Reevaluation
Cadence followed her father in as he went to give Zuko the news about what they'd been able to track about the Avatar's movements based on the sightings. Zuko was a tad upset about how little was known despite multiple sightings, but he managed to keep himself under control as he looked at the map that plotted the course he'd presumably taken. "How could a child like that be such a master of evasion?" Zuko found himself asking in amazement.
Cadence flew up to Zuko's shoulder and glanced at the map. "Hmm...it kinda looks like what our trip together before you learned I could Earthbend, Daddy," she pointed out.
"Eh?" Zuko and Iroh both asked in confusion.
Smiling, Cadence pulled out another map and unrolled it. "This was our trip," she explained, tracing a similarly wandering trail, though on a much smaller scale. "It's like the Avatar thinks he's on vacation or something!"
"Of course!" Zuko crowed as he slammed the map down on the table. "We've been so focused on the fact that he's the Avatar that we've been ignoring the fact he's a child. We're trying to interpret his movements based on an enemy mindset. Evasion's the last thing on his mind right now. If he was at the Southern Air Temple, then he's probably only just come to grips with how much time has passed, or is still doing so. The reality of the 100 Year War...that's more than he could handle intellectually." He rubbed his chin. "Uncle, I need a list of all the best vacation spots from 100 years ago. Unique landmarks, unusual flora or fauna, or anything else that would be of particular interest to a child reared in isolation on his first adventure."
"Reared in isolation?" Iroh clarified.
"Yes. He was raised in one of the Air Temples, and he knows only Air Bending. That means he never started his journey to master the Elements. That means this is his first time leaving home." Zuko smacked his fist into his palm. "And that's why his first stop after he woke up was the Southern Air Temple! That must have been his home!"
"A home we destroyed," Cadence pointed out with a frown.
Zuko nodded. "Yes. After that, he has every reason to hate, distrust, and try to destroy us. Our only hope at not dying at our next encounter with him is that he lives by the Air Nomad teachings of not doing harm."
"If he has never left home before, that's likely the case," Iroh indicated.
"Uncle, the list," Zuko chided.
"Right away, Your Highness," Iroh replied with a bow and a slight teasing tone to his voice.
As Iroh left to look through his books, Zuko turned to Cadence. "He's an Airbender, so he's used to looking at things from the air. So once we have that list, I'm going to need you to mark which ones you find the most interesting." He glanced at the map of Aang's progress. "He still seems to be going in a generally northerly direction, so his overall goal of finding a Waterbending Master to teach him remains...so we'll rate his probable movements based on the appeal of the various locations selected as his path takes him north."
"Yes, Zuko," Cadence replied with a smile. "I'll do my best."
A few days later, Zuko, Iroh, and Cadence were sitting down to dinner as they discussed their findings. "Alright," Zuko concluded calmly. "Based on Cadence's choices, the basic plan of the map, and an analysis of the places Aang has gone...we've come to the conclusion that his most likely present destination is Kyoshi Island, to ride the Elephant Koi."
"It sure sounds like fun to me!" Cadence happily proclaimed.
"It would explain his travel path," Iroh agreed. "So far, he's been heading primarily for inlets and bays. It's likely he doesn't know exactly where he is going."
"If we can get there before he does, we can set up an ambush," Zuko mused as the door opened, and the ship's cook brought in the baked fish he'd made for their entree. "Still, it would be nice to have some confirmation..."
"Prince Zuko," the chef stated as he set the fish down. "You wanted any news of the Avatar's location, yes? Well, market gossip has him on Kyoshi Island."
"Set a course," Zuko instructed. "And ready the Rhinos. I'm not facing the Avatar on foot again." Calmly, he lifted a portion of the fish with his chopsticks.
As the chef went to do as he was bid, Iroh raised his eyebrow. "You are not going to oversee it personally?"
"It will still take an hour at least to finish loading the supplies and weigh anchor," Zuko replied. "Plenty of time to finish a family dinner."
Cadence's grin at his words was rather infectious.
As they arrived on Kyoshi Island, Zuko glanced around carefully as he rode the lead rhino. "I want the Avatar alive," he instructed firmly. "Unless and until battle is engaged with the Avatar, do your best to avoid damaging any settlements. Records show this island is currently neutral. Do your best to respect that."
