You all sat on the steps as you watched Aang quickly go through his firebending moves.
"More ferocious!" Zuko demanded, standing next to Aang. His arms were crossed, and his face was contorted in a look of anger. "Imagine striking through your opponent's heart!"
Aang sent one last fire blast before groaning, turning to Zuko. "I'm trying."
"Now let me hear you roar like a tiger-dillo!"
Aang spun around, letting out a tiny roar and a small blast of fire from his hands and mouth. He looked back at Zuko sheepishly.
"That sounded pathetic. I said roar!"
Aang let out a louder roar, blasting more fire.
Momo chattered as he rushed behind Zuko, grabbing his leg for comfort.
The firebender nodded in approval.
"Who wants a nice cool glass of watermelon juice?" Katara offered, holding up two watermelons, each with a straw sticking out of the top.
"Ooh! Me! Me! Me!" Aang exclaimed, rushing over.
Zuko grabbed the back of Aang's shirt before he could get far. "Hey, you're lesson's not over yet. Get back here!" He lifted Aang's shirt, pulling the Avatar off the ground.
"Come on, Zuko. Just take a break!" Suki advised from her spot next to Sokka on the steps. "What's the big deal?"
"Fine." Zuko let go of Aang, the boy rushing to grab the beverage. "If you want to lounge around like a bunch of snail-sloths all day, then go ahead."
"Maybe Zuko's right." Sokka piped up.
"Ya think?" You questioned, raising an eyebrow and turning to him.
"Why would you say that?" Suki asked.
"Sitting around the house has made everyone lazy." You informed. "We're all laying around, drinking sweet beverages instead of working."
"Good thing I know just the thing to change that." Sokka said, standing up and placing his watermelon down.
"Oh no."
"Beach party!" He yelled, taking off his outer clothes and jumping in the water.
You pinched the bridge of your nose in irritation.
Katara rushed forward, stripping her outer clothes as well, and jumping on a surfboard made of ice.
Aang, Toph and Suki ran off as well.
"Guys." You complained, following them.
"Check out my Appa sand-sculpture." Aang interrupted.
Appa roared before walking away.
"Not bad, Baldy." Toph told him, stretching. "But I've been working on my sandbending. You're gonna love this." She did a few quick movements and a hole in the ground appeared.
It was Ba Sing Se.
"Whoa! You even made a little Earth King and Bosco!" Aang noted in wonder.
"Try to top that, Sokka." Toph challenged, approaching the teen.
Sokka stepped away from his sculpture. "Ta da!"
"Is that a… blubbering blob monster?" Aang asked.
"No! It's Suki!" Sokka stomped.
Aang and Toph cracked up.
"Suki, we'll all understand if you break up with everyone over this." Toph informed.
"I think it's sweet." Suki assured.
Sokka ran over, planting a big kiss on her cheek.
Aang gestured at it. "But, it doesn't even look like-"
A blast of fire landed on the sculpture, cutting Aang off.
You all looked up, seeing Zuko jump down from the top of the hill.
He fired at Aang more.
Aang rushed away, hiding behind his Appa sculpture. "What are you doing!?"
"Teaching you a lesson!" Zuko shot more at him, decapitating the Appa sculpture.
Aang rushed away, leaping onto the cliff that Zuko was just on to try to escape.
Zuko continued firing at him before climbing up the side after him.
"What happened?" Katara questioned, coming towards land.
"Zuko's gone crazy!" Sokka exclaimed, trying to salvage his Suki sculpture. "I made a sand sculpture of Suki and he destroyed it!" A beat of silence passed. "Oh, and he's attacking Aang."
You all rushed off, Suki dragging Sokka, trying to locate the two.
"Where are they!?" Katara shouted, looking around.
You heard a crash and looked up, seeing the side of the house get blown out.
"Over there." You muttered before rushing over.
Zuko was on the ground, holding his head in pain.
Aang stood in the second story of the house, looking down at him.
"What happened?" You asked, helping Zuko up.
"You could have hurt Aang! What's wrong with you!?" Katara demanded.
"What's wrong with me? What's wrong with all of you!?" Zuko shot back. "How can you sit around having a beach party when Sozin's comet is only three days away?"
He was met with silence.
"Why are you all looking at me like I'm crazy?"
"About Sozin's comet… I was actually going to wait to fight the Firelord until after it came." Aang spoke up, taking a step towards Zuko.
"After?"
"I'm not ready. I need more time to master firebending."
"And frankly, your earthbending could still use some work, too." Toph added.
