Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar: The Last Airbender in any shape or form.
They arrived in Roku's Island on the day of the summer solstice. Aang had said the past Avatar appeared to him in a dream, promising to explain the beginning of this hundred year war. They set off on Appa immediately when dawn approached.
"There it is. That's Roku's home," Aang pointed out first.
There were two giant volcanoes side by side on the vast island. Ameya could only see ash and soot burying the land, there were no signs of foliage from sprouting. She wondered if they even arrived on the correct island, jumping down once Appa had landed on the darkened ground.
"But, there's nothing here." Katara doubted, surveying the loose ash and hardened lava.
Toph jumped down next, her feet stabled on the ground once more and her voice turned sullen. "Yes, there is. An entire village, hundreds of houses…all completely buried in ash."
A breeze passed by them at the earthbender's discovery and Ameya felt a shiver go down her spine at the realization. What was once a home to hundreds of civilian was now sunken and—it may not just be houses trapped under the soot.
They turned away, making their way towards the peak of the inactive volcano. It was nearly sunset when they reached a comfortable spot for Aang to meditate in. He took a seat on one of the many cliff spreading outwards of the volcano, facing the orange radiance of the sun and concentrated. His arrows glowed brightly and in a second, Aang's spirit had left the mortal world.
All they could do now was wait.
"You sent this, didn't you? I found the secret history, which by the way should be renamed history most people already know! The note said that I needed to know about my great-grandfather's death, but he was still alive in the end."
Zuko slammed the door of the cell behind him angrily, glaring at the pitiful state of his uncle behind bars. He had spent the whole night chasing shadows and reading messages of the Fire Nation history that was taught to them since their early academy days. What was the point in all of this?
"No, he wasn't." Iroh spoke for once in a long time, his amber eyes sullen at the young prince. He had been waiting for him.
"What are you talking about?"
"You have more than one great-grandfather, Prince Zuko. Sozin was your father's grandfather. Your mother's grandfather was Avatar Roku."
His golden eyes widen at the revelation. "Why are you telling me this?"
"Because understanding the struggle between your two great-grandfathers can help you better understand the battle within yourself."
Iroh watched him fall onto his knees. Zuko clutched his head in his hands, trying to comprehend the new information taken in. He was reminded of Ba Sing Se again—he was reminded of his fevered dream of when he woke up and spotted the image of the Avatar his age—with airbender tattoos, a shaven head, and free from the scar.
"Evil and good are always at war inside you, Zuko. It is your nature, your legacy. But, there is a bright side," Iroh continued on and the prince raised his head up hesitantly. "What happened generations ago can be resolved now, by you. Because of your legacy, you alone can cleanse the sins of our family and the Fire Nation. Born in you, along with all the strife, is the power to restore balance to the world."
But why was it him? Why was everything pushed onto him? Why was he learning this Avatar business again—he thought he only needed it to redirect lightning before but—there was some sense in his uncle's wise words.
Their world had been in disarray for a long time. Zuko remembers the abandoned villages of the Earth Kingdom. He remembers the hundreds of refugees hiding in Ba Sing Se like he had—just for an escape from the war. He remembers the young boy practicing the pearl dagger he had taken from him, and then he was crying and begging for his brother to return from the war.
Zuko remembers the harsh words spoke by the thief he met over half a year ago, her words laced in malice and accusation for a war he thought had been righteous since birth. Their encounters continue to ring in his head and he sees specks of red on pale skin—red against a blue mask—and he almost thinks he would see her again when he opens his eyes but instead sees his clenched fists on his red robes.
"This is a royal artifact. It's supposed to be worn by the Crown Prince."
He stood up once Iroh presented the gold headdress to him. It was different from the Fire Lord's own headpiece but it was just as elegantly designed in red and gold. Zuko accepted the artifact almost hesitantly, staring at the item in disbelief.
Iroh could only watch Zuko walk away without another word. He had done his best with the final guidance. He hopes his nephew would not make the same mistake again.
Aang had returned from the Spirit World after the night had passed. The four of them had fallen asleep once they realized the Avatar's journey was going to take longer than intended but they stayed dutifully nearby. Ameya had been the one to chastise them to go to sleep first but she had been the one to stay up the longest, always active when the moon was high in the sky.
After a restful night of sleep, Aang began to explain his learning once everyone had been lucid enough to comprehend the Avatar's tale.
"You mean, after all Roku and Sozin went through together, even after Roku showed him mercy, Sozin betrayed him like that ?" Katara was the first one to break the silence after Aang.
"It's like these people are born bad," Toph frowned.
