412. Liberating Omashu

Zuko was in deep thoughts now. Since the day he was beaten by Alexander he had lost his will to fight anymore. He had seriously started thinking about the things fire Kingdom has done all these years. He had traveled to many villages now and had seen their misery.

If he was inside the Fire Kingdom, then he would have never learned about the atrocities committed by his country. But he was lucky enough to be outside and look at the world for what it was. All his life, just like the other kids, he was lead to believe that Fire Nation was good and they were fighting not because of bad ambitions but for peace. They were told that fire Nation wants to bring prosperity across the world and for this they needed to rule over it. He now knew what a lie it was.

"Don't be sad, Zuko, When life gives you lemons, you make a lemon tea. Life is all about improvising, adapting to different situations, and eventually overcoming them. You received a good beating from my old friend there and that is a fact, now, you can be sad about it and cry or work harder and get stronger," Iroh advised him, this was exactly why he accompanied him after all.

"But Uncle, how am I supposed to catch the Avatar if I only focus on my training," Zuko asked.

"You don't have to," Suddenly a feminine voice came.

Iroh and Zuko looked and found it was Azula, "Why have you come here?"

"Oh, that's so rude, Zuzu. I came here all the way to give you father's message. He wants you to return. He thinks people are plotting against him and that he can only trust his family." Azula informed them while rolling her eyes as if tired of all this.

"Father... want me back?" Zuko muttered. No matter what he was, he was still hungry for parental acknowledgment.

"I will be waiting on my ship, come soon," Azula said went back, hiding a wicked smile.

"We are going home, it is unbelievable. After 3 long years," Zuko muttered with a secret excitement.

But Iroh didn't buy it, "This is very unlike my brother. He would never send a letter like this, I have never known him to regret anything,"

Zuko was quick to refute him "Did you listen to Azula? Father's realized how important family is to him. He cares about me,"

Iroh still didn't buy it, "I CARE ABOUT YOU! and if Ozai wants you back, well, I think it may not be for the reasons you imagine,"

Zuko being a young hot-blooded teenager, whose mother had gone missing and hungry for parental love. He strongly denied whatever Iroh said to him, refusing to see who truly loves him.

"You don't know how my father feels about me. You don't know anything." Zuko shouted.

Iroh took a softer tone and added, "Zuko, I only meant that in our family, things are not always what they seem."

Not wanting to realize the hard truth, Zuko lashed out, "I think you are exactly what you seem. A lazy, mistrustful, and shallow old man who has always been jealous of his brother."

*CLAP CLAP CLAP*

"Good family drama is what I always like, go on, continue, I haven't finished my popcorn yet," A flying cat appeared in their room.

Zuko took a fighting stance while Iroh didn't, "What are you?"

"Oh, I am the one and only, your friendly neighborhood Chaos God." Hats introduced himself.

"You can call me Lord Hats," he added.

"Are you a spirit?" Iroh asked.

Hats thought for a second, "Hmmm, I guess you can say that."

"Have you come to guide us? Great spirit?" Iroh politely asked.

"Aww, you are such a positive man. No, I am here to enjoy what is going to happen soon, bye-bye," Hats turned invisible.

"I feel that this cat was a bad omen and tried to warn us," Iroh mumbled while scratching his beard.

The next day, they went to board the ship but as expected by Iroh, they weren't being taken back as the family members of fire lord but as prisoners. The captain of the ship had mistakenly called them prisoners instead of prince and general Iroh.

So they fought and ran away. Their whole way they could honestly hear a laughing sound always near them, as if mocking them.

...

Alexander, Dobby, Ragnarok, and the Avatar team came across the city of Omashu.

Omashu was the second-largest city in the Earth Kingdom and the capital of one of its states. Surpassed in size and importance only by Ba Sing Se.

The gates of the bustling metropolis were normally guarded by an army of earthbenders. The city was also well known for its famous delivery system powered by a combination of both earthbending and gravity.

The tall mountain peak on which Omashu was founded was located in the southwestern Earth Kingdom. It rises high out of a deep chasm and was created by earthbenders several centuries prior. The only way to reach the gates of Omashu is across a long narrow bridge of stone that spans the sheer gorge.

"Yes, we were right, the city is taken over by the fire nation. I must save Bumi," Aang exclaimed as soon as the city came into view.

"But how should we enter? There is only one entrance to the city." Katara reminded him.

"Hmm, well, it is Avatar's duty to help the people but I can't overlook this illegal occupation either. So, I will give you a small hand. Come with me, we will be going through the main gates. Just make sure you don't say anything no matter what," he instructed them.

They nodded their heads seriously. They all walked to the city's main doors and knocked on it. Alexander had put an invisibility charm on all of them.

Soon the doors opened for someone to come out and inspect. They all normally walked in, shocking the Avatar team. Once a good distance away from the gates, Aang asked, "How did you do that? They didn't even look at us,"

"Haha, just one of the perks of being an old knowledgeable man." Alexander laughed it off.

"So, where do we find this friend Bumi of yours?" He asked further.

"I don't know, they must have captured him," Aang sadly answered.

"Okay, your Avatar team will go and find Bumi and I will help the people here. Chomei, you are the most responsible of all, you will accompany them," Alexander instructed.

"Yes, Lucky Seven Chomei is always on duty, let's gooooo..." Chomei flew ahead, making others run after him.

"So, what are we going to do, Boss?" Dobby asked.

"Well, the fire nation must have appointed a new governor here. Let's just go and meet them." He proposed.

"Haha, okay" they agreed.

...

Omashu was renamed as New Ozai after it was conquered and a man named Ukano was appointed as the fire nation governor. He was the only person to ever become a governor in the fire nation.

He and his family were standing on the balcony and looking down at the city, but then they heard a voice out of nowhere.

"Hey, can you give the city to me?" Ragnarok appeared in front of the balcony with his feet on fire making it look like it was making him fly.

Ukano looked at Ragnarok in shock. But because Ragnarok's attire matched with that of a fire national, Ukano politely asked, "Who are you? And how are you flying?"

"Hahaha, I am the mighty fire dragon, the strongest of all..." But he was interrupted.

"Muhaha, I am the mighty sand beast, Shukaku," Shukaku added.

Ragnarok facepalmed himself, "That is why Chomei is the smartest."

"GUARDS!" Ukano's wife shouted.

"No no, there won't be any guards coming here." Dobby came from behind them, cornering them between Ragnarok and Dobby.

Then Alexander came, "Listen, I mean no harm to you or your family. Just stay calm and do as I say. That child will also not have to cry then,"

"What do you want from us? M-Money? We got money for ...y-you," Ukano fearfully stuttered.

*Sigh*

"No, what I want is freedom,"

He waved his hand and chairs appeared behind the family. "Sit down and tell me your names one by one,"

"I am Ukano, the governor appointed by Fire Lord himself, I a..." He was interrupted by Ragnarok.

"That's enough, next,"

His wife introduced herself, "I am Mich, this one is my daughter Mai and my son Tom-Tom"

~Why multiple Tom?~ Alexander thought.

"Good, I am with the Avatar. That should be enough to tell you why I am here," he introduced himself.

Ukano and his wife nodded sharply. Ukano looked at his wife, "I guess we will be going home, Michi"

[You can see Azula, Zuko, Omashu, Ukano and his family on my Discord - https://discord.gg/DgHkrAn OR see them on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/mister_immortal_novel]

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