Disclaimer: the characters and places in the following work of fan-fiction are the intellectual property of Nickelodeon and, as such, they reserve the right to remove this story at their sole discretion
Author's Note: This narrative represents the sixth 'episode' in my speculative version of the third season of 'Avatar: The Last Airbender', so if you've not yet read the previous five installments, you may wish to visit my profile now and do so, or this tale might not make much sense. A more comprehensive explanation of the intent, format, and focus for my stories can be found in the Author's Note at the end of "Fire Chapter 2: The Battle of Chameleon Bay".
Personal Note: This is one of those episodes that, if I were a real writer for the show, would have been handed off to another author. I've been dreading this story ever since I committed myself to doing the whole series because, honestly, I have NO idea what I am going to do with it. Therefore, it is only fair to warn everyone that my personal expectations for this 'episode' are very low, and I only hope that I don't disappoint too many people.
So please, please, do me the favor of leaving a review to let me know your thoughts, and to tell me if I am messing this one up or not.
At the suggestion of Steamboat Ghost, I've revised the opening chapter to include a 'Previously on Avatar' segment to provide some reminders of preceding scenes which will be important in this chapter. I hope this helps, and I will begin doing this for all 'episodes' from here on out.
Previously on Avatar
"The day of the invasion, we readied ourselves for battle. We were prepared to defend our city...to fight for our lives and for our freedom. But before we even had a chance, King Bumi surrendered."
"Neutral jin is the key to earth bending. It involves listening and waiting for the right moment to strike."
"That's why you surrendered, isn't it?"
"Yes, and it's why I can't leave now."
"We need to send word to the Omashu resistance," How stated, "but I don't trust a pigeon-hawk to carry it; they're too easily intercepted."
"We'll go," said Suki firmly, "The Kyoshi Warriors will deliver the message while you prepare your forces."
"You're just a banished prince. No home. No allies. Your own father doesn't even want you."
"You're wrong. Once I deliver the Avatar to my father he will welcome me home with honor and restore my rightful place on the throne."
"If your father really wanted you home, he'd have let you return by now, Avatar or no Avatar, but in his eyes you are a failure and a disgrace to the Fire Nation."
"This isn't like you," Katara said almost suspiciously as she crossed the balcony to stand next to him. "I mean, I don't claim to know you that well, but you hardly seem like yourself."
"Myself…" he gave a soft mirthless huff, "How can I be myself? I don't even know who I am anymore," he whispered distantly.
"Zuko, you must let go of your feelings of shame if you want your anger to go away."
"But I don't feel any shame at all! I'm as proud as ever!"
"Prince Zuko, pride is not the opposite of shame, but its source. True humility is the only antidote to shame."
Several dark forms now swirled around the prince, whispering and snarling as they circled, occasionally sweeping right through him, causing him to scream and writhe in pain each time.
"You are weak!" "Worthless coward!" "You don't deserve to live!" "Traitor!"
"Get up and fight!" commanded Ozai's voice from one of the shadow creatures before blasting through the tormented fire bender, who crumpled to the ground.
Zuko struggled to crawling position as a distraught, beleaguered moan escaped his lips, "I won't fight you."
"Dad's going to kill you," sang another shade using Azula's mocking simper.
"You're lying," breathed Zuko without conviction. Then his mother's voice echoed from some deep recess in his mind: everything I've done, I've done to protect you.
"You weren't worth protecting," scathed two more wraiths in unison as they dove through his flesh, "it's your fault she's gone!"
"No..." Zuko rasped with difficulty.
His arms finally gave way and he crashed to the ground, all the energy drained from his body.
Book 3: Fire
Chapter 6: Reclaiming Omashu
Firelight danced on the polished floor as a pair of metal shod boots clipped steadily across the massive chamber, the echo of the sound swallowed by the red velvet curtains lining the walls. As he approached the flaming dais, the man dropped to both knees and kowtowed to his Lord, respectfully averting his eyes from the shadowed face behind the fiery veil.
"You have news," stated Ozai without interest.
"Yes, My Lord," replied the man steadily without moving or even looking up. "The rumor of General Iroh's acquittal in Ba Sing Se has been confirmed. The Earth King now counts him as an ally."
The Fire Lord said nothing, but the wall of flames before him flared slowly for a moment before settling back to an even blaze. The messenger gulped inaudibly before relaying the rest of his news.
"Both he and your son were last spotted fleeing the Eastern Air temple…" he took a deep, anxious breath and finished, "…with the Avatar."
Once again, the flames climbed higher at a menacingly measured pace, and the prone envoy began to sweat from the heat now filling the room. But unlike previously, the firewall did not abate, and it continued to roar ominously as Ozai spoke again.
"Summon the Shuāng Yán," he commanded coldly, "and inform the revered sisters that the Fire Lord would seek their counsel."
The messenger pressed his forehead to the cold, gleaming floor.
"It will be done, My Lord."
High above the mountains of the southern Earth Kingdom, the Avatar's bison soared sleepily through the warm afternoon and let out a tired moan. Hearing this subtle complaint, Sokka reached forward and rubbed the shaggy arrow on Appa's head.
"Not much further, Big Guy," he promised. Appa groaned in relief.
Katara put the last stitch through the sole of the boot she was mending and, snapping the thread, she smiled with satisfaction at her handiwork. Tugging the shoe back on, she and looked about at the scenery; it was beautiful the way the rugged terrain seemed to reach up and kiss the sky. She sighed contentedly at the romantic thought and leaned back against the saddle, glancing at the others as she did so.
Iroh sat against the back of the saddle flanked by Aang and Toph. The elderly fire bender had been continuing the blind girl's 'tea education' when Aang joined in on the conversation. He was telling them about a method of tea preparation that the Air Nomads often employed using spices and cream.
