A little bit disappointed here, as only Kimjuni2 bothered to review last chapter. This is Zuko we're talking about here, and the whole series basically revolves around him (and Aang), so I assumed people would show more interest. Either way, I hope you guys will at least review this chapter, where Zuko goes through his biggest changes yet, and decides on joining up with Aang.
Michael DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko own Avatar.
Zuko's POV
"Who thought when we arrived into this city as refugees that I'd end up owning my own teashop? Follow your passion, Zuko, and life will reward you." Uncle beamed as he observed the operations of the Jasmine Dragon. By the time I came to, defeating my illness and regaining my energy, it was the day that Uncle was to open his new tea shop. And for this time, I felt like I didn't have a worry in the world. No Fire Nation, no Avatar, no nothing. It was like my mind had been purified, and my main goal was to help Uncle make this the best shop in Ba Sing Se.
"Congratulations, Uncle," I replied, my smile matching that of Uncle's, "you deserve it." And for the first time in years, I truly felt happy, almost like I was part of this reward, even though I was vehemently against it before my so-called coma. And that was what Uncle told me he was most thankful for, the fact that I chose to share this moment with him. Maybe this wasn't the redemption I was looking for, but to have the best tea shop in town, working with the best relative in the world, I was quite satisfied nonetheless. Now, it was time to make some tea!
Our busy day whizzed by like lightning, with almost no free time to spare as customers entered and exited our tea shop in a nonstop flurry. Uncle brewed as quickly as he could while I kept track of each table's orders, trying not to mess any of them up. Despite the hectic situation, I actually found myself completely submersed, if not downright enjoying, the situation. It was almost like life was telling me there were other ways to contribute to fulfilling myself, and helping Uncle was one such method. Uncle and I managed to grab a bite to eat during at not-so-busy time, and that's when I realized how previous life was. After my strange illness, I realized life was just too short to be spent moping around. Why not go out there and achieve a different goal, one that was just as rewarding as the one I had before?
By the time nightfall arrived, Uncle and I were exhausted, but happy that our shop had such great success. I was preparing for the closing down, stacking the tables and chairs away and sweeping the floor, when a rather interesting individual came in. He had a long green robe, and held a scroll in his hand. He gave it to Uncle, claiming it was from the royal palace. I slowed down my sweeping and leaned an ear in. Why would the palace want to see us?
"I can't believe it!" Uncle exclaimed, the scroll shaking in his hands while his eyes almost watered up, "We've been invited to serve tea to the Earth King!" I nearly dropped my broom in shock, not realizing how far the news had reached. I knew quite a few nobles had tea at our shop today and most likely returned to their offices in the palace mentioning our food. But to have word reach the Earth King, making him want to personally try our tea, all within the first day of our operations? That was almost unheard of!
But nonetheless, this was definitely a stroke of luck for us, to the point where we could make our mark in the Earth Kingdom. Quickly closing down the shop, we hurried back to the apartment, setting our menu and trying to think of the best teas we could prepare for the Earth King. I was thinking of just serving tea and matching it with whatever the Earth King usually ate for breakfast, but Uncle insisted that we offered him some of our specialties as well. "If we're there to serve him morning tea, we might as well make it a complete meal," he emphasized.
By the next morning, we were ready for the presentation. A special carriage driven by the royal staff brought us to the front of this gigantic palace, its high walls and long stairway up dwarfing Uncle and me. I dared to say that judging by the exterior alone, it was taller and wider than the Fire Nation palace. The Earth Kingdom was truly beautiful, and I was surprised that I never opened my eyes enough to see it all. But now, to arrive at the pinnacle of the Earth Kingdom, at a place that was so historical, at least according to Uncle, I was in awe.
"Many times I imagined myself here, at the threshold of the palace, but I always thought I would be here as a conqueror," Uncle described as we slowly marched to the front gate, "instead, we are the Earth King's personal guests, here to serve him tea. Destiny is a funny thing." I had to agree wholeheartedly to Uncle's statement. I recalled all the letters Uncle wrote to me when he was laying siege at Ba Sing Se, claiming how badly he wanted to be at the Earth Kingdom palace to claim his victory. But today, after all his trials and tribulations, he was finally here, celebrating a different victory. While he couldn't conquer the earth benders' land, he was about to conquer their taste buds. I would love to see the king's reaction when he complimented our meal!
A servant led us to a chamber away from the main halls, which I guessed was the Earth King's own private dining quarters. We were left all alone inside as the lady told us she would fetch the Earth King. I wasn't sure what to make of the lady, except for the fact that I found her expressions a bit suspect. Her eyes were open yet lifeless, and her smile was so stretched that it almost seemed fake. Add her overall stiff posture in walking, and I would say she was really overworked. Did the Earth Kingdom palace have a shortage of serving staff or something like that? I never recalled our servants acting like that in the Fire Nation.
But the silence grew deeper and longer, with no signs of the Earth King at all. Uncle felt maybe the Earth King overslept, but I wasn't so sure. And when a set of dark-robed guards with green hats surrounded Uncle and me, I knew there was trouble. A while back, when Uncle and I were mere employees at our former tea shop, this crazy guy I met on the ferry to Ba Sing Se came storming in. Jet, as I recalled his name to be, accused Uncle and I of being fire benders and wanted the authorities to arrest us. We broke into a swordfight, spilling onto the street while I tried to suppress my fire bending. It wasn't until these robed guys showed up until Jet was taken away. I was told by citizens around the shop that they were the Dai Li, supposedly some sort of secret police in Ba Sing Se. And to see them surrounding us, this was quite intimidating.
Then, that very condescending voice, one that I would never expect to hear for the rest of my life, sliced through the silence. "It is tea time," a figure clad in Earth Kingdom attire sneered. Even with the different outfit, I knew it was Azula. "Have you met the Dai Li? They're earth benders, but they have a killer instinct that is so fire bender. I just love it!" There was no denying it; even as I begun a new chapter of my life, Azula had to interfere yet again.
Immediately I shot to my feet, ready to battle her. I still hadn't forgotten the battle for the Avatar at the ghost town, in which Azula not only humiliated me by hindering my search for the Avatar, but also injured Uncle in the process. Yet, the one who took the most damage in that battle was surprisingly calm, even lifting his tea cup and taking a sip. "Did I ever tell you how I got the nickname 'Dragon of the West'?" Uncle asked. I instantly smirked as Uncle mentioned this, knowing full well what the Dai Li was in for.
While Azula merely snorted and shrugged off what she conceived to be another attempt to tell a crazy life story, Uncle offered to demonstrate. Just as Uncle swallowed his tea, I ducked my head, feeling the heat go above me full-blast as Uncle breathed fire on the Dai Li agents, blowing them all back as we made our escape. With a fire fist, I blasted a hole through the wall and led us out into a different hallway, all the while Uncle brought up the rear with more fire breathing. At this rate, Uncle could cook the entire Dai Li team before day's end!
