Dear Zuko,
We left Ba Sing Se. It's no longer safe here since the Dai Li has overrun the kingdom and is against Aang. I'm not sure where we're going, but once I find out, I'll let you know.
Iroh told me you had a date, I hope you guys had fun. Katara had also told me you helped save Appa. Well, she didn't know it was you since your disguise. But she was grateful for it. She then told me that when they were fighting Azula, you had picked her side. I thought you wanted to join us. You can't play both sides, one will eventually catch on.
From, (Y/n)
I finished writing the note and folded it neatly and went to work. "Good morning, Iroh." I said as I walked inside. He smiled and welcomed me in as he returned the good morning. "I just came by to give you a message." I said a little sad, not knowing when the next time I could see them is. "What is it?" He asked curious, pulling a seat out for the both of us. "I need you to give this to Zuko." I spoke as I sat down. He took the note from my hand and nodded as he sat down.
"It says that I'm leaving Ba Sing Se. It isn't safe here for us anymore."
"Where will you go?"
"I'm not sure..."
꧁𝚃𝚒𝚖𝚎𝚂𝚔𝚒𝚙꧂
We're on our way to the fire nation, a very daring thing to do but we're desperate. We need a place to hide while Aang is like this and we need to find a fire-bending teacher. He's been getting better at controlling the small flame I make him do but he's so nervous about doing anything else.
I was the one in charge of steering Appa since I know the place better and because Sokka wanted to sleep. And Katara is too busy healing Aang in hopes it'll wake him up. I kept us way above the clouds so we wouldn't be seen by the ships as we passed onto their waters. Once we made it in the fire nation I lowered us in the clouds until we reached the mainland.
I found a cave far away from the city outside of the kingdom. "What are we? Cavemen?" Sokka groaned looking at the cave. "It's so we're not found you idiot." Toph said as she smacked him and then walked into the cave. It was dark out so I gathered some firewood as everyone was setting their things up. I then shot a fireball at the pile of sticks and created our fire. Appa then started to freak out and we all tried calming him down.
It wasn't working so I put the fire out with water and that made him calm down. "Since when is scared of fire?" I asked. "It must've happened when he was lost. Whatever happened included fire." Katara explained as she fed him some melons and berries. He ate them and she scratched his forehead calming him down more. "Well, now how are we staying warm?" Sokka whined.
"Find out yourselves, I'm good in my rock tent." Toph said as she made her tent and crawled in.
"We could do what we would do in snow storms." Katara suggested.
"And what's that?" I raised an eyebrow.
I mentally groaned as we three lay together on Appa keeping us warm. I used my heat breath, a trick Iroh showed me for cold places. I eventually went to sleep.
꧁𝚃𝚒𝚖𝚎𝚂𝚔𝚒𝚙꧂
The next day we woke up early, I got up and fed Momo and Appa then moved our firewood pile further away from Appa. "Maybe if we have the fire further away from him, he won't freak out as much." I spoke to myself as the firewood was now on the other side of the cave. "Maybe." Sokka shrugged as he walked by. I walked up to Katara who was trying to get Aang to wake up.
Katara used her healing water on his chest over his heart. She focused on it as I watched his breathing. It was becoming more steady and less faint, it was working. Aang's eyes slowly opened as he groaned slowly reaching to touch his forehead. "You're awake!" Katara yelled happily as she hugged him tightly. She seemed like she was about to cry.
I gave them their private moment and left to tell Sokka and Toph the great news. "Sokka! Toph! Aang woke up!" I said happily as I jogged up to the two. They both stood up shocked then quickly switched to excitement, Toph trying to remain cool about it. We three went up to Katara and Aang.
"Where am I? What happened?" Aang asked as he tried sitting up.
"We're in a cave, in the fire nation. Azula hit you with a lightning bolt and you almost died. Katara saved you with the spirit water." Toph explained as if it was no big deal.
"Why are we in the fire nation?"
"No one would suspect us to come here, and you still need a proper fire teacher." Sokka said.
"Speaking of which, we need to go get new clothes for a disguise." I interrupted.
We snuck over to the closet house we found that had clothes outside drying. We all quickly grabbed clothes and ran back to the cave. Once we were changed into our clothes I did Toph and Katara's hair so they were fire nation styles. I looked at Aang and saw his outfit with his headband. "Why did you pick a school uniform?" I asked looking at him confused.
"I did? I didn't notice." He smiled nervously.
