Chapter Text
Ugh. Zuko groaned at the glaring brightness of the sun. He pushed his body up from the sand. Lifeless and injured bodies were dispersed all over the beach. His ship was nothing more than a bunch of sunken scraps of metal. Zuko scanned the sight before him… one man was missing. Uncle Iroh. His uncle warned him of the possible dangers of crossing Kiyoshi Island but he was too blind to see it. Now his uncle might be injured or worse dead.
“Uncle, Uncle!”
Zuko ran across the shore hoping to find any signs that his uncle might still be alive. Even if was a teacup, a stinky sandal. Anything. Stupid, stupid if only he was not so obsessed with finding the avatar and restoring his honor. He was so desperate for any information about his whereabouts that he believed anything that was given to him.
After running and searching for hours, Zuko slumped on a rock feeling defeated. His uncle might be dead, his ship was destroyed, and the avatar was nowhere to be found. And even if he did by some miracle, find and capture the avatar. He had no way of getting home. All he had now was one rumor. The rumor that brought him here in the first place.
****
Zuko and Iroh arrived at a tea shop in the Earth Kingdom. While his uncle was distracted by the various tea flavors, Zuko met with one of the workers in the back of the shop. Zuko lowered his hat to make sure the worker couldn't see his face.
“Any information on the avatar is going to cost you, kid.” The worker said.
Zuko pulled out a pouch of coins from his pocket. He opened the worker’s hand and placed the pouch in the older man’s hand. “Will this be enough?”
The worker’s eyes lit up with excitement. The older man opened the pouch and pulled out a gold coin. He held the coin and admired its glow from the sky “Ah. Hello, my precious.”
Zuko rolled his eyes and snatched the coin from the older man. “Do you have any information or not?”
“Ok, Ok I do. Just give me my coin back." The worker whined and begged for the coin back.
Zuko gave him the coin back. The man rose on his feet and then leaned in.
“There are rumors that the avatar is on an island located in the Earth kingdom,” The worker whispered. “Some say he’s on Kiyoshi Island.”
“I don’t care what island he’s on. I’ll find him.”
Zuko left the man and walked into the tea shop to grab his uncle and set sail for Kiyoshi island. He walked over to the table where his uncle was sitting down. He sat down and poured a cup of tea before pretending to drink it. “
Ah! Prince Zu-….I mean nephew you must try some of this tea. It's delicious-”
“Now’s not the time for that uncle. I’ve got news on the avatar’s whereabouts.” Zuko leaned in and whispered “One of the workers informed me that the avatar is on an island located on the outskirts of the Earth Kingdom. It's called Kiyoshi Island.”
“Prince Zuko, how do you know we can trust this man and what he knows about the avatar?” Iroh asked. Placing his teacup on the wooden table. For all Iroh knew this informant could be setting his nephew up to get killed or worse.
“It’s just a feeling Uncle.”
“Just a feeling or an obsession, Prince Zuko-”
“No, Uncle!” Zuko slammed his fist on the table. People turned to the loud commotion in the tea shop. He lowered his hat to his face, sat down then whispered. “If the avatar is really on Kiyoshi Island. Then we must plan a surprise attack so that we can capture him. See that my ship is ready.”
Iroh signed before rising from his seat. “Yes Prince Zuko, the men will prepare your ship but beware that a gigantic reckless eel called a Unagi roams in Kiyoshi’s waters and it could destroy the ship”
Zuko brushed off his uncle’s stories and narrowed his eyes at him “I don’t care about your war stories Uncle. I will do whatever it takes to find the avatar.”
******
Great. Zuko was missing his chance to find the avatar, his uncle was missing, and it was all the Unagi’s fault. Zuko balled up his hand into a fist and kicked the sand nearby him.
“Aargh!” Zuko put his fist into the air, shooting a blast of fire into the sky.
“Prince Zuko,” Uncle Iroh grabbed Zuko’s arm stopping him. “You mustn't shoot up any more blasts! If the avatar is here..your blasts will only blow our cover.”
Zuko felt a tear dropping from his face. His eyes widened at the sight of his uncle alive. After fearing the worst and losing members of his crew… His uncle stood before him. There was a moment after the Unagi tore up the ship, when Zuko and his uncle were separated. Zuko realized that he didn't tell his uncle that he loved him. Today could have been the last time he would see his uncle, and the only thing on his mind during that time was his blood thirst to find the avatar.
“U-Uncle you’re alive.” Zuko wiped his tears and wrapped his arms around his uncle.
A wash of relief came to him, losing his uncle was something that he would not be able to cope with because right now his uncle was the only one who didn't look at him like he was a failure.
“That I am, Prince Zuko.”
His uncle smiled and chuckled at the sight of him. He wrapped his arms around Zuko. His grip tightened as he shed tears. Happy to see his nephew alive. Losing his son in the war was already something that he had to cope with but losing Zuko was just something Iroh couldn't bear. As Zuko hugged his uncle.. he admired the sunset and a flying golden object in the sky. It was beautiful, the way the light reflected off the gold as it sparkled. It was almost mesmerizing. Then Zuko realized.
“Uncle, Look out!” Zuko pushed his uncle away. Just in time before the golden fan landed. The fan landed right between Zuko’s feet.
His eyes narrowed at the fan and he picked it up from the sand. “A Fan.”
Zuko stood in a defense firebender stance and scanned the trees and bushes before him. Whoever shot this fan at him had to be lurking somewhere.
A woman lunged at him. Zuko dodged her attack. The woman wore white face paint, heavy makeup, and an emerald kimono. Her hair was short and auburn. Zuko noticed that she was missing a fan. This must be the golden fan user. Suddenly, more pale-faced warriors joined the woman. They were wearing the same kimono and using the same fans.
Zuko and his uncle were surrounded. The woman stood between her warriors, ready to signal an attack at any moment. Zuko remained in his defensive stance as he waited to see what was happening.
“Who are you?” Zuko asked.
“Why are you on Kiyoshi's shores?” The woman asked.
“Kiyoshi’s Shores?”
“Ah! Prince Zuko. This island is named after Avatar Kiyoshi and these are her warriors.” Iroh rose from the ground, wiping the sand off his rope. He smiled at the women warriors. “
So then the avatar must be here?”
“Whether the avatar is here or not is not your concern. Right now it's me.”