Chapter seven (APC)

It's been a busy last few weeks. I've been robbing wealthy Earth Kingdom citizens and performing assassinations, I killed hundreds; under the guise of my other assassin persona. I've hoarded more wealth for my plans and made sure I don't have to keep Aang moving. With my previous elimination of the Freedom Fighters, they didn't destroy a village. I avoided the storm and even the entire situation. I recently took us into hiding near the Pohuai Stronghold. I've also maintained my strength and abilities, during the last few weeks too.

I've already verified Zhao's promotion and spying revealed that Ozai simply regards Zhao as a useful idiot. I'm currently discussing the Avatar with my crew.

"We haven't caught the trail of the Avatar in weeks, Prince Zuko!" My captain says, in concern. "If we continue to head northeast..." Great! Saved by the Fire Nation Cruiser! One pulls up next to mine.

"What do they want?" I ask, already knowing the answer.

"Perhaps, a sporting game of Pai Sho!" Uncle suggests, unhelpfully.

"I doubt our luck is that good, uncle." I say, in slight amusement.

A soldier from the other ship walks in.

"The hunt for the Avatar has been given prime importance. All information regarding the Avatar must be reported directly to Admiral Zhao." He says, to me.

"Zhao has been promoted? Well, good for him!" Uncle says, as he makes a move in his Pai Sho game, the other player slaps his hand against his own forehead in frustration for his defeat.

"I have nothing to report. Remind Zhao of my warning, unless he wants to die; him being an Admiral changes nothing about the consequences of disregarding it. He's just a weakling hiding behind a nation full of people greater than he. Now get out of my sight and deliver that message to that son of a common whore." I say, unnerving the soldier. He quickly leaves.

"I'm retiring to my room, to think." I say, before teleporting there.

I decide I'll wait till night fall and free Aang. Sadly, I have to wait on killing Zhao. Though I will enjoy Zhao's death and eternal torment, I may even go mock him again.

*Flashback*

I had heard from Tenzin, that Zhao was trapped in the Fog of Lost Souls, so naturally I decided to go gloat. I calmly walk into the fog, having long ago conquered my fears. I enter the fog, unaffected and can clearly see Zhao in the
distance. I calmly walk to him.

"Hello, Zhao." I say, with a sneer.

"I am Zhao, the Conqueror. I am the Moon Slayer. I will capture the Avatar." He says, semi-aware.

"Your a loser, who failed." I say, enraging him. He moves to attack me and I punch him. "I win, Zhao. Your very name is mocked and derided. Mine is praised, revered, and worshiped. The moon is back in the sky and Aang lived a reasonably long and happy life." I say, in cruel amusement. "Did I mention, I'm a former Fire Lord?" I say, and Zhao shakes in rage.

"I am Zhao the Conqueror. I am the Moon Slayer. I will capture the Avatar." Zhao says. Sadly, I won't get to enjoy my gloating. The spirits hold on him is far too strong.

"Pity." I say, before leaving the fog. When I'm out, I use my recently acquired alternative form of teleportation and leave the Spirit World.

End Flashback

I'll just have to make sure to gloat, before he dies this time. I guess I'll read till night fall, though I really do need more interesting hobbies. Training is out of the question, I highly doubt I can achieve new feats. I mostly train to maintain my current capabilities, which are incredible.

I'm disturbed from my reading, an hour later, by a knock on my door.

"Enter." I say and uncle promptly does so, closing the door behind him.

"Is everything okay? It's been almost an hour and you haven't given the men an order." Uncle says, in concern.

"Everything is fine. I'm going out at nightfall to free the Avatar, from Zhao's custody." I say, to uncle's concern and disapproval. "I'll be fine, uncle. I could destroy entire armies, if I wanted too. The first time I freed the Avatar I had substandard firebending and a high level of proficiency in swordplay. Now, I have unparalleled mastery of firebending and all known and theorized sub-skills. I'm a master of swordplay, chi-blocking, and knife throwing. As well as many other abilities." I say, impressing uncle.

"I just worry about you, Zuko." Uncle says, though I can tell he won't stop my mission.

"I know, but I'll be fine. The strategy I'm going to use avoids conflict." I say, to uncle's relief.

"Good. It's almost nightfall now." Uncle says, causing me to look to the window.

"Yes, it is. By the way, when I return I'll place my broadswords on the wall. I'll need them as evidence that I freed the Avatar from Zhao's custody." I say, to uncle's confusion.

"Why do you want him to know?" Uncle asks.

"So that he'll try killing me." I say, to his anger. "I'll be safe off the ship. I just need to see if the pirates still perform it. If they do, I'll hunt them down and kill them all. If my confiscation of ill-gotten assets and sinking of their ships didn't work, then I'll just kill them all." I say, to uncle's horror.

