Chapter five (APC)

I've spent the last few days resting, only training to keep my skills at the highest possible standard. It's currently the day of the Winter Solstice and I'm about to leave for Crescent Island. I have decided I need make sure Aang doesn't get captured by Zhao, who's sadly back on duty. I'm currently walking onto the deck, where uncle is playing Pai Sho and drinking tea.

"Uncle, I'm going on that hunting trip I mentioned. I've ordered the helmsman to bring the ship to a meeting point." I say, with a smile.

"Be careful, Prince Zuko." Uncle says, in concern.

"I always am, except for when I'm not." I say and uncle doesn't look amused. "I'll try to, uncle."

"That's all I ask, nephew." Uncle says.

"Bye, uncle." I say, before teleporting to Crescent Island.

When I arrive, I patiently wait near the sanctuary doors; in an out of sight place.

I wait two hours, while sitting in a meditative position. Finally Shyu leads them to the sanctuary door. I patiently watch history repeat itself, the failed attempt to open the sanctuary door with explosives; then the trick. The Fire Sages arrive and open the door and Aang successfully enters the sanctuary, unopposed. The door seals with a blinding flash of light.

"Why did you help the Avatar?" The Great Fire Sage asks.

"Because it was once the sages' duty. It is still our duty." Shyu replies, both sad and proud.

A clapping noise interrupts the interrogation. Zhao approaches with six firebender guards. "What a moving and heartfelt performance. I'm certain the Fire Lord will understand, when you explain why you betrayed him." He's not completely talentless after all. Unfortunately movers won't be around for over seventy years, his talents in the dramatic arts will never be appreciated. Oh well, this bastard is best forgotten anyway.

"Commander Zhao." The Great Fire Sage says, with his palms placed together and head bowed forward.

"He's a captain actually, at least I'm fairly certain he is. Though he is a very forgettable person, so I could be wrong." I say, revealing myself.

"Two traitors in one day, the Fire Lord will be pleased." Zhao says, motioning his guards to restrain me.

"Touch me and I will make you beg for death." I say, coldly and with a murderous glare. I reveal my blue fire and they quickly go back to where they were standing. "Zhao I am not a traitor and if you ever call or imply that about me; I'll burn the rest of your body. You insufferably annoying, pathetic waste of life and bending." I say, before pausing to calm down. "Furthermore I've proved I'm not a traitor feel free to ask my father how. Anyway, You're too late, Zhao. The Avatar's inside and the doors are sealed."

"No matter." He says, grinning confidently. "Sooner or later, he has to come out."

"And you think you can stop an Avatar?" I ask in amusement. "I doubt you can beat a toddler." I say, mockingly; causing Sokka, Katara and Shyu to laugh.

"When those doors open, unleash all your firepower!" Zhao shouts angrily. I snort derisively and stand where Roku can hurt me, unconcerned about injury.

"How's Aang gonna make it out of this?" Katara asks, worried.

"He will probably send all these idiots running away." I answer getting a glare from Katara. "Oh you were asking your sister." I say with false realization, getting an indignant noise from Sokka.

The door glows bright white once again. Smoke streams come through into the room. The door unlocks itself, beginning to open. As it opens, a blinding white light forces all present to look away.

The light fades, revealing a pair of glowing white eyes in the darkness.

"No! Aang!" Katara yells, terrified.

"He's fine. And he's not Aang right now." I say, with false, but obvious concern. "Your about to see a proper firebending master, the likes of which you will rarely meet in modern times." I say with a smirk; getting a confused look from Katara and an angry look from Zhao.

"Fire!" Zhao yells, having realized that was a subtle insult directed to him. He and his guards cooperate in blasting fire onto the unseen target.

The wall of fire amasses, circling It's new host as Avatar Roku, eyes aglow, is revealed behind the flames, untouched. Zhao looks like he's about to wet his pants.

"Everyone meet Avatar Roku, who's possessing Aang. I advise you all to run." They look at me like I'm crazy. "Don't worry, I'll survive. You weaklings won't. Zhao certainly can't, I've seen toddlers with more skill and power than him."
I say, mockingly. Sokka and Shyu snort in amusement. Zhao glares murderously at me. I point at Roku. "Pay attention, amateur."

