Family Ties
During the morning predawn hours as the blue-gray waves splatter water on the steel hull of the war ship, burst of intense inferno were coming from the main deck. Facing each other was the Prince and Princess in a mock conflict with one another.
"Taste my blaze little sis." Said Zuko composedly as he execute a basic but impressive fire punch which she dodged without difficulty by doing a back flip onto the bow of the vessel.
"Nice try big brother, but don't think for a sec that I don't have a few tricks up my sleeve. Observe this one I call "Fire-Stars" she said as she flicked her right wrist and three ninja like throwing stars appeared and she let them slice the air.
"Whoa! Watch it Zara! Ok no more mister nice guy! Try and block this!" he said hurling mirror image fireballs at her. Knocking her off balance and he dove to catch her from falling.
"Nice catch but…" she said as she did a flip on to the boat and did a kick that made him lose his footings. "You lose, Zuko Boy! " and with that she entrapped him in rings of fire!
"Uhh! I can't believe I lost to a girl! Especially my sister!" he bellows as condensation came out his ears and mouth literally to show how mad he was.
"Whoa hold on Zuko! What does it matter that I'm a young woman? Do you think just because you pump testosterone and that you're a male that you're superior then me? I just got lucky! But if you want to know the reality we're both about at the same strength when it comes to fire bending! It's the only thing that baster gave us that was high-quality." She whispered as her checks glowing with vehemence.
"Are you insulting me? And what baster are you speaking of?" he inquiry for he was sightless to the fact of whom she spoke of.
"No I'm not insulting you. If I want to insult you I say that you are a young man who is blinded on a foolish quest! I never met a person more full hate and anger that be so willing to disregarded life and all its pleasures! You have fallen so far from what I remember of you. The Zuko I knew would never hurt anyone! He was kind and good! He knew what real honor was! He was a hell of lot more respectful and loving and he would congratulate his sister on a job well done in a practice brawl! He would play with me and put me first than his craving for a 12-year-old child! You will never catch him. He is of air and like the air that forms the wind you can never catch it!" she said with her back to him with a conceited look on her face.
"You just insulted me? How dare you say such things! I did everything for you! In your entire life I have watch over and protect you! I've even made you my second in command. Who is this baster of whom you speak? And what do you mean he only gave us a solitary endowment?" he said with gritted teeth
"You know whom I talking about! The one who banished you from the fire nation homeland. The one who alienated us? The one expect me to spy on you. That's the baster which I verbalize of!"
"How dare you speak of Father in such a manner! It would be considered high treason! Do wish to share my dishonor with me? To be cast out of the land that is rightfully yours to maintain? If there is something I desire more than to take into custody the Avatar and return home to you, is that I wish for you not to be included in my exile of indignity!" Zuko said in astound.
"Zuko wake up and smell the residue! HE doesn't love either of us! He never has and never will! Giving him Aang won't change a thing! He may have given us life, but still not a father in any of the ways that count! He only sired us for two reasons, one he need an inheritor, and two he wanted an advantage in the war with someone who can see the future. That all he want us for, nothing more nothing less." Zara shrieked at her older brother. She threw her hands into the air in disgust. If Zuko couldn't see the reality for himself then he was denser then she originally thought.
Zuko took hold of her by the wrist and whirled her around to face him. "You are so unappreciative. Father gave you your heart desire and you have the nerve to curse his name. Our father is the greatest fire bender ever and rightfully deserves the respect and honor he has. What is wrong with you? You think I've changed? You're the one acting all atypical. You're to compassionate and kind. Yet you're insolent and down right discourteous to members of your family. You treat enemies like friends and friends like enemies. If you ask me you're the one who's unusual."
"Zuko I know more than anything you want to go home. But its not home! It hasn't been home since Mother died…" she started to say before he cut off
"How dare you mention her? Life been full of enough grief and pain! I will not be led astray by memories of yesteryears! How could you possible remember what she was like! She died when you were four! Look at you! You still play with that stupid rag doll! You make me sick! Mom died so let just leave it at that!" he said with tears of anger in half closed eyes and trembling fist.
