Rage Of The Black Dragon

by Nazaki-Sama

Ozai and Azula won, and what was left of the world was burned to ashes... But when Zuko woke up ten years in the past with the ability to change his fate; he promised to win this war and end Ozai's reign once and for all. But first, he was going to hunt down everyone who robbed him of his mate and child. Time travel, Dark, Omegaverse, Aged up Aang, Dark Zuko! Cover art by me enjoy!

11. Chapter 11

…Rage Of The Black Dragon…

Warnings:This chapter contains:- cursing, sadness, darkness, violence, mental health issues, possessiveness, panic attacks, hurt/comfort, fluff, kissing, everyone is panicking, Tui and La make an appearance, and new lore about the Spirits here! All reviews are appreciated.

P.P.S.: This is an Omegaverse story as in Alpha/Beta/Omega dynamic, with Alpha Aang and Omega Zuko, so you have been warned! And it is also a time travel one! The titles that would be used for the Omegaverse dynamic in this story, are from the Chinese fandom (As the story would have many customs and cultures from southern and eastern Asia; China specifically):-

Alpha - Qianyuan

Omega - Kunze

Beta – Zhongyong

P.P.P.S: This is a dark (and I mean really dark!) story that takes place in the ALTA's timeline (the original show, not the live adaptation, but who knows, maybe I will add a pointer or two from the NATLA after I watch it?) to some extent but with many major changes, such as Aang being aged up to sixteen and Zuko being OOC; this story is also the first part of the series that would follow the first chapter but diverge after a certain point.

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Chapter 11

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...(The woman looked through the window; her gaze never leaving the ocean in the distance. She hummed a song, tilted her head, and smiled. Her right hand, gripped her glass softly, bringing it to her nose, taking the scent of the drink inside; the fragrant scent relaxed her and made her let out a soft sigh before she brought the glass to her lips to take a sip.

"General Huazo..." Someone called from behind, and Huazo paused; slowly Huazo lowered the glass in her hand before turning to the person who had dared to enter her room without permission. Seeing her Second-In-Command, her lips twitched down, her eyebrow raised as she saw the woman walking until she stood beside Huazo.

"Lieutenant He." Huazo hummed, gazing at the woman from the corner of her eye, taking in the cold calculated look on her childhood friend's face; her friend, who gazed at the distance with a harsh frown on her face. "Want some?" Huazo asked, but she didn't wait for her friend's response. She had already poured the Qianyuan a drink and given the glass to her friend, who hummed and took a sip.

The two of them remained silent, gazing at the ocean and icebergs without talking to one another. Both were lost in their worlds, trying to find ways and solutions for their problems. It was only when they managed to finish half of the wine bottle; Lieutenant He finally spoke. "A rat had snuck into our ship." Making Huazo pause before she took the next sip.

"Oh?" Huazo whirled the liquid inside her glass, her eye took in the pink liquid with interest. "And who is the lovely rat in our mildest?" Huazo couldn't help but question the other Qianyuan, wondering why her friend would tell her this information, when He, knew she could take care of this problem on her own, without the need to come to Huazo and tell her.

"...Princess Azula." Huazo could only blink; once, twice, three times. Before she let out a bark of laughter, finally realizing why her friend had hesitated to take care of this rat and thought it would be appropriate to inform her.

Lieutenant He, waited until Huazo was done laughing; calmly sipping her wine and continuing to watch the ocean without any outward reaction. "Where is she now?" Huazo couldn't help asking after she finally managed to control herself, an amused smile played on her lips and her eye narrowed dangerously as she lowered it to gaze at the deck, watching the soldiers milling around her ship.

"With the other soldiers, going through the morning drills." He said with disinterest, her face scrunching momentarily as her eyes fell on part of the deck where the soldiers were going over their katas. Huazo followed her sight, and a wry smile couldn't help but paint her face when she spotted the Princess almost immediately from her posture alone.

"Did the other noticed?" Huazo couldn't help but ask, her gaze not leaving the young Qianyuan; a possibility after a possibility entered her head, wondering if this little rat had dared to come to her ship on her own or to follow her father's order. Remembering how that bitch Ozai was after that cursed Agni Kai and later Prince Zuko's presentation; Huazo concluded that the little Qianyuan in question was operating on her own without her 'Oh-So-Loving' father's interference, something that Huazo could use to her advantage when the time was right.

"They are waiting for orders." Lieutenant He, tilted her glass for another refill, which Huazo happily indulged her friend with. Instead of gazing at the horizon, they were both content watching the little Princess train with the other soldiers, wearing the full armor of the Fire Nation, and going through the katas with sharp and precise motion. The Princess didn't seem to notice the stares sent her way and how her katas differed slightly from the other soldiers around her (Trained in espionage and infiltration), singling her out to everyone with a brain to spare.

"...Leave her be..." Huazo after going through her options, finally concluded the next step; her order made her friend raise an eyebrow and glance at Huazo from the corners of her eye, her face expressionless, even when Huazo managed to detect the judgment in the other Qianyuan's eyes. "Oh, don't give me that look..." Huazo grinned sending her friend an amused look. "If Daddy Dearest doesn't know about his bundle of joy's little escapade, we could use this to our advantage." Huazo sipped her wine slowly, feeling pleasure curling inside her chest at the possibility presented to her.

"The Northern Water Tribe are narrowminded people who wouldn't hesitate to kill. She already has several targets on her back, being the Princess of the Fire Nation is the last of her worries there." He said, tilting her head to gaze at the little Princess, seizing her up and down before frowning harshly.

"We tried to protect the Princess when we discovered her in our ship, Lieutenant He." Huazo mocked, pouting slighting, and widening her eye to look innocent. "The Princess was so desperate to be recognized by her father, she snuck into the ship, messed with the data to slow us down, then tried to infiltrate the Northern Water Tribe's fort... all on her own.. and was caught up immediately!" Huazo snorted, suppressing her cackle. "We, the loyal soldiers of the Fire Nation did the impossible to save Princess Azula from those Ice Savages. Hostages exchange, General Huazo's life for Princess Azula..." Huazo sipped the last of her wine, an amused smile on her face. "Too bad General Huazo was killed... such a shame! A great loss to the Fire Nation's military, all because an annoying little brat didn't listen to orders and destroyed many important data in a fit of anger. Data that could have led to us winning Agna Qel'a." Huazo snickered, her words causing her friend to snort and return her gaze toward the vast ocean.

"I will write the report..." Lieutenant He hummed, glancing at Huazo with an amused raise of her eyebrow. "After meeting Prince Zuko..." To which, Huazo pouted, but nodded in acceptance, knowing that her friend's demand was reasonable, and anything could have happened from this moment until then. "I will inform the soldiers about the change of the plans." With that, Lieutenant He turned and walked away, leaving Huazo alone, gazing at Princess Azula who was making a nuisance out of herself.

"Why don't you look at that..." Huazo hummed, an amused grin widening on her face almost splitting it in half. "You just delivered yourself to me on a silver plate, you little brat." Huazo cackled, putting her glass on the table, feeling anticipation coursing through her...

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Suddenly...

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Huazo's journey to the North didn't seem so boring anymore...)...

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The thing about Zuko was... it was that he was always angry.

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He was angry that the Fire Nation had deviated from Agni's ways and sided with his mad father; disregarding the laws and traditions that were imparted to them centuries ago, following the dream of a madman who brought them to ruin. He was angry that his mother (The one he loved and adored with all of his heart after his uncle) had left him that night years ago and didn't take him with her, leaving Zuko to suffer in that viper nest, that took and took, and left Zuko with nothing.

He was angry that he was the only person singled out by his father, sister, his father's advisors, teachers, and instructors; forever singled out by everyone as they pointed out how he was lacking in every way possible compared to everyone around. Forever having to work and work, and overwork himself, just to reach an even ground with his sister... only to blink his eyes and find himself at the bottom once more.

He was angry that the only person his age was his sister, who constantly disregarded his interests and his role in their home, and always made sure to bully and insult him to the point of tears and humiliation. Striking with Zuko, a type of disillusionment, he never thought he would ever experience before, but after what happened in the past... after they had lost... after his daughter was...

He was angry that what little Fire Bending he managed to learn as a child (Where he spent days training, training, and training some more. Never resting, always training, trying to make his father look at him, trying to make his sister look at him... trying to...) was insulted and brushed under the rug in the face of his sister's genius and talent, compared to Zuko's mediocre display.

He was angry that he was nothing but a child, a twelve-year-old, who stood up against his father's unreasonable orders and opposed his mad plans, while men and women older than him by twenty, thirty, forty, and fifty years stayed silent and didn't do anything to protect their soldiers and people. Men and women who were older than him by decades stayed silent and allowed this unjust to take place; allowing innocent blood to be spilled like it was nothing.

He was angry that his father had challenged a child to an Agni Kai... an Agni Kai where he later disregarded the rules like they were nothing. Passing judgment and punishment, even when the fight had been nulled when Zuko had knelt and forfeited the fight, begging and crying for another chance, and hoping... hoping... (For a split second... Zuko thought his father looked at him and had softened; for a split second, when Zuko felt his father walking toward him... for a split second, when Zuko felt his father cupped the left side of his face gently, he had thought his father had forgiven him... he had thought that his father, maybe didn't hate him as much as he thought... for a split second... and then... Zuko started to scream...)

He was angry over being stripped of his honor and banished from home after that sham of Agni Kai, where his father had marked Zuko as a dishonored individual even when it was the other way around. Banished away from home, forever searching for someone everyone believed had vanished from the world and was no more.

He was angry that he spent years searching for an enemy that later turned into a friend, which turned into a beloved; years of searching only to find the man after so much pain and humiliation... only to then go on a wild chase right after, always failing to capture the teenager turned a lover and confidence, no matter how much he tried.

He was angry about the fact that he only discovered his destiny when it was too late; after Ba Sing Se, after his return to the Fire Nation, after hearing about his father's mad plans, after... It was always too late... and when Zuko finally realized, when he finally did... it was a race against time, trying to stop Ozai and Azula from succeeding in their plans.

He was angry that after all the begging and the late-night talks, after all the promises and hopes and dreams and wishes... Aang refused to kill Ozai, even though everyone had begged and begged the other teenager to disregard his culture just once... Once... and kill the madman who would never stop until everything burned to ashes under his feet.

He was angry at himself for being weak (Always weak, no matter how much he tried and tried, and trained and honed his skill... he was always weak!), not being able to save his friends from their dark fates, not being able to defeat Azula when everyone depended on him; not being able to save his uncle, and later save his beloved daughter who was lost to him and was subjected to the cruelest torture before being killed...

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...Zuko was angry...

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And he knew he was angry.

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Because he knew his own anger, having spent years and years with his anger until it became a part of his being. And because he knew his own anger and what brought it to the world, he could empathize with Aang when his beloved got angry.

He could empathize, understand, and even encourage his beloved to get angry because forcing himself to luck his anger and emotions so deep in the darkest part would result in nothing but explosive anger that would burn the world down. Locking someone's emotions and pasting a smile was never the answer, it was not the answer and would never be the answer... look where it led them now! Aang just declared a fucking war and almost lost himself to the Avatar State!

Because Zuko knew his anger, he managed to control himself in this situation even when everyone around him was losing it and was a step away from getting lost in the madness that was a war declared in a moment of anger that would doom everyone in this goddamn world and would make many lose their trust in Aang's ability to remain neutral in his judgment after Aang allowed his emotions to get the better of him.

Zuko's anger empowered him in ways he never thought it would ever do. Where anger was a tool of self-destruction for the Fire Benders; for him, it was what helped Zuko push forward when everyone around him expected him to fail and end up dead and forgotten.

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It was his anger and desire for vengeance that freed Zuko from his prison.

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It was his anger that brought Zuko to the past.

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His anger was his strength.

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But now... Looking at Katara who pushed him out of harm's way and got injured in the process; looking at Aang who allowed himself to go against his nature and allow his anger to get the best of him and declare a damn war... Now Zuko thinks that he could allow some of the anger and hate he always felt to be laid to rest today...

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Now... Zuko wouldn't mind letting go...

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...Starting with Katara...

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Katara, who was once upon a time an enemy; an enemy that turned into an ally, which turned into a friend, and a friend... A friend who turned into a traitor... a traitor who day after day after day, gave those cold and disgusted looks when she knew he was a Kunze... a traitor who looked at Zuko with eyes colder than the ice she used to bend and would come to heal his wounds when Azula went overboard... Healing... such an amusing and cruel way to describe what Katara used to do after she knew he was a Kunze... it was an overestimation and generous to describe her action as healing, not when it always hurt a lot worse after Katara was done...

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Katara... the traitor who... was now a child...

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Zuko was not the type to forgive and forget, he was not the type who let bygones be bygones. He was the petty type who always held a grudge even after years had passed and things should have been laid to rest. Zuko was a hunter, he was patient, he would allow years to pass and give his prey a sense of safety and security before attacking when they were the most content and happy, burning their happiness before their very own eyes and giving them the taste of the same despair, he suffered.

Zuko was not the kind to forgive and forget... he never forgave nor did he forget, his memory was too good to allow Zuko to forgive or forget... no, Zuko was the deranged type who was obsessive, possessive, mentally unstable most of the time, and even he knew he was sick in the head to the point of madness...

But... as he stood near the infirmary, leaning on the wall beside the door, listening to Sokka and Katara talking to one another; he couldn't help but wonder if Katara deserved a chance to be redeemed this time... a second chance... just like the one granted to Zuko by Agni who looked down on him and decided that after all the suffering Zuko had to endure, a second chance was allowed to be given to him...

"...Are you stupid or what?!" Sokka's snappish voice, resonated until it reached where Zuko was standing, and Zuko couldn't help but lean down toward the door to hear better. "Did you leave your brain with Gran-Gran or something? Why would you jump into the danger zone just like that? Why didn't you use your bending?! Did a few days in this godforsaken land turn you into this idiot?!" A squeak was heard from inside the infirmary coming from Katara, Sokka had no doubt either pulled her ear or bonked her on the head.

"Don't be a dick!" Katara cried out, followed by Sokka's cursing getting louder and louder. "My body moves on its own, ok?!" Here, the room became silent, only Sokka's loud pants and Katara's huffs were heard. "I just... I just... froze..." A sniffle was heard. "I just... I saw that asshole throw something, and couldn't even think, let alone bend... I just... I felt like... I felt like I was back there... with me hiding and Mo... I just moved..." More sniffles followed.

