Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar: The Last Airbender in any shape or form.

"Who led the invasion?"

Ameya smiled pleasantly, meeting the gaze of her interrogator straightforward with no fear.

"I did."

The older man sneered, not believing the words of a teenager and studied her chained body to the chair. It had been back and forth for over half an hour already and every time he tried to get the truth from her, the girl easily claimed to be her own. She was the only one who smiled throughout all the prisoners he had interrogated—the only one who would answer without hesitation.

"Give it up, General," a new voice appeared in the dark cell and the general turned around to stare at newcomer, bowing respectfully to the princess. "She won't crack with your methods."

Azula eyed Ameya coolly and she returned her gaze, unafraid. They gauged at each other, seeing the other as a threat even if one was chained. Ameya was not surprised to see the princess appear, she knew the proud girl would be agitated with the stunt she pulled underground. Even Ameya was surprised at herself for the ability to bloodbend—even if it was for a second.

"Princess," Ameya greeted evenly, "What a pleasant surprise."

"Oh? You don't look surprised," Azula said casually. "Leave us."

The general looked between the two girls nervously but left as instructed, closing the cell door to leave them alone. Ameya sat a little straighter, knowing that Azula was looking down upon her but—she was cautious.

"So, you led the invasion?" Azula asked, examining her fingernails in a collected manner.

"It wasn't easy but someone had to do it," Ameya observed her, trying to determine her true goal for approaching her.

It wasn't exactly a full lie for her to lead the invasion—she merely assisted Hakoda and Sokka. But if someone was going to take the punishment—Ameya rather it be her. If she remembered correctly, Katara had mentioned Azula to infiltrate the Earth Kingdom before. Had Azula known about the invasion since then? Was that how the Fire Nation was prepared for their attack? She tried to keep the frown off her face; it was too late to regret now anyways.

"And what a marvelous job you've done," Azula dropped her hand to stare at her, "Because of your efforts, we rounded up all the rebels. Thank you for delivering them to us."

Ameya nearly rolled her eyes at the sarcasm. The princess was mocking her—that much she deduced. "Not everyone."

Aang was still alive. Sokka, Katara, and Toph are still with them. There was still hope for the others to cling onto and that was why Ameya will take the fall for them. She has hope for their success. Only they can end this war. Whatever happens to her—Ameya would not care for it. She will endure again.

"Not yet," Azula sneered, "They are running out of options. It won't be long now." She paused, voice lowering as she glowered at Ameya. "And next time, you won't be there to help them."

A shiver went down her spine at that declaration. Azula was serious, capable, and deadly. This was the first time Ameya met someone so calculated and tactic with power to back up her threats. It was the opposite of her—who had nothing to begin with and stole and lie to get by. Azula was a natural born leader and warrior—a princess and tactician with a powerful element.

Azula was dangerous.

"I wouldn't count myself out yet."

But Ameya had always lived dangerously.

"You'll be transported to the Boiling Rock." Azula ignored her, clasping her hands behind her, "And from there, you will be transferred again to a prison made specifically for waterbenders. Say what you will but this outcome would not change."

"Were you afraid?"

Golden eyes narrowed again, no more smiles on either faces as Ameya carefully said her words.

"That split second when your body betrayed you—were you afraid?" Slowly, her pale lips turned up. "All these precaution to immobilize me…personally visiting me in this cell, you're scared of me, aren't you?"

Azula's hand tightened behind her back, eyes glaring into icy blue ones. It may be true that Azula had no idea what the waterbender did against her—she knew for a fact she was not taken off guard enough to freeze in the middle of a battle. The princess was not accustomed to fighting waterbenders—but that does not mean she was afraid of them.

"You overestimate yourself," Azula scoffed, "This will be the last time we meet."

The door closed behind Azula, leaving Ameya in the prison.

"Zuko's gone."

Azula glanced at her dark haired friend, taking in the first words she spoke since the princess stepped out of the prisons. She had been busy making rounds to ensure there were no more rebels and the other nobilities had been let of their shelter. Mai had her trademark frown on her pale face yet Azula can read the dissatisfaction from the noble.

"So he turned out just like Uncle," Azula brushed it off, "A traitor to our nation."

To say she was not expecting this result was untrue; Azula can read her brother easier than anyone for he wore his emotions on his sleeves. To leave during the invasion would have been the perfect time for him yet she wondered if he even knew the girl he was so hung up on was their prisoner.

"It does not matter. If he is to seek out the Avatar, then we will find him once we find the Avatar too. Don't worry, Mai," her tone turned sympathetic, almost mocking, "We'll find your boyfriend."

Mai scowled. Azula knew full well they were not a couple any longer yet she still mocked her. She just felt—so angry and agitated—Zuko never considered her feelings for his decisions. He only let a simple note for her, no explanation or regards for other people.

