Alright everybody, as I said before, this chapter will be a completely original piece. This means that it might be a little bit shorter than my usual chapters, because I don't have a transcript to work off of. Either way, I hope you enjoy learning more about Min and Xia.

PS: Check my profile for a link to that Character Sheet I promised

...

The gang slept for what felt like days, the exhaustion and mental anguish of everything that it happens the previous night and day completely draining them of energy. By the time they woke up, the fatigue had finally vanished, and Aang stretched himself awake letting out a long yawn.

"Man, I had the weirdest dream last night." he let out as he came out of his yawn. "We were being chased by this weird tank thing, then those girls from Omashu showed up, then Zuko and his uncle, and Min turned out to be his twin sister?"

"It wasn't a dream." Katara remark bitterly, staring out at the sunrise with an angry look in her eyes.

Aang turned to her and confusion, then he looked around their small camp. Sure enough, Min was nowhere to be seen. His face drooped, and he sagged slightly.

"She's gone…" he let out.

"Yeah, and good riddance if you ask me." Sokka let out, standing up and giving a stretch. "She's been lying to us ever since we met her. Her name is not even Min, it's Xia or whatever."

"I can't believe we were ever stupid enough to just blindly trust her." Katara muttered. "She was a Firebender, she was Zuko's twin sister, who knows what else she was hiding!"

Aang, though still shocked by his Guardian's true identity, didn't share their anger. He looked out at the sunrise with a worried look.

"I wonder where she is." he sighed.

"Odds are, she's probably laughing it up with her brother about how gullible we were." Katara spat.

...

Zuko tied off the last of the bandages around his uncle's waist. The wounds weren't as bad as he'd thought, but his uncle wouldn't be waking up anytime soon. Doing his best to make his uncle comfortable in the old hut they'd found, he started a small fire to warm up the drafty place. Warming his hands by the blaze, he looked over at his long-lost twin.

Xia had passed out not long after they managed to get their uncle into the hut. She'd been sleeping ever since, twitching from fitful dreams. Zuko's eyes never left her, finding it hard to differentiate between the Guardian he'd been chasing for almost a year, and the sister he believed was dead.

After a few minutes, Xia's eyes flew open. She sat up, letting out of small gasp. She looked around, having momentarily forgotten her situation. As she realized where she was, the events of the previous day came crashing back. She leaned against the wall, letting out a sad sigh.

"I was hoping it was all just some bad dream." she muttered, brushing dirt off her back before turning to her twin. "How is he?"

"Out cold." he answered. "I did what I could. I only hope it was enough."

An uneasy silence fell over the pair as they just awkwardly exchanged glances. Eventually, Xia looked away, planting her eyes firmly on the ground.

"Well… go on." she told him. "Shout, yell, get angry. I just wanna get this over with."

Her words seemed to finally pull Zuko from his own mind, loosening his tongue in the progress.

"You were dead..." He let out.

Xia nodded in reply.

"They told me you were dead." he continued.

She nodded again.

"And not only are you alive, but you're the Guardian." He pieced together.

"That about sums it up." Xia told him.

"How could you keep who you were a secret?!" Zuko demanded. "You let me think you were dead!"

"I had to, okay?" Xia retorted. "It's not like I could just send you a messenger hawk going 'Hey, you know how I'm supposed to be dead. Surprise!' I mean seriously."

"You still could have told me!" Zuko replied. "Maybe even helped me."

"No, I couldn't, Zuko." She insisted. "I couldn't let you get Aang."

"So, you wanted to keep my only hope for going home away from me?!" Zuko exploded. "You're protecting him is why we're in this mess in the first place!"

"Oh, so now it's my fault!" she exclaimed. "As if I needed more people blaming the world's problems on me! Well guess what, Zuko. The world doesn't revolve around you and your stupid, pointless quest for honor!"

"You don't know how hard it's been for me!" Zuko yelled. "Searching in vain for three years, away from home, from you… now the chance to have some semblance of what I had comes and you keep it away?"

