|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Wed Jul 18, 2007 3:21 pm
Information:
Title: Into the Fire Nation
Rating (subject to change): G.
Chapters: 6 and climbing.
Brief Summary: (This was supposed to be finished before Season 3...) The Avatar and his friends journey to the Fire Nation. In disguise, they infiltrate the palace. Zuko returns home with Azula, and begins questioning whether he made the right decision in betraying his uncle. I chose to write from Zuko's and Katara's points of view because I can't really relate to Aang, and I always saw Katara as the story-teller.
Pairings: I don't want to give them away. ^_~ I'm not completely sure what I'm doing with them anyway.
Disclaimer: Avatar belongs to Nickelodeon and Mike and Bryan. I claim no credit for their characters, merely for my writing and my characters/ideas, etc.
If there are any mistakes, please point them out.
Also, please comment by sending PMs and voting, and not by posting. I don't want the story broken up.
Updates
July 18 ~ Chapter 1: Katara - The Awakening, pt.1
July 22 ~ Chapter 2: Zuko - Iroh's Betrayal
July 24 ~ Chapter 3: Katara - The Awakening, pt.2
July 31 ~ Chapter 4: Zuko - A Question of Honor
August 6 ~ Chapter 5: Katara - The Headband
August 13 ~ Chapter 6: Zuko - Doubt With Jasmine Tea
August 13 ~ Chapter 7: Katara - The Painted Lady
[[WHOA, BIG GAP.]]
September 9 ~ Chapter 8: An Unexpected Complication... or Two.
Names and Meanings
During episode 5, Katara has to invent some new names for the gang. Here they are, along with their meanings. They're all Chinese.
Katara (Ai) "loving"
Aang (Xiang) "circling in the air (like a bird)"
Sokka (Tao) "great waves"
Toph (Li Hua) "beautiful and flourishing"
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Jul 18, 2007 3:24 pm
Chapter 1: Katara - The Awakening, Part 1
I was so relieved when Aang stirred after our near-fatal battle with Azula and Prince Zuko. Still, I can't help but wonder if Zuko and I had a little more time in that cave together, what would have happened? Would I have wasted the water from the Spirit Oasis on his scar and then watched Aang die, or would Zuko have chosen to stand by us and take down his evil sister?
I looked toward Sokka and Toph. "What now?" I asked quietly. The last great Earth Nation city had been taken right from under us, and it was probably Prince Zuko's fault.
"I kind of want to help Iroh," Toph replied. "When I talked to him, he seemed really nice. I don't think he's out for the Fire Nation, but just wants to protect Hot Head. But now that he ditched him..."
"We might be able to rescue him, bring him to the good side, and get Aang a Firebending teacher to boot!" Sokka concluded, standing up (a very dangerous thing to do onboard a Flying Bison) and waving his arms around excitedly.
I looked down at Aang, his head resting across my lap. He was smiling slightly in his sleep. He deserved some rest. "Iroh would be a good choice," I said thoughtfully. "He must be patient if he taught Zuko."
"How're we going to get back into the city though?" Toph asked. "It's Fire Nation now."
Sokka pondered this, stroking his beardless chin in what he supposed was a very dignified pose. "Doesn't it make sense that Azula would move him to the Fire Nation? I mean, he's the Dragon of the West, and he's the brother of Ozai. He needs top surveillance."
"That doesn't help us. It'll be even harder to get into the Fire Lord's Palace than New Ozai," Toph said.
"Okay, Katara, Toph, you guys are gonna love this idea," Sokka said with that 'I've got a plan' gleam in his eye; never a good sign. "Remember how Azula, Ty Lee, and Mai got into Ba Sing Se in the first place? Disguises. They disguised themselves as the well-known Kyoshi warriors so they could learn everything that was going on in the city. They had a position of power."
I raised my eyebrow suspiciously. "Sokka, where are you going with this?"
"We sneak into the Fire Nation, find some disguises, and go up to the palace dressed like Fire Nation nobility! It's genius."
I shook my head. "Sokka, that's way too risky! We don't want Aang to get in trouble like that ever again. Not to mention if we were discovered, we'd be killed. The palace must be crawling with Firebenders, and not to mention Azula and-"
"It makes sense to me," Toph interrupted.
