𝑨𝒍𝒘𝒂𝒚𝒔 𝒎𝒆𝒆𝒕

𝑪𝒓𝒂𝒅𝒍𝒆 𝒅𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒉

"And tea!" Aang chimed in with enthusiasm, earning a soft smile from Iroh.

"The key to both is proper aging. What's on your mind?" Iroh inquired, his tone gentle and inviting as we continued our descent through the earthen tunnel. With a moment to gather my thoughts, I paused before responding.

"Well, I met with this guru who was supposed to help me master the Avatar State and control this great power, but to do it, I had to let go of the people I love. And I just couldn't," I confessed, sharing a significant glance with Aang as we paused in our journey.

"Perfection and power are overrated. I think you were very wise to choose happiness and love," iroh responded, his words carrying a depth of understanding that resonated with me deeply.

In that moment, I knew that despite the challenges and sacrifices we faced, our bond and our commitment to each other would always be our greatest strength.

"What happens if we can't save anyone and beat Azula? Without the Avatar State, what if I'm not powerful enough?" I questioned, my doubts surfacing as I resumed my earthbending.

"I don't know the answer. Sometimes, life is like this dark tunnel. You can't always see the light at the end of the tunnel, but if you just keep moving," Iroh responded, his voice steady and reassuring as I worked to clear the path ahead. With a final burst of effort, the rocks gave way, and Iroh's fire flickered out, a serene smile gracing his lips. "You will come to a better place."

As his words hung in the air, we emerged into a vast chamber of the Catacombs, bathed in a mesmerizing green light. In that moment, it felt as though the universe itself was offering us a sign of hope, a beacon of light guiding us forward through the darkness.

"Come on, Katara is this way!" I called out eagerly, utilizing the earth to sense her vibrations, a skill honed through Toph's invaluable lessons.

"Aang!" Katara's voice rang out in joy as we earthbent our way into their cellar, her face lighting up as she rushed to embrace my little brother, who eagerly returned her hug.

"Lora, I knew you would come," Katara exclaimed in relief, turning to embrace me as well. However, my attention was momentarily diverted by the prince, his glare directed squarely at me.

"Uncle, I don't understand. What are you doing with the Avatar?" Zuko demanded, his accusatory gaze fixed on me.

"Saving you, that's what," Aang declared, positioning himself protectively in front of me, a silent testament to our unwavering loyalty to each other.

Zuko's growl reverberated through the air as he took a confrontational step towards Aang, but before tensions could escalate further, General Iroh intervened, halting his nephew's advance.

"Zuko, it's time we talked," General Iroh declared, his tone firm yet tinged with a hint of urgency. Then, turning to us, he urged, "Go help your other friends. We'll catch up with you."

With a nod of understanding, we heeded his words, knowing that there were still battles to be fought and allies to be rallied.

"We've got to find Sokka and Toph," I gasped out, my breaths coming in ragged bursts as we sprinted towards the exit of the catacombs.

Suddenly, an intense shot of blue fire erupted from behind us, catching us off guard. Reacting swiftly, I used earthbending to intercept the attack, but the force of the impact sent me stumbling backward several steps.