A Beautiful Flame: ~Rules Are Rules~

Chapter 6 (Pt. 2)

~When night fell~

The two children layed on the grass at their secret hidden garden, one layed on the opposite side of the other, gazing at the stars and the moon that shined in the night.

"I believe there's a spirit world," Zuko said after a moment of silence, catching Omi's attention.
"Where people go to and watch over their loved ones..." He smiled slowly, They looked back up the sky.

Omi smiled, relieved, at least her mother will always be there.
Later on, She decided that it was time to go to bed, but Zuko stopped her. How could he fall asleep knowing his mother is gone? And once again, that woke her up to her own realization, her mother's gone and her father was still hospitalized at the marketplace, could she really be alone in a dark, cold shack?
"Come sleep over at my room," He said,
"What?" She exclaimed, her cheeks became a bright pink, Her? In the palace? with a member of the royal family?

That's crazy. In fact. ABSURD.

"Okay then, I'll sleep out here," He said laying back down,
"No Zuko, you must go back to your room," She said, but he didn't bother to say something or even move, Omi sighed and layed back down next to him, placing her braid over her shoulder. Remembering about the princess.
"I miss her too," Omi said. Zuko teared up.

"Don't cry, I know you'll find her someday," Omi reassured, placing a hand on top of his, he looked at her, seeing the hope in her eyes made him feel encouraged, he took her hand and smiled, they both continued staring at the night sky until they fell asleep.

~In the morning~

Zuko woke up, finding Omi gone. He walked outside and she was nowhere to be found.

He entered the palace and started heading to his room until he suddenly bumped into Mei, who was making her way to meet up with Azula. Mei stared right back at him angrily, he was confused, until she opened her mouth but then just scoffed at him and ran away from sight. Zuko continued walking.

~that was weird~

~Meanwhile~

"Father, are you okay?" Omi said as her father woke up recently, he stared at his child,
"Nora?" He asked,
"No, daddy, I'm Omi," She said, she smiled weakly until he leaned towards her.
"You're Nora..." He said, reaching his hand out to touch Omi's cheek, she backed away, Not understanding why he confused her with her mother. She hoped that her mother's death hadn't caused her father to hallucinate.

She looked over her shoulder to find the nurse, but she saw her speaking quietly to the soldier who escorted her to the inn, then the nurse nodded and walked away from sight, the soldier turned to Omi.
"Time to go," The soldier said,
"But-"

Omi was yanked out of the room, the soldier pushed her all the way towards the palace, when they arrived, she was taken into a dark room, two maidens approached her quickly, they took off the fine clothing she had and left her in her garments, one maiden brought her raggedy dress she always had and only her shoes were left alone.

When the maidens finally finished clothing her into her original slave attire, they dismissed her, another soldier came in and escorted her back to her shack and was told to stay there until she was called to come out. She felt unease, worried, and terrified of what just happened, she wanted to cry, but no tears nor sound came out. She wanted to run but she was locked from the outside so she couldn't escape, the only thing that did put her mind off the stress was bending a flame, over and over again. She was quite an impressive bender, being young and not really well formally educated on how to bend.

Her mind was at ease when she remembered Zuko.
Zuko...

Night fell, she was asleep when the door of the shack creaked opened, a soldier grabbed her arm and yanked her out of her dreams.
"What?" She said, still sleepy and surprised, she trip and stumbled, trying her best to stay up on her feet.
"What's going on?"
The soldier said nothing,

"Please, I asked you-"
" Hush slave! You are being sent away,"
Omi's eyes grew with horror,
"What! But, here's my home!-"
"This is the home of the fire lord!" The soldier replied harshly.
"And your service isn't needed anymore,"
Omi looked around frantically, hoping to find Zuko or anybody that could help her, but it was dark out, probably the middle of the night.

~Meanwhile~
Zuko was dreaming,
He was with his Mother,

"Mom..." He said in his sleep, he turned around and fell out of his bed,
~Zuuuko!~
He heard someone scream his name, he sat up from the floor rubbing his eyes as he gained consciousness.
"Zuko! Help me!" He heard a female voice scream again,
"What?" Zuko ran out of his room towards the hall and pulled opened a window that viewed the common grounds of the palace,
"Get up, Slave!"

Zuko glanced towards the soldier who yanked Omi off the ground.
"Omi!" Zuko screamed, he ran from the window, towards the entrance, He pushed through the doors running, Omi was being dragged closer to a metal prisoners carriage,
"No!" Zuko ran towards Omi, A guard tried to grab him but Zuko quickly dodged him,
"Omi!"

"Zuko!" Omi escaped the soldier and raced towards him, as if he was her chance to safety. He reached out his hand as she reached out hers. They were a feet away until the soldiers grabbed them and pulled them from each other.
"NO! Let her go!" Zuko struggled,