FELICITY'S POV

I hadn't been on Zhao's ship fifteen minutes before I started to regret this whole plan. He and Uncle Iroh were walking toward Zhao's private quarters talking about "the attack" when Zhao directed me to the room that would be mine.

When I walked in, two young women, who I think might have been the Joo Dee drop-outs, were there to wait on me hand and foot. I know most girls dream of being a princess and having ladies' maids, but I was never that kind of girl. For one key reason, princesses have to do as they are told. They have to be modest and graceful, but I'm rebellious,and I don't mind getting dirty.

These two women, who I later learned were named Lin and Lan, go figure, had a bath, clothes, tea, and food prepared for me when I walked in the door. That was all well and good until they tried to help me get undressed and then redress after my bath. One: NO! Two: NO! And three: Do I really need to say it? This took uncomfortable to a whole new level. I felt like I needed to bathe myself, AGAIN! It was all just way too Ba Sing Se for me.

After bathing and trying to dress me in the way too fancy clothes Zhao had bought for me, Lin and Lan tried to brush my hair and put it up in the "fire nation" top-knot. Only to have me pull it back down and braid it over my shoulder. The food was….well it was way too spicy, and the tea…it wasn't Uncle Iroh's. Honestly, I was just so ready for this to be over. The prim and proud life didn't suit me, and yet I am falling for a prince.

Falling? I'm not falling! I just like him a lot.

Oh, whatever! You're falling and you know it! He's kind, honorable, handsome, and no matter what you say every girl has wanted to be a princess at some point in their life.

I don't want to be a princess. I want to be a Jedi! And I'm not falling!

Denial in the first sign of love!

Stop it, just shut up!

"Why am I arguing with myself?" I finally asked myself out loud. "I'm going crazy!" Yet even though I was talking to myself in the mirror Jin and Jan or Lin and Lan, whatever their names were, were still poking and prodding at me with different jewelry or makeup tools, "Stop it, just grrrrr….. I will bite you!" I slammed my hands on the vanity.

They both jumped away quickly and Lin smiled at me, "But, my lady, Admiral Zhao wanted to be sure you received every comfort…."

"….and it is our job to make sure you look like a princess." Lan finished with her own smile.

They complete each other's sentences? Really? "Well, I don't want to be a princess, not Zhao's princess at least!" Once I realized what I had just said I couldn't believe I had actually said it.

They looked at each other before Lan asked, "Then whose princess…."

"….do you want to be?" Lin completed.

They asked again together this time, "The Banished Prince Zuko?"

"PRINCE Zuko! Banished or not, he is still your prince!" I hated that word, banished. "Your Crown prince."

"You really cared for him?" Lan asked, sitting down on her knees next to me.

Lin sat to the other side of me, "But he's dead."

He almost was because of me, "You don't have to stop caring for someone just because they are gone." I clenched my fist and pressed my eyes tightly shut. Luckily my guilt over telling Zhao about the pirates looked like grief.

"Don't cry, my lady…." Lin tried to comfort me.

And Lan soon followed suit, "….you will be alright. The whole Fire Nation mourns the loss of their Prince…."

"….but Admiral Zhao won't let anyone show it. He didn't like the prince very much." Lin handed me a silk handkerchief.

"Thank you, I'll be fine. " I didn't need it but I took it from her anyway. "Fine, but I'm not going to wear those goudy clothes Zhao bought. Do you have anything simple and white? We are mourning our Prince."

They looked nervous, very nervous, "But the Admiral will be angry!'

"Furious!"

"Good," I smirked. "Angry people are rarely wise."

They looked at eachother cautiously.

"If you find me something like that I'll let you do my hair," I laid my head back and swished my hair from side to side.

"I think that is a dress in one of the trunks with brocade silk," Lan jumped up and hurried over to the trunk in question and pulled out a sleeveless beige silk dress and matching pants. The dress had a high collar trimmed in muted gold and cream embroidery. Simple but pretty.

Lin ran to a wardrobe and tossed the doors open, "There are a few coats, furs, and a pair of sea-lion turtle boats. Perfect for the cold north."

"Well done, ladies!" I clapped slowly, "you can do my hair in that top knot, but leave most of it down. I don't want a Princess Azula hair-do, just half up and half down, alight?"

They nodded in unison. They seemed to like brushing my hair. To me it was just a thick head full of dirty blonde waves, but I guess for this world it was pretty unusual. On the upside, having your hair brushed is very relaxing.