"What if it wasn't a rock?" Sokka choked out after a while of silence. "What if it wasn't a rock but a weapon... a knife, something sharp, anything, what if it was a weapon? What then?!" Sokka hissed, sounding agitated by the second. "You are putting yourself, an untrained thirteen-year-old kid, in danger! Do you think Zuko, a trained warrior and a Fire Bending Master in his own right, would allow this? Do you think he would let a thirteen-year-old kid defend him and get injured because of him? What do you think would have happened if that damned rock was a weapon or worse?! Katara, I could have-!" Sokka continued to shout, and Zuko continued to stare passively at the wall in front of him.

Thirteen...? Katara was thirteen...? ...Zuko couldn't help but question, trying to make sense of the age Sokka just mentioned, trying to force it to make sense even when it didn't because until now... until now, the only thing Zuko saw when looking at Katara, was that Twenty-year-old woman who always came into his cell, giving him that cold and disgusted look; a look that held hate so deep within them, Zuko always felt his skin crawling when those blue eyes fell on him.

Thirteen... She was still a child... Zuko breathed out, leaning his head on the metal walk behind him... A child that was not beyond saving... Today's events proved it... part of Zuko couldn't help but whisper, and a choked laugh left Zuko's throat at that thought... A child... Children deserve second chances, don't they? ...Zuko could only wonder, his hand unconsciously touching his scar; a frown crossed over his face as he felt the rough skin under his fingers...

Zuko was not the type to forgive and forget, he was not the type who let bygones be bygones. He was the petty type who always held a grudge even after years had passed and things should have been laid to rest. Zuko was a hunter, he was patient, he would allow years to pass and give his prey a sense of safety and security before attacking when they were the most content and happy, burning their happiness before their very own eyes and giving them the taste of the same despair, he suffered.

Zuko was not the kind to forgive and forget... he never forgave nor did he forget, his memory was too good to allow Zuko to forgive or forget... no, Zuko was the deranged type who was obsessive, possessive, mentally unstable most of the time, and even he knew he was sick in the head to the point of madness...

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The thing about Zuko was... it was that he was always angry.

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But now... Looking at Katara who pushed him out of harm's way and got injured in the process; looking at Aang who allowed himself to go against his very own nature and allow his anger to get the best of him and declare a damn war... Now Zuko thinks that he could allow some of the anger and hate he always felt to be laid to rest today...

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Now... Zuko wouldn't mind letting go of some of his anger...

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Straightening himself; Zuko took a deep breath and shifted until he stood in front of the infirmary's door, knocking gently and waiting for Sokka to grant him entry. When his friend did, Zuko opened the door and walked inside, looking at Sokka and Katara (Both looked disheveled, both looked sad, both looked angry, and on the verge of tears; but they would be fine... Zuko knew they would be fine... because this time, he would make sure of it...)...

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Zuko went toward the siblings and pulled them into a tight hug...

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The thing was... Zuko knew Aang was making a mistake...

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For as long as Zuko knew Aang, the Kunze knew that his beloved was the type whose heart would bleed for everyone with no exception. He was a man who was kind to a fault and would do anything and everything in his ability to help those in need. Forever sacrificing parts of himself to make sure that the people around him were safe and lacked nothing they needed; always blaming himself when something happened, even when it never involved him in the first place, or he didn't have the power to prevent it. Aang was the type who would always let himself give, give, and give some more until nothing was left, and even then, he would continue to give until he had nothing, even kindness.

For as long as Zuko knew Aang, the Kunze knew that his beloved was the pacifist type; that he would always avoid fights if he could and would prefer to solve all of the problems thrown his way with talk... Aang was a pacifist by nature; be it the way he was raised when he was young with his family, or the way he was groomed to be by the Southern Air Temple monks who used this as their chance to create someone in the image of their God. Aang was a pacifist man, he hated conflicts and his go-to route was always to run away when things got hard because that was how Aang learned to handle things ever since he was young, and that was the only thing he knew to do even now because this action was the only thing that was his choice, purely and wholly, by his own will and not the ideals stuffed down his throat until he was forced to follow them.

For as long as Zuko knew Aang, the Kunze knew that his beloved wouldn't kill anyone, let alone someone who angered him even if the boy dared to declare war. Oh, no, it wasn't because Aang couldn't do it (Zuko knew he could, it was proven to him when Aang killed Zhao weeks ago and allowed himself to do it and discard his beliefs), nor because he didn't have a dark side to him (Zuko knew his beloved, and he knew that Aang had a dark side to him, the same as anyone around, but the thing was, ever since his beloved was young, he had learned the hard way how to chain that side of himself so far down inside his being it was hard to access unless someone got Aang truly angry... and that only happened twice... that day when Zuko almost died, and from what Aang told him in the past... the day he lost Appa and his anger and hate got the better of him), but because his beloved was that stupid kid who believed that 'All lives are precious' and were sacred in a way that no one had a right to take. Aang had chained a part of himself so far down, that he didn't know how to handle that part when it made appearances; he wouldn't know what to do and how to act, because he was never given a chance to get familiar with anger and hate, and knew how to navigate these overwhelming emotions.

Aang was never cruel, not because he couldn't but because he refused to be; he was a man who refused to lose himself to hate and anger because if he did, then Aang would be nothing but what everyone feared and believed he was. Aang was not someone who would allow his hate to get the better of him, he would never allow his anger to get the better of him, and he would never allow his sadness to get the better of him because he shoved them so far down, and pasted that smile on his face, he forgot how to process these emotions when they get the better of him.

Aang was all about suppressing, suppressing, and suppressing. Never giving himself a chance to process his emotions and think about them rationally, until in the end, it came and bit him in the nose in the worst possible way, and his love, in a fit of rage so uncharacteristic of his pacifist nature, had gone against all of his rationality and teachings and did the stupidest thing there was by declaring war (Not that Zuko wasn't moved by this, oh, no, far from it... but Zuko loved Aang too much to allow him to continue down this road).

...The thing was, Zuko knew it was a mistake, and deep down, Zuko knew that Aang knew this too... but Aang was stubborn, he was always stubborn (If there was one fault in his beloved that Zuko suffered for years because, it was his beloved's stubbornness and the way he continued to hang tightly to his ways no matter what), and Zuko knew Aang would burn himself from the inside out to the point he would only be left with anger and self-loath that choked him day and night and for the rest of his life if he went down this path.

Zuko knew Aang, and he knew his beloved's kind heart would break into millions of pieces if the innocent got hurt in the crossfire. The young, the old, and the innocent; if any of them got hurt in Aang's presence because of his decision, Zuko knew his Aang's heart would break, and that any trust Aang had in himself would shatter beyond repair to the point of self-hatred and doubt would cloud Aang's life until his last breath.

Aang was making a mistake, and Zuko knew that; he knew that, and he refused to allow it to happen because allowing it to happen meant, breaking Aang's heart... and Zuko would die before allowing that... Aang was making a mistake, and even against Zuko's own agenda and wishes (Even when deep down something dark and twisted inside of him was hissing and telling Zuko that this was it, that they could finally make Aang open his eyes and understand, that they-!), Zuko would do anything in his hands to stop his beloved from making the worst mistake of his life.

So, here Zuko was walking to the upper deck like a soldier prepared to do their mission; a harsh frown took over his face as he saw his crew running back and forth preparing everything so they would leave the north. Heedless to the fact that Zuko had not given the orders and that by leaving, Aang would make the worst mistake of his life; a mistake that would remain undiscovered, until something happened to this godforsaken place and the innocent died in the crossfire, then Aang would lose himself to guilt in a way never seen before and Zuko refused to lose his beloved because of this...

People, bigger and stronger than his beloved had lost themselves to guilt, and guilt was the ultimate weapon that destroyed even the strongest of people from the inside out until they were nothing but a husk of who they used to be... and Zuko would die a thousand time before allowing this to happen to his beloved.

"Shut. This. Ship. Down!" Zuko roared when he reached the upper deck, standing in the middle and glaring at the soldiers who were preparing everything for their departure; confusion, apprehension, and even stubbornness could be seen in the crew's faces, and Zuko's glare could only intensify. "Now!" Zuko ordered, his voice louder this time, he was sure the Water Tribe people who followed them and were waiting outside had heard; it was only when he heard the engines shut down, that Zuko let out a sigh, before straightening up giving his next orders "All of you go back into your rooms, we are not leaving the north and this is final." Something to which everyone gave a harsh frown upon hearing, but no one dared to oppose, not when it was Zuko who gave the orders

"Nephew!" The voice of his uncle, calm but with an edge of steel made Zuko turn to the old man, his eyes taking his father figure and Aang walking toward him at a fast pace, both looking somewhat confused and angry at the fact they were stopped from leaving this damn place; the thing was, Zuko was on a mission, and right now, he didn't care about what he was going to face to succeed in it

"Uncle, stay here. I am having a long talk with you later." Zuko stated in a harsh voice, powered by a glare, that was sent toward the old man before he turned his head toward his beloved, with a look that promised heavy retribution. "Now, you... you are going to come with me." Zuko hissed, before taking hold of Aang by his hand and dragging him away, ignoring the confusion and protests his beloved let out.

"Wha...?! Zuko!" Aang all but squeaked and started to struggle something fierce when he saw Zuko drag him toward his room; his face was a bit pale, no doubt thinking about the heavy implication and the false ideas that would spread if people saw them entering Zuko's room. But Zuko didn't care about that; he never cared about that, and right now he wanted maximum privacy and this was the only way they could get it.

"Shut it, Avatar!" Zuko hissed, with an undertone of steel as he finally pulled Aang inside of his room and shut the door; pushing Aang against it. "I'm the one talking now, and you are going to listen to me and you are going to listen well because I refuse to lose you over this," Zuko growled trapping Aang between the door and his body, looking at those grey-blue eyes he loved so much before he started to speak, telling his beloved exactly what he thought about his action, watching how Aang's face shut down as he allowed Zuko to rant until he was finished.

"...I did what had to be done." Aang finally spat after what felt like hours staring the other down but was, in fact, a few seconds. "They refused to listen, so they will suffer the consequences of their actions and that's that." Zuko pressed his lips into a thin line as he heard this, and he could only let out a harsh sigh through his nose when he saw the stubborn light shining in his beloved's eyes.

"You have just started a war, Aang... The Avatar declaring a war... do you even realize the catastrophe of this action? " Zuko whispered, his hands going to cup Aang's face, watching that stubborn press of his lips. "What about the innocent and children?" Zuko couldn't help questioning softly, watching how anger and hesitation shone in his beloved's eyes, but still, stubbornness reigned and Zuko knew his beloved was hellbent on going down this path of self-destruction.

"...They will never learn... it's a high time for them to do." Aang forced these words out, and Zuko could only wonder how much strain it had caused his beloved to say this... how much pain did it cause Aang to say these words and try to mean them, even when Zuko could see how conflicted the other boy was?

"The world was wrong about you; the whole world was wrong about you... They all think that because you were the Avatar then it's your duty to kill and end tyranny in any form present. Still, some actions would always be impossible and if done would result in a catastrophe that not even being the Avatar would save you from its consequences." Aang's jaw locked hearing this, and Zuko even from here could feel the mental gymnastics his beloved was going through; this more than ever gave Zuko the confidence that he was in the right to stop this, because if Aang went down this path of self-destruction, then the Spirits only know what part of Aang would be broken by the end when he would force himself to face the trials waiting for them in the future. "But that's not right, and I know you Aang, and because I know you; I refuse to allow you to do this; not when I know what would happen to you if the innocent people get involved. Not when I know you will lose yourself if I allow that to happen." Zuko's voice was soft, and he could only watch the pain and anger (Anger so strong that it was clear to all) shine in Aang's eyes before the other teen tried to suppress it.

"Well... maybe... you don't know me as much as you think you do..." Aang forced through his lips, and Zuko if he didn't know his beloved any better, would have taken these words as an insult or a knife to the heart; as it was, Zuko knew Aang, and he knew that his beloved when saying such words was more about hurting himself than the other party, so instead of being angry, Zuko snorted and raised his hand to flick Aang's forehead in retaliation.

"You wish." Zuko snorted, a mean smile crossed his face when Aang winced from the hard flick to his forehead. "I found you... I always find you, don't I?" Aang pressed his lips into a tight line upon hearing this, and he would have turned his head away if Zuko hadn't been cupping his face and directing Aang's gaze toward him. "United we can stand against anyone in our way..." Zuko remembered the last words Monk Gyatso imparted to Aang before his death; words that Aang told him were the reason he managed to stay in the Northern Water Tribes the first time and didn't do something stupid. "But divided we..." Zuko stopped, waiting for Aang to continue, watching the surprise, disbelief, and agony shining in his beloved eyes as he heard these words.

"...Fall..." Aang choked after a while, his eyes misting over with unshed tears, and he let out a shuddered breath. "We fall..." Aang repeated as he let out a raw sound of pain, looking close to crying but with that stubborn look in his eyes, Zuko knew his beloved was holding sadness and panic at pay by the skin of his teeth if the way Aang's eyes were darting around was anything to go by. "W... who are you...? H-how do you... A-are you... a...? You are... you are not going to d-disappear now, are y-you?" Aang questioned after minutes spent in silence, his voice tinged with a noticeable hysteria as panic seemed to win somewhat; Zuko noticed his beloved's arms surrounding him, almost trapping him in a tight hold.

"Me? Disappearing? Huh, you must think so little of me, pretty boy." Zuko squeezed Aang's face in his hands, ignoring the first two questions and only offering his beloved a smile, not willing to tell Aang the truth or what happened in the future, not when he knew the pressure and implications Aang would suffer because of it. "Didn't you promise me a marriage, pretty boy? Do you think I will jump ships after finally having you in my hands?" Zuko cooed, watching how Aang swallowed, looking like he wanted to protest and ask more and more, but in the end, Aang held back and only allowed himself to nod slowly, his hold on Zuko not softening one bit, even when the tension had somewhat left Aang's shoulders with this reassurance.

"I... I am still angry at them... I will remain angry at them... I will not forgive them, nor forget about what happened, and if they acted out again, then..." Aang sighed, a look of stubbornness in his eyes told the Kunze his beloved was not going to back down on this and that if needed, Aang would lose it at the Northern Water Tribes once more.

"You are allowed to be angry, Aang. No one is allowed to tell you otherwise, and I told you, didn't I? Who am I to tell you not to be angry." Zuko reassured, caressing his beloved's face. "And forgiveness... no one had the right to demand that from you, even if you are the Avatar. To forgive and forget is a burden too great and difficult for any person, and personally... I find it overrated; I prefer to stick with my petty and vengeful side, thank you." Aang let out a choked laugh hearing that; the look on the Qianyuan's face was one between wanting to laugh or cry, so his beloved went with the choice that wouldn't leave him a mess.

