Chapter 9: The Order Of The White Lotus And...Dragon Roosts?

Chapter 9 is out! and still no sign of the comet. What's going on here?

Hopefully next chapter it will definitely appear.

We are close to reaching the climatic point which will end the first arch of the story.

Chapter notes:

For those who are wondering why the scenes with team avatar is so short, don't worry they will have the lime light later, for now I just need things to develop on Sokka's side for the first arch. Second arch will be more team avatar and less Azula. For now everything is proceeding just like the series except for a few things.

Also I hope there won't be people asking me about what Aang is up to because I've decided that I would keep that part exactly like the series because it doesn't really interrupt with the stories flow, well except for that powerful bending move he learns on the island. That might become a problem later but lets see what happens.

As always, if you enjoyed my work, please consider supporting me.

and don't forget to leave a review, it would be highly appreciated.

The sun was beginning its slow descent, casting long shadows over the ruined outer walls of the city. The once grand entrance stood battered, a reminder of the Fire Nation's brutal conquest of the city. Team Avatar—what was left of it—stood at the edge of the vast expanse, a heavy silence falling between them.

June, standing beside Nyla, the massive shirshu, glanced over her shoulder at the group. Her expression, though as indifferent as ever, carried a faint edge of seriousness that hadn't been there before. She mounted Nyla in one smooth motion, her grip on the reins loose but ready.

"This is as far as I go," she said, her voice low and casual, but with an undercurrent of finality. "Can't say it's been fun, but you guys are interesting, I'll give you that."

Zuko, standing at the front of the group, gave her a curt nod. "Thanks for the help, June."

She smirked, tipping her head slightly. "Don't mention it. According to Nyla here, your uncle's not far beyond these walls. You'll find him." She gave the group a brief, assessing look before adding, "Good luck. You'll need it."

Without waiting for a response, June tugged on the reins, and Nyla turned away with a low growl. The creature bounded off, disappearing into the distance, leaving Team Avatar standing alone in the outer city.

Katara let out a long breath, her eyes lingering on the massive, crumbling walls of Ba Sing Se. "I can't believe we're back here," she murmured, her voice tinged with disbelief.

Toph, leaning casually on her staff, tilted her head. "Yeah, after all that trouble we went through to get out of this place, now we're right back where we started. Fantastic."

Zuko, though quiet, seemed tense, his brow furrowed as he gazed into the distance. "We need to make camp," he said after a moment. "If my uncle's nearby, we'll need to be ready to move as soon as we can find him."

Suki nodded in agreement, though her eyes flickered with concern. "Let's get settled then. It's been a long day."

As they were setting up camp, a faint sound broke through the quiet—footsteps, slow but steady, growing louder as they approached from the shadows of the ruined walls. Toph immediately tensed,

"Someone's coming," She warned in a low voice, her fighting stance out.

The group turned toward the source of the sound, their muscles taut with readiness, but what emerged from the darkness wasn't what any of them expected.

Four figures stepped into the light of the campfire, their faces familiar but unexpected. The first was King Bumi, his wild hair and even wilder eyes unmistakable. Beside him stood Master Pakku, his long white beard flowing down his chest, a calm but firm expression on his face. To their right was Master Piandao, the sword master who had trained Sokka, his sharp gaze sweeping over the group with recognition. And behind them, the last figure was Jeong Jeong, Aang's first firebending teacher, his stern eyes glinting in the flickering firelight.

The group stared, stunned into silence.

Katara was the first to speak, her voice hesitant but tinged with relief. "Master Pakku?"

The old waterbender nodded in greeting, a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "It's good to see you again, Katara."

Toph, however, was less sentimental. "Okay, what's going on here? How are you all here together?"

King Bumi grinned broadly, a mischievous glint in his eye. "What do you mean? All old people know each other."

Toph crossed her arms, unimpressed. "Uh-huh. Right."

There was a brief, awkward silence as everyone tried to process whether or not he was serious. Bumi's wild eyes danced with amusement, but before anyone could respond, Master Piandao stepped forward, his expression calm and serious.

"Actually, We are part of a sacred order," Piandao explained, his voice firm yet respectful. "An order that transcends the divisions of nations and bending disciplines. We dedicate ourselves to seeking knowledge, truth, and balance in the world."