"How can you just throw her memory away like its nonsense? I remember her virtuous voice and rose petal soft hands. How she told us stories and called us her Little Phoenix and Scarlet Dragon. She gave you a unique pendent made out zircon in the shape of the Scarlet Dragon as your birthday present. She made it herself. It was a mark of her feelings of affection for you! You her son. I will not dishonor her memory by locking her away in some box to collect dust." She pleaded with angry tears of her own.
"She would be full of ignominy for your unfaithfulness deeds! Zara you are Princess of the Fire Nation. You could have imprisoned the Avatar! You had him! He was vulnerable and fragile and instead what do you do? You spend the entire bloody hours of darkness chatting to the adversary like you're having a picnic on the stupid seaside! Then when I finally have him in my iron like grip you have to jump in front of him and bargain for his insignificant existence all because of he saved your life! Do you know what a fool that made me look like? Well do you?" he roared at her.
"I'm sorry that my life is just as insignificant as Aang, but he did save me from being skewer by rocks! But Mom taught us that everyone life is significant and I owed him so I had to repay the debt. Didn't you commit to memory anything of her? Or did you lie to rest her along with your heart?You don't understand anything about love! So tell me what really brothering you?" she said irately
"You did a fiendish act of betrayal! You kissed the Avatar. I can understand saying thank you for saving you life but kissing him? Do you want to be in exile? Do you want dishonor and shame? It's bad enough that we both bear physical markings of shame and dishonor but to you want the whole world to know that the Fire Nation Princess kissed the Avatar!" he said with his arms censure uncontrollably.
"Would you for once stop refer to him as just the "Avatar"? He may be the Avatar but he does have name like you and me. And it's Aang! Stop viewing of him as an it and start bearing in mind him as a human being!" with fist so clench that the trickled blood.
"I can't believe you consider him a human being. Tell me sister beloved does Mom extraordinary endowment tell you when we are going home?" he said with angry and bitterness in his eyes.
"Zuko! How numerous times to I have to enlighten you! My visualizations of the future aren't clear-cut! Its not like open a book and flipping to the correct page! My visualizations are more like cryptic metaphors! You have to think of every detail like symbolic. And you have to sort out millions of feelings and emotions. It can almost drive you to lunacy!" about to lose all power over her self.
The next thing that happens so swiftly no one could tell who stuck first but two huge bellows of fire from the siblings and would have destroyed the ship. But when the smoke and fire died down Iroh was between the two and threw their fury of fire into the sky. He looked very angry and turns to face each of them in the eye. His voice quite but you could tell he was very angry.
"Prince Zuko, Princess Zara! I've never been more mortified of you two. You two have on no account quarreled previous to this. In the past you two were always nice and respectful to one another. But you have severely disappointed me. You think I'm revolted by this battle? Its one thing to train for skirmish it's another to do battle to eradicate each other because you are having a discrepancy. Your mother would be very displeased with you two. Go to your accommodation till dinner. I will deal with you two then. Now go!" he said angrily
"Your not our Father! You can't tell us what to do! I'm not some little kid you can ground! I'm the Prince of the Fire Nation!" back talk Zuko
"Yeah what gives you the authority to tells us what to do!" screeched Zara who also refused to budge from her spot.
"I'm your guardian. And your uncle and as long as you two are on my ship you do as I say so I'm asking nicely go to your quarters or …" Iroh start to declare.
"Or you what Uncle?" they said at the same time
"Or I will make you go the choices is yours." He finished.
They started to laugh insanely at him. They stopped abruptly when the felt him drag them by their right ears and then to their rooms. "Now stay here till dinner!"
When he got back to the bridge of the ship he took an elongated gaze towards the heavens and whisper. "You left too soon Zalika. Your children desperately need you right now."
The ride was very smooth till about a quarter to seven. Then there was a moment of discomforted that knocked them all to the ground. "What in Hell name was that?" shouted the regal siblings as they rushed to the galley.