"G-good... T-that's good... t-that's." Aang choked out, his breath stilling in his chest, and once more, his hold tightened around Zuko. "And you... you are not allowed to leave... all right?" Aang repeated, and Zuko could only let out a confused him watching how Aang was having difficulty putting his thoughts into words. "I... I d-don't care if... you are a Spirit, or a fairy, or... I don't know... I... I don't care... I... you are not allowed to leave... all right? ...even if you were one of the Gods who... you are not allowed to leave... please... I..." Aang stuttered, looking hysteric once more, and Zuko could only let out a sigh, feeling bad because he knew the reason his beloved was spiraling right now, was Zuko bringing out the sentence that was Gyatso's parting words to Aang, and no doubt when Aang heard them coming from Zuko, his beloved already thought the worst was going to happen and Zuko would disappear.

"As if I would ever leave you alone..." Zuko cooed, leaning up to kiss the corner of Aang's lips, smiling as he watched the blush coloring the other teen's face, his action seemed to have frozen the boy somewhat; so Zuko did it once, twice, three times, and even more times until, he felt Aang get hold of himself enough that he wouldn't start spiraling again. "I am quite the possessive type, darling. You are mine, so you too, are not allowed to leave, understand?" Zuko stated, his words seeming to make it through, and finally Aang managed to relax and let out a sigh.

"Spirits above..." Aang grumbled after a while of silence which he spent holding Zuko tight and taking deep breaths to calm down. "What a laughing joke; the shortest war in history... Stopped a few minutes after it took place... You are leaving me no face here, Zuko, no face." Aang complained, leaning on the door behind pulling Zuko into a tight hug, still not willing to let go, not that Zuko faulted him, nor would he complain as he snuggled into Aang's chest.

"Oh, shush, pretty boy..." Zuko snorted, an amused grin stretched over his lips. "You are an Air Bender, peaceful folks and all; no one expects anything from you other than standing beside me looking pretty. I, on the other hand, am too spiteful not to start wars; so, you are not allowed to take my place." Aang hearing this, couldn't help but snicker, looking amused, and was finally calming down from the panic that clouded his mind not that long ago; but that didn't stop the chaos personification from punishing Zuko with a pinch to the side that made the Kunze squeak in surprise, having always been ticklish in that spot Aang chose.

"Well, as long as I am the pretty one, then it's all right." Aang smiled, letting out a sigh, before leaning down and kissing Zuko on the forehead. He whispered something that not even Zuko managed to catch before pulling back. "If you are sure about this..." Aang let his words hang as if waiting for Zuko to change his mind.

"Mn, I am sure..." Zuko confirmed, smiling at the large pout that dominated Aang's face. "Also..." Zuko couldn't help the devilish smile on his face as he said. "As the Avatar, you don't wage wars on the nations, pretty boy; you go to their Gods and order them to spank their misbehaving children and set them straight." Watching Aang's eyes widen at the advice imparted to him.

"...That..." Aang started slowly, an amused smile played with his lips. "Would be way worse than any war taking place." Aang chuckled, looking so vindictive and excited by the prospect of going to Tui and La and ordering them to spank their annoying children for all the pain they caused them.

"I know..." Zuko leaned up, his lips almost touching Aang as he teased the Qianyuan. "So, wanna do it?" Feeling excited when he saw Aang's eyes squinting in delight, letting out another laugh as he nodded his head. "Good boy," Zuko hummed, leaning to kiss Aang's lips, enjoying the crimson color that took over his beloved's face at this action...

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After today... the Water Tribes would be Tui and La's problem...

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...(Aang didn't want to do this... forgive the Water Tribes he meant. He didn't want to leave the ship, let alone talk with those people no doubt waiting outside, panicking like the idiots they were because they couldn't hold themselves back long enough to realize that no one outside of this bubble they created for themselves would accept their bullshit and allow it to continue.

Aang didn't want to do this... to discard what the Water Tribe had done to his beloved, to his culture, and his friend and stay here; it would be too much like a slap to the face, it would be like he didn't care about his beloved enough or his friends' feelings and choosing the majority like his precious people didn't matter to him, which was wrong because it was his friends, it was Zuko, what matter the most, not these idiots Aang was forced to learn Water Bending from (Deep down, Aang knew if the Air Monks were still around and that what happened today happened a hundred years ago; he knew the Air Monks would have forced him to go and kneel in apology for allowing his emotions to cloud his judgment. If what happened now, happened a hundred years in the past; Aang knew he would have lost his friends or worse, Zuko... because back then, all Aang knew was suppress and suppress and suppress and favor the majority against those who really mattered).

Aang didn't want to do this... He just wanted all of this to be over with and for them to leave the Northern Water Tribe, think of it like it was nothing but a bad dream that he had finally woken up from and was going to leave and forget about. He just wanted to forget that this place even existed, and he wanted to get back on the sea and far away from here. Find some Water Bender away from this damn place and try to learn from them, or follow the map that Bato from the Water Tribe gave Sokka and Katara and order one of the Masters there to teach him and Katara and end this farce.

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Aang didn't want to do this...

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...But it was Zuko who asked...

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It was Zuko who asked him to reconsider; it was Zuko who pulled him away and talked to him. It was Zuko who pleaded with him and pleaded for him to stop spiraling down into a dark maze that if entered there would be no way out. It was Zuko who pulled him away, and told him words he thought would be forever gone with the sand of time; gone with someone he adored and cherished and looked up to (And how did Zuko know? How did Zuko realize or understand, or...?! Aang didn't know. When it came to Zuko and his canny ability to know the unknown, Aang didn't know. Was Zuko a part Spirit? Was he a fairy from the spiritual world? Was he a Demonic Spirit that possessed the boy -This was a far fetching idea because no one thought Zuko was acting weird or anything, they acted like Zuko's quirks and habits were normal, even Iroh didn't comment on it, show you that even if Zuko was truly a Demonic Spirit in disguise, he would have possessed this body years and years ago and not something recent- he loved? Was Zuko gifted with the ability to see the future, the past, the in-between? Or was Zuko part of the Spirits established as their Gods who decided to descend and roam this land? Aang didn't know, and Aang didn't care; as long as Zuko was with him, Aang didn't care), bringing with it many questions but so few answers because Aang knew from the look in Zuko's eyes, the Kunze wouldn't answer.

Aang didn't want to do this... but it was Zuko who asked, and if it was for Zuko, Aang would do anything and everything, even if it meant swallowing his pride and giving the Water Tribe a second chance, even when they didn't deserve it after daring to raise his hands against his beloved.

So, Aang marched down the ramp; a scowl on his face as he forced himself to swallow his anger and pride just this one time and give these assholes a second chance, even when Aang would have preferred to swallow his own shoe than give, and really, that's what most of everyone felt like when Zuko had pulled Iroh to the side and told him about the plan. Even Sokka was angry and resistant! And this was his sister tribe, and its Princess was his crush! Told you what everyone thought of this mad plan, but no one dared to say a thing because it was Zuko, and Zuko turned out to be more pacifist than Aang and Aang was the Air Monk between them.

So, Aang marched down the ramp; a harsh scowl on his face. Followed by Iroh (Who only followed because Zuko, no matter how Aang pleaded with him, didn't stay back, and insisted on coming), the guards (Who followed Zuko and acted like they didn't hear when the Kunze told them there was no need to come), Sokka (Who no doubt wanted to settle a score by punching someone from the Water Tribe or talk to the Princess and say goodbye), and Katara (Who even when injured refused to stay back, following them and demanding that they took her with them; even going as far to tell them that Master Yagoda could heal her using Water Bending).

"A-Avatar Aang, please, I-!" That was what Aang was bombarded with when his feet touched the icy ground below, and he could only study every face surrounding the ship briefly; while Aang felt bad when he saw the fear and terror on the women and children's faces, his anger for what his beloved almost suffered outweigh it all.

"Zip it, I don't want to hear a word you had to say." Aang sneered, sending the Chief a glare that shut him up almost immediately and made fear spread around, making Aang swallow and close his eyes, trying to calm himself down. "Three strikes and you are out, even a child knows that. My patience running thin, and I had it up to here with you and the blunders committed by your people. The only reason I am even here talking to you was because my betrothed, pleaded with me to give you a second chance, and not involve the innocent in this crossfire." This made the Chief swallow, his eyes darting to Zuko before returning to Aang.

"I understand." Chief Arnook nodded before turning to Zuko and bowed... oh... how humiliating this must be to the Water Tribes. "Thank you, Prince Zuko, for the benevolence you showed to my people." Something that no doubt, would have made many of the Northern Water Tribe's traditionalists lose it, and start spewing curses, but their fear of making the Avatar angry to the point of leaving and not talking things through, forced them to swallow everything deep down.

"Chief Arnook. You must realize that the actions of your people had not only been an insult to me and my betrothed. But it was also a declaration of war, against the Southern Water Tribes by attacking and drawing blood from the children of their Chieftain, and against the Fire Nation for daring to try and harm their Prince, and my culture." Aang could only watch the man's face become paler and paler by the second, his eyes darting around as if trying to think of a way to prevent this. "After a full discussion with everyone, it was decided that instead of war being declared on your tribe, your punishment would be handled by Tui and La. As their children, it's their job to decide the punishment fit for the crime." A harsh exhale was let out by the Chief before the man closed his eyes and nodded in acceptance.

"...We want to avoid war, Avatar Aang, and we don't want to be made your enemy... we will accept any punishment given by Tui and La, for our transgressions." Arnook bowed to Aang, his words made Aang nod, and the tension that encased his body left.

"...Good..." Aang let out, closing his eyes and trying to regain his barriers. "Now, where is the Water Temple, or you know what, the most spiritual place in here would do," Aang demanded, wanting to find something far away from this and removed, to be able to relax his mind enough and cross to the Spirit World... something that Aang did only once when he was a twelve years old by accident; an experience he never wanted a repeat of, but it seemed people couldn't get what they wished for.

Chief Arnook paused for a bit before nodding his head. "If you will follow me." The man offered, pointing back to the palace, making Aang's face twitch down, but he followed, keeping his anger in check only because Zuko was walking beside him and he didn't want to cause Zuko to lose face if Aang created trouble.

So, they walked until they entered the palace and left through the backdoor. Aang couldn't help but raise his eyebrow at the enclosed area, which ended with a small, rounded wooden door on the other side. "Where are we going?" Aang asked, acting nonchalant even when part of him had some suspicious thought that made him clench his staff tightly.

"Through this door, Avatar Aang, is the most spiritual place in the entire North Pole." Chief Arnook explained, opening the door and stepping aside, allowing Aang to enter first. Taking a deep breath, Aang nodded and went inside, his breath hitched when his eyes fell on a small verdant oasis lying ahead with a waterfall flowing directly behind it.

Shocked murmurs could be heard from behind, and Aang could only sneak a look at Zuko, wondering what the Kunze's reaction to this place; to Aang's amusement (Further cementing in his mind that Zuko was not of this world, or had the ability to see the beyond), there was no surprise nor amazement in Zuko's eyes like the rest who followed, only an annoyed scrunch of his face as looked around and an almost pout when his eyes fell on one of the jagged walls near the waterfall.

"I never thought I'd miss grass this much!" Sokka's amused laugh could be heard not that far behind, snapping Aang from his daze and making him turn toward his friend who was paces away, gazing at the grass and trees in the distance.

"It's so warm here! How is that possible?" Katara questioned, walking beside Princess Yue who offered a soft smile to Katara; even when she sent worried glances, Aang's way every now and then.

"It's the center of all spiritual energy in our land." That was the Princess's reply, before she and Katara, removed their coats; followed by some of the men and women from the Chieftain family, while some, such as Pakku and the Chieftain didn't do so and were content donning their heavy coats.

"You're right, Princess," Aang stated as he crossed the bridge to the island. "I can feel..." Aang stopped as he reached the pond in the middle of the island, his eyes falling on the two fish swimming in circles around one another, almost as if...

"Avatar Aang?" Chief Arnook questioned cautiously, watching as Aang let go of his staff, ignoring the way it cluttered to the ground as he walked toward the pond, feeling such a pull toward that place, that part of Aang was blaring in alarms.

"Aang?" It was Zuko's voice that snapped Aang out of his trance, making him blink a couple of times before raising his hand, and putting it over his eyes. "What was that?" Zuko questioned, making Aang lower his hand and shake his head.

"I... sorry I just..." Aang's eyes return once more toward the fish that... stopped moving. "Huh...?" Aang could only choke out, feeling such wrongness by this still image that part of him wanted to stumble back and run away when he felt a shiver run down his spine.

Before Aang could do anything, he could only let out a choked sound when a gust of air so strong came out of nowhere (And hands? Aang felt someone's hands on his back he was sure), causing everyone to squeak and stumble around as the wind raged and pushed people until some fell down... as for Aang...

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He fell into the pond...)...

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---

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The thing about Aang was... it was that he was never allowed to be angry.

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He was never allowed to be angry ever since he learned what anger was, in fact, Aang was forbidden to even think about that emotion, always pulled aside by everyone around... His mother, Monk Gyatso, the monks in the Southern Air Temple, the people who came and went, and everyone who ever dared to look at him more than five minutes before passing judgment, and was told he was not allowed to be angry.

Anger and hate, hate and anger... two forbidden emotions that everyone and their mothers shoved down his throat that he wasn't allowed to feel any of them, or even think of them, for someone like him if went down that path would bring nothing but misfortune. He wasn't allowed to think of them, let alone feel them, and because of that part of Aang always thought himself crooked and broken in a way because why was he always angry and spiteful when the people around him could go on and ignore these emotions?!

He was never allowed to be angry... He wasn't allowed to be angry about the fact that he was a misfortune and that everyone in his family treated him like shit for it, and that even when he was trying to do good... to be good... people always continued to treat him like shit for being something he never wanted to be. Aang wasn't allowed to be angry that the only one who was kind to him was his mother, and because of that and her protection, the people around her treated her worse than scum because she refused his father the right to kill him when Aang was proven to be nothing but a creature of misfortune.

He was never allowed to be angry... He wasn't allowed to feel angry even when his mother died and he wasn't allowed to be there during her funeral because everyone and their mother were afraid of Aang bringing them misfortune and despair just sitting in the corner of the room mourning (And how in the name of everything holy, would four years old understand that?! All he knew back then was that his mother was fine, and the next day she died; they refused to allow Aang to go and say goodbye and then lost it at him when he got angry and started to cry!). He was never allowed to be angry, even when his own flesh and blood, his own brother, looked at Aang like he was a monster that needed to be ki-!

