For the next few days, Zuko sat in court with other specially chosen representatives to pass judgment on the Pro-Ozai supporters. And, although, the circumstances were grim he was glad to have Sokka back. A verdict was announced on the final day of deliberations by one of the Fire Sages. Mai's father and one other old nobility were found to be the ring leaders, with plenty of evidence of their treachery. They were sentenced to life imprisonment, while the others were given ten or twenty years in prison, along with a lifetime of indentured servitude. As they emerged from the court hall, a throng of women rained down on the two young men.

"Please, my lord, Raza is my husband."

"What about our children?"

"He didn't know what he was doing. He has always been a loyal subject to the Fire Nation."

Guards gathered the women and pulled them away. Sokka continued on his merry way, talking rapidly with Suki, while Zuko turned to the women. They had the heavy, lidded eyes of those who had not stopped crying. They clung to their children, some young, some old. Hopelessness surrounded them. Their homes would be seized and their incomes eradicated. Any honor that their family had earned would be stripped in the eyes of so many. They did not deserve to suffer the consequences of actions they could not control.

"Your loved ones have left you in a most undesirable situation. I know what it means to be left with nothing by those who were supposed to be there, to care. It is not fair for you to pick up from these ashes on your own. Therefore, you will leave your names with the Admiral Yan. The Fire Nation will not leave innocent women and children to fend for themselves on the street. Will you let me help you through these hard times?"

By the end of this speech everyone had turned to listen to the young Fire Lord with his hand outstretched to those in need. From the silence, earsplitting cheers and jubilation burst from the crowd. Kyoshi warriors guided Zuko through his subjects. Calls of love and fealty followed him along the way. Occasionally, he felt hands sliding across his robes.

"Wow, they'll hoist you on their shoulders before too long," said Sokka, clapping him on the back. "You won't want Katara to hear about this. She has it in her head that she's the most loved, even more than Aang."

"Zuko is the most cherished royal in the world, easily. The Earth King is a fool and the chiefs of the Water Tribes are more revered than loved," said Suki.

Today, she was without makeup and tucked into Sokka's shoulder. Her eyes still narrowed when looking around and she murmured directions to her warriors every now and then. The crowds thinned as they made their way to the docks where Sokka's ship bobbed gently in the shallow waters. Zuko rubbed his neck, mumbling his uncertainties.

"Stop," said Sokka. "We all knew you'd be a great leader, Zuko. What we don't know is what you think of my boat?!"

He jumped about excitedly. He shined a spot on the wood with his elbow. He shot across the deck to indicate the wolf insignia on the smaller schooner sails. He tumbled down back onto the docks bringing their attention to the four silver letters painted onto the side.

"It's nice. I thought you said it was revolutionary? That no ship in the Fire Navy would be able to match it in speed. It looks to me like a regular schooner with Suki's name on it."

"It has a pump which brings water in from the front," said Sokka, guiding them around the back of the ship and pointing into the murky depths. "The water is pushed through generators which make the propellers turn. We've recorded speeds almost as fast as a saber toothed moose-lion."

"That's impressive."

"Yes, it is. I will be able to get back to Yu Dao in time for the Council meeting and then make it back here for your birthday party," said Sokka.

Zuko's eyes widened. He knew his birthday was approaching but he expected it to pass, just as it had the last four years without any fuss or fanfare. He seized Sokka by the shoulders.

"Who said anything about my birthday?"

"Your mother sent out invitations months ago. It didn't say anything about it being a surprise," said Sokka, pulling away and adjusting his scabbard on its harness.

Straightening up, Zuko shook his friend's hand and walked away to allow the lovers a moment to bid each other farewell. He cast his eyes up to the extinct volcano that was the palace city. Since their last encounter Zuko had barely shared three words with his mother, except to apologize for his shortness. He worried about Azula and wondered how they were expected to host anyone for a party with her in such a delicate state.

"Are you ready to head back?" asked Ty Lee, blinking her big, gray eyes from under all the war paint.

"No, I need to be alone for a little bit," said Zuko, ducking his head a little. He knew that Suki would not approve of him going off on his own. "Do you think you could cover for me?"

"How long do you think we can get him, girls?" she asked.

The other Kyoshi warriors, normally so quiet and reserved, burst into conversation, trying to determine the most effective way to keep their captain out of the loop. Ty Lee nodded and grinned, seeming to be able to absorb every word. Finally, she lifted her hand.

"We can guarantee that you have three hours before she'll go looking for you beyond the palace gates."

He smiled. "You're great, Ty Lee."

With the Kyoshi warriors help, they emerged from the capitol city. Zuko stripped away the most obvious signs of his title like his golden hair piece, the balance beads Aang had presented him at his coronation, and his over coat. Now, he was just a man in a tang suit. He thanked the girls again and trekked off into the thinly wooded countryside. The sun drooped in the sky. He was certain he had a full hour before sunset. He made the most of his time, making a deliberate path for the rocky shoreline on the opposite side of the island.

He waited behind the tree line when he arrived at the rocky flat. There was no movement. He just watched as dusk fell over the island. Then, just as he resolved to abandon his stake out a figure streaked out of the trees a hundred yards from him. He recognized the billowing hair even in the low light heading straight for the entrance to the tunnels below. When she was about half way there, Zuko charged off after her.

"Wait," he called when he dropped into the dark, damp tunnels.

He glimpsed her startled face in the little flame she nursed in her hand as a guiding light. She did not stop, though. She continued away on the same path as before. He continued to call to her, wanting to say something to make her understand that he wasn't bad.

Soon they emerged into the cave. But she didn't stop, she swept her guiding flame into a wave of white fire, which he had to cross his arms over his face to block. Then, he saw her jump backwards off the edge of the cliff. Zuko screamed and tried his best to snatch her back. He felt the linen of her peasant dress slip between the tips of his fingers. She did not fall. He did not look down to see the mangled remnants of the lovely, young woman on the jagged rocks below, instead he felt the temperature rising rapidly around him. He looked up to see white and orange cones of swirling fire bursting from her knuckles. She was suspended gingerly in midair. She stared at him with her hair billowing around her face like a third flame. They shouted in unison.

"Who are you?!"

"I'm Fire Lord Zuko."

"Why are you following me, Fire Lord Zuko?"

"How are you doing that?"

He took a few steps away from the edge, studying her. She shifted from side to side by the slightest movement of her clenched fists. Her fear turned to curiosity as Zuko looked at his own knuckles. The flames that propelled her were not too big, just concentrated. He bent his knees and flung himself off the edge. She bellowed out a warning to no avail. He felt the flames burst from his knuckles, but they were not nearly as controlled as the girl's. The heat almost instantly set fire to his trouser. He turned to look at the damage and began to plummet.

He couldn't breathe. He couldn't scream. He just watched as his death drew closer and closer. Just when he would have plastered the cliff side with blood, he felt another force shove him farther out to sea, so when he crashed he sunk beneath the turbulent waves. Zuko wriggled and paddled but he was still sinking. He could feel the currents dragging him down. Without meaning to, he gasped and salty water filled his lungs.

Where was the flying girl? Had she knocked him away from the imminent death? Was she still trying to save him? Could she even swim? Azula appeared before him, drenched in water and held down by chains. She let out a silent scream, blue fire burst from her mouth, and everything around Zuko went dark.