Disclaimer : I don't own Avatar The Last Airbender, It belongs to Bryke (Mike and Bryan)
This is My First Ever story for Avatar The Last Airbender, But i've been thinking about it a lot for the past couple of months, and i thought why not share it with the fans.
By The Way, English isn't my native language, so you'll find it in your heart to forgive me for grammar mistakes, Please, forgive me.
(A/N) Prequel
there is no hundred year war in this story, Avatar Roku defeated Firelord Sozin and stopped his plot to take over the world as soon as he knew of it, he then lived on to be one of the oldest known Avatars ever, of course not as old as Kyoshi, but none the less he died at the age of 178, just one year after the birth of Zuko, and of course Aang was born on the same day, making the age difference between Aang and Zuko just a year.. and there was a reason to that, I needed Aang and Zuko to connect not just on a spiritual level, but on a friendship level as well, as we saw on the show, the age difference between Aang and Zuko made it feel like Zuko was an elder brother more than a friend to Aang, i didn't want that in my story, i want them to feel like schoolmates, real friends, for i felt their connection was much deeper than what was presented on the show.
So, not to get into further detail on that, Aang is 18-19 years old in this story, Aang is a year younger than Zuko and Sokka, a year older than Katara and Azula and a year older than Toph, oh and as a special feature i made Toph the same age as Katara and Azula (Yeah, i know silly me.. but you know i wrote it down so i can't take it back, sorry)
Also, after Roku's death, Firelord Azulon attempted to start another war, the monks didn't wait for Aang to become sixteen, and told him that he was the avatar at twelve (Just to keep it like the original), Aang then learned the elements from Master Pakku (In the northern watertribe where he also met Princess Yue and they became friends), Toph was his earthbending teacher and to keep it canon he also met her at The Earth Rumble tournament but alone without Katara and Sokka, and Iroh was his firebending teacher (Iroh was training Zuko at the same time and so started the friendship between Aang and Zuko), After Aang learned the elements, he called for a peace meeting to end any talks of war, and of course The Firelord much obliged, as he knew exactly what happened to the last firelord who defied the avatar (Firelord Sozin was killed by Roku), and so Azulon's brief war ended, of course not all people in the firenation agreed on terms of peace, hence forming an infamous rebel group that you'll know about in the upcoming chapters, Aang hunted down said rebels, meeting a lot of friends and brothers-in-arms along the way.
Life was going considerably well for Aang, until one day at a firenation village, Aang kills a firenation soldier by mistake, he was almost 16 at the time, feeling that he betrayed his teachings and philosophy, he isolated himself from all his friends on a small island in the earth kingdom, in a small home where nobody knew him, dedicating his life to drinking (I know, he is 16.. but in the original story, Zuko was 16 and looked like a youngman and Katara was 14 and looked like a mother, so i thought Why Not?), after a long time of isolation, his friends find him and bring him back to the world.
Also, Aang still hasn't met Katara and Sokka yet at the beginning of the story, and Toph has a younger sister, well, i thought since there wasn't any war to be afraid of, Lord and Lady Beifong would think why not? Right? Okay, dirty me.. let's start with the chapter.
SPOILER: THIS EPISODE IS JUST THE BEGINNING, THE STORY GETS A LOT MORE EXCITING.. I HOPE.
Zuko
Six Years Ago -
I've never felt so upset in my life, there's nothing like having close relatives who want to torment you, and those close relatives happen to be My Own Family..
Stop That ! you can't think that way about your magnificent and fun loving family, Zuko, bad Manners, young man, he smiled bitterly to himself..
Spirits, if it weren't for my uncle and my mother, i probably would have thrown myself from the highest window of the Palace. He Mused..
And it'd be for a good reason too, Zuko wasn't a favorite for any body but his mother, even his uncle had his son Lu Ten as a favorite..
Why can't my dear loving father feel the same about his own son ? He found himself asking inwardly, Zuko couldn't wipe the grimace off his face when his mother approached him..
