Here comes the invasion! Everyone take cover!

Toph: Oh relax, it's not really happening.

I was just trying to make it interesting. Anyhow, enjoy the next chapter! *Still hides.*

...

Zuko awoke to a strange pressure pushing down on his chest. As he opens his eyes he sees Momo laying perfectly still upon his chest. Zuko didn't have the energy to swat him away so he just let him be and closed his eyes again. He could tell that it would be another hour or so until sunrise. Then a thought dawned upon him.

' Do these guys expect me to tell them secrets about the fire nation?'

He laid there wondering what he should do. He was too deep in thought that he didn't even feel the sun rising higher and higher. Before he knew it he heard a knock at the door. The lemur let out a yelp as Zuko quickly arose from the bed and to the door. Zuko wasn't surprise to see that it was Katara behind the knocking.

"Morning," she said with a cheery smile.

"Morning," Zuko responded.

"Breakfast is ready whenever you want to come out," she said walking away.

"Thanks," Zuko said after her. Zuko closed the door and headed for his pack pulling out his simple earth kingdom robes.
After getting dress he made his way to what would be considered the main hall of this small house. He saw that Katara was already eating at the small table with Momo eating nuts next to her. Zuko hesitantly sat across the table and looked over what they had before them.
He took a bowl of rice and began eating it as they both sat there in silence. Within a few minutes there was a knock at the front door.

"I got it," Katara said standing up. Zuko sat there and continued to eat. She sat back down in front of him.

"The King wants us to meet up with the council of five today to discuss the invasion."

Zuko set his bowl down to look at her, "I don't think I can go to that."

Katara raised her eyebrow before answering, "Why not?" she asked.

"I don't think they would like being in the same room as the Fire Lord's son," he stated.

"But you have unknown knowledge that could help with the invasion. I mean you know the lands, the military, the people; they have no choice but to listen to you!" she stated loudly.

"Katara you don't get it," he said.

"What don't I get?" she asked raising her voice. LoopZuko was not sure how he would continue; he could tell she was getting angry at what he was saying and he knew he had to pick his next words carefully.

"Look if I was to tell the generals all that I know then what's stopping them from taking over in the future."

Katara had a questioning look on her face, "I still don't get it."

Zuko stood up and began pacing the room, "Look I don't really know how to explain this so I'm going to do it the best I can," he said taking a deep breath.

"If I was to tell the generals how to invade my nation than what is stopping them in the future. I'll tell you right now that it won't stop there," he said.

"It will end when they bleed my nation dry of all resources."

"But the Earth King is nothing like that," Katara angrily retorted.

"He will stop when the war has ended."

Zuko gave a small laugh, "Katara this war won't end with an invasion on one day. Even if you occupy the capital, the people will fight to the death. Even those that don't support the war will fight you guys tooth and nail because no son of Agni will yield to a foreign ruler."

Katara stood up, "But they won't do that if their crown prince is on our side!" she shouted.

"You don't get it I'm not the crown prince anymore. I'm a traitor and a disgrace to them, they would rather give their own lives than be ruled by me," he said.

"And besides you really think that those people," he shouted while pointing out the window toward the palace, "Are really going to give me back the throne. I'll tell you what they will do, they are going to keep me around to try and win back the people but in reality they will use me. Threaten the peace so they can get what they want-"

"But the Earth Kingdom isn't like that," she stated.

"Katara two days ago we took out Long Feng who brain washed half this city including the King into believing that there wasn't a war. I have my doubts about this government, if it happened once it can happen again," he said calmly.

"But that was just one man," she said. Zuko began to laugh, "One man? Just one man, Katara have you not learned anything on your adventure?" he asked her.

"One man started this war, one man ordered a genocide, one man ordered the death of the moon spirit, one man tricked this city and to sum it all up we all expect one kid to end this war."

Zuko looked at her shocked reaction, "It only takes one man to change history, the only question is to what end," he finished. The two stood there in silence as the words he'd just spoken sunk in. Zuko took a deep breath.

"That is why I'm not going to tell them anything. They already have me helping them fight but this is different, I hope you understand."

