A/N: I'm really sorry for the long update, but the college semester is really demanding, so updates will take longer. But I'll try my best.

5. Old Scars and New Scars

"Prince Zuko?"

The prince looked up with feverish eyes. His face was pale, contrasting with his black clothes and the dark red scar. The hair, usually tied up into a phoenix tail, was wet from sweat and now was stuck to his neck. With his left hand, he was clumsily trying to hide a blue mask behind his back while his right hand was…

"Sir, your shoulder."

"I… came to… I think, I'm not well," with that the prince disgorged another dose of stomach fluids.

Ming instinctivelly almost stepped back, but as a medic he immediately recovered and helped his commander on his feet and led him into his self-made infirmary.

"Prince Zuko, we were going to look for you, but there was an emergency and everybody had to leave. What happened to you?"

The prince didn't answer. He couldn't or he didn't want to. He just kept clutching his head, so Ming just put him on the cot.

The first thing, that Ming thought of, was, that the young prince escaped and overdid it with the drinking, but there was no smell of alcohol coming from the prince or the vomit on his porch. The boy smelled only of smoke and sweat. Ming quickly prepared a basin with water and soaked a couple of bandages.

"Sir, you have to tell me what happened!"

Zuko looked on him with effort, like he couldn't maintain focus. "I burned myself… in the fire… the town," he said slowly searching for words while looking amazedly on the burned shoulder.

"I can see that," said Ming quietly while ripping off the remains of the sleeve. Zuko responded with a silent hiss and his shoulders tensed a bit, when the cold bandage was applied. "And besides that? Other burns or …" Then it hit him: "Have you hit your head or injured it otherwise?"

"Y-yes," came the answer after a long pause and that was it.

Well, if you don't want to speak, then don't. "Hold these bandages to your shoulder," Ming ordered him then and took a candle from the table to check the reaction of his eyes and examined the prince's head closely. Zuko reacted with a sharp inhale when he touched the sore place on the back of his head. There was already a bump growing.

"It looks like you have a concussion. How strong was the blow?"

"Not that strong, I think."

"Did you lose consciousness?"

"No, I didn't."

Ming nodded.

He soaked new bandages and cleaned the wound. The burn didn't seem to be very serious. After a few weeks, there shouldn't be any scar left. But Ming couldn't help but be reminded of the first weeks on the ship. It was him after all, who was tending the mysterious burn on his face. He still felt a slight pinch of guilt that he couldn't be of better help. The burn was very deep back then and whole slices of dead tissue were coming off for weeks. It had to be a firebending injury - that much he was sure of. The process of changing the bandages was a bloody and a painful routine for the prince in the first months, but it had to be done, if they didn't want the wound to get infected. It was also that time when Ming learnt to respect the young commander, at least for his quiet enduring of the painful sessions. He had to go through too much for somebody that young. Somehow, the rest of the crew tended to forget about that due to the prince's temper tantrums.

This time, luckily, it were only blisters, so he just bandaged the arm and gave him a glass of water. "Drink it while I send someone after the General..."

"No!"

Ming didn't expect such a sudden reaction from the still dazed prince. "You mustn't tell… don't tell anybody about today. Nobody can see me. I will go to my cabin…" He tried to get up, but he lost his balance immediately, so he sat down again.

How was he supposed to tell anybody anything if he didn't even know what was going on? And why should he even follow the stubborn prince's silly orders? The boy couldn't even think right in the moment. But he also couldn't ignore his commander's direct order.

"Sir, stay here. Your uncle was worried. He has to be told that you're back." He saw that Zuko wanted to protest, so he stopped him by lifting his hand. "I can tell him that you came back not exactly in a sober condition and that you went to sleep right after."

Zuko processed the option Ming proposed, then he slowly nodded in agreement.

"Drink the water while I'm gone!" This time he didn't protest and Ming went to look for somebody who had stayed on the ship.

Ming walked up to the deck where he found two remaining non-bender guards, Zanshi and Hien, playing cards . Hien noticed him but didn't look away from his cards.

"What's going on, Ming?"

Looking upon the men, Ming wasn't surprised that a boy with concussion could get pass them so easily.

"Prince Zuko is back. I'll go to tell the general." Both men looked on him with surprise.

"Prince Zuko? When…?"

"Just a short while ago. He wasn't very well. The boy hasn't learnt to hold his drink yet." All of them laughed, Ming only pretending. He would never be able to laugh at someone in such a bad condition as he left the prince downstairs.

"I have to go, but there is some washing up to do in front of my cabin. If you could help…"

"You've got to be kidding me," Zanshi stopped laughing right away, but Hien poked his comrade.

"Of course, we'll do it. Just go to the town already."

While leaving, Ming heard Zanshi complain some more: "What will come next? Will we have to wipe his royal arse?" Well, this idea certainly didn't help the relationship between the crew and their commander to get better.

He walked into the infirmary to find Zuko asleep, still sitting and holding the empty glass. I wasn't even gone for so long, wondered Ming. He took the glass from the prince's hands and put him down on the cot.

Only then he took his time to observe things as Zuko's clothes, which certainly weren't his usual, or the mask which fell on the floor when he was taking him inside. Watching the bandages covering the burn, he was trying to put the pieces together.

They noticed Zuko's absence only after the girl came to the ship screaming up from the pier, calling for help, when they wanted to inform their commander of what's going on. He must have been long gone by then, but they had to put the extinguishing of the fire over the search for the prince. Those who stayed on the ship were ordered to let the others know about his return.

