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The Fall of Ozai	By : CaptATKirk Category: Avatar - The Last Airbender > Het - Male/Female Views: 5957 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar: The Last Airbender, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 2
- 3
- 4
Disclaimer: The usual stuff I own nothing. =) Beta none. So mistakes are all me.
Chapter 3: Choices.
That week seemed to be the longest week of her life. She wanted it to hurry up and end. It was a long and very busy week for two major things happened. Mara did have her child plus one. She gave birth to twin girls with some help from Lan. Mara named them Hope and Joy. Also, Lan was busy working on a very large saddle. When asked what the saddle was for she would look at them and say that “It’s for The Avatar’s Bison.” It wasn’t until later that they did show up there.
Aang was being told by something he could not explain to land there. Lan was told by the Spirits but more importantly by her cousin to make the saddle and that Aang and crew would be coming where she was yet again. So she did what they asked.
Lan was just putting the finishing touches on the saddle before the week was over. The day before her adopted father had tried to get near Appa to fit it but Appa almost bit him. Lan on the other hand knew how to make friends. She had apples waiting and became fast friends with Appa. Also for the past few nights she’s been giving him sugar cubes and brushing him as well.
“ How long has she been here?” Aang asked Mara.
“ For a while. Our real daughter was ill and Lan tried to save her but it was too late. She stayed for a while to help us then my husband came home . . . Well we couldn’t bear for her to leave so she stayed.” Mara let out a sigh.” But now it’s time she went with you.”
“ I know. I don’t want to take her away if she’s happy here . . . “
“ No. We knew one day she would have to leave us . . . Your Bison seems to like her.” They both looked out of the house to see Appa had brought her to the ground and was licking her. Unlike Sokka,
She was laughing and enjoying it.
“ Yeah, and for Appa that’s hard to do.” Aang looked at the saddle and couldn’t believe it. It was twice the size of the original saddle but it seemed lighter. It also looked like the first one.” You said that Lan has been making this for a while.”
“ Yes she can go in and out of the spirit world and a spirit told her she better start.”
“ I feel like I know her . . . or I have for a long time.” Aang looked at her as she walked into the house. He could swear he had seen her somewhere before.
“ Lan inspires those kinds of feelings in people.” Mara handed Lan a towel so that she could get Appa drool off of her. Lan ducked into her room. “ Don’t be so late coming home this time.”
Soon Lan came back out her hair let out and in a pale purple dress with billowing sleeves. The skirt came all the way to the floor but was slit up both sides almost to her hips. She did a little twirl in front of them. She looked at Mara for approval. Mara smiled and nodded her head.
” He’s a lucky boy. You hate getting all dressed up.”
“ I’ll try not to be to late.” She hugged Mara and left. She walked out and waved to Sokka, Toph and Katara.
“ Where’s the sex kitten going? Toph asked anyone.
“ By the way she dressed I’d say out with a guy.” Sokka told her while throwing his boomerang around. “ Lucky stiff.” He mumbled to himself.
“ I wish I could get my hair to lay like that.” Katara reached up and touched her hair loopies.
Lan had made it to the new shop just as noon hit. She and Zuko left and went to see the new zoo. They had to walk over the bridge to get there and a group of boys decided to heckle them.
“ Now what is a pretty girl like that doing with someone like him.” Lan took Zuko by the arm and walked past them. She could feel him getting angry and she was herself. Why some guys had to act like complete assess she never knew?
“ Hey cutie don’t waste your time with scar face there. Come say hello to me.” Lan stopped dead and turned whipping her hair around. Zuko was ready to fight as well but what he saw and heard next stopped him.
“ Say hello to this cutie.” She called up the water under the bridge to knock them over and into the river. Then she used the momentum the water had built to wash them away. Zuko looked at her completely stunned yet amused.” What?” She looked at him and tried not to laugh.
“ No one can ever call you helpless.” He folded his arms over his chest and smiled.
“ Sorry. I had to deal with jerks like that back home.” She brushed her skirt and flung her hair back.
“ I like to see a girl can take care of herself.” He could say that now.
Katara had handled her own against him. He didn’t like to admit it but there was no use in denying it. Lan on the other hand could if given the chance, give Katara a run for her money. That was a fight he would love to see. He didn’t know why but he felt that this girl could handle her own against anyone. He also wanted, just for well fun, he would love to fight her just to see what she could do and to see what it would lead to.
