By Fire and Water
Chapter Two
"Sign here." instructed Aang. Zuko signed at the bottom of the scroll, then passed the calligraphy pen to Sokka. "Good. It's all settled then." Suki rolled up the scroll and left to take it to put it in the Archives. The three of them started towards the Entrance Hall, where Sora and her son were waiting. "So I'll be back in a month to make sure all is going as planned." Aang told them. "And I'm leaving my son here to give counsel to the two betrothed."
"He'll be treated as royalty." Zuko assured him.
In the Entrance Hall, Aang and Sora said goodbye to their son, Kushin. Kushin was seventeen, almost eighteen. He was extremely skilled in bending his element, and had a certain knack for trouble, just as his father once did. But he hid it, just as his father did now, behind walls made of emotionless stones. He looked just like Aang, but for his blue eyes, inherited from his mother.
After saying their goodbyes to their friends in the hall with them, Aang motioned for Kushin to follow them outside. On the steps of the palace, Aang summoned Appa with the whistle he'd bought so many years ago at that market place. Momo was curled up somewhere among the luggage on his back.
"Now, you need to be careful. The Fire Nation is full of people who would wish to harm you." cautioned Sora.
"I should stay close to the Fire Lord, then?"
"No. Don't avoid him, but do not spend an excessive amount of time with him." Aang told him, helping Sora climb aboard. "If someone is going to be daring enough to harm the Avatar's son, then they'll try to do away with the Fire Lord as well. Instead of striking twice, kill two birds with one stone. Understand?"
"Yes Father."
Aang put his hand on his son's shoulder. "Be mindful of all around you. This is a perfect opportunity to learn about the element of Fire, and the element of politics." Aang smiled.
"I will serve you well." promised Kushin.
"I know you will." Aang assured him. He climbed up next to Sora and took the reins. Momo flew down and perched on Kushin's shoulder. "It looks like Momo's decided where he'll stay."
"Father, you take him." Kushin held Momo out. "He's been your companion since childhood."
"And now he'll be yours." Aang told him, smiling. "You'll find he's very wise. Perhaps even wiser than me. Appa, yip-yip!"
Kushin laughed. Maybe his father still had a bit of his old self behind the Avatar mask.
"Take care!" Sora shouted down at him.
He waved at them as they soared off, soon no more than a speck on the horizon. "Well Momo," He said, scratching the lemur behind his ears, "looks like we've got a long month ahead of us." Momo clicked his tongue, as if agreeing with him. Kushin chuckled. "Come on. It looks like it's going to rain."