I know I haven't updated in a long time, and I really have wanted to, but the truth is, the only reason I got to writing this chapter was because me and Thomas were having a little bet going on Gaia as to who could finish their chapter first.....I lost. XPThe Lone Earthbender
Chapter 19
In a nearby village, about a week later, spring had made its presence known. Sakura blossoms blooming on the trees outside, gently falling to the ground as the smell of nature flowed in the breeze.
Iroh, Zuko and Xemone had stopped there for the time being in their search for the Avatar. Iroh in particular had stopped in at a spa to get a massage and relax as Xemone and Zuko waited for him to finish up so they could leave. Xemone, lying on her back with her legs crossed staring at the sky in her new clothes bought to help conceal her identity. Basic forest green long sleeve shirt and pants, still barefoot, with the hood on her shirt over her head and partially covering her face, and Zuko, sitting in the doorway, looking ever more angst ridden than usual.
“Aahhhhhhh” Said Iroh as he got his massage, “This is what I’ve been missing. With all the stress our hectic lifestyle causes, this is pure bliss.”
A single sakura blossom fell on Xemone’s nose as she lay in the sunlight. She then blew it off in an aloof manner and said “Looks like the Prince has a little more stress built up in him then you do, Iroh.”
Zuko huffed at her statement as Iroh got off the massage table and approached Zuko and said “Ahh, I see. It’s the anniversary, isn’t it?”
Xemone lazily sat up and said “Anniversary of what?”
“Three years ago today I was banished….” said Zuko in a somber tone. “I lost it all. I want it back. I want the Avatar. I want my honor…my throne…I want my father not to think I’m worthless.”
“I’m sure he doesn’t!” said Iroh in a cheerful tone. “Why would he banish you if he didn’t care?” Xemone snickered as Zuko shot Iroh a look and got up and walked away.
“I think you worded that poorly, Iroh.” said Xemone.
“Yes, I think you are right, Young Xemone.” replied Iroh in a regretful tone.
A few hours later, at sunset, Iroh, Zuko and Xemone returned to the hut where they had been staying the last couple of days. Iroh plopped down a bag of trinkets on the table, spilling some of them out on the table. Iroh picked up a shell that he had bought out of the bag and said “Look at these beautiful shells! I shall enjoy these keepsakes for years to come!”
“We don’t need anymore useless things! You forget, we have to carry everything ourselves now.” said Zuko.
“Hello, little brother…Uncle.” said a girl sitting in the corner of the room.
“Little brother?” said Xemone in a confused tone.
“Azula…” said Zuko in a grave tone.
“Azula?” said Xemone in the same confused tone.
“What are
you doing here?” asked Zuko in a suspicious tone to Azula.
“Here?” said Xemone in the same tone.
Zuko shot Xemone a look and Xemone replied “Sorry, caught up in confusion.”
“I’m Zuko’s dear little sister, Earth Kingdom peasent.” said Azula to Xemone.
Xemone let out a sarcastic huff and thought
Who does this she-witch think she is?“I asked a question, Azula!” barked Zuko.
“In my country, we exchange a pleasant ‘Hello’ before asking questions.” Said Azula as she got up out of the chair. “Have you become so uncivilized Zu-Zu?”
Xemone snorted a small chuckle and said “Zu-Zu?”
“DON’T CALL ME THAT!” yelled Zuko.
“To what do we owe this honor?” asked Iroh.
“Hmmm…must be a family trait. Both of you so quick to get to the point!” said Azula as she crushed one of Iroh’s shells in her claw-like nails. “I come with a message from home. Father’s changed his mind. Family is suddenly very important to him. He’s heard rumors of plans to overthrow him. Treacherous plots. Family are the only ones you can really trust. Father regrets your banishment. He wants you home.”
Zuko stared down at the floor in silence in response to Azula’s message.
“Did you hear me?” asked Azula. “You should be happy. Excited. Grateful! I just gave you great news.”
“I’m sure your brother just needs a moment-- “ said Iroh as he was cut off by Azula with a quick “DON’T INTERRUPT, UNCLE!”
