EMBERS
viii. THE BLUE SPIRIT
❝I'M HERE TO TAKE YOU HOME.❞

BOREDOM WOULD PROVE TO BE PRINCESS JASMINE'S GREATEST FOE as her time with Commander Zhao on his dreadful ship turned from days into weeks. He had promised to rendezvous with Zuko's ship to drop her off, but first, he had seemingly thousands of detours as he performed the tasks that were expected of him as commander in the Fire Navy. She didn't see Zhao or anyone else for the majority of her time, considering she stayed locked up in her makeshift bedroom. Someone brought her food, fresh clothing, and anything else she could possibly want. Jasmine found entertainment by bothering the guards with her frivolous requests, snickering whenever she asked for something that would take ages to obtain. Still, she received everything she asked for without complaint. Her meals came at the same time every day and were made with a delicate hand, leaving everything on the plate to be perfect. Jasmine had to confess it wasn't the worst predicament she had been in, but she continued to miss her father and Zuko. Though, she wouldn't put it past her cousin to care more about capturing the Avatar than rescuing her from the clutches of Commander Zhao.

Jasmine hummed a soft tune, exploring one of the Fire Nation bases that Zhao had brought her to, the Pohuai Stronghold. It was located in the western Earth Kingdom, near the ruins of Taku. She had heard from the crew the city was once the epicenter of commerce for the west before the War, but then the Fire Nation had come and destroyed it. Of course they had, Jasmine thought bitterly. Commander Zhao was preoccupied in a heated conversation with Colonel Shinu as he requested the use of his trained men, the Yuyan Archers. It was said the Yuyan Archers had impeccable accuracy ━━ being able to pin a fly by its wings from across the field whilst keeping it alive. Or, whatever Zhao had said about them. Jasmine didn't listen too closely when the man was speaking around or to her.

An angry growl escaped Commander Zhao's lips as he narrowed his eyes at Colonel Shinu. Jasmine stood behind the man, moving from one foot to the other as she waited for their conversation to be over. She wasn't too interested in what either of them had to say ━━ the only thought on her mind was getting back to her home. Zhao looked out over the balcony, watching the archers as they trained. "You're wasting their talents using them as mere security guards."

"The Yuyan Archers stay here," Colonel Shinu spat out, clasping his hands together behind his back. "I can do whatever I want with their talents, they're my archers, and what I say goes. So, your request is denied, Commander Zhao."

"But, my search for the Avatar is━━"

"━━is nothing more than a vanity project!" Shinu cut the man off, waving his hand in disapproval. He stood close to Zhao, getting in his face as he forced the man to look down. It was nice to see Zhao be put into his place, Jasmine had to admit. "We're fighting a real war here, and I need every man I've got, Zhao."

Zhao tried to speak, but he was cut off again. It took everything in Jasmine to not snicker. Perhaps, she should request Colonel Shinu's help in returning home.

"That's final!" Shinu gritted out, shaking his head as he turned to leave. "I don't want to hear another word about it."

In the near distance, the screech of a messenger hawk was heard causing the three to pause as they looked up to the skies to see the red bird rush toward them. It landed on the edge, staring at Colonel Shinu. Commander Zhao stepped forward, looking at the insignia imprinted on the container attached to the bird. It was opened and quickly read by Shinu, leaving Jasmine and Zhao in the dark as they waited for the information. "News from Fire Lord Ozai?"

What did it say? Jasmine took a step forward, trying to read the parchment but it was abruptly handed to Zhao as Shinu grumbled underneath his breath. It forced the young girl to move closer as she peeked at the written note to see what news it contained. It brought a wicked grin to Zhao's face as he looked at Shinu. He handed the note to Jasmine, allowing her to take it off his hands as he approached the Colonel. She quickly read over it, frowning as she realized what it contained.

"It appears as if I have been promoted to Admiral," the man stated smugly, towering over Colonel Shinu who refused to say a word. "My request is now an order."

"As you wish, Admiral," Colonel Shinu bowed respectfully, keeping his eyes averting from both Jasmine and Zhao. It was strange to Jasmine how quickly the dynamic could change with a simple note. She understood the hierarchy in their military, but witnessing it happen before her eyes within moments was... jarring. Yet, Jasmine could do nothing but watch as Zhao took over the Yuyan Archers for his own misdeeds.

