A/N Ok, have a bit of a long chapter here. I hope it makes up for the long wait! I was going to write a Lee pov into this, but it got a bit longer than anticipated. Lee might be the next chapter, or we might have another short Zuko one, not quite sure yet. Thank you all for your patience, and I hope you enjoy!
Zuko feels Lee slipping in the saddle again, and realizes that they are going to have to stop earlier than he'd planned. Again.
"Lee? Can you go another hour?"
A snore, a soft thump, and a startled shout are the response he gets.
He sighs heavily.
On top of finding Mother, and taking care of this kid, I have to find the bodies or stories of twenty something people! How in the world am I ever going to finish this by the end of the year? Uncle can't run the Nation forever! That's not fair to him!
And yet, he'd made about half the progress that he'd estimated that he would by this point. At the rate they're going, they won't be in Ba Sing Se for another few months!
He could stop to work for money to buy a wagon and modify it so Rina could pull it, but that would take ages, and how would he keep Lee occupied for that long?!
"Hey! There's a village up ahead! Look!" Lee shouts. He's a bit out of breath from jogging alongside Rina.
Zuko takes out the map he was given by Sela in their supplies.
"Looks like it's Gao Ling. I think Toph might have lived there. Maybe we can find her family and stay with them." Zuko says,leaning down to show Lee.
"Where's my village?!" Zuko suddenly finds that his fingers are grasping air and that the map is now in Lee's eager hands.
"I'll show you tonight, before bed." Zuko snatches it back.
"Will you show me where we've already been? Can you show me all the places that you went with the Avatar?"
How is it that you're so tired that you fall asleep in my saddle, and can't go any further, but the minute your feet hit the ground, you start chattering ninety miles and minute and running like an ostrich horse?!
"Ok! Just stop chattering so much! Look! There are some Fire Nation soldiers up ahead."
Lee instantly darts behind Zuko, grabs his club and is out in front of him again.
"Halt in the name of the Fire Lord!" The commander shouts.
"I'm Fire Lord Zuko. The war is over!" Zuko calls back. He slides off Rina and salutes, while simultaneously grabbing a fistful of Lee's shirt to keep him in place.
"We know the war's over. Come closer."
They do so, and Zuko removes the club from Lee's hand.
"You are Prince Zuko. We had heard that you were crowned Fire Lord after the defeat of Ozai by the Avatar."
"Do you recognize me as your new Fire Lord?" He hasn't missed that the commander had addressed him as "Prince".
"That is," The commander pauses. "A difficult question to answer. The short answer is yes. The long answer is not all of us. Come, and I'll show you to safe lodging."
When they have Rina unpacked and stowed in a stable (where various other animals loudly protested her presence), Zuko hands Lee a backpack and a few sacks to weigh him down so that he can't wander too far while his attention is divided.
"Does the Beifong family still live here?" He asks.
"Indeed, they do. They have been hoping for their daughter to come home for some time now. They tried putting a hefty bounty on the girl, but as it turns out, she invented Metalbending. She got away. The way we hear it, she's taught the Avatar Earthbending. The odd thing is, she was blind."
"I know. She's certainly quite capable."
"That's right. You deserted your Nation and traveled with their group. Taught the Avatar Firebending, didn't you?"
"Yes. It was my destiny to do it. My great grandfather was Avatar Roku. The war wouldn't be over if I hadn't."
"Be that as it may, and an impressive record it certainly is, some of your people here use it as an arguement against you. A word of advice, if I may?"
"Please."
"Don't speak to anyone here of your connection with the Avatar, or the Beifong girl. Most of the locals here cooperate, and the more wealthy and most of the merchant and artisan classes support our occupation, but the lower classes, including many of the farmers who grow and deliver the town's food, do not support your authority here. It's a bit of a delicate situation, at present. Everybody knows you, and what you've done. But if enough people choose not to cooperate, the town might starve."
"I understand. And what of our own soldiers?"
"They are of divided opinion on the matter. I'd say we're split about down the middle. I don't think they will hesitate to follow your orders, because your Uncle put up such a good show in Ba Sing Se during your sister's coup. They fear and respect him. And he sides with you. But, if the lower classes rebel, we might have a real uprising on our hands."
"Where do the sports fans stand on this situation?"
"The wrestlers are not pleased. They are a part of the reason this is such a precarious position. They are almost all Earthbenders, very powerful, very antioccupation, and have a close connection with the farmers who supply food and raw materials for the merchants and artisans."
"So, basically, the town could fall at the base, and it wouldn't take too much provocation."
"Exactly." Zuko can tell the man feels like he'd just explained something to a dimwit. He's glad the man doesn't tell him so.
