Through Lifetimes

This is just a little – ok, not so little – twoshot that came to me while rewatching Avatar & introducing my friends to my favorite childhood show. I haven't seen much of Kora (only just started season 2) so if I missed anything from there… eh, oh well.

Anyway, hope you all enjoy!

Kuzon knew something was wrong long before Gyatzo showed up on his doorstep. He had known that something was wrong for weeks in fact - a strange almost undefinable feeling had settled in the pit of his stomach and never left.

He hadn't known what was wrong of course, only that something obviously was. Kuzon hadn't been sleeping, hadn't been eating. He could barely pay attention in class and had his parent's worried sick.

But he couldn't help it. He had just been worried. So he had sent letters out with the fastest hawks to everyone he knew; desperate for reassurance from his many friends across the globe that all was well.

No sooner had Bumi replied that Gyatzo showed up on his porch, bearing the news that Aang was missing.

Kuzon hadn't known whether to laugh or cry at the news. He was so relieved to finally know and end the endless worry at the unknown – but now he had an all new pit of worry forming in his gut. Now he was worried about Aang, his best friend who was now missing.

Gyatzo explained what happened, how Aang was the avatar and that his friend had fled once the combined pressure and threat of his separation from Gyatzo became too much. They had no idea where the young avatar was. But that was just the beginning.

"What do you mean you aren't going to keep looking?!" Kuzon yelled, his fists clenched and his copper colored eyes alight with rage. How could Gyatzo just give up looking for the child he had raised?

"Exactly what I said." Gyatzo said calmly, folding his hands within the sleeves of his robes with all of his many years reflecting in his eyes. "The head monks sense great turmoil on the horizon. A darkness is gathering, and all nomads are being recalled to the Temples so that we may attempt – in one unified effort – to gain enlightenment from the spirits regarding this conflict."

Although Kuzon could see the pain in the old monk's eyes, he didn't care. He was too angry at the fact that Gyatzo was going to give up looking for Aang, and only after a few weeks as well!

"So you're going to go run away and pray on your mountain while Aang might be hurt or lost somewhere out there!?" Kuzon yelled, flames sparking into existence as he stomped his foot in anger. "If you really cared, you would keep looking!"

Gyatzo flinched, and at that moment, Kuzon's mother decided enough was enough and stepped in.

"Kuzon!" She scolded, coming to stand in-between the young firebender and airbending master. "You will not speak to Gyatzo like that! You know how much he cares for Aang." She narrowed her eyes at her son before sighing and continuing,

"I know you're worried about Aang, but you simply can't take it out on Gyatzo. It's not his fault Aang chose to run away, and it's not his fault that he has been ordered back to the temples. Now, I want you to apologize and then go straight to your room until dinner."

His mother's voice was stern, and Kuzon knew that arguing would be futile. Grinding his teeth together, he brought his hands together and bowed to Gyatzo.

"My apologies." He ground out before turning on his heal and storming towards his room.

Pausing just on the threshold, Kuzon gripped the doorframe tightly, burning a handprint into the wood.

"You might've given up on Aang. But I never will. I'll find him, one day; I swear I'm going to find him." The young firebender declared, before vanishing into his room, slamming the door behind him.

The remaining adults in the room simply watched, their hearts breaking for the young boy who had lost his friend, whom he would likely never see again.

"May the Spirits guide you, then." Gyatzo muttered, before bowing to Kuzon's mother and taking his leave.

Oh, if only he knew.

One Hundred Years Later

He was sitting on his front steps, his school uniform ruffled and his hair falling loose around his face. He was digging into the dirt with a long, scorched stick. Things hadn't been going well for him recently. Ever since that stupid monk had come by, his life had been once series of disasters after another.

He felt more alone than ever, and it reflected in everything he did. He was constantly being teased at school for his weak firebending, and gloomy behavior. Even when the comet had been burning brightly in the sky, his firebending was pathetic compared to some of his peers.

He knew that he would never be a firebending master, but surely he wasn't that pathetic at creating flames.

"Kuzon!"

The young boy looked up, seeing a few of his classmates poking their heads through his front gates.

"What do you want?" He asked darkly, not wanting to be teased or beaten up again. Sure, these kids tended to just ignore him, but that didn't mean they hadn't changed their minds.

"Have you heard? There's a messenger in the square! Apparently he brings news from the navy docks and Fire Lord Sozin himself!"One of the boys exclaimed, his eyes wide with excitement. The whole nation had been wondering why the Fire Lord had gathered such a large fleet. Every single firebender of fighting age had been called to fight for their nation. But the reason for the summons had always been unknown.

If they were finally sharing the information now…

Kuzon's stomach twisted in a mixture of dread and excitement.

"Come on!" Another boy shouted, before scampering off with his friends.

Swallowing slowly, Kuzon ran after them. His mind spun with theories as his gut clenched in worry. But there wasn't anything to worry about… was there?

"Attention! Attention!" The boys found themselves at the town square, where everyone who could get away from work was packed together to hear the announcement. They pushed their way through the crowd, using their smaller statures to their advantage.

"I bring great news from Fire Lord Sozin!" The man dressed in full Navy uniform declared for al to hear. "Two days ago, the Great Comet shown down upon us, granting us all a magnificent gift from the Spirits."

Kuzon rolled his eyes, but stayed focused. Just because some believed that the Fire Nation was the best and the favored of the Spirits didn't mean that he did.

"With our bending at its strongest, and the Spirits' blessing, Wise Fire Lord Sozin struck out against our greatest enemies! In one great coordinated attack, we struck against the Air Nomads who dared speak out against the Colonies! Hear me people, and rejoice! For the rebellious Air Nomads are no more!"

The whole square started cheering, not once questioning the propaganda that was being fed to them.

'Not that they ever questioned it before.' Kuzon thought bitterly to himself. It was Aang who had helped him see that colonizing the Earth Kingdom had been wrong, and see the truth behind the matter. But the Fire Nation had been fed propaganda against the Air Nomads for over a decade, and as hard as it was for the firebender to admit it, he knew that his nation wouldn't find fault in the genocide it had just committed.

Kuzon swayed his vision blurring as he suddenly felt sick.

'Does that mean Gyatzo is dead?' Kuzon asked himself as his arms wrapped themselves around his stomach and he slowly slid to the ground. 'What about Aang? What if he had been there? What if he died?!'

With that terrifying thought in his mind, Kuzon jumped to his feet, and pushed his way back through the crowd.

'No, Aang was alright. He has to be alright. He's been missing, which meant that he wasn't at any of the Temples when they were attacked. Aang has to be fine, he must have survived. He was the Avatar…right?' Kuzon's thoughts rushed together in an almost incoherent string as he raced back home.

Grabbing his school sack, the thirteen year old threw his extra clothes in the bag before stealing some food from the pantry. A determined look came over his face as he darted out into the celebrating streets.

'Let them cheer and party.' Kuzon thought to himself, his eyes dark and determined. 'I'm coming Aang. I'm coming.'

Zuko rubbed his temples with a frustrated sigh as he stared at the large Fire Nation flag that adorned the wall in his cabin.

He hadn't been sleeping well the past few nights, and it had nothing to do with the two large bumps on his head that he had received from that annoying Water Tribe peasant.

Ok, maybe it had something to do with it. For ever since he had slipped beneath the icy water during the Avatar's escape and received those knocks to the head – first from that cursed boomerang and then the Avatar's staff – he had been … seeing things.

It had started off simple enough, just an odd dream featuring a young firebending boy who struggled with his lessons – reminding him of himself as a child, except the boy in his dreams had loving, supportive parents and didn't have a psychotic little sister to torment him.

It had been perfectly easy to brush off the odd dreams and random flashes as a result of wishful thinking and his annoying subconscious.

That was, until a certain twelve year old airbender started appearing in his odd dreams and visions.

Now Zuko was angry, and determined to rid himself of these dreams. Some of the boy's thoughts and actions danced on treason after all, and that was something the banished Prince wouldn't stand for.

He had no reason to be dreaming about the Avatar having Fire Nation friends. Especially in the perspective of said Fire Nation friend.

No, he had just been knocked on the head a bit harder than he had thought, that was all.

"It's just the after effect of the concussion." Zuko told himself, taking a deep breath and trying to push all thoughts regarding the Fire Nation boy to the darkest corner of his mind.

"It means nothing."

If only he could make himself believe that.

Kuzon gasped for breath as he pulled himself up onto the final ledge, but couldn't help the bright sense of pride, of joy, that filled him as he looked upon the familiar mountain top.

"Aha!" He cheered, spinning around in a circle, his lips curving upwards into his first smile in months. He was finally here.

"RROOOAAARRRR"

A thunderous roar echoed through the air as the familiar green mother dragon threw herself out of her nest at the sound of an intruder.

Kuzon's eyes widened, but he instantly dropped down into a kneeling position, his forehead pressed against the stony earth. He felt rather than saw the dragon land in front of him, and just managed to gain his courage to look up at the mother dragon.

The being was larger than the boy remembered, but didn't dare let his fear control him. He had to find Aang, no matter what it took.

"Noble Dragon," Kuzon said, looking up and meeting the green dragon's gaze dead on. "I come here asking for your help. Months ago, my friend and I were able to save your egg. I don't try to pretend that you owe us anything, since you didn't eat us I think we're even…"

Kuzon gulped, realizing that he was rambling and got his thoughts back together, his eyes now locked onto the ground beneath him. "But I need your help. My friend, the airbender who was with me, is missing. I think something's happened to him, and I need to find him. Not because he's the Avatar – though he is – but because he's my friend. Please, Noble Dragon, help me find my friend."

Silence stretched out after Kuzon's speech, eventually broken by a loud snort of flames from the dragon, scorching the back of Kuzon's head. But Kuzon didn't move. He wasn't going to leave without the dragon's help. He had no other way to look for his friend, especially now that everyone believed the Air Nomads dead.

Kuzon could hear the beating wings of the dragon as she left, but still refused to move. He wasn't going anywhere. The dragon would either have to eat him, help him, or let him just die there on the mountain top, because he wasn't leaving.

Three days passed in that fashion. The mother dragon would growl and blow flames near the boy whenever she left her nest, but Kuzon didn't move, he only begged for her help. He didn't move from his kneeling position when his bladder threatened to burst or when his throat burned with thirst. He didn't move as rain soaked his clothing and the sun scorched his neck.

He stayed there, not moving, only pleading, until finally his world went black.

Zuko had been uneasy all day long. He had more dreams last night, and even now he could feel the visions of the strange boy who knelt before dragons dancing at the edges of his vision. He worried that he would blink and find himself once again looking out from the eyes of the strange firenation child that was haunting him.

Of course, that wasn't the only reason. Zuko was worried that one of his men would let slip that they had actually found the Avatar and that it would get back to Zhao, or worse, his father. Zuko was under no illusions, he knew that once his father discovered that the Avatar was alive, Zuko would have to fight every firebender alive not only to capture him, but for the right to hand him over to his father as well.

'Not that dealing with Zhao is helping. In fact, it is making it even worse.' Zuko thought to himself as he glanced over at his Uncle. Why he had made them take tea with Zhao Zuko didn't completely understand. The man loved to insult him, and thought that he was so subtle about it too.

"By the end of the year, the Earth Kingdom Capital will be under our rule." Zhao declared, breaking Zuko out of his thoughts. "The Fire Lord will finally claim victory in this war."

Zuko restrained himself from rolling his eyes; he was loyal, not blind nor stupid, as many Fire Nation soldiers these days tended to be.

"If my father thinks the rest of the world will follow him willingly then he is a fool." Zuko said calmly and slowly, biting back his temper.

If Kuzon had been able to kneel before a dragon and keep his head, not to mention saving a dragon egg, then Zuko should be able to handle an annoying eel like Zhao.

"Two years at sea have done little to temper your tongue." Zhao said scathingly, but Zuko let the comment slide.

Even the Prince had to admit a ship full of sailors hadn't exactly helped his vocabulary or temper over the years.

Not that he would ever admit it to Zhao though.

"So, how's your search for the Avatar going?" Zhao asked, and as if it was time, Iroh knocked over every single one of Zhao's decorative spears.

"Uh… my fault entirely." The retired general insisted, backing away slowly from the mess he had made.

Zuko held back a smirk and a chuckle, instead shaping his face into a look of disappointment and stubborn pride. Azula had taught him long ago how to show just enough of your emotions to look convincing, even if he didn't do it a lot.

"We haven't found him yet." He stated simply, meeting Zhao's gaze head on, just as Kuzon had done with the dragon.

"Did you really expect to?" Zhao scoffed, though the look in the man's eyes betrayed him. "The Avatar died a hundred years ago, along with the rest of the airbenders."

I'm going to find you, Aang.

Please, help me find my friend.

Zuko's eyes narrowed as Kuzon's desperate thoughts bounced through his mind. He pushed them away. Should a concussion still be bothering him like this? He didn't know, and now wasn't the time nor place to dwell on his concern.

'Oh, he didn't die.' Zuko snarled at Zhao mentally as the man suddenly smirked, a predatory gleam appear in his eye.

"Unless you found some evidence that the Avatar is alive…" Zhao said, and Zuko had to look away as Kuzon's thoughts once again flooded through him.

He has to be alive.

I'm going to find him.

I know you're out there Aang, and I'm going to find you.

Pushing the invading thoughts away, Zuko just managed to refocus on Zhao enough to bite out, "No, nothing."

"Prince Zuko!" Zhao said, getting back onto his feet. "The Avatar is the only one who can stop the Fire Nation from winning this war. If you have an ounce of loyalty left, you'll tell me what you found."

