Zuko didn't go back to sleep that night. How could he even if he tried to get he image of the young girl drowning in flames out of his mind. Her screams were permanently etched into his memory. He was relieved when the servants finally showed up to wake him and prepare him for the day. They got him out of bed and cleaned and into fresh day cloths. Him and the servants walked down to corridor to the breakfast hall. Zuko tried to ignore his servants odd mannerisms directed towards him. No doubt they had heard him in the middle of the night screaming. They most likely thought he was a lunatic.

Prince Zuko walked throught the open double door archway to the breakfast hall to find his sister Azula already eating and reading a piece of parchment. His father hadn't shown yet. He was most likely still fooling around with his mistress.

'Good morning Zuzu' Azula didn't even look up from her piece of reading material as she very unenthusiastically greeted him. 'sleep well' she added. She probably had heard him as well. He really needed to get these dreams under control if he was going to maintain his sanity.

'Good morning' Zuko said in the same tone as he sat down. The servants came and went with his food. Zuko grabbed an apple from the display and took a bite out of it. ' What are you reading?'

'O, this thing' she saod holding it up 'A love letter to you from Mai'

Zuko got up and snatched the letter from his snob of a sister. It had been 3 years since he had gotten his honor back and started living at home again and he still could never get used to being around his sister. No matter what he did she always did something to piss him off or to put him down. She was extremely cruel.

'O Zuko, don't be such a monkey toad (?). Are going to ever propose to her anyway? That's all the letter says is how much she misses you and wants you to be commited to her. Quite boring and childish if you ask me'

Zuko burnt up the letter in his fist. He loved Mai, he honestly did, or at least he thought he did. But he was getting so sick of her whining to him about marriage and commitment. He wanted to be with Mai. Zuko knew that. But he could never picure Mai as his wife 20 years from now. Let alone as Lady to the firenation. And his children? Zuko sometimes almost laughed at the thought of mai bearing his sons. Mai could never be the caring and Nurturing mother Zuko wished.

'I don't know' was all he could say. Then he quickly continued to eat.

It wasn't long before Firelord Ozai joined his two children in the Breakfast hall. Both Zuko and Azula stood up to show respect as he entered. The firelord sat and began to eat, completely ignoring his two children, as always. They dysfunctional family broke their fast in silence. Then the Firelord spoke.

'Children, I have a small announcement!'

Zuko looked up but Azula showed no interest and continued to eat.

'As you know, our Fire Nation colonies in the earth kingdom are a dangerous place to live, with all the raids and riots from the Earth Kingdom resistance.'

This was true. It seemed that only a year after they had returned home countless numbers of violent uprisings began occurring in the Earth Kingdom, particularly around Fire Nation Colonies.

'For that reason, many of the more prestigious members are returning back to the Fire Nation' the Fire Lord continued 'However, some of our members are having their homes re-built, ect. Therefore we will be having one of the families living with us'

Zuko was somewhat shocked that his father was being hospitable and showing some charity. The family must be either very rich or good friends with his father.

'Who will be staying with us, father' Azula asked, still not showing any interest.

'The Duke of West Nai and his son Gang, You know them, they've visited before'

Of course Zuko knew them, the rich snob used to come to visit them and him and his father would go 'hunting' as they used to put it. Gang, the Dukes son was much younger than zuko, by about 4 years. When the Duke and him used to visit they really didn't do much together. He remembered the Dukes son was very…nervous, everything always had to be clean and neat. He was very much a boring kid. He probably hadn't changed much over the years.

'O yes, Zuzu's OCD little playmate, how could I forget' there she went again with the teasing and tormenting. If Zuko wasn't afraid of what his father would do to him if he hurt his precious little child prodigy he would seriously hurt her one day.

'Where are they coming from' his sister asked

'Ba Sing Se'

Zuko almost choked. Millions of suppressed memories flooded back into his mind. That city would haunt him forever it seemed. Thankfully no one noticed his odd behavior for once. Zuko excused himself quickly and quietly and left the breakfast hall. He made it a few feet from the breakfast hall and asked his servants to leave him as politely as he could. The servants scampered off. (I guess zuko isn't very nice even when he tries)

Zuko went out to the gardens where he could be alone to think. Wow, Ba Sing Se. It was an aweful, dirty, corrupt city, but he spent one of the most memorable summers there. He was probably the happiest he had ever been there. And it was all because of the girl he met there 5 years ago.