I Don't own Avatar the last air bender.
chapter 45
Lieutenant Jee walked the streets of the capital with his wife and daughter, it was a nice change of affairs after years of banishment. They strolled through the stalls as their little bound of joy excitedly looked at everything.
"She'll miss this." His wife said as the watched her talk to a friend she met.
He knew what she was talking about. Zuko was bound to return to face his trail soon and for better or worse, it will change things. If it comes to this, the fire lord may banish his son permanently. He may even banish all those who were on the ship as well. Jee refused to think on the other, worse, option considering some developments in the fire lord's… punishments.
It still shocked him to find out about Jasmine and Katara. When he found out at the first time, he couldn't believe it. It wasn't like he was close to any of the two, but he did consider them at least acquaintances. The two treated the crew's injuries and were a great help, to hear all of this was… it felt like a betrayal.
"Everything will be fine." He hugged his wife. "The prince has a plan, I'm sure of it."
"You put an awfully lot of trust in him, love." She said with a hint of concern.
"He hadn't failed us in a long time." Jee thought back on the entire time they spent since that day the prince showed them that blue flame. "And he cares about us. He was the first to put himself in danger and did his best for us. He'll pull through, I'm sure of it."
"Very well, love." His wife sighed in acceptance. "You know him better than I, better then most. Just promise me that you'll return safely. I don't know what I'll do if you're gone, and without you I'll soon be outnumbered."
She patted her belly gently. Approximately in the place where their second child is starting to grow.
"I'll do everything I can, I promise." And he meant it.
It was when they returned home that he knew trouble had finally found them. In front of the door to their new home stood two man who wore a set of uniform, the royal guard one. He signed his wife and daughter to stay behind him.
"Hello gentlemen." Jee greeted the strangers. Zuko put them through the grinder and back, but he didn't know if he could fend off two royal guards on his own. "How can I help you?"
"Lieutenant Jee?" One of them asked for confirmation, it was impossible to point out who it was with those masks on.
"Yes." There was no point in lying. "How may I be of assistance?"
"By the command of the fire lord, you are to come with us for questioning about the illegal harbor of outlawed benders." The same voice said in a monotonous tone. The 'or else' may have been left, but was all to present.
"Very well." Jee nodded. "May I inform my early staged pregnant wife before we go?"
The two looked at each other for a second before looking back at him and nodding. They were professionals after all, not thugs. They followed him as he went back to his family.
"Listen girls." He explained. "There are some things at the palace that I must do that may take a while. I'm sorry to cut our day short like this, but when the fire lord calls, we answer."
"Just return safely, dear." His wife begged.
The two royal guards stayed silent. No matter what they'll do, they would either scare or give false hope to the mother and daughter. This was one of those situations where silence is for the wise.
"Love you, dad." His little sunshine hugged his leg. "Please return home fast."
"I'll do may best." He promised as he ruffled her head gently.
With this done, he went with the royal guards. They got to a wheelhouse were he was tied in both hands and eyes, and drove to wherever it was they were taking him. He then was pulled out and walked with his captors directing him until he sat and his blindfold was removed.
Before him stood another royal guard in a desk. The room was closed and barred of windows or ornaments.
"Hello, lieutenant Jee, correct?" The investigator asked as he looked at the paper in front of him.
"Yes, sir."
"Good, let's start."
What followed was a series of questions which Jee Had to answer. He was glad that he got a letter from the prince beforehand that instructed him what to say and what not. It was quite a bit to memorize, but it was sure worth it now.
They asked him about the events of the banishment and his relationship with the prince, to which he told them everything. From the beginning where the prince was still a brat, to this day. It's not like he had something to hide there after all.
He told them about how they met both pairs of siblings and the prince's interactions with them. Again, it wasn't anything illegal, so there was no need to distort the truth. He told them that not once had he suspected anyone but Mi-Dved to be any kind of bender, and when they asked him if he would have reported if he did, he said that he would have done his duty.
Jee claimed complete deniability when he had been asked if the prince offered to help the girls to learn any bending, which was completely true. Wither or not the prince had done so, Jee was in the dark, so it wasn't even a lie.
They more then a few times said that they interrogated others as well, and that they told different things. Zuko wrote about this as well. He sent to each crew member a letter of what to say, they won't say anything that the prince hadn't instructed them. Zuko also warned them about this kind of trick, so Jee stayed by his words.