"I suppose your right in some ways," Katara started.

"But would you just tag along, you don't have to say anything if you don't want to."

Zuko nodded, "Sure. We should get going then."

...

It took a few hours for the council to come to an end. Zuko just stood in the back, not once did they ask for his opinion.

' Probably don't trust a word I say,' he thought to himself. As the meeting was dismissed he started walking back towards the house when he heard Katara rush up behind him.

"See that wasn't so bad," she stated calmly with a smile upon her face.

"I guess," he started until he noticed the scroll in her hand,

"What's that?" he asked. Katara raised the scroll in her hand, "Just the final plan for the invasion. I got to go get it signed by the earth King."

"Now?" he said looking back at the sky.

"It's almost sun down. Can't it wait until tomorrow?" he asked.

"It would be easier to just do it now while we have the time," she said.

"You want me to go with you?" Zuko asked. Katara smiled, "No it would be easier if I just went, but I could use the company on my way over."

Zuko nodded and they started their walk. About half way to the palace they came across an old abandon building. Zuko stopped and looked at it.

"What is it?" Katara asked. Zuko shrugged his shoulders, "I don't know it just looks familiar for some reason."

Katara looked at it, "Looks like it's been abandon for some time now."

Zuko looked back at her, "And for some reason I feel like that would be a great place to put a tea shop."

Katara gave him a questioning look. Zuko gave a small laugh, "Yeah I know it's odd. Well you should go get that signed before nightfall then."

Katara nodded and began walking away. Zuko watched her before he called out.

"Are you sure you don't want me to come with you?" he asked. Katara nodded and walked away waving. Zuko decided it best just to let her handle it.

' Maybe you should have gone with her,' the voice said.

' Great your back,' Zuko thought to himself.

' I know you missed me,' the voice said.

' Okay before we go on what are you?' Zuko thought.

' What do you mean?' the voice asked.

' Are you supposed to be my uncle, my conscious, his conscious, or some spirit that I don't know of?' Zuko thought.

' Because I don't think I'm the only one confused here,' Zuko thought to himself.

' Fine I am Iroh's conscious so when he transferred his mind to yours I came with the deal,' the voice said.

' Okay now that we got that out of the way, I'm sure she'll be fine,' Zuko thought.

' If you say so Prince Zuko,' the voice finished. When Zuko arrived back at the house he decided to skip dinner and go straight to bed. Zuko figured that Katara would come back at any time and just drifted into sleep.

...

As Aang was about to enter the cosmic energy sphere, as he entered he felt the flow of cosmic energy flow through him. Then out of nowhere he had a vision.
He watched from below as two dragons, one red and the other blue fight in the sky above. By the looks of it they were equally matched as the danced around in the sky firing blast of fire at each other. He saw them land across from each other and from the corner of his eyes he sees Katara chained up against the wall.

"Katara!" Aang shouted but he could be heard. He looked back at the dragons and couldn't believe what he was seeing. Both dragons were engulf by flames one by blue and the other by the bright red orange, just then the flames began to shrink and take the shapes of humans. As the flames began to disappear off their bodies Aang could make out who they were. He saw Zuko standing where the red dragon once stood and Azula where the blue dragon was. Both were wearing fire nation armor that was badly burned. Both of them had a calm face as they both stare each other down. Azula began rotating her arms causing sparks to form in her hands. Zuko stood there waiting for the initial blast until he noticed the shift in her eyes. She pointed the blast another way toward the chained up Katara. Aang saw Zuko react quickly and jumped in front of the blast absorbing the blast before shooting it out the other way. Aang saw Zuko fall down shaking, from here he could see that he was clenching his chest. Azula slowly walked over before stopping in front of him. She looked down and smiled at her brother before she continued walking towards Katara. She stopped when Zuko grabbed her boot and using her other foot kicked him in the face. She turned back toward Katara, she raised her hand that was engulf in blue flames toward her face but stopped only inches away. She turned back and smiled right at the Avatar before she delivered the final blow.
Aangs eyes flew wide open as he sat in front of the Guru.

"Zuko and Katara are in danger! I have to go save them!" he shouted jumping off the roof.

