Chapter XX - War

(unedited)

It was a bad idea. Iris regretfully admitted that they had no choice. Her father's plan was simple. Well, not so simple in action. But brainwashing the entire city could be done by only one particular machine that existed in that very same building. Not anybody could access it.

She was being as discreet as possible, blending in with the soldiers behind her helmet and the uniform. But they were mind-readers, all SRCs, and what she feared the most, it happened.

"Did you think that we didn't know you'd be here?"

It was Jet's voice and Iris cursed under her breath as she turned around and took off that damned helmet, tossing it on the floor. He wasn't alone. A couple of other soldiers were with him. She could take them. Iris shook her hand, grasping the dagger beneath her sleeve. She was going to plant it right between his eyes.

Jet chuckled. "Oh, no, no, no. I don't think so,"

And then Nergratia came from behind with Karel in her hands. "Can't imagine what would happen if the next Avatar is born without a Defender," Nergratia said. She was holding Karel in one hand and a dagger in the other. Iris's eyes widened. No. She knew where this was going. She dropped her dagger and lifted her hands in surrender.

"Lay a finger on her and there won't be a place on earth where you'll be able to hide from me," Iris growled but Nergratia laughed.

"You seem smarter than you look," She said.

"Where's the chief?!" Iris demanded.

"You are in no position to make demands, right now, Iris," Jet reminded her.

"You will either help us wipe out every single bender in this world, or I'll have to make you watch while I detach this cutie's head off her body," Nergratia threatened.

"Don't hurt her! I'll do whatever you want... just don't hurt her, please," Iris surrendered. She couldn't risk her daughter's life no matter what they asked of her.

Jet smirked as he pointed one of his broadswords in her direction. "You're going to lead us to victory,"

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"So what do you guys think Sokka and Zuko were talking about?" Katara asked for probably the twelfth time and Toph snorted lying down on the saddle. She just enjoyed the brush of the air on her face and chose not to answer the question.

"I dunno," She only said indifferently before she tucked a finger in her nose and began digging.

"Sokka referred to that year that he and Iris spent as undercover agents of the Red Shadow Demons. What could have possibly happened in a year?" Aang asked confusedly.

Toph frowned. "Lots of weird shit can happen in a year, Twinkle Toes," She couldn't hold it back anymore. She had been suspecting this for so long. And the Kyoshi Warriors were following from behind in a war balloon, so Suki wasn't there to hear it.

The couple turned and looked at her confusedly. Katara and Aang stood up and made their way from Appa's head to the saddle to join her. They sat down cross-legged and they looked at their friend.

"What do you mean?" Aang asked.

"Toph, if you know something, now it would be a great time to tell us know," Katara said.

Toph groaned irritatingly as she stood up and ran a hand through her forehead. "I don't know something, I suspect something. Sokka wouldn't spill out shit," Toph frowned.

"Well, what it is it?" Katara asked impatiently.

Toph shook her head. "Nah. He wouldn't appreciate me telling you. This is Sokka's and Zuko's problem to deal with. Not ours. I'm sure they'll talk it through like Twinkle Toes suggested,"

Katara sighed. She knew Toph wouldn't say and she knew she shouldn't try to make her to. If Sokka didn't want her to know, then she had to back down, even though, she still noted to herself to bug him about it when they'd get back.

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Sokka could almost feel Zuko's gaze on him. They had been silent, sitting in the living room where the team had left them, debating on whether they should rip each other's limbs off, or just talk. Sokka had no idea what to say if he was to say something. He didn't know how to take things back to normal. Things could never get back to normal between him and Zuko.

But he was sure about one thing. "I don't want to let this get in the way of our friendship," Sokka finally said. He was the first to talk.

Zuko sighed heavily. He propped his elbows on his lap and he buried his face in his hands before he looked back up at Sokka. Zuko was clearly exhausted. He was running an entire Nation. He had a duty as a Fire Lord to provide the Fire Nation with an heir. He had made a decision, and that decision was final.

"Do you love her?" Zuko asked, but it caught Sokka off guard, and it felt like he had to repeat the question. "Iris. Do you love her?"

