~Siege of the North (Part 2)~

Ryuu POV

I had officially concluded that Zhao was mad.

We - Iroh, Zhao and I - were on the balcony on the command tower, surveying the on going battle. Several times I covered my eyes at the destruction and random explosions. Zhao watched the battle with as much eagerness as a child watches Turtle Ducks.

Iroh adjusted his belt, "I don't need to remind you we have a time limit. If we don't defeat the Water Tribe before the full moon rises, they will be undefeatable."

Zhao turned his back on the fighting. I just sat with my back pressed against the railings as Zhao placed the the centre of the balcony and returned to watching the chaos. He laughed at a Water Tribe man being impaled.

"I assure you I have everything under control. I intend to remove the moon as a factor."

Both Iroh and I did double takes to check we didn't have simultaneous identical hallucinations. We had heard correctly. The twisted, evil lunatic that was Zhao just continued surveying the carnage.

"Remove the moon? How?"

The door beside me burst open and a kid about my age in horribly outdated armour pushed his helmet up out of his eyes. He lowered his spear and, the dumbest bit, announced his attack - he even used the wrong name. Zhao grabbed his collar and casually threw him overboard. Iroh leaned over to check if he was okay.

"As I was saying, years ago I stumble upon a great and powerful secret: the identity of the Moon Spirit's mortal form."

Iroh's eyes became the size of dinner plates, "What?"

"I was a young lieutenant serving under General Shu in the Earth Kingdom..."

At that point, my brain just shut Zhao's droning voice out. I was so bored of his egocentric narcissism that my brain just shut him out. I picked up a few words which my brain - in its infinite wisdom - strung together, forming some weird sentences.

I got ' I discovered... fact... scroll...that contained illustration.. and ...word ...moo... and... I knew... that...spirits could...find... my destiny...' I laughed aloud. Loud enough for Zhao to hear. He shot a small flame that missed my head by millimetres. I whimpered and buried my face in my legs. Iroh stuttered. He drew Zhao's attention from me - thankfully.

"Zhao, the spirits are not to be trifled with!"

He shared my belief of the power spirits held. I was so glad for Iroh's existence. Zhao, however, wasn't. He dismissed the generals warning.

"Yes, yes ... I know you fear the spirits, Iroh. I've heard rumors about your journey into the Spirit World. But the Ocean and Moon gave up their immortality to become a part of our world. And now they will face the consequences."

"They protect us. If you go threw with this, there will be a reaction - trust me."

...

Zhao led us through the devastated city. I was amazed at the prowess of the waterbenders. They could lift tanks and throw them - like the one that nearly crushed me. Iroh quickly tugged me out of the way. I thanked him and walked closer to his side. The Ji in my other hand felt weak compared to these masters of water.

Whenever we were attacked, Zhao would easily clear a path: using fire. I winced and tried not to cry. At every opportunity, I would clear a path, to save anyone being hurt by fire. I was cold in my thin uniform, but I wanted to come. To save the soldiers from being burnt. It was devastating - that element was devastating.

At the very heart of the city was a small door. Zhao tugged it open and crawled inside. Iroh and I followed. Inside was... was the most beautiful thing. It was warm and a feeling of overall calm set over me. I was at full peace for the first time in eight years - Until Zhao interrupted, of course.

Iroh took me to another part of the sanctuary, away from Zhao. Behind us the conceited man was ranting:

" I am ... a legend, now! 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 the Invincible! Ugh ... Get it off! Get it off!"

I thanked Kyoshi for the interruption. The man was already on my nerves (well, actually, I hated him truly), so the monkey was welcome. Very monkey hopped away onto... drum roll please... the Avatar's arm. Some soldiers that had tagged along prepared to fight.

"Don't bother."

Zhao prepared to kill the fish - moon - fish. Dammit. Moon fish. The Avatar and his companions surrendered when Zhao lit his fingers.

"It's my destiny, to destroy the moon and the Water Tribe, " Zhao grinned wickedly at the squirming sack.

The Avatar - I know his name so I'll call him that - Aang piped up. He tried putting sense into the idiots head but Zhao refused to listen. He was only interested in himself. His legacy. His legend. Iroh slipped from the shadows and tried to help the young Avatar.

"He's right, Zhao."

Zhao responded in his usual, calm, psychotic way, "General Iroh, why am I not surprised to discover your treachery?"

