A/N: Thank you everyone who's still reading our story besides the slow updates. We're still very much working on the story, but real life has been getting in the way. That said, also a huge thank you to those few who left us with reviews and feedback.
Through one of these reviews, a rather critical one at that, and the back and forth following it, we decided to ask the reviewer if they were willing to be a consultant for storyline matters. So Gangui, welcome into the team. Your input, though it may not always sway us, has given us fresh thoughts and another viewpoint to work through things.
Chapter 14 Arrival Talks
The atmosphere on the bison saddle had revitalised at the news of the ships and a buzz of excitement was in the air, but there was one exempt from this. The closer they got, the more Zuko filled with dread. He could see the little blue dots moving, and upon them noticing Appa, gathering. They'd no doubt be welcomed, and he'd stand out like a sore thumb once again. In addition to that, now there would be adults, adults who had authority. Who knew what demands they could have? He held no assurance that the group wouldn't just hand him over, to be done with him.
He hugged his dao, welcoming the comfort the fresh steel brought. Having swords hadn't made much difference last time, but even so, he was glad that he wouldn't be going into this completely defenceless. There was frustration, too. Just now, when he'd finally decided to not be pushed around any longer, they had to meet up with the Water Tribe, with the sibling's dad! What were the chances…
The universe clearly still hated him, he mentally groaned.
By now, they were flying low enough that they could start to make out individual faces. There were about 40, 50 tops, men. The siblings and Aang were waving, calling out greetings while Zuko shrank back. Toph, impatient to get back on solid ground, was bouncing her foot. Zuko ignored everyone, pulled up his hood, and readjusted the cord that held his scabbard. He carefully committed the layout of the war camp to his memory. The big hut in the middle, the gap leading a path to the ocean, the circular order of the tents.
Katara jumped down before Appa had even properly landed and Sokka was close to follow, then both were being swept into a tight embrace by the man in the front, the Chief. Great, just great. Aang was right next to them in a heartbeat, also being greeted. Zuko kept his distance. At least Toph had stayed back next to him, probably picking up on his wariness.
He wasn't prepared for this, having hoped to figure out how to properly act based on the other's actions. They were so informal, and that was in front of the whole tribe. He knew the Water Tribe would have different customs than he was used to, but this was… estranging. And then, he was spotted, noticed by the man to the Chief's right. The man nudged the Chief and pointed toward Zuko, and the Chief's gaze turned as cold and hard as the ice floes of his home.
00000
It had taken Bato a moment to recognize just who had stepped down from that saddle with the rest of the Gaang. The tall young man inconspicuously stood next to a smirking, clearly Earth Kingdom, girl. He was too thin, face gaunt and cast in shadows below a hood, There was a sword strapped to his back and frail-looking hands were fidgeting nervously at his side. The scar had only become apparent upon closer inspection. Bato would never forget how it looked, there was no second one like it, it didn't matter that instead of a bald head with a ponytail, there was a mob of unruly, shortish, hair. He'd seen the wanted posters; he knew who was standing there.
Hakoda had been discretely alerted, and with him growing quiet to scrutinize the Prince, everyone else soon did, too. The Prince finally looked up, meeting Hakoda's gaze as he saw no point in trying to hide.
"Crown Prince Zuko of the Fire Nation, Son of Fire Lord Ozai, Son of Fire Lord Azulon. What brings you here?" Hakoda said while bowing slightly, Bato knew it wasn't genuine.
The Prince flinched at the title, then took a deep breath, squared his shoulders and jerkily tipped his head in acknowledgement.
"Chief Hakoda of the Southern Water Tribe, son of Chief Amajuaq, son of Chief Tiguaak." He paused, gathering himself for a proper answer. "I've been… travelling with the group after" he coughed, to Hakoda it sounded suspiciously like 'Lady' "Toph Bei Fong, uhm… rescued me. I owe her my life, and to a lesser degree, I owe it to your daughter, who has, uh, assisted in healing me. And the Avatar kindly let me... recuperate under his group's protection. In turn I've assisted them in whatever way I was allowed and able to."
