The ship was quiet. Most of the passengers were still asleep except for the few who had taken the early morning shift. Katara would have normally been asleep as well, but her dreams had been troubled of late and she often found herself waking and spending hours tossing and turning. This morning was no different. She didn't bother trying to go back to sleep and instead made her way to the deck. Some fresh air would do her good. She tended to feel calmer when she could see the ocean.

Light glowed in the distance in a rising splash of colour. It was a beautiful sunrise. She moved towards the railing and noticed a figure standing near the bow.

"I didn't think you'd stay," she murmured, coming to stand next to him. "Not after …"

Yuzo's fingers curled tighter around the railing. He glanced down at her with those pale gold eyes that were so like Zuko's, except while the colour was more striking when set against his darker skin, she could not see any of Zuko's warmth. There was no gentleness in Yuzo's eyes, no welcome—just a bite of steel and bitter flame.

"It just didn't seem like you wanted to be here," she finished a bit lamely.

He stared at her a moment longer before facing the ocean. They stood in silence until the need to break it was a prickle on her tongue. Maybe that was why she forgot all tact and just blurted out the words she'd wanted to ask.

"Will you help him?"

His eyes flickered to hers.

"Zuko, I mean." She frowned at her hands. Too late to turn back now. "I know you're probably angry with him—with all of us, and I don't blame you. But you're the first fire healer he's met. He's been struggling for so long because there was no one to help him understand his abilities."

"That Silencer will kill us both if she finds out I told him anything forbidden."

"She won't."

"Oh, and you can guarantee that, can you?"

Katara raised her chin. "I can."

"And how is that?"

"Because she won't get the chance." Her eyes hardened to the thickest of ice. "If she tries, I'll kill her."

Yuzo let go of the railing. "You're serious."

"Yes."

His eyebrows rose. "I have to say, you've got bigger balls than your boyfriend."

"Zuko isn't my boyfriend." She fought the warmth spreading on her cheeks. "He's just …"

Now it was only one eyebrow inching higher.

She folded her arms across her chest. "The point is that he can't keep going blind like this. He needs proper training. He needs to understand what he's capable of and what to avoid. There's already been too many close calls."

"You're worried."

"Of course I'm worried! He's impulsive and his healing abilities have almost killed him more than once. Not to mention we have no idea how many Silencers there are or if they're a threat to him now, because Shizue won't tell us anything!"

Yuzo went quiet.

"Please." She stepped closer. "You're both fire healers. You know better than anyone what he's dealing with." Her voice thickened with emotion. "I don't want to lose him just because Shizue wants to protect her secrets."

A soft exhale. "He should have sent you to me."

"What?"

"You're much more persuasive."

Katara held his gaze. "Then you'll help him?"

He glanced out at the ocean. "Atsuo wouldn't like it if he knew I turned my back on a fire healer. He was always the better half of us …" Yuzo's jaw tightened and he visibly swallowed. "It should be him here."

She hesitantly touched his arm. "I'm sorry about Atsuo. I really am."

Yuzo fell silent again before exhaling and straightening his shoulders. "I'll help Zuko, but you have to swear you'll keep the Silencer from interfering. No backing down, no hesitating. You'll do whatever it takes. I don't plan on dying here."

"Don't worry. Shizue will take her last breath before she can harm either of you. We're surrounded by water. It won't be a problem."

The faintest of smiles curved his lips. "I believe you."

"Then you better believe I'll do the same to you if you cross us. One wrong move, one hint that you can't be trusted, and you won't have to worry about Silencers anymore."

"I understand." Yuzo held out his hand. "You have yourself a deal, uh …"

"Katara."

"Katara." He took her hand in a firm grasp. "I'll tell your friend everything I know, and in return you deal with the Silencer."

She returned the pressure of his grip. "Deal."

oOo

Zuko was doing meditation exercises when she entered his cabin. He stood from the half circle of candles and moved closer to her so she had to crane her neck to meet his gaze. Concern wrinkled his brow.

"Is something wrong?" he asked. "It's barely past dawn."

"You're awake."

