Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar or anything associated with it except my fanfictions.

Aang opened his eyes again, and found himself in the Physical World. It still looked like the same time of day as when he left, but judging by the change in stance and mood of his friends, he had been away for a while - likely from dusk till dawn. He stood up, ready to tell his friends what happened - and then he fell over, limbs clearly numb and weak from a long period of inactivity. "Ow!" he said, certain his nose was bruised. The others turned to see Aang face down, arms under him as if he was trying to break his fall. They rushed over to him, relieved that he was back.

"What took you so long, Airhead? It's been an entire day since you left us!-"

Suddenly, Aang got up, a wild look in his eyes, and Sokka found himself screaming as the airbender furiously shook Sokka's shoulders. "An entire day?" Aang shouted, while Sokka's head was bouncing wildly about. "No wonder Koh said what he did! Why did the time fly so fast? Why do I have to do all of this? I hate the Spirit World! I hate my life! I hate being the Avatar!" he stopped shaking Sokka and suddenly Sokka found himself face to face with a very unhinged Aang. "Are the fish still here? Are they alive? Are they okay?" he hissed.

Sokka shook his head in bewilderment. Whatever had happened to Aang in the Spirit World? He took a deep breath to steady his nerves against the crazed Avatar. "Aang, calm down! The fish are still swimming. The North Pole is still standing; otherwise we'd be on a Fire Nation ship and really be treated like war prisoners this time - or worse. And who's Koh? What happened in the Spirit World?"

Aang visibly calmed down at the mention of the safety of the koi fish - what was so important about them? - and he took a steadying breath. "Okay. It's a really long story, not good for telling during a battle. I'll tell it to you guys later. The most important thing is that the koi fish are actually Tui and La, and that apparently they're in some sort of danger."

Yue suddenly paled. "W-what? The spirits are in danger?"

"And they've been with us the entire time?" Sokka's eyes bulged as he took his turn of shaking Aang's shoulders. "All this time, we've been praying for a set of miracles that have been sitting under our noses?" Zuko slapped Sokka. "Ow!" he said, rubbing his cheek. "What was that for?"

"Since you're saying that the spirits have been under our noses the entire time? How come you haven't smelled it? Don't you like meat? And aren't the spirits fish?" this provoked a chuckle from everyone except a disgruntled Sokka. "And also - if they're under our noses, doesn't that mean they can probably hear everything you say?" Sokka paled as Aang and Yue tried to contain their snickers, and he pouted when the others couldn't hold it anymore and became bent over double. "Remember Hei Bai? Yeah, I thought so. Pretty sure you don't want another twenty-four hours without a potty break or meat." During their times together, the three members of royalty had taken to playfully teasing each other, one of the topics being Sokka's time in the Spirit World.

Speaking of the Spirit World...

"So... we gotta protect the moon and the ocean, which are currently being contained in two fish that Momo couldn't resist making a grab at," Sokka summed up. Momo hung his head in shame. "It's alright, Momo. None of us knew you were harassing the all-powerful spirits that grant waterbending either."

"But why are they in danger?" Aang asked. "It's not like someone's going to come out of nowhere and shoot a fireball at us - " Aang's eyes widened upon seeing the familiar skulls of the Fire Nation army, and he forcefully blew his friends down as a barrage of fireballs converged on where they were standing.

When the smoke cleared, Aang made out the outline of seven enemy soldiers in wedge formation. Three men veiled in skulls flanked to the right and left, and at the arrowhead of the formation was a certain admiral Team Avatar had become a little too acquainted with...

"Admiral Zhao," they hissed as one, Yue peering up in fear and confusion sprinkled with an ignorant hatred.

Zhao surveyed them languidly, then chuckled. "A powerless princess, a slush savage, an Avatar who hasn't even grown any facial hair, and of course, the shameful, traitorous prince. Is this the total tally of sentinels who keep vigil over the Ocean and Moon Spirits?" He snorted. "Pathetic. Fancy meeting you all here, although I did rather hope a certain incident would finish you three off..."


A thunderous silence only added to the tension of the standoff between the Fire Nation and Team Avatar. Even the waterfall seemed muffled as its regular splashing into the Oasis faded into nothingness.

Sokka broke the silence by growling, "So it was you that killed of the Fire Nation crew!"

