A/N: Okay... a couple of my readers wanted to know if Azula or Ozai will make an appearance in this story. I am sorry, but neither will be in it. ( Sorry to all the Azula fans out there) If you want a healthy dose of Azula, read "Road to Redemption". She is the star in that one. Also, this story takes place before the events of that story, so... no Azula. Anyway... here is the next chapter, so please enjoy.

Now on with the fic...

Message in a Bottle...

Zuko stood alone in personal study in silence. His fist were clinched as he silently stewed on the events that had happened within the last few days. It was just last week that his spirits was lifted for the first time in months, when he was informed by one of the trade missions, that an Earth Kingdom village, Gaoling, had decided to establish trade relations with the Fire Nation. That one piece of good news had certainly lifted the weary Fire Lord out of his self imposed depression and for the first time in months, Zuko had reason to be happy. A city in the Earth Kingdom had finally accepted his offer to do trade. Sure it was just one village and it was not one of the major cites like Omashu, but the hope was that once trade had been established and the other cities in both the Earth Kingdom and both the Northern and Southern Water tribes, saw that Gaoling was truly benefiting from this venture, they too would see that trading with the Fire Nation would be beneficial to their economies and not just the Fire Nation's. Which was one of the reasons that many had refused to open up in the first place. He planned to welcome Jong back home as a hero and reward him for his efforts. But just a few days later, a letter came to Zuko from the captain of the naval vessel that supposed to pick up Jong, and what Zuko read, caused his blood to run cold...

Yue Jong, the man that was to be the first post war hero of the Fire Nation, had been murdered. His head decapitated and carried by a member of his trade mission back to the rendezvous point with Captain Hu. While the rest of his party had met some kind of unknown fate and the only person that may have any information on what could have happened to them, was currently in a hospital in the capital and she was in no condition to answer any questions, as she was badly bruised when she was found. But worse news came just one day later from the Gaoling village elders and business men, saying that they had changed their minds about establishing trade with the Fire Nation and no longer showed any interest. That piece of news alone hit the young Fire Lord like one of is sister's lighting bolts. But nothing was compared to the pain that he felt when he personally informed Jong's wife that her husband was never coming home. Zuko could see the woman's heart break when he told her the news, he saw the tears flow from her amber eyes like rivers, as the reality that she would never see her love again hit home. Zuko very well felt her pain, he knew what it was like to loose a love one and too never see them again. Zuko tried his best to console the now grieving widow and he promised that she and her son would be taken care of. But he doubted that he could be any help to her, as he watched her leave the palace still crying.

That was just yesterday, and right now Zuko was back in his study all alone. His only company being the many scrolls there and that bottle of Fire Wine that was starting to look very good to him right now. Suddenly the door opened and when Zuko looked, he saw Mai standing there in the light but she was not alone. For standing next to her in his Air Nomadic garb, was the Avatar and his closest friend, Aang...

"Zuko..." his girlfriend said softly, " are you alright?"

"I'm fine. I just needed some alone time." the Fire Lord replied, sounding as if he had the weight of the entire world on him. " Aang, I am so glad that you could make it"

The last Air Bender just nodded and said, " "Yea., when I got your message I came as soon as I could."

"Katara is a very understanding woman if she is alright with you running off to solve every problem that arises in the world." Zuko said with a slight smile. " Yea she is. She says that I can run off any time I want as long as I come back to her." Aang replied with a smile of his own. That response alone cause Zuko's to crack a small smile for the first time in a week. Aang 's tone then became serious and said, "I received your letter and came as fast as I could. I am sorry for the death of your diplomat."

"Not as sorry as I am." Zuko repiled as he sighed heavily and sank in his seat... "I spoke with his widow yesterday. It was possibly one of the hardest things that I have ever done since I became Fire Lord."

"Telling some one that there loved one has passed is never an easy thing to do." Aang replied, sounding a bit sympathetic for his friend.

"Especially when they have been murdered." Zuko added, " It was tragic enough that his life was taken away. But to be killed in such a brutal way... It's just too much to comprehend just why any one would do such a thing. But there is more."

"More?" Aang asked. Zuko nodded and continued to speak.. " I am afraid so. Not to long after I found out about the murder, I received a message from Gaoling stating that the village elders, as well as their business leaders that they no longer were interested in doing trade with us and suspended any further discussions in the future."

"They they state why did decided to do such a thing, just days after they agreed to open up trading relations?"

"I am afraid not. No other cities nor major villages have shown any interest in opening their ports to our ships. I fear that my father's war has left a long casting shadow on the world and the Fire Nation is still paying for it." Zuko replied. Aang could only imagine just how his friend felt, but he could not blame him for feeling this way. Aang was very much aware of the strong Anti- Fire Nation sentiment that was present in the world. While in the Earth Kingdom, Aang had witnessed first hand of just how strong this sentiment was. In a number of cities and villages, Aang saw large rallies that were held by groups that were all calling for the complete destruction of the Fire Nation for the crimes that they had committed during the war. Being the Avatar, Aang would come to the defense of the Fire Bending people of the world. Saying that how they were now committed to peace and that they were no longer the enemy. But it was very hard to convince a people that for a hundred, lived under the harsh rule of the Fire Nation, that their former enemy was now a friend that could be trusted. Especially when in those rallies, the ones who would be speaking had the familiar scars that came from being a prisoner of the Fire Nation. And the fact that he was friends with the Fire Lord did not help things much either. Aang was about to speak up when there was a knock on the door and when Zuko and Aang looked, they saw on of Zuko's messengers standing there...

