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Goodbye hugs.

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We broke up our little fireside meeting. Time was really limited today. Now that we had decided on a course of action, there didn't seem to be much point loitering. We all headed back to our tent where we had dumped our packs last night. We decided to do a quick emergency repack and leave our heavier stuff with the order. We all knew that we could only take the bare essentials on our missions. As we walked over to the tent, Zuko tapped me on the shoulder and said he was just going to talk to his Uncle for a second. I asked him if he had some input into what our bare essentials should be and he shrugged and said it was cool and he trusted me and then he turned to go. He said he trusted me so off hand, so casually, like it wasn't even a big deal. I couldn't help but think how far we'd come since he first showed up at the Western Air Temple.

I did a basic repack and then started on the medical supplies. I'd bought the entire first aid kit from the house- because you never know – and I started dividing it into two, so that Sokka, and Suki and Toph would have a supply of bandages and other assorted things. Oh as I was doing it my heart just wrenched in worry. I wouldn't be with them if anything happened and I wouldn't be able to help them or heal them. I tried to push the worry away and told myself that Toph and Sokka would have Suki and she seemed to have good basic first aid knowledge and kept her head in a crisis…but what if something happened to Suki? No I had to stop thinking like this and just stay positive.

I knew splitting up was necessary. There was no way I'd let Zuko go face Azula alone after all. Sokka was the only one here with a working knowledge of engineering who was capable of preventing the airships from taking off. It was only understandable that both Suki and Toph would want to go with him. Even though I knew all that, I couldn't help but hate the fact that we all had to split up. I hated that we couldn't all be together today. I hated that Aang had skipped out on us with no explanation or anything. Now Sozin's comet was here and we were all being separated.

I willed myself calm and I told myself that everything would work out okay, simply because it just had to and I wouldn't accept any other alternative. I knew the others needed me to put on my brave face for them, especially today of all days. Suki was the only one from their group who was actually packing. Toph was sitting on her bed, being quiet and subdued for once and Sokka was muttering worriedly to himself and polishing his sword. Inexplicably and for no reason, a few lines from that terrible play's music section popped into my head. Sokka's big solo about sword polishing. That whole play had been ridiculous. Our whole situation was ridiculous. Sometimes in ridiculous situations, you just have to go with it.

I could keep it together for them, just like I had always done. Toph was looking down at nothing much. I could see she was worried. She looked so young right then. So I did what I always do. I went and sat next to her and I gently lay my hand on her shoulder. For once she didn't give me a light and friendly punch. Instead she leaned over and wrapped her arms around my middle silently. I hugged her back but didn't say anything. There wasn't really any need. Sokka noticed our hug and he came over and wrapped his arms around us both. And we just had a quiet moment, the three of us, together. I think that I probably mother Toph and Sokka the most, aside from Aang and I wanted to comfort and reassure them somehow that everything was going to be okay.

So I said as much. I gave both of them a little hair ruffle and told them not to worry and everything was going to work out fine today. I don't know if I completely believed it, but I knew I had to say it. At my words, Suki looked up from her packing and noticed us all sitting on Toph's bed and hugging. She got up and came over and wrapped her arms as far as they could stretch around our little group. Then she said in a briskly cheery voice, very similar to my own, that I was right and everything was going to be fine. I caught her eye over the top of Toph's head and we held eachother's gaze for a second before Suki nodded at me in confirmation. I felt like this big moment of understanding passed between us.

At that point there was a gentle tap on one of the support beams of our tent and Zuko popped his head in to see if we were all ready. He saw us all in a big cuddly heap on Toph's bed and looked unsure of what to do. He said oh you guys are doing that...again. I sharply gestured for him to join the group hug and he complied. I felt his warm hand on my back and I had Toph's head in my lap and I had one arm around Sokka and the other around Suki. There was so much love and so many unspoken worries and fears and goodbyes in that hug. I told myself that if we all made it unharmed through the day, I would never ask the spirits for anything ever again.

Suddenly we heard Piandao's voice outside. He asked if he could come in. We all broke apart from our hug and said yes. He entered with a bundle of papers under one arm. He had come to tell Sokka, Suki and Toph that he had arranged some transportation for them, so Zuko and I could take the bison to the capital. Zuko bowed back at him in acknowledgement.

