Chapter 2: The Lost One

Zuko's morning had not gone as well as he would've liked. He was finally able to get some much needed rest, although it wasn't nearly enough in his opinion. Contrary to popular belief, the Fire Lord's life was not as luxurious as it might've seemed. The position of Fire Lord had become much more important over the past few centuries, and his list of responsibilities was much larger than it otherwise would've been. Most of the higher ups and even some minor officials could manage local affairs on their own, but his presence was required for pretty much everything on a national level. He had been considering using his vast legislative power to revive a number of older government offices, to better delegate resources. But the surge of recent anti-government uprisings had put those plans on the back burner.

His day had begun with a painfully long meeting involving his top ministers, mainly discussing the lingering effects ending the war had on the nation's economy. They were experiencing a bad recession, although their economy wasn't in nearly as bad a state as the Earth Kingdom's, not like that was saying much. The meeting had dragged well past its intended time, so Zuko simply left, much to the chagrin of his ministers. They were free to think what they wanted; he had better things to do. While he had originally intended to see Azula in the morning, he would now have to do it in the afternoon. And to top things off, Captain Rei had sent him a letter urgently requesting a meeting after sundown, which Zuko anticipated would kill his mood. He had also hoped to see Mai today, but that wasn't going to pan out. Hopefully she wouldn't be to cross with him when he finally delivered a proper apology.

As he walked through the mostly empty corridors in the palace towards the living chambers, his mind began to reminisce about the time he had brought Azula back to the palace after the year she spent in prison. She had been back for a month now, though the two rarely interacted. She had mostly been content to stay in her room, requesting the servants bring her food and books. They had shared dinner together on one occasion, but it was far too awkward for Zuko's liking. The guards he had positioned to keep her in check had been mostly dismissed, as she showed no signs of ill intent. Zuko was honestly surprised; he could hardly reconcile the Azula he had seen on the day of her would-be coronation, with the Azula he had seen in the past month. She seemed almost dead inside, and he found that it bothered him. They were barely even bickering anymore, it just wasn't natural.

"What am I going to say to her? Hey Azula, I need your help! No, no, no, that's dumb. The Fire Lord shouldn't need anyone's help, but she's the only one who can strengthen my rule."

Zuko knew he was taking a huge risk, despite her current passivity, Azula was very dangerous. But even still, he felt drawn to her. He wanted them to be friends, like they had once been a very long time ago. And if she could help him reign in his rebellious nation, it was even better.


One month earlier…

Zuko's carriage jostled around on the bumpy road, like much of the infrastructure in the Fire Nation, this pathway was in a state of disrepair. Towards the end of the war, all funding that didn't contribute to the continued operation of their industrial sector had been siphoned off to the military. Much of the funding was used to construct the Fire Nation's fleet of airships, the first of their kind and a marvel of human engineering. Now with the war over, he hoped to rebuild many of the neglected areas in the countryside. But given the astronomically high amount of reparations the Fire Nation would likely have to pay, this seemed more like a pipe dream. Thankfully, Aang had agreed to postpone peace negotiations and allow him to gain his footing as Fire Lord.

This lease on time also allowed him to attend to more personal matters, namely Azula. Zuko was still unsure what had happened to his sister. She seemed different during their encounters at the Boiling Rock and later the Western Air Temple, but even that paled in comparison to the girl he had fought during Sozin's Comet. She had been totally unhinged during their duel, and her fighting was incredibly sloppy. It had allowed him to win the fight relatively easily, for once putting her on the defensive. But seeing her utterly defeated, chained down to a storm grate sobbing wildly, it had made him feel deeply sad. Whatever was wrong with her that day, there was no doubt in his mind that their father was to blame. He had tried asking Ozai what he had done, but the former Fire Lord merely denied involvement. He was a clever liar, but even Zuko could see through the ruse, his father's sinister smirk was all the confirmation he needed.

Once Ozai was ready to become supreme ruler of mankind, he had tossed her aside; a useful asset that had served its purpose.

"Just like me…" the thought was painful, but undeniably true.