The zoo was uneventful except when the zoo keeper asked Zuko if he and his girlfriend would like to feed the ducks. He gave them both a bag and left before Zuko could say anything. They both stood shoulder to shoulder on the bridge in silence watching the ducks dive and bob for the crumbs. Zuko watched Lan and was reminded of the day he did this with his Mother. He had not one care in the world then. Now there were so many cares and to add icing to the tip of the cake he could feel himself falling for this girl.
Without realizing what he was doing he led her to the hilltop that over looked Bah Sig Se. He sat down under the tree and pulled her down to sit on his lap. The sun began to dip down below the horizon and he felt at peace with the world. He felt her relax against him and could smell jasmine. The scent was familiar like a song from back away that you slowly start to remember the words to.
“ I didn’t figure you for a sunset kind of guy.” She felt him stiffen and cursed herself. “ I am just saying all the wrong things today.” She was about to get up but he held her to him.
“ Don’t. I like it when you’re around.” She relaxed and stayed. He held her loosely to him enjoying the coolness that radiated off her body. He also enjoyed the smell of water and jasmine that was in her hair. He enjoyed her company. He shouldn’t but he was tired of fighting it. He didn’t know why he asked the next question but it just came out of him like lava from a volcano.
” Do you miss your home?”
“ My home?”
“ I’m not stupid. You obviously aren’t from around here.” He knew she wasn’t from the South Pole. The way she stood and dressed screamed that she was from the North. Everything that happened after he knocked Zhao off his high horse was a blur. Feelings were coming to him of being at peace and with someone but who or why was still all too hazy.
“ No, I’m not.” Was he remembering her finally? Were the questions of home jogging his memory? She closed her eyes and prayed he was remembering.” Sometimes. I miss the idea of home. I miss playing pranks on my cousins. I miss my cousins. I have three . . . had three. My one cousin died. I miss her.”
“ I’m sorry.” He truly was. He wanted to make her stop hurting.
“ One time I cut my self.” She held up her hand to the setting sun and he could see a small white line that went from her pinky down to her wrist. He traced it with his finger. Her hands were soft, smooth and oddly familiar.
“ How?”
“ Being stupid. But that doesn’t matter.” She let her hand fall down into her lap.” I cut my hand so bad everyone was waiting for me to cry but I didn’t but my cousin wailed. She wailed when I burned my hand too. That was a bad burn to but it didn’t leave a mark. The healers were able to get to me in time.”
“ I see.”
“ Every time my cousin cried they said she was crying for me. I have only cried five times in my life time. When my cousin was born. When my parents left, when they died and when my cousin died.”
“And the last one?” Even hearing about her crying hurt him. He shouldn’t care but he did. He truly cared what happened to her.
“ When a very special person had to leave me. I cried when he left.”
“ Your boyfriend?” He practically spat it out. The thought of her with anyone else made him furious.
“ I wouldn’t call him that. He was a stranger in my home land.”
“ I haven’t seen my home in many years.”
“ You miss it that much?” She couldn’t believe it. She had been to the tea shop before now to talk to Iroh. He had told her what had happened and how Zuko was scared. After all that it brought many questions to her. How could he miss the place that had did this to him? How could he remain loyal to a father who would do this to his son?
“ I miss the idea.” That sat together in silence as the last rays slipped away quietly. Lan began to move and get up. She didn’t want to but had to.
“ I should probably go home. I got an earful last time.” She was brushing of the grass from her skirts. She managed the front and looked to see there was a lot on the back.
“ I’ll walk you home.” He was up and helping her before she knew it. To feel his hands on her backside again was sheer delight to her. To him it was a familiar feeling but the more he tried to figure out why this was all familiar to him the more it slipped away. Once she was straightened out, he took her hand in his and they began to walk.
“ You don’t have to it’s a long way and . . . “ He looked at her and that one look conveyed it all to her.” I should just shut my mouth cause your gonna do it anyway.”
They walked together in silence each enjoying the feel of the other. They were walking behind an elderly couple each with their own thought. Lan’s were filled with how she wished that when she reached that age to be just like them. Zuko on the other hand was thinking he will never find someone who could hold his attention that long and even if he did find someone he wouldn’t live long enough to be that old. All to soon they were at the gate to Lan’s home.
