Shadow of the Dragon King

Chapter 21: Exiles

And know this of a truth, that no evil can happen to a good man, either in life or after death.

-Socrates, Apologia

The procession was quiet as it made its way through the streets sunk in darkness before the first light of dawn. They might have been a funeral march with their plodding pace and silence, except they would stop without warning when the figure at the head stumbled or slowed.

"I'm all right." Zuko shrugged Iroh's hand off and stalked ahead of the group, his ponytail fluttering over his half-shaved head.

Cheng shrugged where she walked alongside Iroh. "He has the right idea, sir. Your orders are to set sail by sunrise, and that's less than half an hour off with how late we started."

"It was his fever, you see." Iroh spoke with a tone of apology.

"Yes, pride will light a fire under them. Give him time to cool off."

Iroh kept his eyes on Zuko, small in the distance. "The streets seem quiet even for this hour."

"Oh, we've cleared off Harbor Road just in case. That, and Lady Chamberlain Zhao's people are just about emptying the city for your niece's birthday celebration. Street vendors, unapproved performers, undesirables-"

Zuko's steps faltered and stopped up ahead, where the buildings stopped and the space opened out to the waterfront. Iroh was about to hurry to him when running feet approached from a side street. Cheng turned at the sound while the guards took defensive stances.

"Lieutenant!" A guard sergeant burst onto the road from the side street, two guardsmen behind him.

"Nakas? What-"

They heard the footsteps then, punctuated with the clink of armor and weapons. Zuko backed away toward the main group as men spilled out of the spaces between the buildings into his path, blocking the way to the piers.

Iroh was the first to go to him, and then the rest of the guards and soldiers in Zuko's retinue ran to form a knot around the two princes.

Cheng, bringing up the rear, drew her sword. "Declare yourselves."

The men pressed in, a silent menace.

"You intrude on Prince Zuko and his mission for the Firelord. Leave at once, or face his Majesty's wrath."

"How amusing." One of the men stepped forward, his face shadowed in the hood he wore. "Which one of us bears a permanent reminder of the Firelord's displeasure on his face?"

Zuko went into firebending stance at that voice. "Kang."

"There you are." The man lowered his hood, red ponytail flying over his shaved head like a pennant. "If you still call yourself a prince, accept your judgment as a craven traitor."

Zuko darted forward with a growl, flames bursting from his clenching fists, but Iroh stopped him with a hand to his chest. "Who sent you, young man? Is your employer aware of what might happen if Zuko were to come to harm here?"

"Perhaps some insolence from rabble who fancy themselves warriors, until the real warriors stamp them out."

"That is an impressive amount of confidence from a warrior who lost rather badly to the 'rabble' if the reports are true," said Iroh. Next to him Zuko snorted.

Flames rose from Kang's hands as he came forward. "Those peasants had a traitor prince at their head. After this morning that will no longer be a problem." His men surged into motion toward Zuko.

"Protect Prince Zuko." Iroh spread his arms, ready to blast fire in any direction. "Prepare to fight your way to the ship!"

"Flake it, there's too many of them." Cheng lowered her stance and pointed her sword forward, eyeing the men that filled the streets. "That Zhao bitch."

A crash sounded above them. A man flew through the second-story window of a house that abutted the road; he slumped onto the first-floor roof and slid down the incline, taking a swath of tiles in his wake. Man and tiles smashed to the pavement together, where he lay crumpled with blood on his back.

"Zhuang!" Kang's men ran to check on him, and turned him over to reveal glassy eyes staring at the sky. One of the men touched his neck for a pulse and pronounced him dead.

"This has gone on long enough." Another figure vaulted from the broken window and stood balanced on the bare section of roof where the body had slid down. The crescents of his blades gleamed wet in the semi-darkness.

"Shun?" Zuko's voice hitched.

"I assume the demon girl still wants a country to rule when all this is over, so she can't want the prince dead." Shun kicked a tile down to the street, where it broke apart with a sound like a small explosion. "I'm the only loose thread she has left. Well, here I am."

