Much like Princess Azula's party, the Crown Prince's birthday was nothing short of extravagant. In fact, more people had come, even the governors of Fire Nation colonies outside of the capital had come in hopes of currying favor with the future Fire Lord.

Prince Zuko sat in his designated place beside his father, looking on at the party held in the honor of his name and birth.

He should be happy. Here he was, a Crown Prince of a great nation, yet he still wasn't content.

But it was not power that he longed for.

He longed for his mother, the one who actually gave birth to him. He longed for the love and acceptance of his father, who never actually showed it. At least, not that he would know of it for his father doted only on Azula, his firebending prodigy. He had even said once that Azula was born lucky, and that he was lucky to be born. He longed for Chiyo...

He looked to his right and saw Lady Suiren casually talking with his Uncle Iroh, an audience surrounding them as if they were watching a heated debate.

"Prince Zuko!" Ukano, one of the higher nobles and Mai's father, greeted the Royal family with a bow. "It is an honor to have been invited as one of your guests. Mai speaks highly of you, Prince Zuko." Mai who had been standing beside her father was ready to murder him with his eyes.

The prince nodded. "Thank you, sir."

"I present to you a gift, sewn by my daughter herself!" He presented a burgundy shawl with gold trimmings and the fire nation symbol embroidered into the fabric. "She spent several nights doting on this little project to give it to you, Prince Zuko."

He accepted the gift and bowed his head. "Thank you very much, sir, and Mai..."

Mai rolled her eyes, but a blush still crept into her cheeks. "Whatever..."

The evening went on, but still there was no sign of Chiyo. And the Lady Suiren has been avoiding him every time he tried to get close enough to ask her.

Finally, he had a window of opportunity when the Fire Lord asked for a performance from Suiren. He slipped through the crowd, moving as fast as he could out of the ballroom. The guards were so preoccupied, craning their necks to see the beautiful concubine of the Fire Lord that they did not notice him leave, pass the main hall and into Suiren's wing.

He turned a sharp corner where he figured Chiyo's room was and bumped into one of the handmaidens. Immediately, she bowed and apologized. "I-I am so s-sorry, your Highness! I wasn't looking where I was g-going!"

"That's okay, I need to see Chiyo." He said with urgency in his voice. "I don't have much time before they realize I'm missing from my own party."

Sol bit her lip, wondering what to do. Suiren had specifically told them not to let the young Prince near Lady Chiyo. But looking into this boy's pleading, desperate eyes, she made up her mind. "The last room on the right, your Highness, please make haste! Knock three times and she'll let you in!"

"Thank you, thank you..." He didn't spare a second as he ran to the end of the hallway where her room was. He stood outside the door, calming himself and he knocked three times on the door.

"Come in!"

Zuko opened the door, his eyes widening as he saw Chiyo's familiar face. "Chiyo..."

"Prince Zuko! What are you doing here?" She stood up from the bed and tied her robe tighter.

Without a second thought, he crossed the room and pulled her into a tight, almost crushing, hug. He had missed her so much, it was maddening. "It's my birthday today, Chiyo. I'm allowed to do whatever I want."

"I know... but I do not have a gift for you..."

"You are enough... You are enough..." He whispered into her hair. He noticed a lot of things; how her hair smelled of jasmine, how she had gotten thinner compared to the last time that he saw her, how pale she had gotten from the lack of sunlight.

They stayed like that for a while until Chiyo broke the silence. "I've waited for you, all this time and you never came..." She whispered as she gently pushed him, looking into his eyes. "I waited and waited, but you never came by..."

Now Zuko was stumped, his brows furrowed in confusion. He held Chiyo's arms tightly in both of his hands, his grip tightening. "I did! I tried to visit you every day, but Lady Suiren won't let me! She said you didn't want to see me!"

"Prince Zuko... I waited every day..."

And then it dawned on him. "Lady Suiren lied, Chiyo." He whispered, his golden eyes were wide and pleading, pleading for her to believe him. "I came by every single day. I brought fire lilies for you, and I asked her to give it to you. But she never did give it to you, did she?"

"Y-you're hurting me—"His grip on her arms had gotten tighter each passing second.

"She lied, Chiyo! I'm telling you the truth!"

With as much strength as she could muster, she raised her arms and pushed Zuko's hands away. "No! Suiren will never lie to me! Suiren has never lied to me! What reason would she have to lie about that?"

"Why won't you believe me?!" Zuko's temper flared. "Why can't you see she's doing this to keep us apart?" Unconsciously, Zuko's hands glowed with fire.

Seeing the flames, Chiyo stepped back, her expression in a mix of confusion, fear, and anger. "N-no, you're the one who is lying, Prince Zuko! You're just saying those things as an excuse because you are afraid that visiting me will anger the Fire Lord!"

"I risked the anger of my father every day for you, Chiyo!" Zuko was now shouting, the flames on his hands, and those on the candles of her room growing larger and more menacing. "I did that for you! Why can't you see it?! Why are you so blinded by defending your stupid, good-for-nothing, teacher that you can't see the truth?!"

"Don't you dare call my teacher stupid, you... you spoiled prince!"

Blinded by his anger, Zuko raised his hand, ready to strike her.

"ENOUGH!" Iroh had burst into the room just in time and caught his nephew's arm. Slowly, the flames dissipated and Zuko realized what he'd done.

Chiyo had stumbled on to the floor, shielding her tear-stained face with her right arm. She cowered in fear in front of the enraged prince. "P-please don't..."

"CHIYO!" Suiren had followed Iroh back into the room and once she saw the scene, Iroh holding his nephew's raised hand, Chiyo on the floor, shaking and crying, she marched over to the prince and slapped him hard with the back of her hand. "Get out... GET OUT!"

Iroh tried to pull Zuko out of the room, but the prince broke free and tried to go to Chiyo, kneeling in front of her. She was shaking like a leaf, scrambling to get away from him. "No, no, no, no, I'm sorry... I'm sorry, Chiyo... I-I didn't mean to-"

"I said GET OUT!" Suiren shouted and Iroh knew it was the ultimatum. He had to literally carry his nephew away, even if he struggled, pounding and clawing on his back.

Only Chiyo and Suiren were left in the room. The silence of the night was all that was heard, along with Chiyo's whimpers.

"Remember this night, Chiyo." Suiren said as she clenched her shaking fist. "Remember the look in his eyes. Etch it into your memory."

Chiyo closed her eyes and let the tears flow freely. It was the first time she had seen Zuko so... angry. It was so terrifying.

But he lied. Suiren said he never came by, and Suiren never lies. She repeated it over and over in her head.

'Suiren never lies.'