Shadows and Morning Light
Chapter 11 – Heaven’s Not Enough

A rush of wind burst into his lungs as he took in a sudden breath as though breaking through the surface of the water. He gasped and sat up. With a cough and sputter he looked around. The island was filled with a new strange green mist as though just a normal island. He rubbed his head as it pounded. His fingers smoothed over his scalp, brushing away the dirt. Aang continued scanning the terrain. It was different, lively. Then a sharp pain raced his spine and rattled his head.

He could see it; Issi and Gaia pulled him from the tree and restored his life. Issi explained as she eased him to the ground that she came before Gaia and from her spirit he was created. So she took just a little more of herself and paced it with him so separate the living world from the dead and seal the gate between on Xibalba. She would return to the swampland and both places would flourish. On her journey there, as a gift, she promised to sweep over the skies and send a rain that would reach all those ill and heal them from the sickness that plagued the world. Aang rubbed his head, shutting his eyes tightly as he watched the memories flash by like a movie. Then as she placed him on the ground she said his life was back to normal and he truly saved the world.

Aang stood up, something jumbled echoed in his head. It was muddy, unclear. He tried for a moment to decipher it but fell short. Then, something occurred to him, it felt almost instinctual. Aang spread his feet and lowered into an Earthbending stance, he pulled his arms in and then out in proper form and nothing happened. He jumped up, whirled his arms around as though to make a water whip and again there was nothing. In a slight frenzy he jumped forward in a fire kick and there wasn’t even smoke. Aang looked down at his hands and in desperation swirled his arms around to create the air scooter. This worked. Aang jumped down from it and stared down into his palms. Another shot of pain ricocheted up his spine and through his head, bringing him to his knees. Issi’s voice seemed to ring out, “Your life has ended Aang. We have restored it. However, because it has ended, you are no longer Avatar. You are but the last Airbender. Go and seek out the new Avatar. Teach your ways and train others of your kind. As a final gift, we shall restore your people, one at a time from this day on. Go Aang, you are free.”

Aang’s fingers dug into the dirt, “…I’m not the Avatar…”

“Aang,” A voice called from just ahead. Before he had a chance to respond to it, hands were on his shoulders, “Aang, are you alright? What happened?”

“Toph…you’re better…” He looked up at her sightless pale green eyes. Her cheeks had color, her lips were no longer white as clouds, and the warmth from her hands soaked through his sleeves.

“I know, it’s really strange, I woke up and I felt better than I’ve ever felt in my entire life. And then I had this weird feeling like you needed me. So I came out here to find you.” She spoke quickly, “Now what happened?”

“It’s a long story.” Aang pushed himself up and took her hands, “To start with, everything’s going to be aright again. The world’s safe for now.”

“For now…?” She lifted a suspicious brow.

“Toph,” He glanced away unsure of how to explain all that occurred and the visions he saw, “I’m…not the Avatar anymore.”

“What? How? Why?” She stammered in confusion.

“In order to save the world I had to give up the Avatar Spirit…” He stared into the ground as though it had the answers written in mud, “I died.”

“But you’re alive now.” Toph tightened her grip around his hands.

“Issi and Gaia restored my life but I lost the Avatar Spirit.” Aang shut his eyes in dismay.

“So, what, does that mean there’s a new Avatar?” Toph sat back, relaxing a bit.

“Somewhere, I guess, but no one will know for another sixteen years.” Aang looked up at the sky, “Issi told me I need to find him and teach him airbending and that all the airbenders would come back and I would have to teach them too.”

“You’ll be a great teacher.” Toph smiled as she stood up, “I guess this means we need to go find those airbenders.”

Aang’s attention left the sky and went to Toph’s blank stare. A quick memory flashed behind his eyes, “Actually, we need to get to the Fire Nation.”

“Huh?” Toph tilted her head, “Why would we go there.”

“You’ll see.” Aang jumped to his feet and started pulling her back towards Appa.