I do not have my sister's mind. Azula would have already figured that out, just by watching how the people are acting.
The thought is both a comfort and a terror. And looking around, he can start to see the outlines of the divide taking form.
The merchants, the artisans, and the well dressed wealthy and upper middle class are talking casually as they shop. The farmers and lower classes meekly, but sourly go about their duties of offloading their wares for the merchants. Most seem to be trying to get back to their farms quickly.
A few large, muscular men stand around in odd places, looking sour and not being shy about glaring in the direction of any Fire Nation soldier they see.
"Zuko, when can I put this stuff down?" Lee asks, groaning.
Zuko suddenly remembers the load he'd given the little guy and turned to see him sagging under it's weight.
"Sorry Lee! Hang on!" He grabs the two sacks, leaving Lee with just the backpack.
Lee, now completely and utterly out of energy, just slumps and pants, sweating.
"Take any of the houses on this row. They are quite alright with us being here and walking in at any time of the day. Some of them on the far side are a little resistant, but if you motivate them properly, they see that it's mutually beneficial." Zuko doesn't miss the condescending tone in the commander's voice.
"Thank you." He grunts. He marches off into a nice shop with an apartment over the top.
A lady in a forest green dress looks up as he and Lee enter.
"Oh! Hello." She says. She rushes over to take their packs. Zuko lets her help Lee with his, but insists on arranging his own.
"These are a bit heavy." He tells her.
"Did you walk all the way from the stable with that, my Lord?" She asks, surprised.
"Yes. But it's no trouble. A little struggle is good for the spirit, and a little excercise is good for the body." He collapses against the wall rather unceremoniously.
"You are very well spoken for someone of your age, my Lord." She comments.
She seems careful, like she is still judging his character and how to interact with him. But she's open and curious enough that Zuko can tell she isn't too alarmed by the presence of Fire Nation soldiers.
"My Uncle has taught me well. I still have a lot to learn though." He smiles a little at the thought of Uncle and all his proverbs.
"And what is your charge's name?" Lee runs over to the wall, where a curtain of shimmering beads hides the entrance to a small room.
"Lee. He's one of you. I am trying to clear the Fire Nation's honor by helping him find his brother, and his father's remains. There are others from his village that I'm looking for."
"And that's what brings you to us?" She goes back to stirring whatever food is in her pot over the fire. The flames are dying, and there is only one log of wood left in the room.
"Not quite. I'm looking for my mother. She was banished four years ago. My father told me that she may still be alive. I'd thought for the longest time that she was dead."
He glances over at where Lee disappeared to. The curtain is still shimmering with the movement of his passing, but the room behind it is silent.
"Lee! Come out of there!" Zuko calls.
"It's alright. There's nothing he can harm in there. All that he could really do is make a mess, and I haven't had the time to tidy it anyway. It's usually my daughter's job. But she's out with some friends right now."
"And your husband?" His eyes wander to the lone log of wood.
"Somewhere in the market. He's closed up the shop by now, I would think. I gave him a list of groceries to get this evening."
"So, you both run the shop?" From what he'd seen of Earth Kingdom customs, the women didn't usually run businesses of their own, although they sometimes sold tickets to shows or ferries in booths.
"Well, he does most of the financial work, and the actual selling. I spend most of my time creating the merchandise and keeping house up here. Our daughter is about fourteen and is still figuring out what she wants to do. She's thinking about taking up pottery."
"What got her interested in that?"
"She's a Waterbender. Like me." The lady Bends some of the soup out her pot to prove the point.
"Is your husband an Earthbender?"
"Yes, he is. I suppose it makes sense that she'd take to pottery so easily. It's a mixing of both her parents' elements."
"Do you think she could Bend both?"
"I think only the Avatar can do that, although there have been a few stories. No verified accounts though. Myths, likely."
"Hey, Zuko, look!" Lee's head pokes out of the curtain, making it look like he's standing in a waterfall. He's made some sort of crown out of the ceramic rim of some old container and has an assortment of beads and baubles hanging down in front of his face.
The lady laughs, but Zuko feels utterly mortified.
"Lee! Put those back where you got them from. Go get washed up for dinner!" He barks.
Lee laughs and obeys, scampering off down the stairs and out of the back door of the shop.
"It's really ok. My daughter's friends used to come over all the time and play dress up." She comments.
"Do you need more wood?" Zuko finally asks.
"Oh! It's alright. My husband will get it when he gets home." She says. "The soup should be ready without it."
"Is your husband coming home late?"
"Well, yes, but he usually chops more wood when he gets home." As she speaks, she puts the last log on the fire.
Zuko stands up and grabs the axe in the corner.
