A/N: Hiya! Thanks for the great reviews! Make me feel so good ! Well I'm building up suspense here, so don't kill me about the length! hides behind book uhh..well yeah. on with the fanfic! '
Bright shadows cast across the rows of markets and houses lining the streets in the heart of Fire Nation. Kaida looked on either side of her, watching the colorful scarlet and gold merchandise gleam above all others. The prideful colors of Fire Nation shone in the morning light. She felt a red gold bang fall in her face. She felt it brush annoyingly against her cheek and longed to push it behind her ears, but Commander Zhao kept her hands tied behind her back. She glanced over to Prince Zuko, who stood nearby surrounded by a similar march of soldiers as they paraded to the stronghold of the Fire Lord. People waking up to perform their morning chores paused to watch the sight of the proud troops, the exiled prince, and an exotic girl make their way down the streets. Zuko caught Kaida's gaze for an instant, long enough to see her eyes shift from a sea green to a bright yellow-orange like the rising sun on the horizon. She hopelessly looked to the ground, fearing the actions of the commander and soldiers around her.
The chamber of Fire Lord Ozai was grand and just as magnificent as Zuko remembered it to be, back when his father stood as his only idol. The dramatic reds and gold stood out in the hall much like the markets of the city outside. The Fire Lord himself lifted a questionable eyebrow at the group parading in and a familiar uncle stood waiting on the floor before the ruler watching the group enter. Commander Zhao's face sunk in surprise and anger.
"My Lord, we have brought the Prince and Avatar before you with respects." He knelt, keeping an eye on the gray haired man watching nearby.
"Ah yes, Commander," replied Ozai, "Iroh has informed me you would be arriving. Also of my son's apparent capture of the Avatar." He has a wistful and almost disappointed air in his voice. His gaze shifted from the prince to the gold haired girl standing timidly between two stern soldiers. "So this is the famed Avatar." He had a mocking sarcasm dripping from his voice. "Well…" he lifted himself from his throne and made his way over to the group, "I have much to talk about then. Come Commander, I have instructions for you. Your guard will escort this young lady downstairs." His mouth curled into a wicked smile. He turned to his son and looked down on his, "Prince Zuko, your banishment is hereby lifted." He stated regretfully.
Zuko swelled with relief, but Kaida's predicament caused the feeling to quickly fade. He didn't understand why he felt so bad, this girl had willingly agreed to help at any rate. So why did it bother him so much to see her saddened smile shine back to him as they guards lead her down the hall.
Uncle Iroh walked casually through the labyrinth halls of the Fire Nation stronghold. In his hands was a cup of ginseng tea that he sipped to calm his nerves. He noticed his nephew hunched up against a railing on a balcony watching the sleepy town awake. Zuko's face was ridden with troubled thought. Uncle Iroh cleared his throat loudly to announce his presence to his disturbed relative. Zuko didn't even bother turning around. Instead he merely closed his eyes in annoyance and uttered a rude, "What."
"Something is bothering you, Zuko?" His uncle's calm voice was almost irritating.
Zuko remained silent and continued to watch the town hurry about their morning business.
"I see. Well, please stay out of trouble if you decide to wander about. You don't want another punishment from your father right now." Uncle Iroh walked off glancing back at the mute prince, shook his head, and sipped his tea.
Kaida rested on the ground of a prison cell underneath the Fire Nation citadel. Her whole body felt heavy and weak from the training she endured all day. She felt her eyes burn under her eyelids as she closed them. She felt as though the ground were pulsing with her heartbeat. She could see the shadows of a setting sun stream through the small window high above her. The training had taken all day, non stop. She simply let herself sink into the floor and fall asleep on the cold stone into dreamless sleep.