“Oh, right, I’ll definitely see when we get there.” She rolled her eyes, trying her best to keep up with the overly enthusiastic pulls.

--

Sokka rounded the corner, arms extended and a giggling blue eyed baby in his hands. His cringed disgusted face turned to delight as he spotted just the person he hoped to find crossing the hallway. He pulled the baby back in, awkwardly cradling him and strutted over to the Firelord, “Zuko, good to see you!”

“Sokka?” he turned around, his eyes immediately catching sight of the smiling baby in his arms, “What are you doing with Kurzon?”

“Oh, you know, just walking around. But now we’re done, so here you go!” He handed the infant over, forcefully pacing him in his father’s arms.

“What?” Zuko quickly wrapped his arms about the child and watched as Sokka made a quick escape, “What was that all about?” He looked down at the baby who giggled a little and then it hit him. The strong and foul odor of a soiled diaper floated into his nose. He cringed back. Though he was excited about being a father, this was his least favorite part of it. He looked around frantically and trying not to inhale any more of the noxious fumes creeping from the delighted infant.

“Now dragon blossom tea, it tends to be—” Iroh walked down the hall, Suki linked onto his arm. She looked exhausted. Chances were, she’d spend the whole day shopping with him and listening to his babbling about the various uses of every tea he’s ever made in his entire life.

Zuko side stepped to his uncle and handed him the smelly baby, “Uncle, I need you to watch Kurzon, I have to go.” The moment the old man’s hands were secured around the baby, Zuko took off down the hall and around the first hall he came to, regardless of where it led.

“Oh, why hello there Prince Kurzon, you certainly look happy today.” He raised a suspicious eyebrow.

“Maybe it’s because he needs a diaper change.” Suki clenched her nose. This wasn’t the first time a baby was handed to him because it smelled foul. Iroh sighed. At this rate his nephew was going to successfully avoid changing diapers.

“Do you need a diaper change, my great-nephew?” The old man grinned. Though it was not the most pleasurable task, he didn’t mind too much. Having two great-nephews were a delight.

“Iroh!” Katara called from behind over the sound of a whimpering baby. The old man and Suki turned around, revealing the other baby. She sighed and walked over to them, “I guess you have seen Zuko. Do you know where he went?”

“Actually, I’m not certain but he seemed in a hurry.” Iroh shrugged.

“Roku won’t stop crying. I changed his diaper, fed him, took him outside, gave him to Sokka, tried to give him a nap,” She rattled her day off, counting each task on a finger, “I think he just wants to be with Zuko for a while.”

“As long as he doesn’t need his diaper changed again, I think Zuko will take him for a while.” Suki laughed.

“What are you talking about?” She looked from the Kyoshi warrior to her first son, “Oh. Never mind, I understand.” Katara bounced the fussing Roku in her arms.

--

“So let me get this right, you think it’s a boy and girl.” Toph crossed her arms, “I’d love to agree with you but Sugar Queen just doesn’t seem like the type to have a boy.”

“I know, but the only girl in Zuko’s family was Azula. So it’d make sense if one of them is a boy.” Aang looked over his shoulder from his pace atop of Appa’s head. The bison let out a groan, “See, even Appa thinks it’s a girl and boy.”

“Really, because it sounded like he said it was twin girls.” Toph taunted.

“Well, we’ll find out soon enough. The palace is right up there.” Aang said partially amused by Toph using Appa against him.

“Oh hey, I see it right there!” Toph leaned over the edge of the saddle facing in the wrong direction, “Wow, it sure does look nice this time of year.”

“I know, I like how the—

He cut himself off, glaring at her and sinking down as she laughed. It was probably more amusing to her that everyone forgot that she was blind than it was for them when the blind girl taunted them. Nevertheless, the journey was coming to a close as they approached the oversized Fire Nation palace.

--

Zuko sighed in relief as he made it to the front steps and sat down; yet another successful escape. The sun was shining brightly. A chill lingered in the air. He looked around the ground; a light layer of snow was melting on the streets and grass yards. This was the coldest winter the Fire Nation had seen in hundreds of years. Zuko slipped his hands into his sleeves and reclined back against the steps, shutting his tired eyes.

