Author's note: So yeah, I actually had fun writing this. Long ago, I found out that Master Piandao trained Zuko in the art of swords. I searched and searched for any fanfic depicting this hidden tale, but I couldn't find any. So to satisfy myself, I wrote one. And now I present to you, the first part of the prince's tale, taking place shortly after they arrived at the Western Air Temple, coming back home after rescuing Hakoda and Suki. Enjoy!

Previously on Avatar:

Master Piandao extended his arm. "A sword is a simple tool—"

—(Voice-over a flashback)

Zuko was fighting evenly with Jet, who was using a hook sword, slashing and thrusting and dodging...

"—but in the hands of a master—"

Another flashback danced in front of Zuko's eyes, showing a fight between him and an earthbender with hammers. He was thrown back against the dirt because of an earthbending impact...

"—it can be the most versatile of weapons."

The banished prince stood up and was on his feet, and he combined his firebending with his dual dao blades and swordsmanship, and sent the earthbender crashing at a wooden surface.

—

Sokka came running towards Zuko, who was warming up for the day. "Hey, Zuko! Up for a little Swordbending?"

—

Zuko had turned his back nonchalantly. "I think I am a little past your level Sokka..." He kicked the dirt.

"You leave me no choice." Sokka pulled out his space sword. "I challenge you, to a Swordbending Kai!"

—

A large circle was inscribed on the ground, just located at one of the temple's balcony. At the center, Sokka and Zuko had their swords withdrawn. Both are warming up. At the side, Katara held up a placard with a Water Tribe insignia and Sokka's sword drawn on it. Toph held an upside-down crude drawing of Zuko. Aang was the referee.

—

(Zuko's Voice-over flashback)

"Don't get your hopes up Sokka."

Zuko is shown to slash several times, before winning the first match. Sokka's sword was on the ground.

" I started training with Master Piandao—"

A dual dao blade whistled past a surprised Sokka, whom lost his balance. Aang pointed at Zuko's side, indicating that he won...again.

"— since I was just a kid..."

Zuko smiled at his victory...and then relaxed his stance.

Book Three Fire- "The Prince's Training"

It was a peaceful night, at least for Prince Zuko. After they got back from the Boiling Rock, and being reprimanded by Toph for not bringing in meat or fish, they decided to have a victory feast, consisting mainly of rice, some vegetables, and a special tasty sauce. Zuko rested his back at a stone pillar. He may not show it, but the freezing cooler and Mai's confrontation shook him from the inside. Mai saving and preventing him from being incinerated by the Boiling Lake only added his to his guilt of leaving her.

He remembered Azula leaving the gondola when the guards were cutting the line. Perhaps if he had brought his swords, like Sokka, he would've already finished his sister to prevent any further matches. But then again, he doubted if he can live with the fact that he will have killed his own sibling with his bare hands. His throat felt parched, and he realized that he was thirsty. He stood up and went to the food supplies, searching for some tea leaves.

"HEY ZUKO!"

"Ah!" Zuko cried, startled. He raised a hand against the boy directly in front of him, and he went into fighting mode, a reflex, before saw that he was aiming at Sokka.

"Sokka, if you want me to live another day and not suffer the wrath of your cranky sister, I suggest you cut it out!" Zuko scolded in frustration.

"Okay, sure. Now, can you lay down your hand? Scorching me isn't a good idea," Sokka said sheepishly.

"It's starting to be a good idea," Zuko muttered. He folded his arms, and stared at his friend.

"Now! I challenge you—on a Sworbending Kai!" Sokka pointed his midnight-black sword, almost matching the night skyscape above, towards the former fire prince, a gesture that suggested an inevitable challenge. A smirk played on his lips.

However, instead of accepting the prompt, Zuko sighed in a frustrated way. "So this is what this is about. I knew you wouldn't sneak up on me unless you want something." He bent down and rummaged through the bags, searching for the ingredient.

"Oh, come on! Let's give them a show!" Sokka insisted. "Some action!"

"A show that will probably last for three seconds," Zuko muttered. He finally found the tea leaves and he gathered them.

"Why? Because you'll collapse with exhaustion three seconds into the fight?" Sokka joked.

"Actually, I was afraid of accidentally disarming you and throwing your sword down the chasm," Zuko replied. He threw the leaves in a water-filled teapot, and lighted up the firewood beneath it with his firebending. The others were already gathering around the main campfire, ready to eat the food cooked by Katara. Zuko was sure that the tea he makes shall be a great beverage.

