A/N: I know the ending of that chapter sucked, but Zuko didn't have any intention of leaving or betraying his wife or uncle. For him it was "get the Avatar, get my honor back, we go home together and live happily ever after." And even though Chiara begged him not to follow Azula, it wasn't too much of a shock to her that he did. She went into the relationship knowing his loyalty to the Fire Nation and his desire for honor. It was mentioned in the chapter before with a tweaked Godfather III moment: "You may think you've let go of it, but it will draw you back because it's who you are." But it seemed like he finally settled down and was ready to live a quiet life in Ba Sing Se, so she took the chance.

But Zuko, always ready to return to the Fire Nation, chose to follow Azula. And his betrayal wasn't joining Azula, but it was watching Iroh and Chiara fight while he stood back and did nothing to help them.

Some other possible scenarios:

If Zuko had joined Iroh and Chiara, they could have won the battle, but by now, Ba Sing Se has been conquered by the Fire Nation, and all three would eventually end up in prison and/or executed.

If Iroh and Chiara had stayed out of the fight, the story would have gone in a different direction. This is what Zuko was actually expecting.

If Chiara had gone with the Avatar, that would make an interesting alternate of an alternate story.

When she made the decision to stay and aid Iroh, her biggest mistake was revealing that she's a waterbender to Azula. This is what really ruined Zuko's plans. He might've been able to salvage the situation had it only been Iroh attacking, or even Chiara attacking without waterbending in which she would've been defeated quickly, but as soon as she revealed what she could do, that made her and Iroh's situation worse.

The guard led Iroh into a cell in the ship's prison, and after he stepped out, another guard led Chiara into the same cell.

"Since you betrayed your own nation for this filth, you can stay together," he said. He pushed Chiara against the wall with his hand on her throat. "Is the Daughter of the Dragon of the West going to spit fire at me?" he laughed.

Suddenly, Iroh rammed into the guard with his shoulder forcing him into the bars. The other guard tried to enter the cell, but Iroh kicked the door shut before again ramming the guard inside into the wall now. The other guard entered, but Chiara stood in front of him to block him from Iroh. The guard grabbed hold of her, spun her around, and put a knife to her throat.

"I will kill her now," he threatened.

Iroh stopped and turned towards them. The guard behind him stood up and hit him in the back causing him to fall to his knees and then raised his hand as he produced a fire whip. The guard holding Chiara let her go, and she immediately knelt down by Iroh and caught part of the whip as it lashed him. Iroh felt angry that the guard struck her too.

"Chiara, stop," he said.

He went to stand up to attack the guard again.

"Let's just leave them here to rot," said one guard to the other as he quickly exited the cell before Iroh could get up.

They locked the door and left while Chiara helped Iroh to the cot.

"You should not have defended me," he said.

"They were too cruel to you."

"You can heal my wounds, but you will not be able to heal your own," he said.

"Does it even matter now?"

She knelt down on the floor next to him and looked over his wounds.

"I'm sorry," she said.

"It's not you who should be sorry. I-I thought he had changed."

She put her face in her hands and began crying as she thought about Iroh's fate and Zuko's actions.

"Chiara...," he said, his heart broken over her sadness.

She looked up and began waterbending the tears in her hand, and she used them to heal his bruises and other wounds he sustained during the battle.

"I wish I could hug you right now," he said as she finished healing him.

He could not move his arms as his wrists were chained against his chest. Chiara, whose wrists were just shackled, leaned against his legs and rested her head against his knee.

After a long time of contemplating whether he should tell her about Aang, he finally decided to do so. "The Avatar is dead," he said softly.

"What?" she said looking up at him.

"I was too late in the catacombs; Azula struck him with lightning while he was in the Avatar state."

"No," she cried softly. "Not Aang..."

"I'm sorry," he whispered.

Iroh felt guilty for breaking the news to her, but he knew she needed to know. Chiara's heart was broken even more feeling there was no hope left.

Back at the Earth king's palace, Azula was sitting on the throne while Zuko stood by her side.

"We've done it, Zuko," said Azula. "It's taken a hundred years, but the Fire Nation has conquered Ba Sing Se."

"I betrayed Uncle and Chiara," he said softly.

"No, they betrayed you." She stood up. "Zuko, when you return home, Father will welcome you as a war hero."

"But I don't have the Avatar. What if father doesn't restore my honor?"

"He doesn't need to, Zuko," she said placing her hand on his shoulder. "Today, you restored your own honor."

