Destiny is a funny thing. One minute you're working in a tea shop taking orders from some pompous asshole and the next you're trapped inside an underground cavern with a girl who you've spent half a year chasing after with the intention of capturing her friend and taking him back to a nation that wants his head on a platter. As you could probably imagine, things were not exactly looking good for me. Then again, nothing ever has. I've always had to struggle and fight for everything I've ever wanted. But that's how I want it. As much as I'd like to have things go my way just for once, I know that I wouldn't be the same if things were easy for me. I wouldn't have the same experiences. I wouldn't have the same mindset. I wouldn't be.. me.

On that note, I should probably introduce myself.

My name is Zuko, son of Ursa and Firelord Ozai. Prince of the Fire Nation and heir to the throne. Or.. at least I used to be. Three years ago I was banished and sent on an impossible mission to find a missing relic of the past, the Avatar, the only being capable of opposing the Fire Nation and putting an end to a war that had spanned nearly a century. A war against everyone and everything that refused to bow down to one man, my father.

I am no fool. A small part of me knew that this was just a facade for Him to get rid of me. With me out of the way, the throne was open for my younger sister, Azula. I knew perfectly well how worthless I was in His eyes. But if there is one thing my family is known for besides war, it's our stubbornness. I took that part of me that questioned my Father and I tore it shreds. Every piece that doubted my mission, my loyalty to the man who scarred me forever, was ripped and thrown into the deepest, darkest corners of my subconscious. There would be no looking back for me. I could not afford to dwell on the past or wallow in my own self pity. I just couldn't. Doing so would only be admitting my failure, and it would ruin me. There is only so much failure a man can take before he finally breaks.

So I kept looking.

My sole purpose in life now was to capture the Avatar and bring him home in chains.

Nothing else mattered.

Nothing else could matter.

Life outside of my purpose was simply a distraction waiting to lead me astray. But my resolve was stronger. I swore to myself that I would find him, and find him I did. The most powerful bender to ever walk this earth. A being said to contain the knowledge and power of over a thousand lifetimes, all rolled up in the spirit of one twelve year old kid. Nothing could have prepared me for that moment. I was fully aware of the power of the Avatar. I held no illusions that I could win, after all, this was a being that could flatten mountains with a stomp of his feet and cause typhoons with a wave of his hands. I had trained myself mentally, physically, and spiritually for this moment, but even that could not possibly help me in a fight someone that held that kind of power. I was prepared to die, but I wouldn't go down without a fight. Yet while I had trained with the expectation of fighting a 100 year old man, what I got was a kid who hadn't even reached puberty yet. Once again, fate had decided to spit in my face. To add insult to injury this child managed to not only elude me time and time again, he also managed to make me look like a fool while doing it.

But I didn't hate him. I may have gotten angry and frustrated to the point where I would blow up over every little thing, but I didn't hate him. How could I? In the rare moments where I was alone, my thoughts break free. He was just a kid. A kid who was forced into an impossible situation with an impossible burden to carry forth. And in that I realized that he was just like me. That only made me even more angry though. It made me angry because even though he was the last of his kind and had the weight of the whole world on his shoulders, he still had the ability to put a smile on his face. What kind of person does that! Perhaps all that air he bends went straight to his head.

But none of that matters now. Right now I'm stuck in an underground catacomb with an increasingly irate waterbender. Soon I would face a choice that would alter the foundations of this world in ways I could not even begin to imagine, for better or for worse.

And the best part of it?

This world would not be the only world that would be affected.

Author's Notes:

Okay, so here's my first story, a crossover between two of my favorite shows, One Piece and Avatar, featuring my favorite character from Avatar, Zuko. I wanted to write a story about Zuko because one, there's not enough crossovers featuring him. It's my hope that this will soon change, but it is what it is.

I wanted to get this story started and what better day to get it out than on the very day our Nation celebrates it's Independence?

Anyway, just note that I will alternatively switch between first person, mainly form Zuko's POV, and third person. Go ahead and leave comments on which style you find better so that I can work on improving the other. Feel free to leave any other comments on things that you feel should be improved or any other things that you wish me to add in.

Also, I don't plan on this being the only crossover in this story, it's just that the world of One Piece will be the main world where all the other crossovers will take place. I have a few other small crossovers that I plan on bringing in at some point down the line, but it won't be for a while. Go ahead and leave any suggestions for animes or cartoons or even live-action shows / books that you'd like me to look into, I'm pretty open to anything as long as I know the plot of the show and some other little details. I like to know about it before I write it.

As for pairings, I don't really have anything in mind, so feel free to voice your preferences. I'll add in some interactions and only a few OC's that I think will be interesting in order to help, but I'll also add in suggestions that I like as well. The only condition I have is that I want the pairing with Zuko, should he have one, to be a crossover one.

I hope you all enjoy it, and Happy 4th of July to you all!

Peace.