Fire and Aether

Chapter 15: The Siege of the North (Part 2)

     Aang, Katara, Sokka, Yue, and Catie hopped on Appa to go find Rose, leaving Momo and Crystal in the oasis to await their return. 
    Meanwhile, Zuko had wrapped Rose in her own cloak and carried her bridal style as he trenched through the thick snow. Finally, he found shelter and rushed towards it, carrying Rose inside the cave he found and laying her gently on the ground. She was still sound asleep and he took that moment to release her hair from its braid and tug her cloak tighter around her so she wouldn't freeze. Zuko removed her hair from her face, tucking it gently behind her ear. Taking a rope in hand, he tied her up, making sure to keep her warm and comfortable when he was finished. He warmed his hands with fire then used it to warm hers.
     "I finally have you." he said to the sleeping princess. "But I can't get you home because of this blizzard. There's always something, not that you would understand. You're like my sister. Everything always came easy to her. She's a firebending prodigy and everyone adores her. My father says she was born lucky. He says I was lucky to be born."
     "I don't need luck though; I don't want it. I've always had to struggle and fight and that's made me strong...it's made me who I am." Zuko sighed, turning his gaze back to Rose. "Taking you to my father is the only way to restore my honor but...I'm starting to have my doubts." He walked over to where she laid, still sleeping. "I...feel something for you." Zuko confessed, taking Rose into his arms and holding her. "I don't know why and, unfortunately, I can't keep telling myself that you are somehow controlling me. No one has that power." 
     He continued to hold her, stroking her hair. "Why you? Why of all people did I have to fall for the Avatar? It's not fair!" He huffed, a puff of fire escaping his nostrils. "Fine. I'll admit that I'm falling in love with you and I don't know what to do. You probably don't even feel the same way. Always teasing me, giving me false hope." When he looked at her again, his expression was gentle. "But I do love you." 
     Confessing that felt like a huge weight had been lifted and he could breathe normally again, even if she was asleep and couldn't hear him. Leaning down, he pressed his lips to hers briefly. Then he laid her back down on the ground and walked to the other side of the cave.
      "But it changes nothing."
                           * * * * *
    "I don't need to remind you if we don't defeat the water tribe before the full moon rises, they will be undefeatable." Iroh reminded Zhao as they stood on the deck of their ship.
    "I assure you, I have everything under control. I intend to remove the moon as a factor."
    "Remove the moon? How?" 
    Before Zhao could answer, Hahn ran forward to attack him. He ducked and the proud idiot flew over the edge of the ship and made a splash into the water.
    Zhao continued, as if there had been no interruption. "As I was saying, years ago, I stumbled upon a great and powerful secret--the identity of the Moon Spirit's mortal form." Iroh gasped in surprise. "I was a young lieutenant serving under General Xu in the Earth Kingdom. I discovered a hidden library, underground in fact. I tore through scroll after scroll. One of them contained a detailed illustration and the words moon and ocean. I knew then that these spirits could be found and killed...and that it was my destiny to do so."
     "Zhao, the spirits are not to be trifled with!" Iroh responded in anger. 
     "Yes, yes, I know you fear the spirits, Iroh. I have heard rumors about your journey into the Spirit World. But the ocean and moon gave up their immortality to become a part of our world and now they will face the consequences."
                          * * * * * 
     In the Spirit World, Rose learned that the spirits were the koi fish in the pond and they were in danger, as someone was going to kill them. With the help of the spirit that she helped before the winter solstice, she was able to return to the normal world. Her body wasn't in the oasis but her spirit flew across the sky towards the cave where she and Zuko were hiding, Crystal following. It was her Katara noticed in the sky and she urged the group to follow Crystal.
     Inside the cave, Rose finally opened her eyes to find herself tied up. Quickly, she struggled to free herself.
     "Welcome back." Zuko said, darkly. 
     "Oh, Zuko, I've told you, not on a first date." 
     Zuko scoffed. "You won't flirt your way out of this one."
     Rose laughed. She pulled a knife from the pocket dimension and cut through her ropes. Standing before Zuko, she caressed his cheek. "You know I like you, right?"
    Zuko grabbed her hand. "Quit lying to me!"
    "Who says I don't feel the same? Because I do love you." she said, mirroring his words. 
