By Your Side
"He's not gone, Katara. I know where he is, and he hasn't left this world yet," Aang said, taking her hand. He closed his eyes and breathed in, remembering the dreams he'd had of Zuko."I can bring him back."
Katara stared at him through teary eyes, her mind blank. She felt as if someone had taken a hot poker and shoved it through her heart. Jin-Ho had promised to help Zuko, and he'd failed. Aang's words would be just another empty promise. Couldn't Aang see it was over? Zuko was gone.
Ashan laid his hand on Aang's shoulder. "Stop this. Can't you see your friends are in distress? Let them mourn in peace."
Aang stood and brushed off his hand. "You don't understand. This is something I have to do. Katara was right. Zuko can't die yet!"
"Enough of this," Ashan said, eyes narrowed. "The prince is dead. My brother did everything he could to save him, but his wound became infected. Don't you see the pain your friends are in? Instead of deceiving yourself, you can comfort them!"
"He's still alive!" Aang cried, clutching his hands into fists. "The Darkness inside of him is strong, but I can still help him."
"I won't listen to this any longer!" Ashan reached out to grab Aang, but a rough hand snatched his wrist.
He turned to see Jin-Ho staring at Aang with a level gaze, his lips pressed into a thin line.
"What makes you think you can bring life back into the prince's body? Do you have some special medicine?"
Aang averted his eyes. "No."
"Medical knowledge?"
"No."
"Some strange power to revive the dead?"
Aang met Jin-Ho's gaze. His hand reached for his headband.
Sokka eyes widened. "Aang, no!"
Katara's heart jumped as the headband fell to the ground, holding her breath as her eyes shifted to Ashan and Jin-Ho. Their eyes widened as they stared at Aang. Ashan's hand moved toward his sword. Panic sprung in her chest. 'What is Aang thinking? Now we're all dead!' Her lips parted as she tried to think of some explanation. Words tumbled out of her mouth, but even those didn't make sense to her.
A bluish light invaded her vision, making her shy away. She shielded her eyes as the intensity grew. 'What's going on?'
"Aang?" Sokka said, stepping back from the air bender. Aang's tattoos and eyes lit up as he stood, illuminating the forest in blinding light. The Avatar began to speak, his voice echoing through the night.
"It is not Zuko's time. The darkness calls out to him, but he shall not answer it." Aang turned to his friends. "He has to become the Fire Lord and restore what Ozai has destroyed." With glowing hands, he reached out to Zuko and placed a hand on his forehead.
"What are you doing?" Toph asked.
"Zuko is standing on the brink of the Spirit World. I can feel him. He's just barely hanging on. I'm going to get him back."Aang moved one hand above Zuko's heart. "He belongs here." In those words Aang's body became limp. Sokka grabbed him by his shoulders, lowering him to the ground.
"What happened?" Ashan asked.
Sokka covered Aang with a blanket, and then looked at Ashan. "He's gone to find Zuko. He's in the Spirit World now."
The last time Aang had visited the Spirit World, he'd been defenseless, unwilling, trying to hold on to someone close to him. Sometimes that was how he felt when meditating, and now, standing between two realities, he'd assured his friends that he could get Zuko back. After all, Zuko wasn't completely dead. 'He's just…almost dead. He's between the human and spirit worlds. I can sense him.'
He believed he could convince Zuko to come back. He had to. But what if he couldn't? 'What if I fail? Just like in Ba Sing Se.'
Aang looked around. White and blue particles of energy surrounded him.'The bridge between life and death.'
"Zuko?" Aang walked through the white mist. Now that he thought about it, he'd never been between the two worlds. It had always been one or the other. 'What if I can't find him? What if I'm too late?' No. He couldn't think like that. He'd know if he was too late.
"Aang?"
The air bender looked ahead to see Zuko standing in front of him, several feet away. His heart beat quicker as he ran towards the prince. "Zuko!" He stopped running as the fire bender held up his hand, looking down. Black fog seeped around his feet and curled around his knees.
"Zuko…what is that?"