In his haste during the immediate aftermath of Sozin's Comet, Azula had initially been sent to a high-security prison. It couldn't compare to the Boiling Rock, but Zuko was certain the prison would have no problems containing Azula in her weakened state. He turned out to be very wrong. The prison, know to employees as "the Tower", was built in the mountains, away from civilization. It housed over a thousand prisoners, and was staffed by over four hundred guards. In her first month there, Azula had performed very badly. She slept poorly, barely ate, and was incredibly violent. In an attempt to help her socialize, the staff decided to place her near some of the other female prisoners, and she seemed to improve. Then, on the early hours of the morning, the guards found Azula and all the prisoners in her cellblock missing, their bars having been melted away.

They searched the entire facility and found nothing, only for the missing prisoners to reveal themselves during lunch. A riot quickly ensued, and several of the inmates broke down the front gate, disappearing into the wilderness. After that incident, Azula was moved to a special correctional facility for firebenders. On Zuko's orders, she had been placed in a cold room and given chi reducing drugs to minimize her firebending. After her first month she seemed to improve, although she also became very quiet, ignoring the guards and only occasionally talking to other inmates. He had received reports on her progress as the months ticked by, with any improvements being slow. He had sent her a letter halfway through her stay, mostly catching her up on the current affairs in the world. Although as Zuko expected, he received no response. By the ninth month she had stabilized, and Zuko began considering letting her return to the capital. Mai had been the most strongly opposed, and the two had exchanged harsh words in a massive fight. Aang had also been hesitant, but he eventually came around to the idea and even began encouraging her release.

Zuko had briefly entertained the idea of having Aang take her bending away, but the young Avatar refused to even consider it, and secretly Zuko was grateful. To Azula, firebending was a source of immense pride, and depriving her of it would be a fate worse than death. He had really only suggested it to appease Mai, and as stubborn as she was, she wasn't about to question the Avatar's judgment. Zuko wanted Azula to return with dignity and honor, and now, a year into her stay at the prison, he was ready to bring her home.

Zuko's carriage passed the prison gate and his riders dismounted from their rhinos. He exited the carriage, flanked by two Imperial Firebenders, and began walking towards the facility. The sky was cloudy, and it appeared like it would soon begin raining. Zuko hoped it would hold off till they were back in the carriage. As he approached the entrance, Zuko was greeted by one of the prison's head directors.

"Ah, greetings my Lord, I am director Tomu. I received the letter you sent and have taken appropriate security precautions as you instructed. It is my pleasure to welcome you to our little… facility."

The man was being disingenuous, but Zuko didn't really care. He was here to collect his sister and leave in a timely fashion; there was little need for pleasantries. Thankfully, Tomu was a man loyal to the current administration. He needed people like that, especially when it came to looking after Azula. According to Ozai's supporters, she was the rightful heir to the throne, and they would be happy to free her, no matter the severity of her condition. Hopefully with her back in the palace, things would be a little calmer.

"With all due respect director, I'd prefer to be in and out of here as soon as possible. It looks like it's going to storm today."

"'Yes, it certainly does appear that way. Well then, follow my lead."

Tomu lead Zuko and his entourage through the facility. This was supposedly one of the nicer prisons in the Fire Nation, since it dealt with rehabilitation and not merely incarceration. That being said, the interior was dreadful. They passed a few potted ferns that looked desperately in need of water, but otherwise there were no decorations to be found. The traditional stone brick walls were encased in steel plating, some of which was heavily rusted. It gave the place a vaguely creepy atmosphere. As they walked through one of the prison complexes, Zuko heard several inmates wailing, while others were screaming incoherent nonsense at each other.

"I can't believe I sent Azula here. At this rate she's never going to forgive me."

The further they descended into the building, the colder it became. The hair on Zuko's arms stood up, and he noticed his guards had lit small flames to maintain their temperature. After descending several flights of stairs they finally reached the highest security section, where the most dangerous inmates were held. This section was far less cramped, and in much better condition. Thankfully, it was also much quieter; the prisoners needed all their energy to stay warm.

Tomu walked up to the receptionist and rang the bell. "I'm requesting the keys to cellblock fourteen, room one."

