Fire and Aether

Chapter 41: Sozin's Comet Part 2: The Old Masters

    Team Avatar stood in the doorway of the tavern, surveying June getting in a fight with random bar patrons. "Hey. I remember her. She helped you attack us." Sokka said to Zuko.
   "Yep. Back in the good old days."
    Team Avatar moved to June's table. She looked up and sighed. "Oh great, Prince Pouty. Where's your creepy grandpa?"
    "He's my uncle." Zuko shot back. "And he's not here."
    "I see you worked things out with your girlfriend."
    "SHE IS NOT MY GIRLFRIEND!" Zuko shouted at the same time that Katara shouted, "I AM NOT HIS GIRLFRIEND!"
    "Ok ok I was only teasing."
    "Actually, my girlfriend is the reason I'm here. I need you to find the Avatar."
    "No way! The Avatar is your girlfriend? That's explains a lot." June kicked her feet up, enjoying her drink.
    "Can you help me?"
    She shrugged. "Doesn't sound too fun."
    "Does the end of the world sound like more fun?"
    "Ok ok chill! What? Can't go without your girlfriend for two seconds?" Zuko glared at her. "Fine. Who's got something with the Avatar's scent on it?"
    "Her father's sword." Aang said, presenting it.
    June brought it to her mole to sniff out the scent. This ended in her going in circles before collapsing to the ground, covering her eyes.
    "What does that mean?" Zuko asked.
    "Means your girlfriend's gone."
    "We know she's gone. That's why we're trying to find her."
    "No, I mean gone gone. She doesn't exist."
                        * * * * *
    Rose explored the island she found herself on, asking rhetorical questions to Crystal. "Where are we? The Spirit World maybe?" She tested her bending, finding it still worked. "Nope, my bending works. I need a better view. " She thought for a moment. "Maybe if we head to the top of the island, we can figure out where we are."
                     * * * * *
    "What do you mean Rose doesn't exist?" Zuko and Sokka called out in unison.
    "Is she dead?" Zuko asked, hoping he was wrong.
    "Nope, we could find her if she were dead."
    "Wait. I have another idea." Zuko said. "There's only one other person in this world who can help us face the Fire Lord."
    He returned moments later with a sandal. "You saved your uncle's sweaty sandal?" Sokka questioned.
    Toph said, "I think it's kind of sweet."
    As soon as the mole had Iroh's scent, she took off running. Team Avatar jumped on Appa and followed. After a journey that took a full day and half the night, they arrived.
    "We're going to Ba Sing Se?" Zuko questioned.
    "He's just beyond the wall. Nyla's getting twitchy so it can't be too far. Good luck."
    With that, she took off.
    Zuko hung his head, sighing as he said, "It's been a long day. Let's camp and start our search again at dawn."
                           * * * * *
    After looking around, Rose was more confused than ever. Finally, she decided to contact Roku to get answers.

    Roku appeared before her, a grim look on his weathered face as he sat beside Luna. "You're right, Rose. All the past Avatars, all their experience and wisdom is available to you, if you look deep inside yourself."
    "So where am I, Roku and Luna? What is this place?"
    "I don't know, Rose." He turned to his wife and Guardian who shrugged.