Chap. 5

Stage 3: What is Honor?

It did not take long for Zuko to return to the ship. This was partly due to the fact that the ship was not far from where the battle had taken place. It was also due to the fact that Zuko rode the rhinos extremely fast to get back to his ship. Once onboard, Zuko leapt of the beast, and quickly aided the other crewman in getting Aang and the others tied up. Zuko also took Aang's staff, Katara's water holder, and Sokka's weapons.

"I don't think you'll need these in the Fire Nation." Zuko said, as he surveyed the prisoners. As he handed over the items, with the instruction that they be placed far from the prisoners, Aang began to speak.

"Zuko, please don't do this. You don't know what giving me to your father will do."

"It will restore my honor and return what was taken from me." Zuko snapped back.

"But it'll also destroy the balance. The world will be inflamed." The young Avatar pleaded.

"That isn't my problem. All I care about is getting my honor back." The banished prince spat back. He turned then, to give more orders to the crew, but then another, angrier voice cut through.

"You haven't learned a thing, have you Zuko?" Katara cried out.

"What are you babbling about, peasant?" Zuko said, whirling around to face his accuser.

"I don't know how you got banished, and I don't really care. But you spent two years seeing the rest of the world. Didn't you see what the Fire Nation did there? The destruction? The people killed?"

"Casualties of war." Zuko replied, though there was a slight tremor in his voice.

"It doesn't matter! You saw all that death and destruction and you don't care! You don't care that people died, or that homes were destroyed. All you care about is your precious honor! You'd hand over the most important person in the world to someone who'll kill him in an instant just for your honor? How good can that honor be if you don't feel even a little pain at the suffering of others? How are you supposed to rule a kingdom when you don't care about anyone else but yourself?"

The crewmen backed away then, fearing Zuko's anger. But instead, Zuko stood there silently, as the girl's outburst ended. When the last of her words had faded. Zuko asked in almost a whisper, "Are you finished?"

Katara shook her head. "My father left home to fight the Fire Nation. My mother died at their hands. And all to fight a lunatic king and his selfish, self-absorbed, ignorant son." Zuko was silent once again, then motioned for the guards to take the prisoners to their cells. The guards obeyed instantly, fearing their prince's eventual outburst. But Zuko simply stood there, only ordering another guard to stand look out in the corridors, should the prisoners escape.

But as that solider left, another appeared to take his place. "Prince Zuko, there is someone here to see you." The soldier said.

"Whoever it is, I don't have the time." Zuko replied, his voice quiet and thoughtful. "I need to get the Avatar back to the Fire-Nation as quickly as possible."

"But my prince, this man says he comes from your father." The guard replied. At that, Suko paused. "Continue." The boy-prince said.

The guard opened his mouth to do so, but before he could he was interrupted. "I would rather explain my presence myself, Prince." Explained a rough voice, as it's master came forward. Zuko turned to face this man, and his eyes promptly shot up. The man before him was of medium height and somewhat thick build. His face was slightly round, with deep eyes that reflected the gold in Zuko's own. The sunlight shone off of the man's shaven head and ponytail and illuminated the red of his uniform, which was the reason Zuko was surprised. For the man was dressed in the uniform of the Firelord's Royal Guard, with his helmet under his arm.

"I was told you come from my father." Zuko replied, keeping his surprise in check. "That I do." The man replied, as he bowed in front of the boy-prince. "My name is Fuego. The Fire-Lord sent me after you long ago."

"What do you mean, after me?" Zuko asked, his apprehension rising up at the man's choice of words. But Fuego only laughed.

"I apologize for my choice of words Prince. Allow me to explain. After your father banished you from the Fire-Nation, he came to feel that he had acted too hastily. But for political reasons, he could not simply restore your rank. Therefore he decided he would make sure that when you did find the Avatar, you would have someone to make sure you succeeded. And now that you have finally captured this boy, I can perform that test."

