We are who we are

by YumenoJigen

Whether we fight it or accept it, we are who we are. But who are we exactly? What do we want? What must we do? What do we sacrifice? What do we gain? The answers will be in the roads we take between love and duty. That's what the Avatar, Katara, Sokka, Chenlian, Zuko, their friends, and their enemies will learn during their journey. OC insert in canon story (OCxZuko).

26. Hearts in the dark

Fight26: Hearts in the dark

On a shallow river, Katara was teaching Aang waterbending while Sokka, wearing only a loincloth, was lazily riding in a boat made of an enormous leaf with Momo curled up on his belly. He had also untied his ponytail. He wanted to know if they were going to be done soon as they had a lot of ground to cover if they wanted make it to Omashu today. Katara, wearing the equivalent of a white and light blue two piece bathing suit, replied teasingly that it was not like he was ready to go right now either. But her brother argued he could be ready in two minutes. Aang though wanted to return to training. His female master was showing him the octopus form. The girl agreed and the Avatar showed her his form. She evaluated it and came over to correct it, standing right behind him, touching his arms...

"Your arms are too far apart. See, if you move them closer together you protect your center. You got it ." She advised him. Aang blushed, flustered and happy at this closeness, and stammered his thanks. Then Katara returned to her position for the practical training. Aang made a dozen water tentacles sprout from the river and she shot icicles at him in rapid fire. He managed to deflect them all... and even grab one of Katara's leg with a tentacle, slightly surprising her. She straightened up and smiled good-heartedly, her hands on her hips. "You make a fine octopus, Pupil Aang." She congratulated him. And indeed, the boy had encased himself in a bubble of water, his arms and, consequently, his tentacles were waving lazily around him. He was clearly having fun imitating an octopus.

Suddenly, Momo raised himself as he heard music and singing. Sokka sat up too, bringing down the lemur's ears that were blocking his view. Then everyone saw a group of travelers dressed in colorful mix of Asian and Polynesian styles walk by, playing instruments, singing, dancing. Ahead was a middle-aged man playing a small lute and singing. He had a weird headpiece and a flower garland at his neck. The woman on his left was dressed in black and peach, wore a turban-like headpiece ornated with a single flower and played a transverse flute. A rotund fellow behind him was in a cream and pink outfit, a straw hat with a pink flower and played a drum. There were two other members, a man and a woman. Momo took flight, causing Sokka's leaf boat to capsize and he yelled as he fell into the water. The five-people troupe stopped, finally noticing the kids. The leader smiled and greeted the "river people" but Katara gestured negatively. They were not river people. Aang said they were just... people. Sokka came over and pointed an accusing finger at the new comers asking who THEY were. The chief introduced himself as Chong, and the woman next to him was his wife Lily. They were nomads, happy to go wherever the wind took them.

"You guys are nomads? That's great! I'm a nomad!" The Avatar rejoiced.

"Hey, me too." Chong exclaimed.

"I know... you just said that." Aang said flatly, a little disconcerted. Was that man just slow or plain stupid?

"Oh." The leader's attention then wandered to Sokka... "Nice underwear." He complimented. Sokka's eyes bulged at the sudden realization that he was wearing very little in front of complete strangers. He grabbed Momo and placed him strategically before going over to fetch his clothes...

Grumbling, Zuko stumbled upon his uncle who was squatting before a plant, entranced before its pretty white and red flower. Both were in a forest, clad in dark green cross-over tops and pants and armguards. Short black hair now covered the teen's head. The young man asked what the old one was doing.

"You're looking at the rare white dragon bush. Its leaves make a tea so delicious it's heartbreaking!" Iroh answered dreamily. "That, or it's the white jade bush, which is poisonous." He considered gravely.

"We need food, not tea. And Chenlian warned you not to touch plants you were unsure of, didn't she? She really insisted on that. I'm going fishing." Zuko reminded his uncle before leaving. However, Iroh was still contemplating...

"Delectable tea... or deadly poison ?"