"What do you plan to do with them?" Jasmine asked when Shinu had left their presence, leaving her alone with Zhao. She leaned against the pillar, watching the archers as they continued to train unphased by their change in leadership.

"Hunt down the Avatar, of course," Zhao replied, not bothering to look in the young girl's direction as he grinned. He had everything he wanted in the palm of his hands, leaving him with an inflated ego. "It won't be long until I have him in my custody and then, it's straight to the Fire Nation."

"But, when will you be taking me back?" Jasmine asked, crossing her arms over her chest as she narrowed her eyes at the man. "I refuse to travel with you any further."

"After I capture the Avatar, I will take you to the Fire Nation," Zhao gritted out, annoyed by Jasmine's questions. It was the same one she asked every day as she continued to travel with Zhao and his men. He didn't say anything further, walking off toward the stairs to go speak with the archers.

Jasmine sighed, deciding it would be best to go to her quarters and wait for Zhao to capture the Avatar. It was all she could do. And, whilst the young girl walked off, she had failed to notice the everlasting shadow that had loomed over them as a masked figure drifted back into the shadows.

━━ ━━ ━━

THE COLD WAS BITING, causing the young girl to shiver underneath the blankets as she tried to keep her breath under control. But, her chattering teeth made it difficult to focus on firebending. Still, she tried to sleep. Yet, her firebending became nonexistent as she drifted toward sleep which allowed the cold to grasp her again. Annoying, Jasmine mused as she curled within herself. Perhaps, she should tell the guards to bring her more blankets but that would require her to get out of bed and that was something she did not wish to do. Still, Jasmine tried to get some sleep.

It was an hour later when she had awoken again, but it was not due to the cold that time. She paused, hearing shouts beyond her door before something (or someone) slammed hard into the metal. It caused Jasmine to jump, gripping her sheets as she waited with bated breath. If only she had a weapon by her side, but Zhao had not allowed her to carry anything. The guards will suffice, was what he told her when she asked for her dagger. Well, he could not have been more wrong. It seemed that whoever was outside had easily subdued the guards and were trying to unlock the door at that moment.

Jasmine gasped, jumping out of the bed as she hid behind a small dresser. It barely shielded her, but she was relying on the assumption the intruder would not see her in the darkness. She heard the click of the lock coming undone. It made the young girl hold her breath, trying to shrink into the darkness. The door creaked open, flooding the room with candlelight from the hall. A figure stood at the door dressed in black, but their blue theatre mask was what stood out to Jasmine. Her heart raced as she prayed to the spirits, watching with wide eyes as the figure entered the bedroom.

Suddenly, the mask snapped in her direction and it caused Jasmine to let out a small scream as she fell back. They began to approach her, holding out their hand to grab her but she moved faster as she threw a fireball in their direction. Her attack was easily avoided, but her screams for help are what caused them to falter. "Guards, someone, please help me!" Jasmine shouted, scooting back into a corner of the room. Her mind couldn't stop screaming 'ghost' at her as she took in haphazard breaths. No doubt, she was being haunted by a ghost or an unruly spirit. "Help!"

They put a put to their lips in an attempt to silence her, but it was too late. Her screams had put the whole floor on high alert as their pounding footsteps vibrated the ground.

"The Princess is in trouble!"

Shouts were heard down the hall, causing Jasmine to let out a sigh of relief as she watched the Blue Spirit run out of the room and to the right. It was only a few seconds later that a new set of guards had entered her room. "I-It went that way," Jasmine stammered, pointing down the hall where the spirit had run down. "I don't... I don't know who it was."

A few guards split, rushing in the direction that Jasmine had indicted. A few tried to wake up the guards that the Blue Spirit had knocked out, leaving only two in the room with Jasmine as they looked for anything out of the ordinary. The two soldiers ━━ a man and a woman ━━ shared a look, watching as Jasmine got off the floor and made her way to the bed. "Are you alright, Princess?"

"I think that was a ghost," Jasmine confessed, ignoring the woman's question.

"It was no ghost, Princess," the male replied, bowing his head respectively when Jasmine's gaze flickered to them. It was an older guard with graying hair and deep-set amber eyes while the woman seemed younger with a stern expression and gray eyes. "It's rare, but we tend to get intruders here and there. Word must have gotten out that the Royal Princess is here for the time being. News like that, it attracts the wrong kind of people."