"No Aang. By choosing attachment you have locked the charka and if you leave now you will not be able to go into the Avatar state at all!" he stated.
Aang stood there weighing his options, either have unlimited power or save the girl he love's and his friend.

' Screw it,' he thought as he leapt off the building toward Appa.

...

Zuko tossed and turned all night as he watched his nightmare take place. All the images of what happened kept flashing in his mind until Zuko awoke back to the darkness, it took him some time to realize he was back in his room. Zuko buried his head in his hands as he took a deep breath. After that he felt his anger rising within him, he slammed his fist against the wall, creating a huge scorched mark.
Zuko got up and made his way to the kitchen to get water; little did he know that someone was saw the same thing he did. Zuko stayed awake for the rest of the time until the sun rose. He heard a knock coming from the front door. He opened it to see a messenger handing him a scroll,

"The earth king would like to discuss things over tea this afternoon."
Zuko took the scroll and nodded,

"Tell him I'm honored to be invited." The messenger bowed and made his way back to the palace. Zuko closed the door and headed back inside. When he noticed something or a lack of something.

"Where's Katara?" he asked himself.

' Maybe she went out early?' the voice said.

' Earlier than us?' Zuko asked.

' Good point, perhaps we should ask the earth king when we meet him,' the voice suggested. Zuko nodded and went to get ready for the meeting.

...

An hour later Zuko began making his way to the palace. As he was walking he passed a club full of old men playing pai sho. Just as he was about to pass he felt a hand grab his shoulder. He turned around to see a man sitting down at an empty table.

"Care for a game?" he asked. Zuko shook his head.

"No. I'm in a rush."

The man did not move his hand, "I insist," he said giving a little squeeze to his shoulder. Zuko looked into his eyes and finial got it.

"I suppose one game wouldn't hurt."

He sat down across the player, "I don't suppose I could start?" he asked. The man opposite him nodded. Zuko picked up the lotus tile and slammed it down in the middle. The man was about to speak but Zuko stopped him.

"Like I said I'm in a hurry, if we could skip the formalities."

The man nodded and placed his tile. After a few seconds the lotus was formed on the board.

"Welcome brother," the man said. Zuko nodded, "Any news?" he asked.

"Yes. I came to tell you that the masters have been informed of their fellow master's death," the man said. Zuko nodded.

"Anything else?" he asked.

"Yes we've received word from that village you came from and everything is fine. There hasn't been any raids at all. Also in the words of your Lt. Jee the men have become fat and bored," the man said. Zuko smiled as he imagined what the men looked like now.

"Send word to them that I may have need of them in a few weeks," Zuko said. The man nodded.

"Anything else?" he asked. Zuko thought about what else he needed to know.

"What were the last know whereabouts' of Azula?" he asked. The man shook his head.

"Last I heard was that they were in some forest just south west of the city where the Kyoshi warriors do their patrols."

Zuko's eyes widen at that last fact.

' You don't think?' the voice asked.

' Only one way to find out,' he thought to himself. Zuko looked back to the man in front of him.

"Look I think something is going to happen today, tell the order that Ba Sing Se is in trouble, as soon as you can."

The man nodded and stood up, "Thanks for the game stranger," he said walking away into the crowd. Zuko looked around making sure he wasn't watched and walked away from the table.

...

Zuko made his way through the palace and into the sitting room where he is to meet the king. He already sees tea waiting for him as he waits. While waiting Zuko felt a shiver go down his spine.

' Something's not right here,' he thought to himself.

' Agreed I sense a presence I haven't felt sense-' the voice started to say but was interrupted. He saw the Dai Lee agents surround him.

' This isn't going to end well,' the voice said.

' For them,' Zuko thought. Just then Azula entered behind them,

"It's tea time."

Zuko stood up, "Azula," Zuko said glaring at his sister.

"Have you meet the Dai Lee? Their earth benders but they have a killer instinct that is so Fire bender. I just love it," she said gloating in his face.

"Yes I have. I put their boss in the dungeon and gave him a broken nose to go with it," Zuko said smirking.

