He breathed deeply through his nose, inhaling the scent of Republic City. The sprawling metropolis was a series of flashing lights in the night, and as he hid cloaked in shadow atop one of the several police blimps, he strove to pick out the lights that marked the district he was searching for.

"Be advised, twelve Equalists are attacking a prison convoy. Requesting backup at…" As the man on the police scanner hidden in his left ear relayed the location, he looked back at his goal, before looking in the direction of the attack.

"Damn."


"Damn."

Lin Beifong cursed angrily as her opponent dodged another attack with her cables. Performing her own dodge as one came from behind, she leapt into the air, twisting and firing her cables: one at the wall behind her assailant, and one at a farther wall to provide an anchor. With a hard yank, she retracted the cable, pulling a section of the wall down on two Equalists.

Upon landing, she found herself surrounded by the remaining assailants, her officers having been disabled. She closed her eyes, and took a deep breath.

The sound of leather sliding on stone reached her ears, before she heard someone grunt in pain before hitting the ground. Her eyes snapped open and she saw a figure dressed in black weaving amongst the confused Equalists. He hit each with a lightning-fast flurry of chi blocking strikes, leaving them to fall limply to the ground. Taking advantage of their confusion, Lin lashed out with her cables, forcing two of them to smash heads and knock each other out. Rotating on the balls of her feet, she whipped around, forcing a chunk of wall to follow her as she turned-

-only to find her rescuer three inches from her face. He swiftly but gently pushed her arm away, and she gazed intently at the blue, grinning mask so close to her lips. A story stirred in the back of her mind, and she whispered, "The Blue Spirit…" He nodded slowly, before backing away, never breaking her gaze.

"While I do thank you, I can't have any vigilantes in my city. You realize I have to bring you in?" He nodded, still backing away, never breaking away, never breaking her gaze.

She fired her cables, and he leapt, landing like a trapeze artist on a wire, before running toward her. Before she could blink, he reached her and kicked her in the face, sending her head flying and her careening off-balance. He leapt again, pushing off on her shoulder, and landed on a rooftop and disappearing.

As Lin slowly rose, one of her officers who had regained consciousness asked, "Chief… who the hell was that?"

"…I don't know…"


Four hours and two hundred miles away, the Blue Spirit soared through the air, two flames emitting from his feet and propelling him forward. Every few seconds he released a small jet of flames from one of his hands, stabilizing his flight. (AN: Like Ozai during Sozin's Comet.) Spotting his current base, he cut the flames, moving forward for another twenty feet before he began his descent. As he fell, he fired off a few flames to slow his fall, until he landed on the roof, rolling to break his landing. Quickly and silently crawling across the roof, he held on with one hand as he swung himself over the edge, using his other hand to push open the window to his bedroom.

He swung in, his leather-clad feet landing with a soft thump on the old rug. Shedding his mask, he set the blue porcelain on his nightstand, before removing his black tunic, followed by the stiff leather jerkin underneath it.

"It has been many years since the Blue Spirit walked in Republic City," a raspy old voice said behind him, and he smiled, turning to face his father in his wheelchair.

"And last the Blue Spirit did, it was you who wore the mask. Did I wake you?" he asked gently, kneeling before the old man's wheelchair and resting his strong hands on the thin, old ones. Zuko's silver hair and fu manchu, both reaching down to his shoulders, gleamed in the moonlight, and a smile crossed his paper-thin lips.

"My son, as you age you will find that sleep comes and goes. I was awake for several hours before now," Zuko replied, resting his head on the back of his wheelchair. "Roku, I understand the lure of the Blue Spirit; I created him so I could go where I couldn't, do what I couldn't, as both the banished prince, and later as the Fire Lord. The Blue Spirit became a kind of freedom for me, and it nearly destroyed our family. Did I ever tell you the story?" he asked, his eyes half-lidded as his aged brain struggled to stay awake.

"No," Roku replied, gently grasping his father's hand in his and rubbing his thumb softly across the old man's knuckles. Though he had heard the story before, he would feel bad if he reminded his father of just how old he was getting by pointing out his forgetfulness.

"It was the day you were born," he began, his eyelids drooping closed. "I had been talking with Aang and the council of Republic City about… I don't even remember, it was so trivial. But finally I just got so bored and angry that I stormed out, and went back to our house in the city…" Zuko was silent for a few seconds, before he began snoring lightly.

Roku smiled softly while a tear fell from his eye, before he rose and gently wheeled his father back to his room. Bending down, he carefully lifted the old man without waking him, before setting him down on his bed, glad that his father hadn't changed out of his night clothes. Pulling the covers up to his father's chin, Roku bent over his Zuko's form, lightly kissing his forehead. Sleep well, father… we'll be in Republic City in three days.