"Praise the First Fire, I was wondering how far I'd have to go." Kang gestured to the men blocking the way to the harbor, and they parted to open the path. "You are free to leave with your party, Prince Zuko, so long as he stays."

"Why should we believe you?" Cheng brought her sword to bear, scanning her opponents. "You're the one who got the ugly haircut swearing to kill his Highness."

Kang snorted. "Swear a warrior's oath to kill a child? If necessary, yes, but my oath was to keep that dangerous boy from the throne. After today, I'm looking forward to growing my hair out."

"You'll need a head to grow it on, of course." Shun took a step toward the edge of the roof.

"I'm not leaving him." Zuko grew pale as he looked on Kang's men, row upon row of them in the greyness.

"Prince Zuko." Iroh took his arm, but Zuko recoiled from him.

"I won't, Uncle. I can't leave him to die!"

Shun leaped off the roof and landed in a crouch. Men scattered from him, drawing weapons or going into firebending stance. He walked through without sparing them a glance, stepping over the corpse he had thrown. He sheathed his bloody blades when he reached Zuko's party.

Cheng lifted a hand at the palace guardsmen. "Let him through."

He came to stand before Zuko. "You must go now, my Prince. This ground shifts under our feet as we speak, and there's no saying what might happen if you don't leave while you can. Don't risk yourself or your men for a battle you can avoid."

"But they'll kill you."

"I'm not easy to kill." Shun placed his hands on Zuko's shoulders. "And what was I searching for all these years, if not a death worth dying?"

"No." Zuko squeezed his eyes shut.

"As long as I teach you, I am your teacher. I expect your obedience."

Zuko's eyes went wide, and he swallowed.

"I don't care what you do. Return to your father's favor and take your birthright." Shun brought his face close to Zuko's. "Don't let it be your sister."

A tremor ran through Zuko. "But I'd have to capture the Avatar. He - the war- you said you wanted it to-"

"No one's seen the Avatar in a hundred years. What's he ever done for me? But I know you." Shun's hands tightened on Zuko's shoulders until he winced. "The Kingdoms of Earth can't end this war. You have to take the Fire Throne and put an end to it, for your people and mine."

"I..."

"Will you do that for me? Do you swear?"

"I swear it." Zuko swayed as though he bore a terrible weight. "I swear, Sifu!"

"Yes!" Shun threw his head back in a laugh that sounded like a howl of pain, then leaned in to touch his forehead to Zuko's. "I knew it."

"We're still waiting." Kang tapped a foot.

"Go." Releasing Zuko, Shun backed away.

"Come, Prince Zuko." Iroh turned the younger prince around with a hand to his back, scanning the rooftops as he went.

Zuko looked over his shoulder. "I don't know your name."

The man clapped a fist over his heart and fell to one knee. "Lieutenant Kuo Min of the Hu Xin Guard Special Regiment Fourteen, called 'The Flowering Trees.' It has been my honor to serve the Fire Prince."

Zuko nodded and staggered on, through the gap Kang's men had opened for them and out to the waterfront beyond. His crew waited on the dock, ready to fight but unsure of the situation. The last of Zuko's men emerged into the open and their adversaries closed behind them, shutting off the street.

"Your Highnesses." An officer with a head of close-cropped grey hair strode up to them, saluting the princes as they came on board. An eyebrow twitched at the sight of Zuko's bandage. "I am Capt- Lieutenant Ji of the Star-Seeker. Your ship is ready to sail."

"Then right now would be a good time, Lieutenant." Iroh looked over his shoulder at the shadowed street they had left behind. "And 'General' will be fine."

"It is an honor to finally meet you, General Iroh." Ji turned to his first mate. "We're outward bound."

"Thank you, Lieutenant," said Iroh as men ran to start the ship. "I will require the services of your signalman to send a dispatch, to Harbor Defense." As he spoke his gaze went to Zuko.