“Excuse me, sir.” A councilman interrupted his relaxation.

“Yes?” Zuko straightened up.

“Sir, there’s news from the Earth Nation.” He said in a hurry, “It seems something unexplainable has happened. All the ill have become well again.”

“Is that right…” He looked away, raising a hand to his chin, “I guess that means he’s headed here next.”

“Sir?” The councilman leaned in trying to catch and make sense of the mumbles.

“You’re excused, let the Earth Nation know to thank Avatar Aang for the work he has done next time they see him.” Zuko said quickly, dismissing the man, and hurried back into the palace.

“Yes, I heard it as well. My sister lives in one of the colonies that are being relocated. She said that mother just woke up and started making breakfast.” The servant girl’s voice carried from the laundry room. Zuko stopped and took a step back to listen in for just a moment.

“Oh, I know, that’s just how my brothers were. Mama said they were playing just as always when she woke.” Another girl said.

“You think that’s amazing. My husband sent a hawk over early this morning and said he felt like a new man!” A woman laughed, “That old bag of bones was probably faking anyways!”

“I don’t know about that, it was a pretty serious illness.” The first girl cautioned.

“I agree. We should be thankful the Avatar was there for us. He really works miracles. I think this is the best Avatar yet!” The second girl swooned.

“I hear he’s available.” The first girl teased.

“Really, I suspect something scandalous between him and that blind earthbender.” The older woman gossiped.

Zuko rolled his eyes and walked into the laundry room, “Not to intrude, but could you put extra sheets down? Aang and Toph are on their way.”

“Oh, yes sir!” The old woman quickly bowed, “Is there anything else we should do for our guests?”

“Just the sheets for now,” he smiled kindly and left them to their work, “after that the day is yours as always.” Unlike the past Firelords, he was generous and let his servants rest. Some thought he was too generous as he often found himself short on help. He didn’t mind much. He’d rather see his nation prospering than waiting on him hand and foot. That wasn’t nearly as important. Besides, he had to prepare the nation for a shock he was certain they were not ready for – rather than having just one heir, they would have to manage with two and the rivalry that would come later in life, assuming both were firebenders. He still was uncertain as to the best time to spring the news of his sons on the entire nation, but he knew it wouldn’t remain a secret for long, as though it were a secret.

He walked through the palace to the far end where the tall glass doors led into the courtyard of his childhood. Zuko paused staring at the doors, just outside Katara and Iroh were sitting under the tree with the two babies in their arms. He couldn’t help but wonder if his father ever felt this proud, this joy that was swimming in his chest, when he looked into the courtyard and saw his first child and mother sitting by the pond in the same way. He lowered his head. There may have been a time when he felt that way, but that wasn’t the man he knew growing up. Perhaps the only pride his father felt for him was the potentiality of a prodigal heir to take his place one day after he clenched hold of the entire world. A cold chill ran down his spine. Zuko looked out the door again. Without a second passing thought, he pushed the door open and walked out along the path just as his mother had years ago.

The sound of a baby’s cry reached his ears as he came to the tree where his family sat. Katara turned and looked up at him with a weary stare, “Could you please take Roku. He really wants some time with you.” Zuko glanced over at Kurzon who reached up at Iroh’s beard, swishing his arms back and forth an attempt to grab it. Then his focus turned to Roku. The small boy’s watery eyes started to dry as he stared up at his father. Zuko smiled, reached down at took him into his arms. Two small hands wrapped tight onto his robes. Zuko stroked the small bit of dark hair on the boy’s head and gently sat down between Iroh and Katara.

“Aang and Toph are on their wa—” Before he could finish, Appa let out a groan as he landed just beyond them in the courtyard. “Bison,” Zuko corrected himself as he frowned in the direction of the oversized creature. Aang jumped off Appa and landed squarely on the ground. Toph scooted over the edge of the saddle and slid down Appa’s side, quickly catching up to the excited airbender.

