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Chapter 29: Enticement

Despite the imminent danger, Mai could not help but roll her eyes. She did so as she dived to the ground, as far from the hail of death as she could.

He had to pull it.

Embarrassment, worry and shame warred for control of Zuko's features. Then instinct kicked in. As the arrows fell, he created a wave of fire, incinerating the projectiles with that one motion. He breathed a sigh of relief before putting out a small blaze that had begun amongst the trees.

"Well done, nephew." Iroh clapped him on the back. His own face was alight with pride. "But please be careful what you touch and where you step." Typically, Iroh did not berate or demean but only chided gently. Still, he got his point across.

Raising his hands in a gesture of surrender, Zuko vowed to use caution. "I promise I won't touch anything without all of us deciding so first." He looked to Mai then. "You're not hurt, are you?"

"No; nice move, by the way, after you pulled the vine, I mean." She tried to brush the dirt from her t-shirt, but all it did was combine with the moisture and make a mucky mess. Annoyed, she blew the heavy fringe of hair from her forehead. Whatever the original peoples of the Fire Nation thought of them, Mai hoped they didn't mind dirty and slightly smelly visitors.

The young firebender looked sheepish now. "So, um, what do we do? Just plod ahead until we come across something else suspicious?"

Iroh nodded. "I'm curious to see what other challenges lay ahead for us." He rubbed his hands together somehow forgetting that these 'challenges' might kill all or one of them.

