Author's Note: Ok, I've edited the various chapters so hopefully the spelling and grammar problems are better now.
Zuko bit back a groan as consciousness came back to him. He could feel the sun dawning against him, the warmth from it brightening his inner flame and bringing him to wakefulness. Part of him wished it hadn't, his whole body hurt and he was so very cold, but he knew he needed to wake. Opening his eyes just a slit he took in the situation. The water bender was just walking away so he hadn't been down long. He was pinned to the wall with ice, which explained why he was so very cold. If nothing else he couldn't stay in this ice so he took a slow breath, wincing as his chest flared in pain. Ok, one of his ribs was definitely broken. He was pretty sure he'd had some that were cracked from the explosion and this hadn't helped. He pushed that aside for now and slowly blew out warm air, melting the ice around him and sliding down to the solid ice below him. As he landed on his feet his chest flared again and he let out a quiet gasp of pain despite his best efforts not to.
The sun was up and the moon was down so he knew he would have the advantage over the waterbender now, but he couldn't bring himself to try fighting her again. Instead, he sank down to sit on the ground, leaning back against the ice that had held him up. He was shivering badly and began working to try and warm himself up, closing his eyes and letting out slow, steady breaths of warm air. He knew it would start melting the ice behind him, but he really needed to warm himself up before he did anything else.
"What are you up to?" the waterbender's voice was suspicious but less hostile as it came from a short while ahead of him. Zuko opened his eyes to find her standing at the edge of the solid ground, watching him with a confused frown.
"Currently I'm trying to warm up," he replied shortly, glaring at her "You might be used to the temperature caused by being trapped in ice, but I am not." She frowned at him, obviously trying to look threatening, but he could catch the flash of guilt in her face. Well, she should feel guilty. He came to try and help and she attacked him.
"Well it's your own fault," she told him, though she didn't look like she fully believed herself so Zuko just glared at her until her face flushed slightly and she glanced away.
"Yeah, no," Zuko said after a moment "You attacked first. I was just trying to talk to you."
"Since when do you just want to talk?" she spat, glaring at him again.
"Since we have a shared problem," he replied, aggravated "Zhao is completely insane and unless he's stopped he's going to ruin things for all of us." She paused at that, looking rather confused, but before she could ask anything further The Avatar's flying bison landed heavily just behind the waterbender.
"Katara!" Right. That was her name. He probably should try and remember that. Her brother was clearly concerned as he jumped down and ran over to her, glaring at Zuko as he did so "Are you alright?" Zuko could see the water tribe warrior's weapon in his hand and really didn't feel like dealing with that on top of everything else so he made sure to stay where he was.
"I'm fine Sokka, really" the waterbender, Katara, reassured him and Zuko made note of that name as well "He didn't touch me." She frowned and thought back, visibly running through their fight in her mind before she added "I'm honestly not sure he was trying to." Her brother's expression indicated that he didn't believe her "I mean it. He says he just wants to talk."
"Sure," the boy, Sokka, said sarcastically "And I want to give up meat and become a vegetarian like Aang." Aang. Vegetarian. The Avatar? Zuko was pretty sure he'd heard the two Water Tribe siblings use that name several times before. It would make sense for it to be The Avatar's name since it clearly didn't belong to either of them. And he was pretty sure he'd read that the air nomads didn't eat meat. Zuko kept quiet for now, storing these names in his mind and simply taking the time to breathe for a bit. He did take note of the white-haired girl on the back of the bison as well. She was new, probably a member of this tribe. He'd seen her running off once he had been noticed. She must have gone to get the boy, Sokka.
"I'm serious Sokka," Katara turned to glare at her brother, putting her hands on her hips "He wasn't putting nearly as much effort into the fight as he normally did and kept on the defensive almost the entire time." She'd noticed that then. That was good. Sokka, however, just glared.
"Great! So he was a little less aggressive and you decide he's a good guy?"
