Time seriously does fly. In the midst of Law School applications, Graduation, and Mass Effect 3, one can forget about promises made to readers. Wow, am I sorry. Ok, but don't fret because this is one of three chapters going up this week. I have the next one written out already (on paper...drafted in senior seminar), and the other one is crafted in my mind. This chapter is a little slow, and a bit dull; really dull, however, I think that somewhere along the line this subplot may prove to be quite useful. This may not be the most polished thing, but it will get the ball rolling. Well, I'm back. I hope that you do enjoy. Oh, and I'm sure everyone has seen the first episode of Korra by now. It rocked.
"Zuko, that was probably the worst display of diplomacy that I have ever witnessed," the young Avatar stated with a whining nag of concern in his voice.
"I know," The Firelord responded, sullen and dejected.
"What were you thinking?" Aang followed up, pushing the issue further.
"I don't know," Zuko said, attempting to shrug off Aang's insistence on discussing the day's prior events.
"Where in the world did you get that idea," Aang said, flailing his hands and staff above his head.
Zuko ignored the young Air Nomad's overdramatic display, and continued walking down the hallway leading towards the throne room. "Aang, you don't want that answer" he said in an almost cryptic manner.
"I think I'm going to need to know, Zuko." Aang demanded, hardening his voice.
Zuko paused, breaking his stride to wait for the Avatar to catch up.
As Aang slowly walked towards the Firelord, he could feel something old and familiar emanating from Zuko's being. An aura of low and simmering anger surrounded the Firelord, creeping from his core, creating aggressive body language and facial features. The frown on Zuko's face told the tale.
Aang could remember the days where in which Zuko pursued Katara, Sokka, Appa, Momo, and himself around the world. Zuko always seemed to carry a heavy burden on his shoulders, as he relentlessly consumed every resource at his disposal to capture 'The Avatar'. It was only after Zuko joined the group that Aang discovered the horrible truth that scarred not only Zuko's face, but his charred past. Ozai, Zuko's father, caused many of the problems that the young man bared upon his chest. Even to this day, the actions of the former Firelord still plagued the young man.
Zuko, looked towards the Avatar with a downturned brow as he spoke.
"My father," The young Firelord said coldly.
"Your father," The Avatar repeated dumbly, unsure of what he heard his friend say.
"Yes," Zuko said with a sigh.
"What do you mean your father? I can understand if you're visiting him, but now you're telling me you are taking his suggestions and putting them into action."
"Yes," Zuko said, looking away from the Avatar while continuing to walk.
"Zuko, stop. You're telling me your father is advising your rule now," Aang asked, demanding a proper answer from Zuko.
The young Avatar hoped that the words of his friend were a figment of his imagination, and that he was in the clutches of some nightmarish world where he doubted his abilities as the key to balancing the world. He hoped to wake up, but the resolute tone in Zuko's voice was sobering enough to convince him otherwise.
"It's not that simple, Aang," The Firelord stated, stopping in the hallway once more to face the Airbender.
Aang almost grimaced as he looked at Zuko, but resigned to close his eyes and look away, "It never is, is it?"
"No," Zuko said, "It's not."
"So, why?" Aang inquired earnestly.
Zuko sighed, looking upon his friend with a tired gaze, and began to speak.
"For generations, the succession of individuals bestowed the title of Firelord have ruled the Fire Nation without flaw. The citizens of the Fire Nation flourished, and prospered. Even throughout the long, and drawn out war to conquer the other nations, the people of the Fire Nation lived comfortable lives, almost without want. During the war, each and every Fire Lord kept rule over his subjects, my father a prime example. Without incident or question, his troops followed orders with the utmost loyalty; some, to their deaths. There was no word of protests or rebellions; there were no separatist groups or questioning of authority. My father's rule was law, and he commanded the loyalty of my people."
Aang stood listening to Zuko's words, taking care to listen to what was and wasn't explicitly stated.
"You have to understand," The young Fire Lord continued, "My father gained the loyalty of my people not only through fear and domination, but by providing for them. I have a people looking towards me in their most vulnerable hour. They need to know that their leader, their Fire Lord remembers them. They need to know that their interests and needs are still the priority. I can't…I refuse, to waiver on this issue; it's always going to be this way. My people come first, especially if I am to maintain legitimacy," Zuko said, staring deeply into the Avatar's eyes.
Aang looked away; he could see everything in Zuko's face. Stress, desperation, and pain painted the expression that the Firelord wore; they were almost woven into his face much like the scar that dominated his features.
"I'll do everything within my power to protect my people and my nation," Zuko said with an air of finality.
Aang stood there, digesting Zuko's words within a sea of emotion. Zuko's actions were inexcusable from the Avatar's perspective. The Firelord rallied his soldiers to disperse Earth Kingdom nationals from protesting outside of the colony walls. The protests had gotten out of hand before, transforming into riots that tore into the streets of the colony, but Zuko's men went beyond simple crowd control. Fifteen protestors were injured without provocation. Two were significantly burned, giving the nationals martyrs for their cause.
Zuko had definitely gained favor with the colonists, but Aang couldn't accept the cost. An already tense situation was heading south, and becoming increasingly more difficult to control. It was only a matter of time before a substantial conflict emerged, possibly sending the nations at each other's throats once more. Aang could not allow that to happen.
