Fixed my spelling mistakes in this one. "Mai" is no longer Mei and "Dai Li" is no longer "Dai Lee". Other than that, I just cleaned up some grammar and punctuation.

Chapter 36: The Right Path

(Zuko POV)

My mind was wild with thoughts after I had gotten back to the apartment. Once I placed Crystal on my sleeping mat, and moved my thin blanket over her, I began to pace the room in first bewilderment and then heavy uncertainty. Everything had happened so fast, and I was just starting to gather the events that had passed.

That crazy guy Jet tried to expose my Uncle and I as firebenders, and we'd fought in the street. Then out of nowhere, Crystal jumped between us and managed to take Jet down before he caused serious harm to me. She was injured in the process, but watching her fight amazed me as I saw improvement in her bending since the last time I was with her. I knew immediately her sister had been training her.

Her sister…

If Crystal was here, then that could only mean her family and the Avatar were nearby. How near though? Were they in the Lower Ring? I doubted that… Being the Avatar probably bumped them up to the Upper Ring. If they were in the Upper Ring though, then was there a chance I could get to the Avatar?

The sound of Crystal shifting on the mat made me freeze in my pacing. Looking over at her, I dropped my hand from where I'd been clutching my hair in thought. Walking back over, I knelt down as quietly as I could and took in her unconscious appearance. Her hair was shorter than when I last saw her, but long enough for her to put up if she wanted to. Her skin was paler than I remembered, but I assumed that probably had to be due to exhaustion. I recalled the last thing she spoke to me after I managed to catch her from completely collapsing to the dirt.

I have to find Appa…

Appa… I'd heard the name before, but I struggled for a second to figure out what she meant. Then I understood as the image of a giant flying sky-bison came to my head. The Avatar's animal was named Appa. Why did Crystal have to find him?

Another question then came to my mind: Was Crystal walking through the Lower Ring all by herself? As I thought this, I saw then for the first time how worn down and beaten she looked. She had bags under her eyes, and she looked thinner than I remembered. How long had she been searching for the Avatar's sky-bison? What happened to her while we were apart?

The door to the apartment opened a good hour later, and Uncle stepped in with a heavy sigh. I was still on the floor, completely bewildered by the sudden turn of events.

"I'll be heading to work tomorrow…" Uncle began to speak. "The shop needs repairs made which will take a good day or two. I suppose you can have the day off. I spoke to the manager and he has permitted it since we probably won't have a lot of business due to the damage." Uncle walked over to me then, asking, "How is she? I managed to contact someone who said they could get a message to Crystal's family. I wrote that she's staying at an inn for the night… I don't want her family coming to look for her…"

I brushed a strand of hair from her face. "Why… Are you worried I'll try to capture the Avatar…?"

A moment of silence passed through the room. Uncle breathed in heavily, and then walked over to me. "We need to talk about that… Now that you know Crystal's family is here in Ba Sing Se, what do you plan to do, Prince Zuko? Are you really going to go after the Avatar, knowing it would break Crystal's heart?"

Shutting my eyes, I pulled from her and ran a hand through my hair in uncertainty. My heart ached as I was conflicted.

"You know you have to choose, Prince Zuko… You can't have both… Are you going to try to pursue the Avatar again, knowing if you do so you will lose Crystal in the process?"

My eyes shot back open, and I looked down at the sleeping beauty before me. As I stared down at her face, I felt torn between two things: Love and honor. Which did I want more?

"I'm going to get some rest so I can wake up in a few hours to make some tea for Crystal… In that time, I hope you can consider the proper path." Uncle walked away from me, and as he went his words lingered in my ears.

…the proper path…

My hand went up to the left side of my face, and I brushed my fingers against my scar in deep contemplation. As I did so, I thought about something my mother told me a long time ago.

"Honor is more than what your father says it is, Zuko… Even the strongest rulers of nations can be the most dishonorable characters. Your honor comes from here." My mother grabbed my eight-year-old hand and placed it against my chest. "Your honor comes from your heart… Don't ever let your father make you believe otherwise. Stay true to who you are, my young prince…"

My heart thudded in pain, and I looked back down at Crystal. Her necklace shined from the firelight as it rested on her collarbone. I carefully reached forward and picked up the crystal gem enough to inspect it. I smiled, glad to see she had kept it with her all this time. She'd held on to me, even though she had returned to her family.

Are you going to try to pursue the Avatar again, knowing if you do so you will lose Crystal in the process?

Uncle's words still rang inside me. As they did, I pictured myself choosing to go after the Avatar. I pictured the heartbreak and betrayal in Crystal's eyes. I pictured her never wanting to see me again…

I realized then what I should've told myself a long time ago…

I couldn't imagine living without Crystal… I couldn't bear the thought of her hating me… I didn't want to earn favor from my father and lose the one person who loved me in the process. I could recall the conversation I had with Crystal so long ago, right before we shared our first kiss.

