I just want to thank Kimjuni2, Kelev, and Memory Storm for their review. And yes, we're about to see yet another fire bender being discussed. But this time, I'm going to do things a bit differently. Given that I was recently challenged by a couple of other writers, I'm changing things up a bit, and making it so that my character of interest will have his rites of passage being discussed by other characters he interacts with throughout the series. Events that other people go through with him will be seen through those people's eyes, but they will use their experiences to comment on how the character of interest grew throughout the story.

Michael DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko own Avatar.

Lu Ten's POV

The huge walls of the famed Earth kingdom capital dwarfed our entire battalion, making the most powerful military in the world look insignificant as we stationed at its feet. The Fire Nation had been on its conquest for decades now, and finally we reached the pinnacle of our battle: entering the capital region of the Earth Kingdom. Finally, the Fire Nation might finally achieve its most glorious victory.

"Lu Ten, don't be daydreaming. We're getting ready to invade!" An older, husky voice called to me. I tilted my head just in time to see the leader of this invasion, a balding man with greying hair, a sharp sideburn, and a small goatee. To me, he was the most cunning strategist, the most skilled fire bender, and one of the most knowledgeable men on nearly every topic in the world. And he was a man I truly respect, one that I was proud to call general, but more importantly, something more.

"I'm coming Dad," I replied, picking up my last weapons. My father, Crown Prince Iroh, was the leader of this invasion. It was his idea to not directly attack the Earth Kingdom, but to slowly chip away at their defences, weakening their morale and resolve until they were ripe for an all-out assault. Dad told me that earth benders were known for their stubborn pride, and weren't willing to give up as long as they had something to cling onto. That was why, for our purpose, we must drain them of their hope.

Turning back to Dad, I saw him finish sipping his hot tea before handing the cup to a servant. If there was one thing Dad loved, it was a good cup of tea. He told me it always helped him concentrate better, letting him pick up on things about our foes that regular troops were unable to. I was amazed at how, despite living in the Fire Nation all his life, Dad was able to learn so much about other cultures, to the point where he could lecture our battalion on them, reminding us to recognize their weaknesses and attack them on it, all the while appreciating their strengths and be prepared to defend against them. With his wisdom in battle and cultures, there wasn't any way we could lose this.

I scurried between several soldiers as we lined up into attack formation. Standing before us, Dad raised a hand in determination. "We have accomplished what no other army had done in the history of the world: we breached the outer wall of Ba Sing Se!" He declared. In unison, the battalion roared in approval, set on finishing the job.

As the voices died down, Dad requested our attention again. "This siege on Ba Sing Se has reached six hundred days, and no matter how stubborn those earth benders may be, their resolve cannot last for long," he continued, "today, we will finally breach their inner wall and enter the city. Today, destiny is our friend, I know it!"

We roared out once more as we got ready to charge in. It was times like these that I realized why Dad was so popular with the troops. Being the true leader that he was, he never hesitated in giving everyone at least one morale-boosting speech every day. That in turn made the soldiers more confident of their abilities, making them more willing to fight for such a fine general. Fitting my helmet snugly around my head, I glanced around at my comrades, ready to tackle the big task ahead. As usual, Dad marched up and down each line, giving people personal encouragement along the way. When he got to me, he merely told me to stay strong. "Nothing makes me prouder than fighting beside my son in the greatest battle the world will ever see," he marvelled, placing a hand on my shoulder.

I nodded, trying to keep my already pumping adrenaline in check. "I will make you proud," I promised him as Dad returned to the front. We stared onward as groups of earth benders could be seen hovering around the base of the inner wall, ready to defend against our attacks. Standing at the front between the two large, waving red banners with a fire insignia, Dad unleashed our battle cry. "For the Fire Nation, attack!"

We all shouted out as our battalion charged at the wall. Immediately we were met with several rocks and boulders, dust spraying all over as the projectiles shot past us and knocking over some troops. This was met by several blasts of fire, lighting up the skies as we met the Earth Kingdom troops head-on. I juggled between shooting fire and handling my spear at the same time, a difficult feat considering that my weapon's movement must match my body's movement when fire bending.

I blocked a flying rock with my spear while spinning around to shoot fire at my opponents, the clashes of blades and whistling of high flying projectiles ringing through my ears as I gazed across the field. I saw Dad at it against several earth benders, and he seemed so effortless, flipping Earth Kingdom troops around as the fire flew gracefully out of him. I had heard that Dad had experience with dragons, as he told me he bested the last two so-called original fire benders, thus earning him the title "Dragon of the West" in the Fire Nation. But to me, there was another reason for that title, as the way he moved on the field, his fire so ferocious yet his skill so natural, that it was like watching a true master at work. It only hardened my resolve on improving my fire bending skill so that one day, should Dad become Fire Lord, he would have an heir worthy of his skill.

"Lu Ten, look out!" Yells from my teammates soon got me on the defensive, as I turned my head just in time to avoid a large chunk of rock falling my way. I could hear several troops either getting crushed by the boulder or thrown to the side due to the huge collision. Amidst the chaos, I could only look around as many around me in the original formation scattered, leaving me pretty much alone with no one nearby. Dad had told me before that earth benders, with their ability to tackle anything head-on, usually had very good aim, meaning anyone left in the middle of nowhere would become prime targets. With my current condition, I might just become flatter than a piece of paper. Anyone cared for mailing me home with the next batch of letters?

Before long, I saw a line of earth benders all lifting boulders from the ground. I knew I only had seconds to make it to the group, where I would have a better chance to defend against this attack. While I was confident in taking on the rocks, the sheer number of projectiles truly worried me. But my worst fear came to fruition as all projectiles shot out at once, heading straight for my location. "Let's hope my training with Dad all these years helped me," I muttered, getting into a stance and trying to hold them off.

Everything moved in slow motion as I unleashed a fiery kick, launching an arc of flames into the air and meeting the rocks head on. I didn't know how many rocks were blocked as a result, and how many flew over my head, but all I knew was that I was met with a dust cloud right as the fire dissipated. Knocked to the ground from the force of the hits, I sputtered and shook my head, hoping to get my bearings. In the distance, I could hear Dad and my comrades shouting for me to come back. I struggled to my feet, still hopeful that I could get to my team in time to regroup and salvage the battle.

