Fire and Aether

Chapter 27: The Crossroads of Destiny

    Aang had just completed the final test of his training when he got the telepathic message from Rose. "Guru Patik, I'm sorry to rush but Rose--" 
    "No need to explain. Go help her!"
    The boy smiled and leapt on Appa to head back to Ba Sing Se. As he reached the gates, he stopped and gave Sokka the message.  
    As they flew through the air, Sokka asked, "So what type of trouble is Katara in?"
    "I don't know." Aang confessed. "Rose just told me that Katara was in trouble and someone else she cared about was headed into a trap."
     "Does she always have to be so vague?" Sokka groaned.
                        * * * * *
    Azula stood before the Dai Li, pacing. "The Earth King and the Council of Five do not trust the Dai Li. They imprisoned your leader, Long Feng. Soon they will turn on all of you and eliminate you. Seizing power today is a matter of life and death. This coup must be swift and decisive. The Earth King and each of the five generals must be taken out, simultaneously. Long Feng has placed you in my command while we overthrow the government. If I sense any disloyalty, any hesitation, any weakness at all, I will snuff it out. That is all."
    She dismissed them, turning her attention to Mai and Ty Lee. "Now we just have to deal with the Avatar and my traitorous family."
                      * * * * *
     Zuko and Iroh exited the carriage that had been sent to pick them up to meet the Earth King. "Many times, I imagined myself here," Iroh said, "at the threshold of the palace. But I always thought I would be here as a conqueror. Instead, we are the Earth King's personal guests, here to serve him tea. Destiny is a funny thing."
     "It sure is, Uncle." Zuko said. "To think, I originally chased the Avatar because of what I believed my destiny was. And, now, she is the love of my life and I couldn't imagine life without her."
     They entered the palace and a couple of guards escorted them into the room where they would serve the Earth King tea. Iroh poured a few cups and sat down beside his nephew.
     "Where is everyone?" Zuko asked.
     "Maybe the Earth King overslept."
     At that moment, the Dai Li walked into the room and surrounded the two. "Something's not right." Zuko observed.
     Azula entered the room and stood before them. "Tea time." she joked. Zuko stood up in anger. "Have you met the Dai Li?" Azula asked. "They're earthbenders but they have a killer instinct that's so firebender. I just love it."
     Iroh stood beside Zuko and picked up one of the cups of tea. "Did I ever tell you how I got the nickname the "Dragon of the West"?"
     Azula scoffed. "I'm not interested in a lengthy anecdote, Uncle."
     "It's more of a demonstration, really." Iroh said before gulping down his tea. 
     Zuko smirked. Iroh opened his mouth and flames came out. He directed them in a circle, forcing Azula and the Dai Li to duck. He blew fire onto the door and ran out, Zuko right behind him. The Dai Li chased after them but they managed to escape, Iroh jumping out from the wall and into the garden.
     He urged Zuko to follow him but Zuko shook his head. "I'm tired of running. I need to face Azula."
     "You're so dramatic." Azula taunted. "What? Are you going to challenge me to an Agni Kai?"
     "Yes! I challenge you!"
     "No thanks."
     Zuko attacked but the Dai Li blocked him and sent an attack of their own, pinning him down. They then took him to the crystal caves beneath Ba Sing Se and tossed him in with Katara. 
     "Why did they throw you in here with me?" Katara yelled. "Let me guess: it's a trap so that when Rose and Aang get here, you can finally have them in your clutches?" Zuko was silent. "You're a terrible person, y'know that? But what can I expect from the Fire Lord's son? War and violence is in your blood."
     "You don't know me."
     "How dare you!" 
     Just as Katara was about to say more, the door opened once more and the Dai Li wrestled with Rose who was fighting them off. One of them kicked her in the back and she fell. Zuko ran forward and caught her before she hit the ground. Katara rushed forward, intending to wrestle Rose from Zuko's arms but something stopped her.
     Rose looked up at Zuko but, instead of fear, anger, or disgust, the look in her eyes was gentle and loving. Zuko stroked her face gently, brushing a stray lock of hair from her eyes. 