The receptionist handed him a key ring with only two pins on it, and sent a small squad of guards to escort them. It would only be a few minutes till Zuko was face to face with Azula. What would he say?

Tomu opened the door to cellblock fourteen and the small group entered one at a time. The hallway was very long and dimly lit, but Zuko could make out one small room on the far end. As they approached it, a lump began to form in Zuko's throat, and he felt a sudden sense of dread. Tomu inserted one of the pins into the reinforced keyhole.

*Click*

He moved to open the door but suddenly stopped. "Do you wish to speak with the princess alone?"

"Yes."

Tomu bowed and moved to leave with his guards; they stayed in the hallway, but were far enough away as to not eavesdrop. Zuko's guards positioned themselves at either side of the door. He took a deep breath, it was now or never.

Zuko pushed open the door and entered the dimly lit room. It was very clean, with only basic furnishings. At the center of the room sat a woman, her head facing the floor. It was his sister, Azula.

Slowly, she raised her head and locked onto his face. Her bloodshot yellow eyes met his, and the two stared at one another for several long moments. Azula was the first to speak; her voice having lost none of its edge.

"Hello, brother."

"Azula…"

"Well, well, well, isn't this a surprise. I received your letter, but I didn't expect to see you so soon. Why does the mighty Fire Lord grace me with his presence?"

Her tone was mocking, but Zuko had grown accustomed to that. He decided to get straight to the point.

"I'm taking you home Azula."

She let out a small chuckle and cast a sinister glare in Zuko's direction. "So you've come to rescue me from the prison you locked me in? However shall I show my gratitude?"

Her tone was still mocking, but a slight edge had crept in. She was obviously quite mad at him, and rightfully so, but apologies could be exchanged later. He wasn't about to grovel in front of a prisoner.

"You're leaving today at my request."

"Hmph… maybe I don't want to leave, there're so many crazy people around here. I fit right in."

Zuko scowled his toughest scowl. "It doesn't matter, you're leaving on my orders and returning to the palace, whether you want to or not." Zuko knew she obviously wanted to leave and was merely toying with him, but he wasn't in the mood to joke around. "And you're not crazy. If you can mock me just like usual, that's evidence enough for me."

"Aw… but where's the fun in that?" She paused before continuing. "So you're really breaking me out of this wretched place?" She had dropped the mocking tone, and it was now replaced by bare eagerness, some might even call it hope.

"Yes, and I'd like to do it quickly if you don't mind. It's miserable outside."

"It's autumn Zuzu, of course it's miserable outside."

"Well, I'll go ahead and get the director…"

"Don't bother, that won't be necessary."

Zuko was puzzled by Azula's interruption, but before he could ask what she meant, his gaze was captivated with a combination of amazement and horror. Azula took a deep breath of the frozen air, and jets of fire erupted from her mouth. Curiously, these were not the typical azure flames he had become accustomed to, but rather a pale yellow, as if her bending was weaker than before. The chains linking her arms together began to glow red. She swung her arms apart and the chains snapped in half, with all the remaining metal melting off and falling to the floor. Slowly, and with shaky legs, she stood up. She met Zuko's stunned expression with her own sinister glare of triumph.

"How… that shouldn't have been possible. It's far too cold, and your chi…"

"It's going to take a lot more than that to neutralize me Zuzu."

"Clearly…"

"Don't be so shocked dear brother; I'm far more capable than you. Now, I believe you said we should be going."

"Yeah, just follow me. Do you need…?"

"I'm perfectly able to walk, thank you very much."

"Of course, let's be on our way then."

As they left the prison behind, Zuko couldn't help but notice Azula's cocky demeanor begin to slip. She wasn't as well as she would've liked, and it was obvious. There was a lot of bad blood between them, and it would take a while to heal. But Zuko hoped, perhaps naively, that they would both end up happier than they had ever been.

Zuko was pulled from his thoughts by the sound of Azula's stomach rumbling. "I guess prison food wasn't very good, huh?" Her silent glare was his answer. "Don't worry; I've had something prepared at the palace."

Azula's eyes briefly lit up. "And what would that be?"

"Cherries."

Surprisingly, Azula met his response with a smile. It was a very creepy smile, but it was genuine.

