Author's Note: So, the chapter was far longer than I intended it to be, despite the fact that I liked the end result. I considered releasing it in two installments, but instead decided to just upload the whole thing at once, and I think it was perfect for a chapter that followed alongside the events of the Book 1 season finale. Now, we are on to Book 2, and it should be pretty interesting. I hope you like the chapter! Also, before I forget, I have managed to get line breaks working, and they will be in all future chapters. If you notice an area that seems like it needs a line break, tell me where in a review (or a PM, if you are inclined to do so) so I can fix it.
Solus was sitting at a small table in an Earth Kingdom spa resort in the Earth Kingdom. It had been weeks since their hurried departure from the Northern Water Tribe, and the three firebenders were now spending a nice, relaxing day at the spa they had found after first landing their makeshift boat on Earth Kingdom shores.
They had been adrift for some time, floating where the currents took them, living off the fish they could catch and the fresh water they could make by boiling sea water with their bending. The shores of the massive green country had been a welcome sight when they were first spotted by Zuko, and the trio had wasted no time in paddling for land. Now three men and a messenger hawk sat scattered around the courtyard that was shaded by a pair of cherry trees, their pink boughs swaying gently in the breeze. Iroh let out a contented sigh from where he lay, obviously prompted by the two expert masseurs who were giving him a massage.
"This is what I've been missing. Who knew that floating on a piece of driftwood for three weeks with no food or water could make one so tense?"
Solus chuckled at the old man's apparent contentedness, enjoying his cup of tea as he watched cherry blossoms spiral down from their trees, caught by the light breeze that blew through the spa.
"I have to say, I probably missed regular meals and good tea more than massages." The young firebender said as he watched Kuzon chase after some small prey that he could not see. "Though I certainly don't mind the chance to relax."
Only Zuko remained quiet, even more sullen than his usual self. Solus raised an eyebrow as the General stood and went to speak quietly with his nephew. Wondering for what had caused his friend's sadness, he sighed quietly when the realization hit him
It has been three years since Zuko was banished, hasn't it? Solus frowned, taking a deep sip of his tea as he thought. He must miss his home. He never really wanted to travel as much as I did.
Recalling the days of their childhood friendship, the red-clad young man stared off into space, remembering the time he used to spend playing in the courtyard of the Royal Palace. His family had not lived far and due to the fact that his father was a member of the nobility, Solus had been allowed to be in the company of Fire Lord Azulon's grandchildren. He remembered the turtleducks, the bridges and the pagodas in the grassy courtyard. He remembered the others that had been there, Solus had been one of Zuko's only friends, but Azula had many.
Azula. The thought of his friend's sister caused Solus to sip his tea angrily. He had never liked the Princess, finding her to be far too arrogant for his tastes, even more so than her brother, who she had always treated badly. The Fire Lord's granddaughter had two supposed friends, Mai and Ty Lee, though she treated them as she treated her brother and Solus; with little respect and her trademark arrogance.
It has been three years since I have seen any of the people I used to know at home. The realization came as a shock, causing him to set down his tea rapidly and look at the figure that was approaching him. It was one of the male masseurs that worked at the spa who approached, speaking rapidly.
"Your friends are going to their chambers. Would you like me to show you to those that we have prepared for you?"
Solus nodded in agreement, allowing himself to be led off out of the courtyard to the nearby cluster of buildings that housed the guests that came to the resort. Kuzon followed behind them in the air, bobbing and weaving about on the many air currents that allowed the bird to fly without once flapping his wings and maintain a surprising amount of silence.
A couple of hours later, Solus walked happily towards the chamber that he shared with Zuko and Iroh. He had taken to calling it "The Tea Room" as it was where they sat and drank tea in the afternoons, something that had become a tradition that the three shared. It was for this purpose that he now carried a pot of water and some tea leaves with him, as he walked slowly and admired the natural beauty possessed by the area the spa had been built in.
As he neared the building, he could hear the two other firebenders talking. When he entered, a third, more feminine voice spoke, causing Solus to jump slightly and whirl around, almost spilling water all over the floor.
"Hello brother. And Uncle. Oh, and Solus, what a surprise!" It was a voice that the young firebender had not heard in years, and had no desire to hear.
