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Borealis: A Zutara Story	By : jaded_priceless Category: Avatar - The Last Airbender > AU/AR - Alternate Universe/Alternate Reality Views: 33524 -:- 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 300

The caravan arrived at the rendezvous point all too quickly. Partially because Mu had deemed it safer to move the animals farther, faster now that they’d reached moderate weather but also because Chu-hua had finally reported the recent developments to the War Minister; Qin had been ecstatic to learn about the reunion of two of his favorite women and had had sent several trains to collect them. Only two were the all terrain locomotives which had pursued them; the others were confined to metal rails which were being laid across the northern half of the plains and would eventually reach both Ba Sing Se and the desert.

The animals and supplies were quickly loaded and shipped North on the one of the trains confined to the rails while the soldiers rode in the all terrain vehicles flanking them. They stopped at what Katara realized was another Fire Nation outpost for the evening. This one, unlike the ones they’d left behind was a tent city. The outpost commander outright refused to allow Azula’s Dai Li to create stone buildings so they were forced to camp out.

Katara soon learned storytelling around campfires was tradition shared by all nations. It all started harmlessly enough with the Zhao twins telling ghost stories about the area. Their grandparents lived what was considered nearby and they’d been granted leave to go visit the next day. Each story about the land they referred to as the Forbidden Realm struck a chord within Katara. Their tales of the earth taking retribution against those who violated the laws of Hou-T’u were far more frightening than the story of Frozen Nini.

Almost as if reading her mind, thoughts of Nini of the South Pole conjured the stories of Fire Lady Nini, also known to the more superstitious as She Who Walks. Katara was fascinated by each tale of her vengeance after an attack on the Southern Water Tribe and the number of people who ran screaming from the palace after the attack on the moon at the North Pole. Her spirit was reportedly not eased until the Fire Lord himself made alms in the temple Fire Lord Kozulon had built for her.

It devolved at that point. Zhao 1 declared Katara the second coming of Nini after recanting the tale of her bending in her sleep. Another soldier, a former classmate of Mu and the Zhao’s revealed that he too had seen the former Fire Lady during a field trip to the palace and she’d undoubtedly saved his life. He’d heard giggling coming from a side room and she stopped him from peeking behind the curtain. The occupants later came out and he saw the princess and her companions in their bathing suits.

Everyone burst into laughter as the muscles around his eyelids tightened while the lids opened wider and he lifted his cheekbones baring his teeth making a face they’d often seen Azula make and shrieked, “The beast! It would have killed meeee!” as he shriveled as if melting to the ground.

They went around the circle, each person telling stories until it was Katara’s turn. She exhaled surreptiously to drop the temperature around them then began the tale of Nukka, not the sweet playful child of Yuki Onna, but the tale of the carnivorous snow beast that roamed the plains looking for something warm and meaty to eat. She continued to cool the air around her and sneakily gathered dew as Zuko and the other Firebenders slowly began raising their temperature. She waited until she was reaching the climax of her story to throw half of the droplets on the fire to create steam and while sending the other partially frozen droplets onto the skin exposed at the back of her companions necks.

The unexpected cold small droplets felt like teeth dripping with saliva against their skin; combined with the sudden lack of visibility sent everyone from their campfire crashing into the one next to it as they ran into the night screaming of hungry demons. The crew of the Ursa and the military exiles not selected to remain at this encampment were given a hasty but late send off the next day. It had taken hours for the Major in charge of the small outpost to restore order after last night’s terrifying debacle. It only took one person to raise the alarm at a military installation; ten troops screaming they were being attacked by Water Demons had thrown the entire place into chaos.

After reboarding the train and travelling a few hours Chu-hua demanded they stop. She entered the chamber holding Zuko’s extended royal entourage and glared at the Zhao twins, “You have until sundown.”

