Fight 44: Crossroads of Destiny – Trust and Betrayal
Chenlian closed her eyes, and when she opened them again after a moment, they had recovered their determination and implacability and she had stopped crying. What she had to do... was to stop those fights and let Aang and Katara get away no matter what! Zuko sprang to his feet and fired more flaming projectiles towards Aang who hopped out of the way and landed at the top of a large, crystal sticking out of the stone wall high above. The scarred young man lowered his stance, gathering energy, and launched a powerful blast of fire. It broke against a solid wall of fire that collapsed into a narrow torrent that rushed at him. His defences were not enough to resist that power, and the prince was hurled back. When he stood up, Chenlian was standing protectively in front of Aang. She made flaming swords and charged him. He did the same. Their blades clashed between them.
"Is that your answer?" The girl asked.
"Yes."
"Why?! I trusted you, I believed in you, I still love you... I thought you loved me and wanted to be with me too... I thought you had changed!"
"I have changed. I know who I am. I know what I want. I want my father's love, I want my honor, I want my throne. That is my destiny!"
"Do you even know what you're doing?! Will you really break everything for that?! Do you really think that's worth all the sacrifices?!" Chenlian shot back.
"It's the only way!" The prince applied all of his strength, pushing away the woman to whom he had once sworn his love before starting a fierce series of attacks. She parried them, but not completely. Cuts and burns appeared on her clothes, and on her skin. He was really giving it his all, forsaking everything for this one chance. However, she still wasn't one to go down so easily. When he took a big swing, she sidestepped and hit his open side, generating a fire blast that sent him against crystal. Zuko recovered after a time before flinching and holding his injured side. He looked up to see Chenlian approaching him, glaring down at him with implacable eyes.
"If I can't change your mind then I'll stop you by force. A victory for you would mean a victory for Ozai and I can't let that happen. Stand up. If you have something you want then show me your determination!" She challenged him. The prince ran and performed a leaping overhead kick, creating a large arc of flame that was hurled forward as he brought his foot down. The girl evaded and sent a powerful ball at her opponent who dodged and retaliated. Chenlian took control of his fire and launched it right back at him with doubled speed and power, but it crashed against a stone wall erected at the last moment right before him. The wall shattered and he was blown back a bit. And suddenly, the mahogany-haired firebender found herself surrounded by Dai Li agents.
The Fire Nation princess landed a puddle of water and ran at Katara who bended the water from another and hurled it at her opponent. The sheet of liquid passed just inches by Azula's face cutting a few hairs from her bangs. With Aang's help, Katara managed to knock Azula to her knees and as she started to get back to her feet, Katara bended water all around her own body and created two long tentacles of water extending from her arms. The Fire Nation princess leant forward and thrust out her fists, releasing a blast of fire that was extinguished as one of the water tentacles wrapped around her outstretched arm. When Azula tried to counter with a straight thrust kick, the other tentacle wrapped around her leg. The Water Tribe girl raised her arms and the Fire Lord's daughter was lifted into the air, shouting in fright. Just when it seemed the princess was finished, a stone slab rose and sliced the water tentacles, freeing her. Azula smirked as her new minions took over fighting the waterbender, allowing her to face Aang. She was so smiling confidently but he still looked determined to win. Suddenly, she propelled herself forwards with jets of fire shooting off her fists and feet. Aang covered himself with glistening green crystal armor and slid over the ground, charging straight at Azula. But before they collided, the princess hopped and skidded forward, flinging all of the built up fire at the Avatar who crossed his arms and tried to defend himself. However, the powerful blow shattered the crystal armor and sent the monk crashing into a wall on a cliff up above.
In the Earth King's throne room. Mai and Ty Lee had changed into clothes similar to Azula's. Mai was sitting on the steps that lead up the throne while Ty Lee was playing with Bosco and trying to teach it to walk on its front paws. She even demonstrated. Suddenly, the floor beneath her surrounded her arms, catching her by surprise. She fell forward and the stone wrapped around her feet as well, leaving her bent backward with her belly sticking up. Bosco growled and clapped his paws happily. Toph, Sokka and the Earth King were standing in front of the large doorway.
