Chapter One: Return of the Dragons
As Sozen's comet disappeared across the horizon a small black and silver egg on Crescent Island cracked, the first of many, and a small blue dragon entered the world in search of answers. Why was it alone? And most of all; who was responsible? She would make them pay…
xXx
"A year ago today Fire Lord Ozai set out to end the war once and for all by burning it to the ground and without Avatar Aang, the valiant members of the White Lotus, and the contributions of Katara, Sokka, Toph, Suki, and the current Fire Lord Zuko he might have succeeded. For this I propose a toast for the peace they have won for us, may it be long lived and forever appreciated for what it cost!" the Earth King announced, lifting his glass to all those at the table around him in honor of the day and his hosts: the aforementioned heroes of the war.
"To everyone who helped bring peace back to these four nations," Fire Lord Zuko added as he raised his glass.
"To friends," Avatar Aang conceded, joining them in their toast.
"Two years ago we never would have imagined in our wildest dreams that we could be sitting here in the Fire Lord's palace celebrating a year's worth of peace and prosperity in such wonderful and diverse company. Here's to second chances!" Katara toasted to a second round of raised glasses, her hand clasped tightly by the young avatar who she would be marrying in the fall.
"Beautifully said Katara," her father praised from her other side. It was well and truly a wonderful event to have all of their old friends and family they had met the year Aang was discovered in the iceberg together in one place. It had been too long since most of them had seen each other having gone their separate days after the war. So many of them had been needed in various ways to help with the rebuilding of the four nations. Zuko had been doing his best to erase years of prejudice and injustice in his people. Sokka and Hakoda had spent months at the south-pole reconstructing their battered village. Katara had been working as an emissary between the four nations as they thought to fixate borders and seek reparations. Aang had been doing his best to throw his support behind Zuko while simultaneously working as a constant mediator. Suki had followed Sokka to the Southern Water Tribe and the newly-wed couple was expecting a child in seven months. They were hardly the children that set out to save the world two years before.
After the formal dinner Aang, Sokka, Katara, Suki, Toph and Zuko retired to an adjoining room to reconnect. Conversation flowed easily as they shared stories and jokes, enjoying a few moments respite from the complicated lives they had been thrust into with the responsibility that came with being war heroes. It was in this way that Zuko's uncle, Iroh, found them; the horror on his face ending their laughter.
"What is it uncle?" Zuko asked, his hand flying to his sword hilt as he stood up in alarm.
"They're back…"
xXx
"Honestly Saisei! Did you have to throw me into the pond?" Kara exclaimed, furiously re-braiding her hair after wringing out her clothes which were now sopping wet.
It's your fault for startling me, he replied indignantly, looking at her with one of his scaly golden brows raised in amusement. It seemed being raised by a human held a pretty big influence on his mannerisms.
"I was only trying to wake you up to go on a hunt you great oaf!" she countered, shaking her finger under his nose.
See? It is your own fault then. If you had simply shown some patience and waited until I woke up of my own accord you would not have been forced to go for a short swim in the lake, he deadpanned. Why did she have to find the egg of the most annoyingly caustic dragon in the history of flaming lizards?
"Well it doesn't matter now anyway because I'm going on my hunt without you. Have fun entertaining yourself until I get back!" she snapped, gathering her pack from where she had dropped it in the grass and making her way to the other side of the valley.
Kara… is this really necessary? Saisei asked, flicking his tail in annoyance. She was being completely unreasonable.
"Yes Saisei, this is necessary. Try not to burn down camp before I get back. I should return before the week is out. We need to replenish our cured meats stores," she replied in a huff, leaving through the valley entrance.
Humans, Saisei snorted in disdain, curling back up on the warm rock he favored to continue sunbathing. She would be back when she realized she couldn't carry that much meat back all on her own…
xXx
"So let me get this straight? You're telling us that after being practically extinct for over thirty years the dragons have suddenly reappeared in the hundreds? How is this possible?" Aang demanded in a rare display of temper close to mania. If what Iroh said was true this could not bode well for the peace they had fought so hard to achieve. The last thing they needed at that point was for an angry mob of dragons to descend on the Fire Nation in revenge.
"It would seem so. I could hardly believe it myself but it is not altogether impossible. You see dragons are funny creatures in that they have developed a survival mechanism for their young that insures that baby dragons which are extremely helpless in their first month of life will only hatch under favorable conditions. It was believed by many that this only applied to such things as droughts and the like but if you think about it, it is not unreasonable for them to avoid hatching in a time when they would be hunted as well. Perhaps the eggs lain during the hundred years war never hatched because of the peril they would be in once they did. Perhaps when the end of the war brought back the balance nature allowed them to hatch."
"This is not good," Sokka stated, shaking his head in despair.
"Why thank you captain obvious, any more helpful contributions you wish to share with us?" Katara fumed, venting her frustration.
