Okay….so…..I'm going to skip my apology. I am a college student and a Psychology major and that's an excuse in itself. Please please please forgive me though I've got a ton of awesome reviews for this story and I'm still continuing it as promised! Please keep reviewing and I'll keep writing!

(Previously on "Game Over)

"Stop doing this to yourself, blaming yourself. None of this is your fault". Iroh tilted his face into the shadows as he relaxed his arms on his knees.

Nikkota cocked her head to the side, trying to see past this barrier he has thrown up, "Is there something you need to tell me Iroh?"

Iroh took a deep breath, preparing himself to break the promise he made two years ago, and told her the story.

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(Graduation Day, Two Years Ago)

Iroh was nervous. Not only was he about to give a speech in front of the whole student body, but he his mother was going to meet Nikkota for the first time since they've been dating. His mother was a kind woman, despite her reputation for being way too much like his Grandfather Zuko. What people didn't know was that she was different in the way she dealt with people than the way she dealt with politics. Forcing to carry on the burden her father left behind wasn't an easy task, he learned that growing up.

He looked in the mirror once again. Perhaps he should have slipped up a little in classes to avoid having to give a speech in honor of being the very top of his class, number one to be precise. He was dressed in his dress uniform: a red overcoat with no rank insignias, and white pants tucked into black boots. His face was clean shaven and hair neatly combed to the side.

He was allowed to get ready in a really fancy men's room as he waited for the graduation ceremony to start.

"Knock knock", a welcoming voice said from the open side door. Iroh and turned away from his icy grip on the counter and saw Nikkota just standing there in the doorway.

"Nikko, how long have you been there?"

She smiled her wonderful sultry smile, "Long enough to see you becoming green around the gills." Her hands smoothed out the front of his uniform when she walked over to him. "You really shouldn't worry so much."

"You're not going to be standing in front of hundreds of people giving a speech", he chuckled nervously.

Her smile turned sideways, "No, but I will be standing up there with you. All top ten cadets have to." She tapped him on the nose with a finger, "You're just the super special one."

Iroh grabbed her hand and took in how great she looked in her formal uniform. Her hair was pulled back in a traditional water tribe braid, with not a hair out of place. The fact that Nikkota, no matter how far from home or alienated she felt, kept her culture close to her was just another point in her favor. "Hey 5th out of 342 cadets is pretty good." He thought for a moment, "Is your father coming?"

"No." She answered quickly, trying to cover up her disappointment, "He sent a letter saying that the council was having too many issues."

If Iroh didn't know Nikkota the way he did he'd be amazed at how unaffected she appeared, but he knew by the way she spaced out for just a moment she was hurting. He pulled her in for a tight hug, "Well I'm here."

"And you're all I need," she responded trying not to sound choked up. Nikkota truly felt blessed by the spirits for having Iroh. Without him the years and graduation day would have been dreadful. Sure, she had friends, but none like him. None that could make her feel worth something like he did. "Can you believe we're about to be out of this place?"

"Yep, United Forces One with me as it's Captain and you as its second lieutenant." They had both signed up for the same ship. Iroh couldn't imagine being far from her for too long. "Oh!" He pushed her back just enough to see her face, "My mother sent a letter saying she'll meet us both after the ceremonies, so just come with me when we're finished. I'm sure she's planned a big dinner."

"Oh boy", Nikko smiled weakly. "Promise she won't kill me if she doesn't like me?"

He rolled his eyes, "She'll love you!"

"Right because the Firelady is renowned for her love", she spat back. "Well carry my ashes to the South Pole if it doesn't pan out". Nikkota gave him a quick kiss on the lips, "I'll let you get back to your speech practicing, see you after the ceremonies?"

Iroh cupped her face and planted a hard kiss back on her, "You know it." With a small wave Nikkota was out the door. She took in the air around her once she was outside. Even though her heart ached for her father to be here, she was so glad for Iroh and couldn't imagine her life without him. They hadn't exactly said the 'words' that consummate every relationship yet. Technically those were forbidden in water tribe tradition until marriage since traditionally most marriages were arranged back in the day. Whether that's the reason or they're both equally scared to say it is beyond her.

Nikkota walked down to the chairs that were set up for the top ten, where Hoshi and Leah, two of her best friends were sitting and waiting for the beginning of their new lives of honor and adventure to start.

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Iroh was in the middle of his speech when he felt another presence in the room, but this particular presence wasn't trying to make itself noticed right away. With his instincts screaming at him he clenched his fist and turned.

"Nice reflexes boy." A sinister, female voice spoke from a corner that was barely lit by the dim lighting of this room. She was sitting in a plush chair, legs crossed, as if she had made herself quite at home. "But I don't think you'd care to test them out."

Iroh stood rigid, "Who are you? What are you doing in here?" Considering this was a prep room for just males it wasn't completely odd for someone to be in here, but this person made the hair on the back of his neck stand up, which usually meant something wasn't right. Assassin? No, then the person would have made a better attempt at hiding herself.