"That is a nice trick." Toph commented, stomping the ground, lifting a large stone block. Sokka pulled out his boomerang. They were ready to fight.
"Just take the bear." Mai said apathetically, while lethargically waving a hand at them. The sovereign ran up to his pet bear that he hugged around the head. The animal growled happily as its master buried his face into its fur and snuggled him.
"Give up, Chenlian. Even you can't win after being outnumbered like this." Zuko demanded. Why needlessly prolong her suffering? He didn't want that. The girl scoffed. Even though she was clearly tiring, she didn't show the slightest trace of 'surrender'.
"No can do. What I'm betting here... isn't my life or my freedom. What I'm fighting for... isn't as tiny as the happiness of an individual or a small minority. That's why I'll keep rising, no matter how many times and how much I break." Because what she was betting... was her soul and pride. And the battle resumed. She blocked and dodged the attacks and struck back. Even in such a disadvantageous position, she proved to be a very difficult opponent, all the more dangerous as she seemed to be growing fiercer and deadlier the more she was cornered.
Katara crashed against a clump of crystals and fell to the ground, unconscious. Her hair had come undone and flew freely. The airbender wearily stood up and looked around. Many Dai Li agents jumped down from the cliffs above, forming long rows behind Azula and Zuko. Katara woke up just as the Dai Li surrounded her. She bended the water from the channel to form a ring of water around her that sprouted eight tentacles to be able to battle numerous enemies. Aang got back into his fighting stance. He then looked at Chenlian and Katara, who were desperately fighting off the Dai Li agents. Chenlian seemed to be doing reasonably well for the moment but there was just no way she could make it last. The enemies were far too many. He needed the power of the Avatar State. And as his eyes fell on Katara again, he recalled Guru Pathik's words... "The only way, is to let her go." How ironic, to save her now, he had to let her go...
"I'm sorry Katara." He whispered sadly before turning around and forming a crystal tent around him. He sat down and began meditating. And then, he was once again facing the avatar spirit residing inside him, high above the world and surrounded by the starry heavens. The avatar spirit surrounded Aang in a swirling orb between its hands, and Aang's arrow glowed.
In the physical world, the airbender's arrow started glowing here as well, illuminating the crystals surrounding him. In fright and awe, Zuko and the Dai Li dropped their stance. Aang opened his eyes glowing with great intensity. An incredible explosion of spiritual power destroyed the crystals. The Dai Li agents shielded themselves from the blast. The Avatar rose from the ground in a bright pillar of cosmic light. Katara looked up at him, hope returning to her. But suddenly, a bolt of lightning struck his back and he writhed in pain. It was Azula, who was now smirking confidently.
In the child's mind, the swirling cosmic ball vanished and the avatar spirit fell and faded away along with the path of light Aang was standing on. The monk's body plummeted to the earth below.
Aang was also falling to the ground. His clothes on his back were charred, showing a terrible burn wound, as well as a burnt spot on the sole of his foot where the lightning exited. Katara and Chenlian stared, shocked and horrified. Tears rolled down the waterbender's face. They moved in the same time. Chenlian shot up and flew over her encirclement while Katara turned her body and created a large wave and rode on top of it. It rolled over Zuko and the Dai Li, washing them away. The two young women caught their fallen friend and landed on the ground, the water flowing away from her. They held Aang's unconscious body and looked up hopelessly. Zuko and Azula were advancing on them. Chenlian stared at them, before gazing at Aang. She closed her eyes, and opened them again. Her decision was taken. She stood up and walked forth, facing the legion of enemies alone. She made a rampart of fire blocking a few attacks.
"Katara, you take Aang and get out of here. I'll hold them off."
"No! I can't leave without you!" The blue-eyed girl shot back. The fiery wall suddenly collapsed it like a broken dam. The torrent of flames was so strong it blew most of the opponents.