“Katara, Zuko, Iroh!” Aang called out to them and then stopped, “And babies?”

“And babies,” Toph repeated as though she was completely unsurprised.

Aang and Toph joined the group at the tree and sat down promptly. Aang looked between the two and then to Katara, “So, I guess we came back a little too late.”

“You missed all the fun.” Zuko rolled his eyes, cringing at the thought of Katara screaming in agony.

“I guess we did.” Aang sighed.

“Trust me; there was nothing fun about it.” Katara said in an effort to comfort him, “And you’re not too late.”

Aang looked up with a beaming smile, “What are their names?” His hopes were high to disprove Toph.

“I have Prince Kurzon.” Iroh said with a wince as the small hand finally grabbed hold of a clump of beard with a laugh.

“And this is Roku.” Zuko looked down at the peaceful boy in his arms.

“Huh.” Toph said aloud.

“So, they’re both boys?” Aang lifted his eyes to Katara again.

“Yes they are, two little boys.” She smiled, leaning against Zuko’s shoulder to peer at the babies.

“Who would have thought you two would make such cute babies.” Toph grinned.

“Thanks Toph, they are…” Katara stopped, looked up with a glare, “Do you really have to do that?”

“I think she does.” Sokka added in as he walked through the damp grass to the group. Suki trailed not far behind, her hand in his and her step nearly on his heels.

“Hey, long time no see!” Toph laughed and stared blindly in his general direction.

“Definitely the no seeing part,” Sokka agreed as he and Suki sat down in the circle.

“So, why’d you pick Roku?” Aang looked up at Zuko.

--

The world remained in a state of peace without the plague of illness. Aang told about his final journey to the Spirit World, how he saved the world one last time as Avatar. Though it brought much sorrow, there was a glimmer of hope that began to grow as the years started to pass. A new Avatar was out there somewhere and it was only a matter of time before he or she was discovered again.

Zuko and Katara presented the two boys to the Fire Nation, and to their great surprise they were received well. In fact, they were adored. For weeks they received gifts and praises on how handsome both boys were and how fortunate to have two. Eventually the gifts slowed when news that the air temples were in use once more. It seemed as though airbenders were cropping up left and right at incredibly young ages. Aang had his hands full. Toph stuck by his side and kept young earthbenders busy fixing up the temples as reckless young airbenders destroyed it.

Sokka and Suki married shortly after Kurzon and Roku were presented. Not long after they were married, Sokka became Chief and Suki became the first married Kyoshi Warrior to remain in practice. The Kyoshi Warriors grew in size. It was becoming more and more popular. Likewise, in the Southern Water Tribe, there was an increasing demand for homes. Families were expanding, trade was improving, and much was due to the assistance from the sister tribe in the north.

Five years passed before they even knew it. Kurzon turned out to be a waterbender, which neither Zuko nor Katara were surprised about based on his somewhat Water Tribe appearance. Roku on the other hand didn’t seem to be a bender at all. However, he was skilled in weaponry. It was more of an accident that they discovered his special talent. Zuko could have killed himself for leaving his swords where they could reach. Katara could have killed him too if anything bad would have happened. Luckily the only things left injured were the curtains, a pot, chair, desk, set of candles, and the side of a bookshelf. Also, Roku’s pride was injured when the swords were taken away and he was sent to his room for almost an hour. This was just long enough for Zuko to endure the wrath of Katara, leading him to think he was the one being punished and not Roku.

--

Roku sat on the steps leading into the palace, his elbows propped up on his knees and his face in his hands. He wore a scowl on his face. There was no mistaking he was Zuko’s son. It was the signature glare. Aang stopped at the step just below him, “Hey Roku.”

The boy looked up, “Uncle Aang?”

“What are you doing out here?” He knelt down next to the boy.

“Sitting,” he groaned. Aang should have expected that answer. After traveling around with Zuko for so long he should have been used to the grumpy attitude. However, the fact that it was not Zuko and it was his son, Roku, always seemed to throw him off.

