Nope don't own it yet...

Chapter 10 (the dream)

The soldiers escorted us back to Azula's ship and walked us down under the hull into an enclosed room. Zuko was still recovering from the fight but was doing better then before. As the door slammed, locking us both in the metal box the guard opened a smaller window and looked inside.

"Azula says you," he said, pointing to me, "May come out if you agree to change your mind and come help to defeat the city." The little window slammed shut and a series of locks echoed as the door was closed. Within half an hour the boat began slightly rocking and the room began to heat up.

"Uhh, why is tit getting so warm in here?" I asked.

"It's probably near the engine, and the ship is moving away from the land, probably so we can't escape," answered Zuko who had fully recovered and was back to himself.

"I'm going to take a nap," I said making myself comfortable in the metal room. Zuko sat watching the wall as my dreams flowed through my mind.

"Your going to help the princess today deary!" exclaimed the plump motherly figure of mine. I heard my 13 year old self complain and get scolded. My younger self grasped "my mother's" hand and was walked to the palace gardens. As my mother left me to my self to wait, a young Zuko walked over and smiled gently.

"Hi Niki," he said.

"Hi Zuko," I responded.

"Want to take a walk today?" he asked. I smiled, nodded, and let Zuko take my hand. He led me to the turtle duck pond. We sat down near the water, still hand in hand. The turtle ducks slowly advanced from the reeds to see if we had any food, but lost interest after a while. After a minute or two foot steps rang out from the covered walkways.

"Azula's coming, see you in few days Niki," said Zuko, he gently kissed my hand, and disappeared into the palace. A 12 year old Azula appeared and made her way into the garden.

"Ready to practice?" asked Azula, I got up and was preparing to par when Azula stopped.

"What's up with you and my brother?" she hissed.

"Nothing," but before I had time to spit out an excuse Azula countered.

"I saw him with you today, I always see you two together; hand in hand, and then and today he kissed you!" Azula screamed.

"On the hand!" I shouted back.

"See! He did," Azula shrieked. She paused for a moment regaining her composure and smiled.

"You and my brother can't be together," Azula smirked.

"Who said you r the boss of what I do?" I exclaimed.

"I'll just tell my dad that you aren't you aren't a match for me anymore. Then you'll stop coming and you r parents won't get paid," Azula explained.

"My parents don't need your money!" I said, looking way braver then I felt.

"You wanna bet?" asked Azula, "Why do you think you so rich? Why do you think your family is so important?"

"But if you get rid of me you wouldn't have anyone to practice with," said.

"I don't need you to practice with, just because you're the only the only other girl fire-bender in my dad's court, doesn't mean you all the only one who can practice with me. I can have anyone, but I chose you, Niki" Azula whispered, coming close to my ear, "And besides, if you don't do as I say and ditch my brother," her hand lit up with a fireball, "you just might wake up as a pile of ash one day."

"Fine, I'm going to find Zuko…" My voice was loosing its volume, "where is he?"

"Oh, he is probably went to try to get into that stupid officer's meeting… again," scolded Azula. I froze, on officer's war meeting! I know what happens next, I thought. I felt myself waking up as my dream spun out of control. The father son duel, Zuko's banishment, me grieving for him by not bending for two years and losing much of my skills.

I threw my head up, tears flying. Zuko still sat near the door, looking straight ahead. The room was getting hotter by the minutes, l felt like a turkey in an oven on Thanksgiving Day.

"Zuko, I'm sorry," I sobbed, kneeling next to him. He came out of his trance and looked at me.

"Zuko, I didn't mean to hurt you. Azula's doesn't play fair, I'm sorry," I moaned and then collapsed sobbing, next to him.

"Niki, its ok, it's over, it happened. There's nothing we can do to change the past, Zuko said.

"Did your uncle say that?" I giggled.

"Maybe," said Zuko, "we need to get out of here!"