"That girl would not be with the group, either," Azula continued, smiling at Mai yet she felt no warmth, "She's our prisoner now."

Mai still does not feel satisfied.

Zuko cleared his throat nervously, trying to calm the nerves crawling underneath his skin and exhaled.

"Hello... Zuko here," it sounded terrible already, "but I guess…you probably already know me, sort of. Uhhh...so, the thing is I have a lot of firebending experience, and I'm," he placed an arm on his chest, "considered to be pretty good at it." He paused, "Well, you've seen it, you know, when I was attacking you."

He nearly slapped himself in the face for the blunders.

"Uhhh...yeah, I guess I should apologize for that. But anyway, I'm good now! I mean, I thought I was good before, but I realize I was bad, but anyway, I think it's time I joined your group and taught the Avatar firebending."

Nothing. Absolutely nothing. Of course he couldn't expect the badgerfrog to reply to him—it probably couldn't even understand him! Zuko really did slap himself this time, groaning in disappointment at his failed introduction. Speaking of all the things he had put the gang through was a harsh stab to his pride. It was like everything he tried to say came out wrong and all the times of him trying to capture the Avatar weighed heavily on his mind.

He attempted to imitate his uncle but only spun around in circles, confusing himself even more through thoughtless idioms that even Zuko himself cannot make sense of. He copied Azula next, a completely different persona compared to his pacifist uncle and found himself groaning and falling onto his back, facing the sky.

White, fluffy clouds traveled the vast sky slowly but Zuko could still see the brilliant blue. His eyes softened, thinking back to the one person he can never keep away from mind.

"What would you do…Ameya?"

He received no response yet—the illogical, pathetic, and hopeful part of him hoped she would have appeared through the trees then, possibly laughed at his dismal state before assuring him with kind words and teases. But of course, Ameya did not appear and with how their last meeting went, Zuko doubted she would have greeted him with easy smiles and laughs like before.

If Ameya were the one here instead of him, Zuko had no doubt she would have been welcomed to the group easily. She was always good at blending into her surroundings no matter what she did or wore. It was just…so easy to stay unguarded around her simple smile and words and every time Zuko never tired of learning new things about her.

If Ameya were here—would she vouch for Zuko as he try to join the Avatar? When he see her again—would she greet him with the same smile—or would her eyes hold the same icy coldness and resentment towards him?

Zuko was anxious. There were too many things riding on top of their next meeting. His discussion with the Avatar—his possible reunion with her—it was all happening too fast. Yet—as he continued to muse over the blue eyed thief, the possibility of seeing her again and redeem himself was enough to push himself to his feet.

No more waiting. She had waited long enough for him.

"You want to what now?" Toph asked incredulously at the intruder, standing between the Water Tribe siblings as they surveyed him.

"You can't possibly think that any of us would trust you, can you? I mean, how stupid do you think we are?!" Katara yelled, growing infuriated by the turn of events.

They had just arrived at the Western Air Temple safely and the Fire Nation prince was already here waiting for them. It shouldn't come to a surprise to them to see him, Zuko had chased them across the globe just for Aang, yet he was offering his firebending services for once.

"Yeah, all you've ever done is hunt us down and try to capture Aang!" Sokka reaffirmed.

Zuko gulped. He should have expected hostilities and was prepared for them yet his mind went blank when he realized Ameya was not with them. Did she really part ways with him—and the group? She had run after them back in the crystal catacombs. Where was she now?

"I've done some good things! I mean, I could have stolen your bison in Ba Sing Se, but I set him free. That's something!" Appa took that time to lick him again, causing the firebender to freeze at the saliva coating his back.

"Appa does seem to like him," Toph mused.

"He probably just covered himself in honey or something so that Appa would lick him. I'm not buying it!" Sokka refuted.

"I can understand why you wouldn't trust me, and I know I've made some mistakes in the past."

Zuko's words only caused the siblings to explode even more.

"Like when you attacked our village?" Sokka sneered again.

"Or when you stole my mother's necklace and used it to track us down and capture us?" Katara followed.

Zuko internally winced. All of the receipts were tallying up to him more by the second and the small hope of possibly succeeding in convincing them was dwindling. Nothing could have prepared him for this.

"Look, I admit I've some awful things. I was wrong to try to capture you, and I'm sorry that I attacked the Water Tribe. And I never should have sent that Fire Nation assassin after you. I'm going to try and stop—"

Sokka's eyes widen. "Wait—you sent Combustion Man after us?"

"Well, that's not his name, but—"

"Ohhh, sorry. I didn't mean to insult your friend!"

"He's not my friend!"

Toph took that moment to interrupt the two boys, taking a step forward. "That guy locked me and Katara in jail and tried to blow us all up!"

