Hello people!
Chapter 3 is here, it's rather very short, but one I had to do to explain some viewpoints.
The next chapter will be more exciting I promise.
I hope you enjoy this one, even if it's for a little bit :)
Aang finally caught up with Mai and Zuko, apparently they agreed not to speak until they reach the royal palace, as they didn't want anyone on the street to know of their plans.
The Avatar was amazed with Mai's ability to hold in her emotions as she actually looked like she really wanted to talk.
They reached the palace and got into The Firelord's office, and the fighting started.
"What in the spirits' name was that?" Mai shouted as soon as they entered the office.
"I don't know what you're talking about." Zuko said.
Mai got even angrier, Aang had to step in before she throws knives at him, "What you've done was very stupid, Zuko.. you could've handled it way better." Aang said.
Zuko took off his robe and threw himself at the couch near the office, "I know." The Firelord simply said.
"What's gotten into you? you know how dangerous Azula is, you seem to forget that she's very good at lying, she can convince Aang that she's changed for the better when she's definitely not." Mai said.
"It's not just that.. Zuko, did you forget your purpose? did you forget the honorable mission that your uncle bestowed upon you? You're only here to regain the honor of the Firenation, to make the world accept the firenation once more, only you could do it.. Not Azula, not even if she's fully healed." Aang said.
"You don't know that." Zuko responded with hesitation.
"I do know that! She's the same girl that almost ended the Avatar life cycle forever, someone like that, I doubt the world leaders would accept her as the ruler of this nation, our whole progress will go to waste." Aang spoke, seeming like he's the only rational person in the room.
"That's a risk we'll have to take." Zuko insisted.
Aang was getting angry, but he decided to maintain his composure as he said calmly, "That's not up to you."
Zuko stood up with anger that matched Aang's as he looked him in the eyes, "You've been saying those exact same words ever since we left the asylum! Why do you keep saying that? I'm not a bloody hostage, I am the firelord of this nation, and I can step down to whichever successor I deem worthy whenever I want!"
Aang's eyes flickered white, that's never a good sign, Zuko and Mai cowered back, "I said that's not up to you!" The Avatar shouted, with the voices of all the former avatars, hinting at going full rage.
"Aang, stop!" Mai shouted to him, she decided to step in before things got out of control.
Aang realized his mistake, he calmed himself down as he closed his eyes and took steady breaths, he then opened his eyes and said, "I'm sorry."
Mai thanked the spirits internally that she managed to calm him down in time, but then she looked at Zuko, "Everything that Aang said is true, you seem to have forgotten our mission, Zuko.. your uncle said that you're the only one worthy of leading this nation, you can't let your emotions control, Aang is fully capable of healing Azula, I'm sure of it, but that doesn't mean that we should jeopardize our main mission, as The Firelord, you have to always see the bigger picture."
Zuko was overwhelmed, First by Aang's outburst and then by Mai's words, The Firelord wobbled to his office chair, he took a seat, he tried so hard to compose himself but he just couldn't, it was just too much, so he put his hands on his face and sobbed.
Aang and Mai were shocked, they have never seen Zuko cry before, and he was crying like mad, Mai hovered to his side and hugged him, while Aang looked sadly at his friend, he understood his pain, the burden of leading this nation in such dreadful times, on its own, it's a burden that would bring down a mountain, but Zuko didn't just have this burden, but he also had to bear the burden of his troubled sister, it was overwhelming and so Aang sympathized with his friend.
"It's okay.. It's okay. I'm here." Mai kept whispering in Zuko's ears as she kept hugging him.
The Firelord held on to her and he said as he was still sobbing, "I don't know what to do anymore, I can't take it.. it's too much, Mai.. too much."
Aang kept looking at his friend in sadness, he didn't know what to do, he wanted to calm him down, but he knew that he could jeopardize their mission in return, he knew agreeing to this would take the burden off Zuko's shoulder, it would make him happier, and if it's his last days leading this nation, it would be the greatest last days of any Firelord in history, but in the main time, he didn't want this upon the firenation, having a war criminal like Azula as their leader would be so bad for their image, It was a tough choice for Aang, but one he had to make.
"I'll do it." The Avatar said.
Zuko and Mai were startled by Aang's sudden decision, "What?" Mai asked.
"Zuko is right.. Azula doesn't deserve all of this, she might have murdered me before, but she was just a young girl that was raised during war times, just like the rest of us, only on the other side.. She deserve a second chance, and I'll try my best to give it to her." Aang said.
Mai wanted to speak, but it was Zuko who spoke first, "Swear to me."
"What?" Aang asked.
"Swear to me that no matter what happens, even though you know the consequences of your actions, swear to me that you'll do your best to heal Azula." The Firelord said.
Aang was taken aback by this, it was getting very intense, the avatar wanted to back out, but he knew that his friend's wellbeing mattered to him more than anything, so without a second thought he said,
"You have my word."
Zuko finally smiled, as he got out of Mai's embrace and stood up, he walked to Aang's side, and then unexpectedly pulled the avatar into a hug,
"Thank you, Aang." He said.
Aang didn't know what to do, it was the first time Zuko initiated the hug, so after some thought, he hugged Zuko back, the two friends then broke the hug and looked at each other,
"Well, I guess I should get to work then, I need to gather intel on Azula, you and Mai will help me but I need more than that, I need her other former best friend."
Mai stood up with a smile, "Aren't you a lucky one? Ty Lee is on her way to the firenation just as we speak, she arrives tomorrow from Kyoshi Island for a visit, We'll wait for her at the harbor at 9 in the morning." Mai said.
"Splendid.." The Avatar said, as he took a seat and he asked his friends to do the same, Aang sat at a chair while Zuko and Mai took the couch,
"in the meantime, my friends, I want you to tell me everything you know about Azula."
It's very short, I know..
But the next ones are going to be lengthy, some of them anyways.
Stay tuned :)