A/N I'm sorry this has taken so long. I thought I had it worked out but every time I started this chapter it felt off. I started, erased and restarted SO many times. Finally, after many restarts, thinking, editing, and most importantly the help of my ever amazing and patient beta, it's done. I hope the fact that it's my longest chapter by 1k words makes up for the lateness. As always, enjoy and let me know what you think!
Chapter 65
Zuko did not allow any time for outrage or despair after realizing what his father had done. He and Katara had raced through the ship, she to alert their communication officer to signal the other ships, he to the bridge. From there he ordered full speed. They had planned to arrive just before sundown. It would weaken Zuko mildly as well as Ozai, but Katara would be at full strength under the nearly full moon. With the lives of the people in the city and industriall villages between the harbor and the caldera in danger, they would have to scrap that plan. Pushing the steam powered ships to the point of potential damage, they would be there in a few short hours. Zuko hoped they wouldn't be too late. Iroh had worried that he was playing into Ozai's hand, but he agreed that there was nothing else to be done. There were thousands of people living in and around the caldera and he was still confidant in Zuko and Katara's ability to defeat Ozai, time of day notwithstanding. They would still make for the palace, the rest of his army had been given orders to kill any mercenary on sight and help anyone they could. All firebenders were to work to control the blaze.
That had been two stressful hours ago. Now Zuko stood on the forecastle of his ship with several others as they neared the Great Gates of Azulon. No one spoke as they watched the sky darken, ash had been raining down on them for the last hour. His gut churned with nerves. This was either going to be a success or go as wrong as the day of the comet but either way many of his people would likely lose their lives. He wished for the hundredth time since that morning that he could have predicted his father's choices and somehow prevented them. If only they had arrived sooner, or if it was the sight of them that had set Ozai off perhaps under cover of night? Shaking his head, he reached out for his wife's hand. Beside him, Katara's face was grim as she spoke to him under her breath so only he could hear.
"Damn the Northern tribe. We need more waterbenders, more healers. Now more than ever. I can only imagine the suffering… the injuries. It will be so hard to ignore it while we run to the palace."
Zuko understood exactly what she meant. He was no healer but passing his suffering people, mercenaries doing no doubt unspeakable things, while he went to meet his father would be unbearable. His heart ached thinking about it.
"At least we have master Pakku… I know he isn't a trained healer but you and Sitka taught him some. And, you don't have to completely ignore it. When we first land, I think it will be a little chaotic. Refugees are gathering in the Royal Plaza, we will have to linger there long enough to give Uncle and his men time to clear a path for us. We can set up the medics and the supplies we have, plenty of time to heal a few injuries. As for the rest, once we defeat my father we can focus on the people."
She nodded, still looking straight ahead. "I have to keep reminding myself that we aren't alone this time and that I can't heal everyone even if I wanted to. If I tried I would pass out from exhaustion. No, killing your father is the priority. It's how we really help them, our people." An explosion sounded in the direction of the city and Katara growled in anger. "And if I didn't already want to kill your father, I do now. I know it's wrong to speak ill of the dead but damn Aang and his useless sentiment too."
Zuko made a noise of agreement and turned back to the sight before him. Iroh and several other firebending officers stood with them as their ship passed the massive effigy of his grandfather Azulon. He was unsurprised the flaming gates had not risen to keep them out. Evidentially, Ozai had only enough manpower to burn his city and murder his people. Huffing a relieved sigh, Zuko spoke to his officers one last time.
"Remember, when we land your priority is helping the people. It looks like the Royal Plaza is full of refugees from the city so setting up basic medical care there will be a priority. Those of you who will be with me," Five men, two firebenders, one of Toph's students and two Water Tribe warriors nodded at his acknowledgment. "I have no doubt they have done everything they can to try and block our way so we will need to wait for General Iroh to give the signal that our way is clear before we can head for the road to the caldera." He turned to his uncle. "I'm counting on you Uncle. Stop those mercenary bastards, don't let any of them escape."
Iroh smiled grimly and looked to the many ships on either side of their own, every deck full of multinational soldiers. "Do not worry about me, nephew. After watching their flames destroy my home all morning I am anxious to get my hands on them." Looking around Zuko he gave Katara a dangerous, and significant look. "Make sure my brother suffers."
Katara looked fiercely back at him, Zuko thought she had never been more beautiful. "As you say, Uncle."
