Chapter 68: Merciless Melon

Sitting on the back porch steps, I sowed the last of my belt piece together. My brother and sister had kept my water pouch I'd purchased back when Sokka trained with Master Piandao. Everything had been so overwhelming over the last few weeks with not only being forced to Fire Lord Ozai, but also having to flee the Western Air Temple, I had forgotten all about it. My sister reminded me of it this morning when she was going through our things, and I was surprised. I hadn't seen it since the Assassin came with the Rough Rhinos. I had lost some weight so the belt was loose, which was why I was sowing it with deep concentration.

The group were all preparing for battle at last. Toph was practicing some advanced earthbender moves a mile from the house. Sokka was practicing some sword swings. Suki was practicing her hand-to-hand combat moves. We were all going to join back together in two hours to practice a fight simulation against the Fire Lord a mile from the house. Toph had found us a nice rocky terrain where we could practice while still being hidden from the Ember Island locals.

In the hour since Zuko had told everyone about Fire Lord Ozai's plans, Zuko had been in communication with Sage Ju by a messenger hawk, who was able to give us information on where the Fire Lord would strike. We planned to infiltrate the Fire Lord's fleet which we knew would be taking off tomorrow morning to start heading towards the Earth Kingdom. The comet was in three days, so we were very pressed on time to defeat him before he became too powerful to stop. We hoped to attack in the morning before the comet so we could stop the Fire Lord before he became too powerful. From what Sokka learned at the library, the comet would be coming later in the evening.

The only one not doing anything to prepare for battle was Katara, and that's because she was sitting beside me on the back steps stressing over the lesson Zuko was giving Aang.

"Are we sure this is a good idea?"

Katara's worry did not surprise me. We had almost lost Aang to lightning back in Ba Sing Se, so it was only understandable that Zuko's current lesson had her in a panic.

"Zuko trained with Iroh, who is one of the greatest firebenders I know. He won't let Aang get hurt. But he also isn't going to use lightning anyway. This is just to show Aang the proper moves. Relax." I placed my finished belt aside and put a hand on her shoulder to comfort her.

She sighed. Her eyes looked back at Zuko and Aang who were in the open space of the backyard. "I just... I don't want Aang to get hurt," Katara whispered.

"This is so he won't get hurt," I spoke softly. "Fire Lord Ozai may use a lightning strike, so it's important Aang knows how to redirect it."

Katara let out another heavy breath. "Okay..."

Zuko started to show Aang the moves, and we both watched.

"If you let the energy in your own body flow," Zuko began, stretching his left arm out and showing with the fingers on his right hand the flow he spoke of. He moved his fingers in a path down his left arm, shoulder, stomach, and then back out through his right side using his left hand to demonstrate the remaining flow. "... the lightning will follow it. You turn your opponent's energy against them."

Aang was surprised. "That's like waterbending."

Zuko nodded. "Exactly. My Uncle invented this technique himself by studying waterbenders."

Aang started to follow his movements to get the hang of the motions. As he did, he asked, "So... Have you ever redirected lightning before?"

Zuko answered, "Once. Azula shot a blast at Crystal back at the palace right before we escaped. I jumped between to save her."

His words surprised me. I tried to recollect this, but a lot of what happened after I used bloodbending on Ozai before our escape was a blur.

Aang broke through my thoughts. "What did it feel like?"

Zuko stopped his motions. "Exhilarating. But terrifying. You feel so powerful holding that much energy in your body. But you know that if you make the wrong move, it's over."

Aang grimaced. "Heh. Well, not over, over, right? I mean there's always Katara and a little spirit water action... Am I right?"

He looked over at Katara to direct his last question.

Katara frowned. "Actually... I used it all up after Azula shot you."

Aang felt dismayed. "Oh."

Zuko turned serious. "You'll have to take the Fire Lord's life. Before he takes yours."

Aang suddenly looked sick. "Yeah... I'll just do that."

Zuko walked over to me, gave me a kiss on the lips, and then went off to talk to Sokka who I could hear beyond the trees in the distance shouting warrior cries. Katara let out a sigh of relief as she saw no lightning was being shot and headed over to check on the supplies by Appa again. Aang and I were the last two in the area.

Standing, I walked over to the young airbender sensing his sudden angst. "Hey, Aang... want to go on a walk with me for a few minutes? Sokka said we won't have our simulation until the sun starts to set, so we have an hour. You look like you need a moment to clear your head..."

Momo hopped on Aang's shoulder.

I smiled. "Momo can come too."

He sighed. "Okay."

We started to walk the path to the beach. As we did, I crossed my arms staring out at the water. Aang's fear and uncertainty was written all over his face.

"Aang... you can be honest with me... The war crazed people aren't near us... how are you feeling about all of this?"

Aang was surprised by my concern. He then let out a heavy sigh. "I'm... I'm scared. I'm worried about facing the Fire Lord and not being able to go into the Avatar State. When I was at the North Pole, I only won against Zhao because of my spiritual energy. But... I can't connect to that energy anymore... I'm terrified I'll lose and let the world down."