"The problem has to be contained, at all costs." I say, emphatically.

"Okay, Zuko. I just wish you didn't have to do all the killing." Uncle says, sadly and in resignation.

"I know. I wish the killing wasn't required to decisively deal with the threat, but it is." I say, with false sadness. All the life-force I'll absorb will greatly extend my lifespan. The more life-force I have, the more I can give to my family.

"It's nightfall now, nephew. I'll cover for you. Just be careful." Uncle says, rising from his seat.

"I will. Thank you, uncle." I say, before teleporting to my hideout.

When I arrive. I go to the room, that I prepared for myself and grab my Blue Spirit costume. I quickly put it on and grab my swords. I teleport into Pohuai Stronghold, directly into the room Aang's imprisoned in.

I appear right in front of Aang, who tries jumping in surprise. I put my finger over my mouth, to indicate he should be silent. I point at the chains binding him, then gesture to my swords. He thankfully understands. I draw my swords, quickly cut the chains and teleport us to the swamp below the herbalists institute. I point at the swamp, he quickly gets more frogs.

"Thanks! Some of mine thawed out. I need to get back to my friends, but thanks again." I offer him my arm. He looks at it in confusion, but takes it. I teleport us to near his camp. I gesture towards the direction of it. "Thanks!" Aang says, before running off. I can't help but smile behind my mask, because of childish behavior. I teleport back to my hideout.

When I arrive, I quickly change back into my normal clothes. As I mentally review my mission, I realize; I wasn't seen with my broadswords. In fact my plan completely avoided being seen. Needless to say, I don't feel like someone with multiple degrees in engineering and the sciences right now or a brilliant strategist. I'll just call this a one off. I realize I've gotten distracted and teleport back to my room.

I arrive to find uncle waiting on me.

"How did it go?" Uncle asks, in concern.

"It was easy." I say, in amusement.

"Good." Uncle says, in relief. I really hate being doubted.

"I forgot I had to be seen when freeing the Avatar, so I'll have to goad Zhao into having me killed." I say, regretfully. "It didn't even cross my mind, while I was strategizing. I'll make sure to double check my next strategies." I say,
uncle looks torn between concern and amusement.

"How dare you not succeed in your plan to get yourself killed." He says. Amusement it is then.

"I know. It's unforgivable." I say, playing along and making uncle laugh.

"What will you do next?" Uncle asks.

"I'll just wait, kill time till the next event. I may consider further training, but I doubt I can get much more skilled." I say, to uncle's skepticism. "I spent centuries of constant study and training, mastering the art. I can even control metal to an extent. I can control lava, heated air, and heated water. I even considered expanding the Fire Nation's islands with my lavabending, which I may do." I say, succeeding in impressing him.

"It would be a worthwhile project, to undertake in your spare time." Uncle says.

"Then I may do so. I certainly need productive hobbies." I say, omitting the fact I'm re-reading battle strategy.

"What have you been doing?"

"Mostly studying battle strategy. I'm so good at it I defeated Zhao, the Fire Nation, and myself. None of them even saw it coming." I say, causing uncle to laugh.

"On the plus side, I've managed to conquer myself. Though I doubt that's what people have in mind, when they say that. And I'm not giving up lust or any other vices. I enjoy them too much." I say, getting both amusement and disapproval from uncle.

"What happened to me, in the future?" Uncle asks, changing the subject.

"Well..."

*Flashback*

I had been in Ba Sing Se for a week, sitting by uncle's bedside. I got word of his rapidly failing health from Jin, his assistant, and my one time love interest and later sexual conquest.

"The time is getting close, everyone." Uncle says, to everyone's sadness. "I need to talk to my nephew, before I pass on." Everyone understands and begins exiting. Uncle and I are alone, moments later. "I know that you are displeased
with how your life has went, but I also know you. I know you will find a way to fix your life, your persistence is one of your greatest qualities. Even considering your ever growing power and abilities." Uncle says, to my shock and
surprise.

"Yes. I'm well aware of your incredible work. Jeong Jeong spoke very highly of you, he called you a Fire Lord he would serve with pride; a true firebending master. Lo and Li weren't exactly secretive about your power either. They
boasted that you were greater than your sister. I've heard whispers of your more secretive plots and intrigues." He says, though I'm not surprised he's aware of it. "I approve, Zuko. You avenged the attack upon your nation with wisdom. You dealt a severe blow, reducing the Earth Kingdom's ability attack in the future."

"You have the best qualities of your parents, sister, and myself. That is why I can die in peace, I know that you are an unbeatable Fire Lord. As long as you rule, the nation will remain strong." Uncle says, forever etching those words
on my mind. "I trust you to know your limits, where to draw the line on attacks or defense. You need no longer fear being a tyrant. I'm proud of you, Zuko. My son in all but blood." Uncle says, he seems to be done talking.