It was only when the topic of the prince's relationship with the girls came that Jee hesitated. Je tried to bail by saying that his highness's business with girls was his own, but the interrogator reminded Jee that he was under oath and Jee submitted.
The hesitation itself was also a part of the act Zuko instructed, it would be strange if they just told things like that without resistance. He told the interrogator about Jasmine's tries to woo the prince, as well as his… nightly meetings with Katara. If all of that really was a mask for him teaching the last water bender her art, than it was brilliantly executed. Jee hadn't had to lie even once.
It was a few hours later that he was released and thanked for his cooperation.
Jasmine continued her singing as they waited in their cells, Zuko had to admit that she knew her work. It made the time go much easier, and looking at the fact that the guards didn't tell her to stop, they enjoyed it too.
The food was as he expected, meaning that his sister made her best to make them suffer as much as possible while maintaining the norms of holding prisoners. He'll give it to her, she did a terrific job.
Fortunately, the siblings lived on the streets for a big part of their lives, so they weren't picky eaters. Zuko himself had learnt long ago to just swallow it and move on, in this case literally. The only one who truly enjoyed it was Xing, but being an animal, it was expected of the hound to eat everything it can.
Speaking of the hellhound, Xing is healing nicely after that fight with the chimera. The fact that it had no choice but to rest the entire time in its cell, combined with the fact that Azula fed the one and only hellhound in the world constantly, helped tremendously.
It was good, because Zuko had plans for Xing during this trip. It took months for the family that lives now in his mother's house to get back, it means that the Mother of Faces isn't someone who shows herself immediately. And Zuko and Azula certainly didn't have that time to wait for the spirit to maybe show up.
Instead, he'll use Xing as provocation. By Sai's words, spirits hate outside interference. It goes doubly so for what they consider an invasive species, which Xing falls into. The Mother of Faces will have to react, and Azula will get her audience.
He had some concerns about letting Xing go near such a spirit, but the hellhound should escape easily enough with the shadow-travel it learnt. Huh, what does it say if he cares more about his dog then his sister, does it make him a bad brother? Most likely.
He heard the sound of steps from the stairs and Jasmine stopped her singing. From what Sai told him, they had arrived. The abominable intelligence was proven correct once again as his sister was revealed.
"Rise and shine, Zuzu!" she yelled with a smile. "It's show time! Now get up, so we'll transfer you to mobile cells."
The jailers seemed to bring with them also spears and more chains, most likely to transfer Xing. Zuko couldn't let them do that, he had to show dominance over the entire situation. The two most important points in a meeting are the start and the end. Zuko showed dominance over his sister in the start, now he must show the same in the end.
With a whistle, his ever faithful hound woke up. With another whistle, Xing used his ability to travel through shadows to dive beneath the bars of its cell and to the platform. The hellhound then walked by each of their cells and broke the locks with his powerful paws as it walked. Stopping at the end and sitting while awaiting new orders.
Zuko just stood and walked casually, as much as he could with those cuffs on, noting the battle ready poses of the guards.
"Well?" He raised an eyebrow. "Are you transferring us or no?"
"You…" Azula accused him angrily. "You could have escaped the entire time?! You made a fool out of me this entire trip!"
"Yes, I could have easily escaped at each part of the trip. "Zuko acknowledged. "But father summoned me, and I shall appear."
He deliberately ignored Azula's second part of the sentence, which irked the girl greatly. It was a small thing, but Sai was right, it's the small things that make life worth living.
Unfortunately, it couldn't last as they were soon enough put in new cages. Those ones, however, had even more chains connecting the prisoners to the bars. They also were clearly made to parade the prisoners across the city.
"An attempt to tarnish your reputation." Sai said in his head. "To show that the father is above the son."
It was just petty, Zuko thought. But than again, so was his spite with Azula.
As they were paraded to the palace, Zuko noticed the different expressions people made. Some were disgusted, some where disappointed, some where uncertain, and some just turned away. He also noticed that more and more people were afraid the closer they got to the palace, why was that?
He himself sat on his knees regally, looking as royal as he could given the circumstances. Behind him was Xing, who took this opportunity to sleep as long as it could. It disappointed many people who wanted to have a good look at him, but the fire and smoke released as the hound snored made it somehow worthwhile.