"Please KATARA! You have to. Saving Aang is the top priority! I'm sorry this happened. It seems that because my head was in the clouds, my judgement was clouded too. But now I can see. My place... my only place in this world... is with you guys. That's why you don't have to worry. I swear on this life, on this soul, that I'll definitely return to you, no matter what. You guys are my family, right?" Chenlian looked back at Katara. The light of her flames were illuminating her agonizingly soft and sad smile that made her friend's tears flow twice as strongly. After the previous attack, the first few rows of Dai Lis at the front showed no sign of getting up soon. But the rear took their place and resumed their relentless assault from a distance, although the young fighter with mahogany hair deflected everything.
The waterbender tightly shut her eyes and opened them again with a new found determination... although both knew it was a fool's hope, she still chose to believe in her, in her words... that firebender, that Fire Nation noblewoman who should have been her enemy, and who instead had become an irreplaceable friend, no, more than that... right, Chenlian was the sister she never had. Always strict and harsh with them and scolding them, yet always taking such good care of them, putting them before her own well-being, protecting them... even chosing them over the man she loved, even though she must be suffering so much inside! It might have been just a duty, a mission to her at first, but now she was different! They were friends! They were family! That was why she was going to trust those bonds, to trust Chenlian and her strength!
"That's right! We're your family! So you must return to us no matter what! We'll be waiting for you!" Katara replied as she she dragged Aang to the back and they went up the waterfall.
Now that they were gone, Chenlian contemplated her courses of action. She should stall some more, then find a good time to escape and join with Katara and the others. But then her eyes fell on Azula and Zuko. Escape? Run away? Run from Azula? Run from Zuko? Run from the truth? No, she couldn't do that. Her eyes boring into theirs, she knew that she couldn't run from them... even though she knew that the best, the wisest choice would be to run away now. Then what? Surrender? Be locked up, bid her time, repeat those endless days like a discarded doll? Then fight? For what... for whom? She slightly dropped her stance and did nothing but hung her head when the earthbenders emprisonned her in crystal. The Avatar was gone and Katara was protecting him. Iroh would be fine. And the only other person she had ever wanted to protect... was standing before her as her enemy.
Fight... suddenly she recalled her childhood filled with intensive training... from her earliest days, she had been taught to fight for what she believed in, for what she wanted, even if the opponent was her own family or the royal family. She thought she would fight for her country, for her family, for that young prince.
Fight... in order to stay alive...! She had fought against her own countrymen, against thieves, against mercenaries, against Earth Kingdom soldiers, against waterbenders, against hunger, poisons, and illnesses.
Fight... in order to stay yourself...! She had fought against despair, in order to find a reason to live and keep going despite being constantly rejected, despised, hated and having her existence denied. And when she had found it, she had fought to protect the Avatar, she had fought to protect that sliver of hope and love called Zuko, she had fought to gain peace and freedom for everyone. All her life, she had been fighting, one battle after another. The days gone by will never return. Accept this truth reflected in your eyes... and fight! Since that's all you can do... FIGHT!
FIGHT!
Suddenly Chenlian opened her eyes and the crystal surrounding her exploded. When people were cornered, their true selves showed. Her true self... was a warrior. The blast of heat and fire spread like a shockwave, blowing the Dai Lis who had gotten close and shattering all the crystals it passed. The royal siblings managed to shield themselves. But the heat was still increasing. A fountain of flames emerged beneath her feet and spread. All those who couldn't protect themselves or get away in time caught fire. She rose to the air. Large boulders and slabs of stone were hurled at her. But her fire balls shattered them and continued their way to hit her attackers. Those who tried to get close ended with severe injuries. Earthbenders could do nothing against her. And this heat... it was like trying to get to the heart of a volcano. For non-firebenders it was difficult to bear. But actually, that level of power was beyond her limit. Guang was giving her power and trying to help as her safety was his topmost priority... but she was actually pushing him back. She was literally burning her life away, like she no longer cared what would happen to her, like she was throwing her future away... all for the sake of burning and destroying everything and everyone here with her own hands. Azula bended lightning at her but it was redirected and the princess was saved by another stone wall. Zuko attempted to attack too but his blows were sent back at him, although he managed to dodge. But then, Azula surprised everyone by stopping the attack... and suggested settling things between firebenders. The princess promised there would be absolutely no outside interference.