"Something on your mind, my dear ?",
He looked up and found that smile-loving angel in front of him, he realized that even if he met the spirit of beauty herself, he wouldn't find her half as beautiful as his mother, he looked at her again and found that her loving smile turned into a frown of concern, he realized that he spaced out a bit and haven't given her an answer yet..
"Oh .. Nothing, Mother, i was just thinking.." he said hesitantly
Her features eased down a bit as she said..
"I can see that clearly thank you very much.. About what ?" She teased him.
she always loved to tease him good-naturedly, probably one of the uncountable things he loves about her.. But still he had a pensive frown on his face as he looked down and said..
"Do you think i have a place in this family, Mother ?"
Lady Ursa was taken aback by that question, Zuko could see that easily written on her features.
"What do you mean, Zuko ?" She asked still keeping her eyes on him, he could feel the concern in her eyes even though he wasn't looking at her..
He explained..
"Every member of my family sees me as a failure.. Maybe, everyone except you and uncle, but that's still not enough.." He said half-lying.
Of course his mother and uncle's approval of him meant a great deal for him, and you could say it was more than enough, but still.. all his life he was looking for one man's approval.. His mother was silent for a bit which made Zuko think that he hurt her feeling with his words, he looked up at her, but when he did, he found that her peaceful features turned into something of anger and empathy, as she asked..
"You father said something to you, hasn't he ?"
She always knew every bit of detail about him..
Spirits, I don't think i'd be surprised if they told me this woman is a Magician He found himself musing.
That wasn't the first time his mother found out what's wrong with him on her own, and it won't be the last ..
Zuko hesitated a bit and finally he nodded, His mother's peaceful posture turned into one of irritation..
She sighed and said "What happened now ?"
Zuko hesitated again, he couldn't help the shimmering tears that gathered at the corners of each eye, threatening to fall, He blinked them away and said..
"Father thinks i am a failure, he invited me to come to the throne room where Grandfather was, and told us to show Grandfather the new moves that we learned.. he taught Azula in secret how to do the moves and thought i can do it on my own.."
The tears returned to their place, but this time it fell form his eyes and onto his cheeks.. He couldn't help it, he was so hurt at the moment to care about them anyway..
"i botched the moves of course, embarrassed him in front of Grandfather.." more tears fell from his eyes, and his mother couldn't help it any longer, she grabbed him by the shirt and pulled him close to her heart and wrapped her arms around him not caring about her clothes getting soaked by her son's tears..
Zuko felt a little secure by the gesture and continued "He grabbed me by the shirt and took me to the hallway.. and he said 'I've always been right about you, The spirits can't give a man everything he wants, True they gave me Azula who was born lucky, but they cursed me with you.. who was lucky to be born', and he returned to the throne room leaving me there." Zuko kept weeping against his mother's chest,
Lady Ursa felt tears threatening her own eyes but she blinked them away for the sake of Zuko, She said..
"You're not a failure, Zuko, you're my hero."
Zuko couldn't buy it, not with everything that just happened to him..
"No!" He said sharply still hugging her.. "My father says i am a failure, Grandfather says i am a failure, Azula says i am a failure, everyone thinks i am a failure, and they're probably right.."
His Mother pulled back sharply, looking him in the eyes..
"No, They are not !", Zuko was taken aback by the sharpness in her tone, he rarely heard his mother yell before, so he looked at her as she framed his face in her hands and told him..
"Many people believe in you, Zuko, and before you consider your father's approval, how about you consider my approval ?"
He couldn't bear to look in her eyes any longer, So my earlier statement did hurt her. He mused mentally scolding himself. She forced him to look in her eyes again and said..
"And not just me, your uncle Iroh, your Girlfriend Mai.." At this Zuko grimaced a bit, he was about to explain to his mother that Mai isn't his Girlfriend but he knew better than that his Mother was probably teasing him again..
