I want to thank Kimjuni2, Kelev, and Wavebreeze for their reviews. I just want everyone to know that in this chapter, there is no change in POV. In accordance with the challenge issued to me, Zuko will tell the story in every scene of this chapter. Let's see if you can spot what Zuko thinks of Iroh's growth here.
Michael DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko own Avatar.
"There's energy all around us, and the energy is both yin and yang." Uncle's words resonated in my mind as we stood on a hillside overlooking a beautiful scene in the Earth Kingdom. It was only a few days after Azula's attack on Uncle, leaving him burned and wounded. While Uncle was far from a complete recovery, he was at least healthy enough to move around without assistance. But for me, just the fact that he was alive, serving tea and joking around, that was reward enough.
But Uncle and I were both convinced that it was time to go into a bit more detail over bending, especially after what we saw Azula do. By generating lightning back at the dock, and shooting out flames of such ferocity at the ghost town, it was evident that she had mastery over fire bending. Though Uncle probably had the skill to take her on, I just couldn't rely on him all the time, especially after this injury. Given the sudden reprieve, now was the time to truly discuss the techniques that Uncle researched in the past.
"Only a select few fire benders can separate these energies," Uncle continued, explaining how yin, the positive, and yang, the negative, could be used to our advantage in any battle. My mind was still quite flustered, as no one throughout my childhood years had truly discussed these theories with me before. But even as Uncle's words jumbled together, I could make out some information. The notion that positive and negative were always trying to create a balance could eventually spark a release of the energies, which in result could create a powerful attack like lightning.
I took a step back as Uncle got into position, waving his arms around to harness the energy within. Before long, blue sparks sizzled around his body as electricity soon surrounded him. My jaw dropped in amazement, shocked to see the sheer power that he now had in his hands. Uncle was a truly gifted individual, not only in battle, but also in teaching. He was never one to be impatient, taunting my lack of experience or skill like my sister. And even when approaching a new technique, he made sure to go slow, letting me at least understand the background before proceeding. I never really got much of a chance to attend one of Uncle's lessons to Lu Ten, having only been a spectator sitting in the distance. But now, to train under the best instructor ever, it was truly an honour.
Uncle relaxed his pose as his lightning bolt flared into the skies, lighting up the surrounding area in a light blue hue. "Remember, once you separate the energy, you do not command it," he reminded me, "you are simply its humble guide. Breathe first."
I inhaled deeply, clearing my mind of any stray thoughts. I only kept the image of Uncle swinging his arms around as I mimicked his every gesture. I didn't have to be reminded of the many times I tried to show my parents new fire bending techniques, only to fail miserably or be outperformed by Azula. While my mother would encourage me to try harder, my father would only snort and dismiss me, branding me as the useless one. Now, with my mother gone, Uncle was the only one who still appreciated my efforts, and I was determined not to let him down. Increasing my energy, I prepared to let it loose.
What was supposed to be lightning became an explosion, rocking the land before me and sending debris all over. But the worst part was that I didn't expect this reaction, and that ended up throwing me backwards, slamming rear-first onto the rocky ground. Instantly, an unimaginable amount of pain seared through my body, shaking me to my core as I struggled to stay conscious. Things were not going as planned.
Undaunted, I got up to try it again. I went through each step methodically, hoping to make sure I followed Uncle's every procedure. But every single time I tried it, the result was the same: a huge explosion that knocked me backwards. Uncle was now away from the scene, taking a seat at the abandoned house we took refuge in, just a few metres away. He didn't say a single thing to me, but I could tell by his slouched posture and glum face that he was disappointed. Although I hated to admit it, I failed again.
"Why can't I do it? Instead of lightning, it keeps exploding in my face!" I roared in frustration, "like everything always does," I added. Right now, it felt like the entire world was piling onto my misery, not willing to stop until I was completely beaten and broken. Was there really nothing that I could do successfully? Maybe I ought to place a loser sign on my back and sulked in the corner, as at least it wouldn't be as humiliating.
That was when Uncle marched up to me, and suggested that I must deal with the turmoil inside of me before I could master lightning. "You must let go of your feelings of shame before your anger can go away," he described, his posture casual and his tone calm and patient, "true humility is the only antidote to shame."
I bit my lower lip, realizing I was sincerely humbled by the sheer number of nasty turns in my life recently. Not too many individuals could go from royalty, to banishment, to being a fugitive all in a month. "I have another idea," Uncle continued, "I will teach you a fire bending move that even Azula doesn't know, because I made it up myself." He announced proudly as he placed a hand on my shoulder.
I couldn't help but crack a small smile as Uncle and I sat down onto the sandy ground. Picking up a stick, Uncle drew a few symbols, explaining the significance of each one. "Fire is the element of power," he began with our own culture, "the people of the Fire Nation have desire and will, and the energy and drive to achieve what they want." He then went on to the other cultures, claiming that earth represented substance, with a persistent and stubborn nature. Air was freedom, and was a relatively peaceful culture. I listened on intently, hoping to cash in on this valuable knowledge. I had never attended any classes on other cultures before, given that throughout my school years, all I had been told was that our nation was the greatest and the rest were inferior. So, for such a seasoned man who immersed himself in other cultures for so long, I was grateful Uncle was willing to share this knowledge with me.
But my eyes focused harder when Uncle got to water, which he described as an element of change. Water benders could adapt to any environment that surrounded them, and tended to change together as a group. "It is important to draw wisdom from many difference places. If you only take it from one place, then you become rigid and stale. Understanding others would help you become whole," he lectured me.
Hearing that, I couldn't help but compare Uncle's lecture to the Avatar. Was it because of the requirements to learn all four elements that made the Avatar so strong? But Uncle soon addressed my point, as he told me I ought to think like the Avatar. "It can make you more powerful too. You see, the technique I'm about to teach you is one I learned by studying the water benders," he revealed with a twinkle in his eye.
My mind raced with excitement as we got up and into a slightly crouched stance. Now I truly realized why keeping an open mind was so important, as we could find out more about other cultures that we could adapt into our own systems. Whatever trust I lost in Uncle when I first left him was regained instantly as he went through the basic steps with me, asking me to follow his moves as he instructed me on energy flow. "A water bender lets their defence become their offence, turning their opponents' energy against them. I learned a way to do this with lightning."
