Merry Early Christmas everyone! I originally wanted to upload this chapter sooner, but life keeps getting in the way. But right before the day seemed like a nice time to upload.
As a reminder, I do not own Avatar. It belongs to its respective owners.
Enjoy!
"Uncle, I don't think earth beetles are going to keep cutting it."
As Zuko watched Druk inhale what used to be a colony of insects, he became increasingly worried about his formerly little dragon's increase in size.
Druk was bigger than the Ostrich horses now. His body was also longer than both of them standing on top of each other. That was why he had to keep a distance when they moved. They were too scared to walk near him.
Scaring their rides wasn't the only issue that Druk's growth spurt was causing. And would cause.
Feeding the dragon was only going to get more difficult now. They used to be able to satisfy him with fire flakes and the occasional elephant rat. Maybe even a boarcupine if they could find one. But Druk's stomach was going to increase with the rest of him. If they weren't careful, Zuko and Iroh might wake up to find their ostrich horses gone.
Food wasn't the only problem. Hiding Druk was going to be the biggest issue.
Dragons were rare. They always were, but that became especially true over the last hundred years. Zuko's own family had made sure of that. And because of dead relatives, Zuko had to worry about poachers and hunters who might try to use Druk for profit. They could stuff him, take pieces of him to sell, or just parade a corpse around for fame and fortune. A firebender who got to Druk might try to use the red dragon as a way to attain glory.
And Zuko didn't want any of that to happen.
Stepping forward hugging Druk's head to his chest, Zuko mostly tried to calm himself down. He was getting anxious just thinking about the things that could go wrong.
"Druk is growing nephew. We simply need to find a way to adapt. Remember your waterbending training. The best way to overcome an obstacle..."
"Is to find a way around it," Zuko finished.
"You could try the earthbender approach," Toph suggested as she finally got off of her rock bed.
"Toph, I don't think we can force Druk to stop growing," Zuko said plainly.
"We'll never know unless we try," Toph pointed out.
Shaking his head, Zuko went back to patting Druk's head.
"He's going to have to keep a distance from now on. At least until the day I can...fly him."
The moment Zuko said it, he realized that he had never put any actual thought into riding his dragon. In the back of his mind, he knew it was something he would be able to do. Vaatu had even convinced him to help Druk hatch by pointing out how useful flight was.
But... how would that even work? Would he just grab him by the horns while he sat on his neck? Would he need to hug his neck in order to make sure he didn't fall off? Or was Druk supposed to bite on his shirt and carry him across the sky.
"Uncle, do you know how to build a saddle?"
Eyes widening momentarily, Iroh soon realized what Zuko was really asking. "He is still growing nephew. It will be a time before you have to worry about flying him."
"I know that Uncle. But I want to be prepared. I don't even know how to fly a dragon."
"Why would you want to?" Toph asked as she covered her feet in some dirt. Probably to get closer to the earth. "Flying means being away from the ground. You won't be able to earthbend from there."
"That a problem for you Toph. I have two other elements to work with, remember?" Zuko pointed out.
"Touche. Now get over here with me. I want to make sure you didn't forget how to earthbend after playing with water for so long."
Shaking his head in amusement, Zuko followed after Toph. The young master proceeded to make a large circle. One that she intended to torture Zuko inside of.
Petting Druk's head, Iroh watched as Zuko trained with his earthbending master and friend.
But that didn't stop him from feeling the pairs of eyes watching him from the trees.
Elsewhere...
"Azula!"
Ty Lee stood up straight before bowing to the princess.
"Ty Lee, there is no need for that. You are hardly a foot soldier or a peasant."
"I know. Still, it's traditional," Ty Lee said as she held up her hand over her head. "So, what brings you out here?"
"Two things. One is a mission from my father."
"Ooooohh. What's the mission?"
"Finding my possibly traitorous brother and getting answers out of him."
Ty Lee nearly tripped over her own feet. "Zuko?! A traitor? That doesn't make sense."
"I said possibly traitorous. Try to keep up Ty Lee," Azula admonished lightly. "The reason father is concerned is that Zuko has not made any contact to the Royal Palace in over two years."
Ty Lee frowned. "Why? Wouldn't he want to go home?"
"He's far too loyal to think of anything else. This is what makes this situation strange," Azula explained. "And I will need your help to find him."
"Oh," Ty Lee said, her chipper attitude diminished. "I would help you. But I'm happy here. I love being part of the circus."
Looking around herself, Azula spotted clowns, hog monkeys, and a woman with a beard at first glance. She was aware of the fact that Ty Lee had been a student at the Royal Fire Nation School for Girls.
"I can see why."
"It's great. Plus, my aura has never been pinker," Ty Lee said with a happy bounce. "But don't worry Azula. I'm sure someone will help you find your brother."
