Author: Becky L. Sly
Title: The Moon's Dragon
Genre: Romance/Adventure/Drama
Rating: T (there will be cusswords, violence and some non-explicit sexual situation that might not be appropriated for all readers)
I don't own anything. All characters belong to Michael Dante DiMartino, Bryan Konietzko, and Nickelodeon.
Chapter 9 – The Old Firebender Lady
Zuko walked quickly past the Tribe Central Square. He had everything planned in his mind: he needed to grab his stuff at Hokoda's house and then he would meet Appa and fly towards the Fire Nation to find Aang. He had to be careful; if someone found out what he was doing, they would try to stop him. Moreover, the last thing Zuko wanted was more people questioning his motives. The New Moon Celebration would work as a cover, so no one would notice his disappearance.
It wasn't the best idea; heading to the Fire Nation alone without his bending was certainly a recipe for disaster. Add the fact that he was probably going to have to fight his sister and her army, and Zuko's chances were looking slim.
But he was determined. He had to try to find Aang, even at the cost of his life.
He walked stealthily through the igloos, hiding from view. Hakoda's house was empty when he approached. He slipped inside and headed towards Sokka's room searching for some clothes he could take. Although his parka was essential here in the South Pole, as soon as he reached the Fire Nation he would be sweating like a picken. He grabbed the clothes and stuffed it all in a bag he found on the ground. Zuko turned to leave when the glint of his sword caught his attention. After a moment's hesitation, he stepped up beside the bed and grabbed the sword. Satisfied, he threw the bag over his shoulder and turned to leave the room.
It was then that he heard footsteps.
He held his breath and waited, hoping the person would leave the house, but no one left. He opened his door carefully, trying not to make noise and walked quickly through the main room, stopping at Katara's door. The waterbender was inside her room.
The door was half open and Zuko could see the waterbender sitting on the bed, unmaking her loopies and braids. Zuko closed his eyes. He knew he had to get out of there before she saw him. However, a thought came to his mind. If she asks me to stay... if she asks me not to leave, I would stay.
He opened his eyes again, remembering the discussion they had. If he left, that would be the last thing he said to her. He knew she deserved more than that.
"Katara," he called. She jumped at his voice, turning to face him. Her eyes were red, which made Zuko hate himself for hurting her…again. He pushed the oak door a little, getting himself a better view of her. She stood up from the bed, her gaze fixed on his.
"I… I'm so sorry," he murmured, his gaze following her as she stepped closer to him. He swallowed hard. "I shouldn't have said the things I did. You took care of me and I…I never told you how much it meant to me." He paused, sighing deeply. "Still means to me." Katara was quiet, making Zuko really nervous about what she was thinking.
"You're also right about Aang," he continued. He watched Katara blink, a frown carving into her features. "He's my friend. I'll never forget everything he did for me." Zuko took a deep breath, diverting his gaze from hers. "That's why I know what I must do."
He heard Katara gasp and looked up to see her wide-eyed stare locked on his bag and sword. She looked back at him, a knowing and fearful expression dancing in her eyes.
"Are you going back to the Fire Nation?" she asked, her voice panicked. Zuko said nothing. He turned to his belongings and plucked them from the ground.
"I have to," he said. "I just wanted to apologize to you, you know… before leaving." He stepped slowly away from her, glancing at her face. She didn't seem happy, but there was nothing he could do; he didn't have time to argue with her. He knew he had to leave as quickly as he could. He stepped closer to the door, ready to step outside, when, Katara grabbed his bag's handle, making him stop.
"Have you gone mad?" she yelled. He reluctantly turned to face her, still inside the igloo.
"If you go back, you'll die!"
"I already made my mind," he growled, yanking free from her grasp. Zuko pushed through the igloo's entrance, breaking into a jog. He had to leave, and he had to leave now. The firebender nearly started to speed up, when something tripped him. He looked back to see his calves and feet caked in a layer of ice. Katara had frozen his legs together.
"Really?" He glowered at her, trying to move his feet.
"You are not going back to the Fire Nation," she said, crossing her arms in front of her chest. She walked slowly towards him, still with a frown on her face. Zuko continued to glower at her, his breath burning inside his throat because of the weather.
"I don't have a choice, Katara! Why you can't understand it?" he yelled, pounding on the ground with his fists as he tried to free himself. "Everyone thinks that I'm a coward!"
"I don't," she murmured. Zuko paused, his gaze finding hers. She still looked mad at him.
"I think you're an idiot for going alone to the Fire Nation."
"I don't have a choi…" He sighed deeply. "Could you please set me free?" He couldn't tell her that his bending was not at it best. She would yell at him even more if she found out.
"No." She crossed her arms again. Zuko snorted.
"Stop acting like a child, Katara," he snapped, but his voice was smoothed by the music that was coming from the Tribe Central Square. Katara didn't soften her expression.
"Your arm just got better." She pointed to his left arm. "If you go, anyone could beat you down."
"My arm is great," he snapped.
"You're not going to the Fire Nation," she murmured. "At least, not alone."
"Katara," he sighed, looking away. "You're not coming with me."
