Big shout-out to Kelev who reviewed two chapters in one shot last time. Also want to say congratulations to her because it's her wedding this weekend. Unfortunately, I have no wedding in this chapter, which is Zuko's second (of four) parts. Maybe I'll sneak a potential future scene in Part 4, when the series would have ended and Zuko would be marrying Mai. Until then, enjoy this chapter where Zuko officially begins his exile and journey into Ba Sing Se.

Michael DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko own Avatar.

Zuko's POV

The snowstorm showed no signs of stopping as a blanket of white rolled over the landscape. I barely escaped the Spirit Oasis with the Avatar, after a very tough battle with the water tribe girl who always protected him. I admitted that I underestimated the filthy peasant, as her water bending was enhanced by the moon. I spent much of the battle frozen in a block of ice, trying to muster enough heat to thaw myself out. Luckily, the sun rose just in time, giving me back my fire bending and getting a good retaliation shot on her that knocked her out. With the Avatar in some form of meditation that paralyzed his body, the boy was easy picking for me.

I turned back at the Avatar, who I stashed with me in this cave. "I finally have you, but I can't get you home because of this blizzard," I hissed, breathing fire over my hands and rubbing them for warmth. It was almost too easy how I just plucked him from the oasis and brought him with me, given how well he eluded capture in the past. As soon as this blizzard cleared up, it would be a one-way street all the way to the Fire Nation capital, where my father would receive me with open arms. But until then, I was stuck here with this confounding boy.

And the more I observed the seemingly asleep Avatar, the more I resented the way things turned out throughout my trip. "You're like my sister. Everything always came easy for her. She's a fire bending prodigy, and everyone adores her," I spat, recalling how Azula was always the one to get whatever she wanted. Just like the Avatar, who always found some way of getting away from me, and in the process making me look bad. "My father says she was born lucky, he says I was lucky to be born. I don't need luck though, I don't want it." Years of being in exile taught me never to rely on things I couldn't control. Out here, I created my own destiny, and it made me who I was today: a strong warrior ready to take on any challenge.

But no strong warrior was dumb enough to tackle this snowstorm, which showed no signs of stopping. I wasn't too keen on freezing to death, so the only choice I had was to wait it out. "Guess we'll be here for a while," I muttered, watching the boy breathing tranquilly. I had no idea how the Siege at the North Pole was going at this time, as Uncle promised to be watching Zhao the entire time to ensure he didn't intercept me. With all those water benders, I was sure Zhao would stay busy, but with his fire bending army, I wasn't sure for how long.

Suddenly, a bright light flashed through the sky, catching my attention as it descended onto our cave and into the Avatar. It didn't take long for the boy to wake up, leaving me with another situation in my hands. "Welcome back," I snarled, realizing he would make another attempt to escape again. Well, at least the storm would slow him down, right?

"It's good to be back," the Avatar retorted, his tone sounding as arrogant as Zhao. Before I could react, the bald kid blew a huge gust of air straight at me, sending me into the deeper parts of the cave while he was propelled out. I didn't know how he did it, but there he was, trying to make another escape. Uncle was right yet again when he told me I had to use a tightly woven net. It was funny how his confusing words always ended up being right.

But there was no confusion as to what had to be done, as I hurried out into the snowstorm going after that kid. Luckily for me, I managed to tie him up during the time I was in the cave, so there wasn't going to be an easy escape. As he struggled to gain any ground, I made up the distance with ease. "That won't be enough," I growled, pulling him up from the snow.

Yet another factor I didn't expect came into play as the Avatar's bison flew into view, with his loyal water tribe supporters sitting in the saddle. The little peasant girl didn't waste any time as she sent a blast of snow my way, before I could even get set. I was sent for the ride of my life before getting slammed to the ground, the impact so hard that I lost consciousness. Maybe she wasn't kidding when she said this wasn't much of a rematch for her.

By the time I was awake, I found myself at the oasis again. I was to the side, watching the oh-so-condescending Admiral Zhao face off against the Avatar. "He's right, Zhao," Uncle's very familiar voice cut into the conversation. I found out from Uncle before I left the ship that Zhao wanted to attack the Moon Spirit, who gave up its immortality to live among humans. Seeing Zhao hold up a squirming bag, I figured Zhao must have captured it already. "We all depend on the balance. Whatever you do to that spirit, I will unleash on you tenfold! Let it go now!"

Zhao seemingly relented, releasing the fish back into the pond. But his famous temper soon got the best of him as he sliced into the water with a fire blade. Instantly, the moon grew dark and Uncle went on the offensive, blasting Zhao's men all over the place. The coward, to no one's surprise, slipped out of the oasis unnoticed, but I wasn't about to let him off the hook. For trying to hijack my ship earlier, he was about to pay. I slipped out from the bushes and followed him, hoping to catch this disgusting human being at an isolated spot.

I caught up with the scum of the earth in an isolated bridge, right in the midst of total chaos, thanks to some weird humanoid fish monster that was terrorizing our soldiers. Koizilla was the least of my concerns right now as I unleashed my fire on Zhao, who was surprised that I was still alive. Zhao, you were surprised that not only had I bested you in an Agni Kai, you were also surprised when I pursued the Avatar as hard as you did, to the point where I could infiltrate your fortress and freed him. So to see you go down in defeat now, it wasn't a surprise at all.

"You're the Blue Spirit, an enemy of the Fire Nation," Zhao hissed, glaring at me as I continued my assault. He ought to have known that I had no choice but to catch the Avatar, so the fact that he got his hands onto my search from the first day was wrong to begin with. As we continued sparring, I could spot from the corner of my eye Koizilla now out at sea. "You could have chosen to accept your failure, and that you're a disgrace. At least, you could have lived."

The battle continued raging on, but I could tell I was gaining the upper hand. Again, I had to make sure I thanked Uncle, as my basic techniques gave me the balance of going offensive while pulling back and guarding defensively. Zhao's random fury was going nowhere, as he was soon wearing himself out. After a series of quick blasts, the admiral was on his back again.

Just then, Zhao's attention was diverted to the skies, which seemingly became brighter. "It can't be," he roared, pointing at the moon. I was surprised at how the moon relit itself as well, but didn't bring much attention to it. Uncle always said that the spirits had powers that humans weren't able to understand, so perhaps there was another source of spiritual energy that provided it light again. Now, with water benders at an advantage, I had to get out of here quick.

I rolled out of the way just as a hand-like object shot from the water, taking Zhao into its clutches. I was guessing Koizilla was done displaying its fury, and now wanted some payback from Zhao for trying to kill its mate. Seeing Zhao struggle to free himself was too much for me, as the very least I could do was give him a fair chance before we continued our duel. Climbing onto the railing, I reached out at him. "Grab my hand," I shouted, hoping he would notice.

But Zhao's ego was bigger than anyone anticipated, as not only did he refused to hold onto me, he pulled his hand back and continued glaring at me. I wasn't sure how to feel as he disappeared into the depths below, never to be seen again. Part of me felt guilty that I didn't do more to help Zhao, but another part of me felt relief as this hated man was no longer part of my life. As I stood there, watching in paralyzed confusion, the strangely-coloured blob slowly faded away, leaving the water in a peaceful sway again.