"No, that's wrong. I don't think that was the point of what Roku showed me at all," Aang reasoned, always the one to see the good in others.
Sokka shrugged. "Then what was the point?"
"Roku was just as much Fire Nation as Sozin was, right? If anything, their story proves anyone's capable of great good and great evil. Everyone, even the Fire Lord and the Fire Nation have to be treated like they're worth giving a chance."
Ameya's eyes softened at his optimistic outlook in life, doubting the words herself. She stared at her hands quietly, pushing down the memories of a certain prince. She had thought of him less lately and yet—why does he haunt her now? She had trusted him—and was punished for it in the end. Ameya could not bring herself to believe—to trust in others again.
But it was not just him bringing doubts in her mind. She had not been entirely truthful to her companions as well. Ameya had always stolen and lied for her gains and at one point—she may have killed. The three men from the Earth Kingdom appeared in her mind. Although she never saw their bodies again—never tried to revisit that twisted night, she wondered if maybe, in the end, she was the cause for their deaths. Or maybe were they still alive?
She wasn't sure which one was a better alternative.
"And I also think it was about friendships."
Aang's voice caught her attention, bringing her away from the memories of the haunted past.
"Do you really think friendships can last more than one lifetime?"
Aang's hand found Toph's, holding it reassuringly in a gentle grasp. Even if the blind earthbender cannot see the smile directed her way, she felt his pulse against her skin and felt her own smile appear at the gentle lull of his heart.
"I don't see why not."
Katara clutched Toph's other hand, connecting the three together to soothe her worries.
"Well, scientifically speaking, there's no way to prove that—"
"Oh, Sokka, just hold hands!"
The Water Tribe boy did as he was told, holding onto his sister's hand assertively despite the small pout on his lips. Ameya smiled softly at them. They have a bond no one could sever—their trust was earned through the hardships they had spent together. It was rare to find an unbreakable bond such as them—and Ameya doesn't doubt they would only continue to grow closer in the future.
But then, three pair of eyes was on her almost expectantly, boring into her icy gaze and Ameya hesitated.
She had only been with them for over a month—there was no reason for them to trust her so soon. It was her connection with Yue that solidify their trust in her. Ameya could not understand why they had been so happy to see her again—why they had expected her to journey with them in the first place. There were just still so much—so many things they did not know about her—and she knew they knew too and yet—
Why are they regarding her with such kind gazes again? Why does she feel the stabbing in her heart again and see the uncertainty forming behind their hopeful eyes?
They had always treated her kindly and she thrived off of their compassion but they only know her on what she shows on the surface. Ameya did not want to reveal her past to them—she wants them to keep looking at her with those faithful eyes because for once she felt like she was doing something right in her life.
And Ameya realized—it was because she trusted them, too. Maybe not to the same extent of the one she had been trying to forget—because she was scared to repeat the past again but—why can't she shake off her own doubts and accept their outstretched hands?
Because they don't know the real you, a quiet voice whispered, they are not tainted like you.
There was still innocence in them that she had discarded years ago. There was hope in their eyes and strength in their words and Ameya was reminded of her younger self—back in the days spent with Master Xiao and Lady Lu Jie. Back to those days when she felt like she had the world in her hands just by the comfort of the two and nothing could possibly come between her happiness.
She blinks and the memory is gone again, staring at the Avatar, the Water Tribe siblings, and blind earthbender once more.
They are still young and naïve and invincible while fighting against the world and Ameya finds herself wanting to protect that innocence, protect the thing she had given up on years ago.
Sokka gently grasped her left hand and Aang took upon her right. Her eyes widen at their advances but did not pull away from their warm touch. They made a move to her because Ameya could not. They were taking it upon their hands to assure her, in their own way, that they accept her.
There was a drumming in her heart and it echoed in her ears but they were still staring at her with smiling faces and Ameya found herself clutching the hands tightly.
She will protect it. This warmth, this innocence, these hopeful children—she will protect them.
That, Ameya can guarantee.
Ameya stood by the edge of the river, a stream of water encircling her form. Katara was on her right, taking her own defensive stance with water surrounding her arms and Toph was to her left in an earthbending stance. Aang tied the headband over his eyes and his outfit only consisted of his pants and belt.
"Okay. I'm ready for some training."
He stood directly in front of Ameya from a distance away; his hands were raised upwards to any attack. She made the first move, sending an icicle in his direction and he dodged just as a pillar of rock appeared from where he once stood. Katara bended a stream of water at the Avatar but he redirected it away, turning to send a boulder towards the earthbender.
