Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar: the Last Bender or its characters
Pointers: 'italics' means that the character is thinking
Summary: She stayed through Zuko's side through it all. How many times will she have to jump through hoops just to see his happiness? Will he ever find it? Or does she has to keep fighting to get him to the right path? Zuko x OC R&R!
Book 1: Water & Book 2: Earth
The Siege of the North / Refugee Life / The Chase
Zuko, in a dark cabin on his ship, had his arms are folded across his chest. The door at the far end of the cabin opens and Iroh leans in. Zuko does not look at him. "For the last time, I'm not playing the Tsungi horn."
"No, it's about our plans. There's a bit of a problem." Iroh said as Zhao enters the room behind Iroh.
"I'm taking your crew," the admiral said as Zuko turned around to face him.
"What!" he shouted.
"I've recruited them for a little expedition to the North Pole." he explained.
"Uncle, is that true?" Zuko asked, disappointed.
"I'm afraid so. He's taking everyone." he said while putting his arm over his face in woe, "Even the cook!" Iroh answered.
"Sorry you won't be there to watch me capture the Avatar. But I can't have you getting in my way again." Zuko charges him in anger, but Iroh prevents him from tackling Zhao, who walks over to inspect the curved broadswords on the wall used the same used by the Blue Spirit to free the Avatar. Zhao's face, swollen in anger as he recognizes the blades.. He takes one off the wall, Zuko's eyes wide and mouth open, clearly recognizing the danger he is in. Iroh, visible over Zuko's shoulder, does not. Zuko, who begins practicing with the sword he has removed from the wall. "I didn't know you were skilled with broadswords, Prince Zuko."
"I'm not. They're antiques. Just decorative." Zuko replied.
"Have you heard of the Blue Spirit, General Iroh?" the admiral asked.
"Just rumors. I don't think he is real." the older man responded.
"He's real all right. He's a criminal, an enemy of the Fire Nation." he hands the broad sword to Iroh, "But I have a feeling that justice will catch up with him soon." Zhao moves to exit the cabin. "General Iroh, the offer to join my mission still stands if you change your mind." Zhao closes the door behind him.
The door opens to Zuko's cabin, Iroh sticks his head in. "The crew wanted me to wish you safe travels."
"Good riddance to those traitors!" he snapped, "Where's Amaterasu?"
"She's in her cabin asleep. He tried to take her too but she refused." Iroh sighed, "It's a lovely night for a walk. Why don't you join me? It would clear your head." Iroh's smiles falls away as Zuko refuses to respond. "Or, just stay in your room and sit in the dark. Whatever makes you happy." Iroh leaves, closing the door behind him.
Zuko looked at the ceiling. 'Why did Zhao try to take her?' he thought.
Soon the door opened, Amaterasu came walking into the room. "He's gone, thank Agni."
The Prince looked at her and then back up the ceiling, "Yeah. What did he say when he tried to recruit you?"
"Why stay with a banished Prince? Come with me and you'll be able to go back home and blah blah blah." Amaterasu waved her arms, imitating Zhao which made the Prince snicker.
Zuko scoffed, "Just who does he think he is anyway?"
"I don't know but I wish he would leave you alone." Amaterasu sat at the end of his bed, "We've been through a lot, huh?"
The Prince looked at her, smiling. "Yeah, but we'll be home soon."
Iroh's was walking down the gang plank to the dock. He is humming the song. As he passes by the Pirate Captain's green parrot flies by. Some time evidently passes by. Pirates are climbing aboard the main deck of Zuko's ship. The Pirate Barker goes over the opposite railing of the ship and lowers down some ropes with hooks at end. Below in a small skiff are two other pirates with barrels of explosives. They attach the hooks to the barrels which are then hoisted up. One of the pirates on the deck almost drops the barrel, but recovers.
"Careful with the blasting jelly!" Pirate Barker whispers carefully. He then turns one of the door latches. It makes a much larger noise then he thought. Zuko sat straight up in bed, alarmed.
Getting up, he calls for Iroh, "Uncle?" he opens his door to look out in the corridor? "Uncle, is that you? Amaterasu did you hear that? "He jumps out into the hallway in a fighting stance. Warily, he advances to the bridge, ready for instant combat around every corner.
"No," she follows behind him. "Maybe your just paranoid."
The pirates light a trail of gunpowder and then run off the ship. Zuko walked around the bridge and the lit trail of gunpowder. At last, Zuko turns and looks out one of the bridge windows to see the Pirate Captain's green parrot. It croaks at him and then takes off. The prince has a realization of what the bird's appearance means strikes him. It is too late but he made sure to grab Amaterasu, covering her body with his. The lit gunpowder reached the barrels of blasting jelly. The bridge deck and main deck explode, blasting Zuko and Amaterasu out the bridge window. Another explosion rips the vessel completely open mid ship. Iroh who was walking down a dirt road, the explosion in full bloom behind him. He has turned to look. His face contorted with surprise and fear. "Zuko! Ammy!" he begins to run back to the ship. Iroh reaches the dock, burning debris falling all around him. He is dwarfed by the massive fireball that was Zuko's ship. His face was well lit by the conflagration. He lowered his face in sadness, "No. . ."
Iroh walked down a corridor in Zhao's ship, a guard walked in the other direction. They stop when abreast of each other and begin to whisper, "Our plan is working perfectly. Zhao doesn't suspect a thing."
Zuko removed his guard mask, "You didn't have to do this."
"No nephew of mine is going to stow away on a ship without some backup!" he said.
"Thank you, Uncle." he thanked Iroh.
The older man then heard a sound, "Someone's coming!" Zuko replaces his mask, "Stay hidden until we get to the North Pole and the Avatar will be yours! Good luck!"
"This will truly be one for the history book, General Iroh," said Zhao as he and Iroh were on the bridge of Zhao's flag ship, "Just think, centuries from now, people will study the great Admiral Zhao who destroyed the last of the Water Tribe civilization. You're lucky you're here to see it."
"Be careful what you wish for, Admiral. History is not always kind to its subjects." Iroh looked down at his hands, thinking for a few minutes.
"I suppose you speak from experience? But rest assured, this will be nothing like your legendary failure at Ba Sing Se." The admiral said with such confidence and with a smirk plastered on his face.
Iroh's expression didn't change. "I hope not, for your sake."
"Tell the Captains to prepare for first strike." Iroh turned and walked away. Iroh found Amaterasu with Zuko in his guard disguise in the hallway of the ship.
Iroh whispered, "We'll be landing soon. Do you both have a plan?"
Zuko removed his mask. "I'm working on it, Uncle." Zuko replaces his mask and they split up. At sunset, the advancing ranks of Fire Navy ships fired volleys of fireballs towards the City of the North Pole. Some of them landed inside the city while the other hit the outer wall. Master Pakku was in front of a group of waterbenders.
"Stop those fireballs!" Pakku commanded as a fireball bears down on them, they collectively raise up a barrier of water and freeze as the fireball impacts. It is extinguished.
Zhao watches the bombardment from the bridge of his flagship. Iroh came in and spoke,"It's almost twilight, Admiral. As your military consultant I must advise you to halt your attack. The waterbenders draw their power from the moon and it is nearly full tonight. You should wait and resume the attack at daybreak."
"Oh, I'm well aware of the moon problem and I am working on a solution. But for now, daybreak it is." The Fire Navy ships dropped their anchors for the night. Zuko was now out of uniform and entirely dressed instead in plain grey clothes, preparing a canoe to be lowered into the water. Behind him a door opens to reveal Iroh entering he shuts the door behind him.
"If you're fishing for an octopus, my nephew, you need a tightly woven net or he will squeeze through the tiniest hole and escape." Iroh frowned.
"I don't need your wisdom right now, Uncle." Zuko said before realizing Amaterasu wasn't there but before he could speak, his Uncle spoke instead.
"I'm sorry, I just nag you because, well, ever since I lost my son. . ." Iroh looks away, pain evident in his face.
"Uncle, you don't have to say it." Zuko said.
"I think of you as my own." Iroh said as Zuko turns to him, a genuine look of concern and understand on his face.
"I know, Uncle. Where is Amaterasu?" He asked, worried about the only girl who could possibly understand him.
Iroh sighed. "Zhao brought her in for a talk."
Zuko narrowed his eyes. "Go get her for me."
