Zuko stood on the ship's shore, the sound of waves hitting the hull and a gentle breeze caressing his face. The wind tousled his hair as he lost himself in thought, gazing at the moon in the black sky, shining like a lantern guiding sailors. His mind replayed the events in Ba Sing Se over and over. The betrayal of his uncle and that girl from the Water Tribe weighed heavily on him. Although it wasn't the same guilt he felt towards his uncle, he could still sense the discomfort, particularly because of their last conversation before he chose to side with Azula. Now, he was returning to the Fire Nation—returning home. After four years, he would see again the land of his birth and his father. He had spent that time wishing for a return, hoping for his father's forgiveness so he could proudly stand by his side. Yet, he had failed to capture the Avatar as promised, leaving him feeling incomplete.

"Aren't you cold?"

He turned to see Mai standing beside him.

"My mind is busy," he replied. "It's been a long time—more than four years since I was expelled. What has changed? What has changed in me?"

Indeed, four years had passed, and he believed he was not the same. At thirteen, he had left the Fire Nation with the sole purpose of capturing the Avatar, but now, at seventeen, he felt a void within him.

Mai made a bored expression, faking a yawn as if she didn't care much about the young prince's worries.

"I just asked if you were cold, not for your life story."

Zuko tried to dismiss her indifference, but it irritated him. How could she understand? She hadn't been expelled or branded by her own father. A strong repulsion toward her welled up inside him.

Mai approached him, hugging him from behind and resting her head on his shoulder. She placed one hand on his shoulder and used the other to tilt his face toward hers. Mai was tall, almost his height.

"Don't worry, Zuko," she said, attempting to distract him from his sorrows. But it was clear she was avoiding the topic because she didn't want to know about his troubles. Without further ado, she leaned in to kiss him.

Zuko felt her breath, the scent of Mai enveloping him as her lips neared his. He closed his eyes, preparing to embrace the kiss, but just then, the image of a pair of blue eyes flashed in his mind. He turned away, causing her to kiss his cheek instead. Mai opened her eyes in surprise at the unexpected contact.

"I'm sorry, Mai. I don't feel that way," Zuko said bluntly.

Offended by the prince's rejection, Mai fell silent and stepped back, visibly upset.

Why had he thought of her?

He had been honest with her—he had shared things he had never spoken of with anyone else, including his mother. In return, she had confided in him as well. It seemed they had built a mutual trust. The young waterbender had chosen to help him heal his scar, and he believed she did not act out of pity. For some reason, he thought it was in her nature to be noble, despite having witnessed her fury and determination in the past. Still, her gesture did not go unnoticed by the prince.

He recalled the encounter with the Avatar. After Azula killed him, they had fled on the flying bison, pursued by the Dai Li warriors in Azula's service. All Zuko knew was that they were bringing the waterbender back with them.

Azula hadn't killed her; she understood the girl would be a valuable source of information for later use in the Fire Nation. Zuko hadn't shared anything with her. He remembered seeing her bound and unconscious, tears staining her face. Just one more prisoner for the Fire Nation.

In the ship's cells, the Dragon of the West sat meditating with his eyes closed. In another cell, the waterbender sat in a similar position, her slow breathing echoing as if she were practicing calming techniques.

"It will be very hard for you when we get to the Fire Nation," the former general said.

"I'm not afraid of what awaits me there."

He felt a swell of pride at the young woman's bravery. The Water Tribe were people to be admired; no matter how difficult the circumstances, their determination remained unwavering.

She smiled.

"Are you disappointed?" Zuko asked.

The former general understood what the waterbender was referring to.

"He is free to choose his own path."

Katara opened her eyes and looked at the former general. She sensed his disappointment. Something inside her knew that Zuko wasn't as bad as she had always believed. Although she hated him for always pursuing them, she could feel the desperation that radiated from him in his quest for the Avatar. She had never understood why he was so desperate, but after their conversation, she realized his true intentions and found that she could truly understand him. Yet, she couldn't forgive him; in a way, she felt betrayed when he chose to side with her sister.

"I'm sorry about what he did to your friend," Iroh said after a moment.