"You think my life has been easy?" Xia snapped. "Well believe me, it hasn't! I was alone! You at least had uncle by your side, but I had nobody!"

Tears were in her eyes as she said this.

"I spent two years with everyone judging me because of you." she went on. "Nobody trusted me, nobody would talk to me… Father even forbade me from even mentioning your name."

Zuko lurched back in surprise of that. A heavy silence filled the hut as the two just looked at one another. The only sounds they heard were the crackling of the fire and Xia's heavy breathing.

"But I guess you don't care about that." Xia finally let out, turning away. "After all, the only thing you want it to capture Aang and restore your precious honor. Even if the world burns for you to get it."

She then stormed out of the hut, leaving Zuko alone. As she disappeared, his mind took him back to the last time he saw his sister. The day he was banished.

...

Zuko sat in the Royal Physician's office, still in shock from everything that had happened. His right eye still burned as the physician applied a salve to the charred flesh. His father's words were still ringing in his ears as he gripped the arms of the chair he was sitting in.

"Your shameful weakness has brought nothing but dishonor upon this family. Until you can prove that you are worthy of your title, you are banished from the homeland."

He still remembered his blubbering plea for mercy, begging to know what he needed to do to prove himself.

"The only thing that could wipe away the stain of your failure would be to bring me the Avatar himself! Only then will your honor be restored."

The bandages on his face tightened, pulling him from his memories with a sharp bite of pain. He winced before turning to look at himself in the mirror. Most of his hair had been burned away, forcing the physician to shave all but his ponytail away. He placed a few fingers against the large bandage that dominated his face, letting out a small sigh.

"Zuko!"

He turned around at his name, seeing his twin come running into the room. She skidded to a stop, gasping when she saw his face.

"By the Spirits..." she let out.

Zuko turned away, trying to hide the bandage. Xia approached him, taking his hand.

"Azula told me what happened." Xia explained. "I didn't want to believe her, but… are you really-?"

"... I am." Zuko confirmed.

Xia broke down, pulling her twin into a hug. He returned the hug in kind, both just holding each other. They stood there for a moment, the royal physician taking his leave to give them some space. As he walked out of the room, Iroh entered, a mournful expression on his face.

"It's time, Prince Zuko." He told him.

Reluctantly, Zuko released his sister, walking out of the room. Xia watched him go, then turned to Iroh.

"I'm going with him." she insisted. "I promised Mom I'd protect him."

"No." Iroh told her. "With Prince Zuko leaving, you are next in line for the throne. You will be needed here."

"But Zuko-"

"I will protect your brother." Iroh promised. "He will still need a fire bending teacher while he is away, and he will need someone he can trust to watch his back."

Xia could see the wisdom in her uncle's words, but sorrow was still clutching her heart.

"I'm not going to see him again… am I?"

Iroh didn't answer, instead he just pulled his niece into a hug. They embraced, Xia sobbing into her uncle's shoulder. Outside the physician's office, Zuko cried too, leaning against the wall while trying to hide his tears.

...

The gang was gathering their stuff up from where they'd left it, rearranging it on Appa's saddle. As they did, a piece of paper fluttered to the ground from one of the bags. Aang picked it up, realizing it was the wanted poster depicting Xia. He looked at the picture, letting out a sigh.

"I still can't believe she's gone." He said quietly, tucking the poster back into the bag.

"You're still going on about that traitor?" Sokka questioned, looking down at him from Appa's back. "Seriously, you need to get over it."

"I just..." Aang began before sighing. "It just doesn't feel right. We just left her behind without giving her a chance to explain."

"What's there to explain?" Katara asked. "She lied to us. It's all she's done since the North Pole."

"She was my Guardian." Aang argued weakly.

"Who was also a Firebender and a member of Fire Nation Royalty!" Sokka exclaimed.

"So?" Toph suddenly piped up.

The group went silent for a minute as they turned to her.

"What do you mean, so?" Sokka asked.

"I mean what does it matter where she's from or who her family is?" Toph clarified.

