A/N: Aaaaaaand Action! Hi everyone this is what "when ish hits the fan" looks like if it were a fanfiction chapter. I hope everyone is safe and making positive progress for change in your world. Don't do like the Fire Nation and ignore a problem thinking it will go away. I'm looking at you people of America... This chapter may be a little intense because there will be events that people will not be expecting nor does it exude a happy vibe. As always, let me know what you think and if you like what you read, favorite or follow so you can get up to the minute updates of this story. Happy Reading!
Disclaimer: "Sometimes the best option is not to close your eyes so that you disappear."-An excerpt from Memoirs of a Former Fire Lord by Ozai Kasai. Fanfiction is for hindsight being 20/20...
Chapter 11-Everything Changed When the Earth Kingdom Attacked
Ozai was in distress. The last letter he received from the Earth King was devoid of threats and warnings and was strangely cryptic. King Kuei had been trying to work with the Fire Nation diplomatically to restore what was taken from the Earth Kingdom during the Great War.
It's not that the Fire Lord was unaware of their unwanted presence in the coastal areas of the western Earth Kingdom, things were just too complex for his citizens and his soldiers to withdraw.
Seventy percent of all produce and raw materials the Fire Nation needed to survive were currently being exported from the Earth Kingdom colonies. Without those goods, the Fire Nation would not be able to survive. The volcanic soil of the Fire Nation islands made it difficult to grow certain high demand items there like rice and vegetables. There was not enough pastureland to keep animals properly fed either.
Kuei was not concerned with any hardship Fire Nation citizens would face even if that would mean the possibility of civil war in the Fire Nation. Anything they suffer would be considered Karma in Kuei's opinion.
Soldiers recalled home were already having difficulty finding work in their villages and the lack of work meant no food which then meant men with specialized skills were becoming desperate. The council was divided on how they should go about the withdrawal with some members still spouting the xenophobic and racist ideologies that started the war in the first place. Those men felt like they didn't have to do anything and that the colonies were the spoils of war while quickly forgetting that they were not the victors in said war.
With a reduced military, Ozai knew their country was not prepared to fight another war to keep the colonial lands and the people of his country had had enough of war to last them forever.
Ozai rubbed his temples. There had to be a way for them to work out this conundrum. Because the Fire Lord didn't know how to respond to Kuei's letter he tossed it into a pile on his desk to address later.
Lord Hondo showed a dramatic improvement in his demeanor and attitude towards both Zuko and her friends. No one really understood the change in his behavior except perhaps a couple of guards, a handmaid named Kiko and the Crown Princess of the Fire Nation.
A few days prior to this, Dr. Ishi examined Zuko after she collapsed from her encounter with Lord Hondo. He wasn't made aware of the circumstances leading to her fainting and clucked his tongue. "She hasn't been playing Kuai ball again has she?" he asked.
The guards and Kiko looked at one another in alarm and shook their heads. Should they say what occurred between their princess and the Lord Hondo? Dr. Ishi noticed their looks and eyed them curiously. He knew they knew something but weren't telling.
Dr. Ishi raised Zuko's sleeves and gasped. She had days old bruising on her upper arms. That wasn't from Kuai ball. As the doctor continued to examine the princess, he saw the beginnings of a large bruise under her chin and along her cheek. It had a striking resemblance to a handprint. The doctor looked up at the guards and handmaid with a deep frown creasing the lines in his face.
"I know that you have probably been sworn to secrecy or perhaps even threatened but if you have information that could be detrimental to our princess' safety I need you to speak up. It would not do to have our princess put in such a shameful and dangerous situation as abuse. What happened to the Princess Zuko?" He looked up his eyes pleading as he said, "Hide? Li? Kiko?"
Hide made a quick glance at his partner and friend Kiko. Li and Kiko nodded as if giving him permission to be their spokesperson. Hide sighed deeply.
"Dr. Ishi, I did not know about the bruising on the princess' arms but there was a situation between our princess and her intended fiancée, Lord Hondo today." Dr. Ishi raised his eyebrows in surprise. Would Lord Hondo be so bold as to mistreat his intended even before they were engaged? The physician was furious! He has known this child all her life and never saw any need for her to be disciplined much less manhandled. He would not allow this to continue.
