Hey this is my second story.
There's a fair bit of violence in this one a stark contrast to my previous story 'And I You' well i hope you enjoy my second story please review. This story was inspired by Simple Plans 'Welcome to my Life'
Chapter 1
"You don't belong here!" shouted Katara as she sent a water whip in Zuko's direction. Zuko efficiently dodged the water whip only to be hit by one on his other side. Zuko bowed his head in defeat as Katara continued to pound him. Even though these beatings were beginning to become more and more frequent he still hung onto a fait glimmer of hope that Katara might forgive him. Even if it took her forever to do it he still held onto hope just like everything else in his life he held onto until it became to late; but still he hoped. He had now been hit so many times it was becoming hard to keep conscious his mind went from light to dark every minute or so until eventually his reprieve came in the form of Hakoda.
"Katara? What are you doing?" asked Hakoda as he moved towards Katara. Katara dropped her water and let out a small squeak as she fled the courtyard. Hakoda shook his head in confusion at his daughter's odd behavior but let out a startled gasp when he caught sight of Zuko's crumpled body lying on the temple floor in a puddle of icy water. He quickly ran to Zuko and dropped to his knees beside the teenager.
"Zuko, do you know who I am?" he asked when he finally got Zuko's fading attention.
" 'koda," Zuko mumbled a small trickle of blood stained his pale lips.
"Yes very good," said Hakoda, "I'm going to take off your shirt so I can see how badly your hurt. Is that okay?" he asked the teenage firebender, who gave a small nod of acceptance as to what Hakoda was asking of him.
Hakoda unbuttoned the teenagers' shirt to expose numerous nasty welts and a few deep cuts. Hakoda wrinkled his nose in disgust as he took in the mixture of cuts, bruises, welts, fresh burns, old burns and scars on Zuko's pale chest.
Zuko stifled a groan and rolled onto his side when Hakoda asked. His now bare back was a testimony as how hard life was on the ex-fire prince. Old scars from whips, belts and fire whips criss-crossed across his pale skin like a spider web on tough scared skin.
"Can you sit up?" Hakoda asked as he pushed Zuko's dark hair out of his face. Zuko slowly made his way off the hard stone floor. Hakoda pulled Zuko of the floor and put one thin muscular arm over his shoulder. They slowly made their way to Zuko's room on the farthest side of the temple.
"Stay here," Hakoda, told him as he went in search of Katara and more importantly her healing abilities.
As soon as Hakoda left the room an fuming Katara stepped out of the shadows and made her way over to Zuko who sat up in his bed.
"You're a disgrace. I can't believe that you think that we actually believe you. Well I'm not going to fall for your pathetic act. You're a pathetic, weak, spineless bastard who should have died in their mother's womb. You disgust me," spat Katara as she approached Zuko who now sat up aware that his attacker was back for more. Katara drew water from her water skin and formed it into a water whip this time it was cruelly edged with pieces of razor sharp ice. Katara drew back her arm and struck Zuko with all the force she could muster. A blinding ruby light burst throughout Zuko's drab room. Katara noticed that Zuko's eyes had rolled into the back of his head and that he had fallen out of his sitting position and was now lying unconscious on his futon blood seeping from a nasty cut that ran from his right shoulder to his left hip covering the extent of his pale chest.
A man dressed in a scarlet robe now stood before Katara directly in front of Zuko protecting his now vulnerable body.
"How could you do that Katara of the Southern Water Tribe? How can you strike a man who is injured and not in a fit enough state to even fight back. That is disgusting Katara, I thought that you might at least be a little understanding. My great-grandsons made many mistakes that much is evident but none of those give you any reason to attack him. I am Avatar Roku and I am going to give you a lesson that you had better remember it is actually a history lesson. Very interesting. When your father re-enters this room it begins," with that Katara found her self being pinned against the hard stone wall with Suki's dangerous eyes boring into her own.
"Suki let go of me! What are you doing?" Katara demanded she was now very intimidated by the fact that everyone now stared at her hostilely. Her father sat with Zuko wrapping a bandage around his chest.
"Katara what were you thinking? You know that he is injured!" Hakoda shouted. Katara was now aware that one of the earthbenders had put earth cuffs on her wrists stopping all her bending.
Suki dragged her roughly from Zuko's room and locked her in her own room. Katara broke down crying still unknowing as to what she had done wrong.
Hakoda shook his head as he finally laid Zuko down on his bed. Zuko's face was pale and there was a red tinge to his cheeks. His black hair remained messy even after the numerous times that he and Suki had tried to keep it out of his face.
