This is chapter 2 where Zuko, Iroh, and the Gaang discuss a lesson Zuko learned from his friend. Sorry it is a little short compared to chapter 1 and chapter 3 but it wouldn't work out any other way. Chapter 3 will be up soon. Thanks for reading. If you made it this far then that means you must have liked it a little. Enjoy!
Chapter 2:
Of Past Lessons Learned Hard
Iroh and the Gaang found Zuko right where they thought he would be; sitting on the bench under the blooming sakura tree, just as he had spent every day for the past week when he was not busy with his duties. Zuko looked up as his uncle approached. A sad smile crept across the young Lord's face.
"I grew up, you know? She told me not to, but… it feels like I didn't have a choice."
"Of course you grew up, Zuko. May I?" Iroh motioned towards the empty spot beside Zuko on the bench.
Zuko nodded once and returned to staring at the branch clasped in his strong hand. Every day when he finished with his work he returned to the garden, broke off a twig, and spent the time smelling the blooms and remembering his childhood friend.
Iroh settled himself beside the Fire Lord before he continued speaking.
"Everybody grows up. It's been three years; don't you think Cadence will have grown in three years? Growing up is what people are born to do. You, Katara, Sokka, Toph, and especially Aang have all done a lot of growing since the young Avatar returned to the world. We have all been through so much in the last year and a half or so."
The four children all nodded their heads in solemn consent.
Zuko chuckled, "You don't understand. It's okay, I didn't get it at first either. Cadence always said, 'Growing old is mandatory, growing up is optional.' She said that she refused to grow up." Zuko looked at Iroh before continuing.
"I never understood why anyone would not want to grow up. But now I understand what she meant. It's all about having fun. Cadence, even as a child, was wise enough to see that when people grew up they stopped having fun, stopped caring about the TRULY important things in life; like friendship."
Zuko looked at each of his friends before settling his eyes on Aang, who smiled and nodded.
"Zuko is right." Aang gave his wisdom to the small group. "The monks always said that playing and having fun were not as important as meditating or studying. But Monk Gyatso always made time to play with me; he told the other monks that even though I was the Avatar, I needed to have time to be a child, to have fun." He paused before continuing, "The fact is that if you watch children playing together there are no prejudices, no worries; no one cares if someone talks funny, has a different skin tone, or… a scar. All the children see is pure innocence, the possibility of a life-long friend."
Aang took Katara's hand in his own and looked at Iroh, who was deep in thought. "I'm not saying that as adults we don't have responsibilities and important things that need our attention; however, we get so caught up in the fact that we have to be better than everyone else. We see people and wonder 'how long till they betray me,' or 'what are you lying about,' or even 'what are you hiding from the rest of the world, what's your secret' that we miss out on the best opportunities life has to offer us."
The Avatar glanced at Toph. The young earthbending master's head was down and if she were not blind, one might think that she had spotted a very interesting bug on the ground.
"Monk Gyatso had a favorite saying he would tell the other monks when they complained about him putting off his duties to spend time with me. He would shake his head and say, 'The dishes will wait for the rainbow to pass, but the rainbow won't wait on the dishes.' And like always, he was right; we can't spend our lives being so busy that we miss out on the important things, like watching children grow, or having fun."
Sokka caught on, "Like when you threw that dance party, in the cave, for the students of that grumpy Fire Nation school!"
Aang nodded but Katara spoke next. "You showed them how to have fun because the adults were trying to force them to grow up, to not have fun."
"Nah, Twinkle Toes just wanted to show off his dance moves," smirked Toph.
Zuko shifted in his seat before saying, "Once you grow up, it's over. You can't go back, you're childhood is gone forever, so we have to hold on to it for as long as we can."
Iroh nodded his head. "I understand, I just never thought of it that way. Cadence was always exceptionally smart, especially for her age."
Iroh had told the others about Zuko and Cadence's friendship as children. Katara had cried as she heard about Zuko's Agni Kai and Cadence's attempt to save him. Aang had sat in awe as he imagined a girl his own age, with little training, struggling to save his friend's life. Sokka took on a solemn and serious expression while Toph remained expressionless. Once Iroh had finished his tale they all agreed that they should find out what happened to Cadence. After speaking with several Generals, guards, and eventually a servant, they had discovered that Cadence had been punished and then banished, but she was alive.
Zuko rose from his seat on the bench and looked past his friends and into the palace corridors. "I have to find her. I need to apologize. I want her to know the truth." His gaze shifted back to his friends.
Sokka was the first to speak. "But how? She could be anywhere in the world. The Earth Kingdom is huge and for all we know she could be ANYWHERE!"
"Sokka, calm down," uttered Katara. "You said she used waterbending. She might have family at one of the Tribes. Maybe we should start there."
Aang nodded in agreement. "At least it won't take as long as searching the entire Earth Kingdom. And anyways, no matter how big the world is, I'm sure someone, somewhere, knows where she is. We WILL find her. I promise Zuko."
"You're all missing the point!" Toph's outburst startled everyone as they turned their attention to her, she continued. "Zuko is the Fire Lord. He can't just up and leave to search the world for some girl that we have no idea what she looks like, much less where she is. And Aang is the Avatar. You can't drop your duties to search for Cadence, either. I'm all for finding this girl too. I want to shake her hand for having the courage to do what she did, but we can't just run off into the sunset. Think about it."
"Toph is right," announced Iroh. Zuko's shoulders slumped when he too realized they were all right. He couldn't leave.
"If I may, nephew; I suggest a small party of people you trust to go out and hunt for Cadence."
"But who?" asked Zuko.
"Hmm. What about the Kyoshi Warriors?"
"NO!" Zuko's outburst startled his uncle who was unaware of the terms of Sokka and Suki's break up and Zuko's involvement.
Iroh noticed the red coloring Zuko's cheeks as well as Sokka's sudden discomfort and how everyone else seemed to have found something very important to look at.
"There is something I have missed, somewhere; so speak."
Zuko and Sokka didn't seem capable of talking at the moment, so Katara felt obligated to fill Iroh in on the situation.
"Suki tried to… seduce… Zuko, about a month after his coronation. He and Mai had been fighting and Mai was away from the palace. Zuko tried to tell her 'no' and get her to leave him alone, but she wouldn't. Sokka had seen the whole thing and stepped in. Zuko then ordered the Warriors to leave the palace… and never return."
"I see," said Iroh. "Then they would not be a good choice. Give me a few days, Lord Zuko. Perhaps some friends of mine can help our search. Members of 'The Order' are everywhere, like Aang said; chances are someone knows where she is."
Zuko thought about what everyone had said and nodded. "See what you can find out, Uncle. Until then, no one is to speak of this to anyone other than those of us here. I don't want the Sages, Ministers, or Advisors to know. They will ask too many questions."
The group disbanded and life went on for several days.
A/N: Hope you liked it so far. Reviews make me feel like its Christmas Morn and I am five again, so please review.
Thank you to all who reviewed Chapter 1. Zuko's Princess - I hate Zuko and Mai's relationship too. He deserves much better! :D
Littlespottedcat - Thanks for liking it. I don't like the idea of Zuko growing up all alone except for his mom.
TearsOnTheRiver - Thanks! I'm so glad you like it!
Thanks again to all.