Meetings… were exhausting. Sitting around for hours going back and forth was tiring as it gets, it's not even noon yet and Zuko already wanted to turn in for the day, but no, his duties come first, his nation is depending on him to bring it back to its wealthy and prosperous state. He knows now why uncle didn't want the throne, he feels like he's already getting grey hair eighteen years young.

With a exasperated sigh he got to work on his paperwork. Teaching Kiyi had taken time off his work, not that he hated it, in fact teaching his sister felt like a safe haven from being swallowed up from papers, plus he would do anything for his new baby sister. 'Looks like I'm gonna have to stay up late again and eat lunch and dinner in my office. Again.'

Same cycle of work every month reading and signing off deals for manufacturing new technology, renovating buildings, visiting snobby nobles, sending money to villages affected by the war, Republic City, etcetera. He wishes time would stop and he can just relax somewhere. Some part of his mind almost wishes he could be chasing the Avatar again, at least that was less stressful to a certain degree.

When his hand started to go numb and his topknot started to give him a headache he released it letting his dark locks down. Rubbing his temples, he wondered how much time has passed. The fatigued firebender stood up stretched and opened the extravagant blinds covering the balcony. It was night. Standing in the balcony letting the wind flow past his hair refreshed him and he also never got tired of the view of the capital, he was doing it for them he reminded himself, then went back inside to go back to work before darkness took over him.

"I thought I would still see you up here."

"Huh? Wha-" The firebender looked up wildly.

"You fell asleep in your desk again."

"Suki," He said groggily. "What time is it?" She walked up and slammed her hands onto his desk. "It's the middle of the night," Suki said unpleasantly. He noticed her tone, "Well thanks for waking me up, I gotta get back to work." He ran his fingers through his hair and started reading the scroll before it was snatched from his hand and thrown across the room.

"Hey! What was that for!" As he stood to his full height.

"I'm serious Zuko! You've done this for the past year and it's unhealthy! You can't keep doing this."

"Yes I can! And I will until my country is fixed!" Zuko countered.

"Zuko" she said softly. "You've done more than enough, most people in the Fire nation love you for bringing back their families from the war. You're still young and I feel like those bags under your eyes is infused in your face and your lunch and dinner is untouched, so please can you rest? You know I worry about you."

"Tell me, has anyone attempted on my life in the past few days?"

"I don't see ho-"

"Suki." "Just tell me."

"Yes, but-"

"Well obviously they are some people that don't like me." "New Ozai Society is still out there making weak attempts on my life and I can't just sit around waiting for one of them to be successful, so please can I work in peace?"

"Come on Zuko, you know tha-"

"Please?" She took a deep breath and nodded. Before she walked out the threshold she turned her head. "You know? I knew this would happen, your stubbornness almost matches Katara's."

As soon as the door clicked closed he plopped back into his chair and sighed while pinching the bridge of his nose. "Katara... Katara... Katara!" How could he forget! He scrambled back up and searched his entire desk. "Where is it, where is it," He repeated. "Aha!" finally opening a drawer filled with five or six scrolls with the water tribe seal. He quickly read into it murmuring part of the letters.

"Hey, how you been…. Today Sokka fell into the…" He chuckled. "I know you're busy but could you reply as soon as… the kids at the waterbending school are doing great… Aang came back again…" He frowned but continued on to the last letter, it was delivered in today.

Dear Zuko,

I know you probably won't be reading this until… whenever and I know you're busy enough and don't have time to listen to my problems, but someone replaced me at the council and I'm just so lost right now. Aang's off doing his Avatar duties, Toph is working on her metalbending school, Sokka's helping our dad with the council, and you're the Firelord. I know I sound desperate right now but I could use some of your advice because, I feel so useless. I wish you were here.

Love, Katara

He stared blankly at the paper rereading the words over and over again which included the smudges of words probably from tears. He could not think of anything to respond. He laid down his head on an empty scroll, he never knew what to say, he just says whatever comes to mind. Soon later his eyes started to get heavier and heavier 'maybe if a take a quick power nap I could think of something.'

