"After Ursa left, something happened to Zuko. It was a boy losing his innocence. Now, should anything happen to Iroh . . . it will break Zuko. And a darker Zuko will rise up, taking joy in others pain. A man darker than Ozai could ever hope to be." Those words rung in her ears. Keiko's eyes snapped open as she heard the rustle of chains. She stepped out of the shadows and into the light cast by the morning sun. Looking down at him, Keiko couldn't help but think of what her mistress had whispered to her. But Iroh wasn't with Zuko so she could not go and protect the old man. Getting Zuko to her mistress was her main priority.

"Is today the day?" He asked as he looked up at her. His golden eyes were dark. "Is today the day I die?" Keiko looked Zuko straight in the eye as she answered him.

"You will have to ask her that, not me." Keiko untied the chain from the tree and waited as he pushed himself up without his arms. It was difficult and it took Zuko a few minutes but he managed to do it. He never wanted to have his arms free as much as he did now. "You . . . are a master with dual swords, correct, Prince Zuko?" Zuko looked up at her with fury in his eyes. The broad swords that he used were strapped to her back. It was another jest.

"Stop mocking me!" He practically screamed. She shook her head again as her eyes hardened.

"You are young and foolish. I do not mock." She snapped, tired to him constantly yelling at her.

"Then why still call me a prince!" Zuko demanded, desperate to know. She stared at him dead in the eye as she answered him.

"That is something you will have to find out for yourself." She pushed him forward, signaling to walk and the end of the conversation. Zuko obliged, not because he wanted to, but because he had to. There was no choice for him. Prince Zuko was no more. Only a pathetic fugitive of the Fire Nation that would die.

'Mother . . . I don't know who I am anymore.' Zuko thought as he marched forward. 'Forgive me.'


Three days. Three days of wondering whether of not he would die that day. It was killing him slowly. And to make it worse, he had no idea if he would be like that tomorrow. Or if tomorrow would even come for him. Keiko would not say. Zuko had thought of everything he could do to try and escape. However, Keiko was a master ninja and firebender. He had no way out.

"Why did she send you?" He asked, breaking the silence that reigned over the two for the past few days. Keiko stared at the back of his head and raised an eyebrow.

"To retrieve you, what else?"

"No, you. Why did she send you?" Zuko asked, desperate for anything that might ease his mind. The slightest thing would ease his pained mind.

"Because she trusts me." Zuko looked at the sky as a bird flew overhead. How he wished he could be free like that bird. Not a care in the world. All that mattered to it was how far it could go in a day. How high it could fly. He wished with all his might that he could be like the bird. But he couldn't. Not yet. Soon, though, he would be like the bird. His spirit would be free from everything.

"Because she wants me dead, that's the real answer." He sighed and looked back at Keiko. "Please don't lie to me." Keiko fought back a sigh herself. She wished her mistress had not made her out to be the bad guy in this but there was no choice. Her mistress's word was law. There was nothing she could do.

"I haven't lied to you." It was the truth. Keiko had not uttered one lie. But she did not inform the boy of the hole truth, which was probably just as bad.

". . . no . . . you haven't. You just haven't told me anything at all." A thought seized him. Zuko could feel the terror wield up inside of him. What of his uncle? How could he go three days without wondering if his uncle was caught? He cursed at himself mentally and prayed to Agni that his uncle was alright. He knew he wouldn't get anything out of Keiko. She would not go against her. And she probably said not to tell him if they had Iroh.

". . . why . . . do you love Ozai?" He looked back at her once again, confused. Why did she care? Why did anyone care? He was a nobody now. He wasn't worth anything in anyone's eyes except Iroh's. "He's done terrible things to you. Yet you still love him. Why?" Zuko looked ahead and thought for a moment, trying to find the answer himself. There was no true reason . . . but still . . .

"He's my father. That should be enough." Keiko rose an eyebrow, not believing him but deciding not to push the matter any further. In truth, Zuko didn't believe himself either. He didn't know what to believe. All he knew was that he would soon face Agni and see what the Fire God thought of him. Then he would see if he truly was worthless.


