The Trouble with Fire
Ch.23: Iroh
Zuko X OC
disclaimer: I don't own Avatar the Last Airbender. I own my OC
Fang fluttered her eyes open and then closed them quickly as the harsh light of the morning sun shined through one of the windows. She could hear Zuko shuffling some of their belongings into travel bags but she didn't want to get up. It had been a long day yesterday and she wanted to catch up on some rest.
"Fang. We have to go.", Zuko called out to her. A groan escaped her lips as she turned over on her side away from Zuko. She felt arms wrap around her and pull her out of the bed. She whined a little making Zuko smile as he placed a kiss on her forehead.
A knock came on the door as she walked into the washroom to get herself ready for the day. She could hear Toph and Zuko talking and making sure they had packed everything. "Wait... where's Aang?", Toph asked. Fang stopped brushing her hair and peeked her head out the door. "Is Appa here?", Fang asked, knowing that Aang would very rarely leave Appa by himself.
"Appa is eating hay out in the back.", Toph said. Fang put the brush down on the counter and quickly walked out of the room. She could hear Sokka and Katara calling for Aang as well. Toph jogged over to the room that Aang had been staying in and opened the door. It was completely quiet.
"Aang?", Katara called out. There was no answer. Fang pushed passed them all and opened the closet doors. No Aang. "Hey look! He left his staff. That's so strange.", Sokka said, holding it up for everyone to see. Zuko frowned. "Aang's not in the house. Let's check the beach.", Zuko advised.
They did as Zuko told them and after looking around the beach they found footprints in the sand. The footprints led from the house out to the ocean. "Do you think he was captured?", Katara asked. Sokka knelt down and inspected the footprints.
"No.. there are no signs of a struggle.", he said, rubbing his chin. Fang frowned and scanned her eyes around the beach. Where on earth had he disappeared to? "We should split up and look for him on the Island. He couldn't have gotten that far.", Suki suggested.
After hours of searching, with no results, they sat and decided to regroup. Where on earth could the Avatar be? Had he disappeared again for the next one hundred years? If so, all was lost and Fang knew and most likely Zuko would be executed for treason against the crown.
She could only pray that they would find Aang before Sozin's comet. Their time was running out and they needed to find him fast. Katara, Toph and Sokka were looking towards Zuko for an answer. "Why are you all looking at me?", he asked. "Well... you are kind of the expert at hunting the Avatar.", Katara explained, scratching the back of her head.
Zuko crossed his arms over his chest as he looked down and tried to think of what to do. After sometime had passed his eyes looked up toward his wife. "Fang, I can only think of one person. June.", he said.
Fang smiled and nodded. If anyone could track Aang it would be June. "Who's June?", Toph asked, trying to remember if she had heard the name before. "You'll know when you see her. We'll have to fly to the Earth Kingdom.", Zuko said.
After arriving in the Earth Kingdom, Fang was surprised to see so many Firenation soldiers. Zuko had definitely been right. His father was planning on burning the Earth Kingdom to the ground. Zuko parked Appa near a small tavern on the outskirts of town.
It looked dingy and not well kept... definitely a place where June could be. Fang quickly got off of the flying bison and headed for the door of the tavern. As expected, people were fighting over something silly. Fang looked around the room and spotted June sitting at one of the tables, her feet propped up on a nearby chair.
"June.", she called out making the lady look up at her. Zuko followed behind Fang and wrapped his arm around Fang's shoulders. "What do you two want?", she asked, drinking what was in her glass. "We need you to find someone again.", Zuko said.
"You got anything with the person's scent on it?", she asked. Fang nodded and led June outside of the tavern where June's shirshu was tied to a tree. Fang held out Aang's staff to June who took it and let her Shirshu sniff the scent.
The beast stood up on it's hind legs and sniffed the air. It walked around in a few circles and continued to sniff the air until he made his way around in a circle three times and sat down, covering his eyes with its paws. "What does that mean?", Fang asked, staring at the animal. June sighed and tossed her back the staff.
"It means your friend doesn't exist. He's gone.", June said, making Fang's eyes widen. She turned back to her husband completely lost with what to do. "Would you be willing to track another person?", Zuko asked, scowling a little. June shrugged her shoulders and held out her hand. Zuko held up Iroh's old sandal.
