CHAINS OF THE HEART

The sea breeze brushed against then with the sound of the waves, its music breaking under the occasional roar from the sea lion pulling the ferry. Otherwise though, there was silence, one that made Zuko uncomfortable.

None of the others seemed to notice though.

Ty Lee was looking over the sea, a smile never far from her face. "Doesn't your family have a house on Ember Island?"

"We used to come every summer when we were kids." Azula explained nonchalantly.

"That must've been fun!"

That was a long time ago. Zuko thought somberly. He wasn't thinking about his mother and father though, rather he was thinking about Suki and those days when Izumi was still young and helped take care of her siblings, days of laughter and playful jokes midst shimmering waves and gray sand.

It was strange to recall such moments, moments he never really believed would be part of his life at some point.

As much as the war had scarred the world, it had scarred him as well, leaving a broken monarch that could barely keep his country out of war those first years. Someone who didn't trust himself and had almost forced his friend to kill him for that. He remembered those days when his bodyguard first came along. The slow transformation of their silent evenings into times of conversation and easy smiles as he finally began to trust his own judgment in regard to his nation and his feelings.

Taking a deep breath, he rubbed his eyes quietly, trying to seem as angry as he should, but when he looked up, he found Mai's gaze fixed on him from across the balcony. Her face revealed close to nothing of what she was thinking, and yet Zuko could feel an old coil of fear tangling around his heart, and it stayed with him the whole time as they sighted the small docks and the extravagant stilted Fire Nation beach bungalows of the island.

Li and Lo were both there to greet them, taking the four teens towards a shabby beach cottage. It was small, decorated with different pieces of the sea, its walls and floor polluted by green and gold.

"Ooh, I love this seashell bedspread!" Ty Lee exclaimed to his side, to which Mai grimaced.

"Are you serious? It looks like the beach threw up all over it."

He chuckled a little at her deadpan delivery, earning a look from them and his sister. He chuckled, and it was unlikely. It was something he had learned with time, from Aang, Sokka, Katara and Toph, a lesson in showing how he felt instead of hiding behind a grimace. Quickly realizing it might be a mistake, he looked away. "I'll check my room."

The place felt not at all as familiar as he thought it might. It was strange, staring down at the starfish bedspread, the idea that he should remember all of it stuck at the back of his mind, even as he sat down and felt nothing at all. He knew of course, that once he had spent a whole week here, he knew also, that they had all reached a sort of bond while being stuck together, although he was wary of what that even meant back then. Did they bond out of true friendship or need for connection? Mai and Ty Lee had become close to him after everything was said and done, and Azula…

Azula had been gone, maybe she was never within his reach to begin with.

He was so deep in thought he didn't notice the other presence in the room, until the knife was firmly planted at the wall across from him.

"So, when are you leaving?" Mai asked, straight to the point, she always hated beating around the bushes, but Zuko pursed his lips, sending a glance to the door. "They aren't listening."

Nodding, he accepted that as the only assurance he would get. For a moment he did consider that she might be lying, that she was still loyal to Azula and was just setting up a trap, after all this wasn't the Mai that would drink tea with him in the afternoons after council meetings, the same Mai who had looked him in the eyes and suggested he married Suki at once. He did want her to be though.

"I'll get a message when its time."

She tried to seem nonchalant, but Zuko could see the way her eyes widened in surprise, just a fraction though. "You really do believe all that crap about peace of love don't you?"

"You don't?"

This time she looked away. "Let's say that I do believe that, why should I trust that you're not after the throne or something?"

"I'm not Azula, Mai."

"No, but you're not the Zuko I knew either" The words hurt more than he expected them to. For a long moment, neither said a word and, eventually, Mai left him as only the wind chimes played a toneless tune as waves crashed over the island.

.

It was said by some wise weirdos from time to time, that one should always learn from the experience of others, and Azula had taken that lesson and made her life out of it.

It came to her in her earlier memories, the ones where Zuko would appear small and frightened as he failed yet another task, yet another tiny little lesson their father had demanded. She watched and she learned and she became perfect. Failure had been unacceptable. After all, what else could she hope to be? It was only natural she would become strong since no one was there to coddle her. Her little brother had their dear mother and look at where that took him, banished and scarred, and alone. It had always been in her mind to never be like that, to never succumb to his weakness, a weakness so despised.

