So… two at once, huh? Yup. The last chapter was simply finished where it was. I know it's getting a little weird but bear with me. This will be cool and it's a got a rockin' ending! Anyway, I need opinions on my idea for a new fanfic after this one is done. I have a title for it. It's called The Courtesan. The person I usually get Avatar advice from is gone ( COME BACK MOMIJI!) not gone like that, just out of town.

Don't own Avatar

Chapter Nine

The Wheels on the Bus, er Boat?

(A traveling chapter)

"HELLO SUN!" Cried Zuko to the sky as the sun made it's first appearance of the day. Katara looked wistfully at the horizon where the moon has long ago sunk, "Goodbye moon." She muttered with semi-fake sadness. But she soon transferred her attentions to Zuko who was unusually hyper. He seemed extremely pumped. Spring was beginning to slip into summer and all the fire benders on board seemed ecstatic. Katara had made a few cooler outfits for both her and Sokka, both of whom were unusual to the intense heat.

Iroh ghosted up behind them, giving Katara her first heart attack of the day, "Zuko, have you asked her yet?" he asked pleasantly. Zuko shook his head.

"Not yet, I'm waiting till Sokka and Aang leave later today." He answered. They were nearing the Earth Kingdom, and Kyoshi Island. Not to mention the Southern Air Temple. When the two of them had declared their intentions for leaving for a week they had both been odd.

"I need to see Suki. " Sokka had whispered.

"Gyatso needs a proper burial, before…" he had trailed off.

Katara completely understood. She half wished she could go home to see Gran Gran for what could be the last time. For none of them knew what truly awaited them and where.

Katara stood next to Zuko as Iroh prattled on about something unimportant. The wind ruffled her hair and suddenly she heard and great groan. They looked out to the main deck where a temporary bed had been made for Appa. Aang and Sokka were loading up supplies already. She walked over to join them, with Zuko trailing after her. He seemed a little happy that they were going to have a chance to be alone.

"Don't tell me you two are really so desperate to leave." Katara said in a mocking voice. Aang smiled but Sokka didn't. He'd been acting strange for a while now. Katara knew it was because that he didn't like the fact that he had magic now.

"Just desperate to make good time. That's all." Aang said cheerfully. Once again Katara's intuition flared, Aang was being WAY to cheerful. She frowned. But she soon began to help them. Zuko left them alone, going to find the captain to discuss business.

Sokka was walking in front of Appa, bringing around a particularly heavy load when the great bison sneezed. He was instantly covered in the grey-green slime of mucus. Katara and Aang stared at him, both remembering the first time that had ever happened. For some reason Katara felt her heart catch in her throat, how innocent we were… Aang looked at Sokka solemnly when suddenly, Sokka began to laugh. Loud. He dropped the load on the deck and fell over laughing. Aang looked shocked, but Katara let out a choked laugh, and then began to really laugh. Aang to suddenly found his smile and began to laugh too.

As Katara tried to maneuver through the slick mess she fell down face first into the muck. Both Sokka and Aang began to roar with laughter, Aang falling from Appa's head. Katara sat up, "EWWWWW! Ew ew ew ew ew ewwwww!" She squealed. Shaking her hands, as if it would help. Suddenly Aang summoned a huge blast of air to send them into the sea below. They fell with a splash and surfaced near one another. Katara was scrubbing at herself and Sokka went back under to try and get more off. And all the while they laughed.

For a while they stayed in the water, splashing each other and easily keeping pace with the boat by help of Katara's water bending. Soon Zuko came to the railing. He was smiling, "Are you guys okay?" he asked. Katara summoned a wave to carry them back to the deck, then to wash away the worst of Appa's mess. Sokka and Aang were leaning against each other for support while Katara looked with disgust at her clothes.

"Yeah, we're fine…" she smiled up at Zuko. He smiled back, "I'm glad." He whispered so only she would hear.

