Disclaimer: All rights belong to Nickelodeon, Bryan Konietzko, Michael Dante DiMartino, and all the men and women that created the A:TLA show, books, and comics. I take no credit, and I do not mean to break any copyright rules. This is simply a work of fiction made for enjoyment. No money is being made. The lyrics are from the song "Mercury" by Sleeping At Last

Rating: General Audiences. Warning: some scenes contain dark themes and minor violence

Author's Note: Thank you for all sticking around! I know the ending of the last book wasn't what you were all hoping for, but I promise it'll make Zuko's redemption arc all the sweeter :) This book focuses a lot more on Zuko and his family, and Sokka and Suki are also going to get some more action

BOOK 2: The Prodigal Prince

Water. Fire. Earth. Air.

Long ago, the four nations lived together in harmony. Then everything changed when the Fire Nation attacked.

Only the Avatar, the master of all four elements, could stop them. But when the world needed her most, she vanished. A hundred years passed and the new Avatar was discovered, a Waterbender named Katara. Although her Waterbending skills are great, she has been captured by the Fire Nation and is in no position to save anyone.

Chapter 1 - The Princess

I am desperate

If nothing else

In a holding pattern

To find myself

Somehow,

All of this mess

Is just an attempt

To learn the worth of my life

Zuko is ready for Azula's arrival. The ship is clean. He and all his crew are in their dress uniforms. The Fire Nation flag is proudly waving from the main tower. Zuko even pulled his hair up in the proper queue.

The only thing missing is Iroh. He told Zuko he didn't feel up to greeting their guest this morning. Under different circumstances, Zuko would have insisted. But since Zuko made the decision to capture the Avatar - to capture Katara - their relationship has been strained.

When Azula's ship appears on the horizon, Zuko orders his men to form even ranks and stand at attention. He stands at the front of them, arms clasped behind his back, the bottoms of his robes blowing lightly in the breeze.

The first thing Zuko notices about Azula is that she hasn't changed much in the years since he left the Fire Nation. She's grown taller, and her hair is longer, but the sinister half-smile is the exact same.

The last time he saw her was when he was boarding the ship to begin his banishment. She'd stood on the docks watching silently. She hadn't been smiling then, unlike when he'd been burned by his father. Zuko has always wondered why.

He suspects she smiled when he was punished by his father because she always thought him weak and had been waiting for something like that to happen since their mother left. He also thinks she smiled because with his banishment she became the heir to the throne. She didn't smile on the docks because she realized he was really leaving - and despite their rocky relationship, he's always hoped that she still held some fondness for him. They did used to be friends a long, long time ago.

She stands tall as ever. A part of Zuko had worried that during his years away, she would fall into disfavor with their father. After all, one of the reasons she always looked so strong was because of how weak he was in comparison. But apparently Father's love for her has no limit.

She doesn't greet him with a hug or even a genuine smile when she boards his ship. Instead she glances around, making quick judgements with her sweeping eyes.

"Not bad," she remarks. "I was worried you'd grow soft after spending so much time with our dear uncle. Speaking of which," she continues, "I don't see him around."

"He didn't feel well enough to join us today."

"Hm. Probably drank too much tea. He's still into that, right?"

"More than ever. And now he plays Pai Sho all day, too."

She rolls her eyes. "What a waste. He was once the pride of the Fire Nation. Now he's a lazy old man. Probably can't even firebend anymore. How has your own firebending been going, without any serious competition?"

"I have only grown stronger in my time away." Zuko motions to his men, giving them permission to continue their normal routine.

Azula glances him up and down. "Perhaps. I have missed training with you, dear brother."

"You miss embarrassing me in front of Father, you mean."

She smirks. "You know me so well."

There's an awkward silence for a moment. Zuko decides to cut past pleasantries. There's no need for them.

"What are you doing here, Azula?"

She pouts at him. "A girl can't just visit her brother?"

He isn't in the mood to play games with her. "Not a single message for more than two years. Then suddenly you show up. You came here for a reason."

"I didn't have to come, you know," she says, examining her nails. "Father needed someone to take a message to one of his generals. I heard rumors you were in the area so I volunteered. You don't have to thank me now."

"I thought you liked palace life. What could be so interesting that you'd want to leave?"

