History of Zuko (83 AG - 100 AG)

Zuko, is the Former Crown Prince of the Fire Nation. When he was young, his mother suddenly disappeared, and his father ascended the throne of the Fire Nation. At 13, he was exiled by his father for not fighting back in an Agni Kai. The only way he may return is if he captures the Avatar.

Background
Zuko, was born to Ozai and Ursa of the Fire Nation. His father was Second in the line of succession to the throne of the Fire Nation, making Zuko a prince as well. From an early age, Zuko is disdained by his father and is also the object of his sister Azula's manipulation, ridicule, and deception. Zuko's mother, however, loved him, and favored him over Azula. When his mother disappeared, Zuko fell even more out of favor.

When he was thirteen years-old, Zuko attended a war meeting, seeing it as the perfect opportunity to gain the knowledge he would need to be Fire Lord and rule over the Fire Nation in the future. After hearing a general's plan to sacrifice a novice division in an attack on the Earth Kingdom, however, Zuko became angry and spoke out against the plan. His father becam very angry with him and ordered that Zuko fight in an Agni Kai as a way to resolve the matter. Zuko expected to fight the general, but realized that because he had protested against the general's plan in the Fire Lord's warroom, he had disrespected the Fire Lord; he would have to go against his own father. When Ozai demanded that Zuko fight for his honor, Zuko refused. As a punishment for showing weakness and refusing to fight, Ozai burned him and banished him from the Fire Nation, saying he could only return once he captured the Avatar.

Finding the Avatar


Two and a half years after his banishment, Zuko's travels would lead him to the South Pole. One day, Prince Zuko on his warship witnesses a column of bright light (the Avatar being freed from the iceberg), and he eagerly tells his skeptical Uncle Iroh that the light must have been caused by the Avatar. Zuko orders the course be set for the light, determined to capture the Avatar.

As evening wears on, Iroh advises Zuko to get some rest, and reminds him that his quest is as futile as when his father, grandfather, and great-grandfather attempted it and failed. Zuko tersely comments that they hadn't found the Avatar because their honor was not at stake, unlike him.

Iroh, meanwhile, is teaching Firebending basics to Zuko, drilling the prince and his infantry sparring partners in a sequence Zuko can't quite complete correctly. After Iroh lectures on the importance of strength as an extension of breath and not brute force for Firebending, an impatient Zuko tries to browbeat Iroh into teaching him a more advanced set. Zuko reasons that it will take more than basics to defeat the Avatar, who has had a century to master all the elements. Iroh grudgingly acquiesces, but first takes a moment to finish his roast duck.

Later, Zuko sees a signal flare from an old Fire Nation wreck, (accidentally triggered by the Avatar). As Katara and Aang escape the shipwreck, Zuko sees them heading toward the village through a telescope. Zuko tells his crew to wake his uncle and report that he has finally found the Avatar.

Face of the Enemy


Zuko's ship quickly arrives at the Water Tribe village. Zuko quickly descends, accompanied by only a very small number of soldiers, and Sokka screams while he attempts to charge at him. The more experienced Zuko requires only his bare hands to counter Sokka's primitive weaponry, and he is almost dismissive of his presence at first.

Zuko demands the location of the Avatar, expecting to find an old man somewhere in the village. He grabs Gran Gran Kanna threateningly, and Sokka attacks Zuko again. The two fight briefly, and once again Zuko only needs to use his bare hands to render Sokka's attacks useless. Sokka only manages a lucky hit when his boomerang strikes the back of Zuko's helmet, angering the prince to the extent that he prepares to use Firebending on the unfortunate villagers.

Suddenly Avatar Aang arrives, riding on a penguin-otter, and knocks Zuko off of his feet. Zuko is shocked as he realizes that the Avatar is merely a twelve-year-old boy, rather than the ancient master he was expecting. As he voices this revelation, the Water Tribe villagers express their own surprise. Zuko quickly regains his focus, and wastes no time in launching a series of fire blasts at Aang. Aang is able to defend himself with Airbending, but soon decides to stop the battle when he realizes that Zuko's attacks would inevitably strike the children he has befriended. Aang surrenders, and Zuko's soldiers take him aboard as a prisoner before setting off for the Fire Nation.

On Zuko's ship, the guards escort Aang to the prison hold, while Prince Zuko entrusts his uncle with taking the boy's glider to his personal quarters. Iroh, true to his nature, immediately and casually passes the job on to the nearest guard. While being taken to the prison hold, Aang, with his hands tied, uses his airbending to attempt escape. One of the guards sounds the alarm.



