Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

It’s been a couple months since it happened. Since the incident happened. And even if they least expected it, he wished they could’ve done more to save them. But they didn’t even know it would happen. It all came out of nowhere. 

He remembered that day. He was on break with Jet, both of them lounging in his office. He was sorting through papers and documents—proposals about something with trade, letters asking for meetings on public interests, and scheduled solo hearings regarding agricultural dilemmas. His partner remained adamant that he should drop the workload and head out. Maybe pick Izumi up from school and go out for a casual run into town. Zuko wanted to at least organize his workload, and then they could go out. 

Among his paperwork was an unfinished letter he was writing to his Uncle as part of their routine. How was the tea shop, this and that about the Fire Nation, how Jet and Izumi were doing, Sokka being down South for personal matters, and so on. And while he hid that letter away, he can vaguely recall the details on a planned trip to the Earth Kingdom to see him in Ba Sing Sa—bringing his family with him as well. And even despite Jet and Iroh’s rather tense relationship, the nonbender insisted to go for the sake of family time and to see his old friends again. Izumi has only been to the Earth Kingdom twice already—both occasions consisting of living with Uncle Iroh and stopping by to see Longshot and Smellerbee. Again, while the two were still getting used to their friend involving himself with the Firelord, all was well and settled, more or less. 

That was until as he got up from his desk, one of the servants came ushering in without knocking, with a sense of urgency rushing after him. Immediately, this sets off an alarm in Zuko’s head that something was wrong. And even to this day, he can recount those words from the servant. 

“My Lord, there has been a letter from a messenger hawk. It-it was from one of the Order of the White Lotus members.” 

“It’s about Prince Iroh, he’s…in critical condition .” 

From there, plans were cancelled and there was a change in schedule. Jet had promised to stay with Izumi and handle everything else back home before Zuko rushed off to see his Uncle. The day he left, Katara and Aang arrived alongside him on Appa’s back, just in case of emergency healing and if this was a threatening issue the Avatar had to deal with. 

But by the time they arrived, it was too late.

It was hard for the three of them to even fathom what they saw. Zuko couldn’t even put it into words how grotesquely horrific the scene was as the lotus camp was nothing but a wasteland. The whole place was made up of burned soil, broken earth, and a horrible smell that none of them wanted to acknowledge. 

“There had been an ambush.” According to Aang when questioning a lotus member. “We had suspicions that there had been a formed rebel group that had splitted off from the Order as a means of starting their own society. We do not know the name nor their identities—nor do we know exactly what prompted the ambush to occur in the first place. We are currently investigating it.”

Questions of how, why, and when did this all happen were formulated but were only left at loose ends. Aang and Zuko shortly spoke about the possibilities of who could have been behind this attack on the Order and they wondered if Sokka knew anything about it. Apparently they only knew about members splitting alongside a current member who was perhaps behind the whole ordeal and led the ambush when the right time hit. This resulted in many aggressive interrogations to take place, but to no success. 

However, it had been said that some members knew of someone who seemed off that would sometimes walk around camp, not partaking in any meetings, discussions or “even for just a cup of tea or pai sho”. And with how secretive the presumed member was being, rumors arose that they were spying on them for some reason. But with every chance they got, it was missed with the member leaving early or vanishing. Why they weren’t stopped sooner was something neither Avatar nor Firelord could figure out. 

Unfortunately, that wasn’t even the end of it. When they entered the infirmary tents, it was a macabre sight. There was bile that burned in his throat as Katara already went off to tend to the patients. Aang remained strong as he assured him that everything would be okay and that he was sure Iroh and the others were fine. But even a reassurance from the Avatar was ineffective the time they saw those who didn’t make it. 

Master Piandao and Jeong Jeong were killed during the ambush. According to a lower member, the swordsman was surrounded and was burnt alive. In a fit of anguish and rage, Master Jeong Jeong lost control of himself and proceeded to spew blaze at their attackers. He was defeated immediately when a waterbender struck him through the critical artery points. His head barely stuck to his neck.

Pakku and Bumi stuck out much longer despite their old age. However, at some point, Bumi was rendered useless by means of horrific bone bending to which his limbs snapped out of place and punctured through the flesh—hence the bloody joints. The scorch of pain on Aang’s face was never missed by the Firelord, even when concealed under a mask of stolidness. Pakku’s body laid under a cloth as they beat and almost crushed the man to the point that he was almost unrecognizable. It once more left the Firelord with a nauseous tug in his stomach when they had to lift up the sheet that covered the old master’s face. 

He always hated recounting the details up to this point and he never did once up until now. Because every time he did, there was always the stitch of painstaking regret sewed into him and his mind. Where he should’ve listened to Katara or Aang when they said to look away and where he felt every part of himself chip away and his heart almost gave out when he saw him. Like a broken teacup, he fell apart. 

He didn’t want to accept it, not now and he still struggles to. And he couldn’t let himself say or do anything but stare with a mix of disbelief, rage, and grief. So, so much grief—flooding his mind and heart, boiling up into ugly, glossy red vengeance. 

He wanted those attackers dead. 

Whoever did this, he wanted to get them for what they did. What they took away from him. Cursed them for being heartless and cruel and selfish. He wanted to find them and decimate all of them himself—one by one, his hands covered in their blood and the taste of revenge and justice mingling on his tongue until they tasted the same. He wanted to do it. He could’ve done it—he had the power to do it. 

And then suddenly, he found himself outside. The rain was pounding violently on his back as the rumbling thunder snapped him back to his head, back to the right state of mind. He stood there as voices called out and shouted at him to stop running away from them. He felt his hands burn red and steam coiled off of him like ribbons. He stared off, the rage within him extinguishing away like a small forest fire, sinking back into him until all that was left was bitter sorrows and emptiness. Such sorrow was like a wake-up call that found him in the pit of numbness and residue rage. And when it found him, all he could do was fall to his knees, stare up into the sky, and scream. 

He screamed and sobbed while beating the ground even when his knuckles bled out. He didn’t care if his knuckles burned from his heat or from beating the ground so much. He didn’t care if his royal garments were ruined or that his hair was messy or that he was covered in mud—he didn’t give a damn for any of it. For all he did was howl in the midst of the storm, broken down as he held himself tightly even when Aang and Katara found him and tried to comfort him. Even when they tried to embrace him close into their arms and tell him how sorry they were that he lost his uncle and how they knew what it was like—both knew how it was like and he knew never to deny that. But in the end, there was a call for a search. 