Amaterasu stood behind the Admiral, bowing when he turned to acknowledge her. Zhao smiled at her before reaching to take her hand again but decided against it once realizing that before, she didn't wanted to be treated like a Princess but like a Master Firebender.
"You have grown to be a lovely woman, Master Amaterasu." he said as the female arched a brow.
The Princess smiled. "Why thank you, Zhao. How kind of you to notice."
"How could I not?" he smiled at her, his arms behind his back.
"Well, I should be going." Amaterasu turned around, trying to leave.
Zhao pushed the door she halfway opened shut, turning her around so that she had no choice but to look up at him, "I hope your still not worried about that foolish, teenager."
"What do you mean?" Amaterasu snapped, ready to punch the Admiral with fist of fury but she kept her arms at her side. "That foolish teenager means a lot to me."
"Too bad, he's gone. So, why don't you join me?"
But Iroh made his presence known, "Who his gone Admiral Zhao? Amaterasu has no interest in you so leave her be. Amaterasu come with me." Iroh gently held onto the girls shoulders and lead her away from the enraged Admiral.
"Ammy, you alright?" Zuko immediately asked as soon as the female walked into the room. She blinked a couple of times confused but ended up smiling.
Letting out a sigh, she began to explain. "Mhm. I'm fine. Zhao is such a creep. He was hitting on me, can you believe it?"
Zuko had a look of disbelief, "And what did you say?"
"What does it look like I said, doofball? I told him you mean a lot to me."
Zuko smiled. "I mean alot to you?"
"Yeah," Amaterasu smiled before turning to Iroh and giving him a hug, "be careful, Uncle. " Iroh smiled and rub the back of her head.
"I will. I'm more worried about you two." He said as she smiled as they parted, she walked next to Zuko who bowed and saluted his uncle with his arm over his chest.
"We'll meet again," Zuko said with seriousness embedded in his voice. Iroh rushed forward and gave him a bear hug, "after I have the Avatar." He released his Uncle and he and Amaterasu walked over to the canoe. They both get into the canoe and begin to lower it to the water.
"Remember your Breath of Fire! It could save your life out there! And you could always use Amaterasu for some, you know, body warmth." Amaterasu glared at the old man.
"I know." Zuko rolled his eyes, but Amaterasu quickly snapped his head to look at him.
"I know?" she repeated incredulously causing the Prince to blush at his mistake.
"That's not what I meant, I meant I know about the Breath of Fire!" Zuko tried to explain, only to make his Uncle chuckles at the situation.
"And put your hood up, keep your ears warm!" Iroh also suggested and trying to move the conversation to a different direction, the serious matter.
Now far from his Uncle, Zuko said. "I'll be fine." Iroh looked worried as he watches his nephew and the female depart. Zuko navigated the canoe through the ice flows near the City. They are both wrapped up in their own garb. Nearby, turtle seals can be heard making noise. He floats silently near the damaged city wall, unseen by the sentries patrolling atop the damaged barrier. He beaches the craft on the ice near the wall and spies several turtle seals disappearing into a hole in the ice.
"Where are they going? They're coming from somewhere. What do you think, Ammy?" He asked as she looked around.
"There has to be something in the water." Amaterasu said, "It so cold here! How do people live like this?" she shivered, holding the garb close to her.
"You have to remain strong. We're going to have to go in the water. I hope you can swim." With a nod of her head, they both took a breath before plunging into the icy water. After finding another water hold, it's surface was quickly broke by an out of breath Prince Zuko. He flopped onto the ice of the cave, his breath making clouds of vapor in front of him. Amaterasu climbed onto the ice and panted, she looked at him as he flipped over, shivering, and blowing fire into his hands to warm him up. He gets up.
"Be quiet!" He shouted at the noisy turtles, Amaterasu shook her head, "What? They were starting to annoy me."
"They sound cute to me, but what do you know about cute things, right?" said the princess as she helped him up and they enter the tunnel where the water is coming out.
Aang stared at the black and white fish circling each other in front of him. As he looks at them they blur into the Yin Yang symbol. His eyes and arrows glow white.
"Is he okay?" asked Princess Yue.
"He's crossing into the Spirit World. He'll be fine as long as we don't move his body. That's his way back to the physical world."
Yue began to walk away, "Maybe we should go get some help."
"No, he's my friend. I'm perfectly capable of protecting him."
Zuko's voice echoed slightly in the chamber, "Well, aren't you a big girl now?"
Katara turned to his voice, "No!"
Amaterasu and Zuko walked over the footbridge towards them. "Yes! Hand him over, and I won't have to hurt you."
Katara assumed a waterbending stance, while Yue runs off. Aang, oblivious, still communes with the Spirit World in front of the pond. Zuko launches forward, firing several blasts of fire. Katara blocks all three with water from the pond. He fires several more as he advances, but on the last one she uses enough water to not only douse his fire, but hurl him backward and lay him flat on the ground. Zuko got up, "I see you've learned a new trick. But I didn't come this far to lose to you." He fires another blast which she blocks. Katara then launches another stream of water at him, hurling him backwards again. He barely retains his balance, but Katara freezes the water beneath him. His feet are frozen in the ice. Then, with a massive output of effort, Katara raises a churning sphere of water from the main pool behind Zuko, encases him in it, and freezes him entirely. Cut to an accent close up of Katara's face satisfaction written all over it. Zuko muffled in the ice, "You little peasant. You've found a master, haven't you? Amaterasu take care of her while I try to get up."
"Gotcha." Amaterasu charges at Katara. They trade shots which miss. Zuko gets behinds Katara and almost grabs Aang's collar, but Katara blasts him out of the way with a jet of water. He gets blown to the ridge ledge, but Katara quickly payed attention to Amaterasu who was hot on her trail, sending blue flames deadly at her direction.
As the sunlight reaches them, though, Zuko head snaps up with a look of determination. He breathes steam, melting the ice on the ground. He slides down and charges Katara again. He fires a huge blast of fire. Katara, caught off guard while she walking back to Aang, blocks it only partially. She is thrown back into the post of the paifang gate and is knocked out. When the smoke clears, Zuko looks over her, his hand on Aang's collar, the sun shining bright in the background.
"You rise with the moon. I rise with the sun." said Zuko.
The Fire Navy ship dropped its bowsprit and using it to slice open the Water City's main wall. The bowsprit is then used as a bridge by Fire Nation troops entering the city, much as the ancient Roman corvus was used.
"The Water Tribe can try to resist the inevitable, but their city will fall today." Zhao grinned.
Katara emerged from her involuntary nap. Her eyes open suddenly, and she gets to her knees with a start. Aang and Zuko are gone and Momo chitters and runs around.
"Aang!" Katara shouted.
"Hold your horses, girl." Amaterasu told her which made Katara blink several times.
"Your that girl that's... always with Zuko." Katara said, surprised yet relieved.
Amaterasu looked at her from over her shoulder, "My name is Amaterasu but you can call me Ammy for short." Katara tried to stand but the princess helped her to her feet. "Aang is going to escape, okay?"
"How do you know?" Katara asked, curious.
"They won't make it very far in the blizzard." Amaterasu smiled at her.
"Get away from my sister!" shouted Sokka as he raised his boomerang in the air but then stopped halfway. "Your that girl! I almost thought you were one of those other crazy firebenders."
Amaterasu looked at Katara and then at Sokka, "Just because I'm nice doesn't mean I'm not crazy."
Katara smiled. "She's going to lead us where they went."
Zuko was carrying Aang through the snow. After some steps, the ice underneath Zuko begins to crack and cave in. Within a few seconds most of the ground around him is collapsing. He begins to run with Aang on his back. He manages to keep just ahead of the yawning hole that his footsteps over thin ice have caused to appear. The hole finally stops expanding as Zuko trips and falls. They are now on the lip of a newly formed canyon. He looks ahead to see a rock ledge overhanging a small cave.
"Shelter!" Zuko cried as he dragged Aang inside by the collar. He dumps him at the back of the cave and ties his hands behind his back with some of the rope he is carrying. "I finally have you. But I can't get you home because of this blizzard." He walks over to the cave entrance to look out at the falling snow, "There's always something. Not that you would understand. You're like my sister. Everything always came easy to her. She's a firebending prodigy and everyone adores her. My father says she was born lucky. He says I was lucky to be born. I don't need luck though, I don't want it. I've always had to struggle and fight and that's made me strong. It's made me who I am."