"I'm a firebender. It's kind of hard to stay asleep when the sun decides to give you an energy boost."

She made a noncommittal sound and glanced at the candles. The little flames were steady and hummed with warmth.

"Katara."

His touch was light on her shoulder. It was also her undoing. She had not known why her feet had taken her straight to Zuko's cabin, but looking at him now made her realise she didn't want to keep her deal with Yuzo from him. He had trusted her last night when he had opened up to her about Shizue, Yuzo and his own fears. She didn't want to betray that trust.

"I did something you might not like," she confessed.

"What do you mean?"

She bit her lip and shuffled past him to sit on his bed, not bothering to smooth the rumpled blanket. Zuko joined her after a moment. His expression was more curious than wary and she found herself avoiding his gaze.

"I talked to Yuzo."

"He stayed?"

She nodded and went on to explain how she had asked for his help. Zuko listened without interrupting. When she got to the deal and her part of the bargain, she snuck a glance at his face to see his reaction. His frown was so heavy that it seemed like a weight dragging his head down. Katara swallowed against the sudden dryness in her mouth. She had hoped he would understand.

"I didn't mean to go behind your back," she said. "It was a spur of the moment thing, but I don't regret making the deal. He'll talk to you now."

Zuko's fringe fell forward to veil his expression. "You can't think I wanted this from you."

"Maybe not, but I won't take it back. I meant every word."

"Even if it means killing Shizue?"

"I won't have to if she proves herself trustworthy."

He looked up at her with pained eyes. "Katara, I could never ask you to—I don't want you to make promises to kill people just so I can get information. Not for me. Not like this. You don't have to force yourself."

"I'm not forcing anything. I'd just never be able to live with myself if something happened to you." She leaned forward and gripped his hands. "Zuko, I don't care who it is or what I have to do. I'll stop anyone who tries to hurt you."

His mouth twitched. "You make it sound like I can't look after myself."

"Well, you do have a tendency to get into life-threatening situations, and it's not like I haven't had to come to your rescue before." Her tone grew more serious. "But I … I also know it would be hard for you. To fight Shizue, I mean. You've known her since you were a child; I don't have any connection like that to her. If it comes to it, I won't hesitate."

He frowned at their interlocked hands. "You don't have to fight my battles. I should be the one to stop Shizue if anything happens."

"Maybe." She bent down a little to catch his gaze. "But even so I'll be there to watch your back. That's what friends are for."

"Pretty sure most friends don't promise to kill their friend's childhood nanny on the off chance she gets homicidal."

"Pretty sure most friends don't have potentially homicidal nannies."

"Fair point."

They shared a smile, even though they both knew the humour was just a distraction and neither of them was that amused.

"There's still a chance we won't have to do anything," she said softly. "At least this way we'll know for sure if we can trust Shizue. Plus, Yuzo did promise to tell you what he knows."

"I guess…"

She squeezed his hand, understanding his unspoken words. "I wish it didn't have to be this way either, but what choice do we have? We don't know enough—not about fire healers, not about the Silencers, not about anything. It's too dangerous to keep going on like this. I don't want you to get hurt." Her voice steeled with resolve. "I won't let it happen."

He raised her hand so he was holding it between them, his eyes warm even when torn by conflict and sadness. "Thank you, Katara."

oOo

"Secret tunnel, secret tunnel … uh, does anyone remember how the rest of the words go?"

Something clanged against Ty Lee's cell. "Stop singing that damn song!"

"But I'm bored."

"Then be bored in silence!"

There was a long pause until one of the other prisoners started up a new verse of 'Secret Tunnel'. Groans were heard all down the corridor. Ty Lee grinned as she listened to the prisoners and guards grumble or sing the catchy song that was steadily getting stuck in all of their heads. Most of the circus members hadn't been very impressed with the nomads either when they'd run into the group, but Ty Lee had had a great time.

Her smile faltered. Even her chest felt all heavy and odd. Thinking of the old days was just a reminder of how things had changed. For all that she tried to maintain her smile, she didn't like being alone in the cell. She missed her friends. She missed the circus and the sky and those yummy red bean buns. Being trapped underground in all this stone was crushing her like a feather trodden underfoot. Even all the colours that made up her aura were getting tainted with dinginess.