Aang continues to run through the ship's many hallways. He looks through several rooms before finally discovering Zuko's personal quarters. He runs in to claim his staff, just as a waiting Zuko slams the door shut to cut off his escape route. Zuko launches a number of attacks in hopes of incapacitating Aang, but the Airbender easily avoids them before finally launching a short series of powerful gusts that slam Zuko against the room's walls and ceiling, briefly stunning him.

Aang heads to the outside of the ship, and prepares to make his escape on his glider. However, just as Aang takes off, Zuko is able to leap after him and grab his ankle. Not able to compensate for the extra weight nor to break free of Zuko's grip, Aang is unable to remain aloft, and the two crash clumsily onto the deck. They prepare to face off a third time, but are distracted by the sudden appearance of Appa, carrying Sokka and Katara to Aang's rescue. Aang is unable to regain his focus before Zuko, who quickly launches a series of fire blasts that presses him to the edge of the deck and knocks his staff away. Another two blasts follow, and Aang, while apparently unharmed by the flames, falls overboard into the frigid sea below.

Aang sinks and he appears momentarily unconscious. However, his eyes soon open and he enters the Avatar State, He begins to Waterbend the sea around him, pushing himself into the air on a whirling column of water. Zuko, Katara, and Sokka are shocked at this immense display of bending power, and Aang deposits himself on the deck of the ship before bending his liquid platform into a spinning wall of water that sends Zuko and all of his guards currently on deck flying, Zuko himself going overboard. Appa lands on the deck, while Aang, apparently dazed after the massive display of power, collapses. Katara and Sokka rush to his aid, assuring that he is alright before preparing to leave.



Sokka goes to retrieve Aang's staff, to find Zuko climbing back onto the deck. At a great advantage due to Zuko's position, Sokka quickly strikes the prince in the forehead a number of times, sending him overboard again. Zuko is only barely able to cling to an anchor's chain approximately halfway down the ship's hull. Some of the soldiers recover, and begin to approach Katara and the still-exhausted Aang.

Katara is able to freeze the guards in place to stop their approach. All three take off on Appa just as Iroh arrives on the scene. Iroh helps Zuko on-board again, and the two launch a combined fire blast in an attempt to shoot down the escaping air bison. Aang recovers from his dazed state just in time to turn this attack against the Firebenders, using a blast of wind to redirect the fireball into one of the immense walls of ice on either side of the ship. The resulting avalanche buries the front half of Zuko's ship in ice and snow, stopping it cold. (Mind the pun.) Appa flies into the distance, his passengers laughing happily.

Zuko, angry that the Avatar has escaped his grasp, instructs his crew to dig the ship out and pursue the Avatar and his friends as soon as possible. Unfortunately the majority of his crew is either frozen solid or helping to thaw other crew members. He vows never to underestimate Aang again.

A Bitter Rivalry
Soon afterwards, Zuko docks at a Fire Nation controlled harbor off the coast of the Southwest Earth Kingdom, his ship needing substantial repairs from his encounter with Aang. Zuko wants the repairs done quickly so they won’t lose Aang’s trail. He warns Iroh not to mention the Avatar during their stay so no other Firebenders will start looking for him. Zhao walks up to Iroh and Zuko, welcoming them to his harbor. Zuko and Iroh learn of Zhao’s promotion from Captain to Commander. Seeing how damaged their ship is, Zhao asks how it happened. Zuko makes up a story about crashing into an Earth Kingdom ship. Curious, Zhao invites the pair of them for a drink. Zuko attempts to get out of it but Iroh speaks for both of them and accepts the invitation.



Commander Zhao is explaining the Fire Nation’s planned victory to Zuko and Iroh over tea in his tent. Zuko voices his doubts that the plan will work. Zhao then asks about Zuko’s search for the Avatar, to which Zuko replies he has been unsuccessful. Zhao says he didn’t expect anything different. Zuko then gets up to leave but Commander Zhao’s guards stop him. One of Zhao’s soldiers walks in and reports that he interrogated Zuko’s crew and found out that Zuko had the Avatar but let him escape. Zuko has no choice but to tell Zhao the truth.

Commander Zhao is appalled that a twelve year old boy bested Zuko and his crew. Zuko passionately states that he is going to continue his hunt and will not underestimate the Avatar again. When Zhao replies that he will be taking over the hunt for the Avatar, Zuko leaps for Zhao in a rage but is held back by the guards. Zhao orders for Zuko and Iroh to be kept in his tent and leaves. In anger, Zuko kicks a table as Iroh asks for more tea.

