Ok guys, next chapter up! I personally like this one. I hope it makes you feel good, warms and fuzzy all inside. Yay warm fuzziness!!!!!
Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar, or this lullaby. Mike and Bryan do. Well I DO own the last bit. I wanted to extend it. So yeah, have fun folks.
I apologize for it's shortness.
Dedicated to all soldiers out there
Zuko pushed himself away from the crowded tea shop, desperately trying to get away from the loud banter and sound that emitted from its tiny interior. He was on his lunch break, and fully planned to take advantage of it. He couldn't stand the cacophony of voices that rang through his head every day while he served tea as a lowly waiter in there.
He ran a hand through his quickly growing thick head of hair, liking the way it felt. He had to admit, it became a habit that oddly enough, comforted him. Not today though. Not today of all days.
Not on the annual Soldiers day.
That was the holiday in the Fire Nation celebrated every year to honor the soldiers away from home or at war. Each year a single troop of soldiers would be selected to come home for a festival that would last a week. This year, it should've been his.
Even if he had still been with his crew, hunting the avatar and not an outlaw, he still wouldn't be able to go home. A banished prince, taboo, bad luck, a disgrace…
Was that all he would ever be known as?
Zuko sped up his walk, bumping into people, nearly tripping over his own feet; he didn't even hear the call of Jin shouting his name. All he heard was his mother's voice. How when he was little, she told him he'd be a brave soldier, who would fight well for their nation. Be a hero, and every time he'd come home, she would embrace and love him. She promised.
She never was able to keep that promise.
Leaves from the vine, falling so slow
Zuko lifted his downcast head, and saw three people, a two boys and a girl, playing a lullaby he knew well. A fire nation lullaby you always heard. The girls voice rose gently, and when she saw him she smiled, her eyes a beautiful gold. Just like his mothers.
Like tiny, fragile shells, drifting in the foam.
Zuko wandered over to them, staring blankly as he got to the front of the small group of people watching them. He thought he saw blue, and then saw the water tribe girl, standing there next to him. Watching the three who performed, just as mesmerized as he was.
Brave soldier boy, come marching home.
Suddenly she looked at him. What was her name? Katara? Yes, that was it. Katara. Her eyes barely widened in surprise. She just stared for a moment, her eyes saying, Just this once, it told him, Just this once, let's listen and remember. He smiled a bit as she turned her head back, her brown hair sprinkled with peach blossoms. The equivalent of cherry blossoms in his country. She must have been there awhile.
Little soldier boy, come marching home.
Zuko closed his eyes and let his home land flood his mind, as he did he felt a sharp pang in his chest. Would he ever go back? Go back to the land that people hated? Back to a land where people hated him, and all he had were horrific memories of shame and despair?
From the battle fought, come marching home.
He guessed he had good memories too. Most of those consisted of his mother and Uncle Iroh. He loved his mother, more then anything. And he lost her to the nation he was born to defend.
I will not sleep until I see your face.
More then anything, Zuko wanted a piece of a good memory. An anchor to home that wasn't rusted by hate, anger and sorrow. He wanted to be one of those soldiers who got to go home and be welcomed into the arms of the ones he loved.
And run into your arms, in your embrace.
When he thought about it, he smiled. What if he could run into the arms of someone he loved? That could be easily done here. He could run to his Uncle, and maybe he could make new friendships, if he really tried. But would he be willing?
Brave little soldier boy, now you're a man.
He was older now, and he could choose his destiny, and be a soldier. A soldier of his own choosing. Zuko suddenly felt lifted as a breeze blew into him, swirling peach blossoms coating his hair. Aren't they beautiful Zuko? He could almost here his mother say. One day, you'll have a special someone to see them with too. And a child you can hold onto, and tell of coming home.
Come home to me, little soldier boy.
Zuko then felt lighter. A warm piece of home would always be with him. A piece of his mother. He would also be a soldier that would return home one day. But not to the material home of his birth.
But into the home of people who cared about him.
So you can be in my arms again.