His voice broke at the end. I took his hand to offer him comfort as we walked on the sand and headed towards the water. He returned my gesture, glad for the touch. "I'm sorry, Aang... I wish I knew what to say... I can't imagine how much is on your shoulders right now. From what I know of Fire Lord Ozai in the brief time I met him, he is heartless. He won't hesitate to kill anyone... which is why I understand why you're so conflicted about killing him... you have a heart, and you're not a killer."

I squeezed his hand and pulled him along. Momo whined on his shoulder, sensing his burdens too.

Shutting my eyes, I felt the breeze hit my face as I slowed our walk. "I wish you didn't have to do this... You may be a century old, but you've only been awake for about thirteen years. You're a kid, and having the fate of the world fall on your shoulders is cruel. From the first day I met you, I knew you would face more trials than any kid your age. It's not fair that you had to grow up so fast."

I opened my eyes again to see Aang hanging his head as he agreed with my words. He sighed, and gripped my hand tighter. "I just... I wish I never ran away a hundred years ago. Maybe all of this could've been prevented. My people were slaughtered because I was a coward." He stopped walking. I stopped with him, seeing he had shut his eyes as a tear fell. "Which is why I need to be brave right now and save the world. I have to stop Fire Lord Ozai somehow from destroying the other nations. But I don't think I have it in me to kill him. Being raised by the monks, I was taught that violence is never the answer and killing is wrong. I can't go against my people... but I also can't let the Fire Lord get away."

He pulled from my hand to turn from me. His body shook as he cried. Momo whined and licked his cheek to offer comfort.

"I'm so confused. I don't know what to do, Crys..."

His tears broke my heart. Stepping over to him, I pulled him into my arms to offer him some sisterly comfort. Momo hopped down on the sand to give me room. Aang sunk into my shoulder, crying harder as he feared the end was near. As I hugged him, I could feel his burdens through the heaviness of his frame. I rubbed circles on his back, trying to calm him down.

"There's one thing you can do, Aang." I shut my eyes again and hugged him closer. "You can follow your heart and do what you believe is right. As much as I want Fire Lord Ozai dead, that's not my choice. Ozai is your battle. When I faced Yon Rha a few weeks ago, I wasn't sure what I was going to do. But when I finally saw him, I made the choice to let him live, because like you I didn't have it in my heart to kill..." Aang's crying was calming as I spoke. "You're the smartest and bravest kid I've met... you will know the right thing to do when the time comes. But you won't be alone. Your team is here for you. Whatever support you need, we will give."

He nodded. I pulled away slightly and saw he was calming down finally. I brushed the tears from his cheeks with my thumbs, wishing I could do more to help ease his pain and fear. He smiled though, grateful for me allowing him a moment of weakness away from the others.

"Thanks ,Crys... I really needed a good cry."

I gave a sad smile. "You may be the Avatar, but you are still a human being... There's no shame in being scared. When I was forced to see the Fire Lord, I was petrified. But the one thing you need to remember about that monster is he feeds off of weakness, Aang. When you fight him, don't show him you're afraid. Be brave and this will weaken him. You are so strong... You're going to win this... I believe in you."

He hugged me again, and I hugged him back. As he let my words pass through him, I could tell a slight weight was taken from his shoulders. He still had much weighing him down, but giving him the chance to show his fear had granted him some relief.

"I love you, Aang," I whispered.

He hugged me tighter. "I love you too, Crys... Thank you for being such a good sister."

Momo chattered in agreement and jumped on my shoulder licking my cheek to offer his own gratitude.

About an hour later we had regrouped. Aang still looked greatly unsettled as we prepared to practice our fight against the Fire Lord. We sat in a circle at the top of a very steep hill with jagged rocks. My belt fit my waist well, and my Fire Nation outfit was definitely a good choice for my movement. I had filled up my leather flask, but I did feel weird with it on. Having my element at my side was something I would definitely have to get used to. I usually just searched for water around me during fights.

Katara and Sokka were wearing their water tribe clothing, while Toph had put back on her Earth Kingdom outfit. Suki wore her Fire Nation outfit, deciding fighting would be easier with less restriction. She also had burned her prisoner clothing in the fireplace earlier that morning, so she didn't have a change of clothes.

"Gather round Team Avatar." Sokka began. He had just put a wooden stake down behind him and shoved a melon on the top of the pole with an evil carved face on the green shell. "In order to take out the Fire Lord, or in this case, the 'Melon Lord,' our timing has to be perfect."

He picked up a stick and drew a circle in the dirt. Then he started to draw a bunch of squiggly lines. I watched with disbelief. Zuko seemed to be in deep concentration, taking everything super seriously. I guess fighting a watermelon just wasn't my idea of practice. I tried not to complain.

Sokka continued his leadership. "First, Suki and I will draw his fire." He shot the stick across the dirt, as if his horrible drawing skills made any sense. "Then, Katara, Crystal, and Zuko charge in with some liquidy hot offence..." He drew another line to display this. "And while the 'Melon Lord' is distracted, Aang swoops in and 'BAM!' He delivers the final blow!" He shot his line through the circle he had drawn in the dirt.