Zuko's clothes, the mask, smell of smoke and the burn, they all spoke about Zuko being near the fire, while not wanting to be recognized. It didn't make much sense to Ming, but he decided to make the prince speak once he wakes up.

What is that boy up to? Ming knew of Zuko's headstrongness and obstinacy, he had to have a strong reason to be wandering around the town. Slowly, he started to think that the prince has something to do with the fire. It wouldn't be that surprising, as the prince somehow liked to get into trouble.

Ming couldn't waste more time, he put the pack on again and headed out. They surely needed him.


Zuko was back in the arena. Dozens of people were standing in the auditorium waiting in silence for what is going to happen on the stage. Agni Kai. Zuko was once again asking his Father for forgiveness. He looked up on the person standing above him. But this time, it wasn't the face of his father he saw. Instead it was that soldier with bloodlust in the eyes. He made a growling noise and hauled off a fist to Zuko's face. He made a defensive movement with his arms but a burning pain in his shoulder stopped him.

"Sir! Wake up!"

Zuko opened his eyes. Instead of burning eyes he saw Ming's strict, but somewhat worried face. Zuko couldn't make out where he is or what is going on, what does the ship's healer want from him or why is everything around him spinning. The pain in his upper arm woke him up and the memories from the previous night started to come back making his headache. But Ming was already giving him a strange hot beverage. It was blood red and overly sweet smelling. Zuko wrinkled his nose and backed from the substance as he almost gagged from the awful smell.

"I guess we have to wait with this, but you should drink it as early as possible before it loses its effects."

Zuko looked suspiciously at the glass as he put it back on the table. Noticing it, Ming smiled. "Don't worry, it's not a poison. Actually, it helped greatly to all of the firebenders." Then he gave him a cup of tea instead.

"It's only tea. Against the headache." This time Zuko took it, because his head truly throbbed with pain. Even thinking straight was hard. Looking around he started to remember how he got here. But the memory of arriving to the infirmary was so humiliating, that he regretted that he had to remember at all.

"You have concussion. You had to hit your head pretty hard yesterday. But it shouldn't be anything permanent, so in few days you won't feel a thing. Until then I recommend bed rest," said Ming while looking strictly to emphasize that he truly meant it.

Concussion. Yes, he mentioned it earlier. Even the memory of the hard impact with the square's stone pavement hurt and the bump on his head seemed like it was the center of the pain.

He was halfway through with the cup when he noticed that he was still in his black clothes from yesterday's night and his mask… where was his mask?

"You're looking for this?" Ming took the familiar mask from the table and waved with it. Zuko was going to take it from him and go right away to avoid any questions, but as he stood up hurriedly, his head started to spin once more and the nausea came back. He had to sit back. Ming was only smiling contently like he knew that Zuko couldn't escape. That made Zuko feel really incompetent and subsequently angry. Very angry, actually.

"You shouldn't make any sudden movements. It could make you sick in the next few days."

Zuko nodded and wanted to stand up more carefully, but Ming hasn't finished. "It was quite a long night yesterday. The whole market was burned down. All of us had to help. General Iroh taught the men a new technique of extinguishing fire. We never saw anything like it before. It was very effective." Ming made a dramatic pause, making Zuko know what is coming.

"It looks like that some thugs and firebenders got into a fight after a few drinks and set on fire the market stands."

Ming was looking at Zuko with probing eyes. But he decided to put on a stone face and not show anything.

"Apparently, some kind of mysterious figure with a blue face appeared and stopped the fight. The girl that came for our help, Yongchi was her name I think, was even claiming that it was the same blue spirit thing that sent her here and saved her brother."

There was long pause after. Zuko was looking into his cup, not knowing what to say. What was he actually supposed to say? The medic apparently didn't need any kind of confession. Everything was pretty clear.

"Did anybody get hurt?" he asked in the end.

"Few burns, nothing serious what time wouldn't fix."

Zuko looked up. The man was looking right back and it seemed that he was still waiting to hear some explanation. But Zuko didn't want to go deeper into things. He didn't want to say where his last night's trip started or anything else in particular. The medic already knew just enough.

"But you have slept all night in your cabin after you had too much to drink. Today, you're sick, so you'll stay in your bed resting while staying on a diet. I recommend lot of water, rest and no demanding movements. Am I clear?"

Zuko was confused at first, but then the feeling of gratefulness overwhelmed him. He expected that the older man would definitely want him to explain each detail or making threats about telling his Uncle. But it seemed it was not the case.

"But with all respect, sir, next time be more careful, because you would make your uncle worry too much," added Ming still with a strict face, while giving him back the blue mask.

"There will be no next time." Of that he'll make sure. There will be no stirring into other people's business. He's no vigilante. He's got his hands full of the search for the Avatar.

"That I'm glad to hear."

Zuko took the mask exchanging it for the cup he didn't want to finish. This time he stood up slower and wanted to leave for his room.

"Sir, take this with you," said Ming stopping him midway to the door. Zuko looked down to see that the medic was giving him the blood red beverage again.

"What is it?" asked Zuko failing to hide the suspicion from his voice.

"Well… there is no name for it yet. It's a beverage from a flower called Agni's Eye." Now Zuko didn't mind to look suspicious. He never heard about such a flower.