     "Are you ok?"
     Rose smiled. "As long as I'm with you, nothing they do can hurt me." she promised.
     Then she leaned in as he did. Their lips met in a loving kiss.
     Katara made a noise behind them and they broke apart. Rose's eyes focused on her friend and she blushed in embarrassment. Zuko carried her over to where Katara was standing and sat her down with as much care as he could manage.
     "What? I mean...when did--? What?" 
     Rose cleared her throat. "There's something I never told you or the others about aetherbenders. Only Aang knows." Katara nodded, confusion still evident in her eyes. "We don't date and we don't leave anything to chance. A bond made with an aetherbender is forever...be it in friendship, as a family, or...with love. We believe in true love and when we find the one we're meant to be with, we are soulbound. Zuko is my true love and my soul mate."
     "And you didn't think to tell us?"
     "I wasn't sure for the longest time. I tried to deny my feelings."
     "So did I." Zuko added. "But you can't deny how you feel."
     "So...all this time...?"
     "No." Rose said with a shake of her head. "I wasn't sure for awhile though I had my suspicions. But I didn't know for sure until I saw him here."
     "It didn't help that, at every opportunity, I pushed you away." Zuko added. "Yes, originally I chased her for my father but, try as I might to deny it, I was really chasing her mostly to be with her...even for a little while."
     "I'm sorry." Katara said. "It's just, every time I imagined my enemy, I imagined you. I didn't realize--"
     "Zuko's not our enemy." Rose confirmed. "He's been through just as much as the rest of us." She stroked his scar in that loving way she always did when she was comforting him. 
     "Would you like me to heal it?"
     "It's a scar. It can't be healed." Zuko said. "Besides, I'm fine with it. I've learned a lot from what I went through. Now I just want to be happy."
                        * * * * *
     Aang and Sokka met up with Toph and went looking for Rose and Katara but couldn't find either of them. The Earth King said that Katara had talked with the Council of Five and then went to spend some time with the Kyoshi Warriors. With that in mind, they went back to their house. Still no Rose or Katara.
     "Someone's at the door." Toph said out of the blue. "Actually, I know who it is. It's an old friend of mine." She opened the door to reveal Iroh. "Glad to see you're ok."
     "I need your help." Iroh said. "Where is the Avatar?"
     "No idea. We've been looking for her and our other friend all day."
     "Wait. You two know each other?" Aang and Sokka asked.
     "I met him in the woods once and knocked him down." Toph explained. "Then he gave me tea and offered me some good advice."
     "May I come in?" Toph nodded and Iroh entered the house and explained, "Princess Azula is here in Ba Sing Se."
     "She must have Katara." Aang concluded. "And possibly Rose too. She didn't wait for us to go looking for Katara and her soulmate."
     "You're likely right. She captured my nephew as well and, if Rose went looking for him, she's most likely got her."
     Sokka shook his head. "Wait. Why would Rose go looking for Zuko?"
     "Because, young man," Iroh revealed, "Zuko is her soulmate."
     "What?!?!" Sokka yelled. Then he realized no one else was reacting to the news. "Why are you guys not freaking out about this news?"
     Aang smiled sheepishly. "Well...Rose may've told me a little while ago."
    "And Iroh told me when we met."
    Sokka frowned. "Of course! Everyone knows but me. Why am I always the last to know?"
    "I know how you must feel about my nephew but believe me when I tell you there is good inside him." Iroh said, grabbing Sokka by the shoulders.
    "Good inside him isn't enough." Sokka said, pushing Iroh away. "Why don't you come back when it's outside him, too, ok?"
    "Rose and Katara are in trouble too." Aang reminded.
    "I brought us some help."
    They walked outside to see a member of the Dai Li tied up. They removed his gag and he spoke, "Azula and Long Feng are plotting a coup. They're going to overthrow the Earth King."
    "Where are you keeping my sister and my friend?" Sokka asked, threatening the man with his machete.
    "In the crystal catacombs of old Ba Sing Se, deep beneath the palace."
