It's time for Aya to find her crossroads of destiny, so she can become the true Fire Angel and the greatest firebender in the world.

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"General Fong's base will serve as the launching point for the attack. In exactly two months, the army and navy will invade the Fire Nation on the Day of Black Sun."

Aya was in the war room at the military headquarters of Ba Sing Se with a map of the whole world in the middle of the ornate room. The Council Of Five sat on one side of the map and Aya was on the other side with Momo and Bubbles perched on her shoulders.

General How earthbends three Earth units across the sea and over to the Fire Nation as he explains the invasion plan.

Aya giggles as Momo and Bubbles pounce on the Fire Nation units, causing them to scatter.

"Or we can send Momo and Bubbles in to do some damage." Aya chuckles as the two animals continue to hop around on the map.

"Cause the..." Aya's laughter dies down when she notices the Council of Five's grim faces. "Sorry..."

With a bending gesture, the pieces return to their original position and Momo and Bubbles get startled. They flee to her shoulders and the young firebender lightly giggles.

"All we need is the Earth King's seal in order to execute the plan." General How informed Aya and he bends a scroll across the map over to her.

Aya gives him a respectable nod as she takes the scroll. "I'll get these scrolls to him right away. Thank you, General How."

Aya turns and takes her leave from the military headquarters.

——

Aya approaches the Jasmine Dragon Tea House with Bubbles and Momo still perched on shoulders.

"What do you say, guys?" Aya asked them. "A cup of tea before we get back to the king?"

The animals chitter at this and Aya makes her way inside the beautiful and fancy tea shop.

"A table for three please." Aya tells the waitress and quietly waits.

"Uncle, I need two jasmine, one green and one lychee!"

Aya's eyes grow wide at that voice. She recognized it and she despised it.

Zuko.

The Fire Prince was dressed in a fancy waiter's uniform and Iroh was working behind the counter. Aya spots her father and so badly wanted to say hi to him but she couldn't expose herself to Zuko.

"I'm brewing as fast as I can!" Iroh called with a smile.

Aya shook her head and dashed out of the tea house. She knew they were in the city but she couldn't be spotted by Zuko.

——

Eastern Air Temple

Avatar Aang and Guru Pathlik we're seated across from one another atop of a tall tower. The sky was filled with bright stars that sparked like a diamond.

"This is the last chakra isn't it?" Aang asked Pathlik who nodded.

"Yes. Once you open this chakra, you will be able go in and out of the Avatar State at will. And when you are in the Avatar State, you will have complete control and awareness of all your actions." Pathlik explained.

"Let's do this." Aang says confidently.

"The Thought chakra is located at the crown of the head. It deals with pure cosmic energy and is blocked by earthly attachment. Meditate on what attaches you to this world." Guru Pathlik tells Aang who goes into deep thought about what attaches him to this world.

Inside Aang's mind, there is Aya smiling and laughing, then she is seen posing in an alluring pose with a fresh new flower crown Aamg had crafted for her. Lastly, Aya is staring at Aang with pink cheeks an a beautiful smile

"I love you, Aang"

"Now, let all of those attachments go. Let them flow down the river. Forgotten."

After Aang hears those last words he is brought out of his vision of the Fire Angel.

"What?" Aang asked, startled. "Why would I let go of Aya? I...I..I love her. She's my girlfriend. My Fire Angel."

"Learn to let her go, or you cannot let the pure cosmic energy flow in from the universe. Every Avatar must let go of their Fire Angel in order to let the energy flow." Pathlik reasoned with Aang, who was upset about it.

"Why would I choose cosmic energy over Aya?" Aang asked with a crossed voice. "How could it be a bad thing that I feel an attachment to the Fire Angel. Three chakras ago, that was a good thing."

"You must learn to let her go." Pathlik firmly repeats and Aang lowers his eyes with a look of uncertainty.

Back with Aya

Aya races down the long halls of the Royal Palace and stops in front of the Kyoshi Warrior imposters in the main chamber.

"Thank goodness you are here, Suki." Aya breaths out. "Something terrible is going on. The Fire Nation has infiltrated the city. I just saw Prince Zuko and Iroh!" Azula's eyes snap
open. "We have to tell the Earth King right away!"

Azula rises to feet. "Oh, don't worry. I'll be sure to let him know."

