I don't own Avatar. I'm sorry this chapter is soshort, they should get longer. Please Review.
Chapter 2: The Hearing
Zuko stepped off the ship onto Fire Nation soils without worrying for the first time in so long. He took a deep breath of Fire Nation air and savored it. The palace looked positively intimidating in the evening light. Not surprised by the sudden stares and double takes he was getting, he merely turned and looked behind him. A couple of guards brought the Avatar down beside him and unchained his legs. Instantly, he tried to run for it, but was stopped by Zuko's lightning reflexes.
"Avatar," Zuko started, jerking the boy back to him and hissing in his ear. "You are in the middle of the Fire Nation capital. Even if you got away from me, you have absolutely nowhere to go. There is no hope for your escape."
The Avatar silently implored him with big brown eyes, but Zuko looked away and back up the ramp, never lessening his grip on the Avatar's upper arm. He never noticed the two tears fall from the boy's eyes, as he was too caught up in the two water peasants being brought down. He had no idea why he'd brought them as well, but it really didn't matter. He was home
Katara looked around and suddenly knew there was no way they were getting out of this one.
Sokka broke away from his guards and rushed Zuko, who merely blew a cloud of flames at him. Sokka yelped shrilly and leaped back away from the fire and his guard caught him. Zuko smirked, but then turned as Iroh joined the group at his side and they began their trek to the palace, Zuko keeping his hand on the Avatar's shoulder.
If looks could kill, Zuko would have fallen when they first reached the shore from Katara's glare. But now they were at the palace, entering the Great Hall. Katara's gaze drifted from Zuko's back to the man on the throne before them.
As they reached the center of the hall, every fire-bender in the group bowed, Zuko not as much as the others as he had no wish to jeopardize his grip on the Avatar. When they straightened, the Fire Lord stood.
"Prince Zuko, you have completed your task?" Zuko nodded and pushed Aang forward.
"This, Father, is the Avatar."
The Fire Lord grinned at Aang, but there was nothing pleasant in it.
"Welcome to the Fire Nation Avatar." His gaze drifted to Katara and Sokka. "Who are those two?"
Zuko shrugged. "They are the Avatar's companions. That's all we know about them."
The Fire Lord nodded, accepting this answer. "Take the Avatar and his companions to the prison hold. Separate cells." Several guards moved forward to carry out his commands and Aang looked one last time at Zuko, remembering the time Zuko had saved him from Zhao. Zuko looked away from him, and stared at the marble flooring, muttering under his breath. "It's too late Avatar." Aang, Katara, and Sokka were taken by the guards through a side door, presumably leading to the prison hold.
The Fire Lord looked at Zuko and gave him a very slight smile. "Zuko, your exile is hereby lifted. Welcome home." Everyone around them began to cheer and only quit when the Fire Lord raised his hand. "A feast will be held at the end of this week, in five days, to celebrate my son's return."
One hour later
Zuko stood in his room. He hadn't yet changed from his usual attire to something a bit more fitting his present situation, but he just couldn't get over the fact that he was home. That, and something was missing from it all and it was becoming very worrisome. Just then, his door burst open.
"ZUKO!" It was his mother. She ran in and threw her arms about him, sobbing. "Oh, Zuko, I'm so happy to see you, I thought…I thought…" She dissolved into tears again. Zuko awkwardly patted her back until she stopped. He'd been much shorter than her when he'd been banished, now they could look each other in the eye. He met her eyes and asked the question that had been frustrating him all night.
"Mother, where's Ediera?"
I love cliffhangers...just a warning. Once again, Please Review.