A/N: I recently became aware of the revival of the avatar series. Due to this recent development I decided to rewrite my story black eyes. This is going to be the culmination of all of my practice.
Warm... that could always be said of this place. The land seemed to permeate its own heat. Aang stood just outside of the Fire Nation palace. The sun beat down upon his tattooed head, but he barely noticed as he took in the grand structure before him. Its black spires were an imposing sight. In contrast its curved roof was highlighted red and gold at the corners where two sides of the shingles met.
Closing his eyes, Aang continued up the steps. He no longer needed his sight, depending on his ability in earth bending to show him the way.
"Welcome Avatar Aang, Firelord Zuko is waiting for you" Aang inclined and he did not slow nor open his eyes. His mood was different then what those who knew him were used too. It was for good reason though. Dreams haunted him nightly.
He moved through the halls of the palace, not stopping till he came to the entrance of the throne room. Only then did he open his eyes and allow a smile to come to his face. Zuko was across the long room. He did not sit on his throne. Instead he stared lightly at the mural sized painting of fire that sparkled against the torch light and filled the excessively decorated room.
Eyes weary and stance tense?Aang thought, slowly becoming worried for his friend's current thoughts. He moved through the threshold of the room and Zuko immediately looked to him. A smile graced his face. It wasn't much of one, but Aang didn't want to press his luck.
"It's good to see you again, Aang." Zuko said. His scar had become light over the years since he had become Firelord. A fact that Aang knew he was happy for.
"You too, Hotmen." Aang said lightly, and the Avatar noticed that the smile barely made it to Zuko's eyes. Zuko chuckled lightly after a moment and looked to the wall once more. Aang came up and stood beside him, his light shoes a sharp contrast to the ebon floor that the palace favored.
Time passed between the two. Aang knew it was an acknowledgment of the others company. He did not disrupt the moment as he had seen some of the taught muscles in Zuko's shoulders loosen as his tension left him, if only for the moment. After the time turned into a half an hour Aang finally looked back to Zuko.
"How have you been Zuko? It's been six months since I have seen you." Aang asked, finally.
"Yes, it has been. You have missed great news." Zuko said quietly, though there was a light tone to his voice and Aang could tell he was happy.
"Is the news the reason we have been standing here staring at the wall for half an hour?" Zuko gave a light laugh and turned around abruptly. He walked the couple of stairs to his throne before dropping himself unceremoniously onto it, a small grin on his face.
"I am going to be a father." Zuko said evenly, a hint of confidence in his voice as he leaned forward. His eyes closed when he finished.
Aang's eyes lit up at the news, but it also made him doubt his reasons for coming here. This didn't stop him from congratulating the Firelord though.
"Really! That's great Zuko! Can I name him?" Aang said loudly, showing some of the nature he had four years ago. The words surprised the young leader and he looked at him with wide eyes.
"What?" He questioned, and then shook his head swiftly as if to amend himself. "No, you can't name him. Knowing you it would be something like-"
"Hotmen Jr." Aang supplied helpfully. This only seem to exasperate the man further as he slapped his hand over his face.
"Exactly." Zuko said. Aang smiled widely and moved up to Zuko's side, coming up to the throne's pedestal. Once he reached the top though he sighed sadly and put his hand on Zuko's shoulder. He looked up at Aang to see sad eyes.
"What happened?" His voice held light concern, as much as could be expected from a still somewhat broody Zuko. Aang looked out over the throne room, eyes staring at the brightness Zuko had brought to the chamber ever since he had rebuilt the room. He liked the change.
"Nothing has happened," He paused and from Zuko's view Aang seemed to look off into a place no other person could see. "Not yet..." Aang said distantly.
"Well, what can I do?" Zuko asked, confused as to what the Avatar had wanted when he asked for this meeting. It had never been required for Aang to make appointments to see him, yet the airbender had always done so anyway.
"I have had these dreams recently..." Aang said quietly, as if he was no longer talking to Zuko but an unseen person in the room. It was a fact that, while not voiced, slightly bothered the Firelord.
"Dreams?" Zuko questioned, his eyebrow raised.
"Something is coming Zuko." Aang looked back at him then. His eyes were hard, yet there was something in them that suggested his confidence was drained.
"Any idea what it could be?"
