Simple redirection isn't enough, he told himself. I have to truly master lightning by creating it.

Zuko channeled all of his energy into his bending again and again, but all he wound up with were raging blasts of fire. Frustrated, he hurled himself at the ground, landing with a resigning thump.

Why can't I get this right? he asked himself, displeased with his inability to generate his own lightning. There must be something I'm doing wrong. Maybe Uncle can help me.

With that, the young Fire Lord eased himself up and proceeded to roam about his palace in search of Iroh. Sure enough, he was in his quarters slowly sipping his favorite tea.

Zuko leaned against the doorway and smiled. "Uncle. May I come in?"

Iroh nodded.

There was something off about him that Zuko couldn't quite place. It was almost like he was…lagging.

Zuko shrugged off his thought and sat beside his uncle. "Can I ask you something, Uncle?"

"You want me to teach you to generate lightning."

Zuko tensed. "Yes. How did—"

Iroh chuckled and set his cup down. "If I'm going to do that for you, you need to do something for me as well, nephew."

Zuko raised an eyebrow as a suspicious little half smile curved his uncle's lips.

Iroh took the silence as an invitation to continue. "As I'm sure you know, every Fire Lord needs a Lady. It's been three years, Zuko. Both you and the Avatar have restored peace to the world; it is time for you to settle down, and maybe evengive the Fire Nation an heir."

Zuko scowled, a crimson flush spreading up from under his collar. He was about to shout profanities when he realized the truth in Iroh's words. He frowned at himself.

"To be honest with you," Iroh went on, turning to face his nephew, "I think that is what is preventing you from achieving your goal."

"What do you mean?"

"To generate your own lightning strike requires a greater sense of peace with oneself."

"But I am at peace," he lied straight through his teeth.

"No, Zuko, you are not," said Iroh flatly. "The moment I said "Lady" your body temperature rose twenty degrees."

Zuko inwardly debated whether or not to tell his uncle anything.

"What is it that's bothering you? You can tell me," Iroh pressed.

Sighing glumly, Zuko averted his eyes from his uncle's gaze, instead looking out at the waning moon. He chose his next words carefully. "It's just that I fear I am too much like my father. I fear that if I were to marry the girl I love, I would hurt her."

"Mai?"

His breath halted. "No."

"Who, then?"

Zuko's eyes narrowed. "Forget it. I've said too much already. Goodnight, Uncle."

Iroh was about to protest, but Zuko jumped up and out of the room before another word could be said.

He ran out of the palace and away from everything, to the one place that kept him sane: the turtleduck pond. All of the turtleducks were sound asleep, except for a little one that had woken up to the sound of Zuko's footsteps.

Zuko chuckled as it waddled towards him with its mouth ajar, expecting him to offer food. But Zuko simply sat down and stared off into the distance contemplating Iroh's stern words.

He had broken up with Mai shortly after they'd gotten back together at the end of the war. She wasn't in love with him; she was in love with his power.

Then there was Jin. She was kind and gentle to Zuko back in Ba Sing Se….

Zuko's train of thought was interrupted when he felt a watery plop in his lap. Looking down, he was astonished to find that the little turtleduck had made itself comfortable and fallen asleep. As he stroked its back, he pursed his lips in deep thought.

Agni, he thought, give me a sign.

The wind howled ferociously all of a sudden, the trees swaying slightly and the leaves rustling. The turtleduck squirmed in his lap.

Zuko sighed. Poor little guy, he mused.

He gently placed the turtleduck with its family and smiled when it huddled up to its mother. Upon turning around, he spotted the silhouette of a thin, frail-looking old woman. He couldn't see her facial features, so he instinctively took a step backward.

"Z-Zuko…."

He knew that voice with every fiber of his being. He was able to dash to her side just before she could hit the ground, reaching for her with his sharp reflexes.

A lump began to form in his throat, and his voice wavered. "Mom?"