Chapter Text
Chapter One
Fifty-Three Days
Every morning briefing was the same. The faces were always changing. Soldiers came and went. No one ever stayed at Pohuai Stronghold. That’s how it always was and had been ever since Sozin’s Comet. The soldiers that were stationed here lasted roughly two or three weeks before getting injured or worse. After all, their purpose was to settle down the colonies and that was never an easy job with the Avatar around.
There were a few things that did stay the same. When Zuko was ordered to the Earth Kingdom, he thought it was going to be a temporary thing. He was told it was going to be a temporary thing. Two years is not very temporary to Zuko.
“Good morning. To the many new faces I see in the crowd, welcome to Pohuai Stronghold. I am Crown Prince Zuko, or if you’re more comfortable with simply calling me Captain,” Zuko gave this unenthused speech every time a new company would arrive after one left. Zuko was in command of two companies equaling roughly four hundred men in his battalion. Not a whole lot for a prince. He wasn’t given much. Even the famed Yuyan Archers were not in Zuko’s control. They were needed in New Ozai. Yet, Zuko was used to this.
“There are two reasons that you are here. The first, you were stationed here despite your wishes. I suggest that you keep your head down and stay out of our way. I won’t force you to fight, but I won’t have you compromising the mission due to your timidity. And the second,” Zuko paused. His eyes were gritty and dry. “You requested to be here. You wanted to be in the midst of the revolts. Whether it’s your strong sense of Fire Nation pride that drives you or your desire to have a crack at the Avatar, I can guarantee you the blood that you seek.
“I don’t know what others have told you about the Colonies, but it is a warzone out there. This job is not for the weak of heart. There are a number of tasks this battalion as a whole, or for the smaller jobs, your respective platoons will face. Interrogations, supply caches, village raids… You will see it all.”
Zuko had seen it all. Zuko had done it all. There was a time when Zuko was ready to part with such violent actions, but it seemed that fate had another plan. What would it have been like to join the Avatar? He certainly wouldn’t be speaking to these soldiers, pretending to care.
Sometimes, Zuko wondered if these soldiers actually respected him as a leader or if they simply nodded because he was a prince. A recently honored prince. But Zuko didn’t feel like it. If this was honor, then Zuko wondered if it was even worth all the strife.
It was. Zuko forced himself to believe that it was.
“From this day forth, you are going to follow a strict schedule. At dawn, we will start our day with mediation. I understand some of you are non-benders. You are not an exception. Starting your day with a clear mind is of utmost importance.”
The new company brought more materials to the supply hub, and they needed to be firebenders. Zuko needed it. He couldn’t run this stronghold on four hundred nonbenders. Well, he could, but Zuko wasn’t thrilled about those chances. Especially with the Avatar running around.
If only his father could have defeated the Avatar on the day of Sozin’s Comet, then the pesky airbender wouldn’t be a thorn in Zuko’s side. Zuko didn’t even pursue the Avatar anymore, and he still ruined everything. The Avatar and the Freedom Fighters only sniffed around to sabotage their supplies. How annoying.
“After meditation and breakfast, Lieutenant Jee will lead a rotation of your respective platoons in a series of drills in firebending and other techniques. You will be at your top form while under my command. I expect nothing less.”
He was grateful to have at least one familiar face at the stronghold. Lieutenant Jee. Of course, it was strange that one that once was in the Navy would be in the Infantry now. Perhaps the Fire Lord thought it would be a fun little reminder of his past. He gave Zuko some trouble back in his ‘angry at the world’ phase during his banishment, but it wasn’t like that anymore. Lieutenant Jee was the only person that Zuko truly trusted in this place. Always by his side. Always loyal.
Zuko rolled his shoulders back. The armor never quite settled on him. “In three short days, we march on to the old city of Taku. For many of you, it will be your first raid. If that is so, then steel yourself now. We have gone fifty-three days without an accident, and I intend on growing that number.” By accident, he meant days without the Avatar attacking.