He did not feel honorable. His heart felt broken as he thought about Chiara. He had hoped to have his honor and his place as Crown Prince of the Fire Nation with Chiara by his side. Now, however, everyone would know that she was a waterbender, and he knew his father would only see her as an enemy of the nation.

Iroh and Chiara were taken to the Fire Nation where they were imprisoned in separate cells in the Capital City Prison.

Before leaving Ba Sing Se, Zuko returned to their Upper Ring apartment. While he was packing a bag, there was a knock at the door. He picked up his dao swords and carefully opened the door to see Fire Sage Shyu standing there.

"I've come to speak to Iroh," he said.

"He's not here," said Zuko.

"He's not in the tea shop, is he? I just came from there, and it's closed."

"Look," started Zuko in a low voice, "you need to get out of Ba Sing Se. It's not safe here anymore."

"That's what I wanted to speak to him about."

"He already knows. Just leave the city."

"And go where?" asked Shyu.

Zuko did not know how to answer him, but after Shyu left, he walked into Chiara's room. Just like her cabin on his ship, it could have been unoccupied. When he sat down on her bed, he looked down as the guilt weighed heavily on him. His eyes caught sight of her ring on his hand, the ring she placed on his finger on their wedding day after they promised to protect, cherish, and honor each other. He did not think his heart could sink any lower. He removed her ring.

Soon he was on his way back to the Fire Nation, arriving the day after Iroh and Chiara. Despite him being home and the welcome he received, his thoughts were preoccupied with worry over Chiara and Iroh.

Arriving at the palace, he walked into his bedroom for the first time in years; he looked around remembering the last time he stood there wondering when he would return, and now he was back. Nothing had changed; nothing but him. He placed the bag he was carrying on his bed, and opening it he pulled out a small rolled up canvas wrapped with their gold wedding ribbon. He unraveled the ribbon and opened the canvas and stared at the image of him and Chiara on their wedding day. He delicately ran his fingers over her image, and then he rolled it up and hid it away. Out of his pocket he pulled the green crystal she had given him on her return from the Earth Kingdom years ago. Holding it in his hand, he realized it was the only thing he managed to keep over the years. He left the Fire Nation with it, and he returned with it. He had lost everything else during his exile, most of it gone up in flames aboard his ship, except for the only two people who truly cared for him; those he lost due to his own inaction. He walked over to the window and held the crystal up in the sunlight causing it to glow, and as he looked at it, he could see his scar reflecting in it, the scar that should have been worse over his eye that should have been blind. He placed the crystal down on the ledge returning it to the spot where he kept it before his banishment. His eyes were drawn out the window to the palace pond in the distance. He turned and left his room, and went out to sit by the pond where he threw bread to the turtle ducks and sat lost in his thoughts of Chiara, thinking about the first day they met. When Azula spotted him out there, she walked up to him.

"You seem so downcast," she said. "Are you still thinking about that Water tramp?"

Zuko felt angry by her insult, but he did not want her to know what he was thinking. "I haven't seen Dad yet. I haven't seen him in three years, since I was banished."

"So what?"

"So, I didn't capture the Avatar," he said.

"Who cares? The Avatar is dead...unless you think he somehow miraculously survived."

Suddenly an image of the Crystal Catacombs flashed before Zuko's eyes. Among his worried thoughts, he had completely forgotten about Katara and her spirit water.

"No," he said. "There's no way he could have survived."

She eyed him suspiciously.

"Well, then I'm sure you have nothing to worry about," she said before walking away.

Later, Zuko was called to meet with the Fire Lord. He approached the throne room stopping to take a deep breath before separating the curtains. He could see the silhouette of his father behind the wall of flames. He entered the room walking towards the throne, and then he bowed down before Ozai.

"You've been away for a long time," said his father. "I see the weight of your travels has changed you. You have redeemed yourself, my son." He stood up and walked towards Zuko. "Welcome home." He walked in front of him. "I am proud of you, Prince Zuko. I am proud because you and your sister conquered Ba Sing Se. I am proud because when your loyalty was tested by your treacherous uncle, you did the right think and captured the traitor and his spy."

Zuko bit his tongue as he felt his anger rise from his father's words. Ozai now walked behind Zuko.

"And I am proudest of all of your most legendary accomplishment: you slay the Avatar."

Zuko was shocked. "What did you hear?"

"Azula told me everything. She said she was amazed and impressed at your power and ferocity at the moment of truth."