Mi-Dved was by far the one with the worst arrangement of chains. He had chains on the arms, the neck, and the body that forced him to stand like a cross. If they wanted to give him the look of a dangerous criminal, then they spectacularly succeeded. His huge muscles and massive physic were shown in all their might. Much to the jealousy of many young man and delight of as many women.
Jasmine, as the main convict, had the same set on chains as her brother sans the body chain. They were much more loose than the ones on her brother, and Zuko suspected that the enchantress charmed a few guards to make it so. Jasmine, on her part, played the innocent damsel in distress perfectly. He saw more than one soft hearted (and soft headed) person pondering about doing something to rescue her.
As they entered the gates, Zuko saw some pyres around the courtyard, pyres that were clearly used. What in Vaatu's name happened here?
"It seems that the frenzy of the flame it starting to catch up." Sai commented.
'What are you on about?'
"You will see soon enough."
Yes, not creepy at all.
Zuko looked at the nobles who came to watch the spectacle, jackals the lot of them. He scanned their faces for anyone on note and… Wait a minute, what the heck?!
Zuko saw Lord Beifong, together with his wife and daughter at a small point at the stadium. The adults looked emotionless while Toph was fudging a bit, lady Beifong's hand rested calmly on the girl's shoulder. What were they even doing there?
"It is more then possible that they too got an 'invitation' from your father." Sai theorized. "In my opinion, you father made this trail mandatory for all nobles, as well as people of importance in the colonies. An example for anyone who thinks to misbehave. This doesn't bodes well for us."
That… made sense. Now that Zuko looked again at the crowd, he noticed many faces that would have preferred to be elsewhere. All of them were of course hidden under an expressionless mask, you don't survive at court otherwise.
'So you're telling me it's already decided?' Zuko mentally asked. 'Then what our preparations were for?'
"Most likely." Sai agreed. "But there is still a trail, there is still a chance for is to turn things around. With good enough arguments in front of all this crowd, we may be able to lessen the blow. Although, in the end it will probably be decided between you and your father privately."
They were transferred to the palace' dungeon right after.
"Well…" Mi-Dved said from his cell, still in the same pose. "This was an experience."
Both Zuko and Jasmine ignored him. Zuko instead turned to the only one who didn't care about the parade.
"Xing." The hellhound sat in attention. "Melt to the shadows. Stalk Azula from afar. Once she's in the valley, wait some time and then cause mayhem. Force the spirit to reveal itself and retreat. I repeat, once the spirit reveal itself to Azula cease everything and return."
The dog let out a single bark and melted to the shadows.
"This will never stop giving me creeps." Mi-Dved commented. "So what's now, boss?"
"For you, it's just acting calm." Zuko said. "There isn't a case on you, and no reason to punish you. Your job is to not give them an excuse to brand you as some mad barbarian. Even the accusation of being Mi-Sha's son falls mute as you are the one that killed him."
"Still a bit miffed about it by the way." Zuko couldn't help but add, to which the bigger man just rolled his eyes.
"As for you, Jasmine." Zuko continued. "Honestly, you probably have a better idea of what to do then me, manipulative snake that you are."
The girl smiled and took it as a compliment.
"I won't disappoint you, your highness." She said.
"And what will you do?" Mi-Dved asked.
"Something that I should have done years ago." Zuko said cryptically.
In that moment, a group royal guards came and stood before his cell.
"Fire lord Ozai summons you to his throne room ." The lead guard said.
Zuko mentally sighed, preparing himself to what may be the toughest thing he had to do yet.
They finally reached the pole, that was what Katara was thinking. After they had to make a few long turns to make sure that they were not followed, they were close to reaching their destination.
Sokka saw the layouts of the village, or at least what was left of it, from afar. Finally, after all this time they were going home. Their family reunited, Katara isn't under the thrall of the fire nation royalty (no matter how nice they turned out to be), and the two gained a much-needed experience. Honestly, Sokka was sure that they would be screwed somewhere along the way.
They had to take a few long turns across the way to make sure that they weren't followed, as well as using the ice-cold mist, but they were finally after it. As they sailed closer to the village, Sokka was pleasantly surprised that the tower he built was still standing.
"Ah… Home sweet home." Dad said from his side. "After all those years, it's finally over. It's hard to believe it, you know?"
"Yeah, I get what you're saying." And Sokka really did. His own adventure felt surreal, and dad was away much, much, longer than him.
