Okay... I read half of the original story line... and I though it was a giant piece of crap that should no longer have to face the light of day. So, it's gone. I am rewriting the story, and it will (of course) be Alternative Universe. I will add Aang, Katara, Sokka, AND Toph with a few random characters that have shown up in random episodes as well as Zuko. But because of the new episodes (where Zuko will probably be given the Prince Status once again) I'll start from where Zuko is called 'honorary prince' once again. So, yeah, that's where I'll be for now. :)
I know many have reviewed for this fic, but this is a different revised version. So I know it's going to be a pain, but if you want to comment on how this version of the story is playing out, then by all means let me know how this fic is going.
Disclaimer: I don't own Avatar: the Last Airbender.
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Zuko's lip curled in anger.
"YOU WHAT?"
Azula merely glanced at her fingernails with a small smile on her pink lips. She sat comfortably on the throne in Ba Sing Se still robed in the attire of green. Her amusement was still present as she glanced her honey colored eyes towards her fuming brother. "I told you, my dear brother, that I am sending you to a wedding."
"But why?" he shouted back his eyes narrowing at his smirking sister, "Aren't women suppose to be the ones who love dressing up in the girly outfits and dance for hours and hours on end?"
"Oh please Zuzu," countered his sister with a scoff, "You know daddy placed me in charge of this giant Earth Kingdom city. He believes that I am the only one who can fully take control of the citizen; you know how difficult it is to rule over subjects... oh wait, you were banished before you could learn. Silly me-"
The girl brought up her feet as a stream of flames began dancing around the foot of the throne. She glared at her brother as he equally glared back at her. "Watch your mouth Azula. I have no time for your petty speeches."
She merely glared, "Your little hissy fit will not go unnoticed 'Dear' Brother."
"See if I care Azula. I'm older than you and you should respect me because of it-"
"That is why I am telling you about the wedding!" stated the younger firebender. "They only allow one to two members of each family outside of the community to attend. The whole world has been invited. Because I don't want to go, I am letting you have the fun."
"Some fun that will be..." muttered Zuko with a sneer.
"Oh, come on Zuzu," taunted the younger sister. "Maybe you'll meet some nice lady, knock her up and be set for the throne by the end of the year."
This time, a lightning bolt was shot at the sister. She barely missed the attack to Zuko's displeasure. "Go drown in an ocean Azula."
"So you will go?" she asked raising her eyebrow.
"No."
"Oh, please Zuzu. I really don't want to move from my comfy chair. I like ruling over Ba Sing Se, and I don't want to leave it for some stupid wedding."
The older firebender began walking out of the throne room, and Azula's anger began to boil. "Zuko! You are going!"
"No I'm not!" he shouted back just about out the door.
Now, weddings weren't something the fire princess enjoyed. Oh no, this princess had been scared for life; when she was five some idiot boy had spilled green punch all over her sparkling red dress, and when she was ten her toes were all but amputated with all the men stepping on her feet on the dance floor. That had been the day she found out she could bend blue flames.
This, however, was her only chance to bail out of the wedding. She didn't want to miss this opportunity, which so happened to be walking out the door at that moment.
"Zuko! Wait!"
He merely waved a hand in the air as he stepped through the doorway.
"I-I'll... I'LL RELEASE UNCLE IROH IF YOU GO IN MY PLACE!" she shouted through the enormous throne room. She silently prayed that her brother heard the request, and her suspicions were confirmed when he paused in mid-step. She mentally sighed.
"What was that?" he asked softly looking into his sister's eyes.
She turned her face away from her brother's. "I'll release Iroh," she stated calmly, "Of course I'll have to leave a few guards with you and uncle to make sure he doesn't do anything stupid..."
"It's against the law to release a traitor to the Fire Nation," stated Zuko as he walked towards his sister again, "And uncle fought for the safety of the Avatar."
Azula nodded her head agreeing with her brother on that part, but she lightly laughed in a silently manner, "Yes, I do understand that he betrayed the Fire Nation by siding with the Avatar at the last moment... but if his release will send you to this wedding..."
"You really hate going to weddings... don't you?" asked Zuko with a smirk.
Azula scoffed, "What gives you THAT impression-"
"The deal is off then." Zuko turned on his heel once more.
"WAIT!"
Zuko's smirk returned to his lips.
