March: Honored Son Chapter 5

Father and son traveled steadily through the halls, knowing this would be one of the last times they see one another up close.

"Father?" Zuko spoke up. "May I ask you something?"

"What is it?" Ozai asked evenly, keeping his patience for now.

"What are your thoughts on the Avatar?" Zuko asked carefully. The Firelord glanced at him with a single raised eyebrow. "I mean, I know I'm not expected to find him. But Great Grandfather Sozin was certain that the Avatar still exists."

"You wish to know my own beliefs about the fate of the Avatar," Ozai mused, pausing in his stride, bringing Zuko to a halt. "When the Avatar dies, they are reborn into the next element. If the Avatar was slain with the Airbenders, they would arise in the Water Tribes, and then the Earth Kingdom. Then, eventually back in the Fire Nation."

Zuko nodded quietly, wondering where his father was going with this.

"It is possible the Avatar survived and has been hiding all these years. It is slim, but Sozin lived to be one-hundred-twenty. They say the last Earthbending Avatar lived far longer," Ozai continued, glancing upwards slightly. "Prince Zuko, do you understand that the official objective of any campaign is rarely the only one?"

Zuko blinked before nodding. "Of course. Grandfather's main goal at one point was to conquer the Northern Water Tribe. It didn't work, but he did cripple them, which helped secure the northern coasts of the colonies."

"Exactly," Ozai said with a frown. "Iroh's siege of Ba Sing Se had another objective. To draw out the Avatar."

"What?" Zuko asked in surprise.

"If the Avatar was alive and aware of the world, then the siege would have been impossible to ignore. But the Avatar never appeared," Ozai answered, turning to face Zuko fully. "Most likely, the Avatar was reborn and was killed again before they could realize their own identity. My Father believed so, that was one of the reasons for raiding them of their benders. If they were reborn in the Earth Kingdom, it is doubtful the leaders are aware of it."

"So, the Avatar could be anywhere, and not even know who they are," Zuko mused thoughtfully.

"The secrets of the Avatar's existence were never well known," Ozai stated firmly. "It is my personal belief that we might have unknowingly ended the cycle."

"Unknowingly?" Zuko repeated. "How?"

"I have never heard of any records of the Avatar dying before adulthood, or before mastering the Elements," Ozai stated thoughtfully. "It is entirely possible that killing the Avatar before a certain age ends the cycle of reincarnation."

That topic made Zuko slightly uncomfortable but he nodded nonetheless. "But we can't be sure."

"No. And that is why, despite my personal views, the hunt continues," Ozai admitted.

"I understand, Father. Though knowing Azula's luck, she'll be the one to stumble across the Avatar whenever you send her out to sea," Zuko opined with a smile.

Ozai almost looked amused by that. "Try not to become too much like Iroh. Agni knows I don't need two of him in the palace."

Zuko chuckled despite everything before standing straighter. "Until I return, Firelord Ozai," he said with a bow of respect to his father.

"Until then, Crown Prince Zuko," Ozai returned with a nod.

With that, they both turned and left.

To say there was a high turnout for the Prince's departure would be an understatement. Citizens, nobles, and soldiers all were present as he traveled from the Fire Palace to the docks. Behind him was the portion of the Imperial Procession that had been given to his command, along with Iroh himself.

Both princes had opted to ride komodo rhinos instead of using a palanquin. Iroh because Zuko asked him to, and Zuko because it would be the last time he saw the Caldera and its people. Not to mention it gave him a chance to give one final look back at the palace, the white of his father's ceremonial robes making him stick out even from this distance.

Soldiers kept the order as people cheered and called for his well wishes. Zuko smiled and could make out parents telling stories to their children, of how their prince was going out on a great adventure, to seek out the Avatar if he returned to threaten their noble homeland.

It was true, technically, if exaggerated. Still, seeing the eyes of the younger children sparkling in awe as they saw him, a prince of thirteen, going off like some hero from a legend. Zuko didn't feel he deserved that, but if it brought smiles to those faces, he didn't mind.

They reached the docks, his crew waiting at attention and looking their best for the people watching them.