"Of course, sir." Ji gave the summons to a runner, then followed Iroh's line of sight. Zuko stood by the railing at the ship's bow, staring landward across the waterfront. The boarding ramp pulled up next to him and clanged shut.

"The Star-Seeker will sail immediately, sir." Ji looked between the princes. "If I may ask, are we in danger? Should we prepare-"

Zuko swiveled to face him, his ponytail whipping across his face. "You will occupy yourself with sailing this ship, Lieutenant, instead of asking questions that don't concern you." He turned away as the ship rumbled to life. "I don't wish to be disturbed."

Ji stared at him a moment before he turned away with a scowl. "Aye, sir."

Iroh placed a hand on Zuko's shoulder, but Zuko shrugged him off. With a sigh Iroh stood with him while the ship pulled away from port, its shadow reaching out across the waterfront as the sun rose in the east.

"It's time to start, dirt-man." Kang came up to Shun as he rose to his feet.

"Actually, it's time for you to head back to whatever slag pit you crawled out of." Cheng imposed herself between them, blade in hand, while her men took positions on either side of her. "Unless you like the idea of being arrested for treason and nine counts of murder. I know I want to see it."

"How do you propose to arrest me, when my men outnumber yours five to one?"

"We're on the lap of the palace grounds, just about. We don't need to win, just hold you here until we have reinforcements."

"Jien," said Shun behind her. "They're not coming. You said it yourself, the Zhao people have taken control of security operations."

At the pier beyond the waterfront, the ship belched smoke from its stack and pushed away from the docks. The first ray of sunlight reached into the street, pulling long shadows in its wake.

"The princes have sailed." Shun came around to face Cheng. "This isn't your fight anymore. You will let them leave?" He looked to Kang, who shrugged.

"They can do as they like, just make it quick."

"Nakas." Cheng's eyes never left Shun. "Take command of the unit and report back to headquarters. Tell them where we are."

"We're not leaving you, ma'am." Heat shimmered around the big man's fists as he shifted his weight in readiness for battle.

"Don't be thick, Jien." Shun grabbed her shoulder. "They're not going without you. Get back to the palace now."

She brushed his hand off. "I told you, it's Lieutenant on the j-"

His other hand darted out to strike one side of her neck. Her knees gave as she tried to bring her sword up, and his fingertips rammed into her side below her ribs. He caught her as she fell, the sword clattering to the pavement from her slackened hand.

"Your Lieutenant is incapacitated. Get her out of here." Shun thrust her into Nakas's arms amid cries of alarm.

"What did you to her?" Nakas held up Cheng's flopping form, while around him the royal guards took battle stances.

"She'll be down for half an hour at most." Shun looked up into Nakas' face. "Keep her safe. Please."

"Agni, she'll be pissed." Nakas slung her onto his back as her hand twitched, and a whispered scream scratched from her throat. "Sorry, boss. Move out, boys!"

Shun turned to Kang as the royal guards' footsteps faded up the road to the palace.

"Now it's time to start, ash-maker."

"Your attendants are waiting, Princess." The woman stood at the door of the apartment, the ornaments in her grey hair twinkling in time to the motion of her head. Her twin stood next to her like a reflection in a mirror. "You should begin preparing yourself for the midday feast in your honor."

Azula stood looking out at the sun rising over the rim of the caldera. Her gaze went down the slope of the volcano down to the sea, and fixed on flames rising from the harbor. A ship glinted as it sailed away, looking like a toy from this distance.

"Princess Azula?"

She did not turn away from the window. "Who do you think is crueler, Zuko or I?"

Li and Lo met each other's eyes and shrugged in an identical motion.

"You are not cruel at all, your Highness." Li tucked her hands in her sleeves and bowed.

Lo did the same. "Indeed. You are the kindest, gentlest lady a Nation could ask for."

"Save it for when I'm in a better mood. I know what they call me." Azula narrowed her eyes. "When I destroy people they hate and fear me, as they should."

The twins watched her with growing unease.