Zuko could feel the other man's breath on his face but didn't back down. Ignoring the flaming rage in his gut at the question of his loyalty – and the mental wave that came with Kuzon's horror of what the Fire Nation had done – he turned and met Zhao's gaze once more.

"As I've said," He continued, keeping his tone even and cool. "I haven't found anything."

Zuko paused long enough to drop his gaze before muttering, "Unfortunately."

Keeping his smirk hidden, he made eye contact once again, adding just enough sadness to the tone of his voice to make him sound like he was still chasing hopeless dreams. "It's like you said, the Avatar probably died a long time ago."

The staring match continued for a moment longer before Zuko's gut clenched in warning. Having never known his instincts to be wrong – look what ignoring his gut had led to… stupid Agni-kai – he stood and called out.

"Come on, Uncle. We're going now."

Unfortunately, his gut proved to be right yet again as the guards at the door crossed their spears keeping him from leaving.

"Commander Zhao," A guard stepped forward and reported. "We interrogated the crew as you instructed. They confirmed that Prince Zuko had the Avatar in custody but let him escape."

Zuko's teeth clenched as he closed his eyes. Obviously he was going to need to have a discussion about loyalty with his crew. But first…

"Now, remind me. How exactly was your ship damaged?" The Commander asked, and Zuko turned to face him, eyes hard and back straight. Fine, he'd play along.

But then, when the time was right, he was going to teach Commander Zhao a lesson.

In the end, it was the baby purple dragon that he and Aang had once rescued as an egg that saved him.

Or at least, so he assumed. The baby dragon, which was about the same size as he, was curled up around him when Kuzon awoke.

Communicating with the two dragons was difficult, but Kuzon quickly realized that since the baby had pretty much adopted him as a friend, or perhaps a pet, its mother wouldn't hurt him. In fact, the green dragon was now helping him. She brought Kuzon water, meat that he could cook, and kept him warm at night.

The two dragons' nursed him back to health, and when Kuzon slowly asked the green dragon if she would help him find his friend, she snorted smoke as if rolling her eyes, and nodded.

And so, his time among the dragons began.

When Kuzon was well enough, the three departed from the mountaintop to explore the world.; traveling first to all four Temples, before following any rumor that might lead to his friend.

Kuzon came to really care about the two dragons who had saved his life, and in time, game them names. The mother dragon became Chey, and her purple son, Mako.

The three companions were careful to stay out of the building war as they traveled the globe. But it was hard to hide two dragons, especially when Mako grew to be even larger than his mother.

They never found any sign of Aang, but they did what they thought best in a global mess. Although Kuzon was often met with distrust, the three aided those where they could. Kuzon could remember the days when the rest of the world didn't fear the Fire Nation appearing in their towns, and when Air Nomads could constantly be seen in the sky.

He mourned the world that had once existed.

Never once did Kuzon return home though, and any trip into Fire Nation territory was done with care. He had long since been declared a traitor, but he didn't care.

Finding Aang was his first priority, keeping Chey and Mako safe was his second.

As the years went by, the three ran into more and more trouble, as they were hunted more and more. Some only wanted the title of "Dragon" that came with slaying one. Other's wanted to claim the bounty on Kuzon's head.

They always managed to avoid the traps and escape the ambushes – until, well, they didn't.

Kuzon was twenty two when it happened. The trio had been flying to a northern mountain pass when a sudden flurry of catapult fire knocked Chey from the sky.

Mako, with Kuzon on his back, managed to dodge a few. But they too were shot down.

"Mako!" Kuzon yelled as they fell from the sky, smoke swirling around them, the setting sun gleaming. "Mako!"

But the dragon didn't respond. Another large fire ball was heading their way, and although Mako tried to dodge, it was too late. The fireball slammed into Mako's side, causing a sickening crunch and filling the air with the scent of burning flesh.

The two crashed into the ground, not far from where Chey had gone down. Kuzon, being relatively unhurt, managed to get to his feet. He stood in front of his fallen purple friend as the soldiers swarmed him. He fought back, bending faster and stronger than ever.

His bending might have been mediocre as a child, but he had been living amongst dragons for almost a decade. Kuzon had seen the rainbow fire, and knew the true ways of firebending.

Kuzon fought bravely, and Mako swiped at anyone with his claws and tail who dared get too close. But there was simply too many of them.

"What are we going to do?" Kuzon asked his old friend as he blasted even more soldiers back. While he may be the subject of a bounty, Kuzon knew that most of these men were here for the dragons. Oh why did Sozin choose Dragon Hunting as his second favorite pastime?!

Mako growled softly, glancing between Kuzon, his burnt and oozing side, and where he could see his mother fighting off the soldiers.

"Alright, let's get to Chey." Kuzon nodded, and the two slowly – and painfully – made their way over towards the smaller green dragon.

Chey fought with fury, fire streaming from her mouth and talons flying everywhere. But Kuzon knew as soon as he saw her that it wasn't going to be enough.

Her wings were tattered, filled with wholes and with bones sticking out in the wrong directions. Horror filled him and tears filled his eyes.

After all, a downed dragon was a dead dragon.

A lucky shot broke through Chey's defensives and suddenly, all Kuzon could see was the sword sticking out of the green dragon's chest.

"CHEY!" Kuzon yelled, rushing forward, ignoring the soldiers trying to break through his constant waves of fire. He had to save her. She had saved his life, she had searched with him for years… she was just as much his mother as the woman who gave birth to him. He couldn't let her die!

Mako's furious roar accompanied his scream, but Kuzon could barely hear him. All he could see was Chey collapsing to the ground, the soldiers cheering, and the massive burst of flame as their attacks engulfed her.

"CHEY!"

He pushed past another soldier, his flames biting through another. He was almost there, almost to her, when something solid collided with his shoulder and sent him sprawling.

Everything seemed to snap back into focus instantly, but by then, it was too late. Five soldiers were piled on top of him, and seven more encircled him.

"CHEY!" He yelled once last time, but could do nothing as he watched her chest fall for the last time.

The green dragon who had saved his life, who had been his mother, his friend, his companion, was gone.

Mako's howl of rage and sorrow shook the ground and crumbled rocks. Tears streaming down his face, Kuzon knew it was too late for him, but his friend could escape. They didn't all need to fall today.

"Get out of here Mako!" Kuzon yelled as the purple dragon sent soldiers flying with a flick of his tail. "Go, leave, before they kill you too!"

The dragon roared back, his fire engulfing more of the men as he fought his way towards his brother.

"Don't come for me! It's too late, just get out of here!" Kuzon screamed. He couldn't lose anyone else, he just couldn't.

Mako roared again in denial, but Kuzon finally snapped. "JUST GET OUT OF HERE; YOU HAVE TO LIVE, FOR ME, FOR CHEY!"

That finally seemed to convince the dragon, for he sent out one last wave of fire before jumping into the air.

He circled around the battle once, setting all the catapults on fire, and then roared sadly before vanishing off into the distance.

"Good bye." Kuzon whispered sadly as he strained his neck trying to keep his friend in sight as the soldiers forced cuffs onto his wrists.

He had lost both of his friends that night, and his freedom.

"Do you understand the charges put before you?" The man asked, sneering down at Kuzon, who knelt chained at his feet.

"Yes." Kuzon said slowly, looking not at the general who was running this sham, the nine year old Prince who watched from the sidelines, or even the Fire Lord who he had betrayed. Instead he looked at his parents, who he hadn't seen for almost a decade. His father was in the stands, looking old and tired, clutching his mother who was far too grey for his age. How long had they been worrying about him? How long had they prayed to Agni that he was still alive?

And now they finally get to see their son, only to witness his execution.

The trial was nothing more than a formality, a farce. Everyone knew what happened to traitors.

"In accordance to our laws, you have been found guilty of treason. Normally, you would be put to death, but because your Fire Lord is a merciful man you shall be given a choice." The general said with a sneer towards Kuzon before stepping aside and allowing Sozin speak from his flaming throne.

Kuzon was just surprised Sozin was actually in the Fire Nation, let alone overseeing his trial. From what he knew, the Fire Lord had gone slightly crazy in his older age, and was spending almost every moment of his time searching for the Avatar he fears he didn't destroy.

Not that everyone knew that, that was special knowledge that Kuzon had stumbled upon on accident. Kuzon allowed himself a small, whimsical moment, wondering what would happen if he told Sozin he knew exactly who the Airbending Avatar had been, and that he wasn't dead.

He quickly dismissed the thought. He would never endanger Aang like that, or anyone else who got under Sozin's skin. He would never forgive that man for what he had done. He'd seen the Air Temples, seen the remains of the Fire Nation slaughter. He'd been in the so called colonies, and knew that things weren't right.

But what could Kuzon do? He was only one man.

"Kuzon of the Dragons," Fire Lord Sozin said slowly, his deep voice echoing through the room. Kuzon almost snickered at the name he had been given. Did they even know his family's name any more? Or had his association with dragons burnt that away?

'All for the best really.' He decided as he looked over at his family. 'It is better they don't know where I come from.'

'Wait,' He froze, realization coming to him. 'I'm about to die, in front of the Fire Lord, and am trying not to laugh. Where did my sanity go?'

He then mentally shrugged. He had lived with dragons for the past nine years who couldn't really speak. Who cared if he was a few fireflakes short of a bag. That didn't matter; all that mattered was that he find Aang.

"For your treason, your sentence should be death. However, your life shall be spared under one condition. You have unique experience, having spent many years amongst the Earth Kingdom. You know their people and their lands better than any of my spies, and your bending is beyond even some of our most legendary masters."

Sozin eyed Kuzon like he was piece of meat, and it was there that he realized that no, he really didn't want to do anything for this man.

"Despite what it is claimed, the Avatar was not killed during the Air Nomad raids, and despite our best efforts, we have yet to find him among the Water Tribes. There are simply too many rumors and people are too cautions of us investigating. I do not have the resources to find the Avatar, but you… you do."

Kuzon's eyes widened. Sozin wanted to keep Kuzon alive so that he could find the Avatar?

Suddenly, everything else faded away as Sozin kept talking. His words didn't matter, he had already heard everything he needed to hear. He could find Aang, sure he would be the Fire Lord's dog until he did – or died – and he wouldn't be traveling with Chey and Mako anymore.. but he could find Aang. He could keep his promise and find his friend.

"…become my hunter in the shadows, and swear your allegiance to me and my throne, or you shall die." Sozin finished his speak by stepping forward and staring down his nose at Kuzon.

In the end, did he really have to choose? Was it really a choice? There was only one answer, and there would only ever be one.

"I swear, I shall find the Avatar."

Sozin's laugh echoed across the room as he smiled.

Kuzon was now the Fire Lord's dog, but he didn't care.

He only care about one thing.

He had to find Aang.

As the years past, it was only that thought that kept him sane.

'I have to find him.'

He chased very theory, no matter how outlandish, across the globe. He had a small ship, and an even smaller crew. But he was given whatever access he wanted as long as he was watched. It didn't matter how he acted, as long as he followed orders. It didn't matter who he picked a fight with, as long as he reported to Sozin. After all, he was the Fire Lord's prized dog, but still just a mutt.

'I have to find him.'

The years tore at him, eating away at his soul and his spirit. He was tired, and although he would never give up, he started to wonder if there was anything even to find.

But he didn't stop.

'I have to find him'

He would never stop, no matter what horrors he committed, no matter what shadows stalked him.

He would find his friend.

Zuko wouldn't admit it, but he was starting to become worried. His dreams bled into the day, and the foreign thoughts starts to mix with his own. He now had almost thirty years' worth of fake memories in his mind, and every morning it was taking a little more effort to remind himself that he was Zuko, not Kuzon.

Zuko was also trying very hard to hide the fact that something was wrong from his uncle. He didn't know how he would explain his predicament to his uncle, much less how his uncle could help. No, this was his problem. He would solve it.

He started meditating more, finding that it helped ease his thoughts and push the strange visions back. It was here that his uncle found him, trying to calm his mind and focus his thoughts. The candles flaring in tune with his breath, he opened his eyes as his uncle opened the door.

"The only reason you should be interrupting me is if you have news about the avatar." Zuko said, feeling more himself and peaceful than he had since the South Pole.

'I have to find him.' He thought. It was the only ray of hope in his life, and winced, realizing that after a while, finding Aang had been the only ray of hope in Kuzon's life as well.

"Well," Iroh said as he opened the door wider. "There is news Prince Zuko, but you may not like it. Don't get too upset!"

Iroh told his nephew but Zuko just sighed. He had to find the Avatar but he could take some bad news.

Attempting to point this out to his uncle, Zuko said, "Uncle, you taught me that keeping a level head is a sign of great leader. Now, whatever you have to say, I'm sure I can take it."

"Ok then, we have no idea where he is." Iroh said.

"What?" Zuko exclaimed spinning around as the flames flared behind him. He narrowed his eyes at his uncle. How hard was it to find a child?

"Very" A voice that sounded like Kuzon's whispered in his mind. He pushed it away.

'Well, if they can't find him…' Zuko thought as he tore the map from his uncle's hands and looked at it, ignoring his Uncle's report.

'Then I'll just have to.'

Zuko's eyes hardened as he gazed at array of sighting on the paper.

'I will find him.' Zuko thought to himself, as something in him settled even deeper into determination.

'I have to find him'

'I have to find him'

What was this? These visions, these dreams? This voice that echoed in his mind?

Zuko didn't know.

Zuko wasn't sure if he wanted to know.

He clenched his fist over the water tribe necklace and gazed out over the setting sun. The dreams were becoming more fragmented, coming to him in a slow trickle that rarely made any sense. Was this his curse for trying to find the Avatar? To see the shattered life of the last man who had been given the exact same mission?

