"HAHAHAHA! YAAAAAY!" Aangs familiar laughter run across the open sky and the ocean as he was flying circles around his own flying bison flying across the oceans towards a specific island in the fire nation.
In the saddle was just one person. A young fire lord. Though right now Zuko just looked like a pretty normal kid in pretty normal fire nation clothes as he amused looked at the young Avatar who was cheerfully zooming around.
"WOOOOH! It feels like we've been stuck in that palace in forever!" Aang shouted. "I don't think I ever spend that much time at one place before."
Zuko shook his head. He supposed that was the entire idea behind being a nomad. Constantly traveling, constantly being on the move. Then sometimes return to the temple for a short respite, but basically an air nomad was someone without earthly possession or roots tying him down. That was the entire idea.
Then Zuko closed his eyes and felt the fresh air on his face. It did feel like a long time since he had last been outside and on his own.
A small presence landed in front of Zuko and he opened his eyes to see Aang standing in front of him.
"Let's see what Iroh packed for us!" Aang grinned as he grabbed a bag and opened it up. "Awesome! Tea cakes." he pulled out the cakes. "Taffy. Wild berries. Ash bananas. Fire flakes." he kept pulling item after item out of the bag.
Zuko blinked honestly stunned as Aang just continued and he didn't seem to be stopping.
"Sweet! There are some samkim nuts! Oh and some Lychees! Fire nation has awesome fruits and nuts!" Aang grinned.
"How… How did uncle manage to put all of that into one bag?" Zuko asked a little wide-eyed.
"YES! Zuko! There are moon peaches!" Aang triumphantly held up the pink fruit.
"How are we even supposed to eat all of that?" Zuko asked flabbergasted.
"Maybe Iroh wanted to make sure we had enough to share." Aang grinned. "I mean who knows. Maybe Ren and Shaw would like some."
That made Zuko look at the pile again… It looked massive for two humans. But for two dragons it would barely even make a snack.
"Wow I don't think there's a single meat item in here." Aang blinked. "I hope that's not just because of me. I mean if you would want some meat."
"I'm not Sokka Aang. I can survive a couple of days without meat." Zuko smirked. Then reached out to pick up a lychee and slowly started to peel it to get to the white meat of the fruit inside as he smiled. Happily Zuko took a bite only for the juices to spill all over his face and Aang laughed loudly.
Zuko lifted an eyebrow. "Oh what's that on your face?" he asked.
"Huh where?" Aang asked.
"Right there." Zuko stated putting a flat hand on Aangs face so now the sticky juice from the fruit was also on his face.
"Hey that's cheating!" Aang shouted as he jumped forward and tackled Zuko who fell down in the saddle with one thirteen year old on top of him.
"No that's not cheating. This is." Zuko said as suddenly he twisted around and they both rolled around so suddenly Aang was the one pinned down and Zuko was holding him down. "Oh look. I caught the Avatar! Wow that was easy. I should just have done that ages ago!"
And Aang laughed loudly as Zuko smirked and finally removed himself to find a handkerchief and clean himself up.
"Maybe we should try to do that." Aang smiled innocently. "Make it a game. I go pick up Katara and Sokka. We fly away on Appa and you try to capture us. It'll be like old times."
Zuko snorted. "Yeah no. I think I had plenty of chasing you literately across the world." he stated. "It wasn't entirely painless either you know. For some reason people kept throwing me into walls." he stated as he wiped his face.
"Maybe we can swap roles then. You run and I chase you." Aang smirked.
"Well. Only if I get to use Appa and you are not allowed to fly with your glider. Also we need a Zhao stand in to always be on your case and be in the way." Zuko stated.
"That doesn't sound like fun at all." Aang pouted. "All though…. If I get to have your uncle. Then it might be fun!"
"You can have him. But be warned. He comes with a lot of tea. A lot of proverbs. And a constant need to stop to look at flowers or play pai-sho with weird strangers." Zuko informed. "Also I need you to promise me that I'll get him back and the same condition that you got him."
Aang chuckled. "Maybe we just shouldn't."
"Probably for the best." Zuko agreed.
