[EDIT 2/20/2018: Well, I got a beta now! Her name is painterofemotions! :D She told me some good info on certain things, like Ozai's character for example. DX Also, since I MIGHT now have a plan in this story, I'm going to rewrite and edit some of the stuff my beta pointed out. So...I apologize for the changes! But this IS NECESSARY. I need to make this into an enjoyable read for you all, and I have to make characters be in-character! So without further ado, here's the betaed/edited first chapter of "To Rise"! :) ]

DISCLAIMER: One Piece belongs to Eiichiro Oda, Shounen Jump, and FUNimation! Avatar: The Last Airbender belongs to Mike and Bryan(or better known as Bryke), and to some extent, Aaron Ehasz since he wrote the best moments, and Nickelodeon! I just own this fan-made story! ;D

To Rise

By The Samurai Prince

Ozai ran.

The former Fire Lord of the Fire Nation is running. Running from the soldiers that once served him. Granted, he is running with other people. These people are trying to help him escape, as they're his loyalists, part of a new order called the New Ozai Society. Nine of the loyalists managed to rescue him before he'd been transported to the Boiling Rock. The current Fire Lord, his traitorous son, Zuko had ordered for his father to be imprisoned there. Wearing black cloaks and masks, Ozai's followers sneaked into the prison of the Capitol City and initiated a surprise attack on the soldiers that are transporting him. After easily getting rid of them, the followers stole the airship that was going to transport the former Fire Lord. Unfortunately for them, word had gotten to the Palace, signaling an alarm to the Fire Nation Army to follow after them.

The loyalists surveyed the Capital City prison in disguise several days ago. After hearing yesterday that Ozai is preparing to be transferred to the Boiling Rock, they made a quick plan to retrieve their former king. Another advantage they have is that today is the Summer Solstice, which enhances their firebending by a big margin. The loyalists surprise attack made it easier to eliminate the unsuspecting soldiers, the flames having more velocity and volume. However, this also made the more skilled firebender army of the Palace stronger as well. Once word came that Ozai had escaped, a small but professional air-squad had gone after Ozai and his followers.

It didn't take long for the bigger and faster vessels to catch up to them. Each ship fired at each other with their enhanced firebending, shooting fire-streaks and fireballs. It became a fierce battle in the air, the loyalists trying their best to fend off the powerful blasts of fire coming from the Palace Army. One of the soldiers from the squad eventually took a shot at one of the stolen ship's propellers, making the escapees swerve out of control and crash in a lake. Five of them didn't make it; three were shot down, while two had fallen to their deaths when the ship was shot. The other four, as well as Ozai, survived and swam out of the lake. They soon entered the forest as they hid from the authorities.

The loyalists that were saving the former Fire Lord said that they were sent from a port town. They belong to a group called the New Ozai Society and ordered them to infiltrate Capital City. They're going to deliver him to one of their secret hideaways in another town to meet up with the rest of the society and talk about their next course of action. But since the port town is exactly 30 miles away from where they were, they had to go on foot until they found another means of transportation.

"Stay with us, your highness," a tall medium built loyalist told Ozai.

"We will keep you safe, my lord," said another loyalist, the physique small and womanly, clearly a female just from hearing her feminine tone.

Ozai nodded. "You have all served me well. Your loyalty to your king will be greatly rewarded."

"Thank you, your highness. Right now, we need to find someplace to hide. Your son's supporters will land any moment now to find us," said a gruff male voice of a bulkier and stronger looking loyalist. They ran further into the forest, the sun still shining brightly in the afternoon.

Another one of the loyalists, who seem to be a medium height male, spotted something out in the distance. "A cave!"

The bulky one looked to where he pointed. "It'll do." He turned to Ozai. "Unless you think otherwise, my lord?"

"No, that's fine. If it's to conceal myself, I'll gladly take it." Ozai reassured them.

"Then we'll go in on your orders, sire," Confirmed the taller one as he bowed. The other loyalists bowed as well, and soon reach the cave. But as soon as they were close, they saw something at the entrance of it.

