A Princess' Destiny ✘ZUKO ✘

23

Arriving at the palace was something Soana had experienced before in her own tribe. Although this time there was no ice and instead of a boat it was an ostrich horse drawn carriage that led her to the threshold.

Exiting the carriage, Soana accepted Zuko's hand and stepped out while Iroh began to walk due to his excitement.

Soana giggled at his amusement and walked to Zuko's side; hearing Iroh speak.

"Many times, I imagined myself here at the threshold of the palace. But I always thought I would be here as a conqueror. Instead, we are the Earth King's personal guests, here to serve him tea. Destiny is a funny thing."

"It sure is, uncle." Zuko said before his hand brushed against Soana's.

Her stomach fluttered as she felt the sudden warmth of his hand. In the corner of her eye, she saw his eyes averting from her to the doors of the palace just up ahead, so she decided to be brave and grab his hand.

Zuko was almost impressed by her sudden move. His heart warmed and the corners of his lips pulled hard, genuinely happy.

After entering the gates of the palace, the three members of the Jasmine Dragon reached a house having a massive room with a table in the center and three pillows on one side for them while far on the other side of room was a gold and white platform holding a gold and white embroidered throne.

Soana was as excited as Iroh at first but after some time had past of waiting for the Earth King, they grew impatient

"What's taking so long?" Zuko asked.

"Maybe the Earth King overslept?" Iroh suggested.

At that moment, a line of Dai Li agents began to enter from a side room, completely circling the three.

A sensation in Soana's stomach lurched and she frowned.
"Guys, something's not right."

"It's teatime." A girl entered from the same side room as the Dai Li wearing a similar uniform to the agents.

Zuko abruptly stood with Soana and narrowed his eyes.
"Azula!"

Soana felt the world crashing around her when she noticed how Zuko's sister smirked menacingly.

"Have you met the Dai Li? They're earth benders, but they have a killer instinct that's so fire bender. I just love it."

Iroh stood up with them and grabbed a cup of tea he poured before the ambush.

"Did I ever tell you how I got the nickname the "Dragon of the West"?"

Azula put her hand up.
"I'm not interested in a lengthy anecdote, uncle."

"It's more of a demonstration, really." He said before sipping his tea.

She noticed Zuko smirking in the corner of her eye, so she looked at him with a confused expression.

He looked back at her and quickly hugged her close before ducking behind his uncle's back.

Iroh breathed fire from his mouth at the surrounding Dai Li agents, making them disperse.

After thinking of an escape, Zuko released Soana and grabbed her by the forearm.
"Come on!"

They ran towards a wall as Zuko used his free hand to shoot out a flame, blasting a hole in it.

They ran through the hole with Iroh behind them, spitting flames at the rest of the Dai Li. The adrenaline in their systems was at its peak as they started running down the hall, ducking from the rocks the agents shot at them.

"Can you water bend?" Zuko questioned Soana.

"I don't know if I can right now, Zuko! I left my pouch at the apartment!"

"Why did you do that!" Zuko exclaimed, seeing a few agents on their tail.

They held out their hands and shot rock hands towards him, but they missed the prince and princess.

"I didn't know battling Dai Li agents would be apart of the agenda today!"

As they ran, Iroh stopped and started to bend blue lines from midair; lightning.

"Get down!" He warned.

Zuko and Soana immediately scrunched their bodies to the floor as Iroh shot a line to a dead end of a hallway.

A loud bang erupted, and all Soana could smell was smoke and rubble.

"Jump!" Iroh said, running past them and leaping from the hole into a topiary bush down below, sculpted to look like the King's pet bear.

Seeing that he made it unharmed made Soana grab Zuko's arms.
"Come on!" She begged but also felt scared for her life.

"No!" He spoke. "I'm tired of running! It's time I faced Azula!"

At the beginning of the hallway, she could see Azula leading a group of Dai Li towards them. Seeing his sister smirking manically made her grit her teeth in irritation.

"Soana, jump!" He urged her.

"No! If you face her then I face her too!"

"You both are so dramatic." Azula said, stopping a few feet away from them.
"Match made in heaven for an arranged betrothal."

Zuko scrunched his face at his sister as Soana and him turned to prepare themselves to fight.

Azula looked at Zuko with her menacing stare.
"What? Are you going to challenge me to an Angi Kai?"

"Yes! I challenge you!" Zuko seethed.

"No, thanks." she said coolly.

Zuko gritted his teeth and moved his hands in a wave to form a ball of fire and shot the flames his sister's way with a loud grunt.

The Dai Li bended a blockade from the floor to diminish the flames before putting it back down and sending rock hands to Zuko's feet, trapping him to the floor.

Zuko strained against the floor as another was sent to his right hand, trapping it on the floor with his soles.

"Zuko!" Soana panicked and tried to bend water from the air.

With success, she swiftly turned in a circle and formed a stream in her hands. The agents then sent rock hands at her to secure her, but she dodged them luckily.

As she bended the water into a whip, a rock hand was sent to her one foot, trapping her in place like Zuko.

With determination she whipped the water, causing a few agents to fall to the floor and a lot of rock hands to break into pebbles until she saw a familiar face before her.

"Gato!" She screamed, seeing him standing before her in a Dai Li robe.

He smirked then sent a pair of rock hands to her stomach, causing her to fall on the floor.

She yelled in pain as her water soaked the rock floor.

"Soana!" Zuko screamed and struggled against the restraints.

Azula smirked along with Gato at her side before she turned away, letting the rest of the Dai Li take Zuko and Soana into their custody.