"Please Zuko! A match would be good entertainment," Sokka said.

Zuko sighed. "Sokka, I am tired. You're tired. Everyone's tired. Even Aang's tired. All those hot squats he had to do everytime a badgerfrog croaks that I left for him as homework wore him out. Turns out, a badgerfrog croaks every two minutes." He stopped. "Or was it one?"

"Come on Zuko! Your honor—sweet, lovely honor— is demanding you to accept this Swordbending challenge!" Sokka persuaded.

"Stop calling it 'Swordbending', Sokka. And perhaps, I might accept your challenge," Zuko replied dryly. He stood up and carried the teapot.

"Oh, come on! Unless, you want me to force you to a Jerkbending Kai!" Sokka shouted.

"You are not giving up easily, are you?" said a pretty annoyed Zuko. He sat by the flickering campfire, along with the rest of Team Avatar and company, while pouring some tea into teacups. A calming leafy aroma drifted among them. Zuko poured some more tea and carried the tray, giving his friends the hot drink, the way he did the other night.

"So," Katara said as Zuko handed her a cup, "any tea jokes you like to tell us that you actually remembered?"

"None that I know off," Zuko said curtly, settling before Aang.

"Hey Former Fire Prince, have you considered the duel now?" Sokka asked excitedly, prodding Zuko with the hilt of his sword. He poked the short-tempered teenager at the head, then at the side, trying to annoy him.

Unable to take it any longer, Zuko shouted, "SOKKA! LEAF ME ALONE. I'M BUSHED!"

Toph spat out her tea, spraying Katara with the liquid, and laughed. "Finally, you've done it!"

Sokka, Aang, Haru and The Duke joined Toph's laughing fit.

"Mmm," Aang said, accepting a cup from Zuko, after pulling himself together. He created a small funnel of wind to cool it down, and then, he drank from it thirstily. "I have to say, Zuko. You have learned a few things on brewing tea from your uncle," he complimented.

"I wouldn't say that," Toph put in. "I mean, Hothead is good and all, but Iroh's jasmine tea is simply heavenly."

"Well yeah, and I suppose Zuko is just second in making teas as he is in a battle of swords!" Sokka replied in a joking but friendly manner.

"What Toph said is still a nice compliment," replied Zuko in a touched way. He smiled at her despite knowing that she couldn't see it.

Sokka got his cup and settled down between Aang and Zuko, both of whom are quietly drinking. A few seconds passed before Sokka spoke again.

"Hey Zuko—" he started.

"For the record, thirty seconds is the longest time you have given me the break where you did not ask for another rematch," Zuko deadpanned. "Congratulations, you have really outdone yourself."

A few chuckles from the group responded at Zuko's answer, amused by his comeback. Sokka raised his hands. "Make that fifty seconds. I wasn't about to force you again—"

"That's new," Toph laughed.

"Yeah, that is new, " Sokka said as he stared at Zuko. "But just hear me out. You did say that you trained under Master Piandao, right?"

Zuko rested his steaming cup on the ground, and his amber eyes connected with Sokka's. "Since I was eleven actually." And after I lost my mom...

"Really? You know, I also got some of my moves from him!" Sokka raised his sword for emphasis. The light from the fire reflected on the polished surface, showing off a deadly purpose. Unfortunately, the reflected light bounced off the metal and hit Sokka's eyes, blinding him for a second with its brilliance.

"Ow!" Sokka said as he squinted and accidentally dropped his weapon.

"Ahaha," Toph chuckled, hearing the clang of the sharp tool. "Are you sure?"

"Yeah, I am pretty sure," Sokka responded confidently despite the fail show-off. He picked up his space sword and proceeded to polish it again.

"But, hey, Zuko," he continued, not looking up from his work. "I'll admit that you are pretty good, but why would you want to train with swords? You were already a kick-a-powing firebender."

Aang stopped drinking for a second, and a flicker of interest lighted up in his grey eyes. Toph also seemed to freeze, awaiting for Zuko's response. Haru, Hakoda and the others halted their quiet muttering, intrigued by the upcoming prince's tale.

Everyone was suddenly quiet, waiting for Zuko to speak. Unable to evade the questioning looks from his newfound friends, he forced his amber eyes to study their faces for a while.

"Why would you want to know?" he asked. The shadows traced the lines on his face in a mysterious way.

