Chapter 1:

Fall of the Avatar

It was a momentous event when the outer wall of Ba Sing Se crumbled before General Iroh's eyes. The great city was no longer impenetrable, and the war was taking a turn in the Fire Nation's favour.

Although it was well into the night, the troops were well alert, sharing a drink and celebrating their recent victory over the Earth Kingdom's forces. General Iroh and Captain Zhao, however, were not celebrating but discussing further plans to penetrate the Earth Kingdom's forces and, of course, discover the whereabouts of the avatar.

"Any news from the undercover agents, Captain Zhao," Iroh asked while he sipped his victory Jasmine tea.

"No, but with our latest victory, we should hear back any day now," Zhao said, pride radiating off of him like he sun on a hot day. "Soon we'll tear down the palace door and declare victory over the Earth Kingdom!"

"Not so fast, captain," Iroh said, "this is only the first wall. There is a long battle ahead of us, do not let this one victory lead you to underestimate the enemy."

"Of course, General Iroh," Zhao said bitterly.

"And they have yet to reveal the Avatar. He could be stronger than we expect him to be–"

"Stronger? Don't make me laugh. The Air Nomads had no chance against Fire Lord Azulon's forces even with the avatar to protect them. And while the last avatar lasted longer, she couldn't take down the mighty fire nation either," the captain said while he stood to view the grand Fire Nation tapestry in the war tent. "So you expect me to believe that this avatar's going to be strong enough to cause a threat? Ha! He'll go down as another failure in the history books."

Iroh only sighed at Captain Zhao's arrogance and took another sip of his tea. It was then that a knock came at the door and a soldier entered with a solum look in stark contrast to the cheerful attitudes of those celebrating outside.

"I come to bring news," the soldier said, "the casualties of our last battle were great, and Prince LuTen has lost his life to the war."

"Oh," said Captain Zhao, "that is very unfortunate. I'll take it you would like some time alone, General?"

Iroh didn't respond. His tea forgotten as he sat in shock not moving even when both men had left. His son had died, and for what? The war was no pursuit of freedom. There was no noble goal, only the Fire Lord's quest for power and conquest. Iroh had been selfish in thinking that his son would not become a casualty of war all the while turning a blind eye to the deaths the Earth Kingdom had suffered as well. Who was he to decide the worth of any one life Fire Nation or not? Here Iroh sat comfortably away from battle, directing soldiers from the background while his son fought on the front lines watching his comrades die beside him. The distance lead him to lose sight of the value of life. The value of his own son.

The Fire Nation propaganda depicted the war as a noble quest for unity under one rule as if the Fire Nation was doing the world a favour by taking over. Entire cultures were lost, cities burned to the ground, innocent people killed all for the selfish goal of one man. No one but the Fire Nation gained wealth, resources or even comfort.

The Fire Nation tapestry no longer hung as a symbol of pride but as a reminder of the war. Iroh was almost tempted to tear it off the wall.

A knock at the door tore Iroh from his thoughts. The man at the door was dressed head to toe in black rather than the typical fire nation uniform, and he clutched a cloth wrapped hastily around a spherical object. He moved to kneel in the middle of the war tent before speaking with enthusiasm. "General Iroh! I bring glorious news!"

"Oh?" Iroh said softly barely bothering to look at the man as he continued to scrutinize the tapestry.

"The Avatar!" he said, "I have killed the avatar and brought you his head!" While the man held the cloth covered head with pride, Iroh only felt guilt. It was by no fault of theirs that no one new the current avatar's name, but Iroh couldn't help but wonder who he used to be. He wondered if a parent somewhere felt the same grief Iroh felt over his own son.

And what of the new avatar? A fire nation child who hadn't the slightest idea of the war they'd be forced to participate in. With the avatar on their side, the Fire Nation would have the power to take the world by storm. Avatar Roku had been a noble man, but he didn't grow up in war time. War would be the only thing this new avatar would know. The Fire Lord would hunt them down and fill their mind with lies and propaganda to convince them that the war was for a noble cause. If the avatar didn't cooperate, the Fire Lord could kill him, and with the Air Nomads extinct, the avatar line would be broken.

"Sir?" the man asked.

"Does anyone else know of this yet?" Iroh asked tentatively.

"No, sir," he said, "I came as soon as I could. The Earth Kingdom'll probably know about it soon enough, but I doubt they'll say anything. They've lost their advantage, not that he was any trouble." He laughed. "I bet they were hiding him away because they didn't want anyone finding out he was inadequate. Once we bring this news to the Fire Lord, there will be nothing between us and the capital."

"This is very good news," Iroh said as he started to pace around the tent so that he stood behind the kneeling man. If the Fire Lord never found out about the avatar's death, he would never think of looking for the new reincarnation. "We must notify the Fire Lord at once!" he said with fake enthusiasm. There was a reason why Iroh kept at sword at his belt, fire would be too flashy and would surely notify any guard stationed outside. "It is such an honour to have a hero among our ranks."

