Leiko was sitting on her bed in her chamber meditating. It had been a day since Leiko and Prince Zuko had confessed their feelings for each other, yet things were running smoothly. It was only more proof that Leiko and Zuko really had something for each other. Uncle Iroh wasn't informed, but they had a feeling he knew well what was going on between them.

Leiko was interrupted when Zuko walked in with a tray of food. She opened her eyes and smiled at him, the one she loved. "You didn't come to dinner, so I brought you something to eat." He said sweetly and walked over to her desk where he set it down. He smiled back down at her. "What have you been doing all this time?"

"Meditating," she said, "I need to get all my emotions and abilities under control for when Zhao comes. He has an army and a well trained general to lead the, no doubt. We have almost nothing."

"We have a warrior, and a pretty strong one at that. I would think that would give us an advantage." And she smiled up at him again and he winked. "No need to vex. We just don't have a general."

"We do, actually." She reminded him, "We have your uncle Iroh. He's a brave, wise, old man." And with that she closed her eyes again.

"Okay, well I'll leave you to whatever you were about to do."

"I was going to write in my diary. I haven't done it in a while."

"Alright, good night." And he kissed her cheek. She blushed with a big grin as he walked out. She reached under her pillow and got out her diary. She took out a feather pen and some ink and began to write on the next clean page. Tila flew over and watched from her shoulder.

Dear Diary,

It's me, Leiko. Actually, the new and improved Leiko. I'm a warrior now, and my new name is Leiko Sikari. I've been training forever to become this and now I've reached my long awaited goal. It feels good, especially knowing that I've come up against a samurai and I'm one of the few in the entire world to live to tell the tale. My father would be proud, but I am no longer with him.

I haven't written in the longest time, but here is a sum up of my adventures so far. I was sent onto Prince Zuko's ship with my father's men to kill him and his crew. When he mentioned me, I broke down and turned against my own crew. I'm to be considered a dangerous traitor in the Fire Nation and killed on sight. But I set to the ocean with my old friend Zuko and together we have overcome many obstacles. First, my father came out to sea for me, and it was a battle of ships. I lead the men to victory and we pressed on. Following that I fought and killed more men. I am up to sixteen executions, which I will never forgive myself for. The only ones who seem to forgive me are my new family.

Kilix, my old fiancée returned out of the blue and fought Zuko. They dueled out over me. I was most shocked by what I saw and heard. Zuko claimed to have feelings for me, and so did Kilix. Kilix is Zuko's old rival and the son of General Kisho. Kisho was the general whom Zuko had challenged and was banished for. Zuko won, with some help from me of course. Tee hee

Just yesterday was the anniversary of the day Zuko was banished, and the day we met. It had been exactly two years since the handsome prince was taken away from me and I was left alone to fight and live life alone. But I kept telling myself that I am on the ship, here now in with him and that there is no need for horrible trips to the past. Prince Zuko and I took a trip to the past together. I told him my secret… that I blame myself for his banishment. He said he forgave me even though there was nothing to forgive. He says that I am not the one responsible for it and shouldn't feel any guilt. But it did feel good to get it out after two years of suffering. That's when I confessed my realized love to him and he confessed back. He said he always loved me and I am truly touched to the heart. I would rather be with Zuko and Kilix any day.

Everything on the ship is going well, but everyday my father's army draws nearer and my heart is filled with worry. We have a small crew and one old retired general to fight against a strong fire nation battalion. Knowing my father, he picked the strongest general to fight me. He wants to see me dead for betraying him. I want to see him dead as well for betraying my all my life. I'm with Zuko now and nothing will tear us apart ever again. I will do anything and get rid of anyone who tries to separate us or make my life a living hell again. Damn the fire nation and the fire lord, that monstrous piece of sht and my father, the son of a btch! Now that I am a warrior, my life and the lives of the ones I care about will never be put in jeopardy ever again. I'll see to it for as long as I live.

She sighed and shut her diary. Tila twittered and flapped her wings. Leiko looked up and smiled at her friend. She patted her head and then put the book away. Tila twittered again. "What is it?" she asked. Tila flew down and dragged out the diary again and pecked at it. "Okay, okay. Let's see." And she opened it up and flipped through the pages. "Ah, here we go. The first time I ever fire bended." And she began to read it.

Dear Diary,

Today when I was training something amazing happened! I was practicing with my chi like Father told me. I was at home and in my room at the time. My father came in out of nowhere and slammed open the door. He was mad about something; I didn't have time to ask because as soon as he entered he began to chase me! I ran around the room until he grabbed me and lifted me up into the air! He shook me violently and yelled, "Why couldn't I have had a son! You are a worthless, pathetic little imp!" and he continued to shake me! I began to scream for Zuko, even though I knew he couldn't hear me. Finally, just as he set me down, I yelled back at him.

"I HATE YOU!" and as I did, I felt a special tingling come to my finger tips. I threw out my hands to protect myself from his blows and out from my palms flames grew! The surged past my father and onto a fire nation tarp, burning it to ashes. My father gazed at me as I tried to catch my breath and tears ran down my cheeks. The flames stayed in my fists, but I was scared.

"Do it again!" he yelled.

"No!" I replied, still terrified. Had I really just fire bended? My father rushed forward and hit me over the head with his fist!

"DO IT AGAIN!"

"NO!" and I couldn't control myself anymore…flames surged from my entire body and I was completely engulfed! My father couldn't touch me without burning his hand off! I stood in the heap of flames until it settled and I was no longer glowing.

