Wishfull-star: Thank you!

Chai Chandler: Thanks! Ace's story is independent mostly from the ATLA plot, but it does affect the outcome of the war a bit. But the focus is on Ace's story which involves the war but isn't a focal point. Hope you stick around for it!


Ace woke with a itchy sensation on his arm, and scratched at it, only to feel a hardness. He stood up and walked around everyone to the bathroom. He closed the door and pulled up his sleeve. He looked at the black substance for a long moment, as the scars of the bite were now black.

Feeling them, he could tell they were rough, thick. Not his skin, soft and fleshy. He yanked his shirt up to look at the other bite scars to see the same thing. Staring at them with a white face, he put the sleeve and shirt back down, and gathered that day's clothes and changed in the bathroom alone.

They hid the marks easily. He didn't know what they were, and it bothered him, confused him, and made him cautious. He didn't know what the reaction would be. Maybe people would think he developed some condition or illness. He just didn't want any more drama. He put his shoes on and then left to go in the courtyard, sitting on the stone and thinking.

He was all alone in the early morning sunlight. He pulled down on his sleeve, and kept rubbing over the spots, poking them to see they were still there and hard. Ace was so distracted that he didn't notice somebody coming up behind him until some shurikens passed through his chest. He turned around with a look of pure fury on his usual nonthreatening face.

"So it's true, you aren't solid," Mai said in her flat and uninterested voice. Ace took the shurikens and melted them in his hands. He tossed them at her and they burnt her clothes, making her have to quickly take off he outer shirt so the hot metal didn't reach her skin. She looked at him in anger, a rare show of expression.

Ace told her to get lost.

"Don't think now that you're special that you're any better than us," she said sourly. Ace sighed in annoyance, and stood up to find somewhere more private. He left the palace grounds and just sat against the outer wall, watching the trees blow in the light breeze. He wished he could go back to how things were only yesterday morning.

Where he wasn't discovered and would no doubt be watched more often, no longer able to express his feelings even in private with his friend. He wondered if all the important people here felt suffocated under duty and expectations.

Nobody found him for awhile until he went back to have some breakfast, now that it wasn't so early anymore. His friends wondered where he'd gone. "Had a bad dream so I went to walk around," he lied. Nobody would know about the marks. Even Zuko, in case he thought Ace was sick or something, when he felt he wasn't.

If he was sick, why would the marks only concentrate on his bite scar? After breakfast, he headed to Zuko's chambers, peeking around corners so he didn't run into anybody else. He knocked on the door, and said it was him. It opened and Ace was let inside. Zuko looked a bit upset, and Ace forgot about his problem in worry over his friend's. "What's wrong?"

"Azula keeps trying to convince father to kill you as a threat to the family's credibility. Having you be stronger than Azula, or me, would look bad," he explained in a dark voice. Ace's brows furrowed deeply, and he asked if it was going to happen. "I… I doubt it. Azula is just angry about losing and being immature about it."

Ace said it was the Fire Lord that had told him to fight. "Which is why he won't do what Azula wants. You'll have to stay in good behavior." Ace flopped onto the couch and said this was annoying. "You're lucky to be a bender. A good one."

"It's not like I use it for anything. I'm not a fighter, or a general. I don't need it to look credible because my only task is to be friends with you, right? I'm not useful for anything else. And now that my father disowned me, I really have no reason to be here," Ace said heatedly. Zuko said he had potential to be strong and helpful.

Ace wasn't happy with this, working for the Fire Lord or the army sounded boring as hell, honestly. He felt the itchy sensation spread along his arm, and swallowed, starting to sweat nervously. "Well, you can try to politely decline, but that might be the wrong thing to do. If you really don't want to do it, though, you should refuse early. What's wrong with you?"

"Nothing. I just think I have hives. My arm itches pretty bad," Ace lied smoothly. Who knew how Zuko would react, because Ace himself was reacting pretty badly, nervous and scared about what it was. He wanted it to go away. Zuko offered he could go to the infirmity. "No, it's fine," Ace said.

He sat on the chaise and asked how he should go about this. Without doing it wrong or disrespectfully. Zuko still looked suspicious about the hives explanation. Ace didn't itch anymore, glad the sensation ended before it peeked out of the sleeve. Ace asked when he should say it. "Well, it's not like anyone has said a thing about you having a new role yet."

