Lord of Fire

CHAPTER 50: TYPES OF LOYALTY

Zuko stood on the bridge of the Sea Serpent, watching as the horizon swallowed the Fire Nation fleet. The conversation with Captain Tsu had left him pensive, stirring memories and reflections he had long buried. He turned away from the vast expanse of the ocean and began his walk back to his quarters, each step heavy with the weight of his thoughts.

His mind raced back to the moment he woke up in Zuko’s body, a moment that had altered the course of his life forever. He remembered the confusion, the disbelief, and the overwhelming fear of being trapped in a world he barely understood. Since then, he had made countless mistakes, each one a testament to his small thinking and short-sightedness.

Zuko clenched his fists as he recalled his friends—Paul, Masuku, and David. They had always pushed him to think bigger, to see beyond the immediate challenges and envision the larger picture. Like he did on earth. They had believed in him, and it was time he honored their belief by thinking big.

His mind made up, Zuko headed straight for the quarters where Aang was recovering. The ship swayed gently beneath his feet, the waves lapping against the hull in a soothing rhythm. The wooden boards creaked softly as he walked, the familiar sounds of the sea filling the air.

As he entered the room, he saw Katara tending to Aang, preparing a meal for the weakened Avatar. Aang lay on a small cot, his face pale and drawn from the exertion of using the Avatar State in their previous battle.

Katara looked up, her eyes narrowing slightly at the sight of Zuko. "What do you want, Zuko?" she asked, her voice edged with suspicion.

"I need to talk to Aang," Zuko said, trying to keep his tone polite. But his face, hard and determined, conveyed a different message.

Katara straightened, placing herself protectively between Zuko and Aang. "Aang is not in any condition to fight, Zuko. Whatever you have to say can wait."

Aang, despite his weakened state, noticed the look on Zuko’s face. "It's okay, Katara," he said softly. "I'll hear him out."

Katara hesitated, her gaze flicking between Zuko and Aang. Finally, she nodded reluctantly. "Fine. But no more fighting. We're on a ship, and it won't take much to sink us."

She walked out of the quarters, casting a warning glance over her shoulder as she closed the door behind her. Zuko watched her go, then turned back to Aang, his expression serious.

"We need to have a serious talk," Zuko said, his voice steady.

---

An hour later, Zuko emerged from the room, feeling a slight weight lifted from his shoulders. The conversation with Aang had been intense but necessary. They had spoken about their pasts, their motivations, and the path that lay ahead. Zuko had shared more of his truth than he had with anyone else, and in doing so, he felt a glimmer of hope for his future.

He made his way back to his quarters, the ship's gentle rocking a constant reminder of their precarious journey. As he opened the door, he found Katara waiting inside, her arms crossed and her expression unreadable.

"Katara," he began, closing the door behind him. "What are you doing here?"

"I need to talk to you," she said, her voice firm. "I need to understand why you’re doing all this."

Zuko sat down, motioning for her to join him. She hesitated for a moment before sitting across from him, her eyes locked onto his.

"I surrendered myself to you to save my brother and my friends," Katara said, her voice trembling with barely suppressed emotion. "You could have killed them all with that massive Sphere of Fire. Why didn’t you?"

Zuko sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Don’t get me wrong. I am a monster, Katara. Despite everything you might think of that, your words had nothing to do with it. I was never going to hurt them. It was the perfect attack to make them lose hope while still allowing us to get free.”

"But you’re part of the Fire Nation," Katara retorted, her eyes flashing with anger. "You’ve done terrible things. Your people have done terrible things. How can you justify that?"

"I can't," Zuko admitted. "The Fire Nation has done horrible things, and I’ve been a part of that. But I’m trying to change. I’m trying to find a better way. A way to minimise the lose of lives. I might need allies in the future like with Tsu. I cannot just go around killing people and doing things just for the sake of it.”

Katara's expression softened slightly, but the anger didn’t fully leave her eyes. "And what about your feelings for me? How does that fit into all of this?"

Zuko met her gaze, his eyes intense. "I care about you, Katara. More than I’ve cared about anyone in a long time. But I need you to understand something—there will be more fighting. There will be more bloodshed. I won’t stop until I’ve achieved my goals, and that means I’ll do terrible things. Many people will die."

Katara's eyes widened with shock, but she didn't look away. "And you expect me to be okay with that? To just accept that you’ll do terrible things and still care about you?"

Zuko leaned forward, his voice lowering. "I won’t lie to you, Katara. You won’t be my only woman. My path is dark and dangerous, and it’s filled with things I can’t change. But I want you by my side, despite all of that."

Katara's breath caught in her throat. She stared at Zuko, the conflicting emotions warring within her. Hatred for the Fire Nation, anger at the pain he had caused, and yet, an undeniable attraction and deep feelings for the man before her.