They were even closer now, more buildings of the village could be seen.
"The watchtower is new." Dad commented.
"Yeah… Just some stupid idea of mine." Sokka scratched the back of his head awkwardly. "I know that it's made of snow and wouldn't do much beside crumble down if we're really attacked, but… As I said before, stupid."
"Not at all." Dad said. "The fact that you thought of it at all was great. And considering the fact that you were a kid back then, it's very impressive. The feeling of security is no less important that security itself. I'm proud of you."
When they arrived, they were greeted a hero's welcome as the women of the village cheered. Sokka did, however, noticed that there were some missing, probably still working at the greenhouse. To be fair, it's not like anyone knew that they would come today.
"Mother." Dad greeted Gran-gran with a hug.
"Son, daughter, kids, I'm so happy that all of you made it back home." Grandma said as she hugged each and any one of them. "I must admit that deep inside I had my doubts, but I'm glad to be proven wrong."
"Well, I'm happy to fail your expectations for once." Dad said.
"You cheeky brat." Gran-gran said with fake outrage as she hugged dad again. "I missed you."
"I missed you to mom." Dad hugged back.
"Alright, shoo, shoo, enough of all that mushiness." Gran-gran pushed dad away. "Have your men rest, I'll call the other women, and we can celebrate later.
"Alright mother." Dad smiled.
They watched as the men and women reunited in tears of joy. Some, weren't so lucky. Dad tried his best to keep as many men alive as he could, but he was just a man. Mistakes were made, sacrifices had to be done to save the rest, and the less talked about the chimera the better. The results were that only about half of the men that went with him returned.
Dad whispered to him that it was ironic in a way. His dad could count in one hand the men he lost during the entire ears of their crusade, but in was the blasted chimera that took the rest. He guessed that it really showed how different fighting men and fighting monsters is. And that thing was a monster according to dad, not a beast. Beasts dad knew, he and his men are beast hunters for living, and that thing was no beast. It was too smart, too big, to… powerful. Dad felt no shame in facing it as poorly as they did.
To Sokka it just a proof that hid dad was above other men, if took a literal nightmare for him to lose men.
Of course, the two kept it for themselves. Instead, the family went to share their condonations with the widows. The family went to their own igloo afterwards, there was nothing more that could be done there.
"Wow the two of you look just the same!" The ever-cheerful voice of Ty Lee said as she looked at her two friends, who were dressed as each other. And to a very well degree, Azula must add. Even she herself had trouble finding any differences in the not-Azula in front of her.
"Thanks." Mai said in an ever-dead tone. "Remind me why are we doing it again?"
"I need to go for some personal matters, so I need a stand-in. this is where you two come to play." Azula explained. "Both of you know me well enough to impersonate me for a few days, so Mai will dress like me for the trail and Ty Lee will act as usual to give validity to the scam. If anyone asks of Mai's whereabouts, you to will just say that she had started her moon-blood and isn't available."
"But why can't Ty Lee do it?" Mai asked. "It's not like anybody is going to notice her missing with all her sisters around."
"Hey!" Ty Lee pouted.
"I thought about it." Azula admitted. "But You share more features in common with me then Ty Lee. Besides, this job requires subtlety, cunning and keeping the act together, and Ty Lee is… Ty Lee."
"Hey, what do you mean by that, you meanie!" Case to point.
"That, and we can't hide her chest, even in armor." Mai added in a monotonies tone. "People will start to ask questions."
"Was that a joke!?" Ty Lee gasped in excitement. "Mai, I'm so proud of you!"
"I would have slapped you both if we didn't need to keep appearance." Azula said seriously to the two of them.
"Come now, Azula, We're all friends." Tay Lee said as she hugged the other two girls.
"Alright, alright, get off!" Azula finally said as Ty Lee released her from the hug.
"Can we at least know why we are risking our lives?" Mai asked in the same dead tone. "I'm pretty sure that there is a death sentence for impersonating royalty, and considering the state of punishment those days…"
Mai didn't have to continue, father's tendency to burn people was gaining momentum. Even Azula couldn't turn a blind eye.
"Sorry, but those are private reasons, I can't tell.
"It's fine Azula, we understand." Ty Lee put a calming hand on Azula's shoulders. "I too wouldn't want to see my sibling going through what Zuko is right now, and I'm sure Mai feels the same way. Take a break as long as you need, Mai and I got you covered."
