I yawned walking towards the kitchen. We had just moved into the new apartment and man it was nice! The walls were covered in small detailings and trimmings, with plenty of space for the 3 of us.
It almost made me miss the luxury of the Fire nation palace. But of course, that was far far away.
"Good morning Iroh!" I exclaimed while Iroh stirred a pot over the heat of spark rocks. Small embers from the rocks blazed up into the air surrounding the air with with a lovely toasty scent.
"Good morning (Y/N), may I you look very lovely today." He said dawning a little smile.
"Well it is the opening of your new tea shop today so I might as well look decent." I retorted.
Zuko stumbled into the room with a yawn,
"What's that smell?"
"It's jook, I'm sure you wouldn't like it." Iroh explained stirring the cauldron of white soup.
Zuko stepped over to the cauldron and took in it's scent with a pleasant grin,
"Actually it smells delicious! I'd love a bowl Uncle."
"Now that your fever is gone, you seem different somehow." Iroh stated ladling Zuko a bowl of Jook.
"It's a new day! We've got a new apartment, new furniture, and today's the grand opening of your new tea shop. Things are looking up Uncle." Zuko gushed sitting down by the window with his bowl.
I stood back slightly shocked as Iroh poured my bowl,
"Okay who is this positive person and where did they put my Zuko? Should I be worried?"
"I'm fine (Y/N). The world is finally starting to go our way. I don't have time to worry about stupid things... oh and by the way" a blush grew on his pale face, "You look beautiful. I really like what you did with your hair."
"Th-Thank you." I stammered looking into his golden eyes, "I think you look very handsome as always."
~
I stood next to Iroh and Zuko admiring the tea shop. Everything was lavished with decorations and accents of green and gold. For once, everything seemed to be going right for us.
"Who thought when we came to this city as refugees, that I'd end up owning my own tea shop? Follow your passion, Zuko and life will reward you." Iroh stated.
"Congratulations Uncle."
"I am very thankful." Iroh grinned.
"You deserve it. The Jasmine Dragon will be the best tea shop in the city."
"No one else can make tea like you." I added quietly snatching onto Zuko's hand.
"No, I'm thankful because you decided to share this special day with me. It means more then you know." Iroh grinned gazing with pride upon his nephew, I nearly felt like tearing up. Zuko reached over to hug Iroh and I stepped back for a second to give them some space.
"(Y/N) you're part of the family too." Zuko muttered with a faint smile adding me into the hug, "Now let's make these people some tea!"
"Yes! Let's make some tea!" Iroh beamed rushing behind the counter to begin.
~
Steam poured through the air as the floral scent of tea waft past the doorway.
"Uncle I need two jasmine, one green, and one lychee!" Zuko shouted.
All day long had been hectic and busy. The shop was flooded with customers wanting to taste Iroh's tea.
"Add three more greens and another jasmine to the list!" Yelled after taking another table's order.
"I'm brewing as fast as I can!" Iroh replied finishing up on another order of tea which Zuko took to the customers.
"Take as long as you need your tea is worth the wait!" I exclaimed before turning around.
I thought I had heard a new customer was about to be seated so I thought I would greet the table as I usually did.
"Huh?" I questioned looking around no one new was waiting at the doorway,
"Maybe they changed their minds..."
"(Y/N) can you help me with this?" Zuko questioned pointing to a tea spill on the floor.
"Coming!"
~
The day was finally over, Zuko and I did one last sweep of the shop.
I watched as a man in light green stepped into the shop holding a scroll,
"A message from the royal palace."
Iroh took the scroll and read over it,
"I... I can't believe it."
"What is it Uncle?"
"Great news! We've been invited to serve tea to the Earth King." Iroh beamed.
~
I looked up at the vastness of the palace with its spacious and grand exterior. We were finally here! Iroh held his teas and pot in a small white box safely in his hands. Zuko and I held hands next to him.
"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." Iroh explained as we made our way into the palace.
"It sure is Uncle."
The guards directed us to a side room in the palace where we were to give the king his tea.
Iroh placed four tea cups on the small wooden table in the middle of the room and filled each with tea.
We waited and we waited Zuko turned towards me,
"What's taking so long?"
"Maybe the Earth King overslept." Iroh suggested.
Suddenly, a wave of guards entered the room. I pinned them immediately as Dai Li agents,
"Something's not right." Zuko mumbled.
"It's tea time." A familiar voice echoed. All of the memories came gushing back as my gut grew tight.
"Azula." Zuko muttered rushing to his feet.
