Chap. 10

Lies

While Appa and his passengers sped onwards towards Fuego's island, Zuko paced within his cabin, angrily trying to decide his next move. Ideally, Zuko would have been on the seas, following the trail of the Avatar. But in the commotion of the escape, none of the crew had been able to get a clear view of where the bison had been heading, since Fuego had instantly flown it upwards into the clouds. Since then, Zuko had sent out several smaller scout boats, hoping that one of them would find the Avatar. But all of them had sent back messenger hawks stating that the skies were empty. Which meant that either they had already gotten to a new location or Fuego was riding the bison too high for the scouts to see.

Fuego…. Just the very thought of that name send Zuko into a rage. Crying out in frustration, he slammed a fiery fist into the wall, denting it as well as scorching the metal. I was so close. Zuko thought angrily as he resumed his pacing. The Avatar was on my ship, in my cell, and that traitor got him out. He lied to me and took away my chance to regain my honor. When I get my hands on him…

But Zuko didn't get to finish that thought, as his door suddenly opened. Whirling around, he began to yell "Get out!" but stopped when he saw Iroh entering the room. "What is it Uncle?" the boy prince asked, hoping to hear good news.

"Nephew, I must speak to you about this pursuit of the Avatar." Iroh said, as he sat down heavily on Zuko's bed.

"Why? Has there been news? Has he been spotted?" Zuko asked.

"No. And that is why I must speak with you. We do not have the Avatar's trail. And I think that it may be best it remain that way."

Zuko instantly took a step back, his face ravaged with shock and anger. Iroh had traveled with him since his banishment from the Fire Nation. Despite his cautious nature about sightings over the years, Iroh had never suggested abandoning the search. "Uncle, how can you say this? The Avatar is my only chance to go home. I spent the last two years searching for him, and now you want me to give him up? Why are you afraid of him all of a sudden?"

Iroh shook his head and said, "It is not the Avatar I fear Nephew. It is the man he travels with."

"Fuego…" Zuko breathed, his hands already smoking at the utterance of the name. "I will destroy that traitor Uncle. There is no reason for you to fear him."

"Yes there is Nephew. You speak of Fuego as if he were a normal man. But he is not."

"He may be a powerful Firebender, but…."

"No Zuko. I did not mean that. I meant that Fuego may be too powerful for us to defeat, not only because of his skill, but because I do not think he is a man at all….

"Well, we're here." Fuego said, as he guided Appa onto the soft sands of the island beach. The group had managed to make excellent time in their travels, and had reached the crescent shaped island at just about sundown. From the sky, the isle had seemed quite small, but as they got closer, Aang and the others saw it was about the size of a small Earth Kingdom town, covered in jungle vegetation. As Appa came to a halt, Sokka almost instantly leapt off, always happy to be back on the ground.

"Are you sure this is the right place?" Aang asked, as he exited as well. "It looks like it's deserted."

"Don't worry about it." Fuego said, as he walked up next to the boy. "My friends said that they wouldn't be here till tomorrow. Remember, they have to get a boat like everyone else, and it's at least a day's travel here from the town."

"So what do we do until then?" Katara asked, as she looked around. This island was quite different from the barren wastelands of the South Pole, and Katara was already eager to explore it and see what kinds of vegetation and life there was here.

However, Fuego killed that idea when he replied, "Well, you guys can set up camp, since it's your stuff anyway."

"And what are you going to do?" Sokka asked, annoyed by Fuego's seeming laziness. But a second later, Sokka' annoyance vanished when the red man replied, "I'm gonna go catch us dinner. Do you want meat or veggies?"

"I'd like meat, meat, and meat again." Sokka replied, happy that someone else was going to do the hunting for once. Fuego nodded, then asked Aang and Katara the same question. Katara didn't have preference, but Aang instantly requested anything non-meat.

"Right, I forgot the monk thing." Fuego said, as he withdrew his spear from the folds of his cape. Turning to face the jungle landscape, he said, "I'll be back in about an hour. You can explore if you want, but if you go into the jungle, don't leave sight of the camp. I don't want any of you to get lost."

"Don't worry, we'll be fine." Katara assured him. Nodding, Fuego turned and headed into the jungle as the others started to unpack Appa's saddle.

