Chp 11 The Crossroads of Fate

Author's Note:Hey guys, thanks for being patient again. This IS the longest chapter SO FAR because it's based on the season finale of book 2: earth. There's a lot going on in this chapter so I hope none of you get lost and don't what's happening. If that is the case, let me know and I will definitely fix that. ALSO the point of view switches towards the end of the chapter, just FYI (thought it was time for another one of those) So that's all from me, OH YES: don't expect another chapter for at least another week because I'm going to take a short break before transitioning into the third season. Hope you guys enjoy! Read and Review

~th3rdhal3~


When I met up with Katara back at the palace, I was a different person. My steps were heavy and sullen as I climbed up the staircase. It almost hurt to swallow. My arrival was on time of course-noon. I wanted to prove to her that I could be responsible. My wrists burned subtly. I couldn't understand why but that was the least of my problems that day.

"Hey!" Katara was all smiles once I approached her. "So guess what?" I barely had enough time to think before Katara pressed on, not waiting for my input. "I just embarrassed myself in front of the entire Council of Five, so I think going for some tea will wash away my shame. Care to join me?" In her hand was the coupon I had been given the day before. Though I was in a terrible mood, I had to admit that it was a good idea.

"Sure." I agreed, holding back my laughter. Katara began to lead the way across the bridge and off the palace grounds. The water-bender filled me in on what the Council of Five had discussed and how she had made herself look like an idiot when no one laughed at her lame joke. Yep, she and Sokka were definitely related. She then stopped and took a good look at me.

"Your lips are...bruised." She observed. Her blue eyes were filled with concern. I did my best to shrug it off and not to draw too much attention to it. "What's this?" The water-bender studied a reddish-purple mark on my neck. The tone of her voice changed. "Is that a-"

"It's just a bruise." I quickly lied. "Must have gotten it when we fought the Dai Li." Katara bought my fib, or so I thought, and didn't bring it up again. I had a feeling though, that she didn't entirely drop it. If I knew Katara, when she had a hunch she never let it die. But I was thankful that she had left the topic alone.

The Jasmine Dragon was rather large for a teashop. It must have been the best in the city to earn such a large building space in the upper ring. It had seemed like ages since I had a cup of tea, and the thought of the herbal beverage warmed my insides. It's been months...I calculated in my head. Not since way back when I still lived in the Fire Nation was the last time I had drank tea. There were already a dozen or more customers enjoying themselves at tables inside the shop. The atmosphere was friendly and inviting. I couldn't wait to browse through their selection of tea. One of the men inside serving drinks kind of resembled Uncle Iroh, except he was garbed in Earth Kingdom clothes and bore a long braid at the back of his head. What a coincidence! I laughed internally. Halfway up the steps to the shop, my eyes were fixated on a young man in a long, dark green robe taking orders from several new customers. His hair was black and covered the tips of his ears. When he turned to head to the back of the shop, a third degree burn covered his left eye.

I did a double take. No. No way! Zuko? What the hell was Zuko doing in the Earth Kingdom? And why in the flying fuck was he in a teashop of all things? The boy absolutely hated tea! He referred to it as 'hot-leaf-juice' for crying out loud! And the man who 'looked' like Iroh...obviously was Iroh. What were the two doing here? I had a million and one questions but none could be answered then. I silently prayed to the spirits for Katara to remain oblivious. It would be impossible to enter the teashop now. Maybe I could fake a headache or some other illness. Anything that would deter us away from the Jasmine Dragon.

"Aw Momo," Katara cooed at the lemur which sat upon her shoulder. "Did you want some tea too?" She teased. It was too late. The water-bender took a step forward and then stopped in her tracks. There was no doubting she had spotted the members of the Fire Nation.

"Katara?" I pretended to be unaware. The statuesque girl then turned on her heels and bolted in the opposite direction. Shit! I took off after her. I knew she was going to alert the authorities. I couldn't let them arrest Zuko and Uncle. They didn't deserve to be taken into custody. They were still my family, regardless of which side I fought on now. I had to find a way to stop her.

"Katara, wait up!" I thundered up the steps of the palace after her. The joints in my knees ached from the numerous sets of stairs I had just sprinted up, but my goal could not be hindered by exhaustion or pathetic pains. Katara had flown from the teashop here with godspeed; she was on a mission! We dashed through the elegant hallways of the palace and burst through the giant doors of the throne room. Kuei's golden seat was empty, and Bosco was absent as well. Suki and her fellow warriors knelt at the base of the stairs to the thrown.

"Suki!" Katara exclaimed, trying to catch her breath. "Thank spirits you're here! The Fire Nation has infiltrated the city-I just saw Prince Zuko and his Uncle! We've got to tell the king immediately!" Suki rose to her feet but the other two stayed where they were. Something seemed off. Suki's hair wasn't black and the last time I checked, she didn't have bangs...

"Oh...don't worry." That voice! Adrenaline pumped through my veins. This wasn't right. Something was wrong!

"Katara!" I hissed through gritted teeth behind her, trying to get her attention. Golden defiance glowed within "Suki's" eyes. This was not Suki. She wasn't even a Kyoshi warrior.

"I'll be sure to let him know. I began to back away slowly, hoping that Katara would follow suit. The Water Tribe girl only stared ahead in awe.

"Katara!" I tried again. "We have to leave, now!" Momo screeched and leaped off of Katara's shoulder. Even he knew something was wrong. The warrior girl to Azula's right sprang forward in a series of handsprings and flips. Ty Lee! Katara reached for her water at her side but the effort was in vain. The acrobat jabbed a pressure point on her neck before Katara could defend herself. My friend toppled over onto her back and the water pooled out from the pouch. I could have kicked myself for not being close enough to prevent it from happening. My palms tingled. Maybe if I was fast enough, I could scoop up Katara and make a run for it. I'd have to take on all three of them though. Katara's worth it! I had to rescue her.