Zuko led his unit carefully into the settlement. Noticing fresh paint on the statue of Avatar Kyoshi, he nodded. "That's confirmation. If the Avatar isn't here, he was quite recently...and he wasn't exactly secret about his presence." Seeing that the villagers were hiding from him and his men, he sighed. "No point in forcing a confrontation," he grunted. "Look for him, but remember, avoid doing damage."
As they moved into town, however, several young women in warrior garb patterned after that worn by Avatar Kyoshi attacked them. Zuko and his men were forced to defend themselves, and before long Zuko found himself face to face with Aang.
"Avatar Aang," Zuko called calmly as he assumed a passive combat stance. "I don't desire conflict with you, or the people of this settlement, but I'm under orders from my father, the Fire Lord, to capture you as an enemy of the Fire Nation. Surrender now, and we can end this peacefully."
"I can't do that," Aang replied. "Too many people are counting on me. There's too much I have to do."
"You can't run forever," Zuko pointed out. "We'll pursue you to the ends of the earth and beyond if need be."
"Then I'll just keep running," Aang replied. "Until I'm ready to turn and fight."
Zuko sighed. "It's a pity it had to come to this, Avatar." He shifted to an active stance. "I'll convey your sentiments to my cousin."
"Your cousin?"
"Cadence," Zuko replied. "She was looking forward to meeting you again."
Aang's eyes widened. Before Zuko could initiate an assault, he had fled.
Though damage to the village was minimal, quite a bit was on fire. On his way out, Aang made use of a large sea serpent to extinguish the flames. As he left, Zuko ordered the ship to once more make pursuit.
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ABSOLUTELY ADORABLE!
The time line is strong and won't break, but it will surely bend by Cadence's power.
And this is why Tat's is my favorite crossover author.
I like how you write Zuko here. It shows he still has some hurt from being scarred, but he's definitely more in control of his anger with Cadance around. I'm looking forward to where you're directing this story.
Well I give Zuko credit for trying to keep his anger in tact and not cause any colaterol damage. Guess we have Cadance to thank for that.
its a shame i cant give this more than 1 like and fave!
best avatar crossover i have read here so far
6557106
.....Accidental pun?
Such a pro bender, being able to bend timelines.
I look forward to their encounter with the pirates
6557238 Time bending?!
Well, at least Zuko's keeping a calm head about him.
Awww...
Another enjoyable chapter. Good job.
6557205 If you add it to more than one folder in your favorites, then it's like you favorites it more than once.
Zuko is correctly reading the intent of Aang to go have fun while heading to the northern water tribe. Though, he should just head up there and wait on the probable route he would take. Or perhaps at the closest port, for the sake of supplies.
I'm liking this more and more.
That was fun, may I have another? Looking forward to more.
Keep up the good work. Deus tecum.
I'm a little worried now for the continuity this has in parallel with the canon-verse, Ozai isn't a dick but a firm and traditional nationalist, Zuko has been recognized and is respected by his father by being given the finest of equipment, he still faced Zhao but with conditions more in his favor, things have to go downhill from here. Will the spirits Twi and La, be attacked again? That's only on the stipulation that Zhao still even receives a post in the admiralty but that was only in part that his argument to press the invasion, is his and Ozai's animosity towards Zuko and how his interference and possible crime as the Blue Spirit has allowed the Avatar to reach the North.
Though in this universe, Ozai sees Zuko as capable, and may see Zhao and his own failed attempts to capture Aang as an upstart left wanting, maybe even punish him for the audacity to slight his son, as Zuko may not even be the Blue Spirit this time around (Cadence?). The only way I can see Zhao getting such authority, is if Azula gives it to him. We read it in that chapter a while back, Ozai cringed at the idea of Azula in power, and knowing her luck of learning things while hiding behind curtains, may have heard that. As a child starving for attention and clear malicious intent towards her brother, may find need to kill her dad, seeing as he 'punished' Zuko but then gives anything and everything to help along his journey.
I really like this Zuko. It's like he already has a lot of the character development that he got over the course of the show already.
I'm a bit confused how much animosity the other nations hold against the fire nation and vice verca atm.
6558048
Fire Nation and Earth Nation are at war. Earth Nation population near the borders are actively hostile. Elsewhere, they vary from hostile to tolerant.
6557238 I can bend girders, nothing else
6557238 I seriously doubt it was accidental.
6558048
6558057
And launched numerous raids into the Southern Water Tribe, annihilating the vast majority of the waterbending population there.