Then, from nowhere, I was completely blind-sided by a rock. The bone jarring hit forced me into the air, tossing my body like a rag doll. The period of numbness soon gave way to pain as I was slammed to the ground, cracking and popping heard underneath my amour. A couple of coughs from my mouth ended with blood splats, and that was when I knew my injuries were severe, even possibly life-threatening.

My breathing became more and more ragged as more and more rocks were hurled in my general direction. In my blurred vision, a heavyset man launched several fire blasts and braved the conditions as he came my way. I could feel a strong set of arms around my body as he checked for my injuries. "Lu Ten, my son, you cannot die. You're a very strong warrior, and I'm very proud of you. We have so much we can still accomplish together. Please, no matter what, keep hanging on!" Dad pleaded as he held me close.

But my next breath would be my last, as I soon gave way to unconsciousness. The last image I saw before lapsing was my dad's face, the kind old man and wise general who was respected by all and loved by our family. As I departed the world, I knew not only had I left Dad behind, I also took away a piece of him. The bond I had with Dad was real, and there was nothing anyone could do to ease his pain now.

Zuko's POV

"What a stunning view!" My uncle marvelled as we stood on a balcony of the Western Air Temple. After my cousin Lu Ten died at Ba Sing Se, Uncle Iroh was too heartbroken to continue his siege. He declared that the battle was over, and took his troops home. But for some strange reason, he didn't return with the group, disappearing for weeks on end while everyone wondered where he was. During that time, Fire Lord Azulon, my grandfather, died mysteriously, followed closely by the disappearance of my mother, leaving my father Ozai to ascend to the throne, becoming the new Fire Lord.

As Uncle continued singing praises of the Air Nomads' architecture, I had no time to discuss that issue. "The only view I'm interested in seeing is the Avatar in chains," I spat, the left side of my face still bandaged from the severe burn. A few weeks ago, I had attended a war meeting where I spoke out against one general's plans. Uncle told me not to do it, mainly due to how jealously defensive they could be, but never had I expected my own father challenging me to an Agni Kai for it. When I refused to fight, he burned my face and banished me, forcing me to find the long-lost Avatar before returning.

To no one's surprise, Uncle Iroh decided to join me on the trip. Maybe he felt there was no need to lose another child in the family after losing Lu Ten, but I welcomed his company. When my uncle did return to the Fire Nation after his disappearance, he was completely changed. Given that I had never been close to my father and my sister Azula, I bonded much easier with Uncle Iroh and Lu Ten, and knew them both quite well. In the past, Uncle and Lu Ten were intense individuals who were very dedicated to their work, but after Lu Ten's death Uncle seemed to have lost that fire within him. He retired as a general, became more easygoing than ever, and enjoyed life's pleasures rather than tackled responsibilities. While he still had most soldiers' respect, it felt like Ba Sing Se made my uncle turn softer than a pillow.

"You know, the Avatar hasn't been seen for a hundred years. The chances of finding him here are very slim," Uncle chimed in, cutting into my thoughts. My great-grandfather Sozin, my grandfather Azulon, my own father, and even Uncle Iroh had no success finding this lost individual. But knowing how they weren't doing this to regain honour, I could understand why they didn't see it as a priority. "Right now, you should take some time to heal and rest," he stated, gesturing at my left eye.

But that touched a nerve with me, as I was appalled by how relaxed Uncle was in the face of this great hardship. "What else do I expect to hear from the laziest man in the Fire Nation?" I retorted, glaring at him with my good eye, "the only way to regain my honour is to find the Avatar, so I will!" I turned away from him, no longer wanting to see such a disgrace. Sometimes, I truly wondered why Uncle Iroh even returned to the Fire Nation at all. When Azula taunted Uncle for being a quitter, I tried to defend him, but right now it felt like he didn't want to be defended at all, and took all criticism in stride.

As we entered the temple, hoping to search for clues to the Avatar's whereabouts, I told my uncle that it was my destiny. "If I have to, I will spend every day of the rest of my life hunting the Avatar." I stated, following Uncle as he marvelled at some statues.

As I said this, Uncle Iroh turned from one of the artworks to me. Placing a hand on my shoulder, he told me not to worry about it. "You know, Prince Zuko, destiny is a funny thing. You never know how things are going to work out, but if you keep an open mind, and an open heart, I promise you will find your own destiny someday."

Soon enough, we scoured the temple for clues. There didn't seem to be any evidence showing that the Avatar died during the war, leading me to believe that he was still alive. We would soon visit the other Air Temples, looking through those ruins to see if anything there told us more. During the entire time, Uncle Iroh was laid-back as ever, enjoying the views and complimenting the Air Nomad culture on the way. I knew both Uncle and Lu Ten enjoyed researching other cultures, trying to learn from them. It was a rare trait among Fire Nation people, especially in recent years. Throughout my life, I was told we were superior, and that Great-Grandfather Sozin started the conquest to share the wealth and technology with the world. I personally didn't see the need to investigate how another culture did things. If the Air Nomads were so great, why were they so easily wiped out? Couldn't they even defend themselves, given their bending?

And that was where we found ourselves, going around the world aimlessly for the last almost three years, wondering what all this was for. In my mind, I was still intent on finding my target, but Uncle had pretty much lost sight of this goal. Treating this as more of an extended vacation, all I saw from him was small-talk with the crew and people we ran into. Almost everywhere we went he was finding bargains for souvenirs, especially when it came to investigating the best tea combination. What was he accomplishing by doing that? Was he trying to find the long-lost Avatar by baiting our ship with tea? If that were the case, then maybe he could tell the Avatar, "Why don't you come with us to the Fire Nation as our prisoner? We got nice tea for you." Give me a break!

Today was no different, as we sailed near the South Pole, close to where the Southern Water Tribe was. I was at the bow of the ship, glaring through the massive icebergs while Uncle Iroh sat closely behind, sipping on his warm tea. The cold weather wasn't making things easy, and I could only wonder how Uncle could accept this frigid lifestyle of the lowly water benders. But my train of thought was sliced through by a huge pillar of light. Realizing that something spiritual was probably the cause of this, I immediately grabbed my uncle. "That light came from an incredibly powerful source. It has to be him!" I declared, clenching my fist and teeth simultaneously.

