I do not own Avatar The Airbender or the Legend of Korra. They are both the properties of Nickelodeon and the creations of Michael DiMartino and Brian Kynietzko.

Enjoy!


"Zuko. You needn't do this."

Zuko turned quickly. "Uncle?"

"Things are not as they seem. You mustn't rush blindly into this."

Zuko knew, deep down, that this was a dream. The ground was made of darkness, and the sky was not a crystal. But he didn't care. He could see Iroh.

"Uncle! You're OK!"

"You need to learn to think things through Zuko."

"Your destiny depends on it."

Zuko turned again. Now there was a woman there.

"Mom?"

"You need to be cautious Zuko."

"But Mom! I can..."

"Interrupting? That's not very polite Zuzu."

Zuko almost didn't want to turn around this time. Even after all his attempts, he was never truly sure if his sister was... safe.

"You're all that's left of the royal blood now Zuzu. Try not to embarrass us."

Last of the royal blood? What was she talking about?

"Your destiny has changed Zuko. You must learn to embrace it," Iroh said.

Zuko couldn't say anything as he stood in between the three members of his family. The three that he cared about the most. What could he say? That he was sorry he missed so much time? That he would make up for it?

How?

Zuko didn't get to ponder for much longer. The sky was starting to crack. It was raining pieces of crystal.

"Find yourself Zuko."

"The three of them began to disappear after speaking in one voice.

"No! Don't go!"

One of the shards fell on Zuko. His body broke apart when it did.


"UGH!"

Zuko gasped as his eyes shot open. He had to hold on to Druk's scales to calm himself. The dream had been... too much for his liking. The worst part was that... was that it was all he had now. The man Zuko fought when he woke up said that seventy years had passed. Seventy years since Aang lost control. In those seventy years, time would still pass for everyone else. They would be older. Or they would be...

Iroh was probably... gone. So were Ursa and Azula. His entire family. His friends. And Mai. She would be...

"No. Stop."

Zuko couldn't think about that. He didn't have any time to. He had an Avatar to find. And get answers from.

It was still dark out. The sun still had a few hours before it rose, and the fire was the only thing illuminating the earth. Right now, it was just Zuko and Druk resting in this forest in the Earth Kingdom. No one seemed to be around, which worked fine for both of them

"You up yet Druk?"

The dragon responded by grunting and lazily opening his eyes.

"Good. We need to head South. The man said that this "Republic City" was in the Western Earth Kingdom. And the island Aang is hiding on is there as well."

Druk breathed smoke at them mention of the monk's name. He didn't like being frozen for so long either.

"Let's get going."

Putting out the fire, Zuko mounted himself onto Druk's saddle. The dragon lifted its head and unwound its wings. A few powerful flaps were all it took for the two to take off.


It was after an hour or two of flying that the sun began to rise. Zuko took a moment to take it in. Even if he was connected to the other elements, fire is what he was born into. He was and would always be a person that rose with the sun.

"Can you feel that?"

Druk's response was to roar fire at the clouds. Grinning, Zuko used his uncle's technique to join him. The heat from the flames contrasted well with the chill of the morning air.

"Ahhh," Zuko breathed as the last ember left his tongue. The grin left his face when he remembered his mission.

"Keep an eye out Druk. We're looking for a city. We need to make sure we don't miss... it."

Zuko's words died in his throat when he saw the land beneath him. He remembered reading about this area. The land near Yue Bay. It was a Fire Nation Colony. A town for cane fishing. Maybe a couple of hundred people lived there.

But seventy years had passed. And this was no longer a fishing town.

Fishing towns didn't have buildings that challenged the wall of Ba Sing Se in size. They didn't have parks the size of whole villages. They didn't have massive bridges that even the Fire Nation didn't have.

"It has been seventy years," Zuko whispered. It was one thing to be told. It was another to see it.

