Answers
By Nikkel
(c) to Nickelodean, Michael Dante DiMartino, and Bryan Konietzko


Fire Lord Zuko's steps echoed throughout the narrow hallway. He passed by burning torches, sticking out from the wall, his shadow stretching all along it. Amber eyes never straying from their path to look at the cowering prisoners and insane convicts, he knew where he was headed. Two guards followed protectively behind him, lances glimmering in the dim light, for they were sharp knives ready to be used on any man that dared to strike the new leader of the Fire Nation. They were prepared to take the dagger for their liege, even though he was clearly much stronger than they. The Fire Lord had no fear as he stopped in front of a large, metal door.

"Open it." He ordered in a cold, callous voice, already glaring through the rectangle peephole at the criminal inside. One of the guards fumbled with his keys and opened the cell, the stench of filth and decay hitting his nostrils more than anything else. His nose wrinkled with disgust, teeth gritted. How fitting, he thought to himself as he approached the bars of the jail. A man lie at the far wall of the cell, permanently angry face covered with oily hair, his clothes near tatters. His eyes glared up at the Fire Lord, shimmering with hate and rage, but his body was too weak to move.

"I should count myself lucky." Ozai spat, jerking his head away. "The new Fire Lord has graced me with his presence in my lowly prison cell."

"You should count yourself lucky that the Avatar spared your life." Zuko replied in a voice that was calm and steady, but simmering with abhorrence beneath the surface. The man in chains beyond the bars was his father, though all that really connected the two was their blood—the affection and kindness that was usually shared between a bond such as theirs had never existed. Zuko would let him rot away with the other prisoners, but he had arrived on this day for a purpose. Ozai's lips pursed, and he snorted at his son's words. He would have preferred it if the Avatar had killed him.

"Banishing me is the best thing you could have done for my life. It put me on the right path. Perhaps your time in here could do the same for you." Zuko continued, and Ozai could have very well laughed at his statement if he was not suspicious of his true intentions. It didn't make sense for the boy he had abused and neglected to come and give him a lecture about redemption and truth. Those words were meaningless to him, wanting him to feel sorry for what he had done. Pathetic. He had no regrets.

"Why are you really here?" He growled, gaze shifting suspiciously towards his weakling of a son.

"Because you're going to tell me something." Zuko's returning gaze hardened, eyes flickering with a most dangerous fire as he stooped down to his father's level. He had only one question in mind:

"Where is my mother?"

Ozai's face whipped towards his son's. Complete rage overtook his pale and sickly features, ready to spit curses at the boy, but instead his lips twisted into a cruel and crooked smile.

"You really want to know?" He chuckled.

"Yes." He replied, heart pounding in his throat.

Ozai's face fell.

"She was taken by aliens."