Hey guys!

I finally found time to finish the second part.

Not going to lie, I have been focusing my time on other things rather than trying to finish this chapter.

I'll explain more at the end of the chapter.

Please enjoyed this chapter!


Season One, Episode Three

THE SOUTHERN AIR TEMPLE (PART 2)


Zuko was not happy.

That was perfectly clear.

Reyna sat next to the fuming prince as Zhao proceeded to pace in front of them.

"So a twelve-year-old boy bested you and your firebenders." Zhao stopped pacing, sending a look at Zuko. "You're more pathetic than I thought."

Zuko stiffened. "I underestimated him once, but it will not happen again!"

"No, it will not." Zhao agreed. "Because you won't have a second chance."

Zuko's head shot up. "Commander Zhao, I've been hunting the Avatar for two years and I-"

Cutting him off, Zhao spinning around. "And you failed!" The commander walked up to Zuko, who shared the look of burning rage. "Capturing the Avatar is too important to leave in a teenager's hands. He's mine now."

Zuko jumped up from his seat, but before he could do anything, Reyna placed her hands onto his shoulders, trying to calm him down a little bit.

Zhao raised an eyebrow before walking out of the tent. "Make sure they stay here." He told his guard. Then he was gone.

Enraged by the commander, Zuko kicked the table in front of Iroh, who had been sitting peacefully through the conversation. At the impact of the kick, the table spit in two sending the objects that here on it flying though the air.

Iroh, complexity unfazed, requested for more tea.


A few long minutes later (Zuko had spent the whole time pouting while Iroh and Reyna talked about tea flavors) Zhao walked back into the tent.

"My search party is ready. Once I'm out to sea, my guards will escort you back to your ship and you'll be free to go."

Zuko's anger hadn't fazed a bit. "Why?" He asked bitterly. "Are you worried I'm going to try to stop you?"

Zhao let out a loud laugh which irked Reyna. "You? Stop me? Impossible."

"Don't underestimate me, Zhao!" Zuko growled back. "I will capture the Avatar before you!"

Reyna bit her lip, afraid she would say something she would later regret.

Iroh didn't.

"Prince Zuko," He scolded "that's enough."

Zhao, knowing he was getting a reaction, continued his banter. "You can't compete with me. I have hundreds of war ships under my command and you? You're just a banished prince. No home, no allies. Your own father doesn't even want you."

Reyna flinched. She remembered all the nights that Zuko rambled to her about his hopes for the future. How that one day, he hoped, that hsio father would love him and accept him.

Zhao saying that, was like shoving a knife deeper into Zuko's back.

"You're wrong!" Zuko shouted. "Once I deliver the Avatar to my father, he will welcome me home with honor, and restore my rightful place on the throne!"

Zhao knew he had touched a nerve. "If your father really wanted you home, he would have let you return by now, Avatar or no Avatar. But in his eyes you are a failure and a disgrace to the Fire Nation."

"That's not true!"

"You have the scar to prove it."

Letting out a cry, Zuko jolted up out of his chair and into Zhao's face. "Maybe you'd like one to match!"

Zhao raised an eyebrow. "Is that a challenge?"

"An Agni Kai." Zuko stated in a cold voice. "At sunset."

Zhao nodded. "Very well. It's a shame your father won't be here to watch me humiliate you." He gazed slightly at Reyna and Iroh. "I guess your uncle and soldier will do."

Once again, Zhao was gone, walking out of the tent.

Reyna frowned. She should help bit get a sinking feeling. "Hey, Zuko, are you sure you want to do this?"

Zuko didn't answer, instead he let out a small "huff" noise.

Iroh was just as concerned. "Prince Zuko, have you forgotten what happened last time you dueled a master?"

Zuko looked over his shoulder. "I will never forget."


Reyna couldn't help but be worried for the prince. Though he might be, she knew he wasn't mentally prepared for the agni kai.

Zhao and Zuko stood facing each other, one on each side of the arena. Both of them were shirtless, dressed in only floofy dark red pants.

As Zhao got ready, Iroh was trying to help Zuko get prepared.

"Remember your firebending basics, Prince Zuko. They are your greatest weapons." He was saying as Reyna stood by, trying not to get in his way. It felt weird, just doing nothing but she promised Zuko that she would do anything.

Zuko nodded. "I refuse to let him win."

He stood fully height (though that wasn't very tall), and faced Zhao.

Zhao got into a starting stance. "This will be over quickly."


~ I'm still trying to write fight scenes. I looked at the script but couldn't figure out a good way to piece it together. Maybe later I will fill this part in, but for now I'm just going to do a time skip. Sorry ~


Zuko had Zhao pinned to the ground, an arm outstretched out to deliver a blow.

But the blow never came.

Zuko just stood there, stopping Zhao from moving.

"Do it!" Zhao shouted.

Don't! Reyna mentally screamed. If Zuko did, then it would give Zhao another reason to go after him.

Zuko let out a grunt before thrusting his fist forward, emitting another fire blast.

Thankfully, Zuko hit the area next to Zhao's face instead of the challenged target.

Zhao sent him a hard glare. "That's it!" He shouted. "Your father raised a coward!"

Zuko returned the glare. "Next time you get in my way, I promise, i won't hold back."

For some reason, Reyna wanted to start cheering for her friend. She would have if she hadn't been ordered to stay quiet.

Zuko turned, ans promptly started to walk away.

Unfortunately, Zhao wasn't finished with the young prince.

He jumped up from his position on the ground and aimed a powerful kick at Zuko, spreading his flames.

Before Zuko could notice anything, however, Iroh intervened and grabbed Zhao's foot, dissipating the fire.

Iroh tossed Zhao back who slides away on his back. Zuko wants to charge Zhao in anger, but Reyna ran forward and stopped him by grabbing his shoulders.

"Not right now, Prince Zuko." She advised, "You can fight him another time."

Iroh, who also wanted to say something, told Zhao, "So this is how the great Commander Zhao acts in defeat? Disgraceful." Iroh walked back to his nephew and Reyna. "Even in exile, my nephew is more honorable than you."

Zuko's eyes widened as he heard those words.

Underneath the helmet, Reyna couldn't help but smile.

"Thanks again for the tea." Iroh added before leading the two teenagers away. "It was delicious."

As the three walked away, Zuko stirred up enough courage to ask softly "Did you really mean that, Uncle?"

Iroh gave him a shy smile. "Of course. I told you ginseng tea is my favorite."

Reyna laughed, taking off her helmet. "You did great, Zu! Next time we meet Zhao, I will personally help you beat him to the curb."

Zuko let out a rare laugh. "Thank you, Rin. I really appreciate it."

"Of course. Any time. Now, let's get back to our search, shall we?"


I'm back!

This isn't my best work, and honestly I just wanted to get this episode out of the way. This means Reyna will have a larger part in the next chapter. I make no promises when that will be written and published.

Also, i have discovered the joys of watching anime and reading manga. Demon Slayer, My Hero Academia, The Promised Neverland, and Death Note are a few that I have started watching.


Chapter Song

Get. Back. Up. (Johnald)

This song is pointed more to Zuko and to the fact that he will never give up until he had reached his goal.


If you have any questions, comments, or suggestions, please leave them in the comments.