"It is for firebenders. It exemplifies the diminished inner fire. I guess it is exactly our case. That was why Riun was in such a bad condition. The drink should make the recovery a lot shorter. The sooner you drink it, the stronger will be the effects. It was already made yesterday when I gave it out to all of the benders, but you didn't bother to come to the meeting." Zuko looked on him grimly, as he didn't appreciate the man's tone, but took the drink nevertheless.

"I'll drink it." Holding the drink far from his face to keep the smell of it away, he finally left for his cabin walking slowly through the quiet corridors.

He closed the door behind him. It felt like ages being back in his cabin, when it was just last night. The first thing he did, was to put the mask safely back on its place. It was already too many people who knew about his disguise. Only then he carefully sat down on the futon.

Zuko examined the glass of the blood red fluid. It was thick and opaque. To overcome the sickness, Zuko clogged his nose and drank it in one gulp. The beverage left a strong sweet aftertaste in his mouth, making him look for water to flush it down. But the sudden effects made him stop mid-motion. Warm feeling was spreading from his throat and stomach, everywhere where the fluid made contact. He felt it reach deep within him, running through his veins, finding its way to the very center of his body.

Zuko almost forgot to breath. The first thought that came across his mind was that the drink is poisonous after all. But then it touched his inner fire, kindling it, until drops of sweat started to form on his body. That definitely marked the time to change his clothes. But before that he couldn't resist to try to firebend. He was just too curious. Zuko flicked his hand. The fire that followed came in a huge wave, almost burning down the tapestry with the Fire Nation insignia. Zuko jumped up in shock, immediately regretting the sudden movement.

"Where did Ming get this?" Zuko made a few other firebending katas, but he had to stop, if he didn't want to burn down his room completely.


The town was busy. Even busier than two days ago, when the market was still standing. The streets were full of people, especially men, but women and even children were also scattered through the crowd doing their best to be helpful. Every man seemed to be bringing logs or planks to the central square. Women were clearing the remains of the used-to-be marketplace or bringing refreshments for the men who were already building new stands.

Zuko was surprised at how quickly the town's people recovered, while he observed his surroundings walking down the main street from the port. Everybody was ready to give a hand in the works. What was really striking to Zuko, was the fact they even excepted help from his soldiers. They were now mixed in the working crowd, only their red clothing standing out. Zuko couldn't say he approved. They could have been long gone from this place, instead they were helping some peasants, doing charity work. They were Fire Nation soldiers for Agni's sake.

It was his Uncle's fault. His soldiers weren't obliged to help in any kind of construction work. He was just about angry with himself for getting involved in the whole fire business. It earned him only a constant headache and lost hours of training. And his Uncle just loved to stall his mission by any means necessary. Sometimes, he wondered, if his Uncle was distracting himself on purpose just for the enjoyment of torturing Zuko with his long shoppings and bath house visits or was it the old age and its quirks.

When he caught sight of his Uncle, it was all clear to him. The old man only wanted to show off his tea making skills. And this time he had a square-full of people. Uncle Iroh was currently walking among them, offering cups of his tea to the hard-working men. What was actually surprising, the people were excepting them, even smiling back on his Uncle. His Uncle must have made quite an impression on the town's people with putting out the fire, it was the only explanation. They were never welcomed this warmly at any place they visited, not even the Fire Nation colonies, not speaking of the Earth Kingdom. Maybe, it was thanks to the fact that this was not the Earth Kingdom and it wasn't touched by the war that much.

Still, despite the warm welcome, Zuko wanted to be already on the move. Zhao has also left, most probably recognizing his fault, leaving the mess his soldiers made to his Uncle to deal with. It was the main reason Zuko didn't like that it was them who were helping the town's people. Zhao managed to make a fool of him once again. It made his blood boil almost as much as that strange beverage Ming gave him two days ago.

He walked to the makeshift stall his Uncle used for making tea. The stall was standing on the side of the square, giving him a nice view of the whole market place. This way he could get a good view of his men working. Every one of them was there doing various works like sawing, nailing, lifting up the stands. Each of them looked engrossed in the work. None of them looked particularly suspicious. Not like Zuko expected to see it on the first look. Actually, he wouldn't even know if not for the visit of Zhao's ship. The only one missing was Ming. He was probably somewhere where he was needed. At least, that was what Zuko hoped for.

He spent the last two days thinking. Thinking really hard about what he found out in Zhao's office. The captain was keeping a too detailed track of his sailing routes. The only way of him knowing so much was that he had a spy on his board. Zhao was maybe pretending that he took his mission as a joke, but the man was more calculating than that. It looked like that he wanted to know everything about his journey, just for case. For the case that it would bring him promotion from my Father, thought Zuko bitterly.

It was because of these thoughts and rising paranoia that he barely got any sleep in the past days. But after a day spent in his cabin constantly fighting nausea and having dark thoughts, he had to get out. However, mainly he wanted to keep track of his soldiers. Until now, he didn't pay much attention to them or to what they were doing, except when he needed them on his expeditions. This will have to change now. That or he would need to get much more careful.

Any of his men could be the one informing Zhao. Actually, it could be each one of them. Zuko knew of their dislike of him. They could be doing it just out of spite and it wouldn't even surprise him. Maybe except Ming. In fact, it was his biggest fear. Ming knew more than any of the others. It could turn against him quickly. If it was Ming who was Zhao's informant, then the captain could already know it was him who fought his men two days prior. The thought made his head ache more, to the edge of the unbearable. He had to find out who was the spy and he could only hope that it would not be the ship's medic.

"Prince Zuko, your frown can make adults run for their lives! Here, have some nice jasmine tea."

