Chapter 30
Rebirth
Zuko
Sweat poured down my back as I rode the ostrich-horse. I could feel myself waver. I needed to stop and eat but I had no idea how far the nearest village was. My mind wandered to my uncle, I wondered what he was doing. Was he worried about me? Still, I needed to be on my own for a while. I needed to clear my head, regain my identity.
"Tea tastes just as good whether it is in a ceramic or clay teapot Zuko." Uncle had stated softly, looking at the gift I had given him along with his own ostrich-horse. The minor earth kingdom noble could survive without the money, we couldn't. I had also taken his animal and bought the gift for my uncle. He deserved something nice.
"I just wanted…" I trailed off, I didn't know how to explain what I had been thinking.
"I need some time." I finally said.
"Of course, when can I expect you back?" I paused.
"I… I don't know… Uncle, I think… that we need to part ways for a while." I could see the disappointment in his eyes as well as the quiet acceptance. I turned then stopped. Turning back I crossed the small distance of our campsite and pulled my uncle into a hug.
"I'll be back." I promised quietly as his strong arms wrapped around me tightly.
"Please do." He whispered back, his rough voice catching slightly.
My eyesight blurred and I nearly fell off Chong. The ostrich-horse made a little gasping noise and changed his gait. I looked up and sighed in relief. It was a town, a small one but a town nonetheless.
Relieved, I tapped Chong and cantered into town. The town was filthy and it seemed almost deserted. The few people who did wander the streets looked worn down. My eyes were drawn to a small stall that was open nearby. Walking over I spoke to the merchant.
"I'd like some water, A bag of feed and a hot meal." I turned over the last of the coins I had. I had left the majority with uncle. The merchant looked at the coins then up to me.
"I'm sorry, there's not enough for that hot meal, but I can get you two bags of feed and refill your water skin." I nodded. I'd have to find some other way to get food. My stomach rumbled in compliant. I passed the coins to the merchant, ignoring the hunger that gnawed at my stomach. There was a giggle beside me. Turning slightly I saw two boys holding an egg. I had a creeping suspicion I knew what was going on. I looked away. Less then a moment later there was a distinctive splat of an egg hitting someone's head.
"Hey!" The person yelped. I carefully kept my back to them, waiting.
"You, stranger, did you throw that egg."
"No." I replied, turning slowly. Five earth kingdom soldiers stood in front of me. One of them had egg in his hair.
"Did you see who did?" The tallest and the apparent leader asked.
"I'm afraid not." I replied blandly. Something told me that if I even thought of fighting back I would be in trouble. The leader, a tall man wearing a metal hat similar to my straw one narrowed his eyes.
"Well someone had to have thrown it."
"Perhaps a chicken flew overhead." I responded, doing my best to lack all emotion. One of the leader's men laughed but quickly fell silent at the angry looks from his companions. At that moment the merchant came back with two bags of feed and my water skin. I turned back only to find an earth kingdom solder taking the feed I had paid for.
"Thank you for your contribution to the army." He leered, taking off like a shot. The leader smirked.
"You better leave stranger, the price of staying is higher then you can afford." He tapped a large metal hammer that hung by his side. He turned then and left.
"They're supposed to protect us from the fire nation but they're little better then thugs." I frowned, it wasn't uncommon what this town was dealing with. It also wasn't my problem. I turned to mount Chong and the head of a young boy appeared from behind the saddle.
"Thanks for not ratting me out." I grunted and mounted Chong, ignoring the kid. He however had other plans.
"Here, I can take you to my home and feed your ostrich-horse. It's the least I can do." I didn't argue. The horse needed feeding as I did. My stomach growled in agreement.
Sitting in the healing hut I watched the girl spread green paste over my uncle's swelling body. My stomach twisted at his disfigured form.
"You must not be from around here." She stated, "We know better not to touch the white jade, let alone make a tea and drink it." Uncle gave a sheepish smile.
"So what are your names strangers? I'm Song by the way." I froze and desperately searched for two names.
"I'm... Lee! And this is my uncle..." I trailed off. I had no idea what to name my uncle Iroh.
"...Mushi." Uncle Iroh leaned around Song and sent me a pointed glare. He wasn't pleased with the new name and was probably well aware of the fact that it came from his current appearance.
"Yes, my nephew was named after his father, so we just call him junior."
"Junior and Mushi huh?" Song asked, turning to look at me. I quickly hid my furious expression behind a placid one.
I was pulled out of my thoughts by the loud cries of several animals. I had been lead to a farm by the boy, Lee. Turning to look at me he shrugged.
"No one can ever sneak up on us." He explained.
"No kidding." I responded, looking at the several dozen noisy animals. A rooster pig flew over and shrieked in protest.