"My Lord," the young woman said, " we have received a message from the Princess Ursa medical complex in the city. The young woman that was rescued by Captain Hu and his men has finally woken up and is asking to see you. She says that she has a message from the ones that attacked Yue Jong's trade mission."

" Thank you, that will be all." Zuko said to the messenger, to which she bowed and went on her way. " would you like to accompany me? I think this meeting will shed some light on what happened."

"Like you had to ask?" Aang replied, and within minutes, both the Fire Lord and the Avatar were in a carriage en route to the Capital city's main medical complex.

The Princess Ursa Medical Complex was the brain child of Zuko and was quite possibly one of his more successful projects he had done since he became Fire Lord. Built and opened just one year ago, the complex was a combination of a hospital, medical school and rehabilitation center all wrapped into one large facility located just outside the city limits. From here, persons in the Fire Nation who were interested in studying in the field of medicine, would come here to further their education. Not to mention, the facility became the leader of in the rehabilitation of solders that had been both physically and mentally wounded during the war. As a result, the complex had become more than just a hospital. It became a symbol of the new Fire Nation that Zuko was trying to build. Right now though, the facility was where a member of Jong's trade mission was being kept for injuries that she had sustained.

Lo, was one of the cooks that Jong had taken with him, on his mission to Gaoling. Lo herself was an accomplished cook and had years of experience under her belt. She had worked in in a number of kitchens for both nobles and restaurants alike and as a result, she had developed a reputation of being a skilled chef indeed. As a matter a fact, it was for that reason Jong had decided to take her along on his trip. But instead of celebrating a successful mission, Lo was now laid up in a bed inside a Fire Nation hospital with most of her body wrapped in bandages. As she looked around her small yet comfortable room, she let out a small gasp as she saw the Fire Lord standing there along side the Avatar and one of her doctors...

" Your Lordship... " she said weakly, as she tried to sit up. Zuko just raised his had and said, " Please, you don't have to do that. Just take it easy. I was told that you wanted to see me?"

Lo just sank back into her bed and relaxed herself a bit before she said, "Yes my lord. I was given a message to deliver to you."

"By who?" Zuko asked, " What happened out there?"

"We... we were attacked..."

"Attacked?" Aang gasped, "Attacked by who?"

" I... I don't know. They struck us just as most of the camp had retired for the night." Lo said as she hung her head. Trying to recall the terrible events of that night. " Most of the camp had turned in for the night. I was still up cleaning up before I went to bed and I was almost done. Then... then suddenly I heard one of the men scream and when I looked, I saw one of the traders that came with us on the ground with an...with an arrow sticking o... out of his back. The next thing I knew, dozens of men, all dressed in black, came running out the forest and... and began to... kill every one. I saw Jong run out of his tent and I was about to call to him. But one of the attackers threw something over his head... and … and when pulled it... (sniff) his head... his head was gone..." she began to sob.

To say that Zuko and Aang were both stunned by this revelation would have been like saying that the Kyoshi Warriors were just some girls that wore to much make up. A gross understatement. " But how did you escape?" Zuko asked her.

"I did not escape... I was captured..."

" Captured?" Aang asked. Lo just nodded " Yes... I was rounded up with a few others and we were lead into the forest. That's when they.. when they... began to kill every one. But when they came to me... they.. they beat me. I...I... begged them to stop... but they just... just beat me... and when they were done... they gave me a message to give you."

"What is the message?" Zuko asked the wounded and obviously traumatizes woman. Lo, with her head still hung low, sighed heavily and said... " They said that the Fire Nation was a nation built on the pain and suffering of others. They said that we got off easy when the war ended and that we.. were not punished for what we did to the world. They said that what you are trying to... to do will never change the view that the world has of us and that as long as the Fire Nation exist... we are still a threat to the rest of the world. They want to see us destroyed..."

"But... but just who are 'they'?" Zuko asked her, sounding a bit shaken up by what he had heard. " I... I don't know... the only time they ever said any thing was to give me that me... message..." Lo replied, getting a bit weak as she did.

"I am sorry, my Lord. But she needs to get some rest. I must ask you to leave." the doctor said quietly, as he saw Lo's condition and proceeded to do his check up on her. Seeing that Lo was no longer able to talk with them, both Aang and Zuko left the hospital room and made their way down the hall. The both of them lost in there own thoughts, as they chewed on what they had been told. Both of them knew that their was a strong Anti-Fire Nation sentiment in the word, as well as there being a number of groups that all called for the complete destruction of the Fire Nation. But now it looked like one of those said groups had finally decided to act upon their words and as a result, Jong's Trade Delegation became their first target. But what really filled Zuko with dread was the fact that he still had a number of missions that were still in the Earth Kingdom and any one of them could become targets for this unknown group. But what really had Zuko truly on edge was the fact that a number of his generals and admirals would use these attacks as an excuse to build up the military once again and re-invade the Earth Kingdom. Plunging the world back into the dark abyss of war that they had not too long climbed out of. And this time, neither he nor the Avatar may be able to stop it. They had to stop this group, who ever they were, and fast.