I jumped when I felt something brush against my cheek, "Oh no, sorry, Lin, but I do my own makeup. I'm kind of picky about that."

I stood up and walked over to my new bed where my bag was setting, and pulled out my makeup bag. When I moved closer to the door I thought I heard someone walking around. Probably just a patrol, "Don't worry, if Zhao asks, you can tell him you did it, but this is the part of being a girl that I love the most."

While they finished with my hair I started with my face. Just then I would have sworn I heard someone moving around in the hall just outside my room, again. I looked up at the two of them, "Did you two hear something?"

Lin shook her head, "No, my lady…."

"….we didn't." Lan added.

Of course they didn't.

ZUKO'S POV

Zhao and Uncle were having tea together ashore, and while Uncle kept Zhao busy I snuck aboard. Felicity already had found me a firebenders uniform so I managed to follow the other soldiers that were carrying supplies for the journey north. Felicity had been right; Zhao thought she was going to be brought to him by the pirates. So he already had clothes and other luxuries that were to be brought aboard for her.

This had been much easier than I thought it was going to be. I used the patrols to find my way around the ship within a few hours. It was built just like any other Fire Nation ship, but finding the rooms Zhao had set up for Uncle and Felicity was the hard part. Uncle had a room on the office's hall, but Felicity. Zhao had her room on the same hall as his private quarters. I didn't like that at all. Why did he have her so close? What was he planning?

I could hear her from outside in the hall. I'll have to tell her not to talk too loudly or so freely. What if it was Zhao listening to her conversations?

All of the sudden I heard Felicity raise her voice, "Well, I don't want to be a princess, not Zhao's princess at least!"

Shortly after she said that, I heard another voice ask, "Then whose princess…."

And then another voice added,"….do you want to be?"

At first I thought it was one other person she was talking to. The voices sounded just alike and spoke almost in unison.

But when they spoke again it was at the same time, "The Banished Prince Zuko?"

"PRINCE Zuko! Banished or not he is still your prince! Your Crown prince," Felicity sounded angrier than before.

"You really cared for him?" One asked.

Then the other added, "But he's dead."

Felicity's voice got quieter to where I almost couldn't hear her, "You don't have to stop caring for someone just because they are gone."

I wasn't sure how she meant that, but I liked the sound of it! I couldn't hear them as well any more. They were speaking too softly and the ship's engines had just started. Uncle and Zhao must be on the ship already.

For a moment, I was so focused on trying to hear what Felicity and the other voices were talking about that when the ship began to move I lost my footing and almost fell.

Felicity heard me, "Did you two hear something?"

It probably won't be a good idea for her to know I was eavesdropping so I hurried down the hall and continued to patrol. I needed to find Uncle Iroh. If he was back on the ship he would know more about Zhao's plan.

It took a while to make my way back to the officer's hall, but as soon as I reached it I saw Uncle walking down the hall. I stopped next to him while he spoke.

"Our plan is working perfectly. Zhao doesn't suspect a thing." He assured me in a low tone.

I removed the mask plate of my helmet, "You didn't have to do this."

Uncle looked over at me, "No nephew of mine is going to stow away on a ship without some back up."

"Thank you, Uncle."

"Someone's coming," He lowered his voice to a whisper. "Stay hidden until we get to the North Pole, and the avatar will be yours. Good Luck."

Uncle left me and went to his room. I needed to find somewhere to sleep where no one would find me. It was at least a four day and night voyage to the north, and unless I found a good hiding place to rest it wouldn't be a comfortable voyage.

'Zuko?'

As I walked down another dark hall I heard Felicity pop into my head.

'Come on, fussy pants, where are you?' The more I walked down the hallway the louder her voice seemed to get in my head until I finally found her.

"You shouldn't be out alone, my lady. Admiral Zhao wouldn't like it," I said as I walked up behind her.

"Admiral Zhao can choke on the Ocean Spirit for all I care," She turned and smiled at me.

I tried not to laugh, "You shouldn't say things like that, my lady."

She took a few steps closer to me and slid one arm up around my neck, "Your lady, huh? I like the sound of that."

"I….umm…you shouldn't be so forward with a soldier, my…."

"Oh, calm down, fussy pants, I know it's you," Felicity whispered then laughed as she pulled the mask plate down.

"How did you know?" I caught the mask plate from her.

"Please, fussy pants, I would know your voice anywhere. Have you found a place to sleep?" Felicity's face changed from a carefree smile to concern.

