Chapter 18: What is Duty?

A few weeks had passed and Ursa was getting nervous. Rumors were spreading around the capital about the seer's disappearance. She knew it had something to do with the meeting with Ozai, but she couldn't put her finger on it. Whatever it was, it made her uneasy. Before she had left, the old woman had spread around one message to the people: guard your nation, and wait for the prince of fire to return. The message sent chills down her spine. The prince of fire was unmistakably referring to Zuko, and the way Ozai occasionally looked at him, was frightening. He had casually dismissed the rumors with a wave of his hand, but she had seen the vexation shadow his face.

"Iroh," she breathed, gently brushing Zuko's head. "What am I to do?" She asked for the umpteenth time. They were sitting out in the garden, sipping tea, Zuko happily sitting on his mother's lap.

"Stay calm, my lady," he replied, bringing the tea cut to his lips. "I am watching over his movements closely and my soldiers are still looking out for the seer."

She let out a worried sigh, and felt a small hand suddenly pry into her robes. "Zuko!" she teasingly scolded, diverting her attention to her mischievous son. Iroh chuckled at his nephew. Ursa pulled out Zuko's hand from her chest and realized he was holding onto something. She had forgotten she was even wearing it.

"What is it?" Iroh curiously asked, raising an eyebrow. Ursa readjusted her robes in slight embarrassment and lifted the object for Iroh to see.

"This necklace…" she slowly said. "I found it in the Fire Lady's quarters a couple years ago. There were a few notes with it, all telling me that it has some kind of ability to protect the wielder."

She pried the stone from Zuko's fingers—much to his displeasure—and set the necklace in Iroh's waiting hand. He studied the carving in silence, flipping the jewel in his fingers experimentally.

"It looks like an ancient waterbending symbol if I were to be honest," he finally replied, resting the stone back into Zuko's eager hands. His rubbed his beard and frowned. Iroh had never felt that he was one close to the spirits. But he couldn't deny the fact that as he held the stone, there was a strange presence and aura emitting from it.

"Yes," Ursa nodded. "Some notes seem so old, they crumbled to pieces at my touch." Remembering the situation she was in, she silently sighed again and looked down at Zuko. "If it really can protect someone…" She pulled her hand behind her neck and carefully removed the chain, fastening it around her son. "…Please… protect Zuko." She pleaded with the jewel.

Iroh closed his eyes and breathed. The temperature had dropped significantly compared to the recent weeks. He felt an odd chill climb up his back ever since the seer had disappeared. "Don't be worried," he urged Ursa, glancing at his nephew's delighted face. "I will keep a keen watch on Ozai."

...

The night had fallen, and not even the small animals that usually filled the hours of darkness with their chipper, made any noise. Ozai walked through the hall, his palms burning with high temperatures. The route was a familiar one, the path he took every time Ursa urged him to 'spend quality time with his children'. A wide smile stretched across his face as he walked through the darkness. His son would never overthrow him. Never.

He quietly opened the large door and walked into the room. It was as large as his chambers, the bed stretched out in the middle of the room. Ursa slept quietly under the covers, Azula gently sprawled out next to her. Zuko slept in a smaller bed next to his mother's, small bars attached to the side to prevent him to falling off.

The Fire Lord's smile widened even further. His eyes glistened in the little light that was in the room. He approached his son, helpless and naïve to the situation around him. He felt his palms tingle with energy, as if he hadn't bended in weeks.

His son was an obstacle, a burden to his rise as the Phoenix King. He wouldn't have it. He couldn't. All enemies must be crushed. He was the Fire Lord, and no mercy was to be shown.

With his final thought, he called fire to his hands and casted a large ball of flame at Zuko. The bed lit immediately, spreading the fire at a rapid rate. A hysterical laugh echoed through the room.

Ursa was awake in an instant. A horrid orange glow illumined the room and a familiar laugh of triumph filled her ears. She shot her gaze to see her nightmare become her reality. The small bed next to hers was blazing, the fire roared towards the ceiling. She couldn't see Zuko. Ursa screamed.

