The Earth Kingdom Revisited Chapter 10, an avatar: last airbender fanfic

The Earth Kingdom Revisited

Chapter 10 – Consequences

Pushing the ostrich horses to their limit, Zuko and Piandao rode out of Sen Si and in the direction of the designated rendezvous point with the ship that would take them back to the Fire Nation. The animals could only handle so much, however, and after thirty minutes of near sprinting they began to lag.

"We'd better stop, Zuko," Piandao yelled back to the Fire Lord. "They're tiring quickly."

Zuko slowed his mount down and caught up to the sword master who was off to the side of the path. He slid off the animal and then helped his mother off as well. In the blur of the last few minutes, he had forgotten she was there. Giving her son a bright smile, she reached up and caressed his cheek. "We have a lot of talking to do, Zuko. But I sense that now is not the time."

"You're right," he replied. "We need to put distance between us and Meng. Let's just say that we pulled a fast one on him and if he discovers our deception, he will be very unhappy. But I'm so happy to see you, Mom. I've been looking for you for months."

"I know," she replied, looking down at the ground.

"You know?" Zuko asked, unable to disguise the surprise in his voice.

"Piandao interjected, "Let's get moving again."

Zuko gave his mother a questioning look. She returned his gaze unflinchingly. Her answer would have to wait. They all climbed up on the ostrich horses once again. This time, they slowed their pace down a bit. Dead rides wouldn't do them any good.

"Are you thirsty, Mom?" Zuko asked Ursa, handing back a water skin.

"Yes, thank you, son," she replied, grabbing the water and taking a long drink. Reaching around Zuko, she handed the water skin back to him and he took his own draught. "How long will we ride for?" she asked.

"Until they can't go any further,"Zuko replied. "I don't want to fight Meng and all his men if we don't have to. We're still a good distance from our rendezvous city on the coast. There's a boat waiting for us there. It will take us home."

Zuko couldn't see the flicker of panic in his mother's eyes.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Back in Sen Si, General Meng celebrated. Clapping his men on the back, he raved about his new found power and riches. "I completely outwitted the Fire Lord," he bragged. "He's far too young for such a position. It is men like me who should be in positions of power, not young pups like him."

His men all laughed in agreement. The youngest Earthbender in Meng's posse, Quan, couldn't believe that the Fire Lord had agreed so easily to the whole plan. He waited for something to go wrong. It had all gone too smoothly. Secretly, though he feared defying Meng, Quan hoped that something would go wrong. Meng should be stopped.

Meng suggested they all go the nearest tavern to celebrate. His suggestion was really an order so his men followed the power hungry general and drank like they were told to. Promising wealth and prosperity for every citizen of Sen Si, the general bought a round of drinks for all the tavern patrons. After an hour of steady drinking, the noise level in the bar became almost unbearable. Drunken men shouted, fought, guffawed and generally created havoc. Breaking the mood instantly, Meng's expert on contracts entered the bar. He approached the general, who eyed the aged man with annoyance, cautiously.

"What do you want, Mao?" he asked roughly. "Can't you see we're celebrating? Everyone knows that you're too prudish to drink and have a little fun."

Disgusted with Meng's obvious intoxication, Mao wrinkled his nose and said very firmly in the general's ear, "You will want to hear what I have to say. Trust me."

"Fine, fine, spit it out then, old man."

"Privacy is essential, General Meng. Let's go to my office."

Grumbling loudly, Meng got unsteadily to his feet and followed Mao out onto the street and into his office. "This had better be important, Mao. I don't like anyone interrupting my drinking."

"You had one of your men bring me the documents. Being the conscientious man that I am, I examined them all closely. Obviously, you did not. The Fire Lord fooled you, sir. He changed one character in his name and the Fire Nation seal was altered slightly. These documents are worthless."

