Chapter 15

The Betrayal

Running through the woods at a great speed, the wind blew in their faces as branches tore at their clothing. Zuko and the others rushed after Keri, trusting that she would lead them to the safety of the tree top hide-out. The banished Fire Prince hated that he needed to use his bending again, he not only revealed that he was a Fire bender to the leader of a group, devoted to fighting the Fire Nation, but he was leaving a wide trail for Azula to follow.

He had no doubt that the Yu Yan Archers would report back to his sister about the Fire Bender hiding out with a bunch of kids. That is, if she did not already know he was there to begin with. It did seem strange that the famous archers needed to be called into take out a group of rag tag children called the 'Freedom Fighters'.

Keri was silent until they reached the tree-top fort. Zuko was not sure how the Freedom Fights were going to react to his Fire Bending. The Kyoshi Warrior's face was hard to read, but clearly she was upset about the unfortunate turn in events. After making a unique bird call, the kids appeared from the trees.

Not wasting any time Keri started her speech, while the older kids, who were old enough to fight, nursed their wounds and the younger ones listened intently to their leader.

"Today we have lost," she started, "the Fire Nation knew of our plans and clearly they know we are a threat!"

The kids cheered as she said this. Zuko however wondered what she was leading up to. He had his mind set on the worst scenario.

"And they are right!" Keri continued, "We kids are going to bring down the Fire Nation. Because as I speak, the twelve year old Avatar is in Ba Sing Se, recruiting the Earth King to fight against the evil Fire Nation!"

More cheers rose up as Keri continued her motivational speech. Zuko however reached for his swords, he did not like where this was going.

"I have no doubt they will defeat the Fire Lord, Princess Azula…" She paused and looked straight at Zuko. "and Prince Zuko. Who betrayed us today!"

The crowed was silent, Zuko waited patiently to see how exactly they would react. Keri drew her sword and leveled it at the banished Fire Nation Prince.

"I should have known it was you, but I was not sure how to react when I saw you with two Earth Kingdom traitors!"

Sen-Su and Lang's hands moved to their swords, after they realized they were in the same trouble Zuko was in.

"We are not traitors! We had no idea that it was a trap," Lang shouted.

"He might be Prince Zuko," Sen said, motioning towards Zuko who now stood with his swords drawn. "But he's changed. He is a hero!"

"Like, when he nearly destroyed my home in his chase with the Avatar?" Keri said with rage in her voice.

"I needed my honor back! Capturing the Avatar was the only way to get it back. I'm… Sorry." Zuko said, surprising himself on how much humility had changed him. "I've changed." But he knew his words would have no effect on her.

"You? You have no honor!" She shouted and attacked. Her katana was a swinging blur as she moved with grace and agility. Zuko blocked her blade, with his swords and countered her attack, forgetting even when he defeated Keri he would still need to deal with rest of the Freedom Fighters. Sen-Su and Lang were fighting their way out of the crowd. These kids were far from innocent, that was taken away when the Fire Nation wiped out their families.

"Zuko, I think we should go!" Sen shouted, while defending himself from three of the spear wielding Freedom Fighters.

Zuko blocked one of Keri's blows his left sword, then with his other he knocked the blade from the Kyoshi Warrior's grasp. Keri did not hesitate as she took her fans from her belt. The metal fans whooshed open as she charged forward. Zuko dodged each of the weapons as she skillfully wielded them.

He knew Sen was right, they did need to get out of here. Zuko ducked one fan and knocked the other one out of her hand. Realizing that there was no use in hiding his fire bending any longer. He sent a fire blast which, knocked the Kyoshi Warrior off balance and drove her to the ground. By the time she rose, Zuko, Sen-Su and Lang had already disappeared.

ATLAB

Iroh continued through the crowded streets of the lower section of Ba Sing Se, for the most part he went unnoticed, thanks to his crippled old man disguise as he called it. However, he could not help but admit that he was at a dead end.

He had no one to turn to. He was alone in the largest city in the world. So would that mean he would give up on his nephew? Of course not, Zuko was like a son to him and he would not rest until he was found.

The Dragon of the West hobbled through the streets, pushing through crowds of people. He stopped, in front of him stood the "Tea Hut" another one of the many places to purchase tea in Ba Sing Se.

It is almost time for my morning tea… Iroh started toward the shop, but stopped. No, No he told himself, Zuko would need to come first. Almost past, he stopped well a little delay won't hurt. Smiling like a little kid in a toy store, he started towards the front doors. Before he entered he realized he had no money and he slapped himself in the forehead for his forgetfulness.

Needing a plan "b", Iroh sat down in front the tea shop and started begging for money. His efforts did little more than result in a few copper coins but not enough to buy even a small cup of tea.

"Some money for a thirsty old man?" Iroh said, hoping for something more than a copper coin from the rich man that now stood in front of him.

Just laughing at the thought of begging for money, the rich man dropped in a few copper coins in front of Iroh, just a little more than the usual passer. Still not enough for a cup of tea.

Disappointed at his lack of luck, Iroh was nearly ready to just give up on tea for today, when he spotted a familiar face handing out some kind of flyer to people who were just passing by. It was the Water Tribe girl.

Iroh was just about ready to disappear back into the crowd when she spotted him. However she had not recognized the Avatar's former pursuer yet. Running up to him, Katara, if he had remembered her name correctly held out a flyer. Iroh took it, keeping his face to the ground.

"Thank you," He said doing his best to distort his voice.

"You're welcome," She replied, "you let us know if you see anything."

