Chap. 6

Dark Secrets of the Soul

For about ten seconds everyone in the room was stunned into silent immobility. Aang, Katara, Oscuridad, and Trueno stared at Zuko and Iroh. Zuko and Iroh stared back. Toph, Fuego, Hierro, and Tierra waited in the middle. All four of them expected something to happen, likely a fight, but they had no way of knowing. As the seconds ticked away, and Zuko made no move to attack, Hierro and Fuego briefly entertained the notion that everything would be resolved peacefully. But they forgot that Zuko was no longer the one with a temper. For as the two Knights turned, and saw Aang's face begin to change into an all too familiar mask of anger, their eyes widened, and they said perhaps the only thing one can say before a disaster happens; "Oh shhhhhit."

Almost instantly, Aang proved the two Knights right, as he whipped his arms out and blasted Zuko with an air attack. The former prince was unprepared for it, and the attack drove him into the wall, where he slid back down to the floor. "Aang wait!" Katara cried out, as Aang began to move forward to finish Zuko off. Iroh stepped in front of the Avatar's path, but then the air crackled as Trueno drew the lightning to him and fired a bolt right at Iroh. But the general was prepared, and with quick mental preparation, he absorbed the lighting and redirected it out an open window. The ram began to draw another bolt, but then felt a hand on his shoulder. Turning, the ram saw Oscuirdad's face, as the bat shook his head. Trueno's own face became puzzled, but he did as he was told and dissipated the lightning. Both then watched as Hierro snuck behind Aang and using his multiple arms, trapped the young Avatar by holding a limb in each arm and placing another hand over his mouth, rendering Aang both immobile and unable to airbend.

"Knock it off, Aang!" the spider cried, as Aang struggled fiercely against his bonds. Sighing, the spider closed his eyes, and underneath his tunic, his arms turned to steel, effectively trapping Aang. "You've got no way out now, so you might as well calm down!" Hierro cried out, as Aang continued to struggle.

"Aang, listen to him." Katara said firmly, walking up to the imprisoned Avatar. For a second, the young Airbender kept struggling, then with a visible effort, he brought himself to a halt, and hung limp in Hierro's grasp. Seeing that his friend was no longer a threat, Hierro changed his arms back to normal and let go of Aang.

The Avatar hovered to the ground, then pointed to Zuko, who Iroh was helping to his feet, and demanded, "What are they doing here?"

"I'd like to know the answer to that myself." Oscuridad said, as he looked at Fuego. The red man gulped as he felt the eyes of his brother on him. "Fue, I'm waiting." The bat said.

"Well, it's not as bad as it seems…" Fuego began. "Fuego, how can it be good?" Oscuriad asked. "You've let our enemies into our house! It was bad enough that you led Zuko to the island last time, but this? I don't care what you think, he is not someone we can trust!"

"Osc, it isn't like that anymore." Hierro said, coming to the red man's defense. "Things have changed."

"Well, then you'd better explain how, because I want to know how you three thought it was a good idea to go along with this."

"Hey, I wanted to kill him." Tierra said.

"And I don't care what you think." Toph said. "Iroh's my friend and he needed help."

"What kind of help?" Katara asked.

"He was begging on the streets! What kind do you think?"

Ignoring Toph's rudeness, the Waterbending Master looked at Zuko and Iroh, who had both stood there silently as the argument had gone on. Maybe there is something to this. Katara thought. Why wouldn't Zuko try to capture Aang now that he has an open shot? Wanting an answer, Katara turned to Fuego and said, "I think you'd better explain what's been going on with these two."

The red man nodded, and said, "Well, according to Iroh it started after the North Pole……

"And that's how they got here." Fuego finished, as he related the last of Iroh's tale. The others sat thoughtfully, as they related the story in their minds, Zuko and Iroh standing in the back, waiting for a response. The tale had managed to sober even Aang temporarily, who was beginning to regret his earlier attack. But Oscuridad's face was a stone block, completely unreadable.
"Osc, I knew you wouldn't like this." Hierro said suddenly. "But look at them. We don't have any real proof they're lying, and besides, how many other chances are we going to get to find Aang a Firebending Master who isn't with the Fire Nation?"

"Besides, they cut their hair." Fuego added. "I don't know what else they can do to prove their case."

"Again with the hair! What does that have to do with anything?" Tierra cried out.

"I know." Aang said. As everyone turned to face the Avatar, he explained, "Firebenders grow their hair long to symbolize their connection to home. The only reason they cut it off is when they lose all their ties to the Fire Nation. It totally cuts them off."

"Really?" Katara asked in shock, as she turned to face Zuko, who merely nodded his reply. "Oscuriad, maybe Fuego was right here." She suggested.

The bat was quiet a moment longer, then said, "I agree. Fuego, I think we owe you an apology."

"And I owe you one too, Zuko. I'm sorry I attacked you." Aang said.

"I apologize too Iroh." Trueno added.

Zuko gave no reply, but Iroh said, "It's all right. You had no reason to trust us before. The question is, what do we do now that we have your trust?"

"Right now, I think we can help each other." Oscuridad said.