Hide noted the physician's demeanor change and knew someone was in trouble.
"All I know, good doctor, is that there was a commotion in her room that sounded like fighting. When we tried the door, it was locked and some moments later the Lord Hondo hurried out of the room. Our princess came to the door asking for Kiko and before she closed the door to go back into her room she fainted. Then we called for you. That is all we know, sir." The doctor nodded.
"Thank you for your courage in speaking up. I will take it from here. Lord Hondo was out of line and our Fire Lord would surely be displeased to know that his daughter was being treated in any way other than the lady she is. Kiko, please continue to apply the compresses I have prescribed and keep a close watch over our princess. If her condition changes at all, please send for me." Kiko nodded and bowed to the physician happy that he was going to see how he could protect their princess.
The guards let the doctor out and gave him a bow of respect and thanks for taking care of the princess. As Dr. Ishi made his way down the corridor, he sighed. He knew that more than likely Ozai gave Lord Hondo "advice" about how to handle his daughter. He's seen it too many times before from the line of Sozin passed down from father to son to son. He learned the best way to deal with a bully is to call them out.
If the councilmembers only got wind of the princess' mistreatment, that would be the easiest way to get Lord Hondo in line knowing that the Fire Lord would not like to be attached to bad press or negative rumors. He realized there was still enough time to make a few strategic house calls to councilmen before their meeting in the morning.
Many of the council were still upset that they were not given a chance to woo and secure a marriage within the royal family for their own children. Now there was blood in the water and the leopard-sharks were circling.
The council meeting in the morning was more than the Fire Lord could stand. Not only was he dealing with the mess created by their lack of diplomacy with the Earth kingdom but now councilmembers were showing displeasure at Ozai's choice of a spouse for the Crown Princess! Apparently, Lord Hondo was mistreating their princess and coercing her with violence.
There were rumors abounding about the princess sporting bruises and a commotion overheard in the princess' own chambers just yesterday with a guilty Lord Hondo hurrying from her room. Surely Fire Lord Ozai was not complicit to this type of maltreatment of a royal?
Ozai could kill Takeshi Hondo for his carelessness! He never encouraged him to strike the princess only to intimidate her into submission. He knew his daughter was not one to sit and take abuse and would not be backed into a corner. She was too skilled and too savvy to allow someone to overpower her without a fight.
Needless to say, by the time the council members were done dealing with Lord Takeshi Hondo he was more than ready to leave the mainland and return to his distant island of Toku. Ozai somehow managed to convince the council to give Lord Hondo an opportunity to redeem himself and make amends with the Crown Princess to prevent sending a war hero back to his family in shame.
By this time, General Iroh and Prince Lu Ten had returned to the Caldera and were able to give some input on the situation.
"I do agree with my brother, that the Lord Hondo should be allowed to correct the error of his ways and repair the breach of trust between himself and his intended." Ozai smiled at his brother's encouragement. However, General Iroh was not done.
"But…I also think that the decision of whether or not the princess is to remain engaged to the Lord Hondo should be up to her and the decision should be hers and hers alone as she was the most injured party in these unfortunate circumstances. Don't you agree Fire Lord?" Iroh said with a smile.
General Iroh knew that his brother was infamous for scheming and making decisions without thinking things through. Ozai didn't really care anymore if Zuko married the Lord Hondo except maybe to save face with his council, but that was never a good enough reason to force someone into a lifelong commitment such as marriage.
Iroh realized if Ozai had just asked him, he would have never recommended such a hothead with a penchant for violence as Takeshi Hondo.
In a grand display of humility and penitence before the Fire Lord and his council, Takeshi Hondo made his reparations with Princess Zuko. Zuko was gracious in her forgiveness, but she knew what her answer would be concerning taking Takeshi Hondo as her husband.
"Lord Hondo, I am very appreciative of your actions towards repairing the breach between us and your willingness to make amends with me. I think this is an honorable and righteous thing to do as a representative of your home and our nation. I forgive you for your actions taken against me and I will forget." Takeshi released a long-held breath. He still had hope that the princess would not reject him and take him back. Zuko raised her voice to ensure that all members heard and understood her clearly.