Before Piandao could continue, Zuko interrupted, his eyes widening in realization. "The White Lotus," he said softly, the words heavy with meaning.

Piandao nodded. "Yes, Prince Zuko. We are the Order of the White Lotus."

Jeong Jeong stepped forward, his presence commanding despite his silence. "We have come together in these dark times to restore balance."

Suki, who had been silent up to this point, took a cautious step forward. "Restore balance? Does that mean you're here to fight the Fire Nation?"

"Something like that," Pakku said, his tone grave. His eyes shifted toward Katara, his expression softening for a moment. "But first, tell me—where are Aang and Sokka?"

The question landed heavily in the air. Katara looked down, her hands tightening into fists at her sides. Zuko was the one who finally spoke, his voice strained but steady.

"Aang has… disappeared," Zuko admitted, the weight of the words hanging over him. "We don't know where he is."

Master Pakku's expression darkened with concern. "Disappeared? Again?"

Zuko hesitated for a moment, then continued. "And Sokka… Sokka's been captured by the Fire Nation."

Piandao's calm demeanor faltered, his eyes widening in shock. "Captured?" His voice, usually measured, was filled with genuine surprise. "One of my favorite students, taken by the Fire Nation?"

Katara's shoulders slumped, the pain of her brother's absence weighing heavily on her. "It's been weeks," she said quietly, her voice barely audible. "We don't even know if he's still…"

She didn't finish the thought, but the implication was clear. The uncertainty, the fear of what might have happened to Sokka, hung over them all like a dark cloud.

Bumi, who had been unusually quiet, scratched his chin thoughtfully. "And Momo?" he asked, his tone lighter, but the concern still evident. "He's missing too?"

Toph nodded. "Yeah, disappeared with Aang. No sign of either of them."

There was a heavy silence as the gravity of their situation sank in. Two vital members of their group—gone. The Avatar, the world's last hope, vanished without a trace. And Sokka, their friend and strategist, captured by their enemy. The tension was palpable, the uncertainty of what lay ahead pressing down on them like a heavy weight.

Zuko, determined to push forward, turned back to Piandao. "Why are you all here? How did the Order of the White Lotus end up in Ba Sing Se?"

Piandao's gaze was steady as he answered. "Not long ago, a member of our Order reached out to us. He called us together for a very important meeting."

He paused, his eyes locking onto Zuko's. "That member is your uncle, Prince Zuko."

Zuko's breath caught in his throat. His uncle. The very man he had been searching for, the one person who could help them. "Uncle Iroh?" Zuko asked, his voice barely above a whisper. "He's here?"

Piandao nodded. "Yes. He gathered us here for a reason. We've been waiting for you."

Zuko took a step forward, his heart pounding in his chest. "Do you know where he is? Where my uncle is?"

Master Piandao gave a small, reassuring nod. "Of course we do. And we will take you to him."

The looming structure of the Royal Fire Nation Library stood before Sokka, its tall, intimidating silhouette casting a shadow over him. It wasn't the library itself that captured his attention though, but the towering roosts beside it—vast, mountain-like formations that seemed to be carved from the very heart of the volcanic rock surrounding the palace grounds.

The roosts had been carefully shaped to blend with the rugged terrain, but hints of Fire Nation architecture poked through, adding a layer of man-made, intricate design to the natural rock formations. Ancient carvings decorated the man-made parts of the nests, their deep crevices serving as homes for thousands of messenger birds. The sight was awe-inspiring, but unsettling all the same.

Sokka stood with the Chief Librarian, their gazes fixed on the roosts as fire hawks darted in and out of the enormous cave-like entrances. From this distance, it was hard to comprehend the sheer scale of it all—the roosts stretched into the sky like massive fortresses built for creatures far larger than any bird.

A gust of hot wind blew past him, carrying the faint screeches of the fire hawks as they took to the skies, soaring, free and wild, their cries echoing faintly above.

Sokka couldn't help but feel a flicker of awe at the sight. The scene, while unsettling in its grandeur, was mesmerizing.