So, as she watched Ty Lee walking around that wretched party, followed by boys everywhere, she had to hold herself from burning the place down. Am I really bad at this? It looked so easy after all, all her friend would do was prance around, smile, and boom, those pathetic creatures would be all over her, praying for a chance to kiss her cute little feet. It was obvious of course, why that was, but despite knowing the reasons, she failed to emulate them not that she wanted that anyway.

She knew why they were after Ty Lee, it was so obvious.

Her partner, when she became Fire Lord, would be strong and powerful, someone she could control and be proud of at the same time, someone who wouldn't run from her. What if they all run? A voice whispered, mockingly and she pushed that away. Her father, who was called monster by every other nation, never settled for the lesser, and she wouldn't either.

"Oh, I'm glad you're here." Ty Lee suddenly called after cartwheeling her way over, behind her, Azula could see all the chi blocked guys on the floor. Good riddance. "Those boys won't leave me alone. I guess they all just like me too much."

Azula refrained from rolling her eyes. "Come on, Ty Lee. You can't be this ignorant."

"What are you talking about?"

Azula smiled, it was a lesson really. It wouldn't do for her friend to ignore the glaring reality and keep herself in her own little perfect world. She needed this dose of truth, just like she had gained from her mother so long ago.

"Those boys only like you because you make it so easy for them. You're not a challenge. You're a tease. It's not like they actually care who you are." She delivered, watching Ty Lee's face slowly changing, and suddenly a very uneasy feeling begun at the bottom of her gut. It almost whispered of regret. "Okay, okay, calm down. I didn't mean what I said." She backpedaled, her mind finally working out something to say, and in that hurry, she only found something close to the truth. "Look, maybe I just said it because I was a little ... Jealous."

Was that it? She asked herself, but the word fitted so well, it was all she could do not to rip it out from the air, as if she could deny she ever spoke such thing. Ty Lee seemed just as surprised as she felt.

"What? You're jealous of me? But you're the most beautiful, smartest, perfect girl in the world!"

"You're right about all those things of course." She quickly replied, despite the comfort she felt at the words. "But, for some reason, when I meet boys, they act as if I'm going to do something horrible to them."

Bonds forged on fear. Zuko's voice seemed to mock her from afar.

"But you probably would do something horrible to them" Ty Lee was saying by her side. "I'm sure they're just intimidated by you. Okay, look, if you want a boy to like you, just look at him and smile a lot and laugh at everything he says even if it's not funny."

She frowned. "Well, that sounds really shallow and stupid ..." A smile. "Let's try it."

"Okay." And then Ty Lee was leaning against the column, her eyes half closed, a smirk on her face and, although it could be the light, Azula thought she saw a touch of a blush on her cheeks as she spoke in a deep voice. "Hey there, sweet sugar cakes. How you liking this party?"

The smile, the arm seeming pining her against the column, and those grey eyes staring at her through the lashes, send a spiraling fluttering of wing to beat deep into her guts. She was so entranced she almost forgot the reason for her friend doing that. Laugh. She commanded herself, and soon enough she was trying just that.

Of course it didn't work.

For an officer's son, the house's owner was just like all the others, scared, coward, worthless and the kiss, it had tasted like nothing at all. She didn't care though, she really didn't, it was only more proof that she needed to get what she wanted by force instead, she knew nothing kept people close. Her own mother had gone away, why shouldn't everyone else? Cold brushing over her shoulders, she felt an uneasy need to leave, but just like every other time she felt the weakness inside her, she crushed it away with sheer will, despite the prickling behind her eyes.

She was thinking of going back to Ty Lee and maybe distract herself when she caught sight of Zuzu walking away from the house, down the beach, to a direction that could be familiar, because of course he would go there. If there was something her brother could be counted to do was to impose himself in suffering. He would sit down and torment himself with the past, as if it could do anything to him. She knew better of course. The past was dead. Mother was gone. Father was here and Zuzu was still weak.

Biting her lower lip, she looked behind her and, making up her mind, jumped from the balcony and followed his trail.

It didn't take long for her to find the familiar sight of the beach house. The red roofs and high columns were filled by shadows of old times as she climbed the stairs and passed through the broken door. Her brother was sitting right by the entrance, his back to her as he looked over a family painting in the hallways and for some reason, she didn't find in herself to interrupt the moment.

She sat by his side and watched.

