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377 days and 16 hours.
That is the amount of time Zuko has not set foot on Fire Nation soil.
Only his ship and his armour remind him of his homeland, and the uncomfortable heat of the metal deck warming in the sun destroys any comfort it might have given him. All soldiers on deck boil painfully under the summer heat of the southern sea, just as Zuko does.
But this is important, the fishermen report rough seas, even though the weather remains calm, there has to be some sort of spirit involvement in this, and that is just one step away from Avatar sightings.
If he just follows every lead, diligently scours the globe for all it's secrets, he will have to find something eventually.
Resolute, he continues to watch the horizon, just as has for the last year.
-
There is another Fire Nation ship in the morning mist.
The ginormous destroyer hides itself in a cloud of fog, all identifying flags illegible to even the most experienced seamen in Zuko’s crew.
“My prince, shall we hoist your personal flag?”, his helmsman asks him after he spends fifteen minutes scowling at the command ship, daring it to get closer.
His eyes go big and he can already fell the fire form at his fingertips: “Why isn’t it deployed already? Who decided to remove it? We look like nothing but pir – “, he can’t even finish his full tirade before the first trebuchet shot makes the boat rock from side to side.
Zuko can barely keep himself upright, and he is unceremoniously thrown into the ship's starboard side guard rails.
“All engines full power! Retreat!”, he manages to shout over the commotion spreading across the deck, hoping his order reaches into the command deck. Uncle will know what to do too, and he was with the captain before Zuko left to go outside, so hopefully nobody is stupid enough to try and retaliate.
Even if, their single, unmaintained trebuchet won’t stand a chance against the multiple catapults of the attacking ship.
Zuko struggles to stand up again, leaving heavily on the guardrail while the ship still rocks from the first barrage. Out of the corner of his eye he sees his personal flag has been raised, but it’s been far too late.
The next round of projectiles is already flying through the air, and Zuko knows by their trajectory that he won’t be as lucky to stay on his feet this time around.
The last thing he sees before being flung of his boat is the pursuing ships flag. The image would burn itself into his brain. Commander Zhao attacked his own prince’s ship.
-
It has been four days since Zuko was lost at sea, and slowly he is beginning to think no one is coming to find him.
His only comfort is he at least is not drifting aimlessly through the ocean, but rather was swept onto a small island while still unconcious.
This doesn’t make him feel any better, but he will still thank the Spirits anyway.
The island he was swept up on is tiny; By walking along the beach he can circumnavigate the whole thing in under an hour, and there is no sign of life on it beyond an old derelict shrine built just at the forest border.
His armour was ruined from the impact on the ocean surface, the saltwater ruining the metal that should normally protect him.
At least he isn’t dead yet. Uncle always said we should value the little things more, and he tries to keep it in mind while starting to gather wood for a new fire.
-
It has been eight days, and Zuko is convinced he is being punished by higher beings.
For the last day a storm has been raging and therefore no attempt at building a signal fire would bear any fruit. Rain and lighting would drown out any attempt at signalling someone, but no one valuing their life would even be out on the water anyway at this time.
The storm also made it hard to forage for anything edible on the island, which was not much to begin with, but now he barely had enough to last the rest of the day before he has to go hungry.
All Zuko can do for now is hide underneath the shrine’s little roof in hope of not getting drenched and wait for the weather to change.
He had tried to stay away from the shrine for the longest time, since it’s existence alone on this deserted island has creeped him out, to be honest.
The shrine houses a statue of two dragons (or sea serpents?) circling a sphere with an eight- handled wheel embossed on it. The roof protecting the shrine from the weather had hundreds of hand drawn eyes etched into it, looking out onto the sea unblinkingly. Although it had been obviously abandoned, it's sanctum was in a surprisingly good condition.
Suffice to say, Zuko did not want to meddle with any possible explanation for the shrine’s apparent indestructible nature, even though just a week prior this kind of mystery would have meant the world to him.
The irony is not lost on him.
-
It has been eleven days since Zuko has been thrown of his ship, and the weather has not let up at any point.
Zuko is sure he will die here.
So, weighing his options, Zuko decides to try his last resort: He begins to pray.
For hours Zuko recites every prayer he ever learned while he was still at the palace over and over again until all the words start to blend together. Once he realizes his words stop making sense, he begins to promise and bargain, continuing till he has offered up whatever he can, falling asleep from the exhaustion of talking for hours on end after staying in silence for so long.
-
Zuko awakes unceremoniously in front of the shire by a lighting strike thundering down uncomfortably close, further down the beach. He reflexively scrambles under the tiny roof, trying to recede back into the shrines corner that protected him from the rain for the last few days, until he notices the rain has stopped.
