Chapter 2

Zuko was drained of any emotion. He wasn't depressed or enraged or any emotion at all. Just empty.

It also didn't help that Mai came by everyday, trying to win him back. At first it had seemed innocent and Zuko just ignored her. Now it was irritating to hear her complain about how he was wasting his life. Her voice rang in his ears all day while he did his work.

Then, one day he broke down into tears. Not tears with real sadness behind them, just steady streams of salty liquid running down his face. He didn't sob or make any sound, he just cried.

Mai came over to him, but for once she was at a loss for words. She put an awkward hand on his back and he hugged her, just looking for comfort. He then let the sobs run out and was completely overcome with sadness. His face scrunched up with a pained expression.

"It's going to be okay", Mai's voice was not as irritating this time. But it was not the voice he wanted to hear.

"Fire Lord Zuko?" one of the guards outside of Zuko's room pushed the door open slightly. The room was pitch black and Zuko sat on his bed meditating. There was a faint pink line running down his chest and stomach from when he saved Katara from Azula's lightning.

"What", he said calmly without opening his eyes.

"Your sister, Azula, she's been treated for her insanity", the guards weren't used to talking to the Fire Lord without getting beaten. This was still a new and scary thing for most guards. Though Zuko understood why this guard was shaking and his voice was wobbly, it annoyed him that even after three years people in the Fire Nation hadn't gotten over the fact that the war was over.

"Yes I know", Zuko's voice had a slight edge and the guard backed halfway through the door.

"No sir. I mean that she is well enough to be spoken to. And she requested to talk to you. She wants to make amends."

Zuko's laugh startled the guard even more and he jumped. Small spouts of flame were thrown about the room to the torches on the wall giving a sort of eerie glow to the windowless chamber.

"My sister wishes to make amends with me? Hmm, where have I heard that before? That's right, back in Ba Sing Se when she tricked me into bringing the Earth Kingdom to its feet", Zuko laughed again, "Well then I guess I should go an tie up some loose ends", he glanced at the shaking guard who couldn't be more frightened, "The Avatar's draining powers have held on to her and my father correct?"

"Y-yes sir."

"Then I'll be ready in 20 minutes."

The room was completely white. With a singer wooden table in the center where Zuko sat, feeling like an idiot. There were two small glassed-over windows on each wall which were the only source of light.

Zuko sighed in boredom and flicked on a small flame on the tip of his finger and inhaled the smoke. This was humiliating. He was the Fire Lord and not his sister and yet he was in the same position he had been in his whole life, waiting for her to make the first move.

Finally a door creaked open, and Azula walked in. Her once long hair was cut short, shorter than his. She was in peasant clothes, gray rags with holes here and there. Although she had lost her fire bending, the smoldering look in her eyes had not faded away.

Her hands were bound in rope behind her, which would've been useless three years ago. Now she was nothing. A strange woman being treated for insanity that had reared it ugly head the day Ozai had said she would become Fire Lord. That had obviously not turned out well. For her at least.

She gave Zuko that secretive smile as if she were planning to kill him… again.

She sat in the chair across from Zuko and they sat in silence. Zuko felt like a lost puppy trapped by a hungry lion, as he always did when he talked to Azula.

"I haven't seen you in years", her voice still pierced through him like a hot knife.

"You look… better", Zuko strained to keep his voice steady.

She laughed in an insane way. He had only heard her laugh this way once. "Look at that!" she screeched with joy, "The big Fire Lord is afraid of a worthless non-bender!"

"You can't walk over me anymore Azula. I've learned that there are much scarier things in this world than a selfish insane little sister."

"Relax Zuzu I just wanted to talk to you." Zuko absolutely despised that name she had given him when they were kids and Azula's taunting just seemed like healthy rivalry. Although the name bothered him, he was surprised to hear her "I'm not all bad" voice, which she usually only used to manipulate him or calm him down.

"Okay so what do you want to talk about?" He leaned back in his chair and tried to seem relaxed.

"It's about dad."

Zuko cringed. "What about him?"

"He thinks he's on the verge of regaining his fire bending."

"It's impossible. First of all, he's in jail for another six months. Second, the Avatar took away his bending years ago."

"Either way he's been sending me letters in a code he invented and taught to me in the years you were banished. He says they've add someone to his stall who is a fire bender. I think his name is Chit Sang. Anyway, this guy, he's upset because the Avatar took away his family or something and to get revenge he's offered to give father his fire bending as soon as they get out of jail."

"Chit Sang, you said his name was?"

"Yea, why you know him?"

"He's an old enemy of mine."