The Prince paused, gathering himself before picking up again, slightly nervous, but assured: "Seeing that they have now reunited with you, one in the position to protect them, they shall have all the help they need. As I'm well again, thanks to the noble efforts of your daughter, staying any longer would only impose upon the tense situation, and cause conflict. Avatar Aang, I think it's time to part ways. Chief Hakoda, I'm requesting to leave with no harm upon my person. I came to you peacefully, and I ask to leave in the same fashion." he finished with a perfunctory bow.
The Earth Kingdom girl's reaction told Bato that she didn't like where this was going.
Hakoda didn't either: "That won't be possible. I can't trust you with our location, so I can't let you leave! Take off your sword."
"I'm not going to be your prisoner."
"We'll talk about what you're going to be in the privacy of my tent. Resisting my orders won't help your case. Bring him along, use force if necessary." said Hakoda, turning away, leaving no doubt in his words.
Toph grabbed the Prince's arm and clamped down on it. Bato wasn't sure if it was to prevent other people from trying to grab him or to say she had it under control. But more surprisingly, Katara also stepped forward, and with her, Aang.
"That won't be necessary, Dad." she said, stepping to flank Zuko, who, without further resisting, followed her father. Sokka reluctantly stepped in after Aang.
Only now, as he disappeared from sight, Bato noticed that the Prince was barefoot.
00000
Hakoda strode back and forth in front of the tent, observing the procession and with surprise took in his daughter's protective stance as Zuko followed custom and took off his sword in front of the tent. He however didn't lay it down, instead handing it to Toph who nodded in understanding. Hakoda stopped squarely in front of the tent's entrance, and made an effort to show a vaguely inviting move with his hand, letting Zuko through, making sure to block the exit when the others wanted to follow.
"This is a discussion between the Prince and I."
Toph intervened. "You'll want me in there."
"And why would I want that?"
"I can tell when people lie." she said confidently.
"I think it would be good for her to be there, Dad." Katara pressed too, her tone earnest.
Hakoda wondered what the world was coming to that he would have to listen to the words of children, girls at that. Children that he hadn't seen in years and who had to wait now, because the Fire Nation Prince must be dealt with first. As was the unfortunate reality of being Chief.
Katara's actions also left him to wonder. Bato had told him the story of Prince Zuko hounding their group; he'd heard about him having tied Katara to a tree. What had changed between them both that she was now defending him? This kind of sympathy was dangerous. He longed to be able to talk to his children first, instead of after, but war steeled the softest of emotions. After, he resolutely said to himself, as he followed young Toph and the Prince into the tent.
He threw a quick glance at his son, who had stayed quiet during the exchange, showing no sign of being willing to speak up, and then pulled the tent flap closed, his concerns for Sokka's silence disappearing with the close of the cloth. Zuko was standing at the center of the tent, waiting for him tensely.
"Sit down," Hakoda said, pointing towards the fur padding on the ground, lowering himself to the ground as well. Toph forewent the furs. Holding Zuko's sword in her lap, she gathered some dirt to play with.
"So, Prince Zuko. How is it that my daughter is protecting you now, when last time I heard of her, she complained about the Fire Prince tying her to a tree?"
The Prince winced. "I… uh… sorry… I wouldn't dare to speak on behalf of your daughter as to why she changed her mind. But I'm sincerely sorry about the way I treated her back then."
Hakoda regarded him with a displeased expression. He didn't like what he heard, and Prince Zuko's awkward demeanor came across as more honest than many a man Hakoda had had to talk to in this tent. He didn't like it one bit. He needed to get a read on Zuko's character, he needed to figure out his intentions. It wasn't easy when his first expression painted an entirely different picture than the one he'd had in his head from the stories he'd heard.
"I heard about your quest to capture the Avatar. You were ordered to turn him over to the Fire Lord, and I have also heard about your various attempts. How is it then that you end up in the Avatar's company and under his protection instead of him under your lock and key?"
"I didn't ask Toph to rescue me. I was in... bad shape. When I was better, we got lost in the Si Wong desert. We only made it out of there yesterday…
I don't think bringing the Avatar home is gonna help my case any longer. I'm not only banished, I've been announced traitor to the Fire Nation, courtesy of my sister, Crown Princess Azula. My Uncle and I both."
