It should have been a dream come true, but when Zuko entered the war room to attend the war meeting, he did not feel the excitement he had expected.

"Welcome, Prince Zuko," said Ozai. "We waited for you."

Zuko walked up to his father, and after bowing to him, he sat down next to him.

"General Shinu, your report," said Ozai.

"Thank you, sir," said Shinu. "Ba Sing Se is still under our control. However, earthbender rebellions have prevented us from achieving total victory in the Earth Kingdom."

"What is your recommendation?" asked Ozai.

"Our army is spread too thin, but we should wait until after the eclipse is over and after the invasion is defeated, and then we should transfer more domestic forces into the Earth Kingdom."

"Hmm," said Ozai. "Prince Zuko, you've been among the Earth Kingdom commoners. Do you think that adding more troops will stop these rebellions?"

"The people of the Earth Kingdom are proud and strong," he said. "They can endure anything, as long as they have hope."

"Yes, you're right," said Ozai. "We need to destroy their hope."

"Well, that's not exactly what I..."

"I think you should take their precious hope and the rest of their land and burn it all to the ground," interrupted Azula.

"Yes," said Ozai. "Yes, you're right, Azula." He stood up and walked to the map. "Sozin's Comet will soon be upon us, and on that day, it will endow us with the strength and power of a hundred suns. No bender will stand a chance against us."

"What are you suggesting, sir?" asked Shinu.

"When the comet last came, my grandfather, Fire Lord Sozin, used it to wipe out the Air Nomads. Now, I will use its power to end the Earth Kingdom...permanently. From our airships we will rain fire over their lands, a fire that will destroy everything, and out of the ashes, a new world will be born, a world in which all the lands are Fire Nation and I am the supreme ruler of everything!"

The war generals applauded, but Zuko was shocked and appalled.

Since the day in the Crystal Catacombs, Zuko had been unable to get a restful night's sleep. There was an ever-growing worry that the Avatar was still alive in the background of his thoughts and that his father would find out. He was also concerned about his father's plan to destroy the Earth Kingdom. But what plagued his mind most was his worry over Iroh and Chiara, and his sleeplessness had only gotten worse after seeing his wife chained up in the prison.

One night he was in his room staring at the small canvas with the image of him and Chiara on their wedding day. He remembered thinking about how being crowned Fire Lord could not possibly surpass the moment he had taken Chiara as his wife. He rolled it up and hid it, and as he tossed and turned in bed unable to sleep, he thought he heard something outside his room. Walking into the hall he saw a scroll lying on the floor, so he picked it up and read it.

You need to know the story of your great-grandfather's demise. It will reveal your own destiny.

The next morning he was staring at the painting of Fire Lord Sozin.

"It's never too early for a sitting with the court painter, Zuko," said Azula as she walked by him. "Make sure he gets your good side."

She continued walking.

"Wait...," said Zuko. "I need to ask you something." She stopped. "What do you remember about our great-grandfather's history?"

"Oh, Zuko, it's so strange how your mind works. Fire Lord Sozin began the war, of course. He spent his early years preparing for it, but he was as patient as he was clever. He famously waited for the comet, later renamed Sozin's Comet, and used its power to launch his full-scale invasion of the world. In the end he died a very old and successful man."

"But how did he die?"

"Didn't you pay any attention in school, Zuko? He died peacefully in his sleep. He was ancient."

Later, Zuko looked at the scroll again wondering about its meaning. "What does it mean?" he said to himself. Frustrated, he threw it over his lamp only to see more writing appear.

The Fire Sages keep the secret history in the Dragon Bone Catacombs.

Zuko immediately went to the catacombs where he found The Final Testament of Fire Lord Sozin. He sat and read it through, but when he reached the end, he was surprised that was all there was.

"That can't be it," he said looking over the scroll. "Where's the rest of it?"

He immediately left to go to the prison to see Iroh.

"You sent this, didn't you?" he asked Iroh angrily. "I found the secret history which, by the way, should be renamed the history most people already know. The note said that I needed to know about my great-grandfather's death, but he was still alive in the end."

"No," said Iroh, finally breaking his silence. "He wasn't."