"Where are you going?" Sokka asked. Both Katara and Zuko looked up to see Sokka and Suki walking up to them. "And why are you stuck on the ground?" Sokka asked, pointing towards Zuko's legs.
"Zuko wants to go to the Fire Nation to rescue Aang," Katara said. Suki shot Zuko a wide-eyed look.
"You can't do that alone," Sokka muttered, frowning. "If you go there on your own, you'll be doing your sister a favor."
"She thinks that I'm dead," he said coldly, crossing his arms. "And I could take care of myself pretty well."
"Oh, really?" Katara said scornfully. "So why don't you just melt the ice and run away? You never had a problem with that."
Zuko glowered; he could feel his blood boiling under his skin.
"Katara," he glowered.
"Did you really think I didn't know you couldn't firebend?" she shouted, jerking her arms downward angrily. The motion caused the ice to melt from his legs, and Zuko shivered at the sensation of ice-cold water dripping from his legs.
"You told her?" He glanced at Sokka, his voice bitter. Sokka shrugged, confused stamping across his features.
"I-I didn't…" Sokka started, but Katara cut him off.
"Sokka didn't tell me anything!" she yelled. "Do you think I don't notice when you tried? Do you think I didn't notice you escaping in the middle of the night to the Compound to train?"
Katara was furious. Although she planned to never tell him about him, she was there the first night Zuko went to the Compound to practice his firebending. She had followed him, wanting to talk to him about them. She was surprised when she saw that he couldn't bend, and she had even thought about going down there and talking to him about it. However, it was then that Khan, a young waterbender approached to talk to Zuko. Katara had thought that it would be better if she just went home. After that day, she couldn't find a way to broach the subject without telling that she actually followed him every night he had escaped to practice his bending.
Zuko dropped his head, shame swallowing him whole. He was a farce, a failure. Everyone had seen right through him from the start. He heard Katara sigh.
"I'm not letting you go to the Fire Nation. Not alone, anyway." She paused as if to think a moment before speaking again. "If you want to go, you'll have to take me with you," she said.
Zuko narrowed his eyes, glaring at the dirt. She was stubborn, he had to admit. But so was he.
Zuko finally looked up, his gaze meeting hers again.
"I can take care of myself," he murmured stubbornly. It was selfish, he knew, but he didn't want to put her in danger. However, deep inside, knowing that she wanted to take the risk with him, warmed his heart.
"No, I'm your healer," stated the waterbender. "I'm telling you that you are not going alone."
"What's your plan?" Suki asked suddenly. Zuko faced her, considering the question.
"I'll search for him while I'm there." He shrugged, eliciting a frown on Sokka's face.
"So, you'll just knock at your sister's door, and asked her where Aang is?" Sokka asked with a raised eyebrow. "Sure, this plan will work perfectly!"
Zuko frowned. "I'm still working on the details."
"You have to admit, Zuko," Katara said, shrugging. "You need us."
"Yeah!" Sokka exclaimed.
Zuko considered it for a while. He gazed Katara, realizing that he didn't have a choice. He couldn't rescue Aang without their help.
"Okay, fine," he said coldly. "But we must act quickly. No one can know what we're doing."
"Not a problem," said Sokka with a big smirk on his face.
"So… you're going with them?" Suki asked weakly.
"Suki… I-I."
Suki shook her head before he could finish. "No, that's okay," she muttered, faking a smile. "I understand… I just… wish I could help you." She shrugged.
"You already helped a lot Suki, and… I can't let you go," Sokka murmured, squeezing her hand. "I can't let that anything happen to you…I just can't." He seemed haunted, and Suki nodded.
"You can help us here," Katara said softly. "You can give us cover while we're there."
"You can tell my father what happened," Sokka continued. "He'll help you to deal with the Elder Ones. They're not going to like this."
"They'll denounce us to the Fire Nation if they think that we're putting the Water Tribe in danger," Zuko said, everyone's gaze on him. "And we probably are."
Katara sighed. "We don't have a choice," she said.
"I'll do my best," Sukki stated. "No one will know about it." She looked at Katara and her expression softened. "Your dad will be worried"
"I know," Katara said, sighing.
"Hold on a second," Sokka exclaimed suddenly. "If we are going to the Fire Nation, I have to grab some things." Sokka walked towards the igloo in a hurry. Zuko glanced at Katara, intrigued, but she shrugged, seeming as confused as him. Katara turned again to Suki.
"Maybe we should go to Appa."
"Okay, we'll meet you there," Suki said, turning to follow Sokka.
Katara and Zuko walked stealthily towards the stable, making sure to not be noticed by anyone. They pulled their parka hoods up to cover their faces as they passed near Central Square. Luckily, no one recognized them.
As soon as they reached the stable, they headed towards Appa. They passed by the enclosure that the waterbenders had built for Sokka's polar bear dog. The cub was sleeping and didn't get bothered by their presence there. Katara grabbed some ribbons and wrapped it around Appa's horns. Zuko helped her with that and when everything was settled, they both sat in the saddle, waiting for Sokka and Suki. After a few minutes, they both appeared.