The twins wasted no time grabbing their travel bags and hastily snatching Mu. Zuko followed them as they headed to the animal transport but Zhao 1 put a hand on his shoulder, “Sorry Zuke, but you know Granny. We’ll give her your regards and try to grab something for you.”

The prince nodded and had an eelhound prepared for him and Katara.

“We’re not taking Korhi?” she asked upon seeing the strange animal.

“No, this one is faster. We have to travel a farther distance.”

“Where are we going?” Katara asked curiously

“Taku.” Zuko replied gruffly.

Katara wasn’t surprised to see the ruined city was abandoned but Zuko’s respectful way of entering was disconcerting. He moved about slowly and deliberately as if searching for something before placing his hand on one of the destroyed statues and opening a hidden passageway. Zuko called fire to his hand and ran it along the doorway before extending his other to Katara. “Be careful.”

She took the hand he offered to her and stepped into the dark. They hadn’t gone very far when she felt something brushing against her legs. She screamed and jumped while pulling water from the skin Fire Lord Ozai had sent to her.

Zuko’s hand tightened about her wrist and he spoke, “Stop it Katara, you’ll scare her.”

“Scare her?” she questioned incredulously

“Yes, Miyuki is the palace guardian. We’re intruding in her home,” he replied gently.

“Home? This place looks like it’s been abandoned for decades. Who would live here?” Katara asked quietly as she surveyed the ruins. They reached a large chamber and Katara stopped to pick up a broken challis. “This place reminds me of our old city.”

She heard Zuko muttering then saw him lunge at something in the shadows. He swore as he lifted what appeared to be a white cat by the scruff of its neck, “Gotcha.”

To her surprise, he cradled it in one arm and stroked its head with his other hand, “It’s okay girl, I’m not going to hurt you.” The cat began to purr as he murmured, “that’s right, you remember me don’t you? Where’s your mistress?”

The cat yowled pitifully and leapt down. Zuko chose not to follow it. He continued running his firelit hand over the wall inspecting its chips and crevices.

“What are you looking for?” Katara finally asked as he huffed in frustration after having searched three rooms of the underground chamber.

“A message from Uncle. He should have made it here by now.” Zuko answered. “This is one of the places I know he would have left a message for me.”

“How can you be sure?” she asked.

“The first time he brought me here he told me this place is like our family; something strong and beautiful that should have stood the test of time if those very same bonds were not the thing that lead to its ruin.”

Zuko led Katara deeper into the ruins and lit the torches after inspecting the walls, “Taku was once a part of the Fire Nation. Fire Lord What’s His Face decided to go on a journey to find the home of Agni. He was shipwrecked far away from home for his arrogance. He would have drowned if a bandit hadn’t pulled him onto shore to ramble through his pockets. That bandit was the second son of the dead Earth King’s third wife and rightful chosen heir. He was running for his life when he found Great-grandfather whoever. One could build fires, the other could build shelters so they made a truce. They were there for three years before Great-grandfather was able to hitch a ride back home with an Air Nomad.”

“Forty years later, Great -grandfather what’s his face decided to recreate his journey with all of his sons and a small fleet. The bandit king never did return home but he’d carved out a city where they’d built their shelter and made himself king. Grandfather whoever was so happy to see his old friend and relive the days of their youth that he decided to give him a princess to cement the bond between their families. He was old and didn’t have any unmarried daughters so it was up to his sons to sacrifice one of their own daughters to preserve the family’s honor.

“Princess HikaPika was the illegitimate homely daughter of the crown prince and was chosen to marry the Earth Prince. HikaPika was borderline ugly by Fire Nation standards but her dark hair and gold eyes were so abnormal that in the Earth King she was considered a great beauty. Her brothers were both sad to see her go as she was very kind but also glad to get rid of her due to certain practices in existence during that time.