Whatever the case, I felt fatigue wash over me as I managed to rendezvous with Uncle. We didn't say much to each other as we returned to a small boat, trying to get out of the North Pole as quickly as possible. The Fire Nation navy was decimated beyond belief by that spiritual attack, and there was no doubt in my mind that my father would be furious. I was quite angry at myself too, as I no longer had my ship, and the Avatar was still on the loose. Somehow, I had a feeling that things were not about to get better any time soon.

Iroh's POV

"We're going home! After three long years, it's unbelievable!" Zuko exclaimed as he paced behind me in this resort hut. After the failed siege, we ended up coming to this resort at the border between the Fire Nation and the Earth Kingdom. It gave us a chance to relax ourselves and lose the tension that persisted for the past few months when we pursued the Avatar. I even collected a bunch of seashells for my personal decoration. Wasn't it great?

But Zuko seemed to have other things on his mind, as his sister Azula showed up today. I always had reservations about my niece, who happened to be my brother's favourite. Her usually deceiving and manipulating nature and relative ease in using blackmail and intimidation as ways of getting what she wanted made me feel uncomfortable around her. After all, she was there when Zuko was burned by Ozai, and from what I heard, she enjoyed seeing her brother getting defeated. Was that a way to treat a sibling? Even though Ozai and I didn't get along all the time, I never wished any harm upon him. Where on earth did she learn such a thing?

"It is unbelievable. I have never known my brother to regret anything," I replied to Zuko. It was one of the most unusual stories ever when Azula informed us that Ozai was regretting his decision to banish Zuko. Claiming that there were assassination plots around the capital city, Azula told us Ozai wanted all direct family members, people he could trust, by his side. I still recalled the day Ozai announced he was sending Zuko into exile, his smug tone resonating to us all as he marched off, not even casting a glance at his son as his decision became final. With so much conviction behind that proclamation, why the sudden change?

But Zuko would have none of that, as he was too excited at the prospects of returning to the Fire Nation to think about it. "He cares about me!" Zuko insisted, refusing to back down from his case. It was times like this that I felt Zuko ought to be more careful in believing what someone told him. Had he forgotten how his sister treated him in the past?

"I care about you!" I retorted, before realizing that I unnaturally raised my voice. I immediately excused myself, realizing it wasn't right to yell at the one I cared most about. "If Ozai wants you back, it may not be for the reasons you imagined." I stated. Judging by Azula's tone earlier, she was very quick to cut off anything I said, almost like she wanted Zuko to trust her on the spot, despite their acrimonious relationship. There must be something up her sleeve. "In our family, things are not always what they seem." I reminded him.

Then, in the biggest blow-up I had seen from Zuko in the last year or so, my nephew unleashed a tirade on me. "I think you are exactly what you seem: a lazy, mistrustful, shallow old man who has always been jealous of his brother!" He shouted before storming off. I didn't expect that explosion, but looking back at my statement, I might be better off biting my tongue.

We didn't speak to each other at all for the rest of the night, the comment stinging so much for probably both of us that it was best to give it time. I probably misjudged the situation by questioning Ozai that quickly. Even though Zuko was banished by my brother, he still had a lot of trust and respect for his father, and would stay loyal to Ozai despite the incident. Given that Ozai never really loved Zuko and paid attention to him the way he did to Azula, it would only be naturally that Zuko was a bit jealous, and would get defensive should anyone try to convince him of abandoning Ozai. Azula's attitude when she arrived today didn't help either, as her condescending tone would make even the calmest people get flustered. Perhaps, if I had been more patient, I might not have shown my suspicion to Zuko that early.

At the same time, I was having increasing difficulty with Zuko's attitude, especially in terms of how he always seemed to let his emotions cloud his judgment. I didn't know if Zuko was aware of this, but his current state of mind was anything but peaceful. Not only would this affect his bending skills, it would ultimately lead to a degeneration of his life skills. Did he really think he could make it as a Fire Lord by playing it with his emotions alone? There was a specific strategy to getting forward in both running a country and running one's life, and I felt Zuko still hadn't found that balance yet. Hopefully, in the near future, Zuko could take some time to look inside himself, and realized what he had to do to make these changes. Returning home or not, I felt it would be a big boost in the way he handled world affairs, if he at least reflected upon that.

By the time morning came, I made a fateful decision: I was going to follow Zuko along to the Fire Nation, assuming Azula really had intention to take us both home. That way, I could keep my eye on Zuko, and could still protect him should he be caught off guard. Azula was way too cunning of a character to leave my nephew alone with, and it was only right I backed him us just as we approached the boat. Throwing my stuff together in a hurry, I raced down the steps, going as fast as my rather large body could take me, all the while yelling at Zuko to wait up. "Don't leave without me," I called, waving at Zuko, "family sticks together, right?"

Zuko was still overjoyed as he approached the pier, taking his strides with almost a bounce in every step. On the other hand, I kept a wary eye on the Fire Nation guards lining either side of the dock as we came in. They all had masks on, making it very difficult to read their faces or expressions. It wasn't unusual to have a line of guards like this, especially when VIP's were being received at the Fire Nation, but their formation was peculiar. The way they posed, with the spears held high and almost tilting forward, it seemed like they were ready to attack. Keeping that in the back of my mind, I slowly followed my nephew up the ramp.

Azula greeted us and ordered the captain to set course for home. I didn't pay too much attention to Azula's fluffy speech, choosing to focus on the soldiers behind me instead as they suddenly lined up behind Zuko and me. It was even more unusual for greeting VIP's, as they would only board after the VIP's went into the hold. Why would they line up to follow us when we hadn't even made our first step up that ramp? There must be something going on here...

The beans were spilt as a slip of the tongue from the captain revealed that Zuko and I weren't VIP's, but prisoners. I immediately launched into an attack at the guards behind me, pushing them off the ramp and holding them back while Zuko took on Azula. I didn't think my nephew had the skill to take out Azula, who had been trained in the highest forms of fire bending since a young age. I could only hope that I took out these guards quickly enough so I could help him. Roast duck certainly sounded good, but roast Zuko definitely didn't!

By the time I took care of most of the guards, I could tell Zuko wasn't faring well on the ship. I stepped on board to see Azula shoving Zuko down a flight of stairs, clearly toying with him over his lack of skills. But before I could even approach Zuko, I heard some sizzling sound coming from Azula, and saw a horrifying sight: lightning was crackling from Azula's fingers, which were aiming at Zuko. I knew the ability of controlling electricity was the highest form of fire bending, but even I took years of practice before getting it right. Now, to have someone still in her teens mastering and using it, on her own brother nonetheless, this was truly scary. If this didn't prove to Zuko that Azula was a bloodthirsty fighter, then nothing would.

But first, I had to protect my nephew, who was about to be shot through with this tremendous amount of energy. Azula and Ozai didn't know it, but lightning generation also gave me an idea. Taking something from the water benders, I created a technique of my own which could redirect lightning, taking this deadly power and shooting it somewhere safe. Lunging out at Azula, I gripped onto her fingers just as she was about to release.

I could feel the energy surging through my body as I reached out in the opposite direction and onto the cliffs overhanging the port. Aiming at the rocks, I blasted the lightning that way, hoping to hit an area with few people around. With a swift spin and a hard kick, Azula soon hit the water, giving Zuko and me enough time to re-gather ourselves and escaped. This was by far the most dangerous situation we had gotten into, and I doubted it would end soon.