Appa groaned contentedly. Locks of his fur had been braided and adorned with small pink flowers. Aang had a crown of matching pink flowers. Everyone but Sokka was lying on or close to Appa listening to Chong's music. The Water Tribesman approached and the airbender told him to hear some of the troupe's stories. These guys had been everywhere.
Chong stopped playing and corrected the 'Little Arrowhead'. They had not gone everywhere, but where they hadn't been they had heard about through stories and songs. Sokka raised an eyebrow in skepticism. Aang said those people had also offered to take them to see a giant night crawler. And Moku (the round man) moonily added that on the way there was a waterfall that created a never-ending rainbow.

"Look, I hate to be the wet blanket here but since Katara is busy I guess it's up to me." Sokka began firmly. At this, his sister, whose hair was being braided and adorned by pretty yellow flowers by Lily, looked crossly up at him. "We need to get to Omashu. No sidetracks, no worms, and definitely no rainbows." He counted off the forbidden distractions on his hand.

"Whoa... sounds like someone's got a case of "destination fever" heh. You're worried too much about where you're going." The troupe leader commented in a carefree manner.

"You've gotta focus less on the "where" and more on the "going"." His wife explained.

"O-MA-SHU." The boy emphasised each syllable exaggeratedly since those guys didn't seem to listen to him. Maybe he wasn't being clear and simple enough. Katara agreed after a pang of conscience. They needed to find King Bumi so Aang could learn earthbending somewhere safe.

"Well, sounds like you're headed to Omashu." Chong brilliantly deduced, causing Sokka to smack his forehead. "There's an old story about a secret pass... right through the mountains..." He continued ominously. Katara interrupted, wondering whether it was real or a legend. Given this bunch, it was natural to be doubtful. "Oh, it's a real legend. And it's as old as earthbending itself." He started playing his lute and singing about two lovers, forbidden from one another… a war dividing their people, and a mountain dividing them apart. They had built a path to be together. And he had forgotten the next lines, although he recalled it was about a secret tunnel. And the other members started playing and dancing too. Everyone but Sokka was enjoying the song. And when Chong concluded with a flourish his audience, except Sokka, clapped.

"I think we'll just stick with flying. We've dealt with the Fire Nation before. We'll be fine." The teen warrior joined his friends. The monk concurred. Appa hated going underground and they needed to do whatever made Appa most comfortable.

However, soon after they left the joyous company, the Avatar and his friends met with a barrage of fiery rocks launched by Fire Nation catapults. And screaming in terror, they returned the way they came, covered in ash. Depressed, they passed by Chong and his band.

"Secret love cave. Let's go." Sokka declared unenthusiastically.

Chenlian cut a few herbs, found fern shoots, lotus roots, wild red berries and stumbled upon Iroh searching for something, surely his own contribution to the next meal. She asked if he had seen Zuko, and without turning back, he informed her he had gone fishing. Well, she had gathered enough food so she told him to return to the clearing, she'd be there in a minute with his nephew. The girl first went to see if any fish had been trapped in her net of woven cattail leaves. And there were. Just then she heard splashing and went to see. Zuko was trying to spear fish with a long pole and had just caught a minnow-like one. He cursed. This wasn't nearly enough to feed three grown people. He raged that it was impossible, that he wasn't meant to be a fugitive.

