A/N: Thank you to everyone who reviews. I appreciate it.


The Lost and Forgotten

Chapter Three: Truth and Reasoning


Zuko felt himself freeze as the arc of flame soared out to meet him, the recesses of his mind screaming to move, to do something other than stare at the approaching fire while his body betrayed the thought and he remained rooted to the spot.

Fear coursed through his veins like ice water, sharp and gnawing, the red streak growing closer and closer, a stark contrast of heat, ferocious and burning until...

Zuko awoke with a jerk, his body tensing and fingernails digging into his palms, a stinging sensation making him aware that he had broken through the skin. He sat up slowly, a nauseating hammering in his chest and his entire body sweat-soaked and trembling.

Why! His mind demanded angrily. It had been almost a month since his banishment. Surely the event would not plague him forever?

Yet Zuko now knew that to be a naive wish...His training in the last few days and the subsequent dreams that followed, had more than proven that.

The flames now scared him.

Sighing heavily, he climbed off his bed and paced the floors of his room, a dark tension coiling through his body.

His training had to be put on hold once again...not due to injury this time but because of a stupid fear. A stupid fear that paralyzed his thoughts and body. A fear that seemed to have a mind of its own.

Zuko shuddered as the anger at his weakness coursed through him. Crying out harshly, he spun around and swiped at the table near his bed, pushing the contents to the floor.

He stared dispassionately at the broken ceramic shards of what had been a water jug and cared not for the melting wax of a dying candle.

The prince bent down and stared at the guttering flame, his golden eyes shadowed by warring emotions.

I don't deserve this, He wondered. This fear and rage…this hopelessness…

Tears streamed down his cheeks and the young prince bowed his head with a sob, embarrassed.

Why was this happening?

Have I not suffered enough? Will my trials ever end or am I doomed to a life of continuous torment?

His thoughts drifted to past memories of life before all this confusion and anger. A life where he had felt loved and protected. A life when his little sister laughed as he spun her around…a time when his father had kind words and a proud smile meant for him.

…a life before doubts, politics and tragedy.

Zuko bit back a frustrated sigh, his hands clenching as he did so.

It didn't matter anymore. None of those memories mattered because things had changed. He had changed and the world had changed.

His father didn't want him.

His father had scarred him.

His father…

The anger boiled up inside of him again and Zuko hissed before extinguishing the candle and turning to leave the room.

He was tired of this frustration. He was tired of feeling fear and having no way to combat it. He was tired of the second guesses and misgivings, tired of agonizing over every past thought and feeling that had occurred since the moment he had left the fire nation.

The door snapped behind him and he approached the deck to find an outlet before more of his furniture met a nasty end.

Uncle was wrong…I'm not strong or brave.

The young prince grimaced, his golden eyes dark.

I'm a nothing with a no future…and I will be my own destruction.


Steam rose from the teapot leisurely and an aging man breathed in deeply with a contented sigh, even though his face was marred by a slight frown.

Iroh was concerned even though he could hide his countenance well, a practice mastered after many years of use and experience.

Ever since Zuko's mishaps in training, the young boy was growing increasingly tempermental and volatile, his actions agitated and rude while his dealings among the crew became more aggressive…more dangerous.

The boy had tried each day to continue with his fire bending lessons, and yet each time was met with a frozen fear that Iroh could not coax Zuko to talk about or confront…but then his nephew would soldier on and beg to try again only to meet with the same results.

Lately though, the young boy seemed to have given up altogether and that was a worry considering this new attitude that had surface in the few days following his refusal to try any longer.

Iroh sighed, rubbing his eyes wearily and then sipping at the cup of warm green tea. The old general was waiting for something to happen; whether it was Zuko lashing out or one of the crew finally having enough of the Prince's irrational behaviour. As it was, only two men really tolerated the young prince compared to everyone else that comprised this motley band, but even they had their limits.

Speaking of the Prince…

Iroh watched his nephew stalk onto the deck with a scowl that was starting to become quite a familiar feature. He watched in disbelief as the boy snapped out unnecessary commands, while also making comments on bad results.

What was going on in that boys head? It was as though he had become a completely different person in a few short weeks.

