Under the Cherry Blossom ↠ Zuko x OC ✔️

10 | The Search

The questionable idea hit Zuko in the middle of a meeting in Yu Dao. The representative of the city explained an ancient Earth Kingdom philosophy: family is in essence a small nation and the nation a large family, in treating his own family with dignity, a ruler learns to govern his nation with dignity.

This belief hit Zuko hard. He turns to the right where Arlington is seated.

"I want to reunite my family. I put my father in a prison and my sister in an institution. My mother's been banished for years. What does that mean for our nation?" He asks Arlington.

Arlington bites her lip as she ponders the question. "Zuko, your father and sister may be your family by blood, but they certainly didn't act like it. As for your mother, I think it would be a good idea to search for her, but that would require the cooperation of Ozai and Azula. Do you think they're ready to be civil with you?"

"It's been five months since the end of the war... that should've been enough time to sort things out within themselves." Zuko reasons.

"In theory, five months seems like a long time, but I don't think it's been long enough for them to sort through at least a decade's worth of turmoil. If you were to bring them together, there are going to be problems. If you're up for the challenge, then I say go for it." Arlington offers her honest opinion.

The topic remains on Fire Lord Zuko's mind for the remainder of the meeting.

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Ozai sits in his cell behind bars while Azula's silently hunched over in a chair with her arms and legs restrained. Zuko, Arlington, Ty Lee, and Suki remain behind the prison cell door.

"Have they said anything to each other?" Zuko asks.
"Not a word." Suki responds.
Zuko sighs and grabs a tray with three tea cups and a tea pot on it.
"You're bringing them tea? They're your prisoners, not your guests!" Suki tries to stop Zuko, but Arlington places a hand on her shoulder.
"They're still his family." Arlington sadly whispers to the Kyoshi Warrior. Suki nods and backs down.

Before Zuko can even say a word, Azula bites the tray he's carrying and knocks him to the ground. Ty Lee quickly retaliates by chi-blocking Azula.

"How did you expect me to drink tea while wearing a straitjacket, Zuzu?! Did you want to watch me lap at it like that animal your airbender wife has?!" Azula turns her attention to Ty Lee and begins rambling nonsense.

"Let me handle this!" Zuko insists. "You and Father are meeting for the first time in half a year, and I know these aren't the best circumstances. I thought the tea might lend a little dignity." Zuko explains.
"You want dignity? Let Father and me talk to one another like two human beings. In private." Azula demands.

Arlington senses something wrong with this whole ordeal. Knowing Ozai and Azula, them speaking alone together is a bad sign. They'll more than likely plot something against Zuko.

Amongst the commotion, Arlington silently airbends herself to the ceiling of the prison cell. She plans to listen in on Ozai and Azula from the rafters.

"Fine." Zuko agrees to Azula and he, Ty Lee, and Suki leave the cell.

"We'll give them half an hour." Zuko says.
"You sure about this?" Suki asks.
"Like it or not, Azula is my best chance of finding my mother." Zuko sighs and crosses his arms.

The three of them patiently wait outside the cell.
"Did anyone see where Arlington went?" Ty Lee asks after a few moments of silence. This sparks Zuko's and Suki's attention.
"No. I don't know where she went. Zuko?" Suki says.
"I get this feeling she's up to something." Zuko looks both ways down the hall of the prison.