"Then... what about me?" Chenlian asked softly. But her tone was tinged with hurt and resentment. "Do you think I was meant to be a fugitive? And all those Earth Kingdom people who didn't ask anything, who just wanted to be left alone, in peace, and whose villages were burned down by the Fire Nation, do you think they were meant to be fugitives? No... No one is meant for that." Her voice had grown increasingly scathing. All this time, he had enjoyed a priviledged life... even in exile he had food, a ship, people to serve him, and his loving and caring uncle to support him. His uncle was still there, he was not alone, he was healthy... so crying, whining, giving up so easily... At this, Zuko looked down, contrite, aware that he had spoken out of line. The girl then smiled compassionately, encouragingly... a smile that said and made you believe from your heart that 'everything will be alright'. A comforting, protective, rich, vivid presence, an unwavering, immutable source of warmth... as long as she was here, everything would be alright... Chenlian was truly like the Sun... And Zuko could not help but feel irresistibly attracted to this sun. "When things happen out of your control you've got to adapt, even if it's difficult. And that's something everyone can do. We all experience setbacks. Our strength is defined by how well we cope with them. That's fortitude. Will you keep grumbling about what you lost and stay in the past? Or will you see all the good around you and walk forward? That's for you to decide. Just remember that your uncle is here, I am here. You're a sturdy and smart young man and you're not alone. Now cheer up and come! I found some good things!" She lightly slapped his muscular arm before hugging it and dragging him away. She had been a fugitive longer than he had been. She had experienced things, suffered, and she had adapted. And right now, she was happy that her experience served.

They returned to the clearing where Iroh was waiting. Chenlian put the fish she had caught in her basket full of ingredients and picked her stuff. Zuko looked at it unhappily. They had to rely on her... always... and he wanted to be the one to provide, to show that 'he could do it'. She said they were back.

"Hmm, welcome back. Zuko, remember that plant that I thought might be tea ?"

"You didn't!" The boy exclaimed in horror and disbelief.

"I did." Iroh turned around to reveal his red, swollen face which he was scratching. "And it wasn't." He calmly admitted. His nephew recoiled in revulsion, yelping, while the girl dropped her basket in shock. "When the rash spreads to my throat I will stop breathing."

"What plant was it?" Chenlian asked menacingly.

"White jade bush." The old man answered sheepishly.

"You confused it with white dragon bush, didn't you? I did warn you not to touch plants you weren't entirely sure of, right? Don't underestimate nature you damn amateurs, you'll be killed. Get away Zuko. I don't have a cure for that poison but if I purify him with fire I might be able to cure his stupidity and carelessness. And we eliminate all risk of contagion of that poison and that stupidity. At this rate, no matter how many lives we have, it won't be enough." Her anger was making her appear dead serious... she was heating up, soon flames would appear around her fists... to the point that Zuko caught her wrists and brought them behing her back while pulling her front to his and reminding her of her own words earlier... while Iroh, fearing for his life, hurriedly produced a branch full of red little fruits.

"But look what I found! These are bacui berries, known to cure the poison of the white jade plant! That, or-"

"Those are macahoni berries that cause blindness!" She shot back, struggling to break free off the strong arms emprisonning her. This time it was Zuko who lost his patience, grabbed the branch and threw it away... while making sure to keep the girl away from his uncle... for their whole group's sake...

"We're not taking any more chances with these plants! Since Chenlian doesn't have the antidote, we need to get help." The boy asserted. His childhood friend sighed.

"I've seen a village not far. There should be a dispensary where they'll surely have the cure... but it's an Earth Kingdom facility. And we are considered enemies of the Earth Kingdom and fugitives from the Fire Nation. You decide what you want to do."

"If the Earth Kingdom, discovers us, they'll have us killed." The male teen mused.

"But if the Fire Nation discovers us, we'll be turned over to Azula." The old one argued. They nodded to each other in agreement. Earth Kingdom it was. They told Chenlian to lead them to that village.

Appa, Aang's and Chong's groups were walking along a wide street lined with ruins. Sokka, who was leading, asked how far they were from the tunnel. But Chong replied it was not just one tunnel. The lovers didn't want anyone to find out about their love, so they had built a whole labyrinth. The boy turned back and looked at him in sheer horror, his hands holding his head. Labyrinth? ! The untroubled fellow was sure they'd figure it out though... which wasn't reassuring as there didn't seem to be any ground to that confidence. They all started walking again. As claimed by Lily, all they needed to do was trust in love... according to the curse. At this, the Water Tribesman stopped dead, standing upright as if turned to stone. The others passed him. He cried in exasperation. A curse?!

