(1) Augmentum | Zuko

Chapter Seventy-One

Sokka and Aang manage to find an empty horse cart which they'll use for the still unconscious Zuko. Just till he wakes up. And explain what just happened. Everyone is still kind of confused. First, the scary lady on the monster mount is hunting them and then two Fire Nation guys show up and help them. That's a lot for one day. Aang clears out the cart. Sokka blinks and looks down at Pikachu using its tail to sweep up some of the mess. It's not making much of a dent, but it's the thought that counts.

"Pika pika"

"Keep up the good work, Pikachu," Sokka tells it and then looks over at Rana and where she still is sat at Zuko's side, her knees brought up to her chest. She did what she could. She used her spirit-bending. To heal anything and everything she could feel. But he's still out of it. She has an idea why he's here. Like she can feel it from him. But she would very much prefer for him to tell her himself. Iroh moves to stand behind her, reaches down and touches her shoulder, she turns her head slightly, acknowledging him. She knows he's there. She sniffles a little. Upset. He got hurt because of her. Because he pushed her out of the way. Because Zhao had June hunting for her. She lets out a breath and hangs her head, a tear rolling down her cheek.

"He should have woken up" Rana comments brushing the tear away with her sleeve. "I healed what I could....he should be awake" She whispers more to herself than Iroh who looks at her sadly. It's a kick in the teeth. Zuko finally following his heart instead of his head, and this happens.

"Is he....?" Iroh asks, she hums and nods softly.

"I can still feel him" She offers as she holds her hand out over Zuko, a purple energy flowing between them. She then lowers her hand and lets out a breath. Iroh notes that the last threads of energy connect Zuko and Rana differently, a spark from heart to heart. He knows what that means. He should have pushed Zuko harder to admit to himself that he loved this girl. Though he wonders if that connection might be why Zhao and Ozai put a stop to their friendship. They should have been encouraging it instead. Starving the two kids of any true affection and friendship hurt them.

"Rana" Sokka calls and she turns to look over her shoulder at him. "What do you want to do?" What does she want to do? There is only one thing that they can do. Get him help somewhere else. That somewhere else is going to be Arkala. She's going to have to go home.

"There's a town down the road" She offers. "It's where the sisters went, it'll be somewhere that we can find someone to help...maybe" She scrubs her hands over her face and stands.

........

Eevee curls into Zuko's side in the back of the cart that's been hooked up to Spectrier. Houndour is standing vigil next to his feet. Rana touches the side of the cart and turns to the others.

"If you want to keep heading north" She starts. She knows that Aang needs to get to the water-benders, and she needs to stay with Zuko. She'll be no good to them if she's worried about him.

"We're in this together" Sokka assures her, stopping her from finishing that thought. They are all in this together. And if that now means Zuko too, then they can live with that. "We'll make sure he's okay first" She smiles gratefully at them. Katara nods in agreement.

"Aang?" Rana asks. He is the one that Zuko has hunted and tried to kidnap and give over to the Fire Lord. Aang shrugs, leaning on his staff.

"Ah, well, I'm a sucker for love" Aang teases, Rana smirks and gives him a look back. "You're my friend, Rah, we stay" He then looks around and lets out a nervous laugh. "Maybe we can also find someone to repair what we broke" Aang adds looking at the damaged buildings.

......

Rana climbs up onto the back of Spectrier and glances around at the others as they climb up onto their mounts. Pikachu jumping up to settle on Rana's shoulder. She knows what going down into the valley means. It means taking these people to her birthplace. Her home. It means returning. She lets out a breath and grabs Spectrier's reins in her hand then nods to herself. To save Zuko. To find someone to help him. She can do this. He raced all the way here to save her. She can't give anything less. Rana then touches the crystal ball around her neck. Around her, those pokemon that aren't already with her, appear around them. Eevee joins Eevee in the cart with Houndour and Chikorita. Ninetails and Lycanroc take the lead of the group, ready to defend if need be. Katara pulls Wartortle into a hug with a chuckle and Noivern takes to the sky with a diving swoop before rising to the clouds. Iroh watches amazed and then looks at Zuko. Worry creeping into his chest. Both Eevees move to curl up with Zuko to keep him warm. Houndour softening a little before laying against Zuko's leg to do the same thing.

"I know the cart is asking a lot," Rana tells Spectier. "But please...just this once..." Her voice breaks and Spectrier looks at her before inclining its head. "Thank you" Rana touches its neck and closes her eyes. "Okay," She leans back and nods. "Let's go" She nudges Spectrier into a walk and the horse leads them onward. Ninetails and Lycanroc at its side.