The Fire Nation assaulted on the city below. A line of Fire Navy ships abuts the outer wall, which continue launching fireballs deep into the unoccupied portions of the city. TThe invaders have penetrated the outer wall with infantry and armor. The Water Tribe still holds one of the towers in the foreground, but it is clear the defenders are losing this battle. A couple Fire Nation war rhinoceros, each with small catapults on either side of its saddle. One after the other the soldiers on the rhinoceros fire their catapults. The middle half of the city where the secondary wall still holds, a thin moat of water in front of it. The defenders are few, however, and a deadly rain of fireballs enters the frame, spreading destruction deep inside the city. There was rank upon rank of Fire Nation tanks, firing as they advance toward the secondary wall. The defenders rally atop the secondary wall, where a line of waterbenders returns fire.
Right under the top of the wall is a line of portholes through which water pours into the moat below. The waterbenders motion in unison and the gentle streams become mighty jets of water. Two tanks are washed away, but several others behind them fire massive grappling hooks into the secondary wall. The hooks penetrate the wall clear through to the other side as the waterbenders scatter. The tanks with the grappling hooks then begin to reel back on the lines. The tanks are anchored in the ice to prevent the tank from just hauling itself to the wall. The wall cracks slowly, then gives way as more fireballs fly overhead. A huge breach has been opened, revealing a war rhinoceros and other infantry ready to pour through. Three more tanks on the left pull down large sections of the secondary wall. The space in between the primary and secondary walls is brimming with Fire Nation soldiers, tanks and rhinoceros. Numerous fireballs have landed in the residential section beyond and parts of the city are on fire.
"I don't need to remind you that we have a time limit," Iroh said, standing next to Zhao on the bridge's observation deck, "If we don't defeat the Water Tribe before the full moon rises they will be un-defeatable."
Zhao smiled evilly. "I assure you I have everything under control. I intend to remove the moon as a factor."
Iroh looked incredously, "Remove the moon! How?"
A boy named Hahn, soldier of the Northern Watertribe and the future husband to Princess Yue was on the deck, entering from behind, spear in hand, "Admiral Choi!" He takes off his helmet and throws it aside, "Prepare to meet your fate!" He rushes forward to the Admiral, who casually throws him overboard and the boy screams as he falls and a then a loud splash is heard. Iroh looks down and shakes his head, then turns back to Zhao.
"As I was saying years ago I stumbled upon a great and powerful secret the identity of the Moon Spirit's mortal form." Zhao said, ignoring the pathetic assassination attempt.
Iroh was shocked. "What?"
Zhao closed his eyes, a cruel smile on his lips. "I was a young Lieutenant serving under General Shu in the Earth Kingdom. I discovered a hidden library, underground in fact. I tore through scroll after scroll. One of them contained a detailed illustration and the words moon and ocean. I knew then that these spirits could be found and killed. And that it was my destiny to do so."
"Zhao, the Spirits are not to be trifled with!" Iroh was completely angry by the Admiral insanity.
Zhao spoke patronizingly, "Yes, yes, I know you fear the Spirits, Iroh. I've heard rumors about your journey into the Spirit World. But the Ocean and Moon gave up their immortality to become a part of our world and now they will face the consequences!"
"Hey, don't worry. Zuko didn't possibly get too far in this weather." Amaterasu said, they all looked at her with somewhat hope.
"I'm not worried they'll get away in the blizzard. I'm worried that they won't."
Sokka frowned. "They're not gonna die in this blizzard. If we know anything it's that Zuko never gives up. They'll survive and we'll find them!"
Aang walks over to Momo, sleeping on the ground. He does not stir. The boy looked at his hands, "Momo?" he finally realized his predicament. "Oh no! Where's my body?" He looked around frantically. He stops as a blue ball of energy forms around and he is lifted or beamed by it right out of the sanctuary valley and out into the wasteland above. Like a comet he arcs over the frozen landscape. He is seen by Katara as he flies over them.
Katara points at the Avatar, "Look! That's gotta be Aang!" Sokka flips Appa's reigns to fly follow the spirit comet. They quickly arrive at the cave where Aang and Zuko have taken refuge. The comet enters the cave, briefly illuminating it from inside. Aang, who was still bounded, tattoos stops glowing and he wakes up. He struggles briefly against his bonds, then sits up to face Zuko.
"Welcome back." said the Fire Nation Prince.
Aang said threateningly, "Good to be back." With a mighty breath, he blows Zuko against the wall while simultaneously propelling himself out of the cave and into the open. He begins to grunt as he moves forward, caterpillar style, along the ground. Zuko enters the frame and grabs him by the collar and lifts him up.
"That won't be enough to escape." Appa appears over Zuko's head.
"Appa!" cried Aang as Appa lands and the prince dropped the boy in the snow.
"Zuko, we don't have time." Amaterasu shouted once he saw that Zuko assumed a firebending stance as Katara dismounted Appa, "We all need to get out of here and we need to make sure Zhao doesn't get Uncle killed with his plans.."
Aang looked at the female in surprise, "I knew you were good all along."
Amaterasu merely looked at Aang, her eyes softening before she looked at Zuko. "Uncle comes first!" Sokka runs overs to cut Aang's bonds.
"Hey! This is some quality rope!" Sokka mentioned.
"We need to get to the oasis! The spirits are in trouble!" Aang cried, they all looked at Zuko who wasn't sure on what to do, but seeing Amaterasu pleading with her eyes he gave in. He ran over and hopped on board.
A pair of hands reaches into the water, the right one grabs the white fish. It struggles, but the hand forces it into a bag held by the left hand. The moon, visible behind him over his left shoulder, colors over a blood red while the fish struggles in the bag.
"I am," Zhao started as he raised his fist to the heavens, "a legend now! The Fire Nation will for generations tell stories about the great Zhao who darkened the moon! They will call me Zhao the Conqueror! Zhao the Moon Slayer! ZHAO THE INVINCIBLE!" Momo jumped onto the Admiral's head and starts pulling on his face and chittering. "Huh! Get it off!" Momo flies off as the guards surround Zhao to help him. He lands on an outstretched arm Aang's arm. Appa has landed and the kids square off against Zhao and his men. "Don't bother." Zhao said as he held a knife to the bag with the Moon Spirit in it. Aang drops his staff and raises his hands in surrender.
"Zhao! Don't!" pleaded Aang.
"It's my destiny to destroy the Moon and the Water Tribe."
"Destroying the moon won't just hurt the Water Tribe. It will hurt everyone including you. Without the moon, everything would fall out of balance. You have no idea what kind of chaos that would unleash on the world."
"He is right, Zhao!" Iroh added.
Zhao spoke in a rather bored, lecturing tone. "General Iroh, why am I not surprised to discover your treachery?"
Iroh lowered his hood. " I'm no traitor, Zhao, the Fire Nation needs the moon too. We all depend on the balance." explained the general as Zhao, still holding the weapon to the bag, then back at Iroh who points a finger at Zhao and thunders, "Whatever you do to that spirit I'll unleash on you ten-fold!," He assumes a firebending stance, "LET IT GO, NOW!"
Iroh and Zhao lock eyes for a moment, then Zhao falters, lowering the bag. He kneels and releases the fish back into the water. The red light of the moon vanishes, replaced by its normal color. Zhao's face which is quickly overtaken by a look of madness and desperation. With a cry of rage he stands and smites the water with a blast of fire. The fire blast passes Iroh, who recoils in horror. Aang and Momo's face is briefly illuminated by the fire. The Avatar looks up to witness the moon wink out of existence. Iroh springs instantly to the attack. Crossing the foot bridge, Iroh fires blast after blast. Zhao blocks one blasts and backs away while Iroh expertly dispatches Zhao's four guards. Zhao looks on in horror as his men are wiped out by the aging General with such ease and precision. He flees. Iroh stoof over the guards who struggle to get up, then back to the pond where the black fish swims frantically and white, a huge gash in its side, floats. Iroh gently lifts the white fish from the water, an expression of sadness on his face. The guards are now gone.
Yue spoke as she was on the berge of tears, Sokka hands on her shoulders. "There's no hope now. It's over." Aang, who's sad expression turns to determination as his eyes and tattoos glow white. His Avatar Spirit speaks through his mouth.