I looked on intently, my eyes never leaving Uncle's hands as he pointed out various parts of his body that were crucial in the successful execution of this move. "If you let the energy in your own body flow, the lightning will follow it," he spoke while gesturing at once. I saw him point one hand in the air, claiming that energy must go into the fingertip, through the arm and shoulder, and ended in the abdomen. "The stomach is called the sea of chi. In my case, it's a vast ocean of chi!" He exclaimed with a laugh.
I gave a little grin, surprised that Uncle could joke around even in these times. While I was still bitter about how easily he accepted life as a lowly beggar, part of me was impressed at how quick he turned it around. I still didn't completely buy his speech about how I had to make chances out of nothing even when the entire world was against me, but at least I was willing to see things from his perspective. Focusing back on Uncle, he showed me how, through his stomach, he could direct the lightning into his other arm and into the opposite direction. "You must not let the lightning pass through your heart, because the damage then could be deadly," he warned me.
"Well, looks like that's one activity the kids shouldn't try at home," I thought to myself. Despite the sarcastic reaction, I was amazed that Uncle could actually garner all his experiences and come up with a technique all by himself. It was truly unbelievable, and perhaps it was the much-needed medicine I was lacking for now. Even in my three years of exile, I never truly appreciated the different lands I visited. In Uncle, who had been to all sorts of places and took in all sorts of sights, I now knew what an amazing individual he was. All that time, and even now, I was blinded by my bitterness to accept the different things that other cultures had to offer.
But Uncle, he enjoyed every second of it, interacting with others and trying to help me along the way. Maybe he was just like me in the past, where his determination to bring pride to the Fire Nation superseded everything else. But for today, he behaved like the very man I respected: wise and knowledgeable, friendly and affable, stern but patient, and a person I truly looked up to. He had always said that his experiences in the Earth Kingdom, particularly during the war, changed him. Perhaps this was what he meant?
And for the next few hours, we stood near the edge of the cliff just swaying back and forth, our arms moving in unison and our fingers alternating the direction to which they pointed. There wasn't much progress in terms of advancing the technique, but it was the time with Uncle that I treasured the most. Not only did my respect for him return, so did some of my hope that we would get out of this mess. Somehow, I knew Uncle could come through with something, given his vast knowledge. Maybe he had something else up his sleeve that I wasn't aware of yet? I couldn't say for sure, but for now, I was intent to master this technique so that I could fight another day.
"So, the Blue Spirit," Uncle's familiar voice echoed through the walls of this dark, damp chamber underneath Lake Laogai, a body of water just outside Ba Sing Se. It was the most unlikely of situations, but we managed to get ourselves into the capital of the Earth Kingdom via a secret society Uncle was a member of. Believe it or not, it was his Pai Sho tiles that led the way, and I felt a strange sense of irony in the sense that an item of such little importance in my eyes became our saviour.
But while Uncle was enjoying life as a tea server in Ba Sing Se, my mind was still on my honour. I knew the Avatar was on the loose after that battle in the deserted town, and it didn't help that Uncle was shot by Azula. But either way, Uncle's method of using a lotus tile to save us was truly remarkable, and I was (yet again) grateful for what he did. But for now, I had a perfect chance to take the initiative, as in this secret chamber I found the Avatar's Sky Bison, and could use it as leverage against the air bending boy.
"I wonder who could be behind that mask," Uncle continued his inquisitive yet sarcastic interrogation. I could only sigh as I realized my cover was blown. I found it so ironic that Uncle was at the very city where he lost his honour, but yet he was in no hurry to regain it. Whereas for me, the only reason I was in Ba Sing Se was because I already lost my honour, and now was a chance to regain it. What was Uncle possibly thinking with such a nonchalant attitude? Did he care more about his tea shop than my honour?
With the Avatar's bison still grunting and stomping behind me, I pulled off my mask. "What are you doing here?" I asked in defeat. Sometimes, there was no hiding from Uncle. His strong bond to me meant he could read my every move, which didn't bode well for me, since I intended this bison kidnapping to be a secret mission.
"I was just about to ask you the same thing," Uncle replied, his tone stern and serious, "what do you plan to do now that you've found the Avatar's bison? Keep it locked in our new apartment? Should I go put on a pot of tea for him?" The echoes of his voice off the walls signalled to me that he was none-too-impressed by my action, and only served to belittle me more. Couldn't I do anything I wanted and with my methods?
Taking a deep breath, I explained my plan to Uncle, insisting that we must get the bison out of the lake first. But before I moved on to another sentence, Uncle cut me off. "And then what?" he bellowed, the angriest I had heard him since I first journeyed with him, "you never think these things through. This is exactly what happened when you captured the Avatar at the North Pole. You had him, and then you had nowhere to go! If his friends hadn't found you, you would have frozen to death!"
"I know my own destiny, Uncle!" I retorted. Even though I had to stay strong to my goals, I found my position weakening by the second. Uncle had a point: there were several mistakes made at the North Pole. I simply wasn't ready for the elements last time, and even now, I wasn't sure if my plan would succeed. Should I just listen to Uncle and abandon the plan? So how would regaining my honour play a role here then?
But Uncle would soon answer that question for me. "Is it your own destiny, or is it a destiny someone else has tried to force on you?" he demanded. I tried to look away, but the emphasis in his voice became louder and clearer as the argument went on. "I'm begging you, Prince Zuko. It's time for you to look inward, and begin asking yourself the big question: who are you, and what do you want?" He concluded with authority.
Suddenly, my mind couldn't handle more of Uncle's rants. In frustration, I threw my swords to the ground and let out a cry of anxiety, my voice ringing through the room as thoughts mercilessly bombarded my mind. I didn't want to give up my journey of redemption, especially when I was so close to my goal several times now. But given how Uncle had pretty much accepted his fate, and was convincing me all along that a simpler life wasn't out of the question, could I truly abandon the one who accompanied me all this time? I knew Uncle would never be convinced to return to the Fire Nation with me, but I also didn't feel right to just take off without him. Was there no other way?
Finally, I picked up the strength to reach for my swords again. "You're right, Uncle," I conceded, "Maybe there is another way to go about my life." I moved up to the bison, eyeing the six chains that trapped its every leg. Taking another deep breath, I told Uncle, "I'm going to free the bison, and hope that the Avatar can find him."