From the angle Katara was now on the floor, she could see me starting towards her. The darker skinned girl was completely immobilized but she could still communicate. "No! Don't! Get out of here!" She yelled. I stopped short and began to backtrack again. What was I thinking? I couldn't help the water-bender now. If I was carrying her we'd never make it. I had to leave and return with help.

"Take the other one." Azula commanded. I glanced up quickly. Ty Lee was now cartwheeling towards me, and the other warrior-Mai, (wearing such bright colors that were surely against her policy) reached into her sleeves and pulled out her projectiles in a blink of an eye. I froze. What do I do?What do I do?WHAT DO I DO?

"Karuna, run!" Katara hollered from the ground. Mai's eyes widened ever so slightly and the grip on her throwing stars loosened. In all the time I had known her, she had never showed fear, awe or shock in front of anyone. But the slight changes and details were as clear as day to me. When Ty Lee was only a foot away from me, I sprinted down the green carpet and out the throne room doors. I forgot all about the pricks and pains in my feet and booked it out of the palace. My speed was so fast I thought I would fall down the palace steps and break every bone in my body. Fortunately though, my descent was not so hazardous. Ty Lee had most likely stopped chasing me a while back, but I didn't want to take any chances. If I was taken out too, things would be worse.

I still hadn't the slightest idea of what to do once I made it past the grounds and through the gates. Sokka and Aang were nowhere in Ba Sing Se and I had no way of contacting them. Toph! Yes, that was it! I'd go get my cousin. The two of us could figure out what to do from these. I paused for no more than a moment to catch my breath. Toph's parents' second manor wasn't too far. I could be there in ten minutes or less if I quickened my pace. I started off for the upper ring's houses of the elite.


My feet thudded against the stone road leading to the homes of the wealthy. I crossed the bridge above a crystal clear stream down below. Their mansion was 30 feet from the bridge to the left; the one with the red rooftop. I squeezed my hand into a fist and knocked on the door much harder than a person should. Being polite wasn't exactly my top priority at the time. I waited and fidgeted around on the doorstep. I waited some more. This is taking too long. Were they out somewhere? Maybe Toph got dragged off to the spa again. I had to see for myself. I grabbed the metal ring door handles and yanked back. To my surprise, the doors were unlocked. I stepped into the manor but what I saw didn't add up.

The whole inside of the mansion was dark. Brick covered the floor and there was no furniture of any kind. Beams and pillars lined the sides of the walls and more darkness could be found between them. This wasn't a house. "No..." I whispered. This was all wrong. Where were the Bei Fong's? In the center of the brick floor were gray markings. Kneeling down to get a closer look, I discovered that they were scratches and scrape marks. I studied them some more. The blemishes on the stone came from something made of metal. Something big and metallic. It all began to make sense now. Toph's letter was a trap. Her family was not here at all; they were still in Gaoling. My cousin had been taken...again.

"No, no, no, no...this is not happening." I held my head in my hands and sat upon the doorstep outside. Why hadn't I gone with Toph to see her "mother"? What hadn't I stayed just a few moments longer? And why did I flee back at the palace? I could have easily earth-bended Katara and myself out of there-so why did I take no action? "You and Katara look out for each other, okay?" Sokka's voice echoed in my ears. I was a failure. I hadn't been there for my friend and I sure as hell wasn't there when my cousin needed me. Fear began to take over me. What about the boys? Aang's message could have been a set up too. Even the intelligence report on Chameleon Bay might have been a hoax. Our antagonist separated us in order to take us all down individually. And if the mastermind happened to be Azula, well, I wasn't ready for that confrontation. "I could be the only one still standing..." I realized. It was all up to me now to save my friends. The police! I would go to the authorities and report what was going on, they could help me find my friends. No...think about who you're dealing with, it's Azula we're talking about. If the princess had been bold enough to capture my friends she would have taken control of the guards and the Dai Li already...and the Dai Li were the police. The Earth King was probably in trouble too. I wasn't ready for this. Hero time was baldy's thing-not mine. And what was worse, there was no one else in the city I knew who could help me. Well...there was a last resort.


I stealthily made my way through the bazaar to the middle-class area. I was constantly watching my step and my back in case I was targeted. My plan B...or was it C? Maybe D-was a far stretch, but I prayed to the spirits that it wouldn't falter. Glancing right and left beforehand, I slipped into the familiar alley between apartment buildings. Instead of the noise of the hustle and bustle of the busy streets, the alley was very silent. I couldn't tell if it was a good omen or a bad one. I quickly found the right flat and opened the back door abruptly, then shut it. Only too late did I remember that the courteous thing to do was to knock first. Two seconds later, Jin appeared from the other room. Her hair was back in two long braids. She gave me a peculiar stare.

"How the hell did you get in? The door was locked." I glanced back in awe. It was? I had opened it with such ease though. Jin rolled her eyes and leaned back against the counter. "If you keep making these visits a habit, I'm gonna make you pay half the rent." She was being facetious, but all types of humor were irrelevant now. Jin's smug expression vanished once she saw my red eyes and helpless persona.

"Look, I know you don't give a shit about me and quite frankly the feeling is mutual." The tan girl's ears perked up in confusion and intrigue. "But my friends have been kidnapped by the Fire Nation and you're my last hope." Jin's hazel eyes were no wide with interest.

"Whoa whoa. Back it up a sec." So I did. I told her how I was traveling with the avatar and the gang. How the five of us had split up. How Katara had been taken hostage by Azula, and how my cousin had been taken as well. Jin soaked in all the information I gave her.

"So...you're telling me, the Fire Nation Princess snuck into Ba Sing Se-the Earth Kingdom capital, incognito and absolutely no one knows or suspects a thing except for you and this Katara chick?"

"Yeah, that's right." I answered. Jin didn't seem to believe me. Who could blame her though? It seemed like a tall tale and I hadn't any proof to show.

