The Good Fire Prince
Chapter One: Choosing Good
Azula looked between her two opponents, Avatar Aang and his waterbending friend and crush Katara. The Fire Nation Princess knew she would have a difficult time taking on the both of them. They remained looking at each other for only a second, but then a fireball erupted between them. They looked to their sides at its source and saw Prince Zuko standing a few feet away. He took a position directed at Azula who frowned at him, as if saying I just offered you a final chance for redemption and you're going to betray me?
Zuko turned his gaze to the Avatar. He gritted his teeth and Aang's mouth fell open as he could feel an attack coming.
Zuko raised his fist and was about to attack but didn't. He growled, unsure of what to do as he thought back to what his uncle said.
Its time for you to choose good.
Many things raced through Zuko's mind. He remembered the girl Song telling him how the Fire Nation had hurt her. How the Water Bender had had her mother taken from her by the Fire Nation. His own nation… he'd been lead to believe that the war was their way of sharing their greatness with the rest of the world. But the world didn't see the Fire Nation's greatness.
I hate you!
Zuko recalled those words being spoken by Lee, a young boy he'd befriended in a village in the Earth Kingdom and rescued from some corrupt soldiers. Then he recalled his horrible memory of his father Firelord Ozai who'd burned his left eye when he refused to fight in the Agni Kai. Then Zuko recalled the moment just moments ago when the waterbender had offered to try and use her healing powers with the special water from the north pole to remove his scar.
I don't know if it would work but-
She'd put his hand on his scar and been willing to heal it. Even after all he'd done, she was still willing to give him a chance. He looked at her.
"Zuko?" she asked, in a mixture of fear, sadness and hope.
"I choose… good!" Zuko declared.
He turned to his sister and shot a fireball at the Princess. She blocked it with her blue flames and a look of fury on her face as retaliated.
"No… you choose to become a traitor!" Azula yelled. "This was your last chance to restore your honor and return home to have Father's love!"
Zuko seethed. "After all the things father has done… I don't need his love anymore!"
He and sister traded fireblows for an instant, then the Avatar and Waterbender joined in the fight. Azula put up a shield of blue flames. But she knew it wouldn't hold. The three benders had her completely on the defensive. She shot flames from her feet and propelled herself into the air.
An impressive move, Zuko thought.
Azula glided up to the crystals on the higher ground. She was too far out of range for Katara to waterbend at her. So Aang and Zuko began shooting their fire and air bending at her. She ran along the crystals, avoiding the attacks. Soon her efforts paid off. Dozens of Dai Li agents poured into the catacombs. The three were surrounded. Katara assumed the Octopus form and prepared to take them on while Zuko took a fighting stance. Aang knew it wouldn't be enough though. There were too many. There was only one way. He had to use the Avatar State.
But the only way to do that was to let Katara go. Aang sighed. He encased himself in Crystal, and began meditating. He saw Katara in his minds eye. She was still out there, ready to fight. He would choose the cosmic energy… and let her go. Her form retreated into the back of his mind, now he understood. He just needed to put her aside temporarily, not let go of his feelings for her. His eyes opened and lit up as his tattoo also did. He broke through the crystal and rose into the air as Katara and Zuko watched. Katara smiled and Zuko looked nervous but hopeful.
Aang floated there, ready to attack and turn the tide.
Only for him to be shot in the back by a deadly bolt of lightning. It crackled through the air, Aang saw the giant form of himself holding the cosmic energy in his minds eye fall, then he fell into an endless black abyss. Now his body fell as Katara and Zuko watched below in disbelief. Katara felt tears stream down her face as the boy who was the last hope for peace fell. She reacted on pure instinct, gathering the water of her octopus form and creating a wave to carry her up. It knocked down several Dai Li agents as well. She caught her friend before he hit the ground, looking up as Zuko made his way to her and put himself in front of them. The Dai Li and the Fire Princess were closing in on them.
Then a massive fireball flew at the enemy. Iroh appeared in front of Zuko, Katara, and the critically wounded Aang.
"Go! I'll hold them off as long as I can!" the former Fire Nation General shouted.
He flung fireballs in all directions at his opponents as Zuko took Aang from Katara and hoisted the Avatar over his shoulder. She looked into his face and saw a tear running down his one good eye. He wanted to help his uncle, but knew he had to get Aang out of here. Hard to believe only a half hour ago she'd hated him. They ran through the tunnel that Aang had created on the way here. Had Katara been alone she would have taken the waterfall up to the surface, but she doubted she would have been able to carry both Aang and Zuko up.
Once they were up, they found Appa at the entrace, with Sokka, Toph, Momo, the Earth King, and Bosco on his back. As soon as he saw the Fire Nation Prince carrying Aang, Sokka drew his boomerang.
"Hey let him go!" Sokka shouted.
"Sokka wait!" Katara said getting in front of Zuko. "He's on our side now!"
"What?" Sokka exclaimed.
"No time to explain! The Dai Li will be out of that hole any minute!" Zuko stated as he shot fire from his feet like he'd seen Azula do.
He didn't land perfectly. He'd never tried this before. He fell into the saddle with a grunt. Katara hurried up as well. Appa took off and she immediately got out the spirit water. Zuko watched as she used it on the Avatar. For a moment nothing happened, it looked like there was no saving him. Katara wept and hugged him tightly. Then his tattoo glowed and he opened his eyes. Katara and everyone breathed in relief. Zuko smiled then looked down. They'd saved the Avatar, but not the city or his uncle.
"The Earth Kingdom… has fallen," the Earth King said.
The flying bison flew away from the Capitol that by morning would be overrun with Fire Nation Troops.
Well had the urge to start an Avatar fic where Zuko joins the gang in Ba Singe Se. I liked one called No Turning Back. Though mine won't be a Zutara fanfic. I never understood why that one is so popular. Always been a Kataang shipper through and through. They were always meant to be together, it was crystal clear in my eyes. No offense to you Zutara shippers. But Zuko and Katara will be close friends here.
I don't own Avatar the Last Airbender of course.