Enraged, Meng pushed back his chair forcefully and stood up on suddenly steady legs. "Why didn't you come to me sooner, you fool?" Meng screamed. "Do you know what this means? I'm finished. I look like an incompetent idiot. And it's your fault. You should have warned me something like this could happen." Lunging forward, he grabbed the front of Mao's robes and pushed the old man back against the wall. "You stupid old man," he hissed in his ear. "I'm going to make you pay." He jerked the man forward suddenly then slammed him back against the wall. His head struck with brutal force and Mao's eyes opened wide with shock and pain. Pulling him forward again, Meng said with deadly calm, "This is what happens to men who disappoint me." Slam! Mao's head connected with the wall again. Blood stained the wood and the man's eyes were glassy. Again and again Mao's head connected with the wall. A fine misting of blood covered Meng's face and his mouth was contorted with anger and disgust. Finally letting go of the old man's robes, Meng turned on his heel and left the office. Mao's body slid lifeless onto the floor.

Kicking in the door of the tavern, Meng looked around for his men. With his gore covered face and wild eyes, he looked completely insane. "Let's go men. We have a new mission. We're going to kill the Fire Lord and his mother. Show no mercy."

Too terrified to question their orders, the men filed out of the bar and followed Meng. They whispered among themselves and wondered what on earth had gone wrong. "They've got a good head start, but they have to stop sometime. We won't."

Katsu was last in the long line of men behind Meng. Looking troubled, he urged his ostrich horse forward.

Zuko, Ursa and Piandao rode steadily for another two hours without a pause. No one said a word. Each was lost in his or her own thoughts. Though he had many questions for his mother, Zuko focused on moving forward and getting to the boat that awaited them in Yanhai. He was very pleased that things had gone well in Sen Si but had a niggling feeling in the back of his mind that trouble still might arise.

"Zuko," Ursa whispered in her son's ear. "Do you think we could stop for awhile and stretch our legs?"

"That's not a good idea, mom."

"Oh," she replied, sounding disappointed.

The Fire Lord sighed. "I suppose fifteen minutes or so wouldn't hurt."

"Thank you," Ursa stated gratefully. "I feel stiff all over. I feel like I've been sitting forever."

The three of them slid of their rides and onto the ground. Ursa stretched her arms and walked around for a few minutes. Piandao offered her his water skin and she took it gratefully. "Princess Ursa, we haven't been introduced. My name is Piandao. I'm a friend of your son's and of Iroh's."

"It's good to meet you, Piandao. But please, don't call me princess. That title does not apply to me anymore. How do you know Iroh and my son?"

"Iroh and I both belong to The Order of the White Lotus which is an old secret society concerned with the appreciation of truth and beauty. We helped liberate Ba Sing Se from the Fire Nation the day of the comet. I met your son at the same time. He was at the White Lotus camp looking for Iroh. When the war ended, Zuko asked if I would train with him."

"Train in what?" Ursa asked.

"I'm somewhat of an expert in swords," Piandao replied.

"Don't be modest, Piandao," Zuko chastised, "You are a sword master."

"When did you pick up swords, Zuko?" his mother asked curiously.

"I was stuck on a ship for three years during my banishment. I had some decorative swords and started training myself. I figured a skill besides bending wouldn't go amiss. And I was right. My sword skills have proved very useful."

"And your son did a pretty amazing job of training himself," Piandao stated.

Ursa beamed proudly. She reached for Zuko's hand and squeezed it firmly. "You have a lot to tell me. I can't wait to hear it all, the good and the bad."

"When we're safe, Mom, I'll tell you everything."

"Yes, when we're safe," she agreed.

Meng and his parade of men rode relentlessly across the dusty, dry terrain. The General was determined to catch up with Zuko. "And when I do," he mused to himself, "he will pay dearly for deceiving me." Twenty men made up Meng's posse. The general had no problem with fighting dishonorably, using himself and twenty men to kill two men and a woman. In fact, he was very eager to do just that. Some of his men, however, were apprehensive. Killing the Fire Lord was a very serious crime. What would happen to them?

