The Firelord's Honor
Firelord Zuko took a look at his reflection in the mirror. A Fire Nation crown on his head, hair styled neatly. Fire Nation royal outfit. Yes, he still looked as handsome as always, nothing to worry about. He muttered to himself, feeling satisfied.
Surely, he's the most handsome Firelord who's ever sat on the throne, wasn't he? I mean just look at Ozai, Azulon, or Sozin, they're not bad but none of them would stand a chance in a beauty pageant against Zuko. After all, Zuko's and Azula's good looks must take upon their mother Ursa. Why would he believe otherwise?
Come to think of beauty pageants, why couldn't the Fire Nation hold a beauty pageant instead of Agni Kai?
A beauty pageant would be much better than an Agni Kai for a multitude of reasons. Firstly, no one would needlessly get hurt or killed in a beauty pageant. Secondly, a beauty pageant would surely be the best way for the Fire Nation to flaunt their good looks and taste of fashion to the rest of the world. Compared to the peasant-ly look of the Watertribes people, or the plain and almost forgettable attire of the Earth Kingdom citizens, or the simple and modest clothing of the Air Nomad monks, the Fire Nation could easily stand tall with their good taste in hairstyle and clothing.
But most importantly, with his flawless hair game that never went out of fashion, a cool facial scar on the right side of his face, and a great taste in royal attire, Zuko believed he could win against Ozai and Zhao in a heartbeat. Imagine, a royal beauty pageant where he could take them down, followed with celebratory applause from the entire Fire Nation citizens.
The Fire Nation should definitely abolish their violent Agni Kai and replace it with the peaceful beauty pageant. Zuko had tried to propose this idea once in a war room meeting, but his generals were unsure. They're afraid they would need to spend a lot of money on modeling schools which could be costly, so his idea was rejected immediately.
Zuko tried to argue that building a modeling school would still be cheaper than a hospital visit after an Agni Kai gone wrong, but the generals were still unsure. Maybe they're insecure about their looks, maybe they're worried that replacing Agni Kais with beauty pageants would reduce their chances of getting a scar as cool as his, Zuko thought. Still, Zuko was pissed the generals couldn't accept his ideas. Ugh, why couldn't people see it his way?
Nowadays, in his reign, free from the influence of those people who were once abusive to him, like Fatherlord Ozai and his lapdog Zhao, the only man Zuko felt truly threatened about was Sokka. Yeah, his friend, Sokka, that goofy boomerang guy who made girls from all three remaining nations swoon.
How did he do that really? Zuko pondered. All that guy did was make jokes and laugh sarcastically. And he got the attention of the leader of the Kyoshi Warrior, the Northern Water tribe Princess, the strongest Earthbender in the world, and most interesting of all, Ty Lee. Zuko had known his sister's friend for a long time. And now he pondered, what if even Azula was also secretly crushing on Sokka? Zuko shuddered at the thought.
As Zuko continued his rumination on his good look, a bald head plopped into the door behind him. The head's shiny reflections shone in the mirror, it was almost divine. If this incident were to happen a year prior, he would have perked up in agitation and shouted, "My honor!"
But things were different now. Pursuing the Avatar wasn't what he believed to be the way to regain his honor anymore. He's still obsessed with finding his honor but now in a different way and form.
If anything, befriending Avatar Aang was the best choice Zuko ever made. His new gang had taught him a lot, including how to be less emo, which apparently was great for him. If only he could teach the same thing to Mai, they probably wouldn't need to be on a break now.
"Are you ready to go, Zuko?"
"Wait, one more thing," he said.
Zuko took off his crown and carefully place it on the table next to him. He then untied his royal hair and flipped it around, letting it loose just like back before he became the Firelord.
Now, this was it, his most satisfying look. If Toph Beifong was nearby to witness it through her seismic sense, she would probably scream and faint.
The new Firelord and the Avatar walked out of the room, into the hall of the royal palace, and finally out in the balcony where they were nicely greeted with Uncle Iroh.
"You're going to leave now, Firelord Zuko?"
"Yes, Uncle. We're leaving now," he bowed to his uncle, followed by Aang.
"Alright, take care, you two," he said to both of them then turned his attention on Zuko, "Firelord Zuko, I believe this is the best way to regain your honor. You won't regret it."
"I know. Goodbye, Uncle!"
A flying bison landed not so gracefully on the palace yard, waving his huge tail. Zuko, for the life of his, couldn't remember what the name of this bison was. Or that weird lemur thing who always clung to Aang's shoulder.
"Come on, Momo, let's get on this journey."
Oh, right, his name was Momo. Or was that the bison?
Aang air bended himself onto the bison, as Zuko climbed by its tail. The flying lemur followed and landed on Zuko's shoulder. Okay, good, how was he supposed to address him now?
Aang seated himself on the driver's seat and shouted, "Yip yip, Appa!"
And they began to ascend.
Maybe the bison was Appa, and the lemur was Momo, Zuko thought. Okay, he remembered it now, but what's the point if he forgot it again in an hour anyway?
Zuko tried not to think about it and instead began to reminisce the conversation that started this all.
It was a few days ago, his friends just departed to their own homes. Sokka and Katara returned to the South Pole to help rebuild their village. Suki and Ty Lee went to Kyoshi Island to continue practicing at home. Mai went to Omashu to help his family move out of their colonial land. Meanwhile, Uncle Iroh made a brief visit to the palace from his tea shop in Ba Sing Se. He told him something that made a profound impact.
"Zuko, now that you're the Firelord, you should start asking for forgiveness from the people you've hurt."
"But you said you've forgiven me."
"Of course, I have. But there are others who may not have."
"If you mean the Avatar and his friends, I am friends with them now. We are good."
"Yes, I know. I am talking about other people."
"I've hurt other people too?"
"Yes, like those people in Kyoshi Island whose village you burned down."
"Suki told me she'll talk to her people."
"Or the Southern Watertribe who you've attacked once."
"Sokka and Katara said it's okay."
"Or that boy who you attacked because he thought we are Firebenders. Well, technically he's right."
"You mean Jet? I think he died, it was really unclear, Uncle."
"Or the Earth Kingdom girl whose ostrich you stole."
"Okay, I think I might be guilty of that one."
"Or any people who you stole from."
"Err… I think I stole a lot back in the day."
"Or that kid you told me about whose name is the same as your disguise."
"Lee? Oh, yeah, I guess so."
"Or any people whom you have disappointed."
"But there are so many, Uncle! How could I do that?"
"That's what the true Firelord should do, asking for forgiveness. Also, I reckon Jin must be disappointed."
"Jin? Who's Jin?"
"Your date in Ba Sing Se. Did you ghost her?"
Zuko looked down in shame, "I never spoke to her again, so I guess I did?"
Uncle Iroh gasped. "My goodness, I can't believe this! I didn't raise you to ghost girls! Where is your honor?"
'Okay, okay, I get it. I have made a lot of mistakes, and I am sorry. I will find a way to ask them for forgiveness."
Thus, that was how it started for him. That was what started this journey around the world with his friend, the Avatar. He must regain his honor by asking for forgiveness from the people he had hurt. After all, what's more important to Zuko than finding his honor?
Well, having a perfect hairstyle was probably the most important thing to him, but yeah, finding his honor was close. So this was it, his first journey after the war ended.