Toph caught the rock with ease, a small smirk appearing on her lips. "Good job, Twinkle Toes. Visualize, then attack."
Toph returned the boulder with the same force but Aang burrowed into the ground, missing the Avatar completely but hitting Katara right in the stomach. She was knocked onto the ground gracelessly and the young waterbender stood back up with a frown on her face.
"Maybe you should take your own advice, Toph!"
"What's the matter? Can't handle a little dirt, Madame Fussy-Britches?" Toph taunted.
Katara's eyebrow twitched and she raised her arms. The water behind her rose upwards and a huge wave was sent to Toph, drenching the smaller girl fully.
"Oh, sorry. Did I splash you, Mud-Slug?" Katara fired back.
Toph said nothing more and earthbended a ramp, heading straight towards Katara. The other girl bended an ice ramp in return, facing Toph straight on. Aang posed, ready for the two attacks but the girls collided with each other instead and they went flying.
Ameya arched a brow at the younger girl's battle and Aang lowered his arms. "Are we taking a break?"
He nearly missed a few more icicles aimed at his body as soon as he finished that question, turning back to face the other waterbender. An earth trail was sent her way and she dodged to the side, twisting her arms and a wave of water moved towards the Avatar again. Aang redirected the wave away at the last second, sending it back to her in a faster motion.
She flicked her wrist and the water went back into the river. Ameya did not have time to make another move while Sokka jumped out of his hiding spot, running towards Aang loudly with an arm raised.
"Sneak Attack!"
Aang merely raised one arm and a pillar of rock appeared in Sokka's track, stopping him from continuing his not-so-secret attack. The older boy fell backwards in defeat and Aang lifted up his headband with a small smile.
"Sokka, sneak attacks don't work if you yell it out loud."
She shook her head and their attention was directed to the two fighting benders in a pile of mud. Both of them were oblivious to the observers, wrestling with each other in hand to hand combat.
"Hungry for a mud pie?" Toph kicked a small puddle of mud in Katara's face.
She wiped the mud away with a sneer. "I'll give you a mud pie!"
Katara bends the mud in Toph's direction, pushing her down into the puddle. The earthbender quickly stood back up along with a pillar under Katara's feet, knocking her a few feet away and hitting the wall painfully.
Toph turned around to run towards Katara, pale arms raised to earthbend. Katara moved her hands to retaliate but before either of them can attack each other, a small water bubble formed between them, pushing both benders away from each other.
"Uh guys, I thought we were supposed to be training me," Aang spoke up but it was Ameya that lowered her arm instead, an eyebrow arched at the two benders.
Realizing that they had strayed from training, Katara brushed some dirt off of her calmly. "Very well, pupil. I believe we've had enough training for today."
Toph regained her composure as well and bends the mud off of her. "While Katara cleans up, let's go have some fun!"
"Yeah!"
"Yes!"
"Don't get in trouble now," Ameya teased and they only grin in return.
"Who? Us?" Sokka mocked innocently.
"We would never!" Toph laughed. She shook her head again and waved as the three of them head into town.
Ameya opt to train longer, practicing her form with the short sword she received from Piandao. The weapon moved along with her perfectly, lithe and flexible with her own movements. Ameya continued to test her mobility, one hand holding the sword and the other raised to bend the water. She frowned when she realized it was harder to attempt to do both, settling to stick with doing one at a time only.
"You're always so diligent in training."
She blinked at Katara's appearance again, lowering her arms and paused in her training.
"I'm out of practice," Ameya smiled modestly.
Katara studied the girl in disbelief. She rarely sees Ameya not training and even when she was, the older girl was flawless in technique. Why was she pushing herself so hard still? Katara thought Ameya would ease up as soon as Aang woke up. And initially, she did but there were times when Ameya still felt distant from them, lost in her own world.
Katara looked down shyly. It wasn't even a day ago when the five of them held hands together, promising for a lifetime of friendship that will transcend their current life. Ameya did not join in—not until Sokka and Aang grabbed onto her. She was still wary of them, Katara realized, Ameya was still hesitant.
"Should we begin dinner?"
The young waterbender stared at Ameya's smiling face, her training abandoned in favor to start prepping with Katara. Katara returned the smile softly and nodded her head.
It would take time, Katara thought, Ameya is still coping. She will have to be patient for now, Katara will wait.
It was hours later when the three of them returned back to camp. Sokka, Toph, and Aang each had a basket in their arms filled with food and supplies, laughing happily as they approached the two waterbenders.
"Where did you guys get the money to buy all this stuff?" Katara questioned as soon as they dropped the baskets in front of them.
