It felt as though he had never left. Everything was just how he remembered it, if a little smaller. He wandered the halls and explored every other room in the palace. Now he was an adult, the Crown Prince, next in line to the throne, so there were a few extra formalities, and servants, but his formal training kicked in and the gestures came naturally.
When night fell, his other training kicked in, too.
He left the palace unseen and moved quietly through the industrial zone to the prearranged meeting place. It was comforting to keep to the shadows, even if he wasn't wearing his Blue Spirit outfit. It suited him to alternate between burning brightly and remaining hidden, though he didn't care to guess what that said about him. Ah, this was it.
Zuko paused and looked around, expecting to see a shadow move any second now, so he was not surprised when one did. The assassin stood tall and powerful; this would work. The metal leg would have given him pause if he had not seen for himself how quietly the man could move... It had been padded with leather and cloth. Simple and efficient.
"I've heard about you. They say you are good at what you do, and very powerful. You'll need that. The Avatar is alive and most likely fully recovered thanks to waterbending healing. I want you to find him, and end him. He is fast and strong, do not underestimate him. He travels with a waterbending master, her brother a swordsman, and an earthbending master that can somehow bend metal by touch. They are young girls but do not underestimate them, either."
He paused and considered the silent assassin. "He will likely escape you, he is an airbender, they run and fly away. Send word as soon as you discover him, and report back every clue to his location. Posters and men, any equipment you need will be provided. Hire others if you have to. It doesn't matter who kills him, you will be paid upon his death. And I'm sure there will be other convenient ways I can reward you."
The prince pulled out a token, round with red and the stylised three pronged golden flame of the Crown Prince. A Royal emblem given to those of favour. He held it out silently, it was taken with a human hand, politely, and tucked away with a small nod the the head by way of bow.
"He will be training earth and waterbending, and looking for a master of fire. Find him first."
The assassin nodded, and walked off into the night.
oOo
The demonstration went well, lightning flashing back and forth between the siblings as they raced about the arena much to their father's astonishment and pride. He even smiled and congratulated them on their skill, before requesting a lesson for himself.
They had absolutely no idea how to respond to that, so they nodded politely and demonstrated the movements slowly. Azula deferred to her brother in this, he had taught her after all and he was still slightly better at it then she was. Though she still had the upper hand in actually generating lightning.
Ozai drank in his son's words and mimicked the movements, letting his chi flow through his body but forcing it away from his heart, down to his stomach, and back up again. It was different and felt counterintuitive, no doubt owing to the waterbending influence, but he had seen its worth with his own eyes. A block and counterattack where none should survive.
It did not escape him that Iroh had no need for such a technique save to face him in mortal combat. But the fool had given away the secret, and Zuko was his loyal son.
Before long the Fire Lord had mastered the technique and decided it was time to test it. He would not soon forget the look on his children's faces when he asked them to cast lightning his way. Azula tried to hide her anxiety and for the most part succeeded, but Zuko didn't hide his horror at all.
"This is a delicate and very different technique, the slightest misstep and you might die, father. It has to be reflex, even Azula trained it exclusively for two days before attempting it."
Ozai inclined his head in acknowledgment of the warning, then gestured for his obedience regardless. Zuko visibly swallowed and centred himself before falling into his stance. Slow, precise movements flowed into the dance that created lightning, Zuko paused, then aimed at his father, and let go.
Ozai caught it, marvelled at the awesome sensation exactly as Zuko had, and sent the lightning blazing through the sky. He breathed deeply several times to catch his breath, and gestured at Zuko.
Again!