Paradox Book 2: Earth
Chapter One: Stranded at Sea
I groaned as I became aware of the pain in my back. I slowly sat up wincing as the fresh scar tissue pulled as I moved. This was our fourth day on the raft. When I say our I don't mean the Gaang and I; I mean me,Zuko and Iroh. We had been on a course for the Earth Kingdom for a few days now, I had used my waterbending when I could to help speed our vessel up but it didn't work all that well with my injury impeding my bending.
Zuko and I had reached a sort of mutual agreement, I wouldn't bother him and he wouldn't bother me. Iroh and I got along well, which was probabily good because he had to change my bandages every four hours and as it was on my mid back he needed to bandage me while I had my shirt off. It had been awkward and embarassing the first time but we had worked out a method that wouldn't completely embarass me. I usually had a shirt over my chest and helped Iroh bandage myself. Zuko usually stared off in the opposite direction, his own attempt at giving me privacy. It was sort of sweet.
I had been able to waterbend some fish out of the ocean once in a while so we didn't strain our supplies as much. We after all only had two weeks of supplies, and not to mention we didn't have any money or a place to refresh our supplies either. I was getting sick of fish though, I had never really liked fish in the first place, now I practically hated it. I still ate it though, nothing like starvation to make you appreciate the fact there is eatable food available.
It took about two weeks for us to finally reach the coast of the Earth Kingdom, by that time my burn had turned into a scar and no longer hurt to move although it was still stiff and I had some flexiblity problems because of it. But I would work on it, nothing was going to keep me from going back to helping the Gaang save the world. Although, I really didn't mind staying with Zuko and Iroh at the moment.
We were actually currently at a spa. Iroh said something about getting a massage, Zuko was sulking and I was soaking in the hot spring. The soak had two purposes. One, spending two weeks on a raft at sea wasn't conductive to good hygeine; and two, the steam would hide any glow that happened when my healing kicked in. I leaned back against the rock and grunted as the scar tissue streatched uncomfortably. I reached back and gently massaged the area. It would never become normal skin, I would always have the scar, but hopefully I would regain my full range of motion back. Otherwise I would be a rather poor warrior.
I leaned back against the warm rock and let my head loll back. My eyes closed to better enjoy the sensation and then I lost all track of time.
I was woken up later by a male massuse, which was rather embarassing considering I only had a towel on. I apologized and hurriedly got out and dressed before leaving to find Iroh and Zuko. I was dressed in my only other acceptable clothes, if they happened to be my Artemis desguise, that was just a coincedence.
I snuck into the small house we had on the edge of town, and slipped into my sleeping bag without alerting Iroh or Zuko to my presence. The house was white with a red and gold roof and an open porch supported by wooden beams. The flowers around the building were Sakura Blossoms and they were in full bloom. There were also a few palm trees and more ground shrubs I didn't know the name of.
I woke to the sound of soft clattering tomorrow and openned my eyes to see Iroh fussing over a good sized pile of sea shells. Zuko yelled at his uncle waking me up further. I groaned as I stretched pulling my back in a way that sent a jolt of pain down my spine.
"We don't need anymore useless keepsakes. You forget we have to carry everything ourselves now." Zuko finished.
"Hello brother, uncle." A cold female voice said from the corner of the room. I froze where I sat. The cold sounding girl glanced at me and then looked away as if I was beneath her notice. For which I was actually quite thankful of.
"What are you doing here?" Zuko growled glaring at the girl.
"In my country, we exchange a pleasent hello before asking questions." The girl said coldly. It was Azula, Zuko's evil younger sister. "Have you become uncivilized so soon Zuzu?" She tutted tauntingly.
"Don't call me that!" Zuko snapped back angrily.
"And who is this?" She turned to me again, this time actually paying more attention. Probably looking for leverage to use on Zuko and Iroh.
"Kilana, your highness." I lied in a whisper lowering my head submissively, she would probably ignore me now.
"To what do we owe this honor?" Iroh asked diplomaticly drawling Azula's attention away from me.
