The mighty Dragon of the West. That was how he had been known throughout the Fire Nation. Throughout the whole world.
The name had evoked power, respect and even fear.
And now, it was used to taunt him as the old man sat in his damp cell. The heat of the summer had barely begun and he felt it through his bars. Sweat dripped along his greasy hair on his wrinkled face.
"You used to be the pride of the Fire Nation. Our top general, the Dragon of the West." The guard spat at the hunched man in the corner of the dark cell, "Now, look at you." He dropped the tray of food to the floor. The fruit and porridge landed on the dirty stones, just within reach of the prison bars.
The old man crawled to the bars with an almost manical look in his eyes to grab the food and shoved it directly into his mouth.
"Look what you've become." The guard glared at him with disdain. He saw not the mighty General Iroh before him, but a dirty old man who wasn't able to string three words together. Pathetic.
He stomped out of the cell, pulling the door behind him shut. As he did this, he didn't notice that the eyes of the old man lit up as he straightened his back and started doing pull-ups with one arm.
Zuko threw the towel against the ground with more force than was necessary. His skin glowed from the exercise and the sweat gushed down his back, but it wasn't enough to make him stop his training.
"Another." Zuko ordered as he spun his dual broadswords in his hands. The servant in the training ring immediately brought a new dummy for Zuko to practise on – since the last dummy had been sliced in two pieces.
The new dummy before him was made of steel, but the scratches on the torso became deeper and deeper. It was meant for withstanding the heat of firebending, but Zuko preferred to hit it with his swords. The shining head on the dummy had no face, but Zuko could practically see the blue arrow on the smooth surface.
Slash. Slash.
The two swords made a crossing motion across the metal neck. Zuko exhaled through his nose as he twirled the swords again. If he only could have had his swords that day in the catacombs; then he would have been sure that he could have killed the Avatar.
And you would have never hurt Elyrie.
Zuko yelled as he spun around and kicked the dummy over. He jumped over and brought his swords down with all the anger he felt in his chest.
"Your Royal Highness," a servant approached him with a bowed head.
Zuko's head snapped back up. Unwillingly, the servant took a step back with wide eyes.
"Speak," Zuko sighed as he stood up and pulled his swords from the destroyed dummy. The two holes in its torso were almost perfect moulds of his weapons.
"If I may, Your Highness," the servant said, his head bowed but his eyes fixed on the destroyed dummy, "Would you prefer a steam bad or a relaxing massage?"
Zuko waved his hand dismissively at the proposal.
"Or perhaps a calming tea?" the servant tried again.
"I don't need any calming tea!" Zuko yelled, his long hair falling in his eyes as he threw his swords down. The clattering sounds echoed through the training arena.
"O-,o-fcourse, I a-a-pologise." The man stuttered as he bowed down and walked backwards. Just as he reached the door, he pulled it open and flew as quickly as a rabbit-hare.
With a sigh, Zuko sat down. With his elbows leaning on his knees, he bowed his own head down. He shouldn't have yelled at the poor man – he only tried to help. But why was it so hard for him to control his anger?
You don't know how to be anyone else.
As soon as the words echoed through his mind, he slammed with his bare fists on the wooden floor. Again and again, he smashed against the hard surface. The vibrations went through his arms as he lit up his hands. After he few seconds, his knuckles were bruised and there were two blackened spots on the floor.
And he didn't feel any better.
Raking his hand through the messy strands of long black hair, Zuko let himself fall flat on his back with his arms and legs spread out. He didn't need calming tea or relaxing massages – they wouldn't work. But slicing up dummies didn't either.
With a growl, he pushed himself from the floor and marched towards his own room. He ignored the servants trying to offer him food, drinks or a clean towel.
He walked faster than normal, without any sense of where he was going.
After a few minutes, he realised he had taken the wrong turn in the Great Hall. He was now in the old wing – belonging to the women of the Royal Family. For now, it was Azula's private wing since she was the only female member of the family.
And his sister was the last person he wanted to talk to now. He spun back and walked swiftly out of the long corridor, back to the Great Hall.
