his, "It doesn't just affect the chi paths. It destroys the balance between life and death and for it to work, the elementals themselves have to die."

"Are you serious?" Zuko said, his voice rising with the shock he felt, "That's his plan?"

"There's more. If the balance and the Elementals are not restored before the end of the solstice, the world itself will die." Azula said slowly, her head hanging forward so her bangs hid her face, "If the world ends, Fate loses everything and Daniel believes she will stop at nothing to restore that balance but the only way to do that and bring back the Elementals is to sacrifice the spirit of an Avatar."

"So…either you or Aang have to die for this plan to work?" Zuko said hotly, "That's insane."

"No. He…he said he won't risk us." Azula said, her face lifting as she grabbed Zuko by his shoulders, the desperation on her face reflected in her voice, "Don't you see? Daniel and Fate are Avatars too. If he can't beat her he intends to sacrifice himself. We can't let him do that. Please Zuzu, don't let him. Please."

Zuko was shocked again at the depth of emotion on his sisters face, tears spilling freely from her pleading eyes and he quickly drew her into his arms once more.

"I won't, baby sister. If it's in my power to stop him, I won't let Daniel do that." Zuko said as Azula slowly quietened and he sighed heavily as he finished, "You love him, don't you? You're in love with him."

"I…I, yes." Azula started hesitantly, then pulled away enough to look into Zuko's eyes, "It…frightens me but I do. I have for a long time, even before I knew what those feelings were. I love him."

She wasn't certain what her brother's reaction might be to this admission but all Azula's fears faded as he smiled warmly, pulling her back into his embrace.

"Yeah." Zuko said in a whisper, "Me too."