NOTE: Thank you All for the AWESOME Reviews!


Chapter 8

Dim light glowed beside him. He felt a soft hand caressing his face, no his scar.

"Zuko? Honey can you hear me?" a voice whispered.

The prince opened his eyes, ever so slowly.

"He's waking up!" exclaimed a young voice from the background.

"Isn't that obvious Twinkletoes?" snorted a sarcastic voice.

His eyes were clearing up, his focus was much better; he saw a face covered with tears. It took him a moment before he realized who was beside him, his eyes widen as he whispered, "Mom?"

"Zuko." She whispered back and kiss his forehead, he smiled weakly, "Mom…I am so happy…" he tried to sit up when his mother gently held him down and tucked him in more, "Don't worry dear. Just rest; I won't be going anywhere."

The trio's eyes widen when they saw tears in the prince's eyes, Sokka and Aang couldn't help themselves but spill tears as well.

"Hang on there, I'll get some tea for you." She told him softly and hurried out of the room as the prince turned to his companions, "Aang…Sokka…Toph…How…?"

Aang smiled, "We just happened to run into your mom."

"Am I dreaming?" he whispered, happiness was expressed on his face, Sokka and Aang grinned at him shaking their heads, "No dream." Aang changed his expression quickly, "Were you having visions again?"

The former prince glanced from his hands to Aang, "I'll explain once my mother comes back; so I don't have to explain things twice." He replied softly, he slowly got himself to sit up straight.

"Hey, are you sure-,"

"Yeah, maybe you shouldn't be move-,"

Zuko just sighed heavily, "I'm not injured, I'm just…I don't know exactly, all I know for sure is that I don't have any major injury…" he paused with a frown, "Unless…"

"You were only sick; I don't remember you receiving any injuries." Sokka answered, "Unless the illness is draining the energy out of you." He glanced over to Aang and Toph before his eyes trailed over to the door where Ursa came in with some tea for everyone.

"Here you go everyone, I hope you like Jasmine Tea." She smiled warmly and poured a cup for everyone, then handed them each one.

"Alright Zuko, can you now tell us about your visions…or dreams or whatever you call." Toph stared at him seriously, "But I discovered that each time that happens, you start to break down; which leads to the illness," She stopped for a brief second eyeing everyone in the room before continuing, "and each time that happens, you're slowly falling apart." She closed her eyes, "This illness of yours is almost literally suicidal."

"You'll kill him; this is a suicide mission for him. He won't survive. Only the fittest can claim us."

Zuko shut his eyes tight as the thought echoed back to him, he groaned quietly; but not quiet enough. The Blind Bandit heard him and quickly questioned him before he could avoid it, "What's with the groan?" she almost demanded, "Your body is tense." Glancing at Zuko square in the eye she approached him, "Tell us, exactly what happened."

Zuko opened his eyes, he breathed in heavily, "It was-ack…" he clutched to his head, "Damn it...Why now?"

'Prince Zuko…'

His eyes widen, and dilated.

"Hey Zuko! What's the matter?"

"Zuko? Zuko can you hear us?"

"Someone get some water to dump on him!"

"SOKKA!"

"What? It was just a suggestion!"

The voices were fading away.

The prince clutched to his head, "Shut up! Stop it! Leave me alone! WHAT DO YOU WANT!?"

Everyone stopped and stared at Zuko, "Is he hearing voices?" Aang asked glancing at his friends for help.

'Prince Zuko…'

The firebender tossed around in his bed, Ursa was first to try holding him down, then Sokka and Aang joined; Toph stood in the background studying his behavior.

Eyes closed shut as he was pinned to the bed by two of his friends and his mother, he felt weak, he felt something burning…he couldn't breathe, his lungs were burning!

He coughed gasping for air.

"What's wrong with him!?" cried out the Avatar as his blind friend furrowed her eyebrows, "He can't breathe, his heart isn't beating properly, there isn't enough oxygen getting to his heart."

"What? How is that possible?" the two boys exclaimed as they struggled to hold the tossing prince down.

"I don't know. But it has to do with the illness." She replied as she continued to study.

"How do you know that?" asked Ursa as Toph shot her head up facing the exiled Fire Lady, "I'm blind; I see with my feet, I see things that you are blind of." She replied slowly as she faced the firebender once more, "We could seriously use Katara right now."


Katara sat in the cell, her stomach was growling every 10 minutes now. It was embarrassing. Her blindfold was wet from her tears that she couldn't spill any more; her wrists and ankles ached from the metal chains cutting into her skin.

'There must be a way to escape.' She thought to herself.

'Waterbending is the only way.'

'Yeah you are right…' she groaned at the thought.

'But, there is a way.'

'Since when did you come up with the plan?'

'Today.'