Zuko looked at Aang, brows furrowed in confusion. "It's taking me to where I belong, Aang. I—I can't stay in the world of the living anymore. There's nothing for me there."
"That's not true! Zuko, I've come to bring you back. You can't die yet. You still have to become the Fire Lord, remember?"
"You're wrong!"
Aang winced at the sharpness in Zuko's voice. "I don't understand…"
Zuko turned away. "Of course you don't. I can't become the Fire Lord. I can't live in the broken image of my father." He looked at his hands. "The same blood that runs through Ozai and Azula runs through me. How do you know I won't turn my back on everyone once I become the Fire Lord?"
Aang sucked in air. He'd never considered that. 'He could have let Azula capture me in Ba Sing Se. He could have let the Fire Nation soldiers kill me…but he didn't.' Aang shook his head. Couldn't Zuko see the changes in himself?
"Don't you see? It's better this way," Zuko said.
"No, it's not," Aang said, voice low. "The Fire Nation will never stop the war by themselves. Don't you see that? Even if we stop your father and Azula, there will be others to take their place. The killing won't stop. Everything will get worse. There's no hope for the Fire Nation if you give up."
Zuko stepped back, further into the black haze as it grew larger. "There's no hope now." At Zuko's words the darkness encircled him, a dark void appearing behind him.
"Don't say that!" Aang held out his hand. "Katara told me there's always hope. She believes in you and if you let her down now, she'll be sad."
Aang's words resonated in his mind. 'She believes in you.' "I—"Before he could finish, the dark mist grew, wrapping itself around his waist and pulling him back toward the dark void. "Aang!"
"Zuko!" Aang ran towards him, almost reaching him before long, dark arms rose from the blackness and grabbed onto Aang's legs. He reached out to the fire bender. "Grab my hand!"
Zuko reached for the air bender's hand, only to miss his fingers by mere inches. He struggled against the shadowy wisps that grabbed at his arms and legs. "I can't! You'll get sucked in too. It's over."
Aang stared at Zuko, gaze firm. "No, it's not." He stopped fighting the black arms that twirled around him. "You don't have to fight this alone. I'm going to go with you!" Aang stretched as far as he could, straining against the shadowy arms. "Take my hand!"
Zuko stared at Aang's hand as it began to disappear in the darkness. 'I can't be defeated this easily.' Lurching towards Aang, he grabbed the air benders hand.
"Aang!" Sokka shook the air bender as the light began to fade from his tattoos. When he didn't respond, Sokka glanced at Toph. She let out a breath and closed her eyes, then opened them and nodded at Sokka. The older boy rustled Aang again.
Aang rubbed the side of his head, squinting, and tried to focus. "Sokka?"
"Yep."
"I'm back."
Sokka nodded. "Yeah." He glanced at Zuko. 'But is he coming back?'
Katara's eyes traveled across Zuko's skin, searching for any sign of life or color. "Zuko?" she whispered, running her fingers through his hair. "Zuko?" Nothing.
"Wait," Toph said. She sucked in a breath, eyes widening as she dug her toes further into the dirt. "He's breathing! He's alive!"
As if to confirm her statement, Zuko's chest rose and fell as his eyelids fluttered. His vision blurred as he tried to focus them on the tan face and blue eyes above him.
"Katara…" he whispered.
Katara gasped. "Zuko!"
"Sparky!" Toph cried. She grabbed his hands. Zuko's gaze shifted to the earth bender, eyes gentle as he squeezed her hand.
Ashan fell to his knees. "Impossible." He shook his head, mouth agape as he stared at Zuko. "You shouldn't be alive. Not with that wound."
"Don't move," Jin-Ho said, as Zuko tried to lift his head. 'What sorcery is this?' "You've lost a lot of blood."
"I told you he couldn't die yet," Aang said. He looked at Zuko. "You have to become the Fire Lord and set the Fire Nation on the path to peace."
Sokka wiped the tears that formed in the corner of his eyes. Sighing, he stepped behind Toph and placed his hand on Zuko's shoulder. "Couldn't stay away for long, could you?"
The corners of Zuko's mouth turned up. He winced as a sharp pain stabbed through his back. "I really died?"