The Prince looked away, while Hakoda took in what he had said with interest. So he considered himself removed from the throne with no chance of regaining that position. That was, if he wasn't just making this up to gain trust. The thought definitely crossed Hakoda's mind, but Hakoda had also seen the wanted posters of the Prince and the Dragon of the West before, always trying to keep up with international news of any kind and having a special interest to keep an eye out for news of his children's enemies.
Hakoda shuddered inwards at the last words of that particular wanted poster, the one of the Prince: Don't hesitate to kill.
He knew that as a leader of men, one had to make harsh calls sometimes, even towards his own kin. But what that wanted poster had stated as reason hadn't fit with Prince Zuko's rumored determination to seize the Avatar. Hakoda wouldn't have minded the second part of the statement being true, even if it had been written in less than flattering language. He just doubted that it was entirely accurate that Zuko and his uncle had 'refused' to kill their enemies.
And since the Fire Lord was just an entirely different level of crazy, he wouldn't put it past him to plot in a way that put his son further at risk to maybe gain their enemies' trust. Especially considering Zuko's earlier status as banished, speaking of which:
"Why were you banished initially?"
Zuko scowled, but set out to answer anyway, voice tight, caught in memory. "I spoke out of turn."
"Must have been quite an insult for the Fire Lord to banish his firstborn!"
Zuko paused, as if to consider his words, before he whispered just loud enough for Hakoda to hear. "The Fire Lord has always had a skewed sense of what is an insult."
"Elaborate. What did you say?"
"I questioned a strategic decision in his war."
Hakoda could see how that wouldn't go over well with the Fire Lord. "Do you think you were right to speak up? Would you take the same stance today?"
"Yes." The Prince had a hard expression on his face, not liking the prodding.
"If you were faced with the same situation today, what would you do?"
It would do well to know what context they were talking about, but either way, the boy had probably learned from the situation, and Hakoda was curious if he saw any way to approach it differently.
"Follow protocol and be more careful in how to voice my thoughts." Zuko said carefully.
Considering how cautiously Zuko was answering Hakoda's question, he was actively applying those words. Hakoda also got the impression that Zuko was acutely aware of what his questions were targeting and was conducting his way through as briefly as he could. Not the most forthcoming strategy if he was trying to gain favor. To be reminded of the circumstances of his banishment couldn't be pleasant, either though. The boy looked like he was trying to keep calm. He wanted to know what Zuko had said at that war meeting. The Prince must have been quite young at the time.
"What was the strategy you disagreed with?"
"Ruthless sacrifice." Zuko swallowed, his hands twitching, obviously ready to leave the subject alone. Hakoda would need to take a different angle to really assess the Prince's character and intentions, it was quickly becoming apparent.
"Obtaining the Avatar has been your primary objective since banishment, right?"
"Yes." The Prince scowled.
"And if I understand correctly, that is no longer the case."
"Yes."
"So, what are you planning to do now?"
Zuko set his jaw. "For now? Survive."
Hakoda didn't like the vague answer, he liked even less how earnest it had sounded. Zuko, as much as his answers were short, seemed honest and serious. Still, this wouldn't do as an answer.
"How do you intend on surviving then?"
Zuko's hands twitched again, he'd unconsciously grabbed the fabric of his trousers and was clenching it tightly, though he looked up at Hakoda and leveled a wry grin.
"Preferably in one piece."
"That's not an answer." Hakoda pointed out. It struck too close to being sarcastically vague.
"What do you want me to say? I'm a fugitive in enemy territory, my people are hated. There are wanted posters with my face on it and you won't allow me to leave. I'm alone." the teenager forced out, his tone politely exasperated.
Hakoda had been beginning to wonder if there was a teen boy beneath the Prince. At least that question was answered.
"If I'd allow you to leave, what would you do?"
"You're not going to."
"Humor me."
"I could tell you anything, and then do something else. You could do something and change your mind. We both don't trust the other." Zuko let go of the fabric, crossing his arms, his gaze becoming a challenge.
