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Book Two: Earth

Spring, 100AG, Year of the Monkey

~The Avatar State~

Ryuu POV

There were several things I didn't understand about this place, and one of them was the hospitality. We had landed in Earth Kingdom territory - my homeland - but something was off. Iroh dismissed my fears as tension and offered me to join him with massages. I politely declined and slid down the wall, opposite Zuko.

"This is what I've been missing. Who knew floating on a piece of driftwood for three weeks with limited food and water, and sea vultures waiting to pluck out your liver could make one so tense?"

Iroh got off of the massure's table and sat next to Zuko. The latter crossed his arms over his knees and didn't speak. Iroh pursed his lips and concluded:

"I see. It's the anniversary, isn't it?"

Zuko stared at his knees, the hat he wore blocked my view of his face, but his voice was all I needed to conclude that Zuko was miserable.

"Three years ago today, I was banished. I lost it all. I want it back. I want the Avatar, I want my honor, my throne. I want my father not to think I'm worthless."

He turned his head and stared out into the middle distance. He'd become thinner; taller; tanned. His bruises and cuts had healed but mental ones still ran deep. Over the Three months lost at sea, both Zuko and my nightmares had become much more frequent. They came every single time we fell asleep.

"Zuko... you are the most honourable person I know..."

Iroh flicked a smile of gratitude but Zuko ignored both of us.

"I'm sure he doesn't. Why would he banish you if he didn't care?"

Two messengers ran up to us. They managed to catch the last bit of Iroh's words and glanced at each other.

"Uh, that came out wrong, didn't it?"

...

It was bad news. We had to leave the spa as we were holding up a room with no conceivable way of paying. We had rambled rather quickly back to our shack we had been given to sleep in. It was dark inside, unusually so. Iroh grabbed a canvas bag and started pushing shells he had collected into it. He picked up a conch shell and smiled approvingly.

"Look at these magnificent shells! I'll enjoy these keepsakes for years to come."

I only had my Ji and the clothes on my back. At the spa, a lady had taken pity on me and my salt stiffened clothes and given me a dark green tunic and light green trousers and sleeveless shirt. I found new bandages and wound them around my chest, posterior and on my calf and forearms to prevent my clothes flapping about. The lady had also given me a hair tie with Fire Nation insignia.

"We don't need any more useless things! You forget, we have to carry everything ourselves now!" Zuko snapped as he went over to his bed.

"Wait, you didn't before?"

Before either Iroh or Zuko could answer, a strangers voice spoke up from behind us. It was girl, probably a year or two younger than me. She was calmly checking her nails.

"Hello, Brother. Uncle. Friend?"

Zuko gasped and spun around. I held up my pole arm but Iroh tapped my shoulder, telling me not to.

"What are you doing here?"

She picked up a shell from the table and checked its wieght in her hand, before throwing it at me. I blocked and the shell smashed. Iroh looked heartbroken. The girl carried on speaking.

"In my country, we exchange a pleasant hello before asking questions. Have you become uncivilized so soon, Zuzu?"

She got up and walked towards us. She was terrifyingly dominating. I kept the Ji tightly in my hands.

"Ha. Zuzu. Didn't think of that," I thought aloud. The girl raised her brow at me. I shut up.

"Niether of you call me that!" Zuko roared.

Iroh stoked his beard pretending to be calm but was equally as scared of the girl as both Zuko and I. He opened his arms in a welcome gesture.

"To what do we owe the pleasure?"

The girl tapped her chin, "Hmmm ... must be a family trait. Both of you so quick to get to the point. I've come with a message from home. Father's changed his mind. Family is suddenly very important to him. He's heard rumors of plans to overthrow him; treacherous plots. Family are the only ones you can really trust. Father regrets your banishment. He wants you home. Did you hear me? You should be happy. Excited. Grateful. I just gave you great news."

Zuko stared with disbelief at his younger sister, blinking but unmoving.

Iroh answered for him, "I'm sure your brother simply needs a moment."

The girl turned towards Iroh a snapped:

"Don't interrupt, Uncle!"

Then she turned to Zuko, who was still in disbelief, "I still haven't heard my thank you. I'm not a messenger. I didn't have to come all this way."

Finally Zuko spoke, "Father regrets? He ... wants me back?"

I didn't believe it. The girl smiled cruelly. I raised my Ji again and maintained my distance from her. She ignored me. She turned back to the window.

"I can see you need time to take this in. I'll come to call on you tomorrow. Good evening."

Then she jumped out the window. Yes. She jumped out the window. I stood there as did Iroh and Zuko. We glanced at each other dis-believingly. Zuko moved first. He rushed around packing and the sun was slipping beneath the horizon line.

" We're going home! After three long years, it's unbelievable!"

Iroh stared out the Window mad-girl had jumped from. It faced the beach, where we had first landed on our raft.

"It is unbelievable. I have never known my brother to regret anything."

Zuko had finished packing, " Did you listen to Azula? Father's realized how important family is to him! He cares about me!"

Iroh turned to Zuko and held his arms open, "I care about you! And if Ozai wants you back, well, I think it may not be for the reasons you imagine."

"You don't know how my father feels about me. You don't know anything!" Zuko snapped. I stood up from where I was sat and attempted to act as intermediary. Iroh held his bag close to his chest.

" Zuko, I only meant that in our family, things are not always what they seem."

"I think you are exactly what you seem! A lazy, mistrustful, shallow old man who's always been jealous of his brother!"

"Whoa there, hang on, Princess. Take that back!"

Zuko turned on me. He lit on of hands on fire and thrust it at me. I cowered back and Zuko spat, "And you! You cowardly, pathetic, miserable excuse for a girl! Run back home, as you're no longer welcome with me!"

I grabbed Zuko by his collar, tugged him to the floor and shook my head. He wriggled free and stomped outside, leaving me to comfort Iroh about teenage hormones and Zuko being confused. I needed comforting myself, but that could wait. Iroh was more important.

...

I watched them go.

Iroh had convinced me to come, but more as back up if anything went wrong. He ran up the the ramp, calling out to Zuko.

"Wait! Don't leave without me!"

Zuko smiled and set down his luggage.

"Uncle! You've changed your mind!"

Iroh grinned back and placed his hand on Zuko's shoulder, "Family sticks together, right?"

"We're finally going home!" Zuko took a deep breath, picked up his luggage and started up the ramp. I crouched in my hiding position and waited for anything to happen. Even if Zuko didn't want me, I would look out for him and Iroh. They had become family.

And, as Iroh said, Family sticks together.

The captain lead the two men up the ramp, but something was off. I squatted and prepared to attack. Azula welcomed them onto the ship but the Captain slipped up, calling Iroh and Zuko prisoners. Azula shot him with lightning. Which was terrifying. Than a scuffle broke out. I took the Ji in both hands and leapt out of my hiding spot.

My Ji shone in the late day light. I swung it and warded away soldiers. Some attacked but I kicked them away. The polearm sliced through the air and caught one fool-hardy soldier on the leg. I cringed but forced myself to carry on.

I took out some soldiers waiting at the end of the ramp, while Iroh took out the ones at the top. Zuko was fighting with his sister. I dodged an arc of lightning sent my way. When we had cleared a sufficient path, Iroh yelled for his Nephew.

Then we ran for our lives.

...

We followed the river upstream until Iroh deemed it safe. We collapsed to our knees in exhaustion. Then, Zuko drew a dagger and grabbed his ponytail. He closed his eyes and cut it off. Iroh took the dagger and did the same. I took my hair tie out and threw it into the water to join the top-knots as they floated out to sea.