You're My Path (Zuko X Reader) Book 3

Chapter 9

Previously on Chapter 8

"No, I think it's great! You're like a secret hero!" I said, happily. She smiles softly at me. "Well, if you wanna help, there's one more thing I have to do" she said. I give her a confused look. What could she have in mind?

-Destroying The Factory-

Aang P.O.V

"You wanna destroy this factory?" I said. She turns to look at me. "Yes. Sokka was just kidding, but he was right. Getting rid of this factory is the only way to help these people permanently" she said. I nod my head in agreement. Katara's right... destroying the factory is going to help the villagers.

We quickly start to put the plan into motion. I pour the molten metal into the factory, making sure to wear a pair of gloves because I wouldn't want to burn myself. Katara use water-bending to bend the water from the river into the factory.

***

We are walking back to the campsite. I let out a loud laugh and make an explosion sound. Katara quickly turns to look at me. "Shhh! We don't wanna wake Sokka. Hi, Sokka, we were just out on a morning walk!" She said. We turn around and notice Sokka and Toph already awake.

"Oh, really? A morning walk?" He said. He grabs her sleeping bag and dumps out all the hay. "I know you're the Painted Lady, I know you've been sneaking out at night, and I know you've been lying about Appa and been feeding him purpleising tongue berries! Katara, what you did put our whole mission in jeopardy. We're leaving right now!" He yelled at Katara. Katara walks passed him with a sad expression. Sokka turns to look at me with a judging look.

"And how did you know about this?" He said. I lift my hand in defensive mode. "Hey, I just found out this morning!" I said. I quickly sprints away before he could start scolding me again.

We start packing our stuff. But stop mid-ways when we hear a voice. We kneel down behind a rock to see what's going on. I can see a bunch of people on a jet-skis.

"What's going on?" Toph said. "Fire Nation soldiers are heading toward the village!" I said. "What did you do??" Sokka said, turning to look at Katara. "I kinda destroy their factory" she said.

"You what?" Sokka said, not believing what Katara said. "It was your idea!" She said, defensively. "I was joking! I also said to use spirit magic and made funny noises! Did you even think this through? The army is gonna blame the villagers! They're headed there right now to get revenge!" Sokka said. "Well, what was I supposed to do?" Katara said. "Leave! Do nothing!" Sokka said.

"No, I will never, ever turn my back on people who need me! I'm going down to that village, and I am gonna do whatever I can" Katara said, angrily. She stomps away, but Sokka quickly place a hand on her shoulder.

"Wait! I'm coming too" he said. "I thought you didn't want to help" Katara said, turning to look at him in confusion. He just smiles softly at her. "You need me, and I will never turn my back on you" he said. Katara smiles happily at what he said. "Sokka, you really do have a heart" she said, hugging him. I just smile at their interaction. It makes me miss my sister even more.

"He really does have a heart, doesn't he?" I said. I turn to look at Toph. But instead of replying, she elbows me. The impact makes me fall down.

Time-skip

Sokka start to play the flute. He creates an eerie music to help scare them. Appa lets out a groan. Toph use earth-bending to elevate and drop a large boulder.

I hide beneath Katara, in case she needs my help. The leader bends fire at her. I use air-bending and make Katara flies towards the sky. I rends the dock into two, sending the soldiers flying into the water.

Katara rises from the water. "Leave this village and never come back" she said. He swims desperately away from her. A jet ski passes by and he quickly get on top of it. He quickly speeds of.

We gather on the village. Everyone starts to thank Katara for helping them. I just smile softly at the sight. Now this village will be free from the Fire Nation.

"Hey, wait a minute! I know you! You're not the Painted Lady, you're that colonial girl!" Dock said. I turn to look at Katara, noticing her make up is all smudged.

"Yeah, you're the lady that gave me a fish" a boy said. "You've been tricking us. You're a waterbender!" Dock said. Everyone else starts yelling angrily at Katara. The villagers runs forward towards her. Sokka quickly steps forward to protect his sister.

"Maybe she is a waterbender, but she was just trying to help you. Because of her, that factory won't be polluting your river, and the army is gone. You should be down on your knees thanking her!" He said.

"Sokka, it's okay" Katara said. She walks forward and removes her hat. She turns to look at the villagers as they glare at her angrily. "I shouldn't have acted like someone I wasn't, and I shouldn't have tricked you. But I felt like I had to do something. It doesn't matter if the Painted Lady is real or not. Because your problems are real, and this river is real. You can't wait around for someone to help you. You have to help yourself" she said.

"She's right, but what should we do?" Dock said. Toph moves behind the villagers. "Maybe we can clean the river!" She said, in a weird tone. I try to stop myself from laughing.

"Yeah, we can clean the river! You know, you're not so bad for a water-bender" Dock said, as the crowd cheers. "You wouldn't mind keeping that a secret, by the way, would you?" Sokka said. Dock nods his head.

"No problem. Keeping my mouth shut is a personal specialty. My brother Xu, on the other hand, ohh, he's a blabbermouth" he said. Sokka hits his face. I just shake my head.

"So, Dock, are you gonna help us clean?" Katara said. Dock turns to her. "No, ma'am. I'm going to get my other brother, Bushi. He loves cleaning rivers" he said. He takes off his hat, which only reveal another one beneath. "All right, I'm Bushi! Let's get some river cleaning done!" He said.

"Aha, I knew it! I knew you were the same guy. You're the shop owner and the boat guy" I said. "Oh, you must be talking about my brothers, Dock and Xu" he said. "No, I just saw you! You switched hats and called yourself a different name!" I said, getting annoyed by his actions.

"Oh, you know who does that? My brother, Dock. He's crazy" he said. I start fuming angrily because of his respond. I let out a huff in the end, realizing it's no use to argue because he's just going to keep on acting that way.

*to be continued*