That night, Zuko entered Azula's bedroom while she was sleeping.

"Why'd you do it?" he asked.

"You're going to have to be a little more specific," she said.

"Why did you tell Father that I was the one who killed the Avatar?"

"Can't this wait until the morning?"

"It can't."

She sighed and opened her eyes. "Fine," she said before sitting up. "You seemed so worried about how Father would treat you because you hadn't captured the Avatar, I figured if I gave you the credit, you'd have nothing to worry about."

"But why?"

She started getting out of bed. "Call it a generous gesture. I wanted to thank you for your help and I was happy to share the glory."

"You're lying," he said.

"If you say so."

"You have another motive for doing this; I just haven't figured out what it is."

"Please, Zuko, what ulterior motive could I have? What could I possibly gain by letting you get all the glory for defeating the Avatar?" She stood close to him. "Unless, somehow, the Avatar was actually alive. All that glory would suddenly turn to shame and foolishness. But you said it yourself, that was impossible." Zuko started walking out. "Sleep well, Zuzu."

Early the next day, Zuko walked into the prison. He was anxious to see Chiara, but he decided to visit Iroh first.

"Uncle," he said after enter the cell. Iroh's head was down. "It's me."

Iroh turned his back to him and faced the wall. Zuko felt offended by his cold shoulder.

"You brought this on yourself, you know," he said. "We could've returned together. You could've been a hero. Chiara...Chiara wouldn't have used her power to help you. No one would know and she wouldn't be locked in this prison."

Iroh turned away from him even more which further angered Zuko.

"You have no right to judge me, Uncle," said Zuko. "I did what I had to do in Ba Sing Se, and you're a fool for not joining me."

Iroh remained silent.

"You're not going to say anything?"

In anger Zuko kicked a small stool and destroyed it with fire.

"You're a crazy old man! You're crazy! And if you weren't in jail you'd be sleeping in a gutter!" he yelled angrily.

Zuko stormed out and stood in the hall steaming. He wanted to leave the prison, but he could not bring himself to leave without seeing Chiara, so he walked to her cell. Approaching the bars that separated them, he saw her kneeling on the floor leaning against the wall as her long dark locks flowed around her. He felt a mixture of emotions: love, anger, regret. He could not help but love her as he had always done. He was angry that she was shackled in prison, and he regretted that he did nothing to help her escape.

"Chiara," he said.

She looked up at him.

"Chiara, I'm sorry."

She said nothing but looked back down. He wondered if she was going to ignore him as Iroh did.

"I didn't mean for you to end up here," he said. "If Uncle hadn't fought against us you wouldn't be in prison."

"He told me to leave; it was my decision not to."

He knelt down on the floor to be eye level with her.

"I-I should've...I should've helped you escape," he said softly.

"I had a chance to escape, but I didn't take it, so don't blame yourself," she said sadly still looking down. "I'm here by my own choices."

He felt even worse.

"How's my father?" she asked.

"He's..." He wanted to say 'stubborn.' "...he won't talk to me," he said with some bitterness in his tone.

"Give him time. He loves you, and he's hurt."

"He's hurt?" he asked trying to keep his voice calm. "If he had joined me he wouldn't be sitting in a prison cell right now. The whole Fire Nation is calling him a traitor."

"Not supporting genocide doesn't make him a traitor."

"They're also saying you're a spy for the Water Nation," he said.

She looked at him. "What do you say?"

"I know you're not a spy, but there's talk of execution."

"Don't feel bad for me, Prince Zuko. You have what you've been searching for for so long. You're where you want to be...you're home."

"I don't have everything I wanted. I want you by my side," he said softly.

"You knew that could never be if we returned."

"But it could've been," he insisted. "No one had to know you were a waterbender."

"Did you really expect me to leave my father to defend himself?"

"Yes, I did. They wouldn't be talking about executing either of you if you hadn't tried to help him."

She looked down.

"Chiara...I-I didn't mean...ugh! It didn't have to be this way!" He felt frustrated. "I'm going to find a way to get you out of here."

He left feeling worse. He felt angry with himself for trying to blame Iroh and Chiara. He was reminded of Katara's words: You'd probably betray Chiara if it meant capturing Aang. He realized he had done what he thought he could never do. He returned to the palace to his room where he began pacing, pondering over how he could help them starting with legal means and even considering breaking them out—however impossible—but he kept it in the back of his mind as a last resort option. Frustrated at his lack of ideas, he sat down on his bed and rubbed his temples. Raising his head a green glow on the window ledge caught his eye, and he stood up and walked to the window where he picked up the crystal. Suddenly, an idea came to him, and he opened a drawer and pulled out a cylinder.

