This is my first Avatar The Last Airbender fanfiction this chapter was not Beta read and if any are interested in beta reading my work before it's post PM

I would like to thank all my patient readers and hope you enjoy this next chapter

Disclaimer I don't own anything related to ATLA

Zuko slowly regained consciousness, his eyes fluttering open after what felt like an eternity. As his vision cleared, he found himself lying in a bed beneath the familiar sight of Fire Nation banners hanging above. "Was... was that all a dream?" he asked as confusion gripped him, he struggled to make sense of his surroundings. Was all that happened just in his head? Was Suki, was the Kyoshi Warriors, was everything he's done all just a strange vivid dream?

After laying his head back and his mind racing, he then attempted to sit up. Almost immediately a sharp pain shot through his abdomen, causing him to wince. His movement revealed bandages neatly wrapped around his midsection, and reality crashed down upon him. It wasn't a dream. Azula had indeed struck him with lightning. "But that also means..." Zuko then realized that he's been captured.

Groaning and gripping his side, Zuko tried to shuffle to his feet. He reached out for a robe that was draped over the back of a chair near his bed and slipped it on. He struggled and winced, lifting his arms into the sleeves before moving and shuffling over to the door.

He left the room, carefully creaking open the door and peering outside for any sign of Fire Nation soldiers or his sister. Using the wall as support, Zuko stumbled across the hall, occasionally stopping and leaning on the wall to catch his breath. He stops at a turn in the hallway upon hearing two guards talking to each other. Zuko peers around the corner, spying on them. He knew in his state he wasn't fit for a fight, but he still needed to get away before Azula finishes what she started.

"Do you have any more ginger?" one of the guards groans as he holds his head in his hand. He wrenches slightly, gagging.

"Again?" the other guard complained. "What happened to the ginger I gave you?" he said, shaking his head.

"I used it all. You know how easily I get seasick," the guard said, his feet uneasy as the motion of the boat made him push up against his friend. Seeing the two guards momentarily distracted, Zuko made his move. He held in a grunt, gritting his teeth as he quickly stepped across the hall, making it just out of sight.

Even as he cleared past those guards, Zuko kept on his toes. He snuck off down the hall, sucking in the pain to steady himself as he made his way toward the upper deck. So far, he wasn't caught as he found the stairs, but he knew once he stepped out, he'd have to make a run for it, as he'd be too exposed. Gripping the stair railing, Zuko took in a deep breath. First in, then out. In, then out. Then, finally calming himself, he pushed himself and rushed up on the deck, taking no time to see his surroundings. He just bolted to the edge of the ship, preparing to jump into the sea.

"Hey, he's gonna jump! Stop him!"

Zuko heard the voice, realizing he had been spotted, he didn't turn to see who it was. He just ran. However, as soon as he reached the edge of the deck and jumped, a gust of wind caught him in mid-air. Zuko was stunned as he stared over the water, floating above the bottomless crushing depths, before being pulled back.

As the air swirled around him, he was guided gently and set down on the metal deck. He was soon now face to face with his supposed captors. And to his shock, he was met with the familiar faces of the Avatar and his friends and with many other unknown possible allies.

"What were you thinking?! You could have killed yourself!" The waterbender was the first to step forward and approach him, scolding him for his foolishness. She knelt down next to him, looked over his bandages, and checked to see if he was alright.

"Looks like Sparky had a death wish," a small girl said as she too approached, giving a smug grin. "To think you used up all that special water, and it would be all for nothing," she said, much to the waterbender's annoyance. She then shot the young girl an annoyed look, huffing before silently examining the bindings.

"It is good to see you are finally awake," said another voice, and Zuko lifted his gaze, immediately raising his brow. The Avatar stood before him with a full head of hair. It then dawned on him that all the Avatar's friends were dressed in Fire Nation attire. "Are you sure? I feel like I'm still dreaming," Zuko said as he rubbed his eyes and looked on in disbelief.

"You're not dreaming. You're finally awake," the waterbender said giving him a relieved smile.

"Can someone please fill me in on what's going on? Why are we on a Fire Nation ship? Why is everyone dressed this way? And How long was I out?" Zuko asked still feeling a bit light-headed but kept conscious enough for them to explain what was going on.

They began to explain what had happened after Azula had electrocuted him. From Iroh coming in to cover their escape to fleeing Ba Sing Se, to Katara's attempt to revive the fallen prince. "After we reached Chameleon's Bay and joined the other Water Tribesman. We used a commandeered Fire Nation ship to sail undetected through the waters… it had been a bit difficult most of the men don't know how to use the engines. But I managed to get them up to speed," Sokka said in a bragging tone. The fact he was able to teach or at least instruct the men of his tribe was a source of pride for him.

