Avatar the Last Airbender(ATLA): The Jade Dragon

[Iroh POV]

What a beautiful day!

The sky is clear and the sea breeze is always refreshing. Here I am... enjoying a nice cup of ginseng tea. My favorite!

Along with my tea I was enjoying a slice of delicious cake.

I'm enjoying all of this while I am on the deck of the ship, overseeing my nephews training. He is training quite diligently, although his form could use some work, so I decided to help guide him.

Iroh: "Zuko! Do not falter on your firebending forms. You are improving but your stance is a bit off, there is no need to be so fierce."

Zuko: "I am not faltering, Uncle! Fire is fierce so I will be too! HAA!" He continued his forms but I can see that there was a subtle shift in his stance.

He makes me so proud! He listened but is a bit embarrassed to admit his faults. What a great nephew! He deserves a good rest.

Iroh: "Why don't you come and rest with me, Zuko. Here, come and enjoy a slice of cake and some nice refreshing tea." I lifted up the cake to show him how delicious it looks and grinned.

Zuko: "How could you say that! I can't stop my training! I need to be ready so I can capture the Avatar!" He continued his training.

What dedication. He is truly a fine nephew who will become a great warrior and a great Firelord.

*Screech!*

My thoughts were interrupted by a Firehawk. One of our crew soldiers received the message from the back of the bird. He had two scrolls.

Oh! Not just any normal message. A black ribbon message, a message of upmost importance!

Soldier: He opened up the message scroll and ran to my nephew, "Prince Zuko! It's a message from the Firelord!"

Zuko: He looked surprised but I could also see a hint of happiness, "What!? Gimme that!" He snatched the two scrolls from the soldier.

I raised an eyebrow at this. My brother has not sent a message to Zuko in all the years of his banishment. I am interested to know what he has written.

Zuko read the note and when he was done reading he had an exasperated expression but was not overly bothered. So I walked up to him to ask for the scroll.

Iroh: "What's the matter Prince Zuko? Let me see the message."

I read the message from my brother, the Firelord, and all it said was that if we encounter this certain person we are to capture him and notify him immediately. However, it did not say anything about Zuko being allowed back home or anything else like that.

It was just a regular order with no benefits.

I opened the other scroll and it was a wanted poster. It was just a drawing of a young man with tanned skin but his face was covered. Only revealing one green eye since he had long black spiky hair covering his face.

The poster wasn't very useful, but the information at the bottom revealed something that I just couldn't believe, so I called the Lieutenant over.

Iroh: "Lieutenant Jee. Are these documents official?"

L. Jee: "Yes sir. Why do you ask?"

Iroh: "Its a little hard to believe but the details about this young man, it says right here that he has a black tail?"

L. Jee: "Its true sir. I have a friend who is stationed at the Boiling Rock and he mentioned one prisoner who has a tail. I didn't believe it but he insisted that it was true."

Zuko: He was listening in and gave us his thoughts, "That's ridiculous! There is no way that's true!"

Iroh: I pondered over the possibilities but I asked my nephew, "It may be ridiculous Prince Zuko but this order is from the Firelord. What do you intend to do?"

Zuko: "Nothing. It stated IF we encounter him. So there's no need to search for him. Only finding the Avatar matters, so we'll continue searching for the Avatar and not this 'Jade Dragon'. Lieutenant continue our current course!"

I went back to my teapot and cake. Zuko continued his training but the message left me wondering just a little.

I have heard of the Jade Dragon but I did not know he was so young. Apparently on the poster it stated he was around 13 years old. Still a kid and he caused so much trouble for the Fire Nation. The tail however was baffling.

If ever we meet, I would like to hear his story over a cup of tea.

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[Azula POV]

The throne room. I have to say, I think it'll look better once I'm on the throne. Father is an excellent Firelord but I have to say that the title Firelord Azula seems more... appropriate.

I walked down the court and kneeled before my father since he had summoned me.

My Father, Firelord Ozai. He is in his mid-forties, he has long black hair that went just past his shoulders and he has a soul patch, part of his hair was tied in a knot with the crown piece placed in it. He was wearing throne room robes but the line of fire was casting a shadow on him, making it difficult to see his features while he sat on his throne.

Azula: "Hello Father, you summoned me?"

Firelord Ozai: "Yes my daughter. I just wanted to briefly inform you that your studies and training will be increased in difficulty. That is all."

Azula: I was surprised and irritated but I spoke calmly, "Father, I understand but may I ask why?"

Firelord Ozai: "It is because even though you are a prodigy you still are not good enough."

Azula: I lost a bit of my composure and I stood up, "Father! What do you mean I am not good enough!? I have defeated all the firebending masters you've given me. I can match any other bender from the other nations with ease. I don't see why-"

Ozai: "Azula, calm yourself! I am increasing your training, there is one prodigy of this nation who is better than you and you need to be prepared."

I was surprised, there is no one better than me. I am a first class prodigy, the pride of this nation, Ozai's daughter! There is no other firebender who can outclass me, not even him!

Ozai: "I see that you are surprised my daughter." He smirked a little, "The one who is a match for you has escaped from prison."

Azula: "You mean him! Th-that's impossible! The Boiling Rock is virtually impossible to escape. You're telling me that he-"

Ozai: He interrupt me, "Yes Azula. The Jade Dragon has escaped. That is why you are to continue your training with more difficulty."