"Who I am is none of your concern prince." She stood up. She was a tall woman, wearing black head to toe, but her key features were hidden under a hood, which kept her face in shadow as she spoke. "But what I want you to do is."

Iroh didn't let his guard down, even if he sensed his person wasn't here to kill him. He was used to threats as a child. There were always extremist against the new world that threatened the royal family. "I do nothing for no one who won't explain themselves. Now I suggest you get out. I have a graduation ceremony to tend to."

"Yes you do, which is why I'll get right to the point so you can get back to your sandbox", she stepped a little closer, more into the light. "You and Nikkota seem to be getting cozy."

This made Iroh tense. His fist knit up on his sides, just begging to release the fiery tension in his fingertips. "Who….That's none of your business!"

The mystery woman smiled under her darkened cover, "Oh but you see my prince…" Her gloved hands reached up to her hood and pulled it back. Revealing a woman, early thirties probably with freckled, porcelain skin, black hair pulled back in a long ponytail that draped down one shoulder, but what struck him deep in his heart were her eyes. They were as gray as the eye of a tropical storm, and perfectly resembled the one he held close.

"It, in fact, does," the woman finished with a sinister smile.

"You…" he could barely find himself the will to speak. He had heard Nikkota talk about her as if she were a childhood story she barely remembered: the woman who just disappeared from her life without a word, without reason.

"That's right boy. I am Irula Li, former wife of Councilman Torruk, and mother of Nikkota Li."

Iroh was still bewildered. He rubbed his temple, trying to sort out the reason why she had decided to show herself to him and not Nikkota. "Why….Nikkota said you went missing I-"

"-Yes yes I went missing that's old news." Her eyes narrowed, "I'm here to get to the point. I'm going to lay out a very clear and understandable term. You are to cease your relationship with my daughter effective immediately."

Now Iroh was fuming, "Who are you to-"

Irula stepped closer, not showing any fear or concern. This made him question whether she was a firebender or not. Could he take action against his girlfriend's mother who just came up out of nowhere and demanded he stop seeing her?

She put a finger up, "You are to tell her that you can't be together because you're royalty. It will never work. You aren't to try to patch this up afterward either, do you understand?" The way her voice slithered between her teeth, the way it made his teeth grind in anger, it hid something sinister inside.

"That's enough!" The candle flames on his desk flickered, "Who are you to demand what I do with Nikkota. You, the woman who abandoned her without reason when she was just a child?"

The room darkened, the air felt cooler to Iroh who had become very hot in contrast. Irula remained stoic, her expression, one of neutrality toward his words and hatred toward him. "You are to cease your relationship. This is for hers and your own good. Believe me when I say Nikkota has some bad things coming toward her if you are in her future."

They stared down each-other, gray melding into the amber. He felt as if he was having a stare down with an older and paler version of his girlfriend. They looked so much alike it was almost unreal, and very unnerving.

"And if I don't do as you say?"

The woman was on him so fast he barely had time to bring fire to his hands before she had a crooked thumb in the nap of his neck. Faster than he's ever seen, she applied a small amount of pressure and instantly he couldn't move. He was frozen in his standing position, with the look of sheer awe on his face.

The scent of lilac came closer to his face, close enough to where he could see the same pattern of freckles across her nose and face as Nikkos. Her red lips cut like a river of blood into her face as she smiled once again, "Iroh, prince of our glorious fire nation, if you don't do as I have instructed you to do, I will seek out Nikkota in the day or the dark and I will kill her." With her free hand Irula brushed a hair that had been knocked out of place off his forehead, "Ironic as it is, you're love for her will be her death Iroh."

Iroh, unable to move, could only wince when she mentioned what she would do. He couldn't believe it at first, but one look into the truthfulness of her eyes and he was convinced this woman wasn't playing him. They were suddenly not like Nikkotas. They were now cold, filled with anger like a churning twister soaking up the waters of the sea.

Before she released him she added, "So lets change that shall we?" Forcefully she removed her hand and the prince slumped down, still unable to move.

Irula brushed back her hair back and cleared her throat. "Now.." She reached into her sleeve and produced a vial and threw it at the ground with a force that caused it to break in front of him. "The fumes will give you back your ability to move in a couple minutes, enough time for me to leave and find a place to watch my daughter's graduation without delay."

As she was walking away she added her few, last words, "And do not take me for a fool my prince. I have people watching everywhere and everything, even as we speak. If you dare try to win her back I'll know. Also, don't mention this little discussion; consider that another term that will keep our Nikkota beautiful and alive." With her hood replaced she disappeared just as suddenly as she came.

Iroh, who had finally started to feel his fingers again, just laid there, unable to comprehend the events that had just unfolded. The life he had planned out for him and Nikkota had just been crushed just like the vial spewing rosemary scented fumes into his nostrils, in a few, painful moments. On the ground, in front of him, reflecting in the dim, amber lighting, an engraved engagement necklace that had fallen out of his pocket during the assault lain shattered as well.

Short? Yes I know I'm sorry! But I hope it's good for you guys! Please Review and I'll have the next chapter out within the next couple of days!