The Earth Kingdom Revisited Chapter 8, an avatar: last airbender fanfic

The Earth Kingdom Revisited

Chapter 8 – Confrontation

"What do we need to talk about," Piandao asked tiredly. "I would rather go back to sleep."

"I'm pretty sure it's important," Zuko said. "Lee gave me some interesting information."

"Oh, yeah, what information is that?"

"Well, apparently some general and his three men were in town asking questions about me and what I was doing there."

"Hmm," Piandao mused, stroking his beard. "That is interesting. And you think all this has something to do with Meng?"

"Sen Si isn't far from here so it's definitely possible. He found out I came to the Earth Kingdom on a little trip and has tracked us down….hopefully just to talk."

"So what do you think we should do?" Piandao inquired.

"I think that we should take turns sleeping while the other does watch duty. I don't want to be surprised in my sleep," the Fire Lord suggested.

"Fine, I'll take first watch while you sleep. How does two hours sound?"

"Good," Zuko agreed entering his tent.

Piandao sat by the fire, poking it with a stick and thinking. He scanned the horizon frequently and every quarter hour or so circled their tiny camp. When his time was up, he opened the flap to Zuko's tent and shouted, "Wake up, Fire Lord!"

Zuko leapt out of bed, once again reaching for his Dao swords. "Oh, it's just you. Did you have to yell quite so loud?"

"Yes," said a grinning Piandao. "I wanted to make good and sure that you're awake."

"You'll pay for that, old man," Zuko joked, taking his place by the fire, sword in hand.

The night passed. Zuko was on watch when the sun began its ascent, tingeing the sky with pink and orange, and banishing the dark once again. The young man rubbed his eyes, removing the traces of sleep and made tea. He pulled some fruit from their bag of supplies. It was almost overripe and Zuko decided to slice it for them now before having to throw it all out. He put the apples and pears in a dish, and added the tea leaves to the hot water. While the tea was steeping, he trotted quickly to the river and doused his head under the cold water. Feeling refreshed and more awake, he shook the water out of his shaggy dark hair much like Appa shook the water out of his fur.

"Hey, time to get going, Piandao. Breakfast is ready."

The sword master came out from his tent, yawning and reached for his cup of tea.

"Thanks, Zuko. I need this. What's the plan, then? Are we riding to Sen Si, or close to it anyway?"

"Yes," Zuko replied. "I'd like to get going as soon as possible."

"Alright," Piandao agreed, finishing his tea and reaching for some fruit.

"I'll take down the tents and water the ostrich horses while you finish your breakfast. Then we'll head off."

Piandao ate and Zuko dismantled the tents, packed them in their bags and took care of the animals. Kicking dirt on the fire, Piandao stretched and rose slowly.

"I'm ready, Zuko. Let's see what lies ahead of us today."

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Mai awoke to the sound of knocking on Zuko's bedroom door. She had instructed the staff to rouse her should a letter come by messenger hawk.

"Oh," she groaned, reaching for her robe. "This had better be good."

She opened the door. A servant stood on the other side. He bowed slightly and handed her a letter. "A message for you, Lady Mai," he said deferentially.

"Thank you," said Mai excitedly, snatching the letter and shutting the door quickly. She unrolled it and her beautiful, almond-shaped eyes scanned the symbols.

"Thank Agni he's alright," she said softly to herself. Awake now, she decided to get an early start on the day, something she rarely did. She dressed, breakfasted and started sorting through the sizeable stack of papers on the bedroom's simple desk.

"Boring, boring and boring again," she sighed tossing the papers aside. "I'm just not in the mood right now."

Suddenly feeling hemmed in, Mai left Zuko's room and strode through the palace and out to the gardens. She sat by the pond with the family of turtleducks. It was Zuko's favorite spot in the gardens and she felt somehow closer to him there. Mai lazily tossed pebbles into the water, watching the ripples they made and carefully avoiding the gentle creatures.

"Hurry up and come home, Zuko," she quietly intoned.

The Fire Lord and the sword master rode silently through the beige upon beige countryside in the direction of Sen Si. Each was lost in his own thoughts, wondering what sort of confrontation, if any, was to come. Hours passed and they stopped for a quick lunch and to rest the ostrich horses. Back on their mounts again, they rode for another hour through the huge valley that was home to Lee's village. Finally, the trail became steeper and they left the valley behind. The terrain was rockier and the path narrowed. The ostrich horses climbed steadily up the incline. It wasn't exactly a mountain, more like short foothills between taller mountains, leading to flat land on the other side. Once they began the brief descent on the opposite side, the sound of other ostrich horses caught Zuko's ear. He peered ahead and saw four men on mounts, one in front and three arrayed behind the obvious leader. They blocked the path. There was no question that they were waiting for Zuko and Piandao. The Fire Lord and sword master stopped their animals.

