disclaimer: Mike and Bryan own the ATLA universe; Mariko belongs to me (: enjoy!
The Crossroad of Intertwined Hearts
A slow sigh escaped as she rubbed her temples. "Let me see if I can get this straight… You only want to send in two regiments in the vanguard? You do realize this is the Fire Nation you're plotting against, yeah?" Cripes, she was getting a headache, and it was barely noon.
The strategy planning had only been going on for three days, and Mariko felt like it had been going on for years. The confidence she'd started off with, confidence that she knew the layout of the land and the enemy they would be facing (her father's regiment included), had almost depleted by this point. Right now she was keeping her cool as best as humanly possible, and not sock these stubborn earthbenders for questioning her ideas.
Just who was the firebender here, anywho?
General Sung scowled at her audacity, looking to his fellow generals, "Remind me again why this war effort is being staged by a sixteen-year-old girl." He groused.
"Because she is a close ally to the Avatar," General How defended calmly, noting the pointed scowl forming on the girl's brow as her gaze was directed at the fidgety earthbender; he smirked dryly, "And because she is clearly familiar with the layout of the Fire Nation capital city." He added.
"Thank you for your kindness, sir, but the point here is that the proper number of regiments to send in as the vanguard is four. Given the fluke chance the eclipse doesn't last long, the first two regiments go first with the second pair acting as a backup should the first pair receive heavy firepower. And knowing my own people, trust me, there'll be hell." She smirked cheekily despite the graveness of the joke, earning a couple of laughs from the generals.
The meeting proceeded at a calmer pace once the atmosphere had relaxed, ending with General How concluding, "All we need is the Earth King's seal to execute the plan." He placed a bound scroll on a square piece of the table frame and sent it sliding to Mariko's side of the table so she could take it.
Mariko nodded, smiling wryly and straightening to her feet, bowing slightly. "I'm on it; thank you, General How." She turned to exit the meeting room at top speed, disappearing down the long corridor and soon feeling the sunlight on her face once again.
She passed by more elaborate-looking buildings, most she guessed belong to the generals' families, or other stately nobles that had worked their way into the Upper Ring by some means. Once again she was reminded of the similarities between Ba Sing Se and Caldera, namely the hierarchy that had been set in place for spirits knew how long. Thinking of Caldera made her think of Zuko, and as she passed by an ornate fountain spouting clear water from the tip of the fish's pursed mouth, a nostalgic smile formed.
I wonder if he's doing okay; we haven't seen each other in a week…
"Oh, hey! Mariko!" A familiar voice barked, perking her ears and she halted in her tracks before being engulfed in an embrace.
She blinked once before blushing on habit, prying herself away by a few inches to look from the olive-brown longsleeve tunic under a pale apron up into his familiar gold eyes. "Zuko?" His happy smile threw her for a loop, but she found herself smiling back despite the confusion, "What're you doing in the Upper Ring?" She asked, seeing the happiness had reached his gold eyes as well.
Okay, who brainwashed him? This couldn't possibly be Zuko, her Zuko, the pouty prince with a short fuse and a near-permanent scowl on his brow… This was weird.
"Uncle opened up his own tea shop in the Upper Ring and we moved here. I'm glad you're still around." The happiness shifted to a warmth and fondness he only showed her. "I missed you."
She blushed humbly, coughing awkwardly and looking away like a coward. "I missed you, too. Um, are you okay, Zuko? You sound… different." She asked warily, looking at him again with a raised brow.
He chuckled, gold eyes remaining warm. "Just a new leash on life, I guess. Look, I know I've been stupid lately, and the other day we hung out, I had a lot of fun. I loved hanging around with you, Mari, and I just wanted to repay you for taking me out on the town." He smiled sheepishly, a pink blush starting to show on his cheeks, even though his hands kept their gentle grasp on her elbows.
"Zuko, that's sweet. Um, I've got something to do tonight, though…" She blushed again, an apologetic tinge creeping into her voice.
"Tomorrow night, then. I'm taking you out tomorrow night." Zuko saw a million emotions flash in her eyes, but the one he saw most prominently was surprise; spurred by that, he added. "I at least owe it to you for all that you've done."
Mariko could swear her cheeks burned and a smile curled her lips, the prospect of a night out with him, her new-and-improved prince, sending butterflies to be loosened in her belly; she nodded. "Okay. I'd be happy to." She accepted in a soft voice.