"If Lee comes in before I get back, make sure he sits down when he eats. I've been trying to teach him manners. My Uncle suggested that consistency is important." He says. Then, he remembers he's talking to a mother.
"Oh, uh, I mean, unless you know a better way?"
"I think your Uncle is quite wise. Is he a father too?"
"Yes. Well, no. Uh, he was." Not his best moment.
"Oh. I'm sorry." Her voice is sincere.
"It's fine. It happened years ago." He moves resolutely towards the door.
"You really don't need to do this for us, my Lord. Please, sit and eat." The lady pulls a small chair out from the table for him.
"This will just take a few minutes." He tells her.
Out under the stars, Zuko works quickly to chop enough wood to start the fire in the morning. It isn't too difficult, and it does only take a few minutes.
He thinks back over his conversation with the lady. He realizes that he hasn't gotten her name yet.
He wonders about Uncle, how he's doing, how Mai is doing, what Aang and his friends are up to, and how are they going to fix this huge mess that is now their world.
At least with the war, everyone had a purpose. The Fire Nation's was to conquer, the other Nations to defend and survive. Now, with the war over, and Fire Nation colonies everywhere in the Earth Kingdom and the Southern Water Tribe decimated, and the Air Nomads gone... What are we going to do to fix all this?
And as the commander had told him that evening, tensions were still very high, probably not just in Gaoling, and several smaller conflicts could erupt at any moment, anywhere.
Aang may be the Avatar, but even he can't be everywhere at once. And Zuko doubted that anyone wanted further Fire Nation occupation should he offer to help keep the peace.
He decides to write Uncle later, see what he thinks of it all.
Uncle had never spoken much of the Spirit World or his visit there. Only that he had been and that he now had some sort of connection with the Spirits. He'd certainly come back far more wise than when he'd left, and while still missing Lu Ten, he'd come to terms with the loss.
Zuko knew it was still somewhat painful to speak of his experiences. It probably always would be. But Uncle had hidden the secret of the dragons from him even after he'd joined the Avatar.
What else does Uncle know that he could teach me? I'm sure he knows more about politics and statecraft than I do. He had to. He was going to be Fire Lord, up until Father... He had to have had most of the same education that Azula got. I could always ask him what to do about the Colonies, at the very least.
A loud clatter and pained shout startle him out of his thoughts.
"Lee?"
The boy had tripped over a bucket and managed to fall flat on his back into an oh-so-convenient mud puddle.
"I'm fine!" He bounces right back up.
"Back to the well with you!" Zuko orders, biting back a grin.
"Aw man! Can't I just wash up after I've eaten?" Lee gripes.
"Go!"
Lee trudges off again.
It takes Zuko two trips to haul the wood up to the apartment. By the time that he's done, Lee is already seated and eating a second helping.
"Thank you, my Lord. Your kindness is much appreciated." The lady stands from her place across from Lee to offer a deep bow.
"I don't believe I got your name Miss..."
"Xue. And my husband is Huo." She replies.
"Zuko here. Nice to meet you." He reaches for a handshake, like the commonfolk in this place.
She looks momentarily surprised, but then warmly shakes his hand.
"I'm finished! Zuko, you were going to show me the map! And tell me about Ba Sing Se!" Lee says. He's excited, but his heavy eyes betray his exhaustion.
Zuko looks apologetically at Xue.
"No worries! I'll keep some of the soup warm for you." She promises.
"No need. I'm a Firebender. I can reheat it myself later. You've done more than enough for us." He says.
He wanders off to where Lee indicates that they're sleeping.
The beds are small, but comfortable.
He sits on Lee's bed and reaches for the map.
"It's so different sleeping inside for a change!" Lee comments, leaning back.
"It feels weird after you've been outside a few weeks, huh?"
"There won't be any dew all over everything for a change. I'm happy about that! I hate waking up all hot and sticky!"
"Me too."
"But it's no fun when you can't see the stars. And it's so quiet! I never realized how noisy it is outside at night."
"I don't hear any quiet." Zuko says it with a perfectly straight face.
"Hey!"
They share a laugh.
"So, map?" Lee reminds him.
"Lay down, cover up, get comfortable."
Lee complies eagerly.
"So, this is where we started." He points on the map to where Lee's village is.
"Wait!" Lee interrupts. "Where we started, or where you and your Uncle started?"
"Uh, where you and me started."
"I wanna hear about you and your Uncle's trip! That one sounds way more fun!"
"Well, that actually started a bit further back, in the Fire Nation. It's, uh, not a very happy beginning."
"Well, ok, how about when you first realized the Avatar was still alive?"
"Um, I wasn't...I was a different person then. And I don't want to start there."
"How are you a different person? Did you reincarnate or something?"