"Hm. Must be a family trait, both of you so quick to get to the point." Her sharp nails pierced the pink shell she was holding sending several pieces falling to the floor.
Iroh looked shocked she would do that to one of his shells, but that quickly changed to a scowl as she continued talking. "I've come with a message from home. Father's changed his mind, family is suddenly very important to him. He's heard rumors of plans to overthrow him. Tretcherous plots. Family are the only ones you can really trust. Father regrets your banishment; he wants you home." Azula lied smoothly, her words dripping with poisoned honey.
There was a beat of silence.
"Did you hear me? You should be happy, excited, grateful. I just gave you great news." She smiled and for some reason I felt like I was looking at a viper's fangs instead of a human smile.
"I'm sure your brother simply needs a moment to-" Iroh tried to reason.
"Don't interupt uncle!" She snapped angrily.
"I still haven't heard my thank you. I'm not a messanger, I didn't have to come all this way." Azula said sharply.
"Father regrets..." Zuko repeated questioningly, sounding like a lost child. "He wants me back?" He repeated trying to see why those words sounding so weird when strung together in that order.
"I can see you need time to take this in. I'll come to call on you tomorrow. Good evening." She said turning and walking out the door.
I felt my tense muscles relax as soon as she was gone. "She reminds me of viper-rat, poisonous and cruel." I muttered as I got up from my sleeping bag. Zuko wasn't even paying an ounce of attention but Iroh nodded his head with my assesment.
Later that night when the sun went down, Zuko was walking around cheerful. Talking about how they were finally going home and how unbelievable it was. I was only paying half attention, I was trying to light a candle with firebending but it was harder than any other element I had used. Fire just didn't want to work for me. It was like trying to force a square block through a round hole, It just didn't work for me. There was a hiss and sputter as fire came to life for a second before flaring up dramaticly and fizzing out right afterwards.
"Son of a..." I muttered to myself as I focused on keeping my breathing steady and even.
About two minutes later I had finally gotten the wick of the little candle to light up. I was breathing deeply when Zuko shouted and made me jump and lose my concentration.
"You don't know how my father feels about me. You don't know anything!"
"Zuko, I only meant that in our family things are not always as they seem."
"I think you're exactly what you seem: a lazy, mistrustful, shallow, old man whose always been jealous of his brother." Zuko snapped in Iroh's face.
I turned my glare from the candle and to Zuko.
"Zuko! Remember: Azula always lies!" I called after him, hoping the familiar phrase he had repeated to himself so often would plant a seed of doubt in his mind.
"What would you know, you stupid peasant?" He snapped back at me not even turning around to look at me.
As soon as Zuko was gone, Iroh lowered his head sadly. I bounded to my feet and put a comforting arm around his back. "He'll come around." I promised softly.
We went to sleep shortly after that, Zuko came in sometime during the middle of the night, only he tripped over the leg of the table and woke m eup. I wasn't sure if Iroh had woken up but I knew I couldn't fall to sleep after that until about an hour later.
The next morning we were woken to what Zuko thought was stealthy walking. Iroh hurried and grabbed his pre-packed bag, he had been anticipating Zuko's decision. I sat up and sighed as I gathered my own things as he hurried out the door. I wouldn't be going with them but I would wait for them. From the cliffside I watched as Zuko and Iroh approached the ship. I saw as they realized that Azula had tricked them. I watched flashes of fire and even some lightning as they fought.
Soon Iroh redirected a bolt of lightning into the side of the cliff, then they ran from the ship. I rushed to meet them at the river. I watched from a distance as they cut the last symbol of their nation, their hair and dropped it in the river to drift then I approached myself.
"Should we go?" I asked gently.
Both turned surprised to see me.
Iroh smiled. "Of course." He agreed.
Zuko just nodded wordlessly.
And so we began our journey, them as refugees and I as a tag-a-long.
A/n: So the first chapter of the sequel to Paradox, which will now be named Paradox Book One: Water. Review and tell me what you think.