Azula sighs loudly. "You have no idea how incredibly boring it's become, Zu. There's no one to fight. Everyone is respectful so there are no Agni Kais. I'm so much more advanced than all the other Firebenders so even training has become dull. And no one wants to be my friend because I'm so 'intimidating' apparently." She rolls her eyes.

"How awful your life must be."

She laughs. "Did I ever tell you how much I missed you? I know we were in constant competition and often fought, but we always got along when we needed to."

So she does still care for him - deep down. That makes him feel better. He smiles a little.

"Remember that time we broke into the palace kitchen?"

Azula grins. "How could I forget? Even I was a little scared, but you just went for it. I think that's your bravest moment to date."

"I thought we were going to get caught for sure."

Zuko doesn't have many good memories from his childhood, especially after his mother left, but there are a few. Enough to give him hope that he's making the right choice by following his destiny.

"It's a shame Father didn't give you a more reasonable mission. Then you would be able to come home soon. I mean, did he honestly expect you to find the Avatar? No offense, Zuko, but if he really wanted to Avatar caught, he would've sent me."

On the inside, Zuko smiles. This is his chance to show off to his sister that he's not as weak as she or his father thinks he is. This is where he gets the satisfaction of winning for once.

On the outside, he keeps a neutral expression as he says, "I have a surprise for you, actually."

She raises one perfectly-shaped eyebrow. "A surprise? I'm intrigued."

"It's below-decks."

She crosses her arms. "You're kidding, right? I'm not that interested."

"Not interested in meeting the Avatar?"

She stares at him for a few seconds in shock. Then she recovers and gives him a side smile. "You found him? And managed to capture him? I must admit, that is a surprise. I'm not entirely convinced yet."

He motions with a hand. "Then follow me. I'll gladly introduce you."

They walk down the steps and down the hall before descending another set of stairs. This is the very bottom of the ship, where only the cargo and prison cells reside.

"I must warn you," Zuko says when they're outside the prison door. "The Avatar is much different than we were expecting. I almost didn't know it was the Avatar."

He opens the door and allows Azula to walk through first. Then he follows, closing the door soundly. The two guards in front of the cell nod and step away, revealing the Avatar.

It's the first time Zuko has seen Katara since betraying her. She's sitting on the floor of the cell, back against one wall, her arms wrapped around her knees. She glances at him briefly before turning her attention to Azula.

Zuko isn't sure if he's more hurt or relieved that she won't meet his eyes.

Azula is staring Katara down hard. "Interesting," she says. "I know you're desperate to restore your honor, Zuko, but capturing an innocent little girl isn't exactly the way to go."

"She's the Avatar. Ask any of my men. They've seen her power in action."

Azula crosses her arms. "Of course they'd attest to it. They're probably very loyal to you."

"You think I would risk my life by lying to Father about capturing the Avatar? I'm not stupid, Azula."

"So tell me about her, then. Convince me that she's the Avatar."

"Her name is Katara. I found her in the South Pole. She had been frozen in the ice for a hundred years."

"Frozen in the ice for a hundred years. How convenient."

"Not when you're being chased down by Fire Nation soldiers after your village has been destroyed and you have enough power to create an ice sphere to hide in."

Azula watches Katara carefully. Katara is staring at the opposite wall of her cell emotionlessly.

"Okay. I'll buy that for now. But how do you know she's the Avatar? She could just be an unfortunate survivor."

Zuko is beginning to get frustrated by his sister. Why is she having such a hard time believing Katara is the Avatar? Does she really think he's too weak to capture the Avatar?

"I thought that at first, too. But our ship was caught in a hurricane and she fended it off. I watched it myself. Her eyes glowed and she somehow harnessed the power of the Avatars. She was waterbending, airbending and even controlling lightning."

"The Avatar State. I've read about it in old scrolls." Azula turns. "Father will be pleased with you, Zuko. He has long since given up on you."

Zuko leads them back up to the deck. He feels uncomfortable being in Katara's presence. Too much guilt. And he feels oddly protective; he doesn't want her exposed to Azula more than he can help.

"I have a confession to make," Azula says when they're outside again. "The message Father sent me to deliver was to General Zhao. You remember him, right?"

Zuko has a vague image in his mind. He met a lot of generals as a child. "Yeah."