"It wasn't your nephew who did it," she replied, clenching her fists as memories of Azula's actions flooded back. With great willpower, she held back the tears that threatened to fall.

That day, she thought she could save Zuko. Almost instantly after her wound had healed, Azula's earthbending warriors had found them and attacked Appa. Katara had known they would be caught. Without hesitation, she had jumped off the bison and, using her waterbending, faced the warriors. Sokka had tried to follow her, but Toph stopped him. In the end, she was captured, but she didn't care—that was what she wanted.

"I hope you know what you're doing, princess," Iroh had said as she prepared to fight.

In the Fire Nation, the twin elders announced with jubilation the events surrounding the princes, the fall of Ba Sing Se, and the Avatar. Azula was named first, and then Katara heard her own name. She had to admit her heart raced as she walked toward the balcony to stand before the Fire Nation warriors. For many years, she had wished for this moment, hoping to return and be received in such a way. Yet, instead of satisfaction, she felt something entirely different.

Zuko sat in the garden, facing one of the ponds, tearing pieces of bread to feed the duck-turtles that eagerly approached him.

"Why are you so down, brother? Has Mai failed to please you?" Azula asked, approaching him.

Zuko shot her a look of disgust. He wanted nothing to do with Mai, even if she seemed to be getting the wrong idea.

"Dad hasn't seen me since I arrived," he said angrily. Three days had passed. Hadn't he returned to regain his honor and finally earn his father's recognition? Wasn't that what he wanted? Hatred churned within him.

"And so what?" Azula replied.

"I couldn't capture the Avatar."

"What does it matter if the Avatar is dead?" his sister said reproachfully. "Unless… the Avatar managed to survive."

Zuko's eyes widened slightly at her words. He involuntarily recalled what the waterbender had told him about the special powers of her water and her plan to heal his scar. Did she…?

"No," he said confidently. "There's no way he could have survived."

It was impossible to survive a lightning strike. Even the Avatar wasn't immune to that. He looked steadfastly into his sister's golden gaze, suppressing the slight discomfort he felt inside. Azula didn't notice.

"Well," she said finally, "if that's the case, you have nothing to worry about."

Without further ado, Azula left, leaving her brother with doubts. That same night, Zuko received a call from his father. Although he had longed for this moment, uncertainty now clouded his mind.

In a cell inside the palace, loud lashes echoed, punctuated by faint moans after each blow. No pleas or tears followed—nothing.

"She sure is persistent," one of the men said, approaching the waterbender. "Just tell us what you know, and we'll end this."

In response, she spat at him.

"He didn't say anything?" Azula asked from outside the room.

"No, princess. She refuses to speak."

Azula peeked inside. The first thing she saw was the waterbender's bleeding back, and a smile crept onto her face.

"Keep whipping her," she ordered, continuing on her way. She left the basement and entered the habitable part of the palace, where Ty Lee hugged her tightly.

"Hello, Azula!" Ty Lee said with her characteristic cheerfulness, which often annoyed the princess.

"What are you doing here, Ty Lee? I thought you'd be home."

"Well, it's boring there. I went to see Mai, but I didn't find her. I'm sure she's with Zuko."

"Yeah, maybe," Zuko replied, indifferent to what Mai and his brother were doing.

"You know, it's great that Zuko is back. Now he's going to become the Fire Lord, and Mai will likely become the Fire Lady," Ty Lee said, her voice bright with excitement.

Even though Ty Lee didn't mean any harm and spoke with genuine happiness, Azula did not receive the news well. It stung, but she couldn't deny its truth. Zuko was indeed his father's successor again, and foolish Mai would probably marry him. Zuko couldn't lead the Fire Nation; he hadn't even captured the Avatar. It was Azula who had conquered Ba Sing Se. Until that moment, she hadn't considered becoming the sovereign of the Fire Nation, but the thought was tempting. She needed to find a way to make it happen.

"Azula? Are you listening to me?" Ty Lee demanded.

"Not really. If you'll excuse me, I'm going to see my father and tell him what happened in Ba Sing Se."

A smile graced Ty Lee's face; she knew exactly what Azula intended to do.

