Chapter 28

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(I'm sorry)

Word count 10,347 words

(Y/n) POV

Opening my eyes was a big mistake, because I saw my little sister standing across from me chained to the wall.

"So. You're up" she scoffed.

I groggled trying to lift myself from if the cold stone floor, but felt a heavy weight around my wrist keeping me to the ground.

"Katara what happened last night?"

"What do you think happened last night?! Your little boy toy's sister happened!" She yelled at me.

"Wha-boy toy?" I raised a brow.

"Oh don't act so surprised I know about you and Zuko" she snapped at me not bothering to look me in the eye.

"Katara I-"

"No it's my turn to talk," she clenched her fists as an unmistakable snarl carved onto her face. "For as long as I could remember you've been trying to protect us from harm. You've always been there to try and keep Aang- us from harm. From Zuko! And look where we are! We're in a prison cell! And you're dating the enemy! The enemy!" She yelled, "The enemy, how could you?! He's with the nation that took our mother away!"

"He didn't so stop it Katara!" I yelled making my chain rattle as I tried to stand, "He was fucking ten years old! Just because he is from the Fire Nation doesn't mean he was responsible for our mother's death! Spirits! You're just as bad as the council!"

"Don't you dare compare me to them! He's the son of the man who murdered our mother!"

I groaned, "Enough about mom! For spirits sake that's your argument for everything!"

"No it's not!"

"'Hi, I'm Katara! Did you know my mother was killed? That means you have to relate to me! I know your entire race was annihilated and you're the only Airbender left in existence, but my struggle is more important!' Sound familiar?" I mimicked her.

"Oh you wanna talk about arguments?" She pulled on her chains, "'Hi, I'm (Y/n)! I act like a big bad bitch because in reality I'm just sad that my parents are scared of me. I guess I'll go date the enemies son to get back at them'!"

"Zuko is not the enemy!"

"He kidnapped you!"

"Yeah, and he apologized!"

"That's not a good argument! (Y/n) he's using you! He just wants to get and Aang and scar you!"

"No he doesn't" I told her.

"Oh yes he does! If I remember correctly he's tried to capture both of you multiple times in the span of less then a year! There's gonna be a single moment where he can have you in his ugly grasp, and you'll be gone!"

"Zuko isn't like that!"

"He is! (Y/n) he will never care about you! You need to understand he's using you! He will never help you of his own free will!" She began to cry, "He's going to hurt you, and we-I won't be able to save you this time!"

"He won't hurt me!"

"How do you know that?!"

"Because he saved me!" I blurted out.

"He what?" She stopped struggling to raise a brow at me.

I sighed as I stopped as well, "He-he.... saved me Zhao" I looked down trying to block out the words he told me.

I clenched my fist as the conversation came flooding back to me.

~~~

"What do you even have in that Water Tribe? Family?" Zhao chuckled, "(Y/n) we both know that they never loved you"

"Your wrong! My family loves me!"

"Who? My spies have told the Fire Lord and I everything, and that is not love. Your father disowned you. He left you to protect your Tribe while he went to play a fake soldier in a real war," he sighed. "Your siblings are even worse though"

"You leave them out of this!"

"Why? So you don't have to deny it? (Y/n) they never cared about you, and now they know who you are they will leave you when they get the chance"

"You're wrong!"

"Your twin, Sokka was it? He only cares about making a man you never loved proud. That's why he still protects you. While your sister," he began to laugh. "Katara's the worst of them all"

"Leave her out of this!"

"Am I wrong though? How did it feel watching her discover her bending? How did it feel when she was treated like a saint when the Tribe found out?"

"Stop" I whispered.

"How did it feel watching your parents shower her with the love and attention you never received? How did it feel watching your mother giving her only heirloom, to her?"

"Please.. stop"

"How did it feel being placed far away while your sister was allowed to be in the village? How did it feel when she'd show off?"

"Please stop!" I cried as I saw his tea began to bubble.

"How does it feel not being in your own family's portrait?"

"No"

"You did nothing wrong but were excluded, even though we both know that Katara did something worse.... How does it feel knowing she's the reason your mother is dead?"

~~~

'How does it feel knowing she's the reason your mother is dead?' Zhao's words played over and over and over in my head.

I couldn't help myself as I started to tear up. I tried to stay as strong as I could, but the words broke through my emotional dam. Breaking me.

I began to violently sob as his words started to make sense. Just because they were true doesn't mean I have to acknowledge them.

"Re..member when Zhao kidnapped me?" I sniffled.

"Yes. I do" she looked down like I did.

"Remember the Blue Spirit I told you about?"

"Yeah?"

"That was Zuko. Zuko saved me..."

"He... he what?! Why would he do that?!"

I shrugged, "He just... did," I sighed. "I don't know why, but he just did. He got hurt we got away... and I-"

"Is that why he has your ribbon of thanks? Because he saved you?" She asked almost annoyed.

"Yes. That's why" my eyes trailed to my left wrist seeing the ribbon poking out of my cuffs.

"It was a trick" she spat.

"Excuse me?" I asked looking up at her.

She clenched her hands onto her chains holding her up, "It was a tick to capture you! (Y/n) you need to understand he has no real feelings inside his cold empty heart! You need to understand that!" She warned me acting more worried then mad.

I looked away from her, "This is why I didn't want you to meet Le-Zuko" I sighed.

"Lee. Was. An. ACT! (Y/n) he never cared about you! He won't! You know why?! Because he only has a single word left in his heart and it's not your name!" She cried, "He wants his honour! And I know he will chose it over you!"

I didn't face her as she continued, "(Y/n) listen to me! I'm trying to warn you! If it came down to you and honour, do you really think he'd choose you?!"

I stopped. Would he?

I looked her in the eyes with tears still pouring out, "I.. I don't know"

"Then let me ask you this! If it came down to Aang or Zuko... who would you pick? If they each gave you a hand, whose would you take?!"

I bit my lip as I cried, "Are you that dense?! Do you really think that's a question?! There's no hesitation, I'd pick Aang! I'd pick my little brother! I haven't know him for that long but he has shown me more friendship and love, then most of them!" I spat out with venom, "Let me ask you this little sister. If it came down to Aang and I... who would you pick? Would you chose family over love as well?"

