The Best Romances

Deserve Second Chances

Chapter 7

"The Prince"

To D0omkitty, Hi!

"So, Azula could be anywhere?" Sokka asked.

"Correct. But I feel as though she is involved with this Harley person." Zuko said, rubbing his stubble.

"I want to help." Aang said standing up.

"This is between me and my family, you stay out of this Avatar." Zuko scolded, sitting Aang down.

"You need someone to help you Zuko, you can't do this by yourself." Katara pleaded.

"I know, I was going to take Toph, as she is the 'Peace Enforcer' for the Fire Nation."

"If I'm coming, so is Sokka." Toph said, defiant in her cause.

"So be it, Sokka will join."

"Great, so we'll start planning in the morning." Sokka said with a clap, and went to bed.

"Zuko, if I hear anything about Azula or this Harley, I'll make sure to tell you." Aang said putting a hand on the Fire Lord's shoulder.

"Thanks Aang."

Everyone shuffled out of the study, leaving Zuko alone except with the guard who was still in the room.

"Guard?"

"Yes, Fire Lord sir?"

"Please, just call me Zuko."

"Omm, errr, yes, Zuko?"

"Have you ever been to the Royal Prison?"

"No, sir. I haven't."

"Follow me then, I would enjoy the company."

Zuko got out of his favorite chair, and picked his cloak from the coat stand by the door, and he and the guard walked out of the study. Zuko knew the route well, as he had visited Iroh multiple times during the war. With their footsteps echoing throughout the Palace, Zuko and his guard reached the front gate. At the front gate, Zuko met up with the patrol of guard there, and again Zuko invited them to follow him. The night covered their movements, as the silent streets gave way to Zuko and his twelve followers. They reached the Royal Prison, and Zuko was allowed access. Zuko and his guards went to the deepest, inner most cell in the prison. When Zuko reached the cell door he turned to face his followers.

"The guard who was in my study come with me, the rest wait out here and defend this door."

The guards nodded in approval, and the study guard stepped forward, and followed Zuko into the cell.

"Close the door behind us." Zuko ordered.

"Well, well, if it isn't the Fire Lord himself."

"Have you heard that Azula has escaped the Boiling Rock?" Zuko asked.

"Noooo, I can't say that I haven't. I don't hear much down here." the prisoner's voice sounded all knowing.

"She's been gone for week and one day."

"How tragic! What ever are you going to do Zuko?"

"Fire Lord, I hear fighting from outside the door." the guard said.

"Well, that doesn't sound like good news at all." the prisoner said.

"Look here father, I know Azula is coming to get you."

"And how do you know that, my son?"

"Because without you, she is nothing, just a puppet without it's master."

"Oh, you are so good Zuko. I'm sure we'll find out who is right and who is wrong in a matter of time." and Ozai stood from inside his iron cage.

The heavy metal, cell door was blasted off its hinges, crushing the guard who was standing behind it listening to the fight. Zuko heard heels rapping against the stone floor, drawing closer to the door way.

"We have a visitor darling." Ozai said.

A full figured woman stepped into the cell room, just out of Zuko's reach.

"Oh, I know." and she turned her head to met Zuko's eyes, "Hello, baby Zuzu."

"Azula." Zuko said, he could never forget the glean in her golden eyes.

"And what brings you down here?"

"I'm here to convince you not to do this."

"Not to do what? I'm just here to see daddy." and Azula waved to Ozai, who returned the wave.

"You know Azula, I doubt you are just here to say hi." Zuko sneered.

"There are two lives in a prison, Zuzu. One, is the guards, who have to keep in line the hundreds of prisoners, and that takes a lot of time. But the prisoner. Oh, that's the life. You think of one thing, while the guards have to think of hundreds of things."

"What is that one thing?"

"Escape." and Azula jabbed a fire ball at Zuko, who vaporized it before it hit him.