Xemone huffed in the corner and quietly said to herself “Witccccccchhhhhhhh”
“I still haven’t heard my ‘Thank you’” said Azula to Zuko. “I am
not a messenger. I didn’t
have to come all this way.”
“Father regrets?” asked Zuko. “He….wants me back?”
“I can see you need time to take this in.” said Azula. “I’ll come to call on you tomorrow. Good evening.” Azula then coolly walked out of the hut followed by Xemone saying “God, what sand-scorpion crawled up her butt only to be greeted by the thousands of tiny mini-satans that reside in her bowels and burned it alive?”
“Yes, Azula has always been quite a….Ahem “frightening” child.” replied Iroh.
“If by “frightening” you mean “witchy” and “stuck-up” then, yes, I agree.” Replied Xemone.
Later that night, after Zuko had taken everything in, he started packing his things, preparing to head for home.
“We’re going home!” said Zuko in an unfamiliar happy and somewhat excited tone. “After three long years! It’s unbelieveable!”
“It is unbelieveable.” said Iroh in a suspicious tone. “I have never known my brother to regret anything.”
“Didn’t you hear Azula?” asked Zuko. “Father’s realized how important family is to him. He cares about me!”
“I care about you!’ replied Iroh in a stern voice. “And if Ozai wants you back, well, I think it might not be for the reasons you imagine.”
“I’ve never even met the Fire Lord, and even I think this doesn’t sound right.” said Xemone. “From the stories I’ve heard and from what you and Iroh have said to me, I don’t think the Fire Lord cares about anybody but himself. I know how deceiving people can be and I know that anybody who would do what he’s done without a second thought, don’t even know the meaning of ‘remorse’”
“You don’t know how my father feels about me! You don’t know anything!” yelled Zuko.
“I’m only saying you shouldn’t fall for such things so easily just because it’s your daddy!” yelled Xemone back. “You’re telling me, you don’t think it’s the least bit suspicious that a man who would duel his own son, burn his face, leaving him with a permanent scar, someone who would banish his own son, sending him on what should’ve been a total wild goose chase forever, someone who would steal his own brother’s rightful spot on the throne after his brother lost his only child, to suddenly change his ways for no good reason and specially request that his ‘wittle baby boy’ be brought back home to him so they can live happily ever after? Because if you do, you’re far more brainless than I first thought!”
“What would you know about family anyway?! The only reason you were born was to be a tool for destruction! And your father doesn’t even see you as his daughter! You’re lucky you’re even remotely classified as human and you think you have the right to lecture me on what my Father thinks or does?! You’ll never gain anybody’s respect and you’ll never redeem yourself as anything other than a freak, no matter what you do! So why don’t you mind your own business you earthbending peasant!” yelled Zuko at Xemone.
Iroh gave a worrisome look to Xemone whose face was turning deep red in anger as she paused for a second and said back in an angry tone, “Fine. I will. I have no reason to stay here anyway if you’re just going to blindly sail on home to your evil daddy.” She grabbed her sand gourd and strapped it to her back. “But when you go home and daddy doesn’t want to give you that big ol’ hug you always wanted from him, but instead gives wittle Zu-Zu a big fat spanking, DON’T COME CRYING TO ME!” Xemone then left the hut with her things leaving Iroh and Zuko behind.
“What is her problem?!” yelled Zuko.
“She was just concerned for you. As I am. ” said Iroh in a more understanding tone. “I know my brother better than anybody, and this is just not like him at all.”
“If you’re so unsure, or so suspicious, then you can rot here in the Earth Kingdom! But I’m going home!” yelled Zuko.
Iroh gave another worried look to Zuko and then sighed.
The next morning, Zuko had left the hut and made his way to the small harbor where a Fire Nation ship had been waiting for his arrival. He made his way down a set of stone stairs to the harbor, alone, repeatedly looking at the ship with a look of excitement in his eyes.
“Wait!” yelled Iroh as he made his way down the stairs to greet his nephew.
“Uncle! You changed your mind!” said Zuko in a happy tone.
“Family sticks together, right?” said Iroh as he placed a hand on Zuko’s shoulder as Zuko smiled at his Uncle.
“I suppose
she didn’t return.” said Zuko in a still angry yet kind of remorseful tone.