"So… you all knew Aang was gonna wait?" Zuko asked.
You turned to face the rest of the group, eyebrows furrowed in confusion. "You didn't tell Zuko?"
"I guess it slipped my mind." Sokka said, shrugging. "But honestly, if Aang tries to fight the Firelord right now, he's going to lose." Sokka declared. "No offense." He added after a pause.
"The whole point of fighting the Firelord before the comet was to stop the Firenation from winning the war." Katara piped up. "But they pretty much won the war when they took Ba Sing Se." Her shoulders slumped. "Things can't get any worse."
"You're wrong. Things are about to get worse than you could ever imagine." Zuko informed. "The day before the eclipse, my father asked me to attend an important war meeting. It was what I dreamed about and wanted for so many years. My father had finally accepted me back. He said he was going to take their hope from them, and burn everything to the ground. I wanted to speak out against his horrifying plan. But I'm ashamed to say I didn't. My whole life I've struggled to gain my father's love and acceptance, but once I had it, I realized I had lost myself getting there. I had forgotten who I was."
Katara fell to her knees, holding her head. "I can't believe this." She muttered.
"I can." You said, an edge of sharpness to your tone. "It's Ozai. The man does what he pleases."
"I always knew the Firelord was a bad guy, but his plan is just pure evil." Sokka agreed.
"What am I gonna do?" Aang asked after a moment.
"I know you're scared. And I know you're not ready to save the world." Zuko told him, walking over. "But if you don't defeat the Firelord before the comet comes, there won't be a world to save, anymore."
Aang's eyes widened before narrowing. "Why didn't you tell me about your dad's crazy plan sooner?" He questioned, walking away.
"I didn't think I had to." Zuko defended. "I assumed you were still going to fight him before the comet. No one told me you decided to wait!"
"Why did no one tell Zuko?" You asked again.
"We didn't think we had to." Katara admitted from her spot on the ground.
"Why not!?"
"But you knew we were waiting, and yet you still seem anxious." Sokka remarked.
"Okay, but that doesn't mean you rest on your laurels until the comet comes!" You exclaimed, throwing your hands up in the air. "We still need to train until then!"
"This is bad. This is really…really bad." Aang mumbled, collapsing on his knees with his head in his hands. His eyes were squeezed shut.
"Aang. You don't have to do this alone." Katara reminded, standing and walking over.
Everyone followed.
"Yeah! If we all fight the Firelord together, we got a shot at taking him down." Toph declared.
"Alright! Team Avatar is back!" Sokka exclaimed. "Air! Water! Earth! Fire!" He bent down, picking up leaves and handing one to Suki while lifting one up, himself. "Fan and sword!"
You face-palmed.
"Fighting the Firelord is going to be the hardest thing we've ever done together." Aang reminded. "But I wouldn't want to do it any other way."
You all, except Zuko, walked forward, embracing in a group hug.
"Come here, Zuko." You requested.
"Being a part of team Avatar means being a part of group hugs." Katara agreed.
Zuko made a face, but joined anyway.
Appa made a soft groan, flying over and landing in front of everyone, placing his chin on them and knocking everyone over.
"There's one technique you need to know before facing my father: how to redirect lightning." Zuko told Aang as they stood out in the courtyard.
Aang grinned as Zuko began to run his hand down his arm, down to his stomach and then out the other arm.
"If you let the energy in your own body flow, the lightning will follow it." Zuko informed. "You turn your opponent's energy against them."
"That's like waterbending!" Aang noted, beginning to copy Zuko's movements.
"Exactly. My uncle invented this technique himself by studying waterbenders."
You smiled, thinking of Iroh.
"So… have you ever redirected lightning before?" Aang questioned.
"Once. Against my father."
"What did it feel like?" Aang asked, his tone showing excitement.
Zuko brought his hands above him before lowering them to waist height, signaling that he was done with his practice. "Exhilarating. But terrifying."
Aang's large smile fell.
"You feel so powerful holding that much energy in your body, but you know if you make the wrong move… it's over."
Aang laughed nervously. "Not, over over. I mean… there's always Katara and a little spirit-water action, am I right?" He asked, turning to you and Katara.
"Actually, I used it all up after Azula shot you."
You frowned, turning away.
"Oh."
"You'll have to take the Firelord's life, before he takes yours." Zuko advised seriously before walking towards you and Katara.
"Yeah. I'll just do that." Aang muttered.
