Mask of the Gamer Chapter 10: Paths of Destiny, an avatar: last airbender fanfic

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Chapter Ten: Paths of Destiny

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Azula opened the door to her brother's cell, walking in holding a key.

Katara glared at her angrily. "What do you want?"

"Can't I just want a simple conversation with my dear brother?" Azula unlatched the shackles to Zuko's hands.

The boy fell, Azula leading him. "Come along."

Katara watched as Zuko left the cell with Azula. "Don't give her what she wants!"

Zuko nodded silently as he followed Azula out of the cell. "What is this about?" Zuko snarled.

"Don't act so glum, I wanted to talk to you for a second." Azula said as she led Zuko about the underground bunker. When she was well out of earshot of the Dai Li in a small and poorly lit corridor, Azula spoke to Zuko. "The Dai Li want to transfer you both into the caves under the Royal Palace, we don't have much time."

"Wh-Why are we telling me this?"

"Because the end of the war is almost here. The Dai Li are mine, I can stop them from finding out you're the Blue Spirit. You've been wanted by the Earth Nation for weeks."

"But why're you helping me?" Zuko was defensive knowing his sister.

Azula looked around the corridor. "Zuko I'm not just doing this for my sake. It's for our family's. My offer still stands, you can have everything you ever wanted. You will finally be the new Fire Lord."

Zuko fell quiet. This was unexpected for sure. "B-But what about Jin? What about Ba Sing Se?"

"Zuko, do you honestly think this isn't the most peaceful option? Do you really think a full fledged invasion of the city will cause less bloodshed."

"You didn't answer my question."

Azula looked into her brother's eyes. "Look I can't make any promises, but I have no reason to believe he'd let you take an Earth Nation girl as anything more than a servant. But I can promise you no more harm will come to her. Do you think she still belongs in that state any longer?" Azula showed him the antidote bottle again.

Zuko balled his fists. "That's not enough."

"I know. But I can offer you more than what you were always meant to become, Zuko. I can help you find out the truth about our mother, father always knew the truth."

"H-He told you?" Zuko's eyes widened. "What did he say?"

"He didn't say anything. But I know for a fact that he will tell you if you join us." Azula placed her hand on his shoulder as Zuko looked away in deep thought. "Zuko, you can fulfill your duty as part of our family. You can restore you wanted, and become the man you were always meant to be."

Zuko looked back at his sister's eyes. "We can rule the world together. Make it the way we always wanted to. You and me."

"B-But what about father? What about our uncle? Or-"

Azula rolled her eyes. "They're old men. We were born to rule the world side by side."

"Why? Why do you need me so badly?" Zuko splayed a hand.

Azula scrunched her eyebrows together. "What do you mean? We're family."

"Azula, I don't understand. You don't need me to take Ba Sing Se. By force or not. You have the strength to do it, you always did."

Azula shook her head. "That's not what I mean." sighing, Azula spoke truthfully. "I need to tell you something. Yes, you're right. Ever since we were little I was always better at fighting, and writing, and war. But I was always jealous."

Zuko was shocked as he could tell she wasn't lying about this. "Wh-What? Jealous? You? Of me?"

"Yes. Sure I was the perfect child, Father always praised me. And the Generals, and the people. But mother." Azula looked away, holding back tears. "Zuko. She always loved you instead of me."

"A-Azula. That's not tru-"

"You know it is!" Azula slammed Zuko against the wall. "You know mother always loved you more than me. You know you were always her and uncle's favorite! Because…" Azula made Zuko grow paler than usual by the nervous expression on her face. "I need you because I need what I don't have. You have mother's heart! The Fire Nation needs that, we need that…" Azula let go of Zuko, holding her arm. "I-I. I need that. I will never be ruler of anything without you, I-I need you brother."

Zuko had to admit that he was deeply touched by this. She and everyone knew that Ty Lee and Mai wanted to be loyal to Azula out of friendship for her, but she used fear to make them follow her because she was too insecure about herself to take that chance. Like she said, she wasn't strong enough. She needed Zuko if she was ever to understand Zuko properly.

Zuko sighed. "You're wrong. I'm not as good with people as you think. If I take that antidote and heal Jin she has to know the truth about me. And that will break us forever. I'm a liar Azula. I act like Uncle and mom loved me but I don't know why. You don't need me Azula. You're strong enough on your own."