"An oppressor's promise, huh?" Chenlian scoffed. "You deceive, you manipulate, you double-cross, you control people through fear, force, and lies... and only ever tells the truth when you have something to gain, or when you can hurt someone. You have no honor." She affirmed. Zuko twitched, hearing the words she didn't speak outloud...only idiots like your brother would still trust you, and you, Zuko, was that truly the kind of honor you wanted to reclaim?
"You're right. But..." Azula raised her arms and all the Dai Li agents retreated, taking their wounded comrades. And soon, there were really just the three of them. "They were useless against you anyways. Their only worth was to exhaust you. And there IS something to gain. Zuko, you fight her one-on-one. There's no point if you don't beat her yourself. Prove your loyalty to our family by defeating her. Show her your determination like she said, show us both your determination. Chenlian, you too have reasons to accept this fight. This is an Agni Kai. Settle things once and for all. End everything with your own hands. There is no going back." The princess exhorted them. The other female firebender remained silent and turned to look at the man with whom she had hoped to spend her future until just an hour ago. Now both that hope and future had shattered.
"Chenlian, let's fight. You, and me. I challenge you. Accept it." The Fire Lord's son walked away from his sister and entered a battle stance, his resolute eyes boring straight into hers.
So that's what it boils down to... Chenlian lowered her head, a bitter smile of self-derision curving her lips. Those promises, that time together, her efforts, her feelings, her dreams, those years when she kept clinging onto him despite the pain... what had they been for? To settle... to end their relation... once and for all... This was... what he truly wanted. He was serious. She had to respond to him. He had challenged her. And she had sworn to accept all challenges. That was the last thing she could do for him. But Azula was right, that was also something she needed to do for herself. They could never be together. She had to accept it. Then that distorted love, that painful bond like a chain full of thorns she kept dragging from the past, she had to sever it with her own hands, or she could not move forward. Chenlian slowly descended and landed into combat stance too.
"Alright. But Zuko, don't forget. This fight, this... this is what you wanted. So don't ever regret it." She warned. In response he sent a large fireball at her. She leapt over it, spun and brought down her foot, hurling an arch of flame. He dissipated it but the force made him back a few steps. While he was off balance, she launched low waves that rippled over the ground but he managed to jump back on a rock. He retaliated with a volley that she blocked with a wall of flames she launched forward. This time he stood his ground and split it but could not avoid or counter the following blast that sent him flying, rolling on the ground and crash in the stream. His drenched form reminded her of the time when they had played in the fountain of the palace when they were children, and when Zuko had run to her when she had just been swimming in that pool in the canyon just a few months ago...
"I'm sorry. I'm sorry for all the hurtful things I said and did to you." She recalled his sincere and passionate gaze. "I love you. I want to be with you. I want to know more about you."... "I promise I'll grow stronger, I won't let you suffer like that again..." That was what he had said... that was what he had promised! So how could things become like this?!
The prince stood up and attacked again, kicking many arches of flames. Chenlian dissipated many before, in a fraction of a second, taking control of the strongest one, making it a circle, like a wheel rotating at high speed that she hurled at him, and cast other, smaller ones. Zuko was able to evade them but a number still grazed him, cutting his clothes, his skin, his flesh. The burning disks sliced crystals and left deep gashes into the walls, the ceiling, and the pillars. Using that sort of vicious and lethal attack... against that person... Was she trying to kill him? That man she loved so much... and who had betrayed her... How many times had he chosen Azula over her? How many times had he rejected her and hurt her? From the time he had turned his back on her after his father accused her parents of treason... up until now... She should have known, right? Even though it was obvious... But... she had always refused to see... Chenlian gritted her teeth and balled her fists, her nails digging in her palm and drawing blood.
Like Azula earlier, she propelled herself forwards with jets of fire shooting off her fists and feet. Zuko fired a large, strong blast at her. The girl executed a forward spinning double-kick fire blast, blowing both the attack aimed at her and its caster with the force gained from the speed and momentum. The prince crashed against a large rock. His vision and consciousness wavered for a time. The impact caused by the consecutive blows had made him dizzy. As he slowly recovered, he saw his opponent leap high in the air and bring a flaming arch onto him. That snapped him back and he barely dodged in time.
