Yeah, so it's really me. Law school buried me alive, Legend of Korra failed to live up to my expectation and a lot of stuff happened, and writing fell by the wayside. Sadly, my grandmother's death destroyed my muse and I just couldn't write. My heart was too broken.

Weirdly, Hurricane Sandy and nearly losing my home and life got me back to writing again. I didn't want to leave this story hanging and therefore I began with it.

It will be a full on AU, and it's not the ending I planned, but I like it very much. So, welcome back and I hope you'll forgive me. I plan to write a good deal and get back my muse and you won't have to wait two years or more to get it.

I remember tears streaming down your face

When I said, "I'll never let you go"

When all those shadows almost killed your light

I remember you said, "Don't leave me here alone"

But all that's dead and gone and passed tonight

-Taylor Swift

Safe and Sound

Lu Ten sat alone. Without Zuko's warm body burrowed up to him, he finally felt himself a prisoner and slave. It didn't matter what happened now. He was all alone and he was hot and tired and all he wanted to do was burrow under the furs and sleep forever. He felt so hot and cold and tired now.

Zuko hated him. His cousin wished him dead and had chosen treason. He could still hear Zu's voice ringing in his ears. He had wished it was all a nightmare. Waking up and realizing his life was real…was terrible.

Zuko had committed treason. By right, Lu Ten should have killed him. It was justice. Royal relatives had been trying to stab knives into Fire Lord backs since time immemorial. It was only a matter of time before he would have lost his only true friend. Perhaps it was easier now.

He couldn't do it. He knew he couldn't and he knew he wouldn't. He physically could end his cousin's life, but he would prefer death than to hurt him further. Lu Ten was weak, unworthy, and he deserved no mercy. How could he ever be a Fire Lord if he could not root out blatant treason? Princes didn't snivel like children, they acted with dignity and refinement.

"You aren't a prince anymore, you're a worthless cabin boy that no one cares about," he whispered to himself.

He could abandon Zuko. Swim to shore at the nearest Fire Nation and abandon his cousin to exile. It was the right punishment if he wanted to mix justice and mercy. It was cruel and yet, it was the best solution for everyone. He would be returning to his role as heir to the throne, having rooted out treason, allowed mercy, and restored the succession.

Lu Ten knew the truth now. No one loved him. They loved the powerful prince who could order their deaths at the wave of his small hand. His own cousin didn't even care about him, only feared him. Without his guards and title, Zuko was free to let his true feelings come to the surface. And if his precious cousin cared nothing for him…no one did.

Hakoda would never allow him to see his father again, and Zuko would never return with him. He didn't dare show his face back home without his cousin. How would he explain leaving his cousin behind in slavery? Even if he was accepted back, he would be known as a failure.

He could lie and say Zuko was dead. He could just leave his cousin behind, where he was happy. Hakoda would take good care of him, Zuko would be happy. He would soon forget the beautiful halls of the Fire nation and become some savage, forget him and everything he once knew?

Besides, he could not face his aunt and uncle, and lie to them, telling them that their precious son was dead. And he had a feeling telling him that he had exiled Zuko would not go over well. As much as he knew it was just, it would destroy Uncle and Aunt.

Kneeling down to face east, he pressed his forehead to the floor. "Lord Agni, Master of all that the Light touches, giver of life. Please answer your son in his time of need. Save us from this cruel exile. Return us to your land, and to your people," he whispered desperately.

Agni had saved him from the ocean, from the Earth Kingdom, from the pirates. Surely one more miracle wouldn't be too much to ask for. Unless he wasn't worthy. He had failed so much, perhaps he was unsuitable to rule. "Forgive me for my failure. Let me prove myself worthy in your sight. Please…don't let this be the end," he continued, blinking back tears.

Any prince who was undeserving could be destroyed. Was this the judgment for not being worthy for the throne? To spend his life as the thrall of some savage, to watch his cousin rot before his eyes? "Agni, grant me your blessings and I shall do your name glory."

The door opened and Hakoda walked in. Lu Ten's urge to set something on fire grew exponentially as he rose to his feet. "What are you doing?" Hakoda asked. Haven't these savages learned what knocking was?

Lu Ten got to his feet. "Nothing," he whispered. He doubted savages knew what prayer was. "Where is Hanzo?"

