The Waterbending Scroll
Fulcon
Well-known member
The following is a fanbased work of fiction. Avatar the Last Airbender is the property of Viacom, Nickelodeon, Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Koniezko. Please support the official release.
---
“Fire Nation, Earth Nation, Water Nation!” A caller was shouting, standing outside a boat. “So long as bargains are your inclination, you’re welcome here! Don’t be shy, come on by!”
Zuko looked at the ship. In truth, he had recognized it immediately as a pirate ship when he had first set up a base in the merchants pier. It became even more obvious when he had met the Captain and spoke with him for a minute. But if anyone would have Water Bending resources, it would be them and now that they’ve returned from their...high risk trading trip, he was hoping they’d have something he was actually looking for.
So, the Prince stepped up ramp and entered the shop.
At that second, Zuko froze and so did the other three occupants of the store.
There, standing right in front of him, was the Avatar. A young boy whose bald head and blue arrow tattoos made him stand out like a sore thumb. Also in the store were two water tribals, a boy and a girl of similar age.
The Avatar and his traveling companions.
They were similarly staring at him, in his red, Fire Nation armor and topknot. The tribal boy was reaching for a weapon, the girl for a water skin at her belt. The monk was also slowly backing away into a defensive stance, his staff pointed forward.
Zuko immediately brought his hands up in a peaceful gesture. “Wait, wait, wait, whoa. Hold on a second.”
This stopped the Avatar from causing a windstorm in the shop and thankfully, the other two from drawing their weapons, whatever they’d be.
“You didn’t see me, I didn’t see you,” Zuko said, pointing two fingers at his eyes and then at them. “Deal?”
The three of them looked at each other and then back at him. The Avatar nodded. “Deal.”
Zuko let out a tense breath and made took one look at the right wall, it having been lined with scrolls. He could feel the Water Girl slowly and carefully circle out of his way as he did and they started whispering...but Zuko could hear them quite well.
“Aang, are you sure about this?” The girl asked in desperation. “He’s Fire Nation!”
“Let’s just slowly back out of here and leave before anyone else sees us,” The Avatar replied, their whispers.
Zuko honestly felt relieved. The sooner they left town, the more likely it was they could get out without his men seeing them and he could go back to pretending like they didn’t exist. So he began to peacefully peruse the large collection of scrolls and immediately one caught his eye, the symbol of the water tribe scratched into the end. He grabbed it and opened it.
His eyes went wide and he immediately turned to the Captain who was manning the counter. “How much for the Waterbending Scroll?”
Zuko noted with an uneasy feeling that the group of three had stopped moving just before they had exited the ship.
“We have a buyer in the Earth Kingdom already lined up,” The Captain responded. “But if you can cough up fifty gold pieces?”
“I’ll give you thirty,” Zuko immediately said, walking up to the counter and pulling a string-full of coins out of his wallet and laying them on the counter.
“I’m afraid I’m not haggling on this one.” The Captain’s mouth pressed into a fine line. “It’s fifty gold pieces or nothing.”
“Oh, you’re being serious.” Zuko blinked and pulled out another string full...then another. “Here’s fifty and an extra five if you don’t tell anyone who bought it from you.”
“A pleasure doing business with you, your highness,” The captain said, taking the coins. “Your gold is always welcome here.”
Zuko gave a small bow and tucked the scroll into his armor, walking right past the frozen Avatar and water tribals that were just standing in the door.
---
“You’re crazy,” Sokka told them. “No, no, you’re insane.”
“Sokka, that was a water bending scroll!” Katara pointed out with a harsh glare. “Like it or not, Aang needs to learn Waterbending and he needs to do it as fast as possible.”
“Yeah, and he can do that at the North Pole,” Sokka argued back. “You just want this scroll so you can learn Waterbending as fast as possible!”
“She does have to learn it too,” Aang reminded him from his lotus position on top of a rock.
“Well yeah, but she can do that at the North Pole too,” Sokka rebuffed dismissively. “We already restocked on all our supplies and we know the Fire Nation is all over that town. So we should do the smart thing and run. Besides, we couldn’t afford that scroll anyway!”
“We could’ve stolen it,” Katara grumbled, folding her arms and looking down the river they had set up camp besides.
“And have that entire ship of pirates come after us?” Sokka asked, exasperated. “Then the Fire Nation would be guaranteed to find us and we’d have Zhao on our tail again!”
Aang took a deep breath, and let it out. “Sokka, we need to grab that scroll.”
“Why?” Sokka asked.
“Because,” Aang began. “I have airbending. You have your weapons. Katara has nothing and that puts her at risk.”
“Well, Katara’s not supposed to be fighting anyway,” Sokka argued with a glare. “She’s a girl.”
“Oh, so that means that I can’t-” Katara began.
“Katara, please,” Aang cut in sharply with a pleading expression. “Let me finish.”
Katara just folded her arms and glared at her brother.
Aang took another meditative breath. “Sokka, it doesn’t matter if she’s a girl. She’s out here. With us. And because she’s out here with us, she is going to be fighting and if she doesn’t know enough to defend herself, she’s a target. I know you don’t want that.”
Sokka fell quiet for a moment. “Can’t we just, I don’t know, leave her back at camp?”
“They can just attack the camp,” Aang replied with a decidedly unimpressed frown. “Then they’ve got Katara as a hostage.”
Sokka let out a loud, irritated groan. “Fine. We’ll get you both the scroll.”
“Thank you Sokka!” Katara beamed, rushing forward to give Sokka a hug.
After an awkward moment, Sokka returned it. “You’re welcome.”
After they embraced and let go, Sokka turned to the both of them. “Now, did either of you see where that Fire Nation guy went after he bought the scroll?”
Both Aang and Katara shook their heads.
“No, he kind of just disappeared after he left the ship,” Katara responded.
“The pirate captain called him ‘your highness’,” Aang pointed out. “Maybe he can help us find him?”
“That’s a good place to start,” Sokka replied. “But we’ll have to be really sneaky now that we know that town is full of fire nation. The best time would be to head over there tomorrow before they get busy.”
---
“Uncle, you’ll never guess what I found,” Zuko said with a grin as he stepped into the office. He took the scroll out from his armor and unfurled it before his Uncle.
“Ah, excellent!” Iroh beamed. “You’ll be able to start the next part of your education, then.”
“Words cannot describe how excited I am,” Zuko replied, turning the scroll around and beaming. Sure, it was just a scroll of forms with none of the water bending philosophy that really interested Zuko, but the forms could be enough as a starter. He didn’t really start to understand and apply the philosophy of the Air Nomads until he had started actually practicing their forms, so the Prince was hoping the Water would be the same way. “You said you learned how to redirect lightning from watching water benders, right?”
“That’s right,” Iroh slowly nodded, his hands tucked away in their sleeves. “But what else did you find over there?”
“Why do you ask?” Zuko asked, his smile turning into a frown.
“You look troubled,” Iroh answered.
Zuko might’ve gotten better at disguising his tells. He might’ve started to care a little less about being honest. But for him, there was no lying to Uncle Iroh. They simply knew each other too well. He looked back towards the office door, then locked it. With a breath, he spoke the truth. “Uncle, I met the Avatar.”
“You what?” Iroh looked stunned.
He recounted the brief meeting in the store, where a quick call for a truce had prevented the place from erupting into violence.
“And then I left with the scroll,” Zuko finished.
“Prince Zuko,” Iroh began, adopting his most serious expression. “This is a once in a lifetime opportunity.”
“Don’t say it, Uncle,” Zuko shook his head. “Please do not say what I know you’re about to say.”
“This is your chance for a new life,” Iroh continued.
Zuko closed his eyes, then opened them again.
“I am being serious, Nephew,” Iroh said. “You could join him. He needs a firebending instructor and you need a new life, a life away from the Fire Nation.”
