Hello everyone! This is my first fanfic (on this site anyway) and I really would like it if you would review. The first couple chapters of my story will be uploaded pretty fast, since I've already written them. I already have my story basically outlined, but any story suggestions will be taken into consideration. This story does not take place in between episodes, but is merely me taking the Avatar characters and storyline and making my own story about how I would make the story. So don't get too confused kay?
Disclaimer: I wish I did, but no. I don't own Avatar.
--Chapter 1: Second Thoughts
"I can't believe it. After 2 long years of searching, I finally have you, Avatar." Said Zuko as he stood on the deck of his ship with the Avatar bound in chains before him.
"You men! Take the Avatar to his prison cell. Make sure he's locked up tight. We don't want him escaping again." The men he had spoken to quickly took Aang below deck to follow the Prince's orders.
Zuko slowly walked over towards the railing and leaned over the edge, staring at his reflection in the calm ocean water. It was nighttime, but the moon accompanied by the lanterns on his ship provided some light. But, for some reason, he couldn't keep his eyes off of his scar. He never cared much about his appearance, but for some reason, today, of all days, he felt almost…ashamed? He flicked his eyes up towards the night sky, trying to shake off the thought and sighed, reminding himself that he had the Avatar, and everything would be okay.
"Is something troubling you Prince Zuko?"
"No." Said Zuko harshly as he turned around to face his uncle who was drinking his tea.
"Would you care for some Ginseng tea? It will calm your nerves."
"My nerves don't need calming!" Zuko snapped, realizing he had just proved his uncle's point. He sighed again, out of annoyance, and turned back towards the ocean. Then he looked off towards the horizon, awaiting the moment he would return home again.
"Come on Appa! Can't you go any faster? Yip Yip! Please Appa, for Aang!" Pleaded Katara of the flying Bison.
"Katara, give it a rest. We've been up all night, and Appa's tired." Katara merely scowled at her brother, then turned her attention back to the map she held in her hand. They had been flying for hours. Zuko had caught them by surprise in the night and captured Aang, and they had been chasing the ship ever since. But with Appa barely going 20mph and the ship moving farther and farther away from them, it was beginning to look hopeless.
A loud growling interrupted her thoughts as she jerked her head towards Sokka, the one who had made the noise. Then it occurred to her: None of them had had dinner. Even Momo's stomach began to growl. 'Maybe we should rest for the night and find some food, then we can catch up with Zuko in the morning.' She thought to herself.
"Sokka, it says here on the map that there's a small uninhabited island nearby. Maybe we could stop there for the night. I'm sure that Zuko is headed towards the Fire Nation, and in a blue ocean he should stick out like a sore thumb. I'm taking Appa down." But the only reply she heard was the sound of Sokka snoring. The girl released a small smile, then pulled on the reins as they started to descend towards the tiny island.
The sun began to rise over the horizon, turning the sky the color of blood. The ocean mimicked that of the sky, borrowing the hues and colors and reflecting them off of their surface. Dawn was breaking in the Fire Nation and Zuko hadn't slept all night. He was much too anxious and excited. He was tired, yes. But too much anticipation had welled up inside of him to fall asleep. He paced the deck of the ship, thinking of what he should say, and how he should present himself to his father. After all, he hadn't seen him in over two years. Imagine the look on his father's face when he would see him enter the room, Avatar in chains. His father would welcome him with open arms.
Zuko continued to think on these things, and didn't notice when his uncle came outside and took a seat. So he was startled when he spoke.
"Excited?" Zuko jumped, turned around, and looked at his uncle. How did he always know what he was thinking? "You look tired. You should get some rest."
"I will rest in my own bed at home. " Zuko said slowly, emphasizing how serious he was.
"Zuko, I would not get my hopes up too high. Your father is not very well known for keeping his word." Zuko furrowed his eyebrows together; surprised his Uncle would suggest such a thing.
"Are you suggesting that my father won't accept me back?" Said Zuko with growing rage. His uncle was not going to be the one to ruin his one chance in life of success. Iroh sighed before speaking.