It was then that the 2 friends came up with a plan of action. Zuko would recall all the Missions that he had sent out, back to the Fire Nation until the current crisis was over. While Aang would head to the Earth Kingdom and try to discover just who was responsible for the attack. Not an easy task when u consider that the only clue that they had was the same box that Jong's head was in. It was not much, but it was all he had to go on. The young men continued to discuss their plans as the headed out of the complex, and back towards the palace.

The next day, Zuko sent out a number of messenger hawks to his trade delegations still inside the Earth Kingdom. Ordering them to abandon their mission and to return to the Fire Nation. While Aang left the Fire Nation capital and made his way towards the massive city of Ba Sing Se. Where he would talk to the Earth King as well as the Council of Five. A group of the Earth Kingdom's 5 highest ranking military officials. Hopefully, they would have some information about some of these Anti-Fire Nation groups that were operating in the Kingdom and figure out which ones could have been responsible for the attack on the trade delegation. Hopefully they could stop this group, who ever they were, before things got out of control...

(Meanwhile, some where in the Earth Kingdom...)

The world was nothing but black for Li Gang. The Fire Nation diplomat did not know where he was or just how he had gotten there in the first place. His last coherent memory was talking with the other members of his trade delegation just minutes after a messenger hawk arrived at their camp with orders from Fire Lord Zuko to return to the Fire Nation. For Li and his group, the message was rather irrelevant. They were already on their way back to the Fire Nation after there mission to the Earth Kingdom city of Blue Lion had proven unsuccessful. Hell, they weren't even allowed to enter the city when they arrived and were asked kindly to leave by the village chieftain. With no other choice and not wanting to cause a seen, Gang left the village with his delegation and were no en route to meet up with the Navy vessel that had dropped them off just a few days earlier. It was during this time that he had gotten the message from Zuko and he was informing the rest of his group about this when suddenly, there was a loud explosion that every one into a panic. His last memory was trying to get every one to calm down when every thing went black and the next thing Li knew, he was here. Where ever "here" was anyway. He tried to move his arms and legs, but some one had bound them with rope. Making it hard for him to move around. He tried to yell and scream. But something was covering his mouth. It was then it dawned on him that he was at the complete mercy of his captors, he was all alone and completely helpless.

Suddenly, Li heard as if someone had opened a door and voices approaching his. Li tried to call out to the voices, but with his mouth covered, it was futile. All he could do was allow who ever it was to pick him up and drag him out of his room. Li did not know how long he was dragged for, but at the end of his "trip" , he was harshly thrown into a chair and tied down. Then suddenly, some one removed the sack that was covering his head and the first thing that came into view, was a man that was dressed in brown robes. The man in question was in his mid fifties or early sixties. He had shaggy gray hair with a clean shaven face with brown eyes, but the feature that really stuck out Li, was the scar that ran along the right side of his face...

"You know..." the old man said, " I find it strange that after 100 years of brutality toward my people, your nation would want to do trade with us. After 100 years of raping our lands and destroying our villages and cities, your nation would just come all of a sudden and decide to open up trade with us. Especially since if we did do trade, both our nations would benefit from this. But you see, there is a problem with that. You know what that is..." he trailed of. Li for his part only shook his head

"You see, the problem is that your nation would benefit. That is what the problem is. Your nation benefited from the suffering and misery that you inflicted on my nation as well as the Water Tribes. While your people lived in luxury, mine struggled to survive. While your people slept in your comfortable beds, mine were wondering where we would sleep when the night came. Now that the war is over, you people want to be friends with us and open up trade as if nothing happened! And the only reason that you are doing this is because now YOUR people are beginning to know what its like to suffer and struggle as we do!" the old man then leaned dawn to Li's now frightened face, " I promise you today, that I will never let that happen. Your beloved Fire Nation is the reason why the world is is still in ruin and you go about it as if it was not your fault. It is your fault. You caused so much suffering and yet you are doing nothing to make up for what you did! But know this... by the time we are done, the Fire Nation will know what it is like to struggle. They will know what it like to suffer... but most of all... they will learn the the rest of the world would never forgive what they... you did. And they will never let you forget it. Just be glad that you won't be alive to see it happen..." and with that, the old man left the room. While another man with a iron head mask and dressed in black robes stepped in front of the trembling Diplomat.

Then. The masked man pointed his right arm at Li and when his robes fell off his arm, it revealed a iron fist covering his hand. Then with some fluid movements, the masked man sent the fist flying and towards Li's head. It was the last thing Li ever saw, before he felt the fist impact his face and soon...

He felt nothing...