Waking Nightmare, Part I

Book 4: Air
Chapter 8: Waking Nightmare, Part I


The way back was full of embarrassing silence. Katara didn’t say anything. She was thinking, and she didn’t know what to think about this whole situation. Now she had two ways to go. The way of Avatar’s partner, partner of the most powerful bender ever, the way she thought she will go without any demur. No she discovered a new way, much more difficult. Way of the Fire Lord’s wife… It’s a kind of nonsense. She was a waterbender. A waterbender can’t be a member of Fire Nation’s Royal Family! What would say her tribe? What would say her father and brother? And what the Avatar? She looked on Zuko. His hair were flowing on the wind, when he was leading up Appa. He was also quiet. He gave her time.
They landed near palace.
- Better I’ll go home alone. – said Katara. – I don’t want to irritate my father without any
reason.
Zuko pot hands on Katara’s shoulders.
- I’m really glad – he said. – I do care about you. When you’ll know…
- I have to go – girl interrupted him. She wasn’t strong enough to listen to it again. It wasn’t harsh. The thing was, she liked it, and this was terrifying. She should not do it. She will have to say no…
The Fire Lord kissed her forehead.
… but not yet.

When Katara disappeared in the darkness, Zuko followed the gate.
- So the rumours are true.
He turn around immediately and looked for the owner of this voice.
Mai surfaced from the dark.
- You saw… everything? – he asked.
- Enough to know what’s going on – she said with bored voice.
Zuko felt stupid. Mai was his previous girlfriend. And, by the way, the last person, who should know about all this mess.
Mai spotted, that he lost countenance.
- Oh, I don’t care, Zuko – she grumbled. – Not anymore. I have only a few time and some important news to tell.
- So why didn’t you go to the palace? You could wait there for me.
- My visit must stay a secret – she whispered. She was looking very nervous… It was the first time her face showed any emotions. – It’s about my father. He’s still loyal to your father and will do everything, to see Ozai as the Fire Lord again…
- What?! – shouted Zuko.
Mai silenced him instantly.
- Don’t interrupt me! My father organised a conference today. There were also over a dozen former generals from Ozai’s army. He was telling awful things. That your regin is a mistake, that you made the Fire Nation drawn… That you left me for a peasant form the Water Tribe, and I am the one who should be the Fire Lady…
Zuko’s eyes popped out. He never thought about it in that way. Untill now. Suddenly he realised, what a mess did he make.
- He was telling, that he was in Ozai’s prison and your father promised him, that if he will return to power, my brother will be the Heir to the Fire Lord.
- It must have happened the night when one of the guards was murdered – remarked Zuko. He had a terrible headache. – I was so stupid. I ignored the death of the guards. My thoughts… I was concentrated on so many different issues…
- And now my father plans to free Ozai – continued Mai. – I don’t know anything more, I have no idea, when it will happen, but for sure soon. You have to prevent it, Zuko. You can’t allow for your father’s tyranny return…
Mai became white as a ghost. She was scared. Zuko was scared also, but tried not to show it. Fire Lord shouldn’t fear of anything.
- Mai… Why did you warned me? After all those things I did to you? You should rather
support my father.
She deep into his eyes.
- It’s a mistake I already made once – she stated. – I chose the wrong side. I won’t do this ever again. Fire Nation is now the most important thing. I can’t use it for my own reasons. Furthermore, I don’t have a grudge against you. I hope you will find happiness with Katara. It probably won’t be easy. The Avatar knows?
- No, he doesn’t… But maybe he presumes it a bit… Oh, I don’t know – responded Zuko. He couldn’t believe, that Mai changed the topic so quickly. A new war was coming, and she was asking about his connections with Katara? But… Actually, those two issues were very close to each other. If he didn’t break up with Mai, her father won’t try to get a revenge, because anyway Mai would join the royal family… Finally Zuko put two and two together. He realised all the consequences of choosing Katara. But even then he couldn’t even think about changing his decision. He was sure about Katara and his love towards her.
- Thank you, Mai – he said. – You showed great courage by coming here tonight.
- Oh, just finish with that pathos – she replied. She was trying to use that well-known bored voice as always, but she just couldn’t. She put on her hood and vanished in the shadows.