As we hustled to the nearest possible exit, dodging earthen bullets from behind us, I kept replaying Azula's battle with me. Perhaps the way I was handling things right now, running away from the problem rather than facing it head-on, was the issue dogging me the entire time. While I was still happy and honoured to be helping Uncle's tea shop, I also realized there would be no end to Azula's pursuits unless I stopped her dead in her tracks. There was always a chance to serve tea with Uncle after I defeated Azula, but until I did she would always hound me. As I closed in on the wall ahead, I froze in my tracks, preparing to retaliate.
Uncle blasted the wall with lightning, creating a large enough hole for him to jump through. I peered through the hole just in time to see Uncle crush the neatly pruned shrubs, all the while calling me to jump. Clenching my fists, I realized now was the time for me to take a stand, and defeated Azula once and for all. Turning back to the hallway, I marched straight into the line of fire, where Azula now stood commanding the Dai Li.
"You're so dramatic," my sister snorted again, waving off the Dai Li. The Earth Kingdom secret police force merely fell in line behind her, obeying her every command. Did she now have control over earth benders? "Are you going to challenge me to an Agni Kai?"
I hissed in anger as she taunted me again, reminding me of the last Agni Kai in which she was present. She was there when my father fought me, and from what I heard she had quite the experience watching my father brand that scar onto my face. Maybe she would like to have a similar scar right here? "Yes, I challenge you!" I declared.
But to my biggest surprise, Azula turned around and flatly refused. As she marched into the darkness, I was left dumbfounded and angry, wondering what just happened. But before I could even react, the Dai Li came at me, clamping my feet to the ground with their earthen fists. I struggled to break free, even using my hands to push off. But it was no use, as the Dai Li just tightened their grip further by cementing my hands. Before long, they were dragging me away, just like how they dragged Jet away, leaving wondering just where I went wrong again.
Iroh's POV
"What are you doing with the Avatar?" I got a load of berating from my nephew as I came barging down into the catacombs underneath the Earth Kingdom. After Zuko's crazy attempt to take on Azula backfired, I had to look for back-up. Luckily, I saw an old friend, the young earth bender Toph Bei Fong run by, and that meant the Avatar was most likely near the palace. It didn't hurt that I captured a Dai Li guard and flushed all the vital information from him, making us realize that Azula was in Ba Sing Se to plot a coup, using the Dai Lai as her main weapon. With Zuko and Katara, the young water bender from the Avatar's group, both being held hostage, we had to take action quickly.
"Saving you, that's what," the young air bending Avatar Aang sharply retorted. That drew a rather quick rebuke from Zuko, who was none-too-pleased that he had to be rescued by the very boy he sought to capture all these years. But with Azula, and now Aang, coming back into Zuko's lives, it was only right that we sorted things out.
"It's time we talked," I told my nephew, holding him back from pummelling Aang. Suggesting that Aang and Katara took off first, I focused my efforts on Zuko. "You're not the man you used to be, Zuko. You are stronger, wiser, and freer than you have ever been. And now you have come to the crossroads of your destiny." There was no doubt in my mind that even though the battle was won when Zuko awoke from his coma, the war was far from over, as Azula wasn't about to let us off the hook. But if Zuko were to stand his ground to fight, then at least he ought to know what to side for. "It's time for you to choose good."
Before I could elaborate, I was blindsided by a series of crystals, trapping my arms and legs and making movement very difficult. I had to admit that I was caught off guard by the Dai Li, who now marched in with Azula. Last time I was trapped, I was in a hot spring getting ambushed by Earth Kingdom soldiers. That group outnumbered Zuko and me five to two, but we clearly outmatched them. But the Dai Li, I could imagine a much more difficult time taking on these agents. Biting my lower lip, I watched as Azula approached Zuko.
"I expected this kind of treachery from Uncle, but Zuko," Azula stated, her voice half-mocking and half-forceful. It was so difficult trying to figure out which side of her was showing at any given time, but for all intents and purposes, I could tell whatever comments she had, they were not good. "Prince Zuko, you're a lot of things, but you're not a traitor, are you? It's not too late for you, Zuko. You can still redeem yourself," she offered.
Hearing that message, I had to interject. "The kind of redemption she offers is not for you," I stated. Zuko worked too hard to be free of her to fall prey to Azula's manipulation again, and I couldn't just watch her make Zuko her puppet. Zuko fought through this when he freed the bison, so he did know what the stakes were this time, right?
But Azula really worked her magic on Zuko, insisting that I backed off and let Zuko choose. "I've plotted every move of this day, this glorious day in Fire Nation history, and the only way we win is together. At the end of this day, you will have your honour back, you will have Father's love, you will have everything you want!" She declared. I couldn't see clearly from my trapped position, but I could see make the slightest shudder at that remark.
"Zuko, I am begging you," I stated again, hoping my nephew still had some good in his heart, "look into your heart and see what it is that you truly want." Time and time again, I told Zuko that he was the one to find his own destiny, not anyone else. Ever since the Agni Kai that gave him the scar, Zuko had been following the destiny of another person, mainly his father's, to the point where he could no longer choose his own path. Even the event that sparked Zuko's Agni Kai, speaking out against the general, had been about restricting Zuko's choice. So if he couldn't get this chance to choose his own life now, when was he ever going to?
Azula dismissed the Dai Li, slowly marching through Zuko and I as she disappeared into the passage Aang and Katara marched through earlier. Right now, I knew there wasn't anything more I could do to convince Zuko of his choice, other than hoped he made the right one. This entire journey, from the pursuit of the Avatar a few months back, to the period in exile where we wandered the Earth Kingdom aimlessly, to today when we opened the tea shop and were invited here, it had been one huge trial for Zuko's life. He had been through so much, and much of that experience matured him, at least in my view. If there was a good moment to show what he was all about, now would be the time to do it. So please, Zuko, make the right choice.
Suddenly, I heard Zuko shed his outer layer, tossing his apron and top to the side, leaving him in a short-sleeved shirt as he raced down the passageway after Azula. I could only shake my head as I realized what a big mistake Zuko was about to make. By heading straight for Azula, and helping her capture the Avatar, Zuko just threw himself back into Azula's trap. Azula wouldn't be thankful for Zuko's efforts; rather, she would do more to make Zuko do things her way. With her controlling nature, why would she give Zuko a chance at anything?
Taking a deep breath, I tried to manoeuvre my fire bending around the green crystals, hoping to break as many of them with as small a blast as possible. I had to save my energy for stopping Azula, who was more powerful than anyone could imagine. Just as I managed to remove all the crystals, the Dai Li agents reappeared. "Do not make me battle you," I warned them, seriously not in the mood for this, "I wish to save my nephew, nothing more. Please let me be on my way, and I will not bother you for the rest of my time here."