"Wait, there's a sign!" the woman loyalist said. They all stopped for a moment to look at two wooden stakes on either side holding a rope with a sign hanging in the middle. It said the following: "Caution: Do not enter during the Summer Solstice."

"Do not enter during the Summer Solstice?" The average height loyalist questioned out-loud.

"Why is this here?" the taller one asked.

"Hmm...we should be cautious," the bulkier one warned. "But we need to hide our king. Do you have any objections to this, my lord?"

Ozai looked at the sign and considered it. "It's the only cave we can find. I'll risk it."

The same man bowed. "As you wish."

They entered the dark cave, the four firebenders emitting flames out of their palms, casting out a bright glow that lighted their way. The cave's path looked like it went straight, the far end of the tunnel concealed in darkness.

"You should hide here for now, sire," The bulky one pleaded Ozai. He took his sheathed curved dagger out of his sash and handed it to him. "Use this for protection if they come inside. We know you do not have your firebending, but we can trust you that you can use your stealth and fighting abilities if they come inside the cave. In the meantime, keep your head low. We will keep watch from above the trees, and try to take them out. We passed these woods before on rhino horses, so we know how to navigate and conceal ourselves."

Ozai nodded. "Do as you must. The soldiers that serve my son are already dead to me."

Bowing to him, the bulky loyalist told the rest. "Let us move!"

All four of the followers rushed out of the cave and into the forest, preparing their soon-to-be attack on the soldiers. Ozai hoped they can ward off or even kill his son's soldiers. Even under his son's rule, they aren't exactly pushovers.

Once they left, he stood there in the dark, not knowing what to do at this point. 'Well, this is perfect. I'm armed with a dagger and I have no bending. Plus, my fool of a son is searching for me.' Ozai thought, his lips twisted into a sneer. He tucked the knife's sheath in his sash, securing it. He wished he still had his firebending back, but the damn Avatar took it away from him.

'I can still fight though...however, I wish I had absolute power again...the element of power...the power to burn any incompetent wretch who dares to defy me...'

Ozai narrowed his eyes and scowled. "You will pay, Zuko. You, along with the Avatar and his friends, will pay," he muttered.

He turned to walk deeper into the cavern, his brown cloak being covered by the darkness. He had to hide for now, with or without the use of firebending to help guide him.

However, when he walked a little further down, he saw something in the distance.

Ozai blinked in the dark.

"What in the world?" he whispered.

In the pitch blackness, there's some sort of...large red glowing square?

"What is that?" he whispered again, eyes narrowing to see if they were deceiving him.

The height and length of the large red glowing square of light seemed to take up the whole cave wall, and wide enough to fit a larger animal inside, probably even a sky bison. The red light glowed in a luminescent way, pulsating as if it was bubbling and moving like water. It illuminates part of the cave, which didn't look natural upon second glance. Ozai stood his ground though, wondering what this phenomenon could possibly be.

'Should I inform the Society?' Ozai pondered, but thought against it, 'No that's out of the question. I can't exit out of this cave unless I want to be out in the open like a fool. But what is this?'

Ozai still stood there, cautious of this bizarre happening. He took several slow steps back from it warily, not wanting to get close to such an anomaly. However, when he did, there was a sound...it sounded like water rippling. He froze on the spot, looking at the red wall in curiosity.

Then, at great speed, a red tendril arm wrapped around his waist!

"What!" Ozai called out in surprise.

As it wrapped around his waist, he instantly noticed that the arm didn't felt like it was constricting him whatsoever. In fact, it felt like a cool breeze was enveloping him. It still has control of him nonetheless, as Ozai couldn't move.

He tried to struggle, but the unfeeling grip of the arm is too strong. If that isn't bad enough, the arm started to pull him towards the red portal! He planted his feet firmly on the ground, seemingly slowing down this unknown arm that's pulling him to the red wall. But it didn't weaken its grip, as it kept pulling him. Grunting, Ozai felt like he might lose this tug-of-war battle. He pulled the dagger out of its sheath and made a downward swipe at it.