The sky is a perfect blue, not one cloud in sight, and more importantly, no way for a thunderbolt to come down.
What is going on?
He knows he is not the kind of person for who miracles happen, he has enough evidence to attest this, but he still somehow knows something has happened that many people would believe to be a miracle still.
And, once the blackened earth caused by the thunderbolt comes into view, Zuko realized his prayers and promises must have given him something in return.
There, atop the shoreline stands a ship, sail hoisted high but perfectly still in the wind. The length of the ship is lined with a table, filled with all sorts of delights and supplies Zuko only knows from the greatest feasts back at the palace. From rare animals prepared to perfection to rare grains and long-lasting baked goods, it is all there.
Now, Zuko just needs to find out what exactly he promised to earn all this...
This will backfire, he already knows that part somehow.
-
The banquet was the very best thing Zuko has experienced in the last year. All food was prepared to perfection and whatever he wished for seemed to already be at the table. For over an hour he simply enjoys the euphoric feeling of breaking his unwilling fast.
(Purposefully ignoring whatever his end of this deal might be.)
The boat appears to be made expertly, finally getting of this island should be a breeze with this thing. Then, the next order of business would be rendezvousing with his crew again, and then hopefully continuing his search for the Avatar.
(And along the way pay back Zhao for this painful detour.)
-
This detour might last even longer than he thought it would.
Of course it would, he thinks to himself, nothing ever does go smoothly for him.
No matter what Zuko tries, he can’t steer the ship in any other direction than the one the wind carries him to. Even moving the rudder in the most aggressive positions, something he is sure would capsize any other boat at this speed does nothing to deter whatever possess this ship.
His only choice is to, yet again, put his life into the hands of some higher being.
Great.
-
After a few hours of involuntarily sailing the sea, the boat decides it has reached its destination when it beaches on land.
Zuko is unsure if the ship gave him passage to the mainland or sailed to another island. Given where he originally was with his ship, and the position of the sun, he knows he must be further northeast, but that does not help in determining if he reached the Earth Kingdom continent or not.
Nevertheless, whatever landmass he reached; It is certainly bigger than his previous piece of paradise. Beyond the beach and the forest's border he can see multiple mountains peak into the sky.
But what mountains these are? He has no idea.
Again, great.
Since he apparently cannot move the boat by himself, his only option is to make camp and then later move further inward.
And, given that the sun is already starting to set, camp seems to be the sensible choice. He still can’t really wrap his head around how thankful he is to have remembered the survivalist tips he received from the sailors back on his frigate. Once he is back with Uncle and the crew, he will make sure to reward them for their advice before they continue their search for the Avatar.
He just has to make sure not to undermine his own authority, so scheduling less training exercises in a week might already be reward enough?
-
The sun has just reached the peaks of the trees surrounding Zuko, who has already set everything in place to start a fire for the night when a pressure starts to form at the back of his head. The sudden sting leaves him frozen before setting down the last few branches in the fireplace, just enough time to notice the animal watching him from his left.
He's about to shoo it away, but once his eyes settle on his visitor he immediately drops the branch and scrambles backwards, fear spreading through him like a wildfire.
Whatever is watching him is definitely not an animal.
The beast is about the size of cat with vibrant red fur and black paws. ...But unlike a cat it has four eyes and four tails.
It's eyes burn orange like the fire of a master firebender, and it's black tails, too many for him to count, gleam in the setting sun like blades made of sharpened steel. On its forehead sits the same eight- handled wheel Zuko saw on the sphere at the shrine.
Zuko, after getting over his initial shock, decides to deal with this abomination the way he usually does; He jumps up and is about to assume a firebending stance when the beast, which is most definitely a spirit, the back of his mind supplies far too late, starts to speak.
“Child, cease this at once. We are here to collect our side of the deal.”
The words reach his ears as if carried by the wind itself, given that the mouth of the spirit does not move an inch.
“Deal? Are you the spirit of the island shrine? I only prayed to you to survive, I don’t even know what I promised you anymore!”, he snaps back, completely overwhelmed by the situation and trying to get back out of it.
The spirits tails move smoothly, like falling leaves: “We are not the one you prayed to, we are just the messenger for the messenger.”, it explains, its sing- song tone not shifting.
“It does not matter what you do or do not remember, you formed a contract with our master and now both sides must fulfil their agreed duties. Our masters ensures your survival, and you will do their bidding in the World of the Living.”
Zuko is furious. This mess will only get in the way of his quest to find the Avatar, and he is certain even delirious he knows not to be impulsive enough to offer such terms... Right?
