Lu Ten felt like he might throw up with fear of facing Ozai. The determined faces of the men around him gave him some courage, but his head was swimming. He was very likely going to die within the next few minutes. He thought of Cho and Malina. Those two were everything to him, he wanted his final thoughts to be of them.
"Ping, are you alright?" Hakoda asked. "You look like you're gonna be sick."
Lu Ten nodded. "Yeah, yeah, I'm gonna be okay."
"Maybe you should have gone with the children," Hakoda said. "I forgot this might have more serious consequences for you."
"It's too late for that," Lu Ten replied. "I face my fate now with dignity, knowing I fought for what's right. But Hakoda, before they take us, will you promise me something?"
"Sure," Hakoda agreed.
"If you get out, will you take a message to a woman named Cho in Ba Sing Se?" he asked. "That's my wife. Tell her that everything I did was for her and our daughter, Malina, and that I love them. Will you do that?"
"Are you so sure you're going to die?" Bato wondered.
"Yes," Lu Ten answered. "Please, will one of you do this for me?"
"Of course," Hakoda assured him.
Then the Fire Nation soldiers reached the group.
"Who's the leader of this attack?" barked the captain.
"I am," Hakoda said, stepping forward. "I'm Chief Hakoda of the Southern Water Tribe, and I arranged this invasion."
The captain had everyone tied up, and then he noticed Lu Ten in his Fire Nation garb. "Take the traitor too. He will have to answer to the Fire Lord directly. The rest can be thrown in prison."
Lu Ten closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Again, he focused on Cho and Malina. He recalled Cho's smile, and how beautiful she looked the day they met. He remembered Malina's first cry when she came into the world. His heart broke.
It seemed to take years to escort him and Hakoda to the throne room. The Fire Lord had only just returned from his bunker. Lu Ten still had his eyes closed. He listened as Ozai walked into the room and took a seat. He knew exactly how it looked without having to see it.
"So," Ozai began. "A Water Tribe peasant and a traitor planned this invasion."
Lu Ten opened his eyes at last. Ozai actually recoiled.
"It can't be!" he gasped. "You died in Ba Sing Se!"
"No, Uncle," Lu Ten returned. "I found life in Ba Sing Se."
"Uncle?!" Hakoda cried in surprise. "You were Fire Nation royalty?"
"I was the heir to the throne," Lu Ten said. "Prince Lu Ten of the Fire Nation."
Hakoda at last seemed to understand why Lu Ten had resigned himself to his death. Ozai looked on in horror.
"I don't know how you survived," he said, gathering himself. "But I can see you never lost your desire for the throne. Did you hope the Avatar would crown you in the event of my defeat? You will never sit on this throne! You and your pathetic father disgraced us!"
Lu Ten chuckled. "You only think this because that's what you'd do. I have no interest in the throne. I only want to do what's right for the world."
"You and Iroh are so alike," Ozai laughed. "You want to seem so above the rest of us, but you can't pretend you don't hate that I sit where your father would."
"I hate what you have done with your position, that's true," Lu Ten said, and he wasn't really sure where this boldness was coming from. "But I don't want to be in your place. You can't conceive of caring for people outside of what benefits you."
"Enough of this!" Ozai cried. Then he looked at the guard. "Take them away. They will be going to the Boiling Rock."
"What, no execution?" Lu Ten spoke up, honestly shocked.
"Oh, no," Ozai said darkly. "No one is going to know that you lived. Executing you would only make my claim weaker. I'm going to hide you away for the rest of your life. As far as the world is concerned, you were never here."
Lu Ten almost sighed in relief. He figured it made sense though. If Ozai killed him, there would be doubt among the Fire Nation about Ozai's right to the throne, which could lead to a rallying behind Iroh. If no one but a select trusted few knew about Lu Ten, everything could remain the same, and Iroh would still be considered a traitor. Still, the Boiling Rock was nothing to sneer at. Lu Ten had been there once as a child, and he would never forget the experience.
Ozai ordered them to be removed from the throne room and his guards obeyed. Hakoda was still defiant, but Lu Ten went along without protest. As long as he was alive, he had a chance at seeing his girls again. He had seen the Avatar in action and he had faith that this war would be over soon.