"No," Katara replied, clearly exasperated "But I think we should hear out what he has to say!"
"Katara he's probably here to grab Aang and haul him back to the Fire Nation!" Sokka yelled, throwing his hands up in frustration.
"I'm not here for The Avatar," Zuko spoke up firmly, though he knew they had no reason to believe him.
"Suuuure you're not," Sokka drawled sarcastically, shooting him a glare, which Zuko returned.
"I'm not." Zuko repeated stubbornly "I'm here because Zhao is completely insane." Sokka looked ready to shoot back an angry retort, but Katara touched his shoulder in a manner that seemed to ground him. So instead Sokka let out a sharp growl-like sound before fixing his glare on the fire nation prince.
"Fine! What's Zhao doing that brought you here?" He didn't seem like he really wanted to hear it, but he was willing to let Zuko explain, which was better than before.
"I don't know his exact plan," Zuko admitted "Uncle stayed behind on the ship to try and figure it out. But he said he was going to make it so the moon was no longer a factor. To weaken the waterbenders. I don't know if that's even possible, but Zhao seems to think it is. And he must have enough proof to convince my-" he paused and grimaced before changing words "to convince the Fire Lord. I don't know exactly what he plans to do, but if he intends to harm the moon spirit in some way he has to be stopped. Attacking one of the spirits is insane." He shook his head, clearly frustrated "He must be insane if he thinks that harming the moon will help the Fire Nation more than it will cause harm. Everyone needs the moon." The three other teenagers were staring at him, looking completely horrified. The white-haired girl looked the worst off, but Katara wasn't much better. Even Sokka looked sick.
"He wants to attack the moon?" Sokka asked "There's no way! That's not possible!"
"Maybe it's not," Zuko agreed easily, though he did notice the flash of fear (and perhaps guilt?) on the white-haired girl's face at that "But it was too high of a risk for Uncle and I to just let it go. If there's any chance that he's right and could actually do the moon harm we had to try and stop him." He shrugged and gestured vaguely around him "So here I am." Sokka frowned at him, clearly trying to process through all of this, but before any of them could say anything further another voice came from behind the bison
"Appa! Where are the others? We need to-!" the voice cut off as The Avatar, Aang probably, jumped up on top of the bison (Appa?) and caught sight of the other people. His eyes widened he almost fell as he caught sight of Zuko leaning against a melting ice wall. His eyes scanned over the clearly injured firebender before he looked at the two Water Tribe siblings.
"What's going on?" he asked warily, jumping down to land next to the siblings with a small gust of air to slow him at the end.
"Prince Jerkbender here says Zhao is planning to try and hurt the moon," Sokka told him, sounding rather disbelieving about the whole thing. Zuko couldn't help but glare at the term but kept quiet with some effort. It helped when The Avatar turned to look at him with startled eyes. Much like shortly after he'd broken the boy out of Zhao's control those eyes didn't hold any grudge or anger. In fact, now that he was thinking about it, Zuko couldn't remember many times, if any, where The Avatar had really seemed angry or hateful towards him. Sad, frustrated, and tired sure, playful even sometimes. But never hateful or even really suspicious. For some reason that did something funny to his insides, but he pushed it away.
"How?" The Avatar asked him, looking bewildered and Zuko shrugged slightly, not enough to cause his ribs to really flare, but enough to be visible.
"I don't know. Uncle is trying to figure that out right now."
"No," The Avatar said, shaking his head "How did you know?" He paused before adding "And why did you come to tell us?" Zuko blinked in shock.
"You know." It wasn't really a question, he could see the knowledge in those wide eyes, but The Avatar nodded anyways.
"I found out while I was in the Spirit World."
"Wait!" Sokka cut in "So you mean Zhao really is trying to hurt the moon?!" He looked at The Avatar in confusion "Is that even possible?" Aang nodded but didn't take his eyes off of Zuko.
"You haven't answered my questions."