But it phased right through it!

Ozai's eyes widened in shock. To make matters worse, three more tendril-like arms came out of the red wall!

"What's going on? Who's doing this?" Ozai demanded as he was being pulled. He tried to fend off the arms that were advancing towards him by swinging the dagger at them, hoping it will harm them in some way. But his slashes phased right through the arms effortlessly. The arms didn't even show signs of yielding. Each arm wrapped around Ozai, around his right arm holding the dagger, his left leg, and his neck, pulling him further into the red lighted wall.

It's at that moment, Ozai realized he was in big trouble. Could this be spirit related? Could this be what the sign meant outside?

He's now in a dangerous dilemma, but he couldn't attract attention to himself, so he tried to grab the arm with his free left hand. But even then, it still fazed right through the tendril!

Now feeling alarmed, he looked on as he was dragged to the wall, the red light shining on his face. The arms are winning this battle of tug-of-war. As he's getting closer to the red wall, the same water rippling sound intensified.

'What's happening? Is this the work of a spirit? What is this cave?' "Let me go! Stop! Stop!" Ozai exclaimed. But the red arms proceeded to drag him into the portal.

When he's close to the red surface, his whole body phased right through it.

Just like that, Ozai is gone.

It's been five days since Ozai's disappearance.

Zuko's men have been ambushed by the loyalists, fighting vigorously as both sides didn't go down without a fight. But the victor remained with the experienced Palace Guards, who captured them successfully thanks to the Guards' resident chi blocker. Once they have been apprehended, they tried to ask them where the former Fire Lord is, but they wouldn't answer. Deciding that they should just arrest them for further questioning, they got them to the airship while they search for Ozai.

They found a cave, thinking that's where he has been kept, so they went inside. They did take notice of the sign, but their objective is clear; they have to find Ozai. However, Zuko's father was nowhere to be seen in the cave. They looked every corner of the cave, even bursting fireblasts to get him out of hiding, but they haven't found him. They kept looking for him, hoping to find him, wherever he may be. They even peacefully searched the nearby village for him, the villagers being very cooperative. They never did tell them who they were searching for though, as not to alert them of Ozai's escape.

But they still couldn't find him anywhere. And that worried the recent Fire Lord immensely once word came to him. Did he escape unnoticed? If so, then how? It wasn't like he dug a secret tunnel or anything...

Zuko frowned. The seventeen-year-old king is in the Palace Garden feeding the turtle-ducks, which usually is a sign that he wants to be alone. He hadn't slept really well ever since he'd heard the news about his missing father. He just can't wrap his head around how he would escape so easily. When he heard there's no sign of his father being on the premises of the southernmost part of the Fire Nation where the airship had crashed, he issued his army a widespread manhunt to find him. He told them to search every town and city to see if there was any sign or mention of Ozai, but of course, in secret.

It's been a year and a half since everything calmed down after the war. Trusts have been somewhat rekindled between the Fire Nation and the Earth Kingdom, as well as the Water Tribes, the latter nation receiving help from none other than Katara. The waterbender girl became an ambassador for both of the South and North Water Tribes a few months after the war, feeling like she was called for that position thanks to Zuko. In fact, if it isn't for her help to convince the Water Tribes into diplomacy with the Fire Nation, Zuko wouldn't have made a powerful ally. He was really thankful for her assistance, her reply simply being that she always helps out her friends and that she had to repay him somehow after he saved her from his crazed sister, Azula. The Earth Kingdom is still taking the longest, as they're still in negotiations with the Fire Nation.

However, there is still more work that needs to be done, and he's gonna need all the help he can get from his friends. In fact, he called his friends, even Avatar Aang, to the Palace for an emergency meeting to tell them the news. They promised to keep quiet, of course, and try to keep a lookout for his father.

Zuko looked down at the pond where the turtle-ducks are paddling. Not only he wanted to be alone, but he also wanted to reflect on his decision of relocating his father to the Boiling Rock. Had it been the right decision? Would things work out differently if his father was still in the Capital City prison?