Commander Zhao and his search party are almost ready to set sail on their search for the Avatar. Zhao will then release Zuko when his ship is out at sea. Zuko states forcefully that he is going to capture the Avatar before Zhao, who laughs at the thought. How can a banished prince compete with a resourceful commander with hundreds of warships at his disposal? Zhao then demeans Zuko by telling him that his father would let him come home without the Avatar if the Fire Lord really loved him. Zhao states that all Lord Ozai sees in his son is failure. Zuko challenges Zhao out of pure rage and disgust to an Agni Kai at sunset. After Zhao leaves the tent, Iroh reminds Zuko about how his last duel with a Firebending master turned out as Zuko says:

"'I will never forget'."

It is sunset and Commander Zhao and Prince Zuko are ready to duel. The two combatants begin back to back. Iroh counsels Zuko to remember his basics, as they are his greatest assets. Zuko doesn't appear to heed his uncle's wisdom, instead simply stating that he will not lose and assumes his stance. Zhao claims that the duel will end swiftly, and also assumes his stance. The two opponents stare deeply and fiercely into each other's eyes. The gong sounds and the match commences.



Zhao seems more than a match for Zuko, effortlessly avoiding and nullifying all of Zuko's fireblasts. As Zuko catches his breath, Iroh continues to advise him to remember his basics. Zhao then proceeds to throw his own volley of fireblasts. Zuko is able to block each, but is slowly forced back with every parry. For the final blast, Zhao uses both fists, forming a blast that connects and knocks Zuko to the ground. Pressing the attack, Zhao leaps into the air, covers the distance between him and Zuko, and prepares a finishing fireblast aimed directly for Zuko's face.

An instant before contact, Zuko rolls out of the way, rises with a kicking flourish, and knocks Zhao out of his stance. With newfound vigor, Zuko releases a series of low attacks that cause Zhao to retreat, finishing him with a jet of fire from a full body kick. Zhao expects Zuko to strike him once more, to mark his victory, but Zuko releases a fire blast past Zhao’s face instead.

"'Next time you get in my way I promise, I won't hold back!'"

As Zuko turns to walk away, Zhao, enraged by his defeat, sends a jet of fire at Zuko’s back, which Iroh swiftly stops with his bare hand. After throwing Zhao to the ground, Iroh stops an outraged Zuko from retaliating against Zhao, then lectures Zhao about how dishonorably he has acted, stating that his nephew is more honorable even in exile. Iroh is still polite enough to thank Zhao for the tea. After leaving the arena, Zuko asks Iroh if he really meant what he said back there, to which Iroh responds: "Of course. I told you Ginseng tea is my favorite". As the two walk back towards the ship, the faintest of smiles crosses Prince Zuko's lips.

Zhao becomes Zuko's bitter rival in his quest to capture Aang throughout the continuation of Book 1.

Following the Trail


Zuko’s ship is now adrift at sea. Zuko is meditating when Iroh comes in with information regarding the Avatar. Iroh begs Zuko not to become angry, Zuko replies that he can control his temper. Iroh states that he has no idea where the Avatar is and Zuko becomes furious. Iroh then explains that there have been multiple sightings of Aang but that he is impossible to track, showing his nephew detailed map of where he has been located. Zuko quickly takes the cartography and declares that, "he's a master of evasive maneuvering."

Meanwhile, the Avatar arrives on Kyoshi island, an isolated community that has escaped the war. News travels quickly from person to person of the Avatar's arrival, and finally reaches Zuko and Iroh. Zuko jumps up in surprise and readies to depart to Kyoshi Island (not before quickly snatching his lunch away from Iroh claiming "I was going to save it for later").



As the ship comes to land, Zuko leads his troops on Komodo Rhinos, and enter the town as they search for the Avatar. The Kyoshi warriors make a good demonstration of their abilities and skills in battle, taking out many Firebenders although outnumbered. However, Zuko manages to best three Kyoshi Warriors at once, including their leader, Suki and the Water Tribe boy, Sokka, who was recently trained by Suki. After dispatching his opponents Zuko yells out for the Avatar.

After Zuko sees Aang, they engage in a short battle. The Avatar escapes and leaves on his bison.