"What do you know about love?"

Her deep blue eyes looked towards me with pity. "I know it's not something you'll find at home."

"Then where will I find it?! Surely not in the earth kingdom of all places! I haven't known love since my mother went missing! How could you possibly think I could find this love anywhere else besides home?!"

Tears started to fall from her eyes. The tears weren't because she was afraid. The tears were because she felt sorry for my pain. She cried out, "You already have it! If you would just open your eyes for one damn second you would see it right in front of you!"

"What are you talking about?!"

She stared deep into my eyes as she shouted back, "Me, you idiot! I love you!"

Love… My heart was warm at the thought of having someone who actually loved me for me. She didn't see me as a monster, or the son of a monster. She saw me as just Zuko, and I loved her for that…

The proper path… I knew the proper path… I just had to be brave enough to take it…

Crystal POV

A soft hand brushed through my hair repetitively, bringing me slowly back to my senses. My body felt heavy from exhaustion, and my head pounded in pain. The night before was a blur, but I could vaguely recall bits and pieces slowly.

I'd been searching for Appa… A shopkeeper… He told me he had seen Appa… He had seen Appa forced underground…

There was a fight too… A fight between Jet and Zuko… I had jumped in…

The Dai Li… They showed up too… They arrested Jet, and… and they had Appa!

My eyes opened wide and I gasped as light flooded into my vision blinding me. A sharp pain shot to the back of my skull where I'd hit the ground after Jet's attack, and I quickly shut my eyes again to stop the stabbing sensation. The hand brushing through my hair stopped, but I could still feel the soft touch on my skull.

"Crystal… Don't be so quick. You have a pretty nice sized bump on your head." Iroh's familiar voice soothed the ache along with the comforting touch still lingering on my head. Iroh's voice surprised and confused me: Why was I with Iroh?

"I've made some tea to help with the pain. You need to drink something…"

Opening my eyes slowly this time, I saw through blurred vision the dancing candlelight in the room. Blinking a few times to try and clear my sight, I slowly began to focus on the world around me. When I did, I saw Iroh kneeling beside me with a tray in his lap. On the tray was a cup of tea. The hand that had been brushing through my hair had pulled away, and I began to miss the calming touch.

"Iroh…?" My voice spoke softly. Everything was still hazy and felt like a dream, but I was aware that I was indeed not at the house in the Upper Ring. I'd passed out last night in Zuko's arms…

Sitting up slowly, I pressed my hand to my head pushing against my temple to try and soothe the pain. "How long have I…" I stopped though when realization hit me. I gasped as my heart gave a sharp thud.

"Appa!" I threw my hand down to the mat I was on, and tried to stand as my blood pounded through my ears. The movement was rushed and I was in a state of complete disarray. "I have to-"

Iroh grabbed my arm to stop and keep me down, ordering over my distress, "Calm down, Crystal. You're in no condition to get up so quickly." His touch quickly brought me back to my senses. My heart slowed in its pace, and I relaxed my body once more. Sitting back down on the mat, I breathed in to try and calm myself. My head pulsed from my previous rapid movement, and I returned my hand to my temple wincing from the sharp ache in my skull.

The smell of jasmine tea filled my nostrils as I tried to dull the pain. Opening my eyes again slowly, I saw a cup held out to me.

"Drink, Crystal… I put some herbs inside to help with the pain."

Looking at the cup in Iroh's hand, I glanced over at the man I hadn't seen in so long. The last time I'd been with Iroh, he had been struck by Azula's lightning. He looked well though, and he also looked happy to see me. As I took in his earth kingdom clothing and his healthy complexion, I gave a small smile. Taking the cup from him with a shaky hold, I took a sip and immediately enjoyed the taste. Iroh's tea was always so calming and refreshing.

"Zuko… Go grab the wet rag on the table. There's still a bit of swelling."

At the name Zuko, I felt my heart skip a beat. Everything had been in such a blur, I'd regretfully forgotten the other presence in the room. I looked over to see his figure walk over to a small table against the wall and grab a rag from the bowl on its center. He turned then, and our eyes met for what felt like the first time in a month. Soft golden orbs met my gaze, and I felt my heart warm at the familiar sight. He smiled with relief when he saw I was finally calm and fully aware, and walked back over to me with the rag in his hand.

"You're still getting into trouble I see," he said softly. Kneeling beside me, he carefully placed the rag on the back of my head. I grimaced as soon as pain shot through my skull, but after a second the pain dulled. "Jumping into battles that aren't your own."

Looking at him with relief, I said softly, "Look who's talking… You're the one getting into sword fights with lunatics..."