"Zuko! No!" she wailed. She couldn't even hear her voice over the cracking of the fire. She jumped out of bed and slammed into something. Hysterical, she looked towards the owner of the laugh. Ozai stood next to her, laughing, bloodlust clear in his eyes, insanity echoing from his throat. Fear gripped Ursa. She couldn't move. Tears erupted from her eyes. The fire continued to burn Zuko's bed. She couldn't hear him.

He had done it. Ozai continued to laugh, as he watched his son burn. The threat had been eliminated. As he laughed, he could barely hear Ursa's wails and cries through the blaze. Just as Ursa thought it was lost, the door burst opened again with Iroh charging in. He slammed into Ozai like a bull, sending the Fire Lord toppling with shock.

"Iroh!" Ursa wailed, her voice somewhat returning. The bed began to crumble, parts of the wood quickly burning and collapsing inward.

"Ozai! You…!" Iroh roared, fury evident in his voice. He crushed the Fire Lord against the glass cabinet, shattering all the fine china and expensive décor inside. Ozai simply laughed again, as gold met gold.

"It is done! He will never take my place!" he yelled gleefully. "He can never take my throne!"

Iroh punched Ozai straight in the face in disgust, fire erupting from his fists. A few men in armor rushed into the room, their faces somewhat familiar to Ursa.

"General Iroh!" He looked back from his attack that had momentarily stunned the Fire Lord.

"Take him away," he quickly ordered. The men nodded and ran towards Ozai, dragging his body out of the room. The bed collapsed inward as the fire spread through the sheets.

"Zuko...!" Ursa whimpered through her tears. Her throat clogged up in fear and devastation. She could barely hear Azula's cries as she woke up in blazing heat. Iroh jumped toward the flaming mess, and threw his hands into the fire. The heat suddenly disappeared, neutralized by Iroh's bending. He stayed silent, not wanting to remove the broken pieces of what was left of the bed. Ursa wailed Zuko's name, as her trembling hands reached out. She wouldn't believe it until she saw her son's burned corpse for herself.

Iroh stopped Ursa's reaching hand and gave her a lost look. He reached to the pile of searing wood and fabric, not caring about the pain as he removed the obstructions. His body froze as he traced over soft material. Overcoming the shock, he threw the remaining parts of the bed out of his view and saw Zuko.

Ursa gasped, her hands flying to her mouth. Zuko lay on his side, whimpering slightly, but looked to be asleep. His clothes and skin looked untouched, as if not a single hair on her son's body had been burned. Iroh gently lifted him from the broken mess when she saw the other side of his face.

"Oh spirits…" she whispered, tears still falling from her eyes. A large mark covered the left side of his face to his ear, the skin obviously burned and broken. A small wail escaped Zuko as he shifted, but kept his eyes closed.

A small blue light was visible from under his thin robes. Iroh slowly pulled back Zuko's clothes, revealing the necklace Ursa had given him in the afternoon, glowing a bright blue and pulsing with unknown energy.

"Oh…" Ursa breathed. Her son was alive. Zuko was alive. "Do you think…?" she trailed off. She raised a trembling hand to her son's face, feeling the mark on his face, still hot to touch.

Iroh simply shook his head, staring bewildered at his nephew. He felt a sudden tug at his arm, as Ursa pushed a small blanket on Zuko.

"Iroh, please…" tears were threatening to fall again, but she pulled them back with a deep breath. She pushed Zuko further into his arms. "Take Zuko, get out of the palace… the capital, escape from the fire nation if you must, please."

The older man frowned. "You must come too—"

"No!" she firmly stated, shaking her head. "Ozai thinks Zuko is dead. If I leave with you, he will surely find us, and try to kill him for sure. I must stay at here, and protect Azula. Please, save Zuko." Ursa bit her trembling lips, trying to bite back the distress building up in her heart. She knew it was the only way. Ursa leaned forward, kissing Zuko on his forehead, and looked up at Iroh. "I will forever be trapped in this shame for asking you to do this… but there is no one else I trust."

