Zuko stood by the side rail of the Fire Navy ship. How long had it been since he had commanded a vessel like this one? 3 months? More than that? It seemed to him like a lifetime ago. So much was different. The soldiers under his command were fire benders sworn to him alone. So many had flocked to his banner and the hope brought by the avatar.

I've been so blind. So many of my people are as unhappy as I. Zuko put his hand to his cheek. I've paid the price for disobedience. With luck, my people will be free to be who they are meant to be. He sighed ruefully. When all this is over.

"Sir?" Zuko turned to his Commander. "The other war leaders wish to consult with you." The Captain of this vessel snapped a crisp salute. Zuko smiled thinly. The other war leaders. The avatar and friends. The only family left to him. None of the Fire Nation Commanders knew what to call them exactly. They had neither title nor position in the way his people understood it. Zuko walked crisply over to them.

"Sokka. What do you have for me?"

"Why are you always asking me? I'm just a guy with a boomerang." Sokka gestured extravagantly. It was the smile and pleasant blush in his cheeks that gave the lie to his words. Zuko softened. The Water Tribe teenager was becoming his best friend. stepping closer to him, the sharpness in his voice faded. "Sokka. You're the best tactician I have. You have a talent for it that rivals any general I've known. It's your gift. You bend thought."

Katara and Aang stared at the Prince. Zuko was softer and more open than ever before. It was hard to get used to. Had he always been compassionate? That was difficult for them to imagine. Yet here he was; molding Sokka into a leader before their eyes.

Sokka lifted his chin, shoulders squaring; "Okay. Here's the plan..."

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The harbor of the prison was coming into sharp relief. It's always so still before the ground starts shaking. This had been a favorite quote of her father. Toph could see the beach no more than the ocean. There were many things her feet could not see clearly. It was the smell of wet sand and seagulls that outlined them for her. After today, we'll be stronger. Sokka and Katara will have their father by them once more. Her throat went dry. Will my father ever understand me?

Lord Ozai will never understand me.The wind ruffled through Zuko's hair. Will there come a time when it doesn't bother me? Lifting his face to the early dawn, the Prince drew a slow breath. There it is. Where my people hide the horror of their sin. Zuko growled in his throat. Scowling and angry. "Ready the fleet Commander!" His men stiffened at the sound. Such cold steel behind the words of their Prince, meant his anger was crouching like a tiger. A tiger with golden eyes sharper than the swords he wore.

"They're firing at us!"

Zuko and his most skilled fire benders stood on the upper deck of every ship. Calmly, he watched the flaming projectiles arc through the sky."On my mark!" the timing must be perfect to enact this plan. Steady. I must remain calm.every eye watched him intensely; though his own never left the flaming death speeding towards them.

"Now!" Zuko leapt into the air pirouetting gracefully. All the waiting fire benders leapt with him. Reaching out an arm as his body turned, Zukos' awareness met the fireball and captured it easily. How effortless it had become! Awareness expanded to take in all the others. Their consciousness merging with the element they were born to serve. Heat, life, passion. Unison. They moved as one soul, turning as one body.

The fireballs were pulled off their deadly course and around each bender; shooting in a half circle around the ships. Gracefully Zuko landed; feet connecting hard with the metal deck. His arm shot outward and the deadly missiles struck back toward the prison walls, exploding against them.

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"Forward the boats!" Sokkas voice rang with authority. His blade a beacon of black light flashing in the sun. The small rapid water scooters conveyed his small, elite crew towards the beach. Laughing, Sokkas' spirits soared. When the war is over I will miss the feeling of this. It was his last thought before clashing with the enemy.

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Another volley of flaming missiles arced towards the small fleet of Fire Navy ships. Again, Zuko and the others redirected them back towards the very machines that had fired them. How ironic that these water bender movements were so effective in his hands and that of his countrymen. Flame was not as unlike water as he had always believed. The Prince winced as flame fell all around the infantry on the ground. Be safe. I don't want to lose anyone if at all possible. Golden eyes swept rapidly over the fleet of ships. I won't shed their blood unless I must. This I swear.

"Sir! The towers are broken! They've stopped firing!"

Zuko sped into motion. "All hands secure the ships! Katara, you're with me! First Division will take defensive positions! Move!" Fire and water bender moved as one body. They jumped the rail, his arm circling her from behind as they spun downward. Nearing the water an ice sled appeared atop a long slide angling towards the chaos in front of them. Zukos' heart raced. We've rehearsed this so often, yet I feel so strange each time. Am I losing my nerve? His brow knotted, teeth grinding. Calm. Focus!

Close to the beach a long arch of ice shaped itself into being. Prince and peasant catapulted up it at dizzying speed. "Get ready Zuko! Jump!" Katara said. The pair somersaulted through the air landing in unison halfway to the walls. "Go!" Sokka was to their left engaged in hand to hand combat. Aang was ahead to the right bending furiously. Toph was tearing through the prison walls nearby. Metal bending still unnerved the Fire Prince. She's amazing. I love the strength and power of these girls. Glowing inwardly from battle lust and pride, Zuko raced into the fortress. Katara and Toph on his heels; headlong into nightmare.