It had been three long years, three years of searching for dead ends and disappointments. Three years since his father's final lesson, that taught him a permanent lesson of suffering and discipline. Three long years away from home, away from his throne. He had learned much during those three years, some of it painful and some of it not, but most important of all, he learned patience. He would no longer be denied his right to the throne and to the world.
Standing atop the deck of his ship, cutting through the open seas like a knife, he reminisced about his past failures. His arms were crossed behind his back, as he looked out over the open sea, trying to forget all the pain that he had endured. The years felt like an eternity as he thought back to that day and all the times when he had hit rock bottom.
The time when he had felt so alone and hopeless that he would never achieve his goals. The time when the weight of his own mistakes seemed to be dragging him down into the darkness and despair. He remembered the time when his father had abandoned him and the feeling of loneliness that followed.But every disappointment and whispers of failure just fueled the burning fire within him to not give up, and to keep pushing forward.
He wasn't going to let himself become a victim of his past failures, but he was also not going to let those failures define who he was in the present. He was going to keep fighting, no matter what. He could not deny that it was a long and hard road that had led him to this point. But now he stood tall and strong, ready to face any challenge. He was a new man, a stronger and a more powerful man.
He was grateful for his uncle's support but he didn't want to admit it to him directly, lest he get a big head. He figured that his uncle didn't need to be by his side on his mission while he was banished anyway. The only family he had that was on his side was his uncle, and he was lucky to have someone who was willing to stick by him despite their situation.
"You're going to catch a cold if you keep standing outside in the cold prince Zuko," his uncle, the wise old man who was once a fearsome general but now a fearsome tea enthusiast, spoke up from behind him with a hint of concern in his voice. Zuko had been lost in thought, and for a moment it seemed like he hadn't even noticed his uncle's presence.
"It's ok uncle, fire bending comes from the breath," he replied, inhaling and blowing embers of fire out of his mouth before turning around and walking over to his uncle. It was true that fire bending came from the breath, and the fact that he could bend even in the cold weather suggested that his fire bending had improved considerably.
As he approached his uncle, he couldn't help but feel a sense of pride in his progress, and he wasn't even bothered by the cold weather anymore. His uncle gave him a warm smile, "That's a good point nephew. But still, the wind is picking up and the waves are getting rougher. Perhaps you should come inside and rest for a bit. I was thinking of making a pot of tea, and it's a great way to stay warm and relaxed," he replied, putting his hand on Zuko's shoulder.
Zuko couldn't resist his uncle's offer and smiled back, "Okay uncle, I'll come inside and join you for some tea."
Zuko's uncle, Iroh, was a retired fire nation general and a master of the art of tea. His love of tea had been his saving grace when his life had been at its darkest.
Iroh was proud of how far his nephew has grown, especially from the broken and angry child he was when the wound was still fresh, both literally and figuratively. The years since then had been rough, but Zuko had managed to overcome the adversities and grow into a strong and confident person. As the two sat down to enjoy a cup of tea together, Iroh couldn't help but feel a sense of achievement in seeing his nephew's progress.
Just as they were about to walk into the cabin, a bright light shot into the sky, grabbing Zuko's attention and prompting him to walk to the middle of the deck. There was no mistaking it, that light could only mean that someone had just activated their bending abilities, and it was obviously a high-level bender at that. Zuko stood up straight and watched with alertness as he strained his eyes to get a better look at who the powerful bender was. It was impossible to see exactly who was responsible for the light, but judging by its distance and size, it could only be the Avatar, who was believed to be long dead, and was supposedly the last hope for peace between the nations.
Iroh was even more alert than Zuko, because he knew that the light had to be a bad sign for everyone, especially his nephew following all the hard work he had put into rebuilding himself. There was a tense atmosphere on the ship, as everyone waited for the source of the bright light to become clear. The air was thick with anticipation, and the tension could be felt throughout the whole ship. It felt like everyone was holding their breath, waiting to see who would emerge victorious from the light show.
Iroh knew that the source of the light must have been the Avatar, who he had heard of but didn't know personally. Iroh couldn't deny the fear in his heart for his nephew. His nephew was an impressive firebender, but he wasn't prepared for a fight against someone as powerful as the Avatar.
"My apologies, uncle, it seems the tea would have to wait." Zuko's entire demeanour changed from the respectful nephew he had been a few moments ago to the hardened soldier he had become over the years of his search. He clenched his fist tightly, as a heightened sense of anticipation coursed through his body, and a feeling deep within him told him that all his searching was finally going to pay off.
"Zuko," Iroh called out to his nephew, "we don't know anything for sure yet. Don't get ahead of yourself, remember your training. We don't know what kind of enemy we're dealing with here. And besides, it could just be a trick of the light," Iroh warned, but the stern look in his nephew's eyes told him that his warning fell on deaf ears.
