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Borealis: A Zutara Story	By : jaded_priceless Category: Avatar - The Last Airbender > AU/AR - Alternate Universe/Alternate Reality Views: 33555 -:- 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 284
Bong Cha slowly trudged back to the city. The moment she saw Mung’s woman running and screaming for him she knew the child she loved as if he were a nephew was dead. She didn’t want to think of having to notify his parents or if she would even be able to return home to do so properly. The Ursa was on a somewhat loose schedule but there were definite stopping points but even if they were to immediately head back to the Fire Nation there was the matter of Zuko to consider.
She knew about her Azulon’s declaration that Ozai should feel the pain of losing a firstborn son. Bong Cha had warned her brother it was not just Ozai’s son and his own grandson he was executing. Zuko’s mother was the sworn protector of her generation’s failsafe heir, one of the strongest in the Kumanishi clan, and willing to die to bring him into the world. She would not have taken talk of his death lightly. Bong Cha knew better than to think her brother died peacefully in his sleep or believe that Ursa was murdered shortly afterwards. Ozai was certainly affected by her absence but if she were dead, truly dead, she knew grief would have driven him to madness. Her nephew would have a luxury home at the Boiling Rock alongside her twin’s and Iroh would have his throne.
Bong Cha’s steps grew heavier as she thought about her nephew and great-nephew. Ozai was proud; he would not have allowed anyone, including his father, to take what was his. He also would not allow his son to sully Ursa’s name by creating a safe place for barbarian women. Taiga’s last letter had mentioned shoofly pie. It was a code word her youngest daughter and the cook had come up with as childhood playmates to warn the other someone was coming so they needed to make haste with their mischief. No one in the town would be safe if Fire Lord Ozai paid them a visit.
The Ursa House would be blessed then burned by sages and the bodies of all those who had set foot inside would be desecrated. Mung would be killed for disobeying a royal decree protecting the Takamine soldiers, Zuko would be lucky to die quickly and the Waterbender would be lucky to die at all. Perhaps it was time to stop running from her destiny as well as give into the curiosity that had been plaguing her. But first she had a body to tend to.
Bong Cha arrived as the funeral pyre was still being built. She confirmed the body was in the mortuary and volunteered to wash it before going to her room. She donned her white mourning robes and removed a bottle of one hundred year old Fire Nation whiskey from her chest before returning to the mortuary. She forced herself to smile and talk to Shinji as she mixed the whiskey with the herbs for purification.

Katara was surprised when all of the soldiers left after the pyre was erected. They soon passed by on the way to the mortuary wearing white. They walked past her and Zuko, surrounding the pyre and began clapping as a small group brought the body. Zuko whispered to her, “This is to ward off evil spirits.”
The clapping stopped when the body was laid on the pyre. To Katara’s surprise Zuko let go of her hand and stepped forward. He tugged his outer shirt over his head and there was a collective gasp when he tucked it around the body.
“Prince Zuko, are you sure?” a woman Zuko recognized as one of the ship’s engineers, Bong Cha, asked quietly. Being buried with a royal artifact was the highest honor as it brought your spirit to the attention of Agni.
“I am. I too was a child sent out into the world before I was ready. I do not wish to think what would have become of me without Uncle’s guidance and protection. I do not condone his actions as a man but I cannot help but to feel the child he was deserved better.”
Bong Cha nodded sagely; the prince’s words had settled the conflict in her heart, “Very well, as there are no sages present and I have known him since he was a child, I would like the honor of sending him off.”
No one objected so Bong Cha took her place behind his head and spoke, “Kali we commit this body to you and ask that you ensure Agni welcomes his spirit. He was a good boy who grew into a broken man. Feast upon the evil forced into his spirit until only the goodness and purity of the child he once was remains. May he be judged fairly and find eternal peace.”
Bong Cha stepped into an unfamiliar Firebending stance then yelled, “Merciful Agni, strengthen me as I release his soul from his body!”
Katara closed her eyes as the body was engulfed in flames. She began to tremble and huddled closer to Zuko, burying her face in his chest as memories of her mother’s death resurfaced. Zuko wrapped her arm around her holding her close as her tears soaked into his clothing. The smell of burning flesh wafting through the air was too much for her and her tears turned into sobs. Zuko placed his right hand behind her back holding her closer as he extended his left hand mingling his fire with Bong Cha’s to get the funeral over. The other Firebenders present soon did the same. They were unaccustomed to people crying at funerals.
