Sarah: It's time for Chapter 10! I hope you like it. :)

Nori stood alone in her room, staring out her window with steely eyes. This was her one chance to get Zuko's respect. He had never taken her seriously before. She didn't know exactly why. Matari was her last chance at true happiness. Nori had always been looked down upon or pushed aside when she wanted to feel important. Zuko seemed to hate her almost, or at least something close to hate. How many times had she walked into this room and stood in dissapointment, still and unblinking, waiting for something that was never real?

Nori really was family. She was Zula's daughter. Nori took pride in her mother's role, and she felt it was her duty to enheirit it proudly, or else she would be shunned from society, like daylight shunning the lonely moon. Nori didn't want Zuko to hate her though. It made her feel less appreciated.

Just because Nori wasn't he heir of the Fire Nation didn't mean she wasn't still important...or did it? Nori didn't want to go through her thoughts any longer. She was tired and stressed, and she needed to sleep.

She lied still in her bed, staring at the blank ceiling like the world was nothing anymore. But it felt as though it really was, though. What if Zuko got his revenge on the Avatar and went on with his business without even aknowleging Nori's help?

She couldn't let it happen, but there's was nothing to do right now but wait and see how Zuko would do. Maybe the Avatar would defeat Zuko, and then what?

Would she enheirit the throne? There was no possible heir. Zuko never took the time to settle down and have children.

There was possiblity after all.

Nori's familiar wicked smile returned for a moment, and then she fell asleep.

Meanwhile, Matari sat huddled in the corner of the prison cell. It was damp and cold, like a cave almost, and completely pitch black.

How had she gotten into this mess? She didn't want anything bad to happen, she just wanted to master Waterbending.

She thought again of how Sokka had lied to her. She felt guilty at the thought of being mad at him. He had every right to lie to her. He was trying to prevent something like this from happening.

And what about the Avatar? Was he really her father? Well, there seemed to be no con to that idea. He knew her name, and her mother, and he was the Avatar, which meant he couldn't lie about anything...unless he wasn't the Avatar, but that couldn't be possible, because he the only airbender. she only wished that she could see him again.

Aang knew exactly what happened. He had woken in the middle of the night to see two small shadows in the far distance. When he looked over to see Matari's bed empty, he knew that someone had found out.

He grabbed his cloak and staff and ran after them, because if anyone saw him fly in the Fire Nation, he would be in big trouble. Ever since he had defeated the Fire Lord 20 years ago, the Fire Nation had developed an even fiery rage against him. Zuko, however, was kept in line.

By the time he had reached the city, there were stars slowly appearing in the evening sky. He walked up to the gate with the cloak pulled over his

face in a shadow, and approached the front gaurd.

"What be your name, trespasser?" The gaurd said viciously.

"That's not important right now, what is is that I need to find someone...now." Aang replied quietly.

"Oh...you've come for someone, have you? Go on in, you're expected." The guard said in a more gentle tone.

He gestured for Aang to follow.

Aang reached the thrown room to find something shocking.

Zuko was holding Matari's arm behind her back with one hand, and had a knife to her throat with the other.

Aang was instantly furious.

"LET HER GO, YOU SONOFABITCH!" He yelled.

Zuko grinned. "Well, that's no way to treat the Fire Lord, now is it?"

"YOU ARE THE WORST FIRE LORD TO EVER RULE THIS LOUSY RATHOLE OF A NATION!"

"Oh is that so? Maybe I should just kill her now if you don't want to coorperate." He pulled the knife closer to her face.

"DON'T YOU DARE! I'LL KILL YOU, ZUKO! I'LL RUN YOU INTO THE GROUND! DON'T YOU LAY A FILTHY HAND ON MY DAUGHTER!"

Matari looked down from the thrown in shock. Aang was so angry. Had these two always been mortal enemies? She wanted to ask as many questions as she could, but she was afraid to move. If she did, Zuko might have just killed her on the spot. She didn't want to die just yet.

"Alright." Said Zuko, loosening his grip on the terrified 9-year old. "But only for a price."

"And what might that be?" Aang asked.

"Stand down, Avatar."

Aang glared with fire in his eyes. "I THINK I'D RATHER DIE THAN STAND DOWN TO YOU, YOU WORTHLESS LITTLE-

Before he could continue with his rant, Zuko touched Matari's thrat with the stip if the blade, smiling evily.

"You were saying?"

Aang looked mortified, but he nodded after staring silently at Matari for a moment. He dropped to his knees.

"I'll do whatever you want, just don't hurt Matari. Please." He wimprered.

"Oh, how the mighty have fallen. Take him away, guards, and throw him in with the girl. They can take turns wiping eachother's tears."

With that final word, Aang and Matari were carried away.

Sarah: Aaaaaww...that's kind of sad, huh? XD Yes I know, I'm an evil little b!. I hope you liked this chapter!