Toph was confused. "Err... what about me?"

Sokka smirked. "For now, you're the Melon Lord's forces."

She pondered this. "So... I get to chuck flaming rocks at all of you?"

Sokka nodded. "Whatever makes the training feel more realistic."

Toph grinned. "Sweetness."

As the group started to head down to the base of the hill, Zuko helped Toph light dried seaweed inside some stone bowls so that she had fire to dip the boulders into. She took her position, while Zuko grabbed my hand and we headed down the steep hill together. Once we got to the bottom, we took our own positions just as Sokka had horribly drawn out.

Toph stood at the top of the hill, getting into character as she laughed in a deep dark twisted manner beside the melon on a stick. I also couldn't believe Sokka had put a robe on the stick to make the dummy look like a person. I shook my head in disbelief. To others, this would've been the weirdest training anyone had seen.

Toph's laugh rang through the air. "Muahahahahahaha!"

We all hid behind our boulders, ready to rush out for the attack. We looked over at Sokka, waiting for his signal. I glanced back at Aang briefly who stood behind us, looking more anxious than before. I gave him a smile of encouragement, and he gave me a smaller smile in return. I could see he was conflicted. I pressed my hand beneath my collarbone, and he caught my thoughts.

Follow your heart.

He gave a nod, and gripped his staff tightly.

Sokka gave the signal then, and he and Suki shot out from their hiding places. Toph used earthbending to create some stone Fire Nation soldiers which Sokka attacked with his sword while Suki fought a few with her feet and hands.

A flaming boulder suddenly was shot from the top of the hill. Sokka yelped and was forced to drop on the ground to avoid the collision. Suki did a flip over the rock without much effort. Her agility reminded me of Ty Lee's.

Sokka jumped back up a little irritated as the rock crashed behind him. "Watch it, Toph!"

Toph stayed in character, beaming with delight. "I am not Toph, I am "Melon Lord"! Muahahahahaha!"

She set another rock on fire.

"Our turn," Zuko spoke.

Zuko and Katara jumped out, and I followed behind. We ran up the hill and Toph shot a flaming rock down at us. The three of us easily dodged the attack and prepared to shoot our elements. Toph used her earthbending again to create a ring of rock soldiers around us to stop our advance. We started to shoot our elements at the stones around us, breaking the props to pieces.

Sokka's shout rang behind me. "Now, Aang!"

Aang shot over us with his airbending, raising his staff ready to deal the final blow at the melon ahead. However, just as his staff was about to crush the head of the produce monster, he stopped. He had landed in front of the pole, and his staff hovered an inch from the top of the melon.

Zuko shouted beside me in disbelief, "What are you waiting for? Take him out!"

Aang shook his head. "I can't..."

We had stopped fighting at this point. Zuko and Sokka headed over, while Katara, Suki, and I followed behind. Toph stopped her attacks, confused by Aang's hesitation. I crossed my arms, knowing exactly why he had stopped though.

Sokka stepped up to him. "What's wrong with you?!" He pointed his finger at the kid sharply. "If this was the real deal, you'd be shot full of lightning right now!" He moved his hand across his neck to indicate being killed.

Aang frowned. "I'm sorry, but it just didn't feel right. I didn't feel like myself."

Sokka jerked his sword back out and sliced the blade through the melon, slaughtering Melon Lord brutally. The melon crashed to the ground, and Momo appeared out of nowhere starting to eat the fruit.

"There. That's how it's done," Sokka spoke firmly.

I frowned. Stepping over, I grabbed Sokka's arm and pulled him back. "Stop," I said. "That's enough. Give him some space."

Sokka jerked from my arm. "He doesn't have another choice! I don't understand why he is hesitating!" He looked back at Aang with a stern gaze. "The Fire Lord deserves to die, Aang! This is war! This isn't an airbender tea party! Stop thinking and just do what needs to be done."

Sokka stomped off. Suki went to follow him.

Katara let out a heavy breath. "Let's go back to the house and get some dinner. We all need to rest tonight for our flight tomorrow." She stepped over to Aang and placed a hand on his shoulder. "I know this is hard, but Sokka's right. The Fire Lord will kill you, Aang... you have to destroy him first. I don't want to lose you..."

Katara and Toph headed back down the hill then. Toph shrugged as she went, saying, "I still had fun."

Zuko went to head off to follow as well, taking my hand to pull me with him. I stopped though, putting my hand over his. He looked at me with question, sensing my falter.

"Go on ahead... I'll be there in a moment," I promised. I looked over at Aang, whose back was to us as he stared down at the melon, and then back at Zuko.

He caught my intention and nodded. He kissed me on the forehead, whispering, "Don't be long. We need to rest for tomorrow. We have a long day of flying."

I nodded, squeezing his hand with reassurance. "Aang and I will be there in a little bit."

Zuko left then, heading back down the hill to follow the others. Once everyone was gone, I walked over to Aang. I saw some melon juice had splattered on his face, and I wiped the liquid from his cheek with my thumb.