We raced along the riverbank, going deeper into the woods and only pausing to rest as the dock disappeared from view. Once we settled, I saw Zuko pull out a knife from his pocket, the same knife I got him as a present when I was in Ba Sing Se. I didn't have to ask him at all to figure out what was going on, as he placed the blade to his hair and sliced off his topknot. It saddened me so much to see the one I cared about the most in this state, going from the top as the heir to the throne, to the bottom as a traitor. It was a sequence I wished no one had to go through.

But I could only do what I could to support him, and that meant cutting my own topknot too. After the failed siege, I doubted Ozai would let me off the hook as well, so I might as well be branded a traitor too. I promised myself that I would guide Zuko for the rest of the way, doing whatever I could to encourage his growth and challenged his views on the world. I guessed it was only right that I continued to do so in permanent exile. With the Fire Nation surely on our tails, it would be a long journey as nomads for my nephew and me.

Zuko's POV

"I'm...Lee. And this is my uncle, Mushi," I stuttered, trying to think up of aliases for my uncle and me. Our first few days as fugitives didn't go over well, as my uncle started picking up various plants from the nearby forest, claiming he could make tea out of them. I didn't have that much time for enjoying tea, so I left him alone and went fishing. By the time I returned, I found that Uncle picked the wrong plant and ended up getting tea poisoning.

Uncle shot me a death glare, but I ignored that. Mushi was another term for dead body, which was similar to what Uncle looked like right now. There were red patches over his face and chest, and his cheeks were swollen beyond belief. But even in his comical state, Uncle had to retaliate. "My nephew was named after his father, so we just call him Junior," he shot back.

But I never got my chance to take Uncle down, as the young nurse introduced herself to us. "My name is Song. You two could use a good meal. Why don't you stay for dinner?" she suggested just as she finished applying various creams onto Uncle's affected skin, "My mom always makes too much roast duck," she explained in a friendly tone.

Before I even got the chance to reject the offer, Uncle drooled what I considered to be at least a bucket-full of saliva onto the ground. "Where do you live, exactly?" He asked, his hands rubbing his stomach nonstop. Yikes, this was the same person who said we would be persecuted should we stay in the Earth Kingdom. Was he sure he wanted to stay here? But then again, going to the Fire Nation meant dealing with Azula, and that was much scarier. At least I doubted the Earth Kingdom forces would torture us too much, so maybe we could stick around?

Song's house was rather small, but still quite comfortable. Song's mother was a middle-aged woman with a tinge of grey in her hair, and spoke with a sincere gentleness that almost reminded me of my own mother. It was evident that mother and daughter truly cared about one another, something that I never experienced when Mom disappeared. As our meal was served, Song described how she was a refugee before coming here. "When I was a little girl, the Fire Nation raided our farming village. All the men were taken away, and that was the last time I saw my father," Song concluded, tears swelling from her eyes.

I swallowed hard, realizing how similar our stories were. Just like Song, I hadn't seen my mother in a long time, but my father, the present parent, was anything but positive. As if burning my face wasn't enough, now Uncle and I had to be fugitives all because of his decision. Trying to change the topic, I told Song I hadn't seen my father too, as he was fighting in the war. For my purposes, it wasn't an exact lie, as the Fire Lord was supposed to coordinate the war effort. I just didn't tell her what side he was fighting for. Nothing wrong with that, right?

After dinner was over, I decided to sit outside for a while, away from the socializing between Song's mother and Uncle. We were dumped in the middle of nowhere, so survival should be the only thing on our minds. Uncle was still trying to strike up conversations about how he loved nature and what the Earth Kingdom had to offer? Why not ask Song's mother for things that we actually needed instead? When would this old man finally grow up?

"Can I join you?" A girl's voice snapped my attention away from my thoughts. Song strolled up to my position and sat right next to me. "The Fire Nation has hurt you," she observed, pointing to my scar. She told me that she sympathized with me completely, as somehow she had been through it before. I almost chuckled at that statement, given how Song would never believe it if I truly told her the original of my scar. At least her father wasn't a bloodthirsty monster. Until she got physically and emotionally abused by a loved one, she was in no place to speak.

I cut Song's hand off just before she could reach for my scar, only to be surprised by her bombshell. "It's okay," she soothed, "they hurt me too." She reached for her pant leg and pulled it up, revealing a set of ugly scars, similar to my own, crisscrossing her shin and calf. There was no denying what caused those marks: it had to be a fire bender.

We stayed around for a bit more before Song's mother and Uncle told us it was time to leave. As usual, Uncle had to thank Song's mother for the meal, and Song's mother wrapped up some food for us to take. I appreciated the meal and such, but this was getting ridiculous. Here I was, a Fire Prince, forced to live like a beggar, and thanking those who we knew were inferior to ourselves. Did Uncle have no pride? What happened to the invincible Fire Nation values?

And to make things worse, Uncle made me thank Song's family as well. This was getting humiliating, as I didn't want to associate myself with this garbage. The sooner we got out of here, the better. Quickly bowing to Song and her mother, I hurried out her house, hoping to avoid this place. I didn't need to hear more stories about how this poor Earth Kingdom girl was burned by fire benders or whatever. Even though I did feel sorry for her, I knew even had I told her the truth, she wouldn't feel sorry for me. Given I was the Fire Prince, she would probably laugh and say I deserved to get burned. No point in trying to convince her otherwise, right?

As we slipped past their barn, I eyed their Ostrich Horse. In war, we were told that all was fair, and we certainly were in hostile territory right now. No point in letting that animal stay in this dingy barn, right? "What are you doing?" Uncle hissed as I undid the reins tying the animal to its post, "These people just showed you great kindness."

"They're about to show us a little more kindness," I retorted, beckoning Uncle to get on. The crazy old man was still having doubts, but if he thought he could outrun the Earth Kingdom forces, or worse, my sister, then he was sadly mistaken. At least by using the Ostrich Horse we had a faster and safer way of traveling. Was he still struggling with his morals over this?

Finally, after an eternity, the lazy old man got his rear end on this Ostrich Horse. I didn't even think twice as I urged the animal forward, going back into the dark woods in the middle of the night. I was in the Earth Kingdom as an exile for just a few days, and already I hated it here. Having Song remind me not to lose hope because the Avatar was back didn't make me feel any better, as that goofy kid was part of the reason I ended up this way. I still intended to capture that kid and brought him back to my father, just to prove I wasn't the failure him and Azula portrayed me as. But for now, I was focused on just survival, hoping to last a bit longer in this crazy land.

Zuko's POV

"Where are you from then?" the young boy asked curiously as I slammed the nails into this roof. After a few extremely degrading days, I could no longer travel with Uncle. We stopped at an Earth Kingdom town where Uncle was forced to be a beggar, having to sing and dance around like a fool just to earn a few coins. There was no way I could accept that lifestyle, given what we used to be before. Not only were we no longer superior to these dirt loving pigs, now we had to go lower and open ourselves to belittling from them? That couldn't be right!

"Where are you going?" the young boy chimed in again. Unlike Uncle, who took the low way out, I sought to even the score with these filthy peasants by taking their stuff from right under their noses. The swordsman that humiliated Uncle earlier, I turned up to him as the Blue Spirit and really gave him a good beating. It didn't hurt that I got new broad swords for myself as a result, and I could use those to get us further goods like food, water, and other accessories. We had them stashed in a nearby cave, and I thought we could make it through for at least a good few weeks. It wasn't as comfortable as the Fire Nation palace, but it would pass for now.