Zuko didn't know.

And he really, really wasn't sure if he wanted to know.

What would he do, if Kuzon ended up being real?

It was the twenty-fifth anniversary of the start of the war, aka: the day the Fire Nation committed genocide, when Kuzon was finally allowed to return home.

"Well, I don't know if being summoned to the palace to appear before Fire Lord Azulon can be considered returning home…" Kuzon muttered to himself as the man strode through the palace, guards flanking him on either side.

"Silent!" The guard on his left ordered, shoving him with enough force to knock him done.

Kuzon mearly stumbled and kept moving. He had learned a lot over the past sixteen years as the Fire Lord's lapdog. Ever since Sozin had passed five years ago, he was no longer sent scouring the globe looking for news of the Avatar or surviving airbenders. Instead, under Azulon's rein, he had been ordered to do more… nefarious deeds.

He had become Azulon's perfect little bitch, who's favorite tricks were assassination and espionage.

And Kuzon hated every second of it.

But it would be worth it, it would all be worth it, if he could just find his friend.

Let the world believe that all the Air Nomads were dead, let the world believe that the Avatar had abandoned them. He knew the truth. Somewhere, somehow, Aang was alive. His friend was alive, and he would find him, no matter what it took.

"Bow before the Fire Lord." The guard at his side who had hit him snarled as the other forced Kuzon down onto his knees.

Kuzon didn't flinch, didn't even bat an eyelash as he gazed woodenly at the fiery throne where Azulon sat. He gazed upon the cruel gaze of the young man, and couldn't help but think of the small nine year old he had seen looking at Kuzon with wide eyes at his trial.

'Oh, how things change.' Kuzon thought to himself as Azulon started talking.

"You have served the Fire Nation well these past years, Kuzon of the Shadows." Kuzon rolled his eyes. What was up with Fire Nation royalty giving him weird names? He was just Kuzon, Kuzon Aang's friend. Beyond that, he had no other name.

Or at least, no other name he claimed.

"Obedient, loyal… like a dog you served my father diligently in his hunt for the Avatar." Azulon's lips twitched into just the lightest hinting of a sneer.

'Oh,' Kuzon thought in delight, realizing he had just learned something secret about the Fire Lord. 'You don't approve of your father's endless quest, do you?' He almost snickered. 'Beneath it all, you're just a lonely little boy who's angry his father left him alone and didn't pay enough attention to you.'

Kuzon had to bite his tongue from keeping himself from laughing. Here was the most powerful man in the world, thirteen years younger than himself at twenty-twenty five, and he couldn't see anything but a sad little boy lashing out on the world.

'If it wasn't so funny, it would be incredibly depressing.' Kuzon realized, and then banished his thoughts. Not paying attention when the Fire Lord was talking wasn't the best idea if he wanted to keep his head.

"But now, your loyalty belongs to me and me alone. Reports have indicated that you often hesitate, or take your time before carrying out my orders." Azulon said, looking down at him like he was an annoying ant that had just crawled onto his plate.

Not that Kuzon was worried. He was going to agree to do whatever Azulon wanted of him.

'After all, I have to stay alive to find Aang.' Kuzon reason with himself as Azulon continued on with his speech.

"You shall no longer hesitate, no longer avoid my orders. You are to carry out your missions swiftly and successfully. The slightest mix up, the slightest mistake, and every man, woman, and child will have orders to execute you on sight." Azulon decreed, and Kuzon actually squirmed as that conjured up mental images of a mob of children hunting him down with large stones to throw.

"I am merely a puppet on strings," Kuzon said, choosing the most dehumanizing words as to appeal to Azulon, "and you are the puppet master."

Kuzon's forehead connected with the floor as he knelt before the Fire Lord, who was now chuckling through the hall.

"You really are a spineless worm, so desperate to live you'll preform any trick, aren't you?" Azulon asked rhetorically, as he and the guards failed to see the smirk on Kuzon's lips.

'Yes, order me. Send me across nations and continents to do your bidding, let me scour the world at your call. But you'll never have my loyalty. That belongs to only one person, and one day I will find him.'

'I have to find him, no matter what it takes.'

"I have to find him." Zuko muttered to himself as he looked through the spyglass mounted to the deck. For the first time in weeks, he had had a coherent, mostly complete dream about the man named Kuzon.

He had seen him bow to his grandfather, and yet defy him at the same time. The game Kuzon played with the Fire Lord was dangerous. But surely, if Kuzon could follow orders while also using his physical freedom to his advantage then…

"Sailing into Fire Nation waters," Iroh's words cut through Zuko's thoughts, and yet he did not turn. "Of all the foolish things you've done in your sixteen years, Prince Zuko, this is the most foolish."

Zuko idly wondered what Iroh would think about some of the things that Kuzon had done during his lifetime. Compared to some of those things…

Zuko was practically a wise old saint.

But he wasn't going to tell his uncle that, he didn't imagine that conversation going well.

So instead, he settled for what his "typical" response would be. "I have no choice uncle."

Which was the truth. He had to find Aa…the Avatar.

"Have you completely forgotten the Fire Lord banished you?!" Iroh's tone softened and his worry became apparent. "What if you're caught?"

Zuko knew that his uncle was just worried about him, but he wouldn't turn back now. He could.

He had to find him.

"I am chasing the Avatar; my father will understand why I'm returning home!" Zuko stated passionately. Part of him believed that statement wholeheartedly, but another part of him, the growing part of him that he didn't want to acknowledge…

Didn't believe that at all, and didn't care.

His mind was beginning to tear itself apart – these different thoughts and opinions on the world. Zuko didn't know how long he could keep his own thoughts and opinions straight. Much less keeping other people from noticing the change.

"You give him too much credit." Iroh stated dully. "My brother is not the understanding type."

'No,' Zuko said to himself, thinking back on the three Fire Lords he now had memory of. 'I don't.'

Peering back through the looking glass, Zuko smirked as he spotted the flying bison.

"There you are." He muttered to himself.

'I found you.'

"Please, Prince Zuko!" Iroh pleaded with his nephew. "If the Fire Nation captures you, there is nothing I can do! Do not follow the Avatar!"

Zuko looked into the pleading eyes of his Uncle, considering what he said.

'I have to find him.'

Zuko turned away, "I'm sorry, Uncle."

"Run the blockade!" Zuko ordered, his voice never wavering as the two warring sides in his mind agreed on one thing.

'I have to find him, no matter what.'

"No matter what it takes." Zuko muttered to himself, clenching his fists together.

He would not fail.

Kuzon dashed through the forest, hands clutching his stomach as he tried and failed to stop the bleeding. Never before had one of his targets been so well prepared. Never before had someone known he was coming, and that could only mean one thing.

The Fire Lord had a traitor in his mists.

"Well," Kuzon said to himself. "Besides me."

His lungs burned and he practically shook as every footstep caused pain to shoot through his abdomen and up his spine. That stupid Earth Kingdom noble had stabbed him!

Kuzon didn't care that he failed in his mission, didn't care that the man still lived or that he would have to face the Fire Lord's wrath.

He had been fucking stabbed, for Agni's sake!

"Damn it." The man muttered as his foot slipped and he fell to the ground. His vision was beginning to blur, and his head started to pound.

"Damn it!" Kuzon cursed again. He very well couldn't find Aang if he died from blood loss!

"Well, well, well," A sneering voice cut through the trees just as the earth came to life beneath him and captured his hands and feet.

"Look what we have here boys," A blurry figure clad in green appeared in Kuzon's field of vision, flanked by ten other blurry green figures.

"It seems that we've caught ourselves a rabid Fire Nation rat."

Kuzon spat in the direction of the voice, and cursed the fact that he hadn't thought to just cauterize the wound. This wasn't the first time that he had been caught on a mission, but he had never been caught while also dealing with significant blood loss.

Unless he figured something out, he was a dead man; and it would be even harder to find Aang from the Spirit World.

"Ooh, this rat still has some bite left in him." Another one of the blurs said. Kuzon growled at him, trying and failing to figure out how he was going to be getting out of this mess.

"What're we going with him boss?"

"Well, the general will want to talk to him. But I don't think he'll make it back to base." The first blur said, and Kuzon couldn't help but agree with him.

He wouldn't make it far enough to escape, and wouldn't be able to either way. He was in no condition to do anything.

"Should we get a medic?"

"No, there's no need to waste valuable supplies on a Fire Nation rat." The leader said again. "If he dies before we get to base, he dies. One less Fire Nation rat in the world, is a cause for celebration, right boys?"

The other soldiers cheered and Kuzon wondered if this was the end. Was he just going to die here? Had all of these years of searching been for nothing?

'Is this what it comes down to?" Kuzon wondered to himself as his vision continued to fade. He could no longer feel the blood soaking his clothes, or running down his skin. 'Almost thirty years of searching and this is what it comes to?'

'I've failed.'

All of the sudden, the ground shook and the air caught fire as a furious roar split through the air. Kuzon forced himself to focus, and just managed to see a large, blurry purple shape appear. It slashed against the green figures, sending them flying. Fire burst through the area, causing his vision to go white.

'Mako?' Kuzon thought weakly. No, he must've been imagining it. He hadn't seen his friend in nineteen years. He had assumed that he was dead.

But there he was, large, purple, and very blurry as he continued to fade away.

"Mako?" He asked as a large claw wrapped around him and pulled him from his earth restraints.

He could just make out the sound of a dragon's roar and the beating sound of wings before everything faded to black.

When he awoke, the first thing he noticed was that he wasn't dead. In fact, he felt very much alive, as the searing pain in his side attested to.

The room was almost completely bare, besides for the bed he was occupying and the large banner hanging across from him adorned with a large, white lotus.

"Oh good, you're awake."

Kuzon turned towards the soft voice, and found himself face to face with an older Earth Kingdom woman. Her hair was pulled up into a bun and her arms were filled with bandages and herbs. Kuzon reconized her as a small village healer. Though how on earth he had gotten there he had no idea.

He suddenly stiffened, his eyes widening as he suddenly remembered the large, purple blur that had appeared, growling and throwing the soldiers away.

"Mako!" The injured man exclaimed as he bolted upright, ignoring the shooting pain and the horrified gasp from the healer.

"Where's Mako?" He demanded as the woman tried to get him back into bed.

"You can't get up yet! You're not well, you'll reopen the wound!" The healer insisted, but Kuzon didn't care. He had to know what they had done with Mako.

"Where is he!?" Kuzon demanded completely furious, flames sparking to life around in him in his anger – something that hadn't happened since Chey and Mako had taught him true fire bending when he had still been but a child.

"Peace, we have not harmed your dragon companion." Kuzon whipped around to see an old man with long tan robes standing in the doorway. "The purple dragon is fine, and perfectly safe. The Order has protected your friend for many years. Which is why when he appeared at my door with you half dead in his claws, we took you in, and healed you."

"Order?" Kuzon said, narrowing his eyes. "What Order? And you've been protecting Mako? Why?"

The man sighed, before giving Kuzon a smile. "The White Lotus is a simple, if secretive group. We endeavor to share knowledge, discuss philosophy and meet deserving opponents at Pai Sho… no matter what nation or station the person comes from."

The man chuckled, but at Kuson's unamused look the man quickly continued. "How could we not protect one of the last dragons in this world? The very origin of Fire Bending itself? The things your friend Mako could teach us, the history he could tell, if only he could talk…"

Kuzon snorted, allowing the healer to treat his wound as he leaned back on the bed. "Don't let him fool you, Mako's only twenty-eight years old. Still but a hatchling in dragon years."

The man's eyes widened, before he burst out laughing.

Kuzon couldn't help but join in; especially when Mako's large golden eye appeared at the window.

For the first time in almost twenty years, he was finally safe. He was finally free.

Zuko strode forward, making sure to keep his fire blasts even and straight as he punched fire at his sparring partner. His bending had been weird recently; it was making more and more concentration to make the fire follow his commands. It was like his fire no longer responded to his inner fire.

Like his mind, his bending was beginning to fall into inner conflict as well. Even the dreams and visions seemed to be effected by the conflict. For they were becoming more haphazard, no longer appearing in chronological order. It was like someone had torn all the final pages out of Kuzon's book, and now he was just seeing random pages.

As if the universe was taking advantage of his distracted thoughts, Zuko's next punch was interrupted as the ship suddenly turned, causing the sparing men to fall to the side and Zuko's shot to go wide, turning into a large flaming ribbon instead of the straight flare he had been creating.

"Someone's changing our course." Zuko growled before storming off to find the captain.

He had to find the avatar. But after a long talk with his uncle over the last time his crew had done something stupid, Zuko realized that just because he was determined didn't mean he had to be an ass to everyone. It was a talk that Iroh had with his nephew often, though this was the first time it had stuck. That didn't mean Zuko's orders could be disobeyed, though. Exiled or not, he was still the Crown Prince.

"What's the meaning of this?!" He demanded, storming into the bridge and glaring at the Captain. He bit back the comment regarding mutiny he so desperately wanted to say. Uncle had been right, and Kuzon had proved it. Zuko could be determined and driven without being a complete ass to everyone. People responded better when you weren't anyway, Kuzon had only survived many times because of that.

"No one told you to change course." Zuko knew as soon as the words left his lips that he was wrong. He was almost glad that his uncle spoke up before the Captain could reply.

"Actually, someone did." Iroh said, and Zuko found him once again playing Pai Sho. Ever since dreaming of Mako and the White Lotus, he got a queasy feeling in his stomach whenever his uncle played the game.

