The next morning, I sneak out to Mai's house. I heard that she was out helping someone so I decide that now is the best time. I had plenty of time to think about it last night. About what I sad to Mai. About speaking up to my Father. I thought about what Uncle would say. 'Do what you desire. Follow your spirit. Don't worry what others will carve in your path. Go around them and make your own path; make your own destiny.'

I had to do what Uncle would've told me. If I can't apologize to him, the least I can do if follow the advice he would've given me. Then he would've given me a cup of tea. Then, somehow, he will make me vent all my emotions to him. I don't know how he does it but he does.

Before I went to bed, I wrote Mai a letter. I have to give it to her. She needs to know, whether it be in person or a letter. But it would be better as a letter. I glance at the picture of Mai and I. "I'm sorry, Mai. I have to do this. It needs to be done." I put the letter on her bed and head out the door. She won't be happy. I know it.

I head back into the palace. I stand in front of a painting of Mother. I check down both halls. Then, I kneel in front of the painting. "Mother, I'm sorry. I know I made a lot of bad choices in my life. You must be disappointed in me." I pause and look at my hands. "But," I clench my fists, "I will make you proud. I will show you I can be better. I will make better decisions." I look back up. "I will join the Avatar. I will help him stop Father. I will help him end this war and bring peace back to the four Nations. I will show you that I can be the son you always saw in me. I promise, Mother. I won't let you down."

I stand. "First, I need to take care of some business with Father. Wish me luck, Mother." I bow to the painting and walk away. "All right, Father. I'm going to end this here and now." I storm over to the throne room and kick the doors down. "Zuko!" Father exclaimed. "What a surprise."

"Father, we need to talk."

"Of course, Zuko. What is it?"

"The war meeting. Father, it's a bad move."

"How come? Don't you want to be powerful? Don't you want to win?"

"Not like this! It's unfair! They don't have a chance to fight back!"

"That's the point, Zuko," Father said, narrowing his eyes. There was a hint of frustration in his voice but I ignored it. "In Ba Sing Se, Azula took down the Avatar, not me."

"Why are you telling me this, Zuko?"

"The Avatar lived," I replied.

"What? How?" Father stood from his throne. "He's actually probably leading the invasion outside." Father grew in anger when I said that. "Get out right now, Zuko! Leave me!"

"I'm not taking orders from you anymore," I said. Father took a step backwards but said nothing. Now I have his attention. "All my life, I thought I wanted my honor back. That isn't the case! I just wanted to to care about me. I was just trying to please you. Even after you banished me. Just because I spoke out of turn yo challenged me, a thirteen year-old boy, to an Agni Kai."

"I did it to teach you respect! You knew better than to speak out of turn!" Father protested.

"You're missing the point. It was cruel." Father growled. "Then you have learned nothing!" He stood. "No! You don't get it! I learned everything! I learned that I can never please you! I can't do what you ask of me! I was taught that the Fire Nation was the greatest. The War was our way of 'sharing' our greatness with the world." Father opened his mouth. "I have been to the other Nations. The people there are terrified of us. We have taken over their homes, their lands. They don't see our greatness!"

Father narrowed his eyes. He doesn't want me to continue but I have to. I have to finally stand for what's right. I've been ignoring it for so long. I can't do it any more. "We created a time of fear and panic. If we don't want the world to collapse on itself, we need to fix it, with peace and kindness."

Father laughed. "Your uncle. He has gotten to you, hasn't he?"

"Yes, he has," I replied softly. Father grew furious. I could see the fire inside boiling. He didn't like what I was saying. i knew he wouldn't. I had to tell him how I felt. I'm just surprised he hasn't attacked me for it yet. "I'm going to apologize to Uncle and free him from his prison that you put him in."

"That's just wonderful," Father said. "Then he can share some of his tea and words of failure. I hope you enjoy being weak and powerless."

"I'm also going to join the Avatar. I'm going to help him beat you. Help him return peace to the four Nations."

"Well, if you want to take me down that bad, then why don't you? You have your swords, I'm powerless. You could take me down now!" Father scoffed. I shook my head. "Taking you down is the Avatar's destiny, not mine. I have to fulfill mine by helping the Avatar." I turned around. "That is all." I started towards the door.

"Fool!" Father yells behind me. You only have courage to face me during the eclipse, when I'm powerless! If you have any real courage, you will wait until the sun comes back up." He paused, obviously trying to think of a way to make me stop. "Don't you know what happened to your mother?"

I stopped in front of the door. He uses Mother's disappearance as an excuse to threaten me most of the time. This time, it'll be different. "What happened that night?" I asked, without turning to face him. "My Father wanted me to do something unimaginable to you. Your mother found out and thought of a plan to spare your life. That plan also involved me becoming Fire Lord. Your mother did things she wasn't supposed to do to spare you. Because of that, she was banished."

"So she's still alive?"

"Maybe. No one knows what happened to her after she left. Not even me." Father paused. So Mother is still alive? I need to find her! If she's still out there, I need to see her again. "I learned that night, however, that banishment isn't a great punishment," Father said. "So I'm going to do something much worse for yours."

Father moved swiftly, in the manner Uncle taught me. Then, he pointed two fingers at me. Lightning shot from his hand. I block the lightning, however, it pushes me back. Uncle told me that redirecting lightning is dangerous and must be done carefully. Bend it through my body and back out. As I do, I feel the heat of the lightning. Makes it easier but my heart is pounding. I point towards Father and the lightning flew right back to Father. It hits the floor in front of him and he flies back, into the wall. Fire rose from where the lighting hit and I took the shot to run.

Uncle wasn't kidding. It really is dangerous. Thankfully, I managed to redirect it. This is the chance I have to see Uncle. I need to make things right with him. I need to thank him.

I dash inside of Uncle's prison. "Uncle!" I call. There came no response. When I got inside the room with his cell, the back wall was busted out. Warden Poon must have been the only one who saw, since he was lying on the floor. I grab his collar. "Where is my uncle?"

"H-he's gone! He busted himself out! It was like a one-man army! I-I don't even know how he managed it! He just...punched the wall out!" I let him go. If Uncle left then that means he's out there somewhere. I don't know exactly where, but I have a feeling I'll find him with the Avatar's help. I know he'll help me.