Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar: The Last Airbender.
Water, earth, fire, air... Long ago, the four nations lived together in harmony. Then, everything changed when the Fire Nation attacked. Only the Avatar, master of all four elements, could stop them. But, when the world needed him most, he vanished.
A hundred years passed and the new Avatar, an air bender named Aang, was discovered. Now traveling by his side are Katara and Sokka of the southern water tribe, and Ashlynn: an ex-member of the fire nation, and Prince Zuko's lifelong companion...
"Get out of my face, Ashlynn," Zuko spat as he tried to lift Iroh's body over one shoulder to take him inside a building. Ashlynn, continuing to ignore the serious burn on her arm, walked to Zuko's side and tried to help lift his Uncle.
"Get your hands off him, traitor!" Zuko shouted at her. Ashlynn flinched and let go of Iroh instantly, involuntarily. "Let me help, please," she pleaded a moment after. Zuko ignored her, and flung Iroh over one shoulder. He slouched to reduce the strain on his back, and moved towards the nearest building that was still intact.
Ashlynn grasped her glider firmly, and slowly trailed behind him.
Zuko entered the abandoned house, and laid his uncle on the floor. Iroh was still in a deep sleep, and Ashlynn began to worry he wouldn't wake up. Given his age, the odds didn't seem too great. But she couldn't tell Zuko that; she had to be optimistic, for the sake of whatever was left of his sanity.
"He'll be okay," Ashlynn reassured him. She set her bag down in a corner of the room. Katara had handed it to her before she took off with the rest of the team, and for that, Ashlynn was grateful. She pulled a small blanket from the inside of the bag, and cast it over Iroh's sleeping body.
Ashlynn frowned as Zuko said nothing and left the run-down abode. She looked back at Iroh, and sighed before finally looking down at the burn on her arm.
The skin was bright pink, and parts looked like they were blistering. It was painful, but she maintained a level of tolerance towards it. She grasped her bag and pulled out linen cloth, and wrapped a bandage around her arm. She hissed when the cloth touched the burn, and choked at the thought of it sticking. She didn't want to have to take it off later.
"Here, allow me," Ashlynn heard Zuko say. She turned around and saw him carrying a bundle of wood, which he set down next to her bag. She then fell to his knees beside her, and took hold of the bundle of cloth. Ashlynn nodded, and held her arm out for him. He gently wrapped the cloth around her arm, until there was enough padding to allow comfortable healing, disallowing the possibility of her scraping it against something.
"Thanks," Ashlynn said and gave Zuko a small smile. He said nothing, and avoided her gaze as he picked up the bundle of wood again. He went to another corner of the room, and began to create a small fire in a portion of the room that was away from the wooden walls.
There was an awkward silence between the two of them as Zuko proceeded to place a small pot over the small flame, and then carried on to make his uncle some tea. Ashlynn smiled, admiring Zuko's compassion for his uncle, whether he ever showed it or not. "So you agree, you believe he'll be okay?" Ashlynn asked softly. Zuko continued to say nothing. Ashlynn's heart sank, and she leaned against a wall and refrained from saying anything else.
About a half an hour later, a groan from Iroh was heard. Zuko jumped up from where he sat, and quickly crawled to his uncle's side. Ashlynn eyed him curiously, but remained where she sat.
"Uncle?" Zuko pondered allowed, worriedly. Iroh groaned again as he began to stir. "You were unconscious. Azula did this to you," Zuko explained as his uncle sat up.
"Somehow, that doesn't surprise me," Iroh chuckled, and leaned against the wall behind him. Zuko turned around and poured a cup of tea for his uncle. "Here, I hope I made it the way you like it," Zuko asked as he handed the warm cup to Iroh. Iroh drank it, choked on it once, but finished it regardless.
"That was... Err, bracing," Iroh exclaimed as he handed the cup back to his nephew.
"Uncle, I need to talk to you. I've been thinking; it's only a matter of time before I bump into Azula again. When I do, I need to be prepared. I need to know more advanced fire-bending," Zuko said calmly as he handed his uncle another cup of tea. Iroh took it graciously, and drank from it slowly, taking in Zuko's words. Ashlynn continued to survey the scene, saying nothing. It was almost as if she were a part of the wall.
"I know what you're going to say. I know you're thinking 'she's my sister, and I need to get along with her', but---"Zuko said, until Iroh interrupted him.