'How could she do it?' Hakoda thought angrily as he looked at the sleeping fire bender. Hakoda had befriended the boy after his rescue from the Boiling Rock, to Hakoda he was in Zuko's debt. The boy was a strong warrior, fire bender and kept his cool around Katara even though she provoked him so much. He had never retaliated, Zuko had told Hakoda about Ba Sing Sei and how he couldn't blame Katara for resenting his move into the group. To Hakoda it wasn't like Katara to be this cruel she would have been forgiving if he wasn't fire nation it would have been different if it were anyone else. 'It would have wouldn't it?' Hakoda pondered as he watched the fire bender carefully.
Katara had cried herself to sleep. It wasn't fair she had constantly moaned as she silently cursed Zuko with everything she had. Eventually she had exhausted her supply of tears and had fallen asleep.
A silver mist engulfed her dream. As Katara walked through the mist she caught sight of the same man that she had envisioned earlier that day-Avatar Roku.
"Welcome Katara to the Dream Realm a world adjacent to the spirit world but it is accessible to all people but only in their dreams hence the name. You are here for a history lesson. I am going to take you back ten years ago to the Fire Nation Royal Palace. You will learn something each time you come here so keep it in your heart and mind but don't tell anyone about it until the time is right. I will be with you all the way. We are going to begin, do you have any questions?" Roku asked.
"Why am I here I don't get. If anyone needs a history lesson it's Zuko. I have done nothing wrong. It's so unfair," said Katara angrily as she stared at Avatar Roku. His golden eyes bored into her blue ones. His white brows were furrowed in frustration he shook his head at her. Suddenly the mist cleared and Katara was in a beautiful garden with manicured lawns and a pond in the middle an elegant willow tree shadowed the garden. Katara turned he head as she heard sounds of frustration from behind her. She saw a man with a long red robe that fell to the ground he was yelling at something on the ground. Katara moved silently around the man and gasped when she saw a young boy lying defeated on the ground.
"Get up!" the man shouted. The boy groaned a small trickle of blood came from his parted lips. When the boy didn't get up the man cruelly placed his foot on the boy's small chest and pushed with all his might. A blood-curling scream came from the boy's bloodied lips. Katara heard the sickening crack of breaking bones underneath the boy's screams.
"You are a worthless piece of shit!" shouted the man as he now kicked the boy in the chest. Blood now trickled in a steady flow from his lips the boy's face was now a chalky pale colour. The man spat on the boy and walked away in disgust. Now that the man was gone Katara could see that the boy was only about six years old. He had black hair that was pulled up on top of his head. One small hand was balled up at his side. The boy rolled over on his side and threw up on the grass the vomit was streaked with scarlet blood. Katara could taste the bile rising up her throat. Avatar Roku now stood beside her a hand on her shoulder.
"Who is he?" Katara asked. Roku shook his head.
Katara heard a laugh drifting over the hedge it was beautifully musical. Three other voices drifted towards her, one was that of an old man deep and laughing. The other two were fairly young male and female. As the voices drew nearer Katara saw their owners. The first was a beautiful middle-aged woman with long black hair which cascaded down her back she wore a long red robe. The other was a man about fifty years old Katara recognized him as General Iroh. The young man looked like Iroh he looked about 18 years old and very handsome. The girl was the same age as the young man her brown hair stopped just short of her shoulder blades. She had beautiful blue eyes and her laugh was soft and musical. When the group registered the boy they rushed over the older woman had tears creeping down her pale face. The Iroh had a hand on her shoulder to comfort her. The older boy looked at the injured boy in horror and a small tear crept down his cheek. The girl had dropped to her knees beside the boy and was speaking to him in hushed whispers. Her hands were glowing as she placed them over the boy's chest. The deflated chest was quickly healed and Katara realized that the girl was a waterbender like herself and she was an experienced healer even Katara couldn't heal bones to the extent of the older girl. The boy's eyes slowly began to open and the girl soft face was split into comical grin that reminded Katara of Sokka. But something was different about this waterbender she had a Fire Nation look to her.
"Easy now my prince. All is well," she whispered. Her voice was soft and calming it made Katara wish that she were injured so she could hear the soothing voice again.
"Mitta," whispered the boy. She broke out into another smile only this one was grateful, soft and beautiful full of love and affection.
"Be careful next time my prince. I may not be around the next time this happens," she said running her soft hands over his hands.
The elder woman scooped up the boy and held him close.
"Mum?" he whispered unsure of himself. Her eyes were leaking with tears.
"Yes my sweet I'm here," she said her voice was strong and sweet young but not short of hardship.
Iroh bent down to the boy and held his hand.
"Uncle, Lu Ten," he muttered as he registered the big man before him.
"We're here rest now my little prince. Rest Zuko,"
Katara gasped and she was quickly drawn out of the dream realm and into reality.