Saving the Fishes

Zuko was ice cold, well swimming through ice caverns in icy cold water in the middle of the night will fo that. He saw several Tiger Seal swimming and follow them. Soon he burned his way into the Northern Water Fortress. He used the breath of fire technique to warm himself up before he continued on his mission. As he waited, he went over what happened after the bombing of his ship. He snuck into Zhao's base and found his uncle, after a bone crushing hug. He told his uncle that Zhao hired pirated to kill him but he tricked the pirates to bring a bomb onboard. Iroh wanted to challenge Zhao to an Angi Ki and finish him. Why Zhao would love to see that and it would save many Fire Nation lives and Northern Water Tribe lives. He told his uncle the invasion had to happened.

This puzzled Iroh, so Zuko said that he went to Zhao's office first to **** him but he wasn't there. Yet, he left his plans on the table and told uncle of Zhao's plans to **** both the Ocean and Moon spirits. Iroh was horrified, which only made Iroh want to deal with Zhao personally. Zuko had to point out that his father wanted this invasion to happened no matter what. So getting rid of Zhao will only let his father place a more competent commander in charge. So instead Zuko pointed out that Zhao wanted him as his second in command, to out shine him and rub his defeat at Ba Sing Sa in his face when he conquer the Northern Water Tribe. So Zuko told Iroh of his plan, since Iroh would be second in command and handle all the important things like supplies and personnel. He wanted his uncle to move away all Fire Nation military that where moderate and where against this war. Then he want his uncle to assign all the most hard liners and warmongers to the invasion. Iroh was puzzled by this but Zuko continued explaining his plan. All of those commanders would be very petty and have rivalries with each other. So he wanted his uncle to set them up in so those rivalries will clash, destroying unity and cohesion. Which will cause high casualties rates, Zuko didn't like this but all of those soldiers would support his father and his plan to burn the Earth Kingdom. So he had to get rid of them, plus keeping the more moderate elements around. Will hopefully make it easier for him to rule once he becomes Fire Lord. He also hated the fact Northern Water Tribe people will also die in this but he had a plan for that too. He would sabotage and **** key personnel during the fighting. Hopefully, this will help the Northern Water Tribe out.

Then Zuko told his uncle to stay on the ship, when he kills Zhao. The invasion forces will be in chaos, that is when he will order the retreat saving as many lives as he could. This would get him back in the good graces of the Fire Nation. Iroh liked this plan but feared Zuko might be found out. Zuko said if he is, then he must be the first to order Zuko be branded a traitor. Iroh was about to protest, but Zuko said he have to do it. He must be seen supporting the Fire Nation but in reality he would be undermining it. Zuko pointed out his father didn't like doing the day to day paper work of the war. So Iroh will offer to do that, so he could do what got him his scar. Place the most hard liner and Ozai supporters in no win situations and used as cannon fodder. This will weaken his father power base and weaken the war effort. He needed to be in no way connect to his father, if he wanted to end the war.

Iroh was puzzled by this as well. So Zuko explain, he realized that this war was wrong and destroying his nation, so he needed to end it. Iroh smiled at his nephew, he thought he meant joining the Avatar and helping him bring balance back to the world. Zuko couldn't tell him that Aang will fail but he and this team the spirits said he will put together will put a stop to his father madness.

That's why he needs to be banish so he could gather and train this team. Defeating his father was the "easy" part, he would have to rule a geopolitical nightmare after he becomes Fire Lord.

Uncle said he was proud of him and his plan was good. Zuko knew this wasn't a heroic plan but he need to rule a nation afterwards.

Once Zuko had warmed up he waited for the invasion to begin. He saw the fire balls and knew it was time to get to work. Luckily he had his older self memories, so he knew not only the fire bender style he created by mix both traditional fire bending styles and water bending styles. He also remember all of his guerilla bear warfare he did against the Fire Nation. He was wearing a mix of his white suit and blue spirit costume. He thought making the Blue Spirit the terror of the Fire Nation. So as the invasion forces stormed the city. He saw the pettiness and rivalries taking their toll. He saw chances to advance wasted, soldiers being sent into traps to weaken rival commanders power and seeing formations being overwhelmed for pride.