Azula looked at him hopefully. "You really think so?"

"I know so."

Smiling, Azula nodded. "Mai was right about you. So that means you're joining us then?"

Zuko fell quiet again. "I-I don't know about that."

"You'd betray our family over what? Some water tribe peasant you don't even know?"

"It's not about that!" Zuko snapped, his voice being raised loud enough to echo across the underground prison's halls. "Don't you see? We're strong enough to overthrow father. We can lead our country back from the destruction it's caused."

Azula's expression changed. "How? You really think that a mere boy of twelve can really save the world?"

"It's what mother would've wanted."

Azula lost her composure too, shrieking at the top of her lungs. "You don't know that!" Fire flew about on the wall as Azula struck the wall in anger. "Stop being so stubborn! We're so close to winning! All I need is for you to help me? Why are you resisting so much?"

Zuko looked down at his feet. "I don't just wear that mask as a gimmick! It means a lot to me. It's my job to protect this city. To protect the world! From people like our father."

"You sound as delusional as Uncle!"

"No, you're the one who's delusional Azula!" Zuko pointed back at his sister. "But it's not too late for you. You're right, we can lead the Fire Nation properly together. But not the way father wants, we can make something better. We can stop him. We can join the Avatar and make the world a better place!"

"Why would you do that? You've spent years hunting him down around the world, put your men in harms way, and risked life and limb to capture him and for what? Just so you could help him?"

Zuko clenched his jaw in frustration. "Maybe you're right. Maybe I was meant to find him. So I could fulfill my true path."

"Destiny?" gasped Azula in disbelief. "You really think a child can stop me? Can stop father? Why would you ever stab your family in the back over someone you don't even know?"

Zuko shook his head. "No, I've learned from Uncle."

"What, in the ways of tea and failure?"

"In what real failure is! It's lying to yourself and setting the world on fire thinking it's not your fault! Don't you get it? Father has made the entire world scared and afraid of fire benders. That's not the way it should be."

"In what way? We're the most powerful benders to ever live, why should we ever succumb to weaklings?"

"Stopping slaughter and destruction isn't weakness. If you're too blind to see that, there's no point talking to you."

Azula whistled loudly. "In that we can agree. Guards!"

As the Dai Li appeared and took Zuko back to his cell, he yelled over his shoulders at his sisters retreating back. "You're a disgrace! You're a disgrace to our family and a disgrace to true firebending!"

While her brother's words stung worse than anything else in the world she didn't care. She was right and they both knew it, she didn't need Zuko. Or anyone. Victory was hers.

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"Is it true then? Our new prisoner is a firebender? The mysterious Blue Spirit?" asked Long Feng in the throne room.

Azula nodded from the steps above. "It is."

"Why hasn't he been transferred from Lake Laogi to the Catacombs then? Why hasn't he been tried and executed for crimes against the Earth Kingdom?" Long Feng demanded.

Azula explained. "That's not going to happen."

"And why not?"

"The Blue Mask is my brother Zuko. My men won't be taking him anywhere."

Long Feng was surprised. "Your men? You're a firebender? Arrest this girl for treason against Ba Sing Se!"

The Dai Li in the throne room didn't move as Azula spoke. "Oh I think we both know they won't do that."

Long Feng fell to his knees as Azula took her spot on the throne room. "H-How? How could you beat me at my own game?"

"Please. You were never even a player."

After the Dai Li took Long Feng away Azula rose from the throne giving her orders. "It's time. Bring the me the King and all of his Generals. Ba Sing Se will be mine before nightfall!"

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Zuko had to move fast before he was locked up again. His body made strong after months of training under Jeong Jeong, even without his bending he was a force to be reckoned with. He slipped his arms out of the Dai Li guards grasp, knocking them both out quickly.

Zuko took out the key he stole from Azula when she shoved him against the wall and looked away.

"Zuko!" Katara gasped in surprise seeing him unshackle her from the wall.

"We gotta move quickly."

As the two ran down the hall together, Katara spoke to Zuko quietly. "How are we getting out of here?"

"I'm working on that."

"Well without our bending we're going right back to our cell!" said Katara.