Zuko looked between the four of them anxiously yet only three of them were talking. His golden eyes focused on the Avatar, grey eyes casted downward from him and Zuko hoped he may be able to listen.

"Why aren't you saying anything? You once said you thought we could be friends. You know I have good in me."

Aang hesitated, taking a glance at the others but Sokka shook his head. The words he spoke so long ago was but a faint memory now and the destruction Zuko had done since then was far too broken to heal. Once upon a time, Aang did hope—he did believe—they could be friends.

"There's no way we can trust you after everything you've done. We'll never let you join us."

His mouth hung open at the Avatar's rejection. His last bit of hope was hanging on by a thread as it is—Zuko needed to figure out another solution.

"You need to get out of here," Katara bended the water around her protectively, "Now."

"I'm trying to explain that I'm not that person anymore!" Zuko said desperately.

Sokka turned a deaf ear away. "Either you leave, or we attack."

The group had made up their mind yet Zuko would not relent. He fell on his knees and bowed his head—not caring once for his once mighty pride and offered his hands up.

"If you won't accept me as a friend, then maybe you'll take me as a prisoner."

Katara snapped; her water whipped in Zuko's direction to knock him down. Toph held Sokka back by the arm, sensing the sudden erratic heartbeats of the siblings.

"Prisoner?! You mean like how you took Ameya away as a prisoner?!"

Zuko looked up, stunned not by the cold of the water but by the words of the waterbender. This was the first time they had mentioned her—Ameya—where was she?

"What—Ameya—I didn't… Where is she?"

"You should know!" Sokka broke free from Toph yet did not charge at him, blue eyes glaring at the fallen prince. "She's the reason we were able to get away in the first place!"

"I swear I don't know anything about that!" Zuko stood up hastily. Was that why she's not here now? Did she participate in the invasion too? And if so—did she sacrifice her freedom for them?

"Get out of here, and don't come back! And if we ever see you again, well, we'd better not see you again!" Katara exclaimed, preparing another blast of water at him.

Zuko could do nothing but walk away with a rearing mind, confused and frustrated with the new development. He had abandoned his home in favor of the Avatar and reuniting with Ameya yet—once again, she slipped from his grasp. She was still far away from him and Zuko was left unable to follow.

True to Azula's words, Ameya did not see her again. She was ushered away onto a ship after her interrogation and based on her observations; she was not the only prisoner here. It would be risky to test anything to escape while Ameya knew nothing of where she was going to be transported to. It also did not help that her wrists were shackled behind her by iron cuffs, providing her limited movements.

There were dozens of other prisoners surrounding her under the ship deck. Most of them vary of age yet none of them were people she recognized. Even if it had been a brief time, Ameya would surely recognize the people that helped prepare for the invasion yet—where were the others?

"That's all for now!"

The Fire Nation soldier shoved another body into the cramped cell, closing the iron door loudly behind him and leaving the prisoners alone. There were whispers amongst them as the strangers tried to seek solace with each other yet Ameya focused on the last body, recognizing the braid framing his face.

"Hakoda?"

The fallen man looked up, blue eyes widen against icy blue ones as Ameya stumbled to reach him. Relief spread through her chest to have found someone she knew, smiling in greeting at her trusted ally.

"Disregarding the situation, I'm really glad to see you."

Hakoda smiled back, pushing himself into a sitting position despite how difficult it was with his hands chained in front of him. "Likewise, Ameya." He scanned the room and like her, was unable to recognize the strange faces he seen. This was definitely a ship to transport prisoners yet he does not see any of his warriors. "I assume this is not like the other prisoner ships…though what are you doing here?"

Ameya blinked, leaning back lightly to ease the pressure from her bound hands. "I was being interrogated earlier about the invasion and said I was leading the charge. Next thing I knew, I was stripped of my clothes and into these…prison garbs."

The elder man startled at her confession, looking her over like she had gone crazy. "You—what? Why? If you hadn't—you would have had a higher chance of escaping."

She glanced around; hoping no one else was taking note of their conversation even if Hakoda was smart enough to keep his tone low. "This isn't exactly my first prison…or my second…or third…actually I lost count after the tenth time but—don't worry. We can figure something out."

Hakoda was still eyeing her wearily despite the smile on her face. Again, he was reminded of how young Ameya really was—still the same age as his children yet had dealt with so much hardship already. She wasn't kidding when she said she had experiences in a prison before yet he could not imagine what type of life she must have gone through.

Ameya did not bother elaborating on the plan—for she does not have one yet. But she would not sit idly by and let the princess have her win—Ameya still had fight in her. Even if they took all of her possessions away, she could always count on her bending. There was still a secret technique no one knew yet—one she had used on accident and may hopefully never use again.