He was never allowed to be angry... Even when he spent days, weeks, months... Years! ...on the street. Aang was never allowed to be angry about his situation, he was never allowed to be spiteful, or even allowed to hate his own brother for-! No, Aang was never allowed to be angry... Aang learned that when he spent days in the Holy Temples of Lung-ta, listening to monks go on and on about Lung-ta, about forgiveness, about love, about letting go, about how anger brought nothing but pain, and despair and bad karma that wouldn't be shaken even in the next life.

He was never allowed to be angry... even after being brought to the Southern Air Temple by Monk Gyatso, hoping to start a new life and forget everything related to his past. Anger was forbidden, hate was forbidden, negative emotions were forbidden, and once more, Aang was thrown into the cycle that was to pasting that goofy smile on his face, that always had the effect of making people happy and leaving him be... and after Aang discovered he was the Avatar at the age of twelve, and all his friends in the temple pulled away from him... he really needed people to leave him be.

He was never allowed to be angry... Never allowed to rage and scream and shout and feel mad at how the fates were shitty, and that the higher beings up there were targeting him because why would Aang be the Avatar when he had never wanted to be the Avatar not even once in his life? Why would people tell a twelve-year-old kid who didn't know anything and everything about the world other than the few trips he took with Monk Gyatso that he was the Avatar? Why would anyone want to be the Avatar? Why wasn't Aang allowed to be angry about the fact that he was the Avatar?!

Forgive and forget... all of Aang's life he was told to forgive and forget; to let go of all of his negative feelings and to be the picture-perfect image of a benevolent and neutral leader. Forgive and forget everyone and everything for any wrongdoing, suppress all of your emotions, and never allow them to get the better of you because your life was your duty and your duty was the world.

Forget all the bad that someone could subject you to because hate bred hate, and you do not want to become hate personification because then you would bring nothing but despair and misfortune. Forgive people for what they have done, did, and would do because people make mistakes (But you are never allowed to make mistakes, never allowed to even think about making mistakes, making mistakes makes you bad and you were already bad enough, so don't make-!), and you should guide them if they did so, and help them reach enlightenment... always remember the good people do to you and reward them for every good they did, no matter how small or insignificant, you should always remember and reward, even when those same people had made blunders so big and hurt you so much, you should forgive and forget and move past that... forgive and forget...

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Forgive and forget. Forgive and forget. Forgive and forget. Forgive and forget. Forgive and forget. Forgive and forget. Forgive and forget. Forgive and forget. Forgive and forget. Forgive and forget. Forgive and forget. Forgive and forget. Forgive and forget. Forgive and forget. Forgive and forget. Forgive and forget. Forgive and forget. Forgive and forget. Forgive and forget. Forgive and forget. Forgive and forget. Forgive and forget. Forgive and forget. Forgive and forget. Forgive and forget. Forgive and forget. Forgive and forget. Forgive and forget. Forgive and forget. Forgive and forget. Forgive and forget. Forgive and forget. Forgive and forget. Forgive and forget. Forgive and forget. Forgive and forget. Forgive and forget. Forgive and forget. Forgive and forget. Forgive and forget. Forgive and forget. Forgive and forget. Forgive and forget. Forgive and forget. Forgive and forget. Forgive and forget. Forgive and forget. Forgive and forget. Forgive and forget. Forgive and forget. Forgive and forget. Forgive and forget. Forgive and forget. Forgive and forget. Forgive and forget. Forgive and forget. Forgive and forget. Forgive and forget. Forgive and forget. Forgive and forget. Forgive and forget. Forgive and forget. Forgive and forget. Forgive and forget. Forgive and forget. Forgive and forget. Forgive and forget. Forgive and forget. Forgive and forget. Forgive and forget. Forgive and forget. Forgive and forget. Forgive and forget. Forgive and forget. Forgive and forget. Forgive and forget. Forgive and forget. Forgive and forget. Forgive and forget. Forgive and forget. Forgive and forget. Forgive and forget. Forgive and forget. Forgive and forget. Forgive and forget. Forgive and forget. Forgive and forget. Forgive and forget. Forgive and forget. Forgive and forget. Forgive and forget. Forgive and forget. Forgive and forget. Forgive and forget. Forgive and forget. Forgive and forget. Forgive and forget. Forgive and forget. Forgive and forget. Forgive and forget. Forgive and forget. Forgive and forget. Forgive and forget. Forgive and forget. Forgive and forget. Forgive and forget. Forgive and forget. Forgive and forget. Forgive and forget. Forgive and forget. Forgive and forget. Forgive and forget. Forgive and forget. Forgive and forget. Forgive and forget. Forgive and forget. Forgive and forget. Forgive and forget. Forgive and forget. Forgive and forget!

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Forgive and damn you, forget!

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...But part of Aang refused to...

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And maybe... maybe that's why his anger was always on the explosive side...

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All of Aang's life, he didn't have the chance to make sense of what was going around him; all of his life he was told to suppress, to stop, to be good and do good and be the perfect image of what Lung-ta would have been and how he would have acted. All of his life he wasn't allowed to be angry or act out, or even process what the hell was going on around him, and how the world was forcing a twelve-year-old to carry it on his shoulders without allowing him to process a thing...

Aang was never allowed to process his life as he went around from major event to major event until Aang could do nothing but push everything deep down and try to forget about it (Always failing to forget about it). Aang wasn't allowed to process his feelings, always having them discarded and ignored and being told to push them down because they were bad. Aang was never allowed to process the fact that he was adopted by someone kind and good and treated him like a human; someone who loved him. He wasn't allowed to process the fact that he was finally safe before the Air Monks descended on him and told him he was going to be the Avatar... And then... it was all training, and training, and training! He was never allowed to rest, never allowed to have fun, all he was allowed was to study and train, train and study, and travel around and continue trying to make sense of the other cultures around him and push everything down.

...Then Monk Gyatso died... and Aang just wanted a few days to grieve and cry in peace. Monk Gyatso died, and Aang wasn't allowed to grieve... he just wanted to grieve... The monks had decided he was old enough to start learning the other elements, and they were going to send him to the Northern Water Tribes to learn, they wouldn't accept Aang's plea of allowing him a few days to grieve properly before sending him away from the only home he knew...

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...Aang ran away...

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He ran away, he did the only thing he knew to do and ran away from the temple in the middle of the night. He ran away promising himself that he would return after a few days; he ran away and promised himself that he would return just after processing his grief because Monk Gyatso deserved more than just forgetting and forgiving and Aang refused to discard Monk Gyatso and paste that annoying goofy smile on his face and push his feeling far down and forget about the only person who cared about him in the Southern Air Temple where everyone around only looked at him like he was an animal in a zoo.

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Then the storm came...

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By this point, Aang was more than sure that his life was nothing but a cosmic joke to a higher being out there. A higher being that was enjoying all the suffering and pain that Aang was going through and was planning on subjecting him to more and more suffering until Aang just broke and lost it on this damned world and ended everything once and for all because how in the name of everything holy did Aang-!

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But then, Aang met Zuko...

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Aang met Zuko and then fell for him, and for the first time in his life, Aang was allowed to stop, sit down, and process his feelings for the firecracker that came into his life out of nowhere and made him fall in love at first sight with just a smile. A one-in-a-million Kunze who made Aang feel so many emotions inside his heart to the point that Aang thought his heart was going to burst.

Zuko who took one look at him and heard his side of the story before telling him that all this time the world was lying to him, and that all of his life, Aang was forced to live with superstitious people who turned his life into hell just because they feared the tales of old which might have not been true in the first place. Suddenly, Zuko pulled him to the side, gave him the books he told Aang about, and ordered Aang to read and decide... then Aang had to reconcile the shitty life he suffered under the fear and superstitions, with the hard facts that told him there was nothing wrong with him and that he was never a misfortune to begin with...

Suddenly, Aang had all the time in the world to try and process everything around him... and Aang only had Zuko to thank for that because it was only Zuko who took one look at him and told him it was alright to cry, it was alright to allow his feelings to show... It was alright to be angry... it was Zuko who told him that he was never and would never be a misfortune. It was Zuko who told him that he was allowed to feel what he wanted to feel and think what he wanted to think...

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Zuko was his one and only...

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He was his everything...

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And damn it all if Aang allowed anyone or anything to hurt him.

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Then the Northern Water Tribe had to be stupid and hurt the only person that Aang cared about (The only person Aang decided he mattered and that he was above everyone and anyone out there) the only person Aang knew he would do the impossible for (Even if it meant to discard part of himself to do anything his beloved wanted). Suddenly, Aang was hit with nothing but anger and terror, at the thought of the person he adored and loved with all his being would be hurt because of his stupidity and his inability to handle his shit and the world around him despite the fact he was the Avatar.

So, Aang allowed his anger to get the better of him, he declared war, and he washed his hands from the Northern Water Tribes, planning on leaving this damned place and going anywhere but here. Not even giving a damn about what would happen to these people by the end of the day because they dared to raise their hands against his precious people, and anyone who dared to do that was nothing but an enemy that needed to be elimin-!

But then Zuko found him, and the Kunze dragged him away by his hand before talking to him. Zuko found him, and Zuko seemed to know Aang from the inside out (Better than Aang himself) to the point Zuko refused to allow Aang to do something stupid... Zuko found him, and he talked to him, and the two of them then agreed they would let Tui and La handle their children and then wash their hands off of this messy affair.

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Zuko found him...

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...Zuko was the only one who could find him... even lost in his rage...

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And not for the thousandth time, Aang couldn't help but think how in love he was...

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So off they went to the oasis to talk with the Spirits; off they went to the Spiritual Oasis where the Water Tribe would get their just punishment and Aang would finally allow this mess to be behind him. Off they went, and Aang was hopeful that after this, he could finally leave this forsaken place with his beloved, give these misbehaving children to Tui and La, and get everything over with...

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Then Tui and La happened...

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They happened, and Aang was once more thrust into a situation he didn't know how to get away from. Suddenly Tui and La took control of his body, their rage that had accumulated for centuries and centuries got the best of Aang. Aang was then only a passenger in his own body, feeling a bile rising in his throat as the Spirits took control and raged and screamed and laughed and promised the Water Tribes nothing but doom for deviating from their laws.

Story after a horrifying story... Aang could only feel sick as the Spirits took control of him, pulling him under, and feeding him every dark story that took place in these lands to innocent people... Story after a horrifying story... Aang was forced to listen to every story, memorize all the names, feel all of their emotions, and experience what they went through... Aang suffers for being a failure to prevent such tragedy...

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Aang's life was such a tragedy it was a comedy by this point...

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And Aang was so... so tired...

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Aang didn't even know how Tui and La managed to let him go... all Aang could remember was the sickly taste of bile and blood in his mouth; the blood that bled from his Qiqiao soaking everything... his face, his robes, the ground beneath him... The horror that Aang felt taking hold of him was similar, to that day weeks ago when he almost lost Zuko, but at the same time it wasn't... but it was all too much, and in the end, Aang could feel the world tilt and his conscious fading...

...That was days ago... or at least Aang thinks it was days ago... his perception of time seemed to have failed in the face of trying to lock those damn memories that Tui and La imparted to him. Memories he never asked for, feelings he never wanted to experience, and sensations that made his skin crawl and bile rise until Aang ran to the nearest trash can and emptied anything that managed to enter his stomach that day...

Gods above, Aang was a mess... But at least, he wasn't a mess like the Northern Water Tribe who from what Aang managed to hear from the crew members who passed his room thinking him asleep; the Northern Water Tribe was suffering a mass hysteria after some idiot spread the news of Tui and La's divine punishment, sending everyone in frenzy.

Hearing the door to his room open; Aang who was lying on his bed, removed his arm from its place on top head covering his eyes, and turned to gaze at the person who decided to get inside his room without knocking. Seeing Zuko, Aang's breath couldn't help but hitch being happy and relieved to finally see the Kunze, after days of locking himself inside his room. "Zuko," Aang called out, and Zuko smiled.

"Remain lying down," Zuko ordered, and Aang did just that, he remained lying down as he saw Zuko come and sit on the edge of bed, and take his boots off before lying beside Aang, all but trapping the Qianyuan under his weight.

Aang couldn't help turning bright red and letting out a choked noise; his heart was pounding so loudly inside his chest Aang wondered how that thing remained in its place and didn't jump out of his chest. Part of Aang was hysteric in a way, wondering what was going to happen now or if he would end up being killed if General Iroh came into the room and saw the scene the two of them making; the other part, remained still, only allowing himself to tilt his head a bit and breath in the scent of sandalwood and spice, making his body relax almost immediately.

The two of them remained like this for Spirits know how long. Aang lying on his back, finally allowing himself to relax after what felt like days of feeling his head split open with unwanted memories the Spirits imparted to him; unconsciously his right arm sneaked around his beloved and brought Zuko into a tight hug. Zuko on the other was almost curled on himself with his head on Aang's chest; his right hand made patterns on Aang's chest that were hard to distinguish because of the blanket, and his left hand, had sneaked to take hold of Aang's right.

Aang knew this was wrong, wrong to the point of breaking over a dozen of the Fire Nation's rules even if Aang and Zuko were betrothed and were going to marry by the end of the war. Aang knew it was wrong and that he shouldn't allow himself to do this, that if anyone came inside unannounced, they would see and it could affect Zuko's reputation and honor... he knew it was wrong... but after days of being lost in a haze and nightmares that were the lives and deaths of those innocent Kunze boys and Qianyuan girls; just presented and were either killed or drove away from their home... Aang needed this... he needed this, and he would accept the consequences of his action later, but for now... he needed Zuko...

"How are you feeling?" Zuko inquired after Spirits above knew how long had passed. The first word that came into Aang's mind was 'Fine', knowing that he had conditioned himself to give this response to anyone asking, no matter who they were. But this was Zuko, and Zuko deserved more than just a lie that Aang knew Zuko would see through but give him enough face not to point it out.

"I feel..." Aang started, swallowing softly, and allowed himself to relax when he felt Zuko giving his hand a reassuring squeeze. "...Like shit..." Aang finally admitted, letting out a tired sight, and tilted his head down a bit, smiling softly when he felt Zuko's hair tickling his face. "What about you?" Aang questioned, almost letting out a loud laugh when he felt Zuko huff, his irritation strong enough that smoke emitted from his exhale. "What happened? Did Sokka do something stupid this time or what?" Aang cajoled, tightening his hold on Zuko nuzzling the Kunze's hair, and pressing a soft kiss, hoping that whatever irritation the Kunze was feeling would go away.