"What are you talking about?" he asked more calmly.

"You have more than one great-grandfather, Prince Zuko. Sozin was your father's grandfather. Your mother's grandfather was Avatar Roku."

"Why are you telling me this?"

"Because understanding the struggle between your two great-grandfathers can help you better understand the battle within yourself."

Zuko fell to his knees and put hands on his head.

"Evil and good are always at war inside you, Zuko. It is your nature, your legacy, but there is a bright side." Zuko looked at him. "What happened generations ago can be resolved now by you. Because of your legacy you alone can cleanse the sins of our family and the Fire Nation. Born in you, along with all the strife, is the power to restore balance to the world." Iroh removed a brick in the wall and removed something hidden inside. Taking it to Zuko he unwrapped it and held it out to him. "This is a royal artifact. It's supposed to be worn by the Crown Prince."

Zuko took it in his hands.

Before leaving Iroh, he wrapped up the headpiece. He slowly left Iroh's cell, his mind going over everything his uncle just told him. He felt lost and confused. Looking up, he realized he was taking the path to Chiara's cell. When he entered her cell, she was kneeling on the floor leaning against the wall with her head bowed and her hair flowing down around her like a veil. Her shackled wrists lay on her lap, and though he could not see, her eyes were on the wedding band around her finger. When Zuko knelt down outside the bars he carefully set the wrapped artifact on the floor next to him.

"Chiara," he said softly.

She looked up at him, and when her eyes focused she thought he looked a bit lost. "Are you okay?" she asked softly.

"I...I just need to be with you," he said. "Can you sit over here?"

He cringed at the sound of her shackles as she slowly stood up and walked over to him. As she moved to kneel down across from him, he saw something on her neck.

"Is-is that blood on your neck?" he asked.

"Probably."

He reached in through the bars and lifted her chin and looked at the cut on her throat.

"Your neck is cut! How did that happen?"

"One of the guards," she answered softly.

"What?! Who?! Which one?!"

She shook her head. "I don't know. It was on the ship."

The thought that she had been assaulted by a guard angered him.

"It'll heal," she said calmly, though she did not think it mattered if she was going to be executed.

He took her hand in his having missed touching her. "I'm so sorry."

She noticed how dark his eyes looked. "You haven't been sleeping well."

"I can't sleep."

She looked down and tears began falling down her cheeks making him feel guilty.

"Chiara, please don't cry," he said.

He reached up to brush her tears away, but she stopped him. She wiped her eyes and cheeks, and he was hurt thinking she did not want him to touch her. She held her hand out with her tears and she began waterbending them to his surprise. Positioning her hands on each side of his head she used them to perform her relaxing and healing technique around his temples. A sudden calm descended upon him, and he could not help closing his eyes as all the worries in his mind just temporarily disappeared and any tension in his body relaxed save what he needed to keep from falling over. He could have lived in that single relaxing moment forever, free from every worry and problem. Complete peace engulfed his body until he heard a rattle from the shackles breaking through the tranquility. He was quickly reminded him of where he was and that his wife was a prisoner. He opened his eyes and grabbed her wrists, her tears dropping onto his lap.

"No," he said. "I...I don't deserve this, not after what I did to you."

"Please let me help you relax," she said. "You need to sleep."

"I can't sleep in a bed while my...while you're sleeping on the floor in a prison cell."

She took his hand in hers. "You wanted to be home and you wanted to be prince again. You've waited so long for this and you've struggled so hard. I don't want you to worry about me," she said. She closed his hand and released him. "You're free to be who you're meant to be."

She stood up returning to the wall where she had been sitting. Looking down, he opened his hand to find the wedding ring he had given her. Grabbing the artifact next to him, he stood up and angrily stormed out of her cell.

As he was walking into his room in the palace, it occurred to him just how heavy the headpiece felt in his hand compared to her wedding ring. After hiding the artifact in his room, he pulled a cord from around his neck from which hung his wedding band. He added hers to the cord and placed it back around his neck tucking the rings into his tunic.

Later that day, Captain Idem, the captain of the guards, walked up to Iroh's cell.