Avatar Roku draws the circling fire together in one motion. He sends it forward in one powerful wave that sears the room, blasting the offenders off their feet and melting the chains binding Katara, Sokka, and Shyu with precision. I merely shrug off the blow from Roku with my elemental barriers, that I quickly employed. The blast destroys the outer wall. Avatar Roku turns his glowing glare upon the offending sages. The sages panic, all turning to run from his wrath.

"Cowards!" I yell in amusement.

"Avatar Roku is going to destroy the temple! We have to get out of here!" Shyu implores us.

Roku kneels into a forward strike, melting the floor with a molten firebending trail. He steadily lifts his hand, causing the stream of lava below to erupt into maddened explosions. The lava soars through the temple, tearing it apart.
Zhao and his firebenders are shown fleeing for the temple's exit.

"Yeah! Run little Zhao! Go cry to your whore mother!" I yell, taunting the idiot, who stops just long enough to glare murderously at me. After he disappears from sight, I begin calmly walking out.

I eventually grow bored and teleport to my room. I take a seat on my bed and begin meditating for spiritual projection. If my instincts are correct; I have trials to crash, mine and the Fire Sages.

Line break-remove text and replace.

I project my spirit and conceal my presence from the others.

I wait two hours and finally the sages are brought before my father, Fire Lord Ozai and my sister Azula. Zhao personally drags the Great Fire Sage into the throne room.

"Now, then. Your here under accusations of treason and to testify on the allegations of the treason of my son Zuko." Ozai says, coldly. "Now, did you all aid the Avatar?

"Yes, the--" Zhao tries to lie.

"No! We did not! Only Shyu did, Zhao is trying to frame us." The Great Sage says, getting an angry look from Zhao.

"I confess to the crime. And the Great Sage is telling the truth." Shyu says, essentially ruining Zhao's attempt. "Furthermore, I believe he's trying to frame your son too." Shyu says, causing Ozai give Zhao a glare. "Prince Zuko claimed to have given Zhao those burns. He called his mother a whore. He said he's seen toddlers with more power and skill than Zhao." Azula smirks in amusement. "He also said that he doubts he could defeat a toddler. He called Zhao a waste of life and bending." Azula bites her lip to avoid laughing. "In short Zhao simply wants revenge."

"Is this true, Zhao?" Ozai asks, looking at Zhao murderously.

"No, Fire Lord Ozai." Zhao lies, father doesn't believe him.

"Yes, it is." I say, revealing myself. Everyone looks shocked by my apparent daring. "Specifically, Zhao's mother is a very cheap whore and Zhao has firebending ability befitting his station of birth." I say, finally making Azula laugh.

"You weren't allowed to return to Fire Nation, Zuko." Father says, with genuine sadness.

"I'm aware. I'll even quote you verbatim: 'If you ever physically enter the Fire Nation, without good cause I shall kill you.' Why am I saying this, you must be thinking? Because I'm employing spiritual projection, as such I am not physically here. As such I haven't broken the terms of my banishment." I say, to fathers amusement and pride. Even Azula looks impressed.

"Well played, my son." He says, truly impressed.

"Thank you, father." I say, respectfully. "Anyway, I did say all the things Shyu said I did. Zhao is a joke, so I just do the natural thing and laugh." I say, getting a glare from said joke. "And goad him into accepting Agni Kai's he can't
win, which end with him getting burns that most likely ruined his pathetic
life." I say, with a smirk. Father's interest seems to piqued.

"I wanted to make sure he remembered his humiliation. Every time he looks in a reflective surface, a facial burn." I say, in a somewhat bitter tone. "Every time he takes a breath, a torso burn. Every time he takes a step, burns to the soles of his feet." I say, to everyone's respect and fear.

"Zuko, you are hereby cleared of the charge of treason." Father says. "Shyu will be imprisoned, for life. The other sages are free to go. Zhao you are also free to go: with the warning to never try framing another member of the Royal Family." Father says. I notice I wasn't dismissed. Uh oh.

Everyone but the family leaves the throne room.

"So, I'm told you know the Butcher of Gaipan and secretly trained him." Father says, to my nervousness.

"Yes and I did." Azula looks amused by my nervousness, but seems to believe me.

"And your uncle and cousin secretly trained you."

"Yes." I verify. Both believe me.

"Why did you want your training kept secret?" Father questions, to Azula's interest.

