* * * * *
It was the night of a full moon. Zuko awoken from his bed not being able to go back to sleep. He walks through the palace halls as he makes his way to his favorite spot, the turtle duck's pond in the palace garden. When he got there he noticed that someone is already there.
"Mom?"
Ursa, Zuko's mom was staring at the full moon and the stars that filled the night.
"Zuko ... What are you doing awake, you should be in bed"
Zuko rub one of his eyes as he explained. "I had a bad dream and I couldn't go back to sleep"
"Me too" Ursa smiles as she gestures her hand to come closer as she scooched over for him as she shares the night sky view with him .
"Isn't it beautiful Sweetie"
"Yea" Zuko nodded
"The Heroes are watching over us" Ursa said as she sighed in admiration at the star constellation.
Zuko tilted his head in confusion "Heroes?"
"Hehe ... they go by many names in the past but the one that stuck was the 'Seven Star Heroes', a group of powerful individuals whose made a vow to protect the people and the world"
"But isn't that the Avatar job mom?"
"The Avatar is only one person, Sweetie and his job is to keep the peace between our world and the spirit world. While he is busy fighting the evils of this world the Star Heroes work to rescue the individuals in danger to that evil"
"Where are they now Mom? Why haven't we learned about them at the academy?"
Ursa frowned "Nobody knows, some say as the people depended more on the Avatar, they faded to the sands of time."
"Hehe ... Now they are just a fairy tale mom's use to help their children to sleep" Ursa began to nuzzle and tickle Zuko.
As the moment calm down Ursa explained more. "I always like the tale of the Star Heroes, unlike the Avatar they can be anyone. They can be a store owner, one of the servants, me, ... Or even you Zuko"
"Me, mom?" Zuko scrunch his face in confusion. "I'm a prince not some Hero from a fairy tale"
"Like I said, the Stars can be anyone Sweetie"
Ursa saw the brightest star and shared some info she was told by her mother long ago. "It's said that all you need to do is follow the brightest star in the night sky and you will find it"
"Find what?" Zuko tilted his head.
"The land of the Star Heroes, their birthplace, where they first formed"
Ursa stared into the stars one last time full of uncertainty and longing.
"Zuko, you ..."
* * * * *
"Ugggghhhh"
Zuko grunted as he tossed and turned.
Huh?
He slowly opened his eyes, which had trouble adjusting to the light, when he realized he was laid out on a bed. He looks straight at the ceiling for what appears to be some .... hut.
Where are earth am I?
He turns to his right as he was meet with what appears to be a stone wall. As he turns to the left he see's the rest of the space. In the center was a fireplace with a pot over it, there seems to be something cooking in the pot. What ever was cooking seems to be too salty. There was a stone table to the side of that fireplace. The counter itself was full of fish carcasses as the walls themselves was full of knives and hunting tools.
If he didn't know any better, he would have guessed this place was more of a hunting cabin than someone's home.
As Zuko tries to get up, he grunts in pain. He falls back on the bed. His head was pounding and he felt a sharp pain on his back side. Just then the memory of how got this wound came flooding in. It was Azula literally stabbing him in the back.
Then a flood of questions raced through Zuko's mind.
Why did she do this? Was this her plan all along? Why did she wait until now to do this? Why didn't she do this at Ba Sing Se? Did she even mean anything she said?
Zuko's questions began to shift toward himself.
Did I deserve this? Did I chose wrong? Should I have sided with Katara instead? Is this why Uncle won't talk to me? What would have been the correct choice?
Zuko covered his eyes with one of his arms as he grunts in his own questions of what went wrong. While he was in deep thought, he can hear the sounds of foot steps approaching this hunter cabin.
He tries to get up but to no avail as his body was still very sore. Before he knew it, a elderly gentleman entered the hut with a basket full of fish.
"Oh good ..... You're awake"
The old man dropped the basket overflowing with fish on the counter full of assorted blades. He then walks toward the center of the hut where the boiling pot by the fireplace.
