Book 2: Earth

Chapter 5: Avatar Day

A/N: Hello friends! In a completely shocking series of events, it's been an age since I've updated this story. If you're still reading this, you have my sincerest thanks, and if you're new to the scene, then I'm glad you're here! I've really started to make this story my own, so be prepared to see a lot of new stuff. I love working on this fic, and I hope you all still enjoy reading it :)

See you at the double bar!


Emi sighed contently as she gently swirled another steady stream of water around her. The stream's chilly water came to her knees, and she had spent the afternoon trying her best to recall the lessons her grandfather used to teach her when she was young. It was so different than what she remembered. Here the water brushed softly against her skin, and she found she preferred it greatly to cold slush that waterbending at the North Pole entailed. She could appreciate the chill of the winter air as much as anyone else could, but really, she loved the summertime the most. Dropping into a defensive stance, she moved her arms in large, circular strokes, sending a wheel of water towards a group of cattails at the water's edge, a move she had seen Grandfather use when dueling the Fire Nation soldiers at the North Pole. The water cut cleanly through the cattail's stalks and she clapped her hands together happily.

"I got it!"

"I know. Remind me to never get on your bad side." Behind her, Zuko was sitting on the bank of the stream, watching her with a smirk on his face. She rolled her eyes and flashed him a smile as she turned and waded to the bank opposite of him. Turning to face him, she took up her stance again, shivering when the icy mud seeped between her toes. Crinkling her nose in her determination, she pulled a small wave of water towards her, letting it circle at her feet. With a flick of her wrists, a pool of water formed at her feet and several jets of water surrounded her; the octopus form, Grandfather had said. She raised a brow at him and wiggled her fingers, causing her watery 'tentacles' to dance around her. Zuko jumped to his feet and met her challenge head on, setting himself in a fighting stance with a grin. She gazed at him intently, watching for the moment he'd strike, and she reacted instantly when she saw his eyes land on her right hand. They moved simultaneously, a rush of fire taking down one of her jets on her right just as she lashed out and wrapped one around his left wrist. She closed her hand into a fist and pulled it back towards her body, successfully pulling Zuko off of the bank and into the stream. He gasped when the chill of the water hit him and started to advance on her with a playful glint in his eyes.

Uh oh. He was a tough match from far away, but the closer he got, the bigger his advantage. He broke free of her grasp and deflected her next attempt, getting closer all the while. He shot a ball of fire at her, close enough that she could feel the heat of it, but not close enough to hurt her. She scrambled to get away from him and started giggling as she tripped over her own muddy feet, flinging lazy streams of water over her shoulder at him as she went. He growled when one finally caught him in the face, and her laughter rang over the sound of the stream. She turned to look at him and squeaked when she realized how close he had gotten to her. In her surprise she lost her balance, slipping on the mud and falling into the stream with a splash.

"Ha!" Zuko cried triumphantly, diving towards her. She barely got out of the way in time, dancing around him as he fumbled and splashed after her. With a wide smile on her face, she twisted and twirled around him, and he matched her every move, step for step. A cyclone of water and flame surrounded them, and even though she was a touch frustrated that she could find no chink in his armor, she was pleased that he hadn't found hers either. They were evenly matched in every way, it seemed. Then suddenly the rock that Emi had been standing on gave way, and Zuko's arms wrapped around her waist from behind.

"Gotcha!" He exclaimed in her ear, but she wasn't ready to give up that easily. She pulled out of his grip and swung her arm in front of his face.

"I don't think- ahhh!" she screamed as a searing pain cut across her palm. Zuko, who had stepped away in surprise when her small rush of fire blazed near him, was back at her side in an instant.

"Emi! What's wrong?" His arm came around her waist and he pulled at her arm, which she had cradled to her chest protectively. Her tear filled eyes met his. "Let me see." He said gently. She relented and offered his hand to him, even though they both knew what they'd see. His lips pressed into a thin line. "This hasn't happened since-"

"I know." They stood frowning for a moment before Emi held up her other hand. He gave her a warning look but she ignored him. In through the nose, out through the mouth, she thought. She focused on the heat of Zuko standing next to her, on the warmth she felt deep within her heart, and a small flame appeared in her hand. She looked up at him and his face was set in a deep frown. "It must have been nothing." She said quietly. She stuck her injured hand into the water, and after a flash of blue, it came out good as new. Judging by the look on his face, and his sigh as he began to lead her towards the bank, Zuko wasn't reassured by her display.

When Zuko had first taught Emi how to firebend, her palms would often get burnt as a result of the flames that surged from them. Zuko had wanted to stop, telling her that it wasn't worth the pain, but she persisted. She had to, she had told him, so that no one would ever know she wasn't from the Fire Nation. The look on his face now still matched the one he used to make when they were young. Over time, the burns stopped, even if she could never get the discomfort to go away. Although she had felt pain from firebending recently, she hadn't suffered any real burns for a long time.

