Author Notes – This is my First story so please review if you want the story to continue if you want to, first off, this is obviously about after the book 2, and going into book 3, and since these are predictions, I like to say that this story IS NOT Zutara, that isn't going to happen only in my own created arc(read bottom) since this is Taang, and other ones are Tykka, and Maiko, since I love these pairings more then anyone else's I think and hope this will be like the actual parings that that will happen for the third book, but this is prediction some what so it really doesn't matter.
The Third Book: Fire Chapter 1 - Begining to the End
After the events of Ba Sing Se things are some what looking up for a certain prince on board a ship that going back to the fire nation for Zuko to go back to his father after 3 years and for Azula to bring back good new to him about the capturing of Ba Sing Se and not just that also having his brother Iroh also their uncle in custody for acts of betrayal for past crimes like Zuko but he redeemed but helping her in her capturing in the earth kingdom, he did the one thing she didnt expect out of him, helping the avatar escape her clutchs and is now going to get executed and this only pashed the not so banished prince anymore by only a little bit but that soon changes.
It finally happened, Zuko got back all he wanted and even more then he expected, he got his honor back, his father's wanting, being able to go back to his nation, and even surprisingly his sisters acceptance. The only problem was that he had to give up the one person who stood by him, the one who taught him everything, and even spent years with him on a obviously false mission by his father and stuck by him to the end, a person who treated him more like a son then his own father, and what does he do, he betrays him, and all he can do now is make excuses for what he has done just to get everything he lost but he knows that this might be another false hope and has his doubts against this and his sister.
"Uncle I'am sorry I had to do this, I'm sorry I went and turned my back on you, the one who truly gave me good parenting, and love but you left me no choice you got in my way, and it even what more angers me is that you now want me to help an enemy, our enemy, the avatar who has the power to not only kill my father, your brother, but also to destroy this nation, you are a traitor." – Zuko, in his room thinking what he did was right even though he feels guilty about it, and saying words he wouldn't even think of saying about Iroh especially calling him a traitor, but before he can think more a voice came behind him a voice that has made him angry every time hearing it since he knew it only said cruel words and it only came from someone who liked to torment everyone including him his own brother, his own sister.
"Well ZuZu what do you think now, wasn't it worth dropping that fool of a once great general to the curve and joining your calling." – Azula finally getting his brother to see he was wrong and make him do what she wanted, never felt so good and it was a dream for her to get him to act against their Uncle.
"Well it's good and bad, but more I feel an ominus aura around here and even a dark secret your keeping from me and everyone else." – Zuko having his doubt on his sister
"What do you mean brother?" – Azula starting to get anxious.
"Well for one you make this to easy for me, before you never let me come back like this, and you even tried to lie as usual to trick me to come back to kill me, maybe uncle…." – Zuko before he finished his sentence.
"Your kidding me your still having doubts now after all you did for your nation and what were giving in return, you finally have fathers love and you honor back, and all you can think about is that old fool." – Azula saying the usual thing about her Uncle.
"Azula you have no idea what your talking about, I just feel this is wrong, he kept by me up in tell now and I went against him, you have no idea this hurts, and all I' am doing is making excuses for my self, I'm the worst." – Zuko lashing out at Azula, trying to explain to her why she is wrong but knew I wouldn't dent her since she really couldn't car less on what he thinks is right or wrong and really couldn't care less what her uncle Iroh did for him in his time of need, since she despised him just as much as she did mom and himself.
"Yes you right about one thing you are the worst." - Azula agreeing, Zuko eyes just darted to her sister.
"But your not anymore, you let that old man die by execution and father will give you everything in return, and you know why its that easy, because you earned it, you took down a city, that even uncle couldn't break down and you did it in a matter of seconds, while it him years and it was the beginning of the end for him when he went and turned his back on his army and left, just for the death of his useless son." – Azula saying very harsh words that stung Zuko more then making feel better about himself, but he didn't expect a nice answer from his sinister sister.
Zuko in thought knew Azula couldn't be even more wrong about him, he had actual morals and didn't attack them mercilessly, and he knew himself that, because he never held a grudge to any of the earth benders or that city that took his son and his life away, he even complements them for their peace and even tea. – Zuko thought that, and even laughed a little for the last part.
"What's so funny brother did I say something that you don't understand, or do you think I' am lying to you like you always do." – Azula snapping at her brother.