Zuko's line of thought was abruptly cut by his Uncle's sudden appearance. The comment certainly didn't make him frown less, if not more.

Uncle Iroh was bringing back empty cups to wash and refill and in his shadow trailed a smaller girl, also bringing a tray of empty cups. She was peeking out from behind his Uncle's back, big eyes set on Zuko's face. His annoyance was growing, until he realized that he knows those eyes, although they were looking on him with bigger fear than two days ago.

"Don't be afraid, Yongchi. You see, my nephew is upset only because he hasn't got his share of the finest tea this island has ever tasted." Uncle Iroh was smiling from ear to ear and held out the cup to Zuko.

"I saved the last cup just for you." Zuko wanted to retort annoyedly at first, but for once he stayed content with a sigh. "Just give it to the girl, I'm not thirsty."

"Are you sure? Ming said that you should drink more, now that you're sick."

"I feel better," Zuko didn't like that Ming was discussing his health condition with his Uncle without him knowing. He did promise him that he won't be telling anyone... He had to convince himself that Ming had to tell something to not raise suspicions. Suddenly, he had problem to not see suspicious behavior in anything his crew members did. This was getting ridiculous.

"Then, Yongchi, you are lucky! Today you'll have a triple share of my finest tea." The girl's cheeks reddened and she stepped back in refusal.

"N-no, thank you, sir. I've had enough. I think, H-His Highness should have the tea." She made a deep bow in front of Zuko, clearly not having the slightest idea who Zuko was exactly or his history. She just reacted how she thought it was appropriate to the title of a prince.

"Don't... don't bow," whispered Zuko in low voice that the girl got startled. The fear in her eyes reminded him of the night before yesterday. This time the fear got mixed with confusion. "That's really not necessary anymore."

The girl gave him even a more puzzled look, if that was possible. But Zuko let it be. He didn't mean to explain himself further. The sting of shame when only thinking of his dishonor was still too painful, not speaking of explaining himself to a simple peasant girl.

"Nephew, you shouldn't be so touchy. Yongchi meant you no disrespect, she just..." Iroh stopped himself, when he realized his choice of words. The air quickly became hot and small flames already formed around Zuko's shaking fists. Yongchi, noticing the sudden shift in the atmosphere, backed away and was ready to run off, still holding the tray of empty cups.

Just when she was turning away, Zuko got a hold of himself. "Yongchi, wait..." The moment she turned back, he knew he should have let her run away. The realization was written all over her face.

"You are the..."

"I will have that jasmine tea, Uncle!" he said loudly to stop her in that instant and literally ripped the cup out of his Uncle's hands, spilling half of its content on the ground.

"And the girl wants some more as well. So just go cook us another tea, yes?" Uncle Iroh stood there a bit confused with the sudden change of his mind.

"Prince Zuko, how many times have I said this? One cannot cook a tea."

"Sure you can. You cook the leaves, after all." Zuko pushed his protesting Uncle to the set of kettles and looked back at Yongchi. He had no idea what to do with the girl. Did he really have such a recognizable voice?

"It is you. I knew it was your voice! You're the Blue Spirit!" the girl said with an excited voice. The what now?

"Stop it! Someone will hear you!" He looked around anxiously, but it seemed no one heard them. It was probably thanks to his Uncle who started to sing one of those awfully old Earth Kingdom songs.

"But you saved my brother! And his friends! The whole city!"

"I said stop it right now! You cannot tell anyone! Do you understand?"

She looked on him questioningly. "You saved the whole city and everybody is talking about you. You're the Spirit from Lady Mimasu's prophecy!" Now it was Zuko's turn to be confused.

"Firstly, I didn't save the whole city. It was Uncle Iroh who stopped the fire. I just..." he didn't know what to say, so he moved to the other topic. "And secondly, what prophecy?"

"Well," the girl started to smile pleased that he finally didn't want to shut her up, "nobody believed that it was a prophecy at first. But the fire really did happen and the Spirit really came to the rescue." Zuko hated that the child couldn't speak clearer. And on top of that she moved to the vat near the stand that served as a sink and started to wash the empty cups.

"The prophecy, Yongchi!" She gave him a huge grin, like she was happy that he called her by her name. "Yes, the prophecy. You see, there is this local healer, Lady Mimasu. She lives outside the town alone and she's a bit crazy. Everyone who comes back to the town from her house talks about the crazy stuff she says and prophecies. They always say that she talks to invisible people and comes up with crazy stories. Like one time, she always used to talk about the Avatar's return and ..." Yongchi continued in her confusing musings, but Zuko stopped listening right there. Avatar's return.

Avatar's return. Could a crazy talk of some madwoman be considered a reliable source? Could it be that he found a clue to finding the Avatar? He had to remain skeptical. He wasn't exactly the type for this type of lucky coincidences. But maybe, it was his first time. First time being lucky enough to find a clue in a place where he didn't expect it. He tried to suppress his hopes for this new founding but he couldn't stop the rise of his inner fire in his chest.

"Can I ask you something?"

"Huh?" Zuko was caught off guard.

"If I can ask you a question?" The little girl stopped washing and was looking directly in his eyes. So here comes the question about the scar.

"I guess."

"Are you really a prince? Because, I don't know, you don't look like it." A genuine curiosity was reflected in her eyes. Zuko, on the other hand, if he could be or should be honest. He still considered himself to be the Crown Prince of the Fire Nation, of course, otherwise he wouldn't be here and he was ready to fight for this title to his very end. However, his Father and possibly the rest of the world, didn't share this view. And finally he wasn't sure, if the girl wanted to hear that, indeed, he is the prince of the "evil" Fire Nation.