The princess clicked her tongue. Her brother had definitely gotten stronger. But she had underestimated Chenlian's sheer fury and fierceness. And it wasn't just that. Chenlian was simply, truly strong, and had also grown stronger. However that fury, that anguish she was showing and that was gradually carving her face... proved that she was losing her cool, she had started crumbling. Chenlian had always been not only strong, but also cautious. She always made sure not to have or show weaknesses. That was why she never got really attached to anyone or anything, so that they couldn't be used against her. As soon as she started having special feelings, she'd cast it away. Although it could also be interpreted as an act of kindness...: if Chenlian ceased to care about that person, then they'd lose their value as tool for leverage and be left alone by her enemies. But for some reason, Zuko was the only one she had never cast away. That girl... was an armored knight, with that chivalrous personality of hers... and that heavily armored heart. The best way to take her down was from the inside. If there was a chance to defeat her, that emotional state was the weak point that needed to be struck. And thanks to that beloved brother, things were doing well in that regard. The very person she had chosen to love and protect had betrayed her. She had let him into her heart, and after pervading it, he was now completely destroying it. Azula smirked.
Zuko and Chenlian had switched to close combat. The girl swatted away her enemy's attacks, and landed a few blows, usually targeting his throat, his chest, his eyes... but since they had been sparring during their training, he was getting used to her movements... the joint locks especially since they were the type of technique she had employed most extensively during their sparring. She dodged a hand thrust but he used firebending to extend his reach, singing her hair and cutting the purple ribbon ornated with a golden lotus flower. The ribbon dropped down to the ground, and her hair fell freely. Chenlian moved to his left, caught his extended left arm with hers, stepped on his left foot, and punched his cheek with a burning fist, knocking him down. Although the change in range allowed the young man to fare better and put more of a fight, when both were giving their all, Chenlian was still superior after all. And that was all the more true since, as right now both were fueled by their emotions, hers were the strongest... her rage, her sadness, her bitterness... Of course, the Fire Lord's son stood up again... even though the difference in their abilities was so obvious. It looked like she really had no choice after all. Chenlian had something to protect no matter what. She knew his obstinacy very well. Because there was something he wanted, he would never give up, even if everything else was sacrificed...
"If you love me then stay with me. I love you. I want to be with you, stay with you. And I'm sure you feel the same way towards me. We're together now. You're my girlfriend. So don't go save some other guy who attacked us... who attacked you! You owe him nothing! I know you like saving people, but don't you think that now, your duty is first towards me?"
"I want you to trust me, and rely on me... I want to protect my girlfriend..."
"Zuko... you won't leave me... you'll stay with me, right?"
"Of course, isn't it obvious?"
"But..."
"Chenlian, I love you."
Even though he had sworn his love to her, even though his kisses, his embrace, his warmth, his presence at her side still felt so true and vivid to her...! Why?! Why let her know happiness if it was to take everything back now and end things like this?! Zuko launched an exceptionally large and powerful fire blast. She charged straight into the fire, parting it, her mahogany hair blowing behind her like flames. She grabbed his arms, parting them too and her knee heavily connected with his chin, making him fly up. She jumped, spun, and kicked his chest. He crashed against a pillar and she dived towards him. She knew there were people more important to him than her. She knew he simply made his choice. 'Decide your future and the life you want by yourself'. That was exactly what he had done. She knew she had to accept it but she couldn't! There was no wisdom in the face of love. That was right... she still loved him! That was why she resented him so much! That was why she couldn't forgive him! Flames twirled and gathered before and around her fist as she was winding up. The sibling's eyes widened in horror. With that power she would punch a giant hole in his chest! She'd completely smash his face! He had no time to dodge or block! As if in slow motion, Zuko saw her fist being brought down upon him, he saw Chenlian's face, bathed in tears, twisted by rage and pain, by love, hatred and rancor, like the very manifestation of the devastation of her heart. He suddenly froze, his breath caught in his throat as Chenlian's radiant smile brimming with love and happiness flashed in his mind. Tears welled in his eyes. But then, he saw Azula bending lightning at Chenlian.