She looked at me with sorrow eyes, almost like she was conflicted. Before she could give me an answer the door burst open and a Dai Le agent came in.

He bended rocks around my wrist before another walked in and took off my chains.

They lifted me to my feet and even after all my struggles, it was useless.

"Hey! Let her go!" Katara yelled tugging on her chains.

"Yeah! We're in the middle of a sister bitch fight! Do you really wanna break up a bitch fight?! It only ends badly-"

"For you!" Katara finished.

They both said nothing as they began to drag me out of the room. I screamed my sisters name as she screamed mine.

I know this fight was brutal, but I should've know it was coming.

Honestly, she may be right about my stupid dream with Zuko.

——————
(Third Person) POV

Iron and his nephew walked up to the palace holding their invitation, and a pot of tea.

After Zuko returned home last night after an amazing night with (Y/n), he received word the king requested that Iroh and him serve him their wonderful brew.

"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 smiled holding his letter closer towards him.

Zuko smiled, "It sure is, Uncle"

After they were escorted into the palace, they were brought to a small room with a throne slightly above them.

They sat down and set up their food armament, and waited. And waited. And waited.

Zuko groaned, "What's taking so long?"

"Maybe the Earth King overslept" Iroh suggested.

The two then noticed the Dai Le began to surround them, only leaving a small section by the front open.

"Something's not right" Zuko shot up.

He tried to moved but a voice made him stop dead in his tracks, "It's tea time!"

Zuko snapped back into the front and snarled at his little sister, "Azula!"

She smirked, "Have you met the Dai Le? They're earthbenders, but they have a killer instinct that's so firebender. I just love it," this made the Fire Prince clench his fist as she continued. "One thing they were amazing at doing though was capturing little dancers... especially dancers who have a prince for a partner" she chuckled pulling out a little blue ribbon out of her pocket.

This made Zuko's eyes widened in sheer terror, "(Y/n)! What did you do to her!"

"Oh relax Zuzu I didn't harm her," she rolled her eyes. "But would you like to see her?" She smirked as two Dai Le agents dragged in the Water Tribe Dragon.

"(Y/n)!" He yelled as Iroh held him back looking pissed off as well.

(Y/n) screamed for the prince in a muffled tone, as one guard held a hand over her mouth while him and the other guard restrained her.

"Don't worry Zuzu I didn't harm her," she stalked over towards (Y/n). "Believe me I want to... but father already claimed on scaring her little face," she chuckled grabbing ahold of (Y/n)'s cheeks making her growl. Azula then gasped in realization, "Zuzu! Maybe we can convince Father to burn her in the same spot as you! Aww you'd match!"

"Fuck off!" (Y/n) spat through the hand over her mouth.

Iroh simply poured himself a cup of tea and sighed, "Did I ever tell you how I got the nickname 'The Dragon of the West'?" He asked his niece.

Zuko's eyes widened when he realized what his uncle was about to do. He then made eye contact with the girl he like and winked.

She raised a brow before getting what was about to go on, and winked back.

"I'm not interested in a lengthy anecdote, Uncle" Azula rolled her eyes.

"It's more of a demonstration, really" Iroh chugged his tea as Zuko ran behind him as Iroh began to breath fire causing a distraction.

(Y/n) smirked before chomping on the hand over her mouth. The agent joked his hand away in pain, "What the fuck!"

"What happened?" The other asked.

"This bitch bit me!"

Before he could slap me She lifted my left leg forward, before smashing it behind me kicking him where the sun don't shine.

As both men accidentally let go of her, she jumped making her stone cuffed hands be in front of her. She sent a large kick of fire at the two and began to run to Zuko as Azula was distracted by the flames.

He quickly ripped her rock cuffs off before grabbing her hand as the three ran.

"How long have you been here?" He asked as they ran.

"All night I think! They captured me moments after you left"

They all ran through the halls until finding themselves at a dead end.

(Y/n) quickly stepped forward, "Stand back!" She yelled as she blasted a hole in the wall using an Earthbending technique she learned from Toph.

Iroh waisted no time and jumped out of the hole, landing in a topiary bush.

"Come on! You'll be fine!" He yelled to them.

"No! I'm tired of running! It's time I faced Azula!" Zuko told his uncle before turning to his crush, "You have to go"

"I can't!" She told him.

"(Y/n) we can't have this conversation again you need to go!"

"I can't Zuko!"

"(Y/n) I can't protect you like this!"

"She has my sister!" (Y/n) gripped his shirt before tearing up, "She has Katara... while we were dancing she got kidnapped! I can't leave without her!"

They looked back as they heard an annoyed sigh, "Aww you two are so cute when you act so dramatic," they both glared at her before getting into fighting stances. "What? Are you going to challenge me to an Agni Kai?"

Zuko nodded, "Yes! I challenge you!"

Azula smirked, "No thanks"

Before the two could attack the Princess the Dai Le agents bent rocks at their arms and legs subduing them.

————
(Y/n) POV

We both screamed for dear life as Zuko and I were careless chucked into the catacombs below.

I landed on my face while Zuko wasn't as lucky falling into a puddle.

"(Y/n)... are you ok?" Zuko groaned getting up.

I stayed face down and yelled, "I. Hate. Everything!"

I felt his hands on me he helped get me to a seated position, "(Y/n) come on. Please don't make this worse, it's gonna be o-"

I pushed him off of me, "It's not gonna be ok Zuko! Can't you see that?! We're in the fucking Ba Sing Se catacombs! How can say everything will be ok?!" I clenched my fists bringing them to my face, "How could I be so stupid!?"

"(Y/n)-"

"My sister. My sister was taken as we were carelessly dancing in a fancy ballroom!" I spat feeling ashamed of myself, "I'm supposed to protect her, and I was dancing! I was dancing.... with you" I teared up.

Zuko sat next to me and tried to put his arm around me, "(Y/n) don't worry, we're gonna all get out of here-"

"She knows about us Zuko," I sniffled. "She knows... and wasn't happy"

He pulled me closer, "... I figured that, but we can start over-"

"No. We can't," I shook my head before standing up. "I was an idiot thinking we could do this" I sighed as tears dripped onto the wet floor making a light noise.