But then Uncle had to add in his confusing wisdom. Despite getting somewhat comfy in there, my mind was still on regaining my honour (and Uncle's honour too), and I wasn't too keen on resorting to grovelling for coins. While Uncle might be right in the sense that in the darkest of times, hope was something I gave myself, and the ability to so indicated true strength, I felt there was no more use for us to travel with one another. Uncle might accept this lifestyle, but I didn't, and it was time we parted ways. Separating our belongings, I grabbed the Ostrich Horse and rode off, coming into this desert town in the Earth Kingdom and meeting the boy who interrupted me.

"Lee, give it a rest. Stop asking the man personal questions," the father scolded the son. I had to shake my head as I recalled how Lee and I met. I was in the town buying some food for my Ostrich Horse and me when a few Earth Kingdom soldiers were confronting me, claiming someone had thrown eggs at them. I knew it was Lee who did it, but I didn't want to rat him out. Personally, seeing these earth benders made me sick, and having to be subject to their bullying was absolutely ridiculous to me. Even without the storekeeper telling me, I knew those guys were nothing but thugs, as they snatched my Ostrich Horse feed from me and warned me to stay away from their town. Luckily, Lee was kind enough to repay me by inviting me into his home.

"How'd you get that scar?" Lee chimed in again, causing me to miss the nail and hammer my own finger. I nearly exploded in pain as my thumb throbbed uncontrollably. Boy, Lee might be a curious kid, but he sure didn't know how to stop breaking people's concentration. Had it not been for his father telling him a man's past was his business, I didn't know when he'd shut up.

As the sun continued dipping into the horizon, I kept thinking back to my own past. When Mom was still alive, I had such a good family. Uncle Iroh was a top general in the Fire Lord's court, Mom was always looking out for me, Azula was at least semi-tolerable (even though she could still act in mean ways), and my childhood friend Mai always visited. At that time, it was like pain and suffering, what I was going through right now, was far away. Even without my father's full approval, I still felt I fit in and belonged in that family.

After a few more repairs, Lee's mother called us in for dinner. Personally, I didn't care that the food wasn't Fire Nation style, or that they used common folk ingredients. Personally, I hadn't eaten a full meal for days now, so anything that was this filling tasted delicious. I didn't say much to their family, merely just trying to listen in half-heartedly. Lee had an older brother named Sensu who was enlisted, along with most other young men in this town, in the Earth Kingdom army to fight the war. Because the efforts were all dedicated to the military, even the town's security was outsourced to Earth Kingdom soldiers. Unfortunately, the ones they got were total scum, mistreating the villagers and abusing their authority. Had I still be the Fire Prince and these were Fire Nation soldiers, I would be sure to have them all suspended. For the Fire Nation, everyone supported the war effort, and military and civilians fought side-by-side. How could these guys say they're the kingdom's finest if they didn't respect their own people?

Lee didn't have an extra room in his house, so I ended up going to sleep at their barn. But it was anything but a good sleep, as Lee had to sneak in and steal my swords, hoping to use them for his sparring. I nearly chuckled when I crept up behind him, seeing him swing and miss at his plants and stabbing a wooden pole almost aimlessly. I felt my older sibling side take over as I offered to teach him how to do it right. Personally, I had Lu Ten to thank for that, as my cousin was kind enough to treat me like a real sibling, unlike Azula. Just like how Lu Ten showed me all these fighting skills, I was passing them on to Lee. Even though I still felt earth benders were inferior to our country, I somehow found myself more willing to get along with them. Maybe, just maybe, there were more in common with our countries than originally thought.

By the time morning came, I had to move on. I stayed long enough in this family's home, and it was time I got out of here before the Earth Kingdom thugs spotted me. Luckily, Lee's mother was kind enough to pack me some food for my travels, but I barely took another step out the door before the said Earth Kingdom security forces arrived at the farm. Taunting Lee's whole family, they announced in the most arrogant tone that Sensu's battalion had been captured, and that the Fire Nation would be subjecting them to torture. My blood boiled just hearing that, not just because I knew for a fact that my army didn't torture people, but also at the nasty way they treated Lee's parents. If the capture was indeed true, then it was very likely Lee wouldn't see his brother for a very long time. How could they just continue degrading this family like garbage?

After a few more taunts, I heard enough. Jumping onto my Ostrich Horse, I pulled it into the way, blocking their path to Lee's family. Glaring at the general, I could feel the hot desert wind dying down as the rogues backed off, hurling one more putdown at the family before they scurried away. Had those cowards been facing the real Fire Nation army, they wouldn't be talking so tough. As Lee's mother sobbed at the terrifying news, Lee's father offered to go to the front lines and brought Sensu home. "When my dad goes, will you stay?" Lee asked.

I stuttered at Lee's question. Somehow, this experience mirrored mine so well, as I could still recall how stunned I was when Uncle's letter arrived at the palace. Mom was the one who read it to Azula and me, stating that Lu Ten didn't make it out of Ba Sing Se alive. It wasn't long after that message that Uncle decided to end the siege at the Earth Kingdom capital and returned home. At the moment, I really felt sad for both Uncle and me, as he lost his only son and I lost the one I looked up to, my only role model in the palace. Now that the Lu Ten in Lee's life might be gone forever, and Lee's father heading off to the frontlines to conduct what was most likely a fruitless search, how would Lee cope with the loss all by himself?

Nonetheless, my personal security outweighed my good feelings to Lee. The presence of these Earth Kingdom pigs only meant they would start inquiring about me soon. Staying here for one more day meant getting them in my face, something I dreaded given how I had to hide my identity for the time being. Muttering a quick apology to Lee, I gave him my most treasured possession: the knife Uncle Iroh got for me in Ba Sing Se, the same one him and I used to cut our hair. "Read the inscription," I instructed Lee.

The message to Lee was loud and clear as I rode away from their farm: never give up without a fight. That had been the way things went my entire life, as I was forced to fight for everything, including recognition in the eyes of my own father and grandfather. Shortly after the Fire Nation army forfeited Ba Sing Se, my father requested an audience with my grandfather, the then Fire Lord Azulon. While Azula was asked to demonstrate her superior fire bending skills, I wasn't even allowed to leave my seat. Father thought my fire bending was too weak compared to my sister's, and had me reciting history facts instead. I admitted that I was nervous at the time, and might have flubbed a few words. To no one's surprise, Azula had to be a show-off and stated the right ones above my voice, making me lose more face. Had it not been for Mom telling me how proud she was of the way I battled through, I didn't know what I would do.

And comparing that experience to Lee, I realized how much Lee had to fight through now. Shortly after that meeting with my grandfather, I heard scary news from Azula that my father planned to kill me. Azula and I stayed behind in the Fire Lord's chamber after Grandfather told us to leave, and we overheard our father trying to become the new Fire Lord by asking that Uncle Iroh, the then crown prince, be disposed of. Fire Lord Azulon refused, and punished my father on the spot. I was too afraid to watch after that, but Azula then entered my room, taunting me by saying Dad would kill me, literally. I didn't know what happened next, but I ultimately lived to see another morning, but my mother disappeared after that. No one knew what happened to her, and by the time Uncle returned, Father was already Fire Lord.