"Meng," spat Zuko. "And they've got us outnumbered."

Piandao just nodded acknowledgement.

"We may as well go and talk to them," Zuko suggested. "I don't think they're going to give us much of a choice."

"Agreed," said Piandao soberly.

The two men urged their ostrich horses forward and stopped directly in front of the four Earth Kingdom men.

"General Meng, I assume," Zuko stated stiffly. "You wanted to talk with me, so talk. It's too bad you didn't arrange a meeting like everyone else does instead of stalking me and my friend."

"I'm not everyone else," Meng declared. "I'm General Meng and I don't follow ordinary protocol."

"What makes you better than everyone else?" Zuko inquired.

"Following the rules never got anyone anywhere. I make my own. I don't want a meeting with you in your palace with all your people around. How very fortunate for me that the Fire Lord decided to take a little trip in the Earth Kingdom just when I have a proposition for him."

"Don't ever think that you're above the rules. It will catch up with you eventually. Just ask my father. So what is this proposition you have for me? And what makes you think I'm going to agree to it?"

"Let's just say that I have something you want very badly" Meng said smirking.

"I really don't want to play games with you, Meng. Spit it out," Zuko said angrily.

"Ah, ah, keep that temper of yours in check, Fire Lord. You don't want anything bad to happen to that something you want."

Frustrated, Zuko dismounted his ostrich horse, walked up to General Meng and put his face close to the older man's. "Just tell me what game it is you're playing," he hissed through grit teeth. Piandao, who had also dismounted, placed a warning hand on Zuko's arm.

"Alright, alright," the general sighed. "You're sending a lot of money to various Earth Kingdom cities for reparations, correct?"

"Yes," Zuko agreed.

"I would like control of all that money. I want it all sent directly to me. Then I can decide how it's used and who will benefit from it. Obviously, my little city of Sen Si will do quite well by me. People from other cities will come to me for money. I will have power over this entire region and you and your Fire Nation troops will not be welcome. Your trade, on the other hand, is most welcome. I want Sen Si with me as its leader, to be the most powerful city in the central Earth Kingdom."

Zuko laughed heartily. "What could possibly make me agree to all that? It goes against everything I stand for. The world does not need another Ozai or Sozin, does it?"

"Let's go," the Fire Lord suggested, turning to face his friend.

Piandao nodded his assent, and the two made to remount their rides. Before they could climb aboard the animals, two huge rocks hurtled toward them, forcing each to duck quickly.

Enraged, Zuko faced Meng again. "You will regret that," he stated, measuring out each word.

The general smirked again. "You can't leave until you know what it is that I have to offer you."

"I'm waiting," Zuko shouted.

"You have people out looking for your mother, Lady Ursa, don't you?" Meng began.

Zuko clenched his hands so tightly that his fingernails cut into his palm, leaving little red half circles. "Yes," he replied hesitantly, almost afraid of what was coming next.

"They carry a likeness of her with them and ask people about her in all the towns they pass through. And they put up posters in each town."

"Yes," Zuko repeated. "Get on with it, will you."

"Well, one of my soldiers just happened to overhear a villager talking to one of your people. It seems the old geezer saw a woman who looked a lot like your mother a few towns over. Naturally, we rushed to investigate. Sure enough, there was your mother working in a dingy fabric shop just like the old man said. It took a little persuasion…."

Meng paused as Zuko lunged at him, his jaw clenched and fire erupting from his fists.

"Now, now, Fire Lord, if you want to see your mother again, you'd better behave."

Deflated, Zuko backed off.

"Now, where was I?" Meng asked himself. "Oh yes, it took some persuading, but we brought Lady Ursa back to Sen Si with us. We've got her there now. She's not very comfortable. In fact, she's quite miserable. Only you can change that, Fire Lord Zuko."

Seeing Zuko's fury, the earthbenders took their stances, ready to pummel the irate Fire Lord should he try anything. Piandao, also aware of his friend's anger and pain, caught his eyes, willing the young man to calm himself.