Because for the next few weeks, he felt like an aimless spirit, moving around without a thought or purpose. He never felt any more lost than he did as a teenager. Not since his Uncle was gone and so were many of the White Lotus members, he almost felt as if he couldn’t bring himself to feel much anymore. Even when Jet held him close and brushed his hair, even when Sokka came rushing in and broke to them both, even when every one of his friends came to offer their condolences and prep the funerals, he felt nothing more but suppressed grief and numbness. 

And even when the funerals came and he had the honors to say the Rites of the Dead, he couldn’t bring himself to announce any of it. So he handed the honors to Aang and stood further away from when the ceremonies commenced. At some points, during those moments of handed condolences, grieving silences, and prayers, sometimes his partners and his friends came to check up on him. Asking if he was feeling okay to which he harshly waved off their concerns. There was a time when Izumi and Bumi would come up to him and they gave him a large tight hug. Of course, when he smiled and returned those hugs, there was nothing to feel. And with every attempt someone close to him had to cheer him up or drag him out of his grief, he remained nothing but stuck. 

And there would’ve been nothing for weeks, to a few months. 

Maybe even more. 

~ 

“Neglecting to feed the turtle ducks, Zuzu? How uncharacteristic of you.” 

“I’m not neglecting them. I know Zumi had been feeding them. So they’re fine.” Zuko responded monotonously while his eyes remained towards his solemn reflection. It was then interfered by a turtleduck when it swam by, quacking and happily gobbling up the breadcrumbs that drifted along  little ripples. 

“Oh, I know. And I also know your partners have been just as depressed as you are for the last couple months or so.” She remarked while tearing a couple more crumbs. “The least you could do is be less depressing and try to focus on something else. Sure, it’s been a few months since uncle and his friends are dead, but you ought to continue on eventually.” 

Zuko tensed up at his sister’s harsh words and whipped his head towards her.“…How could you say that ? He was your uncle too, you know!” Her brother snapped at her, his brow furrowing into a deep crease, though his sister simply just shrugged. “Do you even care that he’s…you know…” 

When he couldn’t finish the sentence, Azula finished it for him, “That he’s gone? That he’s dead ? Well of course, I’m sad about it, brother. Trust me. I mean, we had our difficulties, but I’m not heartless…” Resting her elbow on her knee, Azula tossed her breadcrumbs and dropped the other half of bread into her brother’s lap. He then took it and absentmindedly began feeding the turtle ducklings. Both of their gazes remained blank as they stared off into the nothingness of the scenery. 

After a brief pause of letting her older brother cool down, Azula sighed and sat up. “Look, I’m not the best at all with this emotional stuff. Not as much as Ty Lee or Aang. But…what I do know is that it is tough. It’s hard. I get it. Such losses can almost be unbearable, especially to someone close to you. And it’s just simply too much to let go. You are practically chained to this burden of sadness. And even if you wish to let go, you simply could not. Or at least, you refuse to.”

Squaring his single brow, Zuko turned his head further away. Whether he understood what she meant by “refuse to” or not, he didn’t say. Or at least, he pretends not to. Nonetheless, Azula continued. 

“But either way—what I’m saying is just because uncle’s gone, it doesn’t mean you can just mope around like some sad sponge-flower sitting in the gardens and act as if the world is a dreary, sad place. One should never go on like that.” 

Zuko fiddled thoughtlessly with the other half of the bread in his lap, as a hand on his shoulder got his attention. Glancing over, his eyes met his sister’s. And while it was always difficult to decipher his sister’s mood, it was evident then. The earnestness in her encouragement was truly something to hear, though there was something else he could sense from her. He wasn’t sure what it was, but something about it seemed familiar. 

Blinking back at her, Zuko tisked and leaned away, now gazing up at the sky gloomily as he took a deep breath in. He understood why his sister was saying this to him and he knew that she was trying to make him feel better, even with her casual bluntness and the sharp truth in her words. Nonetheless, he appreciated her trying as she was never really the comforting and tender type when it came to these things. But once more, she wasn’t wrong. 

“…But even so, how else can I move on? Uncle was always the one I would go to for advice…he’s always been there for me when no one else was…what am I supposed to do without him! ?” Zuko exclaimed, his eyes slightly swelling with tears, but he held back.

For a short second, something passed over his sister’s expression. Perhaps disheartened about what he said, and a twinge of guilt pinched at him. But with a short breath, Azula recomposed herself. Moving closer to him, she stared him hard in the face before pointing. 

“…Listen. I understand you have been grieving about uncle being gone for a while now. But how many times do I have to tell you—that it is not the end of the world? Nor does this mean everything stops there. Because you, my sappy brother, are forgetting that you can still live on. Agni, you were sixteen years old and you were able to live well long enough until you met Aang and his friends. And now all of a sudden, you’re just going to sit here and let that grief consume your whole life? Not to mention, you are clearly forgetting the fact that you have two partners and a child, and so many friends who happen to be deeply concerned for your well being.” His sister reminded him harshly, before her hard gaze fell and the tone of her voice. “And…and you also have me. In which case, I suppose I did my part in trying to help.” She noted with a trying half-grin and a shrug. 

“So when in doubt, you are not alone on this.” 

As his sister stood back up and brushed the grass off herself, Zuko stared off back into the pond, now a concentrated expression resting on his face. He twisted back when he heard his sister walk off from her spot. 

“And for the record Zuzu, don’t let that bread go to waste. I wouldn’t want to leave the ducks unfed now.” Azula reminded him with a slipping glance before exiting the garden. 

~

“Papa, are you gonna finish that bread? Or are you gonna throw it to the turtle ducks?”

Breaking from his train of thought, Zuko turned to see Izumi leaning into his side, her glasses pushed against her curious gaze. 

“I’m not going to toss the bread at the ducks, Zumi.” Zuko replied with a little brow raise. 

“Well, then at least let me feed them.” Izumi said, taking the bread from his lap and tearing it into smaller pieces. 

As he watched her throw the crumbs carefully towards the turtle ducks, he sat there in uncomfortable silence. Not that he didn’t wish to be with his daughter, but uneasy in a way that his guilt started to swell in his stomach. Reminding him of how despite his grief, the pain of absence would have hurt those around him if he hadn’t noticed any sooner.

So, after a moment of silence, the firebender turned to his daughter somberly. “Say, Izumi. There’s something important I have tell you.”