True to his fashion, Uncle dismissed that claim. "It's just a celestial light. We've been down this road before, Prince Zuko," he retorted, his eyes never leaving his game tiles, "I don't want you to get too excited over nothing." I could only yank on whatever little hair I had left on my head. Didn't Uncle take anything seriously?

Ignoring the plump, lazy man, I ordered the helmsman to head straight for the source of the light, knowing full well what it could mean for us. I climbed to the top of the control tower and kept watch, refusing to budge from my spot even when it got dark out. I didn't understand how Uncle could take this attitude towards something as big as redemption. I mean, he was once stripped of his birthright, as he never contested the throne that rightfully belonged to him when my father took over. Why did he feel there was no need to reclaim what was rightfully his? Even when he considered losing Lu Ten, it was still no excuse to shirk from his duties like that. What was he trying to prove?

Before long, I found fatigue setting in, forcing me to unwillingly retire to bed. But I barely got any shut-eye thanks to my concerns for capturing the Avatar. That was why, first thing the next morning, I insisted that Uncle taught me more fire bending techniques. Unlike my sister Azula, who my father branded as a prodigy, I never had the easy way to learn fire bending. Luckily, Lu Ten was always willing to give me pointers, usually under the supervision of Uncle. I always admired how Uncle managed to teach Lu Ten the full strength of fire bending without using any fierce methods, so I truly wished he would at least evaluate me. As we gathered on the deck, with a couple of crew members serving as my sparring partners, I felt Uncle's watchful eyes key in on me.

"Power from fire bending comes from the breath, not the muscle," Uncle's voice echoed off the hull of the ship as I sparred against two crew members at the same time. I truly wondered if this was how he taught Lu Ten, and what my cousin possibly got out of Uncle's meticulous nitpicking. My mind juggled between having to fend off my attackers and wondering whether it was worth requesting Uncle to be my instructor. I knew Father would rather teach Azula than me, so that meant I had no choice, even before my exile. But why did it feel like Uncle was being so picky over every small move I made?

Again and again Uncle made me do the same sequence over and over, all the while emphasizing how energy from within extend through the body and out the fist and feet as fire. After a while, I lost count of how many times we went over that technique, and I was fed up. "Teach me the next set of skills," I demanded, marching right up to Uncle's face, "I'm more than ready." I was willing to bet Uncle refused to proceed with my lessons because he was too lazy to move off his chair. That as why he kept delaying.

"No, you're impatient. You have yet to master your basics!" Uncle scolded, getting up off his chair for the first time since we began. The confounding man even dared to threaten forcing me back to doing breath-control exercises, and that crossed the line with me. It was time I showed him that just because he was my senior didn't mean he could run roughshod over me and forced me to do things against my will.

I unleashed a fire kick at each sparring partner, sending them across the deck. Lowering my fuming face at Uncle Iroh, I spat out my every concern to him. Stating that the Avatar was the last air bender, it meant he could be over a hundred years old. With all that time, he probably mastered all elements already, meaning I would require more than just basics techniques to defeat him. "You will teach me to advanced set!" I barked.

It was an uncompromising stare that Uncle was shooting back at me. But even with his hard-line approach, Uncle finally relented. I too eased my posture, until Uncle told me to wait. "I must finish my roast duck," he insisted, pulling out a bowl from behind his seat. The colour on my faced literally drained away as Uncle munched away at the rice and duck. I could only wonder how Uncle could fight the Avatar, given Uncle was still eating. Maybe Uncle could defeat him by knocking him out with a drumstick!

After a few more matches, I stepped to the top platform and scanned the area with a telescope, hoping I could catch a glimpse of anyone unusual. To no one's surprise, Uncle Iroh went to take a nap, leaving me to do all the hard work. Despite his laziness, I actually did some research of my own before coming here, and I heard stories from crew members that there was a stranded Fire Nation ship in the South Pole, courtesy of an older raid done decades ago. But given each ship had certain booby-traps, anyone still entering them carelessly would set things off. This was to ensure us that the other tribes wouldn't be raiding our supplies and stealing our secrets.

And soon enough, fireworks launched from said ship, whistling through the air before bursting and cracking like bombs. I whipped my telescope to the source of the noise and saw an individual leap out from the ship, sailing effortlessly through the air while carrying another individual clad in blue. "He's quite agile for his old age," I commented just as the crew joined me at the lookout position. Turning to the crew, I ordered them to wake my uncle, as I found the Avatar. "As well as his hiding place," I added, zooming in on a small water bending village.

Ordering the crew to set course for that village, I raced to my room to dress in my armour. Personally, I had no idea where Uncle was, or if he planned to help me with this fight at all. Even though I didn't like his overly casual attitude, I could really use his help right now, as a fully realized Avatar was an individual that I probably couldn't take out alone. It was times like these that I wondered if Uncle cared about not just family, but anything at all. Did he really tag along with me because he cared about me, or was it because he wanted an excuse to enjoy his retirement? Either way, I had a mission to do, and I was determined to regain my honour, with or without Uncle.

Zuko's POV

"You've changed our course for a stupid lotus tile?" I sputtered, my mind in pure shock over what Uncle revealed. I was on the deck of my ship, practicing my fire bending with crew members. I saw the Avatar firsthand, and he was only a boy several years younger than me. Even so, he proved to be a tough opponent, given his agility and almost flawless escape methods. Because of this, I finally heeded Uncle's advice and practiced on mastering my basics before moving onto harder, more advanced techniques.

But this latest course of action made me absolutely flabbergasted, as Uncle Iroh insisted on stopping at a nearby port to pick up a lotus tile. It was a piece in Uncle's favourite game, Pai Sho. In my mind, Uncle was truly outstaying his welcome on my ship with his antics. As if the Avatar getting away, guarded by two members of the Southern Water Tribe wasn't enough, a rival Fire Nation commander named Zhao also found out about my journey, and threatened to capture the Avatar before me as to gain favours from my father. Knowing my honour would be harder to regain now, Uncle chose to let Zhao have the edge by stopping for a game piece? I could only hiss in anger, my hot breath covering the control room in steam. Anyone wanting to lose weight could enter now.

