Special thanks to starlightz1112,almostinsane,Cala Akina Morushiku, nonesofar,Fran, Mystic Water Bender3, frozonedude12, albr62,Tree Flower,Junkfood, Kiriko-sama,LittleYugiBoy,Gmasangel, Animeloverja, and TMW for reviewing!

Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar the last airbender!


Aang swallowed hard as the man he was destined to battle appeared. Fire lord Ozai.Aang had dreams about the fire lord sometimes. Aang would battle the fire lord in those dreams. Aang squirmed. He had always lost the battle and failed everyone in those dreams. He always pictured the fire lord with a shadowed face because he had never really met him and although he would never admit it scared. Now he saw the fire lord's features. The man was at least a foot taller than Zuko. He was in royal red fire nation robes. His eyes were emotionless and cold looking. They were burgundy colored. However in the light the looked closer to blood red. The fire lord bore a cold look and again was emotionless.

"Fire lord Ozai!"said Iroh kneeling. He elbowed Zuko in the side and Zuko kneeled as well.

"Rise."Ozai in a bored voice.

"Father I have brought you the avatar!"said Zuko grabbing ahold of Aang.

"Ow-"Aang gasped.

"I see."said Ozai. He looked at Sokka and Katara. Both siblings looked angry and shocked a little scared. "Who are they?"Ozai asked.

"Friends of the Avatar. "said Zuko.

"I thought we were yours to!"Katara yelled at Zuko. Ozai raised an eyebrow.

"Do you care for these...water bending peasants?"he asked his son.

"No."said Zuko. Ozai smiled a dark smile. Katara and Sokka exchanged looks of worry.

"You have done well my son! You have finally regained your honor."Ozai said with a smile that didn't reach his eyes.

"Come we must catch up on old times..."said Ozai putting his hand on Zuko's shoulder. Iroh stared at the fire lord with mistrust. Ozai snapped his fingers and guards appeared. "Lock the avatar up."said Ozai.

"My lord we don't have a jail cell that can hold the avatar..."said the soldier.

"The avatar can't earth bend or fire bend."said Zuko.

"Lock him up in the cells we usually put the water benders in-speaking of water benders lock those up to."said Ozai pointing to Sokka and Katara.

"Those? We are people you know!"Katara yelled but Sokka covered her mouth. "Shut up and show respect for the most powerful fire bender!"he said nervously. "who could fry us..."Sokka said quietly in his sisters ear.

"My lord, the avatar is taking up the last jail cell that can hold water benders."said the soldier. Ozai smiled darkly.

"Well then we will just have to dispose of them then."he said. Aang's eyes widened.

"Wait! I'm not a water bender! You can lock me up! I want to live!"cried Sokka. Katara glared. "And neither is my sister! We couldn't bend to save our lives!"cried Sokka. Ozai looked at Aang.

"Your friend isn't a good lier."he said.

"You can't kill them!"Aang cried. Ozai looked at Zuko.

"Show me your ready to be a leader prince Zuko. That you have what it takes to be ruthless.Dispose of these water bending rats."said Ozai. Zuko looked shocked and Iroh looked sad.

"Ryu. Show my brother to his room he must be tired."said Ozai nodding towards Iroh.

"NO YOU CAN'T-PLEASE DON'T DO THIS ZUKO!"yelled Aang as the soldiers grabbed his arms and legs. Aang tried to air bend but there were to many soldiers he was dragged down into the jail cells. He passed various rooms and he was thrown into one. the door disappeared and he was surrounded by four walls. "No!"cried Aang. He tried various air bending moves but nothing would work. Aang sat against the wall and bowed his head in defeat. He had failed Sokka and Katara. He had failed the world. One thing however unsettled him. Zuko had told the fire lord that he couldn't fire bend...maybe he could open the room by fire bending! Aang stood up and tried to fire bend. He managed to produce small flames from every finger but they were only an inch high and he couldn't expand them. Aang sighed and sat down.

"Aang."said a voice. It sounded like a woman's. Aang looked up. There was no one in the small cell.

"Hello?"said Aang. A figure walked through the wall. Aang blinked and rubbed his eyes. The figure was a blueish color and transparent. It was a woman with hair down to her shoulders. She was wearing a dress and her eyes sparkled."Are you a spirit?"whispered Aang. The woman nodded and held out a hand. Aang took it and gasped. He felt like he was falling and looked at his hand. He was now transparent and blue as well. He looked behind him to see his body in meditation form.

