The Flames of the past (Avatar: Zuko love story)

Chapter 34: The Crossroads of destiny

Mia and Iroh were already pretty early awake. They were making breakfast and tea. Iroh told Mia about the teahouse and the appartment, asnd Mia told him about their plans. It was funny actually, to discuss an attack on the Fire Nation with an old Fire Nation General, and above all the fire Lord's blood own brother. But Iroh was glad she did. She heard a big yawn, it was Zuko. He walked u pto Mia and gave her a kiss. "What's that smell?" He asked sleepy. "It's Juk, I am sure you wouldn't like it." Iroh said. Zuko bend over and smelled it. "Actually, it smells delicious." Her grabbed his bowl and filled it with the ricestuff. Mia and Iroh switched looks, very suspicious. "Now that your fever is gone, you seem different somehow." Iroh said slowly. 

"Come on uncle, it is another day. We got a new appartement, new furniture and today is the grand opening from your new teashop. Things are looking up uncle." Zuko said and he looked outside. Slowly the back of Mia's hand went to Zuko's forehead and touched it. "He ain't hot." Mia said seriously. Mia smiled brightly and gave her boyfriend a huge kiss on his cheek. "You should be sick more often, love." She replied and grabbed a bowl of Juk as well. As a kid she never had anything else, but now she could decorate it with some heavenly fried onions. 

She almost dropped he bowl when she remembered: The plan of the attack will be soon. She has to go. Painful she looked at Iroh. "What is it?" He asked. "Well..." Mia said slolwy, looking to Zuko. "It is my sister's birthday, and I have bought a present for her and I promised to visit her and-"
"-Go, Mia. But be back in time. My hostess has to be there for the grand opening." Iroh said and winked at her. Mia nodded and packed her stuff. Aoi looked awaiting at her. "Please Aoi, don't. You know you can't go out." Mia said. Offended Aoi laid his head on Zuko's lap and with a sigh Mia walked away. She went to the palace of the king where Katara was waiting for her. They went to a big room, where a giant map of the world was resting on the table. The Five were already there.

"Mrs. Li Feng, what a pleasure." One said when Mia sat down. Mia gave him a short nod. In exactly two month's the earth kingdom will invide the Fire Nation on the day of the Black Sun. Momo jumped on the table and grabbed a few towers made of earth. Many were followed after. "Or we can send in Momo, who could do some damage." Mia said and she laughed. No one laughed with her and soon her laugh died after. "All we need is the Earth King's seal, in order to execute the plan." General How gave Mia the paper. "Of course, thank you. General How." Mia replied and walked away with Katara and Momo. They walked into the city and were heading towards the teahouse. "I have to go." Mia said quicly. "Come on, Mia. Let us get a cup of tea first." Katara replied. "No, we shouldn't! That tea is hideous!" Mia yelled but Katara almost entered it. She saw Zuko and Iroh, making tea. 

Katara shocked. " They are having their own teahouse now?! We have to warn the king!" Katara yelled.  Mia grabbed her wrist. "Wait!" Mia pulled Katara roughly to her way. "They don't harm, please Katara. I told you, they have changed! They don't even know you guys are here!" Mia yelled. Katara looked in doubt at Mia. "This is so wrong." Katara said slowly. "We can't lie to the king." 
"Katara, please. Don't. There are spies everywhere. You go straight to the King, I will go straight to Zuko and Iroh and disappear. I won't help you or Aang again. It will be over between us then, you understand?" Katara sighed and looked at her feet. "Okay." She said. "Now, go away before they see you." Katara nodded and walked away. 

With a sigh Mia walked in the teashop. "You missed the opening." Iroh said. "I know." Mia replied and walked through to the appartment. She changed her clothes and put her beautiful make-up on. Time to be the hostess again. She poured in tea and talked with the customers. At the end of the day Mia was so tired, she almost couldn't keep her eyes open. Zuko was cleaning and a messager came in. "A message for Mushi." He said and he handled a letter over to Iroh. "It's from the King. He wants us to serve him our tea in the palace! I have to think about what kind to serve!" He yelled and he ran to the kitchen. Mia and Zuko switched looks and smiled. 

~

The next day the three got brought to the palace. All three they put their best clothes on, and Zuko couldn't keep staring at Mia. When they steped out of the carriage Iroh took a deep breathe. "I can't believe it. Standing here on the threshhold of the palace. I feel like the luckiest man in the world. But I always thought I would be here as a conqueur instead of the Earth King's personal quests. Destiny is a funny thing." iroh said. Mia smiled. "It certainly is..." She said and smiled at him. 

