Zuko suddenly awoke with a start. He looked around and was confused for he was in a dense forest. The last thing he remembered was redirecting his fathers lightning, the thought brought a small smirk on his face. Then everything came rushing back to him in a wave and wondered how much time had passed. He looked at his body looking for any bruises; if he was bruising then too much time had passed, luckily there were none. He got up slowly to prevent himself from getting dizzy. He began jogging west. The avatar was heading west he was probably heading toward the Earth Kingdom. He sighed. It's going to be a long walk. Then almost too abruptly he stumbled into a clearing and unfortunately into a currently landed War balloon with a Scout balloon near it and one in the air. He stood too shocked by his own luck, he was still shaking off the effects of unconsciousness.

Zein sat in front of the main observatory window. He was eating some cold roast duck on some slightly stale bread. Then he saw it, at the very edge of a clearing he noticed something red pop out of it through his peripheral vision and he quickly turned to get a better view. His eyes widened and he quickly shouted "ZGHRUKO". Unfortunately it came out muffled and unrecognizable due to the piece of turtle duck and bread in his mouth.

"Excuse me sir?" replied a nearby soldier.

"Mobilize your men NOW, Zuko has just entered the clearing!" he ordered.

"Should we call the scout down sir?" asked the soldier

"What? NO, just get your damn men out there and get ZUKO" he shouted as he shot two small fire blasts at him to emphasize his point. "and HURRY!" he bellowed. He turned and ran to the exit, he couldn't rely on this useless crew if they questioned him on things like that and how on earth did that Scout not see him!

Zuko was about to turn tail and run but he stopped. He turned around and drew his swords. It was time he stopped running, he narrowed his eyes, it was time he faced his destiny and that was protecting the avatar. He had already decided this and now he was actually going to do it, he was choosing to fight his own people to do what was right. Before it was simply for survival, for himself but not any more, he was going to grow up and fight. For once he was going to fight alone, without his uncle. He was going to fight to prove to himself that he was worthy of redemption from his uncle. Remember your basics was all that went through his mind as he ran towards the balloon.

He realized that they already knew he was coming since some soldiers already had the weapons drawn. He jumped up and kicked one down, swung his swords to hit the other soldiers. They both locked for a few seconds before Zuko lunged at him with all his weight, knocking him off balance, he then stabbed him in the chest. He turned and saw about 12 soldiers filing out of the War balloon.

Zein fell into a fire bending stance once outside, his crew were following suit, some drew swords, others pulled bows and prepared arrows while others still went into their own stances. Zein narrowed his eyes at Zuko, he still remembered Zuko's defeat three years ago against his father. Pitiful. "Banished Prince Zuko I am Commander Zein, tonight I take you as my prisoner to your father, you are a wanted criminal now"

Zuko snorted. "Like I haven't heard that one before"

"Sorry, I missed something," Zein smirked. "Your wanted Dead or Alive, your father wants your head"

Zuko's eyes widened and he paled a bit. No, no it couldn't be true. He screamed in rage as his swords lit up on fire and he charged at Zein and his men.

Zein quickly fell to the back of his little army. "Attack!" he shouted.

Zuko sliced the air and a flame extension of his sword flew at the nearest man who wasn't' expecting it and was hit full force. He then swiped his sword at one while using the other to defend against another soldier on the other side of him. He turned to the soldier who just attacked him and kicked him in the stomach at the same time sticking his sword out at the other stabbing him in the arm. He twirled and narrowly avoided an arrow as it whizzed by his head. He did a 360 to avoid the arrow and as he ended his twirl he stuck his arm out shooting a ball of fire at the archer who was forced to dodge it. Two soldiers decided to attack him at the same time but he was too fast, they stuck their swords at him at the same time, he jumped up and landed on their outstretched swords, then used that leverage to jump behind the group of soldiers straight for Zein.

Zein saw him jump up from the crowd. He raised an eyebrow, clearly he was a little impressed that he survived so far without breaking a sweat. He saw Zuko flawlessly fall into a fire bending stance right in front of him. Zein smirked " I'm a fire bending master and from what I hear you still are not". At this Zuko, clearly infuriated, ran at him and sent a few balls of fire at him, which Zein easily dissipated, Zein jumped and kicked a blast at him. Zuko was forced to stop his charge as he fell back to dodge it. Zein landed and swept his leg and an arc of flame extended at Zuko causing him to back away. He knew he had to keep Zuko at a distance because of his swords.

