It wasn't supposed to be like this. His return to the palace was supposed to be glorious and honorable. He was supposed to stroll into the capital with his head held high. The people bowing in the streets, marveling at the sight of their Prince and his prisoner, the Avatar, defeated and chained behind him.

Instead, he was chained in between the loud mouth water tribe boy, and the waterbending peasant. The Avatar chained and suspended across from their cell, the Prince's eyes never leaving his unconscious form.

"I hope you're happy" said the girl, interrupting the tense silence. "The world's last hope is captured and will probably be killed." Her voice cracked slightly on the last word. "The world is doomed." She sat staring for a moment. "But as long as your happy." She said, voice dripping with venom.

"Maybe you haven't noticed but I'm stuck in here just the same as you!" Said the older boy tensely. The girl's lips pursed together as if she wanted to say something but thought better of it. "They aren't going to kill him." The prince said, his gaze never leaving the bald monk. The girl looked over to him, wide eyed and filled with hope. "If they kill him the search will start all over again. Ozai wouldn't want to risk him being reborn." The girl sighed softly next to him, relieved for her friend's safety. "And I didn't want this." He said softly. This time both the girl and her brother looked at him shocked. Zuko wasn't sure why, but the way the girl was looking at him made him want to tell her everything. It was hard to resist. He wanted to tell her he didn't like this war, he never had. It was stupid and pointless, more soldiers dying every day. But instead he told her, "The Avatar was suppose to return in my custody!" he could of sworn he saw disappointment in her eyes. He didn't have time to look into it; the door to the brig was just swung open violently. The teens jumped at the sudden noise.

"I'm sorry, did I hear you right?" asked Zhao smugly as he strolled into little cell. The Prince only glared at the older man as they got to their feet. "You're a failure, nothing but a dishonored prince, unwanted by his nation, his people, and his family." The man said with a sneer. Zuko's gaze shifted to the cold hard floor in defeat. "And when we get to the Fire Nation you will finally be put into your place and away from the world, so you can no longer embarrass the Royal family or your country. Your friends however, won't be treated so kindly." His eyes trailed down the water bender's body. "What do you think prince Zuko," he asked as he eyed the girl hungrily, "Should I let the crew have some fun with her before I sell her." If looks could kill Zhao would be dead 1000 times over from the looks the water siblings were giving him. Zuko respected them in that moment even chained and defeated as they were the still refused to give in to the man towering above them with an enraged look on his face. He stalked closer to trio chained together. "How dare you look at me that way, I'll teach you your place yet." As he reached toward the girl Zuko swung his foot out to trip the Commander. At the same time Sokka fell on his face, Zhao fell on his. Zuko paid no mind to the water tribe boy as he tried to regain his composure, only watched the man at his feet closely. He vaguely heard him say "watch it! We're chained together you know!"

"It looks as though you've found your place rather easily Zhao, on your knees bowing to your Prince." Zhao snarled from his place on the floor and quickly right himself. He stood toe to toe with ex-Prince.

"You're lucky Prince Zuko," He spat out the title "if you weren't worth double the price alive than dead." He trailed off, letting the sentence speak for its self. "However," He said thoughtfully, and quickly backhanded the shorter boy sending him to the cold floor, the water tribe siblings tumbling after him. "No one ever said you had to be in perfect health when we get there." He kicked him once in the ribs for good measure and stalked out of the cell. Zuko growled at his departing back.

It was some time later before either one of the teens spoke. Katara spent most of her time shifting her gaze between each of the boys, to around the room looking for a kind of hint on how to get out. Sighing she gave up for the time being. 'What's the point? We failed. Aang wasn't able to talk to Roku, now we're all captured and on our way to the Fire Nation.' She thought gravely. She rubbed her wrists around her chains and watched Sokka glare furiously around the room, calculating their options for escape. Occasionally he would exclaim loudly and Katara could feel her heart leap with hope, but he would dismiss the plan just as quickly and she felt herself sag a little farther against the wall.

Zuko on the other hand remained completely still, his gaze on his hands held stiffly in his lap. Katara didn't know much about the Firebending Prince, but it seemed odd he was so quiet and still. It bothered her how content he seemed. They were locked up, but he seemed at perfect ease. 'This is the boy who chased us half way around the world! He tried to capture Aang countless times, attacked her village and the Island of Kyoshi!' The anger she felt towards him spread through her until she couldn't take it anymore.

