Wow, what a season finale! Can't wait for the next season to start!
Also, for those of you who read this, this will move in and out of Book One. I'll post this at the beginning as well but this is how it is: This story starts right after the events in Chapter 15: Bato of the Water Tribe. It runs right through to Chapter Eighteen: The Waterbending Master and then picks up again right after the season finale, The Siege of the North Part II. Right after this chapter, it goes to The Waterbending Master and follows along with the show to Chapter Twenty. Next chapter will pick up right after the season finale and then go completely different.
So: Bato of the Water Tribe; then Jujutsu to Chapter 14; The Waterbending Master to The Siege of the North Part II; then Jujutsu Chapter 15 to its last chapter.
Thanks to mallaidh and My Silver Wound for updating! For those worried that romance will be a main part, it won't. It will most likely appear in the last few chapters (which won't be for a long time). Nani is a simple way of saying 'what' and the Lion Dog will be more involved than right now. Also, I have no idea how Pai Sho works so I made up the game as I went.
Wow, longest author's note so far. Let's get moving.
Chapter 14 – Tsuyosa
It had to be just sunrise when Zuko snapped awake, yawning into his hand. He hadn't slept more than three hours. Rubbing his head, he felt like he had been hit by the ship repeatedly. Yawning, he decided to see what was going on and what the witch had done to his ship yet.
Nothing appeared to be out of place as he made his way down to the sick bay. Several nameless soldiers nodded to him but he ignored the silent welcome.
The sick bay was empty except for the lone figure sprawled out on the bed. Small snores echoed throughout the room and grew louder as he approached the bed.
"Do you have to be a bother?" she mumbled, opening an eye. Problem was, it was her blind eye and she had to roll onto her side in order to see him.
"Do you have to be a light sleeper?" he countered back.
"When you live on a ship with three demons, you have to be a light sleeper," she grumbled, hand resting under her head.
"How's your back?" he asked, watching as she rolled her shoulders.
"A little painful, not as much as it was," she answered, yawning. "Good night." Sorano pulled the blanket over her head, curling up.
"It's past sunrise," Zuko said.
Her head peeked out from under the sheet. "Well, good morning, then." She disappeared under the covers again.
Zuko rolled his eyes and left her alone. His hand passed over his head again, rubbing the slight headache away and feeling the small amount of stubble. He had kept his head shaved after his father had defeated him in order to keep people away from him. Once again, he felt tired and immediately screwed over his crew and went back to his room to sleep.
The Firebender snapped awake a few hours later, feeling much better than before. He stretched for several minutes in his room, controlling his breathing. It was strange, he felt calmer now ever since the witch had appeared. Well, more like forced herself to be in his way.
Zuko decided to find out what his crazy uncle was up to at the moment. Most likely killing the crew at Pai Sho or drinking his nasty tea. He still couldn't understand why his uncle liked it.
He strode through the door into the navigation room and froze as he processed what was going on.
Sorano sat on her knees, back straighter than normal, eyes looking for a move to make on the Pai Sho board. Iroh sat across from her, hands tucked in his sleeves as he watched her carefully.
Zuko blinked and walked towards the board, glaring at both his uncle and the witch.
"Lotus tile up four please," she said.
One of Iroh's main players moved said tile up while she grinned widely.
The Firebender cleared his throat loudly.
"Have a good sleep then?" she asked, biting her lower lip as she thought about her next move. She hummed and gazed around the board. "Lily tile right six," she said.
"Why are you out of bed?" he asked, watching her shrug slightly.
"Had a good rest and felt that it was enough. I found Iroh up here beating those poor saps and decided to pit wit against wit," she answered, frowning at his uncle's move.
"You climbed several flights of stairs?" he questioned, narrowing his eyes as she chuckled.
"Oh, no," she retorted. "I would have collapsed after the first three. Kin flew me up here. Lotus tile up three."
"Who?" he asked, brow furrowing.
Sorano pointed out the window in front of the helmsman and returned to her game.
He gave her a strange look and walked to the window, trying to find 'Kin.'
The only thing on deck was the Lion Dog, his wound bandaged. The huge beast was sunbathing, looking dead to the world and everything on it.
"You named him?" he finally managed.
"Of course!" she chirped. "Everything's got to have a name!" Her sudden outburst though caused her back to shift too much and she winced.
He raised an eyebrow and shook his head. The really had nothing else to do and watch their silly game. Zuko still didn't understand it but watched nonetheless, fascinated by the tension passing between them.
Then he began to see the game as a war strategy, finding the way both would resist sacrificing tiles to the other. Iroh finally had to give up his famed Lotus tile to Sorano as she trapped him. The two squared off, both faces set grim, Sorano losing her Lily tile to Iroh. She worried her bottom lip and then made the final move.
"Sailed Ship left two," she ordered.
Iroh blinked and search frantically for an out but found none. Sighing, he nodded and the witch grinned widely.
"It's been a long while since someone's beaten me," his uncle said, smiling. "I've been trying to teach Prince Zuko but he never seems to be interested."
The Firebender frowned and rolled his eyes.
"Ah, come on, Zuko," she said with a laugh. "It's a war strategy game. Teaches you how to win a battle with the fewest sacrifices." Her eyes almost glowed, her smile never faltering. "Because people sacrifices are what make good leaders turn bad." Sorano's entire demeanor changed, the smile fading away as she picked up Iroh's Lotus tile.