"Oh, I see," Jasmine whispered, lowering her gaze to the floor as she stared at the dirty footsteps the intruder had tracked in. Footsteps. It had to be a man... or woman. But, it was surely not a spirit. She wasn't sure which possibility was more reassuring.

"Get some rest, Princess," the woman said, gesturing to the man to move out of the room. They both bowed, standing at the door. "We'll post more guards outside. You'll be safe."

Jasmine watched as they closed the door, engulfing the room in darkness again. She sighed, resting her head against the pillow. It would be the best course of action to get some sleep, considering she did not know what tomorrow would bring.

━━ ━━ ━━

THE AVATAR'S CAPTURE HAD HAPPENED LATE INTO THE AFTERNOON. The message had been echoed through the compound, meeting Jasmine's ears as well. She had been sitting in her room, reading a book when the messenger had come in to give her the news. It was enough to get her out as she rushed through the halls, making her way to the holding cells where the Avatar was bound to be held. Guards greeted her, but Jasmine ignored their words as she entered the cell where the most guards were posted. And, in the massive cell was Avatar Aang, bound at his legs and arms with chains. He struggled against his chains, yelling at Zhao ━━ the older man looked exceptionally proud as he grinned.

"So, this is the great Avatar, master of all the elements," Zhao spat in disgust, staring at the young tattooed boy. The Admiral barely spared Jasmine a glance, choosing to ignore her. But, Aang seemed overjoyed at the fact Jasmine was there as he tried to wave at her despite his chains. "I don't know how you've managed to elude the Fire Nation for a hundred years, but your little game of hide and seek is over."

"I've never hidden from you!" Aang shouted, turning to glare at Zhao but he did not seem threatening. Perhaps, it was because the Avatar was a mere child compared to the aged Zhao. But, Jasmine knew better than to underestimate him again. "Untie me and I'll fight you right now!"

"Uh, no," Zhao muttered, rolling his eyes at the foolish demands. Instead, he moved closer as he looked up at Aang. "Tell me, how does it feel to be the only Airbender left? The last of your kind," Zhao chuckled, grinning with his daggered teeth. "Do you miss your people?"

Sadness lingered in Aang's expression, making Jasmine let out the breath she had been holding. The Fire Nation had wiped out an entire nation. The peaceful Air Nomads were no more. It was nothing to be proud of, making Jasmine sick to her stomach as she gazed upon Zhao's prideful expression. She stepped forward, standing tall to speak with whatever authority she still had. "Admiral Zhao, with all due respect," she started, wanting to gag as she addressed him. "I do not think you should speak to him in such disregard, considering he is already in our captive. He may be an enemy of the Fire Nation, but he is still only a child. Antagonizing him will only make you look bad."

"You are only a child. Do not speak as if you have any authority here," Admiral Zhao said, turning to look at her sharply as he narrowed his eyes into a glare full of hatred. Jasmine huffed, rolling her eyes at Zhao's blatant disrespect. If she had the power to, she would have discharged Zhao from their military a long time ago. He looked back to the Avatar, taking in a sharp breath. "He should be grateful we have no plans to kill him like they were," the man continued, addressing Jasmine without looking at her. "See, if he dies, he'll be reborn and the Fire Nation would have to start searching all over again."

"Or slaughter the Water Tribes," Jasmine muttered bitterly, glaring at the back of Zhao's head. He pretended not to hear her comment.

"So, I'll keep you alive, Avatar," Zhao said, giving the boy a small smile. "But, just barely."

It was enough to anger Aang as he sucked in a deep breath, blowing it toward Zhao as it sent him into the wall. A thud sounded, causing Jasmine to look back at the doubled-over Zhao. It made her chuckle as she remained unaffected by Aang's airbending. "Are you alright, Zhao?"

"Blow all the wind you want, but your situation is futile. There is no escaping this fortress, and no one is coming to rescue you," Zhao spat out, looking back at Aang's troubled expression. The Admiral stood to his feet, turning his gaze in Jasmine's direction. "Are you coming?"

"Yes," Jasmine said, taking a step in his direction before she paused and looked back at the Avatar. She sighed, noticing the way he squirmed in his uncomfortable position. "I only wanted to have a word with the Avatar. It will only take a minute."

Zhao narrowed his eyes, clasping his hands together. "Let me remind you that releasing the Avatar will be treated as treason, even from you."