Azula knew that Ty Lee was going to help her. She came here exclusively for her help, and she would get it. But that little issue would go on the back-burner for now.
"There is one other issue I need your help with Ty Lee. It also involves Zuko."
Tilting her head, the energetic chi-blocker asked, "What is it?"
"Something I will only ask you in private. Invite me into your tent, Ty Lee."
Nodding, the girl in pink opened the door to her tent, allowing Azula passage. When she was inside, Azula quickly noticed that no one other than Ty lee could live here. Every sheet and fabric was colored pink, and there were a lot of stuffed animals on the bed.
Azula had to remind herself that Ty Lee was one of the most proficient and skilled fighters she knew.
"So? What's the other problem you were talking about?"
"This.'
Azula took the old letter out of her armor and handed it to Ty Lee. She ordered the other girl to read it. And once she had taken in each printed word, Ty Lee looked at Azula in shock.
"Zuko wrote this?"
"Allegedly. No one has heard from him in years. This letter is the only existing proof that he hasn't died yet."
"This doesn't make sense though," Ty Lee exclaimed as she turned the letter upside, over, and put it closer to her face. She was trying to see if she missed any details or misread the thing entirely. "This says Zuko is giving up his claim to the throne for you. That doesn't sound like something he would do. And wouldn't this cause a lot of commotion at the palace? Why hasn't anyone else heard about this?"
"Because you are the only person aside from me to have ever seen that letter," Azula informed. "And I intend for it to remain that way until I can find Zuko and clear this entire mess up."
"Mess? What do you mean?"
"Ty Lee, read the letter. Look at the words used. Either my brother has lost his mind, or someone else wrote this letter for him. If I were to wager, I would say Iroh."
"Your uncle? Why would he write this?" Ty Lee asked as she returned the letter to Azula.
"To take the throne away from father of course," Azula said casually. "This letter proves that Zuko is unfit to lead. I have no doubt that our esteemed uncle had a role in that. And through it, he may be trying to make me unfit as well.
Ty Lee frowned. "I don't get it. How would a letter make you unfit?"
"Isn't it obvious Ty Lee? Emotional compromise," Azula explained as if it were arbitrary. "Iroh seems to be under the impression that I am still a little girl in need of comfort. Having Zuko give me what I want and a promise to be nicer to me would on any other weak-willed and airheaded girl. He seems to forget that I am much more than that."
In a way, that did make sense. Ty Lee wasn't entirely sure how it would work, but Iroh had been a successful general before the failure of Ba Sing Se. He would probably know how to make a plan like this work.
"Ok. So if General Iroh is trying to stop you and Zuko from getting the throne, then how does your father fit into this? Wouldn't he also need to get him out of the way if he wants to become Fire Lord?"
Azula frowned. "I'll admit, the details of Iroh's plan still elude me. He's been a general longer than I've been alive. His experiences at manipulation eclipses mine. And there is another aspect of all this that troubles me."
Ty Lee was probably the only person that Azula would open up to like this. Most of it was the fact that Azula could give the order and have her executed if she thought to share any of the things she heard with anyone else. But deep down, Ty Lee liked to think that Azula shared like this because she actually cared.
"What's bothering you Azula?"
"I don't know if this is a manipulation on Iroh's part, or if my stupid brother is actually being genuine."
And that was actually bothering her. Ty Lee could tell by her aura. Her aura was still a cool blue color, but it wasn't as steady anymore. Usually, it was a relaxed as a candle, just like Azula in combat. But it was jumpy now. A little more sporadic.
Azula was unbalanced by the letter. And Ty Lee wasn't sure how much it would affect her.
"Ok then. Let's go find your brother."
Azula slightly raised a brow. "I thought you wanted to stay with the circus, Ty Lee. What changed?"
"You need help, don't you? So I'm going to help you," Ty Lee responded cheerfully.
Azula knew that it wasn't the full answer. But she also knew that Ty Lee wouldn't give a clear answer unless she wanted to. And it didn't matter anyway. She had the help she needed now. All that was left was one more member.
"Good. Now, let's get on our way to Omashu. We have someone else we need to intercept."
Toph rode with Zuko as the group made their way further and further from the swamp. She had offered to go with Iroh, but the former general declined. he said that the poor ostrich horse didn't need any more weight.
He knew it was supposed to be meant as a joke, but Zuko could see right through it. Something was wrong, and his uncle wasn't telling him the issue.
"You think something's bothering your uncle?"
"Yeah."
"Want to ask him what it is?'
"Not yet."