"Th-thank you, sir," he said with astonishment, "It is my pleasure to serve such a noble nation–

He didn't see it coming, and his face didn't show a single sign of shock as it rolled of his shoulders. Iroh was not proud of the act, but with the death of one man, many more could be saved. As he wiped his blade clean, Iroh wondered what was to be done with the body. He dragged the man to the tapestry behind his desk along with the two heads. He couldn't bring himself to look upon the features of the avatar, so he kept it hidden in cloth.

The fir carpet where the man kelt moments before was covered in blood, and it to was tucked away at the back of the tent. All the evidence could be burned away in a flaming rage, and the other Fire Nation soldiers would think that he went mad over his sons death. It wouldn't be too far from the truth.

The fire started small to keep anyone from discovering the act too early, but the intense heat quickly scorched the body. As Iroh willed the fire to grow, he silently hoped that the smell of burning flesh would be overtaken by the rest of burning tent.

The fire spread to the tapestry, and soon the roof and walls of the tent as well. The flames signalled a guard outside who rushed in to check up on the general, but he stood there speechless as he looked upon Iroh standing firmly before the raging fire.

"Leave," Iroh said. The soldier bolted out the tent as if a platypus-bear was on hot his heels and went to notify Captain Zhao who was sharing a drink with a few colleagues.

"Caption Zhao!" he said, "General Iroh has gone insane!"

"What?" Zhao said dropping his mug to the table. All laughter and jokes moments before were replaced with shocked silence.

"He's lit his tent on fire!" The soldier's shouts soon grabbed the attention of the other troops nearby, and many started to rush to the flaming tent, but most were too afraid to enter. Captain Zhao, however, being fearlessly arrogant as he was strode on in to confront his colleague.

"General Iroh," he said over the crackling of the fire, "what is the meaning of this."

"This battle is over," Iroh said, his voice as cold as steel, "we will return to the Fire Nation tonight."

"But we have nearly overtaken them," Zhao said, "we can't give up for a singer loss of life–

The flames surged intensely at Zhao's words. "No amount of victories can take back what has been lost," Iroh said, "gather your troops Zhao, we leave immediately."

"Fine," Zhao said through clenched teeth, "but when we get back, I'll see to it that your position is revoked. The Fire Lord has no use for the weak." And with that Zhao was out the door shouting angrily at the soldiers.

With the evidence of the avatar's death reduced to ash, Iroh allowed the fire to calm down. The night sky, which he could now see through the sizeable whole in his tent, was cloudless, and the stars shawn like beacons in the dark. Iroh silently promised the spirits that he would find the new avatar and protect them from the Fire Nation.

"You have suffered a great loss, my son." The throne room was empty besides Iroh and his father, and it was silent aside from the crackling of the flames that surrounded Fire Lord Azulon. "I hope that it comforts you to know that your son died honourably on the battlefield." It didn't. "We shall hold a funeral so that the nation may grieve this great loss."

"Thank you, Fire Lord Azulon," Iroh said tentatively.

"While you have lost your only son," Azulon continued, "you have gained a nephew. Ursa gave birth to her first child not too long ago, Prince Zuko."

"Zuko…" Iroh said quietly.

"I suggest you give Ursa a visit. Perhaps family may bring you comfort in these hard times."

"Thank you," Iroh said before taking his leave. He set out to the gardens where he knew Ursa would be.

She stood by the pond with her newborn child cradled in her arms. He was sleeping soundly, barely twitching under his wraps.

"I suppose congratulations are in order for a successful delivery," Iroh said as he attempted a smile.

Ursa, who hadn't noticed Iroh before he spoke, gasped before gazing at him with worry etched across her face. "Oh Iroh," she said, "I've heard the horrible news. I can't imagine what you must be feeling right now."

"I am dreadful," Iroh said with a frown, "but seeing my new nephew has seemed to lift my spirits even just a little." He moved to sit by the pond, and Ursa knelt down besides him.

"How is little Zuko?" he asked giving a glance to the tiny figure snoring in Ursa's arms.

"A little shy," she said, "would you like to hold him?"

"I'd love to!" he replied with enthusiasm, and she carefully moved the boy as to not wake him before he sat comfortably unaware of his mother's absence in his uncles embrace.

Iroh looked down at Zuko cradled in his arms and couldn't help but think about his own son. Tears swelled in his eyes as he reminisced spending time with LuTen. It felt like only yesterday they were sipping Jasmine tea together.

"Iroh," Ursa asked with concern, "are you alright?"

"He just reminds me of him, that's all."

"You can hold him as long as you like."

The funeral was graced with clear blue skies, but it didn't comfort Iroh in the slightest for he no longer had a son to share it with. Many had shown up to watch the ceremony including his brother Ozai who he knew couldn't care less about his loss. His brother was an ambitious and selfish man, and Iroh didn't doubt that Ozai felt joy to see competition for the throne perish.

