Chapter Two: We're Going Home

A/N: Yay! Thanks for the review Sahlili20! All of your questions should be answered in the next few chapters heh. And if ya'll haven't guessed I LOVE feedback (reviews). Well without further ado here's chapter two, please review. (I just realized that rhymes, it was unintended but what the heck)

Izamei had slipped quietly away from the meeting room where the Advisors and others were formulating the plan to bring Zuko and Iroh home. Carefully the MSS official stepped out onto an open balcony, the Great Palace had many of these balconies and most had carrier hawks cages.

The sun was long gone and a cold breeze blew past the balcony, from the sleeve of his black and gold uniform robe Izamei removed a small scroll of paper. He quickly read over the notes and then reached for one of the hawk cages, removing a large red carrier hawk. He bound the scroll to its leg using some bits of wire then launched the hawk into the air.

The large bird swooped into the darkness over the great Sozin City, capital of the Fire Nation, and off to the northeast. Izamei stared into the darkness for a long while after the hawk until finally turning and stealthily rejoining the others in the meeting room. Only two members of the group had noticed his absence but they remained silent.

The Royal Guard bearing the black arm band with a blue lightening bolt, distinguishing him as one of the forty elite fire benders Azula had personally chosen to be her guard unit, stood before the flap of the large ornate tent. He hesitated; waking the Princess might not be such a good idea at this late hour.

But then again, thought the guard, this may be important. He prepared himself and rang the small bell on the wall of the tent. It took only two rings for the Princess to awaken. "What!? How dare you wake me at this hour!? What is the meaning of this!?" snapped Azula waking half the camp.

The Guard jumped back from the tent's entrance as Azula, wrapped in her silk bed sheets, leaped out from the flap and gave him an icy glare. "A-a message has arrived for you… your majesty…" said the Guard bowing deeply. "A message?" asked the Princess.

"Yes, here" said the Guard holding out a small scroll, "it came by carrier hawk just a few minutes ago." Azula snatched the scroll from the Guard and dismissed him with a wave of her hand. The Guard saluted and returned to his post.

Azula unrolled the scroll and read the first line. Phase one complete. Ozai Dead. MSS / Advisor Council / Royal Guard suspect NWT. Azula grinned widely the deal she'd covertly made with the Northern Water Tribe had paid off, Ozai was dead by poison commonly used by NWT warriors and the blame fell on an enemy of the Nation. "Perfect"

"What are you so happy about?" Azula turned around to face her friends, Mai and Ty Lee, and held out the scroll so they could read the message for themselves. "My poor papa is dead!" replied Azula with mock sadness. The two other girls both nodded slowly. "Well, I never doubted you!" said Ty Lee trying to sound upbeat "You'll make a much better Fire Lord… er Fire Lady than your father."

"There's more written on that note you know." said Mai pointing at the scroll. "Hmm?" Azula turned the scroll back around and continued to read. There is a problem. Royal Guard / MSS / Advisor Council plan to elect Zuko as Fire Lord. Current location: Ba Sing Se. MSS sent agent to contact Zuko / Iroh. Will attempt to return to Fire Nation to assume throne.

Azula crushed the scroll in her hand; trails of smoke began to escape from the exposed folds. The scroll burst into white hot flames and the Princess launched the burning material into a tree. "ZUKO!" Azula howled, the shout awakening animals throughout the forest where they where camped.

Mai and Ty Lee immediately backed away to avoid becoming a target of their friend's anger

Zuko had been right; falling asleep was proving extremely difficult. His mind would not accept sleep; it was sill trying to grasp the seemingly insane news from the night before. He rolled over and sat up; it was still dark save for a few rays from the crescent moon above. Zuko estimated it was around three or four in the morning.

Iroh was still asleep, Zuko could tell from the heavy nasal breathing emanating from the room across the hall from his. The Prince pulled back his covers, got up off his bed and quickly dressed himself. He carefully slipped down the hallway from the bedrooms emerging in the living room area.

Silently Zuko passed the couch; Yuza was sound asleep, a few sheets and a blanket covering her. He studied her briefly realizing the blanket didn't cover her feet. Looking around Zuko found an armrest cover from the couch and placed it onto the sleeping girl's feet, better than nothing. Thought Zuko before slowly and without a sound he opened the front door of the apartment and stepped out onto the porch.

