Zuko ran his hands gently over his belly, blowing out a long breath. The movement did little to calm the rapid tapping of the baby inside. The little nudges were becoming more and more firm as time went on. And more and more distracting. He was supposed to be mending all the ripped clothes, but he'd had to put his needle down to try and calm the baby down.
Toph ambled over from watching Katara and Aang's Waterbending training. She plonked herself down with a grin. "Bun acting up again?"
Zuko laughed softly. Toph's attentiveness to his pregnancy continued to surprise him. "Yeah. It's starting to move more."
"I can't wait to feel it." She said, leaning down to rest her head against the bump.
"Toph, you can already feel it." Zuko pointed out.
"Yeah, but I want to feel it properly, like everyone else does."
"Since when do you want to do anything like everyone else?"
"Since everyone else's way is cooler."
"I think feeling the baby move with Earthbending is pretty cool."
"Yeah, but not as cool as feeling it through your skin."
"If you say so."
"I do."
Katara walked over and sat down beside them. "Are you feeling okay, Zuko?"
Zuko rolled his eyes and huffed. "Yes, Katara, I'm fine. The baby's just moving a lot, that's all."
Katara beamed. "That's great. Do you want any help sewing? Aang and I have finished for today."
"No, that's alright. It won't take me very long to finish."
"Okay then. I should probably start on dinner anyway." With that, she walked away again to where the cooking supplies were laid out.
Zuko sighed heavily. "Is she going to be like this until I have the baby?"
"Yep," Toph replied, "She's an Alpha with a mum complex and you're a pregnant Omega. She probably won't get any better once the baby's born either."
"Great."
"Yeah, I don't envy you there, Sparky."
Zuko found himself sandwiched between Sokka and Toph. The Beta girl seemed especially hesitant to let him out of her sight. She ate with her head leaning against Zuko's belly, looking very pleased with herself.
"You comfortable, there Toph?" Sokka grinned.
"Yep." She replied, shovelling more rice into her mouth.
Zuko just sighed. "And what if I don't want to be your personal pillow?"
Toph sat up. Immediately, the baby jabbed its foot against Zuko's side. Multiple times. Toph grinned triumphantly and laid back down. The baby settled down under her gentle weight. Zuko just sighed. "Why me?"
"Is that enough food, Zuko?" Katara asked.
Zuko sighed again. "Yes, Katara. If I find myself starving to death, you'll be the first to know."
Katara frowned in mock anger but Sokka burst out cackling. "Oh, that's a good one, Zuko."
"Uh, thanks," Zuko yawned widely, "Alright, I'm going to sleep now. Goodnight."
"Night Zuko."
Appa grunted welcomingly as Zuko laid down on his tail. "Goodnight Appa."
"We need to go to Roku's island!" Aang blurted out first thing in the morning.
Zuko opened his eyes to see Aang hopping around anxiously.
"What happened?" Katara asked worriedly.
"Roku appeared in my dream and said he wanted to show something to me and Zuko."
"Me?" Zuko uncurled from his meditation position. "Why would Avatar Roku want to talk to me?"
Aang shrugged. "I don't know, but we have to go to his island on the solstice."
Zuko sighed. "I guess we'd better get going then."
Aang held out a hand and helped Zuko to his feet. Zuko cast him a grateful smile.
They soon found themselves floating across the ocean under the cover of Aang's cloud. Zuko tried not to let his anxieties twist him up too much, but it turned out that being told the spirit of a dead avatar wanted to talk to you was pretty unnerving. He found himself rubbing his belly gently to try and calm himself down.
"There it is," Aang called out, "That's Roku's home."
The island was little more than a patch of rock. Zuko remembered vaguely learning about the eruption that happened there before the war from his tutors. That probably explained the empty, desolate landscape.
"But there's nothing here." Katara said.
Toph jumped from Appa's back with a heavy thud. "Yes there is. An entire village, hundreds of houses. All completely buried in ash."
Aang frowned sadly. "Come on. Let's find somewhere to meditate."
Somewhere was a small peak over looking the setting sun. Aang and Zuko sat down near the edge. Zuko eagerly soaked up Agni's golden rays to comfort himself.
"Uh, Aang, do you have any idea how Roku is going to talk to me?" he asked.
Aang shook his head. "Just meditate and let Roku do his thing."