But surely it was just his imagination. Those dreams were simply dreams… right?

"It is a matter of utmost importance, Prince Zuko" Iroh continued, and Zuko crossed his arms over his chest.

'If it is so important then why wasn't I told about it?' Zuko bit back the comment, before continuing his thought, "Is it something to do with the Avatar?"

"Even more urgent," Iroh stated, causing Zuko to raise an eyebrow in disbelief. He had to find the Avatar; there was nothing more important than that.

'Well, perhaps besides not dying.' Zuko amended, remembering that he couldn't find and catch the Avatar if he was dead.

"It seems I…" He shakes his head in despair. "I've lost my lotus tile."

Zuko's eye twitched, and the corner of his mind he tried so hard to ignore whispered to him.

"Lotus tile?" He said in disbelief. No, it could be. It just wasn't possible. Those things were merely dreams, weird dreams, but dreams none the less. Sure, he sometimes believed that they were real, but they were overwhelming, anyone would have a hard time keeping their head straight.

"For my Pai Sho game." Iroh explained needlessly. "Most people think the lotus tile insignificant. But it is essential for the unusual strategy that I employ."

Zuko closed his eyes and rubbed his temple, the many recent memories of Kuzon under the care of the White Lotus springing to mind.

But was his uncle really a part of some secret organization dedicated to sharing knowledge and Pai Sho?

What was he thinking? Of course he was.

Resisting the urge to smash his face into the nearest wall, Zuko sighed, "Alright, we'll make a quick stop so you can find a new tile."

Opening his eyes, the prince was met with the sight of his surprised but ecstatic uncle, and an equally surprised crew.

"But then, we resume our search for the Avatar." Zuko growled as he stormed from the room.

The things he did for family.

"I thought I told you to make a quick stop." Zuko grumbled, as his gut churned. Kuzon had been to this port, and thirty years ago it was crawling with pirates and other nefarious people. He did not want to stay here long.

"I've checked all the shops on this pier, not a lotus tile in the entire marketplace!" Iroh exclaimed in disbelief.

Zuko kicked the dirt and mumbled under his breath, "That's because the piece is only important to you and the stupid Order."

"What was that, Prince Zuko?" Iroh asked, giving his nephew a strange look.

Mentally cursing, Zuko replied, "Good to know this trip was a complete waste of time for everyone!"

"Quite the contrary!" He continued cheerfully. "I always saw the only thing better than finding something you are looking for, is finding something you weren't looking for at a great bargain!"

Zuko resisted the urge to face slap as he saw his crew carrying Iroh's new purchases.

He should have seen this coming.

Not for the first time recently, Zuko was conflicted.

On one hand, working with the pirates was risky but promising. He didn't trust them as far as he could throw them, but it was better to work with them for the time being rather than racing them for the Avatar. By working with the pirates, he could also control the information they received, meaning that he could keep them from knowing that it was the Avatar they were hunting.

On the other hand, Kuzon had dealt with pirates before, this one in particular, and knew that the man had no morals and would stop at nothing to get what he wanted. After all, Captain Chang had not only betrayed Kuzon to the Earth Kingdom authority so he could claim a man's bounty for himself, but then attempted to kill him, twice. So Zuko really couldn't help but dislike the man.

Either way, no matter what Zuko thought or felt regarding the situation, everything balanced on a very fine tip. If he actually wanted to find the Avatar, much less keep himself and his uncle safe, he had to treat carefully.

Especially around Chang, he had no desire to fight the Captain, or to thwart an assassination attempt. Not again.

Zuko shook his head, trying to get his thoughts in order, keeping his gaze onto the horizon.

It was getting harder and harder for him to pretend that the dreams and visions were nothing more than pieces of fiction created by his subconscious. But if there was one thing Zuko was good at, it was denying the obvious.

"Shouldn't we stop to search the woods?" Chang asked, and Zuko did roll his eyes.

If the dreams were fiction or memories, they were right about one thing. Chang was deadly, but an idiot.

"We don't need to stop," Zuko said slowly as if speaking to a five year old. "They stole a waterbending scroll, right?"

Chang hummed, eyes narrowed, obviously not liking Zuko's tone.

"Then they'll be on the water." Zuko drawled.

The Captain didn't reply, and the banished prince allowed a small smirk to appear on his lips.

'I will find you.'

Once the fight started, and Zuko found himself facing Chang, he could focus on nothing else. For that few moments, the Avatar didn't matter, whether he was Zuko or Kuzon didn't matter. All that mattered was that he kicked Chang's ass.

He didn't think, he didn't pause, he just let the moves come to him as he ducked, dodged, parried, and called fire to his will. He didn't just kick or punch fire; he moved it as he moved. Fire danced with him, coating his hands and crawling up his arms as he dodged beneath Chang's sword swing by leaning back.

Flinging himself towards Chang, he changed directions at the last minute. With a twist of his wrist, a wave of fire launched at Chang from the front, while Zuko stepped to the side, spun on his left heel, and sent a high sweeping kick towards Chang's head.

Chang dropped to the ground, his hat falling victim to Zuko's flame, dodging both attacks by a hair's breath. Using the momentum from the high kick, Zuko brought his right leg back down and beneath him, twisting into a handstand with his legs spinning out, bringing his fire up and then back around, building up the flame. With a final rotation and a twist on his hands, the fire swirled out in a cyclone towards Chang, who simply rolled out of the way.

With a single fluid movement, Zuko swung his legs back beneath him and settled a basic firebending stance, flames still crawling up his arms. Chang took the opportunity to also jump back to his feet.

The pirate was surprisingly agile for his age.

Chang rushed Zuko, his blade sweeping upward but Zuko simply brought his flaming armguard up to deflect the blade while sending a blast of fire towards him. But Chang was expecting that, and knocking Zuko's arm aside with the connecting blade, he pivoted on his foot, ending up behind him.

Just as Zuko was about to spin around, retaliating with a large upswoop of flame, Iroh butted in. Grabbing Chang's sword arm and the back of Zuko's head, he pushed the two away from each other.

Zuko recovered quickly, and turned to glare at his uncle for interrupting, when he spoke to Chang.

"Are you so busy fighting you cannot see your own ship has set sail!?" Iroh asked Chang, who simply looked at the man confused.

Zuko – anger and adrenalin still coursing through his veins – snapped, "We have no time for your proverbs, uncle!"

"It's no proverb." Iroh replied, pointing downstream at where the pirate ship was sailing away.

The prince blinked, his heartrate finally starting to slow as he realized that perhaps he had gotten too caught up in the fight.

"Bleeding Hog Monkeys!" Chang exclaimed as he ran off.

Zuko couldn't help but laugh loudly at the man he disliked so much. He deserved to have his boat stolen. While he was laughing, Zuko failed to notice the narrowed eyed look that Iroh given him.

The old general was puzzled. He knew that something was going on with his nephew; he had been acting rather odd of late. He might even say out of character. But what he had just seen… Zuko was a gifted firebender for his age, but not that gifted. He had always struggled with anything beyond the basics. But the bending Zuko had used the battle with Chang was anything but basic. He had never tried to teach Zuko such a style of firebending. In fact, the style itself was eerily familiar to Iroh, but he just couldn't place where he had seen it before.

However, that wasn't the only think worrying the man. For just a moment, during that cyclone Zuko created, Iroh could have sworn that he had seen other colors mixed into the flame. Impossible, the man knew, and yet it reminded him so much of the swirling vortex of colorful fire that the last dragons had shown him.

If he didn't know better he would assume…

No, it was impossible. Zuko never had the chance to learn the original firebending, much less hide it from him.

Zuko and Iroh were both startled when their own boat, now filled with pirates, passed them on the river.

Iroh's eyes widened, and Zuko's narrowed.

"Hey!" The prince yelled indignantly. "That's my boat!"

That exclamation was such a Zuko statement that some of the worry eased out of Iroh's shoulders. Surely, if something was truly wrong with the boy, the prince would come to him. Iroh nodded to himself. Yes, if something truly was wrong than Zuko would eventually come to him.

All he had to do was be patient.

"My boat…" Zuko exclaimed in dismay has he saw the wreckage at the bottom of the waterfall. It would take a lot of uncomfortable explanations to get a new one… he made a face at the thought.

'Oh well,' the prince thought, looking down at the remains of the pirate ship as well. 'At least Cheng can no longer claim to be a captain.'

The thought reassure him, but any amusement he had at the Captain's expense vanished as soon as his uncle opened his mouth.

"Prince Zuko," Iroh chuckled, "you're really going to get a kick out of this."

Zuko turned towards his uncle, seriously doubting it.

"The lotus tile was in my sleeve the whole time!" Iroh beamed, holding out the mentioned tile like it was the winning ticket at the lottery. He was beaming so widely that Iroh didn't even notice when Zuko's eye twitched, and he made a grab for the tile.

In one swift movement, he snatched it out of his uncle's hand and tossed it as far as he could down the river.

"I think you can handle a few days without playing Pai Sho." Zuko growled, now blaming his uncle for pointlessly getting them into this mess.

Besides, it wasn't like they were going to need to contact anyone in the White Lotus discreetly before they could get a new one.

Kuzon had treasured the time he had spent under Master Lee's care, even if his wife was a bit harder to put up with; he hadn't felt this relaxed and free since the last time he lived with Mako. But now the time was coming to an end.

He had been up in their secluded mountain home for months recovering from his injury. But Kuzon knew he couldn't stay much longer, no matter how much he wished to. He also knew that he couldn't take Mako with him. The purple dragon was too noticeable, and dragon hunting was still too popular. He didn't want to part from his friend, his brother, but he had no other choice.

Kuzon had to resume his search for Aang, and to do that, he first had to once again prove his loyalty to the Fire Lord, and explain his absence.

He knew that it was extremely likely that he would just be killed for vanishing for months on end, but had to risk it anyways. If he failed to come back and explain himself – conveniently leaving out Mako and the White Lotus of course – then he would be a wanted man, hunted to all corners of the globe til the end of his days.

Not something he wanted.

"So you are finally leaving us."

Kuzon turned around, having just finished packing his meager belongings into a small satchel, to see Master Lee standing at the door.

"Yes, I'm afraid so." Kuzon replied sadly, looking out his window towards the mountain peak that Mako called home. This far north on the Earth Kingdom continent, there was almost nobody around. A few small villages lived at the base of the mountains, but most were too scared of the death filled Northern Air Temple that laid just a few mountains over to come any closer.

It was a good place for Mako, he was unlikely to be discovered and could see fly around with easy during the night. Kuzon knew that Master Lee would keep an eye on the dragon.

"You know, you could stay here with us." The man suggested but Kuzon was shaking his head before Lee even finished his statement.

"No, my calling lies elsewhere. I'm afraid that there's someone I must find." Kuzon replied, and the older man nodded.

"I won't stop you." Lee sighed, before reaching behind the doorfraim and pulling out a proper size pack. "But that doesn't mean we can't help."

Kuzon smiled softly at the kind man's actions, sinserly touched by what the couple had done for him.

"Thank you for everything, Master Lee." The older man rolled his eyes at the title, but didn't say anything. He simply nodded, a peaceful silence falling over the pair.

Kuzon's gaze returned to Mako's mountain top where the dragon was sleeping. Being able to blend in so well in the dark had caused him to become nocturnal out of habit. It would be eaiser this way, to leave while Mako was sleeping. The dragon wouldn't completely understand, but it was just better this was.

"I do have one last favor to ask, before I go." Kuzon said softly, his eyes never leaving the mountain top.

"And what is it, my boy?"

Kuzon rolled his eyes, no matter how many times he explained to Lee that he was in his forties, he was hardly a child, the man simply wouldn't listen. But he explained anyway,

"I want you to tell the White Lotus that Mako died." Kuzon ignored the man's sharp intake of breath and continued on. "It's just too dangerous. I know that no one in your organization would reveal his existence willingly, but there are ways to break a man. It's too risky … and I won't risk his safety."

"You want me to lie to the Order of the White Lotus?!" The man asked in disbelief, but Kuzon simply nodded.

"It wouldn't be forever, but Mako needs to be protected. He may very well be the last dragon still alive in the world, and I don't know what I'd do if something happened to him." Kuzon turned towards Lee, and continued. "Just keep him a secret until the Avatar returns. Please, we all know that he's out there somewhere, in some nation, somewhere in the world."

'No,' Kuzon thought, 'Aang's still alive!'

But he pushed the thought away and continued, "I'm not going to give up my search, and I'll send you a message when it's safe. But please, no matter how long it takes – keep Mako safe. Keep the secret within the family, or something… but please, please … protect Mako."

Lee stared at Kuzon solemnly, contemplating his words. Finally, several minutes later, Lee sighed.

"Alright. Alright… I'll do it." Lee ran a hand through his long hair before piercing Kuzon with a sharp look. "But what kind of message will you send when it is safe? Surely even when the Avatar returns it'll be too dangerous to speak plainly."

Kuzon simply smirked.

"Oh I don't know, I'm sure after all these months of you rattling on and on with your cryptic sayings, I can think of something equally cryptic to send back."

Lee burst out laughing, and the two men enjoyed their final moment together in peace.

His forehead was once again pressed onto the cold, hard floor of the palace's throne room. It had been a long journey to get here without being caught – until he reached the palace gates – but it was worth it now.

Even if Azulon sounded ready to chop off his head.

"You have proven, worm, that a traitor is always a traitor, no matter how many years pass." Azulon sneered and Kuzon knew that it would take all of his skills to get him out of this mess.

Admittedly a mess he walked willingly into, but a mess nonetheless.

