Author's Note: wow, I have to admit I'm a bit overwhelmed by the enthusiastic responses I've gotten to this 'episode' so far. It really makes me hope that I can pull it off, considering I've only just figured out what I am doing with it. So please keep the feedback coming, because now I am more nervous than ever! o.0
Zuko and Katara hurtled into the darkness, tumbling one over the other down a long rocky slope, and finally coming to rest at the bottom in a twisted heap of blue and brown. A lone stoneware bowl clattered belatedly along the ramp behind them, hitting Katara in the head with a loud clang before bouncing off and spinning to a stop.
"…ow…" she whimpered.
"Hey guys!" chirped Aang merrily, "glad you made it!"
The two teens looked up and glared at the energetic young air bender, then began disentangling themselves from one another as they took stock of their surroundings. They were in a large, subterranean cavern, dimly lit by glowing green crystals native to the area. Their entire campsite and all its occupants were there, seemingly transplanted en masse from the canyon above, and Iroh and Sokka were busy putting gear back into the saddlebags.
"Sorry about the rough ride," chimed in Toph, wearing a grin that clearly showed she wasn't the least bit apologetic.
Aang stepped forward, extending both hands to help haul his friends to their feet.
"Guess who we found!" he cried happily, as the other two dusted themselves off.
"Master Katara, Prince Zuko," greeted a figure stepping out from the shadows, "It's good to see you again."
"General How," Zuko acknowledged with a well-mannered nod.
"We didn't realize that not all of you were there when we brought the camp down," How explained lightly, "Master Be Fong offered to get you two."
"Thanks, Toph," remarked Katara dryly, picking a stray noodle from her sleeve.
"Don't mention it," the blind girl said with an indifferent wave of her hand and Aang was the only one who noticed the amused glance Zuko sent in Toph's direction.
"Now, if you will finish gathering up your things and follow me, please," the general instructed, "I'll show you where you can rest for the night."
Appa rumbled nervously as they walked along the crystal-lit tunnels, and Aang stayed near the bison's head, whispering calming words of encouragement. The general led the way, and the others walked behind the Avatar, staying close to Appa's reassuring bulk.
Finally, the corridor opened up into a huge cavern with a wide ledge around the perimeter of a shallow depression that filled the area. Below them, the companions could see a massive throng of people, mostly women and children, all sleeping in huddled family groups.
"Why are there so many people here?" asked Aang curiously, as they made their way around the room.
"Those are the refugees from Omashu," How answered calmly, "when word spread that the Earth King was sending a force to retake their city, they came in droves to…help. I suppose it's been good for morale among the troops," he added reluctantly, "it shows them first hand who their efforts are for."
"So, these people aren't here to fight?" reasoned Sokka.
"No," How replied quietly, "they're here…because they want to go home."
Zuko shuffled to a halt at this last statement, and looked pensively down at the sleeping people below as the others passed him. Seemingly misplaced among the clusters of families, a lone mother gently rocked a fussy child, and glanced up wearily at the Avatar's group as they walked by. Noticing Zuko watching absently, the woman offered a tired smile, then resumed crooning softly to calm the baby she held.
A bitter empathy settled over Zuko. All these people had been cast from their homes, just like him. And his nation, his father, was the one responsible. Not for the first time, he wondered what the point of the war was, or if there had ever been one at all.
"Nephew," called Iroh gently, breaking him from his thoughts.
The prince blinked and turned toward his uncle, who was standing in the open archway of yet another corridor that the rest of the group had just gone through. Seeing he was about to be left behind, Zuko started walking again to catch up. As he neared the side-tunnel, he took one last look at the refugees, and then followed after the others.
The general had apparently thought of everything when selecting the 'quarters' for the Avatar's group. A broad fissure along one wall of the cavern opened out to the bottom of a deep ravine, with just enough room to give an anxious Appa a welcome spot under the night sky while remaining completely protected. In the main room, alcoves carved into the walls were outfitted with comfortable mattresses, ready and waiting for the weary travelers. They thanked How as he left, and then wasted no further time getting settled in for the night.
Even though he was incredibly tired, Aang found that he couldn't sleep, and after tossing and turning for quite some time, the air bender finally wandered outside to lie down along Appa's flank. He hadn't been there long with he heard footsteps from within and sat back up.
"Shouldn't you should be sleeping?" asked Zuko indifferently as he came outside.
"Shouldn't you?" replied Aang mischievously.
Zuko didn't have a response, except to cross his arms and throw the boy a small sardonic smirk, to which Aang grinned impishly back.
"Just don't tell Katara," Aang requested confidentially, "she gets upset when I stay up too late."
"I won't tell her if you won't say anything to Uncle Iroh," Zuko replied casually with a wry smile.
"It's a deal," said Aang brightly, his face breaking into a wide grin. "Have a seat," he offered as he leaned back and tucked his hands behind his head, "Appa's comfy."
The Avatar kept his eyes fixed on the stars high above as Zuko stretched out on Appa's side, his fingers interlaced and resting lightly on his stomach. The two lay there in silence for several long minutes just enjoying the still night air. It was the first time in days that Zuko had felt truly relaxed, and fatigue was starting to get the better of him.