He smiled. "That guy was nothing… I was doing just fine…" He lowered the rag from my head, dropping it back in the bowl, and brushed a strand of hair from my face. "You shouldn't be so rash all the time though. You could seriously get hurt…" His thumb pressed to my cheekbone and traced the outline of my scar.

Placing my cup down on the floorboard beside me, I turned suddenly and threw my arms around Zuko's neck. He caught me quickly and hugged me around the waist, holding me to him tight as if he were terrified to let me go again. I pressed my face into his shirt, taking in his warmth for what felt like the first time in years. I had missed him more than I realized. We'd only been separated for a few weeks, but it had felt like a lifetime.

"I'll go brew some more tea," Iroh spoke, deciding to give the two of us privacy. I heard him leave, but didn't look as I kept close to Zuko in his arms.

"I was afraid I'd never see you again," I whispered, feeling tears build in my eye. "I missed you…"

He pressed his face into the top of my head, and his other hand gently pressed to the back of my skull. The pressure didn't hurt, but soothed the pain. "I missed you too."

"I'm so glad you and Iroh made it to Ba Sing Se in one piece."

"And I'm glad your okay…" He pulled away then, and looked down at me with question. "But what were you doing by yourself last night…? You shouldn't wander around Ba Sing Se so carelessly."

I smiled weakly. "I can take care of myself, Zuko… I know what I'm doing…"

He narrowed his eyes. "You can take care of yourself? You almost broke your skull last night."

I grimaced. "Well… I was doing just fine until then…"

"And what were you doing?"

His question made pain stab at my heart again. Scooting back from him, I looked down at my hands which I placed over my lap. I was kneeling at this point, so it was easy to avoid his gaze. My hair fell over my face as tears threatened to fall. His question brought back the guilt and pain that had been suppressed by our reunion.

"I'm looking for Appa…"

Zuko took in my words slowly. "The Avatar's pet, right?"

Nodding, I hung my head more.

"Why… Shouldn't he be the one looking for him?"

Shaking my head, I answered, "Appa's missing because of me… I have to find him. I promised Aang I would."

Zuko's hand grabbed my chin, and I was forced to meet his gaze. Question burned in his eyes. "What happened? The Avatar doesn't seem like the type to let his bison disappear on him."

Grabbing his hand, I lowered it from my face but held it tightly. As I did, I told him the story about the day I lost Appa. He listened attentively and was furious when he found out the sandbenders had dealt with me so harshly. When I told him how hard I fought, and how easily I failed, his eyes softened into both understanding and reassurance.

"Crys… It wasn't your fault… Those thieves outnumbered you. You didn't have a chance."

I felt tears fall down my cheeks. "Appa was depending on me, Zuko… I let him down. I have to find him. I have to save him."

"If what you say is true, and the Dai Li does happen to have the bison, getting him back will be dangerous. You could get yourself killed, or imprisoned… From what I understand, the Dai Li are a corruptive batch of officials. Refugees are warned to steer clear of them."

"I don't care… He needs me."

Zuko went to argue again, but when he saw the despair in my eyes he let out a heavy sigh. "Fine… I'll help you…"

I was surprised. "Yo-you will?"

He nodded. "I don't like the idea of you going up against the Dai Li alone… Of course we need to figure out where they are holding the Avatar's pet. I assume it would be somewhere hidden if they do have him."

I couldn't help but feel a small hint of suspicion at his true motives. I stared at him for a moment, taking in his expression as he pondered over something in his head. My heart wanted to trust him, but I also knew he was set on restoring his honor.

"Zuko… I have to ask you this… It's not because I don't want to trust you, but that I have to think about the others… Why do you want to help me? Is it so you can get to the Avatar…?"

He wasn't surprised by my question. He frowned though in confliction and looked down at the floor crossing his arms. "I'm not sure…"

Running a hand through my hair, I softly said, "I can't let you help me unless you promise to leave Aang alone… You have to understand, Aang is my friend… a brother actually... I can't see him get hurt…"

Silence fell between the both of us. I looked down at his hands which were fists on the floorboards. He relaxed though, and his fists opened. He reached forward and brushed his thumb against my cheek, gazing into my eyes intently. "I know what I want… And the Avatar isn't it…"

His words made my heart melt and I smiled so glad to hear his words. I felt his sincerity. Even though I wasn't a hundred percent certain I could trust him to the end, I knew he wouldn't want to do something that would hurt me. My hand went over his as he rested it against my face. "I believe you…"

Some time later I composed a letter to my family with the help of Zuko. I could read pretty well since Zuko and Iroh had taught me, but writing was not my strong suit. After five sheets of splattered ink and horrible writing, I had a semi-decent letter for my family.

