Disclaimer: Zuko: Hey everyone! Don't worry about Pilar. She's very happy.
(Pilar doing a weird dance)
Pilar: I'm just soo happy! I love everyone's reviews! And because I'm so happy, I'm going to let Zuko do the disclaimer.
Zuko: Finally, someone who can do this right. Pilar does not own The Avatar: The last airbender, or does she own any folk, or les meriase songs.
Pilar: Wonderful! (I give him a hug) I love you!
Sokka: This has to stop! I can't stand her like this anymore.
Aang: Well, at least she's not killing any more random anime characters. (Watches Pilar do a jig)
Katara: okay on with the story
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It only took them a minute to get everything packed. Everyone was about to get on the flying bison, when Zuko just realized something.
"Uncle, what are we going to do about my ship!" he exclaimed. He somehow completely forgot about his ship.
"Do not worry Prince Zuko. I have taken care of it." Iroh said calmly.
"What do you mean?" Zuko demanded.
"Well, I made a little note saying to pick us up at the village Tong." Iroh explained.
"And how could you do that? We were kicked out of the Post!" said Zuko.
"Well, I saw the Avatar's pet…monkey or is it called a lemur? Well, I asked it to fly and deliver a message. It should be back soon." Iroh explained again.
"How could you!" Sokka yelled, outraged. "You promised you wouldn't do anything sneaky! Don't you see?" Sokka said turning to Aang and Katara. "As soon as we give the little boy back, they're going to capture us!"
"On my word and honor, I will not attack the Avatar, or you in the village," Zuko swore. His face was contorted into a frown. Sokka made a noise, and just pouted.
"Great! Lets get going!" Aang said, and he jumped ten feet in the air and landed softly on Appa's head. Everyone got on, and Zuko just stood there.
"I'm just asking, how does this thing fly?" Zuko asked. Eyeing the bison in suspicion.
"Air bending!" Aang said simply. And at that moment, Momo collided into Zuko's head.
"Ahhh!" Zuko cried, and he started attacking Momo with fire blasts. The lemur flew to Aang and landed safely on his head, scared.
"Come nephew, we are wasting day light," Iroh said, wisely.
"Please Uncle, no more proverbs…Wait! Where Ping?" and Zuko was sent into a panic.
"Uhh Zuko…" Katara said, and Ping was on Appa, playing with Momo's tail.
"Right! Of course I knew he was there. Only an idiot could lose a child." Zuko said, getting on the bison.
"Okay, first time flyer's get ready," Aang announced.
"Oh! This is so exciting Zuko!" Iroh squealed in delight.
"Whatever…" Zuko said.
"Okay Appa! Yip Yip!" Aang shouted, and the bison groaned. Zuko could feel the beast moving and then it took off!
They were thirty, fifty, no maybe two hundred feet in the air! Zuko couldn't believe it! Always, when he was a child, Zuko always wanted to know what it was like to fly. He always envied the air nomads of how they weren't bound to gravity, or the ground. They could just fly away, whenever they wanted, to get away from anything…
"Uncle! Uncle! We're flying! We're-" Zuko stopped. Everyone was giving him a funny look that said you're acting like a five-year-old. "Yeah, whatever. He's flying." Zuko covered.
Iroh watched his nephew interested. He watched how he almost turned back into the fourteen-year-old he once knew. The one that would smile, and laugh, and dream. Even though, Zuko had quieted himself, he could still see the excitement in his eyes. He could almost see the unscared boy.
They flew in the air for about five hours, until sunset. Katara reminded of Aang to land Appa before it got too dark to land. Aang simply said Yip yip and they descended quickly.
"That was a pleasant ride!" Iroh commented. "And I would have never dreamed of being able to fly. Now I can die in peace."
"You said that, when I played to Sugi Horn to you when I was 9 years old," Zuko said frowning.
"Uhhh…. What's for dinner?" Iroh asked, getting off subject. Zuko lifted Ping off of the bison, and the little boy started to dance.
"What are you doing?" Zuko asked perplexed. Sokka noticed the dance, and recognized it right away.
"Wait, I know this dance." Sokka explained, and he bent down to face the little boy. "You have to go to the bathroom right," Sokka asked.
"Yeah!" Ping answered, still jumping up and down, holding his pants.
"Come on," and Sokka lead him into the forest.
Zuko and Iroh set up the fire, while Katara and Aang set up their last of their food supplies. Katara somehow made soup out of the vegetables, beef jerky, and fruit, with bread on the side. She didn't tell Aang about the beef jerky part though, because she knew that boy's his age needed meat. She water bended soup into their wooden bowls, and passed them out.
By then, Ping and Sokka had come back from their little potty break, and they were all starting to eat in an awkward silence.
"Well this reminds me of the good old times, eh Zuko?" Iroh said.
Zuko stopped eating. He looked up remembering.
"Yeah, I guess…" he said, then resumed eating.