“No. She hasn’t. Though that’s not very surprising. You were quite harsh with her, Zuko.” said Iroh.
Zuko looked out over the sea before him, the wind blowing through his hair and said “It doesn’t matter anyway…let’s go home.”
Zuko continued down the stairs as Iroh gave a glare to the ship in the water and soon followed after him.
A short while later, they reached the harbor and approached the squadron of Fire Nation soldiers there to greet them, with Azula overlooking it all from the entrance to the ship. Iroh glared and suspiciously watched all of the soldiers. One of them caught his eye, for seemingly no reason as Iroh gave the soldier a bit of an odd look.
“Brother!” said Azula as she greeted them. “Uncle! Welcome!” They then bowed to each other in greeting. “I’m so glad you decided to come.”
Iroh continued to scan the legion of soldiers for any suspicious behavior as he bowed.
“Are we ready to depart, Your Highness?” asked the Captain in charge of the soldiers.
“Set our course for home, Captain.” replied Azula.
“Home…” said Zuko in a soft voice.
“You heard the Princess! Release the anchors!” ordered the Captain. “We’re taking the prisoners hom--“ The Captain stopped in his tracks and nervously looked at Azula who was shooting an angry look to the Captain.
“Your Highness…I.” said the Captain as he fretfully looked behind him to Zuko who had changed his expression from a happy and excited one, to a surprised and furious one.
Iroh smirked and launched an attack on the soldiers, defeating them one by one with ease as Zuko angrily and forcibly made his way to confront his sister.
He stood before her and yelled “You lied to me!”
“Like I’ve never done
that before.” said Azula as she walked off, leaving her guards to do her dirty work. The guards shot fire at Zuko. Zuko knocked both of the attacks away and fire-kicked both of the guards off the ship. He then faced his smirking sister and prepared two fire daggers in his hands.
Iroh yelled as he fought off the guards “Zuko! Let’s go!” , but Zuko wouldn’t listen. Too blinded by anger at being lied to he attacked his sister, who seemed to have the upper hand in hand to hand combat.
Azula said mockingly “Father blames Uncle for the loss at the North Pole and he considers you a worthless failure for not finding the Avatar! Why would he want you home? Except to lock you up where you can no longer embarrass him?”
“That’s a good question.” said the soldier who had caught Iroh’s eye before who was now standing behind Azula. “But a better question would be ‘You should put some ice on that.’”
“Put some ice on wha--“ said Azula as she was interrupted as a helmet got thrown at her head, hitting her square in the forehead, knocking her down.
“That!” said the soldier in a triumphant voice as her face, now uncovered from the helmet to reveal Xemone was in the armor. “Wait. Wait….That was a statement, not a question. Sorry.”
“What…What are you doing here!?” asked a very surprised Zuko.
“What’s that? ‘Thanks for helping out, Xemone’? ‘It’s hard to find loyal friends like you, nowadays’? Oh that’s sweet.” said Xemone sarcastically.
Azula slowly got up and said “You. You’re that Earth Kingdom peasant Zu-Zu was hanging around with yesterday. You dare breach MY ship?!”
“….Yup!” said Xemone as she smirked and slammed her palms against her armor, causing the stone which she had colored to fit Fire Nation armor to transform into sand and recreate her sand gourd. She then threw the strap back on it and strapped it back onto her back.
Azula then burst out in anger and attacked both of them, clawing Zuko in the forehead.
She then grabbed both of their arms and pushed them to the lower part of the ship.
She then stood over them and generated a lightning attack in her hands. As she launched the lightning towards them, Iroh stepped in and grabbed Azula’s arm and re-directed the lightning into the mountainside. He then kicked her over the side of the ship and Iroh, Zuko and Xemone ran back into the Earth Kingdom.
They continued running until they reached a creek and stopped beside it.
They all tried to catch their breath as Iroh said “I think we’ll be safe here.”
Zuko then pulled out a knife and stared at it. Iroh nodded in agreement for what they knew they had to do. Zuko then sliced off his ponytail, which signified his royal status and handed the knife to Iroh who proceeded to cut off the bun in his hair off as well. They then dropped them into the creek, knowing that they were no longer allies to the Fire Nation.