"Right," said Sokka. "I got everything we'll need." He raised the big bag from his shoulders. He had also brought his sword and boomerang. "Hey, Yuki," he greeted the little cub, coming closer to her enclosure. The polar bear dog opened her eyes sluggishly at the sound of Sokka's voice. The warrior brought a piece of jerky. He leaned down and offered it to her. Yuki heisted for a moment, but after recognizing the smell, she bites the food and ate it all in one gulp. Sokka smiled and petted her head gently, saying 'good girl'.
"Sokka," Zuko called, petulant. "We don't have time for that."
"I know, I know," Sokka muttered, glancing one last time at the cub before facing the benders. "I just want to check if she still likes me."
Sokka threw his bag over Appa's saddle, but when he was about to climb into it, Suki poked his back.
"Come back… okay?" she asked, biting her lower lip.
Sokka noticed the worry in her eyes, his heart tightened. He knew that she wanted to help, but he couldn't let anything happen to her or their baby. He reached for her hand and squeezed it softly.
"I need you with me," she said with a sniff, holding the tears back.
"Hey, come on," he started, kissing the back of her hand. "You won't have time to miss me. You don't need to worry." He leaned in to kiss her, and Suki threw her arms around his neck, holding him close while kissing him back. Sokka could feel her bump against his stomach. He gently rubbed her bump, slightly feeling the baby stirring inside.
"I'll see you both very soon," he said against her lips. Suki nodded, breathless.
Sokka clambered up into the saddle next to Zuko and his sister.
"Here," Suki said, tossing up a pair of extra clothes. "For when you get to the Fire Nation." It was a pack of Fire Nation traditional garments, things they could use to blend in.
Zuko was sitting over Appa's head, holding the bison's ribbons. He guided Appa quickly out of the stable, with Suki in front of them, making sure that no one was watching. She gave them the all clear, and they slipped out into the night. When they reached the beach, Zuko pressed Appa's ribbons.
"Yiep-yiep," Zuko said, and Appa took off.
Suki watched as they flew away from sight, leaving her with only her thoughts. How was she going to tell Hakoda? She couldn't help but feel useless. She walked back to the stable, sitting next to Yuki on the floor. It was warmer inside and Suki didn't want to be alone.
The little cub recognized her scent and approached her. Suki petted her head gently, staring out of the open door of the stable. She could see the sea right in front of her, as well as some stars that blanketed the sky. She remembered what Sokka had told her about Yue and how she helped everyone in the Water Tribe. Suki closed her eyes, wishing that Sokka, Katara, Zuko would be fine. She also wished that Sokka could find Aang and her girls. Tears dripped down her face, and Suki realized just how scared she was.
"Please," she murmured. "Please, make everything be okay."
It was then that Suki felt a weird sensation as if something was passing through her.
It was not a bad feeling just a… weird feeling. Goosebumps all over her body, but when she looked around, no one was there with her, apart from Yuki and the other animals. The feeling was gone as quickly as it came, and then she felt her baby moving inside her.
"Don't worry," she said softly, gently massaging her belly as she tried to understand what had just happened. She smiled, feeling her baby kicking under her hand.
"Mommy will handle everything."
"So… where did you say we're going to land?" Zuko asked Sokka, who was looking at the map of the Fire Nation he had brought.
"At the Black Cliff," Sokka said absently. Zuko turned to face him, his hair swaying with the wind. Sokka pointed to the location on the map and showed it to Zuko. "It's a good place to land without being noticed."
"But how're we a going to get to the Fire Nation from Black Cliff?"
"We gonna pass through the Great Gates of Azulon, the same way we did some years ago," Sokka smirked, glancing at Katara. "We do it underwater."
"What?" Zuko asked, slack-jawed. "Under the water?" He glanced at Katara, who seemed to be blushing.
"Yeah," she murmured. "We did that." She smiled.
"Katara can create a dome around Appa's head," Sokka explained, moving his arms in the air, mimicking his sister's waterbending moves. "No one will notice us."
Zuko considered it for a while.
"Alright," he said, massaging the bridge of his nose. "But first we need to land on… Black Cliff." Sokka nodded, crawling towards Appa's head to guide him towards the location he mentioned. Zuko handed him the reins, crawling back and sitting next to Katara.
Katara sighed."It's so strange to be here again," she muttered. She seemed downcast, and Zuko knew the reason. He reached for her hand and squeezed it gently.
"Hey," he murmured. "We'll find him." He shot a smile at her. She nodded, smiling weakly. They didn't talk after that, but it took Zuko awhile to notice that he was still holding her hand. He quickly let it go, looking away awkwardly.
The sun was slowly breaking out into the sky when they arrived at Black Cliffs. It was a gorgeous sight, but everyone was happy to be on the ground after such a long flight. Especially Appa.
Katara and Sokka did a quick sweep of the island to check for inhabitants, but luckily they were alone, aside from the koala sheeps that casually grazed nearby.
"We should rest until the night," Sokka muttered, heading towards Zuko. "As soon as the sun sets, we take Appa and go to Harbor City."
