- Location
- USA
Like a wrecking ball made of out blasting jelly.
Thank you for the comment, have a cookie.
Giving Up (Avatar: The Last Airbender)
- Thread starter Fulcon
- Start date
Like a wrecking ball made of out blasting jelly.
Thank you for the comment, have a cookie.
- Location
- Kansas
The big question is why will his objective be if he decides to stop listening to his Father's orders? I'm guessing the first step will be to stop looking for the Avatar. Zuko recently came to the conclusion based on the Air scroll that the Avatar is a coward and would rather hide then fight. That means he isn't a threat to the people of the fire nation currently. He is also still an Exile. Even if he stops believing in his Father he can't go back to the Fire Nation unless he wants to become a prisoner.
This leaves Zuko in a state of limbo. He isn't against the Fire Nation, at least not yet, but he is starting to realize that the other nations might not be the enemies he thought they were. What ever happens, I hope that Zuko and Iroh will be able to keep their crew this time around. They are loyal to Iroh, and even Zuko starts to earn their trust in the show.
Long term might be an interesting question as well. In canon, Zuko didn't start to come to these sorts realization until after he and Iroh were refugees of the war. Here, Zuko still has assets.
He already has a secondary goal; find out what happened to his mother. And even better, its a goal that doesnt require him to be loyal to his father.
Smokebending wasn't something I saw coming, but it's definitely an interesting development. Excited to see Zuko come to terms with the idea that the Air Nomads had no army. I'm also wondering if, maybe, his exposure to Air Bending and mellowing out will make it easier for him to learn lightning bending.
- Location
- USA
I'll be honest with you.
I've got no idea what Zuko is going to be doing once this trip down the rabbit hole has been completed. I know what he will not be doing, however, and that's chasing the Avatar. Season 1 Aang, Katara and Sokka will only ever catch one, maybe two glances at Zuko, but they'll never really introduce each other until, I dunno, some time during season 2.
I've heard some good ideas about what Zuko could do and there's the whole 'tracking down his mother' bit, but until we get there, I don't want to go making wild claims just yet.
Would you mind ELI5'ing me as to what exactly happened to Zuko's mom? I know she went to a face-changing spirit...thing...?
How did Zuko find her?
I'll be honest, I was originally thinking that would be Waterbending's job since electricity flows like Water, except Airbending matches what Lightning bending is described to do perfectly, so...yeah. It'll make it easier to throw lightning around. Which just means I need some extra plans to figure out what Water and Earth do.
I think water's influence on firebending would work best as just sticking with lightning redirection. It's still a handy trick to know even if Zuko could make his own, since it's a great counter move. As for Earth Bending... I really don't know, man. Lava-bending comes to mind, but that seems more like Earth Bending with Fire influences. Maybe something defensive in nature, given that Firebending still lacks that? Another idea for Waterbending is maybe Zuko can create ice by draining heat from water - he won't be able to control it like a waterbender can, but he could maybe draw on ambient heat to empower his own firebending, or just being able to make ice to walk on water could be handy.
EDIT: Something else does just now come to mind, remember when Zuko fought those Earth Benders in Zuko Alone? One of them used hammers with his bending. Maybe Zuko could study some Earth Bending stuff and apply it to his swordsmanship instead? And maybe combine his firebending and swordsmanship more.
Last edited:
- Location
- USA
Good ideas.
Also a good idea!
Have a cookie.
- Location
- Kansas
So will all Avatar content be considered canon for this story? I've only watched the Air Bender cartoon, I haven't read any of the comics that take place after that, nor have I watch Kora. Will lore from those come into play in this story?
Lightning bending requires a complete absence of emotions to generate. Zuko has always been too passionate to achieve that. With his study of the detachment of the Air Nomads and Iroh getting him to meditate more, this Zuko might actually be able to reach the state of mind to split Yin and Yang to generate lightning.
If you are looking for ideas of what Zuko might do along side looking for his mother, perhaps he could try connecting with the people of the Fire Nation colonies? If he isn't so devoted to his search for the Avatar, it would not be unbelievable for him to try to help out in some of the various colonies and try to settle issues between the Fire Nation settlers and the pacified people of the Earth Kingdom. While he might be accepting that his father has lied to him, he has not thrown away his title of Prince of the Fire Nation. If he isn't helping the fire nation by hunting down the Avatar, I'm sure he'd start looking for other ways to help his nation while in exile.
Last edited:
- Location
- Australia
When you pull out one lie everything starts to spill out and eventually the truth comes out. At this rate Zuko can eventually learnt the truth which might actually lead him to the white lotus. Since those people record and seek knowledge.
I wonder how much of Souzen's name will be torn down and remembered as nothing more then a war monger at the end.
Since smoke bending is now a think I wonder when Zuko will learn Lava bending or maybe heat.
I wonder how much of Souzen's name will be torn down and remembered as nothing more then a war monger at the end.
Since smoke bending is now a think I wonder when Zuko will learn Lava bending or maybe heat.
- Location
- USA
Not Korra, at least as far as story goes. No Raava or Wan or...any of that. Blegh. The comics maybe. Depending on how much I like them.
Lava Bending no, since that was confirmed to be Earth Bending. But Heat is probable.
- Location
- Kansas
I've had similar ideas for fire benders to create ice by taking the heat out of water. It might also lead to some interesting interactions between that ice and Water benders. My personal thoughts on how Water Benders change the state of water is via pressure. At higher and lower pressures the boiling point, condesation point, and freezing point change. If that is the case, it would be harder for a Water Bender to thaw ice that has been frozen via stolen heat.
I second that distaste for those additions to Korra lore. It is one of the things that has kept me from really looking into that series.
Also, I had another thought of Heat bending. A master of the skill would be absolutely deadly to average fire benders. Steal heat from any fire and that fire dies. I don't care how powerful or big the fire ball is, removing heat from fire it just as effective as removing air or its fuel.
- Location
- USA
You...are entirely correct in your assessment, my friend.
- Location
- Australia
One of the avatars that was from the fire nation was shown to lava bend. It's possible you just have to heat a rock and control the fire manipulating the rock it's like how an Airbender can throw stuff around.