"I hope you calmed down. Your brother is fine. Now, we need to talk," Hakoda continued, folding his arms.

Lu Ten shrugged. "I have nothing to say to you," he hissed. "I hate you and I hope you burn in the fires of the sun." Zuko was fine. That was all that mattered.

"You're the one who scared your brother half to death. Aren't you grateful I stopped you from hurting him?" Hakoda demanded, leaning against the wall and studying him.

Lu Ten stared at the wall. "Had you not meddled, none of this would have happened," he hissed. He was feeling so cold and tired. Couldn't Hakoda just go away?

"I figured you would feel that way. I'm sorry it exploded like that. I never thought I would be responsible for making such a mess. I didn't mean to hurt you, Lu Ten," Hakoda said softly. "You're a member of my crew, no matter what you think. All I want is for you to understand that."

"I'm being kept under watch as your prisoner," Lu Ten mumbled angrily. "If I were a member of your crew, I would be free to leave the ship and go where I please." He stared down at the floor and folded his arms. "I'm tired of this game. You know I don't know how to do these stupid chores and you force me to labor only to mock my bloodline.'

"We saved you from slavery, kid. Don't you think you should at least work off your debt?" Hakoda asked with a laugh.

"I'm the future Fire Lord," Lu Ten said, batting his hand away as he wiped away the sweat from his eyes. Or was it tears? He hated hearing how he was bought like fruit at a market! "And you said I'm not your property."

"You're right, I shouldn't said that. Forgot how blunt I can be. Okay, you're a working man. There's nothing shameful about that, right, Lu?" Hakoda said gently. "I want you to think of yourself of a member of the crew, as a member of my family."

"We have a family who loves us; my brother's mother cries daily for him. We are not orphans for you to adopt at your whim," Lu Ten said angrily. "You should return us if you truly cared for us. You can't imagine how much suffering you are putting us through."

" You're my responsibility. You worry about being good and I will worry about those big matters," Hakoda said sternly.

"Hakoda, do me the honor of not lying to me," Lu Ten said defiantly. "What am I to you? I'm standing before you. Am I your slave, your crewmate, your prisoner, or your foster child? Tell me the truth."

Hakoda stared at him for a long moment, his expression unreadable. "The truth is an ugly thing, Lu Ten. You are a kid, this isn't something you need to understand. Why do you have to ask such questions?" he asked. "You're safe. What else matters?"

Lu Ten put his hands up in a gesture of surrender. "I'm not my brother. You can't play me off with sweets and a pat on the head. You want me to treat you as a leader; I am acknowledging you as the authority on the ship and asking for your judgment. What is my position on this ship?" he asked. "Tell me the truth."

Hakoda's face hardened, and for a moment, the kind face twisted into some hollow mask of leadership, the royal mask Lu Ten had cultivated so well. "I won't lie to you. You and your brother are my prisoners, Prince Lu Ten of the Fire Nation," he said coldly. "I think you knew that."

Lu Ten refused to flinch at the terrible words. "I see," he said softly. He didn't know why he found the information so upsetting. Hakoda was keeping him prisoner, and had just admitted what everyone had known. He should be defiant and angry at this, but not disappointed. He had no idea why tears were pricking at his eyes. "I need to go tend to my chores."

"Why did you have to ask?" Hakoda asked, sadly. "You're getting treated really well for a captive. I'm not keeping you in chains. I'm feeding you. I'm only locking you up because you attacked your little brother. I don't want you to feel like a prisoner," Hakoda said, before adding with polite menace, "As long as you don't try to escape, I can give you more freedom."

Lu Ten turned away. "I wish to be alone," he said softly, sitting down on the floor. "I am tired."

"You need some time. I'll be to check on you later," Hakoda said sadly. "I wish you didn't demand the truth."

Lu Ten didn't speak when Hakoda came back with dinner. Sitting alone and meditating had not done much, so he had fallen asleep. He didn't know why he was so tired, or his body felt so stiff. He just knew sleeping was the one place he could some relief.

"How are you feeling? You're looking a bit flushed," Hakoda noted, sitting down next to him.