"Stop," yelled Meng, holding out his arm. "You can see where they got off and rested here. We're closing in on them. Alright, let's get moving again."

Grumbling to themselves, the men moved off again, their procession of ostrich horses kicking up clouds of dust that almost obscured everything from sight. Katsu covered his mouth with his hand and coughed.

"Damn dust," he thought, "Damn Meng. What is he trying to prove?"

Ursa, Piandao and Zuko rode steadily for another two hours, heading toward the coast. The terrain had already changed slightly. Rocks and sand were being replaced with grass, small shrubs and the occasional tree. Zuko could almost smell the sea air.

"I think it's alright to stop again for a short break, Zuko. Perhaps your mother could use something to eat."

"Yeah, okay," Zuko agreed, pulling on his reigns. The ostrich horse stopped immediately as if grateful for a rest. "There's a large tree over there we can use for shade."

The sword master and the Fire Lord tethered their ostrich horses, giving each some water and an apple. "Mom, are you hungry?" Zuko asked. "We've got some more apples. Some sort of dried fruit and almost stale bread."

Ursa smiled. "I'll take an apple please, and some water."

Zuko handed her the best of the remaining apples and gave her his water skin. She took a drink and then munched contentedly on her apple. Zuko watched her out of the corner of his good eye. She looked so different from that day all those years ago when she had fled into the night. Her hair was bedraggled and unkempt and her clothes were dirty. There was no perfect manicure and no perfectly outlined lips. Of course, she had been a prisoner for days, so it was no wonder. And she looked older. Little lines surrounded her eyes and mouth. Her skin had toughened and was no longer like porcelain.

"You don't have to sneak looks at me, Zuko. It's alright. Come sit in front of me."

"I'm sorry," he mumbled, moving to sit across from her. "It's just that, I've dreamed of finding you for so long. It's hard for me to believe that you are sitting right there."

"I understand. I must look quite different from the last time you saw me."

"Yes," Zuko agreed, "and no. You still look like my mother." Despite her aging and her non-palatial living, Ursa still carried herself with the same grace and dignity that she always had. Her beautiful eyes still shone brightly with kindness and humour and wisdom. Zuko felt a physical pang of love for the woman. He reached for her hand. "I'm so glad that I found you, mom."

"I'm glad too," she said, holding onto his hand.

"I must look very different to you too," Zuko stated. His fingers drifted unconsciously up to his scar and he lowered his head, shaggy black hair covering his eyes.

Ursa reached over to her son and took his chin in her hand. She raised his head and looked deep into his golden eyes, eyes that always spoke of what he felt.

"You are the most handsome young man that I have ever seen," she stated.

A brilliant smile lit up Zuko's face.

"I don't mean to be rude, but we've been here for over half an hour. I think we'd better get moving again," Piandao said apologetically.

"I'm sure you're right," Ursa agreed. Zuko jumped onto his feet quickly and offered a hand to his mother. She took it and he gently pulled her up.

"Thank you, Zuko," she said, smiling at her son. Looking back in the direction they had come from, Ursa noticed a large cloud of dust. Shading her eyes with her hand, she tried to get a better look. "What's that?" she asked, nudging Zuko with her shoulder.

The thundering sound of many hooves reached their ears. It was too late to try and outrun them. "Mom," Zuko yelled, pulling at her frantically. "You've got to hide. Meng and his men are here. Climb up that little hill over there and stay down. Don't come out until Piandao or I get you."

Ursa didn't argue. She ran up the hill and lay flat on the ground once she made it to the bottom of the other side. She covered her head with her hands and waited.

Zuko and Piandao drew their swords and assumed battle stances. They glanced quickly at each other and their eyes said everything; two against a horde. This battle could very well be their last but by Agni, they would fight to the death.

Meng brought his ostrich horse to a skidding stop in front of the Fire Lord. "So you thought you could fool me, eh young pup?" he asked rhetorically.

