The Burning Truth-Harmony

Part 39~Bad News

The gang relaxed. Sokka was building a sand castle (as Sukie watched him) while Toph used her earth bending to build a sand empire.

Zuko and Hachi sparred, training their air bending as Katara lounged atop a rock. Isu was mediated, sitting under a tree as she let her spirit leave her body.

She wandered around the spirit world. All the spirits were still hiding, and it was oddly unsettling to have such a vibrant and full space now so empty.

"Isu!"

Isu let out a scream as the pink lion appeared before her. "Oh, it's you." She smiled awkwardly.

"You forgot me, didn't you."

"No. You're... Phebe."

"Phephe."

"Yeah, that's what I said. You're a friend of Yeshi."

"Your mother."

"Yeshi." Phephe let out an annoyed sigh before she grabbed the back of Isu's collar. "Hey! What are you doing?!"

Phephe took off, dragging Isu across the spirit world and into a thick forest. As they went deeper and deeper into the forest, Isu began to see movement. Smaller spirits rushed about the trees and disappeared into the darkness.

"This is where you've all been hiding?"

Phephe let out a sound, speaking without using her mouth. "The forest protects us." As she said that, the giant panda spirit- Zuko had fought- walked past, somehow not breaking any of the trees as it did.

"Got it."

"The tree wouldn't have let you in if you hadn't been Yeshi's daughter."

Isu frowned. "Did Yeshi make this forest?"

"No. But every tree is her friend. She simply asked them to come here."

As they approached the centre of the forest, the space finally felt familiar. It was the same place where she had always met Yeshi, birdbath, and all. Phephe, upon entering the clearing, dumped Isu on the ground.

"Thank you, Phephe."

Isu patted herself off. "You know, if you wanted to tell me something, there are thousands of other spirits you could have used rather than that pink monstrosity."

"Phephe is the only one brave enough to bring you to me." Yeshi smiled, walking to Isu. "I'm glad you are here."

"Not by choice."

"I know, but there is stuff I must tell me."

"Last time you said that you told someone would die- but didn't it was me?!"

"If I had told you that you were destined to die, it would have changed the fates, and the person killed in your place might have been so lucky to be brought back."

Isu was not impressed. "Why did you want to see me? What's so important?"

"You have to tell your friends to fight the Fire Lord."

Isu blinked. "What do you think we've been doing?"

"No. You misunderstand. He must be defeated before the Comet."

"The Comet? But Zuko can't defeat the fire lord when the Comet arrives."

Yeshi waved for Isu to follow her, showing the vision in the birdbath. "If you wait for the comet, Ozai will burn the world to the ground."

Inside the water, Ozai and Azula sat around a council of people. "General Shinu, your report," Ozai ordered as the general nodded.

"Thank you, sir." He stood up and walked to the opposite side of Ozai. "Ba Sing Se is still under our control. However, earthbender rebellions have prevented us from achieving total victory in the Earth Kingdom."

"What is your recommendation?"

"Our army is spread too thin, but once the eclipse is over and the invasion defeated, we should transfer more domestic forces into the Earth Kingdom."

Ozai hummed. "Princess Azula, you've been among the Earth Kingdom commoners. Do you think that adding more troops will stop these rebellions?"

Azula played with one of the war figures. "No. As long as they have hope, they'll keep being a nuisance."

"Yes, you're right. We need to destroy their hope."

Azula grinned. "I think you should take their precious hope and the rest of their land and burn it all to the ground."

"Yes," Ozai smirked. "Yes, you're right, Azula. Sozin's Comet is almost upon us, and on that day, it will endow us with the strength and power of a hundred suns. No bender will stand a chance against us."

General Shinu looked to Ozai in confusion. "What are you suggesting, sir?"

"When the Comet last came, my grandfather, Fire Lord Sozin, used it to wipe out the Air Nomads. Now, I will use its power to end the Earth Kingdom permanently. From our airships, we will rain fire over their lands, a fire that will destroy everything, and out of the ashes, a new world will be born, a world in which all lands are Fire Nation, and I am the supreme ruler of everything."

The generals applauded as Azula smirked more.

Isu backed away from the vision in horror. "Will they succeed?"

Yeshi looked sad. "I wish I could answer you, my child, but such a charged event like Sozin's Comet, even I can't see what will happen. However, if you do not act, no one else can match him. I am so sorry. I am the one who has to put you on this path."

Isu took a deep breath. "It's fine. We can do this. Don't suppose you know much about Shiko." At the mention of his name, every spirit grew restless and even the trees shifted away.

"I don't look for him."

Isu nodded. "I'm gonna go then. Got to prepare the others for war."

As Isu prepared to leave, Yeshi called to her. "Isu, when this is over, will you bring my son to me?"

Isu thought. "If he wants to come. Unlike you, I don't force people to come with me." Isu left, floating through the trees and back to her body.

Yeshi watched her go before she turned back to her birdbath and sighed. "We should prepare. Many souls will be lost, no matter which side wins."

~~~

Isu opened her eyes slowly, taking in the sight of the beach, her friends and brother happy and oblivious to what she needed to tell them. As she stood quietly, she walked to a place she knew everyone would hear her. "Everyone, I have bad news."