Avatar Zuko

Chapter 18

3 Days Earlier:

“General Iroh, one of Admiral Zhao’s ships is requesting to board us.” Informed one of the crew with a short bow to the old general. Iroh nodded at the man and got up, preparing to speak to Zhao and taking quick note of his status change..

He'd been expecting the Admiral’s arrival, ever since he'd managed to track Zuko’s movements. The young firebender had gone from the pirates, to an earthbending town (where a young man had successfully driven out the invading firebenders, and Iroh was impressed), to Kyoshi Island, to Senlin, to the Fire Sage Temple (he was extremely disappointed in his wayward nephew for putting himself so at risk),and to the very edge of the Earth Kingdom. To go this route Zuko would have had to pass through lots of area that Zhao had his troops stationed in, and knowing the Prince (and after observing the havoc him and his new companions had managed to wreck across the Earth Kingdom) it was unlikely Zuko had kept a low profile and stayed out of Zhao’s way.

Iroh’s nephew also seemed to have gone almost exactly North, making the general presume the firebender was heading to the Northern Water Tribe, and would have already arrived. Yet, several hours before he'd been notified of Zhao’s arrival, Iroh no longer had to presume since a letter from Pakku was delivered, it read:

Iroh,
I don't know how to say this- I barely even understand it myself but… I found your nephew. He's- actually, it's better if you see for yourself. I'm sorry for the rush, but you must get here immediately, it's of the utmost importance.
Pakku.

The letter was more of a note and had clearly been written hurriedly judging from the scrawled handwriting, Pakku usually wrote so… The point was it was worrying Iroh and his care for his nephew was causing him to feel just as anxious as he had whenever his son, Lu Ten, had been in battle. So he'd immediately ordered the captain to head for the Northern Water Tribe, against the man’s wishes.

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“Hello, Admiral Zhao. To what do I owe this pleasure?” Greeted Iroh politely, bowing to the Admiral once he'd boarded.

“Your nephew, is actually the reason for my visit. He has stirred up trouble and is working with the avatar, would you believe?” Zhao replied with a frown, staring Iroh down, yet the general kept his calm exterior intact.

“Really? He left this ship several weeks ago to go undercover so he could better capture the avatar. Do you think he's genuinely joined him now, or could his allegiance with the avatar still be a cover?” Asked Iroh easily, looking Zhao straight in the eye.

“He has clearly become a traitor, which was just a matter of time since he was banished. I'm here to recruit you in my fight to stop him and capture the avatar- if you'll accept?” Zhao offered, putting out his hand for Iroh to shake.

The general considered this offer, if he was to accept then he'd have to help Zhao chase down his own nephew. Of course, Iroh would never actually hurt Zuko, it would all just be a ploy. And during the ploy he'd be able to keep an eye of the Admiral, and possibly protect the Prince with more effectiveness.

So Iroh shook Zhao’s hand with a short nod and a little, devious smile.

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Present Day:

“What do you mean no one's seen him all day?!” Yelled Sokka as he, Aang and Pakku all rushed towards the palace, Aang and Sokka to find Yue and Pakku to rally his waterbenders.

“There was an… Incident at class this morning, some things I said might have been a little… Harsh, but I never thought he'd completely disappear!” The master defended as they reached the palace steps, Pakku quickly blurting out commands to the guards.