I don not own Miraculous or Avatar.

Chapter Nineteen. The White Lotus.

Gabriel Agreste felt Ladybug was happy now. So far, she had proven to be quite brave and apparently felt love for both aspects of his son. Though she was his mortal enemy, he knew she would do anything to protect her friends. His son was apparently a friend to her in both forms. That ment she would certainly keep Adrien safe in the war torn world they'd found themselves in. Because of these things, Gabriel silently approved of Ladybug being in love with his son. Sitting there now, overseeing the apparent love square the duo had found themselves in using assumptions he made based on their various emotions, Gabriel was actually surprised it had taken this long for Ladybug to resolve and reveal herself to her partner. It was so obvious that it was annoying.

If only the butterfly could let him see Ladybug and not just sense her. He considered using the Butterfly on someone she he could get a look at her without the mask, but decided it was unnecessary when he realised Ladybug and her team seemed to actually be coming towards the Misty Palms Oasis. He could learn who she was when she got in that area. Until then, he recalled his Guāng Papillon. After all, he needed the butterfly to track down his son's location next. He sensed Adrien was somewhere beyond the Desert. Perhaps inside the big city of Ba Sing Se itself. However, Gabriel had no idea were Adrien was, but the Guāng could track his positive emotions.

The problem was, he was more terrified of Adrien spotting his Guāng and mistaking it for an Akuma than he was of Ladybug seeing the butterfly. If he really wanted his plans to work out, he couldn't let Adrien know he was in that world until he and Ladybug where together. Considering they would be his ride home and all that… he had to approach the two-some properly in a manner that would make them feel less threatened. They seemed more relaxed when together and they both seemed to think clearer when around each other too. It was for those reasons Gabriel had thought to try and separate them in the first place. Now, he had to bring them back together. He really didn't want to.

In a perfect world, Emilie would still have been around. Adrien and him would have been closer. He wouldn't have lost himself over his obsession with the Miraculous. Ladybug and Cat Noir wouldn't have ever needed to exist. His son would have never fallen in love with his enemy. Adrien would be happy and safe. Even safe enough to go to school like he wanted. But the universe was obviously not perfect. Emilie was gone. Adrien was a mystery to him. He had lost himself. Ladybug and Cat Noir did exist. His son was in love with Ladybug. Adrien was never safe. It was beyond frustrating.

"Well, you can't change the world if it was already perfect." Gabriel muttered. He willed the Guāng to switch targets before standing up to go back to work in the flower shop. He transformed back and opened his bedroom door. To his surprise he heard low voices talking in the main part of the shop. Yung and a customer seemed to have struck up a conversation. Immediately, he sensed something odd was going on. Careful not to disturb his boss, Gabriel quietly set to work arranging the flowers.

"Look, Yung, I'm serious this time. The Grand Lotus Iroh himself is coming to Misty Palms. He and his nephew, Prince Zuko, have been traveling the world for the past three years in search for the Avatar. Recently, during the Siege of the North, Iroh apparently sided with the water benders and found a bender who'd been touched by the moon spirit who could replace the spirit the Admiral killed. The Fire Lord was furious when he found out and ordered his daughter to arrest the Prince and Iroh. Iroh went dark for a few weeks, but has recently reached out to his contacts in the Order. This is the first stop between Iroh's last known location and Ba Sing Se. Our operatives in Ba Sing Se have gone dark, so we can't get him into the city through our back doors. That means we need to get him into the city directly… using passports." Gabriel froze. What the?

"But why has Ba Sing Se been silent for so long? All of the operatives we've sent in have yet to report back to us. That city is the Earth Kingdom's last might fortress against the Fire Nation, and if we can't know what is happening behind those walls, we will have no idea if it is secure or not. I doubt that even sending a Grand Lotus in will change that. Something bad is happening behind those walls. Besides, we can't risk Prince Zuko. Iroh claims he is to take the throne of the Fire Nation after Ozai is defeated by the Avatar. Iroh has been teaching the boy for a while now, but he is far from ready. Putting Zuko in Ba Sing Se could be disastrous and place him on the wrong side of the war. After all, whatever is going on in Ba Sing Se is the Earth Kingdom's doing, not the Fire Nation." Yung argued. Gabriel wasn't even working anymore. He slowly moved closer to hear what was going on. The entire time he'd been in Misty Palms, he had never once heard Yung talk about the war. Everyone else talked about the war, but never Yung. Now it sounded like he was more involved in it than half the mercenaries in the Oasis.

"Look, we have no choice. Princess Azula is dangerous and will overtake them. Iroh could hold her off, but Zuko is still a boy. Also, they can't run forever. You know that. The city is the safest place to hide them." The other man argued. Yung hiestated.

