Author's Notes: I would like to thank all the people who reviewed my story and added my story to their alert list.

Something that came up in reviews and in some PM's I got was Azula sacrificing the two members of the Order. The plan was for her to sneak away during the commotion. When Captain Zhu figured out the plan and cut her off, she could no longer sneak away. She realized he was telling the truth when he said she would never outrun them in her balloon. So it was bring down the airship or be captured again. I had a part in the original draft of the chapter where after Lu Chen explained the plan, Azula asked what about the two of you, and they said they were willing to sacrifice themselves to see the Fire Nation restored. But I took it out because I didn't think that was a question Azula would have asked.

I hope that clears up that part. So without further ado, chapter 2, hope you enjoy.

Chapter II – Whispers of the Phoenix

Fire Lord Zuko stood on the edge of the royal pond lost in thought as he looked at his reflection on the water. His thoughts fell to his mother as they did whenever he came to the pond, and he focused on many or her words to him.

"Zuko, ZUKO!"

Zuko turned and looked at Mai, who sat against a tree with an irritated look that he was more than familiar with. She looked up into his eyes and her look quickly changed from one of irritation to one of concern.

"I'm sorry Mai, I'm ignoring you,' Zuko apologized before he dropped his head.

Mai stood up and walked over to him before she grabbed his hand and looked in his eyes again. People thought Mai cold because she rarely showed emotion, but Zuko had always found warmth and support in her eyes.

"What's wrong Zuko? You've been so distant lately." Mai asked, her voice full of concern.

"I'm worried."

"About what?"

"I'm worried that all that I've worked to build over the last two years may be destroyed," Zuko explained.

Mai sighed loudly before she shook her head before she turned her eyes away, and the look of irritation returned to her face.

"You're not about to start going on about this Order of the Rising Phoenix again are you," Mai asked as she shook her head. "They haven't done anything to show they're more than some crazy group of fire nation extremists."

"There are some crazy extremists, but they're out in the open. These guys, this Order of the Rising Phoenix is something different," Zuko countered. "They're in the shadows, just waiting for the right time to strike."

"Waiting for what? The longer they wait, the more people will see how good things are with all four nations living in harmony."

"I think they're waiting for my sister," Zuko answered.

"Azula," Mai said disgustedly as she cut her eyes at him. "What would they want that whack job for?'

Mai had never once showed sympathy for Azula's mental breakdown, but Zuko as much a he didn't want to had moments when he felt sorry for her circumstance. He had tried to rid himself of those feelings constantly, which was a task he thought would be easier if he never visited her and looked in her in the eyes.

"She represents the old ways," Zuko said as he turned and looked back onto the pond. "She represents my father's vision of how the world should be," he explained.

"I'm sure they're other people they can find who think the same way who aren't in a mental asylum," Mai retorted, disgust still in her voice.

"Yes, but none of them are a member of the royal family who can be put upon the throne of the fire nation," Zuko explained. "It's not a coup if something happens to me and they put the next in line on the throne. People will have to accept it."

"Well then I guess you better increase the security at the asylum," Mai joked.

"It's not as much of a joke as you think," Zuko said.

He dropped his eyes to the water just as a turtle duck swam through his reflection and sent ripples over the water. He thought he had solved his inner turmoil after he helped the Avatar save the world. But when it came to how far he should go to protect the throne he once again was torn in two just like his reflection.

"I had Azula transferred to Boiling Rock so that this Order would lose the most important piece of their plan," Zuko explained before he began to shake his head. "But nothing has worked out the way it should have," he continued before he slammed his fist into the palm of his hand.

"What happened?" Mai inquired.

"It's less than a one day trip from the asylum to Boiling Rock, but I've received no word that Azula has arrived," Zuko answered.

"How many days has it been?"

"Four," Zuko quickly answered. "I should have at least received a messenger eagle by now."

"I'm sure everything is fine Zuko," Mai said as she put her hand on his shoulder. "Or maybe not," she added with a deep sigh.

"What are you…," Zuko began to say.

He let out a sigh as well as he looked to his left where Ming the royal advisor and Yao one of his military captains approached. He enjoyed being Fire Lord, but he hated the meetings and briefings that came with it because they took away from his firebending practice and his time with Mai.