Azula dropped to a knee and spin kicked a flame at Zuko's feet. Zuko was still dealing with the first fire ball, and due to his distracted state, the low flame tripped him causing him to land face first on the Azula blasted a blue ball at the iron cage, and melted a hole through the iron. Ozai stepped out of the cage, and he and Azula stood over a fallen Zuko.

"Well, father, should we kill him?"

Zuko spun onto his back and kicked his legs into the air, shooting fire in all directions. Azula and Ozai had to back out of the cell room, as the momentum from Zuko's spinning propelled him back onto his feet. Ozai began to run out of the prison, while Azula held Zuko off. She was in much lighter clothes, and if she could get to the open courtyard in front of the prison, she would be able to lose Zuko in the night. Azula and Zuko exchanged fire blasts down the narrow hallways, every now and then Azula had to kick a guard away. The both of them fire bending against each other resembled their Angi Kai just before the war ended. Azula was still the superior fire bender when compared to Zuko. The extreme circular curves in the prison walls, made it much harder for Zuko to catch up. Since the walls curved to the left, Azula could fire bend from behind a wall as she was right handed, while Zuko had to expose himself from the wall to fire bend at her. They played their game of cat and mouse, until Azula finally made it to the courtyard, where Ozai was waiting. She sprinted off through the courtyard with Ozai, and vanished into the night. Zuko now tired and burnt, went back to the Palace. The silent streets as his guide, and the bare hallways of the Palace lead him to his room where he slept for the night.

Zuko didn't wake until noon, his eyes dreary with defeat and agony. Azula had escaped, and now Ozai had escaped. Zuko felt like he had let down his whole Nation, the people who honored him and loved him. He couldn't bring himself to face the truth, that everything was going wrong. His thoughts went to Harley, and if she was connected with Azula and Ozai in anyway possible. He reviewed the facts: the two worst, most evil people are at large and two of people who were influential in ending the war were dead. It couldn't be coincidence Zuko thought, the two events were too closely related and in time.

"Azula and Ozai were the most prominent figures in the war." Zuko said.

"Right, we already know that." Sokka said.

Zuko had called a war meeting, and Zuko brought Sokka along also.

"Suki and Mai were pretty influential in ending the war."

"Zuko, we all know this." a general called out.

"But where does that put this Harley person?" Sokka asked, and the room filled with murmurs in agreement.

"I think she is helping Azula and Ozai. In that she is hiring people to kill off all the people who helped Aang end the war."

"Then, that means..." Sokka started.

"Means, that anyone of us is in danger." Zuko finished.

Sokka looked down at the table, he has never been around so much death, or has been so personally involved with it. He was still sick to his stomach about Hahn, and he was sure Toph was still down on herself about Ri.

"What we need is intel. What we need is Aang." one general said.

"Aang and Katara took Suki's body back to Kyoshi Island so she can be buried. Azula would have already made another strike before we even contact Aang." Sokka answered in anger, "What we need to do is go find that man Samson talked about, the one who talked about giving him work."

"I agree with Sokka, but I also don't mind giving Aang and Katara a warning, send out a messenger hawk to warn the Avatar." Zuko ordered, and a guard by the door stepped out of the war room to relay the order. Toph, who standing outside the door, took the opportunity to walk into the war room and give her two cents.

"What if we don't find this 'guy', what if it is a folly that Samson was told to give by Harley?"

"We'll have to take the chance, it's our only lead." Zuko said, and Toph sat down and pouted in defeat.

Sokka pulled out the map with the marked spot and laid it flat on the table for all to see.

"The area that is interest is twenty miles away, which should take a full day walk."

"It's hunting season also, so we might run into hunters." Zuko pointed out.

"Couldn't we get mistaken as game?"

"There is a chance that we might." Sokka said, "So we should only travel during the day, and make fire at night."

"Fire Lord, I am still against you setting out with no guards." a defensive minded general said.

"I appreciate your concern, Yangbo, but the guards might tip off this mystery man as to who we really are."

"Yes, your Lordship." Yangbo said bowing his head.