"What have you done to her? Does she know I've been looking for her? Does she know what your plans are? I want to see her!" Zuko whispered pleadingly, his eyes welling up with tears. He couldn't take it. Seven years without his mother, seven long years of missing her and now she was close, so very close and he couldn't get to her. "How do I know that it's even her? You have to let me see her, talk to her."

"Agree to my proposal and you can take her home with you. All you have to do is sign some very official documents I had drawn up." Meng spoke calmly as if trying to pacify the Fire Lord.

"Until I see my mother, I won't even consider your proposal. Where are you holding her? Take me to her now," Zuko shouted imperiously.

Sighing heavily, the general nodded. "Fine, I'll let you take a peek at her. You should know your own mother, am I correct? You ride ahead of us so we can keep our eyes on you. I'll direct you where to go."

Warily, both Zuko and Piandao remounted, rode around the earthbenders and continued on down the slight incline.

"Keep going until you arrive in the town, Fire Lord Zuko. Then turn left."

Exchanging glances, Zuko and Piandao followed the directions, turning left down what looked like the main street of the town. Sen Si was easily five times the size of Lee's village, with many shops and a thriving marketplace. Zuko looked back at the general, his eyebrow raised, asking where to go next.

"You'll see a street up ahead on your right. Turn down there."

Piandao and Zuko guided the animals down the next street. It was almost deserted and was home to grimy looking warehouses instead of bright shops.

"Stop," commanded Meng when the two men were directly in front of a dilapidated building with shuttered windows and one man standing guard by the door. They stopped. Zuko's breathing quickened and his heart beat sonorously in his chest. The young man still could not believe that Ursa was on the other side of that scarred door and inside that dingy building.

Meng pulled his ostrich horse up beside Zuko's. "He waits out here," the general stated, pointing at Piandao. "You come inside with me but leave your sword with one of my men and any other weapons you might have on you."

Zuko took his sword out of its sheath and tossed it carelessly at one of the men. Ducking, he let it hit the ground before reaching over and pulling it out of the hard earth. He threw Zuko a dirty look. "Maybe we should check him for knives, General Meng," the earthbender suggested, sliding off his ostrich horse and approaching Zuko menacingly.

Grinning humorlessly, Zuko spread out his arms and legs, allowing the earthbender to check his body for any weapons he might be concealing. He had none, of course, having given Lee his dagger.

"He's got nothing."

"Fine," said Meng. The general stood close to Zuko and looked him in the eyes. "Let me make this one thing very clear, Lord Zuko. If you try anything to free your mother, if you firebend, Quan Ma here," he pointed to the guard outside the door, "will cut your mother's throat. You understand, I trust?"

Zuko nodded curtly. "I get it. Now let me see my mother."

Quan Ma opened the door. Zuko followed with Meng close on his heels. The interior of the building was even grimmer than the outside. It took Zuko's eyes a few seconds to adjust to the darkness. Meng's lackey led them to the back and a locked room with yet another guard standing watch outside it. Meng signaled for the second guard to move aside. Quan Ma fiddled with a heavy ring of keys, looking for the right one. Zuko held his breath. His back was rigid and his fingers were laced together tightly. Finally, Quan Ma found the key and opened the door.

The room was windowless and bleak, the only furniture being an uncomfortable looking cot and one chair. The floor was bare of coverings and the bed had only a thin blanket and no pillow. Sitting in the rickety wooden chair with her head down and long, stringy hair covering her face was Ursa. The sound of soft snores reached Zuko.

"Mom," he called softly. "It's me, Zuko."

She didn't respond. Quan Ma walked over to the chair and shook her shoulders roughly, jarring her awake. Her startled eyes looked over at the guard. "Whaat is it? Why did you wake me?" she inquired dozily.

"You have a visitor, Ursa," Meng said from across the room.

Ursa looked up, now aware that others were in the room. She saw Meng and scowled at him. Her lovely golden eyes, tired and strained looking, drifted away from Meng and to the other figure standing quietly. She saw a tall young man in Earth Kingdom clothes who held himself with dignity. Her eyes roamed up to his face where her golden eyes met his. She could never forget those eyes, always so sweet and trusting but now filled with trepidation, fear and longing.

"Zuko," she whispered. "My son."