I won't be back for a few days. Found information on Appa, and don't want to stop my search. Don't worry about me. I am being taken care of. Continue trying to contact the Earth King. I'll see you all soon. Love Crys.

Once my letter was composed, I sought out a messenger to have it delivered for me. While I did so, Zuko analyzed some maps of Ba Sing Se to try and find possible areas where Appa may be. Iroh pulled me aside when I got back from delivering my message, and told me to keep an eye on Zuko. "He's conflicted right now… I'm not sure what he will do if you two really do find the bison."

I nodded with a grimace. "I worry about the same thing Iroh… But I want to trust him…"

He smiled weakly, placing a fatherly palm on my shoulder. "I want to as well."

Getting back into the small apartment that Iroh and Zuko were living in, I approached Zuko who was packing a bag with food and supplies. Walking over to the table he stood by, I looked down at the map where he'd made markings with dots of ink. "I say we start in the agrarian zone. That will take us a few days to look through. There's a zoo in the zone I thought we could head to today. They have large animals, so they may be keeping Appa there."

I was surprised. I hadn't been informed that Ba Sing Se had a zoo. I nodded surveying the map.

"Alright you two," Iroh spoke, coming inside. "I'm going to head to the shop and start cleaning up the place. Be careful on your search."

Looking back at Iroh, I saw him meet my eyes and smile with encouragement. I smiled back, having missed his face the weeks we'd been apart.

"Come on… We should head out before it gets too late," Zuko commented. He slung his bag over his shoulder, and then began to head towards the door. I felt my heart warm at the thought of getting to be with Zuko again. I'd missed him…

As Zuko and I walked through the town to the tram that would carry us to the agrarian zone, we both discussed what had happened over the time we'd been apart. Zuko was bewildered when I told him about his sister almost breaking into the city of Ba Sing Se. The city had kept the drill and everything else war related from the ears of the people.

Zuko told me about his confrontation with two men who were trying to collect a bounty off of him and his uncle. He then informed me that Iroh was part of some secret organization of old people. These people helped Iroh and him escape from the two bounty hunters by hiding them in flower pots. I laughed and shook my head in disbelief.

"Did you smell good afterward?"

Zuko rolled his eyes. "I wish… Afterward, we were refugees waiting for passage into Ba Sing Se. That's when I met that crazy guy Jet. He saw Uncle firebend his tea and was on our tail ever since."

I sighed. "Yeah… My family ran into him before. He's blinded by rage…"

"I can see that…" Zuko fell silent for a moment. His hand suddenly slipped into my own, and I smiled at his familiar touch. "You shouldn't have jumped in like that the other day..."

I glanced over at him with a smirk. "If I can take on your sister, I can definitely take on some dude with swords."

He squeezed my hand, but my words did calm him. "I know you can... I just don't want you to get hurt."

My heart fluttered and I blushed. I had missed him so much. His hand in my own felt so right.

Eventually we arrived at the zoo of Ba Sing Se and began our search. As we looked around the pens, I knew immediately Appa wasn't there. The Dai Li wouldn't put him in a zoo where he could be seen. Zuko questioned one of the workers at the Zoo, who just laughed and told him the animal he was looking for was extinct. I scowled and told the man that he obviously hadn't heard about the Avatar and his sky-bison. The man was stunned by my irritation, while Zuko grabbed my forearm and pulled me away.

As we left the zoo, Zuko seemed silent to his thoughts for a moment. Then he spoke. "You're different…"

His words surprised me. Looking over at him, I asked what he meant.

"You're stronger… Braver…"

I blushed, looking down at the dirt. "I guess getting stranded in the dessert can do that to you… Plus, I'm determined to do what I can to save Appa…"

"We're going to find him," Zuko promised. "He has to be somewhere in this city…"

Letting out a heavy sigh, I shut my eyes. "I just hope we find him soon… I hate the thought of him being alone…"

Another day passed, and I knew my family would be worried about me. I couldn't give up though. I had to keep looking. Zuko was expected to return to work for the night, so after a few hours of searching he left me at the apartment to go to the tea shop. While he was gone, I scanned over the map with dismay. It felt like we'd searched miles of the agrarian zone and found nothing. We'd walked by a giant lake, around numerous mounds, and past tons of farms and there still was no sign of the giant furry bison I knew so well.

After staring at a map for what felt like forever, I decided to go get some air. Leaving the building, I headed in a random direction through the streets. As I did so, I noticed there were more people than usual wandering around. I asked an elderly woman seated on a wooden bench what was happening. She answered that it was the festival they held every year in honor of the late king of Ba Sing Se.

Deciding to check it out, I walked through the crowded streets and saw stalls were set up and children were running around with excitement. A few shopkeepers tried to get me to buy their goods, and I kindly refused telling them I had no money. The sun set some more, and the streets filled with light from lanterns. Children lit firecrackers and shrieked with delight, while their parents walked behind them conversing.