"My Lord, please," Kuzon begged, keeping his head to the floor. At least the position was useful for hiding his twitching face. "I am your loyal assassin. I act only as you will, only when you will it. Forgive my absence my lord, but I was injured badly on your last assignment, and was only well enough recently to make my way back to you."

A heavy silence filled the air, and if Kuzon had been wiser, or younger, he probably would be holding his breath for Azulon's answer. But he definitely wasn't young, or wise, so he didn't.

"Explain."

"Thank you, my lord." Kuzon continued with his tale. "The general you sent me kill was ready for me, my lord. I had the knife to his sleeping throat when suddenly the man tackled me. He had been waiting for me, with guards hidden just out of sight. He knew that I had been coming. The general stabbed me deeply my lord, and I was just lucky enough to escape before collapsing from blood loss."

Another long silence followed before AZulon asked, "Then how did you survive?"

"It was a small village healer, my lord." Kuzon said, not lying in the least. Lee's wife had been a village healer before they moved away to the mountain top. "She found me and nursed me back to health. Sadly, supplies were low and the wound deep so it was a long recovery processes. As soon as I could, I made my way straight back here. I apologies greatly for my failure, as well for my absence."

By Agni, he couldn't believe how much of a kiss-up he sounded like. Spending months up in the mountains with Mako and the elderly couple made him realize just how much of a lie he had been living. Up on the mountain had been the first time in decades that he could truly be himself, and how he was finding it rather difficult to slip back into his life with the Fire Lord's collar around his neck.

"He knew you were coming," Azulon's voice was dangerous, and Kuzon could feel the flames flaring from his position on the floor.

"Yes, sir." Kuzon replied, knowing that this was his chance at victory. "There is simply no other explanation. I have gone over the situation countless times but even if the man was paranoid, there would be no reason for so many guards to be stationed, or the man's faked sleep."

"You suggest there's a traitor in our midst." Azulon practically growled, the flames growing hotter on Kuzon's neck.

"I would never suggest such a thing, my lord." Kuzon declared loudly.

But it was obvious that was what he meant. Twisted as Azulon was, he was no idiot.

"Very well," The Fire Lord decided. "Your life shall be spared. But for now, you will remain here at the palace."

Kuzon's stomach dropped. No, he hadn't come back only to be kept in a gilded cage! He was supposed to be looking for Aang!

"Th-the palace, my lord?" Kuzon asked hesitantly. Why on earth would Azulon want a known traitor/assassin in public view? Was he being tested?

"Yes." He snapped, and Kuzon cowered back. "If I have been betrayed by one of our own then I might need your skills. Now, leave me."

Getting to his feet, Kuzon bowed at the man.

"Of course, my lord."

It was after the ship safely docked for repairs, once the storm passed, that Iroh poked his head in his nephew's quarters to find the boy passing back and forth across the room.

"What are you doing, Prince Zuko?" The man asked, wondering what had gotten his nephew so worked up.

"Thinking." Zuko answered, sharply and simply. Iroh was not deterred however; he was too used to dealing with his nephew.

"About what?"

"Things." Was all Zuko replied. In truth, Zuko was thinking about many things. The fragments had been slightly clearer during the storm, but not by much. It was during these fragments that Zuko had seen Kuzon practicing, regaining any skill and instinct he had lost while recovering from being stabbed. It had gotten the prince thinking. While he had been trained to fight all his life, he was no master, and if he was perfectly honest, his hand to hand combat sucked. He could recall the way Kuzon walked, the way he moved. He could remember the way he climbed and stalked silently through the night, almost like he wasn't human.

He was determined to learn how to do the same.

Zuko was up against Zhao, who had far more resources available to him. If he wanted to reach the Avatar fist, he would need something to give him the upper hand.

Besides, Kuzon had shown him that it never hurt to have a few aces up his sleeve.

"Any of those things I can assist you with, Prince Zuko?" Iroh asked, looking at his pacing nephew with worry. What Iroh didn't know was that Zuko was doing more than just pacing. He was practicing walking in certain way, keeping his weight on only parts of his feet, so that his footsteps were silent.

Thankfully, it looked incredibly like pointless pacing, which is why Zuko wasn't afraid to practice during the day. It wouldn't be odd if someone caught him pacing, he had done it enough over the years.

"No." Zuko replied. Re-teaching his body how to walk was hard, and it was easier for him to concentrate, when his uncle wasn't there.

A pause filled the air, only broken by the sound of Zuko's footsteps.

"Alright then," Iroh sighed sadly. "Well, if you need me, I'm going to enjoy some nice ginseng, and see if I can find an opponent to play Pai Sho with me."

Zuko ignored his uncle as he turned and left his rooms.

His footsteps echoed through his room, only feeding his determination. Now he only had to wait until dark. Then the real training would begin.

Kuzon sighed, in the six years that he had been a 'guest' at the palace, not once had they caught the spy; and oh, how obvious it was now that such a person existed. He would've figured it out even without his Dragonflies' information. Azulon's plans were being thwarted at every turn, and if Kuzon didn't have to be the one to put up with Azulon's many rants, he might've been happy about the situation. But knowing that there was another traitor within Azulon's inner circle, someone with completely unknown motives and intentions, made Kuzon nervous. It also made life tense.

There was one good thing to come of the mysterious traitor in their midsts. Kuzon's relationship with Fire Lord Azulon had changed. No longer was he just the Fire Lords bitch on a very short lease. He was given freedoms in the man's presence that others could never dream of. It had been long building, and while Kuzon would never go as far saying that they were friends or that they entirely trusted one another, they had both acknowledged that they worked well together.

Kuzon started acting like less of a kiss-up, and Azulon enjoyed the fact that there was someone he could speak plainly with without fear of being betrayed or appearing weak. They didn't trust each other entirely, but they both knew what they could and couldn't say around each other. It gave the two men a confident, even if only on the daily drivel that the palace was full of or regarding the latest fire bending technics.

Kuzon might not have been Azulon's friend, but he was the closest thing the man had to one.

Which in the assassin's honest opinion was just sad.

But Kuzon's days weren't just filled with trying to find the traitor and ranting with Azulon. After Azulon's marriage, he was appointed Head of Security in the palace. Apparently Azulon had gotten fed up with all the assassination attempts against his wife. And, in the Fire Lord's opinion, the best person to stop assassins was an assassin.

Which was how Kuzon found himself in this rather odd situation, balancing on Fire Lady Ilah's balcony, one arm wrapped around the masked man's neck and the other gripping the man's wrist. The choke hold kept the would be assassin quiet as Kuzon snapped the man's arm violently. The assassin tried to choke out a scream but it come out a whimper. The dart thrower fell to the ground with a soft clatter, and with barely a thought Kuzon burnt it to a crisp. The man had no desire to deal with poison tonight.

With the weapon now taken care of and the whimpering and struggling assassin slowly turning blue, Kuzon sighed.

"I get why you're trying to kill her, I really do." Kuzon whispered into the man's ear. "Kill the heir to the throne before he is even born, stop the Fire Nation. I get it."

The assassin, who was barely conscious and had long stopped struggling, barely heard him. But Kuzon didn't care.

"But the thing is, no matter how vile the family she married into is… I won't let you harm Ilah, or the unborn child she is carrying." There was a tense paused as Kuzon gazed over at the oblivious, pregnant queen who was sleeping away. "My apologies."

He snapped the man's neck, and then vanished into the darkness. Hopefully that would be the only attempt tonight.

Kuzon watched in hidden amusement as Azulon paced back and forth in the hallway. Who would've thought that the heartless Fire Lord would actually be nervous as any other father to be?

'Well, it's not like he exactly had the best role model regarding how a father should act…' Kuzon mused; Sozin had been too obsessed with the war and finding the Avatar to really raise his son.

'If nothing else,' Kuzon realized as he watched the worried man turn and retrace his steps. 'It's good to know that no matter how twisted, Azulon is still human enough to care about his wife and child.'

It was reassuring, even if only a little bit. The traitor still hadn't bene caught, and Kuzon had stopped no more than forty nine assassination attempts during Ilah's pregnancy. At this point, Kuzon wanted to stay in the palace simply to make sure that the royal babe actually lived to see adulthood. Who knows, maybe he'd be able to keep the child from being as violent and vindictive as its father and grandfather.

Kuzon was startled out of his thoughts as a loud wail cut through the air. Azulon froze and Kuzon smiled faintly at the sound of new life.

The midwife stuck her head out of Ilah's room and smiled at the Fire Lord, not seeing Kuzon hovering in the shadows.

"Your son is strong and healthy," She reported, and became one of the few people who ever saw Azulon smile. "As is his mother."

Azulon relaxed instantly at her words, the worry fading from him. But the smile remained. The elderly midwife smiled at the newfound father, and continued, "Would you like to see them?"

Instantly, Azulon vanished through the large decorated doors into his wife's chambers. By the time Kuzon entered, the babe was already in his father's arms, Ilah watching them with a smile from the bed.

"Kuzon." The Fire Lord said, causing the assassin's eyes to wide. It was rare that Azulon addressed him so directly. "I want you to meet the heir to the throne, and your new charge, ,y son, Prince Iroh."

Kuzon looked down at the amber eyed babe with a soft smile as it gurgled and wiggled in his blanket. He was active for a new born, and for the first time in a long time, Kuzon felt hope blossom in his stomach. Not for finding Aang, he knew he would eventually, no, for the first time in decades, the forty-nine year old felt hope for the world.

"Hello, Prince Iroh." Kuzon whispered, bowing his head to the prince. "You are going to be a bright one, aren't you?"

The baby let out a light giggle, and Kuzon decided there and then that the prince would make it to adulthood no matter what it took. After all these years in the darkness of war and despair, a little light was needed, even if it took a while to grow.

Kuzon finally had hope; he finally had a little light in his life, and he would do whatever it takes to keep it.

The years past, and although being confined to the Palace was starting to take a toll on the Avatar's friend, he never let it show. Prince Iroh was now nearing the age of six, and was obviously a bright child with a natural talent for Fire Bending. Over the years Kuzon had become more than just Iroh's bodyguard, but also his mentor. He taught the prince firebending basics and what it meant to be honorable in a fight.

He also told the prince many stories of his travels, censored so they were child appropriate of course, Iroh was aware enough of the violence of the world enough already. These were the prince's favorite, and he would often escape from his nanny or mother's sight to seek out yet another of Kuzon's adventurous tales.

It was through these stories that Kuzon tried to instill a sense of right and wrong, a sense of honor and respect that went beyond just the Fire Nation into the boy. Maybe this was his chance; maybe this was his chance to do something to help the world, since he could no longer search for the Avatar.

That thought always made his heart ache and his spirit rebel. He had been a prisoner of this palace for far too long. He had spent the later years of his childhood among the clouds, free from any walls and rules binding him to one place. Even now, decades later, Kuzon longed for the freedom of travel. He longed to search for his friend, what used to be a never ending desire fueling ever action, had been burned into his soul as longing. Something he thought about, yearned for, but couldn't reach.

The thirteen years he had spent in this gilded cage was seriously starting to wear on whatever remained of his sanity.

"Kuzon, are you ok?" Iroh's soft childish voice broke through the assassin's thoughts. Glancing down, the man saw that once again the five year old had sought him out for another story.

"Of course, my Prince." Kuzon said patting the boy on the head, careful to avoid the topknot his hair had been pulled up into.

Iroh's eyes narrowed but the prince didn't argue. He was far too used to Kuzon's silent ways by now. He knew when he wasn't going to get an answer.

"Now," Kuzon said, lifting the prince up onto his lap. "Which story would you like today?"

One day - not today and perhaps not for another ten years - but one day he would be free of this place. One day he would find Aang, no matter what it took.

Zuko's thoughts were filled with images of his uncle as a child. His dreams had taken an even odder turn as of late. He saw bits and pieces of his uncle's childhood, watching the way Azulon taught his son carefully but distantly, how Kuzon thwarted every assassination attempted, while keeping the small boy oblivious.

Zuko wondered if Iroh was still that oblivious.

His moves were silent and his actions swift as he sprinted from rooftop to rooftop, on his way back to his ship. He hadn't been able to find a single trail of the avatar's bison – Appa, his treatuious mind whispered – since the storm. So he was following Zhao. It had hard to keep his absences from the ship at night unnoticed, but he had come far in the past few weeks.

When one of Zhao's boats stopped his own, Zuko was worried. Oh, he hid it behind a mask of anger and humiliation, which Zhao's decree and promotion helped fuel, but he was worried. It wasn't until the ship sailed off into the distance that Zuko allowed himself to breath. Of course they weren't there for him. He had been too careful to get caught trailing Zhao, and besides, he wore a mask.

But he was still uneasy, even hours later as they sailed aimlessly through the water. Zuko tried to quiet his thoughts and burry the feeling in his gut. But no matter how many katas he went through the unease was still there.

Something was coming, something was going to happen. Something to do with the Avatar, he just knew it.

Just like he knew in his heart of hearts that his dreams were no mere dreams, and he had to find the Avatar.

Iroh watched his nephew in thought as the young man flowed from one kata to the next seamlessly. Once again his nephew showed skill far beyond his level, he showed mastery in moves that Iroh had never taught him.

Not for the first time in the past few weeks, Iroh was struck with a strange, but strong sense of familiarity as he watched Prince Zuko move about the deck, fire dancing around him. This sense had just been getting stronger ever since Zuko's fight with the pirate captain. Something was different with his nephew, beyond just knowing more advanced bending. He wasn't just acting oddly; something was honestly different with Zuko. It was like a part of him had shifted… he just couldn't quite put his finger on what it was.