Several tense minutes later the fleet was dropping anchor and they were filling the long boats. As they rowed closer to the Royal plaza, Zuko was momentarily relieved to see just how full of people it was. The relief was short lived as they finally came ashore and he could see the state the refugees were in. He would kill Chief Arnook the next time he was in the North for abandoning them. Katara had been right, they needed waterbending healers, an army of them.
oOoOoOoOo
At seventy-five, Mei-lin had never known a time without war. Her father had been a soldier, her husband and all three of her sons too. The glory and might of the FIre Nation was taught to her as a child and she taught her children. The other nations and their people were inferior and it was their destiny to be conquered. It was not until her son's stopped coming home, dying for that glory and conquest, that Mei-lin began to question whether or not it was all true or worth the price even if it was. Only one son had lived long enough to give her a grandchild and against her wishes he enlisted as soon as he was old enough, just like his father had, not yet having lived long enough to see the war as anything but a grand adventure. He had married a kind but sickly woman that had died giving birth to his daughter. Mai-Lin raised the little girl while her father was away fighting the Fire Lord's war.
That had been six years ago. Her grandson had been stationed on a ship in the South sea more than a month ago when the rumors started. Prince Zuko had somehow been resurrected, if he'd even been dead to start with, and he and his uncle, the formidable General Iroh were returning. Some people said he had married the waterbender that had killed his sister and that she was either some kind of miracle healer or monstrous witch. Others claimed he had an Earth Kingdom horde at his back that would swallow the Fire Nation up as one giant colony for him to rule, taking back his birthright the only way he could. The most reliable information in Mei-lin's opinion came from the few remaining soldiers in the city. They said Prince Zuko and his uncle were coming to save them from Fire Lord Ozai's destructive obsession with war machines and violence, not that they would ever admit to such knowledge while in uniform. More information came to them in the capitol as everyday whole ships of soldiers abandoned Ozai in favor of his son and what was clearly a military coup.
One week after her grandson's ship was declared a traitor vessel, the Fire Lord brought strange and cruel men into the city. They enforced his obscene taxation and new curfews, harassing anyone they felt failed to comply. Young women especially found themselves targeted. Mei-Lin and her granddaughter only left their house during the busiest times of the day to avoid being caught up by the violent mercenaries. Everyone was on edge, never knowing how long Fire Lord Ozai would be able to keep the strangers from causing real harm or if he even would. Between the food shortages, taxation and violent mercenaries, people began praying that Prince Zuko would get there soon no matter why he was coming.
With the death of the Fire Lady, the tension in the city became unbearable. Everyone had heard what the servants and palace guards were saying about her treatment and seemed to agree that the blame for her death lay squarely at the feet of her husband. In the days since people had finally lost any remaining respect for Ozai, but refusal to pay his taxes or picking fights with his mercenaries always resulted in bloodshed and arrests. Neither injury or imprisonment could stop the foolhardy and the angry from trying though so the violent clashes were near daily occurrences. Mei-lin wondered how much longer they would survive this way.
That morning she had her answer.
She had risen shortly after sunrise, habit after years married to a firebender, and woken her great granddaughter. They had eaten a meger breakfast of rice and gone out to bring in the washing when the first ash began to fall. Having been protected from the harsh realities of the war as most children growing up in the capitol, her granddaughter felt only awe as she held out her hands to catch the slow falling pieces of blackened life. Dread pooled in Mei-lin's gut and wound its way around her throat as she watched the young girl smile and turn circles in the ash fall.
"Look nanna, it's snowing! My teachers said it snows in the Earth Kingdom but never here but they were wrong!"
Mei-lin snatched her outstretched hand and tugged her close as she looked to the sky above the caldera. It was dark and ominous like a storm but only great fires could do this. From where she stood, she could see the great stair leading from the entrance of the caldera to their city below and it seemed as though every one of the mercenaries the Fire Lord had hired were on that road headed for them. It would not take them long to reach the outskirts of the city.
"That is not snow, foolish child, what kind of snow is black? Quick, into the house!"
She pulled back, trying to reach for more falling ash. "But nanna I want to play in the snow!"
"It is not snow! It is ash! See, look there," She pointed to the stair so the girl could see. "The bad men the Fire Lord sent to tell us what to do are coming and I do not think they want to play. Now, get inside at once!"
At last she obeyed and they hurried inside, washing forgotten on the line. Mei-lin was in a panic. They needed to get out of the city but from where they lived it was two long miles and she was slow in her old age. Damn her grandson for leaving them alone! There was nothing for it, they had no choice. She helped her granddaughter into her boots and collected the few precious mementoes she had of her dead sons and husband and the two of them fled the house.
