I do not own Avatar: That Last Airbender. The show is the property of Viacom and Nickelodeon, and the creation of Michael DiMartino and Brian Konietzko.

Enjoy.

"Where are we heading uncle?"

"Someplace that once aided me on my spiritual journey. I believe that they may be able to help you as well."

"Help me? How?" Zuko asked skeptically. "They know anything about sharing a body with a spirit?"

Iroh sighed. "No nephew. I am afraid that that particular issue is one that will take longer to solve. And it is one you will have to solve by yourself."

"By myself?"

"Yes. I can guide you as best I can. But ultimately, how you decide to live the rest of your life, and how you will live with Vaatu, depends entirely upon you. Only you."

Zuko didn't like the sound of that. He was really regretting yelling at that stupid statue.

"However, this place I am taking you may help you with your firebending."

Zuko eyed his uncle. "How?"

Iroh took in a breath and stepped to the railing of the balling. They were flying above the clouds now, but he seemed to be making sure no one was around.

"Have the tutors your father bought to the palace ever spoken to you about the Sun Warriors?"

Zuko's brow raised at the question. "I've heard of them. They're supposed to be the original firebenders. The first people to learn under the dragons. But they've been extinct for a long time. Both of them, actually."

Even if he didn't like it. He never understood why Sozin had become obsessed with hunting dragons as much as he was with hunting airbenders. At least it made sense with airbenders, they were people who could actively fight against the Fire Nation. They had lost their Avatar, but they were still benders that could fight. But dragons were the original firebending masters. Humans could only ever achieve the mastery of flame that they did because the dragons taught them. So why make it a priority to hunt them to extinction?

"It is true, the Sun Warriors and the dragons have been gone for a long time. It is well known throughout the Fire Nation that found the last one year ago. Defeating it is what gained me the title, "Dragon of the West"," Iroh said, interrupting Zuko from his thoughts. His face was downcast, remorseful. But he held himself up. "But the ruins of the Sun Warriors still remain. In fact, the site of what was once their great city still remains. I believe that by traveling this site, we may be able to discover something that could help you rediscover your inner flame."

Iroh may have expected Zuko to agree with his wisdom (and it was a good idea) but Zuko only groaned.

"Really uncle? Another historical site?" Zuko leaned down on the railing. "We just left one. And look at what happened there."

Iroh sighed.

"I can understand your reluctance nephew. But please, give this a chance. I truly believe that this can help you with your fire."

If anyone else had told him this, Zuko would have probably yelled at them to go away. He didn't want pity. But the fact is, Zuko's firebending is way too weak to be useful. And Iroh was his uncle, and one of the best firebenders in the world. He needed help, whether he wanted to admit it or not.

"Alright, uncle. Let's see what we can find."

"Uncle. I didn't agree to deal with all these glow-bugs" Zuko says as he slices another of the annoying pests with his swords. He's happy he bought them.

Iroh only chuckled. "Do not worry nephew. We are almost there."

"Where is "there" uncle? We've been wandering this jungle for hours now. What are we looking for?"

Iroh, as usual, did not give a straight answer. "Patience Zuko, you will find your answers beyond the trees."

Frowning, Zuko kept walking. Seriously, what was he supposed to...?

"Woah," Zuko said as the two of them walked past the final tree. And Zuko gazed out onto ancient buildings and pyramids. A place that looked strangely... familiar.

"Uncle, is this the place?"

"Yes. This, my nephew, is the ruins of the Sun Warrior civilization."

Zuko took a moment before speaking. "It does look a lot better than I expected."

Iroh chuckled. "Yes. Time has been kind to the remains of our ancestors. Now come. Let us see if the past can help improve your future."

Zuko didn't really know what his uncle was talking about but decided to follow. Who knew? Maybe things would actually work out. Maybe things would actually turn out fine.

One Hour Later

"Perhaps you should have left the golden stone on the pedestal nephew," Iroh said as they both stared at the stars from behind the bars.

Zuko snorted. It's not like this was his fault. If he was going to spend an entire day walking around ruins, and practicing a rightfully extinct firebending form( seriously, who would name a firebending form a dance?), then the least the universe could allow is for him to just see what that glowing egg thing was.

