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Borealis: A Zutara Story	By : jaded_priceless Category: Avatar - The Last Airbender > AU/AR - Alternate Universe/Alternate Reality Views: 34026 -:- Recommendations : 2 -:- Currently Reading : 4
Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar: The Last Airbender, Avatar: The Legend of Korra, any historical figures or events, or easily recognizable persons, places or things. I make no profit from this work of fanfiction

Chapter List
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Chapter 277
General Fong was glad he’d moved his troops from their camp in anticipation for their southward journey. Small showers like this were usually localized. His benders were shaping large wide wheels to go on the carts Min Sik would bring them. Others were compressing the clay to make thin lightweight containers. He prayed the rain held long enough for the warm coals to cure the hastily made pottery that would hold the extra water needed for journey. He had anticipated sacrificing one, maybe two of the animals deepening on their water situation but now all of his troops would survive crossing the Si Wong.
The rain continued to fall well into the evening. Fong waited until the city was dark and all of the lights in the hotel were out save for two in the family portion of the inn. Once the first flickered out of existence he began moving forward. He waited until the second dimmed to send his troops into the garden. They were each to pick one ripe and one unripe vegetable then regroup behind the large containers at the edge of the garden. Min Sik emerged as planned with the small carts carved as thin as he could make them while maintaining sturdiness.
He had smoked meats from the butcher, ripped and discarded sheets from the hotel that Kisa had been saving to repurpose elsewhere and several jars of canned fruits and vegetables as well as old farming machetes that had been filed to the sharpness of a sword, and several containers of powdered eucalyptus and citronella to keep away insects. He also had pieces of wood incase one of the carts needed repairs. They worked quickly placing the wide based wheels with openings to release any trapped sand on the carts before beginning their journey.
Min Sik returned to his home and no one save a small eight year old boy looked back to notice there was a light in one of the second story windows. He waved and the figure watching them leave waved back before the light went out once more.

Zuko wasn’t sure what woke him. They’d left the window open to let in the cool night air and Katara was sleeping peacefully beside him. He kissed her shoulder, tasting the saltiness of dried sweat on her skin from their languid lovemaking earlier. He rose and walked to the window inhaling the damp night air without worrying about the ever present dust tickling his nostrils. He called a small flame to his hand and looked out into the night not expecting to see a small group of people, soldiers by the orderly fashion in which they were moving heading toward the desert. He glanced over at Katara, she was still sleeping, then looked back at the soldiers. One of them, a child was waving. He waved back then extinguished the flame, not wanting to be the reason they were noticed.
Katara opened her eyes as he crawled back into bed; his entry not going as unnoticed as his exit. He slid under the covers next to her and pulled her so that her body was nestled snugly against his. He kissed her forehead and whispered, “Go back to sleep.”
He closed his eyes, allowing the rhythm of her breathe against his collarbone to ease his fears about the people he saw being discovered. He hoped whoever they were, whatever they were doing, that the spirits granted them a safe journey.