Both Katara and Zuko agreed, and the three laid beside Appa to rest a little. They dozed off, and by the time they woke, it was almost noon. Katara snagged the pack of clothes and distributed them so they could change.
"I'm going to look for some food," she said.
"Good, 'cuz I'm starving!" Sokka quipped with a grin. The waterbender merely rolled her eyes and grabbed a knapsack, slipping away to scavenge for lunch.
Zuko leaned against Appa's fur. "Okay, what are we doing when we get to Harbor City."
"Well," Sokka said, sitting in front of the firebender, "we have to find some place where we can hide Appa."
Zuko frowned, considering it. A thought came to his mind.
"A long-time ago, we drained the sewer from the Capital into some drainage ducts at the coast, so it could empty into the sea," he started. "After awhile, we realized that we shouldn't drain our sewer into the sea with the fishes, so the ducts at the coast were deactivated."
Sokka raised an eyebrow.
"I know it's not pleasant, but it is the best option," Zuko snapped
Sokka sighed. "Well, at least we have this," he said. "But we have another problem. Do you have any idea where Aang is?"
Zuko was quiet for a moment. He looked around to see if Katara was anywhere to be seen before speaking. "I'm not sure," he muttered. "To be honest, he could be anywhere."
"Where were you going to look for him?"
"Usually, he would be at the Capital's Prison," he said, taking the map and showing the location to Sokka. "It's at the edge of the Capital, set in the mountains."
Sokka stared at Zuko for a moment. "You don't think he's there, do you?"
"I'm not sure," he said, still facing the map. "The point is, if he's still in the Fire Nation, Azula has been keeping it to herself. He must be near her, so she can keep an eye on him."
"I get it."
A few minutes later, Katara appeared with some fruits she found.
"Here, have some lunch," she said, tossing one to Sokka. The three of them settled down to eat, quickly digging into Katara's harvest.
They ate their fill and handed over the leftovers to Appa, who made quick work of the fruits. The three of them relaxed for a little while longer, waiting until the sky bled red as the sun sank below the horizon before packing up camp. They climbed onto Appa's back and took off, sinking below the waves and swimming swiftly towards the Great Gates of Azulon.
"We are in," Sokka said, packing his eyeglass back. "The Great Gates of Azulon are right there." He turned to Katara and touched her shoulder gently. "Now it's up to you."
Katara nodded and straightened her posture. With quick motions, she waved her arms, pulling the water over Appa's head and creating the dome. The dome covered the three passengers as well as the Air Bison's head, protecting them from drowning. Appa's body was free though, and he swam steadily below the surface.
Zuko was amazed at the view.
He glanced over at Katara and saw a proud smile upon her lips. Looking away, he pressed the ribbon so Appa could descend into the sea and swim towards the gates. Katara was focused in her bending, moving her arm to maintain the dome above them.
"If everything works out, they won't set fire to the gates," Zuko muttered. All were silent as Appa swam as fast as he could. The closer they got to the gate, more anxious Zuko was. Don't fire up. Don't fire up. Don't fire up. All three of them were still as they passed, their gazes all trained on the dark surface above. Zuko could swear he heard his heart beating, and he could almost feel the tension flowing between them.
They swam further. And further. And still, no fire was set.
They did it. Their plan worked.
"We did it!" Sokka yelled, punching the air. Zuko breathed a heavy sight in relief and turned to see Katara smirking.
"We have to continue under the water until we reach Harbor City," Zuko said quietly. Katara nodded, her jaw set with determination.
"All right, let's get to Harbor City."
Zuko didn't know what time it was, as they were pretty far beneath the surface, but it seemed to be pretty late. They'd crossed most of the gulf at this point, it wouldn't be long before they were at their destination.
The firebender glanced over at Katara, who was trembling slightly as she focused on maintaining their bubble.
"You okay?" he asked quietly. She nodded tersely, her forehead glistening with sweat.
"I-I don't think I can't hold this any longer," she said weakly, straining to speak.
"Don't worry Katara. We are almost there," Sokka said, trying to calm his sister. Zuko tugged Appa's ribbons even harder, prompting him to swim even faster.
A few minutes later, they reached the harbor. Zuko quickly guided Appa towards the ducts he had mentioned. When they reached the area, Appa slowly rose to the surface. It was dark, with a little chance of someone seeing them. Katara dropped her arms, melting the dome.
"Well done, Katara," Sokka said, patting his sister's shoulder. "If it wasn't for you, we wouldn't have made it."
Katara smiled and thanked him, but she seemed exhausted.
"Yiep-yiep," Zuko whispered, but Appa heard it. He fluctuated delicately and there, right in front of them, was the draining ducts that Zuko had spoken about. Appa headed towards one of them and landed on it, seemingly glad to rest a little.
"At least it doesn't smell so bad in here," said Sokka, jumping out of the saddle. Zuko helped Katara down and they joined.
"What's the plan?" Sokka asked.
"You two should go to the Capital's Prison." Zuko grabbed Sokka's map and straightened it in front of them. "Here," he said, pointing to the location on the map. "There will be some guards there."
"We can handle it," Katara said, smiling slightly. "But, what about you?" Her gaze was full of worry, and her smile faltered. Zuko took a deep breath before speaking.