"Wow," Sokka murmured, his gaze still lifted to the sky. "Just how many of those birds do you have flying around?"

The Chief Librarian, a middle-aged man with a face weathered by years of service, turned to Sokka with a slight smile, sensing his awe. "Today?" he said, glancing up at the sky, "That would be around 15,000 fire hawks."

Sokka blinked in disbelief. "Fifteen thousand? That's insane." He shook his head, still staring at the mass of birds above. "I was expecting maybe a few hundred. A thousand at maximum."

The Chief Librarian chuckled, the sound dry and humorless. "Do you think us mere nomads, boy? We are the Fire Nation. Our people span across the continents. Our vast armies occupy hundreds of strongholds, colonies, and outposts in every corner of the world. Our great fleets roam the oceans, dominating the seas and ensuring our empire's expansion. A network like that demands communication, don't you think?"

Sokka grimaced. The man's pride in the Fire Nation was palpable, and it grated against his nerves. He glanced again at the birds, a knot of frustration tightening in his chest. "Right," he muttered. "I guess it makes sense for a nation colonizing every part of the world to need so many messenger birds."

The librarian gave a hearty laugh. "I'll take that as a compliment."

Then his eyes were drawn back to the enormous cave-like openings in the roosts, far larger than any fire hawk would need. It made him feel small, standing beneath them, as if these massive nests were watching him, ancient sentinels that had been around far longer than the birds they now housed.

The librarian noticed his lingering gaze and followed it. "You finally noticed it, haven't you?" His voice dropped slightly, more curious now. "The size of the entrances to the roosts—far too large for the birds, even at their numbers."

Sokka nodded slowly, his brow furrowing. "Yes. I was just thinking… how many birds could you possibly fit in those roosts? It's like they're built for something a lot bigger."

The librarian's expression darkened slightly, a knowing glint in his eye. "They were. These were originally dragon roosts."

Sokka's head snapped toward him, eyebrows raised. "Dragon roosts? You mean… you kept dragons here?"

"Indeed," the librarian said, his tone now somber. "Once upon a time, this was where dragons rested. They soared through the skies, great creatures of wisdom, serving as both guardians and teachers to the Fire Lords of old. But everything changed during Fire Lord Sozin's reign."

Sokka's curiosity piqued, and despite himself, he couldn't help but ask, "What happened?"

The librarian paused for a moment, as if considering how much to tell him. Finally, he spoke. "At first, the dragons were loyal to the Fire Lord. They fought in the war alongside our soldiers, powerful allies in battle.

Sokka raised an eyebrow." They were used in the war? How could the other Nations have stopped them."

The Librarian's expression hardened as he folded his hands behind his back."Well, During the war, the dragons committed what was considered a great betrayal against the Fire Lord and In retaliation, he had them declared traitors to the throne. They were hunted down, not by the other nations, mind you-but by our own people. It became a sport—an honor to kill a dragon and bring back their essence as a trophy."

Sokka's heart sank. The Fire Nation was already responsible for so much destruction, but the idea of them wiping out dragons—creatures as ancient and powerful as the benders themselves—was almost too much to fathom.

Sokka's stomach twisted at the thought. "So… The Fire lord wiped them all out?"

The Librarian nodded grimly. "The hunt continued for decades. One by one, the dragons fell—until Prince Iroh, killed the last one."

He then added. "Or so the legend goes. The Dragon of the West earned his name from that final battle."

Sokka shook his head, muttering under his breath. "I guess crazy really does run in the family."

As the words left his lips, Sokka's thoughts drifted to Azula. He hadn't seen Fire Lord Sozin, but from what he'd heard just now, the two might be sharing more than just royal blood. Betrayal had defined much of Sozin's life—First from his childhood companion and best friend, Avatar Roku and then for whatever reason, from the very own majestic creatures, he once called his masters. Those feelings of betrayal must have showed through his hatred when he had them all hunted down and killed like mere savages or when he had obliterated the Air Nomads in hope to end the avatar cycle.

Azula wasn't much different.

The moment Mai and Ty Lee turned on her at the Boiling Rock, Sokka had seen something snap inside Azula. She had always been ruthless, cold and calculated—but Mai and Ty Lee were supposed to be different. They weren't just soldiers or pawns to her, they were supposed to be her friends. Or as close to friends as someone like Azula could have.

