Three long years later and much had changed…well okay, not that much. They were still looking for the Avatar and Iroh was still as obsessed with tea as ever, but Zuko and Kahlee had changed. Zuko had become bitter and angry after looking for the Avatar for so long, and his Uncle and friend could hardly recognize him sometimes. Kahlee had become much more sarcastic than she used to be and she too held a deep anger inside of her, but instead of being angry at the world like Zuko was she was mad at his father, Ozai. Their appearances had changed as well, Zuko, now obviously looked different with his scar but had also his shaved head apart from his ponytail. He had been forced to cut it off because it look stupid only having half his hair. He had also grown up more, becoming taller and more muscular. Kahlee's hairstyle had changed too, from when she would just leave it down, now she would put it at the side of her head in a detailed braid. She too opted to wear a fire nation army uniform, mostly because it was surprisingly comfortable and was good in a fight. She too had grown up more, her body becoming more that of a young women's and she also wore a light amount of makeup, making her blue eyes stand out more. It was a normal day on the ship, they were traveling through one of the water tribes, meaning that it was very cold for the firebenders. She was silently playing a game with Iroh, when a bright flash of light appeared far away.

"Finally. Uncle, do you realize what this means?" Zuko asked.

"I won't get to finish my game?" Iroh suggested.

"It means my search-it's about to come to an end" Zuko told him, as Iroh and Kahlee groaned.

"That light came from an incredibly powerful source. It has to be him!" Zuko insisted.

"Or it's just the celestial lights. We've been down this road before, Prince Zuko. I don't want you to get too excited over nothing. Please, sit. Why don't you enjoy a cup of calming jasmine tea?" Iroh exclaimed.

"I don't need any calming tea! I need to capture the Avatar. Helmsman, head a course for the light!" Zuko shouted.

"Zuko" Kahlee said, placing a hand on his arm.

She seemed to be the only person who could calm him down when he got angry these days, and honestly it scared her how different he was to the boy she remembered.

"…I'm sorry, I'm just…I want to go home" He explained.

"I know, but shouting is not going to help anything. Come on, sit down and have some tea" She insisted, shoving him down by the shoulders.

"Ah Kahlee, always with the words of wisdom" Iroh smirked.


Later that night, Zuko had not moved from his spot, still looking for any signs of the Avatar. Iroh and Kahlee moved outside to talk to him.

"I'm going to bed now. Yep. A man needs his rest. Prince Zuko, you need some sleep. Even if you're right and the Avatar is alive, you won't find him. Your father, grandfather, and great-grandfather all tried and failed" Iroh explained, yawning.

"Because their honour didn't hinge on the Avatar's capture. Mine does. This coward's hundred years in hiding are over" Zuko retorted.

"Maybe you can get him to see some sense Kahlee?" Iroh sighed, as he went back inside.

"Your Uncle is right, you know" Kahlee said, as she came to stand beside him.

"About me sleeping or finding the Avatar?" Zuko asked.

"I'd say both. We just don't want you to get your hopes up, Zooks" She told him.

"You know I hate it when you call me that" Zuko exclaimed.

"Why do you think I do it?" She smirked.

That was another thing that had changed, she was constantly giving people nicknames, especially Zuko.

"And if you really do hope to catch the Avatar tomorrow, how well do you think it will go if you're too tired to keep up with him because you spent the whole night up?" Kahlee suggested.

"I guess you're right" Zuko sighed.

"Of course I am, now come on" She insisted, dragging him along.


It was the next day and Kahlee was sitting in her room, meditating, when one of the guards called to her that Zuko wanted her on deck.

"What's going on?" She questioned, approaching Zuko and Iroh.

"Prince Zuko believes he's found the Avatar" Iroh explained.

"I saw him air bending off one of the old fire nation ships" Zuko stated.

"So what's the plan?" Kahlee inquired.

"We take the men off the ship and force them to answer our questions" Zuko told her.

"Or we could take a few men down there and ask nicely?" Kahlee suggested.

"I believe Kahlee has a point Prince Zuko. People don't react well to brute force" Iroh insisted.

"Okay, we'll go in with a few men" Zuko sighed.