Not a word was spoken as I used my swords to undo all the clamps and locks on the bison's feet. But even without looking, I could sense Uncle relax completely, his mind finally at ease as I chose to stay with him in Ba Sing Se. Maybe it was because I was cowardly, or maybe because I felt it wasn't worth it, but whatever the case, I felt my bond with Uncle was the most important thing right now. For the first time in three years, I could feel I could call some place home, away from the life that required me to wander the world aimlessly. But most importantly, I could truly live my life with the one person I truly admired: Uncle Iroh. As I undid the last shackle, I watched as the majestic animal took off for its freedom, paralleling the situation I was in right now. Perhaps, with this last act, I could finally achieve my own sense of freedom.
As Uncle and I climbed out from the manhole that I originally sneaked in from, I felt some weight lifted off my shoulders. At the very least, I didn't have to live my life in secret, and I knew this signified the beginning of a new age for me. As my uncle assured me that I did the right thing, I held the Blue Spirit mask in my hands one last time. This was the identity I took as I crossed the Earth Kingdom, having to loot and pillage all the villagers around us in order to survive. But now, as this part of the journey ended, another one would begin, and I was more than happy to move on. Taking one last look at it, I cast it into the lake, letting it sink into the abyss as I shed this painful memory from my mind.
"Uncle, I don't understand," I raised my concern as I had my rendezvous with my surrogate father in this underground chamber beneath the Earth Kingdom royal palace. After my incident with the bison, I went through a painful few days, rendered bedridden and running a continuous fever. The details were blurry, but I recalled Uncle telling me that this was the beginning of a big transformation within me. It was to test my entire make-up as a person, challenging my beliefs and forcing me to face my destiny.
And true to his word, it was an experience that left some vivid images in my mind, even though I only had spotty memories of it. I saw a scene where I was the new Fire Lord surrounded by two dragons that gave me conflicting advice, and another one where I woke up with a shaved head and blue arrow tattoos, resembling the very Avatar that I sought to capture. It was a confusing few moments, but by the time I recovered, I told Uncle I was ready to start a new life with him. In my mind, here was not just a new chance for our lives, but it also allowed my uncle and me to move on from the painful years that we had in the Fire Nation.
"What are you doing with the Avatar?" I demanded, pointing at the bald boy standing across from us. Our tea shop opened for less than a week, and already we had an invitation from the Earth King to serve him tea. We were originally waiting for him in his private dining quarters when suddenly, we were surrounded by Dai Li agents, led by none other than my manipulative sister Azula. While Uncle proposed escaping, I insisted on staying back to fight Azula, only to have the coward turn tail and sent the Dai Li on me. After a few hits, I was thrown into this underground dungeon, surrounded by bright green crystals with only the Avatar's water bending teacher as my companion and cellmate.
"Saving you, that's what," the Avatar curtly retorted, looking over the shoulder of the taller girl dressed in blue. Had it not been for Uncle blocking me, I would pound that kid to a pulp. If his girlfriend's rants about how I destroyed her family weren't enough to test my patience, then this cocky shrimp's attitude was. I surely wondered how the Avatar could bend with a couple of these crystals shoved up his nostrils.
But Uncle prevented any damage from being done, claiming that we ought to have a talk. "Go help out your other friends," he instructed our two foes, "we'll catch up to you." I could only grit my teeth as Uncle allowed them to leave. Why did Uncle join up with them? What was he trying to prove here?
Turning to me, Uncle offered his advice. "You're not the man you used to be, Zuko. You are stronger and wiser and freer than you have ever been," his words echoed off the rocky walls while the green reflections of the crystals paralleled the green and brown Earth Kingdom clothing that Uncle and I now sported, "and now you have come to the crossroads of your destiny." He concluded with emphasis. Somehow, I could tell this was a lecture like no other I had received from him before.
I glanced over at the heavyset man, realizing that my trust and faith in him now weighed heavier than ever before. We now faced a new life, but it seemed like our old life didn't want to go without a fight. Sure it was tempting to join Uncle in Ba Sing Se and worked in our tea shop, but with Azula on our doorsteps and the Avatar roaming in the vicinity, could I truly give them up for good? "It's time for you to choose. It's time for you to choose good," Uncle insisted, his tone gentle but firm.
Just as I considered his words, a series of crystals shot up from the ground, trapping Uncle in a complex maze while I looked on. In the distance, two Dai LI agents slid down from the opening, followed by my sister. "I expected this kind of treachery from Uncle, but Zuko," Azula stated, slowly stepping towards me, "Prince Zuko, you're a lot of things, but you're not a traitor, are you?" she questioned, her eyes thinning to darts.
I tried not to let her words influence me, realizing that she was probably up to her old tricks again. "Release him immediately," I hissed, getting into a fighter stance. While she had a life-long grudge against me, it wasn't fair that she brought Uncle into this. In my mind, Uncle had been the most generous and caring individual for us both, second only to our mother Ursa. So, to see Azula take Uncle as a hostage just to intimidate me, this was absolutely unacceptable, and I was willing to fight to the death to protect him.
"It's not too late for you, Zuko," Azula continued, her tone nonchalant as ever. I knew she was up to something, but I couldn't say what. Glancing around, she went on to discuss how this was another opportunity for me. "You can still redeem yourself."
"The kind of redemption she offers is not for you," Uncle chimed in from behind me. Even without saying anything, I knew what Uncle was trying to tell me. Azula was up to her old tricks again, and I ought to be extra careful when dealing with her.
But Azula brushed Uncle aside, stating that her plans transcended the Fire Nation. "I've plotted every move of this day, this glorious day in Fire Nation history, and the only way we win is by fighting together," she exclaimed, "At the end of this day, you will have your honour back. You'll have Father's love. You'll have everything you want!" In my mind, while part of me still felt she was setting a trap, the offer felt too good to reject. Those were the things I had always wanted, so why not reach out for them now?
But Uncle's voice snapped me back to reality. "Zuko, I am begging you. Look into your heart and see what it is that you truly want." I glanced back at the man who went through these experiences with me, and realized that to go with Azula would mean abandoning him. Even with my honour on the line, it was Uncle, not Azula or my father, who was doing all the hard work to help me. Uncle was the one who became a fugitive with me, and Uncle was the one who worked so hard to let us regain at least a bit of our dignity. Could I really make the choice to cast him aside and go with Azula?