As the town is set on fire, Zuko and his men prepare to pursue him again. The Avatar suddenly leaps down from the bison back into Kyoshi's waters. A second later, the Unagi, a giant water spouting eel, bursts out of the water with Aang clinging onto its whiskers. With some struggle, he manages to gain footing on the giant eel's head and directs it towards the burning village. The Unagi then spews a blast of water, extinguishing the fires. Aang leaps into the air, is caught up by Appa, and they fly away. The downpour drenches Zuko and leaving his troops demoralized and humiliated, but Zuko will continue his pursuit.

Some time later, Zuko arrives on a Fire Nation prison rig in the aftermath of a breakout of its Earthbending prisoners. He finds a Water Tribe necklace amongst the wreckage and deduces that it belongs to Katara, the Water Tribe girl companion of the Avatar.

Rescue Uncle


When the Avatar was dealing with Hei Bai, a forest spirit tormenting Senlin Village, Iroh was relaxing in a heated pool of water that he turned into his own personal jacuzzi made from Firebending. Zuko is becoming very impatient and demands that his uncle get ready to leave right away. Iroh agrees, but upon seeing he wasn't wearing anything, Zuko covers his eyes and decides to give his uncle to take a few more minutes to get ready. He then gives a warning that if Iroh is not ready within a half hour Zuko will leave without him. Iroh slumps back into the pool and falls asleep.



Zuko comes later with two soldiers, only to find what one of the Soldiers deduced was a landslide. Zuko then noticed that the rocks were moved up-hill, and realizes that his Uncle was captured by Earthbenders. Zuko immediately pursues them riding his Komodo-Rhino.

The Next morning following his search, Zuko finds a sandal left by Iroh. He figures out that it's Iroh's sandal due to its horrible smell. While following the Earthbender's trail, Zuko spots the Avatar's bison. He turns to follow it but hesitates and is faced with the choice to follow the Avatar or rescue his Uncle.

Just as the Earth Kingdom soldiers are about to crush Iroh's hands as punishment for an escape attempt, Zuko appears and kicks the rock that was about to be dropped on Iroh's hands aside. He then lifts his leg and with one swift movement breaks the chains that are binding Iroh in half, to which Iroh praisingly states "Excellent form, Prince Zuko". Zuko smiles and replies "You taught me well." Despite being outnumbered, they show their opponents that they were clearly outmatched. Iroh and Zuko defeat the Earthbenders with little difficulty. After the fight, Zuko exclaims "Now would you please put on some clothes?!".

The Solstice: A Dangerous Move


At Senlin Village, just before day-break of the Winter Solstice, Prince Zuko knocks on a villager's house. Zuko pushes the man and demands to know where the Avatar went. Zuko finds out that after the Avatar convinced Hei Bei to leave the village in peace, he flew on his bison to Avatar Roku's temple in the Fire Nation.

After day-break, Zuko begins trailing the Avatar and his bison flying across the ocean.

On Zuko’s boat, Iroh scolds his nephew reminding him that he is banished from the Fire Nation and if he enters their waters he will be arrested. Zuko tells him that since he is chasing the Avatar his father will understand. Iroh states that his brother isn’t an understanding person. Zuko begins firing his catapult towards Aang. Aang is able to help Appa dodge the shot but just barely. After missing, Zuko orders for the catapult to be reloaded when he sees in the distance a blockade of Fire Nation ships. Iroh tells Zuko that since he is still in Earth Kingdom waters if he turns back now he won’t be arrested. Zuko refuses to turn away and orders the ship continue forward.



As luck would have it the man in control over the blockade is no other than Commander Zhao. He orders his ships to open fire on the Avatar. One of his men tells Zhao that there is a Fire Nation ship out in the water. After Zhao sees it’s Zuko he claims it belongs to a traitor and re-orders the attack on the Avatar. As a horde of shots from dozens of ships are fired towards Appa, the Avatar manages to dodge the most of the first barrage. Zuko isn’t as lucky as one of the shots hits his ship in the back causing the ship to smoke heavily. One of his men explains what was damaged and that they need to stop for repairs, but Zuko still won't back off as he charges forward again.

As the barrage continues, the Avatar still continues to dodge the shots. Aang has Appa charge right down the middle towards the blockade, while Zhao takes one last shot. But Aang is able to destroy it with Airbending and they soar past the blockade and past Zhao. Less than pleased with the fact that the Avatar made it through the blockade, Zhao knows he has to follow him but he doesn’t know where he is going. He then sees Zuko’s ship approaching and instead of arresting him Zhao allows him to pass through the blockade untouched so he can follow Zuko to the Avatar.

