𝐖𝐀𝐓𝐂𝐇 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐈𝐍𝐅𝐄𝐑𝐍𝐎 𝐁𝐔𝐑𝐍 ꩜ prince zuko

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CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

        AFTER ZUKO EARNED his uncle's forgiveness, Team Avatar resumed their mission to find Aang. With help from the Order of the White Lotus, they were allowed to stay at the camp until dawn, receiving much-needed food and supplies for the battle ahead. Sokka was still reeling from the revelation that Yan had known about the White Lotus long before the rest of them; perhaps even more surprising, she had once trained under his own sword master. A hint of jealousy lingered beneath his amazement.

        When they were given lunch to eat, the group gathered in a circle around Iroh. "Uncle, you're the only other person other than the Avatar who can possibly defeat the Fire Lord. We need you to come with us. You can beat him and we'll be there to help." Zuko spoke as he turned to face his uncle who sat at the head of the group, quietly gazing down at his bowl of noodles.

        "No, Zuko, it won't turn out well. Even if I did defeat Ozai ― and I don't know that I could ― it will be the wrong way to end the war. History will see it as just more senseless violence, a brother killing another brother to grab power. The only way for this war to end peacefully is for the Avatar to defeat the Fire Lord." Iroh explained to the group of teenagers.

        "And then... then would you come and take your rightful place on the throne?" Zuko pressed further, his brow creasing with sorrow as his uncle gently revealed he would not face Ozai himself.

        "No. Someone new must take the throne, an idealist with a pure heart and unquestionable honor. It has to be you, Prince Zuko. You may have made many mistakes, and you may have struggled and suffered, but you have always followed your own path. You restored your own honor and only you can restore the honor of the Fire Nation." Iroh finished, casting a gentle glance at Zuko. The prince's golden eyes widened before he looked away, struggling with the weight of his uncle's words. After a moment of silence, he gave a small nod.

        "Well, what if Aang doesn't come back?" Toph asked, prompting the group to turn toward her with growing concern. She had voiced what they were all thinking: what if Aang didn't return before the comet arrived? What would they do then?

        "Sozin's Comet is arriving and our destinies are upon us. Aang will face the Fire Lord. 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." Iroh offered his reassurance to the group, though his gaze lingered a moment longer on Yan; she had shared the same dream, though theirs had come years apart.

        "So that's why you gathered the members of the White Lotus!" Yan smiled as she came to the conclusion as to why the White Lotus camp was so close to the Earth Kingdom city.

        "Yes. Zuko, you must return to the Fire Nation so that when the Fire Lord falls, you can assume the throne and restore peace and order. But Azula will be there waiting for you. You can't handle Azula alone, you'll need help." Iroh explained to Zuko who nodded.

        Zuko's eyes swept over the group, pausing when they met Yan's. As much as he wanted her by his side against Azula, a stronger part of him wanted her far away from the searing blue fire his sister wielded in her fury. So instead, he turned to Katara. "Katara, how would you like to help me put Azula in her place?" he asked her.

        Katara smirked and nodded, itching to fight Azula again. "It would be my pleasure."

        "What about us? What's our destiny today?" Sokka asked Iroh, dressed in his Water Tribe uniform as he sat between Suki and Toph.