Chapter 61

Episode 18, Sozin's Comet: Part 1: The Phoenix King

Aang immediately continued training with Zuko and Katara and me watched them.

"There's one technique you need to know before facing my father," Zuko said and stood opposite of him. "How to redirect lightning."

My face lit up and I sat up staighter immediately. I wanted to learn that as well since I had seen Iroh use it one time.

Zuko stretched out one hand, his index and middle finger pointing at the sky. "If you let the energy in your body flow, the lightning will follow." He used his other hand, also his index and middle finger, and put it on the wrist of the stretched out arm. He moved his fingers down his arm, over his stomach and then stretched his arm out. "You turn your opponent's energy against them." He repeated his movemet with his other arm.

While watching him, I did the same movements as Zuko.

"That's like waterbending!" Aang's eyes widened and he smiled.

Zuko briefly nodded. "Exactly. My uncle invented this technique himself by studying waterbenders."

Aang followed Zuko's moves as well. "So, have you ever redirected lightning before?"

"Once, against my father."

Jumping up, I pointed at myself. "Let me try as well." Zuko whipped his head in my direction as I walked up to them. "Hit me with some lightning."

"What? No!" Zuko exclaimed and shook his head.

"Aww come on, I can do it. I'm ready." I pouted slightly and Zuko and Aang looked at me like I lost my mind.

"Are you crazy?! Sit back down, idiot," Zuko said and turned away from me. I pouted and sat down beside Katara with a huff.

"What did it feel like when you redirected it?" Aang asked when they got back to repeating the movements.

"Exhilarating." Zuko stopped and looked at Aang who did the same. "But terrifying." Aang's excited face fell. "You feel so powerful holding that much energy in your body. But you know if you make the wrong move... it's over."

I tensed and Aang let out an unsure chuckle. "Well, not over over, I mean... there's always Katara's spirit water action. Am I right?" He looked over to us with a hopeful expression.

"Actually, I used it all up after Azula shot you," she admitted and Aang's shoulders dropped.

"You'll have to take the Fire Lord's life before he takes yours." Aang looked terrified by Zuko's statement and looked away.

The thought of killing someone was just too horrifying for the poor kid. He couldn't hurt a fly and besides, it was against his morals. To be honest I don't think he would be able to do it, even after all the training he went through.

In order to prepare ourselves for the upcoming fight, Sokka made a training plan for us.

We had to fight the Melon Lord, who was Toph. Basically she had to shoot us with burning rocks to prevent us from getting to the Melon Lord which was just a figure made out of sticks and a melon as a head.

Everything went well and we distracted Toph until Aang managed to come out of hiding. However, when he landed right before the Melon Lord, he couldn't give him the final blow and stopped.

"What are you waiting for? Take him out!" Zuko exclaimed but Aang only lowered his head.

"I can't." He shook his head and I bit my lip. The poor guy had too much responsibility for a kid.

Sokka let out a huff and walked up the hill to Aang. "What's wrong with you?" He pointed a finger in Aang's face with knitted eyebrows. "If this was the real deal, you'd be shot full of lightning right now."

"I'm sorry, but it just didn't feel right," Aang admitted and lowered his voice. "I didn't feel like myself."

Sokka's expression stayed hard and without breaking eye contact with Aang he pulled out his sword and cut Melon Lord's head in half. Aang visibly flinched and closed his eyes. "There, that's how it's done."

Kiddo's eyes widened as a look of terror covered his face.

"I think that's enough for today," I quickly said and walked up to Aang whose eyes were glued on the cut melon on the ground. Sokka opened his mouth but when I shot him a glare, he closed it again right away.

It was time for dinner and all of us were sitting outside while eating. Aang, however, was sitting on his own a few metres away from us.

I considered sitting down beside him, but Katara joined us with some kind of rolled-up paper in her hand. "I have a surprise for everyone!"

Toph smirked and stopped eating just like the rest of us. "I knew it! You did have a secret thing with Haru."

Everyone just stared at the blind girl and Zuko beside me tensed when the name left her mouth.

Katara knitted her eyebrows and slowly answered. "No."

Toph immediately went back to eating and I slighly kicked her shin and chuckled. "Next time tell me about your ship as well," I whispered and she briefly smirked and nodded.

"I was looking for cooking pots in the attic and I found this." Katara opened the paper and it showed a baby with its hands in the air, running and laughing. "Look at baby Zuko. Isn't he cute?" Katara cooed.

"Aww, he is," I cooed as well and turned to Zuko beside me and pinched his cheek.

The others laughed and Zuko pressed his lips together as the tip of his ears turned pink.

"Oh lighten up, we're just teasing you," Katara said as I let go of his cheek and smiled.

"That's not me," Zuko said a serious look on his face.

"You're still cute," I said with a smile while heat rose to my cheeks. I can't believe I said that.

He briefly glanced at me before eying the picture. "That's my father."

My face immediately fell and Katara quickly rolled it up.

"But he looks so sweet and innocent," Suki mumbled.

"Well that sweet little kid grew up to be a monster, and the worst father in history of all fathers."