Ace knew that was true. Then he felt the black cover his hand which was on his lap. "What's that?" Zuko asked with wide eyes. Ace hid his hand, but his friend had already seen it. Ace sighed and put the hand back on his lap. He didn't know what it was, and moved the sleeve up. He asked if Zuko thought it was some sort of disease. "Does it hurt? You said it itched…"

The freckled teen was glad his friend wasn't freaking out or anything. Ace said the edge of it itched, but that was it. Ace lifted his shirt a bit and saw the black had spread across his abdomen, but not his entire chest. He frowned deeply, but then his eyes widened when it all receded into the bite marks and disappeared.

The two of them were silent in shock, before Zuko said, "That was… weird…" Ace nodded and pulled his shirt down. "What is that bite from, anyways? You never talk about it," the prince asked. Ace looked to the side, but wasn't going to not answer. He'd seen them go into the bite mark. And he wouldn't tell anybody about it. Ace explained that he was attacked by a dragon when he was eight. It carried him off, Ace in its jaw. Then it dropped him in a lake. He thought it had somehow made a mistake and hadn't eaten him or anything. He remembered the dragon was sort of glowing as he fell into the lake.

Zuko was shocked about Ace being attacked by a dragon when all of them were said to be gone, extinct from being hunted ruthlessly. Ace nodded. That was when his mom was around, so he was cared for and treated. His dad wasn't in the picture then, so he didn't know what it was from.

"Wait, isn't that when your firebending came?" Ace nodded. "Do you think you got it from the dragon?" he asked very quietly. Ace shrugged, but admitted he'd always thought that was the cause of him developing it and using it the way he did. "Wow. That's pretty intense. But cool you survived a dragon attack."

Ace smiled, glad Zuko didn't think he was a freak or anything. Not that Ace expected him to. But he admitted they should keep it a secret. Ace nodded, and definitely didn't want anything to do with the Fire Lord, since he was all for hunting dragons like his predecessors. There was a knocking on Zuko's door. He asked who it was, and there was no answer.

"Probably Azula," Ace said. He crossed his legs in annoyance, that she wanted him killed for beating her fair and square in a fight she'd wanted to happen. It wasn't like Ace attacked her out of nowhere and overpowered her while she was helpless. She had her chance at beating him, and she failed.

A strong person would move on or try to better themselves and try again in the future. Zuko grew annoyed and demanded to know who it was. "Ty Lee," she said. Zuko didn't open the door, and asked what she wanted. "Just to talk to Ace." Ace frowned, and Zuko shared a glance and shrugged.

"She has an obvious crush on you, might as well talk," the prince said quietly. Ace stood and walked to the heavy and intricate door, opening it and seeing it was indeed Ty Lee, but she was looking nervous. She asked to come inside. Zuko told her to talk at the door. She wasn't welcome inside as oneof Azula's best friends.

She said, "I heard what you said. But I won't tell anybody!" Ace narrowed his eyes at her, asking if she was listening in. She looked down and nodded, admitting Azula told her and Mai to spy on him and find something on him. "I won't say anything about it, but you should be careful. She really wants you gone."

Ace sighed and rubbed his face with both hands. "Thanks for the warning. If you tell her-"

"I swear I won't. I swear on my life," she vowed. Ace was skeptical, but nodded. He'd hold her to that statement. She eventually left, darting away and down the hall. Ace closed the door and sat down, putting his head in his hands. Zuko got him a pair of old gloves, and gave them to him.

"In case the black comes back," he said thoughtfully. Ace smiled and thanked him, putting the gloves on. He was glad when snacks were delivered, the ones the staff thought Zuko liked that were actually Ace's favorites. He was a good friend. Was nothing like Azula with her terrible attitude and wickedness. She just was a cruel, vindictive person.

Later, Ace was walked to the bathroom used by the staff and anyone not with royal heritage when he ran into Azula. Well, she was following him. He knew she was, and went into the men's bathroom. He waited at the door, seeing if she got bored and left. He stood there a good fifteen minutes while she stayed on the other side. How annoying.

He wanted to slam his hands on the door and startle him, but he was supposed to not bring negative attention to himself. "How long are you going to stand there?" he asked.

"How long are you going to use the bathroom?" she asked in a cocky voice. Did she think he was embarrassed?

"Sorry, I had to take a massive crap. Can I help you?" he asked.

"You're disgusting," she snapped.