"Fine. I'll get the passports. I need names." Yung decided.

"Zuko is Lee. Iroh is Mushi." Gabriel dropped the vase of flowers he'd been holding. It crashed into the floor loudly. Yung was faking passports? The two men turned their heads towards the sound Gabriel had made, surprised to see the eavesdropper.

"Gabriel, how long have you been back there? I thought you were at the tavern playing Pai Sho." Yung said in surprise. The other man scowled.

"Yung, who is this?"

"My employee. Gabriel of the Agreste household." Yung replied.

"Yung, what exactly is going on here?" Gabriel asked sternly. The other man shook his head.

"No, he's heard enough. He isn't a member. You know that Yung." The other man warned.

"He has a right to know about the order. He lives under my roof after all. I can explain and we can discuss the best course of action once the Grand Lotus arrives." Yung argued, "Now go, you still have to find out more about Bumi's situation." The other man grumbled, but left.

"Yung, I don't like being lied to, what have you been hiding from me?" Yung rubbed his forehead in stress.

"Gabriel, I am sorry, I didn't want to involve you. Come, sit. I will explain everything." Gabriel eyed the older man uncertainty before sitting down in front of him in the back of the shop.

"What is going on Yung?" Yung hiestated.

"I am a member of a secret organization dedicated to keeping the balance called the Order of the White Lotus." Yung said simply. Gabriel raised an eyebrow. He was silent for a moment before he finally spoke.

"Explain. What were you talking about? What exactly is this organization?"

"Since the dawn of time, it was the Avatar's job to maintain balance in the world. Always has been, and always will be. Sadly, it is too much pressure for one man or woman to hold alone, for the world is a dangerous place and people rarely see eye to eye. Long ago, an Avatar, long passed, saw a need for others… ordinary people who still believed in keeping the balance and peace. In his time, that Avatar formed the Order of the White Lotus, a secret organization that spans across the world and even reaches into the Fire Nation.

"It still exists, even today. In this time, the era of the Hundred Year War, we White Lotus members work to bring the war to an end. We had planned on doing so earlier, when a young Fire Nation Prince named Iroh approached us as a youth, wishing to end the fight his forefathers started. He was the eldest son of Fire Lord Azulon, and the war would end when Iroh was old enough to take the throne. The White Lotus secretly trained the boy, preparing him for the day he would ascend the throne. One day, Iroh took himself a wife. Later, was blessed with a son, but at the price of his wife life. Fire Lord Azulon, shortly after his grandson's birth, told Iroh that he, being the Fire Lord's eldest son, was to play a part in the war, and made Iroh join the military. Iroh became one of the strongest firebenders ever seen, the Dragon of the West, and quickly was promoted to General. The prince was doing well, but then that fateful day came." Gabriel leaned forwards, intrigued by the odd story, but confused why this had anything to do with Yung as of that moment.

"The Fire Lord ordered prince Iroh to storm Ba Sing Se and tear down it's walls and had his son, Lu Ten, join Iroh on the battlefield. The Fire Lord said Lu Ten, who was only sixteen, was also to play a part in the war because he was to become Iroh's heir one day. The two went to storm the wall of Ba Sing Se, as the Fire Lord ordered. But in the chaos of the battle, young Lu Ten was killed. While Iroh mourned and grieved the tragic loss of his son, Iroh's younger brother, a man named Ozai, came to the Fire Lord Azulon and asked for Iroh's birthright to be revoked, since Iroh no longer had a heir, but Ozai had two. Not even a night after Ozai approached the Fire Lord, there was a great outcry in the land as Fire Lord Azulon passed in his sleep. A letter was found stating that Azulon's last request was to crown Ozai Fire Lord, not Iroh. And so… the war continued."

"This is interesting, but why are you telling me this? What do you have to do with a secret organization and this prince Iroh?" Yung smiled.

"I would suggest you listen. A few months after Ozai was crowned Fire Lord, Ozai's son, Zuko, requested of Iroh to bring him to a war meeting in the Fire Lord's chamber. He was the eldest of Ozai's children and the heir to Ozai's throne and wished to have a part in the war. Hiestantly, Iroh agreed to bring the boy, warning him to say nothing. Only, Zuko was a good young man with a righteous heart. So when Zuko heard that one of the Fire Lord's plans could lead to several firebender deaths, Zuko spoke out. The Fire Lord was furious with his son and challenged him to an Agni Kai-, which is a fire duel. Zuko, though, refused to fight his father. As a result, Ozai burned a terrible scar on Zuko's face and banished him to forever search for the Avatar. Iroh watched these events unfold in horror, and decided to travel with Zuko in his search, hoping to provide the fatherly figure in Zuko's life that wasn't Ozai. Then, Iroh informed the White Lotus, that despite his banishment, Zuko would certainly become the next Fire Lord and be a piece in ending the war. Iroh volunteered to train the boy for the role himself." Yung paused, "Recently, Ozai has come to name Zuko and Iroh traitors for a number of reasons. He has sent his daughter and new heir, Azula, to capture and imprison them. Iroh went dark for a few weeks, but he has recently made contact and is coming here… to the Misty Palms Oasis. I am supposed to create passports for them and insure they safely arrive in Ba Sing Se."