But as he passed the library, he lingered for a moment at the door. It was ajar and in the corner of his eye, he saw the magnificent pianoforte that had belonged to his mother. The deep black colour of the ebbenwood was polished and reflected the sunlight – almost like a mirror. The ivory keys were a pearly white, placed on an elegantly formed keyboard.
Had the instrument always been this beautiful? He couldn't remember.
A bit hesitantly, he walked over and played a few notes on the piano. Funny, when his mother used to teach him – or attempted to – he never seemed to have the patience to finish a piece. But some parts remained in a hidden part of his memory and he slowly played on.
The notes strung together to make the music flow slowly from his long fingers.
"What is the sudden interest in playing piano, Zuzu?" Azula said, stepping out of the shadows as quietly as a panther-shark.
"Nothing." he murmured as he pulled his fingers from the keys.
"Maybe music can help you relax," Azula continued, "Mai told me you were very busy – too busy for her even."
Zuko only shrugged as his fingers danced over the keys again, lightly caressing the smooth ivory.
"Or too busy to properly change." Azula added.
Zuko glanced down. He was still in his training clothes, stained with sweat and dirt. He sighed defeated. "What is it you want, Azula?"
"I have something to cheer you up," Azula as she handed him a rolled up piece of paper.
Zuko took it as he felt her amber eyes scanning his every move. He really was not in the mood for his sister's tricks right now. He rolled out the paper and recognised the four sketched faces.
The two Water Tribe siblings – Sokka and Katara – with a short description and price next to their faces. The young Earthbender – Toph – had a similar description: 'Dangerous enemies of the Fire Nation.'
The face on the top of the paper had a different description: "Traitor of the Fire Nation." And Elyrie's face looked back at him from the page.
Description: Average height. Pale skin. Firebender
Eye colour: Blue
Hair colour: Brown.
"The halfblood will have nowhere to go in the Fire Nation – or the rest of the world," Azula said she turned her back to her brother to walk away, "She'll probably slither back to the North Pole and we'll catch her soon enough."
Zuko watched his sister retreat. Her straight back and rolled back shoulders indicated that she didn't doubt herself or what she believed. He didn't doubt that she had already sent out search parties to the Northern routes to try and intercept the fugitives.
His eyes went over the etched faces on the paper in front of them. The description of the team seemed pretty accurate.
But it didn't look like Elyrie, though. He knew her hair wasn't completely brown. The copper undertones made it look like her hair was a burning once the setting sun caught in it. And the description missed the small scar on her temple. Or the fact that she had an exceptional singing voice. Or that she had the tendency to play with her hands if she was nervous. Or that her lower lips was slightly fuller ..-
He blinked a couple of times to clear his mind. Azula had been sloppy. She seemed to have spent an impressive amount of effort to make sure that the remaining fugitives should be caught as soon as possible. But why couldn't take the time to describe Elyrie's appearance?
Or was it because he knew every centimetre of her face? He slipped his hand in his pocket and felt her ring. He rubbed his thumb over the smooth sapphire stone.
With a basket hanging on her elbow, Elyrie walked to the town of Shu Jing to do some shopping. Due to its secluded location and natural surroundings, she had decided it would be the perfect place to stay on their way. Especially now, with Sokka training at the castle of Master Piandao and Aang, Katara and Toph were hanging around the campsite. But she was far to restless to lie down – or to hear one more of Katara's attempts to make 'Sokka'-jokes.
Besides, she enjoyed walking around the town. Shu Jing itself is situated at the edge of a canyon, through which flows a small river. Though narrow, multiple waterfalls and cataracts dot the canyon, where the rock was black in coloration.
The town itself was located on the slope of a hill and its architectural styles were similar to that of many other rural Fire Nation towns. The buildings were mainly low-rise and red or white in exterior coloration, with golden trimmings. They had slanted roofs, a few windows, and entryways at their facades.
Around her, the people spoke the familiar language: full of the rolling vowels with the exaggerated movements as they talked. The colourfulness, the liveliness, the passion that one could only find in the Fire Nation.
