After Zukos training session he could only admit he highly enjoyed, to actually spar against another real swords man was something he had truly missed. Fat had gone to prepare lunch and Zuko took a walk around the big mansion.
It was still a really… Really weird experience.
Zuko swore he could hear the voices of so many years ago. Like ghosts from the past echoing from the mansion.
When Zuko had trained here with Piando… It had been the last time. The very last. That he would ever see Lu Ten.
Or spend his days chasing after Iroh and riding on Lu Tens shoulders. All three of them would be laughing.
They had been a real family then. And deep down Zuko now knew it was what he had truly longed for, what he had wanted to return to so desperately.
But sadly there was no returning. There was only one way and that was forward.
Zuko remembered when Lu Ten had died. He had been told by Azulon who had been told in a letter… And that there was no sights of Iroh. That he had vanished.
Zuko had been angry then. How dare they just leave? Both Lu Ten and Iroh had promised to come back!
And then… his mother had vanished too. She was just that. Gone… just like Lu Ten and Iroh. And his grandfather was dead… and his father was fire lord. Because there was no one else to do it.
Everyone had started to talk about how foolish and weak Iroh had been. How the failure at Ba Sing Se was his fault and it was the honourable thing that he didn't show his face back at the palace.
And Zuko… had actually started to believe it.
Why should he have any respect for a man who had just left him like that? And then suddenly he showed up out of the blue again. And at that time… Zuko just didn't care anymore.
Even if Iroh had tried to approach him and ask if Zuko wanted to go on a trip with him. Zuko would have none of it at that time. He was angry.
And he had reasoned that his father wouldn't like him hanging out with Iroh anyway. Iroh the disgrace who's failure had dishonoured the entire fire nation…
Of course things were more complicated than that. Zuko knew that now.
And Iroh had more than made up for leaving. In fact… Wasn't exactly his fault he had to leave in the first place.
Zuko pulled out the white lotus tile from his pocket again and looked at it. What was up with this weird thing anyway?
Just then a figure approached and Zuko looked up to see the tall slim swords master of the mansion.
Quickly Zuko put the tile into his pocket and bowed formally. "Master."
"Prince Zuko." Piandao replied.
"How is it going with Sokka?" Zuko asked a little nervously.
Piandao looked at Zuko. "I can quite safely say. I never had a student quite like him before." he replied in a dead panned tone.
"Oh… yeah. That seems right." Zuko admitted.
"I must admit I was quite surprised to see you just meet up at my door step Prince Zuko." Piandao commented. "Not only are you banished from these shores. From what I understand. But also there is quite the price on your head. For treason. By order of the fire lord."
"Well… You see." Zuko said. "We figured that the fire lord would be sending basically all of his troops to the earth kingdom to look for us. So we figured… If they are going to spend all of their resources fine combing the earth kingdom. We'll hide where they wont look. In the fire nation."
Piandao looked at Zuko quite stunned.
"Heh." Zuko laughed nervously.
"I must say… That is mad yet genius." Piandao had to admit. "Never would I have thought of such a tactic myself."
"Yeah… It was Sokkas idea." Zuko admitted.
Piandao nodded thoughtfully. "I see." then looked at Zuko. "Does he come up with such ideas often?"
"All the time." Zuko replied. "To be honest with you. He is invaluable to our group. Without him none of the things we have accomplished would have been possible"
"And by your group you mean the Avatars party correct?" Piandao asked.
Zuko halted as he looked up.
Piandao smirked. "I do read the news paper."
"Heh. Yeah. Of course." Zuko said. "I all ready knew you would have known. I just… You're not mad?" he asked looking up.
"Mad?" Piandao asked. "Why would I be mad?" he asked.
"Because… I'm a traitor to the fire lord." Zuko said. "And I came to your home anyway begging for help. You are not going to turn us in are you?" he asked.
Piandao smirked then shook his head. "No. Prince Zuko." he said. "I may be fire nation and I do love my country." he said. "How-ever. I don't think any country should have supremacy over the world!" he stated. "I do not support our current fire lord or his war. I refused to fight in it for a reason."
"Yet you… agreed to teach Lu Ten and I the way of the blade." Zuko hesitated.
Piandao exhaled deeply. "It is not about ideologies or nations. The way of the blade is an artform and it is my desire that this art may be preserved. Thus it must be taught and passed on." he said. "And… At the time I had hoped that ones Iroh became fire lord. Things would be different."
"Oh… Right." Zuko nodded. "I see."
Piandao smirked. "He must be very proud to see what kind of man you have turned into."
"I… I hope so." Zuko said. "I mean I think he is… He said he was."
"And you do not believe his words?" Piando asked.
"No! I do!" Zuko exclaimed. "It's just. Over the years…. I've done some bad stuff. Some really bad stuff. And erhm… I'm trying to make up for it now. But I keep thinking… There's no way it's ever going to be enough." he looked up at Piandao. "And I think maybe he has forgiven me a bit too easily."
Piandao lifted an eyebrow.
"I don't know I just." Zuko flushed. "I don't think I… Really deserve it." he said.
"You do know that Iroh always thought of you as his own. Do you not?" Piandao asked.
"Yeah.." Zuko admitted.
"When Iroh first requested that I taught you the way of thr blade. I did refuse." Piandao admitted. "I knew of Ozais evil tendencies and had no desire to teach his son. But your uncle made his case. Do you know what his letter told me?" he asked.
"No." Zuko glanced up.
"He worried about you." Piandao said kindly. "In his words. Your were too kind for war. And struggled with your fire bending as you would always be afraid of hurting your opponent. He asked me to help you find a bit of balance and peace. A place away from the palace where you could be at one with yourself. That description got me curious and I finally agreed to see you for myself. And see if I would be willing to train you while he was in Ba Sing Se. Offer you a place to go while he would be gone."