"Here"
The old man handed Zuko the bowl that was full of what appeared to be some kind of fish stew.
"Eat first, Lad. You need your strength. We can talk while you get some food in you"
Zuko looked at the food in a bit of disgust as he gave a sniff and gaged a bit.
"Haha ..... yea I know, its nothing to write home about"
The old man sat by Zuko bedside after pouring his own serving. He removed his sword off his leg as he placed it on the floor.
"Trust me, it taste better than it looks" He says as he slurps into his own bowl.
Zuko looked once more at the bowl as he sighed and began to slurp down his stew. It was a bit salty but otherwise it was pretty good.
As Zuko and the old man were eating the stew in awkward silence. Zuko took notice of the old man's appearance.
He was a reasonably tall elderly man. He had a reasonable gentle face which seemed to be familiar but he couldn't put his finger on it. He had blue eyes as his hair, which he can only guess was originally brown was now grayed out from age, was tied in a man-bun. The man also had grey stubble on his chin and jaw line.
He was wearing a light-blue waved pattern long sleeved jinbei kimono with navy blue colored pants which were fastened at his shins by white kyahan guards. He wore traditional black tabi socks with straw scandals.
Zuko finishes up his bowl as he took notice that before he sat next to him, his left leg had a sword that was tied to the side of it almost like some brace to help him walk. He remembers how he was limping into the hut.
The man watches Zuko eat with satisfaction, occasionally sipping from his own bowl.
"There, that's not so bad, is it?" He says with a hardy chuckle.
"Now then boy. Why don't you start by giving you name. And perhaps a bit about how exactly you found yourself on my property? What were you doing before?"
"My name is Zu-"
Zuko stopped himself as he realized his dire situation. Prince Zuko is not needed in the Fire Nation. Lee, his Earth Kingdom alias is ruined as well. Zuko begins to feel dread as he realizes he has no place to go now. He has no home to return to now.
But then a faint memory resurfaced inside him as he was searching for a answer to the man's question. It was a while ago, but it was the time he rescued the young avatar but it ended up him needing the saving at the end of it. He really couldn't do anything right.
What was the name of the Avatar's friend again?
As Zuko hesitated, the elderly man watches him with patient curiosity. His weathered hand rested on his lump leg, rubbing it to relief the ache.
"My name is ..... Kuzon" Zuko finally said, the unfamiliar name feeling strange on his tongue. He clears his throat, trying to sound more confident.
"It's Kuzon"
". . . . ."
Zuko looks down in shame as he works up the courage to ask his own question.
"Why am I here ..... exactly?"
". . . . ."
* * * * *
The old man was going through his normal routine of sharping his knives in his hut when he heard two familiar voices in the distance.
"Sensei ..... Come quick"
"Gramps ..... Please hurry"
He puts aways his knives and he wipes his hands as he limply walks toward the two voices. One hand in his Jinbei while the other is placed on the top of the sword that's strapped to his limp leg like a brace.
"Ryuu ..... and Kyin? ..... I'm not expecting you and Rue for my supplies for about a week or so ..... Hmm"
Ryuu and Kyin came walking toward the old man house with Zuko unconscienced in-between them.
"Who is that?"
He just stood there and watched as Ryuu and Kyin walked passed him.
"Sorry Gramps, he needs help"
Ryuu and Kyin walked into his hunting cabin.
"Ryuu place him on that spare bed"
"Got it"
The old man wobbles into the hut. "So why exactly have you brought this boy to my home, exactly"
"Gramps, he needs help ..... the knife on his side seems to be stuck for some reason"
"I don't care, take him to the healers ..... it's not my problem"
"But sensei ....." Kyin stops Ryuu mid sentence.
"But Gramps, he is an outsider"
"An outsider ..... How ..... Are you sure? How do you know?"
"We saw him falling out of the sky ourselves"
"Yea the princess was up in arms when ....."
"What! He saw Yohun. You fools do you know how important she is to be kept a secret" The old man was boiling with a sudden anger when Kyin interrupted him.
