Chapter Text
The air was cool on his face, a gentle caress on his scarred skin. In the dim light of his room, retired Fire Lord Zuko rested on a soft chair. The frame, made of carved whale-mouse bone and the cushion, polar rabbit-fox, a gift from sokka to commemorate the first anniversary of the Hundred year war's end.
The once vibrant blue dye used for it had faded, bringing with it melancholic memories.
Spars, get togethers disguised as ambassadorial meetings, the mourning of a close friend ended by old age and the cruel Southern winters.
A deep sigh left him as he watched the fading light of Agni dip below the horizon. The gentle clinking of wood brought his attention to the wind chime hanging by his window, it's handcrafted "bits and bobs" as Aang put it, drawing him to more innocent times.
Festivals in the heart of the fire nation, restoration projects for the air temples, terrible party tricks using a combination of marbles, fire bending and air bending.
The joy of discovering heat bending, taking the flowing intensity of fire bending mixed with air bending katas.
Fire benders controlling air currents with rising heat and air benders controlling heat with rising currents.
If Aang could see how much the forms they made together had grown he would make a sappy comment about how the world is healing and balance being restored.
He still will never forgive the spirits for taking payment for the Hundred years Aang slept in ice. Draining him of his energy at 66, an age Zuko now considers so young but living to 132 probably skewed his definition of who is young in his eyes.
The metal fan clutched in his hand dug into his old skin, the simple bronze and green weaponry bringing thoughts of suki's heartbroken declaration after sokka's death.
With determination in her eye she guarded the southern waters like a fierce deity. Her legend alone keeps pirates from entering the southern sea to this day, fearful of inciting her spirit's vengeful wrath.
With aching bones he stood, letting out a quiet sigh as he took a seat at his desk.
His hand stilled as he reached for ink and brush, a little outdated but master piandao always said calligraphy kept the mind sharp.
He contemplated trying to reach out to the Beifong's again in search of Toph. Hoping that the crafter of metal bending was still out there in hiding despite the lack of a letter in recent years.
While Toph never told the Gaang where she went in pursuit of learning every earth bending art there was, she did send letters to boast about her master or creation of bending arts.
Mud bending, sand bending, glass bending, metal bending, and the one she was the most proud of bone bending.
She had dislocated both, BOTH, of her arms while figuring out glass bending and having been weeks away from civilization she had to "get creative and get good" as she put it.
The revelation of an earth bending equivalent to blood bending had caused Katara great worry.
Ah, just what Zuko was trying to avoid thinking about.
Katara, the last of the Gaang he had contact with.
She died just three weeks ago, passing away in her sleep after her second great grandson was born. If there's one thing he knows it's that Soka is trying to find aunt wu in the spirit world to tell her her prediction was wrong.
He could imagine it now "Ha! You said she'd pass away after her third grandson, not second great grandson, was born." He'd triumphantly walk away then trip on a spirit rock and curse the universe for something like this always happening to him.
The thought brought a bittersweet smile to his face, though his heartache to see everyone again only grew.
Resting his head on the cool wood of his desk only soothed his growing headache a fraction. Perhaps it was Mai trying to beat him over the head for being so moody like they were when they were teenagers.
Funny how after a few years Mai's "grey aura" had brightened, Ty Lee had been ecstatic.
Maybe Ty Lee's grandkids would like to hear about "The Great Avatar Chase" as the Gaang came to call the shenanigans of their early years.
No.
Ty Lee specifically asked for her family to be left alone by royalty, so that in the generations to come there would be no Azula type hostage taking disguised as friendship.
He could understand where she was coming from but it still hurt.
Perhaps it hurt so much because he felt partly responsible for what Azula had turned into. If he had been a nicer brother would Azula have had more empathy? If he had tried to shield her from their father more would she have seen that her worth was as more than just a weapon to be broken and thrown away after its uses had run out?
