Chapter 4: Breathtaking
For what was supposed to be a small village, Hira'a was surprisingly packed with people. Although most of them seemed to be focused on what looked like a play.
The four of them approached the stage, as two masked actors seemed to be going through a particularly intense fight scene.
"Hey! I recognize that scene!" Zuko spoke up as they squeezed into the crowd of people. "It's the final battle in Love Amongst the Dragons." He then turned to Azula. "Remember when mother used to take us to watch the Ember Island Players perform this play?"
Azula, who was standing awfully close to Aang, broke into a smile. "And then we would reenact the scene on the beach? Yes, I remember… I always did make a better Dragon Emperor…"
Although she was smiling, it held the hints of a deeper sadness…
The idea of them playing as regular siblings seemed so impossible to him, and just the thought of it was heartbreaking.
"What are you looking at, Avatar?" He heard Azula ask, bringing him back to reality.
Crap. He was staring at her.
"Uh… I'm not sure…" He laughed nervously as she glared at him.
What had gotten into him?
"Hey, guys?" Suki thankfully bailed him out. "Shouldn't we be asking around about you guys' mother?" She said as she gave both him and Azula what seemed like a suspicious look.
"You're right. We need to focus." Zuko said as he approached the old couple who was standing in front of them. "Excuse me, we're looking for information on a woman named Ursa. I believe she lived here many years ago."
The old man looked at him in surprise. "Ursa… Yes, I believe she was the Magistrate's daughter, wasn't she…"
"Oh yes, rumor has it she—" The man's wife spoke, before being interrupted by a voice from behind them.
"Excuse me!"
They turned around and saw…
The Blue Spirit?! But how?!
Zuko was right there!
But before he could topple to the ground in shock, the man wearing the mask quickly removed it.
"Ah, sorry! Didn't mean to startle you." He was an older looking man with long brown hair tied up from behind. "My name is Noren. I'm the director of the Hira'a acting troupe. Ursa was once a member." He shook Zuko's hand.
It was slight, but he noticed Azula's eyes perk up at the man's words.
"That's right! She always wanted to play the Dragon Empress, but never got the chance! Didn't she—" The old woman spoke up again, although Noren interrupted her once more.
"We should find a quiet place to talk, away from the crowds. You're all welcome to come to my home." Noren began leading them into the village. "I'll tell you everything I know."
Zuko thanked him and then they were on their way.
As they walked, he decided to approach Azula.
"Hey, you okay?"
She raised an eyebrow. "Yes, why wouldn't I be?"
"Well, you've looked pretty shaken up ever since Noren mentioned your mother…" He noticed how she was picking at her nails, and nibbling at her lower lip…
"I'm fine." She said sharply, but, for some reason, made to close the distance between their shoulders.
He wasn't sure, but he had a suspicion that she wasn't even aware that she was doing it.
He sighed. As long as she wasn't threatening to burn anyone, he was mostly fine with it.
Although the way his heart quickened its pace did concern him. Was he still scared of her? Even after everything?
He shook his head. He'll figure it out later, once they listen to what Noren has to say.
"What a beautiful home, Noriko!" Suki said as she took in the house that Noren had taken them to.
It was a cozy space filled with the many quirks and decorations that painted the picture of a happy family. He wasn't sure how to feel about it… He always thought he and Katara would one day be able to have something like this…
He sighed internally. He couldn't sour the hospitality given to them with his bad mood.
"How long have you two been married?" He decided to ask with a smile.
"Almost five years now." Noriko answered with a warmth in her voice. She truly looked happy with her life…
Would he himself ever get to a point where he could truly say he was as happy as she was…
"It must be nice." He heard Suki say. But it was strange. It almost sounded… distant.
It seems like Noriko caught it too. "Is something wrong, dear?"
Suki jumped in surprise. "W-What? Oh, no- It's nothing…"
But Noriko simply gave her a knowing look before breaking into a kind smile. "Is that so. Well, love is something that you can't rush. Sometimes the right person doesn't appear until later in life, just like Noren and I. Or maybe someone you met when young simply won't become the right one until you meet them later as well. It's all about patience."
Patience huh…
He turned to look at Azula, who seemed to be chatting with Zuko and Noriko's daughter, Kiyi, as she was showing them her doll.
"Well, little Kiyi has a very… interesting haircut." He heard Zuko comment. And from where he was looking, the doll definitely looked a little rough along the hair department.
"My sister did stuff like that when she was little."
Wait, Azula gave haircuts to her dolls? He would've loved to have seen that.
But Azula simply smiled eerily at Zuko's comment. "That's right. Only I didn't give my dolls haircuts, I gave them headcuts! Would you like me to show you?"
He snorted. He could tell by this point when she was making a joke, but there probably was some semblance of truth to it.
While Zuko and Kiyi both looked appalled by her words, Azula seemed to ignore them to give him a sideways glance.