Modus_Tollens
SCREAMING AT THE APOCALYPSE
- Location
- ALSO SCREAMING.
Hybridizing the philosophies, and arts, of Fire and Air is potentially horrifying. Fire gifts self justification and Air gifts separation from distraction and, arguably, consequence. A freedom from burdens.
I am imagining a man losing himself on a battlefield, almost more dancing than fighting, seeing the men around him as terrain. He feels no anger, his motions can barely be called attacks... but the wind grows. The heat he produces becomes a tower, fresh oxygen pulled inward along the ground and forming thermal currents. Soon he isn't even the source of it, merely the choreographer, as it rakes in fuel in the form of buildings and city blocks and he dances in a perfectly calm eye.
And then he walks out of the heart of Ba Sing Se, their precious stone untouched but all else gone, wearing nothing but white ash and a placid smile.
Lightning at least focuses on ruthlessness and expedience, learning from water's tendency to follow the path of least resistance if we go by Azula. Cutting the proverbial gordian knot. Air, though, is the element of freedom and you are marrying it to the element that needs the most delicate hand lest that serpent bite. God help whatever generation sees someone embrace the worst possible interpretation of that elemental pairing.
I am glad for Zuko's anger.
I am imagining a man losing himself on a battlefield, almost more dancing than fighting, seeing the men around him as terrain. He feels no anger, his motions can barely be called attacks... but the wind grows. The heat he produces becomes a tower, fresh oxygen pulled inward along the ground and forming thermal currents. Soon he isn't even the source of it, merely the choreographer, as it rakes in fuel in the form of buildings and city blocks and he dances in a perfectly calm eye.
And then he walks out of the heart of Ba Sing Se, their precious stone untouched but all else gone, wearing nothing but white ash and a placid smile.
Lightning at least focuses on ruthlessness and expedience, learning from water's tendency to follow the path of least resistance if we go by Azula. Cutting the proverbial gordian knot. Air, though, is the element of freedom and you are marrying it to the element that needs the most delicate hand lest that serpent bite. God help whatever generation sees someone embrace the worst possible interpretation of that elemental pairing.
I am glad for Zuko's anger.
Last edited:
- Location
- USA
He...hehehehehe...hehehehehehehahahAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA...
Thank you for your contribution, have a cookie.
EDIT: More seriously, though, I think your scenario here is why Airbender's learn firebending last.
According to the comics,
Zuko's mother used to live in a simple village along with her boyfriend. Then the Fire Lord Azulon, upon finding the location, decided to marry her to his son, prince Ozai. This is because he found out that she was avatar Roku's daughter, and wanted to strengthen the royal bloodline.
It seemed like Roku tried to hide her for that very reason. She couldn't refuse. Fast forward several years, she kept sending secret letters to her boyfriend in the village. She suspected that the letters were being intercepted, so she wrote a lie in one of these letters implying that Zuko is actually the son of her and the boyfriend, rather than Ozai's.
As suspected, Ozai was indeed intercepting the letters; he was furious with that lie (he knew that it was a lie because he had spied on her for several months before meeting her) and confronted her. He decided that as punishment, he would indeed treat Zuko as if he wasn't his own son. Years later, when Azulon commands Ozai to kill his firstborn to have a taste of Iroh's loss during the war, Ozai accepted immediately.
Zuko's mother stopped him and offered him a deal: she would make a poison that Ozai could use to kill Azulon and take the throne, in exchange for sparing Zuko. He accepted, but at the condition that she would leave the palace because he feared her ability to make such deadly poison. Zuko's mother went back to the village where she found her boyfriend again. They met a spirit with the ability to change someone's face and memories, and she decided to get a new face and erase her memories (so she forgot about Zuko, Ozai, Azula, Roku, etc) and lived happily. After the events of The Last Airbender, Zuko asks for Aang's help to find her. Azula also helps. They find her and restore her memories. She stays at the village.
It seemed like Roku tried to hide her for that very reason. She couldn't refuse. Fast forward several years, she kept sending secret letters to her boyfriend in the village. She suspected that the letters were being intercepted, so she wrote a lie in one of these letters implying that Zuko is actually the son of her and the boyfriend, rather than Ozai's.
As suspected, Ozai was indeed intercepting the letters; he was furious with that lie (he knew that it was a lie because he had spied on her for several months before meeting her) and confronted her. He decided that as punishment, he would indeed treat Zuko as if he wasn't his own son. Years later, when Azulon commands Ozai to kill his firstborn to have a taste of Iroh's loss during the war, Ozai accepted immediately.
Zuko's mother stopped him and offered him a deal: she would make a poison that Ozai could use to kill Azulon and take the throne, in exchange for sparing Zuko. He accepted, but at the condition that she would leave the palace because he feared her ability to make such deadly poison. Zuko's mother went back to the village where she found her boyfriend again. They met a spirit with the ability to change someone's face and memories, and she decided to get a new face and erase her memories (so she forgot about Zuko, Ozai, Azula, Roku, etc) and lived happily. After the events of The Last Airbender, Zuko asks for Aang's help to find her. Azula also helps. They find her and restore her memories. She stays at the village.
So yeah, feel free to disregard that as needed.
- Location
- USA
So..she decided to test if Ozai was intercepting her letters by putting a lie in them about Zuko's parentage?
...so clearly, she wasn't that concerned about Zuko's safety if she was willing to make him be her living shield. Or offer him up on the altar of divorce?
I don't get that story at all.
It sounds stupid.
Doru
Digital Disaster
- Location
- Canada, the internet
Not only is it stupid, but the chances of Ursa regaining her memories without being confronted by Azula are near impossible. So Iroh in your story has accidentally sent Zuko on another Wild Goose chase that is even more impossible to complete then finding Aang.
- Location
- USA
- Location
- Canada
Wouldn't Iroh know of what village she is from, as a starting point to look into her history; just like Zuko starting with the 4 airbender temples. So the search would be quick at least.
Except its in the fire nation, which zuko is currently exiled from.
