Chapter 238: Twilight (8)
'I wonder... the view from the top of those two hills.' This thought, nay, emotion is interrupted by a gentle voice.
"Does it interest you that dearly?" A voice whispers to the quiet lizard who was starving for a few hours now but it patiently chose to 'watch' the dragons fight the lone human eventually. Due to the darkness and lower innate visibility, the Lizard could barely make out the flying dragons whenever their breaths of fire and dazzling lightning illuminated the valley. But it is sure... they are fighting the human who could be considered the first being to ever heal it... and even feel excited by its mere sight.
The lizard chooses to ignore the familiar flower that would take its time to accompany the adventures she's experienced.
"I've come to know that human... intimately," The strange flower with dick-like stamens waves around gently as the soothing voice chuckles, "You know me. I'm interested in the taste of otherworldy since the beginning. It's strange seeing one survive the ordeals of spirits."
*Crackle*
Both the dragons begin to twist elaborately while lightning builds around them and shoot bolts of lightning at the human who dove into the hill once more but his beaten and bruised body is illuminated for a moment.
Things are dire now.
"His name is Nik. Ran and Shaw... are just being brats again to please Ra but sometimes intelligence shrouds the eyes of the wise. They don't even know what Ra expects from them and despite being enlightened to fire... they have lost sense of themselves."
Steam escapes the nostrils of the lizard and the flower chuckles, "Don't be rude. I may say what I wish about those born years after me. You are still too young to have such radical opinions."
The Lizard stops raising a ruckus and tries to watch the ongoing battle while remaining still lest the Sun Warriors discover it.
"Don't you want to be like them?" The Flower questions and this brings a sense of defeat within the lizard, causing it to finally slump on its stomach and spread out its stubby, scaled limbs.
"Now, now. When I am not taking in the sights of the world, I keep beside you for a reason. Just because Ran and Shaw abandoned you for what you are does not mean you are not loved. Sometimes... love finds its mysterious ways to be demonstrated," The Flower of Fertility assures the lizard, "You are not named. You are not a noble one either. But you are certainly enlightened. That human... Nik needs recognition. Look at him."
Although the lizard cannot, it still strains its gaze to where Nik supposedly is due to all the commotion as the Flower of Fertility comments, "He doesn't have scales... no wings or horns. Not a beautiful mane or whiskers. Neither a snout nor sharp claws. Reminds me of certain someone who only learned to not challenge Ran and Shaw after a scar."
The tip of the lizard's tail barely twitches.
"You lacked the strength and he lacks the understanding. You understand the requisites of attaining true recognition of Ran and Shaw while he possesses adequate strength for it. If I didn't know better, I'd say you two are a match made in heaven. But... I suppose heaven is a more human term."
The Lizard suddenly stands up once more and 'coughs' softly, blowing up a plume of smoke.
"I will not help you. The Sun Warriors have chased you out. Like Ran and Shaw chose to please Ra at the expense of losing sight of themselves, the Sun Warriors chose to please their masters by chasing you out and losing sight of themselves, too. Ra never said... the trial of one cannot be another's test, too."
Flower of Fertility felt the Lizard's hesitance imprinted within it out of years of hardship and pain it earned from this valley.
Although their task was done, Flower of Fertility chose to add a few more words out of personal bias. As it said... the flower chose to watch over the lizard in Ra's stead. There is an undeniable bond between the two no matter how thin and delicate.
With a soft sigh, it whispers, "You may not survive this... but for once, I do wish for your wellness in my core. Fate has restricted your existence but if there is one thing I am certain of... and that is, Nik is everything uncertain you have ever wished for. And if you choose to set your fate in his palms, then it may likely leave Fate's control altogether."
Flower of Fertility is aware of how contradictory its words are but that's Nik's very essence at this point— paradox.
The Lizard most certainly feels intimidated by fire and lightning and the fierce aura of the noble dragons but the scar covering its right eye aches. This is the only region where it lost the green scales that cover its entire body. A mere reminder of her place.
'I wonder... what is the view from the top of the hill...' The same emotion of want and pure desire burst and bubble within her. Desires should elude the enlightened ones but... does it ever? From food to shelter— everything comes with a desire no matter how minimal. Even the desire to forsake everything is rooted in desire itself.
Like bending techniques... desire is just energy. It must be channeled through the right paths—
The Lizard's thoughts are interrupted once more as she hears a scream, "Stop the sullen one from interrupting the trial!"
