They had both finished their tea, and Katara had suggested they take a walk, so they did. Zuko, for his part, could not stop marveling at how much the once-miniscule village had changed. When he had hunted the Avatar, it had been a tiny compound full of ragged tents and disrepair igloos. Now, the Tribe sported all the benefits of civilization; electricity, modern buildings, even Satomobiles. It looked more like Republic City than its Northern Counterpart, which had, for the most part, retained its look since the Hundred Years' War.

Rounding a corner, Katara pointed out a spot near the harbor, where a large cargo ship sat moored.

"That's where your ship landed when you came looking for the Avatar," she said solemnly.

Zuko looked uneasy, rubbing the back of his head in embarrassment.

"My apologies if that caused the city any permanent damage. I was a different person."

Katara slapped Zuko on the back, chuckling.

"I'm just messing with you. Lighten up, would you?" she said.

"Anyways, there's someone that wants to meet you."

They walked for a while, chatting happily, until they arrived at an open air café, where, to his surprise, Katara's son, Tenzin, sat with his own family. Noticing his mother and Zuko, he stood, smiling, and walked over to greet the two.

"Uncle Zuko," Tenzin said, shaking his hand, "It's good to see you."

Zuko smiled at the man's formality, but played along.

"It's great to see you too, Tenzin."

Pema and the children walked over, and the three kids looked reluctant to talk to Zuko. They had, after all, never met.

"Pema, always a pleasure," Zuko said, hugging the woman.

She was cradling a toddler, and Zuko smiled broadly at the baby.

"And this must be Rohan," he said, making soft cooing noises.

He remembered that Iroh II had been a quiet baby who had been perpetually serious. Mai would often smile when Zuko had Iroh in his hands; she always said that he and his grandson were eerily similar people.

Rohan, however, laughed, snorted, and giggled, as Zuko tickled his feet.

"Are you… granduncle Zuko?" came a timid voice.

Straightening, Zuko turned his attention to Tenzin's eldest child, Jinora. He knelt, smiling.

"That would be me. And you're Jinora, right?"

The girl smiled, nodding.

"I've read so much about your adventures during the War—I have so many questions," she said, brimming with excitement.

"And I'll try my best to answer them," he said, grinning. He smiled at the other two children, but they backed away, shy.

"They're shy, sorry. I'm sure they'll warm up eventually," Tenzin said apologetically.

"It's quite alright," Zuko said, grinning. "You were much the same when you were little."

Ember Island

130 A.G, two years after the Yakone Crisis.

As the sea lapped softly onto the quiet, picturesque beaches, there was only the sound of birds, insects, and the sea that could be heard. Then, it was interrupted by a wave of fire.

Sweating in anxiety, Aang shifted his weight upon exiting the forest, steadying his posture. He was panting heavily, looking around the area anxiously, waiting for an attack. Then, in quick succession, three fire blasts, one after the other, slammed into him from behind, catapulting him forward. In a panic, he bended an airball, steadying his posture.

Zuko stood, steam pouring from his fist, as he smirked.

"No airbending, remember?"

Crouching, Zuko balanced on his hands and swung his feet horizontally, releasing a wave of fire that cascaded over him in waves. Aang retaliated with a punch-kick combo, barely missing Zuko's head. Roaring in determination, Zuko lit his hands in blue fire and fired quick blasts of incinerating blue fire at Aang. The man's eyes widened in surprise, but he managed to dissipate the blasts with hands held together, splitting the blasts in half.

"The blue fire's new," Aang commented, dodging a continuous stream of flame that Zuko directed on the Avatar, trying to pin him down. Launching himself into the air, the Firelord kicked a stream of fire while he simultaneously launched fire blasts from his fists.

Aang deflected them all, but was taken off guard by a crest of fire released by a 'clap' move from his friend, propelling him backwards. The firelord, emulating his sister, jettisoned himself forward on jets of flame while Aang righted himself.

Taking a deep breath, Aang steadied his pose and, as Zuko released a wave of flames towards Aang, released a surge of his own that met Zuko's, causing a massive explosion that threw both men backwards several feet as if they were dolls.

Exhausted, Aang got himself up with the help of some airbending, and slowly limped over to Zuko, offering him a hand.

"Let's call that one a draw," he said, laughing softly between his heavy gasps of breath.

Nodding, Zuko took Aang's hand and got to his feet, and the two bowed, their hands making the flame shape in the traditional Fire Nation way.

"Thanks for the sparring match, Sifu Hotman," Aang said, grinning.

Zuko rolled his eyes, smiling.

When they returned to the Royal Family's beach house, Aang and Zuko returned to find that their friends were also relaxing following sparring matches. Mai and Suki chatted by a fountain, covered in nicks and cuts, while Toph and Katara lounged by the fountain, as Katara healed both their bruises. Sokka and Shou, one of Zuko's household guards, leaned against the wall, discussing swordsmanship. Shou was a Lieutenant in the Fire Nation Army, and had once trained under Master Piandao, like Sokka. They too, had sparred for hours.

