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Chapter Text

Princess Azula flicked a strand of hair from her eyes, having just told the captain that she didn’t care if the Tide was not permitting them to move, to go ahead regardless.

Looking out she thought about how to get her prisoners, her stupid and weak brother with their fuddy duddy uncle. Zuko will be easy to persuade, he craves their fathers approval so if she lies and spins a story how he revoked his banishment (which she knows would never happen) he will surely come crawling back. Uncle Iroh would be harder to fool though…but he is so protective of her brother. Where Zuko goes, he will surely follow.

Focusing back on the sea, breathing in the salty air with a gentle sigh. Yes. Her mission will be over soon and when it is she will finally be able to go after the Avatar and that Traitor with him. Actual work, that will be worthy of her time.

Chapter Text

It was a few days before they were to separate from the Northern Tribe’s water benders, standing as Pakku decided to give them some parting gifts for their journey ahead.

“Katara, this vial holds water from the Spirit Oasis, it’s healing properties have yet to be fully discovered. Use it wisely.” She bowed, thanking the man before putting it on. “Aang, this is a relic from a hundred years ago, gifted from your people. It is time to return it.” Aang was given a box which had patterns painted on it, bowing low Katara wrapped an arm around him gently. “Avatar Zuko, these scrolls, although will never replace a master, I hope will help you master Water Bending.”

Looking at them he nodded, closing the box and bowed lowly. “Thank you Master.” Standing with Aang and Katara the pair looked at the scrolls, Katara adding the scroll they had bought from the pirates so long ago.

When they were in the air Zuko rubbed Appa’s fur, on their way to an Earth Kingdom Base.

When they landed a man with two soldiers walked up, “Welcome Avatar Zuko!” The prince turned, “I am General Fong, and I welcome you great heroes! Strong Zuko, Wise Aang, Brave Sokka, the Mighty Katara.” Turning there were Fireworks, Zuko turned back to General Fong and followed him and his men inside.

After the tour of their room and the base they were taken to the War Room, sitting Zuko’s mind flashed to the last time he was in one of these rooms.

“Avatar Zuko, I had heard of what happened during the siege of the North Pole. It was incredible.”

“Thank you…” The General Fong didn’t seem to hear his uneasiness.

“Taking out entire fleets of Fire Navy Ships within a single night, not even! Avatar Zuko, you’re ready to face the Fire Lord.”

“What!? No I’m not!” Sokka stood to rest a hand on Zuko’s shoulder, Katara standing up with them and Aang.

“Zuko hasn’t yet fully mastered Air or Water bending, not to mention Earth! How can you even think he’s ready to face anyone, let alone the Fire Lord!?”

“With Avatar Zuko in the lead when in the Avatar State we will be unstoppable!”

“General I don’t think you understand, I wasn’t in control during that.” Zuko spoke the same he did with Zhao, gently yet with a level of authority that gave away that he has been in situations similar to this. “The Avatar State is when my Past Lives are able to impart both their knowledge and their skills, so even when I am in the Avatar State the past Avatars are the ones who take over, I’m not in control.”

General Fong didn’t seem dissuaded, and that scared Zuko. “…Avatar Zuko, a word?” Hesitantly Aang followed them, where Zuko looked down to see soldiers burned, bandaged to high heaven. “Each day, hundreds of soldiers go out against the Fire Nation, those are the lucky ones.” Zuko’s hand clenched, nails digging into his skin. “It’s getting worse the longer this goes on, people are dying Zuko! I’ll let you choose.” Zuko stood there, looking down at the wounded soldiers.

◊◊◊

When Zuko entered the room he immediately laid down on the bed ang passed out. When waking up Aang was waiting, curled up on the edge of his bed. “Aang?”

“…can we talk?”

“Mhmm, sure.” Standing he stretched before following Aang onto a rooftop with air bending, “Whats up?”

“…maybe…we should give Fong a chance…”

“What?”

“Just…I’m meant to teach you Air Bending and the Spiritual stuff but…honestly I don’t know how to help you control when and what you do in the Avatar State…so maybe…we can find out?” Swallowing Zuko looked at the horizon, now that he was fully awake his mind recalled the date.

“…Aang…” Looking at the kid though, seeing something more in his eyes, made Zuko cave. “…if you think so, you are my Spirit Guide after all.” Aang was smiling, although a little guilty, and ran back down.

Zuko stayed up, his mind recalling three years ago, his hand absentmindedly going to the scar which burned in the memory…

◊◊◊

“This herbal tea is known to aid our men to give immense energy,” Zuko watched an older man put a pinch of dried leaves and petals into a pot of water before pouring it out and offered a cup. “Perhaps it will encourage the Avatar State.”

“Immense energy…?” Carefully blowing on the steaming tea Zuko sipped it, it was rather sweet for his preference but didn’t spit it out. Putting the cup down, he didn’t like the staring but soon his knee began to bounce, fingers tapping his knee.

In mere minutes he was pacing around air bending spirals of wind and trying to burn off all this energy in him.

“Yeah, I don’t think Zuko is going to go into the Avatar State thanks to that tea.”

“That tea was too sweet for me, please don’t give me more.” He muttered faster than he usually would say it but softly, Fong seemed disappointed that this wasn’t working.

◊◊◊

“What you are wearing is ceremonial garments from each of the four nations.” He was, a pair of Air Nomad bracelets, Earth Kingdom shirt, Water Tribe headpiece and Fire Nation pants. “Now we shall combine the four elements into one! Water, Earth, Fire, Air.” He was mixing them inside a shallow steel cooking pot. “For elements together as one!”

Then it was thrown onto Zuko, glad it wasn’t his clothes but upset it was ruining said clothes he glared. “This is just warm mud!”

“So…do you feel anything?” Deciding to get them all back he took a deep breath, then sneezed with Air Bending.

He was clean, everyone else got covered in mud.

◊◊◊

Sokka stood in front of Zuko, “Maybe I can scare you into the Avatar State?”

“You know my history Sokka, you can try.” Katara covered his eyes, in a few moments he saw Momo’s head on Sokka’s body, the lemur screeched. He did jump back, hand to his heart, but other than that nothing much. “I don’t think that worked…?” He then watched with a chuckle at Sokka loosing balance and falling over, Momo flying over to rest on Zuko’s shoulders.

◊◊◊

Zuko was leaning against the railing, sighing deeply. Katara came out, “You OK?”

“…I really didn’t want to do this Katara…but Aang…” He sighed, looking at the sky. “…I’m going to tell Fong that I don’t want to continue, that it wouldn’t be wise. Anyway, I don’t want to go into the Avatar state ever again…I don’t like it.” She nodded, resting a hand on his shoulder.

“Whatever you feel is right Zuko, want me to tell the others?”

“No, I will.” Nodding she left, following Zuko entered the room.

“Hey, everything alright?”

“Yeah…we aren’t continuing tomorrow, doesn’t feel right to me.” He purposefully looked at his bed, away from Aang.

“Well, if you feel like it isn’t right then it’s OK…did I at least startle you earlier?”

“I’ll admit, you caught me off guard considering how little time you had.” Sokka pumped his fist, “How did you even get Momo to agree?”

“I gave him peaches this morning and at dinner I gave him apples.” Zuko smiled but let himself fall asleep.

Chapter Text

“I see.” Zuko was seated in General Fong’s War Chamber, the room was dark without the torches lit. They were alone as Fong was stroking his beard, “Are you certain?”

“Yes, the only way to trigger the Avatar state is in extremely high-risk environments.”

“I see…” Suddenly the man’s earth table came shooting at him, air bending a shield he flew out the door and landed on the training fields. “MEN! ATTACK THE AVATAR!”

“WHAT!?” Fong came down, a wave of Earth at his feet. “I DON’T WANT TO FIGHT!” Zuko managed out as he leapt over the attack.

“I’m afraid you’ve given me no choice on the matter now.” Taking stance he swallowed his nerves, surrounded by Earth Kingdom Soldiers who raised Earth against him.

Air bending to avoid their attacks was the best Zuko could do, water bending thick ice on some of their hands and feet. But when one cut his cheek he took a deep breath, although he swore to himself to not fire bend in front of them he had no other way out.

Using fire whips he knocked out three men, turning to Fong. “This is your last warning! Stop this now Fong!” Spotting colours that weren't tan or green in the corner of his eye was a slight relief, hearing air bending as Fong faced him completely.

“I won’t.” He rushed him, Zuko sending out fire beneath his feet before a giant wall of flame.