When she gazed back intently, Zuko sighed. “I just want to say…I’m sorry. For not talking to your papas or not spending time with the rest of you…I just happened to get so caught in my sadness that well…,” he shrugged, “I didn’t realize how distant it brought us. How it had brought us apart.” Zuko apologized with a softened expression, burrowed guilt and hurt weighed heavily on his chest. Izumi exchanged a similar look with her father. 

“It’s okay, dad…I know that great uncle Iroh’s passing has been really, really hard for you. Plus,” tearing the bread into even smaller pieces, Izumi offered some of the crumbs over to her father, “I overheard parts of your conversation with Auntie Zula.”

She was always such an observant, smart girl—it alway makes Zuko wonder how she ended up being this attentive. Perhaps it was Sokka, or maybe it was Azula that secretly taught her the ways of snooping. It is plausible considering his sister being the one to look after his daughter since she was a toddler. After all, what was he to expect when he leaves their kid with his sister? 

“Oh, you did, didn’t you?” A little watery smile curled on Zuko’s lips as he brought an arm around her for an embrace. 

Tucked into his side, Izumi beams. “Yeah and—“ 

“Don’t worry, little dragon. We can take it from here.” 

Whipping around, Izumi squealed out, “ PA! POPPY!” before running over and leaping into Sokka and Jet’s arms. 

“Aaaah, hey squirt! I see you’re trying to cheer up Papa, hm?” Jet happily asked the girl to which she nodded. 

“We were just gonna feed the turtle ducks!” Izumi chimed in with a little beam. Sokka plopped themself on their partner’s other side. 

“Great! Mind if you let your old men join?” The water tribesmen asked with a chuckle as Zuko turned between them and Jet.

A shared, knowing gaze was exchanged between the three of them and something in Zuko’s gut curled about. From the looks of it, either Izumi wasn’t the only one who heard him and Azula or his sister had already alerted his partners about the situation. Perhaps informing them on how to go on and help their poor, sorry firelord. And when the little nods and consoling smiles were traded, a fluttering feeling came to his chest. A slip of warm reassurance of the very people he held dear to him—for all those years. 

“Okay, but this time, I will go first.” Izumi replied politely, before dropping an equal amount of bread crumbs to the palms of parents’ hands. The three of them nodded their heads with a little thanks.

“And this time, don’t eat them.” Izumi then remarked to which she looked towards her poppy Sokka with a criticizing squint to which the tribesman put his hands up.

“Hey now, a guy needs a snack every now and then, duckling.” Sokka admitted jokingly to which Zuko muttered to Jet, “—Unsurprisingly—“

“HEY.” 

A choir of laughs went about between the rest of the family, much to Sokka’s offense, but he couldn’t help but smile a little in amusement. 

For the rest of the evening, the family of four spent their time together, chatting and catching up and feeding the ducks all while Zuko sat there—cherishing these moments that he never realized how much he missed. Even though his chest felt sunken and heavy at times, maybe this is a good start. The best way to get back on his feet and learn to move on. 

And even as they all ended up resting under a tree and watching the dancing stars, in the warm and comforting embrace of his loyal partners, as well as their daughter fast asleep and squished between their sides, Zuko knew then and there what his sister had meant. That here, he can finally experience what had been spoken about not too long ago. And just maybe, he can thank her later for it.

Maybe from now on, things might just be alright.

…

Chapter Text

Iroh’s POV

In a land of the physical world, where life and death are linear and all matter and physics correspond to their gravities, the spirit realm is another story—one many can interpret, but can never understand. Not in its entirety that is. Within the spirit realm, life and death are intermingled—where environments are vast and exist in planes beyond the surface comprehension. Where ecosystems and life extends beyond barriers of their living counterparts and no such structure can exist formly unless originally so. Where the environment and the behavior of those around can be heavily impacted from a mood of one to a flux in the surroundings. 

The Spirit World is a labyrinth—its own separate entity, changing and morphing constantly. And whatever soul has entered into it, it will show them not what they desire, but what was truly necessary.

So when he awoke in the middle of a still ocean, with crystal water and a sprinkled-star night sky, he was not sure what to expect. When he gazed around and called out, no response was returned. Except a trail of blinking sparks from beneath the rippling surface illuminated the way in front of him. To where? He was not sure. So, with nowhere to go and nothing but the clothes on his back and curiosity in his heart, he followed along the glowing path to where fate may take him. 

As he trekked slowly through the rippling trail, the trickle of luminescence followed alongside him like a patient guide. He acknowledged the easing atmosphere around him, which was oddly the most peaceful he had ever felt. Even before the time he passed on, where he had already lived a well- fulfilled life, where simplicity was one of the last things he wanted to experience before he would die—somehow none of it compared to the light feeling in his chest. The heavy burden and guilt that was once burrowed deep into his soul was no longer there. He questioned himself if this was finally it. If this was his final resting place. 

“ Not for long, Prince Iroh .” 

Stopping in his tracks, the old firebender looked around in surprise. He’d never heard of a voice like that before. 

“ Oh, we had met before, Prince Iroh. It has been quite a longtime .”

For a split moment, Iroh searched within his memories—silently cursing his old age, until an iridescent, pale glow fell over him. Peering upwards, there he saw it. 

“Tui—the Spirit of the Moon.” Iroh muttered in awe, his eyes widening as he got down on his knees and bowed before the spirit. Said spirit had taken the form of the familiar white koi back in the Material World. “It is an honor to see you again.” 

“ Such formal mannerisms are not needed, elder prince. I sense your curiosity for why you are here.” The koi tilted its head towards the man. “And I am here to inform you on what is to come .”

“Oh? And what would that be?” Iroh asked.

“ As you know, a spiritual intervention such as this is an extraordinary thing to witness, especially at a time like this. But there is a reason why the rest of the Spirits and myself have brought you all here .”

“All? You mean to say the others are here as well?”

Iroh questioned for clarification.

“ Yes, but they are somewhere else at the moment. Either earlier, later, or currently, as time here in the Spirit World is beyond human comprehension. As we are speaking, I have either spoken to the other four long before you, a while, or after you have arrived .” 

“Ah, of course. The distortions of time within the Spirit World is always something fascinating to me. How puzzling it is here—makes this realm the more captivating.” The old firebender stroked his beard, smiling thoughtfully in hopes of seeing more of it. 

“ While I see your peak of interest, there is no such time for that. In fact, I suggest cherishing what time you have here—which is not a lot.” The tone of the Moon spirit became sharper edged . “Because you won’t be returning here for a long while .” 

Staring up at the spirit, Iroh tilted his head with a worried expression and cocked brow. “And why would that be?” 