Piandao had brought all the information the order had on the Airship Fleet and wanted to show the others. We filed out after him into the bright sunlight. He laid out a blueprint of the Airships on the grass and went through the basic design with Sokka, who very quickly ascertained where the weak spots were and what needed to be done. Piandao looked impressed. He pulled out a second map and said that this one was a detailed location map of the Airship base which was less that a day's journey from here, so they should arrive before the comet and the Airship departure time.

Our own departure time was quickly arriving. Piandao looked at all of us and then looked away for a second. He opened his mouth, closed it and sighed. He seemed to want to say something to all of us. There was a bit of a pause. Eventually he said listen kids, it is okay to be scared about today. It's a scary day. But I have complete trust in your abilities to do this. Then he turned to Sokka and said I know your courage is far greater than your fear of failure. He was saying this directly to Sokka, who, as the only one who knew enough about engineering, had the biggest responsibility with the airship plan. Sokka nodded, but then asked, really quietly what if I do fail master? I couldn't help but think that Sokka must have felt very comfortable around Master Piandao to admit such a private fear to him.

Master Piandao put his hand on Sokka's shoulder reassuringly and said that Sokka had such a big heart and that made Piandao absolutely sure he would not fail. Sokka looked a bit confused at how having a big heart meant that he would not fail and how Piandao could be so sure about everything. Piandao said that Sokka wouldn't fail because he was clever and determined and more importantly he was no coward. None of us were. We were the bravest young people he had ever come across and he was honoured to have met us all. I am touched that he said it.

He looked up at all of us and said that all cowardice comes from not loving or not loving well, which to Piandao, was the same thing in the end. He explained that some of the order members felt that it was better to detach themselves from the world and attachments were weaknesses in battle. But Piandao disagreed. He thought that one man – or woman – he said with a nod at Suki, Toph and me, defending something that they loved was more powerful than ten hired soldiers. It is that love that makes them a force to be reckoned with and helps them fight on regardless of obstacle or odds against them. Piandao said that he knew that when the time came, we would all be able to drawn strength and courage from each other and be successful.

Suddenly the biggest lizard I had ever seen in my life wandered over and nuzzled Piandao with a huge nose. Piandao patted her flank lovingly and said that she was a Giant Eel Hound and she was the fastest creature alive. Her name was Doris (Piandao was very quick to point out that he hadn't named her) and she would take Toph and Sokka and Suki to where they needed to go. Piandao took the bag from Suki and attached it to Doris's saddle and said that now she was ready to leave as soon as they were.

So this was it. This was goodbye. No, not goodbye. See you later. Everything was happening so quickly this morning. I couldn't believe the time for the others to go was already here. Piandao seemed to realize that we needed a moment together and excused himself and said he had to go get one final map for Sokka. As soon as he left Suki pulled me aside and gave me a big hug and whispered in my ear that she would look after Sokka and Toph for me. I was starting to feel the prickle of tears so I just nodded against her shoulder and didn't say anything. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Zuko lift Toph up into a big hug. Her feet were dangling and I'm sure she was saying something sarcastic because I heard Zuko's soft rumbly laugh. He popped her down and she wandered over to me and I ducked down and gave her a quick hug. Neither of us said anything. It's weird, Toph and I clash so frequently and then there are moments like this when there is just no need for words because we both just understand what the other is trying to say.

Suki gave Zuko a hug and then Zuko and Sokka were giving each other that quick, one armed hug that boys always do. Zuko and Sokka don't really hug, unless you count all the inelegant struggling – so it was a big deal for them when Sokka got his other arm involved and gave Zuko a big squeeze. He said something to Zuko that I couldn't overhear and Zuko replied that Sokka didn't have to worry about that and then they broke apart and nodded at each other in manly understanding (as they both insist that everything they do together is manly).

Then it was my turn to say goodbye to Sokka. I don't know if there is anything that I could have done that would have made me prepared for this moment. I know I've been saying that everything was happening so fast this morning – but no amount of time in the world could prepare me for saying goodbye to my big brother. Oh Sokka. He gave me a big hug and I was blinking back tears and we were both trying to reassure each other and talking over each other. He was saying everything's going to be fine – which is normally my line – and I was telling him that we'd se each other again really soon.