"Okay then." Zuko folded himself into his meditation position, focusing on the sun's warmth. Aang began to glow beside him. There was a flash of blue-white light behind his eyelids. When he opened his eyes, he knew he wasn't in the physical world anymore. He and Aang looked at each other. The Avatar looked like he used to- bald and dressed in yellow and orange. Huh. Odd. He looked down at himself to see his bump was still there. He sighed in relief.
The second thing Zuko noted was that they were on a tiny, circular mountain surrounded by clouds. And that there was a dragon flying towards them.
With Avatar Roku on it's back.
"Come Aang, Zuko." The old man smiled as he gently pulled them onto the back of the dragon. Zuko startled at the weightless physics of the Spirit World. He clutched nervously and the dragon's scales; relishing in it's solidity.
"Where are we going?" Aang asked.
"To visit my past," Roku replied, "Our shared past."
Aang grinned while Zuko frowned. The scene around the blurred with cloud and suddenly they weren't in the sky. Instead they were in a very familiar garden. Two teenage boys were sparring, throwing fire effortlessly at each other. Both boys were startlingly familiar.
One boy tripped on a tree root and the other grinned above him.
"Looks like I win again, Roku."
"Are you kidding?" the other one said, "The tree root did all the work."
Thy were still both grinning and Young Roku was pulled to his feet by the other boy.
"Nice one Sozin."
"You were friends with Firelord Sozin?" Aang exclaimed.
"Back then, he was just Prince Sozin, and he was my best friend." Spirit Roku said wistfully.
Young Roku and Sozin walked out of the gardens. A girl their age walked passed and Young Roku's face burned bright red as he watched her. Young Sozin elbowed him in the ribs. "Say something to her."
Young Roku followed her for a few steps but said nothing and she walked away. He groaned, flopping onto the ground. Young Sozin plopped down beside him.
"Love is hard when you're young." Spirit Roku said. Young Sozin sprinkled grass onto Young Roku's face.
"You don't have to tell me." Aang sighed.
Spirit Roku set a hand on his shoulder. "Don't worry. It gets better. Now come with me. We have a party to attend."
Zuko trailed after them, feeling very much an awkward third wheel. Though his bump still stuck out under his shirt, the baby was still and quiet. He wished for its usual rambunctious movements to feel less lonely.
The scene shifted again. Now they were at some sort of Fire Nation gala. Zuko instinctively looked around for his father or Azula or Mai. Of course, none of them were there. Young Sozin and Roku appeared in the grand doorway.
"Wait, whose party is it?" Aang asked.
"Sozin and I shared many things, including a birthday." Spirit Roku explained.
Young Roku caught the girl from earlier's eye. He blushed again. He would have pitched headfirst down the stairs if Young Sozin hadn't caught him. They laughed. The rest of the party guests quietened immediately as the Fire Sages strode through the throng.
"Did something happen to my father?" Young Sozin asked.
"No, Prince Sozin," the lead Sage replied, "We are not here for you. We are here to announce the identity of the next Avatar."
Gasps and murmurs sprang up from all corners. The Sage continued as if they hadn't. "It is our honour to serve you, Avatar Roku."
Young Roku's eyes widened as the Sages knelt down before him. The rest of the party quickly followed suit: leaving just the three spritely guests and Young Sozin standing. Glancing around, Young Sozin dropped awkwardly to one knee.
The scene changed yet again. Now they were standing in a bedroom. Young Roku was sitting morosely on the bed when Young Sozin appeared in the doorway.
"Hey, why aren't you packed yet, All Powerful Avatar?" he joked.
Young Roku didn't reply. Young Sozin frowned for a moment before donning an even bigger smile. He jumped into the room, vaguely impersonating the other bending styles. "Come on, show me how it's done using all four kinds of bending."
"I started packing but then the Fire Sages told me I won't need any worldly possessions anymore." Young Roku said.
"Oh." Young Sozin said and sat down on the bed.
"It happened so fast. Everything's gonna be different now." Young Roku lamented.
Young Sozin reached up and removed his hair piece. The same hair piece that Spirit Roku still wore.
"Here. I hope you're at least allowed to have this."
"But this is a royal artifact," Young Roku protested, "It's supposed to be worn by the crown prince."
"I want you to have it." Young Sozin insisted.