They arrived at the end of a small canyon and looked at the moss covered entrance of a large tunnel in the cliff face. Five flying bisons could walk in a line or stand one above the other in this tunnel. Sokka asked about the curse and was told that only those who trusted in love could make it through the caves. Otherwise they'd be trapped in them forever... and die.
He grew even more aggravated. There was no way they'd go through some cursed hole! But then, Moku saw a column of smoke rising towards the sky and cheerfully noted that was someone was making a big campfire. But Katara contradicted him somberly. That was no campfire. That was Fire Nation. They were tracking them. Aang looked over his shoulder at Chong with an uncertain expression.

"So all you need is to trust in love to get through these caves ?"

"That is correct, Master Arrowhead." The troupe's leader replied. The airbender turned to gaze at Katara, his eyes shining with adoration. He looked back Chong with a confident smile.

"We can make it."

"Everyone into the hole!" Sokka ordered. The group slowly made its way into the tunnel, Appa groaning in protest, but still following. And soon after, Fire Nation tanks stopped before the cavern entrance. The commander forbade his men from going in as it was too dangerous. They knew the song. They just had to close them in and the mountain would do the rest. The tanks fired their grappling hooks into the top of the tunnel and pulled down a large amount of rock, completely blocking the entrance. Inside, the group turned in horror as the cave entrance collapsed. Appa, on his hind legs, frantically tried to dig his way out of the trap. Chong had lit a torch.

"It's okay, Appa. We'll be fine." The waterbender tried to reassure the animal before adding less confidently "I hope." And her brother concurred with her. All they needed was a plan. A torch lasted about two hours and they had five. Lily scraped the four she had on the ground lighting them. So that made ten hours. Sokka stomped on them, extinguishing them. It wasn't going to work like that if they were all lit at the same time! Lily agreed, all spacy. The young man was going to make a map to keep track of exactly where they'd pass. Then they should be able to solve it like a maze and get through.

In the dispensary of a certain village, Iroh sitting on a table, naked from the waist up, was being attended by a pretty young woman. The sweet and gentle healer was applying ointment on his red rashes. Zuko and Chenlian were sitting on a bench behind her. A conical hat was obscuring his face as he looked toward the floor. He had also donned a brown tabard-like cloth.

"You three must not be from around here. We know better than to touch the white jade, much less make it into tea and drink it."

"Heh heh heh. Whoops!" The elder laughed sheepishly.

"So where are you traveling from ?"

"Yes, we're travelers." Zuko stood up and talked too quickly.

Idiot, that's not what she asked! You're too nervous it's suspicious! Chenlian glared at him.

"Do you have names ?"

"Names ... Of course we have names. I'm... Lee. And this is my uncle, uh... Mushi." The boy said hesistantly... and then sheepishly too. Chenlian held her head. He really didn't know how to lie. Iroh shot him a dark look.

"Yes, my nephew was named after his father, so we just call him Junior." The old man repaid Zuko for his bad naming choice. Junior balled his fist and made a beheading gesture, obviously planning to pay his uncle back for that.

"And that-"

"I'm Meiling." Chenlian introduced herself before the guys could find any regrettable name her her. Mei for plum blossoms, and ling for spirit/soul. "I apologize for the trouble. I didn't keep a proper eye on him. It's all due to my carelessness. I should've given him a sterner warning. I'm sorry but while you're at it, could you also fix that tea-soaked brain of his?" She cruelly requested with a sweetly rueful tone and expression.

"My niece is just like a strict mother." Mushi laughed sheepishly. So her anger had not abated.

"So you two are siblings?" The healer questioned her and Lee.

"No, but something similar. We grew up together. And Mushi is acting as my gardian." Meiling replied.

"Meiling, Mushi and Junior, huh? My name is Song. You three look like you could use a good meal." She turned and slapped Iroh's hand away as he was scratching his rash. "Why don't you stay for dinner ?" She kindly suggested. But Zuko turned her down. They needed to be moving on. "That's too bad. My mom always makes too much roast duck." She looked up inocently. The old man instantly caught the bait and asked her where she lived. His nephew tried to protest again but his childhood friend elbowed him to silence him. They should save what she had gathered for when they'd really need it.