Katara just rolled her eyes as she was forced to deal with her brother's smugness every time one of the men asked him for advice. It was getting on her nerves if she was being honest. "That's basically it… so far we haven't had any issues," she said as she looked back her expression softening seeing the pain in Zuko's eyes.

"… My Uncle stayed behind," Zuko muttered looking down. It seemed no matter what Iroh always had his back and one way or another he was always leaving his Uncle behind.

"Yeah… he is truly an impressive man," Katara empathized. She knew that he had lost his mother and now potentially his Uncle. She couldn't imagine what must be going through his mind.

"Yes he is," Zuko nodded. If he could he would have attempted to leap off this boat again. even for the smallest chance his uncle was still in those catacombs. But he knew better. "So I've been asleep for weeks," Zuko reiterated trying to understand what had happened. "And you saved me… I don't think thank you is quite enough."

"No need, you would have done the same for us," Aang smiled. Ironically both he and Zuko reflected on how they both of them came to each other's rescue. When Zhao had Aang in chains it could've been over for him. Both Katara and Sokka were sick and didn't know where he was. If Zuko hadn't come for him, selfish reasons or not. He would've been lost to the world. And with Zuko, if Aang didn't help him escape, more than likely Zhao would have killed Zuko on the spot. It was strange how things had come full circle for them.

As they talked and continued to explain their situation another man approached the group. "Is everything okay now?" he asked politely.

"We're fine, Dad," Katara shot back annoyed by his intrusion. The group instantly felt the sudden thick tension in the air.

He didn't immediately respond to her outburst he simply looked to the scarred prince. "I'm Hakoda, Katara and Sokka's father," he greeted with an outstretched hand.

Zuko was about to return the gesture when Katara stopped him placing a hand on Zuko's shoulder. "He knows who you are. I just called you "Dad", didn't I?" she snapped once more making even Toph uncomfortable. "So would you mind giving us a little privacy?"

"Of course," Hakoda answered with a heavy sigh leaving everyone and returning to his duties without another word.

"Yo Sugar Queen what's up with you and your dad?" Toph was the first to ask. As it was uncharacteristic to see Katara in such a sour mood to anyone. At least not without reason.

Katara had a look of annoyance on her face as she watched Hakoda leave. A look Zuko could tell was more than just a one-off argument, as she heard Toph she was about to respond but bit her tongue. "It's nothing I'll deal with it later," she said not wanting to talk much on the subject. "Come on Zuko you probably need another healing session then we can get you something to eat," she said as she took his arm to help him to his feet.

Zuko didn't argue he was starving and also in a bit of pain. Once he was escorted back to his room. Zuko laid back on his bed as Katara undid and opened his bandages before bending some water onto the scar left by Azula's lightning bolt. Zuko got a glimpse at it the mark was angry and red, almost like his eye. But instead of a comet, the shape was closer to that of a star.

Zuko winced in pain as the wound was exposed to the musty air of his cabin but it was instantly soothed as the cool glowing water touched his mark. "Tell me where the pain feels most intense," Katara instructed as she swirled the water around making sure to seep it into the damaged skin.

"Mmm, right there!" Zuko said through gritted teeth as it began to unexpectedly sting, he could feel the twisted knot in his stomach the pain only briefly going and coming back.

"I can feel a lot of energy twisted up around there," she explained as she couldn't imagine how much pain he was in. Then a thought resurfaced in her mind on how could he have survived a lightning strike head-on. Or more importantly, why did he jump in front of the attack like he did?

"Zuko... I can't tell you how grateful I am for what you did... You saved Aang," she said giving him a soft smile. "But... what were you thinking? You could have died," she said with a sense of guilt in her words. For so long Katara felt guilty. When she first healed Zuko over a month ago she had been dismissive of Aang's words. He told her Zuko had good in him he just needed a chance. Katara hadn't believed him then, but now after seeing what he was willing to do. Katara felt horrible.

"I was trying to redirect it," Zuko said disappointed in himself. He thought he was ready. He thought he could do it. He had trained for this moment, but like most things, he didn't match up to his sister.

"Redirect it?"

"Yeah, my Uncle taught me a technique to redirect lightning... He actually learned it by studying waterbenders," Zuko answered as he watched Katara still healing his wound. His eyes tracked how her arms fluidly moved matching the pace of the swirling liquid. "I thought I was ready... I thought I could do it, but I wasn't and I couldn't."

