For want of a Mask

or

How timing is everything…

aka

What if The Dai Li had succeeded in acquiring Zuko in Wuwei?

by PhantomChajo

(A/N: Ah the "For Want of A Nail" style AU plotline…. And just a fyi.. being sick… it sucks. Ugh.)

~~ ( - ) ~~

Time, therefore timing, was everything. A few seconds too early or too late could change the course of fate and in that change, change the fate of the world as well….

The man was old, though not elderly just yet. He had grown children and even grandchildren who were coming of age to marry. It was past time to pass on his secrets, yet none of his children had been interested in learning the traditions and the grandchildren were not of the right mindset either to learn. He had no surviving siblings from whom to seek a successor so that meant he had to see outside the clan bloodlines. It took a few years, but he found one that held promise.

It was easy to insulate himself into the servants of the Palace and become one of the many faceless who served the Fire Lord and his family. The child held such potential yet was discarded as useless because he was not a prodigy in firebending like his sister. He watched and listened, finding a pattern that was to his benefit.

The boy excelled in his schooling, outshining his sister in many areas of study yet unable to show it for the derision his father showed him. He was light and flexible in his physical training, able to perform simple feats that older students (and his sister) failed at yet he was told scornfully not to upstage his sister. He was naturally graceful when he was allowed to be, but in the presence of others that grace was turned inward and hidden for fear of other reprisals.

Slowly, cautiously he started interacting with the child. A nameless, faceless servant that would quietly praise the boy from the shadows. Someone who paid attention to the boy, engaging him in little harmless games that sharpened the boy's mind and reflexes. As he got older that servant became a guard, teaching the boy in secret the very beginning basics of how to handle a blade. When the boy asked why it was to be kept a secret, the nameless guard just smiled and said he should have something he was good, if not better at, than his sister. The boy thought it over and agreed.

It took surprisingly little to arrange for a Master Swordsman to come across the boy practicing. Only a few nudges here and there had the boy firmly under the tutelage of a world class Master swordsman. His job was done with for now. He could return home to his family to teach those who showed promise and to wait once more for the right time to make himself known once more. Maybe by then he would have a worthy successor.

~~ ( - ) ~~

….Some few years later….

The message had went out that the lost prince had been located. He was the closest to the location where the prince was said to be, thus it was his duty to find the young man and return him to where he belonged.

But timing is everything. It makes a difference between life and death, what could have been and what is.

The old man was more tired than he thought. His grandson had come to visit bringing his wife and newborn daughter with him. The child had gotten colic the night before resulting in the entire household being short on sleep. He left that morning several hours behind schedule after promising his grandson he'd only be gone a day or two at the most. He made up most of the time he'd lost by pushing his mount and the extra a little harder than normal.

Again, timing was everything. The old man missed intercepting the group of Dai Li and their precious stolen cargo by less than 20 minutes. When he arrived in the area that was Wuwei, he found the battle still raging hard. He was able to slip in and free those who had been indentured, able to pass out the gold and jade tablets to those whom he had set free. When he asked about the boy with the burn scar he was told that he had been taken earlier by a group from Ba Sing Se. The old man cursed his ill luck but knew he could do nothing about it except report to the clan elders. So he left his duty unfulfilled.

With no one to pass his knowledge or skills onto, the Shadow of the Dark Water Spirit would fade away with time. The mask would be returned to the Clan Elders so that one day another would emerge and take their place within the shadows.

~~ ( - ) ~~

…..Two Years Later…..

"There it is! The great city of Ba Sing Se!" came the childishly exuberant cry from the Avatar. "See, I told you guys there was nothing to worry about."

Eyes squinting against the wind, the last waterbender of the Southern Water Tribe looked in the direction indicated. "I see it Aang," Katara said with a matching grin.

"I don't know about you guys but I hope they have a feast waiting for us.. I'm starved," commented Sokka as he flopped back against the back of the saddle with a groan, holding one hand over his stomach.

"You're always hungry snoozles, and I still say this is a huge mistake coming to Ba Sing Se," the small yet powerful earthbender commented as cloudy pale green eyes stared sightless off into the distance. "We should have listened to that old guy…."

Sokka snorted. "What? I can't help it. I'm a warrior. A warrior needs food to keep fighting….And that 'old guy' was from the Fire Nation. Of course he'd say going to Ba Sing Se was a bad idea."

Aang and Katara shared looks before glancing at the fourth member of their group and the Avatar's Earthbending master. The Avatar just shrugged. "Come on guys.. everything will be fine!" he tugged gently on the reins, directing his loyal animal companion in the direction he wished to go.

As the group approached the towering walls that surrounded the great Earth Kingdom city, they were flagged down by soldiers on the wall. The message was passed that the Council of Five and the King was waiting for them at the palace. With a cheerful wave the group was off again, this time the flight was much shorter but the greeting was grander.

"Welcome Avatar Aang to the Great City of Ba Sing Se," a middle-aged man said as he spread his arms in welcome. "I am Grand Secretariat Long Feng. I apologize but Earth King Kuei has not been feeling well the last few days. He sends his regrets in not being able to welcome you personally." Long Feng brought his hands together and bowed.

"Thank you Grand Secretariat Long Feng for your welcome," Aang replied back with a bow of his own. "I offer my prayers for Earth King Kuei's health to return quickly." He turned his head to the side slightly for a quick glance at Katara. "Perhaps Master Waterbender Katara could be of assistance? She's not only a superb fighter but a talented healer as well…."

"Thank you Avatar Aang," Long Fend answered, "But he is in good hands with the Royal Physicians. I shall, however, pass on your well wishes." Again he bowed, the polite yet meaningless smile still on his lips. "Let me introduce you to the rest," he said as he straightened up once more. He turned and gestured to the group of five older men, "This is the Council of Five." The group of Generals bowed to the Avatar. "They are responsible for seeing to all things related to the war as well as our plans in dealing with the Fire Nation and the return of the rightful heir to the Fire Nation Throne to his place." He turned the other direction and gestured towards the shadows, "May I present the Fire Nation Crown Prince and Future Fire Lord…."

Aang and his companions turned to look at the young man who stepped out of the shadows and made his way to stand next to Long Feng. He didn't look much older than Sokka, but that was the only thing they seemed to have in common.

He bore himself regally, standing tall yet relaxed, a study of contrasts. Eyes of bright gold stared out of an aristocratic face. The left half bore a dark red scar that covered his eye casting it into a permanent glare, yet the right side was as flawless as his skin was pale. Dressed in Earth Kingdom style armor yet in Fire Nation colors of gold, red and black. His hair was pulled up into a topknot yet it was braided and hung down almost to his waist. A pair of dao blades were strapped to his back, their handles extending over each shoulder but he was an obvious firebender when he swirled his hands around creating a ball of fire between them before extinguishing the flames and bowing low. "Avatar Aang... it is my honor to welcome you to Ba Sing Se. I am Prince Zuko."