"No, it's not over." Aang said as his voice was deep and other-worldly. Aang walks forward into the pond. Katara moves to follow, but she is stilled by a motion to halt from Iroh. Zuko, Amaterasu, Katara, Iroh, Yue and Sokka all looked at Aang. He stands in the middle of the pond, arms in prayer. He looks down at the black fish, whose eyes and white mark on his spine begin to glow white. Aang's feet were in the pond which now glows bright white. Then he drops into the pond as if the bottom had fallen out of it and he disappears. The water in the pool around the oasis itself begins to glow a deep blue veined with white. The glow spreads from behind the citadel to encompass the entire citadel area of the city. The six who look with wonder at the awesome power coming to life before them.
A huge, incandescent blue wave rushes under the footbridge as if some huge creature were moving underneath it. Appa stands on the oasis, but he is dwarfed by the creature that rises from the pool, the citadel and the city visible beyond it. The blue, white veined creature is a huge fish like being. At its center is a blue white bubble in which we can see Aang, who spreads his arms wide. A moment later, the Ocean Spirit, for this is truly he in communion with the Avatar, duplicates the motion. The Ocean Spirit towers over the citadel, it's arms still spread wide, it's blue spirit lighting the city like a beacon.
The Spirit begins to move down into the city. Master Pakku and his waterbenders instantly bow to the floor in honor of their god. Across the canal, some Fire Nation soldiers raise their spears in defiance, but are swept away by a wall of water sent by the Ocean Spirit. Aang was inside the body of the Ocean Spirit, flailing his arms about, directing the power of the Ocean Spirit against the violator's of the Moon Spirit and the Water Tribe City. Fire Nation tanks fire blasts of fire at the Ocean Spirit, but they are absorbed with no effect. The soldiers and tanks are washed away as if they were toys. The Ocean Spirit passes by the Water Tribe citizens who make obeisance to their lord. Fire Nation army went into a full retreat, trying desperately to escape the vengeance of a living Spirit. The Ocean Spirit reaches the main canal in front of the third wall and melts into it.
Zhao ran over a foot bridge somewhere in the city. He exits onto a parapet an is almost hit by a blast of fire that hits the wall in front of him. As the smoke clears, Zhao looks up to see Zuko on the wall on the tier up above him. "You're alive?" He asked incredulously.
"You tried to have me killed!" Zuko shouted. Zuko launches a few fire blasts at Zhao with a cry of anguish, but his target dodges, rolling along the parapet wall. "You almost killed Ammy!"
"Yes, I did. You're the Blue Spirit and enemy of the Fire Nation! And she's is a worthless girl" Zhao spoke with suck venom in his voice as the two faced each other. Between them is the panorama of the city. The Ocean Spirit's essence travels down the main canal in the background. "You freed the Avatar."
"Don't you dare!" Zuko continues his attack firing volley after volley at Zhao, who breaks them with his hands held together in a wedge in front of him. As the blasts subside, Zhao drops his smoking cloak to the ground.
"You should have chosen to accept your failure your disgrace! Then, at least you could have lived!" Zhao returns fire. They trade volleys as the fight rages back and forth in the darkness. At one point Zuko is able to exploit a moment when Zhao leaves his chest unguarded. Zuko blasts him and Zhao falls off the parapet wall onto the tier below.
Iroh placed the dead Moon Spirit fish back into the pond, Katara and Iroh looked with concern into the pond.
"It's too late. It's dead." Katara said, looking at Amaterasu who embraced her to provide comfort. Everyone was mourning the passing of the Moon Spirit. Suddenly, Iroh looks up at Yue in wonder.
"You have been touched by the Moon Spirit. Some of its life is in you!" Iroh said, bringing everyone to a realization.
Yue looked up, "Yes, you're right. It gave me life. Maybe I can give it back." Yue got on her feet and goes to the pond's edge, but Sokka reached for her.
"No! You don't have to do that!" he shouted.
Yue held his hand behind her, but looked down. "It's my duty, Sokka."
"I won't let you! Your father told me to protect you."
Yue looked. "I have to do this." she releases his hand and walks to Iroh, who holds the dead fish in his hands. She puts her palms over the Moon Spirit which begins to glow. She closes her eyes for the last time, exhales a final breath, and falls over into Sokka's arms.
The water tribe warrior cried in despair, "No!" He places his hands on her cheek and looks away. "She's gone," his voice was soft as he hugged her body tightly. "She's gone..."
The Fire Navy ships try desperately to flee. The bowsprits raise quickly as the ships back out. The incandescent blue of the Ocean Spirit flows out past the city wall in front of the Fire Navy fleet. The Ocean Spirit reforms and, towering over the fleet, reaches out. He pushes two ships back out to see at amazing speed. Aang in the bubble made a slicing motion. The Ocean Spirit made the same slicing motion and making a razor cut through the bridge tower of Zhao's flagship. The cut section slides down to the foredeck and the ship's forward trebuchet is wrecked. The Spirit stood over the fleet. The Spirit raises its arms, forming a huge wave which upends many vessels and pushes the rest far out to Spirit stood at the city walls. He looks looks up to see the moon alive once again. Instantly, Aang begins to wilt inside the creature, which dissipates into the ocean. The Spirit's essence flows back to the wall and deposits Aang atop it. There his glows leaves him as he puts his hand to the side of his head, spent with the effort.
Zuko and Zhao continued to battle on a foot bridge over a canal. They trade blows, but a series of direct hits from Zuko lays the Admiral flat. As Zhao tries to get up, he sees the moon over Zuko's shoulder.
Zhao looked in horror. "That can't be!" The essence of the Ocean Spirit approaches fast and coalesces around the bridge. It grabs Zhao and begins to pull him off the bridge. Zhao struggles and Zuko reaches out for him.
"Take my hand!" Zuko shouted while Zhao tries to reach for it for a moment, but then draws back, an expression of hate on his face. The Ocean Spirit drags Zhao under the water and disappears. They look up to moon, still visible in the morning sky. Among them was the wreckage of the Fire Navy ships destroyed in the battle. Amaterasu, Iroh, and Zuko parted group Avatar and left on a raft.
"I'm surprised, Prince Zuko, surprised that you are not at this moment trying to capture the Avatar." Iroh said as he looked at Zuko and then at Amaterasu, who was enjoying the view of the Moon and Zuko was enjoying the view of the princess.
"I'm tired." Zuko answered before he looked away.
Iroh placed a hand on his nephew's shoulder. "Then you should rest. A man needs his rest." Iroh sat next to Amaterasu, who places Zuko's head on her lap. There wasn't much room anyway and she wanted to comfort him, he was stressed.
Iroh lied on his back as he was receiving a massage from two attendants. Zuko and Amaterasu were sitting to the side, but Zuko kept his face concealed by a hat. "Aaahhh this is what I've been missing. Who knew floating on a piece of driftwood for three weeks with no food or water and sea vultures waiting to pluck out your liver could make one so tense?" Iroh asked as he casts a glance at Zuko and walks over to sit beside him on the floor.
"I see. It's the anniversary, isn't it?" Iroh noted which caused Amaterasu to frown as she saw the dejected look on her friend's face,
"Three years ago today I was banished. I lost it all." Zuko looked up suddenly. "I want it back. I want the Avatar, I want my honor, I want my throne. I want my father not to think I'm worthless.
Iroh over exaggerated his optimism, "I'm sure he doesn't! Why would he banish you if he didn't care?" Amaterasu shot Iroh a glare as Zuko got up and walked away. "Erg. . . That came out, wrong, didn't it?"
"What ever do you mean, Uncle?" Amaterasu gave him a stern look before she stood up and walked into the direction where Zuko left. It had seemed that in a matter of minutes he had kind of walked a good distance from the bathhouse, Iroh was the one taking his time. "Zuko?" she called his name as he leaned against a Cherry Blossom tree, his face showing that he was thinking and by the look of his eyes, it wasn't good thinking.
"My father doesn't doesn't care about me." he randomly spewed after they stood there for about ten minutes of silence.
The princess walked closer to him until she was standing next to him, "Your father does care about you."
"Well, he has an odd way of showing it." Prince Zuko snapped at his friend, who was rubbing her temples.
"Somewhere... deep in that organ he pretends he doesn't have."
"You mean his heart?" asked the teenage boy.
Amaterasu smiled. "I really don't feel right putting heart and Fire Lord Ozai in the same sentence."
Zuko shook his head, wanting to laugh. "It really doesn't sound right."
"I know. So, we should get back to Iroh. He's sorry about what he said ."And with that said, the Princess walked back to the bathhouse and Zuko followed shortly behind her. Once they reached the bathhouse, Iroh emptied a bag of seashells on a table. He lifts a few, inspecting them.