Bong Cha gave into her emotions and the fire flowed easier as tears slowly began to stream down her face. This was one of the many things her brother had eradicated from their culture. There were so many soldiers dying it became a crime to cry at funerals. He knew the mournful wails of wives, children and mothers would do more to make people question the validity of the war than the actual death of a soldier. Before his criminalization of tears it was customary to submerse yourself in grief and mourn loudly. The wails drew the attention of Kali, consort of Agni, goddess of darkness, protector of the dead and unborn, supreme mother of the Fire Nation. Like any mother she came running at the sound of her children crying. It could have been her imagination or the help from other Firebenders but once the crying began the cremation seemed to go much faster.
When the snapping of bones could no longer be heard Zuko put both hands behind Katara’s back and pulled her upright. She’d slowly been begun sagging since he took one of his hands away to help with the fire. He whispered quietly, “It’s almost over. We have to stay until the ashes are placed inside the urn and it is sealed.”
Katara didn’t hear anything Zuko said to her, all she could hear was her mother telling her to go get her father, a flash of fire, then coming back to the smell of something burning in the kitchen then realizing it was her mother after her father began to scream. Katara felt nothing, saw nothing as Zuko helped her back to the hotel room. She didn’t even register her legs moving as they made their way up the stairs.
Zuko was grateful to see fresh tubs of water waiting for them when they returned to the room. He guided Katara desk chair then carried the basin to the desk. He picked up a towel and carefully washed his hands before using another towel to wash Katara’s face. He dipped the towel once more letting the water drip out as he folded it and placed it over her forehead before kneeling to remove her shoes. He washed the dust from her legs and leaned forward to kiss her skinned knee. She wore a pair of his outgrown shorts when trained and she’d fallen earlier. Katara lowered her eyes to face him when she felt his saliva stinging her wound.
“I am sorry. I wasn’t thinking earlier. We should have come back to the room,” Zuko said quietly.
Katara shook her head, “No, you needed to be there. Those soldiers need to know you are someone they can believe in. I just-”
Katara took a deep breath then answered quietly, “Our house smelled like that funeral. The smell never went away so we did. The scorch marks iced over but we could still see the black marks beneath. We were afraid La wouldn’t recognize her since she’d been burned so badly. We were unsure of what would happen to her spirit.”

Zuko placed her bare feet in his lap then looked up at her, “Mom always told me in the spirit world there was no war. There was peace and people were separated by deed and not by nation. All of the hatred and fear they knew in the world was removed so their spirit could continue on peacefully.”
Katara tilted her head at him, “Do you think there is a special place for mothers who sacrifice themselves to save their children?”
“I think there is a special place for anyone who sacrifices their life to save another,” Zuko replied quietly.
Katara was still thinking when someone knocked on the door. Zuko lowered her feet and rose to answer it. A group of soldiers stood on the other side. The one in the center was trembling. He gruffly asked, “What’s wrong? Has there been another attack?”
They rapidly shook their heads and the one of the far right began speaking, “Your majesty, we found these when we were placing the ashes in the urn. The woman from the Ursa who lit the fire suggested we bring them to you.”
The soldier in the center unclasped her hand to show they were filled with diamonds. Her voice cracked as she spoke, “Shinji-senpai was precious to us. He made sure we ate, were well rested, and had medical treatment. He looked after us. The Shinji-senpai we knew was not the same person as the one who hurt those children.”
Zuko called Katara over and pointed to the gems in her hand, “There is a legend in our country about a horrible man. His mistreated everyone who laid eyes on him. He was so full of hatred that he cursed the sages as he died. His funeral pyre burned for nine days and nine nights because everyone wanted to be certain his spirit did not come back. On the ninth hour of the ninth day the fire went out and on the place where his body had been were these jewels. There was enough for everyone he’d ever mistreated to have one. Some say the jewels are what remained of his hardened heart and the spirits shattered it to compensate those he made suffer.”
