The rest of the day was kind of weird… Zuko couldn't take two steps without someone being all over him. And when-ever Katara caught Zuko outside of his tent she would be glaring at him with a warning look.
By the end Zuko just found it safer to stay in his tent and rest on the futon.
Honestly he was pretty sore anyway. And felt dizzy just after his small pee break.
People would come check on Zuko pretty regular and make sure that he had both water and tea available to him at all times. Often he drifted off too sleep, and thus sleep periodically for most of the day and the night.
Next day was pretty similar, but finally by the evening Zuko just couldn't stand being stuck on that futon any more and decided to go for a longer walk. Maybe try to have a better look at the camp.
While Zuko had spend a lot of time at the south pole. He actually hadn't interacted that much with any of the water tribe people.
He had seen their little village from afar, and sometimes he had spotted one or two people wandering the ice or sailing a canoe.
How-ever each time when those people saw his ship, they would hurry back to their village as fast as they could.
And Zuko would just let them be. He hadn't been interested in these water tribe people, he had only been interested in finding a clue to where the Avatar might be.
The old stories said that the night the Avatar had vanished, a great light had been seen at the south pole.
And as a result Fire Lord Sozin had spend the last years of his life, searching the pole… It's also how the eradication of the southern water tribe had started.
The water tribe obviously hadn't been happy about having fire nation ships just invade their waters and blow apart their ice-bergs.
So they had fought back. And destroyed many amazing ships, even fleets. The water benders had been in their element.
So…. Get rid of the water benders.
Azulon had followed the tradition and been searching for the Avatar himself as well. Even Iroh in his young days had been searching the poles in his fathers stead.
Zuko had just been the last in the line. Though at that point it had started to become accepted that the avatar was just gone and would never come back. It had been a hundred years at that time.
Zuko had known even back then that all he saw of the Southern Water tribe was what had been left behind by Sozin, Azulon, Iroh and Ozai.
Just the occasional one or two people moving across the ice and fleeing by the sight of his ship.
Zuko had never actually talked to any of them until the day Aang appeared and Zuko had finally gone to their village. The village he had only seen from a distance beforehand, and felt very confused about how someone could live like that.
Just a big wall of snow and tents… Lots of tents.
They had really seemed very under developed… But then again they had lived. These people were able to live and survive at these arctic waters where barely anything grew and nature itself was a death trap.
That was actually really impressive. If you tried to take someone from the fire nation and just put them on the south pole with only what the water tribe had. No fancy steam powered ship or big house.
That person would die… Pretty obviously.
These water tribe people, were people born and raised on the ice. They knew hardship and how to work without ever complaining.
They had very little, but made the best of the little things they had.
In the eye of a noble yes, they would be called peasants. But right now Zuko couldn't help but admirer them.
It didn't take long for Zukos eyes to be drawn to the fire in the middle of the camp. So many things here were unfamiliar.
The fire though was warm and familiar, Zuko could just feel how that fire resonated with his own inner flame and without thinking to much more about it Zuko walked over to the fire and sat down with crossed legs. Closing his eyes as he felt the warmth on his skin.
It was then Sokka approached him holding two bowls. "Hey Buddie. Haven't seen you since yesterday. You're doing all right?" he asked as he sat down next to Zuko offering Zuko a bowl.
"Yeah… Katara threatened me with chaining me to the ground if I don't take it easy though." Zuko admitted as he accepted the bowl and looked down at what looked like it was some sort of hot stew.
"Don't worry about that. I got the same warning." Sokka smirked then sighed. "She wont let me train. Not even a sit up."
"That's probably for the better. You were hurt pretty bad." Zuko commented.
"I know." Sokka sighed. "Still… It's really frustrating."
"Yeah." Zuko sighed deeply as he put a spoon into the stew and then stuck it into his mouth. He chewed a bit and swallowed allowing the warmth to travel his throat and swallowed. "The others seem kind of mad at me." he admitted.
Sokka shook his head. "They're not." he assured. "You just kind of scared the crap out of everybody. You almost died." he said.
"Oh." Zuko looked down.
"Though I suppose if you hadn't taken the lightning it would have been Aang. So I don't really see anything else you could have done." Sokka said. "It is entirely possible you saved his life. Unlike…" he closed his eyes.
"Sokka?" Zuko asked.
"Zuko. You got to help me." Sokka said. "Mai and Ty Lee can hold their own against benders. Me how-ever?" he asked. "All I did was dragging everyone down."
"Sokka. You can hold your own against benders. I've seen it." Zuko said. "It's just that the Dai-Li aren't exactly regular benders."
"It's not enough." Sokka said. "And don't try to tell me otherwise. I all ready know!" he said. "Our group against Azulas… We were even. So little could have tipped the balance. I was the one who just got in the way and dragged the rest of the group down. That can't happen again." he squinted his eyes. "Someone could have died. Azula said from the start she was fighting to kill. It could have been anyone."
