Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar: the Last Bender or its characters
Pointers: 'italics' means that the character is thinking
Summary: He hadn't seen her since the day he was banished, but he could still remember the way the wind had drifted her away. Zuko x OC
Book 2: Earth
The Cross Roads of Destiny
It was the day after Zuko's date with the Earth Kingdom girl named Jin. The tension had lessened than how it felt like yesterday, it would seem like things were getting better. Jiyuu wasn't even ignoring him anymore, but she wasn't talking to him as much as she used to anymore which wasn't much of improvement, but something at least. Zuko had watched as the hazel-eyed girl had been smiling in the face of this one customer, who kept asking for her to come over every five seconds just to speak with her. The Prince watched with watchful eyes as she was interested in the conversation being spoken, her eyes wide with a gloss of happiness. It was bothering him and he wasn't exactly sure why, why was he bothered?
Right, its because he kept thinking she was Jiyuu. Jiyuu was always able to gravitate men towards her, able to make them fall in love with her charm and her intelligence. Not many people knew how smart Jiyuu was, but he knew. She was an historian lover and a good mathematician, her reading level beyond the charts, and her knack for science especially the constellations. Zuko had knew everything about her, but yet he always felt distant with her more than everyone else. She couldn't see him like she saw all those other guys and he never understood what made him so different from the rest. Maybe she just saw him as her best friend, or maybe like an older brother, and there was no way she could see more than that.
"That's funny!" Jiyuu said, her hand on her cheek as her laugh filled the air along with the conversations of the other customers. But her laugh was only what Zuko heard out of everything else. Her laugh was filled with mirth, but it sounded so childish. A giggle that only children were able to produce, slightly high-pitched. It slowly made the corner of his mouth move upward in attempt of a smile, but he quickly stopped it when he realized that he wasn't the one making her laugh, it was that pretty boy over there.
It must of been his first time coming to the shop because Zuko had never seen him before. His skin was a fair pale, dark black hair which was tied in a ponytail behind his head. He looked young, probably seventeen, and he had bore such a serious expression but it changed whenever Jiyuu had came around. Iroh had watched as Zuko had been wiping that same area on the counter for the past twelve minutes, staring intensely as Jiyuu and the boy who spoke. "His name is Gaomu and he is the Earth Kingdom's, General's son." Iroh told Zuko, "He currently works for the Dai Li and wants to work his way up."
"And why are you telling me? Its not like I care." Zuko said as he then turned to Iroh, "So, he's an earthbender?"
Iroh smiled, "Precisely. They said he's a heartbreaker and known as the most handsome man in all of Ba Sing Se!" His Uncle explained, but then noticed he went too far because his nephew frowned, deeply. "But he has nothing on my nephew, Lee." He patted the boys back, "He's been visiting the past couple of days, but today is the first time he has spoken to Feng."
"You think he likes her?" He asked, surprising his Uncle that he had boldly asked such a question as if he was concerned. Which Iroh knew that he was.
The old man nodded his head, "He only wants service from her and of course Pao is going to condone it. Its business. But why should it matter? You like Jin, right? Speaking of Jin, here she is!" Iroh then waved at brown-haired, Earth Kingdom girl who had approached the counter and smiled at both of them.
"Hi Lee, Mushi." She said kindly as Zuko was too busy paying attention to Feng/Jiyuu, who was receiving a letter from Gaomu. Jiyuu pressed the letter against her lips as she shyly looked away. The Prince narrowed his eyes, noticing this expression before. He had a sudden flash of when Jiyuu would give the same shy look with her suitors calling it the "Heart snatcher". He was pretty sure that he was over-analyzing it and she was really being shy, but it just looked too similar.
Zuko noticed Jin wave her hand infront of his face, "Oh." He said quietly, "I got distracted."
"By what?" The girl asked before turning to look in the direction that Zuko was staring that, "That's Gaomu! He's the most handsome guy in Ba Sing Se, he's also rich too." Jin explained, "He has a habit of breaking girls heart, always finding a flaw of theirs that he doesn't like and moving onto the next girl. I hope your friend doesn't go out with him, he'll break her heart for sure."
Zuko replied, "She can handle herself." He looked back at Feng/Jiyuu and Gaomu, "I'm sure she won't let him hurt her."
