Disclaimer: Don't own shite. Short and sweet.

A/N: Sorry for taking so long, so I ain't gonna take up much time with this note. Ah… this is kinda Part I of the theme 'Devastation.' And Sorry for the two lots of alerts for this chapter... -sheepish grin- my bad.

Chapter Six- Devastation.

After 2 weeks of being contained in the hospital bed Zuko was itching to leave. As much as he enjoyed his time talking to Ila, he still couldn't place where he knew her from. He had learned quite a bit about her and shared a few stories from his own childhood, but nothing remotely suggested where he could possibly know her from. It was frustrating him to no ends in the hours he had between his dressings being changed and sleeping at night time.

Ila's mother had died when she was a baby and she had been raised by her father in the Earth Kingdom on a small, but well tended farm. She had one older brother who was working here at the prison he had married a year ago, but his wife had recently disappeared. In another week, he would be granted leave to track her down and bring her back. Ila revealed that he was the one who had stopped the guards from killing Zuko a fortnight ago.

He had yet to show his face in the infirmary for Zuko to thank him, but Ila reassured him that he often asked about him at home, and she would pass on the message.

Ila's grandfather had become ill a few months back so she sought out this job as a nurse for the prison to help pay for the medication. And it paid better than anywhere else… "risk factor", she had jokingly suggested. But it probably wasn't too far from the truth.

She didn't mention names, and he didn't ask.

Zuko sighed, frustrated in more ways than one.

He needed to train and meditate properly. He longed to feel the fire burst from his limbs and the feel of his twin Dao swords in his fists. He needed to feel the physical and mental exhaustion, the aching muscles and the sweat pouring off his body.

During the night Zuko would sit up as much as he could and try to clear his mind. But the incessant beeps, groans and murmurs of the hospital ward constantly irritated him and he was rarely able to meditate for more than a few minutes.

And above all he needed to see Katara. He had become reliant on her encouragement and light hearted jokes. She had understood him, had wanted to be with him, and had loved him. And now she was far away in the Western Air Temple, the place where they had all become such good friends. Where they had betrayed him…

Or had he betrayed them?

After all, it was Chace who had tried to capture Aang, his friend, the girl he had sworn protection to.

CueFlashback

Laughter rang out across the field.

"Zuko!" Chace called to him. Running ahead she raised her hands and twirled quickly in the knee high grass dotted sporadically with butter yellow daisies.

Zuko smiled slightly, watching her. It was hard to believe that she was the same broken girl he had met a year into his banishment. In fact, it was hard to believe he was the same boy. At 14 Zuko had formed a friendship with the beautiful, caring Fire Nation girl. She was showing him aspects of love he had never felt before and it excited him. At their age it was not so much a romantic love, but more a love shared between siblings…

As Zuko caught up to her Chace grinned at him, making his stomach wrench with protective fondness. She was so pretty. Perhaps if they had been allowed to be together in a few years, they would have become romantically involved, but as fate would have it they did not.

Her straight black hair fell to just below her shoulders, a stark contrast to her milky skin. But her golden eyes were what he loved most about her. The soft golden colour was a hue rarely seen outside the highest ranking families in the Fire Nation, meaning even if he were back at the palace his father would have approved of her as a friend.

Chace swayed slightly in front of Zuko, still dizzy from her spinning. He reached out an arm to steady her as she met his gaze.

"Thanks Zuko." She murmured, stepping closer to wrap her arms around his waist. Zuko hugged her tightly in return.

"Anytime" he whispered back.

6 months ago, with his uncles pushing Zuko had picked up the broken, homeless girl from the streets of Caius and had taken her to his ship. As he had set about healing her with the help of the ships physician, Zuko had found a girl after his own heart. She had been through much in her short life, though she hadn't yet told him exactly what happened and just needed his friendship and, begrudgingly, Zuko needed hers too.

Chace pulled back, a mischievous look on her face. She took his hand gently and pulled him over the hillcrest. A large Clearwater lake sat in the shallow valley surrounded by undulating hillsides.

She bowed playfully to him "Care to swim, Prince Zuko?"

Zuko looked at her sceptically, an eyebrow raised. "I don't think so."

"Come on…!" She whined. Zuko crossed his arms, stubborn till the end.

