Chapter 3: You're a Mystic
We had set sail a few hours ago and after a while, I've haven't been staring at anything but ocean. It was beautiful, staring at the crystal blue water as the sun sparkled off of it. Zuko and I were the only ones on deck but we weren't standing together. Except for the gushing wind, it was peacefully quite, that is until Iroh cam up on deck.
"I knew I would figure it out sooner or later!" he said excitedly walking towards me.
Zuko perked his head and started walking over, 'What is it uncle? Have you found news on the Avatar's whereabouts?" He asked.
"No, but I have solved my little dilemma." He said and then turned to me. "My dear, has anyone ever told you that you resemble the goddess Anora?'
"No." I started, "Who is that?"
"Lovely woman, she was the leader of the Mystics." Iroh said.
"What's a Mystic?" Zuko asked.
"The Mystics were once a strong tribe of uniquely skilled individuals. They were mystical…hence the name Mystics!" he laughed. "Clever huh?"
Neither of us laughed so Iroh cleared his throat before continuing, "Anyway, are you a Mystic Anhayla?"
I knew that question all too well. "I don't know. My family use to tell me that I looked like them but there was no way that I could be one." I said looking away. Just the mention of my family caused me to pain. They were such good people.
"I thought you said you didn't have any family." Zuko said. I ignored him though.
"But you look like one. You have the trademark brown skin, the long hair, but I've never seen a Mystic with grey eyes before." He said.
"Yes, that's what they said but I just can't be a Mystic." I said.
"Why not?" Iroh asked. I thought it be better to show him so I stepped forward a little and shot out a burst of indigo fire. Both of their eyes suddenly widened.
"So what does that mean?" Zuko asked.
"Well, Mystics aren't supposed to be benders. They're magical beings and they possess a power that goes a little deeper than just controlling the elements." He said then paused for a moment. "Do you have a tattoo?"
"…Yes."
"Well, every Mystic has a tattoo. You must know a little magic, right?" he asked.
"I don't know anything about the Mystics." I said sadly. "And they're not around anymore so I can't be taught."
"They can't be all gone. Mystics are great at surviving during harsh times and besides I know a little something about the Mystics. I did have a chance to study their goddess Anora." Iroh said.
"You would teach me?" I asked, hopeful.
"Sure, although I'm no substitute for a real Mystic master, I should be able to teach you something.
"Yeah, that all sounds good." Zuko started out. "Why do you have indigo fire?"
"Heck if I know, it's always been that color." I said
Iroh's face suddenly darkened a little and I couldn't tell why. He turned his attention to me. "You've never seen a Mystic before have you?" he asked.
"No."
"How is that? Aren't your parents supposed to one?" Zuko asked.
"The people who practically raised me weren't' my parents. They were just…. Just, I don't know. They took care of me and that was fine enough for me." I said. I looked down and closed my eyes. Ever since they were murdered I tried to never think of them. Chung, Ryu, Lee, and Lisa, I missed them all so much that I couldn't bear to hang on to their memories. So I tried to let them go.
Just then I felt a hand on my shoulder, "Perhaps you should rest Anhayla. You don't look well."
I opened my eyes to see a very concerned Iroh. I shook my head yes, "You're right, I don't feel well. I'm going to go lay down." I said walking towards the stairs that would lead be below. Once I was out there sight and in my room, I dropped to me knees. I actually felt sick to my stomach. Out of everything I've been through with my family, the only thing I can remember is them being slaughtered in front of me. I grabbed the bucket beside the bed and threw up. I felt body temperature starting to rise; I was getting angry; angrier than I ever remember being. I just closed my eyes and cried silently on the floor; trying to put those long forgotten memories of my family back in the deepest part of my mind.
Iroh's POV
I probably shouldn't have asked her about whether or not she'd ever seen a Mystic before. That's probably too touchy of a subject. Poor girl probably doesn't even who they are. I'm not surprised, so my people abused many of the Mystic women. There must be a lot of Mystic and Fire Nation mixed children out there.
"I wonder what that was all about." Zuko said, snapping me out of my thoughts.
"Zuko, she probably doesn't know who her parents are. The Mystics have never been the same since the war started and many years ago things just got worse and worse. No one really sees the Mystics anymore." I explained.
"Why not, what exactly happened to them?" Zuko asked.
"What do you think happened to them prince Zuko?" I asked.
"Oh…. yeah." he said and walked away. I sat down with my legs crossed in front of me. The Fire Nation has done so much damage to so many people. And to think, I use to serve them blindly. How could I have been so foolish? Even though I never hurt the Mystic people myself, some my men under my command in the army probably had their share of Mystic women. It was probably because of my life of hatred that I lost the most important person in my life. No, I shouldn't think like that. Everything happens for a reason and it is better now that I changed my ways to have never done it all. I just hope I can help change Zuko into the man I am and not the man I was.
Zuko's POV
It was getting dark outside and I hadn't heard of word out of Anhayla. What was she doing in that room? My curiosity got the best of me so around dinnertime; I went to check on her. I opened the door to her room and found her lying on her back on the floor. I stepped in.
"Don't you know how to knock?" she asked.
"I don't have to knock on a door that belongs to me. This is my ship." I said.
"Get over yourself." She said sitting up and facing me. "Just because you're a prince doesn't mean you own everything." She said. She sounded pretty upset but I don't why. I didn't do anything to her.
"You're right, I am a prince and that means you should show me some respect." I demanded.
"Should I bow and kiss your feet Prince Zuko?" She asked sarcastically.
"You sure have a loose mouth to be a nobody." I said. As soon as I said that, her expression changed from annoyed to slightly hurt. She laid back down so she wouldn't have to look at me. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said that." I said lightly.
"Whatever." she sighed.
"Uh, I came here to tell you that dinner would be ready soon so you should get to the table. Uncle eats as much as you so you might want to beat him to a plate." I said, almost at an attempt to get her to laugh. It didn't work because she remained silent. I stood there in awkward silence for a while. I turned to leave.
"Well, I guess I'll see you at dinner then." I said beginning to walk out but then something caught my eye. On the small table next to the bed was a small pouch, a pouch that looked very familiar. I walked over and picked it up and sure enough, it was my money.
"You stole my money!" I shouted.
Anhayla sat up and smiled at me, "Duh, why else would I have attacked you? I wasn't doing it for fun." She said.
"So that's why you…" I trailed off trying to think of a way to put it. During our little scuffle, I felt her hands go places I thought were weird. She did it so fast that I thought I imagined it.
"No Zuko, I was trying to cop a feel." She smirked.
"What?" I asked dumbfounded.
She got up and brushed herself off and walked beside me, "It was a joke…" she said walking past, so I turned to face her. "Although, money wasn't the only thing I found. You must really work out." She said before completely exiting the room.