“ Thank You.” He kissed her on her cheek before letting her hand go. He wanted to end it now. He wasn’t going to be here much longer. He was going to resume his search for the Avatar. It was going to be hard since he let the bison go. It wasn’t fair to lead her on like this. His Uncle had a new life of peace and quiet. Zuko wanted his old life back.
“ For what?” She brought him to her.
“ For tonight. It was nice.” He encircled her waist with his arms and stood there. All to soon he would have to tell her that this was nothing more than a distraction.
“ You’re welcome.” She laid her head on his chest and closed her eyes.
“ I should go now.” He had said it but he wasn’t moving. He laid his cheek on her head and closed his eyes. Maybe he could hold off on finding the Avatar at least for a day. He opened his eyes and used his hands to hold her chin and make her look at him. He saw in her eyes nothing but happiness contentment and it was all for him. He was descending slowly and was stopped.
“ How about tomorrow.” She knew he was saying good bye. She couldn’t go through that gain. Once was enough.
“ What?”
“ Let’s do this again tomorrow night.” She looked at him and her eyes were full off hope. They were a sparkling deep blue like the ocean. He had no right to crush her hopes just yet.
“ Anything you want.” He whispered before claiming her mouth. She moaned causing him to deepen it more. He held her to him by her waist and the back of her head. Feeling the silken threads he wished they were some place quieter and closed off to the rest of the world so he could feel them across his bare chest. He wanted to feel her bare skin against his. He was going to ask her if there was any place to do such things when they both hear someone.
“Damn! ” They both looked to see who had said it and found no one. They let go of each other as if scalded.
“ Good Night Lee.” She bowed to him trying to hide the blush that had crept up her cheeks.
“ Good Night Lan.” He did the same and watched as she turned and left. She was almost at the door when she turned around to look at him
“ Where should I meet you? “
“ Huh . . . oh . . . uhm . . . ”
“ At your new Apartment?!”
“ That would be fine.”
“ Till tomorrow night then.” and then she was gone and he was alone and felt sick.
He stayed a while to see if she would come back out but she didn’t. He began the long lonely journey back to the city thinking to himself. What are you doing? You don’t have time for this and not to mention it’s not fair to her. You’ll be leaving soon and will have to tell her. Or are you going to be a coward and just leave without saying good bye? He was cursing himself for his weakness around her. I will tell her tomorrow. If she asks why I will do what I did to Jen and tell her it’s complicated.
Lan woke that morning and had an idea. She had talked to Iroh and asked if he would take on a student. When he asked who, she told him that it would be the Avatar. He looked at her and agreed to meet him and base his decision of the meeting. He would be more than willing to talk to him and see. Lan decided today she had better try. Tomorrow they were leaving for the Eastern Air Temple so that Aang could learn to control the Avatar State. She decided to ask them all what they thought. What was the worst that could happen? They could actually agree with her?
“ Aang have you learned all the elements?!”
“ I still need to know fire . . . I was thinking Jong Jong but I don’t know where to find him.”
“Hmm . . . I don’t think Jong Jong can’t help you . . . you need the dragon of the west.” She sat on the fence and watched Aang and Toph throw rocks at each other.
“ I don’t know about this.” He held up his hands to Toph who stopped throwing rock at him.” I mean I am thankful that you helped us make Appa like people again and constructed the new harness but that is a really wacky idea Lan.”
“ Being a fire bender and a water bender will do that to a person.” Sokka looked at her and shrugged.
They had all seen the other day as she lit the fires with bending and watched in awe as she shocked the metal with water bending. Lan looked at him ready to shoot a fire ball at his foot. She resisted the urge.
“ Look I have been talking to Iroh for a while. You said once Appa was better we were heading to the Eastern Air Temple and that would be that. You need a fire bending teacher.”
“ You could teach me.” He looked at her with big Aang eyes. She tried not to giggle.
“ Aang Lan can barely light a lamp without burning something.” Sokka comments. The urge was to great now.
“ Thanks Sokka.” She was about to whack him but Toph beat her to it.
“ Thanks Toph.” She punched the other girl in the shoulder.