Hearing soldiers stutter Fong screamed at them before turning back to Zuko, “You’re of Fire Nation!”

“I’m the Avatar! I can bend all four elements!” Hearing a silent huff Fong continued, but after a while and finally getting all the soldiers to leave he turned. “KATARA!” Beside Fong was Katara, she was knee-deep in Earth. Fong had several cuts from her ice but held a hand that slowly closed into a fist. “LET HER GO!” Air bending Fong merely raised a wall, Katara sank lower.

“You could save her if you were in the Avatar State right now!”

“I’m trying!”

“Zuko! I’m sinking!”

“You don’t need to do this!”

“Apparently, I do.” Katara fell under, her braid disappearing. Zuko didn’t see Katara for a moment though, instead seeing ebony black hair, amber eyes and the flickers of blue. His mind went blank, seeing how easily he lost Azula to their father’s control, and he couldn’t protect Katara…

How could he protect her from their father? How could he save her…? He couldn’t, she was gone…

Gone…

Aang stepped back, grabbing Sokka and air bending back when seeing Zuko’s form sag. Head down, suddenly flames of gold surrounded him as he raised his head and turned to the man responsible.

His eyes, glowing with a blue hue.

“It worked…IT WORKED!” The winds churned, flames flickering, Fong realised too late he was the one Zuko was fixating on. A jet of white-hot fire blasting him back.

In a mere movement a tornado of wind and fire held him up, the flames licking everything it could touch. “AVATAR ZUKO! CAN YOU HEAR ME!?” Zuko’s face was just a mask of rage, “YOUR FRIEND IS SAFE!” Katara was returned to the surface, taking giant gulps of air before looking up and looked genuinely terrified. The winds taking her away, Sokka held her close. “I USED HER TO TRY AND TRIGGER THE AVATAR STATE! AND IT WORKED!” Zuko slammed down, the Earth rippled under him. With a circle of flames around him though, Aang saw a faint shimmer.

Zuko felt his body disappear beneath him, looking down at it. Seeing Roku and the dragon, he turned to the younger Avatar. “It’s time you learned.” Raising above the clouds Zuko saw his past lives, “The Avatar State, as you have been taught you know it is when you are at your strongest, but also at your most vulnerable.”

“I never understood that…”

“The Avatar State is when the Light Spirit has control, we are merely allowing her to use our knowledge, our skills into your body. But if the Spirit is ever harmed, if we are killed in the Avatar State the cycle will be broken.” At that Zuko was sitting alone, turning to see a long line of past lives. With three Avatar’s between them was Roku, “And the Avatar will cease to exist.” He faded, with Ange, Ratayi and finally Sing.

Swallowing he felt as the dragon dived, returning to his body he fell immediately to his knees. Although he didn’t pass out which was a good thing, there was one terrible thing to witness.

The damage.

Turning he saw the ruins he had left, feeling his eyes string he curled up in a foetal position. Immediately hearing Sokka, Aang and Katara run up. “I never want to do that again.”

“Come on, let’s go.” Sokka helped him up, “You need some rest.” Katara took him, hands on his shoulders as she leaned against him.

“Rest! Are you kidding me!? That was incredible! If only we could find a way to control you when you’re like that…”

“Try to and I will not hesitate to burn you alive in a way that will make the Fire Lord happy.” He growled, but Sokka knocked him out.

“Any problems with that!?”

Everyone shook their heads.

One brave man came forwards, “Would you still like the escort to Omashu?”

“I think we’re set.” Katara told him, making Zuko nod. Being given more supplies they took off, laying down he sighed.

“Oh this has been bad day after bad day…” Aang sat closer, guilt lining his face.

“I’m sorry Zuko…really.” He sighed, sitting up.

“It’s OK, I learnt more about the Avatar State though…which makes sense when you think about it…but I have not been having a good few days oh spirits…” With his treasured red blanket around his shoulders he looked younger, the usual level of maturity he had was gone.

“…wanna talk about it?” He glanced at the distance, then turned.

“…three years ago today my father banished me, burning my face with no humanity. He told me that banishing me was his mercy…I can’t believe I believed it once…” Refusing to look at them he looked down, “I had to have a bandage for three months, it was a miracle that I can even see or hear from the burn…all because I spoke out of turn in a war meeting and refused to fight my father.”

The others were silent, “…you were thirteen?”

“Yeah…great parenting am I right?” Zuko didn’t even laugh, “…sending out his son, to fight a master knowing it could either get him killed or so badly burned that they can’t move…then revealed himself and disfigured them.”

“…Zuko…”

“…you know whats worse…my little sister is still with him, she is with him day in day out, pressured and forced into the image of perfection in his eyes…I was never cut out for it, but it was less with me there…I just hope she’s OK now that I know just how bad he's probably been treating her.”

◊◊◊

“Uncle, I’ve wondered where you were.” Azula spoke lightly, knowing there was a low chance he would fall for her. “Where’s Zuko? I’ve got a message from father for him.” She idly checked her nails, long and healthy and sharp.

“I’m afraid I don’t know, your brother is rather difficult to find these days.”

“Wouldn’t he be at your feet like always?”

“No, I haven’t seen him in weeks in fact.” Admiring his shells Iroh smiled at her, “Have you seen my collection?”

“Admirable Uncle, but it’s Zuko I want to talk to.”

“He isn’t here, and I don’t know where he is going.” Azula frowned gently, “Please, why don’t we enjoy a cup of calming tea?”

“…what happened in the North Pole?” Her curiosity burst forth, “No one gave clear stories.”

“Well, the Avatar defeated the fleets, with aid of the Moon and Ocean Spirits. I however kept a safe distance.”

“Yes, your journey into the Spirit World. I could see why you kept away.” Sitting she took her uncles tea, admittedly she enjoyed it better than any other tea maker in the Fire Nation. “So you made your way here?”

“Yes, after drifting away I was taken here. Such luck, isn’t it my niece.”

“Father will be glad your safe.” The lie was familiar in her mouth, washing it’s rotten taste with the tea.

“Oh, I’m not sure your father will be. But I will not return to the Palace, not yet.”

“Why the hesitance?” Iroh smiled at her.

“I have been given a new outlook on the world, a traveller. I wish to follow it through my niece.” He told her, “Are you still continuing your forms?”

“Finished them, I’m now practising lightning.” He hummed, nodding.

“Yes, I always saw you the one who would be able to summon lightning. I wish you well, my niece, but I am an old man, and this old man needs his afternoon nap.” Nodding she stretched, planning to capture him in his sleep. That was one prisoner.

When she and soldiers returned her uncle was gone, getting an image of him and ordering by royal decree he was to be captured alive.

Chapter Text

“Again.” Sucking in air Zuko bent the water, making an octopus. “…close your elbows together, to protect your core.”

“Right…”

“Hey, could you maybe mist some water here?” Sokka was only in his underwear, they all were, and chilling on a huge leaf. With a smirk Zuko dumped water all over him, making him splutter. “HEY!”

“Oops.” Turning back to Katara Zuko nodded, immediately she began shooting shards of ice. Dodging them or grabbing them he managed to grab her leg.

She looked at his water tentacle, then at him. “Not bad, not bad.”

“You make a great octopus Zuko!” Rolling his eyes he dropped the water, then sprayed Aang. “Hey!” He laughed, freezing as they all turned.

A group were walking closer, playing instruments, dancing and singing. “Woah hey! River people!”

“We aren’t river people.” Sokka spoke, standing up.

“You’re not, then…what kind of people are you?”

“Just…people, people.”

“Aren’t we all brother.” Zuko rolled his eyes, noticing Sokka doing the same. As he introduced himself Zuko sighed, they were Nomads and seemed rather air-headed.

◊◊◊

Returning from his meditation he returned to Aang making flower crowns, Katara getting flowers braided into her hair and a few braiding flowers into Appa’s fur.

“Oh, your back!” One of the nomads, who had a drum, smiled at him. “Would you like me to braid your hair?” Zuko froze, it was getting longer, around the length he had it at thirteen, and he hadn’t had it done in so long…

“…alright.” Sitting down he felt the man gently comb through the strands.

“So soft…silky…” He was grateful that he was softer on his scarred side, not letting his fingers linger where they brushed against the burned skin.

So when Sokka came back, Zuko had a single braid as a large flower sat at the back. The man was just playing with his hair as he told the other of the plans Zuko tuned out, “Alright, since Katara and Zuko are distracted guess it’s my job.” Glaring at the other Sokka stood straight. “We have to go to Omashu, no side tracks, no bunnies and no rainbows.”

