Just to really throw her world around a little more, Iroh and Zoe were now currently searching for Zuko…with the Avatar, Toph, and the watertribe boy whose name was Sokka. Apparently his sister, Katara, had been captured too.

With the help of a pathetic Dai Lee agent, their odd group found out exactly where Zuko and Katara were being held, that is to say in some crystal catacombs beneath the palace. For some reason, Zoe didn't like the idea of them being locked away together, especially in 'crystal' catacombs…it reminded her of her jealousy when Zuko tied the watertribe girl to a tree.

Normally, Zoe would have been ecstatic to fly on the Avatar's flying bison, but right now she couldn't bring herself to care. She was just glad they would reach the palace quickly. She couldn't even be bothered by Toph who kept calling her princess, fly girl or grumps.

"Well what do you know; there is an ancient city down there…" Toph said after they had landed. Her hand was pressed to the ground and apparently she could feel the city. "But, it's deep."

She stood up into an earthbending stance and created a tunnel to the city below. "We should split it." said Sokka who seemed to have an intense dislike for Zuko which annoyed Zoe greatly. Wel…she supposed Zuko had attacked them a few times sure, but he's really a good guy; he's done with all that!

"Aang you go with Iroh and," he looked at Zoe and she realised she hadn't told them her name, well Toph knew it, but chose not to use it. She didn't spare him with the information. "Princess over there," he decided with, "to save Katara and the angry jerk. No offence." he added, a hand on Iroh's shoulder.

"None taken." Iroh shrugged.

"And I'll go with Toph to warn the Earth King about Azula's coup." He finished.

"Good, finally." Sighed Zoe jumping in the hole lightly and Aang stared at her. "Hurry up! She called, stuck at the next bit of earth. She hadn't felt like letting the information out that she was an airbender yet either; it was just too much of a distraction. She liked Aang though; he was sensible, he hadn't hesitated to help them and he was just plain likeable.

Iroh and he were talking, and Zoe was listening, but not paying much attention. She was studying Aangs tattoos and wondering why airbenders had them. In a way she was glad she was born in this day…she didn't think she wanted to shave her hair.

Zoe decided Aang was very sweet, he was talking about choosing love over power, and that to Zoe was a good choice. Iroh thought so too.

"I agree!" she said randomly when Iroh told Aang he was wise. "I think love is far more important than power."

"But…" said Aang after shifting the next lot of rock. "What happens if we can't save everyone and beat Azula?" he asked with worry, "without the Avatar State, what if I'm not powerful enough?"

Zoe was going to reply, but Iroh had started talking first so she decided to let him go on. Though, she didn't understand why Aang had to give up one he loved to be in the Avatar state…she shook her head and didn't add anything more in to the conversation.

Aang shifted the last set of rocks and they were nearly blinded by the sparkling light of the crystal catacombs. A large smile painted Zoe's face and she ran through the space, looking madly for Zuko.

"Where is he?" demanded Zoe angrily. Aang seemed to be really concentrating on something, then he said:

"They're this way."

He ran to the wall opposite them and pushed it through with a crash. All three of them ran in. She heard Katara shout Aang's name happily, but Zoe was more focused on Zuko.

Both she and Iroh called his name and ran to him with a hug in stall.

"I'm so glad you're OK." she whispered into his chest, but he wasn't hugging them back; he was glaring at the Avatar.

"Uncle! Zoe…I don't understand!" he cried angrily, looking from Zoe to Iroh, "what are you doing with the Avatar?"

"Saving you that's what." stepped in Aang annoyed.

Zuko growled furiously and Zoe grasped the back of his robes while Iroh put his arm out.

"Zuko!" said Iroh, "it's time we talked. Go help your other friends!" he cried to Katara and Aang. Aang bowed politely, "we'll catch up with you!"

Zoe tried to pick up Zuko's hand, but he wouldn't hold hers back so she dropped it sadly.

"Why?" he said weakly, not looking at either of them. Zoe couldn't stand the hurt in his voice.

"You are not the man you used to be, Zuko. You are stronger, and wiser and freer than you have ever been! And now you have come to the cross roads of your destiny." Iroh said passionately with wisdom. "It's time for you to choose…it's time for you to choose…good."

Zuko bowed his head, his eyes scrunched up and Zoe had no idea what he was thinking. Before she had a chance to work it out however the ground rumbled beneath them and Iroh was trapped within a crystal cage. They had attempted to trap Zoe too, but she avoided it, springing to grab the crystal on the ceiling above. But, they cracked and she began to fall, but then grabbed on to another…then another….