“ Don’t mention it.” Toph punched her back but unlike Katara it didn’t hurt Lan.
“ Lan’s right. You need a master.” Katara piped in before it turned into a slug fest.
“ Iroh is the best.”
“ I don’t know Lan. I mean him and Zuko has been chasing us everywhere”
“ Zuko was the one who set Appa free.” She looked at the ground before looking back up to him. Everyone looked at her in disbelief.
“ How do you know? ”
“ Let’s just say a very round bird told me. All I am asking is for you to talk to him. I can get him outside the city walls. What’s the worst that could happen.”
“ Zuko could happen!” They all screamed.
Lan walks confidently to The Sleeping Dragon Tea house. She walks threw the door and gentle chimes are heard. She looks to her left and sees the object of her affection collecting empty tea cups. She walks very slowly making sure that he knows she is there. She walks up to the counter and waits for Iroh to acknowledge she’s there. His dark haired brooding nephew follows behind lifting the counter and going to the shelves. The portly yet a kind new owner of the new shop turns to her and beams form ear to ear that his nephew hasn’t scared her away.
He had seen her come in and he had watched her. Followed behind her like a dog was more like it. He knew when she came threw the door because he got that tight feeling in his chest that he always seems to get when she is near. Something about her pulled at a heart he thought was long dead. He had a date with her last night. He was going on another. He was beginning to think that maybe destiny was trying to tell him something. She ignored him and looked to his uncle . . . then again maybe destiny was just being a cruel again.
“ Hello Lee. I hope your well today.” She smiled sweetly tilting her head so that all that long hair trapped in a pony tail hung to one side like a curtain. He liked it when her hair was up so that he could see her neck. Just looking at it all bare and inviting him wanted to kiss it.
“ Yes . . . thank you.” He mumbled as he left with a full tray of cups to the back.
“ Well Lan how is a beautiful girl like you doing today? ” His eyes waggling comically and face so happy it could light up all Ba Sing Se at night.
“ Fine thank you. I was wondering if you a ready for that excursion today.” A crash is heard from the back as well as Zuko cursing. Lan stifled a giggle threatening to come out of her mouth.
“ Of course.” Iroh steps out from the counter and takes the young girl’s arm. Zuko comes out of the back room and watches as they leave. The door closes and the gentle chimes of bells are heard as he feels his heart breaking. He didn’t get it. When she was near, he was at peace. When she left, he physically felt sick. It didn’t make sense. Just then the door opens again and a face like a goddess returns looks at him
“ You can’t get rid of me that easily Lee. I’ll see you later tonight.” She winks before her head disappears. The door stays open and for once in a long time a smile plays on his lips that actually reach his amber eyes. Maybe just once he could let himself be happy.
Lan and Iroh walk to the station that will get them to the outer edge of Bah Sing Se where Aang and the rest wait. The train as always is packed with people going to and from work. Today it seemed to be filled to over flowing. It was standing room only.
“ You should not tease him so.” He was trying to be serious but failed miserably. He could not be angry with her.
“ I don’t mean to. It’s just, but he makes it too easy to get a rise out of him.”
They pull into the station and walk to the outer edge. Lan has her arm linked through Iroh’s as if a doting niece were just taking her Uncle for a stroll. The others are waiting and they see Iroh and are a little weary except for Toph she is the picture of ecstatic.
“ You’re okay! ” She shrieked.
“ Yes thanks to my nephew. It only twinges a bit.” Rotates his shoulder slowly where his niece had hit him with lightning. “ I see that all of you are well.”
“ Well I’ve done my part.” Lan pats Iroh’s arm and goes to pat Appa. She is rewarded with an Appa happy noise and a nose rub.
“ Lan has been talking to me for a while now. She has asked me to teach you.” Iroh folds his arms within his robes and listens. He still has yet to decide if this is the right course to take.
“ I don’t want to cause trouble with you and your nephew...if it’s to much to aks I will try and find...” Aang looked at the ground and made circles in the dirt with his toes.
“ I will teach you young Avatar.”
“ You will . . . great! “
“ Lan is right. The madness of my brother is too ingrained in his children. It took Lan to make me see that my nephew will never let it go. He still wants to capture you and regain his honor in his father’s eyes. If helping you will help him then this I will do.”
