Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar: The Last Airbender in any shape or form.
Ameya loved watching the moon.
She found herself more drawn to it lately, admiring the bright orb hanging amongst the darken night. It reminded her of Yue, maybe that was why she loved it. It made her bending stronger; maybe that was why she admired it.
But a small part of her also hated it.
For everything beautiful the moon represented, it also embodied all the nights she spent with the prince. It was a double edge sword; good and bad, yin and yang.
The moon made her feel wistful and spiteful, bringing up memories she longs to forget.
Ameya turned away.
There was the sound of footsteps behind her and Ameya glanced over to see Katara approaching.
"Mind if I join you?" Katara asked with a smile on her lips.
"Go for it," Ameya accepted lightly.
She knew the younger girl was worried about her. Ameya did catch the three of them talking about her; discretion was not part of their forte. Katara was still sending concerning glances her way once in a while but had not brought the topic up again.
She wondered briefly if she really was as unstable as she appears to initiate such worry. But since then, Ameya alleviated on her rigorous training, if only to ease their trouble, and attempted to smile more. The quirk of her lips were easy to mimic, she had done it plenty of times before and hoped it was suitable enough to appear genuine.
"You know…back at the Northern Water Tribe…when the Moon Spirit…passed," Katara began quietly and Ameya tensed.
"I know."
The young waterbender startled. Katara didn't even finish her sentence and Ameya had already guessed what she wanted to say.
"About Yue…if that's what you want to talk about. I'm okay." She sent a smile her way, if it could even be considered a smile with just a slight upturn of her lips.
Katara blinked, unsure of what to say next. How did she even know about that? Ameya had disappeared before the princess's sacrifice was announced to the tribe. She was still full of mysteries, Katara thought, she knew nothing about Ameya.
"Well…I'm here…if you ever want to talk." Katara offered quietly; it was her plan from the beginning. They were friends, she reasoned, it would be nice if Ameya thought the same too.
"Thank you," the smile she gave was bigger this time and Katara returned it sheepishly.
"Wow I'm surprised you're not beating the tribe senseless tonight." They both turned to see Toph approaching, whistling playfully at her own comment. "Am I missing out on some girly talk here?"
Ameya laughed quietly. "No, not at all. And I don't do that often."
"Coulda fooled me, you don't notice how scared you make some of them be when you train. And good, I was about to leave if you girls were talking about boys or something." The young earthbender made a face and Katara rolled her eyes but the smile was evident on her face.
"Oh c'mon Toph, I think we had a great time on our girl's day out!" She turned to Ameya excitedly, "We should have one again—the three of us next time!"
"Sounds like fun," Ameya agreed and Katara beamed in happiness.
"Only if I get to decide on the place!" Toph bartered and began to reason with Katara about other ways they can relax without going to a spa.
Ameya watched with a small smile on her lips. It was times like these where she did not feel trapped in her own memories or focused on the impending war looming over their head. In this moment, they were just young girls planning a day out—not soldiers preparing for a war.
There was some type of commotion behind them and the girls turned around at the sight of a body sprawled out on the deck. Recognition flashed before their eyes at the blue arrows and rushed towards the body in front of Hakoda and Bato.
"Twinkle Toes! That's got to be you!" Toph exclaimed, happy to feel the lightless weight of his steps once more.
"Aang, you're awake!" Katara resisted the urge to hug him then.
"Welcome back to the living," Ameya greeted, relieved that the Avatar had finally awoken. It's been a little over three weeks since his collapse and she had not visited him since her return. Since when did he grow hair?
"Are you sure? Is that Ameya?" He rubbed his eyes curiously and Pipsqueak and The Duke joined them then with Sokka in tow, "I feel like I'm dreaming."
"You're not dreaming. You're finally awake."
The young waterbender enveloped the boy in a hug, happy tears beginning to form in her eyes but she held back. It had been such a long time since she heard his voice. They were all worried when the Avatar would awake again; the whole world believed him to be dead already and sometimes, when Katara visits his chambers, she almost believed it too.
Sokka hugged Aang next; his Fire Nation soldier uniform was enough to startle the young airbender. "Aang, good to see you back with the living, buddy!"
"Sokka?" Aang barely managed to breathe out. His head spun with overload of information; waking up in a Fire Navy ship was not exactly a pleasant awakening—especially since the nation wanted him dead. His eyes began to roll up at that thought, his body still aching for rest and the sea wind was harsh against his bare skin.
