A few days have passed, and Zuko was getting better and better mentally. The tribe liked his new hairstyle and made fun of him. Zuko accepted their hands messing with his hair. Like he had a choice anyway. The men no longer saw him as the Fire Nation Prince, son of Ozai, heir to the throne, but Zuko, member of the Southern Water Tribe. Zuko would go and hunt with them, fish, tell stories, laugh. The boy had clearly grown into them.
Sokka was outside, having a match with a young man named Kilak. He was happy about his progress in sword bending when he managed to corner the other man to the ground with his sword pointing at his face.
"Looks like I win again." Sokka said, removing the sword from Kilak's view and helped him get up.
"You wouldn't buy it if I told you I slipped on the ice?" Kilak said with a smile.
"Nope. Not anymore." Sokka grinned.
"Fair enough." Kilak said. He grabbed his spear from the snow under him and took his leave. "See you tomorrow. I will bring Paqum too. See if your ass can handle two at the same time."
"Gladly." Sokka said grinning and took his leave too towards his tent. He had a meeting with his dad and elders later this afternoon about restoration plans and peace treaties. Zuko would be attending too, since he was almost- Firelord.
After some minutes, Sokka arrived at the igloo where the meeting would take place. His dad and Zuko were already there, Bato too, and he felt somewhat embarrassed. In these meetings, the Chief and his second in command where the ones making the decisions, but things were usually discussed with the whole tribe, usually at night around the big campfire. This time it was different because Zuko was playing a key part in this meeting. They would discuss about treaties, future shipments of goods and so on.
"Sokka you're late!" Zuko scolded him. Sokka was dumbfounded.
"I-Well see, there was this moose that came into view and went to eat my…"
"Of course it was." Bato smiled.
"So what son, did you manage to scare the moose away?" Hakoda asked willing to play in this game.
"…No." he responded.
"So what, you left a wild animal inside the village Sokka? I can't believe it." Zuko said crossing his arms.
"Wha- no!" Sokka yelled.
"So you killed it then?" Bato asked.
"No!" he yelled.
"So what did you do?" Hakoda asked.
"Nothing!"
"So you did left it roaming in the village. WHAT IF IT KILLS A CHILD?" Zuko yelled.
"IT'S A MOOSE IT CAN'T KILL FOR IT'S OWN- why are you two laughing in a middle of a manly conversation?!" Sokka pointed at Bato and his dad.
"Maybe next time arrive earlier son." Hakoda said.
"Or at least ask the moose the time." Zuko deadpanned.
Everyone laughed hysterically.
"…I hate you guys." Sokka said.
Sokka sat around the meeting extremely bored. He looked how Zuko was serious and energetic about this thing. Sokka cursed inside him. He was going to be the future chief, he had to at least listen to what was being discussed right now.
"So, you are saying that if we send you four shipments with seal meat, you will give us five shipments of metal." Bato asked, mostly to himself.
"Yes. The Fire Nation is very technologically advanced and it is time to share this knowledge and materials to the rest of the world, and you are the first in need." Zuko said. He opened his mouth a little panicked. "No offence of course." Sokka wanted to laugh.
"None taken son, your points are standing." Hakoda said. "Alright, we can continue these talks when your uncle gets notified." They all got up from their seats, exchanged Water Tribe handshakes and exited.
Zuko was about to go to the igloo to make some tea but a hand landed at his shoulder stopping him. Zuko turned around and saw Bato.
"Hey kid, how's it going?" he asked in a friendly way. Zuko shrugged.
"The usual. Em..can I help you with something?.." he tried to guess why Bato was talking with him all of sudden.
"Oh? Not really. I wanted to comment you on your talking back there. You acted like a true diplomat." Bato said.
"Oh that? It was nothing, really. I was taught about those things back in the palace." He said. His face dropped his innocent smile. "With Azula."
Bato caught the change in his mood. "Azula? That is your sister, right?" he asked.
"Yes, she is." Zuko sighed. "I…I wonder if she is alright there. In the Fire Nation."
Bato looked a little awkard. "Do you want to grab some tea and talk about it..?" he proposed.
"I don't want to bother you. But…some tea would be amazing right now." Zuko responded.
Bato and Zuko sat in a log outside with their tea in hands. It was early noon but the sky was getting darker already.
"So what happened to her? Before you came here."
"My uncle said to put her in prison with Ozai, but I opposed him. I chose to put her somewhere more comfortable in the palace grounds. With supervision of course. Azula…she wasn't always like that. I relember some thime that we would play and laugh and…be regular kids. As regular as we could be of course." Zuko took a sip of his tea. Bato listened.
