Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar or any of its characters. I own Saige.
This will be a pretty long chapter. Sorry. Go take a potty break and grab a snack….
Chapter 53
Home
"Zuko! The barricade! Straight ahead!" Saige shouted to him. Zuko looked and sure enough, there was the Fire Navy, providing a barrier between him and his homeland.
"Keep going." Zuko called out, "They can't stop us. I already told my Father that we are coming home." The command was carried out.
Appa was already sent away and Sokka and Katara were in their disguises. Aang was 'tied up' with fire resistant ropes for show. And was fed to bursting in case he didn't get fed anytime soon.
"You ready?" Zuko asked everyone. Each nodded, Saige also. She was dressed in her red gown and had Ryu dressed nicely too. He was wrapped in a red silk blanket and was asleep, sucking on a binkie.
"Yes, we're ready. Are you?"
Zuko nodded, though he wasn't sure. He has waited to come home for three years now… and he's almost there! Iroh came on deck carrying a cup of his favorite tea, no doubt. He sipped it nonchalantly as he watched the barricade get closer and closer. He was cleaned up as well, his half toga/armor polished and shining, looking good.
Zukia was brushed and her glossy coat shined under the sun, as did Chico's. Chico was on Saige's shoulder, his tail curled tightly around her neck.
Zuko noticed that Saige looked a bit nervous also, she gnawed on her lower lip anxiously. Zuko looked back at the barricade he remembered the last time he had passed through the barricade following Aang to the Fire Temple a long time ago.
When they reached the front ship of the barricade they were stopped by a ship three times their size.
"What is your business!"? The commander of the ship demanded, staring down at then from the bow.
"Returning Home!" Zuko shouted, "Let us pass! We have the Avatar!"
The Commander was taken aback. He had no doubt had not heard of the news ahead of time. He let them pass, calling out to the other ships to do the same.
Zuko let out a sigh as they passed through the barricade. Almost home.
Saige came over to him, she smiled wanly, "We're almost there. You excited?" Zuko nodded and brushed the hair out of Ryu's sleeping face. He looked at the sleeping baby with parental tenderness. The child slept on, unaware of all that was happening around him. He dreamt baby dreams, of warm arms holding him and kind faces looking at him with such love…he felt safe.
Zuko looked at the Fire Nation. His land came closer and closer with each passing minute.
"Tierra del Fuego."
Zuko looked at Saige, puzzled, "What?"
Saige smiled, "It's Spanish for 'The Land of Fire.' There's a place in my time called Tierra del Fuego. Sometimes it's called 'Lands End' It has Stormy weather and rough seas. It's at the bottom of South America. Funny how I remember little facts like those." She shook her head. Zuko smiled faintly, she never ceases to amaze him.
Uncle Iroh came and took Saige's arm, careful of the sleeping babe, "Come missy. I need to teach you how to act in the palace."
Saige followed him inside. Zuko turned back to the ocean and watched as they came closer to home…
(Later)
;To me;
"Fire Lord Ozai has been expecting you." The soldier stated in a fine-clipped manner, "Bring the avatar out and I shall escort you to the palace."
Zuko nodded and he motioned for two guards to get Aang. They returned with the thirteen year old. Aang looked a sight! We had ripped his clothes and smudged soot on his face for effect. He certainly looked the part of the captured Avatar. He struggled futilely against the two guards.
"Let me go!" Aang shouted, "Untie me and I'll fight you!"
The palace soldier sneered, "I rather not." He turned to the twenty-odd soldiers that he had brought with him.
"Follow us." He said, and walked away down the street leading to the palace. I looked over my shoulder at Katara and Sokka, giving them the signal to leave with Jin. They nodded and no body noticed them going with Jin to his home. Zuko nudged me, gesturing for me to go. Zukia followed beside me and Zuko, and Iroh walked on the other side of us. He has a slightly cheerful look, probably thinking about the never-ending supply of tea he has at his disposal at the palace.
I looked around us at the streets and people of the Fire Nation. The house structures looked all the same and so did all the people. They watched us with rapt fascination and whispered amongst themselves, us no doubt being the subject of their conversation. I saw Panyars walking alongside the people, no differently from the port of AnYun. I remembered Zuko telling me that a lot of people have them for protection. Zukia watched as the other Panyars went by, she had not been with her own kind since she was a kitten. Zuko has a Panyar also, one named Vesik. Maybe Zukia would like to meet Vesik?