The girl holding the diamonds shook her head, “That’s not the real legend. The true legend states there was a boy who’d been approached by spirits and given two choices. He and his family could have all the happiness in the world but it would be brief and they would suffer or he could take all the pain and misery into himself. If he took the pain and misery everyone in his family would have long prosperous lives so long as he did not reveal his secret. His misery killed him. He died at an early age but no one came to his funeral. The sages found the gems and as they begin to pick them up Agni spoke to them. He wept while admitting he spoke to the child in jest, he did not mean for the boy to live in misery. The gems are the tears Agni shed for him. I believe the gods also played a cruel joke on Shinji. These are the tears of guilt for the pain they’ve caused him.”
“I’ve heard that also,” Zuko confessed. “We should use these to help this city. It will be a true colony soon and these should be used to secure its bank.”
The soldiers dropped to their knees and thanked him. It was standard practice to withhold 80% of the soldier’s pay as security until the colony’s finances could be established. They eventually got paid with interest but it often caused great difficulty for those sending money home to families that had no other means of support. That was also part of the reason the original inhabitants were treated with such cruelty. The soldiers felt they were owed something and since they were unable to fight the Fire Lord or their superiors who were receiving 50% of their regular pay, the townspeople became the recipients of their wrath.
Traveling with Toph had taught Katara quite a bit about minerals. She’d noticed the small dark flecks in the blocks the carpenter had given them for fuel the first time she saw them and knew they’d been used to build part of the funeral pyre. It was better for the Fire Nation to believe the diamonds were the tears of sad spirit or remnants of a cruel heart than know they were near coal deposits and the intense heat had transformed hunks hidden inside the dirt.
Zuko was surprised when they put the gems in his hand, “Will you keep them your majesty? We are low in rank and can easily be ordered to hand them over by a person who would use them for their own benefit.”
Zuko took the gems and placed them in Katara’s hands, “You were the one who inspired me to found the Ursa House and thought of a way to conserve water. You keep these. You are the true guardian of these people. Now my soldiers’ lives and the lives of their families are in your hands. They will not be robbed of their pay and can continue to send money home with this as collateral to build this town.”
Katara looked down at the expectant soldiers then up at Zuko before closing her fists around the gems. She called water forward from the basin and blew on it until several matching ice crystals were in her hand. She extended her hand to the soldiers, “Take these back with you and give them to Chu-hua. Tell her the prince thought it best she hold onto them until a governor has been appointed.”
The woman who initially carried them refused to take them, “I am a bender my lady. I am afraid I’ll melt them.” She pulled a comrade forward, “He doesn’t bend.”
He placed the fake frozen gems in his pocket then they resumed formation. They saluted before disappearing into the stairwell. Zuko closed the door behind them and kissed Katara’s forehead, “That was kind of you.”
“Was it really?” Katara questioned as she laid her head against his chest.
“You most likely saved their lives. Anyone high enough to order them to hand over the jewels also had access to the duty roster. They could have been sent on a suicide mission so they couldn’t reveal who had them. No one will dare approach Chu-hua and she can hold her own against anyone who does.”
“I’m tired of this place, Zuko. I want to go home; away from the killing and the fighting. I want to leave.”
“We will I promise, we’ll leave soon,” Zuko replied before his stomach began growling. “I… ah…”
Katara smiled sadly, “We haven’t eaten since midday and the sun is beginning to make way for Yue. Let’s get cleaned up and go to the restaurant. We can collect the water while we’re out.”
By the time they made it back outside word had spread to all of the soldiers about Zuko’s handling of the diamonds. They lined the streets and bowed, swearing their allegiance to Zuko. He looked around stammering at the outpouring of support.
Katara elbowed him, “Say something.”
He looked at her dumbly before squeaking out, “Thanks.”
She shook her head before clearing her throat and speaking for him, “As you can see my prince is overwhelmed by your support. Unlike his father and sister he is more accustomed to living among his soldiers than standing above them; although there was a time he spent a few months he doing his fair share of running from them.”
Katara waited for the laughter to die down to add, "He never ever expected such a display of loyalty or that you would bow your heads to him for doing what it is right. As the son of the Fire Lord and future ruler of your nation it is his duty to care for his people.”
