Part Two: The Inner Wall

In his search for the Avatar, Zuko could only assume that he would be at one place. Zuko rushed up the steps of the Earth King's palace. He was sure that the Avatar would accept him, now of all times, with Fire Nation quite literally on their doorstep. Believe it or not, Zuko was willing to help. He reached the top of the stairs, while he needed stealth to get past the Earth King's guards, finding the King's chamber was not a problem.

It was at the end of the hall, and Zuko could only guess that it was behind two very fancy giant doors. He rushed up to them and pushed, slinging them wide open. The Earth King sat at the end of the room on his throne, while two Di Lai agents stood by his side. The Avatar and friends stood in front. It had appeared that Zuko interrupted an augment of some kind as he barged in. The Avatar and friends turned to look at him.

"Who is this?" The Earth King asked, but his question went unanswered.

"Zuko?" Sokka shouted excitedly, "good, you're here." Not the greeting he was expecting. "Now attack us, so the Earth King would believe that the Fire Nation is evil and on its way here to kill us."

"What?" Zuko paused, "I'm not here to fight you! My sister is at the outer wall…"

"Then why doesn't someone just let her in?" The Earth King asked, not quite understanding the situation.

"Trust me you don't want to do that," Aang answered. "She is leading the Fire Nation army and is trying to break through at this very moment."

"I don't know," The Earth King said, rubbing his chin. "Long Feng's men, say that it's just a construction project and that is why he could not be here."

"Long Feng is dead," Zuko said. "You are in great danger and if you don't believe that the Fire Nation is dangerous, I will show you."

Zuko ran forward, letting out a power blast of fire that obliterated two of the Earth King's vases. The Earth King was shocked, however the Di Lai leaped into action. Zuko dodged a glove. The fight was not able to escalate, because the Earth King stopped it with a shout.

"Stop this!" He shouted, "I think I believe you, young Avatar. But what do you expect me to do?"
"Send out your personal guard," Sokka answered. "Reinforce the outer wall defenses."

The Di Lai, who remained silent up until this point, did not like what they were hearing. With a quick glance to each other, they raced forward from where they stood and grabbed the Earth King. It happened so fast, Zuko and the others did not have time to react.

"Come on Toph," Sokka shouted as he grabbed the blind Earth bender and they rushed after the Earth King.

Katara and Aang started towards the other door, but Zuko stopped them.

"Where do you think you are going?" Zuko asked.

Katara answered, "Get out of our way! You've been helpful but if you think you are going to keep us from stopping the Fire Nation…"

"No, that's not what I meant. Azula is a common enemy and I want to help stop her. I'm coming with you." Zuko said, "If the Di Lai betrayed you I think you will need all the help you can get."

Aang nodded and Katara shrugged as they ran out the door to the stable, in which, Appa was kept. The trio climbed aboard and the bison took off. As they flew over the city, it seemed so calm and peaceful but that was sure to change.

"Wait!" Zuko shouted, realizing he had forgotten something. "We need to pick up my Uncle."

Aang took Appa in the direction Zuko pointed. They landed as Iroh came out to greet them.

"Come on Uncle," Zuko said, hurrying his uncle along. "We need to stop Azula."

Iroh climbed up and onto the bison and they set off over the city until they reached the inner wall. The three of them were stunned at the sight; the battle was taking place just outside the city. The outer wall could be seen out in the distance, huge gaps were in sections of the wall.

The Earth Kingdom soldiers, the few that were left, fought for their lives on the farmland turned battlefield. Few of them were left. The Di Lai had joined the battle but on the wrong side. Aang took Appa high over the battle field and without warning he leaped off. Landing in the middle of the fighting.

Iroh and Zuko just looked at each other. "You won't mind if we land first before we get off." Iroh asked Katara as she climbed up and gripped the reigns.

Katara landed Appa just outside the battle field. Zuko and Iroh rushed quickly into the commotion with the Waterbender closely following. The Avatar was already taking out troops and tanks with an impressive combination of Airbending, Waterbending and Earthbending, but Zuko feared that was not enough. The Fire Prince absorbed a blast from a Firebender, who was surprised to see Zuko return with a fire attack. He and his Uncle continued fighting for the Earth Kingdom and even with the reinforcements, they were extremely out numbered.

The Fire Nation continued to push the Earthbenders back towards the inner wall, while frightened farmers hid, and a few of them joined the battle for Ba Sing Se. Slowly they made their way back to the wall. Soon Zuko spotted Azula a distance across the battle field, fighting the Avatar. With determination the Fire Prince began to fight in that direction.

He dodged another fire attack and returned it with a powerful blast that sent the man down. Occasionally he needed to avoid a confused Earthbender, but by now the Earth soldiers realized that he and his uncle were on their side. Zuko was now close to Azula, only three Di Lai agents stood in his way. Without giving the Di Lai a chance to react, Zuko sent a powerful two fisted fire blast their way, big enough that it took out all three with one shot.

Azula and the Avatar looked his way, taking a break from their feud.

"Zu, Zu." Azula taunted, "So good of you to join us."

At that moment Aang attacked by using a stone pillar, which Azula only used to launch herself high in the air. While in the air she sent a blue fire blast, one at each Zuko and the Avatar. Zuko rolled out of the way as the blue fire struck the ground leaving a scorch mark in the dust. The Avatar and the Fire Prince fought together against Princess Azula who began to tire.

As Zuko and Aang closed in on Azula, they heard a horn sound. An evil grin crept onto her face.