They went to a little house in the garden, where they served the tea. It did took a long time. "What is taking so long?" Zuko asked. "I bet he his playing wih his bear..." Mia replied. The door went open and many men walked in. Dai Li. "Something's not right..." Zuko whispered. "Tea time is over." Mia looked up. "Azula!" Zuko yelled and he stood up. "have you met the Dai Li yet? They are great earth benders with a little bit of a killing instinct. Very Fire bender like. I love it!" 

Iroh and Mia stood up and well and Iroh took a nip of his tea. "Do you know how I got the nickname the dragon of the west?" Iroh asked. "I am not intrested in a story uncle." Azula repled. "See it more like a demonstration..." Iroh said and he took another nip. Mia looked at Zuko and immediately they went on their knees, and Iroh blew fire like a dragon around. A few Dai Li got blown away through the door and they ran through it. "Where are we going?" Zuko asked. "Trough that right window!" Mia and Iroh yelled at the time and they jumped out of the window in the water. Zuko didn't jump. "Come on, it's completely safe!" Iroh yelled. "No! I am tired of running, it is time I will face Azula." He said and he turned around. Iroh facepalmed himself and Mia started to yell the most inappropiate curses to her boyfriend's head. 

"What do we have to do?" Iroh asked Mia. Mia shrugged. "We can go to Toph, she must be at home." Mia said when she removed the water out of her clothes. "The blind girl?" Iroh asked. Mia frowned. "You know her?" Mia asked. Iroh nodded. "We drank some tea together. She was lost, and I was lost. It was the same day I got struck by Azula's lightning." Mia nodded slowly. "Well that's good." She said quickly and she grabbed his arm. They walked to the house and knocked on the door. Toph opened it and smiled at Iroh. Sokka and Aang were there too. "We need your help." Iroh said. Sokka and Aang shock almost to death and took in fighting positions. "You guys know eachother?" Aang asked amazed.  Toph explained the whole thing and Aang gave it a rest. "May I come in?" iroh asked. Toph nodded. Mia hugged Sokka and Aang and they sat down in a circle around the table. 

"Princess Azula is here in Ba Sing Se." Iroh started. 
"She must have Katara." Aang said angrily. 
"Yes, and Zuko I am afraid. Poor bugger." Mia said grumpy. 
"Then she shall work together to fight Azula and save Katara and Zuko." Aang said, with his arms crossed over his chest. 
"Woah there," Sokka said, "you lost me at ZUKO." 

"I know how you must feel about my nephew, but believe when I tell you there is good inside him." Iroh said.
"Good inside him isn't enough. He broke Mia's heart many times, and has been hunting us down. Come back when it's also on the outside okay?" Sokka replied. "Sokka..." Mia started, "Katara is in trouble. All of Ba Sing Se is in trouble. Working together is our best chance. We need Iroh's help, okay?" Sokka nodded. "Do you know where they might keep them?" Toph asked Mia. "The crystal catacombs maybe, in old Ba Sing Se, under the palace?" Mia said, "my mother stayed there for a while. It's deep under the ground."
"At least we can try." Aang said. Sokka nodded. "Let's go." 

~

"Well hell, Mia. There is an ancient city under here indeed." Toph said. "At least I can thank my mom for something." Mia said smiling. 
"We should split up." Mia suggested. "Sokka, you and Toph are going to the King and tell him about Azula. Aang, Iroh, youi two are coming with me. We are going to set Katara and Zuko free." They all nodded in agreement and Aang and Mia started to make a tunnel. "It's so deep." Aang said. Mia grinned. "I know right." 

Aang and Iroh started to have an awkward coversation. Mia smiled and felt glad that Iroh could help them, no, allowed to help them. Mia gave one big push and they entered the city. It was full of huge crystals. Mia's eyes sparkled. She broke a big piece off and put it in her bag. "What? I could sell it." She replied defending and went on. She broke another wall and entered the place Zuko and Katara were stuck in. 
"Aang!"
"Mia!"
"Zuko!"
"Uncle!"
"Katara!" 