"It'll be fun…please?" she wheedled.

Zuko remained stoic. She pouted at him.

"Fine. I don't need you to have fun…" she teased, hoping to bait him.

Nothing.

Removing her outer robe, Chace retreated a few meters then, grinning like a mad woman, ran crazily towards the lake and launched herself off the bank, shrieking as the icy water met her body.

Zuko smirked. She could play in the lake all she wanted, but he was not going in. Swimming just wasn't his thing.

After quite a few moments, Zuko uncrossed his arms and walked closer to the waters edge, becoming somewhat concerned. Chace had yet to surface for air. He peered through the water, hoping to catch a glimpse of her… unharmed.

An unmoving shadow several meters into the water caused his heart to lurch. Not thinking about what he was doing, Zuko stripped to his pants and crashed trough the water to reach her.

Reaching his hand out he grasped her leg. Diving under he saw she was held down by some sort of old fishing net. Pulling out his knife from his waistband he quickly freed the unconscious girl and pulled her up onto the grass bank.

He leaned over his friend, trembling with slight panic at the sight of her unmoving body. Shaking her shoulder vigorously to rouse her, Zuko promised Agni everything her could think of if only she would be ok.

She soon coughed up water, groaning.

"You were right… Swimming is not… as fun… as I remembered…" she rasped out.

Zuko stared at her in considerable disbelief. She had almost drowned and that's the first thing she says to him? No 'Thanks for saving me, Zuko' or 'You're my hero, Zuko.' Girls.

At least she didn't die. Zuko thought ruefully. So he did the only thing he could think of and hugged her.

Later, when they were walking back to the ship, Chace turned to him, placing a light, feathery kiss on his cheek.

The Fire Prince looked at her, surprised. "What was that for?"

She shrugged. "Saving me." She smiled at him.

He smiled back. "I will always protect you Chace."

EndFlashback

Zuko's happy memoirs were tainted with the regret, sorrow and guilt surrounding his friends' death.

Rune shook his head Sigrun had surely gone mad- only minutes ago he had proposed a plan to rescue Prince Zuko from the Ba Sing Se prison. He was aware of the outrage this may cause yet he was still willing to go with it. Rune felt as though Prince Zuko was in no immediate danger, after all they could just ask Ila to recommend keeping him in the infirmary longer, or place him in solitary. But Sigrun had, once again yielded to the wishes of his daughter. His sister had their father, and every other man- including himself- wrapped around her little finger.

And now, because his father couldn't say no to the girl, Rune was off to tell her she wouldn't be able to accompany them on this mission. Again. Both father and son knew she would give her right arm and leg to go with them, but neither had the heart to place her in danger despite her ability to fight and defend herself just as well as they could.

Rune pushed open his sisters wooden door to her earthen chamber to find her meditating on her bed.

He tip toed up behind her and was about to lace his hands over her eyes when she spoke.

"You know that hasn't work since I was five, Rune."

He shrugged and sat beside her. "It might one day…"

She cracked her eyes open and glanced at him, raising an eye brow in silent question.

"Dad just told me the plan to rescue Prince Zuko."

He now had her full attention, though she tried to act indifferent. "Really?"

He nodded slightly in confirmation.

"What's the plan?" She asked. Rune gave her a disapproving frown.

"You know I cant tell you unless you are on the team, Ila."

She closed her eyes and exhaled slowly. She knew her father wouldn't let her go, but she kept hoping that one day he would see her as more than his talented little girl and see her for the warrior and woman she was. He allowed her to learn the skills, hone her talents, yet he still denied her any real chance to use them. It was frustrating!

Outwardly she showed little sign of her frustration.

"I know." She said, smiling wanly at him.

Rune smiled apologetically at her. There wasn't anything either of them could do to oppose the decision without looking disobedient, a trait heavily punished in the Tribe. She took a deep breath knowing she would get little more out of him about the plan.

"I hear you are going after Chace soon?" She redirected the conversation to his missing wife.

Rune nodded, "Intelligence lost track of her at the Western Air Temple" he snorted. "Fat lot of good that will do me, the place is huge."

Ila lay her hand on his shoulder, squeezing slightly to reassure him. "You'll find her, Rune, you always have."

