THE OTHER AIRBENDER (Book 3)

(XIV) Air

"Uncle, you're the only person other than the Avatar who can possibly defeat the Father Lord," Zuko tells Iroh once we join the others outside at our meeting the next day.

"You mean the Fire Lord?" Toph corrects him.

"That's what I just said!" Zuko complains with annoyance. "We need you to come with us!"

"No, Zuko, it won't turn out well," Iroh declares, making us all gasp in surprise.

"You can beat him! And we'll be there to help," Zuko assures him.

"Even if I did defeat Ozai, and I don't know that I could, it would be the wrong way to end the war. History would see it as just more senseless violence, a brother killing a brother to grab power. The only way for this war to end peacefully is for the Avatar to defeat the Fire Lord."

"Well, that's a problem. Because the Avatar has gone missing from the face of the Earth!" I retort with exasperation.

"And then... Then would you come and take your rightful place on the throne?" Zuko asks him, making me widen my eyes.

His answer worries me.

"No. Someone new must take the throne. Someone who understands the wrongs of our past but holds the hope in her heart to improve the future," Iroh replies, before turning to look at me with a smile. "It has to be you, Alya. You are the rightful heir to the throne."

"ME?!" I gasp, almost choking on my breakfast. "Are you kidding me?! What do I know about ruling?! I DEPEND ON KATARA TO NOT STARVE!"

"Well, in all fairness, as the Fire Lord, you would have servants to worry about feeding you for the rest of your life," Toph observes, making me glare at her.

"Not the point!"

"It will not be easy. But as the rightful heir to the throne and a descendant of the Air Nation we exterminated so long ago, you would be the right person to step up and unite the past with the future, to prove to the world that change, forgiveness and growth are possible," Iroh insists, and I swear, my stomach is starting to churn.

"But I..."

"Alya, you're a great leader. If there's anyone who can do this, it's you," Katara smiles reassuringly.

"Yeah! And imagine how cool it'd be if we got to spend time together at the Fire Palace once in a while?" Sokka offers excitedly. "Oh, the power you'd have to get me the most tasty Fire Nation food there is!"

"There's no one as honorable as you, Alya," Zuko assures me, which actually surprises me. "It's the right thing to do. My father took your birthright away, and it's only right if you take it back."

"Sozin's comet is arriving, and our destinies are upon us. Aang will face the Fire Lord," Iroh declares with a sigh. "When I was a boy, I had a vision that I would one day take Ba Sing Se. Only now do I see that my destiny is to take it back from the Fire Nation so the Earth Kingdom can be free again."

"That's why you gathered the members of the White Lotus," Zuko notes.

"Yes. Zuko, you and Alya must go to the Fire Nation, so that when the Fire Lord falls, she can assume the throne and restore peace and order," Iroh instructs his nephew. "But Azula will be there, waiting for you."

"I can handle Azula."

"On your own? Are you insane?" I ask him, raising an eyebrow.

"You're right. Katara," Zuko says, looking at her calmly. "How would you like to help me put Azula in her place?"