You Win

Zuko found his father sitting on a stone throne in the deep cave used to shelter during an attack. The Water Tribe and Avatar were working together during the solar eclipse to attack the Capital. Zuko saw this as his chance to do what he should have done in an Earth Kingdom cavern some months ago. He once again couldn't help but note the irony.

Ozai sneered at his son. Zuko had a pack and thought he was coming to say goodbye. He knew the boy was too weak to stomach world domination. He would relish killing him this time. Zuko didn't mince words,

"It's not my destiny to take your life. The Avatar will defeat you and I will happily give up my life making sure he does. We will end this war." He said with a fixed stance. He was certain his father would try to kill him.

"Bold words coming from you, boy. It's too bad they will be your last." The Fire Lord said as he generated lightning. Ozai launched the powerful bolt directly at the prince. He knew Zuko wouldn't survive it. He sneered when the lightning entered his son.

Zuko glowed with the intensity of the electricity surging within him. He felt exhilarated and powerful as looked at his father. It would be so easy. One well-aimed shot… He pointed his arm full of his father's lightning back at Ozai. Ozai's eyes bucked and for the first time, he felt fear. The boy can redirect lightning?

Too little too late the Fire Lord tried to dodge as Zuko took the lightning from his body and sent it back to him in a fluid movement like water bending. At the last moment instead of sending the bolt directly to his father and killing him, he aimed above him sending a shower of rock and debris down over the Fire Lord knocking him unconscious.

It was not his destiny to kill his father. He would serve the Avatar as soon as he collected his uncle. When he went to the prison, Uncle Iroh was gone from where he was being held until his execution. A terrified guard told Zuko how Iroh was like a one-man army and escaped the prison even without his bending.

Zuko was impressed and thankful. Though he had hurt his uncle deeply he was grateful the old man got away and was going to help this war to end. Zuko only hoped as he steered his balloon a safe distance away from the Avatar's bison that Aang and his team would allow him to teach Aang fire bending once he asked to join them.

He wasn't expecting friendship or comradery. He let one of them down badly and it almost cost the Avatar his life. That would be a difficult obstacle to overcome, but he was willing to be their prisoner if it meant helping them end the war.