(no subject)
Another A/N on eclipses: A Solar eclipse, as people know, occurs on the new moon, when the moon is directly in front of the sun. Due to the tilt of the earth and the orbit of the earth and moon, the visibility of this event is only seen in certain parts of the world twice a year, instead of once every month. In the case of Solar eclipses, the duration of these are only a few minutes long, whereas Lunar eclipses can last from a half hour to an hour. This is the reason why I made the actual event on the Day of Black Sun so short. I wanted to be realistic, despite this show being heavily fantasy-based. I'm weird like that. Anyway, new chapter. Hope this makes up for the crappiness of the last one.
When Zuko awoke, it was not in the comfortable silk bed he’d woken up to in the past few months, but the more familiar hard and unforgiving pallet found within most Fire Nation vessels. His stomach felt odd, an indication to him that they were moving fast, and the rocking was the obvious indication of them being on water. Groaning, he slowly sat up, instantly regretting that small action. He laid back down as pain shot through his side and realized for the first time that he was bandaged up. His gasp of pain had alerted someone to his consciousness, and he saw the shape of a young girl walk up to him. With shame, he realized it was Katara. “Hey,” Zuko said, trying to sound light-hearted. Katara said nothing, but he could see the anger burning in her eyes.
She unwrapped his bandages, and slowly coaxing out a stream of water from a nearby bucket, brought the liquid back and forth across the boy’s body. Burns and scrapes quickly healed up. As soon as she did that, she started walking away. “You’re not going to say anything?” he asked her. Katara stopped in her tracks and turned to look at the young prince.
“What do you want me say?” She practically shouted at him. “Hey, Prince Zuko, it’s been a long time since you screwed us over in Ba Sing Se! How have you been doing? Lying about Aang’s death doing you well? How about taking over a city or two? Oh, what’s that you ask? How have I been doing? Oh, just great! I’ve been hiding my identity, making sure one of my best friends and the world’s greatest hope doesn’t die, destroying factories and the like. My brother’s been in an over-depressed state for a few months now and refuses to admit it, and let’s not forget the constant threat of that man with the eye tattoo on his forehead! I don’t even know why we allowed you on this ship!”
“I defected-.”
“From the Fire Nation, I know. Sokka told me. But you said that last time we tried helping you, and it ended up with your uncle in prison and Aang’s near-death. How do I know that you won’t betray us again?”
“I spared your brother’s life,” he told the girl. Her face softened a bit at that, but there was still that look of rage. “We were fighting during the eclipse. I didn’t even want to be a part of the battle. Anyway, Ty Lee disabled your blind friend, and I knocked him down. He told me to kill him. I didn’t want to. And that’s when my father attacked me.” He rubbed the newly-healed pale skin there. “I’m sorry for everything I did to you and your friends, even if you don’t believe me. I was fighting for an honor code that should have meant nothing. I was blind to this fact until we defeated you at Ba Sing Se. Since then, I’ve been a mess.”
There was a few minutes silence as Katara digested his words. After a long pause, she turned around quietly. “When you’re ready, your uncle wants to see you on the main deck. Your clothes were damaged beyond repair when your father attacked you. There’s a new set in the corner.” She walked out of the room and Zuko was left alone, staring up at the cold metal ceiling of the ship. Grunting as he sat up, he looked around for something to wear, and noticed with slight revulsion that the only clothes in here were a pair of navy blue leggings, a pair of brownish boots, and a celestial blue tunic with white lining. Grudgingly, he put the clothes on, and walked out of the room, grabbing his double broadswords from the side of the door as he did so. He felt weird, walking on a Fire Nation ship, wearing the clothes of the country that was perhaps the Fire Nation’s only real big threat anymore. But then again, he reminded himself, this was a stolen ship. No one would really care.
He made his way to the main deck, and saw several people there, mostly those he didn’t recognize, but there were two he almost immediately recognized.
----
“Lee!” Sokka turned to Smellerbee’s voice, unusually cheerful, and frowned as he saw the person she’d been calling out to. It was a young man with longish black hair, dressed in Southern Water Tribe clothing. Sokka was about to ask his father who that was, when he caught sight of the young man’s notorious burn scar. It was Zuko.
“It’s so good to see you!” She shouted as she grabbed Zuko by the waist in a bone-crushing hug. “I’m so glad you changed sides.” Zuko looked at her awkwardly, as if her touch was making him uncomfortable.
“Thanks…” he told the girl. Longshot walked up then, giving the former Fire Nation prince a single curt nod. “Hey Longshot,” was all he said. Returning his attention to the girl, he asked her, “Where’s Jet?”
