As it turned out, being the Avatar was not a valid reason to enter the great city of Ba Sing Se.

Apparently, being the world's only hope against the Fire Nation was not valid enough for the Earth Kingdom.

Honestly, Zuko was not surprised. Everyone always said that the Earth Kingdom was full of idiots, anyways.

Well, maybe Zuko was being too harsh on this kingdom of buffoons and morons.

Maybe, it was not a valid reason because there were around 15 other Avatars waiting for admittance. Their costumes were not even convincing, with the poorly glued arrows peeling off their heads, and gliders already collapsing into barely recognizable piles of cheap material on the ground. They could have at least invested in lore accurate material.

Oddly sharp sticks stuck out in odd places, and Zuko was convinced some poor soul was going to impale themselves on them. Some of the face paint was clearly rubbing off, and some of the fake arrows weren't even blue; some idiot decided the Avatar had a red arrow across his face.

Zuko didn't know how someone could look in the mirror and go, "this will get me in, for sure." He didn't understand how someone could leave their house looking like that at all.

Zuko shook his head, a frown tugging down his face. He should have known this idiocy would happen, this was Ba Sing Se- everyone and their mothers wanted to enter the great city. He should have figured some people would be desperate enough for fraud. Not that he could blame them, he too was faking his way into the city.

But face paint?

Really?

He wiped his palms on his shirt, the sweat making him uncomfortable. He stopped, and turned his hands over. Why were they so warm? He snuck a glance over to Toph, the closest person to him.

After his little outburst, the Water Tribe siblings were wary of him, so they took turns babysitting him. Usually only when the group slept, but unfortunately for Zuko, now was one of the times they decided he needed extra supervision.

Toph's hands were on her sides, flat against her clothes. She seemed fine, no indication that anything was amiss.

Maybe he was imagining things?

Zuko grabbed the collar of his shirt, and tugged at it. His hands were warm against his neck.

"You good, Mysterio?" Toph asked. Zuko turned his head towards the girl. She was facing downwards, her feet directly touching the ground. He didn't quite understand her method of "sight" but he didn't bother questioning Toph on how she knew. She just knew things.

As if sensing his discomfort, Toph snickered. "Your heart rate is extremely fast, buddy. Are you nervous or something?"

"No!" Zuko's voice cracked mid way through his sentence, to his eternal embarrassment. "Ah, I'm just…I can't believe we're going to Ba Sing Se. There's…It's the last stronghold. It doesn't feel… real."

"Eh, I know what you mean. Personally, I can't wait to show those wannabe Earthbenders some real bending!" She declared, as she huffed out her chest. "They won't know what hit them!"

"Probably a rock," Sokka coughed, before Katara elbowed him in the side. "Hey! It's true."

Zuko rolled his eyes. Earthbending was hardly the art Firebending was. With the mindless task of throwing rocks, Zuko's sure anyone could do it. Even Aang, for all his airheadedness, could throw rocks around. In fact, Zuko could throw a rock if he wanted to.

Sure, it wasn't with his mind, but it was close enough.

"This line is ridiculously long," Katara groaned. "But it's better than the deadly pass, I guess."

"Deadly pass?" What was she talking about?

"Oh, I guess you wouldn't know," The sentence coming from anyone else would've been..condescending. If Azula said it, there would be a sneer right after. Katara, however, seemed to genuinely consider his ignorance.

Zuko fought the urge to scowl; what this an Earth Kingdom thing? Would they assume he wasn't mixed if he didn't know this fact?

They couldn't find out who he was.

They couldn't.

"Uh. I just… forgot." He laughed, and the hollow sound echoed around his head far longer than need be. He knew he was fake, how long before they noticed too? "I know what it is. Yeah."

After all, wasn't he pretending to be someone he wasn't for help?

For safety?

...Because of his own cowardice?

He wanted away from his family, and what honourable man wants that? He was a sham, a fraud of a fire prince. He betrayed his country when he gave up on his family. They were Agni blessed, and he turned his back on him.

At the time, he was scared. Fear owned every inch of his body, with its brand marking his face. He was a weakling, and therefore, and had no place by his mother or his sister. How could he help them when he was like this? He was as useless as a third born son, destined to forever remain in the background, no grand future ahead of him.

His father had the right idea; no one wants a weak Fire Lord, and he would have been the weakest. All of history would mark down the Fire Lord who ruined the nation; Fire Lord Zuko, the Crowned Coward.

A small part of him argued that his situation was different- after all, he is doing this for survival, not for personal gain. Ba Sing Se is the one place he might escape his past, and no longer have to worry about it. It had nothing to do with monetary gains, like setting up a new business in the city, or social gains, like networking.

He is Li for survival, not for pleasure. He gains nothing from his suffering as the half-breed life did not boast great boons and treasures.

A part of Zuko longed for the silk robes and spicy food of his home. He did not enjoy the cold hardness of the Earth Kingdom. There was something dead and lifeless about the rigid way the people here lived their lives. Though, he supposed, that might be due to the war.