"I just don't want you to get your hopes up too high. I know you have the Avatar, and that is an accomplishment in itself. But to your father, I am not so sure it will make a difference." Iroh stroked his beard, and dared to ask the question he had wanted to ask his nephew for 2 years. "Do you know why your father sent you on this mission?" The Prince stared at his uncle in disbelief, and gave him what he thought was the obvious answer.
"To give me a chance to regain my honor!"
"But Zuko, what you fail to realize is that you never lost it!"
"Then what's this!" Zuko pointed angrily to his scar, breathing heavily.
"That is nothing to be ashamed of. Your father was wrong to banish you, and when he did, I know that he did it not expecting you to come back. The Avatar was missing for 100 years! My brother is not a fool. If he really wanted you back he would not have given such a hopeless-"
"SHUT UP!" Iroh looked at his nephew hurtfully, and lowered his head. He had probably said too much, but they were words the Prince needed to hear.
Zuko gave his uncle a cold look, then stormed off the deck and slammed the door, leaving his uncle sitting on the deck alone. Iroh knew Zuko had gone to get some sleep, but knew the prince was too proud to admit it. Then Iroh shook his head and sighed.
Zuko stormed down the hallway to get to his chamber, knocking down several crewmembers on his way. (Pushed them down really) He lay down on his bed and stared up at the ceiling. What did his uncle mean by ignorant? His father's words were plain enough. Capture the Avatar and you can come home. He didn't realize what the big fuss was over. He had the Avatar so now he could return to the palace. Why wouldn't his father keep his word? Zuko was his loyal son, He did what his father asked, and now expected to be brought back from exile.
But still, something inside of him doubted his father. When had his uncle been wrong when it was important? His father was his uncle's brother; he of all people should have known Ozai's motives. But then again, he was his son. Zuko groaned in frustration. This was too confusing. His father would accept him back. His uncle was just too overprotective. He just didn't want his nephew to get hurt. That was understandable, but there was nothing to worry about. He had confidence in his father. Perhaps by capturing the Avatar he could earn his father's respect.
Zuko thought on thing things until he slowly drifted to sleep, taking his uncle's advice for once.
Katara and Sokka set up camp on the island. It seemed to be uninhabited other than a few rabbits and squirrels, so it was very quiet and peaceful. Dawn began to break on the tiny island, and Katara awoke to the sound of Momo chasing a squirrel for a nut.
"Here Momo." Said Katara as she groggily tossed the lemur their last piece of bread. She stalked over to Sokka and shook him awake, then the two rolled up their sleeping bags and went into the forest to find something to eat.
Katara rolled her eyes as she looked over to Sokka who had his boomerang in one hand and his knife in the other, jumping at every little noise he heard. 'There goes Sokka, my paranoid brother…' thought Katara. Sokka snuck up on a rabbit, and held his boomerang ready to strike.
"Watch and learn Katara." Sokka whispered. Katara rolled her eyes and smirked, ready for Sokka's "Demonstration of Manliness." Sokka threw the boomerang at the rabbit, but it hit a tree, bounced off, and hit Sokka in the head.
"OW!" Sokka clutched his head and Katara giggled in amusement as the rabbit scurried away.
"Well I'm watching, but I'm not learning." Katara said with another giggle.
"Oh yeah? Well I'd like to see you try and catch one!"
"All right I will." Katara retorted with confidence as she grabbed Sokka's knife. The bushes started to rustle as she prepared herself to catch whatever unlucky animal happened to emerge from the bush. But it wasn't a rabbit that came out of the bushes. Katara gasped, while Sokka readied his boomerang.
"Where is the Avatar?" demanded Azula. "I am Princess Azula of the fire Nation and I demand you tell me where he is. If you do, I will spare you."
"Never!" Said Katara.
She bended the water out of her water flask and whipped Azula in the face. Then they ran. It was a small island, but large enough to get lost in. Sokka was following Katara, who was running towards a lake she had discovered earlier. That way she had something to waterbend when that Azula girl came to find them.
And sure enough Azula had come to find them and was gaining fast. She was very furious. It seemed the girl had a worse temper than her brother.
"Tell me where the Avatar is!" She hurled blue flames at Katara, who bended some water out of the lake and extinguished the fire, leaving a mist separating her and her brother from Azula.