"Is everything ok?" The retired general asked as Zuko finished his kata, causing the teen to pause. Seeing this as his opening, Iroh continued. "It's been almost an hour, and you haven't given the men an order."

This was very strange behavior for his nephew. Or it would be, if he had been acting normally recently. Normally, Zuko would be coming up with some harebrained scheme to get the Avatar before Zhao. But today he had done nothing besides mutter to himself and practice his strangely advanced katas. That he had been this quiet was worrying.

"I don't care what they do," Zuko said absently, dismissing the idea almost instantly. "I don't have any orders for them."

"Don't give up hope yet!" Iroh said, almost hoping that Zuko's funk had to do with Zhao and the Avatar. "You can still find the Avatar before Zhao."

"Oh?" Zuko said with an odd tone as he turned around. Iroh was surprised at the sly look on the boy's face, and the determined gleam shining in his nephew's eyes.

"With Zhao's resources it's just a matter of time before he captures the Avatar; and maybe, that's exactly what I want him to do."

Iroh's eyes widened at his nephew's words, and then widened even further when he continued.

"Don't worry Uncle," Zuko said as he turned and gazed out over the water. "I haven't given up on hope; it's the only think I have left."

Iroh frowned in worry. Yes, there was definitely something very different about Prince Zuko; and he didn't know how much longer his patience was going to hold out.

Kuzon let out a breath as his arms fell to his sides as he completed yet another kata for the day. Things had been tense as of late, and the only solace Kuzon could find was in the soothing motions of bending beneath the warm sun.

They had finally caught the traitor – a general's wife who was from the colonies – and although Azulon and Kuzon were both relieved to have finally caught the spy, the fact that it had taken them eighteen years left the duo less than happy.

And now that that business was done, Kuzon's wanderlust had come back full force.

Oh, he knew that he was no longer a young man – at the age of 60 how could he claim to be? But that didn't mean he was old and obsolete either. Sure, his laugh lines were more pronounced and dark grey peppered his roots, but if asked, most would guess him to be twenty years younger than his actual age.

Benders tended to live longer than nonbenders, especially if they were exceptionally powerful or stubborn; and while Kuzon didn't think he was a particularly strong bender, he acknowledged that he was incredibly stubborn. Who else would still be looking for their best friend forty-seven years later?

"Master Kuzon, Master Kuzon!"

Prince Iroh suddenly appeared before the assassin, making him blink and scold himself. If he was so lost in thought that he couldn't hear Iroh coming, how would he catch any would-be assassins?

Maybe he was getting old.

"Master Kuzon!" The eleven year old prince was practically bouncing up and down. He tried to suppress the urge, since the boy knew it was unbecoming of the crown prince, but he wasn't very successful. It was this that made Kuzon realize that he had never answered or even acknowledged the child.

With a sigh, Kuzon stretched and raised an eyebrow at the child, the one person who could read him better than anyone still alive – except perhaps Mako.

"How did you do that?" The boy spoke rapidly, his amber eyes wide with awe. "The fire, it was so colorful! I've never seen fire like that before; where did you learn? Can you teach me how to do it? Why have I never seen you bend like that before…"

Kuzon paled, realizing that his concentration must've wavered during his katas and that his dragonfire bending had been seen by the Prince.

Swallowing, and thinking fast, Kuzon interrupted the child and said, "I learned how to do that a long time ago, from a master long dead." Not one word was a lie. "No, I'm afraid it is not something I can teach you, but perhaps, if you're very lucky, one day you can find a master who is willing to teach you the same secrets she taught me."

Iroh's eyes were wide with awe and disappointment. Clapping the prince on his shoulder, Kuzon steered the boy back towards the exit to the garden.

"Come now, how about a nice game of Pai Sho?"

When Zuko came to many hours later, it was to the sun drifting through the green canopy, a throbbing headache, and a morose young airbender.

The Prince just barely managed to groan, let alone move, when the Avatar started talking.

"You know what the worst part of being born one hundred years ago is? I miss all the friends I used to hang out with."

At Aang's words, Zuko's heart clenched, thinking instantly of Kuzon and all the memories he had of Aang and Kuzon playing together, and the decades' worth of memories of Kuzon trying to find him.

"Before the war started," The airbender continued although his gaze never moved up from the ground. "I used to always visit my friend, Kuzon."

Zuko swallowed painfully, and closed his eyes. If there had been any part of him still denying Kuzon's existence, it was now gone. He didn't know how, and he didn't know why, but somehow, he was remembering the life of Aang's friend.

"The two of us, we'd get in and out of so much trouble together…" Aang said wistfully, smiling sadly at the memories. Zuko tried to force down a smile of his own, but only ended up grimacing, so he settled for an indifferent expression instead. It wasn't like he could explain how he knew about Kuzon to Aang. He didn't even know how to explain it to himself!

"He was one of the best friends I ever had." Aang admitted, finally looking over at Zuko, who had to fight down the warm feelings that bubbled in his gut. Kuzon was Aang's friend, not Zuko! "And he was from the Fire Nation, just like you."

And in that moment, Zuko stopped fighting the memories and feelings inside of him. He didn't try to keep his expression blank, and he didn't have the urge to capture the Avatar for his father. (Though honestly, he hadn't had that urge for a while now.) In that moment, he didn't see an all-powerful Avatar, instead, he just saw a kid who missed his friends and had the weight of his world on his shoulders.

"If we knew each other back then," The airbender continued, "do you think we could've been friends, too?"

"Yes," Zuko admitted before he even knew what he was saying. "I think we would've been great friends."

A large radiant smile spread across Aang's face as horror and a newfound wave of denial ripped through Zuko. What was he saying?! He wasn't Aang's friend; he couldn't be Aang's friend. He was supposed to find and capture the Avatar. Not befriend him! But you found him. That whispering voice that sounded like Kuzon said. But no, no!

He was supposed to capture the Avatar after finding him. He found him, he found Aang so now…

Zuko's eyes widened. What was he supposed to do? He was supposed to deliver the Avatar to his father and return home! So why didn't that matter anymore? Where was that burning desire that had brought him this far? Where was that determination that had kept Kuzon going all those years?

You found him.

'I found him…' Zuko thought to himself, echoing Kuzon.

Yes, but now what?! What was he supposed to do?! Kuzon was Aang's friend, and no matter what weird memories were in his head, he wasn't Kuzon!

…

… Right?

"But it's not that simple." Zuko ground out. It wasn't simple. Why couldn't it be simple? Why did his own mind have to be so complicated? His identity shouldn't even be a question!

Aang's face instantly fell, his wide grey eyes showing his devastation and newfound worry. What did Zuko mean by that?

Zuko had to get out of there. He could feel his emotions and patience fraying and his vision was blurring. He wasn't Kuzon, he was Zuko! He was the Crown Prince of the Fire Nation, not some traitorous assassin turned body-guard!

His body moved without his knowledge, throwing a certain blue necklace towards the young airbender. "I believe this belongs to your friend."

Aang opened his mouth, happiness and astonishment in his eyes as he realized that he was holding Katara's necklace, but was forced to jump away as a blast of Zuko's fire – more colorful than it ever had been before – splashed harmlessly against the tree next to him.

"Get out of here." Zuko growled, now on his feet. What was he doing? Why was he letting him go? He had finally found him and had him sitting down peacefully damn it!

"But…" Aang tried to protest but another blast of fire caused him to bounce off through the trees.

He had to let him go. He couldn't hand him over to the Fire Nation. He might've spent all these years looking for him, but he wasn't about to get him killed now.

Zuko blinked, his vision swimming once again. Stumbling off to where he kept his clothes, he repeated one thought over and over again in his mind.

'I'm not Kuzon. I'm Zuko. I'm not Kuzon, I'm Zuko.'

The second Zuko shuffled back onto the boat, Iroh knew something was wrong. His armor was only half way on, and not clasped properly in several places. He was deathly pale – even more so than usual – and sweat glistened on his brow. His eyes were glazed with fever, and Iroh could hear the boy muttering to himself.

"Zuko!" The man exclaimed, his question regarding the Prince's whereabouts dying on his lips as he jumped to his feet. Iroh was just fast enough to catch the teenager as he collapsed, though the motion also brought Iroh to his knees.

"Help!" Iroh exclaimed, causing all of the crew on deck to run over. Iroh cradled Zuko's head in his lap as his nephew muttered frantically in his sleep.

"I am Zuko. I am Zuko. I am Zuko."

"You seem weary." Azulon announced one day during his and Kuzon's customary tea 'reports'. Now after twenty years working closely together in the palace, neither could deny the other was a friend. As strange as a concept as it was, somehow it had happened.

Kuzon merely shrugged. It was true, he was tired. He wasn't sleeping at night, and not even his katas could bring him any peace. The blood in his veins was demanding for him to leave, his heart yearning to travel again, to search again. He had been idle for far too long; and with Prince Iroh now thirteen, his real firebending and combat training was beginning. The prince was a prodigy, and could handle any threat himself.

"Tell me, what is wrong. You have served me faithfully for twenty years. Perhaps it is time I reward that loyalty." Azulon said slowly, thinking over each word before he spoke them.

Kuzon tried to not let the hope consume him. He wouldn't be able to take it if Azulon was just trying to get a reaction out of him.

"I was never meant to stay in one place." Kuzon finally explained, putting down his tea cup and glancing over towards the flickering flames. "You know how I was raised, by whom I was raised. Even after all these years that yearning to travel and explore and see all there is has never faded."

He didn't dare look at the Fire Lord. It was risky just mention his past, much less how it still affects him. Dragon sightings were few and far between, but Azulon had always been sure to inform Kuzon whenever one was killed. Out of spite or some kind of twisted kindness, Kuzon never knew.

"Even when that meant killing on my orders?" Azulon asked curiously, Kuzon simply nodded. Not trusting his voice. What was he kidding; he was never getting out of this cage. Azulon had come to enjoy having a deadly dog on hand. Why would he let that go?

So it surprised him when Azulon burst out laughing.

"If it was tormenting you so to be here, you should have mentioned." Azulon laughed, and Kuzon wisely kept his mouth shut. Sure, he might've made friends with his master, but he was still a collared pet.

"So why didn't you?" Azulon asked, giving Kuzon his thin lidded gaze that sent many fleeing in fear. Kuzon merely shrugged again.

"I did not think it mattered." He finally allowed himself to speak.

Azulon chuckled, "Perhaps not in the beginning, but we have become acquaintances these past few years, have we not? It was not something neither of us was expecting, but I suppose there are some things that just happen."

Kuzon knew this better than anyone, but he still didn't think that Azulon would've cared before. He was simply too useful in the palace.

"Surely you aren't going to let your son's bodyguard just leave?" Kuzon couldn't help but ask. Azulon just shook his head. Kuzon's heart sank, but when the Fire Lord raised his hand, everything changed.

"It is true, you are useful here. However, your health has been failing you and your reflexes dulling." Ha, Kuzon knew there was another reason besides just friendly concern that had Azulon bringing the topic up. "So, I propose a compromise. I shall let you have your freedom to do what you wish and go where you wish for half a year, until the summer solstice, and then you shall return to the palace until the winter solstice. If you are prompt, and perhaps take care of any trouble makers that become significant, than this agreement can be permanent."

Kuzon's eyes widened. Surely this couldn't be happening. He had been living on a tight leash for so long, even before he had found Mako again… surely Azulon wasn't serious?

"I shall not offer you this again, Kuzon." Azulon said sternly, his eyes narrowed. "So, shall you accept my gracious offer? Or would you like to rot away here, until you're completely worthless?"

Kuzon accepted without another thought.

Iroh sat by his nephew's beside, as the Prince lay, still unconscious. It had been nearly two weeks, and although Zuko had mumbled, tossed and turned, he had yet to regain consciousness. His fever had yet to break as well, yet another myster. Iroh had never heard of such an intense illness that did not kill. For while Zuko was burning up, restless, and in a coma, there was nothing else wrong with him.

Every healer Iroh had brought aboard to tend to Zuko had said the same. Physically, there was nothing wrong with the boy. Whatever was ailing him was either of the mind, or of the soul.

He could see no Spirits around the boy, but Iroh couldn't shake the feeling that they had a hand in whatever was causing his nephew to be so ill. He had sent word to his brother of Zuko's condition, but was not surprised when Ozai did not respond. His brother had never been the carrying type, and his disdain for Prince Zuko had always been rather apparent.

Iroh was jolted out of his thoughts, quite literally when something caused the ship to shake. He got to his feet and – after making sure that Zuko would be alirght – stormed to the deck. They were docked at port, waiting for yet another healer to come examine the prince.

This could only mean trouble.

Of course Iroh was right. He strode purposefully out onto the deck just as a woman on a large beast climbed aboard. The crew flanking Iroh, the man narrowed his eyes, ready to call upon his flame in a moment if necessary.

It was true that in his old age he had become a bit of a pacifist, but that didn't mean he couldn't fight if he must. He would do anything for the people he loved; his mentor had shown him that at a young age.

"Get back!" The woman annoyed and the crew stiffened. "We're after a stowaway."

Iroh raised his eyebrow at the woman. It was very unlikely that there was a stowaway aboard, as the crew was quiet effective. Even if there was, they surely picked the wrong ship to hide out on, considering the fact that they had been in port more than at sea for the past few weeks.

"Even if there is a stowaway on our ship," Iroh said slowly, trying not to think about Zuko and how he would be reacting. "I assure you, we can handle it."

He wanted this woman off the ship. While normally he would be all for spending time in her lovely company, he was much too worried about his nephew's health at the moment for such things.