"But when they destroy themselves for Zuko they love him for it, and bless his name. Why? What is it about him?" Azula's fist pressed into the windowsill as she watched the flashes of light at the water's edge.

"Princess-"

"I'm the only one who sees it, how he lures all these people to their ruin." She swallowed. "That's what he did to Mo- to her. He'll do it to our Nation unless he's stopped."

Below the ship grew smaller, trailing a wisp of smoke toward the rising sun. Smoke curled from the waterfront as though in answer.

"I had to show him. Maybe he's finally been burned enough he'll never trust again." She closed her eyes and touched her forehead to the window pane. "Maybe I'm not too late."

You play a cruel game, Princess, but I will gladly be a tile on your board. He ducked a jet of blood and shouldered the dying man into the way of a sword. Heat started up behind him and he spun around slashing, felt the slice and heard the gurgle of a last breath.

You do not see the weight of destiny upon him, nor can you imagine the path that awaits him. The tension of a bowstring came like a finger on his neck, and he whirled away from the hiss of the arrow.

Heat rushed toward him and he leaped, cutting down a man as he landed. The fabric at his ankle had caught, though, and it stung.

He ran across slick red pavement, striking back attacks and tumbling away from the flames that licked at him. Shields blocked his path and he launched himself into the air over them, arrows whistling by his ears. A shock punched through him and became a dull throb when landing jostled the shaft in his back. A problem.

Up ahead he saw the reddish gleam of hair flying like a flag, no cattle darts this time because no one was holding back today. There was none here to stay his hand, no man to share this final path except the ones he took with him. She had offered, but—no. He could not pull her into this mire of blood, not even in thought.

Before he could run for the firehair three men came at once and cornered him against a wall. He thrust and swung at the two rushing in center and right, sending them crumpling. Spear from the left; no time to bring the dao around. He angled the arm up and the spear's point slammed in below the elbow, forcing him to throw out a leg to keep his balance.

His eyes met the spearman's over the length of the embedded spear, the panicked motion of hands trying to free the weapon tugging at sinew and bone. Even as his hand lost feeling and the left-hand dao clattered to the ground, he knew the spearman had made a mistake. A weapon was easier to replace than a life.

He locked his arm around the spearpoint and spun around, pulling the spear from the man's hands. He swept up the right-hand dao as he turned. The impact of armor and flesh thudded through the blade.

He kicked the dying man off and threw down the dao. There was a tearing when he pulled the spear out but no pain, not yet. He couldn't die yet. The ship was still there, shining in the dawn light over the sea, and he needed to fight on his feet for as long as Zuko might see him.

They were no longer coming near him now, and kept their distance while they shot fire and arrows. He caught up the right-hand dao and bounded away, cutting shafts from the air but collecting more of them as he went, one in his shoulder, another in his side. These might well be the things to kill him, something that felt like justice.

A flaming arrow struck like a brand and more of his clothes were catching, and his skin. He was on fire, he was fire-

My fire isn't just flame and heat.

If the Firelord's letter at Tamalan had been enough to quench the young prince's fire, maybe this burning would light a stronger blaze that would not die. He could only hope the fuel was adequate.

It's everything I am.

He saw again the distinctive flash of hair, and there waited his enemy and brother in this world where killing was an act of love. The sea beyond was radiant, empty of ships.

Clothed in flames and agony, he burned with the knowledge that Prince Zuko would keep his promise. He will return, and he will bring an end to my country of war. He took one step and then another, his body heavy as though to weigh him down to this earth. Kuo's treachery and Shun's deceptions will be as dust, and the world will be as though I had never lived.

His steps grew lighter, freed of the burden of his life. He spun the dao in his hand and ran to the embrace of the oblivion he craved, borne on the fire of conviction that would drive him to the end.

" 'You may have heard by now about Prince Zuko's mission. Khoujin will sail with him while I stay in Lady Ty Sian's household and raise our-' " tears ran down the old man's face, losing themselves in the channels of his wrinkles, " '-and raise our child.' The handkerchief, Sanwai, if you please. It must be the season, and my allergies."

