It had been one week since Soliel had stormed out of the Spirit World. Neither her father nor Fate had spoken a single word as she left, nor had they tried to make contact with her since. Soliel refused to let her self cry, she would not allow herself to become weak. She had to watch out for herself, there was no one left who would. So she did the one thing she could do and threw herself into her training, pushing herself each day starting at dawn until she collapsed in exhaustion long after the sun had set. Her food would sit untouched for days in a row and not even Kabuto could coax a smile from her. The other Elites worried about how thin and sickly she was becoming, her once laughing blue eyes were void of emotion, flickering occasionally but only with sadness.

She was alone. There was not another being on earth who cared a lick about her. She was nothing more than a pawn moved back and forth by whomever had the most convincing argument. First it was the gods, then her own Father and now the Fire Lord. Every night she would slump against the balcony railing contemplating throwing herself to the courtyard below. The only thing holding her back was the reality of her survival. She'd fallen hundreds of feet from a mountain cliff before with only a few injuries, it was as though the immortal part of her refused to allow her to die, even when her mortality was begging for it. Each day that passed was of little consequence just as the one before it. She cared for no one, not even herself, and everyday she plunged a little deeper into the depths of despair.

It seemed as though Soliel would be the death of herself when one ordinary day the sun shone a little brighter. Soliel sat on the rooftop, eyes closed and mind clouded in spite of her attempts to meditate. She could swear she heard what sounded like foot steps on the ridge of the roof, but she considered her mind to be playing tricks on her for there was no one who would concern themselves with her. And yet they persisted until they stopped and a soft, familiar voice broke the silence.

"After all that has happened, you still insist on your stupid meditating."

Soliel looked up in disbelief,

"Mara?"

"Prince Zuko? Nephew! You have not been listening to what I have been saying."

"I'm sorry Uncle, I have much on my mind."

"None of which is setting a day to return to the palace I presume."

"Actually that's all I can think about. Just a few months ago I would have been overjoyed at the prospect of going home, but now I only dread what I will find when I return."

"You're speaking of that girl aren't you? There are worse things than having a concubine, Prince Zuko. It is a reality of many royals."

"You didn't have to see her face before she collapsed. Very few people have shown that kind of agony in a single moment."

"There is nothing more sobering than to see a proud warrior fall."

"Warrior? I'm speaking of the water tribe girl not some soldier!"

"Are you so ignorant as that Nephew? You told me yourself of the strength and dignity this girl displayed despite her cruel circumstances. She is a fighter, Prince Zuko, and a determined one at that. Why else do you think your father and sister were so eager to cut her down? She committed no crime except for representing the dignity and respect my brother and niece have never been able to command."

Zuko studied his Uncle carefully. There were not many times where he spoke out against his family. He spoke with conviction and sadness in his voice, as though burdened with regret for things he had no power to change. Zuko did have respect for the girl, he'd give her that. She'd stood up to his father even after being beaten to a pulp by his guards and was now being asked to stand before him, as a concubine. The very word gave the 19 year old Prince shivers. To think that men could enslave women for the sole purpose of using them for their sexual pleasure was revolting. He wanted nothing more than to free the girl and be done with her, but at least if she remained with him he could ensure her safety and well being. His father had never said he had to touch her, he had only sad she was there for his use. He would find her a quiet out of the way room in an unused wing of the palace and allow her to do whatever she pleased so long as she remained out of the way. They need never see each other, or even meet for that matter. The thing that scared him the most, however, was how quickly he had desired her. Even while bleeding and covered in dirt she was still the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. Her eyes, her hair, her voice, everything about her called to him as softly and as sweetly as a siren's song. He quickly pushed thoughts of her away. It would have been better if he didn't know what she looked like, but her wounds would have no doubt left her terribly disfigured and unrecognizable by this time. Soon she would blend in with all the other nameless faces that swarmed about the palace. Maybe he could return home after all, if he just played his cards right everything would work out fine.

"Uncle, tell the captain to set a course for the Fire Nation. It's time we went home."

"Hello Soliel, the gods know how I've missed you!"

"Mara! I can't believe you're really here, how did you ever find me?"

"Of course we found you! We could not stop looking for you, not for a single minute. It wasn't until the Masters gave us direction that we were able to uncover anything. I'm sorry it took us so long to find you, my what you must be suffering!"

"So you know then, about what's become of me?"

"Yes, I learned of it from some servant's gossip. There were rumors of the young and beautiful water tribe maiden who was summoned from her home to serve the Prince. They spoke of your valor and temper, and I knew at once I had found you."

"Please come inside, I wouldn't want the palace guard to know you were here. Where are the others? Did you come alone? Tell me how are our people?"

"I traveled with a small band of warriors until we made it to the Fire Nation. Once we entered the capitol city we broke up, so as not to attract attention. The Masters did not tell us much only that you had been abducted and brought to the Fire Nation Capitol. It wasn't until I reached the city that I heard it all. I'm not even sure that the other warriors know. Everyone in the Sun Nation is fine, they are missing their princess though."

"How can you call me your princess when you know what's happened to me?"

"I can because I know who you truly are. You are still my best friend even in this sorry state. We'll get you out of here and there will be no need to tell the others all the details. You can leave it here behind you in this god forsaken place!"

"If only it were that simple Mara."

"Of course it is, did you think I came all this way just to wish you luck? I came to bring you back! So much has happened since you've been away, and now it's time for you to come home!"

"I can't leave."

"Why not? Don't tell me they've brain washed you?"

"No, they haven't. But they did take away..."

"But Soliel we found him!"

"What?"

"Your brother. We've found him."