"Toph, I know you've lived a bit of a sheltered life up until now, but in case you haven't noticed, there's a war going on." Sokka informed her.

"Yeah, and the Fire Nation is responsible." Katara added. "For a hundred years, they've done nothing but destroy everything in their path, cutting down anyone they please."

She put her hand to her necklace as she said that.

"So, because Xia is Fire Nation, she's automatically the bad guy?" Toph put together.

"Well… yeah." Sokka responded.

Toph let out a snort, shaking her head.

"Wow, and I thought I was supposed to be the blind one around here." she said with a shake of her head.

"And what's that supposed to mean?" Katara questioned.

"It means that you're letting your hurt feelings about what her people have done blind you to the facts." Toph explained. "I know I haven't been part of this group for very long, but did Xia ever give any indication that she was anything but your friend?"

"No, actually." Aang answered.

"It was an act." Katara insisted. "A ploy to earn our trust."

"Do you honestly believe that, Katara?" Toph questioned.

Katara went to answer but found herself unsure.

"Well… she could have smashed us against the rocks when we were ice dodging with Bato." Sokka recalled. "But she didn't. Heck, she even helped to try and prove Kyoshi's innocence and had my back when we were stuck underground with those nomads. Anyone who can put up with those guys for a couple hours and not go off on them can't be all bad."

"You guys remember when you were sick, and I was captured by Zhao?" Aang asked.

"I remember those disgusting frozen frogs you had us suck on." Katara recalled, sticking out her tongue.

"Yeah, I'm pretty sure I had a wart on that flap on the back of my throat." Sokka remembered.

"Sokka, I looked at it and told you there was nothing there." Katara insisted.

"I could feel it!" Sokka exclaimed. "It's my throatal flap!"

"Anyway..." Aang continued. "Xia teamed up with The Blue Spirit to get me out. She risked her life to save me. And that's not the only time. She tried to protect me back in the North Pole, and even in the beginning when we first met."

"It was just an act!" Katara tried to insist, but by this point, not even she was believing her own words. "She was just… doing what she needed to fool us."

"Then what about that time with Haru?" Aang offered up.

Katara's argument died right then and there. Toph cocked her head in confusion.

"Haru?" she questioned.

"An earthbender we met on our way to the North Pole." Katara explained, her voice quiet. "His village was overrun by the fire nation and he was arrested for Earthbending. Xia got herself arrested so she could free him."

"Wow." Toph said with a nod, her voice layered with sarcasm. "That must have been one heck of an act."

Sokka sighed before turning to the others.

"Guys, Toph's right." He admitted. "Xia was always our friend. If she was really Fire Nation she would have taken us out a dozen times already."

"Then why did she lie to us?" Katara question, more curious than accusingly.

"Maybe because she was afraid." Aang guessed. "I mean, think about it. The Fire Nation is responsible for a hundred years of war, and she's Fire Nation royalty. If she just admitted who she was-"

"We never would have trusted her." Sokka realized.

"So, she became Min." Katara pieced together. "So she could earn our trust without our prejudice getting in the way."

"And you guys went and justified all her fears." Toph concluded. "Congratulations."

"Aw man, we were such idiots!" Aang let out, flopping onto the ground.

"Yeah, you were." Toph agreed. "Sweetness here flat-out attacked her."

"We need to find her and apologize." Katara insisted.

"You kidding?" Sokka questioned. "She's probably long gone by now."

"An Avatar needs his Guardian." Aang told them.

"And if she wants to find us, she can." Sokka reminded him. "She's got that freaky Guardian sense, remember?"

"Sokka's right." Katara agreed. "Aang, I know you want to apologize, but now's just not the time."

"Well… can we at least wait?" he asked. "Just for a few days? Give her a chance to find us?"

"Sure Aang." Sokka answered.

Aang smiled slightly, then looked out at the horizon.

"I just hope that wherever she is, she's okay."

...