"Don't Katara, it's not his fault," Aang admonished causing her to blush.
"I'm sorry Sokka, I didn't mean it," she apologized.
"It's okay," he said with a tight smile. He was used to his sister's short term. He had forgiven her the moment the words left her mouth. Zuko was simply brooding in the corner, his face even more white than usual.
"Well are we all going to sit here feeling sorry for ourselves or are we going to do something about this?" Toph demanded, her hands clenching in frustration. This was no time to be pouting and throwing a pity party!
"Toph is right. We need to do something, anything," Suki stated firmly, getting to her feet and turning to Iroh. "What about the Earth Kingdom? Perhaps we could have them send some of their earth-benders to help?"
"I doubt they would feel inclined to help. Many of them feel as if the Fire Nation got off too easily after the war as it is. They would probably just argue that this is what we deserve and that we brought it upon ourselves," he replied hopelessly, shaking his head in dismay. Zuko's fist hit the wall.
"There has to be something we can do!" he exclaimed forcefully, his eyes clenched in frustration at the situation.
"Perhaps," Iroh conceded with a small nod of his head.
"What is it uncle? What do you know?" the young Fire Lord went on to demand.
"I… I can't really say. I gave my word not to reveal her secret… but perhaps there is some hope. I think I know someone who can help us," he explained, waving his finger in thought. Under other circumstances it would have been quite comical.
"Where is this person?" Aang asked urgently, his back straightening and his eyes lighting up with hope at Iroh's revelation.
"She lives in the Earth Kingdom, but I can't tell you where… I must go myself," he muttered with a nod as if he had made up his mind on something. Turning to his nephew he asked "may I have use of one of the old war balloons?"
"Of course uncle; you must make haste! I sincerely hope this woman of yours can help us. I dread to think of what we are about to face if she refuses to help us," he replied fatalistically, shaking his head in despair.
"I believe she will, but I must be on my way. Until my return you should do what you can to strengthen our defenses. Send out a warning to citizens in hard to defend areas and have them evacuate to the nearest citadel. At the moment our best strength lays in numbers and walls."
"Of course uncle. Please be careful," he added, pulling the man who had been like a father to him into a firm embrace. After similar hugs from everyone in the room he made his way to the door and out of the palace. He needed to find the girl in the mountains; he only hoped she was still there. They didn't have time for him to hunt her down…
xXx
It was the second day of Kara's hunt and she had just tracked the deer she had been following into a large clearing. She took the crude bow she had fastened for herself from its sling and nocked an arrow to the taught string, drawing in a deep breath and leveling the point with the chest of the creature a few spans into the clearing. She had grown talented at hunting in the year she had spent in that valley with Saisei. She was just about to release the arrow when a firm hand grabbed her by the shoulder and her arrow went wild.
"Hey! What-" she began in indignation but was cut off by a sharp blow to the head and the world went black…
When Kara regained consciousness she was on her side by a campfire, her arms and legs bound, a gag tearing at the sides of her mouth. Night had fallen and the sound of shuffling feet and people eating hastily surrounded her.
"Well well would you look at that," the man who had knocked her unconscious rumbled from his place across the fire. "She'll fetch a pretty penny, won't she boys?" he stated with a loud guffaw and a disgusting sneer that twisted his already disturbing features.
"That she will boss. A right pretty penny for one so pretty as she. Pretty pretty penny," a grimy looking man to his left agreed, bouncing awkwardly in a way that made her wonder if he was all there in the head. His smile spanned the entirety of his face and he looked far too cheerful to be sitting around a campfire in the woods with a prisoner and a bowl of what smelled like congee (a tasteless rice dish served in Asia to the young and elderly).
Where was she? What did they mean 'she would sell for a pretty penny'? did they still have wanted posters for her after all this time? How could one female fire-bender in a small village be that important? She didn't have to wait long for the answer to that one, but once their meaning was revealed she almost wished they had captured her for a bounty.
"Yes, you will fetch a nice price indeed. You know how those High Lords are about their pretty little play things," her capturer assured, his disgusting and smelly face inches from hers as he bent down and smirked at the fear that had blossomed in her eyes at his statement. This was not good…
xXx
When Iroh touched down at a large dock in the Earth Kingdom in the Fire Nation balloon he was not exactly greeted with kindness. The war might be over but the people found it impossible to forget the pain brought upon them for so long under that symbol and he found it extremely hard to find someone to sell him a descent eel-hound. Fortunately he at last found someone willing to sell and was well on his way within an hour from landing.