Zuko is confused as to why Zhao let him pass. Iroh states that it is most likely because he wants to use Zuko to find the Avatar. Hearing his uncle’s theory Zuko is at a loss for what to do. Zuko comes up with an idea; since Zhao is following the smoke from his ship he will take a smaller vessel and sneak past Zhao under the smoke. We see Zhao a distance back as he looks at the smoke of Zuko’s ship with a suspicious look on his face.



Thinking he evaded Zhao, Zuko arrives on Crescent Island and secretly enters the Fire Temple. Aang was trying to enter the Temple Sanctuary to communicate with Avatar Roku. After tricking the Fire Sages into opening the door with their Firebending, each of the four sages are grabbed by Shyu, Katara, Sokka, and Momo. Katara yells to Aang to enter the chamber but there is no answer from him.

Then Zuko appears from behind a pillar with Aang. In their surprise they each in turn lose control over the Sages and they are now held down by them. Zuko tells the sages to close the door immediately; Aang turns to see the others being tied up to a pillar and struggles free from Zuko and races to the door. The Sages attempt to stop him but he makes it inside before the doors close. A bright light then comes from the room and dies away.

Outside the doors Zuko asks Shyu why he helped Aang. Shyu says that it was once the Fire Sage’s duty to help the Avatar and that it still is. This moment is interrupted by Zhao and a group of soldiers. Zhao places Zuko under arrest and claims that he will simply wait for the Avatar to come out.



As Aang’s avatar spirit activates Zhao and the others are braced to attack Aang the moment he steps out of the room. Then with another flash of light the door opens and they attack the figure behind the door. They see it is not Aang but Avatar Roku that stands before them. He sends the fire back with great force and knocks the group back. As the heat of the fire melts the chains that holds Katara and the others Zuko takes this opportunity to run back to his boat.

Avatar Roku proceeds to destroy the entire Fire Temple, splitting the ground open, bending the lava up from beneath and submerging it. Zhao and his men retreat back to their boats before the temple begins to fall. The sun sets and with that the solstice is over and Roku, with one last breath, is enveloped in a current of wind and when the dust clears Aang remains. He collapses and is picked up by Katara and Sokka. As the temple is falling apart they have no way to get out of the it as all the ways are block by debris. Aang and his friends escape on Appa at the last minute.

Zhao looks up and sees the Avatar fly away from his sight. He is not pleased as he has lost any chance of capturing the Avatar or Prince Zuko, but as a consolation he claims he has five traitors. We see all five sages including Shyu. The Sages say that only Shyu helped the Avatar but Zhao isn’t interested in their story and has them thrown into the prison hold of his ship.

Zuko manages to escape on his smaller ship also looking at the Avatar as he flies away.

Pirates and a Waterbending Scroll


Meanwhile, Zuko was busy sparring with Lieutenant Jee when Iroh had just diverted the ship to find a port in order to replace a White Lotus tile for his Pai Sho game. Venting with smoke through his nose, Zuko angrily allows him. Iroh calmly expresses that "it's so good to have an understanding nephew" as the smoke engulfed the bridge.

Zuko and Iroh arrive at a port. Unfortunately for Zuko, Iroh didn't find a replacement White Lotus tile from a single merchant in town, but he found numerous trinkets for music night on the ship in which three of their troops were carrying. Zuko was frustrated that the trip was a complete waste of time.

"'I need to capture the Avatar to regain something I've lost: my honor. Perhaps in exchange I can give you something you've lost.'"

Then they come across some pirates who had a Waterbending Scroll stolen from them by Katara. After discovering that they're pursuing Aang as well, Zuko joins forces with the pirates to hunt down Aang. Zuko surmises that they would be practicing waterbending by the river. They find Katara, alone, late at night practicing the Water Whip. Zuko captures and ties Katara to a tree, attempting to interrogate her for information on the Avatar. He shows her that he holds her mother's lost betrothal necklace in his possession, the last tie that she has to her mother in exchange. However, the pirates demanded the scroll. Zuko threatens to destroy it if they don't find Aang.



Then, Aang and Sokka are found and captured. They discover Katara bound to a tree surrounded by Firebenders. As Zuko and the pirates are about to make the trade (the scroll for the Avatar), Sokka convinces the pirates to sell Aang by revealing to them that he's the Avatar, despite Zuko's attempts to keep it a secret from the pirates. The pirates decide that they want to sell Aang to the Fire Nation, and the situation quickly escalates into a battle.