"Excuse me, I was talking," I snapped. Maybe I was being cranky, but could you blame me?
"No guts no glory," Toph said. "It's just a risk we'll have to take. Where else are we going to find a Firebending teacher?"
I wracked my brains for an excuse. I couldn't put Aang in danger again. "What about Jeong Jeong? He's a rebel, and he was going to teach Aang until Zhao attacked."
"You know Jeong Jeong was a bad choice. Aang was too impatient, and it got him in trouble," Sokka pointed out.
I looked at my hands, which had been laced with burns the last time Aang had attempted Firebending. I breathed a heavy sigh. "Okay," I said, finally acquiescing.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Jul 22, 2007 4:14 pm
Chapter 2: Zuko - Iroh's Betrayal
"What's going to happen to uncle?" I asked, looking at my sister, sitting on the throne beside me. I was standing.
Azula, cold and dangerous, was sitting upright, but looked incredibly comfortable, every bit a queen. "We'll have to move him for security reasons. Then, who knows? He might prove useful, and then he might not."
I didn't like the sound of that. "You won't hurt him if he refuses to aid you?"
"Why do you care?" Azula asked, raising a perfectly shaped eyebrow. "Iroh is a traitor to our people. He wanted you to join him, and you took the higher road. Surely you're not having any doubts."
"Of course not. Just curious. Who needs an old tea bag like him anyway?" I asked. He had made his decision. He had betrayed me, not the other way around. Uncle chose the Avatar after someone he had once called his second son. But now I would have my father's honor back. With Azula, we had defeated the Avatar, and Ba Sing Se was ours.
Azula smiled. It did nothing to make her seem pleasant. If anything, it resembled a smirk. "I'm glad you think so, Zuzu."
Hot anger welled in my chest. I closed my eyes in an attempt to calm myself. "I would prefer, if you stopped calling me that," I said, staring at her.
"You're no fun," Azula accused. "Mai, Ty Lee."
I looked to the doorway to see the two Fire Nation girls, friends of Azula's if she had any. Mai glided in quietly, her face betraying no emotion. Ty Lee however, was performing cartwheels on her way over. They stopped before my sister.
"Everyone's ready to leave," Mai said in a bored tone, examining her fingernails. However, I saw her glance at me out of the corner of her eye. When our eyes met, she blushed and looked away.
I looked to Azula. "We're leaving?"
"Of course we're leaving," she said condescendingly. "You can't expect to hang around with the Avatar still out there. He could come back with new recruits. Besides, we'll be accompanying uncle to his cell in the Fire Nation's dungeons." She was definitely smirking now. "I'm assuming you're all ready to go?"
"I haven't packed my things," I replied.
"Mai already took care of that," Ty Lee said, waving a hand.
I glared at my sister. "You let her go through my stuff?" Sparks flew from my fists.
"Why are you so concerned? Do you have something to hide?" Azula asked coolly. "I'm sure father will find that interesting."
"Of course not," I said through clenched teeth. Still, something was definitely up. Why did Azula want to know what was in my room?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We all boarded a train out of Ba Sing Se, powered by the Dai Li, the corrupt Earth Nation guards that had presented Azula with the opportunity to seize control of the capital city. We were accompanied by several Fire Nation soldiers, two of them chained to my uncle, who was refusing to talk to me.
"Uncle, think of what you were going to do! You were going to help the Avatar, the one thing that could stop my father from taking over! You betrayed our nation! So why are you acting like I'm the one who betrayed you?!" I asked.
Uncle didn't look at me, but finally answered, "Prince Zuko, you are reverting to your old ways now that you have been given the chance to restore your honor. You have always been an honorable young man to me. But no longer."
"You know nothing of honor," I said, standing. I looked at uncle once, tears welling in his disappointed eyes, and went back to the front of the train where Azula was waiting for me.
I told her what had taken place. Azula tutted. "You see, he's finally lost it in his old age. He needs to be imprisoned for his own good, preaching that nonsense..."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Jul 24, 2007 11:08 am
Chapter 3: Katara - The Awakening, Part 2
"Nnnn..." I looked down at Aang as he stirred. "...Katara...?" he asked, eyes fluttering open. He sat up immediately. "Where're Zuko and Azula?" he asked, twisting around.