"We head out in three hours, Sokka and Toph. I suggest you two get ready." Zuko told Sokka and Toph.

"But I don't know what to bring!" Toph threw her arms in the air.

"I'll help you, Toph. Come on let's pack." Sokka said and he threw his arms around her, and walked back to her room.

"Fire Lord, do you need any help packing?" the lone female general said after watching Toph and Sokka heat up the room.

"Yes, I do, thank you Inu."

"My pleasure, Zuko."

Zuko being the gentleman he is took her hand to help her get to her feet. They hooked arms, and walked to Zuko's room.

The war room was on the same floor as Toph's and Sokka's rooms, while Zuko's was up on the top floor. Sokka packed Toph extra pairs of clothes into a knapsack. It took little less than an twenty minutes to finish packing for Toph. Sokka went back to his room where he found his own knapsack, and began packing. He packed: extra clothes, spark rocks, a utility knife, his sword, boomerang, a water canteen, and a first aid kit. After packing for the both of them, they still had two hours left, so Toph helped Sokka roll up his sleeping bag, and they both had an impromptu pillow fight to pass the time.

Zuko and Inu just had walked out of the war room, and where walking down Toph's and Sokka's hallway. They walked past Toph's room, and Sokka whistled at Zuko causing him to blush. As Zuko and Inu turned the corner to go up to the third floor, Inu began a conversation.

"So, why did that Sokka guy whistle?"

"Oh, he's just trying to embarrass me in front of a woman."

"I'm no woman, I'm still nineteen."

"Aren't you young to be a general?"

"Aren't you young to be a Fire Lord?"

"Haha, I guess you're right." Zuko was warming up to Inu quickly.

Zuko looked over Inu. She was tall, almost head height with him. She was a fully grown lady, and since she was in the military her strength was as deadly as her looks. Her long black hair was pulled into the traditional top knot, and she wore her armor over her robes.

"Well, of course I'm right. I mean you are...just...the..."

"The Fire Lord?" Zuko finished for her. He gestured to hang a left to go up a different staircase when they finished the first staircase.

"I'm sorry, please forgive me."

"Don't worry about it. I'm called stupid all the time."

"I wasn't calling you stupid, Fire Lord."

"It's Zuko, call me Zuko, no more of this Fire Lord business."

"Yes, Zuko."

"He we are. You ready?" Zuko asked as he stopped in front of his door.

"I've never been in the Fire Lord's chambers before. What should I expect?"

"You'll find out."

Zuko pushed open the door and Inu was impressed. The room was circular, with the bed fit for five in the middle. At the foot of the bed was a red sofa, which matched the red bed sheets. She was drawn to the one of the bed stands, mainly the picture of Mai on it.

"Did you draw this?" she asked, holding the picture frame in her hands.

"Yes, now would you please put it down, its the only picture I have of her."

"Oh, right sorry. One would think you would have more."

"She didn't like posing, she said that it bored her. Which always made me laugh."

"Why?"

"She's always bored."

Zuko was digging through his dresser trying to find some much lighter clothes.

"Zuko? Do you need help?" Inu inquired, puzzled to see her Fire Lord tossing his clothes onto the floor.

"No. I found it." and he held up a black vest that had red embroidery.

"Should I close my eyes as you change?"

"If you want." Zuko said as he grabbed a pair of black pants and he went behind a changing screen.

Inu didn't close her eyes, and saw the shadowed figure of Zuko. Zuko stepped out of the screen, now wearing the vest and pants.

"Oh, one more thing." and he pulled out his crown, letting his hair fall to his nose.

"That's quite a get up Zuko." Inu said, as she was surprised to see her Fire Lord shirtless as the vest didn't quite wrap all the around his chest.

"I'm trying not to look like a Fire Lord."

"You're fooling me." she was referring to his abdomen.

"Stop staring." Zuko said, somewhat threatening and embarrassed.

"Oh, don't flatter yourself Zuko." and she rolled her eyes away her head following. Her sight landed on a massive bookshelf.