"Simply because we want to get to know you better," Aang replied innocently. "When you rescued me when I was captured by Zhao, you really were amazing, and you wielded those dual dao blades expertly. Even I was scared even as you used them to free me."

Aang sighed. "Good old days."

"Yeah, good old days of worrying night and day of getting captured, burned, killed, staked, shot, cooked and drowned," Sokka stated sarcastically.

Zuko ran his hand through his dark brown hair, reminiscing the times in Master Piandao's palace. He visualized the tall White Lotus gate, the simple rock garden, and the green bamboo trees surrounding the area. He decided to give in to their 'simple' request.

"It was quite a long time ago," Zuko sighed. "My mother had left a few weeks before I met Master Piandao, and her departure coincided with my uncle coming back after the 600-day Siege of Ba Sing Se. At that same day, my sister was providing a show in front of Fire Nation noblemen and women, demonstrating her firebending prowess..."

The campfire moved in the same rhythm as Zuko's breathing, and as he stared at it, he thought he saw an outline of a younger Azula manipulating flames. The former prince inhaled deeper, and the balcony in the Western Air Temple overlooking the chasm was bathed in the blinding radiance of the blaze, illuminating everyone's excited faces—

Zuko's mind merged with the fire.

—

A blue blast raged in front of eleven-year old Zuko's unscarred eyes, and his sister backflipped and landed on her feet a stone's throw away. The audience who were seating on red soft cushions rose and gave a standing ovation dedicated solely for the fire princess. The Fire Lord's throne room was used as an auditorium, and nobles were invited to watch Azula's firebending show. Zuko watched enviously at the sidelines, having moved there so that no one will give him sympathetic looks for having been outmatched by his younger sister.

He turned his head away in disgust, and ended up facing his uncle Iroh's concerned face.

"What is it, Prince Zuko?" Iroh asked quietly. He had insisted on sitting beside Zuko in the first place.

"It's nothing, Uncle," replied Zuko stubbornly. He folded his arms and tried to blank his expressions. He gritted his teeth and unknowingly made a fist.

Iroh sighed and stroked his brown beard wisely. A few gray locks of hair donned his head, indicating his coming of old age.

"Which is brighter? Is it the sun or the moon, Prince Zuko?" Iroh inquired, raising an eyebrow.

Zuko was silent for a moment, observing Azula's moves from afar. She was moving on to the next part of her performance, while he was being asked kindergarten questions by his uncle. This must be the worst day of his life.

"The sun is more mighty and powerful than the moon, Uncle," Zuko answered. "Obviously, it gives more light than the white rock we see at night."

"Yes, but one cannot simply look at the sun and admire it's brilliance." Iroh watched as Azula raised a blue flame over her head, and he continued talking.

"When people try to glance at the sun, they are forced to squint, for its radiance is too much to handle. And when they attempt to fully take in the sun's appearance at the middle of the day, at the peak of its supposed beauty—"

In front of them, Azula jumped up and and sent a stream of luminous blue fire upwards, and it turned into a blue flaming fire dragon. However, it was too bright for everyone sitting near Azula to appreciate it, for its heat and light forced the nobles to close their eyes and cover their faces with their hands, thus they were unable to see the dragon's magnificence.

However, Iroh and Zuko, from the distance and protected by shadows, were able to see that particular part. Zuko guessed that they were the only ones who actually perceived it, aside from Ozai.

Iroh continued with his lesson, "—they won't be able to do so. Very few people can glance at the sun for a few seconds, except when it is sunset. Sunset is beautiful, but it is when the sun starts to hide in its watery cave, leaving the world in the dark. The moon is just reflecting the sun's light at night, and individuals can only wholly understand its value at the time of the full moon."

Zuko stared at his uncle's smiling face. "And then?"

"And then people will see how much more glamorous that celestial body is, and the great part is that they can appreciate it for hours, staring at it like priceless gold in the midst of the night sky." Iroh gestured his hands in a circular motion, as if trying to capture the moon's perfect round shape.

Zuko turned his head away, pondering Iroh's wise words. He gave up, deducting that its meaning is just very deep for him to understand. "I don't understand what you've just said," he said.

To his surprise, he felt a warm hand touch his shoulder. He looked at it, and then he glanced at his uncle's concerned face. He saw Iroh's sparkling eyes, studying him.

"You will soon," his uncle stated simply. Zuko blinked in confusion.

—

The show thankfully ended a few minutes later. The nobles walked out of the throne room, talking about Azula.