Iroh sipped his tea again, his brow pulled down into a frown of perpetual sadness. He knew fear was a hard thing to face, but sooner or later, his nephew would need to do it or that fear would have consequences. Consequences that the old dragon didn't want to even contemplate.

Sometimes, this new explosive Zuko would remind him of Ozai. The way his younger brother had been before he became more cunning and cruel.

Iroh placed down his cup thoughtfully and watched Zuko confront Lt Jee, who was in charge of keeping the ship in order.

Out of all the crew, Lt Jee was the one Iroh worried about the most. As a former front line soldier who had been demoted due to saving his troops rather than completing a mission, Iroh knew the man had no love for the Fire Lord nor would he continue to ignore Zuko's haughty attitude for much longer.

Iroh moved to refill his cup, deciding to attempt another heart-to-heart today before anything to irreparable happened and wondering if he should intervene with Zuko's rather lengthy tirade now taking place as others gathered to watch and Lt Jee's face grew angry.

When fire furled around his nephew's hands, Iroh was moving without thought, his tea forgotten.

-O-

"You will do as you are told."

"I did not sign up for babysitting nor to take orders from some spoilt royal brat!" Jee snapped, finally done with his supposed captains insolence. He had ignored it out of his respect for the boy's uncle but enough was enough and if he had to be the one to teach the boy respect, then so be it. "My job is to keep this ship functioning and I will do so the way I know how, not because some little boy is trying to play captain."

Zuko, who had turned to leave, tensed at the words while a familiar boiling anger bubbled up inside of him.

"As if you know anything about me." Turning around, his fists clenched and steam flowing through his whitened knuckles as he sneered and replied in a mocking tone. "You, a colony soldier who's a disgrace and hasn't been in the fire nation for years due to said disgrace until summoned to, as you say, babysit me. Just as each and every one of you have been ordered."

"At least none of us were banished from our home like you or humiliated in such a shameful display of an Agni Kai." Jee spat, not willing to take anymore insults from this mere scrap of a boy who had barely had a taste of the world and knew nothing of reality. However, a part of him regretted the comment when the boy's golden eyes went strangely blank and dark. A look not generally associated with someone of that age.

Zuko stilled at the lieutenants words.

Shameful…

The word vibrated painfully around him. Flames licked at his hands unconsciously. His chest was tight with emotion but his heart felt strangely empty.

To have that moment thrown back in his face…

To be told he was a failure over and over again…

Zuko didn't realize that he was moving to strike until a hand to his shoulder and the familiar jovial tones of his uncle stopped him.

"Now what seems to be such a problem that we can't settle it over a cup of warm tea and civil words?"

Lt Jee bowed but kept his expression stern.

"Lord Iroh, I apologize for the incivility but your nephew has no discipline and his continual demeaning attitude towards the people here to serve him, is unwarranted."

Iroh nodded, his expression grim and hand still firmly set of Zuko's shoulder while said boy seemed to be in a state of shock.

His tone was mild and measured when he answered.

"I'll have words with the boy and make sure he knows this won't be happening any longer. As you were."

Lt Jee nodded after a brief glance in Zuko's direction before turning and hurrying the rest of the gathered crowd back to their duties. Meanwhile, Iroh turned with nephew in hand and lead him gently below deck.

"Come Zuko, it's time we had a proper talk."


Later that evening Iroh left Zuko's cabin and wandered the halls.

He had left his nephew with much to think on once again and hopefully this time, the boy would reach an understanding within his own turmoil after discovering the root of the problem.

"Uncle…how do you combat fear?" Zuko had whispered despondently after an hour of raging about the cabin while Iroh waited patiently for the boy to calm and voice his thoughts.

"There is no illusion greater than fear nephew." Iroh had answered softly, remembering his own experiences and allowing it to fuel his answer. "It causes doubt and twists our thoughts to suit its own purpose, eating away at our pride and achievements, tainting our dreams and success. It strikes out at our deepest hurts but it is not unconquerable."

Zuko's hands touched his face and Iroh smiled sadly.

"You are more than your scars prince Zuko."

The boy had rubbed away sudden tears.

"So what do I do?" He whispered. "I don't want to be afraid and always angry."