No one could deny what she had told them: the Fire Nation was warmth, passion and liveliness. She let herself follow the flow of the chattering crowd, almost emerging herself in the content feeling that one can feel at home.
The small stands with the fresh fruits and vegetables were everywhere. She couldn't help it and made her way to one of the stand.
The colours of the products were so inviting and the smell so fragrant, she almost forgot her manners and wanted to sink her teeth in a ripe, juicy peach.
"Can I interest the lady in something?" the merchant asked with a inviting smile.
"Thank you," Elyrie replied, effortlessly switching to the Fire Nation language, "I've just come back from the colonies and I missed our own delicious food."
She wasn't lying: the volcanic grounds were extremely fertile and nothing tasted like Fire Nation-produce. She picked up one tomato and weighed it in her small hands. In Ba Sing Se, the tomatoes were the size of her fist. But here, at home, she needed two hands to pick up one vegetable.
"We are blessed with a good harvest this year." The merchant commented as he saw her study his products, "I haven't seen anything as fertile as this in years."
"I understand," Elyrie answered as she placed the tomato in her basket, picking up a sweet, juicy peach.
"This, please," she said as she handed the merchant her basket.
"Here, take these as well." The merchant said he winked and placed two extra peaches her basket, "I know how one can miss our homeland."
"You too, then?" she asked as she took the basket.
"Absolutely," he nodded, "I stayed at the Earth Kingdom for a few months. You can never imagine the longing I felt for our meats and products."
"And spice! Food in other parts of the world is so terribly bland." She chatted along, the smile plastered on her face.
"We are all kindred spirits in other parts of the world."
After doing her groceries, Elyrie sat down on the edge of the fountain in the middle of the round square. In the middle, it was spewing water high up to the cloudless sky. Two children were playing near it. With her basket next to her, she folded her legs under herself and leaned her elbows on het knees. One hand under her chin, she let her blue eyes glide over the people walking around.
A group of schoolchildren, probably around twelve years old, crossed the square in neat rows of two by two. They walked – no, marched – over the cobblestones. Their uniforms were black with red and gold accents. Were uniforms everywhere in the homeland the same? Probably, it was just the way things were arranged here in the homeland.
It was funny, because she never thought about the uniformity of her country before. It made sense: everything the same in the homeland, with only different customs in the colonies far overseas. It was easy. One country equalled uniformity. It had been the Earth Kingdom that showed her its diversity.
She heard the children recite the oath - the oath said every morning was the same as well:
"My life I give to my country. With my hands I fight for Fire Lord Ozai and our forefathers before him. With my mind I seek ways t better my country and with my feet may our March of Civilization continue."
Head bowed, your right fist pressed against the palm of your left hand, facing the portrait of the Fire Lord.
The words had once been different. She had learned 'With my hands I fight for Fire Lord Azulon'.
She looked down at those hands. Once soft and elegant, she saw the callus forming on the palms. It had been red and tender for a few days as her body started to adjust. Her grip on the metal fans were starting to show on her hands. Her knuckles were red and scraped; on some places was her skin lightly broken. No doubt the effect of her bare hands on the colliding rocks. And the absence of creams and lotions.
They felt stronger, though. That was a good thing. Her hand caressed the leather pockets under the flowing skirt. From her thighs down to just above the knees was she hiding her metal fans. It had become quick habit to take them everywhere with her. It felt safe to have something on her at all times.
"Jin!" a voice cried just near her.
Elyrie looked up and shielded her eyes from the sunlight, her heartbeat drumming in her chest. For a split-second, she expected to see the kind eyes of her friend. Was this the small town she came from? Had luck brought them back together?
But as her eyes adjusted, the hope immediately sank and turned into disappointment. A young girl had splashed herself in the fountain and the mother was reprimanding her.
"Jin, don't you do that," the mother said as she pointed to Elyrie, "You're splashing that lady. Sorry," she said as she looked at Elyrie.