She sighed and stared at the door blocking her freedom. A scream came from the farther section of cells, followed by the unmistakable sound of fire blasts. Her stomach twisted a little. There was no singing now. Everyone was quiet.

"That princess has completely lost it," one of the guards muttered. "She's always talking to herself and making a racket. Crazy, I tell you."

"I heard there's pressure being put on the king to have her executed."

"Good riddance if you ask me, though Li is part of the royal guard and he said they're probably going to use her to negotiate with the Fire Lord."

Ty Lee curled her fingers around the bars. "Is this true? Are they going to send Azula back to her dad?"

A fist slammed against her door. "Shut up! And don't you dare start singing again!"

She pouted and settled back on the floor. It took a while for the screaming to stop.

oOo

The wind had picked up on deck. Zuko stood facing Yuzo near the ladder leading up to the crow's nest. It was Katara's idea to have their meeting in the open. She had more water at her disposal that way, not to mention it would be easier to take down Shizue—at least if it came to that—if there was more room to move around. A chi blocker was at their most dangerous in close quarters. Besides, there was no point trying to hide the information sharing. Better to force Shizue's hand now and make her show her true colours. At least they'd be prepared for her.

Right?

"You don't look too happy," Yuzo observed. "I thought you wanted this information."

Zuko folded his arms across his chest. "I'm not exactly thrilled about the deal to kill the woman who helped raise me. It feels … underhanded."

"Not gonna pig-chicken out, are you?"

"Just because I don't like it doesn't mean I won't do what's necessary. If she does turn on us, I'll take her out myself."

"Good. I'd hate to think I was wasting my time on some soft-hearted idiot who was just going to get himself killed."

Zuko bit the inside of his cheek so he wouldn't lose his temper. "Let's just get this over with."

He had been a mess of guilt last night, but those feelings were fast fading. Yuzo had a knack for rubbing him the wrong way. It was difficult to believe this hawkish, hard-eyed boy had ever openly grieved for the death of Atsuo.

"Ha!" Sokka's cry of elation caught their attention. He was playing an element tile game with Aang, Suki, Tomoki and a Water Tribe warrior. "Read 'em and weep, folks!"

There was a chorus of groans.

"Looks like they're having fun," Yuzo said. "I take it you didn't tell them about this."

"They'd only worry or try to interfere."

"Fair enough."

Katara positioned herself against the ladder. "Mai and Toph should have tipped Shizue off by now about what's happening. If she's going to do anything to stop you from talking, Yuzo, she'll do it soon."

Yuzo's lip curled in a way that suggested he had no doubt they'd be seeing Shizue. "Then let's see whether the Silencer has really given up her old ways." His gaze flickered to Zuko. "What do you want to know? Might as well get this ball rolling while we wait."

"The Unnamed One. I want to know about the Unnamed One."

"Of course you do."

Zuko stared at him expectantly.

Yuzo shifted a little and moistened his lips—nervous cracks in his composed, tough guy act. "The Unnamed One was a Fire Nation princess from long ago. Her name, at least before it got blotted out from history, was Shūrin."

"Shūrin?" Zuko and Katara exclaimed.

Yuzo blinked. "You've heard the name."

"Shizue mentioned it once," Zuko explained. "The Dai Li had tampered with her memories at the time and she wasn't really herself, otherwise I doubt she would have said anything."

"There was also the scroll," Katara reminded him.

"Right. We found a scroll on fire healers in Wan Shi Tong's library. The scholar who wrote it mentioned a princess whose name began with Shu. He said that everything started with her."

Yuzo's brow creased. "A scholar pieced together that much? That's impressive. Most of them get taken out by Silencers before they can get that far."

"I think it did cost him his life," Zuko admitted. "By the end of the account, it sounded like he was waiting for the Silencers to kill him."

"Then you understand how dangerous this information is. Whatever target is already on your head will get that much bigger once the Silencers realise you know about Shūrin. It's forbidden to even speak her name."

"Why?" Katara asked. "What did she do?"