Of the arrows, no trace was left, not even ash, so efficient was Zuko's fire. It was as if they had never existed.

~~~~0000~~~~

Moving forward with stealth, staring carefully at everything surrounding them on the path and what lay beneath their feat, the trio made slow progress. Mai wondered if the wildlife avoided the booby traps and if they did how they managed that feat.

"Do you think I should throw a blade ahead of us, maybe see if it trips something?" Avoiding the traps completely would be their best course of action. Would that were possible. Mai only had two knives, however, and despite her accuracy, worried about losing one forever amongst the steadily thinning trees. She hesitated, then reached for one and let it fly, low to the ground, on an angle. They heard the sound as it landed in the soft wood of a tree. Nothing was activated. "So much for that idea," she griped. Mai had kept her keen eyes on the blade. When she reached the tree, she jerked it out and returned it to its sheath.

"It was a good idea." Zuko did his best to sound encouraging.

They continued on for another few minutes, no one talking, everyone holding their breath in for as long as possible before taking a quick gulp of humid air. Eventually the sound of water reached their ears, rushing water. The noise enticed them further; they could refill their water bottles with fresh, cold liquid. They could splash their faces, take a few minutes to relax and cool down. Each one of them sighed when the river came into sight. It was beautiful, cascading down from the mountains that surrounded them.

The river was narrow enough that they could easily see the opposite side. But the water was rough, frothy white riding its surface.

"There's a foot bridge," Iroh called out with relief. "Let's rest here for a bit first."

Neither Zuko nor Mai argued. They knelt at the bank and dipped their faces into the cool water, reveling in the relief it provided. Their knees sunk into the mud but no one cared. Iroh shook his head like an animal might and laughed, droplets of water spraying outwards.

"You're like a sprinkler," Mai observed. The one she ran through as a child on days that seemed hotter than any fire Zuko could create, came to mind.

Playfully, Zuko scooped up a handful of the clear water and tossed it at Mai. She swore under her breath but was not really upset. It felt wonderful. Splashing him back started a friendly battle and soon both teenagers were dripping water.

With a contented sigh, Mai began to undo her laces. "I'm taking off these boots and soaking my feet." Smiling she stepped into the soothing liquid. Mud squished between her pale toes and she felt deliciously cool. "Try it Zuko."

Soon all three waded in the river before finding some rocks to sit on and dry off. Zuko kept staring at the bridge, eager to get going again. Whatever troubles lay ahead, dragons could exist on the other side. The very idea called to his inner fire. He could hardly contemplate actually meeting an original firebender. They were the stuff of lore and legend now, a species annihilated by those people who should have continued to respect them.

He'd read about the years of dragon slaying, how it became sport. School glossed over the slaughter. Neither Ozai nor Azula ever expressed any kind of outrage. He could not recall his mother's position on the issue but liked to believe that her feelings would mirror his. He took after her or so Ozai liked to say; weak, ineffectual, emotional and soft. Zuko saw Ursa another way; compassionate, loving, brave. It was strange how two people could view the same traits so very differently.

"What are you thinking about?" Mai gave him a nudge.

It took a moment for Zuko to respond. When he ruminated, he really ruminated. As a boy, before Mai and Sapporo, shortly after his mother vanished into the night, he spent hours alone, either in his room or out back by the pond, the centerpiece of the gardens. He wept, he pounded little fists into the ground, he threw things, he destroyed other things and the empty spot that his mother's absence left within him grew larger and larger until he almost stopped existing in any real sense.

"Hmmm?"

"We lost you for a few minutes."

"Time to get moving." He didn't bother answering Mai's question. Zuko was focused on the dragons now.

Slightly annoyed, Mai huffed while putting her boots back on. Her toes objected to being smothered again. But they had no say and needed the protection. Iroh glanced between the two young people, saying nothing, putting his own hiking boots on and groaning as he straightened up.

The tea maker wondered what his nephew had been thinking about. With Ozai no longer a real part of Zuko's life, he had flourished. Much of the moodiness and rage were gone, that old tendency to lash out. And with a real home, a loving home, a woman who accepted and adored him flaws included, a new friend and Iroh himself, Zuko had calmed down. All the goodness inside showed now. Iroh couldn't be happier.

His own son, Lu Ten, died at about Zuko's present age. Back then, the drive for success, though not as intense in him as it was in his father, was healthy. He didn't spend as much time with his family as he should have. He allowed much of the responsibility for Lu Ten's upbringing to fall on his wife's shoulders, swooping in when he had time, making grand gestures, dwarfing the daily small things that Kotomi did. She resented him that and now he understood why.

And Ozai, his baby brother; Iroh should have tried harder to save him, temper the influence of Azulon. How different the future might have been. He had his regrets and it took years of study and meditation and coming to terms for Iroh to find the balance that he now enjoyed. He wondered if Zuko only saw him through a haze of adoration and gratitude. He wondered if Zuko should know that the man he was now, still far from perfect, was a long time coming. He had his faults, his vices, and his darkness.

Yes, it's important. He must know everything. Once this trip is over, I'll sit him down and tell my tale; every last bit.