It was much later, after Sokka and Aang had left and Katara had had an hour-long bath, that Zuko explained the earlier conversation.


It was dark outside and the room where Zuko, Katara and Iroh were eating was lit by a multitude of candles. On the table was an array of food, all seafood. Water Tribe food. Katara had attacked the familiar food with vigor. She missed the dishes of the cold lands she had grown up in. She popped some calamari into her mouth and looked about. Zuko seemed very happy, and Iroh was contemplative as ever. It was so quiet, so when Zuko spoke, it made her jump.

"Do you know what is coming up soon?" he didn't wait for an answer, "The Summer Solstice! A time of great celebration for the Fire Nation. I believe your people celebrate the Winter Solstice?" Katara nodded, "Last year we didn't get to celebrate as we normally did. With our traditional dance and everything… but his year. We have something special planned…" he looked at her funny, "It is written that long ago, that the solstices were celebrated with dancers from both the Fire Nation and the Water Tribes."

Katara caught on, "You want to do an old fashioned dance?" she cried excitedly, "Oh! Oh! Can I be Winter?" she asked, referring to the dancer that played the resilient Winter who did not want to give earth over to Summer.

"That was the plan." Zuko responded smiling. He had been worried that she might not want to do it.

"The Summer Solstice is in five days, will you have time?" Iroh asked.

"I've played Winter twice at home! The hardest part will be the outfit." She said thoughtfully.

"Agreed… I have to make my own." He easily read the look Katara gave him, "Yes I can sew. And I'm already partly done!" he said a little temperamentally.

"What about the dance?" Katara asked taking up a roll of sushi.

"We have a theory on that." Said Iroh, "We think that the dances will sync up. And if not, improvise." He said simply. Katara smiled at them both.


Sokka stood on the beach of Kyoshi island, its inhabitants around him, waving goodbye to Aang. He'd only stayed for a quick hello and goodbye, promising to pick him up in a few days. Appa disappeared into the burning sun and the villagers meandered back to their chores till only Sokka and Suki were on the beach together.

It didn't take long for Suki to break the silence, "I missed you…" she said softly. She wasn't wearing her warriors outfit or bright makeup. She looked stunning without it. Sokka turned around and gathered her into his arms, tucking her head underneath his chin. He sighed, but it wasn't happy.

"You have no idea how much I've missed you." Suki pulled away to look at him. His eyes were soft, but troubled, "How much I've missed you in my arms. Your eyes…" he bent to kiss her, brushing his lips softly against hers, "your lips…"

Suki looked Sokka in the eyes, "What's wrong?" she asked. Sokka laughed.

"What isn't! What isn't…" Suki reached up and brushed his dark hair out of his eyes.

"Tell me." She said softly.

Sokka talked for hours, which was actually unusual of him. He explained everything from when Zuko took Katara to finding her again to finding his own powers and the fate of the world. They walked and talked at the same time, and found themselves at an outcropping of rocks that over looked the bay were the elephant koi and the unagi swam. Suki was sitting quietly listening. When he spoke of the unbalance of elements and the danger to the world she felt as if she would drown in anxious panic. But then he spoke of Katara, Zuko, Aang and the unknown Son of Earth. Of how he had been given the power to protect them, and the panic and anxiousness succeeded. And she listened with fascination as he spoke about how much stronger he had become and Katara's transformation along with Aang's.

"What about Zuko?" she asked when he didn't broach the subject. He remained silent, staring out at the sea, still besides his clenched fingers.

"He… he's done something… to her…" he said. The anger in his voice was poorly disguised.

"To Katara? What? Is she hurt?" Suki asked in alarm. Katara was like a sister and a powerful bender.

"Not hurt… tricked or something… when we got on that boat, and Katara and Zuko greeted us, I knew. They just had this vibe of togetherness. That they couldn't get along without each other. Surely he must have… must have tricked her or threatened her or something! She would never do this willingly. I know she wouldn't. Not with him. Not with that bastard of a fire bender. I- what?" he asked spinning around to look at Suki. She was smiling mockingly at him. She laughed, a harsh sound.