Suddenly Gabriel didn't feel like he deserved the worst father of the year award… just the second worst. He thought about the story Yung had just told him. Gabriel, like everyone else in that world, just wanted the war to be over. If Yung was honestly in an organization actively working to put it to an end, Gabriel wanted to help.

"But you don't think it's wise to send them to Ba Sing Se, because your informatives in Ba Sing Se went silent." Gabriel realised. Yung nodded.

"We can't communicate as well as we'd like. Either someone is intercepting our messages, or there's more going on in the city than we realise." Yung replied then he cocked his head, "You seem to be taking this all relatively well. I thought you'd react differently."

"Everyone has secrets. How may I help?" Gabriel asked. Yung looked baffled.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, I have an eye for detail. If you need false passports made, I can do it, and I can do it well. I just need a real one to look over so I can make them as authentic as possible and the correct inks. As for the communication problem in Ba Sing Se? Well, I have a every odd talent that allows me to understand certain… emotional situations better than most people. I am willing to help ensure Zuko and Iroh reach Ba Sing Se safely, even going as far as to escort them myself. Then, I will send a messenger of sorts to update you on any conflicts that could jeopardize the pair." Yung stared at him, his mouth wide in surprise.

"You just found out I'm in a secret organization and your volunteering to help me, no questions asked?"

"I am hardly shocked by anything these days." Gabriel replied, crossing his arms. Because being magically transported to another world by a teen in a catsuit who turns out to be your superhero son and archnemesis' love interest was far more surprising than a florist in a world of war being in a secret organization, "Besides, I have family in the city I'd like to check on."

"Family?"

"My son, Adrien. He is living in the city. I haven't heard from him in a few weeks. I wouldn't mind having an excuse to check on him. I can run this errand for you. I can also provide a reliable way to communicate. I can use my Guāng Papillons to get messages around. Of course, you don't know what those are, because you know less about me than I know about you." Gabriel replied swiftly.

"Ah, I see. You too have a secret past. In a war as old as this, who doesn't have such secrets?" Yung said, slowly understanding.

"Yes. I am what is called a Miraculous wielder. I am supposed to symbolize generosity and change, but have lately failed at generosity in attempts to change in a very negative sense of the word. Recently, I have been forced into a position where I had to choose giving up a certain way of my life and the ones I lost a while back or suffering unideal nightmares and be constantly reminded of the people I've harmed due to my careless actions. I would like to extend my generosity now, as was originally intended for my Miraculous, and help bring about the end to this war in the best ways I can." Gabriel explained smoothly.

"Miraculous?" Yung asked. Gabriel touched the brooch on his kimomo, still in it's disguised form.

"This brooch is a Miraculous. The Moth Miraculous of change and generosity. It links me to a spirit called a Kwami, who has the ability to grant the Miraculous user special powers. In my case, empathic insight and the power to grant transformation. My Kwami is call Nooroo. Nooroo, please come out." Nooroo shyly looked out from behind the flower vase he'd been hiding behind. Yung stared at the spirit with wide eyes.

"That… is not at all what I expected to hear." He admitted.

"No. I doubt that was. There are two others. The strongest Miraculous welders who are meant to forever balance each other out. Currently, my son, wielder of the Black Cat Miraculous of bad luck and Destruction and his partner, Ladybug, wielder of the Ladybug Miraculous of good luck and creation. We are the only three in existence as of now. We are more than ready to aide in ending this war. Though I can not vouch for my son and his partner yet, I am certain they'll at least agree with my belief that this war must end." Gabriel replied. Yung blinked, processing this information.

"... Gabriel… how long… would creating three passports to Ba Sing Se take?"

"A day or two, give or take." Gabriel said.

"Get started immediately then. When the Grand Lotus arrives, we will discuss your… unique offer and bond with this spirit you've shown me and dieced on any further action then. Understood?" Yung ordered uncertainty.

"Certainly." Gabriel said, "But I do have need of a favor for you. I need you to give a message to a young lady who will most certainly be passing through here. She is traveling with the Avatar himself, but avoid giving it to her until after Iroh gets here."

"O-of course."