All my life, Sokka's been there. We have never been apart, not really. Except for that horrible day when he was taken by the Hei Bai and I didn't know what had happened to him and oh how I missed him and worried for him then. Then there was that week he was at Piandao's – but he was never far away then and we could visit him whenever we wanted. Those are the only two occasions we've been separated and I've never liked it. I've always missed him. Ever since we left with Aang; the world has been shifting and changing and expanding for me, but Sokka has always been constant. Sokka and his terrible jokes and his sarcasm and his plans and schedules and meat obsession and shopping love. Sokka can drive me crazier than any other person on this planet (except maybe Zuko) but he's my big brother and I love him so. We've done almost everything together and now we were going to be apart for the biggest day of our lives.

Piandao wandered back over with a map for Sokka and we broke apart. He gestured and Doris sat down so that Suki and Toph could climb on her back. Suki held Toph in place while Doris sat up and Piandao was explaining where the Airship base was to Sokka on the new map he had bought. Sokka thanked him and they bowed at each other in fire nation style. Sokka suddenly reached out and hugged Piandao tightly. Piandao seemed a bit surprised and paused for a second and then he lowered his arms around Sokka and hugged him back. Then he turned and gave Sokka a boost so that he could climb onto Doris's back.

They were ready to go, but they were waiting for me and Zuko to be ready as well. So we wandered over to where Appa and Uncle Iroh where. Uncle Iroh was patting Appa's face and saying what a wonderful creature he was in a voice similar to Sokka's hawky voice. Zuko cleared his throat and his Uncle turned around and asked if we were all ready. We looked at each other and nodded. We were as ready as we'd ever be.

At that moment Pakku came up behind me and tapped me on my shoulder and said I couldn't leave without saying a proper goodbye to my new grandfather. I gave him a hug. I thought it would only be a quick one (Pakku's not really into hugs) but he gave me a really tight squeeze. He gruffly listed some powerful water bending forms that I should remember in battle. I told him reassuringly that I would be fine and then he turned and helped me get on Appa. It was unnecessary, I've been climbing on and off Appa for nearly a whole year now, but it made Pakku happy to do it. Zuko and Iroh were still talking quietly, their heads nearly pressed together, then Zuko nodded and his Uncle pulled him into what looked like a bone crushing hug.

Then Zuko climbed up on Appa with me and took the reigns. He paused for a second and looked like he wanted to ask a question, but then thought better of it. Then he decided to ask anyway. He turned to his Uncle and said so if I'm going to be firelord after the war, what will you do? Uncle replied that after he had conquered Ba Sing Se, he was going to conquer his teashop and play Pai Sho everyday. Zuko smiled and shook his head in amusement.

Sokka walked Doris over to the clearing where we were. He and Suki gave us a wave and we waved back. Then we stared at each other for a solemn second. I called out goodbye to the White Lotus members and the other's followed my lead. Uncle Iroh waved at us and said Goodbye everyone and good luck. Today destiny is our friend, I know it. There was a momentary pause before Sokka nodded at us, clicked Doris's reigns and the three of them sped off on the Giant Eel Hound. Wow that thing really does move quickly. Zuko said yip yip and Appa took off and we were on our way.

I turned around and waved one last time at Pakku and the White Lotus Members. Then I scanned the ground for Sokka and Suki and Toph. I could see them heading westwards and I watched their progress for a long time, until they were just a tiny speck in the distance. I have prayed to Tui and La that this is not the last time I'll see them.

-?-

I must have been looking really worried because Zuko told me, out of the blue, that he was sure the others would be okay. I nodded and said I knew that. Well I choose to believe that- and I guess there is a difference there. But saying goodbye is always hard. Zuko nodded and agreed and said he hated big goodbye scenes and he reckoned he got more hugs this morning than he had in his entire life. Firenation people, in general, weren't into hugs. I told him he seemed very huggable to me. He grinned and said it was probably because he'd been hanging around me and Sokka too much and both of us were just all about the hugs and being affectionate was obviously catching.

I could tell he was trying to tease me out of worrying and it was working. I gave him a playful little shove with my shoulder and said maybe just hugging him was catching. For all we knew, he was an infectious affectionate disease. We began bickering good-naturedly over Zuko's disease status. Zuko claimed that we made him hug people and I claimed that he infected people with the urge to hug him. (I think I won this argument). We flew over Ba Sing Se towards the sea. As we went over the city I, once again, bent a cloud around us to hide us from the people down below. I just realized that this might be the last time I'll have to do that.