Feeling overwhelmed by the scene around me, I maneuvered through the bodies of people and managed to find myself at a cracked fountain where water rippled inside. Sitting on the side of the fountain, I let out a heavy sigh as I heard the music of the drums and tsungi horn played in the background. Looking down at the dark water, I lifted some up into the air and pulled it in front of me. Swirling the water between my hands, I smiled as I practiced freezing and unfreezing the particles, enjoying the feeling of being able to bend again. I could remember when I was young, and I used to watch Katara waterbend. I always envied her abilities and wanted to be like her. She was so strong compared to me… I wanted to be strong like her. I would keep practicing to make her proud.

"So this is where you ran off to," a voice spoke from beside me. Stratled, I dropped my water on the ground and looked over to see Zuko approach. He stepped over to me, and then sat down with a deep sigh. "I went back to the apartment… I guessed you were out here somewhere."

I nodded. "Yeah… I needed some air. I got side tracked with the festivities." After a pause, I asked, "How was work?"

He shrugged. "Not exciting… People are still treating me like a common servant boy… One girl keeps stalking me too. Makes me want to stay back in the kitchen with Uncle… The shopkeeper likes having me around though. He said he's never had so many lovely customers before."

I grimaced. "Well… You are handsome… Any girl would think so…"

He glanced over at me, and then gave a small smile. "Don't worry… You're the only girl I have my sights on."

His words made me think back to the dark haired chick with the knives. "What about that girl… Mai, right? She's from your childhood isn't she?"

My question lingered for a minute. Then Zuko took my hand in his. "Mai was my crush when I was six. We've both grown up a lot over the years though… I don't feel anything for her. And she only liked me because I was a prince. If she saw me now, she'd brush me aside."

Mai's cold expression lingered in my head. "I don't know about that… When I ran into her over a week ago, she seemed pretty upset that I stole you from her."

He smiled. "Mai's always upset." He looked over at me with sincerity. "Don't worry. I'd rather be with someone who can make me smile…" He leaned towards me, and his other hand cupped my cheek. "Someone who makes me feel alive and loved."

My heart thudded, and my face grew hot from his touch. The lanterns around us glowed creating a calm and peaceful scene. As Zuko closed the distance between us, I felt his warm lips brush against my own softly. Then he brought me closer and deepened the kiss sliding his hand back behind my head and tangling his fingers in my hair. The sound of the festival faded away as I lost myself to Zuko's familiar touch.

Sometime passed, and Zuko and I were enjoying the night air together. As we returned to the festivities, Zuko purchased rock candy for the both of us and we let ourselves enjoy some of the entertainment. We watched a man juggle knives, listened to a woman sing a traditional Earth Kingdom tune, and saw an earthbender mold rocks into exciting shapes.

"I've missed this," I spoke, leaning against him as we stood before the entertainer who was now crafting a rock into a strange looking fish. "I've missed being with you."

He nodded, pulling me closer to his side by my waist. "It was pretty boring without you… You keep things interesting when you're around."

After a moment of thought, I asked softly, "Do you… Do you still want to go home? Do you still want to restore your honor even after everything that's happened to you?"

Silence fell between us for a moment as Zuko thought it over. Finally, he let out a deep sigh and spoke honestly. "I don't know… There's always going to be that part of me that misses being in the Fire Nation and in the palace. Royalty is in my blood… But I also don't mind being away from my father and the strict order of the palace. I feel like I can be myself out here…" He pulled away from me and ran a hand through his hair. "I miss being at home though… I feel like I'm torn between two paths, and I don't know which one to take."

I frowned, crossing my arms for comfort. "I'm sorry… I know this must be hard for you. I can't imagine not being able to go home after so many years. You had to leave your whole life behind to go search endlessly for a person trapped for a hundred years in an iceberg…"

He shook his head. "That part still baffles me… The Avatar is truly one of a kind…"

"Yeah… He's a good kid." I turned and placed my hand on his arm. "This is going to sound crazy," I began, my voice catching slightly as I told Zuko the one thing I desire more than anything. "…I have a thought… Join me and the others… Help us end the war and restore peace. I know you want this war to stop as much as the rest of us. My family, Toph, and Aang would take a little persuading, but I know once they see the real you they'll be happy to have you join us. Iroh too… We could stay together and not have to part again. We'll find Appa and return him to the others together… Then they'll see how kind and caring you are…"

Zuko turned and brushed his thumb across my face which had a tear fall unknowingly. "Crys… I want to be with you… But I also know the Avatar and your family will never allow that. They hate me, and I don't blame them. After everything I've done to them, I could never earn their trust."

