Zuko
X
I received a letter from the Fire Nation yesterday. It was written by my firebending master. Hisaishi is currently representing me as in the Fire Nation parliament. He is my voice, the only person I trust enough to bear this responsibility. When I came of age and took the throne, my ministers who were aware of my military position, unanimously agreed that I should ascend to the position of Strategos Sovereign, the highest military rank in my nation and one traditionally awarded honorarily to the leader of the nation should he or she pursue a military career.
I refused.
They wanted me to serve my military career from a luxuriously build office, protected by tight security, where I would be served fine wines and quality meals. I was to merely command the men and women of the military to fight and die on the country's behalf. They strongly discouraged me from personally stepping on enemy soil and actively serving alongside my soldiers.
I couldn't do it. It would be an insult to Mai's memory. Hisaishi agreed with my ministers and had tried to persuade me that leading far from the chaos of war was a good thing. His logic was simple: I was the Fire Nation's guardian by cosmic design. He believed that I was the human representation of the heavenly alliance, the league of sentinels from the Cosmos.
To me, all this sounded like make-belief. I used to be a believer of the stories of the nation's ancient religion. I believed strongly that Agni had vested within me great authority and importance. I was taught from an early age that it was my people's duty to serve and respect me. I was convinced that I was a gift to them; that I would always be invincible and would never have to weather any hardships.
I was sadly mistaken.
My family fell into ruins as misfortune and illness claimed those closest to me. I thought it would only be a short stint of misfortune. I hoped that the clouds of loss would pass quickly so I could continue living the good life I was entitled to. However, things didn't improve and soon, all I had left was the memory of what was.
The reality hit me hard and I realized that I had been mistaken all my life. I was not a gift to my people, but one of the people myself. I was not to be respected if I could not respect and as heir to the throne, I was obliged to serve my people and not have them slave away on my behalf.
The epiphany of the right perspective came the day I graduated from the military academy. That very same realization had fueled my passion in building my military career as a soldier and not as the Fire Lord. Even after I took the throne, I did not use my position as ruler as a means to climb the military ladder.
Hence, I declined to ascend to the rank of Strategos Sovereign without first proving myself worthy of it by my own merits. I continued to be Fire Lord, but did not let that position influence my military rank.
The way I saw it, if I were good enough to rise to military prestige through my own efforts, then so it shall be, but I would not take the easy route. This decision caused great controversy but I wasn't bothered by what rumors might say. I kept to my word, appointing Master Hisaishi to represent me in the wake of pursuing my career as a young officer.
Today, I sit in my office and read the letter again. It has been quite a little intriguing really. Like I said, I am not a superstitious man and so it shouldn't surprise my mentor that I do not intend to take his letter seriously. He writes about a vision he received while he was meditating. I realize that there are great benefits to said activity. The serenity that ensues while performing such an exercise is soothing and very comforting. However, I do so mostly with the intention of composing myself instead of hoping for premonition.
Then again, the letter does cause a stir within the confines of my chest despite me trying to write off its prediction as superstitious hocus pocus. Thus I read it a few times more and force a smile upon my lips every time; in the effort to pretend that I am not concerned, even though evidently, I am.
X
My Lord
I understand that you are busy and do not wish to be disturbed during this time. It seems to me that it is important that I remind you how I have watched you grow. I have known you for the majority of your life and I will be honest with you, my lord, that I had no allegiance other than that that lies with the current Fire Nation rule. I promised your grandfather that I would serve the Fire Nation throne until the day I died… it was later that I realized that this is true no longer.
Forgive me Fire Lord Zuko for speaking this that might be upsetting. My allegiance is not to the throne, it is not to the crown, or the Fire Nation, but to you… you, who are simply Zuko. Therefore, forgive me for violating the protocol that should be present during every exchange between lord and servant.
Tarry a little my Lord Zuko, and heed what I need to say. As of this sentence, I am writing as your friend and mentor. For the remainder of this missive, I shall disregard our positions as lord and servant and seek only that you consider seriously what is written herein.
Zuko, I know well that you are not the child who wailed at the accidental burning of his fingers from the fire he could not control. You have grown from strength to strength, matured and become a wiser and more matured individual. I pray, however, that you will not continue on your folly path of ignoring the signs that come from Agni.
I have seen the way that Agni blessed our nation when your grandfather and your father before you were Fire Lords. They were men of intelligent minds and steadfast hearts, but I am certain that all the success they enjoyed during the periods when they ruled was because they sought the guidance of Agni. They were sincere in practicing their faith, something you do not favor.
Zuko, I had a vision a fortnight ago during meditating, and have considered carefully whether it would be appropriate to mention it in the bimonthly letters between us. I have decided that since it concerns you centrally, I am obliged, as your friend to warn you of your impending doom.
In my vision, you were banished to the dungeons by a darkened figure. His identity was shrouded in mystery but the hate within his heart was so great it was frightening. It was seen that he would destroy you, finding favor amongst your ministers and then over throwing your rule. He would humiliate you and your legacy before killing you with his own hands.