"Leave her!" cried Azula, "she is no threat to us and she's wasting our time." She and two Dai Lee agents jumped into the catacombs with them. Zoe glared at her, but remained on the ceiling. "I expected this kind of treachery from Uncle. But, Zuko, Prince Zuko, you're a lot of things…but you're not a traitor…are you?" she said with a raised eyebrow and Zoe hated her more.

"Release him immediately!" Cried Zuko and Zoe grinned smugly.

"It's not too late for you Zuko, you can still redeem yourself." she continued manipulatively.

"The kind of redemption she offers is not for you!" Cried Iroh from his prison.

"Why don't you let him decide, Uncle?" interrupted Azula, sucking up to Zuko's weakness. "I need you Zuko; 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."

"Zuko…" said Iroh somewhat quietly, "I am begging you. Look into your heart and see what it is that you truly want."

"You are free to choose." Said Azula and Zoe nearly laughed. She signalled for the Dai Lee to leave and stalked past the trapped Iroh and frozen Zuko.

Zoe jumped from her spot on the ceiling as soon as she was gone and began to try and break Iroh from his crystal prison. "Zuko," she said yanking at the stubborn rock, "come help me. We need to get out of here!"

Zuko didn't reply.

"Zuko, come on!" urged Zoe a frown appearing on her face. When he didn't reply again she walked up to him. "Zuko, please." She said softly, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Don't do this." Don't do this to me…

"Stay out of this Zoe." He hissed without turning round.

Zoe squeezed her eyes shut, the worried, fluttering feeling in her heart throbbing painfully. "No, Zuko," she continued quietly, but determinedly, "I won't stay out of this." Her hand on his shoulder tightened and finally he whipped around, throwing her off him.

His eyes had a maniacal expression that Zoe had only seen in them once, the day when he had shouted at his Uncle after Azula told him his father wanted him home. "Stay out of this!" He cried, "You don't understand…I can redeem myself!"

"Zuko!" Iroh said loudly, "I am begging you to listen; the kind of redemption that is being offered is not for you!"

"How would you know?" Zuko rounded on his Uncle, "You don't know what kind of redemption I want!"

"How can you even consider her offer Zuko?" Cried Zoe in desperation, she knew when Zuko got like this…there wasn't much one could do. Zuko was in conflict even inside himself, this Zuko…wasn't him. "This is Azula! You would chose her over the ones who love you?" Zuko growled in frustration and turned his back on them. "Don't do it… please." She continued. She said she would stick by him…no matter what, but if he went back to the Fire Nation with Azula; there was no choice, Zoe couldn't follow. Zoe shut her eyes again tightly, tears threatening to betray her. "Please." She whispered, her voice barely audible, "I…" she looked down and Zuko peered at her through his scowl over his shoulder. "I love you."

Not realising it was possible; Zuko's face contorted even more, the two sides within him at war. Zuko let out a howl of frustration, "Don't do this Zoe!" He shouted, fire bursting from his fists and Zoe was knocked off her feet. Zuko brought his fists to his face just as he did the time Azula nearly killed Iroh. "You don't understand!" he shouted, "neither of you know-"

"No!" shouted Zoe so suddenly that Zuko nearly jumped in shock. "You're the one who doesn't know!" She leapt to her feet, tears flowing freely down her face, but they were now tears of anger. "We've always been here for you! Always! We're your friends, your family! Yet you want to run back to try and please your daddy, the one who banished and burned you! You want to help your sister, that lying, evil, twisted thing! How can you dare tell us we don't know?"

"BECAUSE YOU DON'T!" His voice alone nearly cracked the surrounding crystals. "You have no idea! You're always so happy and perfect flipping around in your pretty little world, what would you know about my life? What would you know about anything!"

"How dare you Zuko." hissed Zoe lowly and dangerously through her teeth. "I don't know why I ever thought I loved yo-"

"Neither do I!" cried Zuko, the maniacal fire in his eyes flaring. "I never wanted your love!" Iroh moaned inwardly, closing his eyes and shaking his head sadly.

There was silence, except for the sound of Zuko's heavy breathing. Then, "Well aren't you lucky." snarled Zoe nastily, "Because you don't, and won't ever have it again."

Zoe glared at Zuko, her eyes cold and her words cutting deep, though not as deep as his own had sliced through her. There were a few icy, silent moments until Zuko finally said, "This is my destiny." And he walked, back held straight and fury raging within him, from the cave.

Zoe looked to Iroh a hollow, dead feeling settling inside her, her eyes lost, hopeless.

"Go." He said grimly.

"What?" But, she knew what he meant, he meant go help the Avatar, they've lost Zuko.

"Do it for me." He said in his old, slow voice. "You truly are a daughter to me."

Grief threatened to overwhelm her and she bit her lip, fresh tears in her eyes. "I can't leave you to their mercy." She whispered deeply pained.