"Uh-oh, somebody catch him, he's going to—"
Katara rushed to catch Aang as he fell backwards before Toph could even finish her sentence. She held him in her arms carefully, worry filling her blue eyes. There was definitely something there beyond friendship but Ameya did not bother to ponder too long on it, it was not her place to. Ameya left to retrieve a robe for the young boy and by the time she returned, Aang was already waking up again.
"Why are we on a Fire Nation ship? Why is everyone dressed this way? And why am I the only one who's completely out of it?" He questioned as soon as he was lucid again.
Ameya draped the robe over his shoulders and he spared her a glance, lingering on her short locks before turning to Katara.
"You need to take it easy, okay? You got hurt pretty bad." Katara smiled and the older girl took that as a queue for her to leave. It seems like they would need some alone time together and Sokka and Toph had left just moments ago.
She turned to walk away but not before hearing the younger girl saying 'I like your hair' to Aang and Ameya resisted the urge to run. She did not follow where Sokka and Toph went, settling back in her own cabin and ignored the memories from surfacing.
Enough is enough; she unhooked the robe from her neck and lies down on the soft bed, move on, he already did. Aang is awake now—that's all that matters.
She fell into a dreamless slumber that night.
On the first night of his return, Zuko dreamt of his mother.
He laid on her lap peacefully, admiring how Ursa's long hair was gently blowing in the wind and her delicate fingers were gently brushing his own. He feels like he's ten again, young and naïve and free from his scar.
It had been so simple then. Life was so simple then.
"What's wrong, Zuko?"
He turned towards her gentle voice and felt her fingers wipe something from his eyes. Zuko blinked, not realizing tears had formed.
"I don't know."
He should be happy. Ursa was here with him. His firebending was improving. His uncle was planning a siege to penetrate Ba Sing Se and the Fire Nation was to win this war. In this moment, he was just a simple young boy relaxing under the shade of the protective tree with his loving mother by his side.
But it was a scene that was long gone. It was a scene he had cherished and yet cannot bring back.
Ursa was just as beautiful as he remembered but faintly in Zuko's mind, he knew she was not supposed to be here. Everything felt too peaceful to be real and there was this gaping hole in his heart that shouldn't be there but is because this is currently too good to be true.
And so he cries.
He's not sure if it was the ten year old him that was crying or the current sixteen year old but he covers his face to hide the blue of the sky peeking beyond the tree and bawls. Ursa was gently shushing him, comforting him in her maternal way but Zuko could not feel his mother's warmth anymore nor can he remember her voice.
He could only hear his cries echoing in his mind and feel the ache in his chest, longing for something he cannot bring back.
"What's wrong, Zuko?"
There was a different voice this time, younger than his mother but just as gentle. It was a sound he had not heard in weeks and he should be angry for it to invade his mind but Zuko feels himself unravel because he misses her voice and the comfort she provided.
"I lost someone important to me," he finally admits because he knew he's dreaming now and in his dream no one can chastise his weakness. But he's scared to open his eyes, scared to see the bright blue sky and the yearning it brings. "I lost so much already and I'm finally back but Mom is not here and Uncle hates me. What do I even do?"
No one replied to his question and he realized he was not lying on Ursa's lap anymore. Panic spread through him and he hastily sat up, trying to hold onto his mother but she was already gone. He looked around rapidly but there was no one else besides him. The tree disappeared, leaving him on an empty plane and the blue sky and he wonders if she was going to appear again.
But Ameya didn't and he felt the stab in his gut at the vivid color and when Zuko woke up, only darkness welcomed him.
Ameya slept until late morning. It was a surprise no one had waken her up and she was shocked herself she did not wake up sooner. But it had been a peaceful rest, one she had not had in weeks and she wondered if it was because the Avatar was awake now too and her mind was relieved of tension.
She stretched, feeling her muscles loosen and got up from bed. The red cloak was clipped around her neck again, over the old Earth Kingdom uniform she still wore since her escape from Ba Sing Se. Everyone had taken the Fire Nation soldier's gear, leaving little for her and Katara but Ameya did not care. She'd prefer not to wear the uniform.
By the time Ameya reached the ship's deck, Sokka was explaining excitedly to Aang about the past few weeks he had been asleep. It was a strangely comforting sight to behold and she barely believes the Avatar is still alive—although it looks like he had seen better days.
She thanked Hakoda quietly when he handed her a bowl of noodles for breakfast, settling besides Toph to eat. They nodded to her in greeting but she noticed the way Aang's gaze lingered on her again, probably on her change in appearance. The others had similar reaction when they saw her with the new hairstyle but she paid no mind to it, providing only a simple explanation of needing a change.