But of course not. The moment he tried putting the stone back, the entire room exploded in some kind of glue. A glue that shot both of them up and stuck them to the ceiling. It had been more than five hours now, but they were still stuck.

"Well, what was I supposed to do. That dance you told me to join you in bought it out. Didn't we, like, earn it or something?"

Iroh looked like he was going to respond when they both heard someone else shout for him.

"Who is down there?"

Suddenly, a man came into view. A man wearing an open red vest, a goatee, a golden headdress on his head. He was also holding a staff that ended in a figurine that resembled the sun.

"Who are you?" The man angrily shouted as he stared both of them down.

"No one of consequence. My nephew and I merely wished to visit some old ruins. And I must say, it has been a very interesting experience. I like to think it has bought us closer together.

Wouldn't you agree, nephew?"

The man raised his eyebrow.

Zuko groaned.

A bunch of (sticky and disgusting) licks from an anteater-sloth later, and Zuko and Iroh were tied up, on their knees, and awaiting judgment from the Sun Warrior Chief.

"So. You have come to steal our precious sunstone?"

"No! We didn't even know anything like that was here!" Zuko yelled.

A skinny Sun Warrior sneered. "Oh please. That's such an obvious lie. We should just kill the boy and be done with this."

Zuko was going to shout something back when he heard a puff. He saw flames coming out of Iroh's nostrils.

"If you choose to harm my nephew, you will have to answer to me."

Zuko, despite still being nervous, felt more assured having his uncle next to him. At least he wasn't alone.

The chief stepped forward. "No one is going to kill anyone." He glanced at the man who had spoken. "Shut up Ham Ghao. And stay silent."

The man seemed angered, but he cast his gaze aside.

"Now. Tell me, General, why are you here? We agreed to let you leave last time, on the condition you do not endanger us."

Zuko frowned. What was the man talking about? Had he and Uncle met before? If so, then why didn't Uncle tell him that? They could have avoided the whole dancing and getting stuck in glue scenarios if they had just come to these people.

"I am not endangering any of you, Chief of the Sun Warriors. The only other person who knows I am here is my nephew, who is tied up beside me. And we did not come here looking for trouble."

The Chief, Ito apparently, raised his brow. "Then why are you here? What could compel you to return here?"

Iroh hesitated before answering. "There... are reasons for my coming back. However, it is not something I can... state publically. It would need to be discussed in private."

The Chief considered what he was told. He constantly looked between his two prisoners, the sunstone, and a mountain in the distance. For some reason, his eyes seemed to keep darting between Zuko and the sunstone.

"Very well. I will converse with you, General Iroh. Privately."

He turned to the loud guy. "Ham Ghao. Leave the sunstone with the boy. He will hold on to it while I speak with his uncle."

Zuko's eyes widened, while Ham Ghao just looked indignant. "Leave the sunstone with him?! He will just try to steal our treasure!"

"No, I won't! I didn't even come here for that!" Zuko argued.

"I am inclined to agree," The chief said, narrowing his eyes at Ham Ghao. He then lowered his gaze to Zuko. "But if he does, we all know he won't get far."

Feeling insulted (his stealth skills are actually great) Zuko was about to yell when Iroh grabbed his shoulders. The people had untied him, and they were now untying Zuko.

"Wait here, nephew. Keep the stone safe. I promise I will return soon."

"But Uncle, I-"

"Please nephew. I promise this will all turn out alright. Just trust me."

Zuko really wanted to argue back. But he didn't know how to. Up until this point, he had no idea what he was even supposed to do. Uncle was the only one with any plans. So what choice did he have?

"Alright, uncle. I'll wait here."

Nodding, Iroh went to speak with the chief. That Ham Ghao guy handed Zuko the stone, glaring the whole time. Zuko took it gently, making sure to return his own glare. Once Zuko and Chief Ito were gone, everyone else scattered. Zuko was now alone in front of an old temple, alone with nothing but a stone.

And all he could do was wait.

"This will only take a moment. Yeah right."

After more than two hours, Zuko still hadn't heard from his uncle. Or the chief. Or anyone else. The only company he had was the golden gem the chief had told him to hold on to.

"I'm starting to wonder if no one thinks I'm capable of doing anything by myself."