Zuko felt like he would drop any minute. How long? How long had they been walking? He lost track. This was the fifth day of walking, chained like an animal. His knees were weak and he had trouble keeping his eyes open. Zuko just wanted it to be over. Over so he could rest. Keiko didn't seem winded or tired or anything! It drove him mad. His very sanity was at the breaking point. He couldn't take it any more. Zuko had to have it end. Even if it meant taking his own life by biting off his tongue! He had to stop it. Everything ached in him. He was no longer interested in if it was the day he was going to die. He was no longer interested in what his father thought of him. The former prince just wanted it to end. All the pain, suffering, everything!

"We're here." Keiko's voice drew him back to reality, making him look up. In front of him was a smaller war vessel. It was no where near as small as the one he had traveled on for nearly three years but it was smaller than normal vessels. It was sleek and powerful. With its three tips on the end with a fire motif on them made by the finest metalworkers, the ship was elegant. Just like her. It was the Phantom Flame.

Zuko was pushed forward again, up onto the ramp that led up to the Phantom Flame. He stumbled onto the deck and everyone on deck turned to see him. How humiliating. But to add salt to a wound, they bowed. Bowed! His temper flared. Though he was tired, his temper was not. He opened his mouth to yell at them, to command them to stop mocking him, but then he closed it and looked away in shame. Their loyalty to her was legendary. It was said that they would take on the gods if she so commanded it. If she ordered them to mock him, there was nothing he could do.

"So, you're finally here." He didn't need to turn to see who it was. That voice would never change. It would be the last one he would hear, he was sure. "Keiko, I'm impressed that you were able to bring him to me so quickly without the ostrich horse." Confusion rang through his body. How did she know he had an ostrich horse? "Come now, Prince Zuko, must you really keep your back to me?"

"Don't mock me." He growled, refusing to turn to look at her. "Kill me now. I tire of you constant mocking. Let a dead man rest." He heard footsteps as she came into view. Her amber eyes stared into his. "Admiral Amaya, mock me no longer. If you cared for me at all, just kill me now." Amaya smirked. Her hair style was still the same as all those years ago with a single braid wrapped around her curly hair, making it into a ponytail. However, now magenta crystals earrings dangled down from her ears. Ruby lips pulled back into a smile as sunny eyes softened. Her black cape waved through the air along with her midnight hair as the wind blew.

"My child, if you think I would ever kill you, you are mistaken." She motioned to Keiko and the chains binding him dropped to the ground as Keiko freed him. Zuko rubbed his arms, trying to get the circulation back into them. "Come, we will talk while we dine!" She turned to leave but his voice stopped her.

"Why torment me? Why try to lure me into a false sense of security? You've got me on your ship. All you have to do is oder your guards to throw me in the brig and sail back to the Fire Nation." Zuko looked at her with tired eyes while she turned to face him. Once again her eyes softened. Stepping forward, Amaya embraced Zuko, startling him.

"My dear prince, if you think I would ever do that, then perhaps I should not have done as Keizo said."

"Since when have you done what other people said?" Zuko demanded, confused more so than ever. Who was Keizo? What did he tell her to do? And why did she do it? He was ripped from his thoughts as the Admiral chuckled.

"Good question." She smirked at him. "Nephew, I want to ask you something." Zuko was silent, signaling that she could ask him. "Do you know who sent you those broad swords all those years ago?" He shook his head. Where was she going with this? What was her true purpose? All these questions surrounded his head as she tried to sort out his thoughts. "It was me."

"What does this have to do with anything?" Amaya stepped back smoothly and looked over her men. "Answer me, dammit!" Her head snapped back to look at him and glare. Her own liquid gold eyes narrowed as they stared into his.

"Do not raise your voice to me, nephew." Amaya warned in a dangerous tone. "I could have you killed at any time." Zuko glared at her, hatred radiating off of him.

"If you think that I care if you kill me, then you are mistaken."

"Admiral," Amaya did not glance at the young man who walked up behind her. With his black hair pulled up into a bun and Fire Nation armor, he looked no older than twenty five. "I think you should tell him, otherwise someone might be hurt." Now she glanced at the man. His concern was evident on his face causing her to sigh.

"Very well. But do not think to try and handle me, Commander Haku." Haku bowed her her without flinching at her harsh tone. It appeared that he was used to it.