The first night, they spent in prison with the other invaders. Lu Ten and Hakoda shared a cell since they were being transferred. Although, apparently there had been a shocking breakout from the prison during the eclipse, and many of the guards were still discussing it.
"That General Iroh was incredible," one said. "He busted out of here without even bending. It was…something else."
Lu Ten gasped. His father had been here? They had just missed each other it seemed, but he was glad to know that Iroh was no longer a prisoner. Even so, it would have been good to have him for company.
When they got to their cell, Hakoda looked intensely at Lu Ten.
"I can't believe you were the prince," he said.
Lu Ten thought that was rich coming from the man who was now the lover of the Fire Lord's ex-wife, but did not say so out loud. He just sighed.
"It's not something I like to make public," he said. "I mean, ever since I saw Zuko back in Ba Sing Se, I've felt like everything that happened was my fault. If I had just stayed and taken the throne, I could have put an end to the war."
"But would you really have done that?" Hakoda returned. "Did you think the war was so bad when you were on their side?"
Lu Ten considered this. "No, I didn't. I thought the war was just what we had to do."
"Then don't trouble yourself with what you might have done as Fire Lord," Hakoda said. "It was your experience in the Earth Kingdom that gave you this perspective."
Lu Ten did feel better at Hakoda's words. He didn't think he could admire the Water Tribe chief more than he already did, but now there was something more. He felt like they were becoming friends.
A few hours later, a couple of guards came into the cell. Lu Ten had fallen asleep, so he was shaken awake by the leader. Hakoda tensed up beside him, but was immediately restrained by the two companions.
"So, yet another traitor prince," said the leader with a sneer. "The Fire Lord has some questions we're supposed to have you answer. How we get those answers is entirely up to you."
"Well, what are my choices?" Lu Ten asked, knowing full well the answer to that. He didn't know why he was being so cheeky. Maybe it was that he finally felt he could defy the laws of this place. Maybe it was his inner resentment of his uncle. Maybe it was even a combination of those things and more.
The leader slugged Lu Ten in the face, forcing the ex-prince's head back. He felt hot stickiness pool from his lip and slide down his chin.
"That's just a taste of what you'll get for any more snark, you got that?" the man warned.
"Loud and clear," Lu Ten replied, licking the blood away since his hands were bound.
"Now, were you captured in Ba Sing Se?"
Lu Ten knew going in that if he were questioned, he could tell them nothing of what had truly occurred in the city. With the Fire Nation, there could only be lies.
"Yes," he said. "I was captured by an Earth Kingdom officer while at the wall."
"How did you survive?" the guard demanded.
"I struck a deal," Lu Ten continued. "I told the officer who captured me everything I discovered in my mission in exchange for my life. But I could never leave the city again. I was to remain there as a prisoner."
"So how did you get out?" the guard pressed.
"When Azula took the city, I was sent away, since they didn't want Fire Nation nobles to know their secret," Lu Ten went on.
"And why did you join the Avatar on this invasion?"
"Because I just love a grand entrance."
For this, Lu Ten was backhanded across his cheek.
"That's all for now," the guard said, and his companions released Hakoda. "They'll get the rest out of you at the Boiling Rock."
They departed. As the sound of their footsteps faded away, Hakoda went over to Lu Ten.
"Was any of that true?" he asked.
Lu Ten shook his head.
"Well, you are a cool liar," Hakoda said.
Lu Ten smirked. "I learned from the best. That's all there was here. Lies and manipulation. Even if I told the truth, they'd never believe me."
Hakoda had an odd look about him at this comment. As if he had heard this sort of thing before, but he shook his head and it was gone. Lu Ten guessed that Ursa had made similar statements about her life in the Fire Nation.
"So, what's the Boiling Rock like?" Hakoda asked.
"Not pleasant," Lu Ten answered.
"I could have guessed that," Hakoda returned. "I'm gonna need specifics."
"It sits on an island in the middle of a boiling lake," Lu Ten explained. "It's one of the highest security prisons in the Fire Nation."
"Well, I think we can handle it," Hakoda said.
"I think so too," Lu Ten agreed. "As long as we're alive, we have hope."