"It is not a problem, really." Elyrie plastered the friendly smile on her face. The sting in her chest had subsided, but the disappointment still hurt.
"Can I sit?" the mother asked after she had wiped her daughter dry as best she could.
"Please," Elyrie gestured to the empty spot as she moved over to make some room.
With a sigh, the woman sat down. She had to be around the same age as Elyrie. She had long dark hair and beautiful light brown eyes, but the deep lines in her face betrayed a life of worries and hard work.
"You must be new in town," the woman turned her head, "I have lived here me whole life but never seen you."
"Indeed," Elyrie nodded as started fumbling with her hands when she thought of what to say. She didn't want the woman to be suspicious, but at the same time didn't she want to divulge to much information "I just returned from the colonies."
"So you are travelling?"
"Yes," Elyrie answered, not wanting to elaborate. There was a vulcanic eruption two days ago that forced us to stay longer, she thought. And after that, Sokka had decided to seek out a master in swordfighting.
"Gods.' The woman said as her eyes followed her daughter chasing a butterfly, "Must be a long way on your own."
"I am not alone," she answered, "I travel with friends, working and earning money along the way."
"What's your job?"
"I'm a waitress."
"I am a housemaid," she answered and pointed to the castle of Piandao just above the town, "For master Piandao."
"I've heard many stories about the legendary swordsmaster."
"Aye, he's mighty powerful. They said he once defeated a hundred men on his own. After that, nobody dared to bother him no more."
"That is quite the accomplishment," Elyrie nodded.
"Say, you talk fancy for a waitress." The woman turned her head, "They all talk like that in the colonies?"
"The teachers are very strict," Elyrie said quickly, "We must speak the way they do in the homeland."
"Nobody here talk like that." The woman answered, but – thankfully – she started grinning.
Repressing a sigh of relief, Elyrie followed her eyes to the young girl. She had been joined by a boy, around her own age. Splashing with their hands flat on the surface of the water, they tried to soak each other.
With a wry smile, Elyrie looked away from the two and studied her reflection in the water of the fountain. Her short black curls were tied back, finally growing back after she had chopped them off. Her eyebrows were darkened with kohl to make the coloured hair look more natural. The thing was: she didn't look natural at all. Her skin was translucent, her cheeks hollow and she had dark circles under her eyes. With her hand, she splashed the water to make her reflection disappear.
She didn't even look like herself anymore.
The little girl laughed when she managed to soak the shirt of the boy.
"I won!" she shrieked with laughter.
"Only because you cheated." the boy responded with a pout.
With a swift motion, Elyrie stood up and walked away.
"Sokka, when you first arrived, you were so unsure. You even seemed down on yourself." Master Piandao's voice was surprisingly soft for such an imposing master.
Knelt behind him along with the rest of the team, Elyrie only saw Sokka's back. The stiffness of his shoulders betraying his nervousness.
"But I saw something in you right away." Piandao continued, "I saw a heart as strong as a lion turtle, and twice as big. And as we trained, it wasn't your skills that impressed me. No, it certainly wasn't your skills." He shook his head, the wrinkles on his tan face showing as he examined the sword Sokka had made himself.
"You showed something beyond that," the older Master continued as he unsheathed the sword, showing its black blade, "Creativity, versatility, intelligence."
Elyrie saw that Sokka bowed his head. She assumed it was out of respect, but his shoulders slumped.
"These are the traits that define a great swordsman. And these are the traits that define you." Piandao knelt down to present the sword to Sokka. Sokka hesitantly reached for the sword. The black blade glittered in the sunlight.
"You told me you didn't know if you were worthy, but I believe that you are more worthy than any man I have ever trained."
"I'm sorry, Master. You're wrong." Sokka said, his voice slightly trembling, "I am not worthy. I'm not who you think I am. I'm not from the Fire Nation. I'm from the Southern Water Tribe.
In the corner of her eye, Elyrie saw that Aang, Katara, and Toph matched her reaction: shock and disbelief.
"I lied so that I could learn swordsmanship from you. I'm sorry." Sokka bowed his head as he offered his sword back to Piandao.