“Sokka’s right, we need to go to Bumi where Zuko can learn Earth Bending somewhere safe.”

“Looks like your headed to Omashu.” Sokka slapped a hand on his forehead, Zuko chuckled. “You know…I heard of a shortcut that goes right through the mountain.”

“A shortcut?”

“Yeah, it’s a myth.”

“A legend?”

“Oh yeah! That too!” Zuko once again tuned out the man but got the gist of it, forbidden lovers making a secret place for them both.

“Listen that sounds great, but Appa hates going underground. And we’ve got to do what will make Appa most comfortable.” The bison huffed, so they packed up and went over the mountain, only to be shot out of the sky.

Finding the nomads they walked defeated, “Secret love cave lets go.” Sokka sighed, cleaning up they walked to the mountains.

“We better keep quiet, their camps will be nearby.” Getting closer to the tunnel Zuko wanted to rip his hair out, they didn’t tell them it was a labyrinth, or about a curse. “Why did it have to be so stupid…”

“We just gotta believe in love?” Zuko swallowed his words when Aang asked, seeing Sokka in front with Katara trying to stop him from pulling his hair out. “We’ll make it through.” Looking down they entered, not even five minutes later the exit shut behind them.

Zuko was going to ignite a flame when a nomad used a torch, sighing he was with Appa, they needed to get out of here. Sokka had the genius idea of making a map, so they walked on.

After a while, and many dead ends, Zuko ran up, peering at the map. “…that makes no sense, if that was there then we would be here…” Sokka sighed, shaking his head.

“No, because that was here, and we went this way meaning this-…” They made it to another dead end, “This doesn’t make sense…unless…the tunnels are changing.” While the nomad leader was freaking out Zuko was tempted to bend something, but Sokka placed a hand on his shoulder and shook his head.

“That’s impossible, it’s just earth. How can they be changing?” Katara asked, but then something scurried close.

“WHAT IS THAT!?”

“IT’S A WOLF-BAT!” The black wolf-bat scared the nomads, who dropped the torch and spooked Appa, who began running around, slamming into walls. Nodding at Aang Zuko bent the air, saving himself, Sokka and the Nomads. But Katara and Aang were on the other side with Appa.

Sokka began desperately trying to move the earth, “Sokka its no use, we’re separated.” Momo cooed in his ear, “We’ve got to keep moving, besides Katara and Aang will be fine. They’re both able to handle anything that comes their way.” Sokka slowly nodded, taking the lead with Zuko holding a torch since they didn’t want the nomads knowing he was the Avatar.

The nomads decided that the best way to deal with the situation was by singing, endlessly.

Zuko had enough after four hours.

“If they sing one more song I’ll slice them each in half then feed their remains to Appa, except for their hearts which I’ll hang over the entrance of this stupid cave.” He muttered to the taller, remembering when his sister had threatened the Palace Guards with a similar punishment when she was only eight.

“Usually I’d disagree with that method but right now I might be on your side.” Sokka whispered back, pinching the bridge of his nose as Chong had started up another rendition of ‘Sung’s Broken Heart’.

“We are never getting out of here at this rate.” The prince groaned, so sick of the nomads he was considering giving Earth bending a shot just to squish them like bugs.

“I wonder how Katara and Aang are doing, they must be almost out of light by now.” The water tribe boy wondered, taking the torch to rest Zuko’s arm.

The prince rolled his shoulder, “My guess, their drooling all over one another but still not admitting they like each other.” He then stretched his arms, grabbing his elbow behind his head and pulling back.

“What?”

“What?” Sokka was shocked, “You didn’t know?”

“No…Katara…Aang…”

“Yeah, it’s obvious.” Sokka stopped walking, but then turned. “Sokka?”

“Shh…do you hear that?” Everyone stopped, then a swarm of wolf-bats ran in their direction. The nomads fell to the floor as Zuko bent air to a shield as Sokka pinwheeled his arms.

“Great job Sokka! You scared them off!”

“It wasn’t me they were scared of!” Zuko turned to a wall, touching the ground.

“Something’s coming, something big!” Before Sokka could ask it burst in, Zuko being separated with Sokka.

Baggermoles!

“WATCH OUT!” Sokka threw himself at Zuko, the pair rolled before stopping, next to one another Zuko held his head.

“Thanks, but how do we get out of this one!?” Bending water was risky, since Zuko still wasn’t too confident in his skills but he couldn’t air-bend again, air is limited in here. And Fire was out, with the limited space there was a chance of burning someone.

Whipping one it barely turned, “Their skin is thick!” Trying to bend water around one’s neck Sokka stepped on Chong’s guitar, making a sound.

The baggermole stopped, tilting it’s head.

“…do it again.” Sokka looked at the creature, then picked up the guitar. “I think I have an idea, but you’re not going to like it.”

“I think we have the same idea, and if it is, neither will you.” Sokka began playing, urging the others to join. Which they did, the Baggermole planted itself down and began to sway with the music.

Eventually the Baggermoles got the hint that they were lost and bent earth to get onto their backs, Sokka climbed up first before helping Zuko up. “Remind me to skewer Chong after this.”

“I will.” The man was still singing, Zuko though wrapped his arms around Sokka when the creature stood up. “Woah!”

“Sorry.” Zuko was about to let go when the creature ran, seeing as Sokka was holding onto the baggermole and Zuko was sitting behind him the only thing to grab was him.

He tried not to think about it too much, Momo chirped in his ear as walls went into the ground. “Looks like we know now how the walls moved.”

“The baggermoles are Earth benders, they’re the ones moving everything.” Sokka was amazed, but then sunlight.

They were free!

“Sokka! Zuko!” Appa, Aang and Katara were safe, “How did you guys make it out!?”

Sliding off the two ran up to them, “How did you?” Aang shrugged his shoulders.

“Oh you know, we let love lead the way.” He was blushing amd turned to aviod his eyes, Sokka blinked.

“We let giant earth-bending monsters lead our way.” The water tribe boy told them, waving at the giants walking back into their cave system.

“So, how was being stuck with Sokka?” Katara asked him, Zuko turned to her. “Oh~?”

“I was stuck with the nomads who wouldn’t stop singing! How was it like being stuck with Aang, hmm?” Her cheeks turned a dark pink, “Just what I thought.” Walking to Appa he pet the giant and leaned against him, “I’m so glad to see you Appa, lets never do that again.” He roared in agreement, making the prince smile. “You said it.”

Chapter Text

A few hours later, and with no nomads thankfully, they made it to the mountain towards their destination. “After a long, long journey with many trials and tribulations.” They rolled their eyes at Sokka’s dramatics, “I give you the Earth Kingdom City of O-oh no…” Zuko ran up to the crest, covering his mouth in shock.

The Fire Nation Insignia, the same one that haunted his old ship, was hung all over the outer walls of the city, smoke pouring out from houses. A red flag flapping in the wind from the palace, behind it a massive scaffold with a statue within.

“We’re too late, Omashu has fallen…” The group went back behind the mountain, not wanting any risk of being seen by patrols.

“I knew the Fire Nation was powerful but Omashu always felt…untouchable…”

“No doubt this was on my father’s orders, my uncle broke through Ba Sing Se’s walls…he’d want a fortress to control his forces.”

“You think he’s here?”

“Spirits no, my father is in the Fire Nation. He never went out to the front lines, he is more a politician then he is a general.”

“Well, good. I don’t want him here. But now the only truly safe place for you to learn Earth Bending is Ba Sing Se, so we better get moving.” Nodding they walked to Appa.

“Wait! We can’t just leave, we’ve got to save Bumi!” The three turned, Aang was staring at the city.

“Aang, we don’t even know if Bumi is still-…”

“What? If Bumi is still what!?”

“Ar-Around.”

“Look I know you wanted me to learn from Bumi, but I’m sure there’s someone else who can teach me Earth bending.” Zuko spoke, looking at the smoke pouring from the city. He felt sick just looking at it.

“This isn’t about finding you a teacher, this is about finding my friend.” Zuko sighed.

“Alright, but how will we get in? Appa will be shot at and we can’t exactly walk up with our Earth Kingdom disguises, we’ll be caught!”

“I know a way in.” Aang smirked, “Come on! Everyone on Appa!”