"And the best part is, the eclipse isn't even our biggest advantage!" Ameya turned towards Sokka's excitement as he leaned in closer to Aang, whispering, "We have a secret...you!"
"Me?" The young boy furrowed his brows in confusion.
"Yep, the whole world thinks you're dead! Isn't that great?" They blinked, looking between Sokka and Aang's variation of reaction. The boy looked horrified at the sudden discovery and stood up, taking a step back from all of them and Aang wondered if he was still dreaming.
"The world thinks I'm dead? How is that good news? That's terrible!"
Sokka attempted to reason to the frantic boy again. "No, it's great! It means the Fire Nation won't be hunting us anymore! And even better, they won't be expecting you on the Day of Black Sun!"
"No, no, no, no, no. You have no idea. This is so messed up!" Before anyone could respond, another Fire Navy cruiser was sailing along their way. "I'll handle this. The Avatar is back."
"Aang, wait! They don't know we're not Fire Nation!" Katara approached him once he winced in pain.
"Everyone just stay calm. Bato and I will take care of this." Hakoda instructed and they moved to hide.
"I hate not being able to do anything," Aang muttered.
"Hopefully, you won't need to," Toph replied.
Ameya understood Aang was frustrated but there was nothing they can do now. It was best to stay hidden, he was their secret weapon. It would catch the Fire Nation off guard; Aang must endure until then.
They hid in the open bunker while Hakoda and Bato dealt with the other ship's captain. The other cruisers before had left them alone after passing greetings; hopefully this will be the same.
Their voices barely reached where they were hiding, Ameya only catching fleeting words from the soldiers. It almost seemed like it was going to be alright when the captain and his two guards turned around to leave. Until Toph suddenly stepped up, pointing to the metal bridge accusingly.
"They know!"
She slammed her hand to the ground, bending the metal all the way to the bridge and causing it to fall.
"Katara!"
Ameya stood up and the other girl followed, reacting to her name and both waterbenders reached the side of the ship. They moved in synchronization like they've practiced, creating a giant wave between the two ships and sending the other one ship away from their own.
Their own ship set sailed, running away from the pursuing cruiser. The other ship had set up catapults against them, sending fireballs their way and some had brushed past the side of the ship.
"Load the Toph!" Toph worked together with The Duke and Pipsqueak to intercept the fireballs, aiming for the enemy catapult flawlessly.
A harpoon pierced on the side of the ship and Ameya worked on it immediately, breathing in heavily and exhaling the breath of ice down below. She had gotten better with that, ice was her better affinity.
"I'm gonna give us some cover!" Katara said from besides her, bending a small whirlpool and lifting up a fog screen to cover the ship.
I have got to learn that next, Ameya made a mental note to ask Katara later then held onto the railing as a fireball destroyed the pile of rocks Toph were using. A small fire began to spread on the deck and without another word; both waterbenders willed the water from the ocean to extinguish it.
"How are we doing?" Toph shouted among the chaos.
"Things couldn't get much worse," Sokka replied and suddenly behind him, a giant serpent emerges from the water. Her eyes widen at the green scaled reptilian and Sokka groaned in frustration. "The universe just loves proving me wrong, doesn't it?"
"You make it too easy!" Toph countered and Ameya silently agreed.
But luck was on their side as the enemy ship hit the serpent with the fireball. The reptilian ignored their ship, heading to the other one and wrapped its long body around the cruiser. They let out a sigh of relief, thankful that its rage was not directed on them anymore.
"Thank you, the universe!" Sokka grinned at the sky.
"Please don't challenge the universe next time," Ameya teased lightly.
Sokka gaped at her, "I don't do it intentionally!"
"You're just an easy target," Katara piped up and a small laugh was shared between them as Sokka fumed and groaned.
They began to clean the damage done by the catapults. It was not as bad as it appeared besides the harpoon piercing the lower deck but as long as they keep the water frozen, it would not sink the ship. Aang retired back to his cabin, frustrated he had not been able to help and Ameya could not help but pity the younger boy.
"I think we should take the young Avatar out on a stroll," she commented, adjusting the robe around her neck against the sea wind.
"That's a great idea!" Katara nodded happily.
"We will stop by a port soon. That would be a good change from the sea," Hakoda spoke from besides them, a friendly smile on his olden face.
Katara tensed immediately, looking away from her father. "I think Aang wants to be around friends his age, Dad. We'll be fine on our own."
Ameya arched a brow while Hakoda faltered. "I—right."