A soft cough stopped Zuko halfway through his routine speech. His face fell deeper than expected. Right, how had he forgotten about that weasel of a man?
“We are visited by War Minister Zolin,” Zuko announced. Even speaking his name tasted bitter. “He has come from the Caldera to… make a report.”
Zolin certainly didn’t look like an average war minister. War Minister Qin, who had recently passed, was certainly a character. This man, Zolin, was not the type of person Zuko enjoyed. Flawless. “Thank you, Your Highness.” He stood in a way that shamelessly showcased his fancy garb. “My name is War Minister Zolin. I am honored to get the chance to stay at Pohuai Stronghold. This is the first base and most important base of my routine checks. During my stay, I want to make one thing clear. Fire Nationals, you have a right to this land. Fight for it with all you have. The dragons have given you a gift. Use it. Spread the greatness of our nation.
“These people, the people of the Earth Kingdom, are not civilized like us. They fight because they do not know the prosperity that we can offer them, the— spirituality. They have been corrupted by their savage ways. Their spirits are weak, weaker than Agni.” He paused, allowing his brassy voice to soak in. “I fear that I’ve taken too much of your time. Please, disperse. You have much to do. You’re dismissed”
Zuko, annoyed that Zolin took it upon himself to dismiss his soldiers, waved them off. As Lieutenant Jee ordered platoons away, Zolin turned to Zuko. It was obvious that Zolin had something to say.
“What an inspiring speech, Your Highness,” he hummed, not at all sincere. “You appear much different than what I imagined. I imagined more flames and pomp. I had heard stories of ‘Prince Zuko, the village torch,’ but you seem to lack the drive. All I see before myself is a man with a big chip on his shoulder.”
“Save it.”
“Oh?” His face crinkled in amusement. Zolin liked to play games. It was clear to anyone who met him. Perhaps that was why the Fire Lord was so amused by him.
Zuko held his ground, oozing the rancor that had long been harbored and perfected over the years. “I know why you’re here.”
“Your Highness,” he scolded. Zolin’s lips slowly curved into a smile that could only be seen as devious. “My intentions are pure. Agni as my witness. My job is more important to me than whatever intentions you think I have. It is my purpose in this war to inspect the troops, test our technologies, and win. Do you want to win, Your Highness?”
“Of course, but—”
“Then you will let me do my job.” The air between them was shaking with tension. Zuko figured that Zolin was a firebender, and was ready to test that theory. Underhanded. Conniving. Smug. “I promise you that I am qualified.”
“Usually, a person in your position has more experience. I can’t help but notice the fact that you were not Former War Minster Qin’s apprentice. You simply appeared out of thin air.”
“Not out of thin air. No.” Lies. Zuko knew how Zolin was chosen for the position. “I like to think of it as my right. I was top of my class and was under the tutelage of some of the best minds in the Fire Nation. I have read every single scroll there is on war and strategy. Prince Zuko, I am simply ideal for this position. It was my destiny. Agni himself couldn’t have picked a better person.”
Zuko turned his attention elsewhere. The recruits were starting their meditation in the inner ring, and Zolin was taking Zuko’s precious time away from him. The air felt strange. It was overcast and the mountainside was always dreary, but that was no excuse for the hair raising on the back of his neck. “If you say so…”
“Don’t you believe that you’ve been chosen by Agni for your royal ascendancy?”
The true answer to that would have incriminated Zuko in Zolin’s eyes. And all this Agni talk was getting old. Agni had nothing to do with it. “Yes.”
Zolin smiled, pleased with his answer. Yet, Zuko felt no comfort. He was on edge. “You understand. Good. And that is why you are next in line for the throne over your scoundrel of a sister. Just mentioning her disturbs me. The next Fire Lord must be perfect, intelligent, and able to do his job.” Zolin took a moment to smooth his in-no-need-of-smoothing hair. A perfectionist just like Azula. “Say, I’ve heard of certain troubles with the Avatar. Are you able to handle the enemy?”
