Chapter 2
The Boy in the Iceberg
Hope everyone is enjoying the story so far. I am so happy to hear that everyone is really enjoying my story. There's not enough of American Dragon: Jake Long and Avatar: The Last Airbender crossover stories, so I figure to add one of my own ideas into the fanfiction reading world. Plus if you stop to think about the two shows, you'll find that they have a couple of voices actors in the show.
Dante Basco – Zuko and Jake
Mae Whitman – Katara and Rose
Keone Young - Luong Lao Shi and Jeong Jeong
Small world.
Anyway, on with the story.
It's almost been three years since Zuko was banishment, and Fire Lord Ozai wont lent him back home until he captures the Avatar only then he can regain his honor and be back home where he belongs. 'But it won't get rid of this scar.'
Checking every Air Temple, every Earth Kingdom shines, only to come up empty handed. There were only dusk, twigs and roots scattered all around.
Leaving from one of the Earth Kingdom islands, Zuko's Iron battleship with a spiked prow cuts through the sea. It's steam powered as it has a single smokestack. The foredeck is much longer than the afterdeck. The bridge appears to be several decks above the main deck.
Zuko stands on the foredeck dressed in red, with a shaven headed except for a long ponytail, staring intently at the shaft of light that appeared in front of the ship a few seconds ago.
The feeling of hope and astonishment filled Zuko, as he whispers out one word. "Finally." Before turning to face an old man who was mostly playing a game that looked like solitaire on a low table and having tea. "Uncle, do you realize what this means?" Uncle Iroh looks up to his nephew and ask, "I won't get to finish my game?"
"It means my search - it's about to come to an end." Iroh could only groan at his nephew, this wasn't the first time he hand seen the young man getting worked up that turns out it led him to a dead end.
Zuko points to the beaming light which started to fade away, "That light came from an incredibly powerful source. It has to be him!" Zuko turns back to get a location on where that beam of light was, "Or it's just the celestial lights." Iroh intervene, "We've been down this road before, Prince Zuko. I don't want you to get too excited over nothing. Please, sit. Why don't you enjoy a cup of calming jasmine tea?"
Zuko, not a man to control much of his temper, exploded at his uncle in anger "I don't need any calming tea! I need to capture the Avatar." He yells at the Helmsman his order, "Helmsman, head a course for the light!"
Iroh set down his game piece down as the ship begins to shift, and the wind begins to pick up. It was only a couple of minutes when the sun was starting to set in mid afternoon when Zuko and Iroh heard the Helmsman shouting, "Off to the starboard! Children drifting on an ice caps!"
Everyone rushes over to the starboard edge, looking over the railing Zuko saw two kids nearly being pulled into the icy cold waters, and their clothes by the looks of them were to light for this cold temperature. There was some kind of gray animal with them, it looked like some kind of dog.
"Stop the ship and bring down a rope to them." Iroh order, not liking being delayed on his chase for the Avatar, Zuko knew in his heart he couldn't leave kids to die out here. It's just too cruel, even for him. With the ship's anchor down and the rope ladder tossed over, Zuko quickly climbs down with Lieutenant Jee and another firebender following him while the others hold down on the other end of the rope ladder.
Using a small grappling hook, Lieutenant Jee throws it over to the freezing kids and dog before it snags onto the chunk of ice. Jee gave it a light pull to make sure it doesn't tip them over into the water and drown them. Once they were close, Zuko can see that their clothes were so strangely different and weird. He assumes they are Fire Nation because of the boy's red long sleeved shirt and the little girl's pink open kimono jacket.
Zuko grab the dog by the back of the neck and hoist him up with all of his strength, "Careful, this thing is heave." Said Zuko as he handed the dog to Lieutenant Jee who then hands it over to his fellow friend. The dog was so heave he had to slip his arm through the rope ladder just to make sure he doesn't loses his grip. Zuko then grabs the little girl and hands her to Lieutenant Jee while he grabs the boy.
It was a difficult to get them all up on the ship, but the crew somehow manage to pull them up and get them to safety on deck. Iroh had left to retrieve spare blankets and once he returned he was able to see how old these kids really are. The girl look to ne no more than 8 or 9 years old, while the boy. He look like a spiting image of his nephew two years ago.
Even Zuko was shocked by the boy's appearance, "I want them lock in one of our spare courters. I want answers once they wake up. And get this ship moving on our course now." The soldiers bowed respectfully to Zuko and do as they were told. Iroh stork his beard in thought, before heading back to his game and tea.