'What happened to you, father?' Zuko thought with dread as he tossed another breadcrumb to the pond.

"Zuko?" said an older male's voice. Startled hearing his name, he turned his right to see his uncle walking up to him.

"Uncle?"

"Hello, Nephew! It looks like you're feeding the turtle-ducks today. Usually, the staff does this, and it means you want to be alone. Either way, I think you fed those turtle-ducks quite enough. They look tired of eating the same thing." Iroh said with a chuckle at his nephew overfeeding the little animals.

Zuko looked down at the pond he was attending to see that the turtle-ducks weren't even interested in eating the breadcrumbs anymore, swimming around them. "Oh…" he blushed, but soon recovered, "Uncle, what are you doing here? What about your tea shop?"

"Oh, do not worry! Jin is managing it right now. She does a really good job at it." Iroh smirked teasingly, "Oh and she said 'hi', by the way."

Zuko blinked and blushed once more. "Um…a-anyways," he muttered trying to get back to the task at hand, "not that I'm not glad you're here or anything, but what are you doing here?"

"I came by to see how you're doing after your father's disappearance. Your mother sent me a letter to come and talk to you about it," Iroh said, his eyes dulled with concern.

Zuko tensed, "She doesn't have to worry about anything. I'm fine. Everything's fine." He said abruptly.

Iroh raised an eyebrow, "Zuko…that wasn't very convincing. You don't have to hide things from me. I mean, I understand. I would be anxious too if my power-hungry tyrant of a father has gone missing."

Sighing, Zuko said, "Uncle…was it…a mistake for me to transfer him in the first place? I mean, if I didn't do that, then he wouldn't have gone missing…"

Iroh frowned, feeling his nephew's grief radiate off of him, "Nephew, don't feel like this is your fault. You did the right decision in transporting him away from the Capital. Those loyalists just came at the worst time to break your father out of prison. You only moved him to the Boiling Rock because you thought it was necessary. You didn't want him to be so close to your sister, your mother, and her new family when he did somehow break out."

"I know, but…" Zuko's expression turned solemn. "Uncle, he could be out there plotting whatever scheme he could with this Society."

"Let us not think about that right now, Nephew. From the look in your eyes, you seem to not have gotten any sleep from it." Iroh said, his gaze sympathetic.

The young Fire Lord frowned at the accusation. "I've slept fine."

Shaking his head, Iroh commented. "Zuko, you can stop lying. You never were good at it."

Zuko scowled in irritation but tiredly sighed nonetheless. "Maybe I am worried...Uncle, if you were Fire Lord, what would you do in this situation?"

"Well, I would do what you've already done; send a secret manhunt so you won't alert the Nation of his escape."

Zuko groaned, his right hand rubbing his face. "I didn't plan for all of this to happen..."

"As I usually say, fate is a funny thing. But do know that good will always prevail in the hands of fate, Zuko."

Zuko hummed in agreement, his face contorting into an unsure mess.

Iroh took notice of this. "There's something else bothering you, is there?"

"...Do you…Uncle, you're his brother. Do you feel worried about him in a familial sense?"

Iroh gazed at him with warmth, "Of course I do, Zuko. He is my brother, and I worry about him as any other brother would. Are you worried about him in the familial sense as well?"

"Of course," Zuko answered honestly.

The retired General smiled at his nephew, but stood there with, solemnly furrowing his brows. He walked up to him and patted a hand on his shoulder in reassurance, "Listen Zuko; we don't know what happened to your father. It's been five days, and no one has heard of him. I'll admit, that's not a good sign. But...say something did happen to him..."

Eyes widened, Zuko froze. "You don't mean..."

"I'm just speculating. But you never know with these things. No one has heard any sign of your father. As ominous as that sounds, there is the possibility that he could be..." his uncle's eyes showed a bit of dread.

Zuko frowned, knowing exactly what he's implying. "Uncle...I don't want it to come to that."

Iroh nodded. "I know...but if it does happen, do not feel like it's your fault."

