Note: Since this prologue is short, I'm posting it at the same time as chapter 1.

The sky was darkening to a dusky purple of late evening. Sozin's comet was a single garish orange splash near the horizon — still bright, but receding like a bad memory.

Behind them Azula crouched, chained down and wailing piteously, sometimes literally vomiting blue fire. Zuko knew he should try to find a way to comfort her... somehow. But it was all he could do to stand upright, and he was only managing that with help.

His fingers twitched with lingering electrical trauma, his heart beat too hard and too fast in his breast to be normal, and his stomach burned like he had swallowed hot coals, but he was alive... and probably in charge of the Fire Nation now.

Unless Aang didn't win.

Night had truly fallen and there had been no word from the Earth Kingdom. No sign from the missing Avatar.

Zuko glanced at Katara. She must have read the worry on his face because her mouth firmed. "Aang will come through. I know it."

Has anyone ever had that level of faith in me? Zuko wondered, before deciding, Maybe Uncle. Before Ba Sing Se. Aang doesn't know how lucky has had it.

Zuko let out a breath and decided to speak his fears aloud. "I know Aang will return from from... wherever he went." Jun's words floated through in his mind. I would be able to find him if he were dead. "But I still don't know how he's going to be able to stop Ozai without killing him."

Katara was silent for almost a full minute. Considering she was usually so quick to spout motivational speeches (and death threats) that was telling. Finally, she settled with, "If anyone can do it, Aang can."

They fell silent again. Waiting a lonely vigil.

Still, maybe it was the last drags of adrenaline, or power from the comet, but Zuko couldn't shake a bad feeling which crept up his spine. He kept looking around as if expecting to see new enemies appear around corner.

He wasn't the only one who was twitchy. Katara glanced again at the now darkened sky, frowning.

"Why do I get the feeling this isn't over?" she asked.

He cast her a swift glance and then nodded, pulling away to stand firmly on his own two feet. Or, not so firmly. Without Katara's supporting shoulder, he wavered a little. "I'm not sure how much help I'm going to be," he admitted, one hand pressed against his burned chest.

"Aang will pull through," she said again, though now sounded more like a prayer then a certainty. "He has to."

They waited and the nameless, formless feeling of dread grew. Suddenly, it sharpened and Zuko inhaled with a feeling like he was about to be plunged into ice-water.

Instantly, the pearlescent sky exploded in light and color, like a second sunrise. Bands of red as a vivid as spilled blood cut straight from horizon to horizon, alternating with brilliant, unearthly blue.

"What is that?" Katara demanded.

"I don't know. It's—" Wrong. "It's coming from the east." From the direction of the Earth Kingdom.

It could only be the Avatar's power

The sight should have filled him with hope. But, as Zuko watched, his heart beating in his throat like a caged bird, the red bled into blue, taking it over, until there was only a sliver left of the other color left.

He held his breath without knowing why.

Then, with a soundless crack, the blue was gone.

It was like the world itself fractured. For a moment Zuko feared he had been hit by lightning again. Deep inside, something precious he didn't even know had been there, shattered.

Stunned, he turned and caught Katara's wide-eyed gaze. She was hunched, clutching her chest.

"Something's wrong—" she said.