A truly happy grin split across his handsome face and he wanted to embrace her again, but he settled for a kiss that expressed just how he felt for her, his hands digging into her upper back and waist, hearing her gasp slightly when his lips crushed hers.
But she was kissing back, her fingers curling in his scruffy hair that had grown out during the week spent apart from him, sighing despite the still-present confusion of when he had started acting positive and sweet and just how long would it last. Would he be like this forever?
Zuko breathed a chuckle as he pulled away reluctantly, his arms glued to her hips despite the broken kiss. "I'll meet you here infront of the shop tomorrow at sundown." He said softly, gold eyes apologetic when he saw the flash of remorse appear in her amber eyes.
"Right." Mariko murmured, stroking his right cheek gingerly, smiling when he covered her hand with his, leaning up to kiss him chastely before prying herself away, flashing him a shy grin and continuing on her way to the palace in a daze.
She was letting herself get in over her head; but at the same time, maybe that was a good thing… If Zuko remained the way he was, he could be swayed to join them in overthrowing his father. But would he do it? Would he have it in him to turn his back on his own family?
Mariko knocked on the high-rising door to the throne room and proceeded to step inside, shouldering open the heavy door before sighing when she made it inside. "Sorry I'm late…" She blinked once at noticing the King wasn't present, three girls donning white facepaint and dressed in green warrioress garb seated infront of the throne. She calmed at recognizing the garb, smiling. "Oh, Suki. Again, sorry for being late; I just ran into my boyfriend; he and his uncle moved to the Upper Ring, and we just were visiting for a bit…" She trailed off as her eyes gauged the girl in the center of the Kyoshi Warrior trio, and instead of seeing auburn hair she saw dark brown on the middle girl's head.
Cobalt wasn't cobalt… it was tawny. Cold, malignant tawny.
These weren't the Kyoshi Warriors, and that sure as hell wasn't Suki.
She dropped the scroll to sink into a stance, but a flash of green out of the corner of her left eye and a numbing paralysis shot up her spine mere seconds later; like that, she was knocked down, landing cheek-first on the cold throne-room floor.
"So, Zuzu's in town; I think it's time for a family reunion."
::::::::dOb::::::::
The next thing she awoke to was not only a killer headache, but also a faint green light surrounding her.
Mariko groaned and sat up, clutching her frontal lobe gingerly in one hand, squinting through her right eye at her new surroundings before the memory of the throne room flashed in her mind.
"Damn it!" She snarled in anger, dropping her hand to slam a fist onto the floor next to her, grimacing when a throb of pain shot up her left arm from the punch; shaking her head as the headache dulled, she gingerly got to her feet, taking a survey of her surroundings.
This must've been an old crystal mine, though the crystals gave off a milky green glow that highlighted the carved paths, and she had the distinct feeling this place was only used as a prison; by the Dai Li, if she had to wager.
She found a flat rock semi-surrounded by a row of green crystal stalagmites and sat down with an expletive caught between her teeth.
Azula was here, which could only mean that she was going to overthrow the Earth King at some point in time; and knowing her impatience, it would be soon.
Zuko and Uncle were most likely going to be captured… Damn why did she have to open her big mouth?
And Aang…
Mariko growled in frustration at her own stupidity, pounding the heels of her palms into her forehead.
"Everything's shot to hell… and it's my fault." She hissed, the prickling of angered tears congregating at the backs of her eyes she screwed shut tightly to ward off the oncoming tears.
No, she had to get out of here… She just had to.
Okay, calm down, girl; you just need to think of a plan. If Azula shows, all I need to do is somehow draw her attention elsewhere and then escape, even if I have to fight a fleet of Dai Li agents… I have to stop it.
And if she doesn't show? Then what? That snide voice in the back of her head taunted.
Then she was royally screwed.
She just needed to meditate; maybe that would give her some sort of inspiration for a backup plan.
It was what she assumed to be a couple of hours later that she first heard it; the only noise she'd been hearing was her own steady breathing up until then.
A scraping, rock against rock… a chance to escape?
Mariko was on her feet in less than seconds, body tensed for a confrontation, but she didn't hear the sound of someone descending into the prison.