But the Dai Li came here for a mission, and that was to help Azula conquer Ba Sing Se. Barely a second passed before they hurled their rocks at me, putting me on the defensive. Even though I had ample experience with fire bending and fighting tough foes, the Dai Li were very formidable fighters in their own right. Their element of stealth was something that most earth benders lacked, as regular earth benders tended to stay close to the ground and used their lower body strength. But these Dai Li agents were nimble, agile, and always in motion, making me fight more like an earth bender by staying put and observing them. As I blocked shot after shot of rock with my fire shields, I realized it was getting harder to break through their stall tactics.
Figuring I had no choice, I had to loosen my restraint and went full force on them. While I thought about saving energy to defeat Azula, there was no way I could even approach them with the Dai Li blocking my way. Focusing my energy on the two robed figures still running circles around me, I created a fire dome around me. I had no idea how well this was going to work, but I only hoped for the best as I unleashed the surrounding attack. The flames shot straight at the Dai Li agents, who barely had time to stop and put up earthen shields. Part of the plan was to use their speed against them, and by the looks of it, it worked.
With the two Dai Li separated, I could now pick each one off. Aiming two simultaneous fire blasts at them, I sent them straight back at the rocky walls, keeping them off my trail for the moment as I ran into the cavernous tunnel after my nephew. Part of me truly hoped that Zuko would be taking on Azula, despite the difference in skills, just to help young Aang and Katara escape. But somehow, I doubted Zuko would be free of Azula's manipulation. My niece was way too cunning and manipulative to let go of this chance to pick on Zuko, and possibly turn him against all his ideals and morals. Was Zuko strong enough to withstand this temptation?
Unfortunately, my worst fears came true, as my nephew was right there, standing by Azula while a whole army of Dai Li agents waited behind them. Katara was in the middle of the cave, holding a now unconscious Aang. I felt sick to the stomach seeing the carnage, especially knowing that my nephew was most likely responsible for some of it. And with an army of Dai Li agents on their side, there was no way I could defeat them all. But still, I had to at least give the Avatar and his friend a fighting chance, so I had to stall while they could escape.
Jumping into the fray, I unleashed a volley of fire at the enemies, all the while calling to the young water bender, "You've got to get out of here. I'll hold them off for as long as I can!" I couldn't even see how many people were attacking, or how many people noticed Katara making her escape, but I felt the green crystals jutting up from the ground again. Before long, I was stuck in the exact same position as before, my whole body trapped inside the green minerals while the Dai Li surrounded me. And with this many guards, I wouldn't be in a position to struggle.
As my eyes scanned the horizon, I managed to catch sight of Zuko, who had this stunned look on his face. I wasn't sure why he was so surprised at my actions, as I felt he should be more surprised at his own actions. After all that we had been through, after seeing all the negative acts Azula forced him through, and after everything he found out about his own history and relating to the Avatar, he still chose to join Azula? I was very disappointed at my nephew, to the point where I didn't want to say anything to him. He might return home a hero, but his days would be a struggle, as he pretty much sacrificed his freedom for this taste of superficial glory. Feeling the sadness overtake me, I turned my head away, refusing to look at my surrogate son.
Zuko's POV
"Lee, I can't believe it. It's been so long!" Jin's familiar voice sliced through the crowd as my face paled somewhat. After the coup, in which the Fire Nation finally conquered Ba Sing Se, I was still very confused about what happened. Uncle Iroh was dragged off in chains, and for the first time ever I felt alone. But still, most of my intuition blamed Uncle for this, as he had a chance to join me in this glorious day, but chose to defect. Not only did he fail to regain his past glory, he was now a full-fledged traitor. He deserved to be in jail, no questions asked.
"Hi, Jin, um..." I stuttered, not knowing what to say. My hands wrung nervously as I turned to Mai, who I had been spending the night with. After the coup, Azula showed me that she brought along Mai and Ty Lee, two friends from our childhood. Mai and I did have a history together, starting from the time I saved her from having Azula shooting an apple off her hand with fire. We saw each other quite frequently between then and my Agni Kai, but we hadn't had a full conversation until today, when Azula and Ty Lee forced us together under a fake dinner. To see the same girl I had dinner with before in front of Mai, I was really nervous. Well, she did hear that I was from the circus right? So why not just pass that off as a reason for Mai? "This is just my friend. My friend Mai, from the circus, is the knife thrower. Yeah!"
Suddenly, my apprehension spiked as Mai dragged me before a fountain, offering to show Jin how knife throwing worked. I knew Mai developed this skill as part of the way she dealt with boredom at home, given how her parents limited her activities. Slapping a fish onto my head, I suddenly felt like Mai did those years back, when Azula wanted to shoot the apple off her head with fire. Well, at least I knew Mai was an expert now, right? We weren't little kids anymore, so maybe I would be safe? I could only swallow hard as Mai snapped an icicle off a nearby stand and, before I could get ready, flung that thing my way.
Luckily, Mai's aim was true, and the icicle gutted the fish right down the middle. I let out a huge sigh of relief, the blood slowly returning to my face as Jin clapped in amazement. Maybe Mai just wanted to have a bit of fun, which was odd, because Mai was usually the emotionless and disinterested one. But now, it almost felt like she was opening up, the first time in years since I saw her do anything like that. Maybe there was something more inside Mai than I knew?
But before I could even react, Mai handed Jin an icicle, pointing at my head again. This time, the fluids flushed out my face twice as fast, my head paralyzed like the fish at the seafood stand as Jin aimed that thing at me. Mai, you weren't planning on having Jin do the throwing, were you? She wasn't a professional, and I doubted she had practiced before. So you would do me this favour and let me off the hook here, right?
Nope, not a chance, as that icicle now came precariously close to me. Before the sharp end imbedded itself into my forehead, I did the only thing possible and dove out of the way. Picking up my feet, I tried to take an extra step, but suddenly felt a block of rock right in my path. Soon enough, I found myself not going sideways, but downward.
The chilly water splashed away whatever shock I still had as the icicle fell harmlessly into the pool, leaving me drenched and cold. Just as I wiped my face, I heard a voice snicker from above me, "Now we're even." Looking up, I saw Mai looming over me, an evil grin taking up my entire line of vision. Apparently, she hadn't forgotten that I rescued her by shoving her into a pond, and she wasn't about to forgive and forget that incident.
I just dropped whatever thought I still had of the situation and chased after Mai. Leaving Jin still standing at the fountain to admire her good work, I pursued Mai through alleys and corners, all the while yelling, "Are you crazy? You could have gotten me killed!" I finally grabbed a hold of her elbow, holding her in place as I whipped her around to face me.
