(1) Augmentum | Zuko

Chapter Sixty-Two

Rana's eyes follow Aunt Wu around the back room as she lights incense around the room. She's taking it slow. Drawing it out. Upping the tension. Rana does not appreciate it. she just wants this to be done, so she can prove the woman wrong and go about her day.

"You aren't a believer" Aunt Wu points out as she moves back towards Rana.

"I have no reason to be" Rana defends. "I have yet to find a fortune-teller whose been right"

"There is truth in everything, even the lies" Aunt Wu argues as she sits across from her. Rana holds out her hand to the woman who takes it, turning it up to read her palm. "Hmm, you are a fighter"

"The calluses from my sword give it away?" Rana asks dryly.

"Yes, but I am not talking about physical fighting" Aunt Wu argues. "You suffer from a great internal struggle" Rana lets out a breath and shakes her head. She is sure she wears that on her face. She knows what it is. She knows. "Fighting between what you think is right and what you truly want...Between....head and heart" She adds, Rana lifts her eyes. "The body cannot function without both" Aunt Wu offers. "You cannot live without either" The two of them stare at one another. Rana can see what she is talking about. Zuko. Rana stands, she doesn't want to hear this. She doesn't want to listen to this woman tell her that what she's feeling is wrong. Aunt Wu seems to sense this. "What is wrong and what is right?" She asks Rana. "Always a worry for young people, always worrying about everyone else....who cares?" Rana lifts an eyebrow at her. "Why do other people sway your choices when they are yours and yours alone...." Aunt Wu adds. "Your inner spirit is stronger than you think....more powerful, more reliable, more connective.....but patience is key. A wait, short or long, will have its rewards...." Rana moves to leave the room. "Hear me" Aunt Wu stops her. "You are not alone" Rana glances at her before she turns and leaves the room, closing the door behind her.

.......

Sokka looks up hearing Rana's footsteps, she's got her head down and her hands are fisted at her side. He can see that whatever was said, has clearly upset her. She doesn't even stop to check on them.

"Rana?" Sokka asks as she walks past them and leaves the building. Sokka looks at Katara who nods for him to go after her. Sokka pushes himself to his feet and hurries after his friend.

.........

Sokka catches up with Rana as she moves towards the village gates. She's wanting to escape. To get out Noivern or Spectrier and go for a ride or a fly to escape.

"What did she say?" Sokka grabs her arm to stop her. "What did she say?" He asks her softer. If Rana seems this upset about something then Aunt Wu must have said something.

"Nothing I didn't already know" She argues. "Just weird hearing it from someone else....more so from a stranger" She folds her arms over her chest. "I'm fine"

"Let me guess" He teases. "Zu!" He offers, faux dreamily, clutching his hands to his cheek. She looks at him and fights a smirk. He then softens.

"I know you're struggling with being away from him"

"That's not what this is about" She defends. "It bothers me that he's with the Fire Nation....it bothers me that we're stuck on opposite sides and that...." She sighs. "I just think he's better than them" She admits. "You know, the boy I knew....he was better than them and I've seen him, hiding in that angry boy" Sokka snorts.

"Angry boy" He teases. The two of them share a look and she shrugs.

"Just wish it was a little easier, you know?" She asks. "I go off, betray the bad guys and protect the Avatar and then..this is my reward? The boy I like is standing against me?"

"He might surprise you" Sokka comments and pulls her into a hug. She scoffs and curls into his chest. She knows where she stands and she knows where Zuko stands. She's not sure anything can change that. She knows there is a connection between them. But worth turning their backs on what they believe. She's not sure.

.....

Later, a large crowd has gathered in the centre of the village where a covered stage now resides. Aang, Rana, Katara, and Sokka, along with Pikachu perched on Rana's shoulders approach the crowd. Most of the people standing around are looking up in silence. The Calm Man from before is one of these onlookers.

"What's with the sky?" Katara asks as she looks up with him and the rest of the crowd.

"We are waiting for Aunt Wu to come and read the clouds to predict the fate of the whole village" The Calm Man answers.

"That cloud looks like a fluffy bunny" Aang points out as he points up to the sky.

"You better hope that's not a bunny – the fluffy bunny cloud forecasts doom and destruction" The Calm Man answers.

"Do you even hear yourself?" Sokka asks him seriously with an annoyed look. Rana lets out a sigh as Pikachu leans forward.

"Pika pika" He states in confusion, Rana hums in agreement.

"What's it saying?" Aang asks.

"That this is stupid" Rana answers flatly. Sokka snorts in agreement. The Calm Man looks annoyed at Rana who smirks dryly at him.

"The cloud reading will tell us if Mount Makapu will remain dormant for another year or if it will erupt" A woman nearby offers.

"We used to have a tradition once a year of going up the mountain to check the volcano ourselves, but ever since Aunt Wu moved to the village twenty years ago we have a tradition of not doing that" The Calm man adds.

"I can't believe you would trust your lives to that crazy old woman's superstition" Sokka complains folding his arms over his chest. Katara puts a hand on his shoulder to shut him up.

"Shhhh!! She's coming!" They all turn to watch as Aunt Wu ascends the staircase to the stage. The crowd begins to clap and cheer. Meng shows up suddenly next to Aang and points up at the sky.

"Hey, Aang, doesn't that cloud look like a flower?"

"Sure, I guess" He agrees and then moves closer to Katara. "Hey, Katara, don't you think that cloud looks like a flower?"

"Shh!!" Katara hisses at him. Aang sinks back. Aunt Wu, now on the stage, bows, draws breath and holds up her hands to the sky.

"Bending arrow cloud... good crops this year, nice big harvest!" Aunt Wu informs them. "Wavy moon shape cloud... let's see... gonna be a great year for twins" Two twins in green give each other a high five. "And a cumulus cloud with a twisted nob coming off the end of it... the village will not be destroyed by the volcano this year!"

"Since I got you here, uh, there's something I want to tell you. I like you, but more than normal." Aang tells Katara but she's not paying attention to him. She is watching Aunt Wu on the stage, she then turns and rushes the stage, running towards Aunt Wu. Aang looks crushed. Momo, perched on Aang's head, also drops his ears in sadness. "Never mind" Rana watches him sadly from where she stands with Sokka, her ears twitching on her head.