Disclaimer: Refer to Ch. 1
Chapter 5: Visit to the Land of the Dead
A few hours after the departure of both groups from the chasm a single figure lay prone on the large slab that had once been the Bridge of Hotaru. It had wedged itself between the chasm wall and an up thrust of rock from the lava stream. Shortly after his fall, a glowing blue winged reptile, a dragon, joined the figure. This dragon laid its long body about the young man, creating a protective circle around him.
In a surreal representation of a field that overlooked a sea of clouds the man's eyes drifted half open. He felt tired although that was not quite the right word. It was as if his body did not wish to respond to what his dazed mind was telling it to do.
'Is this death? This place, it looks so much like home. Is this the land where the departed travel to, but I would not be allowed here. My soul should have gone to the Fields of the Dishonored Dead, where I belong.' He thought somberly.
"My child, you could never be sent there so long as you hold true to my words," A gentle woman's voice said from beside him. "And remember who you are."
"Mother?" He uttered, and managed to turn his head toward the lady sitting to his right among the tall, discolored grass. She was as he remembered her, the elegant pillar of strength and kindness.
She smiled down at him and said, "Yes, my little Zuko, I am here for you."
He closed his eyes as he said almost dejectedly, "Then I am dead."
"Not quite, my dear cousin." A young man's voice said from his other side.
"Lu Ten?" Zuko asked, surprised to see his late cousin.
Lu Ten smirked at him, "In the flesh, well not really. You know what I mean. Anyway, the good news, you're only here for a visit this time."
Ursa helped him into a sitting position, moving so she could aide in propping him up. She said, "Zuko, there's someone here that needs to speak you. He's the main reason you're here, but when I found out whom he was seeing I couldn't keep away. The same goes for your cousin."
That was when Zuko saw him. An older man that still emanated great power and wisdom, and seemed to have the authority of generations in his gaze. He wore the traditional red robes of the Fire Nation, and held his hands clasped together before him. There was no way he could not recognize this man.
"Avatar Roku." Zuko whispered in awe.
With a slight smile, Roku began, "Hello Prince Zuko, and welcome to the border of the living realm and the spirit realm. I believe you've noticed how weak you are feeling? This is due to the injuries you received and the amount of strength you used up before coming here. As we speak, my dragon is seeing to your physical body, healing it best he can. It is not yet time for you to die, and when we are finished you shall be returned to the living realm. You will have to make your own way out of the chasm; we cannot help beyond this point. I have watched your progress closely over the past few months. I ask that you rejoin your uncle and ally with my current incarnation, Aang. He is to bring balance back to this world, but he will need all the help he can get to do it by summer's end. As you know the Fire Nation can't continue on the path it now walks. They have lost sight of why they began the war in the first place. They only wish for power and dominance now, and not the honor that was once held in such reverence."
Zuko looked down as the man's words sunk in. He spoke the truth, a truth he had been hiding from for so many years. He had the scar to show that it was true, given by a man he had admired for years, but who could only think about his own power. In that instant Zuko made an oath.
He said with great conviction, "I swear to you, Avatar Roku, I will do everything in my power to restore our nation to it former, honorable glory. I will aide the current Avatar to end this war, and bring peace back. I shall do what ever is necessary to correct the atrocities committed by our people. I swear it on my very soul."
Roku bowed his head and said, "Then I shall have no worries about the future. I'll give you a few more minutes with your family before you go back. Farewell, Prince Zuko."
As he faded from sight, Lu ten moved up beside Zuko, and asked. "Can you tell my father…tell him that I miss him, but that we will all be together again someday?"
"Of course."
Lu Ten smiled and as he too began to fade called out, "Oh, and that goes for you too by the way."
As he gave a small chuckle, his mother laid him back until his head was in her lap. She said softly, "You've grown so much since I last saw you. Your topknot's gone, but I have to say you do look quite handsome without it. Maybe you should keep it off. Though, I would prefer that you didn't have to bare that scar. That is one thing I'll never be able to forgive Ozai for, hurting you on purpose."
Seeing tears start to form in her eyes, Zuko started, "Mother…"
Ursa quickly wiped her eyes dry and continued, "No, no, I'm fine. It's just that I have to miss out on so much of your life, and that I too have and will truly miss you. However, and don't take this the wrong way, but I don't want to see you here again for many, many years." She started to fade as well, but continued to the last. "Zuko, I'm running out of time, but there's a few things I've got to say. Don't be afraid to let her in. You don't have to push everyone back to keep from getting hurt like you were after my death. She can help you. And always remember that I love you, my son."
Even though she was gone, he felt that she could hear as he whispered, "I love you, mother." Then he too faded.
Zuko opened his eyes slowly to be met by the retreating form of a glowing blue dragon. The spirit didn't acknowledge him as he rose from his prone position, and gave it a small bow of the head. He now looked around him to see the lava flow that ran the bottom of the chasm, a briefest hint of what lay beneath everything. The planet itself was nothing more than a layered ball of the four elements. In the center raged the inferno of the core, containing its fury was the rock and dirt, sitting upon that in large and small bodies was water, and over all of that was the air. Zuko now appreciated the Avatar's spiral symbol in each of the nation's emblems. It was a testament to the planet itself.
He gazed at the walls around him, towering high beyond his sight. The surfaces were craggy and would be relatively easy to climb. The problem was the distance. He placed cautious fingers upon the wall, and immediately drew them back. He'd need protection for his hands until he was high enough that the lava no longer heated the rock. Without hesitation he ripped the sleeves from his shirt, and wrapped them about his hands.
The climb was more treacherous then he had predicted, having slipped more than once for a number of reasons. Some hand or footholds would give out when he tried to support his weight on them. He'd end up sliding down the wall until he could grab another hold or hit a ledge. He rested for a few minutes at every ledge that was large enough for him to sit, understanding that he'd need all the strength he could get along the way. Once he'd sat, he dozed off, and awoke to find that he'd not moved a muscle. Unfortunately, this had lead to a seriously stiff back, and not much room to stretch.
When he'd gotten high enough that he could no longer see the faintest light from the lava far below, he looked up to see nothing but blackness above. He had severely wished that it were simply night, trying hard not to lose hope of ever seeing the surface again. For some time he'd been forced to use his fire breath just to find a few of the holds. At one point he awoke on a ledge to gaze up toward the sight of the gray sky predawn. As it grew brighter he saw that there was only a couple hundred yards left to climb. This gave him a new burst of energy, of determination. This goal of his was so close, and this time he wouldn't let anything get in his way. Late morning that day found a rough hand bound with a worn cloth reach up over the edge of the chasm, grasping for anything to latch on to. Zuko soon pulled himself up, and rolled into a laying position upon the grass, heavy breaths being drawn in by parched, cracked lips. He let his head lull to the side, only to be greeted by the sight of two people staring right back at him.
The older one asked politely, "Would you care to join us for lunch…your highness? Meng, why don't you prepare a cup of tea for young man."