"No, you're right. She needs to be taken down. You're right- We need to resume your training," Iroh said as he steadily stood up, and handed Zuko the empty cup. Zuko nodded in appreciation, and stood up as well.
"I'm just not sure what to do about her," Zuko said, annoyance hinting through his voice. He waved a hand in Ashlynn's direction, but refused to look at her. Iroh turned to look where Zuko had waved his hand, and seemed slightly alarmed.
"Oh, Ashlynn! What a pleasure it is to have you here, although it is a surprise," Iroh said, and grinned at her. Ashlynn stood up and smiled at Iroh, and she bowed to him respectfully. "Seeing you with us again is the last thing I expected. But you are welcome, regardless," Iroh said, and bowed back.
"How can you say that, uncle? She's a traitor of the entire fire nation. She doesn't belong with us," Zuko spat, angrier than before.
"Zuko, silence. We're traitors too, remember? You were banished, and I left with you. Don't be so quick to judge someone such as Ashlynn, who has never shown anything other than a kind and true heart," Iroh said solemnly, and Zuko frowned but didn't fight back.
"I had to stay. I had to make sure you... The both of you were going to be okay," Ashlynn stated firmly. Iroh smiled happily, and nodded at her. "What happened to your arm?" he inquired as he saw the taut bandage. "Oh, it's nothing; just got caught in the middle of the battle, is all," she reassured him. He nodded respectfully, and turned back to Zuko.
"Come, let us make another pot of tea, and I will teach you one of the most advanced forms of fire bending," Iroh said. Zuko nodded, and went to clean the old pot of tea he'd made.
"What shall I do, Iroh?" Ashlynn asked as Zuko left the hut. "Wait here with us. It may not show, and you may not believe it, but you give off such a calming vibe, and it affects Zuko more than anyone I've seen. We'll need that during the training, even if you're simply standing off to the side," Iroh explained. Ashlynn nodded, understanding.
Just then, Zuko entered the abode once more, with the tea-pot fully cleaned. He handed it to his uncle, and allowed Iroh to make the tea this time, since he was far more knowledgeable on the brewing of desirable teas.
When the tea was finish, Iroh quietly poured a cup for himself, Zuko, and Ashlynn. Ashlynn sat with them both around the small fireplace, and sipped the tea from her cup slowly, without saying a single word between sips.
Iroh was the first to speak. "It's time I taught you about lightning." Zuko's eyes widened at the mention of such a thing. Lightning was a very advanced and very dangerous fire bending technique. Only those who had mastered the element could wield such a power without so much worry- and even then, their lives were still at risk.
"Lightning is a pure expression of fire bending. It isn't fueled the same way other fire bending is. Some call lightning 'cold-blooded fire'. It's precise, and it is deadly. To perform the technique, you must have peace of mind," Iroh explained as he refilled the empty cups with tea. Zuko gazed from his cup of tea to his uncle, thoughtfully. After a moment of silence, Zuko spoke.
"So that's why we're drinking tea, right? It calms the mind."
Iroh chuckled, and nodded in response to his nephew. Iroh then proceeded to finish his cup of tea, and allowed Ashlynn and Zuko to finish theirs. When they'd consumed the rest of their beverage, Iroh stood up. "Follow me, both of you," he ordered. Without question, Zuko and Ashlynn both stood up. Iroh exited the house. Zuko shoved past Ashlynn, and paced ahead of her quickly, and walked by his uncle's side. Ashlynn trailed slowly behind, continuing to be an outside person viewing in.
"There is energy all around us," Iroh said.
Iroh had led Zuko and Ashlynn to the outskirts of the town. Ashlynn sat against a nearby tree, though its lack of leaves provided no shade from the blazing sun. She could feel her fair skin absorbing the heat, and she expected her skin to slowly turn darker. Sweat began to form all about her body, and it caused her hair to stick to her face. But she didn't care; whatever it took to help Zuko, she'd do it. If that meant sitting yards away surveying his fire-bending training, just like old times, then she'd do it.
"There is positive energy and negative energy. Only a select few fire benders can separate these energies. This creates an imbalance. The energy wants to restore balance, and in the moment the positive energy and negative energy come pressing back together you provide release and guidance. This creates lightning," Iroh explained. Zuko listened intently, while Ashlynn took note on a few select words. She was far more focused on how Zuko was doing.