"Can I help you with something? Or are you trying to find a way for me to be executed?" he asked in a cold voice. She giggled, but claimed Zuzu was telling lies. Yeah, he believed that completely. "Well, then I guess you have no reason to be here," he reasoned. He looked around and saw the window was open. It was easy enough to fit through. He wondered how long she'd wait there if he left that way. So he did, climbing on top of the toilet and then hiking a leg up over the window frame and maneuvering himself out, dropping down to the cement ground. He brushed off his pants and then wandered away.

He was found not much later by someone who wasn't Azula or her "friends". It was a guard. He did wonder how they saw out of the masks. He'd tried one on before, and they were very difficult to see out of, so they seemed not useful in that way. He lead Ace to the Fire Lord's chamber. He'd never been in there before.

Ace was hesitant to enter but the guard unceremoniously shoved him inside, nearly stumbling. "Ah, Ace. Yes, come in," Ozai said, making Ace worried he was actually going to be attempted to be executed. He went in front of the stage lit on fire and got on his knees to bow. "You're here because I have a new purpose for you." Great. "I'd like you to become a body guard for our next outing into the city for the new monument of our family."

That was it? "With all due respect, I don't know if I'm capable for that. I've never protected others before, as I have never firebended," he said respectfully.

"Are you refusing?" he asked, tone simple and not offended.

"No, your majesty. I just worry I'm not capable of that responsibility." Ozai said he'd be doing it regardless, but for his comfort, he wasn't going to be the only one. He'd just be Zuko's guard. "Oh. Alright, thank you for this opportunity," Ace said sincerely, glad it was not some boring, permanent role.

Ozai excused him after adding, "I think you could be very useful on the front lines some day." Ace said he was honored and left. He let out a sigh once the double doors were closed. It was super hot in there, how was that comfortable? He was covered in sweat just being inside the room, not very close to the line of flame.

He saw Zuko's mother walking past, but she didn't acknowledge him. Ace did have a feeling Ursa thought he was a bad influence, even if Zuko usually chastised him on his blunt honesty, when it could endanger him. It didn't seem like Ace rubbed off on him, but he could understand that worry based on what happened between Ace and his father. Former father.

He took a deep breath and walked down the hall, and looked around the corner and saw Azula seemed to have broken down the bathroom door, no doubt furious she was tricked. Or embarrassed. But Ace was glad to not see her there anymore.

-x-

"Do I have to wear this?" Ace asked, the helmet on because he was told to by the other guards. They nodded, admitting it was uncomfortable, but he'd get used to it. Surprisingly, the guards did not dislike Ace. He felt they wouldn't want some newbie to come in and be a guard, too. Or maybe they disliked his skill with fire. But they were pretty welcoming.

It was a relief. When they left the room, and found Zuko waiting, Ace asked if he knew which one of the guards he was. Zuko rolled his eyes. "Obviously, you. You're shorter than they are," the prince said. Ursa scolded Zuko for rolling his eyes, and Zuko kind of looked taken aback. Ursa glared at Ace. He stiffened, glad his scowl wasn't visible.

He'd been good friends with Zuko since they were thirteen, and now she was disliking him, or his behavior? "Sorry, Zuko. I was just joking around," Ace said quietly through the mask. He brushed it off, not thinking it was Ace's fault. He got too comfortable. "Okay…"

Ace was silent for the trip and the wait, with the royalty in those carriage things held up by other people. Ace was just walking alongside the one with Zuko on it. He wasn't carrying it, thankfully. He wasn't physically fit enough for that, and would just embarrass him. Azula was angry at him, still, about the bathroom incident.

No doubt because it was embarrassing, Ace ditching and her not knowing for at least some period of time. Azula strived for perfection and dominance over everyone she saw as weaker than her. Even those who weren't weaker than her were enemies, besides the Fire Lord. Ace thought that Azula would go crazy about needing to be perfect some day.

Personally, Ace hoped he got to witness that breakdown, heavily disliking the girl for how she treated him and, more importantly, Zuko. He looked away from her, and forward again. Being in town was quick, it didn't take too long to get there. The statues of them all were made out of copper and molded into their likeness, showing Ozai standing tall, Ursa meeker beside him and both kids in front of the two parents.

They looked unrealistic only because Azula didn't have a smirk on, but a relaxed face. Besides that, they looked pretty realistic. Ace wondered how long and how much work it took to make them this way. Having them mould them into the perfect shape. It was impressive, and Ace managed not to comment. He wasn't a friend, but a guard right now.