"You're wrong… My family are more understanding than you know… They will listen, and so will Aang and Toph. You just have to give them a chance."

He leaned forward and pressed his forehead to my own. Shutting his eyes for a moment, he breathed in slowly and then his shoulders slumped in defeat. Pulling away, he pushed a lock of hair behind my ear. "Let's find the sky-bison first… Then I promise you I'll think about it…"

Knowing there was nothing else I could say to persuade him, I nodded and put my arms around him. He hugged me to his body stroking my hair. After embracing for a good minute, he pulled away and kissed me tenderly on the forehead. Pulling apart, he rubbed the back of his neck having a blush on his cheeks.

"Um… I'm going to go see if they have more rock candy… I'll be back."

I gave a small smile. "Okay. I'll wait here."

He nodded and headed off into the crowd. As he disappeared amongst the people, I turned and watched a man weave a basket out of bark absentmindedly. Thoughts ran through my head as I recalled all I'd just spoken to Zuko. I wanted us to be together, and on the same side of the war. I knew such a dream was harder than it sounded though. Shutting my eyes, I sighed heavily wishing life wasn't so complicated.

As my thoughts distracted me, I didn't notice the figure approaching from behind. A hand suddenly grabbed my shoulder, and jerked me back slightly. I went rigid at the unfamiliar touch. A cold voice hissed in my ear, "Finally we're alone… You've been causing a lot of trouble lately searching for this bison, girl… Either you end your quest, or the Dai Li will end it for you."

I felt my body tremble, but jerked from his grasp and turned to see the intruder. A man in a black and green robe stood before me, his hair tied back and his gray eyes piercing into my soul. He was tall and stood firm, looking like a government official of some kind.

Staring at him for a moment, realization quickly came to me. "You- you're a part of the Dai Li, aren't you?" My question came out with venom as I immediately disliked the man before me. "You're one of the people that took Appa!"

He held a straight face. "Well, well… I see your research has paid off. Clearly you are wiser than I pegged you to be. Yes. My name is Long Feng, and I am Grand Secretariat of Ba Sing Se… Your family has already met me during one of their own foolish acts." He placed his hands behind his back. "Unfortunately, I'm afraid you know too much. I'm going to have to take you into my custody until the Avatar and his friends agree to leave the city. I can't have you telling them about the Dai Li's involvement with the sky-bison."

I stepped back, feeling my blood run cold. "What? You can't do that… Not in front of all of these people. I've done nothing to deserve such treatment!"

He sneered. "Silence before you cause a scene! And actually, I can. Because if you don't come with me willingly, I will see to it that the Avatar never sees his bison again. That creature is locked up where I have easy access to him. You refuse to come with me, and I will kill the beast."

My eyes widened in terror.

He smiled deviously with satisfaction. "I see I've gotten your attention. Don't worry though… I'll let you see your furry friend once we get to where we'll be keeping you. I'm generous, so I'll lock you in the cell with him. Hopefully that will shut the beast up from all his noise."

Looking around, I prayed Zuko would return but knew luck wasn't on my side. As I debated my options, I searched for water but saw nothing within reach. Long Feng had most likely been following me for some time, but decided not to approach me when I was back at the fountain. He knew I was defenseless at the moment.

"What is your decision?"

Looking at the heartless man before me, the only thought going through my head at the moment was Appa's safety. I knew what I had to do… I was scared though… I'd been prisoner before, but I had no clue who these Dai Li people were. I dreaded the thought of not being able to escape once I was their prisoner.

I felt tears burn my eyes and I grit my teeth. "What will you tell my family when they begin to worry about me?"

He smirked. "Simple… You and some boy with a scar met in the lower ring and decided to leave the city together. I'm well aware of your feelings for that boy you've been with all night. I know he's the Fire Lord's son, and I know about your relationship with him. You can thank your friend Jet for that information."

I growled. My hand tightened into a fist, but I knew I couldn't lash at him.

"Shall we go…? Or should I prepare the grill for sky-bison filet?"

Tears escaped me. Rage flooded through me. However, I let out a heavy breath and released my fist. Hanging my head in defeat, I said softly, "Okay… Don't hurt him… I'll do whatever you want… Just leave Appa alone."

He grabbed my forearm and began to pull me roughly through the crowd. "Good. I'm glad we've reached an agreement." As he tugged me along, I caught the eye of a woman who was holding the hand of a young boy. She watched me pass with worry, and I wanted so terribly to give her a message. Long Feng jerked me harshly though, snapping at me to keep up. In defeat, I quickened my step trying to form a plan but drawing a blank in that moment.

I didn't know what to do…

But at least I would see Appa...