Everyone that lived in their district had abandoned their homes, carrying few things and heading for the harbor. The streets were crowded and Mei-lin had to fight to keep hold of her granddaughters hand amid the panicked mass. Suddenly there was shouting behind them and a loud booming sound that had everyone covering their heads in fear. Peeking around the large man crouching beside her, she could see smoke and fire coming from the small factory near the gate to the caldera road. The mercenaries were there and spreading out through the streets, setting everything they passed on fire and with another great shudder, one blasted apart a section of the main road.
After that it was chaos. Screaming and panic and running. The strangers who had until that morning been holding back when they dealt with the people, seemed to have been given free reign. Young women were grabbed and dragged away, anyone who tried to fight back was cut down and everywhere there was fire and destruction. Mei-lin choked on fear and ash as she drug her granddaughter ever towards the great harbor. From seemingly out of nowhere man screamed just to her right and fell into her, knocking her to the ground and causing her to lose her granddaughter in the crowd.
"No! My granddaughter! My Ling! Wait!" She scrambled to her feet, jostled by the terrified and bleeding people all around her. Looking desperately around for her granddaughter, she saw the building they had been running along had caught fire and an upper wooden balcony had collapsed down onto the man that had knocked her down. Her desperation grew the longer she could not find her only grandson's only child. Tears followed familiar paths down her face as she pushed back against the flood of people and called out for the little girl. Gradually she was pushed away from the last place she had seen her and closer to the harbor gates. She could only pray the child was similarly moved along.
Finally she heard a small voice cry, "Nanna!" and she turned to see her granddaughter in the arms of a tall man. She vaguely recognized him from the market and ran toward him.
"Oh my baby, I was so afraid I'd lost you!"
Before she could get a good look at the child the man wrapped his free arm around her shoulders and ushered her forward.
"Come on, we need to get out of here." It was obvious from the odd way he held her and the pale and pained look on her face that the little girl was badly hurt, but he was right, they needed to get away before tending to any injury. They were no longer truly being followed, the mercenaries had fanned out through the city, spreading into other districts to burn and reave. As they passed through the harbor gates it became apparent that destroying the city and roads was their main goal, none of them followed into the Royal Plaza. The small line of soldiers guarding the gates and protecting the refugees inside may have had something to do with it as well.
Mei-Lin wondered how long they would be safe as they walked down the causeway to find a place to rest. With everyone gathered in one place they would be easy targets if the mercenaries converged on the few soldiers protecting them. Then she looked out to the sea and saw dozens of Fire Nation ships nearing the Gates of Azulon. Prince Zuko was coming. As more and more people noticed, shouts of relief and fear both rang out, but before Mei-lin could think on it too hard her granddaughter whined in pain from the man's arms and took all of her attention.
They found a space of empty wall and the man set her granddaughter down against it. Mei-lin gasped at the sight. Her small leg appeared crushed below the knee. Blood seeped out of gashes soaking her stockings and the man's now darker red tunic. Kneeling beside the pale waif, Mei-lin feared she would lose yet another precious child.
"I found her on the ground near a burning building. Part of a balcony had collapsed and was pinning her leg to the ground. I was able to move it but it just kept bleeding and bleeding.. There was so many people jostling around and I knew she belonged to someone so I grabbed her and hoped to find help."
Her small face had never looked so frail, deathly pale and not nearly as warm to the touch as it should have been. She was clearly in shock, her large dark eyes darting around in confusion as she sobbed quietly from the pain. Mei-lin inspected the leg, if she lived she would never walk again. The bone was broken in at least three places that she could tell and she had lost so much blood. Mei-lin was certain that unless a healer could be found she would die. She brushed back the hair from the little girls face and tried to smile reassuringly even as she wept and sat back against the wall beside her.
What could have been hours or minutes later, more shouting started up again and Mei-lin tried to ignore it, too tired to care, until the crowd shifted and she could see what it was about. Long boats carrying soldiers were approaching the shore all along the harbor. As the boats neared, everyone could see that the soldiers were both their own and Earth Kingdom and Water Tribe together. The first boat to land ran aground on the back of a low wave that immediately dispersed as the first person lept out.
Prince Zuko looked thunderous as he surveyed his people, long hair drawn up in the traditional way over red and gold burnished armor. Everyone around her stared at the returned prince with silent anticipation, but Mei-lin looked passed him to the dark skinned women that had lept gracefully from the boat to stand at his right hand. She wore a fierce look on her beautiful face and Mei-lin knew at once, despite her red uniform, that this was Master Katara. They only stood silent for a moment before Prince Zuko stepped forward and began ordering the soldiers forward.