"Pit-less?"

"Pit-less."

And with that, the two former enemies sat in companionable silence for the rest of the ride home. Perhaps things would work out after all.


Zuko stood in front of Azula's door, as he had been doing for the past few minutes. How could he explain that her help was required without sounding like an idiot? Maybe it was just better to be quick and blunt. It would be an undignified strategy, but hopefully effective. Zuko didn't want a repeat of the time he tried to help Team Avatar. He took a deep breath and knocked on the door. No response. He knocked on the door again; still no response. "I'm coming in." He opened the door and stepped inside.

Azula was lounging on her bed, wearing nothing but a bathrobe, and her nose was buried in a book. She was clearly irritated by the disturbance.

"Who said you could come in? Can't you see I'm… oh… it's you. What do you want?"

She closed her book and gave him a suspicious look. Zuko decided to get right down to business.

"Hey Azula, I was wondering if we could talk?"

"You're the Fire Lord; you can talk to whoever you want whenever you want."

"Right, um… can I have a seat?" Azula raised one eyebrow, but otherwise made no response. Zuko took that as a yes and sat down on the edge of her bed.

"I presume you want something from me Zuzu?"

"Yes, I was wondering if you would be interested in a... um…"

"Interested in what, Zuko? Come on, just spit it out."

"Well, I was wondering if you would be interested in a job?"

Azula's expression soured. "Oh, the mighty Fire Lord has made the great sacrifice of offering his crazy little sister a job; however am I to express my gratitude?" Her sarcastic comment went over Zuko's head.

"Look, I don't have time for this. I know you like to keep busy, and I'm offering you something to do. So what will it be?"

Azula thought to herself for a moment, it was true that she always wanted something to do. She had been excited when her father sent her to chase Zuko and the Avatar, since it sure beat being stuck at home practicing her firebending. And her time in prison had been truly awful, with there being very little to keep occupied with. It just wasn't very practical to stay in her room all day and sulk.

Azula cautiously supplied Zuko with a response. "What kind of job?"

"A government job, in my administration specifically, something akin to a minister."

"Please don't say I'll have to wear those goofy robes."

"No, wear whatever you like. Does this mean you except my offer?"

"Perhaps."

"I'm sensing some kind of condition here…"

"No conditions Zuzu, I'm just wondering… why pick me? I mean, why do you need my help?"

"I'm having difficulties at the moment, my rule is unstable, but I can't bring about order on my own. I need someone who understands the Fire Nation… someone who understands me."

"You're pathetic. The Fire Lord shouldn't need his sister to help rule their nation."

"Are you with me or not?"

"Oh I'm in, just curious… have you cleared this with Mai?" Zuko could plainly hear the venom enter Azula's voice when she mentioned Mai. The two had yet to reconcile, and Mai's betrayal clearly still stung to Azula.

"No, she wasn't… available. And besides, I don't need her permission to make decisions."

Azula laughed at Zuko's comment, clearly amused. "Very good Zuzu, we might just make a proper Fire Lord out of you yet."

"We?"

"You know what I mean. I'll end up the brains behind this whole operation."

"Sure; whatever helps you sleep at night Azula."

Zuko got up from her bed and moved to leave the room, but he halted at the doorway.

"Need something Zuzu?"

"I was just wondering, when I came to release you from prison, you broke the chains easily. Why didn't you escape beforehand?"

Azula didn't answer immediately, and Zuko could almost see the gears turning in her head. But eventually she spoke.

"I wanted to at first, and I probably would've broken out eventually. I wasn't going to let you keep me in there for years."

"You probably would've succeeded; if what happened at the previous facility is anything to go by."

Azula smirked, "What can I say? I've always been a people person." She paused before continuing. "I wasn't in a hurry to break out though. The place was awful, but I had… things that needed thinking about."

Zuko didn't press her on what those things were; he had a good guess already. But he was pleased to hear that Azula was finding her own path in life, hopefully she could continue. "I'll lead her, just like Iroh did for me."

Zuko gave Azula a quick bow, and exited the room. Their conversation had gone surprisingly well; Zuko only hoped his luck hadn't run dry for today. "I'll need it for later."