    She touched a finger to his nose then ran. Zuko ran too, chasing her out of the cave and tackling her. "Your tricks won't work this time!"
     "Who said it was a trick? I don't say I love you to just anyone." she promised.
     Around that time, the cavalry showed up and Katara knocked Zuko out. Team Avatar jumped on either Appa or Crystal, prepared to go, Rose warning that the spirits were in trouble. Then Rose stopped, turning her gaze to Zuko, her fabled soul mate. He was lost and hurt, not just physically hurt in the middle of a snowstorm but in his mind too. She couldn't leave him. Not like this.
    "We can't just leave him." 
    "Sure we can." Sokka argued.
    "No. He's lost, alone, and injured. If we leave him, he'll die." Rose ran back to the spot where Katara knocked him out and knelt beside him. "I won't leave you." she whispered. Grabbing him in her arms like he had done for her, she aetherbended back to Crystal and tied him down with the remainder of rope he'd used on her.
    "Oh sure! This makes sense." Sokka said. "Let's bring the guy who's constantly trying to kill us!"
    They took off into the air once more.
                         * * * * *
    Zhao and his crew made it into the city and to the oasis. He grabbed the Moon Spirit and stuffed it into a bag, smirking evilly at his success. The full moon had arisen but with the Moon Spirit captured, the waterbenders were powerless against the firebenders. 
    "I am a legend now." Zhao said, triumphantly. "The Fire Nation will for generations tell stories about the great Zhao, who darkened the moon. They will call me Zhao the Conqueror, Zhao the Moon Slayer, Zhao the Invincible!" 
    "Oh I seriously doubt that."
    Zhao turned to find that the one who spoke against them was none other than the Avatar herself. She stood at the ready with sword in hand, Aang beside her with air staff in hand, Katara and Sokka to the side and just behind her, each with a weapon in hand. Behind them stood Crystal and Appa.
     "Oh really?" Zhao hissed, holding the bag in one hand. 
     "Zhao, don't." Rose pleaded.
     "It's my destiny to destroy the moon and the water tribe."
     "Destroying the moon won't hurt just the water tribe." Rose explained. "It will hurt everyone--including you. Without the moon, everything would fall out of balance. You have no idea what kind of chaos that would unleash on the world."
    "She's right, Zhao." Iroh said.
    "General Iroh, why am I not surprised to discover your treachery?"
    "I'm no traitor, Zhao." Iroh said as he removed his hood. "The Fire Nation needs the moon, too. We all depend on the balance." Growing angry, he continued, "Whatever you do to that spirit, I will unleash on you tenfold! Let it go, now!"
    For a moment, it seemed as if Iroh's words worked. Zhao knelt on the ground and returned the Moon Spirit to the pond it came from. But, in the next moment, he killed it with his fire and the moon disappeared from the sky.
    Iroh unleashed his rage as he began to fight the firebenders. Yue began to sob, claiming it was all over and there was nothing they could do. Rose grew angry and went into the Avatar State.
    "This is not over!" 
    She walked over to the pond and entered it, her dress and hair flowing in the breeze, until she reached the middle, the water around her knees. The remaining spirit swam around her and she suddenly sank into the water completely. Her power fused with the water and she fought the firebenders head on, driving them out of the city.
     Zhao ran to escape but Zuko chased him. "You're alive?!"
     "YOU TRIED TO HAVE ME KILLED!" Zuko bellowed, attacking Zhao.
     "Yes I did. You're the Blue Spirit, an enemy of the Fire Nation! You freed the Avatar!"
     "She's mine, Zhao!" Zuko hollered. "I freed her because she's mine, not yours!"
     Zhao stopped, thinking. Then a smirk adorned his face and began to laugh. "You love her? Is that it?" Zuko growled, making Zhao laugh harder. "You do! Oh I don't think I've ever heard something so ridiculous!" Zhao frowned. "Well, you should've chosen to kill her instead. Love is weak!"
     Zuko blasted Zhao off the wall. "And yet I'm still stronger than you!"
                       * * * * *
    Iroh looked over to Yue. "You have been touched by the Moon Spirit. Some of its life is in you!"
    Yue nodded. "Yes, you're right. It gave me life. Maybe I can give it back."
    She stood but Sokka and Catie stopped her. "Your father asked me to protect you!" Sokka exclaimed as Catie remarked, "You are my baby sister. No way!" 
