CHAPTER 12- Questions, Honor, Memory

It was strangely quiet aboard the small Fire ship without the Prince giving orders or fighting with the crew. Iroh had enjoyed the peace at first, but after the second day it became tiring and downright boring. He had to have beaten Lieutenant Ji and the others a million times and he even dared to say he didn't want anymore tea.

He wasn't the only one affected by the teen's disappearance, either. Lieutenant Ji was now complaining that the other firebenders were too weak and sparring with them provided no challenge. Of course Iroh offered to fight, but the man respectfully declined. The old general was a bit too far above his level. All in all, everyone was eagerly awaiting Zukos return; though no one admitted it.

"General Iroh, didn't Prince Zuko say when he would be back? Or at least where he was?" one of workers asked. Iroh sighed, shaking his head. He inwardly regretted letting his nephew go with only that girl. He knew Zuko could take care of himself even if the girl turned traitor, but he was still worried. Ever since the teen's banishment, he had taken the role of a father to Zuko if only out of pity. Or at least that's what he thought two years ago. Over time he began to respect the boy and his strange out look on life.

Honor. That's what Zuko always told the old man. Honor was what kept humans human. Without that, they were no more then a hog-monkey that could stand straight. Even after all he had gone through, the teen believed that his father had honor, that his country had honor, and people had honor, no matter what their beliefs. He only fought to regain his own honor which he thought lost.

That was another thing Iroh had noticed lately. Only a few days before Zuko left, he had begun asking the old man about Fire Nation plans, what set the nation apart, and why that difference made them better. Iroh answered the questions to the best of his ability: Sozan's comet, the fierce loyalty and willingness to finish, but the last one had him stumped. Not many people questioned why the Fire Nation was better, it just was.

This unanswerable question seemed to make Zuko wonder why as well. After that, the general rarely saw the prince outside of his room, and when he was, he was reading old books about the war or practicing firebending. Not seeing how to fight, but how to control. Shaping, seeing how small or large the flame could be, how hot it could be, anything at all. Trying to see what the flame actually was, he had told Iroh.

Trying to see what it was…

"Hey Zuko, what're you doing?" Aang asked, Sokka temporally taking over the driving. The firebender was bouncing a single flame from one finger to the next across both hands, keeping a steady beat.

"I have absolutely no idea." He said, keeping his eye on the fire. Tsuyosa smiled.

"You finally trying to figure it out? Not many benders actually ask." The two looked at her, Zuko extinguishing the small heat.

"What are you talking about?" Katara asked.

"It's the biggest question next to the meaning of life: What causes what we call bending?" they continued to stare at her, even Sokka turned around.

"Water, Earth, Fire, Air. Four elements that really shouldn't bend to humans will, but it does. Lady Hikari and Lord Yami once explained it all of us; they said that the first time they came to earth, they found four people. All of them were mothers soon to bare their first children, and they were afraid that once the children were born, they would be taken away. For these women were the new wives to a man from the east, taken away from their husbands for their spectacular beauty." Katara made a displeased sound and mumbled something that sounded like "Greedy bastard"

"The children were the sons and daughters of the women's' real husbands, and were sure to be killed once they were born." Tsuyosa continued, "So out of pity, Lord Yami and Lady Hikari granted the children with the powers of the elements. These elements would protect the babies from any danger for the first hours of life and would grant the mothers time with their children, but in return for this blessing, the Dragons of Light and Darkness demanded that there was a price. Three hours after birth, Lord Yami and Lady Hikari would come back, and take the children away with them to the Heavens. Although they would miss their children dearly, the woman agreed, and the deal went through as planed. Two girls and two boys: Tsuyosa of Fire, Yugasa of Water, Chikara of Earth and Junsuisa of Air all went up to the heavens to become the Dragons of the Elements."

"Fine, but that's the dragons back story, not the Benders." Sokka said.

"Not true. There's a twist: a fifth baby." They looked confused, but Zuko caught on.

"The first Avatar." He whispered. Tsuyosa nodded.