"Aang... it's okay." I made him turn to face me by grabbing his forearm gently. "You did nothing wrong."

"Sokka and your husband don't think that way," Aang muttered bitterly. "And neither does Toph, Suki, or Katara."

I made Aang sit on his knees with me, while Momo continued to eat the fruit. "I know... but there's something you need to realize, Aang..."

I breathed heavily as memories of the past flooded through me.

"While you were in that iceberg for a hundred years, the rest of us grew up during a time of war and bloodshed. We were all taught that the only way to win is by killing our enemy. My father engraved in the minds of his children that firebenders are all heartless savages and don't deserve to live. While Katara and Sokka have changed their views towards some in the Fire Nation, to them the only answer is ever going to be that the Fire Lord has to die." I gave a half-smile. "But in the end, that isn't their decision. You're the Avatar, Aang. You're the balance... and if you feel that killing the Fire Lord is not the proper path to restoring peace, then they will have to respect that decision."

"But they're right," Aang whispered. "If I don't kill him, then I don't know how else I can truly stop him."

I thought for a moment, trying to search my head for answers. Finally, a thought hit me. I took both his hands tenderly into my own. "You still have a connection to your past lives, right?"

My question surprised him. He looked at me puzzled.

"The past Avatars have gone through similar situations I'm sure... maybe you can reach out to one of them. Ask them for advice... I don't know how it all works, but from what I understand you've gotten some help from Avatar Roku and Avatar Kyoshi in the past. They seem to be pretty wise from the stories I've heard."

He sighed. "I... I don't know if I can. Ever since Azula's lightning strike, things have been really disconnected inside me. There's a block."

I thought about this. Releasing his hands, I brushed a hand through my hair trying to figure out what to say. Then an image of Iroh came to my mind.

"Maybe you can find a way around it. When I was back on the ship with Iroh and Zuko, whenever Zuko would be conflicted about something Iroh would encourage him to meditate. Maybe that's what you need, Aang... a moment to push out the world and focus on the energy inside you. Try it tonight... There's a room with a balcony on the second floor that looks out towards the ocean. You can get some quiet while we're sleeping tonight. Just give it a shot. Even if you can't connect with your past lives, it may at least calm your nerves for the fight to come."

He took in my advice, and gave a nod. A small smile pulled on his dismayed expression. A spark came back into his eyes. "Okay... I'll try." He leaned forward then, hugging me again with gratitude. "Thanks for understanding, Crystal... I promise, no matter what, I'll make sure the Fire Lord never hurts you again."

I felt my eyes burn with tears as I hugged him back. "Just do me a favor, Aang... survive... because I can't lose you," I whispered. "That's all I ask... if it does come down to your life or the Fire Lord's, please save yourself. You mean too much to me and my family."

"I'm going to survive," he promised. "We all are. You've just given me hope again, Crystal. Thank you." He stood then, looking down at me with sincerity. "And just so you know, when we do win, you're going to be the wisest and kindest Fire Lady this world has ever known."

He held his hand down to me, gripping his staff. Momo jumped on his shoulder, chattering in agreement. I smiled and took his hand, my heart warmed by his honesty.

About an hour later, as the group sat outside eating dinner while the last of the sunlight faded and night approached, I worked upstairs preparing an area of meditation for Aang. Moving a low wooden table to the center of the room near the balcony that faced the ocean beyond, I placed five candles on the wood and rolled a dusty mat out on the floor. As I worked to help Aang out, Katara stopped at the doorway to the room as she came down from the attic.

"What are you doing?"

Her voice didn't surprise me. I had heard her steps. I answered, moving the candle in the center over an inch, "Aang needs some time to think tonight... I'm helping him out. I told him to meditate some. I think it will calm him down." I stood from the table and looked over at my sister. She had a scroll in the crook of her arm. I was puzzled. "What's that?"

She pulled it out in front of her. "Oh! Something to embarrass your husband! Come outside and see."

Her statement surprised me. I was honestly curious.

"Okay. Be there in a sec," I promised.

She nodded and headed downstairs. Once she was gone, I looked back at the table seeing the candles in their perfect line. Then I glanced back at the ocean, seeing the sun was gone and the dark of the night was beginning to take over. I really hoped Aang would find some peace in the next few hours. I hated seeing him in such a state of dismay.

While this war had brought me a husband, who loved and treasured me as much as I loved and cherished him, it had forced a child to lose his whole nation and have to fight a callous man. Thinking back to when I was Aang's age, I couldn't imagine how I would've felt having to fight the leader of the Fire Nation to save everyone.

The fate of the world rested on a young boy's shoulders. No matter how powerful Aang happened to be, he was still just a kid. This fact hurt my heart.

The war had forced so many of us to grow up too fast.

I prayed that we would win. I prayed that my future children, grandchildren, and all those after me would have the chance to live in a world where being a child was an option...I prayed that instead of only having days left, we would have years.

I wanted to be a wife to Zuko for more than just a few days... I wanted the chance to be a mother... to have a future.