Zuko walked ahead of them, one hand on each side of the narrow bridge, heedless of where he placed his feet. Mai followed while Iroh formed the rear guard. Towards the middle a loose board wobbled as they strode across. Zuko missed it. He never even saw it. Ma's foot grazed the wood and an avalanche of boulders dropped down from a ledge on the surrounding mountains. Desperate to avoid the huge chunks of rock that bounced like one of Tom-Tom's balls, their paths hard to predict, the trio dove into the river. The powerful current bandied them about like fallen leaves and they struggled to maintain any sort of control. All of them were strong swimmers but the packs on their backs and the water's force pushed them downstream, away from the path that would take them to the ancient peoples and the dragons.

Not losing each other was paramount. So was making it to the right side of the river. Zuko got close to Iroh and grabbed hold of the old man's pack.

"Let go," his uncle shouted, almost choking on the clear water. "You're dragging me down."

"No!" Zuko spluttered. "Don't wanna lose you." He turned his head about and scanned the area for Mai. She was closer to the bank then they were but beginning to weaken. "Mai," he tried to shout. "Hang on." He added 'please' in a whisper. Together, he and Iroh pushed against the current, Zuko still grasping a loop on his uncle's pack. They closed in on Mai and with one final vigorous push, made it ashore. They lay half in and half out of the water, exhausted, bruised and banged about by the force of the water and the rocks they encountered underneath. All of them were, for the moment, simply glad to be there.

"Well," Mai gasped, trying to catch her breath, "I guess that one's on me."

She stood and the water poured off her. Disgusted, Mai wrung the liquid from her hair and watched as the hungry mud beneath her feet sucked it up. They had a bit of a walk back to their original path and she sighed with frustration. Takumi was right. This little journey into the jungle would not be simple or easy.

"Any one of us could have stepped on that board. Don't feel bad, Mai." Zuko took his t-shirt, twisted it into a knot and squeezed. Stepping away from the bank and onto the rocky shoreline, his boots and socks came off once more. "We're losing time just standing around. Come on." The firebender did not want to wait another night before making the discovery he was now counting on. He wrung out his socks, emptied his shoes and paced impatiently while Iroh did the same, only slower.

Mai shot him a frown. "Give us a minute." Her backpack was heavy now and she unzipped the main pocket, before turning it about and letting the water ooze out.

Zuko stared up at the sky, his expression pensive. The day had drifted away quicker than he liked. He slipped back into his boots, still spongy feeling, and stomped about the shoreline. Once his companions were ready, he bolted back towards the bridge and the continuation of their path.

"Does he seem a bit intense to you the last little while?" Mai gave Iroh a glance and a shrug. "Do you guys sense something?"

The old man reached out and patted Mai's shoulder. "He does; whatever happens, it will be soon now. And patience was never one of my nephew's virtues. Besides," he added with a chuckle, "it's dragons, Mai." Iroh felt no change in his inner fire. He had no intuition, no premonition or predictions. Iroh had learned over the years that it was best to embrace the flow of events in life rather than try to over analyze. "But no, I feel nothing unusual right now."

"Huh, guess he's just excited then. Can't say that I blame him." She worried about more traps, though, and how dangerous they might be. Part of her had to admire the ingenuity of the people who designed them too. If protecting their culture was a goal, they first peoples of the Fire Nation were doing a fine job.

From a few paces ahead, Zuko waved them forward. "I see something," he shouted.

His enthusiasm infected the other two like some airborne contagion. They hastened their pace, water squelching in their shoes, Mai grimacing at each step, and caught up with the young firebender.

"Well?" Mai tilted her head and stared at her lover.

Zuko simply pointed. In the distance a staircase, tall, crumbling stone, vines winding their way through grooves and crevices emerged from the jungle floor. At the summit, a wall loomed. Depicted on its surface were two dragons, tails entwined as though they were really one magnificent creature rather than two. What lay beyond the wall was anyone's guess, but all of them hoped it was one thing; dragons, not carvings or paintings, but living, fire breathing, flying wonders.

"Oh, oh…."

Iroh followed their gaze. "Well, well, perhaps we've reached our destination." He proceeded with great care, taking tiny steps forward. "Now, how to get around that wall…."

"I think it's only decorative." Mai indicated stone walkways that curved around the wall and beyond, into some unknown.

Zuko narrowed his eyes and surveyed the situation carefully. "It's probably some kind of trick. There'll be a pit of poisonous snakes or scorpions or piranhas in a pool of water." His imagination was taking off now, leaving calm behind.

"There's only one way to find out for certain." The librarian placed hands on slender hips and shrugged. "I'm walking around the wall."

Zuko reached out and grabbed one of Mai's hands. "Wait! How can you be so calm about it, after what we've been through?"

"Look, Zuko, you want to see dragons, right? I want to see dragons. Iroh wants to see dragons. Either we turn around and go back home and never know what's here, or we continue, despite any dangers. I'm not turning back, not now."

"I just want to think before we move ahead, that's all."

"Okay, now I've seen everything; impulsive Mai and cautious Zuko. Did I smash my head on one of those rocks back there? Is all this just a dream?" Iroh grinned at the couple "Just a few minutes ago, nephew, you were driving us forward."

"Yeah, yeah, I know. It's just that…." He scratched his head and tried to piece together his scattered thoughts. "I want to see them so badly. But what if they don't want to see me? What if they think I'm unworthy?"

"Then we'll be tossed out of there." Mai was pragmatic as always. "Don't stall now, Zuko." She edged nearer to her lover, pressing her warm body into his, brushing soft lips against his cheek. Squeezing his hand she spoke softly. "It will be okay." Mai was right, of course. Self doubt had no place here.

