XIV

Disclaimer: I DO NOT OWN AVATAR FOOS! Italics-her letter bold italics- thought

Monica and the others sat on the train as it sped through tunnels; forests; and other things. It would take them a few days to get to Balance Valley. Monica had her head resting on the window; watching everything pass by. Katara was sitting and practicing her water-bending; Aang was playing Pai-cho with Iroh; and Sokka was sitting boredly; watching Aang and Iroh play.

"Monica; you seem depressed." Katara pointed out. "You've been like this since Zuko stayed behind.You miss him don't you?" Monica rose her head and crossed her arms.

"No way. I don't miss that Jackass."

"It's OK to admit it. "

"I've got nothing to admit." Monica was stubborn; but Katara could see she really did miss Zuko. She missed having someone to argue with; someone to pick a fight with. She had everyone else; but they weren't the same. She didn't have the same flame of hatred that she had for Zuko. Or was it a flame of a different kind?

Zuko sat at the dinner table with his mother. His head resting on his palm and he wasn't eating any of the soup she had prepared for him.

"Zuko, you don't seem very happy." His mother spoke up; noticing his lack of enthusiasm.

"It's nothing." He lied; he missed his friends; Monica mostly. To cover up for his silence; he spoke to his mother about their quest so far. About how they were working to stop the Dark Genie and how Ozai was controlling him.

"Wow, you sure have done alot.Monica sounds like someone you care a lot about." Zuko was silent; eating his dinner. "You know; your father has been planning this for twenty years."

"What? Really?" Zuko started listening as his mother further explained.

"We had just gotten married; and he was telling me of a plan to win the war. He told me that he was going to find the urn the Dark Genie was sealed in. He told me the Genie had a way of traveling through time and destroying everything good about the world. He said he was going to change history so that there would be no one to stop him. Your grandfather loved the idea; so they worked together on it; Ozai had done most of the work though." Ersa told him. Recalling everything that Ozai had told her. "I never liked the idea; it wasn't a good idea to use a power like that. Zuko; the Dark Genie is a frightening thing; Ozai can't control it."

"How do you know so much about it?"

"Never mind that. It was one of the reasons I left. I couldn't stay married to a man who was consumed by such greed. I hated leaving you and Azula behind; but it was something I had to do. I wasn't ready to take care of two children without a home; money; or anything." Zuko remained quiet; setting his spoon down and standing up.

"Mother. I can't stay here." He told her. "I made a promise to Monica and the others. I can't go back on my word." Ersa smiled lightly; stood up and hugged her son.

"I understand." She held tightly onto her little boy; whom was not so little anymore. "You need to go stop this." They walked out onto the Porch as Zuko climbed on Appa; he was stopped by Ersa. "Wait, come here a minute." He walked onto the porch and lisoned to what she had to say. "This power is something horrible and Unimaginable. You mustn't lose to it. You can't let the dark power take you over. Protect your friends and never, ever, let yourself sink into darkness. If you and the others lose to this; I can't imagine how horrible this world will be." She kissed his forehead and hugged him. "Win back our world."

"Yes mom." He held tightly onto his mother before letting go. She waved goodbye to her son as he got onto Appa and started in search of the others.

They heard a thud on the roof. Everyone jumped in surprise as Monica grabbed her sword and climbed the ladder up to the top of the train.It was dark and a day or two left in the ride until they got to Balance Valley. The sky was black with diamond stars sparkling above them. Trees often hid them. Monica's eyes widened and a smile spread across her face when she saw Zuko standing there.

"I thought you stayed with your mom." She started. Trying to control her surprise and excitement.

"I changed my mind. I promised everyone I'd stay." He smirked and they walked back down to everyone else. They were excited to see he came back; and explained that they were going to see Crest; a sage in Balance Valley that knows a lot more about the Dark Genie than Jurak. Zuko told them what his mother told him; about how Ozai has been planning to use the dark genie for twenty years.

Over the course of the ride; they fell asleep; Zuko was leaning on Monica while Monica lay on the window. Zuko lifted his head off Monica; and seeing her sleeping so soundly; with her legs on the seat and her head resting on the window; it gave him the same spark he got from the beginning; from when they slept in Cedric's bed. He got up out of the seat and walked to the back of the train; through the door and stood on the thing on the back with the railing around it. He watched the scenery pass by as he tried to think; he knew his choice was right; about leaving his mother and continuing on with them.

"Zuko." He nearly fell off the train in surprise; he turned and saw his uncle standing there, smiling. "I'm glad you came back."

"I had to." Zuko replied. "I made a promise."

"That's honorable of you. I expected that you would stay at your mother's. Ersa is doing well right?" Zuko nodded.

"She said that she would have taken Azula and I with her; but she couldn't. She wasn't set up enough to raise us alone. She had no money and no home."

"That's understandable. Monica missed you. Everyone found a way to entertain themselves but she just sat down and staired out the window. It seems your fights are what keeps her entertained." Zuko turned back to the scenery and grinned. "You missed her too didn't you?"

"No way." He replied half-bitterly. Iroh just chuckled.

"Whatever you say.But with things going the way they are; I would think you'd have spoken to her about it." Zuko flushed and shook his head.

"There isn't anything to say." He replied stubbornly. Iroh just smiled.

"You need sleep Zuko. We will be in Balance Valley soon." Zuko nodded and followed Iroh in. Zuko sat back beside Monica; and he rested his head on the table.But when he said he didn't miss Monica; he really did. He missed her a lot; and wanted so badly to be back with her. He just used the Dark Genie as an excuse to leave his mother. But he didn't want to say anything to her about it; he didn't want to tell her that he was thinking that he liked her a lot; because he knew she'd either laugh in his face; or ignore him and there would be an awkwardness about them. So he just kept it hidden.