"However, I do not think that forging a lifelong relationship with you would be in either of our best interests. I release you from your obligation of marriage and I do pray to Agni that you will be blessed with a kindred spirit who will walk beside you and be your perfect complement." The council was once again abuzz at the eloquent and gracious speech of their princess and the unintentional announcement of a second chance for a position in the royal family.
Ozai held his temper in check at his daughter's words knowing that he could not go against the council's advice and still maintain his good standing with them. Ozai allowed this embarrassing display to be done in order to repair the damage from the political nightmare that was Takeshi Hondo.
Though he was thwarted from his original plan, Ozai had no intention of leaving Zuko to her own devices to find a suitable spouse. He would be dealing with it as soon as the excitement of this circus lost its novelty.
Zuko silently thanked the Gods that she was free from this obligation though now she wondered what the future held with the entire community of nobility vying for her hand. For now, she would just enjoy her continued freedom as a single woman.
Uncle Iroh and Lu Ten came up to the princess after her speech with wide smiles on their faces.
"Dodged a real bullet this time, didn't you?" Lu Ten teased. Zuko laughed softly.
"Did I ever…" she whispered. "I'm so glad you got back when you did. I'm quite surprised. You were supposed to be gone two more weeks. What brought you back so soon?" Zuko asked. Iroh and Lu Ten gave each other a knowing look. Iroh sighed deeply.
"Unfortunately, something your father should have dealt with months ago. I pray that it is not too late." He said sadly. Zuko gazed into her uncle's and cousin's faces and grew concerned.
"It's nothing too serious, I hope." She questioned. Iroh placed his hand upon his niece's shoulder.
"Only time will tell, Zuko." Zuko watched with quiet alarm as Iroh and Lu Ten made their way over to her father who was listening to the appeals and brags of councilmen hoping to persuade the Fire Lord to consider their sons now that Takeshi was out of the way. Zuko shook her head and went to find her friends and celebrate her newfound freedom.
Zuko and her friends fell into an easy pattern of sparring and training to keep their skills sharp. Zuko found the courage to reveal her new ability to her friends who watched with amazement as manipulated heat at first, then fire and then the shimmering energy field that had the potential to disintegrate objects in its path. Though Toph couldn't see the energy she felt the vibrations within the field.
"Whoa Zuko! Whatever you're doing with your chi is creating massive vibrations. Have you ever tried moving objects around with it?" Zuko jerked in shock. "What? You mean like airbending?" she asked. Toph shook her head. "No, this is totally different. This feels solid like rock but it's fluid like Katara's water. I wanna try something." Zuko stopped immediately.
"No! Absolutely not; it's too dangerous Toph." She said before Toph could even make her suggestion. Toph crossed her arms in frustration.
"You didn't even hear me out Zuko! I know that what you have is dangerous if handled improperly. I don't plan on getting vaporized today; I just want to see something. Will you trust me?" she asked. Zuko sighed wearily.
"What did you have in mind?" she asked with little to no enthusiasm. Toph smirked.
"I just want you to put up your energy field again and concentrate on moving this rock I send your way." Zuko gave Toph a strange look. "You know I can't see that, right?" she said rolling her milky green eyes.
"Trust me. I won't launch the rock; I just want to see if you can resist it with your energy field and move it back." Zuko smiled. That was a brilliant idea! What if she had some object approaching her and she needed to deflect it or move it back? This could come in handy.
"Ok Toph. I trust you. Go slow, will you?" Toph cackled. Zuko looked at Katara and Sokka who moved out of the way just in case things went south. They gave her a thumbs up from the far end of the arena. Zuko smirked and raised her field. Toph produced an enormous boulder from the ground and began sliding it towards Zuko's energy field.
Just like she did when she first discovered she could make her swords by solidifying the field. Zuko focused on making the entire field solid. The rock seemed as if it would go right through her wall until she felt a slight "thud" against her field. The rock was not moving. Toph applied a little more pressure to resist the field and Zuko focused on making her field stronger. The rock still could not break through. Toph gave a wicked grin.
