The Dead Boy Chapter 1: In From The Cold, an avatar: last airbender fanfic

Avatar: The Last Airbender

Created by Michael Dante Dimartino and Bryan Konietzko

Book 3: Fire

Chapter 1: The Dead Boy

The sun rose behind the ship, bathing their surroundings in an evanescent red glow. It was a sign of many things, that the ship brought with it the great victory of the Fire Nation over the Earth Kingdom, that the Fire Nation as a whole was rising victorious over the horizon, and for the homesick soldiers and sailors on-board that they had finally arrived in their homeland. The confident young Fire Princess, her uniform slightly creased from yesterday's activity but still looking a million tons of gold, her hair flapping lazily either side of her face, cared little for such pointless theatricalities, but she appreciated their uses, and couldn't help but feel the sun rising behind her highly opportune timing. She had risen some hours before sunrise chiefly in order to accentuate this moment, if not for the benefit of her crew members then for the benefit of her welcoming committee.

Azula stood near the prow of her enormous vessel as it chugged its way through the silvery early-morning water. Before her, bathed in the morning sun, was the first of several massive locks, a grey, metallic construction that was planted on the rocky coastline. Across it was emblazoned the symbol of the Fire Nation, which appeared to have been repainted a fresh coat of red just for the occasion. A uniformed operator standing on a platform close to the lock gate diligently signalled to the ship with his arms, and Azula presumed that behind her one of the Royal Ship's commanding crew members was signalling in response. This was obviously the case because the lock operator promptly signalled an acknowledgement and pulled a switch embedded with the platform. Atop the gate was the symbol of three dragons, meticulously polished compared to the grime of the rest of the gate, that un-entwined themselves from each other mechanically in a manner blatantly intended to impress visitors. The gate groaned, clunked, and pulled itself open. Another lock gate slowly emerged behind it, at the other end of the first lock. It was a tedious process, but Azula was prepared to survive it this special day.

Footsteps clinked on the metal plates behind her, and Azula noticed that they sounded a lot softer than Fire Nation boots, so she could take an educated guess that it was one of her honoured guests. The man behind her took a deep breath of the clear morning air, and Azula immediately narrowed the possibilities to one.

"Enjoy the clean air while it lasts," Azula suggested, "chances are you won't see a lot of it the next few days."

"Thank you for the suggestion, but you needn't worry," came Long Feng's reply, "I can easily adapt my daily routine around my surroundings."

"You flatter yourself a little too much if you think I was worried about you," Azula responded without looking back. She noticed the contrast. While she had busied herself with leaving port before dark and interrupted her preparations with light snacks, taking care to be up before dawn, Long Feng had eaten a hearty meal, gone to bed at 10 in the evening and woke up at precisely 6 in the morning. She could hazard a guess at the meditative practices and dressing exercises he had gone through before emerging at her side, but she honestly wasn't that bored. She just surmised that Long Feng, with nothing to prove anymore, had simply resigned himself to living like the walking clock he really was deep down inside. It was a state of affairs Azula was relieved she would never have to live through. She never had anything to prove in the first place.

The ship had glided into the lock, and Azula could feel the engines grind down beneath her feet as the vessel paused to allow the gate behind them to close. There was a murmur of activity around them as Fire Nation sentries crowded around to see their Fire Princess' return. Behind them came a few members of their families, and other residents of the area. Word of the Truce had spread amongst the people of the Fire Nation, and many recognised that this was a once-in-a-lifetime event taking place before their eyes. Azula had infiltrated Ba Sing Se to negotiate with the Earth King personally, and the Earth King had seen wisdom in trusting the Fire Nation and accommodating their needs. And here she was, with the Earth King's personal representative, to sign a peace treaty. Though the Water Tribe remained at war with the Fire Nation, and the Avatar continued to conspire against them, the Hundred Years' War was finally coming to an end.

"Excellent timing, Long Feng," Azula felt some grounds for complement, "don't wave and don't make eye contact, just stand there looking confident. It shows that we trust each other."

"I think I know how to manipulate a crowd," said Long Feng snarkily, "so, Your Highness, exactly how much longer do you intend this…fiction…to continue?"

"That's for me to know and for you to continue wracking your brains over until the day you die," Azula shut down Long Feng's room for manoeuvre. She wasn't going to give him a scrap more information than he needed.

"And when will that day be?" Long Feng asked non-chalantly.

"You'll find out," Azula loved to keep him hanging. Behind her the gates closed tight, and the three dragons entangled themselves in a mechanical embrace. On either side of the lock were a dozen huge metal dragon-heads, their mouths wide open to allow water to burst from them. Azula had learnt that the Northern Water Tribe had a similar arrangement for the protection of their City of the North. It just went to show that fire could do anything any other element could, if redirected for the right purposes. Her gaze shifted to notice the gathering crowd, a lot of nervous excitement and young, smiling faces, eager for a day out. A lesser leader would seize the opportunity to make a speech, but she knew how to keep a crowd hanging.

