Heels clicked and backs straightened hurriedly as the Fire Lord marched towards the gates out of the palace city. They shuffled uncertainly as Zuko halted before the heavy stone. He stood silently for a second, hoping that they would not need to be so obviously directed. One of the guards lifted the hood of helmet.
"Your highness, why aren't you at the festival?" he said.
"That is not your concern," Zuko snapped. "Now open the gate!"
The guards bustled into action. One man tugged a rope on a pully, while two others took a steady stance before a pair of golden horns on each side of the gate. They bent fire directly into the horns and the temperature all around them began to rise. Slowly, the stone slid aside continuing the cobbled path out into a meadow. Zuko nodded his thanks, while the guards bowed low. He emerged on the other side as the stone slid back into place. Two more guards straightened from where they were bending into an identical pair of horns on the outside. They bowed, but he blinked and continued on his way.
At the end of the path, the Fire Nation capital was a light with activity. Music danced up to him and the gentle hum of celebration was all around. Zuko did not continue to town, instead he turned sharply off the path into the trees. After a few steps, he released the hanfu closures on his lapel and removed the heavily embroidered suit. Then he removed the decorative shin covers from his boots and golden insignia from his top knot, rolled the one within the other, and folded it into the red suit.
He easily found a hollow spot in a gnarled trunk and tucked the most restrictive of his garments safely inside. Zuko could almost hear his dresser's judgmental tongue clicking, but he did not care. It was his twenty-first birthday. His entire kingdom took a holiday to celebrate. Everyone of any importance arrived in the capital to attend the courtyard festival, even Azula decided to attend.
Much of the festival Zuko had enjoyed. There were fire bending acrobats, a seven piece band, trained platypus-bears, and a delicious feast. Then the presentation of the gifts began. Zuko sat high above his guests, with his mother and sister on pillows at his side, while servants brought out his presents to be admired one by one. He received classical texts and rare scrolls from every nation. There were baskets of delicacies and hand-forged weapons for his arsenal. He gave humble thanks for each and every item, until Ursa stood.
She clambered down the steps as the servants stood at the ready. "Fire Lord Zuko, you have guided your nation through so much uncertainty these past four years and we have so much to thank you for. We have watched you grow from a brave young man to a great leader and to thank you, the elders have commissioned this gift."
As she spoke one of the servants bent the stone away to create a hole in the floor between him and his comrade. Zuko swelled with pride to watch the benders at work in the heart of the Fire Nation. Then both earth benders raised something large and covered in a white sheet up into the courtyard. The crowd erupted with cheers as the sheet fell away.
He knew that he had put distance between himself and the capital, by now. Zuko sat on a boulder feeling the warmth of the sun on his face and arms. He reveled in the silence for what felt like a long while. Every day since his coronation consisted of constant activity and vigilance. There was a crunch of brush under a light foot, Zuko jumped to his feet in ready position.
A young woman with short brown hair and green eyes emerged with her hands raised. It was Suki, so Zuko dropped his guard. She smiled. Mai had instituted the Kyoshi warriors as Zuko's personal body guards before they broke up. Of the warriors, Zuko was most fond of Suki. She was off duty on Zuko's invitation and wore delicate brocaded silks.
"What are you doing out here?" he asked her.
"I could ask you the same thing," she said. "You gave the girls the slip. They were worried. It took a lot of convincing to let me find you on my own. What's wrong?"
"The statue…"
He sat back down and she took a seat next to him. "I thought it might be that."
"What am I going to do with a giant statue of myself?"
"That is a good question. Back home we have a Kyoshi statue that is taller than most of our trees. It's been around for hundreds of years. It's a symbol of the enduring protection and strength that Kyoshi has provided our town."
"But she was an Avatar."
"She was also a war hero. She ended the advance of Chin the conqueror."
Zuko grumbled. "I know the history. My statue shoots fire. I don't want it in the capital. It seems like something my father would enjoy seeing every day. Not me. I would take down my painting down from the Hall of Portraits if my mother would let me. I don't need that kind of recognition."
"What about Yu Dao? They are opening a transportation center that will connect all of the nations," said Suki. "I think the symbolism of Fire Lord Zuko watching over travelers will resonate for years to come."
He thought for a moment and nodded. "Yes, I think that will be fine."
"Good," she said. "Now, do you want to come back to the party?"
He shook his head. "You go ahead. I will be fine for a while longer. Tell the other Kyoshi warriors that I will be back before it gets dark."
She patted him on the shoulder and started back through the trees. Zuko sighed and carried on walking in the opposite direction until he emerged on a hill, which sloped down to the rocky shores. He saw a small figure moving carefully along the jagged edge. The figure had long hair the color of a flame which whipped suddenly out of sight. Zuko bounded down the hill. His heart pounding, preparing himself to dive into the waves, but as he approached where the figure had vanished he saw a void between two rocks just big enough for a person to fit through.