By the time Zuko held out a hand to her to pull her out of the water, she was shivering from the cold. She twisted her hand in a twirling motion and the water that had soaked their clothes followed, falling gently back into the stream. They began the trek back to camp, Zuko wrapping his arm around her waist again as they went. After only a moment he stopped in his tracks and swung around to look at her, the frown never leaving his face. She looked up at him in confusion when he wrapped his other arm around her as well.

"Zuko, what are you doing?" She asked. She had hugged Zuko enough times in her life to know that wasn't what he was going for.

"Are you losing weight?" His hands tightened around her waist, as if to show her that there was a little body mass missing that had been there only weeks ago. She shook her head in exasperation and pulled out of his grip, opting to link her arm with his instead.

"We're fugitives, Zuko. None of us are eating as much as we were on our cozy ship." She said patiently, pulling on his arm until they were walking again.

"I hate this." He snarled vehemently. She frowned up at him and squeezed his arm.

"We'll be okay, Zuko."

He rested his chin against the crown of her head for just a moment and sighed before leading her back to camp. He didn't say anything for the rest of the trip.


Later that evening, Emi ducked into the entrance of the small cave they were currently inhabiting, having just got back from her second venture out to the stream. There wasn't much she could do without a bar of soap, but if rinsing it out in the stream could make her hair look even slightly more presentable, she was willing to do it. Uncle appeared to be meditating, but when she entered, he looked pleased to see her.

"Ah Emi, dear, come sit." He said in his low, rumbling voice, patting the ground next to him. She complied and made herself comfortable while Uncle got a small fire going. "I expected Zuko to be with you." He said offhandedly. Emi just shrugged and gathered her damp hair and began to pile it into her now customary messy bun. It was much longer now, nearly reaching her waist in length, but she could hardly ever tell anymore.

"I'm not sure where he is." Emi said, frowning as she twisted the leather tie into place. She pulled her knees up to her chest, folding her arms and resting her chin against them. "He must have slipped away when I went back to the stream. Last time he left without saying anything, he came back with those swords." She said, her eyes focused on the flames in front of her.

"You're worried about him." Uncle said knowingly, tilting his head to the side as he looked at her. She smiled humorlessly at him in return.

"Of course I am. You are too." She said, picking up a small stick and prodding the fire with it. "We've been on the run for weeks. We've hardly any food and we sleep in tents or a cave every night. He hates it."

"You hate it." He said pointedly. She shook her head and sighed.

"Of course I do. We're fugitives." She pointed out. "But it isn't affecting me the same way it's affecting him. We have no plan, and all he wants is to go after Aang again, I know it."

"What do you want?" She made a noncommittal sound and dragged her hands over her face tiredly.

"I don't want to capture Aang." She said softly. She hadn't answered his question, but she honestly didn't think she could. What do I want? She felt his hand on her shoulder and smiled sadly at him.

"You've had these doubts a long time." He stated, and she nodded her head even though it wasn't a question. "Have you ever told him?" The smile dropped from her face.

"How could I?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. She turned away from him and gazed into the fire again. "We've stayed with him all this time, followed him around the world. It's all he's ever wanted, and we follow him without question because we are his family and he needs us." She said passionately. Uncle's hand tightened on her shoulder.

"I understand." He said in his calming voice. "But Zuko is your closest and best friend, don't you think he deserves the chance to know how you feel?" Any further comment she could have made was interrupted by Zuko's return. He ducked his way into the cave with two baskets in his hands. He tossed one at Uncle's feet, and set the other down next to Emi. She sat up and peered into the basket in interest, surprised to see that it was full of mouthwatering cakes and fruit pastries. They smelled amazing, and Emi's stomach growled in anticipation.

"Where did you get these?" Uncle asked in confusion. Emi too looked up to see Zuko walking away from them, not even pausing to respond to Uncle's question.

"What does it matter where they came from?" He asked, his voice quiet and cold. Emi and Uncle glanced at each other in concern. Emi rose to her feet to follow him, but Uncle snagged her hand before she could get very far.

"You should eat." He prodded. "We don't get very many opportunities like this." Emi looked back at him, torn, but his steady gaze and the rumbling of her stomach won out. She and Uncle ate silently absorbed in their own thoughts. Later, she decided as her teeth bit into what must have been the most delicious thing she'd ever eaten. Later, she would confront him.


