𝙲𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝙾𝚗𝚎

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At a majestic Fire Nation resort placed directly over the edge of a wide waterfall. Iroh relaxed on a table while two workers massaged the old mans stiff muscles.

"This is what I've been missing," He groaned, "Who knew floating three weeks at sea on a piece of driftwood. With no food or water, and sea vultures waiting to pluck out your liver, would make one so tense."

His nephew, prince of the Fire Nation, didn't respond. Sitting at the door with one leg pulled up as he stared out at the waterbender beneath the rim of his hat.

La'kea was sitting at the edge of a pond, the water unnaturally still even in the gentle breeze. The islander was holding her hands in front of her, digits clumsily failing to curl and uncurl normally. Despite all her efforts over the years to restore the dexterity in the damages digits, she had never fully succeeded. 

But her blood was pounding in her ears now. In fact, every bodies blood in the vicinity was a faint woomsh woomsh as a heart would push it back and forth. Funny, she thought, how similar it was to the ebb and flow of the tides. La'kea narrowed her eyes, watching her hands as the shaking slowly became less sporadic... Until she touched the tip of her forefinger to her thumb with ease.

Iroh walked over to Zuko, "I see. It's the anniversary, isn't it?"

The prince gritted his teeth, turning away from the islander, "Three years ago today I was banished. I lost it all. I want it back. I want the Avatar. I want my honor, my throne." His eyes slid back to the waterbender twisting her arms. "I want my father not to think I'm worthless-."

"I'm sure he doesn't!" The old general assured him, "Why would he banish you if he doesn't care?"

Zuko just shook his head and got up to walk away. Iroh grimaced, "That came out wrong, didn't it?"

The prince found himself by La'kea, watching as the islander touched each tip of her finger to her thumb repeatedly. A level of nimbleness she has never possessed as long as he had known her.

He blinked, "Your control has improved."

"I don't know why I didn't try this sooner," She laughed dryly, curling and unclenching her hand. "Tranquility is nice and all, but this is an entirely different kind of power. I almost feel invincible." Zuko ignored the twinge of unease in his gut.

The next morning, as La'kea walked into their temporary house in the complimentary robes, happy to be out of the heavy snowsuits. Iroh dumped a bag of shells on the table. "Look at these magnificent shells," He displayed proudly, "I'll enjoy these keepsakes for years to come."

"We don't need anymore useless things," Zuko protested. "You forget we need to carry everything ourselves now." La'kea felt the back of her neck tingle and itch.

"Hello, brother." A snide voice suddenly greeted by the window, "Uncle." La'kea faced the intruder to find a girl, not much younger than her. With sleek black hair pulled into a meticulous bun crowned with a red Fire Nation emblem.

The Fire Nation Princess, Azula. She was notorious among the islander slaves for being conniving and cruel. A force to be reckoned with. Why was she here?

Zuko immediately placed himself in front of the islander. "What are you doing here?"

Azula gave a viper smile, "In my country, we exchange a pleasant hello before asking questions." She stood from her chair like it was a throne and stalked in front of her brother. "Have you become uncivilized so soon, Zuzu?"

"Don't call me that," The prince snarled.

The princess sneered at the islander behind him, "I'm not surprised, if you keep the company of barbarians willingly."

La'kea seethed as Iroh stepped forward, "To what do we owe this honor?"

Azula hummed as she examined the shell in her hand, "Must be a family trait, both of you are so quick to get to the point." She shattered the shell between her alarmingly sharp nails.

"I've come with a message from home," She revealed, twirling one of her bangs around her finger. "Fathers changed his mind. Family is suddenly very important to him. He's heard rumors of plans to overthrow him- Treacherous plots. Family are the only ones you can really trust."

Giving her brother a moment to process the information, Azula looked out the window. "Father regrets your banishment," She stated flatly, "He wants you home."

There was a beat of silence. La'keas mind worked rapidly to digest what this could mean for her. If Zuko was allowed go return without the Avatar, then their deal could be null, and she would go back to the mines.

"Did you hear me," Azula demanded as Zuko stared at the ground. "You should be happy, excited, grateful. I've just given you great news."

The prince turned to look out the window as their uncle attempted to placate her. "I'm sure your brother simply needs a moment-."

"Don't interrupt, Uncle," Azula snapped. "I still haven't heard my thank you. I'm not a messenger, I didn't have to come all the way here."

"Father... Regrets?" Zuko breathed disbelievingly, "He wants me back?"

The princess angled her head, "I can see you need time to take this in. I'll come to call on you tomorrow. Good evening." Casting one last reproachful glare at her uncle and the islander, Azula departed.

Later that night, as she listened to the crickets chirp outside, La'kea drummed her fingers against the table watching the prince pace back and forth.