"Thanks…" Azula isn't going to look a gifted ostrich horse in the beak and just excepted the excuse she was given.
"Now I must be off, the guards shouldn't notice any difference." Azula said.
"Good luck!" her acrobatic friend called her as she left.
Azulla went to the carriage that waited for Mai and entered it without any complications, not the guards of the palace nor Mai's own servants noticed any difference. She got to Mai's home and went to her room. Not even once did Mai's parents suspect that there was something wrong with their daughter. Did it say more about Azula's acting skills, about Mai's parents, or about Mai's complete lack of personality? Azula honestly wasn't sure.
After she was in the safety of Mai's room, Azula began to change her clothes to something more travel worthy. On the way, she noticed a large number of pictures featuring a certain air bending female, all had shivs and other sharp objects stabbed deep inside. Azula would have to talk to her friend after this. She had no problems with a violent reaction, but this amount of obsession was concerning.
Ignoring this for now, Azula waited patiently for the night to come. Once darkness overtook the land, she slipped through the window unnoticed and went to hitch a ride to her mother's old village. It was funny how no one recognized her as the crown princess, she guessed that the thought of her just waltzing through the riffraff was just too ridiculous.
And so, her journey began.
Unknown to her, she was watched from the shadows.
"Kneel."
It was the single word father uttered as Zuko was brought in front of the fire throne and the guards were dismissed. He of course obeyed, doing anything else would have been beyond stupid.
There was a minute of silence as none of them spoke. The pressure was so great it was almost physical. Zuke thought about saying something, to break the tension and to explain himself, but Sai told him in the head to be quiet. Father didn't want his words, he wanted his obedience.
"Zuko…" The fire lord finally spoke. "You… Have changed."
"Keep quiet, your highness, he still hasn't done monologuing."
"You have grown, in both size and strength." Father continued. "I find myself almost not recognizing you. I almost don't recognize the weak sniveling failure of a son that I banished almost three years ago, almost..."
The flames around the throne danced dangerously at the tune of the fire lord's tone, obscuring all but silt of a figure.
"You have shown that you are capable of having the ability to show respect, that you are something more than a failure, you actually managed to regain a friction of your honor. And now this!? You conspired with enemies of the state, you have dishonored our blood by inviting all those filth blooded women to your ship and bed, you have spat on generations of tradition!"
"Not yet, if you interrupt him now, your father may actually kill you."
"And your greatest insult, however, is not any of those things." Ozai continued. "No, your greatest insult is your scar, or rather lack of. Where is it! I marked you as an honor-less disgrace, you were told to always bear it so all could see your shame. And you got rid of it! You disobeyed my direct order!"
"And for that, you will suffer. I will have your low blooded friends burn for all to see, a reminder of their place. I will have each and every thing you worked on confiscated and destroyed, you wouldn't be able to even think of usurping me anymore. I will send the fleet to the south to exterminate the water tribe there like great Sozin did to the air benders, it will be a punishment enough for that water bender's crime of healing your burn and going against me."
What was Zuko hearing!? He knew that dad would be mad, but this… madness? No, it was too much, he couldn't allow it.
"No."
The single word seemed to stop his father for a second.
"No?" Fire lord Ozai repeated. "Are you daring to go against my decision?"
"If I must." Zuko stood up. It must have been a test of some kind to test his resolve, to show if he would back from the challenge like in that fateful agni kai. "I will stand up and fight, even if it's against you. I will cover no longer."
"You idiot, you delusional moronic idiot."
"Will you?" The curtain of flames was pushed to the sides and revealed his father in all his glory walking down to Zuko, a furious expression on his face as he walked towards Zuko. It was only them that Zuko felt that he may nave made a mistake.
"Father, what –"
"You have yet to learn your lesson." Father spoke as he continued advancing. "Worst, you have defied my word and gone against me. Therefore, I must start the lesson anew. You will know pain."
Ozai pit his hand on were Zuko used to have his scar.
"And suffering will be your teacher."
The hand grew hotter and hotter. Dad shot a fire blast right then and there! Zuko screamed as the old familiar pain once again overtook him. Dad was burning him again. The pain! The horrible pain!
"I will take the suffering from you as much as I can, but you father still needs to hear you scream."