They only stayed for an hour or so before hey left once again. Ace was bored. He wasn't able to say anything or make any comment. But he was frustrated with himself about that. It wasn't his place to make comment or say anything. He wasn't lucky enough to be able to speak his opinions openly.

Looking at Zuko, he didn't feel any resentment because even Zuko couldn't speak his opinions openly in his position, either. Ace let out a light sigh, and looked forward. The only one who could speak their mind was Azula, because her thoughts and feelings weren't something seen as wrong from the powerful father.

Ursa didn't favor her, it seemed, but it didn't change the fact that Azula had more freedom in being herself than Zuko ever had. Ace did resent Azula. He was glad he had this mask on as he scowled at her. It was nice nobody could see his face right now. If they did, he'd get in trouble no doubt for showing emotion like that when it was not his place to.

Ace looked at his hands in this fancy outfit. Looking through the very small eye holes in the constricting helmet. The journey back was quiet, nobody talking. It was awkward. Ace wondered if all "family events" were this uncomfortable. Complete silence was unsettling. The walk wasn't long, again, and soon they were back at the palace. The guards bowed to the royal family, with Ace's being slightly stiff.

The teen went straight to the changing room and got out of the heavy parts of the suit, just left in the undergarments that were below the stiffer parts and the armored areas. He gently set the helmet down, not tossing it to the side like he wanted. Next he went to the bathroom, to make sure his skin was fine. The scars were there, but there was no black skin. Leathery and strong in texture.

He lit his arms on fire, but saw the black blossom from that. Like when dye hits water and slowly branches out. So, it happened because of using the fire. The first time didn't happen long after the match against Azula. He doused the flames, and waited as the black faded, as if reversing how it appeared before.

Then, he couldn't firebend. He smiled. That way, he didn't need to be on some sort of pedestal in the way of being strong and useful. If he didn't bend anymore, then he'd be useless and could continue just being Zuko's friend. When he left the room, he went to find someone he could learn from that wasn't bending. He went to Ty Lee.

He found her doing flips and gymnastics in one fo the smaller courtyards. "Ty Lee! I gotta ask you something," he said. She said she didn't say anything, and Ace waved that off. "I want you to teach me how to hit pressure points. I've decided I don't want to firebend," he explained.

She cocked her head and asked why he didn't want to firebend when he was so good at it. "Well, it makes me feel crappy afterwards. Maybe because it's weird. Besides, I've hidden it eight years, using it for a week or so shouldn't make me too dependent on it anymore," he replied honestly. "That's why learning your way of fighting would be super useful."

Ty Lee grinned, more than happy to help Ace out. He ended up being the dummy so he knew what to feel with it, and ended up leaving very sore in many points. She gave him one of her special anatomy books where the pressure points were, and what they each did. What disabling them could do.

He was very thankful for the information, and put it under his pillow before going to find Zuko. He found Ursa in their room, and heard through the door, "You should distance yourself from Ace, Zuko. He's a bad influence." Well, Ace wasn't surprised by her thought, it was clear on her face every time she looked at him. Zuko protested, saying Ace was his best friend. He could confide in him.

"I'm not disrespectful or anything by being friends with him. Why is Azula allowed to have friends, but I'm not? All she does is use them for her own gain. I actually like my friend," the prince protested vehemently. It was all he needed to hear. Zuko defended him. Well, he also didn't want to be caught doing that. He left, and went to the turtle duck pond, and sat at the water. The fish swam over when he got close to the water, but the turtle ducks stayed on the other side of the pond.

Ace sighed. "Somebody moping?" Azula simpered. There to bug him again. Well, her taunting him gave Zuko a break, so he always took it. He just didn't put up with it in a way that would humiliate himself. He tried to keep in the sarcastic remark... But he couldn't help it.

"Would you like to join my pity party? I don't have tea, but you can drink some pond water if you want," he said in a honest voice. Her eye twitched. She commented that he was just upset he would never be anything more than what he was. Ace nodded. "I know. I'll never go further in the ranks because I'm no longer going to bend. Not to fight you, either."

God damnit, he couldn't help it. "I guess we'll never have a rematch, and I will stay the victor." He heard her growl under her breath. She demanded to know why he would abandon bending. Who in their right mind would abandon bending? It made no sense to her. "I have no real reason to be a bender. I haven't been doing it for years. Going back is just fine. Besides, I never planned on bending back at you."