Jasmine rolled her eyes. She had no plans to release the Avatar, knowing the Fire Nation would be safer with him locked away. Though, she did wish it had been her and Zuko be the ones to capture him. Not Zhao. "I will not betray my country, Zhao."

He huffed, leaving the room. Though, not before slamming the door shut as the echo of the metal reverberated throughout the room. It made Jasmine roll her eyes, making her way to stand in front of Aang instead.

"Hey, Jasmine," Aang started, giving her a genuine smile. She still found it strange how he continued to be so kind to her, despite everything she had done. "How's it hanging?"

"Uh..."

"Get it?" Aang's smile quickly turned into a grin as he tried his best to swing on his chains. "Because I'm hanging, you know?"

"Oh." It was somewhat funny, but Jasmine couldn't find it within herself to laugh. He shouldn't be making jokes either with such a grim future on the horizon.

"I thought it was funny," he said, pouting slightly as he slumped. Despite the facade he put on, Jasmine could see clear sadness in his big gray eyes. It made her sigh as she moved forward, examining the chains. "You're letting me go?"

"No," Jasmine said, messing around with the chains as she loosened them slightly. It made Aang's posture more relaxed and not stretched out. Hopefully, it was more comfortable for him. "But, I hope that's better?"

"It is," Aang replied, staring at her with slight confusion but he still seemed grateful. "Thank you."

"Don't mention it," Jasmine muttered, taking a step back as she met the boy's gaze. Her own posture was tense, unable to find comfort after the night she had endured. Sleep had not come easy to her, fearing the masked figure would come back. But, the more she thought about it, the more strange things felt to her. What would have the Blue Spirit wanted with her? Capture her and hold her for ransom, as if Zhao would care if someone had kidnapped her. It made her think of Lu Ten, causing her to let out a small sigh. He would have been captured like this, strung up like an animal as they beat answers out of him. But, he never talked and that was why he was no longer with them. "Seriously though," Jasmine clarified, pulling herself out of her thoughts. "Do not mention it at all. I don't want another lecture from Zhao about being loyal to my country."

"Yeah, he's not very nice," Aang said, huffing. He hung forward, unbothered by the chains anymore as he continued to watch Jasmine with a small smile.

She cleared her throat. "How did they capture you?"

"I was distracted collecting frogs," he confessed, shrugging his shoulders as he stole a glance at the pockets in his clothing. "My friends are sick and I went to a healer for help, but she said to collect these frozen frogs that they need to suck on to heal them."

"Sucking on frozen frogs will heal their ailments?" Jasmine asked, tilting her head slightly as she imagined the sight of Sokka and Katara sucking on disgusting frogs. It made her shudder, causing her to turn her back on the young boy. "I think someone is messing with you, Aang. Probably best to get some medicine from a nearby town."

"You say that as if you think I'm going to get out of here?" Aang muttered, gesturing to the chains that kept him in place. It greatly limited his airbending as well, but it wasn't impossible. Though, it did not make him a threat in his state.

Jasmine shrugged her shoulders, making her way to the door where Zhao and the other soldiers awaited her. She looked back at Aang, giving him a quirked smile. "Don't you always find a way to escape?" Jasmine asked, remembering all the times he and his friends had evaded them. It seemed as if fate was always on their side. "Hey, if you do manage to get out of here, take me with you. I feel like Zhao is going to end up killing me with how boring he is."

Aang laughed, nodding his head. "If I can get out of these chains, you got yourself a deal!"

"Bye, Aang," Jasmine whispered softly, opening the door before she exited the cell. As he said, Zhao was waiting on the other side. He spoke to the soldiers, telling them to be on alert and to take no nonsense from the Avatar. He suggested beating him if he got too much to handle, making Jasmine scoff. They turned to look at her, standing tall. "Surprised you're still here, Zhao."

"Come, Princess Jasmine," he said, gesturing for him to follow. She sighed but followed the older man anyway. "I'm about to address the eternity of the stronghold and announce our victory in capturing the Avatar. I want you to be there."

Jasmine rolled her eyes again, as if she truly had a choice. But, still, she nodded and let Zhao lead the way.