"Father told General Zhao that should he find the Avatar, he would be promoted to Admiral. General Zhao seemed pretty excited about it."

So Father really had given up on Zuko. He can't even feel bad about it; he's still riding off the high of proving his sister wrong.

"Then it's a shame for General Zhao that I already have the Avatar."

Azula shrugs. "Or it's an advantage. If he finds out you have the Avatar, I have no doubt he'll try to steal her from you. I recommend that you journey as quickly as you can back to the Fire Nation. It would be a shame to lose the Avatar after all these years of searching."

Zuko shakes his head. "I'm too close. I'm not letting anything get in my way."

She flashes him her cruel smile. "In that case, I'll see you in a few days. I really hope you're right, Zuzu."

She boards her ship again and departs without another word. Zuko watches until she's out of sight. Then he stalks into the navigation room.

"Set a course for the Fire Nation. Full steam ahead. We're not making any stops."

"Sir, we don't have enough supplies to last us all the way to the Fire Nation."

"Make them last. Ration the food and water. By the end of the week, we'll all be back home."

Home. The word is bittersweet in Zuko's mouth.

He can hardly wait.

Katara keeps alternating between feeling confused, angry, and sad.

When Zuko handed her over to the warriors, she was confused. Just yesterday Zuko seemed to accept that he could find another way to his destiny. And just then, they had been talking as if nothing had changed. So what suddenly changed?

The note from his sister. Hearing from his family must have changed his mind. Her confusion clears and anger takes its place. How could he betray her for a family that abused him? He himself had said that his sister was cruel; so why would he turn his back on Katara for her?

And after the anger settled, she was left with an overwhelming sadness. Not just for herself, but for him. He's been abused and mistreated and, despite time and space, they still have their claws deep in him, manipulating him to further destroy his life and his happiness. He can't escape them.

But why? Why can't he escape them? How is it possible that he still believes they love him and want the best for him? Why can't he see that he's just a pawn in their games, easily sacrificed when it suits them.

And so the confusion returns, which turns into anger the more she thinks, and eventually dissolves into sadness.

Iroh had come that morning, bringing her a tray of food, tea, and a stack of blankets. Katara hadn't cried until she saw him, but seeing the same emotions that she felt inside mirrored on his face just broke her. This isn't some nightmare she's going to wake up from. This is reality.

Iroh sat with her silently while she cried. She just couldn't stop. In front of anyone else, it would be embarrassing. But Iroh has never given her any reason to feel ashamed for the way she feels.

"Have some tea," he says when the sobs finally fade into sniffles. "It will make you feel better."

"I'm not sure anything will make me feel better," she admits, taking the cup.

"It always seems that way in the beginning. I have learned that time and tea take the sting away. You must be patient."

She takes a blanket and wraps it around her shoulders. The air isn't cold but she's still shivering. The chill seems to come from inside of her. As she drinks the tea, the warmth slowly returns. It isn't as warm as it used to be, though. Tea can only thaw you out so much.

"I can't stay for long," Iroh tells her. "Azula is coming today. She will no doubt want to come and see you for herself. Zuko will be with her."

Katara doesn't want to see him. She doesn't want to even think about him. She's still too conflicted about how she feels, the pain of his betrayal still too fresh. And she definitely doesn't want to see his sister, the one who brings out the worst in him.

"Thanks for the warning." She finishes the tea and hands the cup back to him. He looks at her sympathetically.

"I'm sorry, Katara."

She leans her head against the wall and closes her eyes. "You have nothing to be sorry for. You weren't the one who put me here."

"I'm sorry that I failed him, and by failing him, I also failed you."

"You didn't fail him. He failed himself."

By the time Azula and Zuko visit her, she has claimed enough control over her emotions to not react to anything they say. She stares at the opposite wall, determined not to show how deep her sadness and anger run, but also not showing fear. From what Zuko told her, Azula thrives on the fear of others. She doesn't want to give the psychopath any more fuel.

She does, however, make eye contact long enough with Azula to get a read on her. She reads surprisingly little, though she's not sure if it's because Azula is that good at keeping things hidden or because she has nothing to hide. From what she picks up during her and Zuko's conversation, it could be either.