Iroh ducked smoothly as the animal ripped through the floor and tossed a chuck of it their way. Dropping instinctively into a bending stance, the man narrowed his eyes in displeasure as the beast reached inside and out fled a dirty earth kingdom man.

Before he could make it even a few yards, the animal's tongue lashed out, striking the man and causing him to fall over, completely paralyzed.

"He's paralyzed," A shocked crew member muttered, and Iroh could almost hear Prince Zuko echoing his words.

"Only temporarily," The woman stated, almost in reassurance, as she flung the man over her shoulder. "The toxins will wear off in about an hour, but by then he'll be in jail and I'll have my money."

Iroh had to admit, but he was impressed. He had heard of a shirshu before, but had never seen one up close.

As the girl and her prize vanished off into the distance Iroh gave the whole in the deck a displeased look. They had been avoiding Fire Nation ports so that Zhao would not discover Zuko's condition. But to repair the ship, they would have to brave the news getting back to the Admiral.

Iroh sighed, he really disliked that man.

Freedom and joy filled the next few decades of Kuzon's life. Sure, he still had to play assassin to Azulon's call on occasion, and he had to return to the palace every six months, but he was finally able to do what he wished otherwise. Iroh grew into a remarkable young man, slightly blinded by the Fire Nation propaganda, but Kuzon was sure he would grow out of it.

Just like Kuzon would find his friend, and he would not stop until he did.

Iroh was seventeen when his little brother was born. His father was not pacing the hall like before, but simply sitting in his throne room. Iroh waited nervously outside of the door, standing guard. There had been no mass of assassination attempts during Ilah's second pregnancy, unlike her first. But Iroh didn't know how he was going to be a big brother. There would be such an age difference between them, and he was going to be deployed with the army in just a few short years. How was he supposed to be this babe's big brother if he was away fighting the entire time?

"My Prince," Iroh was ashamed to admit it even to himself, that he jumped three feet into the air when Kuzon spoke from behind him.

Spinning around, Iroh came face to face with a softly smiling Kuzon. The prince grinned, ignoring decorum as he gave his mentor and old body guard a hug. While the man was now 66, travel had restored much of his health and he looked hardly a day over forty-five, younger than even Azulon appeared.

"Master Kuzon, what are you doing here?" The young prince asked, his eyes wide. "The summer solstice isn't for months!"

Kuzon smiled. "Your father never decreed that I couldn't return early, did he?" The man asked the prince, who merely blinked in surprise.

"What?" Kuzon asked, "Did you really think I'd miss you becoming a big brother?"

Iroh merely shook his head and smiled at his mentor. He didn't understand him very often, but that was ok. He wasn't even sure if his father ever understood Kuzon.

"My prince," A midwife was poking her head out of Ilah's chambers, just like so many years before. "Would you like to meet your baby brother?"

Iroh's face lit up, and by glancing at him, it would seem like all his worries had faded away. He practically ran into his mother's chambers, Kuzon fallowing at a must more sedated pace, chuckling.

The babe was already in Iroh's arms by the time he entered, and although the déjà vu was heavy in the moment, when he looked down at the amber eyes of the child, he saw no warmth the way he did with Iroh. Kuzon felt bad to judging a baby only moments after birth, but his gut had never led him wrong before.

But nonetheless, he would treat the babe as he had treated Iroh, if only because he despised unfair treatment.

"I am leaving in the morning." Iroh said slowly, sipping at his tea as he studied the Pai Show board infront of him.

"I am aware." Kuzon said simply, glancing over at the twenty year old with pride in his eyes. He was different than his brother, father and grandfather. Azulon cared little for his people, merely conquering the world, and Sozin had been blinded by delusions of grandeur. While Ozai was only three, it was obvious to the 69 year old that he would follow his father in attitudes. He spent far too much time alone with the man.

Not that Kuzon could do much about that. He didn't dare risk his freedom by staying and mentoring the boy. No, Azulon seemed interested enough to do that himself, something he hadn't done with his favored first born.

"I don't know when I'll be back." The young man admitted, and Kuzon nodded simply.

"Yes, one can rarely predict what happens in war." He said slowly, watching as Iroh hesitantly slid one of his tiles forward.

"However," Kuzon continued at the same pace. "Let me give you some advice, Prince Iroh."

Confusion evident on the man's face, Iroh nodded slowly. "Alright,"

"Remember that your opponent is not simply an opponent, but a person. Fight with honor, and you shall be fought with honor. Do not treat your men as objects, but as men. You wish for them to follow and respect you, you must first respect them." Kuzon said as he slid forward the lotus tile, effectively winning the game. "And finally, if you ever truly need aid, just remember: the Lotus helps even the most desperate of men if respect is given; and friends are never truly far away when you know how to play Pai Sho."

Kuzon winked at the young man who looked thoroughly baffled. "For the White Lotus opens wide to those who know her secrets."

Chuckling, Kuzon finally understood Lee's love for cryptic statements. It was great fun.

The whole crew had begged Iroh to join them for music night. That was the only reason that Iroh was even on the deck instead of being down with Zuko when Zhao strode on board.

"Admiral Zhao." Iroh said slowly as he got to his feet. "To what do we owe this pleasure?"

"I need to speak with you Prince Zuko." Zhao stated, his narrowed eyes never moving from the crew circled around the fire, clearly judging them.

"Prince Zuko is otherwise occupied I'm afraid. I am sure that I can help you, however." Iroh said swiftly, slightly surprised and yet relieved that Zuko's condition had managed to stay a secret for so long. Honestly, that boy was going to drive Iroh to and early grave with worry. For he had still not awoken.

"I am sure that whatever Prince Zuko is doing can wait." Zhao said and Iroh had to keep himself from grinding his teeth.

"Prince Zuko is extremely ill. Now, how can I help you, Admiral?" Iroh said firmly, planting himself between the Admiral and the deck door.

"Ill you say?" Zhao inquired in obvious disbelief. "Well then, I must simply give him my respects. Show me to his quarters."

Iroh opened his mouth to say something else by Zhao cut him off.

"Unless you protest, retired General Iroh?"

"No," Iroh said pleasantly though his hands where clenched into fists within his sleeves. He bowed and nodded towards the door. "This way please."

Iroh wanted this man gone as soon as possible. But the problem was that he still didn't know what the man wanted or why he was here. He stayed behind Zhao as the Admiral stormed down the hallway. Whatever Zhao's game was, he would regret going against the Dragon of the West if he thought for one moment to hard his nephew.

Zhao threw open the door and stormed in. Iroh did not follow, knowing that seeing Zuko's poor condition would simply deteriorate any self-control he had left.

"Hello, Prince Zuko. It seems that your uncle was exaggerating your condition."

Iroh's eyes widened at Zhao's words and dashed into Zuko's room, only to freeze in shock as he found the boy sitting up in bed, blanket pooled at his waste. He was still deathly pale, and obviously running a fever, but he was awake.

While Iroh only wished to rush over and embrace his nephew, he knew that doing so while Zhao was around would only make things difficult. He still didn't know what Zhao wanted.

"Zhao." Zuko growled his voice hoarse from weeks of disuse. "I am sure whatever my uncle said was the truth, the last time he saw me."

Iroh's eyes continued to widen. His nephew was just full of surprises tonight.

"I see." Zhao said, before turning on his heel and beginning to inspect Zuko's room. "No matter. I am not here for you anyway. I am taking your crew."

"What?!" Iroh exclaimed in shock. Sure, technically Zhao could do that, but how was Iroh supposed to care for Zuko on his own?

"I'm recruiting them for a little expedition to the North Pole." Zhao said, not even giving Iroh a passing thought.

"Everyone?" Iroh pressed, surely he wouldn't just leave them there by themselves… wait, it was Zhao. Yes he would. "Even the cook?"

Giving Iroh an irritated little look out of the corner of his eye, Zhao confirmed, "Everyone."

He stared at Zuko, prompting the weakened teenager to respond, but Zuko did nothing beside return Zhao's gaze. He must've realized the feverish glaze in Zuko's eyes was real, as he scoffed and continued.

"Sorry you won't be there to watch me capture the Avatar. But I can't have you getting in my way again." His lips twitched in amusement as he looked at Zuko's shaking, pale form. "Not that you would be much of a nuisance, in your condition."

Zuko just glared at the man, who turned and looked at the two duo swords hanging on the wall. Zuko glanced between them and his uncle, wondering if Iroh had been the one to put the blades away.

Indeed, his uncle had. Iroh had no idea why Zuko had gone out with a pack and the duo swords, but he hadn't cared at the time. Now though, he wondered just what his nephew had gotten up to before he had fallen ill.

"I didn't know that you were skilled with broadswords, Prince Zuko." Zhao said slowly as he took one of the swords of the wall, examining the blade and giving it an experimental swing.

"I'm not." Zuko rasped, and Iroh quickly jumped to his ill nephew's defense.

"They're just decorative antiques." The older man said cheerfully. "I found them at the quaintest little shop for one of the best bargains I have ever seen! The man hardly knew what he had, so I felt like it was my duty to take them off his hands."

"Indeed." Zhao said slowly has he placed the sword back on the wall.

"Have you heard of the Blue Spirit, General Iroh?" Zhao asked, turning and giving the bedridden teen a suspicious stare.

"I'm afraid not." Iroh said slowly, "My attention has been rather occupied as of late, Admiral."

"He's a criminal, and an enemy of the Fire Nation." Zhao said, turning away from Zuko and walking towards the door. "But I have a feeling justice will catch up with him soon."

Pausing in the doorway, Zhao paused, "General Iroh, if your… attention… permits it, I offer you the position as my strategic advisor for my mission, if you wish to join me."

"I am afraid that I shall have to decline." Iroh replied, his eyes straying from the Admiral's back to his nephew, who was glaring at Zhao.

"Very well," Zhao sighed. "The offer stands if you ever change your mind."

Zhao shut Zuko's door swiftly, and it was only after his footsteps faded from sight that Iroh muttered under his breath, "That man…"

Sighing, Iroh turned his attention back to more important matters. "Now, Zuko…."

He turned to see his nephew asleep – truly asleep, with no mutterings or restlessness – for the first time in a month.

Iroh smiled faintly.

"You get some rest."

"It has been a long time, my friend." Kuzon said simply as he sat on the edge of the palace roof in Omashu, looking out over the stars.

"A lifetime." Bumi agreed. "Or two."

Kuzon snorted, looking up at his old friend all grown up and shook his head. He hadn't changed a bit, he could tell just by looking at him.

"I don't think we're that old." Kuzon protested, causing Bumi to laugh.

"Experienced then?" The king retorted, and it was Kuzon's turn to chuckle.

"I'd say 76 years is plenty of experience."

"True, but you'd think 76 years would give you a bit of wisdom." Bumi said, suddenly very serious.

"Hey now," Kuzon protested yet again. "I'd like to think that I've earned a bit of wisdom, thank you very much."

"Really? As the Fire Lord's lapdog? Whenever have you had time?"

Kuzon cringed, looking away from his old friend and off towards the distant stars. He didn't know what to say, or how to say any of it. How could he explain himself? How could he justify all of the things he had done over the years to stay alive? He had simply wanted to find Aang, but he wasn't sure Bumi would see it that way.

"I have heard things about you Kuzon. You aren't always as sneaky as you want to be." Bumi finally said his voice quiet and filled with despair.

The silence stretched on before Bumi finally asked, "Is it true?"

Kuzon, not 100% sure what his friend was asking about, simply said, "Probably."

They fell into a peaceful silence once again, content to be with their friend they hadn't seen or heard from in 63 years.

"For the longest of time, I thought you were dead." Bumi was once again the one to break the silence.

"Sometimes, I thought so too." Kuzon admitted finally, wondering how he hadn't died over the years.

"I miss him." The earthbender whispered into the night breeze.

"I do too."

The two friends sat, both dedicated to the vow they made to their missing friend. Only, one vowed to find him, and the other vowed to wait for him.

Only time would tell who would see Aang again first.

Zuko woke slowly, and every moment was a fight.

What was going on?

Where was he?

His head pounded and spun, like an armadillo bear had just played ball with it. Or Mako sat on it, this felt strangely like that as well.

He blinked rapidly, trying to remember where he was and what he was doing here. But his brain refused to work. Any thought that crossed his mind came like molasses.

Zuko didn't know what was going on; all he knew was that he was supposed to be sleeping. He wasn't supposed to be awake. That he knew with absolute certainty.

He had no idea why he wasn't supposed to be awake, only that he wasn't, and that it was very bad that he was.

Just as he was about to close his eyes and go back to sleep, a squeak echoed through the room that sent alarming chills up his spine.

Mind still sluggish, but instincts yelling at him to move, Zuko jumped out of bed. Slowly he made his way through his ship. Something wasn't right here. That was something else he now knew.

He found nothing as he made his way to the bridge of the ship, and yet his instincts were still screaming at him. But if nothing was here…

Suddenly, something green caught his attention out of the corner of his eye and he turned just in time to see a large green bird that he knew, instantly knew, was trouble.

Two flashes of a man's face, one where the man was younger, and another when he was older – but still wearing that stupid hat – came to mind. A second later, the bird squawked and took flight, just as everything exploded in light around him, as he called his fire to his aid.

He could feel his back hitting glass as he was flung away, and then everything went black.

The air shook and the ground rumbled as an explosion rocked the air. Iroh spun on his heel, dropping the bags of supplies in his arms as he saw fire blooming in the night against the horizon.

"Zuko!" He yelled, and raced back towards the ship. Fear flooding his veins and adrenalin fueling his legs.

'Please, please be alright.'