"So that when you or Azula finally tried disposing of me; you get a very unpleasant surprise." I say, to their amusement. "That and I enjoyed myself. I was always having to think of ways to be comically bad at firebending. My one mistake was thinking you wouldn't injure me, especially my face."

"Your one mistake?" Azula asks in amusement and partial sarcasm.

"Yes, my one mistake. All potential threats were put at ease and arrogantly exposed their beliefs, intentions, and preferences. While they were all mocking me, I had made list of threats to eliminate or watch." I say, to their
understanding. "Though sadly I was forced to shed my mask of weakness, when it became a liability."

"Your aware I want Shadow as potential husband for your sister?" Father asks, to the shock of Azula. She looks like she's about to speak, but father silences her with a glare.

"I am. He's unfit for marriage, he even has a few communicable diseases." I say, to fathers disbelief. "He's a firm believer in hiring professionals in their chosen fields, including prostitutes. In fact, the only reason I haven't killed him is because he's useful to me. He is extremely annoying, disrespectful, and vulgar. He once walked into an abbey and asked them if they're all really virgins, when they answered yes; he offered to cure them. They offered to
castrate him with a dull, rusty blade and he ran; not willing to chance that happening." I say, to father and Azula's amusement.

"I have only one more question, before your dismissed. How powerful are you really?" Father asks, making me smile evilly. They look unnerved by my smile.

"I could have destroyed you, with absurd ease and could have used your blood as fresh paint in the Agni Kai chamber." I say, to his anger. "I fought the Avatar, while he was in the Avatar State and dominated him. My only regret is that I had to fight him away from my ship and witnesses."

"Very well. Your dismissed." Ozai says. He doesn't seem to believe my claim of defeating the Avatar.

I will myself to return to my body.

I exit meditation, with a gasp of surprise. It's been a while since I've done that. I decide I should inform uncle I'm back.

I exit my room and begin walking to the deck, I'll look there first.

Fortunately, when I arrive; I find him there.

"Hello, uncle." I say, as he takes a drink of his tea.

"It seems everything went well." Uncle acknowledges.

"It did. I went to attend two trials with spiritual projection, one of them was mine." I say, to uncle's shock, surprise, and concern. "Don't worry, father was impressed by me finding a loophole in the terms of my banishment." I add,to uncle's relief. "Zhao came out of the trial looking bad. Only one Fire Sage was charged with treason, Zhao tried framing all of them. I also informed him of my defeat of the Avatar, which he didn't seem to believe. I can't have that. I need everyone to know, that I am greater than the Avatar." I say, to uncle's disapproval.

"Zuko, don't cross that line. The spirits are meant to be respected." Uncle advises, rather fiercely.

"Let's agree to disagree. I have no desire to harm or war with them, but if I can grow and become greater than the Avatar then I will. I will reach my full potential in every aspect of my being." Uncle seems placated by my statement,
that I have no desire to harm or war with them.

"We are nearing the location you specified, Zuko. What's the plan, when we are there?" Uncle asks.

"You'll need to miss place your white lotus tile and go on a shopping spree. During that time, I should overhear talk of Aang. But we'll mostly be concealed, just off the coast." I say and uncle nods in understanding. "I'm going to retire to my room for meditation and reflection."

"Okay, nephew." Uncle says, in understanding.

I teleport back to my room. My plans are all progressing well, I've sparred the innocent Fire Sages; as I promised uncle. I've made great progress towards creating a better legacy and small strides towards preventing It's destruction.
I will use my foreknowledge to prevent the criminal infestation in this new future. That way, I won't have to clean up a huge problem after It's created.

*Flashback*

I had spent months doing recon and gathering intelligence; on the criminal elements of the Fire Nation. I should have been able to eradicate the problem, before Izumi and her enablers arrive. My plan? The mass eradication of criminal
elements, on a national scale. Sadly, I was proven wrong and my disdain and distance for my daughter caused me to be unaware of the Avatar's visit. I had a brilliant plan; use energybending to make myself younger and impersonate
a rival claimant to the throne. Specifically my son, who I made up. I even used my ability to make shadow clones and energybending; to create an older version of myself, to impersonate me.

Sadly, that failed and 'we' are confronted by Izumi and Avatar Korra; backed by the Royal Procession and family.

"Why are you doing this, father?" Izumi asks my older clone.