Aya grows dumbstruck when she realizes who these 'Kyoshi Warriors' were. Momo grabs Bubbles and leaps away with frightened squeals. Before Aya could attack whatsoever, Ty Lee rushes forward with acrobatic tricks and jabs Aya's shoulder as she flips behind her. Aya gets out her fire whip but she falls to the ground paralyzed and the area she fell on burnt due to her fire whip. Aya lies helpless on the burnt carpet as the three girls gather around her.

"She's a firebender?" Ty Lee asked.

"This Water Tribe peasant is actually my cousin." Azula tells Ty Lee with a snarl. "Zuzu's in the city too. I think it's time for a little family reunion."

Back at the Eastern Air Temple

"I'm sorry, but I can't let go of Aya." Aang apologized, feeling his heart break at the thought of letting Aya go.

"Aang, to master the Avatar State, you must open all the chakras. Surrender yourself." Pathlik calmly states

With a reluctance to do so, Aang nods. "Okay, I'll try."

Inside Aang's mind, there are mountains beneath a starry sky. The heavens begin to spin with fast speed, the stars blurry streaks vanish behind the mountains. An beautiful image of Aya appears, and floats back toward the horizon to where she disappears.

"Now, think of your attachments and let them go." Pathlik's voice echoes in Aang's head.

Looking up into the stars, we see an aurora of light. Aang is seen floating in space above the planet, and the aurora forms into a radiant bridge beneath his own two feet. From below, Aang sees a massive entity standing above his pathway. There stood a spectral figure of Aang, expect the tattoos and eyes were shining with the light. Aang carefully moves towards it, mouth open in awe. As he nears the feet of the giant figure, his own tattoos begin to glow like the figure. The spectral Aang descends with a sphere of light shimmering between its fingers. Aang is enclosed within this sphere of light, but suddenly he is distracted by a cry of distress and fear. Aang sees a vision of Aya chained to a wall, demanding to be freed with tears streaming down her face. Wanting to save his angel, Aang leaps from the hands of the spectral, and the sphere of light dissolves. As he rushes back down the path, the entity vanished from sight as he leaves. The path he runs on begins to fade rapidly, until it drops him to plunge toward the world as Aang screams.

Aang is suddenly brought out from his meditative trance.

"Aya is in danger! I have to go." Aang exclaims as he shoots to his feet before he races away.

"No Aang! By choosing attachment, you have locked the chakra!" Aang stops to listen to Pathlik. "If you leave now you won't be able to go into the Avatar State at all!"

Aang pauses for a moment to think on what to do. Either get control of the Avatar State or save his girlfriend from possible death. He chooses Aya and leaps down from the tower. Pathlik closed his eyes with a mournful face as Aang rides away on Appa.

——

"Let me go!" Aya yelled at the guards who were leading her away. Her hands were in rock gloves so she couldn't firebend and her ankles were shackled together.

"Be quiet." The guard snarled at her and she glared at the both of them. They dragged her outside and earthbended a hole that led to an underground cavern. "You have company."

The guards freed Aya of her restraints and pushed her down the hole and she slid down it as the guards closed it shut. She screamed as she slid down and landed face first on the ground. She groaned and sat up only to see a woman with tangled brown, blue eyes, and had very pale skin. Aya tilted her head at the woman and stood up with confusion.

Aya's seen this woman somewhere before, she seemed so familiar to her.

"Hello." The wan greeted and her voice was soft and gentle. "My name's Ruka."

Aya's eyes grew wide at the name and she gasped. This is her, this is her mother. After years, she's finally met her mother.

Ruka grew concerned. "What's wrong?"

Aya shook her head at this and looked away. "Nothing, I just miss someone."

"So do I." Ruka admitted and Aya looked at her. "My daughter, I had to give her up when she was a baby to protect her."

"What was her name?" Aya asked, twiddling her fingers nervously.

"Aya."

Ruka and Aya both made eye contact when Ruka said the name. It was silent as the two stared at each other and Ruka squinted her eyes for a bit. The girl that stood before her had the same gold eyes and same face as her baby did, but older and more mature.

"Oh." Was all Aya said. "That's a beautiful name."

"Thank you." Ruka smiles and Aya returned it. "What's your name?"

"My name's Aya." Aya admitted. "And I don't think you're daughter is lost anymore."