You could have thought of that before you started your training, Elyrie clenched her teeth together. Her blood went cold as she looked at the swordmaster. Lying to your master was a flagrant violation of their honour.
"I'm sorry too." Piandao said calmly.
Piandao quickly turned back around and swung his sword at Sokka. Sokka leapt backwards to avoid the attack. In a swift motion, he unsheathed his sword again and blocked a thrust from Piandao.
Elyrie didn't move, remaining knelt down on the marble floor. Aang, Katara, and Toph jumped up in unison to help Sokka. Sokka who raises his hand to stop them.
"No, this is my fight, alone." He said, the determination vibrating through his voice.
The fight was quick and intense – Elyrie had never expected Sokka to become such a good swordman in so little time. Against the master swordsman, he held his own. Piandao noticed it too – complimenting him on every move he made to outsmart him.
"Excellent! Using your superior agility against an older opponent. Smart." The master said when Sokka used his speed to evade the attack.
"Good use of terrain; fighting from the high ground." Piandao commented when Sokka leapt on the stairs and retook his fighting stance.
Elyrie followed the fight with clenched fists and a pounding heart. But something felt slightly off. Disrespect and deceit was a severe crime in the homeland. But Piandao didn't seem to be the slightest bit vengeful or angry. He even complimented Sokka when he threw the dirt from the ground in his eyes, blinding him temporarily.
Piandao moved to attack by swinging his sword in large, horizontal arc at Sokka. Sokka evaded the blade, but was instead hit in the chest by Piandao's arms, knocking him on his back. He landed on the dust and he looked up fearfully. Piandao turned and pointed his sword at his head. Sokka leaned back in fear.
At that moment, Aang, Katara, and Toph all jumped from the balcony to the ground and ran toward Sokka and Piandao. Elyrie hesitated for a moment, but jumped as well.
Piandiao swong his sword away, so it was straight next to him. "Excellent work, Sokka," he lifted his weapon as his assistant flung the scabbard of his sword toward him, "I'm a little old to be fighting the Avatar," he added casually as the scabbard slipped right onto the blad
"How did you know?" Aang asked with a frown.
"Oh, I've been around a while. You pick things up." Piandao said casually as he wiped off the dirt from the fight, "Of course, I knew from the beginning that Sokka was Water Tribe. You might want to think of a better Fire Nation cover name. You should try Lee, there are a million Lee's.
"But why would you agree to train someone from the Water Tribe ?" Katara asked when Piandao turned to face them all.
"The way of the sword doesn't belong to any one nation," Piandao answered, "Knowledge of the arts belongs to us all." He turned to Sokka. "Sokka, you must continue your training on your own. If you stay on this path, I know that one day you will become an even greater master than I am."
Elyrie smiled warmly when Piandao and Sokka bowed to each other. Sokka grabbed his sword – his space sword – and turned to them with a grin.
"Did you hear that?" he grinned, "You soon have to all call me Master Sokka."
"I only heard that you need to continue your training," Toph shrugged. She punched Sokka playfully on his shoulder as they all returned to the castle.
Elyrie moved to follow them, but halted when she felt a hand on her shoulder. She turned around. Master Piandao stood behind her in his smeared tunic, but in his dark eyes she saw a mixture of curiosity and amusement.
"I know that the two siblings hail from the Water Tribe." he pointed to Katara's back, "As well as I know that the other lady is from the Earth Kingdom. The Avatar, of course, speaks for itself." Piandao continued as he pointed to Toph and Aang respectively, before he let his gaze rest on Elyrie again, - "just as I know that you are a highborn lady of the Fire Nation,"
"Beg pardon?" Elyrie asked, her lips slightly parted in surprise, "Master." she added quickly and bowed her head.
"Like I said, I've been around a while," Piandao shrugged, "Every nation has different characteristics, which can't be disguised with merely Fire Nation clothing. For example, you were the only one who didn't interfere with the fight because you have internalised the importance of honour in the homeland. They, however, have not."
It had been foolish to try and blind such a wise master, Elyrie realised.