There was a brief, seemingly hesitant pause from the Moon Spirit as Tui responded, “ To put this short…as you and your companions have arrived to the end of your earthly lives, the spirits and I…we have decided that you must return back to the Mortal World once more. ”

“ We believe that with what you have done prior to your death, you must continue on with a fresh start and a clear mind. Active and lively to continue your human journey through another lifetime. Although, this is not just a simple reincarnation, dear elder prince .” 

Humming thoughtfully and turning Tui’s words in his mind, the old firebender stroked his beard and bit his lower lip, before looking back up at the spirit, “So what you are saying is…you wish to revive the five of us? The other grand lotus members…as well as myself?” 

“ Yes, though…I must warn you, when you are revived, you will not be in the old form you are in now. You would still inhabit the body you were born with since the light of your birth, however it would simply be brought down to a certain year we thought would be appropriate for you and your companions . 

“ However, there are some rather unfortunate side effects that come with the resurrection process. There is a potential chance that you… may not be able to recall any memories or experiences up until this very point. Nor could you perhaps remember anything, with the exception of there being a slight chance of retaining memories corresponding to the age your body has taken. Since you five are returning with a fresh, new start in a bodies-turned-youthful, your minds will also return to similar states.”

The koi spirit lowers their head downwards, expressing its guilt to the mortal prince. “I sincerely apologize that we couldn’t save all of your memories prior to your old life .”  

A long processing silence stumbled by as Iroh stood there, staring intently towards the ground as if it told him that maybe there was a chance. A chance he could grasp onto some memory of the life he had already lived and not bear loss to them. Not of his comfortable life in the Earth Kingdom. Not of his friends. Not of the children and their families. And most importantly, not of his niece, not his dearest nephew, nor his late son. He didn’t want to lose any of them. Just the mere idea on its own worried him. To lose such experiences and such a beloved family—now burrowed away deep within him, with the slim chance of digging them back up.  A part of him even wondered if Tui could hear him right now—pitying him and perhaps reassuring him of the possibility. Of course, that was nothing but childish hope. And yet, one could not deny the fate gifted upon them from the Spirits. One cannot deny such a thing. Such a role in need of fulfillment. And if he were to deny it and leave on peacefully what were the possibilities that would follow in the future? What would happen? Why, such endless ideas and routes the future would take, but one can only predict, infer, and hope for the best. He can hope for the fact that with enough hope, those he had left behind would make it just fine. 

But if that were the case, why was it that the spirit of the Moon came before him? In the between states of the end of his life and the beginning of the new? What was it that they felt and seen that had prompted them to bring up not just him, but his dear colleagues and friends, to return them back to the Living World? Why could this be? 

After those long, harrowing moments went by, coming from his deep contemplation, a small dry chuckle came from the old man.

“Well, it seems like neither I nor my friends have much of a choice on the matter,” Iroh answered with a somber expression, and a little smile on his face, “but if it's part of our duty to return back to the Mortal World, then so be it.” 

“ Very well then. Let us begin .” Tui announced with a finalizing tone.

All around them, the sprinkled flares began to illuminate brighter than before. The eyes of Tui lit up along with them as the spirit rose into the sky, ribbons of spirit water spiraled upwards and surrounded Iroh like growing pillars. He turned all around, in awe of the magical sight as they began to encase him into a shining dome. 

As the water currents spun around him into a fluid, bending motion, Tui’s voice can be heard from outside, echoing out to him with a final statement.

“ Until we meet again, Elder Prince Iroh of the Fire Nation. Good luck on your journey back into the Mortal World. Keep you and your friends close once you meet again, and may the Avatar and his friends guide you on your return . It is about time the students become the teachers .” They waved on before circling around him from above, before diving downwards into the water. 

Iroh felt himself beginning to sink beneath from the place he stood upon as the water closed in around him. His mouth gaped open, awed by what he was witnessing, only for his vision to become jumbled and shakened. He couldn’t breath yet he wasn’t suffocating for all was becoming darker and darker. Everything was coming onto him, consuming him away into the beckoning abyss. But rather than fight back, he instead curled up into himself. He felt himself shrink away into whatever was growing around him. With everything becoming lighter and lighter, tugging him deep away into the depths of his mind. 

It felt lonely as he sat there for a little while. But it seemed like he wasn’t entirely alone in this slumbering darkness. 

~

And so, they rest. 

~

Unknown POV

“What do you suppose we shall do now?” asked one voice. It ripped out like a thousand voices combining into one simultaneous wave of melody. 

“We do what we do best.” responds another, this time it was slow and filled with an ethereal light. One so gentle in the coat of a snow white aura. In rhythm of the first. 

“ We wait .” concludes the third—the most bold and brightest of all. Usually filled the brim of a burning passion and flaming heart of gold, for now low and cindering.

Waiting. 

~

For a while, there was always silence. The empty hum that reverberated around them within the dark. 

Such awareness is blind until they begin to peek from their hiding spots. 

And then, there was light. 

Chapter Text

Zuko’s POV

Ambling along the stone paths, the old Firelord slumped onto a bench and let out a tired sigh.

“Good Agni, my back is killing me.” The firebender groaned as he rolled his head side to side, with his arms resting on the bench as his daughter  made her over to her father.

“Yes and yet despite this, I think it’s your turn to hold Senna. I’ve been looking after her for the majority of the day and I must get back to my studies, you know how it is, father.” Izumi handed the sleeping bundle to the older man. 

Smiling fondly at his youngest, Zuko takes his little one and holds Senna carefully in his arms. “Very well then. If break time means spending time with my children, I’m not complaining. But please, Zumi, at least stay with your old man for a little while.” 

With a fond eye-roll and sigh, Izumi remained seated right next to her father. “Well first of all, you aren’t exactly that old, dad. And secondly, I do hope papa and pops can come home soon. Maybe then, I can take a proper break from my studies and training and we can all spend time together.” The princess said with a soft exhale, resting her head into her palm as Zuko pats her on the back a little awkwardly, but wholeheartedly nonetheless.

For the last decade or so, much had changed for the many of them, including Zuko and his family. A while ago, Jet had made trips to the Earth Kingdom to help manage the orphanage with Smellerbee and Longshot or even speak with diplomats regarding issues of the Earth Kingdom and Fire Nation relations. After all, he was one of the few connections between the two nations—much to Jet’s distress. He didn’t fully agree to these meetings, but with the amount of feuds and petty conflicts that had ensued, he was able to deal with them and push them to a corner. And while sure, it made the palace more empty, but duties are duties and so they must attend to them.

