A.N. I'm sorry it a bit to get this chapter done but I had a hard time finding time to really write this chapter out. There was change in point of view between Lee's father, Lee,and Zuko so I hope you do not become confused. I originally wanted to get farther in the story but found this an okay spot to stop. Hope its good and there shall be more of the story coming up. Next time there will be actual traveling by Lee and Zuko.

After Seventeen years of being away from the Fire Nation and now I come back with my son Lee. I really hope that Kyra and I were right about the Fire Nation being a better place than the tribe. Lee was only ten and he already had to face the hardships of the world. It wasn't right that Lee not only lost a brother and be taken away from his mother. If it wasn't for those damn Water Nation punks who thought that any difference for the normal meant you were lesser. They were just as bad as the Fire Nation people. No wonder way fighting is always happening in the world. If only someone could just make everyone see that fighting will get us nowhere. If only a proper Firelord took over this war would be done and the world might be able to become a better world.

The boat was coming in fast into the bustling harbor which was not far from the dormant volcano that held the Fire Nation Palace. The harbor looked almost the same as before I left. Its waters were filled with many of the Fire Nation metal ships all baring the Fire Nation Emblem and the streets filled with merchants and soldiers either getting ready to leave or coming back. Sadly there was many more leaving then returning which showed the effects of war.

The wooden ship they were sailing in was out of place on the docks and when Lee and his father were walking off the docks they seemed even more out of place. They were not soldiers for one and also they were the only people who were not wearing something with red on it. Lee's father led Lee through the city and eventually brought them to the end of the harbor city and the beginning of a large road which seem to lead to the Volcano that held the palace. It seemed like a busy road with many merchants and soldiers going to and from there. There was even some Palanquin that was carrying nobles.


It had taken me and my father about fifteen minutes to reach the base of the volcano where there was a tunnel leading into to the center of the volcano. I was a little confused by this because from what I heard about volcanoes are that they have molten rock in it so I didn't know why a palace would be in there. I asked my father about it and all he said was that the volcano was dormant or something.

Going through the tunnel made me scared since it seemed narrow and I swear it looked like it was shrinking on me plus there were more soldier people like on Zhao's ship. Some of them showed there face but others had a mask on which was just freaky. I was really glad my father was with me because I knew he would keep me safe from the soldiers.

At the other end of the tunnel I was slightly blinded by the sunlight but quickly readjusted and that's when I saw the Fire Nation palace. It was surrounded by a wall but I could still see most of it. It seemed to have three towers one tall central one and two identical and somewhat smaller coming off the center. The tall tower was red while the others were golden. I could tell there were many things surrounding the palace since the wall was way larger for just the palace. I glanced over to my father to see what he thought of the palace but to my disappointment he looked at the palace almost like it was nothing. That's when I noticed my father changed his sights from the palace to something lower and I turned to look forward and saw what must have been the main gates to get pass the walls.

At the main gates there was a small group of three people who were surrounded by a bunch of soldiers. They were dressed in what seemed to be very expensive clothes in shades of deep red and with golden lining. Two were adults one being a man who seemed to be middle aged, slightly on the shorter side for height but had a good hearted smile seeing us. The other adult, on the left, was a woman who was very beautiful with her raven black hair and perfectly pale skin. There was also a boy who was at the woman's side. He seemed to be the same age as me and looked very bored but his expression changed from bored to curious when he final saw me and my father who were now at the edge of the circle of soldiers surrounding the group.

My father had us walk closer to the man than bowed and I followed his lead. While bowing my father said, "Good Afternoon Prince Iroh, it is a hon-, "Before my father could go on the man whose name was must have been Iroh gave my father a hug. I had a confused expression on my face and looking around I was not the only one. All the soldiers and boy had a hint of confusion on their faces. The woman just smiled seeing the two men hug.

"No need for formalities old friend," is what Iroh said to my father, "it is great to see you and whom may I ask this is?" Iroh was indicating to me.

"This is my son Lee. He will be ten in the fall" Answered my father he then looked towards the woman and said, "Princess Ursa," My father grabbed her hand and brought it to his lips," I did not think I would be seeing you today. Where is your husband?"

It seemed that Ursa blushed after my father kissed her hand and her reply to my father was, "He is with our daughter right now please excusing him for his absence. Also may I introduce my son Zuko who just turned ten not too long ago. Zuko this is Colonel Makoto. He is a good friend of Uncle Iroh and me" After being told that Zuko looked shocked then quickly did a now to my father saying something about being a great honor meeting my father.

"I see that my stories are being told in the Fire Nation still." My father had a smirk on his face and was looking at Iroh then Ursa.

"Of course you were the best intelligence agent for the Fire Nation" Iroh said.

My father replied, "What's with 'the were'?"

"You should meet my son Lu Ten. He has beaten many of your records in training."

Ursa came in the conversation before my father could say anything back to Iroh. "Why don't we have Zuko show Lee around while we catch up?" Iroh and my father both agreed and they left me and Zuko. I could tell that Zuko didn't seem like he would say anything first so I decided to break the ice.

