AN: I'm making minor edits to the existing four chapters right now. Maybe someday I'll do major edits. And one of these days I'm gonna write another chapter…
Chapter Two: No News is Good News
It was early afternoon before Zuko was finished shopping. He had purchased the fresh water, food, extra engine parts, and candles that he had intended to buy the previous day. And after the events of yesterday, he thought it best to also purchase more keyjan root and other depressants to keep the prisoners under control. Mainly, the Avatar.
The Prince had finished buying these things late morning, but other things had come up. Chef Jiru insisted he needed more ingredients for the pantry and wanted Zuko to pay for them since he considered seasonings for preparing dinner as supplies. They spent an hour combing the shops for, what seemed to Zuko, every practical and exotic ingredient in the world. When Jiru finally made for the ship, two crates in hand, Iroh had approached his nephew with the idea that they go clothes shopping.
Zuko had protested greatly. "We're not shopping for you," his uncle had interceded. "We're buying clothes for the prisoners. If you intend to make the peasants slaves, they will need more than the garments they are wearing. The clothes of grown men will not fit them when they need something to wear on laundry day." Zuko hadn't seen any fault in this logic and with his uncle's help, proceeded to buy six outfits. Two for each prisoner.
Now, Zuko watched from the docks as the last of the necessities for his voyage were loaded onto his ship. I'm going home. The thought rang triumphant through him. I'm going HOME!! he repeated. After two and a half years, he was returning to the Fire Nation. He would ride through the streets of the capital in victory with the Avatar in tow. He would be received by his father and his honor would be restored.
It took all of Zuko's protocol training not to start laughing out loud. But he could not suppress a gleeful chuckle or two. "Might I ask what is so funny, Prince Zuko?"
The Fire Prince's happiness died instantly as he heard that voice. Couldn't that jerk mind his own business? Suppressing a scream of frustration, Zuko turned back toward the city to face Admiral Zhao.
The Admiral was standing at ease, his head held high, his mouth smirking. You won't be questioning me as you please for much longer, Ape Face, thought Zuko with some amusement.
Zuko had never respected Zhao and he saw no reason to start now. "You may," was all he said in return.
"Admiral Zhao!" They heard someone shout and Iroh appeared beside Zuko.
"General Iroh." Zhao bowed.
"What brings you to Croce, Admiral?" Iroh inquired.
Why are you making conversation, Uncle?! We need to leave as soon as possible. Why do you have to be so polite?! Zuko thought exasperatedly.
"I'm marching a regiment through the hills. I thought it best to stop near a town for the night so the men can . . . amuse themselves in the taverns before we continue."
"How very generous of you," Iroh said. Zuko snorted, Generous?
Zhao turned his attention back to the teenager. "You know, Prince Zuko? I think I have news that will interest you. I don't know why I didn't mention it first thing," he said smugly.
Zuko kept his face neutral. The Admiral was trying to bait him. He maintained silence, waiting for Zhao to take the hint and continue unprompted.
Unperturbed by the Prince's coldness, Zhao continued in the same smug manner. "Passing close by the outskirts of Croce, I saw a great deal of blood covering the grass. Seeing a trail of the red liquid, I sent some of my men to follow it. They returned with an . . . interesting report." The Admiral paused here to allow Zuko a chance to say something.
Zuko wasn't going to show Zhao that he was curious. Besides, he had a strong suspicion he already knew what the soldiers had found.
After a few seconds, Zhao plowed on, "They said they had seen a giant white bison. Supposedly the one belonging to the Avatar. The animal was badly wounded and seemed to be bordering on the verge of going into a coma from pain. As such a bison is rare nowadays it makes sense that this one is indeed the Avatar's. He is most likely in the area if his means of travel is useless now."
Zuko's heart was pounding. Zhao wasn't as stupid as the Prince would like him to be. But what kind of game was he playing? He was just as determined to capture the Avatar as Zuko was. He wouldn't share information with his competition. He'd be out trying to find his prey before Zuko got wise to the Avatar's presence. Unless, Zhao knew that Zuko could offer an explanation as to why the bison was wounded.
The Prince's heart skipped a beat as a horrifying thought ran through his mind. Did Zhao know that he had the Avatar on his ship? No. There was no way he could know that. And if he did, he wouldn't be standing here making conversation. Zuko forced himself to remain calm. He had to keep a level head. He maintained his expression of indifference as the Admiral spoke again.
"You don't seem as excited as I thought you would be, Prince Zuko. The opportunity to regain your honor is within reach and you aren't attempting to take it." Zhao eyes danced maliciously as he teased the Prince. "Maybe it's because you've already seized the opportunity and-"
"FOR YOUR INFORMATION ADMIRAL, I ALREADY KNEW THE AVATAR WAS HERE!" Zuko cut in. The stress of the situation had broken his self control. Zhao had been pressing him for information; for the slightest hint that Zuko knew where the Avatar was. Well, thought Zuko, I intend to keep my prize. You can't have him. The Avatar is mine now! He had to get out of this conversation; to steer Zhao away from these dangerous waters. He needed to lie.
Zuko could never look Zhao in the face when he lied. But being indignant might make it easier. "I attacked the Avatar yesterday," he began fiercely. "During the battle, I wounded the bison hoping to keep the Avatar from fleeing. But he still had his glider and he took to the skies. He didn't even look back at his bleeding pet so I decided to let it die as it pleased instead of using it as means for the Avatar to come to me," he huffed.
Zuko glared at Zhao. The Admiral's expression was inscrutable. Iroh had remained still for the entire time of Zuko's rant, but he seemed ready to defend his nephew's version of the truth if asked.
An idea popped into Zuko's head and he added, "I don't know where the Avatar is now, but I know where he's going. I intend to set out immediately and get there before him."
A pause.
"Where is he going?" Zhao almost whispered.
Zuko couldn't just say a location. Zhao might think the information false if Zuko gave it up so willingly. "Surely even you have figured it out by now," he said wryly. Yes, insulting Zhao's intelligence insured that the Admiral would indeed try to predict where the Avatar was going.
Before Zhao could press Zuko further, a soldier came up to Zhao holding a golden toy sword. The hilt was incrusted with rubies and a dragon engraving snaked along the blade. "Admiral, this was the best we could find. Will it do?" the soldier asked.
Zhao looked at the sword for a few seconds before nodding. "Yes, wrap it up. I'll write the letter to accompany it to the capital tonight."
Iroh finally spoke, "The capital, Admiral? Which noble family has had a child?"
Zuko was thoroughly annoyed with his uncle for prolonging their encounter with Zhao, but he too was slightly curious about the Admiral's interest in toy shopping. The toy was undoubtedly for a noble baby boy. Maybe Zhao needed to suck up to someone to get promoted. Again.
The Admiral looked puzzled at Iroh's question, "Why, the Royal family, General Iroh."
: That's a cliffie for ya.
A few notes for the previous chapter and on chapters to come:
-The idea of heating up the boomerang is from "Iroh's Folly" by Booter-Freak. I give credit where credit is due.
-The keyjan root suppressant is permissively borrowed from Spleefmistress' story "Volcano" just to have some consistency in the fandom…
-Sorry, but I needed Appa out of the way and I didn't want to kill him. He will return.
-I have no interest in writing a part for Momo so let's just pretend he doesn't exist for this story.
-Writing a part in the battle for Iroh was something I considered. But in epi 15, he seemed content to sample perfume instead of helping his nephew. So I let him shop.
-Azula will be in this story somewhere. I don't know how much we'll see of her though.
-I've pretty much decided on the name Ryota (from Hotspur's "Downfall") for the Fire Lord-y name. And now you all know why I needed it!