"Start in the city, work your way out to the villages. Bring the injured here and show no mercy to the mercenaries and anyone else you find doing my father's work."
Mei-lin looked back to Master Katara. She was still standing beside Prince Zuko, looking around at the injured and afraid before her as if suddenly overwhelmed. With a jolt, Mei-lin remembered that this forigen woman was supposed to be a healer. She wondered if she would go with the prince to face Fire Lord Ozai and how much longer they would linger in the plaza before following their soldiers into the city. Would she have time to heal one little girl? With one last glance down at her great granddaughter, Mei-lin stood without taking time to think of consequences and hobbled forward. The crowd parted for her, still too apprehensive to approach or speak themselves, as she neared the line of long boats. Her steps faltered as Prince Zuko's hard gaze fell on her but then his eyes softened and she inclined her head to him before bravely stepping up to the young woman at his side.
"Are you the waterbender called Katara?" Long brown curls swayed around her face as she nodded. "Is it true that you a healer?" Again she nodded but before she could open her mouth to respond Mei-lin finally noticed the particular gold pattern on her collar and sleeves. She gasped and quickly lowered her eyes in deference. The rumors were true! Prince Zuko had married her. This woman would be Fire Lady if the prince killed his father that day and Mei-lin had addressed her so informally! She stammered. "My, My Lady, forgive me but.. my great granddaughter is badly hurt, please, she is all I have left…" A gentle hand on her shoulder stopped her tearful plea.
"Today I am only Katara. Please, take me to your granddaughter."
Mei-lin could hardly muster a thank you before leading her away to where her granddaughter still sat against the wall. When they reached her, Mei-lin let out a sob. Her eyes were shut and her chest barely rose with each breath. Katara, as she'd asked to be called, knelt beside Mei-lin to inspect her leg.
"What happened to her?" Her voice was choked with anger and sadness as she reached to uncork a flask at her hip. Mei-lin watched in amazement as water flowed through the air from the flask and onto her hands as the man that had helped them explained how he had found her. She held one hand over the mangled leg and another over her heart, her eyes closed as if listening to something only she could hear as the water on her hands began to glow.
"She is weak, she's lost almost more blood than such a small child can without dying. The bones in her leg need setting before I can heal the tissues." Katara sniffled and Mei-lin looked up just in time to see her wipe a tear away with her arm before looking to the man beside them. "Hold her?" He did and she worked quickly to reset the bones. Mei-lin had expected some kind of reaction from her granddaughter as her leg was painfully manipulated but she hardly stirred, managing only a weak groan in her fevered sleep. She did not move the entire time Katara worked on her leg, finally sitting back on her heels with a great sigh after nearly ten minutes. By then some of the onlookers had dispersed, lining up for food or medical attention from the handful of field doctors that had come with Prince Zuko.
"I have done all I can, the bones will take time to knit back together and she will have some scarring but… she still lost so much blood. She needs rest and if.. when she wakes she will need nourishment." Katara stood and looked at Mei-lin with apologetic eyes. "I am sorry, I wish I could do more for her but I can't replace her blood. Her body will have to do that on its own."
Mei-lin had been astonished by what her waterbending healing had been able to do and felt certain in her heart that her precious granddaughter would live. She reached forward and took the young woman's hands, kissing them reverently.
"Before you helped us I was resigned that my great granddaughter would follow my sons and my husband to the spirit world but now she may yet live. Thank you, thank you Lady Katara for giving her that chance."
The future Fire Lady smiled sadly and nodded as if Mei-lin's words had somehow reassured her. Prince Zuko and someone Mei-lin immediately knew to be General Iroh approached then.
"Are you alright Katara?" Prince Zuko reached up to tuck a stray curl behind her ear and looked down at Mai-lin's granddaughter with grave concern. "Is the little girl…"
"I did everything I could, it's up to her now."
He nodded and they shared a look. It was short, and if she hadn't been paying attention Mai-lin would have missed it. They had both been looking at her granddaughter with sad eyes before Master Katara turned to her husband and for a moment seemed to be in great distress. Prince Zuko's expression shifted to understanding and then reassurance as he rested his forehead against hers. A breath later and they were saying goodbye and wishing her well. As they walked away, towards the gates to the city, Mei-lin smiled sadly. She knew as sure as she knew her own hand that Prince Zuko and his Lady must have a child of their own. From the intensity of Master Katara's distress she guessed that they had left it safe in the Earth Kingdom more than a month ago. It's what she would have done.
Turning back to her own little girl, Mei-lin muttered a prayer to Agni to protect the Prince and his young wife. Let no more families be destroyed for the Fire Lord's war.