"Nothing, nothing you need to worry about, I believe for once, for what you say (as Zuko leaves) but you know sister is that I will never believe anything else that comes out of your filthy mouth and to me you are a she-devil and will never think of you as anything else, and before I leave you are dead wrong about uncle and maybe you better appreciate what he gave you in return or you'll regret it." – Zuko leaving the room proud of what he said.
Azula sneering at him as her brother left thinking he better watch what his mouth our he'll regret it, and also better keep an eye on him.
As Zuko was leaving Mai, and Ty Lee pass him, they both notice him smiling, and think they never saw that in a long time, and Mai blushing that she finally has time to see him since he no longer an enemy, and she was to shy to look in his face, and Ty Lee noticed it and smiled thinking they should talk soon when there alone when they think they are.
"So you two finally came, well I hope you two had fun at Ba Sing Se because I have another small little mission for you." – Azula grinning.
"Sure what is it princess Azula" – Ty Lee, and Mai said unison.
Mai hoping this wont take her away from this ship since they have a long time before going back to their nation and she really wants to speak with Zuko.
"Don't worry its nothing big and it will make you both happy, especially you Mai, since even though you don't have to leave this ship you have to spend time with the man you have a crush on, guess it's Zuko." – Azula teasing Mai, knowing she still likes him that way.
"Okay, I Just hope it isn't boring." – Mai knowing she trying to hide that fact she's is extremely happy and smiles lightly about this and can't wait to start her "mission."
"Good, all you have to do is kill him in his sleep tonight." – Azula saying mischievously sounding like it doesn't matter.
Mai went from being a little happy to just plain paralyzed thinking how could Azula do this to her, and making it sound like a no big deal situation, was this about loyalty, our about what Zuko said to her before leaving, whatever it was it couldn't get any worse for her and thinking is this just some sick joke, and even Ty Lee was shocked about this occurrence and wasn't surprised since this is how Azula acts, and even show fear since she doesn't want to since Zuko was like a friend to her and knew how Mai feels about him, and both were about to say they couldn't, they wouldn't but before they could say that.
"Just kidding, I knew you two wouldn't be happy about and I was right and the sad expressions on your faces show it was worth it, but be glad you didn't have to because you would have or probably are if the situation goes the other way, but it shouldn't go to that so was just playing with your heads." – Azula laughing with out a care knowing she struck a nerve in their bodies and made them feels sick and weak about her fake resolution.
"Azula please don't do that again, please." – Ty Lee said being very puppy like eyes thinking she was to cruel even for jokes, while Mai was to still to scared to say anything to her supposed best friend.
"Okay, Okay, sorry okay for the real mission, I want you both to spy on him, just to make sure he doesn't have second thoughts about getting our sweat uncle out of our prison and he even might find the next avatar to help him." – Azula finally going back to her seriousness.
"That's right the avatar is dead right, hmmmmm" – Ty Lee sighed disappointed that he probably wont ever get to see the water tribe boy again, thinking about what he said about this "Suki" girl and hopes she doesn't get in the way of her love and thinking the avatar was only 12 years old and didn't deserve the death that Azula described.
"Don't tell me, you want us to make sure he doesn't leave with either force or persuasion." – Mai said in a dull tone.
"Exactly, thank you Mai, remember he still can be useful, and father does want him for his own "personal needs." – Azula saying that last part with an evil grin.
"Alright well start tomorrow since I think he went to bed and so should we it is late." – Mai said as they were both leaving to their rooms.
"Good and girls don't let me down and don't let your emotions get in the way like last time. – Azula saying with authority.
"We won't princess Azula." – Both girls said in unison and both thinking about their last gruesome fight before going into Ba Sing Se and seeing the avatar's flying bison. And they left to get ready to sleep for their not so challenging mission, and Mai hoped Azula words don't come true and don't have to use force or even the latter to satisfy their friend.
Azula smiling evilly that she finally got what she wanted for all this time, and even got a quick torture of mind on the same day, knowing Ba Sing Se is guarded by fire nation guards and her Ba Ling soldiers it cant be taken away and her father will be pleased, and with an ignorant thought of thinking she has everyone in her control especially her friends and knowing her uncle will get what he disserves after all he did for Zuko and not her, just like her other parent(now looking at the ground with a mad serious face on and grinding her teeth with inner rage of her past memories of her, and ones that could have happened but didn't because of her other kin, and hopes he will also get what he disserves to soon but not by her own hands.