The symbol of fire stood before Zuko. Behind that door, his father awaited him. He had been called at last. Would his father acknowledge him as his son? Would he restore his honor? Would he despise him for not capturing the Avatar? He took a deep breath, exhaling all his worries, and opened the door.

He stepped into a long, wide hallway adorned with red pillars and the Fire Nation banner. In the background, a row of flames flickered, and behind those flames stood his father.

Zuko bowed to him.

"You were away for a long time," his father said, his voice huskier than Zuko remembered. "I can see that the weight of travel has changed you." If Zuko didn't have the scar, he would have looked just like him. He was now a man, certainly taller than his father. "You have corrected your mistake, my son."

The Fire Lord approached his firstborn. Zuko raised his gaze to meet his father's.

"Welcome home."

Those words fell like stones in a pond, slowly sinking until they hit the bottom, leaving only murky water on the surface. He had waited so long for this moment, to be welcomed and acknowledged by his father, yet he felt a great emptiness. Was this really his home?

"I was very proud of you, Prince Zuko," his father continued, his flattery pouring over Zuko like a heavy cloak. "I am proud because you and your sister conquered Ba Sing Se."

It was Azula who had achieved that conquest, Zuko reminded himself.

"I am proud when your traitor uncle—" A sharp pang hit Zuko's chest at his father's words. "—proved your loyalty. You did the right thing."

Was it really the right thing to do?

"And you captured the traitor."

The look of disappointment on his uncle's face flashed through Zuko's mind. Somehow, he didn't see him as the traitor his father claimed; instead, Zuko felt like the traitor.

"And what I'm most proud of is your most legendary achievement. You destroyed the Avatar."

If his father had been standing in front of him, he would have seen the incredulous expression on Zuko's face. Destroy the Avatar? Did his father truly believe he had destroyed the Avatar?

"What did they tell you?" Zuko asked.

"Azula told me everything. You surprised and amazed her with your power and ferocity at the moment of truth."

Zuko remained silent. What had Azula done? He had no idea what was going on; why had Azula lied? Leaving the Fire Lord's hall, he made his way to his sister's room. Ignoring the fact that she was likely sleeping, he burst in.

"Why did you do it? Why did you tell our father that I killed the Avatar?"

Azula sat up indifferently, looking reproachfully at her older brother. "You seemed so worried about how Dad would treat you for not capturing the Avatar that I thought if I told him you killed it, you wouldn't have anything to worry about anymore."

"Why did you do it?" he pressed.

"Take it as a gesture of generosity."

"You lie." Zuko knew his sister well; she never offered "generosity" without a hidden agenda. If she had done this, it was for a reason.

"Please, Zuko, what could I possibly gain by letting you take all the credit for killing the Avatar? Unless… the Avatar is still alive. Then all the glory would turn to shame and dishonor."

Therein lay her true intentions. Azula wasn't sure the Avatar was dead, and so she placed the responsibility on him.

She could see the conflict on her brother's face. The trap was set; this way, she could eliminate him and secure her place on the throne. It was easy for her to manipulate Zuko.

"So you don't think badly of me, I'll tell you who can remove that doubt."

Zuko hesitated. "What do you mean?"

"The waterbender."

"Her?"

"She fled with the Avatar when we attacked him, though she was later captured. She's the only one who can confirm whether he's really dead or not."

Katara. He hadn't thought about her until now.

"What have they done to her?" he asked.

"Nothing she didn't deserve. We've been trying to extract information from her since she arrived, but she's very stubborn."

Zuko knew the methods the Fire Nation could use to extract information. A cold sweat covered him.

"She's still alive if that's what you're wondering," Azula said, anticipating her brother's thoughts. "But I don't know for how long. Although, truthfully, it may not be in your best interest for her to continue living."

"What do you mean?"

"Think, Zuzu. She's the only one who knows it was me who actually killed the Avatar. If she talks, what do you think our father will say? Or worse yet, what if he learns that the Avatar is alive?"

Zuko's expression shifted from surprise to anger.

"You were the one who decided to say that I killed the Avatar! Now I have to bear the brunt of your mistakes!?" he yelled.

"I've already told you, little brother, I only wanted to do you a favor. That water rat stands in the way of your gaining our father's trust. It's your decision what you want to do."