"Shūrin was a powerful healer. Maybe the most powerful. It's rumoured she formed hundreds of energy bonds with people during her lifetime."

Zuko's eyes widened. "Hundreds?"

"That's just the rumours. There's no saying for sure now whether it's true, but you've felt it, right? The power that's right there at your fingertips when you bond with someone. Imagine that multiplied by hundreds. Imagine if you opened all the doors and controlled the flow of energy so it all came to you."

Horror twisted Zuko's stomach. "You mean she drained them all?"

"Yes and no. She learnt how to turn the bonds into an energy source for herself, like what the sun does for firebenders. Her power was amplified on a concentrated level, giving her bending strength far beyond what a single person could achieve. Those who fought against her said it was like fighting an army."

"I guess people would fear that," Katara murmured. "Especially if she was draining chi to get all that power."

Zuko frowned. "Is that really it? Just a power boost? Don't get me wrong, I get that it's bad what she did, but all anyone had to do was not make bonds with fire healers and then there'd be no new source of power, no special strength." He shook his head. "It just doesn't make sense. Was this technique really enough to turn the world against fire healers?"

Yuzo leaned forward. "The point is that Shūrin was practically unstoppable at her peak, and that wasn't a good thing when it became clear what else she had learnt to do."

Zuko's heart quickened and he found himself also leaning forward. "What? What was it?"

"She—"

"You!"

Both boys stiffened at Shizue's shout. She marched towards them with murder in her eyes, shoving a warrior out of her way. Suddenly, a giant wave loomed over the side of the ship and weaved around Shizue in a funnelling cage, solidifying into blades of ice with the speed of lightning. The ice glittered like crystals in the sun. Shizue paused and remained very still. Even just breathing made the sharpened tips cut into her skin.

"Not another step," Katara gritted out, hands outstretched as she maintained the blades.

Aang was on his feet in an instant and rushing over. "Katara, what are you—"

"Stay out of this, Aang!" Katara snapped.

"But—"

"Listen to her, Avatar," Yuzo said. "This Silencer just showed her true colours. She was going to attack us. This is what needs to be done."

Shizue's eyes narrowed but instead of defending herself, she looked to Zuko. "Is this what you think as well?"

His heart felt like it was lost somewhere in his stomach. "I don't know. You have to admit that charging out here just because we were talking doesn't look good."

"I'm trying to protect you."

"Oh, please." Yuzo rolled his eyes. "You're only protecting yourself and you know it."

Shizue kept her gaze locked on Zuko. Sokka and the others had come over by this point and now stood in a half-circle around her, watching with tense postures and anxious eyes. Katara had also not relaxed an inch, nor had her bending wavered. Her expression was as cold as the ice digging into every part of Shizue's body.

"I made a promise to your mother that I would watch over you," Shizue said, calm despite the threat of being impaled. "I promised you that you would come to no harm. Is my word not enough for you? Have I ever done anything to hurt you or your friends?"

Doubt clawed at Zuko's chest.

"Don't listen to her," Yuzo warned. "She's only saying that so we'll release her. Silencers can't be trusted."

"Your hate is blinding you, boy." Shizue's gaze shifted to him. "If you know so much, then you know why Silencers were created in the first place."

Creases formed on Zuko's brow. "What's she talking about?"

"He didn't tell you, did he? It was fire healers who created Silencers."

"What?"

"We were created to protect, to contain. We seek out fire healers so they can be kept safely hidden from the rest of the world. We let those who still remember the past think fire healers are gone, and we let those who never knew of your kind continue in their ignorance. In short, we make it so you don't exist."

A breath escaped him. "Then when you said all that stuff about your mission, you didn't mean—"

"I've killed fire healers. Don't misunderstand. To keep a secret of such magnitude, a Silencer cannot show pity or mercy. Anyone who left the tribe without permission or who threatened exposure was dealt with accordingly." Something flickered in her eyes. "But for your mother's sake, I made an exception for you. I have made many exceptions for you, Prince Zuko. That was my mistake. It is too late to repair the damage you have caused. The tribe will not forgive you now."