Speaking of mothers, wasn't that Lee's mother rushing in from behind. I dismounted off of my Ostrich Horse, pulling to the side as a cart rumbled up to me. Apparently, those thugs from the town weren't down with the family, as they returned to the house just as the father left. "When they ordered us to give them food, Lee pulled out a knife on them. I don't even know where he got a knife," Lee's mother described frantically. That was when I realized how stupid I was to leave that blade with him. Perhaps that wasn't the best time to not give up without a fight?

But the most horrifying thing was that the soldiers captured Lee, claiming that if he was old enough to fight, then he was old enough to join the army. That thought sickened me to the stomach, as it only showed these so-called security forces were never in communication with the army at all. While it could still be possible that Sensu had been captured, now I found it was more likely that these brutes fabricated the whole story just to get Lee's father out of the house. With only a woman and a child at home, they could come back and loot the place all they wanted, with no one being able to stop them. Clenching my teeth, I hopped onto my Ostrich Horse and headed for the town, promising the mother that I would bring Lee back safely.

Those disgusting bullies had Lee tied up against a pole, threatening the kid and making him feel intimidated. It was fine time that I showed them what I could do. Dismounting from my Ostrich Horse, I ordered them to let Lee go. "It doesn't matter who I am, but I know who you are. You're not soldiers, you're bullies," I flatly stated, speaking from the minds of probably everyone in this town, "you're freeloaders abusing your power, mostly over women and kids. You don't want Lee in your army. You're sick cowards who want to mess with a family who already lost one son in the war." As I finished, I could feel the sun directly above me, beating down on the land as complete silence smothered the seemingly abandoned town.

Before long, the cowardly leader sent his three minions at me, all of which I dispatched with ease. As those three ran off with their tails between their legs, I was left with their team lead, this balding man with a beard. I didn't expect it to be an easy fight, and it clearly showed as he immediately got to using earth bending, sending several boulders in my direction. I managed to block the first few shots with ease, but soon enough they came harder and faster. I dodged them as much as I could, using my swords for defensive purposes as well, but soon enough I got several rocks right into my body, sending me straight to the ground.

As I lied on the dirt panting, I did everything I could to prevent fire bending. I wasn't too keen on letting them know of my identity, as they might just hate fire benders more than they hate this despicable group. Although I truly doubted that, given how terribly they treated their own people. It reminded me so much of my grandfather's funeral, as my father became Fire Lord Ozai on the same day. Between the two events, nobody asked a single question as to why my mother was no longer around, nor did they give me any condolences for losing a cousin, a grandfather, and a mother all at once. Everyone started patronizing Dad like there was no tomorrow, and I was lost along the way. That led to the terrible situation today, where my father could do the unthinkable by burning my face and putting me in exile.

Yet as I continued lying in the dirt, I realized every experience that I went through and tried to pass onto Lee made me who I was. I shouldn't be ashamed of my heritage; rather I should be proud of it, and embraced it as it unfolded. It was true that I had to fight my way through life, and it was true that I suffered countless tragedies. But rather than moping about it, why not turn them into experiences that made me stronger? I was Prince Zuko, I was a fire bender, and I was about to defend this village from this miserable lowlife.

Lifting my swords off the ground, I created a firestorm around me, sending the scum's hammers flying to the side and his body hurtling backwards. I kept whipping up the flames, pushing the arrogant man back until I had enough momentum to create a huge fire blast. With one motion, I sent it towards him, smashing through his rock shield and blasting him right into a pillar, which collapsed onto him and burying half his body. "Who are you?" he sputtered.

Standing tall and proud before him, I unveiled my identity. "My name is Zuko, son of Ursa and Fire Lord Ozai, prince of the Fire Nation and heir to the throne!" I declared, sheathing my swords and observing the crowd that now formed around me. I didn't know what they were thinking, but the nonstop mumbling indicated they probably weren't ready to accept me yet.

Unfortunately, that guess proved accurate as an old man accused me of lying. Turning to everyone, he spat out my every shameful detail, including the burn on my face and how I was disowned by my father. Even as I picked up from the earth bender the knife I gave to Lee, there was no doubt my welcome was truly overstayed. Lee's mother undid the ropes and refused to let me approach her son. The most painful moment was when I offered the knife back to Lee, he pushed me away. "No, I hate you," he spat, turning away in disgust.

That rejection told me it was time to leave, as the villagers were about to turn their blades on me. Frankly speaking, being proud of my identity also meant coming to terms with how I, along with my nation, was viewed in the world. Whether I liked it or not, I was still a banished prince, and my nation did conquer many of their lands. As I rode out of the town, I could only think about where the Avatar was, and how I might still be able to regain my honour if I could capture him. It was a harsh dose of reality for me as I departed from this town for good.

But even as the villagers all stared at me in spite, for one night I felt like I fit in. I felt Lee was really interested in hearing about me, and I felt obliged, for whatever reason, to serve as his big brother for a while. Maybe it was because I had time to understand him, and tried to walk in his shoes, rather than remained in the perspective of the Fire Prince. Maybe intermingling with commoners wasn't a bad thing, as Lee showed me how regular folks went through life. Even though I couldn't do anything more than resume my search for the Avatar, at least I gained some insight into their lives that I never realized before. I would always remember what Lee brought to me, and for the rest of my travels in the Earth Kingdom, that was the alias I would go by.

Iroh's POV

"There is energy all around us," I explained, moving Zuko and I out of that broken down and abandoned hut. I did manage to reunite with my nephew after a few days, meeting up with him again at a nearby ghost town when Azula caught up with us again. Luckily, I ran into a young blind earth bender named Toph who really gave me some good advice, telling me I ought to show Zuko I needed him as much as he needed me. It was with this idea that I wanted to go back to my nephew, as a way of re-bonding with him.

But nothing prepared me for what Azula did to me, when Toph and I got to the ghost town. Apparently, Azula now knew the Avatar was in the Erath Kingdom, and started her own pursuit, rivalling that of Zuko's. Zuko was still intent to catch the Avatar for his purposes, but it was evident that he was no match for Azula. The worst thing to happen was Azula nailed me with lightning in a sneak attack, putting me out of commission for days. By the time I regained consciousness, I knew Azula was already steps ahead of Zuko in this race.

Realizing that Azula's main advantage was lightning generation, I figured it was time I trained my nephew in this technique. Explaining to him how positive and negative energies were always swirling around us, I asked him to feel for the balance of the two energies, making it so that there was a mix of them, before triggering a release point. Swirling my arms around, I gave my nephew a demonstration, slowly whipping up the electricity around me. I couldn't directly see the look in Zuko's eyes, but I could tell it was a mix of surprise and awe. Gathering the momentum, I pointed my finger into the skies and released the lightning.

As I ended the sequence, Zuko was jumping in excitement, eager to try it. "Remember once you separate the energies, you do not command it. You are simply its humble guide," I reminded him. In that past, Zuko had been very impatient with learning his techniques, to the point where he was forcing the issue on several occasions. With something as difficult as lightning, any false move in dealing with the energies and it could be the end of his life.

One look at Zuko's form, however, and I knew it was disastrous. Not only was he not in the perfectly balanced position, he had no way of feeling for the energy around him. At this rate, I wouldn't be surprised if it blew up in his face. And I thought his few days alone, being lost in the woods, gave him a chance to think about what to do with his life. Now, seeing the way this was going, I believed he was more lost than ever. Maybe I should warn him about...