"Ok let's pick up the pace." Zuko was too busy concentrating on the rock to hear what Toph said at first. "Wait. What? What are you do—" Toph didn't hesitate. She threw rocks at the field while Zuko was still holding back the boulder. The rocks glanced off the shield and rolled on the opposite side of the arena. Toph added more rocks.
"Toph, I get it you want to test the limits, but don't you think you should do one test at a time?" Katara called from her place of safety in the far corner. Toph always had a tendency to push the envelope without letting others in on it. This is where all the fun injuries came from during the war. Of course, being the rock-head she was (pun intended), Toph didn't listen. She continued launching rocks while pushing against the forcefield with her boulder.
Zuko felt the pressure of the boulder and her limits. She didn't want to get crushed to satisfy Toph's curiosity. With a groan of effort, Zuko pushed back in a final effort to stop all assaults. With a yell, she pushed against the boulder and the oncoming rocks with all her might and a shockwave threw Zuko and Toph in opposite directions. Toph landed on her back and slid to the end of the arena. Zuko flew back and landed on her back sliding into the wall behind her.
Toph coughed sending up a large plume of dust from the ground. Katara and Sokka capped their mouths with their hands in shock. Sokka was the first to find his words.
"What just happened here? He said the shock in his voice apparent. Zuko had no idea how powerful of a bender she was! Sokka asked his next question carefully, "Does anyone else know about this?" Zuko sat up coughing and wiping the dust off her tunic.
"No, and I would appreciate if we keep it that way." She said. Her brow furrowed. "If my father knew what I was capable of, he would use me like a weapon. I inherited this gift from my mother, and I promised her I wouldn't reveal it to my father or sister." She said matter of factly.
The three friends easily visualized the potential disaster this kind of knowledge would have in the hands of the Fire Lord and his heir apparent (apparent to her if no one else). "Your secret is safe with us Sparkly." Toph offered.
"Sparkly!?" The other three replied. Zuko shook her head in wonder as she stood up contemplating how the blind girl always seemed to know things without seeing it for herself.
"Well guys, it's almost lunchtime. I get the feeling at least one of you would probably like to freshen up before going to the dining hall." Katara suggested. Toph shrugged and Zuko chuckled at her friend's reticence for using water and soap.
"Toph, one day taking a bath will actually be a pleasant activity for you." Zuko challenged. Toph grinned. "Yeah well, one day is not today, but I'll still do it out of respect for you, my friend." Zuko gave her friend a hearty clap on the back and laughed. Katara rolled her eyes at the battle she's been waging against the Earth girl since they first met. She learned that sometimes a person must know better to do better.
Sokka dissociated from the conversation altogether because talking of baths and unintended consequences from not taking them were akin to discussions on "lady problems" and he wanted to keep his appetite. The four friends finally went their separate ways and prepared to have lunch with the Fire Lord.
As they left the arena, two men walked quietly onto the practically destroyed arena floor and observed the broken boulder and shattered rocks. One man whistled long and low.
"That's amazing. I never realized how much power is behind that type of bending. I had only heard of this type of bending before but never saw it. Energy field bending is extremely rare, so little is known about the style. It's like the princess was working with the rawest of power and molding it to her will. Should we say anything?" The other man was quiet almost pensive.
"No, I think this knowledge is best left to the ones she chose to share it with. The potential for issues down the road is too great. You know of what I speak: knowledge of her ability in the wrong hands would be detrimental. I do think there is way for us to support her. Perhaps we can talk about it with her highness later." The man said. The other hummed in agreement and the men moved to go join the others for lunch.
Summer melted into a pattern of day and night, heat and fire, laziness and fun as the season drew on and on. Katara and Lu Ten relished the knowledge of their little one though Katara had yet to reveal her secret through her body. She was only three months along in her pregnancy and was planning on returning to the Northern tribe before the birth of their child.
Lu Ten wanted to be able to go along with her but knew that with the potential coming storm he would have to be available to help defend his country. General Iroh was both happy and afraid for his children because of the topsy-turvy world they were going to bring his little grandchild into. There was too much uncertainty in the air now.
Ozai, Iroh and Lu Ten debated and argued for weeks about the best ways to deal with the necessity of withdrawing the Fire Nation soldiers, citizens, and their families from the Earth Kingdom. The number of incidences of violent clashes increased tenfold since Fire Lord Ozai recieved his last letter.