“Right but I also don’t need to have the entire Fire Nation wanting to immolate me for treason,” Zuko pointed out. “The whole point of getting a new life is to slip out quietly and disappear. Not put myself out, publicly for all to see, that I am a rebellious prince with no loyalty toward his nation anymore.”
“Zuko, you need a purpose in life,” Iroh rebutted. “As much as you might think differently, looking for a purpose is not a purpose! A firebender needs a strong root, in bending and in life and you’re floating on your back in the middle of the ocean.”
“It’s been nice,” Zuko replied, nodding with a smug grin.
“Your Mother is worried,” Iroh stated with a concerned frown. “She’s worried that you’ve stopped caring about your nation, your people, even your own men.”
“I mean, she’s right,” Zuko replied sheepishly. “The only thing left to do is join the white lotus and head off to Ba Sing Se.”
“You have the opportunity to help repair the damage done by Firelord Sozin, remove your father from power and restore peace to the world,” Iroh stated with all the power and authority that he had as Prince of the Fire Nation. “And your only thought is of how you can most efficiently disappear.”
“I mean, you have that power too,” Zuko pointed out. “Since you think this is such a good idea and Father already thinks you’re a traitor in the making, why don’t you join the Avatar? He needs a Firebending instructor and you’re the greatest master I know.”
“That is not my destiny,” Iroh replied.
“Well, it certainly isn’t mine,” Zuko replied with a shrug. “And if it is, I’ll trade you.”
---
The trip back into town was really, really, tense. For one, the trio were now seeing Fire Nation soldiers everywhere. Or at least it felt like everywhere. They weren’t wearing armor, they were in disguise, but Fire Nation royalty was apparently present which meant that the pier would be swarming with soldiers.
As Sokka had pointed out, the pirate had known the prince that had shown up, which meant that he was living here and that the Merchant’s Pier was always filled with Fire Nation soldiers. They hadn’t seen a Fire Nation ship in port, but it was probably hidden somewhere. The thought that they had Fire Nation eyes on them the entire time made the hairs on the back of their neck stand up as they walked through the street a second time.
Sure, Aang was now wearing a cloak to hide his airbending tattoos, but that wouldn’t do much if the Fire Nation already knew they were here.
The ship, thankfully, was exactly where they had left it, with the crier in front telling everyone what great bargains they’d get if they shopped there. They walked in and, watching their backs, were relieved when no one followed them inside.
“Ahoy, Captain!” Aang said with a pirate accent. “Glad to see you’re still ashore!”
The captain chuckled. “Well, I’m glad to see my three favorite customers come back! I was a little worried you were spooked forever.”
“We wanted to ask about the Fire Nation guy that came through here,” Sokka said, directly to the point as usual. “You called him ‘your highness’?”
“Oh, yes, the man who left me five gold pieces for no reason at all,” The Captain replied, stroking his chin thoughtfully. “I’m afraid my memory has completely failed me but maybe you could jog it.”
“Hows about a copper piece?” Aang asked.
The Captain laughed, long and hard. “No.”
“Hows about two copper pieces?” Aang pressed, his grin getting strained.
“It’s not as funny the second time,” The Captain’s mirth disappeared, replaced by cold steel.
“There’s got to be something!” Aang said with a pout.
The Captain glared. “If you’re not gonna by something, shove off! You’re crowding the boutique.”
With a groan of defeat, they left the shop.
---
“They’re coming for the scroll, aren’t they?” Zuko asked, frowning in annoyance at the scroll of forms.
“I would imagine so,” Iroh said.
“Well, I’m not ready to part ways with it yet,” Zuko replied with a glare. “Uncle, if you wouldn’t mind telling Lieutenant Jee that I want patrols sweeping the town? Get the men in armor. Have them make a sweep then report back with what they’ve found, even if it’s nothing. Get them in armor.”
“You’re trying to capture him, now?” Iroh asked, an eyebrow raising in curiosity.
“No,” Zuko shook his head. “There is no way any of my men can catch the Avatar.”
“Then what are you planning?” Iroh asked, stroking his beard.
“Just something to get the Avatar out of my hair.”
---
The three dove into an alleyway when they saw them.
Two fire nation soldiers, marching down the street at a brisk pace. They were hefting spears and scanning the roads in front of them.
Sokka turned to Aang and Katara and whispered. “Follow them.”
They started to trail the pair as inconspicuously as they could, checking stands, joining conversations for a few brief moments, anything to stay out of the pairs direct sight.
The trio’s patience was rewarded when the pair arrived at a warehouse after a half an hour of trailing them, passing a second patrol that was coming out. They hid in an alleyway, crouched in the shadows behind a barrel that had been sealed with ropes.
“The Fire Nation has a base inside the warehouse,” Sokka said. “I’ll bet you anything that’s where they’re keeping your scroll.”
“Yeah, but how are we going to get in?” Aang asked, briefly peering over the barrel. “That place is crawling with them.”
“We can’t just walk in the front door,” Katara pointed out. “Hey, there he is!”
Sokka and Aang looked over the barrel where Katara was pointed and saw, walking toward the warehouse on the far side of the block, was the Fire Bender they had met earlier. His full hair and topknot was disguised by the cloak and hood he wore, but there was no disguising that old scar. He walked behind the warehouse and disappeared.
“Where’d he go?” Aang asked, jumping on the barrel and taking off to the town rooftops.
“Aang, wait!” Sokka tried to call, quietly, but the monk was gone.
With a groan, Sokka and Katara both ran across the street into the alleyway and took a hard left. When they saw no guards watching the back alleyway, the two ran across the street and found Aang, standing behind the warehouse, scratching his head.
“Aang, what are you doing?” Katara asked. “Those guys could’ve seen you and then we’d have been in a load of trouble!”
“Sorry Katara,” Aang replied sheepishly, rubbing the back of his head. “But look! The scar guy disappeared over here somehow.”
“He disappeared, huh?” Sokka asked, stroking his chin. He walked forward, examining the back of the warehouse they had found, carefully looking over every inch of the back. “Huh. I think there’s a secret entrance here.”
“A secret entrance?” Aang asked, raising his eyebrow.
“How do you know?” Katara asked.
“Look,” Sokka said, pointing to the wall. “The boards are mismatched here; they cut a hole in the wall.”
Aang and Katara leaned in and got a closer look.
“Hey, I see it!” Katara said in surprise.
“Oh, really?” Aang asked with a frown. “I mean, yup! I see it too!”
“Now we just need to figure out how to open it,” Sokka said. He looked up and around and saw a nail sticking up out of the board. He reached up and gave it a light tap, feeling it wiggle. “Aha! They disguised the switch as this nail sticking out.”
“Okay, so we go in through the secret entrance, sneak around the base, look for the scroll, and get out,” Aang said with a nod. “I think we should come back later tonight when they’re asleep and that scar guy’s not right there.”
“Good idea.”
---
Night came. Under the guidance of starlight, the three of them returned to the warehouse, carefully sneaking through the alleyways to avoid alerting any guards, armored or otherwise. Sokka found the nail once again and pressed it in with his thumb, causing the hidden door to slide up into the wall.
The three waited tensely for it to finish opening and when it was done, a small crawlspace was revealed. With a nod exchanged between the three of them, they crawled inside, entering the base.
Sokka had brought a lantern and once they were all inside, Sokka lit it with a pair of spark rocks.
They had arrived in some sort of war room. In the center was a massive table with a map of the world drawn on it. On the walls were scrolls upon scrolls of information, troop movements and communication. Each of them were drawn directly to a trio of drawings of their faces pinned up on the wall.
“Okay, so this guy is hunting for us,” Aang said with a gulp. “I wonder why he didn’t try to fight us in the store?”
“Probably didn’t want to fight three on one,” Sokka replied quietly. “Let’s focus on finding the scroll and get out of here. I feel like we’re being watched.”