Evening had crept up much sooner than Zuko expected. Despite all the tiresome meetings he had to sit through, the day passed remarkably quickly. It was time for his talk with Rei, and Zuko couldn't possibly be less thrilled. Under normal circumstances their meeting would be held in the palace, but Rei had requested that it instead take place in one of the nearby forts. Barring some mild grumblings, Zuko acquiesced. He wasn't too worried about being attacked. Despite the decreased security since the end of the war, the capital had largely been spared from the barbarism that was plaguing the countryside.

Zuko's carriage stopped in front of Fort Yosor, Rei favored this particular building above the other fortifications surrounding the city. It was one of the largest and oldest forts still in use by the army, and highly valued for its historic significance. At the time of its construction, Fort Yosor was an architectural wonder, on par with the great Sun Warrior temples of old, which still dotted the northern coast of the Fire Nation. Building large architectural wonders had become a tradition among the Fire Lords, and many used them to help strengthen the Fire Nation's defenses. His grandfather, Fire Lord Azulon, had built the great gates that protected the Fire Nation's largest bay. Zuko briefly wondered what public work he would build when the time came.

Zuko exited the carriage and began to approach the fort, flanked on both sides by Imperial Firebenders. Upon reaching the entrance, he recognized the two guards standing watch.

"Hello Dai and Isao."

"Greetings my lord", they both replied in unison.

"I'm here for my meeting with Captain Rei."

"She'd be up on the top level; I'll fetch you an escort." Isao motioned to Dai, who walked up to one of the spiral staircases and proceeded to shout at the top of his lungs.

"Hiso, get your lazy butt down here and take the Fire Lord to the Captain!"

After a few moments, a skittish looking guard emerged from the stairs and motioned for Zuko to follow. He led the Fire Lord and his guards up several flights of stairs. The Fort was even bigger on the inside, but its expansive rooms were mostly devoid of staff. When they reached the top, their escort directed them to a chamber where Rei was holding a meeting with several other important military personnel. He could hear the sound of people speaking through the walls. Ignoring the nervous posture of his escort, Zuko leaned against the door to gleam what was being said.

"I don't like this, not one bit."

"You don't like anything, how is this any different?"

"I opted to get involved on the promise that this would be a lucrative and relaxed position. Do assassination plots and mobs of roving lunatics sound relaxed to you?"

"Well… no, but sometimes things just happen."

"Exactly, and I was told things wouldn't just happen."

"Gentlemen…" a female voice interjected, "If I may comment, this hardly seems like something to discuss now, what with how far along things are."

"Far along yes, but things are not progressing well at the slightest. We're backsliding into chaos outside the capital."

"It's not just outside the capital that worries me…" a new voice interjected, "but what's happening inside as well." The man paused for dramatic effect. "That serpent Princess Azula is back in the palace, no doubt clawing her way into power."

Many voices murmured in agreement. "I was promised that she would have no involvement, and it would just be the boy. He's far less dangerous to control."

More men voiced their approval, and air of agreement seeming to settle on the crowd. "I heard she was sent to one of those asylums after Sozin's Comet, she went completely insane."

"The Fire Lord can claim to care about being transparent, but he was working those censors to death to keep that story sealed tight. I guess you could say he's two-faced?"

Several off the men snickered at their compatriot's joke, but Zuko could feel his anger beginning to build.

"I wouldn't be surprised if he installs that wench as heir to the throne, since he doesn't seem keen to play with his girlfriend these days. I wonder if she's impotent."

"Are you sure it's her?" More laugher emerged from the meeting, making Zuko seethe with rage.

"Hey missy, I know you've got some strong opinions about the new addition to the palace, care to share?"

Rei seemed to hesitate before responding, "As you well know, I have some serious misgivings about the princess."

"She had you locked up after General Iroh escaped, if I recall correctly?"

"Yes, I certainly wouldn't have wanted her on the throne. And it concerns me to see the Fire Lord so… oblivious to the danger she presents."

"Indeed, I've heard from my sources that he's become quite defensive on the subject. No doubt in denial that he could possibly be mistaken."