Xemone stood up, sighed and said “We won’t be safe here for long….we should cut through the woods and try to find a town, but we should set up camp in the woods for a while, until things die down.”
Zuko sternly looked out onto the horizon and proceeded to walk with Iroh and Xemone into the woods.
Sunset approached them quickly as they made their way through the brush.
“We should set up camp here until morning.” said Xemone. “I’ll gather some firewood. Hope you boys don’t mind sleeping under the stars for the time being.” She then made her way through the woods to gather firewood and Iroh and Zuko cleaned up the campsite a little.
“I am sorry things didn’t work out the way you wanted, Zuko.” said Iroh.
“It’s okay. I
was foolish not to be at least a little apprehensive of Azula, of all people’s, words.” said Zuko in a sad voice.
“You know….that was very kind of Xemone.” said Iroh.
“What was?” asked Zuko.
“Going to all that trouble to make sure you’d be okay going with Azula. Especially when she was so furious with you just a mere night before. Shows real loyalty and caring.”
“Hmph.” huffed Zuko in response.
A short while later, Xemone returned with the firewood and placed some of it in a pile in the middle of the campsite. “I assume you guys can take care of lighting it.”
Iroh then used his breath of fire to light the fire and smiled at Xemone.
“I also caught some fish for dinner. Gimme a minute and I’ll prepare it…” Xemone returned to a monotone voice, as always, but still with a little bitterness towards Zuko. She created a thin plate of rock and formed a stand for it over the fire with melded dirt transformed to stone. She then gutted the fish and set them on the hot, stone plate to cook.
After they had eaten, night had fallen. Revealing a bright, starry sky over them and a half moon right in the middle of it all.
“Ya know, this may be pretty and all, but it sure isn’t going to help keep us hidden.” said Xemone. Iroh then yawned and said “Well, I don’t know about you, but I am bushed.” He yawned again and laid down on the ground and said “Goodnight.” Soon enough he was asleep.
Zuko and Xemone sat quietly across from each other around the fire, Zuko staring at the fire, Xemone staring at the stars.
“Go to sleep.” said Xemone in her same monotone voice. “You’re useless otherwise…”
Zuko looked back into the fire with his same stern look and said “Someone has to keep--“ “I’ll keep watch.” interrupted Xemone, still staring at the stars.
Zuko sighed and laid back, his arms behind his head as he stared at the stars also.
“Hey.” asked Zuko.
“What now?” asked Xemone as she was getting increasingly irritated.
“I just…..” Zuko then sighed angrily and said “I’m….sorry…”
“Hmm?”
“I said I’m sorry…I shouldn’t have…ya know…yelled at you so badly before.”
“It’s fine…”
“It is?”
“I wouldn’t have forgiven you at all if I hadn’t thought about what you said….I don’t really…”understand”….I mean I can’t understand….but I know that everything you’ve been doing you’ve been doing not for just your honor, or your throne, but you’ve been doing it to return to the people you love and the place you belong…yet another thing I can’t understand…So I thought I’d do you a favor a look out for you one more time.”
Zuko somberly looked at the sky and said “Eternal loneliness…Eternal pain and suffering.”
“What was that?”
“Nothing I just…..I didn’t mean all that stuff I said about you either…Really I didn’t.”
“Don’t beat yourself up over it. It’s not like anything you said was a lie or anything...”
“You are human though…and you’re not a freak.”
“I
am pretty freak-like…But you know what?”
“What?”
“At least I’m not NEARLY as big of a freak as your sister.”
Zuko then laughed and said “You’ve got a point.”
“Seriously, though. What is WRONG with that girl? “
“I’ve been trying to figure that out for years.”
Zuko and Xemone then laughed for a few minutes and then settled down again.
“I may know I tried to warn you, but….I’m sorry things went the way they did today…I know you were really looking forward to going home.” said Xemone.
Zuko sighed and said “It’s okay….I’m fine here, for the time being. Someday, things will change for the better, though…For you, too, I hope.”
Xemone chuckled and said “I doubt it.”
She then looked back up at the starry night and said “But….things change.”