Mia ran over to Zuko and gave him a big hug and kiss, but he pushed Mia off him. "What are you doing here? With the Avatar.... Uncle?"
"Come to rescue you maybe?" Aang sain angrily to Zuko. "You lied to me! All these times you were 'away', you went to our enemies!" 
"Zuko, it's time we talked." Iroh said seriously, "go and help your other firends. We'll catch up with you." Aang thanked Iroh and Katara and Aang went away.  "Why?" Zuko asked when they were alone. "You are not the man you are used to be, you are stronger and wiser, and more free than you have ever been. And now, you have come to the crossroads of your destiny. It is time for you to choose, it is time to choose good." Iroh said. 

Mia took a deep breathe and hold his hand. "Remember what I said Zuko... We could have a life together. Maybe not what I have dreamed, maybe not how you remember... But we could get there." Mia said hopeful, and right after that the ground shook. Mia and Iroh got suddenly stuck in the crystals. Azula and some of the Dai Li slide down the tunnel and at last, Mia's mother. "I did have expected this treachery from Mia and uncle, but from you Zuko? Prince Zuko, you are a lot of things but not a traitor, are you?" Azula asked. "Release them immediately!" Zuko yelled. "It's not too late Zuko. You can still redeem yourself... Father wants you to come home. We will win this war anyway." Azula said. "I will give you some time to think about it. I am going to kill the Avatar." The Dai Li agents disappeared and Maya went off with Azula. Zuko looked at Mia for a moment, and he followed his sister. 

Mia and Iroh got finally out and rushed away to the main hall they came. When Mia entered, she saw Aang falling down, and Katara coming to him on a tidal wave of water. Mia's eye were filled with tears when she saw Katara, sitting on the ground with Aang on her lap, Zuko and Azula approaching. Mia gathered all her strength and made a wall of fire between them. Her and Iroh jumped down and stood with their backs to Aang and Katara, them faces to Azula, Maya and Zuko. "Go, I will hold them off as long as I can." Iroh said, also to Mia. 
"I am not running today, I am not going to hold off. I am going to kill." Mia said and ran up to the first Dai Li agent she could find. She was filled with rage, with anger and with sorrow. With her fire bending she went on and on. Mia's mother rushed to her and hit her on her left side of her chest. Her eyes turned dark red, and only red and her face was pale and fair. She felt a strange power inside of her, a power that couldn't be stopped. her mother let go and Mia went on. She broke the neck of the last one and saw that Iroh had surrendered. 

"My dear.... What a performance!" Azula yelled and clapped her hands. Mia looked at Zuko. "Mia, you can still come home with us." He said slowly. "Don't be silly Zuko. You have chosen your destiny, and I have mine. Go back to Mai... Be happy. But when we will meet again, don't think I will ever forgive you... I will show you what happens to people that break my heart." Zuko frowned at her. "Mia... Please!" He yelled. Mia took a deep breathe, smoke rose up, and when it was gone, Mia had disappeared. 

When she got in the palace's garden she walked to the fountain and looked in the water. Her white dress was red of blood and her eyes were as well. She looked like a monster, she was a monster. Mia smiled at herself and walked away from the fountain. Appa was waiting, with the rest of the gang and the king on his back. "Mia, what happened?" Sokka asked in shock. Mia sat down and didn't say anything. She stared to the stars when they were flying over the city. "Ba Sing Se has fallen..." The king mumbled slowly.
"What did you expect? Of course it did. You don't know anything about war in Ba Sing Se. You have kept it away. Now people will see..." 
"Mia... you look a bit strange." Sokka said carefully. "I have changed Sokka. There is no mercy anymore, it's time to change some things." She replied with a big grin. 

They stopped at Mia's old house and Mia stepped off Appa's back. She kicked against the door and it flew open. "Mia?" Myriam asked. "The Earth Kingdom has fallen. You must run, now." Mia replied. Camillia stood up and looked at her sister. "Your eyes... What happened?" 
Mia sighed. "I said... run. You have no time, neither do I. So don't waste it. Grab your things and leave... please." 
"Where will you go?" Bohai asked. "I am going to fight." She replied and gave him a kiss on his head.

She hugged all her siblings goodbye and walked passed Appa. "Where are you going?" Toph asked. "The Graveyard." Mia replied. 
Mia entered the abandon, dark and creepy graveyard. She searched and searched until she found the resting place of her father. She kneeled down in front of it and took a deep breathe. "I should have done this a long time ago already." She said when she thought about her stay in the Fire Nation. Mia got tears in her eyes. "I will have my revenge father, I will kill her. I will kill her for you." She stuttered and laid a flower on her father's grave. "And please forgive me... For all the mistakes I have made... and for those that are yet to come."


End of Book 2.