“I am no one’s servant! You can’t force me to serve you for the rest of my life!”, he retorts blazenly. He feels fire escape his nostrils involuntarily.
The Spirits' tails continue to sway in the wind.
“You will, or else- “, the pressure on his head increases exponentially, it feels like someone is caving his skull in. Zuko falls to his knees in pain, groaning, desperately holding the back of his head.
“- there will be consequences.”
As fast as it came over him, the pressure subsides. The spirit continues, its body in the same place it was before, completely unmoving except for it's tails.
“You won’t serve for the rest of your short lifetime. But this is a contract in which my master promises you much, therefore you will fulfil the maximum number of favours we can ask of you.”, The spirit bows his head, the wheel now in full view, “You owe us eight services. Eight times will you be contacted by us and eight times will you fulfil our wishes. As long as you live, we will be able to call upon unused favours.”
Zuko has fought himself back onto his knees as they finish speaking, still reeling from the immeasurable pain of getting his skull caved in.
“Eight favours? And then we’re done? No tricks?”, Zuko manages to breath out, drained from his short torture.
The messenger starts to smile, its mouth lined with too many teeth for a creature of its size: “No tricks, wanderer, you can be sure of it. We have a reputation to uphold after all.”
The spirit shifts, standing up and getting closer to Zuko.
“We have led you here to do us our first favour. You are on this island to resolve a debate between two local deities: The spirit of the mountains and the local sea serpent.”
Zuko, who is still trying to comprehend all what the messenger has told him in the last few minutes, at least starts to find his fire again: “That’s all? You won’t even tell me where to go or what to do? I won’t get finished like this in ages!”
Again, the messenger does not react to Zuko’s retort, and it's tails continue to sway: “Believe us child, you will soon learn that this favour will not take much of your time.”
The longer this debacle goes on, the more it reminds Zuko of the hours spend talking with uncle. He groans and leans back where he sits, propping himself up on his arms: “I don’t have a choice anyway right? This is all part of the contract?”
Suddenly, the messenger starts to grin devilishly: “You get it. You don’t have a choice anyway.”, it says before turning it's backward towards Zuko.
“Pleasure doing business with you. And good luck, child.”, they say, before vanishing as if it were carried away with the wind itself.
The beach where Zuko’s camp sits is now silent, and he flops on the sand.
Absolutely unbelievable what his life has come to.
At least he now knows he is on another island.
-
The next morning Zuko decides to walk the length of the beach --after an undignified screaming match with himself about the insanity of his current predicament-- until he finds anything.
Yes, just anything. The spirit did say this should not take a long time, so just marching until he finds a hint seems like a decent enough idea for now.
Wherever they wanted him to land seems to be a decent sized island though, reasonably big enough to fit a permanent settlement at least.
The trek along the waterfront is not hard, he's thankful to have left his rusting armour behind. Walking around without the added weight makes the journey less tiring for sure.
...And the view kind of reminds him of Ember Island.
-
This island is definitely populated, Zuko muses sardonically as he is being lead away with a blindfold covering his eyes and his hands bound.
While most of his hike had little issues beyond sand in his boots, he could not really shake the feeling of being watched. He just shrugged it of as a overreaction after being surprised by the spirit back at his camp.
Turns out, he should have listened to his instincts. At some point, five blurs of green clad warriors jumped out of the forest and attacked him.
Now, usually that would not be that big of an issue, he is more than able to fight of five attackers with his firebending for at least a while, but, remembering he is all alone in the Earth Kingdom right now, bending fire might be a surefire way to get himself killed immediately.
So, his only option was to fight the warriors with his hands, which turned out swimmingly. ...At least he still has the knife hidden in his boot.
Given that they also had the moment of surprise, Zuko is admittedly somewhat proud he held out for as long as he did.
Additionally, he is not dead yet, so his brilliant idea to not use firebending seems to at least have gotten him somewhere.
Though the trajectory certainly isn't promising...
-
When Zuko is eventually forced to kneel on the ground and his blindfold is removed, the sudden blinding light only allows him a few seconds to take a look at his surroundings.
He is in some sort of harbour, a small village in front of him, maybe around ten to fifteen houses. A crowd has gathered to watch him standing a good distance away. Closest to him stands an old man in a blue robe, supporting his weight with a wooden walking stick.
Next to him stands one of the warriors who attacked him: The girl wears a green robe with black armour covering her arms and upper body. Her face is painted in a way that is extremely familiar to Zuko --somehow--, and on her head sits a golden ornament resembling a rising sun.