I say just stick her in the spirit realm or something, @Fulcon. At the very least it would give zuko a new and slightly healthier reason to look for the avatar.
Broken Chains
- Location
- USA
The following is a fanbased work of fiction. Avatar the Last Airbender is the property of Viacom, Nickelodeon, Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Koniezko. Please support the official release.
---
Normally, per their routine for the day, Iroh and Zuko would enjoy breakfast on the bridge. It gave Iroh time to give Zuko lessons and counsel for the day, mostly on Firebending and how best to go about his search.
Zuko, more often than not, would get here first. He would have sat down, brooding and letting his impatience get the better of him on the days that Iroh would rather sleep for just a few minutes longer. He was an old man.
Iroh suspected that this had to do with Zuko purposefully delaying breakfast being served until after the general had arrived so they could eat together. But today, that was not the case.
Zuko was not on the bridge.
Well, if his nephew was going to sleep in for once on this trip, Iroh wasn't going to stop him. "Yeoman, could you ensure that breakfast is delivered to Zuko's quarters?"
"Yes, General," The Yeoman replied with a bow, grabbing the Prince's breakfast tray and standing up to deliver it.
For Iroh's part, he had begun stroking his beard.
If Zuko continued along this path that he was on, perhaps he might realize that the Fire Nation was wrong in it's attempts to conquer and then he might be ready for initiation into the order. That was the dream, to bring Zuko fully on board with bringing peace and balance back to the world. With the scroll they had recovered, they may even be able to begin restoring the Airbenders.
One thing at a time, Iroh chided himself with a shake of his head. Just get Zuko through this healthily and happily and we can proceed from there.
"General Iroh, sir?" The Yeoman prodded.
"Yes, what is it?" Iroh turned to look and saw that the Yeoman still had the tray.
"Prince Zuko refused breakfast." He held out the tray for Iroh to look at. "Shall I return to the kitchen to have this saved for later?"
"Please do," Iroh replied, standing up.
Something was wrong.
Iroh speedily walked down the stairs to the quarters, down the hall until he reached Zuko's door, which was closed and very much locked. Iroh knocked on the steel door. "Zuko? Zuko, are you alright?"
After a moment, the door slowly opened, revealing Zuko.
The Prince did not look well. In fact, the boy looked physically sick. His skin was paler, his pony tail a complete mess. Iroh looked into Zuko's bloodshot eyes, bags thick and dark enough had emerged beneath Zuko's good eye that it almost matched his scar. His robe was haphazardly draped around him, only barely hanging onto his shoulders.
"Uncle." Zuko's voice was hoarse and scratchy.
"Prince Zuko, you seem to have fallen ill," Iroh started.
Zuko didn't respond immediately, and when he did, it wasn't about that. "The Air Nomads didn't have an army, did they?"
Iroh blinked in surprise. "No, Zuko. I do not believe they did."
"I didn't think so," Zuko replied, slamming the door in front of him.
---
They didn't have an army.
Zuko's breathing was labored and his throat felt like something had jumped in with a knife and started hacking away.
He shed his robe and slipped back into bed.
I can't believe they didn't have an army.
But just like the previous afternoon and evening, sleep eluded him completely. No matter how tightly he shut his eyes, he couldn't force the gentle embrace of sleep to come upon him.
Why didn't they have an army?
The prince already knew the answer to this question. They were pacifists with a nigh universal respect for life in all it's forms. From their point of view, it made no sense to have an army. From how their entire population were benders to how often they all traveled across the globe.
An army not only would have seemed unnecessary, it would've been counterproductive.
They should've had an army.
But that wasn't really the point. It was a deflection and Zuko knew it. He started coughing, feeling like there was a fistful of needles jammed down the throat. Was there pus coming out of his scarred eye? There was pus coming out of his scarred eye. Why was there pus coming out of his scarred eye?
We shouldn't have attacked them.
This was a complete shock to Zuko. How in the name of Agni could great-grandfather Sozin even think of something like that? How could everyone have lied about it for so long? How could the fire nation not care about the innocent people they had killed?
Didn't anyone care?
It was then that Zuko remembered the chain of events that lead up to his banishment. How he had spoken out against the senseless waste of fresh fire nation troops and wound up with a horrific burn scar for his troubles. Alongside the mission to finish what the Fire Nation started so many years ago.
...Father doesn't care about innocent lives.
It was then that sleep came to him.
---
"He just needs liquids and rest," The ship's doctor informed Iroh.
"Then I will tend to him," Iroh replied.
"Very good, General," The Doctor replied, gathering his check-up equipment and leaving with a bow.
During his time as active general in the Fire Nation army, Iroh made it a point to learn what he could about battlefield medicine. Admittedly, it wasn't much knowledge to speak of, but it was something.
He did, however, recognize this illness and what it meant.
It was not, as many doctors may surmise, entirely a physical illness. Indeed, it was much more mental and emotional turmoil that was leaking into his body with such force that it was forcing him to go through a...metamorphosis of sorts. He was clearing the contradictions within his mind and it was taking a toll on his physical self.
The reason that Iroh had taken over ministration instead of allowing the Doctor to do it was because it was likely that Zuko was going to start speaking of things that sounded like treason to even the most trained mind. He did not need the Doctor spreading or speaking of Zuko's potential to fully rebel against the Fire Nation before Iroh could speak to him. The crew of Zuko's ship were low merit or disgraced, but they were still Fire Nation. That loyalty would trump anything in all but the most extreme cases.
They haven't hit those extreme cases yet.
Iroh had brought herbal and wellness teas, keeping Zuko well hydrated while he slept. The prince was sweating profusely beneath his covers.
---
Zuko had come down nearly to the center of the world.
All around him lava poured from streams down crevasses were the stone would be reheated and sent back up. At the end of this path, they came to a steel wall. At his command, Lieutenant Jee and the other firebenders burnt a hole through it. As they stepped through the still cooling metal, they looked up and saw him.
The Avatar.
Floating through the power of his own will, he sat in a lotus position, the elements swirling around him in a maelstrom of absolute power.