Iroh looked at Zuko and then at Gaomu, who was finally leaving. Jiyuu walked toward the desk, "What? Is there something wrong?"
"Oh, nothing is wrong." Iroh reassured her, "We just saw you speaking to that handsome young fellow."
"Oh, Gaomu? He invited me out on a date." She informed them, Zuko rolling his eyes.
"He's bad news." Jin finally spoke up, "He has a very bad reputation!"
The airbender folded her arms, "So? By the end of the day, he'll be groveling at my feet. Its not like I like him or anything."
"What's the purpose then?" The teenage firebender asked, noticing the cockiness that filled the air around her.
"Its because of his reputation that I want to knock him down a few levels. He's a little too arrogant." Jiyuu looked at her nails and then looked back at them.
"The same could be said about you." The boy retorted, a deadpanned expression on his face.
Jiyuu rolled her eyes, "Whatever. Get back to work." She huffed as she went towards the back and Iroh looked at Zuko and then at Jin.
Iroh is poured tea for a wealthy dressed man and his bodyguards. As Iroh walks away, they sip the tea and smile, then rise to approach him.
"So you're the genius behind this incredible brew. The whole city is buzzing about you." Quon holds up the teacup in a hand glittering with jeweled rings, "I hope Pao pays you well."
Iroh smiles, "Good tea is its own reward."
"But it doesn't have to be the only reward. How would you like to have your own tea shop?" He asked the older man.
Iroh, stunned, immediately spoke. "My own tea shop? This a dream come true."
Pao scampered to join the conversation, Jiyuu watching as she set a plate down for a customer. "What's going on here? Are you trying to poach my tea maker?" He threw himself protectively between Iroh and the businessman.
"Sorry Pao, but that's business for you am I right?" The wealthy dressed man said, a smirk on his face.
The teashop owner became increasingly desperate, "Mushi, if you stay, I will make you Assistant Manager. Wait, Senior Assistant manager."
"I'll provide you with a new apartment in the upper ring. The Tea shop is yours to do whatever you want." Zuko glances over from busing a table, "Complete creative freedom." offered Quon
Iroh, elated, then asks. "I even get to name the shop?"
"Of course!" Quon added.
Pao began pleading, Jiyuu shaking her head. "Uh, Senior Executive Assistant Manager?"
Iroh sets the teapot into the hands of shop owner Pao, who grimaces in pain. Pao walks off as Iroh and Quon exchange respectful bows. Zuko walks over, pausing as Iroh speaks to him. "Did you hear nephew? This man wants to give us our own tea shop in the upper ring of the city." Iroh explained excitedly.
"That's right young man. Your life is about to change for the better." Quon replies.
The Prince continued to walk away towards the front door, setting down the tray of cups. "I'll try to contain my joy." He says gravely as he steps outside.
Closing the door behind him, Zuko steps out to lean against the front of the teashop. Meanwhile, Iroh approached Jiyuu. "Surely, you will come with us, right?"
The airbender smiled, but shook her head. "Pao is my father's friend, I can't betray him like this."
"But how will we ever see each other?" Iroh frowned, "Don't tell me..."
"Yeah." Jiyuu nodded her head, "This is goodbye, Uncle."
In the cramped apartment complex where Zuko and Iroh live, Iroh was packing into a chest. The door slides open and Zuko enters the room and slides the door behind him. "So, I was thinking about names for my new tea shop. How ;bout the Jasmine Dragon? It's dramatic, poetic, has a nice ring to it."
"The Avatar's here in Ba Sing Se." Zuko holds out the leaflet, "And he's lost his bison."
His Uncle took the leaflet, "We have a chance for a new life here." Zuko walked over to the window, "If you start stirring up trouble, we could lose all the good things that are happening for us"
His nephew spins around to face him, clearly irate. "Good things that are happening for you. Have you ever thought that I want more from life than a nice apartment and a job serving tea? "
"There is nothing wrong with a life of peace and prosperity. I suggest you think about what it is that you want for your life, and why." Iroh said earnestly.
Zuko turned to look outside the window again, "I want my destiny."
"What that means is up to you." The teenager walks away from the window, "The Tea Weevil!" Iroh shakes his head in disgust. "No, that's stupid."
"When is Feng coming with us?" The boy finally asked.
Iroh looked up at him, "She's not."
