Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar, The Last Airbender

Azula smirked as the cart stopped, shaking her and her brother lightly. Zuko's gaze remained out the window, over the land spread out in front of him. It had been three years since he had been there, and she was not surpised that his gaze remianed so focused. "Brother, we are here, are you ready?"

Zuko did not answer, just continued to stare out across the land. His knuckles whitened with his squeezed against the arm rest, and the wood even snapped lightly. Is he really this nervous? Azula asked herself. She knew what the Fire Lord had in store for him, but he didn't know...did he?"

His golden orbs, burning with emotion Azula could not identify fell over her. She couldn't help but shiver as he releases his grip on the wood and broke a wicked grin. "I have never been so ready..."

Azula smiled. "Good, then, let's go." She opened the door and gestured him forward. He stepped out onto the paved walk way leading to the Royal Palace. The light reflected off his new steel armor, along with his scar making him extremly noticable. Azula stepped out behind him, still smiling. "Bring forth the prsoner."

She could tell Zuko put every ounce of energy into not facing the shackled and battered Iroh, being dragged out onto the walk way. Zuko took a deep breathe and began walked towards the door, his sister behind him. Metal boots clicked along the tile as Zuko stepped into the palace for the first time in three years. Curious stares fell over him, which he visibly tried his best to ignore.

Soon, he stopped at a very large door, towering twenty feet over the prince. Behind the thick door, he heard a guard announce him and Azula to their father.

Leaves from the vine...

The door clicked, and with a groan began opening. Heat flooded out of the room, completly engulfing Zuko. His hand formed a fist at his side as the doors continued to open for him, so tightly a drop of blood fell from his thumb.

Falling so slow...

He saw the flames rising from below the mighty thrown, darkening the columns that lead the way towards the pit of heat. His right foot moved first, taking a step forward and towards his father. Among the mighty flames the Fire Lord sat on his thrown, his face not visible behind the wall of fire.

Click.

Click.

Click.

Like fragile, tiny shells...

The clicks from his boots echoed along the walls as his steps turned minutes to hours. In his mind, he heard the voice, the voice he had ignored for so long until now. I thought you had changed! His father stood from the throne, making the flames grow even more. The Fire Lord started forward, his foot making contact with the first step leading from the thrown to the ground.

Drifting in the foam...

Both father and son continued to take slow steps towards one another. The face of the Fire Lord was still hidden. Azula had stopped moving and halted with Iroh behind him. The old man looked up to see his nephew and brother walking towards eachother, the Fire Lord taking the last steps. His eyes still filled with grief, he looked away.

Little soldier boy...

Zuko stopped a few feet away from the steps, blood continuing to trickle down his hand. His father took the last step to the floor, and kept walking towards his son. The black, red, and gold robes that decorated his body dragged along the floor.

Come marching home...

"Welcome home, Prince Zuko, son..." The words dangled in the air around Zuko. "I'm glad you have returned home, and I have a special gift for you."

Brave soldier boy...

"Thank you father," said Zuko. Ozai began to move before Zuko stopped him. "But before you give me my gift, I have something for you." Ozai tunred curiously towards his son, now noticing the burning behind his eyes. A smile split across Zuko's lips, and Ozai's eyes widened.

Zuko's arm lit with fire and lightning. Time, which had crawled within the last minute, suddenly flashed back to normal. A flash of light and thunder sent everyone off guard, and all but Iroh held hands to their ears and eyes. When they came back to reality, everyone gasped in horror.

Comes marching home...

Guards rushed to apprehend Zuko, the silent and grinning prince. They pulled him back as Ozai fell to the ground, blood dripping from his mouth and his hands holding his gut. Zuko did not resist as the guards pulled him back, just smiled as he watched his father take his last few breathes.

"I have changed..."