I felt Ryu shift in my arms, I look down to see that he is awake. He blinked his big green eyes against the bright sun. I shielded him with my hand, whispering apologies. He's going to grow up here…and might even become Fire Lord after Zuko…What a strange thought to have when you haven't even seen the palace. Ryu seemed content enough to not struggle or cry. He was silent, as if sensing that we were doing something of great importance. How smart he is even as a babe.
"Look Saige." Zuko whispered, pointing ahead. I looked and stared, Oh…my…God… We had walked up an incline and before us was the biggest, most magnificent palace I have ever seen. (Okay, well, ever. Including on TV. But hey, it was my first time!)
"That's my home…our home." Said Zuko.
I stared in wonder. The walls were so intricately carved with gold and red… reaching high into the sky. It was beyond amazing that Zuko lives here. Was it only the royal family that lives here? Or did a whole bunch of military people live here as well?
"Like it?"
I nodded, speechless. There were guards stationed at the entrance of the castle. They let us in when the main palace guard nodded to them. A few of the guards looked at me strangely, wondering who I was and why I was carrying a baby at the Princes side. They'll find out soon enough.
Inside the palace was more amazing than the outside. The halls were so huge to the fact that I couldn't even see the Freakin ceiling! There were lit wall torches that lined the halls, their flames casting eerie shadows along the corridors.
I see Aang looking around in wonder also, I could see that we was still scared, as am I. Military men in armor passed us, going into a room where we also seemed to be going. Zuko gnawed on his lower lip, the first sign of anxiousness or worry I have seen him show all day. This must be the council room, I figured. And Fire Lord Ozai is just behind that door. The father Zuko has not seen for over three years…
Two soldiers on either side of the door waited till we were in front of them before turning and opening the huge doors, letting us in…..
The first thing I saw was fire, a throne of fire. A figure was seated on the throne surrounded by fire. I swallowed back my fear and followed Zuko into the huge room. The doors closed behind us with a huge BANG! Men , and very few women, turned around to face us. They were in chairs lined on either side of the path from is to the Fire Throne. They were all people of ranks: Lieutenants, Generals, Corporals, Commanders, Captains, and Admirals… plus a couple other ranks.
Zuko walked ahead of us towards the figure on the throne. The two soldiers restraining Aang moved forward and fell in line behind him. I stayed with Iroh and the others. Iroh patted my arm, reassuring me that he was still there. God Bless that old man… Chico quivered on my shoulder, in his anxiety he hid himself under my hair, pressing his face behind my ear. I could hear him squeaking with fright, I reached up, petting his tail, "Shhh. It's Okay Chi." I murmured. His shaking had slackened off a bit, but he still mewed and cooed.
Zuko stopped at the steps leading up to his father. The figure on the throne stood, it was a man, this I already knew, but I could not see his face.
"You have completed your mission, I see." The man said. His voice was powerful, but eerie. It sent chills up my spine. Fire Lord Ozai was a tremendous figure, authoritative. This was the man who had scarred Zuko so horribly for trying to save a whole battalion…
Zuko nodded, "Yes Father. Here is the Avatar. Bound and delivered, just like you asked." His voice was steady and calm. Ozai came forward out of the fire. I could finally view all of him.
Fire Lord Ozai had his jet black hair tied up in the traditional top-knot like Iroh, but had a fire insignia pendent pinned to the top of it. His face was hard, but his features left me in no doubt that this was indeed Zuko's father. He looked noble, like he knew he was head honcho and uses his power to the fullest. My eyes scanned him up and down… I frowned. TV didn't do him justice.
Ozai spoke, "As I said three years ago; until you capture the Avatar, you cannot return to the Fire Nation. Since you have returned, I keep my promise. Prince Zuko you are now next in line for the throne after me. Your sister Azula will be terribly upset." He said the last bit as more of an after thought.
I could feel Zuko's relief. I felt happy for him. Where was his sister Azula anyway? I hadn't seen any girls my age or younger here. The room held mostly old guys and their wives.
Ozai stepped down and went to Aang. Ozai's armor clinked softly, it echoed in the still, quiet room. Ozai looked at Aang like a person would look at a diseased animal. My blood started to boil. I hated this man more than before. Ozai scrutinized Aang critically, "A child is the Avatar, this I have heard." Said Ozai, circling Aang like a cat would a mouse, "The last Airbender…A weak race. Do you remember how easy it was for my people to destroy them? I guess not since you've been hiding this whole time. Do you miss your people? Hmm?" Ozai does not allow him to answer. The pained expression on Aang's face was proof enough that he missed his people. I felt so sorry that he has to go through this. The Fire Lord motioned for the two guards. They came and grabbed Aang roughly, "Take him to the cells. He'll stay there until the comet arrives." Ozai declared. The guards pushed and shoved Aang away. Aang turned his head back and looked at me. I could not give us away, I glared at him coldly. He is pushed out of our sight. It pains me that I did that…but I had to…
Ozai had followed Aang's gaze to me. I stood, rooted to the spot, as Ozai looked me over with a glare that would've paralyzed a lion. He glanced at the bundle in my arms, Ryu, looking right back at him with an unwavering stare.