"You’re asking a lot, Zuko," she whispered, her voice trembling. "You’re asking me to overlook everything the Fire Nation has done, everything you might do in the future."

"I’m asking you to trust me," Zuko said, his eyes burning with intensity. "To trust that I’m not all bad, and that I need you with me.”

For a long moment, the only sound in the room was the gentle creaking of the ship as it swayed with the waves. Then, slowly, Katara leaned in, closing the distance between them. Zuko met her halfway, their lips crashing together in a passionate, desperate kiss.

All their worries, all their conflicting emotions about morality and loyalty, seemed to disappear in that moment. The kiss was long and intense, filled with unspoken promises and raw, undeniable need. For a moment, they were just two people, lost in each other, with no world to tear them apart.

When they finally pulled apart, breathless and flushed, Katara looked into Zuko’s eyes and whispered, "I’m your woman, Zuko. Despite everything, I just cannot control myself around you. I choose you.”

Zuko nodded, his heart swelling with a mix of relief and resolve. "And I choose you, Katara. Together, we’ll face whatever comes next."

They sat in silence for a moment, the weight of their confession settling over them. The journey ahead was uncertain and fraught with danger, but they had each other. And for now, that was enough.

As the ship rocked gently on the waves, Zuko and Katara’s worries faded into the background, replaced by a newfound sense of unity and determination. They would face the future together, no matter what it held.

---

[The Previous Night]

The night was clear and calm, the full moon casting a silver glow over the dark ocean. Commander Zhao stood on the deck of his flagship, the *Dragon’s Wrath*, watching intently as the silhouette of the Tsu Pirates' flagship, *Sea Serpent*, faded into the horizon. The waves gently lapped against the hull of his ship, their sound barely audible over the creaking of wood and the occasional rustle of the sails.

Behind him, Captain Mui and Lieutenant Tau exchanged confused glances but remained silent. Zhao’s orders had been explicit—allow the pirates to escape. The reasoning behind it was not clear to them, but they trusted Zhao’s judgment. As the *Sea Serpent* disappeared into the darkness, Zhao finally turned away, signaling the end of their pursuit.

“Return to your stations,” Zhao commanded. “We have other matters to attend to.”

Mui and Tau saluted and followed Zhao as he made his way back to his chambers. The corridors of the *Dragon’s Wrath* were dimly lit, the flickering lanterns casting long shadows that danced along the metal walls. Once inside Zhao’s chambers, the door closed behind them with a soft thud.

Captain Mui, a prodigious firebender and young yet seasoned warrior with a baby face, broke the silence. “Commander, may I ask why we let the Tsu Pirates escape? We had them within our grasp.”

Zhao removed his helmet and set it on the table, the flickering candlelight revealing the hard lines of his face. “The pirates are a secondary concern,” Zhao replied. “Our primary objective remains the capture of the Avatar and the return of Prince Zuko to the Fire Nation capital.”

Lieutenant Tau, tough and experienced but fiercely loyal, furrowed his brow. “But the Fire Lord’s orders were clear. Prince Zuko is to be escorted back to the capital now that he has proven himself by capturing the Avatar. He is on that very same Pirate Ship that we let go.”

Zhao’s eyes gleamed with a hint of malice as he reached into his tunic and produced a sealed letter. He broke the wax seal and unfolded the parchment, revealing the delicate handwriting of a certain Fire Nation princess. “These are orders from Princess Azula,” Zhao said, his voice low. “She has commanded that Prince Zuko not be allowed to return home alive.”

Mui and Tau exchanged uneasy glances. Mui spoke first, his voice steady. “Commander, are we to follow the Fire Lord’s orders or those of the princess?”

Zhao’s face darkened, and he slammed his fist on the table, causing the candle to flicker. “You will follow my orders,” he growled. “Do not question me again.”

Mui and Tau quickly saluted and left the room, their footsteps echoing down the corridor. As they walked, Mui glanced at Tau. “Our loyalty lies with the Fire Lord,” he whispered. “We cannot let the princess’s ambition dictate our actions. Prince Zuko is the rightful heir to the throne.”

Mui was a very ambitious young man but his loyalty lied with the Fire Lord. Despite his ego and initial reservation of Prince Zuko. The word of the Fire Lord took a greater meaning to him. He too agreed that the Prince proved himself by capturing the Avatar once again, this time all alone.

Tau nodded in agreement. “We must find a way to help the prince return to his rightful place. But we must be careful. Zhao is not one to be trifled with.”

Back in his chamber, Zhao extinguished the candle with a swift motion, plunging the room into darkness. He sat cross-legged on the floor, closed his eyes, and began to meditate. The air around him seemed to hum with energy as he focused his mind, his breath steady and controlled.