━━ ━━ ━━

THE SOLDIERS OF THE FORTRESS HAD BEEN GATHERED IN THE COURTYARD at Admiral Zhao's request, leaving him on the tallest balcony as he looked over the crowd on the ground floor. Jasmine stood behind him, eyeing the other Captains that stood quietly. They hadn't said much about Zhao's sudden rise to power, but it was also not their place to question it either. Jasmine had a few words about it, but she couldn't find a willing listener. She readjusted the cloak she wore, feeling it dig into her throat. "We are the sons and daughters of fire, the superior element!" came the words from Zhao's lips, making the crowd quiet down as they listened intensely. "Until today, only one thing stood in our path to victory ━━ the Avatar. I am honored to say that he is now my prisoner!"

His words caused the crowds to cheer, forcing Jasmine to reluctantly clap as well. She wasn't happy. No, she hated that Zhao had been the one to capture the Avatar. No, it was supposed to be Zuko. It was the only thing that would bring his honor back and allow him to be welcomed back to the Fire Nation.

"This is the year Sozin's Comet returns to grant us its power!" Zhao shouted, causing the soldiers to cheer again. It was louder this time, making Jasmine wince at the noise. "This is the year the Fire Nation breaks through the walls of Ba Sing Se and burns the city to the ground!"

A shadow fell upon Jasmine, causing her to frown as she glanced back to see a flash of blue. It made a gasp escape her lips as she looked around to see if anyone else had noticed but they were enthralled by Zhao's speech. She broke away from them, moving toward the shadow that seemed to be waiting for her. It made her walk down the empty hall, leaving behind the chaos of the hundreds of soldiers.

"Hello?" She called out, but the shadow didn't answer as it continued down the hall. It made the girl narrow her eyes as she began to rush through the hall before she watched the shadow pause. Jasmine hid behind the pillar, waiting to see what would happen. And like that, a figure dropped down. It made her take in a deep breath, noticing the same blue mask from the night before. Perhaps, it had not noticed her yet as Jasmine followed it from a distance.

The Blue Spirit navigated the halls with precision, knowing the layout of the stronghold with ease. It made Jasmine frown as she questioned the identity of the spirit. Perhaps, it truly was a ghost. They entered the lower grounds, entering the cells where guards still roamed to keep the prisoners locked up. Jasmine stayed behind, hiding behind a corner as she watched the Blue Spirit. She figured out his motive. The Avatar.

One by one, she watched as the Blue Spirit took out the soldiers that guarded the Avatar's cell. Something about their fighting style seemed familiar, but Jasmine could not place it as she continued to watch. Part of her wanted to get more guards, take care of this intruder before he ruined their plans. But, Jasmine found curiosity biting as she pushed forward and entered the cell behind them. A few frogs roamed the ground, but what caught her attention was the masked figure about to free the Avatar. She lifted a palm, creating a fireball. "Don't move!"

The Blue Spirit stopped, letting go of the chain it was about to cut. It caused Aang to let out a sigh, shaking his head as he realized his plans for escape had been foiled. Yet, the Blue Spirit did not falter as it stood straight and Jasmine could see the duel swords it used as weapons. She was not sure if they knew how to bend at all. Were they a firebender? Earthbender? Perhaps, a waterbender? Though, Jasmine had not seen any signs of bending yet from the figure. All at once, the spirit came charging at her but she was ready as she stepped to the side and avoided its attack.

She threw a fireball in their direction, watching as they jumped through the air to avoid it. Agile, it had to be someone young to maneuver such moves. They weren't too tall as they were only a few inches taller than her, Jasmine could tell as they clashed together with their fists. She kicked them hard, pushing them a few feet back to create some distance. If only she had her dagger, but it was still safely tucked away with Zhao. Another blast of fire filled the air, but she could not manage to touch the spirit. They moved too fast, knew all her moves before she would even make them. It made it harder to fight, but Jasmine continued.

However, one slip-up caused the spirit to tackle her down. Protests from Aang echoed throughout the air, but the Blue Spirit did not listen as he pinned Jasmine down. She struggled underneath their weight, trying to escape but could not do much as the figure lowered down her sleeve to reveal the golden bracelet that she wore. They pointed to it, making her cease her movements as she frowned. What? The Blue Spirit climbed off her, keeping their hands up in surrender.

No one knew of the bracelet or the importance of it, so how did this spirit? Yet, somehow, the simple action had caused Jasmine to have full faith in them. But, some irrational part of her brain wanted to believe it was Lu Ten. He had come back, never truly being dead in the first place. She stood to her feet with the Blue Spirit's help, lowering her sleeve to hide the bracelet again. This time, she did nothing as she watched him slice off the chains that held the Avatar captive.

