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Chapter Five - The Southern Air Temple

"It's freezing."

Zuko resisted rolling his good eye, satisfying himself with poking his cousin in the shoulder.

"It's not that bad. You'll be fine."

Jaylee, still leaning against the railing beside him, sent him a look. "I know. But it's still freezing."

Zuko chuckled as she blew out a short breath of fire, warming herself. "See? Not so bad."

The twelve year old rolled her eyes with a smirk. She poked him back. "Just cause I can use my breath of fire doesn't mean it's not freezing down here, Zuko."

After retrieving Jaylee from the fishing village, the Wani and it's crew had headed south. South to the Southern Air Temple.

Zuko hoped he would find some clues as to where the last Airbender was hiding.

And less... Nothing.

He frowned as he thought of the empty Western Air Temple.

It had looked like no one had lived in it for the last hundred years.

Jaylee had been sympathetic when he'd told her of their visit to the temple. She'd assured him that they'd find something at the next one.

Zuko found she could be almost as annoyingly optimistic as Uncle at times.

But it was welcome. Jaylee didn't try and solve his problems with proverbs that didn't make any sense.

His cousin also managed to help him find things to keep his mind off of his banishment.

"This will be better now that she's here. And she can help me catch the Avatar. Then we can all go home," the prince thought, only half listening to his cousin talk about the legend about some creature that lived in the Southern waters. Named something weird like the Unagi.

Which obviously wasn't true.

And even if it was, they're weren't going to the South Pole.

"Or Kyoshi Island," Jaylee corrected him when he spoke the thought aloud.

Iroh had tried to prepare the two children.

He really had.

But how much more prepared can you be when you were taught about the Air Nomad genocide from a very young age?

The general knew however, that sometimes, things didn't hit you as hard as they would once you saw the evidence for your own eyes.

And there was... A lot of evidence at the Southern Air Temple.

There had been none at the western one.

Iroh had hoped that that would be the case here, but in reality, who was left to bury the dead?

Not even the Fire Nation invaders had bothered to take care of their own.

Zuko and Jaylee walked around, wide eyed as they took in the body count.

Most of the temple had simply been empty. They'd marveled at the still beauty of the ancient architecture.

Then, they'd gotten closer to the center, where there was more shelter to prevent the wind from taking care of what humans had not.

Iroh wasn't certain which child had found the first skeleton.

To top it all off, the skeleton sitting on the set of steps still wore the red and black armour of their own people.

Keeping close together, the pair had kept going.

Kept going until they found a building that had many skeletons. Wearing colours of both sides.

The retired general regretted letting them run ahead of him.

But now, perhaps, they would realize the lies their schooling had taught them. That the attack had been an ambush. That the Air Nomads, while they had masters, were peace loving monks and nuns with no army to defend them.

Coming up to stand behind the two, Iroh spoke, voice grave. "Come children. There is no more we need to see."

Zuko and Jaylee didn't need to see what they'd missed. They didn't need to see more skeletons, ones that were small.

Iroh wished he hadn't, even if he wasn't surprised to see them.

Wordlessly, unprotesting about being called children, the young prince and princess turned and followed him back to the rest of the men that had accompanied them.

Later, back on the ship, Iroh spoke again.

"I'm sorry, Prince Zuko, that you did not find the Avatar here." He paused glancing over to his daughter for a moment. "And for what you both have witnessed today. It is not something anyone, especially those so young, should have to see."

"We had to see if the Avatar was hiding here," replied Zuko quickly, trying to hide his disturbed feelings. "Please tell the helmsman to set a course for the Eastern Temple.

The boy then strode away, likely heading for the sanctuary of his quarters.

Jaylee watched, clearly hesitant on whether to stay or copy her cousin. A deep frown was etched into her face and her eyes held sorrow.

"Why would Great-grandfather Sozin command the army to do that, Father?" she asked, voice barely above a whisper.

Iroh placed a hand on her shoulder. "Your great grandfather was a cruel man, my daughter. He wished to wipe out the Air Nomads to prevent the Avatar from stopping him."

He was technically speaking treachery and dishonour, but no one but Jaylee could hear him. And it was the most honest way he could tell her, which he hoped, one day, she would completely understand their nation's sins and the lies that surrounded them.