The council resisted the move because many of these families had mixed heritage children and they were afraid of the potential for uprisings if the Earth Kingdom attacked as well as the reactions of their own people at the confusion from Fire and Earth relationships. The potential for chaos was too great. Little did they know, this reality was getting closer day by day as the council and the Fire Lord would do nothing with the advice from their General and his Lieutenant.
Early one morning long before the sun dawned and lit the eastern sky aflame, an armada of Earth kingdom ships crept quietly into the bay of Azulon. Soldiers had already been dispatched to the Caldera by smaller boats and submarines that had been improved upon from the Eclipse invasion during the Hundred Year War.
The earth kingdom developed a way for the subs to be powered by electricity instead of waterbenders with a compression and decompression system that allowed the sub to sink and float at will. The soldiers on board were prepared to reach land and strike with a singular purpose: destroy the ashmakers for their continued defiance of the Earth king regarding the Fire Nation Colonies which still existed and thrived on Earth Kingdom soil.
Earth King Kuei met with Ozai concerning the outlying colonies within his borders. Ozai knew that releasing those colonies and withdrawing his people would create a terrible full-on recession in his own country. Much of the produce and grain used in the Fire Nation came from the fertile and rich soil of the Earth Kingdom. Why would he now want to buy those products when they come to him for free? It was clear that Ozai was not going to be cooperative or diplomatic so Earth General How planned an attack that would strike at the heart of the Fire Nation: The Caldera—the Fire Lord's own city and palace.
Soldiers' instructions were to leave the common people out of the battle unless they attacked first. They were to strike down noblemen and women regardless of previous affiliation or friendship. They were to obliterate the palace and strike to kill the Fire Lord once he was found. Their goal was to send the stubborn Fire Lord a message and weaken the aristocracy.
Late sounded the alarm when the first mortars hit the palace walls. The Fire Nation had no indicators of an attack planned on the kingdom save the warnings given through correspondence from the Earth king. Guards and soldiers scrambled to protect the royal family and nobles. Zuko was not in her bedroom as would be supposed that morning because she was already in her training arena warming up for the day.
Not knowing where she was, the Fire Lord instructed that if anyone saw Zuko she was to go directly to the bunkers underground, no exceptions. Zuko was working on improving her heat shield when she heard the first mortar blasts. Her eyes grew wide as she ran out of the arena to find out what was going on. A fire scribe passed her on his way to the bunkers.
"We are under attack Princess! The Earth nation has come to destroy the royal family for Lord Ozai's refusal to remove the fire colonies from the Earth kingdom. Get to the bunkers, my lady! Please!" the scribe pleaded. Zuko panicked.
"Where are my father and sister?" she begged. The sage shook his head running away too frightened to wait any longer. An explosion shattered the floor above the corridor under which he ran and in an instant, he was no more. Zuko stood stunned at the horror of watching a life vanish from existence in a breath.
She exhaled in terror knowing she couldn't stay in place much longer. She ran back to the arena to get her weapons. Her hands shook as she grabbed her dual Dao from their special hiding place in the false back panel where towels were stored. The leather gauntlets Katara made Zuko for her birthday rested on the floor of the false space and she grabbed them as well just in case. Zuko replaced the panel and ran back out into the corridors leading past the main yard to the bunkers.
The courtyard and palace gardens were in chaos. Shouts of orders went out from both earth and fire armies adding to the confusion. Mortars struck random walls and floors of the palace creating a minefield of dangers for earth and fire soldiers alike. Noblemen and women were nowhere to be seen. It was easy to assume many of them made it to the secret bunkers already or were killed in transit.
Zuko ran as fast as she could to find her own way to safety. She dodged earth spikes and boulders barely missing her head and chest. She trembled from more than one close call and prayed she would get to the bunkers in time and in one piece. Zuko had to fight the occasional earth soldier on her way. Those that saw her assumed she was an easy target despite her handling dual swords. They soon learned the truth.
