Standard Disclaimer: If I owned it, this would be cannon… since I don't, it's not.

Note: Well… I never actually expected to be writing fanfiction again. Like… ever. I used to be here under a different name, but I would like to think that my writing style has matured enough that no one will be able to link me to my past self. Feel free to shatter my illusions if you know me, it makes me feel like someone is paying attention. :3

Without further Ado…

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The pain in his face was unbearable for the ten year old boy, but if he cried or screamed, or made any kind of noise, the pain would be ten times worse. Fire had traced over his face, scorching around his eye and through his hair and over his ear, leaving raw, burned flesh behind, and even now it shifted, feeling one moment like it was still burning, and the next his entire body felt encased in ice.

"As long as you get outside of the country before he dies." The words had been spoken by the same man who had seared the boy's face, marked him with the flames and cast him out, before the ship had set sail so late at night. Zuko had been out of it, but he had caught a glimpse of the full moon and the twinkling stars as he had been shifted and taken below deck. Unspoken had been the threat attached to the words, a threat that the boy understood only too well now, after hearing his sisters delight at what had been done. Their lives would be as forfeit as his was if they failed to obey the Fire Lords command.

He shuddered, feeling ice sweep through him again as he remembered over and over again, the searing pain, in his head… and in his heart. He didn't understand it, couldn't understand why his… why the Fire Lord had done this to him.

Zuko shuddered, longing for sunlight to take the chill off of his heart, but knowing he would likely never see day again. He was bound, hand and foot, with ropes too tied around his knees and elbows to keep him from squirming. The guards watching over him had already made it clear that if he squirmed too much, or made any noise, their boots would leave yet more bruises and injuries on his already thinning and feverish form.

"We're almost to Pouhai Stronghold. Its just about time to finish the job and dump the remains." One man was whispering to the other, and Zuko made himself listen to them, knowing it might be the last words he heard, and he shuddered as he tried to understand what they were saying.

"We'll have to dump the body in the sea…" The other responded, not as quiet as his fellow guard. "I wonder who he is that the Fire Lord himself branded him. Agni… he's just a child.."

"That's not for the likes of us… the captian knows and he wouldn't do anything to endanger the crew…" the words seemed certain, but their tone wasn't and Zuko found himself hoping that these bastards would pay for his death. If nothing else he wanted revenge where he could take it, and he couldn't quite bring himself to hate his… the Fire Lord. Not yet at least. When he was dead, he would come back as a vengeful spirit and make these men suffer.

"Come on, its almost dawn. Bring him… the captain will take care of him and we'll dump the body." A new voice said from the doorway, and Zuko finally whimpered, scared even as larger, stronger hands hauled his limp form up, heat sweeping through his body but not melting the ice that felt like it was in his very core. The wind was bitter cold, biting through even the ice that encased the boy's body, and making him shudder with fear and anger. He wouldn't give up that quietly, and he rallied what strength he had to glare at the man approaching, taking his position on the ship, near the rail so they could dump his body quickly, and have less evidence to wash away so that his blood didn't stain their boat.

"I'm sorry lad.. but it's you or my family." The captain said, unsheathing the long dagger he held, one that Zuko had seen the Fire Lord hand to him before… a blade for a single job, to be returned only when bathed in his blood. Zuko struggled as the man approached, glaring and trying to speak, yell, scream, anything through the tight gag he had worn for days now. He managed to get his feet on the ground though, ramming into the man next to him at the last second, and taking a gash to his arm for his efforts. He was still tied up, and he had no idea where the shore was, but there was no way he was going to stay still for the captain to slit his throat.

He managed to get their hands off of him, to squirm and hop away just enough to reach the railing to the edge of the ship… and tip himself over, into the icy water below.

"Let him go… in this bitter cold, he's dead anyways. May Agni have mercy on his spirit… we have what we need, lets get the hell out of here." Zuko didn't hear all the words as he struggled to stay conscious, but he heard enough even as the blackness took him.

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The world was so distant. The crashing sounds of the waves. The shouts of a child, and the aid it bought. The grit of sand against his icy flesh. Heat, so very very hot after the feeling of freezing to death. Something warm against his lips, and the impulse to drink it. Words and whispers that were heard but couldn't be understood.

When Zuko finally struggled back to consciousness, he wondered if he was really dead after all, and if this was the spirit world, though he didn't know why he was still in so much pain if it was. The walls were green and seemed to be made of cloth instead of honest golden stone, and he shivered, looking around with a grimace. The lantern nearby made him shudder more, the flames beckoning and also terrifying, even small and obviously contained, and his face throbbed as he looked at it.

"You're awake… Hold still.." the voice was calm, and Zuko looked up groggily into a kindly looking face hovering above him. "Here now… Sit up and drink this, it'll help numb the pain."

The boy groggily sipped at the cup held to his lips, wincing at the taste then whimpering in pain as his face felt like it was on fire. He managed to cut himself off soon enough though, and drank with determination, ignoring the bitter taste in favor of anything that would help dull the pain, even a little. "There there.. that's enough…" the cup was pulled away after a moment, and with a chuckle as Zuko stubbornly struggled to sit on his own.

