The team falls into an easy rhythm. Zuko and Aang wake up to work on the Avatar's firebending. Aang then goes to school where he listens for news – currently to no avail. Sokka goes off to train with Master Piandao. Katara finds a small, secluded lake and trains there while Toph sits, making small statues of herself. "Who knows when I'll have the chance to do a big one," she replies whenever asked. "I want to be prepared." In the afternoons when everyone else is busy Katara and Zuko sneak off for a few moments of privacy. The necklace Zuko bought still hides in his pocket, the weight pressing against his leg. It's just never been the right moment.
Today they decide to go a different direction from camp where soon the trees are thinning. When the foliage clears Katara gasps. "It's beautiful," she whispers. Fire lilies stretch out before them, their red blooms open to the sun. Butterflies fly around, lighting on the flowers at random. Even a small brook can be heard in the distance. "Did you know this was here?"
Zuko shakes his head, watching the woman he loves take in the beauty of his homeland. It's all he ever wanted and more. She could come to love here, to live here. They run through the flowers. It's like a dream, one he never wants to wake up from. They run until they're panting, exhausted, and collapse on the flowers. He rolls over to kiss her, slowly, sweetly, as she returns the desire.
She nestles up to him as he rolls back and they both watch the clouds laze overhead. "Tell me, Zuko, what was it like growing up here? You've told me about the palace but with this much nature in bloom all around you, there must have been something good, right?"
The prince runs his fingers through her hair, thinking. "I used to feed the turtleducks in the palace gardens with my mother. No one would bother us there. Even Azula usually left us alone, she didn't like the garden. I loved being out there until she left."
Katara's eyebrows furrow. "You haven't really talked about her much. What happened? If you don't mind me asking."
Zuko turns his head, inhaling the waterbender's scent. The question was bound to come up eventually. "When Uncle's son Lu Ten was killed my father tried to make a play for the throne. I overhead Grandfather say that he didn't understand Uncle's pain and so he should lose a son as well. I ran away after that. I didn't want to hear any more. Mother told me goodbye in the middle of the night, I thought it was just a dream." He pauses, steeling himself for the rest. "When I woke up she was gone, Grandfather was dead, and my father was the one ascending to the throne."
Katara doesn't respond for a moment, instead rubbing small circles on the back on his hand. "Your mother was very brave that night, I'm thankful to her. Do you know where she is?"
"No," he replies quietly. They continue to stare at the sky.
"The Fire Nation took both of our mothers away."
His arm tightens momentarily around her. "What happened?"
"There was a raid at the South Pole, they were looking for the last waterbender. My mother said it was her so they killed her. She died trying to protect me."
His lips press against her head. "Do you remember anything about the ships, any details?"
"They had sea ravens on the flags but other than, no."
"The Southern Raiders," Zuko states matter-of-factly.
Katara's anger bubbles up her again, threatening to burst a long closed lid. "What?"
"That's who led the attack, I know the flags."
Anger washes over her. No! She has to stay in control. Put the lid on the anger again. Close it! Anger like that can lead to her doing it again. She shudders away from the thought. She never wants to feel someone's muscles move to her command. People weren't meant to do that. Katara looks back at the sky, forcing herself to calm down. The Southern Raiders can be brought to justice properly once Zuko is on the throne.
. . . . .
Aang plops against Appa with a sigh. "I hate school!" he declares to the cave, empty of all but him, Toph, Appa, and Momo.
"What happened?"
"They don't want me to dance, they're teaching lies. Everyone there is so blah and lifeless. It's boring. I haven't even learned anything useful about the invasion force or what's going on!"
Toph shrugs, "Sounds like classic Fire Nation conditioning to me, but what can you do?"
"I don't know," he muses, "What can I do?"
. . . . .
Dinner is a calm affair. At least it is until the sky turns white. Sokka gasps. "A meteor!" The rock flies above them, lighting up their faces.
"It's beautiful," Aang whispers in awe.
Toph snorts, "I'll take your word on it." Toph jerks suddenly as it crashes nearby.
Zuko can feel the fire, fire that's too strong, too powerful and takes off at a run as the others chase after him. To his horror, the fire lily field is ablaze, the flames climbing high. "We have to get it under control or it could spread to the town!"
Heat pushes them back but Zuko and Aang work against it, fighting to smother the inferno. Toph gouges out a deep gully around it. The brook that Katara heard earlier comes in handy, providing enough water to douse what embers Zuko and Aang don't extinguish. In a matter of minutes it's over, the once beautiful fire lily field turned to ash but the town and surrounding forest safe.
"I think that's the meteor." Toph points at a strange lump in the center of the field. They scramble forward, Sokka reaching it first.
"You know," Sokka touches the rock appreciatively, "Master Piandao just said I was ready to make a sword. I think this is what I want to make it out of!"
The whole team delivers the meteorite the next morning, Toph discretely bending it whenever possible. She bends off a little section of it to keep after checking with Sokka that they won't need the whole thing. First metal, now space rock, it can't get much better than this!
Zuko pulls his hood up even farther the closer they get. At the doors he turns around. "This is as far as I go, I'll see the rest of you back at camp."