Zuko was about to jump and attack with his swords when he noticed a soldier about to attack him. He quickly sidestepped and the sword passed by him, Zuko then shoved the hilt of his sword into the soldiers face. The soldier fell back. Zuko then moved to the next as he dodged yet another ball of fire from Zein. He swung his sword and fire extended form it burning another soldier. When Zuko turned he saw an onslaught of three fireballs headed for him. He dodged it by falling to the floor on his back as the balls passed narrowly over his face, the heat causing him to sweat momentarily. He jumped back up to face Zein.

Everything had paused for a moment. Zuko had somehow managed to take out 6 of his 11 soldiers leaving 5 left. Two archers, one bender and two non-benders, he realized this battle was loosing, but one look at Zuko and he realized he wouldn't last very long. He smirked and decided to keep up the heat then shot out a bunch of fire balls. His soldiers figured this to be a chance for them all to attack

Zuko was dissipated the first few balls then he felt a searing pain on his arm, he turned and saw an arrow sticking out of it, and suddenly felt very hot as the 2 balls of fire hit him square in the chest. Pain flooded his thoughts and the smell of burning flesh brought back memories of the Agni Kai. All the pain from that memory plus the physical pain from the two hits and the arrow in his arm made him want to fall over and faint, allowing blackness to take over and end the pain. Never give up without a fight. No not yet. He forced himself to stay conscious and turned to the archer, he knew the arm with the arrow was now useless so he flung that sword at the archer.

The archer's eyes widened as half a broad sword flew at his chest, before he could recover from the shock of a flying broad sword he was struck.

Zein was surprised he took so much and still continued to fight. Is he really weak? Or was Jee right? He ran and sent another fireball, he had to end this soon, and Zuko would not give up not until they were all dead.

Zuko turned and stabbed another soldier and flung his body at Zein's oncoming fire blast, he then pulled his dagger out and flung it at another soldiers face. He then saw one soldier fire bend a bunch of punches and kicks at him while Zien sent an arc of flames out. Zuko calmed him self and stuck his arms out at both attacks and absorbed both of them. The energy overfilled him and he took a deep breath taking in the last bits of the fire and exhaled deeply releasing all the energy from his fist and shot it all straight at the last fire bender before turning to Zein.

Zein stopped dumbfounded. Impossible, only masters can do that. Even Zein couldn't do that since he attained mastery through military promotion. Even then only those who truly wanted to learn it could. Thus the only people who did were those who weren't looking for destruction. The only one he knew to do that was General Iroh and Commander Jeong Jeong. He sighed; obviously he underestimated his opponent and would loose this fight. He would do his last move, the move that got him mastery. He shot as many fireballs at him as he could. Jumped high in the air and brought his heel down to where he thought Zuko was, a huge blue flame was trailing his foot and he landed down with an explosion. When the smoke cleared, Zuko's body wasn't there.

While Zuko was in the air he rolled under Zein so that Zuko ended up where Zein was standing before he jumped. When Zein turned around confused as to where Zuko left, Zuko's sword was already at his throat.

Zein eyes widened, he had just lost it right there, Zuko just defeated his 12 men plus himself, a fire bending master! He looked at Zuko with his sword extended to his throat and for once Zein was not afraid to die. He had fought his best and had been bested by an honorable opponent, he didn't fight dirty by taunting or angering, yet he still fought thirteen on one without a complaint and here Zuko seemed to be offering surrender to him. Zein decided he didn't want it. If the Fire Lord had banished his own son not because he was a weak failure then the Fire Lords judgment was clearly wrong and perhaps, just maybe, Lieutenant Jee was right. With that thought he opened his mouth and said " It was an honor fighting you, Prince Zuko". He somberly lowered his head and awaited death.

"Don't go back, head to the Earth kingdom till this is over" Zuko replied and smaked him across the head knocking him unconscious.