The shirshu quickly began to sniff the sandal. It started to hiss as it sniffed, trying to track the smell. "Looks like we found a target.", June said, hopping up into the saddle. Team Avatar quickly got back into Appa's saddle and followed June as her shirshu quickly ran through the brush.
Fang couldn't wait to see Iroh again, she was so excited she could barely contain the smile on her face. She hadn't seen Iroh since he escaped from the palace prison. It seemed like she hadn't seen him in years but today, they would have their family back together again.
They had traveled for many hours and it was time to rest. June had been able to point them to Ba Sing Se. Iroh was somewhere there and they were going to find him. They would find Iroh in the morning for now they had to rest. As Fang started to unpack she sensed some unease, as if they were being watched. Suddenly a ring of fire wrapped around the group.
"Well look who it is?", an older man said, snorting and laughing. "Who are these old people?", Toph yelled, being direct as ever. "These are just any old people.. they're masters!", Katara said, running toward one of the men. "Master Pakku, Master Jeong Jeong, King Bumi, and Master Piandao", she said, pointing to each one of them. Fang bowed her head in respect to the old masters.
"So how do you all know each other?", Toph asked, still confused. "Don't you know that all old people know each other?", King Bumi said, snorting again. "We all belong to a secret organization that extends to all nations.", Master Jeong Jeong explained.
"The Order of the White Lotus.", Zuko said, a smile on his face. "That's the one!", Bumi said, with a huge smile on his face. "I'm looking for my Uncle, Iroh.", Zuko said, smiling a little. "We'll take you to him!", Master Piandao said. They were led through a part of the city that was somewhat familiar. Fang's heart was starting to pound more and more as they approached some huts made out of rock and cloth.
"Where is he?", Zuko asked, looking from hut to hut. Master Piandao pointed to the hut all the way to the end. Zuko took in a deep breath and started to walk forward to the hut with Fang following close behind him. Her heart was practically coming out of her chest at this point. Zuko stopped before he reached the tent door making Fang look up at him curiously.
"What's wrong?", she whispered. "My Uncle hates me... I know it. He loved me and supported me every way he could... and I still turned against him.", he said, frowning deeply. Fang sighed softly and stroked his arm. "You did the same to me... but I still forgave you... Iroh has a much bigger heart then I do. If I can find it in my heart to forgive, he for sure can.", Fang assured him, placing a kiss on his cheek.
They stepped into the tent where Zuko got on his knees in front of his uncle. Iroh stood still, continuing to face the wall and not acknowledging his nephew's presence. "Uncle... I know you must have mixed feelings about me... but I want you to know... ", Zuko said, closing his eyes trying to hold back tears.
"I am so so sorry Uncle. I am so sorry and ashamed of what I did. I don't know how I will ever make it up to you but I-", Zuko stammered out, tears falling from his yellow eyes. Iroh turned and yanked on Zuko's sleeve, pulling him forward into a big hug. Tears welled up in Fang's eyes as she looked at the scene before her.
Iroh and Zuko were both crying and Iroh forgave him... their small family was back together. "How can you forgive me so fast? I thought you would be furious with me!", Zuko yelled, surprised by the hug. Iroh gently placed a hand on the back of Zuko's head. "I was never angry with you... I was sad because I was afraid you had lost your way.", Iroh said, his gentle eyes looking up to see Fang crying as well. She hadn't seen Iroh in quite some time and she was so glad to see him.
She missed his wonderful tea brewing skills, his witty knowledge and most of all his kindness of accepting her like a daughter to him. "I did lose my way, Uncle. I treated Fang and you like dirt. The two people who supported me the most. I treated you both so terribly..", Zuko said looking down at the ground as they broke away from their hug.
"Yes, you did lose your way... but you found it again and you did it by yourself! Not with Fang's help and not with mine. All by yourself.", Iroh said, placing his large hands on Zuko's shoulders. Fang took a step forward as Iroh quickly grabbed her arm and pulled her into a long awaited hug.
She had missed him so much. He had come here just like he told her. She wasn't sure he had made but he did. "I am so happy you have found your way back to Fang.. and now back here, where you found me.", Iroh said, looking at Zuko as he hugged Fang.