"Of course, Admiral." He straightened and smiled at his commanding officer while she sighed again. She was getting a headache and things seemed to have slowed down to a boring pace. And she did detest boring things.

"Tell me what, Amaya?" Zuko growled out, still angry and hateful. What was it now? What little secret was she hiding from him? He was tired of her head games. He was tired of it all. Amaya looked at her nephew and got down on one knee while she bowed her head. "Do not mock me, Amaya!" Zuko hissed while her entire crew bowed to him again.

"I do not mock you, Prince Zuko. You are the true heir to the throne. Ozai has lied and cheated throughout the war. There is no honor in what he is doing." She looked up at Zuko, her eyes unwavering as she spoke. She stared him straight in the eye and did not back down. "There is no honor in what he has done to you. So I will stand by your side." Zuko could only stare at her, shocked by her words. He looked around and couldn't help but feel something bloom in his chest. Something that he had forgotten when Azula declared him a fugitive. Hope. But . . .

"You're words are treasonous, Amaya." Amaya shook her head firmly and spoke without a doubt in her voice.

"No. You are the heir to the throne. Ozai has never been the rightful Fire Lord. My brother Iroh should have been it. Without a heir, the title should have gone to you when he died. Now Ozai dares to put a price on your head!" She stood up and shook her head once again. "He has gone too far! I have watched from the shadows long enough." Amaya reached forward and grabbed Zuko's hands and held onto them. "I will teach you. I will push you until you are no longer trying to catch up with anyone ever again. I can give you the weapons you need to take back your throne." Zuko yanked his hands out of hers.

"What makes you think that's what I want?" He snapped as he turned away. Amaya fought back a sigh when she realized what he wanted. How could she ever over look that? Who could ever look that fact, screaming at her in the face.

"Of course. You want what every child wants. But unlike other children . . . you never got it." She walked up behind him and pulled him back into a hug, startling him again. "You want your father to be proud. You want him to think you are worth something. You want him to love you." Zuko stood there, paralyzed by her words. How true they were. But he knew the truth. That would never happen. He shamed Ozai far too much for that to ever happen. "But he's not a father." Zuko pulled out of her hug and turned to face her.

"What do you mean?" She cupped the side of his face and stared softly into his eyes.

"Fathers are kind. Fathers are caring. Fathers protect you. Fathers raise you." She shook her head with an overwhelming sadness flowing from her eyes. "You were protected by your mother. You were raised by Iroh." She let her hand fall to her side. "Ozai does not deserve your love." Amaya whispered to her nephew. "He has never done anything for you. Now is the time to prove you aren't worthless. Take back your throne by force. I will stand beside you. I will give you an army. I will give you the power you need." Zuko narrowed his eyes in suspicion.

"What little I know about you is that you don't do anything without a price, Amaya." Amaya smirked at him when he called her out on that.

"This is very true. However, the price was paid a long time ago."

"How?" Zuko asked, confused again.

"Keizo already paid for this deal. It was he that I originally made a deal with." She chuckled when she saw his confusion grow in his eyes. The boy always was easy to read. "Keizo is a man who wants the same things that I do." Zuko raised his eyebrow.

"And what would that be, Admiral?" Amaya shrugged as she stepped away from Zuko.

"Nothing much, my prince. Just the end of the war. An end where the balance is restored and the Fire Nation stops on its own." Zuko stifled a gasp and took a step back when she uttered those words.

"Admiral Amaya, those words-" Amaya smirked and cut into his words.

"Are the same words you hold in your heart." She finished for him. Zuko shook his head vigorously.

"No! I would never betray my country like that!" Zuko stared at the ground, as he shook with rage at his aunt's words. How dare she? Was she not a child of fire herself? How could she think such things?

"Betray!" Amaya roared. "The Fire Nation grows weaker with each passing day. Anyone who isn't a nobleman is shipped off to the army!" She shook her head in disgust. "Anyone who doesn't kiss up or agree with Ozai is in poverty. Our soldiers die each day. Women weep over their husbands deaths. Mothers watch their sons come home in caskets!" Amaya narrowed her eyes as pounced on Zuko's weakness. "Would you want your mother to have to suffer burying her son? She may have left, but I'm sure news like a banished prince's death would reach even her ears, wherever she is." Zuko look up at Amaya in surprise and shock before looking away. No . . . . he could never wish that on his mother. "Prince Zuko . . . if you truly believe that the Fire Nation must win . . . then go to the city of Mok and take with you Tora."