Hakoda could see the young man's point. Discussing possibilities wouldn't lead anywhere. But at least Prince Zuko didn't seem willing to be playing any games and lay misleading clues for now. It may be better to find out about the circumstances that had led to this meeting.
"You spoke of being rescued, yet you were vague on what you needed rescuing from."
The challenge in the Prince's eyes faded, and his bright golden eyes dimmed and took on a dead hue as he tonelessly said.
"Capture."
"That's enough!" Toph interrupted. "You're not going to ask him about that." Her tone took on a protective, almost possessive, note.
Zuko had flinched. He didn't look thankful for the interruption, he just hunched inwards slightly. The Earth Kingdom girl, the Prince had referred to her as Lady Toph Bei Fong, she certainly was protective towards him.
Capture, that single word, the vagueness suggested many things. Horrible things.
Hakoda could understand the sentiment. He would respect that and back down from the subject, but he wasn't done yet.
00000
It felt so good to be back in male Water Tribe company. Sokka was feeling at home, and, for the first time since they had exited the library, he wasn't under watch for what he'd done. It felt so liberating and the men were asking him questions and huh, it felt good, even though dad wasn't there just yet. Yeah, Zuko got his dad first, though Sokka doubted it would be pleasant for the Prince and took a tiny bit of satisfaction out of that. Eventually the reunion talk died down a bit, and though Bato was still there and talking to him, Sokka couldn't help but throw a glance at the tent they had gathered a bit away from. They had been in there for a while.
Elsewhere in the crowd, trying to fill the empty time, Aang was showing an airbending trick and enjoying the attention. Katara had joined Sokka's circle, talking with Bato and was enquiring about everyone's health, fussing as usual. Someone had brought some seal jerky for snacks and Sokka grabbed some, eager for the taste of home, and started munching.
He found that he couldn't recall everyone's names and it felt weird, so he just pretended to know them and avoided names altogether. It didn't help that everyone knew who he was and greeted him by name. Sadly, he couldn't find some people he was sure he'd recognize. He couldn't see Innsigli who had taught him how to ride a penguin-otter, nor Uđđi who'd gifted him his first spear.
Time stretched on, the sun reaching high in the sky, and Sokka just wanted to see his dad. The bit of glee he derived from Zuko being privately questioned turned sour in disappointment. Sokka knew a Chief had duties, he knew his dad was right to prioritize this, but it still hurt to have to wait after two years of not seeing him, and Zuko, who had caused them, him, so many problems, once again took priority over him… because he was seen as a threat.
Sokka didn't know what to think anymore. The Prince had flinched at any sudden movements from Sokka. Sokka knew the other boy could fight and therefore was dangerous. The newest reveal being that the Prince was a capable swordsman only added to his thoughts, and wasn't that just great, Sokka mentally grumped.
Yet, now that Sokka had started to notice those flinches and acknowledge them for what they were, he couldn't unsee them. Those careful acts of compliance, how the Prince hadn't tried to push any unspoken arrangements except if Sokka had continuously prodded him. It didn't make Zuko seem dangerous, it made him look pitiful, especially when you realized that there was no way he could've faked that kind of thing. Who'd risk having their nose smashed in if they could avoid it? Zuko didn't really trust Katara to heal him either; another concerning fact he couldn't put aside.
And then there was that admission in the saddle. Sokka had been on Appa's head and very tired at the time, but he had had an ear out for what Zuko would tell them, so he'd be prepared. It had startled him back then, and the thought still startled him now. He recalled the Prince apologizing for what had happened to his tribe. Zuko. Sincerely Apologizing. For something he hadn't even done. He nearly scoffed aloud at what the world was coming to.
Just as sincerely as when Zuko had told Sokka that he couldn't trust him with his life, and that he would no longer cower to violence, let himself be pushed around, and that he would do things his way, not Sokka's.
Sokka's thoughts returned to wondering what they were talking about in there, there couldn't be that much to talk about, right? Now he felt kinda bad for Zuko again. The guy had only just taken all he had got and set boundaries, and now they may be overturned again, disregarded again.