The older man walked away almost sullenly and Ameya stared at Katara with curious icy eyes. She caught onto the stare and tilted her head, confusion in appearance.
"What?"
Ameya shrugged. "Nothing."
It was not her business in the first place to judge their father-daughter relationship. She did like Hakoda though; he was understanding of her situation and did not question her disappearance when she returned. He seemed like a capable leader, Ameya could see where Sokka had got his attributes from, and he cared for the tribe greatly.
And yet, Ameya could not help but wonder why Katara was so cold to her father when she had grown up not knowing who hers was.
They arrived on the harbor along with the setting sun; the soft orange glow surrounded the ocean and the small village they stopped at. The four of them made their way below, arriving at Aang's cabin that had his door open.
"Hey, Aang! We're going into town to find some dinner." Toph greeted the moment they stepped in to his chambers, noticing the depressive state he was in.
Aang sat up, a small smile gracing his lips at that prospect. "Well, I am pretty hungry. Maybe dinner's a good idea."
"Here," Sokka offered a red bandana to Aang and Ameya watched with careful eyes at how the younger boy froze. "Tie this around your head. It will cover your arrow."
The Avatar rejected it heatedly. "I'm not going out if I can't wear my arrow proudly!"
"Aang, come on. Be practical." Sokka reasoned again but Aang did not relent, turning away from them to lie on the bed.
"You guys go ahead without us. We'll catch up to you." Katara spoke up finally and sent a smile their way.
The three left them privately, walking back above the deck. Ameya hoped Katara may quell his anger; it seems there were a lot of things Aang was suffering from as well. She ran a hand through her short hair, absentmindedly following Sokka and Toph behind but did not join in their conversation.
"Ah," Ameya spoke and they glanced at her curiously, "I forgot my wallet. I'll meet up with you guys later."
They waved and she made her way back down. She wondered if Katara was still talking to Aang, she would need to pass by his room to reach hers.
"Katara, please! Just go...please."
Ameya froze in her step, almost hesitant to move at the young airbender's angry voice.
"Is there anything you need?"
"I need to redeem myself. I need my honor back."
Katara stepped out of his room dejectedly, barely registering the frozen figure of the older waterbender on the side of the ship. Her icy eyes were widen, unfocused in front of her and Katara almost jumped when she realized Ameya was still standing there numbly.
"Sokka and Toph are waiting," she spoke quietly, finally, and exhaled, trying to will herself from drowning in memories once more. "I'll join you shortly."
The younger girl sent a helpless smile her way, hoping the older girl may talk some sense to Aang. She always did have a comforting aura around her, trustworthy and soothing.
Ameya knocked on the open door lightly just as Katara left, leaning against the doorframe offhandedly. The word 'honor' echoed in her mind as she stared at the young Avatar's back but not really seeing him, someone else had decided to occupy her mind again, someone she wishes to forget.
"I said leave me alone!" Aang turned around almost to glare at the intruder but Ameya stood her ground.
"Honor is a funny thing," she started softly, "It drives you to do crazy things; crazy and stupid things. Tell me, what do you find honorable you must reclaim?"
Aang frowned, turning away from the young woman. "My status as the Avatar. I should have been able to protect Ba Sing Se but I lost—I almost died in the Avatar State and that would have been the end of everything."
"But you didn't," Ameya pointed out, taking a step into the room. "You still have a second chance."
"But the world thinks I'm dead again! They know I've failed them—again! The invasion will only endanger everyone I hold close and I can't bear to see Katara or anyone else hurt for my sake!"
He threw his hands out but winced at the spike of pain sent his way. He clutched his side pitifully but Ameya only stared on, pale lips pulled back in a thin frown.
"You don't have to do this alone," she echoed Yue's advice.
"Yes, I do."
It was quiet for a while…until a small chuckle left her lips and Aang glanced at her warily at how empty it sounded, almost painful. Since when did Ameya's joyous laugh from months ago back in the Northern Water Tribe turn so…vacant? Aang avoided her gaze again, ignoring how unsettling her icy eyes pierced through his.
"You're just like him."
Aang tensed, wondering who she was talking about but had a faint idea who. He took that second to spare a glance her way and regretted it. The Ameya he saw in that moment was completely different from the girl he had briefly known—or maybe he had never known her at all.
Her eyes were staring right at him but it felt distant—as if not even seeing him at all. She felt cold, remote; there was no pleasantness anymore. Only sharp eyes and thin lips pulled back in disappointment.
"If you're so caught up in your self-proclaimed 'honor' and cannot see the ones in front of you, then I have no reason to stop you." I wasn't able to stop him, "So go if you need to." I can't stop you even if I tried.