-?-

Zuko and I flew eastwards. There was no way that Appa could make it from Ba Sing Se to the Firenation Capital in under a day if we flew the conventional route over the earth kingdom. We had decided to fly over the Far Eastern Sea because it was much quicker. The Far Eastern Sea was the most turbulent in the whole world and it was full of sea monsters twice the size of the Unagi. Nobody from our tribe had ever tried to sail through it, as far as I knew, and Zuko knew that many firenation ships, in the initial push for colonization, had been sunk by the big and unforgiving waves and the giant serpents and the eastern route had been abandoned. He said that on the firenation maps that he had to study in school all it said of the Far Eastern Sea was abandon hope all ye who enter. Here there be monsters. Well that is suitably dramatic. But we weren't on a ship, we were high above the water –almost the same height as the clouds.

The eastern sea route would take a quarter of the time to get to the capital . It actually wasn't too long a distance to the firenation from here. It felt like we were sneaking in the back door. I pointed out that we were probably the first people to see the Far Eastern Sea in spirits knew how long. Zuko muttered that it's funny how life turns out and he told me that when he was a kid, he used to want to properly explore the Far Eastern Sea – just because everybody thought it was impossible and nobody had ever done it before. That is just such a typical Zuko thing to think that I couldn't help but smile at him, even despite all my anxiety and worries.

-?-

We flew without stopping and had lunch on Appa. I'd packed us a nice lunch. Zuko was quite pleased to see a pack of fireflakes in there. They are not a bare essential per se, but I know how much he loves them, so I'd packed some anyway. We sat next to each other in Appa's saddle and I decided to ask Zuko how he felt about his Uncle wanting him to be firelord. He's seemed so taken aback and surprised when his Uncle had said it at breakfast and he'd looked like he wanted to argue a lot. Zuko said he had wanted to argue a bit, but it hadn't been the time or place. He thought arguments over who should be firelord should come after we'd stopped Azula. I agree.

Zuko said he hadn't really thought about being firelord in a long, long time. He used to think it would be cool when he was a kid, but he said he knew better now. He shrugged and said self depreciatingly I'd make a terrible firelord right now anyway. I disagreed rather vehemently. Zuko smiled wryly at me and said being firelord meant hanging out with slimy politicians all the time and schmoozing and being charming and good with words etc. He asked me how I would honestly rate his "People Skills" on a scale of one to ten. Okay, fine. I conceded his point. But I was sure there was more to being Firelord than that.

Zuko agreed and began to list all the duties that he knew about (this was a long list) and explained how both the education system and the economy of the firenation was geared for war. If we wanted lasting peace, the next firelord was going to have to sort out overhauling the entire economy and the education system and all that would be such a giant mess and Zuko wouldn't even know where to start. And then there would be peace treaties and demilitarization to contend with... and what about the colonies... and every other country was going to hate the firenation and that was going to make trade really difficult and if trade was difficult- how could the economy change. That wasn't even getting into the systemic poverty, elitism and cronyism that made up the firenation and all the problems that entailed etc etc.

Okay, okay I get it. Being the Firelord next would suck feather-monkey balls.

Zuko said that he was half certain his Uncle was kidding. He just had to be. Zuko was only 16 and he knew that he just wasn't ready for that much responsibility. Especially not on his own. If he got stuck in the hotseat and his Uncle moved to Ba Sing Se to make friggin tea, there was literally no one else in the entire world Zuko would trust to advise him in firenation-y political things. He conceded that in all things water-tribey, medical and common-sense-ical I could advise him to my heart's content (by advise I am sure he means boss around). But he was sure most of the really big problems would come from within the firenation – and Zuko's Uncle would be the best person to deal with all those internal shenanigans.

So, in short, Zuko was sure that his Uncle was kidding. If he wasn't kidding, then Zuko was sure he could convince him after the comet, to take his rightful place. Zuko is very firmly of the belief that his Uncle would make a great firelord and should be next. Besides all Zuko wanted to do after the comet was just relax for... like a whole week, not rule a country.