Avatar Korra sat silently on the cliffs of Air Temple Island, gently inhaling the scent of the sea and listening to the crashing waves. She carefully slowed her breathing, as Tenzin had instructed, trying her best to meditate. Slowly, ever so slowly, she felt sound of the waves disappear, and a slight ringing began in the back of her ears.

"HEYKORRAKORRAKORRAKORRAKORRA!"

The ringing disappeared, and she was sucked back into her body so fast she felt as though she would vomit. Groaning in frustration, Korra opened her eyes, turning to look at Ikki, Tenzin's youngest and most… chatty, daughter. "What now, Ikki?" Ikki said a jumble of words so fast, that Korra was unable to comprehend them, and she grabbed the young girl by the shoulders, making her stop jumping. "One more time, but slowly," she said, and the young girl took a deep breath.

"Fire Lord Zuko is coming to Republic City to meet you!" With that, Ikki took off, running to parts unknown as Korra eyes widened in surprise. Rising to her feet, she quickly ran to the common, where she found Tenzin, Jinora, and Pema eating together.

"Is it true? Is Fire Lord Zuko really coming to meet me?" she asked excitedly, scaring Tenzin as she appeared behind him. The Airbender choked for a moment, before swallowing hard and gasping for air.

"Korra, don't startle me like that!" he said, rubbing his throat. Taking another deep breath, he continued. "Yes, the Fire Lord has expressed an interest in meeting you, but he is also coming to discuss the current situation involving the Equalists with the Council. He wants to talk to us about allowing his son to live here in Republic City and take an active role in protecting the city."

"I didn't know he had a son," Korra said with surprise, sitting down next to them.

"Oh yes," Jinora said matter-of-factly, glancing up from her book. "Prince Roku. He was born when Zuko and Mei were forty-two. Roku has caused a bit of a scandal back in the Fire Nation; he's forty-five, has no wife or children, and isn't seeking them out. A lot of the nobles believe that he's leaving his sister, Ursa, to carry on his family line."

"Is there anything else I should know about either of them?" Korra asked, digesting the information Jinora had given her. Tenzin was silent for a few minutes as he pondered what was important enough to tell Korra, before he did so.

"Zuko was the oldest of Team Avatar, and in his old age his body became rather weak as expected, to the point where he was confined to a wheelchair twenty years ago. Try not to bring it up; even though he is in a wheelchair he is still someone you do not want to anger. And as you know, Zuko was Aang's Firebending Teacher, so he will likely ask you to display your abilities in a Firebending match."

"How can he challenge me if he's in a wheelchair?" Korra asked, scratching the back of his head in confusion. Pema laughed at that, and Korra turned to her embarrassedly. "What's so funny?" she demanded.

"Tenzin means that Zuko will have you face Roku, not himself." Her grin faded from her face, before she became serious. "Korra, you have to be very careful when you face Roku. While Roku is a scandal for his bachelor status, he's even more well-known for his Firebending prowess. Zuko himself has said that he's seen Roku do things that he thought a Firebender couldn't do without the aid of Sozin's Comet." She handed Korra a bowl of rice, and Korra began eating, her brow furrowed in thought.

"Pema is right, Korra," Tenzin chimed in, setting down his empty bowl as he finished eating. "When Azula escaped prison, it was Roku that was sent out to subdue her. Azula was a mad, dangerous Firebender that could likely have killed Aang at the height of his power without the Avatar state. Roku found her, fought her, and then killed her, having been unable to find another alternative. Roku is a master at bending because he is a master of non-lateral thinking; he can see connections between elements and techniques that no one else can."

"What do you mean?" Korra asked excitedly, amazed at the story.

"Well, you know that Toph created Metalbending by bending the residual particles of earth inside the metal? That's an example of non-lateral thinking. He can manipulate fire, lightning, magma and lava, and can even Metalbend, to an extent."

"How can he bend metal?"

"Well, he super-heats the metal to temperatures of over five thousand degrees Kelvin, before he absorbs all the heat in less than a second and disperses it into the ground, super-cooling the metal to absolute zero. That leaves it extremely brittle, to the point where it shatters under its own weight."

"You seem to know him very well," Korra said, shoveling rice into her mouth.

"As a matter of fact, yes. He, Lin, and I were good friends back during childhood, though he was five years younger than Lin and six years younger than me. We used to go on our own little adventures, but I haven't seen him since he was… oh, must have been around fifteen. I haven't seen him in thirty years, though he does send gifts to my children every year."

"That's terrible," Korra said, her expression sad. "Did you guys just sort of go your separate ways, or did something drive you apart?" Tenzin's expression hardened, and Korra silently bowed her head, knowing she had said too much.