My hand moved to my necklace, and my thumb traced the outline of the design. Shutting my eyes, I whispered, "Please, spirits... protect us... Please..." I opened my eyes again. The water rippled in the distance. My hand released my necklace. "Give Aang and the rest of us strength."

Once I was done with my own meditation, I went out of the room and headed back downstairs. Getting back outside, I found the group was facing Katara who was holding up the scroll she had found. "Look at baby Zuko! Isn't he cute?"

I came around her with surprise, and looked at the image of the baby. Her words threw me off. Staring at the painting, I thought back to one of the many Iroh had shown me back on the ship over the weeks I was confined within the boring cold steel walls. Zuko didn't know about me seeing these images, and Iroh begged me never to tell him during our time chasing Aang and my family. This baby in the portrait was nothing like the paintings I had seen of baby Zuko that Iroh had in his stash. The cheeks were rounder, and the eyes were darker. The hair was also a different shade.

As everyone laughed and made 'aww' sounds, I shook my head. "I don't think that's Zuko."

Katara looked at me with surprise. The group fell quiet.

Zuko stood and crossed his arms, looking at me with bewilderment. "Before I even tell anyone who that really is, I would love to ask you, my dear wife, how you know that? You've only seen portraits of me past nine years old."

I grimaced, and then smiled sheepishly. "Uh... Iroh... he had paintings of you as a baby. Your hair was darker and your cheeks weren't as pudgy as the one Katara has."

Zuko was mortified. "Uncle showed you baby portraits of me?!"

I held my hands up in defense. "What else did you want us to do? You were moping in your room not being able to find Aang's trail all week, and Iroh had already beat me three times at Pai Sho! We were bored!"

Zuko covered his face in disbelief. "I can't believe he even had baby portraits of me. He better not have shown the crew."

Sokka was curious. "So, if that's not you, then who is it?"

Zuko answered, grabbing the scroll from Katara and narrowing his eyes. "It's my Father."

The group was stunned. I was even surprised by this. The child looked so young and innocent. As I stared at the portrait, a flash of Ozai came across my mind. His dark eyes and evil sneer. His heartlessness. I guess his own father had destroyed him beyond repair, just as he had tried to do with Zuko.

At least Zuko was saved before Ozai could completely destroy him...

Suki pointed at the scroll and then looked at Zuko. "But he looked so sweet and innocent."

Zuko handed the scroll back to Katara. "Well that sweet little kid grew up to be a monster. And the worst Father in the history of Fathers."

Aang spoke up for the first time since we left our training hill. "But he is still a human being."

Zuko was shocked. "You're going to defend him?"

Aang shook his head, standing and facing the group. "No, I agree with you. Fire Lord Ozai is a horrible person and the World will probably be better off without him..." He sighed. "There's gotta be another way."

Zuko crossed his arms. "Like what?"

Aang shrugged. "I don't know... Maybe we can make some big pots of glue and then I can use gluebending to stick his arms and legs together so he can't bend anymore." He grinned as his idea sounded completely logical to him.

Zuko rolled his eyes. "Yeah. Then you can show him his baby pictures and all those happy memories will make him good again."

Sokka, Suki, Toph, and Katara snickered. I frowned, knowing Aang was being serious, although his idea was a little crazy.

Aang asked naively, "Do you really think that would work?"

Zuko was appalled and shouted, "No!"

Aang dropped his head in dismay and sighed. He started to pace the yard in angst. "This goes against everything I learned from the monks. I can't just go around wiping out people I don't like..."

Sokka waved his concerns off. "Sure, you can. You're the Avatar. If it's in the name of keeping balance, I'm pretty sure the Universe will forgive you."

"Sokka... stop," I said. "Everyone stop. None of this is a joke. Aang's seriously upset about this. You all acting like it's not a big deal is only making things worse."

The group looked at me in surprise. Sokka was horrified. "You agree the Fire Lord shouldn't die? After everything that monster did to you?"

I defended myself. "I hate the Fire Lord. But I also know that in the end this is Aang's decision and we should all support him..." I looked over at Zuko. "I know you're angry at the Fire Lord. I want him to suffer for all the hurt he caused you in the past too... But this isn't your battle Zuko." I looked back at Sokka. "Nor is it your battle. We all agreed Aang would fight him in the end. So we have to respect his choice."

"Crystal's right! This isn't a joke! None of you understands the position I'm in!" Aang's frustration finally came out. "The only one being supportive right now is Crys! I thought you all were my team?"

Katara quickly became defensive. "Aang, we do understand. It's just..."

Aang snapped, "Just what, Katara?! What?"

Katara narrowed her eyes. "We're trying to help."

Aang held his hands up in frustration. "Then when you figure out a way for me to beat the Fire Lord without taking his life, I'd love to hear it!" He stomped off into the house.

Katara jumped up. "Aang, don't walk away from this."

I moved and placed my hand on her shoulder. "Katara... let me try and calm him down," I insisted.

She let out a heavy sigh and nodded.