Despite Toph’s insistence they immediately head to the Fire Nation, Iroh continued inland. They could immediately go back to the Fire Nation, Iroh had no doubt he could get them in but he knew it would be safer if his brother’s focus was elsewhere and not on them. Their first stop was a small village halfway between Si Wong and the Forbidden Realm; a Fire Nation settlement home to someone Iroh cared a great deal for Iroh stated as he directed Toph to take them underground and not to emerge until they reached her home. The Earthbender was skeptical when he said she would know she was beneath the right house because the ground would smell like vanilla and cinnamon. She didn’t believe him until she reached a point that smelled more like a bakery than earth. Amazed she did as she was asked and opened a portal to lift him into the house. She closed it and with great difficulty remained underground. It was hard to ignore the heat overhead and shouting.
She emerged from beneath the dirt floor after Iroh rapped on the ground six times and called her name to hear a woman’s voice say, “that better not be some vagabond you’ve dragged here to eat me out of house and home.”
“And if I did, you’d know their voracious appetite was a credit to your fine food. Even the strictest dieters become gluttons because of you” Iroh laughed.
“Gramps?” Toph called out softly. Iroh’s laughter sounded and felt different than the numerous other times she’s heard it. It felt free.
His steps seemed lighter as well as he placed a hand on her shoulder, “Mahnaz, I’d like you to meet Toph, my traveling companion. Toph, I’d like you to meet my personal chef, Mahnaz.”
“Stop blowing smoke you old bellows,” the woman chided as she elbowed Iroh pushing him out of the way to get to Toph, “I’m no more your personal chef than she is your traveling companion.”
Toph felt warm hands on her cheek lifting her face to get a better view, “There is a lightness about you, something inside which chases the darkness away. You do not see for that reason. The ugliness of this world would dampen your spirit and dim the light inside of you. You know this and have acknowledged this blessing. My goddess wants nothing to do with you but recognizes your value as one touched by her kind. You will not be harmed inside this home.”
The warmth went away and Toph heard an “oomph” come from Iroh’s direction as the woman coldly asked him, “What in Koh’s name are you doing here and why would you bring something like that into my home?”
“Now Mahnaz, Miss Toph-”
“I’m not talking about the child. I’m talking about your stench. When was the last time you two had a bath? With soap,” she hastily added as if knowing Iroh would mention bathing in a lake two days ago.
“The soap Ajit gave us ran out two weeks ago,” Iroh confessed.
“So you come to my place smelling like Koh’s ass bringing this stinky blind child hoping I’ll take pity on you and give you a free food and a hot bath? I suppose you want to spend the night also,” she huffed.
“Well yes,” Iroh admitted.
“Fine,” the woman replied with a lot more kindness than Toph was expecting. “Wash first then eat.”
Toph felt the warm hands encircling hers as she led her out of the room, “Tell me little one, what’s your favorite sweet?”
Toph named the most difficult dessert she knew of, a combination of custard and cake, a punishment for being told she stank and being forced to bathe before eating.
She was seated at the table eating something the woman explained was singing rat stewed in grass with sourbeetle sauce that tasted much better than its name when Iroh took a seat next to her. She heard the sound of cutlery scraping a pot then a loud “Ahem” from the woman before Iroh spoke.
“Thank you oh blessed Mahnaz for saving my sorry ass yet again. It was truly a great day when Agni placed me in your favor.”
“It was, wasn’t it?” the woman replied softly. She patted Iroh’s stomach, “This thing looks almost as flat as the last time I saw you. Eat up, Chunky Butt. I can’t let you get scrawny.”
“You don’t have to worry about a thing Bamboo Body. I will do your cooking justice,” Iroh muttered as he scraped the pot once more.
“Chunky Butt? Bamboo Body?” Toph laughed. “How long have you two known each other?”
The older woman laughed, “I’ve known your majesty, Prince Iroh since before I was old enough to use a diaper. According to my mother, I would kick harder when his pregnant mother was in the vicinity.”
Toph blushed as she heard the sound of a kiss and the woman’s voice soften, “This wayward little princeling has always belonged to me.”
They turned redder when Iroh replied, “I have, haven’t I” sounding equally as mushy.
It was the older people’s turn to laugh when Toph made a gagging noise and said, “You old people are gross.”
“First Lu Ten, then Zuko, now this one, Iroh, how did a hedonist like you manage to wind up with such uptight children?” the woman snorted amidst gales of laughter.
After two more helpings and listening to the old people insult and tell embarrassing stories about each other Toph began to yawn. Her toes were on the floor so she felt the woman approaching but was surprised to be lifted into strong arms and even more shocked by her own inability to object. “Don’t worry little one, you’re safe here. I’m a doctor and your body needs rest. I added a little something to your food to ensure you get it. You seem like the type who can sleep anywhere with those you trust, but I can tell I haven’t done anything to earn your trust.”
She laid Toph on a bed at the back of the house and brushed her hair until she fell asleep.
“Is she asleep?” Iroh asked quietly from the doorway.
Mahnaz nodded, “Yes.”
She rose and placed her hand in Iroh’s as they walked to a bedroom on the opposite end of the house. Once there she shed her clothing and slipped into bed next to them. They moved with the surety born of long time love and familiarity. As per her family’s tradition Iroh had been her first when she was seventeen and sure of herself as a woman; giving him her virginity was only a formality considering how tightly they were already bonded. She could have become Fire Lady; at one time it was what he most wanted, but he respected her wish to remain beside him. After many years spent mourning what could have been, he selected a bride from among the chosen. She was with him the day his wife almost died birthing his son. As Iroh rushed to Tenko’s side she followed right behind him. She held Lu Ten as his mother slipped from the world damning her soul up until her last words, “You take care of him! You take care of my baby as if he were your own!”
And she had. Mahnaz loved Lu Ten with the ferocity of her own misbegotten angels. When he died, Iroh ran away; chased Lu Ten all the way into the spirit world but she sought vengeance upon those who killed him. She wreaked havoc upon the world in her grief. Ba Sing Se would have fallen at her hand but that would have meant leaving Iroh to die. She chose to retreat from the battlefield to care for his soulless body and call home his spirit.Mahnaz slept peacefully that night, more peacefully than she had since Iroh had last darkened her doorstep looking for Zuko. She knew Zuko was safe and now that he was here in her home, sleeping quietly next to her she knew Iroh was safe also.
Mahnaz woke with the passing of spirits and prepared herself in the fading grays of Kali. When Iroh woke with the sun’s first rays she was waiting. She sat in perfect seiza, head bowed, blade across her lap, hands open cupping pure white flames that shimmered against the white silks of her kimono, “Tell me my prince, how may your blade serve you?”

