All Roads Lead to Shukumei

By: Foxflame

I don't know why, but I have this sudden urge to be writing. I just updated another story of mine with 3 new chapters, when I was sure I would never return to the writing world of fanfiction! But I came across my old story and realized this has good potential to take off and hopefully become a well revered Zutara fanfiction!

Another note: just in case it was not cleared up, the town they met in was not Shukumei, it was the town at the base of the long road to go to Shukumei. I decided to put a little legend in this chapter to perhaps help the understanding. I am sorry, I thought I was more clear in my descriptions.

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Only the curious will learn and only the resolute overcome the obstacles to learning. The quest quotient has always excited me more than the intelligence quotient.

Eugene S. Wilson

Chapter 4: Night 1: Legends Never Die

She was surprised to see him that was not a lie. She could not even remember the last time she was with him, alone, in such proximity. Well actually, she was not alone right now. She had a fuming fire prince at her side.

"You" scoffed Prince Zuko.

"Yes, me. And you, and her. Now that that is all settled, may I ask why you guys are passing the first rest point? Its getting late yanno," questioned the rebel teen.

" Your going to Shukumei, Jet?" ask Katara, surprised apparent in her tone. "I figured since the fire nation was defeated you and your gang would take to pillaging villages, gaining revenge, that sort of thing" No matter how much time passed, Katara was still bitter about their first encounter and Jets obvious use of Katara's water bending to destroy a fire nation town.

He winced slightly at the reminder of his…troubled past , to say the least. "Katara, we are on the road to Shukumei here. There is no more past, just a future. And that is what I am looking for. I think since the fall of fire nation, a lot of people are left without purpose. I have heard people saying that this is the largest group to take up the journey down the road."

The sun was indeed setting down slowly, and the rims of a purple sky were beginning to show through. Zuko, who went almost entirely unnoticed during their conversation, decided to speak up.

" Where is this checkpoint then?"

Jet then turned to the young prince, disgust still evident on his face. He leaned forward on his swords in a lounge looking way before saying " What makes you think your welcome here, oh young Fire Lord. Once this congregation finds out you're here, I highly doubt you'll even make it to the city"

At once his fist was engulfed in flames.

"STOP. The war is over, no more fighting. Jet , don't be a jerk. I know it's a little to much to ask, but I am asking anyway. I am traveling with him and he is coming with me. And I would think, Jet, what with that little speech you gave about ' new beginnings' , you'd be the most understanding one here about Zuko" Katara was breathing heavily at the end of her words, obviously annoyed with the wheat chewing boy.

"When you get tired of him Katara, or he turns on you, just whistle. Ill be close" and with that he took to the trees again. Katara just looked at Zuko whose fist was still alight.

"You should put that out. I think he is right, Fire Nation probably isn't to welcome here" Zuko said nothing, but immediately put out the flame. His mind was once again in overdrive. This girl was protecting him.

Him.

Someone who hunted them, destroyed their village, almost killed them on more then one occasion. It seemed that Prince Zuko had a lot to learn.

The pair made their way into the clearing off to the right of the road, into the forest. There were small fires scattered all around , with different groups of people gathered around, cooking meals and telling stories.

They found a fire pit ( which Zuko lit under much cover given by Katara) and began eating that nights dinner. The sky was a canvas of colors, when the two travelers overheard the oohs and ahhs of a crowd a few fire pits over.

"Shall we?" asked Katara, not waiting for an answer, got up and walked over to see what everyone was looking at.

Children were lined up the closest, obvious enjoyment etched into their faces. The source of the entertainment was an old couple. The husband, the water bender, and the wife, an earth bender. Together , with water supplied from the stream near by, and the ground, they twisted the mud into shapes and designs, making the small children giggle with glee as the figures weaved through them.

"Hm" scoffed Zuko, obviously unamused. "Child stuff" Before he could turn to walk away, the old woman called to him.

"Oh young man, this is just the beginning. Stick around, and we will tell you the tale of how the great city of Shukumei was created." Her arms and legs were moving in rhythmic motion with her husbands, bending and twisting the mud above head to create the figures of two young people.