'Shut up, leave me to the brainstorming'

'But I already have an idea.'

'Really? Since when did you become the brilliant one?'

'I've always been.'

'Whatever. Spit it out.'

'Remember Hama?'

'Don't remind me.'

'Well anyways, she taught you bloodbending.'

'How is bloodbending going to help me in my situation I'm in at the moment?'

'Good point.'

'Exactly.'

'No, but she taught you other things that would be useful.'

'Like.'

'You said you were the one with the brain, tell me.'

'What's the point, don't you know?'

'Stop wasting time, we're-,'

'I'm.'

'I'm part of you, so make it we.'

'No. I'm.'

'We!'

'Whatever.'

'About time.'

'Get to your point.'

'Remember she mentioned that sometimes there'll be times when you have no water around.'

'Yeah.'

'But she corrected you by explaining there is water no matter where you go.'

'So…'

'Do you remember?'

'Yes.'

'Good, good. You get where I am going?'

'Waterbend out of thin air?'

'YES! Remember how she made those ice daggers on her hand; you could do that to the chains that are surrounding your wrists!'

'Wow, you think it'll actually work.'

'If it doesn't we're screwed.'

'But we'll need to smash it with something. I can't see a thing though.'

'Feel for a wall and smash it against that.'

'Man, you are brilliant today.'

'Thank you very much, about time I am appreciated.'

'What do we do after that?'

'Set your feet free, heal any injuries you have, break out, and you are free.'

'What happens if we run across our captor, we don't even know who it is!'

'You didn't see?'

'Whoever they were knocked me out before I could do anything about it!'

'Then we have two backup plans.'

'Eh?'

'Okay first;
Plan A: Escape without being caught.
Plan B: Bloodbend if caught.
Plan C: Run.'

'Sounds pretty good to me.'

'Alright, let's set this plan into action.'


Golden eyes snapped open and bolted up straight. There were gasps of surprise from the healers and servants.

"Princess! How are you feeling?"

Azula smirked and got out of bed, as the maids and servants handed her a robe.

"I never felt so alive."

The maids and certain healers shuddered in the background.

"You are all dismissed." She waved her hand and pointed to a healer, "Fetch me my father. I would like to have a word with him."

"Of course your highness." The healer bowed and scurried out of the room.

The princess glanced into the fire with her deadly smirk never leaving her face.

"Princess Azula."

Her eyes trailed over to where her father stood by the door closing it behind him, "Tell me about it."

The smirk did not fade at the sight of her father. Her lips curled up into a cruel smile, "I've never felt so alive." She repeated from what she told the maids, "It's about time they appeared."

"So I was right."

"Of course, I was rather getting impatient. In fact, in order to satisfy me even more…" she trailed off for a dramatic effect, "I was given a request that I happily agreed to."

Ozai frowned, "And what was that?"

She lingered to her bed and sat down with ladylike manners, "I think you'll be eager to hear this as well."

Ozai arched one eyebrow before walking in front of the fireplace glancing at his daughter, "What was the request?"

"Tomorrow morning I'll be leaving." She once again ignored the question, her smirk dropped as she stood up again and swayed over to the window still and leaned against it, "I'm dragging Mai along with me…I don't care how heartbroken she is about Zuko's betrayal; she's coming."

"This has to do with your traitorous brother of yours." Ozai frowned but smirked a little, "This should be interesting."

"I think so too…" she trailed off, "Unless he doesn't survive the ritual; my job would be much easier." She purred as she glanced at her perfect nails, "However, if he does survive; I would be rather surprised. I am still surprised that they are willing to aid someone who betrayed the Royal Family." She frowned, "But again, if he does survive, it may cause some problems."

"How could your brother be trouble?" Ozai barked, "He was already trouble once, but this time he will be gone for good."

"Zuko was always ill." Azula began quietly, "But mother prayed for him to be cured."

Ozai growled angrily and shot a large fireball into the fireplace, "DAMN THAT WOMAN!"

"You forgot?"

"No, I am cursing her for it." He snarled as he spun around to his daughter, "I want him dead! DEAD BEFORE COULD EVEN COME ACROSS THEM!" he shouted out furiously.

"I'm on the same page." She replied with a growl, "If I was told correctly; I need to kill him or the other one before they could encounter each other." She stood up, "I was already told where to meet my new companion." She smirked and looked over at her furious father, "I'll claim my new companion and we'll hunt them down. I am sure Mai would be delighted to get her revenge on Zuko."

"Unless she breaks down in front of him." Sneered Ozai as he turned to leave his daughter's room. He paused, "However, other than that mission you received. I would like you to hunt someone down for me."

"Who?" the princess raised her eyebrows, "The Avatar?"

"Yes the Avatar; but you got a new target. I am sure you won't have any difficulties holding back."