"We shall work on it, sir." She said firmly as bowed her head ashamed. They could have been caught, because of her stupidity. Of course the excuse of the colonies could not fool everyone.
Piandao turned to face her. "If I am not mistaken, you are Elyrie - daughter of Jian?" his dark eyes took in her face.
"B-b-beg pardon?" Elyrie asked again, before feeling her cheeks redden. Both from surprise and embarrassment - she sounded like a stuttering child.
"I knew your father well," Piandao answered matter-of-factly, "I was present at his funeral last year. I recognised you as soon as you entered this afternoon."
"I-, I-," she stuttered, completely lost for words. She tried to remember him amongst the gathering of mourners. But it seemed such a blur. She only remembered standing next to her aunt and uncle, dressed in her impeccable white mourning costume. Her back straight, her face impassive – every inch the daughter of the respected nobleman.
She started twisting her little finger before she looked down at her hands. They were callused – more than her mother would have ever allowed them to be. Suddenly, she felt ashamed of how dirty and homely she looked.
"Tell me," Piandao motioned for her to sit down on the bench on the terrace, "Why do you look so downcast?"
"Pardon me?" Elyrie asked surprised. The master only raised an eyebrow, fully aware that she heard his question. She started feeling more foolish with every word she uttered.
With a sigh, she sat down on the bench. "To be perfectly honest, I feel completely useless."
"That seems like a rather harsh judgement." Piandao said calmly, "Why do you feel that way?"
"I can't guide my friends through the Fire Nation without drawing attention," Elyrie counted on her fingers, "I can't teach the Avatar firebending, I can't visit my family without endangering them and I couldn't even save one of the dearest people in my life. On top of that, I was left- .." Her voice faltered as a sob caught in her throat.
Tears pricked behind her eyes and with her thumb, she rubbed the empty spot on her ringfinger out of habit. The faint line reminded her of what once had been there. She wiped the back of her hand against her tearstained checks. A black smudge was left on her skin. She frowned, before she realised it was the kohl.
"I came from a large family, all firebenders." Piandao said as he handed her a handkerchief, "All firebenders. You can imagine my fathers disappointment finding out I was a non-bender. And for the longest time, I was disappointed in myself too."
Elyrie wiped her eyes with the handkerchief. "But you are the best swordsman in the world."
"I am, but only after I realised I needed to face my inner demons and realise my worth." Piandao answered, "Just like you need to."
"But what difference could I make?" Elyrie let her head hang down, "I seemed to fail at everything I undertake." I couldn't save Yue, I couldn't stop Azula,I couldn't help Uncle, and as for Zuko... She quickly wiped her tears away again before they fell down.
"Do you see that mountain?" the Master pointed to the very top of a magnificent mountain. The peeks were partly hidden by whispy thin clouds. Elyrie nodded.
"Do you think the stone at the very top is more important than the stones that form the base?" Piandao asked her, "That it will not collapse if it was pulled form under them? Don't you think you should view your worth in the greater design? Being here and guiding the Avatar and his friends through hostile territory is no easy task. The fact that you got them this far safely is very impressive." Piandao placed his hand on her knee, "Please, do allow yourself to be proud of what you are doing. Everything might not be the way you expected it to turn out, but have patience."
"Thank you Master," Elyrie placed her hands together and bowed her head.
"Here, take this," Piandao reached inside his tunic and pulled out a small, round stone. Elyrie squinted and then, she recognised a Pai Sho stone, "May it help you remember things are changing."
Piandao placed the stone in het palm. The picture of the White Lotus was drawn in the middle of the surface.
"The White Lotus?" she asked incredulously.
Piandao only nodded at her before he stood up and made his way into the castle. Elyrie was left bedazzled and studied the stone in her palm again. Then, she closed her fingers over the stone. She brought her closed fist to her lips and kissed it softly. Soon, Uncle. She vowed silently, soon.
A thousand apologies for the absence! I never stopped imagining this story, but I couldn't find the time. Luckily, I am back in the flow and expect to update again soon!