"Avatar!" Zuko called up in challenge.
Like a falling meteor, the Avatar was in front of them in an instant. He stared down at them with a hostile scowl. "Finally, a chance to avenge my murdered people!"
Then suddenly they weren't in the center of the earth. They were at the top of a mountain. The southern air temple. But it was not the graveyard he had left. There were monks everywhere, walking, talking, laughing. Children flew above them on clouds.
In front of him, the Avatar changed. No longer was he the tall, godlike figure who would avenge his slain friends and family. Instead, what stood before him was a child, around the age of twelve. He held a staff in his hand and glared up at Zuko. "We don't need to do this!"
Everything changed again, when the sky turned red. The temple around them was enveloped in flames that surged and decimated the temple, covering everything and blinding him. The screams of men, women and children filled his ears as they were burned alive. Then the flames faded.
He no longer stood at the temple. Instead, he stood in an arena. No, not just an arena. The arena. The same one Zuko found himself an exile and nursing a new scar. There, bowing in a kowtow in front of him was the Avatar.
The Avatar looked up at him and Zuko did not find the airbender looking up at him. No.
Zuko saw his own face, without the scar that had marred him. "I won't fight you!"
Without a word, Zuko raised his fist and burned the weaklings face.
---
With a shout, Zuko bolted up awake. He was hyperventilating, his lungs forcing as much air into his body as they possibly could, irritating Zuko's throat and forcing him to devolve into a fit of coughing. With how much it hurt, he wouldn't be surprised if he started coughing up blood.
"Zuko," Iroh moved up, taking a seat next to his bed with a hot cup of tea in his hand.
After what felt like an eternity of being stabbed over and over again, Zuko finally stopped coughing, bringing his breathing to an easy rhythm.
"Easy, easy," Iroh cautioned, placing a hand on the Prince's back. With the other, he offered Zuko the cup. "Here, drink this."
"Thank you, Uncle," Zuko quickly drank the contents. He was so thirsty he didn't care that it tasted like ostrich-horse poop. "Why am I sick?"
"I imagine you know the answer to that, Prince Zuko," Iroh replied.
"The Air Nomads didn't have an army," Zuko said with absolute disgust. "I don't understand it, Uncle."
"Firelord Sozin wanted more," Iroh answered. "And the Avatar was the only thing standing in his way. Besides him, he felt the Air Nomads were the biggest threat to his dreams of conquest."
"That justifies genocide?" Zuko roared in anger.
After a moment, Iroh shook his head.
Zuko turned to look at his knees. "Father would have said it did."
Iroh poured another cup of tea out of the tea kettle he was keeping hot with his firebending.
"Then Azula would have laughed about it," Zuko continued bitterly. "Said they deserved it for being pacifists."
"Perhaps she would have," Iroh replied, handing Zuko the cup he just poured. "Perhaps they would have. What matters now, Zuko, is what you are going to do about it."
"I don't know what I'm going to do," Zuko replied, downing the hot tea in a single pour. "If I keep hunting the Avatar and find him, it'll let Father continue Sozin's war. Sure I'll be welcomed back home with my honor and place at the throne and maybe he'll actually see me as worthy..."
Zuko's throat gave out, causing him to devolve into another coughing fit. Iroh took the cup from Zuko's grasp and filled it back up.
"Prince Zuko," Iroh began as Zuko's coughs stopped. "Why is your father continuing Sozin's war wrong?"
Zuko looked up at his Uncle in surprise. "Because."
Iroh gestured for him to continue.
The Prince was, understandably, nervous about airing his honestly treasonous thoughts. But he was just sick enough to not care as much as he should have. "Because Sozin's war lead to the deaths of countless innocent lives and will keep doing exactly that. But Father doesn't care. He doesn't even care about his own soldiers."
"Then with that in mind, let me ask you a simple question," Iroh started, handing him the tea. "Do you really want your father's approval?"
Zuko turned to look into his tea, the liquid shining a clear reflection of his face, reflected from the candlelight above and in front of him. He felt like his answer was caught on his tongue, tied by his own refusal to admit the truth out loud.
Iroh leaned back in his chair, his hands on his knees, carefully analyzing his nephew. This answer could signal the true turning point in becoming a healthier, happier young man. One unburdened by the cruel absurdities of his family.
Zuko looked up at his uncle and with a single tear falling out of his good eye, answered. "No."
Iroh gave him a hug.
"I don't want to go home, Uncle."
---
Zuko had managed to recover from his illness over the course of three days. He seemed happier, certainly, but he had not been allowed to practice his fire bending by either Iroh or the Ship's Doctor. At first, it was alright, Zuko felt like his legs were going to give out on him at any second from the first couple of days, but on the third, he was getting antsy.
Now, on day four, he had recovered enough.
"Begin," Iroh said, taking his seat.
Zuko began going through the forms, but something was wrong and it made itself known immediately.
When Zuko punched forward, there was no fire. The prince blinked and started again. No fire. A third time, and Iroh stood up.
"What's wrong?" Zuko asked, shaking his head in bewilderment.
"Do you remember the lesson I gave you on the three things needed for fire bending?" Iroh asked with an even, neutral face.
"We don't have time for-" Zuko started hotly, but caught himself and took a breath. "Yes. Breath for air, Chi for fuel and Drive for heat."
"That is right." Iroh nodded. "What are you missing?"
Zuko blinked and looked out across the ocean. "...drive?"
"That's right," Iroh nodded. "Come with me."
Zuko followed his Uncle, staring at his hands the whole time with no shortage of concern.
Iroh led Zuko to the belly of the ship, which was completely deserted save for the two of them. In the evening and early morning, those on the day and night shifts, respectably, would meet there to play cards and shoot the breeze before going to bed. For now, the night shift was in bed and the day shift was on duty, thus the belly of the beast was empty.
"Sit," Iroh beckoned, lighting the barrel in the center alight.
Zuko, who had only been down here in the depths a couple of times, was a little more uncomfortable in his surroundings, but he sat down.