She turned around and walked away.
When Ameya reached above the deck, the Water Tribe siblings and earthbender was waiting for her. She shook her head and they looked down sullenly, knowing that Aang would not be joining them for dinner. Ameya wondered if the Avatar would even be still on the ship after they returned but did not voice her thoughts.
It was not a surprise to Ameya when Katara ran past her to seek her father. She was not surprised to hear her discovery of Aang's disappearance and she wondered if it was her fault for allowing it to happen. She may have been the one to encourage him to and yet she did not feel regretful. Aang had his own journey to go through; Ameya was not someone important enough to change his decision.
But Ameya was surprised at herself for lingering behind, hiding in the shadows to listen to the intimate moment of a father and daughter rekindling their fragile relationship.
She leaned back, listening to both of their voices traveling to reach her ear as Katara cried and finally revealed why she had been so cold to Hakoda. Katara had felt abandoned too and could not help but lash out at her father for appearing back in her life so suddenly.
Hakoda could only hold his daughter back, returning the embrace he wished for so many years.
"I love you more than anything. You and your brother are my entire world. I thought about you every day when I was gone and every night when I went to sleep, I would lie awake missing you so much it would ache."
It was not often for Ameya to feel envy but she's human too. She never knew her father and would not think of it until recently—until she saw the reunion of the Water Tribe siblings with their father. And yet, Master Xiao had invaded her mind and she thinks he's the closest father figure she ever had growing up…even if it was for three short years.
Maybe in a way, Ameya felt resentful still. She was dragged into a war she wanted no part in; she was born without knowing the reason why. She fell in love like a fool and may one day face him again as enemies.
Would things have been better if she grown up differently? Would she have a happier life if she had a father who loved her like Katara? Would things have been different if she known her mother—the woman from the scroll she had left in the Northern Water Tribe?
She didn't realize how much she wished for lately, wishing for things that cannot be brought back or change the past.
Ameya stood numbly as Sokka, Katara, and Toph saddled Appa on the deck. They were going to go after Aang, that much was understood. They had been with him since the beginning; they will support him no matter what. They were a team—together through thick and thin.
'They need you,' Yue's hauntingly beautiful voice echoed in her mind and Ameya wondered if that was really true.
A hand gently rest on her shoulder and she glanced besides her to see Hakoda's deep blue eyes on her. He smiled and patted on her back, causing her to stumble forward—towards Appa's direction.
"Ameya, c'mon!" Toph called out on top of Appa's saddle.
'They need you.'
"We need to go before Aang gets too far. Do you have everything?" Sokka scanned her over quickly then adjusted his hold on Appa's reins.
'They need you.'
"Ameya?" Katara asked almost hesitantly, her sapphire eyes quietly begging her once more for dozens of unasked questions.
"Yeah," she ignored the crack in her voice and climb onto Appa's back carefully.
The night wind had always been cold the past few weeks but in this moment, Ameya never felt so warm. Momo landed on her shoulder again and she gently brushed his fur, hanging onto the side of the saddle tightly as they took off.
They were a team—they've been with Aang since the beginning. And yet somehow along the way, she became part of it, too. Ameya swallowed the doubt from surfacing and held on tightly. They have accepted her—they never rejected her in the first place.
When they found Aang again on a lone crescent island in Fire Nation territory, Katara was the first to hug his still healing body. The rest of them joined the two in a group hug but Ameya still lingered behind—until Appa nudged her with his large nose to join the hug too. She still felt awkward being stuck between the bison and the Water Tribe siblings but they wrapped their arms around her and Ameya felt the same tingling warmth again and returned the embrace.
Aang has changed; Ameya noticed once they pulled away, he doesn't have the same self-loathing as before. He willingly gave up his glider, burning the wood on the volcanic lava with a renowned determination.
This would be a start of another journey, she realized, and this time, Ameya will accompany them.
Author's Note:
Wow I apologize if everything seems so choppy and unorganized. It may appear like this for a few chapters. Since I am mainly writing from Ameya's point of view, there will be glimpses of other characters here and there so it may get a little confusing but hopefully not too much.
It will be slow for the next few chapters since I'm following canon again, Ameya would not have a big role in most but just slowly…adapting to the changes. There are a lot of parallels in this story—I wonder if it's obvious? Hmm…
Did you guys like a dream scene with Zuko? And Ameya is not traveling by herself anymore! But how will the gang affect her decisions and actions now I wonder?
Reviews are always loved! Thank you as always!