She didn't; not when he returned later that night, solemn and distant, a hard expression that she couldn't understand in his eyes. Instead, she shifted wordlessly, making room for him beside her where their three bedrolls lay side by side. There was room to spread out, but they had come to the unspoken agreement to stay close; whether for safety or for comfort, she couldn't say. Likely both, as she was certain that some nights, only the warmth radiating from Uncle and Zuko's even breathing allowed her to sleep at all. Her heart ached. She wanted to help him; to make him understand that this period of their life would pass, even if it was nothing short of miserable now. But she had no words.

She didn't confront him the next day either, when he disappeared for hours, only to return bearing gifts that should have been impossible for him to obtain; food, bed rolls that were thicker and warmer, even an elegant tea set for Uncle. As he held her wrist gently in his hands, tightening a beautiful beaded bracelet into place, her throat felt impossibly tight. It told the story of the seasons, one melding flawlessly to the next. She loved it, and she wanted to shake him. Why? Why was he doing this? She knew he'd stolen whatever money he used to purchase these things, which was why he'd never even asked her to come with him. But she didn't shake him. Instead, she slid her arms around his neck and thanked him, biting her cheek to keep all her other words away. She didn't miss the way his hands gripped her tunic, clutching at the fabric. She was lost, wishing so dearly she knew what to do.

The rustling of the forest floor was a telltale sign that Uncle had returned, and a wave of relief swept through her, bringing a smile to her face. Uncle would know what to say and what to do.

*"Looks like someone's been shopping." He started, his tone even. Emi had moved to poke at the dwindling fire, and Zuko sat with his back against the wall of the cave. "But where did you get the money." Her hand stilled for just a moment, but then she resumed her actions. It was unusual for Uncle to have asked a question so direct.

"Do you like your new teapot?" Zuko asked. His voice sounded almost normal.

"To be honest with you, the best tea tastes delicious whether it comes from a porcelain pot, or a tin cup." Uncle replied, making his way over to Zuko. Emi's eyes traced his movements. "I know that we have had some difficult times lately. We have had to struggle just to get by. But it is nothing to be ashamed of." There was an urgency in that tone. He must have wanted Zuko to understand his words so badly. "There is a simple honor in poverty."

"There is no honor for me without the Avatar." Quick as a whip, those words. As though they were a never-ending mantra running through his mind. Uncle sighed.

"Zuko, even if you were to capture the Avatar, I am not sure that it would solve all of our problems. Not now."

"Then there is no hope." A knife through her chest. Did he really believe…?

"No Zuko!" Uncle gripped Zuko's shoulders, and Emi could only watch. "You must never give in to despair. Allow yourself to turn down that road and you surrender yourself to your lowest instincts. In the darkest times, hope is something you give yourself. That is the meaning of inner strength." She believed him; she knew that he had experienced the darkest of times, and that he still became the man he was now. But as she watched Zuko get up and walk away without another word, she wondered if he understood. If he was even capable of seeing it.*


She followed him without hesitation, even though she had no idea what he needed. But this was not the first time in their journey that this had been the case. Just as she had in the past, she would be there for him; as she promised she'd be. He hadn't gone far, and she found him in a clearing filled to the brim with the day's fading sunlight. He stood in the center, gazing up at the sky. Her footsteps were soft, but he did not seem at all surprised when her hand landed on his shoulder.

"Zuko? Are you okay?" She asked.

"I know he thinks nothing would change if we brought the Avatar home, but he's wrong." His words were soft, but his tone told her he had never been so sure of anything in his life. Her grip on his shoulder tightened. "I will help my father claim victory in this war, and we will return home with honor, and there, I will keep you safe." Emi's eyes dropped closed. It had always been his honor on the line, it was what drove them forward day after day. Now, it was clear that there was more. The realization that his behavior had changed after that day in the river rocked through her. How could she have missed it? He had been so upset to learn about the weight she had lost.

"Zuko, listen to me." She said, turning him so that he faced her at last. "My safety is no more at risk than yours or Uncle's, you know that. Don't let that cloud your judgement." Uncle's words from just a few days ago weighed on her heart. She should tell him. He was her best friend, and he should know how she felt. Taking a deep breath, she attempted to speak as calmly as she could. "Have you ever stopped to think that maybe the Fire Nation shouldn't win the war?"

His reaction was instant, as was the guilt that gripped her. She'd blindsided him; he had had no idea. He tore away from her, putting distance between them with narrowed eyes.

"Are you out of your mind?" His voice was low, and she could feel his budding anger. "What did you think the point of the last three years was?"

"Aang could be this world's last chance at some semblance of peace. We must reconsider." She said firmly, though her hands shook in her efforts to keep calm.

"My father will bring peace." He said harshly, and she felt her own irritation rise. She hated feeling angry at him, but how could he still think that to be true, after everything that had happened to them?