But after they betrayed her, something inside her cracked.

Sokka remembered that moment clearly—when the gondola finally landed he had just gained conscious. Even though he bought his friends ample time to escape and not to be followed, surprisingly it was Mai who had saved them all. So when he saw how her face twisted in disbelief when Mai said she loved Zuko more than she feared her. The rage in Azula's eyes as she screamed, calling them traitors, had been raw and unfiltered. She had tried to kill them on the spot, not because of what they'd done but because of what they represented. They were the last people she trusted, the last ones who were loyal—until they weren't.

It was a similar kind of paranoia Sozin had developed. They both saw betrayal in every shadow, every hesitation, every decision that wasn't made for them.

And ever since then, Azula had spiraled. Her behavior had become erratic, unstable. Sokka could see it. She'd grown more reckless, her punishments more brutal, her need for control more desperate. It wasn't just about winning anymore; it was about holding onto the last shreds of power she felt slipping through her fingers. And in a twisted way, Sokka could see why.

Mai and Ty Lee had been the last tether to whatever humanity she had left, the last connection to the person she might have been if she hadn't been molded into a weapon.

They had kept her sane.

And now, without them, she was unraveling.

Sokka's gut twisted again as he thought about his own situation. Was she holding onto him because she couldn't trust anyone else anymore?

The librarian's gaze sharpened, his voice dropping dangerously as he brought Sokka back the present. "You should tread carefully, boy. Such blasphemous talk could cost you dearly."

Sokka, not in the mood for more warnings, shrugged it off. "Feel free to tell the Fire Lord I said that."

The librarian sighed, clearly tired of Sokka's irreverence. "I must say, I grow weary of these insults to the Royal Family. I've been hearing them since early this morning."

Sokka gave a thin smile, patting the man on the shoulder in a mock-friendly gesture. "Don't worry, Chief. I've got plenty more where that came from."

The librarian shot him an annoyed look but didn't press the matter. "The fire hawks have been sent. A thousand, as per Fire Lord Azula's orders. I've even dispatched an additional 500 to increase the odds."

Sokka crossed his arms, glancing at the sky as more birds disappeared into the distance. "Will that be enough?"

The librarian's voice held no optimism. "Not even close."

Of course not, he thought.

The Librarian continued, his tone pragmatic. "However, we can narrow down the possible locations where your friends might be hiding. With your help—accurate descriptions, key locations—they may be found. It's the best way to ensure the fire hawks are sent to the right places."

Sokka sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. The idea of spending the entire night helping the Fire Nation made him sick.

"I'm going to be here all night, aren't I?" he muttered.

The librarian gave a curt nod. "Yes, I expect so. You could run away if you'd like. There's no one here to stop you, and I'm but a frail old man."

Sokka smirked slightly. "Don't tempt me, Chief."

"For someone who claims to hate the Fire Lord so much, you're doing exactly what she says."

Sokka looked at the man, but there was no anger in his voice, only cold resolution. The Librarian offered a thin smile and turned, walking back toward the grand entrance of the library, his footsteps echoing faintly in the quiet courtyard. Sokka watched him go, his mind spinning.

He could have escaped a while ago.

Why the hell was he still here?

you doing exactly what she says.

The words gnawed at him.

Left alone, Sokka's eyes returned to the sky. The fire hawks were still flying in the distance, their numbers dwindling as they disappeared into the horizon. He stood there, silently watching, his heart heavy. The weight of the morning's events bore down on him. The memory of Azula-The guards.

The Throne Room - Earlier

Sokka knelt on the cold stone floor, his chest heaving with ragged breaths. The chains around his wrists dangled loosely, half broken, the metal clinking faintly as his body trembled from exhaustion. The two guards who had attacked him lay unconscious nearby, their bodies sprawled out across the throne room floor. Sokka hadn't killed them, though Azula might've preferred it.

He had done what he needed to survive, even though it had taken nearly everything he had.