I put an arm on his shoulder. "It's okay, Aang. We're safe. Remember?" I asked. "We left Ba Sing Se hours ago."
"Dreaming," Aang said softly.
Toph turned her head in our direction. "So TwinkleToes is finally awake... again," she said, stretching and crossing her arms behind her head contentedly.
"So, what's the plan?" Aang asked, regaining his usual enthusiasm. "Sokka's the ideas guy, right?"
I said carefully, "Sokka... has a pretty crazy scheme... But it's probably the only way. I just... don't know how you're going to take it..."
"Tell me Katara," Aang said. "I can handle it."
"He wants us to sneak into the fire nation in disguise."
"Great! That sounds like fun!" Aang exclaimed. He turned. "Hey Sokka, good plan!"
I was afraid this might happen. "Aang, think about it! This could put us all in danger!"
"But we won't be us," Aang said with a shifty grin.
"What if we get caught? The Fire Nation is ruthless Aang! We won't be able to trust anyone."
"But I need a bending master, Katara, and this is my best bet. Jeong Jeong could be anywhere by now. Besides, it'll be fine as long as my arrow's disguised too." He pointed to his forehead. "You worry too much."
"You worry too little," I retorted.
Sokka called from Appa's head. "I can see the palace! We should land now before we get too close and someone spots us."
"Find some trees," I replied, looking around. Puffy white clouds were below us, but I could still make out the palace through gaps. "Just go slow-LYYY!"
Appa went into a dive, and I held onto Aang with one hand, and the side of the saddle with the other. My hair, loose of its customary braid, flew wildly around my face. "I hate you!" I heard Toph shout in Sokka's general direction.
Eyes watering, we landed just behind some tall boulders, large enough to shield Appa. Before us we could see green hills and grazing Ostrich Horses. Most of them had moved away from us in fear of Appa.
I slid down Appa's tail, and the others followed me. "How are we going to get to a market to buy our disguises?"
Sokka was thoughtful. "We may have to camp here for a while and let Aang's hair grow in. He could pass for Fire Nation. After all, the Air Nomads are supposed to be extinct, and since the hair would cover up the arrow..."
"I've never grown my hair out," Aang said, "This should be interesting."
"Let's see... Katara, you should probably lose the necklace."
I put my hands on my hips. "I'm not getting rid of it. I've lost it before, and I won't ever again."
"At least hide it," Sokka said. He reached up and pulled his hair out of his wolftail. "Fire Nation men wear Top-Knots." He arranged it so.
"Yeah, because you're a real man," I said sarcastically.
"I am so!" Sokka said, his voice cracking slightly in anger. "I had my rite of passage!"
"What about me?" Toph demanded.
Sokka thought. "Well, you need to replace your head-thingy in any case."
"It's a headband, genius," I pointed out.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Jul 31, 2007 3:50 pm
Chapter 4: Zuko - A Question of Honor
After several days of travel by various means, we finally arrived at the Fire Nation capitol in a lavishly decorated carriage. Azula sat across from me, sitting on a pillow to be higher than her companions, who flanked her. "Finally, home. I was growing tired with Ba Sing Se."
"It wasn't so bad," I answered quietly, looking out the window, where I could see the palace approaching.
"Aren't you glad to be home though?" Mai asked quietly. I could feel her looking at me without turning around. "You have your honor again, Prince Zuko. You're a hero." That was probably the most I've ever heard her speak.
"Sweet," Azula said condescendingly. "Looks like after all this time someone has a little crush on you, Zuzu."
I turned around in surprise. "Who?"
Azula clicked her tongue and rolled her eyes. "You are dense." I noticed Mai had turned the other way. She couldn't mean Mai. She rarely talked to me when we were younger. Besides, I felt I'd had enough of girls.
We left the carriage at the palace doors. With a nod at the guards, Azula shepherded us inside. "Let us see Fire Lord Ozai," she commanded the guards by the door to his throne room.
"Yes, of course Princess Azula," they replied, and stepped back, opening the doors.
