Chapter 31 – Gone
That night Zuko told his grandmother and Ursa his plan. At first Ursa argued with his decision, claiming that he would be going back on his promise. Though when Zuko explained it more she understood, but she broke down in tears and gave her son a big hug. Zuko kissed her on the cheek and told her that he loved her, and did the same for Ta Min. He was going to miss them incredibly.
After that he walked to Ta Min’s room, the old guestroom where he kept his things, and packed up everything he brought with him on the trip. He would leave in the morning when he would be at least a little rested. He remembered Katara told him that advice the night before they first left. It seemed like such a long time ago…so much has happened.
Zuko tried to fall asleep on the second bed in the room, but he couldn’t. Too much was on his mind. Eventually he got up and took his bag of things, leaving Ta Min snoring to herself in the room, and went to the living room. He sat on the couch in the dark room with his stuff next to his feet on the floor. He put his head in his hands and sighed. He had to do this. It was the only way.
He put his hands on his lap and sat up. He thought about where he was going and what his plan was when Azula caught up to him. He thought about Aang, Katara, Ursa, and everyone else that he knew, but especially Katara. He remembered how her face looked as he told her he was going to leave. She looked so sad and somehow heartbroken as well.
Then there was their last kiss.
Zuko wondered what she thought about it—about what it meant to her. To him it showed the passion and love they felt for each other underneath it all. He also felt as though it showed what could’ve been if he would stay.
What could’ve been.
Tears trickled down Zuko’s face. His lips trembled as he tried to hold back as sob. He didn’t care if he cried anymore. To him, crying was not a weakness. It showed how much he cared for someone for something. Life was hard and painful. Sometimes he had to cry to get through challenges that it throws at you.
He didn’t always think this way; his father had made sure of that. To his father, crying was indeed a weakness. Since he joined Team Avatar he gained touch with his sensitive more and more. He was no longer afraid of that side of him anymore.
Soon Zuko began to feel sleepy. He lay down on the couch and ever so slowly closed his eyes…
Zuko woke up in the morning to the sound of uncontrollable sobbing. Right away he got up and searched around, trying to find the source of the crying.
“Mother? Gran?” He called out.
At last he tracked the sound to Ta Min’s room. Ta Min was sitting on the edge of her bed, sobbing into a tissue as she tried to control herself. Zuko ran to her and went on his knees before her. He took her other fragile hand in his own.
“What’s wrong? What happened?” He asked her, sincere concern in his tone.
At first she continued to cry, but then she choked out very shakily, “U-U-Ursa!”
She gestured to a piece of paper lying beside her. Zuko’s eyes went wide. He let go of her hand and stood up. He went to the paper and read it. He was horrified with what it said. It said in sloppy handwriting:
Zuzu,
Wanna play a game?
Don’t answer—you’re already a player.
Here’s how the game goes.
You come to me in the land of no water where
me and your precious mother will be waiting.
It’ll be more than just a fight…it’ll be a choice.
Remember whom you love the most, and you’ll be prepared.
And if you play correctly…only one will survive.
Hurry, Zuzu…I’ll be waiting…
-Azula
Zuko dropped the note and staggered back, the letter fluttering to the floor. How could his own sister do this to him? He was slammed with so many emotions at once. He wanted to collapse where he was standing. How could one deal with this situation?
But there was no time to lose. Azula had their mother, and Azula would pay.
Zuko spoke his thoughts out loud. “The desert,” he breathed, sure of himself.
He began to sprint out the room, but then he remembered Ta Min. He stopped at the doorway and turned his body around to look at her.
“I’m going to go find her…if I don’t come back, I just want you know that I love you. And if you can, tell the others that too,” he told her, speaking on the low side.
Ta Min gazed up at him for a moment, her eyes red from crying so hard. She gave him a little nod and went on sobbing.
Zuko left the room, and leaving his things he packed behind, he ran as fast as he could out the door. He turned left and started sprinting through the town of Lon Lon to rescue his mother from his insane sister. What he also needed to do was finish Azula’s absurdity…once and for all.
That night Zuko told his grandmother and Ursa his plan. At first Ursa argued with his decision, claiming that he would be going back on his promise. Though when Zuko explained it more she understood, but she broke down in tears and gave her son a big hug. Zuko kissed her on the cheek and told her that he loved her, and did the same for Ta Min. He was going to miss them incredibly.