"Who are you? What's going on? Are you here to rescue me?" Aang asked immediately, rubbing his wrists together as he winced. The Blue Spirit didn't answer, gesturing for them to follow as he opened the door. Aang looked at Jasmine's unchanging expression before he shrugged, "I'll take that as a yes."

Jasmine numbly followed, realizing the treason she was committing with such an act. If she was seen with the Blue Spirit and the Avatar, it would brand her as a traitor and she would never be allowed to return home. She almost bumped into Aang, watching him as he looked down at the half-frozen frogs as they tried desperately to escape.

"My frogs! Come back! And, stop thawing out!" Aang shouted, trying to pick up the slippery animals. But, the Blue Spirit seemed to have enough as he grabbed Aang by the collar and began to drag him away. "Wait! My friends need to suck on those frogs!"

The Blue Spirit looked back, gesturing for Jasmine to follow. She took in a sharp breath, staring at the mask that was surely enough to give her nightmares. Still, she followed. It led them underground into the sewer system, walking quietly below the grated surface as they watched soldiers walk back and forth. He was leading them toward the courtyard, but Jasmine knew she could not follow. If they were caught, she would lose everything.

"I can't come with," Jasmine said, shaking her head as she paused in her tracks. She stared at the murky water that dirted her boots, ignoring the protests from Aang. The Blue Spirit kept its silence. "If I go out there with the two of you, I'll be a traitor to my nation. I can never return home, so I'm better off staying here till Zhao decides to return me."

She held her breath, watching as the spirit approached her before he stood directly in front. They leaned in close to her ear, making Jasmine freeze. "Jasmine," the Blue Spirit whispered and immediately Jasmine knew who it was. She did not feel an ounce of fear anymore, knowing the Spirit was no other than Zuko. He spoke quietly, making sure Aang would not be able to hear them. "We'll sneak past them. If we get caught, you are my prisoner. No matter what, I'm not leaving here without you. Do you understand?"

"Alright, I understand," Jasmine whispered. She sighed, finding it hard to meet his eyes (especially through the mask). "Thank you for coming."

He nodded, approaching the Avatar again who had been respectively staying out of their conversation. Zuko had been speaking low enough, making it impossible for Aang to hear anyways. Jasmine followed them, feeling confident in her and Zuko's abilities to make an effortless escape. He stopped below a latched grate, pushing it upward to allow them to hop into the courtyard. They immediately paused, hearing voices above them on the floor directly above them. It caused them to cling to the shadows, undetected. She stole a glance up, noticing the figures of Zhao and another man who held a pen and paper with a Fire Nation paper holder.

"I want a full transcription of my speech sent to the Fire Lord, along with glowing testimonials from all of the ranking officers present, and━━" He paused when another soldier came rushing to him, causing a sigh to escape Zhao's lips. "What?"

"The Avatar has escaped, Admiral!" the guard said, making Jasmine steal a glance at the boy. It only caused him to shrug as he held his hands up. Still, the smile was present on his lips.

She could hear running above her, indicating they were rushing to the cells to see it for themselves. But, before they left, she could hear the Scribe shout out, "Sir, should I hold off sending that speech to the Fire Lord?"

They kept moving, heading to the innermost wall of the fortress. She looked up, frowning when she noticed how tall it was but it led to a floor that Jasmine had no access to. After all, she was only allowed in her room, the cafeteria, and the courtyard. Everything else must be due to the permission of Admiral Zhao, blah. Jasmine made it over the wall first, hanging on the balcony as she held out her hand to grab Zuko's hand first.

"There, on the wall!"

It made Jasmine duck behind the wall, keeping her hidden. She stole a peek at Zuko, trying to ignore the soldiers that were forming on the other balcony. "What now?"

Zuko gestured for her to leave, pointing away and Jasmine understood what he meant. Keep moving, stay on the original path. She kept quiet as she watched an arrow whizz to the air before cutting the rope, making Zuko and Aang plummet down below. However, thanks to Aang's airbending, they had a soft landing. Jasmine watched them be surrounded, making her want to help but she would only make it worse. So, she rushed off and stuck to the shadows. Make it to the edge. Part of the wall had been destroyed due to an Earthbender attack a few months ago, leaving the wall jagged and easy to climb. No doubt, guards surrounded the location as they walked back and forth without disregard.