"But as time passed, she resembled our father. I- well, generally, Ozai was the one that destroyed both of us. If it wasn't for him, we would be fine now. Or better, at least. I wouldn't get banished, she wouldn't be turned to a mental loose killing machine, mother would never leave…so much would be different." Zuko said.
Bato put his hand to his shoulder.
"Things would be better for you, but I don't think the world would agree." He said. Zuko looked at him not knowing whether to feel offended, angry, or confused.
"I mean, the things that happened to you led you here. You travelled the world, found yourself, you met Aang. Katara, Sokka and the others and stopped the 100 year war. You are soon to be Fire Lord, you have a dad and two uncles who love you. Are you unhappy of these outcomes?" Bato asked.
"No, of course no. I see what you mean. You are right. Things would be different for me, but maybe the world would be at it's worst- wait what did you say, about a father and two uncles?" Zuko asked. Bato laughed.
"Your Uncle Iroh, me as your second cool uncle and Hakoda as your not-so-cool father." He said.
Zuko looked at him confused, and suddenly he let a laugh.
"What? You think I am not cool? How can my own nephew say something like that…" Bato said with the drama in his voice.
"You know that you are not my uncle. And Hakoda isn't my father." He said.
"Sure."
"I am serious!" Zuko tried to yell, but his well-known anger was failing him these last days.
"Like I said before…sure." Bato said smiling. He shuffled Zuko's hair.
"C'mon why everyone does that.." Zuko complained.
"Your hair is literally asking for it." Bato said. "Look at you with your cute little wolf tail…"
"Ok ok cut it out!" Zuko laughed.
"Not until you admit I am the cool uncle and 'Koda is a not cool dad." Bato toyed with him.
"You are not!"
"Not by blood, sure. But still."
"Grr FINE. I may see Hakoda like a father figure. And you as the lamest uncle." Zuko gave in.
"First of all, ouch. Second of all, I KNEW IT!" Bato cheered.
"Happy now?" Zuko said shoving his not-uncle's hand away from his head.
"I am content." Bato said with a straight face.
"..Thanks Bato. For talking about this with me." Zuko said.
"Anytime." Bato said and after shuffling his hair one more time (this time Zuko didn't put any resistance) he got up from his spot on the log and went towards some men to talk. Zuko got up and saw Sokka trying to give directions to the three waterbenders how to make his watchtower.
"…Then I want it to have a sweet staircase in the inside- oh Zuko! Hey buddy what's up?" Sokka asked.
"Fine. Just had a conversation with Bato. Apparently, he thinks he has the right to call himself my uncle now." Zuko said. Sokka let out a laugh.
"HAAHAA really? Oh man, this is awesome." Sokka laughed.
"Shut up." Zuko commented.
"Oh no this is great, the all-mighty flameness is getting adopted by everyone, even by the otter penguins."
Zuko remembered the day where they went penguin sliding and the animals climbed all over him.
"…Please tell me you haven't told anyone about that." Zuko facepalmed.
"Don't worry, we won't assume that you are an adorable turtleduck." Sokka smiled.
"I hate you." Zuko said.
"I know." Sokka said. Zuko sighed.
"Anyway, your dad said that tomorrow we're going ice dodging. I wanted to ask you if there are some tips or something to look out for." Zuko asked.
Sokka put his hand on his chin. "Mmm not really, just give orders and such, watch for deadly icebergs and basically manage the ship's momentum." Sokka said. "It is easy, I have done it, Katara has done it, hell even Aang." He said.
"I know I know." Zuko said. "But you are like an awesome strategist and Katara is a waterbender for Agni's sake, and even Aang with his bending helped." Zuko said.
"Here it is easier. No superfast waves, no super dangerous rocks. You will be fine without your bending. And if it comes necessary, I am sure you will find a way to blast an iceberg." Sokka said. "Just don't burn the ship please."
"I will be careful!" Zuko yelled.
"Alright alright…just you know…I can understand why you are anxious about it. I am too, even if I did it before in more difficult conditions. But this time…it is just like I always wanted. To go ice dodging with my dad." Sokka mumbled. Zuko put on a sympathetic face.
"I won't mess it up, I promise." He said.
"I know you won't." Sokka smiled.
Zuko sighed. "Agni, give me strength."
"You can say that twice." Sokka replied. "If you want, I have some time right now to show you the ropes around the ship. No pun intended. Are you interested?" Sokka asked.
"Of course. Lead the way." Zuko smiled.
The next morning came and it was time for Zuko's first time ice dodging. The crew was Zuko as the captain, Katara and Sokka as his crew and Hakoda as the instructor.
They would be taking the ship in a distance far from the village where the current and wind were stronger.
When they arrived, everyone took their positions. Zuko was at the pedal, Katara at the right side of the ship and Sokka at the left. They were both in charge of the sails and Katara had the bonus job about guiding the ship with her waterbending if things got really dangerous.