"Not yet, but there is still a lot of the ship I haven't searched, and…." Before I could inform her on the rest of my plan we heard the booming sounds of someone yelling coming from one of the connecting halls.

"Well, where is she? I ordered that she was to go nowhere without a protective escort," it was Zhao yelling at someone.

"Crap, what does he want now?" Felicity complained. She stepped quickly away from me, and I slid the mask plate back into place. "Just play along, but don't say anything, ok?" As Zhao's voice moved closer towards us Felicity raised her own. "I don't care what the Admiral said, I'm going to see General Iroh and no one can stop me. Now leave me alone."

Zhao grinned as he came around the corner, "Ah, there you are, Lady Izumi…." Then he froze, grin fading, face reddening, "What are you wearing?"

"How dare you Zhao! Keeping me under lock and key as if you had any right to do so, and having your goons follow me everywhere I go. The only reason I'm on this ship is because General Iroh is as well, but don't think for one moment I won't tell him who is really responsible for the death of Prince Zuko!" Once the words left her mouth, Zhao's face turned hard and angry.

"Leave us, now!" Zhao ordered me and the other soldiers.

I had to force myself to leave her with him. I know Felicity was only doing it to keep him focused on her long enough to let me find somewhere to hide, but the last time Zhao was alone with her he tried to burn her.

'Just go, and hide! I'll find you.' She seemed to whisper in my head, and I reluctantly continued down the hall to find somewhere to sleep.

FELICITY'S POV

I knew I was about to open a huge can of worms, but if that's what it took to keep Zhao distracted and let Zuko find a good place to hide it would be worth it. Plus, I had more than just a bone to pick with Zhao about what exactly was going through his delusional mind when he tried to have me kid-napped.

He turned back to me after the hall was completely clear, "Why don't we talk somewhere more private…."

"No! We will not talk, you will just listen, and do not touch me. Not if you value your hands," I straightened my back and stared coldly up at him. "Do you know just how stupid you are, Zhao? I warned you from the very beginning to stay away from me, and what do you do? You keep pushing yourself into my path."

He tried to speak, but I held up my hand in protest then continued, "I know you sent those pirates to kid-nap me. I heard them say it, but they messed up. Zuko was still on the ship, and because you were so blind in your ignorance he is dead." I had to stop myself and turn away from him. One: because it would look as if I were in mourning for Zuko's "death." Two: I needed to keep myself from laughing.

He took this moment to plead his case, "You don't understand, my lady. Prince Zuko had betrayed the fire nation. I had to get you away from him before the Fire Lord found out so you wouldn't suffer."

"He betrayed the Fire Nation? How could he betray the country he was fighting to return to?" I jerked back around to face him, "You plotted the death of their Crown Prince. How do you think the Fire Lord will feel about that?"

"He was the Blue Spirit! Because of him the Avatar escaped!" He hissed down at me. "If not for that the Fire Nation would have had the Avatar and this war would already be won."

"Oh, Zhao, you have just proved how stupid you really are," I laughed in his face. What that overgrown monkey didn't know is I know this story better than he could even dream. "Of course the Blue Spirit was able to get the Avatar away from you!"

He stared at me confused, "I would watch what you say to me, my lady. You are on my ship after all."

I laughed at him even harder, "You are a perfect fool, Zhao. Do you honestly think Izumi is my real name? All I had to do was tell you some sob story about being in danger that day! Do you really think I would be separated from the Prince so easily? Why else would I have been there near the fort when the Avatar escaped? All you thought about was how you now had a chance to steal me away. You fell for it so easily, but now you've killed Zuko out of blind spite and jealousy. Did you ever stop to think I might be the Blue Spirit?"

He laughed once, "You, the Blue Spirit? Why would you have any reason to betray the Fire Nation? You are a skilled firebender and a citizen of the Fire Nation….."

"You moron! Why would the Nation's own Prince have a reason to betray it? Zuko loved his country, and he fought to return to it." I stared at Zhao in utter disbelief, and it was a rather good act if I do say so myself. "My name isn't Izumi, and I'm no citizen of the Fire Nation."

Zhao's smile faded as he stared down at me, "But there is no way you could be the Blue Spirit….."

"Is that so?" I chuckled and turned away from him, "By the way, Admiral, it really was a lovely speech you gave that night, but you got one key part wrong. Fire is not the superior element." I turned back towards him with an evilly, cunning smile as his face slowly drained of all color. "For example: what happens when you kick earth over fire, pour water on its flame, or even block off all air to that fire. It dies!"

