Two years passed in the blink of an eye. Tai Lung's life became a cycle of travel, training, and war. From dusty villages to fortified Earth Kingdom outposts, he left his mark wherever he went. Skirmishes flared across the land, and in each one, his might was displayed in full view of friend and foe alike.
The rumors followed him, growing with every battle. To the Fire Nation, he was no longer just Admiral Lung's son, he was the Fire Avatar, a living weapon who struck fear into their enemies. Soldiers marched taller, prouder, when his name was spoken. But in the Earth Kingdom, his shadow grew darker, fear spread across the land. To them, the Avatar had returned as a monster, a traitor to balance, now waging war at the Fire Nation's side. Mothers hushed their children with his name; generals and resistance cursed their luck at hearing he was spotted nearby.
Yet for Tai Lung, the war was just a minor effort in his life. Wherever he roamed, he took the time to write home. He responded to letters, letters carried the warmth of his mother's love, the weight of his father's pride, and Ty Lee's longing words, each one reminding him he had people waiting. Vice Captain Han never failed to remind him: "Don't forget gifts for your fiance." And so, whether it was a finely carved trinket or a silk scarf dyed in Earth Kingdom hues, Tai Lung made sure to send gifts to Ty Lee.
Today, he and his crew stopped at a Fire Nation-controlled southern base to resupply. The harbor was busy with cargo being hauled and soldiers moving about when another ship limped into port, a worn and damaged vessel that stood in stark contrast to the well-kept Fire Nation fleet. From it disembarked a boy with a scarred face and a weary gait: Prince Zuko. Behind him, as ever, walked the wise figure of General Iroh.
Tai Lung had heard the stories. Banished for disrespecting the Fire Lord during a war council, the prince was sentenced to exile until he accomplished something "worthy" of returning. A punishment cruel enough that even soldiers thought of the Fire Lord went too far with it .
As Tai Lung's sharp eyes lingered on the pair, Iroh glanced up and noticed him. The old general's brows lifted in recognition, and after whispering something to his nephew, he turned back to Tai Lung and raised a hand in warm greeting. Zuko, by contrast, froze only for a heartbeat before averting his gaze. He did not meet Tai Lung's eyes. Tai Lung decided he didn't care. He turned away and focused on his ship's resupply.
But it wasn't long before a familiar voice carried behind him. "Tai Lung!"
Tai Lung turned, finding Iroh approaching with his usual easy smile, though Zuko was nowhere in sight.
"Shouldn't you be at the prince's side?" Tai Lung asked bluntly.
Iroh's smile dimmed into a sigh. "The prince… is having a difficult time. He feels lost in this world. Zuko is not a bad person, but he is ashamed to face you, after what happened years ago."
Tai Lung gave a small nod. "That's okay. I'll be leaving soon anyway."
Iroh hesitated, his hands folding behind his back. "Perhaps… you might meet him? Talk to him. Sometimes, a familiar voice can help more than you think."
Tai Lung shook his head. "We're not at the level where we can talk comfortably. What he needs is to get that 'achievement' his shitty father demands and return home, or learn that he didn't lose his honor, that he was not in the wrong to begin with. Nothing I say will change that."
The old general's expression softened with regret. He leaned closer and lowered his voice. "Zuko is too angry and bitter to accept Ozai for what he truly is. And that achievement, as they call it… is a cruel mask. His true mission is to find the Avatar. The real one."
Tai Lung Lung froze, his sharp golden eyes narrowing. "That's no mission. That's a sentence. You may as well have told him to never return."
Iroh's shoulders sagged. "My brother… he is too cruel. Zuko didn't deserve this."
For a long moment, Tai Lung was silent. Then he let out a low growl of disdain. "I knew that fire rooster was a piece of shit. But to think he'd go that far with his own son? He's lower than dirt. A piece of shit, through and through."
Iroh couldn't help but chuckle quietly. "My brother would not be pleased to hear you call him that."
