Author's Note:

Sort I couldn't post this before. The computers at Gov. School don't save documents for very long, so imagine my reaction when I typed up nearly 4 pages and it was all dumped…. (yeah I was devastated) But I found the strength to write it all again. Here it is.

Ch. 7 An Undeniable Reality

Zuko

Just a few more miles till we reach the position of headquarters. They wouldn't have moved it without me. Being a commander certainly has its perks. I see trees in the distance. I smile to myself. It'll only a matter of time before I'm back on the battle field. I look over at Song. Her hair whips across her face and she seems unperturbed. She's being rather quiet. I look back ahead of me.

"Did you leave something important behind?" I ask.

"No." She says shaking her head and then looks at me. "Did you?"

I've got my mask in my saddle, and my dagger Uncle Iroh gave me is…Damn. I left it in the tent that caught on fire.

"I forgot my dagger Uncle gave me." I utter blankly.

"I have it." She responds quietly while moving the hilt to the other side of her waist. Immediately I make my face impassive. Why does she have it? My gaze travels to something on her back. It looks like red liquid, and I wonder why I didn't notice it before.

"Why do you have blood on your back?" I ask coolly.

"One of the men tried to take me hostage and I defended myself. He fell on me." She explains. Then she sighs. "He was the first person I've ever killed." It probably won't be the last. I think of my father's face. He deserved his fate, but he was still my father.

"You were just defending yourself." I say to her as well as myself. Maybe I should let her keep the dagger. I concentrate on the scenery in front of us. We enter the woods and soon see lamps with fireflies in them.

I'm extremely pleased with my navigational skills.

"We should be careful." Song says cautiously riding a little faster to keep up with my pace. True. I look back over at her. The sun beams coming through the trees highlight the copper in her hair as it flaps uncontrollably around her. I should be paying attention. Her big eyes begin to turn towards me. "Did you hear me?" she asks melodiously. I swallow the lump in my throat.

"We are being careful." I blurt. Damn. She looks at me, raises an eyebrow, and turns her head away after I catch a glimpse of disappointment. I long to beat myself up just as a village comes into view. It's quite small, so one wouldn't suspect that this is where the leaders of the Alliance convene. We come up to the tavern inn. We both dismount looking everywhere except each other, then collide, and exchange an intense look. Without a word I help her to her feet and trudge into the building.

--

I stretch out on my bed. I'm so glad to have my own room. I just need some space right now. I don't know what came over me back there. I get up from my bed and begin pacing.

It could have been fatigue or hunger. I should apologize.

But then again why should I? I haven't apologized to her about her ostrich/horse, so she should be used to it. Besides I don't know where to begin. I stride past a mirror and stare at the stranger gaping back at me. There is a man with a shaggy features: long hair, grizzled chin, and hardened eyes. If it wasn't for my scar, I suppose I wouldn't think so low of myself. My eyes narrow disdainfully at my image.

I angrily grab a pair of scissors out of one of the drawers and clip off some hair with military precision. I'm about to attack my facial hair before I think better of it. What am I doing? I haven't cared about my appearance in a long time. I pace some more, but can't purge my questioning thoughts. I sit on the bed and rub my temples. I've been around her too much.

A rap on the door thankfully breaks my thoughts. I think that because my life is a series of ironies that it must be Song.

I open the door slowly. It's only a maid holding a piece of paper. She hands me the message, and leaves quickly. My scar tends to have that effect on most people. But not Song. I shrug. She probably acts like that for all her patients no matter how much she pities them.

I break the multicolor seal off the paper.

I unfurl it and sit on my bed again.

General Zuko,

After dinner there will be a meeting of all Force Commanders. You will be debriefed at this time.

-AA

--

Song

I shift uncomfortably in my chair. I rearrange my new pink silk dress over my legs while I repeat names in my head. Across from me is a girl with unfocused light green eyes, pixie length ebony hair sporting a green bandana, and green camouflage general suit. Toph. Beside her is another woman who is describing a waterfront battle earlier this month. Everything about her radiates confidence. Her skillfully braided brown hair, clear mocha skin, and contrasting midnight blue eyes certainly must add to this assurance. I can't help but hold back envy, but regret it once she smiles in my direction. Katara. Beside her is a man of similar descent with straggly brown hair, clean shaven face, and similar blue uniform to that of the woman next to him. He isn't too bad looking himself. He notices my gaze and smiles.

"My name is Sokka." He says conversationally.

"Mine is song." I smile back. He opens his mouth to speak again, but is interrupted by the tugging of his sleeve. My gaze shifts to the owner of the little hand. It's a little girl with silvery hair, brown skin, and crystal blue eyes. She has a thumb lodged in her mouth and she smiles shyly at me.