"No, but the spirit world is in pain. I can hear the spirits agony, as if something is physically attacking their realm. Yet I have checked. No one has harmed anything beyond what is normally done." Zuko listened to Aang intently. He did not understand much about the spirit world, but knew what the Avatar was saying could not be good.
Zuko sighed heavily, making the spikes on his royal robes rise up then descend when he exhaled.
"How can I help?" Zuko said with finality.
"I need you to come with me." Aang said slowly. Zuko looked ahead at that. He was about to retort that he could not do that but he stopped himself. Zuko knew that Aang would not ask this unless he was in dire need of his help.
"My uncle is steward to the throne, he will rule in my place." Zuko said slowly. "Mai will not like this, and she will probably skin you alive." Aang nodded at that.
"I wouldn't ask this of you unless I knew this was an emergency."
"I know." Zuko said, nodding and standing to his feet. I'll prepare for the journey. Is there anything special I'll need?"
"Bring your swords. Also, do you know how to paint?" Aang asked. Zuko looked oddly at Aang.
"I have some skill, yes. It was something that I was taught as a child." Aang nodded.
"Bring your paints as well. There is a woman in the South Pole. She is very old and does not have much longer before she passes to the spirit realm. I would very much like a picture to be made of her before she moves on." Aang said. Zuko, though curious as to whom this person could be, did not ask questions.
"I will bring them, along with all of my standard gear. As I said, my painting skill has not been tried in a long time."
"I'm sure you will do your best. You always do." Aang said quietly. Zuko took the compliment and stood up to follow Aang as the two descended the stairs. Zuko realized that this would be the last time he would be sitting on the throne for some time. He looked back at the huge chair he had gone through so much to obtain.
Despite going through all that hardship, Zuko realized he would not miss the throne nor this palace. He craved the hardship of the road once more. The feel of his swords in his hands, fires burning across his body as he bent the dangerous element to his will. Yes, Zuko had missed some aspects of his exile. He looked at the Avatar as they both reached the exit to the chamber.
Yes, Zuko would miss Mai, miss his uncle, he would even miss some of the servants he had befriended. It was overshadowed by the fact that he was looking forward to this trip.
If a challenge came to him, he would deal with it as he always had. With his head bowed forward, eyes ablaze with passion, and heart knowing that now he had the support of friends.
Let this threat come.Zuko thought, a small smile gracing his features as a thrill of excitement shot through his chest. The feeling was like a bolt of lightning being redirected.
xXx
Katara leaned against the wall of ice gently, eyes closed in quiet contemplation as the chilled wind blew across the frozen glaciers of the South Pole. Snow fell lightly on the shoulders of her parka as she shifted her weight against the wall. She had grown into even more of a beauty over the four years since the war. Her dark hair fell loosely across her back, reaching to her lower back. Her body had become toned from consistent bending practice over the years.
Gran Gran
The name of the beloved elderly woman shot through Katara's head before she could squelch it, and the thought almost brought a tear to the young woman's blue eyes. Gran Gran was fading. Her old frail body was finally catching up with her spirit and vitality that she had kept despite the harsh conditions that the people of the southern water tribe lived in. Katara had done everything she could to heal her grandmother, but the old woman had just chuckled in a knowing fashion.
'The greatest bender in history cannot cure old age Katara, you know this as well as I.'
Gran Gran's eyes showed that she did not fear what was ahead of her, but had accepted her life as she had lived it.
"Katara?" Said a male voice. She recognized it immediately and pushed off the wall she had been leaning against. She bundled the park tighter around her form, the cold bothering her for once, and turned to the speaker.
"Yes, Sokka, what is it?" She asked, her head tilting to the right in question.
"Hey Sis, seal jerky?" He asked, sticking the browned meat in her face. The hand was gently moved away. "I'll take that as a no." Sokka said, before shoving the jerky down his throat. When he saw her expression he tilted his in question, it was reminiscent to the gesture his younger sister had just used.
"Hey, you okay?" He asked, and Katara lowered her eyes and went to turn away. She was stopped by Sokka's hand on her shoulder. She allowed the contact and fell into her brother, tears beginning to fall.
"I don't want her to go." Katara said, tears falling freely now as she pressed her face into her brothers shoulder. She wrapped her arms around him, and he had to shift the black bladed sword on his back as her limbs moved around him. Sokka sighed at her words and put his chin on his sisters head, closing his own eyes.