But Zuko's musings were cut short when his eyes went to the harbor. Particularly, to the enormous statue that stood in the center of the bay. It was a statue of a tattooed monk holding a staff.

A statue of Aang.

Zuko's grip on Druk's reins tightened. "He locks me- us away for seventy years, and gets a statue."

Druk's growling meant that they were in agreement. And once Zuko saw the island that was nearby the statue, they knew what they needed to do.

"We'll come back at night."

Zuko turned Druk around. They had to hide until dark.


"Glad I kept this around."

Zuko took in a deep breath before pulling the face mask over his nose. He tended to find himself in need of sneaking into places. Black clothes were always useful for that. The rest of his outfit was just as dark, making it perfect for infiltration. And the swords he slung over his shoulder

"Are you ready Druk?"

The dragon grunted in response.

"Good. Let's go."

Zuko mounted his ride and soared above the dark clouds. They retraced their old flight to make their way back to the city. Once they were above the buildings, they made their way to the bay.

Zuko could now see the island below him. Now the only question was how to get there without arousing suspicion. If this place was anything like the North Pole, then there would be other warriors there to protect Aang. Zuko needed to keep them distracted.

"I have an idea Druk."

Zuko whispered into his dragon's ear. Druk's eyes widened slightly at the idea, but he would go along with it. There was a reason he and Zuko were inseparable.

"Wait for my signal. Then you can send the blast."

Zuko unbuckled himself from the saddle and stood on Druk's neck. He waited until Druk had descended to a safe height. Not too close to be seen, but not so high that falling would be fatal.

He jumped. Druk remained nonchalant as Zuko plummeted closer and closer to the ground. But before he could become pate, he used airbending to create a silent gust of wind beneath his feet. He quietly placed his feet on the ground and checked to make sure that no one was around. The coast clear.

Zuko rushed into the gardens, using the plants as a cover. He eyed the main structure from his hiding spot. From what Zuko could see, this island seemed to be meant as a home. The main building seemed to have a lot of rooms. The only thing Zuko needed to figure out was which one Aang was sleeping in.

But before that, he had to make sure that no one would be inside to catch him. He needed to get them outside.

There was an open pavilion outside the main house. It had a lot of contraptions that seemed built for training. Airbending training, judging by the patterns and symbols on them. They seemed important.

Making sure that no one could see him, Zuko created a small flame in his hand. His eyes locked on a piece of equipment that resembled a series of gates connected to a circular podium. It looked important.

Zuko breathed more power into his fire. He then tossed it directly towards the gates. One of them instantly caught fire. It was visible in the dark night.

That was the signal.

Druk shot a powerful, explosive blast of fire down from the sky. What was once a training contraption was now a pile of burning wood. Druk quickly flew away to avoid being caught. And Zuko heard voices from inside the home.

"What was that?"

"Check the pavilion! We might be under attack!"

"Go! Go!"

"Perfect," Zuko thought to himself as he moved from his hiding spot. The men in the white and dark blue uniforms were now pouring out of the main building. All of them were going to check on the explosion. Meaning that fewer of them were inside the home.

Zuko quickly moved from the shrubbery and snuck closer to the main building. He could go in just yet. There were men at the door.

"What happened?"

"We don't know yet. There was suddenly an explosion in the pavilion."

"Find out what happened! And send more men to the main room. We don't want to risk his safety. Understand?"

"Yes Sir!"

One of the men, likely the one in charge, ran down the steps. The other one ran alongside the railings towards another part of the building. Towards Aang, probably.

Zuko swiftly followed under the railings. He had to be careful both not to lose sight of the man and not be seen himself. So long as he followed him, Zuko would be able to find the room where Aang was hiding.

That's what made the turn into the corner so annoying. Zuko had two options. Jump over the railing and continue to follow, hoping to the spirits (the ones that didn't hate him) that he wouldn't be caught. Or he could stay hidden and find another way inside.