As my words sank into his thick skull he struggled to find the words, "B…but you are a fire…bender."

"Yes, I am." I tilted my head to one side. "But I'm so much more than that." I reached into my coat and slowly pulled my evidence into the light. "You should have never angered the spirits, Zhao!"

His eyes widened, "How did you….?"

I held up the Blue Spirit mask and moved it in front of my face, "You will pay for taking him from me." In a smooth, counter clockwise motion I moved the mask away from my face again, "But don't worry, Zhao, I will not be the one to punish you. I warned you that your fate would be watery, did I not? My brother spirit will see to that for me."

I turned away from him as he stood there completely dumb-founded, and made my way down the hall.

As I walked away I heard him call out, "Make all the threats you want, Izumi, or whatever your name is. I will not be stopped, and before I'm through with them the waterbenders will never waterbend again."

Just to add to my creepy implication that I might just be a spirit, I turned around to face him, 'Is that so, Admiral?' I made my words echo inside his head, 'I wouldn't be so sure, if I were you.'

OK, so maybe I over did it just a little, but seeing all the confidence and color drain out of his face while my voice whispered in his head gave me more pleasure than anything I could put into words.

Now that that was done I didn't think Zhao would be coming by my room, and tweedledee and tweedledum could be easily locked out of my room until we reached the North Pole. Come to think of it with Zhao too freaked out to come near me, I had the perfect place for Zuko to hide.

ALICE'S POV – NORTHERN WATERTRIBE

"Ahh-choo," ewww, I hate the cold! That was the sixth time I had sneezed since I woke up this morning, and I think I chipped a tooth in my sleep from my teeth chattering so much. Why did I have to be a waterbender? Why can't I be a book bender? That would be nice.

"Wow, Katara is getting great!" Aang admired her as he sat next to me, "I'm so glad Master Pakku decided to train the two of you in waterbending." Just then Katara threw a kid to the snowy ground on the other side of Aang. "Ouch, that's gotta hurt!"

"Yeah," I didn't even look up, I just sat there staring down at the ground, waterbending lines in the snow, "Pain, love it."

"What's wrong, Alice? Aren't you happy you get to train in waterbending? Don't you think this is much more exciting than just learning how to heal?" Aang held his arms out towards Katara and Pakku as he showed her a form.

Once the question sank in, my inner gamer nerd jumped forth, "Honestly, what's so bad about healing? I don't know why Katara was so mad about just learning how to heal. I mean, do you know how hard it is to find a good healer in a dungeon raid? Impossible! And have you ever had to fight a healer? You think you've got them beat and BAM they heal themselves!"

"Uh, Alice," Aang just stared at me confused for a minute, "Are you ok? Did you have something weird for breakfast?"

Without thinking I blurted out, "Cactus juice."

"What?"

I laughed to myself for a second, "Nothing. How's your training going? I know you're the Avatar and you're a natural, but you are trying hard to learn right?"

"Uhh, yeah," He flashed me a goofy grin, "You know it!"

"That's right, Aang." I wanted him to know I was serious so I returned his goofy grin with a stern look, "I do know. That's why I'm going to tell you this. The Fire Nation is coming. They know that you are here."

"I know that," He groaned and laid back on the snow covered ground.

"No, you don't, Aang. They are going to be here sooner than you think." I stared up at the sky, "I'm not completely sure when, maybe tomorrow, maybe even today, but they will be here soon. You have to learn all you can before then."

"I know," He looked sad all of the sudden, "I just don't know what I'm to do when they get here."

"You'll find the answers," I patted his leg, "I'm sure of that."

"Really?" Aang sat back up. He looked happy and hopeful again, "Thanks, Alice." He smiled, but then went back to playing in the snow with Momo

"No problem." Well, at least I tried. Man, where was Fili when I needed her? She is way better at this kind of stuff, like talking to people.

I knew a lot was going to happen in the next few days, but honestly, all I could think about was seeing Felicity again. I knew that was selfish, but we have never really been apart for this long. The only thing I could do to take my mind off of everything with Felicity was by doing something that required me to focus.

"Hey Aang?" I stood up and brushed the snow off my pants.

"Yeah," He rolled over his pill of snow towards me.

"Why don't you and I spar a little," I held out my hand to help him up.

He didn't look all that interested, "Well…"

What would Fili say, "Please, I could really use the practice, and who better to practice with than the Avatar, right?"

