(Zuko's POV)
You fell asleep dreaming of Kana, at least in your dreams you were happy. You woke up in a slight panic because you could have sworn you heard footsteps. You jumped out of bed to investigate. After quickly scanning your room, you concluded that no one is here. You opened the door and saw a hooded figure running down the hall. Instinctively you ran after the hooded figure.
'They're fast' you thought, 'not as fast as Kana' you absentmindedly added. You turned a corner and lost the hooded figure. They were nowhere in sight but in the center to the hall was a scroll. Intrigued you picked it up and started reading.
~You need to know the story of your great-grandfather's demise. It will reveal your own destiny. ~
You closed the scroll and looked around. You remembered earlier that day when you were looking at Sozin's portrait, how did he die?
(Kana's POV)
You were trying to distract yourself; being on this boat was driving you crazy. You had slept so late this morning that you weren't tired enough to sleep. Daisuke was steering the boat so Kaito could sleep. You started to quietly pace around the deck so you could relieve your jitters and not wake up Kaito, Smellerbee or Longshot. Jet was watching you pace back and fourth.
"Will you stop it!" he snapped, "you're going to make me nervous!"
"I can't help it" you defended as you continued to pace. "I don't like being on boats for so long." It wasn't a complete lie, you don't like being on boats for long periods of time but you weren't pacing because of that, you couldn't stop panicking about not being able to fire bend and you couldn't get your mind off Zuko and it was starting to piss you off.
"Can you find some other way to distract yourself?" Jet snapped.
You glared at him and continued to pace.
"Ah! I can't take it!"
"I will turn this boat around if you two don't stop fighting" Daisuke yelled from inside the cabin.
"He started it!" you yelled childishly.
"Did not!"
"Will you two go the fuck to sleep" Kaito growled, "I need my beauty sleep"
"You need more than just sleep to fix that" Daisuke called.
You sighed as the three boys bickered. Surprisingly Smellerbee and Longshot were still sound asleep. Now their bickering was starting to give you a headache.
"Quiet!" you yelled. "I'm sorry I was pacing, I'll stop" you said calmly when everyone stopped fighting.
Kaito mumbled a few incoherent words then rolled over and went to sleep. Jet just stared at you.
"Are you alright? You seem edgy" Jet said.
"Gee what gave you that idea?"
(Zuko's POV)
You gave up on sleep early in the morning; you were far too troubled by your thoughts of Kana and the mysterious scroll to sleep. Before breakfast you found yourself standing in front of the portrait of Sozin. For the first time you really looked at the portrait, Sozin looked a lot like your father, they have the same cruel smile.
"You know it's never to early for a sitting with the court painter, Zuko" Azula said. She startled you, why is she always lurking around anyway. "Make sure he gets your good side," she laughed as she walked past you.
Why was she always reminding you of your scar, its not like you'll ever forget about it. You pushed your anger aside and said "Wait, I need to ask you something. What do you remember about our great-grandfather's history?"
"Oh, Zuko, it's so strange how your mind works. Fire Lord Sozin began the war, of course. He spent his early years secretly preparing for it. He was as patient as he was clever. He famously waited for the comet, later renamed Sozin's Comet, and used its power to launch his full-scale invasion of the world. In the end, he died a very old and successful man.
"But how did he die?"
"Didn't you pay any attention in school Zuko? He died peacefully in his sleep. He was ancient"
Azula walked away. You looked back at the portrait of Sozin as your thoughts drifted back to the scroll. 'What a waste of time' you thought.
(Kana's POV)
The boat reached shore in late afternoon, you were so thankful to finally be off the boat that you've been running around like a child at a festival.
"Its good to see you back to your normal self" Kaito commented.
You smiled, "I just really don't like being cooped up."
"Yeah we could tell" Jet mumbled in annoyance, you had kept him up all night whether it was your pacing, tapping or sighing, he blamed you for his grumpiness. Rather than start fighting again you marched ahead of everyone else enjoying the fresh air.
After about an hour of walking you came to a cliff, this must be the place where the air temple is hidden. The only issue is that you're at the bottom of the cliff.
"We should probably walk around" Smellerbee said.
"That will take why to long" Jet argued.
"He right, looks like we're climbing" kaito said as he jumped onto the steep rocks and attempted to climb, after about two feet he fell back to the ground.
You looked at Daisuke, who sighed in frustration at his brother's stupidity. "I think this would be easier," He said as he used his bending to create a path up the side of the cliff. He was only able to do a small section at a time but it was much easier than climbing.
"Oh yeah" Kaito said stupidly, "I always forget that you're an earthbender"
"Sometimes I wonder how you got to be so stupid." daisuke mumbled.
"Come on we should get going, we want to be there before it gets dark don't we" you said as you began to walk up the path.
(Zuko's POV)
You skipped dinner that night; you were in no mood to see your father or Azula. You laid on your bed and closed yours eyes, but all you saw was the look of betrayal on Kana's face, three times you've betrayed her trust, and every time you were powerless to do anything about it. You frowned; you need to get your mind of Kana at least for a little while because wallowing in guilt and self-pity is definitely not healthy.
Out of the corner of your eye you noticed the mysterious scroll sitting on the nightstand. You picked it up and read it again, whom ever wrote it is obviously a master of encryption because you have no idea what it means.
You rolled over onto your side and groaned, "what does it mean." You threw the scroll onto a lantern. Just as you were about to turn away you noticed something strange. The light from the lantern shined through the scroll revealed another message
~The fire sages keep the secret history in the Dragonbone Catacombs~
And with that you climbed out of your window and down the palace wall.
(Kana's POV)
"Are we there yet?" Kaito asked dramatically "I'm tired" he complained.