“Her exotic features changed the mind of the prince who was forced to marry her. He’d long thought his father a fool for wishing for the lands that he’d lost and romanticizing the time spend with a Fire Nation vagabond until he was gifted with such a kind and beautiful woman. He began making plans to seek vengeance on those who’d wronged his father as a way to make amends for his disrespectful thoughts.

“HikaPika grew up in the palace surrounded by beautiful women who made sure she was aware of her lacking appearance but her new husband treasured her far greater than any man of the Fire Nation would have. Their wedding celebration lasted four months, each night he’d give her an unopened white tulip before they made love and he would place the opened bud in her hair the next morning. He forsook all of his other wives in favor of spending all of his time with her. Eventually the time came for her family to return to the Fire Nation and for her husband to go off to war.

“She had been taught the colors and symbolism of the Earth Kingdom prior to marrying one of its princes and assumed her husband had received the same lessons. The day her husband was to go to war she gave him a bouquet of red thorned roses surrounding a red open tulip and told him to ‘take care’ after consulting with her interpreters. He flew into a rage. He ordered that her belongings be packed and she be sent away from him.”

Katara paused at this section of the wall. The petals strewn about on the floor appeared to have been painted in blood. A drop fell from the prince’s hand, a crushed rose lay at his feet. Another drop appeared on the princess’s face and one of the ruined flowers hung loosely from the shoulder of her dress. It hung by a thorn. The artist had done a tremendous job as hurt was clearly evident on both the princess’s and prince’s face.

Zuko’s hand caressed her face, “The interpreters realized what had happened and spent days trying to find the words and deeds to convey the Princess’s true meaning before chasing after the prince. In the Fire Nation white is the color of death. Red is the color of life, vitality and love. In the Earth Kingdom, white is the color of purity and hope. Red is the color of lust, death and blood.”

Zuko pulled her sideways to a small garden planted where sunlight leaked down through the ruins. He picked one of each flower and gave it to her, “In Earth Kingdom flower language an unopened white tulip is a symbol of innocence, trust and purity while an opened white tulip is a symbol of the physical love to be found within a happy marriage. An opened red tulip is a symbol of sexual desire and fulfillment. They were worn by whores to advertise their wares and given to mistresses.”

“Thorned roses in the Earth Kingdom are symbols of ill will. Thorned roses in the Fire Nation are a symbol of a powerful but fearful love. The type of love you know you must bravely reach outside of your bounds to get and hold into with all of your might because the sweet reward is so worthwhile.” Zuko placed the rose he picked inside small openings woven in her sleeve, “A thorned rose is also a symbol of protection. When given like this, woven around something it means may my love always protect you.”

“The prince didn’t know those things. He thought the sweet wife he was falling in love with was cursing him to die in battle so she could sleep with other men. He thought her words of ‘take care’ were a threat. It was only until the interpreter repeated the princess’s words in Earth Kingdom did he understand. HikaPika wanted to tell her husband ‘take care that you return to me’ but when spoken in Earth Kingdom with her accent it sounds like, ‘take out you are garbage to me.’”

Katara giggled until she looked at the flowers remaining in Zuko’s hand. There was a single red tulip surrounded by thorned red roses.

“This is the HikaPika arrangement. An open red tulip to symbolize the way my heart has opened for you surrounded by my desire to keep you and the precious feelings we share safe.”

Katara stared at the flowers then up at Zuko unsure of what to say, how to react, “Zuko, that’s-”

He smiled, “The prince was overcome with emotion once he finally understood the woman he was beginning to love had expressed such strong feelings. He turned his back on the enemy, cut a path straight through his troops to return home to her. He was reminded that he’d sent her away so he led his whole army to the port where their ships were docked to get her back.

“Her brothers were ready to go to war over her honor but the favorite wife of her eldest brother was impressed by the lengths her husband had gone through to get her back. He turned his back on his honor, on avenging his father, and raced away from the battlefield to be with her. She understood what it meant for a wife to be misunderstood by her husband and convinced them to return HikaPika without going to war. She was from one of the southern islands and their dialect is unlike anything you’ve ever heard. They’d been married three years before she finally asked her husband why they ate so much fish. He thought she wanted it each time she called for him since her speech patterns made ‘danna-sama’ sound like ‘dinner salmon’.”