Zuko came out of the fancy double doors with his uncle, with his head held high amidst the small crowd. He looked back behind him and saw his father congratulating Azula. Zuko couldn't think of a single time he was treated by his father like that, like an actual beloved child.

A moderately deep voice greeting his uncle startled him out of his thoughts.

"Iroh, dear friend. I am glad to see you," a man in a black robe said. A straight jian sword was at the man's side, sheathed in its scabbard. A simple top knot was on his head. All in all, he wore the look of a disciplined swordsman.

"Piandao, it's a pleasure," Iroh smiled. "I would like to introduce you to my nephew, Prince Zuko."

"Ah." Piandao formed the Fire Nation salute, with his one fist under a straight hand, resembling a flame in some way, and he bowed. Zuko did the same, but his face showed disinterest in the conversation.

"Surely, a much better firebender than his sister, I suppose?" Piandao complimented.

Zuko stared at him for a second, but he let his eyes slide off Piandao's face, and they rested on the gleaming straight sword. Instead of answering to Piandao's question, he remained silent.

However, that silence was immediately interrupted with a push behind his back.

"Hey!" he cried as he stumbled, but he immediately regained his balance. He turned around, and saw Azula staring at space, like an innocent child.

'Like she'll ever be innocent,' thought Zuko.

"What?!" Azula said in mock sweetness, looking upward. "I didn't do anything, or did I?"

"Ha-ha, so I bet you really have amnesia don't you, Azula?" Zuko countered, leaning forward threateningly.

"That's enough!" Ozai said commandingly, coming into view.

"Fire Lord Ozai," Piandao said as he bowed with respect.

"Piandao, the great master swordsman," Ozai greeted curtly. "A shame you wouldn't join my army."

Piandao chuckled. "I lost my taste for war a long time ago, Fire Lord."

Ozai put a hand proudly on Azula's shoulder. "I see you've met my daughter. She is quite skilled, isn't she?"

Zuko felt his head droop a little, but he let his eyes study Piandao as he awaited for the praise towards his 'born-lucky' sister. The young prince saw Piandao nod once in agreemen to what Ozai said, but said nothing. The edges of Iroh's lips twitched, as if preventing a grin from coming out of its hiding place.

Azula folded her arms haughtily, and she gave a look of disapproval towards the swordsmaster, clearly unsatisfied with the lack of compliments. 'If someone would nod in favor me, it is a great prize already,' thought Zuko.

"Too bad I couldn't find anyone like than her. She is much stronger than any child above her age," Ozai said, clearly taunting Zuko. "Come Azula. Let us eat our scrumptious dinner." With a final glare, the Fire Lord steered Azula away from the trio, and their footsteps became distant as they walked towards the dining room.

"Quite skilled in being a spoiled princess," Piandao muttered, greatly astonishing Zuko.

"Takes after my brother," Iroh agreed.

"At least she was a better firebender than me," Zuko choked out, unable to take it any longer. "If I were my father, I would be arranging the crown for the favored child."

Iroh laid a hand on Zuko's shoulder, mimicking Ozai's loving action towards Azula that was done a while ago. "Zuko, you will be a greater Fire Lord than her, for you have a kind heart."

"But father thinks I am too weak. That I am not worthy of my honor. I bet he had even set on his mind that I am not a bender at all!" Zuko cried. He bowed his head in defeat, and tried to prevent his tears from falling.

"I think you're worthy, Prince Zuko," Piandao declared.

Once more, Zuko was greatly surprised of the swordmaster's comment. He looked at the wise, stern face that seemed to see the aura of his potential.

"You do?" Zuko whispered.

Piandao kneeled in front of the boy, so that he was at the same level of Zuko's height. There was a soft expression that coated the master's eyes.

"I could teach you to use swords on a par with your firebending," Piandao offered. "That way, you can master and control your fire."

Zuko couldn't suddenly breathe. This is a great opportunity. The only weapon he had was a pearl dagger given to him by his uncle. He did not want another taunt from Azula about playing with it. Maybe, he could even learn how to use that dagger. But practicing with... a sword—a real deadly weapon, is a chance he couldn't pass. But could he do it? Or Piandao shall give up on him after finding that he is lousy and hopeless?

"I-I.." Zuko stammered. He glanced at his uncle who nodded in encouragement. The prince casted his eyes back towards the only other person who believed in his abilities, aside from his mother and Iroh. He bowed at his soon-to-be master.

"I accept, Master Piandao."