"Then you only did it under father's orders? You would have rather been shamed and humiliated in front of everybody?"

"How you were?" Ace challenged. He couldn't keep his mouth shut. "I would have been fine being a loser if it meant I didn't need to go through firebending drama."

"You're hilarious," Azula sneered, dismissing his words as foolish and weak.

"I'm glad you think I'm funny. I try very hard, you know," Ace replied. "I work on my sense of humor as much as you work on being respectful to others. Though that would make me not funny at all," Ace sighed. Azula huffed, and said he wasn't respectful either. And Azula was allowed to be disrespectful. Ace wasn't.

He admitted that was true. "I have a bad habit of speaking my mind." It shouldn't be a bad habit, he wanted to be able to say how he felt and what he thought, not in hushes in a room with the door and window closed.

"Mother doesn't want Zuko to be friends with you anymore~" Ace didn't say he knew already because then it would show he was listening in. He simply said he could always tell Lady Ursa didn't like him. "And you're not upset?" she wondered.

Ace said, "It's been a couple years of me and Zuko being friends. If she still dislikes me now, I think it'll be hard to gain her favor years later." It was a reasonable analysis. Azula simply said if none of the family liked him, then he should just leave. "I'm Zuko's friend, and he's mine. You can hate me all you want. Lady Ursa can hate me all she wants, I'm Zuko's friend," Ace said firmly.

Then he added, "You won't get rid of me."

"Well, if you refuse to bend, father has no use of you. Mother doesn't want you around as it is, and I hate you, too. If majority rule were initiated, you'd get the boot. Not to mention your only family disowned you. You'll never live a life of leisure like we do." Ace already was to some extent, but he didn't say this. Azula's point was sound. If Zuko soured on him, he'd be gone. Well, even if his friend didn't suddenly dislike him, he could be removed.

With him not being useful to anyone, and having no real connections to the palace but a friendship that nobody seemed to think was too important, he was outta there. He didn't want to talk to Azula anymore, and stood up to leave. "Did I add some spice to your little pity party?"

"Sorry, pond water and spice don't sound like a tasty mixture," Ace replied smoothly. "Better luck next time." He condescendingly pat her on the shoulder. She grabbed and twisted his arm from behind, pinning him down. It didn't hurt, even as she pressed her knee to the back of his neck. He just stayed there. He didn't fight back. "Are you almost done? I have to pee. I'm sure the turtle ducks wouldn't like it if I used the pond."

She stood up and left, fists balled. Ace was her ultimate enemy. He didn't bend to fear or her skill, or get stumped at her various insults. He did go inside, and to Zuko's room again, finding Ursa was gone. He knocked on the door, and it was opened to him, with his prince friend looking down. "What's wrong?" he asked, though he had an idea. He sat down where he usually did. Zuko said his mom didn't approve of their friendship anymore. "But… why now?" Ace asked in confusion as to what changed.

"She didn't say why now. She just said it was possible you wouldn't want to be my friend anymore and I should distance myself before then," Zuko said quietly. Ace sighed, slumping his shoulders. "You still want to be my friend, right?" Ace nodded. He was the only person he cared about. Though Ty Lee was teaching him chi blocking.

Zuko looked relieved. "I've decided to not firebend anymore. At all," Ace said, dropping a bomb all of the sudden. Zuko was baffled. "That's what triggers the thing. When I firebend, it happens. I don't know what will happen if I firebend more," the freckled teen explained. "It's not that I just don't want to. I just don't feel the need to do it in the first place. I didn't want to firebend in that match. I wanted to just lose on my own terms, but I couldn't disobey the Fire Lord…"

They were both quiet for a bit. Ace leaned back in the chair, and said, "I'm being an idiot about how I treat Azula." It wasn't what Zuko was expecting, and asked what he meant. "She antagonizes me, but I just do it back. She's the princess, I should be respecting her. It's just hard to do so when she doesn't respect me. And I also know that's not my place. I'm lowly and my opinions don't matter. I don't know… maybe I'm just jealous."

"Of me?"

"Of every day, common people. You don't get to fully express your thoughts, either. You have a place just like I do," Ace said truthfully. "I don't resent you or your situation, so you don't have to worry about that." Zuko looked relieved at that, but had an air of sadness about him, too. "Do you want to be Fire Lord, Zuko?"