"Most surely, he is," came the answer from behind their backs. It was Ming who decided to show up and seemed to be amused by the little girl's question.

"But for now, our commander likes to travel the world more than attending weekly balls."

Yongchi's face brightened up. "That sounds like so much fun! I've always wanted to become a captain of a trade ship when I grow up. But my brother doesn't like it. He always says that I should just stay here and be a stallholder like him. To stay safe. But he can't say that anymore. Not after the fire."

Zuko, however, couldn't agree with the dream of the little girl. If he had a choice, he would much rather stay at home than wonder around the world for a target that didn't seem to exist. But now...

….Avatar's return.

"Yongchi, what did that Lady said exactly about the return of the Avatar?" The girl shrugged her shoulders.

"I don't know. That's just something the others mentioned."

"Then who are those others or better, tell me where can I find this Lady?" Zuko grew quite impatient.

"She lives down the main road to the inland. Do you really want to visit her? Can I come with?" She held onto the dishcloth expectantly, giving him kittenpuppy eyes.

"No. I'm not even sure if I want to go."

"Sir, you're speaking of Lady Mimasu, the local healer, aren't you?"

"Yes, that's her," the girl replied still with a disappointed voice. Ming looked around them to check if nobody's listening to them by chance. Fortunately, Zuko's Uncle was still providing them with a distraction of old Earth Kingdom songs.

"Sir, it's the healer who gave me the red flowers for the beverage," he said almost whispering.

Zuko couldn't believe. "You gave me and a strange drink from a plant you don't know, from some crazy woman? Did you lose your mind?" Ming looked offended.

"From my point of view, she certainly wasn't crazy. Just the opposite. As a matter of fact, she reminded me of your Uncle." Zuko looked over to his Uncle who was currently singing some love song to his tea pot.

"I don't think you've proved your point, Ming."

"Well...uhm..." Ming didn't know how to react, but Yongchi saved him from a reply: "Why are you so interested in the Avatar? It's just a story, right? He doesn't exist, just like weremonkeys or werebats?" There was a slight worry in her voice.

"The Avatar is a real thing all right. He is just hiding really well so that no one can find him." At least that's what Zuko kept repeating to himself.

"And the weremonkeys?" The girl asked wide-eyed.

Ming laughed out loud. "They are just fairy tales," Zuko assured her.

"Sir, if you want to want to visit Lady Mimasu, I can take you to her," offered himself Ming when he was done laughing. With that the whisper of paranoia came back, reminding him that Ming is just as suspicious as the rest of the crew members, if not more. The suggestion that he would like to join him for the visit of the healer to learn information on the Avatar made Zuko even more alert.

"That's not necessary. I can manage." Fortunately, Ming didn't seem to push the issue further. If he really was the spy then he could go visit the healer alone and question her by himself. Once again, Zuko realized just how unfortunate it would be, if Ming was indeed Zhao's spy. From the whole crew, it was only him who he would have to confront. The others weren't let in on important things.

"Tell him that I went for a walk," said Zuko while looking on his Uncle. Ming nodded that he understood.

"But please, sir, be respectful. She may be a bit odd in her behavior but she is, in fact, a very accomplished healer." If the woman was anything like his Uncle, maybe he tries to control himself. Although he didn't think he was any successful in that even with his interactions with Uncle.

"Oh, and before you go, sir. The house you're looking for is not visible from the main road. You'll have to go through a grove on your left to find it."

"I'll figure it out, thanks." He was certain he would figure it out without being advised. "And the road is that way," Yonchi pointed across the market place. Now they were really just patronizing him.

"Sure," he grumpled and left without any other word.

Zuko passed by the working villagers. Most of them didn't pay attention to him. Most probably they didn't even know who he really was. Others looked a bit suspiciously since they haven't seen him yet. But when some of his crew men saluted him, the suspicion faded from their expressions. That was something he haven't encountered yet during his travels. Although he wouldn't acknowledge it openly, he appreciated this change.

When he finally arrived to the edge of the town, he saw no house, no building that was described to him, only narrow meadows and trees on both sides of the road. What did Ming say? To turn left?

He entered the forest on his left side and truly after a minute of walking a small clearing appeared in front of him with a small house at its center. It had a greenhouse attached overgrown with what looked like could be the flower Ming talked about, at least the color looked awfully similar.

Walking closer, a herd of all kinds of animals ran up to him and watched him warily through the fence as he approached the house. He didn't know why, but for some reason he got goosebumps from the whole scene. Him walking to an ordinary house, what was wrong with the picture? That was when he realized that he can hear each of his light footsteps and each beat of his heart loud and clear. The silence was just too deep. He never experienced such deafening quiet. Even the animals looked like they were afraid to make any noise. They were looking on him like they were trying to warn him only with their eyes: "Don't break the silence!" It was like he could hear them in his head, but it was surely only the voice of his own fear.

Zuko has never felt so out of place, maybe except the fateful war meeting. The exact same instinct overwhelmed him as back then. To run. To run away from this strange place as soon as possible. He liked to think of himself as anything but a coward but this silence was not normal. It held an actual presence like it was alive. The feeling was so incomprehensible that he had to convince his legs to move forward.

Who was this woman if she could live in a place like this? He would certainly go crazy himself if he was to stay here for any longer period of time. It felt like the place was cursed by spirits and not intended for people to longer occupy.