The sunstone wasn't much for conversation. But it was a good listener.

"Even before this whole "spirit vessel" thing happened, no one really trusted me to do anything right. Piandao always had me use wooden swords. I had to have the royal blacksmith make me these. And the servants would always follow me around, even when I didn't need them. Hm, my mom even came with me to feed the turtleducks because she thought I might accidentally kill them. She always forgot that's what Azula..."

At the mention of his mother, Zuko's mood soured. He sat on the ground and hugged his knees. No matter how much he tried to forget her, he couldn't. And he still didn't know what happened to her.

"I'll probably never figure that out. Azula doesn't know. And father..."

At the mention of his father, Zuko's hand instinctively went to his scar. It was still something he was getting used to.

"You don't want to burn my face, right?"

The stone said nothing.

"That's nice."

He would probably have continued talking to the stone (that might be a problem), if not for the fact that he heard footsteps approaching. He quickly stood up and grabbed the stone to meet them.

It was his uncle and the Chief.

"So. He stayed here after all."

"Didn't I tell you he would?" Iroh cheekily responded.

"That you did," the Chief said with a grin. That left Zuko even more confused than before. How did these two know each other?

But his thoughts were derailed when the chief turned his gaze back to Zuko. A stern gaze.

"We have come to a decision regarding you, young Avatar."

He didn't think he would ever get used to that. Even after three days, he still couldn't believe that he was technically an Avatar.

"Your uncle tells that your flame is lost to you. That your recent, transformation, has unbalanced your soul. Confused your mind. You cannot firebend because of this."

Zuko frowned at the reminder he was handed. "Basically."

"Iroh believes that learning the true method, the true nature of firebending may help you restore your flame. I may have my own doubts, but I am willing to attempt this."

Zuko furrowed his brow. "True meaning? What are you talking about?

The Chief's face turned serious. He almost looked angry.

"Yes, the true meaning. The Fire Nation has distorted what true firebending is. They treat it as a weapon of rage and destruction. It is meant to be an art form. An expression of life!"

Now the chief truly looked mad. "Your family has corrupted it!"

Zuo's fists were clenched. This man was insulting everything he had been taught to hold sacred his entire life.

The Chief seemed like he was going to say more, but Iroh put his hand on the man's shoulder.

"Yelling at him or demeaning him won't work. Let me talk to him."

Nodding, the chief turned around. "Find me when you are finished. His trails will begin once the sun rises."

The chief walked away, leaving Iroh and Zuko.

"We can't stay here uncle."

"Zuko-"

"Iroh just insulted our family. He insulted the Fire Nation. Our people! I don't care if he's a Sun Warrior. He can't just-"

"Zuko!" Iroh said sternly. It wasn't something Zuko was used to. It shut him up for the moment. "He does not speak without reason. There is truth to his words."

Zuo frowned. Iroh was agreeing? But he was a Fire Nation Prince! Unlike Zuko, he still had a claim to the throne. Why would he disregard the Fire Nations' teachings?

"Zuko, please take this trial. I know you must be confused and unsettled. But I promise this trial will bring you understanding. It may even help clear your path."

Zuko wanted to argue. He really wanted to argue back. But something in Iroh's words made him pause. Clear his path? Was he trying to say something else?

Iroh gripped his nephew's shoulder, a look of understanding in his eyes. "Please nephew. Do this for me."

That was when the last of Zuko's protests died.

"Alright, uncle. I'll take this trial."

But he didn't really expect to learn anything.

"I understand."

When Zuko had bought a piece of the Eternal Fire (how was that even possible? Eternal fire?), he thought he was going to meet some old firebending masters at the top of the mountain. Human masters.

Instead, two dragons (who are apparently not extinct) shot out of the two large holes in the mountain. He wasn't sure what to do, until the moment he remembered the form that he and uncle had done when they arrived. The Dancing Dragon. Before he could stop himself, Zuko was performing the katas before the dragons. And when it was over, the ancient masters stood upon the mountain, staring at him intensely.

When they opened their mouths to breath flames onto him, he expected to die on the spot. He didn't expect the flames to be so colorful.

Seeing the flames, in all their blazing glory, made the lesson clear. Now he understood why he had to bring that piece of fire to the masters. And only dragons could teach this lesson.