"As far as I'm concerned, they were no Fire Nation men. They were a bunch of traitors that harbored the Avatar and signed their death warrants when they did so. I only sped up justice a tad bit." He rolled his eyes and took a menacing step forward. "Although technically if there's someone to blame, it's you, Zuko. You were the one who decided to harbor the Avatar and an enemy, and thus consign your crew to their abrupt and brutal fate. You just have to be your Uncle's boy, didn't you?"

"Yes. And it was the best decision I ever made in my life - no thanks to you!" Zuko shot back. "What business did you have callously killing men with nary a second thought? Why are you so bent on death and destruction and fire?"

"Because," Zhao growled. "It's the way of our people. Fire is fueled by anger and hatred - and the more of both you garner, the more powerful you will become. My old mentor was a doddering old fool who preached to the Spirits about restraint and control. If all I wanted to do were some dance moves to impress, maybe his words wouldn't have been so insulting. But the fact is, I was restrained, inhibited from reaching my true potential. So I broke all ties with him, and started my ruthless journey up the command ladder of the Fire Nation's Army. And then I found a scroll." Zhao grinned a toothy grin at the memory. "It showed the mortal forms of the Ocean and Moon Spirit. I knew from then on, that my destiny was to end this war, by killing the Moon Spirit and ridding the world of waterbending. The world will be rid of a primitive savagery that somehow passes for bending, and the Fire Nation will dominate and rule over all, and the credit will go to me." His eyes glittered maliciously as he reveled in his anticipated glory. "The Fire Nation will, for generations, tell stories about the great Zhao, who darkened the moon. They will call me, Zhao the Conqueror, Zhao the Moon Slayer, Zhao... the Invincible!"

Suddenly, a blur of wings shot towards the Admiral, and Momo started biting and kicking and scratching with reckless abandon. "Ouch! Ow! Hey! Get it off!" he finally managed to grab the lemur by the tip of his wing, and flung him to the feet of the stunned children.

Zuko bent down, murmuring to the lemur. "Good job, Momo. You've earned yourself and endless supply of moon peaches for three weeks." Momo dazedly chirruped in reply. Zuko got up, glaring at Zhao. "That's it, Zhao. I've had enough of you. You're conceited, greedy, corrupt, pigheaded -"

"Oh, you do flatter me so," Zhao interjected with a smirk, attempting to goad the shamed Prince into doing something rash.

Zuko exploded. He roared at Zhao, "That's it! You had slain my crew, you have stained my good name, and what's more, you are going to fling the world into chaos and unbalance! I don't care what you think or say, Zhao, but you know that life exists on balance! We need the moon like we need the sun and the comet! And yet..." Zuko spat at Zhao, and Zhao's leering, derisive face was replaced by one of anger and retaliation. "You've clearly shown that you don't care for the world at all when you denounced control and restraint as useless for firebending. You are a zion of unbalance and have insulted me beyond measure, and as such -," Zuko angrily stomped right up to Zhao, and glared at him in the face. "I challenge you to an Agni Kai!"

For a moment, it looked as thought Zhao would decline, and go straight to destroying the Spirits, but some silent exchange passed between Zuko and the admiral, and he scowled in outrage and growled in response, "You're on. In twenty minutes. Before dawn breaks. On the bridge."

And with that, his troops receded back from whence they approached, and the newly worried group started berating Zuko.

"What was that, Hotman?" Sokka cried. "I know you have a quick temper and an impulsive attitude, but where did that come from? Isn't an Agni Kai a firebending duel? Dude, you said yourself that you can't firebend!"

"Actually, I think it's the best choice we have." Everyone was taken aback by Zuko's words, but he was sure that if he explained himself well enough, the others would agree with his decision. "You see, firebending comes from anger, right? And there is no one I hate more in the world than Admiral Zhao. Not even my own father. If my hunch is right, I'll be able to firebend normally, and so long as I keep my Uncle's wisdom in mind, Zhao will be soundly defeated, and the Ocean and Moon Spirits will remain untouched. Now, strategically this is also a very smart idea. Because I am wasting his time, you guys will be better able to defend the Ocean and Moon Spirits, and you guys might even find a way to save us while I'm keeping him busy. It's a win for us."

Sokka blinked. "You know, this is the first time I'm not the one who comes up with the plan. And I don't know if I'm liking it." He sighed. "But if you put it that way... that sounds like our best chance. May the spirit of luck and whatever else you need smile on you, Zuko."

