Avatar: The Last Airbender does not belong to me, no matter how many stars I happen to wish on...

Zuko groaned quietly as he struggled to sit up. He felt horribly stiff, as if he had been lying in one position for far too long.

Glancing around he found himself in a dark cave, with no memory of how he came to be there. In fact, he couldn't remember anything after his meeting with his father on the day of the black sun. He had managed to redirect his father's lightening back at the fire lord, but Azula had stuck up behind him while he was distracted and blasted him in the back. There had been a flash of searing pain, and then everything had gone dark.

A slight movement in the shadows caused him to spin around, his body instinctively adopting a firebending stance. "Who's there?" he called nervously.

There was silence, and another unnatural flicker of the light as whoever, or whatever was hidden in the shadows moved again, drawing nearer to were Zuko stood, yet still remaining unseen.

Growling crossly, Zuko punched out in the direction of the watcher, intending to use his fire to reveal whatever was hiding there. To his shock and horror nothing happened. His firebending didn't work.

"Hello Zuko," the figure in the shadows said, his face still masked by darkness. "It's been a while." His words were friendly, if disturbing.

"Show yourself," Zuko demanded crossly. "Or are you too afraid to show your face?"

"As you wish," the figure replied. He stepped forward into the dim light, revealing a familiar yet wholly unexpected face.

"Lu Ten," Zuko breathed in amazement, dropping his defensive stance. "How? I don't understand, aren't you supposed to be dead?"

Lu Ten nodded solemnly. "I am dead," he replied. "As are you. We are in the spirit world now. That is why your firebending doesn't work."

"Azula," Zuko muttered in realization. "She killed me."

Lu Ten nodded again. "I'm afraid so. It is sad to see what she has become."

"It's not fair," Zuko scowled angrily. "I finally realise my destiny and I'm killed before I can do anything about it." He punched the wall in frustration, bruising his knuckles in the process.

Lu Ten smiled softly. "Actually, that's why I'm here."

Zuko looked at him quizzically. "What do you mean?"

"You're being offered a second chance," he replied calmly. "An opportunity to fulfil your destiny and help restore balance to the world. The spirits can send you back for a limited period of time, in which you can teach the Avatar firebending – hopefully enough for him to be able to defeat the fire lord and end this war. It is up to you whether you wish to accept or not."

Zuko considered this for a moment, and then nodded firmly. "I'll do it," he decided, "but there is a good chance that they'll just kill me as soon as they see me."

Lu Ten smiled in amusement. "You're already dead," he pointed out. "It's not like they can kill you again."

Zuko smirked. "That's going to disappoint the Waterbending peasant," he remarked cheerfully.

"You must go back now," Lu Ten advised softly. "You only have three weeks to accomplish everything you need to, so use your time wisely. The spirits will bring you back into the mortal realm near the Western Air Temple where the Avatar and his friends are currently hiding so that you don't have to waste any time travelling."

Zuko nodded. "Thank you," he said. "I'll see you soon."

There was a flicker of darkness and Zuko disappeared, back to the mortal realm, leaving Lu Ten standing deep in thought within the dim cave.