Would she have fallen in love and had kids? Would he have nephews and nieces that would grow to be fine young men and women? People Izumi's age who would support her without judgement? Would Azula be old and cranky, telling him to stop moping like a dumb-dumb and go babysit her grandkids for her so she can relax?
He held many regrets but none were greater than not being there for Azula like his mother was for him, like his uncle was, like the Gaang was.
If he had just seen how the cruel words and fire was a cover for a scared girl who thought she was a monster. A girl who became one to save herself from the cruel hands of a father who knows no love, after all, if he could burn one child what could stop him from burning the other.
A knock at his door drew him from his spiral and with a call to enter Chen made his way to Zuko's desk.
With a short bow and a soft "your majesty" Chen handed him a letter. A quiet thank you and goodbye left him alone with his thoughts again.
Opening the letter with the knife he and Haru made during their "zuko Redemption field trip" together. Toph still hadn't had one and he's beginning to doubt she ever will.
It was from Iroh, the young man grew into the name and made it his own, Zuko couldn't be prouder of all he's done.
Apparently Rokai is having a child.
"That makes me a great great grandfather" the empty room didn't answer him but the news of Rokai and Kuzo finally settling down to start a family brought a warmth to his chest.
He remembers first meeting Kuzo, a happy-go-lucky air bender sweating like he'd walk into the mouth of a dragon, though considering Zuko arrived to the family get together on Druk, it's not too far off.
Rokai was dragging the poor lad around to meet some of the most powerful individuals in the world. When she finally got to zuko last the boy had calmed somewhat and Zuko, having won the game at the previous family get together, got the honour of giving the shovel talk the next time someone got a partner, couldn't have that.
He strolled up to Kuzo, smoke billowing from his nostrils and being nearly a head taller loomed over him.
And with a calm rumbling voice that held over a century of experience said "I hope I only have to tell you how good I am at hunting down air nomads across the world and not give a demonstration, am I clear?"
Kuzo looked ready to pass out and nodded, squeaking out "Of course sir, understood sir".
Zuko couldn't hold it any longer and laughed his ass off. With a pat on the back and offered game of Pai Sho, Zuko got to know his would-be great grandson in-law.
Zuko retired for the night with a sense of fulfilment.
While the family that he met in his travels are gone, the one he and his friends made remains.
Something soft lays beneath him, too soft to hold him and yet he doesn't fall through. His eyes are filled with a vast sky of unending sunset, the clouds to his right bathed in a golden orange glow while to his left shrouded in the gentle glow of the moon.
Night and day as one shares this realm, Agni and Tui's.
He felt a pull to his left, a soft tugging asking him to that final goodnight. Agni's gentle warmth encouraging him forward to his rest.
"I knew we would meet again, I'm glad it's under more favourable circumstances." The voice was familiar, an old memory rose up of a spirit oasis.
"It's good to officially meet you as well, new moon Yue."
She stood there in a flowing white dress on the edge of dawn and death.
Sokka had fondly told him of Yue, her ethereal beauty and kind heart. Somehow sokka didn't do her justice but it was probably some kind of spirit power that made her as hauntingly beautiful as a full moon hanging above the caldera.
Yue giggled before addressing him again "And here I thought Sokka was the only one with a knack for poetry in your group."
Zuko sighed and mumbled about mind reading youngsters picking on the elderly.
More giggles sounded but soon died down, Yue returning to her serious demeanour. Zuko sat up straighter and gave her his undivided attention.
"I suppose you've already figured out that you passed on" zuko gave a nod as she continued.
"La and I have a favour to ask of you." Yue's tone was diplomatic and her expression was a finely crafted mask, allowing no emotion through.
Zuko was filled with unease but nodded "whatever aid I could give two great spirits I'm willing to give."
Yue's mask cracked slightly, pity and remorse barely shining through. "You may change your mind once you hear what we ask."