Iroh pushed his hood back and stepped fully into the moons light, he looked like a wise spirit, "I'm no traitor, Zhao, the Fire Nation needs the moon, too; we all depend on the balance. Whatever you do to that spirit I'll unleash on you ten-fold. Let it go, now!"

Zhao contemplated it. He weighed up his choices, but made the wrong one. With a swipe of his hand he killed the moon. The world phased to grey as the celestial body above us became red with the fishes blood. Iroh punched a long flame at Zhao, who dodged it. He countered and retreated, leaving his soldiers behind.

I went to go after him but a soldier kicked fire at me. I swiftly moved my arms the way Zuko had taught me. Raising my polearm, I sliced an arc across the soldiers, who countered with fire. I rolled under and leapt up, which is when I noticed Zuko going after Zhao. I would provide a distraction for the gaurds.

I bashed one into unconsciousness, and fended the rest back. They tried to Firebend me away, but I was to close. I bashed another away but the others kicked me back. Iroh caught me.

"There's no hope now, it's over, " A Northern Water Tribe princess laminated, hugging her boyfriend, a Southern Guy. The very one we had captured about a week ago. Aang closed his eyes. He opened them, in the Avatar state - eyes glowing and Airbender tattoos alight.

"No, it's not over," He stepped into the Spirit Oasis. Then he got sucked into it. I wanted to laugh, but didn't. Not a good moment...The Fire Soldiers ran for thier lives. The Avatar re-emerged became a giant glowing koi fish. Better not ask.

...

Iroh gently placed the dead koi back into its pond. A Southern girl shook her head softly as she tried to heal it with glowing water.

"It's too late, it's dead."

I stared at the other girl, the Princess. Something about her seemed moonly. Iroh looked at me. He nodded at the silent exchange of ideas. Quickly, he turned to the Princess.

"You have been touched by the Moon Spirit. Some of its life is in you."

She stared at the dead fish in the pond, "Yes, you're right. It gave me life, maybe I can give it back."

Her boyfriend was close to tears. He ran a gloved hand on her cheek, "No! You don't have to do that."

She tilted her head and returned the loving gaze. A tear rolled down her cheek, "It's my duty, Sokka."

Sokka grabbed her hand and clasped it to his heart. He leaned closer to her and studied her eyes, "I won't let you! Your father told me to protect you. "

"I have to do this."

She slipped free of his hand and moved to the fish. Carefully putting both ungloved hands onto the koi's body, it began to glow. The Princesses eyes flickered shut and she fell into her boyfriend's arms.

"No! She's gone, she's gone."

Then, to add insult to injury, she faded. The koi's body glowed and the lake shone in response. The Princesses was now in flowing robes. She was now the moons human form. I shot back in response to all this magic. The Moon Princess floated towards her boyfriend.

"Goodbye, Sokka," she leant over him, "I'll always be with you."

They kissed. It was the most heartbreaking thing. She faded while still kissing him. Above us the moon returned back to normal and Sokka touched his lips, small tears dripping from his eyes.

...

A small raft was fashioned from scraps of broken ship. I was surprised to find the entire fleet destroyed and all the Fire Nation soldiers left were dead. Zuko joined us. He said nothing as we launched the raft. When we were far enough from land to properly sail, Iroh struck up a conversation.

"I'm surprised Prince Zuko, surprised that you are not at this moment trying to capture the Avatar."

He sighed, "I'm tired."

His uncle smiled calmly, "Then you should rest. A man needs his rest."

I was sitting with my feet drifting in the ice cold water. I lifted my prosthetic leg up and hugged my it and my thigh. Zuko didn't sleep. He just stared aimlessly up to the sky. The Night passed on and Iroh had fallen asleep. Zuko and I hadn't.

"So."

I twiddled my thumbs. Zuko sat up next to me, "So. "

"How you holding up? I mean, for real. You - you don't have to tell-"

Zuko trained his eyes on mine, "I- I'm not sure. My life is going wrong. I feel..."

Edging up to him, I slipped my arm around his shoulders.

"...Feel... Like I'm falling."

He put his head onto my shoulder and closed his eyes. I gently stroked his cheek. He blinked up at me. Our faces were so close I could feel his breath fanning on my lips. I put my forehead against his and spoke so quietly that only Zuko could hear.

"Don't worry, Princess. If you fall, I'll catch you."