The face paint is Avatar Kyoshi’s, and this is Kyoshi Island, it hits him.
Suddenly Zuko knows which 'sea serpent' he has to find.
Just then that the warrior speaks: “Why do you trespass on Kyoshi Island? What brings you here?”, she demands, staring him down furiously.
Alright, he has to get out of this mess somehow, and there is no one to help him --just like always kind of, he thinks--, so arguing his case to the best of his abilities is probably his best choice.
Trying to think quick, he settles on something that is just barely a lie: “I-I was shipwrecked and left drifting through the water until I reached this island. I was just trying to find out where I ended up!”
The warrior and the old man watch at him sceptically. Zuko glares back the best he can.
“You fought like a wild tigerlion. There is no way you just came out of the ocean like that.”, the warrior states, her emotions perfectly hidden by her face paint.
“I took a nap.”, Zuko retorts defensively, insulted by them not believing his story and decides to glare even harder.
The warrior closes her eyes and sighs before looking at the old man, who has not said a single word during this --certainly biased-- trial.
The man too, closes his eyes and shakes his head. He says: “There’s no use. Feed the spy to the Unagi, for it shall decide his worth.”
Immediately, the warrior moves to grab Zuko, but in his eyes this trial is not over yet.
“Spy? I am no spy! I was shipwrecked in the Southern Sea and just ended up here! My story is true!”, he shouts as he is pulled onto his feet by the back of his robe.
“Yes, yes. How you look already tells us enough. Let the Unagi be the judge of the story and then maybe we can schedule a retrial for you.”, The warrior tells him as he is lead down towards the bay.
He tries to struggle in her grip, but his wrist are bound tight. Even trying to kick her legs out from under her does nothing, not that Zuko could have fled anyway, given there are multiple warriors accompanying them.
His struggle proves fruitless --as always-- and soon he stands just inches away from the water as the warriors summon the Unagi by throwing meat into the bay.
In this moment Zuko wonders if his contract also includes being saved from a hungry sea serpent. It certainly would hinder him from further survival.
Still, he really wishes he wouldn’t have to find out.
With enough time, the Unagi’s scales begin to peak through the waters, and the warriors decide to leave him bound and retreat to watch the spectacle without risk of being eaten.
Zuko wants to call them cowards, but alas, he is currently preoccupied with fearing for his life, so he --for once-- decides to keep his mouth shut.
The massive sea serpent rises out of the water with a roar. It’s green eyes settle intently on Zuko and it’s head lowers itself ever so slowly until he is sure if he was able to reach out he would almost be able to touch it.
For a moment, Zuko thinks that this is it, that this is how he ends up dying in the end. How undignified for a prince.
However, just as he closes his eyes to accept his fate, Zuko feels a weight settle on his shoulders, and he almost falls forward from the sudden shift.
From behind him he can hear a collective gasp coming from the villagepeople, and at that moment he tears open his eyes to see the messenger's head on his right side, staring right into the Unagi's eyes.
For a moment it feels like time stands still, two otherworldly beings communicating silently, until, with a roar, the Unagi descends back into the waters of the bay.
The messenger's head turns to look at Zuko as he hears the sound of metal whirring through the air.
They’ll do it then, he realizes and squeezes his eyes shut thinking the Kyoshi warriors will finish him off instead.
But that future does not come to pass. Instead of losing his head, he suddenly feels the tension of his restraints dissolving.
As he slowly, disbelievingly opens his eyes again he sees the messenger sit in front of him, tails swaying in the breeze and glinting in the sun like sharpened metal.
“We freed you. Now do your job.”, the spirit says before vanishing again within a blink of an eye.
-
The townspeople think Zuko to be blessed now, which is just slightly less annoying than being sentenced to death by them. They constantly pester him to help with minor inconveniences that they are certain are cause by spirits. He can barely make his way through the village without being asked to bless something or pray for someone.
And it is not like the favour he has to fulfil is any better. It turns out the Unagi and the mountain spirit of Kyoshi Island are constantly fighting about who governs the fish who swim in the stream that stems from the mountains water source. The two bicker like little children and the closest they came to a conclusion was by offering the fish to the local forest spirit.
Exciting stuff, and not at all frustrating.
At least there will be sailors visiting Kyoshi Island soon, according to the villagers, so, after he is finished with this stupid spirit-dispute, there’ll be a good chance he can get of this island if he can convince one of the crews to take him with them.
-
When the ships pull into the bay, the people rush into the harbour to survey the merchants’ goods. There is more action in the village now than in all the days Zuko spend here previously combined.
