The Trouble with Fire

Ch.18: Fang's Decision Pt. 2

Zuko X OC

disclaimer: I don't own Avatar the Last Airbender. I own my OC


Hi All,

I just wanted to add a little note in here from me. I really appreciate all the reviews and messages about my story. It brings a smile to my face when I see them.

~xamandaluvsyax


Fang frowned deeply as she kept trying to break free. The Dai Li agents that stood next to Azula must have earth bended the rock to imprison both of them. Zuko angrily pointed at Fang and Iroh. "Release them immediately.", he demanded.

It's not too late for you Zuko. You can redeem yourself.", Azula said, a slight smirk on her face. Fang's eyes widened. Zuko was in such a sensitive state.. he might actually believe Azula. "My Prince, no.", she whispered to him, looking toward him with wide eyes.

Azula's sharp eyes snapped toward Fang. "Quiet Fang! Why don't you let him decide?", she snapped, turning back to her brother. "I need you Zuko. I've planned this day for awhile. If you help me.. you will have father's love. Isn't that what you have always wanted?", Azula asked, using sneaky techniques to try to convince her brother to join her side.

"Zuko! I'm begging you. Look and see what is in your heart.", Iroh yelled at his nephew. It had to happen now. He had to make a choice that would forever change his future. Fang only hoped that what he chose was in her favor and not his father's. Azula sighed.

"You are free to choose. I will follow The Avatar up ahead.", she announced and made her way through the same tunnel that Aang and Katara had went through. Zuko stayed silent and fire bended toward Fang, breaking the crystal that bound her.

She moves quickly to free Iroh and slowly broke him out but stopped when she saw Iroh's eyes widened. "Zuko! Don't!", Iroh yelled as they both watched Zuko leave through the tunnel. Fang was about to go after him but was stopped by a hand that grasped her arm. Iroh was staring down at the ground, sadness written all over his face.

Fang knew it in her heart as well but she refused to believe it till she saw it with her own eyes. He had not chosen her but his father. And now... she had to make her decision. She had to let go. Everything they had planned was lost. No life here. No children. Never living a normal life. They both fell silent and looked at the ground. Now it was Fang's decision and she had come to one.

"Iroh… he's chosen the side that doesn't include me. I'm helping The Avatar.", she stated, a hundred percent certain. Iroh looked up at her slowly and to her surprise nodded in agreement. They quickly made their way through the tunnel. They could hear the roar of fire bending, the loud rushing sound of water and strong wind currents continued to gust through the tunnel.

That could only mean one thing… The Avatar, Azula, Katara and Zuko were all fighting. She and Iroh had to get there quickly, especially if Azula was attempting to capture The Avatar here and now. As they came to the entrance of a large room, Fang looked around to see Zuko shooting fire balls at Katara.

Her heart filled with sadness as she watched him. "You chose your father over me..", she whispered. Her attention was suddenly brought to Azula who shot lightning toward The Avatar. He quickly dodged but lost his balance and fell toward the ground.

Dai-li agents were starting to show up and fight as well. The young Avatar and Katara were going to be overpowered soon if they did nothing. "We need to go now, Iroh.", she said, seeing how much Katara and Aang were struggling.

She stopped as she watched The Avatar earth bend crystals around him, encasing him in a protective shield. A bright light shined through the crystals illuminating the whole room. There was no doubt about it, The Avatar was going into The Avatar state.

Soft gusts of wind blew around Fang as she stared down at the young boy encased in crystal. Looking at him, she did not know if he would ever be able to defeat Zuko's father... he was so young. She couldn't let thoughts like that cloud her mind. She had to believe in him. For without him there was no hope.

The Avatar was the symbol of peace and hope. She couldn't give that up. Fang's mouth hung open a little as she watched The Avatar emerge from the crystal, his eyes and tattooed arrows glowing pure white. Wind and smoke covered the room making it hard for Fang to see but what she did see made her scream.

Lightning shot through the air, hitting The Avatar square in his back and through his chest. He fell to the ground but Katara was there to catch him. Without hesitating, Iroh jumped from cave opening, landing between Zuko and Katara. Fang followed suit and landed between Azula and The Avatar.

"Well well… I never thought you would turn against your nation but it will be a pleasure to have you brought back as a prisoner.", Azula sneered at Fang. Zuko stared at his wife and Iroh not believing what he was seeing. Fang turned her head slightly to look at Katara.