As Azula marched off, claiming I was free to choose, I couldn't help but think about that weird experience I had. I was in the Fire Lord's seat, with two dragons curled up on the pillars to my either side. The blue dragon spoke in Azula's voice, her tempting tone enough to lull my security away. But on the other side, the red dragon sounded like Uncle, telling me to stay alert and trying to fend off the blue dragon. Was that some type of precursor to this event? In the dream sequence, the blue dragon supposedly defeated the red one, so did that mean Uncle would lose this battle?
As image after image swamped my mind, one word stuck out in the end: life. It was a matter of what type of life I chose to lead, and what type of life would be in store for me based on each choice. While I might enjoy an easy, relaxed life as a tea server, I realized the enormous potential behind going back to the Fire Nation with my honour restored. As the Fire Prince, I could probably help Uncle open ten tea shops, and ordered that only Uncle's brands of tea be served at our palace. Besides, Uncle had always said his greatest military failure was at Ba Sing Se, so why not let Uncle get a second shot at the walled city? Maybe this time, he would return a hero by catching the Avatar with me.
Without a second thought, I shed the outer layer of clothing and raced after Azula, not even bothering to listen to Uncle's calls from the previous chamber. I wasn't doing it just for me, but for Uncle as well. The next chamber, much wider and brighter than the last, greeted me with a battle scene, where my sister stood between the Avatar and Katara in a stare-down. Unleashing a fire bomb of my own, I blasted the area between them, getting all their attention as I edged up to the Avatar. Seeing a twisted look of fear on the bald boy's face, I unleashed a series of fire punches, putting him on the defensive.
Before long, the Avatar was on the run, leaping onto pillars and ledges while I tried to pull him down with a series of fire whips. It didn't matter what Azula and Katara were doing, nor did I see any of these obstacles as an issue. What was more important now was to defeat this group and returned to the Fire Nation as heroes, not just for me, but also for Uncle Iroh. Out of all of us here, he was the one most deserving of that status, even more deserving than me. There was no way in my mind that anyone of his history should be shunned like that, especially with all his dedication and achievements for our nation. Add all the love and respect he showed me, and I had to repay him somehow.
We soon found ourselves on the defensive as the Avatar held me back with a huge boulder drop while Katara wrapped water around Azula's limbs, causing her to teeter. We decided to switch position and have my sister go after the air bender while I tackled Katara. Water and fire whips sliced across the battleground. "I can't lose, not without redeeming Uncle," I urged myself on, parrying and jousting with the water bender. I tried to include some of Uncle's techniques in my fight, realizing that a water bender would use defence as their offence. So far, I hadn't done anything fiery, opting to focus on smooth and slower attacks. But it actually worked, as Katara couldn't do anything that penetrated past me. Deep down, a part of me really wanted Uncle to see me battle here.
We finally got our much desired help when the Dai Li rushed into the room, knocking the Avatar off from his spot and sending the bald boy sprawling to the ground. With that settled, it let Azula and I gang up on Katara, knocking the rhythm out of her water whips and sending her flying as well. Soon, Dai Li agents covered the entire chamber, outnumbering them at least fifty to two. Sensing there was no way to fight, the boy crumpled to the ground, creating a green crystal tent to cover himself. I could only cock my eyebrow at this move, trying to remember what Uncle told me about air benders. They tended to avoid conflict, giving up material goods to live a free life. So was that what Uncle referred to? By encasing himself in a tent, the Avatar was going to step away from the fight? In that case, he might as well surrender himself to us then!
But what followed was a truly stunning sight. The Avatar broke out of the green tent, his body hovering in a brilliant pillar of white light. Pure energy resonated through this room, leaving me in stunned silence. Uncle told me that the Avatar, when combining all four elements together, was a fearsome force, and seeing this alone was enough to shock me. It was so dangerous, yet serene; powerful, yet peaceful. It made me, for just one moment, forget that I was fighting this individual, and let me pause to absorb this scene. Uncle told me that I ought to take in more different sights and sounds to make me a more enlightened person, so maybe this was something I ought to do now?
But the scene was soon shattered as Azula sent a blast of lightning at the Avatar, piercing the boy right through his body. Now lifeless, the limp body of the Avatar sailed down from the ceiling, with nothing but rocks underneath to break his fall. For a while, I couldn't move a muscle, as I realized that Azula had just wounded, if not killed, the most powerful being in the world. While it would pretty much guarantee us good words from Father, I really didn't know what to think. Uncle had said before that spiritual beings were not to be reckoned with, so what implications would this have for us?
I barely got time to consider that option as a huge wave swamped us, dispersing our crowd as Katara rushed to the Avatar's aide. She picked up the unconscious boy, a helpless look on her face as Azula and I regrouped. We had to finish the job, given how far we came. Uncle and I would return as heroes, I knew it.
Suddenly, a sea of fire rushed past us, cutting us off from our targets. I turned my head to the source and, to my horror, it was Uncle Iroh! Unleashing a barrage of fire from his fists, he urged Katara to leave with the Avatar immediately. "I'll them off as long as I can!" He shouted amidst a hailstorm of fire balls, keeping even the Dai Li at bay.
If I stunned by the Avatar being shot, then I was truly appalled by Uncle's latest move. Didn't he realize what was going on? Why was he undoing my good work? There was nothing I could do as I stood paralyzed, not knowing what to say as the Dai Li shot up crystals and pinned Uncle in place. I tried to gauge Uncle's expression, and his face said it all. Dipping his eyes, he tilted away from me, his lips pursed into a fume. Without a doubt, I knew he was extremely ashamed of me, and didn't want to have anything to do with my latest achievement, no matter how great it was.
For the rest of the day, I was in complete silence, not knowing what to think. I had what I wanted, with my honour in sight, but it was at a great expense. I had to burn the very bridge that brought me here, turning the one relative I loved the most into a prisoner rather than a hero. "I betrayed Uncle," I muttered.
"No, he betrayed you," Azula pointed out, claiming that Uncle had a chance to choose our side, but defended the Avatar instead. Even then, something about the case made it not feel right. Was Uncle truly nothing but a pawn to me? Could I truly cast him aside all because he no longer shared my goals? Even though he was now truly a traitor, did that justify my actions in abandoning him like that?