"Funny," Azula stated coldly. Zuko looked down at the table and got an idea. Zuko bent down and picked up a cup of tea.

"Did Uncle ever tell you how he got the nickname Dragon of the West?" he asked.

"Spare me, I'm not interested in a lengthy anecdote, Brother," she hissed out his name.

"This is more of a demonstration really," Zuko said while smirking taking a sip of the tea.

' This tea sucks,' he thought right before he breathed fire at the agents surrounding him. When they were distracted Zuko blew a hole in the nearest wall and ran as fast as he could. He could hear the sound of rocks being shot at him from behind. After taking some different turns he came to what seemed to be a dead end for anyone else. Zuko blasted the wall by combining his lightning and flames into one. A flash of red lightning intertwine with his fire blasted a gaping hole into the wall. Zuko jumped out.

' Aim for the bushes,' the voice said. Zuko landed on the bush which was destroyed after he landed on it.

"Ow, that's going to leave a mark," Zuko said to himself. Zuko wasted no time before running back toward the house.

...

As he rushed through the front door there in front of him is Momo.

"Where've you been?" he asked him. Momo jumped up and down making a bunch of noises and pointed in different directions.

"Forget I asked," Zuko said to himself.

"Well if Azula's here I'm going to guess Katara got kidnapped," Zuko said. Momo nodded his head.

"Well I guess I'm going to have to play the hero again," Zuko said to himself.

' Don't act like you don't love it,' the voice said.

' Not now!' he shouted in his head. He went to his room changing into his Blue Spirit gear. As he emerged from his room he looked back to Momo sitting on the table.

"If Aang or anyone else comes you lead them to me alright?" he asked him. Momo nodded.
Zuko put's on his mask and began jumping onto the nearest rooftop to find his prey.

' So what's the plan?' the voice asked.

' Find the girl, beat the bad guy and save the king,' Zuko thought.

' And how do you plan on finding the young water bender?' the voice asked.

' I know just the right guy to ask,' Zuko thought to himself.

...

Aang, Toph and Sokka walk into the house expecting to find Katara and the Kyoshi warriors there but it was empty.

"See Katara is in trouble I knew it!" Aang exclaimed.

"Oh no, but wait what about Zuko where's he?" Sokka asked.

"Wait somebody's at the door," Toph said as they heard a knock.

"Actually it's an old friend of ours," she said as she open the door to revel The Blue Spirit. Zuko took off the mask.

"Hey Zuko here," he said holding up his hand.

"We've got a situation here."

"How bad?" Sokka asked.

"Azula," Zuko stated.

"That's bad," Sokka said.

"Where's Katara?" Aang asked worried.

"I was just about to find out," he says putting his mask back on.

"Follow me."

They followed him to the front porch where a Dai Lee was tied up and had a sack over his head.

"Toph," Zuko said.

"Got it," Toph said using her earth bending to raise him to his feet. Zuko walked over and removed the bag.

"Remember me?" Zuko said in a deep demonic voice.

"AH, no, no, no, no not you," he said starting to cry in fear.

"Please don't drop me off a building again," he pleaded. Aang and Sokka looked at each other wonder what he was talking about.

"Don't worry I won't hurt you… yet," Zuko stated.

"I'll tell you anything."

"First what is Azula planning?" Zuko asked.

"Azula and Long Feng are planning a coup, they're going to overthrow the earth King," he said scared.

"My sister, where are they keeping Katara?" Sokka said raising his machete.

"The crystal catacombs of old Ba Sing Se. Deep beneath the palace."

Sokka, Toph and Aang ran toward Appa. Zuko stayed behind to deal with him, "Thanks for the help." The man looked into the mask,

"Please don't eat my soul," he said. Zuko silently laugh.

"No promises," he said before knocking him out.

...

After a brief fly to the palace they came to the court yard. Toph began to use her senses to find the catacombs.

"Well what do you know there is an ancient city down there, but it's deep," Toph said making a hole in the ground.

"We should split up," Sokka suggested.

"Aang you and Zuko go save Katara and I'll go with Toph and warn the King about the coup."