Same goes for Sokka as he now had been the one helping to manage tribes move and settle little  Southern Earth Kingdom towns along the coast, as well as acting as a voice for all issues down South. He was thankful they were close to Chieftess Yue, so not many problems have arisen in that department.

Aang and Teo had been wedded alongside Katara and Toph. The four were an interesting quartet as such love was shared among most of the four but, like himself with Jet and Sokka, their love is something special. Not that it was at all that gushy romance from all those years ago between Aang and Katara or Teo and Toph and so on, but that wasn’t to say they were one large, happy family. And in other news, Bumi ii will be returning from his services soon to spend time with his family, and Izumi was ecstatic to see her cousin again. 

Jet and Sokka had Senna just a year ago. Their sweet, precious baby seal pup—as Sokka loved to call her. Azula preferred to call her a more “powerful” name, though if not for Jin exposing her partner, no one would have known that the princess liked to call her niece ‘Seal Pup Queen of the Seas’.  

But nonetheless, he wouldn’t have it any other way. 

“Your Highness? Can you please come with us for a moment?” The guard asked. “This may be important.”

“And what exactly would my father have to see that’s so important?” Izumi questioned the soldiers.

An urgent yet hesitant glance was exchanged between the other guards as the former one rubbed at the back of her neck. “Well…we aren’t quite  sure what we’re dealing with here, but it’s best you come and take a look, my Lord.”

Sitting up to eye at the guard, Zuko and Izumi looked back at one another with similar, questionable expressions, unsure what this could mean. Best to find out sooner than later. 

“Very well. Please, lead the way.” 

~

Yue’s POV

“Yue? What are you doing? It’s early in the morning. You should be asleep.” Turning to her other side, Mai rubbed her eyes to see her partner wide awake. 

Sitting on the edge, the chieftess suddenly got up from the bed. “…We must go to the Oasis this instant.” she said, urgency rattling in her voice. 

“Yue?” Perching up from bed, Mai stared after her wife as the other rushed out of their bedroom and out the door without another explanation. 

Sitting in silence, Mai groaned and pulled herself up to chase after her partner, quickly snatching her robe and a thicker parka coat to throw onto herself. “ Yue !”

Catching up after the pacing woman down the corridor, the nonbender huffed out a pant to catch her breath as she turned towards her wife. “Yue!—What…what are we… why are we heading to the Oasis?”

“It was the dream again, Mai. Only this time…I can properly finally piece together what I saw. All along,…I believe it must be a message from the Moon Spirit. Tui.” The chieftess revealed to her wife, striding out from the towering blue carved doors while ignoring the confused glances on the guards’ faces. 

“In my dream, there was something within the Oasis—something with these large flowers and a boy sleeping. The boy does not seem like anyone I have ever met before, but I just know there’s something about him we have to see. And according to the dream, all of our answers can be found in the Oasis. We just need some confirmation.” Yue explained.

A glowing Oasis…

The lotuses drifted lazily across the water…

Tui and La swimming in their endless dance…

A young boy sleeping in a blanket of petals…

Follow the path to seek the call. 

“Alright then, whatever you say,” Mai rubbed her eyes, “as long as we get back to sleep after this.” She yawned, following alongside her partner towards the Oasis. 

In general, talks like these would have had Mai look at Yue as if she was glowing like moon jellyfish out of water. Spirit business is something Mai never thought to have involved herself in, at least not all those years ago—back when they first met at that festival. And yet, nonetheless, no amount of otherworldly, supernatural nonsense can stop her from following her wife to the ends of both the Earth and the Spirit World. 

After all, from knowing the Chieftess for over three decades, she knew to trust Yue’s instincts and accompany her wherever she goes. 

~

Aang’s POV

He wasn’t sure when was it the last time he came here. 

Between balancing personal life to Avatar duties, vacation time was like a holiday treat. It was probably around ten—fifteen years ago—since he and his family had came to visit Omashu. The last time he came here, he can eerily recall the whole city-state was stricken in a period of mourning. Crying and sobbing in the streets and memorials were in place. As for him and his family, they stood in silence as they mourned for the loss of a good friend of theirs. A good old friend to him. 

Oddly enough, he couldn’t recall that day to full light. It wasn’t anything more than a blending blur of a memory to him. 

“Oh Avatar Aang, thank the spirits! You have arrived just in time!”

“It’s no issue, Councilman Sai.” Aang smiled in greeting while giving a polite bow to the older man. “I came as soon as I was alerted by the letter you sent me just a few days ago. Mind explaining to me the situation?”

“Ye…yes. Please, right this way, Avatar.” Sai gestured to the airbender to follow as they proceeded towards the entrance of the palace.

They paced down the corridors of the palace, which brought Aang a wave of nostalgia. The walls retained their deep emerald greens and the rugs were as clover-colored as the last time he walked upon them. The ceiling chandeliers hung above their heads, watching over them with welcoming glistens and reflective light. The array of crystals formed the familiar ambre colors of white, to green to purple—observing them as they turned thecorner. The walls were still adorned by the very same glowing crystals that were used to illuminate the vast palace corridors. It was a comforting 

“So, just about a few days ago, one of the gardeners was tending to the late King’s prized balcony garden when suddenly they had come across something…rather peculiar.” Sai detailed warily. 

“I’m aware of what you are talking about. The one garden that faces the sun, yes—what did you see that made it seem so “unnatural”?” The airbender asked.

“Well you see uh—“

“Avatar Aang! Thank goodness you’re here,” one of the gardeners came rushing in, “the damn thing is starting to move again and I’m not sure how to handle it! Surely, this isn’t some abnormal flower growth now, hehe, right?” 

“Flower? Moving?” Aang raised a brow to which the gardener nodded. 

“Yes—please come quickly now!” They exclaimed, rushing off to which Aang followed after them and Sai yelled out, chasing the airbender to the balcony.

~

Skidding through the doorway, Aang’s gaze darted around the lush garden to which he suddenly caught the eye of something poking within the foliage. Ambling over, he pushed back branches and stepped through thick bushes, and stared down at the sight of what he saw. Behind him was the gardener and Sai, both panting and leaning over for a breath of air as the gardener stumbled their way over and stood beside the puzzled Avatar. 

“My…lord, my lord—do you have…any idea what this could be?” The gardener asked hastily, peering up towards the towering monk.

The airbender continued to stare at the massive lotus, which was just barely budding—its petals not fully spread out yet. The flower itself was growing from a small pond that was once set up there for water lilies, lily pads, and other assortments of aquatic flora to flourish. This lotus, however, took up the majority of the pond—so much so that it wasn’t even a pond anymore, but rather a massive flower bud in a ditch. 