"Come with me."the woman said leading him out of the cell through the wall. They now walked around the fire nation palace. Where the woman was leading him he could not guess. They walked by Iroh and Ryu. Iroh looked at them. Aang breathed. He could have sworn Iroh could see them...they turned the corner and left. They entered a room that Aang hadn't been in yet. It had portraits of the Fire lord, Prince Zuko,Azula, Iroh, Sozen, and a woman Aang did not recognize, and finally there were pictures of the woman who was guiding him. Her long hair to her shoulders were brown and her eyes were a golden brown color. In the paintings she was wearing different clothes but it was the same woman. Aang looked at the spirt in front of him."Is that you? Are you Zuko's mother?"asked Aang.

"Yes, I am Queen Ozara."said the woman looking around the room as well.

"Where are you taking me?"asked Aang. Ozara shook her head and lead on. They exited the great palace and Aang gasped. The back of the palace must have been beautiful at one time. It held great trees that were now dead and there was a great field that was now dead. It much reflected what he had seen of the fire nation and it's capital. Both were once full of life but now were dead looking. Aang guessed beyond the field was the lake of lava that surrounded the palace. Aang wondered that if at one point it had been water? He looked back down at the town. Ozara took his hand and showed him a great dead tree. There was a small seed under it.

"Everything starts out small. Like a tiny seed."said Ozara. picking it up. She looked at Aang. "This resembles the hope in the world."she said showing Aang the seed.

"There's not a lot."said Aang feeling sad. Ozara took his hand and placed the seed in it.

"Help it grow."she said closing his hand and gave him a warm smile and Aang's surroundings began disappearing. He was surrounded by clouds and Avatar Roku stood in front of him. The woman was gone.

"Avatar Roku!"said Aang bowing to the avatar.

"It's good to see you Aang. I said we would meet again."he said.

"I don't know what to do! My friends are in danger and I'm not ready to fight the Fire Lord!"said Aang.

"You still have time to master the elements Aang. But you need to get out of there."said Roku.

"I know I do! I just don't know how!"cried Aang.

"You will find away...But hurry. I fear for the lives of your friends."said Roku.

"Zuko is really going to kill them?"said Aang feeling like he had been slapped.

"Aang if prince Zuko doesn't, than Fire Lord Ozai will."said Roku and he faded. Aang opened his eyes. He was back inside his body. Back inside the cell. There was something in his hand. He looked down it was a seed.

"Help it grow."said Ozara's voice but she wasn't in the room, or at least Aang couldn't see her. Aang stood up he had to find a way out. He put the seed in his pocket and began looking for ways out.


"Here you are general. I'm sure you will find everything as you left it."said Ryu leaving Iroh at his room. "Thank you Ryu."said Iroh he looked as if something was bothering him. Ryu left to go back to his post of guarding the door. As he was walking back a hand outstretched from a spare room and pulled him in. It was Azula. She shut the door quickly.

"Princess?"said Ryu.

"We must get Zuko out of here."Azula said.

"How?"said Ryu.

"How am I supposed to know!"asked Azula looking annoyed. "Now that Zuko's back I'm not next in line."Azula said pacing around the room. "He will become Fire Lord and I will never have my glory...our plan is falling apart!"she said. Ryu nodded. He remembered when they had first come up with a plan. A mere two years ago...


FLASH BACK right after Zuko's banishment


The castle was empty and dead looking. It was the dead of night and not a soul could be seen except a young girl. She was running down the halls smiling. She entered the part of the castle the servants slept in. She knocked on a certain door softly. Ryu opened it his dirty blonde hair sticking up.

"Princess?"he said bowing.

"Get up Ryu. Do you always have to do that every time we meet? I've been dating you for a whole year! Call me Azula when no one is around!"snapped the girl rolling her eyes.

"Yeah...okay"said Ryu blushing.

"Zuko is finally gone! I'm next in line! This is the best day of my life!"said Azula jumping up and down and she hugged Ryu.

"But Azula, your still not going to have very much power. The man you marry will be Fire Lord. You wont have very much control."said Ryu.

"It depends on who I marry."said Azula sitting on his bed. Ryu raised an eyebrow.

"Your father isn't going to arrange a marriage for you?"He asked.

"Not if I find a suitable young man first."said Azula with a smirk. Ryu blinked.

"Me?"he said.

"Yes you. If I can get away with marrying you, than you will become fire lord. You can change the rules. You can make it so I have a seat in power. I will rule the fire nation!"said Azula. Her golden eyes were lit up with victory.