Azula: "Father, send me out there, I can prove to you that I can-"

Ozai: "No Azula! There is no need. I want you to be stronger, yes, but there is not much urgency for his capture. In a few years there will come an opportunity to finally end this war so his power is not needed. However, I still expect you to be his superior some day... Now that is all, you are dismissed."

He waved me off and I took my leave. When I exited the throne room I was livid. I looked at a vase to my right and blasted it with my blue fire and it was completely decimated.

Azula: I continue walking back to my room, "He has escaped! Not even I coul-" I stopped myself from admitting he was better, "No. I'll show him I'm the greatest prodigy of my nation, not some no name savage." I had a smile on my face, "Just you wait, when we face each other next time I'll show you that my fire cannot be outclassed."

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[??? POV]

I held a wanted poster in my hand. I was out on the road when I came across a news board displayed for the Fire Nation. I saw that this poster had the face of someone I knew.

In the description, I read that he has a tail now too.

???: "So you survived after all? Of course a traitor like you would live. Hmph!" I rolled the poster and placed it in my bag.

He was alive! I was excited to know that a warrior like him is alive but I know him on a personal level and him being alive also made me livid! I now had an opportunity to fight him with no restrictions but now isn't the time. My body is still wounded and I won't recover until sometime next year. I also need to train.

???: "Hmm. I am but a weary traveler for now but just you wait Po. I'll show you that your title isn't worthy of someone like you. I am the greater warrior... Po!" 

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[3rd POV]

Somewhere within the Earth Kingdom a man is reading the daily reports in a dark room, illuminated only by a fireplace behind him, with files scattered all around him and he comes across the wanted poster of the Jade Dragon.

He read the features of the young man and let out a sneer.

???: In a low voice he contemplated, "My spies from the Fire Nation had told me there were no survivors of the experiment... It seems they were wrong. You!"

???: He pointed at a man in the corner, waiting for orders, "Inform everyone that if any of them see this man..." He gave the poster to the man, "They are to capture him by any means necessary... ALIVE! He could be the key to our success with our own experiments. Hopefully the success rating will increase if we analyze him. Now go!"

He continued with his other reports already putting the news of the wanted criminal behind him. He needed to continue with diligence and if the criminal is found and captured he will be ready to deal with it when the time comes.

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[3rd POV]

The wanted poster has been sent out the day Po retrieved his chains and had met with Ty Lee.

Ty Lee introduced Po to the Ringmaster and he agreed to hire him. They showed him around and introduced him to the other performers of the circus. He was warmly welcomed and he had no trouble getting along with them. 

The circus was packing up and he was helping out wherever he could. The circus was packed after a few hours and the next day they would depart early in the morning.

Ty Lee had asked him out, innocently, on a small date. They only went into the village to get something to eat.

Po was still a little surprised when she had actually said the word 'date' but he was sure she didn't mean anything serious. So he agreed.

Now, they had just finished eating and were walking back to the circus when Ty Lee excused herself to do something. Po waited and his eyes found a bulletin board for the village and couldn't help but raise an eyebrow.

Po: He looked at the poster and smiled, "There is no way anybody will recognize me now. Although I feel a little insulted at the bounty price, I thought it'd be higher than just 75 gold pieces."

He looked at the other wanted posters, there was one of Jeong-Jeong, the Deserter, and his bounty was at 200 gold pieces.

Po: "It seems there is no real urgency for my capture... But why?" He pondered a bit.

It seemed strange to him that his bounty was low, he knew he caused a lot of trouble to the Fire Nation so his price didn't seem right.

However he didn't dwell on it too long, one because it's convenient; no one is going to chase after him desperately with only a small reward.

Two because he had no way to investigate it. The Firelord isn't the one who sets the price but he does issue the urgency for it. So the Firelord doesn't seem to be in a hurry to capture Po so he decided to let it be.

Even better, it didn't show Po very well, the drawing of Po was what he looked like after all those years of not cutting his hair. The hair covered most of Po's facial features and there was no official name, the only thing to worry about was the tail as described in the poster. 

Po looked around and when no one was looking he put the poster back but hid it behind the other news posters on the bulletin. 

Ty Lee: When Po was done Ty Lee came up behind him, "Hey, whatcha doin'?"

Po: He wasn't too startled and he turned to face her, "Nothing, just wondering what's happening in the nation. Nothing but boring stuff tho."

Ty Lee: "Oh, okay. Come on, we can tell ghost stories with everyone before we sleep!" She grabbed onto Po's arm and pulled him to follow.

Po just agreed and followed with Ty Lee holding onto his arm. Po was now ready to travel with the circus. He doesn't know that behind him, next to the board was a large man with a scar on his face, eyeing him.

The man pulled out the wanted poster and examined it. He looked back at Po and just pocketed the poster in his bag.

Po was unaware of the man's presence, he was only thinking about how well his travel through the Fire Nation will be. It will be faster than he thought it would be so he'll try to enjoy every moment of it since it will be more peaceful than he thought.

His adventure is just starting. But scattered all around throughout the four nations a few other individuals are looking at the wanted poster. Some of them taking an interest at the challenge of getting someone who supposedly has a tail.

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A/N: I've been busy so I couldn't upload this chapter sooner. Also, just a heads up, next week I won't be able to upload. I need to get caught up and I have other things to handle. Anyways, thanks for reading, hope you enjoyed and see you next time.