"But he's still a human being." Aang spoke up for the first time since the Melon Lord incident but sill stayed seated, his back facing us.

"You're going to defend him?" Zuko said his voice full of disbelief.

Aang shook his head, "No, I agree with you." He stood up and walked up to us. "Fire Lord Ozai is a horrible person and the world would probably be better off without him. But there's gotta be another way." Aang looked down, avoiding the looks we were giving him.

My face softened. "Honestly, I don't think there's another way, kiddo."

"But if we could make some big pots of glue and I could use gluebending to stick his arms and legs together so he can't bend anymore." Aang smiled at his silly idea.

I let out a sigh and shook my head while Zuko put on a fake smile. "Yeah, then you can show him his baby pictures and all those happy memories will make him good again." The other's chuckled at his sarcasm and I giggled behind my hand.

I felt really bad when Aang's face lit up even more "Do you really think that would work?"

Zuko's face went back to grumpy again quickly. "No."

Aang shoulders dropped an he let out a breath. "This goes against everything I learned from the monks. I can't go around wiping out people I don't like." Aang walked up and down in front of us and put his hands on his head.

Sokkii shrugged. "Sure you can, you're the Avatar. If it's in the name of keeping balance, I'm pretty sure the universe will forgive you."

Aang stopped and his he clenched his jaw and his shoulders shook out of anger. "This isn't a joke Sokka!" Aang yelled and all us froze. "None of you understand the position I'm in."

No one spoke up but Katara. "Aang, we do understand, it's just-"

"Just what, Katara?! What!"

She knitted her eyebrows but didn't answer him. I stood up and gulped. "We know it's hard and we're trying to help where-"

"Then you figure out a way for me to beat the Fire Lord without taking his life!" He shouted and pointed at me. "I'd love to hear that!" He threw his hands in the air.

Zuko stood up and took a step towards Aang while glaring at him. "There is no other way! So stop yelling at her, or anyone else here who wants to help you."

Aang only balled his fists and walked away from us. "Aang don't walk away from this," Katara called after him. Just when she wanted to follow him, Zuko put a hand on her shoulder and stopped her.

He watched him leave and let out a sigh. "Let him go, he needs to sort this out by himself."

"Oh my, Katara, bring your boyfriend under control please," I said an crossed my arms as I watched Aang leave my sight.

Katara's face turned beet red. "He's not my boyfriend!"

"Yeah, whatever let's you sleep at night, honey," I shrugged and shot her a smirk.

Toph laughed and Katara pressed her lips together before leaving as well.

The next day we packed everything, ready to leave Zuko's vacation home and Ember Island. Katara and I sat a bit further away from the others as Sokka and Zuko put all of our stuff on Appa.

"So." I started and glanced at Katara with a smirk. "You still need to tell me about the kiss during the play." I leaned back, leaning on my arms as Katara tensed.

"Well, that was actually our second kiss," she whispered and I froze. "But at the play he told me that he likes me."

I sat up straight and looked at Katara with wide eyes. "And? Come on, tell me what happened," I urged and grabbed her arm, shaking it.

"I told him I was confused and then he suddenly kissed me."

My jaw dropped before I face palmed. How can he be so stupid?

Katara just nodded and looked away with pink cheeks.

"Well, but do you like him?" I asked her slowly and raised an eyebrow.

"Honestly, I do. But I think we should first end the war," she whispered but I heard her clearly.

Letting out a squeal, I hugged her tightly. Sokka looked at us and crossed his arms. "You know, you could help us instead of sitting around."

I let go of Katara and waved Sokka's suggestion off. "Nah, we're good."

Sokka huffed but went back to work without any other word.

A few minutes later Sokka dusted his hands off louder than necessary. "So, that's everything."

Katara and I stood up and walked toward Appa where the others were.

"No it's not," Toph spoke up and I raised an eyebrow. "Where's Aang?"

My eyes widened and all of us quickly got up to look for him.

We walked into the house and called out his name but there was no answer. We split up in two groups and Zuko, Toph and me looked through the first floor.

"Aang?" Zuko called out but still no answer. Each of us searched different rooms but there was no sign of him. Where could he have gone?

After all the rooms were searched, we met at the staircase. I only shook my head, signalling that I didn't find anything and the others didn't as well.

Our group went to Aang's room where we found my siblings and Suki. Sokka had Aang's staff in his hand and I knitted my eyebrows while tilting my head slightly to the side. He wouldn't just leave that behind. Something different must have happened.

"Aang's not in the house," Zuko said and put his hands on his sides. "Let's check the beach."

I nodded but had a feeling that Aang was long gone. Together we went to the beach to look for any signs.

There were actually footprints leading to the sea but nothing else. Everything seemed to hint at Aang running away from us and the fight. However, I don't think he is the type to run away from a fight; especially not from something so important.

"That doesn't sit right with me," I mumbled and looked at the sea in hopes of seeing Aang somewhere in the water.

"So he went for a midnight swim and never came back?" Suki slowly asked while the rest of us eyed the footprints.

"Maybe he was captured," Katara sighed, a sad look in her eyes.

Sokka shook his head. "I don't think so. There's no sign of struggle."