"Now she is lost, and you—you just had to go and form an energy bond with the Avatar and heal all those people."

"That's what you meant," he realised. "When you said you still had enough love for my mother not to take me to the other fire healers. You knew they would kill me."

"And every person connected to you, including those who know of your abilities or even just witnessed you heal."

The lizard-snakes were back in his stomach. All those people, he had made them all targets.

"Do you understand now?" she said. "Silencers have killed people for less than what you have done. This secret has been maintained for centuries, yet you have singlehandedly put everything at risk." She glanced at Yuzo. "And you are only making it worse! Can't you see that Zuko has the potential? It's too dangerous!"

Zuko glanced between them, his heart now creeping up in his throat. "The potential for what?"

Yuzo moistened his lips. "The Silencer thinks you can tap into the same gifts as Shūrin. She thinks you could become another Unnamed One."

"What?" His heart thumped against his ribs as he looked at Shizue. It was one thing to wonder about her motives for not telling him the truth, but quite another to have his fear confirmed. "Then you really do think I'd—you helped raise me! You know me, Shizue!"

"What I know is that people change and you have done things no untrained fire healer should be able to do. You're a natural, Prince Zuko. That is not a good thing."

He swallowed. It was the first time someone had told him he was a natural at anything to do with bending, but there was no pride in his heart. No relief. Everything about this situation made his chest feel crushed and his stomach a mess of knots and twists.

"You're wrong," Katara said firmly. "Zuko isn't like Shūrin. That woman abused her bonds to give herself more power. I know he'd never do that. He'll never be like her."

"I hope you're right," was all Shizue said.

Zuko tried not to show his hurt. "Do you really believe in me so little?"

"No more or less than you have continued to doubt me."

There was a weighted pause as they stared at each other. He lowered his gaze.

Katara sighed and turned the ice back into sea water, which she swiftly dumped over the side of the ship.

"What are you doing?" Yuzo demanded.

"She's not going to hurt either of you." Katara frowned at her. "Isn't that right?"

Shizue nodded.

Yuzo made a frustrated sound and turned the other way.

"I understand you're wary of me," Shizue said to him. "You resisted the tribe's rules, and for that you and those dear to you have suffered at the hands of Silencers. But I have no desire to harm you, Yuzo. I was hard on you before because I thought you were a threat. I thought you were the same as your brother."

"Half." Yuzo gritted his teeth. "Shen is only half my brother, and I'm nothing like him."

"No," she allowed. "I don't believe you would work with Silencers to hunt down fire healers."

Sokka's brow wrinkled. "Wait, Shen is the guy who did that"—he gestured at the partly concealed scar on Yuzo's throat—"to you, right?"

"Yes. He said a quick death was too good for a traitor like me."

Sokka pulled a face. "Is it just a Fire Nation thing to have messed up sibling relationships or something? Your half-brother tries to kill you, Zuko's sister tries to kill him, Iroh's brother puts a bounty on his head and probably would kill him if he got the chance …"

"I get along great with my older sisters," Tomoki offered.

Yuzo stared at them both like they were idiots. Zuko just facepalmed.

"I think we're straying from the point," Suki said, stepping forward. "I know I haven't been with you all long, but it sounds like everyone needs to start being more open with each other. The first rule of being a Kyoshi Warrior is no secrets, no lies. When you're a team, you need to work together."

"Bit hard to do that when you don't know who to trust," Zuko muttered.

"That's my point! All this distrust and jumping to conclusions almost got someone hurt today. It's the reason Yuzo couldn't get to Atsuo in time." Suki threw him an apologetic glance. "I'm sorry. I know it doesn't help to hear this, but if you had told me at the beginning what was happening instead of acting suspicious and trying to run away, I would have got you into Ba Sing Se myself. I'm sure everyone here feels the same."

There were a few nods and murmurs of agreement.

Yuzo's hands balled into fists. "How was I supposed to know I could trust you? What was I even supposed to say? You would have asked too many questions—questions I couldn't answer without looking crazy or putting myself and Atsuo at further risk!"

