I am so sorry it took so long. It's finals week at school. And this chapter was a little hard to write for me. Anyway. Enjoy, the next one will be out much sooner.

Disclaimer, I DO NOT own avatar, or anything in it.


Chapter 5: Letters

The old Water Tribe Warrior pulled himself from the ground, his bones were aching and needed a good stretch. "Oh, I am too young for this kind of ache." Sokka smiled at Tsou, his eyes twinkling with humor not lost.

"Should we find somewhere more comfortable?"

"No my boy, it's alright."

A lean young man walked into the room. His skin was a light honey, his hair the color of sand, and his eyes a light hazel. "Hey grandpa, what're you guys doing?" He was the youngest of Sokka's great-grand children, Kura. Sokka knew he had lived too long.

"I was just telling your cousin about the Crystal Queen Katara."

"Mind if I join you?"

"Of course my son, of course. Though, we should see about some pillows being brought in. I may just croak sitting on the floor too long."

"I'll see to it Grandpa."

Sokka cleared his throat. "Now, where was I?"

"Shouldn't we wait for Kura?" The young Fire bender's amber eyes were ever thoughtful. If they had been replaced with a blue he would be an image of Katara.

"It's alright, he's heard this story many times. Besides, he should be returning soon." No sooner than he had said Kura strode in, followed by two others, each with arms full of plush red and blue velvet pillows. "This once was the Fire Lord's main hall, my friends and I all gathered in here and brainstormed the decisions which would shape our futures." Sokka glanced around, the ghost of the past sitting in under the ice. Zuko had refused to use the traditional Fire Lord's stage, surrounded by flame. He had said it made an uncomfortable barrier and he was done separating the nations like that. Now, that very stage sat frozen behind Katara and Zuko. If one squinted hard enough, and leaned against the glassy surface they could see the steps behind the two figures, the elevated platform, the throne.

"That morning we all left the palace; Suki and I were given a War Balloon to take to the Earth Kingdom and King Bumi. We took Toph with us but when we left to work on replanting Toph was left as an advisor for the reconstruction, since she'd traveled the world helping to save it. Katara and Aang took Appa, who knows where they went.

"We were all scared. All our lives we'd learned how to fight for what we love, trying to get it in our grasps. We'd found strength in that, because it is what we needed to do. It was our job. No one had taught us what to do next. What made it worse was that we all had to do it, separately. For a long time all we had were letters."


Zuko,

Thank you for sending us off this morning. It meant a lot seeing you there. The sunrise was so beautiful; I can see why fire benders make it a habit of seeing it every morning. The way the oranges, pinks, the yellows, the reds mix together.

So I was thinking earlier. If Aang takes on the attributes of all the benders, he's never going to sleep. Fire Benders rise with the sun, Water Benders rise with the moon. When will he ever get a chance to sleep? With the elements over him, he'll have plenty of time for everything.

Please keep me informed; I want to know everything that happens. I'm sorry I can't be there, but I want to see the Fire Nation redeem its self.

-Katara

Katara,

I suppose I should give you points for writing the first letter, though I should have assumed of everyone you would be the first.

Iroh returned to the Jasmine Dragon today, leaving me here alone. I've never noticed how large and empty this place can be. Every time in the past, I've had at least one person to go to, making this place home. Even Mai lives somewhere else. Everyone I've ever known to live here has left.

I did manage to set up a "personal study" today. I do have to work on cleaning out my father's old records. This should be fun.

-Zuko

Zuko

Aang and I are roaming around the Earth Kingdom. He wants to gather people with "air bender" personalities. He's hoping that some Air Nomads existed outside of the temples, even if they didn't inherit bending abilities, he wants to rebuild. It's comforting, his passion for this is astounding. He really believes he can do it.

We're currently just camped out in the forest again, how is it, even though the war has ended I still don't get to live in a normal house?

It is nice today, but I can feel it, each and every night is colder than the one before, I think summer is coming to an end. Every day we spread more word, jumping from town to town. I'm going to have to start getting some winter clothes, like the ones back at the South-pole.

-Katara

Katara,

The capital got word of its first post-war rebellion. It's hard to believe that anyone would actually rebel against the end of the war. Apparently, I underestimated what people are capable of.