And that was where we found ourselves, scouring the market of this small town on the coast for a stupid game piece. It almost felt like the latest events on my journey meant nothing to Uncle at all. Shortly after the Avatar escaped at the South Pole, we had to dock at a nearby Fire Nation port for repairs. I tried to hide my goals from Zhao at the time, but it became too obvious to the cunning man that I had something large in mind. That ended with a verbal joust and my challenge to him of an Agni Kai. Even though it was one-on-one, I actually enjoyed hearing Uncle give me encouragement.

But the Agni Kai reminded me of one thing: the result of my previous Agni Kai before going against Zhao. That was the one against my father for speaking out of turn in his war room. While everyone was fearful and tried to distance themselves from the event, it was Uncle Iroh who truly took care of me. Uncle was the first to volunteer in accompanying my journey, and it was Uncle who suggested all the connections I tried in locating the Avatar. So, despite his lazy exterior, I actually did feel Uncle starting to become a bigger part of my life. Perhaps, if my task was complete and my honour regained, I would personally thank Uncle for everything he did for me.

But turning back to the current situation, Uncle's antics weren't exactly making me happy. With only musical instruments for the crew's band and other rare trinkets in mind, Uncle scoured every shop at the port, declaring that the only thing better than finding something one looked for was to find one wasn't looking for at a great bargain. As Uncle marvelled at a statue of a jewelled monkey in this dark, ship-like shop, I could only roll my eyes. Maybe Uncle could submit that monkey to my father instead of the Avatar, and hoped he would be impressed by this rarity and restored my honour.

Leaning closer to the counter, I overheard the shopkeeper's conversation with one of his assistants. The assistant declared that a water bending girl and a young monk took off with one of their scrolls, and they were having trouble finding those two. Curious, I wondered if that monk was the Avatar. "Did he have an arrow on his head?" I asked, cutting into their talk, "If he does, then I'll be willing to help you find him."

The shopkeeper's eyebrow cocked, wondering what I could offer to them. Taking a deep breath, I offered them a compromise for my services. "In exchange for letting you use my ships and team, I'm willing to help you find those two and get back your scroll." I didn't tell them of the Avatar's identity. After Zhao's incident, I couldn't trust anyone with such a large bounty. Staring at the man with the wide hat, I waited for his response.

After an intense few minutes, the shopkeeper agreed, and showed me his crew. My earlier suspicions were confirmed: this shop was a pirate ship, and the shopkeeper was its captain. They sold loot pillared from elsewhere, and that most likely included that jewelled monkey Uncle was so fond of. Glancing at the large man, who had a grin identical to the one on the monkey, I grabbed him by his sleeve and tugged him out.

As the pirate captain gathered his crew, I ordered the small shuttle from my ship to be deployed. This was a stealthier boat that was shorter and flatter than a traditional ship, and it was meant for ambush or spy missions more than for transport. Beckoning the captain, I asked him to join me on the shuttle while his crew followed closely behind in their larger ship. I told him that we ought to take advantage of the darkness, and stayed close to the coast. "They stole a water bending scroll, right? Then they'll be on the water," I explained, my eyes alternating back and forth between the wooded coastlines.

Luckily for us, we managed to find the girl from the Southern Water Tribe, positioned right at the riverfront trying to practice her water bending as taught to her by that scroll. We immediately disembarked from our ship and captured her, tying her to a nearby tree and threatened her. Dangling her Water Tribe necklace before her face, I demanded to know where she was keeping the Avatar.

To no one's surprise, the water bending girl refused to talk, and the pirates got fed up. Luckily for me, I did manage to pick up a few things from my time with Uncle, and that meant good strategizing and critical thinking. Turning things around on the pirates, I picked up the water bending scroll and lit a fire with my hand. "I wonder how much this is worth," I taunted the captain, waving it dangerously close to my palm.

The pirates all froze in horror, begging me to leave their scroll alone. That only left me with the advantage, as now I could force them to help me find the Avatar. "You'll get this back, and everyone goes home happy." I proposed. Although he probably was using a less aggressive approach, I knew Uncle must have done unorthodox things like this with people he disagreed with before, making this move necessary.

Nonetheless, I truly felt some of his techniques were rubbing off. The pirates had no choice but to follow my orders, scouring the woods for the Avatar and his friend. As I watched from my shuttle, I requested a soldier to send a message to Uncle, informing him of our move. With such big stakes, I figured that he ought to be here to witness this. In a sense, I owed a lot of this victory to Uncle; had it not been for him finding that pirate ship, I would have never known their dilemma. Had it not been for him getting friendly with those guys, I probably wouldn't get to interject into their plans. And had it not been for him telling me some of his past experiences, no matter how boring and confusing his stories were, I probably wouldn't have concocted this plan. For that, I was truly grateful.

I finally had my rendezvous with Uncle in the morning, when the pirates brought the Avatar and the Water Tribe warrior to me. I figured it was probably an easy battle, given that the Water Tribe warrior was not a threat. The first time I fought him at the South Pole, I defeated him with two kicks, not even having to lift my arms at all. Now, he had to face an entire team of pirates in an ambush? There was no chance for him to win. So, with Uncle to my side, I was about to make the swap: the Avatar for the scroll.

But, in one of the most surprising, if not dumbest, moves I had ever heard, the loudmouth Water Tribe warrior declared that it was a bad deal. "Are you really going to hand over the Avatar for a stupid piece of parchment?" he asked in shock.

Sheer pandemonium took over at the pirates reneged on their deal, insisting they could collect a bigger bounty by handing the Avatar to the Fire Lord themselves. Soon, fire balls, smoke bombs, spears, staffs, whatever anybody could get their hands on, flew through the air. As Fire Nation troops and pirates fought in a cloud of smoke, courtesy of one of the pirates' smoke bombs, I was locked in a battle with the captain, who pulled out a long sword. The steel blade screeched through the air at me, leaving me to defend with my reflexes and my fire. I could tell he was skilled, given how effortless his swings and thrusts were. Maybe had I listened more carefully to Uncle's coaching, I might fare better.