"Just spit it." She almost barked as she spun around facing her father with her hands on her hips.

He frowned, and thought for a moment, "Never mind. I would like to think about it more." He left the room quietly.

"Hm, how odd." She spoke quietly out loud to herself as she watched her father disappear around the corner, before returning to her room to have a hot bath.


"Prince Zuko…"

The former prince glanced around him. He was no longer in a dark fiery cave; he now stood in the middle of a meadow. He took a deep breath and breathed out, 'Thank goodness. I thought I wouldn't be able to breathe again…" he paused and looked around, "Where am I?" he asked himself out loud and stared at the Fire Lilies the bloomed before him.

"Prince Zuko…"

"Who are you!?" he demanded.

"You'll meet me soon." The voice replied softly.

"Why can't you-,"

"I don't want to harm you anymore. This will be the last vision you will have to suffer. Right after this, you must depart and search for me before someone else claims me." The voice replied sharply.

Zuko closed his mouth from saying anything further.

"Good boy. Now, do you see that mountain ahead of you?"

"Yeah." He walked towards it.

"Do you know where you are right now?"

"I think so…Am I on…Magma Island?"

"Almost, it's sort of like that island, but it's not." The voice replied, "Remember this name I am about to tell you." The voice paused as Zuko blinked waiting.

"Sakura Island." The voices whispered out clearly, "Look around you."

Zuko continued walking through the field; he looked up at the mountain that he approached. Down below the hill surrounding the mountain was a large Sakura Forest, blooming with Sakura Blossoms trees.

"In order to meet me, face to face, you must head down this hill and into the Sakura Forest; it's quite beautiful there, you can admire it after you meet me. Anyways-,"

"Sorry for interrupting, but why won't you show me the way right now?" he asked as he crossed his arms across his chest, "Wouldn't that be easier than explaining?"

"I would, but you are too weak. You wouldn't make it half way through the Sakura Forest in the condition you are in now."

"Pardon me?" Zuko frowned, "Why would you think I am weak?"

"Because the illness you were born with, your body has below average of the Spiritual Connection than other people." The voice muttered quietly and continued before Zuko could protest, "However, if you can, and I know you will survive, because I believe in you; through your journey to this island and finally meet me; I can assure you I would be a lifesaver for you."

"Lifesaver?"

"You'll understand when we meet." The voice replied warmly, "Until then, I wish you the best."


Zuko bolted awake breathing evenly now, the avatar and his friends along with his mother stared at him with wide eyes, "What happened?"

Zuko swung his legs off the bed and looked at everyone in the room with a serious expression on his face, "We need to head to Sakura Island."

"Sakura Island?" Aang asked, "What about Kat-,"

"She'll have to wait." Interrupted Toph, she looked at Zuko who stared at her in bewilderment, "Are you serious?"

"I can tell by your tone of voice." She replied, "This is serious business."

Zuko glanced over at his mother, "I guess we'll have to depart separate ways for now…so soon." He whispered as she took a seat beside him and wrapped her arms around him pulling him into a motherly embrace, "I know that this is important." She replied, "I'll wait for you." She cupped her son's face and whispered softly, "We'll reunite when the war ends, when you overthrow your father and become Fire Lord." She smiled lovely, "I believe in you, I believe that you alone could lead the Fire Nation to a greater future." She kissed his forehead before ruffling his hair playfully, "Just don't get yourself killed alright?" the prince laughed genuinely before freeing himself from his mother's playful wrath.

Sokka blinked as an idea popped into his head, "Um, Lady Ursa; would you be able to take care one of our companions?"

Zuko looked at Sokka, "Are you talking about The Duke?"

Sokka nodded, "Things are going to get dangerous from this time on, I don't want the kid to be pulled into this. Also if we get captured, I don't want the innocent child to be any part of it."

Aang looked at Sokka, "You have a point."

Ursa stood up smoothing out her dress, "The Fire Nation ways of handling their prisoners have changed dramatically." She frowned, "Why is a child traveling with you anyways?"

Toph filled her in as she nodded, "Well, I didn't think anyone outside of the Fire Nation would know about the Day of Black Sun." she smiled, "I would be more than happy to take care of The Duke. Is there anyone else?"

"Nope. It'll only be Toph and I who will be the youngest again." Aang answered as Toph raise her eyebrow and left the room.

"Hey Toph, where are you going?" called Sokka as she shouted back, "The others have arrived."

The group glanced at each other before rushing out of the secret home.

"Aang?"

"Toph?"

"Sokka?"

"Where are you guys?"

The trio that was left behind searched the abandoned town with Appa and Momo, until the flying lemur flew around a corner and never came back; well until Aang and the others arrived.