Zuko had Iroh's kettle over the fire, trying his hand at making some tea. As he watched the water begin to bubble, he heard Xia enter the hut. He turned to see her carrying a bundle of firewood in her arms.

"I- I figured we were running low..." she muttered quietly.

"Yeah..." Zuko said quietly.

She set down the wood on a pre-existing pile, then sat down across from Zuko. They exchanged glances, the Zuko spoke up again.

"What happened to you?" he asked.

Xia let out a breath, leaning back.

"Where do I begin?" she asked.

"Try the beginning." Zuko offered up.

Xia nodded, then closed her eyes, as if trying to remember.

"I guess this whole mess started when Father moved me out of our room." she began. "He told me that I needed to let go of 'childish things' and focus on my future as the crown princess of our nation. And that was only one of the surprises he thrusted on me that day."

...

Xia sat in her new room, watching as the servants placed all her things around the room and tucked her clothes away. She felt completely numb, unsure of what to say or do, but knowing that neither could change what was happening. After a few minutes, the servants left her alone, only for a single soldier dressed in the armor of an Imperial Firebender.

"Your Highness." he greeted, bowing to her.

Xia looked over at the soldier in confusion.

"Who're you?" she questioned.

"My name is Chit Sang." the soldier explained. "I was assigned to be your personal bodyguard."

Xia's eyes narrowed, suspicion flaring up.

"More like babysitter." she grumbled, flopping onto her bed.

"I know it's not favorable, Your Highness." Chit Sang admitted. "But these are your father's orders."

Xia didn't reply, merely curling up on her bed.

"I'll be waiting outside." Chit Sang told her, walking out of the room before closing the door.

...

"I was a prisoner, plain and simple." Xia explained. "Everywhere I went, Chit Sang was there. There was no escape."

"That sounds… awful." Zuko admitted.

"It wasn't his fault." Xia insisted. "Chit Sang was actually a nice guy. I told him a lot about you and how I felt about your banishment. In fact, it's thanks to Chit Sang I got this."

She held up her hand, sliding off her glove to reveal her Guardian tattoo.

"What happened?" Zuko asked.

"Well, we were just talking about a year into your banishment." Xia explained. "By this point, we were pretty comfortable with one another. He even took his helmet off around me."

...

Xia sat in front of the royal pond, tossing bread crumbs at the turtle ducks. Chit Sang stood over to her left, his helmet tucked under his arm.

"Zuko used to come out here whenever he was hiding from something." Xia told him as she lightly tossed some more crumbs. "Usually it was Azula."

"He chose a nice place." Chit Sang commented.

Xia nodded in agreement, then her face fell. She lowered the bread, letting out a sigh.

"I miss him every day." she admitted. "I know father wants me to forget about him… but I just can't."

"Hey, he's family." Chit Sang responded. "You can't forget about family."

"Exactly." Xia let out. "Thank you."

"Just because I'm your babysitter doesn't mean I don't have a heart." Chit Sang quipped.

Xia laughed lightly, then sighed again.

"I just hope that he'll find the Avatar and come home soon." she spoke up.

Chit Sang looked at her, rubbing the back of his head.

"Uh, Princess?" he let out. "I don't think your father actually wanted him to find the Avatar."

Xia turned on him in surprise.

"What?" she exclaimed.

Chit Sang held out his hands, trying to pacify the princess.

"Whoa, hold on there." he insisted. "I'm just saying that if he really wanted him to find the Avatar, he would have given him custody of the Guardian."

Xia blinked in surprise.

"Wait… she's real?" she questioned. "I thought she was just a myth. Something Great-Great Grandpa Sozin made up to strike fear into the enemies."

"Oh, she's real alright." Chit Sang told her. "I was a guard over in her prison before I was reassigned."

Xia rose to her feet, a strange gleam in her eye.

"Show me!"

...

Chit Sang led Xia through a secret catacomb carved out beneath the palace. The entrance was hidden cleverly behind Sozin's portrait, something Xia found completely amazing.

"I can't believe I never knew about this." she gasped.