"Why not? You didn't offer her a job?" The boy asked, confused.
"She said she can't leave Pao's shop. Pao is her father's friend and that would be disrespectful for her to work for another shop, it wouldn't be right on her part." Iroh sighed, "So, we can only visit her when we go to the lower ring."
"I'll talk some sense into her." Zuko stormed off toward the door.
"Don't Zuko!" His Uncle said, the teenager stopping from sliding open the door. "This was her decision and you'll only make it worse if you try to convince her otherwise. She honors her father and doesn't want to tarnish his friendship with Pao."
"...Right." Zuko mumbled as he closed the door.
Iroh sighed, "I know your going to miss her but you'll see her again. This is not the end."
"What do you mean by that?" The young male asked, turning to look at his Uncle with a questionable gaze.
"You can always visit her in the lower-ring is what I meant. Its not impossible." Iroh smiled before thinking of more names to name his new teashop.
A Few Days Later...
Jiyuu hadn't seen Zuko and Iroh since then and she figured it was for the best. They had finally got what they deserved, a well business and a good life. It was lonely here in Pao's shop as he agonized over the fact that he lost Iroh and business wasn't do as well, but still with her pies she managed to save them somewhat. Nobody could really replace Iroh's delicious tea made out of what he said was "love". Gaomu had continued to visit her, persistant as always, but she would simply play hard to get which seemed to grate on his nerves but fascinate him even more. It was about time that she did start thinking about her life and that included falling in love and getting married within the next three years. She wouldn't be young forever, she knew that, and it was about time that she had done something about it.
She had placed a plate of banana pie in front of the customer, giving him a smile. It was until then that Iroh came rushing through the door, worry all on his face. She had knew it was about Zuko and it must of been really, really bad. "Uncle?" She walked over to him, "What's wrong?"
"Zuko has been captured by Azula!" He informed her and her eyes widened, she looked aorund and hurried him to the front door. "We received a letter from who we thought was the Earth King, but it was a trapped by Azula!"
"This isn't good at all." Jiyuu bit her bottom lip, "Do you know where he could be?"
"No, but that's why I planned to ask the Avatar." He explained.
The airbender's eyes widened, "The Avatar?!" She hadn't known the monk was here at all, she looked at the tea shop and then at Iroh. "Let's go. I just have to get something." Jiyuu informed him as she had ran back into the shop and went to the back, finding her sword-whip on the empty shelf. She saw Pao get out of his seat, concerned, but she simply told him that she had to attend to something important.
Once she was back outside, she and Iroh had went to the upper-ring where he had discovered that the Avatar was staying in. They stood in front of the door and looked at each other, before he knocked at the door. Once it opened, a short black-haired girl had opened the door and spoke to Iroh, "Glad to see you're okay."
"I need your help." Iroh said feverently.
"Huh uh!" A watertribe boy and the monk said at the same time, Jiyuu taking note that boy with the tattoos was indeed the Avatar.
Aang and Sokka were gawking at Iroh. Aang points a finger at the former general, "You guys know each other!" His voice unveiled his shock.
"I met him in the woods once and knocked him down. Then he gave me tea and very good advice." Toph explained.
"May we come in? And she's a very important woman, young Avatar." Iroh explained as they both entered the room, Toph closing the door behind them.
Aang looked confused, "Who are you?" He asked Jiyuu as she took her red ribbon from around her neck and pulled her hair into a high ponytail with it like she used to back when she lived in the Fire Nation.
"My name is Jiyuu, my father is Kazu an Earthbender and my mother Jia a nonbender. I am also the granddaughter of Monk Jodoshin, a very important Monk from your time." She explained as grey eyes widened at the realization, "And like my grandfather, I am an airbender."
"A WHAT?!" Sokka gasped, looking at Aang and then at the brunette back and forth. "She's just like you Aang except a girl and no arrows, and pretty!"
Jiyuu merely chuckled at the boy's sense of humor as her hazel eyes found Aang's on her, he opened his arms wide and ran toward her. "This is great! T-This is so great!" Tears began to fall from his eyes as she returned his embrace, "I'm not the last airbender and a grandchild of Monk Jodoshin, someone who I greatly respected, is alive."
The female placed her hand on Aang's back as she returned the embrace, "I'm glad to have met you, Avatar Aang, but we have more important matters to attend to."