"You fight Zuko, that's what you do." He replied. "You gain strength, courage and confidence through every experience you go through. You must meet your fears head on despite how hard it may seem…You must do the very things which you think you cannot do."

Iroh sighed as he reached his destination and paused at the entry way.

"…he's out of hand." A voice muttered sourly. "I was demoted for that type of attitude."

"If this continues, I will leave." Another voice hissed. "I'd rather return to my former post then carry on like this."

Other similar comments could be heard and Iroh cleared his throat to make his presence known to all in the mess hall.

The effect was immediate and under other circumstances, the old general may have found it amusing. The crew stumbled to their feet, half bowing while others saluted, and some blushing from being caught conversing so casually about the prince while others held their dignity and remained unapologetic.

"May I join you gentleman?" Iroh inquired, ignoring the awkwardness and if this was any other situation, he may have joked about it.

"Of course sir." Gendo, the main cook, answered, always kind and cheery. "We would be honoured by your presence."

Iroh took a seat and gratefully accepted a cup of tea, nodding his appreciation when he sipped at the fine contents.

"I understand you are all upset with my nephew but I do hope you will allow me to give you some insight into why he is the way that he is, even if his behaviour lately has been terrible."

The crew looked slightly guilty while lieutenant Jee huffed.

"No disrespect General, but I don't see why we should have some sob story from you to justify the boys behaviour."

Iroh agreed and was silent for a moment before saying.

"You are all aware of the Prince's mission, correct?"

"He is to find the Avatar." Someone answered.

"And do any of you know exactly why he must do so?" Iroh asked softly. "I know most of the gossip that circles this ship and you have all voiced more than once that this is fruitless task, but do you understand the circumstances of his banishment."

There was silence until lieutenant Jee spoke, seeming thoughtful.

"Tell us if you believe you must."

Iroh chuckled.

"It is not whether I believe I must tell you, it is so you understand that sometimes, not everything is as it seems." He said. "Sometimes, we presume things because our facts are incomplete or as in my nephews case, allow our conflicting emotions to rule our actions."

Iroh sipped his tea again before continuing.

"Each of you knows that the Fire Nation is not without its fault and more than a few of you has seen and experienced its cruelty."

The crew looked interested now and soldier in the back prompted him to speak.

"I won't speak for the others general, but I for one wouldn't mind hearing what you have to say." He announced. Iroh recalled the soldier, as he had been the one to report of Zuko's activities whenever he felt they were becoming a concern.

"Very well, what I wish to explain is why Zuko must find the Avatar and the events that led to it."

He took a third sip of his tea and then a deep breath before starting.

"Zuko wished to enter the war chamber and view the proceedings one day. His excitement and determination to prove himself as a Prince of the Fire Nation, overcame my sense of uneasiness of having such a young boy present and I allowed him to sit with me...but I should have followed my instincts."

Iroh's golden eyes turned hazy as he explained the events that followed and it was almost as though he was reliving the day.

"It started when General Kazue began to explain a plan he had created…"

"The Earth Kingdom defenses are concentrated here." Kazue pointed out on a map.

The throne loomed before the large table, where the Fire Lord watched the generals discuss the current situation in the Earth Kingdom.

"A dangerous battalion of their strongest earthbenders and fiercest warriors, so I am recommending the 41st division." Kazue continued.

"But the 41st is entirely new recruits. How do you expect them to defeat a powerful Earth Kingdom battalion?" Old General Komo asks with a raised brow and Iroh silently wonders where this notion is leading.

"I don't. They'll be used as a distraction while we mount an attack from the rear. What better to use as bait then fresh meat?" Kazue answers coldly.

"I didn't like the idea and was surprised at its suggestion but then again, I have always known Kazue to be cold and ruthless." Iroh murmured. "Unfortunately, Zuko felt the same way."

"You can't sacrifice an entire division like that!" Zuko cried suddenly, jumping to his feet in shock and Iroh is frozen with fear. "Those soldiers love and defend our nation! How can you betray them like that and send them to such slaughter?"

General Kazue frowned, displeased and there is a murmur among the gathered men. The Fire Lord tenses.