Zuko swallowed. "Sokka you're not the only one who…" he halted. "I had my chance. I had Azula on the ground. I could have acted, at least burned her or knocked her out. But ones again. I couldn't." he closed his eyes. "If I had just acted she wouldn't have been able to shoot lightning at anyone." he groaned deeply. His hands holding the bowl shaking.
"Zuko!" Sokka injected and Zuko turned to him. "Listen to me. When we first met I would never have believed we could be friends. Now though, I am really glad that we are. I want you to be fire lord. I believe that with you as the fire lord the world can be right again. And I can believe that because you're not like Azula." he said. "If you had killed her there I don't think I could feel like that. Beside you were incredible!" he stated. "You were already hurt and you still went right in and you had her! You were amazing!"
"But I messed up." Zuko swallowed.
"No. You didn't." Sokka said. "And even if you did no one would have blamed you." he said. "Like… No one is blaming me." he looked down. "I know. It was all fun and games before with the swords and all of that. I made light of it but… I need." he gasped for breath. His eyes squinting. "I need to become better somehow. I can't drag our group down."
Zuko looked at Sokka and then he nodded. "First of. You're obviously not dragging our group down. There are a lot of things we wouldn't have been able to do without you." he said. "But I get it… And I promise." he said. "When Katara says it's okay. We'll work with the swords. Aangs fire bending lessons has to come first. But after that, I swear I'll do what I can."
"Really?" Sokka asked.
"Yeah." Zuko replied. "And I know it'll be okay. Because I all ready know you are going to do everything you can."
Sokka nodded. "Of course I will." he said.
"I know. You've always done it." Zuko smirked.
"Aah. Out and about again?" Hakoda suddenly approached them.
"Chi-Chief Hakoda!" Zuko stammered almost dropping his bowl.
Hakoda shook his head amused as he sat down opposite them. "Relax Prince Zuko." he asked. "I feel like we might came off on the wrong foot yesterday." he said. "I want you to know, you have nothing to fear from me. Sokka told me all the details yesterday and I think I got the basics." he said. "How-ever the main thing is that both my children has told me I can trust you. And I trust my children's judgement. Explicitly."
"Oh… Really?" Zuko asked.
"Of course I also like to make up my own mind about things." Hakoda said. "But I don't really know you yet. So I can't really make any judgement."
"That's wise." Zuko replied.
"From what I can gather you were on a pretty unfortunate path in the past. But really turned things around." Hakoda then continued.
Zukos cheeks burned with a deep warm heat.
"That takes a strong man. To change his ways." Hakoda said. "Not many people could."
"It… Had its challenges." Zuko swallowed. "But I feel so much better." he said. "I know it's the right thing to do. And that feels good…. I really want to do the right thing." he glanced down. "There are so many people hurting out there. All nations are suffering because of this pointless war. Because yeah, that's what it is. Pointless. The Fire Lord intends to take the world… And then what?" he asked. "Have everyone live in fear? Forever? For what? To make them all bow? What good does that do?"
Hakoda looked at Zuko. His eyes very thoughtful. "It wont be an easy job." he pointed out. "Reform an entire nation. Change one hundred years of traditions."
"I know." Zuko sighed deeply. "But it has to be done. This cannot be allowed to go on. Fire nation citizens are suffering too. Everyone is. This isn't right." he said. "I grew up in a land where I was constantly taught about honour and the honour of the fire nation. But if you ask me, what the fire nation did to the south pole. What they are doing to all of these earth kingdom villages. There is nothing honourable about that." he said. "I do believe in honour and I want to restore the fire nations honour. To do that though… This utterly dishonourable behaviour must stop. Balance must be restored. For the sake of everyone."
Hakoda looked at Zuko. "You're wise beyond your years." he complimented.
"Oh… Thank you." Zuko wide-eyed looked at Hakoda.
"See. No reason to be so nervous around my dad." Sokka grinned. "My dad is cool!"
"Heh. Yeah." Zuko commented taking another spoonful of stew. "If only my father was half as cool. We wouldn't be in this kind of mess." he rolled his eyes.
"Well only the water tribe dads can be cool you know." Sokka smirked. "Jerk Lord would be more… Too hot to handle!"
"He must be a man on fire!" Hakoda replied in a grin.
Zuko wide-eyed glanced from one to the other and then realized. Oh… Oh Agni… There was two of them!
Just then Aang came too and sat down. "Hi Zuko. You're feeling better?" then Aang halted. Just halted, his eyes went wide and he looked at Zukos food.
"What?" Zuko asked.
"Are… Are you eating sea-prune stew?" Aang asked.
"Huh?" Zuko looked down at his bowl. "I don't know. It's all right though."
Aang looked up at Zuko. He looked mortified.
"What?" Zuko asked.
