Note: This is the follow-up to my pre-series fic Shadow of the Dragon King. I don't think you need to read Shadow in order to understand this collection, though, as it largely follows Zuko through the show. Some minimal background just in case it's too confusing: The conceit of Shadow is that Zuko was really anti-war all along, which became a major reason for his exile.

Reference: This starts with, then extends, Zuko's second scene from the pilot episode where he speaks to Iroh on the balcony of his ship.

1. Coward (1.01 "The Boy in the Iceberg")

More and more, thought Zuko, having Uncle by his side felt like trying to swim with an anchor around his leg. You won't find him. Your father, grandfather, and great-grandfather all tried and failed. The words pulled him down into the black depths.

The winds of the far South clawed at his naked head. They took Uncle's words and twisted them into his ears: You'll never go home. You are a failure.

The one defense he could raise was that not finding the Avatar wasn't in the realm of possibility, not for him. He hardly knew which was worse, never returning at all or having to return with his enemies' laughter in his ears and the brand of failure on his face.

"This coward's hundred years in hiding are over." He would not think of the alternative.

"Prince Zuko-"

"What are you afraid of, Uncle?" He spun on the old man, the irritation like an itch inside his throat. "If I didn't know better, I'd say you want me to fail."

Iroh shook his head. "You know that is not true. Yet there is no shame in changing a goal that is unachievable, or undesirable."

"Undesirable." He snorted. "The Avatar is either a hopeless incompetent or craven, and you believe the world somehow loses from his capture?"

"Perhaps not, nephew." Iroh lowered his gaze, and it occurred to Zuko how grey he looked in the fading light. My fault.

"You should rest." The strain of this journey would be over soon, if everything went as it should.

"I will." Iroh turned away, his shadowed eyes glinting in a smile. "Do not stay too long, now."

"I won't." He saw Uncle off the balcony with a bow and turned back to the sea again before the footsteps had faded. His eyes searched the patch of sea and ice where the pillar of pure light had soared to the sky earlier in the day.

That was more than anything the Avatar had shown in a hundred years, according to all the reports. A century, while the world burned.

You've had your chance to set things right, he told the southern sky where the light had long since faded.

Now it's my turn.

His thoughts flew ahead of his ship as it carried him forward. He closed his eyes to feel the edged winds sweep over him, and did not doubt the pull of destiny.

Next: "Bring me all your elderl-" Oops, wrong show. "You're just a child!"