"Wh… where am I…?" he asked, after several false tries as he was moved to be propped against something soft but firm, looking blearily up into a womans face as his voice crackled roughly from disuse.

"About six miles outside of Makapu… we were camping nearby when some of the children found you washed up on the beach four days ago." The woman explained, a look of concern on her face. "Is your family nearby? We couldn't find the signs of any wreckage…"

'As long as you're out of the country before he dies' Zuko shuddered deeply, hearing the memory of words spoken by someone he had trusted so deeply, and shook his head vigorously, looking down and pulling his knees to his chest.

"N… No.. I don't… I don't h.. have family." He stuttered over the words, feeling like there was a knife buried in his chest even as he spoke, but he didn't want to die. Green… green meant earth kingdom, and if they found out he was FireLord Azulon's grandson, they would surely murder him, or hand him over to the army, and he had heard such terrible things about the earth kingdom army after his cousin's death a few months ago. Granted, most of those stories had come from his little sister who delighted in tormenting her non-bender brother, but that was all he knew.

Only he wasn't a non-bender… Zuko sobbed as he realized it was because he had finally thrown sparks that this had happened, that his family would never love him for being powerful and following in his esteemed fathers footsteps, and he found himself gathered in warm but not warm enough arms, pulled into a gentle embrace by the woman as she whispered soothing things to him.

Zuko didn't know how long he cried, but he eventually stopped his tears and tried to pull away, embarrassed at his display of weakness. Girls were allowed to cry, but he was a boy, and a member of the royal family which made it even more important for some reason that he not be weak.

"You're safe here, I promise." The woman said as Zuko struggled to stay awake, a sudden exhaustion overtaking him. "Rest… its alright.. you're safe.." she continued to whisper, and soon the young boy knew no more.

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When he awakened again, he was alone in the small tent, but he could hear the noises of ostrich horses and men talking and yelling outside. Though he strained his ears, he couldn't understand what they were saying, just catching a low murmer instead of true words. Stubornly he pulled himself to his feet, moving to leave the tent, or at the very least look outside. He felt so weak, and vulnerable, but he knew he couldn't just lay around doing nothing. Back home, there had always been lessons to occupy his time preparing to support his sister when she became fire lord, but he doubted any of that would do him any good here and now. It was a struggle and he almost fell over twice as he made his way to the opening of the tent, where he saw the earth kingdom villagers packing their supplies and loading them on the pack animals.

"Did we wake you? Grandmother said not to go in and bother you, but you've been asleep for almost a week since we found you." A cheerful voice said, and Zuko looked next to the tent door to see a kid not much younger than himself, a cheerful little boy dressed in green. "My name is Lu Fan, whats yours?"

"Uhm… Zu…" the prince cut himself off, shaking his head as he realized he couldn't tell anyone, and he collapsed to his backside, pulling his legs up to his chest. His face still hurt, and his arm hurt too, but most of his other bruises had healed, and there was a clean bandage covering the horrendous burn, though it felt like his hair had been shaved by whoever had tended him. It felt wrong that he was only noticing these things now, but everything had felt wrong since that searing heat had wounded him.

"Zhu? Huh… sounds cool. Grandmother was a little worried when she forgot to ask your name when you woke up last time, but I guess that happens sometimes she said you had a hard time, but that's all behind you now… My dad wants to meet you, and you'll probably be traveling in our families wagon so you can ask me anything you want and aunt Fen will be able to help too, though Grandmother travels with uncle Lou usually.." Lu Fan rambled on and on, and Zuko listened, not correcting the other about his name… Zhu was as good as any other he supposed… or rather hoped.

"Its… nice to meet you…" Zuko managed quietly, looking down as he waited for a wave of disiness to pass.

"Lu! What are you doing, we told you not to bother that poor boy." A mans voice said, and Zuko looked up to see a tall, athletic man dressed in green and brown heading their way. "Sorry about that, Lu was supposed to let you sleep… Mother said you wouldn't be up for moving around just yet, but we have to pack camp up and get going to Omashu. We're putting on a performance there later this week." The man said cheerfully. "What's your name lad?"

Zuko listened to the other, watching him warily, not used to seeing anyone dressed in anything other than red or gold, but he was in the earth kingdom now so he had to get used to it, and it was a reasonable question. "… Zhu…" he stated simply, glaring at the ground as if daring anyone to make a fuss about it.

"Well… welcome to the Traveling Armadillolion Theater troupe. Come on.. We'll get you situated in my families wagon since you're up and about." The man said kindly, picking a much startled Zuko up and carrying him towards where the wagons waited, Lu following along happily.

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Warning: I tend to write characters as Bi-until-proven-otherwise, because I enjoy the imagry that comes with it. That being said, I still tend to gravitate towards pairings that seem plausible according to cannon more than pairings that seem like crack. Any pairings that develop in my stories will hopefully be believable, and failing that, entertaining. I don't plan on putting any blatant pairings in, but you never do know…

On that note, please let me know what you think of this story? Also, if anyone is willing to beta read this, or even just bounce ideas back and forth, please let me know?