He came up to the front door of the house and even the idea of knocking seemed like challenge. But he had no other option. He would never back away from a chance like this one. The information on the Avatar was just behind this small door in front of him.

The knock was just as loud as he imagined. It even startled the animals behind the fence, having most of them running away in all directions.

Zuko kept waiting for answer that was not coming. He really didn't want to use his voice. That would feel like too much of a disturbance, like it would disturb something, what shouldn't have been disturbed. Like he would draw too much attention on himself. The attention of the presence. He hated himself for thinking of such foolishness.

But still he knocked. Again no answer. So he knocked louder. He already started to think that she wasn't at home when the door suddenly swung open.

"Sorry, my dear, I was in the back room," spoke a tall black-haired woman that appeared in front of him and looked on him with open interest. She wasn't anything like Zuko imagined as he imagined a female version of his Uncle when Ming said that she reminded him of Iroh.

Although she already broke the silence, the sense of presence lingered and Zuko still didn't feel like speaking.

"You don't have to be afraid, just come inside," she invited him with a warm smile, until it suddenly turned into an angry expression and she stepped outside. "That of course doesn't regard you! Behave and stop scaring our guest!"

"I am not scared," hissed Zuko almost inaudibly the obvious lie. Who was the woman talking to? The animals? It wasn't the animals that made his skin crowl. Or maybe it wasn't the animals she was talking to.

"Come in, come in!" she hurried him pulling him by the sleeve. "They can't come in if they are not invited."

So she wasn't speaking about the animals after all. It surely was that something - the presence. Was he also going insane?

"Your fire attracts them, you know. They really like the warmth of a nice inner fire, just like you have. Especially, after the beverage I gave to Ming. You must be like a beacon!" She started to giggle and Zuko was only able to stare at her in awe. Does she know who he is? Did Ming tell her?

"The winter solstice is making them really restless. I was just making a wreath of blackberries and clove to calm them a bit. Maybe I should make them a cocoa drink as well. Wouldn't you like a cocoa drink?"

"What?...I just... no. What is a cocoa drink?" Zuko was really confused by the woman who wouldn't stop rattling. And was she speaking of the animals again?

"Oh, you don't know! Then you have to try. Come and sit down here." She led him to the low table in the center of the messy room and made him sit down on one of the cushions before Zuko even knew what is going on. Then she moved to the pot by the fireplace and started to prepare the drink from a dark powder. Zuko already decided not to taste the thing.

"So, let's hear it. Why did you come?" asked the woman without turning. Zuko considered the situation. He tried to think of a way to tell her as little as possible.

"I heard that you might have some information on the Avatar. If it's true I would greatly appreciate any piece of information."

He stopped for a moment to let the request sink in. The moment of silence seemed a bit long and Zuko started to feel nervous.

"Tell me why should I tell the Fire Nation Prince any piece of information on the Avatar? I appreciate that you didn't come with soldiers and threats but tell me, why should I tell you?"

Zuko gritted his teeth. How was he supposed to persuade her now to give up the information? He didn't plan on telling her who he was because then she certainly wouldn't tell him anything. Zuko cursed Ming for telling her who he is. There really wasn't any other way of her knowing that he was the prince of the Fire Nation.

"Don't blame that nice medic of yours. Ming is his name?" said the woman like she knew what he was thinking about even without looking. Was she really some kind of psychic? "Then...how..."

"How did I know? You're a bit recognizable, don't you think?"

Zuko didn't answer. He knew very well how recognizable he was. But in this region no one seemed to recognize him only by his face, until now. And why was it that this hermit woman was the one to recognize him?

"So, once again, why should I tell you and what do you want with the information?"

Zuko knew that there was no point in hiding anything and he wasn't good at lying anyway. "I have to find the Avatar to regain my honor," he said blankly.

"Only find?"

"And capture him," he was pushed to add. She finally gave him a look. It clearly told Zuko to be honest in his answers, otherwise there is no chance that she would tell him.

Zuko waited for a reply but the woman remained silent and continued to stir the drink she was preparing. At this point he was expecting the woman's refusal, maybe she would even throw him out. After all, except for the Fire Nation, the Avatar was a symbol of hope, hope for ending of the war and restoration of the harmony between the four nations, even after hundred years. And here he was, admitting to the woman, who lived in the Air Nomad territory of all places, that he wants to hunt down the only hope for the world in reaching the long lost balance and expecting help.

Zuko felt stupid. He could almost hear the mocking laughter of his younger sister. Silly Zuzu, asking for help a loony peasant woman. Pathetic! She won't even tell you. That's how pitiful you've become. But he could do nothing except waiting for the woman's reaction, so he just kept clenching his fists.

But she only kept stirring the dark brown drink like she completely forgot about him. Zuko really started to consider this idea, until she turned to him with a smile on her face and put a cup of the dark beverage in front of him.

"And a final Fire Nation touch!" She sprinkled a pinch of spices on the top of the thick substance. He looked on the thing suspiciously. Did she just spiced his poison?

"I promise you haven't tasted anything like this before, it's an ancient Fire Nation recipe," she said and sipped a bit from her own cup. "Just the right measure. You have to taste it."

Zuko took a sip very warily having bad experience with the woman's recipes. But the taste was really something he never experienced before. It was bitter but delicate and on top of all spicy. It was really Fire Nationy. Zuko had to abandon his suspicions as something so deliciously tasting couldn't possibly be a poison.

