Title: Avatar Journeys
Category: Cartoons » Avatar: Last Airbender
Author: Uitori
Language: English, Rating: Rated: T
Genre: Adventure/Fantasy
Published: 07-13-12, Updated: 12-02-12
Chapters: 9, Words: 28,923
Chapter 1: Chapter 1
Avatar: The Last Airbender
The entirety of Avatar: The Last Airbender is creation of Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko and product of Nicktoons Network (Nickelodeon). This story is a unique fictional derivative of the original work written by an Avatar enthusiast.
Avatar Journeys
Chapter 1: Wedding Day Bliss
Zuko tried to hook up the burgundy waist coat on his right side but sweat from his hands caused the little metal buttons to slip from his fingers. He made slow progress up his side, little beads of perspiration forming on his brow as he fumbled up his way. He kept having particular difficulty with the top button of the coat. He breathed. Ok, grab, pull, h-, it missed. Zuko grunted in frustration and angrily grabbed the button again only to realize that he pulled it off. He threw the little button over the balcony, hoping it landed somewhere unpleasant and gripped the banister, head hanging.
Outside, the Fire Nation was red with merriment, music and laughter. He found it amazing that everyone was happy except for him. And it's my wedding day, he thought looking up at his palace. It had been a long time since the Fire Nation had seen such color; he should have been proud. He was nauseous instead.
In the hall a loud and full laughter broke his reverie he looked back to see the double doors burst open.
"Fire Lord Zuko!" bellowed Iroh with a big smile, "Congratulations! You're a dead man!"
Iroh opened his eyes to find his nephew's face pale and sweaty instead of bright.
"Oh, you really are a dead man," he said blinking.
"I don't know what's wrong me. This is supposed to be a great day for me. But I-I-…feel sick," Zuko panted.
"You're just having a case of cold feet, Zuko, every man does before his wedding," said Iroh setting his gift on the bureau and walking toward the balcony.
"It's more than that, Uncle," he breathed, grabbing his stomach, "Suddenly I'm unsure. I don't if this is the right thing to do. What if I fail as a husband? What if I can't bear the responsibility of husband and Fire Lord? Should I put her through this? Is it right to-"
"Breath, Zuko, breath," said Iroh grabbing his nephew's shoulder.
Zuko couldn't seem bring his breath under control. The impact of all his responsibility suddenly seemed intent on crushing his chest. He wheezed in shallow breathes. He began to sink.
"Whoa, Zuko," Iroh said, bracing himself under Zuko's right arm, "remember your training" he said walking him to the bureau chair, "It can help you even now. Slow, deep breaths," he put Zuko in the chair, "Now, watch me," he said getting into resting pose. Iroh inhaled, slowly bringing the palms of his hand up to his rib cage, turned them down and slowly exhaled.
"Now you, Fire Lord Zuko."
Zuko shakily brought himself upright in his chair and mimicked his uncle. After a full set he felt the shakes wear off.
"Good, Zuko. Now," he said on his last exhale, "Change the sign with me."
Iroh got into position. Zuko slowly got on his feet stood across from his uncle and took form. His uncle began the cycle starting left, inhaling. Zuko came in and pushed the energy right, exhaling and inhaling when Iroh sent it back left. And right. Left. And right. Left. It was the waterbending cycle that Iroh had taught him only two years ago when he was learning about redirecting lightning. Left. Right. Left. Right.
"Zuko, I can relate to what you are going through. I was nervous on my wedding day too. Even more on my wedding night," Iroh said with a blushing chuckle, "Believe me, I felt like was walking up the volcano going down that same hall, hehe. I struggled through my oath. I talked so slow, the ceremony ran twenty minutes longer than necessary. But when I unveiled my bride, all the fear disappeared when she smiled. I knew that everything would fine, so long she was with me."
They finished the set and exhaled. Zuko felt better. Still a little weak, still afraid, but better.