That afternoon, Zuko attended the meeting where Iroh and Chiara's sentences were being discussed.

"Prince Zuko, you have testimony to offer at this hearing?" he was asked by the lead member of the court after the discussion between the court members.

Zuko stood up. "I'm testifying on behalf of Iroh and Chiara."

"The evidence that Iroh is a traitor is very clear as well as the evidence that the Water Tribe girl is a spy."

"You claimed that Iroh is a traitor for allowing the Avatar to escape, but the Avatar died during the battle in the Crystal Catacombs before Iroh arrived."

"Princess Azula claimed that he fought against her and the Dai Li who were working with her."

"He only allowed the waterbender that travels with the Avatar to escape. That doesn't make him a traitor."

"Fighting against the Princess makes him a traitor," one of the members argued.

"And he also secretly raised a Water Tribe spy within the Fire Nation," said another.

"Chiara's not a Water Tribe spy," argued Zuko. "I grew up with her; she's never shown an interest in the war other than expressing her concern over Iroh and Lu Ten's safety."

"She is a waterbender who hid her power while living in the Fire Nation..."

"That doesn't make her a spy," said Zuko. "She was just a child when she was brought here. She only hid her power because she would've been put to death just for being a waterbender. She's a loyal subject of the Fire Nation."

"The testimony of Princess Azula says that she attacked her and the Dai Li with 'great violence' in defense of the Avatar..."

"She wasn't protecting the Avatar," interrupted Zuko. "She was protecting Iroh...and me," he added.

"Why was she protecting you?" asked one of the members.

"I was caught in the crossfire of Azula's attacks. Chiara protected me."

"Why didn't you stop her?"

"Because she was only trying to protect Iroh. I didn't see that as a threat."

"Her crimes include aiding the traitor Iroh," said one of the members. "And this isn't the first time she assisted the traitor. We have testimony that she attacked Princess Azula on her ship as well as attacked her again in an abandoned mining town in the Earth Kingdom..."

"She never attacked Azula on her ship," said Zuko. "Azula attacked me, and Chiara stood between us to protect me."

"What about the mining town?"

"Azula attacked Iroh, and Chiara remained with him. She never attacked Azula."

"It's been brought up that Iroh had planned on using the Water spy to usurp the throne of the Fire Lord," said the lead member.

"That's not true," said Zuko as he placed a cylinder on the table before them. "And I have proof."

"What is this?"

"These are letters written to me by Chiara when she left the Fire Nation after Prince Lu Ten's death."

"And what is their significance?"

"They show that she was loyal to the Fire Nation and that Iroh had no intentions of usurping the throne."

He pulled out one of the letters and began to read.

Dear Zuko, I hope this letter finds you well. I made it safely to the camp in the Earth Kingdom. Please give Aunt Ursa my thanks again for her help in arranging this trip for me. I'll always be indebted to her. The day after I arrived we held Lu Ten's funeral. I was able to see him one last time, but it's not how I wish to remember him. As for the General, I'm very worried about him. I knew my grief over Lu Ten could not be greater than his, but the General's sad disposition increases the pain in my heart. I've been staying by his side and tending to his needs, but I know it must bring him so little comfort compared to his loss. I hope to see you soon. Chiara.

Besides showing their loyalty to the Fire Nation, Zuko was hoping to gain the sympathy of the court for Iroh by letting them hear Chiara's account after the loss of his son. He looked at another letter.

Dear Zuko, I'm glad to hear you've been doing well. The General and I will be leaving camp to return home soon. Though I'm glad to be going home, I fear it will not be the same without Lu Ten, and I'm worried that it will be even more difficult for the General. He still rarely leaves the tent, and he refuses to keep much company with the other officers except what's necessary to speak. I haven't tried to engage him in much conversation, but I've been serving him in whatever he needs. I bring his meals and make his tea and communicate to the officers as he directs me. I wish so much that I could relieve the pain he suffers in his heart.

And I hope the next time we communicate it will be face to face. Chiara.

He pulled out another letter.