"(Y/n)," he stood up. "We are gonna get out of here. I promi-"

"If you had to pick between your family and me, who would you pick?" I cut him off.

He started at me for a moment, "I.. I-uh.. what would you do?"

I sighed biting my lip looking to the floor, "Family. I'd always pick family," I clenched my arms. "No matter what"

He looked down as well, "(Y/n).."

"Zuko we can't keep doing this" I cried.

"What? What are you saying?"

"Zuko we need to look at the facts," I faced him with glossy eyes. "You are the banished Fire Prince. You are after the Avatar in order to return home"

"Yes but-"

"AND I! I... I'm a Southern Water Tribe... peasant," I sniffed. "And no matter how much I wanna lie saying I'm a princess, I'm not," I shook my head looking down. "And this peasant is the one protecting the Avatar... on the other side of the war," I clenched my eyes shut. "Our hands are tied Zuko. I want to be with you.. but we have different loyalties"

"But inside the walls we can be something"

"But what about outside?! We can't just stay here forever! We both know what's coming this summer, and we both know that will be the day the war ends," I sighed as he looked away knowing what I was talking about. "No matter which way it ends, it will end in blood stead. And it will be either your families or mine"

"(Y/n)"

"We can't do this" I looked away from him.

[There should be a GIF or video here. Update the app now to see it.]

"But you know I want you," he blurted out making me cross my arms and clench my eyes shut. "It's not a secret I try to hide"

He put an arm on my shoulder as he continued, "I know you want me...." he came around to face me before taking my hands, "So don't keep sayin' our hands are tied"

He then came closer holding my hands in his firm grip. "You claim it's not in the cards, and our sides are pullin' us miles away and out of reach from me"

He let go of one before tilting up my chin to face him in his beautiful eyes, "But you're here in my heart, so who can stop me if I decide... That you're my destiny?"

I shook my head pushing him off of me, "Destiny, isn't real. Everything is as random as the placements of the stars"

He then put his hands back on mine and pulled me along with him trying and dance with me, "What if we rewrite the stars? Say you were made to be mine!" He began to try and spin us as my feet stayed planted on the ground, "Nothing could keep us apart, you'd be the one I was meant to find" he smiled.

I slowly lifted my feet as he spun me around. He then grabbed my waist pulling me close to his face, "It's up to you, and it's up to me. No one can say what we get to be.
So why don't we rewrite the stars? Maybe the world could be ours... Tonight"

We began to lean into each other before I realized what I was doing and stomped my foot on the ground making both of us jolt back, away from each other as a blue flame appear on the end of my foot for a second.

"You think it's easy?" I shook my head, "You really think I don't wanna run to you?" I wiped my eyes on my arm. "But there are these mountains... And there are doors that we can't walk through!" I clenched my teeth in pain, "I know you're wondering why because we're able to be... Just you and me within these walls of Ba Sing Se we can be something!" I began to cry again, "But when we go outside in the real world, you'll see.. That this is just... hopeless after all"

I walked past him as I began to try and look for some sort of exit, "No one can rewrite the stars! The past is permanent, so how could you say you'll be mine?" I clenched the crystal wall next to me, "Everything-everyone keeps us apart... And I'm not one you were meant to find," I looked back to him as he came closer. "It's not up to you. It's not up to me.. When everyone in this war tells us what to be," he then placed his hand on my cheek and I leaned into it as my tears began to dampen his hand. "How can we rewrite the stars? Say that the world can be ours... Tonight?"

I tried to walk around him before our eyes connected like glue and we began to walk around each other as we never broke eye contact, "All I want is to fly with you" he told me.

"All I want is to fall... with you" I sighed.

"So just give me all of you" he stopped, walking up to me.

"It feels impossible" I shook my head.

"It's not impossible" he put his hands on my shoulders.

"Is it impossible?" I clenched my hair with both hands before shaking my head.

He lifted my chin as we both looked deeply into each others eyes, "Say that it's possible" I told him before my true feelings overtook me and I grabbed his head and smashed his face into mine, making us have a long passionate kiss.

"How do we rewrite the stars?" I cried pulling away from him, "Say you were made to be mine?" He asked shaking his head.

"Nothing can keep us apart" I clenched his shirt as he pulled me into an embrace.

"'Cause you are the one I was meant to find" I told him digging into his chest as his warm hands wrapped around my hollow figure.

"It's up to you," he told me. "And it's up to me. Let no one can say what we get to be"

"And why don't we rewrite the stars? Changing the world to be ours" he continued as I looked up to him before we began to kiss again.

It was the strangest feeling I ever encountered. It was almost like, for the first time ever... I felt safe. Like I belonged.

"If it came down to Aang or Zuko... who would you pick?"

Katara's words played back in my head as I pulled away from Zuko.

I wiped away a tear as I looked away from him, "You know I want you...It's not a secret I try to hide," he then placed a delicate hand on my cheek wiping away my remaining tears. "But I can't have you
We're bound to break and my hands are tied... I think if it came to it... we'd both pick blood over water..."

I sniffled pulling away from him as a random opening in the wall occurred.

We both raised a brow breaking us from our inside battles, and saw a Dai Le agent smiling at us, "You've got company" he chuckled before a familiar girl was thrown in.

"Katara!" I yelled running to her aid, "Are you ok?!"

She gasped looking up at me before pulling me close amd looked me over, "Did she burn you?! Are you ok?!"

"I'm fine, are you ok?! I thought they'd do something to you!" I cried looking her over.

She began to cry as she pulled me into a hug, "I thought they scarred you!"

"I'm ok," I reassured her. "I'm ok" I promised.

As we hugged I felt her tense up, and I knew she was beyond pissed, "What's been going on in here?" She snarled letting go of me.

Both Zuko and I made a quick glance before I looked away and hugged my stupid frame, "I chose family" I sniffled.

And she knew exactly what I meant.

———————
(Third Person) POV

The three left of the gaang run inside their house trying to find both girls.