It was, by all means, a mediocre portray, and yet, somehow, her father actually looked happy in there. Only her experience told her that softness was impossible to find on the Fire Lord's face, and speaking of faces, Zuko's was healthy and peaceful in there. Agni, her own young self looked happy. After a brief hesitation, she finally gathered the courage to stare at her mother. The woman was just as beautiful as her memories, but as everyone else seemed happy, Ursa showed no emotion at all in those eyes, the same eyes she saw whenever she caught sight of a mirror.

It was almost like she was disappointed in her as she had always been.

"What are you doing in here?" She barked the question.

Zuko didn't answer right away. From this side his scar was all she could see in the moonlight, but when he did speak, his voice sounded quite broken. "I'm trying to remember."

In answer to that, she could only grimace. She had been very young when the vacations stopped, but she could remember clearly the feeling of the volcanic ash between her toes, and a woman's voice whispering sweet words in her ears. She remembered a young man's grin under the sun and the touch of a brother's arms around her.

"This is depressing." She concluded, getting to her feet. "Come on, let's get out of here, Dumb Dumb."

"What are you doing, mom?"

"Oh, I'm just practicing." She told the little girl as she came running inside the room, her eyes taking in the glint of the metal as she opened her fans. "See here? These are all battle marks."

"Wow."

"Can I see it too?" A second one came along, almost shoving her sibling out of the way. "How do you use it?"

Suki laughed at both little girls, delighted at the attention, before taking each one by their hands. From the crib, the baby made a happy sound as she took out the old uniform. "Well, before you use it, you need to learn what this means, see this silk thread? It represents the brave blood that you have, and the seal is the honor of a warrior's heart. If you understand that, only then you can fight."

"Wow" The girls gasped, awed.

"Can you show us now?"

"Please?"

"Maybe your mother can show you later."

His voice was soft and caring. It was a caress against the back of her neck and a touch of whispering silk under the disgusted sounds of her daughters.

Slowly though, the sounds grew fainter, drifting away and lingering long enough for Suki to understand that she was dreaming. Keeping her eyes closed, she tried with all her might to return to it, plucking the images back from that ethereal plane, but alas, reality was far more insistent as she found herself in her quarters in the airship.

The pounding that woke her up was coming from the door, and she quickly opened to find Lee on the other side.

"My lady, we're about to reach Ember Island."

"Thanks, I'll be right up."

As the door closed and she was alone once more, Suki took her time to wash her face and fix her hair. After dressing up, she quickly sniffed herself, wondering how much longer she would go without a proper bath. As advanced as the airship was, they hadn't exactly taken a stocked vessel, making so that water and food were pretty much thin right now.

Fixing her boots around her feet, she made her way to the main room, nodding through her crew on the way there. Jee and Iroh seemed to be having an amicable conversation that stopped when she arrived, while Aiko and Fay both smiled her way. Her sisters had no war fans or traditional Kyoshi Warrior's gear, but both of them made do with loose leather armor and swords hanging from their hips. The rest of her girls were probably with Ami as she rested, since the time in prison had taken its toll on the young warrior. Even now, they didn't completely trust the fire nation crew, and she couldn't really blame them.

"Hello everyone."

"Suki!" Aiko burst forward and gave her a hug, and she gladly hugged her back. There had been many hugs since she reunited with her sisters, and even now, she doubted she would ever have enough of them. I really missed you. She thought.

"We were just deciding on a landing sight." Fay said from her other side, as Jee came over to show them the map.

"Ember Island can be very crowded during summer time, so we have to be careful with where we land, otherwise, we risk alerting Fire Nation forces out there."

"That won't be an issue, we can land right here." She pointed to a small valley in the center of the island. "We can bring the ship above the clouds and land without notice."

"That can be a dangerous maneuver."

"Don't worry." I've done it before. "Everything will be all right, and we will be on our way in no time. Just make sure you have a party ready to buy supplies once we're grounded."

She looked up, but there was no real worry this time. Jee had already learned to trust her, that showed when he saluted her and walked out to give out the orders.

"How are you doing General Iroh?"

"I've been well my dear, thank you." The old man smiled at her, crinkles around his eyes as he took her in. "If you allow me to ask, you and your sister are not from the Fire Nation, are you?"

"No, we're from Kyoshi actually."

"Ah, yes, the famous Kyoshi Warriors. I was indeed wondering about the fans, since very few are skilled with such a weapon." He rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "I've been to Kyoshi Island once before, back in the day the place was neutral territory, too small to be of any notice. I spent three days in harbor eating smoked elephant-koi."

"Oh, I love smoked elephant-koi!" Aiko cheered, Fay rolled her eyes.