"If Aang isn't there, he's in the Royal Palace or in the bunker under it." It was a possibility Zuko hadn't thought about until after his conversation with Sokka. He let out a sigh and looked gravely at Katara. "I'm going there to look for him."
"But it's dangerous," Katara said, her eyes wide. "If you go to the Royal Palace, you'll be doing Azula a favor!"
"Especially with your bending," Sokka added. Zuko shook his head.
"I have this." He unsheathed his Water Tribe sword, presenting it to them with a grin. "And besides, Azula won't see me. I know how to walk through the Capital without being noticed."
"After we get out of the prison, we'll meet you at the palace," Sokka stated, but Zuko raised his hand.
"No. It's better if I go there alone," he said. "We'll meet again here, at the dawn," He knew going alone was the only way. He had to be quick to stay hidden, and bringing along people unfamiliar with the palace would only slow things down.
"But what if you don't come back?" Katara asked, her gaze locking with his. Although he didn't want to admit, he knew he was risking his life coming back to the Fire Nation. However, he didn't want to worry Katara.
"I will come back," he said, a soft smile playing on his lips.
"Done!" Sokka exclaimed. "But you'll need something to defend yourself with." He turned and headed towards Appa, searching for his bag. With an exclamation, Sokka whirled back around and produced some sort of balls, which he held out to Zuko.
"Take these," he said. The firebender frowned.
"What's this?" Zuko grabbed the ball, giving a proper look at it. Sokka just shrugged.
"I call them stinky ninja balls," he said, ignoring Zuko's wide-eyed stare. "I made them. It'll help you to outwit anyone in your way and escape."
"Okay… But why stinky?" Zuko asked, afraid of the answer. Sokka smirked slyly.
"You'll find out if you use it."
Zuko dropped the subject, putting the balls inside his pockets. "Ready?" he asked. Katara and Sokka looked at each other, nodding.
The three of them headed towards the edge of the draining duct. Sokka glanced at Appa, shushing the Air Bison.
"Be quiet, Appa," he whispered, earning looks from Zuko and Katara. "What? We've gotta be sneaky!"
Zuko merely rolled his eyes and ushered them forward. They came out of the duct and climbed the rocks around it until they finally reached the top of the cliff. It was dark, but they pulled their hoods over their faces to not be recognized.
"Okay." Zuko turned to face the two Water Tribe natives. "You'll have to go through the forest to get to the prison," he said, pointing out to the vegetation behind them. The siblings both nodded. If they followed the instructions Zuko gave them using the map, they wouldn't have a problem in finding the prison.
"See you again soon, buddy," Sokka said, approaching Zuko and outstretching his arm. Zuko smiled.
"See you soon," he said, holding Sokka's arm. The warrior stepped backward, allowing Katara to approach Zuko. She stayed quiet for a moment, but before Zuko could open his mouth, she opened her arms and threw herself onto him, burying her face into his shoulder.
"Please, come back," she whispered, hugging him tightly. Zuko hugged her back. He had forgotten what it felt like to be in her arms. His heart gets warmer for a moment, the emptiness he was feeling inside him was suddenly gone.
"I will. I promise you," he murmured in her ear, gently running his fingers through her hair. She freed him, stepping backward, but when he met her gaze, he saw that she was worried. They stared at each other for a long moment, neither of them brave enough to take the first step and go. However, Sokka faked a cough behind Katara.
"Let's find Aang," he said, making both benders jump at his voice. Katara turned and joined her brother, her cheeks still red.
Zuko peered through the brambles. He had marched straight through the forest and was now on the outskirts of a small town near the mountains. He straightened and pulled his hood down even more before heading out into town. The streets, he noticed, were empty, aside from a few soldiers here and there.
Zuko slipped behind some wood boxes to hide from the soldiers when a scene caught his attention. An old lady in front of him was trying to stack some boxes filled with fruits and vegetables. Two soldiers passed next to her and it seemed like they bumped her on propose, making all the fruits and vegetables fall out onto the ground. They both laughed at her and walked away. The woman desperately grabbed the food on the ground.
Zuko sighed and without thinking twice, he walked towards her and helped her to pick up the fruits, making sure that the soldiers didn't notice him. He helped the woman get out of the street.
"It's good to see that there are good people walking around in the world," she murmured, gently plucking the fruits out of Zuko's hands and putting them in the box. Zuko turned to leave when she grabbed hold of his arm. "Let me pay you for this," she said with a gentle smile. Zuko attempted to pry his arm free, shaking his head.
"N-no thank you," he said, only to pause in horror as his hood fell free, revealing his face. The woman lets go of his arm, and the two stared at each other, shock painted across the woman's features. Zuko shook himself into action and stumbled backward, yanking the hood back onto his head. He risked a glance over his shoulder at the woman, who stared after him with a slacked jaw.
"Shit," he muttered. He knew he needed to run. It was only a matter of time until that woman alerted some guard about his presence there. He headed towards the Gates of the Capital, walking as stealthy and as fast as he could. That night, in particular, the guards seemed very distracted, and Zuko didn't struggle to pass by them. Finally, Zuko reached the Gates of his hometown.