"Goodbye Zuko," She said as a Di Lai agent came riding up on Azula's lizard.

Zuko caught a glimpse of the agent's face and realized that it was Lang. Azula jumped gracefully onto its back and continued towards the wall. Zuko was confused that Lang could really be a Di Lai agent, he would have dwelled on it more if at that moment the inner wall had not started coming down.

The Avatar took out his bison whistle, blew on it until Appa came through the sky. Using Airbending he leaped on the bison's back. Zuko climbed up on it as well and they went looking for Katara and Iroh. When they found them Iroh and Katara were working together against the Fire Nation. Once they were on board they took off towards the city.

"What's going on!" Katara shouted over the wind.

"The Di Lai are bringing down the walls," Aang answered. "We need to make sure the Earth King is safe."

All of them agreed, "Drop Zuko and me in the city." Iroh said, "We will help hold them off until you are away."

"I'm coming to," Aang said, "I'm the Avatar, it's my job." He then turned to Katara. "Go help Sokka and Toph."

"Ok," Katara answered, "Be careful Aang."

They landed within the city, by now most of the Earth troops had surrendered. For few of them were left. Katara took off toward the palace as Zuko, Iroh and Aang turned their Attention to the Fire Nation Army that now marched unhindered through the streets.

Keeping at a distance, until the right moment to strike was a bit of Iroh's wisdom. So they followed through the shadows, watching Azula who proudly road on her lizard with Mai and Ty Lai by her side. A line of Di Lai marched behind her and behind them were the Fire Nation troops.

The citizens of Ba Sing Se hid in their houses, watching the Fire Nation force capture their city. It was over. It did not take long for them to reach the steps of the palace and to Zuko's surprise. A small group of Earth Kingdom men stood guarding at the foot of the palace. The leader of the men was none other than Sen-Su and he recognized some of the other men from his unit.

Azula stopped when she spotted the small road block in her way.

"Surrender," she said. "Your city is lost. Either submit or die."

"We are not cowards," Sen said looking directly at Lang, who stood by the princess's side, when he said this. "If you want the Earth King, come and take him." He drew his sword and it was at this moment that Zuko, Iroh and Aang appeared by his side.

"Zu, Zu and uncle fatso with the Avatar." Azula smiled, "this should certainty be amusing."

"Zuko?" Sen-Su said, clearly surprised. "What are you doing here?"

"I have a score to settle," Zuko answered.

"I guess this means you are really are on our side this time?" Sen said, glancing over at the Avatar.

"I guess so," Zuko shrugged.

"Isn't this a touching reunion," Azula said sarcastically, "but if you don't mind I have a city to conquer."

With that she gave the Di Lai order to attack. A small battle erupted at the foot of the Earth King's palace. Zuko and his friends fought back but they were no match for the troops that began to fight their way up the steps. Even with the Avatar they could only hold them off for a little bit before they gained some more ground.

The larger Fire Nation army moved forward, pushing the few remaining troops up the stairs. Azula kept Aang busy as she unleashed a volley of her extreme Firebending power. Once halfway up the stairs Aang was able to avoid Azula's fire for a moment and use his Earthbending skills to flatten the stairs, turning them into a vertical slide. The Firebenders cried out as they lost their footing and began to descend. The Di Lai who were with them acted quickly to return the stairs to the normal state. By the time Azula regained her footing, the Earth soldiers and her brother and uncle were already at the top of the stairs and inside the Earth King's palace.

"What are we going to do now?" Zuko asked his uncle. "We can't win."

"No, your right Zuko we can't." Iroh answered, "Azula has the advantage with more men. Even with the Avatar we should not risk his safety."

"So this is it," Sen said. "This is where we make our last stand."

Out side the door, they could hear the Fire Nation trying to break through. Time was running out. Some of the remaining Earthbenders used their power to reinforce the doors.

"Call your bison," Iroh turned to Aang. "You still need to prepare to face the Fire Lord."

"But what about you?" Aang asked, "you promised to teach me Fire bending! I can't just let you here! None of you."

"You must go," Sen said, putting his hand on the boy's shoulder. "We are ready to sacrifice what we need to in the name of the Earth Kingdom."

"I still need to learn Firebending…" Aang started.

Iroh cut him off. "It was never my destiny to teach you and it was no coincidence that, my nephew found you at the South Pole."
"What are you saying uncle?" Zuko asked.

"Goodbye nephew," Iroh said giving him a hug. "You must go with the Avatar and teach him what you have learned."

"Yes Uncle," Zuko answered, "but I will come back for you." He then turned to Sen, "goodbye my friend."

Aang took out his whistle and it was not long before, the cries of men outside could be heard along with the bison's roar. The Earthbenders opened the door and Zuko and Aang rushed outside. Zuko climbed up onto the bison and watched as the Firebenders swarmed into the palace.

No more fighting pursued, indicating that the remaining soldiers surrendered. Only the Avatar and his friends along with the Earth King escaped from Ba Sing Se on that day. Zuko watched as the Earth King's palace disappeared behind him and his future before him. He would teach the Avatar Firebending and help defeat his father and sister. Destiny certainly is a funny thing.

Author's Note: Thanks for reading! It was fun writing this story but I'm glad I finally finished it. It was hard coming up with a suitable ending, but I like this one because it blends back into Avatar's story line. (Kind of) Thanks for all the reviews they were very much appreciated and again thanks for reading!