I don't own Avatar. Well, I just finished this. I don't know I had always considered this eppie to be a problem for Zuko to handle. Oh well, whatever. Enjoy!

"So, this is what it comes to?" I ask myself looking into the mirror in front of me. I'm freeing my enemy, what else am I suppose to think? I sigh and pull on my darkest shirt. I take off the hood for now, and I look around the creaking room. The same creaking room I've had for over two years… two long years away from my home, my nation, my country, and my people. Two long years of banishment…STOP IT! I can't wander through my thoughts! Not now: not ever. I stare at myself in the tall mirror and reluctantly lead my hands to the base of my knot. I unwrap the ribbon on my head. I glare at the ribbon for a moment then shake my head. I tie my hair back lower so it wouldn't get in the way of my stealth. I pick up the smiling blue mask lying on my bed. I frown as I look at it, but I put it on anyway. I stare at myself in the long mirror. I feel as if now, the spirit mask is laughing to my face. I pull the hood onto my head silently. Then, I look up at my chosen weapons. In a moment the swords are in my hands. I pull my armor on over it, thinking ahead to how to get back on the ship.

"Zhao, I'm coming."

I keep my eyes close and listen to everything around me. Where am I? The last thing I remember was having the broad swords crossed at the Avatar's neck. I open my blurred eyes and see a figure crouching on a large tree root. I hear chirping and a voice. The voice is soft and solemn; it's young for it still hasn't broken into that of a man's. Why aren't I dead? Or in a cell? Did this boy save me.He keeps speaking,

"You know what the worst part about being born a hundred years ago is? I miss all the friends I used to hang out with."

I stay silent and truly listen to the young Avatar's words.

"Before the war started, I used to always visit my friend Kuzon. The two of us, we'd get in and out of so much trouble together. He was one of the best friends I ever had."

His tone is wistful and soft, so I can hardly hear him. Where is he going with all this? I can't help but wonder.

"And he was from the Firenation. Just like you."

He waits and expects me comment, I just watch him closely.

"If we knew each other back then, do you think we could've been friends too?"

For a moment, I want to say yes. Yes to everything this one boy was offering me. It was just a question, a simple question, but out of it I received an entire history. I break from such thoughts though. In one quick movement I aim at the Avatar. He jumps. I look up into the tall trees and watch as he jumps from tree to tree. I raise my eyebrow, and think his words over. I stand and look back to where I had been laying. He had taken the mask with him, and my swords. I sigh and make my way back to the ship.

I'm pulled back onto the metal ship. I walk past my uncle as he asks, "Where have you been, Prince Zuko? You missed music night! Lieutenant Jee sang a stirring love song." I say my response slowly: as if I'm thinking it through.

"I'm going to bed. No disturbances."

I hold my head with one hand and walk away. I hear my uncle blowing into his horn behind me. I find myself liking the sound surprisingly. I undress and pull off the blankets to my bed and lay down. I bring the sheets up to my chest and stare dimly at the ceiling. I frown and turn to the large flag with the Fire insignia next to me. I narrow my eyes. I sigh and flip over, closing my eyes.

Maybe