As they passed over the great ice wall, Zuko felt that same shift he had when he saw his reflection for the first time. This was a familiar place as he had been here before, but this was not how he had seen it. The view was all wrong.
In the perpetual dark, everything was lit by massive bonfires. In the shadowy light, patches of the North Pole were visible. There were four wide, flat fields that assisted with the canal lock system. For how massive they were, Zuko had once thought the Water Tribe had massive ships. But whatever navy they had once owned, it had dwindled to nothing more than war canoes by the time Zhao invaded.
Of Zhao, there were plenty of signs. Even within the canals. Two large Fire Nation ships sat in the harbor; one Zhao's and one belonging to Lu Ten. There were a few other smaller ships, still just as heavily armored but less aggressive.
As for their airship, they touched down lightly on one of the lock walls. A Water Tribe ship was already making its way over to ferry them across into the city proper.
"I don't think I've seen this much blue in my life." Ursa murmured, holding her muffler up to her face.
"Red suits you much better." Iroh replied and Ursa inclined her head.
"And it is my preferred color." She said, then turned to look up at the massive glacier walls that enveloped the whole place. "But you cannot deny its magnificence"
"It's just another wall." Iroh said, sounding amused. "And I learned how to cross those long ago."
Zuko shivered at the words and Zuri nudged him sharply.
"Are you cold, Highness?" They asked. Zuko glared at them.
He couldn't tell them how he knew true cold; after swimming in the sewers of this very kingdom during the winter solstice. How he had melted pockets into the ice tunnels to breathe before continuing on in the frigid dark. He had mastered the control of his inner fire in trip and was a mastery he could bring to this body with ease.
"Hardly." He scoffed. "I'm only considering the weight of all that ice. And the Waterbenders who control it."
"Oh the natives won't hurt you." Ursa said quickly. "After all, you are going to be the ambassador here."
Zuko took in a sharp breath, the cold air stabbing the back of his throat. As the hot pain of the frozen air hit his lungs, he started to cough. As Ursa came to him, Zuko could see his uncle stare at him with indignant curiosity.
Pushing away his mother, Zuko gave one last, hacking cough.
"Breathed in some ice." He managed through his strangled throat. His uncle's face relaxed just as Zuri thumped his back with a laugh.
"Maybe it's good you're scared of the ice. It seems to be trying to kill you." They said.
As they disembarked, Katara and Sokka were brought over. Seeing their faces, but especially Katara's open mouthed amazement, Zuko felt a pang of longing. He wanted this to be a good experience for her, to replace his own bad memories of his time here.
The thought of his fight with Katara, more than his abduction of Aang, made him frown. At least he had started to realize the truth with Aang; Katara had just been a person he hated after that day.
Thinking that he had ever hated her made his stomach twist.
"What is the matter Zuko?" Ursa asked softly. Zuko looked up and realized she had gotten them alone, at least for the moment.
"I think Uncle mistrusts me." He said. Ursa frowned, but it was a very different expression from the one Zuko often donned. The lines between her brows made her look thoughtful, and there were no angry lines pulling her lips down into a grimace.
"What did you do?" She asked. It shocked Zuko, despite her tone lacking any accusation.
"I went into the Spirit World." He answered. The lines between her brows deepened and he continued on.
"I saw Azula." He added.
"Why did you…" Ursa drifted and looked over at the group. Iroh was talking to the men on the canoes.
Turning back to Zuko, she leaned in and spoke quickly.
"Why did you go there?" She asked. She spoke with such urgency, it made Zuko nervous.
"I. I don't know. I think it had to do with the ritual." He said.
Ursa did not grab her arm, nor did she even look down. She had trained for this, had lived her adult life learning how to give nothing away.
"It called to you and Azula." She stated and Zuko nodded. She swore then, which scared him. It was a break in her costume, in her role.
"Your uncle may try to use that." Ursa said. Thinking for a moment, Ursa turned away from him, looking back at the group. They were loading up the canoes now; it would only be a matter of moments before they would have to board.
"We have to stick to our plan. You have to stay in your uncle's good graces to become Fire Lord." Ursa said quietly.
"Mother, I think Azula is in trouble." Zuko said as he stepped up to stand next to her.
"And you will be able to help her once you are Fire Lord." Ursa stated.
"But mother, she said-" Zuko stopped as Ursa turned sharply to face him.
"I am well aware of what your sister said. Who do you think has been intercepting her letters?" She hissed. Zuko took a step back, barely registering how his mother's face had contorted into something venomous.
"Then why haven't you done anything?" He questioned.
"We can't have your uncle suspecting that Azula has gone mad. There can be no weakness." Ursa answered firmly.
My own mother thought I was a monster. Azula's words came back to him and Zuko felt cold.
Zuko had thought that it was simply an event that had changed the course of this world. Perhaps even Lu Ten's survival had been the catalyst to change things so drastically.
But looking back at his beautiful mother's face, Zuko had another thought.
Every single person in this world was simply different, or wrong.
"Your Highnesses," Zuri said as they walked up. "Our boats are ready."
"Thank you Zuri." Ursa said with relief. "I do believe I'm catching a chill."
"Your son should do a better job assisting you." Zuri said and glanced at Zuko.
Then who was Zuri? He wondered.