After that he walked to Ta Min’s room, the old guestroom where he kept his things, and packed up everything he brought with him on the trip. He would leave in the morning when he would be at least a little rested. He remembered Katara told him that advice the night before they first left. It seemed like such a long time ago…so much has happened.
Zuko tried to fall asleep on the second bed in the room, but he couldn’t. Too much was on his mind. Eventually he got up and took his bag of things, leaving Ta Min snoring to herself in the room, and went to the living room. He sat on the couch in the dark room with his stuff next to his feet on the floor. He put his head in his hands and sighed. He had to do this. It was the only way.
He put his hands on his lap and sat up. He thought about where he was going and what his plan was when Azula caught up to him. He thought about Aang, Katara, Ursa, and everyone else that he knew, but especially Katara. He remembered how her face looked as he told her he was going to leave. She looked so sad and somehow heartbroken as well.
Then there was their last kiss.
Zuko wondered what she thought about it—about what it meant to her. To him it showed the passion and love they felt for each other underneath it all. He also felt as though it showed what could’ve been if he would stay.
What could’ve been.
Tears trickled down Zuko’s face. His lips trembled as he tried to hold back as sob. He didn’t care if he cried anymore. To him, crying was not a weakness. It showed how much he cared for someone for something. Life was hard and painful. Sometimes he had to cry to get through challenges that it throws at you.
He didn’t always think this way; his father had made sure of that. To his father, crying was indeed a weakness. Since he joined Team Avatar he gained touch with his sensitive more and more. He was no longer afraid of that side of him anymore.
Soon Zuko began to feel sleepy. He lay down on the couch and ever so slowly closed his eyes…
Zuko woke up in the morning to the sound of uncontrollable sobbing. Right away he got up and searched around, trying to find the source of the crying.
“Mother? Gran?” He called out.
At last he tracked the sound to Ta Min’s room. Ta Min was sitting on the edge of her bed, sobbing into a tissue as she tried to control herself. Zuko ran to her and went on his knees before her. He took her other fragile hand in his own.
“What’s wrong? What happened?” He asked her, sincere concern in his tone.
At first she continued to cry, but then she choked out very shakily, “U-U-Ursa!”
She gestured to a piece of paper lying beside her. Zuko’s eyes went wide. He let go of her hand and stood up. He went to the paper and read it. He was horrified with what it said. It said in sloppy handwriting:
Zuzu,
Wanna play a game?
Don’t answer—you’re already a player.
Here’s how the game goes.
You come to me in the land of no water where
me and your precious mother will be waiting.
It’ll be more than just a fight…it’ll be a choice.
Remember whom you love the most, and you’ll be prepared.
And if you play correctly…only one will survive.
Hurry, Zuzu…I’ll be waiting…
-Azula
Zuko dropped the note and staggered back, the letter fluttering to the floor. How could his own sister do this to him? He was slammed with so many emotions at once. He wanted to collapse where he was standing. How could one deal with this situation?
But there was no time to lose. Azula had their mother, and Azula would pay.
Zuko spoke his thoughts out loud. “The desert,” he breathed, sure of himself.
He began to sprint out the room, but then he remembered Ta Min. He stopped at the doorway and turned his body around to look at her.
“I’m going to go find her…if I don’t come back, I just want you know that I love you. And if you can, tell the others that too,” he told her, speaking on the low side.
Ta Min gazed up at him for a moment, her eyes red from crying so hard. She gave him a little nod and went on sobbing.
Zuko left the room, and leaving his things he packed behind, he ran as fast as he could out the door. He turned left and started sprinting through the town of Lon Lon to rescue his mother from his insane sister. What he also needed to do was finish Azula’s absurdity…once and for all.
Hello! Here's a little poem I wrote a couple of months ago! Tell me what you think. :)
“Moon To My Night”
You are the moon to my night
A bright shining star
Your brilliance is light
And beautiful you are
You are the sun to my day
Like a bird you fly
I cannot stay away
I wouldn’t even try
You are the warmth to my summer
A flower that blossoms in the spring
My heart pounds like a drummer
When you start to sing
You are the first star to my night’s eve
On my heart you leave a shining mark
From now on I will forever believe
That you will always light my dark
“Moon To My Night”
You are the moon to my night
A bright shining star
Your brilliance is light
And beautiful you are
You are the sun to my day
Like a bird you fly
I cannot stay away
I wouldn’t even try
You are the warmth to my summer
A flower that blossoms in the spring
My heart pounds like a drummer
When you start to sing
You are the first star to my night’s eve
On my heart you leave a shining mark
From now on I will forever believe
That you will always light my dark