"Zuko kidnapped him!" yelled Katara.
"You liar! My brother could never accomplish such a feat."
"Well he did. And even if we did know where he was we still wouldn't tell you!" Sokka retorted as he threw his boomerang at Azula, outraged that she was Zuko's sister. But Azula grabbed it, then smiled.
"I am a master firebender. You cannot hope to defeat me!"
"We'll see about that!" Katara shouted as she created a giant wave. She pushed the water onto Azula, and then froze it with her breath, encasing Azula in ice.
"We have to leave before she gets out!" warned Katara as she grabbed Sokka by his arm and started running towards Appa and Momo on the beach.
"My boomerang!"
"We have to leave Sokka! Now!" Sokka reluctantly continued but took one last look only to see that Azula's crew and come and was melting he ice encasing her.
"They're melting the ice!" Sokka cried.
"Then let's hurry!" She said as she started climbing onto Appa. But Sokka stopped as he spotted Azula's ship.
"I have an idea! Tell Appa to follow us!" Sokka ordered as he ran up to Azula's ship. "We're taking her ship!" Sokka ran onto the deck, with Katara following as soon as she gave Appa the orders. The crew wasn't there, so they could take the ship, but they would have to steer it for themselves.
With one swift waterbending move the ship was off to sea.
"My ship!" yelled Azula as she started to come into view with the crew following close behind. But it was too late. The ship was too far off the coastline with Appa flying high in the sky following. Azula hurled a barrage of flames at the bison in a futile attempt at revenge. The flames couldn't even reach Appa, which made her even more furious. Sokka laughed at the girl, and then turned the ship towards the west in the direction of the fire nation.
Azula then smiled (evilly might I add) causing her crew to worry.
"Princess Azula, you do realize we are stranded on this island. Correct?" Azula turned around to face the man who had spoken.
"I suppose you don't realize to whom you are questioning. Perhaps you require some DICIPLINE!" Azula said as she raised her fists, which were on fire.
"Oh no Princess Azula! I-I didn't mean it that way! Please forgive me!" The man pleaded as he got down on his knees and begged.
"Don't worry. You will not be punished. Now, anyway…now, Mr. Xian, do you realize this island is in fire nation waters?"
"Yes but—"
"And did you know that this particular island was used to house weapons for my great grandfather when the war first began and that there are weapons stored all over this island?"
"Of course but I don't see how-"
"AND, that since it was an ISLAND, there were boats on this island so they could transport their weapons!"
"But they would have-"
"My grandfather was not an idiot you fool! There are boats hidden all over this island full of explosives! All you have to do is LOOK FOR THEM!" The crew backed up a few feet, obviously frightened by the Princess's outburst.
"That goes for all of you! Start searching!"
"How will we find the boat?" Said the helmsmen. He was obviously quite foolish.
"Burn down everything in your path! Dig up the ground! Whatever it takes to find a ship! We are leaving this island by noon. And Agni help you if you haven't found one by then." Azula said. "You aren't going to bring the avatar to father first. You can count on that Zuzu." Azula said quietly, as she continued to bark some more orders at her crew.
"Prince Zuko, we have arrived." Zuko opened his eyes to find his uncle standing in the doorway. Zuko quickly sat up and got dressed, then he and his uncle started up towards the deck. Zuko walked up to the railing and stared at the slowly approaching land. They were about a half a mile away from the docking ports.
"Lutenent Jee, get ready to set anchor. And you men, bring the Avatar to me." At this the men in his command went below deck to follow orders.
Zuko remained transfixed staring at the land he had once called home. There was a docking port full of people and commotion, then, beyond that were a few acres of countryside, and then the great capital city of Kasai shi (A/N: It's Japanese for Fire city….I looked it up…he he...) in the center of the great city was the palace. It was the largest of all the other buildings and was by far the most magnificent. It was crafted in the traditional style of Oriental architect, but it was much larger. The rims were painted gold with a read roof and a fire nation flag, a symbol of his nation's triumph. This was his home. And now he could finally come back.