"Being on a field trip with Iroh sounds kind of fun though." Aang said. "You two must have so much fun in those three years."
"Errrhhh." Zuko halted. "That erhm. Well that was my fault not his. He wanted us to have fun. I was the one ruining it."
"Oh." Aang realized.
"But I'm sure Iroh would love to have company when he's going to his next Pai Sho tournament." Zuko smirked. "You play too right?"
"I sure do! I'll make sure to ask him when we get back to the city!" Aang grinned. "Do you play Zuko?"
Zuko grimaced. "Uncle tried to teach me. But I really didn't want to at the time."
"That's okay. I can teach you. We can play later." Aang beamed and Zuko smiled amused.
"Sure. When we get back." he stretched his arms as he yawned deeply and then leaned back in the saddle. "Right now it's just so nice being away from the damn palace. Man it's so nice up here." he yawned. "Peaceful. And no advisors who can suddenly come knocking at the door."
"Also no assasins who jumps out from out of nowhere." Aang blinked. "I mean… If one somehow manages to jump you up here. I will have to give them credit."
Zuko smirked as he laid back with closed eyes. "I'll might allow them a scratch on me just for the afford." he stated then yawned. "You're right. That would be too impressive."
Aang grinned then he laid down to on his stomach and just allowed the sun to shine upon him and the wind blowing above them while both he and Zuko took a little afternoon nap.
Zuko already knew he had drifted off to sleep. It had just been so darn peaceful and comfortable up here in the sky. But then Aang was shaking him awake and Zuko groaned as he opened his eyes.
It had been a while since he had been allowed to just keep on sleeping undisturbed. "What?" he muttered in a tired voice and Aang grinned as he pointed over the saddle.
At ones Zuko was awake and he scrambled to the edge of the saddle to look down and then they both grinned as they saw the island approaching towards them, all of the old ruins, the mountains and long steps.
"SUN WARRIOR ISLAND! WOHOOOO!" Aang held up his arms and Zuko grinned as well as he stood up while Appa swept across the old city now painted in deep warm colors from the setting sun.
They headed towards the centrer where a roaring fire was burning and several people looked up to wave at the bison that circled around them before finally landing knocking a few sun warriors over with the wind making Aang call.
"SORRY!"
Only for Zuko to jump down and meet them all with a big grin on his face. "Hello. Zuko here!" he greeted as Aang jumped down beside him.
It took a bit for the sun warriors to recover. But finally Chief Lau managed to approach them while fixing his head dress.
"Well I figured you would soon come back here." Lau commented.
"Oh. Really?" Zuko asked in a surprised blink.
Lau looked at Zuko. "We do have an outside source sending us weekly newspapers. We did figure not being totally isolated would probably be a good thing."
"Oooooh. Yeah that makes sense." Aang nodded.
"Heh. Yeah… So erhm." Zuko blushed deeply.
"You're Fire Lord now." Lau stated. "And…." he let it linger. Then he softened in a smile. "You kept your promise. Banning any and all hunting of dragons. Ren And Shaw will be pleased. My lord." he bowed for Zuko and Zukos eyes widened as the rest bowed as well.
"My Lord."
"Oh erhm. Well I did promise right?" Zuko asked then he swallowed and he bowed back respectfully. "Thank you. You honor me."
Aang grinned. "Can we go up and meet with Ren and Shaw now?" he asked.
"You don't want to rest?" Lau asked.
"We rested for the entire trip over here." Aang exclaimed. "Zuko come on!" he grabbed Zukos sleeve. "Baby dragons! We might get to see actual baby dragons!"
And Zuko beamed all over his face as well. "Yeah." he gasped as Aang let go and screamed.
"RACE YOU TO THE TOP!" Aang shouted as he zoomed towards the long stairs going up.
"Hey! Wait! That's not fair I am not an air bender!" Zuko exclaimed but Aang was already long gone. Then Zuko sighed. "Well that is going to bite him. He'll have to wait ones he's up there." he commented.
Chief Lau smirked amused.
"I should get up there too." Zuko then said in a wide smile. "Ren and Shaw has been waiting for a really long time to hatch their babies right. Would be a shame to make them wait any longer."