I pointed out that he said relax for a whole week like it was the biggest indulgence in the world. Something akin to cultivating an opium habit and spending one's life lazing about opium dens in bohemian and hedonistic luxury. He grinned at me and said a whole week's relaxation would be bohemian and hedonistic luxury for him. He added wryly that, in this fantasy week of relaxation, he might even take up napping in the middle of the day. Gasp! Zuko considering naps! What is the world coming to!

We joked a bit about what other things Zuko could get up to in his week of relaxation for a bit. I thought of a few cheeky suggestions for him, but I kept these to myself. But I was a bit worried for him. His Uncle had seemed pretty certain at breakfast today. I tried to put a more serious note in the conversation and said that if his Uncle wasn't joking, and Zuko couldn't convince him otherwise – having Zuko as firelord would be the best outcome for us. Surely it wouldn't the worst thing in the world for him. The only alternatives were Azula or his crazy dad or his Uncle and if none of them could/should do it... Zuko smiled at me and said he knew that. If he absolutely had to, of course he wasn't going to say no to being firelord. But he still hoped his Uncle was joking/would change his mind. If Zuko ended up in the hotseat on his own- he was going to be pissed off.

He said pissed off but I could tell he also meant overwhelmed and confused. I scooted next to him and whispered you wouldn't be on your own and I leant my head on his shoulder. He put and arm around me and gave me a small squeeze and said thanks quietly. We sat like that, for a while, in quiet contemplation, before Zuko added in a very different and purposeful tone of voice that we shouldn't get ahead of ourselves because we still had to stop Azula and we should really focus on that.

He abruptly started running through what he knew of Azula's firebending weaknesses. She was very precise, but she had a tendency to use the more advanced and physically taxing moves earlier. She liked to overpower her enemies quickly. Her stamina was good but not fabulous and there'd be two of us; if we could tire her out, we'd be at an advantage. He knew that she couldn't firebend without breathing, but Zuko's Uncle had taught him how to make super heat under water. If I could cover her head with water somehow, even if I had to cover them both, Zuko'd be okay and she wouldn't be able to bend and then we could figure out a way to... Zuko paused her and seemed to search for the words for a few seconds. He finally settled on contain her somehow. Zuko was a bit sketchy on the details of how he thought we should go about this. I mean his sister is pretty uncontainable. She is all kinds of fierce. I think she is the least containable person on the entire planet.

His primary objective was to stop her without hurting her too much, and this made me oddly glad. I mean it would be much harder to do, but I think in the end it would be better for him. Zuko, while he doesn't harp on about the sanctity of life or anything like that- the way Aang does- has always seemed uncomfortable with the idea of having to kill Azula. He's told me a little bit about her from when they were kids, and he's always assured me that there was a time when they got along. Brother and sister shouldn't have to fight to the death. It's not right.

I pointed this out and Zuko said I was right. He didn't think he'd ever have it in him to kill his sister, even though he was fairly certain she'd do her damndest to kill us. It is a sobering thought. I said that Aang must be rubbing off on us. He smiled at me faintly and said perhaps it was Aang, but he hoped Aang wasn't rubbing off too much. Zuko wanted to be realistic about these things. He wasn't going to rule out doing that, if there was no other alternative.

Zuko said he hoped it wouldn't come to that. He'd thought of a way to stop her that wouldn't hurt her too much, but would knock her out. It was what he wanted to talk to his Uncle about this morning. He wanted to know if it was possible to partially redirect just a bit of lightning, to separate the bolt in two. And according to Uncle, it was, theoretically. But Uncle had never tried it and thought it was much, much risker. But it was possible. Zuko was pretty sure he could do it. The theoretically and the pretty sure gave me a worried feeling in my stomach and I'm sure I made a very worried facial expression. Zuko reassured me that it sounded easy enough when Uncle ran through the theory with him. I was still not completely reassured.

Zuko huffed and said that he didn't have any better ideas and he was sure this would work. All he needed to do was wait for her to fire a lightning bolt at him. Judging from the way she'd been fighting lately, it wouldn't take too long. She was busting out the lightning all the time now. If he could split the bolt, he'd be able to fire just enough back at her to give her a big shock and knock her out. That would be enough to stop her, but not kill her. Then she'd be unconscious and we could ...unceremoniously stuff her in one of the dungeon holding cells until we had a better idea of what to do with her.

I could already see a few holes in Zuko's "plan". The biggest one being what would happen if he couldn't split the bolt? Zuko looked off for a second and there was a long pause before he said I've at least got to try it firmly. I couldn't really argue with that.

