Chapter 5: Outsider

Lyra found herself at the abandoned watchtower outside the compound, a place that had once been a sanctuary for her and Zuko. They used to sneak off there as children, escaping the rigid confines of their upbringing. She hadn't visited in years, but the memories of their childhood games and secret conversations flooded back, offering a bittersweet comfort amidst her turmoil.

The watchtower was a crumbling structure, ivy creeping up its stone walls, the air thick with the scent of damp earth and overgrown vegetation. Moonlight filtered through the gaps in the walls, casting eerie shadows that danced across the floor. She collapsed onto the cold stone, her breath coming in ragged gasps, her body trembling with the weight of her revelations.

Her mind was a whirlwind of fragmented images and emotions. Memories of the man she had thought was her father intermingled with fantasies of what her real family might have been like. She imagined a small, loving home in the coastal city of Riole, surrounded by kind neighbors and villagers united in their shared pain and hatred for the Fire Nation.

She felt a pang of sorrow for the life she had never known, a life where she might have grown up barefoot and free, working hard and helping others. Instead, she had been stolen away, thrust into a world of cold, calculating customs and high-ranking expectations that never truly fit her. Her parents weren't her parents—they were her kidnappers.

Tears streamed down her face as sobs wracked her body. Her breath came fast and uneven, and she suddenly felt sick to her stomach. The formal dress she was still wearing felt like a prison, tight and uncomfortable, a symbol of everything she no longer believed in. With an agonizing cry, she began tearing off the maroon fabric, ripping it from her shoulders and hips. She pulled off the jewelry that adorned her neck and wrists, until she was left in just her undergarments. She yanked her hair free from its tight bun, letting the soft locks fall around her tear-stained face.

When she collapsed again, the cold stone floor shocked her senses, grounding her momentarily. She pressed her forehead against the wall, her mind racing. Everything she had ever known was a lie. She felt like a fraud, a lump of coal in a mountain of gold.

She thought about her lessons in school, where they were taught that the Fire Nation was superior in every way—genetically, militarily, culturally. They were the most powerful, the most organized, the most intentional in their lives. The rest of the world, they were told, squabbled over trivial matters, while the Fire Nation remained unified and strong. When the war ended, the world would be unified under their rule.

But now, knowing she wasn't one of them, she felt defective. She spiraled into despair, believing she was so much less than everyone she had ever known and loved. Her thoughts turned to Zuko, and she felt her heart break anew. More sobs escaped her as she pressed herself harder against the cold stone.

The prince of the Fire Nation, best friends with an airbender? If Fire Lord Ozai knew, he would...

She shuddered at the thought. Friendship, let alone marriage, was impossible now. The comfort she had felt at the morning's ceremony was gone, replaced by a wave of sorrow. The future she thought was promised to her—a lifetime of facing life's challenges and triumphs with Zuko by her side—was shattered. Zuko could never be with her. The future Fire Lord could never have a non-Fire Nation wife, let alone one who was an airbender. The mere thought would spark revolt across the country. The country could never see an outsider in the dynasty.

Her mind raced with ways to extricate herself from the betrothal without compromising her family. Despite the betrayal she felt, she didn't want them to suffer Fire Lord Ozai's wrath. She didn't want to suffer it herself. She wondered if he would have her killed like the other airbenders, or if he would imprison her. Would he think her a spy? A traitor?

She stared at her palms, remembering the sensation of air flowing through her, the power she had felt. She hugged herself, feeling a chilling loneliness wash over her. Even if she had grown up in Riole, she would have been out of place in an Earth Kingdom and Fire Nation outpost.

She wondered if she was truly the last airbender, or if there were others in hiding. Did her father—no, Admiral Sen—kill the last of them when he killed her blood family? She might never know.

Her mind continued to storm through the night, swaying from one damning thought to another, until sleep finally claimed her, bringing with it a restless night filled with nightmares.

. . .

Zuko never slept. His mind was a tempest of worry and insecurity, wondering why Lyra hadn't come to see him. She always came.

His first stop after breakfast was her house. He had a few hours until the war council meeting—the first his father had invited him to attend. When he knocked, Admiral Sen answered, looking unusually disheveled.

"Good morning, Admiral Sen," Zuko greeted awkwardly. "Is Lyra home?"

Pain flashed in the old man's eyes. "No. I'm afraid we had an argument last night and she never came home."

Zuko bit his cheek, worried. As far as he knew, she never fought with her parents. She never fought with anyone, actually. Was it about him returning to the battlefield? Or about the engagement? He wanted to ask, but decided it wasn't his place. Lyra would tell him when he found her – they tell each other everything.

"I don't suppose you might know where she ran off to?" Lady Mira, Admiral Sen's wife, stepped in behind her husband.

"Um," Zuko racked his brain for answers. He had a few ideas. "No, I'm sorry. If I see her, I'll let you know."

Dejected, they both politely excused him and closed the door. He was off—

He searched her favorite part of the garden, the caves they used to explore as kids, the hidden spaces around the courtyard, the temple she frequented and more. He was about to head to the old watchtower when a soldier stopped him. "Sir, the war council meeting begins in ten minutes."

Zuko's brows knit together, displeased, but he straightened his shirt and sighed. He would have to find her after the meeting.