My worst fear soon came to fruition as a pirate pulled out a long whip and lashed it at me. In my struggle against the captain, I couldn't dodge the whip smacking on my back, allowing him to hook the water bending scroll right from my pocket. With my hands tied and no one near me, I could only watch as my only bargaining chip was snatched away. Where was Uncle when I needed him the most? He was standing right by me right before the swap took place, so where did he go now?

A tug of my hair plus a soft nudge to my back caught my attention, as that very distinctive voice of Uncle Iroh's sliced into the battle. "Are you so busy fighting that you cannot see your own ship set sale?" He declared, pointing at the pirate ship.

True to his word, there was the Avatar and the water bending girl manipulating the waters to set the ship free. With the Water Tribe warrior at the helm, the pirate ship was slowly drifting away from the shore. But more shocking was that the pirate crew now saw my shuttle as an appropriate pursuit vehicle, and sought to hijack that as well. "Come on, Uncle," I yelled, grabbing his sleeve as the captain hopped on just in time for it to leave. Now I was truly kicking myself for not paying more attention to Uncle.

The only thing I could do was give chase, hoping to get a chance to hop back onto my boat. Hope got slimmer and slimmer until the Avatar turned the pirate ship to its side, letting my shuttle slam straight into it, sending both crafts over a waterfall. "My boat!" I hollered, watching helplessly as the Avatar escaped on his bison. As I tried to catch my breath, I could hear Uncle lumbering up to me. I tilted my head back just in time to see him twitch a little. Perhaps he was suffering from cramps? "What's wrong?" I asked.

Uncle stuck a hand into his sleeve, wiggling it about while speaking hesitantly. "Prince Zuko, you're really going to get a kick out of this," he began sheepishly, "the lotus tile was in my sleeve the whole time!" He announced, pulling out his game piece.

My eyes nearly bulged out from their sockets, completely flabbergasted at what happened. We docked at the port, made a deal with questionable people, got double-crossed by the pirates, lost my ship and the Avatar, and the whole time there was no need to go on this trip at all? My shoulders heaved up and down furiously, not even holding back my anger. Snatching the tile from Uncle's hand, I hurled it over the waterfall, not wanting to see this cursed thing again for the rest of my life.

I barely saw Uncle's surprised expression as I marched back to the port, my face redder than any flame coming out of my crew. Whatever respect I started gaining for Uncle during this adventure, it was all out the door by now.

Zuko's POV

"Prince Zuko," I heard my uncle call from the door. I was in my quarters, the lighting dim and the surroundings cool as the heavyset man stuck his head through the entrance. "The crew wanted me to wish you safe travel," he announced.

The temperature in the room just dropped further as I shot back a dark look. "Good riddance to those traitors," I barked, the lights on the walls flickering as Uncle stepped in. As luck would have it, Zhao, now promoted to admiral, stepped onto my ship on Uncle's "music night" and conscripted my crew for his latest project: an all-out invasion of the Northern Water Tribe. In my mind, I had that place targeted as well, given the Avatar would be there to learn water bending. But Zhao beat me to the punch as he insisted my crew went with his, leaving my ship completely empty and barren.

And here I was, fuming in anger while shivering in the cold alone, with only Uncle's offers of going for a night walk being the only sound bouncing off the hull. I had no idea why Uncle would let the crew go off that easily. He was friends with most crew members, right? Why didn't he work harder to persuade them to stay? Either way, I was very angry at Uncle's nonchalant way of handling the issue. Did I not matter to him anymore? Did my honour not matter to him anymore?

Before long, there was complete silence on the boat, giving me a perfect time to think about the past events. I had come a long way since the incident with the pirates, given Uncle's incompetence and Zhao's relentlessness. That included having me take a secret identity, the Blue Spirit, to infiltrate Zhao's camp to take the Avatar from him. That ironically meant I had to save the Avatar from Zhao, before I could take him as my own captive. That plan, along with countless others, some of which concocted by Uncle, failed, leaving me sitting here stewing in my own juices. It really made me wonder what Uncle did when Zhao boarded my ship, and what his next move would be. Certainly he wouldn't cross over to Zhao's team and leave me all alone, right?

Suddenly, a creaking sound echoing through the halls caught my attention. "Uncle, is that you?" I asked, leaping from my bed and hurrying out my room. Earlier, Zhao took the honour of informing me himself that he would be taking my crew, and we nearly broke into a fistfight in my room. Luckily for Zhao, Uncle intervened; otherwise Zhao would have to go to the North Pole with two black eyes, a broken nose, and several of his teeth missing. Was he trying to sneak back in here to torment me further?

I put myself in full defence mode as I edged down the hallway, my eyes alternated back and forth. My body shifted through light and darkness, my every step lighter than a feather as sounds around me amplified. I tried to peer through the shadows, looking for anything suspicious as I made the way to the control tower. With a higher altitude, I should see the deck better. This was getting more and more unusual as I climbed my way up. Did something happen to Uncle, or was I the subject to an invasion myself?

Just then, a fluttering object outside the control room windows caught my eye. It was green, feathery, and had wings. Its distinctive squawk made me realize what it was: it was the bird belonging to the pirate captain I crossed paths with earlier. My heart raced to unbelievable rates as I realized the pirates must be around, and who knew what they were doing to my ship right now? After the Avatar humiliated them and destroyed their ship (along with my shuttle), I was certain they would seek revenge. Gripping the rails, I glanced down onto the deck, frantically searching for any strangers. Should they get their hands on any important equipment, I would be in big trouble.

But I barely got a second to look as a large fireball engulfed the tower, the wall of orange rushing up to my face. My eyes grew to the size of plates as I tried summoning a fire shield to block the damage, but I knew my fate was sealed. I was soon engulfed by the flames, my flimsy shield doing little to block the flying debris. Soon, piercing pain resonated from various parts of my body, my clothing sliced and my skin oozing with blood as the force of the explosion knocked me overboard. With my body feeling like it had been stabbed by a hundred knives, I plunged into the water below.

The pain on my body significantly intensified as the frigid liquid wrapped around my already weakened body. Muscle after muscle cramped up as my warm blood mixed with the cold water, leaving my in a helpless state as my ship crashed and burned above me. For the first time since after my Agni Kai with my father, I truly felt helpless. "Is anybody there? Help!" I mustered all my strength in hollering.

