Chapter 4: First Time Firebending
Zuko exhaled slowly, his golden eyes fixed on his uncle. "I want to test this."
Iroh's lips curled into a knowing smile. "Then we shall test it."
With that, the two descended from the upper deck, stepping onto the ship's open training area. The cold sea wind howled across the metal floor, but Zuko barely noticed. His mind was focused.
He walked a few paces forward, placing distance between himself and Iroh, then turned to face the older man.
"Begin whenever you are ready," Iroh said gently, his arms folded behind his back.
Zuko nodded, closing his eyes.
He concentrated.
His mind sank into the memories of the prince—the hours of training, the burns, the scoldings from his father, the drills that had been hammered into his body since childhood. He recalled the endless punches and kicks, the rigid stances, the demand for power above all else.
But he had more than just the prince's memories. He had knowledge from beyond this world.
From the show. From The Legend of Korra.
The movements of the Sun Warriors. The fluidity of the dragons. The explosive precision of true masters like Iroh, Ozai, and Azula. The grace of airbending woven into firebending, as seen in the descendants of the Air Nomads.
Dance with the flames.
The words became a mantra in his mind.
Dance with the flames.
He opened his eyes.
A breath in. His chest expanded, drawing heat into his core.
A breath out. Fire surged from his hands.
He moved.
His body flowed, no longer bound by the rigid, militaristic forms of his past training. His feet glided across the metal deck, his arms weaving through the air as flames erupted in mesmerizing arcs. Each motion was precise, deliberate—his fire not just an attack, but an extension of himself.
A spin, and a crescent of flame followed.
A step forward, and a sharp jab sent a controlled burst of fire straight ahead.
He pivoted, twisting his upper body, and a ribbon of fire coiled around him before dissipating into embers.
His flames flickered from deep reds and oranges to white-hot intensity, burning with a beauty and fury that seemed almost alive. The fire did not fight him. It did not resist. It flowed with him, as if it had been waiting for him to understand.
Dance with the flames.
Zuko lost himself in the movement, in the rhythm of it. His mind, body, and fire were no longer separate things. They were one.
A final deep breath.
He planted his foot firmly on the deck, twisting his hips, and unleashed a sweeping wave of fire that surged forward before dissipating harmlessly into the air.
Silence.
His chest rose and fell with steady breaths. His skin was warm, his muscles loose, but not strained.
And then, he turned to his uncle.
Iroh stood there, staring at him—not with surprise, but with reverence. His eyes shone with something that Zuko could only describe as awe and pride.
For the longest time, Iroh said nothing.
Then, a wide, genuine smile spread across his face.
"Well, well, my nephew," he murmured, stroking his beard. "It seems you have taken your first step toward true mastery."
Zuko exhaled, steam rising from his breath in the frigid air. He turned to his uncle, his golden eyes gleaming with satisfaction. "That… felt different."
Iroh nodded, still stroking his beard in contemplation. "Different how, my nephew?"
Zuko thought for a moment, searching for the right words. "Before, I always felt like I was forcing the fire out. Like I had to push it, control it with sheer willpower. But this time… it was natural. It flowed through me, not against me." He clenched his fists, still feeling the warmth lingering beneath his skin. "It felt like… freedom."
Iroh chuckled, his round belly shaking slightly. "Ah, now that is wisdom, Prince Zuko. Fire is not meant to be forced. It is a living energy, a gift. And like all gifts, it must be accepted before it can be truly wielded."
Zuko turned back toward the open deck, the cold wind whipping against his sweat-slicked skin. He looked down at his hands, flexing his fingers. "Fire is life," he murmured, recalling the wisdom of the Sun Warriors from the show. Then what does that make me?
His uncle's voice pulled him from his thoughts. "What inspired you to move like that?"
Zuko hesitated, debating what to say. He couldn't exactly tell Iroh he had knowledge of this world's future, that he had seen the greatest firebenders in history.
He settled on a half-truth. "I was thinking about fire differently. Not as a tool, not as a weapon… but as part of me. It isn't something I summon, it's something I am."
Iroh's smile deepened. "Now you are beginning to understand."
Zuko's gaze drifted past his uncle to the vast, icy sea. He caught sight of a rogue iceberg drifting aimlessly in the water, jagged and massive, a towering monument of frozen time. An idea formed in his mind.
He turned back to Iroh. "I want to test this… as an attack."
Iroh raised an eyebrow. "Attack?"
Zuko nodded toward the iceberg. "That."