"Now, when we began our mission, we had a clear goal," Iroh began, also sitting. "You were to capture the avatar so that you could earn your honor back. By capturing the Avatar, you would earn your father's respect and be able to return home. Now, you want none of these things. That is why your firebending has regressed."
"Then what do I do about it, Uncle?" Zuko asked with a frustrated glare. "I can't captain this ship without firebending!"
"That is a very simple and very complicated question at the same time," Iroh answered. "And it all stems from a question that you need to ask yourself."
"Which is?"
"Who are you?" Iroh asked him. "And what do you want?"
"I am Zuko," The prince in exile answered with a confused look, first at Iroh, then at the flames dancing in the barrel. "...I don't know what I want."
"Several weeks ago, you told me that you wanted your life back," Iroh replied.
"That was before," Zuko replied, dismissing that with a wave of his hand. "Before I found that scroll and before it threw everything into chaos."
"This is true." Iroh nodded slowly. "But perhaps there were still seeds of truth in there. Instead of wanting your life back, you might want...just your own life?"
"My own life?" Zuko repeated, looking into the fire.
Iroh nodded. "A life outside of Ozai, Azula and the demands of royalty. A life of your own making."
"Uncle, what does that even mean?" Zuko asked. "What would that even look like?"
"That's why the question is complicated," Iroh replied with a smile. "I do not know. In your perfect world, what does your life look like?"
Zuko looked around the hull of the ship before staring into the fire. "It would have my mother. It would have you. I...don't think I'd be on the throne."
"You don't?" Iroh asked with curious expression.
"No." Zuko shook his head. "Why would I want to be? The entire ruling class is filled with people who don't care in the slightest about anyone but themselves, and the people have all been taught that everything that Sozin ever did was right."
Iroh's head started to tilt, his eyes narrowing.
"I don't think I want anything to do with them," Zuko whispered quietly. "I don't want anything to do with the Fire Nation. At all."
The general got a thoughtful frown on his face. This wasn't quite what he was expecting from his nephew. He thought that Zuko would have more righteous indignation, want more to obliterate Ozai from off the face of the Earth and his daughter with him. But Zuko was displaying a more...passive anger. Less indignation, but more moral disgust.
As if he were a little more detached than Iroh had believed.
"The common people being taught that what Sozin did was right is not their fault, Prince Zuko," Iroh pointed out. "There have been many stories, news and we have been at war for a long time. It is only natural that they think this is the way things are supposed to be."
"How many of them would even believe me if I came back, forcibly took the throne and said that everything was wrong?" Zuko asked with a glare. "How many of them would rise up and try to set things back to the way they were?"
Zuko shook his head. "No. I can't rule them, and the more I think about it, the more I don't want too."
"If the opportunity came to end the war, would you take it?" Iroh asked quickly.
"Of course!" Zuko answered with shock. "But Uncle? That's the Avatar's job. He can deal with Father and Azula and whoever else is out there. He has to come out eventually, and when he does? I'm not going to stand in his way."
Iroh was struck as it seemed his nephew was starting to smile.
"Me? I've got things to do," Zuko said, standing up. "I've got a life to build. Somewhere. Somehow. I've got to find my mother. I'm going to keep working on mastering Firebending. I'm...I'm going to keep working on studying the other elements."
"Well, after you've studied air, there's Water and then Earth," Iroh explained. "It shouldn't be that hard to procure scrolls of either discipline once you've mastered the airbending forms."
"The Avatar," Zuko shook his head. "I'm never finding him. And you know what, Uncle? I hope I never find him. Father sent me on a fools errand when he exiled me and it's the only thing I can think of where he did me a favor."
Zuko actually started to laugh; a mirthful thing fueled by nervous energy. "I hope to Agni that the Avatar returns. I hope he sets the world in balance before the next year is out! And Uncle, I hope I never meet him. I'm never going back to the Fire nation! Ever!"
"Zuko, are you alright?" Iroh asked, more than a little concerned that he had pushed his nephew too far.
"Uncle, I've never felt better!" Zuko answered with giddiness in his voice. "I've never felt so alive! My Father is one of the worst people in the world and the best thing he did for me was sending me away forever! I have unlimited license to wander the earth doing whatever I want! I can go to any port, search any ruin, speak to any person, all payed for by his demand that I find the Avatar!"
Zuko turned away. "And it's all because my Father wanted me out of the picture. Well, Father! I'm gone and thank you for it!"
"Zuko," Iroh slowly stood up, still looking concerned.
"Don't you get it Uncle?" Zuko asked, turning back toward his Uncle with the widest smile that Iroh had ever seen on his face.
"I'm free!"
---
One Year Later.
"Will you go penguin sledding with me?"
"Uh, sure? I-I guess."
---
Author's Note: And here we are. At the end of Zuko's journey of self reflection, all thanks to a scroll that told him everything he needed to hear. And to be honest, it's not over yet. Come on, Zuko might be extra determined to stay out of the picture now but he can't keep himself out of the spotlight forever. Like, seriously. He's got two more elements to cover and that's a lot of development still in place.
Also, I can't friggan wait to show you how things are going to turn out without Zuko there to push the GAang along the road. It's going to be different, absolutely. Personally, I think it's going to be jaw droppingly awesome.
Let me know what you guys think. I'm not going to be able to put out chapters at this same rate, five in a week really pushed me to the limit. I'm taking a break over Saturday and Sunday then coming back to the fic on Monday.
Special thanks and shout out goes out too Melden V, Anders Kronquist, Ray Tony Song, Volkogluk, Aaron Bjornson, iolande, Martin Auguado, Julio, Jiopaba, Hackerham, Tim Collins-Squire, Maben00, Sultan Saltlick, Ventari, PbookR, Seij, ChristobalAlvarez, Aenor Knight, Apperatus, EPiCJB19, Seeking Raven and Handwran! Your continued support makes this work possible!
Until the next time!
~Fulcon
---
Normally, per their routine for the day, Iroh and Zuko would enjoy breakfast on the bridge. It gave Iroh time to give Zuko lessons and counsel for the day, mostly on Firebending and how best to go about his search.