The throne room was eerily silent now, except for the faint crackle of the blue flames that lined the walls and guarded the throne. Their ghostly light flickered, casting long shadows across the floor where Sokka knelt. His muscles screamed from the fight, and a sharp pain shot through his side where one of the guards had landed a solid hit, but none of that mattered now.

Above him, Azula watched from the edge of her raised platform, her eyes like molten gold, burning with fury. Her usual calculated smirk was gone, replaced with an expression of raw, unrestrained irritation. The fire behind her crackled and hissed, its blue flames mirroring the storm building inside her.

His words from earlier still echoed in her mind. "You won't kill me."

The audacity. The defiance.

Azula hated being challenged.

"You think you're clever, don't you?" she hissed, her voice dripping with venom. She rose from her throne and began to descend the steps, each movement precise and deliberate. The sound of her bare feet against the cold stone floor reverberated through the silent room. "You think I can't kill you?"

Sokka forced himself to look up, his jaw clenched tight, his body trembling from the exertion of the fight, but his mind refused to bend. The pain throbbed through his muscles, his ribs bruised and aching, but none of it compared to the tension that now hung between them. He could feel her eyes boring into him like daggers, but he refused to look away.

"I didn't think you'd take the easy way out," Sokka rasped, his voice hoarse but steady. "Ordering your guards to do it for you. Guess I hit a nerve."

Azula's lips twitched, fury flashing in her golden eyes. "Easy way out?" she spat, her irritation boiling over. "I'll show you the easy way out!"

She began pacing, her hands clenched tightly at her sides as the blue flames behind her surged higher, casting jagged shadows across the throne room. Her movements were tense, agitated—far from the calm and collected demeanor she usually displayed.

"No, you won't." Sokka answered bluntly, his voice cutting through the room.

Azula stopped in her tracks, her gaze narrowing on him, her eyes burning with rage.

Sokka pushed further, his words filled with defiance. "You've could've had me killed at the prison" he said, his voice louder now, challenging her. "You had me right there. You could've ended it. But you didn't."

Azula's lips pressed into a thin line, her jaw tightening. For a brief moment, her mask slipped, revealing a flicker of something—something she tried to smother. It took her a moment to respond.

"I needed information from you," she snapped, her voice sharp, cutting through the silence. "And afterwards, you needed to learn a lesson for your disobedience."

Sokka scoffed, not backing down. "Is it normal, then, to have the tortured victim revived?"

Azula's eyes darkened, her gaze narrowing as she shot him a dangerous look. "Yes," she said, her tone icy. "If you want to prolong their suffering."

Sokka's breath hitched. "I think someone took my suffering a little too personally."

Azula's expression flickered, but she quickly regained control. "Does it matter?! I can do whatever I want!"

"Okay," Sokka pressed, his voice steady but filled with frustration, "then why bring me here? Why not leave me to rot in that prison? Why drag me back to the Fire Nation?"

Azula turned to face him. His questions seemed to throw her off balance for a moment, but she quickly recovered, her face hardening into a mask of indifference. "I told you," she said sharply. "I want you to see how everyone and everything you care about will fall to ash. The comet is almost upon us, and then you'll understand."

Sokka shook his head, his chest tightening. "Again, this seems personal."

"It doesn't matter!" Azula snapped, her frustration evident in the rising pitch of her voice. "Once the comet arrives, you'll witness the Fire Nation's victory. You'll see everything you fought for, crumble to dust."

Sokka's heart pounded, but he refused to relent. "What happens if we win? What happens when the Avatar defeats your father? When he comes for you?"

Azula's eyes flared with anger, the blue flames around the room roaring higher. "You worthless peasant!" she shouted, her voice cracking with rage. "You and your friends are weak! If I could kill the Avatar, then surely my father can defeat him!"

"And what about your friends?" Sokka shot back, his voice quiet but piercing. "Were they weak too?"

Azula froze, her body going rigid. Her eyes flickered with something raw—something vulnerable—but she quickly looked away, her expression hardening once more. She clenched her fists at her sides, her knuckles white from the strain.

"Friends are useless," she muttered under her breath, her voice barely audible. "Friends are for the fools, like yourself."

Sokka could see the strain in her face, the way she tensed when he mentioned her friends. He had hit a nerve. He wanted to press on but then she responded

"Tell me" She said quietly. "It's been weeks. Do your friends really care about you? are they even thinking about rescuing you?"