So is me or is it really hot out?" I do not know why I said this but it was the first thing to come to mind and now that I really thought about it I really felt hot.

"It's actually on the cooler side for being early fall." Zuko muttered. I just looked at him shocked. How could a place be so hot? Zuko noticed my shock expression and asked, "You must be from far North. Well, how about a tour of the palace since you will be living here I guess."

"Wait, what? What do you mean I will be living here?" I didn't know if I heard Zuko right or something.

Zuko explained, "Well since your grandfather is a General he has an area in the palace plus I believe your father was going to be rewarded an area for his accomplishments. We do not have much time before dinner so let me at least show you the important areas." After that I just followed Zuko as he told about the different rooms.

I was amazed by the size of the palace which seemed even larger when you are inside of it. Zuko clearly lived here all his life since he thought it was nothing when he showed all the different places. My favorite place was the library with all the different books and after that it would be the gardens since all of them had ponds or fountains even though I couldn't really do any waterbending.


Today is a good day. My tutors told me that at the rate that I am learning things that I would not have to be with them all day instead I will be having afternoons off. Also Lee has started to learn sword fighting so I will be able to spar with him and hang out with him more often. It had been six months since Lee and his father had showed up and since then Lee and I have become really good friends. We both did well in schooling and both liked the martial arts. It was too bad Lee was not a firebender like his since he defiantly had the spirit for it.

After lunch I decided to go look for Lee. Usually Lee would either be in the library, sparring with his father or in my Uncle's room since Lee had a knack for Pai Sho and also seemed to love tea too but since my Uncle left to Siege Ba Sing Se Lee hasn't had really anything to do except read. It seems that since Colonel Makoto came back he was put right back to work as an intelligent agent (a.k.a spy). I knew that this was hard on Lee since three months into living in the palace when he finally had a routine he had to see his father leave for war but if the war stories of Colonel Makoto are true Lee had nothing to worry about.

I made my way to the library and found Lee reading a book about something I never heard before but notice martial art moves in it so I assumed that Lee was learning a new form of fighting. I believe that made three he currently was studying but I never saw him actually practice any of them yet. He probably practiced them with his father. For a ten year old Lee seemed to read a lot so that's why I always tried pulling away from his books. "If you are here to take me away from this book give me a second to mark my spot." It freaked me out a little that he knew I was there even when I do my best to be stealthy.

"Alright but make it quick. Last time when you were 'just marking a spot' it took you way too long,"

"I cannot help if I was in a good spot," Lee was smirking while saying that," so where we off to?"

"Where do you think Lee? The only place we are allowed to go."

"Alright let's go."


I was always surprised how Zuko and I were able to always find something entertaining in the gardens whether it was playing hide and explode or feeding the turtle-ducks but sometimes we were not always lucky.

"How did they find us again?" I whispered to Zuko. We were hiding behind a pillar trying to stay out of sight from Zuko's crazy sister Azula.

"Lee, I have no idea how she and her friends do it cause if I did we wouldn't be in this situation."

"Well, I think they might have pasted on so let's make a break for it." I regretted saying that since after making a break for the inside of the palace we ran into Zuko's mother and his sister and were forced to play with Azula. I always hated being around Azula and her friends. Actually I found Ty Lee alright especially when she wasn't being forced to do Azula's commands. Azula seemed to always want to torment me the most since I wasn't born in the Fire Nation. Zuko did his best to take Azula's attention away from me but it didn't always work.

Today's torment was a dodge fire which was exactly what it sounded like. This game always made me nervous not because I thought the fire would it me but because I was nervous my reflexes would resort to waterbending before me dodging. Luckily there was more than just me having fire thrown at me so I was under constant pressure. Today Azula was going extra tough with her fire throwing and it took me a second when I was heading behind a rock to realize that she was only going after me which didn't seem good.

"Where are you Lee? You can't hide from me; you aren't silent enough to hide." That's when Azula jumped onto the top of the rock and saw me so I sprinted to my next cover but Azula was predicting my every move. Every time I found somewhere to go she would throw a fireball right in front of my path till I got cornered. "Nowhere to go Lee." Azula smirked and I could tell she wasn't going to go easy with her fire blast.

"Azula maybe we should play another game." Ty Lee saw what was happening and seemed really nervous about it.

"Don't worry Ty Lee. I won't hurt him to bad." Azula was already readying the fire ball that was going to hurl at me.

"Azula stop this!" Zuko finally got over to the scene and looked upset but it was too late since Azula hurled the fire ball at me. I was panicked and through my hands up to protect me while closing my eyes. A good solid moment later I noticed how no fire ball hit me so I opened my eyes to see the Azula, Ty Lee, and Zuko staring at me.

"Why are you looking at me like that?"

Zuko was the one to answer me, "Lee, do you know what you just did?"

"What?"

"Lee, you just firebended."

Thank You for reading