What comes next

POV Haru

"Focus" Master Pakku said sternly. 

"I am trying," I replied. 

Moving my arms smoothly I tried to control the ball of water floating in front of me, but yet again I failed, and the water fell back into the pond. 

"You must try again"

"I have been doing this for four hours; can't I take a break" 

Before Pakku could speak another voice cut through "Working him to hard will only lead to anger and frustration if he doesn't know the purpose of the exercise" 

Standing in the doorway was a haggard old man with messy white hair and a sort of long chin strap beard. 

"Jeong Jeong, you have arrived," Pakku stated. 

"It was not an easy journey; I have heard of the tower but had no intention of coming here myself" then the old man looked to me "So this is the avatar"

"He is a, Avatar," Pakku stated. 

"That's what I just said," the old man replied bluntly. 

"He is not the avatar we are looking for, instead the tower turned him into one" Pakku replied back. 

The old man's eyes went wide "Preposterous, you can't simply make an avatar" 

"And yet the tower did" Pakku said heavily. Then Pakuu turned to me an gestured to the old man "Haru this is Jeong jeong he will be your firebending teacher"

Looking to Jeong jeong I gave a traditional bow and said "It's good to meet you master"

"I am not your master, I will not teach a false avatar" he said coldly "It upsets the balance"

This time Pakku replied with anger in his voice "The tower has already done that, we have people running around throwing lightning and turning invisible. The avatar has not been seen in over a hundred years for all we know the current avatar is still a baby, If we have any chance of ending this war Haru is our only chance" 

From that point a staredown began with each old man glaring at the other, neither backing down to the other. 

Finally Pakku sighed "At least teach him the basics, It will give me time to contact Iroh and tell him what is happening" 

"Fine" Jeong jeong conceded "We will begin with breathing" 

"No" Pakku intervene. 

"No? The element of fire is the element of destruction; without control he will learn nothing" Jeong Jeong explained. 

Feeling frustration I spoke up staring him in the eye "I already know the danger of firebending. My home was taken by the fire nation, and I will do what I need to take it back".

"You are too angry boy" Jeong jeong began "to control fire you must first control yourself" 

"Then teach me, I know I am not the avatar you wanted but I am the only one here. I want an end to this war as much as you do"

Jeong Jeong just stood there after my speech, his hand stroking his thin mustache and beard. Finally he dropped his hand back to his side. 

"Fine" Jeong Jeong he began "I will teach you the basics but afterward you will listen to my training" 

Giving a deeper respectful bow I said "Thank you master"

POV Zuko

 I vaulted over the blast of fire, landing I swung my sword towards my opponents feet letting a blast of fire trip them up. As they fell to the ground I placed my sword at their neck ending the match. 

"Well done Zuko" 

Turning I saw one of the royal instructors that had taught me in my youth. 

"You have become stronger, stronger than Azula perhaps" he said. 

"Any word on my sister?" I asked him. Despite my strong dislike for her she was still family and the mere fact she had disappeared is worrying enough. 

"No my prince, she is still missing" 

"A towel my lord?" a woman in a servant's dress asked. 

"Thank you" I said, taking it and wiping my sweat. Since coming home I have been treated better than I ever had before. With people waiting on me hand and foot, and every request being treated as a royal order. 

"Yes, well done Zuko"

Turning I saw uncle Iroh enter the sparring ground. Giving him a respectful bow I replied "Thank you uncle". 

"At this point you are quite the sword master," Uncle continued. "Though your bending could use some work"

"Is there something you need uncle?" he usually didn't watch my training much since returning home. 

"I am leaving" 

My eyes went wide at his announcement, he was leaving? "Why?" 

"Nothing serious, an old friend has asked me to come and visit. I simply want to go see him"

"I will go with you" 

"Your duties as a prince need you here. I will be fine prince Zuko" Iroh said then sprouted a big smile and pointed his thumb at himself "Afterall I am the dragon of the west" 

Giving him a smile I said "When do you leave and how long will you be gone?"

"I leave tomorrow, it will be just for a month or two. In my old age visiting with friends is a luxury" 

"So soon?"

"I am old Zuko, and so are my friends. Nobody knows how much time we have left" he said sadly "One of them is already over a hundred years old". 

Swallowing the lump in my throat I asked "How is father?" 

Iroh's smile dropped, settling into a deep frown "He is not doing well, the curse the Tower Master invoked on him is robbing him of much of his strength. It would be worse but constant healing is counteracting the stronger effects" 

"Will he recover" 

"According to him, the tower master said that the curse is impossible to get rid of, even if he cut off his arm. Though the fact that healing helps then there is some chance he will recover".

Looking down I thought back to when I last saw my father. I had never seen him so weak, eyes sunken in skin pale and grey.

"He will be fine, Zuko. Now if you will excuse me I must finish packing, the tea won't choose itself" Uncle said turning around to leave. 

"Wait" I called, letting him turn back around. Pulling something from my waist I threw it over to him "Take that with you" 

Uncle caught it "Your compass? I think you need this more than me" 

Raising my hand in denial I said "No, you take it. It stopped working when I returned home". 

"Then I want you to promise me something?" Uncle asked. 

"What?"

"Do not use that mask or give it to anyone. It is dangerous enough as it is" Uncle said, giving the instructor a side glare. 

"I will try not to, uncle, as you said before. It is a crutch, power not earned is power not gained". 

"Thank you Zuko, please stay safe"