chapter 1 – Paved with good intentions

Aang was on top of the roof of the Jasmine Dragon looking at the sunset, he was thinking over many things after of his victory over Ozia just a few months earlier, even though the all the nations of the world have now accepted him as the Avatar, but in spite the reception at Caldera City he hasn't had a chance to talk with his friends apart from Zuko. Eventually they make their way to the Ba Sing Se to discuss with the earth king about the Harmony Restoration Movement, that Sokka named and felt a little too proud of himself, that all fire nation colonists will be removed from the colonies and sent back to the fire nation, Zuko wasn't too sure about it but decided to not say anything about it.

"Then it's agreed, the colonists will be removed by the end of next year"

an earth kingdom general said proudly, and Earth King Kuei said he'll make the announcement and that everyone should celebrate tonight. eventually he makes his way to the Jasmine Dragon where he can talk with everyone and now hearing them down below Aang jumped down using his air bending to soften his landing and he made his way in.

Looking around the main room, Katara could see Zuko was serving everyone tea (despite now being Fire Lord) Iroh playing a Sengi horn, and it was definitely more professionally than Aang did, and Toph was laying back putting her feet up in the air, Aang was playing with a smaller air ball with Momo, Appa was just outside the front door. Zuko just handed Katara a cup up tea then Sokka shouted

"Zuko stop moving! I'm trying to capture the moment"

and he continued to draw

"I want to do a painting so we all way remember the good times together"

and Katara walked over to see what he was doing

"that's very thoughtful Sokka"

but then saw what he was drawing

"wait, why did you give me Momo's ears?"

and Zuko came not far behind

"at least you don't look like a borkupine, my hair is not spikey!"

then Mai looking at it

"I look like a man."

and Suki asked

"and why did you paint me fire bending?"

and Sokka justifying himself

"I thought it looked more exciting that way."

Then Momo jumped on the table and chirped

"oh and you think you can do a better Job Momo?"

Sokka asked in his snarky tone and Iroh decided to ad his judgment

"hey my belly is that big anymore. I've really trimmed down"

and Toph not even looking at the painting

"well I think you all look Perfect"

and everyone laughed.

Aang smiled and quietly got up and left the building.

looking at the sunset over the city of Ba Sing Se and he turned around and could see Katara approaching him but not saying anything, Aang didn't say anything just watched her, a million things went trough his head as Katara stood beside him looking him in the eye and she quickly hugged him and Aang hugged her back and she kissed his fore head and she just stood there beside him for half an hour looking at the setting sun. Aang wanted to confess his feelings for her, maybe even share a kiss? Even a slight temptation of bragging about his defeat of Ozia and bringing peace to the world but he knew that was shallow and pretty distasteful to both Katara and Him self then he asked

"so… about that time at black sun? and ember island?"

Katara's face changed and turned to the sunset

"Aang… I…"

and Aang continued

"I'm sorry I just don't know what"

then Katara spoke firmly but kindly spoke

"Aang, you're a nice ki… man but..."

but before she could say anything Sokka came out to ask them something and looking at them he asked,

"hey are you ready for… oh am I interrupting anything?"

and Katara stepping away from Aang

"just a friendly discussion together"

she replied and Aang being quiet for a moment and replied

"yea…"

then he composed himself

"so what were you asking us?"

and Sokka continued

"you ready for the festivities to celebrate the Harmony Restoration Movement?"

and Aang smiled in a cheerful manner

"yea but we are going to get a up front seat"

and he pulled out and blew his bison whistle and Appa came over and Aang hopped on "alright, all aboard!"

and Zuko, Katara, Sokka, Suki, and Toph all climbed aboard and flew off.
_

it was relatively easy cleaning the Jasmine dragon after the gAang left, though everyone was very responsible in cleaning up their cups and everything. Iroh picked up his Sengi horn, and he as he placed it on its display stand, and he turned to see just sitting at a table with a cup of tea still untouched and cold, so he approaches her

"not going with Zuko and the group?"

and he holds out his hand and Mia gives him the cup and he heats it up and hands it back to her and she sighs

"no, riding a flying bison in close proximity to colorful explosions isn't my Idea of a good time"

and she sips her tea

"thanks"

she said with a ghost of a smile

"so what do you do when some one you loved since childhood doesn't feel the same about you"

Iroh looking at her

"I take this has something to do with Zuko"

Mia just nods and Iroh ponders

"but aren't you two…"

but Mia interrupts

"not for long… and he knows it"

Iroh curious had to ask

"what is the problem?"

Mia sips and continues

"we dumped each other 3… 4 times now in a span of 4 months, we don't have passion for each other, not like before Sozin's comet"

then she sighed

"and if I am going to be honest, it never really was a healthy relation ship"

and Iroh raised an eye brow

"he seems happy around you"

but Mia continued

"yea, after our return to the Fire Nation he needed emotional support, and apart from making out here and there or encouraging him to abuse palace servants I didn't do much for him"

Iroh placed a hand on her shoulder

"you did save him, Sokka, and the rest at the boiling rock at great risk to yourself"

and Mai looked up to the sky witch had fire works in it now

"and honestly, seeing him after his brief time with the Avatar's group, he was happy actually happy"

she picked up the painting Sokka made earlier and pointed the interesting interpretation of her and Zuko

"just look at his an my faces, as crude as they are it is accurate, frowning, rarely happy"

and she put it down and Iroh stood up and helped her to her feet

"so you think you should leave him?"