After they leave, Katara starts going through the entire emotion cycle again. Confusion. Anger. Sadness.

"I know you're desperate to restore your honor, Zuko, but capturing an innocent little girl isn't exactly the way to go."

Azula clearly didn't believe in Zuko. She talks to him condescendingly, as if she's the older sibling and he's the younger one who disobeyed their parents' rules. Why would Zuko want to return to a life where he has to deal with that every day? It's clearly emotional manipulation. By speaking to him that way, Azula is asserting herself as superior in every way. How can he be so blind to it?

"Not when you're being chased down by Fire Nation soldiers after your village has been destroyed and you have enough power to create an ice sphere to hide in."

And now the anger. How could he speak about the tragedy of her people so callously? And why would he phrase it to sound like she had purposefully hidden? It was an accident and he knows it! She wasn't trying to hide from her destiny or from death. She was just trying to save herself and her brother so they could fight another day. How dare he insinuate that she is in any way a coward. If anyone on this ship is a coward, it's him.

"Father has long since given up on you."

The sadness. Zuko has spent his entire life trying to please his father - a father who cannot be pleased, not for long, at least. You can't please someone who thinks so lowly of you. You can only surprise them in a good way for a while. When the surprise wears off, you'll be back to where you started. Zuko doesn't realize this. He thinks turning in Katara will magically fix everything.

It doesn't work that way. In a short while his father will find something else about Zuko that makes him unhappy, and Zuko will be back grovelling. And it breaks her heart that he's about to put himself in that position again. He deserves more than having undying loyalty for a person who cares nothing about him.

But does he deserve more? He did betray Katara. She didn't even have a fair fight. She trusted him and he used that against her. He even admitted he had feelings for her - what kind of monster does that?

A person who has been abused for years, her mind answers. And then she's back in the cycle, trying to puzzle through exactly how much of his behavior she can or should excuse.

"Get up, Sokka."

He hears the voice, knows it's probably important, and promptly falls back asleep again. Five more minutes, he whispers to himself. I'll get up in five more minutes.

Suddenly cold water is thrown over him. He yelps and scrambles off the mattress. When he wipes his blurry eyes, he sees Suki standing over him, hands on her hips.

"I thought you slept in the ice for a hundred years. You can't possibly still be tired."

Sokka pulls himself slowly to his feet. "I can always be tired," he grumbles.

"We have to get started early today. The village nearest to ours is having some trouble with pirates. They requested our backup." Suki tosses a bundle of clothes at him. He barely manages to catch them.

"You - you want me to come? But I'm not a Kyoshi warrior."

"Consider yourself…" She pauses, debating her word choice. "...an honorary member of the Kyoshi Warriors. Or just consider this a mandatory part of your training." She smiles brightly. He scowls.

"Now get changed. Meet at the village center when you're ready."

Sokka puts the clothes on quickly. She'd given him some basic armor - not Kyoshi Warrior armor, but armor made for men. He's just grateful she's not making him wear the dress and make-up.

He grabs his boomerang and club before heading out of the hut. Now that he's (mostly) awake, he's actually kind of excited about getting out of the village and maybe even using his newly learned skills. For the past few weeks he's been training with the girls, slowly getting better and better. He wants to put his skills to the test.

All the other girls are already waiting when Sokka arrives. Suki hands him a heavy backpack and motions for them start moving.

She falls into line next to him as they leave the village and start into the forest. "It's about a two hour hike," she explains.

"Is that why the backpack is so heavy?" Sokka hoists it up on shoulders. "For all the food and water?"

She smiles. "Or you're just weak," she teases. "I think we're going to start focusing more on fitness than fighting when we get back."

"Hey, I slept for one hundred years. My muscles didn't get used very much."

She grabs his bicep. "Eh. Not bad for an old man."

He takes a step away and pouts for minute, but the look of amusement on her face keeps his sour mood away and a few seconds later he's smiling himself.

The hike feels much longer than two hours in the heat. They stop for lunch and afterward his backpack is much lighter. Suki and the other girls make fun of him for how much he eats, but he refuses to let it get to him. Food is his one love in life.

The village is very similar to the one Sokka washed up in, except a bit bigger. A little bay connects it to the ocean, though this village has a more intricate dock system. Fishing boats line the horizon and a bustling market fills the center square. Similarly dressed Kyoshi Warriors from the village approach them.