---
Zuko had hidden in the shadows of a cabinet the second he heard his secret entrance opening. The crew had been ordered to never use the secret entrance and they were all accounted for. So he felt more than a little annoyed when the Avatar and his friends crawled through his secret entrance.
Of course, that meant that they had seen him use said entrance earlier. Sloppy, sloppy.
But he watched them. The water tribe boy was immediately taken in by the map in the center. Given it had fort locations, the layout of the blockade, the location of the Gates of Azulon and a ton of other markings for the Fire Nation’s internal defenses, it only made sense. Zuko stifled a chuckle as the boy’s eyes widened and he started sputtering as he realized what he had and immediately started making a copy with charcoal and a piece of parchment.
The girl and the Avatar started searching his office.
Zuko knew what they were looking for, but they wouldn’t find it; the scroll was clutched in Zuko’s hand.
“Where is it?” Katara growled quietly, looking through cabinet and drawer alike.
“This seems like a war room,” Sokka said quietly, still marking his parchment up with rapid, nervous energy. “They might not keep the scroll here.”
“Then where would they keep it?” Aang asked.
“We’d have to look at the rest of the base to find it,” Sokka said. “Just give me a minute.”
If they went into the base, it was likely that the rest of the men would find them and then they’d have an actual fight and Zuko would actually have to start chasing them and, from how obviously the two tribals were untrained, it would be pathetically easy for his men to capture them and from there, the Avatar would either run, which Zuko doubted, or would stick and get captured himself and then...Zuko would be on his way back to the Fire Nation.
The thought made Zuko’s stomach churn.
So, deliberately stepping so his steel boots clanged against the warehouse floor, he walked into the light. Each of the three froze in their place and slowly turned to look where Zuko was standing.
“Looking for this?” Zuko asked, hefting the scroll up in his fingers. “I made a copy already, so you can have it.”
That shook them out of their funk.
“Wait, seriously?” The girl asked with a confused, nonplussed expression. “You’re just giving it to us?”
“Yup.”
“Just like that?”
“Uh huh.”
“Wait, why?” The boy asked, his eyes narrowing in suspicion.
“Because I want the three of you out of the pier and out of my hair,” Zuko replied with a frown. “Right now.”
“Why?” Aang asked with a frown, something telling him that he needed to stay in this exact spot right now or things will go bad. “Who are you, really?”
Zuko blinked. “I am Prince Zuko. I’m an exile, tasked with capturing you so that you don’t cause the Fire Nation to lose the war. You?”
“I’m Aang,” The Avatar introduced himself. “And this is Sokka and Katara.”
“Nice to meet you,” Zuko said. “Now if you could go? Now? Please?”
“Wait, if you’re supposed to be hunting us down,” Sokka started, putting the pieces together. “Why do you want us to leave?”
“Do you want me to capture you?” Zuko asked with a frown.
“No, no, no,” Aang said, shaking his head. “We’ll just take a scroll and leave.”
“Thank you,” Zuko replied, tossing the scroll to Katara. “Catch.”
She caught it and opened it, her face splitting into a massive smile as she looked at the forms written thereon.
“Now if you could all go back the way you came from, that’d be great,” Zuko said with a point toward the secret entrance. “Before the rest of the base wakes up and sees me chatting with you.”
“Wait a second,” Aang said. “You said you were exiled?”
Zuko groaned and barked out his response. “Yes! And you’re threatening to put an end to it just by breathing! Go! Away!”
“Why don’t you want to go home?” Aang asked.
“Because home is a den of jackal-vipers and being separated from them was the best thing that ever happened to me,” Zuko replied flatly.
“And you don’t want to help the Fire Nation win the war?” Aang asked.
“No.”
Sokka’s head turned in place. “Why not?”
“They made their bed with dragons,” Zuko sniffed. “Not my fault if they get eaten.”
The three looked directly at each other with varying degrees of surprise.
“Look, I know you want us to go,” Aang began. “But I can’t help but feel there’s a really good reason we’ve met, and I can’t leave until I figure out why.”
“Sure you can,” Zuko pointed out. “Just move your legs, crawl through the exit and you’re home free.”
“He’s got a point,” Sokka replied.
“No,” Aang shook his head. “Look, you don’t want to go back home. But if you’re not trying to go back home, then what are you doing?”
“Seeing the world,” Zuko answered. “Trying to learn a bit more about bending arts outside of Firebending, you know.”
“Really?” Aang asked. “Neat!”
“So that’s why you needed the Waterbending scroll,” Katara said, enlightenment painting itself across her face. “You actually wanted to learn about Waterbending!”
“Yup, and I’ve got a copy so you can just take that and go,” Zuko said, gesturing for them to be gone with a wave.
“Well, we’re going to the North Pole,” Aang began.
“No.”
“And you said you wanted to see the world...”
“No.”
He had a point.
“And you don’t want to help the Fire Nation,” Aang pressed on in spite of the Prince’s flat refusals. “So...why don’t you come with us?”
“Aang have you lost your mind?” Sokka hollered in alarm.
Everyone, including Zuko, shushed him. Sure, the office was supposedly soundproof, but it was the dead of night and there were quite a few sailors sleeping here.
“I’m serious!” Sokka said, appropriately quiet.
“And I agree with him,” Zuko nodded. “We don’t really know each other. For all you know, I’m laying a trap for you right now. Or I could lose my nerve after a few days and turn you all in. Or...”
“But you won’t,” Aang replied.
“Sure I will,” Zuko nodded. “Guarantee it.”
“You don’t want to go home, remember?” Aang pointed out with a raised eyebrow. “I know the feeling. You want to learn about the other bending styles. I’m the...the Last Airbender.”
“I already know about Airbending,” Zuko cut in flatly.
“How?” Aang asked with a deep frown.
“We found this scroll in the Southern Air Temple,” Zuko replied. “It was big and had everything on it.”
“You found the big one?” Aang asked, looking shocked.
“We had to take a pickax to the little compartment it was stuck in, but yeah,” Zuko said with a wistful smile. “Greatest treasure I ever found.”
“Another monk and I hid that scroll away as a prank,” Aang said, his mouth agape. “It survived Sozin’s Comet?”
Zuko’s smile turned to a frown and he looked at the floor. “Yeah. It did. Sorry.”
“Sorry for what?” Aang asked, then his eyes lit up in realization. “Oh. Oh. It’s okay.”
“Did you want it back?” Zuko asked quietly.
“Please?” Aang asked.
“Sure,” Zuko shrugged, stepping forward toward the safe beneath the map table he had installed. With a turns turns of the dial, it was open, and the large, ornate scroll with jade handles was lifted out. “It helped me out. A lot. So...thank you, Avatar. For hiding it away for me.”
“You’re welcome,” Aang said, gingerly taking the scroll and beholding it with reverence. Sokka and Katara looked at it with great interest. “But are you sure you don’t want to come?”
“Why would you even want me along?” Zuko asked with a frown.
“Well,” Aang started, tucking the scroll. “I need someone to teach me firebending and you’re the first person in the Fire Nation I’ve met that actively doesn’t want them to win the war.”
“After what Sozin did to the Nomads?” Zuko asked. “Yeah, I didn’t want anything to do with that.”
“And the rest of the Fire Nation does?” Katara asked with a disapproving frown.
“I didn’t figure out that the Nomad’s didn’t have an army until I reread that scroll a couple of times,” Zuko explained. “The only thing I had ever been taught was that they had the most powerful army in the entire world.”
“Yeah, no.” Aang shook his head. “Nope, no army. We love and respect life too much.”
“I know that,” Zuko said, folding his arms.
“So will you come with us?” Aang asked.
“Don’t your friends get a say in this?” Zuko rejoined with a glare.
“Oh, uh...” Aang stopped, having almost forgotten that he was traveling with two others. “Come on, back me up. I really feel like he needs to come with us. I need someone to teach me firebending and he seems perfect for the job!”
“I don’t know Aang,” Katara started, looking at the Avatar with concern and at Zuko with suspicion. “He really seems like he doesn’t want to go.”