Mia didn't say anything but Iroh knew the answer already

"if you have made your mind I won't stop you, but if your claim of loving Zuko more than you fear Azula is true, I do recommend that you still be a part of his life and maybe help him find some one who will reliably turn this frown upside down"

as he pointed at the picture

"and maybe something similar will happen for you" and Mia has a little chuckle and she gives Iroh a hug and the two of them sat back down and Iroh spoke

"and remember, the Jasmine Dragon is always open to you"

and Mia smiled

"thanks".
_

Aang in his avatar wisdom thought it would be a good idea to fly as close to the fire works as possible, both Zuko and Aang even had to use a combination of fire bending and Aang's air bending to repel a few, but that didn't deter Aang, Sokka, Suki, Katara, and Zuko (though he still had a serious face on) from enjoying the ride, even toph found an appreciation for the fire works, being so close to them. Aang then looked at Zuko that despite everyone cheering, he was just looking out at the sky,

"you, too, your new majesty sir! Turn that frown upside down! It's a happy time!"

but seeing that he was in deep thought Aang just asked

"Zuko?"

and Zuko turned to him

"I visited my father in prison the other day… I've been meaning to ask you for a favor, Aang"

and Aang looking puzzled replied

"sure, anything"

and Zuko continued

"if you ever see me turning to my father, I want you to… I want you to END ME"

and Aang in shock replied

"WHAT!"

but Zuko continued

"even now, after everything that's happened, my family's legacy is still part of me. That's why it's my duty to heal the scars that the fire nation has left on the world. But the fire Lord's throne comes with a lot of pressures. And if I'm honest with myself… I need a safety net. The world needs a safety net. That's what I need you to be, Aang. That safety net"

Aang still in shock tried to reason

"Zuko, you're not your dad! And you're my friend! How can you expect me…"

Katara sitting next to the two of them, the sound of the fire works seemed to be silent as she was listening to this exchange and Zuko continued

"as your friend, I'm asking you. If you ever see me, go bad, end me. PROMISE ME, AANG"

not sure what to think Aang turned to Katara who looked back at him with similar shock, but she then got the serious look in her eyes and gently nodded and Aang reluctantly (with a heavy sigh)

"Fine. I Promise".

one year later-

Aang finds himself in a field and being approached by three armies from every direction, was an Earth Kingdom army led by the Earth King Kuei, another was a Fire Nation army led by Fire Lord Zuko and the third was a mix of peoples led by the Blue Spirit. Before he realized what was going on a major battle was waging and Aang went into the Avatar state and fought them and eventually he found himself in combat with Zuko and eventually knocked him down to the ground, as Aang approached Zuko Katara of all people with her water bending at its ready was staring him in the eyes, with tears in her'. she wasn't moving but Aang Roared like a Dragon that shook the earth and made an attack made of Water, Fire, Earth, and Air and was about to strike her and everything went white…

Aang shot up from bed in a freezing sweat, breathing heavily, looked around and found himself on in his bed at a Fire Nation colony and looked out and could see that it was raining lightly and he looked ahead and could see everything in the room was scattered about like a tornado came in, and Aang knew that he went avatar state in his sleep. He got up and used his air bending to get everything back in their place and he sighed

"I thought I had this under control"

and he went out to start the day.

Aang had loaded Appa with as many colonists that he could carry so he could fly them to the port just outside of Caldera City. The people looked quite nervous particularly their mayor, so he decided to talk

"don't worry, mayor Nishi. My team and I have moved dozens of Fire Nation Colonists back to your homeland already. They've all loved coming back"

but the mayor wasn't so convinced

"those colonies were young. Their people had no roots in the earth kingdom"

but ever the optimist Aang tried to cheer them up

"things are Different in the fire nation now, you'll see! Fire Lord Zuko's Reintroducing classic fire nation culture to his people. You'll learn so much about your past by living here. And you'll have fun, too!"

and he handed Momo the reins to Appa and got up and started do some classic Fire nation dances

"check it out… this is a fire nation dance from over a hundred years ago"

with a big grin

"how fun is this?"

the mayor clearly not amused and a little air sick just hid behind the saddle. Aang looked down and could see a fire nation ship, also full of people making port and landed Appa near it and started to help unload the cargo with the help from Katara and Sokka until a soldier started shouting

"Stop, Stop unloading"

and he looked to Mayor Nishi

"your colonials?"

to which she replied

"yes"

then he told her "Return to the colonies, by order of the fire Lord"

this caused Aang, Katara, and Sokka to drop what they were doing

"What?" and the soldier continued

"Fire Lord Zuko has officially withdrawn his support of the Harmony Restoration Movement!"

Aang, Katara, and Sokka were aghast at this news and looked at each other in confusion.