Two people walked out of the wooden house. I assumed them to be Lee's parents. The woman looked tired, bags under her eyes, her shoulders slumped. She brightened slightly upon seeing her son. Beside her a man, strong and resolute came to stand beside her. Lee rushed up, grinning excitedly. As he over exaggerated my encounter with the 'soldiers' I found myself sinking back into a memory.
"I haven't seen my father in a long time." Song stated, looking down sadly.
"Neither have I." I admitted. The last time I had seen him was when his blazing fist was coming at my face.
"Oh, is he fighting in the war too?"
"Yes." I replied. What else could I say? That he was a cruel monarch who burned his own son? When had I began to think of my father as cruel? Disturbed by both the conversation and my thoughts I stood and walked out of the house. I sat down, leaning against the wood frame. A moment later Song joined me.
"I'm sorry. I didn't think. I guess it's a sensitive topic." She took a step forward and stopped then sat down beside me.
"The fire nation hurt me too." She pulled up a loose pant leg exposing a burn… running up her leg. It became fainter as it moved away from her ankle. I stared in shock. The burn around her ankle wasn't as old as mine, maybe a year old. Slowly my mind made the connections. The burn on her ankle to cripple her or slow her down. The age of her scar. Her loose fitting clothes… I felt a chill crawl down my spine. I had heard of fire nation soldiers taking earth kingdom women as conquests. Some of the stories were about girls much younger then Song. This was the first time I had seen the effects of what many soldiers thought as their right. It was the first time I had thought of those women as people. It left me unsettled.
"I'm sorry."
"Does this stranger have a name?" I turned to look at Lee's parents.
"I'm…" I paused. What name could I use?
"Don't pry Sela, if he doesn't want to tell us his name then he doesn't have to. Anyone who can stand up to those bullies is welcome in our home."
I ended up helping build the roof on the barn, earning a free meal and a place to sleep for myself and Chong.
I woke up to the sound of the barn door squeaking. Sitting up I looked around. From what I could see there was nothing to be alarmed over. Still I wasn't taking the chance that I was wrong. I reached for my swords only to find them missing. Worry coursed through me. I stood and walked out of the barn. I could feel myself relax as the small form of Lee slipped away, my swords in hand. He was just a kid wanting to check out a type of weapon he had never seen before. I understood that most boys around his age would do the same thing. I watched his attempts of fighting with it from a little distance before moving to intervene.
"You're holding them wrong." Lee tripped in surprise, dropping the swords and turning to look at me in shock. I didn't knowledge his embarrassment knowing that would only make it worse. Instead I picked up my blades and showed him how to use them.
"Just like all swords these are an extension of your arm. Your problem was you were treating them as separate weapons. It is one weapon, like a double headed spear." I turned and passed the duel swords to Lee. He quickly slipped into the movements that I had showed him, sliding through each step like a dance. He was good, it reminded me of my first time handling the blades.
"That's enough for tonight." I stated, taking my swords back. Lee grinned at me, the gap from his missing tooth drawing my attention.
"I think you would really like my brother. He used to show me stuff like this all the time." I looked at Lee for a moment.
"Maybe I would."
"What is it?" Song asked, noticing my eyes fixed on her ostrich-horse.
"I was just thinking. I replied. My thoughts were on how much faster uncle and I could travel with an animal. Part of me wanted to just take the animal but I couldn't. What was there that we had to travel quickly for? The only person was the Avatar but I didn't know what I would do if I did meet Aang again. My thoughts were also on the rebellion. Where could I find it?
"His name is Chong." Song stated, looking at the animal. "He helped us escape from our village after the fire nation attacked. He's still useful to go to market but... I think you need him more then I do." I looked at Song in shock. She sent me a sad smile.
"You're still trying to find your place in the world." She explained, "Chong helped me find mine, maybe he can help you find yours."
The next morning I was ready to leave. Lee's mother had given me a small parcel of leftovers that would last me until I reached the next town. I was thanking her when the animals started squealing. Turning I saw a dust cloud approaching as the four 'soldiers' who 'protected' the town came flying up to meet us. Smirking, the leader nudged his ostrich-horse ahead of the rest.
"What do you want Gow?" Lee's father snapped, coming up behind his family in a protective stance. Gow smirked.
"Just thought someone ought to tell you, your son's battalion got captured." He turned to his team. "You boys hear what the Fire Nation did with their last group of Earth Kingdom prisoners?"
"Dressed them up in Fire Nation uniforms and put them on the front line unarmed the way I heard it. Then they just watched." A quiver of rage ran through my body. How dare they mock these people.
"You watch your mouth." Lee's father snarled. I didn't wait for things to escalate. I rode forward, blocking the family from the pathetic excuses for men who were before us. My disgust only grew when they quickly made their excuse and rode away. Cowards. They wouldn't protect anyone from the fire nation. I had a sickening feeling in my gut telling me that the second they saw a flame they would run for the hills, tails between their legs.