Once everyone has left, Zuko turns back to face the bow of the ship. He then pulls out a piece of what looks to be a broken piece of a small hourglass from his pocket when he picked it up from the ice cap. 'Who in the world are they?'
Time Skip
The sun was now gone with night clouding the cold skies. As Zuko stands on the spotting deck off the bridge looking forward out towards the horizon, Uncle Iroh approaches over to him and says, "I'm going to bed now." He exaggerated a tiring yawn, "Yep. A man needs his rest. Prince Zuko, you need some sleep. Even if you're right and the Avatar is alive, you won't find him. Your father, grandfather, and great-grandfather all tried and failed." Iroh reasons with his nephew.
But Zuko didn't budge, "Because their honor didn't hinge on the Avatar's capture. Mine does. This coward's hundred years in hiding are over."
Just then a soldier came up to the two royal family members and said, "Prince Zuko, General Iroh. The children have started to wake up. What do you want us to do?" Iroh answers, "We'll take it from here." As he left to greet their new guess, while Zuko follows close behind.
They reach the kids chambers as Iroh opens the door, and Iroh swear he saw the dog got down on all fours and said, "Bow real dog woof!" 'It's either an animal spirit guide or I'm sleepier than I thought I am.' Iroh thought as he rubs the sleep from his tired eyes.
When the doors open, Jake, Haley, and Fu-Dog turn to who was standing there as Fu-Dog quickly getting into his dog character. "Bow real dog woof!" which he still needs some more work on. Standing at the entrance as an old man, who could be Jake and Haley's grandpa's brother and a young teenager with his left side of his face is badly scarred around his left eye.
"I am relieve to see your both wake." Said the old man, "You were drifting in cold polar ice cap waters when our Helmsman spotted you. My name is Iroh."
Fu-dog, Haley, and Jake were shocked that they landed somewhere in the polar ice caps. If they didn't rescue them they would sure have died. "Thank you for saving us." Haley thanked them. The scarred teenager steps forward and demands his questions to be answered, "But it doesn't explain as to how you kids got there in the first place."
"Prince Zuko." Iroh warned his nephew, before turning to he scared kids and dog giving them a warm, kind, and reassuring smile. "Your questions and answers can wait. Why don't we talk more again tomorrow at breakfast? You kids need your rest."
Neither Haley nor Jake said anything, but they both nodded in agreement. Zuko growls in frustration, as he storms out of the room. Despite not getting his answers right away, he knew that it's best for them to be at full health. "You must forgive my nephew. It's been a long day for him." Iroh bows to them before leaving.
Once the door was shut and the sounds of footsteps had faded away, the Long kids and Fu-Dog look at each other with shocking expressions, "We're too far in the past!" Fu-Dog cried, "That was Zuko! And he's a prince!?" Haley exclaimed, "And his voice is so much like mine!" said Jake astounded.
"We got more problems than that, kid. The Uchrono Hourglass is shattered! The pieces are missing, which means!" Jake and Haley instantly knew what Fu-Dog is saying, "We're stuck in the past."
Only one phrase can summon up the weight of their situation weighing down on them.
"Aw man."
Time Skip
Neither Jake, Haley, nor Fu-Dog got any proper sleep that night. So much has happen in such a short amount of time, it's understanding to have a restless and stressful sleep.
Iroh had came to them with some spare warmer clothes for them to wear until theirs are clean and dry. "These might be a little too big for you dear but will make plans to stop at the nearest colony docks and buy more fitting clothes."
He handed Haley the smallest clothes he could find while handing Jake one of Zuko's robes and boots. "I'll lead you to another room to change, my dear." Iroh said as he guides Haley to another chamber room across from the one they've stayed the night.
Jake looks at the clothes in his arms, letting out a sigh, he unzip his favorite jacket and toss it onto Fu-Dog's head. "Hey! I'm not some laundry basket. Huh." "Sorry Fu."
It was very different from his usual clothes he was used to; the dark red pants were almost like his khakis more vintage. Jake decided to dich his sock so that they can dry off more, given the fact that people back then didn't had any socks or something rather close to them. His crimson red shirt with golden trimmings is like a tunic that reaches down to his hips, and he was given a long maroon, red sleeve shirt to wear underneath the tunic. He was also given a sash to tie around his waist like a belt. Seeing how his grandpa ties his, Jake manage to tie it enough to keep the clothes on and not flail around.
Fu-Dog let out a whistle, "Wow, kid. You look like a different person, minus the hair." Jake had to wonder what everyone in this time period would think about his hair's green tips. He can't say their were dyed, they probably don't even have any hair dye.