"You should knock off anyway." Sanwai took a square of faded cloth from the desk and wiped Lao Tai's streaming face. "Here I am running to you with letters when you should be resting."

"No no, it is almost done. 'Khoujin says hello, and that he misses the way you would cuff his ears. He will miss you even more at sea.' " Lao's eyes filled with tears again, and he heaved a breath that rattled in his chest like dead leaves. " 'I will sail tomorrow and Khoujin within the week with Prince Zuko. It is not an easy parting, but it is our duty and more than that, it's what we want. He might not be in touch very often, but I will update you whenever I can. Take care of yourselves, and make sure the Elder takes his walk every day, Father. Give our regards to my father, and make sure he does not drink too much. Remember, you must write me the moment any of you is sick, or if anything happens in the village. Your loving daughter, Sa Ye.' "

The Elder put the letter down, the seeing eye and the white one far away.

"Good thing the boy is sailing with Prince Zuko." Sanwai strove to turn the pride in his voice into a growl. "Else I'd have gone to the Capital, the Colonies, or the pits of hell to give him one of them cuffs he's so fond of."

"No doubt you would." Lao Tai patted him on a knee. "You raised a good boy, Sanwai."

"Aye, and so did the Firelord." Sanwai's eyebrows bristled as he frowned. "Why would any man send away a son like that? I can't help but think, maybe the Prince is in this fix for his kindness to us."

"The Palace is a complicated place, like the worlds seen and unseen. Let us be thankful he is alive, and may yet return to us. I know he must be happy that our little village is safe."

"Not much use in fretting about it, I guess." Sanwai heaved a sigh. "If folk are right in saying he's a Dragon King... What does that mean, anyway? Dragon King?"

"That is a question even scholars struggle with." Lao Tai put Sa Ye's letter away in a box with the others, then wiped his eyes with the handkerchief. "We have had dragons and kings, but many doubt that such beings as dragon kings ever existed."

"So they're just a story?"

"One with power and truth, like all good stories. I believe they are leaders, nobly or common born, who give of themselves to the people much like the dragons did."

Sanwai thought a moment. "So Prince Zuko is one."

Lao Tai gave him a smile that was more gaps than teeth. "Time will tell."

"You're starting to talk in riddles. Means you need a nap." Lao Tai did not protest, and Sanwai spread out the futon and helped him onto it. "After that we can go on that walk my daughter-in-law wants for you."

"Might I have something to eat after my nap? I have an appetite today."

"Sure, I think we still have some of that rhino jerky laying around." Sanwai opened the door, then stopped. "There's something else as been bothering me."

"Yes?" Lao Tai's brown eye glimmered at him under the half-closed lid.

"Why did you call Prince Zuko by his cousin's name? Things slip your mind more than they used to, but you still keep the important facts straight."

"Ah well, as to that, I'm afraid my mind did wander." The old man's chuckle ended in a wheeze. "Do you remember the time we met Prince Iroh, when he came to our village tracking Master Ran the Red?"

"How could I forget." Sanwai shook his shaggy head.

"Back then I had a vision, a glory of fire around him, that told me he would be the father of the next Firelord, perhaps a Dragon King." Lao Tai's face was lost in reminiscence. "When I saw the same fire around Prince Zuko when he first came to us, my foolish old mind mistook him for that son I had foreseen."

"I guess it shows you're not right about everything."

"No doubt, friend."

"Let me see about that food. You rest up now."

Sanwai slid the door shut behind him and Lao Tai closed his eyes in the muted light, a deep contentment falling across his face where he lay wrapped in the layers of his ordered life.

"You should get some rest, Prince Zuko."

Zuko did not move from his position at the stern of the ship, watching the Fire Nation shore slip out of sight.

"Zuko." Iroh approached from behind him. "You have been standing here for an hour, and your fever may return."

"Are we on course for the Western Air Temple?"

"Yes." Iroh sighed. "Lieutenant Ji will see to it. The search will go quicker the sooner you recover your strength."