"I will" Iroh turned to leave, but the girl would not let him go.

"You look thirsty," Katara said thoughtfully as she spotted the small pile of coins at his feet. "Here you go," She smiled and handed him a gold piece. "Get yourself a meal and something hot to drink."

"You're too kind." Iroh thanked her as she waved goodbye and continued down the street, handing out flyers as she went.

Nice Girl Iroh thought as he looked down at the gold piece in his hand. Realizing he still held her flyer in the other hand. He unrolled it. It was a picture of the Avatar's bison and he apparently was missing. The flyer also gave an address where to go if he had any information and, of course, Iroh had some information for the Avatar.

ATLAB

Zuko, Lang and Sen-Su once again stopped running as they felt they were safe deep in the woods. The rain, that had fallen earlier, had stopped some time ago, but the path that they now walked on was damp and muddy. They trudged along, not one of them saying a single word about what had happened.

The Banished Prince himself, was equally surprised at the events that had taken place. It had not occurred to Zuko how much he had hurt other people in the past, just like Azula, and he definitely did not want to be like his sister. In his rage he had nearly achieved that very thing.

Keri had brought the horrible things he had done in his chase with the Avatar into the light, but that's not the only thing she had revealed. He now knew the Avatar was in Ba Sing Se. Right under his nose the whole time! The Banished Prince had many regrets in his past efforts to catch the boy, but right now he felt they were necessary. After all, how else was he supposed to win back his honor and his father's love?

His destiny is to become Fire Lord, Zuko felt sure one way or another. But first he needed his ticket home; The Avatar. That would show Azula, and his father would love him again. His honor, his country and his throne would be waiting for him and all he needed was the Avatar to make it possible. The only thing that is keeping him from his destiny are the two very large walls of Ba Sing Se.

While Zuko was lost in thought, Sen and Lang were having another conversation about what to do with the Prince of the Fire Nation once they arrived back at camp.

"We should turn him in," Lang argued, "he is our enemy."

"No," Sen-Su whispered back, "he is our friend, Zuko has saved our lives and the lives of others. I know he has changed, he is not like the other Firebenders who are blood thirsty and power hungry."

"He has saved people," Lang replied thoughtfully, "but we don't know his motivation. Prince Zuko may be in this for his personal gain."

"Yeah right," Sen said sarcastically, "What does he have to gain, by sleeping in the mud and fighting on the side of the Earth Kingdom?"

"I don't know," Lang said, while thinking of any reason why Prince Zuko might have 'changed'. "Look, last I've heard, he is wanted with a huge bounty on his head. He may just be using us as a cover. Zuko may turn on us at any moment. He is Fire Nation and can't be trusted."

As Lang said this, Zuko unsheathed one of his swords. Striking faster than lighting, he knocked the blade from Lang's grasp as he struggled to pull it out of its sheath. Then in one fluid motion, he pinned Lang's head to the ground with his other hand.

Sen-Su, not sure how exactly to react to his companion's actions, drew his sword and leveled it at the Banished Prince.

"Zuko, what are you doing!?" Sen cried in astonishment. "I thought you had changed!"

The Banished Prince sheathed his sword. His one hand, however, kept Lang's face in the mud. Then swinging his leg, Zuko kicked Sen's sword from his grasp with a small fire blast. Sen-Su stood still, not quite willing to make a move.

"I have changed," Zuko said as he relaxed and the fierce expression gone from his face.

He straightened up and held out his hand. Lang was reluctant to take it at first, but eventually he grabbed his hand and Zuko helped him to his feet. Sen was still too stunned to move.

"What was that!?" Sen-Su asked as he regained his composure.

"You two have been the closest to friends I've ever had," Zuko replied. "I'm sorry, but I need to leave."

"Why?" Sen asked, "You can't, it will be considered treason. After all the Earth camp is only a couple hours away."

"There's something I need to do," Zuko replied as he looked in the direction of Ba Sing Se's great walls.

"You're after the Avatar again, aren't you?" Lang said after putting together the pieces.

"It's the only way I can return home," Zuko answered, as he touched his scar briefly and quickly moved his hand away.

"How… how did you get that scar?" Sen reluctantly asked after he noticed Zuko's brief contact with it.

"It's my mark," Zuko answered, "The mark of the Banished Prince, cursed to chase the Avatar forever."

"You realize," Lang said as he picked up his sword, "We can't let you go after the Avatar. He is our only hope at winning this war." He pointed the blade at Zuko.

"Don't try to stop me," Zuko said, glancing at the sword. "You can't and I don't want to hurt you."

"Let it go, Zuko," Lang begged. "Help the Avatar end this war. You've seen what kind of destruction it has caused."

"I can't fight against my own father," Zuko replied. "I'm sorry." The Banished Prince started to leave, but Lang still stood in his way.

"Move," Zuko said sternly, but Lang refused. "You cannot stop me."

"I have to try," Lang shrugged, and swung his sword at the Prince. On its down stroke, Zuko grabbed his wrist and twisted the blade out of his hand. Then he threw Lang back into the mud.

"You've tried," Zuko simply said before walking off in the direction of Ba Sing Se.

"Stop him, Sen!" Lang shouted from his position in the mud, but Sen refused to move.

"How's he going to get into Ba Sing Se anyway?" Sen shrugged, as he helped his fallen companion out of the mud.

That was a good question. How was he supposed to infiltrate the most heavily guarded city in the world? Then again, maybe Zuko didn't need to.

Thanks for reading!

Chapter 16 is coming soon.