Disclaimer: All rights belong to Nickelodeon, Bryan Konietzko, Michael Dante DiMartino, and all the men and women that created the A:TLA show, books, and comics. I take no credit, and I do not mean to break any copyright rules. This is simply a work of fiction made for enjoyment. No money is being made. The lyrics are from the song "Neptune" by Sleeping At Last

Rating: General Audiences. Warning: some scenes contain dark themes and minor violence

Author's Note: sorry

Chapter 16 - Choices: Part 2

I'm only honest when it rains

If I time it right, the thunder breaks

When I open my mouth

I want to tell you but I don't know how

An open book with a torn out page

And my ink runs out

I want to love you but I don't know how

I don't know how

"So now that you're the Avatar, what element are you going to master next?"

Zuko and Katara are facing each other off during training. Katara takes a step back, twists her arms to summon a stream of water, and then creates a water whip to smack at him He evaporates the water with a ribbon of fire.

"Avatar Saura said the next one in the cycle is earth." Katara creates a wall of ice in front of her to block a fireball.

"Too bad it's not fire," Zuko replies, throwing a wave of it her way. "I happen to be considered quite good at it."

Katara moves out of the way and launches a counterattack. "You're okay," she agrees, a hint of a smile on her face.

They continue sparring for a few more minutes. Zuko can't help but think about how much he's going to miss this. Iroh is a great Firebender, but he only uses his abilities when he absolutely needs to. The handful of other Firebenders aboard the ship are no match for him. And even if they were, it's nice to practice against someone with a different element.

Zuko wonders how much his Firebending has improved since practicing with Katara. Probably not enough to beat his sister, but maybe enough to hold his own for a while.

Zuko catches sight of something approaching from behind Katara. He lowers his hands in surprise and gets knocked to his feet by a wave of water.

"Start daydreaming?" Katara teases, offering him a hand.

He takes it and climbs to his feet. "No. Messenger falcon." He points to the dark bird swooping down. "It's a fast way of sending messages in the Fire Nation."

She follows his gaze. "Who would send you a message?"

"I don't know." Zuko holds out his arm and the falcon lands lightly. He uses his other hand to untie the ribbon and detach the scroll.

A crewmember comes and takes the bird. Zuko turns the scroll over and sees the royal seal imbedded in the red wax.

"It's from my sister," he says, not even hiding his surprise.

"How do you know?" Katara stands next to him to get a better look.

"Royal seal. It's not my father. He never sends messages. And it's not Iroh. The only other member of the royal family is Azula."

"That's nice of her to send you a note. Has she kept in touch over the years?"

Zuko knows Katara has never met Azula, but he can't help but feel annoyance at her naivety. He's told her that his entire family is crazy more than once.

"It's not nice. Azula and I haven't been close since we were little kids. And she never has sent a message to me before."

"So why would she send one now?"

Zuko wordlessly breaks the seal and rolls out the scroll.

Zuzu,

I have some information you may be interested in hearing. I'll meet you on your ship the day after you receive this.

-A

He rolls the scroll back up, trying to hide how his hands are shaking.

"Zuzu?" Katara grins. "Is that your nickname?"

"I hate it. She knows I hate it."

"All siblings do annoying things. It's a sign of love."

He turns sharply. "Do most siblings smirk when their father burns off half of their brother's face?"

Katara is silent. He knows he's being a jerk right now, but he's stressed beyond measure. He spent yesterday trying to decide whether or not to abandon his destiny, and now he hears that his sister is making a surprise appearance? And what does she think is so important to tell him that she'd track him down? Azula isn't a messenger. She doesn't make pointless trips.

A part of him can't help but feel like her visit is a sign from fate that he made the wrong decision concerning Katara. What is he supposed to tell Azula? He can't lie to her; he's a horrible liar and she'll read right through him.

And what is he supposed to tell Katara?

"I need to speak with my uncle," he tells her. She nods.

Zuko finds his uncle making a fresh kettle of tea in the galley.

"We need to talk," he says.

Iroh motions to the table. "Sit. We can chat over a cup of tea."

"I don't want tea. I want to talk."

"All in due time, young Zuko."

He sits down with a huff. He knows he can't change Iroh's mind about anything. Especially not when tea is involved.

A few minutes later, Iroh sets a steaming cup on a saucer in front of him. "Jasmine tea. It has many health benefits."

He takes a seat opposite Zuko. "Now, what it so important that it could not wait?"

Zuko hands him the scroll. Iroh reads is silently. He sighs quietly.

"This is not good news, Zuko. Your sister has never done something that didn't benefit her."

"I know. And she's coming tomorrow. What am I supposed to do?"

"Perhaps she has come to tell you that your father has changed his mind. Maybe he thinks you've served out your punishment long enough."

"You know that's as unlikely as well as I do." Zuko stares into the cup of tea. "I just can't figure out why she's coming."

"It is a mystery," Iroh agrees.