Just then, we were all alone, with nobody around us and no sound to be heard from any direction. The night was calm and windless as I stared into her golden eyes, reminiscing all the good times we had. I had been through quite an ordeal the past few years, and I had reservations about my journey's bittersweet end. Father might view me as a hero now, but it was at the expense of losing Uncle, who chose not to side with me. But in between all that, I forgot how amazing Mai really was. She might not know it, but Mai was only more beautiful when she showed her happy side, and how I missed seeing her happiness so much during my exile. "You finally seem to be enjoying yourself," I observed.
Mai's eyes tilted apprehensively, not quite knowing how to describe it. Could it be that the childhood crush was now becoming something more? "A lot had changed since the days when I used to throw mud in your face," she replied, "but not everything's changed." With that, she placed her hands onto my cheeks and pulled me in closer.
The whole world seemed to melt into the distance as we pressed our lips together, holding on tightly as we basked in the moment. If there was one thing I found today, it was that old relationships could be rekindled, and there were those who were willing to wait years for the return. Mai might not have gone through as large an ordeal as me, but to see her still coming back to me even after all these years, it was truly something I cherished. I would never take it for granted that I had such a great friend, and now we were going to take this one step further.
We ended up returning to the Earth Kingdom palace hand-in-hand, with my mind a lot clearer than it had been before. I truly appreciated what Mai did for me, giving me back my confidence and strength to face the future. I still had doubts about whether I should return to the Fire Nation, but at least I wasn't as adamant against it. But one thing's for sure: with Mai by my side, there was no way Azula could make me her puppet again. I was my own person, free to live my own life, and I chose to live it with pride. I knew deep down Mai did support this decision, and hopefully we could translate that into sending Azula this message.
Zuko's POV
The throne room was just as grand, and intimidating, as I had remembered it from over three years ago. The only illumination came from the series of flames surrounding the throne, where a silhouetted figure now sat. My stomach churned endlessly, almost like it wanted to throw out my lunch. My feet turned into stone, dragging themselves into the chamber as I got onto my knees. It had been three years since I spoke out of turn here, three years since that fateful Agni Kai, and three years since my father last spoke to me. Now that I returned with Azula after defeating Ba Sing Se, how would my father receive me?
As my head touched the ground in a full kowtow, my father spoke to me. "You've been away for a long time. I see the weight of your travels has changed you. You have redeemed yourself, my son," he stated, his voice authoritative, but for the first time, receptive of me. I still didn't dare to look up, but now at least I heard footsteps coming from the throne.
But the figure soon stopped, casting a long shadow before me. Last time that happened, I ended up with a burn to my face, but somehow a little voice inside me insisted that I looked up. No matter how bad it was that time, I had a feeling that it was different. He did say I redeemed myself, right? So that meant he accepted me now? He would no longer renounce his love of me, like what happened back then? Taking a deep breath, I finally lifted my head.
That look I hadn't seen for so long was now in my vision, the long and pale, but still strong and firm face staring right back at me. It was a huge contrast between the three years, as the last time I was here, that face was twisted into a grimace, adding onto the intimidating scolding tone when I refused to fight him. But this time, his eyes were gentle, and there was no such aggression when he welcomed me home. And for the first time ever, I felt relieved.
"I am proud of you, Prince Zuko," my father stated, now pacing back and forth before me, "I am proud because you and your sister conquered Ba Sing Se. I am proud because where your loyalty is tested, by your treacherous uncle, you did the right thing and captured the traitor." I nearly shuddered as he mentioned Uncle Iroh. Even though I agreed it was Uncle who brought this upon himself, I didn't feel completely right about doing the act. Traitor or not, Uncle Iroh was the one who looked out for me for the last three years, and saved me multiple times, along with training me in fire bending techniques. Could I just ignore all that and throw him in jail?
"And I am proudest of all of your most legendary accomplishment," My father continued, now positioning himself right behind me, "you slay the Avatar!" Upon hearing that, I nearly did a double take. Last time I checked, Azula was the one who ran through the air bender with her lightning, not me. So when did that change so quickly? Azula wasn't trying to pull a fast one on me by telling Father a different version of the events, right?
Upon inquiring from my father, I found out that Azula told him I was the one to deliver the final blow after going several rounds with the boy. She described I showed amazing power and ferocity, cornering the Avatar before killing him off. I could feel my eyebrows furrow harder and harder as the story went on, knowing full well that most, if not all of it, were lies. I wasn't sure what Azula was trying to do here, claiming I was the one to kill the Avatar, but I knew she couldn't be up to anything good. I had been back less than a day, and already she was up to her old tricks. What was she thinking by manipulating Father like that?
After a few more congratulatory words, I excused myself from the throne room. I wasn't about to let Azula off the hook here, and I was determined to find out what was going on. Marching through the palace, I entered the wing with the living quarters and headed straight for Azula's room. Luckily, I still remembered where everybody slept before, and I doubted anyone of them moved rooms. Stepping up to Azula's room, I shoved open the door and marched right up to her bed. Not caring that she was trying to sleep, I called to her. "Why did you tell Father that I was the one who killed the Avatar?" I demanded, glaring right at her.
Azula slowly turned her body to face me, like she didn't have a care in the world. "You seemed so worried about how Father would treat you when you haven't captured the Avatar," she explained, slowly getting up and nonchalantly glancing at her fingernails, "I figured if I gave you the credit, you have nothing to worry about." Even with my restoration as the prince, Azula didn't even hesitate in using her arrogant tone on me. It made me sick to the back teeth.
Azula slowly stepped off the bed, that sickeningly sweet, but foully condescending tone still present as she thanked me for my help in Ba Sing Se. "I was happy to share the glory," she added, taking a casual pose against the post of her bed. Inside my head, every alarm bell went off as a result of that. Azula thanking me had to be the biggest joke ever.
"You're lying. You have another motive for doing this. I just haven't figured out what it is." I accused, my eyes never leaving her as Azula paced the room, stretching her arms and shrugging off all my allegations. Earlier, Azula asked me if there was any way the Avatar might have survived the battle, and I did recall Katara, that water bender girl, tell me she had some spiritual healing water from the North Pole. I wasn't sure what its effect might be, but was it powerful enough to revive the dead? What was Azula trying to do by prying into that detail?
"What ulterior motive could I have? What could I possibly gain by letting you get all the glory for defeating the Avatar?" she asked rhetorically. I felt angry and nervous at the same time, knowing she was going to bring up the possibility that the Avatar might not be dead. "Unless somehow the Avatar was actually alive, and all that glory would suddenly turn to shame and foolishness. But you said yourself that was impossible." Azula now returned to her bed, sitting upright and staring at me with sarcastic eyes and her trademark smirk.