Aang’s way in ended up being the sewers, Aang air bending a ball to avoid the sludge-y water, Katara bending the stuff away Zuko copied her, hearing Sokka getting splashed behind him.

Getting out Aang checked it out first, helping Katara up. “That wasn’t as bad as I thought.”

“Yeah.” Sokka, drenched in sludge, made a droning sound, Katara bending fresh water onto him, Aang bending him dry.

Then Sokka noticed the Purple Pentipus.

Zuko slapped his hand over his mouth before he screamed, “Calm down, it’s just some Pentipus.” He rubbed one, making them detach. But the suckers left a star mark on him, Sokka rubbed over the area.

As they detached the other ones from his face and neck a voice made them turn, “Hey! You there!” Zuko pulled his hood up and donned his mask, Aang slipping on his hat. “What are you kids doing out after curfew?” Two guards walked towards them, one held a lantern as they both had spears.

“Sorry, we’re just on our way home.” Katara smiled, leading them away.

“Hold on, whats with him?” They grabbed Sokka, Zuko turned.

He cleared his throat a bit before changing the pitch of his voice and the accent, “He has Penti-pox sir.” They raised their eyebrows, recognising the accent, unlike their own which were Fire Nation ones but from a different region. “It’s highly contagious.” Zuko elbowed the taller subtly, gesturing minutely to do something.

He leapt to action, “Oh good gracious I’m so sick I’m dying!” He walked forward like he was drunk, moaning out and really laying it on thick.

“And deadly.”

“He must be a young healer, hence the mask…anyway doesn’t the name sound familiar?”

“Yeah…didn’t Dao’s uncle die from it?” Sokka began fake coughing, “We should wash our hands!”

“And burn all our clothes!” They ran, Sokka smirking.

Aang had one of the Purple Pentipus in his hands, “Thank you sewer friends.”

Zuko laughed as Sokka rubbed his cheek, “Come on, we have to keep moving…I say we go towards the castle, it’ll have the gaol.”

“Zuko’s right, that would be where Bumi could be held.” Aang and Zuko went ahead, air bending and helping the other two.

As they were walking though they stopped, seeing lights.

Zuko, being in front, squinted at the figures then blinked hard, rubbing at one of his eyes.

Was that…?

“Mai…?”

“Who?” Zuko shook his head, staring at the two between their guards.

It had to be Mai, her oil black hair in two buns with stands falling back, her fringe sitting above her dark eyes which looked bored. Wearing looser robes over a shirt and pants, but he knew Mai, she loved knives in their childhood and she has wealthy parents while also being close to Azula.

She he wondered if she had any knives or training.

Then, giant boulders came down beside them. Aang used air bending to destroy them when realising they were going to hurt the group below, hearing a gasp below Zuko stood. “The Resistance!” Mai leapt up, arms up as grappling hooks shot out alongside arrows.

Zuko pulled Aang back, “No more bending!”

“But-” Zuko gave him a look, “…right, I’m an air bender.”

“Exactly, and they probably still think you’re the Avatar.” He hid behind a wall, Katara bent water to an ice shield which Mai leapt over. Drawing his swords Zuko brought them down, she grabbed two daggers to block.

Her eyes widened when looking into his, then tilted her head to look behind his hair which fell over his scar.

He kicked her away, running over then the earth turned them over.

◊◊◊

“Aang, where are you going?”

“What about you Zuko?”

“I need to check something, I’ll meet up with everyone outside the city.” He put on the Blue Spirit Mask, “But right now, I need to check something…if she’s here…” Aang nodded, flying in one direction, Zuko air bended rooftop to rooftop to the palace.

Landing on a roof he moved and hid behind a spire.

Azula…

“Please tell me you’re here to kill me.” Mai and Azula laughed, then Ty Lee hugged her. “I thought you ran off to the circus, you said it was your calling.”

“Well, Azula called a little louder.”

“I need a team, and I want you on it.”

Mai stepped to face her, “Count me in! Anything to get out of this place.” Zuko looked at his sister, crouching down low.

She wore light armour, it looked like regular clothes, a pinkish red. Her hair, with those two strands falling beside her eyes, tied in a topknot with a small red flame crown. It was the same shade as his hair, her eyes, an amber not gold, preened at her friends. Ty Lee had built some muscle, but she wore a pink two-piece and did look happier then he last recalled her being.

“Your majesty, my ladies, if you can come inside. There is a plague throughout Omashu!”

“What?” The guards lead them in, but this felt like an ice spear had been stuck into his chest.

Azula was here…Azula was now making a team to do something…and it couldn’t be good.

Leaving he made it out, when night was beginning to fall, finding the others and froze.

“…Katara…why are you holding a baby?”

“He followed us out, isn’t that right~” He looked only two, and was trying to free himself.

“…and who’s baby is that?”

“The governor’s son.”

“What!?” If Mai’s father was the governor then that meant…

This was Mai’s brother?

“That’s not the only news, the governor is offering a trade. His son for King Bumi.”

“We’re going to do it tomorrow, at noon.”

Chapter Text

“We shouldn’t be doing this, what if it’s a trap?”

“I don’t think so, if the governor wants his son back as much as we want Bumi then he wouldn’t risk it. It’s a new day.” Aang was the one carrying the baby, Sokka noticing Zuko adjusting armour under his clothes but since they had to move he couldn’t ask about it.

They made it there first, standing at one end of a platform where a statue of Fire Lord Ozai was being made behind scaffolding, Zuko turned away from it.

Aang was in front, with Sokka, who held the baby, and Katara just behind him and behind them was Zuko.

Walking from the other side was Mai, leading Azula on her right and Ty Lee on her left.

Bumi was brought down by a crane, in a box of metal which left his face. “Do you have my bother!?” Mai called out.

“He’s here, we’re ready to trade!” Azula blinked, then turned to Mai, looked at Bumi as she spoke too quiet for them to hear.

Zuko grabbed them, “Guys we need to leave, put down the kid and run.”

“What?” Aang turned back to Zuko, “Not until-”

“The deal’s off!” Mai called out, motioning her hand. Bumi was lifted into the sky, where they heard him laugh as he slowly spun.

“Bumi!” Aang began running, Azula shooting a burst of fire which made his make-shift hat fall off as he leapt up and glided.

“The Avatar…my lucky day-?” Zuko shot a blast at Azula, glaring at her as Katara came to his side. “So you’re the Traitor? Zhao failed his assault of the Northern Water Tribe, meaning your identity is still unknown…” She looked at him, “Care to share?”

He took a deep breath, then fired at the supports, Azula burned them then went after Aang who had managed to free Bumi.

Before he could follow them Ty Lee ran up, glad to be wearing armoured plates to negate her attacks as he shielded his core, recalling that she was learning about chi blocking and the pressure points in the body.

She rubbed her hands, having no doubt felt the metal. “Chi blocking doesn’t work if you can’t get to the skin.” He told her, quirking his eyebrow. “Good luck with that, Ty Lee.”

“Wait…how do you…” Her expression broke, “Could it be…” Zuko flipped away from knives, then turned to Mai who was glaring at him as she tried to charge him back. Managing to deflect a good sizable part of her knives and arrows he returned bent a wave of flame as he walked backwards to Sokka as Mai ran through the flames and avioded ice to slice his throat open.

“Call Appa already!”

“I’m trying, I’m also trying to stop the kid from getting hurt!”

“Hey, listen, we give you back your brother and we leave.” Zuko called out, Ty Lee looked at Mai who was glaring.

“Why should we believe the words of a traitor, and kidnappers.” The one in pink turned horrified.

“Mai-!”

“Come on Ty Lee, let’s get them all arrested for Azula.” Zuko cursed Mai, she changed quite a bit from when they were kids, but Ty Lee seemed genuinely sorry. Torn as she looked back at them, she must of recongised him somehow. She knew and Zuko prayed she didn’t tell anyone. For her own safety.

Thankfully Appa came, slapping his tail air bending them away. Zuko air bended to his head, the others climbed up. “Yip yip!” Flicking the bridle he looked around, spotting blue flames.

“There!”

“We can catch them!” Guiding Appa down Aang managed to get himself and Bumi off the shoot but overshot it.

“AANG!” Zuko went to air bend but had to move Appa from getting shot full of fire, then he disappeared with Azula still chasing him.

“Let’s search for them!” Katara shouted over the winds, “And you’ve got to tell us everything you know about them!”