“Listen to her,” Zuko encouraged. “She’s smart.”
“Can you stop agreeing with me?” Katara asked, looking a little perturbed. “It’s freaking me out!”
Zuko just shrugged and said nothing else.
“Besides, it’s not like he’d be welcome at the North Pole,” Sokka replied. “They might listen to you because you’re the Avatar, but I think they’ll draw the line at letting a Firebender walk free.”
“But he’d be my Firebending Instructor,” Aang pointed out. “They’d have to make an exception for that.”
“No,” Zuko shook his head. “Anyway, this conversation is done, you’ve got your scrolls, so I’m going to bed. Good night.”
Zuko found himself frozen, however, when the Office filled with a white light.
“Now hold on for one moment, young man.”
Zuko slowly turned around and found himself face to face with Avatar Roku. Sokka and Katara both had retreated back a couple steps, their hands raised in a defensive position.
“It is the destiny of the Avatar to master each of the four elements in turn,” Roku intoned, leaning forward. “And that includes Fire.”
“I’m sure he can find someone else to teach him,” Zuko replied, folding his arms. “I’m not the only Fire National whose decided the war can burn. Jeong Jeong comes to mind.”
“But it is your destiny to be the Avatar’s instructor,” Roku stated with every ounce of authority being the Avatar brought him. “And as such, you must teach him Fire Bending, so that he can bring balance back to the World.”
“Can’t you do it?” Zuko asked with ancient avatar with a bored expression.
“It is not my place to do so,” Roku replied.
“But you can do it.”
“I cannot.”
“Why not?”
“It is difficult for me to contact Aang.”
“But you’re doing it now.”
“This is perhaps one of the most important moments in his journey,” Roku explained testily. “And you are defying destiny and the spirits that have watched over you from your birth.”
“Well, him learning Fire Bending is really important and you can show up whenever you like,” Zuko replied. “So saying ‘it’s hard’ isn’t going to excuse you from doing your duty and teaching your current life firebending.”
“I will not always be here for Avatar Aang to call upon,” Roku replied. “To have him rely on me would be to confine the Avatar to places of spiritual energy and in so doing, would prevent him performing his duties throughout the world.”
“I wasn’t aware my base was a place of spiritual energy,” Zuko said with a bored expression on his face.
“This is a special occasion.” Roku was getting visibly angry. “Again, you are defying destiny. You are required to teach the Avatar the element of Fire so that he can restore the world to balance.”
“No.”
But through his petulance, Zuko had to admit he had a point.
Roku blinked. “Prince Zuko, was it not the massacre of the Air Nomad’s that opened your eyes to what our beloved nation has become?”
“Yeah, that doesn’t mean I want anything to do with it,” Zuko replied with a shrug. “If I join forces with the Avatar, I lose my ship, my crew and my Father’s coin.”
“And you will gain the chance to help make things right,” Roku replied.
Zuko tossed that thought around in his head, frowning but unable to say anything. It was at that moment he became very uncomfortably aware of the feeling that Avatar Aang and Avatar Roku were right and he didn’t like it one bit.
“I will leave you to make your decision, Prince Zuko,” Roku said. “The consequences of which, good or bad, will rest on your head.”
He was gone, leaving in his place a dazed Aang.
Zuko glared at them. “Okay, is he done?”
Katara moved to steady hand, her hands on his arms. “I think Roku is gone.”
“Good,” Zuko nodded then he frowned.
There was a knock at the door.
Zuko frowned. “Hide. Now.”
The three scrambled as Zuko moved to open the door.
“Prince Zuko,” it was Lieutenant Jee. “Is everything alright? We heard some strange noises coming from your office.”
“Yes, Lieutenant,” Prince Zuko replied. “Everything is fine. Now. We just got a visit from a hostile spirit, but I handled it. Tell the Men I want extra stock on salt in the morning. I don’t expect another visit but we need to be careful.”
“Yes, your highness,” Lieutenant Jee bowed.
“Dismissed,” Zuko said.
The Lieutenant bowed and left, leaving Zuko to close the door.
The trio emerged from their hiding places.
“Why do you want salt?” Sokka asked.
“Makes barriers against hostile spirits,” Zuko replied with a shrug. “Makes it easier to deal with them.”
“Really?” Sokka blinked. “Good to know.”
“So are you coming with us?” Aang asked, leaning on his staff a little bit too much.
Zuko groaned. “Just tell me one thing.”
“Sure,” Aang said.
Zuko pointed to a map pinned up on the wall with a line going from the south pole and stretching up in a zing-zagging pattern. “How, exactly, are do you decide where to stop or not?”
Aang blinked owlishly at the map, then got a wide smile. “Well, that is where we like to ride the giant hog monkeys. On Kyoshi Island, that’s where we’d have ridden the giant elephant koi and-”
“Wait, wait, wait,” Zuko stopped him. “You mean to tell me you’ve been taking all those detours for fun?”
“Yeah.” Aang nodded. “Why else would we?”
Zuko blinked. “To throw off pursuit?”
“Oh,” Aang got a thoughtful look on his face. “I guess it does that too, huh?”
That settled it.
Zuko didn’t breathe for a second, then he threw his hands up in the air. “Alright, fine. I guess I’m in. If you’ll have me.”
Aang looked at Katara with the best puppy-dog eyes he could muster.
“Well,” Katara started to buckle. “He did get an endorsement from Roku. So...sure. I guess.”
“Sure. Fine,” Sokka leaned forward, pointing at him with his boomerang. “But I’ve got my eye on you.”
“Well, I guess I should pack my bags,” Zuko took a breath, stretching. “And grab some blasting jelly.”
“Why do you need blasting jelly?” Aang asked.
“Because if I’m going with you,” Zuko started, making for the door. “The rest of the Fire Nation is going to think I’m dead.”
---
Uncle Iroh,
This letter is going to come as a shock.
But I did what you suggested.
I joined the Avatar.
They snuck into the base through my secret entrance, looking for the Waterbending Scroll. We talked for a while. A long while. Aang felt like I was supposed to be his Fire Bending instructor and Avatar Roku, who felt the exact same way.
You probably found this letter after the explosion. While it looks like I’m dead, I’m not. This is a golden opportunity for me, just like you said. To see the world without the crew holding me down and more importantly, to make things right. So I rigged a few capsules of blasting jelly and timed our departure so it looked like we got attacked by the Avatar.
The Avatar is responsible for me leaving, so it’s not entirely a lie.
I only ask that you let everyone think I’m dead. Don’t tell anyone that I turned traitor. Don’t let anyone know. Because, as much as I don’t want anything to do with them, I do care about them. Most of them. Everyone except Father.
You could probably tell Mother, though.
I found a purpose, even if I’ve got doubts about the whole thing. If this is the right thing to do, I’m sure it’ll work out. If not, I can find something else.
Lastly, I wanted to say thank you. Thank you for always believing in me. For teaching me and striving to help me become better. For the games of Pai Sho and teaching how to prepare tea. Thank you for being the Father that Ozai never was.
~Prince Zuko
---
Author’s Notes: I hate this chapter. I hate everything about it. Do you guys have any idea how many of my plans this sets on fire? This chapter is dancing on the funeral pyre of my plans and it’s ticking me off!
Well, okay, all isn’t technically lost. To be honest, I had planned on Zuko being presumed dead anyway but I didn’t plan on him joining the Avatar until The Crossroads of Destiny. Why did I have to listen to the characters? They just disobey me! Curse you, characters! Curse you!
Shout out goes out too Melden V, Anders Kronquist, Ray Tony Song, Volkogluk, Aaron Bjornson, iolande, Martin Auguado, Julio, Hackerham, Tim Collins-Squire, Maben00, Ventari, PbookR, Seij, ChristobalAlvarez, Apperatus, EPiCJB19, Seeking Raven, Handwran and Russel Beatrous! Your continued support makes all of this possible!