"Mmmh" the firebender blinked a few times before sitting up and rubbing his eyes with his knuckles.

"Good. You're awake, someone's here to see you."

He looked over to his left to see his friend sitting in a chair feet kicked up on the circular table reading a book. "What time is it?" He yawned.

"It's past noon."

"What!" He jumped straight up pulling his hair back up to a topknot and looked for his crown. "It's in your right pocket." Not lifting an eye to him. He put it back on and adjusted his crown, "Why the hell didn't you wake me up?" Suki glared at him "You needed the sleep," she grit.

He sighed, "Look, Suki I'm really sorry about last night, but I have to go."

"No need." she closed her book and stood up. "All your appointments have been canceled."

"WHAT! Suki you can't just cancel them, you have no right-" He stopped mid sentence when he looked into those eyes and realized that the Warrior was not gonna take anymore of it.

"Are you done?" Her arms crossed, he nodded. "Well there's someone important waiting to meet you at the dining hall and I suggest you get to it." He didn't question his bodyguard and quickly and furiously walked towards the chambers thinking who could be so important. He opened the doors and his anger washed away.

"Uncle!"

The old general stood up and gave him a wide smile and a hug just as warm. "Zuko! I have missed you."

"So have I uncle." They released each other, "Uncle, what are you doing here?" He asked with a grin. "Well nephew, it seems like your friend here told me you needed help and I came as quick as I could." He looked back at her, her arms were still crossed. "You called my uncle?"

"Well I knew you wouldn't budge so I brought someone who could talk some sense into you."

"Come nephew," he lifted a heavy box he didn't notice on the table and offered to carry it for which his uncle happily accepted. "Careful Zuko, it is very fragile." He nodded and followed his uncle.

"Where are we going, uncle?"

"To the training grounds, you haven't been slacking in that department have you?"

"Of course not, uncle?"

"Good."

The Dragon of the West opened the doors to the training grounds to let Zuko and in which he carefully placed the box on the bench. "What's in the box, uncle?" He said searching for an opening. "You will find out soon enough Princ- Firelord Zuko. Now how's your lightning?" His face fell, "Not very good uncle, I still haven't been able to generate it."

"Well lets see it." He took a deep breath, closed his eyes and went through the motions over and over until he pointed to the other side of the wall and…

BOOM

Zuko fell harshly onto his back which only renewed his anger from last night. "Grrrrr! Why can't I produce lightning? I'm the Firelord and I still can't do it, you know how embarrassing that is!?" He put his elbow on his arm and rubbed his chin. "Maybe my forms aren't correct, uncle could you-" "No Zuko, your forms is just fine." He pondered curiously, "Perhaps you still haven't dealt with the turmoil inside of you yet." "What are talking about! I helped the Avatar defeat my father, I helped restore balance the world, and I found my mother! What other turmoil could I possibly need to dealt with?" "It could be something at an emotional level, my nephew, if you know what I mean?" He winked and Zuko was not amused. "Zuko, you need to find something to fill that gap inside have you ever felt that something is missing in your life?" "Yes, yes I have," he said quietly. "Well you could start by having something small, come I want to introduce you to someone."

He led Zuko to the box, and opened it and it revealed a large golden egg he'd recognize from anywhere. Iroh saw the surprise look on his face. "Ah, so you have seen this before." He handed the egg to his nephew. "Yes, when Aang and I visited the firebending masters at the ancient civilization. This artifact was there before…" Leaving the part where he got trapped in glue. "It almost feels like its.. Alive." "That's because it is Zuko, this here is a gift from Ran and Shaw for bringing balance to the world they also told me that no other firebender is worthy enough to be entrusted with this except for you." 'Worthy?' he thought, 'I'm.. worthy?' He looked back at the egg. "Uncle, are you saying this is.."

"Yes, Zuko it is a dragon."