After the service, Iroh stood in the catacombs where LuTen's body lay to say a few final goodbye's in private before he set off to find the avatar. Iroh knew he needed to find them before the Fire Nation caught wind of the last's death. While he had time before the child could use their powers, there was to telling how quickly they would develop.

Iroh started his search in the capital and kept an eye out for any anomalies. While he thought he was discrete, he had started a few mothers with his gaze. He started dressing up in disguises to hide his identity and try to get close to his suspects, but to his dismay, finding the avatar would be much more difficult than he had expected. New born babies weren't prone to bending after all.

Days turned to months as he expanded his search around the continent. Many had questioned his strange behaviour, but they shrugged it off as a sign of his madness over his son's death.

His travels brought him to places he hadn't been in many long years and he even found villages he had never seen before. But despite his vigorous search, Iroh couldn't find a single sign of the new avatar. He'd have to wait a couple years to reveal who could bend, so he started his journey back to capital picking up a few souvenirs on his way.

He was greeted by Ursa when he arrived at the castle, but before he could even say hello, she spoke with concern.

"Iroh," she said with a frown, "thank goodness you're back. Something horrible has happened."

"Oh," Iroh asked, "what is it?"

"Ozai has taken over as fire lord! He took advantage of your absence and used it as an excuse to take the throne!"

"But what about Fire Lord Azulon," Iroh asked astounded. His father had been old, but he had made it perfectly clear that he wasn't going away any time soon. Perhaps, Iroh thought, there had been some accident during his absence.

"Dead," she said with a scowl, "I don't doubt that it is Ozai's own doing. You must talk sense into him, Iroh, no good will come of this."

Iroh knew his brother to be bold, but killing their father for his own personal gain was purely madness. It seemed now that there was no limit to the length Ozai would take in the pursuit of power, and Iroh knew that he would be even more ruthless than their father.

The grand double doors were pushed open by stationed guards as Iroh arrived at the throne room where he knew his brother would be. There Ozai knelt surrounded by flames clearly expecting Iroh's very arrival. He didn't doubt that Ozai sat there anticipating his return just to gloat over his victory, and Iroh almost wished that he delayed his return just to have the satisfaction of knowing he left Ozai waiting.

"Well, if it isn't my dear brother," Ozai said, "finally back from his trip."

"What happened to Fire Lord Azulon, Ozai," Iroh said. He didn't expect a straight answer, Ozai's ability to lie was only matched by his quickness to anger.

"It was quite sudden," he said without bothering to pretend to look mournful, "he caught an illness not long ago; couldn't fight it with his old age." Ozai almost looked proud to discuss Azulon's passing, and while Iroh didn't particularly care for their father's actions, the man had cared for his family. "You must understand that, with the death of your only son, father was worried about who would become the heir to the throne, and since you were gone, he asked me to take over with his dying breath."

While Iroh knew that Ozai's rule would be harsh, resistance would likely have him banished, and with the possibility of the avatar being in the Fire Nation, Iroh couldn't risk the chance. That along with his actions at Ba Sing Se, the Fire Nation army wouldn't be too thrilled if he were to take charge. Word had already spread across the nation about Iroh's supposed madness over his son's death. Laying low would allow Iroh to continue his search within the Fire Nation even while the war waged on.

"I understand," Iroh said after a moment, "he was only looking out for the nation. That's why I will honour your new position, Fire Lord Ozai."

He'd have to put his faith in the avatar one day to stop his brother's tyranny, but until then, Iroh only hoped to find them before Ozai did.


I had this idea for a while now, but I hadn't really come up with a plan until recently. It's an alternate universe where Aang died all those years ago which allowed the avatar to be reborn. If it isn't obvious already, the avatar of this story will be a canon character because I'm not too fond of creating OCs. This DEFINITELY won't be a re-write of the series, so I'll be deviating the story from the get-go.

I initially included Azula in this chapter, but I somehow forgot that she's younger than Zuko and therefor wouldn't be alive yet. But I plan to put her in the next chapter. She's a great character and I wanted to put some redemption in this story for her since she has yet to do that in the original series and the comic series. I've already thought of incorporating characters like Toph but I have yet to decide on whether or not Katara and Sokka will be in this story–it'll depend on if I need them to progress the plot, so we'll see.

I do hope to finish this, but I may or may not have time. The outline seems to be going smoothly, and I'll have to work out the details, but otherwise what I have planned works out pretty well for the changes I've made.

I've already started chapter 2, so I hope to finish it sometime soon, but I won't be able to put an exact date on it.

If there are any mistakes that I've missed leave a review so I may fix them. Thanks!

(I've put this under M for the decapitation scene just to be safe, but there won't be ANY sexual content, so if you don't mind a bit of violence, you won't have any issues in future chapters)

Edit:

As it turns out I misspelled Zhao's name. I wrote this chapter while I didn't have internet access, so I took a shot in the dark. I also called Fire Lord Azulon by his father's name, Fire Lord Sozin. Yet again, it was because I forgot Azulon's name, so whoops. There may be more edits in the future, but it should work out fine.