"You're being unreasonable." She snapped. "The Fire Lord does not wish peace upon this world, and deep down you know it."

"Unreasonable?" He said incredulously. "I'm being unreasonable now, am I? It's you who's speaking traitorous things against a country that was your home!"

"A home only because you and Uncle were there for me! What would have happened to me without you, Zuko?" She shot back.

"And the Avatar can offer you better?" But that wasn't the point. As if she'd ever be anything but grateful for the two of them.

"Aang is doing what is best for everyone, the Fire Nation only cares for themselves!" Zuko growled in frustration at her words.

"The Avatar is only putting ideas in your head, Emi!"

"Aang is only-"

"Stop calling him that!" He snarled furiously, fire flaring from his palms as he interrupted her.

"No!" She cried in response. "I won't! Aang is a person, not some shiny trophy for your father's mantle."

"Well if you think he's so great, maybe you should go help him!"

"I've already helped him quite enough!" Her mouth snapped shut and her eyes went wide as she realized what she had said.

"What did you just say?" His voice was dangerously quiet; the anger rolled off of him in waves, flames licking at his fingers. Emi swallowed thickly. How had this gone so wrong so quickly? He was never supposed to find out like this.

"Zuko I-"

"When Emi?"

"I didn't- I just wanted-"

"The South Pole?" She flinched.

"Kioshi Island?" He took a step forward and she took one back, her eyes pleading.

"The Fire Sage Temple? Did you even try to catch him before he locked himself in that room?" His voice grew louder with every word he said, and he advanced on her once more. This time she stood her ground, jutting out her chin and trying to ignore the frantic beating of her heart.

"Alright, yes! I helped Aang! How was I supposed to just stand by and do nothing, Zuko?" She cried helplessly as he tore himself away from her and turned his back, clenching and unclenching his fists at his sides. "You don't understand. How was I supposed to ignore everything I had been feeling and just-"

"Why didn't you tell me Emi?" Zuko interrupted her shortly, and she watched as the anger left him. Somehow that made her feel even worse. She knew angry Zuko but this one…this one looked at her with sad, hurt eyes. "You've had these doubts for so long and you never came to me? Don't you trust me?" It would have hurt less if he had given her a scar to match. Anything would have been better than this. No matter her intentions, she should have told him.

"Zuko," she reached out to him, the pain she felt at hurting him written on her face, but he shied away from her touch and she stepped back, having the grace to look guilty. "Zuko of course I trust you. I just..I…ugh." she threw her hands up in frustration and looked towards the ground. When she raised her head to look at him once more, her eyes were full of tears. "I was just trying to do the right thing."

He ran his hand through his hair, his eyes trained on the ground. "Maybe you're right." Emi waited for his next words, foolishly hoping that something good could come from this fight. She held her breath. "Maybe it's time for me to leave. We don't seem to want the same things anymore."

Emi swallowed thickly and tried to blink the tears away with no avail. "I'm sorry, Zuko." Zuko squeezed his eyes shut and turned away from her, breathing deeply. After a moment he turned and began to walk towards her, looking into her eyes until he was finally standing within her arm's reach. He pushed her hair away from her eyes and cupped her face in his hands, pressing a lingering kiss to her forehead. Without another word, he turned and walked away, leaving her in that beautiful, flame-coloed clearing alone.


She knew he was gone as soon as she returned to their camp. Uncle's face was solemn as she approached, his grey eyes filled with sadness. She didn't ask how he knew about their fight, unable to bring herself to speak. Instead, she walked into his open arms gratefully, resting her head on his shoulder as the last of her tears dried on her cheeks. Behind him, a bag was packed; Zuko's red silk blanket secured to the top. Of course he would know that too; know that she would never leave things the way that they had ended with Zuko. He had known she would follow him.

"Thank you, Uncle." She said, her voice barely above a whisper. He helped her lift the bag onto her shoulders, pushing and pulling until everything was secure. When he was done, he stood facing her, holding her much smaller hands in his.

"The trust between you might have been damaged today, but I believe that it will grow back to be even stronger than it was before." A sad smile pulled at her lips. She hoped it was true. "But while you're gone, think about what you want, and what you need as well. Only you can answer those questions that plague you." She gripped him tightly in one last hug, promising that she would be safe, just as he promised her that it wouldn't be long before they saw each other again. It was a comforting thought.

She didn't know who she was away from Zuko and Uncle, but as she began following the Ostridge-horse prints embedded in the ground, she felt her resolved strengthen. She might not know now, but she would. Her cards had been dealt, but her path was still hers to choose. She might be alone, but she would not be afraid.


A/N: Who knew writing angst could be so fun! Stay tuned for more, my friends! I'm not ready to give up on this story quite yet ;)