Ursa had lived in the Earth Kingdom for almost eight years. Banished from the Fire Nation for her murder of then Fire Lord Azulon(a muder only her husband, Ozai, had knowledge of)she had fled with the clothes on her back, a pouch full of coins and a small, ornamentally carved dagger. She hated leaving her children, especially Zuko, her eldest, her beloved son. But Ozai had given her no choice. Ursa would do it all again, though. She had killed the aging Fire Lord to save Zuko from death. The old man had ordered Ozai to kill his first born, Zuko, as punishment for his insolence, for his audacity at making a claim to the throne that rightly belonged to his elder brother, Iroh. Azulon wanted Ozai to feel the pain of losing a child as Iroh had felt the pain of losing his son, Lu Ten, in battle. Looking back now, Ursa realized that Ozai probably wouldn't have felt the pain of Zuko's loss at all. He had always had a certain disdain for the boy, who showed no extraordinary talents at a young age. Instead, he showed a sweet nature and empathy for others, things Ozai placed no value on.

The first few weeks of her banishment were spent getting out of the Fire Nation safely. Once in the Earth Kingdom, she wandered aimlessly from town to town, often walking and sometimes getting a ride from a kind farmer with a cart and ostrich horses. She was, of course, forbidden any contact with her family and the ache for her children grew with each day. She worried about how her disappearance would affect Zuko, the child she was closest with. Would they tell him she was dead? Would he assume it? Would he hate her for leaving? How would Ozai and Azula treat him?

When her coins began to dwindle, the former Princess Ursa looked for work. She usually had little trouble finding some job involving manual labor; sweeping floors, cleaning rooms at inns, farm work. After a few months, her old life of comfort and ease began to fade from memory. Before each night's sleep, Ursa concentrated on the memory of Zuko's face. It comforted the lonely woman.

Years passed. Ursa would spend as much as six months in one town before moving on. News of the Fire Nation was sparse. She did hear talk of a banished and shamed Prince Zuko, though, and that terrified her. What had happened between her boy and Ozai?

Then, six months age, news came of the war's end. The avatar defeated Fire Lord Ozai, and Prince Zuko defeated his sister Azula and assumed the throne. Her little boy was Fire Lord. He had sided with the avatar and against his father in order to bring peace to the world. Surely he would welcome his mother home. But Ursa was apprehensive about going back to the Fire Nation. It hadn't been home for over six years and she was still a killer. So she stayed on in the Earth Kingdom. Ursa told herself that it was all for the best. Zuko didn't need the complication of her in his already complicated life. He probably thought she was dead anyway.

Ursa got a job at a fabric shop in a town close to Sen Si about a month ago. The owner, having just arrived from Ba Sing Se with an assortment of lovely materials, recognized Ursa immediately. There were many posters of the former princess around the huge city. After her first day of work, the owner, a kindly older woman, took Ursa aside.

"I know who you really are," she stated bluntly. "There are posters with your likeness all over Ba Sing Se. Your son, Fire Lord Zuko, is seeking any information about your whereabouts that he can get. He also has people visiting smaller cities and towns asking about you. He wants you to come home. Are you aware of all this?"

"Nuh, no," Ursa stuttered ineloquently. "Zuko wants me home? He's not upset with me?"

"I can't tell you that. But he's looking for you. Don't you want to see him?"

"I want to see Zuko more than I want anything," Ursa declared fiercely. "But, it's been so long and I'm not the mother he remembers. I left him when he was ten. I didn't have much of a choice but perhaps I should have taken him with me. I suppose I'm a coward. I'm afraid to face my own son."

"It's your choice, my dear. But if it was me, I would go to my son. He's a good man, an honorable man. You know what he did, don't you?"

"Yes," replied Ursa. "I know. He was always such a good boy. And I am so proud of him. But, I, I don't think I'm ready to return to the Fire Nation."

The shop owner shrugged her narrow shoulders. "It's up to you, Ursa. You have a job here for as long as you want it."

"Thank you very much," Ursa said politely, giving the woman a respectful bow.

Three weeks later she found herself kidnapped by General Meng and his men. She resisted at first, acquiring several livid bruises for her trouble. They then told her that Zuko would come for her, if everything went as they planned it. So she relented. Ursa had spent seven days and seven nights in that dark, dreary room in Sen Si. She slept, she dreamed, she thought. What else could she do?

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"Zuko," she stated again, louder this time. Her eyes lingered on his scar, horrified but not wanting to show it. How had he gotten that? Did it have something to do with his banishment? She smiled tentatively.

"It's me, Mom," Zuko said shakily, his eyes filling with tears. "I've missed you."