"Ok, I guess you're right." Aang took my hand and stood up beside me.

Huh… that wasn't so hard.

FELICITY'S POV

The ship was pretty quiet. The only people awake were the handful of soldiers on guard duty and Zhao. Who was in his room trying to figure out if I was a spirit or just toying with his mind. I was listening to everyone at this moment. It was loud and pretty annoying, but listening out to everyone's mind let me know exactly where they were. It made it one hundred times easier to sneak around without being seen.

'Zuko? Can you hear me?' I wasn't sure if he had found a place to sleep or not. If Zuko hadn't I was just going to sneak him to my room, rebellious teenager style. It was really the perfect place for him to hide and both Uncle Iroh and myself could rest easy knowing he wouldn't be found. 'Zuko?'

'Felicity?' There he is, in the sixth hold where the food and water supplies were kept, 'What do you want? I'm trying to sleep…'

As he started to complain I opened the storage door, "How can you sleep in here?"

"What are you doing down here?" Zuko jumped over the crates hiding him from the view of the door. "What happened with Zhao?" He grabbed me and pulled me inside the hold then closed the door.

Oh, now he acts worried….Wait… "Why… were you worried?" I looked up at him for a moment.

He let go and backed up for a moment, "Well, I…I knew you could handle yourself so…why should I be worried."

"You shouldn't," I answered quickly.

"Alright then," He snapped back.

"OK!"

"Fine!" He growled then signed, "What are you doing here?"

"I was making sure you were safe, and that you found a place to hide. Now that I see that you have, I can sleep easy," I crossed my arms and said very matter-of-factly.

"Because you're worried?" He said in a somewhat sly tone.

"Yes," I nodded before I thought about it, "No!"

Zuko fought back a grin, "Yes, I found a place. Is everything alright with Zhao?"

"Oh, it's more than alright. I think I might have made him cry, just a little bit." I lifted my chin slightly.

"Right…"

"You don't believe me? My vast well of knowledge is terrifying, Prince Zuko," I poked his chest when I said his name, "You would do well to remember that. I am a force to be reckoned with. Nobody puts Baby in a corner!"

He just chuckled at me for a moment, "Whatever you say."

We stood there quietly for a moment longer until I finally broke the silence, "Well, I have a better place for you to hide."

"What do you mean? This is a perfect place to hide." He snapped back at me in defense of his hiding place.

"Yeah hiding behind the food, that people visit every day at least three times a day, this is the perfect place," I gave him my "really" look. Zuko crossed his arms and looked away from me. "Well, I have the perfect place."

"Where?" He looked at me from the corner of his eyes.

"My room," I smiled.

"What?! Felicity, Zhao would find me. Your room is four doors from his." Zuko looked down at me like I was crazy, which I probably was.

"Think about it, Zuko. If Zhao knows what's good for him, he will stay as far from me as possible, and in the words of Pippen, "The closer you are to danger the farther you are from harm.""

"That makes no sense, Felicity. Zhao doesn't know how to stay away from you, and the closer I am to danger the closer I am to harm. Who is this Pippen, anyways?" He seemed not to like my plan.

"Pippen is a brave hobbit who traveled with Frodo to destroy the One Ring!" I rubbed my forehead, "There is still so much you have yet to learn, my young Padawan."

"Don't start that again," He pointed his finger at me. "I know the story. I'm no longer a padawan."

I pushed his finger down, "Say you do, but know, you do not." My Yoda impression was getting much better. "Will you just trust me? I mean really, you'd rather sleep there?" I pointed over at his one blanket laying on the cold metal floor, "Or you could spend the night in a warm room with wonderful company? By the way, that company is me." I smiled again.

"Do you really think it won't put you in any danger?" Zuko looked over my head then back down at me with a sigh.

"Trust me, after the mental beating I just gave Zhao, he won't be coming anywhere near me if he has half a brain." I grinned evilly.

Zuko gave me a strange look, "You're really reminding me of Azula right now."

"I gotta hand it to Coo coo for Cocoa puffs," I picked up his bag, "She does know how to mess with someone's head, but Azula doesn't have anything on me."

"What are you doing? I didn't say I was going with you," He reached for his bag, but I shifted it behind my back.

"Funny, I'm sure you did," I smiled and picked up his blanket. "Let's go, fussy pants, we've got plans to make." I opened the door and started listening as I snuck down the hall.

"Felicity!" Zuko whispered behind me, "Felicity, come back here!"

'Hurry up, Fussy pants!'

