Zuko's Baby Sister

Chapter Two

I had awoke in the middle of the night to see Aang move away from me. I felt kind of cold from the loss of contact but I heated myself up and watched him walk away slowly. I got up and followed him feeling the ache in my burn as I walked.

"Aang?" He turns and sees me then smiles softly. I return the smile.

"Ardema, are you okay?"

"Don't worry about me. I came to check on you, are you okay?"

     "Yeah, just been thinking. Katara's grandmother said that she thought the Air Benders were extinct. What if I really am the last air bender?" I felt my heart sink.

    "My great grandfather planned this war. Started it with my grandfather 100 years ago. I may be the fire nation princess but If I could've I would've been only an air bender. Aang I apologize ahead of time for what you'll see up there and I hope you don't hate me after." I hugged him and felt his arm go around me in a hug manner but not touching my burn.

    "Let's go back to bed." He started walking off.

     "Wait Aang." He stopped and turned to me with a questionable look. "Were you cuddling me?" His face turned bright red and he turned and sped off. I giggled and followed him. He was faking sleep on Appa when I got back and I climbed next to him careful not to hurt myself more and fell asleep listening to the sound of his heart and breathing.

"Wait 'till you see it, Ardema! The Air Temple is one of the most beautiful places in the world!l

    "Aang, I know you're excited, but it's been a hundred years since you've been home." Katara said seeing my sad face.

    "That's why I'm so excited!"

    "It's just that ... a lot can change in all that time." She ga

    "I know, but I need to see it for myself." Aang jumps off Appa, landing softly due to his airbending. He walks over to a snoring Sokka, who is lying in his sleeping bag. "Wake up Sokka! Air Temple, here we come!" Sokka awakens, making groggy noises.

    "Uggh! Sleep now. Temple later." I roll my eyes. Sokka turns around, showing his back to Aang and falls back asleep, snoring as soon as his eyes close. Aang's big eyes blink in surprise. He looks discontent with Sokka's attitude, but he quickly smiles mischievously. Aang grabs a small, thin stick.

    "Sokka! Wake up!"Aang moves the stick up and down the sleeping bag, only touching Sokka with the tip of it. "There's a prickle snake in your sleeping bag!"

    "Ahh!" Sokka quickly rises and hops around, still inside the sleeping bag. "Get it off! Get it off!" After two hops, Sokka slams flat to the ground. "Ahh!" Katara and I giggles as Sokka falls over.

    "Great! You're awake! Let's go!" Aang said smiling widely. He grabbed my waist and pulled me onto Appa's head. I squealed.

"That was fun." He smiled at my statement. "Complete weightlessness." His eyes met mine.

Katara and Sokka sat in the saddle and when I turned I saw Katara already giving me a glare and a look I couldn't quite decipher. I turned back to Aang and noticed he was smiling at me.

"Yip Yip!" Appa groans and takes off. I smiled and look around.

I guess I spaced out because the next thing I heard made my heart drop.

"Well, I just want you to be prepared for what you might see. The Fire Nation is ruthless. They killed my mother, and they could have done the same to your people." I look down. 'I'm so sorry Aang.'