Of course, there was one unscripted surprise. Though, one Zuko expected.

He smiled and dismounted his komodo-rhino as he found Mai waiting for him, just before the ramp leading up to his ship.

"I'm surprised they let you out here," Zuko said quietly, feeling the many eyes on them.

"I'm sure they weren't supposed to," Mai agreed, bowing her head deeply to him. "May Agni watch over all your days, My Prince, and bring you safely home."

Zuko was pretty sure that, in most stories, this was where he did something really romantic and bold, like kiss her or gift her a token to remember him by. But there was no token and it felt...too soon to be that bold.

So he did the boldest thing he could; he hugged her.

It broke about five different rules of protocol and etiquette, but there was a time to forget such things. And judging by how Mai hugged him back, this was a good time.

"May Agni warm your heart and bring the sunrise to your every sorrow," Zuko returned warmly.

He pulled back and was rewarded by Mai's face blushing from his words. There was only a small smile on her face, but it was worth more than gold to him at the moment.

Iroh chuckled warmly to himself, standing away just enough to give the illusion of privacy for the pair. In this age of war and pain, it was a relief to find such pure and simple joy still remained, even in the Fire Nation.

Eventually, they parted and all company boarded the ship and made to depart. It wasn't long until they were clearing the Gates of Azulon and entering the Sea of Zulung, which brought an important matter to the center of attention.

"Where should we set course for first, Prince Zuko?" Captain Taiso asked respectfully.

Zuko stood straight, trying to look as professional and serious as a child his age could, while studying a map in his hands. "As this is technically a search for the Avatar, paying a visit to the Air Temples is to be expected," Zuko started with a hum. "The Western and Southern temples are closest."

"And which would you prefer, Your Highness?" Taiso asked expectantly.

"Neither," Zuko answered, pausing. "At least, depending on the answer to this question: What is the state of the war near the Northern and Eastern Air Temples?"

Taiso looked surprised by the question, if only momentary. "With the Earth Kingdom, the north would be safe. There is more risk from the Northern Water Tribe than them. But even they don't venture that far south of their city. The Eastern Air Temple, I apologized, but I admit I am less certain of," Taiso admitted.

"That I can answer," Iroh commented from Zuko's left. "The Eastern Air Temple is safer than it appears but more dangerous than one would believe."

Zuko didn't sigh. He couldn't do something as petty as sigh at his Uncle's cryptic advice in front of these men he was supposed to lead. "In simpler terms, Uncle?" he requested.

"At a glance, it would appear the worst of all options," Iroh mused, pointing to the map. "Furthest from the First Nation, no nearby colonies, and it would involve sailing between the lands of the Earth Kingdom and the waters teeming with raiders of the Southern Water Tribe."

"I am sensing a "but" coming, Uncle," Zuko noted dryly.

"You should hope it is that of a beautiful woman," Iroh joked, and several men on the bridge hid their amused or smirking faces at the crown prince's blush. "But to finish my point: Many of the threats have been a non-issue at the moment. The Earth Kingdom's navy, what little there is, is primarily used for keeping us from taking Chameleon's Bay, guarding the seas near Ba Sing Se, and entering the main rivers. We have many bases to dock and resupply in the islands to the south, and all of the Earth Kingdom territory on the mainland is mostly desert, with locations rarely having anything more than defensive ships at most. Disregarding the universal risks of sea monsters, storms, and pirates? The only true threat would be the raiders from the south. However, we would more likely run into them in the Southern Air Temple than the Eastern," he explained sagely.

Zuko was silent for a moment before nodding slowly. "Captain Taiso? Set course for the Northern Air Temple," Zuko instructed.

Taiso nodded, turning to the crewmen. "We make for the Strait of Taifeng," he instructed, turning to the royals. "We shall be there in four weeks, Prince Zuko, if the seas are on our side."

"They haven't been on our side for a hundred years, but that hasn't stopped us so far," Zuko remarked with a smile, earning an amused glimmer in the captain's eye. "If you need me, Captain, I'll either be in my quarters or training on deck."

"Aye, Prince Zuko," Taiso saluted before the two royals left.