Their leader, distinguished by a blue headband, bows to Suki in greeting. "Thank you all for coming," she says. "I am Hanae. Welcome to the village of Nagiso."

Suki bows in return. "We are always happy to help our sisters," she replies. "I hope you don't mind that we brought a guest." She motions towards Sokka. He waves awkwardly.

Hanae smiles. "Of course not. Any warrior honored enough to train with Kyoshi Warriors must show great integrity and nobility. And we welcome all the help we can get."

She motions for them to follow her into the village as she continues speaking. Sokka barely listens past her praise of him; he holds his chin up until he trips in the most undignified manner over a tree root. Then, as his cheeks grow red, he fades into the background.

"The first attack was two weeks ago. A group of pirates came in, thought they could ransack the village. Didn't take us girls seriously enough - you know how it is."

Suki rolls her eyes and nods in agreement. "I know exactly what you're talking about."

"Then, last week, the pirates brought some friends. We were able to defend against them, but some of my girls were injured, so our numbers are down. I wouldn't worry, but the lead pirate called out some vague threats over his shoulder as he ran. I don't know if he's serious, but I don't want to take any chances. He seemed pretty upset."

"Of course. I'm glad you called us. You have no idea how boring it's been back in our village."

Hanae stops the group again when they reach the edge of the village center. "Split up and wander around. Keep an eye out. These pirates aren't subtle about their entrances."

Suki motions for Sokka to follow her. She and Hanae walk into the market side by side, Sokka walking just behind them. He catches bits and pieces of their conversation, only half paying attention until they start talking about him.

"So what's his story?" Hanae asks, pointing with her thumb back at him. "It's rare for outsiders, especially boys, to be trained."

"He's from the Southern Water Tribe. One of the last survivors."

Hanae's eyes grow wide. "Really? I thought all the survivors were old and had long integrated into the Earth Kingdom."

"That's true. But he decided to take a hundred year nap in the ice."

Hanae is quiet for a few moments. Then she says, "Does he know anything about the Avatar?"

Suki frowns. "The Avatar? Why?"

"The last Avatar was a Waterbender. That's why the Fire Nation attacked them. They thought they killed the Avatar but a new one was never born into the Earth Kingdom so the Avatar must still be alive in hiding somewhere. At least, as far as we know."

Suki stops suddenly. She and Hanae both stare at Sokka.

He shrugs. "I'm sorry, guys. I have no idea where the Avatar is."

"But did you know who it was?"

Sokka thinks about all the Waterbenders he met at the North Pole. It could have been any one of them. For all he knows, though, they were all killed.

"No. Sorry. I don't think they announced who the Avatar was yet. At least not in the South Pole."

They both turn away sadly. "The Avatar is our only hope for ending the war," Suki says. "Kyoshi Island has been fortunate enough to stay out of it so far, but it's only a matter of time. Once the mainland Earth Kingdom is conquered, we'll be next."

"There have already been a few Fire Nation ship sightings off our coast," Hanae agrees.

Sokka wishes he could help them. He wishes he knew who the Avatar was. But he's just a kid who woke up and learned that everyone he loves is dead and his entire life was destroyed. Now he's trying to make the best out of the remains.

"Why spend so much time hoping for the Avatar to appear?" he asks. "If they haven't shown up in a hundred years do you really think they're going to come back?"

"All we have is hope," Hanae says.

"No. You have something much stronger. You have warriors who are highly skilled and trained. Even if the Avatar were to appear, he'd need some help, wouldn't he? One person, no matter how powerful, can't take on the entire Fire Nation alone."

"He has a point," Suki says. "Maybe we should be doing more. Maybe staying holed up on this island isn't the best option."

Hanae opens her mouth when suddenly an explosion sounds in the distance.

"They're here!" she exclaims. "Let's go!"

The three of them rush through the crowd, shouldering past people and sprinting to the docks. A small fleet of pirate ships are anchored, cannons pointed towards the village.

Hanae's eyes are wide. "This is so much worse than last time," she says in horror.

The pirate leader, standing on the highest deck of the biggest ship, lowers a hooked arm. In a deafening explosion, all the cannons fire…

...right at them.