"Is that what this is about? You don't like Zuko. Because he's a fire bender? From the Fire Nation? So what? I'm from the Earth kingdom and you don't seem to have a problem with me!" Sokka tried to interrupt, but she kept going, "Katara is what, 17? She a grown woman. Most girls her age are married. She missed that because she was with the Avatar. And now she's found someone and you automatically don't like him." She stopped to look Sokka in the eyes. He looked like a puppy who had been scolded for doing something he was sure was right.

"But he's from the Fire Nation! He is our mortal enemy! He is fire! He destroys water heals." Suki softened, breathing out slowly. She patted the rock next to where she was sitting. Sokka came to sit, putting his head into his hands.

"They say there are only four elements. Fire… water… earth… air… but I've always thought there were six… well sort of. Of course there are the four, but then there are two more. Light and Darkness; or rather the decision of how you use your powers. Sure, fire is destructive, it burns down buildings and ravages the land. But let me ask you this. Down at the South Pole, where it's cold all year round, what keeps you warm?"

"Furs, tents, each other…" he stopped and Suki poked him in the side, "and Fire."

"See, fire gives life too. Even here in the Earth Kingdom, when the land becomes infertile, we burn it so that our crops will grow. And water, yes it heals but have ever seen a flood? How destructive it is? It's terrifying really. Earth can be violent too, in quakes and eruptions. And think tornadoes and hurricanes. But earth can also help us grow our food and air is there to turn our windmills and stir the air." She stopped to look at Sokka. No longer was he pouting or angry. Now he was thoughtful, "There are two sides to every story. Its wrong to jump to conclusions without knowing all the facts."

Sokka stood up and picked Suki up by her hands and kissed her, "Roku knows I love you." He whispered into her hair.

They were with each other for the rest of the night. Talking, kissing, simply being together. Finally, as the sun rose, and Suki was going to her house to sleep for a few hours, she turned to Sokka, "There is only one thing that can melt ice, and that's fire." And she was gone. Sokka went to the guesthouse to sleep and think, and maybe get something to eat too.


Aang sat on the back of Appa with Momo sleeping next to him. It was a quiet night, high in the sky, and flying conditions had been good. He'd left Sokka yesterday afternoon and already he could see the Southern Air Temple. They landed an hour later, finding it much the same. There was still much snow, and the remains of monks and fire benders. He poked around for a while, finding his room just as he left it. After sleeping in his room for the first time in 115, he got up and got to work. Usually Aang would have been kinder to the dead, but he felt no remorse in simply burning the bodies of the Fire Navy soldiers, using what little fire bending he knew. The monks he couldn't do that with. He buried there remains in the temple garden of meditation. He cried softly when he had to carry children's bodies to the holes he had dug. Some of them were perfectly preserved by the snow. So perfectly that he felt he could simply poke them and they would wake up. But of course they didn't. He left Gyatso's body for last.

He picked up the skeletal remains of the closest thing he had ever had as a father and carried it to one particular whole he had dug on the top of a hill. He gently laid him down, tears streaming from his eyes, and began to put the dirt over him before he stopped. He bent down and picked up Gyatso's heavy medallion that marked him as a master of air bending. Silently, he put it around his own neck. Not for the power it represented to the world, but for the father it represented to him. He finished burying Gyatso and sat in front of his grave. He felt as if something needed to be said. Anything, as if Gyatso was standing right beside him demanding to know what was wrong.