"Gather around, team Avatar." Sokka instructed as he placed a carved watermelon on a steak. "In order to take out the Firelord, or in this case, the Melonlord, our timing has to be perfect." He crouched down on the ground, drawing in the dirt with a stick. "First, Suki and I will draw his fire, then, Katara, Y/n and Zuko charge in with some liquidy hot offense, and when the Melonlord is distracted, Aang swoops in and bam! He delivers the final blow!"
"Uhh. What about me?" Toph asked.
"For now, you're the Melonlord's forces."
"So I get to chuck flaming rocks at all of you?" She questioned, sounding a little too happy for comfort.
"Whatever makes the training feel more realistic."
"Sweetness."
"I'm starting to think this is a bad idea." You mumbled.
"Well, it's too bad." Sokka said with a grin. "Places, everyone!"
You all dove behind rocks as Toph stood on top of the cliff, several rocks hovering above fire, waiting to be lit.
"Mwah, ha ha ha ha!" Toph cackled.
Sokka gave the signal before rushing forward with Suki.
Three rock firenation guards emerged from the ground.
Sokka sliced at two with his space sword as Suki knocked the other over before moving on.
A flaming rock fell in front of Sokka's face.
"Watch it, Toph!"
"I am not Toph! I am Melonlord! Mwah ha ha ha ha!"
You, Katara and Zuko ran forward, dodging flaming boulders.
Toph created several stone guards around the three of you, which were quickly destroyed.
"Now, Aang!" Sokka yelled.
Aang jumped, bringing his staff inches from the melon. He stopped, hanging his head.
"What are you waiting for!?" Zuko shouted. "Take him out!"
"I can't."
Sokka marched up the hill, pointing at Aang's chest. "What's wrong with you? If this was the real deal, you'd be shot full of lightning right now."
"I'm sorry, but it just didn't feel right. I didn't feel like myself."
Sokka drew his sword, slicing the melon in half, much to Aang's horror. "There. That's how it's done."
You sighed.
"I have a surprise for everyone!" Katara shouted, approaching the courtyard where you were all eating.
"I knew it! You did have a secret thing with Haru!" Toph yelled.
You blanched, spitting out your food.
"Uh. No." Katara denied. "I was looking for cooking pots in the attic and I found this!" She unrolled a parchment, revealing a painting of a baby. "Look at baby Zuko! Isn't he cute?"
Sokka and Suki chuckled.
"Oh, lighten up. I'm just teasing." Katara said.
You turned to Zuko, seeing his eyes closed, a serious expression on his face.
"That's not me." He informed. "That's my father."
"But he looks so sweet and innocent." Suki noted as Katara rolled the parchment back up.
"Well, that sweet little kid grew up to be a monster. And the worst father in the history of fathers."
"But he's still a human being." Aang spoke from several feet away.
"You're going to defend him?" Zuko asked.
"No. I agree with you." Aang declared, standing and turning to face the group. "Firelord Ozai is a horrible person, and the world would probably be better off without him. But there's got to be another way."
"Like what?"
"I don't know." Aang admitted weakly. His face lit up suddenly. "Maybe we can make big pots of glue, and I can use gluebending to stick his arms and legs together so that he can't bend anymore!"
"Yeah!" Zuko exclaimed with a fake joyous tone. "Then you can show him all his baby pictures and all those happy memories will make him good again!"
You swatted Zuko's arm lightly.
"Do you really think that would work!?" Aang asked excitedly.
"No!" He snapped, eyebrow bowing dangerously low.
Aang sighed before beginning to pace in front of everyone. "This goes against everything I've learned from the monks. I can't just go around wiping out people I don't like."
"It's not like that, Aang." You insisted softly. "It's for peace. For balance. To end his cruelty on the world. Not because you just don't like him."
Aang glanced to the side in thought.
"Besides, you're the Avatar. Like Y/n said, if it's in the name of keeping balance, I'm pretty sure the universe will forgive you." Sokka added.
Aang clenched his fists, spinning around to face the watertribe warrior. "This isn't a joke, Sokka! None of you understand the position I'm in!"
"Aang, we do understand." Katara reminded. "It's just-"
"Just what, Katara?! What!?"
"We're trying to help!"
"Then when you figure out a way for me to beat the Firelord without taking his life, I'd love to hear it!" He yelled before marching off.
"Aang! Don't walk away from this!" Katara shouted, beginning to go after him.
Zuko placed a hand on her shoulder, halting her. "Let him go. He needs time to sort it out by himself."
"Okay; that's everything!" Sokka announced from on top of Appa, looking around the saddle while the bison ate some hay.
"No it's not." Toph said from a rock.
Everyone turned to look at her.