"I would feel much more confident if she were contained, having her loose poses a great liability."

"Umm… gentlemen, we really should be concluding this session."

"Why must we part so suddenly, do you have a date or something?"

"I suppose you could say that. I have a meeting that's supposed to be starting soon."

"With whom are you meeting?"

Rei seemed to hesitate again; "The Fire Lord."

An atmosphere of silence descended on the room, and all Zuko could hear was the slight shifting of chairs on the stone floor.

"Well then, I suppose this concludes our discussion."

"Thank you gentlemen, I'm sorry to end things prematurely, but this business requires my full attention."

There was some grumbling from the group of men, but they quickly rose from their seats and filed out of the room. Most of the men stopped to give lazy bows to their Fire Lord, and Zuko tried to remain calm in their presence. But a few gave him a nervous glance, realizing that he might have heard part of their conversation. After they were gone, Zuko noticed Rei standing on the far side of the room, her arms crossed. Zuko took a brief moment to examine her.

Rei was tall for a woman, although she only exceeded Zuko by a few inches. Her muscles had been significantly built up, which proved useful for a nonbender like herself. Unlike many soldiers he had seen, Rei sported no obvious battle scars; although whether that was a sign of great skill or inexperience Zuko couldn't say. Despite her tough appearance, Rei had a gentle voice which matched her calm personality.

"Thank you for accepting my request for a meeting, you're earlier than I expected."

"You said to be here at sundown, and the sun is setting as we speak."

"So it is, you're very punctual. Perhaps you'd make a decent soldier sir."

She frowned when Zuko's face remained fixed in an unfriendly expression.

"Sir, is everything alright?" Rei's tone was hesitant, as if she already suspected what Zuko was upset about.

"I should have them all banished for defamation against the Fire Lord. I suspect they wouldn't last too long in the Earth Kingdom." Zuko's words contained the undercurrent of a threat, and he wanted Rei to understand that clearly. "But fortunately for them, I'm not my father."

"Yes sir."

"I've been generous so far, but the leaders of this country need to understand that their loyalty is to me and me alone. And if I have to tighten my grip to make them remember than I will do so."

"Yes sir."

"And as leader of the capital guards, it is your responsibility to keep them in line. My uncle may have hired them, but they work for me now."

"Yes sir."

After a moment of silence Rei gestured for Zuko to take a seat, which he quickly did.

She cast a brief smile in Zuko's direction, before resuming a neutral expression. "I trust that you've read the missives I had sent to you?"

"More or less, I found their contents disturbing, to put it mildly."

"Yes, it's unfortunate. We have the assassin is custody, but her co-conspirators managed to escape our guards. From what I've gathered, they fled into one of the slums outside the capital. But the dark alleyways proved too difficult for my men to navigate." Her expression briefly morphed into a scowl, making her displeasure with the competency of her soldiers plainly known. While Rei was on his side politically, she didn't approve of the rapid de-militarization his administration had initiated.

"I don't blame your men; the dark of night can get the best of any soldier. And I think you recruit good men to your service."

"You mean Dai and Isao? They're much better than my previous guards; they seem to have a bit of intelligence, at the very least."

Zuko gave a small smile before getting back on topic.

"So, have you been able to extract any information from the assassin?"

"Not much, we don't think she has any big connections, although it's too soon to tell in my opinion." Rei paused before continuing. "We could attempt to be more forceful… if that is your wish."

"That won't be necessary Captain, I'd rather any information be revealed willingly." Zuko felt a twinge of pride for his stance. He once wouldn't have even hesitated to torture an enemy, but he was a different man now. Much of Fire Nation found him to soft for their liking, but Zuko was exactly how he wanted to be. Besides, he found that as Fire Lord he could apply pressure through means other than physical violence. "I would like to speak to the assassin, if possible."

"I'm not sure I can agree to that sir."

"Unless you believe she presents a clear danger to me, I don't see any reason why I shouldn't go."

"There's no danger sir, it's just… unusual for a Fire Lord to be so hands on."

"I don't intend to continue this trend, but present circumstances are forcing me to do so."

"Understood sir; now, did you read the other reports I sent."