I looked around at the group who were shocked by all that had just occurred. "I'll be right back... everyone give him some space right now... he has a lot on his shoulders."

I headed inside and followed where I heard his steps. Momo followed with me as we tried to catch up to him.

"Aang," I said. "Wait."

I turned the corner and saw he had done just that. He stood in the dark hall, and his whole frame shook with the frustration that was igniting inside him. Taking his hand without saying another word, I moved him through the house and up the stairs. Leading him down the hall that had holes in it from Zuko and his 'training' earlier in the day, I opened the door to the room I had been in only minutes before.

Moving him to the mat on the floor, I forced him to sit down. His eyes showed surprise as he took in the setup I had created for him. Kneeling in front of him, I grabbed a candle from the table and held it towards him. "Can you give me a light?"

He was stunned, but he held a flame in his hand. I lit the candle, and then turned back to the table. He cut his flame off and watched as I lit the other four candles on the table, then returned the fifth to its holder at the center of the surface. Once the candles were lit, I turned back to Aang and placed my hands on his shoulders.

"Shut your eyes."

He listened to me. Shutting his eyes, his shoulders sunk beneath my hands.

"Deep breaths... in and out."

He breathed in and breathed out, finally assuming a meditative pose by pressing his knuckles together and adjusting his crossed legs.

"Calm down, Aang," I whispered. His tension faded as my words hit him. I kissed him tenderly on the forehead, and then pulled away. "Just clear your mind and relax... take as long as you need, and then get some sleep." I looked over at Momo. "And you stay quiet, Momo. Don't disturb him if you're going to stay."

Momo obeyed and curled up at the edge of the mat to let me know he would behave.

As I went to stand, I felt Aang's hand grab my own. I looked back to meet his gaze. He looked older at that moment. His eyes held so much wisdom. "Thank you, Crystal."

I smiled. "Of course... I hope you find the answers you need."

He let go of my hand. I moved his staff and leaned it against the wall to give him space, pat Momo as I made my way out, and then shut the door lightly behind him. As I walked away, I could hear his meditative breathing. I hoped he would find some peace.

Later that night, I lay with Zuko in one of the smaller bedrooms downstairs. The wall in the master suite bedroom had a hole in it, so we relocated back to the room Zuko had been staying in before we wed. I decided I didn't mind being in such a small space beside him. His touch was a comfort.

As he held me to him, he whispered, "I'm sorry for being inconsiderate earlier... I didn't mean to upset you or Aang. I just don't see how there's any other options."

I pressed my face into his chest more, praying this would not be our last night. "I'm not mad at you... I understand how you all feel. I want him dead too... but that isn't my choice or yours. Aang is the one who will fight Ozai... he's the one who has to decide the right choice in the end. Whatever he decides, we have to respect his wishes. I believe when the time comes, he'll know what to do."

"You know," he whispered. "You've sounded a lot like Uncle today."

I smiled. "What can I say... he's had a pretty good influence on me."

"Yeah... me too." Zuko let out a heavy breath. "I hope he's okay. Fire Sage Ju told me in the letter earlier that Uncle escaped the Fire Nation Capital and had headed to the Earth Kingdom the day of the eclipse."

"That old man is the strongest and bravest firebender I know... he's fine, and you will see him again soon."

Zuko brushed his hand through my hair as he whispered, "I hope so... because I really want him to meet my amazing wife."

I laughed a little. "Iroh is going to give himself all the credit for this. He was trying to set us up from day one."

Zuko laughed too. "Yeah. I think him and the crew were all placing bets on us."

I sighed, shutting my eyes harder. "That feels like so long ago."

"Yeah... I was a monster back then..." he spoke the last part with dismay. "I hate all the pain I caused you."

I pulled away slightly so I could gaze up at his face, which I could vaguely see from the moonlight seeping through the bedroom shutters. My hand moved to brush his cheek. "There's nothing to feel sorry for... the one who hurt me was a hardened prince whose father manipulated him into doing his bidding. My destiny was to save that Prince from the darkness inside him... I'm just relieved I was strong enough to show you the light and the man you really are."

He moved his hand from my hair and placed it over my own which was still pressed to his cheek. His thumb brushed my skin tenderly. "Thank you... you were and are still my light... my moon in the night... You keep me from falling back into that darkness."

"And you're my sun," I whispered. "For six years I blamed myself for my mother's death, and I felt like my face was nothing but a symbol of my failure. My spirit became ice and darkness consumed me. You saved me from that cold dark world... you made me finally see myself the way I should've all along... as a survivor... thank you for freeing me from that endless blizzard..."

He slid me up so my lips were inches from his own. "No matter what happens in the next days to come, I am so glad I met you... I love you so much, Crystal... I'm the luckiest man in the world to have such a beautiful wife."

My eyes burned with tears. "I will always love you, Zuko... in this life and the next. But I pray I have many more years to have you as my husband..."

"Aang's a strong kid," Zuko whispered. "If anyone can end this war, he definitely can. And then you and I will grow old together just like it's meant to be."

"You'll still love me even when I'm old and gray?"