"Princess Jasmine?"

She gasped, pausing in her tracks as a few silent curses left her lips. With a fake smile, she turned around to look at the soldier that had stumbled upon her. It was a young male, holding a pike as he stared at her. He wore a sleepy expression, rubbing his eyes as he approached her. "What are you doing here?" he asked. "Shouldn't you be asleep?"

"You look tired, soldier," Jasmine said, clasping her hands together as she prayed that she didn't look like a threat or suspicious. She trembled slightly, fearing that it was all over and she would be caught and taken to Zhao.

"I am," he answered, yawning as he leaned on the pike. Jasmine hummed, nodding her head as she fiddled with her hands to keep herself distracted. "I've been on guard for half the day, it seems."

"Perhaps, you should take the rest of the night off?" Jasmine asked, shrugging her shoulders. She patted the man's back, giving him a warm smile. "As Princess of the Fire Nation, I give you express permission. If anyone has a problem, lead them my way."

He grinned, giving her a quick bow. "Thank you, Princess!"

With that, he had rushed off. It allowed Jasmine to breathe a sigh of relief as she continued her trek to the broken wall. She kept to herself, avoiding the guards with more ease as she pathed out their movements. Most of them were sleepy, making it easier for her to avoid their glazed eyes. It wasn't long till she made it to the wall, letting out a shaky breath as she looked out at the forestry beyond the stronghold. It had only been a week or so since their arrival, but she felt as if she had been trapped behind its walls for years. Jasmine sighed softly, taking in a deep breath. It smelt like pine and rain, making her smile. She had gotten tired of the scent of soot and smoke, making her excited to step out of the stronghold.

"Hold your fire! The Avatar must be captured alive!" It made Jasmine pause, glancing back at the empty corridor. She could hear the commotion in the distance, all the soldiers had rushed off to help recapture the Avatar. It left her alone as she approached the balcony, facing the ground where she could barely see Aang and the Blue Spirit fighting.

She gasped softly, watching the scene unfold. The Blue Spirit ━━ Zuko ━━ came up behind Aang, crossing his swords in front of his throat. One wrong move, the Avatar would be dead. It was the last thing Zhao wanted, having to start his search again. They stood near the front gate, keeping their backs to it as the soldiers began to back off. So, that was the plan ━━ go out the front door, huh?

"Let them out, now!"

The gate began to open and the Blue Spirit began to back out with Aang, making Jasmine back off as she approached the wall. It was time for her to escape as well, making her climb over the wall as she began to lower herself carefully. Each movement was calculated as she slowly moved, not wanting to make one misstep that would make her fall to her death. She took quiet breaths, almost halfway to the ground. Her cloak made it a little difficult, but it kept her shrouded in the darkness. So far, no trouble and it seemed it would stay that way since everyone was focused on the escape of the Avatar. When she reached the floor, she could see the Blue Spirit and Aang. They still moved backward, waiting to disappear into the trees. Everything was going to plan.

Jasmine had spoken too soon. An arrow struck the Blue Spirit's mask, making him fall backward as his grip on Aang loosened. He fell to the ground, the mask briefly coming undone. Jasmine gasped softly, watching Aang realize who it was in horror. He was about to run, but then noticed Jasmine standing away from the sightline of the guards. With a quick move of airbending, the whole area was surrounded by a cloud of dust.

She wasted no time, running toward Zuko's unconscious figure as she slipped her arms underneath his as she began to drag him away. It wouldn't be long till the dust settled and the soldiers would come rushing. Jasmine needed to move fast. She flinched, noticing Aang was still there as he took hold of Zuko's legs to the best of his ability. Jasmine narrowed her eyes. "What are you doing?"

"Helping," Aang replied, grunting as he tried to hold up Zuko's weight as the two began to run into the trees. Once in the forest, they were safe and could hide out until the soldiers had given up.

"But, why?" Jasmine asked, trying not to trip over the overgrown vines as the two began to move to a secluded area of the forest. It was quiet except for the chirping of birds and crickets. Morning would be upon them soon, making Jasmine breathe a sigh of relief.