The mood is soaring and the crews seem happy to have reached their port.
Naturally, Zuko decides to use this time so listen in from afar and make sure the situation calms down before he tries to secure passage of this island, least someone tries to beg him to stay.
That turns out to be easier than he originally thought, since one of the sailors steps onto a chest, shouting loudly so everyone can hear: “Everyone! We have news! The Fire Nation took a great blow in the war!”, they yell, voice laced with great elation: “They’ve lost their prince! The Firelord’s son Zuko died at sea! The ocean is on our side!”
What?
Zuko’s thoughts are racing, not helped by the shouts of pure jpy of the crowd.
They think he died? He isn’t even gone for that long. Standard procedure would call for a two-week search period in the general area of the shipwreck, he remembers from studying the naval handbook. Did they just not look for him?
He stumbles forward, deeper and deeper into the crowd, pushing bodies aside to get closer to the boats.
He doesn’t know what the hopes to find, just trying to do anything to stop this madness.
Standing in front of the sailors, he notices a piece of paper being passed around the villagers.
Immediately, he snatches the notice and the words make his heart stop.
“It is with a heavy heart we announce the death of Crown Prince Zuko of the Fire Nation. He was thrown of his ship during a naval battle and, even despite prince Iroh’s and commander Zhao’s greatest efforts, not recovered. His death is certain.
Princess Azula will take over the role of Crown Princess in his steed.
His funeral will be held on the summer solstice.
Word of the Imperial Palace.”
No way.
Zuko throws away the paper and runs.
Runs deep into the forest, close to the stream.
He kneels at the water’s edge and begins to cry.
“Why me? Why always me? Why can’t things work out just once!”, he shouts, not able to hear his own words over his sobs.
He hears no answer.
He pulls out his knife, uncle’s knife, his last possession.
He flips the blade.
“Never give up without a fight.”
He cuts of the rest of his phoenix tail, now surrounded by short hair that grew during his time lost at sea.
He breathes in deep, closes his eyes and tells himself: ´The crown prince is gone.´
-
He barely finds the energy to do anything else but try to settle the spirit’s dispute, it’s tiring, sure, but better than thinking about what will happen once he finishes the first favour.
In the end they settle on a compromise: The Unagi rules the stream, the mountain spirit rules the stones in the stream and the forest spirit rules the fish in the water.
It only took them two days to figure this out.
Zuko is thankful all the same.
-
Only once he ran through every firebending kata he knows twice and almost collapsed does he decide to return to the village to gather all his things, some supplies to get on the first boat he can find and off this island.
And he almost manages to do it without attracting any attention in the shadows of nightfall, too, but just as he is about to make his way into the harbour does one of the warriors notice and approach him.
It’s the same one who questioned him during his trial and led him to his execution. He recognizes the same golden headpiece setting her apart from the other warriors.
“You’re leaving?”, she asks him, his body half hidden in shadow where he stands pressed into a house's wall.
Why does she care?, he questions himself, She wanted him dead not that long ago!
“Yes, there’s nothing here for me anymore. I did what I came here to do.”, he tells her diplomatically, trying to get this conversation over quick.
She watches him quizzically before her expression shifts into something that resembles that he can only describe as 'begrudging acceptance'.
With one fluid movement she reaches into her belt and draws one of her fans, handle extended towards Zuko: “Take this, as an apology for trying to feed you to the Unagi.”, she smiles meekly, “And also... I feel like you could need it. Maybe next time you'll be able to actually put up a real fight."
Feeling himself glower reflexively at the snide remark, Zuko tries to study her expression. She seems sincere, but he’s never been good at judging that stuff.
Hesitantly, he grabs the fan and mumbles a genuine thanks.
War fan in hand, he swings it open, trying to show he appreciates her gift. But watching the opened fan, he notices a small detail that freezes him in his tracks.
It has eight ribs.
...Did they know?
The warrior interrupts whatever thoughts are running through his head: “What’s your name?”
Right, he never told them a name. Zuko racks his brain about what he should say, question about the messenger knowing about this moment beforehand already forgotten.
Calling himself Zuko will get him killed right here and now, not to mention the rest of the Earth Kingdom. He's nationless. A no one. There's his answer.
“Call me whatever you want.”
-
With the help of the warrior Zuko secures passage to the mainland free of charge, and the next morning he sits at the bow of a ship setting sail for the greater Earth Kingdom.
The sun rises and turns the water into a vibrant orange colour. He can feel his inner fire respond to the new dawn.
Seven favours to go.
-
At the end of the first year five favours are left.
-
After two years he fulfils two more favours.
-
And then the Avatar returns.