Disclaimer: Guess what everyone? I'm back!

Zuko: and you do not own the Avatar!

Pilar: Yeah, I know that! Anyway, I've been working on this one for a little bit. And this one is for DracoMalfoylover113, Twilight Dragoness, Lionessmon, Jazz, DeafLizgon, and Insane Elvish Vampire Pirate. Thank you for all of your reviews, and yes, Zuko is not dead.

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Zuko was suspended in darkness. He had no memory of where he was at first. He could feel nothing. No coldness, or warmth, or bored. Not even peaceful, just nothing. His breaths seemed to echo in this vast of nothingness. Then, there was a light. What is that? Zuko thought, but before he knew it, he was thrown into the light.

He was standing below deck. There was an opening in the ship, so that he could see outside. Everywhere was ice, and snow, but before him stood one of the most magnificent kingdom he had ever saw that were made out of snow and ice. Zuko looked down at himself. He was wearing different clothes. Instead of his red and black armor, these were warm and white, with a little hood. Why does this seem familiar?… Zuko saw his uncle standing before him, talking to him.

"When we stop, that is when you should leave to capture the Avatar…" his uncle said to him. Uncle Iroh was wearing a different robe, and then it hit Zuko. I remember now! This is when we were at the North Pole! I'm on Zhao's ship! And I don't think I'm watching the memory…I'm reliving it!

"…You were always like a son to me…" Zuko heard Iroh say to him. Zuko stood there stunned. Zuko would sometimes think that Iroh would sometimes just think of him as dead son, but even if it was so, that was okay with him. Zuko didn't care just as long someone recognized him or even loved him

Iroh went and hugged Zuko, and Zuko hugged him back with his heart feeling lighter. Zuko then smiled and said. "I love you Uncle…" his Uncle looked back at him half-surprised and half touched. Then without even the swirl of colors Zuko disappeared into a blast of light.

Bright sunlight blinded him. Zuko covered his eyes, trying to adjust. When they did, he was sitting at a dinner table on a nice cushion. Two teacups and a teapot were in front of him.

"It's about time you got here," a familiar voice echoed. Zuko looked across the table and found his Uncle just drinking some tea, acting like nothing happened.

Zuko thought, and his memory kicked in and a alarm went off in his head. "The Mischief Demon! Where is he? Where are we?" Zuko demanded, standing up.

"Relax Zuko, he is not here, nor can appear here." Iroh answered calmly. "Please just sit and enjoy the view. The fire roses are springing up nicely this time of year, isn't it."

"Yeah they are… wait a minute!" Zuko cried out. Fire roses were only found in the Fire Nation… so that would mean… "We're in the Fire Nation?"

"You really need some calming jasmine. Don't worry, you won't be arrested." Iroh explained, pouring some tea for Zuko. Zuko surprisingly took it, without throwing it to the ground. "You see, this is all in your head."

"My head?"

"Strangely… yes"

"What about you Uncle?" Zuko inquired.

"I am merely a figment of your imagination. You see Zuko, your meditation has finally paid off. You have reached your Zen." Iroh chuckled.

"You mean… this is it?" Zuko asked again in disbelief. That had to be Iroh sitting in front of him. Isn't this tea hot that he is holding? Isn't that sweet smell of fire roses he can smell? Can't he hear his Uncle talking? He didn't know what to believe anymore.

"Meditation is not only good to clear the mind, but to also be enlightened most of the time," said Iroh. "The memory world is just an illusion. Pulled over your eyes. You think you're feeling the heat of the tea, but you're not. Or are you? What if this is the real world? What if the world you have been living in was just another illusion?" A blank look appeared on Zuko's face. "I see that this is a little too much for you, but you will come to understand eventually. But for now, lets enjoy this view, tea and company."

Zuko nodded his head. He looked out of the window of the little house they were in. The soft yellow light made the flowers glitter. The grass looked the same, straight but soft to the touch. He could see the pond where he would spend time with his mother. After a moment of silence Zuko spoke. "It's so… peaceful here." Iroh nodded in agreement. Zuko could feel all anger and hatred, sorrow go away. He felt like he could just watch the butterflies and the birds fly and land, pollinate, do what they know of life.

