A/N: I am soooooo sorry for not updating, I had no time but here it is, this is by far my favorite chapter. Please read/enjoy/review. Thanx

The next couple of days in the Fire Nation Palace were extremely peaceful.

Why?

Because a certain evil Fire Lord had decided he was going to lock himself in his room for the rest of the week and not tell anyone why. Not that anyone would care. Especially Zuko.

There was no havoc to be heard through the elegant halls of the palace. No screams of agony and pain from Ozai's regular victims. There was no one throwing innocent people to the dungeons. Nothing, just pure peacefulness.

Except for an eleven year old brat.

"Zuko!" Azula called out the next day.

Zuko had been walking down the stairs down to the master garden when he heard the annoying voice of his younger sister. He stopped dead in his tracts.

He turned around and said, "What do you want now?"

She gave him a fake smile and said, "Why would I want something?"

Zuko only glared at her.

"By the way…" Azula continued in her mock politeness, "Did you hear what happened in father's meeting? Mai's father, Chief Apollo said he was attacked? Interesting huh?"

Zuko rolled his eyes, "Liar." He said plainly then turned around and continued walking down the stairs.

Azula started after him taking the stairs two at a time. "I'm not lying!" She called after him but he ignored her. When they finally reached the bottom they stopped to glare at each other again.

She managed another fake smile and told Zuko, "Why would I lie to you brother?"

He didn't reply, he was tired of her games. She wasn't finished though.

"I just thought you would have wanted to know what happened to your girlfriend's father." Zuko just rolled his eyes.

"She's not my girlfriend." With that he turned on his heel and ran outside.

Once he reached the cold air, he shivered but smiled. It felt good on his face, and some how calming. He jogged over to a garden and sat against a small tree. He closed his eyes and breathed deeply. The conversation he had had with his uncle the day of the meeting came rushing back to him. He still could not believe he was, 'evil' though.

Speaking of his uncle, Iroh came towards him with a troubled look on his normally calm face. Zuko practically ran up to him. "What's wrong uncle?"

Iroh grabbed his nephew's shoulders, "Zuko, listen to me, there's not much time. You have to run aw-"

Iroh didn't get to finish though. His unfinished warning was interrupted by a harsh voice, "Iroh!" Ozai yelled fiercely. Iroh's face visibly paled. He let go of Zuko and turned to his brother.

"Yes your majesty?" Zuko had never heard so much fear in his uncle's voice.

Ozai beckoned Iroh forward and then addressed Zuko, "Go to your room. Now."

Terrified, Zuko obeyed, wondering what would happen to his uncle.

Zuko was running through the palace halls. In his room he had made the decision that he would not sit around while his uncle could be in danger.

He had also forced himself to accept that his father was evil. The look in his eyes when he led Iroh away had been enough proof.

As he ran he could see the sun setting beyond the giant window his eyes were glued to as he ran. He turned a corner and nearly ran into a guard who yelled at him to stop running.

Ignoring the guard he turned another corner, almost slipping on the freshly polished floor. He was heading to his father's war room. There was no doubt in his mind that that was where he would find Iroh.

As he continued to run he thought about Iroh's unfinished warning. Surely he was going to say, 'run away'. But what the young Prince didn't understand was why? What was the danger that his uncle wanted him to escape?

Suddenly the enormous terrifying door the opened to the war room came into view.

Zuko's heart race increased as he got closer. So close, he could almost reach it…

But down he went. Two guards had thrown themselves at him right before he could reach out to the door. As he fought to get them off of him he thought, 'Ok now I'm positive there's something going on.'

Without thinking he punched one of the guards, who looked like he had to be in his late teens. He heard a sickening crunch and was sure he had broken his nose. But fortunately the guard retreated to the floor where he held his face in pain.

It took Zuko several seconds to analyze what he had just done.

He had punched one of the castle's guards. 'I'm going to be in so much trouble'. He thought to himself but as soon as that thought flashed through his mind another formed, 'It won't matter. I'm getting uncle and running away.'

Zuko's thoughts vanished as he felt a fist connect with his face. He staggered backwards as pain ran through his face. He looked up to the older guard who had punched him.

Zuko yelled and kicked out at him. The guard hadn't seen the blow coming and fell to the ground.

Thinking quickly Zuko grabbed the nearest vase (the palace halls were full of them) and hit the guard's head, which knocked him out.

Hoping he hadn't killed him he turned towards the war room door. The incredible rush he felt flow through his body was surprising. He felt like he could do anything.

He was about to open the door when it flew open to reveal a very irritated Fire Lord. He had heard the commotion and come out. Fear took over Zuko as he starred wide-eyed at his father.

Ozai gave him his wicked smile and formed a fire ball in his hand.

From somewhere inside the war room Iroh screamed, 'Run Zuko! Run!"

But he refused. His feet stayed glued to the floor. He could not leave Uncle Iroh.

The fire ball Ozai had created grew larger with every agonizing second. Ozai raised his arm and aimed it at Zuko's face, burning half of his face including his eye. Zuko screamed and his knees hit the floor. Pain took over his body. The last thing he heard before passing out was his father's evil laugh…

A/::::: please review,