"And keep an eye on me huh." Zuko commented.
"I suspect that was part of the plan yes." Piandao nodded.
Zuko quieted a bit then looked up. "I'm really happy you agreed to train me after all then. Thank you."
"It was my pleasure Prince Zuko." Piandao smirked. "You had a surprising talent for it and excellent discipline. As well as great humility and as your Uncle so correctly pointed out. A kind and caring soul."
"Heh." Zuko flushed deeply. "Thank You." he swallowed.
"You were often in conflict though." Piandao commented. "Your kind natured soul was not in agreement with the image you desired to project. And while your discipline lacked nothing, your insecurity would often get in the way."
"Right." Zuko nodded firmly.
"Even now I see that troubles you." Piandao stated dryly.
"Oh…" Zuko swallowed. "I'll keep that in mind!"
"You must." Piandao stated in a firm tone. "While humility is good. As only he who has humility will be able to continue growing. You are not in any position where your insecurities can get in your way. And that will only be more true the more you move forward. You must not let your fear of failing hinder your progress!"
Zuko nodded. "Right."
Piandao smiled. "Good." then he frowned. "May I ask. What happened to your swords?" he asked. "The ones you are wielding are not the ones I helped you forge."
"Oh." Zuko halted. "Well you see… my swords were on my ship." he said. "And that ship exploded.. With me on it."
Piandao lifted an eyebrow.
"It was Admiral Zhao. He had rigged my ship in an attempt to kill me. It was an assassination attempt." Zuko sighed. "And… the swords went down with the ship. I'm sorry."
Piandao shook his head. "Obviously it is far more important that you made it out of that alive. Do not apologize." he stated.
"Sorry." Zuko repeated. "I mean!" he gasped and Piando smirked then shook his head.
"Your uncle was right. You are not like your father or grandfather. You are different from anyone else in that family. If there is someone whom can change our ways. Change the current path the fire antion is on." Piandao stated looking up at Zuko. "It's you… It was always you Prince Zuko. Even back then."
"But… I…" Zuko swallowed.
"Do you know why Iroh only had one child?" Piandao asked.
"I… I assumed it was because.. Lu Tens mother passed away when he was five." Zuko said.
"Iroh could have re-married. Even before then he said stop. He was only going to have one child." Piandao said. "It was not because he didn't desire more. No… Iroh would have loved to have many children. But he would not do it."
Zuko blinked. "Okay now I am curious." he admitted.
"Azulon was not an only child." Piandao said. "Sozin had six children and Azulon was his third child." he started telling his story. "Sozin of course. Wanted to make sure that his heir would be strong enough to see his vision through after he was gone. So he came up with an idea he himself thought was brilliant… No longer would the oldest take the throne but the strongest." he said. "And he taught his children that those who were not strong enough to take the throne would be expelled from the fire nation. And thus… His six children would fight each other. Sozins was pleased, he thought by doing this his children would constantly work to become stronger and really become the strongest people in the nation."
"Because… They were constantly fighting each other?" Zuko asked.
"Yes… And they did become strong. Always on guard, always ready to strike. They were pitched against each other. And they killed each other." Piandao said.
Zuko gasped as his eyes widened.
Piandao continued. "When Iroh was only twelve. The last one of Azulons siblings died as she tried to assassinate Azulon in his sleep. But he turned it around and killed her instead." He said. "How-ever… It didn't end there. Azulon believed his victory was a true sign that he was the strongest person in the fire nation and believed it was the right way to go. So he repeated the cycle… With his own two sons. Ozai and Iroh. Only the strongest would be fire lord and the other would be cast out. That was his desire. And thus they were pitched against each other. Like Azulon against his own siblings. Iroh though was the clear favourite from the start and everyone all ready knew Iroh was the one who would be fire lord." he said. "Iroh how-ever… As Lu Ten was born. Swore that Lu Ten would never have to face such horror nor heart ache. Iroh would ensure that Lu Ten would never have to fight a sibling. How do you ensure that though? That your child will never have to fight his own brother or sister?"
"You make sure you only have one child." Zuko breathed.
"Exactly." Piandao said. "Though I fear. From what Iroh told me. Ozai continued the tradition regardless."
"Yeah." Zuko looked down as he grabbed his arm.
Piandao shook his head. "Sozin is the one who poisoned your family." he said. "Iroh believes this as well. He does though also believe that you are the cure. More than anything, he always wished you would stay true to yourself and your principles."
Zuko swallowed.
"It's a hefty burden Prince Zuko." Piando commented. "And I do not envy you."
"That's wise." Zuko commented. "I don't exactly envy me either." he sighed deeply.
"You must be more secure!" Piandao stated. "You have no need of me or my lessons. You are practically a swords master yourself!"
"I… I'm what?" Zuko asked.
"And a fire bending master too. At your age? You are a protege." Piandao commented.
"No I'm not!" Zuko exclaimed. "I'm not a…"
"Are you not teaching the Avatar fire bending?" Piandao asked sternly.
"Well yes." Zuko admitted.
"Were you not the one to re-direct the fire of five benders?" Piandao asked.
"Yeah I did that." Zuko said.
"And earlier today you fought me. There is no hiding your skills when fighting me." Piandao stated. "I am telling you. You have the skills of a swords master. Now own it." he stated. "You are Prince Zuko! The rightful heir to the fire nation throne. The Avatars fire bending teacher. A master of fire and swords. Never forget your humility but also own your accomplishments!"
Zuko nodded a little shocked.
"Good." Piandao said. "I believe lunch is just about ready. Come join me." he asked as he started to walk.
"Yes sir!" Zuko replied as he darted after Piando trying to go over everything Piando had just told him. It was… A lot to take in honestly.