"Uncle?"

"Yes?"

"How can we defeat the Mischief Demon?" Zuko asked calmly.

"You mean how can you defeat the Mischief Demon? I'm just a figment of your imagination really. But still, it is a hard question to answer." Iroh tugged on his beard.

"I don't know if we can defeat him. I mean, he's invincible!" Zuko exclaimed.

"Nothing is invincible, Prince Zuko" Iroh said wisely. "Everything has a weak point. The trouble is, is finding that weak point."

"Well, I think I remember hearing him be defeated by the Avatar… but that's the Avatar! I'm just another regular bender!" Zuko said drinking his tea nervously.

"Benders are just not ordinary Zuko," Iroh advised. "they are people, chosen with a certain gift! You are also not some ordinary bender. You are the Prince of Fire!" Zuko took a moment to think.

"Do you know what I admire about you Zuko?" Iroh softly spoke. "You are strong and loyal. More loyal than I think I could ever be. And no matter what happens, you have this strength to go on, no matter what. To always be able to see some light, some hope, and always that loyalty, especially to your family. I can honestly say, that I am proud to be your uncle."

"Do you… do you really mean that Uncle?" Zuko asked, not knowing what else to say.

"Of course! I sure wouldn't be loyal to my father if he scarred, and banished me!" Iroh joked. "And that is why you have true inner strength, you just don't know it yet. I know you have a good head on your shoulders so just think!" and he finished off his first cup of tea. Zuko's face spread out into a thin smile.


Thanks Uncle… and he looked out into the scenery, thinking what move he should play next.

A small Pai Sho table appeared in front of them. But there were tiles already on the table, as if someone forgot to finish their game.

"Uncle!" Zuko cried out in annoyance.

"What! I didn't do anything! This is all to your making! You have the gift of manipulating the things around you. Like I always said before, Pai Sho is more than just a game." Iroh explained, examining the board with great interest, but made no move.

Zuko's smile was gone, but instead a look of annoyance. "So when have I manipulated around me Uncle? Maybe I can manipulate this stupid Pai Sho table at the Mischief Demon's head!"

"Don't think like that! And maybe that wouldn't be such a bad idea…" Iroh considered. "You can somehow manipulate the memories in the memory world. Don't you remember when we were in my memories, how you were able to comfort me by thinking about that memory in the end? The Mischief Demon didn't want that memory to show up, but you made it anyway." Zuko fell silent and thought for a little bit more. "Anyway, this Pai Sho table is your game of life!"

"Games are supposed to be fun and for children," Zuko mocked.

"Life is a game, Zuko. Filled with strategies, allies, and surprises." Iroh waved his hand over the game. "Looks like you're almost down to your last Pai Sho tile, but you can still win."

"Then you make a move!" Zuko said.

"This is not my game, this is your game. You are the one that must make a move I'm afraid." Iroh informed.

Zuko looked down at the table again. Most of the tiles had the same patterns, but he could distinctly see five Pai Sho tiles that had his name, the Avatar, Katara, Sokka, Uncle, and the Mischief Demon's. The Mischief Demon tile, slowly moved one space toward his. Zuko curiously looked at how the group of friends was formed. They were rather close to each other, very far away from him. But he couldn't stay here, because the Mischief Demon was bound to figure out that he was still alive.

"Uncle?"

"Yes?"

"Can I come back here?" Zuko asked sternly.

"Why yes! This is your Zen, once found, you can always come back!" Iroh smiled, seeing where Zuko was going with this.

Zuko moved his tile towards the Avatar's group. A door suddenly appeared in back of him.

"How do I come back?" Zuko asked again.

"The same way you came in. Through the door of course!" Iroh said as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. Zuko shook his head and went through his head and went through the door.

"Thanks Uncle…" Zuko said before he disappeared completely. It's time that we got out of here!

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Phew, that was hard. I had so much information I wanted to put in here. One may think that this looks kind of like the Matrix. Well, maybe it does, because that is one of my favorite movies. But anyway, I thought this would be a little interesting twist. And the song, The Golden Future Time, should be playing into this soon. Thanks for reviewing!