Flaming debris soon surrounded me as I struggled to kick myself to shore. It was like I was in a semi-paralyzed state, knowing I must move to safety but having no ability in doing so. I truly wondered what it would be like with my journey ending in failure. My only regret other than not regaining my honour was leaving Uncle behind. He already lost a loved one in Lu Ten, and the last thing he wanted was to lose me. I knew sometimes I wondered if he truly cared at all, but either way, he was still a relative. When someone lost a relative, it was usually a sad event for them, right?

Just as I was about to give way to unconsciousness, two strong arms latched onto me and hauled me away from the debris. I turned my head around to see that round face of Uncle's, his eyebrows creasing to epic proportions as his lips quivered. "Prince Zuko, you can't give up yet," he urged me on, "we still have to go to the North Pole."

I barely eked out a smile as Uncle pulled me onto the shore, slipping us into a nearby lodge as my ship collapsed into the sea. Given we had no medic around, Uncle tended to my wounds, his hands poking and prodding various areas while his eyes gauged my expression. "That must have been some reflex you had to dodge so many shots. Your fighting skills must have improved greatly," he commented, "but nothing means more to me than you getting out of that ship alive, Prince Zuko. You mean everything to me."

Hearing that made whatever pain in my body subside, as I realized Uncle did care about me after all. All this time, I thought he was a lazy, hedonistic man whose only worry was when the meals were, when music night was, and what trinkets he could buy at a bargain. But now, it felt like he was willing to forgo all that just to get me to safety. Deep down, I started feeling horrible for all the nasty things I said about him, and I truly wanted him to realize how much this meant to me. "If I had another chance to choose who could go on this redemption journey with me, I would make the same choice again," I whispered, "I wouldn't even hesitate in having you come along."

The only response from Uncle was a hard yank into his body, his arms holding me tight around him. "I was so afraid I would lose you," he muttered, "and I'm glad you're now alright." Holding my shoulders, he inspected me one more time before getting onto more serious business. "I know you're wounded right now, Prince Zuko, but if we still want to go after the Avatar, we have a perfect opportunity in the next few days."

Ignoring the pain, I lifted myself up to hear Uncle more carefully. I could barely see his face in this dark room, with only the moonlight outside illuminating us. But even in limited lighting, I could catch a glimpse of Uncle's serious expression as he explained how Zhao was about to lay siege on the North Pole. Originally, Zhao requested Uncle to be his advisor, but Uncle flatly refused to break his loyalty to me. "I know this bombing had something to do with Zhao, and I know he must be thinking that a weakling like you perished. That's why this is the perfect time to strike," he described, "I will accept his offer to be his advisor, and you can pose as one of his crew. No one will know that you are smuggled to the North Pole with him, and you can capture the Avatar."

I returned Uncle's look, his face stoic as he reminded me of my injuries. It was true that I wouldn't be in top fighting condition, but it was a chance that I had to take. If I made it in there quickly, and captured the Avatar before the water benders knew anything then maybe I had a chance. Taking a deep breath, I answered, "I'm in."

Before long, Uncle went back to the shipwreck and pulled out the necessary supplies. First he bandaged up my wounds, making sure they were cleaned before placing the clothes on them. Next he found an old set of Fire Nation armour, one that surprised me as to how well it fit. He also found a helmet to cover my face, which now sported a few new cuts and bruises to go along with my scar. "Now we're ready to see Zhao," he told me, "just intermingle with the crew while I speak to him. He'll never know it's you."

And that was how I would spend my next few days, wandering around the galley of Zhao's lead ship. There were many new recruits, some of whom were only a few years older than me. The Northern Water Tribe was one of the last remaining strongholds that the Fire Nation had yet to conquer, and assuming Zhao could defeat this lot, his name would go down in history. Personally, Zhao could have all the glory he wanted for this, but my goal was to get the Avatar. And looking back at Uncle's plan, I now knew why he was famous for his craftiness in the Fire Nation military. He was just so efficient at what he did, and it made me wonder if I could ever be like him.

Either way, my time with Uncle on this ship was limited, as by accepting Zhao's offer, he would be with Zhao in the command centre the majority of the time. In fact, Zhao's ship wasn't even near the frontlines, meaning we were quite a distance a way when the initial battles started. Nevertheless, I got a good view on the frontline ships hurling their flaming projectiles at the massive ice wall surrounding the Northern fortress. It was a sight to behold, totally opposite from it southern counterpart.

Nevertheless, it was time for me to take action. With the crew occupied by the siege, they would not notice one of their safety rafts taken as an infiltration vessel. I brought only the barest of necessities with me, with just enough to keep me alive in that frigid castle. If this mission was successful, Uncle would get my undying gratitude. As I was about to disembark, the door behind me creaked open. "You'll need a tightly woven net, or he'll squeeze through the tiniest hole and escape," Uncle's voice commented.

I shook my head, realizing that the last thing I wanted was for Uncle's sometimes confusing idioms to break my concentration. "I don't need your wisdom right now, Uncle," I replied, my mind still set on the task. Locating the Avatar in that fortress would be difficult, and with all those water benders around, I wouldn't be exactly welcomed in.

"I'm sorry," Uncle responded, his voice and tone significantly muted. I knew what he was about to say next, and even though I told him not to say it, he would proceed anyway. "I just nag you because, well, ever since I lost my son," he stuttered, his voice cracking, "I think of you as my own." He concluded, his every word laced with sobs.

Immediately, we ran to each other and held each other in a tight hug. "We'll meet again, Uncle, after I have the Avatar." I informed him. While I understood that Lu Ten was forever in Uncle's heart, I couldn't help but realize how significant that gesture was. As I hoped onto my raft and lowered it from Zhao's ship, I truly considered how I never had a good relationship with my father, as he tended to favour my sister Azula. To him, I was lucky to be born, while Azula was born lucky. I had to claw and struggle my way through life, with my mother commenting that it was my most distinctive trait.