"So, I found out why it's been so hard for me to learn to be the Avatar." He started. He told Gyatso everything, "I feel bad about Katara. About how I treated her. It was stupid. But, I'm happy for her. She's in love with a, maybe not great, but good guy. I knew at once, when we saw them that they were together. It's funny to watch her try and hide it. She's not very good at it at all! Though, Sokka seems to be presenting a problem." Aang stopped talking for a minute and closed his eyes, "I wonder. What will happen to us? When we go where we need to go. Will we… come out alive? I'm afraid really. Which is stupid. But, I can't help it. I love living. What's it like, Gyatso? Dying. And even more, what's it like, when you're the Avatar? I sometimes remember things from my past, but it's like I'm different people then. What will happen to me? What will happen to Aang?"


The next few days passed in a flurry before Zuko's eyes. Everyone was very excited to celebrate the Summer Solstice. Katara worked quietly on her outfit, which seemed barely to live up to the name. He hadn't seen much, but what he had seen wasn't meant to cover much. Katara had launched into an explanation about this.

"Winter is wild. In the Southern Water Tribes we even wore these. It was part of the whole dance that winter is afraid of nothing." She kept going until Zuko stopped her, a little annoyed. Of course HE didn't mind her being scadily clad, but he didn't want his soldiers getting any funny ideas. His own outfit was proving to be a challenge. It was actually done, but the golden dragon that was supposed to be embroidered all around his body needed help on. Katara did that part in two days, which surprised him. Soon everything that could be done was done. The ship was decorated, he was sure of his dance and the musicians were sure of their music.

Sokka and Aang still weren't back, leaving Zuko perfectly free to be with Katara in the open. The sun was beginning to set, soon everything would begin. The party and dance were timed perfectly, so that as Zuko began his dance, the sun on Summer Solstice would be rising. The sun finally slipped below the horizon and everything began. Zuko kissed Katara goodbye, they wouldn't be able to see each other until the dance. Already everybody was beginning to converge on the deck where there were paper lanterns set on strings, musicians and food.

It wasn't long before the whole crew was dancing wildly to the beat of the music. They were idiots really; at least that's what Zuko thought. He looked at himself in the mirror quickly. He wore a red kind of coat that had a stiff collar and went all the way down past his knees. Embroidered on it was a golden dragon that wound all about his body, its head on his right shoulder. The coat was open and his chest could be seen. Underneath he wore a pair of black pants that gathered at the ankles. His hair was down and came to his shoulders. He was still looking at himself when he heard the music stop. He ran out of the room to stand on the right side of the deck in the shadows. No one saw him.

For walking across the makeshift stage was Katara. She was wearing not much at all. She wore a band across her chest made of white fur. Around her waist was a kind of belt made of white, brown and black feathers that hung down and serving as a kind of loincloth was white leather hanging in front and back, but it left her hips open at the sides. On her wrists her bands of fur and at her ankles her the same kind of bands but there hung leather strips with bangles tied to the ends so that when she walked there was a kind of ringing. Her hair was probably the best part. For the most part it was down, but woven into her thick tresses were several small braids. Tied at the end of them were several different things, none the same. Some were bones and some were feathers, over all the effect made her look wild. As she walked into the light of the lanterns he saw that painted in a light blue, starting at her right ankle, was a dragon. It's head ending on her left shoulder.

She walked to the middle of the platform and crouched down, putting her fists on the tatami in front of her. Then slowly she lowered her head till it hung, her hair making a veil about her face. Though even through her hair, her eyes still glimmered.


The first instrument to play was a flute. Usually played high, it sounded very odd low. It resonated beautifully against the iron of the ship. The notes started long and drawn out but soon began to speed up. As the music grew faster and faster the flute was joined by a tyonphonie drum, then a violin. The music was low but wild and it sounded deadly.

As the first notes on the flute played, Katara began to rise. She took a leap forward and landed on the ball of her left foot leaning recklessly forward and then shifting her wait back. She lifted her arms over her head as though she carried a great weight and made a motion as though spinning it above her head. Then she twirled with the momentum of her arms and began a wild dance. Sometimes she danced wildly about the stage, moving quickly, then she would suddenly slow to perform a particularly intricate and slow move. The song had leveled off and she was dancing gracefully when the first hints of Summer began to come.