"Only the Fire Lord and those assigned to guard this place know about it." Chit Sang explained. "Frankly, I could get into a lot of trouble for showing you this."

"Nobody has to know." Xia told him. "My lips are sealed."

With that, the two arrived at a pair of ornate metal doors that were sealed with a long metal bar. A lone guard stood before these doors, standing at attention.

"Quin Lee's on duty." Chit Sang remarked. "Good."

He reached into his belt, pulling a few gold pieces from his wallet, before approaching the guard.

"Hey, you're lookin pretty tired." Chit Sang noted. "Why don't you take a break?"

The guard glanced over at Chit Sang as the latter causally passed him the gold pieces. He pocketed them, then tipped his head, walking off to take a break. Xia watched this and smirked.

"How many times have you done that?" she asked.

"Enough." Chit Sang shrugged. "Now, I'll let you in, but I'll warn you. She's not much of a talker. Wouldn't be surprised if she can't talk."

Xia nodded, then Chit Sang pulled a lever. The metal bar was pulled out of the door, then they swung open. Inside, glowing crystals illuminated an entirely metal room. Dominating the space was a large metal cage that was suspended off the ground by thick, rusty chains. Sitting in the center of this cage was a woman.

She looked to be in her mid-twenties, long black hair hanging down her back and across her face. She wore dirty green robes that were torn and thread-bared. She was very thin, her clothes hanging off her as she stared down at the Princess. Her eyes were bright green as she squinted slightly.

"Well, well," she let out, her voice cracking as if she hadn't spoken in decades. "A new generation of Fire Nation Royalty."

Xia just stared at the woman as she moved to the edge of her cage, wrapping her slender fingers around the bars.

"I suppose you've come like all the others before you." she guessed. "Coming to demand the location of the Avatar."

Xia just shook her head, causing the woman to raise an eyebrow.

"No?" she questioned. "Then why are you here, little princess?"

"I…" Xia began. "I didn't know you were real."

The woman cackled, causing Xia to jump back.

"Oh, I'm real alright." she declared. "No matter how hard Sozin has tried to erase me. His son Azulon, then his son Ozai tried as well, but I'm still here."

Xia steadied her nerves, then took a deep breath.

"Is it true what they say?" she wondered. "Can you really track down the Avatar?"

The woman nodded.

"Indeed, little princess." she answered, holding up her wrist to reveal her Guardian tattoo. "You see this? This is my link to the Avatar. We share the same spirit. You could say we are-"

"Two sparks of the same flame." Xia finished.

The woman paused, seeing a note of sadness in Xia's eyes. Dropping the note of madness in her voice, she leaned forward and took on a softer tone.

"You seem familiar with the concept." she noted. "Tell me… who is your other spark?"

"My brother, Zuko." Xia answered.

"And where is he?" the woman asked.

"...banished." Xia replied.

The woman seemed to sigh, leaning back against the bars.

"So… the treachery of the royal family even extends to its own members." she mused. "To think I once considered Sozin my friend."

Xia perked at that.

"Treachery? Friend?" Xia repeated. "What are you talking about?"

The woman looked down at Xia in surprise.

"You don't know?" she questioned. "It seems history truly is written by the victors."

She arranged herself more comfortably, then gestured to Xia.

"Take a seat." she told her. "I'm going to tell you what REALLY happened."

...

"For the next year, she taught me that everything I thought I knew about our history, our family, was wrong." Xia explained. "She opened my eyes to the truth. This war is tearing the world apart. We're destroying everything in our path in the name of progress and superiority. We're erasing cultures, wiping them off the map. I mean, look at what Great Grandfather Sozin did to the Air Temples!"

Zuko was taken a bit aback by this, not sure how to react.

"Min showed me that we weren't the great nation that we thought we were." Xia went on. "We were the villains. At first, I didn't quite believe her. After all, I have almost 15 years of Fire Nation propaganda drilled into my head. So, she asked me something."

...

"If your nation is so great, then why did your father banish your brother for speaking out in your people's defense?" Min questioned.