Katara understood hearing the defeat and disappointment in his voice as she nodded. "I'm sure next time you face her you'll be ready," she encouraged as best she could. Zuko nodded his head though he honestly didn't believe her. In all their battles Azula always found a way to come out on top.

Katara continued to heal him as much as she could. She mostly helped with the pain. For some reason, she felt as if the energies inside of him were fighting her in a way. She couldn't explain it. After she was done what she could she redid his bandages so they could get something for him to eat.

They arrived at the mess hall joining the other members of team Avatar they now going over what their next steps are and what they are going to do. A map was spread out over the table. In fact, Sokka was glad Zuko was awake wanting his opinion on their plan.

"We've been traveling west. We crossed through the Serpent's Pass a few days ago. We've seen a few Fire Nation ships, but none have bothered us," Sokka said taking a small wooden figurine of a ship and mimicking the path they've taken so far.

"To what end?" Zuko questioned as he was eating what he assumed was a pungent Water Tribe stew. Aang avoided eating it completely almost wrenching as it was passed to Zuko. Though Zuko couldn't complain he was too hungry to be judgy about taste. He did his best to swallow it and keep it down.

"To invade the Fire Nation Capitol," Hakoda said confidently. "But without the backing of the Earth Kingdom armies we had to modify our original invasion plan," Hakoda started before Katara interjected "It's Sokka's invasion plan," her words cut deep making Hakoda pause and correct himself. "Yes, Sokka's plan," he said before allowing Sokka to finish the explanation.

Sokka gave his sister and father a strange look. He was still confused what beef she had with him, but he couldn't worry about that now. "Well, we had planned to attack the Fire Nation on the solar eclipse when the Fire Nation would be most vulnerable. But without the Earth Kingdom armies instead of a full invasion we're planning a smaller invasion. Just a ragtag team of our friends and allies from around the Earth Kingdom," Sokka said with enthusiasm proud of his plan. "Even without a full army, the Fire Nation will still be vulnerable. We just go in and make sure to secure the capitol while Aang flies in and deals with the Fire Lord."

Zuko listened as Sokka explained, however briefly as he could to give the general idea of their plan. "And the best part is, the eclipse isn't even our biggest advantage!" Sokka said with a wide grin. "You are!"

"Me," Zuko blinked confused.

"Yup! You are the Fire Nation Prince. If there is anyone that knows the Fire Nation better than any of us it is you!" Sokka said cheerfully. "You can reveal any of their secret defenses and help plan out the invasion to the last detail. And then after the Fire Lord is defeated we put you on the throne and end the war!"

Just as those last words left Sokka's lips Zuko's eyes went wide. "Wait! You want me to be the Fire Lord!?" he asked dumbfounded, wondering once more if he was still in some sort of coma. He glanced at the others as they all gave knowing looks as this was something they have discussed.

"Prince Zuko, if we are to end this war peacefully someone has to take the throne to end the attack on the Earth Kingdom. We don't have anyone more suited to end it other than you," Hakoda added supporting his son's suggestion.

"Look even if I wanted to be... Fire Lord," Zuko started completely in disbelief that this was their actual plan. "It wouldn't work... the Fire Nation probably already sees me as a traitor. And coming in with an invading army, they would just see it as a coup and the Fire Nation generals would rebel." he shook his head.

"Okay well, then what do you suggest?" Sokka said a bit annoyed that Zuko was already dismissing his idea outright. Even if his logic made sense to him.

"There is only one person that could sit on the throne and be able to bring peace."

"And who is that?"

"My Uncle," Zuko said with regret in his voice. "He was a war hero, a decorated general, and should have been the rightful heir to the throne... If anyone can bring peace it is my Uncle."

"General Iroh is well known even in the Water Tribe and the Earth Kingdom," Hakoda admitted deep in thought. Even he has heard of the retired generals fighting prowess and his diplomatic skill. He indeed would be a good candidate with years of experience. Though he was captured or probably dead they had no idea.

"But Zuko right now you are our best option," Sokka tried to reassure him, but Zuko wasn't.

"The answer is no... I won't be your Fire Lord," Zuko said as he rose from his seat. Even though he felt a little woozy he stood tall and stormed out of the room. He couldn't be the Fire Lord. He just couldn't. He can't. He won't the thought filled his mind as he went straight for his room.

Please leave a review and let me know what you think and again stay and stay well