After we managed to get trough the tower, we could make our way into the capital. Sokka, Toph, Bato and I were looking at the map, seeing which route we have to take. We kept being bombed by fire balls, but luckily we were shielded enough not to get hurt. We looked up and saw Hakoda with Katara walking towards us. "Dad?" Sokka exclaimed surprised and we ran up to them. "You're on your feet again!" Sokka said happily. "Yeah, thanks to your sister." Hakoda replied. "I'm in no shape to fight but maybe I can help some other way"He said as he sat down.
"Well, everything's going smoothly and the eclipse hasn't even kicked in yet." Sokka said.
"Let's hope our luck holds out." Hakoda replied with a smile. I looked to the volcano and saw a little black dot flying towards us. It was getting bigger as it approached. Katara saw it too. "Is- is that Aang?" She asked confused.
"What?" Sokka and Toph exclaimed. Aang landed, folding his glider. "Please tell me the Fire Lord is turned out to be a big wimp and that you didn't even need the eclipse to take him down." Sokka asked nervously. Aang shook his head. "He wasn't home," He replied, "the entire palace city is abandoned."
"They knew." Sokka gasped and he turned to me. "It's over. The Fire Lord is probably long gone on some remote island where he'd be safe for the eclipse."
"No, that's not him," I said, shaking my head, "there are some tunnels underneath the palace, that's how I escaped years ago... He must be somewhere there, I remember he once talked about a bunker, but I don't exactly know where it is."
"Well if it's a secret bunker we're looking for, I'm just the girl to find it!" Toph said with a big smile, pointing at herself.
"The mechanist gave me this time device," Sokka said as he grabbed it out of his pocket, "it looks like we have ten minutes until the eclipse. Ten minutes to find the Fire Lord."
"We can still do this. We can still win the day." Aang said determined. "Wait," Katara said, shaking her head, "if they knew we were coming, this might be a trap. Maybe we should use the time to get out of here safely."
"Everyone who is here today came prepared to risk everything for this mission. They know what's at stake. If there's still a chance and hope, I think they'd want Aang to go for it."
Sokka looked at Aang. "What do you say? You're the one who has to face the Fire Lord. Whatever you decide, I'm with you."
Aang thought about it for a split second and stood up, facing the volcano. "I gotta try." He said. Sokka, Aang, Toph and I went on Appa to the foot of the volcano.
"Do you feel anything down there?" Aang asked when Toph was feeling the ground beneath her. "Yep, natural tunnels crisscrossing through the inside of the volcano." Toph replied.
"Anything else? Is there a structure somewhere?" Sokka asked hopeful. Toph signaled us to step back before she set her hands into the earth. "There's something big, dense and made of metal in the heart of the volcano." Toph said with a smirk.
"Sounds like a secret bunker to me." Sokka said with a big smile.
Toph created a pathway and we went inside the tunnel. There were two ways we could go, but Toph instantly moved to the right, for the other was a dead end. My heart was pounding in my chest. After crossing a floor with magma and toxic fumes and a river of lava, we finally made it to the bunker. There was a huge metal door, impossible to get through.
Toph walked over to the door and knocked on it. "Not a problem." She said. She stretched out and managed to break down the door. I gaped at the sight, rubbing my eyes to check if I didn't just made that up. "What? That's awesome!" I said, forgetting for a split second why we were here. "I know right?" Toph replied as she walked in. "I'm so happy we added you to the group!" Sokka shouted overjoyed. We walked through the tunnels, and almost bumped into one guy.
He gasped and immediately put his hands in the air. "The Fire Lord's chamber is down the hall and up the stairs, you can't miss it." He said breathlessly, pointing us towards it. "Thanks!" We replied and we made our way down there. We stood down in front of the huge door. I stood down, as it frozen to the ground, looking at the big Fire Nation insignia. This is it. The moment. My return to my home. And I can't fight.
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The Honor of Love (ATLA fanfic)
Fanfic*ZUKO LS* Istari was born and raised in the Fire Nation. After her parents were murdered for betrayal, she flees to the Southern Water tribe, looking for her mother's family. After three years living with Sokka and Katara, the Avatar ascends and tog...