Xia sat on the small cushion she'd set up some time ago, truly unable to answer the question.

"You told me that Zuko spoke out against a plan to sacrifice new recruits." Min reiterated. "Clearly, he had his nation's best interest at heart, and yet your father saw this as an act of dishonor. Why is that?"

"Because… he spoke out of turn."

"Which lead to the Agni Kai." Min recalled. "The one where Zuko refused to fight his own father."

"How could he?" Xia questioned. "It was his father! Our father!"

"Yet Ozai insisted he fight." Min added. "And when he refused-"

"Stop it!" Xia exclaimed, covering her ears.

"You need to face the truth, Your Highness." Min insisted. "Your father cares nothing for anyone but himself. The only reason he shows favor to your sister is because she is just like him. A heartless, cruel being devoid of remorse."

"Stop it!" Xia begged, tears in her eyes.

"That's why he banished your brother." Min continued. "He wanted him out of the way. In fact, I'd dare to say that he doesn't believe your brother will ever find the Avatar."

"He will!" Xia insisted. "He has to."

"Then answer one final question." Min told her. "If what you say is true, and Ozai did give him a chance to restore his honor by finding the Avatar… why am I still here?"

Xia went silent as realization sank in.

"I'm the only one who knows where he is." Min pointed out. "The only one in the entire world with a chance of finding him. And yet, I'm still here, locked away and forgotten."

Xia slowly got to her feet, stumbling backward before running out of the prison. Min watched her go, then settled back into her cage, letting out a long breath.

...

"I wasn't sure what to think anymore." Xia admitted. "Min's words shook me to the core, the truth too much for me to take."

"So, what did you do?" Zuko asked.

"I talked to father about it." Xia answered.

...

Xia burst into the throne room, finding her father alone. She walked up to the throne, Chit Sang struggling to keep up with her.

"Father, I request an audience!" she declared.

"So, it would seem." Ozai replied, taking note of her abruptness. "What is it?"

Standing before the throne, Xia took a deep breath.

"Do you have any intention of allowing Zuko to return home?" she asked bluntly.

"Now why would you ask that?" Ozai wondered.

"You told him that if he managed to capture the Avatar, he could come home." Xia recalled. "But you didn't give him the best possible tool to find him: The Guardian."

"How do you know about the Guardian?" Ozai asked, his eyes drifting accusingly towards Chit Sang.

The guard gulped under his mask, fearing for his life. However, Xia's next words stilled his nerves.

"I've been researching the Avatar ever since Zuko was banished." she lied. "I discovered old tomes about the Guardian, and how Great Grandfather Sozin managed to capture her after Avatar Roku's demise. I know she's been our prisoner ever since, meaning that if you really wanted Zuko to find the new Avatar, you could have given him custody of her!"

"If Zuko is truly worthy to come home, he will find the Avatar without the Guardian's help." Ozai dismissed.

"You don't think he can do it..." Xia let out. "You sent him on a fool's errand. All because he spoke out of turn?!"

"Because he dishonored this nation!" He snapped. "By questioning my word and the word of my generals. Zuko is a disgrace upon this nation and this family."

"He questioned your willingness to sacrifice innocent lives in the name of victory!" Xia snapped.

"They are soldiers!" Ozai yelled. "They have sworn to give their lives completely to the Fire Nation! Their loyalty is unquestionable, unlike your brother's… and your own."

Xia went wide-eyed as Ozai stood up.

"Take her to her room." He ordered Chit Sang. "It seems she requires some time to reflect on her actions before she ends up like her worthless twin."

Before Xia could do anything else, Chit Sang quickly took her out of the room, desperate to get her away from her father before she did something foolish.

...

"It was that conversation that finally forced me to face reality." Xia sighed. "Father was a monster. The entire Fire Nation was nothing but a bunch of monsters. If we won the war… there would be nothing left but a burnt-out husk."