"The tale begins with the love of a very unlikely pair. Perhaps the fact their love was found through adversity, it was made even stronger. This couple was unlikely due to the fact, that the woman was a very powerful water bender, and her lover a very powerful fire bender. It was natural that elementary opposites would conflict, but it was worse then that.

"Their families, like most, dismissed their love as unreal, and forced them to be apart. Naturally this could not be, so one night under the full moon, they ran to meet each other at the town we took off from our journey today. However, they were followed, and betrayed by members of their own tribe." The couple wove together more startling figures in the sky, water and earth forming a mud like clay army of figures

"Immediately, they lovers ran, holding hands all the while. Behind them, not to far off, was their families and loved ones chasing them poised with weapons aimed at the other offending person. They ran , so says legend, for the whole night. The full moon seemed to shine a safe path for them to run, while their predators were stuck fighting the underbrush and thickness of the forest.

"Eventually, they lost them. Panting and exhausted, the couple instantly fell asleep in a safe cave they found at the base of what we now know as Shukumei mountain. Unbeknownst to them, the spirits of the Sun and Moon had been watching them, and were impressed with their pure love.

"The Sun spirit, being the source of fire power, and the Moon being the source of water power, decided to put their differences aside to help the young couple. It was always a mystery as to why the sun and moon were never in the sky at the same time. One always ran away from the other, and that is why we have day and night.

"But one thing was for certain. Moved by their plight, the Sun and Moon moved together in the sky and created the first solar eclipse. This time of darkened light scared off the villagers, who obviously understood they angered the powerful spirits. When the lovers awoke from their slumber, they found the sky to be glowing, with the moon and sun overlapping in the sky.

"It was immediately understood by the two, that this was the place to begin their home. So started the small village, which over time grew. Day by day, wandering people found their way through the woods to this village of peace and prosperity. None , however, could explain how they got there or what course of action drew them there. All agreed though, that it was destiny.

"Over time the village grew into a vast city. Nobody ever understood what it was about it, but the grass is said to always be green, the harvest always plentiful, the water forever flowing clear. And one thing was for certain. If you traveled to Shukumei, you did not leave without fulfillment.

"The spirits are said to shine the brightest over the city of Shukumei. And that, my friends, is what brings us all here on this road, heading to what we hope to find."

Some people clapped, and others just stared in silence at the place where the clay figures were only moments ago.

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"Do you think the legend is true? That the spirits shine brightest there?" asked Katara as she snuggled down into her sleeping bag. Zuko only turned over in his own, and said "I …honestly, don't know."

"Wouldn't it be amazing to bend there? With the moon so strong, I bet my abilities will get better, and maybe I can meet a water bending master…"

Katara stared up at the stars, the warm fire cackling at her feet. A few feet away, she heard a mother talking to her child, who was obviously afraid of the dark. She fiddled with her necklace, and tried to push certain thoughts from her mind.

"Hey Zuko? What are you going to Shukumei for?" She didn't expect an answer in all honesty. If anything, she was more voicing her thoughts she had since they first started this morning.

"I need to find something" at first she thought it was her imagination, but after a moments silence, she understood it was in fact the prince talking.

"Well, I'm not going to ask you what it is, but from what I know of you, you always seem to be looking for something. For a long time now, all you searched for was Aang. But now with that in the past, what can it be? But I think that if you are still searching for something, that Aang was never what you wanted to find in the first place"

She was blunt. Straight to the point. And what was worse, Zuko knew her words to be correct.

"Maybe."

She was surprised once more she even got another answer out of him. However short it may be.

"I'm tired" he said immediately as she opened her mouth to try and trick him into speaking once more. She understood that to be her signal to back off, so Katara turned on her side and closed her eyes.

"Goodnight Prince Zuko."

And there they slept.

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Fox: end of chapter. Welp I wont lie, I really have more passion writing my other story, but I just enjoy updating this story because I don't have to be to serious about it. Its short and sweet and an easy write. It's a good way to pass the time yanno? Hopefully ill spit out another chapter soon, but this is taking a back seat to Bibouroku! I hope your enjoying my small story. Reviews are love !!!!