"Roku will be here in three days. For today, I want you to practice your Airbending. Afterwards, I want you to make sure that you have some appropriately formal attire for meeting a dignitary. If it needs to be washed, do so. Meanwhile, the Air Acolytes will be cleaning up the island, so try not to get in their way."

"Yes, Master." Korra rose, and practically ran to the training ground, trying to contain her excitement.


Korra stood anxiously next to her Master and Lin Beifong as the Fire Nation ship docked at the harbor. She wore the same clothes she had worn to Councilman Tarrlok's gala, though she had added an Airbending pendant that hung around her neck. Shaking in anticipation, she stretched up onto her toes, trying to get a glimpse of Zuko. Lin shook her head, the hint of an amused smile ghosting across her lips.

A few minutes later, the procession slowly came filing out. Zuko was in the lead, being pushed in his wheelchair by a man of average height and build, dressed in full Fire Nation armor, complete with flanged helmet and mask. Zuko wore the regal robes he had worn during his entire career as Fire Lord, and even now that he was no longer the official Fire Lord.

Next to Zuko strode a tall, pompous-looking man dressed in similar robes. He had a long, thin nose that shadowed a pinched-up mouth that looked as if he had sucked on something bitter. His squinty eyes were a dull grey, and he looked at Tenzin and Korra with disdain. As the procession came to a halt, Zuko motioned for his assistant to wheel him forward.

"Tenzin… Lin… it is very good to see you again. You both look so much like your respective parents, it makes me feel…old." He laughed for a moment, and Korra was surprised at just how old he sounded. A moment later, he turned to face her. "It has been seventeen years since I sat beside Aang on his deathbed, comforting him and Katara. And yet, you stand here before me, and I feel as if he never left. I pay you my most sincere greetings, Avatar Korra. It is an honor to meet you." Zuko bowed as much as he could in his wheelchair, his assistant helping him back up.

"The honor is mine, Master Zuko," Korra said, bowing as well. "I've longed to meet you, ever since I was a little girl and Katara told me stories about Team Avatar." A grin settled across the old man's face, before the tall man beside him spoke.

"Indeed the honor is yours," he said in a pompous voice to match his looks. "Why we had to come here is beyond me. I much prefer the Fire Nation to this… city."

"You must be Prince Roku," Korra said, trying to sound polite. She started slightly when a smooth, seductively deep voice came off from her left.

"If the stories about me say that I am as rude as my nephew Azulon, than I have been sorely misrepresented." She watched in fascination as Zuko's assistant pulled off his helmet, running a hand through his ebony hair. His hair was drawn back into a topknot, pierced with a simple steel bar, rather than the ornate gold she would have expected of Royalty. He was remarkably handsome; he looked almost exactly like what she imagined Zuko would have looked like without his scar. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Korra." They shook hands, and she was amazed at his strong grip.

"It's been a long time Tenzin," he said, turning to the Airbender. "I trust your children have gotten my gifts?"

"They have," Tenzin said, reaching out his hand. "It's very good to see you again, Roku. I have missed your friendship greatly these past thirty years."

Roku remained silent, though he showed enough respect as to shake Tenzin's hand. Turning to Lin, Korra saw his eyes soften slightly before he took her hand, brushing his lips against it. "It is wonderful to see you again after so many years, Lin. You are radiant as ever," Roku said, bowing to the Chief. Korra was amazed to see Lin's own eyes soften slightly before she smiled.

"Ever the charmer, Roku. I've heard you're quite popular with the ladies of the Fire Nation these days; you must be unable to leave the house without receiving marriage proposals." Roku laughed, a deep, booming sound that came from somewhere in his chest, and Lin shook her head amusedly.

"Roku, enough of your flirting," Azulon said, turning up his nose at the proceedings. "As my mother is the current Fire Lord, and not grandfather, it is my responsibility to see that we get to our meeting on time, and you are holding us up."

"Yes, yes," Roku drawled in a bored tone, putting his helmet back on. "As you say, Prince Azulon. No need to be late to a meeting arranged by a co-founder of this city that has nothing whatsoever to do with the Fire Nation. Honestly Azulon, why you insisted on coming along with us is beyond me. You would quite honestly only worsen the situation."

"You insult me!" Azulon exclaimed, his face turning beet red as he stood taller in anger, trying to appear intimidating. Small flames appeared in his hands, and everyone save Zuko and Roku tensed.

"If you have a quarrel with me Azulon, then challenge me to an Agni Kai. Otherwise, put out your fires, whelp, and stand silent." Azulon glared angrily at the blank faceplate of the helmet, before he extinguished the flames and crossed his arms with a huff.

"Now," Roku said, walking back behind his father to push his wheelchair, "I believe we have a meeting to attend."


Well, there you guys have it! Review, and tell me how I did. Until next time!

-Zeratide, out.