Zuko’s mind soon caught up with his heart and he took a cue from Katara, “My concubine is correct and incorrect. Please rise, all of you, it is not my duty to care for you. It is an honor and privilege. It is my pleasure to invest in you, your families and this, your new home. I have been to several of our newest colonies but this is the first peaceful one I’ve seen born. I know all of you will do your best to strengthen and defend it from threats whether they be from outside or within.
“I do realize the task before you will not be easy. This is the first colony to be established on the land route to Ba Sing Se. There will be many perils ahead that will test your bravery. Those diamonds were not mine, they were never mine; they were the heartfelt wish of a fallen soldier that those he served alongside remain safe. It would have been wrong of me to do anything other than grant his wish. I deserve no thanks or praise for that. It was simply the right thing to do.”
Zuko looked around, “Although I will not be able to fight alongside you, I promise to always stand with you. This town is barren, you have livestock but not enough to truly sustain you. There are vegetables growing in the garden but must toil endlessly to cultivate and preserve them. There is an infirmary but a lack of medicine. You will not be able to thrive without those things. It is my pledge to you that you will have them. Katara and I will purchase 50 plows, 100 ostrich-horses, 30 cowhippos, 100 chickens, and enough medicine to carry you through five epidemics of anything you can imagine. We will purchase timber and ore to build a second forge to provide the things you will need outside of warfare. We will bring fabrics, looms, silkplants, silkworms, cottonseeds, bales, and tools so you can live and dress as men and women outside of your duties. We will also invest 500 gold pieces in the bank to use as immediate capital so your comrades spirit can remain with you.”
The cheering continued long after Zuko called for scribes to meet him inside the restaurant. They drafted the letters the farmers and craftsmen who could provide what Zuko requested while they waited for their meal. After receiving his signature they ran to aviary so the messenger hawks could be dispatched. They had suffered heavy losses and hoped the letters arrived in time for the some of the resources to travel with the replacements. The Waterbender had wisely instructed that the delivery of each item be staggered and not come from one source should they be attacked or intercepted. The deliveries would be spread over a three year time period unless need overshadowed prudence.

Bong Cha was with Chu-hua when the young soldiers brought the diamonds to her and loudly advised what Prince Zuko wished to do with them. She raised her eyebrow in surprise when the smallest of the jewels started to lose shape in the admiral’s palm but it drew no notice. They were in the hotel lobby and his words were heard by several soldiers. They began whooping and shouting “long live the prince” upon hearing their immediate pay wouldn’t be affected. There were a few sour faces, mainly from soldiers who came from wealthy families who had other sources of income. 80% of pay at 25% interest was a handsome investment to lose. Their exuberance poured into streets and the somber mood from earlier was soon erased as she listened to Zuko promise to give them what they needed to live as off duty civilians
“He is still the same child who cares too much for other people,” Bong Cha sighed as she watched the joyous soldiers literally dancing about the lobby and in the streets, “Does he not know such promises will not matter depending on who his father appoints as governor?”
Chu-hua shook her head in the negative, “I am sure he knows, but that will not stop him from doing what he thinks is necessary to help his people.”
“Foolish child. He certainly carries the blood of Father. He too wished to make the world a better place and did not let anything, not even common sense or his best friend stop him,” Bong Cha snorted.
“Do not think me rude, but I’m inclined to say his mother also instilled that trait in him,” Chu Hua added.
“Yes, Ursa was also another idealistic fool” Bong Cha agreed. Her lips turned upwards sadly and she tapped Chu-hua’s hand, “It is the duty of gods to watch over fools and little children. Gather everyone at noon tomorrow. The Red Orchid will be revealed.”
Chu-hua lowered her head slowly; it was the best she could do with so many people around.

Kain: Yes, the Fire Nation honor code is alive and well even among its criminals. Rationalism is one of the most dangerous coping skills. “It could be worse” is true makes you forget just how bad you have it.
Some of what Katara is saying to Zuko is sticking but they have completely different viewpoints so the point she is trying to make gets lost in his way of thinking.
Thank you for your kind words. I’m trying to keep a positive viewpoint. Trust me writing this story and posting updates is one of my bright points.
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Borealis: A Zutara Story