Zuko huffed slightly and crossed his arms over his chest, looking away. "If I'd know you would already know I wouldn't have gone through all that effort to get here," he grumbled. Great. So he hadn't even needed to do this. Perfect. He shook his head in aggravation, but answered The Avatar's questions anyways "Zhao took my uncle on as a military advisor. He mentioned something about taking the moon out of the picture to make it possible to defeat the Northern Water Tribe. Zhao didn't share much, but Uncle and I decided that it was too much of a risk to just let it go so I came here to try and get some sort of warning delivered. Even if you didn't believe me it should have made some of the soldiers suspicious enough to keep guard. Assuming there's even a way to hurt the moon here." The Avatar looked rather startled by all of this but shook himself slightly.
"Why come warn us though? Why turn against your people?"
"I'm no traitor!" Zuko snarled, cutting The Avatar off as he straightened and glared at the boy, furious "I would never turn against my people!" The two Southern Water Tribe kids stiffened and he saw the boy grip his weapon again, but The Avatar just held up his hands calmingly.
"Sorry, that probably wasn't the best way to say it," The Avatar said soothingly "I'm just trying to understand."
Zuko growled quietly and looked away "Zhao is insane. He thinks that harming the moon will give us a better chance to take out this tribe. And maybe that's true, but you can't just go around attacking things like the moon!" He looked back at the group, glaring "The Fire Nation needs the moon just as much as any other country. Sure we don't draw power from it as waterbenders do, but the moon affects the tides and currents and we need those. Besides, you have to be completely insane to think that attacking the ocean's wife and the sun's sister is going to bring anything but misery to our people." He shook his head with a grim expression "The spirits of La and Agni would seek vengeance against the entire Fire Nation if Tui is harmed by one of our own. Of that, I'm almost certain." He was surprised to see that the three in front of him relaxed at that. The siblings as well. Perhaps knowing his reasonings made more sense to them? He didn't know, and he didn't particularly care.
"Well you're probably right," Aang agreed, straightening "So we need to-" he cut off as the white-haired girl let out a frightened cry, staring at something on the other side of the bison. Moments later something horrible happened. The moon in the sky turned blood-red. Alarmed, Zuko jumped to his feet. In a strange show of solidarity, The Avatar, the two Southern Water Tribe siblings, and Zuko all dashed around the bison (or in The Avatar's case, over the bison) and came to a skidding halt as they stared at Zhao who was holding up a wet cloth bag that clearly had something alive in it from the way it was shifting.
"I am a legend now!" Zhao crowed triumphantly, staring at the bag with a manic gleam in his eyes "The Fire Nation will, for generations, tell stories about the great Zhao who darkened the moon! They will call me, Zhao the Conqueror, Zhao the Moon Slayer, Zhao-!" He cut off as he caught sight of Zuko and his eyes widened to almost comical proportions. "You! You're still alive!?" Zuko narrowed his eyes and snarled at the other man.
"You tried to have me killed!" he spat at Zhao, furious, completely blind to how The Avatar's eyes flickered to him in horrified shock.
Zhao's eyes narrowed "Clearly I should have just finished the job myself," he hissed and Zuko couldn't fully push down the hurt that caused, but he didn't let it show. Before he could say anything Zhao straightened with a smirk "But no matter. I can deal with you here along with these savages." Zuko snarled again and took a step forward, fire forming in his hands, but quickly froze as Zhao raised the bag and shifted his other hand into a fist, clearly threatening harm to the moon spirit
"I wouldn't," Zhao said coldly. Zuko could hear the others behind him quickly shifting and the sound of The Avatar's staff hitting the ground. Zuko grit his teeth and released his own flame, taking a small step back to try and indicate that he wasn't going to move closer.
"Zhao don't!" The Avatar spoke up, taking a small step forward with his hands out in a placating gesture. Zuko wanted to scoff at the thought that Zhao would bother listening but kept it to himself. He wasn't surprised by Zhao's response though.