"Ahh…I remember it like it was yesterday, you and little Azula. You two were almost inseperable at one time. Like Yin and Yang. Always getting yourself in trouble." Iroh remembered out loud.
"Yeah, until she grew evil," Zuko growled.
""Oh Zuko, it is only natural for siblings to grow apart. It's happened to me and your father." Said Iroh. But at that time, Ping started to cry.
"Shhh please don't cry. Here don't you want your toy?" Katara asked, showing Ping his little teddy bear. But the boy just smacked it away. He was obviously having a tantrum, and he was tired, cranky and wanted his mommy.
"Shhh don't worry, everything is going to be all right." Katara hushed.
"Maybe you should sing to him?" Sokka asked, doing nothing to help Katara.
"Of course I know what to do!" Katara hissed. She was one of the many girls that helped out taking care of the baby's in the South Pole. She held Ping in her arms and sang,
Hush little baby don't say a word,
Mama's gonna by you a mocking bird.
And if that mocking bird don't sing.
Mama's gonna by you a golden ring.
And if that golden ring don't shine,
Mama's gonna give you a…
What rhymes with shine? Katara thought, and stopped in the middle of the song. Ping went back to crying again.
"Zuko, why don't you try calming down the boy?" Iroh suggested. "You used to sing to your little sister."
"No." Zuko said flatly, but Iroh knew what buttons to press.
"Do you want me to tell about the time, when Zuko thought dresses were pretty-" Iroh started, but didn't get to finish the sentence, for Zuko interrupted.
"Give me the boy" And he took Ping and put him on his lap. Ping immediately quieted, but still made noises.
"I know many songs…" Iroh suggested, but Zuko cut him off.
"No offense Uncle, but you're a terrible singer," Zuko said, and he looked softly at the boy. Then he remember a song that his mother used to sing. He cleared his voice and sang softly,
"I know a castle on a cloudI like to go there in my sleep
Not any floors for me to sweep
Not in my castle on a cloud.
There is a room that's full of toys
There are a hundred boys and girls
Nobody shouts or talks too loud
Not in my castle on a cloud.
There is a lady, all in white
She holds me and sings, a lullaby
She's nice to me and she's soft to touch
She says "Ping, I love you very much"
I know a place where no ones lost
I know a place where no ones cries
Crying at all is not allowed
Not in my castle on a cloud."
The little boy fell asleep, and cradles him in his arms.
"Wow, that was really good!" Aang commented. It almost reminded of his home, the air temple.
"It wasn't that great," Katara said, pouting, jealous of Zuko's wonderful voice.
"How would a fire Prince, know how to take care a baby?" Sokka asked.
"Well, I used to help my mother take care of my little sister," And Zuko's face darkened. Mom…
"Well, now we have Ping finally at rest, I suggest that we do the same," said Iroh, and he laid down and peacefully slept in the matter of seconds. Katara and Sokka pulled out their sleeping bags, and slowly got into them. Zuko watched Aang, and noticed that he didn't have anything, not even a blanket.
"Don't you have a sleeping bag?" Zuko asked Aang.
"Nope, don't really need one. But I got Appa!" Aang said, patting Appa's fur.
Zuko nodded, and didn't say anything. Then Aang noticed that Zuko didn't have anything.
"Do you need something Zuko?" Aang asked.
"No, just a blanket for the boy," Zuko said toneless. Aang handed him a blanket, and Zuko covered the boy. Then he noticed how he was stuck. If he moved, then the little boy would wake up, and Zuko did not want that to happen.
"Will you be ok?" Aang asked again.
"I'll be fine," Zuko said curtly.
"Well, ok. Good Night!" Aang said cheerfully, and he fell asleep quickly on Appa. Zuko shook his head. He has never seen anyone with so much energy before. He watched the boy's breathing for a little bit, and then he slowly fell asleep, letting dreams drown him.
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Katara: Well, we hope that you enjoyed this chapter, but unfortunately, Pilar turned evil again. (I'm throwing stuff around my room screaming)
Zuko: What happened?
Aang: Pilar missed her show
Sokka: Which show
Aang: House
Zuko: Well that's not so bad is it? Just one episode and I thought we were her favorite show?
(Aang about to answer when I start screaming at the top of my lungs)
Pilar: DO YOU KNOW HOW LONG I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR THE LAST EPISOD OF THE SEASON? ALL BECAUSE OF MY DANCING I MISSED IT!
Katara: Pilar, relax. Didn't you just tape it?
Pilar: oh yeah. Hey Iroh, you taped the show I asked you to, right?
Iroh: ummm….
Pilar: RIGHT?
Iroh: yeah here you go (gives her a tape. They plug it in, and they watch the tape recording, but it turns out Iroh taped a tea show. Pilar goes crazy again.)
Pilar: What the hell! I could be watching House when House gets shot, but instead I get this tea crap!
Iroh: Don't you be dissin my tea b#$
Aang: This does not look good.
Sokka: umm… This might take a awhile (Sokka, Aang and Zuko go break up the fight between Pilar and Iroh)