"Thanks Ila, but I think this time is different…" he trailed off, "I just have this feeling…"

Ila didn't say anything more. She didn't tell her brother that she feared he was correct, that when Chace had disappeared a month ago she felt she had seen her beloved sister-in-law for the last time.

In the dark, early hours of the morning Rune crept stealthily towards the Ba Sing Se prison infirmary. The faint moonlight cast gentle shadows across the barren Earth Kingdom ground, shadows of the few shrubs in the area danced with the bushes in the gentle breeze.

Acutely he was aware of the dozen and a half Dai Li agents surrounding the building dressed in common Earth Kingdom garments, giving the impression they were the group of Earth Kingdom rebels known as 'Ecko.' Which was exactly what the Tribe needed any survivors or witnesses to think- not that this plan should leave any, it was just a precaution.

For the Tribe this plan was pretty extreme. The Tribe preferred to work discreetly, without drawing attention to themselves. The Tribe was blessed with 'Tribal Skills' of finely tuned hearing and the self skill rather than bending. The skills varied in extremity, depending on the talent of the member, and were also more useful in many situations to bending.

Tribe members were taught hand to hand combat and assassin skills from the day they could walk. By the time a member had finished their training at 15 they were essentially the perfect assassin. Ruthless, cunning, clean.

The Tribe preferred to be discreet in their killing as opposed to benders who fought their opponents face to face… but this particular mission would be anything but discreet.

Rune knew that, despite his reservations for the plan, it was necessary that Ba Sing Se city knew of the outcome- and it was important that the world thought Prince Zuko was dead.

Upon reaching his target location, Rune let loose a whistle sounding nearly identical to the singing night birds of Ba Sing Se.

On his cue part of the infirmary's earthen wall sunk into the ground, leaving an opening in the wall large enough for a man to comfortably walk through. Crouching low as he ran, Rune ducked into the infirmary and quickly located Prince Zuko lying on his cot. Sneaking past the other patients as quietly as he could Rune gently shook Prince Zuko's shoulder to wake him. He glanced around; slowly the other patients were starting to stir. They needed to leave quickly- he shook the shoulder more vigorously, his calm demeanour starting to abandon him.

Groggily, Prince Zuko's eyes opened to settle on a man hovering above him, shaking his shoulder. The man gestured fro Zuko to follow him, raising a finger to his lips to signal for silence. Zuko nodded, slipping out of his sheets, and followed the man through a hole in the wall. As soon as they were through the wall, the hole was closed up and the rescuer lengthened his stride, hurrying towards the city out skirts. The pace he set was not overly energetic, but the few weeks Zuko had spent out of training had taken their toll on him and he found himself struggling to keep his breathing even after a couple hundred meters.

Suddenly a loud crack echoed through Ba Sing Se, followed by the unmistakable boom of a building collapsing. Glancing back Zuko saw the prison infirmary lying in a heap on the ground. Where the large building used to stand there was now only rubble, dust and small fires burning on anything flammable, flickering in the moonlight. Shouts and cries of panic and alarm gradually came; first one guard raised the alarm, then three and so on. Pretty soon the district surrounding the prison was alert as people swarmed out into the night to assist the victims. From the looks of the devastation and damage of the infirmary, Zuko decided it would be safe to assume that everyone inside the infirmary had perished… everyone except him. He watched the man walk in front of him, studying the way he moved. It was clear to Zuko that he was a trained soldier, but there was something unique about his style, something in the way he held himself as he walked. It was…intriguing.

They walked in silence along the desolate Earth Kingdom road until day break. As the sun rose over the horizon, Zuko closed his eyes for a few steps, relishing the suns touch on his skin for the first time in weeks.

The rescuer turned to him. "You hungry?"

Zuko nodded and he was handed a piece of jerky. Hungry was the largest understatement he had heard in a while, he was famished!

"My name's Rune, by the way." The man provided.

"Zuko."

Rune nodded. "Yeah, I know…" Heh. Of course he did, everyone did.

The silence stretched between them for a while before Rune spoke.

"We are going to the Tribe's headquarters."

"The Tribe?" Zuko questioned, frowning at the unfamiliarity of the name.

Rune nodded. "I am one of them, the successor, in fact. It's a covert group trained and used to protect the line of Agni."

Zuko frowned thoughtfully. The line of Agni was passed down through the first born of each of the Fire Lord's. "How many of you are there?"