Momo goes crazy flying up to Aang, "Momo!"

Toph scanned the area before shaking her head, "There's no one else here"

Aang clenched his fist, "(Y/n) and Katara are in trouble! I knew it!"

Sokka's eyes widened in terror over his two sisters disappearance, "Oh, no!" He just got (Y/n) back! He just told the entire Tribe off and now she's gone.

Toph gasped, "Wait! Someone's at the door," she pointed to it before someone started knocking. "Actually, I know who it is. It's an old friend of mine," Toph smiled as she skipped over opening it to see the old Fire Nation general. "Glad to see you're okay" she told him.

Iroh sighed looking at the group, "I need your help"

Both Sokka and Aang gasped in fear seeing the old man, while Toph smiled waving to him.

"You guys know each other?" Aang gripped his staff tighter as he looked to Toph.

"I met him in the woods once and knocked him down. Then he gave me some tea and some very good advice" she nodded.

"May I come in?" He asked as Toph nodded. He made it in three steps before getting straight to the point, "Princess Azula is here in Ba Sing Se"

Aang gasped, "She must have (Y/n) and Katara!"

"She has captured my nephew as well"

"Then we'll work together to fight Azula, and save Katara and Zuko" he told the general.

Sokka gasped, "Whoa there! You lost me at 'Zuko'"

Iroh sighed, "I know how you must feel about my nephew," he then put a hand on Sokka's shoulder. "But believe me when I tell you that there is good inside him. Your older sister has been able to see it, so maybe there's a chance you can"

Sokka pushed his hand off, "'Good inside him' isn't enough! Why don't you come back when it's outside him too, oka- why did you bring up my sister?" his eyes widened.

Iroh sighed, "I don't blame her for not telling you... but have any of you ever wondered where she went every night?"

Sokka crossed his arms, "Uh no! She's been out with her little boyfriend Le-" Sokka stopped himself, "No..."

Before Iroh could say anything Sokka gripped his boomerang and went to attack, but Toph bended rocks around his ankles keeping him in place, "Sokka now is not the time"

"You have to be lying! My sister is not dating your nephew!"

Toph shook her head, "Everything he's said since he got here... was true," she sighed. "(Y/n) has been lying to us and somehow I didn't know"

"This makes no sense! Why wouldn't she tell us?!" Sokka yelled trying to get his feet out of the rocks.

Aang tried to think back to the signs, before remembering on important conversation.

~~~

"(Y/n) I don't care who you are seeing, as long as you're happy! You've been taking care of us for months, you deserve to be happy too! Heck! If you want Lee could join our gaang! We need more strength anyways!" Aang grinned ear to ear.

"Bu-wai-really?" (Y/n) was speechless.

"(Y/n) you deserve to be happy! No matter who the person is!"

She bit her lip, "What if that person was the banished Fire Prince?"

He chuckled, "(Y/n) you could be dating a platypus-bear and I wouldn't care"

~~~

Aang facepalmed before looking to the group, "I though she was being metaphorical!"

"Meta-what?" Sokka rasied a brow.

"(Y/n) did tell me she was seeing him! I thought she was kidding!" He told the gaang.

"He... WHAT?!?"

"Sokka calm down, this is not the time" Aang told him.

"Why would she tell you and not me?!"

"Because of how you are reacting right now?" Toph suggested making Sokka glare.

"Look. I know this is extremely unexpected-"

"No it's not!" Toph interrupted the Avatar, "From what you boys have told me about him, the two. They seem to have always been making gogo eyes at each other. So it was only a short period of time before their feeling overtook them"

"Ok but still. I promised her that I wouldn't judge her for it"

"But it's Zuko!"

"Sokka.. have you ever seen (Y/n) this happy before?" He sighed.

So did (Y/n)'s brother, "No. This has been the happiest I've seen her since we were kids"

"Exactly. So we need to put this conversation on hold and focus on what's important right now. (Y/n) and Katara are in trouble. All of Ba Sing Se is in trouble. Working together is our best chance"

Sokka understood the conversation and nodded, he'd have a little chat with that prince after all of this though.

Iroh nodded and motioned the three to follow him, "I brought someone along who might help us"

They walk to the balcony of their house to see a captured Dai Le agent tied up.

Toph bended the stones to secure the agent in rocks before removing his gag, "Azula and Long Feng are plotting a coup! They're going to overthrow the Earth King!" He told them.

Sokka pointed his boomerang at him, My sisters! Where are they keeping (Y/n) and Katara?"

"In the Crystal Catacombs of Old Ba Sing Se, deep beneath the palace"

——————
(Y/n) POV

I sat down in between Zuko and Katara as she yelled at him.

"You're a terrible person! You know that?" She scoffed at Zuko, "Always following us! Hunting the Avatar and (Y/n)! Trying to capture the world's last hope for peace! But what do you care? You're the Fire Lord's son. Spreading war and violence and hatred is in your blood!"

I watched as he looked back at us and glared at her, "You don't know what you're talking about!"

"I don't? How dare you! You have no idea what this war has put me through! Me personally!" She crouched down and turned the other way, "The Fire Nation took my mother away from me" she clenched her necklace.

"He wasn't at fault for that Katara" I sniffled leaning against a crystal.

Zuko sighed, "I'm sorry," he said as I walked over to sit with my sister and hugged her as she clutched to my side. "That's something we have in common" he told us.

"What?" I raised a brow.

He sighed, "The last day I remembered seeing her.. was the day my Uncle failed to invade Ba Sing Se. My cousin didn't make it... and my father saw it as the perfect opportunity to take the throne. My grandfather was so furious that he was going to.... going to.." he couldn't say anything.

"Zuko..." I bit my lip.

"No. I need to tell her... to tell you," he sighed before continuing. "My grandfather was going to make my father... kill me"

This made us both gasp and my breath was hitched.

"His exact words were, 'You must know the pain of losing a first-born son. By sacrificing your own'... I don't know what happened that night but when I woke up... my grandfather was dead, and my mom was gone"

"Oh my Yue," I gasped.