"But Azula I'm just a servant. Your father will never let us marry even if it is for love."said Ryu.

"I know that. You said you wanted to be a soldier right? Well do what you can to become one. Slowly go up in rank until you are worthy in my father's eyes!"said Azula. Ryu looked at her.

"That way me and you can be together forever and we can rule the world!"said Azula holding his hand.

"What if your father...you know finds out about us now? I mean we have been dating for a whole year and your brother caught us kissing-"

"Well he didn't rat us out. Listen if all goes as planned the fact that you were a servant wont matter to my father because you will be a high ranked soldier. And it will never be leaked out. Just like the fact that my mother couldn't fire bend. Once you become worthy, you will be excepted and all that embarrassing servant stuff will never be heard of again!"said Azula. Ryu nodded and smiled at her. "But imagine...if my father found out I was in love with a servant now..."said Azula and she laughed. "That'd be horrible."

"How am I going to become a soldier Azula?"asked Ryu.

"I pull some strings. Once you become a soldier your on your own. You have to go up in rank by yourself."said Azula. Ryu nodded. Azula smiled in victory. "This plan is flawless..."she said.


END FLASHBACK


"Look all we have to do is get rid of Zuko. Than the plan will go back on track."said Ryu rapping his arms around Azula.

"How are we going to do that?"asked Azula. Ryu smiled.

"I think he may do it himself. He's supposed to kill those water benders right? Well what if he cant? Is that enough to get him banished?"asked Ryu.

"How should I know?"demanded Azula.

"Well come on. If you get your brother ticked off than i'm sure he will get himself banished all over again."said Ryu with a smirk and he pulled her out into the room. "Now where is he I want to see if he fried those water benders or not. Where would they be?"asked Ryu.

"I guess the place where Zuko's Agni- Kai was held."said Azula thinking of how Zuko had begged for mercy, the coward.

"Well come on!"said Ryu and the two entered. Zuko was battling Katara and Sokka at the same time. It wasn't an Agni Kai. He just let them fight for their lives. The Fire Lord sat watching.

"Father?"said Azula walking up to him.

"Yes princess Azula?"he asked.

"Can I watch."asked Azula. Ozai nodded to the seat next to him. She sat down watching. She hoped Zuko would mess up. She looked at Ryu. "Go."she mouthed. If her father noticed he was here than he would want to know why. Ryu left and Azula focused on the battle hoping that Zuko would fail and not kill them. Not that she cared about them. But if he failed to kill them than perhaps he would be banished. She smiled coldly.


Zuko didn't want to fight them. In fact he wasn't even fighting with his all. He didn't want to hurt them. He didn't want to kill them. He was trying to figure out a way to get them out alive. He noticed Azula up there watching. Zuko glared. What could she possibly be here for? While he was occupied with his sister Sokka through his trusty boomerang and it hit Zuko across the face. Zuko growled and he sent out a jet of flame which Sokka barely dodged.

"His fire bending has improved!"said Ozai sounding pleased.

"So?"Azula said. Ozai looked at her.

"Is that jealousy in your voice?"Ozai asked.

"Please! I'm not jealous of that banished fool!"hissed Azula. Ozai smirked. Zuko sent out another kick knocking Sokka to the ground. He set a jet of fire knocking Katara down. He placed his foot on Sokka's chest and had his hand in a fire bending position aimed at Katara. But he paused. What was he going to do now? Finish them off? Could he really do that? He heard a door open and put his attentions to the person who entered. It was his uncle.

"Prince Zuko kill them."said Ozai. Iroh frowned. Zuko looked down at Katara and Sokka. Katara shot him a pleading look and Sokka looked sad. Could he really do this? No he had to do it! He took a deep breath...


Aang sighed scanning the room once more. "Any spirits out there to offer help? I don't know how to get out of here!"Aang called out but there was no reply.Earth bending could probably get him out but he didn't know. He noticed something was carved into the wall. It was a small flame. Aang concentrated. and let a small flame from the end of his thumb and put it to the wall nothing. He backed up. "I have to save Katara and Sokka so come on fire bending, WORK!"yelled Aang holding out his hands and a huge blast of fire shot out and struck the wall. The wall groaned and a door appeared. "YES! I DID IT!"yelled Aang punching the air in victory. He opened the door and ran out and bumped right into Ryu.

"Hey!"said Ryu and he shot a blast of fire at Aang which Aang caught with his hands and shot it right back at him. Ryu screamed and dropped to the ground as the wave of fire passed over him.

