Almost done with Irko Week 2.0! This was based on a "Style Guide," supposedly from 2005, that described the prototype Avatar world and story before it went into production. I don't know if it's real or not, but it had some interesting ideas...


AU

The group settled behind a nearby rock, where they couldn't be seen from the path. Like all the stone in this area, it was made from glassy and misshapen lava rock, and within the next decade would disappear, melted and reabsorbed into the Fire Nation's hellish geography.

Everyone took a moment to catch their breath. When he could speak, Zuko revealed his brilliant plan. "You guys go. I'll stay and handle this."

The rest of his group did not apparently recognize his brilliance. The arrogant Earthbender boy, Toph, was the first to contradict him, as usual. "Um, how about no? That's a general and a whole lot of Firebenders back there. You're just one prince. And not a particularly tough one, I might add."

Katara, who Zuko understood to have an unusual sympathy with Toph, was quick to chime in. "Toph's right. You're proposing to sacrifice yourself, Prince Zuko. We won't abandon you. We've pledged to protect you while you teach Aang Firebending."

"Besides," Aang added, "you're our friend!"

Sokka said nothing.

Zuko nodded at the Water Tribe boy. "He knows." They all turned.

Sokka sighed. "This is bad, guys. They're not going to stop chasing us, and they outnumber us. Even with Aang, there's too many. Without any transport, we can't get away. But if we divert them with a prize they want just as much as the Avatar..."

"No!" Aang was livid. "We can't trade his life for mine!"

Zuko put a hand on the boy's shoulder, and tried to inject reassurance into his voice. He didn't have much practice at it. "Don't think of it as a trade. I saw my uncle back there. He and I have unfinished business. We would have had to do this eventually. Just be sure to take the fight to my father. And if I get... held up, smack my little brother around for me."

Aang was going to protest more, Zuko could tell, but Toph grabbed his arm and began pulling the Avatar away. "We'll do that, Prince Zuko. I'll personally make sure Azul gets what's coming to him."

Everyone began to pull away, except for Katara. She stared into his eyes in a way that was stronger than any argument. "We'll meet up again. Look for us at the port on Ember River, like we planned. I know we'll see you again."

Zuko nodded. "Katara, I just want to thank-"

"No! We'll see you again. I believed in you when you wanted to join us, and I believe in you now. The Ember River port. Remember it."

He smiled. "You were the first person to have that kind of confidence in me. I guess I can't let you down." She smiled back at him, and then was gone.

Zuko was alone.

It didn't take long to find some company, though. General Iroh was hurrying down the path, his Royal Firebender Guard following. Zuko waited for them in a defensive ready stance, his breathing deep and steady in anticipation of the bending he would have to do. "Uncle."

The older man stopped, and waved his Guard to stay with him. "Prince Zuko. Where is the Avatar?"

"Gone. I wanted to stay and settle this. They left."

Iroh scowled. "And you expect me to believe you have no idea where they went? Tell me now, nephew, and I give you my word of honor that I won't harm you before turning you over to the Fire Lord."

"How can you serve him? After all he's done?"

"And what would you know of it, Prince Zuko?" Iroh couldn't keep the derision out of his voice. "You, who have wandered the world for years, seeing things only from the perspective of our enemies? Has the Avatar told you of the supposed injustices our Nation has inflicted?"

"No, uncle. I saw the injustice here, in the Fire Nation, living amongst our people for the first time in my life. Our resources are being depleted, and our people are suffering as the lands are despoiled and made barren! Conscription is forcing our sons and daughters to leave and die!" Zuko could feel his anger growing. That was good. It would aid his Firebending. "And for what?!? A world that hates us? You would work to put everyone under the control of a man so evil, so heartless, that he would burn and exile his own son, and steal the throne from his brother! How can you serve him?!?"

Iroh waited until the echoes of Zuko's ranting had faded. "I am no fool, Prince Zuko. I deny none of what you say. But I have my duty. It is all that I have. You know what I have lost."

"Lu Ten." Zuko felt the anger drain from him, leaving a hollowness within. "Uncle, it's horrible that you lost him. But that's what everyone is going through, all over our nation. Forget about them," he nodded at the Royal Guardsmen who were staring in confusion and impatience at the scene, "and join the Avatar. Join me. You still have a family member left who cares."

Iroh came forward. The Guard made to follow, but a motion of his hand froze them. Iroh stopped when he was close enough that Zuko could hear his whisper. "You don't. You're weak, and unworthy of the throne. For years I trained you in Firebending, and you never knew the truth of it. Your father feared your power, thinking it a sign of your mother's bloodline. He had me train you in a corrupted form of Firebending. He and I both know the flaws in it. There is no chance that you, or anyone you trained, can fight us. Any Fire you command, we can dispel. You are nothing." The Dragon of the West smirked at his nephew. "Stand down now, and I will let you confront your father with honor. Resist, and I will remove your taint myself."

Zuko thought he would feel betrayed, crushed. His uncle had never been affectionate, but he had been the only person in their family to treat Zuko with anything but scorn. To learn that it had been an act from the very beginning, that there was no bond at all between Uncle and Nephew... Yet, when it came down to it, all the rage and shame that Zuko felt were springing from another source entirely.

Aang.

Aang wouldn't be able to defeat the Fire Lord. There was no time, before Sozin's Comet arrived, to correct the blunder Zuko had made.

There was a chance, though, that if Aang knew of his handicap, the Avatar would be able to guard against the disadvantage. It was a slim hope, but at this point, it was all Zuko had to motivate him to escape this trap alive. So he stoked the fires of his feelings, refining all the anger and shame into burning fuel, and focused all his hate and loathing at the man in front of him. There was no way Zuko would be able to escape, to get a warning to Aang, if he didn't take his uncle out of the fight here and now.

Permanently.

Iroh could dispel any Fire Zuko could command?

They'd see about that.

END