“ But if he wants to take me to his dad . . . ”
“We’re going to help him just not how he thinks. We’re going to redirect that ‘ never give up’ attitude of his.” Lan turned away from Appa to join in the conversation.
“ How are you going to do that? Zuko is crazy, obsessive?” Sokka began to tick them off on his fingers.
“ I have my ways . . . and a few ideas.” She smiles and shrugs before returning her attention to Appa. She brings out a moon peach from her billowing purple sleeve and lets Appa lick it from her hand. Appa gave her a happy noise in thanks. Momo jumped on her shoulder screeching jealously.
“ I have one for you too.” She pulled out another for Momo who ate it happily on her shoulder.
“ That you do . . . I wanted to ask you how did your date with him go?”
“ Ah well that . . . ” Blushes very red. “ I’m still here.”
“ You’ve been seeing him?” Sokka’s jaw drops to the ground.
“ Pay up boomerang boy.” Toph holds her hand up to Sokka. “ I told you it was him when she came home last night.”
He looks at it and puts the copper pieces in her hand and makes a disgusted face that only Sokka could make. Toph had ‘seen’ what they were doing. She hadn’t realized till later who she was doing it with. To Toph it didn’t really matter. She liked Lan and if she could see good in Zuko . . . well so be it.
“ Well . . . I . . . yes. I knew them before I got to really know all of you.” She shrugged in apology.
“ Lan can be very persuasive and very easy to get along with.”
“ You can say that again she even got Sugar Queen here to chill.” Toph points up at Katara’s nose.
“ What . . . ” Katara and Toph begin fighting as Sokka, Aang and Iroh just watch
“ Do you see what I mean?” Lan motions to Katara and Toph. “ They do this all the time.”
“ This is not going to be easy.” Iroh scratches his head and shakes it.
“ The best things in life never are.”
Lan had walked back with Iroh and waited outside their apartment. She could hear them arguing but she couldn’t make out too much of what. It was mostly Zuko doing all the yelling.
* * *
Iroh had come back to find a very sullen Zuko. He was sitting in the middle of the floor with his usual scowl on his face. He had made up his mind that to put Zuko on the right path they had to do the right thing. He didn’t want to but it was time to leave Bah Sing Se.
“ Nephew it’s time we talked.” Iroh stood before his nephew and waited.
“ Your right it is.” In one fluid motion Zuko was standing looking at his uncle. Zuko was furious but why and at who he couldn’t really put his finger on.
“ Good things have happened for us.” He began.
“ Good things are happening for you.” Zuko corrected him.
“ And Lan isn’t a good thing!?” That made Zuko stop and think. Yes she was nice but she was just a distraction. Grant it she was an extremely nice one but that is all, she was. It wasn’t as if he was going to have some kind of life with her.
“ I want more form life then living in a nice apartment and serving tea. I want my destiny!”
“ What your destiny is, is up to you. Are you chasing after what you want or what someone else has put on you!?”
“ I want more. I want what is my birth right back and I don’t care what you say I am taking it back! “
“ Of one thing I am proud of is when you let the Avatar’s Bison go. That act alone put you on the...”
“ I paid my debt to him . . . nothing more.”
“ Zuko”
“ I want my throne Uncle . . . I want my life! “
“ The choice is yours. I leave in the morning with Lan and The Avatar.”
“ WHAT!?!”
“ I have had enough of war Zuko and deep down I know you are tired of it too. I am making a choice. I am going to play an active role. I believe Lan and the Avatar are going to put an end to all this.”
“ That’s your choice.”
“ Now it’s time you made a choice. You can hunt the Avatar and go down a long destructive road just like your Father wants you to, or you can choose the good that I know is somewhere inside of you, but just trapped.”
“ I cannot believe what I am hearing.”
“ Believe or not but I have seen glimpses of who I know you to be, and I see it mostly when Lan is around you.”
“ Don’t you dare bring her into this!!!” It wasn’t so much bringing her into the conversation as it was that his Uncle believed he knew him so well.
“ Zuko.”
“ No. You made your choice Uncle. I’m making mine.” Walks out and slams the door hard. He stomps down the stairs and can’t believe what he has heard. What is wrong with the world? He was about to walk back up stairs when he turned his head and saw, “her.” She was leaning against the building her arms folded over her chest. Her foot to the wall looking at the sky.