Zuko politely motioned for Yue to continue
"La's heart is filled with grief and loss, my own is filled with regret and Agni hurts with the loss of his sister…" Zuko never thought him and Agni would share such a similar feeling "...so we have decided that what has happened shall not come to pass, we ask of you Zuko, save the moon spirit, Save Tui."
Zuko was at a loss for what to say, Save Tui? How could he? Tui was slain by Zhao at the siege of the north pole. Unless they can send him back in time then… surely they don't mean what he thinks they do. It's… it can't…
"It seems you figured it out, the cruel and kind path we wish to trust upon you." Yue's voice drew him from his mind.
"Please ask as many questions as you need and remember that we cannot force you to do this, the choice is yours."
Zuko didn't think on what he should ask, after all, there were only two that mattered.
"When will I be sent back to?"
Yue's expression changed subtly and her head turned just slightly to his right.
"Agni is the only one capable of sending you back but even he cannot determine when, only that it will be before Tui's death."
"I see, so it could be ten minutes before her death or right as I was born." he gave a tired sigh before standing "alright I'm ready."
Yue wore a look of shock "what about your second question?"
Zuko smiled "your in my head, you should know what it is."
She gave a small smile of her own "your right. Have no fear, your family will grow again as it once did."
With that final reassurance he decided.
Agni began to burn brighter, the warmth on his right grew, Hotter, Hotter, and Hotter until he jerked up off the soft grass.
In a panic he snuffed the flame that was growing on his clothes. Looking to the direction the sound of giggles came from he spotted a sight that had once left him feeling embarrassed and hurt.
Azula, Mai and Ty Lee were peeking out from behind a tree, the tree his father burnt down in the garden next to the turtle duck pond.
Where once Zuko would have left screaming at the top of his lungs about girls being insane, he laughed.
He laughed so hard tears began to form in his eyes, looking up at his Sister revealed her and her friends had stopped giggling to themselves.
An idea struck him, he was a kid, Azula was a kid, and he understood that now. So without further pause he set into action.
He employed years of learning to be intimidating into his smirk "That was funny Lala but now I'm going to get my revenge!"
He began to chase the trio around the garden. High pitch squeals let out as he caught Ty Lee and began tickling her till she cried uncle and moved to his next target.
Mai wasn't ticklish so he instead went for Azula, around the tree and through the turtle-duck pond until he caught her.
She started up at him smugly "tickling isn't going to work on me Dumb-dumb."
In response he let a dribble of spit hang from his lower lip, Azula recoiled with disgust as it hung inches from her face.
"Say your sorry or else." Zuko spoke slowly so as to avoid it dropping.
"Ew, you're so gross!"
"Say sorry."
"No!"
"Well, looks like you'll need to wash your face later!"
"Fine! Sorry!"
Zuko jumped up and wiped the spit away from his face. Azula sat there pouting before her face lit up with mischief. Faster than lighting she slapped his shoulder and screamed "Zuko's it!" Before running to Ty Lee and dragging her to her feet.
What followed was a nearly two hour game of tag. Mai never once got tagged and Zuko got tagged the most but it is safe to say this was the most fun they've ever had together.
Ursa couldn't find Zuko in his room, the theatre room, kitchen or the library. So that left one place left to look, the Turtle-duck pond.
She was worried about how harsh Ozai had been this morning when Zuko showed his progress with his Katas. She expected him to be rather upset once she found him and had brought some bread from the kitchen so they could feed the Turtle-ducks together, it always cheered him up.
She could hear the sound of Azula and her friends playing in the garden, she hoped whatever their playing Azula doesn't go overboard with. She's already worried about how violent she can get.
Her thoughts came to a halt once she reached the garden. Zuko was chasing the trio around before managing to tag one of Azula's friends and sprint past Azula.
The girl with braids then began to chase after Azula.
She ran past Zuko as he was talking with the dark-haired girl, the one with the braids tagging him as she ran past.