"The last thing I remember her telling me was, 'Remember this, Zuko. No matter how things may seem to change, never forget who you are' and I have no clue what that's supposed to mean..."

I got to my feet and walked up to him. He looked me in the eyes as I gave him a faint smile, holding out my hand for him to grab. 

He did, and when he got to his feet our hands didn't part.

Katara got to her feet as well, "I'm sorry I yelled at you before" she sighed wiping away her tears.

Zuko looked away, "It doesn't matter"

"Zuko.." I trailed off as our hold became stronger.

Katara came up to us, "It's just that for so long now.... whenever I would imagine the face of the enemy, it was your face"

Zuko touched his scar in shame, "My face? I see"

"No, no, that's-that's not what I mean" she apologized.

Zuko shook his head, "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," his held became even tighter as he looked to me and smiled. "I've realized I'm free to determine my own destiny, even if I'll never be free of my mark"

I looked at my sister, who had her thinking face on. What was she planning?

"Maybe you could be free of it"

Zuko and I raised our brows, "What?"

"I have healing abilities" she told us.

"It's a scar, it can't be healed" we told her.

Katara pulled out a small vial of water she received from the Northern Water Tribe, "This is water from the Spirit Oasis at the North Pole. It has special properties, so I've been saving it for something important. Or is (Y/n) got burned... I don't know if it would work, but..."

"C-can you try?" I asked as she was about to pull it out.

Right then a loud bang came from behind us making me jolt into Zuko's hold as he shielded me from debris.

We looked to see Aang and Iroh staring back at us.

"Aang!" Katara and I both gasped running to him before we pulled him into a three person hug.

—————
(Third Person) POV

As Iroh pulled his nephew into a large hug, both Zuko and Aang glared at each other.

"Aang, I knew you would come" Katara hugged him even tighter.

"Oh thank the spirits your ok!"  (Y/n) cheered.

Zuko's eyes twitched, "Uncle, I don't understand. What are you doing with the Avatar?" He pointed to Aang.

"Saving you, that's what" Aang scoffed.

"Ok both of you stop. I'm pretty sure everyone here knows is going on in the room, but we need to put that shit on hold because we are stuck in the catacombs" (Y/n) told everyone as the tension grew.

Iroh sighed, "Zuko, it's time we talked," he then looked to the three on team Avatar. "Go help you other friends. We'll catch up with you"

Aang immediately began to walk, and Katara had to pull (Y/n) along since her feet were glued to the floor.

She gave one last look to the prince, before disappearing with her family into the cave.

"Why, Uncle?"

Iroh placed a hand on his shoulder amd smiled, "You're not the man you used to be, Zuko. You are stronger and wiser and freer than you have ever been. And now you have come to the crossroads of your destiny. It's time for you to choose. It's time for you to choose good" he explained before the crystals around him grew trapping Iroh in a hold like ice.

Zuko gasped turning around to see his sister and a couple Dai Le agents, "I expected this kind of treachery from Uncle. But Zuko, Prince Zuko, you're a lot of things, but you're not a traitor, are you?" She smirked.

"Release him immediately" he demanded.

Azula sighed, "It's not too late for you, Zuko. You can still redeem yourself" she tried to convince him.

"The kind of redemption she offers is not for you" Iroh told him.

"Why don't you let him decide, Uncle?" She scoffed before turning to her brother, "I need you, Zuko. I've plotted every move of this day, this glorious day in Fire Nation history, and the only way we win is together. At the end of this day, you will have your honor back. You will have Father's love. You will have everything you want," she smirked again placing a hand on his shoulder. "I had a long conversation with father before I left... and he has a very special plan that he needs you for"

"Zuko, I am begging you. Look into your heart and see what it is that you truly want" Iroh begged him to listen.

Azula shrugged, "You are free to choose. But just know father needs you in order for his plan to work"

The words (Y/n) told him the played in his head,

"If you had to pick between your family and me, who would you pick?"

And his answer was decided.

——————

Meanwhile the other three were walking down the catacombs and (Y/n) lit her palm, giving them light.

"So were you able to master the Avatar State?" Katara asked Aang.

"Oh yeah! Were you?"

"I uh... yes!" He lied to the girls.

Katara smiled, "That's perfect! Now we have an even greater chance of winning the war!"

"Yeah! You just need to be careful in that state" (Y/n) smiled.

"What do you mean?" Aang raised a brow.

"Oh it's just very dangerous to go into that state sometimes," she shrugged. "The state is when you're most powerful but it's also when you're most vulnerable" (Y/n) told the two.

"What do you mean?" They asked.

"Well... The Avatar State is very, delicate. In the books I've read of learned that it's the closest you are to the spirit side of yourself. Meaning if you die in that state, the spirit dies... meaning the Avatar cycle fully dies as well"

They both took a moment to process that before Katara shrugged.

Then they began to run down the makeshift hall until finding an open gap in the catacombs.

"We've got to find Sokka and Toph" Katara told them.

"Agreed" (Y/n) nodded before a glimpse of fire came towards them.

She gasped before bending it out of the way.

They then turned to see Azula, with smoke trailing from her fingertips. Katara bended at her stopping another attack, then sent a wave crashing toward the enemy, who was able vaporizes the water with firebending.

The mist from the vaporized water allowed Azula to jump onto a crystal and firebend two blasts of blue fire.

(Y/n) jumped in front of the blast before sending it back to her. She didn't need to think of an angry moment right now, her family's life is on the line. That will make someone pissed.

Azula smirked before jumping on a rock pillar. Aang then earthbended, making Azula gasps once she notices the pillar crumbling.

She jumps off and lands between the three and pointed at Aang and Katara preparing to attack or defend herself.

Before anyone could strike first an orange blast landed in the middle of the standoff.

They look to see the source of the fire blast to be the banished prince himself.

(Y/n) and Zuko made eye contact before both knew what was about to happen. She clenched her eyes to stop the tears before he sent a blast at Aang.

(Y/n) pushed him out of the way before deflecting the fire over towards Azula.

The two star crossed lovers glanced at each other. They both knew what side they had to be on.

And in a battle where they are forced to pick between family and love... they both picked family.

