The Banished Commander (ATLA fanfiction)

Seventy-Seven

Zuko's P.O.V.

I see Zara come into the tea shop, immediately greeting her father as they sit at one of the tables. Uncle walks over, bringing them each a cup of tea before walking back into the kitchen. 

"It's good to see her still around. I was starting to think she left." He chuckles 

"Yeah..." I start, trailing off as I go to serve the other customers

Ignoring Zara as she's excitedly telling her dad about some of the things that they did as a team with the avatar. 

"Aang is really amazing. I know he'll succeed. I know you're Ozai's friend..." She rambles 

Jian laughs as he shakes his head, taking his daughter's hand in his own. He looks at the mark, tracing it lightly. 

"Ozai... he's a whole different person than the one I grew up with. Ever since his father passed, he's been another person and I don't know what I think of him quite yet. I look at Zuko and can't even phantom doing that too Ling." Jian adds "I'm sure the avatar is lucky to have a friend like you." 

I look at them, quickly walking away, not wanting to bombard their conversation. Iroh looks at me, a smile on his face as he walks into the kitchen. 

"You talk to her recently?" He asks 

"No. Not since I saw her the night of my date." I explain 

"Try talking to her." He reasons "You two have never not talked." 

"I can't." I admit 

I see her stand up, heading towards the door with her dad. A slight frown on her face as they are walking out. Taking a deep breath before I head into the back to take a small break. 

Zara's P.O.V. 

"He's still missing. We can't find anything about him. Long Feng isn't helping at all. Something isn't sitting right with me." I start 

"What do you mean?" My dad asks 

I feel somebody hit my shoulder before looking at the man. The man looks like he should be in the higher levels, but I don't think anything of it. 

"Its almost as if he knows something but he doesn't want to tell us..." I admit "I'm getting the feeling that he knows something about Appa, but he won't let us do anything. He won't even let us talk to the king." 

"That's weird." My dad admits "I've never met the guy, so I can't be of much help, but I'm sure you guys will figure it out." 

"We have. Aang is flying through the sky and dropping posters. We're tired of all this go around. We're not in the Fire Nation where there are so many rules and ways to get to Ozai. The Earth King should not be this hard to talk to. Especially since it's about the war." I rant 

"Firelily, you will figure this out. You guys always do." My father laughs "But right now, you should head back to the others, see if they've had any luck."

I nod, hugging my father goodbye. He bids me a goodbye before walking back toward the tea shop. I head toward our home, hoping to be able to come home to good news. 

I reach the street of our home before seeing Smellerbee in front of our house. 

"What the hell?" I whisper before running toward the house "Smeller bee?" 

"Zara! Thank god." They cheer 

"What's going on?" I ask 

"Jet found your friends." Longshot states 

"What? Everyone okay?" I question 

"We're fine. Jet took a hit from Katara but other than that, we're all fine." Sokka says as he walks out "We might have something on Appa." 

I look at him before we hurry into the house. Jet sitting in one of the chairs as Katara is holding her hands on both sides of his head as Aang is talking to him. Looking over at Sokka as he slightly frowns and shakes his head. 

"He was brainwashed by the Dai Lee." He explains "We're thinking that where they took him, they're holding Appa there. Your feeling was right." 

I sigh in relief as I lean against the wall behind me. I watch Jet as I see Toph watching me, a look on interest on her face. Sokka sets his hand on my shoulder before shaking his head again. 

"We'll find him." I whisper "We have to." 

"The lake!" Jet says "He's at the lake! That's where they took me!" 

Zuko's P.O.V. 

I look at the flyer in my hand, just shaking my head. Looking over at the blue mask in my bag before lifting it up. 

She lied... 

I stand up, grabbing the mask and running toward the lake. The place where I've seen them go before. The place that Jian has a suspecting feeling about and expressed it with Iroh once Zara left one day. 

-~- 

I look around the empty hall way before hearing a slight groan. I walk to the door, opening it slightly, seeing the white fur. Appa lifts his head up, staring right at me. 

Letting myself in the room, I bring my sword above my head, aiming a strike. 

"Don't do it." Uncle says 

I freeze, not turning to look back at him. He sounds disappointed. 

"You wanted this change." He continues "You don't have to do this. You can turn your life around. We have a new life here. Nothing can change that. You have a shot." 

Shaking my head, I bring the swords down, breaking the chains. The beast roars before running out of the room, heading towards the exit. I turn to look at my uncle, the frown apparent on his face. 

"How did you know?" I ask 

"It was easy to put the pieces together. Jian told me what Zara had told him about the time Zhao caught her and the avatar. Then a miraculous blue spirit saved them." He explains "The time frame matches. Also the poster, you left in the room." 

He leads me out to the dock, continuing the explain how he was able to figure out who the blue spirit was before I admitted to it. 

"You did the right thing." He finishes "He can find his way to his home. I'm sure they're looking everywhere for him." 

I look at him before looking at the mask and swords in my hands. Bringing them above the lake, debating on if I should get rid of them.

"He isn't needed. Not anymore." Iroh says 

I nod, agreeing with him. Taking one last final breath, I drop them, watching as they begin to sink to the bottom of the lake. 

"Lets go home. You've had enough excitement for one day." He says, taking my shoulder in his own