“Why are you sitting out here? Shouldn’t you be off having fun?” Aang put a hand on his shoulder.

“I would be if Kurzon wasn’t showing off again.” He complained in a small whiney voice.

“What do you mean?” Aang made himself comfortable next to the young prince. His dark hair was hanging down in his face just as Zuko’s had years and years ago. Aang suspected Roku, like his father, hadn’t the foggiest how to put in a topknot and basically gave up all together.

“He’s doing his little waterbender thing.” He held up his hands, wiggling his fingers in a way Sokka did when he described Katara’s waterbending. Aang smiled.

“Why don’t you show them some of the things you learned?” He posed.

“Well, first off, I’m not a bender.” Roku grumbled, “Second, dad said I’m not allowed to play with his swords.”

“That makes sense.” Aang leaned back, “He doesn’t want you to get hurt.”

“I still do when he’s not looking.” Roku piped up.

Aang gave him a sideways glance, “I bet he knows.”

“Yeah probably,” Roku sighed, “I bet mom told him.”

“Maybe…” Aang mused. He could only imagine how Katara would ring out Zuko if she was the one who caught Roku playing with the swords. It would be more frightening than an angry saber-tooth moose lion mother.

There was a long silence before Roku lifted his head and turned to the airbender, “Uncle Aang, I have a question.”

“Alright,” Aang straightened up and prepared for whatever complex question a six year old could come up with.

“Were you really the Avatar? You know the one who saved the world and all that.” He stared with big eyes.

“Yeah…I was…” Aang said quietly, his shoulder slumping. He’d become accustom to not being able to use the other elements but it felt as though there was a part of him missing. He was the first to go through this, and probably, hopefully, the last.

“Is it true that there were no other airbenders? Dad told me about the war and everything but could the bad firebender really get rid of all the airbenders?” Roku stared curiously.

“Yeah, the bad firebenders burned down the temples and made all the airbenders disappear for a long time. I was the last airbender while I was the Avatar.” Aang said with a small bit of pride.

“So, why aren’t you the Avatar anymore?” Roku repositioned himself on the steps.

“Well,” Aang took in a deep breath, “a long time ago while you and Kurzon were still in your mom’s belly, there were a lot of sick people who needed my help. It took a really long time to figure out how to help all of them but when I did, I found out that the only way to save them was to let someone else be the Avatar.”

“Why.” Roku stated rather than asking.

“The Avatar State is very powerful.” Aang fumbled for words. The concept was too complicated for a child of his age. He had a hard time understanding it at twelve, let alone a boy half the age he was when he first started to comprehend what it was and the power it contained, “You see, the Avatar State is so powerful that it can grant wishes if you give it away. But it has to be a special wish. It has to be something that is completely selfless, something that you don’t want for yourself, something completely and fully for someone else.”

“The whole world was sick and you didn’t care if you got sick, you just want everyone else to be okay…so you gave up being the Avatar. Right?” Roku picked at the dirt under his fingernail.

“Right…” Aang tilted his head to the side. Sometimes he underestimated how much the children were able to understand. Granted, he was used to talking to his daughter who was two years younger.

“Uncle Aang, can I ask you another question?” Roku shifted around and sat straight and proper.

“Sure.” Aang could only imagine what he wanted to know.

“Can you teach me some firebending moves?” Roku glanced around quickly and then to the airbender, “I know you can’t firebend or anything anymore but a few days ago…I did this…” He stood up and threw his fist forward in almost perfect form, a small weak ball of fire ignited and shot out. It was better than Aang’s first try at it, but that didn’t make it good.

“I thought you said you weren’t a bender.” Aang lifted a suspicious eyebrow.

“Well, I didn’t think I was, I just kind of found out.” Roku said quickly and sat down, “So do you think you could show me a few moves?”

“Sure, but how about we go find your mom and dad first.” Aang put a hand on his shoulder.

“You’re not going to tell them are you?” Roku looked up worried as ever.

