FicWad

A/N For the reader. Just so you know what kind of story you are getting into:\n\nThis story starts during the second to last scene of Crossroads of Destiny, in the throne room with Azula and Zuko. I plan to take it what my version of the end of the series would be. So, all conflicts resolved. This version you are reading is the non-explicit version. Though there is still some adult themes. Meaning there is sex, just not graphical sex. I will be posting a NC-17 version of the story with extended sex scenes but for those who do not wish to read that sort of fanfiction, this is the way to go. Now, without further ado, I give you Chapter 1.\n\n\n\n\nChapter 1: Reflections of the Crossroads\n\n\"We\'ve done it, Zuko. It\'s taken a hundred years, but the fire nation has conquered Ba Sing Se,\" Azula remarked, basking in her glory. \n \n\"I betrayed Uncle,\" Zuko replied with contrition. He had watched as Azula commanded the Dai Li to seize him and toss him in the dungeons of Ba Sing Se. His uncle had gone quietly, without a struggle. And without looking Zuko in the eye, leaving him with an uncontrollable amount of guilt. \n \n\"No, he betrayed you.\" She stood up to face him. \"Zuko, when you return home, Father will welcome you as a war hero.\"\n \n\"But I don\'t have the Avatar.\" Zuko protested. \"What if Father doesn\'t restore my honor?\"\n \nAzula placed her hand on his shoulder. \"He doesn\'t need to, Zuko. Today, you restored your own honor.\"\n \nBut Zuko was skeptical. He was unconvinced that his newfound loyalty would be anything to compromise his situation with his father. His mission upon leaving his home had been crystal clear: capture The Avatar, or there will be no clemency should he ever attempt to return.\n \nHe turned away from his sister, deep in thought. Was all this really worth the chance? His father had not been known for his generosity regarding matters of state nor his family. And after what had happened to his mother...Zuko\'s time of reflection with his uncle made his desire to regain his place in the hierarchy of the fire nation severely wane. His father was not the sort of leader he truly wanted to be associated with.\n \nToo late for that, Zuko said firmly to himself. I had the chance to take a different path. I could have escaped with the Avatar, his uncle, and the waterbending girl. But no. He had rejected that path on the unlikely notion that his father would forgive him of his \"monstrosities\" and welcome him into the position of his birth right: Prince, and heir to the throne.\n \nHis thoughts were interrupted by a legion of the Dai Li entering the throne room of the royal palace. The leader announced, \"News of this coup has reached the ears of the Fire Lord by carrier pidgeon as you have wished, Princess Azula.\"\n \nAzula nodded accordingly. \"And...\" she prompted.\n \n\"And his correspondence said he has sent an emissary in his place to observe and report the situation of first hand. Also to give you your orders.\"\n \n\"I see. When will this emissary arrive?\"\n \n\"On the morrow, Princess. That is all.\" He bowed, turned around, and exited the room, the Dai Li behind him.\n \nAzula returned to her seat on the throne. She crossed her legs and sat back thoughtfully. \"So, brother. It seems your redemption will come swifter than we anticipated.\"\n \n\"So it would seem. I would like to retire now. It has been a most trying day.\"\n \nAzula nodded at him. \"I suppose it has. You have my leave. Captain Maiko, please escort my brother to his accommodations.\" \n \nThe guard to the right of her bowed deeply and walked toward the door to the side of the throne. Zuko followed and exited the throne room to be lead through the ornately decorated corridors of the palace. \n \nThe guard showed him to the double doors of his chambers, bowed, then hastily headed back to the throne room. Zuko entered, turning the left door knob and lightly pushing open the door.\n \nHis room was elegantly designed. With gold painted walls and bright red moldings, his chambers were fit for royalty. About time, he thought. He had been slumming it for way too long. His bed was huge, large enough for four people, and dressed in rich scarlet comforters and quilts with too many pillows than should ever be fit on one bed alone.\n \nHe sat on the edge of it, knowing that he was not going to get much sleep that night. Too many life-altering decisions had been made. His entire destiny had shifted, and he was still not entirely sure that he was comfortable with his choice. \n \nHis mind wandered back to the emerald cave. That waterbending girl, Katara, or something like that had showed him compassion. She had momentarily forgotten all their past dealings. She had approached him, soothed him, touched his scar.\n \nHe shivered. No one had ever touched his scar. Normally, when he was around other people, their eyes fought to keep from staring at the blatant hideousness of it. But no one had ever touched it, caressed it, sought to heal it.\n \nThat was his number one resentment; not having enough time to discover if the girl could have erased it from his face. He wanted it gone. He wanted all the shifting eyes, the judgements, even the rare cases of sympathy to liquefy. He wanted to not be marked anymore. \n \nAfter all, his scar was the symbol of his banishment.\n \nIf he was reprieved, given redemption, what would his scar mean then? Would it just be a constant reminder of the most painful moments in his life, warning him from disobeying his father again?\n \n\"Ah!\" He yelled stood up and threw a fireball at the bedside table. It immediately caught on fire and started burning.