An awful thing for a child to realize, but one that both she and Zuko needed to eventually. If they didn't, and Zuko didn't reclaim his place as Crown Prince, things like this would continue to happen.

"But why kill everyone? They should've known how old the Avatar was back then, right?" Jaylee's brow furrowed as she turned to look up at her father. "And they didn't even catch him since he's still around. They just killed off the rest of his people."

"No one has seen him for a hundred years," Iroh replied, expression grave, folding his hands back in his sleeves. "And no successor has arisen from the Water Tribe."

"But didn't the Fire Nation take all the Southern Waterbenders?"

"They did, several years ago. But unless the Northern Water Tribe or the Earth Kingdom is hiding their Avatar, the last airbender must still be alive."

"How could he be alive?" Jaylee asked, making a face. "He'd be so... Old by now."

Iroh chuckled. "Yes, but he would be a very powerful bender."

The girl blinked a few times, then nodded. Then, she frowned again.

"If he's still alive, then why has he been in hiding for all this time? Surely, he would have come back from wherever he went by now to save the world. The Fire Nation attacked his people and he wasn't there to help them.

"And even if they didn't, I don't think the Avatars approved of war."

So. She had been reading the scrolls he'd given her if the conversation was anything to go on. And it had gotten her thinking.

Scrolls that held information that wouldn't be taught to her in school, which taught Fire Nation history from a victor's perspective only.

And whatever else Fire Lord Sozin had approved of.

"No, Jaylee," Iroh said sadly. "They do not. And neither do the spirits. We need the Avatar to keep balance between our world and the spirit world."

Iroh had not told his daughter of his visit to the spirit world, but he told her some things like this. Things many people knew.

Jaylee was quiet for awhile then, standing by the rail and staring out at the horizon.

The retired general stood with her, lost in his own thoughts.

Usually, the young girl would eventually reveal to him what she was so deeply thinking about.

Apparently, it was not to be at this time.

"I think I'll go to my room, Father," she said softly before turning away.

"Alright."

Iroh watched her go, concern in his eyes as he frowned.

Something was bothering her. It had been a very shocking day however, and in addition, their conversation likely raised many more questions.

The retired general frowned.

It was good that his daughter was questioning these things, and good she was doing it where she wouldn't be punished for asking.

It was in a way, a blessing that Jaylee had faked her death and joined them in banishment.

Iroh knew that this way, he would be able to teach the two children things he'd have to be extremely discreet about teaching them back at the palace.

And they, especially Zuko, would have other influences that would contradict and try to cover up some things.

Out here on the ocean, Iroh's brother had no say in what the children were taught. Which meant no Fire Nation propaganda anymore.

And the crew would pass it off as childish notions or silently agree.

No, Iroh had no real concern about teaching Zuko and Jaylee about things their nation would not.

It just broke his heart that there had to be certain events that brought them all here. Both the three of them, and the lack of another son.

"Are you sure you want me to come?" Jaylee asked, walking alongside her cousin.

Zuko hesitated, then nodded. "Yes."

He gave her a side look, out of his good, unbandaged eye. Jaylee had made a point to always walk beside him or approach him from his right since reuniting with him.

Something Zuko knew she was doing on purpose. And was really grateful for. Even if he didn't say it.

"But only if you want to come," Zuko added hurriedly. "I understand if you don't want to- "

"I'm coming then," Jaylee replied firmly, cutting him off. She then gave him an encouraging smile. "Don't worry, it's not gonna scare me off."

Zuko gave her a small smile, but it was there only for a moment before he turned back to face the direction they were walking.

Jaylee also dropped her smile. She was going with Zuko to have the healer change the bandages covering the left side of his face.

That covered the burn he'd gotten in his Agni Kai.

She hadn't seen it unbandaged yet, even though she'd hardly left his side while he was still at home in the palace after it had happened.

Which really hadn't been that long before he'd been sent off.

They soon reached the healer's quarters and entered.

"Prince Zuko. Princess Jaylee." The kind man smiled at them in turn, gesturing for Zuko to take his usual seat.

"You have come to observe?" Healer Kuzon inquired, arching an eyebrow at the girl.

Jaylee nodded once. "If you don't mind?"

"Not at all," Kuzon replied, then turned back towards the prince. "As long as it's alright with Prince Zuko."