Zuko POV

I couldn't help but be distracted as I handed over the money to the man before me. Taking the small bag of rock candy, I turned and started to walk through the crowd in thought. My heart ached as I struggled with everything Crystal had spoken to me.

Join the Avatar? Help stop the war? Crystal had just tried to convince me to completely change sides and fight against my father. I was troubled as two paths stood before me. I could either capture the Avatar and return to the life I'd known for so long, or I could betray my father and stay with the woman I loved knowing it would make me into a traitor but I would be happy.

I was terrified of choosing the wrong path, knowing either one would cause me to lose something I cared about. I had to decide which one I wanted the most.

As I returned to the place I had left Crystal, I stopped at the basket weaver and looked around the crowd. However, my gut twisted when I didn't see the person I'd left behind. As I looked around with concern, I saw the crowd had begun to shrink as the night grew later.

"I'm telling you!" A desperate woman cried suddenly from behind. "The poor child was being dragged off! You have to do something!"

"Miss…" Another woman spoke firmly. "Calm down. I'm sure it was just a father and his daughter. You saw wrong."

"No! I saw a Dai Li official drag her off!"

"If it was the Dai Li, then it was for a reason. I'm sure she'll be fine. She was probably a runaway or something. No need to fret, miss."

My eyes shot over to a female guard who was trying to calm down a woman holding a young boy in her arms. She seemed frustrated as she tried to talk sense to the older woman in uniform.

"I'm not crazy! Something is going on here! That girl looked terrified! She's a girl with a scar! She was wearing blue clothing! You have to find and help her!"

Without another thought, I dropped my rock candy causing it to splatter across the dirt and rushed over to the woman who was begging the guard for assistance. Grabbing the woman's shoulder, I asked in a panic, "The girl with the scar? Was it on her face?"

She was startled by my interruption but nodded. "Yes. She was standing near me when the man approached her. I watched from a distance. I was worried something was off. She was dragged away by the man."

I felt horror fill me. "Which way did they go?!"

She quickly pointed down the road. "That way! You may be able to catch up if you hurry."

Turning on my heel, I raced in the direction she gestured towards. The female guard called after me in question. Ignoring her, I raced through the crowd searching wildly for the one person I didn't want to lose again. I shouldn't have left her alone!

As I rushed through the streets looking for the one person I cared about more than anything, I knew as the streets grew emptier and darker that my search would be futile. If a Dai Li official did take her, he probably had transportation ready.

What did the Dai Li want with her though?

After running for what felt like hours, I finally stopped to catch my breath against a building. Trying to cool off, I felt my racing heart calm down. I knew I needed to come up with another strategy. I was wasting time running around in such a panic. I needed to get back to the apartment and tell Uncle what was going on. He'd know what to do.

Shutting my eyes tight, I breathed in and out trying to calm my worry. However, the only thing going through my mind was that Crystal was being dragged to who knows where by some crazy government official. If what the woman said was true, I had no clue what was going to happen to Crystal.

I had to find her. And fast.

Crystal POV

"Get in!" Long Feng shoved me towards a hole that he'd just bent into the stone dock that had water on both sides. My hands were cuffed behind me so I couldn't bend, and my eyes had just been uncovered by the blindfold Long Feng's henchman managed to get on me. The other Dai Li man who had been waiting with the carriage as Long Feng retrieved me from the festival, managed to tie cloth around my eyes so I couldn't see where we were going. Now as I looked at the dark water before me, I had a strong assumption we were somewhere at the lake of Ba Sing Se. We hadn't traveled long enough in the bumpy carriage to be anywhere else.

"How do I know your buddy will really catch me? I don't want broken legs!"

"You will not be harmed. I've already assured you of that." He shoved me some more, and I found myself right at the hole looking down into darkness. The moon above did little to light the unknown realm below.

Taking in a heavy breath, I looked back up at the moon saying a small prayer, and then lowered down so that I was sitting on the stone and my legs dangled in the hole. Cold air flowed below me from the tunnels that ran under the lake. Scooting forward, I shut my eyes and dropped into the hole. I fell a good fifteen feet, and was caught by the Dai Li man below. He held me at the waist to support me from falling to the ground from my descent. Once I was safe from breaking my nose, the man pulled me up straight. As he did, I found myself in a hallway with stone walls and green glowing crystals. The man pulled me to the side, and a moment later Long Feng dropped beside us. Once he steadied himself, he grabbed my forearm and pulled me along.

It took me a moment for my vision to clear up, but when I could finally see I wished I was still blind. As our passage sloped down for a bit and then evened out, I was finally pulled into the main hall. I found a whole group of Dai Li men walking up and down the corridor. The ceiling was high above us, and the hall stretched on for what felt like miles. As we walked on through the secret chambers of the Dai Li, I saw numerous wooden doors that led into different rooms. One door was open, and I saw a group of women inside staring off into blank space.

