Avatar Wolf: Such violence. Note to self do not kill off anybody else. (JK)
Air-Nomad: No he didn't. I so wanna crawl under a rock right now. Don't hate Zuko, he's just stupid. He was trying to help but he is obviously an imbecile.
coolmac1718: I'm sorry to dissapoint. There's a method to my madness I swear. Zuko(moron) is definitely not out of the woods. He did sorta get smacked down.
MikeJCaboose: I know the feeling. Loving the Aang love.
Night -KFT-: Hey there, welcome. Breath in and out. My love for Aang runs deep do not fret. Wait and see.
Magnumus:I will try to keep them coming.
Airhead259: Thanks so much. It is really hard to describe Air moves. You know. Fire not so much.
zebradonkey: I would never kill Aang. Answers are in this chapter. Sorry for freaking you out.
Sironblood1: He barged right in there didn't he? Personally I was glad he saw that, serves him right for being a weiner. The spies are to be address still. I haven't forgotten. Consider Aang steam-free.
Shinobi Bender: I'm not worthy!
EdwartTwilightObsession:You guys give me such motivation.
dhygn: Not quite spirit water. The pain is cleansing I believe.
oshnsoa shnedashn kiunepgli: That is so good to hear. So flipping worried about that.
david: Hi There! Thank you. I intend to.
doctor anthony: It was draining.
Sifu arizony: Glad the fight scene was just right. I didn't want Aang to go Avatar but I wanted to showcase how not a wussy element Air is. Hope you made it to work in time.
I was going to wait to upload this but since you guys were concerned about Aang and frankly a little violent. (Just Kidding) I decided to end the misery.
Enjoy!
The sky was blue very blue. It reminded him of the very first time he had opened his eyes and found Katara's sky filled ones drinking him in. He stretched luxuriously popping the kinks out of his frame.
"He's not hurt. In fact there's isn't a scratch on him. It's like he's asleep." Toph declared.
"Who's asleep? Is it Zuko?" Aang looked over their shoulders. "How badly is he hurt?, Katara can you heal---" his words died in his throat as he caught sight of himself.
His body was laying on the ground completely still not a mark on it. Katara's water covered hands glowing over him. "He's not responding to my healing," she wailed.
Toph's hand lay flat on his chest. "His heartbeat is there. I don't get it."
"You must be wrong. How can he lie there unhurt but not respond? This isn't fair. He didn't ask for this. Why won't he come back to us. Why won't he come back?" she sobbed.
Toph tore her away from his body and consoled the hysterical girl. "Aang is really strong. He'll be fine. Let's move them indoors. We can care for them better at the temple," she suggested. "Let's go get Appa."
Katara didn't want to relinquish her hold on Aang's hand, "I don't want to leave him."
"Mai and I will stay with them. Go get Appa. You can sit up with him once were home," Sokka supplied.
Aang turned to Mai. Up to this point she had been very quiet. Her face was devoid of any emotion as she held Zuko. She had obviously gone into shock. Sokka was not usually so perceptive but as soon as Katara and Toph left he engulfed her in a hug. She remained limp in his embrace her eyes trained on Zuko's form.
"We're here for you Mai." Sokka told her. Aang added his own voice and Mai's eyes zoomed in on him.
"Aang…where are you?" Sokka not seeing the airbender answered. "He's right there. Don't worry we'll take care of him and Zuko too."
Aang was sure it was too late for Zuko and Sokka knew it. Aang pressed his hand against her cheek letting his light seep into her, "sleep Mai and think of us." Mai sighed and slumped in Sokka's arms.
"Mai? Mai? It must have been too much for her." Sokka laid her down just as the bison's silhouette appeared over them. Katara hopped over the saddle before Appa had fully touched down. She rolled and ran directly towards Aang.
Aang stood to the side watching as his friends loaded him, then the still sleeping Mai and finally Zuko. He closed his eyes briefly as Sokka covered Zuko's body with a blanket obscuring his face.
"Come Aang. I have been waiting for you." Aang acknowledged Roku's voice but his gaze was on his friends. "Do not worry. You will see them very soon." Roku gently guided Aang to the site of the blast.
They approached the crater and through a doorway that Roku had opened. Someone else was standing awkwardly awaiting them. "Zuko?"
The Firebender was looking around him curiously. "I can see through you, Aang. Why are you blue?"
"We're in the spirit world, young Firelord Zuko." Roku said leading both men through the gates and to the other side. "I am Avatar Roku and your great great grandfather."
"Nice to meet you. Avatar…grandfather." Zuko bowed politely. He took in his surroundings fear evident in his gaze, he stepped a little closer to Aang, "Have you been here before?"
Aang was surprised that Zuko was looking to him for reassurance, "yes. I have been here many times. I'm sure once Roku tells us what we need to know he'll send us back."