Zuko tutted loudly as they ran around the cell a bit aimlessly. "I didn't have a lot of time all right?"

A pair of guards rounded the corner, stopping them both in their tracks. "Hey!"

They turned around and fled. "Stop!"

Katara and Zuko dodged stone handcuffs that were bent towards them as they ran, a large bell sounding throughout Lake Laogi's dungeons.

"Great! Now everyone knows we escaped!"

Zuko ran with her and rounded a corner yelling back. "Do you ever stop whining?"

"You should meet my brother!"

"Think we already met!"

"Not what I meant!" she snipped back.

Zuko and Katara stopped, seeing a pair of Dai Li appear at the end of the hall. They turned around only to see another pair approaching from the end of the hal.

Trapped, they turned around and opened a cell door out of desperation.

Zuko turned and held the door behind him. "Well we're done for, got any ideas-"

Katara gasped in surprise seeing the Bison locked in the cell. "Appa!" The Bison growled happily seeing Katara again. "Zuko help me with these latches!"

"This thing better get us out of here quick!" Zuko said helping free the Bison before climbing on its back.

The teens unlocked the bolts holding Appa to the ground as the Dai Li rushed in. Appa growling loudly before slapping the guards away with his tail, making them hit the wall behind them.

"How are we-"

"Appa yip yip!" Katara ordered.

"Whoaa!" Zuko said as the Bison pulled up into the sky, crashing through the earthen ceiling.

The Dai Li watched helplessly as Appa flew back towards Aang's home in Ba Sing Se.

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"Appa!" Aang ran to hug his Bison, laughing as the two good friends embraced.

Team Avatar was finally reunited, but the moment was over quickly.

Aang, Toph, Sokka, and Katara had a quick group hug before Sokka spoke. "Sorry to break this up but what did you two see?"

Zuko explained quickly after pulling away from his hug with his uncle. "Azula is going to use the Dai Li to oust the Earth King. Ba Sing Se will likely fall by tonight."

"How do you know this?"

Zuko sighed. "She told me before we escaped. They had a hideout under Lake Laogi, but we don't know if that's their headquarters."

Iroh explained to the group. "I overheard this in a tavern nearby, but a large number of City Watchmen have seen the top 5 generals of Ba Sing Se been captured. Other soldiers have been reported moving towards the Royal Palace."

"That's where Azula must be keeping the Earth King. We have to free him and beat Azula before it's too late!" Katara said.

"Why would the army and police help Azula?" wondered Toph.

"The Dai Li likely have either bribed or infiltrated every level of Ba Sing Se, Azula is craftier than we thought." Sokka reasoned quickly. "I don't like our chances but we have to move quickly. If we have any chance of beating her, we have to take back the city tonight."

"We can't stay here anyway, the Dai Li have been watching this house probably ever since we got here." Katara assumed correctly. "Zuko, I have something to tell you."

"Let's move out everyone, we have to re-take Ba Sing Se!" Sokka said cheerfully as he raised his fist to call everyone to action.

Zuko walked next to Katara as she pulled off the Purified water she wore as a necklace. "I know we don't have much time but I think you've more than earned this. Consider this my thanks for breaking us out of Lake Laogi."

"Don't you need to bend that?"

"I will but." Katara nodded. "I wanted to save this for something special, but considering the circumstances. She deserves to know the truth before we liberate the Royal Palace tonight."

Zuko understood quietly, walking with her as she prepared to revive Jin.

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Making sure they chose the end of the four hour cycle so Jin would be properly awake, Katara bent the water from the North Pole into Jin's mouth. When it was properly in her system, the water purified the poison from her body, curing her completely.

Coughing quietly, Zuko gasped in surprise seeing Jin sit up from her laying previously comatose state. "J-Jin! It worked!"

"L-Li? Where am I?" Jin looked around Aang's home.

"I'll leave you two alone." Katara walked away to go help Team Avatar prepare for the coming battle.

Jin looked at Zuko as he sighed and rubbed his eyes. "Sorry, I've been going through a lot lately. I've had to talk to my sister."

"Your sister? You've never told me about your family."

"I know. And it was because I didn't want to keep lying to you." Zuko couldn't meet his girlfriend's eyes. "Jin, I've been very dishonest with you. And it pains me to say this because you've been nothing but honest with me."