The headache was getting stronger. Servants, as always, were trying to help him in
every possible way, but Zuko sent them away. He had to be alone.
At first he wanted to send a message to the Team Avatar and convene a conference. He already was tying a piece of parchment to the messenger hawk’s leg, when he abandoned that idea. It was the middle of the night. Perhaps everyone was sleeping, especially Katara must have been exhausted after their journey… Instead of that he sent a message to the Order of White Lotus. He knew, that most of it’s members is far away, but he couldn’t wait for his beloved uncle Iroh. They haven’t met for such a long time! He had to talk with him, he had to hear his opinion. He need uncle Iroh’s advices and bending abilities in confrontation with Ozai…
Zuko wiped his eyes. He also was tired, he even went to bed, but nothing in the whole universe would make him fall asleep. He had only strange visions, waking nightmares with his father, mother, Katara and furious Avatar… He couldn’t endure this anymore. He took a hooded robe and quietly went to the secret
chamber in the basement of the palace with historical parchments, notes made by the previous Fire Lords.

Mai sneaked stealthily into her house. She had a good day today. Since now no one spotted her and all the lights at home were turned off. Everyone was fast asleep…
Suddenly everything around her began to lamp. Servants lightened candles in the antechamber. Mai’s dad was standing right in front of her.
- Finally you’re home, honey – he greeted. Mai noticed, that he wasn’t smiling even a
bit. – What were you doing out so late?
She maked her common bored face.
- I visited Ty Lee – she replied with listless voice and tried to pass by her pass by her father. Two guards stopped her and held her arms.
- Since when Ty Lee lives in the royal palace? – asked the governor.
- Leave me alone! – growled Mai, trying to kick her attackers. She glared at her father,
but he didn’t care about it.
- Put her in the room with my wife and Tom Tom and don’t let them out till Ozai will be
the Fire Lord – he ordered, don’t even looking at his doughter.
- Why?! – Mai wanted to shout, but she couldn’t take a breath, she couldn’t say a word.

Zuko took the diary, which Iroh gave him long time ago. It was wrote by his greatgrandfather, Sozin. The one, who decided to destroy the balance between the four nations, the one, who caused the estermination of Air Nomads… The one, who was Avatar Roku’s best friend and betreyed him. Zuko closed his eyes, putting away the scroll. His great-grandfather cottoned with the Avatar, exactly like himself now. Together they could do… anything, they were the most powerfull benders. But Roku didn’t agree…
The Fire Lord daydreamed for a while. He imagined him and Aang, conquering shoulder to shoulder all the nations… Lieges from all over the world where bowing in front of them, Katara put her worm hand on his shoulder…
He woke up instantly. Drops of sweat were running down his face. He was all wet. Was that true? Did he really want that? Did he really want to be a tyrant ruling all the nations? He reminded words of his uncle. Evil and good are always at war inside you, Zuko. It is your nature, your legacy.
His paternal great-grandfather was Sozin. The maternal one was Avatar Roku.
How could this happen? What a weird quirk of fate was that? Did his mother married his father, because she wanted to end the quarrel between those two families, to reconcile Roku and Sozinn somewhere in the Spirit World? If Katara marry him, that would be another symbol. Even bigger one. But Aang would hate him because of that. Another war would star… Suddenly he gasped, that he already has a war in his hands. Second fight with his father…
That thought was driving him mad. Last time the Avatar faced Ozai, while he was fighting with Azula. If now Aang will leave him… It will be the end…
He stood up and run towards the entry at breakneck speed. He had no idea, how long he was sitting in the chamber. He thought that it was only few minutes, but when he got out, he saw that the sun is already rising. The courtyard was incredibly full of mayhem.
He wanted to return to his room as fast as possible, but one of the guards stopped him.
- My Lord! We were looking for you everywhere!
His face was even more pale than Mai’s, when she was talking with Zuko few hours ago.
- What happend? – asked Zuko, but he already knew the answer.
- Ozai, my lord… Army of firebenders, who fought in last war, and some other generals chosen by you… They entered the prison and released him. We had no chance… Eighty our people died and the enemy’s army’s taking the city…
The guard bowed in front of him, nearly cleaning his shoes with tears.
- I beg you, my lord! Please stop this invasion, we won’t survive it…
Zuko nearly fainted. He was seeing spots before his eyes. He left the crying guard on the floor and started to circuit the courtyard.
He thought that he had more time. He even didn’t make a good plan yet! He was happy, that Mai warned him, but none of them knew, that the war was about to start that night! And he failed across-the-board, he even didn’t send a message to the Team Avatar! He only went to a secret chamber and had some strange daydreams about ruling the world with Avatar, just like his great-grandfather…
He knew about the ravages. A new war began.
He caught a guard.
- Everybody on the walls! We have to protect the palace! Send half of the forces to the city, everyone will be safe here in the palace!
- Yes, sir! – the guard bowed and ran as fast as he could to execute the command.
Zuko found some more guards and ordered them to find members of Team Avatar and escort them to the Council Chamber. He had to make a plan. He had to show, that he is able to protect his nation. That he is a good Fire Lord.