"You're tired! I'm doing all of the work," Daisuke yelled. He did have a point, he was using his bending to create a path for everyone, he must have been exhausted.
"Kana! I thought you said we'd be there by nightfall" Kaito whined.
"I said we wanted to get there before nightfall" you clarified, "I miss judged the size of the cliffs," you mumbled. Your little group had been walking all day, only resting when Daisuke was too tired to earth bend.
You glanced at everyone, Daisuke looked as if he was about to fall over, and Longshot was carrying Smellerbee who was asleep. Kaito seemed like he was fine, you rolled your eyes, the bear just loves to complain. Jet was obviously very tired but he was trying not to show it.
"Do you guys want to make camp for the night?" you asked. You didn't want to stop but Daisuke isn't looking so good. He was staring straight up, maybe he's delirious.
"Yes!" Kaito yelled.
"Its probably for the best" Jet agreed, still trying to hide how tired he is.
"We're not stopping" Daisuke said. Ok he's completely lost it. He just smiled. "Look up"
You slowly looked up the sight amazed you. Directly above you was the air temple, it was built into the cliffs, it was beautiful and surreal.
(Zuko's POV)
After sneaking into the Dragonbone Catacombs you easily found the secret history. You took out a scroll.
"The final testimony of Firelord Sozin" you whispered to yourself.
(Kana's POV)
Once you got inside the air temple everyone was pretty exhausted, especially Daisuke who instantly curled up on the floor and fell into a well deserved sleep. The group decided to explore the temple tomorrow when everyone has energy. Smellerbee was asleep still. Jet went to gather kindling for a fire, while Longshot and Kaito figured out what food to make.
You felt bad for not helping them but now that you finally had time to relax, you were left alone with your thoughts. You decided to try to meditate, but you couldn't focus your thoughts.
"Kana we need a fire" Kaito called.
"Then you need to find another fire bender," you mumbled.
"Oh god Kana, I'm sorry" Kaito panicked.
You walked over to the three boys, you probably looked as bad as you felt, wallowing in self-pity is very unattractive.
"I don't get it, when Ty Lee did that to Katara, her bending came back hours later" Kaito mused.
"Maybe its because I didn't learn to fire bend from a fire bender" you said.
"Why does that matter?" Jet asked, for once he didn't sound like a jerk, he seemed genuinely concerned and worried about you.
"Fire bending is based on emotions, its highly passionate, whereas water bending is based on fluidity and grace and earth bending is based on a physical change to the environment. Fire bending comes from within, its all about breathing and emotion." You explained.
"Maybe you lost what drives your emotion" Kaito suggested.
"I don't even know what emotion fueled my bending" you sighed.
Jet started to make a fire, you assumed using tricks he learned when he was a freedom fighter. Longshot was looking at map.
"Well who were the first fire benders?" Jet asked as he finally got a spark to ignite the kindling.
"The Dragons, but they're extinct" you frowned.
"Dragons really existed? I thought that was a myth" Jet was surprised.
You nodded, "fire lord Sozin decided to make a sport out of hunting dragons, Iroh killed the last one years ago" you were visibly upset, it's horrible that the dragons were hunted. You hated how egocentric most of the fire lords have been. You hope that Zuko is different.
Suddenly Longshot handed you the map and pointed to place not to far from your current location. You looked closely at it. "That's the sun warriors civilization, they were the first fire benders" you jumped up in excitement. "I have to go there!" you decided.
"Kana the sun warriors are gone, they died off hundreds of years ago" kaito reasoned "Plus its late and as you big brother I forbid you to go, at least until we have everything figured out"
'Like that's ever stopped me before' you thought.
(Zuko's POV)
As you finished reading the scroll you were shocked
"This can't be! Where's the rest of it!" your temper was getting the best of you again.
After searching the scroll you found nothing more. You stood and as quickly as you snuck in, you snuck out and headed for the imperial prison.
(Kana's POV)
You looked around as you finished your note, Daisuke had not moved since he fell asleep, Longshot and Smellerbee were cuddled up in a corner, you smiled they were so protective of each other. Kaito was sleeping like a huge bear-like baby, and Jet was fast asleep near the fire. You walked over to Kaito and pried open his hand, thankfully he can sleep through anything, you put the note in his hand and closed it.
You walked through the temple till you found a tunnel that led to the surface above. As you opened the hatch you looked back, feeling guilty that you were sneaking away but you needed to do this. As you began to walk in the direction of the sun warrior's ruins you shivered, you never noticed how cold it could be.
(Zuko's POV)
As you entered the cell you slammed the door closed behind you. Normally you wouldn't do that but you're so upset that you don't care if the guards come.
"You sent this, didn't you? I found the secret history, which by the way should be renamed history most people already know! The note said that I needed to know about my great-grandfather's death, but he was still alive in the end." You yelled in frustration.
For the first time since Ba-Sing-Se Uncle made eye contact with you. "No he wasn't"
"What are you talking about?" you questioned suddenly less sure of yourself.
"You have more than one great-grandfather, Prince Zuko. Sozin was your father's grandfather. Your mother's grandfather was Avatar Roku."
"Why are you telling me this?"
"Because understanding the struggle between your two great-grandfathers can help you better understand the battle within yourself." You fell to your knees in shock as Uncle continued. "Evil and good are always at war inside you, Zuko. It is your nature, your legacy. But, there is a bright side. What happened generations ago can be resolved now, by you. Because of your legacy, you alone can cleanse the sins of our family and the Fire Nation. Born in you, along with all the strife, is the power to restore balance to the world." The Uncle removed a brick from the wall and pulled out a bundle, as he unwrapped it to reveal an old headdress. He handed it to you "This is a royal artifact, it's suppose to be worn by the crown prince"