Yue was more hesitant. "I don't know, Zuko. I still don't feel good about this..."

Zuko shrugged. "Worst comes to worst, I just dodge and exhaust him out, then finish him for good."

Finally, there came Aang. "Nothing I say's gonna change your mind, right?" Zuko nodded. Aang sighed. "Well then, good luck. You know what your Uncle says..."

"Firebending comes from the breath of stomach," they said in harmony. Then they clasped arms. "See you after you beat that hotshot Admiral, Hotman," Aang said.

Zuko smiled, albeit rather reluctantly. "I guess. Since you guys don't seem like you'll ever quit calling me by a century-old term anyways...


It was ironic how the bridge of Sokka's and Yue's love turned out to be the exact same place that acts of hatred and violence would be committed.

Zuko was thankful the sun was still hiding below the horizon. Firebenders rose with the Sun, as it was full of fire and warmth. He hoped he could finish Zhao before their firebending was amplified; otherwise, he'd find himself embroiled in quite the fiery fight.

His shirt lay discarded on the side, his chest not quite the muscular figure before his sickness, but still fairly defined. He could see the three boys intrigued at the muscles of the Prince. His hard work, tough life, heavy restrictions, and frequent training had turned him into a formidable man of muscle. But he wasn't there to admire his once-physique. He had an admiral to put down.

Zhao rolled his arms, getting ready for imminent combat. Unlike Zuko, it was clear that Zhao had trained incessantly, despite his blatant lack of respect for the proper order of things. His men tended to his every beck and call, and he stood tall, confident in his ability to easily take down the upstart whelp of a Prince.

Zuko only hoped that he would prove the notion wrong.

No one else was there except the small parties that had been present when the Agni Kai was decided. Aang, Sokka, Yue, and Momo regarded the event silently, while Zhao's own party kept guard to make sure their duel of honor was not disrupted.

It was a fight to the death. No holding back. At least, that's what Zhao intended. Zuko would not. Despite his hatred for the Fire Nation Admiral, he had embodied Aang's airbending principles of life. He didn't think he would wish death on even his worst enemy. Who also happened to be standing in front of him, rolling his shoulders in order to warm up before the Kai.

Zuko was still nervous. What if he had been wrong? What if he still couldn't firebend? He reasoned that that was impossible, as a flame of rage flickered inside of him at the mere thought of Zhao. He would make Zhao regret that he had ever trifled with the descendent of Sozin. Never mind the traitorous aspect of his lineage. Royal blood coursed through his veins, and he was determined to purify it, one step at a time.

Now, he was taking down a cold-blooded Admiral that caused nothing but devastation in his wake. It was high time that sort of thing was stopped.

The gong sounded, the signal for the kai to start. He shot out a fist, summoning all of his power and anger - but all he got was a puff of smoke that quickly dissipated into the bitter cold. Zhao looked at the prince in disbelief.

"All of that bluffing and bravado - and you can barely even firebend?" Zhao grinned like a shark, and Zuko paled. He could hear his friends groaning in defeat, realizing all of their efforts and expectations were for naught. "Face it, Zuko. You were nothing but a failure and a disgrace, and now because of it, you're completely powerless to fight me, let alone defeat me." Zhao suddenly yelled and shot out his hands, and Zuko barely escaped by the skin of his teeth as a powerful fireblast melted the ice where he had been standing.

His mind raced. How come he was unable to firebend still? What had happened to him?

Then he realized. His mindset. It wasn't bent on destruction or death anymore. He had found a different path, a better path, the righteous path.

Unfortunately, it was also the path that would now lead to his early demise.

As he desperately dodged Zhao's furious attacks, the admiral kept a steady banter of mockery directed at the Prince. "Yes, that's right, Zuko. The typical airbending action: evade and avoid. You are now officially a traitor to your nation - oh wait. You were branded a traitor from the moment you took the Avatar under your wing. No, even further than that, when you spoke up against your father."

"My father is a bloodthirsty selfish fool -"

"Your father is everything you can only dream to be - smart, powerful, commanding. And you are only a whelp, never destined to be anything more than a pathetic smudge in history."

And Zhao began his attacks anew, and Zuko broke stance under the fierce assault. Slowly and slowly he was forced backwards, until he finally tripped and fell, Zhao standing triumphant over Zuko.

"And now... now the sun rises. My power has been amplified, and you... you are still weak and helpless. Enjoy your last moments of sun while they last, Zuko! Although I can't say anyone in the world will be able to see the moon anymore either." Zhao raised his hand to deliver the finishing blow.