"Gramps ..... the man was already knocked out when we caught him. I believe Lady Yohun is kept secret ..... for now ... she was trying to escape again when she saw him"
The old man sighed as he rubbed in-between his eyes. He approached Zuko and checks his condition. He checks over his body, clothes and all. His examination ends as he studies Zuko scar as Kyin and Ryuu notice he is deep in thought.
Kyin and Ryuu looked at each other in concern. "Umm ..... Sensei, it seems that scar is old, his major injury is that knife on his side"
The old man wasn't paying attention as his focus was on Zuko scar.
"Gramps?"
"Hmmm ..... oh yes. Ryuu give me my carving knife and heat it under the fire. Kyin give me some clean water, my fishing line, and some bandages in that cabinet over there"
The old man finally acknowledges Zuko wound as he washes his hands preparing to fix him up. He took notice how the wound around the knife was burned around it to stop the bleeding further.
Ryuu and Kyin couldn't help but look at each other in confusion. Not sure where the sudden switch came from.
"It also appears he's got a couple of concussions as well" He took notice of a couple of slight bruising around his head.
Hmmm
His eyes stopped at Zuko arm as he noticed ... Bite marks.
What could cause ...
He shook his head as he deems it doesn't matter for now as he focused on the main injury.
"If what you said is true, then it amazing he survived this trip to us"
His added assessment shocked both Kyin and Ryuu to go get the items he requested.
Before they returned, he took one last look at Zuko's face as he is about to begin saving him.
* * * * *
". . . . ."
The old man rubbed his chin as he was in deep thought.
"Kuzon huh ... That's an interesting name you got there"
There was awkward silence as Zuko and the old man took turns slurping down on the bowls. The old man finished his bowl first.
"Well my name is Kovu" He place the bowl back on the tray where he first pick it up.
"This here is my home, where I keep my hunting supplies and gut my catches mostly. I am but a simple old man living out my retirement when two younglings showed up and forced you on me"
Zuko stops eating as he lowered his bowl.
"S-sorry"
Kovu takes Zuko bowl and puts it away.
"So ... how about you tell me about yourself boy." As he finish washing the bowls. He picked something up as he returned to the stool next to Zuko. "How exactly did this stranger make it to my home. I don't exactly get any visitors here"
"I ... I was heading home after so long ... on a ship. I fell overboard at night" Zuko looks away for a brief moment "... for some reason"
"Hmmm"
"I remember a storm and then ... I woke up here"
"Hmmm ... Can't you think of anything while you were in the sea" Kovu seems to be prying on how exactly Zuko got here as he rubbed the stubble on his chin.
And then a faint memory resurfaced before he fainted in the sea. He remembers hearing "clicking"
Clicking .... It couldn't be
"Interesting"
Then as if Kovu heared what he wanted to hear tried to change the subject. Kovu went into his sleeves as he placed the object he picked up earlier near Zuko.
"Well either way, I believe this is the reason why you fell overboard" Kovu placed a small dagger on Zuko lap, the same Earth Kingdom dagger which was gifted to him by his Uncle.
"This was on your backside when I found you, it seems to have a sheath but it wasn't on you"
Suddenly a shiver ran down his spine as he recognized the dagger. He takes and exams the blade, reading the inscription 'Never Give Up without a fight'. Zuko's breathing gets a little erratic.
Clap
"Well" Kovu slapped both legs as he got up getting his attention.
Hmmm seems I touched a delicate subject
"We can put a pin on that for now"
Kovu gets up as he sets his sword to his leg, like some brace, and begins to limp toward the door.
"Come ... Let's get you a change of clothes"
Zuko slowly gets up, his body a bit sore as he felt a tightness to his side. It seems like that stew worked its wonders for his energy.
Zuko suddenly becomes acutely aware of the strange quality of light in the hut, the salty taste on his tongue, and the odd heaviness in the air as he follows Kovu.
Kovu lifts the cover letting the light beam through, blinding Zuko until his eyes adjust.
He steps out to an unbelievable sight.
"What is this place?"
Where exactly am I?