"Maybe," she admitted. "I'm not saying it would have been easy, but sometimes you have to take a chance. If you don't, you'll always have to bear everything on your own."

"Suki's right," Aang said, moving to face everyone. "It's like the monks always say, 'Individually, we are one drop. Together, we're an ocean.' We need to trust each other. We definitely need to stop threatening and attacking each other." He frowned at Katara, no doubt remembering the way she had viciously held Shizue at ice point. "If we don't, we'll become our own worst enemies."

Katara raised her chin. "Trust works both ways, Aang. I'm not saying you're wrong, but I won't stand by when my friend is put in danger just because information is being held from him." She met Shizue's gaze. "You say you're trying to protect Zuko, but all you're really doing is keeping him ignorant. He needs to know what he's up against, what he's supposed to be avoiding."

"Katara." Zuko placed his hand on her shoulder. "It's okay."

"It's not okay!" She rounded on Yuzo. "Shen hunted you and Atsuo because you're fire healers and broke the tribe's rules, right?"

Yuzo nodded.

"That's what I mean!" She turned back to the others. "Yuzo was almost killed by his own half-brother! It's likely Atsuo was killed by him!"

Yuzo stiffened but did not deny her claim.

Katara sought Shizue's gaze. "You said yourself that Zuko has broken enough rules that the tribe won't forgive him. If the Silencers are as good at their job as you suggest, it's only a matter of time before they find us as well, right? Isn't that what you feared? Isn't that why you were so suspicious of Yuzo in the first place?"

"Yes," Shizue confessed. "I was worried it was all an act and the Silencers had found us."

Katara shook her head. "Can't you see, then? You can't keep Zuko ignorant. He's in too deep now. We all are. If you truly want to protect him, if you want us to trust you, then you'll tell us what you know and let Yuzo do the same. You have to trust us as well!"

There was a tense silence as the two stared at each other while everyone else just watched with bated breath.

"Maybe you're right," Shizue said softly. "I keep thinking I can somehow contain the damage if I keep what you all know to a minimum, but maybe that's just a fool's hope. A part of me even hoped we could save Ursa first so that she could explain everything. She's much better at this sort of thing."

Zuko let out a breath. "I don't care how you say it, Shizue. I just want to know the truth. The full truth. You and Mother kept everything from me for all these years, but I'm not a child anymore and you can't undo what I've already learnt. The others are right: we need to work together. We need to trust each other. That's the only way we're going to get through this."

She nodded. "Alright. Perhaps this is for the best."

"You'll really tell him everything?" Yuzo asked. "Even if it breaks your oaths?"

"I already broke my oaths as a Silencer a long time ago, and I don't see how I have much choice now." Shizue looked at Zuko grimly. "Just don't make me regret this. I meant what I said to you. There are some things best left forgotten."

"I understand."

oOo

Azula stared at the blackened walls of her cell. Her mother was watching her from the corner with that fake-sad expression, but Azula purposely ignored her. She'd already wasted enough energy arguing and throwing fireballs at the spectre. Her mother never left. Worse, their conversations always came back to the same endless words and pleas.

"You could have been more than this. You still can."

Azula gritted her teeth. "Expectations, expectations, expectations. I can't please either of you, can I?" Her head whipped around to glare at the spectre. "Don't answer that!"

Suddenly, there was a loud thunk from outside the door. She tensed and listened. There were always shouts and aggressive noises coming from the guards monitoring other cells in the prison, but she had learnt to discern the sharp crack of a fist or a boot clanging against metal. This had sounded more like something falling. Something heavy.

There was a series of clicks and then the door to her cell opened. Two Dai Li wearing conical hats entered. As the one at the lead raised his head, she saw he had pale gold eyes. Eyes just like her brother's. The other was a rather tall and broad-shouldered woman.

Azula stood up. "Who are you? You're not Dai Li."

The woman glanced down at her companion. "Well, Shen?"

He considered Azula from head to foot. "This is the one I sensed ... but she's not the one."

The woman sighed. "You're right. Her eyes aren't even the right colour. This was a waste of time."

"Don't be so hasty, Hina. She may not be the one, but I think she'll come in use. Her energy has been connected."