Within moments, Zhao felt the familiar sensation of his consciousness shifting. He opened his eyes to find himself standing in the middle of a swamp. The air was thick and humid, filled with the chirping of insects and the distant croak of frogs. The trees around him were twisted and gnarled, their roots snaking through the murky water.

An ominous feeling hung in the air, and Zhao could sense the presence of Vumala before he even saw him. The spirit materialized before Zhao, his form shifting and ethereal, his eyes glowing with an otherworldly light.

“Commander Zhao,” Vumala greeted, his voice a low hiss. “You have done well to come.”

Zhao bowed his head slightly. “Vumala, I received your summons. What news do you have for me?”

Vumala’s eyes seemed to pierce through Zhao’s very soul. “Your plans are progressing, but there are threats you have not accounted for. The upcoming phase of our operation requires utmost precision.”

Zhao frowned. “I have the situation under control. The Avatar and Prince Zuko will be dealt with.”

Vumala shook his head, a sinister smile playing on his lips. “There are forces at play that you cannot comprehend. I have brought someone to aid you in your task.”

A figure emerged from the shadows, stepping into the faint light cast by the glowing fungi that dotted the swamp. He was tall and broad-shouldered, clad in the attire of an Earth Kingdom soldier. His eyes were cold and calculating, his expression one of arrogant confidence.

“This is my subordinate,” Vumala said, his tone dripping with disdain. “He will ensure that Prince Zuko and the Avatar do not interfere with our plans.”

The man smirked, his gaze flicking over Zhao with barely concealed contempt. “It seems you’ve had trouble handling a mere boy and a child,” he mocked. “Rest assured, I will take care of them.”

Zhao bristled at the insult, but he held his tongue. He knew better than to challenge Vumala’s authority directly. Instead, he nodded curtly. “Very well. I will leave Prince Zuko and the Avatar to you.”

Vumala’s smile widened, and he placed a hand on Zhao’s shoulder. “Good. Remember, failure is not an option. The fate of the Fire Nation depends on your success.”

Zhao bowed again and closed his eyes, feeling the pull of the spirit world recede. When he opened them again, he was back in his chamber, the candle still flickering beside him. The encounter had left him shaken, but he knew he had to remain focused.

He rose to his feet and walked to the window, staring out at the moonlit ocean. The ship rocked gently beneath him, the waves a constant reminder of the journey ahead. Zhao’s thoughts turned to Zuko and the Avatar, and he felt a surge of determination.

He would not fail. He could not fail. The future of the Fire Nation rested on his shoulders, and he would do whatever it took to ensure their success.

---

Meanwhile, in the dimly lit corridor, Mui and Tau continued their hushed conversation. They had pledged their loyalty to the Fire Lord, and they would not let Zhao’s ambitions derail their mission.

“We need to find a way to warn Prince Zuko,” Mui said, his voice barely above a whisper. “If we can get him back to the capital, he can reclaim his place as the rightful heir.”

Tau nodded, his expression grim. “But how? Zhao is watching us closely. One wrong move, and we’ll be executed for treason.”

“We’ll have to be careful,” Mui replied. “But we must act quickly. Time is running out.”

The two officers continued down the corridor, their minds racing with plans and strategies. They knew the risks, but they also knew the importance of their mission. They would do whatever it took to help Prince Zuko, even if it meant defying Zhao.

As they reached the end of the corridor, they paused, exchanging a final glance. “For the Fire Lord,” Mui said quietly.

“For the Fire Lord,” Tau echoed.

With renewed determination, they parted ways, each heading to their respective duties. The night was far from over, and the challenges ahead were daunting. But they were ready to face whatever came their way.

---

Back in his chamber, Zhao lit a fresh candle and settled back into his chair, his mind still buzzing from his encounter with Vumala. The swamp’s ominous presence lingered in his thoughts, and he could almost feel the spirit’s gaze on him, even from afar.

He took a deep breath and closed his eyes, seeking solace in the flickering flame before him. The road ahead was fraught with danger, but Zhao knew he could not afford to falter. The fate of the Fire Nation depended on him, and he would not let them down.

The candlelight cast long shadows on the walls, and Zhao allowed himself a moment of reflection. He had come so far, endured so much. But this was just the beginning. The real battle was yet to come, and he had to be ready.

As the ship swayed gently on the waves, Zhao felt a renewed sense of purpose. The moonlight bathed the ocean in a silvery glow, and he knew that somewhere out there, his enemies were plotting their next move.

But Zhao was not afraid. He was ready. The *Dragon’s Wrath* sailed on through the night, its course set for destiny. And Commander Zhao, with all his ambitions and determination, would be there to meet it head-on.

The future of the Fire Nation was at stake, and Zhao would stop at nothing to ensure its triumph.

[A/N: Read 20 chapters ahead available on my patreon right now. patreon.com/saiyanprincenovels ]