"Yeah, why are you guys here?" Sokka asked, "Where's Jerkface?"
"Princess Azula is here in Ba Sing Se." Iroh said as they all frowned.
Aang then spoke, "She must have Katara."
"She has captured my nephew as well." said Iroh as he looked at Jiyuu, who was contemplating something.
"Then we'll work together to fight Azula, and save Katara and Zuko." Jiyuu smiled at Aang, but then frowned when Sokka spoke.
"Woah there. You lost me at, "Zuko"." He replied, unchanging about his feelings towards the Fire Nation Prince.
Iroh defended his nephew, "I know how you must feel about my nephew. But believe me when I tell you there is good inside him." He places his hands on Sokka's shoulders in a pleading way.
"Good inside of him isn't enough. Why don't you come back when it's outside him too, okay?" Sokka informed him as he removed the older man's hands and shoves him away.
Jiyuu narrowed her eyes, "Listen here, punk!" She snapped as she poked Sokka chest in an accusing manner, "I know he must've put you through some horrible crap, but don't think that this war has only affected you and your friends! You don't know what its like in that Fire Nation palace, its not all rays of sunshine! Grow the hell up!" Her voice rose as Sokka seemed like he was shrinking, afraid of the intensity of the girl's eyes and the way she seemed to change the air around them.
Aang sighed as he placed a hand Jiyuu's shoulder to calm her down before he looked at Sokka, "Katara is in trouble. All of Ba Sing Se is in trouble. Working together is our best chance."
Sokka closes his eyes and nods grudgingly. Aang smiles at Sokka's resolve. "I brought someone who might be able to help us." Iroh heads back outside and the others follow. A bound and gagged Dai Li agent is sitting on the porch. Toph lifts him up by earthbending two stone slabs on either side of him.
Iroh pulls down the cloth over his face, "Azula and Long Feng are plotting a coup. They're going to overthrow the Earth King."
The watertribe warrior then speaks angrily, "My sister! Where are they keeping Katara?" Hw points his machete at the Dai Li agent.
"In the crystal catacombs of old Ba Sing Se, deep beneath the palace." The scared agent answered as they all quickly departed for the palace.
Toph's hand was placed on the ground. "Well whaddya know. There is an ancient city down there, but it's deep."
They were all standing outside the palace walls. The earthbender waves her fists outward, earthbending a small crater in the ground. "We should split up. Aang, you go with Iroh to look for Katara and the angry jerk...no offense."
"None taken." Iroh answered.
"And I'll go with Toph to warn the Earth King about Azula's coup. Air magic girl, you can choose whichever you want." Sokka explained as Jiyuu looked at Iroh and then at Aang.
"I'll go with them to the Earth King. Iroh, its best you talk Zuko out of making a mistake." She explained as Iroh frowned.
He shook his head, "It would be better if he knew it was you, Jiyuu."
"No." She quickly answered, "Not yet."
Jiyuu said as she ran ahead, Toph and Sokka following her as they climbed the steep steps towards the entrance. "There's General How!" He notices the Dai Li agents clinging to the columns supporting the roof, lying in wait as General How walks closer. Sokka grabs Toph and Jiyuu and they hide behind one of the columns. As General How draws closer, one of the other agents drops down and slings a shackle at him, attacking to his wrist. Another agent shackles his other wrist. The general growls as they pull the chains, immobilizing his arms. One more Dai Li agent drops in front of General How.
"Arghh! What's going on here?!" General How asked out of frustration.
The Dai Li agent then spoke, "You're under house arrest."
Jiyuu and Sokka witnesses General How's capture from behind the pillar. Momo is clinging to Toph's bun. "This must mean that the coup is happening right now! We've got to hurry up"! She said as she runs towards the throne room, Sokka grabbing Toph as he followed after.
One they reached the throne room, they had seen the Earth King sititng in his throne with Bosco by his side. Mai and Ty Lee are there with him, stil in their disguises. "Thank goodness we're in time!"
"In time for what?" King Kuei asks.
Ty Lee smirked, "Yeah, what are you in time for..." She somersaults forward and lands in front of Sokka, putting her face close to his, "cutie?"
The warrior began to sweat, "Uh, I'm kinda invovled with Suki."