Katara had been there for him when their mother had died. Now, when the time came for Gran Gran to go, Sokka would return the favor she had showed him.
"I know Katara, I don't want her to go either." His sister pulled away for a second and looked at him.
"I tried my best to help her." She said, eyes shining through tears. Sokka shook his head when she said this though.
"Katara, I know you have but this is something that no one can fix. We have to enjoy the time we have with Gran Gran." This seemed to upset the water bender more as she pushed her face back on his shoulder.
"I miss Aang," She whispered, and Sokka had to agree with that statement.
"I do too." He said, and pulled away from her and began to lead her through the village. It had been thoroughly rebuilt, looking more like a smaller version of the Northern tribe's city then the little cluster of tents that it had been before. Many northerners had migrated here after the war, as damage from the battle there had left the city wounded and forced many to move to the South. It was a welcome addition.
"Where are we going?" Katara asked with emotion still in her voice.
"I'm going fishing, and you're coming with me." He said with finality. Katara raised an eyebrow at the odd demand.
"Why exactly?" She said, pulling away from his grasp and stopping. Without slowing he turned and walked backwards, still looking at her he gave a shrug.
"Who knows, last time you went with me an Avatar popped out of the water." Katara allowed a small giggle to come, although the smile she gave him didn't have its usual fullness.
"I'm sure that that was a one-time thing Sokka. It's not as if there are a bunch of Avatar's trapped just waiting to be released." He turned and stopped walking backwards, shifting back to walking toward her. He reached for her again with an outstretched hand. The hand was swiftly covered in ice and the owner's eyes widened.
"Now that was uncalled for!" Sokka yelled, flailing his hand around as if the ice would fall off. Katara watched, allowing the amusement that the spectacle provided to lighten her sad demeanor.
"I believed it was."
"It usually is." Said a third voice. The siblings looked over and saw Suki come out of the skin flap door of Sokka's home. "What did he do?" Suki asked, approaching him and sidestepping Sokka's flailing arm as he swung it with no abandon.
"Tried to take me fishing..." Katara said, letting the sentence trail off before looking back to Sokka. "Hey! Why don't you take your wife Sokka?" Sokka stopped flailing, if only briefly, and looked at them.
"Because I always end up in the water when I go with her!" Katara raised an eyebrow at this and looked at Suki.
"Does he deserve it?" She asked the brown haired warrior.
"Oh yeah." Suki said.
"It's so cold!" Sokka yelled, giving his arm another desperate shake.
xXx
"You really are serious huh, to bring out Appa's old armor..." Zuko said, looking up at the sky bison in wonder. The huge animal was clothed in the maroon garb with a gold-plated arrow on its head. He handed Aang a bag of provisions, which the Avatar quietly accepted and tossed into the saddle.
"I'm not taking chances Zuko, this thing is-" He paused and brought a hand to his chin in thought. "It has me worried. This feeling is nothing like I have ever felt before." Aang shook his head as if to clear his head and smiled down at Zuko, his hand outstretched to take the next item that Zuko had brought along.
"I can't say I understand, but I will help however I can." Zuko said as he walked around behind Appa. Zuko saw the bison's flat tail tense as he stepped on it. He began to walk up it and Appa lifted the giant tail off the ground as Zuko was admitted into the saddle.
"So where are we headed?" Zuko asked, as he settled into the saddle. Aang sat himself on Appa's head and looked back at him.
"We have a couple of stops we are going to make but ultimately we will be going to the South Pole."
"And these stops?" Zuko said, nodding.
"I want to visit the sun warrior's ruins." Aang said. Zuko looked at him, the question easily read in his gaze. "The eternal flame that the sun warriors look over, I want to see it again. I'm not sure why but I feel like this is something I have to do." Zuko nodded that he understood.
"And from there?" Zuko asked. Aang smiled at that.
"We are going to go pick up Toph."
"That should be interesting." Zuko said slowly. Aang chuckled lightly.
"Yeah well just avoid her fists because I haven't had much time to visit her in a while and I know she will try to beat me and maybe you."
"Joy."
xXx
The smell of books permeated the air. The light coming through the windows lit up the library with ease as a single elderly man occupied the room. His hair was pulled back in a simple top knot and his beard was well kept. He wore a robe that was simple yet held the grace and elegance that defied the man's well hidden nature. Along the edges of the robe it was trimmed in fire, the element that he wielded his entire life.
