The Earth Kingdom Revisited
Chapter 7 – Lee
"We may have a problem," Zuko stated flatly.
Piandao gazed at Zuko questioningly. "What do you mean exactly?"
"Mai hasn't gotten a letter from me for a few days. I don't think my last one arrived. Or maybe that clerk never sent it."
Smiling broadly, Piandao clapped Zuko on the shoulder and winked at Jee. "Is that all, Zuko? There are many reasons for a letter not to make it safely to its destination."
"I know," mumbled Zuko. 'But Mai's worried and she doesn't usually get bad feelings about things."
"What do you think is going on then?"
"Maybe someone sabotaged my last letter to Mai."
"But why would anyone do that?"Piandao asked.
"Maybe the saboteur was looking for classified information," Zuko proposed.
"And maybe you're just paranoid, Zuko. But we'll proceed on our journey with extra caution if it makes you feel better," Piandao conceded. "Now, send off this letter and let our good man Jee, here, get back to work."
Feeling slightly patronized, Zuko shot Piandao an irritated look but sent the mangy looking hawk on its way. They all walked back through the store and out into the street. The sun broke through the thin layer of grey clouds and the temperature seemed to rise instantly.
"Thank you for your help, Jee," Zuko said graciously.
"It's an honor to help you, sir" Jee responded, bowing slightly.
After packing their new supplies in the saddlebags, Piandao and Zuko mounted their ostrich horses and continued down the village's main street. They were headed to Lee's family's farm on the outskirts of the community. There was no sign of the Earth Kingdom soldiers who ruled the town the last time Zuko was there.
"Maybe they've left for good," Zuko thought hopefully to himself.
It was a short ride to the farm. The men could hear the squealing and grunting of the sheep pigs from many feet away. A pig rooster crowed insistently.
"Mom, Dad! Someone's coming," a young boy called excitedly, running down the path to greet the visitors. He skidded to an abrupt stop when he looked up at the two men, recognizing Zuko instantly. Lee's eyes widened and his mouth dropped open in surprise.
"Hello Lee," Zuko said, greeting the boy with a tense smile and slipping gracefully off his ostrich horse. Piandao dismounted as well.
"Ummm, it's, it's you," Lee stuttered, unsure what to do or say. "I'd better get my mom and dad." The boy turned on his heel and ran back down the path calling once again for his parents. Zuko observed the boy seeing at least three added inches height on him and a slight maturation in his face. But his two protruding teeth continued to give him an air of innocence. Feeling nervous, Zuko fiddled with his animal's reigns. In contrast, Piandao was perfectly at ease, standing straight and watching Lee sprint down the path towards his home.
Sela and Gansu emerged from the front doorway of their home a few minutes later. Zuko's shoulders tensed and his tongue felt like thick heavy cloth in his mouth. Lee followed a few paces behind, glancing between Zuko and his parents.
Piandao, wanting to break the tension, walked forward and bowed politely.
"I am Piandao of the Fire Nation. I'm travelling with Fire Lord Zuko through the Earth Kingdom. He wanted to stop and see you."
Sela bowed slightly to Piandao. "Can't the Fire Lord speak for himself?" she asked sharply.
Zuko's eyes met hers and they exchanged a silent acknowledgement. "I can speak for myself. I came because, well because, you made a big impression on me. I saw how the war affected families like yours. And I wanted to make sure you are alright."
"You made a big impression on us as well," Sela replied. "We didn't welcome the Fire Nation here and we still don't. But since you're the Fire Lord, I suppose we have to be polite."
Zuko flushed and swallowed hard. "No, ma'am, you don't. We'll leave, if that's what you want. But tell me, what became of your older son? Did you find him?" he asked turning to Gansu, the father.
The thickly muscled man's eyes twitched slightly and he said almost growling, "I found him, dead. Just like those thugs said, he was captured by Fire Nation scum and dressed up in their uniform. They threw him on the front lines against powerful earthbenders. When I finally found him, he hadn't been dead long. His entire chest was crushed into a pulpy, bloody mess, but he was still warm. The Fire Nation just left his body in a field, with the other Earth Kingdom dead. The battle was over and the place was deserted. I had to look through piles of bodies strewn over hundreds of feet to find my boy. I carried him home on the back of an ostrich horse, wrapped in a shroud. He was starting to rot by the time I got him home. We buried him in the shadow of that rock outcropping. Sela cried for weeks."
Zuko buried his head in his hands at Gansu's blunt words. "Oh Agni, I'm, I was hoping that….."
"You may have helped stop the war and you may be helping us now……you may even be a good person, but you're still Fire Nation and we don't want you around here. Now go!"
"But Dad," Lee pleaded, tugging on the man's tunic. "He's a good guy. He saved me last year. When he said he was Fire Nation ad when he firebended, I hated him, but I changed my mind after he left. He ended the war. He's working with the avatar. Can't he stay, Dad? Please! Not all Fire Nation people can be bad."
