AFTER OUR LOSS OF THE INVASION , Hakoda thought it was the best for team avatar to go into hiding. Even though most of his soldiers were going to be prisoners, he had hope that this battle would end soon
Majority of the youngest in the group came along with us, as most of them had known Aang during his journey
I could tell Aang was pretty distraught that we lost the battle, I felt for him really, being the Avatar wasn't so easy
We had been walking our way to the western air temple, Appa wasn't a good transportation choice anymore since the fire nation could track us down
"This is humiliating," Katara says tiredly
Sokka turns to her, "you mean getting thoroughly spanked by the fire nation or having to walk all the way to the air temple?"
"Both."
"Sorry guys," Aang said, "but Appa gets tired of carrying all these people."
"wait i thought we were walking so the fire nation wouldnt track us down?" i question
"yeah, thats another reason." aang asnwered
"I wonder how the rest of the troops are." The kid named Teo asked aloud
"They're probably on their way to a prison. Seems like my dad just got out and he's going back in." Haru said, looking downcast
"I miss pipsqueak." The duke sighed, suddenly I was reminded of Jet. I didn't get to know him for long but he seemed like a good person.
Although katara had told me about what Jet did to them, and it's kind of understandable. He just had a lot of anger towards the fire nation for what they did to his parents
That could have been what I could have turned out if it wasn't for team avatar
"I miss not having blisters on my feet." Sokka complained when Toph stomped her foot down
"Hey! We are here! I can feel it!" She announced
I looked around at the barren surroundings in confusion, "uhm Toph? Not sure exactly what you're seeing... or feeling? But I see absolutely nothing."
"No, she's right! We are here!" Aang said in relief
"Wow! It's amazing!" Toph exclaims, still wasn't sure what they were referring too
Aang noticed my confusion, " it's underground, you'll see in a bit."
We had gotten Appa to take us down where the southern temple was, Aang was right. The whole thing was upside down
I've read and studied about the air temples, back in the palace. Never thought I'd get to see it in person
Yue would be proud
Katara made us have a little team avatar meeting, Aang wasn't too excited about it since he wanted to explore the temple along with Haru and Teo
"We need to decide what we're gonna do now, and since you're the avatar, maybe you should be apart of this." Katara explained
Aang sat down with a frown on his face and crossed his arms, "fair enough, so what's the new plan?"
"The old plan is the new plan! You just need to master all four elements and confront the fire lord before the comet comes." Sokka answered
"Oh, yeah! That's great no problem. I'll just do that." Aang said sarcastically
I laugh, " you're funny when you're mad."
"Aang, no one said it was going to be easy." Katara spoke gently
"It's not even going to be possible! Where am I supposed to get a fire bending teacher?" Aang burst out
"We could look for Jeong Jeong." Katara suggested
"Ohh that one guy that made Aang burn your hands? Is that why I've never seen him use fire at all?" I interjected
"Yes but, it's crucial for him to know. Especially in these times."
"Like we'll ever run into him." Aang spoke frustratingly
"Too bad no one here is a fire bender." I say
"Oh well, guess we can't come up with anyone. Why don't we just take a nice tour around the temple?" Aang feigned disappointment before he got up and flew off with Momo
"What's up with him?" Toph asked
I shrug, " katara ticked the poor boy off."
She groans, " I was only trying to help, but he's over here avoiding the situation."
Sokka thought for a moment. "There's gotta be someone that can teach him firebending."
Katara stood up, " we have to talk to Aang about this, we can't keep holding it off."
"Oh cmon katara, let him be. Hasn't he had enough stress going on?" I tell her, after the invasion it's only fair Aang gets a tad bit of rest
She sighs, " I still think it's important to address this, I'm going to talk to him."
She walks up to Appa and jumps up to sit on the saddle as she grabs the reigns
"I better go too," Sokka said as he walks towards appa, he turns to look at me motioning to tag along with them
"Ugh, fine! But I'm telling you now he's not going to listen."
We rode on Appa trying to talk to Aang into fire bending, or atleast to try. He was too busy flying with his glider. I wanted to tell Katara to just let him be for now, this was his way of distracting himself from all the turmoil of being the avatar
But things quickly changed once we saw him
"Hello, Zuko here." He raised his arm in greeting, I couldn't believe my eyes. As soon as my eyes saw him standing there, I didn't hesitate to lower my knees and raise my fist. The others were also in there fighting stance
"Hey, I heard you guys flying around here so, I'd thought I'd just wait for you." He explained before Appa proceeded to lick him twice
"I know you must be surprised to see me."
"Not really since you've followed us all over the world." Sokka seethed, narrowing his eyes at him
"Right, well, uh," Zuko hesitated nervously, "anyways, what I wanted to tell you about is that I've changed, and, I..uh.. I'm good now. And well.. I think I should join your group."
"Oh," he turned to face Aang, " and I can teach you fire bending."
"Oh please, like I haven't heard that before." I snap, " you have serious bipolar issues man."
Zuko turned to me, with the same sincere look in his eyes. Just like the one back in bah sing se, this time it wasn't going to work on me
Fucking hypocrite
Maybe he realized what a jerk move it was that he pulled in bah sing se, it's too late now to redeem himself
Zuko was about to say something to me before Toph interrupted
"You want to what now?"
"How can we trust you?" Katara asked, looking at the prince angrily as she crossed her arms, "how stupid do you think we are?"
"All you've ever done is hunt us down and try to capture Aang!" Sokka added
"I've done some good things!" Zuko defended, "I mean I could've stole your bison in bah sing se, but I set him free! That's something!"
Appa turned to lick the fire nation prince once more
He set Appa free? Why?
"Appa does seem to like him." Toph admitted
"He probably covered himself in honey so that Appa would lick him." Sokka looked at Zuko doubtfully
"I can understand why you don't trust me, and I know I've made some mistakes In the past." Zuko explained
"Like when you attacked our village?" Sokka asked
"Or when you stole my mother's necklace and used it to track us down?" Katara questioned
I didn't even know Zuko did that
" better yet, why don't we just list down every reason not to trust you? Just so you can get a better understanding." I say, glaring at Zuko
"Look I admit, I've done some awful things. I was wrong to try and capture you, and I'm sorry that I attacked the water tribe." Zuko says, " and I never should have sent that assassin after you—
"Wait, you sent combustión man after us?" Sokka accused as he pulled out his boomerang
"That's not his name, but—
"Oh sorry," Sokka replied sarcastically, "I didn't mean to insult your friend."
"He's not my friend!" Zuko fired back
"That guy locked us in jail! And tried to blow us all up!" Toph yelled out
"Why aren't you saying anything?" Zuko turned to Aang, "you said you thought we could be friends?"
He looked up making eye contact with me
"You know I have good in me."
I looked away to avoid his gaze
I really did try to see the good in him, but now I wasn't so sure
"There's no way we can trust you after everything you've done." Aang spoke up, " well never let you join us."
"You need to get out of here. Now." Katara warned
"I'm trying to explain that I'm not that person anymore!" Zuko attempted to argue
"Either you leave, or we attack." Sokka threatened
A part of me wanted to believe him, more than anything in the world, but another part of me just couldn't
The light in his eyes were so genuine, but still doubt crept in my mind like a weed