"You're wondering how I came to know your nephew." Suki pointed out, holding back a grin.

"Well, yes, I guess I wasn't very subtle now, was I?" The old man grinned, but almost right away, his expression fell, a sort of solemn sadness appearing all of the sudden. "The thing is, I truly want to believe that he chose his own path."

Suki held back a grin, watching the man that would become a grandfather to her children, and hoping to make him cry the same sweet tears he shed when Zuko put Izumi on his arms. Gently, she put a hand on his shoulder. "He did choose, Iroh, I know this all seems, well, very sudden, but your nephew is a great man, in no small part thanks to you."

Iroh raised an eyebrow at her, almost in disbelief, and Suki giggled.

"I guess that doesn't answer your question though, does it?"

"Not much, but I'm sure it doesn't really matter as much as what I've seen and heard so far." He looked her with such mirth that Suki couldn't help but wonder what kind of questions Zuko would face soon. "Well, I guess I shall retire for now, being able to walk around is, actually, very underrated."

"I can second that." Aiko spoke as the old general left.

The door had barely closed when Suki felt Fay's questioning gaze falling upon her. Her sister had been the most clearly displeased to learn they were been rescued by Fire Nation soldiers, her suspicious eyes all darting this and that way, always vigilant. Suki was sure she was the one who told the others to stick together, and she couldn't blame her. After spending time in prison, after traveling through a war torn kingdom and finding refugees with different degrees of burns all over the Earth Kingdom, anyone would hesitate to trust anyone wearing red.

"Go ahead, I know you have doubts."

Fay huffed, crossing her arms and frowning. "Doubts doesn't begin to cover it."

"I'm sure helping you out of prison was a good first step though, right?"

Suki watched the flustered look on her sister's face and held back from pointing that out, Aiko wasn't so polite.

"She got you there Fay!"

"Shut up!" The other mumbled. "Don't tell me you're okay with being on a ship full of Firebenders."

"Well, not really, but they've been very polite so far, and they're taking care of Ami as well." She came closer, whispering. "Plus, that Lee guy was kind of cute."

Fay groaned. "Well, lucky me, guys are not my type. Listen Suki, I just want to be sure this isn't some kind of trap all right? What if this is all a plan so we take them to the avatar or something. If he is alive as you say, then they might be looking for him. That Fire Prince sure did a number on our village with that same intent."

"I know."

"And now, you talk like he is your friend."

"He is"

"How!?" Fay asked exasperated.

"Well, that is kind of hard to explain, so I would like to cash in on all that trust I know you have on me." Suki delivered that with her best-winning smile.

Aiko was the first to nod, but Fay sighed longingly. "I trust you, Suki, you know that."

"And I know I'm asking a lot."

"Yes you are" Fay took a moment to straighten her shoulders, her pale skin morphing into resignation. "If we actually get out of this alive, you better make sure to take us out, I'm talking banquets here, plural."

"Of course"

With the little time she had before reaching the Island, Suki wrote a message, taking the messenger hawk out in the open and allowing the bird to fly ahead. If there was something that always surprised Suki about the Fire Nation, were those birds. Her husband had once explained to her that the special training that allowed the hawks to find people all over the world, was developed by a Fire Nation's Avatar long ago, and the secret from that point belonged to the Fire Sages. So she was confident that the Hawk would find Zuko, and he would be able to read through her coded message. She visited Ami in her room until the time came, and as Ember Island loomed close, she took the wheel for herself, directing the men around her to increase the altitude, so when they were all above the clouds, she had only her instruments as guides.

It took a long time, and she had to be patient, controlling the speed and the timing. Ember Island was a summer paradise, but as she closed in, just as the sun began to set, she descended in the shadow of the volcano, invisible to the naked eyes as she found the empty valley below.

As the night fell around them and the messenger hawk returned with an answer, Suki, stood by the rampart and waited.

Jing and a group of men had gone out and brought back supplies and still, she waited.

The cold breeze blew over her skin, and by each cloud the drifted away from the moon, she would offer Yue a silent prayer of her own, as Fay and Aiko joined her.

The stars were blinking brightly and the sky was clearing by the time she finally caught movement bursting from the tree line. Two figures raced into the clearing, and Suki's heart beat faster as she recognized them. Mai was a mess, her hair disheveled and out of her buns, while Ty Lee leaned over her friend, an arm tucked inside an improvised bandage.

And as she raced to help, she knew that something had gone very wrong.