It is not what a man can do, but what a man chooses to do…
"Uncle, stop." Zuko was getting angrier with him by the second.
Though Iroh was trapped inside the glowing green crystals, his spirit persisted.
Even when they were miles underneath the palace of the Earth King, they could not escape Azula's madness. She had followed Zuko and poisoned her brother's mind with a twisted offer to join her. Iroh saw how interested Zuko seemed when he heard his sister's proposal and he knew that this, at the crossroads of his destiny, was the last chance Iroh had to help his nephew make the right choice.
"Zuko…do not believe what Azula had said to you. You do not have to listen to her just because you are her brother or the prince. Your title is not what determines who you become. Your wealth, your power…it's all meaningless compared to thing."
"Uncle…"
"A man is what he chooses to be. It is your choice Zuko. It had always been your choice! You are the only person who has been making yourself feel angry and sad and guilty. And your refusal to let go of your desires is the real source of your suffering. You have more power than you realize. All you have to do…"
"Uncle…" Zuko felt his impatience turn to anger.
"…is just take control! Just ask yourself 'what is the right thing to do'. You know the answer, you always have. I believe in you Zuko. I can see your mother's eyes when I look at you, and…"
"BE QUIET!!!" Zuko yelled at the wise old man with a thunderous cry. "You are a stupid, hypocritical old fool! All you ever do is lecture on what other people should do, but what have you done that is so great? What has the great Dragon of the West done in his entire life that would be considered good? Slay the last two dragons? Break down the walls of Ba Sing Se and kill every Earth Kingdom warrior who got in his way? Let his son die right in front of him and come home a loser?!"
Zuko's face was distorted with rage. His whole expression was as ugly as the scar over his eye.
"Fine! If it's a choice that you expect me to make…then I will choose for myself." Zuko walked away from his uncle, down the path that Azula had left for him.
"Zuko!" Iroh yelled out one last time, but he knew it was too late. He knew his nephew was already far beyond his reach.