Lu Ten bit his lip. "I thought about what you said, and I have a proposal. I know I'm a valuable hostage, but you only need one. What if you let my brother go home?" he asked. He should exile Zuko, but the Fire Nation needed a prince. Zuko would return to his good self once he had a proper education again. "I'll stay as your prisoner. I'll be quiet and obedient; I won't give you a moment of trouble. I am far more valuable as a hostage; my brother is not the heir." It was a lie that he'd stay peacefully, but it was his only chance to get Zuko to safety while he plotted. He was losing his cousin, Zuko was forgetting who he was.

"That isn't going to work. You need your brother," Hakoda said, gently. "A few hours without him and you're already sweating and pale. He's fine, there's no need for such dramatics." The joke wasn't funny.

"I could bear it, Hakoda. Send him home and I'll be strong enough to bear it. He needs his mother much more than he needs me," Lu Ten said, steeling himself for what would be the worst pain of his life. "I've said goodbye to him before, and if it means he'll have his crown back, I can bear anything for him. He hates me, remember? You said I was a danger to him and you needed to separate us. Well, here is your chance!"

"That is really noble of you. You would do anything for your brother and that's why he's staying here. The only reason you stopped trying to escape is because of him. You won't leave him behind. Besides, he's easier to guard," Hakoda said.

"I give you my word I won't run away. My word and honor as the Prince of the Fire Nation. You can even keep me chained up," Lu Ten pleaded, his voice cracking. There was no point in asking for himself, he knew that. But as much as his anger towards Zuko was bubbling…he needed to do what was best for his people. "Have mercy on him and let him return to his poor mother."

"And let him go crying to Azulon about who stole his big brother? The warships would be at the South Pole in days. You are going to be treated nicely, but you are staying with us. Nothing you can say to change my mind. You belong to the tribe now," Hakoda said sternly, his face hardening back into that mask of leadership. "As chief, it's my final word. A leader has to do what is best for his people. You of all people should know that,"

It just wasn't FAIR! "I thank you for your kindness in punishing my brother and me to hurt my country," Lu Ten snapped insolently, his voice shaking with tears. "You're a monster, you know. You are my enemy, you know and I swear I will have my vengeance for your cheap mercy."

"It's a lot more merciful than what your father would do to my children," Hakoda snapped angrily. "He wouldn't have freed them from slavery, he would have hacked their bodies to pieces and put the remains on pikes. That is what does to his enemies."

"The father I love who I will never see again, thanks to you," Lu Ten shouted, fire streaming from his nose. His leg was aching so badly. "You've taken everything away from me, my father, my relatives, my home, my country, my destiny; you are as big a monster as you think my beloved father is. You're a liar and a hypocrite and I swear, I will never submit to you or see you as anything more than my jailer."

Hakoda nodded. "I don't expect your thanks, but you will not speak back to me like that. You know what would happen to you if any other enemy had you? To the Earth Kingdom, you and your brother are worth giving us enough gold and food for twenty winters. Outside this ship, you are a sitting turtleduck. Your only hope is to stay on this ship."

Lu Ten's fingers flashed with fire. "Don't insult my father again and maybe I won't kill you when you sleep," he hissed, forming a ball of deadly flames in his hand. "You won't be able to hold me forever and someday, I will have my revenge on this entire crew."

Hakoda crossed his arms. "Going to kill the person who saved your life?" he asked. "Put that out now. And don't do that again if you want to keep seeing your brother."

Lu Ten hissed angrily, but put his flame out. He was exhausted, he wouldn't have been able to hold it much longer. "I wish to be alone. You are dismissed," he mumbled. He wanted to curl up and be miserable and weak. He couldn't do that if others were there.

Hakoda sighed. "Attacking me isn't going to solve your problem. Sorry for what I said about your father." he said. "We can't replace him, but you are among friends. I'm trying to help you."

"My enemies are on the ship as well. That's why you didn't tell anyone else who I am," Lu Ten whispered. "Because they'll want to turn me over as well." The men he had learned to tolerate were his enemy. They would gladly seem Zuko and Lu Ten sold to the highest bidder and returned to torture. "I'm not even safe on this ship, am I?" he asked, looking up at Hakoda worriedly.

"You are, as long as you keep your head down, behave yourself and let me protect you," Hakoda said, reaching out a hand to touch him. "But you have to trust me."