Jiyuu narrowed her eyes before gripping the handle of Souran tightly, creating the whip and crackng it inbetween them. "Ty Lee! Been quite some time since I've seen you."
"Huh?" Ty Lee gave the girl a questionable gaze as Toph earthbends a rock underneath Ty Lee. She gives a small shout as she is hurled into the air. Ty Lee flips backward and lands on top of the badger mole statue in the back of the room.
"They're not the real Kyoshi Warriors!" Toph yells.
"They work for Princess Azula of the Fire Nation." Jiyuu said as the Earth King gasps in shock.
Mai finally speaks, "Sorry to disappoint you."
Mai flings three double bladed daggers at Toph. Toph earthbends a slab of rock in front of her and blocks the projectiles. She then kicks the slab, sending it flying at Mai, who jumps over it. A moment after she lands, Toph uses her earthbending to pop a stone up from underneath Mai, knocking her away. Toph grins victoriously.
Sokka was meanwhile watching the fight before Ty Lee sneaks up next to him, giggling and with a big, happy grin on her face. Sokka is startled and steps back. Ty Lee proceeds to try to attack Sokka's pressure points in order to disable him, but the Water Tribe warrior is too quick. Every time Ty Lee tries to hit a joint or spot on his body, Sokka ducks, leans, and shifts out of the way, often ending up in an awkward position. "Oooh, its like we're dancing together."
Azula was standing behind the Earth King and holding him by the shoulder. The frightened king stares at the blue flame Azula holds close to his head. Jiyuu inhales a large amount of air before blowing it towards Azula, burning out the fire and pushing her back away from the Earth King, "An airbender?!" She says incredulously before she gives the attack a closer look, "J-Jiyuu?!"
"That's my name, don't burn it out!" She grinned before making another fighting stance, but was quickly stopped when chains appeared all around her from the Dai Li agents who came sliding down from the ceiling.
"This fight... is over." The Princess said venomously as Ty Lee disables Toph, Sokka, and King Kuei but his blown back by Jiyuu once she got close. "Get them all out of my sight." Mai drags Jiyuu out of the room while Ty Lee drags Toph. A Dai Li agent drags Sokka out by the arm and another agent leads the Earth King, who has Bosco on a leash, as it moans sadly.
A stream of blue fire rockets towards Aang and Katara from behind. Aang quickly turns around and earthbends a wall of stone to protect them. The fire hits the wall with great force, knocking Aang back. Azula's her fingertips were still smoking from the attack. Katara runs around the smoldering wall and bends the water in the channel. She charges at Azula and brings the water crashing down on her. The Princess deflects the attack with a short blast of fire. Katara keeps her momentum and spins the water around her, smashing it into the floor and creating a large wave. Azula stomps the ground and flings her hands out, making a wall of fire that evaporates the wave coming at her. The steam had hid Azula from view. The monk and the waterbender look left and right, preparing for a sneak attack.
A moment later, Azula jumps out of the steam from one of the larger crystals high above. She attacks with two blue fire balls which Aang and Katara extinguish by bending the water from the channel into a shield. Azula lands on a piece of rock jutting out from one of the large columns. Aang shoots his fists forward and brings his palms down, sending a shockwave through the ground and into the column, destroying it. Azula gasps and drops down between Aang and Azula, pointing her fingers at both of them. Azula looks back and forth between the two of them nervously, waiting for their next move.
Suddenly, a blast of red fire lands between Aang and Azula. They shield themselves from it and turn towards the new opponent, Zuko. He is wearing a simple brown shirt and brown pants, having shed his outer robes. Zuko draws closer to them, poised in his firebending stance. He looks to Azula, who gazes back at him harshly. Zuko then looks to Aang. The airbender gasps just before Zuko punches forward, shooting a fire ball at him. Aang reacts just in time and protects himself by airbending a spiral of wind around his body. He jumps back to gain distance as the flame is dispersed. His sister smiles at his's decision and attacks Katara, waving her arm in an arc and throwing a jet of fire at the waterbender with an underhand toss. Katara bends the water from her flask and extinguishes the fire. The Prince was furiously sending fireballs at Aang with a series of punches.
Jiyuu was looking through the small, barred window of a metallic holding cell that she was in with the others that Long Feng had put them in. Her eyes shift from side to side, on the look out.
