Traitor - Zuko X Reader

Chapter 8

Sokka sarcastically remarked, "Yeah this makes a lot of sense, let's bring the guy who's constantly trying to kill us."

We began our ascent into the sky and Aang helped me lay Zuko down before leaving me with him so he could steer. I sat beside Zuko's head and watched him as he slept. I didn't know why I saved him back there. I had every right to leave him to freeze, but no matter how much my brain argued my stupid heart took over and I couldn't do anything but save him. I just noticed that his face was covered in scars and bruises and his eyes were heavy with exhaustion, even as they were closed. A strand of stray hair from his weird ponytail was in his face and I instinctively moved it away, being careful not to stir him awake. Mostly because if he woke he would most definitely try to kill us and take Aang, but also because if he caught me doing that I would jump off of Appa from embarrassment.

I looked up and made eye contact with Yue who had witnessed what I just did. My eyes widened, but she gave me a warm smile and nodded in understanding. I wanted to know what exactly she was understanding, since I had no idea myself what was going on with me, but decided this was neither the place nor the time to ask. As I nodded back to Yue with feigned mutual understanding, her face became aglow by a sudden red hue.

The red hue not only took over her face, but everything in sight. I looked to the moon and it was as red as blood, something was very wrong. Yue winced and I looked over to her as Sokka asked if she was okay.

"I feel faint," She responded while holding her temples.

"I feel it too," I heard Aang call from his place on Appa's head, "The moon spirit is in trouble."

"I owe the moon spirit my life," Yue remarked out of nowhere.

Sokka was visibly confused and concerned,"What do you mean?"

"When I was born, I was very sick and very weak. Most babies cry when they're born, but I was born as if I were asleep. My eyes closed. Our healers did everything they could. They told my mother and father I was going to die," She paused, "My father pleaded with the spirits to save me. That night–beneath the full moon–he brought me to the oasis and placed me in the pond. My dark hair turned white, I opened my eyes and began to cry. They knew I would live. That is why my mother named me Yue, for the moon."

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We finally made it back to the oasis, right in the middle of Zhao coming up with stupider and stupider names for himself. Luckily, Momo attacked his face before he could embarrass himself further and he came face to face with the GAang. They all got into their fighting stances. I stayed somewhat hidden on top of the saddle, peeking over the side of it, deciding only to step in if I needed to. For now, I focused on making sure Zhao didn't find Zuko or the princess here.

"Don't bother," He raised his hand up, ready to kill the moon spirit that was in the bag he held.

Aang protested, "Zhao, don't!"

"It's my destiny. To destroy the moon and the water tribe."

"Destroying the moon won't hurt just the water tribe. It will hurt everyone, including you," Aang reasoned, "Without the moon, everything would fall out of balance–you have no idea what kind of chaos that would unleash on the world."

"He is right Zhao," the voice of the old man who had helped raise me and who I had missed dearly rang through my ears like a melody. I saw Iroh stand defiantly on top of one of the bridges that led to the oasis. The man hadn't changed at all and I had to resist the urge to wrap him in a big hug. I wanted him to tell me that everything was going to be okay and that he was proud of me.

"General Iroh, why am I not surprised to discover your treachery?"

Iroh lowered his hood, "I'm no traitor Zhao. The fire nation needs the moon, too. We all depend on the balance," He pointed to Zhao and yelled as he got into a fighting stance, "Whatever you do to that spirit, I'll unleash on you tenfold! Let it go, now!"