And Sokka, who had only become an outcast for little over a day, was back home, with his tribe, his people. The rest of the Gaang were distracted, so they might, at least temporarily, forget what Sokka had done. No one of the tribe would realise the tension against him within the group. Katara was sharing her joy about the reunion with him as if nothing had ever come between them… for now at least.
Would Katara tell their dad? How much would that change dad's view on him? For so long had Sokka dreamed of finding their dad, especially after coming so close at the Abbey, and Hakoda being proud of him, of how he was helping the Avatar, taking care of his sister, travelling the world…
The Gaang was still angry with him, Sokka knew. He didn't know if being in the tribe might soften the blow. In lots of ways, he desperately wanted it to. He hated being the outcast… But on the other hand, he knew it had been wrong to treat Zuko the way he had. And Sokka wasn't referring to trading with life, that had been a gut reaction. He'd believed Zuko to be out of reach. No, Sokka was referring to every time he'd purposefully aggravated Zuko, purposefully been mean. Every time he had knowingly victimised him to feel better, to make up for his want to be a man of the tribe.
What if Zuko mentioned this to the Chief? What if no one mentioned anything?
What should he do, scratch that, what should he say, if asked about Prince Zuko?
00000
"What's your arrangement with the Avatar's group?"
It took Zuko a while to collect himself from his stupor. He seemed to be trapped in memories, and the flat sound of his voice as he'd said 'Capture' still resounded in Hakoda's ear.
When Zuko finally set out to answer, he said: "Not to make life difficult for as long as we're travelling together."
"That's all?"
"It shifted to 'prisoner' for a while when they found out who I was." the Prince admitted.
"They didn't know?"
"I wasn't inclined to tell them."
That suggested they really hadn't noticed immediately. How fallen must the Prince have been for them not to notice the scar right away?
"And now?"
"I owe Toph my life. I'm not about to throw that away."
"What do you mean?"
"That I'm taking measures to protect myself and the group. I can't do that as a prisoner."
"Is that why they allowed you swords?"
"It's better for everyone if I blend in. A firebender, even beside the Avatar, will gather the wrong sort of attention in these parts of the world." he diplomatically replied, his words once more careful.
"Can you even handle swords? Benders seldomly bother with weapons." The silent question of why the Crown Prince would learn such an art hung in the air.
"I'm decent, the group can account for that." Zuko carefully, purposely, didn't react to what had gone unspoken, the action jarring to Hakoda.
"If you're part of the Avatar's group, why do you request to leave?"
"I'm not part of the group to the same degree as your son and daughter, or even Lady Bei Fong,"
Toph hmpfed in the background, something that Hakoda noticed. She clearly didn't like being referred to as such.
"Your son in particular has made that very clear." Zuko paused for a bit, before he continued. "At this point, they're shielding me from harm, but their plans concerning me are unpredictable, especially now that they have an adult figure they trust to turn to." Zuko said, inclining his head to Hakoda to note his point.
"The Avatar is gathering skilled benders of every Nation as teachers. I believe he does not have a firebending teacher yet. Why aren't you taking the opportunity to carve out a new place for yourself?"
The Prince's eyes thinned at that and took on an angry glint. Hakoda genuinely couldn't fathom why. The Prince's own Nation, his own Father had cast him out, and the rest of the world hated him for who he was and where he came from. Why wasn't the Prince trying to ensure himself a place in this war-ridden world?
When the Prince took word, his eyes shone with cold fire.
"While our goals might not differ so much in their foundation, I do not trust a twelve year old idealistic fool of a pacifist with the fate of the world, especially not with the fate of my country. My people need to be ruled, unity protects them from themselves and from attacks of retribution for the past one hundred years. My grandfather is dead, my father is a megalomaniac, my uncle passed over in the succession, and my sister cares for no-one but herself and her father. I am all that is left, and I'm not going to help annihilate my people!"
"So you recognize that your blood relatives are crazy, or otherwise unfit to rule, what makes you think you're any better, or any more trustworthy for that matter?"