"Have you met the Dai Li? They're earthbenders but they have a killer instinct that's so firebender. I just love it." Azula moved her glance to me, "(Y/N) I see you haven't ran away yet, surprising sense you've had to spend all these years with my brother."
"Leave her alone Azula!" Zuko comanded.
"Do you always let him speak for you or is it just because I'm here?" Azula teased.
I stared down at the floor trying to get her damn voice out of my head.
"Did I ever tell you how I got the nickname, "The Dragon of the West?" Iroh asked clenching onto a glass of tea.
"I'm not interested in a lengthy anecdote, Uncle." Azula replied.
"It's more of a demonstration really." Iroh stated before sipping down the glass of tea. Zuko spun his Uncle around as fire blazed from his mouth. All 3 of us dashed out of the room as Dai li chased after us. Iroh threw a bolt of lighting at a wall creating a huge hole which he jumped out of to escape,
"Come on! You'll be fine."
"No, I'm tired of running. It's time I faced Azula." Zuko argued.
"Zuko are you crazy! Come on let's jump." I yelled.
"Jump if you want (Y/N)." He muttered as Azula and the Dai Li neared us.
I looked out, the sky was clear and blue. Freedom. But I knew I couldn't just leave him alone with Azula. My glanced turn to Zuko,
"I'm staying with you!"
"You're so dramatic. What, are you going to challange me to an agni kai?" She muttered under a cruel grin.
"Yes! I challenge you." Zuko retorted.
"No thanks." She stated.
Zuko grunted and prepared a blaze as Dai Li rushed towards us. At his side, I bended the best I could at the agents. Quickly, they used their earthbending to send rocks to defend our attacks. I firekicked as best I could before they put stone on my hands trapping me and Zuko on the floor.
Zuko and I were led to the crystal catacombs of old Ba Sing Sa. The crystals illuminated and dazzled with color as we passed each one until the Dai Li stopped and earthbended open a hole.
"You've got company." One adgent stated as he threw Zuko and I down into the crevasse. I hit the ground and watched as the light fled as the hole was sealed.
"Zuko! (Y/N)?" I heard a familiar voice exclaim. I looked up to see the Avatar's waterbender friend Katara.
"Hello.." I muttered sitting next to Zuko. His face was heavy with defeat and guilt, I placed my hand on his back trying to comfort him.
"Why did they throw you in here? Oh wait, let me guess, it's a trap. So that when Aang shows up to help me, you can finally have him in your little Firenation clutches." Katara yelled.
"You're both terrible people, you know that? Always following us, hunting the Avatar, trying to capture the world's last hope for peace! But what do you care? You're the Fire Lord's son and some nobody that follows him. Spreading war and violence and hatred is in your blood."
"You don't know what you're talking about." Zuko grumbled.
"I don't? How dare you? You have no idea what this war has put me through! Me, personally. The Fire Nation took my mother away from me " She raged before her head was hung down with tears.
"I'm sorry." Zuko and I stated at the same time. I pushed Zuko on the shoulder instructing him to comfort her.
"That's something we have in common."
Katara looked up, tears swelling in her icy blue eyes.
Suddenly, I felt strange, isolated even. My mother was alive but, distant. Father was a general obsessed with the war and his rank. I hadn't spoken to him in so long I could barely remember his face. All my mother wanted me to do was make friends with Azula so that the Fire-lord would like us. Sometimes it feels like I had spent nearly all my childhood in that palace.
"I'm sorry I yelled at you before." She apologized.
"It doesn't matter." Zuko spat.
"It's just that for so long now, whenever I would imagine the face of the enemy, it was your face." She explained.
Zuko reached up and touched his scar,
"My face, I see."
"No, no, that's not what I meant."
"It's okay. I used to think this scar marked me, the mark of the banished prince, cursed to chase the Avatar forever. But lately, I've realized I'm free to determine my own destiny, even if I'll never be free of my mark."
"Zuko, if it means anything to you. I know that you're more then just a banished prince, you're my best friend. I wouldn't have followed you all this way if I didn't love you as much as I do." I smiled placing my hand on his scar.
"Thanks (Y/N). I love you too." He finished wearing a dull smile.
Katara turned to us, clearly touched by our affection,
"Maybe you could be free of it."
"What?" Zuko questioned.
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"I have healing abilities." She explained.
"It's a scar, it can't be healed."
Katara pulled out a vile of water from her person,
"This is water from the spirit oasis at the North pole. It has special properties so I've been saving it for something important. I don't know if it would work, but.."