"No, it can't be," I murmured, stepping away from Azula. I couldn't have done the wrong thing, because I had the right intention. I wanted Uncle to regain glory with me, and it was him who chose to cast me aside. Determined to set things right, I made a note to cut all ties with this person, at least for the time being. If he didn't see it as a goal worth pursuing, then he might as well say this nephew of his wasn't worth it either.
"You brought this on yourself, you know," I stared into the dark cell before me, my eyes squinting at the back of the shadowed figure hunched over at the far wall. It had been over a week since my glorious return to the Fire Nation, where my sister and I were feted as heroes. Father now restored my honour, I was respected by staff and servants alike in the palace, and I now started dating my childhood friend Mai. For now, I felt like life couldn't be better, and nothing could drag me down.
But soon, my actions at Ba Sing Se caught up to me, as the man I decided to cut all ties with soon appeared in my thoughts like an apparition. Uncle was returned to the Fire Nation as a traitor, and was sentenced to life imprisonment. While Dad was proud of how I sided with the nation by turning on Uncle, it ate away at my mind that Uncle chose not to join my quest, almost like he did it just to rebel against me. Even when I had his interests at heart, how could he refuse my offer?
And that was where I found myself, sneaking out of the palace in the middle of the night and visiting Uncle Iroh at his cell. I made sure the night-shift guards kept my visit a secret, as not to spread the news of my presence. Deep down, Uncle was still on my mind, as I had to figure out what he was up to. "We could have returned together," I scolded the seated figure with his back towards me, "you could have been a hero!"
Surprisingly, there was no response from the usually talkative man. I knew Uncle often had weird proverbs and other wisdom during times like this, so to get the silent treatment from him was quite alarming. "You have no right to judge me. I did what I had to do in Ba Sing Se, and you're a fool for not joining me." I insisted.
Again, no response from the heavyset man. Was he trying to play mind games with me? What was he trying to prove by not addressing my points? Maybe this was part of his plan all along, knowing that I vowed to cut ties with him, but realizing that I was the first to crack and returned begging to him. Finally, my frustration took over as I grabbed the nearby stool and threw it against the wall, burning it to a crisp with a fire punch. "You're a crazy old man," I shouted, my voice echoing off the dark, damp walls, "and if you weren't in jail, you'd be sleeping in the gutter!"
I stormed out in a huff, not wanting to deal with this disgusting individual for another second. If he felt it was alright to spend the rest of his life branded as a traitor and a prisoner, then that was his prerogative. One reason I went after the Avatar in Ba Sing Se was because I cared about Uncle too much to leave him out of the loop, and wanted to use this chance to bring us both back to the Fire Nation with our honour restored. But even in the face of life imprisonment, this former Fire Nation crown prince and general was willing to go with that. Didn't he have any dignity inside?
For the next few days, I tried my best to take my mind off Uncle, realizing that it was nothing more than his plan to make me feel guilty. Instead, I focused my energy on Mai, who I had bonded with during this time. Unlike Uncle, Mai truly appreciated what I was all about, and accepted my actions without question. As we enjoyed our picnic at the edge of the capital caldera, my mind was finally at ease from all that turmoil.
But then, Azula had to ruin the moment, claiming that she found out about my visits with Uncle. While she claimed to be looking out for me by warning me not to see him, it brought back a host of memories that pushed my legacy in question. What if the Avatar didn't die in Ba Sing Se? What if Father continued to have doubts about what happened? Azula told me she gave me the credit for slaying the last air bender, but what if that was a trap to get me in trouble? Suddenly, confusion swept my mind.
Believe it or not, I ended up returning to the very man I berated earlier, realizing that he was the only one I trusted with this conundrum. So, in the dead of the night, I returned to the same prison cell and approached him. And in my attempt to make nice, I brought him some dinner. "I admit it, I have everything I've always wanted, but it's not at all how I thought it would be," I explained, sliding the box of komodo chicken into the cell, "the truth is, I want your advice. I think the Avatar's still alive. I know he's out there, and I'm losing my mind!" I exclaimed, grabbing onto the bars.
Again, Uncle refused to respond, forcing me to beg him for help. "I'm so confused, I want your help!" I pleaded, hoping he would turn around. I never expected it coming, but now I regretted threatening to severe all ties with him. Maybe had I not gone that route, he might still wish to speak with me? He knew how important he was to me, so why did he have to ignore me, despite the Ba Sing Se incident?
Soon, I had enough of him milking my guilt. "Forget it, I'll solve this myself. Waste away in here for all you want!" I yelled, storming out of the cell in a hurry. Right now, I had to find someone who was willing to take on a secret mission for me, one that I had to accomplish before things got too far out of hand.
I ended hiring a strange individual with a third eye tattoo, who I heard had unusual fire bending abilities that could cause great damage. I also heard that he could carry through his missions with stealth and great efficiency, making him the best choice for hunting the Avatar. "I want you to find the Avatar and end him," I muttered, handing him a bag of coins, which the goateed man took into his metallic hand without a word.
The next few days were quite uneasy for me, as I had to juggle my Fire Prince duties all the while worrying over whether the Avatar would pop up again. It didn't help that I was sent on a forced vacation with Azula, Mai and Ty Lee, but overall it gave me some closure. Ember Island allowed me to come to terms with my past, and let me know that at least one person, Mai, was with me on this entire journey. So, even though I had some reservations in my mind, I felt confident enough to carry on with life.
But Uncle's actions still weighed on my mind, as I just couldn't come to terms as to how quickly he disregarded the bond that formed between us during our exile. As I told him many times already, I did what I did at Ba Sing Se for both our interests. Never in my mind had I considered taking actions that threatened his well-being. And even when I tried to reconcile with him, bringing him some palace food as opposed to making him eat prison food, he still rejected me. I wasn't convinced that I meant nothing to him, and that he no longer saw a bond with me. But after the last few incidents, I was no longer sure of that. Whatever Uncle had in mind, it most likely didn't involve me.
"You sent this, didn't you?" I demanded, waving the note outside Uncle's prison cell. Just when I was getting back into a routine for my life, this bombshell of a note was dropped off mysteriously outside my bedroom door one night. There was no information on the sender or who it was really addressed to. In fact, all it said was that I must figure out the death of my great-grandfather in order to discovery my true destiny.