But throughout this taxing journey, who was the one to make my struggle easier to bear? Uncle Iroh. Now, I heard it from his own mouth: he joined me not because he wanted a vacation, but because he loved me like a son. And reflecting on all the things he did for me, I must say the feeling was mutual, as I truly felt Uncle Iroh should now be considered my new father. With that in mind, I was determined not to let him down.

Zuko's POV

"Looks like you did some serious shopping," Uncle commented as he glanced around the cave we called our home for the last little while. The Siege of the North was an utter disaster, as Zhao not only didn't manage to defeat the Northern Water Tribe, but threatened the lives of their most sacred, but mortal, spirits. Uncle Iroh always said the spirits weren't to be tampered with, but Zhao ended up killing one, turning the other into a monster that destroyed our navy. Only when the tribe's princess sacrificed her life did the monster end its spree and everything returned to normal, all of which Uncle observed.

As for the Avatar, I nearly made off with his unconscious body before a blizzard trapped us in a cave. That was when the Avatar woke up, his friends arrived, knocked me out, and they hurried back to the Spirit Oasis. When I regained consciousness, Uncle took me out of the North Pole and into somewhere safe, in a port resort town where he could enjoy a massage. I still didn't have a ship to call my own, meaning my plans to catch the Avatar had to be shelved for now, leaving me with no choice but to stew in my thoughts.

"Do you like your new teapot?" I asked Uncle as he picked up the trinket. It was at the resort when Azula, my sister, came to fetch Uncle and I back to the Fire Nation. Her ship captain let it slip that we were to be taken back as prisoners, which let loose a huge battle where Uncle got us out just before things got totally out of hand. We cut our hair and cemented our status as fugitives, leaving us in the wild with nothing more than items taken from nearby villages for survival. I was sickened by the way those villagers treated Uncle and me, but also with the way that Uncle accepted this humiliating lifestyle. He seemed so ready to cleanse himself of the Fire Nation, and adapted into the Earth Kingdom. Did he not care for his honour? Likewise, what about caring about my honour?

To no one's surprise, Uncle went on one of his tangents again, claiming there was no shame in being down on our luck or something like that. But for me, there was only one thing in my mind. "There's no honour for me without the Avatar," I spat, trying to wipe out all his talk of humility and the simple life, "if not, then there is no hope at all."

"No, Zuko! You must never give in to despair!" Uncle exclaimed, grabbing me by the shoulders. I tried not to look into his eyes, but I could tell that Uncle was extremely concerned by my statement. His eyes were probably wide, his mouth slightly gaping and his face tense as he told me not to surrender to my lowest instant. "In the darkest time, hope is something you give yourself. That is the meaning of inner strength!"

Hearing enough, I flicked Uncle's hand off my shoulder and slipped into the woods, hoping to do some soul-searching. So far, I appreciated Uncle supporting me all this time. With the Siege of the North and how he sneaked me onto Zhao's boat, I truly felt he was not only lending a hand, but because he truly believed he was a part of my journey. He wanted to see me through, given that I was now his surrogate son. He really wanted to see my moment in glory, no matter how remote its chances would be now. It was something I was truly grateful for as I bonded with him.

But I had increasing difficulty with Uncle's attitude. He was fully nonchalant with exile, losing his status as a former general and royalty member. Earlier, he was totally willing to beg for food, and let the lowly peasants walk over him as he sang and danced like a circus animal. It made me wonder if he wanted to return home at all, as he seemed content living life in the Earth Kingdom and intermingling with peasants. Was he even concerned with his life? He was belittled, humiliated, and stripped of his dignity, and he still claimed I had to regain hope? What hope was there when there was nothing left?

But knowing Uncle, I knew his words had some impact on me. Even if he didn't care for hope, I did, and I wanted my honour back. Uncle might be satisfied with this low class lifestyle, but I wasn't joining in. If he wouldn't rejoin my quest to catch the Avatar, then I would do it alone. Uncle was probably too stubborn to admit it, but I would no longer be babied. I was no longer staying clingy, looking to him for answers to my every question. If I wanted my honour back, then the only way was to do it all by myself.

Striding back to the cave, I approached Uncle. My heart was heavy with emotion, because while I was determined to set course for this new phase of my life, I was still very attached to my new fatherly figure. But for now, I must set my emotions aside, and had to proceed. "I thought a lot about what you said," I described to Uncle, "we no longer have anything to gain by traveling together. I have to find my own way."

For I while, there was complete silence. I couldn't read Uncle's expression, as he had his back to me, but I could probably guess what he was like right now. He had his back hunched, and his face was probably creased with anxiety. Uncle was never much for expressing his thoughts, except during tea tasting or bargain hunting, but I knew that he left behind a part of himself with me. And as I picked up my belongings, I also realized that I left behind a part of myself with him. We were forever bonded, and even as we parted ways, we would still be forever in each other's hearts and minds.

As I entered the woods, ready to embark on this new journey, I still hoped one day I could see Uncle again. We might be separated, but I knew how much this individual meant to me, and how much I meant to him. I would never be who I was today without him, and should I restore my honour, I would never want to share that with anyone but him. But for now, my journey had just begun, and for the first time, I had to do it alone.

Toph's POV

"You seem a little too young to travel by yourself," the old man commented dryly as he handed me a cup of tea. It was a rather odd situation, as I was nothing more than a rich girl stuffed up in her overprotective parents' home. The only reason I managed to escape was when the Avatar, an air bender named Aang, visited my house and wanted me to tag along in his journey. To no one's surprise, my parents rejected the offer, claiming that I was blind and weak. That led me to sneak out of the house by myself, and offering to join Aang as his earth bending teacher. It was something that finally made me free.

"And you seem a little too old," I retorted, grabbing the tea out of his hand. If the spat with my parents didn't put me in a terrible enough mood, then the recent fight with Aang's group certainly did. We were being pursued by the Fire Nation in an advanced metallic machine, and I merely suggested Aang's bison was part of the problem. Appa's fur left an easy trail for the Fire Nation to follow. It led to Aang and his sugary water bending teacher Katara to throw me out of their group. But for me, it felt more like I threw them out. I left my parents to enjoy freedom, not to let clueless people boss me around. Packing my bags, I bolted out of there and went off on my own.

