Chapter 3
Recap: An elderly woman stood at the open gate with a basket filled with ripe fruit and a giant grin as Mimyoh landed and the travelers climbed down off her back.
Chapter 3
Kaguya leaned into Zuko, whispering to him, "Don't be frightened… This is the woman who made me strong… Except… I don't know where we are. Mimyoh does though!"
"That woman… do you know her?" Prince Zuko asked Kaguya. But, she had gone over to the woman, completely disregarding Zuko's question, with no worry.
"You! Boy! Look into my copper bowl!" The woman commanded. Zuko stood to attention, and walked over to the copper bowl. "Hmm… very interesting…" The Seer commented. "It looks like you are going to be traveling with Kaguya to capture the Avatar…" Zuko stepped back, as the Seer brought him to a stone bench, and offered him some fruit to eat, as she give Kaguya some guidance of her own.
"Young Miss Kaguya… It is nice to see you again." The Seer said.
"Likewise to you too." Kaguya replied. Kaguya had looked into the copper bowl, and relaxed, letting her mind wander freely for the Seer.
"You must take the same path as that young man whom you had traveled with up here… You will need him just as he will need you… you may leave…" the Seer said.
With that said, Kaguya and Zuko climbed onto Mimyoh's back, and flew back down to the Fire Nation ship. As soon as they had gotten back, Zuko's uncle Iroh came to check up on the couple, making sure they were ok.
"I don't care where she goes… Just as long, if she comes with us, she WILL tell me where the Avatar is." Zuko said.
"I don't think that's a wise thing to say, Prince Zuko. Miss Kaguya can choose for herself, whether she decides you should know where the Avatar is…" Iroh spoke up. He turned to Kaguya, and gestured that she is invited onto the ship. She took the invitation politely, and walked onboard. "I had Zuko's crewmen prepare a room for you. I hope it is fit to your liking, Miss Kaguya."
"What do you mean they prepared a room for her?! Don't tell me she's staying in a nice room! And onboard MY ship?" Zuko yelled.
"If she is going to travel with us, she gets a nice room, Prince Zuko!" Iroh explained. Annoyed, Zuko stormed away from Iroh and Kaguya, to think over the new addition to his crew.
"Iroh, I know that this may seem a little risky but, I must ask you so I may be absolutely sure. I must speak with the Fire Lord Ozai. So I may learn more about the Avatar hunt. Would you be willing to bring me within close distance for Mimyoh and I to fly there?" Kaguya asked politely, Mimyoh hopping up onto Kaguya's shoulder, mewing in agreement with Kaguya.
"I will see what we can do, Miss Kaguya but, I know Prince Zuko will not like it…" Iroh warned.
"That's fine by me…" Kaguya said. "I will wait for your answer. In the mean time, Mimyoh and I will explore the ship." With that said, Iroh walked away, to inform the captain of their journey close to the Fire Nation kingdom of Lord Ozai.
Later, Prince Zuko finding out the news of not going toward the direction of the Avatar, seethed in pure frustration. He stormed away from his uncle, knowing it would be an effortless battle, for he know it would mean a losing battle, and his uncle would win anyway. He stormed toward Kaguya's room.
"I need to have a word with you!" Zuko snapped. Making it obvious he was very angry about her plans to go back to his place of being banished.
"I have my intentions, my Prince… You will listen, wont you?" She asked, clearly thinking of her next words, she waited for him to sit down at her table, across from her, preparing some tea.
Zuko stood where he was, leaning against the wall. "I'm listening," he said.
Kaguya motioned for him to sit with her at her table. "Why don't you sit down? It's more polite, and we may share a conversation of my intentions. First things first, we must understand each other."
Zuko stood, contemplating whether or not to sit down. After about five minutes, he finally sat down, seeing as Kaguya wouldn't say anything until he would sit. "Let's just get this over with."
Kaguya started pouring tea for herself, and offered Zuko some. He shook his head 'no'. Kaguya took a small sip of her tea before she started talking. "I need to speak with the Fire Lord Ozai, to tell him I am working with you now. And that he had brought trouble upon himself, also what I found out from the fortuneteller. By banishing you, and holding your rightful place to the throne, making you look for the Avatar, as he thought would be impossible, the outcome isn't looking so well. It's only fair to warn him." Kaguya took a break, trying to put her next thoughts into words. "All you need to do is bring me close enough for Mimyoh and I to fly over there, talk to him, and then we may fly back to the ship. That is all. It's not like I'm asking for you to go on their territory." Kaguya finished. She waited for Zuko's response to her plan.
"I'm not letting you go without any back up… I'm going with you." Zuko said.
"If that's the case, you'd better hide in the shadows, with Mimyoh. You see, Lord Ozai doesn't know of Mimyoh. She is a cat of the heavens, brought down from generation, to generation, and on to me. I think she is three hundred years old… She makes a powerful 'weapon' but I prefer not to let that information leak out. Promise me you will hide?"
"That's fine. We will be there in about a week." Zuko said.
"That is good. It will give me time to prepare." Kaguya said. With everything said, Zuko stood from the table, and left Kaguya's room.
The journey was about a weeklong trip. Kaguya and her cat, Mimyoh flew over to the Fire Nation castle, to speak with Lord Ozai. Zuko also rode along with Kaguya, hiding in the shadows, as Kaguya had instructed him to do, within hearing range of her conversation with the Fire Lord.
"I am pleased that you have decided to visit, Kaguya. May I offer you a room to stay? I am sure you have traveled very far away." The Fire Lord spoke.
"Thank you but, I will politely decline. I have no intention of staying very long. I only want to make things very brief." Kaguya started. The Fire Lord motioned for Kaguya to continue by motioning his hand forward. "As you know why I am here, there are many disturbances throughout the world now. However, I may not be able to aid you. You are a very powerful kingdom. All of the Air benders are extinct, most of the Water Tribes are gone, the Earth Kingdom is holding steadily, and this Kingdom is dominating. But, unfortunately, the neutral villages are suffering greatly." Kaguya paused, letting the Fire Lord absorb the information she had given him. "Also, I am working with your son now, to find the Avatar." Kaguya finished, turning her back to leave.
"Seize her!" Was all Kaguya heard before Ozai's guards surrounded her, armed.
"So, I can take it, as I am banished as well? So be it then, my Lord. I will make sure that Zuko gets to the Avatar before you do." Kaguya said.