"How do you feel?" asked Iroh putting his hands in his sleeves.
"Better," Zuko replied.
Iroh pulled Zuko into an embrace. "Don't worry, my son. It will be fine. Trust me."
"Well this positively touching," said velvety voice.
"JUNE!" said Iroh shoving away from Zuko who toppled into the chair.
"Uncle! What th-" Zuko began jumping up out the chair but what he saw made his jaw drop.
There it was before him: Uncle Iroh and June sharing a kiss.
"Nice to see you too, handsome," June said after pulling out of the lip lock, resting on her hands on Iroh's shoulder.
Zuko just stared.
"June and I are engaged," said Iroh with a grand smile.
There were no words.
"Yep. We're planning for a spring wedding since you're having yours in the fall," she said smiling devilishly at Iroh, she looked back at Zuko whose jaw was still agape, "and if you can pick your jaw up off the ground I'll be sure to send you an invitation."
No words.
"Ha, ha, ha. Forgive him, he simply has a lot on his mind, my love," said Iroh rubbing her hip.
"From what I can see he has nothing in his mind," said June looking into his mouth with a smirk.
"Ha! Good one," said Iroh.
Nothing.
"Well he clearly needs your help, Iroh, I'll leave you to it," she said and gave a parting kiss.
Zuko noticed the small but high roundness of June's abdomen at which his mouth clamped shut and eyes stretched open. He looked at his uncle. Iroh wore a wide grin. Zuko chuckled. Then Iroh chuckled. It grew to a laugh. Soon it was an uproarious one. It got so big that they clutched their stomachs. So big it brought tears to both their eyes. Unbeknownst them, June heard them down the hall, and grinned. "Fools," she said walking to Pledge Hall rubbing her belly.
Zuko plopped down in the chair wiping his eyes.
"What did you do, Uncle? Make her tea?"
"Yes, actually," Iroh said cheerfully, "I am quite fortunate that it worked!" he laughed.
Zuko joined him. He observed the happiness on his uncle's face. He could only imagine how his uncle felt: having lost an only child and then to be blessed with another.
"Congratulations, Uncle," said Zuko.
"Thank you, my son," Iroh said placing his hand on Zuko's shoulder.
A gong sounded. Fifteen minutes until the ceremony. Everybody should be getting in their respective places.
"Got to go. I'll see you out there," said Iroh clapping Zuko on his back.
Zuko watched as his uncle walked quickly out the doors and down the hall. He had pep in his step. Zuko smiled. He turned back to the room. His uncle left a long box on his bureau. He walked over the desk and opened it. Inside was a scroll. Great, he's making me read, he thought. He opened the scroll: it was a map. At the bottom of the scroll it read:
My greatest secret and gift to you; Keep it well.
"Greaaaat," said Zuko said with a tense smile, "a journey."
Zuko grabbed his gold arm guards, undercoat, robe, pin and box and hurried from the room. The gong sounded again: ten minutes. He jogged down the hall, took a right, right and left and he began to hear the din of the wedding guests. He made another left and slowed to put on his arm guards, coats and stuff his gift into his waist coat pocket. He turned the corner as he put in his hair pin.
"Zuko!"
He looked up. Sokka had an irritated look on his face.
"Sorry, I just uh-" Zuko began, got a lot information dropped on me.
"Got cold feet? Heh, yeah I've been there. I threw up when Suki and I got married," Sokka said straightening his blue and black Chieftain garbs.
"Yeah," Zuko said.
"Ok, Let's do the once over," said Sokka, arms crossed.
"The what?" asked Zuko.
"Turn around so I can make sure you don't look stupid," Sokka said flatly.
"Oh," said Zuko. He raised his arms and turned around. "How do I look?"
"Like a dead man," Sokka said simply.
Zuko stared. The gong rang. Five minutes.