"Advisor Ming, Captain Yao, is there something you need?" Zuko asked as both bowed their heads to him.

"Lord Zuko, there is something urgent we must discuss with you immediately," Ming said anxiously.

"What is it?" Zuko asked.

"In private," Ming answered as she cut her eyes at Mai. "Come with us."

"Anything you have to say you can say in front of Mai," Zuko said annoyed.

"Of course Lord Zuko," Ming apologized before she bowed her head quickly. "It's just that in these times we must be careful with sensitive information."

"I trust Mai with my life, so whatever you have to say, just say it and stop wasting time," Zuko demanded.

"We just received word from one of our cruisers, they have found the wreckage of an airship in the ocean," Captain Yao said as he dropped his head.

"The airship that was carrying my sister?" Zuko asked reluctantly because he feared the answer that he knew would follow.

"Yes, it seems so my Lord," Yao answered with a hint of sadness in his voice.

Zuko felt a sadness over the possible loss of his sister, but he did not know if was to a level appropriate for one who had just lost a sibling. He knew that they had never been close, but he thought that he would have felt something more. Then he realized that his lack of emotion was not because he didn't feel a loss over her death, but something else.

"How did this happen?" Zuko's voice broke as he asked.

"I will not know until I take my men and investigate the wreckage," Yao explained.

"No Captain Yao, appoint a leader and send your men to investigate the wreckage," Zuko ordered.

"What about me my Lord?' Yao asked confused.

"Gather three of the best Imperial Firebenders and meet me in the throne room," Zuko ordered.

"Yes my Lord," Yao said before he bowed his head and turned to leave.

"Perhaps this will put an end to this Order of the Rising Phoenix," Ming said as she looked at Zuko. "Without a member of the royal family to put upon the throne they may abandon their plans."

"Ming, you have just brought word that my sister is probably dead, and all you have to say is that the Order's plans may be ruined," Zuko said angrily as he glared at Ming. "Are you serious," he blurted.

"I am sorry my Lord," Ming apologized. "There will be time to mourn your sister, but the wellbeing of the Fire Nation must come first."

Ming tightened up and pulled away slightly as she tried to brace herself for the anger she thought was coming.

"You don't even know if this Order is even a threat, the people of the Fire Nation are happy," Mai said angrily she glared at Ming. "They support Zuko," she blurted.

"Most do, but there are those who prefer the days when Fire Nation was set to rule over all the lands," Ming explained. "There are also those who feel that Fire Lord Zuko has brought shame to the Fire Nation."

"How so?" Mai demanded.

"By saying that there was no war with the Air Nomads, but that the Fire Nation committed genocide in wiping them out," Ming explained. "Some feel that the glory of victory in battle is now the shame of killing a peaceful people."

"I owed it to the Air Nomads to reveal the truth," Zuko defended himself. "More importantly I owed to Aang."

"That may be so, but some still think it brought shame to the Fire Nation," Ming said.

"Some people, or you?" Mai asked.

"I support whatever the Fire Lord decrees," Ming answered.

"That is not an answer," Mai countered before she cut her eyes at Ming.

"Mai," Zuko said with a sigh before he cleared his throat. "There are more important things to worry about right now."

"Whatever," Mai said with a wave of her hand before she turned and walked back by the tree.

"I need some time Ming, I will come and speak with you when I am ready," Zuko said.

"But my Lord we…,"

"I said I would come see you when I'm ready," Zuko cut her off angrily.

"Yes, sorry my Lord," Ming said before she bowed her head and cowered away.

Zuko turned, looked out onto the pond and thought back on the days when he and his sister had spent time there. The days when she used to throw loaves of bread at the turtle ducks, up to the day she used his hesitation in answering a question to determine that the avatar was not dead. His fist trembled as he thought about how she used that information to turn shame that should have been hers to him. He wondered why he cared about her wellbeing at all.

"I can't believe Azula may be dead," Zuko said as he continued to look out over the water.

"Maybe she's better off," Mai said coldly.

"Don't sound so sad."

"What do you want me to say Zuko," Mai asked angrily. "Do you expect me to cry and say how much I miss her?"

"You were friends."