"See any Dai Li agents nearby?" Toph asks.
"None. We're all clear." The airbender replies as the earthbender cracks her knuckles and walks to the door, placing both hands on the metal surface. With a screech, the metal door collapses inward, dents forming all over it. The door bursts forward, bouncing off the walls several times. Toph and Jiyuu run out, followed by Momo. Sokka grabs the Earth King by the hand and they make their escape.
"Let's go!" Sokka says to the Earth King.
"I'm not leaving without Bosco!" Kuei informed them.
Jiyuu sighed, "The damn bear will be safe! We'll get him later!"
"I'm not leaving without him and that's that!" The man said childishly.
Every had a deadpanned expression on their face, "I'm going to look for Aang and Iroh, you two deal with this guy." Jiyuu explained to them as she nodded her head and ran down the corridor.
Zuko, who was spinning his fire whips over his head, swings the burning tendrils at Aang, who is clinging to a stalactite. Aang jumps away to another stalactite and the fire whips cut through the one he was just on. Aang pushes off the stalactite with his legs and kicks another one, causing its tip to break and fall off. Aang grabs the upper part still attached to the ceiling, swings down under it and kicks off, hurling himself down. Aang turns himself right side up and slams his fists down into the falling stalactite, plunging it downward. The stone hits the floor, kicking up dust and creating a crater. Zuko is blown back by the shock wave and his body hits a crystal cluster.
Katara bends puddle on the ground and lobs it at the Princess, knocking her to her knees. As Azula starts to get back to her feet, Katara bends the water all around her body. The water tribe female creates two long tentacles of water where her arms are and lifts them high into the air. Azula leans forward and thrusts out her fists, releasing a blast of fire, but it is quickly extinguished as one of the water tentacles wraps around Azula's outstretched arm. The waterbender controls the water, swirling it around with her hand, and swings the other water tentacle down at Azula. Azula tries to counter with a straight thrust kick, but the blue flame shot out is also extinguished and the tentacle wraps around her leg. Katara raises her arms and Azula is lifted into the air, shouting in fright.
Just when it seems Azula is finished, Zuko performs a leaping overhead kick, punching downward to gather energy before hopping into the air and bringing his leg up, creating a large arc of flame. Zuko lands and brings his foot down, hurling the flame forward. The arc of fire passes over the channel and slices through the water tentacles, freeing Azula. Azula smiles at her brother before turning her attention to Aang as he crawls out of the crater, still dizzied by his last attack. Azula sets her eyes on the airbender and lunges after him. Zuko throws two lances of fire at Katara, which she extinguishes with her water tentacles. "I thought you had changed!" Katara said to him as she swings her water down at him.
Zuko's tendrils of fire and Katara's tentacles of water clash together over the channel, both equal in strength. "I have changed."
"Not in a good way, I'm afraid." A voice came through, as Jiyuu walks in from the entrance they used.
"Feng?" Zuko said confused as he watched her walk over to Aang and Katara, who hold their attack just like the Fire siblings. She quickly turns around and sends a large, wide-spanning waves of air toward multiple enemies with one long, sweeping motion with her arms and it knocks both of them back. Aang smiles as Katara looks confused and amazed. "J-Jiyuu!" He shouts upon realization, quickly standing as she looks at him with her cocky smile.
"Why of course its me!" She folded her arms, "I thought you would never realize it."
The Prince narrowed his eyes, enthused by her humorous ways. "But why? Why did you hide yourself from me? Why are you fighting me right now?!"
"Because Aang is the Avatar and is just like me," She extends Souran into a whip, "Besides..." She narrowed her eyes as well, "I don't see the good in you like I use to. You let your sister trick you and you told me, well Feng, that you would hate me. It hurts to know your best friend would hate you, Zuko. But it doesn't matter now because the words best friend become redefined when you've crossed the line and you've done that, so let's go! Cao Cao vs. Daqiao!" Everyone, but Azula and Zuko seemed confused, but Katara and Aang knew for sure that they had just one up the fire siblings with Jiyuu on their side.
