Book 0: Healing
Chapter 2: Family
[X]Visit Zuko and Azula
The Royal palace didn't really change all that much from your memories before you left for the front with your father. The long tall hallways were filled with the great pillars of jade, of stone and wood. Banners of the great conquests, of the captured flags that Azulon and his generals took from captured territories littered the palace. Each signifies one more piece of Earth Kingdom territory taken, to be civilized, and brought into the Light and guiding hand of the fire nation.
But it was also a dark place, lit by torches and lamps, giving it a very darkness that the light could not dampen. It was as if shadows were the only thing that could be seen clearly. The light only adds to the darkness and mystery. It's its antithesis.
Where you were going, however, was a place that was far more natural and bright, out of the darkness and shadows and intrigues of the palace. The royal gardens, where you knew Azula and Zuko both frequented with their friends.
Now if only your minders would leave you alone. "I can walk myself to the Gardens, Lee." You stated, looking back to the junior minister who had been watching you since you left the throne room. He was a young man, who had been in the wars once upon a time before he managed to weasel his way into a promotion and work for the War Ministry. He wore his uniform proudly, but he was lacking in his discipline. Insignias were wrong. The rank was wrong, and his hat was improperly worn. "Doesn't War Minister Qin have a briefing of the engineering corps efforts during the siege? Even our failings have wisdom that we can learn from."
Lee did nothing to hide his shame. "The Fire Lord would rather you have an escort-"
"I've been to war Lee. I can protect myself." You smirked and felt the pain on your face as you reached for it. "Ah."
"I'm not doing this for you. You should be covering your face. The Servants have been sworn to secrecy, but you know what those oaths mean when a drink is put in front of them. You are a hero, but without the face of one."
"Why should I be the hero they want too look at?" You found yourself saying. "This is what war does to people? Some honesty might be good for them."
Lee scoffed. "You obviously haven't had garrison and anti-partisan duty. All we get is honesty there. Honesty and scorn."
Bitterness was in his tone. Anger even. "You hate our enemy in the earth kingdom?"
"I don't hate them anymore than they hate us. We are taking their homes away. We are subjugating them, stripping them of their culture, and their way of life, and asking them to change. There is no celebration. No, the goodwill that we've gained, not even after nearly a hundred years is next to nothing." He spat on the floor, not even caring that he was in the most politically powerful place in the world.
You found yourself shrugging. "We'll have peace, eventually. In our victory." You then gave a smile. "Now leave me alone."
Lee then bowed. "My Prince." He then walked away from you, allowing you to continue towards the garden undisturbed.
Yet in the back of your mind, you could feel your comrades watching you. Judging you.
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Azula and Zuko were playing with their friends. Well most of them. One of the girls was reading by the pond underneath a tree, while the other was doing handstands, trying to chase after the two siblings to tag them with her feet.
You were quiet, as to not startle them, but you gave a smile. "Zuko, Azula." you said their names loud enough for them to hear you.
The girl walking on her hands saw you and did the thing you had hoped she wouldn't do. She screamed. "AHHHHH!" She then ran behind the tree, while the girl reading looked at you inquisitively, trying to hide her disgust at your visage with neutrality.
But Zuko and Azula both… just looked at you. Emotions and thoughts and words were going through their minds, morphing halfway on and off on their faces, as you walked forward and you walked over to the bench by the pond and sat down. You sighed and finally let out a sigh. Both wanted to say something as they came forward. "Um, your friends?"
"Mai and Ty Lee. Don't you remember them?" Zuko asked.
How long had it been since you saw them? Two years… two years since the siege began. Longer than that.
It had been a long time since you… felt like this. Not afraid and feeling safe.
Both of them had grown up so much, same with their friends. You gave a fake smile. "Of course, I remember them. I was just hoping that I would be able to talk to you for a while. Catch up. I'm afraid I'm a little out of date with your letters."
Zuko beamed a smile, and he looked at you. He wasn't frightened at what you had become. He seemed enamored by it even.