Kain: Ah yes, a Christmas miracle indeed. Never underestimate the powers of the Grinchmas Scrooge.
Mung is saddened by the death of his daughter. Aang’s half-assed apology and refusal to admit his part in her death pissed him off. The people of the Fire Nation own up to their atrocities. Even Zuko with his twisted justifications owns up to the wrongs he’s done. There will be more about Mung later.
Southern Water Tribe sibling smack down? hmmm
Super chi blocking? I’ll let you decide it. Ty Lee is often seen moving in circles and making her opponents turn around to keep up with her as she strikes various chi points. She’s small, can’t pick up anybody and doesn’t know she can Airbend. This guy is big, he can lift people easily. He spun Aang around while holding him up to throw off his equilibrium. Aang would have been fine after 30 minutes but he tried to bend and send chi down those confused and closed off points. The second tap around the ears was to take some off the pressure off.
Aang is slowly and surely starting to question the things Sokka and Katara are telling him. He’s been kept in isolation for most of their journey and this is the first time he’s getting to see thing with his own eyes.
I used history as a basis for colonizing and human trafficking. I can’t think of a single indigenous culture that fared well at the hands of invaders.
Thank you again for your kind words. I’m still amazed at the reactions I get from this story.

Arraye: Thank you so much. I love how you dive right in and ask for the spoilers. :-) You are right, Katara does have the same terrible luck as Zuko.
Sokka still feels guilty for not protecting Katara from Zuko. He’s allowing that guilt to manifest as anger at her. Mung is hurting so he wants to make Aang hurt. Aang won’t feel anything if he kills him but he knows taking away Aang’s loved ones will make him feel the same pain.

Reader: Thank you so much. I try to reply back to everyone who reviews. You all really make my day. I am slowly but surely getting to part 3.
Thank you for offering to help. That was so sweet. Just knowing there are people who haven’t met me but are in my corner really helps to keep me motivated and encouraged.
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Borealis: A Zutara Story