“ Lan . . . Hello. “ She let her foot slide down to the floor and walked to him. He loved the way she walked all hips but with grace. It made him feel like he was the only one who’s attention she wished to grab.
“ Problem?” She tilted her head to the side and smiled at him. He wanted to say yes and tell her everything but instead . . .
“ No.” He looked anywhere but at her. He knew if he looked into her eyes he would forget how angry he was. Worst of all he didn’t really know who he was mad at, himself, his uncle or was he mad at her?
“ Walk with me Lee?” She held out her hand and gave him the choice. “Please.” He shrugged and took her hand. It was cool and silky smooth. He knew she worked with the local blacksmith but couldn’t believe it by feeling her hands.
Slowly they made their way threw the busy streets. It seemed everyone was out tonight. Eventually as they walked, the crowd began to get thinner and thinner till they came to the Fire Light Fountain and no one was around. She led him to the water where she sat down on the ledge looking at him.
” I want to tell you something.” He let her hand go and stared at her. He had already had one blow tonight, but he didn’t want another one. All this time she knew and was with the Avatar. He wanted more than ever to capture him to hurt him. Thoughts of that kid with her made him want to break the bald headed monk’s neck.
” You know how I am a bender I mean you saw what I did to those dumb assess on our last outing.” Zuko nodded and the memory of her washing those boys away with a tidal wave brought a smirk to his face.
“ Well I can do this too.” He watches her concentrate very hard on the lamp floating in the water and watches as a tiny spark goes from her finger to the candle. And for the first time without singing herself she lit a lamp. Lighting a huge fire is nothing for her. Controlling it to go in one tiny spot is.
“ I can also bend fire . . . not as good as I would like to but . . . ” She shrugged in a way for an apology for not being great at it.
“ You’re her.” He breathes reverently.” The Chosen Child the sages whisper about.” He looked at her in utter disbelief.
“ I don’t know about all that. I am a child born of a Water Bender and a Fire Bender. I can do both but I am accepted in neither. In that way I am like you . . . I want to go home but can’t just yet.”
She stood up and took both his hands in hers gently pulling him closer. He closed his eyes and felt her fit perfectly into him. He prayed to whoever would listen nature would take over and she would do things to him that he had only dreamed of a girl doing to him. Her mouth was at his ear. Her breath warm and sweet while she purrs low in it.
“ Prince Zuko.” For a moment he closed his eyes and reveled in the fact she had said his name with such adoration.
“ You really do know.” His amber eyes wide in surprise as he backed away from her. It finally sunk in what she did know.
“ I’ve known for a while.” She shrugged it off and hugged herself.
“ And yet you have said nothing.” He looked at her in awe. Here the Fire Nation had done so much to the water tribes and yet she did not turn him in. Here she could turn him in and yet she kept who and where he was quiet. It was feeling very, very familiar. Like he had been in this position before. The feelings were all the same but the name and face still eluded him.
“ And yet I say nothing.” Lan nodded her head slowly still clutching herself. The way he looked at her like she was some kind of freak made her feel so cold. She sat down on the edge of the fountain with her back to him.
“ I won’t help the Avatar. I did it once but I won’t do it again. I owed him. My debt is paid. I want my honor, my throne“
“ I was afraid you were going to say that.” Lan heaved a big sigh of relief and exasperation as she turned around to face him.” Listen to me for a moment you want to go home, and The Avatar is the only way your going to see home.”
“ Exactly.”
“ Will you let me finish? The only way you can go home is when the fire Lord is defeated by the Avatar. I know that isn’t exactly what you pictured but . . . things happen.” She shrugged and looked at him. When he didn’t look at her or answer, she decided to try something else.
” Yah wanna know what I think . . . I think that Prince Zuko has seen what his Fathers war has done to the world and doesn’t like it much” This grabbed his attention for he finally did look at her with a quizzical look on his face.” I think that the Fire Lord hoped his son would fall apart by exiling him but personally I think it’s only made him a stronger and better person. I think Prince Zuko is a very strong person.” A smirk began to creep up on his face and she plunged on.” I mean look what all he’s been threw in the last four or so years. He’s had to be a strong person not to loose his mind.”
“ Uncle talks to much.” He mumbled.
