A few days later...
Zuko POV
Father had sent my sister, her friends, and I on a vacation to Ember Island. Really, he just wanted us out of the house. Either way, I felt betrayed. I feel like a child.
"Doesn't your family have a house on Ember Island?" Ty Lee asked Azula, all happy-go-lucky.
"We used to come every summer when we were kids," she explained and I grumbled.
"That was a long time ago," I mumbled. I remember those summers. I remember Uncle and Y/n coming with us too, and being better company than my sister and my father.
And now they're both gone, and I'm going back to the island without them...
Y/n POV
The Gaang was taking a respite from the traveling, stopping at a lake surrounded by mountain formations. I was sitting on a rock next to Toph, Katara and Aang were in the water, and Sokka was fishing. Fishing without a shirt on.
"Aang, I know swimming is fun and all, but do you really think you should be exposing yourself like that? Cover up," Toph said and I noticed Aang's tattoos were pretty out in the open.
"There are walls all around us. It's completely safe," Katara said. It became a little less safe when Aang went down a waterfall tunnel. He came back a few moments later and before he could go down again I froze the entrance to the tunnel. He ran right into it and then turned and glared at me.
"Y/n, what was that for?" He whined. I bent water around him and plopped him on the shoreline.
"This little lake has walls, but I know for sure that wherever that waterfall came out did not. Can't risk your secret getting out," I explained and he groaned but agreed I was right. I heard a gasp and looked over at Sokka who was jumping for joy.
"Guys, I caught a giant dinner!" He said excitedly and he held up a large fish.
"Good work Sokka, let's get this thing cooking," Katara said and Toph made an earth pot and Katara bent water into it. I went over and lit some sticks on fire, making us a makeshift stove.
Sokka cut up the fish and we made a stew and flame broiled the rest. We sat around the campfire and ate, telling jokes and funny stories.
Soon the sun had set and everyone went to sleep. Everyone but me. I took my dagger from my stuff and went to sit a little away from the others. When I was first presented with it, I didn't see the small inscription on the hilt. But when I noticed it, I couldn't stop thinking about it.
Y/n
With the Will of Fire
and the Resistance of the Sea.
I felt my heart swell. Even though my parents hid my heritage from me, they still found ways to let me embrace both halves of me. My father must've known I'd be found out one day, and maybe he thought this blade could help protect me. I couldn't stop the single tear that fell down onto the blade.
"Can't sleep?" A voice said from behind me. I wiped my face quickly and turned to see Sokka, and shook my head.
"No. How about you?" I asked. He shrugged and sat down next to me.
"I was just kinda thinking about the future. The invasion, the aftermath of the war, seeing my dad aga- Sorry, I shouldn't have said that," he backtracked. I laughed dryly.
"No, it's ok. It's a good thing to miss your dad. Couldn't be me, I think I've been repressing my feelings this whole time. For the longest time, I thought my father was dead. But when I found out he was alive and looking for me, all the pain of the loss of the life I once had started crashing down," I confessed.
"Then why haven't you said anything? I always wonder why you never express anything other than a concern for others or happiness. You always have this mask on of being a hundred percent ok all the time," he said and I couldn't hold it in. I hid my face in my knees as tears streamed down it.
"I know I'm not the center of the universe. That's a Fire Nation attribute I thankfully never picked up. How can I wish for my old life when it was filled with ignorance? After seeing the world and how it's been affected by the Fire Nation and the war, I just can't bring myself to prioritize my Fire Nation problems over those of the whole world," I said quietly in between sobs. I felt arms encircle me and I instinctively leaned into them. Sokka's hugging me...
"Y/n, your problems aren't Fire Nation problems. You aren't the Fire Nation, and you were a little kid when everything was going on. You were a little kid who lost her mother and father and grew up alone, not knowing where she belonged. You're allowed to feel and address these things that bother you. You care too much and work too hard for everyone around you to not be entitled to that," he told me.
But can all the good I've tried to do cover the bad that has been done?
I leaned away from him and looked him in his blue eyes. I don't know what I was looking for: a facial twitch that told me he was lying or clouded eyes that revealed he was being disingenuous. But all I saw was sincerity. I don't know why I thought otherwise, he's always sincere. I like that about him.
"Sokka," I whispered and I felt the space between us get smaller. I think...
"Guys look out!" Aang yelled and Sokka and I jumped apart as an explosion destroyed the place where we just were.
What the flameo is happening?
Zuko POV
I walked to our old house on Ember Island, remembering all the better memories I had. Y/n used to always beat me when Lu Ten judged our sand castles.
I came across a painting of my family. My father looked as stern as ever, and my mother looked like the most gentle soul. I found the clay hand print that she had made with me when I was a baby, and I sat with it, overthinking yet not thinking at all.
