ummmm...here we go again...

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Chapter 8: The Angel

The healer came in around midnight to redress the fire-bender's burns. She found the Water boy sprawled across the bed beside the prince's. She threw a blanket over him, chuckling, and tended to the fire-bender. The prince shocked her when she pulled the bandage on his side away, because he jerked and pulled away from her, as if in pain. She smiled. "Your journey home is beginning young prince."

Out of memories, he stood on the sidelines of the Agni Kai arena. The same duel was performed before him repeatedly. He watched himself beg for mercy, felt his heart torn out over and over. But always, right when his father drew back to scar him, his face changed and became Ediera's, and her cry filled the night. Over and Over.
She sent the prince's three companions to the village to run some errands for her. Now, in the blissful silence, she pressed a cool wet cloth to her patient's forehead, and he shied away. He was returning.
Katara sighed, causing Sokka and Aang to look at her with concern. She smiled weakly at them, and they turned away. Now, as she thought back to their days in the Fire Nation palace, she understood every comment and every action that Zuko had made. Though she couldn't begin to imagine the grief he felt, she knew he would need comforting when…if...he woke. She stomped her foot and cursed her traitorous mind. When when WHEN he wakes up! She screamed at herself. He will wake up!
The healer abandoned the prince to his inner debate. She wondered how he would react when he woke. He had all the reason in the world to continue his depression induced rampage. But, then again, he had a lot to live for.
"What are you doing here?" He spun around, facing the girl of his dreams, of his memory. She glanced around, strangely serious. She never was serious. "This is too depressing." She waved her hand, and they were standing in a grassy meadow. "Now, I'll repeat myself. What are you doing here?"

He shook his head. "I don't know. I'm just here." She frowned. "This is the Spirit World, Zuko. I'm dead, but you're not. You shouldn't be here." Tears filled his eyes.

"I don't care where I am. I'm happy here, and I want to stay here." Her eyes shimmered, mirroring the tears now streaming down his face.

"The only reason you want to stay is because I'm here. This is the only place you can see me. But you owe me something." He fell to his knees.

"Anything Ediera. Name it."

"You owe it to me to live a happy and full life." She placed a hand on his shoulder. "And I want you to do exactly that. Being a spirit, I can glimpse the future. You have a great part to play in the future of this world. But to do that, you must return to the land of the living."

"I don't want to leave you." She knelt in front of him, taking his scarred face in her hands. Though her body never aged, her eyes had.

"You will never leave me, Zuko, and I will never leave you. Wherever you go, I will be there." Her eyes bored into his, and he made his decision.

"Zuko, promise me a few things will you?"

"Of Course."

"Promise me that you'll never take your own life, that you'll protect the Avatar and overthrow our father, that you'll rule fairly and promote peace, and…that you'll go ride the Elephant Koi." He smiled.

"I promise."

"Come on! A piece of bread! A cracker! SOMETHING!"

"Don't shout at me boy, and the answer is still no."

"Come on, please!"

"You just ate supper!"

"And I ate all of it! And I'm still hungry! Come on you mean old lady!"

"No."

This was the first thing Zuko heard as he slowly returned to consciousness. The boy continued his begging, the healer continued her ignoring, and nobody noticed as Zuko slowly sat up.

"Well, if you won't feed him, can I have something to eat?" They both snapped around, the boy's mouth dropping open as the healer smiled.

"You're awake! I have to tell Aang and Katara! Mostly Katara!" With that the boy ran out, his raving hunger momentarily forgotten.

"Welcome back to the land of the living Prince Zuko. And in answer to your question, of course; I'll be right back."

She left the room, and Zuko took stock of his situation. He had on some light shorts beneath white sheets, so that told him he definitely wasn't in the Fire Nation. Most of his body was covered in bandages, so the fire in the Great Hall hadn't been a dream. And the boy that had run out was one of the Avatar's…Aang's he corrected himself…companions, so that meant…they had probably rescued him. He'd have to thank them, after he pretended to be mad and upset for a while.

The door opened, and Zuko found himself being mauled by something that was dressed in blue and squealed. "You're awake! Oh we've been so worried!" His only response was a loud "OW!"

She immediately stood up quickly with a muttered apology. Zuko directed his gaze to Aang, the only one whose name he knew. "How long have I been out?"

"About a week." The boy was grinning broadly.

"A WEEK?" Both Aang and the girl flinched. "Well, since I'm obviously not dead, or in the Fire Nation, or even up to date with life, perhaps you can explain to me HOW I GOT HERE? And where are my CLOTHES?"

The girl squeaked and ran out and Aang desperately began a intense explanation of how they rescued him and why they had to and why he shouldn't be mad and that he could help them and that he had a right to be sad about his sister until the poor Avatar was looking at him like he'd explode in a minute. Seriously, the boy had just remembered every reason why Zuko should be mad at him.

It was really hard to remain looking sullen, an attempt which was abandoned when the healer came in with a bowl of steaming soup and the Water boy was following her like a dog. Zuko burst into laughter at the sight, which hurt his wounds but he couldn't stop. He laughed until tears streamed from his eyes, and unknown to him, all the emotion he'd kept back for nearly three years came out in that moment. Aang was shocked by the look on his face, but soon they were laughing together. The girl was peeking in the door to see what was going on, and the older boy was trying to see if he could get away with stealing Zuko's soup. As the healer set the bowl of soup down for Zuko, he finally stopped laughing and caught Aang's eye.

"Thank you for saving me Aang."

I'm so happy. How could any of you think I could kill Zuko? His coma was just a real good excuse to characterize Ediera...lalala...

In other news, I tend to write for my reviewers, so please let me know what you think of the whole thing. HOLD NOTHING BACK! I love long reviews!

And read my other fanfic, "Best As A Team" It's starting to move faster...i swear...