"I just hope that no one will question it." Jake replied, but he knew that just a fatal wish to ever come true.
*Knock-knock*
The sound of metal banging caught Jake and Fu-Dog's attention, Iroh opens the door with Haley dress in a big tunic that looks more like an oversized dress as if she's playing dress up in their mother's clothes.
Iroh's eyes widen as the boy standing in front of him was replace with a younger version of his nephew, "You look exactly like my nephew when he was your age." He said with a happy fonding smile, Iroh then leads the kids to the galley. "Breakfast is ready."
When they arrived, Zuko was there waiting for them as the cook set down the last tray of food on the table. The food where of bowls of rice, morning tea, din sum, and jyen-bing. The cook even set down a small bowl of mixed cooked rice and pork for the dog.
Once the cook left, Iroh took his seat next to Zuko while Haley sit next to Iroh and Jake sat across from Zuko, "Now then, tell me. What are your names? We didn't properly introduce ourselves last night." Said Iroh, as he pours a cup of tea for them and for himself.
Jake was the first to answer before Haley could, "My name is Jake Long, this is my little sister Haley. And our dog Fu-Dog."
The room went quiet and Iroh nearly dropped the tea pot in shock, even Zuko was in shock. "How. Why do you sound like me!?" Zuko demands, "I don't know. How do you think I felt when I heard you sounding like me?"
Iroh manage to recover his shock and laugh at the scene in front of him, with Haley joining in on the laugh. "I never thought I get to see my brother arguing with himself. In a way." Haley giggled.
Angered at his uncle and this Ha Li finding this funny, Zuko went back to demanding his questions to be answered, "What and how did you get into polar waters? With how you both are dressed it's clear to know that you're not from the South Pole or from the Earth Kingdom." Jake hesitated to speak, "It's… complicated."
Zuko then pulls out something from his pocket and sets it on the table for everyone to see. "Then how about explaining what this is?"
Removing his hand, Jake and Haley's eyes widen to see a piece of the shattered Uchrono Hourglass. "The Uchrono Hourglass!" "So that's what it is." Jake mentally kicks himself for talking out loud, "I figured it was a broken piece of an hourglass. But it seems it's much more then just a count down sand glass." Said Zuko, "So you're going to tell me what it is, and where the two of you came from."
Jake and Haley don't know what to say, they don't want to give away either of their identities, on the one hand they need all the help they can get, but on the other they might rewrite history and change the future.
That is until one of them finally broke down under pressure.
"Aw give it up kids, we're in despite need of help. A-goo-goo." Everyone turn to see Fu-Dog standing on two legs and talking. Needless to say, Iroh and Zuko's mouths hanged open in shock. Zuko let out a scream that Haley would say "Wow, Zuko nearly screams like a girl like my brother."
Iroh laugh at Haley's statement, before looking at Fu-Dog, "It's not everyday to see a spirit in the living world." "Sure, lets go with that. I'm an animal guardian really." Fu-Dog admitted.
Coming over his shock of a talking dog, "Okay, spiritual animal guardian, a kid with the same looks and voice as me. What exactly is going on!?" Zuko shouted. "A magical accident is what happening here. Ne-huh." Said Fu-Dog.
"You see the Uchrono Hourglass is a time traveling device that the user can travel to anywhere to any point in time. A dark sorcerers name Eli Excelsior Pandarus stolen it but the during the fight it got smash into pieces, four to be precise." Fu-Dog explains.
"Travel through time?" it dawned on the two firebenders, "This is starting to make some sense." Zuko said putting a hand to his head. "You're from the future. Aren't you?" Zuko says to Jake who sheepishly says to them, "20,000 years from now actually."
To say that they were shocked was an understatement, Iroh only said was, "Your both are a long way from home." "Is there anything else we need to know about?" Zuko asked.
Haley and Jake shared a concerning look with Fu Dog, "Should we? It would be easier for them to know about it sooner than later." Haley says, "We already spilled it with dad, and he accepts us." Jake replied. Fu-Dog moans before saying, "Ah alright. We'll talk. But don't say we didn't warn you." To Zuko and Iroh.
"Ya see, Jake and Haley's family has a secret that's been with them for many generations. Haley." Fu Dog says, as Haley stands up and says, "Dragon up." In a swirl or blue light and standing in the little girl's place was a small pink dragon with Haley's pigtails.
Zuko felt like he was on the verge of passing out, "A dragon!? You can turn into a dragon?!" "Yeah, and that's not all." Said Jake, "We were doing a project for school about our ancestors and where are family culture comes from. We found out that you are our family ancestor, Zuko."