I heard him growl then quickly and quietly ran to catch up behind me. As happy as I was that he was coming I was even happier to finally be going back to my room. All this listening was wearing me out.

THE NEXT DAY

The plan to keep Zuko hidden in my room was working like a charm. Zhao had made a point not to catch himself alone with me. Color me surprised! I guess you can teach an old dog new tricks. I didn't like that. Calling Zhao a dog is an insult to all dogs, everywhere.

Uncle told me that I had to still keep up appearances. There could be no doubt in Zhao's mind about Zuko. So that morning as requested, I met Uncle Iroh and Zhao on the main observation deck, overlooking the rest of the ship. Zhao and Uncle were already talking to one another when I made it on deck.

"This will truly be one for the history books, General Iroh." Zhao stared out over the sea as he spoke to Uncle, "Just think, centuries from now, people will study the great Admiral Zhao, who destroyed the last of the Water Tribe civilization. You're lucky you're here to see it."

"May he rest in pieces," I muttered under my breath. I knew they must have both heard me, but Zhao seemed to be trying to ignore me.

Uncle Iroh glanced over his shoulder at me, "Be careful what you wish for, Admiral. History is not always kind to its subjects."

Zhao smirked, "I suppose you speak from experience, but rest assured. This will be nothing like your legendary failure at Ba Sing Se." He moved towards the railing.

"At least he will be able to speak about it. You on the other hand….."

'Felicity! Please be more careful. We are still on his ship." Uncle warned me, "I hope not, for your sake."

'I know you're worried about me, Uncle, but don't be. I promise I know exactly what I'm doing! Psychological warfare,' I turned back to the door and walked back towards my room. I wasn't going to stand there and hold my breath. His ship or not, I wasn't afraid to show Zhao just how unafraid I was of him. Besides I had more important things to do, like getting supplies together. We were not going to have a ship for a while, and we were going to need everything I could get my hands on.

We were so close to the Water Tribes' walls, and they had already begun to attack. I hoped more than anything that Ally was somewhere safe from the fire.

I wonder?

I picked up my phone and dialed. It barely rang twice before there was an answer, "Fili?"

"Ally! Are you ok? Are you somewhere safe?" I pressed the phone tightly to my ear.

"I'm fine; Aang is fighting off most of the blasts. Are you on one of the ships?" She paused, "Wait, of course you are! You are going to come ashore when it's time right?"

"Yes, you remember everything that happens, right?" I asked her quickly.

"Mmhm, most of it, the really important stuff at least," She seemed sad all of the sudden. "Felicity, is there any way we can save Yue? She's a good person! She doesn't deserve this!"

"I know, but we don't know what we will change if we do." I took a deep breath and replayed every detail I could remember of the battle in my mind.

Alice sighed, "I know. I was just….just hoping…."

"I know," I sat down on the bed in my room. "If we do this we have to have all the turtle ducks in a row. There's no guarantee that it's ever possible. I would have to somehow talk Zuko into putting his two year long mission aside to help us."

"You can do it! I know you can," Alice squealed in excitement. "What do you need me to do?"

"Let me talk to Zuko and Uncle Iroh," I sighed hard, so hard I thought my lungs might give in. "I will call you back, okay?"

"Okay," Alice agreed, "I'll be waiting!"

She hung up, and I sat in silence for a nanosecond.

I started shaking. If I can do this… what else could I do? Maybe, just maybe not everything was set in stone. Maybe I could have a future here.

'Zuko, can you hear me? Zuko… I need to tell you something.'

…Silence…

.

..

…

The door to my room swung open. I nearly jumped out of my skin.

"What's wrong," Zuko bolted the door closed behind him and hurried over to me. "What do you tell me?" He crouched down in front of me and took off his helmet.

My chest was tight. Even though my throat was dry, I swallowed. I reached up, taking his face in both hands, "Everything."

It took Zuko a moment, "Everything?" Then it hit him, realization. His golden eyes widened,"You mean…"

"Everything," I nodded once. Shivers ran down my spine, goosebumps raised over every inch of my skin, it was hard to breathe, "I am going to tell you everything, and ask you something impossible."

"What?" He was confused, and why wouldn't he be? "Felicity, what is it? What do you need me to do?"

I closed my eyes, took a deep breath, and exhaled, "Trust me. I need you to trust me because I have to ask you not to try to get Aang tonight. I need you to help me, and work with him to stop a tragedy."

Zuko shot to his feet, "What!?"