"Toph got us money," Aang explained briefly, "She scammed one of those guys in town who moves the shells around all sneaky-like."
Aang offered an apple to Ameya and she took it gratefully, smiling in appreciation before biting into the sweet fruit.
"She used earthbending to win the game! Classic!" Sokka praised, sitting in between Aang and Toph.
Katara put her hands on her hips disapprovingly. "Ah, so she cheated."
Toph paused in her eating. "Hey! I only cheated because he was cheating!" She smiled, "I cheated a cheater. What's wrong with that?"
"I'm just saying this isn't something we should make a habit of doing," Katara reasoned.
"Why? Because it's fun? And you hate fun?"
Ameya watched the two girls argue back and forth. Since when was there such hostility between them? Katara's moral compass is generally higher than all of theirs but the dealer was the one wrong in the first place. Toph had managed to scam him and even came back with enough supplies to last them a few days.
"I don't hate fun!" Katara put a sleeping Momo on her head, grinning helplessly, "See? Fun!"
Momo slipped off her head and chattered angrily, running away from all of them. Aang stood up from his head, lifting the headband to show his arrows proudly and bowed to Katara.
"Katara, I'll personally make you an Avatar Promise that we won't make a habit of doing these scams."
It was the next day when Ameya caught them breaking their promise. She had wandered the town alone to hopefully learn some clues about the Fire Lord's plans or anything out of the ordinary and instead she heard rumors about a blind bandit instead. There was no need for them to keep scamming others—even if they deserved it, it would only spell trouble.
Sokka was grinning happily to himself at the pouches of coins in his arms, his fake beard moving up momentarily. Toph laughed and began juggling the pouches in her hand, showing a few tricks to the older boy at the same time.
"So did Aang break the promise first or did you two?"
They jumped at the sound of her voice, her arms crossed over her chest with a brow arched in their direction. Toph stopped juggling the pouches and frowned, pausing midway in their walk to the campsite.
"They cheated first! I don't see how bad it is for us to get some extra coins! We need it!" Toph exclaimed defensively.
"But not all of those earnings were from cheaters," Ameya stared at Sokka's beard, worn to trick a wealthy noble from the town earlier. She had followed them and saw a few of their tricks upfront and while normally she does not condemn it, Ameya was a thief after all; she only worried for the consequences that may follow.
"We've been careful, Ameya, no trouble at all!" Sokka smiled and the other girl sighed in defeat. Well, it wouldn't hurt to have some extra money along the way but it would be best to leave this town soon. It would be too dangerous if the civilians began to recognize them.
When they returned to the campsite again, Katara was once again disapproving of the scams. Ameya said nothing as the two girls bicker again, sitting along with the two boys and watch them argue back and forth.
Katara was trying to be the voice of reason but Toph refused to yield. The waterbender must have hit a nerve, however, at the mention of her parents and the two began screaming at each other heatedly.
"Look, I ran away to help Aang!" Toph yelled.
"You know what? It doesn't matter. These scams put us all at risk, and we don't need that. We've already got some third-eyed freak after us," Katara countered.
Ameya watched with a sigh as Sokka attempted to make light of the conversation, creating a silly name for the assassin sent after them. When no one made a comment about his nickname for 'Sparky-Sparky-Boom Man', he sat back down.
"We have enough money! You need to stop this!"
"I'll stop when I wanna stop and not when you tell me!"
Toph ended the conversation there, walking away and encasing herself in an earth tent. Katara shook her head angrily, looking towards Ameya as if for some guidance or answer. Sokka stood up suddenly, bringing their attention to him instead.
"Speaking of money, I'm off to spend some. See you guys later."
"You don't want to train today?" Ameya asked, raising her sheathed sword lightly.
He grinned. "I won't be long!"
Sokka left then, leaving Katara, Aang, and Ameya sitting around. The young waterbender was still angry at Toph, standing up herself.
"Let's go practice some waterbending," Katara said.
Ameya and Aang glanced at each other, sensing her anger and followed quietly. She looked like she needed to vent and the two of them offered their service. Aang was faithful to Katara and Ameya understood the need to work out the frustration. They can only hope the two girls would not start another fight or it may severely damage their friendship.
It must have only been wishful thinking on Ameya's part when she hoped another fight would not occur. Toph had returned with Sokka the following day, holding an even bigger bag of coins than previously before. A small frown was upon the older girl's lips as Katara stood up, ready to confront them once more.
"Well. Look who decided to join us. Where have you two been? Off scamming again?" Katara accused.
"Yes, we were," Toph admitted briskly.