"I'm not only the son of Ozai, I'm also the son of Urs-..." There was an expression that slid over the prince's face, a tiny moment, but it looked as if he'd tasted something sour, until he composed himself, resolute as a Crown Prince could be. "Fire Lord Ozai wasn't the only one who raised me, though he tried to eliminate the compassion my mother nurtured. When Fire Lord Ozai cast me out, my Uncle was there to pick up the pieces of me that remained. Though the damage was great, he managed to keep a flame alive until such a time when Ozai's influence on me could fade or I could open my eyes to the truth of the world. That time has come. Ozai has failed."
The Prince paused anew, seeming to gather strength to carry on. "I'm not asking you to trust me. The fate of the world is unstable, and so is everyone's in it. I'm not expecting to ascend to the throne, but if I find another way to help my people, or to keep things from happening to them, I won't turn my back on them."
"Hmm…" Hakoda replied and they were quiet for a while as he let through his head what the Prince had said. The Prince had been careful in answering, but at least he'd been consistent. Also, if Hakoda was honest, they didn't really have anywhere suitable to lock up a firebender, the most they could do was shackle him and guard him at all times. It would be a hassle and he'd gotten the impression that the group of kids wouldn't be overly fond of it. He was curious anyway as to what solution the Prince himself would propose.
"How do you imagine your stay here working out?"
"I... " The prince seemed slightly taken aback by the question, but then took the opportunity to speak his mind. "You won't lock me up, you won't shackle me… I'll keep in sight but out of the way. If there are chores I can do, I'll do them. I will stay away from any meeting there might be. I will oblige any rules as long as they don't infringe my right to protect myself in danger."
"You're asking for a lot of freedom."
The boy fidgeted again, keeping a careful eye on Hakoda. "I'm asking for a chance to retain some."
"What if the price of so much freedom is relinquishing your weapons for the time being?"
"I don't need to bend to be connected to my element. It's a part of me. Practising firebending forms in this war camp is not an expectation of mine."
The Prince raised a hand to bashfully rub his neck as he spoke onward.
"Meditating with a flame helps with control though, and it's not a threatening form of firebending. You may also want to consider the usefulness of firebending in everyday activities before you forbid it outright."
The movement had revealed a pink band of fresh skin around Zuko's wrist, which disappeared from sight again when the prince returned his hand into his lap and self-consciously pulled on the sleeve. Hakoda took note of it, but didn't let himself be distracted from the current topic.
"What about the dao?"
"I won't have to use them if people leave me alone. But if you take them away, I will use fire should anyone make a move against my person."
"So you've been trained in both firebending and swordsmanship?"
"Yes."
"A proficient swordsman is very dangerous. And benders usually are also capable of hand to hand combat."
"The best sword is kept in its sheath. I know how to protect myself with swords without seriously injuring an opponent, so I'd worry more about your son and the swords he has scavenged."
"I'll keep that in mind." Hakdoa said. "I will have to hold a council before deciding what to do with you Prince Zuko. You may wait outside."
Zuko levelled a perfunctory nod, got up and walked steadily out, his head held high, with all the airs of an arrogant Prince, so counter to the predominantly meek teenager that had just sat in front of Hakoda.
Behind the Prince's retreating back, Hakoda raised an eyebrow at Toph in silent askance. Since he'd allowed her to sit in under her claim to be able to judge if someone could lie, he expected her to report her assessment. He also wanted to hear more about the conditions she had rescued the prince from, since she had stopped any direct questions towards Zuko on the subject.
Toph only fiddled with a bit of dirt, swords still in her lap. After a moment she looked up, gaze slightly off course. "Are you expecting me to say something?"
"Did he lie?"
Toph huffed in apparent annoyance and got up. Hakoda furrowed his eyebrows. She took a step towards the entrance and grabbed the tent flap before turning around.
"He sucks at lying, so he doesn't really do it." she said, before turning around and muttering something sounding suspiciously like "Even the blind can see that."
That little girl had guts, noted Hakoda as he gulped in response to that awkward exchange.
A moment later, as he had gotten up to follow her, he heard her shout: "Hey Zuko, take your swords back."
Daring indeed.