In the tunnel, Sokka was fooling around with a map. His sister complained that was the tenth dead end he had led them to. He was really puzzled. This didn't make any sense. They already come through this way. Chong pointed out they didn't need a map, just love. The little guy (Aang) knew it. Aang replied he wouldn't mind a map, also. But Sokka wasn't listening. He was looking around and studying the layout of the underground. There was something strange here, and only one explanation for that. The tunnels were changing. A low rumble through the tunnel startled everyone.

It was night. Zuko, Iroh, Chenlian and Song were sitting at a low asian styled table. The room was completely open on one side to the outside. Without a door or a wall, you simply had to walk down the stone step to be into the yard. Song's mother approached with a plate of roast duck.

"My daughter tells me you're refugees. We were once refugees ourselves." She said, seating herself. Song sadly told them that when she was little, the Fire Nation had raided their farming village and all the men were taken was the last time she had seen her father. At this, the young man lowered his gaze with a pained expression... and said he hadn't seen his father in many years. Chenlian paused a second. He was... missing his father too... of course. The nurse asked if he was fighting in the war. Iroh finished slurping a mouthful of noodles as he looked with some trepidation at his nephew to see how he was going to answer this dangerous question. Bowl in hand, the female warrior still hadn't moved. Zuko put down his food.

"Yeah." He answered simply. The elder woman asked Meiling about her father.

"My parents were both killed at the hands of the Fire Nation." The girl responded more drily than intended. The former prince looked away. That blow, although involuntary, had affected him. "And since I didn't have family who could take me in, Mushi's acting as my guardian."

Chong worriedly put the modifications of the tunnels on the curse and regretted having come down here. Sokka cynically commented. Right. If only they listened to that guy... he really was clueless about his own absurdity. Katara told everyone to be quite and listen. They heard noises. Momo jumped off Sokka's shoulder and flew off. They all stared intently. Suddenly, a wolf bat flew right at Sokka, knocking him over. It landed, snarled, and took off again. The young man tried to burn it with the torch, but failed. Worst, his hand slipped and the torch landed at Appa's toe, burning him. In pain and panicked due to the fire and closed space, the bison stampeded around the tunnel and bumped into the walls that cracked and dangerously weakened the whole structure... and causing a cave in. As the roof collapsed Aang sent a blast of air to get Chong, Sokka and the others out the falling debris' way. Then he turned and tackled Katara to the ground to protect her. When the dust settles, Aang, Katara and Appa were separated from Sokka and Chong's party.

Sokka ran to the obstruction and had begun to dig frantically when Chong calmly told him it was no use but that at least, he had them. However, this statement, made to reassure, only made him fall deeper and howl in despair. He started digging again and caused a mini cave in on his head.

Zuko was sitting cross legged on Song's porch. Song walked over and sat beside him, kindly asking if she could join him. She knew what he had been through. They had all been through it. The Fire Nation had hurt him. She reached out to touch his scar, but Zuko grabbed her hand without looking before she reached his face. It was then Chenlian came over after having finished helping clear the table.

"It's okay. They've hurt me, too." Song said as she raised the part of her dress covering her right leg to reveal a firebending scar. The former Fire Nation prince looked conscience-stricken.

"Then I guess that makes three of us with scars." Chenlian said, sitting over next to them and slightly parting the top of her clothes to show hers. And Zuko's eyes widened, even more shocked, appalled, horrified.

