The North Pole was freezing. Zuko made his way towards the center. From what little his uncle had told him the city had a spirit oasis. No doubt Zhao would try something.
It was insane, even for Zhao, to attack the water tribe the night of the full moon. He was up to something, and the only thing Zuko could come up with was something to do with spirits.
After a long journey north, having sneaked aboard a fire nation ship. Zuko had found himself alone in an icy tundra.
He had used the seal's entrance to break into the city. Hiding and sneaking around came as easily to him as breathing. As such he was becoming very talented at breaking into the most impressive places.
The battle was already underway. Troops rushed over bridges and through the icy city.
Zuko continued forward safely hidden in the shadows. No one questioned him, no one saw him.
Zuko entered the oasis at last.
"Don't worry," said a familiar voice, "I'm more than capable of protecting him."
Zuko strode over a bridge.
"Well, aren't you a big girl now."
"No!"
Katara turned towards him in a defensive stance.
"Relax, I'm not here to hurt you."
The girl did not relax.
"I won't let you capture Aang!"
The prince couldn't help but chuckle softly at that.
"I'm not here for him either."
Confusion settled over Katara only to turn sour.
"I don't believe you."
"I don't care."
The girl moved. A wave of water shot towards Zuko. With a slight shift, he dodged the attack, evaporating the water as it passed him.
"As I said, I'm not here to hurt you."
Katara flung a row of ice spikes in his direction, none of which were able to hit the prince.
"What do you want then!"
Zuko scowled.
"Zhao."
Katara paused in confusion.
"What?"
The sun began to rise into the sky. Morning air blew through the oasis.
Zuko squinted up at the sun.
"You'll see soon enough."
The prince lunged. He somersaulted to the side right as Appa, a giant flying bison, landed right where he had been standing.
A war cry filled the air.
Socka charged at Zuko who simply flipped the boy over his shoulder. He shoved socka over to katara.
"Don't touch my brother!"
Zuko merely rolled his eyes. Socka pushed himself to his feet sliding into a defensive stance beside his sister.
"What's going on," he, not so subtly, whispered to katara.
"He says he's here for Zhao."
"What!"
"Will you both shut up," Zuko shouted.
He rubbed his temples in annoyance.
"Why would you want Zhao? He's on your side."
Zuko snorted.
"Things change."
Socka and katara didn't know how to respond to that.
They stood a few moments in shock.
"But your the fire nation prince," the boy shouted.
Zuko gave a bleak half-smile.
"The prince is dead."
The siblings didn't get the chance to react. Aang had snapped up.
"Avatar."
The boy looked up.
"Zuko! You're here!"
Much to his companion's surprise he leaped to his feet and hugged their enemy.
The prince of the fire nation grumbled and peeled him off.
"Aang what are you doing! That's Zuko! Our enemy," he reminded him.
"There's no time to explain! Zhao is going to kill the moon spirit!"
Zuko frowned.
"I figured he would try something..."
Katara turned to Zuko as if to question him but the princess began to speak.
Having slid down beside the others, princess Yue stood beside socka.
"I owe the moon spirit my life."
Everyone turned to her as she began the tale of her blessing.
"Don't worry Yue," socka said. "We won't let anything happen.
Just as the words came out of his mouth the gates burst open.
Zhao entered the oasis flanked on both sides by fire nation soldiers.
"You," he shouted staring at Zuko."
"Me."
Zuko moved into a defensive position.
"Impossible! You're dead!"
"You gave it your best shot, but as far as assassination attempts go it was pretty pathetic."
Zhao stood fuming. The gang glanced at each other in shock and confusion, mirrored by the fire nation soldiers behind Zhao.
"Get them," Zhao shouted.
Nobody moved.
"But sir... he's the prince?"
"He's a traitor!"
That was all they needed to convince them. The soldiers attacked.