While Zuko and the Pirates fought, Aang, Katara, and Sokka escaped. Katara and Aang use waterbending to get the pirates' boat into water and sail away. Iroh stops Zuko and the Captain, showing them that the pirate's boat is being stolen. Zuko laughs at their misfortune, until he saw the pirates (except for the Captain) stealing his smaller ship and start chasing after the Avatar.

Unfortunately, both ships were lost after falling over a waterfall. Back on shore, Iroh discovers that his lost White Lotus tile was stuck in his sleeve the whole time. A not-impressed Zuko grabs the tile from Iroh's hand and throws it over the waterfall in anger which strikes one of the pirates on the head and bounces off.

The New 'Admiral' Zhao
At Pohuai Stronghold, a Fire Nation fortress overlooking the Earth Kingdom's western shore, Commander Zhao requests the use of the Yu Yan Archers, an elite group of Fire Nation soldiers skilled in archery, in his hunt for the Avatar. Colonel Shinu, strictly denies the request, until word suddenly arrives from Fire Lord Ozai that Zhao has been promoted to the position of admiral. Now the superior officer, Zhao smugly changes his request of the Yu Yan Archers' abilities into an order. Meanwhile, a figure watches the proceedings from the roof above and behind Zhao, his face hidden by a blue oni mask.



Meanwhile, on Zuko's ship, the exiled prince is discussing what actions to take in pursuing the Avatar with his crew, having lost Aang's trail due to the recent storm. However, their planning is interrupted when a large Fire Nation ship, one of the many under Zhao's command, pulls alongside. Several Fire Nation soldiers board, revealing a wanted poster depicting Aang, and stating that all information regarding the Avatar is to be reported directly to Admiral Zhao. Zuko angrily reports that he has no information to report, and demands that the soldiers get off his ship and allow them to pass. He becomes further angered when the soldiers comply to his first demand, but state that under Zhao's orders no ships are being allowed in or out of the area. Iroh responds to all of this in his typical laid-back fashion, instead focusing on winning a game of Pai Sho with several of the crew members.

Zuko practices on the deck of his ship, having not given an order to his men in the hour since it was boarded. Iroh expresses concern over his nephew's behavior, and assures him that it is still possible that he could capture the Avatar before Zhao. Zuko expresses disbelief, as Zhao has far greater resources and power. He states, despondently, that soon he will lose all that he has been fighting for in the years since his exile.

His fears were founded when the Avatar was finally captured by the Yu Yan Archers, and taken back at Pohuai Stronghold as a prisoner. There he was chained and locked up in a cell, where he was mocked by Admiral Zhao.

Infiltrate and Escape


However, the same masked figure from before materializes amongst the bushes flanking the path into the fortress. The figure - the titular Blue Spirit - sneaks into the fortress by clinging to the underside of a carriage that is brought into the fortress, before moving stealthily through it to Aang's cell.

Luckily for the Blue Spirit, Zhao is currently addressing all of the Fire Nation members in the fortress, saying that the Avatar has been captured and the Fire Nation will win the war in less than a year. This allows him to move across the fortress's inner-most wall unnoticed, before descending into a small sewage system and emerging within the fortress's main tower.

The Blue Spirit deftly defeats the guards in his way. As he moves into the cell and unsheathes his swords, Aang becomes terrified, presumably believing the Blue Spirit means harm rather than help.

However, his fears are soon dispersed as the Blue Spirit slashes through his bonds, and begins to leave the room. Aang questions the Blue Spirit's identity and intentions, but he does not answer, instead silently motioning for Aang to follow him. Aang concludes that this new figure means to help him escape, and follows him outside.

As Aang and the Blue Spirit exit the tower via the fortress's shallow sewers, Zhao strolls through its corridors while ordering a secretary to send a message to the Fire Lord recording his triumph. However, Zhao notices the four guards that the Blue Spirit has defeated, and after finding that Aang has escaped, he sounds the alarm.

Fight


Just as the alarm sounds, Aang and the Blue Spirit are making their way up the rope that the latter used to descend the wall. The rope is cut, and the Blue Spirit and Aang are forced fight their way out of the fortress through its three sets of gates. Aang Airbends a group of soldiers out of their path and manages to reach the first gate easily, but the Blue Spirit does not possess his supernatural speed, and is soon overtaken by a dozen spear men, who he begins to battle.