"In a manner of speaking...But not like the Avatar."
"I wanna hear!" Zuko winces at the piercing whine.
"I wasn't... I was a bad person back then, Lee. I want to start when I first met you in your village, and tell you a few stories from Ba Sing Se."
"But I can't see that on a map."
"How about our trip then? You wanted to see our trip earlier, remember? Don't you want to know where in the world we are? Want me to show you where the Avatar might be?"
"Ok! Do you think we'll see him?"
"Maybe, but not for a while. He's pretty busy right now."
"It would be so cool to meet the Avatar! Is it true that he was an Airbender first?"
"Yes." What does this have to do with maps and stories?!
"I bet that looked so cool! What did you think the first time you saw an Airbender?!"
"It was...interesting." Zuko shifts uncomfortably.
"I read all about the Air Nomads. Well, I'm sure there's a ton that I don't know. But there were a lot of things on a lot of different Nations."
"Where did you find all this?" The village hadn't exactly seemed academically inclined.
"Oh, a few years ago. There's a cave outside my village. Mom didn't like when I disappeared for too long, but I taught myself how read faster once I knew the basics. Sensu taught me. I didn't tell him why though. He didn't like the Fire Nation, even at the beginning. Mom and Dad would let him listen to them talk all night about the war. They didn't let me listen, and I didn't hate the Fire Nation much until everybody left town. Up 'til then, it didn't really seem like they could come close to us. It just seemed so far away. Then, everyone left except for those guys you beat up. And then, Mom got worried. So, I did too."
"I see."
"The Fire Nation were the bad guys. And when I saw a real Firebender for the first time, he burned down some of our barns with the animals still inside."
Zuko imagines the screams of the dying animals, the smoke in the air, the heat of the flames, the rush of people to put out the fires.
"I had nightmares about the fireplace attacking me for weeks. Then, Sensu got called up to defend Ba Sing Se. And then, after you left, Dad did too."
"I'm sorry, Lee." It's all he can think to say.
"Yeah, it was bad." That was the understatement of the year.
"Do you still want to see the map? I can show how far away we are to Ba Sing Se." He offers.
"Nah. Too tired now. And I don't wanna to how far away we are. I want to know how close we are when we get there." Lee's eyes are closed, and he rolls onto his side, facing Zuko.
Zuko wonders if that sentence even makes sense.
Did I ever talk that way? Did I ever speak like an actual kid?
If he did, he can't remember. He'd been taught how to speak properly from an early age. And he'd been so preoccupied by trying to catch up to Azula and winning his father's approval, that he'd never really stopped to listen to how the regular kids talked.
"Sing me a lullaby?"
"What?!" Did he hear him right?
"Do you know any?" Lee sounds surprised.
"Um, not really... I know an old song my mother used to sing. I don't know if it's a lullaby or not. I don't even know if I can sing."
"Try to."
How did he get into this? This is not what he'd signed up for!
"Ok, um...here it goes."
"Through the sky, the dragon did fly,
dodging clouds, trailing smoke shrouds,
majestic and free the dragon did fly.
Over the land, over the sea,
so carefree, so wise,
he flew in the skies,
over the land and the sea.
When one day, out of the water
a Dark Spirit did rise,
whilst our dragon was flying by,
"Come to me, Dragon, and tell me
your name, for by me, the Dark Water Spirit,
you will be tamed."
The dragon refused, and batted not an eye,
his wings opened wide, he continued to fly,
the Dark Spirit laughed and to the Dragon he said,
"Great Dragon, Great Dragon, you fool! On the ground you
shall tread."
And the Great Fire Dragon fell from the sky,
his wings disappeared, no more could he fly,
and when at long last, his feet touched the ground,
he found quite a shock, he was a Human now.
"Great Dragon, Great Dragon, great you are not,
you're cursed to wander in the dirt and the rot,
until one day, a special maiden found,
a beautiful maiden will free you from your bounds.
But until that day comes, your name Noren will be,
until you meet a maiden where the land meets the sea,
and she'll know your name just as you are,
Great Dragon, Great Dragon, you must travel far."
His throat tightens as he sings, his voice a little rougher than usual, but still passable for his own.
Lee interrupts him with a quiet snore. Zuko rearranges him so that his airway is open, and then heads for the kitchen to talk with these people and, hopefully, gain another clue as to Mother's current whereabouts.
A/N I looked everywhere online to see if I could find details on the progression of Love Amongst the Dragons. I could only find a basic outline, so I had to sort of wing it with the song. I didn't have a particular rhythm in mind. I think it was supposed to be a poem, and Zuko sort of awkwardly turned it into a song. lol! Let me know what you think!