A/N-
It's slow….But I promise…It'll pick up. And I've decided that I might add some shippy-ness to it….sorry…can't help myself
Chapter 2-Arrival
Everyone had the same reaction when Appa and the others came to pick them up. A "Surprised-Aang-What-Are-You-Thinking" expression. Then somehow it becomes a "We-Are-Getting-Together-Again-Happiness" emotion.
The first were Sokka and Katara, and of course Momo. After going through their range of emotions. They quickly got their stuff and jumped up onto Appa.
"Aang this is so exciting!" Katara gleamed as Sokka helped her up. Her eyes widens as she saw Zuko and Mai. She rushed up and hugged Mai, "It's great to see you again Mai!"
Mai returned the hug back, but not with the same feeling of Katara, "It's….Great to see you too."
She let go oh Mai and looked to Zuko. She gave a small smile and a bow with her head. "It's wonderful to see you, Fire Lord Zuko."
Zuko rolled his eyes, but then gave a smile, "Same goes to you." He looked to Sokka and gave a head nod to him, "Hey."
Sokka returned with a wave, "Hey Zuko."
"Sokka!" Katara hissed.
"It's fine!" Zuko snapped, knowing what she was going to scolded him about. It was strange; the title that he so strived for, for a long time, still did not sit right with him.
"So, come one!" Sokka said as he bugged Aang, "Can't we make this thing go faster!"
"Hold your Ostrich-Horses." Aang said, "We are almost there."
Sitting in the saddle waiting to arrive at Kyoshi island was very tense. Sokka kept on looking over the edge to see if they had arrived yet. While Mai just sat there next to Zuko. She kept one hand on her face, staring out into the distance. Occasionally a sigh would come from her direction. But either then that, she said nothing. Katara and Zuko sat across from each other. Again, like everyone else, saying nothing. Their eyes would meet and they would just give a small smile to each other.
Sokka all of a sudden perked up. "WE'RE HERE!" He yelled as Aang was descending upon Kyoshi Island. As soon as they had landed, he jumped off the saddle and ran through the village. "SUKI!" They heard, "GET EVERYTHING TOGETHER! WE'RE GOING TO BA SING SE!"
It felt like it had barely been five minutes when he came running back, dragging Suki behind him. She had a sort of confused look, but yet she was smiling. Sokka helped her up on Appa's saddle.
Suki was out of breath, as she looked around at the other passengers, " Hey everyone." She said catching her breath.
"Sorry about Sokka." Katara smirked.
"It's alright." Suki laughed, "Having Sokka burst in on a warrior training dragging me out, and him yelling in my ear as I'm trying to pack…well that's just Sokka." She leaned in and gave him a kiss on the cheek, causing Sokka to blush.
"Alright!" Aang said, "Next stop, Ba Sing Se."
At least with Suki there the conversation picked up. They tried to catch up as much as they can. Katara, Sokka and Suki did most of the talking. Zuko would chime in every so often, and Mai…still said nothing.
Having Suki there seemed to make the time go quicker, as before they knew it, they had arrived at the outer wall.
It had been a year since they were all together there. The city seemed to have returned to the same busy city it was once known for. It made Aang happy to see that things were slowly but surly going back to they way they were before the war happened. He smiled and scratched Momo's head. The lemur returned his affection, by purring.
Aang saw Iroh's teashop below them. He tugged Appa's reign and they landed.
"Well well well." A familiar voice came. "If it isn't Twinkle toes, Sugar Queen, Snozzles, Sparky, Gloomy and Suki."
Everyone head turned to see Toph standing in the doorway of the teashop. She was sipping a cup, and her infamous smirk was planted on her face.
Katara jumped off Appa and ran up and hugged her friend. Toph returned the hug.
"It's great to see you again, Toph." Katara said.
"I can say the same." The let go and Toph pointed up to Zuko who just landed on the ground after jumping off Appa "Haven't seen you in a good amount of time."
"I haven't gotten the chance to see anyone." Zuko said.
Toph folded her arms, "You've seen Iroh?"
"Well…He's my uncle." Zuko scratched his head.
Toph let out a laugh, "I'm messing with you Fire Lord Sparky."
"Just Sparky…. Zuko... Just Zuko." Zuko growled
"And you've brought girlfriend Gloomy with you." Toph said, as she punched Mai in the arm.
Mai flinched, "Was that necessary?"
"It's how she shows affection." Sokka said, walking past Mai, "You'll get use to it."
Mai rolled her eyes and followed everyone else into the shop
"Iroh!" Aang called, "General Iroh!"
Iroh came out of the back room. He took a look around his shop and smiled. "Welcome back to Ba Sing Se, Avatar Aang." Aang gave a low bow. Iroh returned it. "So what can I get for all of you?"
"Just a big pot of jasmine tea…" Sokka stated, "All around." Iroh smiled and went in the back room again.
"I'm going to go unpack my things." Zuko said to Mai. Giving her a kiss on the check before he left. He went to the back room, and turned a corner to where he has stayed in the past when he has visit Iroh. He opened his bag and the first thing that was there was the scroll his war minister gave him. He shrugged, and decided to actually read it now. He unrolled it and read it…His face just dropped as he was reading it. He had to tell someone. Who.
"Uncle!" He yelled as he ran out of the room.