"I'm not sure I understand. Why do you think I have the Avatar anyway?" Zuko said coyly, still unwary about this man. Yet in his heart, Zuko felt something he had not felt for a long time. He felt a shimmer of hope that perhaps, his father did not think of his only son as a failure. But Zuko knew his father, and he knew that forgiveness was not one of the Fire-Lord's better qualities. Still, Zuko listened on, his face not betraying the hope he felt in his heart.

"There is little about this ship's activities I do not know. You see my prince, for almost the whole of the time you have traveled the world, I have followed you, waiting for the day when you finally captured the Avatar. I only waited for you now so you could safely put the boy in his cell. Now that he is locked away, I can perform my duty."

"What duty would that be?" Zuko asked.

"I am highly studied in the ancient lore of the Fire-Sages. I know how to test this Airbender you have captured, to make sure he is the true Avatar, which is what your father asked of me."

At that, Zuko's eyes narrowed. "This Airbender is the last of his kind. He must be the Avatar."

"He is the last of his kind," Fuego said, nodding in agreement. "But it does not make him the Avatar. He could have simply been frozen in that iceberg by accident."

"Accident? Are you a fool?" Zuko snapped. "What Airbender could have managed to do such a thing? It would require strong Waterbending, a skill he couldn't have learned without being the Avatar!"

But Feugo simply shook his head. "It is possible Prince. An Airbender could create an air bubble under the water; I have read of such things. It could have only been the cold waters that caused it to freeze. And if that is the case, you will only bring your father an Airbender and not the Avatar you need."

"I don't need to hear your foolishness!" Zuko snapped, as he began to turn away. "If you really had followed us, you would have seen his power! You would know that I have the Avatar in my possession, and that I will finally be able to go home." But before the prince could leave, he felt a hand grasp his shoulder.

"I am only a man Prince." Fuego said gently, as he tried to reason with the prince. "I could not always track you, and I will be truthful, I lost you at some points. When I did see the Airbender, I only saw him use Airbending. But that doesn't mean I don't believe you have the Avatar. It is too coincidental that this boy was somehow frozen in the oceans of the North Pole while his people were dying a hundred years ago."

"Then why are you doubting me?" Zuko asked.

"Because I want to make sure you do not fail." Fuego replied. "You have much potential Prince, to become a grand ruler. In the time you spent traveling this world, you have become a great and honorable man. It is in you the Fire Nation places it's hope for the future. But you must do this one thing before you can truly become that hope. Your father has put much faith in you. Don't disappoint him."

Zuko was silent as Fuego finished his words. The Guardsman removed his hand from the boy's solider, waiting for a response. Finally, Zuko spoke. "My father….. said that…. About me?"

"He has never needed to say it." Fuego answered. "It is evident in his actions every day." Zuko was quiet a moment longer, then asked, in a thick voice, "What do you need to do?"

"There is a test I must use on the boy, that will reveal his Avatar power, but I will be able to contain it. However, I must administer it alone. If you wish, you may send some of your crew to stand outside the door though, for your own security." Zuko nodded, and motioned for some of the men to come forward.

"Go with Fuego, and make sure he is not disturbed." The crewmen nodded, and moved to the guard's side. But Fuego stayed a moment longer. As Zuko stared out to the horizon, the guard knew what was going through the boy's soul.

"You will come home soon." Fuego said, his rough voice becoming low and gentle. "And when you do, you shall be magnificent." It was obvious to all that heard them that the words were heartfelt. Whether or not Zuko heard those words was unclear thought. The boy prince stood silently a moment, then shook his head suddenly and walked away. But in that shake, Fuego had seen the sparkle of a falling tear fly into the air. The guard let out a sigh as he watched the prince walk off. "Shall we proceed?" one of the crewmen asked suddenly.

"Yes I think we shall." Fuego replied, as he turned to face the men. "Where is the Avatar being kept?"