"A rather bold move, Nephew," Iroh noted curiously. "May I ask, what prompted you to choose the north?"

Zuko glanced around before sighing deeply. "Well, to be blunt? I'm almost positive that we'll run into trouble between here and the Eastern Air Temple," he answered. "And I want to make sure I'm ready before I accidentally sail these men into a battle."

"Hmm, a wise course of action. To flee from danger can be cowardly, but to prepare for it is admirable and wise," Iroh conceded with a smile.

"I just...would feel like a hypocrite if I intentionally picked the location I felt most dangerous first after I stood up for those soldiers at the meeting, "Zuko answered solemnly before shaking that off. "And I figured we could save the Western Temple as a stop to make before taking a trip back home."

"I like the way you think, Nephew," Iroh said with a grin. "And here I thought you just didn't want them to believe you took my advice so instantly."

"Uncle, I think it's safe to say you could be encouraging me or discouraging me to any locations without making it obvious which," Zuko stated flatly.

"What can I say? I wish to be a fair and impartial source of wisdom," Iroh said with mirth.

"Speaking of, Uncle, are you free to train me now?" Zuko asked, faking a scowl. "Or do I need to bribe you with tea?"

"Bha! Insolent nephew! It is I who bribe you with training," Iroh retorted with mock outrage.

Zuko just smiled as they continued on.

Meanwhile Azula sighed contently as she walked around the parameters of the palace garden. "Zuzu is finally off on his fool's errand. Poor Mai went to see him off. I wonder how she'll feel if he drags back a foreign concubine one day," Azula mused with a smirk. With things calming down and her brother no longer a distraction, she could finally refocus on her training with her father's help. "Of course, he might drag back Ty Lee, which would be a pleasant surprise."

She was brought out of her musing as she heard an all too familiar quaking sound. She looked over at the garden pond and saw a servant girl feeding the turtleducks. Azula narrowed her eyes, unwillingly reminded of her mother and the time she spent doing just that with Zuko.

"You there," she addressed as she approached the servant.

The turtleducks scatted away at her sharp and sudden tone.

'Oh! Princess!" the girl greeted, bowing deeply to the princess. "Is there anything I can help you with?"

"You can tell me what exactly you're doing?" Azula asked, glancing at the bread in the servant's hands. "Besides wasting the palace bread."

"Prince Zuko asked some of us to feed the turtleducks while he was gone," the servant explained with a small smile.

"Of course he did," Azula drawled in distaste. "You can ignore that. There's no need to spoil the urchins."

The servant smiled awkwardly. "With respect, Princess Azula, I really can't."

Azula's gaze gained a piercing, dark quality without changing a single muscle. "I see. I didn't expect such an act of defiance over something so trivial."

"Defiance? I would never think of disobeying the royal family, Princess," the servant assured patiently. "But a servant such as me can no more disobey the crowned prince for you than the Firelord himself."

Azula's gaze widened minutely as those two words echoed in her head.

Crowned Prince.

Crowned Prince.

Crowned Prince.

That was her brother's title, yes. Something was given to him solely by being born ahead of her. It had never mattered, truly. He had never attempted to pull rank like that over her on anything. Father probably wouldn't let him, but still.

Now, it was something as simple as this that brought the fact of their stations to the forefront.

Blue flames curled in her hands.

The servant gasped, taking a step back. "P-princess...?"

"Leave. Now," Azula demanded coldly.

The servant ran, closing her eyes as she heard the wave of firebending being sent into the empty pond. She ran and never looked back.

She could be forgiven for not noticing that she passed by Firelord Ozai, discreetly watching the display with an unimpressed frown. Azula threw fireball after fireball into the water, as if she was trying to boil the entire pond away. Perhaps she was.

He didn't hear or know what had caused his daughter to act like this, but he had a good guess, judging by the pond and the bread the servant had dropped.

"Not even present, and you allow Zuko to rile you so?" Ozai murmured to himself in disappointment, turning to leave.

He resolved to keep more of an eye on Azula. He sensed that he would be needing to speak to her eventually if she continued like this.

End of Chapter