I saw that your ministers gained wisdom of his dark intentions through this brutal act and demanded that he relinquish the throne he had taken as his own. But it was far too late, for there were already men and women promoted in the government that gave their loyal support to his cause. The force that bound the dark figure and these men and women was far more than just political gain; but also something deeper, something I could not see through the vision.
I felt helpless as I tried hard to maintain my composure and note all that I could. And then, like a heavenly sign, I saw the glint of gold in his eyes. This man, whoever he was, was one of our own.
In closing, I urge you therefore Zuko, to strengthen your bond with your council. Return to your nation and sit upon the throne that is your entitlement. Do not, I pray, allow the forces of darkness to slay the greatness of this nation.
I send you my sincerest regards Lord Zuko.
Yours truly
H
X
The weather has improved much in the past week. Even though it is still chilly, the cold has receded somewhat and Tom-Tom feels more comfortable out in the open now than previously. Nothing has changed in his routine yet as he still somehow manages to find time to accompany Tia during her meal time. He tucks a warm loaf of bread within his coat and starts towards the prison block where his lover resides as the lone resident.
His friend greets him with a nod and allows him in. Such is somewhat of an arranged agreement between them. The guard leaves him with the young lady as he allows them some time alone. In Tom-Tom's opinion, their meetings are more romantically fueled than they are sexual. One would not expect this to be true of a relationship between a man who craves love and a prostitute.
Tom-Tom will not deny that he does enjoy their occasional love-making. But, what he enjoys far more than anything is the heartfelt talks they have and the light kisses she allows him to plant on the back of her hand.
He takes every opportunity he gets to tell her how much he loves her. She normally smiles when he says this. However, when the young man is not looking, Tia's eyes often go downcast as her heart sobs for him. You would think given all the hardship in her life, Tia would be incapable of sympathy. This is not true of her because in her heart, all she feels for Tom-Tom is pity.
He takes her hand within his calloused one and kisses it. She looks into his grey eyes. There is expectancy. She knows he wants her to show him some sign of affection, signs that she feels obliged to give because there is a constant nagging within her to thank him for the kindness he never hesitates to show. The false impression she has given him, that she loves him also, has been making her increasingly uncomfortable.
"The bread's really fresh, you know," Tom-Tom tells Tia as he brushes a strand of hair from between her eyes. She looks at him and sees the overwhelmingly deep love for her in his grey orbs. "So," he continues, breaking through her line of thought. "I got this for you when I went out with my former squad mates," he says and passes her a hairclip with butterflies craved into its wood.
"I like it," Tia says softly and takes it from his hand. "Tom-Tom," she begins as he moves to place the hair accessory on her head. "I think it's so beautiful. But I have something I wanted to tell you," she announces, instinctively holding his hand to her cheek. "You are so kind to me," she remarks, seemingly awed by his pureness of heart. He moves to kiss her but she halts him.
"I have a story for you," Tia announces then and waits for him to ready himself to hear her words.
"There are countless entities beyond our world. Far away from us there is another galaxy where a particular planet resides. Centaur takes four millennia to complete a single orbit around its star." The young corporal smiles at her as he appreciates the cadence of her voice.
"During its orbit around the star, it crosses path with the planet Amarah for a brief period of a month, during which, it is blocked from its star. It lingers a little, then is forced to part with said planet again only to return another four thousand years later." She breathes deeply and takes his face in her hands.
"My village elders tell of the love story between the two the spirits that embody the respective planets, similar to the way the Avatar is the embodiment of our world. Centaur is embodied by he that is known as the Centurion. Amarah is represented by a female spirit known as the Faun. Between them was an unrequited romance that caused disruption of peace in the Cosmos. You see, the Centurion loved the Faun who did not love him. He caused a ruckus up in the sky because of the pain he suffered from rejected."
"As punishment, the Centurion's planet of Centaur was cast far away from the warmth. It was then forbidden from crossing paths with the Faun's again. But the Centurion had other plans and insisted on his planet meeting hers every four thousand years. It would be a lasting one-sided love that would cause destruction. Every four millennia when these two planets cross paths, Centaur is plunged into icy death. The spirit of the Centurion is said to live on in the planet as it continues to suffer gravely for the unrequited love that can never be."
"Tom-Tom, the Centurion represents you and its destruction is what will befall you should you choose to continue your pursuit of the impossible relationship between us." She takes a deep breath as confusion spread across his features.
"Loving someone like me is not worth the demise of someone like you."
"I don't understand how your stories tie in with us…"
"It does because… I have never loved you."
Tom-Tom has never felt colder in his life.
A/N: Review everyone! Hi all! it's been a while! the only reason i have time to write this long chapter (it's long to me) is because i'm on a lengthy hospital leave from fracturing my arm and requiring a surgery to correct it. I've missed you all! and i hope you're still following this story despite my irregular updates :) thanks for the attention everyone! cheers!