"NOOOO!" He screamed and instinctively reached out. Alerted, Chenlian looked back, but it was too late. The lightning bolt hit her back full force. She convulsed as the current coursed through her body and devastated it from within and pain shot through all her nerves. Her eyes fell on Azula who was smirking triumphantly. That grin stoked up Chenlian's last remnants of willpower and through sheer force of will, she went beyond the pain and redirected the lightning inside her own body back to the outside, back at Azula. But it was then her strength failed her. The bolt missed her target, although only narrowly. The princess was no longer smiling though. She knew people considered her a monster, but in cases like this she thought that the real monster might be that woman after all. And then, that woman collapsed into Zuko's arms. "Why did you do that?!" He furiously blamed his approaching sister.
"Is that your way to thank me after I saved your life? Or did you want her to kill you because you felt guilty?"
"N-no! I wanted-" What? What did I want? What was I trying to do? To defeat her himself? To save her, and embrace her? He stared down at the last tears falling from her closed eyes, her pained expression like carved in ice and he felt his blood turn to ice too. But then he placed his hand on the side of her neck felt a weak, tiny pulse. "Azula, she's alive!" His heart leapt out of joy. He failed to notice his sister's eyes narrow in spite and discontent.
Appa was carrying the Earth King, Bosco, Sokka, Toph, Momo, Katara, and Aang as they flew in the dark sky, away from the city. Katara laid Aang down and removed the top of the vial containing the precious water from the Spirit Oasis. She bended the small amount of water out of it. She held it over her palm and made it spin in a small circle until it glowed with energy. The others watched as the waterbender lifted Aang and placed the water over the wound on his back. It lowered into the wound and entered his body. Katara held him close and started sobbing. For an instant, Aang's arrow glowed, and a second later he groaned from the recovery. Katara gasped and smiled joyfully. She laid him back down. The Avatar smiled weakly as he looked back at the Water Tribe girl who pulled him to her and hugged him tight again, overwhelmed with relief.
"We've done it Zuko. It's taken a hundred years, but the Fire Nation has conquered Ba Sing Se." The princess of the Fire Nation was sitting on the Earth King's throne while Zuko stood next to her.
"I betrayed Uncle and Chenlian." He said woefully.
"No, they betrayed you. Zuko, when you return home, father will welcome you as a war hero."
"But I don't have the Avatar. What if Father doesn't restore my honor ?"
"He doesn't need to Zuko. Today, you restored your own honor. And you have Chenlian. Hand her over to him, and he'll welcome you with open arms. It's good she's still alive. She can still be of use." Azula stood up and placed a hand on her brother's shoulder.
"But I wasn't the one who captured her!" The prince felt a pang in his chest.
"Yes you did. Because you were her opponent, she was entirely focused on you. Because it was you, she was so agitated. It wouldn't have been possible without you. That's just how powerful the enemy... your former love, was. And you're the one who defeated her." Right... that monster had finally fallen. Azula smirked as she saw horror and pain cross her brother's features before he turned away from her and looked down pensively, his fists balled up.
Appa was flying away from the subjugated Earth Kingdom capital and last bastion standing before the Fire Nation's conquest of the world. The Earth King looked on sadly as he left his home.
"The Earth Kingdom... has fallen." He stated hopelessly. Katara was holding a sleeping Aang next to her. She looked onward as Appa flew over the outer wall and into the dark, cloudy horizon.
Days later, Iroh and Chenlian had been confined in the metal prison and were guarded by Fire Nation soldiers... although it was not like the girl was in any condition to escape as she still hadn't woken up. Zuko was about to go see her when he heard the guards gossiping... they couldn't believe General Iroh was a prisoner now... a member of the royal family, Fire Lord Ozai's own brother! One had served under him during the first siege of the city. The General was a great leader and a great man! The other could say the same about Chenlian's father, a man overflowing with righteousness who even personally entered the fray and saved lowly foot soldiers like him and who was always boasting about his daughter. That this person's daughter could be a traitor was just impossible to believe! At that moment, Zuko who could not bear being devoured by guilt any further than that, revealed himself and snapped at them.
"You two don't know what you're talking about! General Iroh and Chenlian ARE traitors to their country!"