"Zuko was right, you see, but it was not his place to speak out, and there were dire consequences." Iroh said, Lieutenant Jee and the rest of the crew shocked by the true reason to Zuko's banishment, having not known these more intimate details. "The Fire Lord took it as a personal insult and Zuko had to face the offended General in an Agni Kai."

"I didn't realize it was so serious." Lieutenant Jee muttered. No higher ups liked to hear they might be wrong, as had been the case when Jee had been demoted for speaking out against his commanding officer.

"Please, father, I only had the fire nation's best interest at heart! I'm sorry I spoke out of turn!"

"...yet it was not the General he faced as some of you already know."

The Fire Lord advanced, still silhouetted against the fires burning around the arena. Shirtless, but built massively.

"I won't fight you."

"You will fight for your honour." The Fire Lord answered.

"You can't possibly agree with that plan?" Zuko asked. "To sacrifice so many lives is madness."

"You will fight or you will face dishonour." Ozai stated.

"Does that also apply to General Kazue, since it was him, not you that should be my opponent? Is it not dishonourable to send another in his place, when it was the General who challenged me?"

"You will fight." The Fire Lord uttered softly, though his voice was still strong and it echoed within the chamber. "Fight, Prince Zuko!"

Generals from the war council watch on, a grinning Admiral Zhao, General Iroh, looking fearful for his nephew, a young girl in a soldier's uniform with a slight smirk to her sharp features. General Kazue watches with hard eyes, another young girl just inches behind him, magenta eyes tearful. Iroh's looks away in despair.

"I looked away." Iroh told the crew gathered. "I simply could not watch my brother maim his only son and not just once, but twice."

A grave silence followed.

"The boy has a huge burden." Iroh then murmured. "He has been trying to find his own path despite the task that the Fire Lord has given. However, like all who face such crossroads between what is right and easy, he is struggling and needs guidance. Unfortunately, you have all had to suffer the brunt of that development."

Iroh placed down his now empty tea cup and bowed.

"I thank you for taking the time to listen."

The old general hummed softly as he left to end his evening with a quiet stroll, sure that things would only get better now that there were no more knowledge gaps and more understanding among the crew.

-O-

The next morning, Lt. Jee intercepted the young prince while he was returning to his cabin after a morning of exercises and could tell by the boy's dark expression, that his presence would not be welcome. However, the lieutenant persevered.

"I wish to apologize for my words yesterday."

"I don't need your pity." The boy snarled and turned to walk away but the lieutenant blocked him again.

"Good, because it is not pity I shall give you." Jee said sternly, silently seeing how the boy tensed at his close presence and realizing that every action that he had previously seen as arrogance and temper, were merely defensive motions from a young teen struggling.

Not that he excused such behavior, but at least he could understand now.

Zuko paused in his attempt to escape, curiosity getting the better of his pride. The talk with his uncle had calmed him but what the lieutenant had said yesterday, still stung.

"Then what?" He demanded quietly as the man did not look like he was leaving until allowed to voice his thoughts.

"Your uncle seems to think you are trying to find your own path?" Lieutenant Jee stated more than asked. "If that is the case, I believe you need to have goals and skills."

"Oh?" Zuko asked, eyebrow raised defiantly. "And are you going to teach me these so called required skills?"

"No." Jee answered, looking somewhat amused even with his stern countenance. "But if you are willing to expand your skill set, then each member of the crew will be willing to teach you something new."

Zuko frowned and looked away.

"Why?" He asked after a pause before facing the Lieutenant again. "Why would you all do that?"

Jee smirked.

"Who wouldn't want to corrupt the son of the Fire Lord?" He intoned and his smirk widened at the boy's incredulous expression. With his intentions declared and apology given, Jee turned to return to his duties while adding. "Tao will meet you in the mess hall later this afternoon for you first lesson if you're interested."

Zuko watched the lieutenant leave with an odd feeling growing inside of him.

"I'm sorry." He blurted out and blushed pink when the man glanced back with a raised brow. Zuko cleared his throat and pushed aside his mortification. "I'm sorry for my attitude. My problems were no ones fault and taking them out on all of you was unfair."

Jee nodded and Zuko figured that was acceptance so excused himself to go get cleaned, intrigued by what might lay ahead for him.