And what a wild goose chase that led to, as I sneaked out of my room in at night, visiting the Dragon Tooth Catacombs, where the Fire Nation royals were entombed. Inside the chamber of my great-grandfather Sozin, I scoured through pages of documents outlining every detail of his long life and reign as the Fire Lord. From his history with Avatar Roku to his initial ambitions for the war, there was no single piece of information that I could use to clarify my confusion. In fact, all the dates and details only reminded me of how boring history class was in school. If making me sit through another boring history lecture was Uncle's way of torturing me, then I would say he succeeded here.
"I found the secret history, which by the way, should be renamed the history that most people already know!" I yelled, shoving the note into my cloak in disgust. As usual, the old man didn't face me, but at least I could see the side of his face rather than the back of his head. Maybe, with a couple more dirty tricks like this one, he would think we would be even, and started facing me more. "He was still alive in the end!" I added, pointing out Fire Lord Sozin still directed the war even after the Air Nomad Genocide.
Finally, in what seemed like an eternity, Uncle lifted his head to face me. I could barely say anything, my anger starting to subside as I truly saw the face of the man who took care of me. It was smudged and caked with dust and dirt, with strands of loose hair draping over his temples. For a second, I was almost too shocked to speak, as I never imagined Uncle to be in this bad shape. For a while, I truly realized the damage I did to him, and even somewhat regretted my actions.
But it was his words that shocked me the most. "You have more than one great-grandfather, Prince Zuko. Sozin was your father's grandfather," he explained, his body now turned to face me completely. Despite the dimness, his posture was straighter and taller than ever, almost like we spoke as equals even though he was a prisoner while I was currently heir to the throne, "your mother's grandfather was Avatar Roku."
It was like the whole wall at Ba Sing Se had collapsed onto me as Uncle unveiled this shocking news. "Understanding the struggle between your two great-grandfathers can help you better understand the battle within yourself," he continued as I dropped to my knees, too stunned to even react, "evil and good are always at war inside you, Zuko. What happened generations ago, can be resolved now, by you! Because of your legacy, you alone can cleanse the sins of our family and the Fire Nation!" He declared.
My eyebrows curled to impossible shapes, wondering why Uncle now assigned the task of restoring balance to the world to me, rather than the very Avatar that he tried to save in Ba Sing Se. As I looked on, I could only imagine what Uncle was thinking: his generation, with the death of Lu Ten (thus ending Uncle's bloodline) and the sibling rivalry between Uncle and my father, pretty much left the Fire Nation in a mess. Despite our preference for order, there was certainly none as a power struggle ensued. And with Azula being unpredictable and manipulative as ever, I now saw why Uncle approached me: he saw me as the one to regain the nation's hope again.
Before I left, Uncle handed me a headpiece, supposedly the same one Avatar Roku wore when he was still alive. He didn't say anymore to me, only bidding me a good night's rest as I left his prison cell. I still had reservations about how I would proceed with this new information, as I wasn't exactly in the best position to change things up. Last war meeting was a private affair between my father and his closest advisors, hence the unexpected vacation to Ember Island with Azula, Mai and Ty Lee.
Plus, there was no telling that any of Uncle's words held any weight anyway. My father was already planning for an end to the war, and that would bring a great victory to the Fire Nation. Whatever uncertainty or dishonour that was brought upon by ancestors would be rectified then, as the Fire Nation at its peak would be a force to be reckoned with. Surely I could wait until then, after the nation was no longer completely wrapped in a war and I had gained some power, before I raised the issues with Dad, right?
But how wrong could I be, as I was invited to attend the next war meeting, just days before a supposed solar eclipse. My father wanted one final meeting to fine-tune all the details for the end of the war. Even though I behaved perfectly, avoiding the last war meeting disaster, I could tell something was up when he asked me for my opinion. Since I was amongst the Earth Kingdom commoners, he asked me to describe what I felt would be the best way to defeat the Earth Kingdom. It was Uncle's advice to me at my previous war meeting to keep my mouth shut that got me in trouble, so wasn't it ironic that Dad now welcomed my words? Hopefully this wouldn't end with another burn to the face.
Shortly after I told everyone that the Earth Kingdom's stubborn pride meant the people would refuse to concede as long as they had hope, my father and Azula came up with the most vicious and ruthless plan I had ever heard of. Claiming that they had to cut short any hope, the Fire Nation airship fleet would be flown over Earth Kingdom lands where elite fire benders would then raze everything to the ground. I sat in stunned silence as my father explained the plan to the generals, realizing that my Uncle's words were right on. This wasn't a war we were fighting, it was mass genocide. To turn every piece of land from the Wulong Forest to Ba Sing Se into ash was unacceptable to me. No wonder the world hated us right now, with all these disgusting acts that reduced people's lives into nothing. That was when I realized that whatever action required to regain the Fire Nation's glory and to protect the people of the world must be initiated right now.
I decided to make my move on the day of the solar eclipse, just when the entire capital city would be evacuated. Azula heard that the Avatar's group planned an invasion on that day, so the best strategy was to lay low, wait out the eclipse, before launching our full-scale attack on them. While everyone rushed into large underground bunkers, I was at the palace, making my final preparations. I gathered all my essentials, along with my two swords, and prepared to head out. "I'm going to set things right," I decided.
As I entered the bunkers, I thought about how I would confront my father and speak my mind to him, telling him I would no longer conform to his ways and would join the Avatar. But most importantly, I would free Uncle from his prison and apologized to him for my actions. Uncle Iroh was the one who taught me to embrace the world, and he was the one who tried to pull me to the right path when I was lost and confused in my period of exile. So even if I didn't do it for my ancestors or my nation, then at the very least I had to do it for Uncle. Taking a deep breath, I ventured into the abyss below, my mind filled with uncertainty as I started my journey of rectification.
Despite this being a breezeless summer night, I felt anything but calm and warm as I crouched outside the large tent. My journey of redemption had been anything but uneventful, as I ended up taking a war balloon to chase after the Avatar's group. My status as a traitor and fugitive was pretty much confirmed when I faced off against my father, who tried to shoot me down with lightning. I managed to save myself by using the very technique Uncle taught me, and redirected the blast right back at him. While my nerves were still shaking as I hurried out, I couldn't help but feel a great sense of pride as I didn't let my uncle down. After all that he taught me, the very least I could do was honour this move that he created, something that I vowed never to forget.