My stomach sank significantly as she continued eyeing me strangely. What if the spiritual water did work its magic, and the Avatar survived the hit? What if he was on his way to safety, doing who knew what to defeat us once more? And how much did Azula know about this item, to the point where she could ask pointed questions like that? Suddenly, the darkness in the room just increased in magnitude, leaving me in an eerie silence as I tried to find a way out.
Gravely, I turned around and left her room, heading back to my own as Azula called from her bed, "Sleep well, Zuzu." Apparently, there was more work to be done to confirm that the Avatar was truly dead. I had to seek out other sources of information while keeping my actions a secret, just to make sure this possibility didn't get out. But for now, I had to rest up, and think up of different plans in the morning. With Azula's trickiness and my father being completely swayed by her words, I had quite a difficult web to spin myself out of this time.
Zuko's POV
"I'm bored, and I'm hungry," Mai murmured as we sat on a bench at the far side of the room. My father had this crazy idea that he had to plan the final steps of the war with his closest ministers, sending Azula and I on a forced vacation to Ember Island. Mai and Ty Lee ended up joining us, meaning we at least had some company on this trip. After the incident at the throne room where Azula told Father that I was the one to kill the Avatar, I ended up going to my uncle to ask for advice. Unfortunately, the old fool still refused to admit his mistake, opting to ignore me for my choice to return home rather than reaching out. Seriously, I never expected this from Uncle at all. Was he so arrogant and blinded by his own ego that he couldn't accept mistakes?
Unfortunately, Azula found out about this, and warned me not to see Uncle again. Azula was another person that I was concerned with, as the longer I was with her, the longer I felt she might suspect the Avatar was still alive. So one night, when nobody noticed, I slipped out of the palace and hired an assassin to track down the Avatar, ordering that the boy be killed, should he still be alive. But right now, Azula's suspicions were the least of my concerns, as my grumpy girlfriend wasn't exactly making life easy for me. Seriously, how could anyone deal with dating someone who seemed interested in nothing? She wasn't like that during our first few dates, but today it felt like there was nothing that could get her excited.
Feeling my good side take over, I trudged over to the main table and grabbed a plate. At the beach earlier today, we challenged a bunch of other teens to a game, and that caught the attention of these two dunderheads calling themselves our hosts. Chan and Ruon-Jian weren't exactly common folk, as most guests here had parents or other relatives somewhere up the Fire Nation nobility or military hierarchy. But to see them flaunt around bragging their credentials to people made me sick. If it weren't for Azula's idea to keep our identities secret, I would wipe their smiles off their faces for sure. Well, small price to pay just to get some company, right?
Just as I got enough stuff to go back, this lunatic had to wave his arm right in front of me. I tried to dodge, but to no avail, and the result was the plate overturning and its contents plopping onto the ground like clumps of wet sand tossed into the waves. Steaming more than the trays I picked from earlier, I grabbed the klutz who knocked the plate over. "Watch it! That food was for my cranky girlfriend!" I roared, pointing in Mai's direction.
I nearly did a double-take as a boy hovered right over the seated Mai. It was Ruon-Jian, one of our co-hosts. As if the summer heat didn't make my blood boil enough, this surely took the cake. Nobody was about to take Mai from right under my nose, especially some stuck-up, full-of-hot-air wannabe. Racing in their direction, I pulled Ruon-Jian away from Mai and nearly hurled him across the room. "Stop talking to my girlfriend!" I yelled.
Ruon-Jian approached again, telling me that it was a party, meaning anyone could interact with anyone. Oh really? So just because we were at a party meant you could stalk Mai while I grabbed food? Aiming my hand right at his sternum, I pressed forward just as Ruon-Jian took the last step, sending him sailing with a well-aimed shove. And what did you know? He landed straight on an expensive vase! Hope you didn't get cut on the way down, bucko!
"Zuko!" Mai's exclamation only brought my attention back at her. She started waving her finger in my face and declared to everyone how I had this attitude problem. The whole house was dead silent as Mai continued lecturing me, but I didn't pick up any of her words. What right did she have to blow up at me when she was the one acting all bored and disinterested the whole day? At least I tried to engage her, but how did she react? "You're so impatient, and hot-headed, and angry!" She concluded, crossing her arms angrily across her chest.
What? I was being too emotional? Said the one who felt nothing at any given time! "At least I feel something, as opposed to you. You have no passion for anything! You're just a big blah!" I ranted. Was there anything more hypocritical than Mai's words right now?
Soon enough, I paid the price for that, as Mai whipped around and told me it was over. As if that wasn't enough, Chan charged in from nowhere and cried about how his family's vase was now shattered. Oh, boo-hoo, as if it meant anything to him. Had it not been his family giving him all the perks, he wouldn't even have this beach house. Just as Chan was about to eject me from the party, I shot him a dark look. "I was just leaving," I spat, going straight for the door before slamming it shut behind me. Why was I surrounded by idiots all day?
I found myself going back to my family's old beach house, a place that I hadn't been to in years. The last time I came here, it was before my mother disappeared, and I was still on fairly good terms with Uncle. I gently pushed the door open, only to be greeted with a cloud of dust as I tried surveying the scene. The waves splashing the shoreline at the bottom of the hill was the only sound echoing through this old building, with the moonlight my only guide into the hall. I stepped up to the first wall, and was greeted with a familiar sight.
Well, this is interesting, I thought to myself. It was a family portrait, done at a time when things weren't as complicated in our household. I was the little boy sitting to the left of my dad, who had a hand on my shoulder. Azula was to his right, and sandwiched between Dad and Mom. Just the sight of this picture brought back so many memories, including one where Mom and I were together making a hand cast. I was just a toddler back then, but I still recalled how much I enjoyed just being there. Looking around, I tried to find the hand print. It had been over a decade since I made it, so would it still be around after all this time?
Luckily, I didn't have to look far, as the imprint was sitting right on the ledge underneath the portrait. I picked it up, taking a look at the small hand that made the print. I pressed my own palm on it, and realized my hand size exceeded not just the imprint, but the entire plate. So much had gone by since that day, and I would visit Ember Island several more times in between. When I was no longer a baby, Dad already took his priorities elsewhere, devoting very little time with me. I ended up coming here with Uncle and Lu Ten, both of whom were fantastic. Uncle's wife passed away before I was born, and since Uncle never remarried, Lu Ten never had any siblings. Every time I joined them on these outings, Lu Ten's big brother personality would take over and he would take me on all sorts of adventures. Uncle, of course, didn't mind Lu Ten and me playing together. Those were fantastic times that lasted all the way until Uncle was asked to lead the Siege at Ba Sing Se, and Lu Ten opting to fight alongside him.