Zuko was a man of action and always had been. He was the type of person who wanted to know the truth and wouldn't stop until he got the answer. He would go to the ends of the earth to get the answers he needed, and he wouldn't back down from a challenge.
"Uncle, something is telling me that this time, this time we won't walk into a dead end. I have a strong feeling about this." Zuko's tone was firm yet gentle as he addressed his uncle's concern directly. He was aware of the possibility that this would be a repeat of their previous encounters, but he also felt strongly that this time things would be different. He wasn't going to let the opportunity slip through his fingers again, as he was determined to make sure this time everything would go his way.
Iroh nodded in silent acknowledgement, but it was clear that he still had his doubts about the situation despite Zuko's determination.
As they prepared themselves for a potential confrontation, there was an air of tension hanging over the ship as everyone waited with anticipation to see what the bright light would bring.
There was a tense silence that settled over the ship as everyone waited with baited breath to see what would happen. It felt like the world was holding its breath, and the atmosphere was so heavy it felt like the very air was being sucked out of the sky.
He put on his armor that had the same design as his soldiers, but his helmet was different, showcasing his superior rank as the leader. The armor was thick and strong, offering protection against any oncoming attacks or threats. He was prepared for whatever the light had in store and had no intention of letting it catch him off guard. As the crew waited nervously for the light, Zuko's armor and determined demeanor gave them a reassuring sense of strength and stability, calming their nerves.
Iroh was the only one who stayed calm. His many years of experience had taught him how to stay cool and collected in stressful situations. He was also a master strategist, which made him a valuable asset on the battlefield.
Walking to the deck of the ship, he saw his lieutenant talking to the small legion of men he had under his command. It was a pitiful number, but he was proud of the men he had at his side. They had stuck by him through everything, and their loyalty was unwavering. Zuko didn't consider the number as pitiful but rather as a testament to the trust and loyalty the men held toward him. He was glad to have them at his side and could not ask for a better team. As he was looking at his men, Iroh walked over to him.
"I'm proud of you nephew. I can see how much you've grown," he said with a smile.
"Thank you uncle, but we're not there yet. That light is our key to achieving my goal and finding the Avatar," Zuko replied, his tone filled with determination.
"Thank you Lieutenant Jee." Zuko took over, and he let the middle aged man step to the side. He spoke to the men, addressing each of them directly. "I know how long it's been since we've seen our home. I want to thank every one of you for staying at my side under my command." His tone was respectful and appreciative, recognizing the sacrifice they had made to follow him all this time.
"The last three years have been a testament to how strong our will is," Zuko said, taking the opportunity to address his men directly once again. "I understand that some of you may have doubts regarding the Avatar being alive, given that it has been a hundred years since he was last seen. However, I believe that light we saw was a sign that our perseverance has paid off." It was a powerful and inspiring message, giving his men the confidence and hope that they needed to continue the journey ahead.
"Right now, I ask of your strength for one last time, Let me lead you, and bring honor to our division after we have been discarded." Zuko's tone had shifted from inspirational to hardened as he spoke the final words of his speech, emphasizing his determination and the importance of what they were about to do. It was a clear message that he expected them to follow his lead without question, and that they were fighting for something far greater than themselves.
The men shifted into a tighter stance in response to their leader's hardened tone, indicating that they were ready to follow his lead. Showing their cooperation, they were demonstrating the dedication and unity that Zuko had forged among his men over the years. They were a cohesive unit, ready and willing to face whatever challenge that came their way as they set out to fulfill their mission.
They had lost a lot of men over the years, many of them because of the outrageous nature of the mission. But after hearing their prince's story of how he had saved their lives and received a mark on his face in return, it was clear that it had a powerful impact on them. The men's devotion and loyalty were stronger than ever, as they were now determined to fulfill their mission and honor their prince's sacrifice.
"Let's show them that 41st division is not to be underestimated!" Zuko's voice rang out strong and proud, and his men responded with equal fervor. They knelt before their leader in a united gesture of solidarity and dedication. They were ready to prove their worth and show that the 41st division was a force to be reckoned with, despite their smaller numbers.
After giving his men a final words of encouragement, Zuko placed his right hand in a fist with his left palm facing to it. Then he bowed to the kneeling men, showing his respect and gratitude for their devotion to him. It was a gesture of humility and honor from the prince to his men, acknowledging the sacrifices they have made and the loyalty they have shown. Their mission may have been dangerous and uncertain, but Zuko's gesture showed that he was grateful for their contribution and valued their efforts.
After dismissing his men, Zuko turned to look at the ice caps and started to strategize for the fight to come. He knew it would be an impossible battle against the Avatar, given the tales and legends of their immense power. However, he was banking on the fact that the Avatar would be an old man who had lost his edge due to age and inactivity. Zuko was determined to fight him even if his chances of winning were slim, but his heart was set on victory.