Hey raven717, Randomness won.Thankyou for all those who reviewed you guys are the greatest.
This is in Zuko's point of view. Aang had defeated Ozai. The end of the war is just the beginning…
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
There Are No Happy Endings, Because Nothing Ends
Zuko's POV-
Uncle led the way to the War room and I followed him against my will.
As our steps brought us closer to the guarded doors, I realized the resemblance to the appalling day three years ago. How similar it was yet not the same. For one, I wasn't a naïve boy of fourteen anymore, I was seventeen and a man. Secondly, there was no monster behind those doors to torment me. No. the monster was dead.
Yet why was I so hesitant, so against stepping into the room. Why was I afraid?
"Zuko, I think it's best if you do not join me in the Fire Court." Uncle said as if reading my mind.
So my own Uncle thought I was a coward. "What? No! Why?"
"It's better if you remain in the antechamber and listen, then they wouldn't…" he trailed off, refusing to meet my eyes.
"Wouldn't what? Lie?"
"They would speak freely."
I opened my mouth angrily, but Uncle spoke up first. The genuine care in his tone stopped my words.
"Judge them from a distance Zuko. Intentions are clearer a mile away than at arms length. Some times it's wise not to stare into your enemy's eyes."
"Yet, it's cowardly to listen behind their backs."
Uncle Iroh sighed. "No more cowardly than subjecting them to your rules without hearing what they have to say."
Maybe I don't want to hear what they say. My mind voiced my words.
Uncle just shook his head and laid a comforting hand on my shoulder.
"A real leader faces the music, even if he doesn't like the tune"
Silently, I opened the door to the antechamber that lay parallel to the War room. The architects had engineered the room with such acoustics that the eavesdropper… No, listener could hear anything, even a pin drop in the Fire Court. As the door closed behind me, Uncle's tranquil voice floated over.
"This time Zuko do not speak. I beg you."
I won't Uncle. I promise.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I crossed my arms and stood in the darkness. Waiting for the drama to unfold.
Chairs scraped back as their occupants stood up, in deference to my Uncle's arrival.
A flurry of greetings. A flood of lies.
"General Iroh!" "It's an honour to have you Sir." "Is the Lord going to join us?"
"No I'm afraid not. My nephew is…else where."
"Oh! That IS regrettable…"
"No matter. He instructed me to chair the council…You may speak freely gentlem.."
"SO he opted to turn his back on the council. How prudent." Warden Yoshi's scathing tone was all too recognizable.
I clenched my fists as my Uncle's voice, rushed to smooth over the situation. "Now, now…"
"What is it, may I enquire, that's more important than the imminent chaos in the fire nation?" That was General Takoda, one of my late father's closest friends. One of my greatest enemies.
"I thought it was obvious…" sneered Yoshi, "That water-wench is more important to him than the fire-nation ever will be."
My fists were aflame; I was a breath away from breaking my promise when my Uncle spoke up.
"Keep in mind General Yoshi…that water-wench will be your queen."
"NEVER! I Will NOT accept a Peasant queen. I will never allow her filth to taint the blood line. It might come as a surprise for Lord Zuko but I am NOT the only one against this atrocity."
"He's right." Takoda's silky voice reached my ears. "I'd rather take my own life than serve a commoner."
And I will be glad to assist you. Whispered Zuko, trying to still his trembling hands.
A silence followed through which the ugly sentiments swirling in the chamber was palpable.
"Frankly I don't care who the queen is. She may be a hag off the street if that's the Lord's fancy…All I care is what's needed to be done now!"
Zuko strived to assign a name to the voice. Then he remembered. It was Admiral Mekai. A young nobleman who climbed through the ranks not by manipulation and blackmail, but by bravery and honor. Yet the question remained. A friend or a foe?
In the next room, Mekai continued forcefully. "We are in the process of with-drawing troops from Fire-Nation controlled Earth kingdom territory. But it's not proving easy. Our settlers have been looted, chased out of their homes by Earth nationals and forced to flee, leaving behind live stock, heirlooms and sometimes everything they owned. Our soliders can't intervene or they'll say we're breaking the peace treaty. Either way WE, the fire nation end up being demonized!" .
My Uncle's reply was cryptic. "It's a give and take relationship."
Makai's was not. "Yeah, they give us shit, and we take it."
I desperately wanted to rush into the room and discuss the options, formulate strategies and create a solution. But my promise of silence stilled me. Mekai truly had my nation's best interest at heart. His anger did not stem from jealousy or mutiny. For that, I was grateful
"That's not the end…"spoke a soft voice. That of Admiral Sukoi. My Uncle's old friend.
"There are still pockets of freedom fighters who ambush our peace troops and cut off aid. They haven't seemed to realize that the war is over. But their the least of my worries. A new threat has arrived. The so called "Faithfuls" under Princess Zula…"
"The Rebel Fire Benders?" Mekai questioned.
'Yes, their causing a massive uproar.burning down entire villages wiping out isolated tribes including fire-citizens. They have to be stopped."
"The Avatar will take care of them, won't he?"
The snake Yoshi spoke up. "The Avatar would rather watch us fall than lift a finger to help us."
The usually serene Sukoi was annoyed. "And may I ask why?"
"You'll be blind not to see that the Avatar is prejudiced against the fire nation. After all Zuko did steal his pretty girl friend."
"That is irrelevant!"
"Really?" Takoda snorted coming to Yoshi's defence. "Then maybe it's also irrelevant that the fire nation exterminated the Avatar's people?"
"The Avatar is impartial." Mekai's voice was strong yet his tone betrayed his uncertainly.
Yoshi gleefully took up the argument.
"Maybe he is… But it's a pity our new Lord isn't here to offer us his advice. Then again, He doesn't even understand the consequences of backing out of the war…
Takoda joined in. "Yes the Avatar might have defeated Lord Ozai, but if Zuko had a spine we could have won. But what does he do? Sign a peace treaty."
Mekai's voice resounded around the hall."I believe it took a man of great strength to end the pointless blood shed of a hundred years AND accept responsibility for the crimes of his forefathers."
"Pointless? Crimes? Is that what Fire Nation victory is called now? First Zuko and now you. Treacherous scum "
Admiral Mekai's voice rose in anger. "I'm trying to see things from your point of view General, but I can't get my head that far up my ass."
I chuckled quietly. Mekai was definitely a friend.
"Insubordination!" thundered Takoda . "If the fire lord was alive he'll have your head."
Quietly yet firmly my Uncle spoke up. "The fire lord is alive general and it would be wise to remember that."
The implied threat silenced both Yoshi and Takoda.
Admiral Sukoi broke the stillness.
"A hundred years worth of war cannot be righted by a hundred words. What I want to know is Does fire lord Zuko have a plan?"
Behind the wall, Zuko sighed. The plan was always the same for him. It had been the same one from the moment he looked in to the fiery contempt of his father's eyes up to this moment. The plan was to survive.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
How did you like this? Don't worry though…Kat will make an appearance soon.
Plz review, they really inspire me and fluff up my brain.
Thank you,
La Femme