Chapter 2

Katara wiped off the sweat on her brow. She hadn't stopped for hours, and she was starting to feel like she would never find Zuko. Ever since she found that poster, she was constantly worried about him. She knew that if the fire nation was looking for him, he was in a lot of danger. Last Katara had heard, Zuko was living in Ba Sing Se. She remembered feeling so helpless when the news of Ba Sing Se's destruction reached her. She didn't know what to think. For all she knew Zuko was already dead.

No. Don't think like that Katara! He has to be alive.

But Katara hadn't heard from Zuko in almost 2 years. She had given up all hope that Zuko was alive. Until she found the poster a few days ago, she had believed the worst. Now at least, she had a small tendril of hope. If the Fire Lord had reason to believe Zuko was alive, then maybe he was.

But you still don't know where Zuko is, and the Fire Lord has spies everywhere. They will probably find and kill him before you even figure out where to go.

The annoying voice of reason rang in her head as she threw her hands up in frustration. Katara had no idea where to go and was getting tired of walking.

Suddenly, something lit up in her brain. She grinned. Maybe she didn't know where Zuko was, but she did know someone who would find him. She was going to visit an old friend.

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Zuko walked back and forth clutching a wanted poster with his face on it. You could almost feel his frustration as he tried to figure out how someone had figured out he was alive. He had cut all ties to his old friends and old life, and his uncle had too. He didn't understand how this could happen. They were living such a good life, and he was happy. Truly happy. Something he hadn't been for... well, his whole life.

The only person he regretted leaving behind was Katara. He had made a strong bond with her when they were traveling together. She had forgiven him, and become his closest friend. He missed her. He wondered if she thought he was dead and if she had mourned him. Zuko wished that she was here next to him right now.

No, Zuko. She just would've been put in danger. And if she died because of him... He wouldn't ever be able to forgive himself.

It was better if she thought him dead, but it didn't mean it didn't hurt. His thoughts and pacing were interrupted by the opening of the door.

"I got your favorite soup!!" Uncle Iroh called out in a sing-song voice.

"That's great uncle," Zuko said distractedly, "Look at this."

Zuko handed the poster to Iroh, and he watched as his face darkened as he read it.

"Prince Zuko, where did you find this?" Iroh asked him.

"It was nailed onto our door and every other door in the village! We have to leave uncle. They'll find me."

Iroh nodded with a thoughtful expression on his face. "We leave tomorrow. We will go somewhere where we will be safe."

Zuko looked at his uncle with a confused look on his face.

"I'm going to introduce you to an old friend of mine," Iroh said, his back turned on his nephew. He was twiddling with a Pai Sho tile. The White Lotus.

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"So. I've heard about your growing armies and your growing appetite for violence. This is how you honor me? This is not you Sokka. You would never kill another human unless you need to. Now, you are a MONSTER!!"

"I did this for you Aang! I am honoring you. I'm killing the people who took you from me. I did everything for YOU! I'm only killing the evil ones. Firebenders. They took everything away from you, and from me. They ALL deserve to die."

"You're talking about genocide Sokka! You're blaming the many for what the one did. You-"

"The one who did this was THEIR ruler, their beloved princess."

"I have no choice. I will have to stop you."

"Sokka!Sokka!!!" Suki shook him from his fitful sleep. She looked concerned. "Are you O.K?"

"Ye-yeah. I'm fine. Just a nightmare."

"But was it though Sokka? You know everything I said was true. You are a monster."

"Shut up Aang," Sokka said silently.

"The same nightmare again?" Suki sucked her teeth.

"Yeah but this time, Aang was the one yelling."

"Hey. Look at me. We'll get through this. We will find a way. We always do."

I looked at her. If only she knew what I did with my army. I had told her it was to stop the Fire Lord, but Suki didn't know that he had multiple targets. Suki didn't know that he planned to destroy the Fire Nation.

I kissed her. I knew that if she found out, or believed the rumors, then she would leave me just as everyone else had.

Like Katara had.

I mean, of course, Suki found out once in a while, but he had methods of making her forget everything she learned. To keep her safe, of course. If she knew, and he wasn't able to hypnotize her into forgetting, he'd have to kill her. And he didn't want to do that unless he had to.