And the pain did lessened considerably, but was still immense. Zuko tried to move something, but Sai locked him in place. Thinking back, if Zuko did something or worse, hit father, the fire lord may actually have him executed. It was only after a few minutes that father finally let him go.
Zuko collapsed on his knees, still crying from the ordeal. Remaining conscious only barely. At the sight of his father's feet Zuko tried to get up, only for one of said feet to step on him and push him to the ground.
"Have you learnt your lesson?" The man above him said in a commanding tone.
"Yes… Father…" Was all Zuko could get out.
"Very well." Father said as he turned his back and started walking away. "And since you fancy your toys so much, so be it. A thousand flaming whips for the air bender, six hundred for the water bender, and four hundred for the rest. We'll see how deep your resolve truly is."
The last thing Zuko remembered before everything going black was his dad, once again sitting on the throne, calling the guards to put Zuko back to his cell.
Alright, Sokka knew things will get complicated, but he didn't think it will happen so soon!
He sat next to his mother and sister as the consul of the village debated the… problem. Said problem was Said problem was the pregnant woman who stood accused. Oh, and if it wasn't obvious, the baby wasn't of the accusing husband who before yesterday hadn't seen his wife for about seven years.
Apparently, leaving women who hadn't seen men in seven years and didn't even know if their husbands were dead or alive all this time together with hot blooded men on their prime tent to have consequences. Go figure.
"The rules are clear." Said a man from the consul. "The cheating spouse must be banished from the village, and the harmed party must be compensated by the family of the accused."
"They can't really do it, can they?" Katara whispered to them so that others wouldn't hear. "There is literally nothing out there, she and the baby will certainly die."
"I'm afraid that they can." Mom whispered back. "Usually, there would be other villages that could except her, if they wanted to, but now this is the only settlement in the entire pole. At least the only water tribe settlement. This had never happened before, so everything rests in the decision of the consul."
Right. Sokka learnt today all kinds of new laws about house affairs. Honestly, he preferred another round with Zuko, at least there things were much less ugly. He listened as the consul continued the debate.
"Surly some leniency can be shown." Argued another woman. "For years she didn't even know if her husband was living or dead, no letter nor any sign. We also lack in wealth for a long time, what compensation could the accused already give? A few old tusks and a dusty pelt? Besides, we are the only village in the entire south pole, banishment means a cold death. Are we ready condemning the baby for such a fate as well?"
"This argument holds no water." Another member said. "She brings coin from the greenhouse, the same place that she has conceived. And in the end, she chose to do what she did, there is no excuse for that. She had a choice between staying loyal to her tribe or eloping with the invaders, and she had chosen her side. I say we banish her to those foreigners she so fancies and have her pay given to the accuser."
Dad just sat silently at the head of the consul. As a chief, it was his responsibility to ultimately decide the punishment. Usually, such things were decided by the chieftains wife or mother, but because of the political implications he had to get involved.
Sokka didn't envy him for one bit. Nor did he envy Gran-gran who sat to dad's right, but she at least had experience dealing with those things.
Usually, mom would have sat to dad's right and Gran-gran to his left, but they felt it would be for the best if mom sat this one out. She hadn't been in the village for a long time, not by her fault mind you, and didn't have any interactions with the women of the village. What's more, mom held herself responsible as the reason why the men left the village and all this mess happened in the first place. She didn't think she had any right to judge.
After a very hard time of listening to all of this, did he mentioned already that he preferred to fight Zuko, dad finally raised his hand and everybody shut up. All of them waited for his decision.
"My judgment is this." Dad finally said. "I find the accused guilty!"
It wasn't really a surprise, all things considered. Really, she had an undeniable proof of her guilt on (or is it in?) her that she couldn't hide. If it was forced things may be different, but it wasn't. Still, it didn't stop the accuser and his friends from joy, and the accused to cry.
"And as much as it pains me, tradition must be followed. However!" Dad once again raised his voice as the woman's cries became stronger. "Times had changed, and we must take it to consideration."
Dad stood up.
"You are banished from this village, to never step foot in it ever again. You had no problems sharing a bed before, you will have to problems to do it again. For the duration of three years, a third of your pay will go to your former husband. Afterwards, no farther debt is to be mentioned. And as for your child, for the crimes of their mother, they are banished will be treated as strangers to the village. You have until dawn to pack your things before you will be thrown out."
