Chapter 2: A Glimpse of the Past

Another explosion emanate throughout the vast dry land followed by another and another. Zuko was practicing what his uncle thought him, it was time to hone his skills once again with more advanced skills and who best to train him than the Dragon of the West himself.

"Zuko, that's enough training. Come and join me." His uncle calls out to him holding a teapot and pouring the liquid on a cup.

Zuko hated drinking tea but he needed the rest and tea was the only available food. They have to reach the Earth Kingdom soon, sleeping on the ground was making him even crankier that it was affecting his bending. He looks at his uncles bandages, they were slowly healing, that's good for he was the only one that he can really consider his family, no one else.

Iroh notices his nephew's silence, he wasn't used to it, usually he'd be complaining about the tea. He brings down the tea cup, "Zuko, would you like to hear a story?" he asks him.

Zuko looks at him as if he's grown a tail, "If it's one of your liaisons with other women, count me out."

His uncle laughs at him but shakes his head, "No, no, even though that would be a great story to tell." Zuko glares at him, "Anyway, this one is about your father's second in command in the army."

"That old guy who sabotaged your plan while you were on the walls of Ba Sing Se?" Zuko asks remembering his uncle sending them a letter about it.

Iroh nods, "Did you know he has a daughter?"

Zuko contemplates, "Yes, there was also a rumor that she fell in love with a water tribe warrior."

Iroh nods once again, "But it's not a rumor. They bore a child to a beautiful little baby girl."

His nephew cocks his head to the side curious, "What happened to her?"

He sips his tea savoring the taste of sweet jasmine trickling down his throat and he looks back at him with a sad face, "You see, nephew, being one of the Nobles and a part of the most powerful people in the Fire Nation it was never accepted in the customs to be married to a person if they are not in that same circle, it is also taboo to even get close to the enemy let alone have an affair with one of them."

He sips his tea again, "It was even harder for the baby in that situation. After the baby's birth the two had eloped and ran away to the Northern Water Tribe and lived in peace for eight years, although good things must come to an end, they were soon found and tore the little family apart. The Fire Nation soldiers only took the baby's mother as she was coming back from a long trip and they ambushed her on her way back and brought her back to the Capital."

"Hey, Sokka, do you remember the tail Gran-Gran told us? About the little girl from the Water Tribe and was taken by the Fire Nation?" Katara asks out of the blue as she, Aang, Sokka and the newly member of their group, Toph were sitting around the camp fire on a rocky land.

Sokka rubs his chin but nods, "Yeah, she—" and he was cut off by Toph

"Tell us the story." Toph says as she picks the rocks on her toes and throws them at Sokka

She glares at Sokka who was about to throw his boomerang at Toph but stops as he sees her killer look and sulks in his seat, "The little girl's mother was from the Fire Nation and was taken away. At that time the girl was diagnosed with a weak heart. She was sickly and very weak. Her father was devastated for the loss and for fear of losing another loved one. So, he seeks the help of one of the healers in their tribe, and told him to bring her to the Oasis where the Koi Fishes resides in."

Katara looks down feeling sad for the girl but continue, "From being sick and weak she became healthy and radiant. Although, strange occurrences started to happen, especially at a full moon, her skin would glow in bright purple and she'd stop moving, it was as if her spirit had left her body."

"And then what happened, Uncle?" Zuko asks, it was an intriguing story

Iroh pours another cup to his but Zuko refuses when he asked him, "It was then that they knew she was crossing over to the Spirit World. Word reached your father's ears and ordered the capture of the little girl. So, they sent for her mother to get her, armed with the Fire Navy she set off to retrieve her daughter. Although they didn't give her without a fight but it had cost her father's life trying to defend his country and most especially his daughter."

His nephew looks at him horrified, "How could her own mother do that?"

"Her mother has changed since she came back from the Capital, she was hungry for power, a trait she must have inherited from her own father. She was finally succumbed in darkness." Iroh replies sadly as he remembers the sweet girl she used to be.

"The little girl surrendered, days after her father's burial because the navy hadn't stopped their attack. She lived in the Fire Nation for three years and in that span of time they did everything they can to get her to talk how she could cross over, but she never spoke whenever she was asked that question. They even tried to get a glimpse whenever she was crossing over although they were never successful. A year later, she was gone. Even up to now they don't know her whereabouts, some say she died because of her sadness and misery and her body turned into pure energy, some even claim she committed suicide because of her fathers' loss." Katara finishes and looks at her companions, they were all staring at her.

"What?" she asks.

Sokka snorts, "You know Gran-Gran, she's good at making up stories."

Aang nods, "I don't think anyone can just come and go into the Spirit World."

"Aang and Appa survived in ice for a hundred years, I am able to see with my feet, Sokka's still alive even though he only has dumb luck by his side, anything is possible." Toph states and forms an earth tent, "Good night."

Sokka uses his boomerang to smash on the walls of the earth tent in anger, "What did you mean by that?" but he was thrown into the ground as a massive pillar comes from beneath him.

"She's not dead, right Uncle?" Asks Zuko

His uncle nods in agreement, a clairvoyant his nephew can be, "In those three years she's been in the walls of the Fire Nation, she was the first person whom I've ever seen with the most sadness and pain in her eyes. It was surprising because I see them on a day to day basis, so one year after you left, I helped her escape. Her mother never had time for her or she just chose not to, she was always alone, it was heartbreaking seeing a little girl dealing with that."

He looks at the remnants of his tea, "Although one may think she's a princess because of the close ties for her family is also part of the Royals. Even so, there is still the taboo, they had her locked up in a different house, kids would sometimes throw things at that house."

Zuko sees the sadness in his uncle's eyes, he was truly a compassionate and caring man not like the man they often describe him as a ruthless conqueror.

"What did my father want to do with her?" he asked

His uncle's face turn grim, "In knowing how to cross over into the Spirit World, untold secrets can be found there. Secrets such as permanently wiping out the Avatar, ultimate power and immortality. It's a scary thing, just thinking about it being in the hands of your father." He shivers.

His nephew nods in agreement, scary indeed. "What happened to her now?"

"That, I do not know. I do believe she's been travelling. For a waterbender she was never a good one though, always preferred to use ice." He chuckles remembering her frustration as she conjures water from the plants but fails forming ice sickles instead.

"Ah..." Kyra sniffs, "Achoo!" Who knew travelling in the dessert at night would be cold.

"Seems like someone remembers you." Remarks Akita as he dashes from one dusty hill to another.

"Let's just hope no one remembers me in Ba Sing Se."