AN: The intro is basically repeating the end of the episode Crossroads of Destiny, but in Zuko's point of view.

Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar: The Last Airbender, or any of its characters. There are several direct quotes and scene references from the aforementioned episode of which I use in my intro, and I do NOT take any credit for them.

A Different Perspective

Introduction

When the earth benders tossed me into crystal catacombs, I heard a girl's voice exclaim my name in surprise. I was somewhat surprised myself to find the water bending friend of the Avatar standing in front of me. I sat on the cave floor, my back turned to the girl. She immediately began questioning and badgering me, falsely accusing me of plotting to trap the Avatar and other nonsense.

After releasing most of her frustration with hateful words aimed at me, the water tribe girl turned and sat on the floor, her back to mine. Most of her words had only agitated me, but what she said next caused a slight, undesired pain in my chest.

"The fire nation took my mother away from me," she stated dejectedly.

She had no idea just how much I understood that pain. She was so completely oblivious to my circumstances, and how I had too lost my mother. I was not sure whether the pain in my chest was caused by my own grief over my lost mother, or if it was pity for the girl, who was now obviously crying.

"I'm sorry," I replied softly, turning around from my spot on the floor to look at the girl. "That's something we have in common."

I wondered why I was saying these things, why I cared. I watched as she wiped her tears away from her face and peered over her shoulder at me. I knew she was just as confused as I was. I did not normally act this way, but I could not help but understand her pain, and feel slightly to blame.

We both stood, looking away from each other, silent for what seemed like eternity.

The water bender finally broke the silence with an apology.

"I'm sorry I yelled at you before. It's just that for so long now, whenever I would imagine the face of the enemy, it was your face."

I cringed at the though of my scar. I touched it, feeling hurt and misunderstood.

"My face.. I see," I replied softly, looking away in shame.

She told me she did not mean it that way, and for some reason I found myself telling her my feelings. Then she told me there was a possibility I could be free of my scar. My heart pounded fiercely at the thought and I turned to her, my eyes wide. I wondered if she was serious. How could I possibly be free of this scar? When she told me she had healing abilities, my heart sank. No amount of healing from a water bender could free me of my mark of shame. Showing me her flask of sacred water, she explained of how she might be able to heal my scar using the water.

As she approached me I felt slightly nervous. Could she really do this? Or rather, would she really do this? After all the trouble I've caused her and her friends, why would she even try to heal my scar? I closed my eyes and she lifted her hand to my face, her fingers gently touching my scar, and her thumb brushing against my lips.

I felt a sudden rush of emotions, questions. Why was I letting her touch my scar? I had never let anyone touch it before. I was also excited that she might be able to free me from my constant reminder of dishonor and exile. At the same time I was worried. What if she healed me and nothing changed? What really bothered me the most was that I noticed the details of how soft her touch felt. After all I had done to her, battling with her to capture the Avatar, and even capturing her as bait, here she was gently touching my face, speaking of using her water from the North Pole spirit oasis.

Just as soon as it started, it all ended. There was a sudden loud explosion as the Avatar and my uncle came through the opening in the wall the Avatar had obviously created. I glared hatefully at the Avatar as the water tribe girl exclaimed his name and ran to him, embracing him. My uncle ran to me as well, hugging me tightly.

Once again my emotions ran wild. I was disappointed that the girl had been interrupted in her attempt to heal me. I was also disgusted to see the Avatar, and ever more appalled to see that my uncle had been with him.

My uncle told the Avatar and the water bender to leave, desiring to have a talk with me. I was in no mood to talk with my uncle. As my uncle was in the middle of giving me one of his typical lectures, the ground suddenly shook and the crystals in the cave surrounded and trapped my uncle. I looked up only to find my twisted sister Azula.

She attempted to get me to side with her, just as I knew she would. Her words meant nothing to me, I knew she was lying. As always, she was trying to use me, but I wouldn't fall into her trap this time. I played along though, in an attempt to play her at her own game. I pretended to struggle with a decision. She opted to let me decide on my own, and left me alone. I assumed she went to find the Avatar.

I glanced at my uncle, keeping my stern expression, trying to fool him as well. He would find out soon enough what my true intentions were. I could hear a fight stirring up above, and knew it was my sister. Without looking back at my uncle, I took off to find my sister.

When I arrived in the room where my sister was fighting the Avatar and his water tribe friend, I released a blast of fire in the center of them, getting their attention. My sister glared at me, threatening me to take her side. I would take her side, only to trick her. I had plans for her.

I attacked the Avatar, leaving the water tribe peasant to my sister. Though this was supposed to be a ploy, I found it not at all difficult to attack the Avatar. I still felt the need to capture him in order to restore my honor.

When I managed to knock down the Avatar I realized that my sister was being overpowered by the water bender. I was somewhat intrigued that the girl could put my sister in that position, but I set that thought aside and used my fire whip to break the water whip the girl was using to restrain my sister.

My sister then took after the Avatar and I proceeded to fight the water bender.

"I though you had changed!" the water bender yelled as she fought back.

"I have changed," I exclaimed, releasing a blast of fire at the girl.

Soon I found myself surrounded by help. The earth benders my sister had managed to take under her control had shown up. We had the Avatar and his friend surrounded.

The Avatar turned and sat on the ground, creating a crystal wall around himself. I was confused at first. Then, as I saw a bright glow through the crystals, I realized what he was doing. He was entering the Avatar state.

Before I could react, the Avatar rose from his position with an explosion of air and rock. I stared up at him in awe and slight fear. I had seen him in this state before, when he took down Zhao.

That was when I made my mistake. I was so affixed on the Avatar that I had not seen my sister raise her hand to the Avatar. Without notice, a bolt of lightning penetrated the Avatar, his now lifeless body plummeting to the ground below. This was not how it was supposed to happen.

I had little time to think or react, as the water tribe girl glided over to the Avatar, taking down the earth benders, my sister, and myself with a tidal wave of water.

When my sister and I stood to attack the water tribe peasant, my uncle came to their aid. He was clearly outmatched, but I knew he was just trying to buy the Avatar and friend some time. After the girl ascended out of the room with the Avatar, my uncle surrendered, allowing the earth benders to capture him.

As my uncle stood trapped by the earth that had been bent around him, he looked away from me, obviously ashamed of my decisions. I felt a slight tinge of guilt, but held my head high. My uncle would not be held captive for long.