Homeplot, Part Two: Journey to the Capital City

[irisewiththesun]

It's still a little surreal, having four people from the island there with Zuko as he heads into days that could change everything for the world he knows, and for his nation. It’s surreal just being home again, even though he knows that it’s not real - it feels real, not like a dream at all, and that makes Zuko want to keep from screwing anything

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Group Traveling on Appa

[unbendable_air]

As far as the new additions were concerned, Aang figured if Zuko could trust them, then so could he. Zuko didn't have to teach him firebending, didn't have to go with him to see the dragons, didn't have to do a lot of things that he had done since they'd found him at the air temple. But he had and Aang was willing to bet his life on the fact that Zuko was now a firm member of their team.

So Aang definitely didn't mind letting some of them ride on Appa as they started their journey into the Fire Nation and towards the eventual battle with Lord Ozai. He could tell the yellow haired girl was enjoying it particularly, though the sad look he often caught in her eyes worried him. How could anybody be sad flying? It was the best feeling in the world!

Re: Group Traveling on Appa

[giftless]

Flying was the best feeling in the world. Edmund would agree with that statement whole-heartedly. He had happily taken the chance to ride the giant bison, amused by its size and docile nature. They didn't even have elephants this large in Narnia and it seemed wrong to miss out on a chance for something fun and magical. If living on the island had taught Edmund one thing, it was to take advantage of the good while you had it.

So he settled back into the large, odd saddle with Cassie and the others, one arm outstretched to feel the currents of air pass over and under, his eyes shut as he enjoyed the feeling of the wind beating at his face.

[giftless]

"So," Edmund replied, opening his eyes. It didn't take a master detective to see that the girl had not really taken to the new additions. Compared to Aang, her reticence stood out like a sore thumb. That, Edmund thought, had more to do with Aang's personality than the girl's, so he didn't take it as a bad sign. Just an indication that he should try harder with her, if she wanted.

Starting a conversation was a sign of something, to be sure. He smiled at her as the wind whipped up his hair and let his hand drop. "Never been on a flying bison before myself. This must be old hat for you."

[giftless]

Edmund chuckled at the noise, maybe too pleased to be around a magical creature again. The unicorns now avoided him, and though he saw Luna's thestral and what he thought was a dragon roundabout neither of them struck Edmund as the friendly, cozy sort. A giant flying bison with six legs was just what the doctor ordered.

"How long have you been a group?" he asked. He knew some things from Zuko, but not all of the picture. He did not know anything about Katara for example, but being there, sitting beside her, made him more interested. "I know Zuko fairly well, and the mission, but why did you join up?"

[giftless]

Edmund did not like this tactic of lying to the others. He didn't like lying generally, and in situations like this it allowed for far too many holes into which someone might fall. He could see from the narrowing of Katara's eyes that he had said something wrong and maybe that was true. The reasoning seemed plain in Edmund's mind, the loose network of lies that allowed him to ask that question without drawing too much attention to himself, but drawing a lie out always made it worse. Explaining why he asked what he asked might just make her more suspicious so he just dealt with what he was given

[giftless]

"We will," Edmund said. It wasn't confidence that made him so firmly, but a quiet faith that came from having seen the worst that people could do and having seen that the best was so much better. He included himself in the statement because even though this wasn't his world, his kingdom, all his friends-- not his battle in any traditional sense, it was his as well in the way that mattered. This was a fight between what was right and what was wrong, and Edmund knew his side now. He had learned that a long time ago.

"As long as there are people who believe, that can make a difference."