Zuko began the chase anew "Hey! No fair I was distracted!" Azula turned around while running to shout back "Alls fair in this game of betrayal Dumb-dumb!" A bright smile on her face as she ran past the Dark haired girl.
Ursa had never seen her children as bright as they were now. Any fear that Ozai's worst habits were being picked up by her youngest child calmed and her heart swelled as she watched them play.
Zuko was only just behind Mai, a little closer and her reign of tyranny as "the untaggable" will end. His thoughts came to an end when he heard the midday bells ring across the Caldera.
It was strange how quickly he could fall into his role as a kid again but as they say, no one stops being a child, they just forget how to be one. Now that he thought about it the world felt…bigger, not just in scale but in what it was.
It was as if he truly was his child self again. The air felt electrical, like the time he first lighting bent, a constant buzz of energy.
"Well you all look like you've had a grand time" Zuko's breath caught in his throat, the voice, the person he longed to hear again. In a well of joy he turned to see his mother stood there, just as he remembered her.
Long black hair done in a traditional style, flowing deep red robes and gentle smile.
He was in her arms before he knew what he was doing. His heart felt like it was being healed by a water bender, age old wounds were being reopened and healed all at once.
"What's the matter dear?"
That's exactly it, nothing was the matter. All his scars, his confusion, his feelings of self loathing, never happened.
His family is alive and no Ozai isn't included in that sentiment.
Ozai
And like that the world became real, his decision to change fate and save as many of his loved ones, to give a world with less regret.
His sudden tears stopped and he extracted himself from his mother's embrace.
"It's nothing, I'm just really happy" Zuko had never been a good liar in his early life, he learned how from years in court.
So when he flashed a small smile at his mother he could tell she bought it.
The moment was interrupted by one of the older servants striding towards them, scroll in hand. A long black ribbon hung from it, an emergency notification.
Dread pooled in Zuko's stomach as he watched his mother read through the report. There was only one reason a black ribbon message would be delivered directly to the royal family and not the pervading war minister.
"Your cousin, Lu Ten, has died" Ursa's wavering voice sunk into his brain. He felt strange. He had overcome the grief Lu Ten's death had racked through him a lifetime ago and yet it felt so raw to have a chance to save his loved ones only to lose one immediately.
With a quiet voice he broke the stunned silence. "I'll be in my room, I'd like to be alone for a while" before anyone could say anything he rushed to his room, his old room, and crawled into bed.
Tomorrow Ozai would try to usurp Iroh's place as crown Prince. He will lose his mother Tomorrow.
He rose with the sun as he always did, he began his routine only to stop half way through the warm ups. He didn't have time to do the full routine, Ozai always expected everyone at breakfast an hour after sunrise.
He said it was because his duties as the only fire Prince within the nation was time consuming, in reality he wanted to keep up appearances while ignoring them until later in the afternoon.
He had barely enough time to get changed and arrive before Ozai. He stayed silent and ate, even though every bite tasted like ash and he had to resist stabbing Ozai through the neck with a superheated metal chopstick.
Just as the meal was finally ending Ozai stood. "We will be having a meeting with the fire lord today, do as I say and nothing else" with that he strode out of the room.
Changing into a nice but not over the top outfit Zuko waited by pacing and thinking of how to salvage what was about to happen. He knew that his mother had escaped to the colony's after poisoning Azulon but he didn't know where or how she got there.
There isn’t an organisation powerful or skilled enough to smuggle a fire princess out of fire nation waters except the white lotus but the only operatives they have from the fire nation are Paidao and… Jeong Jeong… wait didn’t he desert the army around now? And it'd be easy to abscond to the colony's if the biggest news going around was about a high ranking general going turncoat.
But for the white lotus to be the ones to help her then she would have to have been a member.
Before he could doubt himself Zuko went to his mother's room and knocked on the door.
"Mother, can I come in?"
"Of course sweetie."
His mother's room is the same as he remembered. Theatre scrolls piled on her desk, her decor more of a red-brown instead of the traditional deep red and her going through her collection of hair pins.