"She can stay," the boy said quietly, fidgeting with the edge of the blanket on the bed he was sitting on.

Healer Kuzon nodded, then gestured to a different bed. "You may have a seat there, Princess."

Jaylee did as she was told, watching with some curiosity as the older healer began unwrapping Zuko's bandage.

The boy tried not to wince as air hit the wound.

Holding back a gasp, Jaylee bit her lip when the healer moved away to get some burn cream, leaving her with an unobstructed view of her cousin.

The left side of his face, from where his eyebrow used to be, down just below his cheekbone and back to include his now misshapen ear, was a large, angry looking burn.

Zuko didn't move, looking down at the floor in front of him with his good eye. He didn't look at his cousin or the healer.

Jaylee knew he probably felt ashamed. She also noted his left eye stayed closed, the area around it still healing.

It was possible that the eye itself had been affected. Possibly to the point of blindness.

Knowing that was a possibility, having heard whispers back at the palace, Jaylee hadn't had the courage to ask. She hoped Zuko didn't lose his sight in one eye.

It would make his situation that much more devastating.

"This is still continuing to heal well, Prince Zuko," Healer Kuzon said quietly as he gently spread ointment on the boy's face, breaking the silence. "You should be able to remove the bandages for at least part of the day soon."

Zuko didn't reply.

His cousin picked up on this. She knew he probably didn't want it uncovered yet; he had told her he hadn't even looked for himself yet.

He hadn't said it, but he was clearly ashamed.

Something began to boil in Jaylee's stomach. Her inner fire flared and raged at the man who'd done this to Zuko.

Uncle Ozai was the one who should be ashamed, not Zuko.

Zuko, in her opinion, had done nothing wrong.

And even if he had, no father should ever burn his son and then banish him.

The candles in Healer Kuzon's quarters flared, making the man glance up from his patient. Knowing the boy was not the source of the sudden increase in light, he gave the younger child in his domain a look.

"I'd rather keep my quarters as they are if you don't mind, Princess Jaylee."

Sheepishly, Jaylee nodded and took a deep breath, bringing the flames of the candles down.

Once Kuzon was finished rebandaging the burn and satisfied, he shooed the pair out.

They left wordlessly and walked back down the corridor, heading towards their own quarters.

Zuko kept his head down, an unreadable look on his face as he swiftly walked.

Jaylee reached out and caught his arm, halting him.

"I'm sorry," she said softly. "What he did wasn't your fault you know."

"I dishonoured him," replied Zuko angrily, keeping his eyes to the floor. "I deserved it."

"No, you don't," Jaylee argued with a firm shake of her head. She moved her hand to his shoulder. "You didn't do anything wrong."

Zuko turned then to face her arms flying outwards from his sides. "Then why did father burn and banish me?!"

Jaylee took a step back at his outburst, avoiding the flailing arms. She frowned, golden eyes looking into his golden eye that she could see.

"I don't know," she said softly. "I don't know how someone who calls himself your father could ever do something like that. But it wasn't because you did something wrong or dishonourable.

"Zuko, you stood up for what was right. For those soldiers. The general was dishonourable, not you."

"He didn't get half his face burnt off and banished!"

Zuko whirled and stomped away, leaving Jaylee to watch him.

She frowned again. She wasn't going to just watch him.

Running to catch up, she threw her arms around him from behind.

Zuko paused, surprised at the sudden hug.

Jaylee hugged him tighter. "I know you don't want to talk about it anymore, and I get why you wouldn't. But if you ever want to, I'm here."

The thirteen year old's head was down and she couldn't see his face, but Jaylee could feel his breath catch.

She continued, burying her face in the back of his shirt as she continued to hug him.

"You don't have to be alone anymore."

Thanks for reading! I hope you enjoyed.

I have a question for you all..
I am a little uncertain about when I will time skip the story to where the series starts. I do have at least one more chapter before I do, but I was wondering what you readers would prefer.

Option 1: Finish the next chapter and then jump right into the series timeline after that.
Option 2: A few more chapters of Jaylee and Zuko's travels preseries and then time skip.

I'd love to hear from you what you think. You can either reply in a review, or PM me :)

Thanks so much!

Until next time. Stay safe everyone!