"Please forgive us Prince Zuko, we-"
"GET BACK TO WORK!" He raged and blew fire at their feet, scaring them. He was just like before... quick to fire, frustrated, conflicted, his face contorted in anger, or maybe grief. Both were the same. They meant being wounded, and wincing. And whether that was conscious or not, surely, he could feel it... the loss he had incurred... although he had yet to even begin to see how truly terrible that loss was...
The Fire Nation prince joined his sister, who, as usual, was sitting on the throne of the Earth King, surrounded by Dai Li agents.
"Zuzu, what a pleasant surprise. I've finished the arrangements for our trip back to the Fire Nation. We'll be gone by tomorrow night." Azula said. Zuko argued that she was the leader of Ba Sing Se now. Was she really going to give up control of this whole city? "Don't worry dear brother, I've found the perfect person to leave in charge. Someone who will execute the Fire Lord's will mercilessly and without question: Supreme Bureaucratic Administrator Joo Dee." She gestured towards the woman who had once served as the Avatar's 'tour guide'.
"The Earth Nation humbly accepts this opportunity to serve the great and powerful Fire Nation. Care for a mint?" Joo Dee replied with her usual equanimous tone and smile as she held out a bowl full of mints. Azula assured that Ba Sing Se would be safe in Joo Dee's care and they could personally deliver their uncle and Chenlian, those traitors, back to the Fire Nation.
"You don't need me for that. I'll stay here." He wasn't the one who had defeated Chenlian after all, and he didn't capture or kill the Avatar either. He couldn't face his father. And after what he had done to Chenlian and his uncle, he couldn't face them either.
"Zuko, I told you, now that we've defeated the Avatar and Chenlian, father will welcome you as a war hero! You have reclaimed your honor, and his love! You're the Fire Prince again! You will have your old life back! You will have everything you wanted! Don't you want to return home?"
"I already said I'M NOT GOING!" The prince stormed away, even though his sister's words had once again moved his heart.
Azula flung open the doors of the room she shared with her two female friends. Only Ty Lee was there, as intended. The princess complained that her brother was being difficult as usual and needed some extra persuasion to return with them. And since Mai had a childhood crush on him, she wanted to get them reacquainted. And of course, Ty Lee totally agreed... but didn't know what to do about it. However, there was no need to worry. She only needed to follow Azula's plan as usual. The Fire Lord's daughter didn't phrase things like this but basically Mai's role was to fill the hole left by Chenlian, to make him shift his affection towards her. Mai and Chenlian also had similarities: they were both strong, imperturbable, greatly self-possessed, hated being seen as weak... and both only smiled with genuine happiness and revealed their soft and gentle side to him. In other words, she wanted to use Mai as a substitute. Well, it would be good though if those affections definitely shifted.
And so, under Azula's supervision, Ty Lee and a few Dai Li agents set up a table under a canopy in a corner of the garden. They (somewhat chaotically) made the preparations for a perfect romantic dinner. And when everything was ready, she called Zuko and Mai over. They had to dress nicely because 'Admiral Liang was visiting' and wanted to join them for dinner. So the two had believed there would be everyone. But it was just the two of them, and the table was only set for two, and no one seemed to be coming. Azula was definitely up to something. Still, since the food didn't look too awful, they decided not to let it go to waste. It almost tasted like Fire Nation food, just not seasoned enough. But then a Dai Li came in and started playing the liuqin (a small luth, similar to the pipa but with a much higher range of voice)... he was playing so badly though that the teens sent him away before the noise gave them a headache. So much for the 'cultural authority' of Ba Sing Se. Azula and Ty Lee, who had hidden behind a bush to watch the progress of the situation, snickered when the dejected earthbender left. Those snickers had been heard though.
"I know you're back there, Azula! Don't you have something better to do?!" Zuko angrily walked to them.
"I don't know what you're talking about. I was just telling Ty Lee to stop messing around in the bushes. It's undignified." The princess stood up and dusted herself. Her lie was too blatant to be believable, but nonetheless Ty Lee took offense a little.
