Chapter 1

How is a Fire Lord supposed to maintain any grasp on sanity when he has to sit in a dark room all day? Was Fire Lord Zuko a photo, to be kept in a windowless chamber until ready to reveal his identity? Only the flames surrounding the once banished prince provided any light or warmth and even they were burning low, like a candle about to snuff out. Red hangings on the walls reminded him where he was; in the midst of an inferno. Although the Hundred Year War was finally at an end that didn't guarantee total peace. Small uprisings still took place, those fiercely loyal Ozai supporters...

The Fire Lord had been encouraged by his many advisors to take a break, go to Ember Island for a few weeks, relax. But Zuko could not relax. He had promised his nation peace, but he had given uncertainty. How could he know how to serve them when at a loss himself? Zuko wished for some familiar face to pull him away from the confused phase the word had moved into.

He was lonely.

This took some time to admit to himself but the longing for someone who didn't have to bow to him had increased since his first days in the position. Mai was the one person who brought some comfort. Despite her gloomy demeanour, she could pull him away from the stress power brought.

Not even Mai could help the Fire Lord rule his nation, however. Not even Mai could fully distract him from the constant demand that so engulfed him.

Flashbacks to the days of his solitary exile were found tangled in the strings of his anxiety.

Azula always lies...

Never give up without a fight...

Your cousin, Lu Ten didn't make it...

You're always playing with knives, you're not even that good...

Azula always lies...

The cave is never friendly. The cave is never judgemental. The cave lets Toph exist without wanting anything from her. The cave can tell the earthbending master who is coming, who is outside, who is breathing or moving nearby, animal or human. The cave doesn't ask for recollections of millions of empowered firebenders, adventures on blimps and giant lionturtles. Toph had been in this secluded mountainside cave for 3 weeks, after visiting the South Pole. She felt aimless. This was not necessarily a bad thing, but something felt wrong about doing nothing. The lack of action lately had been no doubt refreshing, but the girl found it a waste of her considerable skill if it wasn't put to use.

Something to do... What to do...

She tried to filter her thoughts to something unfinished... something that she should have done..

There had been a general plee from the public that she shared her newfound ability to metalbernd.

At the bottom the to-do list. Thought the master glumly. Didn't people understand that metalbending was her creation and although sharing it would have to be inevitable what was the hurry? She was just 12 and wanted to maintain her individuality for as long as possible. Toph just wanted to at least prove to her parents that-

A weight dropped to her gut. Parents... a recent discovery related to the latter mad e the thought more unbearable.

Something had too be done.

Toph didn't find the idea, the idea found her. It was perfect. It took her loose ends and tied them in a bow.

The girl grinned.

Fire palace here I come.

Field trip time.