As usual, it was stifling inside. Even though flames crackled from seemingly every corner, the room was dark. We moved forward, close enough to see the dark outline of my father. I immediately dropped to the floor, bowing my head.
Behind me, Mai and Ty Lee followed my example. Azula stepped in front of me and knelt.
"Why is Zuko here?" father asked, his voice threatening. "He was banished until he found the Avatar."
My sister looked up. "Father, Prince Zuko has helped us in the acquisition of Ba Sing Se, the last Earth Nation stronghold. He fought with honor, and we succeeded in driving the Avatar out, barely alive."
It was silent other than the snapping of the fires. "Will you speak for yourself Prince Zuko?"
I started at being addressed. "Yes, father," I said, not daring to look at him. Sweat was dripping from me, and not only from the heat, but I didn't pause to wipe it away. "I chased the Avatar from the Southern Water Tribe to Ba Sing Se, nearly succeeding in his capture innumerable times. At Ba Sing Se I came across Fire Princess Azula, whom I aided in a battle against the Avatar and the Water Tribe Peasant. They barely escaped, and the Avatar was badly injured. We conquered the Earth Kingdom Capital together."
"Look at me."
I hesitated, remembering the last time I had faced my father. Perhaps he would give me another scar to match the first. Finally, deciding it would be best to obey him, I raised my head to see the shadowed figure before me.
"Have you learned your lesson in pain, Prince Zuko?"
"...yes, father."
"Will you speak out of line in my war room again?"
"No, father..."
"If you fail me again, your punishment will be death. Do you accept this?"
My voice caught in my throat. He would kill me... without thinking twice... just like Azula had said. Dad's going to kill you! ... No really, he is. "Y-yes, father."
He stood up to his full height. "Without hesitation!" he snarled, his eyes glowing like the flames surrounding us.
"Yes, father!" I cried.
"Go."
I slowly stood, and around me Azula, Mai, and Ty Lee did the same. I turned to leave, and I felt a searing heat over my right shoulder. "A warning," my father's voice said, like cold fire.
I thought I saw a shadow of a smile on my sister's face. We exited the room. "Let's go, girls," Azula said, and without a backward glance started for their rooms. Ty Lee and Mai made to follow her.
But Mai stopped. She turned to look at me. "I'm sorry," she said.
"For what?"
"For what happened to you," she answered, looking toward my scar. Apparently she was indicating my banishment also. Mai hesitated, looking down at her feet. "If you ever need someone to talk to... you can come to me."
"Um... thanks," I said awkwardly.
She looked up, and our eyes met. The quiet, dark girl I thought I knew suddenly blushed. To my surprise I felt that my cheeks were hot too. "Um, you're welcome," she said, and quickly turned around to follow her friends.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Aug 06, 2007 11:13 am
Chapter 5: Katara - The Headband
In a few days, Aang had sprouted a fair bit of hair. It was dark, and slightly spiky. It was strange to see him that way. However, we noticed a very important problem.
"I thought this was supposed to hide my arrow," Aang said, looking at Sokka. The tip of his arrow could still be seen poking through his new locks.
"We could cover it with a headband or something," I suggested.
"Great idea, Katara," Aang said, beaming widely. "But, I was just thinking..." His smile faded. "How are we going to get into the palace if we're not royalty? With the money we have now, we could barely afford enough to disguise all of us, let alone dress well." He looked around at our coarse red clothing.
Sokka was climbing the boulders. He rested his elbows on the edge and peered over. "Look, there's a Fire Nation wagon, coming this way!" A magnificent red carriage was adorned with gold trimmings, and a large gold fire nation symbol. "I'll handle this. Katara, fix your hair like a Fire Nation girl. Quick."
Aang and I exchanged glances. "What is he doing?" Toph asked as I combed my hair straight and pulled half of it up and tied it.
"No idea," Aang replied, watching Sokka step away from the boulder and stride importantly toward the carriage.
The driver stopped as Sokka approached. "What do you want?" he asked. "I'm armed!"
"Me? A thief?" Sokka asked, scoffing in what he supposed was a dignified manner. "Look, my lady was ambushed by Earth Nation resistance on the way into the city. She's wearing some old cast-offs. You wouldn't happen to have a fine dress she could wear? She's embarrassed at going to the palace in her current state."
