This day isn't like any other. The sun was shinning brightly, the wind was temperate and refreshing, the air smelled of incense and perfume, and the decks gleamed brightly from a fresh polish given just hours before. And here I stand, triumphantly gazing, anticipating, knowing that in a few short hours I will be home at last, and my misery has finally come to a conclusion. For at long last, the Avatar is finally captured.

I carry myself tall today. I puff up my shoulders and stand erect, my sharpest dress uniform conforming to my body. I feel an excited anxiety, so much so that I can't stop balling up my hands and flexing my arms down. I bite my lower lip as our gallant warship, flying all our colours, crashes violently through the calm western sea. After awhile I hear the clanking of iron as footsteps ascend the rails from below on the starboard side of the watch area. Around the corridor, walking in military fashion, a marine dressed in uniform and wearing a skull mask approaches me and clicks his heels together in an official manner and gives a salute.

"We have deployed the fore-running ship to announce your capture of the Avatar to the blockade patrol."

"Good, tell the captain that all hands must be on deck when we pull into the Capital in the morning."

"Yes, my lady." He bows.

"Oh, and bring the prisoner on deck from his holding."

He gives the same reply, bows once more, and opens the door to the bridge. I look out into the clear horizon, trying my hardest to see a speck of land, but to no avail. I sigh a deep heave. I guess patience will do some good here, I tell myself. A few moments later the boy who was found in the iceberg emerges from the brig. His hands and feet are shackled with heavy iron chains and he is dressed in the attire of a fire nation civilian. His eyes no longer have the gleam of rebellion but a sad glaze. I smirk to myself. "Going to try to escape again?"

"No." he answers in a meek and dry voice.

I go over to him. Almost in a comforting gesture, I give him my condolences. "I'm sorry about your Bison."

"It's okay." he says. His voice still maintains a dry air. "I thought it could have worked."

I pause a moment and pander my hands on the railing, trying to find the right words to say as he looks down at the floor. I hesitate at saying anything, but eventually I muster enough gall to break the silence. "I'll try to make sure when we arrive in the fire nation, that you don't end up in a dark prison with wretched food, all alone."

"Yeah..." he groans out, "I'll enjoy a lit prison with okay food."

My anger flares up. "Be happy I'm doing anything for you at all! I could have left you to die out in the ocean for all I care, the only value you owe to me is my redemption. So be glad I have the influence to make sure you don't rot away forever in a dank hole!"

He goes silent. "In any case," I continue "It's not like this is the end. There's so much that needs to be done for this war to end."

"You could stop pillaging and killing people and go back where you came from." he retorts sharply.

I bite my lower lip, holding back the urge to set his carcass on fire. If being at sea for three years had taught me anything, it was patience. "You know so little about anything. The rest of the world was forming itself against us. They saw us as a threat. Our warships and armies grew more sophisticated every year, so they feared us. They feared our power would become too great. The Earth King had given my great-grandfather Sozin an ultimatum of war. We knew your predecessor would align himself with the Earth King, so we betrayed him."

He stares as I continue. "Yeah, that may come as a surprise to you. The Earth King wasn't very good at revealing his true motives for war to his allies. And those few who did know the original reason have long since perished or died off. Now it remains a bloody war of attrition and partisan warfare that won't end until we find a way to make them yield. We figure if we have the Avatar, we can settle his qualm once and for all."

"And the monks?" he asked, "They seemed like a 'threat' for sure."

I had no answer. I knew as well as he, war crimes had been committed on both sides, and that all parties were guilty. "I know...and I'm sorry. Many thousands have died on all sides and if we can capture Ba Sing Se, this bloody war will finally come to a end. And the world can have peace."

"Peace for the Fire Nation, but nobody else. You talk of peace like it's something you can buy with your soldiers' lives. But if you had looked at anything of the people you eradicated, you would know that peace must shared and learned for it to last."

"Perhaps so. Regardless, the crown of the Earth Kingdom hasn't given us reason for peace. No offers, no refutes. He sits on his throne inside his high walled city while his people starve around him."

"Have you tried?" he yells.

"The only envoys that return are a head less than when they started." I reply dryly.

He seems taken aback, disillusioned almost. "I never realized how ruthless this conflict has been."

"But maybe the Earth King will listen to the Avatar."

He looks up. "I don't know if I believe that anything can be done. But I will try."

"You need to understand Aang, your intentions and ours are one in the same. All we want is peace." I see his face lighten up some. I am smiling myself, but not for the same reason. I see I can still lie and manipulate as well as I once could. I feel guilty about duping a twelve year old, but if that's what it takes to realize my country's ambition, so be it. I am princess first, I obey my lord, regardless of my feelings on the matter.

I take a moment and breathe before talking again. "Now I ask again. Are you going to try to run? Or will you agree to help us and cast off those chains?"

He nods, now with a stark sincerity. I take the key out of my pocket and undo the locks. He chains fall and clatter on the iron deck as he holds his chaffed wrists. He doesn't run.

"Guards!" Two men appear from the ship with swords unsheathed.

"Take the Avatar to my room and give him an extra uniform. I'd hate to see him in those rags."

"Yes, of course." They then 'escort' the newly freed prisoner into the depths of the ship.

"Everything is going according to plan.."

So that was Chapter 2. I apologize for not updating sooner, but...I've been enjoying spring break too much. Again, reviews are greatly appreciated. Ideas, critiques, etc. It's all good with me.