"Who are the woman and child?" He didn't bother to ask me. I had a feeling I was dealing with a sexist, I frowned.
Zuko walked past his father to my side. He stood beside me, "This is your daughter-in-law and Grandson, Father." There was a collective gasp from everyone present. Whispers filled the room. I felt faint, my bubble of confidence popped.
"SILENCE!" Ozai roared. The room was quiet once again. Ozai looked at me, "when did this happen, why was I not informed of this?"
"Last year Father. In March. We were too far away for you to be notified in time." Zuko made a little white lie. We just didn't want to invite the person who is responsible for exiling Zuko.
"Almost a year now." Ozai murmured. He stepped closer, bending down to be eye level with me. I nodded.
"What is your name?" he asked me this time. His face merely inches from mine. I spoke, and prayed that I didn't squeak.
"Saige. Sire." I replied, adding the 'Sire' like Iroh had taught me.
"Saige. Not a common name." Ozai mused, "What nation are you from! Earth Nation!" I stepped back, he had shouted the last word. It's a wonder that Ryu wasn't crying. "No Sir! I'm Fire Nation. I'm a bender." I held a free hand up. A ball of flame appeared in my palm. This pacified the crowd, they settled back in their seats form where they'd risen at the mention of "Earth Nation." Jeez….
"Where are you from?"
This was going to be a toughffy. I put all my lying abilities to work just for this. "Florida sir. The sunshine island. It is not found on any map, Sire. We live on a small island barely fit to be called land. My people are all Fire Benders, but there are not many of us left. We have not even heard of the War that is going on." Iroh's words were burned into my head. I could see him nod slightly, telling me that I did well. Ozai seemed to mull this over. The people began whispering again, Ozai looked up sharply, and the whispering stopped. He was like a teacher silencing his pupils.
"How did you and my son become acquainted?" Ozai was starting to remind me of Jet with all these questions. But he was a Fire Lord; he needed to know all these things probably. Thank God I had the answer.
"They, they meaning Prince Zuko and the ship, happened by our island… we gave them supplies and that's how I met Zuko.." I let my voice trail; off, letting him figure the rest out. He seemed satisfied with the answer. At that moment, Ryu sneezed, catching part of his new blanket on fire. Oh great. Zuko put it out quickly. Ozai was watching Ryu with a weird expression…one I couldn't place. "A Firebender. Good." Without my or Zuko's permission, Ozai reached out and took Ryu from my arms. Zuko touched my hand, signaling me to do nothing.
"What is the boy's name?" Ozai asked.
"Ryu."
"Appropriate. Dragon. Fire Dragon." We nodded. I wanted my son back, but it looked like it wouldn't be anytime soon. Ozai gave some signal and everyone began talking at leisure.
;Zhao;
He watched the couple with the Fire Lord, holding the measly little brat… Zuko had looked back around the room, he missed Zhao's face, and he'd turned his head when Zuko's gaze drifted near him.
Damn Brat! Zhao thought venomously, It was me who was suppose to bring the Avatar to Ozai, not him. Zhao glared at Zuko's back. And that damn bitch was beside him! The one he wanted for himself… She was pretty in that dress… but Zhao didn't take the time to admire. They even have a baby! Oh how he wanted to kill them! He said that he would come back for her, and kill that monkey too! Zhao touched the long healed scars on his face and hands. The one on his hand had been the worst. That damn monkey had taken a chunk out of him! The scar was mottled and shiny, the size of his thumb pad. Zhao looked back up at the couple. Ozai was returning the baby to Saige.
I will kill you. Zhao promised silently, And that baby too.
Wow. Zhao holds a grudge. I had almost forgotten about him when I was writing the story. But I fixed it! Hehe. The story's about to really take off! Fasten your seatbelts and kiss your ass goodbye! Most of the chapters are going to be longer because I don't want to drawl this story out much longer. So expect longer chapters in the future. Oh, Jacinta, you're chapter will be coming soon. ()