'Huh?' The Lizard is shocked. How did she get discovered... no, WHEN did she already enter the clearing of the valley while making her way towards the stairs to the bridge connecting the two hills?
Questions turn meaningless as she lets go of hunger and rushes towards the stairs with everything she has while dodging blasts of flames from the sun warriors. And those she cannot dodge in this moment of weakness...
*Tsss*
Her scales char soon enough as the lizard lets out a pained screech. The dual fleshy appendages on her back are not covered by scales and they meld back into her scales.
"Stop the Sullen this instant!" The Chieftain growls but he dares not look away from the actions of his masters and HAS to stay in his position in reverence of the masters. But conversely, those at a lower position in the tribe have lower restrictions and they move to stop the lizard. A few sun warriors even stood in front of the staircase with fists ablaze.
The pale yellow eyes of the lizard glitter in the night as it reflects the consistent blasts of fire and lightning high above the hills. There's no determination in her gaze but pure desperation.
Her tail never felt heavier. Her limbs never felt THIS short. As she received more and more kisses of flames from behind, her momentum dwindles.
She's surrounded.
It was useless from the very beginning.
'If only... I could speak. If only my voice could reach beyond. Having an enlightened mind but not the comparing body is no blessing.'
Her vertical pupils dilate as fire covers her vision.
If she was not this mere laughable example of failure... flames would not hurt her. Earth would bounce off of her body. Sea would be her lake and the sky her garden.
'I'm caged... not only in this situation but in life. I alone... was never good enough—'
The lizard comes to a stop as fire threatens to swallow her.
'That's fine, too. Agni's embrace is... perfectly adequate.'
*Whoosh*
The carpet of flames swirls into the sky before dispersing into motes of light that decorate the valley as a tight grip clenches the back of the neck of two Sun Warriors guarding the staircase and smashes their heads in as they are knocked unconscious while a sidekick to the torso tosses away the third one caught unprepared.
The Lizard and other Sun Warriors come to a stop when they see a haggard dark-haired youth standing on the first step of the stair with motes of light passing over him like beautiful fireflies.
The pale yellow eyes of a beaten animal and the gaze of a prince lock for a moment and then Zuko steps down before sidestepping and opening the path of the lizard.
The Lizard doesn't hesitate like usual and takes up the stairs while Zuko and the Chieftain are face-to-face.
"Are you crazy?!" One of the sun warriors shouts, "That one is not allowed to step up to the path of the masters!"
A few even throw volleys of flames as Zuko takes control of it once more and implodes them into motes of light.
"You... could have been enlightened by the masters!" The Chieftain sighs softly.
"So... it's called enlightenment," Zuko mutters but there is a distinct lack of remorse or hesitation in his gaze, "Does it sound crazy... that I could hear that cry for help?"
The Chieftain's being trembles for a moment and he finally closes his eyes. It's a sin to look away from the masters displaying their skills but...
A lone tear prickles at the corner of Chieftain's wrinkled eye as he admits in a deep voice filled with human guilt, "No... that's not crazy. That voice was loud and clear enough. I genuinely wish you do not regret your decision. You could have been a firebending prodigy with their help. A force as great or even beyond... Iroh."
This... held enticement to Zuko.
But he was always simple.
Like he did not want to create a rebellion but save the villagers from the tyranny of the fire-bending soldiers, he couldn't choose power over mercy this time, too.
"This trip has been exciting enough," Zuko speaks seriously, "To the point, I have achieved my initial objective. I hoped to help Nik now but... the intensity of this 'test' would have me a burden rather than assistance."
"Letting her up may even be a bigger mistake."
"About that," Zuko shrugs, "You don't know how annoying Nik is for strange animals. Even I got to know it now and well, he spent his time and energy to heal that lizard. Letting you harm her further is not my intention."
"You arrogant fool!"
The Chieftain doesn't move but focuses on the dragon once more and instead the sun warriors raise their arms while Zuko takes a deep breath and adopts a passive position that invited attacks instead of taking the chance to attack once more.
A kind of stance the Chieftain is distinctly familiar with. A form that allowed a young and aspiring firebender to challenge the chieftain in his younger years and defeat him with extraordinary results.
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Alternate Title: Look! Character Development!; The Cry of Help— A Hand of Mercy; Zuko is Simple Bro; Lost The Lizard? That's Rough Buddy— Zuko Probably; Right Desires; Sullen One; It Who is Harmed by Fire and Made by One, too.
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A/N: I just hope I didn't overdo it, lol.
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