But getting acceptance from Uncle again would be the most difficult part, even more difficult than getting acceptance from the Avatar's group. While their blind earth bender, Toph, seemed willing to include me into their group, the rest of the team was adamant in keeping me out. It was only after I tried to ward off the very assassin I hired to hunt them down that they finally welcomed me to the group.
"Are you okay?" I heard a female voice ask from behind me. I lifted my head to see Katara, the water bending girl, hovering above me. It was kind of ironic that she was the one to approach me, as she was the most dead-set throwing me out of the group. The Avatar, Aang, started warming up to me, with the first true test of our bond coming on a trip to the Sun Warriors to learn fire bending from two dragons. He was followed by Sokka, Katara's brother, who requested my help in breaking his father out of prison. But Katara, she only truly accepted me when I brought her face-to-face with the former leader of the Sea Ravens, the man who killed her mother. Thankfully, she managed to find some closure from that incident, allowing her to truly release her hatred of fire benders.
"My uncle hates me, and I know it," I glumly responded. It was just days before Sozin's Comet arrived, and Aang had to take on my father in order to end the war. But for some strange reason, he disappeared from our group in the middle of the night. Even when we tried tracing his scent, it didn't work. So the next best thing was to track down my uncle, who could provide the best wisdom for now. "He loved me and supported me in every way he could, and I still turned against him. How can I even face him?"
"Zuko, you're sorry for what you did, right?" Katara asked. Her words struck hard into my heart, as I realized how truly ashamed I was of my actions. I truly wanted to tell Uncle how much he meant to me, and how wrong it was for me to abandon him. "If you are, then he'll forgive you. He will." Katara assured me.
Taking a deep breath, I slowly made my way into the tent. This camp was actually set up by the Order of the White Lotus, a group of elderly but skilled and wise warriors that transcended borders, united by a common goal: seeking wisdom from philosophy, beauty, and truth. I actually had some experience with them before, as they were the ones who smuggled Uncle and me into Ba Sing Se when we were fugitives, all thanks to Uncle's lotus tile. From what the members told me, my uncle was the leader of the group, colloquially addressed as the Grand Lotus. But for me, it didn't matter how many high ranks he held, as there was only one title that I wished he would regain: Zuko's uncle. It might not mean anything to the world, but it meant everything to me. So was he willing to let that be bestowed on him once again? "Uncle," I began, my voice weak and hoarse.
Only a series of snores greeted me as a heavyset man snoozed away at the bed. If Uncle had a better way of showing he was still himself, this was it. The snoring sounds brought me back to my time in exile, when Uncle and I would be stuck together on a ship or some Fire Nation camp, and his room was usually right next to mine. Even with the doors closed, I still heard him through the walls, reminding me who truly accompanied me through those years. Back then, when the slumber ended, I awoke each morning to light-hearted jokes and confusing philosophies. Now, I doubted I would get any more than a snort. Kind of fitting, I guessed, given how I showed the world what a loser pig I was by betraying Uncle. "It's too late to apologize," I thought, "it's too late."
I could only sit before his bed, letting the thoughts eat away at my mind as his every inhale and exhale counted down to my impending doom. While Uncle slept without any worry, I was a nervous wreck, as I was still wondering what would happen when he woke up and saw my face. Would he shun me the way I shunned him? Perhaps I didn't do a good enough job in the past of convincing him how important he was to me, and now he wouldn't reciprocate that feeling. How about the fact that he mentioned to me, several times, that I was like his surrogate son after Lu Ten died? Maybe that thought was still stuffed in the deepest part of his mind, and there were hopes that it would return?
I could feel the tent warming up as the sun's rays seeped through the opening behind me and under the fabric of the tent. My eyes tilted around nervously, realizing that I didn't sleep at all, but didn't have the courage to do so. Uncle could be seen stirring, meaning judgment time had arrived. Uncle finally lifted his body from the bed, shaking his head a couple of times before pausing. That was when my whole body froze up, as he knew I was here the whole night, and was probably none-too-impressed by it.
To no one's surprise, Uncle whipped his back around, refusing to face me. I could only let my emotions conquer me as I addressed him. "Uncle, I know you must have mixed feelings about seeing me, but I want you to know, I am so, so sorry, Uncle." Warm tears flooded my face as I poured my heart out, knowing full well that I couldn't move on with this shame bottled in me. The fluid clouded my eyes fully, impairing my vision as I continued, "I'm so sorry and ashamed of what I did. I don't know how I can make it up to you…" I blubbered, almost at a loss for words as tears flooded the floor below.
But I couldn't continue as I was violently jerked from my position and into a huge bear hug, with a pair of strong arms putting the squeeze on me. I opened my eyes and felt Uncle there, holding me tight in this embrace. I was hit by a second wave of emotions, this time containing shock, relief, and happiness all at once. "How could you forgive me so easily? I thought you would be furious with me!" I stuttered, not knowing what to say.
Uncle's response told me everything, as his voice was just as hoarse as mine. Filled with emotions and tears of his own, Uncle explained that he had never been angry with me. "I was sad because I was afraid you'd lost your way," he informed me, finally letting me go. Holding my face, he got a good look at me, and also showed me the joyful expression of his own as he continued, "But you found it again, and you did it by yourself too. And I am so happy you found your way here, back to me."
Both of us put on a smile as we embraced one more time. "It wasn't that hard, Uncle. You have a pretty strong scent." I told him how I tried using his old smelly sandal to track him, which ended up being the first joke we shared since our reunion. How I missed those moments, and was I ever happy that it was now regained.
I brought him outside, where Aang's group waited eagerly for me. Every single one of them had a huge smile on their faces as they finally witnessed the long-awaited reunion. After some congratulations and well-wishes on our reconciliation, we gathered for breakfast to discuss our next move. Realizing that a fight against my father was all but inevitable, I insisted that Uncle Iroh be the one to battle him. "We need you to come with us," I insisted, my knuckles turning white as I squeezed my chopsticks to death.
"No, Zuko. It won't turn out well," Uncle replied, claiming that it would only resemble a fierce sibling rivalry in which power-hungry brothers killed each other just to seize power. "The only way for this war to end peacefully, is for the Avatar to defeat the Fire Lord," he concluded in that calm demeanour that I missed listening to so much.