For an old man he had an excellent memory and when it got so dark out that he was forced to stop and make camp for the night he was quite pleased with his progress. If he kept up the pace he was traveling at he should arrive at the cave he had last seen her not the next day but early in the morning on the day following that. For now he would have to content himself with a quick cup of tea and some bread and cheese instead of the elaborate meal he would have liked. He would need his sleep if he was to ride with the rising sun…
The next day went much as the first with the eel-hound running full speed through the trees with subtle directions from Iroh when necessary. He ate his breakfast and lunch in the saddle to save time and only stopped when nature's call became too much to ignore. By the time he allowed himself to stop for the night he was more sore than he could remember being in a long time. The year he had spent running his teashop in Ba Sing Se had spoiled him and he had grown accustomed to a soft bed and padded chairs; his old saddle seat was long gone.
By the time he finally reached the place he remembered the valley entrance to be and dismounted to search for the large crack in the cliff face his legs were trembling and he was ready to collapse from exhaustion. That didn't last long though because as soon as he saw what awaited him in the mouth of the valley enough adrenaline shot through his veins to make him feel as if he had just spent a week in a featherbed.
Inside the valley the young red dragon he remembered from before had easily doubled in size and was currently raging across the valley floor, flame erupting from his maw as he looked upon the intruder with fear and disdain. Something was clearly wrong… Where was the girl?
"Shh Saisei, it's Iroh… Don't you remember me?" he asked cautiously, making his posture as meek as possible so as not to further alarm the beast. It was then that Saisei did something unexpected; reaching out with one of his long whiskers he touched Iroh on the forehead and a foreign voice filled his mind.
Why have you come here old man? Where is Kara? The deep baritone demanded. Looking up at the dragon in awe Iroh answered his questions to the best of his ability.
"I don't know where Kara is. I came here seeking her help! What has happened to the girl?" he asked in confusion. This could not be good.
I DON'T KNOW! Saisei's voice boomed within his head. She left on a hunt a week ago but she hasn't come back and she should have returned by now! Something is wrong! I can feel it! I have to find her! he declared desperately, his voice dripping with fear and concern from the girl who had been his only companion and best friend.
"Oh my. This is very bad news; very bad indeed… Would she have gone anywhere before returning?"
No. Her home is here! She would not have left me like this…
"Then we must find her for if we don't it isn't just her disappearance we will have to worry about. Will you help me?" he asked of the magnificent creature before him. He couldn't do this on his own.
Of course. She is all I have, I would do anything for her but we must hurry. Climb on my back old man, it will be faster if we fly.
"Aren't you afraid of being spotted?" Iroh asked in concern.
Let them come for me; I will show them a real dragon. They will rue the day they were born should any harm befall her.
"Then we ride."
xXx
By the time Zuko finally managed to shirk the advisors and emissaries that had been following him all day the sun was setting on the horizon. He had done his best to make sure his people were as safe as could be expected. Every day more reports of villages burned to the ground and refugees flooding the capitol made their way to his desk. He didn't know what else he could do! This was supposed to be a time of peace and instead he was being forced to watch helplessly from the sidelines as his people burned for the crimes committed by their fathers, by his father, and there was nothing he could do. Golden eyes lit by a crescent moon flashed across his vision, chased away by flame as a feminine scream rang through his fear-filled mind. He couldn't get everyone into the cities…
"You're thinking about her again aren't you?" May murmured from somewhere behind him. She had a small smile on her lips, the softness of her eyes speaking of the understanding she had of him that could be claimed by none but she. They had always been close and she read him like an open book at times; it was why their relationship was so short lived. She wasn't fooled; she knew he wasn't giving her his whole heart, and the fact that she respected that was one of the traits he admired most in her. She was his best friend.
"You know I am," he replied with a smirk for her benefit, throwing a small chunk of bread into the pond for the turtle-ducks.
"This can't be healthy," she complained, rolling her eyes in a way that was just so completely Mai.
"Probably not," he agreed, smiling at her expense.
"Well out with it; what is it this time?" she drawled, looking at her nails and waiting for him to continue.
"It's just that she's out there somewhere and she's alone. Anything could happen to her and with all these reports of dragon attacks I keep thinking of what would happen if one found her. She wouldn't stand a chance…" he replied, burying his face in his hands and clenching his hair in frustration.
"Well if she's as isolated as you say I doubt she has anything to worry about. These dragons are attacking farms and towns, not caves," she stated as if he were a mindless idiot, which he probably was.
"I know. It's stupid. I just can't help but worry about her.
"I still don't see why you don't just go find her. For crying out loud, at least it would get you to shut up," she teased, shoving his shoulder playfully. "But seriously Zuko, you don't have anything to worry about. She'll be fine," and with those parting words she squeezed his shoulder and left him to his thoughts. Thoughts of a beautiful young girl with wild black curls and golden eyes…
xXx
It had been three days since Kara had been captured; three long agonizing days filled with an ever-present fear and humiliation as she was made to dance like a bear at the end of her captor's whip-like words of criticism and perversity. Never had she felt so small and helpless in her life. She was pissed!