I grabbed his hands, "Zhao is going to kill the Moon Spirit, Zuko!" He tried to pull away from me, but I held on tight, "It is here. The Moon and Ocean Spirits are here. Zhao is going to kill it to stop the waterbenders from ever bending again."

"You don't know what you're asking of me!" He jerked his hands away and turned his back to me.

I wanted to run after him. I wanted to wrap my arms around him, but my feet refused to move. My voice shook, there was no strength in it, "I do know. 'You will learn respect, and suffering will be your teacher.'"

Zuko whipped around. His eyes were wide with shame and terror.

"I know," I choked. "I'm sorry. I never wanted you to hear those words again. PLease, just listen to me. I will tell you everything." I force myself to move. "Give me this one chance to convince you. Whatever decision you make I will respect. Please."

I expected him to pull away from me again, but he didn't. Instead, Zuko clenched his jaw and nodded once. I wanted to know what he was thinking. I wanted to know so badly that my head began to thrum and throb in the effort to contain it. Despite the desire to reach out I refused. I wouldn't do that to him, not now.

I reached out and caught the wrist of his shirt, "Do you want to sit down, or…"

"No, just talk," He bit then slowly pulled out of my grip.

I felt it then. At that moment, the wall that we had spent months tearing apart one brick at a time just pulled itself back together and solidified.

"Alright, I understand," I stepped away. "You will be able to sneak your way into the Northern Watertribe through various waterways, and you will reach the channels of the inner city. Once there you will find Katara, Princess Yue of the Watertribe, and Aang to the hidden oasis. That is where the Ocean and Moon Spirits are. While Aang is connected to the spirit world you will battle Katara. Her skills have greatly improved, and she was able to best you temporarily. However, once the sun rises so will you. It doesn't take much for you to take her down and capture Aang. He is still connected to the spirit world and therefore unable to fight back. You then escape the city with him."

Zuko's whole body jerked, and he turned towards me, "I capture the Avatar? Really?" Shock, disbelief, and then relief flash across his face as he exhales, "How can you ask me to give that up when you know… everything? How can you ask me to throw away my chance at redemption?"

"There's more," I whisper. "I'm sorry to say, but I'm not finished."

He froze and said coldly, "Go on then."

"When you escape with Aang, you flee across the ice fields, and are caught in a fierce blizzard." I lick my lips, but it's no use. My mouth is a desert, "I don't know how long you are trapped there trying to wait it out, but eventually Aang's spirit returns to his body. Around that same time Katara and the others find you as well. With both Aang and Katara fighting against you, you are unable to win and are knocked unconscious. Aang refused to leave you there. He won't let you die, frozen in the snow."

I walked over to the table and put myself a cup of lukewarm tea. It's too strong and bitter, "They take you to the oasis. Zhao, Uncle Iroh, and a handful of soldiers soon arrive, and even though Iroh pleads with Zhao to turn back, to leave the spirits in peace, Zhao doesn't listen."

Zuko asked through gritted teeth, "That is when he kills the Moon Spirit? You want me to give up on the Avatar and help you stop Zhao," It was and wasn't a question. "Why tell me all of this now when you have been keeping the truth from me all this time?"

"The butterfly effect."

"What?"

"This story is already written," I anxiously run my hands through my hair. "If I change one thing, who knows what could happen. That is if i'm even able to change it at all."

"Why try then?" Zuko's tone was softer somehow. "If nothing matters and destiny is set, why try? Why ask me to help you?"

My clothes felt tight, like I couldn't breathe, "Because I…" The words stick in my throat. "Because…"

"Because, what?" He asked in a low whisper.

"Because," I reached into the empty space between us. Zuko was so close, two steps and I would have been able to touch him, "I.. I'm falling. Falling for you. When I told myself I wouldn't. There is someone set for you, and I'm not her and it hurts so much. If I can change this then maybe there's a chance that there is a place for me here… with you."

He didn't say anything for what felt like forever, "If there is someone else destined for me and it's not you, then what were you doing all this time? What was the point of standing next to me? Were you just toying with me? Why work you why into my…. Were you just trying to torture me?"

"No, that was never my intention," I shook my head, my eyes burning. "I never wanted to hurt you, ever. I couldn't stop myself from hoping even when I knew. I knew you could never be mine, but I hoped."

ZUKO'S POV

Why?

How?

There were so many questions I wanted to ask. There were many things I wanted to say, but all I could think was, why?

She cares. I know she does. I do, too. What does all of this mean?