As Zuko gets in bed he is in deep thinking about what he should do, facing off with his own self, like should he crawl back to his father or get uncle off this ship and leave with and go off on adventures even getting back a tea house, but it's a inner battle in his head on what right and wrong, good versus evil, reason vs. injustice, all for his own greed, he knows he hasn't lost his old self since he's trying to reason with his self, but has to wait before seeing his uncle before making his true final decision one he wishes that will allow him to accept him even if it kills him for it, but hopes it wont come down with this and can save him. As he says those last words a single tear drops from his face to his covers and he goes to sleep for tomorrow he knows he needs to choose fast since this could probably be his only chance to save him or himself since his execution gets closer with every passing day, and in the end he thought something he thought he never would, he wondered why Azula acted as she did, does she have a grudge with everyone or just one with him and the ones close to him, this question will continue to haunt him for a very long time.
As Uncle Iroh thinks in his cell about Zuko's choice, he sighed on how bad the food and tea they made for him as the guard just handed him his next meal and walked away.
"Damn that nephew of mine, I can't believe it you were so happy before and everything was fine before you had to screw it up for the both of them." – Iroh sitting down after he ate his cold meal.
"For the both us…. (Sigh) maybe you just screwed me and made your self happy, after all maybe it was just fair since I made you be happy in my fantasy and I even made you change for my own benefit….. (Another Sigh) some father I've been, making Zuko feel what I want him to feel, I thought I was doing it for him, but instead I was doing for my own selfishness." – Iroh with his head hanging.
"I' am so sorry prince Zuko I just hope you make better decisions in your next life with your true father and make the world better, not for me but your own self, after I'm long gone, since I failed you for your own needs." – Zuko finishing with tears in eyes falling from his cheeks to the floor, and then fell asleep for his next day in this cell, just hoping he can see some glimpse of Prince Zuko before his execution to say these words to him face to face.
As the ship that's carrying them to their destination that wont be getting there for a while our young hero the avatar and friends are trying to recover their lost at the earth kingdom and trying to find a good stop to do that on Appa, but all hope seems lost and they have doubts that can they truly defeat the fire nation now and end this chaos, and every time they try to land it seems fire nation owns everything and Katara and Sokka are having an eerie feeling that their water nation is whats keeping the fire nation from winning completely, and Aang now thinking the same since he'll probably not find a fire bending teacher in time, or before the eclipse or before the comet comes, and since he cant get rid of his feelings for Katara completely he cant master it so he soon has to make a choice again and this time it might be for good, as they all thought that Toph begins to think this is just the begining for the end and not in the way everyone else is thinking of, her thinking this right after they finally found a good spot to rest up.
Well the first chapter is done and I hope you guys like it and please review on how you think if I could do better or if its just fine as it is, and I promise you I'll try to make chapters long like this or even longer with more talking then in the head thinking and battle scenes, because I just wanted to explain everything since as a story I should and should explain everything that will lead up events to later and help others understand the story, but I promise the explaining will stop later since everything and I while be making many chapters since chapters aren't based on episodes, and I just need more time to think of what to write, so hopefully there will be a lot, and their will be author notes as chapters, just Please Review, and I promise I will make many chapters since I know people are reading and like what they see, and if this story is either successful or not my next project will happen during the process of this story and will be based on Azula history on her past up till now and will be based on this story on her actions since I wont be explaining that much about them on her out of character moments if there are any, since that story will explain why she hates who she hates and why she is so mean to everyone, and finally third story will be love mush and full of dramatic, but also have dark theme, and hopefully I can put good battle scenes to.
P.S. to those Zutara fans, I' Am sorry I had to say those comment before, I just think that love interest just insist there, and I know Aang tried to give up his love for Katara to control over his Avatar state, but he did finish that and even smiled to her back when Katara and others were watching him on Appa when leaving still showing he hasn't forgot her, not a fan of theirs but its just fact to me so sorry so please don't argue about it, I hate that pairing but I respect your enthusiasm that fact insist always right and fan pairings could actually work, and I respect other peoples fan fiction about them since they did a good job portraying it, so please don't take this the wrong way I will show affection towards them in some ways but in the end they will only be good friends but as I said I will show moments since there is going to be a love triangle sort of since Aang does lose some interest in Katara from the whole trying to lose affection of her to get the avatar state down and there is Zuko so there a treat for you guys for you guys so guys dont get left out.