I've never experienced a Water Tribe Winter. Before I'd been to the North Pole I'd never even seen snow. I was in for a rude awakening, trapped in middle of a blizzard with no warmth, no clothes, no food. My Fire Bending couldn't even keep me warm. I never really thanked you for saving me that day, even though I didn't deserve it.

-Zuko

Zuko

We got the first people to join us today! From a small village, in middle of nowhere! As of today the Air Nomads have a population of 5! Zuko you should see Aang, he's so excited. I guess I'm pretty excited too, I honestly didn't think we would ever make it to this point.

Zuko, if we just constantly thanked each other, for saving each other's life then we would never have any time for anything else.

-Katara

Katara,

Congratulations! Often times it only takes the first few to step up before the doors are flooding with recruits. You and Aang are doing the impossible, I bet your father is proud.

I just got word from Iroh, his teashop is flourishing, the city is also shining brilliantly, its people are happier than ever. During the invasion, the inner walls were torn down and apparently the people don't want them reconstructed. Everyone there is living together, peacefully. Apparently Toph is also staying with him, when she's not helping run the city. In every one of his letters Iroh, talks about how proud of her he is. I'm sort of jealous.

Today the court advisors suggested to further increase the morale of the people, I make the end of the war a national holiday. It's hard to believe it's already been an entire year.

-Zuko

Zuko,

I know! It's crazy, an entire year has passed already. I know I should be happy, but its been an entire year since I've seen any of my family. I kind of long to hear any of Sokka's sorry excuses for a joke. I miss the way Toph always had something rude to say.

You were right though, as soon as we had those extra few, we can't stop the flow of recruits. It's been weeks since we've been able to fly Appa anywhere. Aang's been talking about settling at his home, the Southern Air temple. It's hard to think I'll actually get to have a room again.

I hear Sokka and Suki are getting married, and are living in the Southern Water Tribe. From his letters the South Pole is slowly gaining the glory of the North Pole, and it's full of benders again. No new ones have been born, but it's only a matter of time. I want so bad to be there, I want to see the wedding, but Aang says we have responsibilities here. I suppose he's right.

-Katara

Katara,

Responsibility is a hard thing to deal with, I've found it keeps you from where you want to be and ties you to where you should be. What you and Aang are doing is very honorable. Before you know it the Air Nation will be strong enough again for you to step away for a short time and go where you want.

I went for the Monthly visit to Dad and Azula. As typically, he just smiled at me, his hatred burning brightly. But Azula, she doesn't say anything, she doesn't eat, she doesn't move. She just sits in the corner of her cell, staring. In the beginning she would scream at anyone near her. Then she started screaming at people who weren't there, like mom, and me. But now she's always silent. I'm thinking of moving her to a hospital, a well guarded hospital.

-Zuko

Zuko,

I'm not sure how, but people have been showing up here, wanting to be a part of what we're doing. And I'm so surprised at how well people are taking it, how well they're making the transformation. I do feel slightly out of place, being the only one not coming to be an Air bender. Every morning they all sit out and meditate, for hours. I think I've even seen every corner of this temple.

Have any healers looked at your sister? Maybe there is something inside that lead to her madness.

Someday I'll visit you, I'll visit everyone.

-Katara

Katara,

When I got your letter, and saw the bison landing in my courtyard I was sure you'd be there. I was surprised to see just Aang. Katara, have I done something wrong? Why didn't you join him when he came for a visit?

-Zuko

Zuko,

W…what? Aang has been on a scouting mission, to bring even more home. He went one way and… someone else went another… I, I can't believe it. I didn't know, I…

Zuko what do I do? It's been almost two years and I feel so secluded.

I've picked up plant care-taking to pass my time. I never thought, but I can feel the water coursing through them, like life. It's sad but they've become my new best friends, my new home. Zuko, I feel so alone.

-Katara

Katara,

I'm sorry, I'm sure he had a good reason. It probably was a spur of the moment kind of thing. I'm sure he didn't plan it.

You know what, maybe I'll just come to you. I'll visit the Air Temple and we will have a party. All of us. You, me, Toph, Sokka, Suki, Aang, it will be a good time. Maybe you could even show me your garden.

-Zuko

Zuko,

Something amazing has happened… Two children showed up on my door.

One of them is ten, the other is 14. They showed up in Fire School uniforms, holding hands like they were lost.

Zuko their Air Benders. Real, untrained Air Benders...