Iroh breathed, calming his nerves. He wrapped Zuko around in the blanket and pulled his nephew into a firm grasp as he stood up. Ursa threw a large black sheet over Iroh's body and head, disguising the old Dragon of the West. No more words were exchanged between the two members of the royal family. They stood eye to eye, until Iroh gave a deep bow to Ursa and turned on his heel.

He ran, longer than he ever thought possible. Even as he passed the royal palace gate, or the central station of the capital, Iroh kept running, swearing he'd come back one day.

Zuko never thought he would feel hate towards his parents. Although he didn't know much about them, he always considered them to be a nice farming couple of the fire nation, but involved in a misfortunate accident. This was no accident. His situation was no accident. He had surprisingly calmed down while the old lady talked, his emotions no longer running haywire. He had grown emotionless, in fact, as she continued to speak. His heart hardened, as he absorbed every word of the seer like a sponge.

"Prince Zuko," she called, after finishing her story. He flinched, not used to the title.

"I'm no prince," he blankly replied, inwardly shocked at how toneless his voice seemed. But it was true, he definitely didn't feel like a prince, nor was he every treated like one, heck—he lived pretty much all his life as a farmer.

"What Iroh did—was to protect you, child." Zuko felt a frown form in his head. He understood that, yet he still felt angry at being lied to. All his life, he had thought otherwise. All his life, his scar had been nothing more than the cause of an accidental fire when he was young. He brought his fingers up to his face, grazing his scar. It felt unnatural and different now, as if his skin had sunken or discolored more after learning the true reason behind it. It was something he always had growing up, and he had never felt angry about it—until now. Silent rage began to build up in his chest, thinking about his scar.

"Tell me…" his voice quieted to a low murmur. "What is this… Blood General Spirit? Did my fa—did Fire Lord Ozai—has he already captured him?" Zuko could feel the words catch in his throat. The old lady let out a deep breath, her clear eyes never leaving Zuko.

"Long ago, when the nations were splitting up into their respective elements, there was a war waging between the people of fire and water. They battled for dominance, attempting to designate which of the opposite elements were stronger. Within the water tribe, there was a feared general who was highly blessed in the art of bending." The old seer paused for a minute, watching Zuko for a reaction. "According to the spirits, he was never able to rest in peace. His presence stayed within the clan, possessing a waterbending child every hundreds of years. In his wake, he would destroy anything and anyone, causing more havoc as the child grew older and were unable to control their emotions."

Zuko frowned at the description. "If he becomes so uncontrollable, how could anyone command it? Much less the Fire Lord—" The old lady raised a hand to silence his interruption. Zuko quieted, and shrunk back, waiting for her to continue.

"Many children were sacrificed in order for the general's spirit to pass on peacefully. However, as I have stated seventeen years ago, the general has returned once again. And your father has not been able to have him, although he has been trying for many years."

Zuko flinched again at her words. He wanted to deny that such a man was his father. He breathed. "If the Fire Lord cannot even find him, how can I?"

The seer slightly raised an eyebrow at Zuko. "He is closer than you think, child." Zuko shifted his position closer, still not understanding what she meant. "He is called the Blood General because as he awakens, the eyes of the one he possesses will turn crimson. He holds no mercy and will create a path of blood wherever he goes… especially on the night of a full moon."

Zuko had never felt more slow-minded and dense than he did now. He knew that he wasn't the type to make deep connection in his life. But how could he not have noticed? Zuko stayed frozen at his spot, unable to process the look the old lady was giving him. Anybody could have traced the dots. His mouth seemed to dry in an instant, and his throat constricted. He didn't want to say it. It hurt more to think about it, than to admit that Fire Lord Ozai was his father. He wished, anything but her.

"Katara…" his voice barely audible. Zuko didn't even realize he said her name. It seemed to slip out instinctively. The seer stayed expressionless, not even batting an eyelid at her name.