"Ok, let's get this funeral on the road," said Sokka with his back to Zuko. A devilish and delightful grin spread over Sokka's face. Sokka gave one of the priests the signal. A few seconds later the grand gong rang five times to announce the beginning of the ceremony.
"Ah, the death knolls," said Sokka with faux nostalgia.
Zuko decided to ignore him and focus on releasing the knot in his stomach. Sokka began the march with the release of the fifth knoll.
Every bad scenario began to play out in Zuko's mind: from the demise of the nation to the demise of his unborn children. Nothing ever went right for him. Nothing. Why should this marriage and the ascension to Lordship be any different? He was already trying diffuse protests but he knew in his heart of hearts that things would escalate, especially with Azula at large. They were calling her the Lost Princess. He would have to accept that some citizens will not change and that force would likely be necessary. And what about his marriage? Something is bound to go wrong there. What if his responsibilities consume him and he ignores her? What if down the line she regrets deciding to be with him? And what kind of Father would he be? Would he be like his own father? NEVER! What if one of my children turned out like Azula? The thought almost made him stop in his tracks; he imagined a little girl smiling up at him with a knife behind her back. Their mother was the one who invested the most time with himself and Azula but she still turned out bad. What if evil tendencies are passed down from father to child? His entire family has a history of darkness. What if his children decide not follow his example but his father's?
This marriage brought him closer to realizing these scenarios . After he made his pledge the stage would be set with nothing left to do but let it play out. Zuko suddenly felt ill-prepared. He valued this work above all things but what if it didn't work? Something always goes wrong. Always.
Before Zuko knew it he was in the atrium, before his citizens, invited guests and emissaries. He silently took slow, deep breathes and put on a calm façade to hide the confusion he felt within. He performed breathing exercises and followed Sokka's ponytail to the temple. Standing within were three people: The High Priest Kai, Aang and his bride. Sokka went up to the right of Priest Kai and Zuko fell in line with his bride. They both kneeled to the High Priest and Aang. They kneeled in turn. Zuko and his bride kneeled on the ornamental and plush pillows before them and the guests sat down.
The ceremony seemed to drone on in the background while Zuko's mind spun greater and more terrible outcomes for his reign. All too soon it was time for him make his oath.
"And now, The Fire Lord will make his oath to his bride," said Priest Kai.
Zuko swallowed. Breathed and opened his mouth:
"My bride, I give you my word and my word is bond: The winds of change will not separate us. My fortune is your fortune and it will flow forever like a river from me. You never again have an earthly need nor know an earthly fear. I will break the darkness and warm the night. I will be your light as you are mine."
Aang stepped forward and held thier hands between his two hands.
"I am the Four Elements and the Fifth, the Collective, the Sage of the Stars and the Great Bridge," said Aang, "For water there is fire and it is good; for earth there is air and it is good; for night there is day and it is good; so for this woman there is this man and it too is good."
A chorus of woots and applause went from his guests and the citizenry. Zuko saw in his peripheral that a fair portion the citizenry immediately got up and left. They came only to see for themselves whether he would actually go through with it. He frowned. Then sighed and reached for the veil.
His uncle was right. All the fear and doubt dissipated when saw her face. Her blue eyes were shining with mirth, her smile was pearly and full of glee.
Katara, he thought happily, how could I ever have had a doubt.
"I present to you," Aang began as Zuko and Katara stood up hand-in-hand, "Fire Lord Zuko and the Fire Lady Katara!"
Cheers went up again. Zuko looked at Katara, they squeezed hands. Zuko then looked at his friends, allies and nation. Everyone that mattered was here. Zuko was glad, for the first time, to be who and where he was, knowing he could take on whatever lay ahead.
Aang stood back with a small smile, relieved to be done with the most painful ordeal of his life and ready to leave it behind.
Next: Chapter 2: A Painful Blessing
Thank you to the creaters of Avatar: The Last Airbender for creating a world I never dreamed of.
Thank you for reading
Uitori.