The woman beged and pleaded, dad stood like a tower. It was hurtful to watch. A look to the side showed him that as hard as it was on him, Katara took it worse. She had tears in her eyes as mom whispered things to her ear.
The woman was dragged to pack her things and the spectacle finally came to an end. Everyone went to do their thing afterwards, whispering to each other along the way. The family to went to their own igloo.
"I can't believe that they did it!" katara was angry beyond belief. "They just – threw her away! How dad could have done that!"
"Daughter, I know that it's hard, but we all must obay the rules." Mom said. "She knew what she did, and she knew the risks. Now she has to face the consequences, as painful as it is."
"But it's not fair!" Katara yelled. "What if y-"
She stopped herself. Katara was about to say what if mom was with a baby, but that was completely out of line. Mom had been through… things, and was obviously forced to. It was a sensitive topic for everyone, and after a moment to collect herself, Katara admitted that it was different.
"It's just not fair…" Katara said weakly.
"It's not." Mom agreed. "It isn't fair to the husband that he was cheated on, it isn't fair for the women that their partners left them to fend for themselves for seven years, it isn't fair that the men were ordered to march for a crusade for seven years for the kidnapping of a single woman, it isn't fair for your father, that his wife got kidnaped, and it isn't fair to be kidnapped because a criminal wanted more profits. And so on, and so on. But the word is hardly a fair place, is it?"
"There isn't such thing as fair." Sokka, who stayed silent suddenly spoke. "Each and every person has their own version of what 'fair' is, and when said versions clash people fight. It's the reason for every war, every fight. Even now, the fire nation believes it's only 'fair' that they rule the world and all others believe it's only 'fair' to not be ruled. Fair is only when everyone get what you think they should, and the only way to make it happen is doing it yourself."
They were silent for a moment.
"Wow…" Katara finally said. "Where did that come from?"
"I… I just remembered something Zuko talked about." Sokka was suddenly embarrassed. "Forget about it, it's not something important."
"I object." Gran-gran suddenly entered. "But now is not the time to talk why the prince groomed you for leadership."
"And you, young lady." Gran-gran then pointed at her. "Will do well to listen to your mother and brother, uncharacteristic as he sounds."
All of the women ignored the "Hey!" of Sokka.
It was then that dad went in. Katara wanted to confront him about what happened, but stopped as she took a good look at him. He was dead tired, his expression showed it all. Disappointed, self loathing, all the package was there. He took it even harder than Katara herself.
"Kids, honey, mom." Dad greeted. "I'm sorry that you had to see it, it… Wasn't how I thought things would turn out."
Mom, ever the dutiful wife, immediately hugged dad for support. Sokka and her soon joined.
"Yes, yes, it's all lovely and all." Gran-gran finally said. "But dinner isn't going to serve itself. Kya, honey, please help my oaf of a son to finish organize his things in his room. He didn't tidy for seven years and it's showing. Kids, help me prepare dinner, will you?"
"Yes, mom/mother/Gran-gran!"
As mom and dad went to their private room, Katara and Sokka helped their grandmother. For once, Sokka didn't complain about doing a "woman's" job.
"What do you think about all of… this?" Katara finally asked her grandma.
"About young Kuki?" Gran-gran asked for confirmation. "The lesser evil of a very bad situation. I don't envy her, but it was the best solution possible."
"How can you say it!?" Katara exclaimed. "It's horrible!"
"This entire situation is horrible and surreal." Her grandma argued. "Men shouldn't leave for seven years, women shouldn't be left on their own for seven years. But in the end, it was her own choice. She could have waited like the rest, but she didn't . She screwed up, and now she has to pay the price."
Katara had a sinking feeling that it wasn't so accurate and that they may expect a few "mysteriously early births" in the near future.
"She has a home to go to and if not, than she should have chosen a better man." Gran-gran said. "What I'm more worried about is what will happen next. The men understandingly wouldn't want their women to be in the greenhouse any more, some may even demand its destruction."
"Why?!" Katara asked. "I understand not wanting to go there, but why destroy!?"
"Because it's a threat to our way of life." Grandma somberly answered. "It shows another way to live here than the tribe, and it undermines our values. At first I wondered why the prince didn't try to hold us by the food the greenhouse provided, now I know. He wants us to fight among ourselves, as if we haven't already lost enough in the war. He's much more ruthless then I have ever imagined."