"Iroh, son of Fire Lord Azulon and former Crown Prince, for the crime of harboring a Water Tribe spy in the Fire Nation and attempting to usurp the throne of the Fire Lord, by command of Fire Lord Ozai, you have been condemned to death."

Iroh was not surprised that Fire Lord Ozai, his own brother, condemned him to die.

"What of my daughter?" he asked.

"The Water Tribe spy is to be imprisoned for life."

He felt relieved that Chiara would live.

Idem said no more to him, but he turned and left. He next walked to Chiara's cell.

"Water Tribe spy, for the crime of spying on the Fire Nation, by command of Fire Lord Ozai, you are condemned to live out your days in prison."

Chiara looked up at him. "What about General Iroh?"

"The traitor Iroh has been condemned to death."

"No!" She immediately stood up and walked to the bars standing before the captain. "Please. They can't execute him."

"It will be done by the Fire Lord's command."

"For what crime?" she asked.

"For harboring a Water Tribe spy and attempting to usurp the throne of Fire Lord Ozai."

"But he didn't," she said. "He never wanted to take the throne from the Fire Lord. And...and he only took me in out of compassion. Please don't let them execute him. He's innocent."

"The sentence stands," he said.

"Can it not be appealed?" she asked with tears running down her cheeks.

"There's to be no appeal," said Idem.

"I will take his sentence. Give him life in prison. I'll take the execution."

"The Fire Lord's command is final."

"No," she cried. "Please take my life instead of his."

Idem said nothing, but he turned and left her cell while Chiara knelt down and cried.

That night Zuko had been pacing in his room struggling with ideas and plans in his head. Exhausted from a lack of sleep and constant anxiety, he lay down on his bed. He did not want to sleep until he came up with a solution to his problems, but as soon as he closed his eyes, he fell into a deep slumber.

When he opened his eyes, he was surprised to find the sun shining through his window. He could not believe that he had slept so deeply and so well, and he was sure it was because of what Chiara had done with her tears. He sat up feeling ashamed with himself for having slept so long and comfortably knowing she was in chains on the floor of a prison cell. Breaking through his thoughts, images from a dream flashed in his mind. The sudden vision of the lotus tile gave him an idea, and getting up, he quickly dressed and left to arrange a trip to Shu Jing.

Meanwhile, Captain Idem approached Iroh's cell surrounded by several other guards.

"Iroh, your execution is scheduled in five days; however, it has been decided that you will receive a full pardon..."

Though Iroh was suspicious and wondering what he could mean, he remained impassive until another guard brought Chiara in and threw her into the cell where she landed on her hands and knees. Iroh immediately knelt down next to her and put his hands on her shoulders to help her. Idem pulled out a knife and tossed it into the cell where it landed on the floor.

"...if you kill the Water Tribe prisoner."

Iroh looked at the knife and after slowly picking it up, he got to his feet.

"Think about it, General," said Idem. "You'll be free to walk out of here and it'll cost you nearly nothing."

Iroh slowly walked to the cell door and stood in front of him.

"Is that what she is?" Iroh asked him as he looked at Chiara kneeling quietly on the floor. "Nearly nothing?"

"She's Water Tribe trash," said Idem. "I realize we missed one of those little Water village brats, but now we can rectify that mistake."

"And what makes her so different from your wife or your daughter?"

Idem looked offended, but before he could say anything, in a quick move, Iroh grabbed him through the bars and held the knife to his throat.

"Or even from you, Captain Idem?" Iroh asked deeply.

None of the guards had been prepared for it, but they were ready to attack on the captain's command.

"Release me..."

"Tell me how your life is worth more than hers?" demanded Iroh.

"You're giving up your own for a worthless little girl," he struggled to say.

Iroh pressed the blade deeper into Idem's neck. "You didn't answer me. How is your life worth more?"

"I am Fire Nation," growled the captain.

"That little girl is more loyal to the Fire Nation than you will ever be," said Iroh, "and she has more value than you will ever know."

As soon as he released the captain, the other guards entered the cell and started beating him. Chiara stood up to help him, but one of the guards pushed her against the wall and another helped hold her back as she struggled to get to Iroh.

"No. Please stop hurting him," she begged.

