Heyooo! It's been a while since I wrote an Avatar fanfic, much less a Zutara one! *Cough* *Cough* ;)

I'm looking forward to writing this story because I LOVE Zutara and it's so fun to write!
I had trouble starting it, though, because I used all my good ideas in my last Zutara fic. But don't worry, I finally have some more! First off I decided to do this one in Zuko's P.O.V (And it will be like that the whole time! o.o) Because I didn't do much of that before and I think it'll be something new to try out! Anyways, this is just the beginning and I may or may not continue depending on the reaction I get from you guys! If you like it I certainly will continue, but if not, meh, there's plenty of other fics I can write. hehe. :p If I do continue, I plan to make to somewhat follow the plot and add in my own things, which is my favorite way to write Zutara fics because I feel like they have so much chemistry anyways that there's TONS of opportunities to write it in . XD

ANYWAYS this chapter is starting off in episode 9, and the next one will be the rest of that episode. I plan on doing a chapter an episode if I can, and following the whole series. (Which will be very hard because I don't own the DVD's yet. But my memories pretty good... c:)

They will follow the plot, but not strictly. It was also veer off at a certain point, but that's later to come. ;)

Honor. All of those things I'd thought I would have if I captured the Avatar. That was my reason for going on, my destiny. I will gain everything I need once I do this. My throne, my family, my honor. My father will finally accept me as his son once again.

At least, that's what I continued to tell myself. I wouldn't let myself lose to the Avatar and his peasant friends. I'd split up with my Uncle and set off on my own for the day, telling him I needed to take a walk and have some time to think. Somehow I've managed to track the Avatar, something I'm particularly good at. I watched them from the shadows as they stood around a large river, the water fall flowing down quickly. My guess was the water bender was going to train the Avatar, although she wasn't nearly skilled enough at her level. Since they were heading to the North Pole, I assumed that she was only teaching him while they were on their way.

They were all staring at the water fall, the boy with a boomerang didn't look so impressed, but the girl and the Avatar had huge grins on their faces as if they'd never seen something so amazing. And honestly, they really probably haven't, seeing as the baldy was frozen for so long and the peasant girl has always been surrounded by ice. I almost pitied them.

"Nice puddle," the boomerang boy said.

Neither the Avatar nor the girl replied, they only kept grinning in amazement.

I sighed and rubbed my eyes. I hadn't gotten much sleep last night, and my stomach was rumbling. When was the last time I'd eaten? I don't remember, honestly food is not my first priority and neither is sleep.

The giant sky bison flew around and flopped into the water, sending it splashing everywhere. I could see that nothing interesting was happening right now and probably wouldn't, so I decided to go back to the ship and eat something. Knowing Uncle, he had the crew prepare something so there was food when I returned.

I walked quietly and slowly back through the tiny woods I was passing through. It was fairly warm out, but I was used to it. I didn't mind the sun; it reminded me of back home at the Fire Nation. It was always warm there, and it gave me a very nostalgic memory of my mother telling me stories about how the sun spirit blessed the Fire Nation with its warmth so we could be strong benders. Of course, that was all just fiction. Her stories weren't true, but they did comfort me whenever Azula and I weren't getting along too well, or whenever I felt I was lacking in my bending skills.

"But mom," I asked aloud. "If the sun gives us strength, why am I so weak? Does the sun dislike me? What did I ever do to it?"

I looked up towards the sky, but my view was blocked by trees. "What did I do to you?!" I asked angrily to a non-visible sun. "Why did you leave me in the dark? Was I not enough for you? Do you not love me?" Maybe it wasn't the sun that I was speaking to at all.

Suddenly, I realized how ridiculous I was and growled, slamming a flaming fist into a tree. I heard it crack, or maybe it was my hand. The throbbing sensation in my hand suggested the latter. I made a 'tsk' sound and wiped my bleeding hand off.

"I'll show you," I growled lowly, "I'll show you all that's I'm stronger than you ever imagined."