Lu Ten shook his head. If he tried to say anything, he didn't know what would happen. He just wanted to be alone and break something into little pieces. It gave him some joy to act like a prince and not asked to be dismissed. He would be Fire Lord, he would never live his life a nameless captive, a footnote in history. He had been born to a Living God, he would never be forgotten. Somehow, he would escape this prison. "I want to see my brother."

"Are you ready to apologize?" Hakoda asked. "The sooner you do, the sooner I will allow him to see you."

"What he did was wrong. I will not apologize for his mistakes," Lu Ten hissed, laying back on the furs. His head was spinning.

"You're going to apologize, so you might as well calm down and accept it. You're not acting like much of a prince, are you?" Hakoda demanded.

"What do you know of being royalty?" Lu Ten demanded, looking away. He wanted to be alone so he could cry a bit and gather his thoughts.

"Not much, but you are definitely schooling me. So that's the way a prince behaves. He insults people and acts like a petulant baby when he doesn't get his way," Hakoda said calmly, folding his arms.

"How dare you, you…" Lu Ten hissed, but Hakoda just laughed at him. "Why do you find this funny?"

"Because you're acting like my daughter. She's four and she throws a hurricane of a tantrum when she doesn't get what she wants. It's really funny for a child. It's not so funny for a future leader," Hakoda said. "It's hard to take you seriously when you're having a tantrum."

"Don't you dare call me pathetic, you savage," Lu Ten shrieked, leaping up from his fur bed and flying at him with his fists on fire. "I am…"

Hakoda tripped him, landing him in a heap. Lu Ten shivered, his limbs heavy. "A prince. You're repeating yourself, kid. You're not going to be a good leader if you go around insulting people, and acting like you're better than any of us," Hakoda said coldly. "You can't rule by fear. Eventually, they will start fearing life with you more than they will fear death. And then you will find yourself facing a mutiny or a knife in the back.. Maybe the Fire Nation is better off without you unless you can learn to stop acting so selfishly."

"How dare you say that? My people love me!" Lu Ten howled. His people would never betray him. They loved him. They cheered for him. They worshipped him. "They are good, and true, and loyal!"

"As much as your brother? How would your people react to you now, without your guards to bully them? You don't deserve loyalty if you haven't earned it!" Hakoda said sternly.

"You're savages and when I get back home, I am going to personally lead a squadron to teach you a lesson," Lu Ten said furiously. How could he have known Lu Ten's fears? This could not be happening. Was his weakness so plain that even savages could see it? "I'm going to burn your village to the ground and take you all as slaves and see how you like it!"

Hakoda glared at him for a long moment, but then shrugged. "Starting tomorrow, you're back on chores. Scrub the front hall, clean the skins and wash dishes," he finally said. "You canl take your meals alone. If you're good, I'll let you see your brother."

So, this was what it must be like to be a servant.

The crown prince of the Fire Nation was on his hands and knees, scrubbing at the floor like a worthless slave as he tried to keep his eyes open. The sooner he finished these chores, the sooner he could speak to Zuko and get an apology.

Another restless night and Lu Ten was miserable to hear the morning bell ringing and announcing a horrible new day. He had limped out of his room and started on his chores.

Just a few more minutes and then he would rest. If he kept telling himself that, he would be able to keep working without pondering the idea of rest.

His leg ached horribly. Stepping on it felt like fire. Maybe this was Agni's final punishment. He didn't know anymore.

The shadows on the wall seemed to loom around him, like monsters. He could feel their eyes on him. The shadows of death, coming to claim him. "No," he whispered.

You are a failure. Everyone hates you. You don't deserve to be prince.

He was on a boat filled with demons, sent to torment him. They had taken Zuko away. They hated him. They wanted him dead.

What if they stopped keeping them alive when he were no longer useful as prince? They would take him away and punish him, just like the stories said.

The floors were not clean yet, there was still so much mud all over them. He would never finish. He was trapped, laboring eternally in the bowls of darkness…

Lu Ten was finished. He could beg Agni for his life, but that would be useless. He was going to die now, he was in the hands of the enemy and he was going to suffer for the virtues of his people. He tried to hold in his feelings, but the next moment, he found himself unable to breathe. He gasped as his throat seemed to close up, and the world spun before his eyes. "No," he managed to gasp as he collapsed to his knees.

AN-Thank you for sticking with me.