But all those memories seemed so far away, as a lot had changed since that time. Lu Ten died in battle while Mom mysteriously disappeared. My life under my father was miserable, as he wasted no time declaring how soft I was, and that I ought to be stronger in every aspect of life before I could call myself his heir. The moment of truth came during the Agni Kai, leading to my banishment, only to end it at Ba Sing Se when Azula and I fought the Avatar, with Uncle turning into a traitor by letting the Avatar's group escape. Somehow, I felt like I came full circle by coming back here, looking back at the hard road I took to grow up. It felt like this never-ending journey of hardships was about to come to an end with my restoration.
But I still didn't feel complete, as something inside me kept bothering me. Even with a supposedly perfect life, where I regained my father's love and had a steady relationship with Mai, I felt my emotions rise and fall in magnitudes greater than ever before. Part of it might be due to Uncle, as I formed a new bond by breaking an old one. But I was convinced there was another battle brewing inside me that threatened to even outdo this one. Holding the plaque tightly, I stepped out to the steps and plopped myself down, thinking about how I blew up at the ones I loved the most while refusing to let others help me. I racked my brain hard, and I just couldn't describe why it was that I felt this way.
"I thought I'd find you here," Azula's voice sliced into my concentration. For the first time in a little while, I actually welcomed her presence. I hated to admit it, but the more I thought about the past, the more I realized I had to get away from it. The reason I returned to the Fire Nation was to start anew, earning back my status as Crown Prince while building on my future. There was no need to continue brooding over what happened however many years ago. So when Azula requested that I went to the beach with her, I obliged. I wasn't any closer to finding out what was wrong with me, and I doubted going down to the beach would make things any better, especially when I was sure a very ticked off Mai would be there waiting for me.
Yup, there she was, sitting there looking as bored as ever. I tried to sit next to her, asking her if she was cold, only to get the cold shoulder right up my face. Part of me wanted to chew her out right now, but I realized it was probably best just to play it civil. Heck, even Ty Lee was trying to change the subject by telling us how freezing cold she was, so couldn't we all just drop the issue? Turning my eyes back to the beach house, I decided to make a fire. "There's plenty of stuff to burn in there," I stated, heading back to the abandoned property.
By the time I hauled all that old junk out to the pit for burning, Ty Lee already changed her tune. Maybe she was shocked that I was burning stuff from my past, but wasn't that the point here? I didn't want to associate myself with that painful time, where my mother died only to leave me at the mercy of my father. Uncle kind of took over parental duties, but then he had to betray us all, leaving me at the mercy of this crowd. Seriously, was nobody around here loyal to their beliefs anymore? And Ty Lee thought I cared about what she felt about my past? She was about to find out how sadly mistaken she really was. "You're stuck in your little Ty Lee world, where everything's great all the time! I'm so pretty, look at me, I can walk on my hands!" I taunted her, trying to do a handstand Ty Lee style, "Circus freak!"
But never in my life did I imagine Ty Lee snapping back at me, claiming how she didn't want to live her life in a matched set. I didn't think I was being harsh by stating the obvious that she was always showing off her circus experiences, but apparently that struck a nerve with the usually cheerful girl. "At least I'm different now. Circus freak is a compliment!" She roared.
Before I could retort, my so-called girlfriend beat me to the punch. "Attention issues," she observed, "you couldn't get enough attention as a kid, so you try to make up for it now." Wow, and I thought Mai was the type to not speak and be opinionated. Now she was taking swipes at those around her? Did that guy who she hung out with taught her to have some guts or something? And the sad part was, I agreed with Mai on Ty Lee's problems!
But this little cat fight was going nowhere, as Mai didn't even bother to respond to Ty Lee's comment that Mai had a grey aura. I couldn't explain it, but hearing Mai just let Ty Lee take shot after shot at her without defending herself made me angrier. I was still upset at Mai, but part of me still cared. Why was this so confusing for me?
Finally, Mai decided to shoot off her mouth, this time talking about how she had no worries in her life. "I was a rich, only child who got anything I wanted, as long as I behaved. I sat still, and didn't speak until spoke to." It was apparent that Mai was describing those times when my family visited hers, and her father had to worry about his political career, therefore making her act as a perfect goody-two-shoe all day long. Back then, I couldn't even get two peeps out of her, so why would I expect things to be different now?
And yup, my sister had to get involved as well, claiming that Mai was afraid to care about anything because how much she tended to bottle up her emotions. "That's why you can't express yourself," she replied, her tone sickeningly patronizing.
Finally, after what seemed to be an eternity, Mai got the guts to speak up. Glaring at Azula, she yelled at my sister to leave her alone. Heck, even I wasn't let off the hook, as she told me she hadn't forgiven me, all the while I tried to tell her how happy I felt seeing her be that expressive of herself. "I'm still mad at you. There's no excuse for the way you've been acting." Mai spat. It was enough to turn my angry self back on, tenfold its original intensity.
"My father decided to teach me a permanent lesson on my face!" I pointed to the scar around my left eye. Apparently, everyone was so busy telling their sob stories that they totally forgot about my existence. Did they really think they had it tougher than me, who had to endure that burn plus three years of exile hunting a character that most people believed didn't exist back then? And even after returning with my honour intact, there were still people who kept irritating me, almost like there was something inside me punching my lights out every time I thought about the issue. "I should be happy for returning, but I'm not! I'm angrier than ever and I don't know why!" I declared, glaring at the girls seated on the rocks before me.
Then, mass chaos ensued, as the girls started listing off name after name, hoping to find out what was driving me crazy. Dad, Uncle Iroh, Azula, even Mai herself, but none of them fit my thoughts at the moment. And each word they said became nothing more than slurs, their bodies blurring in the flickering fire before me. My breathing became heavier and quicker, my heart raced, and my mind flustered, before all gave way in one shot. "I'm angry at myself!" I screamed into the air, causing the flames to jettison into the dark sky.
By the time I calmed down, so had everything around me. The fire ate up all the materials inside, leaving us with mere embers. There was no significant wind to speak of, just the sounds of the ocean waves lashing at the sand behind me. I could barely make out the figures before me, leaving me staring at the sea witless and alone. "I'm confused. I'm not sure if I know the difference between right and wrong anymore," I murmured, almost wanting to cry.
Just when I thought I would be spending my night moping alone, a hand found its way onto my shoulder. "I know one thing I care about," Mai's gentle voice could be heard soothing me, "I care about you." I felt my entire body warming up again as Mai leaned in, planting her lips onto mine. Well, when you managed to get the usually emotionless one that riled up, only to have her kiss you at the end of the night, wasn't that a big enough reward in and of itself? With no hesitation whatsoever, I returned the gesture, feeling that perhaps, after that rough experience in the house party, we ought to go back to being a couple again.