"Hey Aang, hey Zuko," said Sokka, as the two men walked into the courtyard.

Zuko gestured to a servant, sitting against the wall by Mai in exhaustion.

"Bring out a tray of refreshements."

The servant scurried into the house, ordering the cooks into action as Aang went to sit by Katara.

"How was your duel," Zuko asked, rubbing his eyes in tiredness. Every muscle, bone, and vein in his body ached, and Zuko felt like he just wanted to go to sleep and not wake up for days.

Mai kissed Zuko on the cheek and leaned against him, idly flipping her knife around. Then, she sighed.

"Suki beat me," she said, with a slight tint of disappointment.

Suki smiled, opening her fan, inspecting the blades.

"It was close, though. You nearly got me with that last blade."

They had been using training knives that were made of wood, and Suki had used a wooden fan that she had brought from Kyoshi Island. Being the two nonbenders other than Sokka, they had decided to duel each other, and, judging by the many nicks and bruises that both women sported, it had been a fierce one.

"Where are the kids again?"

"They're watch that terrible play again—the one about the Avatar," she said, rolling her eyes in disgust.

Zuko snorted in amusement, and simply leaned against the wall tiredly, staying silent. After a while, the servant came into the courtyard, with a tray of refreshing fruit juice. Then, arriving with their guards, the children returned, uproariously cutting through the relaxed silence that had settled on the tired adults.

Zuko winced and Mai rolled over, groaning in pain as the cutting voice of their daughter cut through the others.

"MommyDaddywejustsawthebestplayeveranditwasreallygoodandIgottohaveapapayajuicesmoothieandthemBumifelloverandLinkissedTenzinandeveryonelaughedanditwasareallyfuntimeand," she screamed, jumping into her parent's arms.

Zuko smiled, lifting her up, and planting a big kiss on her cheek.

"Slow down, honey, take some deep breaths," he said, grinning.

Mai lifted herself up, and despite her foul mood, smiled and asked her daughter how the play was.

Across the courtyard, Bumi, Kya, Tenzin, and Lin were all gathered by their parents.

"I certainly hope they didn't have me be played by a girl again," Aang sighed.

The kids giggled, causing Aang to groan, falling backwards.

"Uncle Sokka, the guy playing you said some very funny stuff; he was hilarious!" said Kya, laughing.

Sokka, who had been picking his teeth with his boomerang, turned suddenly with a delighted look on his face.

"Really?! Tell me everything!" he said, attentively listening to his niece.

"Tenzin, how did you like the play?" asked Katara.

The young Airbender shrugged indifferently.

"It was okay, I guess," he said.

Lin, who was talking to her mom, glanced over at Tenzin and winked. Bumi, who had been observing the whole exchange, walked up behind his little brother and punched him on the shoulder playfully.

"Tenzin kissed Liiinn, na na na na boo boo," he said, making faces.

Tenzin blushed deeply, and Lin laughed.

"Mom, you were played by a muscled guy again this year," she said, turning her attention to Toph.

Toph fixed her tiara, smirking in satisfaction.

"I'm glad. I would have had to have a word with the director if it had been any other way," she said, taking a sip of her beverage.

"Was Uncle Zuko really that pouty back then?" asked Kya, with a grin.

"I heard that!" shouted Zuko.

Aang sat up again, and, in a conspiratorial whisper, made a funny face at Zuko.

"And he still is, kids, to this day!" he said, laughing to himself.

"You remember when we watched it for the first time," said Aang, smiling with the memory. "I thought I'd blow a gasket at how poor that play was."

"And no, kids, Katara did not cry that many times about hope in real life. It was only every other day," he said, nudging his sister.

Pouting, his sister caused his drink to fly into his face, leaving him sputtering and wet, bringing a laugh from the children.

They talked until the sun had reached high into the sky. Tenzin had listened as Zuko had been bombarded by questions about his mother, the war, and what it was like to be a Fire Lord. Katara simply sat to the side, smiling at the once-gloomy and hateful Prince who was now enjoying himself with a family of Airbenders. Jinora had grown comfortable with the old man, and even Ikki and Meelo had come out of hiding to talk with the old Firelord.

"How did you get that scar?" asked Ikki, innocently.

A silence hovered over the table, and Tenzin glared at Ikki, glancing apologetically at Zuko.

"Ikki, you should not be asking Zuko about that! You're out of line, young lady! Sorry, Zuko, I didn't mean to—" he began.

Zuko shook his head.

"Its fine," he said, turning his attention to young Ikki. "When I was little, my father was a bad, bad man. I went to a meeting where a old general was going to send a bunch of young men into a battle they wouldn't win, so I spoke out against it. My father forced me to fight him in a duel and gave me this burn mark," he said.

Once upon a time, he would have never talked about his scar. He even had a difficulty talking about it when he was Firelord. It was only in the middle of his life that he defeated his taboo for talking about the scar. Now, he talked about it freely. His childhood was brutal and unfair, yes, but Zuko had moved beyond that part of his life. It had defined who he was, and he left it at that—it wasn't his shame anymore.