"I have visited her, and seen her progress," she said. "She is truly the wielder of his spirit."

"You…" he mumbled, still in shock. "Visited her?"

"She heals at an alarming rate, due to the spirit inside her." Zuko lowered his gaze. No wonder. "It is his defense mechanism," she continued. "Because if she dies, so will he."

"Then... are you saying…" Zuko closed his eyes; he didn't want to hear it anymore. He wanted to forget all he had heard. Maybe if he closed his eyes long enough, he wouldn't remember any of it. He would happily walk back down the mountain and see Katara smiling, waiting for him as if nothing had ever happened. Only if.

"Yes," she breathed. "To free the spirit of the general, the host… must die."

Zuko forcibly pulled his eyes open, facing the old lady in front of him, unbelievably disgusted at his situation. "This… is ridiculous!" he shouted, pushing himself up to his feet. "There is no way! I'm not going to k-kill Katara!" Even implying it made his heart feel like it was being crushed. How could she dare ask him to do such a thing? "I—I…"

He frowned. What was he about to say? That he was her friend? That she was important? No, it was far beyond those feelings or thoughts, and he knew that. From the moment she had saved him, he knew there was something in her that had changed him. The way he his heart jumped a little when she smiled at him, or laughed at his stupidity. How his world seemed to end when she fell injured because of him.

The seer smiled sadly at him, her eyes understanding what he thought, even if he couldn't express it himself. "I am sorry, child, the road you walk on is thin and covered with thorns. However, there is duty you must fulfill, and honor you must uphold for your nation. They are waiting for your hand."

Zuko shook his head slowly. "Never… I can never hurt her. She has already done so much for me. I'm not going to sacrifice her life for the sake of my duty."

The old lady didn't seem surprised. "Even if it means risking the lives of everyone around her?" He flinched, not having an answer for her. "And what of her feelings?"

Zuko hadn't thought about that. He knew she wasn't a stupid girl. She must have caught onto something that was unusual about her. Before anything, Katara was the self-sacrificing type. Even if it meant hurting herself, as long as she would be helping other people, he knew she wouldn't hesitate. Would she run away? Refuse to see or meet anyone? Or even end her life? Zuko couldn't take that, if she decided to run away from the world, trying to protect it, he might as well follow her.

"I'll find a way," he spoke more confidently, gazing down at the old woman before him. "Definitely, I won't give in. Not to anything, not to fate, not to the world, and… not to my father." He bowed deeply to the old seer, honestly grateful for her words.

She gave him a wrinkly smile, the kind that Iroh often gave him when he mastered another fire bending technique. "Then may the spirits be with you, prince of fire. I will always be looking at what lies ahead."

Zuko nodded, giving her another respectful gesture. He breathed for a moment, taking in the silence and peace she had to offer. Feeling the old wood under his fingers, he gently pushed the door and stepped out of the room. It seemed to darken after his leave and her image seemed to fade into the shadows.

It was sunset. Before anything, his natural firebender instincts kicked in, informing him that the day was ending. How long had he been in there? He remembered he had trotted up the mountains mid afternoon.

"Zuko…"

He turned to the direction of a familiar voice. Iroh stood a few feet down the trail, looking up at him with an unreadable expression. Before he could think, Zuko walked forward, bringing his arms behind his uncle into a crushing hug.

"Zuko, I am so sorry…" Iroh mumbled. "I should have told you earlier… about everything. I will understand if you despise me." He shook his head in response, pulling back from the hug after a moment of silence.

"Don't be. Uncle, you've taken care of me, taught me… and loved me more than my own father ever would have." He could see Iroh's eyes water and look down. "I don't blame you for what you've done." Zuko could feel his heart break down, watching his uncle struggle. He pulled his uncle into another hug, feeling his heart truly calm and rest in his life. "Thank you for saving me."

The two stood in silence, each not wanting to break the true peace that finally seemed to settle within them. Iroh was the first to pull back, a thin smile on his face.