"I..." there was a strained pause before a sigh was released, "Okay, fine," she snapped, "I hate weddings. I hate the crowds, the drinks, and the food, the dancing... EVERYTHING! If I have to go to one more wedding-"
"Release uncle and I'll go in your place," sighed the prince.
Azula's eyes lit up, "Good." She nodded her head, "Good, I'll make sure the servants pack your things immediately; I'll send for the small squad of soldiers and uncle. You must leave no later than the time span of an hour if you are going to make it on time."
Zuko's mouth clenched but nodded to his sister. "Fine."
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Katara sighed softly as she rested her head on a tree. It had been days and their group was still running from Fire Nation soldiers. They had been on their trail for days on end, and this was the first time each of the travelers could rest. Aang was already asleep on Appa's furry arm, Sokka had simply rolled off the giant bison's back and onto the ground, Toph created a makeshift tent with her Earthbending and provided the Earth King with one too. His bear simply rested beside the slanted rock his master rested in.
The waterbender yawned widely as she looked into the night sky.
A small smile formed on her lips as she stared at the stars. The gang was so close to the boundary. Even though this war had continued for a century, there was one place that had remained neutral. It wasn't Ba Sing Se. Barriers and walls had protected the city, but Azula had taken over it. Now the only neutral grounds on the war lay in a small city called Xiam. The city did have benders: earth, water, and fire (maybe air), but none of the ethnicities claimed it.
Katara smiled closing her eyes. She heard stories when she was a child of this magical city. This city was full of traditions old and new, good and bad. It was rumored that offenders would be turned into turtle ducks by the magic of the city, and those who married in the city would be blessed with a strong love for their mate.
It always made her sigh in delight as she thought of such stories. She had always wanted to visit this city, and it was finally coming to play. And when her, Aang, Sokka, and Toph arrived to the city the Fire Nation Soldiers wouldn't be allowed to capture them. Her mind was at ease; things were good. Finally, a full night's rest would be at hand.
"Fire nation soldiers!" shouted Toph as she leaped up onto her feet.
Katara rubbed her tired eyes as they widened. She groaned. "Not again..."
Sheesh... did these soldiers ever stop? Her mental thoughts stopped when arrows began soaring through the sky. Her eyes widened in surprise. Without a moment's hesitation, the Water Tribe girl bended water from a near by steam shielding her body from the approaching arrows. She forgot to freeze the liquid. The deadly weapons sliced the water like a knife through butter and pinned the Waterbender back against the tree. Because she had shifted her arm to the side bending the water, three speeding arrows sliced through her tan skin and pinned her arm to the wood.
She screamed out in pain as arrows held her arm in place. She didn't want to see the damage done.
"KATARA!" shouted a voice.
The waterbender's eyes shifted to her brother; her eyes widened in fright as he too was pinned to a nearby tree. He was lucky his clothes were pierced.
The Avatar was nowhere to be seen. He had vanished in the grounds with Toph's earthbending. The young Bei Fong girl shielded herself with armor from the earth, and her arms were reaching out. She began splitting the earth. Tremors and quakes began shaking the Yuu Yan Archers from the trees. The shouts of the enemy were noticed as they shot their weapons into the air. Arrows were showering over the group again. Katara closed her eyes and lowered her head.
It was a split second later she felt her wounded arm shoved from the tree and heard the ripping of her clothing. She gritted her teeth at the jolt of pain her arm received. The arrows showered onto the grass beside her body. She released a deep sigh before the Avatar held her over his shoulder. He ran to Appa; the earth kingdom emperor had freed Sokka from the arrows and both were climbing onto Appa; the emperors bear was already sitting calmly on the back of the bison. Toph created a pit under the archers before raising the ground under her feet. She leaped to the back of the bison just as her armor of rock crumpled from her body. She grasped onto the fur and held tightly before shouting a loud "YIP YIP!"
The giant beast groaned as his powerful tail lifted the frazzled group of unlikely heroes into the sky. Aang used a blast of air to lever him into the sky. He grasped onto Sokka's outstretched hand and was pulled up. The Avatar released a shaky breath as he breathed in heavily a few times. His heart was racing, as was Katara's. The two benders glanced at each other before smiles broke on their faces. "Thanks Aang..." muttered Katara.
The Avatar smiled while rubbing the back of his head, "It was nothing."
She lifted her arms to stretch; that was when she yelped.