Roku hearing their conversation turned and extended his hand out to Aang. "You may go back Aang but Zuko must stay here. For you see he died in that clearing."
"What?" Zuko glanced at the downcast monk. "There must be some mistake, I redirected it."
Aang rubbed his neck uncomfortably, "I saw your body. I'm sorry Zuko. You're were hit pretty bad."
"I'm afraid you took on the full power of the lightning and it took your life," Roku explained.
"But…but…I…I'm not ready to die. I have lots of things I need to do. I have to apologize to you Aang and tell Katara how sorry I am and I haven't told Mai how much I love her. I can't be dead. I can't!"
"Roku is there nothing?"
Roku sadly shook his head. "He chose his path. Death is often the consequence of betrayal. You have seen our past and know this to be true." Aang patted the older boy, the horror of the reality settling on his features.
"Where are we going?" Zuko asked resigned. He was already beginning to fade. Unlike Aang's blue appearance, his was clear and growing more and more translucent. Already his worries and regrets were fading away leaving his face serene.
"He is letting go of his mortality. He will not last much longer." Roku paused and they entered the caves of underground Ba Sing Se yet again. "You must see what has shaped him. It is in your power to bring him back but you must be willing to completely immerse yourself in him."
Aang saw the crystal that represented him. It had small cracks at the bottom weakening the whole structure. The cracks spread and it grew icy beneath his touch before shattering completely.
"That," Roku said indicating the pieces on the ground. "Was the reason I called you the last time. The avatar spirit resides in you. In periods of great stress and sorrow it becomes the outlet of your emotions. That is why you must always release it. What happened today was the result of your reluctance to explore and vent your feelings."
Aang swallowed, his pride had kept him from seeing the truth. The reason it had been so hard to forgive Zuko. He now saw that he had not forgiven himself for leaving her alone. His guilt about his work had been building and given her the motivation to be unfaithful.
She was at fault just like Zuko but he had blamed himself more than anybody, blinding him to the fact that his actions had not dictated either one of theirs. He recognized how much he still loved her. How much he wanted and needed her still.
Determined to set it right he stepped into Zuko's body. If he was to let go of his rage he had to allow Zuko's feeling to be heard. He was immediately confronted with Katara. He went to comfort her but remembered that it was not his body. He tuned into Zuko's sense of helplessness.
She yelled at him daring him to talk. The sense of being inadequate and loneliness shadowed his own feelings. The despair in the young prince was alien to him smothering his usual sunny disposition. 'Did Zuko feel this all the time? No wonder he had gravitated towards Katara's warmth.'
"I'm sorry." he said.
It was strange to hear that voice coming out of his mouth but he resumed talking. He talked about his mother and Aang felt the same soul tearing sensation. Aang had not known his own mother and he shared Zuko's distress, struggling through it. Katara let loose and it astounded him how much about herself she hadn't shared. His eyes closed of their own accord as her fingertips crossed over the stretched and puckered skin. Her hands were cool and soft commanding a spark of something to come to life.
'So this was when Zuko had begun to feel for her.' He again felt the jealousy rise but he forced it down.
The spirit water was suspended between them. She began uncapping the precious liquid when his younger version burst through the walls. His heart swelled at her obvious delight and the hug she bestowed on him made him grin like an idiot. His other self enveloped her then threw him a challenging frown.
He was engulfed by Zuko's uncle and they left. The overpowering sense of loss drowned out the brief happiness that had existed in his body and Aang felt compassion for the royal. He had always been able to inspire love in other people because he gave his love freely.
Something Zuko had not been able to do since his mother left. It explained why it had twisted Zuko inside when he had seen Aang and Mai so open with each other. Aang was pondering the meaning of what he had experienced when he was roughly yanked out of Zuko's body.
He shakily steadied himself and turned to his past self. "I understand, I can forgive them both." Aang replied. Roku's indulgent smile assured him. "Where can I find La? Do I have time?"
Zuko was almost gone his body less solid and more blurred around the edges. "Return home and you will find La. He is waiting for you. Hurry Aang, you have only a few hours," Roku warned.
Aang breathed out, his lungs expanding as he left the spirit world.
"Aang. You're back." Mai and Katara threw themselves on him and he was covered with kisses from both girls. "We were so worried. Where have you been?" they asked in perfect synchronization.
Aang extracted himself from their embrace and swung to his feet. "I'll tell you later. Where's Zuko?" he asked. Both women bit their lip. He realized they were not aware that he knew that the older boy was dead. "I need his body. Bring him here."
Bewildered Katara ran to him, "Why do you need his body? and where are you going?"
"Do you trust me?" he asked her. The water bender nodded and he gave her a quick peck on the lips surprising all three of them. "Get him here," he instructed as he disappeared from their perplexed view.
"He kissed me." Katara said in wonderment.
"I noticed." Mai replied softly.