“ The only way his father is going to accept him and give Zuko his throne country and honor back is to knock Lord Ozai on his royal ass.”
“ Why are you saying this to me?” She had just voiced every fear he had. Deep down inside he knew his Father would never accept him back like he wanted.
“ Because it’s true . . . and well . . . ” Looks at him and smiles. He finally decided to sit down on the ledge of the fountain next to her and looks at his hands.
“My father thinks I am worthless.” He looked at her and felt that there was nothing left for him now. Despair was creeping into his heart again.
“ You’re not.” She put her hand on his shoulder. When he didn’t shrug it off, she began to rub it. She couldn’t stop what came out next. ” You mean a lot to me.” He looked away. She barely knew him and yet she was unafraid to tell him she cared for him more than she should.
“ I want to go home.” He was watching the lantern she had lit floats around. His feelings for her were like that flame small now but given enough fuel and it would consume him if he let it. Right now he couldn’t afford to let it happen.
“ I just told you how to get there.” She takes his chin in her hands and forces him to look at her.
“ If you want to go home my Prince then your going to have to help the Avatar. Defeat your father and prove that you’re better. Take what you know is your destiny back . . . your own way. For too long you have been doing it your fathers way or how everyone has wanted you to. Now take your destiny into your own hands. We leave in the morning.” She places a light kiss on his mouth before getting up.
” I hope you’ll be going with us.” She caressed his cheek with her hand before walking away.
He laid down on the ledge and looked up at the stars. She had given him many things to think over. She had also left him frustrated mentally and quite noticeably physically. There was a need in him now, which she had somehow put into him. She thought the world of him and deep down he was beginning to admit he needed her more than he wanted to. She had awoken something in him. The tiny flame was now turning into a camp fire.
That morning Lan tearfully said goodbye to the family she had stayed with. She promised that when this was all over she would come back. Mara knew that she would. She had said Goodbye to Bongo last night and X’ing. Both father and son had gone into the city so that X’ing wouldn’t cling to Lan as she was leaving. Lan kissed Hope and Joy goodbye before throwing up her back pack to Aang. It was heavy but with the new saddle Appa didn’t mind. Appa was now loaded up and just waiting for his passengers to climb aboard. It was getting late.
“ Looks like they’re not coming.” Sokka couldn’t keep the giddiness out of his voice.
“ I can’t believe Iroh changed his mind.” Lan looked at the horizon in disbelief. She shrugged and went to Appa rubbing his nose.
“ Don’t be too sure. I can feel the earth and it’s telling me that a jolly heavy guy is on his way.” Toph turned her head and gave Sokka a shit eating grin. Iroh made it to them slightly winded.
“ Sorry I’m late. Forgot to pack the Jasmine tea you like so much Lan.”
“ Zuko?” Her voice was filled with hope.
“ Was gone when I left this morning? After you left him he came back and took his things.” It hurt Iroh to have to tell her the bad news.
“ I thought I got through to him.” She shrugged it off but inside she wanted to scream.
“ You tried Lan but some wounds even you can’t help heal . . . He needs to let go of his pride“
“ Yah right.” She snorted. She looked at Iroh and looped her arm threw his and showed him how to get onto Appa. Everyone else was ready and waiting. They were about to take off when Iroh noticed something, no. Someone was coming toward them.
” Look.” They all follow his finger and Zuko is coming there way. Lan jumps down and runs to him almost knocking him over as she throws herself in his arms. He caught her and was about to return her embrace when he remembered they had an audience.
“ You changed your mind.” When he doesn’t do anything but stiffen she backs away and gives him space.
“ I thought about what you said. And you’re right. My father will never accept me the way I want him to.” He did afford himself to touch her face. He wanted to do so much more but not around others. He was thinking like a Prince again. A changed one, but a Prince none the less.
“ Zuko.” She covered his hand with hers.
“ It’s like you said I can either tear myself apart or do something.”
“ Lets go already. We have a time limit hear.” Sokka crossed his arms over his chest and glared at them. He liked Lan but angry pony tail boy he didn’t have to like.
“ Sokka . . . shut up.” Toph whacked him on his head and Lan laughed before showing him how to get onto Appa.
“ Appa Yip! Yip! ”
TBC
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The Fall of Ozai