Notes Before The Story:

Author's Notes: Due to family circumstances, all of my fics have been on the back-burner for a while. But I am back in full swing with lots of updates and stories that I hope to update regularly. I apologize for the wait for anyone following this! And, as always, I appreciate the reads, but more importantly, the reviews! Enjoy!

Full Summary: When Aang fails to defeat Fire Lord Ozai, he and his allies are thrown into a Fire Nation prison. Katara, Sokka, Toph, Suki, Zuko, and Aang all face a new challenge of learning who to trust. And with Azula running the show, Zuko finds that his sister has become more powerful than ever, and intends to use that power to break him. Will the gang escape the grip of the new Fire Lord, or rot in the Fire Nation prison forever?

Warnings for the Ratings: Language, Blood/Violence ("Gore" if you'd like to call it that), and Character Death. For the "older" and more mature viewers of the original show.

Pairings for the Story: Hints of Sokka/Suki and Mai/Zuko, but no prominent relationships.

Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar: The Last Airbender or any affiliated characters (etc). I only wish I did.

Special Thanks: To my amazing sister for editing and helping me turn this from a wild dream into a writable plot. And LOTS of editing. LOTS.

Chapter Five

A dark cloud of smoke blew across the back of the ship, but the stench of burned coal lingered on his senses. The scent was too familiar – something he had known for three long years. It mixed with the salt spray, creating a sticky odor that drenched the Fire Nation ship. Zuko sat on the bow, downwind of the fumes, meditating against the sunset. His mind focused on his breathing: breathe in…breathe out…breathe in…breathe out…breathe in…

And yet, it raced with thoughts. It was true – they had betrayed him. But hadn't that been because he had betrayed them first? Shouldn't he have expected them to abandon him?

…breathe out…breathe in…breathe out…

No, they should have trusted him. After all he went through for them…they couldn't even bother to ask him what had happened.

…breathe in…breathe out…

It wasn't like he enjoyed watching… He didn't want to sit there, to do nothing…he wanted to help them – to save them. Yet they had no problem leaving him for dead.

…breathe in…breathe out…

Eyes opened and topaz irises were highlighted with orange and red – a fire in his eyes. He breathed out, heavy and hard with exhaustion. It was too much like before – days passing slowly as his ship crossed the open waters, sunset after sunrise and sunset again. But this time, Uncle wasn't there – he could no longer give Zuko advice – perhaps when he needed it most.

"Sir," a crewman said behind him. "Our watchman said he can see the Isle of the Lotus just off in the horizon. What are your orders?"

Zuko didn't answer. "Your crew will be the decoy." So, the master plan was to let the crew take the fall in order to capture a few prisoners? To use them as he had been used in the past?

"Drop anchor," Zuko finally replied. "Once night falls, ready the boat so I can head to shore."

"Yes, sir," he replied.

The sun sank quietly and slowly over the wavering horizon, and eventually the fiery sky extinguished into a deep blue-purple night. Little by little, the stars awoke, gleaming brightly among the dark backdrop. The wind chilled, growing colder with the dropping temperatures. Finally footsteps approached from behind him, and Zuko stood to face the crewman.

"The boat is ready, sir," he said, saluting. "The captain has readied the elite crew for –"

"That isn't necessary," he interrupted, passing the soldier. "I'm going alone."

Wind ruffled his hair, tugging and twisting at his bangs and running its fingers through the rest. As the ship approached the island, Zuko could make out some of the landscape through his scope. Directly to the north, east, south, and west of the island, tall earth barriers had been made, clearly posted with an outlook on each wall. Between the walls, trees coated in cherry blossoms blocked most of the view, though he could make out the main village towards the wall he was approaching. Zuko steered south, the boat cutting through the water as it changed direction. Ice and rocks cut up through the surf, creating an obstacle course to the shore, but Zuko knew they wouldn't be watching this part as closely. It would be much too dangerous for a Fire Nation ship to make its way across the rocky waters – especially at night.

