Zuko
The next morning, Aang's gone. We search the whole house, but he isn't here. He even left his glider behind. The only trace is footprints that disappear into the ocean. Sokka's adamant that he wasn't captured and he didn't run away, so we split up to search the Island. Toph insists on coming with me, talking about a "Life Changing Field Trip" but I don't really know what she expects out of it. When we've searched everywhere we can, we go back to the house. Suki and Katara come back too, and Sokka and Appa last. None of us have even found a clue.
"Guessing by the looks on your faces, none of you had any luck either?" Sokka asks as he lands.
"It doesn't make sense. It's like he just disappeared!" Toph replies. "Wait, has anyone noticed Momo's missing too?"
"Oh no! I knew it was just a matter of time!" Sokka yells. "Appa ate Momo!" He has Appa open his mouth and climbs inside. "Don't worry buddy, I'm coming for you!"
"Sokka, Appa didn't eat Momo. He's probably with Aang." Katara tells him, exhausted.
"That's just what Appa wants you to think!" He quips and climbs back into Appa's maw.
"Get out of the Bison's Mouth, Sokka! We have a real problem here. Aang is nowhere to be found, and the Comet is the day after tomorrow!"
"What can we do?" Katara asks me as Appa spits Sokka out. Everyone turns to look at me, except for Toph, who's looking about a foot to my left.
"Why are you all looking at me?" I ask.
"Well, if Anyone knows anything about hunting the Avatar, it's you." Katara tells me.
"Yeah, you have more experience than anyone tracking Aang." Toph agrees.
Hunting Him. I need to get in the mindset I was in last year. What was the best shot I ever had of finding him? June.
"Lets go." I say, and we all load up on Appa. After a few hours, it's clear I'm heading away from the Fire Nation.
"Uh, Zuko? Why are we heading towards the Earth Kingdom? There's no way Aang's there."
"Just trust me." I say. I don't really feel like explaining right now. Hunting the Avatar is a part of my life I'd rather leave behind me.
After sundown, we get to the bar I last met June. She's here, and kicking some poor guy's ass who for sure didn't know what he was getting into.
"What are we doing in this seedy Earth Kingdom tavern?" Katara asks, scooting a little closer to me but not so close that Sokka and Suki notice. I'm sure Toph does, but Katara told me a while ago she already knows about us anyways.
"Hey! That's that bounty hunter girl!" Sokka says, pointing at June. "You used her to track us down and paralyze us with that beast she keeps as a pet!"
"Yep, back in the good old days." I reply. "Her beast Nyla can with a scent track anyone anywhere in the world. She's our best chance of finding Aang." I say as she finishes the fight.
"Whoever this June lady is, I like her!" Toph says. June finishes her drink and looks over at us.
"Oh, great. Prince Pouty. Where's your creepy grandpa?" She asks me.
"He's my Uncle. And he's not here."
"I see you worked things out with your girlfriend." She shrugs. Katara and I jump apart.
"She's not my girlfriend!" I react at the same time Katara says
"I'm not his girlfriend!" Next to us, Toph covers her mouth to try and hide a laugh. I don't really know why we're hiding things now that Aang's not here, but I guess it's just a habit.
"Okay, Okay. Sheesh. I was just teasing. So what do you want?"
"We need your help to find the Avatar."
"Doesn't sound too fun." She answers and sips her drink.
"Does the end of the world sound like more fun?!" I shout. Katara places her hand on my shoulder. I take a deep breath and calm down. "Sorry. I meant to explain how dire the situation is, and how it affects you personally." I tell her, and explain my father's plan. "He'll be destroying the whole Earth Kingdom. That includes here. I don't think you want to lose your home." I finish. She grips her cup tight.
"Alright, fine. Lets go find your friend." She says and leads us outside. Nyla and Appa are either playing or fighting, I don't know. "Nyla!" June calls and holds out a steak, feeding it to the shirshu and petting her. "Alright, who has something with the Avatar's scent on it?" She asks us.
"I have Aang's staff." Katara tells her, and tosses it down from the saddle. Nyla sniffs it, circles around, then lays down.
"Well what does that mean?" I cross my arms
"It means your friend is gone." June tells us.
"We know he's gone. That's why we're trying to find him." Toph quips.
"No, I mean he's gone-gone. Your friend doesn't exist." June tells us.
"What? You mean he's…dead?" Sokka asks.
"No. If he were dead we could find him. He's simply gone. Don't know how to explain it."
"Well…what do we do now?" Katara asks, looking at me. I sigh and drag my hand over my face, thinking. An idea comes to mind.
"There's only one other person on Earth who has a chance of beating my father." I say and get in the Appa's saddle, rummaging through my things. I find Uncle's old sandal. "We can use this to find my Uncle Iroh."
"Oh the fat creepy guy. How exciting." June rolls her eyes. It strikes me for a second how similar she is to Mai. They'd either get along great or not at all. I don't like the comparison. Mai sacrificed her life to save me, even after I broke up with her and fell in love with someone else. That's something I can never pay back. Just another debt.
"Just have Nyla sniff the sandals!" I say, getting frustrated.