—————

The battle began to drag with no side winning. But no matter what, the two on opposite ends would not look at each other.

"I thought you had changed!" Katara yelled as she sent a water whip at the prince, "I told (Y/n) you'd do this!"

"I have changed" he yelled sending more blast her way.

(Y/n) and Aang stood back to back as Dai Le agents came flooding in.

While he used his three forms of bending while (Y/n) kept blasting her dark blue flames.

She then charged at the princess before they both went flailing to a segregated area as their flames intertwined.

You could barley tell who's was who's. All you needed to know was (Y/n)'s mind was dark. Very dark.

She knew deep down in her void that there was no easy way out of this one.

In order to win she'd have to give Azula everything, and I mean everything she had.

Aang glanced around to see his family. (Y/n) was fighting Azula with every ounce of strength she had left, while Katara was struggling to handle all of the Dai Le agents attacking her.

"There's too many" he sighed trying to think of a way for them all to get out of there.

Pathik's voice began to flow through him,

"The only way is to let her go"

Aang sighed, "I'm sorry, Katara" he then encased himself in a little crystal prison and began to let go of all earthly attachments. In order for him to truly enter the Avatar State.

Back between the fight (Y/n) and Azula were having, the princess jumped away from the Southern Dragon.

"You know, you are meant to be with us" she told the dragon.

"No I'm not" she shook her head.

"Why can't you wrap it around your thick skull that they don't care about you? I've had my men given me every little piece of information they could find on you, and I have come to realization that your family hates you more than I hate my brother"

She shot another blast at her, "You're wrong. They love me!"

"Love?" She chuckled, "(Y/n) I know you've never truly experienced love. You have no idea what it is. Because what you have with your family, it's torture"

"Shut up" (Y/n) clenched her fists.

"They hate you"

"No they don't"

"They despise you"

"Stop!"

"My father has my love for my brother then your father has for you, and my father burned Zuko's face"

"Leave my father out of this!" She yelled before charging at her.

While this was going on Aang was able to fully unlock the last chakra, and begin to go into the Avatar State.

'On the day to determine the fate'

The two girls looked up before Azula went back to looking at (Y/n), "Even if you defeat me. They will never stop being scared of you," Azula smirked making (Y/n)'s breath hitch. "So come and get me" Azula smirked putting her hands out.

(Y/n)'s emotions went even darker as she did something she promised never to do again... she put her two fingers together, and lightningbended.

'Will be the day she takes the bait'

She screamed building up all the energy she could before shooting it at the Princess.

Azula smirked as she jumped out of the way making the lighting fly through the air..... Hitting Aang in the Avatar State.

Aang screamed in sheer pain before his entire body went limp, falling to the ground.

(Y/n)'s eyes bulged out of her sockets before putting her hands to her mouth.

Katara saw the entire thing as she built up enough energy she didn't know she has as a massive wave founded around her. She rushed with the water and was able to catch him before he fell.

"AANG!" (Y/n) screamed in terror as she began to explode making the people around her jump as the fire cut everyone off from her, her sister and the Avatar.

"Oh Yue! Is he breathing?! Is he ok?! Is he breathing?!" She yelled at her sister trying to get close to him.

Katara glared at her before starting to yell, "What did you do?!"

"I-I-it was an accident! I didn't mean to!" She shook trying to find words to say.

"You... you killed him!" Katara screamed.

"I didn't mean to!" (Y/n) cried, "It was an accident!"

"You killed him! You killed the Avatar! You killed Aang!"

"I didn't mean to!" She continued to shout before pulling at her hair.

(Y/n) stepped forward, "Let me help!" She put both hands in position to lightningbend again, "I read that electric waves can help restart a heart!"

But the moment she tried to step forward Katara pushed her back, "You've done enough!"

"Katara please let me help!"

"No!" She spat with venomous tone, both girls were crying profusely. "All you Firebender's do is hurt people. You are all the same!"

"K-k-katara..."

"All you ever do is hurt people! I used to feel bad for you! I used to wish things were different! After we started this journey I wished we could find a way to make things right with you... but I'm happy I never trusted you!"

"You-you w-what?" Her sister shook in confusion.

"If only you listened to the Tribe! You're bending was dangerous and you still did it! You have put in more danger in trouble than we ever would've been without you! Dad was right! Your bending is a curse! He was right to segregate you!"

"Stop! Please don't say that!" She shook.

The others around could see the blue fire growing even higher around them. Zuko and Azula could hear everything and couldn't believe what was happening.

Azula was more impressed that (Y/n) was taking it. 'Go off sis!' She chuckled to herself.

Azula's eyes then trailed to an open spot where she saw the water boiling around the two sisters. Her eyes widened resizing Zhao was right about the water boiling when (Y/n) was upset.

"I wonder how much better off we would've been if you never existed!"

"How could you say that!? You wish you didn't exist?!" (Y/n) gasped as she balled.

"Maybe I do! Hell! Maybe if you weren't around mom would still be here!"

"No she wouldn't!" (Y/n) yelled now felling her fury grow.

"Yes she would've! Because guess what I learned? When we were with Bato, I learned that the Fire Nation raid was to find you! They were after you and when they couldn't find you they killed my mother in response!"

"... that's not true!" (Y/n) looked down.

"It is! And you know what? I didn't blame you back then but now I do! All you people do is kill!"

I looked up to her with anger boiling inside me, "Kill? Is that what they told you? Well I have some news for you little sister. I never told anybody except for one person what happened that night. I wasn't the one who murdered Mom!"

"No. Bato said you were the cause. The council agreed you were the reason the Fire Nation invaded that day!"

"No..."

"Yeah! You murdered our mother! You're murdered our mom, my mom!"

"I was there that day. They weren't after me! They were after you! They were after the little Waterbender!" She broke.

"W-what?"

"All my life... I have been compared to you. While you were allowed to show the tribe and praised for your gift, I was sent away to a little fishing spot! Away from everyone! I wasn't even allowed to dance without getting yelled at! I always knew they hated me, but I never knew they hated me enough to blame me for a death I didn't cause! Zhao told me so many things when I was locked up... and I didn't want to listen to him, you know why? Because he was right. And he was right about everything!"