“I will! …I will.” They flew over the city, finding Aang alone. “Aang! Come on, before they find us!” He turned, nodding as he ran and leapt onto Appa. Flying back to the resistance Aang grabbed Zuko, making the prince turn and frown a bit.

“Bumi has a message for you.” He nodded, waving the others on. “…he told me that the key to mastering Earth Bending is using Neutral Jing, is to wait and listen before striking. He said to listen to the Earth, to wait for the perfect moment to strike. He also said that your Earth Bending master has to master Neutral Jing.”

He slowly nodded, “…OK…how you holding up Aang?”

The monk looked up at him and blinked, then shrugged and rubbed his bald head. “Huh, yeah…he just says that he needs to stay in Omashu, that he’s waiting for the perfect time to take back his kingdom.”

“Well, the soldiers won’t know what hits them.” He smiled, “…hey, when it gets dark out can you take back the kid? I actually know his parents and their…well…they are very…emotional.” He recalled meeting Mai’s parents as a child, having been shocked such a closed off girl had such open parents.

“OK, I will.” Zuko could of done it himself but Aang needed to do some good, needs to resolve something. At least he can do this.

When he returned a few hours later he was smiling, “Better?”

“Much, thanks Zuko.” He waved him off, “Now, can you tell us about those girls we met?” The three turned to him, curiousity evident as he leaned back and let his head go over the edge of the saddle.

“Yeah…well the one shooting blue fire is my little sister Azula.”

“WHAT!?”

◊◊◊

“Now…we still don’t have my brother’s location or the identity of the traitor.” Ty Lee bit the inside if her lip, recalling the masked figure’s voice.

He kinda sounded like Zuko.

Not only that but he knew her name, knew how she fought, how Mai fought…but also knew Azula would follow the Avatar.

Mai frowned at the map they had, “Princess, do you think it’s possible that…your brother is the traitor?”

Azula turned to Mai, then laughed. “Please, Zu Zu? Last word about him was that he was sick and when I asked my uncle he said Zuko was rather difficult to find now-days…” She stared at the distance, deep in thought.

Ty Lee cleared her throat, “It’s been so long since we’ve seen Zuko, it’ll be so nice to see him again. Won’t it Mai?” The girl blushed, turning away to hide any lingering feelings of her childhood crush before her shoulders stiffened.

“…but if Zuko was the traitor…what would you do Azula?” She blinked, then frowned.

“Well…if Zuko was with the Avatar it wouldn’t be as a traitor, perhaps he found himself in a favourable position and took the advantage of acting as though he was one, maybe he’s just waiting until the right moment to hand the Avatar over to our father, and he is needing to lie to them for their trust, going against us would solidify that he’s against us and ensuring his place as a ‘trusted ally against the Fire Nation’.” Azula knew her brother, after all he taught her all that their mother taught him; how to lie, how to change your voice, how to act.

And it’s saved her a few times.

“Is Zuko even capable of that?”

“Yes, he is.” She felt something flicker at the notion he couldn’t act, annoyance perhaps. Zuko may of been below her, yes, but the only person with the rank to tease him was her.

Ty Lee stepped between the two, “Well, our mission is to find and capture Iroh, Zuko and now the Avatar and his friends. We’ll find out who that traitor is!” Azula nodded as Mai turned away, leaving the gymnast to nervously chew her lower lip.

Chapter Text

They were flying over a swamp when Zuko was shaken, “Huh?” He turned from gazing at the distance to the saddle where Sokka had been the one to gently shake him.

“Why are we going down?”

“Wha…?” He looked down, rubbing his eyes where yes, the trees of the swamp looked much closer. “I-I didn’t even realise we were going down.”

“Something wrong Zuko?” Aang joined Sokka, “What’s up?”

“Just…I’ve been trying to do what Bumi said, ‘listen to the Earth’…and as crazy as it sounds…i-it’s telling me to land.” Katara and Sokka looked over at the swamp.

“Where, there isn’t much land for us to land on.”

“I don’t know, this place looks creepy…” Katara muttered, “I say we continue flying.”

“Yeah, sorry swamp but I say just fly over this place and ignore it.” Zuko frowned, then turned to Aang who was also looking down at the swamp.

“I don’t feel any spiritual energy, so this is probably bending stuff…but I don’t see anywhere for us to land and it does look creepy.” Looking at the others who stared at him as he nodded.

“OK, since you guys are so sure…we ignore it. Yip yip.” Appa roared, going up.

“You might want to add another yip, I think the swamp is mad at us!” Turning Zuko looked at Aang who nodded, leaping up they stood back-to-back, bending air around Appa to create a sphere to shield him as he was sucked into the tornado.

But the tornado was stronger than them.

Being flung off Appa’s back they fell through the trees and into water and mud, Zuko stood up, bending water to clean himself up, shaking his hair and getting mud out of it. “Anyone dead?”

“Nope, we’re alive.” Katara groaned, then checked her elbows. He checked his, then looked back. “Sokka you got an elbow leech.”

“WHERE!?”

“Where do you think?” Sokka turned, then spotted it. Cursing how things latch onto him as he ripped it off and threw it, Zuko dodged the leech.

Aang floated down, Zuko slapped his forehead for forgetting to air bend himself down gently, “I’ll try and see if I can find Appa and Momo.” As Aang jumped up Zuko walked up to a tree, placing a hand on it.

“OK, got the message. We’re grounded, what do you want?” But the feeling of the Earth was gone, he couldn’t hear it anymore.

“Zuko?”

“Yeah Sokka?”

“You’re talking to a tree.”

“I know, I’ve gone crazy.” Katara sighed as Sokka nodded, “Soon I’ll be quoting my father.”

“Please don’t, I don’t want to see that horror show.” Smiling a bit Aang returned, “Any sign of Appa?”

“None, and the vines will just tangle Appa up if he tries to fly out…we’ll have to find him here. Zuko, any advice from the Earth?”

“No, it’s gone silent…” Eerily silent, but they waded through knee length waters to wet land, Sokka pulled out his machete.

“Come on Zuko, can you burn through here.”

“A-Actually, no…Sokka I don’t think it’ll be wise to cut anything here. This swamp feels…different.” Aang and Katara nodded, feeling it too while Sokka sighed.

“Fine, I’ll refrain from cutting our way through.” He put it away, “Then help me hold these vines, watch out for the thorns.” He nodded, soon they made it to a drier clearing, after starting a fire they huddled around it for warmth as the sun set.

“Well, we better get some sleep. If we get a good night’s rest we can can get an early start to search for Appa.”

“Like I can get a good night’s rest.” Zuko muttered, feeling eyes everywhere. But with Sokka next to him, Katara’s foot next to his, Aang across from him as they sat in a curve, he passed out leaning against Sokka.

He woke up to feeling something wrapped around him.

Half-asleep he wondered what it was, then he was dragged by it.

“SOKKA! KATARA! ZUKO!” Aang’s voice drew distant, now wide awake at the youngest’s panic he air bended the vines away from him, water bending thin lines to cut them before, when seeing multiple target him, burning them to cinders.

But he was lost, and in the darkness he couldn’t see where he was, or the direction he came from. Air bending up he looked around, shouting his friends names he waited.

No one shouted back.

Turning he saw the centre of the Swamp, maybe there he could get his answers. Besides, it was the tallest tree, and if he fire bended a really stupidly big fireball they should see it.

Nodding once he floated down, walking on.

◊◊◊

“AANG!” Sokka hacked his way through stubborn vines, “KATARA! Stupid vines!” He fell through them to a clearing, sheathing his machete to take a breath. “ZUKO!” His voice was echoing through the swamp, sighing he walked over a root bridge.

“Sokka.” He turned, seeing Yue. But when he blinked she was gone, rubbing his eyes he double checked, nope…not there…

“Calm down Sokka, just…trick of the light, swamp gas…!” He turned back, then looked behind him again.

It was Suki.

But she was gone when he blinked, “…OK…definitely swamp gas.”

“You said you loved me, but you don’t.” He blinked, seeing Yue again. Recalling those words she said to him, when he left the North Pole.

‘You think you love me…but I can see you love someone else Sokka, good luck.’

Suki was standing beside her, but instead of feeling close hejust felt a…distance…

But they were gone, he sighed as they were after a minute of staring.

Turning they were standing in his way, calling out he fell off, into the water, looking up into dappled sunlight to see nothing.