Zuko, more often than not, would get here first. He would have sat down, brooding and letting his impatience get the better of him on the days that Iroh would rather sleep for just a few minutes longer. He was an old man.
Iroh suspected that this had to do with Zuko purposefully delaying breakfast being served until after the general had arrived so they could eat together. But today, that was not the case.
Zuko was not on the bridge.
Well, if his nephew was going to sleep in for once on this trip, Iroh wasn't going to stop him. "Yeoman, could you ensure that breakfast is delivered to Zuko's quarters?"
"Yes, General," The Yeoman replied with a bow, grabbing the Prince's breakfast tray and standing up to deliver it.
For Iroh's part, he had begun stroking his beard.
If Zuko continued along this path that he was on, perhaps he might realize that the Fire Nation was wrong in it's attempts to conquer and then he might be ready for initiation into the order. That was the dream, to bring Zuko fully on board with bringing peace and balance back to the world. With the scroll they had recovered, they may even be able to begin restoring the Airbenders.
One thing at a time, Iroh chided himself with a shake of his head. Just get Zuko through this healthily and happily and we can proceed from there.
"General Iroh, sir?" The Yeoman prodded.
"Yes, what is it?" Iroh turned to look and saw that the Yeoman still had the tray.
"Prince Zuko refused breakfast." He held out the tray for Iroh to look at. "Shall I return to the kitchen to have this saved for later?"
"Please do," Iroh replied, standing up.
Something was wrong.
Iroh speedily walked down the stairs to the quarters, down the hall until he reached Zuko's door, which was closed and very much locked. Iroh knocked on the steel door. "Zuko? Zuko, are you alright?"
After a moment, the door slowly opened, revealing Zuko.
The Prince did not look well. In fact, the boy looked physically sick. His skin was paler, his pony tail a complete mess. Iroh looked into Zuko's bloodshot eyes, bags thick and dark enough had emerged beneath Zuko's good eye that it almost matched his scar. His robe was haphazardly draped around him, only barely hanging onto his shoulders.
"Uncle." Zuko's voice was hoarse and scratchy.
"Prince Zuko, you seem to have fallen ill," Iroh started.
Zuko didn't respond immediately, and when he did, it wasn't about that. "The Air Nomads didn't have an army, did they?"
Iroh blinked in surprise. "No, Zuko. I do not believe they did."
"I didn't think so," Zuko replied, slamming the door in front of him.
---
They didn't have an army.
Zuko's breathing was labored and his throat felt like something had jumped in with a knife and started hacking away.
He shed his robe and slipped back into bed.
I can't believe they didn't have an army.
But just like the previous afternoon and evening, sleep eluded him completely. No matter how tightly he shut his eyes, he couldn't force the gentle embrace of sleep to come upon him.
Why didn't they have an army?
The prince already knew the answer to this question. They were pacifists with a nigh universal respect for life in all it's forms. From their point of view, it made no sense to have an army. From how their entire population were benders to how often they all traveled across the globe.
An army not only would have seemed unnecessary, it would've been counterproductive.
They should've had an army.
But that wasn't really the point. It was a deflection and Zuko knew it. He started coughing, feeling like there was a fistful of needles jammed down the throat. Was there pus coming out of his scarred eye? There was pus coming out of his scarred eye. Why was there pus coming out of his scarred eye?
We shouldn't have attacked them.
This was a complete shock to Zuko. How in the name of Agni could great-grandfather Sozin even think of something like that? How could everyone have lied about it for so long? How could the fire nation not care about the innocent people they had killed?
Didn't anyone care?
It was then that Zuko remembered the chain of events that lead up to his banishment. How he had spoken out against the senseless waste of fresh fire nation troops and wound up with a horrific burn scar for his troubles. Alongside the mission to finish what the Fire Nation started so many years ago.
...Father doesn't care about innocent lives.
It was then that sleep came to him.
---
"He just needs liquids and rest," The ship's doctor informed Iroh.
"Then I will tend to him," Iroh replied.
"Very good, General," The Doctor replied, gathering his check-up equipment and leaving with a bow.
During his time as active general in the Fire Nation army, Iroh made it a point to learn what he could about battlefield medicine. Admittedly, it wasn't much knowledge to speak of, but it was something.
He did, however, recognize this illness and what it meant.
It was not, as many doctors may surmise, entirely a physical illness. Indeed, it was much more mental and emotional turmoil that was leaking into his body with such force that it was forcing him to go through a...metamorphosis of sorts. He was clearing the contradictions within his mind and it was taking a toll on his physical self.
The reason that Iroh had taken over ministration instead of allowing the Doctor to do it was because it was likely that Zuko was going to start speaking of things that sounded like treason to even the most trained mind. He did not need the Doctor spreading or speaking of Zuko's potential to fully rebel against the Fire Nation before Iroh could speak to him. The crew of Zuko's ship were low merit or disgraced, but they were still Fire Nation. That loyalty would trump anything in all but the most extreme cases.
They haven't hit those extreme cases yet.
Iroh had brought herbal and wellness teas, keeping Zuko well hydrated while he slept. The prince was sweating profusely beneath his covers.
---
Zuko had come down nearly to the center of the world.
All around him lava poured from streams down crevasses were the stone would be reheated and sent back up. At the end of this path, they came to a steel wall. At his command, Lieutenant Jee and the other firebenders burnt a hole through it. As they stepped through the still cooling metal, they looked up and saw him.
The Avatar.
Floating through the power of his own will, he sat in a lotus position, the elements swirling around him in a maelstrom of absolute power.
"Avatar!" Zuko called up in challenge.
Like a falling meteor, the Avatar was in front of them in an instant. He stared down at them with a hostile scowl. "Finally, a chance to avenge my murdered people!"
Then suddenly they weren't in the center of the earth. They were at the top of a mountain. The southern air temple. But it was not the graveyard he had left. There were monks everywhere, walking, talking, laughing. Children flew above them on clouds.
In front of him, the Avatar changed. No longer was he the tall, godlike figure who would avenge his slain friends and family. Instead, what stood before him was a child, around the age of twelve. He held a staff in his hand and glared up at Zuko. "We don't need to do this!"