She kept on "..Even your friend the Avatar said He would've liked it if you were his teacher.. but you know, no one can beat your uncle at anything.." She thought that little joke would make him a little brighter, but anger and hurt were still written all over his face.. she sighed again and told him..
"Zuko, like i said.. you're my hero, you're my first born, but still i don't think of you as a hero because of that, you have so much potential to be a great man, a great Firebender, and a great leader.. Don't give up to despair, my son.. your cheerfulness gives me hope.. You give me hope, Zuko, Please.. don't take that away from me."
Finally Zuko stopped sobbing and looked at his mother's eyes, all he found in them was Love, it's all he found whenever he looked at her, All his 13 years of life whenever he looked at his mother's eyes, he only found Love in them..
So he hugged her again and said with new determination.. "Never, i'll never do that to you, Mother.. i'll never give into despair." they kept hugging for what felt like hours, before they broke apart and Zuko looked at his mother with new eyes, Sure, the old ones saw her as the most important person in the universe..
but, the new ones saw her as his anchor, his peacefulness, Avatar Aang might have kept the world's peace, but she kept his peace, She kept him alive, and he never wanted that to go, not Ever..
But the moment was broken by the arrival of the emo girl who preferred using knives to being a normal girl..
"May i break this beautiful touching moment with my presence ?" She said not showing any emotion on her face, Zuko often wondered whether to feel thrilled or intimated by seeing that stoned face of hers, He stood up and walked to her letting go of his mother He went up to Mai and said..
"Hey, Mai.. Something wrong ?", He Spared a look at his mother's face and cursed inwardly..
he found her smiling at them, before focusing on Mai in front of him, Mai looked at him at said..
"Sorry to interrupt, you looked like you were having a beautiful moment there."
"Well, i can't say i didn't like the interruption" He said with loving tone, that Mai loved so much, but just couldn't give him the satisfaction of admitting it..
"Wish i could say the same.. But i'm here for a purpose, Azula wants to see you, she says it's urgent.", Zuko looked at her strangely, Since when does Azula need him for anything ?
"Are you sure it was Azula who told you that ?" Zuko asked clearly confused
Mai smiled a bit "Do you know any other girl who shoots blue fire from her finger tips at you when you refuse to obey her orders ?" if there was Any anger in her voice, Mai made sure she hid it well, from the common people anyway, not from Zuko who just happened to know her too well..
"Okay, i hope it's not a mission of murdering Turtle-Ducks." Zuko said jokingly.
Mai laughed a little at his little joke, and told him to go while she stayed to talk to Lady Ursa for a bit, Zuko didn't know why she wanted to talk to her,
but he didn't ask either, he said goodbye to his mother, and made his way to Azula..
As he was walking he realized his mother was right, many people did love him, and he felt exceedingly lighter Even if his father disapproves of him, he still has His Mother, his uncle, his friend the avatar, His Girlfriend.. What ? No, Mai isn't My Girlfriend ! He scolded himself unaware of the blush that crept on his cheeks, anyway..
he wouldn't trade them for the world he had a dream of keeping all of them forever..
But of course as all of Zuko's dreams, that one shattered, As his mother disappeared the night before his father's coronation.
Present Day -
19 years old Prince Zuko was running through the streets of the Fire nation capital, He didn't care for the people staring at him in the streets, He never cared for the the carriage that was practically running after him, calling his name..
"Prince Zuko, Wait ! you can't run through the capital on foot !"
but he never cared, Today is a special day, he was running to the harbor, Today his uncle is coming home, With a special guest of honor.
Today is the annual ceremony of The peace restoration, when Avatar Roku killed his long time friend who later turned enemy Firelord Sozin.
The Fire Nation has never felt more shameful of such occasion, yet they had to celebrate it with the rest of the world at the Fire Nation capital where Avatar Roku defeated the late Firelord..
Avatar Roku then lived on to be one of the oldest Avatars ever as he died at the age of 178, then a new Avatar was born in the air nomads,Avatar Aang was about Zuko's age, only a year younger, As Zuko was 19 years old and Aang was 18 years old.