"What are you talking about?!"

"On that day mom and I were in that tent... a scary man came in there and after you left, he said he was after the last Waterbender. He was after you... Mom sacrificed herself for you! You can think that I'm the reason she's dead, but the truth is simple you killed her. You killed Mom! You killed our mother! You killed my mother! You did!" She yelled, "And you have the audacity to blame me!"

Katara clenched her fist before yanking (Y/n)'s necklace off, before sending a large streak of water at her sister.

Time slowly stopped, as the boiling water slashed (Y/n) across the face, and up her right arm.

'Unless someone causes a scar to burn'

(Y/n) hit the floor before the pain overtook her and she let out a blood curdling screamed.

"(Y/n)!" Zuko yelled at the top of his lungs trying to get through the wall of fire, but as it went down Iroh made another.

"You've got to get out of here! I'll hold them off as long as I can!" He yelled at the Waterbender.

(Y/n) laid in a ball screaming as the pain became unbearable. She clenched her arm close to her chest to try and ease the pain, as she clenched her face.

Katara's eyes widened realizing what she had just done before looking up to the waterfall. It looked to be safe and not boiling, so she gripped onto Aang right and ran to it.

"K-katara?!" (Y/n) looked to her sister, who's back was towards her, "Where are you going?!"

Katara didn't turn around as she made her way to the falls.

"Katara no! Don't leave me here! Katara please don't leave me here! Please don't leave me with them!" (Y/n) cried, "Please!"

(Y/n) then was able to get herself into a seated possibly and had her body pressed against a crystal, "Katara!"

Her sister didn't look back as she went up the waterfall without her older sister. She could still hear (Y/n)'s crying when she got out.

It was only at that moment that she realized what she had just done.

'She will never think to turn'

Back below (Y/n) still sobbed realizing her sister was gone, and she wasn't coming back for her.

(Y/n) then fell into the shallow water as she cried. She chose her family over Zuko, but her sister chose Aang over her family.

As the fire died down Iroh was captured by the Dai Le. Zuko then ran past his uncle and straight towards (Y/n).

He looked at her body and gasped. From the tip past her left eyebrow, all the way down to her collar bone and trailed to her entire right arm only leaving a couple splotches in her normal skin tone. It was no denying it, (Y/n) would scar.

Emotionally and physically.

She look up to him with tears pouring down her eyes, "She... she left me" her face dwindled as her eyes struggled to stay open as they flooded with hot tears.

"It's ok, I'm here," he told her before looking to the Dai Le. "I need ointments and bandages! We can't let her wounds get infected!"

(Y/n) clenched his shirt, "Sh...she chose her... she chose Aang over... family," she sniffled. "She chose him" she began to ball again.

He helped her to a seated position, before she lent into his side, "It's ok. It's ok I'm here"

She looked up to him, "Please don't leave me... too"

He held her tight, "No. I won't," he gently told her as she drifted off to sleep from shock. "I never will"

He then began to gently carry her as Azula walked in front of him smiling. She was finally about to capture the dragon.

"So this is perfect. Who knew destiny was so strange?"

Zuko didn't pay attention to her and began to walk faster, getting in front of his little sister, "Now is not the time"

———————

Katara ran onto Appa meeting up with Sokka, Toph, the Earth King and his bear.

"Where's (Y/n)? What happend?!" Sokka gasped.

Katara waisted no time getting on and grabbing the reins, "Yip-yip!"

Appa began to fly as the three were trying to process what was going on, where was (Y/n)?

"Katara?!" Sokka yelled.

Katara paid no attention to her brother as she pulled out her oasis water.

She made the small drop flow around her, before she put it in the Avatar's back. The water seeped through his skin, before his tattoos light up. He faintly groaned making Katara gasped. She brought him back to life.

He was alive! He was alive. He was... alive.

Katara smashed her hand over her mouth as she began to feel sick.

"Katara? Where's (Y/n)?" Sokka asked more scared then before.

Katara then began to puke. And puke. And puke.

She chose Aang over her sister. She didn't fulfil the promise she made with Sokka. She... scarred her.

All this time the prophecy, involved her and she didn't even know.

Sokka and Katara made eye contact before he profusely shook his head, "No. No they can't- no they can't!" He yelled/cried, "We have to go back for her! We have to get her out of there! We can't leave her in their-"

"Sokka..." she sighed cutting him off, "She's not coming back... she will never want to come back"

Sokka's face darkened as his tears shot down, "What did you do?"

She looked away hugging Aang tight, "Fulfilled a prophecy.... and she never will want to see us again" she cried clenching the necklace.

Sokka's body completely shut down. He sat there unable to move. Their sister. His sister was gone. He failed again.

And while she was fighting for her life, he was helping a bumbling idiot king find a bear.

And it was all for nothing, as the city of Ba Sing Se fell.

—————

Back in palace Azula sat on her new throne as Zuko stood tall next to her.

"We've done it, Zuko. It's taken a hundred years, but the Fire Nation has conquered Ba Sing Se" Azula smirked.

Zuko looked down, "I betrayed Uncle"

Azula stood up, "No, he betrayed you," she told him. "Zuko, when you return home, Father will welcome you as a war hero"

"But I don't have the Avatar. What if Father doesn't restore my honor?"

"He doesn't need to, Zuko," she put a hand on his shoulder. "Today, you restored your own honor. And we have something more valuable. We have her"

"What was that thing you said about father earlier? Why does he need me so bad?" He asked.

She shrugged, "Father doesn't tell me anything. He just said capture your brother and bring him to me. He said he needed both you and the Dragon, but that's all I know"

He looked at her confused before Ty Lee came in and bowed.

"Is everything ok?" Zuko looked to her.

She glanced up at the two royals and shook her head, "(Y/n) woke up"

——————

The two (well Zuko) ran inside the infirmary seeing (Y/n) covered in bandages over her entire right arm, and her left eye.

Mai comforted her as (Y/n) puked profusely from the guilt.

"Ok, just let it all out" Mai patted her back as she continued to puke everything up.