The Fire Lord's expression twisted into a dejected state. "I…I know. It's just…he's still my father. I know he destroyed many lives, I know what he did to me and my mother was horrible, but still...he's my father."

Iroh nodded again, squeezing his nephew's shoulder in comfort. "I understand Zuko. I know that family is very important to you. But wherever he may be, you can't let it affect your duties as Fire Lord."

Zuko stood there, quiet for the time being, as he reflected on Iroh's words. "I know...there's so much work to be done." he gazed at his uncle, his lips slowly turning into a soft smile. "Thank you, Uncle."

He returned the smile. "It is my absolute pleasure to help you in your time of need, Zuko."

The young man's eyes watered, gratitude welling up in him. He gave his uncle a hug, which Iroh gladly returned.

"I'll also tell you one other thing, Zuko. You will make an excellent Fire Lord for showing compassion towards others." Iroh told him as he hugged him.

Zuko felt the tears roll down slightly on his face. "I love you, Uncle."

"I love you too, my Nephew."

They held onto each other for a few more seconds, until they let go. Iroh placed both his hands on Zuko's shoulders. "Do you feel better now, Zuko?"

"Yeah. In a way," he answered honestly as he wiped his eyes.

Iroh smiled. "Good." he patted Zuko's right shoulder, "Now come! Enough of this sad talk! Since I'm visiting, I would love to spend some quality family time with you all over some lunch and tea."

Chuckling a bit, Zuko said, "Seriously Uncle, do you ever live a day without tea?"

"Of course I don't! How do you think I became so fit all this time?" he said as he patted his pot-belly.

"I don't think tea makes you fit, Uncle. From all the times you drink it, your belly keeps getting bigger."

Iroh pouted. "Now, now, do not insult the special properties of tea, my young nephew. One day, you'll understand. I'm definitely certain you'll start drinking it in a matter of time."

"Heh. Next thing I know, I'll be playing Pai Sho."

"Now that would be wonderful! I need a new contender to play with!" Iroh laughed.

Rolling his eyes, Zuko smirked. They walked out of the garden as they head over to the dining quarters.

"Also, if I may ask, have you found any new suitors as of yet, Zuko?" Iroh asked with a sly smile.

Zuko blushed. "I'm getting there, Uncle."

"Well, I'll tell you one thing, no offense on Mai's part, but I'm glad you didn't decide on her. She's too..." the older man tried to think of a word for Mai. "...gloomy for your tastes."

The young Fire Lord sighed. "Yeah...she didn't take the news really well. I do wish all the best for her, though. I just wish I have a wife who actually gets me, you know?"

Iroh nodded. "You'll find the right woman in due time, Zuko. Who knows? Maybe she's right under your nose and you don't even realize it." he smirked.

Zuko chuckled dryly. "I wish I can realize it now."

His uncle chuckled as well. As they walked along, the young Fire Lord thought to himself. 'I will restore honor back to this nation, father. I will fix what you've wrong. In the meantime, if you're truly gone, I can only hope you'll find peace, wherever that may be.'

Five days earlier…

…Ozai woke up in a startled state. He's laying on his stomach but soon started to get up. He supported himself on his knees, grabbing onto his head to shake the lightheaded feeling out of his skull.

"What…what happened?" he squinted his eyes at the far-off light that was flowing inside the cave...wait...he was still in the cave?

He looked around in confusion as his eyes readjusted to the light. He slowly got up, the knife still in his right hand, as he steadily made his way out of the cave, carefully trying not to trip on hazardous rocks. The cave seems to be just like the one he stumbled upon, the path being completely straight. The light was becoming brighter as he walked closer to the cave entrance. Ozai briefly wondered what time it was now, not knowing how long he has been knocked out in the cave. Once he neared the entrance, he noticed that the area outside didn't look like the forests of the main island of his Nation. In fact, they looked like gargantuan trees.