Did she catch his laugh?
He reckons she probably did, from the faint smile on her face before she averted her eyes once more.
Before anything else could happen, Noren came back with tray holding teapot and a few cups.
"Kiyi, are you being hospitable to our guests?"
But the little girl just huffed. "I'm trying."
Huh… That almost reminded him of someone…
Noren sat with them as he gave a kiss to his wife. "Mind if I join the conversation, dear?"
By this point, Azula and Zuko had now joined them by the table. And of course, Azula's leg just happened to be brushing against his.
"Now,"- Noren's voice brought him out of his head. - "I'm sorry for this, but I must ask why you wish to learn about Ursa. She's somewhat of a… delicate topic in this village."
The man's eyes were cautious and slightly narrowed. Something was off.
"Oh- Yeah, um…" Zuko scrambled for an answer, but Azula beat him to the punch.
"We're historians. We've been investigating the mysterious disappearance of the previous Fire Lady, and we found out she was originated from this town before moving to the capital." She said with so much clarity and confidence he almost believed her words himself.
He was also taken by surprise that Azula mentioned her mother without the usual venom it carried.
Noren regarded them with slight suspicion, but eventually relented with a sigh. "I see. Well, there's not much that I can tell you that you may not already know… Ursa was a famous member of our troupe, but it wasn't for her acting, but for the fact that she married into the Royal Family. One day she was here, and the next she wasn't. Anything else would be nothing but mere speculation."
Well, that was definitely something they already did know…
Looking at Zuko, he noticed that he seemed unsatisfied, as if waiting for Noren to continue.
"What about… Ikem?" He asked when Noren didn't.
"My, you've really done your research!" Noren's surprise was clear on his face. "Ikem was an actor, too. Ursa's boyfriend, I believe. He disappeared shortly after Ursa left."
"Folks say that he ran off to Forgetful Valley." Noriko added.
Well, that sounded ominous.
"Where's that?" He asked.
"At the bottom of a canyon, just outside of town. The Heartbroken go there to forget their lives." Noriko answered, before her expression turned pensive. "You know I vaguely remember hearing that ursa came back to town years later, looking for Ikem. They say she went after him to forgetful valley."
Azula's body slightly tensed at her words, as her gaze turned sharp and calculated.
He also felt relieved himself. It was their first lead since getting into Hira'a.
Their next step was obvious now.
They drank their tea along some lighter conversation until it was time for them to leave.
He had to steel himself. From the way Noriko had described this forest, he was sure something related to a spirit was the culprit for all the rumors.
He only hoped that their trip wouldn't be in vain.
The path to Forgetful Valley was a quiet one.
Azula and Suki bickered every once in a while, but Zuko hadn't said a word during their journey to the forest.
"Hey, Zuko? Something going on?" He decided to brave the question.
Although, Zuko didn't answer him, still lost inside his thoughts.
"Zuko?" He tried once more.
"H-Huh?" Zuko jumped. "Sorry, I had a lot going on in my head…"
He fixed him with a worried look
He couldn't help but remember his reaction to the letter… No matter what the truth was, Zuko needed to remain Fire Lord. The world depended on it.
Even though he understood why he seemed hopeful that Ozai wasn't his real father, the message he sent to the world and its leaders at the end of the war could only stand for as long as he was the one on the throne. He's the symbol of love and peace that they're working so hard to achieve.
"Listen, Zuko. No matter what you're thinking right now, just know that you being Fire Lord is not just for you but for everyone that depends on you, including us. Please don't forget that."
Zuko's breath hitched, but he didn't answer.
Hopefully, that was a sign that he was at least considering his words.
For now though, they must keep moving.
"So, this must be Forgetful Valley."
"How do you know?" Suki asked curiously. "Is it some Avatar thing?"
"No. There's a sign over there." Aang pointed at a rundown sign by one of the trees.
"Oh! I see…" Suki said while slightly embarrassed.
"But where do we go from here? There's no path…" Zuko pointed out as they tried walking over the many overlapping vines and trees.
"Oh, Zuzu. Did you forget? Everything is a path when you're a firebender!" Azula shouted as she started blasting a way forward with her azure flames.
Oh boy, here we go.
"Woah! Hold on, Azula!" Aang rush to grab her arm before she could burn anymore of the forest.
"What?! I don't suppose you have a better idea, Avatar!" She glared at him.
"I don't." His voice is serious and steady. "But I'm sensing some high amounts of spiritual energy all around us. If you anger whatever spirit lives here, then it will only end badly for us."
Azula only stared for a good while looking unamused. "I'd be more inclined to listen to you if you weren't making such ridiculous faces."
"Huh? —" He touched at his face and, just like she said, his face was contorted into a weird expression.
"Not again!" He groaned to the sky which only prompted Azula to start laughing at him.