He looked at Sokka, wrinkling his nose. "I don't see anyone but you, and you're just a grubby peasant."
"I am not a grubby peasant!" Sokka protested. He turned towards us. "Miss! Please, I know you're embarrassed at your horrible ensemble, but this man wishes to see you."
"Horrible ensemble?" I growled under my breath. Aang shrugged.
Toph rolled her eyes. "Well, you're on Sugar Queen. Sometime before I'm fifty."
It didn't feel right using these underhanded tactics, but I stepped out from behind the rock, trying my best to walk in a noble manner, tossing my hair over my shoulders. "Is there a problem?" I asked.
"Oh, of course not milady," the driver said.
"What's the matter, driver?" a woman said, sticking her head out the window.
I jumped in surprise. "Oh, you poor thing! I heard there were thieves lurking about this area... Please, accept some of our spare clothing."
I couldn't believe this was working. How incredibly stupid were these nobles anyway? However I graciously, with much bowing and refusal, accepted two similar dresses, along with two gold braclets, a necklace, and a gold armlet. "You are very kind," I finished. I looked at Sokka. "All we need now is transportation."
"Don't be silly! You're coming with me," the woman said, pushing the door open. "Do you have any other attendants?"
"Oh, yes," I said. I turned to my brother. "Will you fetch them?" Sokka nodded, giving me a glimpse of a headband he had ripped off of the drivers' seat before he went.
Toph and Aang came back with Sokka, Aang sporting the head band.
"Good, are we ready to leave then?" the lady asked. She was beautiful, with long dark hair and ivory skin. "My name is Yu Sheng. Who do I have the pleasure of escorting?"
We all entered the carriage with her. "My name is Ai," I answered. I nodded to Sokka. "Tao. And he is Xiang. This is my blind friend Li Hua. Thank you very much for taking us all to the palace. I don't know what we would have done without you."
"May I ask where you picked up such a tan?" Yu Sheng asked curiously.
"Er...."
"Sun," Sokka jumped in. "Lots of sun. We were traveling through the desert at one point. Of course, Xiang and Li Hua joined us later."
I was worried she wouldn't buy it, but she merely said, "I see."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Aug 13, 2007 2:02 pm
Chapter 6: Zuko - Doubt With Jasmine Tea
I was trapped inside a deep pit. The sides were too high and smooth for me to climb. "Help me!" I cried, as I saw a silouhette approach.
My uncle spoke softly, looking down at me. "You have always been an honorable young man to me. But no longer."
"No!" I shouted. "I did what was right!" As I spoke water spilled over my head, and I was lost in an endless sea.
"Zuko, I thought you had changed!" Katara's voice rang out, hurt and confused. Lightning struck the stormy sky and I heard Azula's laughter.
"I have changed!" I answered.
Her voice echoed, "I thought you had changed!"
A whirlpool was dragging me down, gasping for breath. My sister's laughing rose to a cackle and Katara and Iroh's voices were drowned out.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"I have changed... I have changed..." I sat up in the darkness of my own bedroom. "A dream." Uncle always said that a dream was a reflection that showed more than just your face, but your innermost struggles and thoughts.
But if that was true, what did I have to regret? I had done what any loyal Fire Nation man would have. Why was Katara there? Had her words to me in the caves affected me in some unseen way?
I shook my head in an attempt to clear it. The dream was meaningless. There was no point in wracking my brains over the creations of my crazed subconscious.
I cleared my mind as Uncle had bidden me during meditation. My breathing slowly relaxed, and before long, I was asleep.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The next morning I headed to the prison cells, carrying a tray with cups of steaming jasmine tea. Despite what I had told myself the night before, I needed to see Uncle. The guards led me to his cell. The door was made of heat-resistant metal and held a complicated padlock. Apparently he was thought to be dangerous.
The guard inserted three differently shaped keys, and the lock fell open. "You shouldn't be in there too long, Prince Zuko," he advised, and opened the door.
"Ah! You brought tea! So, my nephew did learn something," Iroh said with a forced grin.