The ship reached the shore unnoticed. It slowed as it began to beach itself, but Zuko cut it sharply, heading for a cove just west of the shore he was on. It seemed to be the perfect place to land his ship: the cove turned into a slight cavern, just enough ledge to hide the ship from view. He lowered the anchor, and it caught on the rocky floor beneath it. Zuko jumped from the side, frigid water splashing up around his waist. It wasn't a far swim to the shoreline, and the water wasn't too deep. Sand stuck to his boots as he walked up from the ocean waves that crashed on the shore with high tide. Zuko quickly made for the cover of the woods, hoping neither lookout had spotted him.

He had made it on to the island. All that was left was finding them without causing an uproar.

~*0*~*0*~*0*~

A fierce sun broke over the cool morning waves and gleamed across the vivid pink petals of the lotus blossoms that shuddered in the breeze. Morning dew shimmered on top of grass blades, mimicking the ocean as they swayed back and forth. Toph yawned as she lazily stepped out of the house, moist dirt sticking to her bare feet. The breeze brushed her bangs, tickling her cheek as it wafted by. The sweet perfume of sea salt clung to the air, heavy but fresh compared to the cargo of the Fire Nation ship and the prison sewer. She walked down the path toward the shores where waves crashed across the sand and left seashells in their wake.

Toph sat on the beach and listed to those waves, gliding across the nearby shoreline, the breeze, rustling the leaves and lotus petals. A crackling came from above, and suddenly filled the air with tiny chirps. A smile touched her lips. For a moment, it almost seemed that the world wasn't in a state of crisis; she knew it wouldn't last.

She sat on the dune for a while, toes wriggling in the sand. Her mind drifted back to the Fire Nation prison, to Zuko trapped in his lonely prison cell. He was alone, probably dying – and wanting it. True, if he had any part in Aang's death, she'd like to be the one to kill him. But what if they were wrong? What if he hadn't? What if none of it was supposed to happen?

She'd like to smack that smirk off of Azula's , she couldn't see the smirk. But she knew it was there. She always spoke with a smirk in her voice – a smug tone crawling with lies. Of course she'd be smirking. Even if Zuko had taken part, it was Azula that had killed him. And she would never forgive her for it.

The sound reached her ears like daggers piercing that peaceful air. A shout – she knew that voice. Something was wrong. Toph jumped from the sand, almost slipping as she raced up the sun-dried path up towards the village. She came closer, a battle was going on. Sokka yelped and fell back to the ground, and the opponent suddenly fell backwards. But…impossible…she knew that voice, that gasp for breath as body met earth in hard contact. She stopped short, listening to the scene.

"You sorry bastard!"Sokka shouted, jumping to his feet. Zuko stood, duel broadswords at the ready. A blast of fire charged at Sokka and he dodged left, moving closer to the opponent. Another blockade of fire spewed before him. He tried to dodge but his footing fell in the loose dirt. Suddenly it vaporized as a shield of water nullified the attack. Suki approached, and Sokka stood, joining her as Katara blocked the flames. Blades screeched as steel met steel, the two colliding against each other. Suki jumped, a round-house kick barely blocked by the second blade. She bounced from it, the pressure of the jump landing her safely nearby. A quick charge; Zuko ducked as he blocked Sokka's swing. A quick blast of fire melted the nearing water-whip as Katara approached the battle. With a swift move, Zuko knocked scrawny legs from beneath Sokka, and jumped back from another attack from Suki. The approaching water was again lost as a quick flame shot from his hands.

"Why are you here?!" Katara shouted as Suki helped Sokka to his feet.

"Azula is missing some prisoners," he said. "She asked me to track you down."

"Is that all you are now?!" Suki said. "Azula's pet?!" Zuko gritted his teeth, charging the group. Suddenly, pain shot through his arm and he stopped in his tracks. Reflexively, he placed a hand over the wound, blood coating his fingers. He looked up, and Mai joined the group. Breath caught in his throat, and he suddenly felt like vomiting.