"I wish..." Zuko grumbled, letting out an annoyed sigh. "It would have been a lot easier handling Sokka's problems when he decided to go into one of his moods than handling those annoying asses." Aang couldn't help the snort that left him; Zuko hearing it, punished him with a pinch to the side. "You laugh now, pretty boy, but you won't be laughing when those Northies come to the ship, again... planning on establishing betrothal between you and Princess Yue... again..." Zuko hissed, and Aang couldn't help the screech of 'Wait, what?!' that left his throat as he shifted his head to look at Zuko like the Kunze was trying to pull one over him.

"You are... joking...? Please tell me you are joking... I beg of you..." Aang plea, feeling all of his hope for this to be a nightmare he would wake up from because surely the Northern Water Tribe couldn't be this stupid when they knew about his Zuko being his betrothed and that even if Aang called off the war between the north and the Avatar, it didn't mean they were out of the danger zone yet. It was the deadpanned look on Zuko's face and the harsh downturn of his lips that informed Aang it was true, which made him turn to gaze at the ceiling with an annoyed look. "What the hell did they think that would achieve other than me getting fed up and delivering Tui and La's punishment way earlier?" Aang questioned, irritation bled in his voice, wondering what the hell these Northies were thinking of by coming up with this stupid idea.

"It's a complete shitshow out there on the street, and their brilliant idea... was a marriage between the Avatar and their Princess in the hope of Tui and La having mercy if the Spirits saw the Avatar on their side." Aang here, couldn't help raising his left hand and facepalming so hard the sound resonated in the room. "Oh, don't worry, they accepted that Princess Yue would be the second wife, and have none of the authority and claim in this marriage; they just need this political/spiritual/hostage-situation marriage to go through is all," Zuko grumbled some curses under his breath, snuggling aggressively into Aang's chest. "I don't know if I should feel insulted on Princess Yue's behalf or burn this place down for the insult of having to suffer through their speech the first time." Zuko huffed, only relaxing when Aang tightened his hold on the Kunze.

"Oh, Sweet Merciful Lung-ta, they are actively begging for death," Aang grumbled, letting out an annoyed huff, feeling so humiliated and angry that instead of rethinking and repenting, those assholes came up with this stupid idea in the hope of stopping Tui and La's punishment... not that it would have worked anyway, not when Tui and La had had enough of their children and were hellbent on punishing them. The memories Aang suffered through when they took over his body were proof enough, and nothing short of a miracle would stop the two Spirits from doing what they planned on doing.

"Yeah, a death I will be more than happy to deliver..." Zuko huffed, his right hand returning to drawing patterns on Aang's chest, and silence once more dominated the room, allowing both Zuko and Aang to get lost in their thoughts. "I feel bad for Sokka and Katara... especially, Sokka... He was so crushed when they..." Zuko whispered after a while before falling silent once more. "What do you think will happen if the Spirits really went through with their threat and left this world?" Zuko changed the subject, and Aang frowned, but didn't point it out, allowing his beloved to do what he liked without a fuss.

"Generally speaking, nothing much would change... well maybe things would get rough for the people in the North if the Spirits left the world. They would live, but it would be up to them if they could make it on their own like how the Southern Water Tribes managed, or fall prey to their foolishness..." Aang offered slowly, not being sure if the Northern Water Tribes could even manage to successfully survive and adapt like their sister tribe who spent decades adapting to everything thrown their way.

"What about Spiritually? Balance? Its effect on you?" Zuko questioned, shifting until he was half lying down on Aang, half sitting, gazing at Aang with a look that told him if he lied or tried to bullshit his way through this he would get punished.

"It depends..." Aang scrunched his nose, not even he was sure about the outcome. "If the third Water Tribe the Spirits talked about didn't lose the ability to Water Bend... The cycle would continue. Yes, the link would be weaker, more than ever with the Air Monks killed and now the Southern and Northern Water Tribes would be no more, But balance would still be there, you know? There is a third Water Tribe and they could bend water, so the Avatar would be born there, that's that... but if the Spirits got back to their own world and took the third Water Tribe's ability to bend..." Aang left his words hanging in the air.

"Then the cycle would break... and it would affect you, badly, wouldn't it?" Zuko questioned his right hand coming up and his index finger gently running over the bridge of Aang's nose. "What would happen to you if this was the case?" Aang frowned at the question, letting out a sigh and raising his hand to caress Zuko's scared cheek gently.

"Nothing... I just... stop being the Avatar? I don't really know." Aang frowned, opening and closing his mouth before. "The Avatar cycle is all about balance. Water, Earth, Fire, and Air. That's how the order of things is and will always be, trying to jump through the elements without following the cycle... bad things happen..." Zuko frowned, stopping his ministration and looking at Aang with curiosity. "Water was the element I was supposed to learn first, it was always supposed to come first after Air... I... I think? I don't know, but I think I tried Fire Bending once... I don't remember, but I get the feeling that I did... I jumped the cycle... I distorted the balance and... I think I burned someone... I don't... I don't remember who, but I... I know that I hurt them badly... I jumped the cycle and distorted the balance so everything was blown out of proportion." Zuko's eyes widened when he heard this before he blinked the shock and surprise away.

"Just great..." Zuko let out a sigh, lying his head on Aang's chest once more. "Just great... Water Bending will disappear, you can't jump the cycle to Earth Bending or Fire Bending unless we want it to blow in our faces, and if Water Bending is still out there, then it would be with this mysterious third tribe that had spent centuries hiding and no one knew where they are now, so they couldn't help..." Zuko raised his head once more a large pout dominated his face. "Aang, I am going to declare war on the Northern Water Tribes." Hearing this, Aang couldn't help the loud 'Pfft' that left him, and he could only turn to the side, trying to control his laughter.

"Agni above, Zuko!" Aang finally choked out after controlling his shrieking laughter, giving the Kunze a mock glare through teary eyes. "I just did that, and you all but scolded me to death, and now you want to do it? Why would you stop me in the first place if it would always end up like this?" Aang raised his eyebrow, and just to be a little shit, he raised his hand and pinched Zuko's cheek, snickering when the Kunze turned his head trying to bite Aang's hand in punishment, making Aang let go.

"Your declaration was unreasonable; you are the Avatar. I, on the other hand, could and would do what I say and no one could do shit about it, especially after the repeated insult I suffered by the sham of marriage these asses tried to force on my fiancé. Now I declared war on the Water Tribes, what are you going to do, Avatar?" Zuko raised his nose high in the air, sending Aang a challenging look.

Aang on the other hand just snickered, raising his hands in surrender. "Do what? I was busy with Tui and La these past few days. Too busy, didn't even breathe let alone know about how Prince Zuko took over the Water Tribes. Tui and La had so much to say, that I didn't hear about war or how Prince Zuko kicked the old goats in the balls and planted the fear of Gods in their hearts the Fire Nation's style." Zuko snickered hearing this looking so delighted before...

"Oh..." Zuko paused, his breath hitched and a large smile took over his face. "Aang! You are a genius!" Aang blinked almost whispering 'I am?', but was stopped when Zuko all but pulled him by his robes for a kiss, making Aang flush a deep red after Zuko pulled back. "Pretty boy, you just gave me the best plan to solve this shitshow." Zuko snickered, looking so pleased with himself, ignoring Aang's large pout and red face. "Get dressed Avatar, we have some Northies to kick in the balls." Aang let out a sigh, but nevertheless, a content smile painted his face as he followed through Zuko's orders... really...

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Zuko was a firecracker and a breeze of fresh air, unrestrained by anything in this world...

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No wonder Aang was in love...

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…(He was… Sinking…

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Sinking…

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…Sinking…

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…Sinking.

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The fish, one black and the other white, came to swim around him, both darting, up and down, left and right. beside him, above him, behind him. Pushing and pulling, pushing and pulling… pushing and pulling…

Oh… Aang couldn't help but blink, part of him was passively allowing himself to sink farther and farther into a pond that seemed to be endless… Oh… So, you were here, all this time? …Part of Aang wanted to ask, but the rational part of him kept his mouth closed, not allowing himself to lose it and open his mouth to lose the precious air in his lungs… Why? …Aang couldn't help but wonder as he saw the black fish swimming near his face… stop…

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Family…

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Motive…

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…Love and ache…

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…Deviation…

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Guilt…

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Punishment!

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…Home…

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Oh… Aang could only blink, watching the fish, one white, and the other black, stopping near his face… Oh… Aang could only think, as Aang felt sensations slamming into him one after the other, followed by memories… Oh …Aang's eyes could only widen as a story was painted before his very own eyes, the story of the beginning, the story of the end, and the story of the aftermath… Oh!

Two dear brothers with names lost in time. One was a Kunze and the other a Qianyuan. A woman, a warrior, and a Chieftain of her tribe… Love… rivals… and then… motive and betrayal… a brother killing an innocent brother, killing the brother's lover, killing the brother's children, and taking over their home and land… establishing the rules, and targeting the innocent because of jealousy, anger, and hate because… why would she chose his brother and not him? Why did she not even consider him? Why did she never look at him?!

…A hate that passed to his people… to his children… to his children's children… and so on, and so on, and so on, and so on, and so on, and so on! Until centuries passed, until hate became too much… until… Notok the Mad… anger, fury, and a divine punishment established… until… Avatar Szeto… a promise… and…

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Nothing changes…

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No more chances…

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…The only thing left…

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…Death.

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Oh… Aang could only blink, gazing at the fish swimming around, pushing and pulling… Oh… Aang could only think as more memories slammed into him… Oh… Aang felt his chest burning and then…

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Aang snapped from his trance…

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…And he pushed…

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Aang broke the surface, and he could only cough, and cough, and cough some more as he managed to pull himself from the pond, gazing at the wind that seemed to finally dissipate and allow the people in this sacred place to get their footing back. Terror was on every face, and from the corner of his eye, Aang could see Zuko trying to break free from his uncle's hold and run toward Aang.

Aang coughed, and coughed, and coughed some more before pulling himself out of the pond and lying on his back, gazing at the night sky above before a choked noise left his throat and a bark of laughter was heard around the oasis… it was only until later that Aang realized that the hysteric laughter heard around was his. It was his and he was losing it and he could feel Tui and La swimming around his legs that were still in the water. Aang could only laugh and laugh, feeling hysteric and a touch insane as memories that weren't his, memories that weren't wanted, flashed before his eyes one after the other until…

"Aang!" Zuko's voice snapped him out of his daze, and once more, Aang was back in the world of the living, and he could only gaze at the night sky with confusion. Tui and La were swimming around his legs, who were still in the water, still swimming around Aang's legs in the water… pushing and pulling, and pushing and pulling, and pushing and pulling, and…

"A-Aang?" It was Sokka's voice this time, and Aang could only let out a hum, gazing at the night sky, and the stars above before another bubble of laughter left him, once more blanketing the clearing with the sound of his hysteric panic.

"I… s-sorry… I… hahahaha! Gods above!" Aang laughed and laughed, and laughed some more. "Hahahahaha… to think… hehehe… to think I declared war on your tribe… forget it… forget the war! Hahahaha!" Aang finally managed to choke out pulling himself into a sitting position and gazing at the pond below where Tui and La were swimming around his legs. "Hehe… forget it… hah… it's not worth it… hehe… not when the Water Tribes would be done for… ha!" Aang laughed and laughed, and managed to take deep breaths, wanting to pull himself away from the pond but being unable to do so, because Tui and La swam around his legs.

"Aang…" It was Iroh this time, trying to pull Zuko behind him, ignoring the Kunze's struggle and the way he hissed his uncle's name, looking wild and angry as he tried to pull his hand away. "Could you please elaborate?" Iroh questioned with a pleasant smile, even when there was a strain around his eyes, and Aang could only let out a soft 'Oh' part of him was hissing that this was not the way to act around Iroh, not when it meant he could lose Zuko.

"…The Water Tribes are dying… a few more years and they will be no more… Tui and La's divine punishment for their sins…" Aang finally managed to force from between his lips, trying to make his words coherent enough and force the hysteric laugh that wanted to leave his lips down.

There were many exclamations of shock, many expressions of confusion and terror, many eyes that widened, and people screaming, ordering Aang to tell them what the hell he meant by his words. Aang could only stare passively before returning his gaze to Tui and La, who were swimming around his legs that were still in the water.

"You know, I always wondered why the Water Benders had become so few and far when they used to be the biggest nation after the Earth Kingdom. Surely even after being killed and captured by the Fire Nation, their numbers wouldn't have dwindled this fast until there were only a few… now I got my answer, and oh boy." Aang giggled against his will, feeling a sort of amusement that wasn't his own but at the same time was; feeling vindication and anger and the feeling of rightness that wasn't his own but at the same time they were.

Aang could only gaze at Tui and La who were swimming around his legs; his head tilted to the side as demands, orders, and pleas were screamed at him… not that Aang cared, not when. "Aang!" It was Zuko's voice that snapped him out of it, and Aang blinked, turning his head toward Zuko who finally freed himself from his uncle's grip and rushed toward Aang.

Ah… but I… no, Zuko shouldn't come near him… Aang could only think, blinking once, twice, before he stood up and walked until he was standing in the middle of the pond (How could he do that when the pond was so deep it could be endless? How could he walk on the surface of the pond when not a minute ago he almost drowned? How could he do that when he didn't know how to bend water?)… Tui and La were still swimming around his legs… "…Tui and La, push and pull, Ying and Yang; a game of chase started centuries ago between the Ocean and the Moon Spirits, a game of balance and love, a game of harmony. A game their children saw the two Spirits play and mimic, with it learning how to bend the water around…" Aang hummed, turning his head toward the Water Tribe's people, irritation, disappointment, and anger slamming into him one after the other. "The essence of Water Bending, acceptance, change, flexibility… to adapt… to love… and you all spat on it and threw it back in our faces; creating laws and traditions so far from our visions and laws, it's even laughable to call you, our children. Hahahaha!" Aang laughed, and laughed and laughed some more, throwing his head back and letting out a hysterical sound… Tui and La were still swimming around his legs…

"You are not Aang…" It was Zuko's voice that snapped Aang out of his daze, and Aang could only blink, and blink, and blink some more before he turned toward the Kunze; now Zuko was close, standing at the edge of the pond, looking at Aang with narrow eyes, his lips pulled down into a frown.

"Wha…?" Murmurs were heard all around him, and Aang could only blink his eyes and turn to the Water Tribes, gazing at the people who were denying his claim, and denying and denying some more. "We have not! We-!" Someone shouted… Tui and La were still swimming around his legs.