"At the moment, there are about 18,000 of us. Mostly we are used in the form of assassins." He shrugged.

Zuko glanced at the other man a though suddenly occurring to him. "Do the other royal lines have a tribe looking out for them?"

"Yes. There is the clan for the water tribe's, the Coterie for the Earth Kingdom, and the Tier for the Air nomads…though they haven't had much to do in the last 100 years." Rune added.

Zuko smirked. "That's for damn sure."

Rune chuckled. It was good to know the Prince still had a good sense of humour after his difficult life he would certainly need it in the months to come. Perhaps he would be worth getting to know better.

"You have even already met my sister."

Zuko glanced at him, surprised. "Who?"

"Ila. She was your nurse, was she not?"

Zuko let a very quick grin escape his lips. Heh, and to think he was worried about leaving her behind… she was in on the whole thing. "Oh Yeah. She didn't tell me anything useful apart from her name."

Rune smiled at that. Good ol' Ila, she didn't give anything away about the Tribe, even to Prince Zuko. It was too bad he was older than her, she would have made a great Tribe Master.

"I guess you are the guard I owe my life to, then?" Rune nodded slightly.

"Thanks man." There. Zuko finally got to meet and thank the guy who saved his life… when he was in the middle of saving his arse once again. Typical.

The two young men smiled tentatively at each other, a comfortable bond of friendship forming between them.

"So you got a girlfriend?" Rune questioned, getting to the important matters between two young men.

Zuko's smile turned wistful. "Yeah."

Rune nudged him playfully. "What's she like?"

Zuko sighed. "Gorgeous, feisty, caring…" he trailed off. Words could never adequately describe Katara and he felt like a slight fool for trying. "Ila mentioned you were married?" Zuko probed at Runes chuckle, turning the tables on him. Rune nodded in confirmation.

"She is everything I ever dreamed about… and more." He said, sighing ruefully. "But she doesn't mush like the confines of the Tribe…"

Zuko looked sympathetically at his knew friend. "She'll come round. Love conquers all, right?"

Another hour or so into the walk, they approached a small farm a hundred meters off the main road. Rune turned to Zuko spreading his arms wide.

"Here we are, home sweet home!"

Zuko squinted suspiciously at the small house perched on the bare land. It was certainly not what he expected for the dwellings of the almighty protectors of the line of Agni! Surely Rune was pulling his leg.

The barren earth was sparse in vegetation, though the ground was ploughed and ready to plant crops in the coming weeks. The small house was rough in the exterior, much like all peasant farm houses in the Earth Kingdom, but somehow possessed an atmosphere of safety and homeliness about it. Vaguely it reminded Zuko of the farm he stayed at with Lee all those months ago. Though the lack of chicken pigs made for a much more peaceful setting it also meant, as Lee had pointed out, people could sneak around here.

He couldn't decide if that was good or bad.

Opening the flimsy wooden framed door, Rune walked into the house, gesturing for Zuko to follow. The insides of the house were as modest as the exterior, the warm smell of freshly baking bread and stew flooded the rooms, making Zuko realise how hungry he really was.

To his surprise, Rune led him through the house and into the washroom lifting up a trap door.

"Basement." He clarified.

Once in the basement, Rune marched over to the far wall and thumped on it. Why Zuko was surprised to see the wall slide away after what he had been told this morning was a mystery. It made sense that the Tribe would use earthbender's to reinforce their headquarters… and on missions.

As they stepped through into the earthen corridor, Zuko surveyed his new surrounds. It was simply a long, wide corridor with wooden doors every few meters, leading into private chambers. At the very end of the corridor was a large room where Sigrun worked from, Rune explained. After Zuko had freshened up and got some rest he would be taken to him to discuss his future.

Leading him into the room closest to the conference chamber, Rune left Zuko to himself. The room was tastefully decorated in the way of the Fire Nation, but not overly so. Not that it worried him. At that moment Zuko would have slept in a barn if it meant he could have at least 12 hours straight to sleep.

He sunk gratefully into the very large red mattress, sleep immediately consuming him.

So there you have it, Chapter 6: Devastation. So you know the drill, Read and Review! The more reviews I get, the quicker I will update!! :D

Cheerio,

Chip