Iroh's eyes scanned the pages of the epic he was reading, his eyes passing over the written words with a practiced ease that came with his incredible amount of life experience. The man sighed as he recalled the conversation that he had been having with his nephew.
The Avatar wants me to come... events have been troubling him.
Iroh had of course agreed to steward the throne in its owners absence. 'Be careful' he had told Zuko. The thought made the aging man chuckle. Why did he bother to even say that to the hot headed fire lord. It was true Zuko had come leaps and bounds from the young adult he had been four years ago, yet he hadn't exactly let up on the short temper.
He shifted his weight and stood from his chair, several of his bones cracking loudly at the slow movement. The noise made him sigh, it reminded him of his age. This was one adventure that would have to be completed without him. He only hoped that his nephew would use the wisdom that Iroh had labored so hard to impart to him. He moved across the large room and opened the extravagantly painted door that led to his own room.
He looked around the room slowly, still not quite used to having finally returned to the palace. Even if four years had passed since his brothers fall. The walls were a ruby red and across the tops of the walls were golden paintings of flames. The curving beauty that the artist portrayed hid the elements destructive nature, yet when you went further down the wall you saw the dragons that created the flames above them, their serpent-like bodies curling and twisting as they breathed out flaming death. His dresser was made of a fine cherry wood and the edges of the two door frames matched the border of the walls. Iroh found it lacking creativity himself, but he was not the palace decorator. Not that he would mind the job but his nephew would not allow it, saying that he didn't need paintings of teapots on the walls of his palace.
Iroh had argued that teapots made the nation look more interested in diplomacy than dragons bent on war. Yet when he made this point Zuko had just blinked rather slowly before shaking his head and walking out of the room. It was one of those moments that Iroh had noticed his nephew's growth. A younger Zuko probably would have gone as far as blasting him with fireballs for his antics.
Iroh moved into his room slowly, walking past the bed to the small table sitting to its right. It had a single drawer. Slowly, the man reached out and pulled open the small drawer. In it was a book. While it was not what he really needed it was a start. Lifting the small book and cradling it in his hands he opened it slowly to a section in the middle of the book. A small key sat there. He gingerly fingered the brass key and put the book back in its place in the drawer.
Key in hand, Iroh walked to his dresser and opened it. He looked at the assortment of robes with a passing glance before dropping to a crouch, not missing the sound of his cracking bones. At the base of his dresser was a thick wooden box. The box was deceiving. The inside was actually heavily inlaid with steel while the wood was coated in an oil that would keep the box from burning. Gently sticking the key in hole, Iroh twisted and heard the tall tell click as the box unlocked just before he opened it. The box only held two things. They were the pieces of a Pi Cho table. He lifted the silken bag and heard the clicks of the wooden pieces hitting against one another.
Using the draw strings of the bag he tied it to his belt and carefully tightened it before closing the box once more, setting it back in the dresser and removing the key.
Iroh walked back to the bedside table and put the key back into its original location before leaving the room and entering into the massive hallway. It was a proven fact that seven men could stand shoulder to shoulder in the hall and still have room to move around. He walked down the hall, taking in the black columns and red walls. He swore this place needed a new color scheme, if only he could make it happen. He turned down several joining halls and finally found himself at the palace entrance. He had passed several of the servants on the way. They had paid him heed, asking if there was anything he needed. He had kindly declined their offers and walked down the steps of the palace with a careful ease. He came to the cobblestone paths that led past the walls that surrounded the palace. Swiftly as his age would allow he left through the walls and found himself in the imperial city.
Iroh looked at the buildings as he passed. Large houses set up to match the color scheme of the palace.
"People lack imagination." He whispered under his breath. He passed many people in his walk, almost all bowed. He greeted many in return but didn't tarry as he was headed towards a set destination.
As he walked a gentle breeze passed across the hem of his robe, it was so gentle and focused Iroh stopped his quick trot. Looking around him Iroh's eyes landed on a demure figure, they were robed
and hooded. The garment was yellow but not the yellows that the fire nation favored, as it did not carry the gold that attracted attention. Yet this yellow seemed to hold a more humbleness to it, he had seen the color before yet he could not recall where he had seen it at the time.