"You've got company." A gruff voice declared from the hatch where light poured out from, before the sound of someone being shoved hard hummed hollowly, a groan of pain coming from the one being shoved, before a jumbled mess of olive-brown and dark brown tumbled down the path, landing unceremoniously infront of her.
She snarled and sent a jet of flames screaming at the closing hatch and then swore when the cover was slammed shut on her retaliation, glaring at the hatch. "Bastards." She spat at the ground.
"Ow…" A voice mumbled behind her, and as she turned on her cellmate, she froze at seeing just who it was.
Zuko rubbed his head gingerly, shooting a glare at the hatch, before registering that she was standing infront of him; his gold eyes widened. "Mariko?"
"Zuko…" Her heart plummeted into the abyss beneath her feet and she swore again, slapping her forehead. "Damn it, this isn't good… How… Why the hell are you here?" Mariko demanded, having the sudden urge to throw her arms around him and then hit him for being so stupid to let himself get caught.
"Missed you too… How do you think? Azula got me." He answered tartly, blinking once before scrambling to his feet, looking at her alertly, "What're you doing here? Are you alright? Did she do anything to you?" He demanded, looking her over.
She blushed slightly and crossed her arms. "I'm fine, my head kind of hurts, but that's probably because Ty Lee blocked my damn chi last night. Cripes, stop asking so many questions, Zuko. Where's Uncle? Don't tell me she… y'know." Her face paled at the thought and she shuddered, looking away.
"No, of course not! He got away, actually… I was the one who got caught. I kind of tried to start an Agni-Kai with her, a couple of hours ago…" He trailed off as he practically heard the stupidity of his previous actions pounding at the walls of his head.
"You did…?" Mariko blinked owlishly before a vein pulsed on her temple and she pinched the bridge of her nose, sighing steadily. "Damn it… YOU IDIOT!" She whacked him across the chin reproachfully, making him stagger back.
"O-ow… Damn it, Mariko that hurt! Don't you think I already feel like a complete idiot for letting her goad me into a bleeding Agni-Kai!?" Zuko shouted, rubbing his jaw tenderly and scowling at her.
"You overgrown… wait a minute, you're not the happy puppy-cub you were yesterday." At seeing the pout cross his face at being compared to a puppy-cub, she snorted and then shook her head with a slight smile fighting its way to her lips. "Spirits, this is so not good… Damn it." She turned away to return to her spot, rubbing her eyes with the heels of her palms.
"How is it 'so not good', exactly?" He asked, watching her sink back onto the rock, noting it looked as if the weight of the world had suddenly been dropped onto her shoulders. His gaze tightened.
"Azula knows Aang will come to help me; don't ask how I know he will, but he will. He's a bit predictable like that; always trying to be the hero to a damsel…" She shook her head again. "If she's here, she knows about the eclipse by now, if she's disguised herself as an ally for the past few days in the sight of the Earth King. And if she knows we were planning on staging an uprising against the Fire Nation, then everything's just gotten shot to hell…" The prickling sensation overcame her, and she dipped her head down, black fringe shielding her closed eyes from his penetrating stare. "And it's my fault…" Her voice was cracking.
He hesitated when hearing a choked sniffle, hating that she was crying, and he quickly countered, "It's not, okay? You didn't know, Mari…"
"Yes it is! If I had run when I had the chance, if I hadn't opened my big mouth and told her you were here… We wouldn't be in this mess." She hoarsely snapped, her head dropping again as she covered her face with her hands. "The whole damn goal, everything we've worked for, all of it is as good as dead now, because of me." She groaned.
His hands were placed on her shoulders, and she quickly jerked her stare to meet his suddenly fierce gold stare; her amber eyes were puffy and damp, but aside from that, she met his stare.
"Zuko…"
"It's not your fault. None of this is! I know it feels like it is, that you feel helpless and sick with yourself for what happened, I've felt like that before… I know it well… But still. It's just happenstance, Mariko." His determined expression melted into a somber face, and his brow crinkled, his eyes staring past her at something behind her. "Nothing good lasts forever." He added softly.
She lifted a hand to rub her nose gingerly with a finger, looking down at her knees before smiling sadly. "That's another reason I freaked out. All this time I thought I was following you into banishment because I wanted to make sure you were okay, and when I met Aang and the others, I lost sight of what I left home for. But when I saw you the other day, in the most unlikely place in the world, I remembered my reason. I'm sorry, I'm so sorry, for being an idiot and flaking out on you. I really am, Zuko. I just hope and pray you can forgive me for acting how I've acted lately." She whispered hoarsely, sniffling.