“Yes.”
“Without a doubt?”
“Yes.”
He looked as if he had caught Zuko in a lie. “Then prove it. Capture the Avatar.”
“I don’t take orders from you.”
The caw of a bird interrupted them. Now, it was just a staredown. Zuko hadn’t heard birds chirping this morning, so this was the first.
Zolin laughed. His voice was full of mirth. “How could I have been so careless? Why, it’s rather humorous. Capture the Avatar? How unfair of me. That’s what got you in trouble in the first place. You couldn’t do it then.” There was no more humor, just venom. “And you can’t do it now.”
It took all of Zuko’s restraint to keep himself from wiping that irritating look right off his face. He could do it. He was the prince. Yet, Zuko couldn’t. It was clear that Zolin had the favor of his father. One wrong action and Zuko was done.
“The reason that the Avatar is still alive is because my father couldn’t defeat him. Don’t blame me for it, War Minister Zolin. You should know that best.”
That wiped the smug look off of Zolin’s face. “You speak that way about your own father?”
An explosion at the lower ring saved Zuko from digging himself deeper. For a beat, Zuko relished the quiet from the conversation. There was another, a larger explosion in the middle ring. He wouldn’t have to speak to Zolin anymore. But there was an explosion!
“To your stations!” Zuko shouted before he realized that half of his soldiers didn’t know where to go or what to do.
Zuko jumped away from Zolin, we knew where assailants were headed. They went to the same place every time. The middle ring was in danger.
The voices of his soldiers in distress distracted him. Zuko wanted to help them. He did. But that Beifong girl and the other earthbender wouldn’t kill any of his soldiers and someone had to stop the Freedom Fighters before they blew up his new fleet of airships. Unfortunately, Zuko knew that they would get their way, but he would at least try. He always did.
There was fire screaming against strong gusts of wind. The Avatar. There he was, right in the middle of the ring in question. Zuko grit his teeth. At least his new platoon was full of firebenders.
Smoke filled the air, forming puffy mushroom clouds in the gray sky. Zuko shouted to the firebenders, “Douse the fires! Now! I’ll deal with the Avatar.”
In the distance, that Water Tribe swordsman and a few Freedom Fighters emerged from where the airships were kept, fire roaring behind them. The airships were lost. Why did they always go out of their way to make his life harder? Those airships weren’t even going to be used in the Colonies.
“Avatar!” Zuko roared. “You and me! Right now!”
The Avatar turned just in time to dodge a fire lash. “Warn someone before you attack,” the Avatar teased before he pushed Zuko back with a gust of wind.
Zuko growled and bounded towards the air nomad. If he would get close, then the Avatar would easily turn to ash. Yet, there was one tiny issue.
Iroh had taught the Avatar all of Zuko’s moves.
Yes, after Zuko turned his back to Iroh, Iroh became the Avatar’s firebending master. And that would sting more than any slap to the face.
The Avatar was able to diffuse a stream of fire, one of the biggest that Zuko could muster. With a twitch of his fist, the fire directed to the side. Before Zuko could pull off this trick, a chuck of the earth was ripped from the ground and propelled at Zuko like a rocket. It grazed his shoulder with a sickening scrape.
“Still can’t hit me in good conscience,” Zuko stated. It wasn’t a question. It was a fact that Zuko knew burned the Avatar more than any of his flames ever could. That airbender could bruise Zuko all he wanted but didn’t have the guts to hurt him.
The sharp scowl of the Avatar showed Zuko that his words hit. Good. “And you still can't get a hit on me.”
That does it. The Avatar would never understand how he was a living reminder of Zuko’s failure. Zuko didn’t know how he did it. White flames flickered in his palm, so hot that his wrists trembled. He never produced white fire. It was… rare like Azula’s fire. But this wasn’t him. He had nothing special about him.