They restrained Iroh and as soon as they released Chiara she ran and knelt down by his side as the guards left the cell.

"Enjoy her company while you can," snarled Idem a bit hoarsely as he was rubbing his neck. "Your execution stays as scheduled."

He walked away as Chiara was helping Iroh to the mat where she began looking over him.

"I will be all right," he said.

"Not going down without a fight, eh?"

He chuckled. "Oh, that hurts. Never."

Picking up a cup of tea nearby, she used it to heal injuries.

"It's good to see you again," he said.

Tears were falling down her cheeks.

"Oh, Chiara," he said sympathetically, "do not cry over me."

The next morning when food was brought to the cell, it was only enough for one person. Since Iroh was still restrained and unable to move much, Chiara picked up the tray, and taking it to him, she knelt down.

"You should eat," he said. "I will not be able to anyways."

She picked up the bowl and proceeded feeding him to his surprise.

When Iroh noticed there was little food left, he refused to eat anymore. "You eat the rest," he insisted.

"I'm not very hungry," she said as she set it down.

She picked up the cup of tea for him.

"It feels cold," she said.

"Cold tea," he sighed. "The cook should be the one in chains."

She held the cup in one hand and waved her other hand over it causing the tea to bubble.

"Are you sure you're not a firebender?" he asked.

"Things might not be so bad for you if I were," she said sadly.

"You're perfect as you are," he said.

She held the cup so he could drink.

That day, Azula approached Zuko.

"Where were you all day yesterday?" she asked him.

"Shu Jing."

She huffed. "Visiting your old sword master no doubt."

He remained silent.

"So I guess you haven't heard the good news then."

"What?" he asked almost uninterestedly.

"Uncle Fatso's been condemned to death."

"What?!"

"Oh, it gets better," she laughed. "They offered him a full pardon if he executed another prisoner. Of course, being a coward, he refused," she added in a disgusted tone.

"What about Chiara?"

"Life in prison for that traitorous spy," she said blandly. "She got off much too easy if you ask me." A devious smile grew across her face. "But I think a little accident can be arranged to take care of her."

"Leave her alone, Azula!"

She glared at him. "You still care about that traitorous Water peasant? She lied to you...for years. Uncle never should've brought her here."

"She's suffered enough."

She let out a condescending laugh. "Suffered? Iroh spoiled that brat. She doesn't know what suffering is."

Zuko was ready to lose his temper, but he knew he needed to keep control. "Just leave her alone."

He turned and walked away from her, and he immediately went to the court where he confronted the lead member.

"What are their sentences?" he asked.

"The Water Tribe girl is to be imprisoned for life, and Iroh has been sentenced to death."

"Why?" demanded Zuko. "They're not traitors or spies!"

"We were lenient with the girl as she was only a child when she was brought to the Fire Nation, but Iroh has proven himself a traitor by bringing her here and by assisting the Avatar against the Fire Nation. We did offer him a pardon, but he rejected the conditions; therefore, his sentence stands."

"This is wrong! I demand an appeal!"

"There will be no appeals."

"Then you need to change their sentences."

"The final decision was the Fire Lord's," he said.

Zuko stormed out of the court wondering whether or not he should confront his father. He stopped briefly as he considered it.

Leaving the court he decided to go to the prison to confront his uncle.

"Uncle, they offered you a way out...," he started when he entered the cell. "Chiara? What are you doing here?" he asked seeing her kneeling near Iroh.

"They moved me here yesterday," she said softly.

"I-I heard about your sentences. Is it true, Uncle?" he asked. "Did you refuse a pardon?"

"I would not do what they required," he said.

"Why not?" asked Zuko. "It would get you out of here."

"Would you do what they asked of me for your freedom, Prince Zuko?" Iroh asked him.

"Please," Chiara pleaded, "I beg you, take the offer."

"I lost one child," said Iroh. "I will not lose another."

Zuko was confused by their words.

"Death will be freedom compared to life in prison," she said, "and you'll be free too."

"I won't do it," insisted Iroh.

"What are you talking about?" asked Zuko just as it hit him. "Chiara, are-are you the prisoner he's supposed to execute?"

