A/N: Interesting. Now another two characters join the story.

This chapter is brought to you by Mortem Sanctus

Disclaimer: We do not own AtLA.

"So, they've caught wind of our little scheme, eh?"

"It would seem so…and they've dragged the princess into it as well."

"She is of little consequence. There is nothing they can do to stop us."

"And how is that? She's as good as killed the Avatar once, who's to say she can't do it again? What do we have that could possibly stop that mad woman?"

"An army."

"Your majesty," the courtier said, kneeling, "Admiral Calo has returned, and wishes an audience with you."

"Send him in at once!" Zuko ordered, his voice anxious, "I need to hear his report as soon as possible."

The man stood, bowed once more, then vanished into the darkness.

The Firelord fidgeted with his robe nervously. A few months earlier, several of his top naval officers had staged a coup, intending to restart the war while the other nations were still recovering. The assassination attempt had failed, however, and they'd taken a fleet of ships and ran. Admiral Calo had led the group assigned with bringing the men to justice, and Zuko was anxious to hear what had happened.

Admiral Calo materialized out of the darkness, bowing low before the throne. He was tall and thin, with dark amber eyes and a look of perpetual boredom on his craggy face. "Your majesty," he stated, his voice flat.

"I take it your mission was successful?" Zuko asked, struggling to keep his royal demeanor, "Have you brought the traitors back?"

"They fled quickly, Firelord," Calo replied, his voice disdainful, "But not quick enough. We caught up to them off Ember Island. The traitors fought to the death, every last one of them, but we suffered relatively low casualties in comparison."

Zuko breathed a sigh of relief, nodding slowly. Though the traitors had failed to kill him, there had been one part of their plan that succeeded. "Where there any signs of Azula during the battle?" he asked, narrowing his eyes.

Calo shook his head. "Not so much as a wisp of blue flame, your majesty," he replied, frowning, "From what our scouts reported, we don't even think she was with them in the first place."

The traitors had intended to put Azula on the throne, but when their assassin failed, that became an impossibility. Damn her! Zuko thought, before shaking his head.

"I thank you, Admiral," he said, graciously, "Make sure you and your men get some rest. Fighting your comrades couldn't have been easy."

"With all due respect your majesty," Calo replied, his eyes sparking, "Oath breakers are less than men. This job was a true pleasure." With a bow, he turned on his heel and walked off.

Once he was gone, the Firelord let out a deep sigh, rubbing his temples. Running a kingdom was stressful enough without his officers plotting behind his back. Now, he got to add Azula to his already long list of problems.

"You look troubled, my love."

The soft voice broke through his thoughts, and he opened his eyes slowly. "Nothing too terrible, Mai," he replied, smiling wryly, "I'm just tired, that's all."

"Then come to bed," she said wryly, leaning against the wall behind the throne, "I'm sure the Fire Nation can go one night without its Fire Lord."

Zuko's smile widened, and he stood slowly. "I suppose your right," he said, laughing slightly. He turned to follow her out of the room, the flames in front of the throne vanishing the moment he stepped out the door.

Later that night, Zuko was having trouble sleeping. He jumped from one nightmare to the next, each one more terrifying than the one before. Images of war, famine, and disease flashed through his mind. Through it all, the sound of Azula's disturbed laughing filled his mind, reverberating around until he could no longer stand it.

Sitting up quickly, he looked around, still in fear. The laughter had seemed so real, that his ears were wringing from the sound.

"It was only a dream," he whispered into the darkness while trying to calm his heavy breathing, "Only a dream…"

"If only that were so, Firelord Zuko."

The voice startled him, and he looked around wildly for the speaker.

"Do not be alarmed," it said again, seeming to come from within Zuko's head, "I wish you nothing but good."

"Who are you?" Zuko whispered, still looking around the room with wild eyes, "What do you want?"

"Who I am is not important," the voice replied, calmly, "And I wish to convey a warning. Those images you saw were not just dreams. They were glimpses into a possible future."

"What?" Zuko spat, his eyes widening, "You mean…"

"Your sister is in league with a very old, and very powerful spirit," the voice explained, sounding anxious, "If she is not eliminated, all that you have seen will come to pass; a world of never ending destruction and war."

Zuko closed his eyes, clutching his head in his hands. The dreams had felt so real, looked so vivid…

He slowly raised his head, opening his eyes only slightly. His voice was a deadly whisper as he asked, "What must I do?"

"Right there!" Sokka yelled, waving his arms, "That's perfect!"

The waterbenders he'd been directing sighed in relief. They'd been working on this building for hours, as their chieftain had been incapable of deciding just how he wanted it to look. The final result was a miniscule igloo-like creation, with one side of the dome taller than the other, and a crooked doorway.

"Absolutely marvelous!" Sokka yelled, nodding in approval at the terribly lopsided structure, "Thank you, guys!"

The waterbenders all acknowledged his gratitude, before leaving as soon as possible. They didn't want to be around if he decided to change his mind once more.

"How goes the building?"

Sokka turned, smiling brightly. "It's finished, Suki!" he yelled, pointing back at the house behind him, "I think it looks perfect!"

The Kyoshi warrior smiled, almost as if she was viewing the work of a three year old that had drawn her a picture. "It looks a little small," she stated, slowly, "I might make a few changes, but nothing major."

Sokka looked disappointed, but his mood improved when she kissed him on the cheek. "Everything's almost ready," he said, nodding, "Then we'll finally have a house down here in the South Pole!"

He leaned over to kiss her, but was interrupted by the sudden arrival of a young tribesman. The boy had ridden up on a polar bear-dog, smashing right through the tiny igloo that Sokka had spent so much time creating.

"Why did you do that!?" Sokka yelled, running toward the ruins of his 'house', "It was so beautiful!"

"My apologies, sir," the boy replied, looking surprised, "I didn't even see it."

Sokka glared at him, but Suki stepped in before he could do anything rash. "It can be rebuilt," she said, as much to Sokka as to the rider, "What brings you this far out of the village?"

"A message came via firehawk for Chieftain Sokka," the boy replied, handing a rolled up scroll to the man in question, "It has the royal seal of the Fire Lord on it, so I knew it was urgent."

Sokka unrolled the paper, curious as to why Zuko would be sending him anything.

"What is it?" Suki asked, curiously.

Sokka sighed deeply, turning to face the messenger. "Call the warriors to the market square," he ordered, rolling up the message slowly, "Tell them I need to speak with them."

The boy nodded, and rode off as quick as he could.

"The house is going to have to wait, Suki," Sokka said, walking away quickly, "Zuko needs my help."