"Is something wrong? Did we hit rocks or something?" Panted Zara.
"Where is my crew? I don't see anyone doing his or her job! Uncle!" said Zuko as he bash open the entry to steer room and found it unfilled.
"Where is everyone!" asked Zara anxiety
" I don't know Zara. I just don't know." Said Zuko in downright astound.
"I sent everyone downstairs underneath us so we might dine alone. Now come with me you two, we have a discussion on the subject of your blatant behavior!" said Iroh from behind them as he led them to observation deck where an ostentatious modest extensive meal had been laid before them.
The sat down and began to eat; they had been eating for ten minutes when Iroh spoke up. "I know you two for all of your lives and a I'm familiar with the actuality that brothers and sisters have a tendency to fight. But you two should become conscious just how blessed you are to one another. You have a bond with each other that no one can break. So please don't fight. I know you both want to be together at home in the Fire Nation and have your father affection and admiration. Because you've both felt alone and uncared for and abandon. You have to stick together. You two only have each other and I will not always be here. So make somebody's day by maintain in mind that. Love is imperative. Because it can give great delight or great soreness and I felt both." He said as shed tears began to descend from his eyes.
"What to you mean you have felt the joys and pains of love, Uncle?" asked Zara as she fished out the bones in her fish.
"Yes tell us, what you mean Uncle?" asked Zuko who was very interested.
Taking an extensive drink of jasmine tea he began his tale. "Many years ago when I was youthful and first ready for combat I was at the training room and after a long day of working out I want to nothing but put up my feet. I came to the rec room and there on the theater before a live audience with a voice of a golden bell was the prettiest young woman I ever laid eyes on.
She had extensive raven tresses and almond shape honey colored eyes. She was lovable and kind and she wore a white lily in her hair. Her name was Laura. We fell in love with one another. It was a very passion romance but it was trajectory in way. We did get married. But we couldn't constatemate it."
"Constatemate?" said a bewilder Zara
"He means he couldn't have pleasure till after Mom had us." Said Zuko.
"Ohh! What happen to he that made it so unhappy?" asked Zara.
We're married for almost a decade but then I went on my 600 days siege on the Earth Kingdom Capitol. 20 month apart is a long time. She would sneak in once and while. When we finally returned home I found out that a series of massive earthquakes had devastated the nation. My Lovely Laura had been crushed under the rubble of our home. I was even more devastated when she told me before she passed on that she was six weeks with child. I had her buried under a laurel tree next to the ocean. Then you two where born and my whole marriage was made to look like it never happen. I miss her everyday. So you are really lucky to have the other one. Now eat up. We have are expecting a slight detour because we ran over a reef. We'll be at a seaport in the hour. "
After they ate their full Zuko and Zara went to bow of the ship and just gazed off in to the distances.
Zuko, I'm sorry that we got into a fight. I'm just so used to concealing all I believe and feel. Don't you wish you could let it all out?" she asked looking into his eyes.
He ran his fingers all the way through her lengthy scarlet tresses. "I will be there for you no matter what. Look! There it is the Mariko Seaport. Come sister lets stretch our legs." As they walked down the bridge off the ship Zuko whisper to her "What every you do don't let anyone know your identity. All right?" he said with concern iced all over his tone of voice.
Zuko and Co. had merely moved out three steps from the ship when a voice that scared both their past came form behind them. "Well well if isn't the banished Prince and worn out old man. You were lucky last time banished prince very lucky. But do note that you will never get back in to the Fire Nation ever again. Not now Not ever!" snickered Commander Zhao as he walked up behind Zuko and mock clapped.
Zuko felt the stings of the words but he let them slide off like raindrops. Zara how ever retailed.
"You are such a jerk Zhao you think Zuko dishonorable. You have done more damage to the Fire Nation then Zuko ever did. He is ten thousand times the person you will ever be! You don't even take responsibly for you misdemeanors behaviors!" she hissed at him.
"And who are you little girl that dares to speak to me like that?" asked Zhao clearly ticked off that a little girl was daring to insulted him.