Oops, too late, as a huge explosion ended up rocking the area. Zuko was thrown several metres back, coughing in the dust and glaring at the cliffs. I could only shake my head as my nephew got frustrated quickly, blasting at the air again and again. Even when I told him that lightning was meant to be used emotionlessly, he insisted on letting his anger get involved. It was no wonder that the attack kept blowing up in his face. As he hollered out, I went back to the hut and made some new tea. Until Zuko calmed down, I wasn't going to talk to him at all.

It was only about the second or third cup of tea before Zuko finally approached me nearly in tears, asking me why it kept failing. "You will not be able to master lightning until you have dealt with the turmoil inside you," I observed. I did feel sympathetic to Zuko, given how much he had to go through in the span of a few months. But right now, until he rectified this problem, there was no way to proceed with his training. "Zuko, you must let go of your feelings of shame if you want your anger to go away. True humility is the only antidote to shame."

But things weren't getting any better for Zuko, who claimed he was prouder than ever. I didn't know if it was how he truly felt, or if Zuko was still in denial over his status as a traitor, but this wasn't the way out. Thinking hard, there must be something I could do to help him counter Azula's lightning. What if there was a way for Zuko to not avoid the power, but faced it head-on, and still lived? Suddenly, a strange experience from my past came up to me.

Grabbing a long branch, I asked Zuko to sit on the ground while I drew out a crude diagram of the four bendable elements. "Fire is the element of power," I began, going through the distinctive traits of the four group, starting with our own. In my younger years, when I was a different sort of man, I observed how certain traits in other groups often took advantage of their traits in their fighting styles. I admitted that perhaps I wasn't as appreciate of them then, but after Lu Ten's death and my subsequent retirement, I began researching them in fuller detail, leading to my development of this technique a few years ago. Not even Ozai and Azula knew this trick, as I kept it a secret all this time. "Understanding the other elements and the other nations will help you become whole," I concluded, hoping Zuko could see my point.

Zuko seemed to have a hard time digesting the material, claiming it sounded like I was teaching the Avatar rather than the Fire Prince. But I pointed out to him that it was due to the four elements existing simultaneously in one person that made the boy we were pursuing so powerful. Given how many times he eluded Zuko's capture, shouldn't Zuko take a look at why it kept happening? Besides, there was one more tidbit from the trick I was about to teach Zuko, as I developed it after studying the water bending style.

After going through basic theory of water bending, I got Zuko onto his feet and began some movement drills with him. Holding out his arms, I slowly pushed them in circular motion, almost like grazing his hands over a body of water. "A water bender lets their defence become their offence, turning their opponent's energy against them. I learned a way to do this with lightning," I described, gauging Zuko to see if he got used to the motion yet.

Zuko was half into the motion, and half into the prospect of learning how to redirect lightning. Urging me to continue, I released his hands and pointed my right arm at the sky. "You must create a pathway from your fingertips, up your arm, to your shoulder, then down into your stomach. The stomach is the source of energy for your body, it is called the sea of chi. Only in my case, it is more like a vast ocean," I joked, howling in laughter.

But returning to more serious matters, I pointed my left arm in the opposite direction, showing Zuko where the lightning would exit. I warned my nephew to let the lightning go through his stomach and not his heart, otherwise the results could be deadly. Before long, we were both going through the motion, emphasizing the path the lightning must go through in order for the technique to be successful. "Can you feel your own chi?" I asked, keeping up the moves.

Zuko and I kept on practicing for the rest of the afternoon, the sun starting to dip to the west by the time we were done. I had to admit that this was the first time in several years that Zuko actually patiently sat through a fire bending lesson, rather than got edgy and demanded to learn more advanced sets of moves before mastering the basics. Watching him breathe through each stroke, moving his arms slowly but steadily, and concentrating on each and every step like his life depended on it, this was when I realized Zuko was truly absorbing and applying his skills. "Excellent, you got it," I complimented him, opting to end it there for the day.

Then, to the shock of my life, Zuko insisted that I tried using real lightning on him. I nearly tumbled over upon his request. Didn't he realize how dangerous it was using the real thing? Why on earth would I want to put my own nephew through that much risk by shooting him with real lightning? It was out of the question, and I flatly refused him. "If you're lucky, you will never have to use this technique at all," I pointed out. Other than Azula and Ozai, I couldn't recall any other fire bending being able to control lightning. Why would Zuko want to try now?

But my nephew wasn't pleased with that decision, hopping onto the Ostrich Horse and insisting he would find his own lightning. I could only shake my head as he sped off into the distance, with only a cloud of dust trailing him. Somehow, even though we made a little bit of progress, there was still a lot of work to do before I could convince him to slow things down a bit. Until he figured things through for the moment, maybe the best thing to do was to enjoy a nice warm cup of tea. And this time, I would be sure not to pick a wrong, poisonous plant to use.

Zuko's POV

"Uncle, we have a problem," I hissed, placing down my tea tray on the table beside my now-completely healthy relative. We soon found out that not only were the Fire Nation troops after us, but also a couple of Earth Kingdom bounty hunters wishing to collect the reward Azula placed on our heads. Luckily, Uncle took us into an outpost town at the desert, where he had a reunion with some old friends of his. Apparently, Uncle was part of an ancient secret society that transcended all borders, and they communicated their presence via Pai Sho tiles. And I got so furious at him a few months back when Uncle lost his Pai Sho tile and insisted we docked at the nearest town to get it back. Who would have thought it came in handy here?

And rescued us it did, as it allowed us to obtain fake passports to board the ferry heading for Ba Sing Se, the Earth Kingdom capital that Uncle made his biggest military move, but failed and lost Lu Ten in the process. To allow us to bend in, Uncle got us jobs at a local tea shop, all the while searched for an apartment to stay in for the long-term. Aside from some fanatical guy who originally wanted to recruit me into some crazy vigilante group called the Freedom Fighters, things were relatively peaceful. Was it because I refused that he made public accusations that I was Fire Nation, or did my cover get blown? If it was the latter, then I blamed Uncle for fire bending in public. Couldn't he just gulp down the cold tea rather than risk us being arrested?

Fortunately for me, it was that guy, Jet, who got arrested, and Uncle and I kept our jobs for the moment. But somehow, I kept getting paranoid about people acting suspiciously around us, especially that girl in the corner. She kept passing weird glances at me, that strange twinkle in her eye hinting that perhaps we ought to be more careful with our actions. "Didn't I say don't look?" I whispered harshly, grabbing my uncle's elbow and turning his gaze away from her.

But Uncle then unleashed a bombshell when he revealed the reason why that girl eyed me in such an unusual fashion. "Seems to me she has quite a little crush on you," he replied, a grin larger and slier than any he had ever put on. Luckily, I already placed my tray down, or else my salary of this month would be used to repay all the broken cups and plates.

And speak of the devil, here was the girl, paying me for the tea and putting on a smile that matched Uncle's in deviousness. We finally got around to introducing ourselves, in which I just told her my alias, Lee, and that my uncle and I moved here not long ago. "My name's Jin," she responded, "I was wondering if you would like to go out some time." There was an indirect directness to her question, her eyes glancing to the side by her words flowed smoothly out of her mouth. It got quite uncomfortable to be standing in such close quarters with her, and suddenly I felt myself sweating up a storm underneath these Earth Kingdom clothes.