Another pair of feet joined the two at the prow of the ship. These feet were strong but far from confident. She knew who it had to be. She had been surprised earlier to see the very same person awake at the same hour she was. This surprise turned to amusement when she realised he'd never gone to bed. She could see the boy in her minds' eye: some attempt made at cleaning himself up, but bloodshot eyes and heavy breathing giving away his exhaustion. But nevertheless it was good to have him there for appearances' sake. It made much more sense to have a potential opponent on the Fire Nation's side. Make him feel accommodated enough and he may be gratified sufficiently to not notice the modified state of the line of succession.

"Good to see you, brother," Azula cracked a grin, "no waving, no eye contact, it shows we trust each…"

"I'll act however I damn well want to act," the Fire Prince pouted.

Azula couldn't help but let out a small chortle. It was so…Zuzu. She turned to look at her brother to see a very grim-faced, scarred, but rather handsome young man, in practical red and black clothing and still sporting that ridiculous mop of hair he'd acquired while on the run. She felt it necessary to make a few practical beachheads in his psyche. As her head turned the water ceased pouring and the gates ahead opened. A second lock lay ahead, and the ship began churning its way forward once again.

"No uniform and no top-knot," Azula commented dryly, "feeling like going on the run some more, Prince Zuko?"

"I won't accept my honour until father gives it to me," Zuko chanted. Azula need not have worried about the waving and eye contact. Zuko was manifestly in the mood for neither of those things.

Azula's face fell sardonically and she found herself facing forward again. "I think you can safely consider father's honour given. The response we received back at Ba Sing Se suggested as such."

"I need it to be in person," Zuko announced.

"Okay, Zuzu, now you're just being silly," Azula turned back to her brother, "you've helped bring down a fortress that Uncle couldn't bring down after 600 days of trying. You have earned your way into the history books, no two ways about it. Tell him, Long Feng."

"Don't ask me, I've no opinion one way or the other," Long Feng answered honestly.

"History means nothing to me," Zuko insisted, "all I care about is my honour."

"You have my word, brother," Azula declared.

"Since when has that meant anything?" Zuko demanded, looking Azula straight in the eyes.

Azula stared back, and the tense silence that followed was interrupted only the clunking of the second lock gate behind them. Soon after, another set of dragon heads began flooding the lock. In the crowd that had gathered, while most were rapt at the mere sight of the Fire Princess, some were looking a tad puzzled.

Long Feng strangled a cough. "Your Highness, people are watching…"

"I know," Azula responded testily, hands on hips. She made herself relax and stepped towards Zuko, putting a hand on his shoulder and looking sympathetic, letting her next words sound sincere, "I realise you feel betrayed, but you were able to look past that and see what was best for the Fire Nation. That takes courage, Zuko. And for your courage and service towards our people…I'm going to show you your reward…"

Azula laid her arm across Zuko's shoulders and led him forward towards the prow. Long Feng kept a respectable distance from the siblings, frankly mystified at the convoluted connections between the two. Azula made certain there was nothing before Zuko's vision except the third lock gate, as the water reached its height, the three dragons slid themselves apart and the massive steel doors opened. Before them, twisting and winding a considerable distance, was a canal, weaving its way through a landscape of vibrant red hillsides, luscious gold fields, snow-capped peaks and industrious homesteads. Before the two heirs to the throne of the Fire Lord stood their homeland.

"This is the land you fought for, Zuko, the land that is grateful for your devotion and your sacrifice, and the land that will welcome you back," Azula said into Zuko's ear, "welcome home, Fire Prince Zuko."

Zuko was overwhelmed at the sight. He had forgotten how beautiful it was, how entrenched in his memory. His eyes screwed shut and he looked down to avoid the tears. But this only served to mask his pang of guilt. Azula talked of feeling betrayed, but there was one other on board who felt more betrayed than he did. He was still shackled deep in the bowls of the ship, and Zuko hadn't laid eyes on him for the entire trip. He hadn't dared to. The scorn the man showed him in the Old City was painful enough for him, he dared not repeat it. But he was still haunted by the old man's presence, and to know that he was still here was bad enough. He may have remained loyal to the Fire Nation but his betrayal of his beloved uncle, the former General Iroh, felt far worse, no matter what Azula said about him. He never dared sleep, for fear of the dreams he may have.

The ship travelled further into Fire Nation territory, the canal weaving its way towards the Fire Lord's capital. The crowd was still growing, and each and every one of them felt their hearts fill at the sight of the Fire Lord's children returning together triumphant in their victory. Nothing could stop the Fire Nation now, allied with the Earth Kingdom, and the end of the war with the Fire Lord holding the balance of the world in his hand was only a matter of time. There was still the devious Avatar to contend with, the last of the Airbenders who had plotted to ruin the Fire Nation and its right to fulfil its destiny 100 years before, but the news from this front was encouraging. Azula had dealt the Avatar Spirit itself a fatal blow in a close and violent struggle, and no one had seen him for this past fortnight. But despite this heartening news, they had to remain vigilant. Until there was proof that the Avatar was dead, the Fire Nation would never be safe.

To Be Continued…