"There you are!" Teo shouted as he wheeled over to them, "Man we got lost for a bit, what were you doing for the last few hours?"

The Duke looked at Ursa, "Who's that?" he blinked, "She looks almost like Zuko."

Zuko chuckled uneasily, "Heh, everyone. Meet my mother; Lady Ursa."

"EH!?" the trio exclaimed staring at the exiled Fire Lady, "Are you serious?"

Toph nodded answering them simply, "Yeah, the little guy said it himself, they looked almost alike."

Haru blinked at Teo as Sokka smiled, "This is Haru, Teo and the little guy, The Duke." He crouched down siting like a frog and began, "Duke, we were thinking for the sake of your own safety that you stay with Zuko's mother. She's really nice and is willing to take care of you."

The Duke blinked and looked over at Ursa and his face changed into a frightened face staring at Sokka, "You want me to be with the FIRE LADY!?"

"She's exiled."

"Oh." He paused, "Are you sure she's safe."

Ursa approached them and knelt down placing her hands on to her knees, "You can trust me. I'm hiding from the Fire Nation as well."

The Duke blinked, "How come?"

"I was exiled. And exiled people aren't allowed on Fire Nation territory." She replied softly with a sad smile.

Sokka grinned, "Best of all, if you stay with her, you'll be able to stay in a cozy home, with food and water! You can sleep in a bed too!"

The child's eyes widen, "Food!?" he stopped, "But why are you leaving me with the lady?"

Sokka's eyes softened, "We don't want you in any sort of danger. Remember when Katara mysteriously vanished and Azula invaded the Western Air Temple and we had no food available, in the end we nearly starved." He shot the child a small smile, "We don't want you to suffer. Besides; you can trust Ursa; she is a very kind woman. Once the war is over, she'll take you to the Fire Nation capital to reunite with us. Or something like that."

The Duke thought for a long time before answering, "Are you sure?"

Aang knelt down beside the child and nodded, "We are thinking about your safety. We don't want to drag you into violence that'll be even worse than you seen and fought."

The Duke nodded, "I'll stay with Lady Ursa if Aang trusts her."

"I trust her." Aang replied with a smile on his face, "She won't let us down."

The young boy grinned and turned to the exiled Fire Lady, "Please take care of me your highness!"

"You can call me Ursa." She replied softly as she held out her hand, "Nice to meet you, The Duke."

The child grinned and looked over his shoulder laughing at Teo, "HA! SHE CALLED ME THE DUKE!"

Teo shrugged with a silly grin on his face.

Sokka and Aang already gotten back on to their feet; Ursa stood up and walked over to her son giving him big hug, "I wish you the best Zuko."

"You too mom." He buried his face into her shoulder, "I love you mom."

"I love you too Zuko." She released their embrace and kissed him on the cheek and turned to The Duke and took his hand waving to the others, "Drop by for a visit if you have time."

The others nodded and bowed to her as she bowed back. The Duke gave everyone hugs before watching them get on to Appa, "Bye guys! Kick the Fire Lord's butt for me!"

They all laughed as Aang took a seat on Appa's head and waved good bye to their new friends.

"Appa, YIP YIP!" Aang commanded as the Bison groaned and took off into the sky, flying away into the clouds.

Zuko watch his mother fade into the distance and smiled sadly, "I will end this war soon mom. Just wait for me."


Katara focused on her fingers waving around trying to withdraw water out of thin air, she's been repeating this for several hours.

Cold ice began to cover her hand, almost reaching her wrists.

'Almost there…' she thought eagerly as the ice slowly approached the chains.

She grinned to herself in the darkness feeling more confident than ever before.
She was finally going to bust herself out.
And it seems that Hama's lessons were useful after all.


End of Chapter 8

A/N: Whew, long chapter. I worked hard on this, seriously I have.
Starting on Monday, from that day on, I might only be able to update 1 chapter per week. If I'm lucky; two or three more will be added. It really depends on my schedule. Right now I have to make sure I'm in good shape for basketball that starts again on Wednesday, since we had the Christmas Break as our vacation, no doubt about it he's going to make us run…run…run…I'm going to be dead. XD

Anyways, I hope you all agree with my idea of letting The Duke stay with Ursa, I have an idea that'll include the two of them in later chapters.

As for Zuko, he's now on his way to Sakura Island to meet someone he doesn't even know.

Katara finally getting into action, she'll be back into the story in no time. We'll be starring about how her escape goes.

Azula has a new companion joining the group. Her new friend will be a VERY interesting character, and will tie connection with Zuko.

Anyways THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR AWESOME REVIEWS! 50 REVIEWS MEANS A LOT TO ME! Oh my gosh, I've never thought I would have that many! This means more than you think to me.

Chapter 9
COMING SOON!