Azula raised her eyebrows. "Excuse me?"

Shen smiled. He was an unremarkable man with bland, easily forgettable features, but something about his smile put her on edge. "Why don't you come with us?"

"Do you take me for an idiot?" Her fingers curled into her palms. "Tell me who you are first. I am Princess Azula of the Fire Nation and I will not be—"

"Oh, I'm sorry." Shen's smile didn't waver. "That wasn't actually a question. You will be coming with us."

Azula snarled and unleashed a blast of blue flames powerful enough to melt flesh right off bone. There was a flash of gold-orange, a wall that crushed her flames into nothing. A split-second later Hina was on her and striking in precise jabs. Azula's eyes widened in horror as every part of her body shut down, leaving her limp and useless as a ragdoll.

"You should have just cooperated," Hina scolded, forcing a gag on her mouth. "Now I have to carry you."

Azula's nostrils flared as she was picked up and slung over Hina's shoulder like a sack of rice. No one had ever disrespected her in such a way.

"Let's go," Shen said.

Hina nodded.

Azula bounced against Hina's back as she was carried out of the cell. Rage blazed through every inch of her, hotter than a wild fire, but there was another emotion as well—one she had only ever felt in flickers.

Fear.

She was afraid of this plain-faced man who had blocked her attack so effortlessly and who looked at her like she was nothing more than an interesting tool. That made her even angrier. It wasn't supposed to be like this. Not for her. Father would be so disappointed if he saw her now. He'd think her weak. Pathetic.

"Azula!" Ty Lee's face appeared in the small, barred grate of the closest cell. "Where are you taking her? What are you going to do?"

Shen paused. "You are this one's friend?"

"Yes!"

His bland smile came back into play. "Interesting. But you have no need to worry, little rainbow. We won't hurt the princess. We just need her assistance with something."

Ty Lee gripped the bars tighter. "Let me come as well. Please!"

"Shen," Hina said warningly. "We don't have time for this."

He held his hand up in a hushing gesture. "The friends don't want to be parted, Hina. How can you be so cruel as to rush this touching moment?"

Azula's nostrils flared again. She tried to tell them to release her at once and that she had no intention of going anywhere with them or that traitor, Ty Lee, but it just came out muffled and indistinguishable through the gag.

"Please," Ty Lee repeated, keeping her gaze on Shen. "She's my friend. Let me come with you. I won't do anything to get in your way. I just want to stay with her."

Shen considered her for a moment. "Why not? The princess might cooperate better with a friend, and you intrigue me, little rainbow. It's not often I sense an energy like yours." He used the keys to open the door, only to move with a sudden swiftness to grab her by the throat and cradle flames close to her cheek. "But if you cross me, I'll kill you without hesitation. Are we understood?"

She exhaled shakily. "Understood."

He smiled and released her, patting her in an almost fatherly way on the head. "Then come along. Hina is getting restless. She'll start scolding us again if we dally."

"Because we need to get out of here before new guards come along," Hina retorted, "especially since you want to take along all this extra baggage."

"Humour me, Hina. When have I ever led you wrong?"

HIna huffed but marched ahead all the same, her arm an iron band around Azula's legs. Whatever these people were planning, Azula swore to herself then and there that she would find a way to get the upper hand. She was no one's tool. She would not be cowered.

Fun fact: I didn't intend for Katara to tell Zuko about the deal, but my girl was like, "Screw you. Imma tell him right now because I refuse to go behind his back like that." She's right, of course, but I do lament the loss of tension.

Also, I swear I'm not being a troll by not putting all the information about Shūrin and fire healers in this chapter. You'll get your answers in the next one (promise). I also want to say now for those who get wary of OCs (because I admit I am the same when a sudden influx appears in fanfics) that they will not suddenly take over this story. It's just necessary to have them since I'm not following canon Book 3 at all.

Finally, "Individually, we are one drop. Together, we're an ocean" is a real quote by Ryunosuke Satoro, the Japanese poet. I am not a monk and, alas, am not so great at coming up with monk wisdom. Please forgive me for my quote thieving.