"Why do you want to capture Aang?" Her voice filled with anger and hint of sincere curiosity. She was aware of the surprise on her brother's face and she was certain she saw the same on Zuko's, but she ignored them both and held the princes gaze, waiting. He opened his mouth to answer but she cut him off. "I know, you need him to restore your honor, I know that already. What I mean is why does it need restored in the first place?" The boy's jaw tensed and he looked away, gaze lingering on the floor again. She continued to watch him curiously as he mulled the question over; certain he was going to simply ignore her. Sokka, feigning indifference, and continued to look around the room, pretending to study their prison, but Katara knew he was listening intently for Zuko's answer.

She saw the scarred boy glance at her as well as he could from his bad eye. Tensing, he quickly looked away. She had just decided he needed a little push when he raised his hand to the rough skin surrounding his eye. "Does it have something to do with that?" she pried, suddenly feeling sorry for the older boy.

Zuko quickly returned his hand to his lap, scolding himself for his lack of discipline. He stole a glance at the blue eyed girl and once again he was overcome with the need to tell her everything. He opened his mouth to give her an answer but no sound would come out. Dejected, he clenched his jaw and returned his gaze to his cuffed hands in his lap. It was easier to deny her when he didn't have to look at her. He silently made a list of all the reasons not to tell her. 'She's a peasant, a water tribe present at that. She's friends with the only being who can restore my honor. If I capture him it will hurt her.' He shook his head at that last though. 'So what if it hurts her!'

"Fine!" The girl snapped, as the prince shook his head, and began to sulk next to the silent prince. A war waged inside the firebender. 'Should I tell them?' he asked himself.

"I spoke out of turn." He said finally, still refusing to look at her. The girl's ears perked up but she refused to look at him. Her brother however looked at him wide eyed. 'Why can't I deny her?' He thought, ignoring the boy's gaze.

"You have to capture the Avatar just because you spoke out of turn?" he said confused.

"No." was all the prince had to say.

"Then why?" demanded the blue eyed girl, suddenly intrigued again. It was once again hard to resist her eyes. Zuko sighed 'They're just going to keep asking unless I tell them.' He thought to himself, and then said:

"I spoke out against one of the generals. My father didn't like that so much." He said uncomfortably. "So I was challenged to an Agni Kai, a fire bending duel. I accepted. I was so sure I could beat him."

"You lost?" exclaimed the boy next to him.

"It wasn't him." Zuko said simply. "I spoke out against the general, but by doing so I disrespected the Fire Lord."

"Your father." The waterbender said sympathetically. Zuko nodded and remained silent. "Well?" asked the girl when it seemed the boy wouldn't continue.

"I don't even know why I'm telling you this!" snapped the boy suddenly, a spark of his old self rising to the surface

"Because we're chained together in the brig of a ship that's headed for the Fire Nation where all but one of us will probably die," Supplied the girl's brother. Zuko sighed and succumb to the boy's logic and continued.

"It was the Fire lord I disrespected; therefore it was the fire lord I had to fight. I was thirteen and in no way capable of fighting my Father. So I fell to my knees and begged for mercy. He wanted me to fight for my honor but I refused. He told me I needed to learn respect and suffering was to be my teacher." He heard the girl gasp sympathetically. "I don't need your sympathy." He said gruffly before any of them could say anything. "I was dishonored and banished; the only way I can go home is with the Avatar in chains."Neither of the water tribe siblings knew what to say and Zuko didn't offer any more information, and so they remained silent, even long after dark had fallen and they could no longer see. The avatar still hung silently on the wall opposite them, only now do they realize they've been drugging him to keep him that way. The girl lay sleeping against the wall, as far away from the banished prince as her chains would allow. Her brother still lay awake racking his brain for an escape plan. Zuko finally grew bored and began to snap his fingers, summoning fire to his finger tips with each crack of his fingers, allowing the fire to linger long enough to light the room up with a flash before disappearing and casting the room back into darkness.

"I wish you wouldn't do that," Said the boy next to him. "You're giving me a headache." Zuko snapped his fingers once more but this time willed the fire to stay and grow bright enough to keep the room lit. He moved the flame to his palm and began to meditate the best he could. It wasn't long before the boy loudly exclaimed.

"That's it!" he shouted, waking his sister and startling the prince. "I know how we're going to get out of here." He told them excitedly.

/

That's the end of chapter one I'll post the next chapter ASAP. Thanks for the reviews guys. Be patient I'll explain everything soon.

Disclaimer: Avatar The Last Airbender and its characters don't belong to me no matter how much I wish otherwise they will always be the property of Mike and Bryan