"One of the women, the one who gave birth to the Water baby, had another. Yugasa's twin." The dragon continued. "The mother was overwhelm with joy at the fact this twin didn't have any powers, meaning she didn't have to give it up. But the other women were furious. The gods clearly stated that their babies had to go to the heavens, which meant this one too! The mother was defiant, though, and when the Dragons came, she hid her child and went on like he never existed. Lord Yami and Lady Hikari had planned this, though. They knew that the woman would have twins, but they only needed one to go with them. They other had to stay on earth.

"They could tell that the world was in danger of destroying itself. If it continued this way, wars would over take it and no one could stop the destruction. So, they gave the other twin the power of water, only made it a dormant power. One that would awaken once the world needed it, and go from nation to nation, gathering powers from Fire, Earth and Air as the dragons divided the lands accordingly. In this way, the powers went from father to son, mother to daughter, all the powers awakening like a plague as the Avatars Spirit traveled. Creating the first of what would be called Benders."

"General Iroh!" Lieutenant Ji announced as he ran into the room. Iroh looked up to see the man looked a bit panicked.

"Lieutenant Ji, what is going on?" he demanded.

"Admiral Zhao had ordered that we tell him where Prince Zuko and the girl he was with are. He says they are under arrest for entering Fire Nation waters and attacking a Navy ship." Ji explained. Getting up, the old man walked onto deck, the lieutenant behind him.

"Admiral Zhao, what is the meaning of this?" he said calmly. Zhao glared.

"It seems the Prince has truly turned against us and attacked our ship. We have reason to believe you might know where he is."

"We do not. My nephew left three days ago on a personal matter." Iroh replied.

"Meaning you have no idea where he is." The man nodded.

"Get Your Damn Hands Off Me!" the general turned to see two of Zhao's soldiers grab Ji and tie his hands behind his back. The lieutenant glared.

"You and your crew are all under arrest for treason, General Iroh." Zhao said calmly as two more soldiers grabbed the old man. Turning around, the admiral walked off the ship.

"Check every inch of this ship for more traitors."

Iroh glared at the real traitors retreating back.

The group walked through the quiet town, slowly making their way to the docks. A few times Katara had to pull Aang away from buying something useless, and Zuko had to stop Tsuyosa from killing a man who whistled at her. The lucky man got away with a burnt arm.

"You're take things way too seriously." Zuko sighed.

Rounding a corner, they were face to face with a deserted dock. The only vessel was at the very end of the port; a relatively small Fire navy ship.

"That's it." The firebender said, walking ahead of them. The others stayed put, though. Something was wrong.

"You guys feel it to?" Tsuyosa asked. They nodded, Aang looking down sadly.

"We're too late."

"Uncle Iroh!" Zuko called, boarding the ship. He was surprised at how quiet it was. He was expecting a party, but the place was dead quiet. He forced himself to ignore the small voice in the back of his mind.

"Where is everyone? Hello!" he looked all though out the ship; every room, corridor and even in the engine room.

Nothing.

The last place he checked was his own room. Walking in, he found the place completely destroyed. Books had pages torn out, the tapestry on his wall was torn down and every drawer was open.

Slowly, he stepped over the mess on the floor and walked over to his bed. It looked like it had been stabbed, feathers everywhere. Kneeling down, he reached under the destroyed bed and lifted a loose sheet of the steel flooring. Under it was a small space about as large and deep as a good sized book. He had created it the day he got the ship to keep one thing in particular. Reaching in, he felt around until a small, sharp edge poked his hand. Grabbing the object, he pulled out a small necklace.

Four charms with each elements symbol hung on a small golden chain. A few of the links were bent and it was rusting a bit, but it was probably the one thing Zuko really wanted.

It was a gift from his mother.

Standing, the teen took one last look around the ship before sticking the necklace in his pocket and walking back onto deck. In the distance he could see the others, and he guessed they were waiting on him. Slowly, he walked off his home for almost three years, and headed back.

A/N- I don't know why, but I have always given Zuko that same necklace! I have a million stories where I decide not to post and have Zuko really OOC, and in those he has that gift from his mom, always the same chain and charms. Oh, well.

R&R!