Iroh usually had good reasons for the secrets he kept. Even if Zuko didn't always like that fact, he would acknowledge that Iroh was wise. He wouldn't keep something to himself unless he thought that he had to. So if he wasn't saying something right now, it wasn't because of a lack of trust.
But it did mean that Zuko would have to keep a closer eye on his surroundings. Especially since Toph couldn't see with her feet off the ground.
Another issue Zuko had to worry about was the constant brushing of nearby bushes. Druk knew he had to maintain a bit of distance from the group in case they ran into other people. But he was still close. Zuko was partially glad for that, as it allowed him to keep his ear on his dragon. But if other people did pass them by, then it was possible for them to hear the bushes too.
"Hey, Sparky?"
Zuko left his thoughts to focus on Toph.
"Yeah?"
"Have you figured out what I'm going to do at the North Pole? Cause I'm not sure if ice is going to respond to me as well as mud does."
Zuko sighed. "No. I'm still trying to figure that out."
Zuko had some ideas, but he didn't think any of them would work. He thought about making some shoes for Toph made of dirt or clay, but those would probably only keep her feet warm. They wouldn't help her see if there was no other trace of the earth around.
His other idea had been to have Druk carry her around if he was big enough by the time they got there. being a firebender, Druk would certainly keep Toph warm. But that ran into the same issue of having her nearly defenseless the entire time. Druk could protect her, but she wouldn't have anything to bend in the air.
Zuko was trying to come up with other ideas, but none of them worked perfectly. They all had pitfalls that Toph wouldn't appreciate, and they might even endanger her. Which was something he didn't want to see happen.
"If you make a choice, let me know. I'm not going to wait on a shore while you and Uncle go and blow up an ice kingdom."
Despite himself, Zuko had to smile at Toph's nonchalance. It really made the insanities of his new life a lot easier to deal with.
"Don't worry. I'll make sure Uncle gets you the best seat-"
"Zuko! Be ready!"
Pulling the reins on his ostrich horse, Zuko stopped and took in his surroundings. He didn't see what was wrong or why his uncle was suddenly bothered.
But that was before the rock almost hit his face.
Moving to the side just in time, Zuko barely voided having half of his face torn off. And when his eyes refocused, he was able to see who had almost killed him.
There were five of them. All of them jumped out of the surrounding trees.
Five men in earth green rags, most of them not even wearing shirts. Two of them were holding long knives, while another had a large hammer in his hands. The fourth and fifth were weaponless, and if Zuko had to guess, one of them had tried to decapitate him with a rock.
"You sure that's the girl Yan?"
"She's blind ain't she?" The man apparently called Yan stepped in front of the group of three, sneering at Zuko and Iroh and particular. "You boys know what to do. Keep the old man and the kid busy. I'll grab the little girl."
Once the words "little girl" left the man's mouth, Zuko could simply feel Toph's blood pressure rise behind him. Though no rage was present when she tapped on his shoulder.
"You mind if I take care of them Sparky?"
Not having any true stake in the battle, Zuko shrugged.
"Sure."
"Thanks."
Toph jumped off of the ostrich horse. Once her feet connected with the earth, it reacted.
Five pillars of stone shot out of the ground. Right underneath the feet of each bounty hunter. Four of them were launched miles away.
The fourth was only shot into a tree. Where Iroh approached him.
"Why have you been stalking me and my companions? We have done nothing to you or your friends."
"Not sure they would agree," Yan said as he glared at Iroh. "Besides, what reason do I need to try and get some coin?"
Zuko, Iroh, and Toph all frowned. But it was the old general who asked the question.
"Why is there a bounty on our heads?"
"You robbed the Beifongs and stole their kid. Did you think you would just get away with that?"
Realization dawned on the trio. They were now aware that getting to the North Pole was going to get so much harder.
"Uncle. We need to go now," Zuko said as Toph made a stone tent to trap Yan.
"I agree. Let us not linger."
Toph jumped back on the steed with Zuko. Both rides were motivated forward, now with the intent of getting away from any bounty hunters before they recovered.
Unfortunately, this would probably only be the first time they would deal with this issue.
This is where I will be stopping for now. For anyone wondering why the bounty hunter fight was so short... It was Toph after being insulted. How on earth was I going to make basic bounty hunters survive longer? I'm not a miracle worker.
Azula is putting her team together, while also trying to decide what she is going to do when she meets her brother after all these years. I won't say what will happen, but I do intend to make it entertaining. For Vaatu.
Also, Zuko's crew is going to have to deal with bounty hunters on top of every other issue they have to deal with. Because who's Zuko is not a magnet for trouble?
I didn't focus very much on the Gaang this chapter, so will give a preview to them either next chapter or the one after.
Anyway, enjoy your holiday, please leave reviews, tell me what you all think, and I will see you all next time.
Bye!