Thanks Sparkysparkbo0mman and Znpk. Thanks slytherclaw2114 for Following and Favoriting. Sorry this is late, but my first week of college has been hitting the ground running and they don't hold back on the homework...
~ Sozin's Comet ~
The Old Masters
Ryuu POV
"Why her," I ducked behind Zuko, "Anyone but her."
Sokka squinted at June before announcing, "She helped you attack us!"
Zuko calmly led us towards June while smiling forcibly, "Yup, back in the good old days..."
Back in the good old days when we weren't in constant fear for our lives or two days away from the biggest battle that seven under seventeen year olds have partaken in. Like the first time I met June, I pressed myself behind Zuko as we casually pushed our way into the tavern. Sokka gave me an odd look but shrugged - June's terrifying...
"Oh great. It's Prince Pouty and Scardy Cat. Where's your creepy grandpa?"
The other Gaang members stared silently on as Zuko tried to talk to June, who was being evasive as usual... Zuko grunted, "I need your help finding the Avatar."
June checked her nails quickly, "Doesn't sound fun."
"Does the end of the world sound like more fun?"
That caught her attention real quick. She led us from the tavern and to Nyla, that damned Shirshu. Appa was trying to make friends, but the Shirshu was a tad hesitant. June asked for something with Aangs scent, so Katara pulled out his staff - but when Nyla sniffed it, we got a strange reaction.
"No, I mean he's gone gone. He doesn't exist," June stood up to face us. Even her normally dead-panned faced was blanched with concern. Sokka gasped and itched his chin:
"What do you mean Aang doesn't exist? Do you mean he's ... you know, dead?"
June shook her head, "Nope. We could find him if he were dead. Wow, it's a real head-scratcher. See ya!"
I opened and closed my mouth as everyone stared after June as she raced into the woods - what on earth... how on earth-?
"She's... my least favourite person the world.." I tried to chuckle but ended up stuttering randomly. Katara shook her head, "Yeah..."
Zuko snapped his fingers and yanked a sandle from his tunic - everyone recoiled from him and wretched at the sweaty sandle. Toph smiled slightly as Sokka poo-pooed Zuko for keeping it. She thought it was sort of sweet; it was actually... but also really disgusting.
"There's only one other person in this world who can help us face the Fire Lord. I'll be right back with a smell sample."
He raced down the track after June and barked for us to board Appa. Sokka spurred Appa up, to follow Zuko as he caught up to June and let the Shirshu sniff the sandle. He leapt onto Appa as we passed - and off to follow the scary lady we went.
...
It seemed like hours - which it was - before June pulled the now jumpy Shirshu to a hault. She had trouble staying mounted as the beast did a full body shake and snarled into at the horizon line. Ba Sing Se's outer wall... surely Iroh wouldn't be here of all places.
"Your uncle's somewhere beyond the wall," June pointed as her mount snarled at the floor, "Nyla's getting twitchy so he can't be too far. Good luck."
They turned tail and bounded across the hills and away from us - we gave a collective sigh as Zuko turned father-figure, "It's been a long day. Let's camp and start our search again at dawn."
"Yeah, great idea," I stretched. We turned in for the night and only got about fifteen minutes rest before a circle of flames roared around us. I shot up next to Zuko as the others took up fighting stances - ready to defend against any Fire Nation soldiers. Instead, we were confrented by three old men; one of whom was King Bumi!
The flames were extinguished with a sweep of an arm and the men glided towards us. As the King approached, I fell to my knees and bowed. Toph snorted and hissed, "What's going on? We're surrounded by old people... and Stabby seems to be worshiping-"
"His majesty, King Bumi!" I finished. Toph seemed unimpressed. Zuko frowned and raised his brow at me quizzically, "I'm royalty, you never did that-"
Katara cut him short by attacking one of the elderly men with a bear-hug, "These are great masters and friends of ours. Pakku!"
Bumi extended his hand out towards me - I hesitantly took it and he helped me to my feet. He cackled with laughter. Zuko sidled over and bowed respectfully. Katara gestured towards another man with crazy hair, "And this was Aang's first firebending teacher."
"Jeong Jeong."
Ah, dammit. I couldn't laugh, but I must. I must. Jeong Jeong sent me a glare and I immediately shut up; which made Zuko sniker. Suki tapped her chin thoughtfully, "So wait. How do you all know each other?"
Bumi clapped his hands, "All old people know each other. Don't you know that?"
A man with a sword nodded, "We're all part of the same ancient secret society. A group that transcends the divisions of the four nations."
Zuko smiled gently, "The Order of the White Lotus."
"So- Iroh's here?" I touched Zuko's bicep, which twitched in anticipation. Sword man and Jeong Jeong gestured for us to follow them towards thier camp, but Bumi gasped as he searched out group with his eyes.