He looked up at her, watching her twirl the small chip. His eyes widened slightly at her strange statement but no one said anything to contradict her.
The wind teased the cloak wrapped around him, keeping out the cold. He sighed and rested his forearms against the railing of the ship, staring up into the sky. His breath came out in small wisps as he just stood still, enjoying the night.
"Zuko?"
He turned, golden eyes resting on her form in the hatch door. His eyebrows furrowed slightly at seeing one of his cloaks wrapped around her shoulders.
"You'll catch a cold. And even I can't heal that," Sorano said, tilting her head.
"Just…wanted to enjoy tonight," he mumbled.
She leaned on the railing next to him, being careful with her wound and shifting several times. Breathing in, she let a large exhale escape, throwing out steam in a large puff.
Not wanting to be outdone, he let loose a breath of smoke.
The witch frowned and he just watched as she shot a small ball of light into the air.
"Show off," he grumbled. Zuko turned to her finally and asked what he had been meaning to for a while. "You could be the Royal Wizard if you wanted to. Why stay on a ship and just sail around the world?"
Her smile faltered and she ran a hand through her loose hair. "I don't want those things, Zuko. There's too much there, too many corrupted people. I couldn't stand being there, watching my own kind suffer while I can't do anything about it." She rested her chin on her crossed arms, brow creased.
"You could do so much though. You'd have more power than-"
"I don't want power, Zuko," she interrupted. "Power leads to corruption." She faced him, eyes lighting up. "Look at your father, he could end this war now but he wants everything for himself. He sees himself as more powerful than others, and that leads to destruction." Her head dropped and she sighed heavily. "I'm happy where I am for some reason. And that's all I need." She grabbed his hand, turned it palm up. "Give me a white flame."
He was surprised at her sudden order but forced his bending through his hand. The fire lit up immediately, glowing in the darkness a bright yellow. He concentrated, absorbing heat from it until it turned pure white.
"This is the purest form of fire. Not too hot, it doesn't try to hurt anything. It bends away mostly, keeping itself safe. Children are often associated with it; innocent and pure." She seemed entranced by the flame, hand moving over it lightly. An almost serene look washed over her face before it vanished, turning slightly darker. "Get this as hot as you can."
The Firebender blinked and focused on breathing as she backed away. He bit his lower lip as the heat increased but he couldn't get anything over a blood red color.
"Let me see it," she whispered, holding her hands out. Markings were etched all over them, strange symbols that reflected the firelight. He let the fire crawl from his control into hers, gasping slightly as she fed it raw energy. The flame crackled and twisted, glowing brightly before it faded into an unearthly blue. Sweat started to drip off of her face as she forced herself to hold the flame.
"This is what happens with power," she breathed out. "It twists the heart until it becomes rotten and evil. Pain is at its hands; it wishes to destroy no matter what it is." The witch took in a shuddering breath, eyes trained on the flickering flame. "People with too much power end up like this." The fire started to fade off back to red and she handed it back. "Turn it yellow-orange."
Zuko nodded and drew away heat until the color turned a light orange.
"This is where people should be, not too innocent but not too evil. A perfect balance, which is important to all. One with this balance knows to not kill unless it is absolutely necessary," she explained as she gazed at the fire. "Yin and yang."
He let the flame vanish, leaving the two in darkness. She wiped her hands off, the chalk she had borrowed staining her black pants.
"I'm happy where I live. My power means nothing to me unless it's to help someone." Sorano wrapped the cloak tighter around her, drawing in deep breaths.
"But you have so much. You could be a master of everything," he said, eyes watching her face.
"True, but there's so much to learn about magic that even the Royal Wizard himself could not handle it all." She smiled softly, staring up at the strange half moon. "We specialize in areas that our magic works best in. I go with medicines and healing items as I can make money off of those. I try a little in other areas so I'm not completely useless when defending my crew." Her stance shifted, as she held the cloth tighter around her. He unconsciously moved closer, raising his body temperature up slightly.
She smiled at his small gesture. "When you become Fire Lord, just remember not to think about your power."
His face darkened so fast, she swore he had reached an all time low. "I'll never be Fire Lord."
Her eyes rolled upward. "You're so stupid."
"What?" he asked, almost roaring.
Sorano's eyes lit up and she ducked away as he swiped at her.
"I'm going to kill you, witch!" he yelled, chasing after her as she retreated around the side of the ship.
"You wouldn't hurt an invalid, would you?" she asked innocently, giggling as she jumped to the side away from a halfhearted attack.
He stopped his offense and watched her with a critical eye. "How do you handle it without being corrupt?"
"I guess my slight insanity keeps me in check," she answered, grinning like a maniac.
Her body suddenly tensed and he feared that she had hurt herself in their chase. Then she laughed and leapt into the air, cheering loudly.
Zuko turned and blinked at the small ship approaching them with its three man crew on board. Or, three demon crew. He smiled and waved at Hoshi to bring the ship around.
"Hoshi! Forty degrees to the left!" Sorano called out, her smile getting wider by the moment. She set out the anchor as soon as the boat was set, the ramp appearing and resting against the side.
All three demons raced up, Hoshi grabbing her first. She was buried under a multitude of bodies as Zuko smirked at her slight panic.
Then his smirk vanished as he realized what would happen. The witch would leave with her crew and everything would be as it had before. She would be a wanted person, open for Zhao to attack. He would be hunting the Avatar, clashing heads with the monkey-faced Admiral, and going down a dangerous path to destruction.
And he would miss her.