Smellerbee looked down, sadness in her eyes. When she found she couldn’t say it, Sokka walked to them and said in a heavy tone, “The Dai Li captured him in Ba Sing Se. They brainwashed him, and then, when we brought his memories back, he was killed in the Dai Li’s secret base under Lake Laogai.” Zuko looked up at Sokka as he approached. “Are you feeling any better?” Zuko nodded. The two stood there awkwardly for a moment, waiting for the other to say something, when Sokka took it upon himself to speak. “So…,” he started off uncomfortably. “It’s nice to finally meet you?”
“Indeed,” Zuko replied just as awkwardly and realized with sudden embarrassment that, although he, Katara, and Aang had spoken to each other on occasion, albeit rarely on friendly terms, this was the first time that they’d ever spoken to each other in a conversation. “Thanks for saving me.” Sokka blushed and scratched his head.
“It was nothing. You saved me yourself, too,” Sokka told the other. Thankfully, their conversation was cut short as Iroh was heard calling.
“Zuko, Sokka!” Both boys turned as they heard their names called. “You’re wanted on the bridge! We got a message from the army!” Both boys ran to the stern and climbed the iron steps, where Iroh, Akiko, Toph, Hakoda, Katara, and Aang were already waiting. Sokka heard Zuko sigh in relief, and noticed the direction of the boy’s gaze; Aang. Sokka had gotten past his anger for the prince. That single act of sparing his life had won the prince over, but Katara still hated the boy for what he’d done in the Earth Kingdom capital. As soon as the two sat down at the table, she turned her head in such a way that she wouldn’t have to look at him.
“So what does it say?” Sokka asked as soon as they were all seated. His father, now wearing a sleeve of bandages, turned to his son.
“The army managed to break through the city’s defenses and capture the capital,” he began. The cheers from the other were uproarious, and even Zuko managed a small smile, but Hakoda shushed them before they became too loud. “Now, as we know, thanks to the sacrifice of Lady Mai, we were able to defeat Lord Ozai, but--,”
“WHAT?!” Zuko screeched at the Water Tribe chieftain. “What did Mai do?” In his mind, he already knew the answer, but he needed to hear it with his own ears.
“Prince Zuko,” Iroh said as gently as he could, “Lady Mai saw what the Fire Lord was going to do to you, and shot him with her crossbow, fatally wounding him. Your sister saw this and killed her.” No sooner had he said this, had Zuko rose from his seat and walked out on the verge of tears. Iroh followed the boy.
Sokka looked at the others awkwardly before turning back to his father. As if on cue, Hakoda began debriefing the others. “As I was saying, we were able to defeat Lord Ozai, and the forces of the Fire Nation left with them, as well as Princess Azula, slated to become the first Fire Lord in history. The Earth Kingdom is starting to drive out Fire Nation forces, led by the combined forces of kings Bumi and Liu Bu. The Bei Fong family has started personally funding weapons production for Earth Kingdom rebels. The tide is really starting to turn, guys.” A loud cheer issued from the bridge at this discovery. After everyone calmed down, Hakoda smiled warmly.
“Since all this seems to be wrapped up, excluding Azula, I’m ordering a temporary withdrawal from the Fire Nation, to rest, rebuild, and recover. Sozin’s Comet is going to be a minor inconvenience by this time next year. Aang, you’re more than welcome to come to the South Pole with us.” Aang smiled at this while Sokka started to give the boy a noogie. Aang laughed and started wrestling playfully with Sokka.
“We did it, guys!” Aang cried cheerfully. “Not even Azula can stop us now!”
----
Zuko leaned sullenly on the starboard guardrail, looking at the gold-flecked river water carry them towards the ocean. Away from his former home and out into wherever ha and his uncle decided to settle. Maybe the Water Tribes, at least until the Earth Kingdom regained dominance in its borders. He was tired of it all. Even if they managed to overthrow Azula, he didn’t want to get the throne. Let someone else do it. He’d tried and failed to be a member of the aristocracy and failed miserably. There was only one person who’d convinced him to stay in the Fire Nation, and now that person was dead.
He tensed slightly as a hand touched his shoulder then relaxed as he realized it was Iroh. The old man smiled comfortingly at Zuko. “I know how it feels, how you feel. I lost my wife, my son, and my throne, in much the same way you lost your mother, Mai, and your throne. Like you’re hollow, as if the world’s taken away everything from you except your life, and if it did, you wouldn’t really care.” Zuko only grunted. They sat there in silence, watching the scenery pass by.
“What was so surprising, though,” Zuko said suddenly, “was I had everything I wanted in there, my honor restored, my father’s love and respect, the support of my people, and someone who cared for me. But I realized quickly, that what I had wasn’t what I wanted at all. It was like there was something missing. That something is still missing. I want what we had in Ba Sing Se, uncle. I want a peaceful life, where my decisions don’t affect an entire country. I don’t want people to bow and act respectful, or serve me all the time.”
“I know, Zuko,” Iroh said to him softly. “it’s what I wanted as well.”