"You can fire bend?"he cried but Aang was already gone. He was running as far away as he could. He had no clue where he was going.He had to find Zuko's uncle! He would help! Aang looked around lost. Than he saw a shimmer of blue. Ozara appeared.

"Ozara! Please I need help. I need to find my friends!"Aang cried. Ryu blinked as he turned the cornor and saw Aang speaking to a wall.

"This guys a nut..."he whispered to himself. he needed to sneak up on Aang. he tip toed quietly behind the avatar. Ozara pointed behind Aang.

"Behind me?"Aang said and turned around and shot an air blast at Ryu and he was knocked against a wall. Ryu groaned standing up but Aang was gone. Ryu frowned. How had he known? Aang followed Ozara quickly. He silently wondered how she had died...and why she was helping him. Maybe she was against the war? They entered the room and he saw Zuko standing over Katara and Sokka.


Zuko swallowed hard. He couldn't do it...he just couldn't. He lowered his arms and stepped off of Sokka. Sokka and Katara slowly stood up.

"PRINCE ZUKO KILL THEM!"yelled Fire Lord Ozai.

"I cant..."Zuko said.

"Why not?"demanded the fire lord.

"He can't kill them because they know where the jewel of fire is! Right Zuko?"said Aang loudly. Everyone looked at him. Iroh smiled and Zuko smiled and the fire lord looked annoyed. Zuko knew very well he had the jewel of fire, but hey it would keep them alive he'd go along.

"How the hell did you escape?"Ozai demanded.

"That guard let me out...Ryu."lied Aang. He didn't want to get the guy in trouble but if Ozai found out he could fire bend there would be trouble.

"WHAT!"yelled Ozai. Azula grew pale.

"F-father did you hear what the avatar said? Those two know where the jewel of fire is!"cried Azula changing the subject. Ozai turned his attention to Katara and Sokka who looked scared.

"Zuko you idiot! Why didn't you tell me!"demanded Ozai. "You told me to kill them father."said Zuko relieved that Aang had saved him. He owed him one. Ozai snapped his fingers guards appeared.

"Prepare the torture rooms for these two! I want to know where the jewel of fire is in three hours or it will be one of your lives!"yelled the Fire Lord.

"Yes my lord!"said the soldiers and they grabbed Katara and Sokka who looked at each other in horror. Ozai turned to more soldiers. "Put the avatar back in his cell and find Ryu and bring him to me! I want to deal with that traitor myself!"said Ozai. Azula looked at her father in horror and stared at Aang vicously. Aang swallowed hard.

"scarey girl just got more scarey!"he said to himself.

"Father the avatar is obviously lieing! He must be a skilled fire bender and is just blaming an innocent soldier!"said Azula.

"Azula enough. This is a child! It takes a fairly skilled fire bender to open those cells. You and Zuko could never open the cell when you were his age."Ozai said with a dark smile. Azula shuddered. Often when she and Zuko had misbehaved they would be locked in that jail cell by their father. The soldiers took Aang away and he looked at Katara and Sokka concerned. He couldn't help but feel this was worse. Now they were going to be tortured. He shot Zuko a look and Zuko gave him a wink. Aang relaxed. The prince was cooking up some way to save them. He was thrown into his cell and sat down. He would lay low for about twenty minutes than escape again and go find Katara and Sokka! He wondered where queen Ozara was.

Zuko and his uncle left. "I feel bad for Ryu. I know for a fact he wouldn't let the avatar out."Zuko said to his uncle. They watched as Ryu got pulled into the room they were previously in and Azula got pushed out. Ryu got pulled in and the doors closed and two guards stood in front of the doors.

"NO HE'S INNOCENT! LET ME IN!"Azula shouted at the guards in front of the door. They didn't move.

"Uncle Iroh!"Azula cried running to her uncle.

"Yes Princess Azula?"said Iroh.

"You have to let me in! The avatar is lieing! Please!"cried Azula. "Let her in."Iroh said to the guards. They reluctantly moved and Azula ran in. Zuko shook his head.

"It's weird to be home."He said. Iroh nodded in agreement.

"That it is my nephew. It brings back many memories. Now how are we going to save those two friends of yours?"asked Iroh with a smile. Zuko paused than smirked. "I know. You go get Aang tell him to stay in the cell. Stay in front of the cell pretend your guarding I'll take care of the rest. I'll come with the two and meet you there."said Zuko. Iroh nodded not questioning his nephew. He wondered what he was planning. Whatever it was he was sure it would work. Iroh chuckled to himself.