Zuko blinked back tears. He had failed. The world had fallen. The Avatar wouldn't be able to save the world. He stared in despair at the sun, bitter that he would only be able to enjoy mere seconds of its warmth and light.

Wait...

Warmth...

And light...

And yet it still bent fire...

And it finally hit Zuko, why his Uncle was always able to firebend, despite his constant cheerfulness. Firebending wasn't about anger. It was about strong emotions, and impulses, and passion. His Uncle... his Uncle had a passion for tea, and his nephew, who he had often said to have grown into one of his own. And the sun... the sun was living proof that although fire burned and destroyed, it also gave warmth and life.

And Zuko was filled with a flame of determination. Without thinking, he automatically brought a hand up - and stopped Zhao's fist, the angry admiral's flames quenched.

Zhao's eyes bulged. "What - "

Suddenly, Zuko whipped around and jabbed his hands overhead - a move he had never done, let alone observed, in his life. To his utter shock, scorching bright yellow flames shot out of his fists, catching Zhao completely off guard, and slamming the Admiral to the opposite side of the field they were fighting in.

Zuko then reared up and shot his fist out, and the most powerful firebending he had ever seen shot from his hands and blew Zhao up sky-high. Not even Azula could have performed such a powerful feat of firebending. The Admiral came crashing back onto the ice with a groan and began struggling to get back on his feet. Zuko stared at his hands, shocked at the raw power that had been emitted by his emotions. Now realizing that there was more to firebending than the pessimistic take offered to him by the Fire Nation, Zuko said to the enthusiastic cheering of his friends, "You might rise with the sun. But I do too. The Sun isn't about anger. It's about light, and warmth, and protection, and passion. That's how it's able to firebend, not because it got angry at some small thing. It bends because it has a purpose in life. Now... with my newfound path in life... I am more powerful than can be imagined. I have only one more thing to say. Zhao?" The Admiral stared up at the teenager with fear and hatred. "You're going down."

He sent a fire wall at Zhao - the largest one he had ever made in his life - and sent him slamming into a wall. Zhao tried to respond with several fire whips, daggers, and blasts, but Zuko easily parried and dodged them all, and countered with his own moves that very quickly dispatched Zhao and sent him against the wall, defeated. Zuko triumphantly walked up towards Zhao, and said, "You lost."

Zhao hissed. "Well then, what are you waiting for? Do it! End me!" Zhao stared up defiantly, nearly provoking Zuko into responding.

But Zuko only punched the wall next to Zhao's face, and walked away. "No. I've found a new path. And I'm sticking to it. No more killing. No more anger. No more destruction and death and pain. Now, I firebend for my destiny, to bring down my father's oppressive regime and rule over a world of peace and an era of prosperity." His shoulders sagged in relief at the fortunate turn of events the Spirits had blessed him with. He walked up to his friends, arms held out for an embrace. "So... how was that?"

Sokka only threw a boomerang at Zuko. He ducked. He stood back up, shocked by this sudden reversal of events. "What was that for, Meathead?" he yelled, flushing with near-anger. "You almost hit me with your boomerang!"

"But I didn't. And I hit him -" Sokka pointed behind Zuko. Zuko turned around, to see Zhao falling unconscious onto the frozen ground. His hand was outstretched, curled as if holding something. Zuko realized with a chill that Zhao had likely wanted to get in a cheap shot to avenge his defeat. And it almost worked.

Zuko stood up. "Let's take Zhao to the nearest detainment center. And then... we threaten the ships to back off. They'll leave, and the siege will be done." Zuko's eyes widened as he met similarly excited expressions on his friend's faces. "The siege is over!" Zuko shouted in triumph. "The North is saved!"

Aang hopped onto his Air Scooter, Sokka and Yue kissed each other, and Momo and Zuko tied up Zhao, while the Fire Nation soldiers slowly backed off, ready to order a retreat and report Zhao's failures back to their Firelord. After their initial celebrations were over, Aang and Sokka finally brought Zuko into a hug. "Good job Zuko," they both said. "You deserve it."

Zuko basked in the glory of the day. He was one step closer to redemption. He was able to recover his firebending - and had gained power in his bending. And best of all -

They didn't call him Hotman. It was the dawn of a new era of impartiality and unity and friendship.

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