"It is my destiny to destroy the moon and the Water Tribe," Zhao replied, clearly bragging and Zuko mentally confirmed his theory that this man was completely insane.
The Avatar shook his head "Destroying the moon won't just hurt the Water Tribe. It will hurt everyone, including you. Without the moon, everything would fall out of balance. You have no idea what kind of chaos that would unleash on the world." Zhao didn't look like he cared much about balance, but another voice cut in, and Zuko was relieved to catch sight of his uncle not far away from the group of firebenders with Zhao.
"He's right Zhao," Uncle said simply, firmly, his gaze fixed on the crazy man holding the moon.
"General Iroh," Zhao sounded far from surprised "Why am I not surprised to discover your treachery?" Those words made Zuko stiffen in anger, but his uncle replied in an even voice.
"I'm no traitor, Zhao. The Fire Nation needs the moon too. We all depend on balance." His expression and tone shifted to one that was far less calm and far more threatening "Whatever you do to that spirit I'll unleash on you ten-fold. Let it go, now!" Zuko had to mentally shake off the slight chill that hit him from hearing his uncle sound so angry. It wasn't often that he heard that tone of voice from the generally kind and gentle man. Thankfully, it seemed to be getting through to Zhao and he slowly crouched down and opened the bag, allowing the white fish to swim back into the water of the oasis. Zuko relaxed slightly at that, and that was his mistake. Moments later Zhao's expression twisted in fury and he lashed out, flames blasting into the waters and out across them as well, barely missing Iroh as the older man jerked away, horrified. Cries of horror echoed around them and for several long moments, Zuko could only stare at the burned fish as the sky grew impossibly dark.
But he broke free of his stupor as his uncle lunged forward, fire lashing out from his hands in angry blasts as he took out the soldiers around them. Unfortunately, he was too slow to catch Zhao. Zuko, however, was not. As Iroh took down the soldiers Zuko took off after the monster who had killed the moon and brought the fury of the spirits down upon them all.
Zhao didn't seem to notice he was being followed at first, but as he turned a corner Zuko vaulted over a low wall to land in front of him, cutting off his escape path and blasting fire in his direction. Zhao came to a skidding halt and stumbled back, out of the way of the flames. It didn't take long for Zhao to recover though and they were soon exchanging blows and blasts of fire.
It's uncertain how long the fight would have lasted if everything hadn't suddenly started glowing. It started both of them, but Zuko managed to snap out of it first and lashed out, burning Zhao's leg and sending him tumbling to the ground. He quickly darted forward and pinned him to the ground mere moments before what looked like a giant catfish monster made of water came into view. Inside of it Zuko could see The Avatar, eyes glowing with power. The creature's gaze slid over to them and suddenly Zuko knew exactly what he was looking at.
"La..." it was a choked, awestruck, and terrified word that fell from him without him meaning it to, but he could tell he wasn't wrong. And somehow he knew exactly what La had set out to do. Moving quickly he slammed a fist into Zhao's temple, knocking him out. He couldn't risk the man running on him, burned leg or no. Scrambling slightly ahead of the unconscious man Zuko dropped into a low, subservient bow. The same kind, he can't help but note, that he had given his father during their Agni Kai. But he couldn't think of that right now. He knew that what he was planning to do could be suicide, but he had to try.
"Lord La," he called out in a stronger voice, not straightening up from his bow, no matter how terrifying it is not to see the powerful being or how much the position hurt. His voice was trembling with fear and he knew it was obvious, but it didn't matter "Lord La please." He swallowed hard and continued "Please don't punish my people for the actions of one man. Please." He was begging, he knew he was, but he would beg all he needed to if it would save the lives of some of his people "They should not have attacked here, that is true, but I swear to you most would never have done so if they'd know what Zhao intended to do." And that was something he was certain of, actually. Despite everything, most of his people were fairly spiritual. Most would never dare to consider harming one of the spirits, let alone one as important as the moon. There would have been a full out riot if it had been mentioned. Of that Zuko was sure. What he wasn't sure of, though, was if La was listening to him at all, or if he cared. The bright light that he knew was coming from La and The Avatar hadn't moved away so there was that at least.