Piandao opens the massive doors, noting the prince's retreating figure and the meteor all at once. "What is this?"
"Well," Sokka grins, "You said I needed to make a sword. Think I can make one out of a meteor?"
The swordmaster looks at the large rock from the heavens. In all his long years he's never had a chance to work with something like this. "Yes," he declares, "we'll make a sword unlike any other in the world!"
Aang has to head to school but Toph and Katara stick around, helping where they can as Sokka slaves away over the sword. "I've never seen him like this," Katara notes, watching the look of intense concentration on her brother's face. For a moment she's reminded of the loud, goofy kid he was when they left home. He's still silly of course but their travels have changed him, changed all of them, and forged him into a warrior the same way he forges the sword.
Piandao nods to the girls as they get ready to leave that night. "Thank you for your help today." They bow in return, even Toph feeling the need to do so. "I want to see your whole party here tomorrow for Sokka's sword ceremony. Everyone, all five of you."
Toph grimaces as Katara lies. "We have one companion who isn't feeling the best. He may not be able to come."
Piandao stares down the young woman. "Everyone needs to be there. I need to know the kinds of people my pupil travels with."
There's not a good way to deny his request. Maybe Zuko can just wear his hood or come down believably ill. "Of course, Master Piandao."
"Well shit," Toph remarks as the doors close behind them.
"We'll figure out something."
"No, I think it's going to come down to all of us being there or else Snoozles doesn't get his sword."
Katara sighs, she's probably right.
. . . . .
Zuko kneels in Piandao's massive hall with the others. Toph was right, no one could think of a good way to avoid this. "You know," his butler, the same one who had been with Piandao all those years ago, sniffs, "It's very rude to keep your hood up like that, young man."
"Leave him," Piandao commands before looking at the Water Tribe man kneeling before him. The sword master holds the newly forged meteor sword in his hands solemnly. "Sokka, when you first arrived you seemed so unsure, but I saw something in you right away. I saw a heart as strong as a lion turtle, and twice as big." Sokka looks down for a moment, away from the master who continues, "As we trained it wasn't your skills that impressed me." Piandao chuckles, "No, it wasn't your skills."
"You showed something beyond that, Sokka. You showed me creativity, versatility, intelligence. These are the traits that define a great swordsman and these are the traits that define you." He looks down at Sokka who can't seem to look him in the eyes. "You told me when you first arrived that you weren't sure if you were worthy but I believe you are more worthy than any man I've ever trained." With simple, precise movements Piandao extends the sheathed meteor sword.
Sokka carefully takes it reluctantly, his skin touching it as little as possible. "I'm sorry, Master. You're wrong." The words can hardly come out of his mouth but he can't accept it, not like this. "I'm not from the Fire Nation, I'm from the Southern Water Tribe. I lied to you so I could learn swordsmanship from you. I'm sorry."
Zuko can't have heard correctly. There's no way that Sokka just gave himself up, endangered everyone! The look on Piandao's face says otherwise. "I'm sorry too," the master replies before swinging his own blade which Sokka smoothly dodges.
The benders jump into position, but Sokka waves them down. "No, this is my fight."
"You don't have to fight him alone," Zuko growls.
"Yes, yes I do."
Piandao locks eyes with the Water Tribe man before leading him outside. "We will duel properly." They face each other, swords drawn, in the courtyard while everyone looks on.
Katara grabs Zuko's hand, squeezing firmly. "Be ready, just in case." Zuko nods.
Piandao lunges. The fight begins. They duel through the courtyard, Piandao swinging and Sokka dodging. The duel on the stairs, Sokka deflecting and even managing to swing back, Piandao critiquing all the while. When Sokka attacks from a ledge above Piandao nods approvingly. "Good use of terrain, fighting from the high ground."
Sokka traps the master's sword only to be knocked off balance a moment later by an unexpected twist of the blade. He falls back into a bamboo grove, quickly regains his footing and runs. He swings his blade, bamboo stalks falling behind him which Piandao easily cuts through. Sokka swings a bamboo shoot back towards the older man who again comments on a good technique.
The bamboo grove ends abruptly and Sokka is out in the courtyard once again, Piandao not far behind. Sweat stands out of the young man's brow. Somehow, even during the invasion he wasn't afraid like this. He'd prepared to die then, he hadn't prepared to die today. He throws dirt into his master's face, a last ditch attempt to get away.
"Very resourceful," Piandao comments after coughing. He can't see, the dirt blinding him.
Very quietly Sokka steps back, away from the man. Cra-a-a-ack a twig breaks under Sokka's foot. The blood drains out of his face as Piandao turns towards him, advancing with terrifying speed. Piandao raises his sword overhead.
"No!" Katara shouts, jumping down from the balcony.
Instead of attacking Piandao just smiles. "Excellent work, Sokka." He puts his sword down before wiping his eyes and turning towards Katara and the others. "Don't worry, your brother isn't in danger. I think I'm a little too old to be fighting the Avatar and," Piandao's eyes find Zuko's under his hood, "the heir to the Fire Nation Throne." He bows respectfully to Prince Zuko before helping Sokka up.