"Li what're you saying?"

"That's not my name. My name is Zuko, a-and." Zuko gulped. "I'm the Fire Lord's son. Azula the sister I mentioned, and she's the one who sent. M-Mai I think to poison you."

Jin looked at Zuko in silence as he explained. "I'm so sorry to have to tell you this. But I'm not just some tea shop owner's nephew, I'm much more than that, and I always wanted to be. It's my duty to protect the people of Ba Sing Se, from anyone and everyone who might hurt it."

Jin watched as Zuko's tears welled up in his eyes, the boy kneeling in front of her crunching up his fists. "It pains me to say this but. Even though you were very important in making me happy, I needed to figure out for myself that my destiny might be to help the Avatar. I've had to learn more about myself on my own path than any other, and while I thank you for being my girlfriend…"

"I apologize from the bottom of my heart, I am so so sorry for lying to you for so long. I should've ended this before it went this far."

Not hearing anything from her, Zuko lifted his gaze to see Jin crying. Not saying anything at first, the words failed to form cohesion in Jin's mouth. "I-I...You broke my heart...Zuko."

"I-I'll make sure my uncle gets you back to your family. I know they might be in shock seeing you in such a state. And I'm sorry it's my fault but-"

"Zuko, we have to go." Sokka said, fixing his armor while sheathing his boomerang and Water tribe club on his back.

Wiping his eyes, Zuko stood up saying nothing to Jin. He couldn't even bring himself to say goodbye.

After Iroh arranged for a few city watchmen to send her home in a wheelchair, Zuko watched her being wheeled away quietly.

"Are you all right?"

Zuko tried his best to appear strong. "I'm fine. We have to stop Azula tonight."

"It's okay." Iroh put his hand on Zuko's shoulder. "You have experienced much in these past few-"

"I said I'm fine Uncle. Let's go." Zuko said as he walked up the steps to Aang's home to get dressed for the battle.

The Dai Li officer watching Aang's home walked off his post to go inform Azula.

As Zuko changed for the coming fight, he watched the robes Iroh had chosen for him. There was little armor, but they had simple tin plates and colors that reminded him of home.

[LV 10 - Battle Robes (Fire Nation)]

Zuko waved the stupid notification away before another took its place.

New Quest Alert!

Royal Palace Battle: Ba Sing Se's Fate

Description: Defeat your sister by routing all Dai Li and City Watchmen.

Quest Failure: N/A

Do you accept this quest?

Yes/No

Having already made his choice, Zuko hit accept.

No matter what happened in that palace he had to show Aang and his friends to make up for his previous mistakes. It was time to reach the crossroads of destiny, for all involved. He didn't mess around with the Gamer any more, Zuko had to get ready for battle. There was no more time for Games.

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A Dai Li agent muttered in Azula's ear as he leaned down to speak to her as she sat on the Earth Kingdom throne.

"Just as I thought." Azula stood up from the throne, giving orders to her two underlings. "Mai, take the City Guard and twenty of the Dai Li and guard the center of the Palace. Ty Lee, you will guard the passages and eastern and western wings. The rest of you come with me, we will wait for my brother's arrival in the catacombs with the Earth King."

"Understood!" the Dai Li and her large set of soldiers stood at attention before bowing.

"See you after the battle!" Ty Lee waved as she prepared to move her troops into position.

Mai rolled her eyes, keeping her knives already sharpened for the occasion. "That's if we win."

"We outnumber them almost ten to one. The battle's already ours girls." Azula smiled.

She had every advantage, failure was not an option.

'Zuko will rue the day he defied me and betrayed our family!'

Azula squashed any remorse she might have over fighting her brother, despite what they discussed at Lake Laogi. The battle would begin shortly.

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Hey everyone! MiyazakiFan18 here, even though the pace was a bit fast to ramp up to Season 2's finale. I wanted to include a few character scenes with Zuko here and there before the next chapter. If you all haven't please check out my re-write for Arc of Legend, it's my RWBY story.

I tried to make it as good as this story as I really care about its quality, either way I am really passionate about it and want to make it thrive as I know there are some really awesome high quality standard users who follow this like OriksGaming, (massive shout out for that) and JRZ besides others!

Either way I thank you all for reading and I'll see you in the next chapter!