Despite their death mongering reputation, the Fire Nation breathed life into everything. In comparison, the Earth people were almost bland. If there was one thing Zuko could be sure of, it was their inability to change.

Anyways, wasn't their whole shtick being stubborn? Or something like that? It had been some time since Zuko spoke with his uncle, who undoubtedly knew the most on this subject. Water. Earth. Fire. Air. They all meant something, and yet Zuko couldn't bring himself to care. Nothing meant all that much these days, even death. Zuko didn't fear his own death. There was no point. After all, everyone died. Death spared no one, and even at the ripe old age of ten, Zuko began to understand this.

His mind wandered to his uncle. Pain ripped through Zuko's heart at the thought of his uncle. By helping the Avatar, Zuko was betraying his father-something he came to terms with-but he was also betraying his uncle, the next Fire Lord. If he stuck with the Avatar, he may come face to face with his uncle. A sick, excruciating feeling climbed up Zuko's body, slowly snaking its way from his head to his feet.

He could not stay with the Avatar.

He would rather die than fight his uncle.

He would rather die than betray his mother.

In the Fire Nation, life and death are sacred; when you pass, it is said your inner flame dies out, leaving your corpse a husk of your former liveliness. This was true for every person, firebender or not, so Zuko never thought too much about those old wives' tales. If it was something his Uncle would say, he immediately chalked it up to foolishness or nostalgic idiocy.

"We won't need to use the deadly pass! We're going to get into Ba Sing Se the easy way." The Avatar added, a small gust of wind spinning him around.

"Easy is my middle name," Sokka interjected. "Ow!"

Katara elbowed him, hard. "Trust me Sokka, you do not want to go around telling people you're easy."

"What does that mean?" Aang asked.

Katara blanched. "Nothing. It's not important, Aang. Sokka's just being an idiot again."

"Woah there, Katara. This brain of mine is 100% awesome, not idiotic." Sokka grinned, "You're just jealous of my mad skills."

"..."

"I don't think she is, Snoozles." Toph snorted. "I really don't think she is."

"Mad skills? Sokka, you can't even cook!"

"So? That's not my job!"

"..."

No one said anything. Even the chattering from the onlookers dialed down a bit, and only Katara's breathing could be heard. Zuko met Sokka's eyes, but quickly averted them. He didn't want Sokka to think he was on his side.

"Would you like to rephrase that, Sokka?"

"Uh, I didn't mean it like that! I swear-"

Zuko rolled his eyes at the Water Siblings' stupidity, even though a pang of something unfamiliar shot through his heart. As he watched the siblings squabble like idiots, he could almost imagine himself and Azula doing the same thing.

Almost.

He wondered what Azula was like now. Was she the same mean, evil brat she used to be? Had she changed?

He snorted.

Unlikely.

"Something funny Hotshot?" Sokka rounded on Zuko, his finger shoved into Zuko's face. It waggled a bit.

Zuko pushed it out of his face with a scoff, "I don't find idiocy funny."

"You don't find yourself funny?" Sokka snickered to Katara. By the look on her face, she was unimpressed. She had not forgotten his previous comments on cooking. "What? Did I say something?"

Zuko turned his head to the side, silently fuming. His chances of survival grew dimmer each day he traveled with the Avatar. One day, he would snap and murder Sokka. He did not expect to survive that encounter. However, it would be worth it.

"Next!" The lady at the counter called out. The people in the line shifted out of the way, leaving the front open for the group to advance to the counter.

They would finally enter Ba Sing Se.

He would finally be safe.

"And who are you all supposed to be?" The lady asked, his chin upturned in disgust. Zuko glanced briefly at Aang, and the clear Air Nomad markings that adorned his body. "The Avatar? I've already seen fifty-six of those, kid. Try harder."

Zuko's eyes widened. Judging from the way Katara cursed under her breath, and how Sokka squinted his eyes, and how Toph stomped her foot, they all realized the same thing: she did not believe them.

Zuko's heart rate sped up.

They were not getting in. He was not going to Ba Sing Se.

He was never going to be safe.

Aang cocked his head to the side, a bit confused. "But I am the Avatar."

"Honey, I've seen three year olds with better costumes. Don't buy the first costume you see, kay?" She scoffed. "Next!"

"Wait!" Toph reached into her pocket and grabbed a slip of paper. What that would accomplish, Zuko did not know. "You have to let us in. I'm a Beifong."

The lady looked the slip over. Her hands grazed the paper callously, but careful not to crumple it.

Maybe she would let them in.

She did not.

"Next!" She threw the slip back at them, and luckily Aang caught it.

"What do you mean next?" Toph demanded. "I'm a Beifong."

"And I don't care. NEXT!"

The people behind them started to push forward. "You heard her, get a move on!" The impatient wannabe refugees shoved the group out of the line.

It was over.

He failed.

All of this was for nothing.

They were not going to Ba Sing Se.

