The Burning Truth-Harmony

Part 44~Destiny

Zuko stared at the sky, unable to stand up and face what he needed to do. Instead, he watched the animals. A squirrel ran along a branch, and a bird flew past. Zuko wasn't sure how long he had been on the island, but he was pretty sure he had fallen asleep at some point.

"Wait, I didn't think mountains could grow?" He sat up, looking at the mountains as they approached. Zuko thought about ignoring it, like the rest of his problems, before he resolved himself, using his airbending to blast through the sky and stand on a tall tree. "Oh, they're not growing- they're getting closer." He jumped off the tree, diving into the water as his suspicions were confirmed.

The island was moving. As he swam down, he almost lost it. Under the island, a giant paw moved past him, moving the island one motion at a time. Zuko burst back out of the water as he huffed.

"That's one big creature. I didn't think I would miss Isu's encyclopaedia knowledge, but it would be helpful right now."

~~~

The gang sat around Iroh, Sokka still desperately avoiding looking at the scar on the man's face.

"Iroh, you're the only person other than the Avatar who can possibly defeat the Fire Lord," Isu stated as Iroh hummed. "We need you to come with us."

"No, Isu, it won't turn out well."

"You can bear him. And we'll be there to help."

"Even if I did defeat Ozai, and I don't know that I could, it would be the wrong way to end the war. History would see it as just more senseless violence, a brother killing a brother to grab power. The only way for this war to end peacefully is for the Avatar to defeat the Fire Lord."

Isu lowered her head as Hachi cleared his throat. "Would you then take your rightful place on the throne?"

"No. Someone new must take the throne. An idealist with a pure heart and unquestionable honour. It has to be Zuko."

"I wouldn't call Zuko pure of heart," Isu snorted as Hachi ignored her.

"And Zuko doesn't want the throne."

Isu's eyes started to sparkle as she smiled. "There is another way."

Hachi let out a shudder. "I hate that look."

"Listen, I can handle the vacuum. Trust me."

The group wasn't sold, but it was the least of their problems. Toph spoke first. "Well, what if Zuko doesn't come back?"

"Sozin's comet is arriving, and our destines are upon us. Zuko will face the Fire Lord," Iroh sounded so certain with each word he said. "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."

"That's why you gathered the members of the White Lotus," Sukie gasped as Iroh nodded.

"Yes. The rest of you must be ready to take the Fire Nation when Zuko returns, but be warned, Azula will be there, waiting for you."

"We can handle Azula," Isu laughed as Katara gave her a look.

"Before our track record against her is so great."

"Go together. As a team, I have no doubt you can defeat her," Iroh ordered as Isu cheered. Katara still looked unsure but nodded.

"What about us? What's our destiny today?" Sokka tilted his head innocently as Iroh chuckled.

"What do you think it is?"

"I think that even though we don't know where Zuko is, we need to do everything we can to stop the airship fleet."

"And that means when Zuko does face the Fire Lord, we'll be right there if he needs us," Toph added as Iroh smiled proudly.

~~~

"Nothing runs faster over land or swims quicker than a giant eel hound," Piandao announced as Toph, Sukie, and Sokka stared at it. "The airship base is on a small island just off the Earth Kingdom shore. You should be able to interpret the fleet within a day's journey." He handed Sokka a map as the boy put it away.

"Thank you, Master," Sokka bowed before launching into a hug.

Nearby, Isu fitted Corno with armour. "So after this is all over, what are you going to do?" She glanced back at Iroh, who smiled softly.

"After I re-conquer Ba Sing Se, I'm going to start a tea shop, and I'm going to play Pai Sho every day."

Isu grinned. "I'll have to play with you."

Katara walked over, putting their supplies on Corno's back.

Hachi was petting Pickle's muzzle, a sad look on his face. "You'll keep him safe."

Iroh smiled, nodding as he took the armour-clad bison from Hachi. "He will do well in Ba Sing Se."

"It's a shame the airship base is too far to get there on Pickle. You gonna be okay without him," Isu gave her brother a worried look as he nodded.

"It'll be weird, but we all have our roles." Hachi gave Pickle a final goodbye before walking to join Sokka, Sukie and Toph.

"Goodbye, General Iroh," Katara announced as she climbed onto Corno's back.

"Goodbye, everyone. Today, destiny is our friend. I know it."

Isu pulled Corno into the sky as the eel hound darted off. They could hear Pickle's sad goodbye long after they stopped seeing him.

~~~

Zuko swam around the island, trying to get a good look at whatever it was, when the paw scooped him up, lifting him out of the water.

Finally getting a good look at the beast, Zuko's eyes widened. "A lion turtle!" Zuko had no idea what to do but eventually settled for a bow. "Maybe you can help me. Everyone, even my own past, is expecting me to end someone's life. But I don't know if I can do it."

The lion turtle didn't respond, and Zuko almost felt stupid for asking a lion turtle for its opinion, and then he heard the creature's voice in his head. "The true mind can weather all the lies and illusions without being lost. The true heart can tough the poison of hatred without being harmed. Since beginningless time, darkness thrives in the void but always yields to purifying light."

The lion turtle placed two claws on Zuko, one on his forehead and the other on his chest as a bright light spread out from the points. The lion then lowered his hand, letting Zuko hop off.

"Wait for him. He will come."

Zuko bowed deeply, watching the turtle sink away into the water as he bowed. "So, I'm just going to check with myself. Am I about to ignore four avatars in favour of a turtle?" Zuko didn't get an answer, but he nodded anyway. "Right, so I am going insane."