What about if she escaped from this holding cell we were going to unceremoniously stuff her in? Zuko said that she shouldn't be able to. Firenation prison cells were built to contain firebenders, so she wouldn't be able to use her bending to escape when she came to. The only other alternative escape route would be digging her way out and Zuko thought this would be an unlikely occurrence because she hated getting her hands dirty.

Well what about if she didn't bust out the bolts? What was our plan then? Zuko had redirected lightning at his father and I was sure his dad would have told Azula about that. If she had any sense, she might avoid using lightning in a fight against Zuko. Zuko had that figured out too. He knew Azula well. They were used to taunting each other. He knew that she couldn't stand to be called a pig-chicken. If she didn't use the lightning, all Zuko had to say was that she was too scared of him to do it. She'd fire up in two seconds flat.

I pointed out that Zuko also hated having bravery (or his honour) besmirched. That was how Sokka got him to agree to do all manner of idiotic things. For example, just a few days ago Sokka was eating a sandwich of Sokka's secret sauce and pickles. Zuko remarked that this was the most revolting combination he had ever seen on a sandwich and it was in fact a food abomination, not a meal. Sokka said that Zuko was just too scared/not manly enough to handle the taste sensation of his sandwich. Inevitably there were shenanigans (there always are) which ended in Sokka making up an identical sandwich for Zuko and Zuko eating the whole thing to prove his manly courage. And later still, out of Sokka's hearing, Zuko confided in me that he had sandwich regret and felt a little sick. I may not have been entirely sympathetic at the time because no one forced him to eat it.

Zuko conceded my point and said being a bit proud and defensive when called a coward was probably a family trait. I was feeling a little cheeky and I wanted to lighten the mood a little after such a serious conversation, so I ended up misquoting Master Piandao at him and I said Well as you know, all cowardice comes from not loving – so you must really love Sokka. He made the grumpy face at me and retaliatory tickling ensued.

-?-

I think both of us were trying to keep the mood light and keep each other's spirits up. And it was easy, while the sun was shining and we were over the Far Eastern Sea. We saw the biggest sea monster I have ever seen. It ate other sea monster for breakfast. It was an enormous giant squid. I have never seen or heard of anything quite like it. Me and Zuko have decided to keep this tidbit to ourselves because no one would ever believe us. But it was still fascinating to see.

Before I knew it, almost the whole day had gone and the volcanic coast of the firenation mainland appeared on the horizon. Zuko fell silent and neither of us said anything for a while. In the distance I could see the big volcano that made up the firenation capital looming closer. It was hard to keep the mood light right then.

Suddenly, as we were flying over the mountains, Zuko gasped and put his head in his hands for a second. I fussed worriedly. He told me he was okay quickly. It was the comet. He could really feel it. It was getting much closer. He hadn't expected it to feel like this. He shook he head and sat up properly again. He seemed a bit agitated and so I fussed worriedly some more. He closed his eyes. It looked like he was trying to force himself calm. After a second, he looked at me and said he was fine, it was just such an unusual feeling. Upon prodding he couldn't really describe it well. He just said it didn't feel especially bad or especially good. It just felt powerful.

Just as he said that the sky blistered orange above us. Suddenly it felt like the sun had completely vanished. We could actually see the comet right ahead of us - streaking a bright burning path across the orange sky. It was beautiful... in a terrible sort of way. Zuko's expression changed and he looked really anxious. He turned to me and said that if he could feel the comet's power so strongly, that also meant that his father could, and Azula could too. I told him not to worry, we could take Azula. He shook his head and said he wasn't worried about her, he was worried about Aang. So was I.

It was Zuko's turn to play the worried what if game. He said that Aang was only new to firebending. He wasn't a master yet and what if the comet didn't affect him the same way? I told him it should. Also he would still have his other bendings to help him. Zuko nodded and then after a brief hesitation, he said what if he doesn't have the guts to take out my father? I said that I hoped when the time comes, Aang would make the right choice. Zuko asked, really quietly and with a great deal of uneasiness, what if he loses?

