The Kirin

An Avatar: The Last Airbender Fanfiction

By BG-57

Chapter 1

The sun had arisen early this close to the equator, baking the lands of a Fire Nation in an almost infernal heat. But nevertheless it was worshipped and venerated as a source of life and fire. The volcanic cinder cones that formed the backbone of these island chains were never capped with the snow so prevalent in both the Northern and Southern Water Tribes. However rain was plentiful in the jungles that skirted the lowlands of many of the islands, and the rich volcanic soil provided great fertility.

A lone ship made its way through the harbor. It was unremarkable steel clad warship, with a large tower and balcony dominating the stern mounted boiler, the twin funnels breathing smoke and flames into the warm morning air. The prow had the long spar for ramming and beaching. A crimson pennant fluttered from the taller funnel; a black crescent with curled upturned edges cradling a central flame. An eerie red glow emanated from the windows on every deck, giving the whole ship the appearance of a giant floating furnace.

A young man sat astride the spar, the gold highlights glinting on his ebon armor. His brown eyes restlessly scanned the horizon as the sea breeze ruffled his already unruly black hair. Finally he spotted the statue of a fierce looking bearded man in long flowing robes flanked by sinuous snakelike dragon statues. He stood up quickly and turned back to the bridge cupping his hands to his mouth.

"Captain, it's the Great Gates of Azulon!"

A pause and a few minutes later a middle aged man strode onto deck in similar but slightly more ornate crimson armor.

"I can see perfectly well, young Cadet," he muttered as he tugged on his long grey moustache.

The young man hopped to the deck and placed a fist against his the palm of his other upturned hand as a gesture of greeting and respect.

"Sorry Captain," he admitted with a sheepish grin, "I'm just excited to be back in the Capital; it's been years since I've been back."

"Save your excitement for your audience in court," replied the Captain, his expression softening a little, "Although it must be intimidating to be the brother-in-law of the Fire Lord."

"Not as intimidating as having a Princess for an older sister," said the Cadet with a nervous laugh.

The Captain patted his shoulder.

"I'm sure she'll be glad to see you," he said as he turned away to return to the bridge.

"I sure hope so," sighed the Cadet.

The ship maneuvered deftly through the Gates into the harbor behind. They docked at a huge stone jetty that led to a long road flanked by high walls guarded by pagoda-like towers. The Cadet saluted the crew and disembarked onto the shore. He made his way past columns of drilling soldiers and a mechanic repairing the treads of a large metal tank with a raised turret that a trained firebender could attack through in any direction. The road ended in a steep path that zigzagged up the side of a tall extinct volcano.

Slightly winded he reached the peak and saw a vast city below in the cone. The city was laid out like the spokes of a giant wheel, with the central palaces forming the hub. High walls surrounded the citadel facing out in twelve directions surrounded by a ring shaped plaza, with a lake forming a boundary on one side, the city encompassing the rest. The streets were teeming with carts and vendors, ordinary citizens and soldiers, all going somewhere purposefully. Reaching the gates of the citadel he could make out the tall russet roof of the main palace. The guard at the towering gatehouse eyed him curiously.

"State your business, Cadet."

"Cadet Tom reporting to the palace as ordered," he said with a salute.

The guard unfurled a scroll and scanned through it.

"I've got no one on the list with that name," he replied brusquely.

"Wait…," he wondered, "I may be listed as Cadet Tom-Tom."

"Ah yes, so you are," responded with the guard, "Where did you get a name-"

"Believe me," interjected Tom hastily, "You're better off not knowing."

The guard stared at him blankly and shrugged.

"Proceed, Cadet Tom-Tom."

The gates led to a vast plaza with long buildings flanking either side, beyond them lay a maze of smaller one storied buildings, all with pitched roofs and white walls and green pillars. But everything was dwarfed by the palace, with three towers placed close together on top of a raised platform. Pillars graced the lower stories and the outer two towers were capped with pyramidal roofs, while the central tower loomed much taller with an obelisk on top crowned with a giant metallic flame. It was clearly designed to humble anyone who set foot inside. Taking a deep breath he made his way past the courtiers and guards up the main stairs.

The entry hall had high vaulted ceilings framed by a forest of pillars. Tom walked purposefully forward, not noticing the woman standing in the shadows with long dark hair and narrow golden eyes. She was dressed in regal burgundy robes and a golden hair ornament was placed in a topknot.

"Hey Tom-Tom," she murmured.

"I told you not to call me tha-" he began automatically, his exasperation giving way to surprise.

"Hey kiddo then," she said with a casual wave.

"Mai!"

He embraced her with a forcefulness that almost knocked her back.

"A little less enthusiasm there," she chided gently.

Tom pulled back in chagrin and released his older sister.

"Forgive me, Princess Mai," he said with a stiff bow.

"Not enough now," she said crossing her arms, "Bring it back up a little."

He looked up at her uncertainly.

"Uh…it's great to see you, big sister?"

She couldn't resist patting his head. He was just too cute.

"Perfect," she said with a faint smirk, "You haven't changed much little brother."

"I'm going to be sixteen next year," he protested, "I'm almost an adult now."

"Duly noted," she said gesturing, "Come with me."

He followed her out into a small garden with a duck-turtle pond surrounded by shade trees.

"Is this about my audience with the Fire Lord?" he inquired.

Mai looked across the water contemplatively.

"Yes, it's about Zuko," she replied, "Why did you ask to meet him?"

"I want to formally request to search for Princess Ursa." Mai gave him an all too familiar withering look.