Everything changed again, when the sky turned red. The temple around them was enveloped in flames that surged and decimated the temple, covering everything and blinding him. The screams of men, women and children filled his ears as they were burned alive. Then the flames faded.
He no longer stood at the temple. Instead, he stood in an arena. No, not just an arena. The arena. The same one Zuko found himself an exile and nursing a new scar. There, bowing in a kowtow in front of him was the Avatar.
The Avatar looked up at him and Zuko did not find the airbender looking up at him. No.
Zuko saw his own face, without the scar that had marred him. "I won't fight you!"
Without a word, Zuko raised his fist and burned the weaklings face.
---
With a shout, Zuko bolted up awake. He was hyperventilating, his lungs forcing as much air into his body as they possibly could, irritating Zuko's throat and forcing him to devolve into a fit of coughing. With how much it hurt, he wouldn't be surprised if he started coughing up blood.
"Zuko," Iroh moved up, taking a seat next to his bed with a hot cup of tea in his hand.
After what felt like an eternity of being stabbed over and over again, Zuko finally stopped coughing, bringing his breathing to an easy rhythm.
"Easy, easy," Iroh cautioned, placing a hand on the Prince's back. With the other, he offered Zuko the cup. "Here, drink this."
"Thank you, Uncle," Zuko quickly drank the contents. He was so thirsty he didn't care that it tasted like ostrich-horse poop. "Why am I sick?"
"I imagine you know the answer to that, Prince Zuko," Iroh replied.
"The Air Nomads didn't have an army," Zuko said with absolute disgust. "I don't understand it, Uncle."
"Firelord Sozin wanted more," Iroh answered. "And the Avatar was the only thing standing in his way. Besides him, he felt the Air Nomads were the biggest threat to his dreams of conquest."
"That justifies genocide?" Zuko roared in anger.
After a moment, Iroh shook his head.
Zuko turned to look at his knees. "Father would have said it did."
Iroh poured another cup of tea out of the tea kettle he was keeping hot with his firebending.
"Then Azula would have laughed about it," Zuko continued bitterly. "Said they deserved it for being pacifists."
"Perhaps she would have," Iroh replied, handing Zuko the cup he just poured. "Perhaps they would have. What matters now, Zuko, is what you are going to do about it."
"I don't know what I'm going to do," Zuko replied, downing the hot tea in a single pour. "If I keep hunting the Avatar and find him, it'll let Father continue Sozin's war. Sure I'll be welcomed back home with my honor and place at the throne and maybe he'll actually see me as worthy..."
Zuko's throat gave out, causing him to devolve into another coughing fit. Iroh took the cup from Zuko's grasp and filled it back up.
"Prince Zuko," Iroh began as Zuko's coughs stopped. "Why is your father continuing Sozin's war wrong?"
Zuko looked up at his Uncle in surprise. "Because."
Iroh gestured for him to continue.
The Prince was, understandably, nervous about airing his honestly treasonous thoughts. But he was just sick enough to not care as much as he should have. "Because Sozin's war lead to the deaths of countless innocent lives and will keep doing exactly that. But Father doesn't care. He doesn't even care about his own soldiers."
"Then with that in mind, let me ask you a simple question," Iroh started, handing him the tea. "Do you really want your father's approval?"
Zuko turned to look into his tea, the liquid shining a clear reflection of his face, reflected from the candlelight above and in front of him. He felt like his answer was caught on his tongue, tied by his own refusal to admit the truth out loud.
Iroh leaned back in his chair, his hands on his knees, carefully analyzing his nephew. This answer could signal the true turning point in becoming a healthier, happier young man. One unburdened by the cruel absurdities of his family.
Zuko looked up at his uncle and with a single tear falling out of his good eye, answered. "No."
Iroh gave him a hug.
"I don't want to go home, Uncle."
---
Zuko had managed to recover from his illness over the course of three days. He seemed happier, certainly, but he had not been allowed to practice his fire bending by either Iroh or the Ship's Doctor. At first, it was alright, Zuko felt like his legs were going to give out on him at any second from the first couple of days, but on the third, he was getting antsy.
Now, on day four, he had recovered enough.
"Begin," Iroh said, taking his seat.
Zuko began going through the forms, but something was wrong and it made itself known immediately.
When Zuko punched forward, there was no fire. The prince blinked and started again. No fire. A third time, and Iroh stood up.
"What's wrong?" Zuko asked, shaking his head in bewilderment.
"Do you remember the lesson I gave you on the three things needed for fire bending?" Iroh asked with an even, neutral face.
"We don't have time for-" Zuko started hotly, but caught himself and took a breath. "Yes. Breath for air, Chi for fuel and Drive for heat."
"That is right." Iroh nodded. "What are you missing?"
Zuko blinked and looked out across the ocean. "...drive?"
"That's right," Iroh nodded. "Come with me."
Zuko followed his Uncle, staring at his hands the whole time with no shortage of concern.
Iroh led Zuko to the belly of the ship, which was completely deserted save for the two of them. In the evening and early morning, those on the day and night shifts, respectably, would meet there to play cards and shoot the breeze before going to bed. For now, the night shift was in bed and the day shift was on duty, thus the belly of the beast was empty.
"Sit," Iroh beckoned, lighting the barrel in the center alight.
Zuko, who had only been down here in the depths a couple of times, was a little more uncomfortable in his surroundings, but he sat down.
"Now, when we began our mission, we had a clear goal," Iroh began, also sitting. "You were to capture the avatar so that you could earn your honor back. By capturing the Avatar, you would earn your father's respect and be able to return home. Now, you want none of these things. That is why your firebending has regressed."
"Then what do I do about it, Uncle?" Zuko asked with a frustrated glare. "I can't captain this ship without firebending!"
"That is a very simple and very complicated question at the same time," Iroh answered. "And it all stems from a question that you need to ask yourself."
"Which is?"
"Who are you?" Iroh asked him. "And what do you want?"