Sokka was leading the troupe with a deep scowl on his face while behind him, Chong was playing and singing cheerfully. Moku was playing too and the other members were dancing... and Chong's song was clearly meant to try and deride the boy... although it was having the opposite effect. Aang, Appa and Katara were walking through their own tunnel with Katara holding the torch. They arrived before a huge, round stone door, and, believing to have found the exit, were very excited. But of course, they unable to make it even budge with their strength. And they were no earthbenders. Appa grunted and started pawing the ground and snorting. The two humans stared at each other in alarm and quickly jumped away as the bison charged and forced the door open. They entered the dark chamber. It wasn't the exit, but a tomb. They were on a sort of balcony. They advanced to the railings and looked at the crypt. They climbed down the stairs leading to the sarcophagi at the center of the cavern and approached the dais on which the two coffins rested. They inferred that the two lovers from the legend were the ones buried here. Katara looked at the series of paintings and writing adorning the side of the dais. They were telling their story.

"They met on top of the mountain that divided their two villages. The villages were enemies so they could not be together. But their love was strong and they found a way. They built elaborate tunnels so they could meet secretly. Anyone who tried to follow them would be lost forever in the labyrinth. But one day the man didn't come. He died in the war between their two villages. Devastated, the woman unleashed a terrible display of her earthbending power. She could have destroyed them all. But instead she declared the war over. Both villages helped her build a new city where they would live together in peace. The woman's name was Oma and the man's name was Shu. The great city was named Omashu as a monument to their love." The airbender and waterbender looked at a statue of the two lovers kissing, a plaque with writing between them. The girl read the inscription. "Love is brightest in the dark."

With Momo perched on his head, Sokka was again looking at his map as his plans had yet again led his group to another dead end. He defensively retorted that at least he was thinking of ideas and trying to get them out of here. Chong suddenly voiced the brilliant idea he'd had for an hour: if love was the key out of here, then all they needed to do was play a love song. The boy smacked his forehead again.

Aang was wondering how they were gonna find their way out of these tunnels when Katara mentioned that she had a crazy idea. As she was reluctant to say it since it was too crazy, her friend encouraged her. The girl turned away looking a little bashful. The airbender insisted.

"I was thinking… the curse says we'll be trapped in here forever unless we trust in love."

"Right..."

"And here it says 'love is brightest in the dark' and… has a picture of them kissing." She turned to face him, but doesn't yet dare meet his eyes.

"Where are you going with this ?" Aang questioned, still completely clueless.

"Well... what if we kissed ?" She asked shyly, finally looking up at him, blushing with a slightly dreamy, slightly hopeful expression. The monk froze for a second.

"Us kissing?" He said, surprised, and a little stiff.

"See? It was a crazy idea." The waterbender turned away.

"Us... kissing..." Aang repeated dreamily. But then, scared of rejection, Katara tried to laugh it off.

"Us kissing... What was I thinking? Can you imagine that ?"

"Yeah, heh, heh." The Avatar reacted the same way for the same reason. "I definitely wouldn't wanna kiss you!" He pointed at her for emphasis and a second later, his eyes bugged out as he realized he had gone too far.

"Oh, well I didn't realize it was such a horrible option. Sorry I suggested it!" She stormed, clearly offended.

"No, no, I mean... if there was a choice between kissing you and dying... What I'm saying is I'd rather kiss you than die." He clasped his hands together in a gesture of appeasement. "That's a compliment." He kept digging his own grave, not even getting the kind of love-killing comments he was making. Further insulted, the girl turned away with a noise of indignation.

"Well, I'm not sure which I would rather do!" She yelled and gave the torch to him before stalking off. The Avatar dejectedly wondered what was wrong with him.

Zuko, Chenlian and Iroh were standing in the courtyard of Song's house, about to leave. Fireflies were buzzing lazily around them. Iroh and Chenlian graciously thanked Song and her mother for the duck. It was excellent. The old woman handed them a package of leftover food. She was glad to see someone eat her cooking with such... gusto. She looked at Iroh who patted his full stomach.

"Much practice." He grinned. Zuko turned to leave, but 'Mushi' stopped him. "Junior, where are your manners? You need to thank these nice people." He chided his nephew. Junior turned and offered a small bow with a quiet and somewhat apathetic 'thank you' before walking away again.

