I do not own Avatar. Either iteration. They are the properties of their respective owners.
I apologize for this chapter being so short. It's mostly a setup for things to come.
Enjoy!
"You're sorry? Is that all you have to say?"
Aang sighed as Zuko pressed one of his swords against his chin. He was in a compromised position. But he knew he deserved it.
"I will not make excuses. I have wronged you in a way that cannot be forgiven. I will not ask you to."
Aang lifted his head but remained on his knees. "I only wish for you to know the full truth. Ask me anything."
Zuko's grip on his sword tightened as his eyes nearly bulged in his head.
"The truth? Why don't you start by telling me why you locked me in ice for Seventy Years?!"
"That wasn't my choice," Aang said silently.
Zuko pressed his sword deeper against the skin of Aang's chin. "I didn't come here all the way from the North Pole to hear excuses."
"So I will not give you any. I speak no lie when I say that banishing you from the world was not my decision."
Zuko looked at Aang with incredulous anger. He was almost considering throwing a blast of fire in his face. Almost.
"It was the decision of the past avatars."
Zuko's eyes narrowed. "What?"
"Kyoshi and all avatars before her believed that you were too dangerous to be allowed free reign."
"And you agreed with that?"
Aang remained calm even as the blade was pressed further into his chin.
"No. I did not agree. But when I made the connection to my past lives, they took control."
"So now you're shifting the blame to your past lives? Is that your plan?"
"It is not. I am at fault for allowing them control. But it was two wills against the wills of thousands. I was inexperienced, and I had no chance of holding them back."
Zuko frowned. "Two wills?"
"Not all of my past lives were in agreement. There was one who saw no need to punish you."
"Who?"
"Roku."
Zuko was surprised to hear that. His grip on the sword nearly loosened because of it. Almost.
"Why would Roku be against the rest of his incarnations? I thought he would be angry because of Sozin. He betrayed Roku, and he is my great-grandfather."
"I don't know. I never asked really asked him."
"Why not?"
"Because I haven't spoken to my past lives in almost seventy years."
Zuko's eyes widened at the news. "That's how long I was in that iceberg. You haven't spoken to your past lives in all that time?"
"The last time I did so, they forced me to imprison someone who had yet to commit a crime. And in such a terrible way," Aang said in a crestfallen voice. "I felt they could not be trusted. So I vowed to never seek them out again."
"What about Roku? I thought you said he disagreed."
"He did. And I did speak to him once, a few years after... your loss."
Zuko sighed. "What about?"
"I asked for his advice on the matter of the colonies. We disagreed on the issue. I broke my contact with him since then."
"Why? Wouldn't your past lives give you more power? Why deny them?"
"What good is that power if they use it against me? And I never cared for power. I used what I had in order to help create some peace in the world. It hasn't been too easy."
Aang met Zuko's eyes.
"It might have been easier with you here."
"Really? Then explain why I wasn't here. Why did the past Avatars decide to imprison me."
Aang closed his eye sin shame. "They were afraid of what you could do. They feared Vaatu having an influence on you."
"What?"
"They thought your presence would upset the balance."
"Upset the balance? Don't they know that both forces are needed for balance? The world needs order And freedom!"
"I know. I-" Aang abruptly ended his speech. "I know why you're here Zuko. If you want revenge, I won't stop you. I've never believed in vengeance, but I won't deny you."
Zuko wanted to do it. He wanted to take the tip of his sword and press against his neck. Or his chest. it would be easy too. Aang was just a weak old man now. Even if he was still a powerful bender (as an Avatar, he could be), he was currently on his knees. Vulnerable.
It would be so easy. And it would let Zuko get back at him for stealing his life. His future. His destiny. His-
"Destiny is a funny thing nephew..."
Damm it Uncle.
Zuko slashed Aang's chin, leaving a deep bleeding cut. The monks fumbled on the floor. He wiped some of the blood from his chin, while other drops fell to the ground. He stared at Zuko in disbelief.
"Zuko?"
"Don't think for a moment that I'm forgiving you Aang. I'm not," Zuko said as he sheathed his sword. "There are... things I need to figure out. But don't think you're off the hook. If I come back, it will be our last meeting."
Zuko turned around, leaving a stunned monk in the room.
"You'd better hope I don't come back."
He then walked through the hallways of the house. He passed by the bodies of the guards he had incapacitated, taking no notice that some were starting to get up.
He walked outside the main door and stepped out to the courtyard. The moment he was seen, several guards were already surrounding him.
"Halt!"
"Stay where you are!"
"Did you attack us?!"
"Who are you?!"
"Stand down! All of you!"
That last command came from Aang, who was now standing at the entrance of the home. He was holding his chin to stop the bleeding, but he still had a presence.
"But sir, he's an intruder. He attacked..."
"I am well aware of who he is. And if he wishes to leave, he may. Now Stand Down!"
It was clear that Aang had used the past decades to consolidate his power as the avatar. Not a single person questioned his orders.
And that made Zuko want to leave even more. Before he changed his mind. He pulled a whistle from his pocket and blew it.
"RAAGGGHHH!"
Zuko's dragon descended from the night sky. He became more the closer he got.
"Druk," Aang breathed. "He is a sight."
"Don't get used to it" Zuko warned as Druk reached the ground. The guards moved to the sides as Zuko got on the saddle. A few wing flaps were all it took to begin making a significant distance from the island.
Zuko and Druk were silent as they glided across the night sky. Neither of them said anything. They already knew where they were going.
They could only wait to see what would happen when they arrived.
"Father, we should go after him."
"No. We will leave him be."
"But father..."
"Tenzin. Listen to me."
Aang took a firm grip on his son's shoulder. He had to make sure that there was no room for argument on this.
"His anger at me is justified. Entirely justified. He deserved to give me more than a scratched chin. He chose to be merciful."