The person, whom was obviously female if her movements were anything to judge. As her gliding movements and swaying steps could not point to any male he had seen. She walked to the entrance of a tea shop and went in, Iroh watched the place she disappeared for a moment before taking careful steps to the entrance eyes scanning around the outside of the building. He had been here of course, he often frequented The White Lion tea shop so it was with familiarity that he stepped through the threshold.
"Dragon of the West, it is always an honor my Lord." Came the voice of young man, Iroh pointed a fatherly smile in his direction.
"Thank you Choi, have you by any chance seen a woman in robes come in here. She arrived just before I did." His voice was quite as it was considered rude to interrupt the many silent patrons of the tea shop.
Choi smiled his dark hair was swept behind his head in a large top knot. He had the same eyes as many of the fire nation, the bright golden color showing his heritage.
"As a matter of fact I did." She is in the back of the shop. Though she did not order any tea, nor did she say much." Iroh thanked him and moved past many of the tables in the lobby before coming to a entrance that held no door he easily passed through it and passed several of the private meeting rooms that the place had. The last room on the right had a rice paper door that all the other rooms carried the difference was this door remained open he stopped just before he put himself in front of the entrance. The cloaked woman was in the room she was sitting cross legged cloak fanned around her and head held down as to not show her face. Iroh did not like her secrecy and would have been less reluctant to go in was he not the current ruler of the fire nation.
"Thank you for coming, Iroh of the fire nation." Said the woman. Iroh was surprised at how young the woman sounded. He looked over his shoulder seeing back down the hallway he had come before looking back into the room she had yet to move.
With care he walked into the room but did not move for the moment choosing to stand for now.
"To what do I owe this company?" He said politely, though he noticed that his voice sounded clipped and to the point. He watched as she seemed to notice too and her head raised slightly and he could see the smirk of two ruby red lips in the shadows of the cowl.
"I am here by request of our mutual order." She said cryptically. There was not movement at all as she spoke. Iroh realized the young woman must be extremely disciplined to be able to maintain such stillness and a confidence that defied her situation as she was in a room alone with a coiled Dragon of the West as the man was very much on edge.
"I'm not sure what you mean." He said, and it was an honest reply.
"Split the pieces." She said evenly. The hood shifted to the left as she looked in that direction. Iroh followed her gaze and saw a medium sized Pi Cho table in the corner.
Carefully Iroh moved to the table and sat next to the table making sure to keep the shin high table between them she moved and sat across from him. He looked at her carefully trying to see more then the ruby red lips she had only recently revealed. He untied the bag on his waist not believing that this person could be the contact from the order of the white lotus. Quickly he split the pieces, as he did he was still amazed as she did not even slightly shift. It was as if she did not need to even breathe.
Iroh placed the first piece on the board with a clack as wood met wood. She quickly followed, and it took off, each taking turns. As Iroh placed his last piece he completed to petals of the lotus, he looked at all the pieces of the board trying to guess the girls rank. This would prove who she was as her last piece was held gingerly between two fingers of a pale hand. She had identified him, it was the reason she had gone second as it was her duty to place the last symbol and show her true rank in the order.
With a slow movement she placed the last piece, there was no noise when she placed her piece as if the very air cushioned it and muted the noise. He leaned forward slightly to look at the piece she had set. At first he had felt angry, he had been tricked. There was no way this girl was a piece of the order as she hadn't even played a relevant piece. It had not been used in a hundred and sixteen years.
On the piece was three swirls the symbol of the air nomads, and a common piece before the extinction of their kind.
"It was unwise to waste my time. Now you would do well to tell me what you have done with the sword master." He said evenly. He was again graced with the coy ruby smile.
"His reaction to the piece was much the same as yours." She said though this time there was mocking in her voice. A younger Iroh would have lashed out, his nephew probably would have left nothing of the girl save a few burnt hairs but Iroh had experienced years of life and would see how this played out. If she attacked him then he would be ready for it.
"I am not a person you would want to test girl. I do not care who you are but know that you are getting yourself into very important matters." He stood to leave as he turned to the door.
It was with great surprise that the rice paper door slid closed by an unseen force. Iroh felt his eyes widen but made no other move as he went over the implications of that move.
"You see Dragon of the West, The Order of the White Lotus was created and controlled by the air nomads," He fully turned to her and saw her standing to her feet, soundless as always. "And the Air Nomads still control it."
"If what you say is true then the-"
"Yes, General Iroh. The Air Nomads are still very much alive."
A/N: TO BE CONTINUED...