Lt. Jee continued his walk to the deck, pausing briefly by the stairs to bow to Lord Iroh.

"The boy isn't as hopeless as I thought."

Iroh chuckled.

"That would be his mother's doing, Agni bless her."


Days of travel flew by in a haze for Iroh as he watched his nephew immerse himself within his fire bending (refusing to let the flames scare him away) or learning whatever new skills he came across, having taken Lieutenant Jee's offer quite seriously.

Enzo, the only soldier aboard with knowledge of fishing, taught the boy how to set traps and knot ropes together for a net. He even went on to explain the little intricacies of what bait worked and why.

Sakon and Hsu were skilled in subterfuge and thus, shared their knowledge with Zuko on the quiet arts. Though Iroh disapproved of the skill, he acknowledged that it was useful and his nephew certainly seemed to have a flair for sneaking around.

Jinan, Tao, Izune and Shang had a smaller skill base but no less instructive for the prince; Tao knew of herbs and healing and all types of foliage while Izune and Shang shared knowledge on geology, weather patterns and different creatures not covered in basic fire nation schools. Gendo taught Zuko the basics in cooking and after a while, Iroh could stomach the young boy's attempts at tea or simple soups.

Even Lieutenant Jee contributed in his own small way, lecturing on strategies and other information most would take for granted like the way colonies functioned or the other nation's different cultural beliefs.

Iroh had also contributed to expanding his nephew's knowledge and they had made a stop at one of the many homes of an old friend; a former soldier named Piandao, who taught Zuko how to wield Dao blades.

After all, great benders did not solely rely on their talent.

The training basics had been strange and Zuko's frustration had grown to exponential heights until realization took hold and he saw what Piandao was trying to teach him, how it was really simple if you stopped fighting and were just yourself. They had spent more than three months training after that before Piandao was confident Zuko could continue mastering the blades on his own, claiming that he thought the Prince had natural talent.

Piandao even went on to gift Zuko with the two blades they had forged together and after they left his home, he teen took to wearing the blades almost all the time.

Iroh watched as the boy went through his basic breathing exercises as the sun rose and marveled on the small changes a few short weeks had made on his countenance.

Zuko came to sit by him after the steps were complete and smiled softly.

"How was that?"

Iroh smiled and poured him some tea.

"Excellent."

The boy laughed and ruffled his messy hair before accepting the offered drink.

"Thank you uncle." He murmured and Iroh simply shook his head fondly knowing the boy meant more than just simple gratitude.

"Always a pleasure nephew." He answered while picking up his own cup. "It's what I am here for, after all."


The Northern Air Temple was nothing like Zuko had come to expect from temples, especially considering he had seen the ruin of its cousin in the west.

It was not that the temple had escaped Sozin's wrath (for it was simple fact that no air nomad discovered, was spared or shown mercy) nor was the temple unscathed as seen by the deep cracks that stretched along its alabaster surfaces and the blackened smears of tell-tale scorch marks only a bender could leave. If anything, Zuko would say that the Northern temple looked far worse than the other.

The reason it threw him for a loop, was because it was inhabited. By people!

"Uncle..." Zuko began, his voice barely higher than a whisper. "There are..."

"Yes, I can see them too nephew."

The young teen stood still for a few moments, his golden eyes blazing with curiosity and mild confusion as he took in all the sights the temple had to offer. Tents and makeshift huts littered the area around the temple; the beginnings of cultivated land spreading across certain patches of ground and people dressed in Earth Kingdom colours, walked around attending to their daily business.

"Do you think they moved in recently?" He asked quietly.

"It is possible." His uncle replied with a thoughtful expression.

"...because of the war?" Zuko then questioned before he mentally added. Because of the Fire Nation?

He knew the stories of brutality, the stories of people chased from their own homes...He knew the war was far worse than the woven tale most people heard. He knew because his uncle had answered any question he had asked in the last few days, concerning the war and the other nations, and Zuko knew that his uncle was not a man to play with the truth...not when someone really wanted to hear it.

The young prince may have never been told the complete version, but it was more than enough to know that war was not glory and honour. War was suffering and death.