"Look at these magnificent shells! I'll enjoy these keepsakes for years to come." Iroh said with such awe.
"We don't need anymore useless things. You forget we have to carry everything ourselves now."
"Hello, brother. Uncle. Master." Azula said as she was at the table, her hand on a seashell. The trio, who looked surprised, and then angry. Zuko steps forward.
He spoke rather accusingly, "What are you doing here?"
She seems utterly unaffected by their glares. She toys with the seashell in her hand as her voice became rather arrogant. "In my country, we exchange a proper 'hello' before asking questions," Azula gets up and walks over to face Zuko, "Have you become uncivilized so soon, Zuzu?"
Zuko became furious. "Don't call me that!"
"To what do we do this honor?" Iroh asked.
Azula was still holding the seashell, "Hmm.. Must be a family trait. Both of you so quick to get to the point." She shatters one of Iroh's shells with her sharp nails on this last word. Iroh's face darkens. "I've come with a message from home. Father's changed his mind. Family is suddenly very important to him. He's heard rumors of plans to overthrow him treacherous plots. Family are the only ones you can really trust." Her voice and face soften. "Father regrets your banishment. He wants you home." Zuko looked out the window.
"Did you hear me? You should be happy. Excited. Grateful." Azula said as a pleasant expression formed on her face. "I just gave you great news."
"That sounds like a bunch badgermolesh-" Amaterasu began but got cut off.
Azula interrupted her angrily, "Don't interrupt, Ammy!" Azula then addresses Zuko and walks up beside him. "I still haven't heard my thank you. I am not a messenger. I didn't have to come all this way."
Zuko looked with shock and quiet disbelief. "Father regrets? He wants me back?"
"I can see you need time to take this in. I'll come to call on you tomorrow. Good evening." And with that said, the Azula left.
Zuko spoke happily, "We're going home. After three long years. It's unbelievable." Zuko walks behind a thoughtful Iroh, carrying some folded clothing.
Iroh and Amaterasu looked at each other skeptically. "It is unbelievable. I have never known my brother to regret anything." Iroh said.
At first Zuko sounds surprised, and then forceful. "Did you listen to Azula? Father's realized how important family is to him. He cares about me."
"Zuko we care about you. And if Ozai wants you back well, we think it may not be for the reasons you think they are. And like Uncle said, I have never even heard Fire Lord Ozai say he regretted anything and I should know since I was his assistant for years!" Amaterasu explained.
The Prince got defensive, turning his back to them. "You both don't know how my father feels about me." He stiffens, "You both don't know anything."
Iroh frowned. "Zuko, I only meant that in our family things are not always what they seem." He said gently.
Zuko whirls around angrily and faces Iroh, leaning in as he accuses him, his voice nasty. "I think you are exactly what you seem: a lazy, mistrustful, shallow old man who has always been jealous of his brother." Zuko turns and walks away as Iroh looked on sadly, Amaterasu embraced Iroh to show him comfort and he gladly accepted her hug. She watched Zuko leave before burying her face in Uncle's chest.
"This is all wrong." She said before looking up at Iroh, "You aren't those things and he is just saying that because he wanted to hurt you. He knows the truth but that part of him that wants to please his father is overshadowing the truth."
"I know, I know. . ."
At Azula's ship, a group of Fire Nation soldiers form two ranks along the path leading to the ship. Zuko, Amaterasu and Iroh walk toward them. Azula, who was standing at the top of the stairs leading onto her ship, a soldier on each side. Amaterasu, Zuko and Iroh walk between the soldiers. Zuko looks content, while Iroh and Amaterasu eyes them suspiciously. Azula raises her arms in greeting and bows to them.
"Brother! Uncle! Master Amaterasu!" They all bowed while Iroh opens one eye slightly, watching the soldiers beside them. "Welcome. I'm so glad you decided to come."
"Are we ready to depart, Your Highness?" asked the Captain.
Amaterasu knew that Azula was a little to glad, "Set our course for home, Captain." The Fire Nation princess said pleasantly.
"Home." Zuko said wistfully as the trio began to climb the stairs onto the ship, the captain leading the way.
The Captain began to order the other men, "You heard the princess! Raise the anchors! We're taking the prisoners ho-" He stops abruptly, realizing his mistake. Iroh, Amaterasu and Zuko stop, looking surprised. Azula was engraged as the captains eyes were wide. "Your Highness I-" He said mortified. Iroh, who looks to his left, then spins around, backhanding a guard off of the ship and kicking another down the incline. Another guard approaches from his left. He elbows him off the incline. Amaterasu punches a guard that approaches from Iroh from his right and grabs another, spinning him around and tossing him.
Zuko grabs one guard, throwing him off the incline and into the water. He stalks up the incline, furious. "You lied to me!"
Azula looked pretty confident. "Like I've never done that before," she said smugly as she turns and walks away, and two guards launch fire at the the prince. Zuko brushes the fire aside and charges forward, screaming. Zuko leaps on board, knocking two guards on either side out of the way with flames shooting from his arm and leg. Zuko takes up a fighting stance at the left while Azula remains motionless, her back to her brother. She glances to her left and grins evilly. Zuko, who brings his arms down, fire daggers appearing in his fists. Iroh and Amaterasu, who are fighting soldiers on the path leading to the ship. A soldier launches a kick at Amaterasu, but a blast of fire from Iroh sends him flying. Two other soldiers approach from each side, and Amaterasu sends two blasts of fire at them, knocking them from the path. Another guard launches a fireball at Iroh's face, but he avoids it, grabbing the soldier's arm and putting a hand on his neck. Holding the guard, he turns toward the ship.
"Zuko! Let's go!" Amaterasu said while Iroh tosses the guard off the side of the path. Another approaches, but Iroh steps to the side and pushes him away with a palm to the face. Zuko swings his daggers at Azula repeatedly, but she simply avoid them. She grabs his arm and spins him around. Zuko is breathing hard.
"You know Father blames Uncle for the loss at the North Pole. And he considers you a miserable failure for not finding the Avatar, would he want you back home, except to lock you up where you can no longer embarrass him?"Azula said as Zuko brings out his fire daggers again and leaps at Azula, throwing a flaming kick at her head. She leaps back, nimbly dodging his blows. She swipes at his face with her fingernails. Zuko staggers back, revealing three cuts on his forehead. He charges forward and screams, swiping his daggers at Azula. She blocks his blows effortlessly and the fight continues up the stairs toward the cabin of the ship. She kicks Zuko, knocking him down the stairs a bit. He recovers quickly and charges back toward Azula. She blocks his fist and grabs his arm, bringing it down harmlessly. She glares at him, and Zuko's eyes widen. She tosses a blue flame at his head, sending him tumbling down the incline.
Zuko lands with a thud and pulls himself up, looking back at the incline. The Prince's vision was blurry and shaky as he tries to locate Azula. She is standing at the top of the incline and begins to swing her arms in arcs around, lightning arcing around her. It is the same maneuver she was practicing earlier. She aims her fingers at Zuko and a lightning bolt shoots toward him. Iroh, who suddenly appears and grabs Azula's fingers in her hand. She channels the electricity through his body and shoots it from his other hand, letting it explode harmlessly into the cliffside. She turns back to Azula and kicks her, sending her flying overboard. She splashes into the water. The trio ran down the path from the ship. The three run down a path, pausing at a small body of water at the side of the river. They collapse onto their knees.
"I think we're safe here." Iroh said as Zuko brings out a knife with some writing on the blade. He stares at it for a moment. Iroh nods solemnly and turns to Zuko. Zuko takes the knife and brings it behind his head and cuts off his pony tail. He passes the knife to Iroh, who does the same. The prince releases the pony tail, letting it fall into the water. Zuko and Iroh's hair are seen floating down the river.
"I get to keep my hair." Amaterasu clapped, "Yay!"
Iroh was lookin at a pretty white and red flower. Iroh squatted in front of the plant, mesmerized. He is in a forest and is wearing a dark green shirt and trousers. A bush begins moving in the background and a series of grunts are heard as Zuko, clad similar to his Uncle, emerges from with Amaterasu. Short black hair now covers his head. Amaterasu wore a dark green sleeveless crop top. She had dark green short cloth that covered her front and back to her mid thighs with tan shorts under.