~~~~0000~~~~

Together, Iroh right behind, they stepped onto the stone pathway and followed its winding course around the wall. On the other side, the pathway continued, making its way amongst the trees and bushes and undergrowth that now crowded the once fine stonework. Ahead more stone walls emerged from the thick mass of green, once part of some outlying section of a city perhaps. The trees had all but disappeared now and the sky was visible over their heads, fresh blue, tufts of white making their way across its expanse.

All three breathed deep of the drier air and all three felt a sense of relief that the jungle lay behind them. Of course, they would have to make their way back through, but going home was always different. A trip home, through some distortion of time, seemed quicker and easier.

When the stone bridge came into view, a magnificent structure, dragons carved onto every support column, they all gasped. At the other side was a pyramidal building that seemed to graze the sky, two massive stone dragons guarding stairs carved into the building's side. Zuko approached the carved dragons, placing a hand reverently upon its head. That touch opened some sort of vault beneath the structure. Musty air rushed out and all three coughed. They exchanged a glance. Should they enter or climb the staircase instead?

The vault and whatever treasures might be hidden inside were too enticing to resist. Mai sent a blade through the entrance just in case some sort of booby trap lay across the threshold. She heard it bounce off a far wall and drop to the floor.

"So," she shrugged. "I guess it's safe?"

Iroh and Zuko shrugged at Mai back before stepping inside. Sunlight streamed through the opening, dust motes wriggling in the beams. Still it was not enough to illuminate the cavernous space. Zuko made a flame in the palm of his hand and turned about, taking the area in. Sconces lined the walls. He lit one, shooting a delicate tendril of fire from his fingertip, then another and another, until the room was bright.

"Look, Uncle!"

On the walls were carvings, firebending moves, one following the other in some sort of pattern. Iroh tilted his head and studied the figures, stretching a leg out here and an arm there. He looked down. On the floor were special stones on which to place one's feet while performing the moves.

"Marvelous," the old man stated under his breath. "It's like a dance, Zuko; watch."

Mai stood back. As a non-firebender she felt a bit out of place. None of this stuff had anything to do with her. She observed, a slight smile on her pretty face, as first Iroh and then Zuko made the moves, stones shifting beneath their feet, the excitement on their faces increasing with each step.

The dance was intricate and beautiful and ended with the two men facing each other, arms in the air, nephew's fingers touching uncle's.

They chattered then about original firebending moves, how gentle and lovely they were, how non aggressive. Feeling a little left out, Mai's attention was drawn to an egg shaped object in the centre of the room. It was gold, brilliant like the sun, and pulsated with some kind of life or energy. She moved closer and closer, the sound of talk fading away into the background. It called to her and her fingers twitched. Oh, she wanted to touch.

"No," she chastised herself. "I should let Zuko or Iroh do it." Or she continued in her head, touching the egg would rain misery down upon them in one form or another.

Eventually Zuko's attention was called back to Mai. "What is that?"

"What's what?" Iroh edged toward the room's centre. Amber eyes found the egg and widened perceptibly. "That's beautiful. Could it be a dragon's egg?"

Desire battled with control and common sense and it was victorious, wrenching reason from the old man. His warning to Zuko of a few hours before, a warning he should heed himself, vanished. He reached out. Both Mai and Zuko cautioned him, raising their voices in panic. But their words had no effect. As soon as his flesh made contact, the egg exploded outward showering Iroh, Mai and Zuko with a green, sticky goop.

Mai groaned and tried to lift her feet. But the substance was worse than any glue she had ever used. She could not budge. Beside her Zuko did the same before throwing his hands up in the air, as far as they would go. And that was not far.

"My bad," Iroh called back to them. His voice held no remorse. In fact, it vibrated with mischief and anticipation of what might come. "I'll figure something out."

Zuko shouted. "What? This stuff is like cement." He began to yell, hoping to attract the attention of whoever might be about.

"Yeah, yelling, that will do a lot of good." Irritated and itchy, Mai picked at the goop.

"Got a better solution?"

"No." She added her voice to Zuko's, feeling like a fool and an idiot.

A few hours passed before they heard other voices.

"Looks like we caught a few," one said. The other one just chuckled. "The egg, it's irresistible." Figures entered the room, two human and one animal. "Best get them cleaned up before we subject them to judgment."

"Judgement?" Zuko gulped. Mai's eyes opened a little wider. And Iroh, he just laughed.

~~~~0000~~~~

A/N: I took longer than usual, but I have my reasons. Thanks to those sticking with the story and continuing to review. It means a lot to me.

Alabaster