Zuko nodded closing his eyes as she placed her hand on his scar. I stood next to Zuko clenching his hand tightly.
Suddenly, a wall of rocks came crumbling down.
"Aang!" Katara shouted running away from Zuko and I.
Iroh dashed towards us and hugged us.
"Aang, I knew you would come." Katara gushed.
"Uncle, I don't understand. What are you doing with the Avatar?"
"Saving you that's what!" The Avatar sassed back.
Just as Zuko was about to most likely kill the Avatar, Iroh stopped him,
"Zuko, it's time we talked. Go help your other friends. We'll catch up with you."
The Avatar and Katara left, I stood next to a confused Zuko,
"Why Uncle?"
"You're not the man you used to be, Zuko. You are stronger qnd wiser and freer than you have ever been. And now you have to come to the crossroads of your destiny. It's time for you to choose. It's time for you to choose good."
Rocks blasted past me as Azula and the Dai Li exploded an entrance into our chamber. The Dai Li bended the crystals, trapping Iroh and I in place. Zuko stepped forward defending us.
"I expected this kind of treachery from Uncle and (Y/N), but Zuko, Prince Zuko. You're a lot of things but your not a traitor are you?" Azula taunted.
"Release them immediately." Zuko retorted.
"It's not too late for you, Zuko. You can still redeem yourself."
"The kind of redemption she offers is not the kind for you." Iroh shouted.
"Please Zuko! Don't do this." I added, tears welling up in my eyes, "Please!"
"Why don't you let him deside, you two? I need you Zuko. I've plotted every move of this day, this glorious day in Fire Nation history, and the omly way we win is together. At the end of this day, you will have your honor back. You will have your father's love. You will have everything you want."
"What about (Y/N)?" Zuko asked looking into my eyes.
"You're really worried about that weakling? You can take her back to the Fire Nation if that's what you really want."
"I'm not going anywhere Azula! Zuko please think this through!"
"Zuko I am begging you. Look into your heart and see what it is you truly want." Iroh yelled trying to reason with his nephew.
"You are free to choose." Azula stated leaving with her Dai Li.
"Zuko, there has to be some other way! Just stay away from Azula, remember everything she has done to you? To me, TO US! Please... please don't go." I begged my voice trembling.
"I'm sorry (Y/N), but this is the only way."
My eyes glared as I watched Zuko fade into the distance after. The chains of crystal that bided me down felt heavy on my skin. My whole world felt like it was breaking before me. Everything I thought I could trust shattered.
"We-we have to help the Avatar! It's the only way we might get him back. Maybe I could still convince him." I demanded.
"Let him go (Y/N), he needs to learn the mistakes he made."
"But- I.." my voice broke. I could hear Azula's voice taunting me, breaking me, laughing at my tears. Laughing that I could care for someone!
"I know it hurts. But we need to move on. Start melting down the crystal, it will take a while but its our only way out." Iroh exclaimed using his firebending to break out.
I nodded doing the same trying to go as fast as I could. The steam from my hands glossed onto the crystal, softening it until it broke.
My hands felt numb as we finally melted enough crystal to escape. Crystal turned to stone walls Iroh and I rushed out into the main cavern crashing down onto the floor. Azula, Zuko, and the Dai Li had us almost completely surrounded.
I noticed Katara holding the Avatar in her arms,
"You've got to get out of here. We'll hold them off as long as we can." Iroh shouted.
As Iroh and I threw around fireblasts aa fast as we could. Flashes of embers spread through the air. Katara was able to get away with the Avatar, our job was done.
It wasn't long before the Dai Li encapsulated us in crystal. My head was panged with a realization of defeat.
Zuko stood before me, but I couldn't bare to look at him,
"(Y/N).." he muttered.
"I'll give you two a moment." Azula stated before walking off.
"I don't know you." I stammered holding back tears.
"(Y/N), I'm taking you to the Firenation palace. We can live like royalty! Please, I need you." Zuko begged.
"I'm not some prize that you can claim! I don't care if you take me to a palace or a prison. We're over Zuko. Go find yourself some other girl to rip the heart out of!" I screamed
"Just go nephew, just go." Iroh frowned avoiding eye contact with Zuko.
"(Y/N), I love you." Zuko spat before rushing off.
The Earth Kingdom has fallen, and with it the trust for the one person I'd thought I had loved. So why do I still want to go to him?
We did it y'all WE ARE GOING TO THE FIRENATION!! Season 3 should be out soon, tysm for your support and love. P.S what do you guys want to see more of in the story?
Thoughts on this as a cover?