"How come the guards don't know what's going on? The palace is filled with them, right?" I shook my head. There had been none present when the trio attacked Katara and I in the throne room.

"She's in disguise, remember?" Jin inhaled deeply, still trying to comprehend what this meant and how it would affect the city. "As a Kyoshi Warrior, even." I added. Jin blinked.

"Damn. This chick is good." I had to admit that Jin was right. Azula was incredibly cunning and smart. She must have been planning the infiltration for weeks.

"Yeah, she's known for her brilliance and strategies. My guess is that she's already gained control over the guards and the Dai Li."

"At first I thought you were on something, but you're sober so that's clearly not the case." Jin remarked after a few minutes. "I'll help you rescue your friends because I like Ba Sing Se Fire Nation free. But if I get killed by that princess, I'm dragging you down with me." I almost laughed at her comment, but there was nothing humorous about the task at hand.

"You're not afraid?" I asked curiously.

"I work at a dojo." She informed me. "I teach *Hapkido and *Bokator...I think I'm well prepared." She's a martial artist too?...Interesting. Jin exited the room for no more than three minutes and returned with her hair pulled back. She had on black pants with a forest green Gi top. She slipped a pair of nunchucks into her pocket and beckoned for me to follow her out the door. "Come on, we're bustin' your friends out."


On the way back to the palace, I learned that Jin's uncle, now deceased, had once been a member of the Dai Li and she knew where the hidden entrances to the palace were. We hid behind hedges at the back of the palace, observing an agent hovering around the back wall. After making sure no one was around, he earth-bended and opening, entered and sealed the opening back up. When five minutes had passed, Jin and I hopped over the bushes and over to the outside wall of the palace.

"Before we head in there and potentially face certain death," Jin began. " I want you to know I had my reasons our past two visits." I did a double take and looked at the martial artist funny. "You're a sweet person, Karuna but you're weak." An insult! How could she say that? "Not physically, but mentally." The tan girl explained, causing me to relax and feel less offended. "And you can't get by in this world with a weak mind...now get to bendin'!" She commanded. I took a firm stance and reopened the entrance. It led to a darkened hall lit by green light.

"Sooo...acting like a bitch and taking advantage of me was your way of trying to help?"

"Essentially, yes." Jin responded in a perky tone. "In short, don't be a doormat. I can tell you're the type of person who can be swayed easily. Be more like a rock and stand your ground...only don't actually be like a rock because then you can't move." I grumbled and shook my head. The philosophies of Hapkido were definitely going to take some getting used to.

We found a set of stairs that led to the bottom of the palace. Down there was even darker and the air was cold. It reminded me of Sokka's scientific theories: hot air rises and cool air sinks. There were two dozen cells visible, it was definitely the dungeon. I began to look into the cells through the bars at the top for my friends. Surprisingly, there were not many prisoners. I checked the first ten and so far neither Katara or Toph were in any of them. Footsteps sounded suddenly at the end of the corridor. Oh crap! Jin and I both pressed our backs against the metal cells in hopes that whoever it was had terrible vision. Three Dai Li agents rounded the corner and were headed this way. A few short moments later they discovered our presence and it was go time!

I sent I sent a wave through the ground at the agent furthest to the left. He jumped back with grace and sent his rock hands flying at me. I dodged one and broke the other with a hook-kick. Jin was already racing towards the other two. The agent closest to her raised a block of earth from the ground and pushed it at her. The tan girl sprung up a good three and a half feet in the air and pushed off the oncoming block with her left foot. As gravity pulled her back down, she raised her arm and prepared to strike with an elbow. The agent sidestepped and Jin made contact with the ground, crouched and knees bent. With fast hands, she drew the weapon from out of her pocket and rose. The agent threw a knuckle-punch strike and Jin trapped his arm with the nunchucks. She then kneed him in the stomach, released her hold on his arm and struck him on the neck with her weapon. She temporarily paralyzed him in a similar fashion as Ty Lee. The other agent came behind her too late. Jin dropped lower to the ground and swept the feet right out from under the Dai Li member with the scar on his cheek. He began to teeter backwards and Jin struck the nunchucks forward, cracking the man dead center of his forehead. She grabbed the other side of the weapon and struck him once more for good measure. He dropped to the floor, unconscious.

I had already taken care of my opponent; a swift hit to the temple knocked him out. Jin's fighting style was a lot more unique and artistic as mine, however. Jin flipped the nunchucks in her hand several times before returning them to her back pocket. "Chain link and steel." She grinned, seeming very pleased with herself and the outcome of the fight. There was a set of keys laying next to one of the agents she had taken out. The tan girl retrieved them and nodded her head towards the end of the corridor. "We've got to keep looking."

If we hadn't been paying close attention, we would've missed the soft cries of agony and pain that were drifting in the air in the hallway to the left. The groaning had obviously come from a prisoner. The faint sounds sent chills down my spine. Jin went ahead and found the cell in which we though the noise was coming from. She found the right key and placed it within the keyhole of the cell. The metal squeaked as she opened the door. I peered inside with her.

It was dark, but we could still make out a figure positioned on both knees. His arms were outstretched upwards, held there by metal chains. The young man slowly lifted his head. Messy, brown hair stuck out in most directions. His shirt was torn and stained, revealing cuts and bruises on his well toned chest. His lips were chapped and bleeding, a line of dried red rand down his chin. The white headband was now dirtied with blood and sweat. It was a horrible sight.

"Jin?" The older boy called out in a hoarse voice. "...Karuna?" We rushed to Raiden's side. "Thank spirits!" He rambled on. "I could kiss you both!" Jin stood up, keys in hand.

"There'll be plenty of time for that later." She laughed dryly. "Karuna, brace him." I did what she asked as she unlocked his wrists from the chain restraints. Raiden lurched forward, but I held him up. Jin's hazel eyes looked utterly heartbroken. "What happened to you?" She whispered. Raiden heaved a deep sigh before recapping what he had gone through the last couple of days.