Ruka was befuddled for a moment before she realized what Aya met and her mouth fell in shock and happiness.

"Aya, is it really you." Ruka choked out with tears forming in her eyes. Ruka gently caressed her daughter's cheek and Aya leaned into her palm. "

"Yes, mommy it's me." Aya nods and the two of them embraced each other tightly. It was an indescribable feeling that both of the girls felt when they hugged for the first time. They were no words to describe the moment.

"Oh, Aya, sweetie." Ruka cries quietly and she could her Aya sob. "It's been so long."

Ruka pulled away to arms length to get a good look at her daughter. She thought Aya was beautiful with her long brown hair and striking gold orbs along with her flawless skin.

"I've missed you so much mommy." Aya confessed, wiping her tears away. "It seems weird to say that because you left when I was a baby but still."

Ruka chuckled at that and brushed Aya's hair behind her shoulders. "I can't believe I found you. What-What have you been doing?"

"It's quite a story." Aya told her with a small grin.

"We've got time."

——

It's been an hour since Aya and Ruka have reunited. Aya had just finished telling Ruka the adventure she had been on and Ruka couldn't be prouder of her little firebender.

"Oh, Aya." Ruka smiles. "Sounds like you had quite an adventure."

"Yeah, but right now Ba Sing Se is in trouble and we're not exactly in a good situation. We've been captured." Aya retorted with worry.

"I've been here for a month and I know someone is coming to save us." Ruka told me with hope. "You're team is coming to save you."

Aya looked away at this. "But I'm the Fire Angel, I should be able to save myself. I'm sick of being the damsel in distress."

"Aya, it's okay to not be the hero all the time. I have a feeling that you'll have your time to shine soon." Ruka tells her daughter, placing her hand on her shoulder. Aya turns to her with a sad smile and Ruka pulls her daughter into her arms.

The two were interrupted when the sound of opening up a hole from above occurred. There stood two Dai Li agents and Prince Zuko.

"You've got company." A Dai Li agent told the girls and threw Zuko down the hole. "Ruka, you're coming with us."

Zuko rolls down the hole and lands at their feet. Aya's eyes grow wide at this.

"Zuko!" Both girls express and a Dai Li sends rock gloves onto Ruka's wrist.

"Come on!" A Dai Li scolds at Ruka.

"Bye mommy." Aya smiled sadly and Ruka returned it.

"Bye sweetie."

After that, Ruka is earthbended back to the surface and the hole is sealed shut.

Aya's POV

I turned to the Fire Prince with an expression of anger and sadness. Zuko stands up and moved away from me before sitting down with his back turned to me. I clenched my fists in anger at the sight of him and glared.

"Why did they throw you in here?" I asked him with my voice raised. "Oh, wait, let me guess. It's a trap. So that when Aang shows up to help me, you can finally have him in your little Fire Nation clutches!"

Zuko glanced at me but remains silent. I let out a loud groan at this and grabbed my head.

"You're a terrible person!" I yell and turn away. Tears form in my eyes and I blink them away. "You know that? Always following us! Hunting the Avatar! Trying to capture the world's last hope for peace! I can't believe I'm related to you, I despise the fact that I'm your cousin."

I immediately covered my mouth and I heard movement behind me.

Uh oh.

"Don't be shocked." Zuko told me. "I know we're related. My uncle told me." I turned to him and he still had his back turned to me. "And besides you don't know what you're talking about."

I scoffed and folded my arms feeling anger bottling up inside me. "I don't?! How dare you say that?! You have no idea what this war has put me through!" Tears were flowing down my cheeks and I covered my mouth, falling to my knees. "The Fire Nation took away both my mother figures, Kya and Ruka. Both my parents were separated because of this war and I was given up as a baby only to be left with my adoptive family." I uncovered my mouth and glanced up. "My entire life was one big lie because of this war."

Zukos turns to me. "I'm sorry." I sniffled and wiped my gold eyes. "That's something we have in common."

I stared at Zuko in surprise and stood up. I felt regret and guilt for yelling at Zuko like that. I've never yelled at someone like that and I guess seeing Zuko's face caused me to lash out.

"I'm sorry for yelling at you. I just had to let it out." I apologized to him, holding my arms to my chest.

"It doesn't matter." Zuko replied.

"For so long whenever I imagined the face of the enemy it was you." I admitted feeling guilty right as I said it.