"Look at me." That was The Avatar's voice, but not quite. It was layered with something far older and more powerful. Zuko obeyed without question, raising his head and body slightly to meet the gaze of the being above him. The large catfish shape had lowered some so that The Avatar was now level with him, just off the side of the bridge he was on. "You bargain for their lives." It wasn't a question, but Zuko nodded anyways.
"Nothing can make up for your loss," Zuko replied, knowing it to be fact "That is impossible. But if there is anything I can give you I will. Just please, don't punish all of them for his actions." There were several beats of silence where both the large fish's eyes and The Avatar's eyes are fixed on him, seeming to read into him far deeper than what most could see. Zuko didn't dare move as he waited for a reply.
"Would you give up your quest to capture The Avatar in exchange?" The Avatar/La asked and Zuko almost laughed, though it would have been a hysterical one.
"I would," Zuko replied, voice breaking "But I cannot." He could tell that The Avatar/La didn't like this answer so he quickly explained "My uncle and I already decided to be done with that mission before we came here. So I cannot fairly include it in any bargain." There were several beats of silence and Zuko barely dared to breathe before The Avatar/La actually smiled at him.
"Very good, Son of Fire." He/They sounded almost proud. Had that been a test? It sounded like it. "I will not punish the rest of your people. There will be a cost. For now, take Tui's killer to my waters." He/They straightened up again to his/their full height and turned to make his/their way away.
Zuko was still for several moments after he/they are gone before he managed to start properly breathing again. He hadn't died. That surprised him, but he was grateful for the reprieve, though he wasn't sure it would last. Shaking his head to clear it he moved to haul Zhao up and begin dragging him back to the oasis. He was pretty sure that was what he was supposed to do. Otherwise, The Avatar/La would have just taken Zhao into the water with him/them.
It was slow and painful going as he made his way along, ignoring the confused and hostile looks he got from any of the natives who caught sight of him. Though strangely none of them moved to stop him. When he was about halfway back something breathtaking happened, the moon returned to its rightful place in the sky and Zuko had to pause to look up in relief and wonder. He didn't know how that happened, but he was grateful that it had. He couldn't dwell on it though and continued making his way back the way he'd come. At some point, he heard a familiar voice call his name and looked up to see his uncle hurrying towards him with visible relief.
"Zuko!" Iroh's breath caught in relief when he caught sight of his nephew, still blessedly alive, making his way back towards him. Why Zuko was carrying Zhao as well Iroh wasn't sure he wanted to know. Especially since Zuko's expression looked rather grim. "Are you well?" He asked as he neared the boy.
"I'm fine Uncle," Zuko replied firmly, though he did manage a slight smile in what appeared to be an attempt at comforting his uncle. There was a pause where Zuko visibly hesitated before he spoke again "I need to get Zhao back to the oasis. Can you help me, Uncle?" Iroh didn't have a clue why Zuko would need to do that, but he wasn't going to argue so he simply nodded.
"Of course." And with that, he carefully lifted the man from his nephew's grasp. Zuko was injured after all. Zuko huffed what might have been a complaint, but it was a half-hearted one. Iroh was certain that carrying Zhao was not good for Zuko's injuries. Iroh wanted to ask what had happened, but Zuko was clearly drained and seemed focused on the task at hand so Iroh left it alone for the time being.
When they arrived back at the oasis they were met by uncertain looks from the two remaining teens, but Iroh paid them very little mind.