"Lee!" Meiling whispered his name warningly as she caught his wrist. He really was being too rude.

"I know you don't think there's any hope left in the world, but there is hope. The Avatar has returned!" Song said quickly.

"I know." Zuko quietly but intensely answered after a time. He then twisted his arm, making Chenlian let go and grabbing her wrist instead. The girl winced almost imperceptibly. His grip was so tight it was hurting. He dragged her outside. Iroh followed them. But then, the young man stopped as he saw a tethered ostrich-horse. It was one of those unusually large and powerful beasts. This one seemed like it could carry the three of them. He looked at the animal, at the house, back at the animal, let go of Chenlian, released the beast, and began to lead it away with them. His two companions were appalled. These people had just showed him great kindness. How dared he do that to them? "They're about to show us a little more kindness. Well...?" He offered his hand to his uncle who looked down, horribly unhappy... but who nonetheless accepted his hand. "Chenlian?" He looked at his childhood friend. She glared at him but her expression was a pleading one. Then she looked down, giving in too.

Having that animal could indeed make their life considerably easier. And although she felt indescribably guilty about it, right now, her priority was still Zuko. However, she couldn't just let things go like this. She buried something where the animal had been before mounting it. They rode away. From the front door, Song looked at them leaving. Obviously crushed, she hung her head and closed the door.

"What did you do that for?" Zuko crossly interrogated Chenlian after a time. He had placed her before him, between his arms, her back against his chest.

"I'd rather give away one of my precious heirloom than steal from people like them." She answered simply but firmly... and also warningly. She had refrained from stopping him because indeed, their situation would be easier with that animal. And right now, her priority was Zuko and his well-being. However, all this time, her life and her principles were the only two things she had somehow been able to cling to when everything else was crumbling away. Those were the surest things she possessed. Without them, she would lose herself, she would be nothing. And in this world where everything was so uncertain, there were also the only things on which she would not budge. Even if she could not stop him, he could not stop her either. To avoid another fight and cause a racket, he changed the subject.

"Then let me ask you, where did you get that scar? I've never heard about it." He still sounded irritated... like he had been vividly accused by that scar 'you don't know anything'.

"You don't need to be surprised or irritated. The world is at war. There isn't a single person without scars, whether on their body or on their heart, or both. Because I care, I wanted to know more about you, that's why I know it was your father who gave you this scar and why he did it. And the reason why you don't know about me is because you've never bothered to inquire about my condition, my feelings, or what all those years had been like for me, right? Since all you've thought about was yourself, and your home. You probably assumed that since I was strong, I couldn't be hurt or feel pain, didn't you? You assume you know and never try to second-guess anything. Pretending to care now is-"

"Don't change the subject! I'm asking you now! And how do you know it was my father who gave me this scar?!" The young man barked as the conversation was going in a direction he didn't like.

"I've changed it because I didn't want to answer now. I'll tell you another time."

"When? You've already said you'd tell me."

"When I'll be sure you can properly listen to me and not fly in a rage and simply deny everything without thinking. And that isn't now. Certainly, it's a truth you need to know, but something you don't want to hear."

Aang and Katara were wandering through the tunnels with Appa. He gloomily remarked they were gonna run out of light any second now. She agreed, sounding tired.

"Then what are we gonna do ?" The boy asked.

"What can we do? " The girl asked back. She turned to him and walked closer. After a moment, she put her hand on his, so they were both holding the dwindling torch. He smiled at her... her beautiful face, her serious eyes... As the light faded out, they leant in to each other, closing their eyes. Then there was darkness. And then the gems prickling the ceiling that couldn't be seen before started to glow, lighting a way.