"I don't care, Lee," he replied, his voice tight with grief and anger. They killed Sensu. Your brother was nothing but a joke to them. I won't have him here. He's not my lord."
Zuko looked quickly at Piandao and they mounted their ostrich horses, turned around and rode back down the dry, dusty path. The Fire Lord's heart was aching with guilt and sadness. He slammed his fist into the saddle. "Damn it! Curse my father and my grandfather and my great grandfather before him. I'll never make things right."
Piandao shook his head thoughtfully. "Some people may never forgive the Fire Nation, Zuko. War is a great divider and a great unifier. The Fire Nation divided itself from the rest of the world once it began the war. It will take time, and lots of it, plus your hard work and Aang's hard work to even begin to broach that huge gap. I know it hurts to hear that man's story and his is one of thousands like that. But you can't despair. You have to move forward."
"I feel so awful. Gansu….what he went through, what he's still going through, and Sela losing her boy and Lee will never see his big brother again. So much has been taken away from that family. I want to help but I can't." Zuko's voice cracked with emotion. "Why did I come here? Did I think everyone would welcome me with big smiles on their faces, their arms open wide? Who was I trying to kid? I'm stupid…STUPID!"
"Zuko," Piandao snapped. "Stop it. Your heart is in the right place. You wanted to see how people in the Earth Kingdom are feeling. Well, you just got your eyes opened a little, didn't you? Take that knowledge back home with you and use it wisely."
"Whatever," Zuko retorted, sounding more like a sulking teenager than the Fire Lord. "I don't want to ride anymore today. We can continue on to the rendezvous point tomorrow. We'll cut through Sen Si. I'm in the mood to talk with that General Meng jerk."
"Zuko, I thought we agreed to avoid him," Piandao reminded the Fire Lord.
"Well, I changed my mind. He might not be there anyway. And I'd like to get a look at his town and see what kind of condition it's actually in."
Piandao sighed quietly and shook his head. "You're taking an unnecessary risk. And remember, you're the one who's worried that something's up."
"I know, Piandao, I know. We'll approach it carefully and decide then. Okay?" Zuko suggested, his one eyebrow arched questioningly.
"Fine," Piandao agreed reluctantly. "Let's stop here next to this field of sunflowers."
Zuko came to a stop and slid off his mount. He removed the saddlebags and silently began to set up his tent. It was only mid afternoon. They could have ridden for at least three more hours, but Zuko didn't have the heart. He felt like brooding. He felt like taking his sword and slicing the heads off every sunflower in the huge field. It was a beautiful spot. The cheerful flowers bobbed their heads in the light breeze as if doing a showy dance. They seemed to know that they were the prettiest sight for miles, tucked in between mountains, like a treasure.
"While you're pouting, I'm going to wash up in that lovely looking river," Piandao announced.
Zuko, too absorbed in his own thoughts, didn't answer. The sword master wandered off to the river and returned about an hour later. Zuko hadn't moved.
"How about you start a fire, Zuko, and we see about cooking some supper," Piandao suggested. Zuko shook his head as if to clear it of depressing thoughts. He stood up and began looking for firewood. It didn't take him long to gather lots of dry wood and he soon had a fire blazing. Piandao dug out the rice and put it to boil.
"What do you want in the rice, Zuko?" Piandao asked, his hand hovering over the bag of herbs.
"I don't care. Pick whatever you like. I'm not very hungry right now."
Sighing, Piandao picked out some curry and dropped it into the pot, stirring it into the steaming rice. He served himself a bowlful, leaving Zuko to get his own when he chose.
"Are you going to pout all night?"
"I'm not pouting," Zuko huffed. "I just feel down right now. I can't help it. I'll get over it eventually."
"Okay, I'll leave you alone to think then. I take it you're not having any rice?"
"No thanks."
Piandao emptied the pot a good distance from the camp, not wanting to attract animals. He rinsed it out in the river and returned to the fire setting the pot down next to it to dry.
"I'm going for a walk, Zuko. I won't be long."
Zuko just nodded and stretched out beside the fire, somehow needing the warmth even though the heat of the day hadn't dissipated. He closed his eyes and felt himself sliding into sleep. He never heard Piandao return. The sword master decided to let the young man sleep and covered him with a thin blanket. Tired himself, though it wasn't late, Piandao crept into his tent and nodded off as well.
Much later, after the sun set and darkness had descended, a small hand shook Zuko awake. He groggily rubbed his eyes and reached instinctively for his swords. They were in the tent, a few feet away. Looking up blearily, his eyes finally focused and he saw Lee standing beside him. The boy was looking over his shoulder as if expecting someone to appear.
"Lee, what are you doing here?" Zuko asked sounding annoyed. "Your parents will be upset if they find out you came to see me."