The metal door opening and the Avatar being led out by two soldiers interrupted his thoughts. The Avatar's hands were tied around his back, and chains bound his feet. His mouth was covered up with a handkerchief so he couldn't blow any sudden gusts of wind in hope of escape. His eyes were sullen, his energy drained. It had been two days, and Katara and Sokka still hadn't come.
"Look, Avatar." The Prince said as he pointed to the land that lay before them. "This is the Fire Nation. And that is where you will meet my father Firelord Ozai." Zuko pointed to the palace.
"I'll warn you. My father is very strict, and will show you no mercy." The crew shifted their glance towards his scar, and Zuko knew it. "But don't worry. He won't kill you, he'll just keep you locked up so you can't reincarnate into the next nation. I don't have anything against you personally, and I'd rather it didn't have to be this way. But…it is. That's just how the world works." After a long pause Zuko ordered the men to set down the gangplank, and they started to descend from the ship. Zuko was first, then his uncle, then the Avatar heavily guarded by the ship crew. They were in the docking harbor, and received odd stares from the people. Some started pointing at Zuko and murmuring, but when the Avatar came into view, the people fell silent, expressions of amazement frozen on their faces. The banished Prince had actually done it. After 2 years of searching, he had finally captured the Avatar.
As Zuko started to move through the crowd, the people hurriedly moved out of the way and got down on their knees to genuflect to their returning Prince. Even his uncle bowed in respect. Now that his nephew was a Prince again, he was technically higher in status than he. Zuko was surprised, for he had forgotten what it was like to be treated as royalty. Once they were at the entry to the palace, they were stopped by two guards.
"State your business."
"That is not your concern. I am Prince Zuko of the Fire Nation and heir to the throne. So let me pass."
"Ex-Prince. Remember? You have no business here. You were banished. So leave in peace before I tell the Firelord and have you put in prison."
"No! I have completed my task! I have the Avatar! You will let me in!" Zuko received a long stare from the guards, who seemed unconvinced. So Zuko cocked his head to the side and gestured for his crew to reveal his prisoner. They stepped forward to reveal Aang, who was being grasped by either shoulder. The guards gasped, then quickly stepped away from the doors, unlatched them, and allowed Zuko and his crew to enter.
Zuko stopped and stared. It was exactly the way he remembered it. They hallways were painted red, and lit by torches that lined the corridors, giving it that reddish glow. The carpets were made of silk and dyed the color of blood, and decorated with the Fire Nation insignia. The smell was of incense and smoke, and lined along the walls were portraits of past Firelords. And someday, Zuko thought to himself, his portrait would be up there as well.
It had been so long since he had been home, and now all of his memories were coming back to him. He must have been standing there for over a minute when his uncle walked up to him and put his hand on his nephew's shoulder.
"I'm glad to be home too." Zuko was startled by this, and snapped out his trance with a jerk. One of the guards had come inside to escort them to the Firelord and was leading the way.
"This way." Zuko very well knew his way around the palace, but let the guard guide them regardless. They stopped at a pair of double doors, then the guard spoke.
"Wait here. I will let the Firelord know we have visitors." After saying this he entered the war room. The war room… Zuko wasn't so sure he wanted to go back in there again. The memories began to flood back to him about his scarring and…
"Zuko?" Iroh said softly as he turned towards his troubled nephew. He glanced at the doors and realized what was troubling him. "Oh. Don't worry my nephew. This should be a happy day for you. Do not cloud it with things of the past." Zuko looked hopefully at his uncle, and was surprised he wasn't talking about how his father wouldn't accept him back and all. It made him worry a little though.
The door opened and the guard stuck his head through the door.
"He seems to be in a bad mood today. Perhaps a later time."
"No. Once he knows I have the Avatar he will understand. I'm going in." Said Zuko as he brushed passed the guard.
"Zuko wai-" Iroh sighed then followed his nephew in, gesturing for the crew to do the same. Iroh could already tell that things were NOT going to be pretty.
Sorry to leave you guys hanging again. This chapter was originally supposed to end after Zuko's confrontation with his father, but It was taking to long to type it all, and I thought I would just end it here, cause I hate suspense too. Please Review!