Avatar Book 2: The Burning Earth

Three weeks after the siege of the North, the four of us arrived at a luxurious spa. Iroh was getting a back massage and my sister, Keisha, was taking a nap. I saw Prince Zuko sitting nearby with his eyes looking down. Something's bothering him. "Is something troubling you, Prince Zuko?" I asked.

"Zuron?" he looked up at me in surprise.

"Yes. I also know that there's something bothering you," I replied.

"It has been three years to the day since I've been banished. I've lost everything and I want it back!" Zuko said in a downcast voice.

"You haven't lost everything, Prince Zuko. Look, you still have your Uncle and your life. You can never lose everything," I said.

"You don't know anything about me!" He shouted.

"Listen to me! I've lost both of my parents and I still have enemies. If they find me, they'll kill me and hold my sister captive! Do you think I want that for her? I want to protect her and hopefully keep my life in the process. I've lost more than you have, but no matter what, neither of us will ever lose everything!" I shouted. Tears started forming in the corners of my eyes at the mention of my parents, but I forced myself to hold them back. I turned and walked down the beach to sit under a tree. I pulled my knees up to my chest and buried my head in my knees. I started to cry. Silent sobs racked my body. My parents are dead and there's nothing I can do about it. Someone touched my shoulder and I jumped. I wiped my eyes and turned around.

It's only Iroh.

"What's wrong, Zuron?" Iroh asked.

"N-nothing, I'm j-just t-thinking," I answered.

"It's not nothing. You were crying. Please, tell me what's wrong," Iroh said.

"I was thinking about my parents. I miss them," I replied, looking down with tears in my eyes once more. My lip trembled as I tried to suppress my sobbing. Iroh placed his hand under my chin and lifted my head up. My eyes looked into his filled with such concern. Finally, I just couldn't take it anymore. Tears started streaming down my cheeks. I leapt into his arms and started sobbing loudly into his chest. All of my pent up feelings were released in the form of tears. After a few minutes, my sobs quieted down to silent sniffles. I looked up at Iroh, embarrassed at my show of weakness. "Iroh? I- I'm sorry I…" I started.

"No, it's alright. You didn't do anything wrong. It's not good to hold in that much emotion. It's ok to cry sometimes, to let out your sadness," Iroh replied. I looked at Iroh and smiled, wiping the last of my tears from my eyes. We walked back to our hut where Zuko was waiting for us. We found out that Princess Azula was in the hut. She talked to Zuko, saying that he was welcome home After that, Azula left.

A few hours later, while Prince Zuko was packing, he and Iroh got into a fight. Prince Zuko yelled at Iroh and left. I looked toward Iroh. He looked so sad. "Iroh, I know that it's a trap. I can feel it. Lets go with him to stop that trap!" I said. Iroh looked over toward me and nodded.

The next day, Iroh, Keisha, and myself joined Zuko on his trip to the ship. We saw Princess Azula and her soldiers waiting for us. "Brother, Uncle, welcome. I'm so glad that you were able to come. Set a course for home, captain," Princess Azula said. I heard Zuko mumble the word 'home'.

"You heard the Princess. Raise the anchor. We're taking the prisoners home!" the captain ordered. I knew it! So, it was a trap! Azula glared at the captain. Iroh and Keisha started fighting the soldiers while Prince Zuko and myself ran after Azula. Azula managed to knock Zuko down. I knew what Azula would do. I have to help! Before he died, my father taught me lightning. I never succeeded. I must separate those two energies. I start to move my hands in the way that my father taught me. Lightning forms at the end of my fingertips. I release the lightning straight toward Azula. It lands in front of her and she flies into the ocean.

"Come on, Zuko, let's get out of here!" I shout. Zuko looked toward me and followed me out. Iroh, Zuko, Keisha, and myself ran for a long ways until we got to the shore. I watched in silence as both Iroh and Zuko cut their hair. At this point, I knew that from this day forward, we are fugitives.