Zuko wasn't sure what he had expected to hear from Iroh, but it had been in the area of tea or Fire Nation borders. However, suggesting Fuego's lack of humanity was not one of them. It seemed almost ludicrous, to suggest that Fuego was anything more then a man, no matter how skilled he was. Still, Zuko had enough respect for his uncle to inquire as to why he had this belief.

In response, Iroh asked, "Did you see the mark on the palm of his hand?"

"Barely. The light kept me from getting a good look at it." Zuko replied.

"I saw it. I saw it as clearly as I see you now, Zuko." Iroh replied. "You see, I saw it a long time ago…. In the Spirit World."

Now Zuko was truly shocked. Iroh's journey to the spirit world for the soul of his son had become one of the Fire Nation's oldest stories. Some considered truth, others a myth, spread by the Royal Family to add to their propaganda. Ozai had always regarded it as rubbish, and Iroh himself never spoke of it. So for him to verify it now was a major revelation, but how could it relate to Fuego? Curious, Zuko motioned for his uncle to continue.

"It was many years ago, that I journeyed to the Spirit World. I was a different man then. My grief and anguish at the loss of Lu Ten was consuming me. The Fire Sages teach us that the Spirit World is beyond the power of any living person to affect. But in my grief, I didn't care. I battered down the barriers that divided our worlds and traveled the Spirit World, searching for Lu Ten. I foolishly thought I could force the spirits to give him back to me. That arrogance nearly led to my downfall."

"I discovered a cave, leading down into the earth. I heard Lu Ten call out to me, and entered it, hoping to finally save my son. But it was a trick. Inside that hole was a demon named Koh, the Face Stealer. He had stolen Lu Ten's face and used it to trap me in his hole. In my grief-ridden state, I gave him the tools he needed to take my face, and he attacked. I tried to escape, but I couldn't reach the exit fast enough. Koh grabbed my leg and tried to pull me back. But before he could, fire suddenly shot down the hole, forcing him back. A hand reached down and pulled me out. As I got to my feet outside the hole, I saw the face of my rescuer….."

"Who was it Uncle?" Zuko asked, his anger at the Avatar situation forgotten as he had become caught up in his uncle's tale.

Iroh paused for breath, then continued with his tale. "He was a muscular man, dressed in red robes and a hood. When I looked up at him, he pulled back the hood and revealed a hard, chisled face with a short white beard. For a second, I did not recognize him, but then I remembered my teachings. I realized that this man was none other the Fire God himself." Iroh paused to let Zuko soak in his words, and then continued.

"I instantly fell to my knees in worship. But the Fire God told me to rise. He said that none of his people had ever managed to break into the Spirit World before. Thinking I had earned his favor, I begged him to give me back Lu Ten. But the Fire God said that life and death were out of his power to affect. He said that Lu Ten's destiny had been fulfilled and that he was at peace. The Fire God also swore that Koh would be forced to give up his newest face, and Lu Ten would find happiness in the Spirit World. As he spoke, he laid his hands on my shoulder, and my grief, my anguish, all faded away. I felt peaceful for the first time since Lu Ten's death. The Fire God told me I had earned his favor and respect and as a reward, knowledge of the Spirit World was given to me, so that I would always see it's power in my own world. He returned me home, and told me to live the rest of my life in honor of the Spirit World, and to remember the true honor of my homeland."

Iroh ended his tale, and lowered his head, overcome with the memories of the past. Zuko was amazed as well, but as the tale ended, the knowledge of his duty returned to him. "Uncle, this is amazing." He said respectfully. "But what does it have to do with Fuego?"

Iroh looked up then, and said, "The Fire God wore a pendant, emblazoned with his symbol. For most of the Fire Nation's existence, that symbol had been on our flags and banners. Your great-grandfather changed it to represent his comet. Originally, the center flame was straight and pointed upwards. Sozen curved it to represent the comet's tail. But Fuego had that unaltered image emblazoned on his hand."

"So you think…." Zuko began to say, but Iroh finished it.