Tai Lung snorted. "If he has an issue, we can always have a second Agni Kai."
General Iroh laughed at that and said "I highly doubt my brother would agree to that. So Tai Lung, I heard you refused the promotion to a commander."
Tai Lung replied "I prefer to remain a captain, a single ship and free to go wherever I want. On the other hand, being a commander is a pain"
Iroh shook his head hearing that getting promotion is the dream of every soldier, except for Tai Lung apparently.
Tai Lung glanced at Zuko's ship and asked "How come your ship was damaged like that? Did you encounter some water tribe raiders?"
Iroh didn't answer immediately, he looked at Tai Lung carefully then said "Nothing major, just an accident in the south pole"
Tai Lung nodded then turned his back and started walking toward his ship. "It was nice meeting you here, General Iroh. I wish you and Zuko luck. You'll need it."
The general stood there, watching as the younger man walked away without a single backward glance. A sigh escaped him, heavy and sorrowful. He had hoped Tai Lung might still hold a spark of friendship for Zuko, something to ease the boy's suffering, especially after the unexpected events in the south pole. But it was clear to him now, Tai Lung had moved beyond such ties, leaving the prince to walk his exile alone. Iroh wondered what Tai Lung would do when he meets the real Avatar.
——————
Days later, Tai Lung was training near the rocky shore, his strikes sharp and full of power as waves crashed behind him. The salty wind tugged at his clothes, but his focus was entirely on his training, until Han emerged from the nearby forest, his voice interrupting the steady rhythm of Tai Lung's movements.
"Captina. The truth is out."
Tai Lung straightened, lowering his stance, a brow raised. "What truth?"
Han crossed the sand toward him, his expression both serious and strangely amused. "That you're fake. The real Avatar has been found."
For a moment, Tai Lung simply blinked at him, then let out a low hum. "Is that so? And how reliable is this news?"
"It should be true," Han replied quickly. "It's said Prince Zuko found the Avatar in the South Pole and failed to capture him. Here, look at this."
From within his robes, Han produced a paper and handed it over. Tai Lung unfolded it and studied the crude but clear drawing: the face of a young bald boy, an arrow painted across his forehead in stark lines.
Han pointed at it. "This is the Avatar. He's a young airbender, traveling with a flying bison."
Tai Lung hummed again, this time with more interest, his golden eyes narrowing. "So that's why Zoku's ship was damaged, General Iroh must have tried to hide the truth… I guess he wanted me to help his nephew hunt the Avatar."
Tai Lung's eyes narrowed as he continued "But this is strange, the Avatar disappeared for more than a hundred years, and now he's returned as a young airbender. Could it be that he completed a full cycle already? Or perhaps…" His lips curled faintly. "…perhaps this isn't the Avatar at all. Just another fake."
Han shrugged. "Who knows what's going on with him. But from eyewitnesses, he bent both air and water."
That made Tai Lung's smile widen. "All the better. I would like to meet this Avatar. He might prove to be a true challenge."
Han chuckled under his breath, shaking his head. "I expected nothing less from you." But then his voice faltered as his gaze snapped to the distance. His eyes widened.
Tai Lung, noting the sudden change in his expression, turned. Over the horizon, above the glittering waves, a massive white shape floated against the sky. Enormous, furred, with wide horns and a flat, bearlike face.
A flying bison.
Tai Lung chuckled, his eyes glinting. "Well, look at this. He's coming right toward us. This must be fate, don't you think, Han?"
Han shifted uneasily. "Are you going to capture him?"
But Tai Lung did not answer immediately. His entire focus was locked on the creature, and on the boy who surely rode upon its back.
After some time, Tai Lung chuckled and said "Good thing we are not wearing the military uniform. We wouldn't want to scare the Avatar. Who would have thought wearing the nearby resort clothes will help us"
Han replied "Captain, don't jump to conclusion, we don't know if the avatar will land or will continue on his path"
Tai Lung didn't reply this time, he waited for the bison to come closer.