Before I could even blink, Uncle accepted the offer for me. "Great, I'll meet you in front of the shop at sundown," Jin agreed, turning around and literally skipping out of the shop. I could only glare at the squat, balding man who now placed his arm around my shoulder. Promising me to a date that I was totally unprepared for, how embarrassing could this get?

For some reason, Uncle managed to wrestle me into what was supposedly the latest teen fashion in Ba Sing Se, and fixed my hair into the stiffest formation it could ever get into. Even though we weren't in the Fire Nation anymore, I still preferred my fair to be looser and easier-flowing. Besides, I doubted even earth benders went around town with that type of hairstyle. So with my body stiffer than a board, I limped out of the shop at sundown, looking around for Jin like a fool. Just don't take me into any well-lit areas, or people might die of laughter.

"Look at you," Jin's voice nearly shocked me into collapsing. Within seconds, her hands were all over my hair, swishing it back and forth and bringing it back to the style I had worn it since my banishment. Well, at least I looked a bit more normal, right? I just tried to dip my head and not draw any attention to myself, even as Jin pulled me into a nearby restaurant. I nearly buried my face in the menu, hoping everyone around me would just disappear. Seriously, I hadn't been this embarrassed since that time Azula tried to shoot fire at Mai's head, leading me to rescuing her, and in turn having us both fall face-first into the water.

Jin did all the ordering of food for us while I mulled in my thoughts. The image of Mai and I in the water brought back so many memories of my youth, back to the time when we were in a nearly perfect world. I still yearned for those days where I could be with my friends, and did what most kids in the Fire Nation would do. But now, with our settlement into Ba Sing Se, it was doubtful that Uncle and I could ever go home, given our status as fugitives. This was the last stronghold for the Earth Kingdom, one that was impossible to penetrate. If even Uncle couldn't break through the walls, then I doubted anyone else could. In an ironic way, it was kind of like I wished the Earth Kingdom would never lose to the Fire Nation, just to keep myself safe.

But while the Earth Kingdom was protecting me, it was also making my stay here more humiliating by the second. It seemed like everyone around us though we were an item, calling us boyfriend and girlfriend even though I barely knew her. "She's not my girlfriend!" I roared at the waiter who made another such reference as he offered us dessert. Well, at least that got the crowd quiet. What about Jin, who was too busy scoffing down her noodles to even notice?

If things didn't get uncomfortable before, it sure did now as Jin started bombarding me with questions about my past. Racking my brain, I came up with the most ridiculous story of how Uncle and I were part of this traveling circus. We recently left to group and decided to settle in Ba Sing Se, and that was how I met her. I was even crazy enough to agree with Jin when she thought I did juggling. So when she requested that I showed her, I could only swallow hard as I felt my blood draining away from my face. What mess did I get myself into this time?

But for some reason, I felt compelled to show her. It wasn't just because I had to do whatever it took to cover my identity. Part of me really wanted to lighten the mood, given how we were struggling to make any conversation all night. Even though every part of my body told me I was crazy, I felt my arms lifting as Jin shoved several items into my hands, tossing the objects into the air. What was I thinking? There was no way I could balance those things!

Soon enough, the beans were spilled, literally, as the sauces and other food items those bowls and plates once contained came pouring down onto my head. I felt my face flush hotter than the largest flames as Jin stared at me with one hand covering her mouth. "I haven't practiced for a while," I muttered, grabbing a towel to wipe off my face. Well, it was true that I hadn't rehearsed my fire bending skills, so maybe Jin would buy that excuse?

I dodged another shot as Jin was perfectly accepting of that, offering to show me her favourite part of the city after dinner. I dropped some coins onto the table and took off with her, trying to get as far away from those gawking eyes as possible. As we raced through the dark streets, Jin told me of a fountain that had lights being lit at this time, describing the reflections of the lights in the water made for a really beautiful scene. Again, it reminded me so much of home, when I got to see these lights on a daily basis as I watched sunrise and sunset from different rooms in the palace. And unlike Ba Sing Se, which had to use lamps, my scenes were completely natural and occurred twice a day. What was so special about this fountain?

"I can't believe it! They aren't lit!" Jin's disappointed tone echoed into my ears. I lifted my head just in time to see the darkened scene before me, each lamp pitch black as Jin's head dipped low. I was just as shocked as Jin, not because of the lack of colours, but because how upset Jin was upon viewing this. It might be a simple pleasure for me to see some stupid lights, but apparently it had aesthetic value to this Earth Kingdom girl. Apparently, the Earth Kingdom had its fair share of problems with prosperity, as only those in the nobility realm had access to exciting entertainment. Those not from the highest class, such as Jin, were reduced to seeing nothing more than a fountain and some boring lamps.

It also brought me back to my own humbling experience, having been taken from the top of the world into the bottom rung of the ladder. Nobody expected me to fall that far down that quickly, but that was where I found myself. I suddenly gained a new sense of appreciation for the world around me, realizing that not everyone could afford to live the same way. But more importantly, life's most treasured things weren't anything that money could buy. It didn't matter whether I was a Fire Prince or a refugee; no matter who I was, I still had a chance to see this special lightshow. And today, I was about to see it with this girl from the not-so-noble class from Ba Sing Se. Making sure no one was watching, I decided to give Jin a present that I bet she would never forget. "Close your eyes, and don't peek," I instructed, stepping up to the lamps.

Taking a deep breath, I shot small fire blasts out each hand, reducing them to just short bursts from my fingers. My body flowed with the gentle night breeze as I went around the formation, getting each lamp before working my magic on the fountain. Jin and I came all the way here just to see this spectacle, and I didn't want her to leave disappointed. Maybe I was crazy like Uncle, and wasn't afraid to show my fire bending in public. But for today, my goal was to make this girl happy, and hopefully, by doing this, I would succeed.

When I told Jin to uncover her eyes, I could literally feel the excitement in her. "How did they light?" Jin stuttered, taking almost reluctant steps towards me. I didn't say anything, but just watching the look in her eyes was more than rewarding for me. Throughout my life, I had plenty of trouble grasping happiness, let alone spreading happiness to others. But today, after making this girl's wish come true, I realized how happy it made me feel. Uncle always said he wanted to do positive things for others around him, so maybe this was me finally learning his ways.

Suddenly, I felt Jin's fingers coil around mine, pulling me closer to her. I could literally feel her breathing as her face became the only thing in my vision. I wasn't comfortable enough with her to let her kiss me, so luckily I brought out a coupon for the tea shop. I whipped it up and lodged it right between our faces, blocking her lips from reaching mine. "It was my uncle's idea. He thinks you're our most valuable customer," I stated, buying enough time to back away.

But me backing down meant Jin headed forward, thanking me for the coupon and telling me how great of a teacher my uncle was. "I have something for you too," she offered, wearing the same sly smile she showed when I first noticed her. Pushing my face into hers, she suggested, "Now it's your turn to close your eyes." With her right up in my face, could I possibly refuse?