"Really, because the last words I ever heard her say were to tell Fire Nation soldiers to lock up Ty Lee and I and let us rot. Have you forgotten how she set my hair on fire so you'd knock me in the fountain, or how she threatened us if we didn't do what she said, or…," Mai rambled on angrily before she cut herself off and looked away.

Zuko didn't know if he should take her anger as uncaring or as a way to vent sadness that she didn't know she had or didn't want to show.

"So no Zuko, I'm not sad," she said as she shook her head.

"You don't have to always keep everything inside Mai."

"I'm not keeping anything inside Zuko, I don't care," she said with great conviction. "If you want someone to cry and feel sad I suggest you go to Kyoshi Island and find Ty Lee."

"Whatever Mai," he said with a sigh. "I have to go meet Captain Yao."

"Fine, go."

Zuko sighed because he knew that he was on her bad side, which was a place he tried to avoid. He walked over to her and tried to make things up to her with a kiss, but she put her hand between her face and his.

"Bye Zuko," she said before she looked away.

He felt it better to cut his losses and give her time, so he turned and walked back towards the palace as he thought about how he planned to proceed. He walked through the palace towards the throne room, and paused as he came into the Royal Gallery. He looked upon the newest portrait, which was his and wondered how he compared to the others. He thought he had been a good Fire Lord, but he had yet to be tested.

He turned his head and looked at the portrait of his father, before he dropped his eyes and shook his head. "I will not turn into you."

He lingered there for a few more moments before he continued on to the throne room where Captain Yao waited with three others. They all fell to their knees and bowed their heads as he approached.

"I have a task for the four of you," Zuko said.

"Do you want us to track down the leaders of this Order of the Rising Phoenix?" Captain Yao asked. "I've been waiting for this opportunity."

"No, I want you to find my sister," Zuko said, before shocked looks fell over all their faces.

Zuko realized why he felt almost no emotion when he was told of the crash. He never believed that she was dead. He felt that he would know if she were.

"But my Lord, she's dead," Captain Yao responded.

"No Captain, I know my sister, and I can tell you that she is not dead," Zuko said as he looked down on the four firebenders. "We will mourn her, a grand ceremony that even the Order of the Rising Phoenix cannot miss."

"And without their new ruler, they will have to spend time constructing a new plan," Yao said with a wide grin. "Time we can use to find and eliminate them."

"Exactly," Zuko said as he grinned as well.

"But my Lord, even if she isn't dead, how would we find her?' Yao asked.

"Start with the current, the debris should follow a path," Zuko suggested before he began to pace in front of them. "There are only a few places it could have taken her,"

"But my Lord, the odds of finding her, even her body," Yao said as he shook his head.

"If you have found nothing in a month I'll admit I was wrong about this," Zuko conceded as he stopped pacing. "But I don't think I will be."

"And if we find her?" Yao asked.

"Do whatever you must to capture her and take her to Boiling Rock," Zuko instructed.

"She will not come quietly."

"Whatever you must Captain," Zuko said more emphatically.

"Yes my Lord," the four firebenders said before they stood, bowed their heads and left the room.

Zuko began to leave the room as well until he heard a loud, deep sigh from behind one of the columns.

"I don't need you to look after my every step anymore uncle," Zuko said as she turned to the shadows behind the column.

"I don't know nephew, because it seems that you may be losing your way again," General Iroh said as he stepped from behind the columns.

"I haven't uncle, I know exactly what I'm doing," Zuko disagreed.

"Secret meetings away from your counsel, stopping your sister's therapy to stash her away in prison, even planning a fake memorial to deceive your people," Iroh said as he shook his head and sighed again. "No nephew, I feel that you do not."

"I'm doing what I have to do to protect the Fire Nation," Zuko countered.

"Be careful nephew, do not let your fear of losing power cause you to become someone you are not."

"I am not afraid of losing power uncle I just want to protect this nation."

"All who gain power are afraid to lose it nephew, do not think yourself different," Iroh lectured him. "The key is how you handle that fear," he continued to lecture him before he walked over and put his hand on Zuko's shoulder. "Do not let that fear turn you into what you seek to protect your people from."

Zuko watched as Iroh turned and left the throne room, and he began to think about his words.

"I'm a good ruler, I'm doing what's right," he said to himself, but for the first time he didn't know if he believed his own words.