The Honor of Love (ATLA fanfic)

26. The Crossroads of Destiny

"We brought a friend who might help." Iroh said. We walked outside and Toph immediately started earth bending, making sure the guard wouldn't go anywhere. Iroh walked up to him and removed the bandage that covered his mouth. "Azula and Long Feng are plotting a coup to overthrow the Earth King." The guard said immediately. "My sister, where are they keeping Katara?!" Sokka asked angrily. "In the crystal catacombs of old Ba Sing Se, deep beneath the palace." The guard replied.

"I'll take that, thank you." I said, grabbing the small knife the guard had attached to his belt. We exchanged looks and we flew off towards the palace grounds on Appa.

"Well, what do you know? There is an ancient city down there, but it's deep." Toph said when she stood up as she earth bent a tunnel. "We should split up." Sokka suggested. "Aang, you go with Iroh and Iz to look for Katara and the angry jerk," Sokka said, "no offense." He added. "None taken." Iroh replied. "And I'll go with Toph to warn the earth king about Azula's coup."
"Sounds like a plan." I said with a faint smile.

"Oh, by the way, I had to give you this." Sokka said and he gave me a sealed piece of parchment. "What is it?" I asked.
"It's best if you read it later." Sokka said seriously. I listened to what he said and I put it deep into the pocket of my dress.

We parted ways and Iroh, Aang and I walked into the tunnel. Iroh and I were both holding a flame, while Aang was earth bending a pathway. "Aang, that's amazing! I'm so proud of you." I said happily. "Thanks!" He replied, blushing slightly. Most of the road we walked in silence.

Aang started to walk next to Iroh, forcing me to start walking about them. "So, Toph thinks you give pretty good advice and great tea." Aang said.
"Good advice, great tea?" I said and scoffed. "He gives the best!"
"The key to both is proper aging." Iroh replied with a smile, "what's on your mind?"
Aang looked over his shoulder towards me and I nodded slowly. I stopped for a while and continued to walk after they were deeper in the tunnel. I was curious about what they were talking about, but I knew Aang could use some good advice in a bit more private setting. I was just staring to the ground, watching where I put my step. At one point, my fire went out and I saw that we had reached the catacombs.

We searched and searched until, finally, Aang gave the wall one last blow and we reached Katara and Zuko. "Aang!" Katara said happily and she hugged Aang. I ran up to Zuko and hugged him tightly, kissing him.
"What are you doing here?" Zuko asked. "I came to find you." I replied. "No, what are you doing with the Avatar?!"
"Rescue you, that's what." Aang replied. I let Zuko go and walked to Katara to give her a hug.

"Zuko, it's time we talked," Iroh started, "go and help your other friends, we'll catch up with you."
"Istari?" Katara asked. "I'll be right there." I replied and I turned to Zuko.
"Why?" Zuko asked us. "You're not the man you used to be, Zuko. You are stronger, wiser and freer 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 for you to choose good." I stepped up to Zuko and looked at him. "Please." I whispered genuinely. There was a big explosion and before I knew it, I was stuck in between crystals, just like Iroh. I could not move.

Two Dai Li agents and Azula appeared of a hole they just created. "I expected this kind of treachery from uncle and Izzie, but Zuko, Prince Zuko... You a are not a traitor, are you?" She asked. "Release them, immediately." Zuko said threatening.

"It's not too late for you, Zuko. You can still redeem yourself." Azula said.
"She's lying! Your father will never be able forgive or accept you!" I yelled. "She's right, the kind of redemption she's offering is not for you." Iroh said. "Why don't you let him decide, uncle?" Azula asked annoyed.
"I need you Zuko," Azula continued, "I've plotted every move to for this day, this glorious day in Fire Nation history, and the only way we win, is together. At the end of this day, you'll have your honor back, you will have your father's love."

"What about my love?" I asked. "Does that mean nothing to you?"
"He'll get plenty of love from Mai as I see it." Azula replied coolly.
"Oh please," I started angrily, "Zuko, listen to me, you will be nothing when you return. You come back empty handed, your father will never forgive you!"

"Zuko, I'm begging you," Iroh said with tears in his eyes, "look into your heart and see what it is you truly want." Zuko looked back to Iroh and me, and when he did, I saw it in his eyes. There was no way to convince him to stay. "I'll let you choose freely." Azula said and she made the Dai Li agents go away. She passed Zuko and walked away herself.
Zuko stood there for a while, looking down, before turning around, following the path Azula took. Leaving us behind. "HOW COULD YOU?!" I yelled at him. I started to cry and hyperventilate. Fire was coming out of my mouth, and it fired everywhere.

"ISTARI!" Iroh yelled. I stopped and panted loudly, crying. "Remember your training." Iroh said strict. I nodded slowly and started to breathe slowly. In through my nose, out through my mouth. I flexed my muscles and I was able to break free from the crystals. "Iroh," I started, but I got interrupted."- Go, I'll be right there!"
"No, uncle -,"
"GO!"

"Shoot!" I hissed and I ran into the tunnel, leaving Iroh behind. I came out and saw that Aang and Katara were surrounded by the Dai Li agents, Zuko and Azula. I jumped in between them, Aang on this side, Katara and the other. But there were too many to fight. Aang turned around and earth bent the crystals around him, locking himself inside. After a while, the crystals started to glow and there was a tiny bit of hope, knowing he got into the Avatar state. The crystals exploded, flying everywhere around him, and Aang rose up. His eyes and tattoo's glowing.

I watched him rising up behind me, until I heard a loud bang of lightning. Azula hit him in the back, and the light in his and and tattoo's went out. "NOOO!" I screamed and I ran up to him, trying to catch him. Katara rushed to him as well, on a wave of water, washing everyone away. Katara and I were just in time to catch him, he was still breathing, weakly. I looked behind me and saw that there was a waterfall, coming out of a hole.

I looked at Katara with tears in my eyes. "Go," I whispered, "you can make it."
"Istari," Katara whispered, shaking her head.
"I can hold them off, go!" I cried. I pushed myself off the ground and stood down in front of them, my fists on fire and causing a huge wave of fire. "I'll be right behind you." I said to Katara, but she looked into my eyes and knew that I wasn't going anywhere. "Thank you." She whispered and she ran up the waterfall, holding Aang tightly. I started to firebend, trying to avoid the incoming rocks of the Dai Li. I turned around and saw that they had disappeared.

I turned back to the Dai Li, Azula and Zuko and stopped.
"You are a disgrace to the Fire Nation," Azula started, "you will meet the same fate as your father, but not before we starve and lock you up for years, barely keeping you alive, solely to watch all your friends die." I looked down and tears started to swell into my eyes, my lip trembling. "But not before we get some information out of you," She continued, "one way or the other."

I have lost. I have lost my friend, my lover, my dignity. They can't catch me alive. I can't do this. It is not up to me. It is not my fight anymore. I have nothing to live for now.

I reached for the knife in my pocket and I grabbed it tightly. My hand was shaking terribly as I pulled it out.
"Forgive me." I whispered as I closed my eyes, drawing the knife towards my chest.
I widened my eyes as I felt a sharp pain, watching Zuko running towards me.

I tried to speak a word, but instead I exhaled while sinking through my knees before everything went dark.

END OF BOOK 2