Zuko's skin was fairer, which surprised Ashlynn. She imagined that if he'd spent the past number of days in the desert, he wouldn't be so pale. Yet, he was. She also finally noticed that his hair was shorter, and that his ponytail had been entirely removed. She couldn't remember the last time she'd seen him without his hair up, if there ever was a time.
His muscles were toned, although he was as skinny as ever. She wondered how much he'd eaten in the past number of weeks since she'd last seen him, and she guessed it wasn't much. She had the urge to go hunt him enough food to make a feast, but she knew food in the desert- especially an abandoned one- was scarce.
Ashlynn's attention was drawn to Iroh as he motioned for Zuko to step back. Zuko did so as Iroh drew his arms about him. With two fingers, he effortlessly drew upon lightning, and guided it about him. Zuko stared at his uncle in awe, and looked even more excited as Iroh cast the lightning into the sky, and allowed it to escape his fingertips.
"I'm ready to try it!" Zuko cried eagerly. Ashlynn warily stood up, preparing to rush to Zuko's side if something drastic occurred.
"Remember, once you separate the energy you do not command it. You are only its guide. Breath first," Iroh said, and he took a step back from Zuko. Ashlynn paced next to Iroh's side, and watched as Zuko inhaled deeply.
With his back facing them, Zuko began to perform the same movement his uncle had. Iroh watched intently, and Ashlynn could sense the doubt he had. Lightning was a difficult thing to master, and even Ashlynn knew Zuko's chances of getting it on his first try were highly unlikely.
Finally, Zuko thrust his arms before him, attempting to direct lightning out before him. Instead, it backfired. There was a small explosion, and Zuko was sent flying back towards Iroh and Ashlynn. He landed on his bottom right before Ashlynn, and the remaining force pushed his whole weight backwards so that he was sprawled upon his back, and had hit his head fairly hard.
Ashlynn dropped to her knees instinctively and tried to lift Zuko's head into her lap and try to help him clear his vision. Zuko groaned, and Ashlynn looked up at Iroh. Iroh simply shook his head, and then walked back towards the town. Zuko groaned again, and Ashlynn looked back down at him.
"Shh, it's okay," she soothed, and ran a hand through Zuko's hair. She assumed this is what Iroh had meant about keeping Zuko calm, though she was not positive as to whether it'd work or not. But she trusted Iroh, and so continued to try and make it better for Zuko.
Zuko opened his eyes, and blinked a few times. He fixated his eyes upon Ashlynn's face, and for a moment it seemed as if he wanted to lie there with her for a time, and forget about everything else. But that moment of compassion vanished suddenly as he sat up and pushed himself away from Ashlynn. "Don't touch me," he spat at her, and stood up and tried to maintain balance.
Refusing to give up so easily, Ashlynn stood up and tried to support Zuko. However, Zuko turned around and shoved Ashlynn, and yelled "I said don't touch me!"
Ashlynn stumbled two steps back, and then shook her head disappointedly. She trailed past Zuko, and went to join Iroh, whom sat beneath the nearby dead tree. Together, they watched as Zuko tried several more times to create lightning, all with the same result as his first.
"Why can't I do it?" Zuko cried out in rage after his sixth failed attempt to create lightning. He turned to look at Iroh for answers. "Instead of creating lightning, it keeps exploding in my face! Like everything always does," he said, and his voice quivered as he looked away from his uncle.
Iroh sighed and stood up, and began to walk towards his nephew. "I was afraid this would happen," Iroh said as he halted by Zuko's side. Zuko looked at him desperately, desiring answers more than anything. Ashlynn thought he looked far too helpless, and she wished there was something she could do.
"You will not be able to master lightning until you have dealt with turmoil within yourself," Iroh explained calmly. "What turmoil?" Zuko screamed at Iroh, impatient as ever.
"Zuko… You must let go of your feelings of shame if you want your anger to go away," Iroh told his nephew. Zuko stared back at his uncle in bewilderment. "But I don't feel any shame at all! I'm as proud as ever!" Zuko argued, and looked away from Iroh.
"Prince Zuko… Pride is not the opposite of shame, it's its source. Humility is the only antidote to shame," Iroh sighed, wishing Zuko would understand, and learn how to differentiate between the two. Zuko bit back a retort, and looked away from Iroh, ashamed.