Yet deep down, I still didn't feel it was right. My sense came rushing straight to me just as Jin's lips approached mine. Even though I was thankful for the great experience with Jin, I still had a lot to deal with in my life. Liked it or not, I was Fire Nation royalty, and should be dating at least members from Fire Nation nobility, not some Earth Kingdom girl from the lower peasant class. Moreover, even if Jin was royalty, she was from the Earth Kingdom, and anyone from the Fire Nation marrying this inferior group would be unheard of. Maybe it was my pride being overly stubborn and refusing to leave me even though I left the Fire Nation, but I just couldn't bring myself to accept her kiss. Pulling away, I merely told Jin, "It's complicated."

Thanking Jin for the wonderful night, I took off from the fountain, too flustered to even escort Jin back to her house. Right now, I just wanted to wipe the memory of me wanting to kiss this Earth Kingdom peasant away, even though I did truly enjoy her company. I didn't even bother to greet Uncle as I came back to the apartment. "How was your night, Prince Zuko?" he asked just as I rumbled through. I didn't even answer, merely charging into my room and slamming the doors with a thud. I had to be back in my comfort zone before doing any more.

Finally, by the time I could breathe again, I slid the door open, and told Uncle my night was very nice, before retiring for bed. This experience with Jin somehow only made my mind more confused, as I found not only nationalities, but even statuses, being blurred more and more. Was Uncle truly correct when he said that only by exposing ourselves to all groups were we making ourselves stronger? Whatever the case, it wasn't something I should focus on for now. I had to rest up before tomorrow's work, ready for another long day of serving tea to the guests.

Iroh's POV

"So, the Blue Spirit, I wonder who could be behind that mask," I stated with sarcasm, even giving my beard a slight tug as I observed the young man before me. I was just sharing the best news with my nephew yesterday, as several Ba Sing Se aristocrats offered to finance my own tea shop. Even though my former employer was a kind man, there was much more freedom in being my own boss. I even asked Zuko to help me think up of a name, a slogan, and designed some decorations, but then he ran off on me all afternoon.

"What are you doing here?" Zuko demanded, pulling off the blue mask. It wasn't hard to figure out what Zuko was up to, as he waved a poster of the Avatar's bison in my face, claiming he had yet another chance to regain his honour. When I saw him go off, I knew I had to follow him. To no one's surprise, here he was, standing next to the bison he sought.

"What do you plan to do now, now that you've found the Avatar's bison?" I asked. From the underwater chamber, there was a sliver of light on the six-legged creature, giving just enough reflection for me to see my nephew's helpless state. "Keep it locked in our new apartment? Should I go put on a pot of tea for him?" I continued, my frustration level rising unusually.

Zuko tilted his eyes back and forth, alternating between the bison and me. I knew he still wanted to get the bison out first, but I had enough of that. "And then what? You never think these things through," I snapped, taking this chance to teach Zuko a very important life lesson, "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!" Zuko had been blinded by his pride for way too long, to the point where he was having trouble conceding points, even though he had been proven wrong. Before he took a turn for the worse, and allowed his pride to become shame, I must rectify this issue immediately.

But the stubborn boy still refused to listen, claiming it was his destiny to hunt down the Avatar. "Stop it, Uncle. I have to do this!" He responded, his tone bordering between desperate and sad. Inside, I was truly concerned at his current emotional state. No one should go through such a painful experience where he was forced to choose between two tough choices. But for the sake of Zuko's personal growth, it was something I must force him to think through.

Taking a deep breath, I let it all out. "I'm begging you, Prince Zuko! It's time you begin to look inward, and ask yourself the big question: who are you? And what do you want?" There was no way Zuko ought to be bound by those trying to control him, like Ozai or Azula. While I didn't expect him to accept my methods completely, he ought to at least understand that there was another way out, whether he liked the alternative or not.

Zuko let out a loud cry, throwing down his swords and the blue mask in exasperation. Ozai and Azula might not care much for him, but I did, and I wanted my nephew to live free and strong. A little while back, I went to the same area where Lu Ten lost his life in battle. It was no longer a field littered with army equipment or mashed gravel; rather, there was grass growing over it, with a few trees as well. I picked the biggest one to place my son's portrait against, lit two incense sticks and offered some fruit. I told him that my biggest regret had always been that I couldn't spend as much time helping him as I did with other people. But looking back, I knew it was because of Lu Ten that I became a better person, reaching out more and letting people know that I cared. Hopefully, if I did see him in the Spirit World, he would tell me I succeeded.

As for my nephew, I could only watch as he finally lifted his feet, almost like his shoes were made of lead as he unclipped each chain holding the bison's feet. "I'm going to free the bison," he informed me, "and hope that the Avatar can find him." As the last chain was removed, he motioned to the source of light, indicating to the bison that there was a way out.

I couldn't help but breathe a huge sigh of relief as the Sky Bison slowly lumbered its way out. Placing a hand on my nephew's shoulder, I ushered him back out as well. It was by far the most difficult decision Zuko was ever faced with, and I was glad he made the right one. Deep down, I knew there was a different sort of destiny that Zuko had to face, and it wasn't with going back to the Fire Nation where his father and sister could manipulate him into doing more harm. It was time that he started thinking about his future on his own, and I was very proud of him in making this choice. As we climbed back through the entrance we went in from earlier, I told him how happy I was. "Leave it behind," I advised him, both of the blue mask and his past.

As the mask hit the water and slowly disappeared from view, I could now turn my focus on making Zuko truly move on. While it was one thing to no longer dwell on the past, it was another to build a new life for himself. Even though I would require his help in my tea shop, it was time I encouraged Zuko to build on his current foundation here in Ba Sing Se. Zuko could have a good future here, and there was still time for him to know the ways of the world before he moved on to bigger things. But for now, I must teach Zuko how to appreciate simpler skills of life first, such as how to live among those not of the royal of noble background.

The walk back to our apartment was silent, but the second we got inside, Zuko told me he didn't feel very well. I didn't pay much notice to Zuko's condition until he collapsed onto the ground, moaning and groaning in discomfort. I immediately rushed for him, turning him onto his back and feeling around his body. There was no doubt about this one: Zuko was heating up with a fever I had never seen before. "I want water," he murmured, pointing at his throat.

I removed his shirt, now caked with his perspiration, and placed him under covers. This was something he had to sweat out, almost like how he had to fight out his every struggle. Deep down, I knew this was going to be an internal struggle, as Zuko's act of freeing the bison was in total contradiction with his task for the last three years. Stepping into the kitchen, I brought out some clean drinking water and a towel, hoping to use this to both cool Zuko's fever and quench his thirst. "You're burning up," I observed, wetting the towel and wiping Zuko's forehead.

Zuko didn't even wait for me to ladle out the water; instead, he reached across and chugged down the entire container. I had to admit I was shocked by this, but also realizing this was part of his transformation. "You are going through a metamorphosis, my nephew," I told him as he struggled to get sleep, "it will not be a pleasant experience, but when you come out of it, you will become the beautiful prince you were always meant to be."

The only response I got from Zuko was a couple more murmurs, now showing much less energy than before, when he chugged down all that water. Whatever the case, I could only this came out for the better for Zuko. Fire prince or not, I knew he was destined to a fulfilling life, and I would love to be there to guide him for as long as he required it.

Again, more Zuko scenes with Iroh's POV. I think I mentioned this before, but I always feel that Iroh and Zuko are connected in some way. Given that Iroh lost his son and treated Zuko like his own, I felt whatever trials Zuko went through, Iroh was involved in some way. Let's see if you think their connection brings out Zuko's, or for some cases, both characters' growths. Thank you for reading.