"Perhaps." His uncle murmured, seeming hesitant to answer and though curious, Zuko didn't press for an explanation.

"I think we should leave." He instead whispered softly, watching a mother play with her two laughing children as she hung up clothes to dry.

"Did you not want to see the temple? We can have a quick look before the sun goes down."

"I have seen it." Zuko said and turned away.

To the teen's relief his uncle just nodded.

"We will leave if that is what you want."

Zuko muttered a soft 'yes' and they both walked back the way they had come to return to the crew.

"Maybe we can find some fresh fruit to go along with dinner tonight?" Iroh wondered hopefully and Zuko chuckled, melancholy thoughts briefly put aside.

"No." He answered sternly, though a grin tugged at his lips as he surveyed his uncles pout. "Tao isn't with us and let's not forget how you mistook that poisonous herb for an edible one the other day. You almost gave the whole ship a nasty rash."

"Fine." Iroh huffed as they continued to walk. "We'll just have to remember to bring Tao next time. I am getting tired of fish and dried meat."

Zuko sighed and hid a grin.

He didn't know what he'd do without his uncle…even with his silly antics.


Riu sighed as the two young maids helped her get dressed into a brilliant purple kimono with an orange sash and decorated with pale blue butterflies. Thankfully with her dark hair, magenta eyes and pale skin, she could get away with most colours, even the more garish tones.

Today, her father had an audience with the Fire Lord and for some reason, her presence had been requested as well.

So I can be shown off like some trophy, she thought despondently.

"You are ready Lady Riu." One of the girls murmured after adding an ebony clip with pearl fixtures to her hair. "You look wonderful."

Riu blushed as she accepted a thin shawl of white silk.

"Thank you Cho. You are most kind."

The youngest of her maids smiled before taking her leave with the others and Riu was left on her own for the first time that morning.

It didn't last long though as her mother soon entered the room, splendid in her own kimono of butter yellow and soft pastel pink flowers.

"It will do." She remarked upon seeing Riu's attire and the girl nodded in acceptance and stood to put on her black slippers.

"Remember to speak only when spoken to and even then, answer with only the simplest and most polite responses." Lady Etsu said and Riu nodded.

"Yes mother."

Lady Etsu's delicately painted lips became a thin line as she nodded.

"Well, off with you. Your father is already waiting in the carriage."

-O-

The Palace was as stifling as Riu always found it, but she hid her discomfort well as she walked sedately behind her father and the Fire Lord while they spoke.

"I heard your daughter placed in the top ten for the final exam this last month." The Fire Lord commented and Riu cringed at the tone of his voice. It was neither pleasing nor a welcoming sound. "She must be very skilled, especially for someone who is not blessed with Agni's fire."

"Indeed my Lord." Kazue replied, all grace and feigned regret. "My wife and I naturally would have preferred a daughter as gifted as your own but we accepted and worked with what we were given."

Riu acted as though she could not hear the conversation, however, on the inside, a familiar wave of shame and anger swept through her.

Why could her parents not be happy with the way she was? Why could they not settle for a healthy daughter? A daughter who gave her all in every endeavor.

Had she not proved she was intelligent, thoughtful, hardworking and resourceful? Was it not enough that she toiled relentlessly just as others did, if not more so than most?

Who else her age could boast that they rivaled the skill of a Yu Yan? Hadn't those been Essai's words…and her teacher never spoke anyway but with complete candidness.

"She might flourish further if she spends some time here in the palace." The Fire Lord continued and Riu balked at the idea.

Naturally, her father did not share her hesitance.

"You are most gracious, my Lord." He agreed and inwardly smirked. This was a chance he could not lose. "My daughter could learn much and I am sure the Princess would be an excellent role model."

Riu suffered through tea and more talk of how else she could thrive and after another walk around the palace, she was finally excused to take her own tour with a servant while her father attended a council session with the Fire Lord.

She was quick to find the palace training grounds.

Riu stopped at the entrance and startled at not finding the area empty as she had expected it to be.

"I didn't realize someone was in here..." She announced in surprise, while the girl in the room turned around slowly.

Riu recognized her pale features and dark eyes.