"I challenged Long Feng in the tunnels...big mistake." The boy panted. "Threw me in here...had em beat me...my own escrimas..." Raiden trailed off and hung his head again. He looked like he had went through hell. I wish we had stopped him down under in the Dai Li's headquarters. The bounty hunter didn't deserve this. Jin helped the weak boy stand on his feet then embraced him.

"I'm so glad we found you." She breathed into the side of his neck. "C'mon, we're getting you out of here."

Jin and I each took one of Raiden's arms and draped it over our shoulders. The bounty hunter wasn't in the best condition, and even walking was a daunting task for him now. There was another staircase that we found closer to the cell Raiden had been kept in. The steps seemed to go on forever. "We still haven't found Katara or Toph." I pointed out.

"Earlier this morning, there was a girl who passed through with some agents-it sounded like Katara." Raiden informed me.

"Where is she now?" The bounty hunter sighed

"I don't know."

The staircase finally ended and the steps led us to a dark, Cherry Wood door. Jin grasped the handle and slowly pushed it open. The hinges squeaked quietly and the three of us edged out of the threshold. The door led to the left corner of the throne room. Everything was silent, and for a moment we thought the coast was clear. The three of us crept towards the green carpet leading out of the elegant room. I quickly signaled a halt, and the other two stopped moving.

Azula sat with her legs crossed on the throne steps. She was inspecting her nails and appeared rather bored. Instead of her usual Fire Nation getup, she was garbed in Earth Kingdom wear. She wore a tunic of various shades of green. A symbol of the Earth Kingdom was in the center of the tunic, outlined in yellow. Her golden hair piece was replaced by something more earthy looking. In short, she looked like an Earth Kingdom noble or royal.

She hadn't discovered our presence for which I thanks the spirits for. Leaving would be difficult now, Azula would catch us in an instant. I turned around to Jin and Raiden who were shielded behind the side of the throne steps. "We're never going to make it out with her in the room. We need a diversion." I told them. "I'm going to distract the princess so you two can make a run for it." I whispered my plan.

"What about your friends?" Jin inquired. "We still have to find them." I drew in a deep breath. That was a good question.

"They're obviously being held somewhere else. I might be able to squeeze the info out of the princess if I'm lucky. Earth is a better match for fire than strictly martial arts." I reasoned. "Thank you, Jin. I owe you, but for now I've gotta keep searching on my own. You need to help Raiden recover now. Once I distract her, you guys get the hog-monkeys out of here." Jin nodded heavily. She cocked her head to the side and gave me a crooked grin.

"Be safe, okay girly?" I shook my head and smiled as well. "I'd hate for anything to happen to that pretty face of yours."

"I will never understand you." I confessed to her. The tan girl was delighted at this and her grin broadened.

"No one ever will." She replied in a quite sing-song voice. I nodded one last time before turning around. Raiden grabbed my arm to stop me before I blew my cover.

"Thank you." His stormy, gray eyes were forever grateful. I responded with one last smile before finally leaving cover.

I didn't rush straight at the princess, no that would've been foolish. I figured and indirect approach would be good if I was aiming for merely a distraction. I casually strolled out from the side and walked in between pillars, finally resting my back against one. Azula still had not noticed me somehow; something must have been bothering her in order for her to be so unfocused. "Wow...nice place you got here." The Fire Nation Princess then looked up and noticed me. She jumped to her feet instantly.

"What the-how did-who are you?" The Fire Nation royal finally decided on the question. I acted as if she wasn't even there to provoke her more. "What are you doing here?" Her arms were up in defense and she began to inch towards me.

"Oh, just passing through." I replied nonchalantly. Azula's gaze burned into me from across the room. She paused briefly before pointing at me.

"You were with that water-bender wench!" The princess made the connection. Wench? That was a new one. I had called Katara numerous things in past arguments but 'wench' seemed a bit much. But more importantly, she had just insulted my friend. No one badmouths my friends. I took a solid stance and held my arms up as well. I was done playing games now.

"Yeah, you wanna tell me where you're keeping her?" Azula snorted and began to advance. I stood my ground.

"Pff save your breath, peasant. You'll soon be joining her!" The princess punched out blue flames that soared towards me. I twisted out of the way of the fire, missing it by a few inches.

"Uh huh. Okay, princess." I teased, rolling my eyes and using a sarcastic tone. Azula stared at me quizzically and cocked her head to the side.

"Do I...know you?" Aw dammit! My banter had given away too much. That response was what I used to say to he whenever she'd lost touch with reality or made an empty threat, which was very rare for her. I even said it the same way. I reacted abruptly and dashed out of the room. I could hear the princess following me with equal speed. Good. Now the other two can escape!

The hallways seemed endless just like in the Fire Nation palace. It almost reminded me of when Azula and I use to chase each other around as little kids. "Go away!" I shouted over my shoulder, sounding a lot like Zaida, while also lifting up patches of the floor to act as obstacles. Azula was as nimble as ever; she dodged and jumped over them as if it were second nature.

"Wait! I think I know you!" She protested. The princess picked up her speed behind me. "Would you stop for a damn second?" All of a sudden, she dived forward and knocked into my back. She took the both of us down and I hit the floor, landing on my stomach.

"Oof!" I jerked backwards and elbowed her in the side of her head. The princess let go in surprise and I scrambled to my feet. A few meters later, I took a sharp right down another hallway. I waited behind the corner with a boulder-like cut of stone I had pulled up from the floor. When Azula flew around the corner, my rock met her flames. The force of the two pushed us both back several yards. After the impact, I pulled myself back up to stand.

"I'm going to ask you again:" My voice sounded almost as threatening as I meant it. "Where are my friends?" What had she done with Katara? With Toph? I wanted answers now! Azula brushed something off of her tunic and scowled at me.