These words didn't exactly calm Tenzin down.
"But dad, he could come back. If he does, I need to protect my family. We need..."
"To let him through so that he and I can talk. He has no interest in anyone but me. If he wants to vent at me, I will allow it. I have no right to deny him."
Tenzin stared at his father in shock. "Dad, who was that? Why are you defending someone who intruded on our home?"
Aang sighed. "Son, do you remember the stories I told you? About the second Avatar?"
Tenzin's eyes widened. "Dad, that was... that was him? The one from your stories?"
"Yes. He is."
"Dad, he could be dangerous. We need to be prepared. We need-"
Tenzin was silenced by his father's hand on his shoulder. "You're worrying too much Tenzin. I assure you, Zuko has no reason to direct himself at you. You and your family will be safe."
Aang smiled. "Go be with them. I'm sure my grandchildren would like to be assured that their father is fine."
Reluctantly, Tenzin agreed to leave. His family always was a good tool to get him to do something.
Now alone, Aang breathed in the night air as he tried not to scratch his chin. This night had given him much to ponder. He had not expected Zuko to be merciful, but he was internally thankful for it. He would not have to say goodbye to his family so soon.
Speaking of his family...
"Katara has said she is waiting for me. Maybe it's time for me to go back."
"You let him live."
Zuko was almost surprised to see Vaatu when he opened his eyes. He could tell he was dreaming by the fact that they were standing on clouds.
He had almost been afraid that his connection to the dark Spirit had tampered. But it seemed fine.
"Why did you spare him?"
Zuko shuffled his feet at the question. "I'm-not sure. It just didn't feel right, even if I wanted to do it."
"Good. That means my influence was working."
Zuko's eyes widened. "You made me spare him?"
"Vessel, if there is one thing I know about you, it's that no one can force you to do anything. I influenced your decision. That is all."
"But why? Wouldn't you want me to get rid of Raava's vessel?"
"And fall to her level? Absolutely not," Vaatu admonished. "Raava may be one to commit actions in a panic, but we are better than that. We will have our vengeance in another way."
"How?"
"What's that human saying? The one about revenge?"
"Uh, it's best served cold?"
"No. That is not the one. Ah! Success is the best revenge!"
"Success?"
"Yes. Defeat Raava's vessel in a way that will truly hurt her. Find a problem in the world. Something he could not fix."
"And then what?"
"Fix it in your own way. Show Raava how ineffectual her vessel is."
Zuko frowned as he pondered the thought. Beat Aang by being better than him? That- did not sound so bad, actually.
"How do you suggest I do that?"
"My knowledge of the world is as limited as yours. We've both missed many things. You will have to find that answer on your own."
Zuko sighed. Of course, it wouldn't be so easy. Nothing ever was for him.
"I'll figure that out another time. There's something else I need to deal with."
"And what would that be?"
Zuko could see the cloud she was standing on about to dissolve. He was waking up.
"Home."
The world disappeared around Zuko when he woke up.
Days Later, Fire Nation
The Fire Lord was, per usual, enjoying tea in her chambers when a guard burst. She had it in her mind to be annoyed at the interruption until she saw the panicked look in the man's eyes.
"Fire Lord, I apologize deeply for this interruption, but there is an intruder in the courtyard."
She placed down her cup. "An intruder? I thought the guards were supposed to prevent intruders from passing the gates."
"They did not go through the gates, my lord. They flew over it."
The Fire Lord's eyes widened. "Flew?"
"We have tried to stop him, but he is a powerful firebender. And he is demanding to see you. He says that you, know him."
"I know him?" The Fire Lord thought to herself as she stood from her table. Regardless of any past connections this intruder might have with her, it was her responsibility to protect her home. Both her palace and her country.
"Take me outside."
"My Lord, my duty is to protect you! I-"
"This is an order from your Fire Lord. Take me outside. Now."
Begrudgingly, the guard bowed his head. He turned around and lead his leader to the courtyard. When they reached the yard, the Fire Lord's eyes widened.
There was a dragon in the courtyard. A massive winged lizard with red scales and golden hair. Its horns and sharp claws were intimidating, as well as all the fallen soldiers surrounding it.
But the dragon itself was not what shocked. Yes, she was disturbed by its presence. But she was much more so disturbed by the person next to it.
She would recognize that scar for her entire life.
She had not seen him since she was a child. She had not even been ten years old when he disappeared. But she would never forget as he walked closer, she knew who he was.
"Zuzu?"
He paused for a moment. He seemed shocked by what she had called him. But then he smiled.
"Hello, Kiyi."
Kiyi walked past her guard.
"Lord Kiyi! You shouldn't..."
Kiyi ignored her servant. She walked straight to Zuko and enveloped him in a hug.
Despite his initial shock, Zuko returned the hug. It was warm, and it was comforting. It was familiar and comforting.
It was the only family he had left.
The next chapter will see Zuko staying at home for a while. Though it won't be the way he remembers. The original Korra show never went to the Fire Nation, so I'm looking forward to seeing it again.
As for Kiyi being Fire Lord, there is a reason for it. I will explain that in the next chapter.
He will be going back to Republic City soon enough. He does have work to do there.
And I have had people ask, so I think I should clear this up. Zuko will not be like Aang or Korra. He has his own issues to overcome (a lot) and will go about being an Avatar in a different way. That will become clear once he becomes aware of the Equalists. He won't deal with them the way the rest of the characters in canon did. There's a reason he is merged with Vaatu and not Raava.
I'm looking forward to seeing him work.
One last thing. Someone suggested a love triangle between him, Asami, and Mako. I won't be doing that. I don't think I can make a love triangle work, so I won't bother.
Anyway, please leave reviews, tell me what you think, and I will see you all next time.
Bye!