Zuko didn't say anything else and left his sister's room. Azula laughed, amused. No matter what decision Zuko made, she knew he wasn't entirely sure. She was also certain that the Avatar wasn't dead. If someone revealed that the Avatar was alive, it would bring her dishonor. Besides, she could enjoy seeing the waterbender suffer. Though she didn't fully agree with their father's decision regarding Katara, if Zuko killed her, it would be perfect; their father would remain upset with him.

Fuming, Zuko strode through the palace halls. His sister had put him in a difficult position. If she claimed he had killed the Avatar, why had she brought someone who could disprove her? What was he thinking? Frustrated, he turned and headed to the basement, certain they had the waterbender imprisoned there.

He descended the stairs and made several turns through the gradually narrowing corridors until he reached the guard's indicated location. Oddly, there were no guards at the entrance. He paused, opened the door, and was shocked by what he saw.

Illuminated only by the dim light of torches, Katara knelt, all her weight supported by raised hands bound in shackles and thick chains. Her back was to him, marred by deep, bloody whip marks. The sight was horrifying. Zuko felt a wave of nausea. Had she endured this for three days?

He approached her slowly, kneeling to her level. He noticed her bare back and, though her long hair covered her chest, he felt no shame at the sight—only concern for her battered body. Her eyes were closed, her face resting on one arm, and her breathing was slow, suggesting she might be asleep. He wanted to touch her, but the sound of voices interrupted his thoughts.

"Prince Zuko, what are you doing here?" one of the soldiers asked.

"That's none of your concern," he snapped, an unexpected surge of hatred for them welling up inside him. He had every right to see his prisoner, didn't he?

"I'm sorry, your highness," the soldier replied, head bowed.

"Did she say anything?" Zuko inquired, his earlier anger giving way to doubt.

"No, your highness. She refuses to speak."

Zuko glanced back at Katara. The marks on her back were evidence of their brutal attempts to extract information from her. Her determination and loyalty seemed unbreakable. Still, he disliked seeing her in this state. He turned back to the guards, fury igniting again.

"What are you doing here? Are you here to torture her?" He felt their presence was unnecessary if they weren't gathering more information.

"Aren't you here for that?" one of the soldiers replied.

Katara's soft voice surprised everyone. "Your sister is tired of spanking me and now she sends you?"

Zuko was at a loss for words. Had Azula truly been torturing her? Had she left her in this condition?

"Your highness," one of the soldiers said, "we received orders to take you to another room."

"Where?" Zuko asked, a mix of doubt and anger coursing through him. Were they planning to move her somewhere else to continue the torture? The thought infuriated him.

"We're not sure, but it seems the Fire Lord requested us to take her to one of the rooms in the east wing."

He was taken aback. The royal family's rooms were in the east wing. What was his father planning?

"Tell me where she is. I'll take her myself," he demanded, firm in his resolve. He wouldn't leave her alone with these men; he didn't trust them. If they had tortured her, he knew they could do worse.

One of the men hesitated, but another silenced him. "As you command, your highness. We will escort you there."

They released her chains, and as she started to fall, Zuko caught her, cradling her against his chest. One of the soldiers stepped forward, offering a robe to cover her.

They walked in silence. Katara didn't say a word the entire way. Her arms were around his neck, and he could feel her light breathing. He glanced at her face; she seemed to be sleeping. He remembered her capabilities—how she had escaped him before. Yet, at that moment, her battered body and dirty face revealed the toll of her suffering. He glared suspiciously at the guards, cursing Azula under his breath. He understood that she was a prisoner of war, but there had to be limits.

One of the guards stopped in front of the room that was supposedly her new prison.

"Wait outside," Zuko ordered. The men had no choice but to comply, lingering in the hallway.

Upon entering, Zuko was surprised by the luxury of the room. It was spacious and well-decorated, but the balcony had bars. Why had they moved her to this room? He turned back to Katara and gently placed her on the bed. She let out a soft moan of pain.

"I'm sorry," he whispered. But she heard him and opened her eyes for the first time since he had carried her.