Fire isn't just destruction and anger. It is life, energy. A miniature sun inside every firebender. One powered by drive.

"Do you realize the truth now nephew?" Iroh asked as Zuko descended the steps.

"Yeah. I do." He said wistfully.

Zuko didn't even have to elaborate. Iroh knew.

"You came here before. Haven't you?"

It only made sense. Iroh was a little too comfortable for someone who had just discovered this place. And he talked to the Sun Warriors too easily. Like he already knew them.

"Indeed" the Chief confirmed. "Before you, young man, Iroh was the last outsider to face the dragons. The last one to prove his worthiness. One of the very few."

"I see. That makes sense," Zuko said. Now feeling a newfound sense of energy rush through him, Zuko decided to try something. He planted his feet, steadied his breath, and shot out a fist. A short but powerful cloud of flame shot out.

"I guess I'm added to the list?"

The Chief only nodded.

Then Iroh stepped forward.

"Does your path seem clearer now?"

Zuko frowned. "My path?"

"We came here because your drive was gone. Your mind confused. Do you know what you have to do now?"

Zuko had to think about it. What was his goal?

"The Fire Nation says that fire comes from hate. But that's wrong. The Firebending we grew up learning is wrong."

Iroh nodded.

"Then- that needs to change. The people of the Fire Nation need to learn the truth. I have to show them."

Iroh smiled.

"But they won't listen to me. Not the way I am right now. As a banished prince" Zuko realized. His path was becoming clearer the more he spoke.

"But they'll listen to an Avatar. Even my father will listen to me if I reach my full potential."

Zuko clenched his fists.

"I have to master the other elements. And I have to stop my father. The war will only continue to distort what Fire is. I can't let that happen."

"You will have my help," Iroh said, clasping Zuko's shoulder.

They probably would've kept talking, if not for the Chief walking up to them.

"Now that you both know of our existence, we have no choice but to imprison you here, forever!"

"Please tell me I don't have to fight," Zuko thought as his hands twitched in anticipation. He didn't think he could fight the man in a firebending duel. He knew he couldn't. But maybe he wasn't much of a sword fighter...

Why is Uncle shaking his head?

"Chief, that joke wasn't funny the first time. It won't work now."

"It worked on the boy." The Chief chuckled at Zuko's nervousness. Now Zuko did want to fight.

"No but seriously. We need him to stay for a while."

Both Zuko and Iroh's brows fell.

"What for?"

The Chief pointed at the one annoying guy. "Ham Ghao! Bring it here!"

The Sun Warrior came forward, holding in his arms the sunstone that Zuko had spent most of the night with. The same one he had to give back before starting his trials.

"We need you to hatch this now."

Zuko's (and surprisingly even Iroh's) eyes widened at the request.

"H-hatch that? It's an egg?" Zuko asked.

"Yes. A dragon egg, in fact. It has chosen you."

Zuko turned to uncle, who only shrugged.

"Don't look at me. I didn't get this offer last time." He sniffed. "Apparently I don't deserve one.

Was he... pouting?

Zuko turned away from his uncle, then back to the chief. Then to the egg in Ghao's hand. A dragon egg. Because dragons are apparently not extinct anymore. And he was supposed to hatch that egg.

"Um, how do I do that?"

I bet the egg is making quite a few people happy.

I found a nice compromise (nice) I could do with Zuko for now. He's still not at the point where he will actively fight against his father. But his goal is to now try and fix the Fire Nation. To show them what real firebending is. A good spot to work from. His character will have to develop from there.

Also, I got some feedback on the pairing ideas I had, and I have two things to say. One, there will be no harems. Just no.

Second, it seems that Yue is the most popular idea, so I will diffidently have her in the story later down the line. When Zuko starts learning waterbending. However, I haven't made any romance decisions yet. I've also added a possibility. The options now are Yue, Mai, or Jin (the Earth Kingdom girl Zuko went on a date with during the episode Tales of Ba Sing Se. I like her). Let me know what you guys would prefer, and I'll see what I can do.

Sorry for no Vaatu this chapter, but he will be in the next one.

Please be sure to leave reviews, and I will see you all next time.

Bye!