    They ran off to rescue their friends, leaving the man behind. They decided to split up: Iroh and Aang would go underground to find Rose, Katara, and Zuko while Sokka and Toph went to warn the Earth King about Azula's plans.
     Unfortunately, they were too late to stop it and got captured by Team Anti Avatar. Azula pushed the Earth King into the Dai Li's arms. The rest of the Dai Li showed up then with Long Feng at the head of them.
     "Here comes the part where I double-cross you." Long Feng told Azula. "Dai Li, arrest the Fire Nation princess." No one moved. "I said arrest her." Still, no one moved. "What is wrong with you?"
     "It's because they haven't made up their minds." Azula clarified. "They're waiting to see how this is going to end."
     "What are you talking about?"
     "I can see your whole history in your eyes. You were born with nothing, so you've had to struggle, connive, and claw your way to power. But true power, the divine right to rule, is something you're born with. The fact is, they don't know which one of us is going to be sitting on that throne and which one is going to be bowing down. But I know and you know." 
     With that, Azula sat on the throne. Long Feng didn't even try to fight her or deny her what she wanted. He bowed to the princess. "You've beaten me at my own game."
     "Don't flatter yourself. You were never even a player." 
                        * * * * *
     Rose, Zuko, and Katara talked a bit more when a sudden boom sounded and Aang and Iroh entered the cave. Katara ran into Aang's arms and Iroh ran to hug Zuko, Aang and Zuko glaring daggers at each other.
     "We need to talk." Aang said, still glaring daggers at Zuko.
     "What?" Zuko asked, glaring at Aang as he gave Rose a hug.
     "Your intentions with my sister."
     "Guys, please." Rose said, jumping between her soulmate and her honorary brother. "This is not the time."
     "No." Aang said. "Your dad isn't here so it's my job as your honorary brother to make sure he has the right intentions."
     "My intention is to marry her." Zuko blurted out. He quickly covered his mouth and uttered a low curse as he realized what he had revealed.
     Everyone's heads turned swiftly in Zuko's direction. Rose moved closer to him. "Zuko, is this a proposal?"
     "Yea. Is it?" Aang asked, angrily.
     "Is it?" Iroh asked, confused.
     "Yes. No. I don't know!" Zuko said, not knowing the answer. He took her hands in his and said, "I mean...one day I want to. Don't you?"
     Rose smiled and burst into tears. "Of course I want that. Did you ever think I wouldn't?"
     He pulled her into his arms for a kiss, sealing their promise. Moments later, Iroh broke them apart. "Zuko, we need to talk." He turned his attention to the others. "Go find your other friends. We'll catch up with you."
     Aang pulled Katara and Rose after him. Rose left Zuko with a longing look, letting him know that she wanted more than anything to be by his side.
     "Why, uncle? Are you upset with my decision?"
     "Not at all, nephew. I think it's wonderful. You are not the man you used to be, Zuko. You are stronger and wiser and freer than you have ever been. And now you have come to the crossroads of your destiny. It's time for you to choose. It's time for you to choose good. Not because of what you are told or because of your love for Rose but because it's what you want."
      As Zuko was thinking, almost knowing what he was about to choose, the ground shook beneath them, trapping Iroh in crystal, and Azula slid into the cave. "Isn't this interesting?" she spoke in disgust. "I expected this kind of treachery from Uncle, but Zuko, Prince Zuko, you're a lot of things, but you're not a traitor, are you?" she sneered. "I mean, turning traitor for a girl? That's not like you."
      "Release him, immediately!" Zuko yelled. 
      "It's not too late for you, Zuko. You can still redeem yourself."
      "The kind of redemption she offers is not for you."
      "Why don't you let him decide, Uncle?" Azula said, her expression turning soft as she turned her gaze to her brother. "I need you, Zuko. I've plotted every move of this day, this glorious day in Fire Nation history, and the only way we win is together. At the end of this day, you will have your honor back. You will have father's love. You will have everything you want."
      "Not everything." Zuko muttered.
      "There's other girls."
      "Zuko, I am begging you, look into your heart and see what it is you truly want."