"So first things first, you haven't told me your name," she inquired looking really pleased about his evident appreciation of her cooking skills as he drank half of the cup in one gulp. Zuko put down the cup a little bit embarrassed by her apparent amusement.

"I thought you knew who I am?"

The woman really was difficult.

"I know you're the banished prince of the Fire Nation. But that doesn't mean, I know who you are or your name." The healer seemed to detracting from the topic. Zuko started to suspect that maybe she didn't even have any information on the Avatar. But he had to comply. He started bad already. And the woman looked like she wasn't willing to cooperate if he doesn't cooperate first with her.

"My name is Zuko," he said quietly.

"What an unusual name! Truly befitting of a royalty!"

"What do you know of royalty?" he couldn't stop himself asking bitterly.

"Not much, I admit. But I like your name. So you want to capture the Avatar to regain your honor. I don't see a connection. How does one gain honor through capturing people?"

Zuko started to feel uncomfortable. "How did you lose it in the first place?" Now he was feeling really uncomfortable.

"I would rather not talk about that. I need it to be returned or else I cannot return home."

"But honor is not prize you can win. It is determined solely by your actions."

Zuko looked away. She was just another of those who didn't understand his situation. He had to regain his honor in the eyes of his Father, what also meant regaining his honor in the eyes of the whole Fire Nation. He disgraced himself so lowly that the only way of redeeming himself was to capture the last remaining hope of the enemies of the Fire Nation. Why so few people understood this?

"As I see it, you want to return home to be restored as the Crown Prince, am I right? To one day become the Fire Lord."

It was a statement that struck Zuko very unusually. He hasn't heard his ambition voiced out loud before. Of course, he wanted to become the Fire Lord, it was his destiny. Not his sister's or anyone else's on that matter.

"First, I want my honor back or else I'm not even a prince. Not worthy to return."

"And bringing the world's last hope for peace in chains to the Fire Lord will give it back to you?"

"It is not as you make it sound!" She still didn't understand. The Avatar was most likely a cowardly old man, not the world's last hope. The Fire Nation's win was only a matter of time. His Father will make sure of it. There was no Avatar to change that. He was only a symbol of the long lost times that he was ordered to catch as the nation's last great enemy.

"Then how is it?" She looked on him with real curiosity. Zuko had to think about what to say because he felt that the answer will determine if she's going to help him or not. "If I capture the Avatar or not, it won't change anything. If my Father wants to rule the world, then there is no Avatar that can stop him. I just want my honor back and that is all."

Mimasu also looked like she was thinking about his answer while she was drinking her cup of the drink. Zuko started to feel that he failed to persuade her, but he couldn't explain himself better.

He had to wait until she put down her empty cup. To Zuko's surprise, she was smiling at him like she completely forgot about the last minutes of their conversation.

"I'm going to help you."

Zuko was totally taken aback. Finally, after two years, is he going to make the first steps?

"Stay here. I'll be right back." She ran out of the room, but before Zuko even started to guess what did she go for, she was back. The only thing she was carrying was a large thick burning candle. Zuko anticipated scrolls, books, maybe a map. There was enough light in the room. Why was she bringing a candle?

"I thought you have information on the Avatar," he said impatiently when she put the candle on the table and sat down, clearly not intending to bring anything else.

"I never said that. You heard it in the town?" she asked not waiting for an answer, murmuring something about old tattlers.

"Don't look so disappointed. I said that I might be able to help. But it could be risky, so I will need your consent later on. First, I'll explain."

Zuko started to be a bit nervous. He did conduct many risky and dangerous things to find the Avatar. He didn't mind risks. However, he felt that the woman's offer will be a totally different kind of dangerous than rock climbing.

She held the candle with both her hands and kept looking into the small flame.

"My husband was a great Fire Nation scholar and traveler. His knowledge of herbology and drugs was well known and respected even by the Fire Lord's court. He travelled across all the Fire Nation islands in search for new species of plants and herbs. He invented many new medicines. The flowers I gave Ming, Agni's Eyes, to prepare the drink were also his discovery.

His research was famous and respected through all of Fire Nation, even Earth Kingdom. However, some of his findings he considered too dangerous to share. Agni's Eyes being one of them."

"How are they dangerous? They helped me and my men to recover," Zuko protested.

"Try to imagine that he was to give the drink to the Fire Lord or the military, as the obligation dictated to the members of the Grand Academy. If the drink would be used as stimulant instead of a medicine on firebending soldiers - how it would change the progress of the war?"

Zuko easily remebered the effects of the sweet drink. "Firebenders would have easily overpowered other benders."

"Exactly. Do you know of the Sozin's Comet?"

"Of course, Fire Lord Sozin used the power of the Comet to defeat the airbenders."

"Defeat wouldn't be my choice of word, but yes, the Sozin's Comet gave great power to the firebenders."

Zuko realized what she was implying. "Is the drink that strong? Can it make firebenders that powerful?"

"I don't think it would make them Sozin Comet powerful, but it would give them a significant advantage over other benders." She looked him in the eye with an intense gaze. "That's why I want you to promise me that you won't say about the drink to anybody."

"If keeping it a promise means that I'll receive help in finding the Avatar, then I promise I won't tell anybody... but why did you give to Ming then?" Mimasu looked outside the window as if the answer was outside, although it was already getting dark so there wasn't much to see.