And that was where I found myself, bumping into this goofy old man who was alone in the woods. After a quick introduction to each other, he decided we should have some tea. I only knew him for a few minutes, but deep down, I knew what he felt. So typical of people in his generation, he found me weak and frail, and had to do stuff for me. "I know what you're thinking," I began, "I look like I can't handle being by myself. You wouldn't even let me pour my own cup of tea." I turned away, sipping in silence.

But my newfound friend, Iroh, disagreed. "I poured your tea because I wanted to, and for no other reason," he explained, no tinge of anger or frustration in his voice. That almost caught me off-guard, as I never would have expected such calmness from a member of the generation (or for this case, maybe two generations) before me.

Shaking the thought away, it was best that I stayed on topic. Besides, I doubted he knew much about me, so why not tell him what I truly felt? "People see me and think I'm weak. They want to take care of me," I responded. For some reason, it was hard to muster up toughness before Iroh. "But I can take care of myself, by myself," I emphasized.

Again, there was no anger from Iroh as he compared me to his nephew. "There is nothing wrong with letting people who love you help you," he replied, "not that I love you, because I just met you!" He ended with a chuckle.

I couldn't help but let out a laugh of my own. For an old guy, I was starting to like Iroh already. Somehow, being around him made me feel something I never felt before. I had someone who truly listened to me and respected my thoughts without interfering. "So where is your nephew?" I asked, curious to hear what type of boy he was, "Is he lost?"

"Yes, a little bit," Iroh responded. I couldn't tear my attention away from Iroh. It was odd to cross paths with such a fascinating and complex man in a forest, and I had to admit that his stories were almost intriguing. "His life has recently changed, and he's going through very difficult times. He's trying to figure out who he is, and he went away. I know he doesn't want me around right now, but if he needs me, then I'll be there."

That comment truly touched me, as I now realized what it meant to bond with a person. It wasn't about control or dominance, or letting loose whenever one felt like it; it was about understanding people, and gaining their trust and respect. My parents never tried understanding me, and in turn I never tried to gain the trust and respect of Aang's group. Perhaps this tea session with Iroh was helpful after all? "Your nephew is very lucky, even if he doesn't know it." I commented with admiration.

I quickly finished my tea and thanked Iroh for his company. But surprisingly, it was Iroh who was gracious, claiming that it was one of life's most fascinating events to share tea with a total stranger. Before I left, I made sure Iroh knew how much he helped me, and I offered him some advice in return. "About your nephew, maybe you should tell him that you need him too." After all, I could tell based on the way Iroh told me about him that they had a true bond. Perhaps that was a good way to let them re-bond?

By the time I returned to the area where I left the group, it was a disaster. There was fur all over the place, leading away from the river and into the distance. Figuring that those three girls must have caught up to Aang, I realized I had to take action quickly. Using my earth bending to create a wave of soil, I surfed on it through the landscape and returned to where Iroh was, hoping I could convince him to help me. I couldn't really describe who those girls were, given that I never got a chance to touch the ground when they were nearby, but Iroh was extremely concerned after hearing me out. "Take me with you," he suggested, "I think you'll want all the help you could get."

My mind was flustered as we surfed our way down the fields, with Iroh telling me which direct to go, based on how Appa's fur landed. "It ends right there," I heard Iroh's anxious voice told me, "It seems to be some abandoned town."

As we brought ourselves to ground level, I could feel from the vibrations on the ground a huge battle going on. One of the girls, the one my group believed to be the team leader, was battling Aang, Katara and Sokka all at once. Surprisingly, she was holding her own, meaning I had to interfere. Letting Iroh run off, I started my earth bending on the teenage fire bender, throwing her off balance.

That got the girl on the run, sneaking into an alley and to the other side of the ghost town. But we didn't have to pursue too far, as Iroh was waiting around the corner and blocked her progress with his body. From the ground, I could feel another presence by Iroh, this time a teenager around the same age as the girl we were chasing. Perhaps this was the nephew Iroh referred to earlier? Either way, we had a bigger task at hand, as now six people surrounded this fleet-footed girl into a corner. "I'm done," she conceded, "I know when I'm beaten. You got me. A princess surrenders with honour."

That seemed to surprise all of us, as I couldn't feel a single person moving. Iroh was to the far right of our formation, and I could feel from his body posture that his head was tilting back and forth, wondering what we were up to. Somehow, I knew Iroh didn't expect things to go down quietly, and was most likely trying to warn us to be on our guard. It might be the case that one false move could lead us to losing this battle. Sensing Iroh's gesture, I firmly stood my ground, not about to give an inch.

But the final move shocked us as the girl aimed a fire blast at Iroh, zinging him in the abdomen and sending him sprawling. We barely gathered ourselves before all four elements were sent towards the girl, creating a huge plume of smoke. But for me, whether we hit or not wasn't most important. We edged up to the heavyset man, now unmoving on the ground. His nephew knelt beside him, roaring in frustration. I felt from the ground vibrations that Iroh was alright, but not for long if he didn't get medical attention.

But we were in no place to offer anything, even with Katara the healer, as the nephew shot a fire blast at us, ordering us to leave. Seeing the situation, we had no choice but to go silently. While I wanted to give Iroh's nephew a tongue lashing, I held it in. There was no point arguing now, especially in this scenario where his loved one was dying. Moreover, hanging around with Iroh had taught me that sometimes, conflict could be avoided by different ways. This was something I could learn, given how different it was from earth bending, where one must tackle any obstacle head on. I figured Iroh was a man of many stories, and had an appreciation for other cultures that surpassed anyone.

But for now, I had my own journey to go on. I had to start teaching Aang earth bending, and hopefully used this opportunity to see the world more. Maybe, one day, I could be like Iroh, and be able to tell the world of my experiences being immersed in other cultures. I hoped I could see Iroh again, so that I could share these stories with him. Besides, with a tea-maker like that, who would want to go to a tea shop?

So there you have it. The former Crown Prince, retired Fire Nation general, and the Dragon of the West, Iroh has now made an appearance. Hopefully you find my new style and technique acceptable, as I may include some of these things in the future. For a full list of things that I was challenged to do, please feel free to ask me and I'll show you. As for everyone else, I say thank you for reading, and I hope you look forward to Part 2!