"Fine." She says and takes it. Nyla picks up the scent right away, and June climbs on her back while we all get on Appa to follow. It takes the whole day, but Nyla stops when we get to Ba Sing Se.
"Your uncle is somewhere beyond the wall. Not too far, since Nyla's getting twitchy. Good luck. And try not to let the world die." June tells us and rides off on Nyla. Everyone looks back to me.
"It's been a long day. Lets make camp and search in the morning." I tell them. Toph sets up her Earth tent, Sokka sleeps on Appa's tail, and Katara, Suki and I sleep on Appa's fluffy legs. I don't know how long we're out when I feel an intense heat that wakes me up, and look around to see Toph on her feet and battle ready and us all surrounded by a huge ring of fire. Everyone's up in a second, and the fire goes away. We look up and see four old men smiling down at us. One of them I recognize: My old sword master, Piandao. They all jump down off the cliff.
"We're surrounded by old people!" Toph exclaims.
"Not just any old people." Katara smiles. "These are masters and friends of ours!" She bows in front of one of them. "Paku." She says. He returns it.
"It is respectful to bow to an old master, but how about a hug for your new grandfather!" He says and opens his arms. Katara smiles and hugs him, Sokka too. I look at Master Piandao and give a quick but respectful bow, not wanting to interrupt the water tribe's reunion. He smiles and returns it.
"I'm so glad you and Gran Gran found each other after so long. You must be very happy together."
"Yes, I made her a new betrothal necklace and everything."
"Gramp Gramp!" Sokka says excitedly." Paku pushes him back.
"You can still just call me Paku."
"Grand Paku?"
"No." He says firmly. Katara gestures to the man next to the waterbender.
"This is Aang's first Fire Bending Teacher." She tells me.
"Jong-Jong." He introduces himself. I recognize the name. He was the first ever deserter in the Fire Nation army who survived and escaped. I don't say anything though, I just bow.
"Master Piandao." Sokka bows.
"Sokka. And Prince Zuko." He replies. "It's good to see both of you."
"And this is King Bumi of Omashu." Katara introduces the last man, who gives me a slight bit of the creeps. I've heard of Bumi. He's supposed to be an incredible Earth Bender.
"Wait, so how do you all know each other?" Toph asks.
"Don't you know all old people know each other?" Bumi laughs.
"We're all part of the same ancient secret society." Piandao explains.
"The Order of the White Lotus." I smile, remembering Uncle.
"That's right. The order of the White Lotus transcends the war and division between benders. We're all here because we received a summons from a Lotus Grand Master we were needed for something important." Jong Jong explains. "Iroh of the Fire Nation."
"That's who we're here looking for!" Toph tells them.
"Then we'll take you to him." Paku tells us.
"Wait!" Bumi says. "Someone's missing from your group. Someone very important. Where's Momo?!" He exclaims, getting in Sokka's face.
"He's gone. So is Aang." Sokka replies.
"Oh."
"Your Uncle is just inside the walls, Prince Zuko." Piandao tells me. "Just follow us. The others start following right away, but I hang back and take a deep breath. I'm not sure If I'm ready to face my Uncle. I know he must on some level hate me. But I can't avoid it any longer.
As we walk the others talk, but I don't really pay attention. Before too long we get to what Bumi calls "Old People Camp" And I look around for Uncle Iroh.
"Where? Where is he?" I ask. Piandao points to the far back tent.
"Your Uncle is in there, Prince Zuko." I breathe and walk towards the tent, but I sit in front of it before I go in. Katara comes up beside me and puts her hand on my shoulder.
"Are you okay?" She asks.
"No. My Uncle hates me, I know it. He loved me and supported me in every way he could, and I still turned against him. How can I even face him?" I voice. She smiles at me.
"Zuko, I don't even have to ask if you're sorry about what you did. I know you are. And if I've learned anything from the time I've spent with General Iroh, it's that he loves you more than anything. He'll forgive you. He will."
"Thank you, Katara."
"You're welcome. We'll see you soon." She says and kisses my cheek, then walks off. I take a breath and walk in the tent.
"Uncle?" I say, looking around. He's asleep and snoring in front of me. I smile and sit in front of him, waiting for him to awake.
He does so several hours later. He sits up, stretches, takes one look at me and turns his back. I expected as much, but it still hurts so bad, I can't keep the tears from filling my eyes.
"Uncle, I know you must have mixed feelings about seeing me. But I want you to know I'm so, so sorry, Uncle. I'm so sorry and ashamed of what I did. I don't know how I can ever make it up to -" He cuts me off by grabbing me and pulling me into an embrace so tight I can hardly breathe. "How can you forgive me so easily? I thought you'd be so angry!" I cry, no longer able to hold the tears back.
"I was never angry. I was sad because you'd lost your way."
"But I did lose my way."
"But you found it again, and you did it all by yourself." He releases me, and when he pulls back I see he's crying too. "And I'm so happy you found your way here." He says and embraces me again. I smile, feeling all the fear and anxiety leave me and get replaced with gratitude.
"It wasn't that hard, Uncle. You have a pretty strong scent."
...