The prince thought for a moment. "I do. It's my destiny to be Fire Lord. I wish you could teach me better firebending, but I didn't think that was possible even before you decided to give it up." Ace nodded, glad he hadn't let down his friend or anything. There was a knock on the door, and the two looked up, Zuko asking who it was.

"It's me, Zuzu," Azula said, her nickname showing who it was regardless. Zuko asked what she wanted. "Father wants to speak with Ace. I assumed he was here with you. He's not at the pond anymore."

Ace called that he'd moved the location of his pity party. Zuko shoved his arm with a stern look, and Ace put his hand to his face. He couldn't help it. Damn it. But the Fire Lord wanted to talk to him. Until he bended, Ozai hadn't shared a single line of dialogue with his son's best friend. Though he never did so with Ty Lee or Mai, so it wasn't just Ace personally. Ace waked to the door, and opened it.

"Go see him, he's in the throne room," she said with a devious smirk. Ace narrowed his eyes and walked to the very hot and uncomfortable room's doors. He knocked on the door, and was welcomed in. Part of Ace wondered if Ozai just sat in here all the time, or if it was only for seeming intimidating.

Ace walked forward and got on his knees to bow again. "Azula has told me about your talk." Shit, which one? What part? "She says you no longer wish to firebend. When you've just been given recognition."

The teen waited to make sure he wouldn't interrupt, and affirmed this. He didn't give any explanation since it wasn't asked. He had a snotty attitude, but he cared about his life, knowing Ozai could end it either literally or socially somehow, banishing him. "I don't want to firebend anymore because it makes me feel sick. After the duel, I got sick."

"And you can't push through it? Muscles grow stronger by being pushed past their breaking point. I want you to firebend, Ace. You are a truly valuable asset, even if your father denies it," Ozai explained. Ace was very worried. He didn't know what would happen if he firebended. If it would go further than just changing his skin.

Ace didn't want to argue, but he didn't want to make it known he was attacked by a dragon and that's where his bending most likely came from. He'd no longer be Zuko's friend and confidant, but he'd be a science experiment. He knew that. He refused, though, gathering the stupid courage.

"I can't, Fire Lord. I will only become useless once I firebend too much and make myself ill. If I were to fatigue in an important time, it would shame myself and anyone who supported me." He hoped he was doing alright. He was being humble enough, not defiant in tone of voice. He never worked to act this respectful but for the Fire Lord.

He said, "That is a shame. Perhaps there is a remedy. Why don't we see what your sickness is and we can find a way to treat it. I insist you firebend for your nation." So, it was giving an order. Ace hesitated again. He was unsure what was worse, angering the Fire Lord or exposing his secret, and weird possible condition... thing.

His voice shook as he said, "I will not."

"I see. That is a shame."

"I apologize for appearing like I could be useful to you and our people, only to disappoint so soon afterwards. You have my sincerest apology and regret," he said, never looking up. He was sweating, not just from the heat in the room. He'd refused an order directly in the same room. Right in front of him. Ozai said it was indeed a shame.

But he had Azula and Zuko. Ace was not important in the grand scheme of things. "It was but a passing thought. Zuko sure has a strong willed friend. You are excused." Ace stood up, bowed again, and then hurried out. His heart was pounding in his chest violently. He couldn't hear anything but it hammering in his ears.

He leaned against the double doors and saw Azula there. "Oh, you refused something father wanted. Not even I do such a foolish thing," she taunted. Ace walked away and to the servants and family kitchen to stress eat. He got some pastries and ate all of them inconsiderately to the others.

What was Ozai planning to do in retaliation? Surely Ace wouldn't get away with refusing something the Fire Lord specifically asked for, ordered. Just being Zuko's friend was not enough to justify not punishing him for that. And with Ace useless to him, with him having no familial connection to anyone there, why would he be kept much longer? He was… kind of scared.

He paced back and forth, stuffing his face. The door opened to a worried looking Zuko. Nobody else really came to this place because it was the quarters of the family members or workers as well as those that served the royal family. "I messed up."

"What happened?"

"I refused to work for him. I did it as respectfully as possible, though!" he said. Zuko calmed him down, insisting that he would be understanding. Ace had been his friend for years. He'd be fine. It's just impressive that he had the courage to stand up for himself. "I guess… But with me having no real purpose here, I need to stop pissing off Azula. She's the one that told him about it all."