"Are you stupid or something?" she said incredulously, "What do you think the Southern Air Fleet has been doing all these years?"

"I doubt I could do any better," admitted Tom, "But all the same I owe the Fire Lord so much, I can't just stand idly by and not help."

"Really?" she wondered, "Is that because of your duty to the Fire Nation?"

"Partly," clarified Tom, "But mainly because he's been good to you."

She sighed and gathered his shaggy hair into a topknot, unconsciously repeating an action she had performed countless times in the past.

"You're a big softy, you know that Tom-Tom?"

He could only nod and smile.

Together they entered the throne room, a vast dark space illuminated only by a wall of fire on the far wall. The roaring conflagration illuminated the rows of pillars with ornately decorated bases. They could faintly make out a figure silhouetted behind the flames. They both knelt before the throne.

"Greetings Fire Lord," proclaimed Tom, "Cadet…Tom-Tom reporting."

"Rise," said a distant voice.

The flames parted and a man emerged dressed in burgundy robes with black shoulder pads and a similar hair ornament decorated his dark hair. His serious golden eyes scanned Tom's face appraisingly. His handsome features were marred by burn scars over his left eye, but it lent an air of hard earned experience normally seen in someone much older.

"You've grown," stated Zuko appraisingly, "War Minister Qin reports that you've made satisfactory progress in swordsmanship and firebending."

"I still have a lot to learn my Lord," replied Tom nervously, "I was hoping I could be assigned early to a fleet and gain more practical experience."

"The Southern Air Fleet?" wondered the Fire Lord.

"Wha-I mean yes my Lord," he admitted hastily. He felt like an idiot for not thinking that the Fire Lord wouldn't have heard about this; he hadn't exactly been keeping it a secret.

"You'll be assigned to the Western Fleet next year like the other Cadets. You're not going on any hopeless quests."

"But you went looking for the Avatar when you were my age, and you even found him! Everyone had said that was hopeless!"

Zuko's face went dark and flames erupted from his hands.

"I had no choice! It was either find him or remain forever in exile!"

Tom genuflected before the Fire Lord.

"Forgive me my Lord, I overstepped my station!"

Mai touched Zuko's shoulder and he stared at his hands as the flames vanished. The rage dissipated as fast as it had come. After all he had been through, was he doomed to become like his father? He knew this foolish boy meant well but nothing hurt him more than being reminded of his mother. He turned to Mai with a serious expression.

"Do you trust me, Mai?"

"Yes." She thought better of making a sarcastic joke at this moment.

"Stand up Cadet," he commanded, "Tell me why you want to do this."

Tom stood up quickly.

"My Lord, I know you would scour the world if you could. But you have to put the good of the Fire Nation above your own. Let me be your eyes and ears."

"I don't want you to endanger yourself as I did," said Zuko, "You're Mai's only brother."

"And I appreciate all you've done for our family. Permit me to repay your generosity."

Zuko stared at him long and hard, lost in thought. "Very well."

Tom was so busy preparing his rebuttal, it took him a moment to understand what was being said.

"Er…what?"

"Defeat me, and I'll allow you to go."

Mai looked worried, but Zuko squeezed her hand reassuringly.

"You mean Agni Kai?" gasped Tom.

"No, just a test."

"That's impossible! I'd never stand a chance!"

The Fire Lord took an intimidating step forward.

"Then return to the Academy."

Tom gulped nervously and nodded.

"Alright, I'll try."

A few minutes later they stood on opposite ends of a large stone courtyard surrounded with smoldering braziers. Unlike a formal Agni Kai, no one was there to witness them except for Mai, who had no idea who to root for; these were the two dearest people in her life.

"Ready?" asked Zuko.

"Ready!" replied Tom, who was anything but; the Fire Lord was the legendary firebender who has trained Avatar Aang himself. Grimly he wondered how many seconds he would last.

Zuko put his hands together and flames shot straight for Tom, who dodged to one side and kicked his heels against the pavement, launching several fireballs across the arena. Zuko charged, expertly dodging as flame daggers appeared out of his clenched fists. Tom leapt back as the Fire Lord made contact with the pavement where he had just stood. He whirled and swept back and forth as Tom created a wall of fire that barely deflected the blows. He flipped over backwards and landed between two braziers. Zuko held out a hand with two fingers extended and a light bolt shot out, shattering the braziers as Tom leapt up. He lost his footing as he landed, slipping over backwards. A moment later a flame dagger was poised near his throat.

"Do you yield?" asked Zuko.

"I yield my Lord," said Tom, panting heavily. The dagger disappeared and the hand opened, offering to help him up. Tom took it and was pulled to his feet. He sighed heavily as Zuko dusted off his shoulder pads.

"You did well for a novice," he elaborated, "Now have you given up your foolish ideas?"

"No my Lord," said Tom.

"Even after this, you would defy me?"

"No, I will go back to the Academy and serve wherever you command," he elaborated putting a fist into his palm, "I still want to search for Princess Ursa, but I would never do so without your blessing."

"I give my blessing then," said Zuko.

"I will return and- wait, what?"

"Your Fire Lord commands you to join the Southern Air Fleet. Go at once."

"But I lost the firebending contest," said Tom in utter shock, "I thought you said-."

"I wasn't testing your firebending skills."

"You're a bigger idiot than I thought," said Mai with her arms folded across her chest, "Don't get yourself killed."

Tom bowed to them both.

"I promise," he said, "Thank you."

Tom walked back into the palace as Mai took Zuko's hand.

"So were you holding back in the fight?" she wondered looking up at him. He permitted himself a small smirk.

"I'll never tell."