"Thank you, uncle. I'll continue my path then and strive to continue making you proud."

"Okay. Let everyone back in. I have more things to say, which I want you to hear." Uncle says. I quickly go to the door and open it.

"You can all come back in." I say, and they quickly do so.

"Now I have some things to say to some of you, which you may not like hearing. But I'm dying, so I have to get it out." Uncle says, causing me to raise an eyebrow; as do several others. I have a sneaking suspicion, that I'll enjoy
this.

"Aang," Uncle says and he steps forward, somewhat nervously. "You shouldn't have allowed yourself to be bullied by Katara, in regards to legalizing bloodbending. You, Katara, Sokka, and the biased Earth Kingdom representative are all responsible for the deaths that could have been prevented. Thousands by now." Uncle says, to everyone's shock.

"Katara, you disgust me. I want you to know that I consider you as bad as my family. Though instead of outright evil; your self-righteousness. arrogance, and ego have killed thousands. You believed you knew best, when I'm well aware you secretly practice your own bloodbending." Uncle says, to everyone's shock. "Yes, I'm well aware. Now, so is everyone else."

"It was so I can counter other bloodbenders and defeat them!" She exclaims angrily, though I sense a lie.

"You and Aang are welcome to go discuss it elsewhere." Uncle says, dismissing them and making it clear that he has no interest in them being here. They understand and leave.

"Sokka," Uncle says and he steps forward. "You shouldn't have voted purely in support of your sister. Your duty was to the republic, not just your sister. The Northern Tribe absorbed the Southern Tribe, in time they will further assert their control and eventually a war will happen. A war you could have prevented." Uncle says. Sokka bows his head and just walks out, though, I see he's considering what uncle has said.

"Toph," Uncle says, with a smile. "I'm have nothing bad to say about you, I just want you to know that I'm proud to have been your friend." Uncle says, causing her to smile.

"I'll miss you, Iroh." Toph says, sadly.

"I'll miss you too. If you ever enter the Spirit World, come find me. That goes for both of you." Uncle says, gesturing towards Toph and I.

"I will." We both say, at the same time. Getting a look of amusement from uncle.

"I've already said my goodbyes to Jin and I have left her the Jasmine Dragon. I would have had her here, but your history with her would make things awkward." Uncle says, making Toph laugh.

"Meaning Sparky slept with her and never contacted her again." Toph says, in amusement. That is my pattern, she's one of many who fell to my sword. My flesh sword.

"Yup. I was thanking her for looking after you." I say, to Toph's amusement and uncle's resignation. "I thanked her for hours." I say, before laughing. Toph joins me moments later. I'm glad my mother and Kiyi didn't feel up to traveling.

"Anyone else you have 'thanked'?" Uncle asks, in amusement.

"Mai, Ty Lee, Suki, a bunch of other girls you don't know. Over thirty." I say, to uncle's shock. Good thing I omitted June's name, he would be jealous.

"Aw, Sparky. Where's my thank you?" Toph asks, in amusement, though I can tell she's serious.

"In my bedroom, I'll give it to you sometime." I say, with a smile. Toph looks interested.

"Excuse me. Old man dying here." Uncle says, in amusement.

"An extremely old man." I add unhelpfully, getting a false angry glare from uncle and a snort of amusement from Toph. "If you cough or sneeze too hard, does dust come out?" I ask, making them both laugh. "I'll miss you, uncle."

"I'll miss you too." Uncle says, sadly. "But, one day we'll see each other again."

"Yeah." I say, with a tiny smile.

We spend the next few hours talking, until uncle says it's time.

"Goodbye, uncle." I say, sadly.

"Bye, Iroh." Toph says, just as sadly.

"Goodbye," Uncle says, with a smile; before going into meditation. I watch his spirit rise from his body and vanish into the Spirit World.

"He's gone." I confirm sadly.

"Yeah." Toph says, exhibiting her spiritual awareness.

End Flashback

"In short, you lived a long happy life. You died in your nineties, with a smile on your face." I say, to uncle's happiness. "But, don't take that for granted. You can't just assume it's an absolute and not do your best." I say sternly.

"I understand, nephew." Uncle says, with a smile. "What happened between Toph and yourself?"

"I thanked her many, many times, until her looks faded." I say, to uncle's annoyance. "Don't worry, we were still good friends after that." He doesn't seem to approve of my humor.

"You don't plan to womanize again, do you?" Uncle asks in concern.

"No. I plan to get married young, form a small group of viable heirs, which I will test extensively. I have no immediate plans to sleep around." I say, to his relief.

"Good. I think I'll turn in early." Uncle says, rising from his seat. "Goodnight, Zuko."

"Good night, uncle." I say, as he opens the door. He exits moments later.

Soon, I'll be able to take a little vacation.