Responses to Reviews:
RonaldM40196867: Worse, in that it's less interesting, but there are also less hostile spirits attacking people with them not around.
Sharpe: Toph will be making an appearance in this story yes, and may well play a major role, but it will probably be a while before we get to her.
As Always, Please Review!
Zuko stood on the docks and watched as the boarding ramp was brought up to the mighty Royal flagship. His father had decided that the North was pacified, and now they were going home.
Zuko stood apart from his family, flanked by two soldiers. A sense of dread hung over him. Ozai had threatened to deal with him later, and while all he had done so far was place him under guard he did think his father would stop there.
"Ready!" He heard dockhands call, followed the distant clang of the boarding ramp making contact with the hull. Figures began making their way down it, their distinctive red and black uniforms giving them an air of menace. Which was, of course, the idea. Intimidation was, according to Ozai, a great weapon in war. Maybe that was why he could see, in the corner of his eye, holding pens full of Northerners set up nearby. None of them looked like waterbenders, as far as Zuko could see. some of them tried to shout at the Royals, some rattled the cage, some tried begging for mercy. Others just stared sullenly and resentfully at them. Zuko couldn't help but wonder what his father had planned for these people.
His uncle came over, a look of worry on his face.
"Are you alright, my nephew?"
Zuko did not answer for a moment.
"Prince Zuko?" Iroh prompted.
"Sorry," Zuko muttered, shaking his head. "I'm just preoccupied."
"I don't blame you," Iroh replied. "Don't worry, anyway. I am sure I can talk your father around. I know you were just doing what you thought was right!"
"Was it right though?" Zuko asked. "She's an enemy of the Fire Nation!"
"I know that, and you know that now," Iroh soothed. "But if the Firelord is not going to tell his son and heir his plans, how can he complain when you do not follow them?"
"Brother! Don't talk to him, please." Ozai's curt voice rang out across the port.
"What?" Iroh turned back, a friendly smile plastered across his face. "Can't I just check in with my nephew?"
"My nephew has betrayed the Fire Nation," Ozai pointed out. "So no, you can't."
"Oh come on, it was just an accident!" Iroh pointed out. "Everyone makes mistakes."
"Those mistakes do not, generally, involve treason though," Ozai countered. "I will deal with him myself. You need not involve yourself in any of this."
"I think I do," Iroh was persistent. "You're being far too harsh on the poor boy."
"Harsh?" Ozai's eyebrows raised. "Do you know what is at stake here?"
"Yes, because you've already told me two hundred times," Iroh muttered but Ozai took no notice.
"Progress is at stake!" He said. "It falls to the Fire Nation to uplift the world to a new era of peace and prosperity. It is up to us to lead the other nations into a brave new world! But the other nations are led by stubborn fools who cannot see what we offer, which means we have to drag them into our new order kicking and screaming."
Ozai advanced on his brother, jabbing a finger at him.
"The whole reason why we are here, why we started the great project when we did, was in order to ensure the Avatar was eliminated before she could be a threat, and my own son helped her escape instead. That is textbook treason."
"You didn't tell him any of this!" Iroh said again. "He just saw someone in danger and jumped in!"
"Which is mercy, which is weakness." Ozai frowned. "There can be no room for mercy until this war is won. There is too much riding on it for that."
Iroh folded his arms, decidedly unimpressed.
"Don't look at me like that, brother." Ozai shook his head. "Or am I to assume you have turned traitor too?"
There was a moment of intense tension. The brothers stared at each other, and then Iroh shook his head.
"Where you lead, I follow," he said flatly. Then he turned to take his place in the line.
Ozai stalked over to Zuko.
"You heard all of that," he said. "Bear it in mind for when we get home."
By now Zuko had progressed from a vague sense of dread to a very pronounced fear. The certainty of some kind of awful punishment almost made him bolt, but he knew he wouldn't get far and even if he did this was the inhospitable North Pole, where the locals would hate him for the attack even if he did manage to find some.
He nodded hurriedly, and Ozai, satisfied, turned and walked away, the Firelord barking last minute orders.
By now, the group had reached the bottom of the boarding ramp and had been standing there politely waiting for Ozai to finish. But now they pulled off their helmets and approached the family. Zuko noticed a familiar face leading them.
"Fire Lord!" The man called, a broad smile on his face. "Father!"
Ozai turned and saw him, and smiled.
"Come now," he said. "Am I not also your uncle?"
Prince Lu Ten shook his head.
"Yes," he said. "But that seemed informal considering the circumstances."
"Maybe," Ozai replied. "But considering the great victory that has been won here, I can't mind too much."
Zuko's head was spinning. A moment ago he had been shouting about letting the Avatar escape. Now he was acclaiming the battle as a great victory for the Fire Nation.
Not that there had really been a battle. The Fire Nation had achieved complete surprise and quickly overwhelmed the defenders. It was more of a coup.
"The ship is ready for you," Lu Ten was saying. "The cabins are prepared, and we have enough fuel for the return journey. We can sail as soon as you give the word."
"Well then," Ozai nodded. "Congratulations on a good job, my nephew. You have always been one of my more reliable allies."
Zuko noticed that Ozai appeared to be looking straight at Azula as he said this.
Lu Ten beamed.
"We sail immediately then," Ozai decreed, moving towards the ramp and gesturing for the others to follow him. "The Fire Nation needs us."