16. The Same Throne

The rest of the journey was spent training.

On the open deck, Iroh guided Zuko through the motions. He taught him to separate the yin and yang energies to create the imbalance and then to guide it.

Zuko was a quick learner. His emotional turmoil—the rage and angst that had defined his previous life—made things very easy.

One evening, as they were still sailing, he stood at the bow. He breathed in, separating the energies in his core. When he felt a charge that made the hair on his arms stand up, he guided it up his arm, through his shoulder, and out his fingertips.

CRACK-BOOM.

A bolt of blue lightning shot into the sky. It was perfect.

Iroh clapped as his eyes shone with pride. “Magnificent! You truly are a prodigy, my nephew. Surely, in a few years, you will be the greatest firebender in the world.”

Zuko lowered his hand as the smoke curled from his fingertips. “That would be nice…”

They eventually arrived back at the capital a few weeks later. The city was exactly as they had left it, but the atmosphere had shifted once news of their arrival broke out.

When Zuko walked down the gangplank, the guards practically trembled in their bows.

Azula was also waiting on the dock. She only looked a little older as her eyes scanned him for any signs of weakness. “You were gone a long time, Zuzu.”

Her being the first to greet him over their mother made him feel a tad strange. “I brought you something.” The comment brought a very rare smile to her face. “I’ll give it to you once we’ve settled in the palace.”

“Oh, come on, Zuzu! Don’t tease your sister like that!”

✟

The years had been kind to Zuko, at least on the surface. He was no longer the scrawny, angry child desperate for approval. And his reputation within the Fire Nation had become absolute.

Whispers followed him everywhere he went. Even the servants bowed lower than they did for Azulon.

And why wouldn’t they? He had killed Ozai, an event that was still being talked about even while he was away.

Ursa, to his surprise, had decided to stay in the palace. When asked how she felt, she stated that she wanted to see her children grow.

As for Azula, she had challenged him to sparring matches multiple times out of hunger to test herself against the brother who slew their father. But every time, Zuko dismantled her with a bored efficiency that only fueled her obsession.

And Azulon? He was dying; his body was failing, and his inner fire dimmed to mere embers.

The palace had therefore become extremely quiet because the succession was the only topic on anyone’s lips.

Iroh was not the same man since Lu Ten’s death. He spent most of his days in the garden, drinking tea, and visiting the son he had failed to save.

When Azulon had offered him the crown, he had refused without hesitation.

“I am tired, father,” Iroh had said. “The only one fit to rule over me is your grandson. He has the strength and a vision that even I do not fully understand.”

Zuko stood nearby when this was said. He merely watched in silence. But before Azulon could make this decision, as he strongly desired Iroh to succeed him, he gathered his advisors and considered the notion for several days.

This was exactly as Zuko wanted because those same advisors always listened to him.

Finally, in bed one day, Azulon summoned Zuko.

“My most beloved grandson,” he began, “you’ve proven yourself worthy of many titles. Even when I pressed you, a child, for advice, you always gave me the best answers that not even my Generals could.”

“A strategy revealed is a strategy defeated,” Zuko smoothly replied. “That was what you taught me.”

“Indeed. You are wiser than even the elders within the nation.”

“Come now, grandfather… As long as you continue sitting on the throne, the whole nation will always be ready for unforeseen enemies.”

It was a reverse psychological statement, bordering on treason. Yet Azulon laughed a dry, rattling sound. “I can truly see the fire in you, Zuko. That is why I called you here: to announce that you shall inherit that same throne you speak of…”

✟

The inauguration went fairly quickly with all manner of gold and crimson festivities. Azulon managed to remain stable to see this spectacle.

By the time it was over, Zuko stood above the highest balcony with the crown resting on his topknot. He looked out at the sea of bowing nobles.

He had won. At just the age of sixteen, he had become the youngest fire lord.

Azulon and Iroh were proud, Ursa was both a little anxious and more joyous, and Azula couldn’t help but relent to her brother’s many accolades.

But things were far from over. Because now, the Avatar was scheduled to return.

The next day, Zuko sat in the war room with a select few of his council. Needless to say, he had immediately promoted Zhao to Admiral, appointed Iroh Chief Elder, and even given Azula a high-ranking role within the army.

Many were pleased with the first two promotions, yet they could not understand why he had approved a fifteen-year-old girl to help lead a council of grown men.

Little did they know, Azula’s techniques had recently turned blue, making her more than qualified.

As Zuko stared at a calendar, he understood the timeline was precise. Aang had been frozen for a hundred years, meaning he would be waking up very soon.

“Prepare the fleet,” Zuko commanded.

“The fleet, my lord?” Admiral Zhao wondered. “If I may ask, for what purpose?”

“We’re going to the South Pole… The Avatar has returned.”

Murmurs spread through the room. No one had expected him to say this. In truth, the Avatar was only scheduled to return. If Zuko did not leave soon, he would miss the opportunity to meet the true main character.

“I will lead the expedition personally,” Zuko continued. “Prepare the royal cruiser. And tell my mother to pack warm clothes. She’ll be coming with us.”

Ursa was confused when she heard the news. Yet no one told her the reason.

“Zuko,” she asked later on, “why’re you bringing us to such a desolate place?”

“Because history’s about to be made, mother, and I want the family to witness it.”

Not a moment too soon, the preparations made were massive. Three heavy cruisers were flanked by destroyer escorts. Admiral Zhao commanded the lead ship while all of Zuko’s immediate family were in the main one.

Iroh came along as well, mostly for the tea and the chance to offer unwanted wisdom.

The journey back to the South Pole was relatively quick.

Zuko stood on the deck of the lead cruiser. He wore luxurious furs over his armor as he looked out at the white horizon.

In the original story, he was a banished prince with one small ship and a desperate need for honor. He also chased Aang across the world and failed at every turn.

This time, Zuko was the fire lord with an armada and the ability to lightningbend, combustionbend, and block chi. More importantly, he had the script memorized in his head.