As weird as it was to be back at home, Zuko didn't have words to express how happy he was to be there, even for a short amount of time. Even if everyone there hated him. He noticed that the Capital was as empty as the other town, aside from some guards that were walking around, guarding the streets. Zuko headed towards the Royal Palace, making sure to not be caught.
The Palace loomed up before him, ominous in the low light. Zuko approached one of the lower walls, quickly scaling it and jumping down into the internal garden. It was empty in the garden, the only sounds coming from the crickets and the turtle ducks swimming in the pond.
He slipped inside the Palace, finding it to be very, very empty. There wasn't even a guard in sight. Zuko tiptoed through the halls, ducking behind pillars and listening closely for any sound or movement.
There was none.
He stopped at various rooms, giving each one a quick sweep for Aang, only to come up short. There wasn't any sign of Azula either, and Zuko wasn't sure if that was a good thing or a bad thing.
It wasn't long before Zuko found himself at the access point for the bunker.
It was pitch black when he entered the bunker. No one was there. He kept searching for Aang, illuminating the way with a small flame he created in the palm of his hand.
Hours passed and there was no sign of Aang. No one was there.
"Shit," he murmured, his frustration mounting. He sighed heavily, wondering if Katara and Sokka were luckier than him. He headed towards the access to the Palace, quickly this time. Zuko hurried out of the Palace, not wanting to test his luck any further.
The streets were even emptier with only a couple of soldiers milling about. Zuko headed towards the town he had come from. He didn't have much time, the sun would soon rise in the sky.
Zuko broke into a jog, feeling safe since there were few guards. But when he turned the corner, a silhouette in the street made him draw up short.
"Going so soon?" the man said.
Zuko's blood went cold. He knew that voice. The man stepped towards the firebender, the streetlights illuminating him and revealing the menacing grimace of Tai Long. The firebender unsheathed his sword, taking his fighting stance.
"What do you want?" Zuko growled, narrowing his eyes and glaring at the old man. He could feel his heart beating rapidly in his chest, and a cold sweat broke out on his brow.
"I'm just surprised to see you here."
Zuko snorted. "Maybe because you thought I was dead."
Tai Long laughed.
"I always knew you were alive, Zuko," he muttered, his dark stare locked onto the firebender. "I felt your presence the moment you stepped in the Royal Palace." He stretched his hand with his palm up. Zuko knew he was a firebender, but the flame that came out of his hand was different from everything Zuko remembered. It was a golden flame, much brighter than Zuko's. "My energybending allows me to know every move you make." Tai Long smiled deathly, and Zuko swallowed hard.
"If you knew I was alive and that I was here, why you didn't warn the guards?" Zuko asked. "Why you didn't warn my sister?"
"My proposal is not about war, Zuko," Tai Long said, smiling slightly. "We both know that if your sister found out that you are alive, she would burn the world down to find you and kill you," he laughed slightly. "I just told her what she needed to hear."
Zuko frowned. "What do you get telling everyone I'm dead?"
Tai Long gaze was as lethal as his voice, but he still had a smile upon his lips.
"Time."
"Time? Time for what?" Zuko asked, confused. Tai Long stepped closer to the firebender.
"Time is the only thing that defines our world," he said coldly, leaning in close. "And you provided me a lot of time when you brought me the Avatar." Tai Long muttered, taking a letter from his pocket and throwing it at Zuko's feet. It was Aang's letter telling Zuko about his arrival. Tai Long knew about Aang because the nurse from the Facility Center stole Aang's letter while Zuko was visiting his sister.
"Where's Aang?" Zuko growled, wielding his sword. He could feel his anger boiling inside him.
"You wasted your time. He isn't here."
"Where is he?"
Tai Long smirked.
"Why don't you find out on your own?" he said. Before Zuko could move, Tai Long raised his arms and charged at Zuko, casting a huge fireball towards the young bender. Zuko quickly stumbled to the left. He knew he couldn't bend, so he wielded his sword at Tai Long, running towards the man. With a quick move, Tai Long dodged the attack and waved his hand to set fire on the ground near Zuko.
Zuko knew he had to escape. He ran through the flames and jumped over the old bender, aiming to run for it. Tai Long followed him, firing a barrage of fireballs. Zuko kept running, searching for anything on the streets that he could use to stop Tai Long.
Zuko was frantic. He could smell nothing but smoke, and there was no way out in sight. What should he do? Give up? Katara drifted into his mind and him grit his teeth.
No. He had to get out of here.
It was then that he remembered the stinky balls. Zuko fumbled in his pocket as he ran, pulling out a handful of the balls. With a desperate grunt, he turned and threw them, hearing the balls land with a satisfying splat. A white fog exploded from the impact, and Zuko gagged as the distinct smell of yak manure permeated the alleyway. He could hear Tai Long coughing and gagging, but he didn't stick around.
He hid in an alley near some houses at the edge of the forest, pausing only to catch his breath. He made a mental note to thank Sokka for the stinky balls. A pair of hands grabbed at his shoulder, making Zuko jump and fall to the ground. He whirled around to see who was there, reaching for his sword. But, when he looked up, he saw the same old woman he had helped some hours earlier in the town. The one that recognized him.