Zuko was in shock. He knew his father was hard on them but to say such things about him and Xia…

What horrified him the most is that it didn't seem so farfetched. His father had once admitted that if one of them had been born a non-bender, he would have cast the non-bender over the palace walls. Knowing his father was willing to do that and having evidence of his father's rage on his face was more than enough proof.

"I knew only one person could stop Father." Xia continued. "And I also knew that there was only one person who could find them."

"The Guardian." Zuko pieced together.

Xia nodded.

"That night… I made my decision."

...

Xia marched up to the portrait of Fire lord Sozin, a large sack slung over her shoulder. She'd ditched her ceremonial armor and headdress, wearing a thick cloak and a hood. Chit Sang was with her, having ditched his armor as well.

"You don't have to do this, Chit Sang." Xia insisted. "If we get caught, there's no telling what my father will do to us."

"Hey, I'm your babysitter, remember?" Chit Sang said lightly. "I go where you go. No matter what. Besides, I'm the one who gets you inside, remember?"

Xia smiled, then they made their way inside the catacombs. Chit Sang quickly got rid of the guard and opened the doors. Min was asleep in her cage but awoke at the sound of the door.

"Princess?" she questioned.

Xia quickly shushed her, then dropped the sack. Min eyed it suspiciously as Xia got into a fighting stance.

"I suggest you brace yourself." she warned.

Min quickly grabbed onto the sides of her cage as Min shot powerful flames at the chains suspending the cages. They were so rusted that the superheat caused them to snap. The cage fell hard, buckling slight before landing on its side. Xia then untied the sack, dumping it to reveal a large ton of coal.

"Think you can get out with this?" Xia asked.

Min eyed the coal, eyed the princess, then quickly slid into an earthbending stance. The coal lifted up before slamming hard into the bars. They cut through the old metal like butter, freeing her from her prison. The second she was free, Xia grabbed her hand.

"Come on." she insisted. "I've got a small boat waiting by the pier."

Min allowed herself to be dragged out of the catacombs, still reeling from what had just happened.

"Why are you freeing me?" she questioned.

"Because the world needs the Avatar." Xia answered. "My father needs to be stopped, and only the Avatar can do it."

Min seemed genuinely surprised by this, remaining speechless as they exited the catacombs. Unfortunately, they neglected to make sure the way was clear, and ended up running right into Azula.

"Going somewhere, sister?" Azula asked.

"Azula!" Xia gasped.

"You know, father suspected that your little display earlier would lead you to act rashly." Azula mused, sliding into a fighting stance. "Still, I doubt even he expected you to free the Guardian."

She fired a shot at Xia, but Chit Sang quickly blocked it, getting into a fighting stance of his own.

"Go!" he shouted. "I'll hold her off!"

This time, it was Min's turn to do the dragging. She grabbed Xia's wrists and pulled her down the hallways as Azula faced down Chit Sang.

"You're following the wrong Princess, traitor." Azula told him.

"That's not how I see it." Chit Sang retorted before firing at her.

...

Word soon reached the ears of the Fire lord that Xia had freed the Guardian. In a rage, he declared her actions nothing short of high treason, and issued a kill-on-sight order. Alarms sounded through the capital as both she and Min raced to get to the pier. As they reached the pier, several guards came charging towards them with spears. Min stomped her foot, summoning up a large boulder before launching it at them. They quickly turned the other way, narrowly avoiding the oversized projectile.

"How much further?" she shouted as she sent another boulder at more incoming soldiers.

"Just a little more!" Xia insisted.

The princess jumped into the air, sending several fire blasts at some oncoming guards. The guards dispersed the flames and shot fire blasts of their own. Xia rolled out of the way as Min erected a pillar to block the fire.

"We need to buy some time!" Xia insisted. "They just keep coming!"

Min nodded, then grunted in exertion before lifting her hands up. She summoned up a large rock wall, one that surrounded the pier and blocked the path for the oncoming guards.

"Hurry." she told Xia. "No idea how long that will hold."

Xia quickly lead Min over to a small boat that sat along the edge of the pier. It appeared to have some rations in it, as well as some clothes. However, Min was surprised to see that there was only room for one person in the boat.