"How… How can you eat that?" Aang asked in a whisper.
Zuko shrugged. "I put it in my mouth. Chew and swallow."
Aangs mouth how-ever, was just hanging wide open.
Zuko blinked as he looked down at Aang.
"Zuko. Don't take this the wrong way." Aang said and then he whispered. "But I think you're still having a fever."
"Well… yeah. Katara said it's not gone yet." Zuko admitted though he wasn't sure what his fever had to do with the stew.
Azula was kneeling in front of a curtain of flames. Behind those flames was a man who stood up.
"Azula." A strong voice spoke. "I send you on a mission. It is a simple one. Bring back Zuko and Iroh." he said. "You have now returned with Iroh but not Zuko. Why are you here?" he asked.
"I also bring Ba Sing Se." Azula replied. "I wished to ensure the transfer. The city and thus the earth kingdom is now yours."
"Yes. And that you did well." Ozai acknowledged. "How-ever almost perfect is not good enough!" he stated as he stood up and the flames rose. "The mission was a simple one! Are you telling me you couldn't even overcome Zuko?"
"Of course I could!" Azula exclaimed. "I am nothing like Zuko! He is pathetic."
"Then if you can't bring him you must be just as pathetic as him." Ozai replied, the heat of the flames only intensifying. "You must defeat Zuko and the Avatar! Do not even dare to come back here before it is done! This should have been easy for you. Easy!" he stated. "But it looks like I thought to highly of you. Just yet another disappointment."
"NO!" Azula gasped. "I will bring them both to you! Or kill them if I have to! It will be done."
"Then why are you still here?" Ozai asked his annoyance clearly growing.
Azula stood up then bowed. "Forgive me. It will be done." she said. "I am your loyal…" she halted, then hissed. "Servant." she ended. She bowed again and turned around to walk outside the great meeting hall.
Outside she was met by two girls who had been waiting for them.
"So." Mai commented. "How did it go?"
"This is your fault!" Azula exclaimed as she punched Mai right in the face sending Mai tumbling right backwards. "You were fighting Zuko and let yourself get knocked out! It should have been easy for you. I was busy fighting the Avatar. Zuko was your job!"
Mai looked up at Azula then slowly she stood up. She didn't even touch the area where a red mark had started to form. "Sorry I guess."
"Sorry. As if that is going to help any." Azula seethed. "We will be leaving. Now." she stated. "We will find little Zuzu and his friends and we are going to end them! If you want to redeem yourself, you will put some backbone into it this time."
Mais eyes narrowed. "If you say so. Princess."
Azula huffed and then finally walked away. "Meet me at the docks in half an hour. Then we will be leaving."
"But we just made it back." Ty Lee exclaimed.
"That's an order!" Azula exclaimed and walked out.
Mai looked after Azula then sighed deeply. "She's lost it." she simply said.
"Azula…" Ty Lee whispered holding her hands together.
"Stop worrying about her." Mai asked. "She lost her mind."
"Ever since Ba Sing Se. She has seemed out of control." Ty Lee admitted. "She always used to be… So much in control of herself. What happened?"
Mai closed her eyes. Well the answer to that was easy… Zuko happened.
Everyone they met who had encountered Zuko adored him. His popularity was rising across the world and Azula couldn't stand it. Also there was the fact... After all this time. Zuko was starting to surpass Azula. And Azula had to be noticing. It wouldn't make her happy.
And Mai… Mai didn't regret a single thing she had done. She actually felt a sadistic satisfaction inside of her. After all these years, after what Azula had done to her. Mai had found a way to get her back.
Without a doubt. To trick Mai into watching that awful Agni Kai between Zuko and Ozai was the worst thing Azula had ever done to Mai.
But Mai had been powerless. Her numbness had taken over as Mai had just accepted it, that she had no power in her own life.
Not any more though. In her own small way, she had been able to take just a little bit of power back. And it didn't hurt either that she was helping him.
… He had thanked her. He had looked at her with softness in his eyes. There wasn't an ounce of hate nor disgust on his face. He really had looked at her and didn't hate her.
Zuko had said he wouldn't hurt her. And Mai believed it. Because this was Zuko and he was exactly like that.
Mais cheeks heated up as she remembered the kiss's she had stolen and how he had kissed her back.
Was it possible. That just maybe…
"Mai?" Ty Lees voice snapped her out of it.
"What?" Mai asked.
"You seemed happy… That was really weird. Especially right now." Ty Lee informed.
"I'm not happy." Mai said as she schooled her face into its usual passive self. "I'm very annoyed that we have to go on another stupid trip."
"O… Okay. If you say so." Ty Lee replied though she chewed her lip. "Are you okay? She didn't hurt you did she?"
"It's fine." Mai assured. "Come on lets go pack." she put a hand on Ty Lee's shoulder. "Something tells me this could be a really long trip." she rolled her eyes.