"You're really getting on my last nerves now, peasant. You can forget about your little reunion with the Water Tribe hellion because I'm going to kill you where you stand!" She rose a flaming, blue fist high into the air. I gulped. Azula followed through on about 99.9% of her threats. I was in trouble. The look on her face displayed severe agitation. Yep, I'm screwed. I retreated a few paces back to better ready myself for her attack. All of a sudden, I felt a sharp jab at the base of my skull-where the bottom of the head and neck meet. The strike caused me to lurch forward and I began to see spots. I whirled around to face my attacker. I sank to my knees as my vision began to blacken. The last things I saw were the somber, amber eyes, raven-black hair and the glimpse of maroon robes.


The next thing I knew, I was thrown down a slanted tunnel in the ground. "AAH!" I rolled down the rocky sides of the tunnel and face-planted on the solid ground at the bottom. There were lime colored crystals structures all over the catacombs. Katara was down here...as well as Zuko, oddly enough. When I arrived, she was laying it in to him.

"Why did they throw you down here?" She questioned the prince. Zuko sat cross-legged with his back to her. "So that when Aang comes you can finally have him in your little Fire Nation clutches? Is that it?" There was no response. The water-bender caught sight of me and helped me to my feet. "No Karuna, not you too."

"Toph's gone too..." I muttered hoarsely, struggling to find the words. Katara stared at me wide eyed and placed her head in her hands.

"Rrrr...no!" She then turned her attention back to Zuko. "Your sister is evil!" The prince barely glanced at us from over his shoulder.

"Tell me something I don't know." He bit back.

"You're a terrible person!" Katara snapped at him. The troubled prince ignored her antagonistic remarks. He was much more level headed than the last time I saw him. But I knew he still had quite a temper, and I didn't want that wrath to be unleashed.

"Katara, don't..." I tried to gently sedate her. Zuko had gone through enough in his life so far. He didn't need a lecture from a girl he barely knew.

"What do you care?" The Water Tribe girl suddenly snapped at me. "He's the Firelord's son. Spreading war and violence and hatred is in his blood." This was starting to get out of hand. I could sense a big blow up about to occur.

"You don't know what you're talking about." Zuko defended himself. I knew he was losing his cool and I wondered how long it would be until he let his anger completely consume him.

"I don't know what I'm talking about? How dare you?"

"Katara, leave him alone." My voice was no longer steady and held a sharp edge to it. What did she expect to accomplish by breaking this boy down?

Katara didn't heed my warning. "No!" She objected before glancing at the back of Zuko's head again. "You have no idea what this war has put me through. Me personally!"

"It's put everyone through something!" I interjected. "It's put as all through hell!" I raised my voice, probably louder than she'd ever heard me argue. "Pointing fingers won't change that fact." The water-bender knelt on the rocky floor of the catacombs, weeping. I had forgotten how sensitive the darker skinned girl was to this matter. I lowered the volume of my voice, feeling a tear flow down from my left eye. "My mother was also ripped from me...I feel your pain." I sympathized with the water-bender. The Fire Nation Prince gazed over his shoulder then turned around to face us. His face was humble, and the anger had died.

"That's something we all have in common." In those moments, some unknown force brought us together. Not physically, but spiritually. We all glanced back and forth at one another, trying to understand each other better. After some time, Zuko spoke again. "Hm...water, earth and fire. All we need is your boyfriend to complete the pattern." The prince pointed out in an almost amused tone. The frustrated expression returned to Katara's face.

"Aang is not my boyfriend!" She set the record straight. Tact was something Zuko didn't have too much of. I knew he was trying to lighten the mood, but it wasn't the right time for it. The golden eyed boy lowered his head.

"I...forgive me. It just seemed like...that wasn't my place to say." He clumsily muttered. Katara relaxed and shed her pride.

"I'm sorry for yelling at you." The water-bender apologized. "It's just, whenever I'd picture the face of the enemy, it was your face." Zuko slowly reached up to touch his scar. The boy's face was solemn and sad again.

"I see..."

"No, no. That's not what I meant." Katara took note of his self consciousness. The prince did have an emotional side to him, even though at times it seemed only anger flowed through his veins.

"It's okay." He shrugged it off. "I use to think this scar marked me-the sign of the banished prince. Cursed to chase the avatar forever . But lately, I've realized I'm free to determine my own destiny even if I'll never be free of my mark."

"You are free." I told him. "Don't let something of the past hinder the rest of your future. It's you. You control your world. No one else." Zuko remained still for a few moments, letting my words swish around in his head.

"You know," he looked at me. "you sound like my uncle, only...you put it in a way I can understand." I approached the no longer hostile prince.

"This uncle of yours must have his reasons for being cryptic. But like I said before- you can't linger on what has happened rather than what will happen." I brushed the hair out of my eyes so he could see my scar. I was taking a big risk here; the prince might have remembered where I had gotten it. I just wanted him to know that things didn't have to be dark and terrible unless that's how you perceived the world. "It doesn't cover as much skin as yours, but now my vision is almost completely gone on this eye." Zuko gave his condolences. "I've never forgotten how I got it or who I had been back then. But I never let it determine how the rest of my life will be." The conflicted boy nodded his head and his eyes seemed to communicate that he was starting to comprehend my advice. The three of us stood close to one another in silence, and it seemed as though we represented the three nations coexisting in peace and harmony.

BOOM! A hole was blasted through the wall of the underground cavern. Crystals shattered and powdered dust rose into the air. The two who emerged from the opening were Aang and...Uncle Iroh? Strange...Katara ran over to the avatar and captured him into a big hug. Iroh did the same with Zuko. I stood there out of the loop. So glad we're all happy to see each other ..yeah. Aang glared at Zuko while embracing Katara and Zuko returned the hostile stare.

"Aang! You guys are okay!" I patted him on the back. "Toph's gone missing-have you seen her?"