His breath brushed my lips. "I have a feeling I'll get gray hairs way before you do, love. Your constant rashness and stubbornness will have me in a panic daily. I'll be an old man by the time we're in our thirties."

I went to argue but he pressed his lips to my own to cut me off. As his hand caressed my cheek, and his breath mixed with my own, I felt my fear and uncertainty at the hours to come fade away.

We would win. As long as we all worked together, we had a chance.

That night I fell asleep in Zuko's arms, enjoying my time with him, not knowing what the next few days would bring.

When we finally woke up the next morning, it was because we were rudely brought out of our sleep. Our door swung open, and Toph shouted from the entry, "Hey Princess! Sparky! Enough cuddling! We got to go!"

Her voice made me mumble under my breath with irritation, "Why is it always her?"

Zuko muttered back, hugging me closer to him, "I think she enjoys torturing people."

"No. I just don't have time to be an aunt! Up! Let's move!"

"Maybe if we ignore her she'll go away," I whispered.

"Should we pretend to go back to sleep," Zuko joked.

Toph stomped her foot and lifted the earth beneath the floorboards. Our bed was tipped over and we both yelped as we fell onto the floor. Zuko thankfully caught himself from landing on me too hard. He helped me up quickly, and we both went to snap at the earthbender. She was already gone.

"I swear... one of these days she's going to end up stranded on an iceberg," I muttered.

"I'll be happy to help with that," Zuko agreed.

After the both of us freshened up, we headed outside where the others were already packing stuff onto Appa. I put my belt on after making sure my flask was full for the journey ahead.

Sokka threw the last bag onto Appa's saddle. "Okay, that's everything."

Toph spoke up from where she sat on the stone steps of the back porch. "No, it's not. Where's Aang?"

I was surprised when she said this. "He may have fallen asleep meditating last night. He was upstairs."

Zuko headed back inside and the rest of us followed. We went up to the second floor, but we heard silence. Zuko stepped over to the door that I pointed to, and he knocked quickly, "Aang? Aang!" There was no response.

Toph moved forward, pushing Zuko aside, and shoved the door open. "Come on lazy bones, let's go."

We stepped into the room, and were surprised to see it was vacant. The candles I had lit on the table the night before were just mounds of wax. The balcony windows were still open, but there was no sign of Aang or Momo anywhere. The staff was still in the place I had left it the night before.

Sokka walked over to the staff, perplexed. "He left his staff. That's so strange."

Zuko ran a hand through his hair in disbelief. "Aang's not in the house. Let's check the beach."

As we started to head out, Katara grabbed my arm to stop me so we could hang back for a second. "What did you say to him last night?"

I shrugged. "I just told him to relax and breathe... clear his mind... the usual meditation stuff."

She released my arm, and her face fell in dismay. "I hope he's okay."

I took her hand to give her reassurance. "Aang survived a hundred years frozen in a block of ice. That kid will be fine." I led Katara out of the room, and she squeezed my hand in return, appreciative for my comfort.

We finally caught back to everyone as we headed out of the front of the house and towards the beach. As we did, Sokka announced, "Look! There's his footprints!" We followed the trail all the way to the end of the sand where the water lapped on shore. Sokka spoke with confusion. "The trail ends here."

"So..." Suki began. "He went for a midnight swim and never came back?"

Katara jerked from my hand and covered her mouth in terror. "Maybe he was captured!"

Sokka quickly shook his head. "I don't think so. There's no sign of a struggle."

Toph sighed. "I bet he ran away again."

Sokka argued, "Ah-uh. He left behind his glider and Appa."

Toph huffed at Sokka. "Then what do you think happened to him oh sleuthy one?"

My brother pondered over this for a moment. He crouched to examine the footprints, and then he gave a nod. "It's pretty obvious." He stood and threw his hands up. "Aang mysteriously disappears before an important battle? He's definitely on a Spirit World journey." He beamed at his belief in having the correct answer.

Zuko disappointed him. "But if he was, wouldn't his body still be here?"

Sokka slumped his shoulders in defeat. "Oh yeah, forgot about that."

Katara spoke with her own guess. "Then he's gotta be somewhere on Ember Island. Let's split up and look for him."

Toph grinned. "Sweet! I'll search with the lovebirds to make sure they don't get distracted again on another honeymoon."

I sighed. My hand shot to the ocean and I brought a wave over Toph dropping the water on her. She shrieked as her body was suddenly drenched. "CRYSTAL!"

I turned and walked away. "I'm going to start searching."

Zuko laughed and started to follow me. Toph muttered inaudibly behind me as she followed us down the beach.

I defended myself. "You promised no more honeymoon jokes. That was your punishment."

The sand lifted in front of my foot, and I gasped falling forward. Landing on my knees, I growled. "TOPH!"

She laughed. "Yes! Princess does have a temper!"

I stood and turned to hit her with water from my pouch. Zuko stepped between us. "Alright! Stop, both of you! We need to focus!" He stepped over to me and put an arm around my waist, pulling me away from the smirking earthbender. "Iceberg next week?"

