(A/N So, you know when you know exactly what you want to write - like nearly word for word - but when you sit down to write it you just...can't? Yeah, that's where I'm at with 'A String and a Choice.' It's there, just...ugh!

Anyway, I'm back to my distraction piece and really enjoying it.

That said... A lot is happening at the same time in this chapter, and I trust all of you to follow it! If not...well, I never claimed to be a good writer lol

Enjoy!)

Zuko planted himself on the main drag directly between where he assumed the Fire Nation would breach and the palace. He paced and muttered and ran through a few sweeping forms with his dao. Uncle had advised him not to bring them, as he was already going to be seen as a threat, but he took two people with him under Uncle's advisement, so ignoring that little tidbit was fine in his mind.

Give and take.

The tribesmen were giving the trio a wide berth as they made further preparations for the battle. They weren't openly hostile, but they obviously didn't trust the pirates. And that was fine.

Though now, Aseri was continuously reminding him that this was not the mission.

"Zhao has to pay!"

"Zuko," she sighed, "you've lost people before. I know it's never easy, but what is this?"

He felt his posture slump a little at her words. She was right, but his fury couldn't be satisfied.

"Zhao has been a thorn in our side for some time."

"Tha's tru," commented Don from his position nearby where he could watch the northern waterbenders.

"Her sacrifice and those supplies only matter if the tribesmen win this battle." Glancing to see that none of the natives were within earshot, he continued. "And frankly, that doesn't seem to be a sound assumption."

Aseri scowled and looked away.

"You still need to stop fixating," she accused. "And admit it, there's something else."

"She pretended to be me," he muttered, slicing his sword through the air and listening to it whistle. "They would have taken her in, thrown her in the brig and interrogated her about accomplices, but she pretended to be me."

Steam left his nose as he glared at Aseri. Her pinched face was sympathetic, but she only offered a slight nod at his explanation.

"You seem skilled with those blades," Chief Arnook's words carried over to Zuko and he sheathed them to offer a bow at the complement. "I appreciate the offer of supplies as well as your escapades before coming to us, but I wonder why you are here now."

Zuko pursed his lips and tried to figure out how best to explain himself.

"The adversary is…not to be underestimated. I came with a warning, something is not as it seems. I don't- I don't know what his plan is, but a simple siege is not his endgame. I'm hoping I can kill him before we find out what is." Rubbing his chin, Zuko considered the chief. "I know what the Fire Nation textbooks say about your people, but I also know not to trust any history written by Sozin's line. There were a lot of distractions when we spoke earlier and I never got a chance to ask you to take as many prisoners as possible."

"Prisoners? To what end?"

"A good ninety percent of my forces are defectors and deserters from the Fire Nation. Many of them fight because that is all they've been taught and they fear what consequences will meet them if they don't. I cannot offer for them to join my crew if they are dead."

Chuckling, Arnook agreed with Zuko's assessment. "We are not adverse to killing our enemies, as it is usually the safest route, but I will spread the word to use nonlethal means when possible. Do not expect much, young man. We train to kill."

"I understand, and appreciate your consideration."

"Huh," Arnook eyed him for a moment. "If I didn't know you were a pirate I'd assume you were a diplomat."

Zuko felt his nose crinkle in distaste for the idea. It'd been three years and the sea still hadn't washed him clean of his noble upbringing. He scoffed when Arnook laughed at his expression and then turned his attention to the forces around them.

"I know you don't want to tell me, and if you did I'd question your sanity since I'm an outsider, but does your city have any major vulnerabilities? Any secrets kept to ward off threat?"

"I will…consider your words," the chief said, before returning to overseeing the warriors.

.

Aang had entered the Spirit World, which left Sokka, Katara, and Yue with the task of keeping their minds occupied while they waited. Waited for Aang's return or for the fighting to begin, Katara didn't know.

"So, the three of you knew that captain?"

"Yeah," Sokka threw his boomerang in a loop as he answered. "Honestly, I can't tell if he's a real jerk or just… weird."

"Intense," Katara supplied the word.

"Yeah, that."

"How did you meet?"

Katara felt her face heat up and before she could get a word in Sokka began the tale and theatrically exaggerated the whole incident from start to finish. She just crossed her arms and harrumphed at him while Yue giggled at his antics.