"It's very obvious that I did fool you, Meng," Zuko replied cockily.

"Perhaps, but that doesn't matter now, does it? I have twenty men. How many do you have, Fire Lord?" Meng broke into braying laughter. A few of his men joined in but most waited silently for their signal to begin. "Where is your mother tucked away? No worries. We'll find her," Meng stated with a hint of menace in his voice.

Zuko held his tongue and kept his eyes on Meng's. "Let's get this over with," he suggested impatiently. Meng raised his right arm and all twenty men charged. The general's army consisted of eight earthbenders and twelve men skilled with swords. They formed a circle around Zuko and Piandao. The earthbenders dismounted smoothly and formed a smaller, tighter circle around the pair. With bent knees legs apart and arms extended upwards, the earthbenders brought huge columns of rock from the ground and began heaving them at the Fire Lord and the sword master. Ducking and spinning, the pair deflected most of the rocks. One got through and connected heavily with Zuko's chest, winding him. Angered, the firebender summoned his flames and created two fire whips. He directed them with his Dao swords, slashing at the earthbenders and managing to set one alight. He ran screaming from the circle and threw himself into the dirt, desperately trying to put out the flames. Using the distraction to their advantage, Zuko and Piandao lunged at the earthbenders, making elaborate and beautiful arcs and thrusts that kept the men off balance. Once again summoning his fire, Zuko created a huge wall of flame. The earthbenders backed away into the outer circle of sword fighters. Making an opening in the flames, Zuko ran to the outside of the circle, dragging Piandao with him. No longer hemmed in, the pair went to work seriously, thrusting and slashing at the other swordsmen. Five hit the ground.

Glancing around quickly, Zuko noticed that Meng was missing. Igniting an incoming boulder and sending out his fire whips again, the Fire Lord looked toward the hill his mother hid behind. He couldn't see her and assumed that she was safe. Meng's absence worried him, though. Piandao was fighting three men and handling them with ease. With a swift slice, he cut the throat of one soldier and slammed the butt of his sword into another's forehead. The third he dispatched with ease.

The remaining earthbenders sent a flurry of rock in Zuko's direction. Again, using flames and swords, Zuko deflected most of the rock. He took a hit to the head and could feel the slow trickle of blood run into his left eye. Wiping at his face, his hand came away completely red. Summoning all his strength, the Fire Lord sent two powerful fireballs flying towards the last of the earthbenders. They raised walls of dirt to extinguish the flames. Charging, Zuko leaped over a dirt wall and attacked. He was a whirling dervish of flames and blades, slicing through skin and muscle and burning anyone within reach. He paused briefly to look for Piandao and saw the older man finishing off the last soldier.

Where was Meng? Catching Piandao's eye, Zuko ran up the hill and down the other side, calling for his mother. She lay still at the bottom of the hill. Meng lay beside her. Scrambling to each the bottom, Zuko noticed another man, the man who had guarded his mother's room.

"She's alright, Fire Lord, she's alright," Katsu screamed at Zuko. "Meng attacked her and I, I killed him."

Zuko looked at the man disbelievingly. He got to his mother. She sat up, backing away from Meng's body. A large knife protruded from his back and his robe was stained with blood.

"Katsu," she whispered, looking over at the young soldier. "You killed your leader for me. Thank you."

"Your words made me think, my lady. I couldn't let him murder you. I'm just glad that I saw him climbing the hill. I figured he was looking for you. And, you know the rest."

Zuko walked over to Katsu and grasped his hand. "I am forever grateful to you. I just found my mother. If Meng had killed her…." Zuko stopped, unsure of how to express himself.

"I understand, sir. I have a mother too."

Author's note: The story is coming to its conclusion soon. When I started it, Ursa wasn't even a part of the plan. But she just sort of popped up and I'm glad that I included her in the story.

Thanks to my two faithful reviewers and anyone else who is reading the story. Feedback is welcome.