Feeling betrayed, Zuko brings his hand up and chops horizontally, sending out another blast of fire. Jiyuu counters it with a swift upper kick of her leg and sending a slide of air to counter attack it, they countered each other out. Meanwhile, Azula smiles confidently while Aang looks determined to win. Azula brings her hands up and pushes them back while stepping forward, creating two large burning balls of blue fire. She shifts her feet and jets off fire shoot from her soles, the small explosions causing her to rocket forward. Aang raises his arms and earthbends the crystals around him, covering his body with them and creating suit of glistening green armor. He puts both arms forward and slides over the ground, coming at Azula head on, rocketing forward.
Both look like they are about to collide, until Azula hops and slides her foot forward, flinging all of the built up fire at Aang. Aang crosses his arms and tries to defend himself, but the powerful attack shatters the crystal armor and sends Aang crashing into a wall on a cliff up above.
Zuko chops downward, flinging one of his fiery whips at Katara, who deflects it with her water tentacle. As Katara counter attacks, Azula leaps from the top of a crystal cluster and shoots a blast of fire down at her in which Jiyuu deflects the attack by dispersing the fire with a wave of her hands using her airbending.
Katara deflects nother blast of fire from Zuko by bending her water into a wall. Zuko swings an arc of fire and Azula shoots a blue fire ball. The fire ball makes a direct hit and Katara is blown back, colliding with a cluster of crystals. She falls to the ground, unconscious. Katara's hair has come undone and flows freel while Jiyuu is left. The airbender spins on the tip of toes as Souran was in whip form, sending wave after wave of air towards them, knocking them back farther and father.
Aang launches dozens of feet into the air, kicking up and enormous dust cloud. Aang slams his body into the floor, cracking the stone ground, and a moment later comes charging at the firebenders by riding on a rolling mound of rock. Zuko and Azula immediately stand and ready themselves for the attack. Aang is furious and determined, but just as he gets close, a Dai Li agent jumps in front of him and lifts his arms, destroying the mound with his earthbending and sending Aang to the floor.
Jiyuu immediately runs over to Aang and helps him up. Many Dai Li agents jump down from the cliffs above, forming long rows behind Azula and Zuko. Katara gains consciousness just as the Dai Li surround her. Katara bends the water from the channel and forms a ring of water around her. The water sprouts eight tentacles as she enters the octopus stance. Aang enters his fighting stance and prepares to face his many opponents. He then looks to Katara, who is desperately fighting off the Dai Li agents. And at Jiyuu who is fighting some of them as well. "There's too many!" Aang says as Jiyuu manages to knock a few down along with Katara. "I'm sorry Katara."
Aang turns around and earthbends several crystals out of the ground to form a tent over him. Aang sits down and begins meditating. The Avatar's arrow begins to glow here as well, illuminating the crystals that surround him. Zuko and the Dai Li are frightened but also enchanted by this light. Finally, Aang opens his eyes, which glow with great intensity. An incredible explosion of spiritual power destroys the crystals. The Dai Li agents shield themselves from the blast. Aang rises from the ground in a bright pillar of cosmic light. Katara looks up at Aang, hope returning to her as she then looks at Jiyuu who is looking at Zuko, who is also returning her gaze. Aang levitates in the air, until suddenly, a bolt of lightning strikes his body.
The monk writhed in pain as Azula smiled confidently, smoke rising from her extended fingers. Aang's body began falling to the ground. His clothes are charred, and there is a terrible wound on his back where he was struck, as well as a burnt spot on the sole of his foot where the lightning exited. Katara and Jiyuu stared shocked and horrified, tears rolling down Katara's face. She turns her body and swirls the water around her. Katara creates a large wave and rides on top of it towards Aang, arms spread behind her. The wave rolls over Zuko and the Dai Li, washing them away. Katara catches Aang and lands on the ground, the water flowing away from her. She holds Aang's unconscious body and looks upa at Jiyuu who stands in front of her in a stance. Zuko and Azula begin advancing on three of them when a fire blast hits the ground between in front of them. Iroh jumps down from a cliff and lands between Jiyuu and his niece and nephew, entering his battle stance.
"You've got to get out of here! I'll hold them off as long as I can!" Iroh punches left and right, shooting fire blasts at any potential attackers, as Katara makes her escape with Aang. He lowers his stance and defends against the stone gloves the Dai Li agents throw at him. Iroh waves both hands forward and flings powerful blast of fire from his fingertips. Katara goes to the waterfall and bends the water. She forms a rising and twisting current that lifts her and Aang upward, but stops when she sees Jiyuu is not with them. Iroh ceases his attack and quietly surrenders once they are out of danger. Two Dai Li agents bend a ring of crystals around Iroh and trap him. Zuko, who stares blankly at his uncle. Iroh stares back at his nephew for a moment and turns his head down sadly, saying nothing.
