Avatar: the Last Airbender is copyrighted Nickelodeon Studios. Most situations presented are purely the author's ideas and are not affiliated with the original creators. Please keep this in mind when reading my fanfiction! Obviously, as such, most the prescribed characters are copyright Nickelodeon.
I revamped my story almost completely, saving only a few chapters and even editing those. I lost my drive and inspiration for the other story. I'm hoping I can try and funnel what I have left of it into this little… 'experiment'.
As for the plot of the story, it's an over used one, and that's actually the point! I wanted to see how I could spice it up and make it interesting, maybe even less Mary-Sueish. I mean, the situation has good potential if used properly.
Chapter One: A Stranger from the Sea
The only light in the small, dark room came from the two identical lanterns that hung on black chains from the ceiling. Beneath their light sat two figures, seated before a low table. Placed upon in was a game board with many different tiles played across the grid pattern – a usual game of Pai Cho. They were silent, and the only noises came from the steady creaking of the ship, as well as from the concise taps of the porcelain tiles as their positions were changed.
"It was fortunate for me, Prince Zuko," began the shorter, squatter figure as he moved a tile," that we managed to find a Lotus Tile." He smiled with satisfaction as he sat back on his cushion, folding his hands into his long sleeves. "However, I do not think you could be considered as lucky."
The Prince glowered at his uncle for a long moment, then looked back down at the board below him, raising a hand to tap thoughtfully on his chin.
There must be some way to beat this strategy of his, he thought, surveying his own pieces in the game. He seemed to brighten suddenly as a move dawned on him, and he reached out his hand over a tile. As his fingers brushed the smooth surface, his uncle grunted and shook his head. Pausing, Zuko moved his fingers over another tile. His uncle loudly cleared his throat and looked away, unfolding his arms to pound gently on his chest as if he was clearing up his congestion. His nephew dropped his arm and tapped on the wooden surface of the table, looking exasperated.
"Are you quite alright, Uncle?"
"Yes, yes." Iroh chuckled, folding his arms once again. "Just a bit of a cough."
Silence fell again over the two, and Zuko leaned in over the board, a scrutinizing eye cast over every piece, every combination, and every available move. Sighing, he adjusted himself back into a comfortable sitting position. I have one final idea, The Prince thought to himself, and slowly moved his hand over his fire tile. Iroh adjusted himself suddenly, and made a disapproving moaning noise, stroking his beard, eyes narrowed down at Zuko's move.
Zuko, now fully exasperated, brought his fists down angrily to the table, pushing up of them to stand in a huff. Flames flickered around his fingers as he snarled at the game board.
"I'm through playing this ridiculous game, Uncle!" The Prince spat, and he abruptly turned on his heel to depart the cabin, slamming the oblong steel door behind him as he left without saying another word to Iroh.
Iroh continued to stroke his beard, seemingly unaffected by Zuko's tantrum. He sat for a moment in silence, listening to the creaking of the vessel, then chuckled. He stood unhurriedly, stretching out his old joints as he studied the 'finished' game.
His expression grew quickly surprised, but with a few blinks, the old man's expression softened.
Prince Zuko took a deep breath of the salty ocean breeze as he came topside. Glancing to either side of himself, he saw his soldiers going about their daily chores – and upon looking up he saw the navigator and captain chatting at the wheel. And forward was the seemingly unbroken horizon of gray-blue sea. The white-capped waves were easily pushed to the side of the dark steel hull, and Zuko strolled from the doorway to the side of the vessel, looking across the waters.
As the prince studied the scenery, his uncle appeared on deck, squinting his eyes into the sudden sunlight. With a sigh, he moved towards where his nephew was standing, accompanying him. Zuko glanced down at his uncle, and then looked back at the ocean. Iroh smiled.
"You really should work on controlling your rage, Zuko."
"Yes, Uncle." Replied the boy bleakly.
Grunting at the tone of voice, Iroh shook his head. "I'm serious. Had you not been so quick to leave our game, you would've won. Instead, you let your temper control you rather than the other way around."
Zuko frowned, looking down at the rusted railing that he rested his hands on. No mater how hard he tried, he always allowed his anger to drive him, and oftentimes it would cause unneeded complications to arise. Iroh prescribed everything from meditation sessions to sparring to relive him of tension and stress, but still he couldn't contain that burning feeling that was so easily fueled within him.
The prince gripped tighter onto the rail, hunching his shoulders. With a raised eyebrow, Iroh studied his nephew, then looked back out across the choppy waters. They stood in an almost understanding silence, before Zuko suddenly leaned forward, eyes narrowing as he looked at something far in the distance, towards the horizon into where the sun was slowly sinking.
"Uncle!" He said quickly, pointing. Iroh followed his line of sight and nodded, signifying to his nephew that he saw the strange shape in the water.
Zuko called out to a crewmember, asking for a telescope that was quickly given to him.
"It's a ship," Zuko began, speaking slowly as he studied the sinking hull of the vessel, " but I don't think it's in very good shape." He looked down at his Uncle, offering the telescope to him.
"What should we do?"
Iroh accepted the telescope with a slight bow of his head. He raised the instrument to his eye, frowning as he looked at what appeared to be wreckage, "Looks like pirate work, Zuko."
Zuko made a sour face and snatched the telescope back, looking through it once again. After a tense moment, he lowered the object and sighed. "How can you tell, Uncle?"
"I can't, really." Chuckled the old general, though his expression lost its momentary mirth as he cast his gaze out towards the setting sun and the other ship. His nephew collapsed the telescope blindly, and handed it back to the crewmember that had given it to him. He thought for a moment, looking at his Uncle. Iroh felt the gaze and turned his head from the ocean to his nephew, and quickly offered him a short nod. The young prince frowned.
"Uncle, the Avatar –"
Iroh held up a hand to interrupt his nephew. "Haven't I already told you of the concept of karma? You alter your course; perhaps go a day out of your way to help. Then, perhaps somewhere along the way, the Avatar will rest for a day." He held up his hands, like scales. He raised and lowered them as if they were uneven, before slowly leveling them before his nephew.
"Karma. You see? Give a little, and perhaps you shall receive a little."
Zuko frowned deeper, but he felt defeated by the old man. He glanced at the crewmember that was clutching the telescope in his hands, looking off towards the shipwreck. Slowly, he looked at Zuko, frowning. The prince slowly flexed his hands into fists, feeling the heat of flames on his fingertips. Was he supposed to ignore the survivors? I can't outright say it with a crewmember here that heard everything, He thought bitterly. With a grunt of defeat, he turned to look up at the captain and the Navigator, cupping a hand around his mouth.
"Alter our course for the shipwreck! We're going to check for survivors!"
He twisted his head to look at his Uncle. "Happy?" He spat sharply, and Iroh smiled, holding up his hands that were level with each other.
"Karma, nephew. Karma."
Fin – Chapter 1.
Thank you for reading!
Sometimes it's difficult to keep people in character when well, you didn't make them up. I hope I didn't make people, especially Zuko, out of character. But I think I did a fairly good job, however. In the next chapter we reach the lovely shipwreck. Woo!
Reviews are appreciated.