Young Roku took it and placed it in his own hair. They both stood and bowed to each other. Zuko wasn't quite sure what to make of how kind his great grandfather was in his youth.
The scene around them shifted again. Now they were back on the dragon, soaring through the clouds.
"Hey, we're almost at the Southern Air Temple." Aang cheered.
"This was the first stop on my Avatar journey," Spirit Roku said, "It was the place where I was trained to master Airbending and also where I met an old friend of yours, Monk Gyatso."
A group of children in the same yellow and orange as Aang stood on a balcony on a cliff, all holding staffs. Young Roku stood out easily- his long hair billowing in the wind as he towered above the bald Airbenders. The boy next to him glared and blew Young Roku's hair away from him. Young Roku frowned and elbowed him playfully.
"No way." Aang exclaimed.
The boys then jumped off the balcony, staffs expanding into gliders.
"Hey, Gyatso, you want to see a new glider trick?" Young Roku called out. He flew backwards into two loopty-loops.
Gyatso laughed. "Check this out!" He climbed onto the glider and began surfing it through the sky.
"He's air surfing," Aang commented, "I can't believe I never thought of that."
Then Gyatso fell off his glider. Young Roku dived down to catch him. They promptly crashed into the other boys waiting back on the balcony.
"That's amazing. I can't believe you were friends with Monk Gyatso just like I was."
"Some friendships are so strong, they can even transcend life times." Spirit Roku smiled.
Zuko felt a strong, sick feeling that he was intruding on a private moment. He really wanted to go- well, it wasn't as though he had a home, but back to the others in the physical world. He really needed a nice long nap on Appa and to feel the baby move again.
The dragon took flight again, taking them across the ocean to the icy pole. A slightly older Young Roku was sparring with a Waterbender on an iceberg.
"After my years mastering Airbending, I travelled to the Northern Water Tribe. Waterbending was especially challenging for me. But in time I mastered it as well."
Once again, the scene shifted, and they were in what could only be the Earth Kingdom. Young Roku was racing up a mountainside alongside an Earthbender.
"I moved on to the Earth Kingdom. My Earthbending master, Sud, was uncompromising, stubborn and blunt,"
Where had Zuko heard that before.
"And a lifelong friend. It was bitter work, but the results were worth it."
An adult Young Roku strode through the Fire Palace, to where an adult Young Sozin sat on his throne, crown adorning his hair.
"Sozin, or should I say Firelord." The Avatar said.
"Customarily, my subjects bow before greeting me." Young Sozin rumbled. Zuko couldn't hold back a flinch at how eerily like his father the man sounded.
Young Roku halted in bewilderment. Young Sozin rose to meet him with a smile on his face. "But you're the exception."
They pulled each other into a tight hug and Zuko's chest twanged painfully. Why couldn't his family have stayed like this?
"After all these years, he was still my best friend," Spirit Roku said, "And a few months later, he was my best man."
The scene became a brightly lit party, with Young Roku, Young Sozin and a veiled woman centre stage.
"Roku, it's that girl who didn't even know you were alive." Aang said.
"Ta Min," Spirit Roku said, "I was persistent. When love is real, it finds a way,"
The two newly-weds bowed to the cheering audience.
"And being the Avatar doesn't hurt your chances with the ladies either." Spirit Roku teased.
The pain flared up in Zuko's chest. He wished this was the life his mother got; a husband who loved her, who she loved, instead of a mate who stole her away from her family and destroyed her.
Young Sozin walked over to the couple's greeting table and squirreled Young Roku away to a secluded balcony.
"What's on your mind?" Young Roku asked.
"I've been thinking hard about the state of the world lately."
Young Roku set a hand on his shoulder. "Sozin, it's my wedding. Have a cookie. Dance with someone. Lighten up."
"I know, I know, but just hear me out. Right from the start, I was destined to be Firelord and although we didn't always know it, you were always destined to be the Avatar. It's an amazing stroke of fate we know each other so well, isn't it? Together we could do anything."
"Yeah, we could." Young Roku said hesitantly.
"Our nation is enjoying an unprecedented time of peace and wealth. Our people are happy, and we're so fortunate in many ways."
"Where are you going with this?" Young Roku asked.
Zuko knew. Sozin's ideals had been drilled into his head his entire life. He'd always been taught to uphold them- even if he failed miserably at every turn.