Iroh followed his gaze, then chuckled. "Hmm. Very well, my nephew. Show me."
Zuko strode toward the railing, gripping the cold metal as he stared at his target. The iceberg was large, at least the size of their ship's lower deck, with jagged edges and cracks running through it. A perfect test subject.
He Inhaled deeply, closing his eyes once more.
He focused, not on rage or aggression—no, that was the old Zuko's way. Instead, he let the fire breathe. He let it grow.
The heat of the sun bathed him, feeding the fire within. He could feel it, the warmth soaking into his skin, flowing through his veins. His body wasn't just a conduit for fire—it was fire.
He spread his stance, grounding himself.
His arms moved slowly at first, hands tracing the air with the grace of a dancer. A faint glow shimmered around his fingertips, flickering embers forming in his palms.
Dance with the flames.
His movements grew sharper, more deliberate. He spun on his heel, his right arm sweeping forward as his left hand pulled back. Fire ignited, swirling around his arms in a spiral of controlled destruction.
The warmth In his core surged upward, his breath fueling the inferno.
His heartbeat steadied.
One breath. One strike.
Zuko's eyes snapped open.
He thrust his hands forward.
A roar erupted from his palms—a massive, concentrated blast of fire, hotter than anything he had ever produced before. It surged across the open sea, a blinding spear of golden-orange destruction.
The moment It touched the iceberg, the world exploded.
The ice didn't just crack. It shattered.
A deafening BOOM echoed across the water as steam erupted into the sky. Chunks of ice rocketed in all directions, sizzling as they struck the ocean. The sheer force of the blast sent ripples through the water, rocking the ship ever so slightly.
And when the steam cleared, nothing remained but the churning sea. The iceberg was gone.
Zuko lowered his hands, breathing hard. He stared at the destruction, his mind racing. He had never produced firepower like that before—not even close.
Behind him, Iroh let out a low whistle. "Hoho… now that was impressive."
Zuko turned, expecting amusement or even concern in his uncle's expression. But what he saw instead was something else.
Pride.
Genuine, unfiltered pride.
Iroh stepped forward, placing a heavy hand on his nephew's shoulder. "You are beginning to understand, Zuko. Fire is not simply about anger. It is passion. It is strength. It is life."
Zuko looked at his hands again, his fingers still tingling from the raw power he had unleashed. He knew then—this was only the beginning.
He had been given a second chance.
And he would make sure he earned it.
Zuko exhaled slowly, his breath misting in the cold air. He looked down at his hands, flexing his fingers as the last traces of heat dissipated from his skin. He had just unleashed an attack of devastating power—one far beyond anything the original Zuko had ever done at this point in time. Yet… he didn't feel drained. Not even the slightest bit fatigued.
That wasn't normal.
His brow furrowed as his mind raced. Firebenders generated fire from their own energy—chi. Unlike waterbenders who relied on an external source, or earthbenders who needed solid ground, firebenders created their element. Their ability was directly tied to their life force, their stamina. The more chi a firebender possessed, the more fire they could bend.
And yet, despite expelling such an intense blast, he felt fine.
He scoured his inherited memories—everything Zuko had known about chi, firebending, and his own limitations. He was certain of one thing: even a week ago, Zuko could never have done something like this. He had always struggled with power, barely able to keep up with Azula or even his own soldiers. But now? Now he had tapped into something different.
Perhaps… there was a reason he had been brought into this world.
Perhaps he wasn't just some cosmic mistake, a random soul thrown into the Fire Nation prince's body.
Maybe—just maybe—he had a purpose here.
Just then, a thunderous explosion shattered the stillness of the evening.
The entire ship shook from the force of the blast, the deck vibrating beneath his feet.
Zuko instinctively turned, his sharp golden eyes scanning the distant horizon. At first, there was nothing but snow clouds… but then he saw it.
A flare.
It burned in the distance, illuminating the sky for mere moments before fading into the vast, icy sky.
And just like that, he knew.
His heart pounded, excitement surging through him. That explosion—it wasn't natural. It wasn't just another iceberg cracking under the pressure of the sea. No, he recognized it immediately.
Aang was awake.
That was the explosion caused by him and Katara triggering the old Fire Nation ship's booby trap.
His lips curled into a small smirk. So it begins.
He turned back toward the sea, watching as the waves settled from the aftershock of his own attack. The world was shifting, the tides of destiny moving in their course.
He straightened his posture, clenching his fist.
"See you soon, Avatar."
And with that, the flames vanished, and the hunt truly began.