Balance | Old Version

Chapter 119

Elua's POV.

"Well, here we are. Welcome to old people camp," Bumi tells us as he lowers a rock wall, reveling a few tents and people, though most people were asleep.
"Where...where is he?" Zuko asks, speaking of his Uncle.
"Your Uncle's in there, Prince Zuko," Piandao says pointing to a tent, a little bigger than the others. Zuko takes a deep breath as he walks over to it and sits down, I frown as I follow him.
"Are you okay?" I ask him in concern.
"No, I'm not okay," Zuko says as he looks down. "My Uncle hates me, I know it. He loved me and supported me in every way he could and I still turned against him," He states. "How can I even face him?" Zuko asks in sadness.
"Zuko, you're sorry for everything, right?" I ask him, knowing that he was.
"Sorrier than I've been about anything in my entire life," Zuko says sincerely.

"Then he'll forgive you."

The Next Day.

We were all sitting around eating and talking to each other about various things. Iroh had forgiven Zuko, as I knew he would, and they were now happily reunited.
"Uncle, you're the only person other than the Avatar who can possibly defeat the Father Lord," Zuko says, making us all stop and look over to him in confusion.
"You mean the Fire Lord," Toph corrects him.
"That's what I just said," Zuko states, we all look at each other but shrug it off. "We need you to come with us," He tells Iroh.
"No, Zuko. It won't turn out well," Iroh states.
"You can beat him and we'll be there to help," Zuko says.

"Even if I did defeat Ozai, and I don't know that I could," Iroh begins to speak.
 "It will 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, " Iroh explains. "The only way for this war to end peacefully is for the Avatar to defeat the Fire Lord," He states. I take a deep breath, still trying to ignore my worries about Aang.
"And then...then would you come and take your rightful place on the throne?" Zuko asks him.
"No. Someone new must take the throne. An idealist with a pure heart and unquestionable honor," Iroh says. "It has to be you, Prince Zuko," He states, making Zuko's eyes widen.
"Unquestionable honor? But, I've made so many mistakes," Zuko states.

"Yes, you have. You struggled, you 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 states.
"I'll try, Uncle," Zuko says with a small smile.
"Well, what if Aang doesn't come back?" Toph asks.
"He will," I state, but I was questioning if he would too.
"Sozin's Comet is arriving and our destinies are upon us. Aang will face the Fire Lord," Iroh says confidently.
"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," He explains to all of us.

"That's why you gathered the members of the White Lotus," Suki says in realization.
"Yes," Iroh says. "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," He states. Zuko's expression turns to one of annoyance and anger, the thought of his insane sister bringing up past anger.
"I can handle Azula," Zuko says confidently.
"Not alone. You'll need help," Iroh says firmly.
"You're right," Zuo says with a small nod. "Katara, how would you like to help me put Azula in her place?" He asks, making her smirk.

"It would be my pleasure," Katara says.
"What about us? What's our destiny today?" Sokka asks.
"What do you think it is?" Iroh asks.
"I think that...even though we don't know where Aang is, we need to do everything we can to stop the airship fleet," Sokka states.
"And that means when Aang does face the Fire Lord, we'll be right there if he needs us," Toph says as she smacks both of her fists together, clearly ready for a fight.
"What about you, Elua?" Suki asks, making everyone look over to me.
"I'll be waiting for Aang. It's my job to help and protect him," I say, sighing as another thought comes to mind.

 "And if he doesn't show up, it's my job to protect the world."

Later.

Everyone was preparing to leave when Sokka walks over to me, looking extremely nervous and scared.
"Hey, can I talk to you for a moment?" Sokka asks. I look at him confused and concerned but, I nod. We walk a little ways away from everyone else and into the woods, the trees shading us from sight.
"Is something wrong?" I ask him in worry.
"No, no, everything is fine," He says, giving me a reassuring smile. He takes in a deep breath and sighs as he stands in front of me nervously. 

"I know we haven't been together for long but, we've been through so much together and this is about to be the hardest thing any of us have ever done," Sokka states. "So, I wanted to do this before it was too late," He says anxously as he opens his hand and holds out a necklace. The pendent was white, the carvings looking like a mixture of the oceans waves and the wild winds on a stormy night while the band was a black ribbon that looked soft. I gasp and look up at him with wide eyes as I realize what was about to happen.
"Elua, when this is all over...will you be my wife?" Sokka asks me with a nervous smile on his face. I stare at him with a soft smile as tears well in my eyes. "Is crying a good thing?" He asks me unsurely as a few tears fall from my eyes, making me laugh.

"Yes, they're a good thing," I say with a soft laugh. "Of course, I'll marry you!" I exclaim, smiling wide as I run over and jump into his arms. He lifts me up and twirls me around, making me laugh happily again. He puts me back onto my feet, moving my hair away from my face and smiling.
"I love you," He says softly.
"I love you too," I state. He puts his hands on the sides of my face and brings me into a long and loving kiss. We pull apart and he looks down at the necklace in his hand.
"This, belongs to you," He says smiling as he gently puts the necklace around my neck.
"It's beautiful," I say smiling as he grabs my hand and we walk back to camp, now a happily engaged young couple.

A Little Later.

"Nothing runs faster over land or swims quicker than a giant eel-hound," Piando states as everyone gets aboard giant lizards "The airship base is on a small island just off the EarthKingdom shore. You should be able to intercept the fleet within a day's journey," He tells Sokka as he hands him a map.
"Thank you, Master," Sokka says as he hugs him happily. He let's go of him and walks over to me, obviously worried about the outcome of this.
"Be safe," He tells me.
"I will," I state. "Don't get hurt," I tell him seriously.
"I won't," Sokka tells me. "Come back to me when this is over, " He says as he places his hand on the side of my face.

"I will," I say with a soft nod and a reassuring smile.
"Promise?" He asks, but I knew he knew what would say back to him.
"Pinky promise," I say with a small smile as we bring each other into one last kiss, hoping it wouldn't be our last. We part and I nod, ready to end this war. I swiftly open my gladder and take off into the sky. I fly for quite some time, over rocks, mountains, and dirt. Until I find Aang standing on a rock pillar, ready to fight. I knew he would come back. I land beside him, looking over to him with an expression of confidence.
"Are you ready?" I ask him, he looks up at me and nods stiffly.
"I'm ready," He states as we see the red flaming comet flying in the sky and we wait for the chaos to begin.