"You did!" Aang snarled, his eyes flashed with a bright light and he could only growl at the people who dared to deny his claim. "You did and you will be punished for it… in fact, you are already being punished for it! Have no one of you ever wondered why there was no Water Bender born in the past eight years or so?! Have no one of you ever wondered why all of your children were born weak and some would die, rarely those who are healthy enough? Have no one of you ever wondered how your strong benders couldn't amount in strength to the Fire Nation unless several combined their attacks, and there were only a few who reached their full potential? Have no one of you ever wondered if Tui and La gave you the ability to bend water we could take it back as well?!" Aang hissed, feeling anger, disappointment, sadness, and rage…

"What…?" Sokka choked out, and Aang blinked, feeling confused and… sad… when he looked at Sokka who had a horrified look on his face, trying to shelter his sister behind his back. "Aang… What do you…?" Sokka pleaded, looking scared and terrified, but he stood with his back straight, a warrior with his own right… Tui and La were still swimming around his legs.

"For every sin, there is a punishment, and the Water Tribes' punishment was to lose every blessing given to them by their Gods. They killed their children; Tui and La wouldn't give them any more children to kill. They stopped the women from using the gift imparted by their Gods; clearly, they didn't deserve to be benders, and taking their ability to bend was fair enough trade. They mocked Tui and La's teachings and created their own twisted laws… well, they do not need the Moon and Ocean Spirits to watch over them and teach them in the first place, if they know best." Aang stated, a mocking smile playing on his lips; cruel and sharp as he glanced at the people who were gazing at him with horror and terror and…

"W-we didn't! A-Avatar Aang… we… we…!" Princess Yue's voice made Aang blink, his eyes turned toward the Kunze; Aang could feel only sadness, he could feel only pain, and he could feel hope that maybe… just maybe…

"Princess Yue… the Ocean and Moon Spirits had decided to leave the Mortal World and abandon the Water Tribes…" Aang breathed out, the crime and punishment that was long overdue finally spoken, bringing with it stillness that was saturated with horror and disbelief. "A decision that was taken after Notok the Mad killed the innocent Kunzes who came as peace ambassadors." Aang tried to be calm as he said this.

'It can't be…' and 'You are lying!' and 'Spirits above…' and '…What…?' and… many people talked, many screamed, many cried, all demanding that Aang give them an answer; pleading with Aang not to lie and begging him to tell them this was a lie to punish them and nothing more… Tui and La were still swimming around his legs.

"You know… the Water Tribes always hated Avatar Szeto because he was a 'Biased Avatar'. They always disregarded his words, never showed him the respect he was due, and even considered him an enemy of some sort… if Avatar Szeto was as biased as you all accused him of being, he wouldn't have begged the Ocean and Moon Spirits to give you another chance. He would have taken his chance to execute revenge for killing his fiancé." Aang hummed, a cruel smile on his face, sharp and vindictive when he saw people flounder around. "…But what did you do? What. Did. You. Do? You had one chance to repent, one chance, and none of you cared; none of you listened to Avatar Szeto when he asked you to repent and return back to Tui and La's teachings or else…" Aang ranted, feeling anger that was not his but at the same time was; feeling disappointment that was not his but at the same time was.

Feeling guilt that was not his but at the same time was, and sadness for how things had turned out and the innocent lost in the crossfires by people who made themselves Gods when they were nothing but mere foolish mortals who should have learned their place "Avatar Aang, we-!" Someone sobbed, crying out and kneeling, begging and begging, and…

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Tui and La were swimming around his legs…

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"We gave you a chance, but you refused to listen!" Aang snarled, making everyone flinch and some even shook in their place when they noticed Aang's eyes and tattoos were glowing. "We gave a chance, one chance, a chance so you could finally return to the light and stop this madness that had infected our land. One chance, and if you fail… then find a new Spirit to watch over you because we would abandon this infected land with its ungrateful children!" A voice of a woman left his throat that was not his but at the same time was, a voice of a man that left his throat that was not his but at the same time was… a…

"Then why did you stay?" Zuko's voice made them blink and blink and turn to the caller. "Why did you remain here, even after hundreds of years when you could have abandoned them a hundred years, two hundred years, or during the war? Why did you stay?" The Kunze, a man, questioned, looking at them with narrowed eyes shining with anger, looking like he wanted to cross the pond they were standing in the middle of; a fire shone inside the little one, marking him as Agni and Taiyou's child.

"Oh? Are our eyes deceiving us?" They couldn't help but tilt their head and gaze at the little marvel prancing around in their oasis. "If it isn't One of Agni and Taiyou's beloved children. Right here in the middle of our oasis surrounded by these barbaric brutes?" They couldn't help but question, feeling amusement and a sliver of vindication, knowing what would happen if Agni discovered one of his most beloved and favorite children was inside their infected home. "My, oh, my… Agni would be so furious that one of his most beloved is…" They paused, they tilted their head, and they saw what everyone else didn't… they could only laugh. "Oh… I see, I see. Hahaha!" They laughed, throwing their head back, and laughed when they felt the blazing fire almost being unleashed and burning everything around.

"Hmmm, I don't." The Kunze spat, narrowing his eyes some more and pulling his hand away from his uncle who was trying to pull him away from the pond. "You still didn't answer my question." The Kunze sneered, reminding them of the question asked.

"You are a spicy one, aren't you?" They hummed, feeling nothing but amusement that they hadn't felt for centuries… such a foreign feeling after all these years of rage and hate. "I can see why Agni chose you as the carrier of his blessing…" They mumbled, gazing at the fire inside the little one, feeling a bit baffled to see Agni, the one who ascended into the heavens and left this mortal world to slumber in Taiyou's embrace, deign to open his eyes after centuries of slumber and involve himself in the mortal world by giving one of his children his fires. "But to answer your question… a new Water Tribe came into existence, so we stayed." They stated haughtily, a part of them was weary of angering the little one who seemed to have a close connection with Agni…

They had not seen Agni for centuries after centuries after centuries… but they still do remember his rage, and it left a deep impression on all of the Spirits out there, to the point they never wanted to make the God of Dragons and Fires angry or walk in his path if he was… Agni, the human who ascended into a curse, who ascended into a Spirit, who ascended into a God. He was the child who killed the Fifth Lion Turtle and with that action, he managed to cut an unknown infection that spread into their world and the mortal world, cementing himself as a God when he was a mere Mortal… Agni, who would have been the first and only Avatar and the ruler of this world and the Spirit world, but gave it all away if it meant bringing his beloved Taiyou back from death.

"W-what… a n-new?!" Murmurs of shock looks of disbelief, and confusion took over every face gazing at them, wondering if what they heard was true. Fear, hope, and so many more emotions they managed to witness and they raised their nose in the sky.

"Oh, you should thank Szeto for that…" They mocked, and blamed because they knew these children had turned their life into hell during that period and almost made Agni burn them alive because that rotten child 'Notok' had dared to kill his beloveds and made Taiyou weep and hide; not showing her face until Notok was punished… the Darkest Day in the Fire Nation's history, indeed…

"The man knew the Water Tribe would never repent or see the errors of their ways… nice man really, cunning too, for forcing us to stay here using such an underhanded method… too bad what happened to him, and the rumors spread around by ungrateful children, we really loved chatting with him." They chuckled, remembering a cunning man as a fox who gave them a look of understanding and acceptance for their decision, before stabbing them in the back with an underhanded tact, by building a tribe that needed them and depended on them, forcing them to stay in this world more than they wanted.

…The child they were swimming around had Szeto's potential, but instead of hiding behind the mask of benevolence and a position unfitted for him; this child hid behind goofy smiles and careless acts that would make many warm up to him and spill everything they had… unaware of the rage deep down in this child's heart and how he would never forget a single word or act because his memory was just… too good for that…

"You are sidetracking." Agni's child huffed, looking close to bristling as he glared at them, and they couldn't help the smirk crossing over their face… My, my… the little one is really attached to this child… they wondered if they could use that to their advantage…

"My, my, pushy too, Agni's beloved indeed." They couldn't help but tease, enjoying the way the Kunze bristled and almost took a step into their pond if his uncle didn't pull him back. "Again, Szeto saw that my children would never repent, never change, and even if they did it would take hundreds of years for it to take place, and reach the point the Southern Water Tribes reached… and mind you that only happened because one of Lung-ta's Temples was there… So, he came up with the idea of a third Water Tribe that would be taught the essence of our ways and would follow our laws." They smiled, remembering that tribe filled with their surviving children, and how it was only their isolation that saved them from becoming crooked.

"How did no one ever know about this?" The little Kunze's uncle whispered, looking so confused and fascinated in a way, his eyes glancing toward one of their children who also looked confused and shook his head to the uncle's silent question.

They decided that today, they would humor Agni's children and answer their question, and only Agni's children would get the honor of that because looking at their children, Tui and La could only bristle "Because we did not want anyone to know. It was easy really, how many things could go under people's noses to the point of remaining undetected for centuries. Szeto collected all of our unwanted children from the South Pole; it was decided that they would be hidden away from the Water Tribes' sticky hands and warped views. Better yet, the world as a whole… less chance for them to grow crook like these children; they were taught the true ways of Water Bending, and the rest was history. It worked, and a tribe that followed the true traditions and the laws given by us was born… though we would admit they did get a little sidetracked on the way, to the point some of their crowns became crooked… we think it was the isolation but well, they are happy." They sighed, remembering their children's quirks, and felt amused by it.

"And you stayed… for them…?" One of their children from the South questioned, looking at them with wide eyes filled with wonder; they tilted their head and gazed at the little girl, smiling a bit when they realized she was one of the children blessed with full potential in the hope of being one of the few who would change the ways of things.

"…We stayed… For them, and all the children who had the misfortune of being from the Water Tribes…" They sighed, remembering all the children who died unjustly and were taken away from them so young; remembering the children whose potentials rivaled Agni's children but had their talents snuffed by their tribes. "…But no more, we have had enough." They snarled, finally allowing some of their anger loose, gazing at their children with cold eyes. "We gave you a chance… a gift… but you didn't want it… now, you will suffer the consequences." They took a step toward their children, controlling the water around them and encasing them with a doom made of ice.

"No, wait! Please, wait, I am sure we could change, I am sure we-!" Cries of fear and terror, people falling to their knees begging, tears streaming down their children's faces as they begged and begged and begged some more… Tui and La were angry, and they refused to listen…

"Oh, you would never change! Empty words said by hundreds before you and nothing changed!" They snarled, their voice echoing so loud the ice cracked. "You had a sister, little Arnook. A beautiful child with so much potential, all gifted by us, hoping, hoping… hoping… she would be the one to reform this stupid tribe. 'Yu', was her name, sound familiar?" They turned to Arnook, glaring at the boy frozen in place as he was reminded of the innocent life that was taken while he remained unmoved. "You raised her from infancy have you not? You cared for her, have you not? You loved her, did you not?!" They questioned, their voice getting louder and louder with each question asked, feeling their tight grasp on their anger slipping by the second.

"I… I…" Arnook opened and closed his mouth, looking so shocked and hysteric, as he was forcefully reminded of a past, he tried to forget. They saw, how the one Tui blessed with life gasped, looking at her father with disbelief, confusion shining in her eyes as this was no doubt the first time, she heard about this.

"'Don't worry, Yu, your big brother will always be here, to protect you.' … 'Don't worry, Yu, your big will always be there for you.' … 'Don't worry, Yu… I will always stand beside you.'…" They said, and just to be even more cruel, instead of using their voice, they summoned Arnook's voice, watching how his face paled when the words said decades ago echoed with a voice that now matured into a man. "'Ah,' Yu thought. 'Her brother was the most amazing person in the world.' … 'Ah,' She thought. 'My brother was my hero.' … 'Ah,' She thought. 'I needed to be stronger so I could protect him too.'…." This time, the voice of a small girl echoed, causing everyone to gasp, as for Arnook the man paled so much that he almost turned as white as snow.

"I… it was… I…" The man stuttered. No doubt hearing the voice of a dead sister forgotten about (Or not forgotten about, but pushed down so far down, it came back every time the man closed his eyes, always being haunted by the ghost of a sister he raised with all the love in his heart, only to be forced to hate because of stupid traditions and laws not given by them).

"'Huh…?' She thought. 'Why was her brother looking at her so strangely? So… so… angry and heartbroken?' … 'Why?' She thought. 'Why was her brother pulling away from her? Why was he pulling away from her? Why was he calling her a monster? What did she do?! She promised she was extra good this time because it was her birthday and Arnook promised to take her surfing so why was he calling her-? Did she do something wrong?!' …" They wanted to be cruel, they wanted to be so, so cruel; the smaller girl's frightened voice echoed around, sounding so hysteric and afraid with every word shouted.

"Enough!" Arnook shouted, his face losing all of its colors, shaking in his place as he was forced to listen to the thoughts of his little sister whose whole world was her brother who was a hero akin to a God in the little girl's mind.

" 'Is it… my fault?' She thought. 'So, she was a monster and she needed to go…? She needed to go because if not then only bad things would happen to her brother.' … 'I am a monster…' She cried. 'But I don't want to go, I want to stay, I want to be with brother, he promised we would always be together, he promised we would protect our home together, he promised we-!'…" They let out a cruel laugh, enjoying how faint Arnook looked hearing his sister's sobbing voice. "What did you say?" They questioned, taking a step toward the man with eyes that glowed brightly. "What. Did. You. Say?" they repeated, spitting every word and watching how the man shook.

"…It's our traditions… and the traditions our forefathers followed… either you leave or be killed…" Arnook finally choked out, his eyes getting clouded with unshed tears as he was forced to remember a past, he desperately tried to forget.

"'Oh,' She thought. 'But… but I don't want to leave… this was my home… I only knew home, and everything out there was scary, and the Fire Nation's monsters were out there and would get me and hurt me, Arnook wouldn't be there to protect me. I wanted to stay home with brother!' … 'Oh,' She realized. 'I could stay…'." They continued, using Yu's voice to make the damage sink, their anger getting the best of them with every word said.

"Please… stop…" Arnook begged, but they continued because they didn't care, and they were angry, and no one of their children even stopped when those innocent babes were slaughtered and begged for mercy using these exact words.