Taking less than a moment to choose, Zuko lept over the rail and followed the man's footsteps. He must be wearing heavy boots because his steps were loud and easy to hear.

Zuko had to move speedily from hiding spot to hiding spot. There seemed to be guards moving in all directions in this house. His distraction had not caused all of them to leave as he had hoped.

Still, he had to keep up. If he lost sight of the man, he would lose his shot at getting to Aang. And all of this would have been for nothing.

He saw the man run-up to another guard.

"Is the main room safe?"

"I-I don't know sir. I was told to run out."

"Ignore that order. Head back and make sure the master is alright."

"Y-yes. At once!"

The stumbling guard began running back. The guard Zuko had originally been pursuing stayed behind. He was in the way now. Zuko stepped out of his hiding spot and walked up to the guard.

"What? Who are you? What are you...?"

Zuko pulled out a sword and bashed the handle against the man's head. He never got to finish his sentence. Zuko wasted no more time on him, he instead listened to the other guard's footsteps in order to follow him.

He dashed past one hallway after hallway until he reached a stopping point. He couldn't explain how he knew he should stop. He just felt that he should. One look over the corner of the hall told him why.

There was one door being guarded by three men. And any door that needed that much protection had to be hiding something important. And it was important. To Zuko.

He stepped out of his hiding spot and walked towards the door. He was no longer making any attempt to hide. All he wanted was to get inside that door. And the guards that noticed him were just obstacles in the way.

"Halt!"

"Identify yourself!"

Zuko didn't respond to my of them. He just cared about making it to the door.

"Take him down!"

Two of the men stepped forward. They were firebenders. They both shot balls of flame at Zuko.

"Amateurs."

Zuko grabbed both flames and threw them back at the guards. They both tried to block, but they weren't strong enough. They were both launched at the wall, and they both passed out when they fell to the floor. That left only one guard.

"I-I won't let you pass. I will protect the master!"

The man was clearly a non-bender. He just charged at Zuko directly.

Zuko almost felt bad. But not bad enough to not Earthbend the floor beneath the guard. He got launched to the ceiling and fell back to the ground with a thud. That took care of Zuko's guard problem.

Which left only one problem. The one behind the door.

Zuko took in and released a deep breath as he stood at the door. The distraction would buy him some time. Now all he needed to do was finish this.

"I'm ready Aang."

Zuko opened the door.

The first thing he noticed was the candles.

They were the only source of light in the room. They allowed Zuko to see the important aspects of the room. The Air Staff in the corner. The Water Tribe artifacts on a table. Detailed paintings hung on the walls.

And an old man meditating on the floor.

When Zuko took a step inside the room, the man's eyes opened. And when they fell on the intruder, they widened.

"Zuko."

The voice was old. Weathered. But familiar.

"You really are free. I knew it wouldn't be much longer."

The voice was jovial. Almost juvenile, despite the age of the speaker.

Zuko could no longer pull out his swords. Or use any bending. It didn't feel right.

"Aang?"

The man stood up and walked closer. The man had a white beard on his face. He had the familiar arrow tattoos. And he was walking slowly. From pain, it seemed. Or maybe it was fatigue.

He then fell to the floor on his knees. He pressed his head to the floor.

"I'm sorry. I'm so, so sorry Zuko."

Out of all the surprises from today, this one shock Zuko the most.

"What?"


Say what you will about Zuko, but he will be unwilling to harm a weak old man. Even if the said weak old man is someone who wronged him.

The next chapter will be about their confrontation. I look forward to that. It will also give a better explanation as to how Zuko ended up on the ice for all those years.

Zuko will also meet some important characters in the next chapter. His destiny has changed, as Iroh said. I look forward to him realizing that.

Also, because Aang is still alive, Korra has yet to be born. Leaving the world open to Zuko's influence. Let's see how that turns out.

Anyway, please leave reviews, tell me what you think, and I will see you all next time.

Bye!