"Mostly," Sokka said. "There's a difference."
Toph grinned. "We thought you were a goner." She looked at Katara. "I'm glad you're okay too, Sweetness."
Katara smiled, her vision blurred by tears. "Thanks, Toph. I'm glad everyone is okay. I-I missed you guys a lot."
"What happened that night of the storm?" Sokka asked. He glanced at Jin-Ho and Ashan and lowered his voice. "Why are you traveling with them?"
Jin Ho stepped between them. "That can be explained, after you tell us what an earth bender, two water tribe natives, the banished prince, and the Avatar are doing in the Fire Nation." He glared at Katara. "I knew you had companions, but you failed to mention one of them is the Avatar."
"We don't want any trouble," Sokka said, eyes narrowed. His gaze drifted to Ashan as the fire bender's hand moved toward his sword. "We're all in the same boat, right? You're just as wanted as the rest of us. After all, you did just help the Avatar and Zuko. Those offenses are punishable by death. And if I'm right, even if you do turn us in—"Sokka inhaled, "Ozai would still kill you…eventually."
"That's the kind of person Ozai is," Aang said.
Ashan stared at Aang, brow raised, lips pressed into a thin line. "You never answered my brother's question."
"What do you think we're doing here?" Sokka asked. Tense silence surrounded the group as they stared at each other with untrusting eyes.
Jin-Ho looked at Aang, then at Zuko. "The fact you cannot allow the prince to die is the answer itself. Isn't it?"
Aang met the soldier's gaze, jaw set.
"I see," Jin-Ho said. "A coup d'etat of sorts?"
Ashan stepped next to Jin-Ho. "What now, brother? What the water tribe boy said is true."
"Now we rest."
"Rest?" Ashan and Sokka said, eyes wide.
"What else would you suggest?"
"Brother, he's the Avatar!" Ashan said, pointing to Aang. "He's the enemy of the Fire Nation!"
"He's a child, Ashan. And did you forget we are now enemies of the Fire Nation?"
"But—"
Jin Ho met his brother's gaze. "Ashan, we're setting up camp tonight. Tomorrow we will discuss this."
Ashan clenched his jaw. "I'll find some firewood."
Sokka watched Ashan walk into the woods, then turned to Jin-Ho. He held his breath as the soldier shifted his firm gaze to him. 'He's taller than Dad and a lot bigger.' He seemed to be the kind of man Sokka wouldn't want to make angry.
Aang sucked in air as Jin-Ho looked at him with narrowed eyes. Aang looked down, catching a glimpse of the dagger that stuck a little ways out of Jin-Ho's boot, then his sword that hung attached to a belt around his side. He tensed as Jin-Ho moved his hand, motioning towards the wagon.
"The rest of you should set up camp as well," Jin-Ho said. "There are bedrolls and blankets in the wagon."
Sokka nodded. If it had been anyone else, he might have taken that as a suggestion instead of a command. He motioned for Aang to help him.
Ashan came back with the wood and began building a fire. He glanced at the group as they set out the bedrolls, his gaze shifting to Katara. 'She's with them, then? With the Avatar.' He sighed, watching the flames begin to grow. 'What is brother planning? If we're caught with them there is no doubt we will be put to death.'
When the fire was ready, Ashan placed a pot of porridge on the embers to cook. The group sat around the fire, acting like they were watching the flames, but in reality exchanging wary glances. After the food was ready, they ate in tense silence.
"Eat."
Katara looked up to see Jin-Ho holding a bowl and a jug of water. A small smile crossed her lips as she took it from him. "You're not as mean as you want people to believe."
"You'd become a burden if you fell ill." He tilted his head to the side, as if in thought. "I don't like burdens."
She sighed. "I take it back."As she ate, she occasionally glanced at the older man as he stared off in the distance. Her chest tightened as the relief of Zuko's recovery faded in the light of Aang exposing himself as the Avatar. 'He knows who Aang really is now. What is he going to do? Can I trust him?'
"I know what you're thinking, little water bender. I won't tell anyone about the Avatar."