"Shhh," she whispered, helping him stand up. "Here, Fire Lord," she murmured, heading towards a small door. For a moment, Zuko thought about running away, but something made him stay and follow the woman. After all, it was probably his best option to outwit Tai Long.
He followed her into a room that appeared to be a restaurant, filled with tables and chairs. The old woman paused, yanking back the carpet to reveal a trap door. The door revealed a staircase, which descended into darkness.
"Go ahead, Fire Lord," the woman said. Zuko hesitated, slowly stepping onto the creaky staircase, and began his descent. The woman followed closely behind, closing the trapdoor above them carefully.
It was dark in there, and Zuko was surprised by the bright light that bloomed from the woman's hand; she was a firebender. It shouldn't have been too surprising, this was the Fire Nation after all, but he couldn't help but feel a bit awed.
They continued down the stairs until they reached the bottom, where Zuko was met with a brick wall.
"Where are you taking me?" Zuko asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Somewhere you'll be safe, Fire Lord," the woman said gently.
Zuko stared at the brick wall, analyzing it carefully. On the left was a small Fire Nation insignia. He watched the woman as she pressed her left hand over the insignia, activating it with her bending. The wall creaked opened in front of Zuko, making him smile in surprise.
He stepped forward into the room, being followed by the woman. The door behind them closed and suddenly the room lit up. It was filled with all kinds of people; there were women, kids, old men, mothers holding their babies, and some young fire nation people. Everyone was staring at Zuko. Their expressions were a mixture of emotions ranging from shock to fear, and even awe and anger.
"Who are you?" Zuko asked the woman beside him. She had a big smirk upon her lips.
"Are you…alive?" someone asked.
"Mityko, you were right!"
"The Fire Lord is back!"
"Fire Lord Azula lied to us!"
Zuko listened all of these people talking, smiling before him. They were...happy. Happy to see him. He couldn't believe it.
"We never forgot you, Fire Lord," said the woman beside Zuko. He turned to face her and she pointed out to a frame on the wall. It was his picture as Fire Lord. Seeing that touched Zuko deeply.
"My name is Mityko, and these are my neighbors, friends, and family, Fire Lord," she said, looking at the people before them. Zuko saw them all bowing to greet him and he, showing the same respect, bowed to them.
"What's happened since Azula took the throne?" Zuko asked. A woman in front of him sighed before speaking.
"The day your throne was usurped, the soldiers walked through the streets telling the news. They threatened us, saying that anyone who supported you would be considered a traitor."
Another man spoke. "Since your fall, Fire Lord Azula put a curfew in the whole Fire Nation. Anyone who disobeys it would be arrested."
"Anyone can leave the Fire Nation or the colonies," a young girl said.
"She is not seeing anyone in the Palace," an old woman muttered. "People are scared."
Zuko sighed. "I thought that everyone in the Fire Nation was glad to know I was dead." He gazed at each one of them, seeing their doleful faces. "I thought that my people considered me a coward."
"With all respect, Fire Lord, " Mityko started, gently holding Zuko's hand. Her hand was very warm. "Have you ever talked with anyone of your people? The people that live here in Harbor City or in the colonies?"
Zuko felt ashamed. He remembered his last talk with Aang. He lowered his head and shook it.
"No," he said weakly. "As Fire Lord, I never came to you."
Mityko squeezed his hand.
"So you must know that we are scared," she said seriously. Zuko raised his gaze to hers. "But, more important than that, we are all glad to see that you are alive. You are our true Fire Lord. We need you. The Fire Nation needs you."
Zuko returned the old woman's gesture and squeezed her hand back. He turned his gaze to the people assembled before him, realization dawning upon him.
He was their Fire Lord. They needed him. It didn't matter that he wanted to run away and deny it to himself. In that moment, looking at all of those people, he finally understood his destiny. It was up to him to bring peace back to his homeland and his people, as their Fire Lord and leader.
He had arrived at the Fire Nation to rescue Aang, and now he would leave determined to redeem his nation.
"I will not abandon you," he muttered, staring at each one and every one of them again. They all smiled at his words and a big commotion grew in that room.
It was in that moment that Zuko felt something inside him, as if something had finally awakened. The emptiness he was feeling was gone, his heart now was filled with hope and determination. There, seeing all of those people, he knew he wasn't hated or believed to be a failure as he thought he was. What had happened to him was an injustice, but now he was willing to fight back for his throne, for his place, for his people.
"I'll come back," he said, looking at Mityko. "But for now, I can't fight Azula and Tai Long on my own. I need a united force to stop this madness."
A few hands waved in the air, and Zuko turned to see some kids volunteering to help
"We are going with you!" they said, but Zuko raised his hand.
"No, now is not the time. I need you here," he said seriously and the kid, although disappointed, nodded. Zuko smiled gently. "When the time comes, your help will be essential."
He turned again to face Mityko. "I need to go, at least for now,"
Mityko nodded. She walked towards the wall where they had come in. There was another insignia there. Zuko stepped closer and pressed his hand over it. He took a deep breath and produced a small, yet, intense and strong flame.