"'Oh,' She realized. 'It is ok, I can stay, if I'm killed at home, then it's all right, at least home ia better than out there with the Fire Nation monsters; so, it is ok, I can stay…' … 'Oh,' She concluded. 'I could tell Dad to do it… Dad really hated me for killing Mom when I was born, so really, I could tell him and he would be more than happy to do so because Dad always hated me; it was all right, Arnook wouldn't even be there to see, I would make sure of it and everything would be all right… Dad would finally be happy, Arnook would be happy, and everyone would be happy too…'…" They paused looking at Arnook with a wry smile. "'Oh…' She thought as the life was bled out of her. 'I forgot to return that doll to Kanna… Kanna would be sad… she really loved that doll…'." And that did it, and the damage was done, and Arnook lost the strength in his legs and he fell to the ground, looking as if his soul had left his body as he heard Yu's final thought.

"G-Gran… Gran…" They heard a shocked whisper, and they turned toward the two children from the south whose eyes were wide as they heard their Gran-Gran's name, they glanced past the children's shoulders and saw little Pakku, one of the few who were blessed with full potentials. A boy who even when he tried to do everything right, his ego blinded him way too much to allow him to fully connect with the true teaching of the Water Tribes.

"Kanna always hated the Water Tribes." They said, watching Pakku's face pale as the name of the one he never managed to forget was mentioned after all these decades; feeling amused when he saw the man shake when he heard Kanna's voice, and just to be on the crueler side, Kanna's elderly voice echoed around. "She really hated the Water Tribes and thought them fools. She wanted to be a warrior and protect her home, she wanted to show everyone that she was a capable person even if she was not a bender. She wanted to show everyone around that women were also capable of leading and fighting and not just staying home bare-footed and birthing babies. She wanted… but she was born a woman; a curse, she always thought, but one she would carry on her back with her head held high, even if her parents arranged her marriage without her consent… Pakku was nice enough; he wasn't mean like the other brats around, and he respected her and seemed to really like her, 'Yu' said he even loved her, and Kanna would admit, she was becoming fond of him in her own way… even when she hated that indulging look, he always gave her every time she demanded he teaches her how to fight and he would laugh her request off." They grin, watching how Pakku swallows.

"Wait, what?" A voice screeched and the two Southern children gazed at the older man with shock and disbelief, the little girl even scrunched her face at the implication of her beloved Gran-Gran with that annoying older man.

"She was fourteen when she saw her best friend get killed for presenting as a Qianyuan as was traditioned because her friend didn't want to leave…" They sneer, their eyes going to Arnook, before returning to Pakku, their anger got the better of them as they hissed. "Kanna really, really hated the Water Tribes… She could only look at them and see them surrounding her, looking at her, waiting for her to present so they would judge her and decide her future; either banished, either killed, or forever a slave and a servant to people who seemed to have deviated from their Gods' will." They spat, just the reminder of how low their children had fallen made their blood boil.

"Kanna was fourteen when she decided to run away… yes, she loved her parents; yes, she liked Pakku and knew she would have had a wonderful life with him, but she hated her people, and staying with them and watching how their faces twist into something nasty when she failed their damned test? Kanna preferred to take her chances with the Fire Nation's monsters than remain with the monsters in her home. She heard the whispers of her tribe and she knew that the Fire Nation had this unhealthy obsession with Kunzes and keeping them safe, even following the will of their Gods to the letter; as long as she was an unrepresented child or a Kunze, she was safe and that was that. So, Kanna ran away… 'Too bad,' She thought. 'I never managed to tell Pakku that I really, really liked him.'…"

The last words hurt, they knew it hurt, and they knew it broke the man's heart then and there, even when the man just straightened his back and didn't show any outward reaction to hearing that the love of his life cared about him. The love, Pakku, refused to marry because he lost and waited sixty years for because his idiocy robbed him of it.

"She went to the South. They say that the South was different from the North in traditions and rules… Not much, but enough… They say the Southern Water Tribes were savages and uncultured, and their women were allowed to bend their element and fight, sometimes even lead a tribe. 'Shame!' She used to hear from her birth tribe. 'A woman? Water Bending and fighting beside a man? The world must be ending!' And the famous ones 'What did you expect from savages who allowed the Kunze men and Qianyuan women to live?', 'Hah? Do they not banish them?!', 'The Qianyuan women are allowed to stay in the villages as outcasts, but the Kunze men are ordered to leave.' … 'Well,' Kanna thought. 'Maybe the South wouldn't be so bad after all… if only Yu was alive, she could be with her now…'…" They snorted, remembering every word said and done between these sister tribes and how deep down it was all about hostility, one looking down on the other while the other didn't trust them enough and was hostile.

"Kanna always hated the Water Tribes and thought them fools… She wondered if this was always how things used to be since the start of time, and would remain so until the end; an end that seemed closer and closer as the days passed and the Fire Nation got closer and closer to victory. She hoped not, she hoped that her daughter… she hoped that her grandchildren… she feared the Fire Nation, and she feared what they would do to her precious people; the Fire Nation was near, and she could only wonder what would happen to her village, the women and children, she feared what they would do to them because who hadn't heard about Fire Nation's obsession with Kunzes?" They could see Agni's children getting irritated by the insult directed at them, and they couldn't help flashing a grin that was full of teeth and manic energy, enjoying how the little Kunze bristled in his place and looked ready to attack. "Once, she snuck away in the middle of the night; Sokka was asleep, having spent the day hiding in his room crying, not because his father had left for war; oh no, the boy was braver than that, but his childhood friend had presented as a Kunze a few days ago, and Sokka saw his father as traditioned, tell his friend to leave… it broke the boy's heart, and she could see in her grandson's eyes, that he believed their culture was wrong and twisted, but the majority had ruled and the boy left. It had been days and Kanna wondered if it was too late…"

"Gran-Gran… she…" The Southern boy whispered, looking so sad at the reminder of a friend long gone by his tribe's idiocy; a friend lost to the sand of the times because people were idiots to the point of refusing to repent.

"She found him… she found a Fire Nation soldier standing in front of the crying boy. She thought him dead. In fact, she thought both of them were dead if the soldier noticed her. The thing about Fire Nation was that they were so obsessed with Kunzes, that they would raid the Water Tribes to steal them away, and wouldn't hesitate to kill to do so. Kanna never knew why, but she always suspected something more sinister going under. She watched, she prepared her knife ready to attack, and she gave a quiet prayer and an apology to her grandchildren for not being there after today; she watched, and she prepared to attack, and she could only freeze in her place, when she saw the Fire Nation soldier take their helmet off, showing a woman, a Qianyuan woman by the smell, no older than the boy himself, fretting as she tried to calm him down. 'It's ok, it's all right, don't cry, everything is fine, you are safe now, the Ice Savages will not be able to harm you anymore; I will take you home, everything will be all right. Please don't cry; here, are you hungry? It's ok, don't cry, I promise I will never allow anyone to hurt you ever again, please-!' Kanna stood there, she watched, she listened, and in the end, she could only hear the promises given and the picture painted of culture from far away, that everyone up and down, swore was barbaric. Kanna watched, she listened, and she could only feel jealousy of how her culture had fallen so low that the barbaric culture of her enemies was more welcoming and inviting to her people than her own. In the end, Kanna could only think. 'Well, it wouldn't be bad if the Fire Nation won, at least Sokka and Katara would be welcomed there'…" And oh, how they burned, oh, how insulted they felt, oh to have it thrown into their face how inadequate they were and how Agni, Lung-ta, even Oma and Shu's cultures were way better than theirs when they had sacrificed so much for their children and did more than the other Spirits did!

They stayed! For centuries after and centuries after centuries! Instead of leaving for the Spirit World like the rest of the Spirits, Tui and La stayed! Remaining in this Mortal Realm, to help their children and stand beside them. They stayed, and they cared, and they loved all of their children equally! Only to be slapped in the face over and over and over again to the point that other cultures were more welcoming than theirs and their culture was all about love, change, and adaption! They stayed, they stayed, they stayed, they stayed, they stayed!

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They stayed!

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So, why did their children turn out rotten?!

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"Spirits, release him, now!" The little Kunze snarled, and only then did they notice the blood running down their face from their Qiqiao, soaking their face and clothes with blood. The little Kunze snarled, looking so furious and frantic and they couldn't help the sneer crossing over their face, and they glanced at the shaking children that were so rotten from the inside out they needed to be eliminated.

"No…" They hissed, their blood boiling even more as they looked at the infection that destroyed their land and poisoned all the little ones to the point, that they turned rotten like them. "No…" They repeated, even when by doing so they committed an unforgivable sin by harming a poor child of Lung-ta and holding him hostage against his will. "Not until they are punished, not until they taste the same medicine, they allowed their brothers and sisters to taste, not until we teach them what's it like to suffer!" They snarled, their words bringing with them a further wave of terror that wafted from every pore.

"Let him go!" The little Kunze shrieked, all but jumping into the pond to reach them, and for what felt like the thousandth time the little one was pulled by his uncle. "Now! Release him! Now!" The Kunze struggled, looking hysteric as blood continued to pour down their face.

"No!" They snarled once, more, moving their hands and bending the water around them in a dangerous display. "Not until we teach them, not until we get back all that we gave them, and Water Bending will be no more; not until we destroy this damn place to the ground!" La growled, bending the water from their sacred pond, and pulling some of Tui's power to increase their power, preparing to attack. They could see the little Kunze struggling almost pulling away, almost jumping into the water and they couldn't help but hiss in annoyance. "Take one step into my pond, little one, and Agni's child or not, we won't hesitate to discipline you!" They threatened, even when they knew the retribution, they would suffer for this threat would be a thousand times worse if Agni heard about this.

But they were tired, they were disappointed, and they were furious! The time of forgiveness was over, and now it was the time for the punishment that was overdue. Yes, they might feel a bit bad about using one of Lung-ta's children and the last of his monks; yes, they knew an action like this would cause unrepairable damage to the one they were using, and yes, the Avatar cycle would probably break and the Fire Nation would win this war… but wasn't that what everyone wanted and wished for? Agni's culture was desired and loved, and surely, everyone would be too happy being under Agni's shadow… so what?!

A snarl from the little one followed, and they couldn't help the snort leaving them, wondering if the little Kunze would be as bold as using his father's blessing then and there… they doubted it because if the little one told anyone about the blessing he received from Agni, then the little one wouldn't have left the Fire Nation and would have already been the Lord of Agni's lands. Still, the panic in the little boy's eyes told them that this was possible, but they didn't care, the child could do what he wanted whenever he wanted and they wouldn't let go, not until they punished all of their children and ended this stupidity that lasted centuries.

The wind picked up, and they could only furrow their eyebrows in confusion, wondering how the winds could be felt inside of their doom of ice and water, created to trap their idiotic children. The wind picked up once more, and their face was twisted in confusion when they saw the children stumbling and falling on their knees from the harsh wind; confusion, and terror in their eyes as they looked at Tui and La as if they were the ones who were doing this… They weren't…

The wind picked up, and they couldn't help but wonder if Lung-ta (That annoying peacock who stayed high in the skies and did nothing when half of his children were slaughtered; all because he said it wasn't the right time to act) had decided to get off from his high throne and descend to the mortal world. The wind picked up and blew behind, and they let out an annoyed growl and whirled around, planning on punching that annoying peacock in the face if it was Lung-ta who decided to show himself after all these centuries.

They froze, they let a confused noise, and they felt a shiver run down their spine at the sight that greeted them. "A… A-Avatar… A-Aang…?" They questioned, confusion coloring their voice as they gazed at the…. "…How…?" They wondered, trying to make sense of what in the name of everything holy they were seeing.

"Aang? Aang!" The little Kunze shouted, hearing that name. It seemed that this was all the wind needed to pick up, and they found themselves thrown out of their sacred pond by a wind so strong it was like a full blow of a storm. Making them slam into one of the bamboo trees behind breaking it in the process and almost breaking their spine…

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The link was severed…

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…Tui and La were no longer swimming around his legs…

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"…Ah…" Aang blinked and blinked and blinked some more. "Fuck…" Aang could only choke before turning to the side and throwing up, coughing and hacking as the scent of blood and bile intensified. "Fuck…" Aang moaned, clutching his head trying to make sense of everything as chaos and madness swam in his head.

"Aang! Aang!" Zuko's voice resonated not that far, and Aang could only blink, once, twice, three times; trying to call Zuko's name but his tongue was too thick and heavy to manage to form the words right. Hands were pulling him away from the tree behind, the familial scent of sandalwood and spice, and Aang could finally focus enough to see everyone around.

"…F-fine… am… fine…" Aang tried to reassure his beloved when he saw Zuko's scared face, feeling his heart hurting because Zuko should never feel like this… but his tongue was so heavy, and everything was fuzzy, and Aang didn't want to be plagued with the images and stories now swimming in his head. "La… Tui…" Aang tried to say, only to fail… the world titled from its axes…

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Everything went dark…)…

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Zuko was a vision… that was all Aang could think of as he looked at his beloved from the corners of his eyes. Feeling his heart beating as Zuko descended down the ramp and gave him a teasing smile that made his heart pound some more. Decked in makeup, jewels, and his robes, Zuko was a vision that stole his breath away.

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"We need to make a statement, Aang."

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Zuko had said, pulling Aang out of his room as he went to Sokka and Katara, and then Iroh, telling them about the plane; about what they needed to do, and about the actions taken from now on, bringing with it hope as everyone started to scramble around, trying to make everything perfect for their talk with the Northern Water Tribes.

Zuko was a vision, he truly was, and Aang couldn't be more in love when he saw his beloved walking with his head high like a warrior ready to take whatever thrown his way, and knowing Zuko? The beautiful Kunze wouldn't take anything lying down and would make this meeting a memorable one.

They walked to the palace, and Aang's lips could only twitch down at the sights that greeted them during their walk; while part felt vindicated and pleased seeing how these people who deviated from their Gods and brought Calamity on their own heads were losing it, part of Aang couldn't but worry about the innocent, those poor children and the women and even the few who left these lands and sought asylum with the other benders… what about the tribes so deep into the icy tundra made of those unwanted, what would happen to them? This more than ever cemented in Aang's mind that he was doing what was right.

They reached the palace, and Aang took a deep breath and clutched his staff tight, forcing a severe look on his face as he prepared to face the Northern Water Tribes, even when part of him just wanted to leave. Before Aang managed to open the door, he was left staring in surprise when Zuko kicked the door hard enough that they slammed into the icy walls behind, making everyone in the room stop shouting and turn toward the doors with confused looks.

"Ok, bitches! Listen up, and listen well because I won't repeat myself a second time." That was what Zuko said as he entered the room, unaware of how Aang was left blinking in confusion, staring at his hand that was still in the air prepared to open the door; Iroh, on the other hand, all but let out a choked noise as he ran after his nephew who walked inside the Northern Palace like he owned the place.