Aang lead the way down making a path for him and Zuko who is providing light for them both. For a while it was quiet before Zuko broke it.

"Aang what's wrong?" he asked. Aang looked at him.

"How did you know something's wrong?" he asked. Zuko shrugged his shoulder.

"I can tell. So what's on your mind?" he asked. Aang took a breath before pushing the tunnel further before answering.

"Well I met with the guru who was supposed to help me master the Avatar State, and control this great power. But to do it, I had to let go of someone I love. And I just couldn't."

Zuko thought about how to respond to that, "Well my father and probably a lot of other people in this world would say that you've made a terrible choice. Hell the Zuko you guys knew before would have told you that you've made a terrible choice," he said. Aang hanged his head down as he felt guilt building up in his mind.

"But I think that protection and power are overrated. I think you made the right choice choosing happiness and love," Zuko said.

"But what happens if we can't save Katara and beat Azula? Without the Avatar state what if I'm not powerful enough?" Aang asked. Zuko rubbed the back of his neck.

' All this wisdom is starting to give me a headache,' he thought to himself.

"I don't know the answer. Sometimes life is like this dark tunnel, you can't always see the light at the end of the tunnel. But if you just keep moving…"

Aang pushes the last of the rocks out of the way revealing the green lights of the crystals. Zuko extinguished the fire in his hand as they look at the view of the catacombs.

"You will come to a better place," Zuko finished.

"Thanks Zuko. When did you get so good at giving advice?" Aang asked. Zuko patted Aang's shoulder.

"I tell you later. Now come on we have a damsel to save."

"What's a damsel?" Aang asked. Zuko looked at him disbelieving what he just said.

"I guess I'll tell you that later too. Come on," Zuko said jumping down into the ground.

...

Katara couldn't tell how long she's been down there for and she was starting to get agitated.

"Why do I feel like I'm supposed to have a conversation with Zuko right now?" she thought to herself. Before she could answer herself the wall blast open revealing Aang and Zuko.

' Oh speak of the devil,' she thought.

"Aang! Zuko!" Katara yelled as she ran to Aang who gave her a hug.

"So you'll be fine on your own huh?" Zuko smirked. Katara frowned at him.

"Shut up."

Zuko started to laugh which caused the other two to join in.
Just then a chill ran down Zuko's spine.

"Azula," he said out loud. Zuko turned to face the hole that they came through.

"Aang you and Katara get out of here," he stated calmly.

"Zuko we can take her together," Katara said.

"You don't have to face her alone," Aang added.

"No go help the King he matter's more than my safety," Zuko stated.

"But-" Aang started.

"NOW! Your running out of time!" he shouted. Aang nodded and grabbed Katara's hand leading her out a different path.

"Be careful Zuko!" they both shouted. Zuko stood waiting for her to come, he didn't have to wait long. But before he could do anything he was encased in a crystal cell.

"Hello again Zuzu," she said mocking him.

"Azula," he growled out.

"So here we are face to face yet again," she says.

"So it would seem," Zuko replied.

"Zuko you are a lot of things but you are not a traitor," she stated. Zuko smirked.

"Haven't you've seen the wanted posters I am."

"You know it's not too late Zuko you can still redeem yourself. I need you Zuko I've plotted every single move of this day. This glorious day in Fire Nation history and the only way we win is together. At the end of today you will have your honor back;l, you'll have father's love. You will have everything you want," she finished. Zuko thought about everything she just said. Just at that moment he could hear those two dragons from his fever returning to his vison.

"Give in Prince Zuko you know you want to," the blue dragon responded.

"NO Prince Zuko think of your crew, the villagers, the Avatar and his friends," the red dragon yelled.

"But you could return home become the king you've always meant to be. Think of the struggle you have gone through. Three years aboard an old rusted to hell ship, chasing a dream only to come so close and have it torn from your very hands. To endure the ridicule and the disrespect from the entire world. It could all be over if you just say so," the blue dragon tease as it wraps around him. Zuko was about to give in until the red dragon spoke up.

"Prince Zuko think of your mother," the red dragon said. Zuko eyes widen.