These were dancers dressed up in dark red, burning orange and deep gold. They would leap at Katara and every time she avoided them gracefully and drove them back. There was a cocky smile on her face as the song became low once again. Giving one the feeling of having to hunker down to avoid Winter's cruel winds. She fought all the brightly colored messengers of Summer fending them off from her territory.

Then came Zuko. There were many dancers on the stage now and he blended in nicely. He paced around watching Katara and listening for his cue. The music began to climb again as the harbingers of Summer began to over power Winter. Suddenly, as Katara's eyes blazed with the joy of dance and fight, all the other dancers stopped as Zuko leapt out and locked ankles with Katara, forcing her to remain still. The music stopped except for the sound of chimes. They looked at each other and smiled evilly. Winter struck first, but Summer caught her fist. He moved her into a position and threw her over his hip. She landed on her feet and charged him from behind.

Iroh was right. The dances did sync up. Summer was strong and powerful while winter was diminishing, growing wilder and wilder. They grappled with each other, each time Summer winning. Winter landed a few hits, causing Summer to stumble. But soon they were looked in a full body grapple. They're bodies, covered in sweat, were pressed up against each other in all the right places, and Zuko had to remember that there were people around. He threw all his weight onto Katara and she fell to her knees. Summer threw her down and she lay wounded on the stage. Summer began his own dance which was somehow wilder than Winter's. The sun began to rise and soon the orange orb was completely above the horizon, and the dance was over.


The party lasted for some time afterwards and Katara stayed for a little. However after a while she realized that her outfit was GREATLY affecting the men's judgment and decided it was time to leave. She made her way back to her and Zuko's room. She shut the door and rested her forehead against the cool metal when she suddenly felt arms around her and Zuko's heavy breath in her ear. His right hand was on her left boob and his left hand was on her right hip. Her face immediately lit up.

"Z-Zuko!" she said in surprise. She felt his lips on her neck and she shivered.

"Damn that was hot." He whispered in her ear.

Katara felt like putty. She's never let him really touch her before, but she liked feeling his hands on her boob. Soon he simply picked her up and dumped her on the bed. His hands roamed everywhere, and Katara felt no need to stop him. She got her top off for him and he practically tackled her breasts. His tongue was like torture as he liked lightly between her breasts before moving to her left one to suckle softly. They were like that for a while, going wild at each other when suddenly Zuko groaned.

"Okay, I can't promise I can stop myself from now on. Do you want to stop now?" Katara looked into Zuko's eyes. Until now she had been avoiding the word at all costs. Shyly she reached out and held Zuko close to herself.

"I love you." She whispered. Zuko smiled and kissed her softly. Katara tipped them back and pulled the blankets over their heads.

Many hours later, both of them panting heavily, Zuko leaned down to whisper something in Katara's ear, "I love you, too."


Katara was standing on deck watching as Appa got closer and closer. When Zuko came up behind her she didn't even stop him from putting an arm around her waist. She could see the slight shock in Sokka's face, but soon it was gone and he was smiling at her. Appa landed on the ship, barely rocking it. Sokka seemed to be peaceful and Aang looked as though the troubles he had been hiding were gone.

They all stood there looking at each other solemnly when suddenly the captain came running on deck, "Sir! Sir, Omashu is in sight! We'll be landing in one day." He said it calmly but with excitement.

"And so the story continues." Katara said quietly. The moment was quiet as they all faced the shoreline.

"Finally." Muttered Iroh. And they all laughed in relief. Whatever awaited them, they would face together.


Aren't I a good little author? I must admit, it's been hard writing this chapter with my boyfriend screaming, "TROGDOR." in my ear for the past God knows how long. I think my brain is bleeding. Now he's just trying to kill me. Anyway, so here it is! I'm not sure what exactly the final chapter count will be. Anyway, here it is.