"What do you mean?" Iroh asked, though he had an idea of where the discussion was headed.

Oscuridad opened his mouth to respond, but before he could, the door opened and Sokka's voice rang out; "Hey guys, we didn't have any luck finding Appa….. WHAT THE… ZUKO!"

"Oh not again." Tierra muttered, as he heard the sounds of weapons being drawn.

After that scuffle died down (with a considerable amount of restraint against Sokka, who was practically foaming at the mouth to get Zuko), Fuego and Iroh explained what was going on, relating the tale once again. The Knights managed to accept it, but Sokka kept an angry expression on his face, as he sat in a chair, hand around his club.

"So what were you saying before, Nightstalker?" Iroh asked, as the two resumed their discussion.

"Call me Oscuridad. It's pretty simple. You and Zuko need food, shelter, and a chance to go against Azula. We need a Firebender to train Aang."

"Can't he do it?" Zuko asked, pointing at Fuego.

"We Knights are forbidden from training mortals. It's a long story." Oscuridad replied. "But your uncle is a Firebending Master, and we aren't going to find a lot of those outside the Fire Army. So, what do you say General?"

But Iroh had already reflected on this possibility, and knew his answer. But being Iroh, he had to present a bit of a front. "If we were to do this, would Zuko and I end up with you, fighting against the Fire Lord when the Avatar comes for him?"

"I would hope so." The bat replied.

Iroh was quiet a moment, and then said, "Very well. I will train the Avatar when he finishes his Earthbending training. As long as Fuego keeps making that excellent tea."

The red man nodded his agreement, but Zuko did not take to the decision as well. "Uncle, what are you saying!" the former prince cried out. "You can't do this, you're betraying our home!"

"No Zuko, I am not." Iroh replied calmly. "I have tried to reconcile what the Fire Nation has done in my mind for many years, and I cannot keep the truth at bay any longer. Zuko, your father is a tyrant that has led our homeland into blood and chaos. The Fire Nation has given up honor for power, and our honorable ancestors have been replaced by spoiled children. I had hoped you would come to these conclusions yourself one day, but your pride blinds you, as does your love for Ozai. But Zuko, your father will never allow you back. If you had brought him the Avatar, he would have taken the boy and thrown you back out onto the sea."

"NO!" Zuko screamed out, as he kicked over a table in his anger. "You're wrong Uncle! My father will accept me back! I am his loyal son! He loves me, and I will not abandon him!" Pushing through the others, Zuko made his way to the door. But as he laid his fingers on the knob, Oscuridad said, "Zuko, you've never believed he loved you before. Why lie and say you do now?"

At that, Zuko's hand stopped touching the knob. Standing there, his body shaking, the banished prince, in a barely controlled voice, said, "What. Did. You. Say?"

"The truth, Zuko." The bat replied. "Has it been so long that you've forgotten what it sounds like?" Zuko whirled around, ready to strangle the bat, but Oscuirdad continued. "You've been lying to yourself for three years Zuko. About your quest, your father, everything. Despite everything that you've seen, everything you've wrestled with, you cling to your image of your father and his dream. But you don't see it Zuko, not at all. You know what your father wants is wrong. You know it's everything you don't want to be."

Zuko's face had become a mask of barely contained emotion. As they looked on, the group wondered if he was about to cry. Softly, Zuko asked, "How do you know this?"

"I'm the Knight of Shadow. It means more then walking through darkness, or turning the sun black. I can see into a person's heart, Zuko. I can see the secrets they keep in the dark corners of their souls, as well as their fears. I can see the secrets they keep from others and from themselves." "

"Stop keeping them there Zuko. Admit the truth. Your father never loved you. He considers you an embarrassment. Your quest to find the Avatar was one you were never supposed to come back from. The things you've seen are proof that the Fire Nation has no honor, and will destroy the world if they're not stopped. But it isn't all bad Zuko. You also know that your uncle has been more of a father to you in the last three years then your father has ever been. And you know that we have shown you more respect and kindness then anyone ever has, except your uncle and your mother. Do you remember what she told you before she left? Never forget who you are. You are an honorable, good-hearted person who does not want to see people suffer. Why are you trying to be like people so unlike you? Why are betraying your mother's last wish?"

For a second, Zuko's face shook, as some unseen emotion was running through his soul. He whirled around, and tried to open the door before anyone could see him like this. But Oscuridad's words had come from the depths of Zuko's soul, and they had cut him to the bone. As soon as Zuko touched the doorknob, he felt the emotional dam inside him break. He fell against the door, and then, as the others stared in utter shock, Zuko sank to the floor and began to weep uncontrollably, his face still plastered against the wood. The others stared with shocked expressions; in all the time they had known Zuko, they had never thought they would live to see him cry. And as such, they had no idea what to do. But Iroh did. The former general got to his feet and walked over to his crying nephew. Iroh sat down, and wrapped his arms around him, letting Zuko pour all of his frustrations onto him. As they sat there, Luz rose, and motioned for the others to leave. The group nodded, and left the room, leaving Zuko and Iroh alone with their sorrows.