"I'll have to make you guys some when we get a chance," he was saying.
"If you say so, Twinkle Toes," Toph shrugged, "but I still think it sounds weird."
"Don't be so quick to judge something you haven't tried," chimed in Iroh sagely. "While I admit it sounds unusual, it could be quite tasty." He then stroked his beard thoughtfully, "and considering it hasn't been around in a hundred years, it might prove to be a refreshing….and profitable flavor," he grinned slyly.
"Only if Aang opens a tea shop," Toph quipped, and then giggled as she added in sudden epiphany, "he could call it 'Twinkle Teas'!"
At this Iroh simply howled with mirth, and Aang rolled back a bit as he laughed out loud.
"Good one, Toph!"
Katara couldn't help but grin. It was obvious that they were thoroughly enjoying themselves, especially Toph. She had never seen the sarcastic and practical earth bender so pleasantly relaxed before, and watching the three of them giggle and joke like little kids was…well it was adorable.
Still chuckling slightly at her friends, Katara's gaze then fell on Zuko; sitting upright with his legs folded beneath him and his hands resting in his lap. Her smile fell as she regarded him thoughtfully.
Despite his humble clothing and unkempt, windblown hair, he looked almost regal, almost serene. But the effect was marred by the expression on his face. It wavered between moments of tranquility and turmoil, the same as it had for the last few days, every time he tried to meditate. He hadn't been sleeping well either, as evidenced by the dark circles under his eyes, and more than once she had noticed him snap awake when dozing on Appa's back. Something was troubling him deeply, and this realization suddenly made her feel very uneasy.
As much as she wanted to trust him for Aang's sake, she couldn't seem to get past the knot that formed in her stomach whenever she saw, heard, or even thought about Zuko. She didn't hate him, and she really had forgiven him for his actions in Ba Sing Se, but as horrible as she felt about the things he had been through, and what he must be going through now, nothing seemed to quell the tightness in her chest that his presence seemed to cause.
This sensation might have made sense if he were as surly, arrogant, or uncooperative as she had expected him to be. But somehow, the fact that he was actually helpful, polite, and gave every indication that he was truly concerned about the welfare of the group only seemed to irritate her rather than set her at ease. And that, in turn, made her feel guilty.
She watched as he finally sighed in frustration and abandoned his attempt to meditate. Momo, who had also been looking at Zuko with interest, put a tiny paw on the boy's knee and purred consolingly. The banished prince gazed down at the little lemur, reaching a hand out to stroke the creatures' ears even as he tucked a wistful half-grin into the corner of his mouth. Momo responded by hopping up into his lap for a proper petting, which Zuko readily obliged.
It was moments like this that made Katara wonder if the boy now traveling with them really was the same person who had chased them relentlessly across the world only a few months ago. Her attitude about him softened in spite of herself, and when Zuko caught her staring at him, she offered a small smile. But he merely looked away penitently, as though she had scolded him instead.
Once again, the raw tangle in her chest writhed and twitched, and suddenly the landscape below that had appeared so amorous before, now seemed to rise like jagged teeth trying to tear the shimmering clouds down from the heavens.
Black columns of smoke rolled up from the smelting fires dotting the tiered mountaintop town, and the rhythmic clang of metal rebounded off iron-plated walls. Fire Nation settlers walked along the crowded lanes, going about their daily lives in the recently 'colonized' city of New Ozai.
Deep in the heart of the stony fortress, beneath the bustling streets and ensconced in a labyrinth of metal corridors, King Bumi waited…and listened.
Every day he eavesdropped on the bored conversations of the guards stationed outside his cell. Sometimes he heckled them, just to lighten the topic of conversation (after all, talk of weapon sharpening and boot shining got so old after a while), but they never seemed to enjoy his jokes as much as he did.
Today, however, he was unusually quiet. Something was changing, a different pulse was moving through the earth that even the metal floor and walls that surrounded him could not diminish. Change was coming, and he needed to know what it was.
As the shift rotated and two new guards came to relieve the others of their post, Bumi strained to hear the snippets of their conversation.
"Watcha reading?" asked the first guard.
"Meh, just the latest newsletter…more army propaganda," the second man replied with a shrug.
"Sounds riveting," the other man drawled.
"Actually," said the second with sudden surprise, "this one has something interesting in it."
"Oh, do tell," deadpanned the first.
"No seriously," he insisted, "according to this, the Dragon of the West has joined forces with the Earth King…" he paused for dramatic effect, "and the Avatar."
"You're joking."
"Read it yourself," he said, and handed the page to his companion.
"Ultimate act of treason…considered a grave threat to the Crown…" he read bits and pieces aloud, "a dangerous traitor to be approached with extreme caution," his hand, along with the leaflet, dropped to his side as he threw the other man an incredulous look.
"He's not the only one," the second guard added, "Apparently Prince Zuko is also wanted for treason."
"I thought he was already banished."
"He was, three years ago," the man confirmed, "but I guess he got tired of waiting to be allowed to return home and switched sides."
"What do you think will happen?" asked the first guard, sounding somewhat concerned.
"Who cares?" the other responded, "It's not like it means anything…just a bunch of juicy gossip being blown out of proportion to make the Fire Lord look good."
"How would Lord Ozai's own brother and son turning traitor make him look 'good'?" scoffed the first.
"Beats me," shrugged the second, "but the press sure seems to be making a big deal out of it. Maybe we're supposed to feel sorry for the Fire Lord."
At this, the other man laughed heartily. "Yeah, that's a good one."
In the darkness of his cell, King Bumi smiled. Yes, change was definitely on the wind, and when it blew over Omashu, he would be ready. The wait would soon be over.