Until the next time!
~Fulcon
---
“Fire Nation, Earth Nation, Water Nation!” A caller was shouting, standing outside a boat. “So long as bargains are your inclination, you’re welcome here! Don’t be shy, come on by!”
Zuko looked at the ship. In truth, he had recognized it immediately as a pirate ship when he had first set up a base in the merchants pier. It became even more obvious when he had met the Captain and spoke with him for a minute. But if anyone would have Water Bending resources, it would be them and now that they’ve returned from their...high risk trading trip, he was hoping they’d have something he was actually looking for.
So, the Prince stepped up ramp and entered the shop.
At that second, Zuko froze and so did the other three occupants of the store.
There, standing right in front of him, was the Avatar. A young boy whose bald head and blue arrow tattoos made him stand out like a sore thumb. Also in the store were two water tribals, a boy and a girl of similar age.
The Avatar and his traveling companions.
They were similarly staring at him, in his red, Fire Nation armor and topknot. The tribal boy was reaching for a weapon, the girl for a water skin at her belt. The monk was also slowly backing away into a defensive stance, his staff pointed forward.
Zuko immediately brought his hands up in a peaceful gesture. “Wait, wait, wait, whoa. Hold on a second.”
This stopped the Avatar from causing a windstorm in the shop and thankfully, the other two from drawing their weapons, whatever they’d be.
“You didn’t see me, I didn’t see you,” Zuko said, pointing two fingers at his eyes and then at them. “Deal?”
The three of them looked at each other and then back at him. The Avatar nodded. “Deal.”
Zuko let out a tense breath and made took one look at the right wall, it having been lined with scrolls. He could feel the Water Girl slowly and carefully circle out of his way as he did and they started whispering...but Zuko could hear them quite well.
“Aang, are you sure about this?” The girl asked in desperation. “He’s Fire Nation!”
“Let’s just slowly back out of here and leave before anyone else sees us,” The Avatar replied, their whispers.
Zuko honestly felt relieved. The sooner they left town, the more likely it was they could get out without his men seeing them and he could go back to pretending like they didn’t exist. So he began to peacefully peruse the large collection of scrolls and immediately one caught his eye, the symbol of the water tribe scratched into the end. He grabbed it and opened it.
His eyes went wide and he immediately turned to the Captain who was manning the counter. “How much for the Waterbending Scroll?”
Zuko noted with an uneasy feeling that the group of three had stopped moving just before they had exited the ship.
“We have a buyer in the Earth Kingdom already lined up,” The Captain responded. “But if you can cough up fifty gold pieces?”
“I’ll give you thirty,” Zuko immediately said, walking up to the counter and pulling a string-full of coins out of his wallet and laying them on the counter.
“I’m afraid I’m not haggling on this one.” The Captain’s mouth pressed into a fine line. “It’s fifty gold pieces or nothing.”
“Oh, you’re being serious.” Zuko blinked and pulled out another string full...then another. “Here’s fifty and an extra five if you don’t tell anyone who bought it from you.”
“A pleasure doing business with you, your highness,” The captain said, taking the coins. “Your gold is always welcome here.”
Zuko gave a small bow and tucked the scroll into his armor, walking right past the frozen Avatar and water tribals that were just standing in the door.
---
“You’re crazy,” Sokka told them. “No, no, you’re insane.”
“Sokka, that was a water bending scroll!” Katara pointed out with a harsh glare. “Like it or not, Aang needs to learn Waterbending and he needs to do it as fast as possible.”
“Yeah, and he can do that at the North Pole,” Sokka argued back. “You just want this scroll so you can learn Waterbending as fast as possible!”
“She does have to learn it too,” Aang reminded him from his lotus position on top of a rock.
“Well yeah, but she can do that at the North Pole too,” Sokka rebuffed dismissively. “We already restocked on all our supplies and we know the Fire Nation is all over that town. So we should do the smart thing and run. Besides, we couldn’t afford that scroll anyway!”
“We could’ve stolen it,” Katara grumbled, folding her arms and looking down the river they had set up camp besides.
“And have that entire ship of pirates come after us?” Sokka asked, exasperated. “Then the Fire Nation would be guaranteed to find us and we’d have Zhao on our tail again!”
Aang took a deep breath, and let it out. “Sokka, we need to grab that scroll.”
“Why?” Sokka asked.
“Because,” Aang began. “I have airbending. You have your weapons. Katara has nothing and that puts her at risk.”
“Well, Katara’s not supposed to be fighting anyway,” Sokka argued with a glare. “She’s a girl.”
“Oh, so that means that I can’t-” Katara began.
“Katara, please,” Aang cut in sharply with a pleading expression. “Let me finish.”
Katara just folded her arms and glared at her brother.
Aang took another meditative breath. “Sokka, it doesn’t matter if she’s a girl. She’s out here. With us. And because she’s out here with us, she is going to be fighting and if she doesn’t know enough to defend herself, she’s a target. I know you don’t want that.”
Sokka fell quiet for a moment. “Can’t we just, I don’t know, leave her back at camp?”
“They can just attack the camp,” Aang replied with a decidedly unimpressed frown. “Then they’ve got Katara as a hostage.”
Sokka let out a loud, irritated groan. “Fine. We’ll get you both the scroll.”
“Thank you Sokka!” Katara beamed, rushing forward to give Sokka a hug.
After an awkward moment, Sokka returned it. “You’re welcome.”
After they embraced and let go, Sokka turned to the both of them. “Now, did either of you see where that Fire Nation guy went after he bought the scroll?”
Both Aang and Katara shook their heads.
“No, he kind of just disappeared after he left the ship,” Katara responded.
“The pirate captain called him ‘your highness’,” Aang pointed out. “Maybe he can help us find him?”
“That’s a good place to start,” Sokka replied. “But we’ll have to be really sneaky now that we know that town is full of fire nation. The best time would be to head over there tomorrow before they get busy.”
---
“Uncle, you’ll never guess what I found,” Zuko said with a grin as he stepped into the office. He took the scroll out from his armor and unfurled it before his Uncle.
“Ah, excellent!” Iroh beamed. “You’ll be able to start the next part of your education, then.”
“Words cannot describe how excited I am,” Zuko replied, turning the scroll around and beaming. Sure, it was just a scroll of forms with none of the water bending philosophy that really interested Zuko, but the forms could be enough as a starter. He didn’t really start to understand and apply the philosophy of the Air Nomads until he had started actually practicing their forms, so the Prince was hoping the Water would be the same way. “You said you learned how to redirect lightning from watching water benders, right?”
“That’s right,” Iroh slowly nodded, his hands tucked away in their sleeves. “But what else did you find over there?”
“Why do you ask?” Zuko asked, his smile turning into a frown.
“You look troubled,” Iroh answered.
Zuko might’ve gotten better at disguising his tells. He might’ve started to care a little less about being honest. But for him, there was no lying to Uncle Iroh. They simply knew each other too well. He looked back towards the office door, then locked it. With a breath, he spoke the truth. “Uncle, I met the Avatar.”
“You what?” Iroh looked stunned.
He recounted the brief meeting in the store, where a quick call for a truce had prevented the place from erupting into violence.
“And then I left with the scroll,” Zuko finished.
“Prince Zuko,” Iroh began, adopting his most serious expression. “This is a once in a lifetime opportunity.”
“Don’t say it, Uncle,” Zuko shook his head. “Please do not say what I know you’re about to say.”
“This is your chance for a new life,” Iroh continued.
Zuko closed his eyes, then opened them again.
“I am being serious, Nephew,” Iroh said. “You could join him. He needs a firebending instructor and you need a new life, a life away from the Fire Nation.”
“Right but I also don’t need to have the entire Fire Nation wanting to immolate me for treason,” Zuko pointed out. “The whole point of getting a new life is to slip out quietly and disappear. Not put myself out, publicly for all to see, that I am a rebellious prince with no loyalty toward his nation anymore.”
