Prophecy (Sun and Moon Book 3)

Chapter 50 - Balance

            Zuko and Ursa walked through the garden, arm in arm. Around them, the world was slowly darkening as the sun set over the horizon, but neither was paying attention to it.

            It had been three days since their return to Ursa, and still Zuko had not found the courage to ask his mother about the letter.

            It sat heavily in his pocket, like a weight that tied him down. They stopped near the pond, and Ursa looked at him frowning. “Zuko, what’s wrong?”

            “What makes you think something’s wrong?”

            She laughed. “I’m your mom, Zuko.”

            He laughed with her, then sighed, raking his fingers through his hair. “I just…” He slid his hand into his pocket, touched the letter.

            Then, on a breath, he drew it out. “This… is it… I…” He felt so many emotions in that moment, was sure they all played across his face, as she took the letter and read it.

            Finally, she sighed. “It’s time you learned where you come from, my love. No, this letter isn’t true. Ozai was your father, but the reason behind the letter… it’s a long story.”

            Zuko felt as if his world had just been overturned, then righted again. He took a deep breath, needed it to steady himself, to find his balance again.

            It wasn’t real. He was the rightful Firelord. Ozai had been his father, and Iroh was his uncle. The last assertion meant far more to him than the first two. “We have time.”

            With a smile, Ursa linked her arm with his, and began to walk toward the archway into the palace. “It all started many years ago. I grew up in a small village on the outskirts of the Fire Nation, called Hira’a…”

**__**

            Linna stood on her balcony, staring out over her city. The Sea had stopped melting. The spirits had stopped fighting.

            The world was back in balance.

            It could mean only one thing: Agni and La had made peace at last.

            She heard a footstep behind her, but didn’t turn. She knew who it was. She saw his hand first, as he placed it on the railing beside her. The deep blue color of his ring caught her eyes, and she smiled faintly as his other hand came to rest on the railing on the other side of her.

            He had effectively caged her between himself and the railing, and his lips grazed her shoulder and her neck as he leaned against her. She took his hand, smiling still.

            He rested his head atop hers, and together they stared out across the city. “Peace has come.”

            His voice resonated deep inside her, and she sighed softly. “So it has.”

            “Your vision, my love… did you know that Corr would attack the Avatar?”

            She made a soft sound of reproof. Though he was on the Council, it wasn’t his place to question what she Saw.

            Despite that, she answered him anyway. “Yes. I Saw that he would be harmed if he came to the city.”

            “Then why did you call him here at all? The Sun and Moon have made peace, and he was not involved.”

            “I…” She sighed, hating to admit her weakness. “I called him here because I did not know what else to do. It was Erin and Skaavi who took over after Aurora’s death. I thought perhaps the Avatar could help. He is the last airbender, the only possible connection to Skaavi.”

            “But Skaavi needed Erin to help him, did he not?”

            “Perhaps you are right.”

            “Could it be that Erin was there all along, and we just did not see her?”

            “You speak of the blind earthbender?” She felt him nod, and she frowned. “You may be right. Even so, the Prophecy said that it would be Aurora who brought them together, but she too disappeared, just as Avatar Aang did. Perhaps… perhaps the Prophecy was wrong.”

            “Your Sight is never wrong, Linna.”

            “I know, Rouik. But… I still do not know who sends me the visions. I do not know who causes them or why things happen the way they do. Their world is a mystery to me, and… this Prophecy was nonspecific.”

            “What do you mean?”

            In response, Linna turned in his arms, laid her head against his chest. “It spoke of the fight between the Sun and Moon, but as for Aurora, it said only that ‘their daughter is the bond’. It could mean anything.”

            “Perhaps her disappearance was the key. It brought them together, did it not?”

            “It did.”

            They were silent for a time, contemplating the intricacies of prophecy and the fallacies of those who try to comprehend it. Finally, Linna smiled into her lover’s chest.

            “Rouik?”

            “Yes, my love?”

            “Let us speak no more of humans. They muddle my mind.”

            “Mine as well, my love. It is as you wish.” Then he kissed her, and they spoke no more at all.