Aang didn't reply, briefly meeting Jasmine's eyes before he looked back down at Zuko. Perhaps, he did not know the answer himself. They moved quickly, making as much distance between themselves and the stronghold. It didn't take long for them to find a small clearing, placing Zuko gently on the ground. Jasmine kneeled beside him, removing the mask to see a small gash that was forming on his forehead. She brushed her fingers against it, noticing no blood had transferred onto her hand. It was a bruise at most, making Jasmine let out a sigh of relief.

"He'll be okay," Jasmine whispered softly, taking off her cloak to make it into a makeshift pillow to place underneath Zuko's head. His breaths were shallow, but nothing else seemed to be out of the ordinary. She looked away from Zuko, staring at Aang who had perched on top of a tree branch. Jasmine watched, feeling the warmth of the sun as it began to rise upon them. It highlighted their tired features, making Jasmine let out a breath. "You can go now," she said, listening to Zuko stir awake. "Get back to your sick friends."

"You know what the worst part of being born a hundred years ago is?" Aang suddenly said, addressing both Jasmine and Zuko. He wore a saddened expression, barely looking in their direction. Zuko's eyes were open now, glazed as he looked around to see where he was. His tense posture relaxed when he noticed Jasmine sitting close by, making him turn in Aang's direction. "I miss all the friends I used to hang out with. Before the war started, I used to always visit my friend Kuzon. The two of us, we'd get in and out of so much trouble together. He was one of the best friends I ever had, and he was from the Fire Nation, just like the two of you. If we knew each other back then, do you think we could have been friends, too?"

His words struck a chord in Jasmine's heart. She didn't know what to think, pondering over his question. If there was no war, she had no doubt that she would have liked Aang. From what she had seen of him, the kid was sweet and courageous. Perhaps, they would have been friends. But, that was not how fate played out. She would never be friends with the Avatar. Because of the war, he was the enemy and it was their job to bring him in to ensure the survival of their nation. Jasmine narrowed her eyes, shaking her head. "You should go, Aang."

"But, it doesn't have to be like this!" Aang said, standing to his feet as he faced the two of them. "Jasmine, Zuko, we could━━"

Before Aang could get out another word, Zuko had jumped up to let loose a fireball in his direction. It was something Aang easily dodged, but it answered his question. He jumped from branch to branch, leaving them behind as he disappeared from sight. Zuko sighed, standing to his feet with a small groan. Jasmine helped him up, letting him lean on her to keep his balance. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," Zuko sighed, trying not to show how much pain he was in as the two began to walk. "Let's go home."

"But, the Avatar?" Jasmine said, looking in the direction that Aang had disappeared off in. It was likely he and his sick friends were close by, making it easy for them to capture them.

"I didn't come here for the Avatar," Zuko replied, shaking his head as he stole a glance down at Jasmine. "I got word from the scouts that Admiral Zhao was at the Pohuai Stronghold and I assumed it was where he was keeping you. It was only coincidence the Avatar was there too."

"Oh," Jasmine mumbled softly. It seemed as if her cousin and her father hadn't forgotten about her, after all. It brought a warm smile to her face. "Thank you."

Zuko scoffed, rolling his eyes. He had never been one for affection of any kind, so Jasmine didn't mind his annoyance. "Come on," he said. "If we hurry, we'll make it back for Uncle's music night."

♡

IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME, AHH. But, here is another chapter for Embers! I genuinely missed writing for this book and I missed Jasmine so much. I have been super busy these days because of work and with the process of going to university, but I have been able to find time to write on my days off! I honestly gave up on trying to make things perfect if I am being honest! It made writing this chapter a lot easier, so I was able to finish it! The second half of this chapter is unedited, but I do hope it's still enjoyable! I'm not sure how many people are still here reading this book because it has been so long, but I am still motivated to finish as soon as I can! I want to get to season two as soon as I can so I can start Blood Moon too!

Blood Moon is my Zuko fic, but it doesn't have any chapters at the moment but it will as soon as I get to the North Pole in this book! I want to avoid spoilers for this book because there will definitely be a lot going on. But, I am super excited to be writing this book again and try my best to get frequent chapters out! I want to write more A:TLA book as well! But, we'll see if I am able to because I do want to try writing a book for Katara and even go into the Legend of Korra one day!

But, for now, I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter and I am truly sorry for taking forever to update! But, I have no plans on giving up on this story and will continue to update I finish it!

━━ AMARA
[CHAPTER POSTED ━━ 03.29.2021 ]