Zutara mini series

Chapter Two

They train hard as the day of the final battle comes around the corner. Zuko has found the original benders of the element of fire, and he comes to a striking conclusion. Fire wasn't as destructive as he thought; it was life, light, and everywhere around him. Since then, he has felt more powerful than ever and as small as ever in the presence of the magnificent creatures. They danced around him and Aang a few hours after he was accepted as his firebender teacher, only to find out that he could not bend.

Frustration coloured his inner world as he tried again and again to dip into the well of his power in the core of his body. But as he looked at them, it was worth it. He danced with them alongside his new friend, and he felt as if he was on the top of the world. When they came back to their camp, they were glowing with pride and happiness until the rest of the group started to make fun of them, for dancing and not bending, yet whatever the case he felt comfortable, he felt at home.

So, when he noticed that Sokka was going to break into a prison, he joined him without a second thought. They drove in his air balloon until they reached their destination, the Boiling Rock, which was the best-guarded prison in the Fire Nation. They had to burn all evidence of their existence and everything out of the ordinary, so they had to burn all of their belongings and take on the roles of guards, inserting themselves into the ranks. It had been hard at the beginning, but they managed. Sokka was extremely disappointed and guilty because he couldn't find his father anywhere. So Zuko had no choice but to cheer him up.

“Sometimes, clouds have two sides, a dark and light, and a silver lining in between. It's like a silver sandwich. So, when life seems hard, take a bite out of the silver sandwich.”

“Maybe we haven't failed after all.” Sokka yelled excitedly.

“That's the spirit. I can't believe that worked. I didn't even know what I was saying.” Zuko mumbled to himself.

“No, what you said made no sense at all. But look, it's Suki.” Zuko had no idea who Suki was, but he was glad that they had someone to break out since that was their goal. And so, with the help of the leader of the Kyoshi Warriors, they formed a plan after Zuko was compromised. But at the last minute, they didn't follow it, so it was back to the prison since the war prisoners were being brought here and there was a slim chance that Chief Hakoda of the Southern Water Tribe would be among them. And so they took on their old roles as prisoners and guards respectively while roping Hakoda into their skim. In the end, it wasn't easy since they wouldn't have escaped if it was not for Mai. He still loved her, just not the way she wanted him to.

When they got back, everybody had been worried sick, and they had to move quickly if they didn't want to be followed. Zuko felt good about himself, finally helping people and making amends for his mistakes. He knew that Katara would be the hardest to forgive him rightfully so. He couldn't forgive himself for it either, but he would do everything in his power to make it right.

At first, he spent endless hours trying to find a way to approach her and keep watch outside her tent, both to keep her safe and because he felt obligated to for some reason. He was even ready to sacrifice himself to keep her safe back at the Air Temple and he would do it again, not because he had to but because he wanted to. He found the answer to his question in Sokka, his strategic and leader-ish friend that quickly turned into his best friend alongside Aang. He might have spent mere weeks in their presence, but he could live without them now,even if he wanted to.

So he decided to ask him about their Tribe and their mother and the attack at their home. Suddenly, he realized the hostile way she treated him or, more likely, the Fire Nation. So, he tracked down the people who hurt their family in this unreturnable way and offered her something that she couldn't fantasize about even in her dreams. Revenge.

Nobody understood her need to serve this cold-blooded way of justice but him. They took Appa, and they flew towards the naval fleet that held the soldiers that continued to terrorize Water Tribe families.

That was where the first surprise hit him. After seeing this calm and collected girl control people and cause them immeasurable pain with the move of her fingers by bending their blood. He felt a chill to the bones as her threat held more gravity than it did before, and he decided then and there to never cross paths with her while not being on her side. She was powerful, making rain stop and changing tides at the sea.

The second surprise was when she didn't deliver the final hit at the person who took everything from her. Simply pitying the person that begged for mercy, deciding to let him live in his nightmares and a lowlife life with his pestering mother. That was when we finally realized that sparing someone's life took control and true strength in the spirit, and for that, he admired her immensely.

But the last and most shocking one was when she fell asleep, trusting him to get them back to their friends. Since then, she was more friendly with him, and they formed a type of alliance.

At last, they found refuge in his old summer house in Ember Island. It was quite ironic to be where his old family lived with his new family. It was nice to see the house full of people and life, as the long halls echoed laughter and good-natured yelling. They hid under the nose of his father in the centre of his nation, and they wouldn't know what hit them.