It was Mai, one of Princess Azula's friends; who was extremely quiet and trained in a various assortment of blades as her chosen field in the art of fighting, given the fact that like Riu, she too was not a bender.

As if to ascertain this fact, numerous small blades and stars decorated a wooden post. Riu hadn't realized that the girl might spend much of her time in the palace.

Did her own parents also see it as the highest honour?

"I'll come back a little later."

"There is enough space for both of us."

Riu startled again at the girls soft words. After all, she had never heard Mai say more than two or three sentences at most and their upbringing was fairly similar and the girl was rather shy.

"I-uh, if you are sure?" Riu stammered, cursing her stumbling speech but already removing her silk shawl.

Mai seemed surprised by the response as if not used to people asking her opinion but didn't comment and instead turned and walked towards the post where all her blades rested and began systematically pulling them out one by one.

Riu watched for a moment before heading to the weapons rack and selecting one of the bows. Although not as fine or of high quality like her own personal bow, these were adequate enough to help let off some frustration after spending so much time listening to how much more improved she could be. She also grabbed a quiver of arrows.

Riu then walked back until a fair distance stood between her and a post similar to the one Mai was adoring with blades and carefully strung the bow with the first arrow.

Breathe.

Release.

The arrow flew straight and hit the top of the post forcefully.

Riu strung another one and then another, barely seconds between them, each arrow lining up perfectly with the one above it until she had filled the entire post with a neat row of the arrows from top to bottom.

The quiver was spent and it wasn't until a few seconds of calming breaths later, that Riu noticed Mai had walked over and was inspecting her handiwork.

"You are very accurate."

Riu smiled and murmured her thanks before taking a glance at the girls own post.

"I must say the same for you."

Mai shrugged.

"Practice makes perfect."

Riu couldn't help the quiet chuckle that left her lips.

"Yes, I suppose it does."

Mai's lips twitched but her expression did not change.

"Will you be spending more time in the palace?" She asked softly and Riu nodded.

"It seems that way."

Mai begun removing each of her blades slowly and Riu did the same with her arrows before the other girl spoke again.

"I'll be around if you need any help."

Riu's eyes widened and she bowed politely, not really managing to hide her surprise nor her grateful expression.

"That would be most kind." She answered and smiled. "I hope we can get to know each other better. I don't spend much time with girls around my age."

Mai returned the smile shyly and they both returned to their efforts.

From the balcony above the yard, a young girl watched with a slight frown and a calculating shine in her golden eyes.

How interesting…


Returning home later that afternoon, Riu ate with her parents and had to listen to her father recount the entire visit to the palace to her mother before she was allowed to leave. Once in the safety of her own room, she breathed a sigh and quickly divested herself of her clothes and dressed in a simpler tunic before taking a seat at her desk and pulling out her writing materials to finally pen that letter she had been planning for the last week.

Riu's hand hesitated above the blank page, unsure of how to begin the letter to her cousin, whom she had not seen in many months and who was now stationed even farther from the Fire Nation due to a serious injury that had left her basically crippled.

Riu frowned recalling her own father's harsh words when he heard of the incident.

"Such a shame." He had murmured at the dinner table. "Toma had such talent as a fire bender and I was sure she would be able to restore honour to my fool of a brother's family and his idealistic views."

Riu closed her eyes and sighed.

The ongoing bad blood between her father and uncle was not something that had developed recently, but had instead grown over many years given their varying differences of opinion on so many matters; like the war and what it really meant to fight or what they should be fighting for, and even matters as simple as raising a child…then there was the fact that her uncle had married a colonist believed to be beneath their station in life. In the last two years, the brothers had not spoken and even Riu was forbidden from contacting them.

Now her uncle and his family owned a restaurant in one of the fire nation colonies near Ba Sing Se.

Politics could be so strange and confusing, Riu thought. She had never understood why it mattered who you married or who you loved, but apparently some imagined there to be rules concerning matters in life and thus, it was so.

But even then, I suppose father would find any reason to disown the brother he feels does not follow the Fire Lord's will.

Riu opened her eyes and began to write carefully.

Even with the problems between her father and uncle, she had kept correspondence with her cousins, especially Toma whom she had always admired.