“It’ll be our secret.” Aang smiled.

--

Katara sat down at the head of the group. Aang and Roku joined in with the rest sitting on the ground. Katara had become the great story teller. Sokka and Suki sat behind their daughter, Kya, Toph sat with her and Aang’s daughter, Sen, and Roku and Kurzon sat in the front side by side. These weren’t the only children in the group anymore. Ty Lee’s son and daughter, Tai and Mai Lin, sat among them and so did a variety of children that became friends to the two young princes.

Aang stepped next to Zuko who stood in back of everyone as they excitedly chatted about what story to request. The Firelord glanced over at him, “I think they look forward to this more than any other part of the day.”

“I think you’re right.” Aang agreed as he scanned over the small group. He cleared his throat and lowered his voice. He rose on his toes, still shorter than his firebending master, and said quietly, “Roku’s a firebender.”

“What?” Zuko’s head whipped around, his eyes gleaming in disbelief.

“Shh. He’s a bit embarrassed and doesn’t want anyone to know yet. So just don’t say anything…ease into it.” Aang stared off into the cluster of children as they inched up on the hem of Katara’s robes.

“That’s a surprise.” Zuko sighed and eased back.

“I know. It was a surprise to me too. He asked me to teach him some firebending.” Aang nodded slowly.

“Why didn’t he ask me?” Zuko’s brow pushed together, turning to the airbender.

“If I had to guess, he wants to learn some firebending first to impress you.” Aang shrugged.

“Good luck teaching him. He’s stubborn. And if he’s anything like I was, it’s going to take a long time before he masters it.” Zuko said, remembering his struggles.

“If he learns from you, I don’t think he’ll ever master it.” Aang chuckled. Zuko shot him a glare. The airbender rolled his eyes, “You two are the most stubborn people I’ve ever had the pleasure of knowing. And you’re really not that good at firebending.” Aang teased.

“What?” Zuko turned towards him, somewhat offended, “You didn’t see the firebending I did against Azula, and wait a minute I was the one who taught you firebending!”

“I was joking.” Aang held up his hands defensively.

“Sure.” Zuko folded his arms with a scowl.

The children began to settle as Katara rose her hands to quiet them down, “Alright, what story do you guys want to hear today?”

“Oh! The one about when you sucked on frogs!” Kya called out.

“No, tell the story about the penguin sledding!” Kurzon stuck his tongue out at his cousin.

“I want to hear the story about the Avatar.” Roku pitched in.

“Which story about the Avatar?” Katara smiled to her son.

“The whole story,” he said confidently.

“Alright, where should I begin?” She thought it over for a moment.

Zuko leaned over to Aang again, “I have a surprise for you, to return the favor.”

“What’s that?” Aang said, distracted by the impending story of his life.

“Katara’s pregnant again.” Zuko smiled, beaming with the same joy he had when his sons were born.

“Congratulations.” Aang said, somewhat unphased.

“How about I start at the beginning, does that sound good?” Katara grinned. The children squealed and applauded with delight. She cleared her throat and adjusted herself, “Alright, this is a long story so you better be ready.” The children nodded in excitement. She smiled and continued, “It all started with the four elements, separate but equal.” She glanced up at Aang and then back to the children, “Water, Earth, Fire, Air…Long ago, the four nations lived in harmony until one day when everything changed and the Fire Nation attacked. Only the Avatar, Master of all four elements could stop them but when the world needed him the most, he vanished. A hundred years passed and my brother and I discovered the new Avatar, an airbender named Aang.”

Aang leaned over to Zuko with a strange smile on his face, “I have another surprise.”

“What’s that?” Zuko kept his focus on the story as Katara let it unfold. He never heard her side of what happened. He was sure he would make it a point to tell his side as well.

“And although his airbending skills were great, he had a lot to learn before he was ready to save anyone.” Katara spoke, smoothly as though she’d recited it hundreds of times before.

Aang turned and looked up at the Firelord, “I found the next Avatar.”