Zuko walked up and grabbed a simple bronze one with the end decorated with an azure blue stone. "This one would look nice with your outfit." a small smile grew on his mother's face before putting it in place and looking in the mirror.
"Yes, I think you're right, it does look quite good doesn't it?"
He gave a nod, trying to think on how to bring up the white lotus without revealing he knows what they are.
"While I'm thankful you helped me pick out a pin I doubt that's only why you're here"
At his mother's prompt he finally got an idea.
"We have a while until the meeting is going to be happening, I was wondering if we could play Pai Sho?"
She gave him an amused look before pulling out a Pai Sho board and some cushions.
"Has your uncle gotten you into it?"
Sitting down and grabbing his pieces, Zuko got comfortable.
"No, uncle tried but the way he explained it was weird, Master Paidao actually showed me how to play".
That got a giggle out of her.
"Why don’t you go first then, Zuko?"
Picking up the white lotus and placing it in the centre of the play space Zuko watched his mother's reaction.
Confusion flickered across her face before placing down her own white lotus.
Breathless and without meaning to he said "I knew it".
"What?" His mother's confused and slightly concerned voice made him realise his mistake. Attempting to salvage the situation he blurted out the first thing he thought.
"You're a part of Paidao's Pai Sho club aren't you?" The concerned look disappeared and was replaced by amusement.
"How do you know about our club?" She said it with the ease of a parent hiding a dirty secret that they were sure their child would never know.
"Master Paidao was talking about it with some guy, it sounded boring but they did make the game look interesting".
"I'm sure they did." and with that his mother was none the wiser and he confirmed that his mother escaped with the help of the white lotus. The game ended with a victory for Ursa. Zuko is good at Pai Sho after so many years but Ursa is a monster at it.
The meeting with Azulon went the same as Zuko remembered. Ozai boasted, Azula demonstrated her skill. Zuko however, didn't attempt to show off to his soon to be dead grandfather. Ozai said he was a better heir than Iroh, Azulon tells everyone except Ozai to leave.
Azula pulls him aside to eavesdrop on them, Zuko leaves.
However this time he doesn't run to sulk in his room. He has half an hour until Ozai returns to his office, said office is being raided by Zuko for what he's looking for.
Surprisingly, he finds it in the top draw of Ozai's desk, the stamp of the royal family.
He removed the letter he drafted earlier and stamped it closed with deep purple wax. Without further delay he arrived in his room a few minutes before Azula came to taunt him.
Standing in his doorway and chanting "father's going to kill you!". She looked smug and ready to prove her claim with cruel words.
Zuko just smiled and said "I knew that lala, I'm not totally empty in the head. He wanted to throw me off a balcony the moment I was born."
Azula is smart. She knows she is because her instructors say so. A prodigy not seen since the era of Avatar Yang Chen. Her flames are an important tool but her mind is her greatest asset.
So yes, she's smart. Smart enough to know that Zuko is too soft to make it as a royal and definitely too soft to be a proper soldier. He's a crybaby and blind to the intre...intricacies of court.
So when Azulon orders Father to give Zuko to uncle, essentially bumping him up the line of succession above father, she gets a bit irritated. She plans to mock and lie about father going to kill him. Give him a good scare.
She expected anger, denial or crying. She knows Zuko better than anyone else.
But he fully believes that father wants to kill him, that he has the moment Zuko was born. There's no anger, sadness or outrage of any kind. There's resignation.
But there's no way father would actually… it'd be a waste of resources and effort to kill him… and how would he explain it to mother? Her mother who cowers before him, the man that all the servants cower before, the man hated by his own father and held at arm's length by his brother.
Her father, whose nephew died yesterday and didn't even feel disappointed at the young man's death. Who didn't bat an eye at the news. Who expected it.
Azula is smart and one of the most important things about being smart is pattern recognition.
And she could see a pattern.