    "I have no choice." Yue said. "You need the Moon Spirit more than me."
    Catie sighed and nodded. "I'll miss you." She embraced Yue in a tight hug.
    "No." Sokka said. "You can't."
    Yue let go of his hand and grabbed the fish in her hands, giving it her life, then falling onto the grass. Sokka held her, shaking her and begging her to come back and Catie burst into tears, burying her face in Iroh's shoulder.
    Yue turned into a spirit floating above the pond. She apologized and said her goodbyes, hugging her sister and kissing Sokka before she faded from the mortal realm forever. Iroh released the Moon Spirit back into the water and the moon returned.
    Seeing the moon back in its rightful place, Rose returned to normal, the spirit setting her gently down on the wall before leaving to get its revenge.
                          * * * * * 
    Zuko followed Zhao, continuing to firebend at him. Then, Zhao noticed the moon was back and he stared in horror. 
    "It can't be!" he bemoaned.
    The Moon Spirit grabbed him and dragged him down into the depths of the sea. This was the end of Admiral Zhao.
     The battle was over.
                        * * * * *
    The waterbenders, now able to fight again, drove out the firebenders. But, before Iroh and Zuko made their escape, Iroh found Rose. "Avatar, we need to talk."
    Rose turned towards the old man. "As long as this is just a talk and not a way to kidnap me like Zuko keeps trying to do."
    Iroh chuckled. "Ironically enough, it is my nephew I wanted to talk to you about." He paused. "It seems my nephew...I believe he may harbor feelings for you."
    Rose frowned and turned away. "I know. He told me so when I was in the Spirit Realm, when he thought I couldn't hear." She sighed, turned back to Iroh. "I feel the same."
    Iroh seemed surprised by her words. "Forgive me for asking but--"
    "As much as I care for him." Rose swallowed, tears pinpricking her eyes. "As much as I love him, it doesn't change anything. He won't stop hunting me and trying to bring me back to the Fire Lord."
    Iroh nodded. "I am sorry to bring up a painful subject. Love is...complicated and my nephew is a complicated young man with so much to deal with." He paused to take a breath. "I know he is capable of being a good man, given the chance. Don't give up on him now."
    A small smile spread across her face. "I'll never give up on him." Rose promised. "He is my soul mate."
    Iroh smiled too. "You are good for him." he observed. "We have to go now but think about what I said."
    "Of course, General Iroh." Rose said. "Oh and just know, you're one of the good ones. He needs you too."
    Rose then jumped off the wall, landing on Crystal's back. Iroh found Zuko and they made their escape.
                       * * * * *
    Catie hugged her friends goodbye, hoping them happy travels. She'd decided to stay at the North Pole for now, taking care of things there. She had already sent a letter to Will to meet up after summer's end to discuss the possibility of them staying and taking over for her father.
    Pakku had decided to go south, to meet up with Gran Gran and hopefully make amends and start over. If nothing else, to tell her he loved her. He assured Katara she would be the perfect new master for Rose now. 
    Meanwhile, Iroh and Zuko had escaped during the confusion at the end of the battle. "I'm surprised, Prince Zuko." Iroh said. "Surprised that at this moment, you are not trying to capture the Avatar." Zuko shrugged him off. "Is it because you love her, hmm?"
     "Not now, uncle, I'm tired."
     "Then you should rest. A man needs his rest."
     Zuko flopped on the floor of the makeshift raft. "But I do love her." He whispered to himself but Iroh heard and a smile spread over his face.
     Rose stood on the top of the wall. "I love you, Zuko. Just don't make me regret it."
     The rest of Team Avatar joined her and they stood together, watching the sun rise again, resting well with the knowledge that right now, everything was ok.
                                      * * * * *
    In the Fire Lord's palace, he sat upon his throne, his daughter bowing at his feet. "Iroh is a traitor." he told her. "And your brother, Zuko is a failure. I have a task for you..."
    Moments later, his daughter left the room, a vindictive grin on her face. The Fire Lord turned to someone standing in the shadows. "Do you think she will succeed?" the figure asked.
    "Of course." the Fire Lord answered, turning his gaze from his mysterious guest and staring ahead. "She never disappoints."
    The figure was silent for a beat. "Let us hope so."