"Go!", she yelled at her, not wanting the girl to let The Avatar die in her arms. Fang had to quickly dodge to the right as Azula shot a bolt of lightening at her. She didn't want to fight Azula or her husband. She just wanted to give Katara enough time to escape. Azula charged at her sister-in-law. "I can't wait for your execution day!", she yelled, a wide grin on her face.

Fang ignored her and quickly kicked a fire ball Azula's way knowing she would dodge it. Zuko ran quickly toward her, he placed a hand on her shoulder but she quickly jerked away from him. "Don't!", she yelled at him as if his touch burned her skin. She leaped back and put a wall of fire in between them.

She was not about to fight her husband or have him ask her to come to Azula's side. She yelped in pain when a Dai Li agent hit her arm with a small boulder. Pain shot through her arm making her wince but she tried to ignore it and sent another fireball toward Azula. The sound of rushing water filled the cave and Fang looked up to see Katara water bending Aang and herself out of the cave. At least they were safe.

Fang smiled softly as she watched them disappear. It was up to Katara to heal him now, Fang had done her part. She turned her eyes toward her husband, stood tall and put her hands up in the air for surrender. Iroh had done the same as he noticed The Avatar had escaped as well. A Dai Li agent quickly pushed Fang on the ground making her yelp again in pain as her body fell on the hard ground.

"Don't hurt her!", Zuko ordered, feeling conflicted more than ever at what he was seeing. Her red eyes looked up at him, surprised by his outburst. "Just.. restrain her...", he finished, the words painful to speak. Guilt ran through Zuko's body at seeing his wife being held down on the floor... as a prisoner.

Why did she do that? Why did she go against him? Didn't she love him? The Dai Li agent nodded and held her hands behind her back tightly. Fang's eyes fell to the floor as she looked away from her husband.

No.. after this, she probably wasn't his wife anymore.


It had been a month since Fang and Iroh had, as the Firelord put it, became a traitor to their proud nation. Zuko had not come to see her once during that time. Thankfully, she was allowed some things that other prisoners weren't.

They had allowed her to stay in her room and private bath. Guards came the day she was thrown in her room and fastened a lock on the door handle so she could not leave her room. Even though she was being treated as a criminal she stood proud and happy with herself that she had finally done something that she wanted, not her husband.

Fang had made it a point to be on her best behavior while she was imprisoned in hopes that Zuko would come visit her or to gain the guards sympathy. No attempting to escape, for sure. Even if he was upset with her, she still missed Zuko and was more than sad that he hadn't come to see her.

She had a feeling that Azula had done more than do her job at convincing him and to have Zuko demand a separation from her. But it seemed like that was at a standstill as well, no one had come to tell her anything about Zuko or their marriage.

The only interaction she had outside of her room was a random guard that would come and bring her food twice a day. She had counted the days since she was was imprisoned and it had now been thirty one days. She missed the outside breeze. The blue skies. Not a day didn't go by that she didn't hope that Zuko would come, even to just speak a couple words to her.

With each passing day she became more and more worried. To add fuel to the worry.. she hadn't heard anything about Iroh. Where they had taken him? Was he was alright? What was the Firelord's plan for him? ...Nothing. It was as if the guards wanted to kill her with silence.

Fang was brought out of her thoughts when a guard knocked on her door, signaling he was going to open it. She waited patiently for the guard to open the door. "Prince Zuko requests an audience with you.", he stated. Fang's eyes widened. Zuko wanted to see her? Fang slowly stood, her legs a little shaky.

She walked out of her room slowly, feeling a weight lifted off of her shoulders right as she exited her room. The guard quickly took her arm before she got to far and tied her hands behind her back with, what felt like rope to prevent her from escaping. Not that she was going to..right now at least.

Her staying depended on what Zuko had to say about everything. She had made up her mind to escape if he did not take her side.. Fang was quickly walked toward Zuko's room. The guard knocked once and then opened Zuko's door and with his large hand pressed against her back, gently pushed Fang through.

The door slammed shut and silence fell between the two. Zuko was wearing the traditional Fire Nation clothing. The long dark red robe with gold accents. He had let his hair get a little longer over the course of the month she hadn't seen him. It made him look even handsomer than before. Zuko said nothing but walked in front of her and wrapped his arms around her.