Zuko pointed out he should stop antagonizing her regardless of his status. "It's so hard not to, though. I know that's a bad excuse, but it's true," Ace admitted. Zuko had him go to the turtle duck pond. Ace nodded, and both of them walked there. Ace was very tense, and Zuko pat his back nicely. "I'm okay."

"Good."

When they got there, Ty Lee was doing her gymnastics, and asked Ace if he wanted to work on chi blocking some more. Zuko was fine with him doing it, and would just watch there. Ace nodded, and went to practice with the flexible girl. Ace got his chi blocked over and over, which was very uncomfortable, but was a real learning experience.

"You have to hit them hard enough, but not too hard or it won't work. It's best to use your two fingers of knuckles to be more precise." She seemed to be enjoying teaching him. Then Mai and Azula came out. It was unfortunate there weren't many recreational spots in the royal palace that could distance the two opposing groups.

"What are you doin -, training the traitor - Ty Lee?"

"Azula! Ace asked for me help since he doesn't want to firebend anymore," Ty Lee said brightly. Ace was laying on the ground, limp from the recent chi blocked attack. "He's really determined." Ace didn't feel ashamed or embarrassed at lying there, immobile. He eventually got back up, slowly but surely. Azula looked unimpressed. "Well, you shouldn't play with him too much, you'll sully your reputation." Ace clenched his teeth to not reply, and turned back to Ty Lee, asking if he could try on her, now. She nodded, not really being deterred by Azula's words, since she always insulted Ace. It was the norm.

Ace missed most of them, but got one very close. "That was super close!" she praised. "Move to the left and come from just a little bit below. Yeah, that spot!" She was a good teacher, and was good with positive reinforcement. "Why don't we take a break? I'm sure you have plenty of bruises."

"I can't get bruises, but I do feel kind of sore," Ace replied honestly. "That's a really useful method of fighting, though." Ty Lee grinned and agreed. Azula called her over, and the younger girl said they'd work again later. Ace thanked her sincerely, with a smile, making her blush profusely and hurry back to her friends.

-x-

"It's been a week, you should feel more safe now," Zuko said to Ace. He had circles under his eyes and had been having a hard time sleeping. Zuko took pity on him and had him sleep in his room so he knew nobody would come in to "get him" at night when he was vulnerable. Zuko's mom disapproved of this, but Zuko was firm about it.

So, Ace slept on the chaise at night, truly thankful for his friend. "I know. I just keep having bad dreams," Ace said in embarrassment. Zuko frowned deeply. He wondered what it would take for Ace to feel comfortable again. The other shrugged. "Maybe you could go on a walk or something outside? Go hunt some food. You haven't done that in awhile," the prince suggested.

It was a good idea. Ace agreed, and said he'd be back in a bit. Zuko nodded, and Ace left the palace ground, sneaking out. He walked up the slope where people knew he went sometimes and never really cared. In some ways, he had more freedom than Zuko and Azula did. They never left the palace grounds.

Ace went to his little campfire and sat down, glad to be safe and away from the palace and the man he feared. He shouldn't be so worried by now. He would have done something already if he was planning. And Ace had done well to not argue with Azula, who kept making fun of his nervousness and fear over what could happen, whether it would or not. Well, he didn't bite, which was amazing in and of itself, to be honest.

After taking a bit to himself, he went into the forest to hunt something, but realised he hadn't brought any weapon with him. Shit. He could do nothing. And he refused to use his fire now. So, his hunt just turned into a long walk, ending up along the coast. It was nice, and he took in a deep breath of air, feeling relaxed out there.

Then he turned around and saw some guards coming out of the forest line. He was immediately on guard, even exhausted as he was. "What are you doing here?" he demanded.

"Prince Zuko felt worried over you, saying you did not bring a weapon with you," a guard said, holding a dagger in his arm, hand out to offer it to him. He felt better about this, and was grateful for it, though two guards were a bit much. Ace walked forward and took the knife, thanking him.

"You don't have to stay, I'll be fine with this," he said. He recognized the voice who spoke, one of the nicer guards. But then Ace was grabbed around the neck, something shoved into his neck. He thrashed around, the sharp thing not hurting him, but he felt spit bubble up in his mouth and foam.

He continued to struggle trying to stab them with the knife, get out of the hold as he was strangled and poisoned. His body went limp, and the knife came out of his hand, dropping to the ground. He was completely unconscious, now. And completely vulnerable. He didn't hear the quiet apology from the guards.