To no one's surprise, Azula had to get her sarcastic applause in there, claiming how she didn't have a single worry in the world. Somehow I doubted that, given the lengths she had to go just to get everyone on her side. If it wasn't intimidating someone with their lives, it was via some blackmailing method. I hated to admit it, but it was times like these that I was glad Uncle told me to think for myself, and be a free man rather than be subject to Azula's taunts.
But there was still one score to even, and that was the party from earlier. I didn't appreciate Ruon-Jian calling me all those names when I was thrown out, and they didn't throw a great party anyway. Just to make sure Chan and Ruon-Jian learned their lesson, perhaps we should go back and really show them what we could do. Gathering everyone, we slowly marched back in the direction of Chan's house, hoping to give that place the beating of a lifetime.
Iroh's POV
"You sent this, didn't you?" Zuko was a bust of anger as he stormed into the room containing my prison cell. I had to admit that I wasn't too keen on seeing him a little while back, given that he berated me each time he was here. I didn't hold it against him for making the wrong choice, but I was taken aback by how he kept trying to justify his actions with honour and heroism. To me, there was no honour in continuing a war that started with genocide.
"I found the secret history, which, by the way, should be renamed the history that most people already know," my nephew continued ranting. It was true that I asked one of the kinder prison guards, Ming, to write the message and delivered it to Zuko. But based on what Zuko told me, I believed he made a mistake in the great-grandfather I told him to research about. The fact that Zuko told me he found out how his great-grandfather was still alive after the biggest volcanic eruption the Fire Nation history showed he went down the wrong path.
"No, he wasn't," I replied softly, "you have more than one great-grandfather, Prince Zuko. Sozin was your father's grandfather, but your mother's grandfather was Avatar Roku." That was the very person I ran into when I entered the Spirit World the first time, and it was the same person that I wanted Zuko to investigate in this message.
I could tell Zuko was in a state of shock, his knees nearly collapsing as he fumbled the note I sent him. "Understanding the battle between your two great-grandfathers can help you better understand the struggle within yourself," I explained as Zuko dropped to his knees, "evil and good are always at war inside you, Zuko. It is your nature, your legacy." At first, I didn't really believe it either, but a strange journey back into the Spirit World after I was imprisoned, in which I saw Avatar Roku again, caused me to change my mind.
"But there is a bright side," I pointed out, reaching into a loose brick at the back of my cell, "what happened generations ago can be resolved now, by you. Because of your legacy, you alone can cleanse the sins of our family and the Fire Nation. Born in you, along with all the strife, is the power to restore balance to the world." With that, I reached into the space that brick used to occupy, and pulled out an object I never thought would see daylight again.
Zuko could only look on as I presented a royal head piece. "This is a royal artefact, it's supposed to be worn by the Crown Prince," I described. When I was younger, I had to wear this very piece to designate my position to the throne. It was originally supposed to go to Lu Ten, but given Zuko's current position, he was the only one who ought to be wearing it. "I know you still have many doubts about this, Prince Zuko, but I trust that you will make the right judgment."
Zuko's hand shook uncontrollably as he gently grabbed the piece, his eyes fascinated and fearful at the same time. I never expected Zuko to have an easy time with making decisions, and my only expectation for him in life was to have a relaxed life, able to enjoy the world and all that it provided. But after Avatar Roku suddenly summoned me a few days ago, I realized things were dire. When the young Avatar Aang was shot down by Azula, the Avatar's most extreme power, the Avatar State, was now blocked, meaning there was no way he could finish his job. The only way it would work was if those around him helped, and that meant someone had to give him access to fire bending. That was when I was convinced that Zuko should do the job.
"So, this means that you knew Avatar Roku all along? That you had conversations with him in the Spirit World?" Zuko stuttered, his eyes still a mix of surprise and fear, "When did this first happen? And why didn't you tell anyone about this?"
I took a deep breath before looking Zuko straight in the eyes. "I first went into the Spirit World when I lost my battle at Ba Sing Se. I was so struck by grieve of losing Lu Ten that I would do anything to get him back. That was when I was pulled into the Spirit World, by none other than Avatar Roku himself," I explained, "he told me he had been observing everything, and was powerless to act to fix a mess that he blamed himself for. That was when I found out that he and Fire Lord Sozin had a history together, and now their histories would be converged."
Zuko's expression changed a little, almost like he was starting to absorb the information. "When Lu Ten died and Ozai ascended the throne, I was too heartbroken to contest his claim. But in the process, I ended up stumbling across the vital information about you. Even though I always treated you like a son, seeing you as Lu Ten's little brother more than his cousin, I knew the task at hand was to make sure you didn't stray down the wrong path," I continued, thinking back to all the times I argued with Zuko during his journey of exile. Ozai would certainly not show that much patience with Zuko, but I kept telling myself that this was all for the best, and that these were the trials and tribulations that would make Zuko become who he was today.
Zuko mulled it over for a moment, but it was evident he still wasn't sure what was going on. "Assuming what you say is true, and that I am somehow destined to end the war, why raise the issue now? Why not raise it in the beginning, before my father banished me, just to save time and prevent me from going through all that pain?" Zuko demanded, pocketing the headpiece.
"The timing was not right during your banishment. Azula was clearly Ozai's favourite, and my brother wasn't one to take criticism from others," I responded, reminding Zuko of the tough times he had since his mother disappeared, "partially it's also because I was in denial. For the longest time, I just wanted a good, happy retirement. I was content with guiding you along the way, and didn't want to think about the throne too much. I knew what the Fire Nation was doing was wrong, but I realized it wasn't the time for me or you to act. It wasn't until we got to Ba Sing Se that I decided to raise any issue with you at all regarding what choices you ought to make. And for this delay, I am truly sorry, my nephew."
Zuko pursed his lips, looking more determined to act than ever. "Things didn't work out the way they did because somehow, Azula came back into the picture," he observed, "even when I was around the palace, she was going around making life miserable for me. And through this time, I was really angry with myself, not sure whether I was doing the right thing or not. But now I found out about this, I realized just what exactly is going on."
I lifted my head to look at Zuko again, this time seeing that Zuko was confident about what he had to do. "Avatar Roku told me that there would be an eclipse coming, and the young boy we were pursuing would arrive right at the Fire Nation's shores. That would be your chance to make the first move to restore the balance of the world." I leaned through the bars of my cell and grabbed Zuko gently in the shoulder, "I have faith in you, my nephew. On that day, I am certain you will do whatever it takes to right the wrongs of history once and for all."
My nephew looked me back, slowly nodding his head in agreement. I knew it would take a while before he would have the chance to plan for this event, but whatever the case, the only thing I could do was to have faith in him. As he left the cell, I realized I had a lot of planning to do as well. I had been working out in my cell in secret, just to get myself back into fighting shape for my escape. Once I got out of here, I was going to do my part to help the world as much as possible. Of course, it would mean getting some help from old friends, and hopefully they would all make it for this event. But whatever the case, history was about to change.
