A/N: … chapter. four.
Disclaimer: same. as. always.
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Winter…Spring…Summer…Fall…
Four Seasons…
Water… Earth…Fire… Air…
Four Elements…
There is no separation among these elements and seasons as some may think there is…
They are all the same… but they act as though they are not…
In the Winter… there is snow about the ground, yet the blossoms of spring still lie below the layer of white.
In the Spring… there is rain and clouds, yet the rays of light from the Sun still shine above the clouds' armor.
In the Summer… there is much heat and not enough clouds, but the cool breezes of autumn aren't far behind.
In the Fall… there are light breezes and leaves falling, but the cold air of winter is still around you.
In water… there are the swift movements of air, the strong movements of earth, and the fierce movements of fire.
In earth… there are the flowing movements of water, the fierce movements of fire, and the swift movements of air.
In fire… there are the strong movements of earth, the swift movements of air, and the flowing movements of water.
In air… there are the fierce movements of fire, the flowing movements of water, and the strong movements of air.
Think about it…
There are no differences…
There are no separations…
Everything is… connected…
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"Zuko… Zuko… wake up Zuko…" a voice urged softly.
His eyes popped open.
'That voice… I've heard it before… outside…the wall?' he asked himself.
He suddenly found himself face to face with a woman that looked like an older version of the Avatar's water bending friend.
The thought of the girl brought back a few memories…
"You're a terrible person, you know that?"
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"How dare you! You don't know what this war has done to me… me personally!"
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"The Fire Nation took my mother away from me…"
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'You see what your father has done to all those people? What you've done?' a harsh voice in his voice said. It sounded like Iroh…
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"It's just that… all this time, when I've imagined the face of the enemy… it's been your face…"
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'She hates you… you terrify her… you hurt her…'
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"Maybe you can get rid of your mark…"
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"This is water from the Spirit Oasis at the North Pole. It has special properties so… I've been saving it for something special. I don't know if it would work…but…"
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'She offered you something special… now you'll probably never the chance back…'
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"I THOUGHT YOU HAD CHANGED!"
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"I have changed…" he whispered, his voice filled with shame and regret.
"Zuko…" the woman said, shaking his shoulder lightly, his eyes popping open again.
"You're… her mother… aren't you?"
"Yes, I'm Kaori, Katara's mother," the woman said.
"Where am I?" he asked.
"You are in my sanctuary Zuko," Kaori said.
"I-I don't understand," he said, "Why am I here?"
"Because I'm going to help you," Kaori answered.
"With what? I don't need any help, especially from a southern water tribe wench! Don't you know? The Fire Nation is victorious, and the Earth Kingdome has fallen. Not even the Avatar can do anything now," he spat.
"You do realize I have half the mind to freeze the inside of your throat now young man," Kaori said calmly, but her expression was the total opposite.
"You should've listened to your uncle. Azula's redemption wasn't for you; it's for her and Ozai. Once you get back to your "home" you'll be locked away, never to see daylight again. You will be a slave to your sister, and Ozai will grant her the right of the throne. Don't you see Zuko? You are only a pawn in the sick plan your so called "family" is putting into action," Kaori said.
He looked away, his scar open to her eyes.
"You are the face of the enemy in my daughter's eyes, and you know that that must change Zuko," Kaori said.
Silence.
"Knowingly you have hurt the world, and maybe even some people that you will one day hold dear, but that day will only come if you change… for the better."
His eyes closed, but he didn't stand down. He said nothing.
"Why did I even promise Ursa that I would do this for her?" Kaori murmured in disgust.
His head snapped up and he looked wide-eyed at the woman.
"What did you just say?" he asked.
Kaori looked away and didn't say a word, mocking his previous acts of ignorance.
"Tell me what you said," he spat, fire daggers coming to his hands.
Silence.
He advanced on her and pounced, but Kaori was too quick and jumped out of the way. She bent water from a pouch at her hip and froze him to the nearest wall.
"You will not behave like that with someone who is offering you help," Kaori shot.
'I already have…' he thought shamefully.
His wall broke down.
"J-just tell me what you said," he murmured.
"I promised your mother that I would help you… to understand what happened to her," Kaori answered.
"My mom… s-she's…" his voice trailed off.
"No, but if you continue to take this path you have foolishly chosen, she will be," Kaori said.
"You're just trying to turn me against my people, my honor, my father!" he shouted accusingly.
Putting a palm to her forehead and shaking her head, Kaori muttered, "You truly are your father's son…"
"Don't you dare talk about my father like that!" he spat.
Acting as though he hadn't said a word, Kaori said, "Come… there is something you must see."
"Why should I?" he shot fiercely.
Kaori turned her head to look at him, and in his eyes for a second, the woman's bright blue eyes turned gold… just like his…
He followed her.
They came to a small pond, a tree providing shade to half of the water.
Kaori sat and patted the spot of grass next to her.
He sat.
"What are we doing?" he asked.
"Look into the water," Kaori instructed.
He got on his hands and knees and bent over the water, only to see his own reflection in the clearness.
"I just see… me," he said, a twinge of confusion easily found in his voice.
"Think about your mother Zuko… look in the water and think about Ursa," Kaori said.
He closed his eyes, leaned back into a sitting position and muttered, "No… it's too painful…"
"Zuko, you will never be able to understand what happened if you don't try to face it," Kaori said.
Trembling slightly, he leaned forward again on his hands and knees again and looked into the water…
After a moment, his own reflection blurred, and his mother's reflection stared back at him. She was still wearing her Fire Lady robes, and she smiled softly up at him.
His eyes widened and his jaw went slightly askew.
Her hand reached out and her palm flattered against the underside of the water.
He placed his hand over hers.
There was a small glint of fear in her eyes, and the tiniest glimmer or pleading.
He closed his eyes and thought, 'I'll try… I'm going to help you…'
He opened his eyes and he was left staring at his own reflection again, his mother gone.
His reaction was shock, and he stumbled away from the water, his jaw slightly askew and his cold, hard, gold eyes softened and filled with tears.
Kaori offered her arms and he gratefully fell into them.
He let go of the wall he had built around himself that had isolated him from this world he had walked back into.
There was a buzz in his chest that he couldn't define… it had been too long since he'd last felt it…
He hadn't felt this way since the day before his mother disappeared…
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A/N: okay, so here's the long awaited chapter 4! (and I know, I know, in the last chapter at this point I said chapter 3 was chapter 4. I made a mistake!) hope you all liked it and review!!