“Zuko, you need a purpose in life,” Iroh rebutted. “As much as you might think differently, looking for a purpose is not a purpose! A firebender needs a strong root, in bending and in life and you’re floating on your back in the middle of the ocean.”
“It’s been nice,” Zuko replied, nodding with a smug grin.
“Your Mother is worried,” Iroh stated with a concerned frown. “She’s worried that you’ve stopped caring about your nation, your people, even your own men.”
“I mean, she’s right,” Zuko replied sheepishly. “The only thing left to do is join the white lotus and head off to Ba Sing Se.”
“You have the opportunity to help repair the damage done by Firelord Sozin, remove your father from power and restore peace to the world,” Iroh stated with all the power and authority that he had as Prince of the Fire Nation. “And your only thought is of how you can most efficiently disappear.”
“I mean, you have that power too,” Zuko pointed out. “Since you think this is such a good idea and Father already thinks you’re a traitor in the making, why don’t you join the Avatar? He needs a Firebending instructor and you’re the greatest master I know.”
“That is not my destiny,” Iroh replied.
“Well, it certainly isn’t mine,” Zuko replied with a shrug. “And if it is, I’ll trade you.”
---
The trip back into town was really, really, tense. For one, the trio were now seeing Fire Nation soldiers everywhere. Or at least it felt like everywhere. They weren’t wearing armor, they were in disguise, but Fire Nation royalty was apparently present which meant that the pier would be swarming with soldiers.
As Sokka had pointed out, the pirate had known the prince that had shown up, which meant that he was living here and that the Merchant’s Pier was always filled with Fire Nation soldiers. They hadn’t seen a Fire Nation ship in port, but it was probably hidden somewhere. The thought that they had Fire Nation eyes on them the entire time made the hairs on the back of their neck stand up as they walked through the street a second time.
Sure, Aang was now wearing a cloak to hide his airbending tattoos, but that wouldn’t do much if the Fire Nation already knew they were here.
The ship, thankfully, was exactly where they had left it, with the crier in front telling everyone what great bargains they’d get if they shopped there. They walked in and, watching their backs, were relieved when no one followed them inside.
“Ahoy, Captain!” Aang said with a pirate accent. “Glad to see you’re still ashore!”
The captain chuckled. “Well, I’m glad to see my three favorite customers come back! I was a little worried you were spooked forever.”
“We wanted to ask about the Fire Nation guy that came through here,” Sokka said, directly to the point as usual. “You called him ‘your highness’?”
“Oh, yes, the man who left me five gold pieces for no reason at all,” The Captain replied, stroking his chin thoughtfully. “I’m afraid my memory has completely failed me but maybe you could jog it.”
“Hows about a copper piece?” Aang asked.
The Captain laughed, long and hard. “No.”
“Hows about two copper pieces?” Aang pressed, his grin getting strained.
“It’s not as funny the second time,” The Captain’s mirth disappeared, replaced by cold steel.
“There’s got to be something!” Aang said with a pout.
The Captain glared. “If you’re not gonna by something, shove off! You’re crowding the boutique.”
With a groan of defeat, they left the shop.
---
“They’re coming for the scroll, aren’t they?” Zuko asked, frowning in annoyance at the scroll of forms.
“I would imagine so,” Iroh said.
“Well, I’m not ready to part ways with it yet,” Zuko replied with a glare. “Uncle, if you wouldn’t mind telling Lieutenant Jee that I want patrols sweeping the town? Get the men in armor. Have them make a sweep then report back with what they’ve found, even if it’s nothing. Get them in armor.”
“You’re trying to capture him, now?” Iroh asked, an eyebrow raising in curiosity.
“No,” Zuko shook his head. “There is no way any of my men can catch the Avatar.”
“Then what are you planning?” Iroh asked, stroking his beard.
“Just something to get the Avatar out of my hair.”
---
The three dove into an alleyway when they saw them.
Two fire nation soldiers, marching down the street at a brisk pace. They were hefting spears and scanning the roads in front of them.
Sokka turned to Aang and Katara and whispered. “Follow them.”
They started to trail the pair as inconspicuously as they could, checking stands, joining conversations for a few brief moments, anything to stay out of the pairs direct sight.
The trio’s patience was rewarded when the pair arrived at a warehouse after a half an hour of trailing them, passing a second patrol that was coming out. They hid in an alleyway, crouched in the shadows behind a barrel that had been sealed with ropes.
“The Fire Nation has a base inside the warehouse,” Sokka said. “I’ll bet you anything that’s where they’re keeping your scroll.”
“Yeah, but how are we going to get in?” Aang asked, briefly peering over the barrel. “That place is crawling with them.”
“We can’t just walk in the front door,” Katara pointed out. “Hey, there he is!”
Sokka and Aang looked over the barrel where Katara was pointed and saw, walking toward the warehouse on the far side of the block, was the Fire Bender they had met earlier. His full hair and topknot was disguised by the cloak and hood he wore, but there was no disguising that old scar. He walked behind the warehouse and disappeared.
“Where’d he go?” Aang asked, jumping on the barrel and taking off to the town rooftops.
“Aang, wait!” Sokka tried to call, quietly, but the monk was gone.
With a groan, Sokka and Katara both ran across the street into the alleyway and took a hard left. When they saw no guards watching the back alleyway, the two ran across the street and found Aang, standing behind the warehouse, scratching his head.
“Aang, what are you doing?” Katara asked. “Those guys could’ve seen you and then we’d have been in a load of trouble!”
“Sorry Katara,” Aang replied sheepishly, rubbing the back of his head. “But look! The scar guy disappeared over here somehow.”
“He disappeared, huh?” Sokka asked, stroking his chin. He walked forward, examining the back of the warehouse they had found, carefully looking over every inch of the back. “Huh. I think there’s a secret entrance here.”
“A secret entrance?” Aang asked, raising his eyebrow.
“How do you know?” Katara asked.
“Look,” Sokka said, pointing to the wall. “The boards are mismatched here; they cut a hole in the wall.”
Aang and Katara leaned in and got a closer look.
“Hey, I see it!” Katara said in surprise.
“Oh, really?” Aang asked with a frown. “I mean, yup! I see it too!”
“Now we just need to figure out how to open it,” Sokka said. He looked up and around and saw a nail sticking up out of the board. He reached up and gave it a light tap, feeling it wiggle. “Aha! They disguised the switch as this nail sticking out.”
“Okay, so we go in through the secret entrance, sneak around the base, look for the scroll, and get out,” Aang said with a nod. “I think we should come back later tonight when they’re asleep and that scar guy’s not right there.”
“Good idea.”
---
Night came. Under the guidance of starlight, the three of them returned to the warehouse, carefully sneaking through the alleyways to avoid alerting any guards, armored or otherwise. Sokka found the nail once again and pressed it in with his thumb, causing the hidden door to slide up into the wall.
The three waited tensely for it to finish opening and when it was done, a small crawlspace was revealed. With a nod exchanged between the three of them, they crawled inside, entering the base.
Sokka had brought a lantern and once they were all inside, Sokka lit it with a pair of spark rocks.
They had arrived in some sort of war room. In the center was a massive table with a map of the world drawn on it. On the walls were scrolls upon scrolls of information, troop movements and communication. Each of them were drawn directly to a trio of drawings of their faces pinned up on the wall.
“Okay, so this guy is hunting for us,” Aang said with a gulp. “I wonder why he didn’t try to fight us in the store?”
“Probably didn’t want to fight three on one,” Sokka replied quietly. “Let’s focus on finding the scroll and get out of here. I feel like we’re being watched.”
---
Zuko had hidden in the shadows of a cabinet the second he heard his secret entrance opening. The crew had been ordered to never use the secret entrance and they were all accounted for. So he felt more than a little annoyed when the Avatar and his friends crawled through his secret entrance.