Zuko’s eyes peeled away from the story for just a moment to look at his friend square in the eyes, “Really?”

Aang turned back to the group and lifted his chin a little, “Yeah.”

“It’s Kurzon.” Aang stared at the boy sitting intently at the front of the group. It wasn’t time to tell him, at least not yet. He had ten more years of freedom to grow up a normal child and to live his life before he would be swept away and undergo a lifetime of training at Aang’s side. He didn’t want to take their son, but he knew when the time came, he was going to be the only one who would be able to maintain the peace in the world by guiding the new young Avatar. A hundred years without an Avatar changed a lot of things in the world and the only way to ensure the peace in the world would continue and the Avatar’s duties were fulfilled would be to take him in and teach him. In time, Aang was certain about a few things. Kurzon would become the new Avatar in an era of peace, he would master waterbending from Katara, eventually Sen would be his earthbending master, Roku would become his firebending master, and Aang would be not only his airbending master but also his mentor. However, that was still ten years away. He had the rest of his childhood to look forward to, and Aang had no intention of letting that change.

“But I believed, and knew, Aang could save the world.” Katara smiled and looked up at the airbender and firebender, once enemies standing side by side as though they’d been friends their whole lives. They acted more like brothers than friends most of the time. The war was over for years. They had children now and they were able, thanks to their efforts as children themselves, to grow up in a world at peace. Time had truly changed all things. And through the stories she was beginning, the stories each would contribute to, peace was sure to continue.

The End.

EPILOGUE:

“Hey Sen, have you seen Roku?” Kurzon rolled out his sleeping bag on the lumpy ground. No response came. He turned around and looked at her with a blank stare, “Oh come one. You have to talk to me eventually.”

“No I don’t.” She folded her arms and leaned against her rock.

“You know I was just teasing.” Kurzon tried to squeeze out a reasonable apology.

“Well it wasn’t funny.” She grumbled.

Kurzon sighed and gave up on flattening the ground with earthbending. As long as Sen kept tapping her foot there would continue to be lumps and bumps. He was still working on mastering earthbending and just beginning the basics of firebending. He figured if Aang was able to master all the elements by the end of summer, he could too. As it turned out, it wasn’t as easy as he hoped. Kurzon sighed staring at the ripples of his sleeping bag and then walked over to Sen and took a seat next to her.

“Look, Sen, I’m sorry. Okay?” He asked in a pleading voice.

“No, it’s not okay.” She shot him a blind stare. She had the misfortune of inheriting her mother’s blindness.

“Why?” Kurzon slumped, feeling guilty as ever.

“Because…Well….Just because!” She shouted and returned to ignoring him.

Kurzon lifted a suspicious eyebrow, “Wait a minute…you do like him don’t you.”

“What? No! Roku’s so…so…stubborn, and spoiled and stuck up and…and…” She threw her hands up exasperated.

“And you’re so in love with him.” Kurzon nudged her.

“Ugh! What do you know? You’re just some dumb kid who can do a few cool bending tricks.” Sen huffed as she stood up and walked away.

Kurzon waited a few minutes before he spoke up, “Sorry Roku, I don’t think she likes you in that way.”

“Well maybe if you were a little nicer she would have told you.” Roku glared at him as he jumped down from a tree.

“Yeah, then she’ll like me instead, brilliant.” Kurzon tilted his head backwards and stared at his brother.

“Why would she do that?” Roku paused in step.

“Because you’re a jerk,” Kurzon shrugged as though it should have been obvious.

“I’m not a jerk.” He retorted.

“Right, you’re just stubborn, and spoiled and stuck up...” He trailed off with a grin.

“Maybe if you weren’t so nice to her, she’d like me more.” Roku said kicking a rock.

“Or you could try just being nice to her. You know, like not calling her a little girl, and maybe doing something nice for her every once in a while. Girls like those sorts of things.” Kurzon flipped his head back up, deciding it was time to finish making camp.