"We're going home," He exclaimed, happy and excited. "After three long years. It's unbelievable."

His uncle was suspicious, "Yes, it is unbelievable. I have never known my brother to regret anything."

"Did you listen to Azula," Zuko looked over, "Father realized how important family is to him. He cares about me."

"I care about you," Iroh protested, "If Ozai wants you back, well, it might not be for the reasons you think."

His nephew turned away from him angrily, "You don't know how my father feels about me. You don't know anything." La'kea blinked, taken aback by how defensive the prince was over this.

"Zuko," Iroh pleaded, "I only meant that in our family, things are not always what they seem."

"I think you are exactly what you seem-," Zuko whipped back around in anger. "A lazy, mistrustful, shallow old man who's always been jealous of his brother." He stormed out of the house.

Iroh cast a saddened look as La'kea followed after the prince into the night.

She found him leaning against one of the many cherry blossoms trees, looking over the harbor where a massive Fire Nation ship was docked.

"Don't tell me I need to go apologize to my uncle," He said lowly.

La'kea just shrugged, sighing as she joined him. "That was pretty mean of you. Iroh just does what he thinks is best for you."

The prince hissed through his teeth, "Whatever."

They just listened to the light breeze rustling through the leaves before she spoke quietly. "So... You're excited to be going home?"

Zuko raised a brow, wondering where she was going with it, "Of course I am, aren't you?" He realized his mistake too late as her face soured.

"I guess since you don't need the Avatar, our deal is now off," She murmured. "I'll go back to the mines."

He grabbed her shoulder jarringly, looking her in the eye, "I am the Crown Prince of the Fire Nation. I'm sure I can work out something."

Forcing a small smile that didn't reach her eyes, La'kea just patted his hand. Wanting to ask him, what of the other islanders trapped? Did they not deserve a good life as well?

"Come on," She grabbed his arm, pulling him back towards the house. "I'll help you pack."

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Walking together down the steep cliffs to the harbor below, Zuko and La'kea eyed the massive warship docked.

"Wait for me," Iroh suddenly called behind them, running down the stairs with his pack in hand. "Don't leave without me."

Zuko beamed up at the old general, "Uncle, you've changed your mind."

His uncle place a hand on his shoulder, "Family sticks together right?"

"We're finally going home," The prince smiled at La'kea, leaving her unable to process coherent thoughts for a moment. Shaking herself, the islander followed him down the stone steps.

The royal, red uniformed, fire bending guards were unnerving. Lined up on either side of the dock as they walked down to the ship where Azula stood at the top of the ramp.

She spread her arms like a gracious hostess, "Brother, uncle. Welcome. I'm so glad you decided to come." The three of them dropped into a low bow as the guards fell into line behind them.

The captain stepped forward, "Are we ready to depart, your highness?"

"Set a course for home, Captain," The princess commanded happily.

"Home," The princes face softened, La'kea glanced at him from the corner of her eye. Although truly she was glad he was finally getting to go to his home... She was bitter about losing her own.

"You heard the princess, raise the anchors," The captain ordered. "We're taking the prisoners home-."

Azulas face immediately dropped into sheer appallment. The captain sweated, "Princess, I-."

Zuko inhaled sharply as it dawned on him just as Iroh whirled around to flip the first guards within reach over the pier. La'kea swept her leg underneath her attackers feet and pushed him over the dock easily.

As the prince ran up the ramp to confront his sister. Iroh and her worked to dispatch the seemingly endless guards lined up go try and subdue them. The old man was surprisingly spry for his age.

"Zuko!" The retired general parried an attack. "Let's go!" When the prince still didn't appear, Iroh gave her a curt nod. "Now, La'kea!"

She threw both her arms above her head with as much force as she could muster. Two colossal waves erupted from each side of the dock and slammed down on it, washing away the guards. By the time she turned back Iroh was already running down the ramp with Zuko in tow.

Pushing aside all thoughts of what this could entail for them, she ran with them. And they kept running, long after the Princess' ship was out of sight, and long after her lungs burned so bad she felt faint.

They must have run miles before they finally collapsed by a shallow river. Iroh leaned over his knees, "I think we're safe here."

La'kea ran her hands over her face, panic setting in, "We're fugitives... Nowhere is safe." Her mind was scrambled enough trying to decode Olianas cryptic message, now she had to worry about being on the run.

Zuko pulled out an intricately carved white knife and stared at it. She watched with bated breath as he held the knife to his hair, and sliced through it. Passing the knife over to his uncle, Iroh repeated the same motion with his top knot. La'kea sent up a silent thank you that her face was not known at all among the four nations, so her hair would be safe.

As the two Fire Nation men let their hair drop in the river to be carried away, they watched the life they knew also be carried away.