"Yeah, we ran into her on the way back to the city." The Air Nomad reported. "She's with Sokka above ground. They're going to warn the king about Azula's coup." Toph was safe! I was so relieved. And Sokka was fine as well. I thanked the spirits that the whole group was okay.

"Uncle, I don't understand!" Zuko argued with Iroh off to the side. "What are you doing with the avatar?"

"Saving your butt!" The air-bender retorted. Zuko didn't appreciate the comment and he growled at Aang. His uncle stopped him from charging at the Air Nomad.

"Zuko, we need to talk." Uncle Iroh held him back. Iroh then glanced at Aang, Katara and I. "Find your friends, we'll catch up with you." I went with my friends through the hole Aang had made, leaving the fire-benders to themselves.


"We need to get back to Sokka and Toph! I have a feeling they're going to need our help!" Katara exclaimed as the three of us ran through another part of the catacombs. The ceiling was higher here and the space was extremely large. It seemed to take forever to reach the other side even by running. I heard the roar of flames behind us and acted quickly. I took a horse-stance, firm and strong and raised an earth shield from the ground. I hadn't reacted fast enough. The blue fire collided with the shield, breaking it down. My hands stung, and black scorch marks soon appeared. Yards away, the Fire Nation Princess' arms were up-right two fingers extended. I could even see the smoke rising from her hand.

Katara was the next one to take action. Using water from the flowing stream nearby, she hurled huge waves at Azula. An enormous barrage of fiery blue was expelled from the princess, vaporizing the water. Gray smoke hovered over them before rising higher into the ceiling. The fight had only just begun.

Azula now stood in between Aang and Katara, a good distance from them though. Her hands were pointed at the two in defense, and she eyed back and forth to make sure none had made any sudden movements. The princess was forgetting about me. I faced her straight on, meters away, with my fists held up. There was a slight twinge of fear in her eyes. Three on one. Azula was only defending herself from the other two.

FOOM! A fire ball shot through the air and landed on the stone in the middle of us. The flames glowed orange. Zuko appeared, holding his right arm up to his ears and his left out. The prince glanced back and forth between Azula and us. It occurred to me then, that the prince was struggling internally with which side he'd chose. So that was what his uncle needed to talk with him about. That had to be it. Otherwise, the boy would've made his move already. Please Zuzu...please. I prayed. Then Zuko made his choice. "HRR!" He punched orange flames out at Aang in rapid fire. I had never seen the boy look so determined before; not even when he was trying to perfect his form. Aang dodged all of the angry prince's attacks with great effort. The nomad fought back, pushing strong gusts of wind at the scarred boy, knocking him clear off his feet. Katara was off battling Azula and seemed to be handling things fine. Though the form of water-bending stems from grace and inner energy, Katara fought with such gusto and speed she could have passed as a fire-bender. My friends were holding their own against the royal siblings and I wasn't really needed at the time. I felt out of the loop again. It wasn't until Zuko's orange flames knocked Aang against the jagged crystals on the wall when I intervened.

I stamped my foot against the ancient stone and a large crack quickly started off in the direction of Zuko. The prince nearly lost his footing as he realized the ground beneath him was shifting. "Zuko, no!" I pleaded, hitting the boy in the chest with a weak palm-heel; the last thing I wanted to do was hurt him. Zuko responded by whipping a flaming hand at me. I caught it well before it reached me and forced it back. "You're better than this!" I threw a jab which he blocked, then he punched and I countered that.

"You don't know me!" The troubled prince growled, seething with anger. I stopped all actions at his words. They sunk in under my skin and bubbled in my blood. I felt stung, as if an arrow had pierced me in the chest. I was caught off guard when Zuko swiftly pushed me out of his way. The force was nothing I hadn't felt before. In fact, the shove didn't have much behind it at all. That surprised me. Zuko then stalked off after Aang and I watched him from my position on the ground. Breathing wasn't easy in those moments. If only, Zuko...if only that were the case.

Katara and Aang switched opponents. I helped the water-bender fight off the banished prince while Aang bravely took on Azula. I took a moment of leave from maintaining and earth shield for Katara and I, to see how the Air Nomad was doing. Azula charged towards the young avatar, projecting herself forward with her blue flames like a rocket. Aang, now covered head to toe in the cavern crystals, headed straight for the princess with ample speed. Baldy are you INSANE? At the last second, Azula took a stance, letting her flames envelop the air-bender. Aang tried bracing himself but it was too late. The force of Azula's fire broke his crystal armor and sent him flying backwards. THUNK!

"Aang!" I screamed, as my friend hit the cavern wall hard, resulting in the formation of a dust cloud. I left Katara to Zuko and dashed over to the Air Nomad. "Oh my gods are you okay?" Aang picked himself back up and brushed the rubble off of him. His clothes had become tattered and dirtied.

"I've been better." The monk replied. "I'm just glad we're not fighting off a whole army or something." At that moment, dozens of Dai Li dropped into the catacombs from somewhere up above. So Azula had taken over the Dai Li like I presumed. You've GOT to be kidding me! At first it had been three-to-two, but now the numbers were definitely not in our favor. We needed the others, but even what chance did we have? "No...there's too many." Aang inhaled with shock. "Karuna, I need to get into the avatar state. But the thing is I have to unlock the last-" I cut the boy off. Whatever the case was, he didn't have to explain it to me at the moment.

"Do what you need to do. Katara and I will hold down the fort until you get your glow on." Aang got right down to business. He isolated himself in a small crystal tent and began the process of meditating. I hopped down from the ledge and went down to Katara's aid; I had almost forgotten we had left her to defend herself from all our enemies. The Water Tribe girl was busy fending off from the Dai Li by using the '"Water Octopus" technique. I helped her out by chucking rocks at the royal siblings and dropping stalactites from the ceiling to fall on the agents.

"What's he doing?" Katara cried, wondering where Aang could possibly be. I side-kicked and agent in the face and punched another in the ribs.

"He's going avatar!" I reassured her.