Zuko was stunned and he understood why Iroh refused, but he was still distressed by his upcoming execution. Chiara stood up, and walking over to the bars, she knelt down before Zuko.

"Can't you challenge his sentence?" she asked him.

"I testified for both of you, and I've been trying to fight against your imprisonments," he said. "They won't listen to me."

She bowed her head before him. "As Crown Prince of the Fire Nation, convince them to take my life in his place. I'll take his sentence for his freedom."

Zuko was stunned to see her kneeling before him and pleading for his uncle just as she had done for the Avatar. He knelt down in front of her.

"Do not do as she asks, Zuko," said Iroh.

Zuko knew he could never do what she was requesting. "I can't do that, Chiara."

"Can't or won't?" she asked in tears.

He took her hand in his.

"Tell them I was a spy, and that the General had no idea what I was..."

"No!" said Iroh.

"Don't ask that of me," said Zuko.

"But he doesn't deserve it...," she said sadly.

"Neither do you," he said.

"I don't want to lose my father," she cried softly.

Zuko's heart was broken over her tears, and he reached through the bars and tenderly brushed them away. Even Iroh felt heartbroken as he listened to her crying over him.

Zuko sighed. "I have to go," he said having no desire to leave her.

He caressed her head, and then he took her hand in both of his and kissed it.

"I'll be back as soon as I can."

He left, and they did not see him the rest of the day.

The next day after lunch for one was served, Chiara picked up the bowl and began feeding Iroh. Zuko walked in and approached the cell where he saw her kneeling next to Iroh feeding him even with shackles on her wrists. He looked at her long hair as it fell to the floor and her sweet face that concentrated on taking care of his uncle. When Iroh saw how little of the food was left, he stopped eating.

"You eat the rest," he said.

"Please finish it," she said. "I have no appetite."

"You're looking quite thin."

"He's right, Chiara," said Zuko. "You are looking thin. I was able to get some roast duck from Tai."

Iroh's eyes grew wide as he looked at Zuko holding the box of food. Chiara set the bowl down, and walking over to Zuko, she reached out to take the box from him, but he would not let it go.

"Promise me you'll eat some," he said.

She hesitated, but then she gave him a small nod. She returned to Iroh's side where she knelt down and picked up the cup of tea.

"It's cold again," she said.

"And I am the one locked in prison?" said Iroh shaking his head in disgust. "Cold tea is the real crime."

"Are you sure we're in the Fire Nation?" she said.

He chuckled. "You wouldn't think so with the lack of hot tea."

Zuko was surprised to see Iroh laugh considering his impending execution.

"Do you want to warm it up?" she asked him.

"Put it here," he said as he held his hand away from his chest.

She placed the cup in his hand and he heated it up, and then she helped him drink it.

"Why do they still have you restrained, Uncle?" asked Zuko.

"Apparently, Captain Idem didn't like having a knife to his throat," he said.

"You put a knife to his throat?" he asked finding it hard to believe that Iroh would threaten a guard. "Why did you do that?"

"He offered me my pardon."

Zuko understood, and he could not help but feel proud of his uncle for defending Chiara. He remained with them in the prison for as long as he could, having no desire to return to the palace.

A/N: Scanning through these last two chapters, I realize a lot more could have been done with them had I time and energy to put into it. So here's some explanations that might not have been written in:
There were two reasons why Zuko removed his wedding ring at their apartment in Ba Sing Se: 1) He did so out of anger that he broke his vow to protect her, and he felt he didn't deserve to wear it at least until he could atone for his mistake; and 2) He did it to prevent Azula or Ozai from discovering he was married to a waterbender because he was sure they would hurt her.
When Chiara returned his ring in the prison, she did so to release him from his vows to her so he could be free to fulfill the destiny he's always longed for. She never wanted him to have to choose between her and the Fire Nation because deep down, she suspected she wouldn't be his choice. She was also preparing for the end and letting go of him since she was expecting to be put to death.
When he leaves her cell in anger after she returns the ring, he isn't angry with her but with himself for the pain he's caused her.

And Captain Idem, who is now captain of the guard in the prison, was the one who ordered the slaughter of Chiara's village in the beginning.