He soaked in her apology, vaguely wondering when it had turned on him and their estranged relationship, before he closed his eyes and exhaled shakily. "You're the biggest idiot I've ever met. You traveled all over, just to chase me, almost got yourself killed a few times, and then think that I'm not going to forgive you? We've both been idiots, lately, Mariko." He regarded her puffy-eyed stare with something like sympathy, sympathy shifting to determination. "I just know now, even if we're stuck here forever, that I want you with me. You're the only one who's stable, between us both. Besides, I've kinda been thinking about you a lot, lately, after what happened last week." He smiled dryly.
She blushed slightly, dropping her gaze as a million things zoomed through her mind, the one thing that kept coming back most prominently was the faces of her friends; sure being with Zuko was something she had longed for during the last three years, but to leave them…? Her worlds couldn't collide because they would crumble instantly. But as she replayed his words in her head, she realized that he was being sincere; there was no sarcasm or teasing in what he said.
Tui and La he wanted her to be with him… he wanted her at his side.
"I want you with me, too. I've wanted that for three years." She regarded the elation rising to the surface in his gold eyes and she lifted a hand to press her palm to his chest gently as if to keep him at bay. "But no matter what you decide, no matter where you go, I'm going with you. I won't let you leave me behind." Not again.
He quieted and dipped his head in a nod once her words soaked in, smiling wryly, holding her hand in his. "And I won't leave you behind, either." He embraced her, feeling her fingers dig into his shoulders as he buried his face into her shoulder.
This is what she wanted… this was her choice.
A loud rumbling erupted into the air then, and both teenagers jumped to their feet as dust flew from the blast, the clinking of crystal falling and breaking treading into the air; her heart plummeted into the ground beneath her feet at seeing the familiar faces that had come to their aid.
Yep, predictable.
"Aang." She felt like her world had come crashing down around her as he, Katara and Uncle Iroh stood there when the dust cleared, and she had the sudden urge to cower; it was bad enough Aang was here, but Katara as well? Spirits, she was screwed.
Uncle Iroh soon embraced them both, namely his nephew, letting her step away to face her friends.
"You shouldn't be here!" Dread gave way to anger, and she inwardly flinched at the hurt look that crossed the boy's face, shock appearing on the younger girl's face as well. "Why did you come?" He was here and God knew they had to get out of here, and fast.
"Mariko, you sound like you didn't want us to come… Aang had a vision that you were in trouble!" Katara was the one to speak, looking at her sharply.
"You left the Eastern Air Temple, didn't you? Before you mastered the Avatar State! Aang! You're both idiots, you should go!" Mariko glared at the airbender just as sharply before keeping the same glare on the waterbender, and she ran a hand hastily through her hair.
"We're not leaving without you! You're part of the group, remember?" Aang stated, and she growled aloud in frustration.
"I never belonged with you!" Mariko shouted, stunning them both; at seeing the bewildered looks, she could swear the prickling of tears was starting again, continuing in their silence, "I don't deserve your kindness, and I never did. I… It's because of me you're here, and it's because of me you're going to die! Azula knew you were going to come because we're friends, and it's my fault… Everything is my fault." Her voice was cracking, but she jerked herself away from them to face one side of the tunnel, closing her eyes tightly.
"Like that matters? Since when were you scared of Azula; the last few times we faced her, you fought just as hard as the rest of us! You're still a part of the family, Mariko…" Katara's voice was sympathetic, a shuffling of feet as she stepped closer to the older girl.
Mariko looked at her stingingly, "You don't know what you're saying, Katara. How the hell can you trust me after all the times I wanted to find Zuko?" She saw her freeze in shock; a snide tone entered her voice as she added, "Zuko was the boy I grew up with… and it's Zuko that is my fiancé." She finished softly, not daring to look in his direction even though she knew he was staring at her.
"You're together." Aang surmised, still bewildered, but regaining his bearings with each second. "All this time… While we were here in Ba Sing Se, those times you disappeared… Was because of Zuko." He stated.