"Azula." Solus' response was gruff. He had no desire to prolong conversation with his friend's sister, and he moved silently to the table at the back of the room, under the pretense of brewing the tea he had brought with him.
"What are you doing here?" Zuko growled, his voice no friendlier than Solus'.
"In my country," Azula began, idly toying with a seashell that sat on a nearby table, "We exchange a pleasant hello before asking questions." She stood, prowling towards the three firebenders in a terrifyingly predatory manner. "Have you become uncivilized so soon, Zuzu?"
"Don't call me that!" Shouted the Prince. Solus raised an eyebrow at the use of the derogatory childhood nickname that Azula had taken to calling her brother.
"To what do we owe this honor?" Iroh interrupted the exchange, taking his usual place as the peacekeeper.
"Hmmm, both of you are so quick to get the point. It must be a family trait." Azula smiled dangerously as she crossed her arms. "I have come with a message from home. Father's changed his mind, and family is suddenly very important to him."
Solus frowned. Any change of mind by the Fire Lord was rare, and even those that did occur were rarely beneficial to those they affected. He suspected that there was some ulterior motive that the Princess had for coming to find her brother and her uncle, but he could not think of what it might be.
"He has heard rumors of plans to overthrow him, of treacherous plots against the Fire Nation." Azula continued, now addressing Zuko alone. "Family are the only ones you can really trust, and Father regrets your banishment; he wants you home."
The room was silent, and Solus dared not speak. This was an incredibly extreme choice for Fire Lord Ozai to make, and quite out of character. The female firebender's true motivations were again dubious, and he vowed to not let his guard down for fear of betrayal. The firebender in question seemed puzzled at the lack of positive response and stepped forward.
"Did you hear me? You should be happy, or excited and very grateful." Her tone was initially sharp, though it lightened as she continued. "I just gave you great news!"
"I am sure your brother simply needs a moment-" The General began before he was interrupted by his niece.
"Don't interrupt!" She shouted, returning to her usual demeanor, speaking like a petulant child. "I still haven't heard my thank you," she turned to Zuko again, stepping towards him. "I am not a messenger. I didn't have to come all this way."
"Father… regrets?" The scarred boy's response was slow, and he spoke softly. "He… wants me back?"
"I can see you need time to take this in. I will come by tomorrow." Azula's response was said in a manner that implied finality as she strode from the room.
A few hours later, night had fallen and the three men were sitting around one of the many tables in the so-called "Tea Room". Zuko spoke joyfully, sorting through a variety of clothes and small parcels as he prepared his items for travel. Solus and Iroh sat quietly by, sipping their tea, and both seemed troubled.
"We're going home! After three long years!" Zuko said joyfully. "It's unbelievable!"
"It is unbelievable." Replied the General, frowning as he sipped his tea. "I have never known my brother to regret anything."
"Did you listen to Azula?" the Prince looked up from his gathered items, frowning. "He realized how important family is to him. He cares for me!"
"I have never known your sister to be the bearer of such good news. I find it suspicious." Solus said between sips of tea. "The only time she ever treated you in such a friendly manner was when she was teasing you."
"I agree with Solus, and if Ozai wants you back, I do not think it is for the reason you imagine." Iroh spoke sternly, and Zuko stood.
"You don't know how my father feels about me!" He was raising his voice now, almost at a shouting level. "You don't know anything!"
"Zuko, I only meant that in our family, things are not always what they seem." Iroh stood now, his voice placating.
"I think you are exactly what you seem!" The scarred firebender turned angrily. "A lazy, mistrustful, shallow old man who has always been jealous of his brother!"
"That was unnecessary Zuko." Solus was standing now, having placed his tea cup on the table. "You only say these things about your uncle because you fear that he is correct."
The Prince whirled on him, his fists clenched in anger.
"You are no better than he is!" Zuko shouted as he stormed out of the room, his fury causing steam to drift from his nose.
The following morning, Solus and Iroh rushed down a rocky footpath, following Zuko as he walked towards the warship docked in the harbor.
"Wait!" The older man called out to his nephew, causing the scarred traveler to pause long enough for the two to catch up to him.