"I can't help but feel like it's a sign from the universe telling me I'm making the wrong choice to just let Katara go. Why else would this news come immediately after I decide to give up on my destiny?"

"I do not think it's a sign from the universe. Some coincidences are just coincidences."

Zuko stirs his tea aggressively. "You're just saying that because you don't want me to change my mind about Katara."

"I may have my own motives. But it's important to keep in mind."

Why? He wants to ask the universe. Why this? First you let me find and get attached to Katara. Then you told me she was the Avatar and I had to decide what to do. Now you're telling me my sister is coming and I'm doubting everything I spent so long thinking about. Why can't you leave me in peace?

The truth is, Zuko doesn't want to see his sister tomorrow. Either he has to lie and say that he hasn't found the Avatar, which she'll mock him for ("It's been over two years, Zuzu. Is it really that hard to find and capture a hundred year old? Or are you just as incompetent as father always thought?") or he has to betray Katara and lock her up so he has something to show to Azula ("Wow. You actually did it. I'm surprised, brother. Maybe you're not so helpless after all.")

Neither option is attractive to him.

"Life has never been fair to me," he states, pushing away the tea saucer.

"It's why you've become so strong. A sword cannot be forged without heat and pressure."

"Azula is strong. She's always had everything handed to her on a gold platter."

"Azula has the appearance of strength. It is not the same thing as having strength. The day will come when it all falls apart." Iroh takes a long sip of his tea. "You should really try it, Zuko. It's quite good."

Zuko takes his cup and drinks it, not because he wants to but because he doesn't want to look his uncle in the eyes. He disagrees with his uncle about Azula. His sister is the strongest person he knows other than his father. Nothing ever fazes her. Nothing ever stops her.

Some people are born strong, he thinks. And some people must work for strength. He's spent his entire life working for the strength that comes so naturally to his sister.

If his sister were in his place, what would she do? Zuko has no doubt about the answer. He just wonders if he has the strength to do the same.

Zuko can feel his hands shaking as he walks out on deck that night. The crewmembers are right where he'd knew they be. Iroh has already retired to his room. Everything is perfect.

And everything is wrong.

Katara is standing on the railing, looking up at the stars. Zuko walks over and joins her.

"It's really beautiful out tonight," she says. "I love how brightly the stars are shining."

He follows her gaze up to the heavens. He remembers her telling him about the legend of the bears. The mother bear, who searched for her cub until she died. The cub, who was never found. And the two immortalized in the stars, their struggle to continue on for eternity.

Zuko can oddly relate. He feels like in life he's constantly searching for something that he'll never find. He doesn't want to be stuck in the cycle forever. He wants to find what he's searching for.

Only problem is, he doesn't know exactly what he's searching for. What if he's already found it and doesn't even realize it?

He looks over at Katara. She looks more beautiful tonight than she ever has before. The slight breeze is blowing her wavy hair back. Her blue eyes have taken on an ethereal glow in the moonlight as she looks up in awe.

"We're so little. So insignificant compared to the stars." She looks over at him. "And yet the universe has chosen to give us grand destinies. We're important." She turns back to the stars. "Sometimes I imagine my parents are up there, looking down at me."

"They'd be proud of you for being the Avatar."

She smiles. "I know."

He feels so guilty. He's never felt so horrible before. He's done some questionable things in his life, but he's never felt such a heavy weight on his soul before.

It's best to get it over with quickly.

"I wish I could ignore my destiny," he says. "And I wish I could have faith that there are other ways to fulfill it without completing my mission. But every sign the universe has sent has shown me that this is the only way."

She frowns. "What do you mean?"

"I have to complete my mission, Katara. I wish more than anything that it didn't have to happen this way. I wish it wasn't you."

"Wish what wasn't me? Zuko, I don't understand what you're talking about."

"I have a duty to my people. I can't ignore it because of how I feel about you."

"Zuko, what - "

Before he can talk himself out of it, he steps behind her and secures her hands behind her back in one smooth motion. She doesn't even resist. His soldiers see his cue and approach, surrounding her. As he hands her off, he makes the mistake of making eye contact.

She looks so confused. Her eyes stare up at him, pleading for answers, for an explanation.

"The mission my father assigned me was to capture the Avatar. You're the only thing that stands between him and his goals."

The confusion morphs into anger and betrayal. He can't watch but he also can't seem to look away. This is the consequence he must pay for finally getting his hands on the thing he's been searching for.

"Why?" she asks, her voice cracking. "I thought you'd changed."

"I have to regain my honor."

"You never lost your honor, Zuko. Not until now."

Something inside of him hardens. He waves at the soldiers to take her away as he turns his back. He can hear her struggling, but her fight is futile. Just like Zuko's fight against his destiny.

He tried to escape his fate, but what can one person do against the universe?

End BOOK ONE. To Be Continued in BOOK TWO: The Prodigal Prince