"The ones regarding the raids? Yes, it's a tragedy, I wish there was a clearer way to help."

"I have received an updated report, it's unpleasant, but you will certainly find it useful."

"Fire away then, Captain."

Rei read out the report she had received. One of the masterminds behind the recent raids had been identified. As Zuko suspected, it was an ex-general named Mung who had left the army when Zuko took power. Although his name didn't sound familiar, Zuko reasoned that he had probably seen the man in one of his father's many war meetings. He was leading a small army of ex-military goons, alongside a host of bandits and other undesirables. They had wiped out several large villages in the countryside, probably to make Zuko look bad. They would soon come to regret it.

"Our scouts have tracked them to an abandoned outpost in the mountains. Their position is vulnerable to an aerial raid, and my men are prepared to attack. Do we have your permission sir?"

"Yes, they will regret spilling so much innocent blood."

"Very good, I will send word out in the morning."

Rei continued talking, but Zuko's mind remained focused on the report in his hand. Something didn't add up, the raiders were far too well supplied for a rag-tag army, even if they were being lead by a prestigious general. They hadn't stolen enough food to adequately feed hundreds of men, and the area they were in wasn't particularly fertile. They also wouldn't have had enough money to buy new weapons and trained rhinos. After the war, Zuko had made sure all his opponents had their funds liquidated and any dangerous assets seized by the state. They were clearly getting help from somewhere, or someone.

Rei, noticing Zuko wasn't paying attention, moved to bring him out of his trance. "Sir, is everything alright?"

"I've noticed something strange Captain, something doesn't add up with these rebels. They must be receiving aid from someone powerful."

"You suspect treason among the nobility?"

"I do Captain. They won't make it obvious, but someone is clearly funding these vagabonds, someone wealthy."

"Would you like us to begin an investigation sir?"

"Yes, but only surface level, I don't want whoever is behind this to know we're onto them. This will require more tact, but I believe the truth will eventually reveal itself."

"A very wise decision sir, I will send you another missive if we have any important developments."

"Oh goodie, I can't wait to read more doom mail."

Zuko moved to get up from his seat, but Rei raised an arm to stop him. "Sir, there is another matter I wish to discuss with you."

"And what might that be?"

"It is about the recent surge in kidnappings."

"Yes… it is unfortunate that soldiers of the Fire Nation would be willing to use their own countries children as hostages."

"It is unfortunate sir, but such scenarios are not what I was referring to. Indeed, they represent only a small minority of cases."

"Why… why did you not mention this in your package?"

"Because I am uncertain about the nature of these reports, and I felt it was important to talk about them in person."

"What do you mean by the nature of the reports?"

"Of the vast majority of reports, the parents sighted no suspect. But for a few cases, there were witnesses, and they claimed the culprits were… Kemurikage."

"Kemurikage… I'm afraid I'm not familiar with that term. What is a Kemurikage?"

"I am not quite sure myself, but they are supposedly spirits that steal children. They appear in stories meant to scare kids who have been bad."

"I don't mean to question your sources Captain, but it just sounds like a local superstition to me."

"Perhaps it is a superstition, but not a local one. These reports are from all over the Fire Nation, and most of the witnesses claimed not to have believed in them. Well… until they saw them carrying away their children in the dead of night."

Zuko was unsure what to say. He was skeptical of these Kemurikage, it sounded like the sort of thing his uncle would believe in. But then again, his uncle had the unfortunate habit of often being right.

"Sir, although I like to think of myself as a woman of common sense, I'm not willing to rule out a spiritual option. I didn't think the moon could be killed and resurrected, but apparently that was indeed what happened. Anything is possible, and I thought… as someone who is well travelled and well learned, you might be able to shed some light on the subject."

"I… I'm not sure I can do that at the moment, but I may know where I need to go to find out."

"That is perfectly fine sir; once again I am grateful that you came to meet with me."

Rei bowed and moved to escort Zuko outside the Fort. "Your uncle had spoken highly of you, sir; I hope he isn't overestimating your abilities."

Zuko was somewhat taken aback by the bluntness of her comment, but after deciding she didn't have any ill intent, he decided to respond in jest. "So do I."