Dear Prince Zuko, I heard the news of Fire Lord Azulon's death, and I'm deeply saddened by the loss you suffered. I wish I could've been there for you to share in your grief. Of course, the news has been another wound to the poor General, and I believe it's for this reason that we will not be returning to the Fire Nation yet. I had hoped to see you soon, but after learning of his father's passing, the General is not ready to go home, and I'm joining him on his journey. I don't know where we'll be traveling, but I'll continue writing you.

Also, I can't adequately express in words my joy for you on your becoming Crown Prince of the Fire Nation. It's only unfortunate that such status comes with the loss of family. I know, however, that one day you will make a most honorable Fire Lord. Your humble and loyal subject, Chiara.

Zuko's heart started beating faster as he was reading her words. He remembered the first time he read it how he noticed that she addressed him as 'Prince,' a title by which she continued addressing him since then and even after their marriage. His heart stirred now as it did at his first reading of her closing as she called herself his 'humble and loyal subject.'

He flipped through other letters, including the one in which Chiara expressed her sadness over Ursa's disappearance. He pulled out the last one.

Dear Prince Zuko, I apologize for my delay in getting this letter to you. I haven't forgotten you and you're in my thoughts every day. I'm overjoyed to tell you that we're on our way back to the Fire Nation. Don't be surprised if you don't recognize your uncle, though; I believe he's overindulged in the various cuisines of every village we visited, but it'll be good to taste Tai's food again.

It feels like forever since I've set my eyes on home. After all this time I have yet to see anything as beautiful and peaceful as the General's garden and I can't wait to walk through it again. The hardest part will be that Lu Ten will not be there to enjoy it. And now that you're in the palace, I'll also miss seeing you on the wall.

Since we're already on a ship headed for home, this is the last letter I'll be writing on this voyage—Raptor is yours.

I can't wait to be in your company again. Your humble and loyal subject, Chiara.

"These letters show Chiara's loyalty to the Fire Nation," he said. "She expressed her sorrow over the loss of Prince Lu Ten and sadness over Iroh's grief. She refers to herself as a humble and loyal subject, and she calls the Fire Nation home. There isn't a single word in them that shows she was a spy. She was a daughter to Iroh comforting him after the loss of his son. There's no indication that he was training her as a spy or that he was attempting to usurp the throne. If you execute them, you'll be killing innocent subjects of the Fire Nation."

The next day, Zuko returned to the prison. He decided to visit Chiara first and found her kneeling in the same spot as if she had never moved. He knelt down on the floor on the other side of the bars.

"Chiara, I brought you some komodo chicken," he said as he slid it into her cell. "I had Tai make it the way you like."

As she slowly moved her hair to look at him, the rattle of the chains sent a painful jolt through his heart. She bowed her head again and looked down.

He continued sitting there with her not wanting to leave her alone, but he did not know what to say to her. He knew there was nothing comforting he could say, so he stayed with her just to keep her company and to remain in her company. After a long time of sitting quietly with her, he stood up.

"I'm going to visit Uncle. Do you have any messages for him?"

"Tell him I love him."

He nodded. "I will."

He went to Iroh's cell where he knelt down outside the bars.

"I brought you some komodo chicken," he said as he slid it into Iroh's cell. "I know you don't care for it, but I figure it beats prison food." Iroh said nothing. "I talked to Chiara. She told me to tell you she loves you."

Iroh wondered if it was true or if Zuko had just said it to elicit a response from him, but he did not respond.

"I admit it," said Zuko. "I have almost everything I ever wanted, but it's not at all how I thought it would be." Iroh was still quiet. "The truth is I need your advice. I think the Avatar is still alive. I know he's out there. I'm losing my mind." Iroh did not answer him. "Please, Uncle, I'm so confused. I need your help." Iroh still did not speak, and Zuko became angry. "Forget it," he yelled as he stood up. "I'll solve this myself. Waste away in here for all I care." He stormed out.

Later, after Zuko had cooled down, he began thinking and worrying about Chiara. He grabbed his tsungi horn and went to a spot in the mountain near the prison. He found the window of her cell, and he settled into a spot hidden behind some boulders and he began playing. As Chiara sat quietly in her cell, she suddenly heard the sound of the tsungi horn playing in the distance. She sat up and attentively listened to make sure it was not in her head. Her heart beat faster as she recognized the song she and Zuko had composed together. She lay down on the mat, closed her eyes, and focused on the music, and she was reminded of when she would play the erhu for him outside his quarters on the ship.

(Yes, tearbending's a thing...thanks, Actor Sokka)