"Uncle! Solus! You've changed your minds!" His reply was happy, truly contented at the opportunity to return to his home.
"Of course. Family sticks together!" Iroh closed the distance to his nephew and place his hand on the young man's shoulder.
"I am obligated by the terms of my parent's agreement with your uncle to assist him wherever he goes, so long as it is controlled by the Fire Nation or aboard a Fire Navy vessel." Solus paused, before adding "I also wouldn't mind a trip home to see my family."
"We're finally going home!" Zuko declared happily, before resuming his walk down to the shore with his Uncle and Solus walking behind him.
When they finally reached the pier which the Fire Navy vessel was situated at, a large number of uniformed royal guards greeted them, along with Azula, who called down to them from the deck of her massive ship.
"Brother! Uncle! Solus! Welcome to my ship!" She began, her voice echoing around the small sheltered bay, in the middle of which they were standing. "I am so glad you decided to come!"
As they walked up the causeway, Iroh glanced at Solus briefly. Though it was only for a short moment, the young firebender could see the warning in his mentor's eyes. The older man's suspicions aligned with his, and they would have to be on their guard. Overhead, a dark brown speck circled, the only indication that Kuzon was still following the two Fire Nation royals and their friend.
"Are we ready to depart, your highness?" Asked the helmeted captain of the massive ship.
"Set our course for home, captain." Azula's response was cheerful, far too cheerful for the liking of both the older General and his "assistant".
"Home." Sighed Zuko happily, and they began walking up the metal gangway that lead to the ship.
"You heard the princess!" The captain shouted again, gesturing to the guards. "Raise the anchors! We're taking the prisoners home!"
The man's obvious mistake cause Solus to exhale sharply, and only Iroh moved faster than he. The two turned immediately, assuming the best offensive position they could on the narrow ramp and began to engage the guards that ran towards them.
As their assailants tumbled into the sea or were dispatched by a blow from a fist or blast of fire, Zuko ran up the gangway shouting.
"You lied to me!"
"Like I've never done that before." Azula's reply was condescending, a return to her norm, and she gestured dismissively to the guards, ordering them to attack her brother. While the two firebenders fought through the last guards, Zuko ran towards his sister, fire already forming in his hands.
"Zuko!" Iroh shouted as he tossed a man off of the stone causeway. "Let's go!"
No reply came, and Iroh rushed up the gangway after his nephew, leaving the last guard for Solus to dispatch. When the man was dealt with, he rushed up after his friend, only stopping to duck as lightning seared overhead.
Lightning!? Since when can she do that!? His thoughts were hurried, but the idea of fighting a lightningbender still gave him pause. The firebender had read about it before, the stories of more talented benders possessing the ability to generate bolts of lightning as opposed to the usual fire. Said benders were considered incredibly dangerous, due to the volatile nature of their craft.
Solus had just enough time to reach the top of the ramp before a blast of lightning seared away to his left, apparently diverted from a bolt aimed at Zuko. As Iroh and his nephew turned, already running for the gangway on which the young man stood, he intercepted them and ran at their side as they escaped the mad Princess whose shouts could still be heard as they escaped the pier.
The sun was setting on the Southern Water Tribe palace as the young Fire Nation man paused in the telling of his story.
"We should probably read those letters at some point, shouldn't we?" He asked to his one-woman audience, who nodded silently in agreement.
"But we will continue tomorrow. I need to find out what happens next." She replied, an expression that was a mixture of a smile and a frown on her face as she watched her friend pour another cup of tea.
After Note: Well, it seems that my chapters have had a trend of being longer lately. Not that I mind, but they are taking longer to publish, and I hope that this isn't too much of a problem for those actively following the story. I also have been neglecting to put any sort of "present day" (present day being some time between books 3 and 4 of The Legend of Korra) point of views, so I figured I should probably add that to the end of this chapter, as it is the first that depicts events in Book 2. So, I hope you liked the newest addition to The Way of the Dragon, and if you did (and read this far), any subscribes, favorites, or reviews are quite welcome! Also, I would like to shout out to my amazing beta reader, CEObrainz, to thank him with the great work he has done with helping to ensure the best finished product possible.