"Listen; I have another idea. I'll teach you a fire bending move even Azula doesn't know, because I made it up myself!" Iroh exclaimed, wanting more than anything to cheer Zuko up. Ashlynn found Iroh's love for his nephew to be very gentle, and very touching, and she admired it.
She especially admired it when it shone through Zuko's heart, and he'd produce a smile, as he did then. He turned back around, and gave his uncle a grateful smile that reminded Ashlynn of the way he smiled when he was a lot younger.
Ashlynn decided to join in on Iroh's 'teaching lesson' for the afternoon. She sat down beside Zuko, who, for once, had no objections. Together, they stared up at Iroh, whom had a stick in one hand that he'd broken off from the lone tree.
"Fire is the element of power," Iroh began, and he started to draw the symbol of the fire element in the sand before him. "Earth is the element of substance. The people of the earth kingdom are diverse and strong. They're persistent and enduring," Iroh said as he drew the symbol for earth. Ashlynn and Zuko watched him carve the symbols into the ground patiently.
"Air is the element of freedom. The air nomads detached themselves from worldly concerns. Through this, they found peace and freedom," Iroh explained, and drew the air symbol. Ashlynn felt Zuko flinch at the mention of the air element, and she suspected it was because she was an air bender. Iroh frowned at Zuko, but made no comment about it.
"Water is the element of change. The people of the water tribe are capable of adapting to many things. They have a deep sense of community and love that holds them together through anything," Iroh finished as he drew the final symbol.
"Why are you telling me this? How does this help me?" Zuko pondered aloud, and stared up at Iroh. "It's very important to draw wisdom from all different places. If you take it from only one place, it becomes rigid. Understanding others and the other elements, and the other nations will help you become whole," Iroh explained as he drew in the sand to further better his demonstration.
"All the talk of the four elements sounds like a bunch of avatar stuff," Zuko said, and emphasized the word 'avatar' with a small glance in Ashlynn's direction. Ashlynn calmly continued to stare at the drawings before her, and ignored Zuko's rudeness. "Well, it is the combination of the four elements in one person that makes the Avatar as powerful as he is. But, it can make you more powerful too! You see- The technique I am about to show you- I learned from studying the water benders," Iroh said to Zuko.
Zuko stood up, more eager to learn now that he fully understood what Iroh was trying to teach him. Ashlynn stood up as well, and retreated to her lonesome tree once more.
"Water benders deal with the flow of energy. A water bender makes their defense become their offense. They turn their opponent's energy against them. I learned the way to do this with lightning," Iroh explained as he showed Zuko the movement of the next move.
The sun was low in the sky, and everything had an orange glow to it. Even Ashlynn's red hair looked more vibrant than usual. It wasn't as hot, and for that she was thankful. Though she'd lived in the fire nation all her life, she'd never been in a place hotter than the desert she was in now.
"You can teach me how to redirect lightning?!" Zuko exclaimed with shock. Iroh nodded calmly in response.
"If you let the energy in your own body flow, the lightning will follow it. You must create a pathway from your fingertips, up your arm to your shoulder, and then down into your stomach. The stomach is the source of energy. Then, from the stomach, you direct it up again and out the other arm," Iroh explained, and demonstrated the proper arm movement and located all the vital points within the body that was used to redirect lightning.
"Now, you must not let the lightning pass through your heart. There, the damage could be deadly," Iroh said as he pointed at Zuko's heart. Then, Iroh took a stance, and Zuko followed, and Iroh began to teach Zuko the proper physical movement for redirecting lightning.
"Excellent! I think you've got it," Iroh said happily after a half hour of stance training. The sun was just below the tips of the mountain tops, and a few stars were beginning to peek out through the dark blanket above them.
"Good. I'm ready to try it with real lightning!" Zuko exclaimed eagerly, almost like a child eager to hold his first sword. "What? You can't be serious- lightning is very dangerous," Iroh retorted, surprised at Zuko's sudden desire to have lightning shot at him.
"I thought that was the point! You teaching me how to protect myself from it!" Zuko shouted back. "Well, yeah, but I'm not going to shoot lightning at you!" Iroh cried out in response, utterly distressed. Iroh walked past Zuko, contemplative. The clouds upon the horizon began to rumble, indicating that a storm was moving in. Zuko thought for a moment before saying "Well if you won't help me, then I'll find my own lightning."
Zuko ran back to town to fetch his mount. Ashlynn stood up quickly, instantly ready to follow him. She began to run after him but Iroh stopped her.