"Name Zara and I've waited 8 years to finally get my retribution on you." She replied effortlessly.
"I don't know you little girl. I don't know the reason for your misplaced angry with me. So good bye little girl." He was walking off.
Zara cried out for all to hear in a two-mile radius "COMMANDER ZHAO I ZARA, SECOND IN COMMAND OF PRINCE ZUKO CHALLENGE YOU TO AN AGGNKA AT SUNSET TODAY!"
"You? Challenge me? Ha! That a laugh! Like anyone can beat me in a fire duel! Especially petite lass. A kid really!" he said laughing so hard it hurt to breath.
"You lost to Zuko and he just a "Traitors banished prince" I warn you Zhao. Don't mistake my youth or gender for weakness or your years and gender for strength. Now you can either accept the challenge or the whole Fire Nation will know that you where afraid to duel a girl. So what to you chose?" asked Zara with one eyebrow cocked and arms fold against her chest.
"Fine Little Girl you want a duel you shall have it. See you in the arena in one hour!" He said as he stomped off.
"Zara are you sure you want to do this? Remember what he gave me?" asked Zuko as involuntary ran his hand over the sinful mark of shame that covered his right eye.
"I know you are good Firebender, Zara but do you really think you can take down a Master?" asked Iroh full of apprehension.
"I've trained and practice for the past 8 years for this moment. I can do it. You have both taught me well. But lets go practice some." Said Zara as they head off to arena.
Zhao observe from his marquee. Who was this diminutive unpleasant child who dare challenge him to a combat. Well soon she know what it meant, "Play with fire your are going to get burned."
He entered the arena from the left and was wearing the same outfit he worn when Zuko challenge him to a duel. Zara also wore the traditional clothes but wore a halter for the obverses reason she couldn't go with a shirt.
"Remember, Princess Zara your basic. Break his root and he will fall." Said Iroh.
"Good luck my sister! Do not fail! I don't want a scar on your angelic face." Said Zuko as he held her Avatar Doll for her.
"I refused to let his wicked deed remained unpunished! Let do this." She said as she gathered all her courage and prays to her mother spirit for the right outcome.
The gong sound and she and Zhao began to fight. He pitched four fast fire spheres. She caught them all and juggled them till they went out. He then threw a firewall at her but she just walked through untouched. Throwing her Fire Stars at him knocked him off balance for a few seconds then he threw a huge one at her she did a flip forward and on her descend blow fire kisses at him. Then she said as she stuck to her dismount "This ends now! SOUL OF THE PHONIXE!" And her bird picked him up flew him in the sky and dropped him in the dust and mud.
"I win." She said coolly as she took his right hand and between the thumb and the pointer finger burnt a little scar.
"Oww! Who are you?" he demanded. Turning to her brother he nodded. Facing Zhao she held out her right hand a said.
" 8 years ago you and I met. You were celebrating your first big victory. You were drinking Magma Blaze and instead of having 1-½ glasses you had about 5 ½! My doll that Zuko is now holding was kicked under your table. I went to retrieve it and bump the table spilling your feast on you. You grabbed my right and did this do it!" she said removing the glove to show her red crystal hand. "YOU burnt off my right hand completed then later you scar Zuko face and he was only trying to protect me. He also received a beating from his father for not protect me. Do you know why?" she asked
He shook his head. He didn't remember any of this.
"My name is Zara, Daughter of Ozai and Zalika. Princess of the Fire Nation! Next time you cross either me or my brother we'll burn you bad! Come Zuko time to go!" she said happily as she ran to her brother and hugged him.
That night the nightmares began again and Aang wasn't not in them to sooth her. Getting out of bed she went to Zuko's room and whisper "Zuko? Zuko?" Yawning he got up and asked "Are you all right Zara did the storm wake you up? It will pass."
"No. I can't sleep because of all these nightmares I'm having could I sleep with you just for tonight?" she asked quietly
"Sure Zara you can. Come on." He said as he made her a place and then they both went deeply to sleep.
