Four weeks.

Four weeks of stone cuffs biting into her skin, her ankles and wrists now raw.

Four weeks of rough waves thrashing against the ship, as if mocking her imprisonment.

Four weeks of dried blood and burnt flesh and crackling lightning from the Crystal Catacombs replaying in her mind, Aang's scream ringing in her ears.

She has given up with depriving herself of sleep. Yes, it would be idiotic to give into drowsiness while surrounded by people she does not trust, but it would be more idiotic to not drift off at all.

She has also given up the promise she had made to not eat a bite of the food they give her. It was supposed to be an act of defiance, to push away her meal with stubborn fists and piercing eyes, but the aromatic smell of spices that wafted from her plate eventually got to her. The food is distinctly different from Water Tribe or Earth Kingdom meals, spicy and seasoned and creamy, but she is used to it by now. She finds it strange that they would give her such nice food, seeing as she is their prisoner, but she does not dwell on the thought. This ship has the Royal Family in it; they probably have more than enough food to go around.

She has not completely given up on wishing for her friends to come. Even with her aching chest and pounding head and bloodied skin, even with the way she tells herself it is wishful thinking almost as soon as the thought enters her mind, four weeks is not nearly long enough to diminish her hope.

—

It is strange to travel with only one other person.

The chatter and laughter and constant buzz of life is diminished. They were usually the ones to start conversations and spread humour, but there is no one to laugh with anymore, and there is nothing to say. It is just Toph and him, her small fists gripping Appa's fur and sharp knuckles protruding from his hands, which curl tightly around the sky bison's reins. The grey-blue sky appears heavy and their eyes are glazed with despair, but the pair has run out of tears. They are now only left with a numb sensation that fills their veins, their chests, their throats, as if they are in a trance of half determination and half defeat.

Soon, Appa will need to rest, and they will need to scavenge for food. That is the problem with Sokka's plan; while Katara is probably in the Fire Nation by now - the most likely place she would have been taken - Toph and him are still plodding along on an exhausted sky bison and empty stomachs. Right now, they have just passed the Great Divide, and the ocean is still in the distance. He knows they should have begun traveling sooner, but they were too caught up in shock and grief to be practical. Ba Sing Se and the Fire Nation are on opposite sides of the world, and they are barely halfway there.

He has not spoken in days. He had always been joking and lighthearted, but now, he finds that he is worryingly serious. His cobalt eyes are blunt and adamant, a ragged type of determination that feels like it is tearing him apart. Toph says nothing, and he doesn't think he wants her to - what kind of comfort or conversation or distraction could she offer him, when she is going through the same thing that he is?

It has been four weeks since they found Aang's lifeless body, and it has been four weeks since Katara went missing. Four weeks of tears and pain and sorrow and longing.

His eyes are determined, but behind the persevering blue is a dull grey feeling of defeat that seems to grow more potent each day.

It has been four weeks, and they are already losing hope.

—

He is not ready for today.

Today is the day they are planned to arrive in the Fire Nation. Today is the day he steps foot in the Royal Palace for the first time in three years. Today is the day his banishment is finally over.

Today could be the day he sees his father.

These thoughts should make him happy; his honour and his birthright will be restored, and he will have his father's love. Instead, he feels terrified. They have been on this ship for weeks, and he still cannot seem to remember how to act like a prince; even more worrying, he is not completely confident that he will need to. This could all be another trick planned out by Azula where he will be thrown in prison as soon as he arrives, and even if it isn't, it is not as if he killed the Avatar. When he asks himself what he has really done to have earnt his father's love, he finds that he does not have an answer, and he doesn't think he is ready to face his father's slanted eyes again if they are filled with disappointment; he isn't sure if he will ever be ready for that.

"Are you okay?" A voice inquires. Azula stands in front of him, her piecing gold eyes boring into his own.

"Yeah, I'm fine." Zuko says, pushing his hair away from his face in an attempt to distract from the way his voice shakes ever-so-slightly.

"You don't seem very fine, Zuzu. Which is strange, considering we're going home. You should be happy," His sister pauses, narrowing her eyes at his strained features. "unless, of course, you don't want to go home."

"Why would you think that? Returning to the Fire Nation has been my goal ever since I was banished." He states.

"Yes, it has been. Which is why it's strange that you seem so nervous - unless you don't trust that father will take you back." She raises an eyebrow at him, a hint of humour in her voice which he recognises as her way of mocking him, taking private pride in his fear. "We're arriving in a few hours. Try to remind yourself of how to act as a prince - you've spent quite a while acting like a dirt peasant."

Zuko sighs as she strides away, her head held high and her footsteps perfectly even. How can he practice if he doesn't seem to know how in the first place? And how can he call himself a prince when a third of his face reminds everyone who sees him of the dishonour and cowardice that lost him his title?

There are only a few hours left on this ship. Only a few hours left of nerves twisting in his stomach and dread pounding in his head; of his state of banishment and humiliation and disgrace.

But then they will have arrived.

—

Thanks for reading chapter 4! This chapter is a bit shorter, but there wasn't much to write about. I have a feeling this story might be shorter than I planned, but who knows? I dont plan stories very professionally, I just get an idea of what I want to happen in my head, and then just write it.

Thanks to Goikuchan and Shojobaby (guest) for reviewing, and thanks to everyone who favourited and followed!