I didn't know quite what to say to that. I didn't have an answer for him. That was my biggest private fears as well. But I didn't see the merit in saying that. Only one person in the bison can freak out at a time in my opinion. But the pause stretched on. There was a time when I had such unfailing faith in Aang, but that faith had been shaken. There was a point when I truly and absolutely believed, deep in my very bones, that he could save the world. I tried, right then, to remember how that had felt – to have such complete trust in Aang.

I tried so hard, but it wasn't working. Too much had happened and he'd let me down too badly. I just didn't feel that unwavering certainty anymore. But I couldn't bring myself to say this out loud. I found myself backing down to comforting lies. I said with as much conviction as I could muster Aang wont lose. He's going to come back and he's going to win this. He just has to. I had no other reason than then simple fact that Aang had to.

Zuko smiled (a sad little smile) at me and said you really believe that? To my own surprise, found myself confessing No very quietly. I guess me and Zuko have always been fairly honest with each other. I can bluster all I like at the others about how I think that everything is going to be alright and everything is going to be fine, but I could never really fool Zuko. A terrible sombre mood settled over us. Zuko started apologizing and saying it was a stupid thing for him to say. I said it wasn't really. It was a good question, I just didn't have the answer, but telling myself that Aang would win easily helped me stay positive. He said it was definitely a better thing to tell myself than ...the alternative. We both silently contemplated the alternative for a second.

Zuko broke the silence first and said that he had taught Aang almost everything he knew about firebending, and Toph had taught him all her best earthbending moves and I had said myself that Aang was near master level in waterbending- so he was already at an advantage. What happened next would have to be up to him. The firelord was Aang's fight – or so everybody said- and we had all taught enough to make sure he'd be able to win it.

I could tell he was trying to cheer me up, not by blindly saying that everything was going to be fine, but by listing all the things in Aang's favour. Toph and Suki and Sokka would be nearby, Aang was the Avatar, but more than that, he was a smart kid...most of the time. I agreed and added that for all we knew, Aang's little disappearing trick would have helped him unlock that bloody chakra and he could go into the Avatar state again.

In the end, there wasn't much we could do for Aang right now. He had left us. He had gone and now our paths had separated. We both had different things we needed to do today and I couldn't be there for Aang this time. As we flew over the lip of the volcano and Zuko pointed out the coronation plaza – I tried to put Aang from my mind. He had his battle to fight today and Zuko and I had ours. Aang was nearly a master waterbender (could have been a master bender by now if he had just applied himself more) and I had done all for him that I possibly could. He was the Avatar, he had so many advantages. What he made of them was up to him now.

-?-

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Rambly author's notes:

Lovely wonderful readers! You've reached the end of goodbye hugs! Thank you for reading and I hope you enjoyed it. Huge giant thanks and hugs for my wonderful and brilliant reviewers! I always love hearing your thoughts and all your reviews really make me smile. So internet hugs for you all!

Anyway in this chapter, I actually only have a few rambly thoughts. And naturally YMMV over everything! Feel free to disagree! I always thought that Suki was equally capable of being a 'team mum' – but it is just so much Katara's role already. But now that they are splitting up, Suki will do her best to look after Toph and Sokka and she and Katara have a moment of understanding regarding this.

I think Piandao would be the most likely candidate (aside from Iroh – but he and Zuko are busy) to come and give the kids a bit of a pep talk and encourage them. Piandao gives us a little speech about bravery. The quote all cowardice comes from not loving, or not loving well, which is the same thing in the end comes from the beautiful and fabulous film Midnight in Paris. This movie is just delightful and if you haven't already seen it, then go now! Don't wait! It's great! (hee I rhymed). Anyway I watched it and it made me think of the Gaang and how all of their biggest bravest moments come when they are protecting each other. Their love for each other gives them strength. So I thought I'd throw it in here.

So there are many, many hugs in this chapter. Even a proper Sokka/Zuko hug. I think they would normally do that one armed boy-hug. I don't know if it is only my guy friends who think like this, but apparently guys rarely properly hug each other because it is unmanly. If a hug is necessary a sort of joint one armed back-pat normally suffices. Proper hugs are only for when it is serious business – so they are a big deal. During the hug Sokka would have quietly said something like look after Katara for me. And it is in response to this that Zuko says Sokka doesn't have to worry.

