Polar Opposites *A Prince Zuko Love Story*

Chapter 17 - The Crossroads of Destiny: Part 2

Aang, Iroh and I have been travelling through the tunnel for about 15 minutes now, Aang using his earthbending to make the tunnel and Iroh lighting the way with a small flame cupped in his hand. To be honest, it's been quite awkward but, that's to be expected when Iroh is more of an enemy to Aang then he is to me. "So, Toph thinks you give pretty good advice. And great tea." Aang says, breaking the ice between him and Iroh. "The key to both is proper aging." Iroh replies. "What's on your mind?" he asks. Aang pauses for a second, his eyes meeting mine for a split second before he does an earthbending move to deepen the tunnel. "Well, I met with this Guru who was supposed to help me master the Avatar State, and control this great power." Aang begins as the 3 of us continue our way down the tunnel. "But to do it, I had to let go of someone I love, and I just couldn't." he finishes, somberly. "Perfection and power are overrated." Iroh says. "I think you were very wise to choose happiness and love." he smiles in which I nod in agreement too as we stop again and Aang pushes back the earth in front of us with a wave of his arms. "What happens if we can't save everyone and beat Azula? Without the Avatar State, what if I am not powerful enough?" Aang asks. "I don't know the answer." Iroh answers. "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..." he explains before Aang pushes both of his arms forward, earthbending the rocks out of the way. "Whoa." I whisper in amazement as I look into the large room in front of us. "You will come to a better place." Iroh finishes his words of wisdom from earlier. We climb out of the tunnel that we had come down and Aang uses his abilities to locate Zuko and Katara, the same way he found Appa and Momo in the swamp all those weeks ago. A few minutes later, Aang gets to his feet again. "I know where they are! Come on!" he shouts running off, Iroh and I close behind him.

******************************************************

Aang blasts through the wall that he says will lead us into the room that both Zuko and Katara are inside. "Kida!" Katara's voice shouts, making Aang and I to turn our heads in the direction that her voice came from. "Katara!" I smile as she runs up to me, engulfing me in a hug. A moment later, Katara lets go of me and my blue eyes meet Zuko's gold ones as Iroh releases him from his own hug. I run over to him, wrapping my arms around his neck. "I was so worried." I say to him in his ear as he wraps his arms around me. Little did I know, Zuko and Aang were glaring at each other. I let go of him and give him a small smile before standing on his other side, turning to face Katara and Aang.

"Aang, I knew you would come." Katara says to Aang, giving him another hug. "Uncle, I don't understand." Zuko says, sounding upset. "What are you doing with the Avatar?!" he asks, pointing a finger at Aang. "Saving you, that's what." Aang replies. Zuko snarls angrily at him, trying to lunge at him, but Iroh and I grab him, preventing him from causing a fight. "Zuko, it's time we talked." Iroh says to him. "Go help your other friends. We'll catch up with you." he says to both Katara and Aang. Aang clasps his hands and bows respectfully to Iroh before running back through the hole in the cave, Katara following behind him, reluctantly. I wonder what had happened between the 2 of them while they were in here alone together. "Go on with your friends Kida, we'll catch up with you later." he says, a smile on his face. I hesitantly nod in reply, not really wanting to leave them. Zuko's eyes meet mine and I give him a smile before running off after Aang and Katara.

******************************************************

Aang, Katara and I make it into the main part of the catacombs where the waterfall is. "We've got to find Sokka and Toph!" Katara says as we run through the room. I hear sizzling from behind us, causing me to turn and see a stream of blue fire, rocketing towards Aang, Katara and I. Aang quickly turns around, earthbending a wall of stone to protect us. The fire hits the wall with great force, knocking Aang back. I look around the wall of rock and see Azula, still in her bending stance. I grit my teeth at the sight of her. 'I am really getting sick of her' I think before running out from behind the wall and bending the water from the channel of water beside me, charging at Azula. I bring the water crashing onto her, but Azula deflects the attack with a short blast of fire. Keeping my momentum, I spin the water around me, smashing it into the floor and creating a large wave. Once again, Azula stops the attack before it can reach her by stomping the ground and flinging her hands out, making a wall of fire that evaporates the wave. The resulting steam hides Azula from view. Aang, Katara and I look around through the steam, preparing for a sneak attack.