Zuko was frustrated, "We didn't find anything to eat. I can't live like this. I wasn't meant to be a fugitive." He kicked the ground angrily, "This is impossible!" Iroh sniffs the flower deeply.
Amaterasu and Zuko looked at each other with somewhat confusion, "What are you doing, Uncle?" asked Amaterasu.
"You both are looking at the rare white dragon bush." He said lovingly. "Its leaves make a tea so delicious it's heartbreaking!" Iroh said rather gravely. "That, or it's the white jade bush, which is poisonous."
"We need food, not tea. I'm going fishing." Zuko said as Amaterasu looked at the old man curiously as he was still contemplating and stroking his chin.
"Delectable tea or deadly poison?" Amaterasu shook her head before following after Zuko.
It is still daytime. Zuko carries a long fishing pole and a sour expression while Amaterasu was frowning. At the end of Zuko's enormous fishing pole he has succeeding in spearing what looks like a minnow. It wiggles pathetically.
"Where's Uncle?" Amaterasu asked while Zuko pointed to that tree.
"Remember that plant that I thought might be tea?"
Zuko and Amaterasu look horrified. "You didn't!" they said in a unison.
"I did." Iroh turns around to reveal his red, swollen face which he is scratching. "And it wasn't."
Zuko shouted in repulsion. "Yah!"
Amaterasu screamed while Iroh calmly scratched, "When the rash spreads to my throat I will stop breathing." But then the old man got rather excited, "But look what I found! These are bacui berries, known to cure the poison of the white jade plant. That, or macahoni berries that cause blindness."
"We can't take anymore chances Uncle, we need to get help." Amaterasu frowned.
"But where are we going to go? We're enemies of the Earth Kingdom, and fugitives from the Fire Nation."
"If the Earth Kingdom, discovers us, they'll have us killed." Zuko said musingly.
"But if the Fire Nation discovers us, we'll be turned over to Azula." Iroh pointed out. They all nod in agreement.
"Earth Kingdom it is." Amaterasu said with a smile.
At a doctor's office, a doctor is working with a patient who is on a table in front of him on his back. Iroh was sitting on another table, naked from the waist up, being attended by a young woman who is a healer at the hospital. Iroh is covered with the red rash from eating the white jade flower. Song, the doctor, is applying a clay like substance to the rash. Zuko and Amaterasu sit behind the young woman, a coolie hat obscuring Zuko's face as he looks toward the floor.
"You three must not from around here. We know better than to touch the white jade, much less make it into tea and drink it." said the woman.
Iroh laughed sheepishly. "Heh heh heh. Whoops!"
"So where are you traveling from?" asked the female.
Zuko stood and talked rather quickly. "Yes, we're travelers."
"Do you have names?" she asked.
Zuko spoke rather hesitantly. "Names? Of course we have names. I'm. . . Lee. And this is my friend Ai. And this is my uncle, uh. . . Mushi."
Iroh shot him an unhappy look from behind Song's back, "Yes, my nephew was named after his father, so we just call him Junior." he said facetiously. Iroh looks over Song's shoulder at "Junior," who balls his fists at the name his uncle has just bestowed on him.
"Mushi, Ai and Junior, huh? My name is Song. You three looks like you could use a good meal." Song turns and swats Iroh's hand away scratching his rash, "Why don't you stay for dinner."
"Sorry, but we need to be moving on." Zuko said while Amaterasu elbowed his gut, making an 'oof' sound come from the Prince. She was clearly hungry.
"That's too bad. My mom always makes too much roast duck." Song frowned while Iroh's puffy, clay smeared face has a large smile.
"Where do you live, exactly?"
It was nighttime when they reach Song's house. The trio and Song were seated at a knee high, Asian styled table. Song's mother approaches the table with a plate of roast duck.
The woman seated herself. "My daughter tells me you're refugees. We were once refugees ourselves."
"When I was a little girl, the Fire Nation raided our farming village. All the men were taken away." Song's face looked sadly down to the foor, "That was the last time I saw my father."
Zuko eyed the girl as she finish and during his reply he lowers his gaze. "I haven't seen my father in many years."
Amaterasu's face slowly went from a smile to a frown, "Same here."
"Oh. Are both your fathers fighting in the war?" asked Song. Iroh finishes slurping a mouthful of noodles as he looks with some trepidation at his nephew to see how he will answer this dangerous question. Zuko puts his bowl on the table and replies.
"Yeah." Zuko said before looking away.
"Ai?" Song waited for the girl to confirm her answer.
"No, I was taken from him and raised by a family I grew to love." Amaterasu said casually.
Zuko was sitting cross-legged on Song's porch. Amaterasu had been helping Song's mother in the kitchen while Iroh was taking a short name. Song exits her house, walks over and sits beside him.
She talked to him rather kindly. "Can I join you? I know what you've been through. We've all been through it. The Fire Nation has hurt you. " Song reached out to touch his scar, but Zuko grabbed her hand without looking before she reaches his face. "It's okay. They've hurt me, too." She raises the part of her dress covering her right leg to reveal a firebending scar
Zuko had a rather shocked expression. "We should get going." he said while the young girl frown, disappointed.
Amaterasu, Zuko, and Iroh leaving Song's house. They stand in her courtyard. It is still night, and fireflies buzz lazily around them all. Song and her mother stand ready to bid them goodbye.
Iroh bowed before speaking ever so graciously. "Thank you for the duck. It was excellent."
"You're welcome," Song's mother said as she handed him a pack of leftover roast duck," It brings me joy to see someone eat my cooking with such… gusto."
Iroh patted his stomach. "Much practice." Zuko turns to leave, but Iroh stops him. "Junior, where are your manners? You need to thank these nice people." Iroh scolded as Zuko turned and offers a small bow, his face still obscured by his coolie hat.
"Thank you." Zuko said quietly, without much feeling.
Song spoke rather quickly. "I know you don't think there's any hope left in the world, but there is hope. The Avatar has returned!" Song said with such happiness.
"I know." Zuko said intensely.
Amaterasu bowed deeply. "I thank you both for accepting us, I really enjoyed the duck, it was the best meal I had in a while. And Song, I hope you see your father again."
As they pass the courtyard gate the see a stable where a war ostrich is tethered. Zuko stops, looks at the animal, and then looks back at the courtyard. He releases the ostrich and begins to lead it away with them.
Iroh was appalled. "What are you doing? These people just show you great kindness."
"They're about to show us a little more kindness." Zuko offered his hand to Amaterasu, who blinked several times. "Well?" Amaterasu looked down, dreadfully unhappy with this turn of events just like Iroh. The trio left with the ostrich, but little did they know that Song looked out from her front door. She was crushed. She looks down in sadness and closes the door.
Amaterasu, Iroh and Zuko sitting on straw mats, their stolen ostrich horse behind them. Iroh holds his hat in his hand. A cart festooned with masks for sale passes briefly in front of them. One of the masks is the Blue Spirit mask. As the cart passes, another pedestrian walks in front of Iroh. Iroh holds his hat out to the pedestrian and speaks to him.
"Spare coins for weary travelers?" Iroh asked as a man threw a few copper coins in Iroh's hat, joining a dozen already there.
"This is humiliating! We're royalty. These people should be giving us whatever we want." Zuko said.
"They will – if you ask nicely." Iroh grinned as Amaterasu folded her arms and rolled her eyes, she didn't like this at all.
Iroh next solicits a well dressed young woman, "Spare change for a hungry old man?"
"Aww," She produces a coin from her sleeve and puts it in his hat, "here you go."
"The coin is appreciated, but not as much as your smile." Iroh cheesily said while Zuko slaps his forehead in frustration. The girl giggles and walks away. A man carrying a pair of broadswords on his back wanders by the opposite direction as the girl. He stops and addresses the beggars.
He smiled somewhat cruelly. "How about some entertainment in exchange for. . ." Zuko was sitting in a petulant pose as suddenly, the Broadsword Man's hand appears in the foreground holding a gold coin, "a gold piece."
"We're not performers." Zuko said as Iroh smiles and puts his hat on the ground. Amaterasu notice the man eying her and she knew that this was not going to turn out well.
"Not professional, anyway." Iroh said as he stood up and clasping his hand together, his mouth open to sing.
"Uncle. Don't." Amaterasu said, "sorry but we're not performers. Move along now." the man frowned, giving them a rather nasty expression.
The man put the gold coin on their face. "You want this don't you?"
"Yes," Amaterasu answered bluntly, "but we have pride, y'know. Now get going."
