The Banished Commander (ATLA fanfiction)

Nineteen

Zara's P.O.V.

"Zuko, I can help." Katara says

"Leave!" Zuko yells

I watch as sends a flame over the top of our heads. I quickly bend it further away from our heads.

"Zuko please!" I beg

"Zara, I think it's best that you go back with them." Zuko says

I watch as the others run before I run over to Zuko.

"Zara, we know where you need to be and it's not by my side. Not anymore. Not now. Maybe one day but not today." Zuko says

"Zuko let us help you please. You know that I care about Iroh as much as you do. Please!" I cry

"Go!" He yells

I look at him before I fall to a knee and softly kiss his cheek before kissing Iroh's forehead.

"We'll meet again." I whisper before I run after the others

I look at the others before running towards Appa, looking at the others before I look at the new girl.

"What happened while I was gone?" I ask

"A lot, which we will tell you after we sleep." Sokka whispers

"I'll take the reins for a bit then." I say

I watch as the four of them all curl up, almost immediately falling asleep.

I smile softly before petting Appa on the head, looking for a safe spot to land to let them all get some sleep.

Zuko's P.O.V.

I look at my uncle as he's resting before looking out towards the sky.

"I see that you were able to find Zara again." My uncle says

I chuckle before looking back at him before walking towards him as he sits up.

"Well more like she found me." I laugh

"Did you guys figure things out?" He asks

"What do you mean?" I question

"She doesn't believe that you are meant for this." He says "Quite frankly neither do I."

"What is that supposed to mean? She never talked about it with detail." I say "You don't either."

"What we both mean is that you don't need the throne to define you. You don't need to work this hard just for your honor. She wants you to creat your own honor." He says

I shake my head before looking towards the sky again.

"She can bend lightning?" I ask "Azula, I mean."

"I wasn't expecting her to figure it out that quickly." He says

"Teach me." I start

He agrees before pushing himself up.

"Wait, really?" I ask, a smile coming to my face

"Yes, it is for your own safety as you are now against two people who can bend it." He explains

"Two?" I question as we walk out towards the empty dessert area

"Zara can bend lightning in extreme cases. But if her mark has grown like you said it has, then it might have improved her ability." He says "Therefore, teaching you how to bend it will make you safer."

I look at him before nodding as we walk outside.

Zara's P.O.V.

I look at the group in front of me as I lean back against the rock behind me.

"So let me get this right, while I was gone, you went to a town and met Toph. Watched a whole bunch of earthbenders fight each other. Those earthbenders then turned around and kidnapped Toph and Aang. You guys teamed up with Toph's babysitter to get them back." I start "After all that, Toph was allowed to leave with you guys. Oh and to add onto that, Toph is blind?"

"That pretty much sums it up!" Aang laughs

I look over my little group before I start laughing, shaking my head.

"I can't believe I missed all that." I laugh

"Well it's good to have you back." Katara says

"But why were you with the hot head?" Sokka asks

"Well, the town that I ended up staying at for a bit, he ended up there as well. They found out he was a firebender and turned him away after he had fought for them." I start "The family I was staying with thought it might be best that I get out of there while I can. I ended up traveling with him for a bit."

"Well his uncle speaks highly of you." Toph pipes up

I look over at her before pulling my legs in and setting my chin on my knees.

"That would be Iroh for you." I say "Even when we were still back in the Fire Nation."

"We need to get going. We need to get started on these vacations." Aang says "We don't have a lot of time."

"I still don't agree with this for the record!" Sokka says

I laugh before we all start to pack our things and setting them in Appa's saddle before we start flying off towards our next destination.

Zuko's P.O.V.

"Our next destination is Ba Sing Se?" I ask

"Yes, I've already reached out to my contact down there. He's going to help us get a place on the ship heading there." My uncle explains

"Contact?" I question

"Jian..." He says

"Wait, Zara's dad is in Ba Sing Se?" I ask

"Yes. He's been hiding out in Ba Sing Se." He explains

"Why didn't you tell anybody?" I ask "Why didn't you tell Zara or Ling?"

"He made me promise that I wouldn't tell them." He answers "I'm honestly surprised that he didn't go looking for Zara or us when we first left."

"He's scared of how my father would react." I start "He might be my father's closest friend, but that doesn't protect him or his family from his wrath."

"Exactly Prince Zuko." He says

I look out the small window before nodding as we sit around the small fire, sipping on my uncle's tea.

I shake my head before trying to put the pieces together before pursing my lips.

"They deserve to know." I whisper "Next time we run into them, we need to tell her."

"I have a feeling that Jian might be running into her sonner than we might." Iroh says

I look at him, confusion clearing on my face before he chuckles.

"It's a very long story while I shall explain later after we rest a bit before he get back to training." He says

I quietly growl before sipping on my tea again, the thoughts rushing through my mind.