The kids looked shocked, and Zuko wondered if he shouldn't have told them exactly how he got it.

"Why would your dad do that?" asked Jinora.

"He was an evil man. Some people aren't meant to be parents, and he was one. He made my sister into a monster and he hated my existence. I had someone else, though. Both my mother and my Uncle cared for me very much, and they were the two people who set me on my path."

Ozai had passed six years before his granddaughter was born. He had been informed that the man had passed away in prison. Zuko hadn't expected tears then, but they had come nevertheless. Whether it was from relief that the evil man was gone forever or from sadness that his father was dead, he would never know for sure, as he pushed the man's death the very next day.

Strangely, what had affected him the most was the death of his sister; in his heart, he had always known that Azula held the potential to be good. She would have needed help, but her upbringing as Ozai's daughter had corrupted her to the point of insanity. After she had run away into the Forgetful Valley, Zuko had been dismayed. She was, after all, his sister, and he had spent the journey trying to get her to see sense.

The night the news had arrived, he and Mai had gone to Azula's old room and sat for an hour or so, in silence. They had sat together, holding each other as Zuko found the tears flowing. Even Mai had been sadder than usual. As they had left the room, Mai had stopped at the door, looking back into the room of one of her oldest friends.

At least she lived the life that she wanted to; she made her choice and you made yours. I like to think that even when she was being well, her, that she was happy in a perverse way.

Zuko had simply nodded, remembering to the time when he, his sister, Mai, and Ty Lee had been on that beach on Ember Island, and his sister had expressed the hurt that she felt. It was at that time, Zuko remembered, even though he was fighting with himself over his choice, that he had thought that Azula could have had a good side, too.

Ba Sing Se Residential Ring

145 A.G- Eight years before the death of Avatar Aang.

They buried him under the tree. They had moved the son's body here, under the very tree Lu Ten's father had cried under all those many years ago.

This was the city he had loved; the one he had tried to destroy, and then later the one he fought to retake. It had been more simple back then; two refugees; one an old general, the other a lost prince, both seeking a new life in the grandest city on the Earth.

They had no headstone or marker; Zuko had felt it… intrusive. After all, he would have wanted it this way. In harmony with nature, one with the precious plants he so dearly loved, in the city he spent many years of his life in, quietly making tea and playing Pai Sho with his friends.

Zuko stood at the base of the tree, Mai and Iria standing behind him. He crouched to the ground slowly and put a hand on the strong, but old tree trunk. The Earthbenders of the city, including Toph, who had known the old man well, had buried him with the greatest care, in a earthen tomb where he slept peacefully.

"Uncle," he started, feeling the tears threaten his composure.

"You showed me the way. You lead me from the darkness into the light. I was terrible to you then, Uncle. I don't know why you ever forgave me, but you did. So thank you—you gave me everything, and I only hope you left this world in peace."

He opened the bag he had brought with him, and set the objects at the base of the tree.

"I brought you some Jasmine Tea. I know it was your favorite. I tracked down Lieutenant Jee's family, you remember the guy from the ship way back then, and his son gave me your Tsungi horn from the ship music nights, from when things were easier…"

Crying, he set the two objects at the base of the tree and sat, cross legged, sobbing uncontrollably. As they had in the tent all those years ago when Zuko apologized, he didn't bother to hold the tears back, and they flowed from him as he cried. He cried for everything. He cried for his mother, who had passed only a few years before, who he had grown incredibly close to after he found her again. He cried for Ikem, who he had grown to trust and respect like a brother. He cried for Kiyi, his half sister, who he had grown to love like kin. He cried for those like Toph, and the many in Ba Sing Se who remembered the kindly old man who helped them with a simple compliment, a bright smile, or a helping hand, who had lost their friend.

His daughter and his wife both came to him then both holding him gently as he sobbed. Mai kissed Zuko on the cheek, tears running from her normally impassive, and now sad eyes, as Iria leaned her head against his shoulder. She had known Iroh for only a while, considering, but she had been just as crushed as her father when the old man died; he had been a voice of wisdom for all.

Together, in silence, they cried for the Dragon of the West.

Then, somewhere, from deep inside the city, the mournful strums of a lute echoed through the silent city, and Zuko recognized the tune from his childhood; his mother sang it to him when he was falling asleep as a child. From memory, almost involuntarily, he finished the last few lines of the song as the strums echoed into the darkening sky.

Brave soldier boy

Comes marching home

I'll keep this short. Spirits, the last part was hard to write, I had to choke back tears the whole time. Anyways, as usual, read and review. More to come.

-IGdude117

P.S.

Just wanted to take a moment to talk about Mako Iwamatsu. I first heard the voice of Mako in Avatar: The Last Airbender, and then in Samurai Jack. Both characters were amazing. The character of Iroh, however, was simply amazing, and it touched me so much. R.I.P Mako.