Aang, noticing that his unexpected savior is in danger, moves to assist him, though the Blue Spirit appears capable of easily matching his opponents. In the process, Aang yanks away one of the spears and snaps its blade off, turning it into a staff in place of his glider. Aang is able to use his Airbending abilities in conjunction with the staff to move himself and the Blue Spirit to the top of the second wall, but in the process drops the staff, leaving them with one more wall to overcome. Scores of Fire Nation soldiers ascend the wall with flexible bamboo ladders, but a quick-thinking Aang turns this against their pursuers. He turns the ladders into makeshift stilts, and, with the Blue Spirit hanging on his back, uses three of the ladders to get them across to the third wall.

However, a Firebending soldier burns the last ladder beneath their feet before they can reach the final wall, and Aang and the Spirit are forced to jump. Although both manage to get hand-holds on the edge of the wall, neither is able to hang on, and they fall to the ground in front of the final gate. A group of Firebenders launch a combined attack on the duo, and Aang uses Airbending to defend them before Zhao orders his soldiers to stand down. The admiral continues, stating that the Avatar must be captured alive.



Hearing this, the Blue Spirit quickly places his swords at Aang's throat threateningly. Zhao appears angered, but decides not to take any risks. He orders the guards to open the gates, and the Blue Spirit, still holding his blades to Aang's neck, marches the two of them outside, never turning either of their backs to the fortress. Colonel Shinu is bewildered that Zhao is allowing the Avatar to escape, but the admiral remains calm.

At the top of the outer wall, Zhao orders a Yu Yan Archer to knock out the Blue Spirit, which he does without fail with a single arrow to his forehead. The Blue Spirit falls over instantly unconscious, his life spared due to the protection provided by his mask. Aang immediately Airbends up a large dust cloud to conceal himself, while a group of Fire Nation soldiers raced from the fortress to capture them. He takes off the Blue Spirit's mask to learn that his rescuer is, to his immense shock, Zuko. He turns to run and leave the prince behind, but hesitates. When the dust settles, Aang and Zuko have vanished without a trace. Zhao is immensely angered, and his mood is not helped when suddenly one of Aang's frogs from before appears alongside him, croaks, and leaps off the wall.



Later, Zuko regains consciousness to discover that morning has arrived, and he is with Aang in a wooded area. Aang speaks nostalgically of Kuzon, a Fire Nation boy he knew as one of his closest friends a century before. He laughs at the thought of how much trouble he got into with his friend. After reflecting, he asks Zuko if under different circumstances they too could have been friends. Zuko pauses, then responds by launching a fire blast, which Aang easily avoids before leaping through the trees. Zuko's stern expression softens slightly, and he decides not to pursue the Avatar, at least for now.

Zuko returns to his ship. Iroh greets him, questioning where he has been all night, but seems not to be too worried, being more concerned with the events of "music night" from the evening before. Zuko ignores these comments, and orders no disturbances while he tries to catch up on his sleep. At the same time in their respective places, Aang and Zuko attempt to sleep.

The Bounty Hunter


Iroh, in his continuing mission to calm Zuko's aggressive nature is sharing a cup of tea with nephew, claiming it is good for his mental well-being. Just as Zuko is about to try a sip, there is a disturbance on the deck, and Zuko and Iroh go to check it out. There, they encounter the bounty hunter June and her Shirshu invading his ship, claiming to be in pursuit of a stowaway. Just as Zuko claims there are no stowaways on his ship, the Shirshu rips off part of the deck, finds the stowaway among the cargo, and paralyzes him with its venomous tongue. Zuko is astounded, and he asks the bounty hunter how she was able to find the man so easily. June tells him her Shirshu can detect a scent for miles by just smelling an object. She leaves the damaged ship with her prize, while Zuko and an attracted Iroh look on.



Zuko (along with Iroh), spotting an effective new way to find the Avatar, tracks June down to a Seedy Tavern to enlist her help. He initially demands she help him to compensate for the damage to his ship but she only agrees when Iroh offers to pay her in gold. Zuko, ignoring Iroh's flirtations with June and June's cracks about "his girlfriend", shows her Katara's Necklace to use to follow her scent, tracking Aang by proxy. They follow Katara's scent all the way through the Ruins of Taku and Makapu Village until they find Katara and Sokka. After paralyzing them, they realize that Aang is not with them. The Shirshu seeks out Aang's scent from a map that he held, and they track him into the Abbey.

