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Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar: The Last Airbender

Blood. The very stench of it corrodes the serene garden grounds. Never looking back, I close the palace doors and strut down the decorated palace hallway. Cool tile presses against the balls of my bare feet, sending a chill up my rigid spine. Never is the Fire Nation palace this cold. I slowly bring my walk to a stop and scan over the corridor, nothing is out of the ordinary, it is just... deathly cold.

An intense shiver creeps up my spine while thoughts of ghosts parade through my head. If Zuko stays on this earth as a mere spirit, I will be the first to be dealt sweet revenge.

The thought makes my face pale. I flit through the long corridor and burst into the grand throne room. Red embroidered tapestries drape along the sleek polished walls, leading up to a protruding throne, dark crimson in color. Smooth velvet lines the throne. I run my hand along it in temptation. My power is limitless.

As I lower myself onto the chair, the door to the throne room abruptly swings open. Out comes one of the palace servants followed by none other than Toph Bei Fong. The servant bows and takes her leave, only Toph and I are left in the large room. Toph, now twenty, hasn't changed much since when we first traveled together. Although, the recent wars lessened her laid back demeanor. The blind girl throws back her head and takes a few steps up to the throne with an arrogant air.

I cautiously collapse onto the throne, placing one leg over the other. My small frame sinks into the cushion providing instant relaxation. I will need it for this conversation.

"I heard that you didn't sissy out of it this time... Is he dead?" Toph asks. Her tone is warm and overpowering, opposite from her hard rigid body. I look her in the eyes, despite that she cannot see, and my jaw instantly clenches back into the deep caverns of my mouth. Years ago, Toph had received a deadly blast of fire along the upper half of her body. Burn marks cover her pale skin, reminding me of the man I once loved. It is her eyes, however, that make my heart skip a beat. Surrounding one lid is a scar almost identical to Zuko's. Memories flood into my mind, which make me wonder if I chose the right path. Toph remains quiet, seeming to read my emotions. For several long minutes neither of us speak. "I'll take that as a yes." She pauses, leaving another silence. "Well, it'd be best for you to visit Suki... She'll like to hear the good news. Then we will work on bringing down that nasty Fire Nation rebellion."

"That is what I have been planning to do. You may leave now." I slowly straighten up from my slumped position and watch as Toph strolls out of the room. "Wait." Toph stops mid-walk, anticipating what I am about to say. "Don't go back to the Earth Kingdom. That is an order. Any of the citizens would assassinate you in less than a heartbeat."

A smile creeps over Tophs face. With a nod, she walks out of the room. Leaving me alone to ponder over the recent events.

I flew for two days in a Fire Nation Airship before reaching Suki's house. She currently resides in the Fire Nation refugee district. Due to her condition, she was one of the first to flee the Earth Nation after their government was overthrown. If they had left only a week earlier, Sokka and Aang would still be alive with her.

Clothed in a black cloak, unrecognizable to most, I walk up to her small hut of a house. It is tucked in with the thousand of other 'houses' in the refugee district, making it almost impossible to find. Before I can knock on the door, Suki opens it and drags me inside with her. I am pushed back into the cramped one-room house while she locks the door and pulls down the threadbare window shade. Her old home is much more luxurious, although, the sudden relocation forced her to leave all of her possessions in the Earth Kingdom.

Suki turns around and embraces me in a hug. I feel her cold arms shaking as they wrap limply around me. Stoking her head I try to convince her that she will be alright, I can already feel her tears dripping down the back of my neck. Nothing seems to work, so I slowly draw away and take a seat on her bed. Being that we are in a single room house, the bed is only a few feet away from the door. The house's only window is now covered with a blind, the only source of light comes from a nearby oil lamp which is on the brink of burning out. Suki slowly sits down next to me, her entire body is trembling, this is the first time I've seen her like this. Scooting over to make room on the cramped bed, I hand my brother's widower my handkerchief. She gladly accepts it.

"He's dead," I say.

Suki stops mid sob, her face widening. "You mean..."

"I avenged my brother's death as well as Aangs..." I pause and look at the frail woman, her healthy glow is gone. "But that is not important at the moment. What I'm more concerned about is your condition. You need to eat double your usual amount if you don't want anything bad to happen."

Suki breaks into a fit of crying, again. "The head guards of the refugee district don't ration more food to pregnant woman. They know that the Fire Lord will send an order to have us killed sooner or later!" She says between gasps for air. I try to remind her that Zuko is dead, but she cuts me off. "If Sokka were here, things would be alright! Why did he and Aang have to die just before I realized I was pregnant!"

"Suki, Zuko is dead," I say, reminding her. Suki gasps and lightly slaps herself in the head, showing how stupid she acknowledges herself to be. I don't take it against her. She has always been a smart, strong, level headed woman, But the recent effects as well as her pregnancy has taken a toll on her.

"So that means..."

"I'm in charge." I take a deep breath and look down at my knees. "As you know, Zuko and I were never able to conceive and seventy-five percent of the Fire Nation, including his immediate family, were killed in the war against the water tribe... The only person left eligible to rule is... well, me."

Suki smiles and clings on to her bloated belly. Two month's pregnant and she has already developed the 'baby bump'. "Was his death made public yet?" She asks.

I shake my head. "Only You, Toph, and myself know. Toph was able to dispose of the body rather quickly, she is a master earth bender after all." I bring my voice down to a whisper. "For now, I plan to rule while posing as Zuko. The only servants the palace holds are the surviving water tribe children, and they were against Zuko from the start. They'll be more glad than concerned if they realize Zuko's absence. The rest of the Fire Nation doesn't have to see Zuko's face to follow his orders."

Suki pulls me into another hug. "Does this mean that I'll be able to leave this dump?"

I nod my head, although a clear expression of concern is drawn across my face. "Although, since I am currently known as nothing more than the Fire Nation's wife, I do not have the power to allow a refugee to leave the district. Zuko gave the order that no refugee may leave, so the guards will not willingly allow you to flee."

Suki's eyes return to their normal sharp gaze. "Well then there is only one other option..."

Returning the look, I pull the black hood over my head. "I'm going to smuggle you out."