"I got a message that Katara has woken up," Iroh finally said. Zuko's eyes widened as he looked back up at his uncle. His heart skipped a beat. He smiled knowingly, putting a hand on Zuko's shoulder. "Go see her, nephew."

A genuine smile broke out on Zuko's face as he turned to run down the hill. "Thanks, uncle."

"Don't get lost now!" Iroh yelled after him. "I know you still have no sense of direction!"

Zuko scoffed lightly and shook his head. He was glad his uncle hadn't said anything more about the situation. Everything had suddenly seemed so much brighter, after talking to his uncle and learning that Katara was awake. He practically flew down the trail, his legs extending far beyond what he stretched for. Zuko reached the familiar house in half the time it took him to climb up. He breathed, throwing himself into the room where Katara was.

He saw her head peak up at the sound of his footsteps. After locking eyes with him, her eyes slightly widened, as she pushed herself up to a sitting position.

"Zuko," she whispered, not taking her eyes off his. Her eyes still the stunning shade of blue he had remembered it to be. He had to admit; hearing her voice again was like a dream. After she was hit, he didn't know what would happen to her. His inner world seemed to celebrate and brighten when she said his name.

Wordless, he continued to walk towards her, pulling up a chair beside her bed. Her eyes waited, quiet for him to say something back. Without warning, he slumped forward and let his face fall above her knees, thankfully cushioned by the soft blankets. She let out a low gasp in surprise. "Z-Zuko…?"

"Don't…" he started. Trying to find the words. "Don't you ever do this to me again, Katara." His voice sounded hoarse and weak, as if he hadn't spoken in days. He turned his head to the side, so he wasn't facing her. If he did, he was afraid that he would be unable to control the tears that wanted to slip from his eyes.

"…I'm…sorry," she mumbled. Zuko felt something weigh on the side of his head, Katara's voice suddenly sounding a lot closer. "I just… didn't want to run away anymore."

Zuko's heart pounded loudly against his chest. He could feel her breath tickle the back of his neck, causing his whole body to lightly tense in some anticipation. He let out a deep breath, concentrating on calming his erratic heartbeat. How could he even dream of hurting her?

"I would have never forgiven myself if… you didn't wake up." He swallowed his words, not wanting to even mention the word 'died'. He felt her hand lightly smack the top of his head.

"Please, you know I've got more willpower than that…" she said. "I would never leave you… and Sokka." The corners of Zuko's mouth tugged into a small smile, hearing her sound a bit flustered.

"Yeah…" he breathed, his heart still beating loudly. "Welcome back, you crazy girl."

Katara felt a laugh escape her lips before she could stop it. She kept her hand on top of his head, casually twirling his hair between her fingers. She was actually glad he had turned the other way, the back of his head facing her. She couldn't explain the strange feeling of peace that settled in her stomach after seeing Zuko. And he had been right, Katara was immensely thankful she had survived.

The two stayed in silence, Katara still lightly resting her head on top of Zuko's. It had been an impulsive decision, as her body seemed to move of its own, but she didn't regret it. She listened to his quiet breathing, wondering what he was thinking. After realizing she didn't remember anything after she was hit, she frowned, and broke the silence.

"By the way, Zuko, where are we?" She inquired quietly, knowing that Sokka was still resting next to her. Only more silence answered her. Frowning, she leaned forward, and gently moved the raven hair that covered the top half of Zuko's face, wondering what he was thinking to ignore her. Katara released a low laugh, seeing his eyes closed and his upper body rise in a steady rhythm. He had completely fallen asleep.

"Good night, then," she murmured, feeling her eyes close soon after.

A/N: Aw, Zuko :,) He can finally close his eyes in peace.
I kinda felt that this chapter was rushed and I didn't spend much time developing the feelings between Iroh and Zuko :/ My apologies, if you feel the same way too. However, I'm quite satisfied with the ending, and the sudden change to Katara's perspective. *Quiet squeal of happiness*
Next chapter will be following an angry princess... and what exactly is going on in the fire nation. Heh.

Review:D and I'll see you guys in a week.