"Firelord…" The lieutenant fell to his knees, his head bowed till his chin touched his chest. "What will we do with the pri…" He stopped himself, coughed for a moment and then continued, "Prisoner?"
Zuko couldn't help frowning at the man's mistake, but waved it off. "Take the…" The new Firelord shared his subordinate hesitation for a moment, "Prisoner" He finally managed to say, stressing the word, "To the dungeon. But I do not want her mistreated. Do you understand, soldier? Do whatever it takes to lock her up, but do not harm her."
The lieutenant nodded and bowed even deeper, a feat Zuko hadn't thought possible. "Of course, Firelord."
The lieutenant rose, gave one more taut salute to Zuko and then ran off to inform his men what to do with their catch.
Zuko watched the man go, closed his eyes and thought of his family. He was alone now.
Two men, dressed in the standard Fire Nation Army uniform, dragged the motionless prisoner through the dungeon until they finally came to her cell. The prisoner had been carefully shackled, her hands completely locked together with a huge metal band that covered the entirety of her wrists and hands. Even on her face was a metal brace wrapped tightly over her mouth. She didn't seem to take much notice to either. The prisoner was completely limp, not offering the least bit of resistance and anyone who saw her eyes would've sworn that she was already dead.
Finally the guards came to her cell, carefully they placed the girl upon the straw cot and closed the door on her, engulfing her in the darkness.
She would remain like that, eyes open but never moving, chest only barely rising and falling for several days.
Something came though, that woke her from her stupor.
The door opened, flooding the room with light and a heavily robed man stepped inside. The girl's eyes finally snapped up at the man, tracing his movements as he approached.
"Good evening Azula."
The princess said nothing.
"I have a message for you from the loyal citizens of the Fire Nation."
Slowly, she sat up, eyes growing alert.
"As long as Ozai's true heir still lives, this empire has not yet fallen."
For the first time since her capture, Azula smiled. "Is that so?"