Changing Sides
I step out from behind the pillar and find that the bison has landed between me and the Avatar's group. They can't see me so I take another moment to prepare. I can hear them talking. Wait, is the Avatar talking about visiting an echo chamber? Sozin's Comet is coming and the Avatar is thinking about echo chambers? Then the earth bender girl says something about that having to wait and I just have time to thank Agni that at least one of them has priorities before the bison moves, allowing the group to see me. The blind earthbender is pointing right at me. How she knows where I am, I have no clue. "Hello, Zuko here" I see the Avatar's group get ready to fight, but I have to hope they will be willing to listen. "I heard you guys flying around up there so I just thought I'd wait for you here" The bison comes over to me and I flinch instinctively, but then, to my surprise, it licks me. I wipe off the slime and continue "I know you must be surprised to see me here" I'm about to keep talking when the water tribe boy – Sokka – interrupts me, saying "Not really, since you've followed us all over the world." Oh dear, I think, this is not going well. "Right… Well uh… anyway, what I wanted to tell you about is that I've changed, and I uh, I'm good now. And, well, I think I should join your group. Oh, and I can teach firebending… to you." Sokka looks dumbfounded but it looks like I'm getting through to the Avatar at least, so I continue talking, somewhat encouraged. "See, I, uh…" Now the blind earth bender – Toph – interrupts me "You want to do what now?" Katara, the waterbender, cuts in "You can't possibly think any of us would trust you, can you? I mean, how stupid do you think we are?" I know she will be the hardest to convince, after what happened in Ba Sing Se. Now Sokka, who seems to have recovered from his shock speaks up "Yeah, all you've ever done is try to hunt us down and capture Aang!"
"I've done some good things!" I protest "I could have stolen your bison back in Ba Sing Se, but I set him free" Shoot, why did I mention Ba Sing Se "That's something!" As I finish speaking, the bison licks me again. "Appa does seem to like him" points out Toph. I feel my hopes rising, but then Sokka speaks up "He probably covered himself in honey or something, so Appa would lick him. I'm not buying it!"
"I can understand why you wouldn't trust me, and I know I've made some mistakes in the past…"
Sokka interrupts again "Like when you attacked our village?"
"Or when you stole my mother's necklace and used it to track us down and capture us?" Katara again.
"Look, I admit I've done some awful things. I was wrong to try and capture you, and I'm sorry that I attacked the water tribe. And I never should've sent that fire nation assassin after you. I'm gonna try and stop him.
Suddenly, Sokka interrupts again "Wait, you sent Combustion Man after us?"
"Well that's not his name, but…" I start to explain, only to be cut off by a sarcastic comment from Sokka "Oh, sorry, I didn't mean to insult your friend." Now I'm starting to get annoyed, and I yell "He's not my friend!" Toph, who had until now seemed willing to listen, now looks very angry and yells "That guy locked me and Katara in jail and tried to blow us all up!" I take a deep breath and look at the Avatar, knowing this could be my last chance "Why aren't you saying anything?" I ask "You once said you thought we could be friends. You know I have good in me." Aang looks at his friends, none of whom seem very willing to let me join them, before replying "There's no way we can trust you after everything you've done. We'll never let you join us." Then Katara says "You need to get out of here, now." Ugh… why won't they listen? I try again "I'm trying to explain, I'm not that person anymore!" I take a few steps forward, trying to make them listen. Sokka yanks out his boomerang and tells me "Either you leave, or we attack!" I sigh and kneel down, putting my hands out in front of me "If you won't accept me as a friend, then maybe you'll take me as a prisoner."
"No, we won't!" I hear Katara yell, and then I get swept backwards as she waterbends at me. She continues "Get out of here and don't come back. And if we ever see you again… well, we better not see you again!" I blew it, my big chance to help end this war, and I blew it, I think sadly as I leave.