“Hmm, let us see here.” Aang said, dubious yet curious as he moved closer towards the large lotus to further examine it. “How long have you known about this?” The airbender asked, turning towards the gardener.

“I haven’t paid too much attention to it, at least not at first. The lotus just seemed like any other lotus that was growing around here,” they explained, “but then over time, I started to notice something strange.”

“Not only did the atmosphere from this particular part of the garden feel off , but the lotus began to grow abnormally large. I should also mention that even through every season, this lotus is the only piece of vegetation in the garden that can live within any condition that has come and gone—even during Omashu’s harshest snowfalls.” 

“Then there's no doubt that this is a type 

of nature spirit that we're dealing with here.” Aang remarked while still observing it. 

The lotus’ size seemed like it could fit a whole person inside of it, maybe two once it fully bloomed. Its petals were a tinted green from where they met the top of the stem and its unfurled leaves. Its fragrance was as light and sweet as any other lotus flower, maybe even less than the average one. Crouching down to its level, Aang quietly continued to inspect the absurd plant, before reaching over to touch it. Only when he did, the bud suddenly jerked up—something kicking about within it. 

Jumping away in surprise, Aang placed his arms up in a defensive gesture. His gaze hard on the flower, as it wrestled about, causing the gardener to startledly yell and for Sai to scream.

“Well, that’s odd—I can say that.” Aang responded with widened eyes, his position slacking as he drew himself back towards the wrestling lotus.

“Do you think you can do something about it, Avatar Aang?” Sai asked shakily.

“I think…maybe if I could just…” As the lotus continued to twitch and thrash, Aang carefully reached out towards the flower, wanting to cup the base of it and try to ease it.

But the moment his fingertips brushed against the velvety petals, everything became nothing. 

A low ringing came to his ears and it felt like something was tugging onto him, or rather keeping him in place. A mixture of muffled voices all shouted and called in a panic, but it didn’t break the airbender away from his instantaneous trance. Mouth gaped and his head raised, his eyes and arrows glow brightly in a piercing, white light. A flash montage of images—memories—passed and spun about his mind and vision like an overwhelming whirlpool. Various faces of those he doesn’t know or recognize danced before changing one after the other. Yet somehow, he felt like he knew them—familiar with their jumbled voices and faces, but he couldn’t put his finger on it. All the faces were young and child-like. He wasn’t sure what was going on or why he was seeing them. He felt himself mutter their names under his breath, but he simply couldn’t hear them. His vision was blurred and cloudy with unknown memories, and a burst of energy was released into the open. 

And as he spoke and held the lotus, a light tore open from the center of it, the petals opening away from the pistil like peeling back book pages, revealing their messages and spewing into the atmosphere.

~

Yue’s POV

Opening the wide, circular door, the couple made their way into the Oasis, and immediately spotted something in the center of the grassy path, just beside the pond.

Sprinting towards it, Yue went over to get a closer look, while Mai tagged along behind her in caution. Getting a closer look at the object, the two soon discovered that what they were looking at was a large, green lotus bud. Moving and twitching about like a pupa demanding to break free. 

“What the…what is that?” Mai questioned with a wide eye stare, cocking a brow in suspicion as Yue drew herself towards it.

“It’s the flower from my dream,” the chieftess elaborates softly, “most of the flowers in my dream—they were always lotuses with a certain shade of rich, light green. But out of of all of them, this in in particular is the most prominent.” Observing the bud thrash around, Yue knelt in front besides them, a part of her tempted to touch it. Not prod or poke, but to gently reach for the soft cup-shaped petals. 

“How fascinating…for something as obvious and out in the open, no one seemed to have mentioned or reported about it before. But then again, it's rare for anyone to come here unless necessary.” Yue noted, watching the bud curiously while Mai kept a respectable distance.

Strangely enough, for a flower that large, it didn’t give off any kind of aroma. Maybe just a hint of it, but Mai could only assume it was probably just the Pole’s stinging, cold air. 

“Whatever it is, I don’t exactly trust it and if it ever tries anything—“ Small knives unsheathed and glinted from the shadows of night, and the chieftess chuckled fondly at her wife’s little action.

“Oh Mai, I’m sure everything will be fine—“ Just as she said that, the bud peeled itself open. 

And right from the center, a glowing, blue beam shot straight into the sky, bursting into the night sky.

~

Zuko’s POV

“Uh—What in freaking Agni’s name was that!?” Izumi stammered, startled by the ear-ringing boom that came from outside. It shook up the whole palace, causing everyone to tumble into the wall and clung onto each other for support. Panic and worried murmurs swept among the palace staff. 

Moving ahead, Zuko left Senna in the safety of one of the staff members and sprinted around the corner until he stood outside the Palace’s smaller garden. Only from a couple feet away, stuck out from the surface of the center pond, were three blooming green flowers, releasing vast beams of light into the sky. Their petals were peeled back and the wider they unfurled, the more it appeared something else was inside them. Yet, with every step he took, the elder firebender was pushed back against a gust of wind. Covering his eyes from the blinding, growing beams. 

From behind Zuko, he heard his daughter shouting at him frantically, “ Father! Get back over here—this is too dangerous! We do not even know what we’re doing!” 

“Don’t worry about me!” Zuko called out dramatically, only for a large bang that almost caused him to stumble over, turning back towards the sources of the beams. “You stay back and keep a distance!—” 

Before he could finish, the large beams suddenly began to diminish, shrinking and shrinking until there was nothing but the heavy atmosphere. Nothing but still like the moments before and after a storm. Everyone braced for any impact until they raised their heads and gazed around cautiously in protective stances and in silence, wondering what just happened and if there was any change. Rubbing his eyes, Zuko was helped up by one of the guards. 

“Is…is everyone alright?” He questioned, scaling around to see if anyone was in one piece and one place. 

Glancing towards the flowers, Izumi gasped. “My Agni…”

“Zumi? Izumi—what’s wrong?” Her father asked in hasty concern.

Holding a hand to her mouth, the young woman pointed slowly towards the flowers, with everyone looking towards the direction she gestured to. 

The triad of lotuses have now unraveled their petals, revealing various shades of pastel to clover to emerald. Smaller petals stripped away from the flora, floating across the pond and drifting lightly through the air. From the center of where the pistil was, a hand fell out of it, draping from the side before pulling itself back in. Their stares widened and some held their breath. The unspeakable stillness didn’t suffocate the many questions that everyone in the garden—nor all around the world—had as to what they were looking at. 