Chong was still strumming his guitar but he stopped when ominous sounds started echoing through the darkness. Sokka stopped rubbing his head in frustration. They looked behind them, and all of a sudden, saw a huge pack of wolf-bats speed towards them. They flew over them and the Water tribesman flailed about frantically. The animals completely ignored the humans though and continued down the tunnel. They were gone in an instant. Chong was sure Sokka had saved them but he contradicted him. They were trying to get away from something. Behind them the rocks exploded and the tunnel around them shook and a badger mole appeared from the dust to everyone's surprise. Behind them another explosion revealed another badger mole. They were surrounded. Through earthbending, the animals closed all the tunnel entrances and separated Sokka from the others. The creature in front of him stomped the ground and knocked him backwards onto the ground. As Sokka inched backwards away from the advancing badger mole, his fingers accidentally strummed one of Chong's guitars discarded on the ground in the shuffle. The beast stopped and tilted its head, puzzled. The boy looked up, expecting to get killed, before realizing what was going on. He stood up with the guitar and started playing. Chong stood up too, remarking with joy that those 'things' were music lovers.

"Badger moles, coming toward me. Come on guys, help me out." Sokka sang, although the notes didn't go well with the instrument's notes. The whole troupe stood and played and sang about 'the big bad badger moles who work in the tunnels, hate the wolf bats but love the sounds.'

Aang, who was looking at the glowing gems, inferred they must be made of some kind of crystals that only lit up in the dark. The fingers of his right hand were laced with Katara's. She was sure that was how the two lovers found each other. They just put out their lights and followed the crystals. That must be the way out! They hugged. The boy started stuttering uncertainly but she interrupted him with an excited 'Let's go!' and darted away. He stared for a time before smiling goodheartedly and following with Appa close behind. Appa emerged out of the mountain at a gallop, stopped, reared up and flopped on his back, clearly happy to be outside once again. The two humans joined him but just as they were wondering about Sokka, two holes were blown open next to the tunnel exit from where the badger moles came out. Sokka and Momo were riding atop one and the troupe was on the other. Katara, shielding her face from the flying debris, looked up and recognized her brother. She cried his name happily. Sokka slid down the side of the animal, ran over to his younger sibling and asked how they had gotten out.

"Just like the legend says: we let love lead the way." Aang answered with a somewhat mysterious and content expression.

"Really ? We let huge ferocious beasts lead our way." The young man replied cheerfully. He turned and waved goodbye to the badger moles. Cut to a wide, overhead shot as everyone waves the badger moles goodbye. They turned and enter the two holes they had created, closing them up with their earthbending after their passage. Momo landed in front of Appa and began to chitter excitedly, punctuating his tale with gestured while Appa would occasionally grunt in response. The Water Tribe siblings were hugging each other. When they pulled away, Katara questioned her brother as to why his forehead was all red. It was then that Chong leant in.

"Nobody react to what I'm about to tell you. I think that kid might be the Avatar." He whispered conspiratorially in such a dead serious manner. Sokka smacked his forehead again, appalled at such slowness, answering his sister's question. Aang asked the troupe if they were going to come with them to Omashu but he was turned down. The child thanked them for everything. Chong placed his flower necklace around Sokka's neck and hugged him, hoping he had learned a little something about not letting the plans get in the way of the journey.

"Just play your songs." The young warrior sullenly shot back despite the blush coloring his cheeks. Even though they were so annoying, they somehow grew on you, and you couldn't help it. The man released him.

"Hey, good plan!" The troupe leader praised his wonderful suggestion and started singing. "Even if you're lost you can't lose the love because it's in your heart. Ooooohhhh..."

At these words, Aang gazed sideways at Katara who looked down and blushed.

The three youths and two animals were walking up a rocky mountain. Hours had passed, but it was still daytime.

"The journey was long and annoying, but now you get to see what it's really about – the destination." Sokka declared as they arrived on top. He gestured before them. "I present to you the Earth Kingdom city of O..." But he suddenly stopped himself as he looked with horror and realization at the scene in front of them. "Oh, no..." In front of them... lied the devastated fortress city of Omashu, surrounded by siege towers. The city was smoking. And above the main gate, the Earth Kingdom flag had been replaced by the Fire Nation flag. Omashu had fallen to the Fire Nation.