00000
The people quieted down when the Prince stepped out, alone. Aang saw him standing there, a few steps from the tent flap, looking lost. Obviously uncomfortable that everyone's eyes were on him, he wrapped his arms around himself as if cold, once he'd established that no one would take a step towards him. He didn't look at anyone directly, but nonetheless he was watching them closely. When the tent flap opened anew, he flinched a mile high, immediately whirling around and slipping into a defensive stance. Toph's shout barely prepared him to catch his scabbard, then he stood there as if unsure what to do with it, eyeing the warriors that had tensed up further at seeing him with a weapon at hand.
Hakoda stepped out of the tent.
Soon, a selected group of men, as well as Sokka, and Aang were requested to enter the tent for a discussion. Katara and Toph were asked to keep Zuko company, as were the rest of the men, noticeably those who had been injured in a past battle. Zuko could see the insult plain as day.
Aang had a suspicion that they were there as guards. With a reluctant last glance, Aang slipped into the tent and sat down next to Sokka, turning attention to what Hakoda was about to say.
0
Some News:
Story Theme-Song: I'm excited to finally reveal that we now do have a theme song on youtube, I wrote the song back in winter, taking the poem in the first chapter as a basis, but it took a while until I could properly record it. you can find it under: Malva Luna - A Prince's Demise.
I hope you'll enjoy it, Ystävä
Discord Server: We are really chuffed to say that we've made a discord server for you guys. We look forward to speaking with you guys and sharing more insights than these 'short' Author's Notes, and the teasing out that story writing can provide. We're also keeping in touch about how we're progressing with updating there. Best wishes, and see you guys either on Discord or the next chapter, ML8991 :)
here an ffnet edition of a link, if you want one to click on, you can head over to the story on Ao3
https(colon) (slash) (slash) discord . gg / hQuwtvH7mm
A/N:
Ystävä: I've been looking forward to this arc in the story for about two or three years, and I'm so happy we're finally getting into that territory, as the ideas have been around from pretty early on. It's a turning point for both Zuko and Sokka.
Zuko's finally trying to find himself and starting to stand up for what he believes in against all odds in a new, scary situation. This doesn't mean the trauma is all gone however. And the situation he finds himself in now has great trigger potential.
Sokka has finally started to see that his actions have consequences in the last chapter and is thinking of what it is that he has become. He's also realizing that he is jealous of Zuko, and that he shouldn't be, yet those emotions can't just be turned off.
Here some thoughts on Sokka, how we perceive his behavior and how we approach writing him.
Sokka flips, and acts very harshly multiple times, then apologetic in between... What we may not have made clear enough is, that he was only presenting that face to appease and placate, It's only now that he can't hide what he has done, that it actually starts having consequences for him as can be seen in Chapter 13, and that he starts to actually think about what it is that he has become.
It was easier for Sokka to attack Zuko than to admit that he is projecting his anger for the Fire Nation onto Zuko, and that he is being cruel rather than cautious. And, one important side note, teenagers generally aren't known for being level-headed. It's not always about protecting his friends, a lot of it was Sokka being spiteful because he could get away with it. He was blind to Zuko's suffering, because he wasn't willing to look at Zuko and what he's like now, even as it starts to sneak up on him. He was holding on to the grudge.
Thank you very much for reading. ML and I are always open to consider criticism, feedback, and a good discussion if anyone has any thoughts to share.
ML8991: Hey guys, sorry once again for the ridiculous delay, life has been a rollercoaster for us, mostly me recently, so sincerest apologies for that. I hope that we will be able to progress at a more reasonable update schedule, with the revisions included in that, in the future.
Firstly, before I talk on some of the things that I want to elaborate on the choices we made in this chapter, a word or two on "why Sokka?" I think the reason I tried encouraging Sokka to be our regional/low level antagonist in this portion of the story is twofold. Firstly, and somewhat mirroring what ystv has said, it is partially that projection of the hatred Sokka holds for the Fire Nation. This coupled with Zuko being both of that nation, and the heir (at least in legal terms, if not reality) to the man who is causing the war, Sokka had a place to put that anger to use, as the war is what has removed his father from him, he has a sense of a lost upbringing with the ending of the male culture after Kya's death.