Jiyuu, however runs forward, doing a jump kick and a steam of air flies towards the Agents who attacked Iroh. "This fight isn't over."
"Jiyuu, you have to escape with the Avatar! I'll be fine." Iroh informed her as she turned to look at him over her shoulder, "You need to be with him!"
She clenched her teeth, "I'm not leaving here without you, Iroh." She said as she cracked her whip and sent it at Azula's arm, which sucessfully grabbed hold of it and the sword pieces had cut into her against her arms. "I'll be damned if I let your hands be up to Ozai and your traitor of a nephew!"
Zuko, stung, looked away as Azula groans in pain. "Free him or I cut off your arm." The airbender threatened as the former general shook his head.
"I will never forgive you, Jiyuu if you don't escape. As a member of the forbidden fruit, you have to get out and be with Avatar. Its your duty that he is safe." Iroh tried to persuade her as tears began falling from the corner of her eyes. She immediately loosened her grip on Azula's arm, the princess clutching her bleeding arm and seething with rage. She took a step back, her the sword not in its regular from as everyone was trying to anticipate her next attack. The Prince stared at her as she looked at him with glaring eyes, her hazel pupils showing nothing but rage.
"Jiyuu..." He mumbled, his arm out to her but she looked away, disgusted.
"Don't ever say my name again." She whispered loud enough for him to hear before going over towards the arc of water and allowing Katara to bend her up towards to their escape.
Bosco, Sokka, Toph, Momo, Katara, Jiyuu and Aang were all riding on Appa in the saddle. It has reached nightfall and the sky is dark. Katara lays Aang down on Appa's shoulders takes out the oasis water. She removes the top of the container and bends the small amount of water out of it. Katara holds it over her palm and makes it spin in a small circle until it begins to glow with energy. The others watch as Katara lifts Aang and places the water over the wound on his back. It lowers into the wound and enters Aang's body. Katara holds Aang close and begins crying. For an instant, Aang's arrow glows, and a second later he groans from the recovery. Katara gasps and smiles joyfully, turning Aang around to look at him. Aang smiles as he looks back at Katara. Katara pulls Aang to her and holds him close, grateful that he is still alive.
Meanwhile in the Earth Kingdom Castle...
"We've done it Zuko. It's taken a hundred years, but the Fire Nation has conquered Ba Sing Se." Azula said proudly to her brother.
Zuko looked down regretfully, "I betrayed Uncle and Jiyuu."
"No, they betrayed you. Zuko, when your eturn home, father wil welcome you as a war hero." She continued on, "And Jiyuu has been an enemy to the Fire Nation ever since she interrupted and disrespected father at your Agni Kai. She never cared about your or the Fire Nation, that's why she never returned."
Zuko didn't say anything for a while. "But I don't have the Avatar. What if Father doesn't restore my honor?"
Azula stands up and places a hand on Zuko's shoulder. Zuko looks at her sadly. "He doesn't need to Zuko. Today, you restored your own honor."
Her brother turns away from her and looks down pensively as he reached into his pocket and pulls out a clam necklace, opening it and looking at the beautiful white pearl inside. 'After all these years I've found you, just to lose you all over again.' He thought as a single tear had fallen down from his good eye, his anger and his sorrow building up in chest.
Jiyuu: The Japanese name meaning "Freedom"
Feng: Chinese name meaning "Wind
Ichirou: The Japanese name meaning "first son"
Jiro: The Japanese name meaning "second son"
Fu: The Chinese name meaning "Rich"
Gaomu: The Chinese name meaning "beautiful; tall; adored; serious"
Hm... So what do you think guys? Really loving the reviews, but I think I could've done more with this chapter but I couldn't figure out what.
I'm glad everyone likes Jiyuu since I thought her arrogant ways might rub people off the wrong way, but I'm glad everyone sees her as creative and original... Different than mostly all OCs.
As far as couple naming... I think Jiko or Zuyuu fits.