"…Uh, by the way, what's with the helmet?" Kahlee asked.

"It stop's me from getting hit on the head, duh" Zuko explained.

"Well you look ridiculous" Kahlee told him, as they waited for the door's to open.

As the doors creaked open they saw a small water tribe in front of them, made up of mostly women and children. When they started to walk down the stairs, a boy about a year older than Kahlee ran up to them, raising a weapon which Zuko quickly kicked out of his grasp and then kicked him into the nearby snow.

"Why are you hiding him?" Zuko questioned, but none of the water tribe answered.

"He'd be about this age. Master of all elements" Zuko stated, grabbing an old woman.

"…Pretty sure they don't know what you're talking about" Kahlee explained, seeing their confused faces.

"I know you're hiding him" Zuko insisted.

Before anyone could say anything else, the same guy as before ran at Zuko, who quickly dodged him. Not giving up the boy then threw his boomerang which Zuko also managed to avoid. Damn, this guy was persistent Kahlee thought to herself.

"Show no fear!" One of the little boys exclaimed, as he passed the guy a spear.

He then ran at Zuko who took the end of his spear and then hit him in the head with it, snapping it in half. Suddenly the boomerang from before came back, hitting Zuko directly in the head. Obviously angry now, Zuko produced his fire daggers, ready to attack. However, before he could do this something tripped him up from under him, causing Zuko to be flipped in the air and for his helmet to land on his butt. Trying to hold in her laughter, Kahlee gave Zuko her hand and quickly pulled him up. She turned around to see the culprit was a young boy with arrows on his head.

"Hey Katara. Hey Sokka" The boy smiled at two of the water tribe.

"Hey Aang, thanks for coming" The boy, Sokka sighed.

As the soldiers approached him, the boy used airbending to throw snow in the air, pushing them all back. This little kid was the Avatar?

"Looking for me?" Aang asked.

"You're the airebender? You're the Avatar?" Zuko inquired, as surprised as Kahlee.

"No way" Sokka stated.

"I've spent years preparing for this encounter, training, meditating, you're just a child!" Zuko exclaimed.

"Well you're just a teenager" Aang retorted.

And it was true, both of them were just kids, they shouldn't have to fight each other. Zuko then started throwing multiple fireballs at Aang who deflected them by using his staff as a sort of wind turbine. Aang then used his staff to conjure up some air, and threw Zuko to the ground, hard. Now Kahlee was angry. She quickly stood in front of Zuko and released a lightning bolt that went over the top of the villager's heads, as their terrified screams could be heard. Obviously they hadn't see this sort of firebending before.

"If I go with you, do you promise to leave everyone else alone?" Aang inquired, as Zuko nodded.

The soldiers quickly took him by the arms and started to drag him away.

"No Aang, don't do this!" The girl, Katara exclaimed, as she tried to run after him.

Knowing that the girl would only get hurt if she tried anything, Kahlee grabbed onto her arm pulling her back.

"Let go of me!" Katara shouted, as she roughly shoved Kahlee off of her, almost pushing the girl to the ground.

"Don't lay a hand on her!" Zuko shouted angrily as he approached the pair.

A mixture of Kahlee being younger, a girl and his best friend meant that Zuko was fiercely protective of her.

"I-I'm sorry" Katara stuttered, obviously scared by the anger in his voice.

"It's okay, I'm fine" Kahlee insisted, putting a hand on his arm.

As always he immediately calmed down.

"Let's go" Zuko stated, as he put a hand on Kahlee's back in a protective manner.

Aang had watched this interaction and couldn't help but be confused at how someone like Zuko could go from being so angry to be calm from the simple touch of the girl. He must really care for her, Aang thought to himself.

"Don't worry, it'll be okay. Take care of Appa for me until I get back" Aang called out to Katara, seeing that the girl was still worried.

"Set a course for the Fire Nation. I'm going home" Zuko ordered his soldiers, as he and Kahlee walked back onto the ship.


Author's Notes: I hope you all enjoyed this chapter! Yay, we've finally started canon Avatar now:) Please do tell me if you have any problems with any of the characters and how I'm writing them, because I know sometimes I can write characters a bit OOC. Anyways, please leave a review:)