Zuko found it increasingly difficult to fight off soldiers the more she encountered. Her arms shook from fatigue and the brutality of battle. Zuko realized that if she didn't get to those bunkers soon, she would die, so she forced herself to run on.
As she rounded a corner, Zuko stumbled upon a royal guardsman fighting a plain-clothed soldier who held oddly shaped hooked swords. Within moments the guard fell dead to the ground gurgling and bleeding on the paving stones beneath him. It was Li. Zuko stopped in her tracks. The earth soldier turned to her and froze in place. His eyes grew to the size of saucers in recognition.
"Princess Zuko…" he said cloaking his surprise.
"Jet." Zuko replied warily.
They knew of each other's skill with a blade and she preferred not to cross with him at this time. Her own swords were bloodied from the multiple earth soldiers she encountered who underestimated her skill, but she didn't know how much fight she had left. Jet's voice shook when he spoke.
"I don't want to kill you." He whispered. Zuko licked her lips nervously.
"I don't want to be killed." She said her voice matching his.
Jet smirked at her humble diplomacy; Zuko saying she didn't want to be killed didn't mean she would allow herself to be. He knew that a battle with Zuko would not be easily fought or won if the current condition of her swords was anything to go on and Jet made a fast decision.
"Let's pretend we didn't see each other and consider our debt to one another paid." Bet. Zuko took a deep shaky breath and nodded to Jet. She ran away without looking back as he moved in the opposite direction to find more ashmakers to destroy. He would show this one kindness to the beautiful princess who once humored him with a dance at Madame Hachi's estate.
Zuko breathed a deep sigh of relief at not having to fight Jet. He was known for his deep hatred of the Fire Nation who killed his parents and he showed no mercy to any he felt responsible for ruining his life. She wondered briefly if perhaps Jet was on assignment all along from his home country when he was a sailor in the Fire Nation Navy. She couldn't think about that. It was too painful. Zuko had no doubt that Jet only spared her life this time because they were once friends.
Zuko was near to the end of the corridor leading to the underground bunkers when she heard cries overhead. She thought to ignore them until she heard it: the distinctive whimper of her younger sister. Azula was trapped on the floor above her; it had been hit with a mortar. Zuko knew that she couldn't leave her sister there. She would never forgive herself.
They were close enough that if she hurried, they could still make it to the underground bunker. She placed her swords in the holster on her back and tightened her leather gauntlets. Zuko looked around her for a way to get the next floor. She spied a trellis covered in vines and began moving with ninja-like accuracy up the trellis grabbing rungs above her to pull herself up. She hopped the railing with ease and ran to her sister.
Azula's leg was wedged under a pillar that fell when the mortar struck. Zuko looked around her quickly for anything that she could use to lift the heavy stone like a lever. She swallowed back the bile in her throat when she found a spear that was still in the hands of a soldier who had not avoided the blast. His body or what remained of it was under a pile of concrete and marble from the floor above them. Zuko took the spear quickly looking away as she prayed to Agni for his soul to find rest.
She spoke softly to her sister. "I'm going to try to move the pillar. If I lift it can you pull yourself out?" Azula stared at her sister through shock filled eyes. She wobbled as if she didn't understand and spoke through swollen lips.
"Father, you came for me. Thank you!" She cried. Zuko ignored the sting of the knowledge that father didn't come for her; for either of them. They were on their own. Zuko spoke with authority mimicking her father's tone.
"You don't have time for emotional sentiments, child! When I lift the pillar, pull your leg out. Do you understand me, girl?" Azula stared wide-eyed at her "father" and nodded with obedient compliance.
Zuko took a breath and set up the pillar. She pushed against it with the spear post and urged her heat force forward to create a buffer and a wedge. Zuko concentrated on intensifying the heat to encourage the stone to push up and out as she did during her practice session with Toph. She groaned with her effort and the pillar raised.
"Now, girl!" she gritted knowing Azula only had seconds to get free. Zuko didn't know if she had the strength within her to lift the pillar twice. Azula screeched as she moved from under the pillar rapidly. Zuko looked up in shock to see Lu Ten holding Azula in his arms. He gave her a quick nod and shouted.
