Mrs. & Mr. Fire Lord (ATLA Zuko x OC fanfic)

Chapter XX - War

(unedited)

It was a bad idea. Iris regretfully admitted that they had no choice. Her father's plan was simple. Well, not so simple in action. But brainwashing the entire city could be done by only one particular machine that existed in that very same building. Not anybody could access it.

She was being as discreet as possible, blending in with the soldiers behind her helmet and the uniform. But they were mind-readers, all SRCs, and what she feared the most, it happened.

"Did you think that we didn't know you'd be here?"

It was Jet's voice and Iris cursed under her breath as she turned around and took off that damned helmet, tossing it on the floor. He wasn't alone. A couple of other soldiers were with him. She could take them. Iris shook her hand, grasping the dagger beneath her sleeve. She was going to plant it right between his eyes.

Jet chuckled. "Oh, no, no, no. I don't think so,"

And then Nergratia came from behind with Karel in her hands. "Can't imagine what would happen if the next Avatar is born without a Defender," Nergratia said. She was holding Karel in one hand and a dagger in the other. Iris's eyes widened. No. She knew where this was going. She dropped her dagger and lifted her hands in surrender.

"Lay a finger on her and there won't be a place on earth where you'll be able to hide from me," Iris growled but Nergratia laughed.

"You seem smarter than you look," She said.

"Where's the chief?!" Iris demanded.

"You are in no position to make demands, right now, Iris," Jet reminded her.

"You will either help us wipe out every single bender in this world, or I'll have to make you watch while I detach this cutie's head off her body," Nergratia threatened.

"Don't hurt her! I'll do whatever you want... just don't hurt her, please," Iris surrendered. She couldn't risk her daughter's life no matter what they asked of her.

Jet smirked as he pointed one of his broadswords in her direction. "You're going to lead us to victory,"

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"So what do you guys think Sokka and Zuko were talking about?" Katara asked for probably the twelfth time and Toph snorted lying down on the saddle. She just enjoyed the brush of the air on her face and chose not to answer the question.

"I dunno," She only said indifferently before she tucked a finger in her nose and began digging.

"Sokka referred to that year that he and Iris spent as undercover agents of the Red Shadow Demons. What could have possibly happened in a year?" Aang asked confusedly.

Toph frowned. "Lots of weird shit can happen in a year, Twinkle Toes," She couldn't hold it back anymore. She had been suspecting this for so long. And the Kyoshi Warriors were following from behind in a war balloon, so Suki wasn't there to hear it.

The couple turned and looked at her confusedly. Katara and Aang stood up and made their way from Appa's head to the saddle to join her. They sat down cross-legged and they looked at their friend.

"What do you mean?" Aang asked.

"Toph, if you know something, now it would be a great time to tell us know," Katara said.

Toph groaned irritatingly as she stood up and ran a hand through her forehead. "I don't know something, I suspect something. Sokka wouldn't spill out shit," Toph frowned.