"Is that true?" she asked Katara.

"More or less," she grumbled, pulling out the scroll in question.

Yue laughed again, before the first rays of sunshine landed on her face and the three turned towards a loud boom in the distance. The bombardment had resumed with daybreak.

.

The forces swarming in were considerable. Destruction lay waste to the inlet of the harbor. Skilled firebenders and marines continuously poured up the waterways towards the city. Zuko, Aseri, and Don used non lethal means when they could, but they were intent on holding their position, even at the cost of soldiers' lives.

But Zhao was not present yet. Zuko could see the center of the swarm where an officer could wade in without a care in the world. Perfectly protected by the buffer his men provided. But Zhao was not there. After dispatching his present opponent, Zuko vaulted onto the shoulders of the next marine, flipped onto a nearby ledge (nearly losing his grip because he forgot it was made of ice), scaled the rail to a better vantage point and overlooked the sea of carnage.

Zhao was not in the harbor.

If the commanding officer was not a part of the leading offensive…then the offensive was a distraction!

Thinking quickly, Zuko dismissed the idea of a bait and flank as the city's flanks were protected by the elements. Scanning his surroundings Zuko found a small, nondescript unit trailing along the outskirts of the battle. Their way into the city would be blocked when they got far enough to reach the footpaths and waterways, but Zuko got the impression that was not their goal.

Readjusting his position, he followed their possible paths and one led to a small, odd circular door that could be easily overlooked.

Flipping off the banister and landing on an enemy, Zuko shared his discovery with Aseri and Don.

"That has to be where Zhao is heading."

"You go. We're needed here."

Zuko nodded and they shared a serious look, each warning the other to be careful.

.

Crouching to enter the small circular doorway, Zuko quickly took stock of the situation.

The waterbender had about eight guys that she was fending off with an assortment of water arms and her brother had two guys he was swinging his club at while his boomerang flew haphazardly through the air. A moment later he saw that the boomerang was not, in fact, flying a random arc, but it hurtled back at the one firebender's head, knocking his helmet off neatly.

While the siblings fought off the assailants, the Avatar sat in a meditative pose, his tattoos glowing and the princess tried her best to drag him away from the water's edge where most of the fighting was happening.

Zhao advanced mostly unobstructed. Katara struck out where she could, but she was outnumbered and couldn't afford to give the admiral her attention.

Zuko sprinted down the pathway's edge, leaping onto the ice wall for his last few steps so that he could jump and pivot, landing directly in front of Zhao with his dao drawn.

Recognition crossed the admiral's face. He didn't know if it was the dao or the scar that startled him, but Zuko didn't take the time to find out, instead pressing his advantage and assuring An Yu her memory would be avenged.

.

Sokka wasn't the jealous type. Really. He was just a guy with a boomerang, meat, and sarcasm. That was enough for him. Even when he'd learned the jerk Hahn was engaged to Yue he hadn't been jealous. Not really. He pitied Yue's poor match and hated that the guy was such a tool. That's not jealousy…no matter how much better Sokka would have been for her. Katara's bending had never bothered him, or even Aang's big destiny.

But right now, as his sister fought for her life and he stomached what she could not, he envied Zuko's bladework. His club and boomerang were amazing! And he was sure he could at least land a hit against the pirate captain, but he was also sure that just landing a hit would be a big victory.

Zuko was completely demolishing the admiral and he wasn't even using his bending!

.

Zhao laid on the path, bleeding and beaten, hate dripping from his gaze. His men were behind Zuko, most of them still breathing. Some small part of Zuko's mind noted that Katara had yet to land a killing blow, rather incapacitating and Sokka taking out those who stood back up while her back was turned. Now, the two flanked him while the princess continued to cling to the Avatar amid the bodies.

Zuko sheathed his swords, and took up the same stance Zhao had used when he'd executed An Yu.

"Even in death, I will have victory!" Zhao cried, spitting blood as he spoke.

Two flares of fire lashed out, and as Zhao burned the oasis was filled with his crazed laughter rather than the screams Zuko had expected.

It wasn't until a moment later, as the still night air darkened further, that the four of them realized where Zhao's blast had been aimed.

."Roku! I have to get back to the physical world! The spirits are in danger. And Koh was talking in circles trying to stall me and- Wait, what's wrong?"