"That Fuego is a servant of the Fire God. And it is more then the hand, Zuko. His skill is beyond impossible to attain. A Master Firebender cannot call the flame to him, or remain unsigned by its touch. Yet Fuego has done these things. His connection to the fire and his mark may make him a divine servant of the Fire God. And if the Fire God's servant has freed the Avatar, it may be that we are not meant to capture him."

"How long has he been gone?" Sokka asked, as he looked into the jungle. "I'd guess about forty minutes or so." Aang replied, as he played with Momo. "But I'm hungry now! What's taking him so long?" Sokka moaned.

"Gee, you actually believe that he's gone to get food? I figured you'd be suspecting him of calling the Fire Nation by now." Katara replied sarcastically.

Sokka turned and staring at his sister, said quite firmly, "He's bringing me meat. Don't mock his noble intentions. Besides, we did our part." He finished, gesturing to the completed campsite.

"Sokka, you know hunting is hard. Give him some time. Besides, I seem to recall us getting captured the last time you were hungry." Katara commented. Sokka opened his mouth to retort, but promptly shut it.

Suddenly, there was rustling in the bushes behind them. The group quickly turned around, only to see Fuego stomping his way out of the jungle. The red man carried a slain wild pig over one shoulder and on the other was his removed cape, which was tied into a bundle and bulging with foodstuff. "Anybody hungry?" he asked.

Sokka immediately made a dash for the pig, but before he could reach it, Fuego grabbed him and held him back. "Hang on bro, you'll get your chow. But I think you'd like it cooked first." The red man explained.

"But we don't have a big enough fire." Katara said, gesturing to the small fire that the group had built more for light in the darkening day then anything else. But Fuego only laughed.

"Leave that to me. Do you at least have something that can serve as a plate?"
"Sure, hold on a second." Aang said, as he all but dove into the pile of stuff unloaded from Appa. A few moments later, he remerged carrying a large shield.

"Where the heck did you get that?" Fuego asked as Aang brought the shield over to him. "King Bumi gave it to us." Katara answered. "I've heard of him. Is he as crazy as they say?" Fuego asked. The response was a collective shrug of the shoulders in the universal 'pretty much' gesture.

"I thought so. Well, this will do." The red man said, as he took the shield from Aang and laid it flat on the ground. Motioning for the others to stand back, Fuego placed his cape on the ground and grasping the pig with both hands, suddenly threw it up into the air. Sokka immediately went pale, envisioning the horrible waste of food. But Fuego grabbed his spear and pointed it upwards. Suddenly, the tip began to glow a fiery red. Fuego then slashed at the air with the spear and sent a thick sliver of fire shot upwards. Fuego repeated the motion three times, and then halted. Suddenly, three steaming, juicy steaks fell into the shield, followed by the legs, tail, and head of the pig, which landed around the shield. As Sokka's mouth began to water fiercely, Fuego raised his hand to ask for more time.

Moving over to the bulging cape, Fuego undid the knot and pulled it apart, revealing its cargo; coconuts. "You'll love these." Fuego said, as he pulled his cape up and reattached it to his shoulders. Using his spear, the red man separated the coconts into two piles. Moving back, Fuego called the flame to hus hands once again. Both hands blazing, he let loose a fire blast from one hand that fried the coconut pile instantly. From the other, he released a more gentle flame, that seemed to warm the pile. Finally, he extinguished both flames, and walked over to the piles, taking a coconut from each one.

Turning back to the others, Fuego walked over to the fire and sat down, motioning for the others to follow his example. Shrugging, Aang and the others joined him, though Sokka dragged the shield full of meat along with him. Once they were seated, Fuego cracked a coconut on a nearby rock and handed it to Aang. Thankfully, it was only warm when Aang held it, instead of boiling hot. Fuego then reached into his cape and withdrew, with a mighty flourish…..

"It's a spoon." Aang said noncommittally when he looked at the object.

"Trust me, you don't want to eat this with your fingers." Fuego replied. "Don't worry, there's nothing better then deep-fried coconut." Aang looked down at the white 'meat' of the nut with suspicion, but took the spoon anyway. Gently scraping it out, Aang slowly put some 'meat' into his mouth and chewed. A second later, he was practically diving into it, eating with extreme relish.

