Chapter 3

Part 1

The Last Airbender

Aang:

He never wanted to be the Avatar.

It would be easier if he were dead. At least the last thing he had done would have been with honor. Instead the last thing he had done was with dishonor and with great jealously in his heart. She didn't love him like he loved her and it drove him mad, he didn't realize it then. He couldn't let her go forever, and it proved to be his demise. He couldn't bare it, the look in her eyes, she had changed. She loved another and it pained him to admit it, and she didn't even realize that she did.

He was willing to do anything to destroy what little ember sparked in her for him. Even if it meant hurting her, at least this way her thoughts would be concentrated on him, the Avatar . . . Aang. He was selfish, he knew it. Now he was unfit to be the Avatar, how could he show his face again, especially to her? Deep down, he hoped she was going mad, wandering why he abandoned them…her.

Though he did prove his usefulness to them in the end, Aang hated him.

For the last six years he has hidden away from the world, from her, ashamed; ashamed at what he has become, a mere shadow of himself. Until he could learn to let her go, he must stay away, buried. How long that would take he was not certain, he may never be able to let her go.

Wind swirled around the cave as he meditated and tried for the ten thousandth time to put her out of his mind. His hair swirled around and his tattoos were scarred badly, nearly burnt away.

"Aang," whispered a distant voice. "Aang, it is time you ask for forgiveness, you have wallowed in your self pity long enough."

Aang recognized the voice of the Avatar before him; he had crossed over into the spirit world.

"Roku," Aang said. He could see the dragon and the previous Avatar coming to him.

"Aang, you have a responsibility." Roku floated before him on the long dragon. "You can not ignore the world around you any longer."

"I can't let her go, not to him."

"You have no say in that Aang. You can only control your destiny, not hers."

"She will never forgive me, not for this." Aang's spirit floated in front of Avatar Roku.

"You underestimate her Aang." Roku began to fade. "It is time Aang," his voice echoed off the cave walls. "Seek out Guru Pathik, Aang."

Aang opened his eyes.

Roku was right, it was time he faced the world, his friends, his enemies, her. He wouldn't blame her if she could not forgive him. After all he was having a hard time forgiving himself.

He stood at the edge of the hidden cave and stared out at the water. He could hear the crashing waves slamming against the rocks below.

"The qi that rides the wind stops at the boundary of water." The words of Guru Pathik were loud in his mind.

Aang grabbed his staff and jumped headlong out of the cave. He could see the white caps crush against the jagged stones below. If he continued to fall it would be his head splitting on the knives of the sea. Again the words of Avatar Roku rang loudly in his ears.

"You can only control your destiny, not hers."

Aang spread the wings on his staff and rode the wind just inches above his boundary.

He was headed to the Southern Air Temple. He was headed home.

Part 2 - The Redeemer

Zuko:

He should have killed her when he had the chance. He had always thought more of family and honor than she did. Now he wouldn't rest until he saw her dead, preferably by his hands. The timing had to be right; the nations would need time to recover from the first war. Little resistance was left, he had to be very careful as not to be caught, and she was still powerful and had many followers. The Dai Li continued to follow her every order.

Azula was terrifying, and worse than their father ever thought about being. A child that could kill her mother in cold blood, he shuddered at the thought. She only wanted him around to keep an eye on him, to torture him by sitting at the throne killing innocent people, ordering the slaughter of towns and villages that resisted her.

He was glad that he had finally managed to take up the out post in Ba Sing Se. Though she warned him, if she found him up to anything suspicious, she would have his head on a stake. Agni, if he hated anyone he hated her. No wander his father thought her better than he, they neither had respect for human life.

Zuko had done many things that he was not proud of in the past, but hoped that somehow he had managed a little bit of redemption. After all he did deliver the Avatar to his father, and Aang performed the task beautifully. And though he knew it had to be done, it was still his father. None of them were ready for what happened next, Azula harnessing the power of Sozin's comet, raining living hell on earth; taking over the throne, of their father.

It made him sick to his stomach, to know that he was back to living under her shadow to keep alive. She was always suspicious of him, watching him carefully. Azula harnessed a power that he didn't have: a black soul.

Once again his life was consumed with finding the Avatar and his friends. He had heard rumors that the Avatar was dead, and that his friends had been captured and imprisoned. He managed to find the Water Tribe Warrior, Sokka, fortunately he was able to have him, transported out of the Fire Nation Palace and to Omashu.

As far as the Avatar, the Blind Earthbender and the Waterbender, he was still on the search. He was about to give up hope.

Zuko was passing through Ba Sing Se, on his way to the soldier out post when he passed by a local brothel. He had passed it many times before, but never was compelled to enter. He could hear a commotion going on inside, and realized it was Fire Nation soldiers causing the uproar. He heard women screaming, soldiers yelling and patrons chattering. He started to keep walking, but for some reason he couldn't. He stopped and motioned for the soldiers that were with him to follow him inside.

The scene was typical a soldier getting too rowdy with one of the house girls. The Madam was hysterical and so was the girl.

"Enough!" he said in a very agitated voice.

The firenation soldier stopped immediately and pulled himself from the dark haired, dark skinned girl.

"Prince Zuko!" The soldier got to his feet.

Zuko looked at the soldier in disgust before his eyes shifted down to the girl on the floor. He was shocked to see the Waterbender on the floor, in the brothel. It was her he was certain of it, her dark skin and dark hair. She looked up at him but with blind eyes. What had happened to her? He had to get her out of there but without making anyone suspicious.