Zuko's POV
I hurried into the throne room, where the long-awaited war meeting was to take place. I had to admit that after returning from Ember Island, I was really working on patching things up with Mai. Things between us were on the upswing before Uncle sent me that weird message, telling me I had to look up information on my ancestor. It turned out that I wasn't just related to the Fire Lords, but also Avatar Roku! I was extremely shocked, and for days I couldn't quite wrap my head around that concept. Uncle told me that it was because of this strange mix that I was always in strife, but that also made me the one most likely to cleanse the sins of the past. How could I do that when I couldn't even get close to the highest ranking officials?
But today, things seemed to be a bit different, as I was actually requested to attend this war meeting held by my father. Adding to my confusion from the Sozin and Roku talk with Uncle was that Mai unleashed a bombshell on me, claiming that Azula told her of this very war meeting. No one had told me of this meeting before, and for a while I thought I wasn't invited. To no one's surprise, Azula had to be all snarky about it, claiming that the reason I wasn't told was because I was expected to attend anyway. I thought she was taunting how Father didn't appreciate my presence, but when an attendant told me that he refused to start the meeting until I was present, I realized how serious this was.
"Don't worry about me, I'll keep myself busy," Mai called from the hallway outside the war room. Mai had been so fantastic to me these past few days, almost like she was my last hope for sanity in this increasingly crazy ride that had been my return to the Fire Nation. I hadn't told her anything about my history yet, nor had I told her about my visits with Uncle. I realized that it was too sensitive a topic to discuss, given the circumstances. I assured Uncle that I knew what was at stake, and that I would figure something out before the eclipse. But until then, the only thing I could do was take in as much information as possible, such as by attending this meeting.
"Welcome, Prince Zuko. We waited for you," my father greeted me, his strong voice echoing off the walls of this wide chamber in a haunting manner. I strolled through the long table at the centre, positioned the same way it was three years ago when I last attended. I took a quick glance around, trying to recognize faces from those years back. While a few generals from that meeting were still present here, some of whom glaring at me in frustration, most likely due to my tardiness, most people here were unfamiliar. I was guessing that since my father had a stronger grasp at the military controls, he probably replaced some of the older, retiring generals with those that were loyal to him. Seriously, why did I feel that things were about to get worse?
I quickly bowed to my father before taking a seat to his right. My mind was still blanked by the flurry of activity, so I barely absorbed anything when Father called on the first general to speak. All I heard was something about our forces being spread too thin and there were Earth Kingdom rebellions even though we conquered Ba Sing Se. But when I heard that the generals knew about the eclipse and would prepare for the invasion, I realized my plan had to be concocted more carefully. How could I approach the Avatar's team if all eyes would be set on defending our capital? And what would happen if their team did infiltrate in?
"Prince Zuko, you've been among the Earth Kingdom commons," my father called, suddenly turning the spotlight on me, "do you think adding more troops could stop all these rebellions?" he asked. I swallowed hard, realizing that my daydreaming nearly got me into trouble again. Last time, it was because I spoke out of turn that the meeting ended poorly, but this time it might be for answering a question wrongly.
Taking a deep breath, I tried to supply an answer that would satisfy everyone, all the while revealing as little of what I knew as possible. "The people of the Earth Kingdom are proud and strong," I described, picking my words carefully, "they can endure anything as long as they have hope." Personally, I was hoping I could endure this meeting, as the more I listened to this, the more I realized that this deep hole I was in was about to get deeper.
"Yes, you're right," my father agreed with me, "we ought to destroy their hope." My eyes increased in size just hearing that, wondering what cruel tactic my father would use. It wasn't what I was thinking about, convincing him to torture those earth benders even more. Frankly, I had to say I had some bonds with Earth Kingdom individuals; Song, Lee, Jin, even that crazy guy Jet, they all had some type of friendship with me. Seeing where my father was going with his logic, and knowing his cruel nature, I could tell they were in it for the long run now.
"I think you should take their precious hope, and the rest of their land, and burn it all to the ground," Azula stated from Father's left, her tone sadistic and sarcastic as usual. I nearly fell out of my seat, too shocked to speak after Azula's comment. If Father's idea of destroying their hope wasn't nasty enough, then Azula was about to take home the big prize. Razing their land from here all the way to Ba Sing Se? Did she realize how much damage that would cause?
My body was in a state of paralyzed shock as my father stepped off his throne, agreeing with Azula's viewpoint entirely. "Sozin's Comet is almost upon us, and on that day it'll endow us with the strength and power of a hundred suns. No bender will stand a chance against us," he commented, leaning over the long table. Recalling from history, the Air Nomads were extinct, with the exception of the Avatar, because Fire Lord Sozin used the comet to burn down all their temples. Now, I got a sick feeling in my stomach as I envisioned the same happening here.
"From our airships we will rain fire over their lands, a fire that will destroy everything," my father continued, climbing onto the maps and stepping over the geographical features of the Earth Kingdom, squishing them like they were mere insects, "and out of the ashes, a new world will be born, a world in which all the lands are Fire Nation, and I am the Supreme Ruler of everything!" He declared, raising his arms in victory. From my seat, I nearly wanted to throw up everything I ate from the last three days. My hands were sweaty, my skin clammy, and my throat dryer than the desert I crossed to get to Ba Sing Se. This plan was just pure evil.
As the generals all congratulated my father and further plotted with him on how to carry out this plan, I fought the urge inside to either storm out of the meeting or speak up against my father. Maybe it was because I recalled the results of the last time I spoke out, or maybe it was because I worked too hard to gain my father's love to lose it by doing something crazy, but whatever the case, I couldn't bring myself to resist this plan, even though I was absolutely against this madness. I felt nauseous hearing this, wondering how I could get out of this mess.
Even as I left the meeting, finding Mai and taking her home again, I still didn't feel right. "I was the perfect prince, the son my father wanted," I told Mai, "but I wasn't me." Somehow, I doubted Mai would understand, but right now there were bigger things on my plate. With this horrible thing about to happen, it only showed that Uncle was right, and I had to do whatever it took to stop this thing. If it meant going to the Avatar's side, then that was a risk I would take. I knew I had very little time to plan, given the eclipse was only days away, but if the world wanted to remain as four nations, then I better decide what I had to do to make things right again.
And before anyone asks, the answer is: no, I will not include any scenes where Zuko and Katara get romantic feelings for each other. I think that concept is disgusting, given the only way it'll exist is if Zuko cheats on Mai and Katara cheats on Aang. Mike and Bryan clearly have no intention for either of those events to happen, so I won't be letting those events happen either. Thank you for reading, and see you next time.