And committed genocide against the Air Nomads, killing every single one except the single one they wanted to kill most.
Also:
i.imgflip.com/lw5rc.gif
6558190
I was responding on exactly what the current diplomatic situation was, not the cause thereof.
Chapters of this story seems to short. Author saying things that should be said in tens of thousands of words rather than in two or three thousands. Story itself feels like short retelling of bigger original. It could be very nice to see future chapters with bigger word count.
6557470 I think it's because he wants every available opportunity to catch him, rather than at the last possible moment, as that could give Aang a chance to slip by him. Why set one trap when you could set many?
Awwwwwesomeness, once again dude!
Nice job... nice job.
6558322 Probably.
Well, he IS a kid.
Yep. He has every reason to hate and distrust the Fire Nation.
Oh yeah.
Clever Zuko.
Heh.
Indeed.
Clever Zuko.
Good idea.
Also a good idea.
A lot of people are counting on Zuko as well.
Your funeral.
The pony.
A Wild Aang appeared! It ran away!
The Kyoshi warriors don't have as much reason to put aside their neutrality this time...
Cadance's presence with Zuko and Iroh is starting to radically alter things. Not only is the master of the Library going to be much more approachable when Aang and company arrive, which may itself lead to Appa not being kidnapped in the second season, but Zuko being much more self-controlled is going to start radically altering the events of the first season. Someone else touched on the distinct chance that Zhao simply won't get to the admiralty, and thus may not get a chance to try to kill the moon spirit. And that is something that Iroh and Zuko would never do, because for Iroh that'd go against everything he stands for and for Zuko that would be needless collateral damage with very wide-ranging consequences. That would snowball into the Norther Water princess not having to sacrifice herself to save the spirit, and so on and so forth.
I HAVE IT!!!!
The way to restore the main reason behind Zuko joining the Avatar.
At the end of Book 1: Water, Firelord Ozai branded Iroh a traitor and Zuko a failure, for respectively assaulting Admiral Zhao and his men, and being captured by the Avatar AND assaulting Zhao.
So long as you include Zhao hiring the pirates and Zuko confronting him over it, you can nudge this back onto the correct course of Ozai's disappointment leading to Zuko leaving the Fire Nation.
Norther or Northern?
Huh, good thing he doesn't look down on people... Oh wait.
Well, it's not like he's on Bay Watch or anything right?
Sounds real fishy to me.
I think I'll call that serpent, Steven Magnet for having such a splashing performance.
Candance is bending the timeline so severely I'm surprised that it hasn't broken yet.
I like this Zuko, very clever and calm headed, I can see him getting into the White Lotus when he's older. I really hope that Zhao doesn't get promoted and lead the invasion of the Northern Water Tribe.
6557470 Where's the fun in that???? I'll bet letting Cadence see all these vacation spots she never got to see is totally not the reason they're taking the long way.
6559704 ... You somehow missed the part where she spent a week learning each type of bending, while hopping around the earth kingdom for two years.
6559166 could be either "northern" or "northerly"; "northerly" is probably the better match, but a more obscure term.
less collateral yay! Heck, this might give zuko a reputation for having a cooler head when fighting.
6560208 Yeah, but I don't think they covered everything there is to see, and Zuko wasn't there, so Cadence might drag him to her favorite places so he can bring Mai there later.
6561985 Maybe the crystal cavern where she got the messaging crystal from? Or mayhaps, they could stumble upon the sun tribe by accident.
I can't read any more of this, this story is so incredably rushed that I lost interest 9 chapters ago but kept reading, hoping it would get better... That didn't happen, sorry dude, you lost your touch
6565541 I should probably watch the show again from the beginning. I'm interested in that bear, now. Probably has one Hell of a life.
"Oh my God, what is that?! It isn't mutated at all!"
"I'm just a bear. Yes, I'm only a bear. I'm a single species and not a pair."
For some reason I can see also him doing Lok as well you know.
Eh.
I am EXTREMELY interested in how all of is going to play out seeing as how you've completely altered the whole play of the original story.
Huh, neat, part of me was confusing Zuko for Samurai Jack for a moment.
6641211 as am i
Is Suko a Samurai now?
Aw. Foaming Mouth Guy didn't get to meet Cadance?
He probably would have gone into overdrive from sheer cuteness!