How dare they treat her in such a manner? How dare they pinch her in places that made her cheeks flame and her insides twist in disgust? How dare they send her running after phantoms and doing meaningless labor just so they could lord their supreme power over her in her face. She was ready to explode and lately random objects in close proximity to her when she was in such a mood had taken to disintegrating into ash but she could not bring herself to do the one thing that would set her free; she could not bring herself to fire-bend.
Every night as she lay; tied hand and foot. unable to fall asleep she would call out mentally to Saisei, praying with every fiber of her being that if she tried hard enough she would be able to reach past the distance to where he no doubt waited near their cave, and every day the distance between them grew and her hope turned to desperation turned to hopeless pleas with a voice she knew she would never hear again. This night was no exception. Tentatively she reached out with her mind.
Saisei? Please, help me! Please! she called mentally, her eyes already slipping closed in exhaustion.
I'm coming little one. Hold on! His strong voice answered; she thought her chest would explode from the relief she was feeling. She had been found! She was going to be saved!
Saisei! She cried in surprise and joy, no longer feeling quite so weary as she waited for her rescuer.
I'm here. Find cover, he demanded, shooting a blast of flame over the camp once she assured him she was out of the way. The next thing she knew the ropes binding her hands and feet had been cut and she was being pulled into the welcome embrace of a man she thought she would never see again.
"Iroh? How? Wha- I'm so confused!" she exclaimed, holding him tight and basking in a human presence that for once wasn't trying to hurt her.
"I came seeking you're help but you had disappeared. Saisei and I have spent the last day tracking you. We were so worried!" he proclaimed, binding the survivors and making sure they were all out cold before commandeering there fire for a quick pot of tea. Some things never changed.
"Well whatever the circumstances thank you. I owe you two my life," she stated, sincerity thick in her voice as she accepted the warm tea and tried not to drink it like a savage after so many days spent as a captive.
"I'm just glad we found you dear."
As am I Saisei added, curling up around the two of them and resting his giant head against her side before letting out what sounded like a slow purr while she scratched his brow-ridge.
"Now, what is it you need my help with?" Kara asked after a few more sips of the tea to fortify herself.
"It seems as if young Saisei here wasn't the only dragon to hatch unexpectedly. After the war ended-"
"Wait! The war is over?" she asked in amazement, her eyes huge with wonder and relief.
"Yes, for over a year now dear. I forgot you wouldn't have known. The avatar returned and defeated Fire Lord Ozai on the day of Sozin's comet. Balance has been restored to the world at last and as a result the dragons' eggs have all hatched. You see; I did some research after coming here and I found that apparently dragons developed a survival technique in that their eggs would never hatch during a bad year such as one of drought or where there was an overabundance of predators so that their young, which are so vulnerable in the first month of their existence, would have a better chance of survival. Apparently with all the dragons falling under the threat of the Fire Nation the eggs wouldn't hatch, and now that it is over they have all hatched at once."
"Well this is wonderful! Saisei won't have to be alone anymore!" she exclaimed gleefully, hugging the aforementioned dragon close before the grimace on Iroh's face stilled her mirth. "That's not all, is it?"
"No. It seems they have taken it upon themselves to seek revenge for their parents and have begun an attack on the Fire Nation. They're killing everyone, women, children, the elderly… They don't care. We desperately need your help. You're the only one I can think of that could stop this without more bloodshed," he explained.
"How? What help would I be to you?" she demanded, her face scrunched in pain at the images he had placed in her head. She would do anything to prevent further bloodshed, but she didn't see how she could possibly be of any help.
"Because you and Saisei can communicate! You're close and you've formed a bond that even they can't ignore. We need you two to be the mediators; the middle men. And if that fails we will need your help to defeat them."
You would ask my help in exterminating my race? Saisei demanded in a way that made him heard by the two of them at once.
"I sincerely hope it doesn't come to that," he conceded, but he didn't deny the possibility. This was not going to be easy on either of them.
You know we have to do this, Saisei, Kara stated, thinking of all the families that were already suffering from this attack.
This means turning against what I am, Kara. If I do this I will be going against my own-
No, if you do this you will be doing what is right. We need to make your brothers see that this is not the right way to solve their problems. We have more than people to help here, she reasoned, looking upon him with sad eyes and stroking the smooth red scales of his face.
You're right. I know you're right, but this will not be easy.
"We're in," Kara finished, speaking both to Iroh, herself, and Saisei. This was something they had to do.
"Very well. If we fly we can make it to the Fire Nation three days. We must leave immediately with the dawn."
"Of course. Good night Iroh," and with that she curled up next to Saisei and fell asleep, her dreams fraught with nightmares of what was to come…
There it is! The first official chapter is complete! The dragons are back and Kara must soon face a return to the world she had abandoned over a year before and a boy with golden eyes that she had thought she would never see again. Please review! They're what keep me going!