"I knew he'd like it." Fuego said, as he used his spear to pop a hole into the other coconut. "Milk?" he asked Katara, holding the coconut out to her. Smiling, Katara received it and took a long swig of the sweet milk inside the coconut. Sokka however, was already ripping into the meat, and had as soon as Aang had begun eating. Smling under his wrappings, Fuego took his own hunk of meat and began to eat.

The meal lasted for quite a while, long after the sun had finished setting. And once Sokka had filled his hunger for meat, he began telling Fuego about all the great adventures that the group had been on. Of course, he had to be corrected by Katara and Aang at a few parts, epically when he said that he had been the one to free Aang, and had soundly defeated Zuko when he came to their village.

"Impressive. I wouldn't think an inexperienced Water-Tribesman could defeat a trained warrior-prince." Fuego said, with a light hint of sarcasm as Sokka finished his story.

"Just a sign of my skill I guess." Said Sokka, as he put his arms behind his head.

Turning to Katara and Aang, Fuego asked, "He didn't land a single blow, did he?"

"No. Zuko took him to the ground every time." Katara said with a laugh.

At that, Sokka quickly tried to defend himself. "It was part of my strategy. I was going to tire him out with a bunch of charges, then attack when he was exhausted."

"Sokka, don't feel too bad." Fuego said with a laugh. "Zuko had some of the nest teachers in the Fire Nation. It would've been a miracle if you'd beaten him."

Unfortunately, that was the wrong thing to say to the proud Sokka. "Oh big deal, he got his parents to find people to teach him! You know what, I taught myself! I didn't even have my father around to help me, and I had to protect an entire tribe! Zuko's never had to struggle like that!" But when Sokka finished, he realized he'd made a mistake. Fuego's eyes had taken on an angry, dark look, and when he spoke to Sokka, his voice was so cold, he never would have passed for a Firebender.

"Don't mock him. You don't understand what he's been through."

"What he's been through?" Sokka cried out in shock. "He's a royal prince of the most psychotic nation in the world! He's probably had everything he's ever wanted, on the backs of others' hard work."

"He hasn't had the advantage you've had." Fuego replied back.

"Advantage? He lived in a palace, he's going to have his own country someday, and he doesn't care about anyone. What advantage do we have?"

"You know your parents love you." Fuego said simply, as he began to resume eating what was left of his meal. But a statement like that doesn't go unnoticed, especially by three pre teens.

"Zuko's parent's don't love him?" Aang asked curiously. Sighing, Fuego put down his meal and said, "His mother did. But she died when he was eight. Since then, he's had to deal with his father. You see, even thought Zuko is the heir apparent to the throne, he is not the favored child. He has a younger sister, Azula, that the Fire Lord prefers. She's a firebending prodigy, whose cruelty is only matched by her father. Ozai said that she was born lucky, while Zuko was lucky to be born."

"Oh big deal, Zuko has daddy issues. Am I supposed to feel sorry for him now?" Sokka snapped, his hatred for Zuko still unchanged. "You might if you heard the whole thing." Fuego replied.

"About two years ago, the Fire Lord held a war council to discuss an advancing Earth Kingdom battalion. Zuko was too young to attend, but he convinced his uncle to let him in so he could start learning about military strategy in preparation for the throne. However, Zuko was told not to speak out. Anyway, one of the generals suggested using a division called the 31st as a diversion. But it was made up entirely of new troops that would be killed almost instantly. Zuko was horrified and broke his promise, asking how they could betray soldiers who loved and defended their home. He was right, but it didn't matter. The Fire Lord was outraged, and called Zuko's outburst a sign of total disrespect. The only way Zuko could salvage his honor was through Agnai Kai- a fire duel."

"So his father made him fight the general?" Katara asked.

"That's what Zuko thought would happen. He accepted the duel, and made the greatest mistake of his life. Though he had insulted the general, Zuko had done it in his father's war room. Therefore, he had to duel…."

"The Fire Lord." Aang said with a gasp.

Fuego nodded. "When Zuko realized it, he begged for mercy and forgiveness, unable to strike down his own father. We would see that as the love of a son for his father. But the Fire Lord saw it as an act of unforgivable weakness, and to punish Zuko…."

