Avatar: the Last Airbender
Yin and Yang
Chapter 11
By Mdalia and RebLaw
"Hey! Boy!" Iroh, otherwise known as Fe, called out after the young prince with the scarred face. Fe, being in pretty good shape, sprinted to catch Zuko- he had the feeling that Zuko didn't like him too much.
Zuko turned around. He was half expecting to see his uncle Iroh, but instead saw this man who said he was his uncle. "What is it?"
"Now that's no way to talk to your uncle," Fe said smirking. "I just wanted to talk with you. We never get a chance to talk."
"Fine," Zuko grunted. He didn't trust that man. But being a stranger in a strange land, there wasn't much he did like.
"That-a-boy," Fe said sounding genuinely pleased. "How have you been?"
Zuko raised an eyebrow. Was this old fox playing dumb? Or was it just a stupid rhetorical question. "Whatever."
"No seriously," Fe insisted. His mannerisms mimicked those of Zuko's true uncle- which just bothered the teen more.
"Look," Zuko said. "I know I'm just in a weird dream, and you're some sort of part of my subconscious or something stupid like that- but please, leave me alone."
Fe scoffed at Zuko's theory. "You are very much awake young prince. This world is very much real, as am I."
Zuko glared at the old man with his jaw locked in a frown; this "Iroh" or whatever he called himself sure liked pissing him off.
"Come," a suddenly happy Fe ordered Zuko, in pleasant tone, like a child who wants to show off a new toy to a friend.
Zuko followed behind the old war-hero. Fe led the adolescent into a less-traveled part of the palace, someplace where they could have some privacy.
After offering Zuko tea Fe got down to business. First he explained that this was a world that was like his home world but different. Next he explained, very briefly, how Zuko had gotten here. Then he told Zuko that he wanted to get him, and the Avatar, who was from the same world as Zuko home.
"Why should I believe any of this?" Zuko pointedly asked.
Fe stroked his beard. "You don't have to believe the truth if you don't want to. It's merely in your best interest to. There will be quite an uproar when the other Prince Zuko returns home. You will most likely be assumed to be a spy or impostor."
"There's another me?" Zuko asked, raising an eyebrow. Now that sounded at least mildly interesting, not like the rest of the spam the old man was peddling.
"Yes," Fe smiled, glad to finally have Zuko's attention. "He is very similar to you, except he has no scar on his face. It is a very curious difference. Where did you get it?"
Zuko didn't answer the question. He didn't feel like telling this odd version of his uncle his life's story.
"My nephew is more respectful," Iroh teased raising his eyebrows in mock distain. "Whenever I ask him a question he answers."
"You say you want to help the Avatar, who is originally from the same world as me, and myself get back to our original world?" Zuko asked after a long pause. He wanted to confirm that he'd have a good chance to grab the Avatar.
"Yes," Fe said. "I believe it would be best for everyone."
"Alright," Zuko decided. "I'll go along with it. If- and only if- I gain custody of the Avatar. My father has been seeking him."
"Your father you say?" Fe considered. Prince Zuko of the other world was a Prince, therefore his father was the ruler of the Fire Nation of the other world. "Let me gift-wrap the Avatar for you in that case."
Prince Zuko and Fe both were smiling when they parted to make the necessary preparations.
- - - - - - - - - - - -
Meanwhile, in the world of the Avatar of peace:
"Report!" Admiral Zhao commanded the soldier who appeared before him bearing a sealed official scroll.
"Yes sir," the young soldier said automatically. "I was instructed to give this to you sir."
Zhao received it, and inspected the seal. It was from a lower-ranked officer. He wasn't a lower-ranked officer who was up for promotion, or one that was supposed to report directly to him. The admiral pondered why the officer had written him for a moment before breaking the seal.
Zhao smiled as he read the letter. The Avatar was spotted in the North Pole. He had to make sure that if he was successful in capturing the Avatar the soldier who gave him the tip-off would be promoted.
Zuko would not be the one to give the Fire Lord the Avatar, it would be Admiral Zhao, he thought to himself boastfully. Zuko, the fallen prince, a shadow in comparison to the bright star that was Admiral Zhao. While, Zuko was dishonored and disgraced due to poor behavior, Zhao will be brought into the royal family, due to merit.
- - - - - - - - - - - -
"Brother," Fe entered the candle-lit room near sunset. "There is a diplomat here from the earth kingdom."
"Oh my," Ozai said, mildly surprised. He was in the middle of a game of Pai Gow with the Avatar, a child whom he had taken a liking to recently. "Already? I wasn't expecting them for another week."
"One more thing," Fe added pleasantly as Ozai was leaving the room. "Zuko has been distraught over his scar; I was thinking of taking him to a healer I know-- if that would be okay with you."
"Yes, good," Ozai said, agreeing with his older brother almost mindlessly. "Thank you for the game Aang, maybe we can continue it tomorrow."
"Hey Iroh," Aang said happily sipping tea. "Want to play? I can write down where all of the pieces are now so we can start a new game if you want."
"Say child," Fe said trying to sound warm and sweet. "I have something I want to show you. Will you come with me?"
"Sure," Aang agreed as he hopped up from the cushion he had been sitting on most of the day. He really liked these Fire Nation people, they were nice. Not like the ones he was used to, always trying to capture him and stuff.
"Where is it?" Aang asked. He didn't want to seem impatient, but he had been following Fe for a good 15 minutes and they were about to leave the palace grounds.
Aang didn't get an answer to his question, he got a net instead. Zuko had been waiting by the gate of the palace. Aang gasped when he saw the prince's scared face; feeling the fear of being captured, yet the odd comfort of seeing a familiar face.