"You read?"

"Yes, quite often actually."

"What do you read for?"

"Information."

Inu addressed the books that laid open on a nearby table. They all were recent, written within the last twenty years. They also were all history books, on the history of the Fire Lord, and at that time it would have been Ozai.

"Information on what?"

"My mother."

"What about her?"

"Before Ozai became Fire Lord, my mother ran away. I plan on finding her."

"Good luck."

"Thank you."

"Zuko?"

"Yes?" Zuko said as he was packing his sleeping bag, and his dual Dao swords.

"Who will be Fire Lord in your place?"

"My uncle Iroh."

"Is that the fat guy who likes tea?" Inu asked innocently. When she didn't hear an answer she turned to look at Zuko who has sitting on the floor crying.

"Zuko! What's wrong?" Inu rushed to his side.

"I found Mai's wedding ring... it was in my room the whole time. I thought I lost it forever, or that Azula had it. I'm so relieved right now."

"Ohhh, Zuko." she pulled him onto his feet, and hugged him.

"I just didn't know what to do without her."

"It's okay." Inu said, rubbing the back of his head.

"Those flowers over there on that table."

"I saw them, they are beautiful."

"I was going to give them to Mai on the day she died." Zuko let free his tears into Inu's shoulder.

"Zuko, it's okay. You have to move on, Mai would have wanted that."

"I know, it's just so hard." his tears stemming to a stop.

He pulled his head off her shoulder, and thanked her.

"But if you tell anyone that I cried, I will fire you."

"Your secret is safe with me, Zuko."

"Good."

"Zuko?"

"Yes?"

"If you ever need someone to talk to, someone other than that couple, you can always write to me."

"Thank you Inu. I just hope it isn't going to be a long journey, like the war."

"Me too, I want to see my Fire Lord all safe and sound at the Palace."

"Oh, so I'm your Fire Lord?" Zuko teased.

"The one and only." Inu leaned in, wrapping her hands more tightly across Zuko, but he turned his head.

"I can't Inu. It's too soon, too close after Mai's death."

"It's been three weeks, You know you should move on."

"Mai was my first love, she will always have a place in my heart."

"But there is always room for another, Zuko. Just remember me when you leave."

"I will, Inu, and I'll make to write."

"ZUKO!" Sokka yelled through Zuko's door.

"It's been three hours, let's go!" Toph joined in.

"Time flies fast when you are having fun." Inu joked.

"Bye Inu."

"Bye my Lord." and she watched Zuko join Sokka and Toph outside his room.

She kept her eyes on him, and she saw him sneak on last glance at her before the door shut. Inu looked at the picture of Mai, and she wondered if Zuko would ever marry a girl like herself. She went to the flowers. They smelled fresh and lively. She sat down at the table covered in books, picked up the closest book, and she began to read.

To Be Continued

HELLO AGAIN! It's raining in Saint Louis :D Today was a busy day for me. But I have a much more serious problem. I CAN'T DECIDE IF INU SHOULD BE GOOD OR BAD. I can't tell you what would change in the story of she was good or bad, but it would help me out considerably! So give me a good argument as to how you think if Inu should be good or evil. THANKS !

And OH NOES AZULA AND OZAI! Who liked that part? Did it even make sense? It did to me. Why didn't Azula kill Zuko while in the curvey hallways? I DON' KNOW! Maybe she and Ozai agreed not to kill him before it was planned. I wish someone would tell me! BIG SHOUT OUT TO ZHUY, she thought I was a gal, but now she thinks I'm a wonderful nice guy. AWWwww. Fyi for those of you who don't know yet, I AM A GUY! Alert the press, tell the news!

Thanks for all of the faves, comments, reviews, and everyone who has been reading this story. It really means a lot to me. And your comments and reviews don't go to waste. BUT PLEASE TELL ME IF INU SHOULD BE GOOD OR BAD! I'm dead serious guys.

PLEASE R&R follow me on twitter WmitchW