"Ashlynn, wait. This is something Zuko must work out on his own," Iroh yelled after her. Ashlynn halted instantly, although reluctantly. She turned around to face Iroh, curious as to why he'd object to her chasing after Zuko. Earlier in the day that's exactly what Iroh wanted.
Iroh walked up to her and placed a hand on one of her shoulders. "You can't stay here. Zuko needs your help and your company, but now is not the time. There will be a better time for that," Iroh explained to her, and shook his head dejectedly. "What, so you want me to just pack up and leave? It's nearly night time," Ashlynn protested.
"No, not quite yet. Zuko is gone for now, and so I must take this moment to explain some things to you. I know you must have many questions, and I can provide some answers. Come, let me make us a small fire and a pot of tea," Iroh said, and walked past Ashlynn. Although confused, Ashlynn followed Iroh.
Night time had completely shrouded the sky around them, and the small fireplace before them was their only source of light. Ashlynn sipped her tea, and remained silent as she waited for Iroh to speak.
After a few sips of his own tea, Iroh finally broke the silence.
"I imagine you have curiosities as to where you came from, because it's obvious you're not from the fire nation," Iroh said solemnly. "What, you can tell me where I am from? Really" Ashlynn inquired, more curious than ever. Iroh nodded in response.
"Please, then, continue. I'd like to know," Ashlynn said.
"Back before my son died, I was fighting a war in Ba Sing Se. I was trying to take it in the name of the fire nation. My men and I were ruthless to its people. Some we slaughtered, others were taken as slaves. We never stopped to think about whom they were and what we were doing to their lives. We just killed and enslaved countless numbers of refugees," Iroh said, and paused to take a long drink of his tea. Ashlynn remained silent.
"One day, a woman managed to break through my main guard. How, I haven't the slightest recollection. I just recall this woman… Her hair was fiery red, and she looked like she belonged to the fire nation. Yet, she was an earth kingdom refugee. Her clothes were tattered, blood stained her skin. One of my men grasped her arm, and held his blade to her neck. I nearly let him kill her. But she uttered a single word that made me stop him," Iroh said, and took another sip of his tea.
"What was it? What did she say?" Ashlynn questioned hastily.
"She asked 'please, please.' I ordered the guard to lower his sword, interested in exactly what she wanted. She drew her arms out from behind her, and in one hand she held the hand of a small child that had been hiding behind her. She pulled the child out in front of her and kneeled down behind her. The child looked so small, so helpless, and so innocent. She was the spitting image of the beautiful, young woman before me. I felt conflicted when the woman pushed her towards me," Iroh said as he closed his eyes and sipped some more tea.
Again, Ashlynn remained silent as she waited for him to continue his tale.
"The young woman begged me 'Please, spare this child. Take this child. She's too young to know war; she's too young to know death or slavery. This child is special; she deserves to be saved. Please, your honor, spare her life. Take mine if you please, but don't let this child die'," Iroh explained.
"That child was me, wasn't it?" Ashlynn asked, beginning to understand. Iroh nodded in response. "What happened then?" Ashlynn asked eager to know what happened to the young woman.
"I was reluctant at first, but the child was so young. I couldn't abandon her. I nodded, and took the child's hand and had my men escort the woman away. What they did with her, I know not, though I suspect she was either killed or put into slavery," Iroh finished. Ashlynn felt her face drop, her anticipation running dry.
After several moments of silence Ashlynn spoke. "You didn't seem surprised when I told you I was an air bender. Why not?"
"Ashlynn, I suppose it's important I tell you… That young woman in Ba Sing Se, she was your mother. Though how I came across this is most interesting. As my men dragged her away, I noticed something. Beneath her tattered clothing, the blood stains on her arms, and the dirt on her feet I saw faint traces of blue. I had laughed it off at the time, dismissing any ideas that she could be an air nomad. After all, they were extinct; we'd wiped them out. The child showed no trace of arrows upon her body, either. Still, my curiosity got the better of me eventually," Iroh explained.
"What next, then? Where did your curiosity take you?" Ashlynn inquired, growing more and more intrigued.