"You didn't count on both of us fitting in that, right?" Min asked.

"No." Xia said, shaking her head. "The boat is yours and yours alone."

"What?" Min let out, surprised. "But how are you going to escape?"

"I'm not." Xia answered. "Look, I literally just burned every bridge I had here. I knew this would be a one-way trip for me, and I accept that. If I must die for the world to live, then that's a sacrifice I'm willing to make."

Min was surprised by this, but smiled nonetheless.

"You are an honorable person." Min commended.

A horrible cracking sound filled their ears, evidence that their pursuers were beginning to push through. Xia gasped, then turned back to Min.

"Go." she insisted. "Find the Avatar. Restore balance. The world needs that hope."

"It'll have it." Min reassured, taking Xia's hand.

She clasped her hand tightly, closing her eyes.

"Of my own free will, I pass on the mantle of Guardian." she recited.

Xia looked confused, but before she could ask what was going on, Min's Guardian tattoo began to glow. Then, it began to move. It slithered across Min's hand before sliding onto Xia's. She gasped as it coiled around her wrist before the glow faded. Min released her hand, then gave Xia a shove. She fell back into the boat, landing hard as Min used Earthbending to shoot it across the water.

"Min?" Xia let out, realizing what had just happened. "Min!"

Min watched her fade, then turned back to the stone wall just as it came crumbling down. From the boat, Xia could only watch as the soldiers surrounded Min before a blinding tornado of fire engulfed her body.

"MIN!" she screamed, tears in her eyes.

She fell to her knees as the flames died away, sobbing openly. She was so distraught that she didn't see the Fire Navy vessel slowly locking onto her. At the helm, Captain Zhao looked through his spyglass with a cruel smirk.

"Is the trebuchet ready?" he questioned.

"Yes sir!" A soldier confirmed.

"Then fire at will." Zhao ordered.

Though she didn't see the ship, she did hear the ever-familiar sound of a trebuchet being launched. She looked up just in time to see the large, burning projectile coming right toward her. She screamed, covering her head with her left arm just as it struck her boat.

...

"I don't remember anything after it hit me." Xia explained. "The next thing I knew, I was on a beach somewhere near the edge of the mainland… and I had this."

She slid her shirt partially off, revealing the horrible burns on her left arm and licking at her cheek. Zuko just stared as she replaced her sleeve, continuing with her story.

"After that, I stowed away on the first barge to the colonies." Xia summed up. "I stole some Earth Kingdom clothes and started making my way south. I took on Min's name and pretended to be her. It was the only way I could survive without having the entire world out for my head."

"And, what? You just kept searching for the Avatar till you found him?" Zuko asked.

"Yep." She replied. "All by myself. For a year, it was just me… I had nobody to turn to, nobody I could lean on… and I lived in constant fear that I'd say or do something wrong and everyone would know I'm Fire Nation."

"...I guess we both had it hard." Zuko admitted.

"Yeah." Xia agreed. "And now the only friends I ever had hate my guts. And I deserve it..."

"No, you don't." Zuko said bluntly.

"Yes, I do." Xia let out, turning to him. "I lied to them. Deceived them for months. They have every reason to hate me."

"If they hate you because of where you come from, then they aren't your friends." Zuko insisted.

Xia sighed.

"I guess you're right." she admitted, hugging her legs. "But it just… when I was with them… I felt… normal. They didn't expect anything from me or want to control me. They just… they just wanted me there."

"That sounds nice." Zuko admitted.

"It was..." Xia agreed. "But now that's over… and I'm alone again..."

She got to her feet and prepared to walk out, but Zuko caught her by her wrist, stopping her.

"No, you're not." he told her. "Not anymore."

Xia stood there, her back to Zuko for a moment. Then, she slowly turned back around. She had tears in her eyes as she fell to her knees. Zuko gently pulled her into a hug as she began to openly sob, petting her hair as she let out nearly three years of built-up anguish.