Sokka didn't know what would be the correct response to that. He didn't know whether he should lie, or just say the truth. Maybe he had to be honest if he was to solve this. "I do..." he bit his lips and buried his face in his hands. "...with every fiber of my being... I do,"

"Then you better keep it that way," Zuko said and Sokka looked up at him confusedly. "Mai and I are getting married after we deal with the SRCs-"

"No! Wait! You can't do this to her-"

"Do what?!" Zuko growled. "I'm giving her the freedom to do whatever she wants. She no longer has to be committed to me. She no longer has to carry the role of the Fire Lady on her shoulders. Iris is a Defender. She cannot have a family,"

"She already has one, and you're in it," Sokka said. "Our daughter is the Defender. She's going to be in a comatose state till the next Avatar is born. Whatever I and Iris had, it's dead. Or at least, it's just not meant to be. Suki can make me happy, even though I know I don't deserve her, but you and Iris deserve happiness. You're not fooling me, Zuko, there's no way Mai makes you happy,"

"Happiness is no longer an option-"

"You're not making it," Sokka cut him. "I know she wronged you. We both did. But it didn't mean anything,"

"I only want things to get back to normal," Zuko admitted. "I want her mine and mine alone,"

Sokka regretfully nodded. He didn't want to say this. He loved her. He wished she was his but she never was. She never had been no matter how hard he tried. It hurt. "You deserve her,"

It really did.

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"Brother..."

Aang wasn't expecting her to reach out to him. Not like this. He had set off to meditate, and spend the time of their journey meditating. But he heard her voice. It was her. His surroundings were dark, but he was sitting cross-legged and she was sitting cross-legged in front of him. Aang greeted his sister with a smile, but she seemed in a hurry.

"I don't have much time. The SRCs revolted against our father. They're leading an attack on Ba Sing Se as we speak..." Iris sighed "...I'm leading the attack,"

"W- What do you mean? Why are you doing this? Are you helping them?"

"They have my daughter, Aang,"

Aang was sure he hadn't heard right. She couldn't have possibly said that. '...my daughter' what did she mean? As long as he knew, Iris, his sister had no child. But then it struck him. The first time he had met their father, he was holding a baby. No. It couldn't have possibly been...

"Never knew I'd even become a grandfather," The man said and he turned around. "You'll never meet her, probably. She'll be sleeping for quite some time,"

And he placed the baby back at the hug of a woman, who started walking away.

"Allow me to introduce myself, I'm Huang Mengror, Mayor of the Nadilva City," He said. "You must be Avatar Aang. We've been searching for you for quite some time,"

Grandfather. Iris indeed had a daughter. He couldn't believe he had never even pondered on that man's words after that day.

How could she have never told him? Who's the father?! Aang never got to ask any of these. "Listen," Iris said "They're going to hurt her if I don't do this. They asked me to lead them to victory and that's exactly what I'm going to do. I don't have a choice, Aang, they've brainwashed me and I can't control my body. We attack Ba Sing Se at dawn. When the time comes, I need you to promise me something. Promise me you'll kill me-"

"What?!"

"Promise me you'll cut the head of the snake. Promise me, Aang,"

No, no, no, no... That was too much to process. Why kill her? How dare she ask that of him? She was his sister. She was the only one he had left of his people, how dare she ask him to promise her that he'd kill her?!

"There must be another way-"

"There's no other way," Iris insisted.

"And what about the child?"

"Our father is going to raise her and protect her with his life,"

Aang sighed "What you're asking me to do... it's impossible. I can't kill you,"

"Then find someone who can,"

"Aang... Aang!" It was Katara's voice and Aang snapped out of the vision right away. He turned at his girlfriend before she pointed beneath them. "Look!"

Aang looked down at the SRC Army that was heading in the direction of Ba Sing Se, and Iris was leading them. Aang's fingers clenched into fists.

No. It wasn't Iris. It was a puppet. 

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Oh boy, things escalated quickly, didn't they? 🤣 I might actually finish this in two more chapters eheheheh 😈🤣

Anyways! This chapter is unedited, I just finished it, it's 3am and I don't think I can stay up any longer to edit, and neither can I keep y'all waiting any longer. 

Please Vote and Comment to lemme know what you guys think! I'll give Iris the happiest ending that I can give her. I promise you that. 

Love y'all

~your author, Sandy ❤