When we found shelter, I instantly curled up in the corner and napped, much to the annoyance of Zuko. We then went to a sauna like place. Let me say, the massages were amazing. I didn't even mind having to where the crude
"This is what I've been missing. Who knew floating on a piece of driftwood for three weeks with no food or water, and sea vultures waiting to pluck out your liver could make one so tense?" I laughed, the noise shaking as the man beat on my back. Iroh looked at the clearly unhappy Zuko and walked over to him then sat down on the ground. "I see. It's the anniversary, isn't it?"
"Three years ago today, I was banished. I lost it all." He sighed "I want it back. I want the Avatar, I want my honor, my throne. I want my father not to think I'm worthless."
"I'm sure he doesn't. Why would he banish you if he didn't care?" I slapped my forehead. Zuko got up and walked away; Iroh grimaced. Uh, that came out wrong, didn't it?"
"Yeah, just a bit." I said. "Should I go after him?"
"He'll be fine. He just needs to blow off steam." Iroh said. I shrugged and relaxed into the message.
Apparently they went shell hunting, because when I woke up, Iroh was examining his haul.
"Look at these magnificent shells!" He picked up a conch. "I'll enjoy these keepsakes for years to come."
"We don't need any more useless things! You forget, we have to carry everything ourselves now!" Zuko said. I sat up fully and froze as I smelt another scent in the room, that wasn't Zuko's or Iroh's (I can't smell myself).
"Hello, brother. Uncle." The girl gave me a weird look. "Peasant."
"What are you doing here?" Zuko snapped. Ah, so they knew each other. Her scent was a vicious red color.
"In my country, we exchange a pleasant hello before asking questions." She rose and walked toward Zuko and Iroh. "Have you become uncivilized so soon, Zuzu?"
"Don't call me that!" Zuko exclaimed. I stood, ready to attack if necessary.
"To what do we owe this honor?" Iroh asked warily.
"Hmmm... must be a family trait. Both of you so quick to get to the point. I've come with a message from home. Father's changed his mind. Family is suddenly very important to him. He's heard rumors of plans to overthrow him; treacherous plots. Family are the only ones you can really trust. Father regrets your banishment. He wants you home." She paused. The room was full of silence. "Did you hear me? You should be happy. Excited. Grateful. I just gave you great news."
"I'm sure your brother simply needs a moment." Iroh said. My eyes widened. These two were siblings? Oh geez, as if this weren't complicated enough!
"Don't interrupt, Uncle!" Zuko's sister snapped, furious. She took a second to collect herself. When she spoke again, her voice held annoyance and impatience. "I still haven't heard my thank you. I'm not a messenger. I didn't have to come all this way."
"Father regrets? He... wants me back?" Zuko stuttered.
"I can see you need time to take this in. I'll come to call on you tomorrow. Good evening." She said before leaving. I furrowed my eyebrows.
"Who the hell is she, and why do I want to paralyze her?" I piped up.
"Azula." Was all Zuko said. I pursed my lips.
"Thanks for clearing that up." I said sarcastically. I went to the window and looked at the ship, frowning. "I don't trust her."
"You hardly know her." Zuko said.
"I'm a freaking shirshu spirit, I think you can trust my gut feeling. And my gut is telling me that she's lying. A lot." I said.
"Don't jump to conclusions." Zuko said. I looked back to him with, giving him a look.
"I'm not jumping." I looked to Iroh. "C'mon, I'm right on this, aren't I?"
"Azula is not to be trusted, nephew." Iroh warned. Zuko huffed, growing angry.
"Wait! Here's an idea! Wait a bit, think over your life and what's happened to you, then decide." I said. I then left.
"We're going home! After three long years, it's unbelievable!" Zuko exclaimed. I slapped my forehead and went to walk out the door again, but Iroh gave me a look, pleading me to stay. I sighed and bumped closed the door with my hip.
"It is unbelievable. I have never known my brother to regret anything." Iroh said.
"Did you listen to Azula? Father's realized how important family is to him!" He became irritated. "He cares about me!"
"I care about you! And if Ozai wants you back, well, I think it may not be for the reasons you imagine." Iroh said, turning from the window.
"You don't know how my father feels about me. You don't know anything!" Zuko said, slinging his bag over his shoulder.
"Zuko, I only meant that in our family, things are not always what they seem." Iroh said.
"I think you are exactly what you seem! A lazy, mistrustful, shallow old man who's always been jealous of his brother!" Zuko yelled.
"Zuko!" I reprimanded. He stormed out and I was left shell shocked with an upset Iroh. I walked over to the man and hugged him tightly.
"You're not." I said. "You're the most energetic person I know, who I trust with my whole heart, who has wisdom deeper than that bitch of an ocean that we just sailed across. And I think Ozai should be envying you."
"Thank you, Avery. I appreciate it." Iroh said. I smiled.
It was morning. I stood with my bag and watched Zuko leave without waking us up. I frowned. I shook Iroh awake.
"C'mon, Zuko's going without us." I said. "I already have our stuff packed so that we can go."
"Good thinking, Avery! Come!" He said. I helped him to his feet and we hurried out after Zuko.
"Wait! Don't leave without us!" Iroh called. Zuko turned around, smiled, and set down her pack.