Fang slowly pulled away from the hug and kissed Iroh on the cheek to which Iroh blushed a little. "We all back together again.", Zuko whispered as he looked from Fang to his Uncle. "Yes, and it's been so long.", she answered back, wrapping her arms around her two favorite men in the world.
They all sat down in circle as Iroh made a porridge for them to eat. "Uncle, come with us to defeat the Firelord.", Zuko said, watching as his uncle stirred the porridge with his long chopsticks. "Even if I did defeat him, which I don't know if I could, history would not see it as an act of peace... but more of a brother killing a brother. They would just see it as senseless violence. The only way to end this peacefully is for the Avatar to defeat the Firelord.", Iroh explained.
"Well.. when that happens. Would you come take your rightful place on the throne?", Zuko asked. "No, someone new must take the throne. Someone with a pure heart and someone with unquestionable honor. It has to be you, Prince Zuko.", Iroh said.
Fang eyes widened a little as she turned to look at her husband. She knew he was scared but she knew that he could also rule. He had been through a lot and he was ready. She smiled and took his hand as the continued to listen to Iroh.
"Unquestionable honor? But I made so many mistakes.", Zuko said, frowning a little. "Yes, you have... and you have suffered for them. You have struggled but you have also led your own path. Only you can restore the Firenation's reputation to the world.", Iroh continued. Fang looked up at him as Zuko's eyes met hers.
It was almost a silent question but she knew what he was asking with those yellow eyes. By him taking the throne, it meant they couldn't settle down in a quiet village and raise a family. They would be busy taking care of a nation.
Sure they would have to have children but... it wouldn't be the peaceful life that Fang had always expressed to Zuko that she wanted. Fang shook her head slightly and smiled. After the words came from Iroh.. she knew it was true.
The Firenation's reputation was tarnished and a new ruler needed to bring back the reputation to one of love and cohabitation with other nations. Zuko could do it. Nodding her head a little, she smiled and squeezed his hand, letting him know that everything was okay. She trusted in him and believed in him to be Firelord.
"Well... what if Aang doesn't come back?", Toph asked, looking in Iroh's general direction. "Sozin's comet is arriving soon and our destiny's are upon us... Aang will face the Firelord. 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 Firenation so the Earth Kingdom can be free again. Destiny is a funny thing.", Iroh said, pouring some porridge for everyone to eat.
"Zuko and Fang. You must return to the Firenation so that when the Firelord falls.. you can assume the throne as Firelord and Firelady so you can restore peace and order. But... Azula will be there waiting for you.", Iroh instructed. "I can handle Azula.", Zuko said, moving his eyes away from the team.
"Not alone! You'll need help.", Iroh said, motioning to Fang and Katara. "It would be my pleasure.", Katara said, smirking a little. Fang nodded to her husband again. A fight with her sister in law... she was ready for that everyday of the week.
"What about us? What's our destiny?", Sokka asked. "What do you think?", Iroh asked, turning the question right back to Sokka. "Well... I think the thing for us to do is stop the airship fleet from coming.", Sokka answered. "Yes, that way when Aang does come back.. we'll be right here if he needs us.", Toph said, smiling. Iroh slowly nodded his approval at the younger group.
The plan was set. Suki, Sokka and Toph would travel by land and head to where the airship base was located, on a small island right off of the Earth Kingdom shore. They would intercept the fleet within a day. Zuko, Fang and Katara would travel by air via Appa back to the Firenation. The Order of the White Lotus would stay and take back Ba Sing Se from the Firenation to ensure the Earth Kingdom prospered for many years to come. It was going to be a long battle but one that would take place today.
Fang stood up on Appa's saddle. The sky was filled with reds and oranges... Sozin's comet was here. She stayed staring at it. Feeling power rise from within her, her Firebending blood reacting to the comet's presence.
Her heart continued to beat faster. What if the Avatar lost? What if he hesitates when the moment he is supposed to deliver the final blow comes? What if he gets killed by Ozai? Fear ate at her very soul as she continued to look at the comet. Zuko could sense his wife's panic but decided to not say anything. Anything he said would probably just make it worse.
Right now, he had to focus on taking out Azula.
End of Ch.23