Zuko ends up in a one-on-one showdown with Aang, while June and the Shirshu fight Appa. Everybody brawls, and Zuko chases Aang across the Abbey, ferociously attacking him with Firebending while Aang defends himself with Airbending. Sokka, coming out of paralysis thanks to the nuns' remedy, devises a plan to blind the Shirshu by overpowering its sense of smell with perfume. Katara Waterbends the perfume onto the Shirshu, and it loses control. Blinded and panicking, it paralyzes both Zuko and June. Iroh pretends to be paralyzed so he could hold June close to him, and shushes Zuko when he points this out.

Siege of the North


Close to the North Pole, Zuko's ship had docked in a Fire Nation bay for the night. During Iroh's Music Night, Zhao comes on board to conscript the crew, for his attack on the Northern Water Tribe. Iroh and Zhao go to Zuko's room, to inform him. When Zuko hears of this, he tries to attack Zhao, but he is restrained by Iroh. Zhao, however is distracted by the broadswords on a mantelpiece, which he recognizes as the Blue Spirit's. He casually asks Zuko if he has any skill with the swords. Zuko, knowing what Zhao is thinking, says that the swords are only antiques used for decoration. Zhao does not respond, but lightly asks Iroh if he's heard of the Blue Spirit. When he gets a negative response, he leaves, but not before offering a military advisory position to Iroh.

After the crew leaves, Zuko is bitter and resentful. He rejects Iroh's offer to go for a walk, and opts to stay in his room and sulk. Meanwhile, the Pirates Zuko had met before are hired by Zhao to assassinate Zuko, and they begin to plant explosives on his ship. Zuko hears them, when one of them opens a creaky door. He goes to investigate, but finds nothing until he sees the Pirate Captain's Reptile Bird. The explosives go off, and destroy Zuko's ship. Moments before the flames hit him, Zuko forms a Fire Shield around himself, saving his life.

When Zuko reunites with Iroh, he stows away aboard Zhao's ship while his uncle accepts the offer to be the admiral's adviser.



Zuko stays aboard Zhao's ship well into the siege. After nightfall, he commandeers a boat, and plans to sneak into the city to take Aang. Before he leaves, Iroh meets with him. He gives Zuko advice and tells him that he's thought of him as his own son, since Lu Ten's death. Zuko says he knows, and promises that they'll meet again, after he's captured the Avatar. Iroh wishes him well, and Zuko leaves.

He rows his way to the shoreline next to the city. He notices a group of seals diving into a hole, and realizes that they must have a place where they come up for air. He dives in, and eventually comes to a place where he is trapped under ice. He uses heat to melt the ice, and comes up in the city. He makes his way to the Spirit Oasis, where he finds Aang has crossed into the Spirit World, and Katara and Yue are talking. He interrupts them, and demands they hand Aang over. Katara moves to defend him, Yue runs away, and Zuko takes a fighting stance.

The two begin to fight. At first, they are relatively equal; but Katara, empowered by the moon, gains the upper hand and traps Zuko in a prison of ice. However, when the sun rises he uses a fire blast to knock Katara into a tree knocking her out. He takes Aang and, having no where else to go, leaves the city and goes north, into a raging blizzard.



"'You're just like my sister. My father says she was born lucky. He says I was lucky to be born. I don't need luck, though. I've always had to struggle and fight and that's made me strong. It's made me who I am.'"

After trudging through the falling snow, Zuko finds a cave, and takes shelter. Soon after, Aang's Spirit returns to his body, and he wakes up and tries to escape. Zuko restrains him, but Katara, Sokka and Yue, who had been following Aang's spirit, come down on Appa. Katara defeats Zuko, and they prepare to leave with Aang. Aang saves Zuko’s life for a second time, insisting that Zuko must be brought along instead of being left unconscious in the snow where he would surely die. Upon returning to the Northern Water Tribe’s city, Zuko escapes while Aang and his allies are distracted by Zhao’s attack on the Moon Spirit, Tui.

Zuko follows an escaping Zhao, and attacks him. Zhao defends himself, tells Zuko that he knows he's the Blue Spirit and calls him a traitor. The two begin fighting. For a while they are equal; Zuko fares much better than he had in their first fight, and matches every one of Zhao's attacks. Eventually, he gains the upper hand and defeats him. Just as this happens, the vengeful Ocean Spirit, La, attacks Zhao, attempting to drag him into the water. After a moment of internal struggle, Zuko offers Zhao his hand in aid. A prideful Zhao refuses and is drowned by the Ocean Spirit.

Zuko and Iroh escape the North Pole, and travel on a driftwood raft for three weeks, until they reach land.