Zuko hurled it from his fist. Not directly, of course. The Avatar was fast and would dodge any head-on attack. With his swords in hand, Zuko distracted the Avatar, causing the Avatar to nimbly dance around. Perfect. With his open hand, the white ball of fire curved, Zuko’s new trick.
The Avatar cried out as the fire landed on his bare arm. There it was. One hit. And it was a bad burn, festering already. Zuko got the idea that the Avatar didn’t get hurt much with that unbridled power of his.
Zuko would have struck again if it wasn’t for a tentacle of water yanking him into the air and effectively knocking the air out of his lungs. His next inhale was all smoke. Burning, ashy smoke that tore at his throat.
It was her. The waterbender. The one person in this world that Zuko despised more than the Avatar. Those judging blue eyes that scorned him at every chance. It wasn’t that he despised her, he despised the way she looked at him. There was too much to unpack in those eyes, but what Zuko assumed what it simmered down to was disappointment. But it was so much more than that.
“So, you’ve come to the aid of your precious Avatar,” Zuko growled, picking himself off the ground with whatever pride he had left.
She didn’t respond with words. She responded with several ice spears in his direction which were easily melted down. That white flame was gone.
Zuko knew it was time for their great exit. She was just a distraction for the Avatar to scurry away down the hole he came through, and he would allow it to happen. There was nothing he could do to stop them.
This waterbender was the looming threat that came after hurting the Avatar. Zuko kicked under her feet, narrowly scorching the hem of her skirt. She was fast on her feet, washing over him with the water inside her skin. Gross. Slimy river water.
There was a call, and she made a run for it. Zuko wasn’t ready to let her go that quickly. For a moment, the pair butted. Steam mixed with the smokey air. They were equal, heated. Each jab and kick was met with an equal pull of water. It was obvious that the waterbender wanted nothing to do with Zuko, but he would not be ignored. It was clear that the waterbender didn’t care if she killed him. She wouldn’t shed one tear.
There was a soft spot. A moment of weakness, right at her hip. Zuko went for it, ready to cut down the Avatar’s precious waterbender. End the torment. Maybe the Avatar would leave him alone once and for all. Yet, Zuko wouldn’t get to enjoy that possibility.
An arrow clinked against the back of his armor.
It was a heavy blow, enough to knock him off his balance. But that was all it took. The waterbender needed a split second of hesitation to blow him back in a wave of water. Before he could bounce back, she froze him to the ground, effectively pinning Zuko.
The waterbender stepped over Zuko, glaring down at him with all the icy ferocity of the poles.
“Peasant,” Zuko spat out as if it would help his position.
That didn’t do anything but make her angrier. “Yet, you’re the one on the ground.”
Then, she was gone. They were all gone. And Zuko struggled against his frozen bindings.
Humiliated was a term too light for how Zuko felt right now, frozen to the ground and watching the dying plumes of smoke disappear into the sky. To think Zuko almost joined their cause.
Ending Zuko’s inner-loathing, Zolin calmly walked towards the frozen prince. Zuko wasn’t sure what was worse, the waterbender glaring down at him or Zolin smugly grinning at Zuko’s failures.
“You certainly had the Avatar under control,” Zolin hummed, vaguely amused like a cat watching a wounded sparrowkeet.
“You could have helped,” Zuko struggled, slowly melting the ice.
He tsked his tongue, circling the prince. “Oh, no, Prince Zuko. I couldn’t expose my prowess to the Avatar. I want that to be a surprise. And, I thought you could handle one little air nomad. Well, it seems like you couldn’t even land one hit.”
“I did!”
Zolin smiled. “You might want to work harder if you ever hope to be the Fire Lord one day.” He started to slither away but paused. “It seems your precious fifty-three days has fallen to zero.”
Zuko broke the ice around his fists. He was sick of it all. There was no peace for Zuko. Not while the Avatar lived. Zuko didn’t know when, but one day he would have the Avatar’s neck in his hands. And after the Avatar, then everything would fall into place.