I closed the door behind me. "Uncle..." He was truly haggard by now. His beard was tangled, and there was dirt upon his face. "What's happened to you?" I asked softly, sitting across from him, not minding the dirt floor. I was used to such things from when I was masquerading as an Earth Nation peasant.
"It's a prison, not a fancy retirement home Prince Zuko," Iroh chided me, taking a great swig of his drink. "You aren't worried, are you?" He chuckled.
"I... I am," I answered, looking down at the steam spiraling from my cup. "I know that we chose different paths... but I can't help wishing it had ended differently."
Uncle put his hand on my shoulder. "But it hasn't ended yet, has it?" he asked me.
"I have to know Uncle... What I did, was it right?" I asked.
"Sadly, only you can say. You need to find the answer within yourself, nephew, I've always told you as much."
I nodded. "I expected that." I sighed, and rose. "I should be going."
Uncle got to his feet. "Good-bye," he said, and embraced me.
I smiled. "Good-bye, Uncle." I opened the door.
"Thanks for the tea, by the way!" Iroh said, giving me a wide, true grin this time, and a large thumbs up.
I half laughed at the ruined sentimental mood. Only Uncle could keep his spirits up like that. I would have liked to think I had contributed, but I wasn't sure. "You're welcome."
"Prince Zuko, Lady Ai has arrived," the prison guard said as I stepped outside.
Lady... Ai? I didn't know anyone of that name. But then, the royal family was always growing. Perhaps she was a distant cousin, or a descendant of one of the old ruling families.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Aug 13, 2007 3:50 pm
Chapter 7: Katara - The Painted Lady
Yu Sheng waited with us in the main hall of the palace, where we awaited the approval of the royalty. I wondered who would be meeting us. Hopefully not Zuko or Azula. They might recognize us in a heartbeat.
"Fire Prince Zuko will see you now," a Fire Nation soldier said, returning from somewhere within the palace.
Of course. But we couldn't turn back now. Zuko came in from a side door. "Lady Ai and Lady Yu Sheng?" he questioned. He glanced at Yu Sheng, and then noticed me. We stared at each other for a moment before he opened his mouth. I held my breath.
"How are you related to the royal family?" he asked me.
Yu Sheng answered immediately, "Zuko, I'm your aunt. Therefore, you may trust anyone that accompanies me."
I was surprised at their relation. His aunt? "It's fine," I answered. "I'm a distant cousin of Ty Lee's. I assume you know of her?"
As Zuko scrutinized me again I felt my heart thud in my chest. Please don't recognize us. Please don't give us away... As if replying to my inner plea, he nodded. "Show them the guest rooms," he ordered a servant.
The girl bowed politely, and then beckoned us proceed straight across the hall. There she pushed aside a door and we emerged into a courtyard. There was a bright pond, stirring gently with the movements of Turtle Ducks and fish. A gazebo stood close to it, and I could see the guest houses in a ring against the ocean. There were many trees, and a few fountains. The whole area gave off an airy, peaceful feeling.
"It's... beautiful," I breathed, in awe over how such a Nation could create such a paradise. Sokka and Aang were looking around interestedly as well.
Yu Sheng smiled. "Isn't it, though? My sister Ursa loved to sit outside with Prince Zuko when she was alive."
"That's sweet," I said, smiling slightly. I watched Sokka and Aang walk over to the pond, then turned back to her.
"What happened to her? I never heard," Toph said.
The servant interrupted. "Please, let me show you to your rooms."
Yu Sheng nodded. "Later," she told us. We followed the servant girl across the sprawling courtyard and to the guest houses. We were placed next to the fire noble, and then the servant left us with a bow.
"Come in," Yu Sheng beckoned, and we followed her into her rooms. They were decorated very personally, with paintings of a beautiful lady similar in looks to herself, young Prince Zuko, and far less of Princess Azula.
I walked forward to a large, full-body portrait. "Was this her?" I asked, looking up at the woman, who even in paint radiated a gentle elegance.
"Yes," Yu Sheng said. "My sister was a wonderful Fire Princess until... She disappeared. It was shortly after they met with Fire Lord Azulon. I think Fire Lord Ozai may have said something to upset him. Perhaps about the heir to the throne. Fire Lord Ozai seemed angry afterward, rather than mournful," she said scornfully.
