This night, the core team avatar had decided to eat dinner together. Just the five of them.
Seemed appropriate as tomorrow. Ones again they would split up and go each their direction. That hadn't happened since Ba Sing Se. And they all remembered the disaster that had been, which didn't do much for their nerves.
This was different though! As Aang continued to point out. This time each and every one of them would be with a group of their own friends who had their back!
Aang, Sokka and Mai would head to the boiling rock together with Hakoda, two swamp benders and a selected few southern water tribes men.
Katara would go to the second largest prison ridge holding earth benders leading a group of water benders from the north pole. Pakku would take the biggest prison ridge for himself, he had insisted.
Toph would go to the greatest mining camp inside of the earth kingdom, bringing Jet, Sneers and pipsqueak from the freedom fighters. Not that she needed any help! As she had loudly proclaimed, she could take that entire thing by herself! …. And she was probably right about that.
And Zuko… Zuko had picked out his target carefully. A great prison camp inside of the fire nation, a work camp where fire nation citizens were send to work for the rest of their life.
Citizens whom had just been regular farmers, fishers and brick layers. Who were accused of spreading propaganda or merely question the fire lords authority.
Perhaps they had been worshipping a spirit when they weren't supposed to or they had thrown a dance party of some kind.
Thing is… These were regular people forced to work in the mines.
This was not to add to their army, this was to make a statement.
These were the people that Zuko fought thought for! Not the fire lord, not the military. Those.
Piandao had agreed to follow Zuko, and so had Ty Lee.
As for benders. Zuko had asked for one swamp bender and one northern water bender. Then he had asked Haru to join him, whom had been eagerly agreed and so had a Kyoshi warrior called Jua who Ty Lee had become really good friends with.
And of course… Zhau-Li was going with Zuko because honestly. It would be outright heartless to tell the young man to go somewhere else. Also Zuko found himself not minding at all, having Zhau-Li with him to support him sounded really good in his ears.
It was the message, people from all across the world working together. And yes Aang was right. Zuko would indeed be with friends.
Still… this would always be risky.
"Don't worry Zuko." Sokka smiled before sticking a spoon of broth into his mouth. "I'll make sure nothing happens to Mai!"
"Yeah… I don't actually think she needs your protection." Zuko admitted. "She might be protecting you you know."
"We protect each other. That's how it works." Aang smiled.
Katara smiled. "Yes indeed… So erhm Zuko. You wont have any bending. Are you going to be okay with that?"
"You know. I'm not at all worried about that." Zuko admitted. "Uncle always told me to never rely on my bending for anything. So I don't. Heh it's funny, I thought about it and even if I lost my bending forever it wouldn't be that big of a deal."
"Wow." Katara's eyes widened. "I'm sorry. If I lost my bending that would be unbearable."
"I don't even want to think about it." Toph shivered looking genuinely disturbed by the thought.
"Oh…" Zuko realized. "Yeah… Erhm. I guess I'm pretty lucky. Uncle having taught me the way he did… The fire nation has put a huge empathize of benders. Benders are special and blessed by Agni and stuff." he said. "For some their bending is everything. It sure is for Ozai… And according to ancient law only Agnis blessed can sit on the dragon throne. So that mean yeah… Benders."
"Then what would happen if the fire lord and Fire lady got a kid who wasn't a bender?!" Sokka asked.
Zuko shrugged. "That kid would be removed from the line of succession I think."
"That's messed up." Sokka said. "It's not like anyone of us can help how we were born."
"Piandaos parents are both fire benders." Zuko revealed. "Apparently they were super disappointed that their only son didn't have any bending at all. Piandao though, took matters into his own hands. And now he can easily beat ten regular fire benders without dropping a sweat. So yeah… Bending clearly isn't everything."
"Oh wow really?" Sokka asked. "How do you know?"
"He told me." Zuko said. "When I was a kid training with him, I got super upset because my fire bending sucked. I nearly threw a temper tantrum and he sat me in my place." he smirked. "Piandao doesn't need bending to show those soldiers who's boss. And neither does my uncle. And you know, even though fire bending is really cool. It's nice not having to rely on it." he closed his eyes. "It's easy to just rely on fire bending. But honestly… I think being a true fire bending master is all about knowing when you don't actually need to use it."
"Well, you are the master." Sokka grinned.
"The best master!" Aang held up his arms into the air.
"Only best fire bending master! I am the best earth bender in the world and don't you forget it!" Toph snorted.
"We just established bending isn't everything." Sokka rolled his eyes.
Katara giggled into her hands just as Lin-Lin jumped up into Zukos lap demanding pets.
Katara smirked. "I think he missed you." she commented.
Zuko sighed. "Well Lin-Lin, this time you really have to stay behind." he muttered. "Don't worry! We'll be back." he said as he lit his hand slide over the turtleducks head.
"He'll stay with Appa. I'll make sure of it." Aang assured.
Zuko smirked slightly. "Thanks." he said as he put his new empty bowl aside and crawled over to the fire place to put up his kettle to warm the water.
"Man I haven't had your teas for days!" Sokka sighed. "Everyone has been so busy! I missed your tea dude!"
Zuko smirked. "You could just have asked." he said.
"But then you were hanging out with your girlfriend! Or training with Zhau-Li or Aang! Or had meetings with my dad or Jeong Jeong or Pakku." Sokka complained.
"It's going to be so much worse when I am fire lord." Zuko groaned then halted. "You erhm… You'll be welcome to visit… Anytime." he swallowed. "In fact… erh. It would be great if."
"What you don't have extra rooms in that palace of yours?" Toph asked. "Here I thought we were going to move in with you?"
"What?" Zuko asked.
Katara chuckled. "You really think we'll just leave you to handle everything alone when the war is over?"
"NO WAY!" Aang shouted. "You're going to need our help! So we'll help you!"
"Oh." Zuko looked up.
"Yeah. You aren't getting rid of us that easy buddy." Sokka chuckled. "May as well install a team avatar suite in that palace of yours."
"Well… That… That can be arranged." Zuko finally said in a shy smile. "I would like that. For rooms in the palace to be yours you can use at any time. It would be nice."
"Deal!" Sokka exclaimed. "No take backs! Team avatar suite in the fire nation palace free for us to use when-ever we want!"
Zuko smirked then shook his head. "Then make sure to actually use them and come by all right."
"Dude! You are going to beg us to leave." Sokka smirked.
"I'm going to be there for every festival you're going to have!" Aang exclaimed holding his arms up into the air. "Lantern festival, fire festival, dance festival! I'm there!"
"I am counting on your to be arranging the very first dance festival. I don't think we had any such thing for a hundred years." Zuko smirked.
Aang gasped. "Yes…" he said. "YES I'LL DO THAT! Katara you gotta come to! We'll dance!"
Katara giggled. "I'll love to Aang."
"AWESOME!" Aang jumped up into the air, his usually thirty meters before finally down again.
"Well. As long as there is good food." Toph smirked. "I'm warming up to those fire flakes."
Zuko smiled and as he poured tea he did start to feel pretty good. Maybe this group was saying goodbye to each other tomorrow, but only for a little while.
Like Sokka said. It would be hard to get rid of these people, even if he tried.