Nor did they know why the same face of a younger, late Prince Iroh was laying among the large flowers, fast asleep. 

…

Chapter Text

Aang’s POV

The moment he woke up, the gardener was crouching in front of him—resting him against the balcony’s ledge.

“Avatar Aang! Are you alright? What happened!?” Sai blabbled in question.

Aang sat up and rubbed his head, feeling the obnoxious pounding ache in his skull. “Yeah…yes, I’m fine. I just need a moment, please.” He said with a grumble, trying to recollect his thoughts. 

As he did, his faint gaze landed on the location of the massive lotus bud and immediately his mind clicked back into place. The flower’s petals were now unfurled, revealing the center of the bright yellow stamen. The leaves peered from beneath the round, cone petals, grasping onto the earth—attempting to break free from the empty pond. And yet, the plant remained sunken in; it was empty and slightly ruffled about. As if someone was laying there minutes ago.

Looking from the blossomed lotus to Sai and the gardener, Aang inquired, “What…exactly happened when I blacked out?” 

“Well, just seconds after you entered that dazed state, there was a large beam of light that sprung into the sky. And when it vanished, you fell over. And then out of nowhere,” Sai hurried over towards the lotus, gesturing at it, “a young boy came out of the lotus. And just minutes before you woke up, I had guards take the boy immediately to the Infirmary Hall.” 

“But that wasn’t just it!” The gardener pointed, darting a stare back at Aang. 

“Oh, what else was there?” Aang questioned. 

“Well uh…I’m not entirely sure about this, but the thing is this boy looks somewhat familiar.” said the gardener. “…I don’t know why, but for some peculiar reason…it almost reminds me of—“ 

Just then, a rumbling BANG shook the whole palace followed by a booming voice—cackling and taunting the guards.

“ Catch me if you can !” 

A long, digesting pause washed between the three men before Aang immediately picked himswlf back up and dashed down the corridor. Twisting around the corner, the airbender came to an abrupt halt upon seeing a ginger headed, nude kid standing on  a stone platform—rising from the floor. When a guard tried to sink the boy to the ground, the latter immediately leapt into the air and kicked the stone off his feet and launched it towards the guard. Jumping in right on time, Aang brought his fist upwards and the earth shattered right through his knuckles—rock fragments flying everywhere.

As he did, a loud gasp caught his attention and he looked up to see the boy staring at him. 

Eye to eye, all went still. 

Falling out of his stance, Aang stilled and his body stood. He felt himself freeze up and his chest become heavy with old, old burden. His throat chokes one something, as his eyes widened and became glossy. His gaze searched the boy, and suddenly all those ancient burrowed memories came rushing at the floodgates. They pounded away at the fields of his mind as nostalgia drew in the wrecking ball of unspoken grief, and onto to his lips—speechlessness. 

It couldn’t be…it can’t. 

“…Hey! Watch where ya lookin.” The boy folded his arms in front of his chest, with a mixture of offense and a hint of tease in his glare. “It’s rude to stare, you know? Think you can do that and not say anything about it, hm? Maybe I oughta teach you a lesson -!”

Rather than answer the boy’s questions, Aang looked back at him in the eye, finding his voice in the process. “I’m sorry…I didn’t mean to stare, I just…,” for a second, the Avatar tried to find his words and inhaled softly, “What-what’s your name?”

“The name Bumi! Nice to meetcha!” The stone beneath the earthbender lowers down to Aang’s level, to which the kid sticks out a hand in greeting with a large grin.  

“Nice to meet you too.” The airbender answered with a strained voice, reaching to take the other’s hand.

Though by doing so did the airbender’s entire forearm get immediately encased in geminite.

“Haha! GOTCHA! Silly old man—didn’t see that coming, did yah!?” Bumi laughed out loud uncontrollably. “Now, try and catch me now, SUCKERS!” 

And with that, the earthbender bolted off sprinting down the halls while the guards proceeded to hastily chase after the runaway earthbender. The boy’s cackles echoing down the hall.

Rushing towards the airbender, Councilman Sai fretted, “Avatar Aang, are you alright? That geminite, we will find a way to get it off don’t worry—“

Yet, with nonchalant ease, Aang broke through the geminite—shattered pieces of the crystal flying everywhere as the two men leapt while he held up a piece. He stared at it contemplatively before shaking his head.

Such a fool he was for falling for that old trick again. How could he forget?

“Not to worry,” he pops the candy crystal into his mouth, before rushing off to fetch the wild king of Omashu.

~

Yue’s + Mai’s POV

When the light beam finally dissipated, the two women uncovered their eyes.

“What in Agni was that? ” Mai asked speechlessly after a second passed and her wife edged closer towards the lotus.

“I’m not sure…” Yue said to her partner before turning towards the lotus and letting out a gasp.

Out of instinct, Mai held out one of her knives. “What? What is it?” 

The chieftess started for a long minute, before gesturing towards the lotus. Facing towards the direction she pointed to, Mai’s brows screwed together while she gaped.

“What the actual…” 

Shifting around from the center of the flower, a boy lay curled up at the center of the flower. He looked similar to one of the young water tribe kids Mai saw while sometimes strolling or going on boat rides with her wife. Perhaps around fourteen to sixteen, she assumed.

“That’s him.” Yue clarified, edging slowly forward towards him. “That’s the young boy from my visions.”

As she took slow strides toward the kid, Mai noticed that he wasn’t even wearing anything, hence the small shivers that ran down his body. 

As she came closer to him, Yue proceeded to remove her parka, “Mai, can you help me over here please?” 

Doing as she was told, Mai came over towards Yue’s other side where she assisted in slipping the parka over the boy’s head while Yue held him gingerly. His skin felt chilled from the tundra’s winds, but it was a miracle he hadn’t formed frost or burns of any kind on his bare skin. Slipping the boy’s arms through the sleeves and adjusting the hood over his head, both women saw how small the kid was. Even in Yue’s parka, he still seemed so small. 

“He is just a child. A young boy.” Yue said, a gentle and almost somber gaze draping over her eyes. 

What an odd way for a child to come into the world. But what could this mean? Why did Tui send her this message? What was the reasoning behind it? Perhaps this boy was spirit-blessed by the Moon and Water spirits themselves? Was this a prophecy they have yet to exhume to full face? So many questions, but such little time to figure them out. For now, they have more important things to get to. First starters—the mystery boy himself.

