Finally they were on their way to the actual city of Ba Sing Se. Riding a long train track across green fields and rolling hills.
What they had just defended was the outer wall and they were now headed to the inner wall.
And knowing that. Zukos eyes were drawn to all of the green rolling hills beneath him.
It was six years ago now…. Six years ago that Iroh had abandoned the seige on Ba Sing Se. He had breached the outer wall back then and it was here. Right here on these hills that thousand of fire nation tents would have been raised covering this landscape. Going all the way around the city allowing the people of Ba Sing Se no way outside. It would have had to be an incredible impressive sight.
And it was here Iroh had been at the front… Six hundred days. Almost two years. Zuko had been eight years old when Iroh went away to start the siege. He had not seen Iroh again until he was twelve and Iroh returned…. But by then everything had become so very very different.
And it was here… At these fields that Lu-Ten had lost his life. Somewhere down there.
The reasons for Zukos deep awe was of course lost on everybody else who barely knew anything about it and wouldn't even remember.
Toph would have been six years old and busy playing with the badger moles. Katara and Sokka would have been at the South Pole and have no idea what was going on in the rest of the world.
And Aang? Well… he would have been stuck in an iceberg.
"Do you need to paint a picture or something?" Sokka finally asked. "It's not that impressive. We've seen hills from above before. On Appa."
Zuko didn't reply as he kept looking. Seeing all of those tents in his mind… And Uncle Iroh. When Zuko was just a small child. When Lu-Ten was still alive.
Six years and the entire world had changed. It really was odd thinking about.
"You're still thinking about your sister?" Toph finally asked.
"No." Zuko said. "Toph… You already knew that the Dragon of the west had breached the outer wall and laid siege to Ba Sing Se. The Siege was right here."
"Yeah. People would talk about it home in the mansion. All those important adult meetings where I just had to sit and look pretty. No much else to do but listen." Toph commented.
"Do you know who the Dragon of the west is?" Zuko asked.
Toph shook her head. "No. But it's a cool title."
"You know the dragon of the west?" Sokka asked.
"So do you." Zuko said. "It's my uncle."
And they all halted as they gaped. All except Aang whom had seen Irohs memories with Zuko and he glanced down.
"Seriously?" Toph asked. "But… He's so nice."
"Yeah. He is." Zuko agreed and then he pulled out his knife which he had shown to them all before. "This dagger is from here. He send it to me as a gift while he laid siege to this very city." he informed as everyone wide-eyed looked at it before Zuko put the dagger back.
"So that's how you knew that Sung was lying about the siege." Sokka realized. "Do you know why Iroh abandoned it? I mean he was winning right? That's what you said. So why did he abandon it?"
Zuko looked at Sokka. Sokka was taken a bit aback by the exhaustion and even sorrow in Zukos eyes. "His only child died down there. My cousin Lu-Ten." He finally replied in a low sad voice.
"Oh." Katara breathed. "He did mention that… " she admitted. "I mean."
"Everything changed with Lu-Tens death." Zuko explained. "Iroh was supposed to be the next fire lord. Not Ozai. And Lu-Ten was supposed to be the fire lord after him. Then Lu-Ten died. My uncle abandoned the siege and vanished for two years without a trace. My own father took his chance to stage his own coup… By having my grandfather fire lord Azulon killed while Iroh was presumed dead since no one knew where he was. There was no one there to challenge my father for the throne and he took it. When Iroh re-appeared two years after Ozai had firmly established himself as the fire lord and Iroh could no longer challenge him. It was to late."
"Your father killed his own father?" Sokka asked wide-eyed.
"He didn't do it himself." Zuko answered truthfully. "But yes… he had his own father killed to take the throne for himself before Iroh had a chance to return."
"Man. Court dramas are messed up." Sokka stated.
"That chain of events changed my life." Zuko said. "I wasn't the crown prince until my father took the throne for himself. I wasn't even a prince. To be a prince you need to be the son of either the fire lord or the crown prince and thus be in the direct line for the throne succession. Ozai was just the second Prince not the crown Prince. I was a lord by birth. Young Lord Zuko is what I was called till that day. Then suddenly I wasn't just a prince but a crown Prince. Except it wasn't me father wanted to succeed him, it was Azula. Now it's clear he was looking for a way to get rid of me to ensure the desired child would get the throne after him. He would have killed me if not for my mother making him swear not to. I suppose banishment was just the second best option."
Everyone quieted as they looked at Zuko and Zuko looked out the window.
"And this is where that chain began. Down there." Zuko breathed. "When Lu-Ten died." he closed his eyes. "Ones again Toph. You're right. Hit that one weak spot and everything falls apart."
"It really makes you think." Katara had to agree in a stunned tone. "What would have happened if Lu-Ten hadn't died?" she asked.
"Well if things had gone like planned." Zuko began. "Ba Sing Se would have fallen. The fire nation would officially have won the war. Iroh would have been fire lord but… I actually don't think that would have been any better for the world." He then admitted. "My father would probably have found a way to get the throne somehow. He had been looking for an opportunity since the start. And then he would be the fire lord with a defeated Earth Kingdom. Also the fact is that back then… Before Lu-Ten died. Iroh was for the war, he fought in it as a general. Proudly. It was only after he returned he had become against it. Which was honestly pretty shocking at the time."
"That's a lot to take in." Katara had to admit and the rest nodded.
"Heh… I just realized something." Zuko commented looking amused.
"What?" Sokka asked.
"I'm going to make it into my city before my uncle!" Zuko said. "He laid siege down there for six hundred days. And I am getting a free drive. I made it first… That's kind of funny right?"
"Well not haha funny, but sort of. I guess." Sokka said as Zuko looked up and the rest did as well as the train entered a tunnel and Zuko held his breath.
His uncle had never made it inside… And now. The light came, it all opened up and Zuko gasped as he saw it.
A massive city! Stretching as far as the eye could see. Beyond the horizon himself.
Zuko was gaping, and so were the others. Zuko had grown up in the capital of the fire nation. And Capital City was very impressive and a wonder to behold in its own right.
But Zuko had to admit, when you compared just in sheer seize. The fire nation capital started to pale in comparison.
Though… Zuko already preferred the fire nation capital. In capital city there would be greenery between houses and lots of space to walk around. Wide open streets and places to move around.
Here… Houses were small and tightly squeezed together. The streets seemed small and over crowded and greenery seemed oddly sparse.
Still the fact that Zuko had made it… Actually made it to Ba Sing Se… It was weird to think about.
What would Uncle say? Probably be kind of amused noting the irony of it as well.
It would be kind of funny if they could meet in here… In this city.
Okay that was probably just wishful thinking. Still… How funny would it be?
The dragon of the west and the fire nation crown prince just strolling down the street of Ba Sing Se?
It would be worth it for the irony alone right? Uncle? I'll even buy you a cup of tea if you show up.
Zuko sighed deeply. There was no use lingering. Iroh said he was going to catch up so… He would show when he would show Zuko supposed.