"I've got her! Let's go cousin." Zuko released the pillar in relief. A solid and final thud echoed off the stone below it as it fell into its resting place. The trio moved as if Koh the face stealer was behind them. Lu Ten placed Azula on his back and scaled the trellis Zuko used before to get back down to the bottom floor. Zuko followed close behind them. The bunker was only fifty meters or so away from where they stood.
Mortars continued to shatter the floors of the palace as bit by bit it crumbled into itself. Lu Ten used one hand to fire bend into the special torch created to open the secret panel leading to the bunker. The door of this entrance creaked and moaned as it opened slowly from disuse and age. The door was not fully open when Zuko heard the high-pitched whistling of a mortar speeding in their direction. She knew there was no time to think; only to act.
Zuko summoned all the heat force she could to create a field around herself and her family in the entryway. She breathed heavily, deeply building her inner fire as the projectile approached with rapid speed. Just before impact Zuko screamed pushing her heat shield out farther than she had ever done before. The howling mortar and heat shield collided in a brilliant flash of light and fire creating a shock wave that threw Zuko through the open door of the bunker several meters down the wide hallway and into a far stone wall.
She didn't move as the bunker door slid closed in a moment of finality. Lu Ten and Azula coughed from the heavy dust and debris. They had also been thrown into the bunker by the force of the explosion. The sound of moaning and weeping from others filled the atmosphere as the dust began to settle. Lu Ten checked on Azula who was still in shock but awake. He scanned the darkened corridor for Zuko.
"Zuko?" he called hesitantly too afraid of what he might find. A voice called to Lu Ten from down the corridor.
"My Lord, she's down here!" It was the voice of Zuko's handmaiden Kiko. "The Princess is here, and she's hurt," She gasped. Lu Ten let out the breath he had been holding. Hurt? Of course, she's hurt! She saved all our lives, he thought.
Lu Ten scrambled down the hall stepping and tripping over people to get to his cousin. What he saw made his insides turn. Zuko's left side was burned as if someone had taken a fire blast to her face. The skin was a mottled mix of flesh and blackened decay, red and angry underneath. Her ear was almost obliterated a sure sign she would be deaf in that ear and he was sure if she survived her injuries at all her eye was gone too.
Lu Ten choked on the realization that his cousin sacrificed herself to save everyone. That mortar blast would have taken out the front third of the bunker at least and everyone in it if she hadn't deflected it the way she did.
"Physician. We need the physician! The princess is hurt." Dr. Ishi was nearby tending to one of the other nobles. He heard Lu Ten cry out and followed the sound.
"I'm here. Tell me what is the—" Dr. Ishi froze in place. He saw the princess and feared he was dealing with her worse injury yet. "How did this happen?" he choked out. Lu Ten held his cousin tenderly and fought not to cry.
"S-She saved us. She stopped—she stopped the mortar blast from destroying the bunker. Can you help her?" He asked hoping against all hope. Dr. Ishi went to work. On first look, he saw that her facial tissue was burned well below skin.
"Dammit! Where is that waterbender when I need her?" he said his voice edged with frustration. The sound of running feet echoed in the hallway.
"There they are! I'm here! I'm right here! What do you want me to do?" Katara asked not allowing the feeling of self-satisfaction to distract her out of concern for her best friend. Dr. Ishi sighed in relief.
"Can you remove some of the heat and alleviate the rawness of her burns?" he asked humbly. Katara looked at her friend's injuries. She felt her stomach turn at the severity of her wounds.
"Yes, I'll try, but this is really bad." Katara said unsure of what her healing would be able to do. The doctor nodded.
"Just do what you can dear. Anything will be better than letting it fester and her facial tissues die." Katara exhaled shakily.
"Ok." She pulled water from her waterskin and purified it by turning it to steam and re-collecting it on her hands. She allowed the water to glow with healing and traced her hand over her friend's face. Katara saw how the skin was burned deeply and prayed that the muscle and soft tissues weren't destroyed. She began slowly working from the inside out to heal her face cooling the muscles and connective tissues and repairing muscles and nerves one strand at a time.
Zuko remained as still as death in her cousin Lu Ten's lap. Over and over Katara continued to purify and collect the steam to feed the healing water she was using. Katara worked for several hours on the damaged skin. Soon, however, she ran out of the water and had to stop.