For just an instant, their eyes met. Her blue gaze shone brightly, even through the dirt and disarray of her hair. Despite everything, he saw beauty in her.

"What an honor for the prince to escort me to my new prison," she said, her voice heavy yet laced with arrogance.

He looked down, shame washing over him as if he had done something wrong.

"I want to ask you a question," he said.

She looked up at him, skepticism in her gaze. "Do you really want to ask me something?"

It was obvious she wouldn't answer him—otherwise, she wouldn't be in this state. Still, he pressed on.

"The Avatar, is he alive?" His golden gaze fixed on hers, desperate for an answer.

They sat in silence, concern and determination reflected in both their eyes. Zuko waited for Katara to speak, but her lips remained sealed. She looked away, struggling to sit up despite the pain radiating from her back. Instinctively, he reached out to help her, but as she adjusted her robe, it slipped, revealing her chest. Zuko quickly turned away in shame, and she covered herself, a clear sign of her vulnerability. Yet she was still resolute.

"Why do you want to know?" she asked, her voice steady despite her condition.

"But you're a waterbender. The water you used to heal my scar—you used it on him, didn't you?" He stood up, distancing himself, uncomfortable being so close.

"What did you feel?" she pressed.

"What do you mean?"

"When I said I could heal your scar. Even though I was your enemy, I decided to help you. What did you feel then?"

Zuko looked away, unsure how to respond.

"Why did you want to help me?" he finally managed. "You said it yourself, we're enemies. I've hurt you more than anyone else, and yet…" He halted, realizing he had just admitted his guilt. Confusion washed over him, and he turned his back on her.

"It's in my nature to be noble," she said quietly. "Just as it's in yours to betray."

Her words were laced with anger, and Zuko spun around to face her. But she had already moved, throwing a tray at him. He dodged just in time, but she was on him in an instant, landing a blow to his stomach. Another strike aimed at his jaw sent him sprawling to the ground.

"And that's how I felt when you betrayed me!" she spat, fury radiating from her.

Before he could recover, she attacked again, despite her weakened state. Zuko tried to trip her, but she rolled away gracefully, reminiscent of Ty Lee. Without hesitation, he charged at her, engaging in hand-to-hand combat.

He caught her wrists, pinning them against the wall, eliciting a muffled moan of pain from her. He had her immobilized, his leg between hers to keep her still.

"Why did you do that?" Zuko demanded angrily. "I was just trying to be nice to you!" Frustration bubbled inside him; he had only wanted to reach out.

"Now you know what I felt," she replied, her voice thick with hatred and hurt.

At that moment, he paused, looking deep into her blue eyes, which mirrored the ocean but held sadness and pain. Her anger was justified, and he felt like nothing but a miserable coward. He glanced down at his hands and was shocked to see blood on them.

When he looked back at her, she was leaning against the wall, struggling to breathe. Though her upper body was exposed, her hair concealed her breasts. He noticed the rising and falling of her chest, but his gaze shifted to her wrists, which were bleeding. Gradually, she seemed to lose strength, her body sagging, but she didn't fall to the ground. Instead, he instinctively caught her, cradling her fragile form against him.

His eyes darted to the wall where she had leaned; a large bloodstain marred the surface. He looked back at her back—her wounds were oozing, and he felt a surge of urgency. He called for a guard to summon a doctor, who was thankfully already waiting outside.

Zuko left the room, leaving the guard and a maid to tend to Katara. A whirlwind of doubt engulfed him. He understood now how she must have felt when she chose to side with her sister after enduring similar betrayal. Guilt gnawed at him as he thought of his uncle. Had he truly failed him as well? What would Iroh think of him now? Had he made the right choice?

In the solitude of his room, tears streamed down his face as he confronted his pain.

[T/N: I will only post one chapter on here a week because I have a Job that takes up a lot of my time, thought I will try to get a backlog over on a Patreon for you guys. If enough people join then maybe I will be able to afford taking fewer hours at work so that I can spend more time doing this. If you liked this chapter then leave a comment, drop some stones, and write a review. If you find any mistakes please point them out, I did this late at night so my mind isn't that sharp. If you want to read up to 3 chapters ahead for just $3 then check out my Patreon. ]

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