"Apparently so," she said, a twinge of hurt in her otherwise apathetic voice. "I guess he was expecting you to go without a fight."

"Like hell," Suki said, assuming a battle stance.

"Or were you expecting forgiveness?" Katarasnapped, a thin stream of water waiting patiently by her fingertips.

"Forgiveness?"Zuko said, fire burning in his stomach. "I don't need forgiveness. You're the ones that left me! You just left me there to die!"

"You expected us to rescue you after all you did?!" Sokka replied with venom. "It's your fault Aang is dead!"

Zuko hesitated. 'No…that wasn't my fault. I…I didn't mean… It wasn't supposed to happen.' Swords at the ready, Zuko charged at him, his feet and heart pounding like war drums in the summer other didn't hesitate; Sokka, met him full force, his Water Tribe club raised. The weapon swung downward, the blunt end slamming against the side Zuko's head. He fell, landing on the cold ground as dust swirled around him.

"You just sat and watched while Azula killed him," Sokka continued, hate fueling his words. Tears stung the corners of his eyes. "If it weren't for you, he would still be here! If it weren't for you, Aang would be alive!"

'It…I didn't mean for it to happen! I couldn't stop her…I…' He stood, dirt coating his clothing and took another charge. This time it was Katara that stepped in. Water whipped around him in a wave, thrusting him backwards. The attack soaked him, and mud clung to his skin. Zuko staggered back to his feet, readying himself for another charge.

"We trusted you, and you stabbed us in the back!"Sokkayelled. Metal clattered to the ground, and Zuko stepped back. "You didn't care what happened to us! You still don't!" Zuko looked down at his hands, trembling with the sudden realization as his heart skipped a throbbed heavily in his ear, racing with exhaustion. The sound flooded his mind, drowning out the rustling leaves and distant rolling waves. Eyes glanced back upward into piercing blue that struck through him like the coldest winter chill. He backed away, and ran through the bushes, his footsteps disappearing in the thick woods.

"Should we go after him?" Suki asked.

"Of course –" Katara began.

"Let him go," Sokka said, turning his back from the brush. "…He isn't worth it."

The three turned and headed back into one of the larger houses, leaving Mai's lingering eyes on the place where Zuko had once stood. Slowly, she turned and light hesitant footsteps followed the rest. Toph stood at the top of the hill at the edge of the battlefield, silent and unnoticed. Her heart felt heavy, full of rocks that made her feel sick. His footsteps had died off now, disappearing from her view.

~*0*~*0*~*0*~

Branches snagged at his shirt and briars nipped at his ankles as he tore back to the shore. Heavy breaths caught in his throat and tears stung at the corners of his eyes. They were right. He had betrayed them, he had just watched, he had let Aang die. Why would they rescue him – a traitor? Intentional or not, it was his fault! All of reached the shore line and waded into the waves that broke around weak legs. Perhaps he could just drown here – then none of it would matter. He sloshed through them, around to the cove where the boat waited. Weakly, he climbed up, dripping wet and cold as he landed on the deck. And he just lay there, not wanting to move. Not wanting to breathe.

Finally, the sun began to set, and Zuko sat up from his rest, still damp and chilled from the cove's shade. He inhaled deeply, closing his eyes and preparing his breath of fire. Hand came around his mouth and he exhaled, the breath cool against icy fingertips. Shivering, he tried again, but the breath came out as cool as before. Hesitantly, Zuko extended a hand, ready to create a small ball of fire. Eyes closed, and Zuko focused. Breathe in; breathe out…in…out… Eyes opened, shocked. No ember danced within his palm.

Suddenly he remembered: after he had joined Aang, he'd lost his drive to bend. The power behind that fire was gone, and his bending was weak. But…gone? It was as though that medallion from the prison had suddenly been attached to his back. Standing, he propelled his fist forward, nothing sparking from the fingers. Amber eyes gazed at his fingers with uncertainty. Zuko fell back downward, landing with a thud on cold metal.

Zuko realized that he had nothing left to fight for.

~*0*~*0*~*0*~