Spirit child

The Southern Raders

"I can't believe your crazy sister followed us all the way here!" Sota said as He carried Cordelia over his shoulder "you two get along too well" Zuko said "well we are to be married soon, eat your heart out" Sota said before Zuko attempted to run where his sister was "what are you doing?" Aang asked "Go ahead! I'll hold them off. I think this is a family visit." Zuko said running out "Come on! We've gotta get out of here!" Sokka said pulling them towards the tunnel.

"We need to split up" Sokka said after the failed attempts to get Appa to enter the tunnel "No, The Fire Nation can't separate our family again!" Katara said approaching her father "It'll be okay. It's not forever." Hakoda reassured.

"Wow, camping ... it really seems like old times again, doesn't it?" Aang said relaxing after setting up camp "If you really want it to feel like old times, I could, uh ... chase you around a while and try to capture you" Zuko joked as they all laughed except Katara "To Zuko! Who knew after all those times he tried to snuff us out, today he'd be our hero?" Sokka said holding his cup up "Hear! Hear!" They cheered.

"I'm touched. I don't deserve this." Zuko said "Yeah, no kidding." Katara said angrily before walking away "What's with her?" Sokka and Cordelia asked "I wish I knew." Zuko said walking after her "What's with him?" Sokka asked.

"This isn't fair! Everyone else seems to trust me now! What is it with you?" Zuko asked "Oh, everyone trusts you now! I was the first person to trust you! Remember, back in Ba Sing Se." Katara said furiously "you weren't the first person that trusted me, my uncle and Cordelia are the once's that trusted me and I betrayed them. I still haven't apologized to either of them, Cordelia is right in front of me and I can't get to her because of Sota!" He said glaring at him "...even so, you turned around and betrayed me, betrayed all of us!" Katara said "What can I do to make it up to you?" Zuko asked.

"You really want to know? Hmm, maybe you could reconquer Ba Sing Se in the name of the Earth King. Or, I know! You could bring my mother back!" Katara said before storming away.

Next morning

"I need to borrow Appa." Katara said walking towards the group who were feeding appa "Why? Is it your turn to take a little field trip with Zuko?" Aang asked jokingly "Yes, it is." Katara said "wha-why?" Cordelia asked walking up to the two with flowers in her hair "We're going to find the man who took my mother from me." She said "what's with your hair?" Zuko asked pointing at his hair "Sota did it for me, doesn't it look good?" She asked twirling around "yea, it suits you" Zuko mumbled.

"Um ... and what exactly do you think this will accomplish?" Aang asked "Ugh, I knew you wouldn't understand." Katara said in dismay "Wait! Stop! I do understand. You're feeling unbelievable pain and rage. How do think I felt about the sandbenders when they stole Appa? How do you think I felt about the Fire Nation when I found out what happened to my people?" Aang asked "She needs this, Aang. This is about getting closure and justice." Zuko said.

"I don't think so. I think it's about getting revenge." Aang said "Fine, maybe it is! Maybe that's what I need! Maybe that's what he deserves!" Katara said angrily "Katara, you sound like Jet." "Is jet still alive?" Cordelia asked to Sokka as he shrugged.

Some time later

"Katara? Are you okay?" Aang asked running to katara who was using her leg to play with the water "I'm doing fine." She reassured "Zuko told me what you did. Or what you didn't do, I guess. I'm proud of you." Aang said "I wanted to do it. I wanted to take out all my anger at him, but I couldn't. I don't know if it's because I'm too weak to do it or because I'm strong enough not to." Katara said "You did the right thing. Forgiveness is the first step you have to take to begin healing." Aang said "I agree, I've forgiven Sota" Cordelia said nodding her head in agreement.

"But I didn't forgive him. I'll never forgive him. But I am ready to forgive you." Katara said walking to Zuko and hugging him "I'll do you a favor and take Sota away from Cordelia, you take her away and talk to her" Katara whispered before grabbing Sota away "can I talk to you Cordelia, alone" Zuko asked nervously "sure" Cordelia agreed as Aang left them.

"What did you want to talk about?" She asked "I wanted to apologize for betraying your trust like that back in Ba sing Se, I hurt you" Zuko said staring at the water "...I was angry at you at first, but then you came and begged for forgiveness of everyone and I couldn't help but forgive you" Cordelia said with a smile on her face "but when I tried to apologize you shouted at me" Zuko said "a part of me didn't forgive you until you help us fight combustion man" she said.

"I'm so glad to hear that" Zuko said before Cordelia pushed him into the water "hey!" He shouted noticing Cordelia take off her shirt "cannon ball!" She said jumping into the water "what was that for?" He asked "why are you so nervous, calm down" she said splashing around "your right sorry, but you shouldn't have pushed me in like that!" He said picking her up as she giggled at his actions.

"Does it hurt?" Cordelia asked caressing Zuko scar "no" he said grabbing her hand gently while staring into her eyes as he leaned over to kiss her "I really shouldn't" she said using her palm to cover his face "why?" Zuko asked disappointed "I'm engaged to Sota, I can't betray whatever he and I have, he's really kind to me now" she said sadly staring at his face "he doesn't have to know" Zuko said kissing her before hearing their names being called "we should go" She said swimming towards the shore.