I do not see why it is wrong and so I will do so until my father can justify his reasons for me not to, she silently declared even if she would never dare say that to his face.

Riu took a breath and returned to her letter, skimming though what she had so far.

Dear Toma, I know you are far from home and letters will not come often but I do wish to know how you are doing since you left. I do not understand what you may be going through given the nature of your injury but know that I am an unbiased ear if you wish to vent…

Riu wrote for some time and once the letter was done, she carefully rolled it up and attached it to her hawk.

"Ani, please get it to Toma quickly and be safe." She said, brushing the birds feathers softly. The hawk trilled quietly and took off out the window.

Riu watched her disappear into the distance and sighed wistfully at the type of freedom a bird possessed.

To leave with just a flap of your wings, how liberating it must be to know you are not shackled by family, duty or what is perceived to be the order of things…


A young woman with dark raven hair pulled back into a neat braid and warm brown eyes, listened carefully as she was shown around the isolated prison that had become her new assignment. She answered any queries dutifully and determinedly ignored her left leg whenever it seized painfully.

Duty first.

They had just completed a tour of the outside area and were now on the last stretch of the internal tour which had covered all the areas that she needed to know along with the schedules, rules and other miscellaneous information to help with her rounds.

Her guide, an old soldier named Ju Bao (because not even the Warden could spare the time to properly greet her), turned and fixed his almost faded eyes on her while coughing slightly.

"So Toma, I hope you have all the relevant information memorized?" Ju Bao asked, leaning heavily on his worn cane and coughing again.

"Yes sir." Toma replied.

Dragon Island was small and isolated, so it had not been hard to remember all the necessary rooms and walkways. The prisoners kept here were also easy to remember as there were only a couple, even if they were recorded as the most dangerous threats to the Fire Nation.

"Very good." He said. "I think you are aware that no one here will be accommodating. You will do your assignments as per the register and report directly to your commanding officer. We have not time to go through each motion with you, so learn fast."

It was a question she didn't need to answer, so instead Toma bowed respectfully and said.

"I thank you for all your assistance sir. I shall learn my duties quickly and not be a disappointment."

The atmosphere was tense and stifling here, but she would adapt, just as she always had.

Ju Bao inclined his head shortly, just enough to be polite, before shuffling off to return to his duties as aide to the Warden.

Toma returned to the room she had been assigned along with the only other six women who were stationed in the prison, all of whom had regarded her coolly when introduced while the men had whistled and joked that they finally had a female with fine features to stare at.

Her meager belongings, mostly clothes and a few personal items, were packed in her bedside chest along with the simple red and black uniforms she would now wear.

Sighing softly, she had a seat on her bed and rubbed absently at her leg that was now throbbing quite insistently.

"Oh how the mighty have fallen…" she mocked and closed her eyes as her hand eased away the aches and pains.

-O-

Dragon Island was something of a dark mystery, Toma mused as she performed her duties for the day after having been here for just over a week.

It housed the Fire Nations most dangerous enemies and yet before she had been assigned here, it was a place she never thought existed.

"An understandable deception." One of the woman, Lera had told her. "The people believe the Boiling Rock is our most important prison because we let them believe it is so. Sometimes, it is good to have secrets especially in times such as ours."

Toma could understand the need for a prison few knew about, especially if it held war criminals. Even so, Dragon Island gave off an ominous feeling she couldn't quite shake.

Chiding herself for such nervous thoughts, she opened the door to her last visit for the day and set down the food carefully.

"Lunch." She announced to the body lying upon a bed in the far corner, features wreathed in shadows. So far, she had only actually spoken to one of the prisoners despite it being against the rules and even seen his face, an old man who had been here for so long that he no longer recalled his crime nor did anyone here. However, the remaining prisoners were generally quiet and not as violent as her fellow guards had implied them to be. Toma just figured she had not been here long enough yet to form a proper opinion.

The body shifted slightly, but otherwise made no sound. Not that she expected anything.

Toma exited and locked the door before heading to her room to get some much needed rest and maybe a hot shower if she was lucky.

She chuckled and sighed quietly.

Maybe she'd even get time to answer Riu's letter.


A/N: Always under construction.