Azula's expression darkened as she waited for his response, her eyes gleaming with the twisted satisfaction of her question. The blue flames flickered lower.

Sokka's heart pounded in his chest, but he held his ground. He straightened up as much as his aching body would allow and met her gaze, unflinching.

" To tell you the truth, I don't want them to rescue me," he said firmly. "They can win this war without me. Besides..." His voice dropped, a note of defiance sneaking into his tone. "It's not like I'm in any real danger, am I?

Azula's hands trembled slightly at her sides, her jaw clenched tight. "I told you," she said through gritted teeth, her voice rising in frustration. "Your end will come soon enough."

Sokka shook his head, his voice steady. "We both know that's not why I'm still alive. This isn't about prolonging my suffering."

Azula's breath hitched. "What are you trying to say, savage?"

Sokka swallowed hard, his voice dropping to a whisper. "I don't know for sure yet, but I've been thinking about this a lot." He met her gaze, his eyes unwavering. "About those nights you came to my cell."

Azula's eyes widened, just for a split second, before her expression hardened. She remained still, but Sokka could see the crack in her composure, the brief flicker of uncertainty.

"You thought I was asleep," Sokka continued, his voice quiet but firm. "But I wasn't. Not every time."

Azula didn't respond, her silence deafening. She stood frozen, like a statue carved from ice, but Sokka pressed on.

"It started after that night in the prison," he said, his voice barely a whisper now. "After you almost electrocuted me. You sent Tuka to heal me, but you weren't sure if I'd make it, were you?"

Azula's expression hardened, but she didn't speak. The air between them was thick with tension, heavy and suffocating.

"You stayed there for hours," Sokka said, his voice barely audible. "Watching me. Checking if my heart was still beating."

The flames behind her roared higher, the heat of the room becoming unbearable as Azula's anger swelled. Her body was rigid, her fists trembling at her sides as the weight of his words hung between them.

"Why?" Sokka asked, his voice breaking the silence like a hammer shattering glass. "Why did you do it, Azula?"

For a long moment, the only sound in the room was the crackling of the flames. Azula's gaze remained fixed on him, her golden eyes burning with an intensity that made Sokka's skin prickle. Her lips parted slightly, as if she were about to say something—but then she stopped.

The flames surged one last time, growing higher and higher until they licked the ceiling of the throne room. Sokka could feel the heat pressing in on him from all sides, suffocating him, but he held his ground. He refused to look away.

And then, just as abruptly as it had come, the fire receded. The flames dimmed, lowering to their usual controlled flicker.

Azula's eyes, once blazing with fury, dulled into something cold and distant. She took a slow, measured breath, her chest rising and falling as she forced herself back into control. Her hands unclenched, and without looking at him, she turned away.

"Get out of my sight," she said quietly, her voice hollow, like a blade dulled from too much use.

Sokka blinked, caught off guard by the sudden shift. He had expected her to explode, to lash out in rage. But instead, she had... retreated. Her back was to him now, her shoulders tense but still, as though she couldn't bear to look at him anymore.

She moved toward her throne, but instead of sitting in her usual regal posture, she leaned against the pillar beside it, her head resting against the cool stone. She didn't turn back to face him. She didn't need to.

The silence stretched out between them, thick and suffocating. Sokka stood, his legs shaky beneath him, his body aching from the effort. He wanted to say something, to get one last jab in, but the words caught in his throat.

Azula's voice cut through the silence, low and dangerous. "Don't make me change my mind."

Sokka swallowed hard, the weight of her words pressing down on him like a boulder. He didn't dare push her any further. Not now.

She had just let him go, He was free to leave.

Without another word, he turned and made his way toward the exit. His footsteps echoed in the cavernous room, each step heavy with the tension of their encounter. But as he reached the doors, he couldn't help but glance back one last time.

Azula remained where she was, leaning against the pillar, her face half-hidden in the shadows. She didn't move. She didn't look at him.

And for the first time, Sokka realized something he hadn't before.

She was just as trapped as he was.

End notes

I hope I'm getting a present for this.

Until next time.