"Congratulations, My Prince." Kuzon said to the newlywed, clasping him on the shoulder and giving the twenty-nine year old a proud grin. "You're a lucky man."

Iroh's eyes wandered to where his bride was, talking to some other ladies of the court, practically glowing with joy.

"Yeah…" The man admitted, causing Kuzon to laugh. He was already whipped beyond measure to the fiery flower that had stolen his heart.

Iroh finally snapped out of it and smiled warmly at Kuzon. "Thanks for coming, old man."

"Old man?!" Kuzon spluttered, giving Iroh an insulted look. "I am not old!"

Iroh laughed, "I'm sure that you're considered old when you hit seventy-eight. Actually, I'm pretty sure you were considered old when Ozai was born."

"Cheeky brat." Kuzon muttered to himself, causing Iroh to simply laugh louder.

"Nonetheless," Iroh said slowly, sometime later. "Thank you for coming."

Kuzon gave Iroh a soft smile, "I wouldn't miss it for the world."

"Iroh, you have to calm down." Kuzon said, trying to calm the nervous father to be who was on the verge of a breakdown. And he had thought that Azulon had been nervous.

"Calm down? Calm down! That's easy for you to say, you were there when both Ozai and I were born! And besides, you've never been a father!" Iroh shot back, and while the barb stung, Kuzon didn't hold it against the frantic man.

"I mean, what if something doesn't wrong? What if one of them dies?! Women and babes die in childbirth all the time; but this is different! This isn't a battlefield, so there's no reason for either one of them do die, right?!"

Kuzon grabbed the Crown Prince by the shoulders and shook him lightly, "Prince Iroh! Calm yourself. They will both be fine, you need to learn patience."

With a huff, the thirty-two year old flopped into a nearby chair that had been placed in the hallway outside of his wife's chambers. He was practically pouting, and if the situation had been different, Kuzon would've laughed at him.

"That's what the general keeps saying." Iroh muttered to himself, and Kuzon couldn't help but snicker at that.

"Perhaps you'll learn it by the time you're my age." The retired assassin teased, causing Iroh to huff.

"Please, I'll learn it before I'm a fossil or I'll die trying." Iroh declared, and Kuzon scowled at him in irritation.

"I am not a fossil, you cheeky brat!"

"And I'm not a brat." Iroh rebutted, a triumphant plastered on his face. Kuzon merely scowled at the man in deeper irritation.

Before Kuzon was able to say anything else, a scream echoed through the palace, followed by a telltale cry.

Without even waiting for the midwife the two burst into the room. A nurse clicked at them disapprovingly, but yelped when Iroh looked at her.

Kuzon hung back as Iroh kissed his wife and took the babe from the midwife's arms.

"It's a boy," She informed him kindly, her hair white and tied up in a bun. Kuzon recognized her as the woman who had delivered Iroh and Ozai, and gave her a kind nod.

Iroh stared down at the newborn in awe and adoration, and didn't even notice Kuzon approaching until he was right beside him.

"What's his name?"

Iroh smiled, practically glowing with happiness and pride.

"Lu Ten." Iroh replied, "His name is Prince Lu Ten."

"Uncle Kuzon! Uncle Kuzon! You're back!"

The retired assassin barely was able to keep his footing as the small seven year old prince rammed right into him.

"Wow there," Iroh said to Lu Ten as he grabbed Kuzon's shoulder, making sure that the man wouldn't suddenly topple due to the child clinging to his waist. "Careful Lu Ten, Uncle Kuzon isn't quite as young as he used to be."

Kuzon scowled at Iroh over Lu Ten's head as the boy jumped back and begun to apologies profusely.

"Don't worry about it, Little Prince, I'm not that old, and not made of glass either."

Iroh raised an eyebrow at Kuzon, but didn't need to say anything, as his son beat him to it.

"You sure?! But Daddy says you're old, really really old! So I have to be careful not to hurt you." Lu Ten said with wide eyes, obviously scared that he had hurt the old man.

Kuzon huffed and cuffed the backside of Iroh's head. "I'll have you know, Little Prince, that eighty-eight is a perfectly respectable age and not remotely old at all."

Iroh snickered as Lu Ten's eyes widened even further, "Sssuuurrreee it's not." The little seven year old said.

Kuzon glared at both of them, before folding his arms over his chest. "Well fine. If I'm so old I guess that means I can't tell you a story before dinner."

Lu Ten's eyes widened in horror and he quickly shook his head. "No, no! You're not old at all Uncle Kuzon! Please, please tell me a story!"

Kuzon chuckled before patting the young prince on his head. "Alright, but only if you go apologize to your mother for running off on her."

Lu Ten's bobbed up and down quickly before taking off at a dash down the hall.

Once the child was out of sight, Kuzon's body sagged. "I swear you didn't have that much energy at that age."

Iroh shrugged, "Lu Ten isn't Crown Prince, he has fewer responsibilities than I did at his age."

"True, true." Kuzon muttered, "and less people trying to kill him."

Iroh nodded simply, "And I'm very thankful for that."

There was no need to mention that it was mostly Kuzon's reputation that had kept assassins at bay even all these years later.

The years continued on, as Iroh was promoted time and time again, and Kuzon found himself often visiting the man while he was away from home, bringing portraits, letters and stories from his wife and son.

Or at least, he did.

But now he found himself coming to stand beside Iroh, who was staring at a grave.

Mia

Princess, Wife, and Mother

You Will Be Remembered

38 AG – 80 AG

"I am sorry, Prince Iroh." Kuzon said softly, placing one hand on Iroh's shoulder in silent support as the man couldn't help but picture what Aang's grave might look like, if he ever had one.

Each dwelling in their own grief, the two stood there until the sun set behind the horizon.

"May I offer you both my congratulations and well wishes." Kuzon said, bowing to Prince Ozai and his new bride, Princess Ursa.

Ozai nodded stiffly to the old assassin, while Ursa offered a small smile and a brief, "thank you."

Not that Kuzon was offended. He and Ozai had never become close, despite Kuzon having spent much of Ozai's childhood attempting to teach him. He had yet to meet Ursa, but knew of her lineage. Azulon had been very vocal as to why Ozai and Ursa were to marry. Or at least he had been to him.

One of the generals pulled Ozai away to talk, and so Kuzon bent down and whispered into Ursa's ear as he passed, "Know this, while I live you shall always have someone to speak to, or turn to in help."

Ursa smiled at Kuzon, obviously touched by his kindness.

"Thank you," She said, squeezing his hand in thanks before carrying on.

He continued to watch the rest of the celebration from the shadows, even successfully stopping one bitter young lady from poisoning the newly crowned Princess.

"Hah, that'll teach Iroh to call me old." The ninety-four year old muttered to himself as he walked back towards his quarters.

He wanted to come up with a new travel route, because he hadn't given up yet, and he never would.

No matter if one hundred years came and went. He would find Aang, no matter what.

Eventually.

Kuzon's scowl on his face was practically permanent as he stormed towards the palace, three months before the Summer Solstice and his return date. His fury was practically radiating off of him, yet it would take someone who knew him well to realize. Azulon might be able to, but Iroh would be able to spot it a mile away.

Or apparently an ocean, as Iroh was waiting for him at the gates.

Kuzon's scowl didn't fade as Iroh gave his old mentor a soft bow and an equally soft greeting, "Kuzon."

"Dragon of the West." Kuzon spat out the title in disgust, causing Iroh to flinch slightly. "In all my ninety-five years, never have I been so disappointed in someone."

With a sigh and a cringe, Iroh beckoned Kuzon forward, a pleading look in his eyes.

"Please, Master Kuzon, we need to talk."

Raising an eyebrow at the title Iroh had left behind decades ago; Kuzon nodded slowly and allowed the prince to drag him to the gardens. Once they arrived, Kuzon arranged himself underneath a blooming tree and said,

"Speak."

So Iroh began his tale.

"It is true that I tracked down the last two dragons in existence, and it is true that I discovered them hidden deep within the mountains." Kuzon's gut tightened as he listened to the story, praying, pleading to whatever spirits that were listening that Mako was still alive, still safe. "But I didn't kill them."

Kuzon's eyes snapped up towards Iroh's. The pleading look on his face was practically desperate and he could see the honesty within them. The man sighed.

Iroh took that as his cue to continue. "I was judged worthy by the Sun Warriors, as well as Ran and Shaw – and well…"

Colorful fire came to life in Iroh's hands, and he gave Kuzon a proud smile.

"I found a master to teach me,"

Joy spread through the man's heart as he clapped Iroh on the back, a deep belly laugh escaping him.

"All these years, and you remembered."

Iroh grinned mischievously, "Why, of course I did!"

They both chuckled, the tension bleeding out of the air as the two firebenders relaxed. Kuzon was proud of the prince, because of him, Mako and the other two dragons would be safe. Because of Iroh, his friend would survive.

"You wanted to see me, my lord?" Kuzon asked as he entered the throne room slowly. It had been many decades since he had been summoned there, though he and Azulon had shared tea here only weeks before.

"Yes," Azulon said slowly. "I have heard a rather disturbing rumor, and I wish you to dispute it for me."

"Oh?" Kuzon inquired, wondering what on earth Azulon had heard. It wasn't like he was going around and actively committing treason anymore. He wasn't even an active assassin anymore! Sure, he still had a rather wide information network, but he rarely commanded his Dragonflies, merely read their various reports – unless he was given a specific order from Azulon.

He didn't even bother openly inquiring about the Avatar or airbenders during his travels. It was too suspicious these days. That didn't mean he wasn't looking, or that his Dragonflies weren't keep an ear out, but he had become rather discreet regarding the reason of his travels over the past three decades.

"Yes, it seems that some believe you have spent the freedom I graciously gave to you conspiring with the Earth Kingdom, and actively searching for the next Avatar."

Kuzon couldn't help it, but he burst out laughing. The accusation was so close to the truth, and yet as far away as it could be. It was funny! He had been worried for all these years that Azulon would figure out his real motives, and here is an excuse to get the Fire Lord to believe in him even more. As if over seventy years of service to the throne and almost sixty years of service to Azulon hadn't convinced him of that already.

Azulon had given up any suspicions he had of Kuzon decades ago. After all, who would be able to keep up such an act for so long?

Azulon joined in on Kuzon's laughter as well, though it was raspy and weak. Azulon obviously hadn't laughed in a very long time.

"Yes, yes." Azulon waved, dismissing the retired assassin and spy. "You are right, of course. You may go Kuzon."

"Thank you, my lord." Kuzon grinned, still effortlessly hiding any unease he had regarding the topic. "I haven't laughed like that in a very long time."

Neither of them saw Ozai glaring in a darkened corner.

It was two days later that everything came to a head, and Kuzon should have seen in coming.

He knew that something was wrong, that had been obvious since Azulon had summoned him. But he wasn't sure what. Everyone in the Royal family was healthy and more or less happy – Lu Ten missing his mother and Ursa missing her first lover – and Iroh was slowly making his way towards becoming general. The only reason the man wasn't one yet was because he had kept returning home to spend time with his son, especially the past three years since Lu Ten's mother died.

As for himself, Kuzon was doing just fine. Sure, his hair was more white than black now but he didn't mind. He could still sneak as well as the best man, and was far from being fragile, no matter what Iroh said. He hadn't left on the Winter Solstice this year, as Iroh had asked him to keep an eye on Lu Ten while he was away; and considering the fifteen year old needed a new firebending teacher – the old one quit – he had agreed.

But now he was starting to regret it. For something was just not right in the palace.

It was like a dark cloud was one the horizon, getting ready to sweep everyone away in a devastating storm; and he didn't like it. Not one bit.

"oof!" Kuzon exclaimed as someone suddenly ran into him at full speed. With a twist, Kuzon was able to absorb the blow and merely fall to his knees instead of being thrown to the ground, but he still glared up at the young soldier who had dared run through the palace halls.

"Boy!" Kuzon snapped, as the young man swallowed and looked about seconds away from pissing his pants. "What do you think you were doing, running like that in the palace?! Tell me, are we being invaded?"

The soldier swallowed. "No."

"Are there enemies on our doorstep?"

"No."

"Has someone attempted to kill one of the Royal Family?"

The soldier swallowed again and said, "No."

"Then tell me why you thought it was a good idea to sprint through the halls like a child! What do you think would've happened if it was Prince Ozai or Lu Ten that you ran into, hmm? Or what if you had crashed into the Fire Lord himself?"

The young man fell to the ground in a bow, muttering over and over again how sorry he was.

Rolling his eyes, realizing that he may have been a bit rough on the lad – maybe he was getting old – he pulled the soldier to his feet.

"Now, that's enough of that. What's your name, boy?"

"Zhao." The man muttered, still eyeing Kuzon like he was about to kill him or something. He must've heard of him. "Lieutenant Zhao."

Kuzon nodded, "Well then, Lieutentant Zhao. I am sure you are expected somewhere. Just try not to sprint through the halls like a pack of catgators are on your heels next time, alright?"

Turning on his heel, Kuzon walked away, only for a sharp pain suddenly piercing his back to send him back to his knees. Pain overwhelmed him as he felt the knife withdraw from his back, and he was kicked to the ground.

Blood pooled around him as Kuzon tried and failed to focus. His vision was already gone, and he knew, even before the blade struck him for the second time, that he didn't have much time left.

"You shouldn't have turned your back." Zhao muttered in his ear, as he kicked him over so that he was lying on his back. "You might've stood a chance, otherwise."

With one final thrust, the blade pierced Kuzon's heart; and the Avatar's friend died. Zhao's knife in his chest and Ozai's chuckle being the last thing he heard.

'Aang, I failed you.'