"Tora?" Zuko repeated, lost. Amaya nodded.

"Yes, Tora is the name of a weapon I had made for you. Daos broadswords, the kind you like to fight with." She motioned to Keiko once again and the ninja bowed before disappearing into the ship to retrieve something.

"What's in Mok? And why do you want me to take some swords you had made? I already have swords." Amaya sighed at his questions.

"Please, nephew, just trust me. After you do this, you won't ever have to see me again if you do not want to. Those swords are special. But you must not use them until you have reached Mok." At that moment, before Zuko could say anything, Keiko reappeared with a sheathe and gave it to him. In the plain black sheathe there were two swords. The only visible parts of the swords were the hilts and handles. On the end of the handles there was a small hemisphere on each sword. Each golden hemisphere had a red tassel on the end. The handles had black tapping around them. The hilts were golden and had ancient runes carefully etched into it. "They are special swords." She whispered into his ear as he examined the swords. Zuko began to pull the swords out but Amaya's hand on his stopped him. She gently pried off his hand from the handles and took the sheathed swords from him. Zuko stood still as she tied them to his belt where the old swords used to be. "Only unsheathe them in Mok. Here is a horse to take to Mok. You'll reach the city in three days if you ride one of my fastest horses, Riki." She turned him so that he was facing the ramp as one of her soldiers stood down on the ground with a black stallion. Zuko glanced at Amaya.

"How do I know that this is not some sick joke? You could be sending me straight to my sister." Amaya closed her eyes and sighed.

". . . your sister is in Mok . . ." Zuko glared at her. "But she has something very important that I don't want her to have. Should you get to Mok and decide that you think she should have it . . . then you are free to leave. In fact, you don't even have to get to the city. All you have to do is hear about what she has and then you can decide. The swords are yours, no matter what you decide. However, you cannot use them until you discover what she has." Zuko thought for a moment. If he just went by the city, never stopping in the actually city but rather finding out what she has in a nearby city . . . then he could keep a pair of nice swords. He glanced at the horse. "And the horse is yours, I won't chase you for it." A regular horse was rare. And faster than most ridden animals. He would be able to get even farther away from his family than with the ostrich horse. "There is everything you need in the saddlebag. Money, food, a map . . . enough to get you to Mok and back, should you choose."

"Alright." Zuko agreed to his aunt's terms. "But I doubt I'll be back." Amaya smirked and shrugged.

"Somehow, I excepted nothing less." She turned away from him and smiled as she looked up at the sky. "Oh, and Prince Zuko?" He paused before he hauled himself up onto the saddle of Riki. "Should you decide to come back to me and let me teach you, I'll be waiting here." Zuko would have scoffed but something stopped him. His curiosity got the better of him and he asked her a question that surprised even him.

". . . for how long?" Amaya smiled with her back turned to him.

"I will wait for you, and you alone, for two weeks." Zuko nodded and pulled himself onto the horse. He kicked the horse in the sides, making it gallop away. Keiko stared after the horse before turning to Amaya.

"Mistress, do you want me to go to Mok, to help him should he need it." Amaya shook her head as she glanced over her shoulder in the direction Zuko had disappeared in.

"No. His mastery with the sword will soon surpass my own. And with Tora, Azula will not be able to touch him." Keiko raised an eyebrow at Amaya in confusion.

"But he does not know how to use Tora properly." Amaya shrugged as she began to walk towards the hatch.

"True. But his will to stop Azula might be enough to trigger Tora on its own. Besides, how will he ever trust me if I have you follow him?" Amaya sighed as frowned and stopped before stepping through the hatch. "Things are going to be rather boring until he comes back, won't they?" Haku smiled at his Admiral.

"I suppose so, Admiral. However, there is a town nearby if you like to visit it." Amaya thought for a minute about Haku's suggestions before shaking her head.

"No. I think it be best if I trained while he's gone." Amaya smirked before disappearing through the hatch. Haku sighed as he watched many of the crew members began to sweat at her words.