◊◊◊

“SOKKA! AANG! ZUKO!” Katara chose to walk through the waterways, having to deal with less vines then where she had been just the other day. “Hello!?” She heard a whisper, the wind carrying a distant voice, turning to where a curtain of ivy hid a clearing where she saw the figure of someone. “Hello? Can you help…” Katara looked at the figure, wearing blue and white, long hair the same as hers, “Mum…mum!” She ran up, tears burning her eyes as she made it. She hugged the figure’s back, smelling the biting cold of the South Pole. “I can’t believe it, I thought th-…” The figure was gone, she was holding a broken and dead tree stump in her arms. She fell to her knees, sobbing as she fell for some messed up illusion, wishing for her big brother to appear to hold her, to comfort her…

◊◊◊

“Hello?” Aang saw a figure in the distance, wearing flowing clothes, long dark brown hair in the breeze, “Katara!?” He lit up, leaping into the clearing onto the tree branch to find… “Ange…?” She stood looking at him, smiling. Looking identical to when he last saw her, their eyes a warm grey as her narrower features were softened in a calm joy she always had. Wearing the same garments but having white ribbons added to her left wrist in a swirl as the ends swayed in the gentle breeze. Her hands were laid over one another, nails a soft warm orange she had stained as she stood there before her brother. “Ange!” He cried out, rushing to his sister, his best friend, his twin. But she leapt over him, landing behind him.

When she spoke it was soft, trembling. “Why did you leave me Aang?”

“Ange-” Her eyes were holding back tears as fear and pain twisted her features, “I-I…”

“I was so scared Aang, so scared and worried and hurt that you left.”

“Ange I-I…I’m sorry…” Aang was on his knees, watching his sister cry he felt the tears fall on his own cheeks, murmuring apologies until his voice couldn’t work.

◊◊◊

Zuko cradled a small flame in his hand, occasionally calling out to the others as he walked towards the centre of the Swamp.

He had been walking for hours, and at the moment he was just exhausted. But his stubbornness wouldn’t let him stop the fire in his hand, or the movement of his feet through earth, mud and water.

“Can anybody hear me!?” He shouted, panting as he stood in the water. “Hello!? Anybody there!? …oh for fu-!”

“Zuko.” He froze, the flame spluttered in his palm, turning he saw it, the profile of a woman raising a hood, that nose…his nose…

He hadn’t seen that figure since he was eleven, but there was no doubt about it.

“Mother…?” His voice was but a broken whisper, she hid in the shadows that formed from the fire in his hands going out, “Wait, mum!” He ran after her, ice stepping over water to gain more ground, leaping over tree roots using air bending to try and catch up to her.

Leaping up to a tree branch he looked around, then spotted her dark cloak disappear through a curtain of vines. “Mum!” He leapt down, running through. She was there, standing before him, arms open, wearing the same clothes she left in, he ran to hug her.

He ran through her.

“Wha…” Turning she was looking down at him with a smile, but that smile was of pain and regret.

“I’m sorry Zuko, I love you so much…” He felt his eyes fill with tears, blurring his vision.

“No…no mum please! Please don’t leave me again!” But as he tried to grab her she disappeared, like moving a light to get rid of a shadow, he fell through her disappearing figure into the earth. Trembling he curled up, screaming into the ground as tears freely streamed down his face, droplets hitting the soaked ground.

Chapter Text

When Zuko lifted himself with shaking arms the world was swaying, sighing gently he took his water skin, drinking from it he was glad it didn’t have a strong taste. Moving to sit down properly he slowly took deep breaths, looking at the sky. He didn’t know how long he had been crying for, only that his eyes were dry, his throat was dry and sore and he needed to keep moving.

The image of the others got him to move weak knees.

The sound of laughter made him turn.

A girl, with black hair done in some simple updo, wearing a white dress stood beside a flying boar, Zuko didn’t dare trust it, but something was telling him to.

The Earth…?

“…listen to the Earth…” He whispered to himself, if he wanted to learn Earth Bending he had to do as Bumi said.

He ran after the girl, praying to the spirits that it was the right choice.

◊◊◊

Aang looked around the clearing he found himself in, after sobbing for a good while he was back to looking for the others. His throat was still a little sore from crying so much, and his eyes were slowly losing their redness, but he told himself he would worry about that later as he rubbed his cheeks and felt were tears had ran.

Stopping at a dryer mound he huffed, he didn’t want to risk Spirit Walking, that left his body vulnerable to attack and if he didn’t return to his body then he would be stuck as a spirit forever!

Slapping his cheeks he continued, maybe he’ll find Appa and Momo first. Speration anxiety from his lifetime companions made his skin itch and stomach turn, he tried not to let his fears overwhelm him on 'what if'...he will find the others, he will also get back to Appa and Momo...

◊◊◊

Sokka was angry, he was also very hungry.

There were plants in the swamp but he wasn’t familiar with any of them, so he didn’t want to risk accidently eating something poisonous. But as he continued walking on he felt the same feelings he had when around Yue and Suki change.

Also…the familiarity of-

He shook his head, cutting through the vines in one sweep to continue on. He was only worried about Zuko since he was the Avatar…

He was also worried about Katara, sure she was a master water bender but that was still his baby sister.

He could still remember seeing her after the Raid, tiny and small and terrified.

◊◊◊

Katara sighed as she walked on, after she got a handle on herself she continued on. She needed to make sure the boys were safe, especially Sokka who always got into some kind of incident.

She felt the Spirit Oasis water pendant bump her chest, right now kept frozen permanently to ensure it isn’t ever lost.

She wondered excatly how strong its healing properties were, and if she would ever use it. The water was in direct contact with two spirits, their energy having bled into it. She hoped she didn’t have to use it, she was a healer already, but this water was different.

She then recalled Zuko’s scar.

Maybe…it could heal that.

◊◊◊

Zuko panted, this girl was difficult to catch. Disappearing behind trees only to reappear on another, the flying bore disappeared he didn't know when, each time he made it to her, she somehow slipped away and would laugh from a different place. Making it a whole game of cat and mouse as he was drawn further and further into the swamp, to some desination he wasn't told.

Until, finally, he spotted her going through a curtain of vines, leaping to tackle her when spotting a body.

Then they turned, revealing it to be Aang.

“Zuko!” Aang held his arms out, not realising the force Zuko was using and was promptly tackled, going through a curtain of leafy vines to Katara who screamed when they surprised her, only to go through moss and knock into Sokka’s back and tumbling before landing on a massive wooden arch.

“What!? Do you guys know how long I was looking for you guys!?”

“Hey I was looking for you guys too!”

“And I was wondering around searching for you as well Sokka!”

Zuko climbed up to his feet, “I was searching for you guys, then followed some girl to here.”

“What?”

“After a bit I saw a girl in a white dress with a flying boar.” He helped Sokka get up as Aang helped Katara, “That was after…seeing someone else…”

“You saw someone too?”

“Too?” Zuko turned, “I saw Ange…”

“…I thought I saw mum…”

“…I saw my mother too.”

“Your mother…? You’ve never mentioned her.” Zuko looked away from them, fiddling with the hem of the earth kingdom shirt he wore all the time to hide his heritage.

“What is there to talk about, when I was eleven the night my Grandfather Fire Lord Azulon died she disappeared. The next morning my father is crowned Fire Lord.” He swallowed the weight at the back of his throat, taking a shaky breath.

“…look, we all were just very tired and hungry. We all saw someone out there.”

“Oh and who did you see?”

Sokka looked away from his sister, “…I…thought I saw Yue and Suki. But I think about the North Pole and how much we’ve changed all the time! And you all saw family, people you all miss a lot.”

“What about my second vision, it was about a girl I never met!” Sokka didn’t seem to have an explanation, but before he could answer he was dragged back, seeing vines curl around his body. “SOKKA!” They rushed forwards, seeing a giant figure of vines with a wooden mask.

“Sokka!” He was held in one arm, trying to cut free but the vines were sucking him in.

“Let him go!” Zuko bent air through the vines, trying to push them away, but these vines were strong.

Aang tried blasting air to cut out Sokka, making the monster knock him away.

Katara bent water to cut the arms, but the vines moved Sokka to his chest, and the thing got its arms back, knocking her away.

Squinting he leapt up, “Zuko!”

Landing onto his head he made a tornado, Sokka now facing Katara.

“Sokka stay still!”

“OH BECAUSE THAT’S SO EASY WITH VINES UP MY-HEY!” Katara bend water to surround him, freezing it, then cut him out.

Zuko bent the ice to water and put him at a distance, landing behind him. “You OK?”