"Zuko," Aang called out to his friend. "I understand, I do. It's a transition no one expected. As soon as a multi-generational war was to enter its final phase of victory, everything was turned on its head. What your people knew, what they understood for so long…it was taken away in one fell swoop, as if by a thief in the night. Generations of undying faith in Fire Nation rule and supremacy was obliterated in the course of a week. This is not something that is going to be easily reconciled; Ozai's fall, the ending of the war, and your rule. You have a responsibility that has been placed upon your shoulders that is pressing, and great. The legitimacy of your power is in question with every action that you take. Zuko, there are thousands upon thousands of people who look towards you in confusion, emotions haywire. They don't look to you with distrust, but in search of guidance. Your people need you, now more than ever. I understand; however, I'm here for balance, Zuko. I need to balance the relations between the four elements and the four people. You can't tip the scales so much, it sends mixed messages and makes it harder for lasting peace to exist."
Zuko looked towards his friend and, for the first time that day, smiled.
"Okay," Zuko sighed with relief.
"Okay?" Aang asked, returning the smile.
"This changes things. I don't have to worry about you questioning my motives anymore. You know why I'm doing what I'm doing, and I don't have to explain where I'm coming from. Though, I'm sure it wasn't something that could have been explained. It's something that one has to come to understand, beyond words. I can hear the sincerity in your voice, and Aang, I'm relieved. Thank you," Zuko bowed towards the Avatar.
Aang returned Zuko's bow and spoke, "It's an honor Zuko."
"No, Aang," Zuko responded, "It's my honor to work with you. I'm starting to see that you can act as the much needed bridge between the ideals and dreams of both sides of this issue. I can see you, the Avatar, are that missing link that can help bring about a peaceful resolution. Sometimes your wisdom surprises me."
Aang smiled broadly and laughed, "It's funny that you say that."
"Why is that," Zuko asked.
"This understanding, of your situation, it wasn't the result of some midnight realization or sudden epiphany. I wouldn't even attribute it to Air Nomad philosophy or Avatar spiritual connections," Aang explained, pausing and taking a small breath before continuing.
"The truth of the matter is that your sister helped me reach this place of understanding," the young Avatar said as he awkwardly rubbed the back of his head.
Zuko looked into his friend's eyes in curious disbelief.
"My sister" The Firelord asked quizzically, almost unsure of what he heard to the point of requiring confirmation.
Aang blew out a little air before issuing forth another nervous laugh.
"Yeah, your sister." Aang affirmed.
Zuko placed both hands upon his head, massaging his temples as if a headache was approaching. He muttered unintelligibly to himself in a low whisper. He could not deny what he heard, Aang did say sister.
"Please tell me that my father had some other daughter that he never revealed to the public," Zuko asked through tightly shut eyes and clenched teeth.
Aang chuckled, attempting to lighten the souring mood.
"To be honest, listening to her allowed me to grasp a perspective that I never bothered to consider. Wisdom does come from the most unexpected sources," Aang said in a jovial, but wavering tone.
"So, you're still visiting her regularly," Zuko asked without emotion, as he opened his eyes once more.
Aang answered hesitantly, "Yeah, why?"
"Get anymore burns," Zuko asked in an almost derisive tone.
Aang blurted out in pure reaction, "No," he then paused and looked upwards, thinking for a second or two before giving a more detailed response, "Well, not any physical burns."
Zuko's eyes widened slightly, and then his face twisted in grimace.
"I guess that means she's back to her old self. Be careful Aang, Azu-"
The Avatar interrupted his friend in a matter of fact tone, providing clarification to Zuko's words, "Not exactly. She's not very nice, and I don't believe she ever was…especially according to you…and just about everyone else. However, I don't know, something seems different. She's become a bit more transparent on my end, if that makes any sense. Under all of the unpleasantness, there's a person underneath, not a lightning throwing monster."
"Really," Zuko said, in an exaggeratedly unconvinced tone. "So, I have to ask, did she sit you down and give you a lesson of the Fire Nation and the people that live within its borders?"
"Kind of," Aang said, shrugging in a nonchalant manner.
Zuko closed his eyes, gripping the bridge of his nose with the index finger and thumb of one hand.
"Do you think…" Zuko trailed off.
"What is it," Aang asked with a legitimate hint of concern, as he could sense reluctance in Zuko's voice.
"Do you think that, sooner or later, she will be okay?" The Firelord asked, as he looked away from the Avatar.
Aang could see something within his friend that he didn't expect to find. He didn't know where it remained hidden, but somewhere inside of Zuko, there was a sense of concern for his sister. Despite everything that occurred in the past, Zuko still cared.
"Zuko," Aang said with a soft smile, "She will. Without a doubt, I'm sure of it."
The Firelord turned away from the Avatar and began walking once more.
"Thank you, Aang. As a friend, thank you," Zuko said without facing the airbender.
"No problem," Aang whispered. "WAIT," Aang yelled, remembering something he promised himself to bring towards Zuko for consideration.
"What is it?" Zuko asked as he turned around in anticipation.
"There is one thing," Aang said as he caught up with Zuko.
"Yes?" Zuko eagerly inquired.
"For Azula to recover, and I truly mean recover, there needs to be a point in time where she is allowed to leave the confines of the island. Temporarily, of course," Aang quickly spat out, stumbling over his words.
"Excuse me?" Zuko asked, as his right eyebrow rose in disbelief.
"I said-"
"I heard what you said," Zuko stated, cutting Aang off. "I need to make sure that you're the one listening to yourself. Azula's not leaving that island, not anytime in the near future."
Aang swallowed hard, realizing that this would be a harder sell than he imagined.
Zuko cares, but he isn't risking the political liability. He's playing it safe, and for good reason. The next chapter will focus on Azula and Aang a bit more. Keep reading, if you can bear it. Oh, and because of how the ending to Mass Effect 3 went, I have a request. If you all will, please tell me what type of ending you would prefer for this story. Example: Closed end, open end, realistic shifting back to canon end, something new, mystery box, etc… I'm a little miffed about the ME3 ending, and I said to myself, "If I ever complete anything, I'll ask the readers what they prefer." This is not to say that the end is close, because it is not.