"I know, but I'm pretty sure they didn't hear me leave. They're asleep."
"What do you want?' Zuko asked crankily. He still wasn't fully awake. "And how did you know we were here?"
"I didn't. I just hoped that you didn't go too far when you left the farm. You looked tired then."
"Oh," said Zuko.
"I have to tell you something. It's important."
Zuko sat up and looked Lee in the eyes. "Okay, what is it?"
"I ran into town after you left to get something for my mom. I heard some guys talking about you."
"What kind of guys and what did they say?" Zuko asked, his curiosity getting the better of him.
"They were Earth Kingdom guys. One of them was a general, because the other three called him that. I think they were afraid of him. They knew you had been in town and were asking people what you did while you were there."
"Did anyone tell them anything?" Zuko asked, his heart beginning to beat faster.
"Well Jee, the guy who owns the general store, he told them you bought supplies."
"Hmm, is that all Jee told them?"
"Yep, that's all he said."
"And where did these men go?"
"They went back to the other side of town."
"Is that important? Did I help you?" Lee asked eagerly.
"Yes, Lee, I think you did help. Thank you. Now maybe you should go back home."
"Aww, but I thought maybe you could teach me more sword stuff," the boy said pleadingly.
"What's going on out here?" Piandao asked through the front flap of his tent.
"Lee came to see us," Zuko replied. "He likes swords."
"Really," said Piandao. "Then let me show you mine, young man."
Lees's eyes shone with delight as Piandao pulled his magnificent sword from its scabbard.
"Perhaps Zuko and I could demonstrate some moves for you and then you can have a try."
"He's a real live sword master," Zuko told Lee, winking at the boy.
"Wow, he is, really? Well, so are you, right?"
"I don't know about that," Zuko replied. "But I can hold my own."
Zuko got his sword from the tent and he and Piandao demonstrated some basic moves for Lee.
"Okay, Lee, here's my sword. Be careful. See if you can get anywhere near Piandao."
Lee scrunched his face in concentration but couldn't get within ten feet of the sword master. He began to show frustration. Zuko gently placed his hands over Lee's and took him through basic thrusts and parries. "Now try," he suggested.
Lee stood as tall and straight as he could and went at Piandao again. The older man slowed himself down, giving the boy a fighting chance. Lee began to grin, just enjoying the thrill of being with two master swordsmen and actually getting a lesson from them.
"Okay, Lee, that's enough. You really should go home. I'll walk with you, alright? I want to make sure you get back safely," Zuko said, bringing the boy back to reality.
"Aww, okay. Let's go. Thanks, mister," he said, smiling brightly. "That was fun."
"You're welcome, Lee," Piandao replied, giving the boy a deep bow. "You may make a fine swordsman yourself one day."
Zuko put his hand lightly on Lee's shoulder, guiding him in a homeward direction.
"I'm very happy that I got to see you, Lee. But I'm very sad about your brother. I lost a cousin to the war several years ago. That hurt. You and your parents have been through a lot. I'd like to make things easier for you, but no one can."
"I miss Sen Su. But my mom misses him the most, I think and my dad's just angry a lot of the time," Lee responded sadly.
"I really am doing my best as Fire Lord to make things right again. I can't bring back all the people who were killed. All I can do is help the Earth Kingdom get back on its feet. Do you understand?"
"Uh-huh, so you're really the Fire Lord? Do you live in a palace? Do you have a princess?"
Zuko laughed. "Yes, and yes and I have a beautiful girlfriend. One day I'll ask her to marry me."
"What's her name?" Lee inquired.
"Mai," said Zuko a little dreamily.
"We're almost there, Zuko."
The Fire Lord looked over at the boy, glad he had finally used his name.
"Lee, remember the knife I gave you last year."
"Oh, yeah, the one I gave back to you. It was amazing."
"I still want you to have it," Zuko stated softly, stopping the boy. "It once belonged to an Earth Kingdom general. My Uncle Iroh, who was also a general, sent it home to me when I was about ten years old. I've treasured it ever since and always keep it with me. But I think it belongs back in the Earth Kingdom. Please take it."
Zuko took the knife from the inside of his robe and handed it to Lee. The boy took it. He held it carefully, like a sacred object.
"I'll treasure it forever and I can tell everyone that the real live Fire Lord gave it to me. Thanks."
Zuko chuckled. "I'm glad you like it. Take good care of it, okay."
Lee's farm came into sight and Zuko stopped. "I'd better not go any further but I'll watch you until you get inside. Goodbye, Lee."
Lee put his arms around Zuko in a brief hug while Zuko ruffled his hair.
He darted off down the pathway, turning once to shout, "I'm glad you came back, Zuko."
The Fire Lord smiled. He walked slowly back to camp thinking about what Lee had told him. Piandao was waiting for him.
With a grim expression on his face, Zuko put his hand on Piandao's shoulder.
"We need to talk."