“Yeah…wait look!” Turning to where Katara was moving around the vines, cutting them at random where one slice removed his shoulder and revealed “There’s someone inside, bending the vines!”

Aang, finally returning, hit the vines with a full blast of wind, but they were holding strong. Zuko beside him, adding his own power to the winds.

That did it.

“Who are you!? Why did you call to me if you wanted us dead!?”

“Wait! I didn’t call you here.” The man inside the vines introduced himself as Hue, leading them to the centre of the swamp, to the Banyan tree.

They sat with him, listening as he told them about the swamp. About their visions, but something still troubled Zuko.

“But…after seeing someone I knew, I saw someone I didn’t. What does that mean?”

“You’re the Avatar, you tell me.”

“…” He recalled his words, time is an illusion and so is death. “…then that was someone I will know?” He bowed his head.

“Great, as nice as this meeting was I would like it a lot better if we could find Appa and Momo.”

“Wait…I think I know a way…” He planted a hand on the tree they sat on, feeling it’s bark. “…if everything is connected…” He felt it, traveling through the roots…Appa and Momo thrashing against something as he heard voices cheering. “We have to hurry!”

◊◊◊

Zuko, although not enjoying himself, ate the bugs.

Sokka was trying to defend what they saw as perfectly reasonable hallucinations brought by hunger and swamp gas. Saying this was a perfectly normal swamp.

“What about the people we saw?”

“Hunger! Look, I’m eating a giant bug!” Zuko cringed as he did, then thought of something.

“How about when I used the tree to locate Appa and Momo?”

He looked stumped, then held a hand up. “That’s Avatar Stuff, doesn’t count.” He rolled his eyes, “But what I don’t understand is how you made that giant tornado that took us down.” He turned to Hue, who seemed genuinely confused.

“I can’t do nothin' like that, I just bend the water in the vines.” The four looked at one another, wondering just what that tornado was before deciding to skip sleeping and fly instead.

Zuko crawled as far away from the flapping bridle as possible, “Someone else fly, I don’t trust myself.”

Sokka was the one who grabbed the worn leather, “I will, I know I won’t be getting any sleep tonight.” Nodding Zuko pulled out his blanket, curling up with it half tucked under him and over him. Katara was in her sleeping bag while Aang had nothing, when they were all asleep Sokka turned back, noticing Zuko’s scar was up, hair moving revealing where it cut into his hair-line, his ear flatter and smaller…

Turning back he didn’t move until it was morning, where Aang took over for him and they made it to a town to restock their supplies.

Chapter Text

Zuko woke up to Sokka screaming, sputtering as Zuko shot up. “Wha…?” Seeing him talk to Momo he chuckled, stretching and grabbed his hairbrush. His hair had grown so much, now to his shoulder blades once again. He got out all the knots and pulled it back before going to splash his face.

Then he dodged arrows.

“What!?” Sokka grabbed his club, Aang and Katara waking up.

“We are the Rough Rhinos and-!”

“You’re a singing group.” Zuko recalled, his uncle telling him. They were old friends of his, but the leader twitched. “As well as mercenaries.”

“…you look familiar boy.” Zuko turned to the leader, hair falling over his face still. “Hmm…”

“I keep well informed.” He then fired a small shot of flames at the archer, burning through the bow and ruining the string. Katara cut off the bladed ones saddle and hit the rhino, Sokka grabbed his boomerang and threw it at the polearm of one, cutting it clean through to his shock.

The leader, a fire bender, growled, so Aang shot him with a strong gust of wind, blasting him away. The rhinos were confused so Zuko gently petted one, “Wait here OK?”

“Leave or I’ll freeze you.” Katara threatened the archer and polearm guy, they did. “Come on, let’s get out of here.”

“Agreed.” Packing away they flew to the closest town, deciding to get some more food Katara looked at her purse. Giving the man some coins, where he studied them.

“Hey, this is Water Tribe money.”

“I hope that’s OK.” She smiled anxiously, but he looked at the blue coins fascinated and smiled.

“Money is money.” He packed up his stall, “Have a good Avatar Day!”

“Avatar Day?” Zuko turned, the man turning to them.

“You’re coming to the festival aren’t you?” The four looked at one another, then told Appa to lay low. Wearing a mask and hooded scarf Zuko kept behind the others, wearing green too.

The people in the cliffside village were standing at the main street to the town centre, free festival food of deep-fried dough filled with a sweet cream and jam mix being handed out. They took one each, Zuko removing the mask over his nose and mouth, but kept the fabric over his left eye which had meshed fabric for sight.

“Mhmm, delicious!” Sokka took another, Zuko biting into his and smiled.

Looking he saw a giant Kyoshi float.

“Woah, look at it!” The float was brought to the centre, “It’s incredible.”

“Must be nice having a holiday.” Aang nudged Zuko, who smiled bashfully. Then looked at the Roku float, they were so well done!

“Look…it’s blank…”

“But there isn’t any after it, not even a you.” The last one was paper white and had no features, just a blank body. Zuko frowned a bit, “I wonder why…”

“Maybe because there’s still plenty of confusion.” Then he spotted a man, shirtless, with long glistening hair carrying a torch.

“Woah, look at him.” As Sokka muttered about how manly he was Zuko found himself shamelessly staring at him, that was, until he cried out and ran through Kyoshi’s float.

The cheering turned to a chant, “DOWN WITH THE AVATAR!” They repeated the phrase, Sokka stepping closer to Zuko as the guy burned Roku, then went back.

He then threw the torch to the blank figure, hitting it’s left side, Zuko flinched then grabbed Katara’s arm. “Don’t.”

“But-” He pulled her further down the alleyway they were half hiding in so that no one overheard him.

“Listen, if they hate the Avatar then if I reveal myself…it won’t be pretty. Please, besides I’m a Fire Avatar. Really not good…” She looked so angry on his behalf, but after looking into his eyes she sighed then nodded with her shoulders slumped. “Let’s go, we have to make it to Ba Sing Se and find me an Earth Bending teacher.”

“Alright…if that’s what you want.” They left silently, flying away as smoke rose from the village.

◊◊◊

In a different town a few days later Zuko sighed as Katara and Aang were helping Sokka with his apparent dilemma, should he buy the bag?

As he stood just outside the shop, waiting for them in his Earth Kingdom green, mask hiding his scar and hair done in a half bun, someone came up to him. “Psst! Are you an Earth Bender? You like throwing rocks? Come check out Master Yu School of Earth Bending.” Being given a broacher Zuko looked at it, having a portrait of the man and words of praise.

Aang leaned on his arm, “Oh cool, first lesson is free!” Katara came up and smiled.

“Maybe Master Yu is the Earth Bending teacher we need.” Zuko seemed uncomfortable though.

“I’ll check it out for you Zuko, since we know how you learn best.”

“Thanks Aang.” Smiling they went to Yu’s school, Aang given a uniform and put into a class.

An hour later he came out, “He’s not the one.” He began hitting small rocks from his head as two boys came out of the school, talking loudly to one another.

“I heard the Boulder is going to make it to the Champion tonight in Earth Rumble Six!”

“To do that he’ll have to go through the toughest Earth benders in the kingdom to even get a chance!”

Aang ran up, “Excuse me, but where is this Earth Rumble you guys are talking about?”

The two, boys who looked around fourteen, looked at one another. “It’s at Noneya.”

“Noneya business!” Walking up Sokka was laughing, wiping at his eye.

“Oh, oh that’s a good one!” Katara elbowed her brother before holding Aang’s shoulder with a smile.

“Let me handle this.” She ran to where they were, “Hey big guys, wait up!”

Sokka turned to look at the bag, “I don’t need a new bag, why did you let me buy this!?” Zuko turned and raised an eyebrow.

“I didn’t, you did.” Zuko reminded him as he dropped the bag, Momo leapt into it, purring as he sat in it perfectly. He chuckled as Sokka picked up the bag and glared at the lemur.

“You guys ready, because we’re off to see Earth Rumble Six!”

“How’d you get it out of them?”

“Oh, a girl has her ways.” Chuckling Zuko recognised her tone, she probably froze them to a wall and kept them there.

◊◊◊

Making it to the tournament they got tickets, bought some snacks and drinks, then walked to the seats.

Aang lead them, “Hey, front row seats, why isn’t anyone taking them?” They sat themselves down, then Sokka pulled Zuko to him.

A massive boulder embedded itself just centimeters where Zuko was sitting. “Maybe that’s why!” Looking down a man was making the rocks shoot everywhere, lifting himself up then down.