\n \nThe tornado of thoughts twisting through his head was too much to bear. He marched out of his room and started down the hallway. He needed advice. And he knew just where he was going to get it.\n\n* \n\n \n\"When are we going to find me a firebending master?\" Aang asked a few feet away from Katara from the security of his sleeping bag.\n \nShe looked over to him. He had still been woozy since she had healed him, but Katara had perfect faith that he would regain full strength eventually and suffer no longterm effects of his injury. \"When you\'re well,\" she replied ominously.\n \n\"The end of summer is coming. I can\'t just wait because I got a little burned,\" he protested impatiently.\n \n\"Yeah a little burned,\" Sokka remarked. \"A little burned by a huge blue lightning bolt of death!\"\n \nKatara shook her head. \"You\'re not helping, Sokka. Aang, when you can walk without fainting, we can start thinking about finding you a master to teach you firebending. In the meantime, restoring your health is our number one priority.\"\n \n\"Yeah, alright,\" he grudgingly agreed.\n \nKatara sighed, looking around them. Morale was low, and quite frankly, she couldn\'t blame them. The Fire Nation had taken over the greatest city in the free world. She figured, if Aang didn\'t recover fast, the rest of civilization would be meeting a similar fate soon.\n \nTears sprung to her eyes. He had watched as the Fire Nation decimated her village and kill her mother, and now that they had taken over the Earth Nation as well? She wasn\'t entirely sure that there was anything left in the world worth fighting for. It was pretty hopeless. \n \nIt was only a couple of hours since they had fled Ba Sing Se. She had made sure that they were far enough away from the outer wall before daring to stop and regroup. Sokka had spotted a nice little oasis in a small woodland, perfect for protection, and with plenty of water. \n \nAang was doing well though, considering. She had been so worried. Seeing Aang defeated like that was like seeing her entire world disintegrated in one split second. It horrified her. It was a miracle he was alive at all, considering. \n \nShe knelt at Aang\'s side and lowered her canteen to his lips. He lifted his head gratefully and took a few sips, before laying back down, closing his eyes, and falling into a deep sleep.\n \nShe stood up and felt a hand squeeze hers. He looked over and saw Toph. \n \n\"I\'m worried too,\" she said comfortingly. \"But come, you must eat something.\" She motioned over to the fire where Sokka had recently retreated with the former Earth King and his pet bear. Sokka had caught some fish when they first landed and had taken up the job of cooking them over the fire. \n \nKatara looked away uninterested. \"No. I don\'t think I could eat anything. Even if I was hungry. Too many things happened today. I still haven\'t absorbed them yet.\"\n \nToph nodded. \"I understand.\" She walked toward the fire toward Sokka who was relentlessly chowing down on a piece of freshly cut river trout. \n \nKatara rolled out her own sleeping bag and curled up inside it staring into space. There was no rest for her tonight.\n\n* \n\n \n\"Uncle, are you alright?\" Zuko spoke into the small barred window of Iroh\'s cell. It was dark, and he could only see a lighly outlined shadow, and was unable to tell whether he was sitting or laying down. She shadow shifted slightly, at his words, but said nothing. \"Uncle answer me!\" Still, no sound came from the cell. \"Very well. I had only come to see if you were alright. Should you wish to rethink your ways, I thought I might have been able to convince Azula to rethink your status as traitor. I thought too much when I thought you would be willing to cooperate. In which case, I hope you find yourself comfortable.\" He turned to leave.\n \n\"Was it worth it?\" a dry voice asked before Zuko was out of earshot. Zuko detected a faint sound of disappointment in his Uncle\'s voice and immediately felt a stabbing sensation of shame.\n \n\"Was what worth it?\" he asked back.\n \n\"Choosing the path which betrays everything you are.\"\n \n\"This is my destiny,\" he replied anything but firmly.\n \n\"I have often pointed out, my nephew, that you were in a position to formulate your own destiny. However, you have proven to be like a mountain lemming.\"\n \n\"And how is that, Uncle?\"\n \n\"A lemming is known for its tendency to mimic its fellow lemming\'s behavior, often leading itself into danger. However, no matter how many times it lets itself be fooled into endangering itself, it follows regardless,\" Iroh said wisely.\n \n\"I am not a mindless animal, Uncle!\" Zuko shouted.\n \n\"Are you not?\" he answered mildly.\n \n\"No!\"\n \n\"Then why is it, you mindlessly choose always with the thought of regaining the honor, one man has claimed you have lost.\"\n \n\"What I chose to do is of no consequence to you, Uncle!\"\n \n\"No?\" he questioned. \"Then why is it you are here. You did not come here to see if I would join ranks with you and your sister. You came he to confirm with yourself that you have made the correct choice.\"\n \n\"That\'s not...\" he started.\n \n\"It does not matter,\" Iroh interrupted him. \"You are right. Now, all things considering, it is of no consequence to me what you do. I am most disappointed with you. I had thought you had chosen the right path, but there must have been a U-turn, I was not expecting.\"\n \n\"You are wrong about me, Uncle. You will see, given time. You are wrong about everything.\" With that, he left.\n\nA/N\nOkay, so I hope everybody liked the first chapter. I should let you know that the first couple of chapters will be mostly exposition and the action will probably happen around chapter 4 or 5 or so. However, I encourage you to continue reading. And please, review!!!!