"Did the guards tell you where you're headed?" Ameya asked, trying to combine their knowledge together, "I'm being sent to the 'Boiling Rock' supposedly before being transferred to another ship."

"The 'Boiling Rock'…it's the same for me."

"Wow! You guys must have done some crazy stuff to be sent there!"

Hakoda and Ameya nearly jumped at the new voice, turning towards a young girl who looked no older than Ameya and her companion. They hadn't realized they were speaking so loudly—or were they eavesdropping the whole time?

"I heard that place is reserved for high level traitors, war prisoners, and even pirates!" The other girl spoke in a hushed whisper, wide brown eyes staring at the two Water Tribe members curiously.

"Um…"

"I guess we're a special case," Ameya quickly smoothed out a smile, deducing the two girls to not be threats. They appeared too innocent and trusting—she could not detect any type of lies from them. Ameya would know firsthand if someone were lying to her for she uses the same tactics.

"So…who might you be?"

"We're the Kyoshi Warriors!" The two said simultaneously, pride evident in their voice despite the dreary state they were in.

Ameya blinked, the title was ringing familiar in her mind yet she cannot single out where she heard it before. It was not long before Hakoda eased into the conversation with the young girls, trusting them completely as he heard their brave feats of trying to fight against the Fire Nation princess and her assailants from capturing Appa months ago. Ameya was left along in her thoughts momentarily, trying to remember exactly where and who had spoken those words before and taking in the information from them quietly.

"If you happen to get the chance, please help our leader if you can." The brown eyed girl begged quietly.

"Who…is your leader?" Hakoda questioned.

"She's our best fighter!"

"Brown hair and blue eyes."

"Her name is Suki!"

Zuko was exhausted, unpacking his bag of supplies into his new room in the Western Air Temple. He had fought back 'Combustion Man' bravely and the Avatar and companions had seen his effort. Despite all of his blunders up until now (attacking the Water Tribe, trying to capture Aang, burning Toph's feet), he was at least given a chance.

He paused, remembering the words Katara had heatedly thrown at him just before. Ameya become a prisoner after he had left, meaning she had part in the invasion during the day of the black sun. Though Ameya had never taken part in his battle against the Avatar—she never took a side either until…now.

Zuko cannot help but regret. He had ended up driving her into a corner—he had left her alone and pained when he had wholeheartedly believed she was the one to betray him first. He was so blinded by his sister—by his anger—that he failed to acknowledge the two people by his side. It was a wonder how the Avatar and his friends were able to give him a chance again—a chance Zuko knew he would not—could not—mess up on.

He snapped out of thoughts once he realized someone was at the foot of his door. Sapphire eyes glared at him boldly and Zuko stood up from his bed, trying not to flinch from the righteous fury in Katara's eyes.

"You might have everyone else here buying your...transformation, but you and I both know you've struggled with doing the right thing in the past." She took a few steps forward, never once wavering in her glare, "So let me tell you something, right now. You make one step backward, one slip-up, give me one reason to think you might hurt Aang, and you won't have to worry about your destiny anymore. Because I'll make sure your destiny ends…right then and there. Permanently."

She refused to allow him to feel lax when all Zuko had ever done was ruin their lives. Katara refused to stand by and watch Aang get hurt again. He was more than just the Avatar—he was her hope—her friend—he was human and was able to get hurt. Azula had proven that to be true when she nearly killed him—and Katara would not stand by and watch her brother finish the job.

Zuko had slipped up far too many times to be given this chance and if Aang was too innocent to see through it—Katara will not. Not when Zuko was the cause for all of their troubles—when he was the one that inevitably broke Ameya—

Katara pushed that from mind, trying not to dwell on the past relationship of the two.

She turned around, having said her threat and made way to the door.

"Ameya—" Katara froze at her name, fist clenching tight, "Is it true—was she really captured?"

She whirled around, brown locks flying behind her at the whiplash. "You don't deserve to say her name! How dare you even—" Katara turned away again, angry and hurt because Zuko had taken another precious person away from her, "A part of me is glad she's not here. You do not deserve to see her—and she is much better without you."

Zuko could say nothing else as Katara left, his shoulders slumping downwards and trying to contain his own anger. Trying to contain the anger from exploding within because he knew Katara was right. He did not deserve to see Ameya—not when he had pushed her away—not when he left her crying and begging, calling for him in the dark catacombs to listen. Although she had been the one always there for him—in the end, he did not stay for her.

Author's Notes:

Hey look, an update! I know it's been a while—I already broke my promise on updating monthly but I've been busy at work TvTTT I'm sorry!

It's a little short for this chapter and I really hope I didn't lose my touch in writing Avatar and the characters! I definitely will need to reread some past chapters…but I'm so excited to write the future ones! This is truly where the fun begins ehehe.

I hope you all enjoyed this! Reviews are much loved!