He took a deep breath and went to work, he used bombs to destroy tank formations and killed key command personnel. The warriors of the Water Tribe soon cheered when he showed up. He left one path clear, which lead straight to the Spirit Oasis. He watched and waited for Zhao to make his appearance. Soon he spotted him and his elite guard, they fought their way down the path he left from them. Zhao was grinning having no clue he was being lead into a trap.

Zuko headed to the Spirit Oasis himself, wanting to be there to confront Zhao there. Soon he reached the oasis and what he saw gave him pause. He saw Aang meditating and Katara watching over him. Memories from his older self flooded his mind. Last time, Katara and him have gotten close. They where lovers and he even made her a married necklace. He felt pains in his heart, as he knew she hated him at this point in time. Zuko couldn't blame her, he was jerk in the past. Yet, now he had a change to redeem himself and hopefully show Katara he wasn't evil.

Images of them being passionate with each other came to mind as Zuko walked towards them.

" Stop, who you're ?" Asked Katara, as she took a fighting stance.

" A friend." Said Zuko, as he disguised his voice.

Katara didn't trust this stranger but when a dozen elite fire bender stormed the oasis. The stranger stood back to back with her.

Together they fought off the fire benders, Katara felt something towards this stranger. She didn't know what it was but she liked it. Soon all twelve fire benders lay on the ground defeated. Katara looked at the masked stranger and blushed.

" Thank you." Said Katara, Zuko couldn't help but blushed as well.

Katara did look specially lovely blushing, he wanted to removed his mask and kiss her. Heck, he wanted to take her someplace private and showed how much he really loved her. He knew that was a bad idea, she stilled hated him. Both where snapped out of their thoughts by clapping.

" Well, well, well. I guess my little bomb didn't kill you after all Zuko." Said Zhao, snearing.

Katara was stunned as she backed away.

Zuko growled as he removed his masked.

" I knew you where a traitor and will take great joy in bring your head to your father." Said Zhoa, grinning.

" I will.." Said Zhao, but Zuko cut him off.

" Enough, I know your plan Zhao. You want to be know as the moon and ocean slayer, and came here to kill those two fish because they are the Ocean and Moon spirits." Said Zuko, staring at Zhao.

This time Zhao growled, " Add slayer of the traitor prince." Said Zhao, snearing with anger.

" Not going to happened." Said Zuko, as he toss down his swords.

Zhao had enough of Zuko and charged at him. Zhao was expecting an easy fight, he was going to simply overwhelmed Zuko with his strength. Zuko just smirked, as they started fighting. Katara looked on and was completely shocked to see how powerful Zuko was. He never fought them like this, he was both powerful and graceful like he was dancing. He couldn't help but rubbed her thighs together as she had several passionate thought about Zuko.

Zhao was furious, he thought he could easily beat Zuko but he was wrong so very wrong. The traitor prince fought with some strange version of fire bender. He was to fluid, so no matter what he throw at Zuko he easily had a counter. He looked more like a water bender then a fire bender and this made him was furious.

Soon Zhao found himself on his knees with a fire dragger at his throat.

" Surrender and leave." Said Zuko, Zhao was foaming.

" Never !" Shouted Zhao. He was about to got on the attack but Zuko finished him before he could do anything.

Katara gasped, as she covered her mouth. She knew Zuko did the right thing, especially if Zhao was really going to kill the spirits. Then she noticed Zuko picking up Zhao's head and walked away.

" I'm sorry you had to see that." Said Zuko, as he left the oasis.

Zuko went to the highest point and left loose a burst of lightning something he learned last time. Then fighting stopped and both Fire Nation and Water Tribe warriors stopped and looked towards him. Zuko threw Zhao's head in front of the Fire Nation's warriors. Panic soon set in as their spirits where broken. They where in complete disarray and the Water Tribe took full advantage of it.

Zuko saw his uncle helping the retreating Fire Nation. He knew he wouldn't see him for sometime but his uncle already taught him what he needed to know.

As the Water Tribe cheered, Zuko returned to the Spirit Oasis to check up on both Katara and Aang. He arrived just as Aang's spirit returned to his body.

" Katara, Zhao is after the Moon and Ocean spirits !" Shouted Aang, Katara said she already knew that.

Aang looked puzzled but soon he saw the bodies of the elite fire benders and a headless one. Aang fell to his knees in disgust, earning him a sigh from both Katara and Zuko.