'A publicity device, Prince Zuko,' His father's silhouette spoke briefly, he was busy dealing with rebels in the Earth Kingdom, 'the Fire Nation commoners are not completely convinced of your honour - they do not know what you have done for them, we need to the show them how wrong they are.' Zuko nodded, his head still bowed as he awaited whatever task his may be.

'There is a small fishing village to the west; it is floundering because of pollution in it's waters, Fire Nation commoners seem to think it is that fault of the Fire Navy's factory's being there. You will takes teams of healers, builders, as well as food supplies there. You will appear moved by their suffering and pain, help them, tell only a few people of your identity - pretend you are just trying to help undercover; word will spread. In the coming weeks you will go to many villages such as these, your honour will be unquestionable. You leave on a discreet but likeable ship in two hours.' Your clothing is packed. Good luck, My Son.' Zuko had said nothing through the entire episode, but he bowed his head again and swept from the room; his robes fluttering.

Zuko hated ships; he had always hated ships. His years in exile he had been forced onto a coal spitting hunk of metal and it had been torture. Zuko hated the rolling floors, the creaking walls, never being in the same place, having to go from his ship to a smaller ship to rowboat just to get to town if it was a small dock; it was infuriating. But this ship seemed better; it still spewed black smoke in it's wake, the floors still shivered and sloped; but the walls did not creak; and everything was covered with draperies and carpet that showed no sign of the patched steel. It was also very compact - meant to negotiate canals and rivers, very helpful considering this village floated in the centre of a one.

A day of traveling passed, until the short captains surprisingly deep voice cried out; 'Land,' and Zuko's meticulous panning was put into action. Taking a small boat; run by coal but big enough for only few people, he took two healer's, a servant girl with short hair and various crates of food and fresh water; he placed his hood up to cover his scar - although hopefully people would still see it in a cursory glance. He docked the boat himself; tying a long, shining chain to the dilapidated, rotten wood and jumped onto it; the old wood creaked beneath him: the river below - a dirty shade of grey - showing through large cracks and splits in the wood. And he thought that was bad.

Looking around Zuko almost felt the colour and energy and happiness and warmth flow through his fingers; leaving a cold body behind. Everything was smothered in moss and looked eighty or so years old - even the children looked old; a young boy crawled across the ground a short way away, his hair short and thin, even grey in colour, his shirt hung open to show ribs sticking through his skin like a leather bag stretched over it's load. He did not cry, or shout or run like children were meant to, he curled up, alone, in the shade of a withered old hut and stared blankly at his dismal surroundings.

Zuko immediately wished he had brought more supplies, and many more healers. He told The Healers to stay on the boat, until he came back for them, he gathered a large sack stuffed with bread and rice and and walked across the deck of wooden planks that groaned in agony under his weight. He walked over to the little boy first - greatly reminded of the young Earth Kingdom boy he had met on his travels alone - although a shrunken version with the light in his wide dark eyes extinguished. Zuko kneeled beside him, The boy stared at him through heavy eye lids, Zuko placed a large loaf of fresh bread near his face and watched his eyes widen, he gathered it up, cradling it in his arms like a child, his scrawny legs shook as he bowed low, his rotten teeth turned onto a smile as he said thank you,

'Could you do me one favour though?' Zuko asked and the boy nodded immediately - evidently too hungry to wait as he began to tear into the bread,

'Could you gather everyone in the village together, so they can all have food?' The boy nodded, pointed to a gap in two huts, at what seemed to be a village square, wide eyed and happily he stumbled away, clearly with a great purpose, Zuko walked back to the boat, the healers; each carrying bundles and barrels of food in their arms emerged onto the deck with bows and no words. The clang of a bell rang through out the village, the surrounding people looked at it wearily and began to go towards the square the boy had motioned to earlier.

The Boy had motioned that Zuko stand upon a rickety, raised platform, the basins of food to his left and the boy to his right - whose appearance seemed to improved greatly after even such a plain meal. Zuko made sure his hood covered his face and spoke quickly.

'The food should surface for many days - i ask that you are fair in dividing it, and i have brought healers, if they could be taken to your sick…' The boy jumped up in glee waving his arms and pulled the healers away to another hut with no windows,

'How many villagers are there?' He asked, when answered he calculated quickly and said finally 'each villager may take two loaves of bread each - and another loaf for any children they may have, and four cups of rice each, and two cups for each child.' He nodded, leapt of the platform and watched the servant begin to divide the bread and rice equally between the long line of skinny beings. He felt his hood slip and smiled when he heard a girl around the age of ten whisper 'His scar - just like Prince Zuko's is meant to be, you don't think…' before she was gone from earshot. The plan was going well.

Seriously - Zuko is stalking Katara - in my twisted little mind they seem to meet through every episode.

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