"Who the fuck-?!" An Elder shouted, looking so incensed as he stood up and marched to Zuko with a dark look on his face, snapping Aang out of his daze and making him rush inside to stop anyone from touching his beloved… only to watch with baffled eyes how his beloved kneed the man in the crotched watching him fall to the ground and continued out without a care.

"I said listen, and that meant all of you," Zuko sneered, raising his nose haughtily as he said. "Because unless you are content with being Tui and La's practicing target for eternity, you will listen as the Avatar and I, found a solution for your fucked up situation." Zuko put his hands on his waist, daring anyone else to say anything.

A hushed silence took over; the Water Tribe's men and women looked at one another, hope reignited in their eyes. "I… is that so…?" Chief Arnook, who looked so haggard so… so small… compared to a few days ago, questioned. Looking between Zuko, Aang, and then his daughter, before raising his hand and rubbing his eyes. "Then… Avatar Aang, you agreed to-?" The Chief started only to be interrupted.

"No, I didn't," Aang stated coldly coming to stand beside his beloved's side. "And if you know what's good for your tribe you wouldn't continue that sentence." Aang closed his eyes, letting out an annoyed sigh before opening them. "I will never dare to disrespect my betrothed, Princess Yue, and myself by entertaining such thought. So never ever think about repeating that request unless you want me to leave you to your own devices and allow this divine judgment to befall you." Chief Arnook nodded in acceptance, before bowing in an apology. "Good… Zuko?" Aang turned to his beloved who had a satisfied look in his eyes before he stepped forward.

"So, here is what's going to happen." Zuko crossed his arms behind his back, standing straight like a General gazing at misbehaving subordinates. "You, and that means plural. Also, for simple-minded people, it means every single one of the Water Tribe people." Zuko started his speech with an insult, that made Aang wonder if he should have been the one explaining the plan… but you know what? Aang was just going to lean on the icy pillar behind and let Zuko handle everything. "Will be taught the traditional arts of the Fire Nation and Air Nomads' societies; fashion, honor, respect, filial piety, love, and equality…" Zuko said slowly like he was talking with children who needed to understand his words carefully.

A hush silence once more descended on the hall, everyone looking at Zuko like he had lost his mind before looking at Aang who only raised his eyebrow but didn't refute his beloved's words. "What?!" A screech was heard from an Elder whose face turned red before he pointed at Aang with his finger. "The fuck do you-?!" Only to get kneed in the crotch by Zuko.

"Do not interrupt me, I do not like being interrupted." Zuko sneered, glaring at the man who choked and fell onto the floor, clutching his family's jewels and letting out choked whines. Sokka, standing beside Aang, could only slap his hands on his mouth, muffling his shrieking laughter that was filled with delight; Katara, on the other hand, was watching Zuko with wide eyes full of admiration, sending glances at Master Pakku every now and then as if she was thinking about doing the same as Zuko.

Aang's name was shouted, and people frantically looked between Aang and his beloved, men telling him to control his fiancé, while the women just watched passively, some of them hiding a smile. "Don't involve me." Aang raised his hands, an amused smile on his face. "Personally, I would have let you all doom yourself by allowing this divine punishment to take place; it's not like I cared enough to go grovel to the Spirits and ask them to rethink their punishment after what happened last time." Here, everyone fell silent, remembering what happened a few days ago when Tui and La all but used Aang's body to commit genocide. "The only reason I am even here is because my Zuko asked me to reconsider my decision of allowing the Spirits' judgment to fall upon the innocent." The women and some of the men glanced at Zuko some with admiration and hope (The women) and some with skepticism and bafflement (The men) "So, if I was you… I will listen and listen well because this may be your only chance… you do remember what Tui and La said, don't you?" Aang reminded, making the Water Tribe's people look at each other.

"Please continue, Prince Zuko." Princess Yue, who finally stood up from her seat, stated. For the first time ever since Aang saw her, there was firmness in her posture and voice, daring anyone to contradict her words… maybe everything wasn't as lost as Aang feared.

"Why thank you, Princess." Zuko glanced at Princess Yue for a moment before his eyes returned to the men and women, his face was hardening even more. "As I said, you would be taught the traditional arts and you would be taught well," Zuko repeated. "From the old to young, no one would be spared." Looking at the oldest person in the room to the youngest, Princess Yue. "New laws will be written, new traditions will be created, and the teaching of Tui and La will be taught to you once more from scratch." Many people frowned harshly when hearing this, and some no doubt wanted to open their mouths and protest, but all of them remembered what happened a few days ago, and how Tui and La told them they deviated from their rules. "Those who refuse will be cast out, those who acted out will be punished, and those who think they knew better than their own Gods… well, I am sure Tui and La will love to have a little talk with them," Zuko smirked at the last part, sending a challenging look to the men.

"Just a bit of warning. Tui and La will do more than just talk… they have centuries of rage to unpack and believe me, it won't be pretty." Aang filled in, his lips quirking up when he saw the people pale before looking at one another one last time before they turned to Aang and Zuko and gave their nods of approval.

"You, you, you!" Finally, being heard, Zuko pointed to Chief Arnook, and his two advisors and family. "You will all be taught the laws and traditions by my Uncle and Aang personally, less chance of you fucking up and angering the Spirits once more, and Chief Arnook…" The Chief, hearing his name, looked up, gazing at Zuko whose face darkened in a warning. "New laws about equality, respect, and the sacrality of Kunze men and Qianyuan women's lives will be written and will be announced tonight in the presence of Tui and La. This, is the only way for this tripe to continue, do you understand?" Zuko demanded, his words loud and clear to everyone in the room.

"…Yes…" The Chief nodded his head in acceptance, ignoring the few who frowned harshly when hearing this and looked like they wanted to protest. Aang's eyes trailed on the people around, watching the faces and marking those who looked like they would be trouble in the long run.

"Good." Zuko gave the man a nod, seeing that the man finally understood and was willing to listen and do as was said; Zuko then turned to the Princess and walked until he loomed over her, making her gulp. "Now, you Princess. You will come with me and you will learn how to govern and lead your tribe because from now on, you are the new Chieftain of the Northern Water Tribe." Zuko finally stated after a while of silence

This caused many (Especially the men) to choke and look at one another with shock, some with anger; many started protesting as they no doubt never had a woman leading them before and would refuse to have a woman lead them, even when the Southern Water Tribes knew that some women could be even better leaders than most men.

"W-w-wait, what?!" The Princess stuttered, looking so overwhelmed and confused hearing this looking at Zuko, her father, and lastly Aang before returning her gaze to Zuko and pointing at herself. "Me?" To which Zuko's eye twitched and Aang couldn't help but wonder if his beloved would lose it.

"Yes, you! Who did you think I was talking to standing right here?" Irritation colored Zuko's voice as he narrowed his eyes, the twitch of Zuko's eye informed Aang that Zuko was rethinking his decision to make the Princess the new Chieftain of the tribe. "Your engagement? Is over. Your marriage? Done for. Your duty? Overseeing the new laws and punishing those who dared to break them, for you are the Chieftain of this tribe, and I will be damned if I allowed you to be a puppet controlled by a husband or anyone else." Zuko announced, looking at the woman in the eyes, daring her to say something. "If you are a Bender, you will be taught how to use your bending to fight. If you are a Non-bender, then I will personally teach you how to fight. You will be taught how to be a Warrior, and you will be taught how to be the next Chieftain of this tribe." Aang could only send a silent prayer for the Princess, knowing damn well what happened to those (Especially Lieutenant Jee) who challenged Zuko to duels, only to get the floor mopped with their faces. "You will accept this responsibility with your head held high, or so help me, I will drag you by your hair if I had to. You are a Woman, you are a Kunze, and from now on, you are a Warrior and Leader, and I will be sure to teach you even if I had to hammer it into your head. So, do you understand?" Zuko hissed, watching how the Princess gulped, looking at Zuko like he was going to do as he threatened then and there. "I said, do you understand, Princess?!" Zuko snapped when he didn't hear a response after a few seconds of the question making the Princess jump.

"Y-yes!" The Princess squeaked, nodding her head as if her life depended on it, her action making Zuko close his eyes and take a deep breath, looking like he was a second away from facepalming then and there.

"Good." Zuko rolled his eyes, and Aang could only feel some sympathy for what his love would go through as he no doubt would be challenged if this was how the Princess would act most of the time. "Now you." Zuko turned to Pakku, who frowned as he was addressed by Zuko. "You will swallow your goddamn pride and all of your sarcastic little remarks and show respect from now on or Agni help me, uncle's friend or not, I will kick you so hard you will reincarnate into your next life." Master Pakku frowned harshly when he heard this, but nonetheless, he didn't open his mouth to say anything. "You will teach Katara how to fight… as a matter of fact, you will teach every woman in this tribe, young or old, how to fight using Water Bending. No more excuses or sexism, you will teach them, and you will respect them, and you will swallow that damn ego or so help me I will show you what a Kunze in rage would do." That must have hit a nerve, as Master Pakku's face twisted. "Now, do you understand?" Pakku pressed his lips tightly before nodding his head, making Zuko hum. "Also, tell Master Yagoda, she will be receiving the 'Warriors'; I am sure their Water Bending skills involved healing need a little bit of touching up." Zuko gave one last order to Pakku before snapping Sokka's name.

Making Sokka, who stood beside Aang with his arms crossed over his chest, and had a large shit-eating grin on his face, frowned, before pointing at himself and saying. "Eh, me?!" Making Zuko give him a deadpan look.

"Yes, you, who else in the Water Tribes had that name other than you?" Irritation was clear in Zuko's voice and eyes, and Aang could only smile, knowing that Zuko was going to make everything harder on Sokka from now on for being this stupid. "As the Prince of the Southern Water Tribes." And Aang was right, because as soon as Zuko said that, Sokka's face paled before flushing deep red and he squeaked Zuko's name, betrayal shining in his eyes as a large pout dominated his face. "Oh, shut it, you Loud-Mouth! You and Katara, both of you, will come with me, and learn how to govern your people because newsflash, buddy! I am not so sure Tui and La will be happy if any of the older generation took over, so you will be the ones to take over the Southern Water Tribes from now on." Zuko huffed, putting his hands on his waist and giving Sokka a look that told him things would be ugly if Sokka refused

"Oh, man!" Sokka whined and a huge pout dominated his face. "But Zuko! I am still too young!" To which Zuko growled and stalked toward his friend and pulled his cheek harshly as punishment, ignoring Sokka's squeak of pain as he patted Zuko's hands away.

"Zip it. I don't give a fuck. You are the one who declared yourself a Prince, so you are the one taking responsibility now!" Zuko hissed, his voice low that only Aang, Katara, and Sokka managed to hear. "Now, reaching this point, does anyone have any objection?" Zuko huffed with irritation, finally letting go of Sokka who was pouting so harshly and massaging his abused cheek

Hearing this question, many looked at one another before reaching the final conclusion and shook their heads, informing Zuko and Aang that they agreed; one of the few that Aang marked as a troublemaker growled, standing up from his seat and screaming. "Yes-!" Not being able to get another word out because Zuko kneed him in the crotch for daring to speak, forcing him to join the two before him who had learned and didn't dare to open their mouths even when the protest was clear in them

Aang unable to help it let out a loud 'Pfft' before managing to put his hand on his mouth, trying to control his shaking shoulders and not lose it and laugh as if his life depended on it… when Zuko had told him they had some Northies to kick in the balls… Aang didn't realize that his beloved meant it literally. "Take him outside and throw him out with the rest of the objecting party." Zuko huffed.

Hearing this, everyone turned to Aang, looking at the Avatar who tried to straighten himself and mask the fact he was just laughing with a stern look. "You heard what the man said." Confirming Zuko's orders, and making Chief Arnook nod and motion to the guards to do as asked.

"Now, any objection?" Zuko questioned. "Anyone?" He looked around. "No one?" Having learned what, they would suffer if they dared to open their mouths, the men kept their traps shut not daring to make a target out of themselves. "Good." Zuko nodded in satisfaction. "Uncle, I entrust these idiots in your care." Zuko nodded toward the Chief and his family, once again returning to insulting them without a care." Katara, drag that idiot to the arena and beat his ass." Katara grinned savagely as she heard this, looking at Pakku with a look that promised heavy retribution. "Sokka, take Princess Yue to the ship, your lessons will start soon." Sokka's face twisted at that, but nonetheless walked toward the Princess and offered a nod of acknowledgment and nothing else, making Aang frown. "As for you, pretty boy, go talk with Tui and La and try to convince them to give these idiots a second chance." Zuko finally turned toward Aang his rigid posture finally relaxing a notch.

"As you wish." Aang smiled, already preparing himself mentally to face these two who for the past few days seemed to have calmed somewhat, and would probably be open to discussing things and giving the Water Tribes one final chance.

"Oh… come here, first," Zuko demanded, motioning for Aang to come, and Aang did, wondering if his beloved would have a piece of advice or an order to give to Aang…. That wasn't the case it seemed because when Aang stood in front of his beloved, he was pulled by his robes and kissed on the lips in front of everyone before Zuko let him go. "Now you can go," Zuko ordered, and Aang could only freeze in his place, only just managing to hold his stuttering and blabbering and being a flustered mess by the sheer will of not wanting to lose face in front of these people.

"Zuko!" Iroh's scandalized screech was Aang's cue to book it out of the palace which would no doubt turn into a murder scene if he had stayed any second longer… Aang knew Zuko was angry about the audacity of the Northern Water Tribe for offering Princess Yue's hand in marriage to Aang of all people; Aang knew his beloved wanted to make a statement, and that this was the loudest statement there was if the way Zuko smirked after they broke their kiss was anything to go by… but really? In front of General Iroh?! Zuko just painted a target on Aang's back and he doesn't know if General Iroh wouldn't kill him in his sleep tonight!

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Though… Aang couldn't help the small smile painting his lips…

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…Zuko was a firecracker indeed…

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So, what do you think?

A double update this month! My gift to you because somehow, I hyper-fixated on this fic and my brain refused to brain unless I finished this chapter…

25k… And we are only halfway through TT

Why won't the Northern Water Tribe arc end?! I now fear writing the next chapter, always wondering if it would jump to a higher number or something.

But well… at least we learn some of Aang's background, and I managed to drop some lore about the Spirits of this world! So, a win-win?

The only thing that made me persist in writing this chapter was the kisses… and Zuko kicking people where it hurt…

Read and review

And tell me what you think…

Nazaki-Sama