"And I suppose you don't think what you're doing is dangerous at all?" Katara continued.
"No, I don't."
"Really?"
"Yes. Really."
Katara pulled out a piece of paper from her pockets, showing the item to the blind Toph. Ameya recognized the paper with a poorly drawn on face of Toph with a reward on the bottom. Did they already make a wanted poster for the earthbender already?
"Well then. What's this?"
Toph threw her hands up, annoyed. "I don't know! I mean, seriously! What is with you people? I'm blind!"
"It's a wanted poster of you! 'The Runaway!' Is that what you're called now? Are you proud of this?"
"Where did you get that!?"
"It doesn't matter where I got it. The fact is—"
"You went through my stuff! You had no right!"
"Your stuff was messy and I was just straightening up, and I happened to stumble across it!"
"That's a lie!" Toph detected, "You're lying, Katara!"
"Fine! It's a lie! But you've been so out of control lately, I knew something was up! I knew you were hiding something and you were!" Toph grabbed the wanted poster and crumbled it, tossing it away.
"I don't understand why you're only getting on my case about this! You never question Ameya when she brings back money!"
Ameya froze at the mention of her name, feeling four pair of eyes on her suddenly. She hadn't realized Toph noticed her own hand at thieving from before, the younger girl never mentioned it. And Ameya had always dodged the questions Katara asked when she would give her the money, trusting the younger girl with their finances.
It wasn't often for her to steal—she only done it at least twice, maybe three times during their travels. Ameya was just making sure they were not low on funds and she had always been careful. Since when did Toph find out?
Sokka and Aang looked at her curious, confusion clear on their young faces and Ameya realized the boys did not know. They had no idea. But they kept quiet still, not wanting to interrupt the fight between Katara and Toph or bring an even bigger issue to their attention.
"This isn't about Ameya right now! At least she helps out with the chores and doesn't run around causing a commotion like a wild child!"
"You're obviously playing favorites!" Toph retaliated and began to walk away from Katara.
"Don't you walk away from me while I'm talking to you!"
Toph scoffed. "Oh really, Mom? Or what are you gonna do? Send me to my room?"
"I wish I could!"
"Well you can't! Because you're not my mom, and you're not their mom!" Toph pointed to the three sitting figures.
"I never said I was!" Katara denied.
"No, but you certainly act like it! You think it's your job to boss everyone around, but it's not! You're just a regular kid like the rest of us! So stop acting like you can tell me what to do! I can do whatever I want!"
Katara began to ask Sokka and Aang about her behavior but avoided Ameya. The older girl could only watch in silent realization of the current situation. Toph knew about her habits of stealing, she didn't mention it until her anger bubbled over during her argument with Katara. And Katara— she may have known too but did not confront her.
Ameya had always stayed in the background, only offering few words of advice when necessary and helped out with the chores because she had done that by herself many times before. She was only following along with Sokka's schedule, silently protecting them from other thieves, and lied for them when they began to show hesitation.
But there was just so much she can do by herself. It was still not enough for them to trust her—not in the way Ameya thought they would. They were, in their own way, protecting her. They saw how broken she was back on the cruiser, they saw the scars and bruises on her arms that she healed away, saw the tears she swallowed down and the feelings she ignored.
Katara's worried gaze filled her mind, Toph's accusation of her lying, Aang's relief at finding her again, Sokka's happiness at her appearance.
And then her own voice was ringing in her mind, loud and repetitive despite the ongoing argument between the two benders.
They knew—they knew and pretended to not know because they were protecting me—I'm still not strong enough for them. I should be the ones protecting them—because—because they're children and innocent and still so young and full of life.
Katara should not be mothering all of them in the first place. Toph should not have the need to run away from home in the first place. Sokka should not need to be trained as a war tactician. Aang should not have an assassin sent after him. Ameya should not have to steal for a living.
But they are.
And that is something Ameya cannot change.
But what she can do is little compared to what they need.
And Ameya feels even more helpless at the revelations.
There was only one thing she can do.
They do not need to worry about me, do not give them a reason to. I will protect them.
I must.
Author's Note:
The end…was really difficult to write. But I love the scenes of Ameya's 'revelations'…I can just rant forever about her but I'll hold back. Added two episodes in one chapter but had to split up the second half.
There's actually a very simple answer as to why the gang is so kind to Ameya but she just can't see it herself. Not yet at least.
I forgot to thank you all for over 200 reviews! I never thought this story would get so popular and while I am in a slight author's block for this story, I WILL finish it. Thank you again for the continuous support and love to hear from you soon!