"I was warned," she said quietly, as if she was admitting to something shameful and held the candle a bit tighter. "I was warned that the town will be in danger and that only firebenders will be able to help. So I made a risky decision. But think it turned out pretty well, don't you think?"

Zuko wasn't so sure about it. His head still wasn't well, as well as his bandaged arm.

"Besides, Ming seemed as an honorable and responsible man." The weight of paranoia sank his heart once again. But he didn't want to risk his chance of getting help by telling the woman of his suspicions. However, he will have to deal with the problem a soon as possible if he wanted to keep the promise he just made. It already could be too late.

"You were warned about the fire? But it was an accident or...?"

"I don't predict future if that's what you're thinking about. But they are much more sensitive when it comes to sensing upcoming disasters." She pointed out through the window. Zuko felt shivers run down his spine. Was she talking about that presence again?

"Let me explain myself," she clearly saw his confusion because she had a small, a bit sad smileon her face.

"As I said, my husband made many great and dangerous discoveries that he kept secret. This flame is one of them." She pointed at the small, but bright flame of the candle. It was as ordinary as any other candle flame Zuko saw in his life.

"How can a flame be a discovery?"

"My husband obtained it on his expedition to Crescent Island. The volcano on the Island is one of the most spiritual places in the world. Place of many restless spirits of deep fires. The Island is interweaved with caverns and tunnels formed by the shaking earth and smelting lava. In these places burn fires, which are connected to the Spirit World. They attract the spirits of the other world and create crossing paths. My husband said that he was never in a place like that, where the two worlds are so mingled, you cannot tell whether the things you see are from this or the Spirit World.

The flame of this candle is from the very fires of the Crescent Island tunnels. It is why you felt what you felt in front of my house. The fire of the tunnels attracts them from the Great distance, even if it is only this small."

"But you said it was my inner fire that attracts them."

"Yes. In the days around the solstices, they are especially sensitive to spiritul fires of any kind and during the winter one all the more. It was perhaps this fire that made them sensitive."

Zuko still didn't get how all of this can help him find the find the Avatar, although all the information was very interesting and it kind of pleased him that he was let in on information on things, which was intentionally kept secret even from his Father.

"You might ask how can any of this help you in finding the Avatar. It is only a theory, so it might not work, maybe indirectly at least."

She put her hand right above the small flame as if she was trying to touch it. "During the transport of the flame home, my husband got accidentally burned by it on his hand. Since then he physically felt the spiritual activity in the scar on his hand. In other words, he became sensitive to spiritual activity."

"Are you telling me to burn myself with this spiritual flame to feel if the Avatar is in near distance?"

"Well, yes. In my theory, this how it should work."

"But the Avatar is not a spirit!" Zuko protested.

"I know. That is why it's only a theory and why it is so risky. The Avatar is still the bridge between the two worlds. His strong spiritual energy could trigger a sensor such is the scar."

Zuko wasn't really comfortable with the spiritual things. It was a topic which his Uncle would understand better. But the theory made sense and it could work. And he was at a point where he would accept any help in finding the Avatar. And it wouldn't even expose his crew to danger.

"What would happen if I agreed? What are the risks?" Mimasu sighed. "The risk is that I don't know what are the risks. My husband died shortly after receiving the burn, before he actually got to study it."

"What? He died?!"

"It had nothing to do with burn, I can assure you!" She looked hurtly away and Zuko felt embarrassed about his sudden outburst.

There was a minute of silence between them and Zuko felt like he should probably say something to apologize. But Mimasu spoke before he could think about anything.

"I'm sorry, I can't tell you more about the effects of the burning. I haven't tried to burn myself. I didn't gather enough courage and besides I have plenty of spirit activity going on around my house. There are patches of calming herbs plant in the greenhouse and the garden to keep them at rest. I don't need a scar to remind me of them every day. So you're free to think about it."

Zuko had already decided. He couldn't afford to hesitate. If he was offered help, he was going to take it. Danger or any risk hasn't stopped him before and this time, it wasn't any different.

"I'll do it."

"Are you sure? You haven't even considered..."

"There is nothing to think about. You're offering me an easier way of finding the Avatar and I'm taking it."

She took a deep sigh and pushed the candle in the middle of the table.

"Very well. I'll have to warn you that the fire is different from an ordinary one. It doesn't emit any heat." She put her palm just above the flame and let linger to display. "However, when it touches you it burns much stronger than normal fire would. My husband described it to me as if his hand had been pierced by a dagger."

Zuko nodded that he was ready. "So I just put my hand into the flame?"

"Well, if you want the scar to be on your hand?" May be he should put it on a less visible place. His Uncle and most likely Ming would notice and have questions. And if Ming was the spy, then all the less he wanted him to know.

"The back of my shoulder then."

Mimasu only nodded but without a word took the candle. Zuko took down his cloak and rolled up the sleeve of his right shoulder. He put his hands on the table and looked on Mimasu to signal that he's ready.

She stepped behind him.

"On three. Alright?" He nodded again.

"One. Two. Three."

A dagger of flame pierced all the way through his shoulder. The smell of burnt skin filled the room. The muscle was being scorched. The burn went deep. Into his very heart. In his fire. An unstoppable scream scrambled its way from his throat. A cup of already cold cocoa was spilled on the floor.


A/N: I hope this chapter wasn't too confusing. It was really hard to write as it is the most important so far and many times I wasn't happy with what I came up with, so it went through many changes. The little bit in the middle about Iroh's choice of words, I hope you'll recognize it from the episode The Storm :)

Thanks for reading :)