You have finally given a decent explanation of why Zuko had such an ugly haircut in Season 1. I'd always wondered, especially since nobody else seemed to be wearing it.

Wow the ending of this gives us a lot of unanswered questions about Zuko and Ozai’s relationship... like I’m curious about what Iroh thinks the answer to his question or why he thinks Ozai is afraid of Zuko being a hero to the common folk?

If that’s the case, why allow his son tour the nation at his stead? Aside from keeping him away? Why does Ozai despise Zuko so much? Idgi

Love it! I don't usually like ocs but Shu is my favorite

wow! i'm speechless. what a journey! i think this story is one of the few fanfics where i genuinely enjoyed the oc's and reading about them

thank you for writing this. this story is enjoyable as a stand alone itself, though I would definately like to think of it as continuity. your ic's were so memerable, my favorite is Shun. definately will read this a second time later.

Lol I can't tell if Azula is proud or just scheming because Zuko is still digging himself a deep hole. Maybe it's both.
And that battle was just awesome. Amazing how Zuko can fight a battle and still have an air of innocence in him. This really does read like a boy's adventure story, except somehow this also reads like outright rebellion. Zuko is sort of challenging his father and doesn't realize it, but this is him, he's going to do what he thinks is right regardless of what his father or family approves of. I always liked that about him.

I very much enjoyed this, great prequel!

Is this foreshadowing or am I just looking too hard? "I'm not about to set any little kids on fire. That would be just wrong, unless you really act out."
OUCH. Oh, Zuko. Dear Zuko.
Love your take on a Zuko pre-exile. Very sweet and noble and brave and adorably child-like and somewhat sheltered. Which makes the stark contrast we see in his future self all the harsher, in a sense. It almost physically hurts to think of all the things he will have to endure in the future. Being chosen by spirits is NOT fun.

Absolutely amazing fic, and I am very glad to have stumbled upon it. Thank you for this great tale, and I hope you can do a sequel on Zuko's story after canon and he returns to his people as the Dragon King

This was spectacular. I'm sort of torn been begging for a sequel and crying at the perfect, beautiful ending. Then km you for an amazing story.

Weird

Weird!

I can't follow the intrigue but you make Shun's feelings about being caught in it compelling.

"More invalid than man" is such a problematic phrase even if I don't actually have any complaints about its use here. If that makes any sense.

This chapter is really exciting and I kept trying to read it while critically low on spoons and not really able to. Nice to see more of Master Lu. I guess something's bound to go wrong with their trip on shore.

Oooh, the plot thickens! Very plotty this chapter. Nice answer to one of the show's plotholes. Can't wait to see what happens with the politics.