"What happened to my brother?" Lee asked nervously. His father turned to his mother.
"I'm going to the front. I'll get Sen Su and bring him back." I said nothing. As Lee's father turned to grab his own ostrich-horse Lee came to me.
"Will you stay? Just until my father comes back?" I shook my head.
"I'm sorry, I need to keep going." I paused. Making a split second decision I leaned over and handed Lee something I treasured greatly. My knife.
"Read it." I insisted gently. Lee pulled off the cover.
"Made in the earth kingdom."
"The other side." I corrected.
"Never give up without a fight."
I hadn't been gone for more then an hour and already I was returning to the village. Part of me regretted giving the knife to Lee. I had told Sela about my gift after she told me what happened. She had been upset at first but had quickly forgiven me.
"You seem to like my son quite a lot." She stated finally. She paused then before adding.
"Gansu and I would welcome an extra hand around the farm. If you wanted you could stay here." I looked at her in surprise.
"Thank you for the offer, but I can't accept." I responded softly. Who knew what she would say if she knew who I really was. Besides, I couldn't live the rest of my life in a lie. I had spent to much time like that already. Sela nodded, disappointed. The moment I entered town I noticed the crowd. Lee was tied to the water tower in the centre of the town square.
"There he is! I told you he'd come!" Lee called, excited to see me. I ignored his cry, instead dismounting Chong and handing him to Sela. Turning back to the cowards I spoke.
"Let the kid go." Gow just laughed. Out of all of them, he had the most backbone as he was the ringleader. He was the one who would be the biggest challenge.
"Who do you think you are telling us what to do?" He retorted. I glowered and responded, contempt clear in my voice.
"It doesn't matter who I am, but I know who you are. You're not soldiers. You're bullies. Freeloaders, abusing your power. Mostly over women and kids. You don't want Lee in your army. You're just sick cowards messing with a family who have already lost one son to the war." I saw Sela flinch out of the corner of my eye. I didn't know whether it was true but there was a good chance that it was. Once again Gow proved exactly how much of a coward he was. Instead of fighting me himself like a man he turned to one of his friends.
"Are you going to let him talk to you like that?" I didn't even move as the man rushed forward. Only when he was close enough did I pull out the hilt of my duel swords and knock the air out of him. True to his nature the man took off running. Gow sent out his other men. Both were dealt with quickly.
Gow stepped forward, pulling out his two war hammers. I felt my blood turn cold when he dropped into a bending stance. He was an earthbender. Using just my swords it would be a tough battle. The fight started. Slicing through earth with my swords, coming forward to try to hit him.
I lost myself in the fight. My sole focus being just to cut Gow once. If I managed that I had little doubt that he would take off running. I barely heard the warning from Lee. The earth rumbled, knocking me off balance. Taking advantage of my stumbling Gow threw a large chunk of stone at me. The last thing I felt was my back slamming into the ground.
I came to what must have only been a minute or so later. Shooting upright I attacked Gow with a new fervour. He began to bend but I wasn't going to let him win. With a cry of fury I shot a single bolt of fire at him. Gow jumped in shock, staggering back and off balance. I lunged forward, sending him flying into a building. As I approached he looked up, fear in his eyes.
"Who are you?"
"My name is Zuko. Son of Ursa and Ozai. Prince of the Fire Nation and heir to the throne." Silence. Then finally someone broke the silence.
"Liar! I've heard of you, you're no price. You're an outcast. Your own father burnt your face." I spun. A confidence that I had never felt before spread through my body like fire.
"I am no liar! Yes my father burned and banished me but do you know the reason? Because I challenged him on the decision to slaughter loyal men and women for a pointless war! My father knew that I would end the war that I would have peace between the nations and he couldn't allow that to happen. Why do you think my father is after me? He doesn't want to loose the perceived power that Sozin The Insane saw as the fire nations right." I took a shaky breath. I didn't know where that speech had come from but somehow I knew it was true. Turning away from the crowd I walked over to Lee. No one moved. I slowly untied the knot and let the rope fall away. I took a step back from the shocked expression on the boy's face and held out the knife.
"It's yours." I stated softly. I hoped that my sincerity was clear to see. I watched Lee passively, letting him make the decision. There was still silence. I had the strange feeling that Lee's choice would determine the choice of the rest of the village. Slowly Lee reached forward and took the knife. It was a quiet, unsure acceptance but it was enough. Smiling slightly I stood and walked away, only pausing to take Chong from Sela's hands.
I rode away and I didn't look back.
A/N: I want to just say here that there was something that happened in a flashback that some people might not agree with. What happened to Song was subtitle enough that hopefully it took you a while to pick it up. I didn't want to state outright what happened to Song as some people might get disturbed with it. So I hope I did a good job with this chapter which reminds me, what did you think of the changes Zuko is going through? Anyway until next time,
Princess Kassie Out.