      Zuko felt conflicted. He wanted to do the right thing and be with Rose but he also wanted to feel like he was good enough.
      Azula saw and said, "You are free to choose."
      She then wandered further into the cave to eliminate the threat to Zuko betraying her. She shot fire at Rose, Aang, and Katara but they blocked her. A fight then ensued. As Azula planned to attack Rose, a fire blast came out of nowhere and she barely got out the way in time.
      The siblings began to fight, Rose, Aang, and Katara fighting the Dai Li that attacked at that same moment. 
      "So you have made your choice then, have you?" 
      "There was no choice. No one hurts what's mine!"
     Azula chuckled as they continued firebending at each other. "All this over a girl? Aw, poor Mai. She really hoped you would take her back." Zuko attacked again and Azula maneuvered around him, grabbing him from behind and pulling him close enough to whisper in his ear, "What if I hurt the poor girl? Your precious lover? What if I kill her? What would you do then?"
     Zuko escaped her grip and growled, "You always lie!"
     "Not this time, dear brother. Think about this: if the Avatar dies, they are reborn into the next cycle. Hey maybe another airbender? That's too bad. It'll be hard to catch the next one but that's an acceptable loss. But for you? Well, that's the kind of pain that makes one wish for death. But," here she smirked, "if you were to pick the winning side and come home with us, well, as I said before, we don't want to kill the girl. It's too difficult to find the next one. So guess what? She'll live. The choice is up to you: do you want to save your little girlfriend or do you want to lose her? Because, trust me, that loss will hurt you so much more than the rest of us."
     Zuko thought a moment then sent a fire blast toward Aang, solidifying his choice. Azula smirked in triumph. The fight went downhill fast, Azula winning with the help of her brother and the Dai Li.
    "There's too many." Rose realized.
    She shielded herself inside crystal and meditating, slowly letting go of her earthly attachments. As she thought of Zuko, a tear rolled down her face. The cave began to glow, as did Rose's eyes and tattoos, and she ascended into the air. Suddenly, she let out a look of surprise as Azula sent a lightning blast at her. Zuko screamed no as Rose fell. 
    Aang and Katara rushed towards her, Katara sweeping the Dai Li away in the current. Together, they caught her. A sudden fire blast barely missed Azula and Iroh came sliding into the cave.
    "You've got to get out of here!" Iroh shouted. "I'll hold them off as long as I can!"
    Aang and Katara ascended, pushing Rose ahead of them with their bending. As soon as they escaped, Iroh allowed himself to be captured. Zuko looked at the spot where Rose had vanished, then at his uncle, and a tear slid down his cheek. Not only had he lost the one person he had ever truly loved, he had betrayed the only family member who had stuck with him through everything.
    Aang and Katara had finally caught up with the rest of Team Avatar and the Earth King. They jumped onto Appa and Aang took over control of the reigns. Katara looked between each of their friends and a tiny Crystal who was crying. Pulling out the water Master Pakku had given her, she used it to heal the wound on Rose's back, praying her friend would survive. Then she laid her down and Crystal curled up next to her master.
    Rose's tattoos glowed and she opened her eyes briefly, said Zuko's name, and passed out once more.
                         * * * * *
    Azula and Zuko stood in the throne room of Ba Sing Se's palace. "It's taken a hundred years, but the Fire Nation has conquered Be Sing Se. Next, we conquer the Aether Realm. Then we will rule the world."
     "I betrayed Uncle...and her." Zuko said, feeling ashamed of his choice. He should have known better than to trust Azula. She never kept her promises and now the woman he loved was dead. Weirdly enough, though, he felt as if she were still alive but he chalked it up to him hoping so he wouldn't feel as guilty.
    "No, he betrayed you." Azula said sharply. "Besides, let's face it, you could do so much better." She stood from the throne. "Zuko, when you return home, father will welcome you as a war hero."
    "But I don't have the Avatar. She's gone." He tried not to let Azula see how much that news tore him apart. "What if father doesn't restore my honor?"
    "He doesn't need to, Zuko. Today, you restored your own honor."
    Zuko turned away. He wasn't so sure his honor was what he wanted anymore...