Azula twisted her face in disgust from the smell before getting an idea. She smirked looking at her friends and motioned them to leave.

They nodded and exited the room leaving the three royals together.

Azula looked to her brother, "Can you please help her put her clean bandages on? The doctor instructed you to put them on when she woke up"

He nodded, "Uh... yeah"

"Perfect" she nodded before closing the door behind her leaving the two alone together.

She knew exactly what her fathers plan was. She just didn't want him to know. I mean, it's more fun that way.

—————
(Y/n) POV

I looked up to Zuko as I finally stopped my vomit session.

"Hey" I looked down.

"Hey"

I looked at my right hand and it wasn't till Zuko wiped away a tear.

I looked up to him and I couldn't contain myself, "I-I.." I began to ball as he held me tightly in his arms, "I-I killed him...." I sniffled, "I killed him!" I began to scream, "I KILLED MY LITTLE BROTHER!"

He didn't say anything as he held me even closer towards him. Almost as if he knew it was easier for me to scream it out.

I can't even handle what I just did. I killed my little brother. I killed the one boy I promised to protect. I killed the Avatar.... I destroyed the Avatar Cycle.

And I did it using a bending technique I swore I'd never use again.

As I continued to die in guilt and dread, I slowly lost consciousness again.

***

I opened my eyes and gasped clutching the ground. I looked around the area before seeing I was back at my fishing spot.

"Hello?" I looked around, before seeing I was back in my Water Tribe clothes.

Was that all a dream?

I lifted myself up from the snow and began to walk towards the village as I tried to find someone around.

"Hello?" I called out, "Ok this isn't funny anymore, where is everyone?!"

I huffed before walking back to my house, "Guys I'm home. I had the craziest dream last ni.." I stopped before entering as Katara stepped out and glared at me.

[There should be a GIF or video here. Update the app now to see it.]

"Deception" she spat.

"What?" I raised a brow.

"Disgrace" Sokka came out of nowhere and pushed me to the ground, at the feet of another figure.

I looked up to see Toph "Evil as plain as the scar on her face" she snarled at me.

I gasped jolting back up before turning to see the entire village staring at me, "Deception" father shook his head.

"An outrage!" All the men yelled out.

"Disgrace" Gran-gran turned away from me in disgust.

"For shame!" The women and children cried out.

I then began to run before a bright light began to blare in my eyes. I stopped looking up, before seeing Yue glaring at me, "She asked for trouble the moment she came"

"Deception" Suki appeared next to her.

"An outrage!" the Kyoshi warrior agreed with each there.

People kept appearing out of nowhere.

"She can't change her stripes" Jet pushed me coming out of nowhere.

"Disgrace" Haru bended a bolder in my direction before I gasped and jumped out of the way.

"For shame!" Jeong Jeong shook his head.

"You know these Outsider types!" The Earthbender I met in the prison yelled.

"Evil as plain as the scar on her face" Master Pakku shook his head.

"See you later, agitator!" The Waterbenders around him rolled their eyes.

"Deception!" Chief Arnook yelled.

"An outrage!" The Northern Water Tribe glared at me.

"Just leave us alone!" The kids of the tribe told me off before clutching to their parents who shamed me.

"Disgrace" the parents spat.

"For shame!" Toph's parents and their servants shook their heads.

"Traitor, go back with your own!" Ying and Than spat as they shielded their Baby hope from me.

"She asked for trouble the moment she came" Denki and Eijirou pointed a hatful finger at me.

"See you later, agitator!" The Earth King shook his head as Basco growled at me.

I gasped trying to figure out what the hell was going on before almost like a choir began to blare behind me, "Born in grief. Raised in hate!"

I slowly turned around to see every single person I have ever come across. They all glared daggers at me as they all looked down at my trembling figure.

They all looked down at me like they were in the stands. I looked up to the top of the sky but saw it never ended as more faces glared at me.

"Helpless to defy her fate. Let her run, let her live," I shook my head as the condemned me. "But do not forget what we cannot forgive!" They yelled before I began to bolt.

I tried to run away from their shouts, but their voices just never left my ears.

"And she is not... one of us" I then slipped on a patch of water before landing on my knees.

I clenched them tight as my eyes trailed to my right arm, which was completely covered in a dark pink scar.

"She has never been one of us," they sung as my trembling arm clenched as I brought it close to my chest before I gasped seeing a quick glance of my face. "She is not part of us"

I began to let out a a painful scream seeing my refection in the puddle.

"Not our kind" they told me.

I then took my good hand and smashed the water making my refection vanish. 

"Someone once lied to us"

I quickly got up as I felt the back of my outfit before clenching my cloak and smashing the hood over face. I hid my right arm as my left arm pulled my hood farther down to hide my scar.

"Now we're not so blind. For we knew he would do what she's done" they told me as I began to run even farther away.

"And we know that she'll never be one of us" they yelled at me as their stupid truthful voices didn't dwindle.

"She is not one of us" a familiar voice told me making my voice hitch as my feet forze and my voice hitch.

My mother looked at me in sheer disappointment as she shook her head, "Deception" she finished before I watched her disappear into the water.

"Mom!"

I then had to clench my eyes shut as another bright light over took the area.

Everything went silent as I finally opened my eyes. But I wish I didn't.

Because right before me, was the Avatar. Every single Avatar.

"Disgrace" Avatar Roku snapped at me.

"Deception" Avatar Kyoshi shook her head as she sent a blast of fire at me but missed.

"Disgrace" Avatar Wan turned away from me.

I began to cry as they all belittled me. But I deserved it. I killed him. I killed them.

I deserve everything, I destroyed the world last hope. And when I was experiencing was their way to torment me. Their end.

I wasn't prepared for what I saw next though. I gasped before my hands flew to my mouth to keep me from screaming.

I dropped to my knees as he gripped his staff, and I saw the face I murdered.... Aang.

"Deception" he glared at me with a face worse then when we lost Appa.

I think collapsed on the ground as it began to dry heave.

I murdered the Avatar.

I murdered the Avatar Cycle.

I murdered a child.

I murdered my brother.

I'm a monster.

•••

Wow. Just wow. Welp! That sucks for everyone!