"I've been thinking. We should share our prosperity with the rest of the world. In our hands is the most successful empire in history. It's time we expanded it."
"No. The four nations are meant to be just that: four."
"Roku, you haven't even stopped to consider the possibilities."
"There are no possibilities. This is the last I want to hear about this."
"That was my first real test as the Avatar," Spirit Roku said, "Unfortunately, it was many years before I learned that Sozin had gone ahead with his plan, despite my warning."
An Earth Kingdom city loomed above them. It looked like Ba Sing Se with it's impressive wall, but Zuko didn't know if it actually was. His stomach lurched uncomfortably at the red banner blazing on the wall.
An older Young Roku stormed into the stronghold with his dragon. His eyes burned furiously. "I've seen the colony, Sozin. How dare you occupy Earth Kingdom territory?"
"How dare you," Young Sozin rumbled, "A citizen of the Fire Nation, address your Firelord this way? Your loyalty is to our nation first. Anything less makes you a traitor."
Zuko flinched hard.
"Don't do this Sozin! Don't challenge me. It will only end badly. It's over." With that, Young Roku turned and walked away.
Young Sozin leapt from his throne and send a torrent of fire towards Young Roku.
When the flames cleared, Young Roku was gone. Young Sozin froze. Young Roku emerged from the ground behind him and swept his old friend up in a whirlwind. Young Sozin hit the door with a thud. A pillar of rock shot up beneath him, pinning him to the ceiling. Young Roku's eyes lit up and a surge of wind blasted the room apart around them. Only Young Sozin was left, dangling from the rock. Young Roku flew up to him.
"I'm sparing you, Sozin. I'm letting you go in the name of our past friendship, but I warn you, even a single step out of line will result in your permanent end."
Young Sozin scowled but slumped in defeat.
"Sozin and I didn't speak or see each other for 25 years after our battle," Spirit Roku explained as they soared over his island, lush and green, "I spent most of my spare time here at my home."
A now elderly Young Roku lay asleep in bed with his wife next to him. Was he still Young Roku or Old Roku now? A loud crash shook the ground. Young/Old Roku sprang out of bed. As balls of fire rained down outside, he and Ta Min ran out into the ashy air.
The hair piece clattered to the floor.
"Let's go!" Alive Roku yelled as the volcano belted out more smog. He pulled Ta Min along as he Airbended their way through the impenetrable smoke.
A throng of people joined them, running from the burning rivers rushing towards them. Roku let go of Ta Min's hand and turned back towards the village. He surged upwards on a rock, just as the volcano spat out a plume of fire. It poured down the mountainside, spilling over Roku's dam. Roku opened up a trench into the ocean, diverting it away from the fleeing boats.
"This is amazing Roku!" Aang cheered, "You're battling a volcano and you're winning."
"Unfortunately, my success didn't last, Aang," Spirit Roku said, "There was no way I could do it all."
A huge tower of magma burst from the volcano. Alive Roku flew up towards it and blew col air to solidify the lava.
"Battling the elements was hard enough, I had to do it while I could barely breathe. The poisonous volcanic gases were overwhelming."
Alive Roku's dragon shrieked, and a blast of fire steered it away from its master.
"It's all right, Fang!" Alive Roku called out, "Get out of here, I'm fine!"
The Avatar Glow sparked in his eyes and a blasted back a huge flow of lava. He stared in defeat as another volcano erupted.
"Need a hand, old friend?"
Roku whirled around to see Sozin on a dragon of his own, hovering above him.
"There's not a moment to waste." The Firelord said.
Together, they stilled the lava and dispelled the gasses away.
The rock under Sozin's feet crumbled away. Before he could fall, Roku brought up a slab of rock to catch him.
The volcano shook and they both jumped clear. "Don't breathe the toxic gas!" Roku cried. They staggered their way down the mountain, dodging geysers of gas left and right. Roku took a blast to the face and stumbled, coughing viciously. "It's… too much…" he groaned through his wheezing. He crumpled to the ground, desperately choking for air. "Please…" He reached out a pitiful, trembling hand towards his oldest friend.
Sozin gazed down at him coldly. Zuko had seen that look in the eyes of too many firelords. "Without you, all my plans are suddenly possible. I have a vision for the future, Roku."