Of course, that meant that they had seen him use said entrance earlier. Sloppy, sloppy.
But he watched them. The water tribe boy was immediately taken in by the map in the center. Given it had fort locations, the layout of the blockade, the location of the Gates of Azulon and a ton of other markings for the Fire Nation’s internal defenses, it only made sense. Zuko stifled a chuckle as the boy’s eyes widened and he started sputtering as he realized what he had and immediately started making a copy with charcoal and a piece of parchment.
The girl and the Avatar started searching his office.
Zuko knew what they were looking for, but they wouldn’t find it; the scroll was clutched in Zuko’s hand.
“Where is it?” Katara growled quietly, looking through cabinet and drawer alike.
“This seems like a war room,” Sokka said quietly, still marking his parchment up with rapid, nervous energy. “They might not keep the scroll here.”
“Then where would they keep it?” Aang asked.
“We’d have to look at the rest of the base to find it,” Sokka said. “Just give me a minute.”
If they went into the base, it was likely that the rest of the men would find them and then they’d have an actual fight and Zuko would actually have to start chasing them and, from how obviously the two tribals were untrained, it would be pathetically easy for his men to capture them and from there, the Avatar would either run, which Zuko doubted, or would stick and get captured himself and then...Zuko would be on his way back to the Fire Nation.
The thought made Zuko’s stomach churn.
So, deliberately stepping so his steel boots clanged against the warehouse floor, he walked into the light. Each of the three froze in their place and slowly turned to look where Zuko was standing.
“Looking for this?” Zuko asked, hefting the scroll up in his fingers. “I made a copy already, so you can have it.”
That shook them out of their funk.
“Wait, seriously?” The girl asked with a confused, nonplussed expression. “You’re just giving it to us?”
“Yup.”
“Just like that?”
“Uh huh.”
“Wait, why?” The boy asked, his eyes narrowing in suspicion.
“Because I want the three of you out of the pier and out of my hair,” Zuko replied with a frown. “Right now.”
“Why?” Aang asked with a frown, something telling him that he needed to stay in this exact spot right now or things will go bad. “Who are you, really?”
Zuko blinked. “I am Prince Zuko. I’m an exile, tasked with capturing you so that you don’t cause the Fire Nation to lose the war. You?”
“I’m Aang,” The Avatar introduced himself. “And this is Sokka and Katara.”
“Nice to meet you,” Zuko said. “Now if you could go? Now? Please?”
“Wait, if you’re supposed to be hunting us down,” Sokka started, putting the pieces together. “Why do you want us to leave?”
“Do you want me to capture you?” Zuko asked with a frown.
“No, no, no,” Aang said, shaking his head. “We’ll just take a scroll and leave.”
“Thank you,” Zuko replied, tossing the scroll to Katara. “Catch.”
She caught it and opened it, her face splitting into a massive smile as she looked at the forms written thereon.
“Now if you could all go back the way you came from, that’d be great,” Zuko said with a point toward the secret entrance. “Before the rest of the base wakes up and sees me chatting with you.”
“Wait a second,” Aang said. “You said you were exiled?”
Zuko groaned and barked out his response. “Yes! And you’re threatening to put an end to it just by breathing! Go! Away!”
“Why don’t you want to go home?” Aang asked.
“Because home is a den of jackal-vipers and being separated from them was the best thing that ever happened to me,” Zuko replied flatly.
“And you don’t want to help the Fire Nation win the war?” Aang asked.
“No.”
Sokka’s head turned in place. “Why not?”
“They made their bed with dragons,” Zuko sniffed. “Not my fault if they get eaten.”
The three looked directly at each other with varying degrees of surprise.
“Look, I know you want us to go,” Aang began. “But I can’t help but feel there’s a really good reason we’ve met, and I can’t leave until I figure out why.”
“Sure you can,” Zuko pointed out. “Just move your legs, crawl through the exit and you’re home free.”
“He’s got a point,” Sokka replied.
“No,” Aang shook his head. “Look, you don’t want to go back home. But if you’re not trying to go back home, then what are you doing?”
“Seeing the world,” Zuko answered. “Trying to learn a bit more about bending arts outside of Firebending, you know.”
“Really?” Aang asked. “Neat!”
“So that’s why you needed the Waterbending scroll,” Katara said, enlightenment painting itself across her face. “You actually wanted to learn about Waterbending!”
“Yup, and I’ve got a copy so you can just take that and go,” Zuko said, gesturing for them to be gone with a wave.
“Well, we’re going to the North Pole,” Aang began.
“No.”
“And you said you wanted to see the world...”
“No.”
He had a point.
“And you don’t want to help the Fire Nation,” Aang pressed on in spite of the Prince’s flat refusals. “So...why don’t you come with us?”
“Aang have you lost your mind?” Sokka hollered in alarm.
Everyone, including Zuko, shushed him. Sure, the office was supposedly soundproof, but it was the dead of night and there were quite a few sailors sleeping here.
“I’m serious!” Sokka said, appropriately quiet.
“And I agree with him,” Zuko nodded. “We don’t really know each other. For all you know, I’m laying a trap for you right now. Or I could lose my nerve after a few days and turn you all in. Or...”
“But you won’t,” Aang replied.
“Sure I will,” Zuko nodded. “Guarantee it.”
“You don’t want to go home, remember?” Aang pointed out with a raised eyebrow. “I know the feeling. You want to learn about the other bending styles. I’m the...the Last Airbender.”
“I already know about Airbending,” Zuko cut in flatly.
“How?” Aang asked with a deep frown.
“We found this scroll in the Southern Air Temple,” Zuko replied. “It was big and had everything on it.”
“You found the big one?” Aang asked, looking shocked.
“We had to take a pickax to the little compartment it was stuck in, but yeah,” Zuko said with a wistful smile. “Greatest treasure I ever found.”
“Another monk and I hid that scroll away as a prank,” Aang said, his mouth agape. “It survived Sozin’s Comet?”
Zuko’s smile turned to a frown and he looked at the floor. “Yeah. It did. Sorry.”
“Sorry for what?” Aang asked, then his eyes lit up in realization. “Oh. Oh. It’s okay.”
“Did you want it back?” Zuko asked quietly.
“Please?” Aang asked.
“Sure,” Zuko shrugged, stepping forward toward the safe beneath the map table he had installed. With a turns turns of the dial, it was open, and the large, ornate scroll with jade handles was lifted out. “It helped me out. A lot. So...thank you, Avatar. For hiding it away for me.”
“You’re welcome,” Aang said, gingerly taking the scroll and beholding it with reverence. Sokka and Katara looked at it with great interest. “But are you sure you don’t want to come?”
“Why would you even want me along?” Zuko asked with a frown.
“Well,” Aang started, tucking the scroll. “I need someone to teach me firebending and you’re the first person in the Fire Nation I’ve met that actively doesn’t want them to win the war.”
“After what Sozin did to the Nomads?” Zuko asked. “Yeah, I didn’t want anything to do with that.”
“And the rest of the Fire Nation does?” Katara asked with a disapproving frown.
“I didn’t figure out that the Nomad’s didn’t have an army until I reread that scroll a couple of times,” Zuko explained. “The only thing I had ever been taught was that they had the most powerful army in the entire world.”
“Yeah, no.” Aang shook his head. “Nope, no army. We love and respect life too much.”
“I know that,” Zuko said, folding his arms.
“So will you come with us?” Aang asked.
“Don’t your friends get a say in this?” Zuko rejoined with a glare.
“Oh, uh...” Aang stopped, having almost forgotten that he was traveling with two others. “Come on, back me up. I really feel like he needs to come with us. I need someone to teach me firebending and he seems perfect for the job!”
“I don’t know Aang,” Katara started, looking at the Avatar with concern and at Zuko with suspicion. “He really seems like he doesn’t want to go.”