"BA SING SE IS A SAFE PLACE. SPEAKING OF THE WAR IS A CRIME AND PUNISHABLE."

The women all chanted at the exact same time. I gasped and jerked from Long Feng to hold my place and watch the woman. The other man rushed to the door and shut it so I could no longer see in.

Shooting my eyes to Long Feng, I cried, "What have you done to those women?!"

He sneered. "That does not concern you." He grabbed my forearm again and jerked me along. "Don't you want to see your friend. Keep moving or I'll change my mind and lock you in another cell."

I felt my blood go cold as I walked away from the room behind me. Brainwash… It was definitely brainwash… That must've been what happened to Joo Dee. She was arrested or hired by the Dai Li, only to be brainwashed into service.

"Does the Earth King know about your evil acts?"

My words hung in the air for a moment as I was dragged behind the man who held a harsh grip on my arm.

He finally answered. "No. And I will ensure he never does."

"You're controlling the Earth King, aren't you? You're conspiring against him… You and your men are as villainous as the Fire Nation…"

The man stopped and suddenly shoved me against the wall beside us. I cringed as he pressed me to the stone with rage. His eyes were narrowed and glowed in the crystal light. "You will bite your tongue, or I will gag you!"

I scowled. My eyes burned with tears. "You're supposed to care about Ba Sing Se, but you're only digging their own grave by not allowing Aang to see the King!"

"That royal oaf knows nothing about running a kingdom or stopping a war." Long Feng cooled off and pulled me from the wall. He held firm to my arm though forcing me to look into his gaze. "I am doing this city justice by controlling that man with my council. You have not met him. He is no king. He is only an imbecile!" He inched towards me. "One more word out of you, and this walk will end quickly."

I shut my mouth and grit my teeth. Rage filled me, but I kept silent not wanting to ruin my chance of seeing Appa. I understood what was happening finally though. Long Feng wanted to control the city. He was making the King more of a figurehead, while he maintained militaristic control. The Dai Li were the true government officials, and others were their puppets. The Earth Kingdom guards were all for show.

Eventually we went through another hall, down some stairs, around a corner, and towards a large wooden door. The other Dai Li agent with us walked towards the door and undid the latch. Pulling the door open, the Dai Li agent stepped aside to let us pass. As soon as the path was clear, I was shoved forward into the room before me.

As I stepped through the opening, I found myself in a large room with hay piled all around. A large trough for water was set to the side of the room. Chains clinked, and a groan was heard in the corner of the room. A very familiar groan.

Shooting my eyes to the corner of the large room where streams of light flooded in from small holes in the ceiling above, I saw the very friend I feared I would never see again. Jerking from Long Feng's grasp without another thought, I rushed over to the giant sky-bison I'd failed to save so long ago.

"APPA!"

He had been cowering in the corner of the room with his eyes shut, but when he heard my voice he opened his large eyes and looked towards me. He had large metal cuffs locked around each of his six ankles. The cuffs were connected to chains that attached to the floor of the room. He let out a lighthearted groan, and stepped forward to meet me. My hands were still cuffed behind me, but I was able to rush to him and press myself into the fur of his neck. His every burden and fear seemed to lessen as he was finally with a familiar friend.

Tears fell down my cheeks and Appa's fur soaked them up as we were reunited at last. "I'm so sorry, Appa… I tried so hard to save you… I'm going to get us out of here. I promise…" I spoke soft enough so that only Appa could hear me.

"Enjoy your time with the bison," Long Feng commented from across the room. "You two will be with one another for a very long time." Looking back, I watched as the man turned and headed to the doorway. The other Dai Li agent had not entered, but stood on the other side waiting to lock us in.

"The Avatar will stop you! He'll figure out where I am and come save us!"

He stopped right before he left, and looked back at me with composure. "So you think... I already have a plan to make your friends leave the city. Your pal Jet has been sent on his mission. Your friends will be gone before you know it, and you will continue to be locked here for treason."

"Treason!" My blood boiled. "I have done nothing!"

He smirked. "I'm sure an official government document signed by me will cover that truth pretty well."

As soon as Long Feng stepped out of the room, the door shut behind him and the latch was drawn. Appa and I were alone. I stared at the door in disbelief and rage. Narrowing my eyes, I shouted, "You won't win, Long Feng! Aang will find us! He won't give up until he has Appa again!"

The echo of my voice was the only response as Appa nudged me with his nose in reassurance. Turning towards him, I met his gaze with agony. "Don't worry Appa… I won't give up until we're both free… Zuko is probably looking for me already. We'll be out of here in no time. I promise I won't let you down again…"

Appa groaned and nudged me with his nose to let me know he didn't blame me. His kind gesture made me relax and restored my hope.