The Unfortunate Adventures of Fire Lord Zuko

Part One – The Fire Nation

Zuko stood just outside the palace doors, watching the familiar bison rapidly shrink in to the distance. He sighed quietly and turned to go back inside, spotting his uncle in the doorway.

"Ah," Iroh mused. "I will miss having a palace full of laughter." He looked Zuko in the eye. "You did not wish to travel with them?"

"My place is here." Zuko said simply and moved past Iroh, returning to the confines of his palace.

The older man gazed at the clear sky and smiled. "Perhaps not."

'You finally got what you wanted.'

'... Yeah, I guess I did.'

'Be happy now Zuko. Please?'

'... I'll try.'

Mai was a quiet person.

When she wasn't speaking she was studying those around her and had quite the gift for picking up on the small nuances of a person. That is why it was clear to her that Zuko was distracted and – dare she say it? – bored. His gaze would often drift towards the window when he was in conversation with her, his hands would fiddle with the sleeves of his robes and, most disconcertingly, his attention was easily captured anytime they passed by water.

Mai was a lot of things, but a fool was not one of them.

'So Ba Sing Se huh?'

'Yeah... to start at least. The boys want to travel now that we won't be hunted wherever we go.'

'Hm.'

'You could – ah, never mind.'

'What?'

'Nothing, I just... well you could always come with us.'

'Come with you?'

'Yes, with me... and the others.'

'I can't. I have a country to lead now.'

'Right yeah, of course. Silly idea.'

'But-'

'What?'

'You could stay here if you wanted. The others too obviously I mean... anyone is welcome and-'

'I can't. Someone has to make sure Aang and Sokka don't starve... Toph too for that matter. At least I know you'll be cared for here right? You have Mai.'

'... Yeah.'

"What do you mean you want me to leave? This is my palace!"

Mai rolled her eyes at the slight whine in Zuko's voice. "I'm not kicking you out. Your Uncle and I are in agreement however, that you need to leave."

Zuko frowned. "What?"

"Leave, travel, enjoy yourself. However you want to put it doesn't matter, just go do what you know is right. You're choking the palace with your gloom."

Zuko found that quite a galling statement to come from Mai of all people but shook his head. "But I thought we –"

"Yeah. So did I. Except there's nothing there is there? If we're being honest it was just a remnant for childhood that we never quite let go of. Besides, you're not that great a catch."

Zuko knew she was trying to lighten the mood in her own way and relaxed slightly. "How am I just supposed to up and leave? I'm Fire Lord now."

Mai studied him for a moment and mentally said goodbye – she could read him like a book and knew that he would be out of the Fire Nation within the week. "Go speak with your Uncle."

'So you're heading out tomorrow then?'

'Looks that way.'

'I've got the cooks preparing a farewell dinner to that you all for what you've done.'

'There's no need. We just did what was right, and you helped too or did you forget?'

'Now you sound like the Avatar. I think you're just one step away from shaving your head and riding oversized animals.'

'Very droll... you'll come and visit won't you? When we're in Ba Sing Se or wherever else we end up?'

'Of course.'

'It's strange.'

'What is?'

'We were so focused on finishing the war we never thought about what would happen afterwards. It doesn't seem right that we won't be together as a group have all those ridiculous adventures anymore.'

'I have no doubt that your brother and Aang will stop getting themselves in to trouble. Besides, as I recall you were pretty much against me joining your group to begin with.'

'I guess you grew on me.'

Iroh had expected the complaining and protests from his nephew, but had also know that there would be no heart behind the arguments and that Zuko would be easily worn down. As such Iroh was stood at the docks pressing a neatly wrapped package into his nephew's hands exactly as he had anticipated. "Tea. Make sure you drink at least three cups a day. It's good for you."

"Yes Uncle."

Iroh looked at the boy who was like a son to him and smiled. Zuko had abandoned his formal robes and was wearing clothes very similar to what he wore while travelling with the Avatar. In his red shirt accented in gold and darker trousers tucked in to boots, he wouldn't stand out too much. He had abandoned his crown for the time being and his hair was left loose around his face.

Iroh folded his hands in his sleeves and nodded. "I think you are all set. Are you sure you would not like to have a ship chartered? It could be easier."

"But wasteful and slow. I'm fine with the merchant ship Uncle."

"Very well. Have a safe trip Zuko. Tell the others I said hello."

'Did you enjoy this evening?'

'Yes, it was most generous of you, Fire Lord Zuko.'

'Very funny. You'll miss this when you're back to eating rations coated in lemur fur.'

'Maybe I will miss this. Shame you can't have the best of both worlds, isn't it?'

'… I've never held much sway by that saying. Spoiled prince remember?'

'Then I hope you're right. Maybe it's good to be selfish sometimes.'

So I was drinking jasmine tea at work which made me think of Iroh, and in turn this came to my mind. Looks like I can't stay away from ATLA stories for too long.

As things are looking now it will be a short-ish story but it comes with the added benefit of messing with Zuzu.

Two chapters already written, though I doubt very much there will be any fixed update schedule but I will try my very best to be somewhat regular about things.

Regardless of that, I hope you enjoy this fic. I'm rather looking forward to it.