Short chapter, sorry guys! I wanted to get this out of the way before the next scene.

Kidah's POV

I still had that stupid Fire song stuck in my head. I hummed it to myself quietly. It was just before dawn, but I couldn't sleep. After the party that Aang had thrown for all of those kids, everyone's moods had been a lot lighter. For me, it was just a reminder that all Fire Nation citizens are not evil. It reminded me of the kindness Zuko and Iroh had shown me many times. It made it hard to rest.

As the sun rose, so did Aang. Seeing I was already awake, he came and sat next to my pallet. I sat up and punched his shoulder lightly, "What's up, kid?"

"Avatar Roku contacted me. He has something he wants to show me about Sozin." His eyes were distant. "We have to go to his Island."

"Well, if I remember correctly, the last time you went to his island those priests attacked you," I countered.

"No, we have to go to his home." I tilt my head to the side questioningly. He sighs slightly frustrated, "I don't quite get it either, but that's what he told me. Will you help me wake the others?" I smile and nod.

As we wake the others, I think about Aang. I knew his story, his life, and I knew how confusing and difficult it all was for him. My heart ached for him. I wondered if he was truly on his own path as well, or if he was on a path that someone else had placed before him. Once everyone was groggily aboard Appa, we set off in search of this new island.

I was watching Toph create shapes with her space rock, when Aang jumped up and yelled, "There it is. That's Roku's home."

We all look around and just see a dead, black island. Aang starts a quick descent. Katara looks at me confused before turning to the boy, "But there's nothing here."

As we land, Toph jumps from Appa's saddle. Once her feet hit the ground, her face falls. "Yes, there is. An entire village. Hundreds of houses. All completely buried in ash."

Aang's face turns to that of determination. "I need to contact Roku." We silently follow him as he finds a peaceful place to meditate. Before any of us can say anything, he drops down and goes into the Avatar state, glowing.

"Don't worry, Aang, we will just sit here and watch after your body… oh, yeah- no worries.. You're welcome," Sokka says sarcastically as he drops to the ground beside me.

I laugh and pat him on the back, "don't worry, grumpy puss. I'll take the first watch. You guys take a nap." He falls to the ground and immediately falls asleep. Toph follows suit, but Katara looks around wearily. "Katara, its okay. No one's going to pop out and take him. Everyone thinks he's dead." Her eyes meet mine, and I feel so sorry for her. She felt responsible for Zuko taking Aang at the North Pole. She finally nods and settles down on the other side of me. I play with her hair to help her relax and hum that damned song.

After everyone had woken up, Aang was still in the Avatar state with Roku. We sat around silently waiting. Aang suddenly stood up, and we all rushed to him. He got in a squatted position and grunted.

My mouth fell open, completely uncomfortable. I jab Sokka in the ribs and ask, "Are there bathrooms in the spirit world?"

He holds up a finger pointedly, "As a matter of fact, they do not." Katara's palm makes a loud smack as it hits her forehead.

"I think I need some air," I say as I back away.

"But we're outside!" Toph yells.

"Fine, then I feel awkward, because I think Aang just shit his pants, so I'm taking a walk!" I yell over my shoulder. I can hear her cackle behind me.

I walk down the shore to the other side of the island. The sun was beginning to set. Aang had been in the spirit world all day. I looked up to the sky, wishing the moon was already up. "Sorry to wake you, Yue, but I just wanted to ask you to look out for Aang. I know he's in the spirit world with Roku, but you never know. He could get lost or something, and then we are all indubedebly screwed." I pull my knees up to my chest and begin to play with the water, pushing and pulling the tide.

I hear Sokka's heavy footsteps in the sand. "I talk to her too sometimes…" I smile and look at him as he sits beside me. "I know we weren't together for long, but I miss her all the time."

"Yue was a beautiful person with an even more brilliant soul," I tell him.

His features change slowly, saddened with every breath. "Do you miss him?" My heart stops, and my little water wave crashes. My hand falls to the sand, where Sokka takes it in his. "You can tell me, Kidah."

I sighed and placed my head on my knees. "I do," I whisper. "I'm not supposed to. I'm supposed to hate him. I should be focusing on my Tribe, my future. These past few days have me thinking that I don't deserve this crown," I gesture to the pack at my waist. "He is the enemy, he is supposed to be the enemy… But I still can't see him that way.

"When I think of him, I see the man who carried me to the boat at Ba Sing Se, because I had finally fallen asleep. I see the man who placed a moonflower behind my ear…" I sighed in frustration, not wanting to cry. "Its just harder than I thought it would be to get past this. He may have betrayed me, but that's not him, Sokka… There's so much more."

Sokka pulled me into a hug. It was comforting enough to keep my tears at bay. "I wish I could take away all your pain, Kidah. You'll get through this, and we'll all be here along the way. He will never hurt you again."

And that's when I realized he broke his promise. Zuko broke his promise to me. He said he would never hurt me. Anger filled the crater inside me. I pressed my head farther into my friend's chest, trying to drown my rage. "You're right," I said, muffled by his shirt. "He'll never hurt me again."

As we started to walk back to our friends, we saw Aang's glowing arrow begin to diminish. We sprinted towards him. Katara helps him stand. He breathes deeply a few times to regain his strength.

"Aang, what did he show you?" I finally ask.

"You guys… Sozin and Roku were friends." He continued to go into detail about the history of Roku and Sozin, their friendship and demise. Sozin was his best friend and let him die from the volcano, because he knew his friend would stop his invasion.

Katara shakes her head, not processing. "You mean, after all Roku and Sozin went through together... even after Roku showed him mercy, Sozin betrayed him like that?"

Toph crosses her arms, "It's like these people are born bad."

"No, that's wrong." Aang's words lighten my heart. "I don't think that was the point of what Roku showed me at all."

Sokka stares, confused, "Then what was the point?"

"Roku was just as much Fire Nation as Sozin was, right? If anything, their story proves anyone's capable of great good and great evil. Everyone, even the Fire Lord and the Fire Nation have to be treated like they're worth giving a chance. And I also think it was about friendships."

My eyebrows raise as I look to my friend, "Do you really think friendships can last more than one lifetime?"

Aang takes my hand in his, "I don't see why not." Katara and Toph take our hands.

Sokka rubs his cheek harshly, "Well, scientifically speaking, there's no way to prove that-"

Katara kicks her brother in annoyance, "Oh, Sokka, just hold hands." He hobbles over and joins us. I laugh lightly and look around to my friends. Our friendship has become one of the most important things in my life.

Zuko's POV

Back in the capital, Mai had invited me over to her home. She let it slip that Father had invited Azula to a council meeting. My sister had told her, surely so that I would find out. Just when I was convinced that my Father didn't want anything else to do with me, a messenger was sent to fetch me. My father wanted me at the war council meeting. I couldn't believe it.

I followed the messenger down the halls to the throne room. Expecting to be scolded for my presence or lack thereof, I tried to keep my head up high. Azula's smiling face could be seen from the entrance. I bowed to my father and took my seat beside him. The meeting began with opening discussions of the Day of Black Sun.

I came back to Mai once we had finished. She rushed to me, "So, how did it go?"

Thinking back to the meeting, "When I got to the meeting, everyone welcomed me." I shook my head incredulously. "My father had saved me a seat. He wanted me next to him." She looped her arm in mine and placed her head on my shoulder. "I was literally at his right hand."

Mai brightens beside me, "Zuko, that's wonderful. You must be happy?"

And I finally realized I wasn't. I was pretending every second of every day. I wasn't happy. I was miserable, and I needed out.