"I was going to adopt you as my own, you know. I sent you back to my brother for him to watch over until I got back from the war. But weeks later my son died. Gripped by grief, I couldn't bear to replace my son. Fire Lord Oazi took you in permanently, instead, since you were already like another child living within the palace. Years after his 'adoption' of you, I took note that you hadn't developed the lines of an air nomad. Still, I was just as curious. I thought there had to be an explanation- for I never imagine things," Iroh paused to reflect on his past.
Ashlynn waited quietly, respectfully, still just as interested in the story.
"There was a tale of an ancient library. Zhao had spoken of it to me before, had claimed he found it, and that it indeed existed, and that it contained vast amounts of knowledge. I went to him with questions about it, and got him to tell me its location. I traveled there, seeking any knowledge on the air nomads. I found a section dedicated to them entirely. I read for hours and hours, and finally came across the most interesting scroll."
"What did the scroll say?" Ashlynn inquired eagerly.
"It was a tale; A tale of a small group of air nomads from the western air temple that fled their home. One of them was a kind of prophet, whom foresaw the doom of his people. He tried to convince everyone that doom was at hand, but only a select few followed him, most of which were in his immediate family. They left the temple, and sought sanctuary within the mountains far, far away. They tried to keep their civilization alive by doing this. For one hundred years they kept a single family line going, moving from place to place. That is, until, the last of the line settled in Ba Sing Se- during its siege. The tale stopped after that, but I'd already connected the tale to the child I'd found. All of the family had died out, and imagine the child's- well, your- father had been killed during the war. Your mother tried to spare your life, most likely in hopes of keeping the air nomad line going," Iroh recapped the story like he'd had it etched into his mind.
Ashlynn's eyes widened at the very idea of it all. Had her family all been air benders, or just her ancestors? Had it been a trait of her people a hundred years ago that vanished through her family, and then reappeared within her? What about the arrows on the skin of air nomads? Hadn't they all had them?
"What about my tattoos? I have none," Ashlynn inquired, picking that question out of the countless others.
"Ah, yes- the arrows. The tale mentioned how the air nomads tried to repopulate with others outside their group in hopes that their offspring would be born without them, or with arrows that were faded. I imagine within one hundred years, the arrows faded from your line, and that is why you have none," Iroh explained calmly.
"Why would they do that? Also, wouldn't that mean I'm not a full-blood air nomad?" Ashlynn asked seriously.
"To protect them. Think about it- If the fire nation had discovered anyone with arrows on their skin, they'd be killed on the spot. And yes- I believe this means you are not entirely an air nomad. But that does not mean you don't have the blood of the nomads in you. You are all that's left of the western air temple, and you are one of two air benders left in the world. You're practically a living relic, and I believe if the fire nation found out this secret, they'd stop at nothing to get you in their hands. You'd fetch a hefty price, too, no doubt," Iroh clarified.
"How can all this be? I lived with the fire nation ever since I can remember," Ashlynn frowned, utterly confused.
"Correct. You have lived with them ever since you can remember. Before then, you have no memory. I suspect the reason for this to be because, for a small child, when a traumatic event happens in their life, they tend to block it from their mind. They don't know how else to cope with it; they aren't old enough to know how. You lived in the midst of a war, your father dead, your mother dying: you couldn't know what was happening, or why. But when you left that hellish hole, you became happier. And thus- your memory takes you back to when you began to be happy again," Iroh enlightened.
Ashlynn considered his words for a moment. What he said made sense, and Ashlynn had never known Iroh to be a liar. After all, what other explanation was there for an air bender living within the royal palace of the fire nation? She then accepted what he said as true, and relaxed as she absorbed the whole story.
"What now?" Ashlynn asked, reverting her mind back to her current situation. Iroh had said she couldn't stay there, after all. Where was she to go, then?
"There is an oasis nearby where you can gather some food, and maybe places to stay for a few days before you begin to track your friends. I'd suggest going there to gather your thoughts and decide what YOU want to do next," Iroh proposed. Ashlynn nodded, taking his advice entirely.
"It's best I left now then, isn't it? Even though it's dark out," Ashlynn asked, and Iroh nodded. Ashlynn sighed, and stood up.
"We will run into one another again, soon," Iroh told her before telling her which direction the oasis was in. She shook her head in disbelief, and without another word to Iroh, she trailed back to the town to gather her belongings.
When everything was packed, Ashlynn departed from the town. She gazed at Iroh for a moment, and then gazed into the direction she'd last seen Zuko head towards. Finally, she looked towards the direction that the oasis was, and then began her walk towards her new destination.