"How did it start?" Aang asked sleepily.
"What?" Zuko's voice was distant.
"The war," Aang clarified with a slight yawn, "why did it start?"
Roused only slightly from near rest by this unexpected inquiry, Zuko glanced at the Avatar then back to the sky, pondering the answer.
"Power," he replied at last.
"Oh," said Aang, sounding tiredly disappointed.
"Were you expecting a good reason?" asked Zuko with cynical humor. The Avatar turned his head and regarded the banished prince with wonder.
"You don't believe in this war," Aang stated with a sense of dawning comprehension.
"I never did," the prince admitted drowsily.
"Really?"
"Really," replied Zuko, closing his eyes. "Does that surprise you?"
"No," Aang answered, rolling his head back toward the sky and letting his eyelids droop in a long lazy blink, "Now that I think about it, I guess it doesn't."
As his breathing evened out, it occurred to Aang that he wanted to ask something else, but before he could assemble his thoughts, slumber overtook both boys, and the two were soon fast asleep beneath the rising moon.
The early morning sun cast long shadows over the mountains, lingering over the deep ravine where Appa and Aang snored blissfully. Zuko was already awake, perched on a nearby boulder and taking advantage of the relative peace and quiet to make another attempt at meditation.
Following his uncle's advice, the banished prince let his mind examine the disturbing series of images as they flashed by. It was a painful process, but this time he didn't fight it. One by one, he suffered through the memories that recently plagued him.
The news of his cousin's death: "…Lu Ten did not survive the battle."
His mother's abrupt disappearance: "…Everything I've done, I've done to protect you."
Finding Uncle Iroh singing softly to himself as he cried in the palace gardens one night after returning home from the war: "…Little soldier boy comes marching home."
Scar tissue covering the leg of a young girl: "…they've hurt me too."
The despairing faces of a family upon learning that their son may not be coming home, and the scorn of a little boy when discovering Zuko's identity: "I hate you!"
Zuko hung his head unconsciously at this last memory, and his chest tightened with sorrow. Remembering his uncle's counsel not to dwell on his meditative revelations, he focused instead on his breathing, willing himself to continue. But what came next was completely unexpected.
As though he were nothing but a ghost on the breeze, he drifted through an air temple similar to the one they had visited several days before. It was filled with men and young boys happily going about their daily lives; meditating, studying, practicing, playing pranks on one another.
A sense of tranquility permeated the air where bison and lemurs flew, and Zuko was bathed in the serenity of the moment. Suddenly, the scene shifted and the temple became engulfed in flames. The red sky above was filled with the terrified cries of children, and the sounds of battle.
Zuko's face twisted in anguish, and he struggled against the urge to push the horrifying vision away. Just as it became unbearable, the image faded into darkness, and he found himself standing in the same temple, now covered in layers of cobwebs, dust, and weeds. Only a mournful wind blowing through the empty halls once so full of life remained. An indescribable sense of loss overwhelmed the prince, and he swallowed back the lump that formed in his throat.
Chimes of laughter broke Zuko from his meditation, and he opened his eyes to see Aang fending off his small winged pet.
"Okay, okay, Momo," he giggled as the creature tugged repeatedly at his mouth, "I'm awake! I'm up!"
"Must be time for breakfast," the prince remarked, trying to sound less disturbed than he felt. He swiped the heel of his palm across his good eye, removing the unruly tear that had formed there and hoping the air bender would not notice.
"Yeah," laughed Aang "the only thing more reliable than a rooster-pig to wake you up in the morning is a hungry lemur."
Zuko watched thoughtfully as Aang fished through a nearby bag and dug out a peach for Momo. Taking it greedily, the lemur sailed up to the top of Appa's head to enjoy his meal, leaving Aang and the prince to themselves. Feeling Zuko's gaze on him, Aang turned and saw the bewildered expression on the fire bender's face.
"You okay?" he asked innocently.
"How do you do it?" inquired Zuko with a touch of awe in his voice. Aang was baffled by the question, and cocked his head to one side.
"How do I do what?"
Zuko looked away, suddenly intimidated by his own curiosity, and searched for the words to explain what he wanted to know.
"After everything that you've been through," he began awkwardly, "everything you've…lost." He paused, besieged by the whirlwind of emotions spawned from the images he'd seen while meditating. At last, he stuttered out, "How can you stay so…cheerful?"
For a rare moment, Aang felt the weight of the century he'd been alive as though he had experienced each and every day of it. And when he answered, his sober voice carried the wisdom of a thousand lifetimes.
"When I found out what had happened while I was trapped in the iceberg, I spent a lot time feeling guilty for not being there when my people needed me: when the world needed me," he said quietly. "And even now, no matter what I do, things will never be the same as they once were."
He looked Zuko in the eyes as he continued confidently, "I may not be able to change the past, but I can shape the future. And that thought gives me hope."
Hearing these words, and seeing the passion that burned in Aang's ageless eyes, Zuko finally understood what his uncle meant all those months ago in the cave before going their separate ways.
In the darkest times, hope is something you give yourself.