"Wait! Someone's missing from your group. Someone very important. Where's Momo?" He inquired. Sokka grimmaced, "He's gone. And so is Aang."
The King didn't seemed that bothered as he turned and the men led us towards camp.
...
Not much further than where June abandoned us was 'Old People Camp' - as King Bumi called it. Instantly, Zuko inquired to where his Uncle was. I took his bicep and squeezed it encouragingly. He screwed his eyes shut and was directed towards a tent directly ahead of us. Camp was dark so it was hard to make out finer details and only blurry outlines were clear; but it was clear Zuko was nervous.
"Hey, he loves you - it'll be fine."
Zuko took my hands and sniffed back tears, "He loved and supported me in every way he could, and I still turned against him. How can I even face him?"
Katara stepped towards us and smiled slightly, "Zuko, you're sorry for what you did, right?"
Nodding, Zuko dropped my hands and took a hesitant step back, "More sorry than I've been about anything in my entire life."
Water girl stood beside me, twiddling with a strand of her hair, "Then he'll forgive you. He will."
"So- alright. I'm just nervous..." Zuko was choking on tears.
I reached out and managed to touch his cheek, "It's fine, your Uncle is the most forgiving person ever. Go on - it'll be fine..."
He disappeared into the tent and Katara turned to me with a smile on her face.
"Come on, Ryuu. The others are in the main tent..."
...
ONE DAY until the comet and Aang still hadn't appeared. We were sat, eating noodles, disgusing our plans. Iroh and Zuko had talked last night and, good thing was, Zuko was a much better mood than before. Iroh opened his arms and hugged me before sitting down to talk business.
"Uncle, you're the only person other than the Avatar who can possibly ssibly defeat the Father Lord," Zuko leaned towards Iroh. I clapped both my hands over my mouth to hide a snort of laughter. Toph had also picked up on his slip of the younger. We just made each other laugh more and more- until we were both in tears. Zuko furrowed his brow in annoyance.
Iroh strokedhis chin as we hypothesised the plan, "Even if I did defeat Ozai, and I don't know that I could, it would be the wrong way to end the war. History would see it as just more senseless violence, a brother killing a brother to grab power. The only way for this war to end peacefully is for the Avatar to defeat the Fire Lord."
Zuko frowned, "And then ... then you would come and take your rightful place on the throne?"
Further protest to this came from Iroh, "No. Someone new must take the throne. An idealist with a pure heart and unquestionable honor. It has to be you, Prince Zuko!"
Gasping, Zuko shook his head. I had managed to stop laughing with Toph, and put a hand on Zuko's shoulder, "It's you, Zuko. You can be the Fire Lord. "
The other Gaang members nodded - Katara spoke up, "They're right."
Toph held her hands up, "Hey, hang on, Well, what if Aang doesn't come back?"
We briefly sat in silence - apart from Sokka who slurped at his noodles. Iroh folded his hands into his lap and took a laboured breath:
"Sozin's Comet is arriving, and our destinies are upon us. Aang will face the Fire Lord. When I was a boy, I had a vision that I would one day take Ba Sing Se; Only now do I see that my destiny is to take it back from the Fire Nation, so the Earth Kingdom can be free again."
Suki grunted and gestured around us, "That's why you gathered the members of the White Lotus."
Iroh nodded and turned to his nephew, Zuko squeezed my hand and Iroh noticed this, smiling quickly before returning to a serious face. He advised that if Zuko goes to take the throne, then he should have backup. Instantly, Zuko ran a thumb over my knuckles, "Want to come help kick Azula's butt?"
I giggled cautiously, "Sure thing - we should take Katara too... in case of... injuries. "
Katara nodded sharply, "Let's put Azula in her place!"
Sokka leant his head into his hands - scanning Suki and Toph with a glance, "I think that, even though we don't know where Aang is, we need to do everything we can to stop the airship fleet."
Toph pounded her fists, "And that means when Aang does face the Fire Lord, we'll be right there if he needs us."
...
We waved the others off as the followed Sword-guy towards an Eel hound. Katara, Zuko and I mounted Appa, to head to the capital. Iroh beamed with the most pride I'd ever seen. He flicked out a Lotus tile and twirled it between his fingers.
"Goodbye, everyone. Today, destiny is our friend. I know it."
Appa leapt off into the crystal sky and I, sat on Appa's head with Zuko, leant foward to feel the wind in my face, "Ready guys?"
Katara agreed and watched the horizon race past, "We are more then ready."
Zuko laced his fingers into mine, "I'm glad I'm facing it with you two. I'm ready to become who I was meant to be."