"Where's Aang?" She asked with a raised eyebrow.
You all looked at each other in panic before rushing towards the house.
"Aang?" Zuko called as you all reached the top floor. "Aang!?"
"Come on, lazy bones! Let's go!" Toph yelled.
"Split up." You instructed.
You, Zuko and Toph went left, while Sokka, Katara and Suki went right.
You all searched through the rooms.
"Nothing." You informed, meeting up with Zuko and Toph in the hall.
"Let's go find the others. Maybe they discovered something." Zuko advised, walking away.
You and Toph followed.
Sokka was holding Aang's staff.
"Did you guys find anything?" You asked.
They shook their heads.
"Then Aang's not in the house." Zuko noted. "Let's check the beach."
"Look! There's his footprints!" Sokka noticed, pointing at the sand. "The trail ends here."
"So… he went for a midnight swim and never came back?" Suki offered.
"Maybe he was captured." Katara guessed.
"I don't think so. There's no sign of a struggle."
Toph crouched down next to Sokka. "I bet he ran away again."
Sokka made a noise of disapproval. "He left his glider and Appa."
"Then what do you think happened to him, oh sleuthy one?"
"It's pretty obvious." Sokka insisted, standing and crossing his arms confidently. "Aang disappears before an important battle? He's definitely on a spirit-world journey."
"But if he was, wouldn't his body still be here?" Zuko asked.
Sokka's shoulders slumped. "Oh yeah. I forgot about that."
"Then he's got to be somewhere on Ember Island." Katara reasoned. "Let's split up and look for him."
Toph latched herself onto Zuko's arm. "I'm going with Zuko!"
Everyone stared at her.
"What? Everyone else went on a life-changing field trip with Zuko. Now it's my turn."
"Actually, Toph, I didn't either." You reminded, tone dry.
"You can get him next time."
Sokka placed a hand on his hip while lifting his other to shoulder height in a half-shrug. "Besides, I think you've gone on several, what would be considered, life-changing field trips with Zuko."
You waved your hand dismissively. "I don't care either way, I was just correcting her." You insisted, walking away to go find Appa.
Sokka followed you.
You both climbed on Appa and searched the water in silence before returning to the house.
Everyone else was sitting on the steps.
Appa landed with a thud.
"Judging by the looks on your faces, I'm guessing you guys didn't find Aang either." Sokka guessed, hopping off.
You climbed off as well, landing next to him.
"No." Zuko confirmed. "It's like he just… disappeared."
Toph sat up suddenly. "Hey, wait a minute. Has anyone noticed that Momo's missing, too?"
Sokka spun around. "Oh, no. I knew it was only a matter of time! Appa ate Momo!" He opened Appa's mouth and began climbing in. "Momo! I'm comin for ya, buddy!"
"Sokka. Appa didn't eat Momo. He's probably with Aang." Katara muttered.
"That's just what Appa wants you to think."
You rolled your eyes.
"Get out of the bison's mouth, Sokka." Zuko scolded. "We have a real problem, here. Aang is nowhere to be found, and the comet is only two days away."
"What should we do, Zuko?" Katara asked as Appa spat Sokka out.
Zuko stood. "I don't know." He paused. "Why are you all looking at me?"
"You're kind of an expert on tracking Aang." You reminded softly.
"Yeah." Toph agreed. "If anyone's got experience hunting the Avatar, it's you."
Zuko hung his head. "Follow me." He walked forward, getting on Appa.
The rest of you climbed in the saddle.
Sokka leaned forward as you flew over the ocean. "Zuko, I don't want to tell you how to do your job, but… why are we heading towards the Earth Kingdom? There's no way Aang's there."
"Just trust me."
"We do." You assured.
"What is this place?" You murmured, looking at a small building in the middle of what seemed to be a swamp.
Zuko didn't respond, and instead opened the door, walking in.
You all followed.
"And the reason you brought us to this Earth Kingdom tavern is what, now?" Katara questioned, looking around.
"June." Zuko answered, pointing.
Everyone turned.
You groaned when your eyes landed on her.
"Oh, yeah. That weird bounty hunter with the giant mole." Sokka recalled.
"Mole?" Suki asked. "Her skin is flawless."
"No, she has a giant pet mole that she rides around on."
"A shirshu." Zuko corrected. "It's the only animal that can track Aang from anywhere in the world. It's the one shot we have at finding him."
"I don't know who this lady is… but I like her!" Toph declared, smiling broadly as June kicked someone into a table.
You sighed. "What have we sunk to?"