Roku scoffed and left his brother at the camp site. He glared down at the ground as he walked along. His brother knew about as much about girls as a platypus bear knew about flying. He came into the clearing that led to a sheer cliff. Sen sat with her feet dangling over the edge. It was a perfect spot for her. The ground just dropped off. If she wanted to make steps leading down, it would be easy but she mostly enjoyed dangling her feet over cliffs. Being a child of an airbender and bound to the earth was difficult. It showed no matter how she tried to hide it.

She sighed and sightlessly stared into the empty crevasse, soaking up the warm spring sunlight. She turned her gaze down, sensing the footsteps having stopped. A warm wind blew across, the tall grass bending and bowing. She couldn’t be sure if it was Kurzon or Roku. Either way she didn’t want to see either of them. She waited a while in hopes that he would say something first but in the silence she realized he wouldn’t say a word so she spoke up, “What do you want?”

“Nothing.” He stated flatly.

“Then go away.” She said irritated.

He raised an eyebrow, having heard this pitch in her voice before, and crossed his arms challengingly, “I don’t feel like it. I’m fine here.”

She rolled her eyes, “Shouldn’t you be off teaching Kurzon or something?”

“He’s had a long day; I bet he’s already asleep back at camp.” Roku said with a shrug, intentionally arguing her every word. Normally he would choke down anything she dished out, but this wasn’t the time. He had something to say, something to prove.

Sen wrinkled her nose and resentfully barked, “Go away.” She waited for the sound of his retreating footsteps but they never came. Perhaps he had snuck off, quietly as he was known to do to avoid conflict with her, but she probably would have sensed it no matter how sneaky he tried to be to escape. Sen groaned and leaned back on her arms and started to tap her fingers on the stone ledge she sat upon. “Go away, make yourself useful somewhere else.” She tried once more to get rid of him.

“Kurzon already set up camp, there’s nothing left to do.” Roku insisted.

“Just go.” She said, quieter than before. Her head sunk low to her shoulder as she turned her attention to the swinging of her feet.

Roku watched her for a moment, letting his arms fall back to his sides, “Why are you all the way out here?”

She blatantly ignored him.

He sighed and walked over to the edge. Of all the things he learned on his travels and time home was how to read women. Perhaps it was due to the time he spent with Iroh or perhaps it was from watching his father try to appease his mother when she was in a bad mood, which seemed almost impossible but he always managed to pull it off. Roku took a deep breath and folded his arms again, “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.” She said with a huff, jutting her bottom lip out as she turned her head away.

He stared across the canyon with narrowed eyes, “I didn’t come here to start a fight.”

She stayed silent and angry.

He glanced over at her, the sunlight shining down on her as it had in the days when they children playing in the gardens and on the streets. She was stubborn and thickheaded much like he was and that gave him the edge. Roku turned his attention back to the vast empty canyon, leaving her in an angry stillness for as long as she needed. Her feet swayed back and forth in the breeze that swept through every so often, “What do you want?” Sen asked quietly, but a distinct and certain coldness still lingered on the end of her words.

“Nothing.” He repeated as he said before.

“Then what are you doing out here?” She turned her blank gaze to him.

“I felt like taking a walk.” He turned his face to her.

Sen stared sightlessly at him, as though to say she didn’t care. Roku sighed and looked away first. She turned away shortly after, “Why did you come here?”

His head dropped forward, hair falling in front of his face to hide away a small smile that snuck up unexpectedly as though she could somehow see it, “It’s relaxing.”

Sen straightened up, more surprised than curious, “Relaxing?”

“Why are you here?” He looked over at her, restraining a pleased smile at her less aggressive tone.

“I’m an earthbender. I’m naturally drawn to the earth, and rocks and cliffs and all that.” She reclined back on her arms as she was before, seemingly more comfortable with him there. Roku rocked on his heels, his eyes searching the empty air before them for words. Sen turned to him again, sensing the changes in his expressions as thoughts crossed over his mind but then left without being spoken. She placed an open palm against the ground, hesitating before deciding to speak, “You can sit down if you want.”