Ozai blinked as he exited out of the cave. The trees are shielding the sun's bright rays above him, and once his vision became clear, he sees that he's in some sort of jungle. The trees here didn't look like the trees he surrounded himself while running with the loyalists. In fact, the sounds of the forest's quiet animal life were replaced with this flora's harsh screeching sounds of animals and the smell of rainwater.

"Where am I?" Ozai said, perplexed at the change of scenery. A morbid thought then came to his mind. 'Is this...the Spirit World?'

He looked at his hands. His left hand was opened, while the other one has the dagger in it. He took a look around his surroundings, seeing the trees' huge roots while hearing the unavoidable silence in the air, as well as smelling that same mildew. He turned around to glance at the cave entrance. It didn't look like the one he entered in with the loyalists. There's not even a sign attached the entrance. Is this still the same cave he went into? Is he still where he is right now?

Should he go back into the cave? Remembering the experience he had in there, he dismissed it. 'No. At least not right now. I need to know where I am first.'

Ozai kept walking, the blade still in his clutched right hand. He held onto it just in case anybody or anything would ambush him. But so far, the jungle was quiet...which always wasn't a good sign.

As he walked through the giant tree roots for about twenty minutes. He was starting to get tired until he saw an opening in the distance. Seeing that it could be a clearing, he made his way over there to see. As he came closer, however, it looked to be a cliff.

He looked over the cliff to see what was on the other side, which is a huge body of water. Saltwater struck his nose, telling him that he's near the sea. Is he still in the Fire Nation? If he is, then where in the Fire Nation is he?

Ozai grunted in confusion. He looked around the cliff-sides, seeing if there is any indication of where he could be. When there was no sign of any hint as to where he is, he glanced at the dagger in his hand and decided to test something. Using the dagger, he carefully nicked the tip of his thumb with the tip of the blade to see if he is dreaming any of this. After pricking his thumb and seeing that it's bleeding a bit, he can pretty much safely say that he is not dreaming. Licking the blood off his thumb wound, he turned around to go back to the cave.

'I don't know what's going on here, but maybe that cave will have some answers.'

After a couple of minutes of walking, he started to get a little hungry. Stomach growling, he grunted. He needed to eat something. He hadn't eaten anything decent at the prison for months except for that bread the loyalist gave him. But where could he find anything in this jungle? Shaking his head, he decided to look around the area for food.

He looked around the area to see if he can find anything until he spotted something in his left peripheral vision. He turned to see what it is.

It looked like a red fruit. It was out in the open, resting on the ground. Ozai's eyes widened. He rushed over there with the dagger still in his hand, his stomach reaching to his mind as it guided him to the food source. When he's near it, he knelt down and picked it up, about to slice some pieces of the fruit when he stopped.

Ozai raised an eyebrow. 'What kind of fruit is this?' The fresh produce looked odd…actually, he wasn't sure if it's a fruit now. It looked more like a red eggplant of some sort. And not only is it red, but it also had bold swirly patterns on it. In fact, how long had this fruit been out here? Ozai looked up at the tree that the fruit landed next to. The trees didn't seem to have any fruit hanging from its branches. He glanced back at this so-called fruit. 'Should I really eat this?'

His stomach answered for him with a loud growl.

Ozai groaned.

He looked at the fruit one last time.

'It kind of looks edible...' He unsheathed his dagger and brought the blade close to the fruit. 'I'll just slice a piece and try it.'

He used his dagger to slice a thin piece of the fruit...and popped it into his mouth.

Alright! That was the newly revised chapter one! Hopefully, this sounds a lot better this time around! Thanks so much to painterofemotions for betaing! :D

And just to let you all know, the pairings are still Zutara, Taang, and Sukka, with a little bit of LuNa. ;)

Anyways, do tell me what you think of this new OP/A:TLA crossover story so far! Does it (now) have potential? Please tell me with a review, or maybe you can fave and follow it! ^_^

Well, that's all I have to say! I really hope you all like this premise so far! :D

Keep on rocking everybody! See ya in the next revised chapter! 8D

(By the way, thanks to Ash-can on DA for the cover! ;D )

-TSP