They shifted along, making room for Zuko who was trying to ignore what just happened. “Welcome! To Earth Rumble Six! I am your host, Xin Fu!” Katara sighed, looking to the side as Aang sat patiently, Sokka ready for the fights and Zuko crossed his legs, leaning back.

“I’m about to watch big muscly guys throw rocks at one another aren’t I?”

“That’s what I paid for.” Sokka smiled, Zuko scoffed.

“You know what, Sokka lets swap seats. I want to be next to Aang too.” He didn’t complain, moving to sit next to the giant boulder, Zuko sat back down next to Aang and resumed his posture. Recalling watching ceremonial Agni Kai’s as a child and other trained battles, this was no different.

“Well, hopefully we find someone who can be your Master.”

“That’s what I paid for.”

Chapter Text

Zuko watched as the Boulder took out the Hippo, “What about the Boulder, he has some good moves.” Katara spoke as there was cheering and screams, the Boulder soaked in the sound and seemed to relish in it.

“Bumi said listen to the Earth, he listens to his muscles. What about you Sokka?” But Sokka was cheering like everyone else, “Of course.”

“Next up, FIRE NATION MAN!” Seeing a portly man walk towards the stage, with scavenged armour, a stolen banner flag and hair done in a topknot, Zuko groaned behind his hand. Hearing boos, Sokka about to join them before stopping.

“No no, go ahead. Remind me I am the prince of a fucked-up nation.” Katara gasped, covering Aang’s ears but he was confused.

“Katara I’ve heard worse.”

“Everyone please rise, for Fire Nation National Anthem.” He then raised his head, “Fire Lord, my flame burns for thee~” He got on a knee, Zuko actually threw a rock at him. He was singing in the wrong key and the wrong melody. His rock got him in the head, making him smirk.

“Nice throw! Is that actually-?”

“‘Oh, Fire Lord, my flame burns for thee. The strength of our country may you always shine brightly. Oh, Fire Lord. For you, we will fight, to always do what's right and bathe the world in light. Oh, Fire Lord we each have much to give, freedom's nectar in a sieve. Our forebears died so we might live. Oh, Fire Lord, It is our destiny to be all we can be all in service to thee, Our Fire Lord.’” He didn't bother actually singing it, just rushed the words and made sure to spoke low.

“Wow, I wasn’t expecting that.”

“Yeah probably because we don’t stay all that close to many patrols or hear them sing it.” He clapped as the defeated fighter was taken away, “Now let’s just watch.” They did, Sokka going full fanboy for the Boulder. But after countless fights, finally the one that brought them.

“And now, the moment you’ve all been waiting for; The Boulder vs our reigning champion- THE BLIND BANDIT!”

It was a girl, looking barely older then Aang. Her hair in a simple updo with a green headpiece at the base. She wore green and tan clothes, holding her belt high above her head.

“She can’t really be blind, just part of her character right?”

“I think she really is.”

“I think she is going down!” Zuko rolled his eyes as the two fighters spoke.

“The Boulder feels conflicted about fighting a young blind girl!”

“Sounds to me like you’re scared Boulder!” She shouted back, smirking.

The man’s tenseness disappeared immediately, “The Boulder is over his conflicted feelings and is ready to bury her in a rock-alanche!”

She pointed to him, “Whenever you’re ready, The Pebble.” She then laughed, that laugh…

It was her, she was the girl in a white dress with a flying boar.

“It’s on!” The Boulder was tense, then roared as he raised his foot. The girl waited, then kicked her foot into the earth, it matched to where he was, making him slip around and to the splits.

He screamed like a little girl.

She then made a sharp jab, making three columns hit his back, slamming him out of the ring.

“Woah! How did she do that!?”

“She waited…and listened!” Aang saw it in Zuko’s eyes, she was the girl in his vision.

“Well, we’ve found your Earth Bending teacher!” Xin Fu then came down, offering a thousand gold pieces to whoever defeats the Blind Bandit.

Aang leapt down, “I’ll do it!”

“Does anyone want to see two little girls fighting down here?” The crowd oohed, but Aang held up his hands.

“I don’t want to fight you, I want to talk to you.”

Zuko pinched Sokka before he spoke, “Hey!”

“Have you even been paying attention?”

“Er…” Zuko rolled his eyes, “What?”

Aang leapt away from a boulder, “What’s your fighting name, the Fancy Dancer?” He shrugged, then leapt over her head and around. “…now where are…?”

“Please, I just wanna talk!” Aang shouted as he landed, directly behind her.

“There you are.” She turned sharply, making another boulder. But Aang bent it and her out of the arena, shocking everyone as he used air bending, which was impossible to see.

Zuko ran down, spotting her. “Wait!”

“Leave me alone.”

“That wasn’t a fair fight, he’s an air bender, please. Can we talk?”

“No, leave me alone.” She didn’t listen to him, entering the wall and slammed it, Aang came down.

“…I think you hurt her pride.”

“…I did air bend her out, if she really is blind she wouldn’t of seen it. Did you tell her?”

“She didn’t listen to me.” He sighed, going up Aang hung his head.

Sokka got the belt and money, “Way to go champ!” But Aang looked even more ashamed, sighing.

◊◊◊

The next day they were walking through town, Sokka wearing the belt which he happily discovered to match his new bag. “If we’re going to get anywhere, better start here.” Aang walked them into Yu’s school.

The two boys where practicing, pushing hands into some gravel.

“Oh, it’s you.”

Katara moved sharply, making them scream and leap away.

“Yeah, us.”

“We just have a few questions.” Zuko removed his hood, the guys turned to him instead of Aang. “Who’s the Blind Bandit?”

“No one knows, she shows up just for the fight, then disappears.”

“If your lying-”

Katara came closer, the boys holding their hands up as one hid behind the other. “It’s the truth we’re telling you, no one knows who she really is!”

Zuko sighed, “That’s because we’re asking the wrong question.” They turned back to him, “We’re looking for a girl, she’s connected to a Flying Boar. Does that ring a bell?”

One spoke, “Well…the Beifong family crest is a flying boar, they live out of town. They’re the richest family around, probably in the world.”

“But they don’t have a daughter!”

“Good enough for me, that’s where we’ll start.” Zuko took off first, Aang following as Katara and Sokka followed them.

“Zuko, how can you be certain the Blind Bandit is the girl-?”

“Her laugh, it’s identical.” He told them, climbing up Appa’s side and rubbed his fur. “Besides, if she can beat all those other Earth Benders, she’s better than them.” Sokka nodded slowly, Aang flying them to where they spotted a large estate.

Seeing the crest on the front gate Zuko lit up, “That’s the flying boar from my vision! Come on.”

Katara took his arm, “Wait, shouldn’t we talk to her parents first-?”

“No, she probably sneaks out to matches. I know I snuck out a lot as a kid.” They all snuck in, while Zuko was on a building roof Aang, Katara and Sokka were on the ground.

Then they flew up onto bushes.

“What are you doing here, Twinkle Toes?” Aang gasped, seeing her. Zuko landed behind her gently, helping Katara up.

“How’d you know it was me?”

“Don’t answer to Twinkle Toes, it’s not manly.”

“Says the guy who’s bag matches his belt.” Katara smirked, helping her brother.

“And where did you come from!?” She pointed to Zuko, he blinked then realised what he had occasionally been doing, feeling the earth to sense his surrounding, she was doing it constantly and way better then him.

“Wooden roof.”

“Of course.” She muttered, “But what are you doing here?” Aang floated upright, explaining before Zuko cut him off when seeing her get more irritated.

“Aang…what he’s trying to say is I’m the Avatar, and I need to learn Earth Bending before the end of the summer to defeat the Fire Lord and the spirits have chosen you to be my Earth Bending teacher.”

“Not interested, not my problem. Now, get out of here before I call the guards.” As Toph walked away Sokka stepped to her.

“Come on, we all have a part to play in this war and yours is to teach Zuko Earth Bending.”

The girl stopped, then turned with a perfect panicked expression. “Guards! Guards help!” They ran away, hiding on the wooden roof as guards came running, she flicked the two short strands of hair from her face.

“Toph, Toph what’s wrong?” She curled up, seeming smaller.

“I-I thought I heard something, I got scared.”

“You know your parents don’t want you walking around without supervision Toph.” Zuko hid, then sighed.

“Well, we tried without getting parents involved…good thing I know my manners.”