"Please Zoe. They need you now more than I." he smiled, "we will see each other again."

Zoe shut her eyes tight, "Goodbye Uncle." And she ran like the wind out to the open catacombs where a fight was in full flow.

Zuko was attacking ferociously. His fire fierce, powerful and…maddened, it was insane. He had lost his way.

Zoe jumped down from her crevice and flew toward the fray, her face twisted in pain. Zuko had his next blast of fire aimed at Aang, it would hit him, and she knew it would. Forcing her arms to move Zoe drew the air from around her, shaping it into a fierce tunnel of wind and sent it directly at the boy who was now dead to her. It hit him straight on and he flew ten feet back into a mass of crystals. He got up with a groan, his eyes furious.

Aang stared, disbelief etched on his face. It…it couldn't be. He couldn't believe it; he must have hit his head harder than he thought. She…earthbended perhaps, and he had just thought it looked like she blew him off his feet. But, then she ran, faster than anyone he'd seen straight toward Zuko. Aang had to throw the thought aside.

He jumped down grabbing Azula's attention which had been on Katara who now turned to attack Zuko. But, Zoe got there first, barrelling into him. They both fell do the ground and Zuko threw her off him.

"Get out of here!" he cried angrily to her.

"Who are you to tell me what to do?" snarled Zoe, picking herself off the ground.

Zuko growled angrily and threw a blast of fire at her, but it was weak; she blocked it easily. "Attack me!" she screeched blowing a billow of wind at him, but she couldn't summon as much strength in it as before. It knocked him forward only slightly.

He turned back to her, his eyes nearly regretful…nearly. "Leave!" he shouted and he kicked out his foot, the fire speeding toward her.

She cried out in shock and fear, but it evaporated before it hit her. Damn him! He wouldn't attack her. His blast had given him the time to run from her and fiercely attack Katara, but she held her own. Zoe ran to her side and sent annoying gusts of wind at Zuko successfully aggravating him. Katara struggled to keep her head in the fight, not believing what she was seeing. Another airbender?

But, then Azula was back on their attacks, Aang no where to be seen and she had to focus. However, the multiple blasts of fire were too much for the both of them. Katara was thrown back into a pile of crystal, her world blacking out for a moment. Azula grinned evilly then turned to Zoe who was staring at Katara in worry, but she was lifting her head. Then Azula punched her fist out once more and it hit Zoe straight on, her weak wind barely blocking the blast and her arm burned and blistered and she screamed in pain as agony shot through her body.

Then like a nightmare hundreds of Dai Lee agents were swarming all over the walls like rats and soon something like sixteen had surrounded Katara and she pulled the water around her like a giant octopus. "Get in here!" She shouted and Zoe didn't know who she was talking to, but then she felt water grasp her waist and Katara had pulled her into her octopus circle.

As if the day couldn't get any weirder, a massive blue-white light lit the catacombs and Aang burst from his crystal enclosure to rise in the air magnificently. Everyone froze in action and dropped their guard, turning to stare in awe at the figure. Zoe felt a sense of peace wash over her, that everything would be OK.

But, it was short lived. As soon as the peace came it was replaced with horror and dread as the figure was suddenly filled with lightening, the room going black, his body illuminated by the crackling blue electricity and then… he was falling.

And they were moving. A top an enormous wave Zoe was swept with Katara leading toward the falling, twisting figure that was the Avatar. Zoe saw Zuko disappear under the water and she screamed in fear, but he rose again after they passed.

That isn't your Zuko. She tried to remind herself, he was gone, and she would never be with him again.

With a splatter she hit the ground next to Katara who crouched, tears streaming, and holding the lifeless figure of Aang in her arms.

Zuko and Azula came stalking toward the two girls and de…unconscious boy, Zoe didn't even attempt to back away; it was over, they had lost.

But, then a massive blast of fire stopped the oncoming enemies and Zoe looked up. It was Iroh, it was Uncle! He jumped down in front of them defensively.

"Uncle!" croaked Zoe in despair.

"You've got to get out of here!" He cried to them, "I'll hold them off as long as I can!"

Katara got up, and began dragging Aang to a waterfall that flowed behind them. Zoe scrambled to her feet, ignoring the pain in her arm and she threw her uncle one last mournful look. She took one of Aang's arms and put it round her shoulder while Katara bended the water around the three of them, lifting them in the air and taking them up and out and away from everything.

Away from Zuko.

Away from Iroh.

Away from those Zoe loved.

A/N lol no reviews last chapter, must have been a bad one, sorry about that =( I don't like this part of the book. Please do leave a comment so I know what you think! Hope everyone is having a good Christmas break!