The Hardest Choice (malereader x avatar)

Chapter 7: The Water Bending Scroll

-Rewritten April 2, 2024-

Three weeks had passed since Y/N's reunion with Zuko, their quest to capture the Avatar leading them along the shores of the Earth Kingdom. Each day was a relentless cycle of training and preparation, the weight of their mission pressing down upon Y/N. With each dawn, he rose with the sun, dedicating himself to honing his firebending skills, knowing that only through strength could he hope to stand against the formidable power of the Avatar.

He had witnessed firsthand the power of the Avatar, his memories still haunted by the image of glowing eyes and swirling tattoos, a show of strength that left him feeling utterly powerless. The encounter at the Air Temple had been a terrifying reality check, a reminder of how dangerous Aang could be. The thought lingered in the recesses of his mind like a lingering shadow.

Despite their relentless pursuit, their encounters with the Avatar had been fleeting, their quarry slipping through their fingers time and time again. A part of him burned with frustration at his inability to join Zuko and Iroh in their pursuit, as he was generally assigned to some other mission, such as sacking a town or something else.

Y/N found himself grappling with a dilemma, one that gnawed at his conscience with each passing day. He had made a conscious decision to distance himself emotionally from his former captors (friends, maybe? Y/N didn't know what they were), to view them not as allies but as adversaries. Sokka was funny and witty, but also childish and annoying, so it wasn't hard for Y/N to think of him as an enemy. As for Aang, Y/N didn't even have to try. The events of the Air Temple were still fresh in Y/N's mind, and Y/N felt almost a hatred of Aang. To top things off, he was also too close to Katara for Y/N's liking.

Speaking of Katara, she remained a constant presence in his thoughts despite his best efforts to push her aside. In her, he saw a reflection of the person he once was, back when he was a little boy. She served as a reminder of the warmth and compassion he had long since buried beneath layers of discipline and his pursuit of his duty. She had stirred something within him, something he had long thought dead, and for that, he both loathed and loved her equally.

To distract himself from thoughts of Katara, Y/N allowed himself to let his mind drift back to memories of home. He pictured his father, General Kuzon, a formidable figure and leader of the Fire Nation's forces. He thought of his mother, Oma, who was generally the only parent he had when his father was on campaign. And then there was Jee, his sister, whose absence weighed heavily on his heart. She was everything he was not when he was young - disciplined, diligent, and fiercely devoted to their family.

As he lay in his quarters, Y/N couldn't help but wonder what his parents would think of him now. Would they be proud of the path he had chosen, or would they still see him as the foolish boy he once was? The thought lingered in the back of his mind, a reminder of the choices that had led him down this uncertain path. There was no answer to be found, only the weight of his own uncertainty.

---

Y/N was on the deck of the ship, a warm breeze flowing past him, ruffling his hair. Across from him stood Zuko. Iroh sat at a platform-like portion of the deck, looking over the two of them. Zuko stood poised in a combat stance, with his feet wide and his front arm raised. Y/N stood similarly, they had the same teacher, after all. The two boys were training, finally back at their morning routine.

As soon as Iroh yelled for them to begin, Y/N and Zuko launched into action. Without hesitation, Zuko unleashed a barrage of fireballs, each one propelled towards Y/N with deadly precision. But Y/N, his reflexes honed by the past few weeks of relentless training, danced effortlessly between the flames, his movements fluid and precise. Zuko got onto his shoulders and spun, flames flying in a circle in every direction.