Sokka furrows his eyebrows. "How did you know?"
"Oh, I've been around a while. You tend to pick things up at my age. Besides, General Iroh came to see me several months ago before his imprisonment. Once I heard about what happened on the Day of Black Sun, I knew it wouldn't be too surprising for you to end up here."
"If you saw my Uncle then why didn't you help with the invasion?" Zuko demands before narrowing his eyes, "Are you why he was imprisoned?"
Piandao frowns. "No, never! I respect your uncle too much and would never betray him like that. There's only so much one person can do and your uncle felt my talents would better serve my country after the invasion, not during. After all, if I was involved with the invasion wouldn't Shu Jing Island be swarming with military now, intent on hauling me away?"
"So Iroh knew we would come here if the invasion failed?" Sokka asks.
"He had a hunch. Now, you can't stay here, Sokka. Where shall I tell him you're going to?"
"Ember Island, that's our plan."
"Good," Piandao nods approvingly, "No one will expect you there. I'll let everyone know." The master swordsman looks at his apprentice once more. "Sokka, you must continue on your training on your own. If you stay on this path, I know one day you will become an even greater master than I am."
Sokka bows deeply. "Thank you, Master."
. . . . .
"Piandao said we can't stay here and we already told him we're going to Ember Island," Zuko snaps. "Why are you so hung up on this school, Aang?"
"Zuko, they're your people. We have the chance to influence the next generation of the Fire Nation, don't you want that?"
Zuko groans, what is he supposed to say to that? ""Of course I want that but-"
"Then it's settled! Tonight we're having a dance party and then we're leaving. I'll go tell everyone!" Aang doesn't give anyone else the chance to argue, simply zooms off away from camp. Wind whips through his newly grown hair, a headband replacing his hat. Guru Pathik may have helped him become a better Avatar. He may be ready to defeat the Fire Lord, no matter the cost, but it's been such a relief to be around people his age, even if they are stuffy. Tonight, he just wants to be a kid again.
Within a few hours the stage is set, Appa and Momo are hidden and the cave they'd made camp beside is alight with candles. "They're coming, everyone stop bending!" Toph calls.
Aang bounces excitedly on his toes. "I can't wait!" He quickly ushers the first group of people, equipped with instruments, up onto the stage. "Alright," he asks them, "Are you ready?" They nod as everyone else from Aang's school files in. "Ladies and gentlemen, introducing the Flamey-O's!" Aang bellows. The band begins to play and for a quick second Zuko and Katara are both taken back to music night on the ship. Katara looks over at him, things were so different then.
Zuko looks out at the crowd of Fire Nation children, already indoctrinated with Ozai's propaganda. Even he was taught to dance. These children, much to his and Aang's disappointment, these kids stand stalk still.
"Well, what are you waiting for?" Aang questions.
"What are we supposed to be doing?" Someone asks.
"Dancing," Aang replies.
"Uh, I don't think my parents want me dancing in a cave."
"Yeah, what if somebody finds out?"
"Oh boy," Aang winces, "Listen guys, dancing isn't something you think about. It's a form of self-expression that no one can ever take away from you."
A nervous looking kid pipes up, "Maybe it was different in the colonies Kuzon, we don't do that here."
"Sure you do," Aang replies, "you have for generations! It just so happens that I know several classic Fire Nation dances." With that Aang begins to dance, listing off and performing the ones he remembers from his childhood. The schoolkids are nervous but ever so slowly Aang pries them out of their shells. Soon, the whole cave is dancing.
"Who knew Twinkle Toes could dance?" Toph notes.
Aang overhears and suddenly insists, "Come on, Toph. Dance with me!"
"Oh, I don't know that that's a good idea."
"It'll be fun!" With that he guides the slightly pink earth bender to the dance floor.
Zuko coughs nervously, holding out his hand. "Katara? Would you like to dance?" It's not his favorite thing but if he's learned one thing from Uncle it's that women like gifts and dancing. He can at least get that right, he hopes.
"I've never danced before."
"I'll show you." He leads her out, showing her the basics of a Fire Nation Court dance that he was made to learn that she quickly picks up.
Sokka stands off to the side, looking at his friends. A certain Kyoshi Warrior crosses his mind. He wonders idly if Suki likes to dance. She would have been proud of him today. She put him on the path of learning, and finally it's going to pay off. He's a real swordsman, and once everyone is safely at Ember Island, he's going to put his skills to the test.
"There! That's him! That's the one we want, the one with the headband!" The headmaster of the school stands in the cave's entrance with guards on either side.
Aang's stomach drops. "Oh no!" He ducks behind another kid, narrowly escaping the guard's hands. The rest of the team quickly heads for the back exit and, to Aang's surprise, the guards grab someone else. Someone else is wearing a headband! Aang watches in amazement as more and more people don headbands to let him escape. Thank you he mouths to one before sealing the back exit behind himself with earth bending.
"Well, that was fun!" Aang decides once they're safely on Appa and flying to the next island.
Zuko surprisingly nods, "Maybe there is a chance for the Fire Nation to change, all of it and not just the navy, not just soldiers who are tired of the war."