Aang studied the grave face of his spiritual mentor and an icy sinking feeling formed in his chest. Glancing around, even the silent terrain had turned somber.

"You are correct," Roku started while a mist swirled around him, out of place in the still atmosphere, "Koh was stalling you. And he stalled you for too long."

Aang felt his breath hitch. Koh had shown obvious disdain for spirits who would willingly tie themselves to the physical world, but to allow them to-

He forced out a breath, refusing to think that it could be true. That he could be too late.

"You are the link between the worlds, Aang. Will you bridge them?"

"Yes! Yes, I will! I just…"

How was his first question, but there was so much more too.

"Very well," Roku nodded to him and if he looked sad before, he was heartbroken now. That was all Aang could notice before the mist enveloped him.

.

The sky grayed and the moon turned red. An eerie stillness filled the air, somehow amplified by the exaggerated rocking of the ships as angry waves crashed against them.

Jee stormed across the deck to where Della and Dai could hear him and shouted over the waves. "What are you doing? We're drifting towards the ice shelf!" They didn't seem to hear him, shock drawn over their faces as they stared at their hands.

"So, Zhao's plan finally comes to light," Iroh said at his side. He hadn't even heard the man approach.

"What's going on?"

"The moon spirit is in peril. And the water benders…" he gestured to the two swampbenders frantically sweeping their arms around, calling out to their element. The water itself had turned on them.

.

The world grayed with a fading red moon above them. Around Arnook warriors on both sides paused in confusion for a moment before clashing their weapons again. The child captain's words about a possible weaknesses within the city echoed in his mind. From the corner of his eye he saw Pakku rain ice daggers on the closest unit of soldiers. Only…the familiar motions did not come with the expected result.

More chaos followed, as bender after bender called to the water, only to be met with silence in return.

The bloodied moon loomed overhead, making Arnook's breath catch in his throat.

Gasping to breathe, the chief fought to make it out of his line, taking down four assailants as he went. His brethren were confused by his actions, but they had other things at the forefront of their attention. His attention was solely on a door.

A small, circular door.

Nondescript and hanging from its hinges.

Housing a small oasis that reflected the red sphere above him.

Even the monster of water lurching through the waterways barely earned a glance from his sprinting form.

Gasping and heaving he took in the form of his daughter. She was alive. Surrounded by dead and dying enemy soldiers, Yue was alive.

Yes, her sad gaze reflected their bleak position perfectly, but they would persevere. Somehow. Because Yue was alright.

With her connection to the moon, Arnook couldn't help but imagine the worst.

"Father?" She met his gaze and took another breath, ready to reassure her. To hold her and tell her all would be well. To shield her from the world as only a father could. "This was why, isn't it?"

"Everything will be alright, Yue. We'll figure this out."

"She gave me life. And now…" She fisted her hands and bit her lip, taking a step towards the pool.

"No!" His heart began hammering out of his chest.

"I can give it back though? I have to try."

"Yue, no. No, Moondrop."

She just smiled at him sadly, too far away from his reach. He had to reach her.

"All my life, you have taught me the duty of a princess to her people." He tried to stop her, but her voice grew in strength and determination. "Sometimes that duty took away my choice," her hand tentatively touched her throat, "but this? This is my duty and you will not take away my choice."

His throat clogged and his only response was a sob.

She turned to Sokka with her soft smile.

"I'm glad to have known you. I only wish we had met sooner."

Arnook wept bitterly, refusing to watch as she stepped into the pool.

.

A monster.

That's what the crew was calling the giant glowing being that was laying waste to the Imperial fleet and churning the water with huge crashing waves.

He kept steady on sea legs and watched the 'monster' with analytical eyes. Iroh was beside him, holding the rail and furrowing his brow at the thing.

"It's a spirit?" Jee asked.

"Mmm," Iroh stroked his beard with one hand, the other still whiteknuckled around the rail. "It is. And it is not. It is more."

Jee stifled a groan at the not-answer.

"Well, whatever it is, it's targeting the Fire Nation," he bit out before turning to the deck and shouting out orders. He had the two swampbenders stand at the bow of each of their ships and took up his own position dangling precariously by the ropes so that he leaned over the churning waters from the side of the ship so he could watch for ice blocks in the water.