"My face? I see." Zuko touches his scar at this and I immediately felt bad.

"That's not what I meant." I quickly remarked, approaching him.

"It's okay. I used to think this scar marked me. The mark of the banished prince, cursed to chase the Avatar forever. But lately, I've realized I'm free to determine my own destiny, even if I'll never be free of my mark."

I've never seen this side of Zuko. Under all that anger and hatred, there is a soft person who has his own troubles and problems. He is human after all, like me.

"Well, there is a way to be free of it." I suddenly remembered Katara's healing abilities and the water she got from the Spirit Oasis from the Northern Water Tribe.

"What?" He asked.

"My sister has healing abilities."

"It's a scar. It can't be healed." Zuko retorted.

"Katara got this special water from the North Pole. It has these special properties and she's been saving it for something important." I explained, moving closer to the Prince. "I'm not sure it would work or if she would be willing to do it."

"I don't think she trusts me." Zuko reasoned and I shrugged.

"Never know." I told him.

Out of nowhere, a explosion happened beside us and I saw a huge hole had been created. I smiled when I saw Aang and Iroh standing there.

"Aang!" I beamed and ran over to my boyfriend, hugging him close. He spins me around and kisses my cheek. "I knew you would come."

"I'm glad you're okay, Angel." He muttered against my shoulder.

I pulled away from him and we looked at Zuko and Iroh who were hugging.

"Uncle, I don't understand. What are you doing with the Avatar?" Zuko asked, pointing to Zuko. This time I stood in front of Aang.

"Saving you that's what." Aang remarked.

Zuko takes a step toward Aang, but Iroh stops him and I take one step forward.

"Zuko, it's time we talked." Iroh told his nephew and turns to us. "Go help you other friends. We'll catch up with you." I nodded at this and grab Aang's hand. "I'll see you later, sweetie."

I gave Iroh a smile before Aang and I walked away. I glanced back at Zuko for a moment but looked away seconds later.

Aang stops me halfway through the tunnel and I looked at him with confusion.

"Did Zuko hurt you?" He asked me, bringing his hand to my cheek.

I shook my head. "No, we actually had a gentle and nice conversation. No fighting at all and I saw a side of him that I didn't know he had."

Aang looked at me with a raised eyebrow. "Really?"

"Yes. Now, come on we gotta find the others."

Aang and I began to run through the other part of the cavern. This part was huge compared to the part I was trapped it. It had a beautiful river flowing around it and had beautiful glowing crystals spread throughout the cavern. It had large stone pillars to support the weight of the ceiling above us.

"We've gotta find Sokka, Katara, and Toph!" I told Aang as we sprinted through the cavern.

From behind us, we heard a fire blast and we turned to see Azula standing there blasting her blue fire at us. Aang earthbends a wall of stone to protect us, but the fire blasts through the wall and destroys it.

I quickly run forward and form fire in my hands and charged toward Azula. I blast all of the fire at Azula but she hastily counters the attack back at me and I redirect the fire back towards her. Aang comes up behind me and created a giant wave of water from the channel beside us. Azula stomps the ground and flings her hands out, making a wall of fire that evaporates the wave coming at her. The steam from the fire covers Azula and we looked around for her.

Out of nowhere, Azula jumped out of the cloud of steam and shot two fire blasts at us. I quickly moved the fire blasts away from us and Aang earthbends a shock wave under the rock column Azula had landed on. The column crumbles from under her and she swiftly lands in between Aang and I with her fingers pointing at us.

The three of us waited in anticipation for her next move. It was silent for a second until a giant blast of fire struck and we all turn to see Zuko standing there with a determined look on his face. Zuko quickly attacks Aang who deflects it with his airbending and slides back.

I watched with shock as Azula hastily turned to me and shot a fire blast at me. I reacted quickly and bended the fire behind me before I was attacked by it.

Zuko continues to attack Aang and I was up against Azula. I ran up to my cousin and created a fire whip that I whipped at her, but she moved back and watched the fire chop off an inch of her bangs. I bended a huge ball of fire and lobbed it at Azula who fell to her knees.

Unexpectedly, the fire in my hands formed around my body. I was shocked but I wasn't complaining.

But, how am I not burning alive?

You're body is immune to fire. Use it to your advantage.