Zuko watched the empty sea where only dots and lines of distant land broke the flatness.

"The Avatar is a coward, Uncle."

Iroh started, but said nothing.

"He let his own people die out, and hid from the Fire Nation while the war raged. A leader suffers with his people." Zuko touched the bandage on his face. "The Avatar doesn't have what it takes to stop this war."

"Perhaps we should have this conversation elsewhere." Iroh looked around, though there was no one near. Zuko's surliness with the crew had seen to that.

"I would like to swear a warrior's oath." Zuko faced Iroh. "I want you to officiate. If my enemy can pledge his honor to ruin me, I can't do any less for the people who depend on me." He clenched his fist by his side. "Who sacrificed for me."

"Prince Zuko..."

"I swear I will return with the Avatar, Uncle. I will come home so triumphant, Father will raise me high and no one will dispute my right to rule." His voice crept down to a scrape in his throat. "And I swear to you, with my people speaking in one voice behind me, I will end this war and restore the Fire Nation's honor."

"You have my help, nephew, always." Iroh cast his eyes down, his hands in his sleeves and a small frown between his brows. "You can be certain of that."

"Thank you." With one last glance in the direction of home Zuko walked past Iroh to the control tower, his good eye next to the bandaged one looking to the future.

She took a ribbon and tied off the dark braids bundled at the back of the child's head, where the sea wind caught the strips of red fabric and streamed them through the air.

"There you go. All pretty!"

"Thank you, Sa Ye!" The little girl reached up to give her a hug. "I'm going to show Mama and Papa."

Master Lu, standing by the railing across the deck with an arm around his wife, turned at the patter of small feet on the metal. Sa Ye grinned to see him scoop the girl into his arms while Lady Nanhua fussed over how beautiful their daughter looked.

Stifling a yawn behind a hand, Sa Ye surveyed the deck. She made her way away from the crew going about their business and the staff chatting among themselves, to an empty section of railing at the stern. The wind tugged at wisps of her hair as she faced west.

"Safe travels, my Prince." She bowed with slow reverence, and straightening looked into the distance as though she could penetrate the miles with her sight.

After a moment she put a hand on the roundness of her pregnancy.

"That way lies the Fire Nation, little one, the land where your father and I were born, and where he died. It is your homeland." She fell silent while the call of sea birds pierced the roar of the sea.

"I will call you Jinha, a treasure among the mints, but your true name will be Jinlong, to follow the dragon." A smile glimmered in her eyes. "You see, in the old days the Dragon Kings ruled our Nation in justice and strength. One day soon a Dragon King will return to us, and with his people behind him he will make us a beautiful and peaceful country again."

She rubbed her belly in small circles. "Your father died for that dream. You will live for it, my beautiful Jinha, Dao Jinlong son of Dao Khoujin."

Sa Ye gazed over the open water as the waves carried her farther from everything she had known. She filled the spaces where the winds danced on the water with dreams that none could tether nor take from her, and she was free.

THE END

Thank you for reading Shadow of the Dragon King.

Special thanks to:

Amy Raine, my awesome beta-reader who made the story so much stronger and better, and vmuzic, who pitched in to catch the flaws I'd hidden too well from Amy;

amanda91, who commented on the original idea and encouraged me to pursue it, and was kind enough to promote it on both TV Tropes and in the notes of her own wonderful Three Years at Sea;

DracoMaleficium, FairLadyZ2005, grandiose6, Loopy777, sohawkeward, Stingmon, TrisakAminawn, wolf's lament, and many others whose thoughtful reviews gave me so much encouragement and inspiration;

and you, reader, for your patience in taking this journey with me. I hope I was able to provide some little entertainment while you stayed.

If you have questions or comments please tell me by signed review or PM and I will answer by PM, or in a short story in one of the following collections as appropriate:

Stories from the Shadows, stories that deal predominantly with original characters, or

Legends of the Dragon King, a collection of short stories that involve canon characters and take place within the ATLA timeline.