"It's not like you guys needed me around much. You knew the whole time, Aang; I told you that once, a long time ago. I've been pussyfooting with my decision for the last several months I was with you lot, but now I've made my choice. I choose him." Mariko stated clearly, a slight coldness entering her voice, and for a second, she hated that she sounded so much like his sister.
"You… are you insane!? Do you have any idea what that jerk has done, what he tried to do so many times!? He tried to capture Aang, baited me with my mother's necklace for the same reason, and you just choose him over your friends!?" Katara exploded, slightly throwing her for a loop, speaking in place of a quieted Aang.
Mariko exhaled softly and looked away. "You don't understand it… you don't understand anything about me, or about Zuko. It's not like either of our lives have been easy, Katara! I was never part of the family, I didn't deserve to be with you guys, pretending I was a normal teenager…" She glared stonily at the younger girl's outraged blue stare, exhaling smoke through her nostrils. "There's still time for you to get out of here in one piece. Both of you." She shot a pointed look at Aang, an apology written in her eyes as she thought back to that promise made about teaching him firebending. I'm sorry, Aang. "Get moving." She added the last bit with an authoritative edge.
Katara was all too happy to leave, twisting about without a second look at her and dragging Aang by the hand after her leave; Aang looked over his shoulder at the stiff-legged firebender and the apology was still present in her sombered amber gaze.
He looked away and they both left the crystal cave.
Mariko looked at both nephew and uncle, cracking a small sheepish smile, stepping towards them. This was her choice, this is what she wanted, what she had wanted for so long…
A loud crash sounded then, and a high-rising rift of crystals jetted between them, ensnaring their elder.
"Uncle!" She barked, turning to get into a stance as Azula and two Dai Li agents came forward from the darkness.
"I expected this kind of treachery from Uncle, but not from Zuko… Prince Zuko. You're a lot of things, but you're not a traitor… are you?" Azula drawled, nearing her brother.
Zuko glared at her, "Release him immediately!"
"It's not too late for you, Zuko: you can still redeem yourself." She continued calmly, ignoring the death glares from both her brother and his girlfriend.
"The kind of redemption she offers is not for you!" Iroh declared behind them.
Azula quieted him, "Why don't you let him decide, Uncle?" She looked at her brother. "I need you, Zuko; I've plotted this day, this glorious day in Fire Nation history, and the only way we win is together. At the end of this day, you will have your honor back; you will have Father's love… You will have everything you want."
Mariko regarded the contemplative look on his face out of the corner of her eye and her shoulders almost visibly slumped; she knew that look.
"Zuko, I'm begging you, look into your heart and see what it is you truly want." Iroh tried to talk him out of doing something stupid.
"You're free to choose." Azula stated, gesturing the Dai Li agents slink back into the shadows and she walked past Mariko in the direction Aang and Katara had gone.
"Whatever you choose, I'm with you." Mariko reminded quietly once she had left, looking at him empathetically.
Twin stony looks regarded her when she shuffled into the shared room she was assigned to, and she ignored them, dropping her sword onto the cot and pulling her boots off, sitting down. "Hey."
The brunette girl raised a brow and shared a mildly surprise look with her friend, looking at the somber girl. "You're not gonna, y'know, attack or anything?" She asked, confusion seeping into her usually-chipper voice.
She lifted a hand to pull her hair out of the ponytail, and she huffed quietly. "What for? It'd be pointless. Besides, I'm on your side again." She shrugged, finger-combing through the tangled locks.
Her cousin held her amber gaze and she noted there was truth in what she said; so she accepted it, sighing. "Whatever. It beats fighting you; after a while it got to be too much work." She mused dryly.
"I'm glad you're back, Mari; between you and Mai, you were always more fun to hang around with!" Ty Lee chirped, smiling sweetly.
Mai deadpanned and rolled her eyes; Mariko chuckled quietly.
It had been so long since she had seen home. Maybe things had changed in her absence; maybe her parents weren't the strict people she had left behind three years ago… Maybe, just maybe.
Maybe it would be good to go home, after all.
A/N: okay now BEFORE you lot maim me for what happened in this chapter, there's a method to my madness, okay? i know i made Mari out to be somewhat MS but BEAR WITH ME, if you will. it'll get better in Book III, i promise.
until then, later.
preview of the next chap:
'Mariko was never one to like being girly, even when they were kids.'