“Listen to her,” Zuko encouraged. “She’s smart.”
“Can you stop agreeing with me?” Katara asked, looking a little perturbed. “It’s freaking me out!”
Zuko just shrugged and said nothing else.
“Besides, it’s not like he’d be welcome at the North Pole,” Sokka replied. “They might listen to you because you’re the Avatar, but I think they’ll draw the line at letting a Firebender walk free.”
“But he’d be my Firebending Instructor,” Aang pointed out. “They’d have to make an exception for that.”
“No,” Zuko shook his head. “Anyway, this conversation is done, you’ve got your scrolls, so I’m going to bed. Good night.”
Zuko found himself frozen, however, when the Office filled with a white light.
“Now hold on for one moment, young man.”
Zuko slowly turned around and found himself face to face with Avatar Roku. Sokka and Katara both had retreated back a couple steps, their hands raised in a defensive position.
“It is the destiny of the Avatar to master each of the four elements in turn,” Roku intoned, leaning forward. “And that includes Fire.”
“I’m sure he can find someone else to teach him,” Zuko replied, folding his arms. “I’m not the only Fire National whose decided the war can burn. Jeong Jeong comes to mind.”
“But it is your destiny to be the Avatar’s instructor,” Roku stated with every ounce of authority being the Avatar brought him. “And as such, you must teach him Fire Bending, so that he can bring balance back to the World.”
“Can’t you do it?” Zuko asked with ancient avatar with a bored expression.
“It is not my place to do so,” Roku replied.
“But you can do it.”
“I cannot.”
“Why not?”
“It is difficult for me to contact Aang.”
“But you’re doing it now.”
“This is perhaps one of the most important moments in his journey,” Roku explained testily. “And you are defying destiny and the spirits that have watched over you from your birth.”
“Well, him learning Fire Bending is really important and you can show up whenever you like,” Zuko replied. “So saying ‘it’s hard’ isn’t going to excuse you from doing your duty and teaching your current life firebending.”
“I will not always be here for Avatar Aang to call upon,” Roku replied. “To have him rely on me would be to confine the Avatar to places of spiritual energy and in so doing, would prevent him performing his duties throughout the world.”
“I wasn’t aware my base was a place of spiritual energy,” Zuko said with a bored expression on his face.
“This is a special occasion.” Roku was getting visibly angry. “Again, you are defying destiny. You are required to teach the Avatar the element of Fire so that he can restore the world to balance.”
“No.”
But through his petulance, Zuko had to admit he had a point.
Roku blinked. “Prince Zuko, was it not the massacre of the Air Nomad’s that opened your eyes to what our beloved nation has become?”
“Yeah, that doesn’t mean I want anything to do with it,” Zuko replied with a shrug. “If I join forces with the Avatar, I lose my ship, my crew and my Father’s coin.”
“And you will gain the chance to help make things right,” Roku replied.
Zuko tossed that thought around in his head, frowning but unable to say anything. It was at that moment he became very uncomfortably aware of the feeling that Avatar Aang and Avatar Roku were right and he didn’t like it one bit.
“I will leave you to make your decision, Prince Zuko,” Roku said. “The consequences of which, good or bad, will rest on your head.”
He was gone, leaving in his place a dazed Aang.
Zuko glared at them. “Okay, is he done?”
Katara moved to steady hand, her hands on his arms. “I think Roku is gone.”
“Good,” Zuko nodded then he frowned.
There was a knock at the door.
Zuko frowned. “Hide. Now.”
The three scrambled as Zuko moved to open the door.
“Prince Zuko,” it was Lieutenant Jee. “Is everything alright? We heard some strange noises coming from your office.”
“Yes, Lieutenant,” Prince Zuko replied. “Everything is fine. Now. We just got a visit from a hostile spirit, but I handled it. Tell the Men I want extra stock on salt in the morning. I don’t expect another visit but we need to be careful.”
“Yes, your highness,” Lieutenant Jee bowed.
“Dismissed,” Zuko said.
The Lieutenant bowed and left, leaving Zuko to close the door.
The trio emerged from their hiding places.
“Why do you want salt?” Sokka asked.
“Makes barriers against hostile spirits,” Zuko replied with a shrug. “Makes it easier to deal with them.”
“Really?” Sokka blinked. “Good to know.”
“So are you coming with us?” Aang asked, leaning on his staff a little bit too much.
Zuko groaned. “Just tell me one thing.”
“Sure,” Aang said.
Zuko pointed to a map pinned up on the wall with a line going from the south pole and stretching up in a zing-zagging pattern. “How, exactly, are do you decide where to stop or not?”
Aang blinked owlishly at the map, then got a wide smile. “Well, that is where we like to ride the giant hog monkeys. On Kyoshi Island, that’s where we’d have ridden the giant elephant koi and-”
“Wait, wait, wait,” Zuko stopped him. “You mean to tell me you’ve been taking all those detours for fun?”
“Yeah.” Aang nodded. “Why else would we?”
Zuko blinked. “To throw off pursuit?”
“Oh,” Aang got a thoughtful look on his face. “I guess it does that too, huh?”
That settled it.
Zuko didn’t breathe for a second, then he threw his hands up in the air. “Alright, fine. I guess I’m in. If you’ll have me.”
Aang looked at Katara with the best puppy-dog eyes he could muster.
“Well,” Katara started to buckle. “He did get an endorsement from Roku. So...sure. I guess.”
“Sure. Fine,” Sokka leaned forward, pointing at him with his boomerang. “But I’ve got my eye on you.”
“Well, I guess I should pack my bags,” Zuko took a breath, stretching. “And grab some blasting jelly.”
“Why do you need blasting jelly?” Aang asked.
“Because if I’m going with you,” Zuko started, making for the door. “The rest of the Fire Nation is going to think I’m dead.”
---
Uncle Iroh,
This letter is going to come as a shock.
But I did what you suggested.
I joined the Avatar.
They snuck into the base through my secret entrance, looking for the Waterbending Scroll. We talked for a while. A long while. Aang felt like I was supposed to be his Fire Bending instructor and Avatar Roku, who felt the exact same way.
You probably found this letter after the explosion. While it looks like I’m dead, I’m not. This is a golden opportunity for me, just like you said. To see the world without the crew holding me down and more importantly, to make things right. So I rigged a few capsules of blasting jelly and timed our departure so it looked like we got attacked by the Avatar.
The Avatar is responsible for me leaving, so it’s not entirely a lie.
I only ask that you let everyone think I’m dead. Don’t tell anyone that I turned traitor. Don’t let anyone know. Because, as much as I don’t want anything to do with them, I do care about them. Most of them. Everyone except Father.
You could probably tell Mother, though.
I found a purpose, even if I’ve got doubts about the whole thing. If this is the right thing to do, I’m sure it’ll work out. If not, I can find something else.
Lastly, I wanted to say thank you. Thank you for always believing in me. For teaching me and striving to help me become better. For the games of Pai Sho and teaching how to prepare tea. Thank you for being the Father that Ozai never was.
~Prince Zuko
---
Author’s Notes: I hate this chapter. I hate everything about it. Do you guys have any idea how many of my plans this sets on fire? This chapter is dancing on the funeral pyre of my plans and it’s ticking me off!
Well, okay, all isn’t technically lost. To be honest, I had planned on Zuko being presumed dead anyway but I didn’t plan on him joining the Avatar until The Crossroads of Destiny. Why did I have to listen to the characters? They just disobey me! Curse you, characters! Curse you!
Shout out goes out too Melden V, Anders Kronquist, Ray Tony Song, Volkogluk, Aaron Bjornson, iolande, Martin Auguado, Julio, Hackerham, Tim Collins-Squire, Maben00, Ventari, PbookR, Seij, ChristobalAlvarez, Apperatus, EPiCJB19, Seeking Raven, Handwran and Russel Beatrous! Your continued support makes all of this possible!
Until the next time!
~Fulcon
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