The wind was brisk and chill carrying with it the unmistakable hint of brine. Dawn had yet to break though far in the east the stars had begun to dim, the sky warming from its ice black to a warmer foretelling rich blue. It was a familiar enough sight he decided, though for years he had watched the sunrise from the deck of his ship, dreaming of the day he could do so from the shores that had once been his home. Now Zuko stood on the docks, draped in the royal finery denoting his new found status. Behind him the city slept, the streets silent and empty save for the handful of night watchmen that remained vigilant to their post. Before him the sea reached out in all directions, black cool water merging with the silent night till the two could not be distinguished from one another.

"My Lord…"

The guard to his left took a silent step forward, his head bowing in a short swift motion of respect.

"Commander"

Zuko did not take his eyes from the ocean, but rather simply motioned for the man to continue. His face was deceptively impassive easily echoing the serenity that stretched out before him. His thoughts however continued to be anything but…

"My Lord, the Southern Crest is ready to depart."

"Very well Commander"

"Shall we bring her down?"

Zuko merely nodded and the man rushed to comply but not without another curt bow to his lord. For what had to be the thousandth time that night Zuko wondered if he was doing the right thing. Angi knew his uncle had had his reservation about his plan. Even Aang had been taken aback, but to Zukos great surprise and mild relief the boy had agreed, and eventually so had his uncle. Perhaps the boy really was 'rubbing off' on him. He instinctively scowled at the thought.

The marching echo of many thick soled boots in unison pulled him from his revelry. Taking a slow forced breath Zuko braised himself mentally before turning from the calm, soothing waves to the horror that now marched down the docks to meet him.

Escorted by six fire solders in full uniform and masks stood Azula, bright eyes fixed on him, smoldering from under her long unkempt bangs. Behind them Zuko could see the two earth kingdom ambassadors who had returned at his bequest from Ba Sing Sa. It had been his uncles idea and quite frankly it had been a rather ingenious one. Azula's arms, crossed as they were about her chest, were incased from fingertip to shoulder blade in stone. She could not use her hands and, more importantly, she could not readily bend. She wore the same cloths and jewels she had weeks before at the arrival of Sozins Comet and the night of her 'would be' coronation. Her hair hung about her face ragged patches, framing her pail and haggard features.

And despite everything she still stood tall and royal, her ambiance clearly contradicting her current circumstances. Zuko took a deep breath, stealing himself for whatever might come.

As they approched Azula scowled, her face becoming hard and set, as if daring him to speak. When he didn't she began.

"Why are you here" she demanded in a cold tone, her voice as chilling as ever.

"To say my goodbyes" Zuko answered honestly, concentrating on matching his tone to hers. Pursing her lips Azula quickly glanced at the great steal ship, its black hulk seeming to complement embody the chill of the oncoming dawn.

"Where are you taking me…"

"You know I can't tell you that Azula," His voice was cold and impersonal, surprising even himself. "But you are no longer welcome in this kingdom."

Her brow furrowed ever so slightly before an unsettling smile found her lips. "Are you banishing me Zuzu?" She mused and her voice was almost sickeningly sweet as if she was talking down to a small child. Zuko did not reply.

Her choked cackle broke the short silence as she let her head fall back. "You can't banish me." She leaned toward him slightly, grinning knowingly. "I am the child of Angi, I am the fire nation…"

"You lost the Agni Kai, Azula" Zuko interjected through a forced calm, refusing to let her get the better of him once more. "You lost your birthright."

To his surprise her smile only grew.

"You cheated…"

The words came as little more then a hiss from her lips but it was enough to turn his stomach. "You lost Azula" he repeated, his voice a low growl.

"No, you cheated Zuzu, you broke the bonds of the Agni Kai when you let that little water wench fight you're battle for you."

Zuko could feel his resolve cracking and it took every once of inner strength he possessed to keep his rage from his face. "You broke those bonds when you through the first blow out of the field of combat."

Again came the chilling smile

"If I remember correctly it was you I hit…"

Steam hissed from between his clenched teeth as Zuko stared down the former fire princess. He did not speak; did not argue or retaliate, just stared at her for a long moment, doubt seeping into his resolve once more. "What do you want, Azula?"

The words seem to come before his mind could form the thought. He watched as her smile faltered and whatever words she had to through at him dissipated before they reached her lips. Apparently he had surprised her as much as he had himself.

For a long moment there was silence as Azula seemed to struggle with her thoughts. When the words finally did come they were the last Zuko had expected.

"Why?"

"Why what…"

"Why are you doing this?"

The words came as a menacing hissed from her cracked and paled lips. For a moment Zuko imaged that he was not starring down an enraged teenager but rather a cornered and desperate Tigerdillo. Closing his eyes he took a deep breath. "Because…you are my sister." He managed, his tone even once more. Based on her reaction one might have thought he had screamed the words.

"Lier!" she shreeked and her words cut through the silent night with a painful and shrill persishion. "you never saw me as your sister, you never saw me as anything but a rivel and a threat! I have always been bettern then you, I will always be better! You fear me…"

"No." Zuko entergected coldly his voice as impasive as ever. It was there again, that unsettaling look in her eye that told of a mind not fully aware of its surroundings.

"Yes!" she practicly screamed flames lashing out from her lips as the tears began to show in her eyes once more. The guards about her began to close in on the histarical girl but Zuko stoped them, holding up his hand in a silent command. "You always feard me, ever since we were little! Ever since you realized how powerful I really was!" she stagerd forward straining against her bonds. "So do it Brother! Give me my honer and run me through! Kill me Brother, Kill me!"

"No Azula"

"Kill Me!"

"No"

"Why!"

"Because you are my sister…" he spat, his resolve giving with one final snap. Storming farward he towerd over her, his face inches from hers. She did not flinch. "No mater what you have doen you will always be my sister!" he paused, his fist shaking as he faught to controle his voice once more "…and Mother would have wanted this"

The change that took place in Azulas face was instantaneous. Her jaw went slack, her eyes wide. Something about those words had struck deep with her and for a moment she looked as though her feet might fail her. "You…" the word stuck in her throat as her eyes came back to focus on her older brother. Just as fast as it came the pained expression was gone replaced with pure and unadulterated rage.

"I'll Kill You!"

Before anyone could react Azula let out wailing scream, lunging for Zuko as hot blue flames shot from her lips. Throwing up his left hand, Zuko managed to catch and dispel a great deal of the intense blue flame, but just barley. The dock erupted in mayhem as six guards descended on the former fire princess, two more moving instinctively to block the hysterical girl from the newly crowed Fire Lord. Over it all Zuko could hear the hysterical wails of his sister as she writhed beneath her captor. "I'll kill you, you hear me!? You and that little water bitch!"

In short order the former fire princess was escorted kicking and screaming onto the Ship, her voice still echoing through the growing dawn minuets after she disappeared from sight. Zuko grimaced, flexing the fingers on his left hand. The skin felt stiff and hinted of pain that had yet to truly set in.

"Are you alright My Lord?"

Zuko looked up to find the commander and two solders standing at attention. The mans face was neutral but the tension he held in his shoulders was unmistakable. "Fine" Zuko replied allowing his hand to fall to his side, the worst of the burn disappearing into his empyreal robes. Hiding his pain and growing doubt the Fire Lord returned his gaze to the sea and the sun which had only just begun to cross the horizon. "Just fine"