“Let's bring him to the healers—if there is anything wrong we need to be cautious of,” Yue instructed, carefully slipping her arms underneath the child and heaving him into her back.

Mai followed after her partner as they quickly paced out of the Oasis, with guards coming by to see the commotion and Yue requesting for a healer immediately—no questions answered.

“Mai, my love, I’m terribly sorry I dragged you out of bed,” Yue apologized as they were guided out by another set of guards, “I know you must be exhausted right now and I should have let you sleep.”

“No, it’s fine,”  Mai shrugged, striding over to her partner’s side, her hands folded together in front of her, “—to be frank with you, I’m glad I tagged along. It’s quite nice having a weird spirit mission to shake things up around here.”

Yue laughed lighthearted, while a little smile curled on Mai’s face as her wife responded, “Yes, you aren’t wrong. Things do get quite slow around here. But perhaps it isn’t too bad.”

 While they chat, a small mumbling sound came from the boy, seeming in distress as he muttered names and small whimpers.

“Don’t worry, little one,” Yue whispered to the kid, a fond look in her gentle eyes, “we’ll get you the help you need.” 

~

Zuko’s POV

“Bring them to the Infirmary Wing quickly. I also need three pairs of clothing to be delivered there immediately.” Zuko instructed the staff and guards.

From there, two staff members carried Piandao and Jeong Jeong out and wrapped blankets while Zuko removed his outer robes. Gingerly, he swaddled his smaller, more younger uncle and lifted him into his arms, stalking after the staff while his daughter followed suit.

“Oh my goodness, oh my gosh—this can’t be happening. This can’t be POSSIBLE.” Izumi exclaimed while running a hand through her hair and widening her gaze darting at the ground like she was searching for a plausible explanation. “There’s no way it can be—.“

“Zumi, as much as I am as shocked and puzzled as you are, now is not the best time to freak out,” Zuko remarked, glancing back at his daughter while pacing a little faster. “Now come on.”

Picking up her pace, Izumi followed her father to the Infirmary Wing.

~

It was somewhat of an alarming debacle as they got to the infirmary. The staff had already hastily set down an unconscious Piandao and Jeong Jeong into separate rooms.  Zuko ushered himself over to carefully lay his uncle over into a vacant room as well, standing at his side in agitation as healers and physicians leapt into standard protocols and check-ups on the three, ensuring that they were healthy and unscathed.

The firebender didn’t inch away from his uncle’s bedside, only leaving when one of the healers politely asked for him to leave his very, very young uncle to rest.

“Oh uh…my apologies. Please, go on.” Zuko stepped aside awkwardly for the healer to check on his uncle, watching him for a moment as if to make sure that what he was looking at was the real deal. 

“Come on,…let’s wait outside.” Taking her dad by the hand and shoulder, Izumi gently escorted him outside into the corridor, while his eyes remained glued onto where young Iroh rested.

As they stood outside, Izumi paced around back and forth, while Zuko resorted to sitting on the floor in a meditative position. Even if he tried, he couldn’t seem to clear his head. Not with the buzzing sound of questions that jumbled around his skull like flies. He was feeling restless, needing to move around and fiddle with himself. He couldn’t calm himself down. He needed to think about this.

“Is everything alright, dad?” Izumi asked, breaking Zuko from his zone-out as she sat beside him. 

“Well, not exactly.” The older firebender shrugged. 

“I know, but still—this is just…,” his daughter rubbed the back of her neck, “…this is just a lot to take in. It’s all weird and it doesn’t make sense.”

“Well, perhaps it may be the spirits’ mission. Or maybe there was an…error to this? To the cycle?” Zuko asked awkwardly, stroking his goatee in thought. 

Izumi tapped her knee in deep thought, her mind flipping through the studies she looked into while reading spirit-related scrolls and documents. 

“Well…if anything, Great uncle Iroh, uncle Piandao and uncle JJ should have moved forward onto the cycle and be reborn into the next life. There should be no reason that they have to arrive here out of nowhere—or let alone in an extraordinary way. Maybe it is a spiritual reason?” Izumi asked, bumping shoulders with her dad.

“Dad?” 

Zuko said nothing as he eyed the door. 

In truth, he didn’t have an answer to any of this. Maybe Aang might know something about it. 

It doesn’t make sense, none of it does. And yet, a part of him couldn’t even begin to properly piece together what it all meant. Nor could he believe it. Because even with a different look, his uncle had returned to them. After all these years, just when he had let go all those years ago, he came back. This mix of emotions stirred in his heart and he wasn’t sure what to feel about this. Because on the other hand, it’s been at least a decade now and suddenly these younger versions of his uncle and old mentors come growing from his garden. Like how was he supposed to deal with this? Can this be considered a miracle? Or would this be considered something else? Some weird twist of fate that the Spirits decided to push upon them?

Turning back towards his daughter, the old firebender sighed, rubbing his temples. “I…I think it is all just very, very—“

Just then, the doors to the infirmary were tossed wide open and a guard was suddenly thrown out of the room and slammed into the wall. A smell of smoke and soot indicated that he was practically fire-punched to the wall. More guards were then seen being thrown or backing out of the doors, standing in a blocking position.

A voice from the infirmary then boomed back at them, “Out of my way !” before a large spit of flames was launched at the guards, causing all of them to get on the defensive while Zuko took cover and threw arms around Izumi.

There was a massive explosion of fire everywhere, little blazes eating at the carpet and doorway as someone stepped out stretching and yawning.

Raising his arm that hid his face, Zuko squinted at the figure and Izumi sat up, only to share a similar flabbergasted expression. 

“What…what in the name of—“

“No way…”

Stepping over and strolling past unconscious and injured guards, the young-looking Prince Iroh cocked his brows while frowning in annoyance. “What is the meaning of this? Don’t you people ever clean this place up for once? Do any of you have any respect for your prince? I ought to speak to my father about this.” 

Everyone stared speechlessly as the young prince strolled by Zuko and his daughter with nonchalance and little acknowledgment. Their gazes followed after him and, while helping his daughter up, Zuko strode slowly after the boy. 

His lips were dry, with the words of question stuck on the roof of his mouth finally uttered, in some hope and reunion, “… Uncle ?” 

Stopping in his tracks, Iroh stood there, eyeing the older man inching closer to him, a hand on his hip as the Firelord asked again, clinging to some semblance of hope, “Do you…do you recognize me?”

“ You ?” Iroh questioned, his face contorting—confused and taken aback. He looked Zuko up and down before responding harshly, “I don’t even know who the Agni’s fuck you are!”

…