So Bryke have said that Appa flies at the speed of the plot in the Sozin's comet arc because the Ganng travel at wicked fast speeds during these episodes. I actually think that the episodes would have made much more sense, if they had just cut those random shipping scenes and instead had a scene where Sokka straps a jet pack or similar to Appa. Everything would make so much more sense! I tried to fix this anyway.

I think expecting Appa to fly from Ba Sing Se to the firenation capital in under a day -when they are on opposite sides of the map and previously it took Appa a whole season to make it from the SWT to the NWT- is a bit much. Appa gets tired and needs breaks over long distances. That was the reason for most of the gaang's stops in season 1 (aside from the fact that the plot demanded it.)

So I have hypothesized that the Avatar world is a globe and therefore the Earth kingdom and the firenation aren't actually that far away – the EK's far eastern border and the FN's far western border would actually be quite close and on the same body of water. To better explain why the FN didn't attack the EK from this angle, I have made the sea incredibly and especially treacherous. There is even a giant squid/kraken in there (I threw that in just because I could). Nobody has ever sailed the Far Eastern Sea and survived. The eastern sea route would be discounted and wouldn't really be factored into transit plans anymore. However Zuko and Katara can fly over it on Appa and it drastically reduces their travel time – so now it is plausible for me that they make it from Ba Sing Se to the FN capital in under a day.

I'll explore more about Zuko's various feelings on the matter of becoming firelord in a later chapter. But to me it made sense that they would have a chat about it now and Zuko would be less than enthusiastic about possibly being the next Firelord. Zuko would want to be a good and fair ruler, not a dictator – but being fair is always a much harder job – and he knows this. I also think Zuko deserves a week off.

I also wanted to touch on Katara's certainty that Aang would win on the flight to the FN. I actually don't think she was that certain herself. She seemed a touch unsure when she said it. She says it like someone who is trying to convince herself, not someone who truly believes what she is saying. I think it is in character for Katara to try and reassure people and give them hope, so she's not going to say 'oh no! We're doomed!' when Zuko expressed fear that Aang will lose. Zuko is very reasonably worried about Aang and probably does want assurances from Katara, but I think he would realise how shallow just saying 'everything is going to be alright' is. He would see how much this question bothers Katara and would try to 'unsay' it, because he can see that it upsets her. He is more practical and less optimistic and so to cheer Katara up he would list all the valid advantages that Aang has going for him.

Anyway I just wanted to say that I actually think that Katara's faith in Aang would have taken a battering over the Sozin's comet arc. I have a hard time believing that her unfailing faith in Aang would have lasted these episodes intact. She still loves him, she just isn't certain that he is the golden hero who can fix everything anymore. I actually think this is a healthier outlook for her and for Aang and for their future friendship. Aang can't keep idolising her and she can't keep idolising Aang. I think that Katara needed to let go of the idea that Aang and only Aang can save the world, and this was the right time for that to happen.

Note: in my opinion Aang does not save the world on his own. Everyone makes a big deal of how much Aang did to save the world, but Zuko, Katara, Sokka, Suki and Toph all did as much, if not more – to save the world, but they don't get half the kudos Aang gets.

I have a hard time believing that Zuko planned to kill Azula in their Agni Kai. But of course YMMV. I was bothered when he taunted her into shooting lightning at him, because redirecting it at her, in full, would have been fatal. So I tinkered with this as well. I honestly think that his primary motivation would have been to stop Azula, but not kill her. He's not doing what Aang does, and outright refusing to consider it, because he knows that it may, regrettably be inevitable. But I think he would want to try any non-fatal alternative first. She is still his sister after all, and despite how messed up their relationship is, I think there is still love there.

The best alternative I could come up with was a partial redirection of lightning. Iroh managed to redirect a bit of the lightning Azula shot at him in that deserted town (however I think this was accidental and not deliberate – I think he would have redirected it all if he could) so he knows it is possible, but it is much more dangerous. Iroh would not be keen for Zuko to try this, but I think for Zuko this would have been the best alternative, despite the fact that it presents a danger to himself. If he redirected lightning at her, without even trying the alternative, I don't think he'd ever quite make peace with it. A smaller electric charge – aimed at the right place- would give her a big shock and knock her unconscious, like a taser...sort of... I think an unconscious, but breathing Azula would be Zuko's ideal outcome for today. But we all know it doesn't work out like that, don't we lovely readers.

Nest chapter: Agni Kai Time!

Til then lovely readers...