The ship was getting faster, and the icebergs seemed very intimidating in their path. Zuko took a deep breath. He was a captain before. He sailed inside a storm. He could handle some icebergs.
******/(I have no idea how to write this ice dodging part so I leave it up to your imagination sorry sorry sorry)/***********
Zuko managed to pull through easily. It wasn't hard at all, Agni, he thought he did great. Well, Sokka and Katara were smiling at him. So did Hakoda. That must meant something.
"So…did I do it?" Zuko asked.
"Do it? Just do it? Dude you were AMAZING!" Sokka screamed. "You did better than I did! We didn't even need Katara's bending!"
"That was incredible Zuko! You did better than I even anticipated." Katara said as she hugged him.
"I guess my years at the sea paid off." Zuko said.
"Zuko, I can say this thing; too bad there wasn't someone else here to witness your success. All of your success." He said looking at his kids. He took out the paint and started marking Zuko's forehead with the mark of the wise. "You earned the mark of the Wise. Your work under pressure and excellent tactic skills were crucial in this task. It is actually the same one me and Sokka got." Hakoda chuckled.
Zuko thanked him and then said "I thought the mark of the trusted was the one that you gave to foreigners."
Hakoda raised his shoulders. "Well usually yes. But… you were in the position of the captain, and the other reason is that you aren't really considered a foreigner anymore." He said. Zuko smiled.
"Thank you. All of you." He said and turned to hug the siblings but the others were faster. They jumped into him saying congrats. Zuko felt…so welcome.
The same night there was a feast in celebration of Zuko's achievement. The whole village was around the fire (which Zuko lighted of course) and they were eating, drinking, telling old water tribe stories and singing water tribe and earth kingdom songs. All the men gave Zuko the man-to-man congratulations, and that was a big bear hug or the typical armshake.
The whole night continued like that, and Zuko was having a great time. He remembered when he was a young prince and attended boring dinners with his family and some generals where he must remain polite and still. That or his father sent glares across the table because he 'embarrassed him in front of his guests.'
This was nothing like that. Everyone was chill, laughing, dancing. There were no rules, no formalities, everyone was himself and Zuko was actually himself and he loved that.
Katara looked around; everyone was wasted, except from the women who were cleaning up the dishes (and waking their husbands up). The kids were already asleep in their homes. Sokka had excused himself as well 'cause he drunk too much. Her dad was helping Bato to reach his tent and they were joking along the way. At her right there was Zuko, who was starting to get really tired. She could say the same.
"Hey Zuko, let's get back to bed, what do you say?" she said.
"Great idea." Zuko said yawning. They both got up and started walking towards Zuko's tent. Zuko lost his balance once and fell to the snow. That woke him up. Katara laughed.
Zuko entered his tent and collapsed on his bed.
"You might want to cover yourself up." She said.
"I know." Zuko's voice came from the pillow. He turned around and covered himself with the furs.
"You know.." he started. "I had an amazing time today." He said. He waited for a reply.
"I am glad. Now you can go to your dad and tell him that you are considered Water Tribe as much as Fire Nation." Katara smirked. Zuko let out a wheeze.
"He'll hate that…. I love it." He said. Katara went to exit his tent but Zuko's words stopped her.
"I wish Uncle was here." He said. Katara looked at him and realized that Zuko was somewhat tipsy. Sure, he had a cup of alcohol but it seemed he wasn't very accustomed to it.
"I know." She said. Iroh was like a father to Zuko, so it is natural he would want him to be here with him in this small journey. Today was a special day to Zuko, he wanted Iroh to be around and be proud of him. That thought saddened her.
"We will send a messenger hawk to Iroh first thing in the morning. We will write about your ice dodging ritual. Everything. He is proud of you Zuko, even if he is not here." She said. Zuko looked at her and smiled a little.
"I know. I know he is. Just…" he let out a sigh. "During the festivity I wondered how would it be if me and Uncle actually lived here, y'know?...With you, Sokka, your dad, Bato, everyone. How different our lives may be. I think we could actually be ourselves here. Be happy." He said looking at the candle.
Katara didn't know what to say to that.
"I understand Zuko, and believe me, we would love to have you and your uncle here, but…you have an important job in the Fire Nation. Just like Aang has the job about restoring balance, mine and Sokka's restoring our tribe…" She said carefully. Zuko sighed.
"I know Agni I know… I am being selfish and I put my happiness above my people's, above the world's. Sorry for that, it was childish of me. Goodnight." He said as he turned his back at Katara.
Katara wanted to say something, anything that might get him out of that loop he was in but in the end the only thing she could say…
"…Goodnight Zuko. Talk to you tomorrow."