Zuko found the cold, quiet solitude of the early morning time peaceful and relaxing. He began to go over the events that had unfolded at the teashop slowly in his head, starting with Yuza's appearance and ending with when they had left for the apartment.

If Yuza was really telling the truth there would be little time, he would have to return to the Fire Nation as quickly as possible. But if it was a trick he'd surely be captured by Azula and imprisoned if not executed as a "traitor" the instant he set foot over Fire Nation lines.

If Ozai was really dead surely Azula would know by now and would be on her way back to Sozin City to take the throne. Would there be any point to trying to return? thought Zuko. Azula would reach the mainland before I'd have made it to the sea.

Yuza had come all the way to Ba Sing Se, risking her life no doubt. Zuko carefully considered trying to return, he was not one to sit idle for very long, besides there was nothing more he wanted then to return home.

Back in the living room, Yuza had been awake for most of the night, and was now watching the banished Prince sitting out on the porch. She very quietly slid off the couch and stood perfectly still in the dark living room, still wearing the now rumpled green robe she'd used as a disguise to enter the city.

She watched him silhouetted in the faint moonlight, he's… not bad lookin' she thought a faint smile crossing her face. Yuza gently leaned against the couch. Just then there came a loud creak from the wooden frame of the couch.

The instant the sound reached him Zuko jumped up and sup around landing in a basic fire bending stance. Yuza gasped noticeably, her face turning a bright crimson. "Oh… it's just you." said the prince before sitting back down on the step seemingly uninterested.

After some hesitation Yuza nervously approached the doorway. "May I sit with you?" she asked in a near whisper. Zuko turned around and looked at her for a moment then, to Yuza's surprise; he wordlessly scooted over to the side of the step, making room.

Yuza grinned and sat down beside him. For a time neither said anything, then Zuko turned around to face the young woman. "If what you said is true and I did want to try to get back to the Fire Nation, what would I have to do?" he asked, a serious expression upon his face.

For a moment Yuza didn't know what to say, but the plan her father had had her memorize quickly came back to her. "Well" the young woman began, "if I remember correctly; we'd have to leave here as soon as possible and… travel southwest past the village of… uhm… Kencho, across our lines and to Yengzhu River where a ship would be waiting to take us back to the Fire Nation."

Zuko nodded and turned away from her again, deep in thought. "Zuko… I wasn't lying, if that's what's you think. Everything I told you… about your father and the Nation, it's true. I'm sorry, really I am, I'm sorry I brought all of this down onto you but you had to know, the…"

Zuko held a hand up and Yuza stopped in mid-sentence. "It's… alright, it isn't your fault." he said and began to stand up from the porch step. Yuza watched him rise and open the door, he paused "I'm going to wake Uncle, we're going home." he said matter-of-factly and stepped inside.

Yuza got up and opened the door. "Zuko" she called after him, "thanks for thinking of me… the armrest cover kept my feet nice and warm." The Prince paused, "No problem" he muttered and continued off down the hallway. Yuza stood in the door way for a few moments watching him disappear down the hall. A smile crossed her face; He can be sweet when he's not mad she thought, stepping inside.

It had taken some time for Azula to calm down, here friends and even her guards had left her alone from fear of her fiery wrath. After she'd taken some time to cool off though, Azula returned to her normal, cool, calculating self.

How can I turn this around… she thought until it came to her; she'd send one of her friends to tip off the local Earth Kingdom forces that Zuko, Iroh and the MSS agent would be passing by soon. Her brother and uncle would be hunted down and killed by the Earth Army and the problem would be solved.

Quickly the Princess gathered her two friends and explained the new part of the plan to them. Upon hearing the plan they had both appeared hesitant, especially Mai. Azula, remembering Mai had once had feelings for Zuko, decided to send Ty Lee instead.

The girl offered little protest and accepted the mission. Azula wrote a quick message and gave it to her friend, "What if they don't believe me?" asked Ty lee. "Make them believe you" responded Azula flatly and sent her on her way.

A/N: So, how was that chapter? I really hope it was good. The next chapter should be better… well… Please, please review! Good feedback gives me confidence to continue writing.