Fang stiffened up a little. Why was he hugging her? Did he forgive her for everything? She kept her mouth shut until she felt his lips fall to her neck where he placed a few kisses on it. "...Are you forgiving me?", she whispered, trying to get her wrists out of the restraint. This comment made Zuko stop and pull away. Her red eyes met his yellow eyes.

"No.", the word was so harsh sounding that Fang's mouth fell a little open. "I see..", she whispered. Zuko said nothing again and walked behind her and untied her hands. "Why are you untying me?", she whispered, looking down at the floor.

"Because I can't stand to see you like this. You're still my wife.". His voice was harsh but full of pain. Fang knew she had done the right thing but it also hurt her heart to hear the pain in his voice. Her hands fell to her sides as he finished removing the rope.

"Am I..?", she whispered again. A sigh escaped his mouth as he moved towards the meditation table and sat on one of the many cushions near it. "I'm not leaving you if that's what you're referring to, Fang.", he stated, meeting her eyes again. Fang's mind was swimming with questions. He didn't forgive her but he wasn't going to leave her either.

"I only have one question to ask you. Why did you do it? Why did you go against me?", he asked, turning his eyes away from her. Fang felt her heartbeat quicken a little. She took a deep breath. "I want The Avatar to restore peace to this world. This war has gone on long enough and all it has brought is destruction and pain.. to everyone, our nation's people included.", she said.

Zuko's eyes met hers again. "And you would do this at my expense?", he asked. Fang shook her head. "Zuko, it's not at the expense of you...", she answered. "Then tell me why you went against me?", he demanded, raising his voice a little. "It's at the expense of what your father believes.", she answered. "That's as good as against me.", he jabbed. Fang shook her head.

"You are nothing like your father, Zuko. Your uncle and I can see it... why can't you? You are a good person who was just starting to see how wrong this war was. What our nation is doing is wrong!", she yelled, getting a little frustrated. Silence fell over them as Fang closed her eyes.

"But I suppose your sister outweighed my opinion, right?", she whispered, frowning. "Azula didn't do anything.", he stated, defending his sister. "Really? So you would have still chosen this path if she hadn't come along. I don't think so. We would still be in Ba Sing Se.. in our home. You promised me we were going to start a family...", she trailed off, tears forming in her eyes.

Zuko turned away. "Plans change.", he whispered. Fang's eyes flashed anger but she held it in. "No, your plans changed... not mine.", she said, coldly. Zuko raised an eyebrow at the glare his wife was giving him. "Don't give me that look, Fang. You're my wife. You are supposed to support me and you didn't.", he countered. Those words were her breaking point.

She had been a very good wife to him and for him to insinuate that she wasn't, was over the line. "Why? Because I'm finally speaking my mind for once?! All these years I have been a good wife to you. I never disputed anything you did!", she yelled. Her heart was beating out of her chest as anger took control of her. She had never once raised her voice to Zuko. Wives in the Fire Nation just didn't do that. If they did... execution was the punishment.

Silence fell over them as she sat on his bed. "But I suppose they will find you a better wife than me. One that is more obedient.", she whispered, her eyes looked toward the ground. "They're not going to find another wife for me.", he stated, making Fang look up at him, puzzled.

"I begged my father not to have you executed.", he stated, meeting her eyes. Fang stared at him. Her heart was pounding so hard in her chest that she was sure Zuko was able to see it. "So what is going to be done with me?", she asked, quietly.

"I convinced my father to let me hand down your punishment, not him.", he claimed. Fang took an intake of breath. At least the punishment wasn't death. However, she still maintained that she hadn't done anything wrong and didn't deserve any of this. "Then... what is my punishment, husband?", she asked, not losing eye contact with him. She was not going to back down, not this time. "I don't want you to suffer but you still have to atone for what you did.", he thought out-loud, running his fingers through his hair.

He stood slowly and opened the door. "Just stay in your room and be good.", he finished. Fang nodded slowly and made her way past him. She was happy that at least her punishment was not going to be too difficult. Zuko grabbed her arm as she passed by and placed a kiss on her lips.

"Be good.", he whispered to her again, knowing she could escape if she wanted to. His lips met hers again as he held the back of her neck. It was something that she had been wanting but it felt strange at the same time. There was no love behind it. He turned away from her as the guard came to get her. Her heart sunk a little as she realized it probably would be a long time before she saw him again.


End of Ch.18