The man grabbed her wrist, "You should watch your mouth, girlie."
Amaterasu glared back at him, she realized she couldn't use her firebending. "Get off of me!"
"Let her go!" Zuko grabbed his neck, holding it tight. He let the girl go and pushed Zuko off, who watched him stomp off.
The next day, instead of spending the little gold they earned on a hotel they decided to go in a cave but that night Zuko was missing for a little while but came back with items and odd enough Amaterasu hadn't returned.
"Looks like you did some serious shopping." Iroh walks around the fire and sits, inspecting a gold teapot in front of him, "But where did you get the money since I had all the money we made earlier with me?"
Zuko avoids the question, "Do you like your new teapot"
"To be honest with you, the best tea tastes delicious whether it comes in a porcelain pot or a tin cup." The general walked over to Zuko who lies with his back to the opposite wall of the cave. "I know we've had some difficult times lately. We've had to struggle just to get by." He puts his hand on his nephew's shoulder. "But it's nothing to be ashamed of. There is a simple honor in poverty."
"There's no honor for me without the Avatar." Zuko said with his eyes at the fire.
"Zuko. . ." Iroh sighs, "Even if you did capture the Avatar, I'm not sure it would solve our problems. Not now."
Zuko spoke abruptly. "Then there is no hope at all." He turns to get up.
"No, Zuko!" Iroh said rather quickly, "You must never give in to despair. Allow yourself to slip down that road and you surrender to your lowest instincts. In the darkest times, hope is something you give yourself. That is the meaning of inner strength." Zuko looks back at his uncle for a moment, then gets up to leave. He walks away form the cave. "If your leaving, go look for Ammy!"
"Fine." Zuko said as he placed his hands in his pocks. As he walked, his hat still in tact like it was earlier. Where had she gone? His eyes looked at every corner, every spot, and finally he saw her sitting atop of the cave. Her eyes staring at the crescent moon and the bright stars. Zuko climbed up the cave and sat next to her. "Hey."
Amaterasu turned to look at him, a smile on her face. "Hey, hothead."
"I'm not your doofball anymore?" Zuko asked, curious to what she would say.
The Princess rested her head on his shoulder. "You'll always be my doofball but I'll change your name once in a while."
The Prince learned his head atop of hers, "How about just Zuko?"
"That's no fun." Amaterasu pouted, "You deserve a nickname!"
"Not any of those!" he replied. "They are insulting."
The girl sighed. "Alright, alright Zuko." she closed her eyes, feeling comfortable in this position. "I'm going to miss you."
"Why would you miss me?"
She looked at him with a rather dumbfounded expression, "This is why your a doofball. Anyway, I heard you tell Uncle Iroh that you're leaving. Where are you going to go?" she asked, clearly worried but trying to remain calm.
"I don't know. I just know there is nothing I can gain by traveling together with you both. I need to find my own way." Zuko said.
Amaterasu pulled her knees to her chest, "I promised Mom that I would protect you."
"What?" the Prince was confused, looking at her with a shocked expression.
"The day she left. I told her that I would protect you while she was gone and we made it a promise." she admitted, looking at him from the corner of her eyes.
Zuko didn't know what to make of what she said. "Is that why you stayed with me? Because you made a promise to my mother?"
"No." Amaterasu grabbed his hand, her caramel skin standing out from his pale. "I care about you, Zuko. You are my friend, my best friend. I wouldn't know what to do without you, seriously. You mean a lot to me, I can't imagine growing up without you by my side." she wrapped her arms around him. "I'll let you go because you want me to, I know I can't be there when you don't want me to." Zuko circled his arms around her torso and his right hand in her hair. He never held her this close or this tightly before but he wanted to be as close to her as he could.
"We'll meet again." Zuko said, his face buried in the crook of his neck.
"I know." Amaterasu smiled after pulling him away. Running her fingers through his shaggy hair, she gave him a kiss on his forehead after moving the strands of hair away from his forehead.
Zuko blushed but returned the favor by placing a kiss on her forehead, cupping her face as he did so. He rested his forehead on hers, allowing Amaterasu to look in his eyes. It was odd being this close to him because they never acted this way. It brought a warm feeling through her chest, making her feeling this euphoria she would never imagine happening with her best friend. "Ammy, do you think I'm an honorless fool?"
"Never." she frowned, "You can be hard-headed, stupid, emotionless at times, short-tempered, mea-" she was about to go on until she saw the scowl on his face, "but most of all, you are caring, honor bound, selfless, intelligent, strong, and understanding." Amaterasu saw Zuko's smile, it was different then what she was use to seeing. It reminded them when they were young. When Ursa was with them, teaching them and showing them that they were special. It was Amaterasu's duty to do that for him, despite her slightly harsh way.
"Thanks Ammy. I needed that."
"I know. Now, you should get going because its dangerous in the Earth Kingdom at night." she warned him.
Zuko shook his head, "Okay, mom."
Amaterasu chuckled. "Sorry."
Once Amaterasu went into the cave, by herself. Iroh looked at her as she fell on her bum near the fire and looked at the flames as if she could see something in them.
"He left." Iroh said, knowing that his nephew needed to know that he couldn't always do everything alone and if him finding out the hard way was the right choice then he would be behind him throughout the way. "We'll see him soon. . ."
Amaterasu tilted her head forward. "I should have stopped him."
"He's a very hard-headed young man, you know that."
"I know." her voice was hoarse as she quickly tried to wipe her tears.
Iroh shook his head with a smile, "Good thing he didn't take the duck!"
Amaterasu chuckled. "Thanks Uncle."
Iroh lying on the ground massaging his behind. His hair and beard are no longer nice and tidy, but long, shaggy, and unkempt. "Ohhh… That really hurt my tailbone."
"Are you okay, Uncle?" Amaterasu asked, worried. Suddenly Toph appeared in a stance on a rock behind them.
Iroh and Amaterasu looked at each other and then at her.
The afternoon sun was overhead. Toph, Amaterasu, and Iroh sit around a campfire on a rock ledge. Iroh pours all three of them tea. He offers her the cup, but she doesn't take it immediately.
"Here is your tea. You seem a little too young to be traveling alone." Iroh said to her while Amaterasu takes her cup, watching the steam fly up.
Toph soon takes hers. "You seem a little too old."
Iroh laughs, a few chuckles coming from the Princess too. "Perhaps I am."
"I know what you're both thinking. I look like I can't handle being by myself."
"I wasn't thinking that." Iroh said.
"Neither did I," Amaterasu looked at her, a curious expression over her face.
"You wouldn't even let me pour my own cup of tea." Toph said while taking a sip of her tea.
"I poured your tea because I wanted to and," he made an emphatic gesture with his hand, "for no other reason."
"People see me and think I'm weak. They want to take care of me. But I can take care of myself by myself." the Earthbender replied.
Iroh and Amaterasu both smiled, she sounded just like Zuko. "You sound like someone we know." Amaterasu told her.
"My nephew to be exact," Iroh added, "Always thinking you need to do things on your own without anyone's support. There is nothing wrong with letting people who love you help you. Not that I love you; I just met you."
"So, where is the guy?"
"We've been tracking him, actually." Iroh replied as he watched Amaterasu stare at her cup.
"Is he lost?" asked Toph.
Iroh had a rather concerned look but Amaterasu spoke up. "Yes, just a little. His life has recently changed and he's going through very difficult times. He is trying to figure out who he is and he went away because he feels like he has to learn on his own. I think it's a ridiculous idea but I couldn't argue with him about it. It something he feels he has to do."
"So… now you're following him." she said, adding the pieces.
"Yes..." Amaterasu answered. "I know he doesn't want us around right now, but, if he needs me or Uncle, we'll be there."
"This guy is very lucky, even if he doesn't know it." Toph said while standing up. "Thank you."
"Our pleasure. Sharing tea with a fascinating stranger is one of life's true delights." Iroh smiled.
"No, thank you for what you guys said. It helped me..." Toph picked up her bags.
"We're glad." Iroh answered as Toph began to leave, but turns back briefly.
"Oh, and about him. Maybe you both should tell him that you need him too." she left, leaving them both to consider what she said.
In a ghost town where Aang waits patiently. The wind ruffles his clothes. He had a rather resolute face. Azula was approaching in the distance on her lizard pass by. She reaches the main drag of the town and dismounts. The two face each other across the length of the main drag.