"I thought I'd find you here," Azula said, shocking me out of my reverie.
"Those summers we spent here seem so long ago. So much has changed," I said, but I wasn't really talking to her.
"Come down to the beach with me. Come on this place is depressing," she said and I got up and followed her. Mai and Ty Lee where there already, and I set up a fire to make us more comfortable. I made it with things from the beach house.
Plenty of things that need to be burnt...
Y/n POV
We were all hiding behind a rock as our assailant kept shooting fiery explosions at us with nothing but his mind.
"This is crazy! How can we beat a guy who blows things up with his mind?" Sokka yelled. Aang crawled out from our hiding spot.
"We can. Jump on Appa. I'll try to distract him," he instructed and we all followed. Sokka took Appa's reigns and I helped Toph into the saddle. Katara set up a mist screen to hide us as we flew away.
We followed Aang in the air and when he was launched into the air by an explosion, we were able to catch him in the saddle.
"Well, that was random," Toph said, titling her head down over the saddle at the ground. I shook my head, the adrenaline wearing off
"I doubt it. That guy probably knows who we are," I said. Sokka spoke up from the driver's seat.
"Well, all we can do know is put some distance between us, and hope he doesn't find us again."
Zuko POV
I had called Ty Lee a circus freak and that opened up the flood gates for the life story sharing. Ty Lee explained her identity crisis, Mai explained why she was so unfeeling and quiet, and I learned the true reason I was so angry.
"I'm angry at myself!!" I yelled.
"Why?" Azula asked me.
"Because I'm confused. Because I'm not sure I know the difference between right and wrong anymore," I confessed and I knew that at least what I was saying was true.
Uncle told me I had come to a crossroads in Ba Sing Se. Did I make the wrong choice? Y/n told me to follow my heart. Did I truly do that?
If I had gone with Uncle, helped Y/n and the Avatar take down my sister and then my father, would I have been any happier?
Is it too late to go back to the crossroads, and choose a different path?
Y/n POV
We finally landed after what felt like hours. Everyone hopped off of Appa and started setting up the bare minimum to go to sleep. I did the same, feeling physically and emotionally drained. Before I could go off to find a soft spot on the ground, someone grabbed my hand. I turned and saw that it was Sokka.
"Y/n, I meant what I said earlier. I get if you don't wanna jump head first into the deep stuff, but you should know that you always have the right to. And I'll always be around if you want a jumping partner," he said, his face serious but again, sincere. I nodded and gave him a small smile.
"Thank you, Sokka. I'm really lucky to have you in my life," I told him, matching his sincerity. His face cracked into a smile and then we went to find our bed spots and go to sleep.
A few days later...
Sokka POV
Team Avatar traveled to Roku's island, as Aang had received a message to report there for a history lesson. At first we thought it was vacant, but Toph informed us that there was an entire city, buried underneath the ground. I looked around and noticed the mountain peak, realizing what must've happened. A volcano wiped them all out...
We moved towards a cliff and Aang set up there. Katara, Y/n, Toph and I stood around waiting while Aang meditated and somehow communed with Avatar Roku.
The whole day passed before Aang opened his eyes. He explained everything he had seen and waited for the inevitable questions.
"You mean, after all Roku and Sozin went through together, even after Roku showed him mercy, Sozin betrayed him like that?" Katara asked and Aang nodded.
"It's like these people are born bad," Toph said and I noticed Y/n bite her lip nervously.
"No, that's wrong. I don't think that was the point of what Roku showed me at all," Aang said.
"Then what was the point?" I asked, still not completely getting it.
"Roku was just as much Fire Nation as Sozin was, right? If anything, their story proves anyone's capable of great good and great evil. We even have a live example of that," Aang said gesturing to Y/n. She noticed all of us looking at her and looked away embarrassed.
"So the lesson was?" She asked, prompting Aang to continue so she didn't have to be the center of attention anymore.
"Everyone, even the Fire Lord and Fire Nation, have to be treated like they're worth giving a chance. And I also think it was about friendships," Aang said confidently. Toph spoke up softly.
"Do you really think friendships can last more than one lifetime?" She asked. Aang smiled and grabbed her hand.
"I don't see why not," he replied. Toph took Katara's hand and Katara took Y/n's. They all looked at me.
"Well, scientifically speaking, there's no way to prove that-" I was cut off by Katara.
"Oh Sokka, just hold hands," she commanded. I grabbed Y/n's hand gently, smirking at her discreetly. She gasped and then smiled.
We all watched the sunset together while holding hands, beginning to believe that friendship would be the real secret weapon to put an end to this war.
To be continued...
~|~
Thanks for reading 💙💙