"That's... terrible," I said, looking at Zuko's mother. Why would she abandon her children like that?
Toph frowned. "Did Fire Lord Azulon have anything to do with this 'disappearance'?"
Yu Sheng looked surprised. "Of course not! Fire Lord Azulon was strict, but he never would have done something so heartless."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Sep 09, 2007 4:46 pm
Chapter 8: Zuko - An Unexpected Complication... or Two
When I saw Lady Ai, she instantly reminded me of Katara. The other girl and the taller boy also seemed familiar. But the shorter boy... he only slightly resembled the Avatar. I would have to wait and watch them. But even if he truly were the Avatar, there was no way he could defeat my father, even if he did manage to find a Fire Bending teacher.
After the group had left, I went to return to my room. Outside my door I found Ty Lee waving her hands around while talking to Mai. "Just knock on the door! I'm not going to do it for you!" She stopped her bouncing around when she saw me. The acrobatic fire nation girl beamed at me. "Hello, Prince Zuko."
I glanced at Mai, then looked back at her. "What are you two doing here?" I asked, heading for the door. They stepped back and allowed me through. "Come in."
Ty Lee didn't need to be asked, she had already bounded in and plopped herself on my bed. "Hey! This is comfy," she informed me as Mai came in.
"Yes, I know. I'll ask you again; what are you doing here?"
"Azula asked us to tell you about the Golden Dragon dance. We're celebrating the summer, the arrival of Sozin's comet, and the Fire Nation's victory," Mai answered, Ty Lee jumping around on my bed the whole time in a very distracting manner. "She and Fire Lord Ozai would like you to participate." Meaning I didn't have a choice...
"A dance?" I asked blankly. I glared at Ty Lee, who was performing somersaults.
"Yup," Ty Lee answered, finally settling down cross legged. She grinned mischievously. "Are you going to invite anyone, Zuko?"
"When's the dance?" I asked gruffly, ignoring her question.
Mai quietly replied, "Three days I believe. No one is required to ask anyone either, as everyone in the palace (excluding the servants of course), will be invited." She glanced in Ty Lee's direction.
"What?!" Ty Lee asked. "I was only trying to help."
"It doesn't matter," I said, looking out the window at the central courtyard. "You can go now."
Ty Lee got off the bed. "Someone's grumpy," I heard her half-whisper cheerfully.
I heard the door close and turned around. I stared. "Mai? What are you still doing here?"
"Are you all right?"
I nodded. "You said I could talk to you, right?"
"Of course," she said. "I'm listening."
"I'm only telling you this because I need your help," I informed her. "I think the Avatar may be in the palace." Only her slightly widened eyes betrayed her surprise. "That kid with Lady Ai. I want you to watch him. His friends too, actually." Even if Katara and the blind girl couldn't use their bending without giving themselves away, they could find out valuable Fire Nation secrets. Katara's moronic brother might be a problem as well.
"I'm pleased that you trust me with this," Mai said, and even though she looked down, I could see that her face looked slightly pinker than normal.
"Will you help me? You can't tell anyone about this."
Mai hesitated, then nodded. "I'll help you Prince Zuko. I will tell no one." I looked at her for a second. "What?" she asked, looking flustered.
"You can call me Zuko," I said suddenly. "Instead of Prince Zuko."
"I... goodbye then, Zuko." She quickly left.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Uncle sat in his prison cell as night fell. He watched the stars come out, one by one. He looked out the small window, and clapped his hands. This way, and then that, in some strange pattern.
Moments later, the clap was repeated, from the outside.
Iroh clapped again, this time slowly standing up. A masked face appeared in the window. The mask was white, shaped like a dragon, with golden horns and whiskers.
"Iroh... I wish I did not have to see you this way," a woman's voice said, slightly muffled from the mask. "My Zuko... he has failed you." She shook her head. "No matter. The both of you are safe now. Wait here; the White Lotus will free you."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I woke up in the dark, to a prison guard knocking at my door. "Prince Zuko, I thought you should know. Your uncle has disappeared."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