"Alright, you've caught up with me. Now you who are you and what do you want?" Aang demanded from the female.
"You mean you haven't guessed? You don't see the family resemblance? Here's a hint." In an imitation of Zuko's voice, "I must find the Avatar to restore my honor." Aang was nonplussed, "It's okay. You can laugh. It's funny."
"So what now?" Aang asked, obviously confused about the whole ordeal.
"Now… Now it's over. You're tired and you have no place to go. You can run, but I'll catch you."
Aang stood up, "I'm not running." A cruel smile spreads over Azula's face as the breeze blows a strand of her hair.
"Do you really want to fight me?" Azula asked as suddenly Zuko bursts into the scene from an alley between the Avatar and Azula. He tumbles off the ostrich horse he is riding, and lands in a crouching position.
"Yes!" The prince stands and throws his straw coolie hat away, "I really do."
"Zuko!" Aang shouted.
"I was wondering when you'd show up, Zuzu."
Aang laughs a bit. "Zuzu." Zuko in a firebending stance, he faces Azula, but his arms are outstretched both towards her and towards the Avatar on his other side.
"Back off, Azula! He's mine." Zuko said clearly to his sister.
"I'm not going anywhere," The Princess assumed a firebending stance. The three were facing off. Zuko looks weary, Azula confident, and Aang worried. Zuko's eyes shift from side to side and he scrutinizes his opponents. Azula launches a blast of blue fire at Zuko, who blocks with a wall of his own fire. Though he blocks the blast, it does knock him to the ground with a crash. Aang freaks out and jumps into the air with his glider. Azula knocks him out of the sky with a wave of blue fire. Aang lands safely, using his staff as a helicopter blade to both break his fall and dissipate the blue fire in his immediate vicinity. Aang rolls over on the ground to gets up, but Azula lands near him after jumping off a nearby roof. He avoids her and gets up with his staff. Zuko has gotten back up and is firing blasts at Azula. Aang is between them now. Azula launches blast after blast of blue fire at Aang, but he dodges and runs around her.
After a few moments, Azula chases Aang into the upper floor of a bombed out building. When the Princess enters, her expression turns to alarm. There is no floor and the drop is sheer to the bottom. Aang is on the opposite from the door sitting on an air scooter. Azula leans precipitously over the edge on the side with the door, her arms flapping comically. Aang, who smiles and waves at her, then Azula, who almost falls in, but recovers and manages to regain stability standing on a ledge next to the doorframe. Right after she recovers, her brother runs in and promptly jumps into midair, screaming in surprise. He hits the ground below with a crash. Aang, whose air scooter is dissipating.
Azula fires several shots at him which miss. He dissolves the rest of the scooter, bounds over to her on the ledge and knocks her off. She lands, gracefully and ready for action, next to Zuko who is struggling to get up from where he landed. Aang who runs out of the door he originally entered through on the second floor. He runs down to the street level. Suddenly, the side of the building is blown open by a blast of blue fire and Zuko is blown out onto the street. Azula appears and starts firing blasts at Aang. He dodges each, jumping up between the walls of a nearby alley, in effect scaling the buildings. As he reaches the top of the building on the left, Azula slices a triangular piece of it off with a blast of fire. The piece of the building falls out from under him, but he catches on to the remainder of the building. Azula repeats the process and this time Aang is unable to recover. He falls into the building beneath a heap of rubble.
Aang looks up from the rubble in which he is entombed inside the building. Azula enters and lights the rubble around the room on fire. Aang tries to free himself from being trapped underneath a large beam, but fails. Azula walks forward with a cruel smile. Azula assumes a bending stance. Over her shoulder, Katara is seen entering the doorway. Azula, where with one behind her for balance she is hunched forward in a firebending stance, her right hand raised to strike.
Suddenly, a water whip grabs her by the hand poised to strike and yanks her backward. Aang looks shocked, as the water whips appears and breaks the wooden beam. Aang smiles and rubs his wrist. "Katara!" Aang shouted in shock. Azula whips around and fires a few blasts at Katara, who runs. Azula pursues her out of the building. As she passes an alley, Sokka jumps out at her and slices the air with his club, missing the Princess, but breaking her pursuit of his sister. The Avatar, Sokka and Katara now forming an arc around Azula and pushing her back. Zuko still lies on the ground nearby. He wakes up slowly. A fuzzy picture of Amaterasu resolves itself, a burning building in the background.
"Ammy?" Zuko said wearily.
"Get up!" Amaterasu said with a smile as the Prince grabs her hand and hauls himself to his feet. Azula launches herself at Aang, who jumps out of the way. The Princess and the allies trade blasts and dance around each other, but it is clear that Azula is outgunned. She is falling backwards in an orderly fashion, when suddenly she is pushed to the ground from behind, revealing Toph.
"I thought you guys could use a little help." Toph said with a smile.
"Thanks." Katara said with a genuine smile. Azula gets up and starts to run. The others can't be seen, but she is clearly trading blasts with them. She turns and runs down the alley. As she reaches the end, cut to a shot of her running into Iroh's belly. She bounces off, looking utterly confused. Amaterasu, Sokka, Aang, Katara, Toph, Zuko and Iroh closing in on Azula, whose back is now to the corner of a burnt out building. She has no place to go.
"Well, look at this. Enemies and traitors all working together. I'm done." Azula raises her hands in a gesture of surrender. " I know when I'm beaten. You got me. A princess surrenders with honor." Amaterasu, who shifts her gaze momentarily from Azula to line up of her allies. She sees Toph, the girl whom she had tea sometimes earlier with Iroh. Azula, who sees that her former master is distracted as she figures out the connection between the earthbender and the Avatar's party. Taking advantage of this, she strikes her ex-master with a blast of blue fire square in the chest. Amaterasu spins and falls.
All four benders then fire at Azula simultaneously and Sokka throws his boomerang. Azula makes a shield of blue fire, but the combined blows of the forces directed at her cause a tremendous explosion. When the smoke clears, Azula is gone. Nearby, Zuko kneels in despair beside his best friend, who lies still on the ground where she fell. Amaterasu groans softly as Zuko clenches his fist and teeth in anger. The others approach from behind. The banished Prince turns to address the Avatar's party.
"Get away from us!" Zuko shouted as Toph and Iroh looked watery eyed.
Katara placed one hand over her heart and stretches out the other in a gesture of aid freely offered. "Zuko, I can help! She's helped us so let us-"
"Leave!" Aang and Katara look at each other. The four leave Zuko, Amaterasu, and Iroh amidst the burning buildings as Zuko picked up her body and held her face close to his shoulder, trying not to press her wound against him. "Ammy..."
"Hn..." Amaterasu groaned, her eyes halfway opened as she could see Zuko pulling her away slightly to see her face. She smiles, placing her hand on her head. "I'm... really... the doofball, huh?" she says rather weakly, Zuko shook his head.
"No." he said as she closed her eyes, falling back to unconsciousness. Zuko tried to suppress his tears, fearing the worst for her.
"I brought Katara back, Zuko. She can heal her." Iroh said as Zuko looked at the two and then back at Amaterasu's wound. If he didn't let her heal it, it would leave a scar and he didn't want her to have a reminder from his family.
Katara placed her hand on Zuko's shoulder. "I promise she will be fine." she said as the boy laid her down and walked away, trusting her word.
Iroh smiled and walked over to him, "You're doing the right thing."
"Its my fault that's she's hurt!" Zuko cried, "She's always getting hurt because of me! Whether its her feelings or whatever! Now its physical this time. What if she died, Uncle? It would be my fault for leaving you two!"
Katara listened, now seeing what Amaterasu meant that he was "more than meets the eye." He really cared about this girl, this girl who was the most different firebender she ever met. It was a good thing she worked on this immediately or she could of died or have a scar. Her glowing hands finished their work, water dripping off the girl's chest. She rummaged through her bag and gave the girl a new green, Earth Kingdom top which was similar but not a crop top just a regular shirt. "She's fine, she just needs some rest." Katara told them before bowing.
Iroh bowed and shockingly watched his nephew follow suit. "Thank you for saving her." Zuko thanked her before walking over to the girl and scooping her in his arms, carrying her bridal - style. Letting her head rest on his shoulder and instinctively, she wrapped her arms around his neck.
Amaterasu (天照): Japanese name composed of the elements ama "heaven, sky" and terasu "to shine," hence "shining over heaven." In Japanese mythology, this is the name of a sun goddess who rules the heavens.