Chapter 10: Reunion

After being ordered to neutralize the Avatar by the Fire Lord, Kal El immediately left the palace. He had decided to wear simple red clothes on the trip. He wore customized red shoes that wouldn't wear out at the speeds he could move at.

Once outside the capital Kal El ran down the shoreline, taking in the view of the ocean. I'm finally outside that gilded cage he thought. Then Kal El ran at his maximum speed, his momentum allowing him to run on top of the water. In seconds Kal El was already moving far faster than any Fire Nation ship could move.

Running directly east Kal El passed the Great Gates of Azulon within minutes, drenching a passing ship with water kicked up in Kal El's wake. In an hour he had reached Earth Kingdom shores. Back on dry land Kal El smiled. It would have taken several days for even the fastest Fire Nation ship to make the same trip. Kal El then blurred away along the shore, seeking a specific destination.

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"So much for bounty hunters as the solution." Zuko said.

Zuko and Iroh had just returned to the ship after yet another failed attempt at capturing the Avatar. This time they had hired the bounty hunter June with her tracking shirshu. While the beast did track down the Avatar, his companions had blinded it with the perfumes made nearby causing the beast to attack everyone near it. Zuko was still feeling a little groggy from the shirshu's paralyzing toxin.

"Maybe so Prince Zuko" Iroh said. "I'm certain something will come up"

"And that something has arrived" Said a familiar voice.

Zuko and Iroh turned towards the sound, and saw none other than Kal El sitting on the ship's railing. "Kal El" Zuko and Iroh spoke at the same time. Iroh then ran up to Kal El and hugged him, having dearly missed his son over the last three years. Kal El returned the gesture, but being careful to not break the old man's back.

"So what've I missed?" Kal El asked.

Inside the cabin Iroh and Zuko told their story to Kal El. How they had spotted the Avatar's awakening at the South Pole, Zuko's Agni Kai with Zhao, and the constant pursuit of the Avatar. In return Kal El told Zuko about his firebending training, political intrigues at the palace, and Azula's blue fire.

"Figures Azula would actually make blue fire. Anything to give her a slim chance at beating you" Zuko said.

"Yea she hasn't changed a bit since you left. It's only a matter of time before she starts making lightning. Now THAT is a scary thought" Kal El said.

"My brother is probably teacher her lightning as we speak son" Iroh said. "What with you finally running away from the palace."

"I didn't run away." Kal El said. "The Fire Lord ordered me to 'neutralize' the Avatar." Then Kal El smiled "But he didn't say how I had to do it."

Realizing what Kal El meant, Zuko smiled as well. "So what's your plan?" he asked.

"Simple. You flush him out, I ambush and bring him down, then we both sail home with the prize." Kal El explained.

"Then let's get started" Zuko said. With Kal here there's no way the Avatar can get away this time.