Azula did not. She was trying her best to avoid your gaze, looking around you, rather than at you… just like everyone else. "Come on, I want to hear your stories. I can regale you with mine later."
"Really? But you were at Ba Sing Se?" Zuko questioned innocently.
"Yes. and I will tell you all about it in time. But I haven't seen both of you in a while!" You said, trying your best to ignore the ghosts of the friends you lost shimmering in the shade, just beyond your view. "I'm more excited to hear what you've been up to!"
Azula and Zuko both, either knowingly or not, started talking about what they had been doing because they heard the forcefulness in your tone.
Azula went first. "I have been mastering every Fire-bending technique that my tutors have been throwing at me. Much faster than Zuko!" She smiled with pride as she held out a single finger, holding up a strong blue flame.
"Hey! I've been doing a lot better too!" He said as he held up a finger, but it only produced an ember. But considering how much he is focusing on it, you know that he understood what he was trying to do. "And besides, I got really good with the knife uncle gave me." He then proudly procured the blade from its sheath behind him, and you saw that the inscription was freshly polished.
You flinched, remembering the day that blade was forged… "I see you still have my knife. Would have thought Azula would have stolen it?"
Azula then protested. "Hey! I didn't steal it, I just hoped that Uncle would have gotten me a better gift them a stupid doll?" Then there was a pause. "Wait, that's your knife?"
"Well, not exactly, but I did capture the general that wielded it. The sappers I was commanding, the 54th Engineer, captured the outer walls general when we breached his command post. It was an all-night climb up the outer wall. We got the first pick of the War Loot when he surrendered to my father." That made you stop, reminding you of your promise to Father. That you would be victorious in battle. Just thinking about it made you tremble…
And the ghosts began to get closer. "My father tried to give it to me, as a symbol for our shared victory, but I declined, I wanted the General's stash of beer and wine instead for my men. Father must have decided it would have been better used with you?"
The ghosts seemed happy at that… happy memory that you were regaling. And they seemed to disappear.
You then saw that they both were silent. "Hey, I thought you were going to be telling me your stories! Not the other way around."
Both looked at each other and groaned. "But our lives aren't that interesting." Zuko complained.
You almost scoffed at that, but controlled yourself, to not be rude. "Nonsense. You must have done something interesting while I was gone?"
Azula finally broke first. "We went to Ember Island."
Ember island. Oh the memories! "Tell me about it! What did you do?"
And they told you all of what they did at Ember Island.
And for the first time in a long time… you didn't feel afraid.
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You wanted desperately to stay there forever. But instead, you saw Ursa coming towards you, and her children. "Azula, Zuko. It's time to get dinner." She said quietly, trying to not get your attention.
But attention… was all she got from you, as you stood. "Oh, Lu Ten, I didn't know you were"
"It's alright." You replied, feeling her disapproval. "I'd rather they not be surprised at dinner when they saw me."
She gave a respectful nod. But you could feel her disapproval as the children ran towards the dining chambers, leaving you both alone in the garden.
"Is my presence not required?" You questioned.
Ursa nodded. "I would prefer that there would not be Drama at dinner tonight. You just got back, and-"
"Ursa, I know a lie when I hear one. I'm not an idiot." You stated firmly. "Why do you not want me?"
"My husband invited the Fire Lord to join us tonight." She stated. "The Fire Lord does not want you to join him."
"Is that the Fire Lord's Words? Or Ozai's?" You asked.
"Please, don't come." She begged.
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Do you go to Dinner tonight? (Doing either will have consequences):
[]Yes
[]No
If you don't go to dinner tonight, what do you do?:
[]Sleep: You feel good. Perhaps tonight… you finally have a goods night sleep.
[]Find the 54th: Your unit, what's left of them anyway, is currently out on the town, getting plastered with Government Gold and silver. You'll join them.
[]Go to your Father's Tomb: You want to see where they will bury him.
[]Leave: You want to get away from it all.
[]Write in
AN: enjoy.