Zuko's question made me calm my frustration and smile. I gave him a nod, stating playfully, "It's a date."

Toph was confused by our conversation. "What are you two talking about?"

"Nothing," I spoke.

Toph huffed. "Can you at least take this water off me to help me dry?"

"I'll think about it," I promised.

She groaned.

After an hour of searching the beach for Aang, we found no sign of him and decided to head back to the house. In that time, I did remove the water from Toph deciding she was wet long enough. When we got back to the house, we saw the others were back already with looks of dismay.

Sokka saw us approach, and sighed. "Judging by the looks on your faces, I'm guessing you guys didn't find Aang either."

Zuko frowned. "No. It's like he just... disappeared."

Toph added, "Hey, wait a minute, has anyone noticed that Momo's missing too?"

I spoke. "Momo was with Aang last night. He probably went with hi-"

Sokka cut me off, running over to Appa. "Oh no! I knew it was only a matter of time. Appa ate Momo!" He tried to pry Appa's mouth open. "Momo, I'm coming for ya, buddy."

I was baffled. "Sokka! Stop messing around! Appa's a herbivore!"

Appa groaned in agreement.

Katara stated as well, "Crystal's right Sokka. Appa didn't eat Momo. He's probably with Aang."

Sokka argued, trying to open Appa's mouth again, "That's just what Appa wants you to think!"

Appa opened his mouth and Sokka fell on his tongue. I covered my eyes in disbelief. "This is getting us nowhere."

Zuko agreed. "Get out of the bison's mouth, Sokka. We have a real problem here. Aang is nowhere to be found and the comet is in two days."

Katara and Suki looked over at Zuko hoping he would be more rational than Sokka. Katara asked, "What should we do Zuko?"

Appa spat Sokka out, and my brother was covered in drool. I cringed and bent the gross liquid off of him into the grass just so I didn't have to see it.

Zuko spoke with uncertainty. "I don't know." Everyone was looking his way now. He became nervous. "Why are you all looking at me?"

Katara answered, "Well, you are kind of the expert on tracking Aang."

Toph added, "Yeah, if anyone's got experience hunting the Avatar, it's you."

Zuko thought over our options for a moment. Then an idea struck him. "June!"

We were puzzled by his statement. He looked at us with determination.

"I know where we need to go. The flight will take us all day, but this person may be able to help us find Aang before it's too late."

Sokka was horrified. "All day?! But that will only give us one more day to prepare to fight once we find Aang."

"Finding Aang is what's important right now," Katara spoke softly. "We'll worry about the battle once we find him."

We all loaded up on Appa then, and Zuko took the reins. "Alright, Appa... let's see how fast you can fly buddy. Yip, yip."

Appa groaned and took off into the sky. As we started to head away from Ember Island and towards the Earth Kingdom, I saw Katara staring at Aang's staff which she held in her lap. I could see she was greatly concerned for the teenager she had come to love.

"Aang will be okay," I spoke to her. "I have a feeling wherever he and Momo have gone, they are learning what they need to in order to defeat the Fire Lord."

She nodded. Her face did not show I had helped her mood though. "I just feel awful... the last conversation I had with him was last night... and we were both frustrated with one another."

I scoot beside her and let her lean against me as I kept an arm around her shoulders. "Aang loves you, Katara. He was just troubled last night. His anger was not towards you or any of us. He had a lot on his mind, and he just needed to vent... don't blame yourself..."

She nodded against me.

Toph spoke up, trying to lighten the mood a little. "I'm so glad we're going back to the Earth Kingdom... the Fire Nation is too hot on my feet."

Suki nodded. "It is nice to be going back after being imprisoned in the Fire Nation for so long."

Sokka sighed. "I have to say... I am a fan of the Earth Kingdom... one of the reasons I really hoped Aang stops the Fire Lord from destroying it."

We flew all day, only stopping on an island when we found one to let Appa rest for a little bit and have our human moments. After a whole day of flying across the ocean though, we finally saw the long stretch of land on the horizon.

Zuko sighed with relief, and pat Appa on the head. "Good flying, boy."

Appa groaned in response.

After another hour of flying, Zuko landed us half a mile outside of a familiar trading port. I realized after looking at the town that I had been to the area before. I had not walked in the town but I had seen it from afar on Zuko's ship. A lady and her Shirshu had come on board to find a stow away that day.

I finally understood Zuko's plan. My eyes glanced at Aang's staff again. It was worth a shot.

Zuko left us to go into town and question the whereabouts of the lady named June, wearing his black cloak as a disguise. He was back only ten minutes later, and we were flying again. This time we were only in the air for five minutes when Zuko landed us again outside of a three story building. A drunk man was laying outside, passed out from his evening.

The sun was gone and night had come. We only had tomorrow, and then the morning of the day after... I prayed we weren't running out of time.

And I really hoped Aang was okay...

I had a feeling wherever he was though, he was getting the answers he needed. I had faith he would return if we didn't find him. He had told me the other day that he would never let the Fire Lord hurt me again.

I believed he would keep his promise... I believed Aang would save us all...