Both of them with great potential, one promised to be the next Firelord, and the other the fully-realized avatar..
An avatar who struggled to keep the peace that he had to learn all the elements at the age of 13, people expected a new war as Fire Lord Azulon, was building an armada and threatened the world peace.
but as Avatar Aang learned all the elements, and knew how to control his Avatar Spirit at the age of 13 he made peace between the world leaders and the Firelord, finally the negotiations came to an end..
As World Leaders signed a peace treaty, and he finally kept the peace that was first restored by his Predecessor Avatar Roku.
Ever since General Iroh relinquished his claim for the Fire Nation throne, he lived peacefully in the Earth Kingdom, in his Tea Shop called "the Jasmine Dragon", Azula used to make fun of that name, she never understood why people used to call her uncle The Dragon Of The West.
How could she ? she was too young to remember him fighting..
But to be honest though, the man was a goofball, So Zuko never blamed Azula for that, Which felt so odd to even think about..
How could there be something that i can't blame Azula for ? He Asked himself, Anyway..
Azula used to say, 'Fighting needs a clear head, so how could he fight when his head was filled with tea ? It doesn't make sense.'
Probably, that's the thing Zuko loved the most about his uncle, His Tea !
Spirits, it feels so good to wash my stomach with such liquid bliss. He would find himself musing dreamily everyday..
But today the dream is coming true at last, his uncle is coming home today..
His uncle visited briefly ever since the late Firelord's demise, Zuko used to wonder why his uncle left the capital as soon as his father ascended the throne, didn't his uncle willingly relinquish his claim to his brother ?
Why would he wait for a ceremonies to come home ? Zuko Thought..
He would have to ask him himself when he arrives, which he won't be waiting too long for..
He finally arrived at the harbor, he spotted a royal family ship anchored there, he only had one guess in his mind, and it was the best guess He looked at the people coming out of the ship and he finally spotted A fat man in his late Fifties walking towards him with a huge smile on his face, When Zuko saw the man he found himself muttering..
"Uncle.." Tears gathered at the corners of his eyes, and he ran towards the Former General His uncle was at a loss of words too when he saw his nephew running towards him with a look on his face that said 'I haven't been so content in a very long time.
He opened his arms for his nephew to throw himself in his uncle's embrace, both men shedding tears of joy, tears of longing.
The years haven't been good for the older man, he lost his son in a mysterious murder in the capital Five years ago, and then he mysteriously relinquished his claim for the throne, Zuko has always been fond of his uncle, he wanted his uncle to be the ruler of the Fire Nation, not his cruel father, Surprisingly his uncle never shared his enthusiasm, he never wanted the throne, even more surprising, or not so surprising depending on your perspective of the man..
but Zuko found it a little surprising that his uncle kept his cheerful persona even after all these years, sure his uncle has always been a fun loving creature, but the man lost his only son in a mysterious murder in the capital, he relinquished his claim for the throne to his brother, and yet he is as cheerful as ever, Zuko didn't know it then, but that only helped in growing his respect for his uncle, if that was even possible.
After a very long embrace they finally let go of each other with tearful eyes, Zuko said "Welcome Home, Uncle, I missed you so much."
His uncle looked back at him the same amount of tears stinging his eyes.. "Me too, Nephew.. Me too."
His Uncle looked up as he finally spotted someone he had been waiting for to enter the capital together, Zuko followed his uncle's gaze and finally his eyes settled on a ten-ton Flying Bison with Arrows on its head and a flying Lemur flying on its side, Zuko smiled again at the sight as he knew what was coming next..
His Best Friend, The World's savior has finally come back to the capital.
I might be having grammar mistakes, but in this story, there's no such thing as "Plot Mistakes",
kidding.. i'm trying to avoid plot mistakes as i can, so please, wait..
All Questions will be answered in due time.
Peace Out.