"Uncle! You've changed your mind!" Zuko called.
"Family sticks together, right?" He said, placing a hand on his shoulder. I took another step forward, and Zuko look up to me. I smiled tiredly.
"You can't get rid of me that easily." I said. He smiled.
"We're finally going home!" Zuko exclaimed. I smiled, but it slipped as soon as they turned and began walking down the steps.
"That you are..." I muttered. I sighed and began after them. "I wish."
We approached Azula's ship. Azula stood quietly on top of a ramp leading up to the ship. Royal Procession guards stood on either side of us as they walked, forming an aisle. Iroh and I shot suspicious glances at the guards. We reached the ship and bow; the guards behind us walked forward and closed the aisle.
"Brother! Uncle! Welcome! I'm so glad you decided to come." Azula exclaimed with fake happiness. She quirked an eyebrow at me. "And you brought a friend."
"I'm Nyla." I said, bowing politely. Zuko shot me a look but I continued to hold my gaze against Azula.
"Right. Are we ready to depart, Your Highness?" The captain asked.
"Set our course for home, captain." Azula said sweetly.
"Home." Zuko breathed with a smile.
"You heard the princess! Raise the anchors! We're taking the prisoners home!" He exclaimed. I smirked, quirking an eyebrow. The guard looked ready to piss himself due to Azula's expression. "Your Highness, I..."
"See, this is why you listen to me!" I said. I leapt at one of the guards and Iroh followed suit, attacking them. Zuko went after Azula.
"You lied to me!" Zuko growled.
"Like I've never done that before." Azula replied smugly. She turned her back to him and walked away, as two guards standing near her shot fire blasts at Zuko. Zuko crossed his arms and spreaded them outward, deflecting the attacks and he shouted as he charged onto the ship. Zuko blasted the two guards off the ship with two fire blasts. He landed on deck. Azula is stood patiently several feet away, her back turned to him. Zuko clenched his fists and prepared fire daggers. Iroh and I continued to attack the guards on the walkway.
"Zuko! Let's go!" Iroh called. He hurled the guard he was fighting over the edge and stepped to the side to avoid another guard's attack and pushed him aside. Zuko charged at Azula with fire daggers. He attempted to strike Azula, only for the princess to acutely dodge all of his blows. She smirked at her brother. Zuko kept attacking and Azula kept avoiding. Zuko brought down his right hand to land another blow, but Azula managed to push him away.
"You know, Father blames Uncle for the loss of the North Pole. And he considers you a miserable failure for not finding the Avatar! Why would he want you back home, except to lock you up where you can no longer embarrass him?" Azula sneered. I frowned and kicked yet another guard overboard.
"I'm going to help Zuko." I tole Iroh. He nodded.
"Wiat, duck!" He said. I did and he shot a gout of flame over me, knocking several men off the ship. I grinned at Iroh and turned to help.
The two had continued to duel, eventually making their way up a stairway that lead to the central control area of the ship. Azula managed grab hold of Zuko's arm. A few seconds pause as the two stand silently, Zuko widening his eyes in alarm. Azula knocked him to his feet with a blue fire blast. Zuko lands roughly at the bottom of the stairwell. Azula moved both her arms in a circular motion, generating lightning. I gasped. I snarled, my protectiveness getting the best of me, and I charged forward, shifting into a spirit shirshu. She readied the attack and fired the bolt at her brother, only for me to jump in the way. I swallowed the lightning and coughed once before shifting to a normal shirshu, then into a human girl. I coughed again, a smoke cloud puffing from my mouth.
"Remind me to never do that ever again." I said to Zuko. He smirked slightly and nodded, turning back to his sister. She had recovered from her initial shock and was prepping to shoot at Zuko, and me, again. Back to a shirshu, I snarled, ready to paralyze her... Only for Iroh to step in suddenly, grab hold of her right hand, and redirect the lightning, causing it to strike a far-off cliff side. He bent her downward and kicked her off the ship. Azula lands in the water below with a splash. I growled at them and they mounted quickly. I took off, running far from the ship.
I halted by a river and bucked, telling them to get off. They dismounted and I shifted back, breathing heavily.
"We should be safe here." I panted. Zuko kneeled at the water's edge. He pulled out a small dagger. Zuko held the dagger, its blade reflecting the sunlight. Zuko, who holds the knife under his ponytail. He sliced it off with the knife. He held it in his hand and looked at it for a moment before passing the knife to Iroh, who cut off his topknot. Zuko's hand releases his ponytail. The two topknots floated down the river. Zuko and Iroh stood quietly on the bank of the river.
"Here, give me that." I said. Zuko handed me the knife. I held my hair in a low ponytail and cut of the hair. My hair now hung a few inches above my shoulders. I tossed in my hair and nodded. I glanced at Zuko and smirked. I pointed at the little diamond on the back of his head. "Do you want to get rid of that?"
"Thanks." He said. I nodded and instructed him to lay on his stomach by the water.
"This is going to be weird, just warning you." I said. I sat by his head and carefully began shaving away the hair on his scalp.
"Thanks for saving me back there." He said quietly. I smiled.
"I know you'd do the same."
Am I giving you a clue? Bwahaha! Alrighty then, up next is The Cave of Two Lovers!
Disclaimer : I don't own ATLA, only Avery and her dad