His dragon flew down and he climbed onto it's back. Roku watched in a mix of horror, despair and anger as the man he once considered a brother took flight- leaving him alone in the fire and ash.
Fang appeared, screeching miserably. He landed and curled around his master as the tidal wave washed over them.
Tears were burning Zuko's eyes. There was no time to even try to process Roku's horrific end when a flash of light blinded him. The sound of a baby crying drew his attention. The sound resonated deeply in his chest; it scared him a little.
"Who's- wait, that's me, isn't it?" Aang asked.
"Make sense of our past, Aang," Spirit Roku said, "And you will bring peace and restore balance in the world. And you, Zuko, are an important part of that peace. "
"Huh? What are you talking about?" Zuko stuttered.
"There must be a new leader of the Fire Nation, must there not?" Roku teased.
"It should be my uncle." Zuko protested.
"Though Iroh is very wise, it is you who must lead the Fire Nation to peace. It is your legacy."
"My legacy is death and destruction!" Zuko cried.
"On your father's side, perhaps. But your mother was my granddaughter."
"She- what?"
"Zuko, you are my blood too. Mine and Sozin's. This is why you are so essential to restoring the world and the Fire Nation."
"I- I-" Zuko didn't know what he wanted to say but he couldn't force any words past his throat. All he could do was burst into tears and bury his face in his hands.
Aang startled, but Roku just pulled him to a hug. Zuko didn't think a spirit would feel so warm, so there. He sobbed into Roku's robes, not entirely sure why he was even crying. Roku crooned softly, rubbing gentle circles on his back.
"It will be alright, Zuko. You'll see."
Zuko pulled away, sniffling and rubbing his eyes furiously. "Thanks. Sorry."
Roku petted his hair affectionately. Zuko couldn't even be angry. "Don't be sorry." The Avatar spirit leaned down and ran his hand along the curve of Zuko's belly. "I look forward to seeing all the amazing things my great- great grandchild will do."
Zuko startled as a tiny foot nudged at Roku's hand. Roku laughed and vanished.
"Roku!" Aang called.
Searing white blinded them. Zuko woke with a gut wrenching start: promptly headbutting Sokka. They both cried out and pulled away from each other.
"Zuko, are you okay?" Katara exclaimed, hovering over him.
"Yeah, I'm fine." He groaned.
"Are you? You're crying." Sokka said. His brow was furrowed in concern.
Zuko reached up to feel the wetness on his face. "Oh. Well. I'm fine now."
"That was insane…" Aang said.
"You mean, after all Roku and Sozin went through together, even after Roku showed him mercy, Sozin betrayed him like that?" Katara asked once Aang had finished recounting the tale.
Toph scoffed, "No offense, Sparky, but apart from you and Uncle Tea, it's like they're born bad."
Zuko winced but didn't have the will power to contradict her.
"No, that's wrong," Aang said, "I don't think that was the point of what Roku showed me at all."
"Then what was the point?" Sokka asked.
"Roku was just as much Fire Nation as Sozin was, right? So are Zuko and his uncle. That proves that anyone's capable of great good and great evil. Everyone, even the Firelord and the Fire Nation have to be treated like they're worth giving a chance."
"Thank you, Aang." Zuko murmured quietly.
"I'm sorry, Zuko," Sokka sighed, "That was pretty jerkish of me to think that all Fire Nation people were bad even after everything you've done for us and showed us."
"I'm sorry, too." Toph added.
"It's okay." Zuko smiled. He opened his arms and let them tackle him- very gently- into a hug.
Aang grinned broadly. "And I also think it was about friendships."
"Do you really think friendships can last more than one life time?" Toph asked tentatively.
Aang clasped her hand. "I don't see why not."
Katara took her other hand with her patented caring smile.
Sokka added, "Well, scientifically speaking, there's no way to prove that-"
"Oh, Sokka, just hold hands!" Katara interrupted.
Sokka grabbed her hand and Zuko's. Zuko blinked up in confusion. Sokka cast him an encouraging smile and squeezed his hand. Zuko smiled back.
"Zuko, you look exhausted. Go and have a nap." Katara ordered.
For once, Zuko was too tired to fight with her. He eagerly nestled down into Appa's fur; feeling the baby twist and squirm under his skin. He reached under his shirt, ran his hand along the skin of his belly and murmured softly, "Settle down, little firefly."