Fuego paused then, as if unable to say the words. The others looked on in suspense, waiting to hear what happened next, though none of them believed they would enjoy hearing it. Finally, Fuego raised his hand. Looking at it in the darkness, he closed his eyes, and it suddenly burst into flame. As the others watched, transfixed by their curiosity, Fuego suddenly brought his fiery hand back, and slapped it onto his face over his left eye. Katara cried out in shock and both Aang and Sokka jumped back. Fuego extinguished the flame then, and pulled his hand back, revealing an undamaged face. But the message had gotten across.

"Zuko's father scarred him?" Aang spat out in horror. Fuego nodded, as he saw that even Sokka's face was filled at revulsion at this news.

"Yes. And afterwards, Ozai stripped Zuko of his honor and birthright, and banished him from the Fire Nation. The only way he could return was to capture the Avatar. Everyone else saw it as the fool's quest that it was, but Zuko dedicated himself, body and soul to the task. He searched the world for two years, until Aang woke up in the South Pole."

"That's why he's so obsessed with capturing me." Aang said thoughtfully. "I'm his only chance to go home."

But Fuego shook his head. "No you're not. The Fire Lord does not forgive or forget. He will never allow Zuko to return. But Zuko's pride and hope for his father's love have blinded him to this. If he ever did capture you Aang, the Fire Lord would lock you away, then banish Zuko once again."

The group was silent then, as Fuego's words faded in the campfire. They had never really thought of Zuko as anything more then an enemy. He had hunted them ruthlessly, never halting, never seeming to rest. They hadn't really thought as to why; he was Fire Nation, and that had been reason enough to consider him an enemy. But they had never tried to look beyond that. They only seen the insignia on his armor and branded him evil. But hearing this story brought into a new light, one that caused to feel shame for never trying to see who Zuko was, only were he came from.

Finally, Katara said, "All this time…. We never even tried to understand him. All we did was fight."

"Even if he is Fire Nation, he didn't deserve that." Aang said.

"No he didn't." Fuego said. "And the worst part is, Zuko's journeys to return home have made him a better person then he would have been otherwise. He's seen what horrors the Fire Nation has inflicted on the world, instead of the victory stories they feed the populace. He knows that his father's campaign is wrong, but his love for the Fire Lord keeps him from admitting it to himself. Zuko could be a great ruler if he could accept what he knows in his heart, and I wish I knew how to help him.

"You think the Fire God wants us to leave the Avatar free?" Zuko asked again.

"It seems to be his will. Why else would he have sent his servant to free him?" Iroh replied.

"But why? Surely the Fire God knows that I need him to reclaim my honor." Zuko said, slamming his fist on the table.

"Zuko, we have not remained true to the Fire God's teachings in the last century." Iroh said gently, as he placed his hand on his nephew's shoulder. "He taught us to control the power of Fire, and use it's strength to protect the world. But to many, we have used that power to increase our own strength at the cost of the world. Perhaps the Fire God wants the Avatar free so that he can return the balance that once existed."

At that, something stirred in Zuko's heart. Ever since being banished, he had struggled to reconcile what he had seen of the world with the vision that the Fire Nation proclaimed. But as his travels continued, it had become increasingly difficult to do so. No matter how grand the Fire Nation made the war seem, the death and destruction it caused made all of it appear empty and destructive. And now, to hear that the God of the Fire Nation himself had been angered at his own people because of their part in it….

But Zuko was never able to finish his thought, for one of the crew suddenly burst into the room. "Prince Zuko, we have news." The man said, as he walked over to the prince and his uncle.

"Have the scouts reported news?" Zuko asked, his previous thgohts already forgotten.

"No. But we may not need them any longer. We found this searching the prison cell you constructed for the Avatar." The crewman said, as he handed a scroll to Zuko. Taking the scroll, Zuko unwrapped it and spread it out on a nearby table. When he saw was a map, with the location of the ship marked in red. From that mark, extended a line that ended at an island about a day's journey from the ship. But what truly amazed him was that below that was a message…

Prince Zuko,

Follow this map and you will be a step closer to the thing you want more then anything else.

Your humble servant,

Fuego