I smirked at this and lifted my arms into the air. Azula leans forward, thrusting her fist at me but I quickly encase her arm with fire and then her leg as she kicked it. I went to lift her in the air, but my fire was vanished by another fire attack that was made my Zuko.

I glared at Zuko and we started to fight each other as Azula went over to Aang. I created to fire whips and deflected all of his fire blasts.

"I thought you changed!" I spat at him from my side of the flowing channel. Both of our whips made contact and all the fire vanished from our hands.

"I hav changed." He told me before shooting another blast of fire at me. I quickly redirected the fire blasts to him and shot it back at him.

From above me, Azula leaped toward me and shoots a fire blast at me but I deflect it and rapidly deflect Zuko's blast. To my dismay, Zuko caught me off guard by shooting another blast at me and I got launched back.

"Ahh!" I yelled and landed on the column of crystals beside me. I groaned softly and laid there weak and vulnerable.

I heard a yell and opened my eyes to see Aang sitting in the ground in the distance and all around us stood Dai Li agents.

I got up to my feet as a group of agents hopped down to meet me. I formed a circle of fire around me and created two fire whips again.

I looked up and saw Aang facing my cousins and many Dai Li agents. My face fell at the sight knowing he wouldn't be able to take on all of them. We were out numbered, we couldn't do anything.

"There's too many." I mumbled at this.

Aya, it's time to become the true Fire Angel.

The circle of fire around me grew taller and taller until it created a wall of fire. I lowered my whips and closed my eyes, putting my hands together. I felt a warm sensation boiling inside me and my feet slowly left the ground.

You are Fire Angel Aya.

My eyes shot open and I glanced behind me too see beautiful wings made of fire and I was floating in the air. I looked over at Aang who was encased in a crystal tent and I stared at it as it lit up.

Suddenly, the crystal tent exploded and Aang levitated out of it. I smiled softly at sight as he rose in the air and was filled with joy.

He mastered the Avatar State.

But, my whole world shattered when Aang was struck in the back by lightning and I gasped with horror.

"NO!"

I formed all the fire in my hands and set a wave of it at the Dai Li agents. Every agent got flung back to the wall and I fell back to the ground with my wings disappearing in an instant. All the fire around me vanished and my eyes darted to Aang who was plummeting to the ground lifelessly.

I quickly formed two fire balls in my hands and blasted them back to create two fire jets. I flew over to Aang with tears streaming down my cheeks and subsequently took out Azula and Zuko along the way before I caught my boyfriend.

My mouth feel open with horror and sadness at the sight of him. His clothes were tattered and burnt, he was cold and he had no pulse.

He was gone.

My heart was completely shattered and I felt like I just got sucked into a dark abyss.

Azula and Zuko recovered but a large fire blast hits the ground between us. My father lands in front of Aang and I and takes a fighting stance.

"You've got to get out of here, darling! I'll hold them off as long as I can!"

I nodded, quickly getting up and I carried Aang away as Iroh fought off my cousins. I went over to the waterfall and formed my fire wings.

Don't worry, you're not alone.

My wings lit up with fire and I flew up in front of the waterfall with Aang in my arms.

——

I soon reunited with my team along with, my Ruka, The King and Bosco. They found my mother in prison and helped her escape when they did. Katara joined me on Appa's head and I laid Aang down.

I hugged him to my body and cried softly. I could hear Katara sobbing quietly beside me and my tears dripped onto Aang's wound that was covering his back. The wound was a horror to look at, a complete travesty.

"Aya." Katara chokes out and I looked at her. She was holding the container that had the water from the North Pole and I gasped with shock. Katara bends the water from the container and it spun around in a circle until it lit up.

Katara gently took Aang and places the water in his wound. The water vanishes inside his wound and nothing happened.

"No..." I cry and hold him close with Katara. A single tear dripped off my cheek and lands on his wound, right then his tattoos lit up.

My heart skipped a beat when I heard him groan and I gasped as we pulled away. Aang gave me a weak smile before I pull him into a hug.

I felt whole again.

I laid down next to an unconscious Aang with him in my arms as the rest of us stared at Ba Sing Se.

"The Earth Kingdom..." The Earth King began with sorrow. "Has fallen."

I shut my eyes and leaned my head against Aang's.

——

The Undiscovered Girl✅

Up Next: The Avatar's Angel