There's someone else? Someone other than her? Then why is she here? If not to help me, be next to me, then why put us both through this?

She keeps pulling me in while knowing all of this. Why make me care? Why make me feel seen, heard? Why make me feel like I finally had someone that I didn't have to hide everything from?

It was all too much. From the beginning I knew that she would distract me, and now she was asking me to give up what I had been fighting for, for nearly three years.

But she wants to change things. With everything that she knows she wants to find a way to be here with… with me. Why didn't she just tell me all of this sooner? If she had, would I have listened?

I wouldn't, and I can't start now. As much as I want to, I just can't.

FILI'S POV

He was so quiet. I had no idea what he was thinking. I know all I had to do was look, but how could I?

"What happens next?" His voice after such a long silence was jarring.

"What do you mean?" I was almost afraid to hear the answer.

He exhaled sharply, "Does Zhao take the North? Am I left with nothing?"

"No."

"No, what?"

"Zhao doesn't take the North," I replay it in my mind, trying to picture every detail. "The Ocean spirit is enraged, grieving the loss of its eternal partner, and through Aang it unleashes insurmountable devastation on the Fire Nation Navy. That is until the watertribe princess, Yue, merges with the Moon Spirit. It gets really complicated after that. All of those lives, and all the distraction will be for nothing. You escape and confront Zhao, but he is dragged away by the Ocean spirit."

Zuko's breath quickened, "That's not possible." He grabbed a chair to steady himself on before finally sitting down. "I fail? Do I truly fail?" After a few moments Zuko looks up at me, anger radiating off of him "You weren't going to tell me any of this were you? You were going to let me fail? You knew that I wasn't going home. All this time you had been telling me I would go home with the Avatar, but you were lying."

"Yes, and no," I kneel down in front of him, but I don't reach for him. "I wasn't going to tell you, but I wasn't lying. You do go home. You go home with the Avatar, but I never told you when…"

"When then?" He didn't yell, but I could tell he wanted to.

"You go home once. I'm not sure exactly when," For the life of me, I couldn't recall how long they stayed in exile. "You are there for some time before you decide to leave again, but you will fully return home at the end of next summer."

"Leave again? Why?"

"I don't know if you are ready to hear that yet," I shook my head.

"You don't get to decide that," Zuko reached out and grabbed my shoulder.

It wasn't hard. I expected his grip to be crushing and painful. He was so angry. I could see it plainly on his face, but he just pulled me slightly closer, "Tell me?"

With a jolt and a bang on the door we were interpreted, "Felicity? Are you in there?" Uncle Iroh called from the other side of the door. "I have news."

"Coming," I called back.

Zuko stood up and picked up the helmet, and to my surprise he reached out his hand to help me to my feet.

"Thank you," I started.

"Don't," He stopped me, "This isn't over. Let him in."

I hurried over to the door, let Uncle in, then quickly locked it once more behind him.

"Nephew, I was wondering where you were," Iroh panted. "I have big news. Zhao says he has a way to stop the waterbender. He hasn't given me any details, but whatever it is, it can't be good."

Zuko and I shared a look before he put on his helmet, "None of that matters."

"Zuko…"

"It doesn't matter, Felicity," He snapped. "You are wrong! I will prove it. I will find him, and thanks to you I will know just what to do."

He pushed past me to the door, " And once I have the Avatar, I never want to see you again."

Iroh was shocked, "Nephew, how can you say that?"

"Save it, Uncle," Zuko glared back at me. "She knows exactly why." He slid the mask plate back into place before unlocking the door.

"No matter what you decide, Zuko," I tried to steady my quivering voice, "I will support you. I will always support you. Even if you hate me."

The only response was the slamming of the heavy metal door.

I gripped and pulled at my chest. It was too tight. Everything was moving too slow and I was moving too fast. My knees gave way, and the only reason I didn't hit the floor was because of Uncle Iroh.

He helped me to the bed. I couldn't hear a word he said over the rush of my too fast pulse in my ears. They were starting to ring. It was a high pitched sound that drowned out everything.

I fell over on my side, still clenching my chest, listening to the sounds of the catapults. There were still a couple hours until dusk. I wasn't sure what to do with myself until then, but lie there and wait.

I reached for my phone. I didn't have the heart to call Alice. I couldn't handle her disappointment. She believed I could get Zuko to listen, and I stupidly thought I could too.

I typed out two words. Two words that encompassed everything I was feeling at this moment.

"I failed."