Secondly, I think it is simply that I am so used to having Katara being the one in fics who projects this anger onto Zuko, so it is a breath of fresh air in my eyes, to show that Sokka also suffers. As Katara hasn't had Zuko's betrayal in the catacombs, as the point of divergence is before that point in the show, Katara can still harbour some resentment. This would be due to her significant loss of her mother, but she doesn't hold the same grudge as she held on the show, i.e. being able to channel that into Zuko thanks to his personal actions.
She saw a person who needed her help, and even when she found out it was her enemy, she still helped them. Perhaps because of what he did at the North Pole (for one- trying to protect Tui and La), or simply as Katara is that sort of person, a carer and a nurturer. I look forward to exploring what she can and will become beyond these tenets of her personality as we go through the fic (watch this space ;)).
Now to the points I wanted to bring up, Sexism in the Water Tribe, its evolution and what could occur, and Naivety. So, Sexism, alas an ingrained part of the world of Avatar, at least in Last Airbender, and somewhat still within Korra (but that is besides the point). When writing these scenes we wanted to try and show that no one is truly a paragon, as Hakoda is sometimes shown as, he does have his flaws, one of these will be Sexism. Although it seems potentially likely he was mostly raised by Kanna, he is still ingrained in the culture that has the women apart from the men. This is unlike the Fire Nation (and maybe the Air Nomads, it is hard to say what happened to the Nuns of the Eastern and Western temples…) is shown.
In the Water Tribe women are not shown to be raised being taught how to fight by the time Sozin's comet comes around again. We thought a lot about why this could be. Kanna clearly left the North for a reason, and one major reason, though not the only (thanks Nautica_Dawn for that plot bunny) reason why she left.
In the South, we both agree that the population would be more equal than in the North, and an interesting canon bunny we thought of is why Southern Bending died out. We clearly know that both men and women were taught, Hama's flashbacks in The Puppetmaster episode clearly show this, but as time goes on it is gone, so much that it is hushed by the time the 'final raid' that killed Kya occurs. What if this is because, unlike in the North, the women teach bending, the realm of hunting and external matters lying to the men. This certainly can explain why bending died out, with the female waterbenders being all captured, and this knowledge not being passed on. Furthermore, as we know Kanna came from the North, what if her actions and words reflect what the pre-war tribal leaders and strong men have seen in the Southern Earth Kingdom. This could challenge the equality the South seemed to somewhat be portrayed as in Hama's flashbacks. This, coupled with the loss of the female benders, gender segregation could quickly begin to pervade the South.
Although I don't feel that segregation is as strong in the South as we see in the North by the time of the show, I do feel certain ideas will still linger. I hope that we get a chance to allow Katara and Toph to break those molds that their respective nations have put on what it sees as defenceless young girls. This will have to come later, where both can see what a more equal society could look like.
Second, Naivety. This mostly concerns Aang and Zuko, and their very different perspectives on the world. I can't tell you how much me and ystv had a good laugh at the last minute addition to show the opposing perspectives of the world these two have with the 'guards' for Zuko at the end of the chapter. With Zuko's more worldly experience, both in education and in seeing it, as well as simply being more mature, Zuko knows what Chief Hakoda is doing: a dismissal of Zuko by his implicit saying that, from his perspective, the 'worst' of us, can take the best of you. However, Aang, with his bright and innocent perspective, doesn't, and simply sees a significant amount of tribal warriors holding watch on Zuko, not recognising the subtleties. Being raised in court, although he may be shown somewhat boisterous and blundering, I think Zuko, at least our Zuko, would still know the intent, as well as more cultural nuances beyond "they are savages", due to Iroh. To hazard a guess, I imagine he is doing this imperialist mindset earlier in the show/work as he is snapping back and rejecting reality, trying to hold onto this upbringing as a form of protection to what he was tasked to do in his banishment.
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And yeh, that is everything. Please do not hesitate to ask us questions, I in particular love to share insights on how we write and the 'back-end' of the story process and what we want to do with the world. So fire away, and if you are interested, please do join our discord.