"I am Zuko," The prince in exile answered with a confused look, first at Iroh, then at the flames dancing in the barrel. "...I don't know what I want."
"Several weeks ago, you told me that you wanted your life back," Iroh replied.
"That was before," Zuko replied, dismissing that with a wave of his hand. "Before I found that scroll and before it threw everything into chaos."
"This is true." Iroh nodded slowly. "But perhaps there were still seeds of truth in there. Instead of wanting your life back, you might want...just your own life?"
"My own life?" Zuko repeated, looking into the fire.
Iroh nodded. "A life outside of Ozai, Azula and the demands of royalty. A life of your own making."
"Uncle, what does that even mean?" Zuko asked. "What would that even look like?"
"That's why the question is complicated," Iroh replied with a smile. "I do not know. In your perfect world, what does your life look like?"
Zuko looked around the hull of the ship before staring into the fire. "It would have my mother. It would have you. I...don't think I'd be on the throne."
"You don't?" Iroh asked with curious expression.
"No." Zuko shook his head. "Why would I want to be? The entire ruling class is filled with people who don't care in the slightest about anyone but themselves, and the people have all been taught that everything that Sozin ever did was right."
Iroh's head started to tilt, his eyes narrowing.
"I don't think I want anything to do with them," Zuko whispered quietly. "I don't want anything to do with the Fire Nation. At all."
The general got a thoughtful frown on his face. This wasn't quite what he was expecting from his nephew. He thought that Zuko would have more righteous indignation, want more to obliterate Ozai from off the face of the Earth and his daughter with him. But Zuko was displaying a more...passive anger. Less indignation, but more moral disgust.
As if he were a little more detached than Iroh had believed.
"The common people being taught that what Sozin did was right is not their fault, Prince Zuko," Iroh pointed out. "There have been many stories, news and we have been at war for a long time. It is only natural that they think this is the way things are supposed to be."
"How many of them would even believe me if I came back, forcibly took the throne and said that everything was wrong?" Zuko asked with a glare. "How many of them would rise up and try to set things back to the way they were?"
Zuko shook his head. "No. I can't rule them, and the more I think about it, the more I don't want too."
"If the opportunity came to end the war, would you take it?" Iroh asked quickly.
"Of course!" Zuko answered with shock. "But Uncle? That's the Avatar's job. He can deal with Father and Azula and whoever else is out there. He has to come out eventually, and when he does? I'm not going to stand in his way."
Iroh was struck as it seemed his nephew was starting to smile.
"Me? I've got things to do," Zuko said, standing up. "I've got a life to build. Somewhere. Somehow. I've got to find my mother. I'm going to keep working on mastering Firebending. I'm...I'm going to keep working on studying the other elements."
"Well, after you've studied air, there's Water and then Earth," Iroh explained. "It shouldn't be that hard to procure scrolls of either discipline once you've mastered the airbending forms."
"The Avatar," Zuko shook his head. "I'm never finding him. And you know what, Uncle? I hope I never find him. Father sent me on a fools errand when he exiled me and it's the only thing I can think of where he did me a favor."
Zuko actually started to laugh; a mirthful thing fueled by nervous energy. "I hope to Agni that the Avatar returns. I hope he sets the world in balance before the next year is out! And Uncle, I hope I never meet him. I'm never going back to the Fire nation! Ever!"
"Zuko, are you alright?" Iroh asked, more than a little concerned that he had pushed his nephew too far.
"Uncle, I've never felt better!" Zuko answered with giddiness in his voice. "I've never felt so alive! My Father is one of the worst people in the world and the best thing he did for me was sending me away forever! I have unlimited license to wander the earth doing whatever I want! I can go to any port, search any ruin, speak to any person, all payed for by his demand that I find the Avatar!"
Zuko turned away. "And it's all because my Father wanted me out of the picture. Well, Father! I'm gone and thank you for it!"
"Zuko," Iroh slowly stood up, still looking concerned.
"Don't you get it Uncle?" Zuko asked, turning back toward his Uncle with the widest smile that Iroh had ever seen on his face.
"I'm free!"
---
One Year Later.
"Will you go penguin sledding with me?"
"Uh, sure? I-I guess."
---
Author's Note: And here we are. At the end of Zuko's journey of self reflection, all thanks to a scroll that told him everything he needed to hear. And to be honest, it's not over yet. Come on, Zuko might be extra determined to stay out of the picture now but he can't keep himself out of the spotlight forever. Like, seriously. He's got two more elements to cover and that's a lot of development still in place.
Also, I can't friggan wait to show you how things are going to turn out without Zuko there to push the GAang along the road. It's going to be different, absolutely. Personally, I think it's going to be jaw droppingly awesome.
Let me know what you guys think. I'm not going to be able to put out chapters at this same rate, five in a week really pushed me to the limit. I'm taking a break over Saturday and Sunday then coming back to the fic on Monday.
Special thanks and shout out goes out too Melden V, Anders Kronquist, Ray Tony Song, Volkogluk, Aaron Bjornson, iolande, Martin Auguado, Julio, Jiopaba, Hackerham, Tim Collins-Squire, Maben00, Sultan Saltlick, Ventari, PbookR, Seij, ChristobalAlvarez, Aenor Knight, Apperatus, EPiCJB19, Seeking Raven and Handwran! Your continued support makes this work possible!
Until the next time!
~Fulcon
Last edited:
- Location
- Omega
Maybe have an update schedule of once maybe twice a week?
Idk I loved these prologue chapters and it's wekk written enough that it could stand by irself
But I'm also looking forward to butterdlies
Reminds me of little silo vs the world
Idk I loved these prologue chapters and it's wekk written enough that it could stand by irself
But I'm also looking forward to butterdlies
Reminds me of little silo vs the world
- Location
- USA
I don't know, we'll see what works.
Glad you liked them, though.
Have a cookie.
Doru
Digital Disaster
- Location
- Canada, the internet
Good news, The GAang doesn't need to deal with constant hounding by the fire nation. Bad news, they may not be as good as combat compared to canon due to the lack of fire nation mooks hounding them. Also Zhao might survive, which is even worse.