Mai and Zuko chose to get out of here so those two couldn't make fun of them anymore. As they were walking through the streets, they passed by a vendor cutting mangoes into beautiful blooming flowers on a stick. Zuko noted that here many people were skilled with blades. He kept quiet about it, but he also recalled that Chenlian loved them, those mango flowers, and how he had gotten jealous over that guy in the Si Wong desert who made those fruity beverages, simply because Chenlian had smiled at him. He recalled how skilled Chenlian was with kitchen knives, and with that straight sword she had let fall, for him, that night when she had wanted to save Jet, when she had chosen him over someone else, what he had said to make her stay... "If you love me then stay with me. I love you. I want to be with you, stay with you. And I'm sure you feel the same way towards me. We're together now. You're my girlfriend. So don't go save some other guy who attacked us... who attacked you! You owe him nothing! I know you like saving people, but don't you think that now, your duty is first towards me?" How he had kissed her, and what had come after that kiss, and that embrace... And after... despite all that, what had happened in the Crystal Catacombs... Mai noticed his attention leaving her and saw his downcast head, the intense pain on his face, and had a feeling who he was thinking about.
"So you think they're better than me? I can't let that pass. Let's see who's better..." Mai snapped him back to reality, placed him against a plank and smiled. "Of course, you won't bail out on me, right?" She stepped back and folded her own eyes, causing Zuko to get really worried.
"Wait!" He attempted to go to her and protest but she pinned his legs to the ground and he fell face first in the mud. And she threw more knives, along his silhouette, some cutting his clothes, others pinning them. She removed her fold and praised herself on her skills and he got angry at her, as he believed he had been about to get killed.
"Whatever." Mai just laughed as she started picking the knives. Zuko sat up and their hands touched as they reached for the same knife. They withdrew their hands, and looked away, blushing. He noted she finally appeared to be enjoying herself. "Many things changed in those years from the time I used to throw mud at you..." Now she threw knives. "But there are also many things that didn't change, like you covered in mud because of me... and my feelings for you..." The girl spoke softly, and he saw those feelings in her eyes and tender expression. She had always liked him. She cupped his cheek and was about to kiss him but he turned away and apologized. And she understood. He wasn't ready. She smiled and said it was alright, she'd wait for him.
The scarred prince accompanied the women to the port. Mai asked him again to return with them... with her. Although they were much closer than before, they still weren't going out, there was still distance between them. Zuko turned her down... or rather, he was still hesitating, even though he'd like to go. That was then Iroh was brought in, heavily chained, and guarded, and boarded onto a ship. After him was Chenlian, tied to a stretcher carried by two soldiers. Even though days had passed she had yet to regain consciousness.
"Poor, poor uncle." Azula commented. "But the poorest one is Chenlian I guess. With the state she's in, she might not survive the trip back..." She watched with secret and sick delight the color drain from her brother's face as he tried to hide his worry and distress. Ty Lee still seemed to feel bad about Chenlian though, but that was because she was quite good-natured and had always gotten along with the fallen girl. Still, that was strange. Chenlian should have died from that attack, and yet, very slowly but surely, she seemed to be healing... regenerating... like a lizard regrowing a tail after it had been cut off... the doctor who had examined her had confirmed it. She still needed medication, but just to have survived that was a miracle. That woman was really a monster after all. "Well, time to leave. I suggest you bid your farewells, brother."
"No. I-I'm coming with you. I'm going back to the Fire Nation." Zuko declared with a determined expression, his eyes fixed on the stretcher that disappeared inside a ship.
"Do what you want, Zu-zu. It's your decision." Azula smirked as they boarded another vessel.
Author's note: That moment when the sweetness of love is tainted, sharpened, deepened by the bitterness of betrayal... you really can't get such full-bodied flavors without such elements of tragedy... haha. Sowwy for those who had hoped for something else? Tehe! So do you hate me now? Do you resent me? Well, I AM evil. Don't worry though, I'm not evil enough to leave you all hanging like this and I'll properly update Book 3. However, until then, I'd like to hear your sentiments about, I guess these chapters too, but also this 2nd season as a whole, what you think were the important points, what truly made you feel something deep (IF it did lol), what you liked, maybe compare it with the 1st season, like how Chenlian, and things changed...