"I bet he ran away again," Toph said and crossed her arms.

"But why would he leave Appa and his glider behind?" I said and knitted my eyebrows. Something was very wrong and weird here.

"Well, then what happened?" Toph asked.

"It's pretty obvious," Sokka said, "Aang mysteriously disappeares before an important battle. He's definitely on a spirit world journey."

"What if he was, wouldn't his body be still here?" Zuko asked and he had a point. We haven't found Aang's body anywhere.

Sokka's face fell and his shoulders dropped. "Yeah, forgot about that."

"Then he's gotta be somewhere on Ember Island. Let's split up and look for him," Katara said.

Toph rushed toward me and Zuko and hugged his arm. "I'm going with Zuko and Jasmine."

Zuko blushed slightly and tensed at the sudden contact. The other's just looked at Toph like she was crazy.

"What? Everyone else went on a life-changing field trip with Zuko" Toph said and hugged Zuko's arm even tighter. "Now it's my turn," she grinned.

I giggled and nodded. "Let's get going."

Toph's grin widened even more if that was possible and we had to check the rest of the beach. Katara and Suki where looking through the city and Sokka took Appa and flew over the sea.

While we were walking, Toph told us her complete life story. Zuko grew annoyed and grabbed my hand and walked faster, ahead of Toph after he had to say aha for the tenth time.

"And then when I was nine, I ran away again," she continued. "I know I shouldn't complain, my parents gave me everything I ever asked for but they never gave me the one thing that I really wanted. Their love, you know what I mean?"

Zuko let out a sigh and lowered his head before turning around to look at Toph. "Look, I know you had a rough childhood, but we should really focus on finding Aang." And with that he turned away from the blind girl and continued walking.

"This is the worst field trip ever," Toph sadly said and looked on the ground.

I looked over my shoulder and shot her a small smile, "We'll repeat that some other time, okay?" She nodded and followed us.

After checking the whole beach we went back to the house. There was still no sign of Aang, we could only hope that the others had more luck.

Suki and Katara soon joined us in the garden, saying that Aang wasn't in the city either.

"Where could he be?" I mumbled and lowered my head. "This isn't like Aang."

"I have a bad feeling about this. We need to find him as soon as possible. There's not much time left." Katara sighed and shook her head.

I snapped my head up when I heard Appa. Sokka pressed his lips together and eyed us. "Judging by your faces, I'm guessing you didn't find Aang either." He jumped off Appa and stood in front of us with his hands on his sides.

"No," Zuko spoke for all of us. "It's like he... disappeared."

"Wait a minute," Toph suddenly said, "Has anyone noticed that Momo's missing too."

Sokka's eyes widened, "Oh no!" He put his hands on his head, "I knew it was only a matter of time!" Sokka fell on his knees in front of Appa and opened his mouth. "Appa ate Momo!"

I face palmed and shook my head slightly as my brother almost completely climbed in Appa's mouth to get Momo back.

"Sokka, Appa didn't eat Momo. He's probably with Aang," Katara sighed.

Sokka looked over his shoulder. "That's just what Appa wants you to think."

"Sokkii, get out of the Bison's mouth," I said and rolled my eyes. "We have more important things to do right now."

Sokka climbed out and looked at us with a sigh leaving his mouth.

"Aang's nowhere to be found and the comet is two days away," Zuko said and looked at all of us.

"What should we do? We need to find him quickly." I bit my lips and shook my head.

"I don't know," Zuko said in a quiet voice. All the others looked at him and he knitted his eyebrows. "Why are you all looking at me?"

"Well, you are kinda the expert on tracking Aang," Katara admitted and I prevented myself from laughing.They were kind of right.

"Yeah," Toph nodded, "If anyone's got experience hunting the Avatar, it's you."

He nodded. "I've got an idea."

Zuko brought us to the Earth Kingdom for some reason. He didn't tell us why at first but when we landed in front of a familiar tavern I immediately knew what he had in mind.

We entered and Katara looked around the tavern that reeked of sweat and alcohol. "And the reason you've brought us to a seedy Earth Kingdom tavern is what now?"

I looked around and smiled when I spotted the familiar woman at the back of the tavern beating up some men while sipping her tea.

"June," Zuko said and pointed at her.

"Oh yeah," Sokka remembered as well. "That weird bounty hunter with the giant mole."

"Mole?" Suki asked and knitted her eyebrows, eying June carefully. "Her skin is flawless."

"No, she has this giant mole creature," Sokka quickly explained as June continued beating up the tavern's customers.

"She's so badass," I mumbled and watched her in fascination.

"It's the shirshu," Zuko said, "That's the only animal that can track Aang anywhere in the world. It's the one shot we have of finding him."

Another man attacked her and she threw her full cup in the air before stepping to the side and kicking the man in his back. He stumbled and fell on a table breaking it while June dusted herself off before catching her cup and taking another sip.

"I don't know who this June lady is, but I like her," Toph grinned widely and crossed her arms.

"Let's hope you didn't make her hate you last time," I said and glanced at Zuko who clenched his jaw. She was our only chance of finding Aang we needed her help more than anything.