Zuko's Girl

Ba Sing Se

It took a few days, but my healing was finally starting to help Iroh. He had woken up in a lot of pain, but I tried my best to make him comfortable. " Uncle, I made tea." Zuko smiled, handing Iroh a cup of tea as I wrapped fresh bandages around his torso. " Ah, thank you, Zuko.". He smiled, taking a gulp of the tea, pulling a disgusted face as he swallowed the tea. " How is it?", " It's delicious, thank you!" Iroh smiled.

Once Iroh was well enough, he decided to teach Zuko how to bend lightening. " Is that even possible?" I asked. " It is, I have done it myself a few times. It can be hard to learn, but I can teach you the movements. The rest is up to your strength.".

I refused to go with them, knowing Iroh and Zuko needed this time to themselves. They hadn't seen or spoken to each other in weeks. They needed this time alone.

~~~~~~

Once Iroh was better, we all sat down to discuss a plan. " We can't go to the Fire nation. We're wanted prisoners.". " Not to mention they'll imprison Scarlet." " What should we do? The fire nation has soldiers in every city in every nation.". I sighed. " That's not true. The Fire Nation has never been able to defeat Ba Sing Se. Their walls are practically impenetrable, and their soilders are no different.". " If we do this, if we go to Ba Sing Se, then we must say goodbye to our identities. We will never be able to fire bend or speak of our family again.". Iroh said seriously.

" If we go, we will be living a new life with new names.". " I have no family other than you and Scarlet. My family abandoned me when I was banished. There's nothing for me left in the fire nation."  Zuko sighed. " Then let's go. The sooner we get there, the sooner we are safe.".

~~~~

It took us days, but we had finally made it to the earth kingdom, to a train station that would take us to Ba Sing Se. The station was full of people who were trying to hide from the war. Children were crying. People were tired, sick, and starving as they tried to hold on to the hope they would be allowed into the city.

I held Zuko's arm as we waited in line. " Next!" The woman at the ticket stand yelled. " Three tickets to Be Sing Se, please.". Iroh smiled. " Passports?". " We don't have passports. We weren't told we needed them.". I spoke up. " Listen, sweety,  without a passport, you aren't getting on that train. Get out of line.". " A rare desert flower such as yourself shouldn't be hidden away in a position like this. You should be in the sun, growing even more beautiful.". Iroh smiled at her.

The woman blushed, flirting back with Iroh before stamping three tickets for us. " That was disgusting.". Zuko gagged as we made our way to a bench and sat down as we waited for the train to come.

We were sitting for what felt like hours when a man selling tea offered us some. " Oh yes, I'll take one!" Iroh smiled. " Same old Iroh," I laughed. " Scarlet?" I heard someone call my name. I turned my head, and my eyes widened when they landed on Jet. " Jet?" I asked, " H-how are you here? I thought you were fighting fire nation soldiers in the forest?". " We were until that water tribe idiot ruined our whole operation. Since then, we've been travelling from town to town trying to survive. Figured we'd make a new life for ourselves in Ba Sing Se. See, you had the same idea."  He smiled.

" Uh yeah. Oh, Jet, this is Lee and his uncle Mushi.". I introduced Zuko and Iroh to Jet with the fake names we had used before. " It's nice to meet you Jet, how do you know Scarlet?" Zuko asked. " I saved her when she was travelling with the avatar. They were surrounded by a group of fire nation soldiers, but we took care of them and brought them into our camp. How about you, Lee? How'd you meet Scarlet? She's never mentioned you before.".

" I met Lee when I stopped travelling with Aang. I decided to make my own way and found him during my travels of the earth kingdom.". I smiled. " That's a pretty nasty burn.". " Yeah, it is.". " Ugh, this tea is cold.". Iroh cried out. " Can I talk to you for a minute, Scarlet?" " Uh, sure.". I stood up and walked away from Zuko and Iroh. " It's been a while." He smiled." Yeah, you seem pretty happy still.". I smiled. " Of course I am now. I found you again.". He grinned, making me chuckle.