"Is there any more water? I'm not done. I can do more. I need more water!" she cried. The doctor shook his head sadly.
"There is no water nearby. We would have to move further into the bunker, and it may be too dangerous for us to relocate the princess right now. We don't know what other injuries she has sustained. Princess Zuko was thrown several meters by that blast. It's not a good idea right now." Katara wiped away a rogue tear.
"If we don't find more water now, she'll scar, and I haven't even checked for other damage. She doesn't deserve that." The doctor put his hand on Katara's shoulder in sympathy and solidarity. He knows of the feeling of helplessness when there is nothing else one can do to help.
"I'm sorry Princess Katara. We must leave her in Agni's hands, now." He said. Katara turned her head away and fought the urge to scream.
She held Zuko's hand and began to pray to Tui and La for a little help. She prayed for a blessing to keep her friend from dying, for Zuko to live a full and happy life because she had given so much to this world and her country. She prayed for the chance for her friend to truly find love and fulfillment because she had endured so much pain and disappointment already.
Katara didn't know it yet, but Tui and La heard her prayer. They were too far away to answer her just then. The former Princess Yue smiled as she gave the spirits feedback about Princess Zuko and her devotion to her friends, Agni, and her world, and the ancient spirits promised that if Zuko ever had the chance to meet them in person, they would give her a blessing.
Zuko slept for days after her injury. Many feared she wouldn't awaken after such a traumatic encounter. She would have fitful dreams and jerk awake only to cry out in pain sobbing and gasping for relief. The doctor would give her a sleeping draught and she would fade into dreamless oblivion once again.
This pattern of sleeping and waking continued for two weeks until the day Zuko grabbed the doctor's hand and begged him not to give her the draught.
"No! No!" she cried. "I don't want to sleep anymore. I just want to lie here, please," She begged. Dr. Ishi sighed in relief. He knew that she had endured much and that she was now showing signs of healing. He honored her request and put away the small vial of valerian, clove, and white willow bark.
"If you need anything, please don't hesitate to call me or my assistant. I'm glad to see you waking up dear Princess." He rasped softly. Zuko called to him.
"Dr. Ishi?" The doctor rushed to her side taking her hand.
"Do you need anything? What can I do for you, dear?" Zuko strained to speak.
"Are my friends here? Where's Katara? Sokka? Toph? I… I thought they would be here." she croaked her voice dry and sore from a lack of use. The doctor didn't answer right away.
He brought a cup of water up to her lips and urged her to drink first. She drank greedily gripping the cup tightly as if it would float away if she didn't. She was parched having been unconscious for so many days and finished the glass quickly. Dr. Ishi brought her another and urged her to drink slower. When Zuko finished her second glass, he spoke.
"Your father issued an edict for any non-nationals to leave the country immediately or suffer the pain of death. Your friends had to leave the next day after you were injured. They begged your father to allow them to stay and help you heal but he told them that's what I'm here for." He chuckled lightly no real humor in his voice. He sighed.
"He ordered them to get out of his country immediately. I do want you to know that your friend's water healing saved your life. I'm only doing the follow-up care and the rest is up to you. I won't know the extent of your injuries until we remove your bandages. Unfortunately, our country has now returned to war." He said softly. Zuko sighed heavily dropping her head. She felt around her lightly and grasped the doctor's hand giving him a small smile.
"Thank you for being here." She whispered. The doctor smiled. His voice trembled at his next statement.
"Of course, your highness, it is my pleasure to serve the one who saved my life and the lives of many others. We would not be here now if it were not for your sacrifice. I will be here for you as long you need me, my dear." Zuko pondered the doctor's words.
She never intended to become a hero. She saw what needed to be done and made the choice to do it. If the doctor felt this way, how many others shared his sentiment? What would that mean for her now that the country has returned to war so soon after ending the last one? Zuko leaned back on her pillows exhausted from the conversation and the realization that her country was once again under the banner of war. She fell into a lighter sleep tinged with sadness over the loss of her best friends once again.
A/N: Trivia: Did you know that the word Ishi is Japanese for "doctor"? I so unintentionally named him Dr. Doctor...LOL!