"Put him near the edge of the water," Zuko instructed him tiredly "La wants him." Iroh startled slightly at that and looked at his nephew in concern, but all he got back was a tired glare. So Iroh frowned and did as he was told, placing the admiral, none too gently, on the ground near the water. He was going to turn and ask Zuko something just after that, and he could see questions, or perhaps comments, on the lips of the other two teens as well, but what they would have said is drowned out as the glowing being that was both La and The Avatar reappears in the waters near them. They sunk into the water for a moment before The Avatar reappeared standing on the water of the oasis, much like he had been shortly before joining with La. But it was clear from his eyes and posture that it was still La in control.
"Put him in." It was an order and Iroh wasn't entirely surprised to see his nephew move to do as he was told, shoving Zhao the rest of the way into the oasis waters where the man promptly vanished in a flash of light. However, Iroh was surprised, and frightened, by how Zuko then stepped back and dropped into a low bow.
"What else is it you want from me?" Zuko didn't sound argumentative or angry, simply resigned. He must have made some sort of deal. Iroh's heart clenched in fear, but he forced himself to be as calm as possible and stay silent. He didn't want to make things worse. The Avatar/La turned to look more fully at Zuko and Iroh clenched his fists against his sides to keep himself still.
"You have brought me Tui's killer," It was a statement of a fact "And you and your uncle fought for Tui's safety. You nearly drowned to bring a warning of the danger to her." Iroh almost felt like he'd stopped breathing for a moment. Zuko had nearly drowned?! He forcefully pushed that away for the moment and continued listening. "You will not continue to hunt The Avatar." Again, a statement of fact. "Your debt is paid."
Zuko's eyes widened and he looked up at the glowing eyes of The Avatar/La. That was all? He didn't say anything, but it's clear that the spirit understood his disbelief because he/they gave him an amused smile.
"You will have to deal with the consequences of your choices," he/they told him simply "But I will not take anything more from you as my price. Your soldiers are on their ships, alive and far from here. I will not seek vengeance against the people of fire."
With a small nod of what could be mistaken as respect, The Avatar took a step onto the land just in front of Zuko before the light of his eyes and tattoos died and he collapsed forward. Zuko didn't really think, he just darted forward the small distance to catch the smaller boy before he hit the ground. He forgot one thing though, his own body was far from in the shape for catching anything, let alone a twelve-year-old boy. A cry of pain escaped him as his ribs informed him of his folly and his legs gave out underneath him. Despite the abrupt fall he managed to stay on his knees and not drop the boy or collapse on top of him and moments later his uncle was next to him with a steadying hand on his shoulder. The Water Tribe siblings hurried closer then too, still watching him warily, but with far more confusion than anger. Katara stepped closer and carefully took The Avatar from him, holding him as the boy opened bleary eyes for a moment before seeming to fall asleep against her.
The current trial seemed to be over so Zuko leaned slightly into his uncle with a slight breath of relief.
"Are you well Zuko?" Leave it to his uncle to get to the crux of the matter, and in the middle of enemy territory too.
"I'll live," he was a little short in his answer, but he knew his uncle would understand. And as he looked up he caught sight of what looked like two elders of the Northern Water Tribe making their way into the oasis, followed by several guards. He barely managed to bite back a sarcastic complaint as he narrowed his eyes warily at the newcomers. This was going to be interesting.
So I have a question for you all. I'm planning to have some amount of romance in this story, though it will not be the main focus in it, but I'm torn on who to match Zuko up with. Honestly, I'd consider any of the gang (Toph, Sokka, Aang, or Katara). I'm hoping to get some feedback from you guys on what you think. I can't properly right ZukoxMai simply because I really don't like their relationship. The only thing is that if I go for Toph I'd probably change her age to make her 14 instead of 12, because her being 12 makes it really weird for me. Yes, I do know that Aang is 12 as well, but him being the Avatar messes with that in my head so it doesn't bug me the same way. If you care to please let me know your thoughts on the pairings. I'll settle on a final decision on 7/13/2020.