He looked around, as if to find the cause of his strange phenomenon. But there wasn't any sign of a spirit nearby…
"Actually, Aang"- Suki called out to him – "There seems to be something strange going on with the forest itself… I mean, look." She pointed at a leaf that seemed to have the imprint of a frightened face.
"And this, too…" She pointed to a squirrel toad sitting in a nearby vine that held a smiling face on its back.
"You're right… But what about the face I'm doing right now?" He said as he started looking around once more, but he still couldn't find it.
It wasn't until Azula had nudged him with her elbow and nodded at a flying flutter-bat that sported his exact expression on its wings, that his question was answered.
"Wow! Nice going, Azula!" He shot her a thumbs up.
"Don't get the wrong, idea!" She huffed. "I just rather not have to look at that hideous expression on your face, that's it."
But that only got a laugh out of him. "Even then, thanks! I'll go chase it before it flies away!"
"Wait, Aang! Don't run off on your own!" He heard Zuko shout, but he was already busy swinging from tree to tree trying to not lose sight of the flutter-bat.
It was a shifty one, but it eventually landed near what looked like a perfectly round pool of water.
Wait, was it leading him here? That was odd.
This forest already had too many mysteries to it that he didn't know how much longer they should remain here.
"Hey guys! Check this out!" He called out to his friends.
Eventually, all three caught up to him.
"Wow—I've never seen water this clear before…" Suki pointed out as she ran to where he was by the edge of the pond.
"Like a perfect pane of glass…" Zuko added.
"Yeah, it's almost like Tui and La's pond in the North Pole… We need to be respectful around here. This is a very spiritual place."
He looked at each of his companions, but when he landed on Azula, he saw her face strain once again as she was looking at the mirror-like water.
"You again!" She shouted as she prepared to launch her lightning at the pond.
Dammit! He should've seen this coming!
"Azula! Wait!" He tried to reach with his voice before she could fire and… it worked!
"What?!" She turned around to face him. "I can't let her keep feeding me with her lies!"
"We can't afford to be disrespectful around here!" He tried to reason with her. "It would only take a single angry rogue spirit for all of us to be sent and trapped in the spirit world!" Plus, seeing her like this did something unpleasant to his heart that he wasn't sure how to explain.
"Aang! What's going on?!" Zuko and Suki rushed to his side, both looking warily at Azula.
He had to defuse the situation, and quickly.
"Nothing's wrong! Don't worry-!" But then, a bunch of sharp looking flowers started flying towards them.
"Look out—" Suki moved to deflect them with her sword, while Zuko and Azula blocked with their fire.
"What's going on?!" Zuko was starting to panic. "Is it that whole spirit thing you were talking about, Aang?!"
Was it? Both flowers and vines were attacking but it didn't feel like a spirit attack…
He's seen something like this before… But where?
That's right! The swamp!
"No! I think someone's waterbending them!" He reached out with his hands, trying to sense the water inside the attacking flora. It took a while, but he eventually sensed what felt like a heavy influence on them.
Whoever they were, they were strong. They'll need to finish this fight quickly or they won't last long.
But before he could properly pinpoint the location of the bender, someone pushed him harshly to the ground.
"Hey-!" He grunted in pain, but what he saw once he opened his eyes was nothing short of incredible.
Azula blocked a group of vines that were approaching him from all angles with a massive vortex of fire that surrounded them both.
He was speechless. The sight was like nothing he's ever seen…
No, he's seen it once before. In a memory where he was on top of an altar along two dragons who menacingly circled both him and Zuko. It was only until they performed the ritual dance of the Sun Warriors that they were shown the true source of firebending. The real meaning of the element.
But this was something else completely. Azula has never met the dragons or their ancient civilization, and even then…
She achieved this through her own power…
She figured out her own meaning for firebending, and it was breathtaking.
It wasn't like he's never seen her firebend before… but there was something different about it when she used it to protect him rather than to attack him.
It felt like this was the first time he was able to truly appreciate the incredible talent that she held. The almost unreachable aptitude for firebending that he was sure he himself would never achieve without the help of the Avatar State.
She was one of a kind. He almost couldn't help thinking himself lucky to have been trapped in the ice for so long if it meant getting to meet her.
She's gone through so much, and suffered by herself for so long, and even then, she had the strength of heart to fight against the life she was given. To create a future for herself when everybody else was trying to bring her down.
He could only imagine the type of person she would've become if it wasn't for her father… or her mother…
It was heartbreaking to think about, but he knew deep down that she could still become that person. That if anyone was capable to defy the expectations put on her by the entire world, it was her.
And he wanted to be there to witness it.
His heart was beating loudly. But before he could truly understand the reason for it, the fire died down, and Azula turned around to face him.
She looked angry. She was glaring at him while clenching her teeth in frustration… But it wasn't like when she was forced to face the image of her mother. It was laced with fear. Fear for someone.
Fear for him.
Something was happening to him, and he was almost too scared to find out.