She looked at the three arrows. Each of them had completely pierced through her skin. Not that much blood had spilled. The pole of the arrows was acting as a plug- a very uncomfortable plug.
"Crap..." muttered Sokka as he observed the wound. "That looks painful."
"No shit Sherlock," muttered Katara clenching her eyes shut. She gritted her teeth.
Aang glanced at the arrows and shook his head, "Do you think you can heal the wounds if we take out the arrows?"
"I will need much freshwater," she answered.
"Then we'll need to wait until we reach the next available town..."
"Look!" exclaimed the emperor with a smile on his face. His ringed finger pointed to the lights in the distance. "That has to be Xiam!"
Everyone's gloom turned into wonder and excite as the city inched closer and closer. Lights of all colors became noticeable as the sounds of crowds at night were noticed. Wonder reached the traveler's faces. "I can't believe we were so close," muttered Aang.
"And we'll be free from the Fire Nation while we visit!" exclaimed Sokka, "Oh, this is wonderful!"
Toph, even though her sightless eyes didn't see the growing city in the distance, she could sense the stone buildings and paved earth.
"We'll clean up your wound when we land Katara," promised Aang as he smiled, "Just hold on, we're almost there!"
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The Fire Nation Prince stared into the deep blue sky as millions of stars twinkled up ahead. His eyes closed as the wind whipped across his face, and his dark red cloak whipped calmly in the wind. His newly grown hair was jostled gently in the breeze, and the air smelt of salt. He was back on the seas. His body welcomed the sensation of gentle movements the ship made while on the sea. He hated to say it, but it felt good to travel on a ship once more.
Just like old times.
"Nephew, you must be cold."
Zuko's lips curled into a smile.
"It's not that cold Uncle. My firebending will keep me warm if it becomes colder," promised the younger warrior.
The old man stepped to his nephew's side and stared into the distance. "Azula was very generous."
"Too generous if you ask me," muttered the prince as he glanced to the Dragon of the West. "But it's good to see you are alright."
The old man smiled as he held his cloak together from the increasing winds. "We should arrive by tomorrow afternoon. You will enjoy this wedding, I assure you Zuko."
"If you call dancing fun," muttered the prince sarcastically.
"Who knows," added Iroh, "Maybe you'll find a nice lady friend." A knowing smile graced the lips of the old man and Zuko cringed, "I know you need to find a nice wife soon. Maybe you should start by searching at this reception-"
"Uncle!"
The old man laughed, "I'm just suggesting. It wouldn't be too difficult to find a nice lady at this wedding. There are many lovely ladies who will attend this wedding at Xiam. They say it's the perfect place to fall in love; apparently a spirit protects the land with magic."
The prince rolled his eyes. "That's ridiculous. Before I know it you'll tell me our family is related to a family of hogmonkies."
Iroh paused for a moment warily glancing to his nephew.
The prince's face paled before he growled. "Fine! Pretend I didn't say anything!" He left the area with steam coming out of his ears. His form vanished down the stairs as the young firebender headed to his room.
Iroh chuckled softly as he glanced into the sky. His smile became wider as he watched the stars going by. If only his nephew could find a nice woman to settle down with... then maybe he wouldn't be so uptight. "Yes," concluded the old man, "She would calm his tense nerves..." And a smirk graced the lips of the old man, "...while providing me with many grand nieces and nephews! I would die a happy man."
"General Iroh," stated a voice.
The old firebender turned around; he smiled, "Lt. Jee. It's been a while."
The captain of the ship nodded his head, "Yes, it has been Iroh. Are you going to return to the lower decks? The wind is becoming colder and colder as we head up north."
Iroh nodded his head, "I will. I need to grab a few tea bags."
Jee nodded his head, a small smile creeping on his lips, "We made sure to bring enough tea to last a few months."
The old man's eyes lit up, "Is there Chamomile tea? I haven't tasted it in months!"
"I'm sure we might have some..." replied the captain unsurely.
"Wonderful!" exclaimed Iroh nodding his head pleased. "Then I shall make my way down to the kitchens. Good night Lt. Jee."
The Dragon of the West departed.
The captain of the ship watched carefully as the brother of the Fire Lord descended down the ship's stairs. Iroh was out of sight. Jee's head lifted, and he looked to the stars. A small smile played on the lieutenant's lips as he breathed in the crisp night air of the ocean. "Just like old times..."