"He should go to school, it'll be a good way for us to see how the fire nation works." Sokka suggested.
"Uh hello? Walking fire nation guidebook here?" I motioned to myself.
"I think school would be fun." Aang spoke.
"All right let's get him into school." Katara smiled.
꧁𝚃𝚒𝚖𝚎𝚂𝚔𝚒𝚙꧂
Aang is now in school and promised he won't blow our cover, Sokka is getting sword combat lessons from a sword master, and Toph is scamming scammers. I found a pond near our cave that had turtle ducks, I sat on a log near the pond and threw bread crumbs to the ducks. They swam over and happily ate the bread pieces.
꧁𝙵𝚕𝚊𝚜𝚑𝙱𝚊𝚌𝚔꧂
"Zuko aren't you giving them too much bread?" I asked worried.
We were feeding the turtle ducks in his courtyard as our fathers were in a meeting. "But they like it." He said as fed them more bread. They were noticeably full since they were eating much slower. Some have stopped eating completely. I took the bread from him and ate the last of it.
"Hey, what was that for!?"
"They're full, it's obvious!"
I looked back at the turtle ducks as they swam around cheerfully. They've always been my favorite animal. "(Y/n)?" Zuko called my name gently touching my shoulder. I hum in response as I still watch them swim around enjoying the water. Oh, how I wish I could do the same. "Are you ok?" He asked me. "Yeah, I'm just thinking about life." I mumbled, but it was loud enough for him to hear.
"Like what?" He asked more curious.
"Mostly the future. I don't want to be alone." I looked at him with a nervous look.
"You won't be alone, you have me." He smiled big.
"Yeah until you're busy doing royalty stuff." I rolled my eyes.
"Then... what if we get married so we can be busy together?" He asked innocently.
꧁𝙴𝚗𝚍 𝙵𝚕𝚊𝚜𝚑𝙱𝚊𝚌𝚔꧂
"(Y/nnn)? Helloooo?"
I was snapped out of my memory and saw Katara trying to get my attention. Her face was close to mine as she waved her hand in front of my face. "Huh? Oh, sorry Katara. I was lost in thought." I gave the last bits of bread to the patiently waiting turtle ducks. "What were you thinking about?" She asked as she sat next to me.
"A lot of things really. I'm mostly trying to plan out my life after the war. For both possibilities."
"Both possibilities?"
"Yeah, if Aang wins or loses. I need a plan for both."
"Aang won't lose, I know he won't."
"It's just precaution." I shrugged.
"So what's your plan?"
"That...I'm not sure of."
"Why's that?"
"Well, if he wins..where will I live? Do I go back to the fire nation and be alone, do I go back to the Northern Water Tribe and be alone? Or do I go to the Southern water tribe and be with my family?"
"I think you should do what your heart tells you to do."
"Aang said the same thing. But right now, my heart wants something it knows it can't have."
"And what's that?"
"Zuko to join our group, teach Aang fire bending, and help us against his sister and father." I nervously spoke.
She looked at me for a minute with an angry expression that would falter every once in a while. She was deep in thought. "If you can get everyone else to agree then I'll try to be nice to him. I can't guarantee it but I'll try. For Aang and for you." A huge smile was plastered across my face as I brought her into a tight hug. "You're the best little sister ever! Thank you!" She hugged me back and mumbled.
"He better not hurt you."
29 May
Dear Journal,
Today we left Ba Sing Se, once the Dai Li had officially taken over the kingdom it was longer safe for us to stay. Azula had found us once again and while I was sleeping due to overworking myself at the tea shop the rest of the group fought her. She had hit Aang with her lightning bending and put him into a coma.
Everyone thinks the avatar is dead. And for a while, we did too...
I took us into hiding in the fire nation, a risky yet sneaky move. Katara has been using the spirit water every day to try to heal and wake up Aang. Yesterday he had woken up so we celebrated and got fire nation clothes to disguise everyone.
We put Aang into a school once he had promised to not blow our cover. This was mostly a decision he's made but we all agreed because it helps us blend in more. Sokka felt like he wasn't contributing to the group as much anymore so he took on swordsmanship lessons from a sword master.
And for the great news of the day, Katara agreed to let Zuko teach Aang fire bending. Under one condition, he doesn't hurt anybody. I'm not sure what changed her mind or why she's allowing this to happen. But I don't want to question it just in case she takes it back.
I hope everything works out.