"Arrest him he is drunk!" shouted Prince Zuko. "Her too, she is indecent."

"Prince Zuko," Madame Maru spoke. "Please do not arrest her; she is one of my most prized girls."

He continued to watch her, squirming, wrestling with her clothing.

"She is a blind whore, how can she be your most valuable."

"She has many talents, your highness," Madam Maru's voice was begging, pleading.

"Stand up," Prince Zuko grabbed the Waterbender by the arm pulling her to her feet.

His hand squeezed her bare flesh, as she attempted, to cover it furiously. He could tell she was scared of his touch.

"Do you know the echo game?" He asked her, knowing full well she could.

She did not answer him.

"I asked you a question." He tightened his grip on her arm pulling her closer to him. "I suggest you answer."

"I – I have played it once," she answered her breath caught in her throat.

"Good this shall be interesting," he said pushing her to her attendant then turning to Madame Maru. "Get it ready."

"Yes, of course," Madame Maru said bowing deeply to Prince Zuko.

Prince Zuko seated himself on a cushion behind a table as numerous people rushed to set up the exotic drums for the game they were about to play. Musicians seated themselves behind the drums as the patrons of the pavilion gathered in the balcony. Madam Maru brought out a glass bowl full of small glass stones sitting them in front of him.

The attendant brought out the Waterbender, placing her in front of him and in the center of the circle of drums. She stared straight ahead, getting into position, waiting, listening. The candle light reflected off her crimson glossed lips, her eyes though not seeing revealed fear. He hadn't even realized that he was staring at her until a forced breath of air came through his nose.

Running his fingers through the stones, he picked up one and thumped it toward a drum, echoing loudly, before shattering to the floor.

Like she was moving water, she slapped the correct drum with speed and accuracy, before returning to the central position.

Amused, he chuckled.

He thumped another stone, this time hitting two drums.

With out hesitation and with astute precision she flipped her sash and her body hitting both drums. She returned to full balance and awareness, her hands pressed together, praying.

Without hesitation he thumped yet another stone, hitting four different drums. Again with such lightening quick alacrity, moved her arms and the sashes flowed like streams of black water at her command.

"Well done," Prince Zuko remarked, his voice silky.

He picked up the bowl and threw all the stones through the air, each of them hitting numerous drums, sending echoes of the music around the room. Then like a shattered glass all the stones hit the tiled floor. The musicians behind the drums began to play, with a fast paced, taking rhythm.

The Waterbender moved, her fluid motions hitting each drum in order, playing with the rhythm of the musicians. She was truly a master of her element, and yet he wandered why she had not used it against him, or to escape the life at the pavilion. He could tell she felt liberated, imitating her bending style.

To his surprise he felt the black silk, snap at his flesh. She had moved in close enough to send a lash across his face. Though impressed at her actions he could not let it go un-punished in a public setting.

She continued to slap at him even after the blades of his broadswords cut through the silken fabric. She didn't stop until he pointed the tip of the blade in the hollow of her throat.

"Arrest her," said Prince Zuko.

The Madame and her attendant begged him not to take her. He had no alternative this was her only way out and his only likelihood to help her. He accompanied her to the local prison hold in the outer ring, having her placed in a cell away from the other prisoners. He stood outside of her cell watching her, studying her. He knew she felt him there, but he said nothing to her.

Three days had passed since he discovered the Waterbender and had her imprisoned. He would be removing her form the prison, once the sun set underneath the red hazy sky.

It had been a long time since he had worn the attire of "The Blue Spirit". He would wear it again tonight with a new, purpose and a new mask. The double-broadswords sheathed and strapped to his back, he rose from his meditation and took the mask he received from his uncle. Making sure everything was in its place for his return; he blew out the candle and then disappeared out the window into the night.

The guards at the prison were easy to displace, he had made sure of that a day early. He approached her cell, she was scared, yet she didn't hesitate to go with him. Still in her attire from the pavilion she stood there motionless, staring into the blackness. He grabbed her by the sash at her waist urging her to follow him.

"Who are you," she whispered.

He could not answer her, not now. He was afraid of her reaction if she knew it was he that was her rescuer. He tugged on her sash once again, and she followed him with out hesitation.

The clinking and rattling of the bells that adorned her were enough to draw more attention than he wanted. He stopped turned and faced her, gazing at her briefly, he gently removed the crown atop her head, and knelt to remove the slippers on her feet. Deciding they could cover more ground if he carried her, Zuko hoisted the Waterbender over his shoulder. Moving quickly and hiding in the shadows, he escaped the compound and stole into the darkness.

Moving her through out the city proved to be an easier task than what he originally thought. But her diffident state helped immensely. Once he was sure he was out of the constant vigilance of the soldiers and their hunting he put her down.

Turning her around he sliced through the tight twine that had cut into her skin, leaving it raw and bloody. He thought she would be able to walk on the smooth stones now, he took her by the sash and she followed. Silence between them was thick and only shattered with the occasional yell of a soldier.

Finally they arrived at their destination, making sure they were in complete shadow he opened a door and led her through. He had prepared a mat for her on the floor and uncle had brewed her special tea to make her sleep. Leading her to the mat on the floor, he knelt on the floor and poured her a cup of tea, placing it gently in her hands. She sipped it slowly as he retrieved ointment for her wrists.

Again she asked him in a whisper, "Who are you?"

Again he could not afford her an answer.

After a few drinks of the tea she began to get lethargic and heavy eyed. He gently laid her on the mat and covered her. Watching her, until she fell asleep.