Katara lowered her gaze. "Why? If you turned us in, you and Ashan could be pardoned."
He scoffed. "Didn't you hear what the boy said? There are no pardons for deserters. The only thing left for us is death."
"Or change," Katara said. She ran her hand through the sleeping prince's hair. "Zuko used to think there was nothing left for him either. But he made a choice. He saved me and Aang from Azula."
"You're fond of him."
She blushed. "He's likable as long as you don't make him mad."
Jin-Ho grinned. "Of course." He held out his hand. "You need sleep, and you won't get it coddling the prince all night." He helped her down from the wagon, motioning towards the campfire. "Go. I will look after him tonight."
"Thank you."
He grunted and turned away but stopped as Katara grasped his hand, meeting his questioning gaze.
"No, I mean it. Thank you for helping Zuko." She released his hand and walked to the campfire.
Jin-Ho watched her curl up beside her friends, falling asleep the moment her head hit the mat. He gazed at the hand that Katara had held, a small warmth growing in it.
Ashan came beside him, lips pressed in a thin line as his eyes scanned the forest. "A most interesting turn of events."
"Indeed." He shoved his hand in his pocket.
"What will you do now?"
"Sleep."
Jin-Ho leaned across the counter and handed the innkeeper two silver coins, his gaze wandering over the inhabitants of the dimly lit inn. Slivers of moonlight shone through the windows. His gaze shifted to the innkeeper as he stepped from behind the counter, motioning for his worker to take his place.
"Follow me," the innkeeper said. He led Jin-Ho behind the counter and down a hallway. Reaching the end, he turned to Jin-Ho. "As long as I'm paid, I don't ask questions. Just don't bring any trouble to my business."
"Of course." Jin-Ho followed the man into a storage room. Several tall wine cases sat in columns near the back of the room. Lit torches attached to the walls provided light for their path.
The innkeeper took him to the end of the room, pointing to the largest wine case. "Help me move this."
Jin-Ho nodded, and at the man's signal pushed, grunting as he moved his weight against it. 'What is this made of? Stone?'
"Here is the door," the man said, trying to catch his breath. "There is a separate entrance from the alley in back of the tavern." He handed Jin-Ho a brass key before turning around, eyes narrowed as he stared at the soldier. "As long as you keep to your business, I keep to mine. Like I said, as long as I'm paid, I keep quiet."
"We should get along, then." Jin-Ho watched the man leave, then entered the apartment. With a wave of his hand, flames ignited on his fingertips, giving light as he surveyed the quarters. In front of him sat a dining area with a table and floor mats for sitting. Two hallways to his left and right led to the bedrooms.
After searching through the apartment, he walked to the end of the left hallway and opened the door. He glanced down the alleyway. Ashan stepped out of the shadows, making its way towards the door. "Is it ready?"
"Yes. Where are the others?"
"Just around the corner, under the bridge near the market," Ashan said. "The earth bender created a path through the pass to enter the city."
Jin-Ho nodded. "Get the medical equipment ready."
"Yes, brother." Ashan disappeared inside the door.
Jin-Ho walked down the alleyway, eyes darting to the right as he heard hushed voices from the darkness. 'Drunks.' He reached the end and turned the corner, hugging the wall, reverting farther into the shadows as two soldiers passed him.
"I haven't been able to sleep in days! Ever since the storm I've been switching out rotations with Unon because of all the refugees."
The other soldier nodded. "I know what you mean. They say many of the villages below us got wiped out. I wish we could help everyone, but we can't."
Jin-Ho listened to their conversation drift into the night as they walked away. He let go of a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding as he looked ahead, seeing the bridge a ways off. He looked around the market; dim lanterns hung from shops, casting shadouws on the brick street. Keeping to the darkness, he made his way to the bridge.
"Where's Ashan?" Katara asked.
"He is preparing the medical equipment." Jin-Ho's gaze drifted over the group, his eyes resting on Aang. "Be silent and follow me."
Hello! Thank you all for continuing to read, "The Weight of Hope." I hope you guys are staying safe and healthy during these hard times.
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