Chap. 25

A Question of Blood

Appa cleared the ship in a manner of minutes, and soon, the group was out of sight of Azula. However, they then realized they were faced with a far more difficult problem; having no idea where they were. However, Agua and Tierra used their connection to the sea and earth to sense their relation to Ba Sing Se.

Once the directions were realized, Aang quickly steered Appa back in the direction of Ba Sing Se, as the Knights flew around the bison as a sort of honor guard. With Appa's speed, they reached the city in an hour or so. After that, they quickly found their hovel, and once they landed and dismounted, they also found the whimpering figure of Jouku. However, the group resisted the urge to throttle the man, and merely summoned the Earth Kingdom guards to arrest him as a traitor…. After everyone was allowed to kick him in the nuts at least once.

It was after that however, that things began to quiet down. Aang and Toph stayed outside, the former not wanting to leave Appa again just yet and the later wanting to apologize to him. Everyone else went inside the hovel, and sat down in the living room. For a long time, silence reigned; though everyone had questions, none of them could find the words to ask them. The Knights and Iroh were faced with the prospect of talking about something that was a touchy and delicate subject for their young friends, and therefore one they were afraid to bring up. For despite all their combined years of experience, both the Knights and Iroh never knew how to bring up a subject that carried with it such confusion and even pain at a loss of personal identity.

After all, that was what the children had suffered was it not? Each of them had always known who they were, always been proud of where they had come from. Katara and Sokka had loved their mother and still felt pain at her loss. It was the reason both of them had tried so hard to fight against the forces of the Fire Nation, to avenge her loss. Now they knew that this woman that they had loved so much was not their mother, despite their love for her.

As for Zuko he had lost his whole image of himself. He had always been the Prince of the Fire Nation, heir to the throne of a great nation. Not even his father's hatred of him had been able to shake that. But that wasn't who he was anymore. Zuko had always been divided between his own honor and the beliefs of the Fire Nation. He thought that joining the Avatar had been enough to end that division within himself. But here he was, divided again in his perceived identity.

The silence continued for a while longer, as the Knights and Iroh looked at each other, hoping that one of them knew the words that could end this. Finally, Tierra, knowing he had been the cause of this, spoke.

"I'm sorry guys." He said, looking at the three siblings. "I didn't want to tell you like this. I just knew that it was information we could use to escape. I knew it would freak Azula out, but I just didn't think about what it would do to you. I'm sorry for that, but please, don't let this consume you. You're confused right now; let us try to help you."

Tierra's words hung in the air, waiting to break the barriers between the siblings and the group. For a moment, there was nothing. The dog began to lean back, thinking he had failed. But then Zuko's voice said, quietly and with great tension, "How did you know?"

Everyone looked up at this, as Tierra flustered a moment, then said, "Well, a person's scent is based on the people that created him or her- the mother and father. You three all carried the scent of your mother, and Azula shared the scent of Ozai with you Zuko. But I knew no one would believe it, so I went to the Architects to find out the story."

"And they wouldn't lie, would they?" Sokka said, though more to himself then anyone.

"It wouldn't matter if they did." Iroh said suddenly. "Even if these two are not your siblings Zuko, you do belong to the Water Tribe."

"What? Uncle you knew?" Zuko asked in astonishment.

"Yes. I was there when your father brought Ursa back from the raid. Father and I were horrified that he would mistreat a civilian so badly, but it grew worse when we learned that she was already pregnant with you. Azulon decreed that Ozai would marry the girl and raise his child with her, letting Ozai forever feel the 'shame of acting without honor or decency.' Ozai did manage to regain some of that with Azula; Father thought that she was adopted since Ursa was gone, but I knew the truth. But soon after that, Ozai demanded that I never reveal to either of you your true heritage, or he would come after my son. Your father was always shamed by his punishment; it was why he pushed Azula so hard when you were young. He wanted to make up for his 'failure.'"

"If you were his failure Zuko, then I wish that he'd screw up more often." Aire said, hoping to bring the mood up a little bit. But Zuko did not take it as such. Letting his head fall, the former prince said, "Everything I ever thought I was has been a lie. I don't belong anywhere. I never have."

"No, you do." Katara said abruptly. Moving over to Zuko, she said, "You've spent all this time realizing that you don't want to be your father's son. There's a whole part of you your father never understood, that he thought made you weak. But you're stronger because of it. You can see things that you father can't. You understand more of the world then he ever can. And it doesn't have to change you. You can be the same person you want to be, just be this as well."

"What does it matter?" Zuko said bitterly. "Now all I have is two homes I can never go back to."

"Zuko, home isn't just a place you go to." Luz said gently. "It isn't always where you come from. Home can be the people you make it with. You have a chance to make one here, with us. We may not be perfect, but we can love you more than your father, regardless of where you come from."

"And that doesn't just go for you." Agua said, looking over at Sokka and Katara. "You are all part of this family. No matter what, that won't change. Just like how this doesn't change who your mother was. That woman raised you, loved you, and protected you as well as any mother could. Blood or not, that is who she was, and that is who she will always be."

The three siblings were silent then, absorbing all that had been said. Finally, Sokka said, "You know, I was really disappointed when Katara was born. I always wanted a brother."

" I know the feeling." Zuko said with smirk. "At least your sister didn't turn out to be a psychopath."

"Don't be too sure of that."

"Hey! I'm right here you know." Katara snapped. "And frankly, if you tow are gonna be like this, I'd rather have Azula as my sister."

"Well, you're definitely as stubborn as she is." Zuko said.

As the siblings continued to bicker, Iroh turned to Fuego and said, "I think they're going to be ok."

"I agree." The red man replied, as the door opened, and Toph and Aang walked inside to see Sokka, Zuko, and Katara continuing to bicker.

"Are they all right?" Aang asked.

"Yeah. They're just proving that they're related." Bosque replied.

"If that what they're doing, I'm glad I'm an only child." Toph said.

From the side, Fuego nodded and looked at Aang. The young Airbender was watching his friends with an amused look that bordered on happiness. He must be glad he doesn't have to worry about Zuko moving in on her anymore. Fuego thought. Thank God for that; we can't be running after him every time Katara…..

Fuego stopped suddenly, as a new thought came into his mind. A smile crept across the red man's face, which then became a chuckle, until finally he was full on laughing. The siblings stopped arguing, as everyone stared at Fuego with confusion.

"Fue, please don't say that somebody else has a long lost relative." Luz said.

"No, no…. it's just…. Zuko was… so right…. When he said…." Fuego got out between guffaws, before erupting again. Luz looked on in confusion, but then her eyes sparked, and she began to laugh to.

"Can someone please clue us in on the joke here?" Zuko said with impatience.

"Don't you remember?" Luz said, being more in control of herself then her brother. "Back in the market? You were right, it really was like kissing your sister!"

As the two Knights continued to laugh, Zuko and Katara both paled and slowly looked at each other. In the confusion of what had happened, they had not realized what their new relationship had meant concerning their past accident. As realization flowed through their minds, they both suddenly sprang to their feet, and rushed for the washroom. As the door slammed shut, the sounds of extremely loud scrubbing, spitting, and gargling could be heard, as the rest of the group began to laugh.

THE END

Dedicated to the memory of Mako Iwamatsu, The Voice of Iroh

1933-2006

A good actor makes you believe in a character

A great actor makes you love the character

Thank you Mako

Rest in Peace