Disclaimer: I don't own Avatar: The Last Airbender… Big surprise…

Author's Notes: Hey everyon! I know what you're thinking… No, I'm not abandoning "Twist of Fate" and yes, this story is completely related to that fic so my dear viewers, old and new, I hope you enjoy this story!

"Interlude"

Iroh

Some say he was an old man with simple wants and simple needs. Some say he still was the same general who was the only one able to break through the impenetrable walls of Ba Sing Se. Some say that he actually ventured to the spirit world and sought for the spirit of his son, Lu Ten. But all those were just speculations because Iroh, even though he was pretty honest, still had some mysteries with him that nobody dared to find out.

Unlike other royals, Iroh preferred to walk on his own two feet. He wasn't very strict on his personal guards and he even invited them to have tea with him. Most of the people of the fire nation really loved Iroh and was shocked to hear that he was not the one crowned as the Fire Lord after Azulon's murder.

Rumors spread that it was Ozai's son, Zuko, who killed the late Fire lord. Many thought that that rumor wasn't true because from what they've seen, Zuko was a very innocent child. He didn't have the heart to kill anyone. But according to Ozai, Mai, Zuko's girlfriend, confessed that Zuko planned to kill the Fire Lord and blame Ozai for it because he wasn't a true father to him and he wanted Iroh to adopt him.

News then spread that the treacherous prince was nowhere to be found. Hours later, wanted posters of Zuko were posted all over the nation and stated that he must be captured at all costs, alive or dead.

That's when another rumor started to spread. Words on the street was that the reason Iroh wasn't to be crowned as Fire Lord was because he refused to accept it until he retrieved his nephew and brought him back to the Fire Nation and found out why he killed Azulon.

Some people thought that that was noble of him while others thought it was stupid because they knew for a fact that Ozai was after the throne since the day he learned that his brother would be king one day.

'Fools' Iroh thought when he remembered those rumors as he went through the forest. He knew where Zuko was. He was the one who told Zuko that Mai told Azula about him and later told Ozai. Heck he was the one who told him where to hide.

Iroh finally exited the forest and entered a clearing and just at the edge of the clearing was a mountain. He climbed the mountain and when he was at the top there was a cave. When he entered it, he saw Zuko staring intensely on the fire that he produced.

"Is father still after me?" Zuko asked as he looked up at Iroh

Iroh nodded "It's actually getting worse my nephew. Wanted posters of you are all over the nation stating that when you are spotted you must be returned to the palace immediately, dead or alive" he said seriously which unnerved Zuko

"It wasn't my fault!" Zuko shouted exasperated "He was going to kill me! What did they expect me to do? Get killed by my own grandfather?" he asked no one in particular

Iroh sighed 'This kid is fucking noisy' he though irritably "Prince Zuko, please stay calm" he told him "This is not the time to be emotional"

Zuko stared at Iroh unbelievably "What are you talking about? This is the perfect time to be emotional!" he snapped "How would you feel if you were going to be killed by someone who you trust"

Iroh glared at him "I know exactly how it feels" Iroh looked away "Do you know why Lu Ten died?"

"He was killed by an earthbending soldier when you invaded Ba Sing Se"

"Wrong!" Iroh shouted which made Zuko flinch "He was killed by a fire nation soldier"

Zuko was bewildered "But you said in your report that he was killed by an earthbender…"

"That was fake" iroh was still facing away from Zuko "I lied because if I told the truth then I didn't want chaos to occur in our nation"

Zuko burrowed his eyebrows "Why would that happen?"

Iroh finally looked at Zuko "Because when news spread that there's a traitor amongst the ranks then everybody will be wary of each other and worst case scenario, a coup d'etat will occur"

"What happened to the soldier who… killed Lu ten?" Zuko gulped, fearing the answer

Iroh simply answered "its best that you wouldn't know"

"What do you mean?"

"Prince Zuko, in this world there are many things that your current mind cannot fathom and will only break you." Iroh smiled at him "That's why we are going to travel around the world so that I can show what it's like living in the real world and not in the safety of the palace"

Zuko nodded "Ok uncle, I believe you"

Iroh smirked inwardly 'Excellent, just a few more years and this boy would be my puppet and I would rule the world!'

Author's Notes: Well? Any flames? Comments? Errors? Mishaps? Tell me so that I can correct them ^_^