Katara wanted to protect Zuko and say that he couldn't think so far ahead. Even this entire thing was more of a slip than anything. Sokka, however, spoke before her.
"An empire fallen by its enemies can rise up again, but one that fell from inside… it's dead, forever." He said with wide eyes. "A nation can come back to life even after two thousand years of diaspora, as long as people believe in it. But once they stop to believe… that's it."
Gran-gran only nodded in agreement. "Yes, and it weights heavily on both of your parents. They see themselves responsible for it."
"But why? They aren't even connected?" Sokka asked.
"Do they?" Gran-gran turned to her brother. "Think about it not as a son, but as a stranger. What made Kuki do what she did? The fact that the men were away for seven years. Why were they away? Because their chief ordered them to. Why did the chief ordered them to? Because his wife was kidnapped. And so on, and so on."
"I can't blame your mother, although I'm sure some do." Grandma continued. "Your father… has more on his plate. It was his decision to take all the men and leave, rightfully or not notwithstanding. As a family, none of us could think of any other action, but from outside perspective? Was one woman really worth the survival of our entire culture? Those are questions that hunt your parents right now."
"I also don't say wither it was the right or wrong choice, there is no such thing in those situations. Look at this fish for example. I can make from it a grilled fish, or a fish salad. Is there a right answer? Depends on who you ask. In the end, however, it will still end in our bellies and we will continue living with the choices we made."
That… Katara didn't know what to think about it. In the end, Gran-gran just sighed.
"Don't worry about it too much." She said. "The tribe had endured worse before, and it will endure worse in the future."
Gran-gran says this, but Katara could hear weak sounds of what she believed is dad's muffed sobs.
AN
Hope you enjoyed and please tell me what you thought!
No for the reviews:
FF8cerberus :
I completely understand your concerns and agree with them. Don't worry, I joked a bit when I called it a prologue.
I plan to make 3 books/parts that will go like this: Pre-Show= The duration of the show = After Sozin's comet
As you can see, this part is almost over, I plan for the next two to be of more or less the same length.
deniswanheda :
Thank you!
Sai at the hands of Azula is a scary thought indeed.
Hey, at least the gals found something to bound over with, poor Zuko. And it's more a question of tools and experience. Jasmine lacks the might Azula has and depends on others, death was a very real possibility for her. Azula, in the other hand, can tell people toY jump and they'll ask how high. And while Jasmine as expert in manipulation, she lacks the understanding of creating grand schemes like Azula did when she conquered Ba Sing Se. Jasmine is just very very good in her own little shtick.
Yeah, lucky basterd that one, even the dressing down he received from the princess off screen was worth it.
As for the Apex, I meant a zombie apocalypse. The infected creatures want to spread the taint, like how rabbis cause the infected to act violent to spread the disease. By the way, did you know that the fungus in "The Last Of Us" is based on a real zombifying fungus, like the Xenomorphs are a more kid-friendly version of Parasitoid wasps? Luckily, it only effects ants and small insects... for now.
The more you know.
02cgd :
Thanks!
It was my goal yes, to show how the tables have turned in this toxic sibling relationship. Don't worry, more Mi-Dved goofiness will be written.
Zuko has too much honor for that. Besides, his hands were a bit tied at the moment and Jasmine was in a different cell. Also, both of their siblings and other people were watching, Zuko has standards!
The Mother Of Faces is a face creator, true. But be honest, it's just to convenient for Zuko to say it. He would be laying it too thick. Besides, Identity forging can be considered theft too, so in a certain point of view Zuko didn't lie.
for the air nomads I always thought that it was because both parents were air benders, to the children were air benders as well. Kinda like blue eyes. When they were forced to have kids with not air benders, the skill disappeared like blue eyes plus brown eyes can have blue eyes just if the brown eyes has a blue eye gene. But your theory too has merit.
Arrowman :
Thank you.
Without helmet, Zuko is far stronger then Azula now. He still has some real climbing to do to match his dad without Sai though, and that's without the stone's power boost.
J4M35W1NZ :
Funny that you mentioned him, we'll see Zhao soon enough.
Engineer1869 :
Thank you.
It's the power dynamics I wanted for them. Zuko obviously on the lead, but not too one-sided.
Oh no, her meeting with The Mother Of Faces, now that will put her over the edge. For the second part I won't comment.
Apex wouldn't have a role to play in this arc, but we'll see it soon enough.
The more you know.