A bright light emitted from the green crystals surrounding Aang, and all paused to marvel at it. The blinding light was unleashed from the crystals along with a strong force of wind. Aang rose up out of the crystals and into the air. His eyes and arrows glowed white. He was in the avatar state. The last time I had seen the boy this way was in the desert when we confronted the sand-benders. Since Aang was now in control of it, the state looked even more majestic and awe-inspiring. The power the young avatar possessed was incredible. Way to go Aang. Knew you could do it, buddy! It all happened then, in a second. No one was prepared.

The crackle echoed off the walls of the catacombs. Aang's body jolted several times in shock. Quick flashes of light surrounded him. Oh my gods! No!...What?...How?...AANG! On the ground below, Azula's right arm was extended and her two fingers pointed upward. A small line of some rose from the tips of her skin and the sinister smirk took over her face. Golden defiance shimmered in her eyes.

My hear skipped several beats. What had just happened? How could it be? The avatar began to plummet downward, a trail of smoke forming from his back. He was falling. Aang was falling! Before I could do anything, Katara rode a tsunami sized wave over to where the Air Nomad was descending, taking out all the Dai Li with the water. The water-bender caught the avatar just in time, but he lay motionless in her arms. Tears streamed down the darker skinned girl's cheeks. It broke my heart to see her crying like this. It broke my heart to see Aang so still in her grasp. The more I looked on, the more I began to realize that there was a great chance the worse case scenario had occurred. The monk's frayed and rugged clothing was now scorched as it clung to his immobile body.

My pulse beat like the drums of war. The blood inside my veins felt so compressed and ready to explode. My system went into overdrive. The Fire Nation, my home, had come against my country. The Fire Nation, my home, had taken over nearly all the lives of those in the Earth Kingdom. The Fire Nation, my home, had sought out to destroy my family. And they succeeded. I was done standing idly by. My people had been stepped on for years and now my friends were being punished as well. From then on, I only had scorn for the Fire Nation. There was no way that I wouldn't let them rue this very moment.

"Go!" I barked at Katara. The water-bender looked up at me with puffy eyes then carefully rose to her feet with Aang still in her arms, and headed towards the waterfall. I planted my feet into the stone below me. With the stabled focus I had left, I raised enormous stone slabs of earth to enclose them there; I could feel the slight strain in my shoulders as I did so. The large earth walls I created blocked off any access to them. Be safe...please.

"Surrender now and you might still draw breath! Your precious avatar is finished." The princess demanded. "Refuse and suffer the consequences." It sounded like a challenge. Turning around, I faced the royal siblings, particularly the cruel girl. Because of them, everything was now wrong. Because of them everything was now wrong. Because of them my friend was in peril. Because of them there was no hope left for the world. The anger, the hate and the pain welled up inside me was enough to substitute an army. The rage burned hotter than any fire I'd ever known, and I soon thought I had become the flames themselves. I inhaled deeply and exhaled, seeing smoke come out of my nostrils-like a dragon. I paused everything that ran through my mind for a brief moment. The utter silence was frightening as well as deafening. Tranquility cleansed my veins for a split second before pure adrenaline took over. I punched the stone beneath me, shattering the very Earth itself.


ZUKO'S POV

I couldn't believe that the two of us had ended it...together. All it had taken to defeat the avatar was lightening. Though I resented Azula as much as she resented me, I had to admit that her attack was genius. There was no way I could have pulled it off; I couldn't even perform the lightening technique correctly. I remembered my uncle had once told me that when an avatar was in his state that was the time he was most vulnerable. Azula must have known that as well. But then again, what didn't Azula know?

My sister and I approached the earth-bender, ready to deliver the same fate to her as the avatar. That girl had tried to get inside my head. Who was she to tell me what to do? It was she who had told me to chose for myself what path I would take. Before we could advance any closer, she held her fist to her open palm with closed eyes. When she opened them, her sockets were white. Two avatars?...That's-no...that's impossible? The girl bared fangs and pointed ears poked out from behind her long, dark hair. Her features were now dragon-like. A white mist surrounded her body and the energy seemed to follow with her every movement. What is she? "Your worst nightmare" Her face seemed to say. The girl pounded her fist into the ground with such impact I felt the entire cavern shake. The stone cracked and split, creating a divergent boundary-like an earthquake. The ground below Azula and I shifted out and upward violently. My sister didn't even move an inch. I couldn't believe she hadn't already foreseen it. Her eyes were fixed on the earth-bender and they were wide with...fear. This disturbed me the most. Azula was afraid.

"Azula!" I hollered at her, trying to break her of the trance she was in. I acted quickly, hurling myself at my sister and saving us both from the damage of the rippling floor. We both hit the ground hard, but it was okay. My sister didn't deserve to get crushed. And though she would never admit it, it was probably one of the nicest things I'd ever done for her. Azula hadn't objected to my sudden act of heroism and I figured that was an abnormal thing. The prodigy was still speechless as she eyed the Earth Kingdom girl in awe. What was her deal? She had taken down the avatar, why would this girl be any different? For spirits' sake, she could frigging shoot lightening! How come she hadn't done so already? There were so many questions I wanted to scream at my sister then, but for obvious reasons I didn't. If she wasn't going to fight, then I was.

"Hyahh!" I punched out fireballs at the girl. She deflected the first three with open-handed blocks but absorbed the fourth into her core. I looked on in wonder, completely dropping my guard. A bad decision. The fire was directed back at me, but the force was five times greater. White flames engulfed me and I had not time to block. I hit the stone ground several times until I was able to bounce back up onto my feet in a crouched position. The fall had hurt much more than I had anticipated. Just as I stood, the girl was instantly in front of me. I threw a ridge-hand at her neck as I knew how; I aimed for the vitals and wasted no time. The next thing I felt was her heel driving into my stomach. I crashed into some crystal structures, back first. My body ached all over. I could barely bring myself to roll over. There was a stinging sensation all over my skin. The girl, no, the mutant-No! The monster, targeted my sister next. And I lay helplessly on a bed of shattered crystals.