"Think of her, your uncle, your cousin, your crew, the village, the Avatar, his friends… your friends, think of the pain our nation has put these people through. Think of the people they have lost, what they had to sacrifice for this war. A war that you can end but only if you chose what is right," the red dragon finished. Zuko looked at both the dragons in the eyes before looking back at Azula waiting for an answer. Zuko looked her square in the eye before answering.

"Go to hell Azula and take the evil of the Fire Nation with you."

Azula eyes widen before they returned back to that cold hard stare, but Zuko could tell that she was surprise by his answer and he was proud of catching her off guard.

"So be it," she said gritting her teeth.

"Leave him, I'll deal with him after I've dealt with the Avatar and his water peasant," Azula gritted. The two agent left from the hole and Azula began walking toward the way the Avatar went.

"I expected more. Goodbye Zuzu," she said leaving the room.

' Okay now how do I get out of these damn things,' he thought to himself. He looked around to see if anything would work but he couldn't really tell. As he was looking he could hear explosion's going on near him.

"Crap okay think Zuko how would Uncle get out of this," he said to himself.

' Wait I got it,' he thought. His hands were still free and he can move them just enough to create lightning.

' This is a terrible idea and this is going to hurt,' he thought to himself. He felt the spark flowing through his hand and aimed it for the crystal surrounding him. Before he release the energy he closed his eyes to shield him from the blast. He felt the lightning leave his hand and he felt the impact of the blast, blowing up the case and pushing him back a couple of feet. Zuko laid there for a few seconds.

"Agni that was stupid," he said to himself. He tried to get up but he felt a strange sharpness in certain parts on his body. He looked down to see some crystals sticking out of him.

"Smooth Zuko," he said to himself. Zuko used his right hand to remove some of the crystals in him. He slowly removed each crystal sticking out of him. He felt each and every one being pulled out. After removing the last one he struggled to stand up but got up none the less.

"Okay let's get out of here," he said to himself. He started to slowly make his way to where Aang and Katara went. Half way down the tunnel he heard a shriek from up ahead and tried to move faster. As he came to the exit he saw Aang laying in Katara's arms not moving at all. He looked up to see Katara with tears freely falling down her cheeks. He sees Azula with her fingers pointing straight at them. He could already see the sparks dancing around her fingers.

"Gotta move now," Zuko gritted to himself. Zuko use his fire bending to propel himself into the air. Everyone was too busy watching Azula to notice. Everything seemed to be moving slower to Zuko as he landed a few feet away from Azula rolling into her. Without thinking he grabbed her hand just as the lightning was about to be released and redirected it to the ceiling. Before she could retaliate he twisted her arm behind her back and kicked her back to the Dai Lee. Zuko threw a few waves of fire at them to keep them from not noticing the rocks falling.
Zuko turned to Katara who sat there watch. He made his way to her and grabbed her arm lifting her up.

"Time to go." She nodded and ran toward to waterfall as he hobbled and shot flame after flame at the Dai Lee to keep them at bay. Katara used her water bending to get the three of them out of there. They came into the palace garden and made their way back to the court yard where Sokka, Toph, the King and his bear were.

"What happened?" Sokka yelled. Looking at the three of them.

"Time…explain…later…bison…escape…NOW!" Zuko gritted. Sokka just nodded as they all got on Appa and flew away with the city of Ba Sing Se behind them.

...

Zuko began tearing his own sleeve off so he could use it as a tourniquet for his wounds. He watched from behind as Katara used that spirit water on Aang reviving him. Zuko felt the darkness surrounding him closing in fast. The last thing he heard was the earth king declaring,

"The Earth Kingdom has fallen."

...

Toph: No surprise there, not really impressed by it. But to have crystals blown into your body, that's gotta hurt. I'm surprised Sparkey is still alive.

Huh, now that I think about it, how did general Iroh got out of the crystals? It only showed he showed up out of nowhere and fought against Zuko, Azula and the Dai Lee.

Toph: Don't know don't care let's just end this chapter, I'm curious about the next chapter, and I can't even see!

Okay okay, hope you guys enjoyed this chapter, see ya next time!