"This is my daughter Artemis." Sokka politely says introducing the little girl. "Excuse me." He begins to explain to her that she needs to wait until he finishes a conversation. The little girl nods and leans forward to whisper something in her father's ear.

The seat next to the little girl is empty. I presume that it may be the little girl's mother, but I hear earlier that the Avatar would be attending. Is it safe for so many important people to be in one room. I suppose the risk is worth it. It's obvious that everyone in this room is close. Well except for Zuko. I peek over at him. He looks different tonight I think hastily. My stomach rumbles and the lady next to me laughs.

"Won't be long now Song. By the way, I'm Ty Lee." Her braided hair swings as she laughs. She fidgets in her seat.

"Are we waiting for the Avatar."

"Yes." She nods her head and readjusts her legs once again. Her cinnamon eyes glance towards Sokka and little Artemis. We talk about my travels, but I can see her attention is focused already. I blow on my bangs and instinctively glance towards Zuko again.

This time though, breathtaking yet enigmatic, amber eyes meet my gaze. My cheeks pinked and I look quickly away.

I still feel the power of his eyes and my heart thumps excitedly. My rational side keeps me in check. Remember he wasn't too friendly earlier. I thrust my thoughts away just as the door opens wide.

A man with piercing grey eyes, monk-like robes, bald head tattooed with a blue arrow, and an arm in a cast enters the room. My medically trained eyes also detect a slight limp. I immediately stand up to show respect. He signals that we should take our seats and acknowledges the pretty girl called Katara. He then addresses Sokka and ruffles the little girl's shimmery hair.

"How are you doing Missy?" He asks affectionately. The little girl gave a gap-toothed smile and took her thumb out of her mouth.

"I'm tired Uncle Aang." She says petulantly. Then she sticks her thumb back into her mouth and looks for Sokka's reaction. Sokka, Katara, and Aang laugh while a maid comes forward to take her to bed. Sokka kisses the tired girl on the head who in turn pulls her thumb once again out of her mouth to return her father's kiss.

As she walks out of the room, the servants finally come forward with the food. My stomach gurgles its approval. Could my stomach get any louder?

I don't look up from my porcelain plate till most of it is devoured. I didn't even know what I was eating. I take a swig of the drink in front of me when Toph suddenly gets to her feet. She shakes the whole table and her plate shatters to the floor, but her ears are twitching and her eyebrows are clustered in concentration. Frightened I set my glass down and rise to my feet. Her eyebrows unclench and she swears an oath.

"We've been found." Everyone immediately leaves the room and goes outside. Ahead are three tanks with fire nation flags in front of them. The middle one has a crown. Could that be Azula? The three machines stop and soldiers pile out of them. They don't advance and their masks make them inhuman. Four distinguished figures emerge from the middle tank.

I immediately recognize the two taller figures as Shang and the man with almond eyes that Zuko struck down earlier. Both are smirking at me and Zuko. My undigested food makes my stomach plummet. Zuko and I meet eyes once again. We led them straight for headquarters. My eyes well up, and I want to hang my head.

However, I force myself to look away from the two men and try to see the women beside them. The tow statuesque women look very different. The taller one wears a bored expression while the other has a smile and raised eyebrows. The latter wears a crown and I realize that she must be Zuko's sister. A flash of pink goes by me and I can't help but turn around to see who it is. It's Ty Lee and she is running back inside. I don't have time to think why. I rotate and see the four leaders order their troops into formations. A large hand breaks me from my stupor. "You should go inside." Zuko says quickly. Maybe going back inside is a good idea.

"Could you look after my daughter?" Sokka says appearing behind me.

"Of course." I say and hike my new silk gown so I can run. I thrust the door open without looking back. I feel the earth tremble and I reason that the battle must have begun. I suddenly hear crying to my right. I rush towards the noise and open the door to reveal a distraught little girl. She stops wailing, but big tears run down her face.

"The ground threw me off the bed." She says cradling an elbow. I look at it, and remark that she may have a bruise in the morning. She holds out her arms looking for comfort which I unhesitatingly give. I allow her to dampen my chest with her tears. I rock her for a while until she puts her thumb back into her mouth and moves her head. I set her back down.

"I'm Song." I say after she touches the ground.

"I need to set up a few things. Will you be my helper?" She nods her head and takes my hand with her clean fist. I'm glad she's so trusting. I lead her to my room where I keep my supplies. We'll probably need them all.

--

Author's Note

I hope this chapter was enjoyed.

I've had a lot of good feedback lately. Special thanks for LavenderValley for answering my question, Ireth Kalt for reviewing, Entwined Roses for responding to my review, and Strawberry Flames for the awesome praise. Until the next chapter!