Azula raised a shaky hand and extended two fingers outward. She gathered the chi from her center and whipped the crackling energy towards the mutant earth-bender. A hand clamped down on my sister's despite the lightening and the girl from the Earth Kingdom struck her with an open palm to the chest. Azula was thrown back just like I had been and she hit the ground hard as well. I winced. Though it was payback for all the times she had hurt me as kids, I felt for her then. My sister, my perfect sister was the underdog in this fight. Worrying for her fate was a personal first for me. What was worse, there was nothing I could do for her then.

The earth-bender grabbed Azula by the front of her tunic and slammed her into the cavern wall. A life sized dent was made in the stone. The girl held my sister high against the stone, white eyes staring right into her soul-if she even had one was beyond me. "GIVE ME ONE REASON WHY I SHOULDN'T KILL YOU" The voice was nothing like when she had spoken to me earlier. Instead of feminine and pleasant, it was deep and distorted. The very sound of it made my hair stand on end. My sister looked completely paralyzed; I had never seen her this way before. The girl grew impatient at Azula's lack of response and pressed her into the wall harder. She drew back her other arm, ready to carry out the action.

"No!" I cried out in a raspy voice. She was going to kill my sister. My blood felt cold and my heart was in my throat. Azula was my sister! Even if she didn't act like it. I couldn't lose anyone else in my family. I couldn't!

"STOP!" A familiar voice cried out. On the other side of the catacombs, my uncle bounded down from the cavern ledges towards us. The mutant earth-bender turned her head in the direction of where his voice came from. My uncle held his arms up and approached her ever so slowly. "Don't do this, Sankari." The air seemed to vanish from my lungs. I did a double-take. My uncle had just said...he had just called her 'Sankari'. My Kari? The sweet little girl who had been the closest thing I had to a sister? No...she had drowned. It was before the Winter Solstice-half a year ago. I would never forget the grief I felt in my heart upon hearing the news. I had silently cried that night in my cabin because I had told her a lie. "You'll see me again. I promise Sankari, I will come back." She was alive and she was here.

Sankari kept her hold on Azula. She-...how...why? Fighting with the avatar? I simply didn't understand. "You made a promise to me once." Uncle continued his attempt to sedate her. "To use your gifts wisely-not to abuse them!" Sankari bared her fangs at him and forced a puff of air out through her nose. She seemed not to recognized him. That, or she didn't care. "You are the master of your own fate, but this is not the way." Sankari's knuckles pressed into Azula's chest bone. "This is not who you are nor what your father would want you to become." Something in Sankari's intimidating face softened. The mention of her deceased father curbed her rage but only slightly. "I know this is not who you are. Letting hate and anger drive your path will take you down a terrible road, Sankari. It will only be your downfall in the end. Never let them consume you." Sankari turned away from my uncle and growled at my sister who was still held against the stone. "You're above this, Sankari." Uncle kept trying to calm her. "You've always been. What you need to do is prove this to yourself now and let her go." Another puff of air was released from Sankari's nostrils as her gaze burned holes into my sister. Her grip tightened subtly. Uncle's tone hardened. "Let. Her. Go."

Sankari showed her fangs and growled lowly. She then dropped Azula who fell forward onto the ground. My sister clenched her teeth in agony and gripped at a spot just under her neck. I soon found out why. Her collarbone was broken. Sankari stormed off past us and stood in front of Uncle. She inhaled and exhaled deeply. Then, the white left her eyes and she was the same again. She sank to her knees. Uncle put his hands on her shoulders and knelt down to her level. "You need to leave with your friends. Hurry!" Sankari nodded and rose to her feet in a flash. She sprinted through the cavern and into a tunnel leading above ground. Within a few seconds, she was gone.

I could stand now. The pain hadn't fully left yet but it was manageable. I limped over to Azula who was kneeling on the ground, hand by her shoulder. "Here..." I offered my hand out to aid her. As the older brother it was my obligation to assist her when she needed it.

"Don't touch me!" She spat and I instinctively recoiled. My sister was back to being her bitchy old self. Juuuust great. I had a feeling her nicer and needier attitude earlier would vanquish. Azula was never capable of being nice. She did have an excuse though, she was wounded worse than I was.

"That was Sankari...Kari." I marveled, still not quite over the fact that it had actually been her; alive and there before us.

"I know, Zuko. I'm not and idiot." Azula snapped at me though I wasn't even talking to her. Something in her voice was different. It lacked the same evenness and confidence than it normally possessed. I wondered why that was. I left her alone soon after and turned to my only relative who wouldn't bite my head off over nothing.

"Uncle, what...was that?" The old man sighed and stared up at the waterfall for some time before finally answering me.

"The White Dragon, my nephew." He informed me. "It has found a new host."

Azula had the Dai Li take Uncle captive, reason being for treason. I didn't stop her. And I regretted not preventing it much later. I was thinking of only myself at the time and what the fall of the avatar would mean for me. I would be returned home, excepted and loved by my father again. I had wanted this for so long. My destiny was being fulfilled. But on a side note, I couldn't help but of think of my previous conversation with Sankari. "You don't know me!" I had shouted at her. My best friend. My real sister. I knew the truth well. Sankari did know me, better than most even. The real question was did I know her? And even more importantly, did I know myself?


* Hapkido- a dynamic and eclectic Korean martial art. Style includes various fighting methods such as pressure points, joint locks, throws and the use of traditional weapons. (Makes sense how Jin knows pressure point strikes):

[youtube]/watch?v=GOCgfuajpJs (for a visual)

* Bokator- a Cambodian style of martial arts that uses close hand-to-hand combat and weapons. (Also makes sense how Jin knows how to use nunchaku or nunchucks):

[youtube]/watch?v=OYXGUSqWObg (for a visual)