Katara was about to accuse him of lying when she noticed the mural depicted a handsome man, a well dressed fish and a handsome man once more.

“This place we are standing is the capital city and where he once more laid eyes on her. His first words to her were ‘teak cows’ and she laughed because she knew he didn’t mean wooden carvings of farm animals. Because he was willing to sacrifice everything for love the spirits gave that man everything he wanted. Fearing his true resources based on how many he wasted to chase a single woman his uncle and cousin surrendered to him. HikaPika bore him many strong and healthy children. Their kingdom became one of the richest and most respected in all the lands. For centuries we renewed our familial ties to the kingdom of Taku.

“Every five generations a Fire Nation Prince or Earth Kingdom Prince would marry a princess from the other’s country. Fire Lady Chiyo and the Princess who started the last war with the Earth Kingdom were both from Taku, as were the Princesses who abused Kozulon the most. Their mother was offered to Irohulon with the understanding she would not become Fire Lady but if Fire Lady Mei didn’t bear a son a child she bore would inherit. She birthed five daughters, all of them capable of ascending to the throne, one of whom would have inherited if Irohulon would not have fathered an illegitimate son by a Water Tribe woman.

“The bitterness between them was so great that Kozulon did not kill those siblings directly. He gifted them to his soldiers. He sent one to each of his troops’ barracks with their own set of physicians to maintain their health so those loyal to him could fully enjoy the benefits of their service. His hatred of the Taku princesses was passed onto his son Soizin. This is the true reason Taku was destroyed during the war.”

Katara held the flowers Zuko had given her as she perused the mural once more. It showed the full history of Taku before and after the destruction. It even depicted his search for Aang and the visit by the Avatar. Confused she called out to him, “Zuko.”

“What is this? This is recent,” Katara muttered.

Zuko nodded, “The last princess. She wanted the world to know the truth.”

“What is the truth?”

Zuko bit his lip and led her into another chamber. It was smaller and there was a kitchenette and a tea table where he’d once sat with his uncle and the old woman. “The truth is that family is always hurts each other but only the truly strong families find a way to come back together.

“The position you are in is very similar to the one faced by the last princess. She was a child when her home was destroyed by Soizin. Her people managed to escape but they had no homeland. They were blamed for the attacks since they’d been so close to the Fire Nation for centuries so they were treated like outcasts by those who allowed them to live in their cities as refugees. There are conflicting accounts of what happened next - either Grandfather Azulon approached her promising to restore her land in exchange for assistance or she approached him requesting assistance. All that has been documented shows that the colonies and battles in this area went far more smoothly for the Fire Nation than they would have if she and Grandfather had not become acquainted."

Zuko glanced around the little kitchen thinking of the time he spent here with his Uncle and the old woman as well as the things he'd learned about his family. "The kitchen is the center of the home but there are no portraits here. The dishes are even plain without a pattern."

He walked back into the hallway where the mural ended and led Katara to a cemetery at the back of the ruins, "Uncle brought me here shortly after I was banished. He wanted me to see our living history outside of our nation. He told me the story of the first Taku Princess and I dismissed it as a fairy tale I'd grown up hearing. He told me what I just told you about the last princess and I remember thinking what’s so important about some dumb woman who allowed herself to be used by Grandfather?

"He stood me in front of these graves and said 'our ancestors lie here as well as at home in the Fire Nation. Our family was broken by deception and betrayal but like this city we can fall into oblivion or rebuild something stronger from the ruins.' I thought the old woman here was one of Uncle's friends but I now realize what I couldn't see then. Uncle treated her formally with respect. After speaking with Bong Cha and another I now realize his words weren't just for me. He was acknowledging that woman as Princess to acknowledge her true status."