Nodding my head, I realized why he would choose such a method. My Uncle had never truly been a cruel and violent person, despite his vast experience as a fighter. Add the fact that he was close to the spirits and I understood why Uncle wanted Aang to do the job. But Uncle was a former crown prince, so perhaps he could become the new Fire Lord when this was over? "Then would you come to take your rightful place?" I asked.
Again, Uncle refused, claiming that new blood was necessary to renew the Fire Nation and let fire benders regain their honour in the world. "It must be an idealist with a pure heart and unquestionable honour," he stated, "It has to be you, Zuko."
I could only stutter as several pairs of eyes turned to me. From my left to right, I saw Toph, Sokka, the Kyoshi Warrior Suki, and Katara all eagerly waiting for my answer to Uncle's offer. Did they truly believe I could be the one to help Aang restore balance to the world? "But I've made so many mistakes," I pointed out, feeling increasingly uneasy.
Then Uncle said what I thought I would never expect him to say, even with his undying support through the years. "You struggled, you suffered, but you have always followed your own path," he explained. Just when I thought Uncle couldn't be more motivating, he pulled off the surprise of my life as inspiration pooled in his eyes. "You restored your own honour, and only you can restore the honour of the Fire Nation."
I bit my lips, not sure what to make of this. I appreciated everything Uncle told me, especially the amount of faith he placed on me. But I was still only getting used to having him back, and now I must venture onto yet another journey? This time, it was likely that I would have to go alone, as Uncle was intent not to mix too many old ideas in with my fresher ones, so what if I wasn't ready? And even if I could end the war, what must I do to face my people within the Fire Nation, many of whom might be confused by the turn of events? "I'll try, Uncle," I responded, my voice barely above a murmur.
While I pondered over my options, it was decided by our group that Katara and I would head to the Fire Nation capital to face off against Azula. From what I recalled, my father was supposed to lead a fleet of airships to burn down the Earth Kingdom, so that meant Azula was bound to be in the Fire Nation palace. While Toph, Sokka, and Suki went after the air fleet, Katara and I would challenge Azula, leaving Uncle with the Order of the White Louts, who would then tackle Ba Sing Se. "When I was a boy, I had a vision that I would one day take Ba Sing Se. Only now do I see that my destiny is to take it back from the Fire Nation so that the Earth Kingdom can be free again," Uncle stated.
With that, an Eel Hound was brought forth for Sokka's team to head to the airship base, while Katara and I would fly on Aang's Sky Bison to the Fire Nation capital. Even though I knew Azula could very well overpower me, I brimmed with confidence after hearing Uncle's words. Perhaps a new age was about to come, and it was time that we took destiny into our own hands, rather than let things be dictated to us and having us whine about our outcomes. As we gathered one last time before we departed, Uncle gave us his final blessing. "Today, destiny is our friend, I know it." He proclaimed.
As we left the camp, I could only think of all the encouragement Uncle gave me through the years, and how much they meant to me. But it was here that I also realized one thing: I meant a lot to Uncle as well. For him to give up his throne, his ideals, and even his place in the Fire Nation hierarchy all for me, that showed how much faith he had in my abilities. Even with my flaws, he always saw me as the one to restore our nation's honour. So now I realized the stakes were even higher, as I couldn't possibly let the man who taught me everything down. Even with him living out the rest of his life as a tea shop owner in Ba Sing Se, he was still a man that I trusted, respected, and loved. And for that, there was no way I could dishonour the effort he put into bringing me up.
"And that's how I broke out of prison," Uncle concluded as we finished setting up the final tables. The final battle, which took place on two fronts, was a victory for our side. Aang told me that he was with a giant Lion Turtle the entire time we were looking for him, and the beast dropped him off at the Wulong Forest just in time for the airship fleet to arrive. The Lion Turtle managed to teach Aang an ancient technique that allowed him to strip my father of his bending without killing him, therefore meeting Aang's goal of not taking a life. I had to admit that I was amazed at that story, given how Lion Turtles were only mentioned in legends. I swore that if I had time, I was research this a bit more.
But mirroring Aang, I also had my successful battle against Azula. Despite not being able to redirect her lightning completely, Katara managed to make enough moves against Azula to chain her down, preventing any more damage from being done. Now, with my father in prison and Azula in an asylum, I was crowned Fire Lord. During my coronation, I told the world that I promised Uncle I would restore the honour of the Fire Nation. "But with the Avatar's help, we can get the world back on the right path," I recalled saying, "and begin a new era of love, peace, and hope."
As I prepared tea cups for our special guests, Uncle pulled out his horn, another item that I sorely missed. During my exile, I thought Uncle's music nights on the boat were pointless and boring, but it was only after my lonely return to the Fire Nation that I changed my mind. Sometimes, it was the simple pleasures that meant the most. Being in the company of friends and family, talking to a person that you trusted and respected, and just basking in the warmth and comfort of those who appreciated you in return, these were things that no money and power could grant you. When Uncle and I finally patched things up, I also believed this point was quite significant between Uncle and me.
And as our guests, which consisted of Aang and Katara, Sokka and Suki, Toph, and my girlfriend Mai, began arriving, I truly realzied why Uncle preferred this lifestyle. While I had much responsibility ahead of me, starting with the first meeting between a Fire Lord and an Earth King (Kuei, who recently returned to the throne after some time in exile) in decades, I must remember to enjoy the simple pleasures in life, especially if I wanted my reign to be a successful one. Perhaps it was somewhat fitting that I would base my method after Uncle's, as he was the Fire Lord that never was. Maybe, by fulfilling my promise to Uncle, I was also extending his legacy, and incorporating it into a larger one to call my own? As I watched him perform his music to my friends, only one thought crossed my mind…
This is Iroh. That was his story. Those were his rites of passage.
I want to dedicate this chapter to Legend of Zelda 4 Life, who recently celebrated a birthday. I guess how I relate to LOZ4L (and how LOZ4L relates to me) is kind of like Zuko/Iroh. We are constantly in an up-and-down situation, where we don't see each other eye-to-eye. Sometimes, we have our misunderstandings and disagreements, and that may lead to cases like what Zuko did in Ba Sing Se (splitting from each other). But I also believe that just like Zuko and Iroh, we can build through our disagreements and form an even stronger bond. I hope you feel the same way, and happy birthday to you. As for the rest of you readers, thank you for reading and hope to see you next chapter.