It was all too much for Zuko, he felt the world was spinning or fading. The only thing that keeps him grounded was the hard cold metal he feels slamming on his back.
Iroh on the other hand was very please to hear such wonderful news, "This really explains a lot."
Time Skip
After accepting the shocking truth of Jake and Haley being dragons and his descendant grandson and granddaughter from a far-off future, Zuko and Iroh told them that they need to hide their dragon power from the crew and any other fire nations. They agree saying it was supposed to be a secret form the start, so it was no problem.
They then ask about what firebending is, which made Zuko and Iroh confuse to why they haven't heard of firebending before. Fu Dog told them that the world has changed a lot and neither of them don't want to alter the future that could lead them to never exist in their timeline. That they can understand and agree on. They did know the forms though from their grandpa.
It was some time afternoon when Zuko was in the middle of his training, facing two Fire Navy seamen. As Iroh, Jake, Haley, and Fu-Dog sits nearby watching from a safer distance.
"Again." Iroh ordered, Zuko blasts fire from his hands at the guards, "Ha!" but misses. Then the guards attack Zuko with blasts of fire from their fists, but Zuko dodges. He back flips over the guards to land behind them. "Heeya!"
Jake and Haley were amaze at Zuko's acrobatics, but Iroh sighs in disappointment and gets up. "No! Power in firebending comes from the breath. Not the muscles." He scolded, Jake, Haley, and Fu Dog listen closely, "The breath becomes energy in the body. The energy extends past your limbs and becomes fire." Iroh demonstrates, by releasing a controlling plume of flame that bursts in front of Zuko but does not let it hit him. "Get it right this time."
Zuko is frustrated at doing the same drills again, "Enough. I've been drilling this sequence all day. Teach me the next set. I'm more than ready." But Iroh declines, "No, you are impatient. You have yet to master your basics. Drill it again! He spoke that last line with more force.
"Grrrr... huh!" in his fit of anger, Zuko blasts one of the guards backwards with a gout of fire. Scaring Jake and Haley in the process, Zuko turns to face his uncle, "The sages tell us that the Avatar is the last airbender. He must be over a hundred years old by now. He's had a century to master the four elements. I'll need more than basic firebending to defeat him. You WILL teach me the advanced set!"
Iroh reluctantly submit to his nephew's wishes, "Very well." And then says, "But first I must finish my roast duck." He picks up his bowl of roast duck and begins eating it making, "Num num... num..." sounds from every bite he bits into. Zuko, the kids and Fu Dog just gave uncle Iroh weirded looks.
Seeing that this might take some time, Jake walks over to Zuko and said, "Hey Zuko, can we talk for a minute? There's something we want to ask about. Privately." Seeing that uncle isn't going to teach him the next set, Zuko agrees to Jake's request. "We'll talk in my quarter."
The two walk back into the ship, with Jake giving Haley and Fu Dog the hand signal to follow. They found Zuko's bed chamber very different. Candles line up in a row, red lanterns hanging on the walls, swords hanging on display, a fire insignia drape down on the wall, and a single twin sized futon bed on the floor.
Zuko locked the door, "Take the bed." He offers as he sits down on his meditation pillow, "What is it you want to ask about?"
"There's something you're not telling us, Zuko. Something that's dragon related. Gramps told us that dragons use to live with the humans in this time. When you saw Haley transformed, you were surprised but there was some fear in that surprise." Jake explains, "Why is that?"
Zuko close his eyes as his expression becomes grieve, "It's not something I'm really happy about." He opens his eyes to face them, "Back before people could bend any of the four elements, there were four original source of benders. And the original source for firebending were the dragons." Haley, Jake, and Fu Dog were amaze at this information, "No way!" "That is so rad, yo!" Zuko raised his only good eyebrow at Jake's words, "Rad?" Jake sheepishly grins an apology, "Sorry, that's a slang word I use back home." "Just try not to use them so often around other people." Said Zuko.
Fu Dog intervenes, "Nice tip, but is there a chance to find a dragon here, huh?" "No." said Zuko, "they're extinct."
"What?" "But, how?" The kids look to Zuko for the answer, "It's something I'm not proud of from my family. My great-grandfather, Fire Lord Sozin, started a tradition of hunting dragons for glory, slaying one will earn you the title 'Dragon' and your firebending will become legendary." He said, "When I saw you transformed Haley, I was completely shocked and scared that you could be killed."
Jake and Haley were shocked by this information, grandpa did warn them that they may not like what the answers they would've hope to find. This must be one of their family's awful legacies.