Zuko kneeled and lit incense in front of a freshly dug small grave, "Uncle has been here, Katara. The engraving on this headstone is his writing. This burial style came about as a way for those to who shared both Fire Nation and Earth Kingdom blood to acknowledge their traditions. The bodies are lain to rest on their sides facing East with their knees curled against their chest prior to being cremated in their final resting place. This was only done for those who were princes or princesses of both nations. The others received a regular burial."

Zuko rose and stood behind Katara, he wrapped his arms around her waist and placed his hand over her stomach, "It is said that the last known princess of Taku went into hiding before killing herself and her shame. I don't think she died Katara and after speaking to Bong Cha and that other woman, I don't think Grandfather callously abandoned her."

Katara tilted her head up to look at him, "I've been told that Grandfather loved to spoil his daughters. His favorites were protected and hidden while the others were placed on display. I've grown up hearing my uncle is more like Grandfather but Father is more like Soizin. I already know where I will hide you and any child you may carry to protect you from Father. I believe Grandfather Azulon did the same thing. He fathered children with all his concubines; most of those who remained in the capital city were murdered before they reached the age of majority. The children he really treasured were hidden away and unacknowledged to keep them safe from assassins.

"I think the last princess knew this and accepted this. Part of this city still stands Katara. I think she hid and watched over her people from the shadows similar to what the current princess is doing."

One of the shadows retreated amidst quiet footsteps and mews.

"We should go, Katara, It was selfish of me to bring you here. After the incident with Kozulon it became illegal for Waterbenders to enter these lands. It's just," Zuko sighed before speaking again, "If she was who I think she was then I wanted...."

Zuko pinched his forehead and huffed in frustration. He couldn't say what he wanted with another pair of ears listening. Katara glanced at the part of the mural he was standing under. It was the part depicting the return of the Avatar and Zuko's search for the missing Avatar. For some odd reason this time seeing him stand beneath a picture of him chasing their elusive group she didn't see the Fire Nation prince chasing the Avatar. She saw Zuko, a lost and burned boy, chasing the principles of harmony and balance the Avatar represented.

She rubbed her eyes thinking this was a trick of the darkness and shadows but when she glanced up again Zuko had moved to a different part of the mural. It was the day of the invasion. He was standing between his father and Aang. His back was to the Fire Lord the way his arm swung as he walked made it appear as if he was reaching for something. He took another step and the motion linked his real hand to hers and Aang's in the picture. His was walking away from his father.

Zuko had almost reached the hidden stairs when he noticed how far behind Katara had gotten. He stopped to look behind her, "Katara are you coming?"

Katara took a step forward and paused. Zuko was standing at the events of the North Pole. He was between Yue's ascension and La's rising with his hand reached out to her. She blinked to clear her vision and Zuko was standing in front of her.

"Katara are you all right?"

She nodded dumbly, "Yeah," before looking around the room once more, "I just-."

Katara didn't finish the sentence or express her thought that maybe this place was another portal between the mortal world and the realm of the spirits and there was a reason other than some age old slight that Waterbenders were not allowed here. She bowed respectfully quietly thanking their watcher for allowing her to visit and returned to Zuko's side.

Miyuki waited until the prince and the Waterbender left to climb into the lap of her current charge. She batted softly at her face and meowed in admonishment.

"Fine, it's as you and Grandmother said but that doesn't mean I have to like it," the current princess grumbled earning herself a clawless bat on the nose.

"Troublesome furbag," she harumphed. "When the time comes we will stand alongside them."

Miyuki licked her paw then purred in satisfaction then leapt into the air. The guardian spirit of Taku added the death of her last princess, Iroh's visit and today's events to the mural with a swish of her tail before settling herself on the lap of her true mistress, Princess HikaPika and watched as her current mistress disappeared below the ground.
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Borealis: A Zutara Story