"For the good of the Fire Nation. You allowed crime to infest it; you allowed It's sons to poison themselves and It's daughters to be raped in the streets. You are worse than Ozai himself!" It says, angrily. "Not because of any evil
intent, but, because of your own incompetence and selfishness! I have no choice, but to cleanse it of the criminal elements and put a stronger, dedicated, and more compassionate Fire Lord in charge."

"I can do better!" Izumi exclaims, though It's obvious she's only trying to protect her power.

"No, you cannot. You are my greatest shame, even now you only think of holding onto power. Protecting future generations from your weak rule is the absolute least I owe this nation." My clone says, before turning to Korra. "Remove the crown from her head and remove her from Fire Nation territory, or this escalates. She has caused far to much suffering to be allowed to continue ruling."

"You have killed thousands! Even if I do obey your order, you would both be imprisoned too." Korra says, angrily.

"If you fight, you die. I have foreseen your death, by my hand." My clone says, coldly. "I plan to keep advising my son and make sure his rule is stable. Izumi covered up most of the crime, deceiving the entire world. She quite obviously doesn't care!" He says, and Izumi attacks. He deflects it, and blasts her with a lightning bolt he stored up; right to the heart. Korra makes the greatest mistake of life: she attacks.

My clone dodges and blasts her, with a comet-enhanced level fire blast. When the smoke clears, It's revealed her body was completely destroyed. Iroh II and Ursa II attack. the Royal Procession remain standing; unsure of which side to pick.

We dodge their attacks and counter with comet-enhanced level bending; quickly forcing them into retreat. I send a fire disk at Irohs leg, when it hits he promptly falls. He's quickly killed by my clone. The Royal Procession has
chosen It's side, they've captured my grand-daughter and are holding her captive.

"Good, a wise choice." My clone says, drawing his broadsword and walking to where she's captured.

"No! Grandfather, please don't kill me!" She pleads, as he is finally within striking range.

"I can't take anymore chances with the Fire Nation." He says, before impaling her through the heart and spine;
instantly killing her.

"This is the beginning of a new era for the Fire Nation!" My clone proclaims. I know that, so long as I rule the Fire Nation will remain strong.

And it was, for over a decade.

End Flashback.

I had rebuilt the Fire Nation and made it better than ever. Sadly the world was displeased with my killing the Avatar.

*Flashback*

I united the world, sadly, it was united against me. I am lucky, however, that they misread my military build up; they thought I was going to start another war with the comet. They were daring enough to attack me during it. All the
nations of this world are at war with me, and losing. My nations territory is one gigantic mass grave. Among the dead; Chief Tonraq, the survivors of both Team Avatars, most of the Order of the White Lotus, most of the combatants of
the Water Tribes. All dead, because of their idiotic reverence of the Avatar; I've killed two Avatars now, the most recent was in the Avatar State.

I've added the chi and life-force several thousand people to my own, I'm at the height of my power.

"Fire Lord, Raizo." The captain of the Royal Procession says, using my alias.

"Yes, captain?" I ask, worried about his tone.

"Your reign has come to It's end." He says, boldly. The entire Procession enters the throne room.

"Perhaps, but none of you traitors will live to see it truly end." I say, before unleashing a massive blast of white fire; one of my many secret weapons. Most of the procession is killed in the blast, I draw my swords and teleport into a
group of survivors. I enhance my speed and begin slashing and stabbing, throats, hearts, and lungs.

Seconds later and they're all dead. I quickly repeat the process with the other group.

"Great. Now I have to rebuild the Royal Procession in addition to repairing my nation, again." I go outside, where I hear noise. I see a lot of nobility and commoners waiting. "What's the meaning of this?" I question angrily. I see
their shock at seeing me alive and understand.

"Kill him!" Someone shouts and everyone moves to do so. I just obliterate the idiots, with my white fire.

All my plans have ended with nothing! I have to abandon my palace; though I have no intention of leaving my wealth, and go into hiding. I fortify the location with obstacles and go pack.

End Flashback

And I did pack, I took all Fire Nation wealth and went into hiding. I later discovered my grand daughter survived and was behind my overthrow. The Fire Nation collapsed economically and militarily, she undid my work of repairing it. All the problems I solved were back, ten times worse. When I heard she was drug into the streets and murdered, I celebrated. I refuse to let these events happen again.