Zuko's carriage pulled up to the royal prison. This was his final stop of the day; afterwards he could hopefully get some rest. He had been here on many occasions, initially to visit Iroh after the two had fallen out, and recently to visit his father, who had an entire cellblock to himself. The prison mainly held nonbenders, and firebenders not deemed threatening. More dangerous inmates were sent off to correctional facilities, or the Boiling Rock if they were particularly unlucky. Being a nonbender, his would-be assassin had been sent here. Hopefully anything too unpleasant could be avoided; Zuko wasn't in the mood to have his day ruined.

Warden Ming quickly greeted Zuko after he exited the carriage, and proceeded to lead the Fire Lord inside the facility. Without even having to ask, Zuko was informed that the prisoner in question had been moved to a more secluded cell. Rei's doing, he presumed.

When they reached the proper cellblock, Zuko's Imperial Firebenders positioned themselves outside the door, having become accustomed to his desire for as much privacy as possible. He proceeded into the dimly lit corridor, his footsteps echoing across the walls. Unlike the facility where Azula had stayed, most of the cells in the royal prison lacked doors, instead opting for more traditional iron bars. While this was a less costly option, it also allowed the prisoners to see who was approaching them. As Zuko neared the assassin's cell, she perked up and lifter her head. Upon realizing who had come to visit, her expression morphed into a dour glare.

Zuko tried to be cordial, that worked in most situations. "Hello there, what's your name?"

The girl simply stared at him. She was scrawny, with a full head of light brown hair. She appeared to be only slightly older than Zuko himself.

"I said, what's your name?"

Instead of answering, the girl spat in his general direction. Incredibly disrespectful, but thankfully for her Zuko was in a forgiving mood.

"I came here to ask a few questions." When she gave no response, Zuko decided to press a little harder. "I know you didn't come here alone."

At this, Zuko caught a slight flinch in her eyes. An assassin she might be, but she was clearly not a skilled one. As much as he admonished the fact, he had picked up several skills from Azula. In particular, she was great at analyzing a person's body language. Perhaps if he prodded a little more, he might be able to gain some valuable information.

"You came here accompanied by two compatriots, with the goal of assassinating me, your Fire Lord. You do realize that such an act is considered treason? It can result in banishment, or life in prison. I've been to the Earth Kingdom; you really don't want to spend the rest of your life there."

"I won't have to once the rightful Fire Lord is on the throne."

"So you do have a voice? And who would you put on the throne? My father can no longer bend the elements, and there has never been a nonbender Fire Lord, he would be a weak ruler."

"He would make a better Fire Lord than you, and besides, there is another…"

"Who else could take the throne, my sister? Trust me, you don't want her to be your Fire Lord, I know that better than anyone." Her scowl continued to deepen, so Zuko kept talking, eventually she was bound to slip up. "And in case you've forgotten, she's loyal to me now."

"You're a usurper; you're destroying our glorious empire!"

"Is that really what I am, or is that what you've been told I am; by your employer perhaps?"

"We… we're on a personal mission, restoring our nation's honor for its own benefit!"

This was the moment Zuko had been waiting for, not only did he have confirmation she wasn't alone, but she was clearly lying about the second part. There was another party involved, and Zuko was determined to find out whom.

"I know all about honor, I wasted three years of my life trying to restore mine. But when I finally achieved that goal, I wasn't any happier, I was more miserable than ever."

"You're just a bitter ungrateful man who has no respect for his homeland!"

This woman was beginning to get on Zuko's nerves, so he decided it was time to wrap things up.

"Maybe I am, but would having someone else on the throne really help restore our nation's honor? Would you have them restart the war? And if so, how would they win? The Avatar defeated my father without any help, he can do it again."

Zuko decided to let her sleep on those words, if she had any sense she would realize her errand was one of a fool. But before he left the cellblock, she muttered a few more words.

"You haven't seen anything yet."

Zuko ignored her retort, and exited the prison. He had work to do.


Author's Note

I would like to thank everyone for the support on the first chapter; it helped encourage me to get the next one out ahead of schedule! : )