"We understand." Said Jake, as Fu Dog takes the lead to explain their understanding, "Back in our time, there was a clan known as the Huntsclan. They hunt down any magical creature they come across, and that includes dragons. A-ga-goo."
"It was thanks to a dear friend of mine that we don't have to deal with the Huntsclan ever again." Said Jake, "But that still doesn't mean that there are others who want to track us down." Zuko couldn't help but smile in satisfaction, "I'll glad you know what you'll be up against. But there is one thing I don't understand is how you got the power to turn into dragons."
Haley raised her hand, "I can answer that, we have what's called 'Dragon Chi' it's a life energy that's inside of us. We have a Human Chi and a Dragon Chi." "Much like a firebender's inner flame." Zuko commented.
"Zuko! It's time to resume your training!"
"Guess our time's up." Zuko got up and unlock the door, but before they could leave. Jake wanted to ask Zuko one last request, "Zuko, if it's alright. Can you let Iroh teach us how to firebend as well?" 'Well, they are my descendants.' Zuko thought, before saying, "I'm sure he would be happy to."
Time Skip
True to Zuko's words, Iroh did let them to learn firebending with Zuko. Their first lesson was learning how to control their breathing and to feel the heat from the sun. It was simple enough since they've meditated during their dragon trainings, so it came a little easier to them.
"Good. Why don't we stop here for now and start again before dawn." Jake and Haley start to complain, "What?" "Aw com' on." "Firebenders rises with the sun. Every great firebenders uses this technique, we wake with the sun rising feeling it's warmth and energy. Giving us fire within us." Said Iroh with much wisdom, as he forms a small flame in the palm of his hands.
Jake and Haley stare at the flame before Iroh extinguish it. "Now I think I'll be taking a nice nap; a man needs his rest." Said Iroh, "Okay Iroh." Said Haley, "Please dear, call me Uncle." Iroh leans a little closer to Haley and Jake and whispers, "We are family after all." And smiles at them.
It was a couple of hours later when Jake and Haley return back on deck to see a bright flare being shot up in the sky, "What is that?"
Zuko grab his telescope to get a better look, "The was a distress signal flare from our nation's ships." Zuko quickly explains, as he looks to where the flare came from. Standing on top of an old and abandon Fire Navy ship was a person dressed in orange carrying a member of the southern Water Tribe in his arms as he jumps down from the ship and ice before landing safely.
No one could have move fast like that except for, "The last airbender. Quite agile for his old age." Zuko turns to one of his crew members and shouts, "Wake my uncle! Tell him I found the Avatar..."
Zuko looks back into his telescope to see the two running across the ice away from the ship. He then scans left quickly, then pulls it back right to focus on the village. "...as well as his hiding place." Zuko pulls away from the telescope and his eyes arches in determination.
Jake walks over to the scope and said quietly, "Eyes of the dragon." His eyes glow red as he looks into the telescope to see the village but more up close and all of the people who lives there. "Zuko, there are women and children living in that village. Not a single man in sight."
Dismissing his power Jake turns to Zuko and ask, "You're not planning to attack them, are you?" Haley look up at Zuko with worry in her eyes.
"I'll only interrogate them. If one of them attacks though, I'll counter it without the use of hurting or killing. My men will search inside and outside of the village if there's nothing then we'll leave." Zuko answered, "It's more honorable that way. That's how I always work, and no one gets killed." He reassures them, but they're not one hundred percent on this plan.
"I just hope everything goes okay." Jakes says as he looks out at the icy horizon.
Finished chapter 2.
I just seem to not stop writing, it's just such a fun story to write. I try to balance out the length of how long each chapter should be, so don't be mad when one of them is shorter than the others. Also I have Ideas of what to do in the future chapters when Zuko and Iroh are not on the scene in some of the episodes, so don't worry. It's going to be fun.
I did some searching on Chinese foods for what kinds of breakfast Chinese people would eat in their culture. (I am a fan of exploring and trying new things and wanting to experience the different cultures around the world, and I greatly respect them.) And I do want to try them. I'm getting hungry just by thinking about it.
jyen-bing are pancakes with eggs.
These pancakes are quickly cooked, thin pancakes or crepes filled with typically savory or spicy ingredients. As a popular street food in China, they can be easily found and are a favorite "breakfast on the run". The pancakes are usually wrapped around a deep-fried crispy dough slice and topped with fried egg, finely chopped mustard pickles, scallions, coriander, and a spicy sauce.
That's it for now, hope you'll enjoy the next chapter.