Zuko smiled. He was back.
He walked towards the stairs, closely followed by Mityko and the people in the room. They all came out from the basement, filling the room of the restaurant. Zuko glanced at the window and saw that it was already dawn. He jumped at that, remembering what he had told to Katara.
"We'll be waiting for you, Fire Lord," Mityko said. Zuko turned to face her, finding her smiling. Zuko glanced at the other, noticing that they all were smiling at him as well.
"Thank you all for helping me. When the time comes, you'll know."
They all nodded. Zuko pulled his hood over his face again. He headed toward the front door, ready to go for Sokka and Katara. Before he left, he glanced again at each one of them, memorizing their faces. Without any more time to waste, Zuko stepped outside the restaurant and ran towards Appa's hiding place.
"Zuko!" Katara cried. She ran to him tackling him in a hug. "We were worried about you," she said. He hugged her back.
"I told you I'd be back," he murmured softly. She nodded, squeezing him tight. He looked up and saw the people in front of them. The Kyoshi Warriors. They found them.
"Fire Lord Zuko!" the girls cried in unison, surprised to see him there. Zuko walked towards them, glad to see that they were all fine. Tired, but fine. However, his gaze reached Sokka, and Zuko realized that the warrior was taking care of one of them. Zuko stepped closer and noticed that it was Ty Lee over Sokka's arm. Her hair had been cut very short and she seemed very hurt. She was unconscious.
"What happened?" Zuko asked in shock. Katara lowered her head.
"Azula," Katara said weakly. Zuko was silent, understanding, and horror washing over him.
"Did you find Aang?" Sokka's voice made Zuko hit the ground. Everyone stared at Zuko anxiously, waiting for his answer. Zuko glanced at Katara and sighed.
"No," he muttered, remembering Tai Long's words. "I don't think he's here, in the Fire Nation."
"Where is he?" Katara asked afflicted.
"I don't know." Zuko breathed heavily, feeling a big weight over his shoulder. "But we need to get out of here. Tai Long knows I'm here."
"What? That was what the explosions we heard coming from Harbor City were?" Sokka asked, frowning. Zuko nodded.
"How did you get rid of him?"
"Using your stinky stuff," Zuko said. Sokka grinned.
"If Tai Long saw you, he must be searching for you now," Katara murmured. Zuko nodded.
"Okay, everyone goes to Appa," Sokka said, kneeling down to take Ty Lee in his arms. Zuko helped him to lay her over the saddle before headed towards Appa's head to guide him. Sokka sat next to Zuko, while Katara stayed with the other girls in the saddle. Zuko pressed the ribbons and Appa leaped out of the draining duct.
"Let's go back the same way we came," Sokka said, pointing out to the water. Katara was ready to bend the water around them when a big fireball rocketed towards them.
"Zuko, look out!" Sokka yelled. Zuko yanked Appa's ribbons just in time to dodge the attack.
"What the hell?" Sokka shouted, trying to see who had attacked them. They all looked up at the mountain and saw two men standing there. Zuko recognized one of them.
"Tai Long," he spat. Katara turned to him, wide-eyed.
"The bad guy is following us now?" Sokka asked, helping Zuko to take Appa out of there.
The man next to Tai Long waved his arms, pulling the water from the sea near Appa. The huge wave reared up beside the animal, grabbing his back legs. Appa was being dragged towards Tai Long and the waterbender, and the air bison bellowed as he struggled to free himself. Katara quickly stood up and scramble towards the edge of the saddle, moving her arm in a cross-motion to cut the water that was holding Appa back. With a jerk, Appa flew free and Katara falls back onto the saddle.
The waterbender didn't seem to like that. He shifted his stance, pulling the water up and around the air bison again, this time freezing it to create a massive wall of ice. Katara rose to her feet, taking a fighting stance once again.
But Zuko was faster. He leaped into the air, firing off a fireball so powerful and intense that it melted a hole right through the middle of the ice wall, allowing Appa to zip through. Zuko dropped back into the saddle with a thump, steadied by Katara's firm hands on his shoulders.
The waterbender near Tai Long snorted. "He has a waterbender with him?" he asked and Tai Long nodded calmly.
"Should we follow them?"
Tai Long shook his head. "No," he muttered. "As you know Chiwen, we don't want to start a war."
The waterbender nodded quietly, and they both watched as Appa flew away and out of their sight.
Zuko and Katara looked down to the sea, making sure that no one was following them. Thankfully, no one seemed to be, and they both relaxed.
"It's good to see that your bending is strong again," Katara murmured, smiling knowingly to the firebender, eliciting a grin from Zuko. He needed to tell her everything that had happened to him. He needed to tell her that he was determined to take back his throne.
This was going to be a long flight back to the Southern Water Tribe.
N/A: Hello folks, I'm finally back! Thank you guys so much for your support! I'm so thankful to those who read, favorited, followed and reviewed the fic! I hope I made you all happy for updating a new chapter of this story!
The lovely vixensheart beta'ed this chapter! Yeah!
Review!