Zuko slowed his breathing because he knew he was barely keeping himself from exploding. The rest of the group was not faring any better. Toph's face was a murderous red when she muttered, "you'll care when I crush you." Katara was fuming, smoke practically coming out of her ears. Zuko thanked Agni she was not a firebender. As for the Avatar himself, he was devastated, a massive pout covering his face. Sokka's lips were upturned, which Zuko chose to interpret as annoyance.

"So." Aang rubbed the back of his neck. "I guess it's the deadly pass after all?"

Everyone, even Zuko, stared at the airbender as if he'd grown a second head. It was clear no one wanted to use that route (it was called deadly pass for a reason, and Zuko did not have any plans to die) but there was no other options for entry.

Was dying worth the fleeting chance of safety in Ba Sing Se?

Zuko did not need to think on it, he knew his answer was yes.

"When do we leave?" He sighed, his fingers pinching the bridge of his nose in a futile attempt to mitigate the impending headache. "I want to get this over with as soon as possible."

Despite everything, something akin to happiness filled Zuko's weak heart during the journey along the pass. He mentally applauded himself for managing to somewhat join the Avatar's little group when he saw the serpent, and he congratulated himself when they made it to the other side.

Something struck Zuko as odd during the trip. The group did not hesitate to help the other family across the Serpent's pass, even though they were admittedly weaker and a burden. Zuko knew most of his family would never concern themselves with such weaklings, especially his father. A voice in his head whispered for him to leave them there, but Zuko was no idiot; he did not vocalize his thoughts.

Compassion was weakness, but who was he to call the Avatar weak?

Zuko knew nothing of strength.

But perhaps…his family did not know the depth of true strength as well as Zuko initially thought they did.

When they entered Ba Sing Se, Zuko felt rejuvenated. There was a newfound energy in his steps, and a newfound love for the world coursing through his veins. For once, he was happy. This reminded him of the long gone feeling of feeding the turtleducks with his mother.

The city air smelled like life, and sewage, but mostly life.

Finally, he had a new start.

The war did not touch Ba Sing Se. He was finally safe. For most of his life, he had been a failure. First with firebending, and his composure, and finally his overarching story. Prince Zuko was a failure, the wrong heir. His life meant nothing, he was another anecdote in some history book to be written in one hundred years.

Li, however? He was a random Earth Kingdom citizen. There was nothing remarkable about him besides the scar given to him during the war. He was nobody.

He did not need to be anybody.

Zuko…Li could just exist.

Zuko turned to the Avatar's group. He knew this would be the last time he ever saw them. They were on a mission, and while Zuko was grateful they brought him this far, he was not someone strong enough to face off against the Fire Nation. He did not think he even could. He was leaving them here.

"So." He stated, the air around him growing a bit awkward. "This is the part where I, you know, leave. Forever. Never to see you guys again."

All of them blinked at him (Toph blinked in his general direction).

"So," Zuko continued. "I hope you guys do not die. That would suck. Bye."

"...That's it?" Sokka broke the silence. "You're leaving?"

"I never wanted to stick around," Zuko said. "Besides, I am not going to fight the Fire Nation. I'm done with the war."

"I bet it's nice," Katara hissed. "Just quitting when you feel like it. Some of us don't have that luxury."

Zuko rolled his eyes. He understood the fact that the Avatar himself was the last survivor of a genocide, and that this war cost him his people. He even understood that both of the Water Tribe siblings lost their parents to this war, even if only their mother was outright killed by Fire Nation troops. However, he had no stake in the war. He was Li, not Zuko, and he lived in Ba Sing Se.

He was safe.

"I never said I would fight in the war." Zuko stated. He was not the villain here, just another faceless citizen. There would be no stories on how he slayed the great evil from the Fire Nation, there would be no information on him. "But thank you for the journey."

Toph shrugged. "I didn't think you would stick around this long, Mysterio. To be honest, I thought you would chicken out before the Serpent's pass."

She put her fist out towards his general direction, and Zuko hesitantly reached his own fist out to meet it.

"Thanks…?" Zuko replied, unsure of the intent behind that rather backhanded compliment. Was Toph calling him a coward?

"Maybe we'll see you around, Li!" The Avatar chimed in, a cheery exterior masking what Zuko knew to be an overstressed child longing for his home. Aang reminded Zuko of someone he knew, but he could not quite place who. "You never know. Heh."

Sokka rolled his eyes. "I don't know about you, Aang, but I personally have no plans of visiting the sewer. Which, you know, is where Li is going to end up living."

A loud flare of annoyance shot through Zuko before he clamped down on it. "I'll make sure to send you some postcards."

Katara broke her self imposed silence. "While I do not know how you can just quit, especially considering your…blue activities, I respect you enough to part on good terms. If you decide you want to help out, I'm sure you can find us. Do the right thing."

Zuko snorted.

Unlikely.

"So. Yeah. Um. Bye."

With that, Zuko walked off. An anti climatic finish to his story with the Avatar, and an even more anti climatic end to Prince Zuko.

He giggled a little. Prince Zuko was finally dead, a nobody inhibiting his corpse.

The world should rejoice. Zuko knew he was.