"That was the most amazing fire I have ever seen come from an eight year old." Father said calmly. He patted my head tenderly, like he only did after I did another dirty deed for him. I didn't want him touching me, but my energy was gone. "This is good news. You should prove to be a strong fire bender. Stronger than your little friend the prince without a doubt. We'll make good use of this. Tomorrow at dawn you will train with the best master there is. We will see just how strong you really are." And he left. I fell to my knees in tears. Having this new power was going to be another burden, just another reason to train day in and day out. I knew I would be worked to the bone to gain control of my new ability and I hated it.

"See." Leiko said to Tila, "It's been practically eight long years of fire bending. And that means eight long years of practicing everyday. I have my father to thank for all of this. My powers are strong. And now I can use them against his army. I'll have to use special techniques to beat this army. But it's something I have no choice in." Tila chirped again. "You think I can do it?" Tila nodded, "Thanks girl. You know, I remember when Zuko started to bend. He was young too. He sneezed and fire came from his nose." And Leiko giggled, "It was quite amusing." Tila just twittered again. "Well, it's time for some sleep." Tila flew over to her perch and Leiko got undressed. It was a cool night, so she just slipped on her night gown and climbed into bed.

It was much later on in the night and Leiko was tossing and turning, suffering from insomnia. Tila was fast asleep. Leiko groaned and sat up. She wasn't tired one bit and didn't know what to do to pass the time. She sat up and continued to read her diary. She read the whole thing before her eyes began to feel heavy. She leaned back against her pillow and let her eyes close. Then she had another dream.

Leiko was standing on a rock cliff, her hair blowing in the strong wind. She watched as Fire Lord Ozai was nearing the edge of the cliff. There stood a young version of the prince. She tried to call out to the young prince, but her voice was eaten by the wind! The Fire Lord burned Zuko's face just like before! Leiko yelled our as she ran forward and grabbed his shoulder, spinning him around and hitting him in the face! He stumbled back and then walked forward from the shadows. Behind him came Zula and Zhao! Leiko gasped as they surrounded her. "The traitor must die!" they all roared and readied their fire power! Leiko took in a deep breath and spun around, then threw her arms out to her sides, sending flames surging on her body until she was engulfed in fire! She screamed until her lungs burned and the flames rushed out and burned her enemies to ashes! Her screaming continued until the flames left her body and she collapsed to her knees.

"The Mat Su Se!" she yelled out as she sat up in bed, sweaty and out of breath. She looked around and saw only her room. She sighed and rubbed her forehead. The Mat Su Se was the strongest move any fire bender could do, but nobody had done it and lived. Normally they would be burned to ashes by their own flames. The bender would yell out Mat Su Se and fire would swallow up their body and send flames pitching out in all directions, killing anyone and anything within a great distance. Leiko remembered everything her trainer had taught her about the move. The trainer's father had died trying to do it in battle.

Leiko jumped up and grabbed her blanket, wrapped it around her and exited her chamber. She rushed down the hallway, feeling the cold floor on her bare feet. She spotted Zuko's room and opened the door slowly. She entered quietly and walked up to her sleeping love. He looked so handsome in his sleep. His strong bare chest was showing and the covers outlined his muscular body. She touched his arm and whispered his name. "Zuko. Zuko," she said. He opened his eyes and yawned as he sat up. He rubbed one eye and looked at her.

"Leiko?" he asked, "It's early." He groaned.

"Zuko, I had a bad dream."

"What happened?" he questioned, still drowsy.

"Well, it started off as the Agni Kai, the one you were banished in. I went to help, but then your sister and my father came and soon I was surrounded. And then I…" she stopped whispering.

"You what?"

"I did The Mat Su Se." she told him. His eyes grew big and he looked at her surprised.

"You're not thinking of doing it are you?"

"No…or not unless I have to."

"Leiko, no. Don't even think about it. Everything is going to be fine, don't worry."

"You're right." She said after a while, "You're right. It was just a dream." And she went to walk away, but then she turned back around. "But you know, I've been covered by flames before."

"Every firebender has been covered by their own flames at least once in their life time."

"I know. But it was a long time ago, and all I remember is boundless energy emitting from my body. I felt drained after, just like with the Mat Su Se." Zuko looked at her again and sat up straighter. "I think my dreams are telling me something. I think I've actually done the move. In fact I'm pretty sure that was it! My first move…it was The Mat Su Se! I did the exact same thing when I first fire bended."

"You'd be dead." Zuko reminded her. Leiko looked towards the door.

"I'm going out on the deck to try it." But Zuko grabbed her elbow.

"No," he said and she turned and looked at him, "Maybe you did do it. But we don't know that. Everyone who has done that move has died. If you try it you could kill yourself. I don't want to see you die, Leiko. If that happened I'd never get over it." He confessed. Leiko turned her body back to him.

"You're right." She said again. "What was I thinking? I know I've done it once, or at least I think I did. I don't need to try it again." She said and she went to walk out. "I'm going back to sleep."

"Good night, Leiko." Zuko said. But Leiko turned back around.

"Zuko?"

"Yes?"

"May I…sleep with you?" she asked. Zuko's eyes got big. "Please."

"Alright." He said after a minute with a smile. Leiko climbed in bed next to him and covered up. He just snuggled down next to her. They were silent at first.

"Zuko…tell me you love me." She begged. Zuko wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her close.

"I love you Leiko." He said. She smiled and nuzzled her nose into the pillow.

"Good night my love." She replied.