I don't own avatar, shitty Nickelodeon does. And james Cameron's recap of Pocahontas doesn't deserve to bair the name.

Anyway, this is a idea I had that kinda just came to me, as all my ideas do. - This one has to do with Azulon, cause there aren't enough story's about him, though the story is actually about Zuko. There will be however a fair Amount of Azulon, in this Prolouge. Any-way, this story begins ... Now!

The Fire-nation royal palace, Fire lord's chambers. 91 years into Sozin's war ( As it would be known for a majority of it's run. ) ...

Azulon could not say that he had been this uneasy in a very long time. Not since he had taken an active part in the war, or lost his beloved wife, IIah. What was most unsettling to him was that it had to do with his family. Some might tell you that the aging Fire-lord did not care about his family, let alone the nation that he ruled. This was untrue however, and in this particular situation his youngest grandson, Zuko, was dying. The worst part was that it had nothing to do with disease, or injury. It was due to a severe poison, inflicted by a deadly Hawk-Viper, (Imagine a snake with feathers and wings.) Which had been the weapon of choose used by a small group of earth kingdom assassins trying to kill his eldest son & grandson, Lu-ten, but Zuko had thrown himself in the way of his cousin. This had given them the chance to catch the animal, and its handlers.

Unfortunately as the Hawk-viper is native to the south eastern region of the earth kingdom, there fore the anti-venom for the poison would take to long to get to the fire nation. This put Azulon in a difficult position as he was in charge and there for his grandsons life was in his hands. He had few options in this situation, except maybe one. It was dangerous, but it was the only thing he could do.

He moved to the left side of his chamber where the wall was mostly bare except a few paintings of the most recent royal family's. He moved over to one of a much younger him, his wife, and their two son's. He then moved it aside and Fire Bent into a small hole which revealed a door about four feet wide & 7 feet high. Azulon slowly walked down the passage as the door closed behind him. While it wasn't the only secret passage or chamber in the palace, it was the newest. It been commissioned by his father before Roku's death as a place where Sozin could meditate in peace.

Azulon was now the only one who knew it existed, except one. The passages length was about 200 feet. At his current brisk pace the Fire-lord would reach his destination in 20 minutes. While he knew it would save his grandsons life, he also knew it could be costly.

He had finally reached the chamber. It was not very wide, only 30 by 15 feet. While the room was not particularly wide it was quite tall, nearly 70 feet. In the center of the room was a small low table with 12 candles. In front of the candles were 3 statues.

On his left was a golden statue of a Phoenix with rubies incrusted here and there to add more color. Obsidian was was also interwoven in the design. The only great oddity was the sapphires for eyes. The statue itself had the wings outstretched with its head sticking straight up, it's beak open as if to speak. On the right was a Dragon. Oddly it's color was not a traditional fire nation red or even blue, but a rich green. While it appeared to be made of silver, it was covered in a intermingling of emeralds & jade. It was also unlike most dragons was not serpent like. It instead had a round middle body and was in a position like a hound standing at attention. It also had wings which were bat like, being made of jade & obsidian. It's tail wad rapped around it's front legs. It's eyes were also unique as they were made of Yellow Sea glass. The only other notable thing about it was the smirk that the creature appeared to wear. In the center was an oddest of them all.

It appeared to a Monkey with a body made entirely of obsidian. While it's body was black, it had white fur made out of Quartz Crystal. It had ornate gold armor with jade paderns laid over. It was sitting crossed legs, with it's tail in it's lap, and a gold staff against it's shoulder.

One would think little of the oddly decorated statues, but Azulon knew better. He knew what the they were capable of.

Preparing for what was needed he lit the candles. He then sat down and did the one thing a person would not expect a Fire-lord to, bow with his head to the ground, he was also praying in a strange language. Soon the candles began to produce extremely potent green & yellow smoke. This all went on for about 20 minutes until the smoke began to recede, and from it came a figure in a dark robe. Little of this figure was visible accept his mouth filled with slightly crooked teeth and the apparently haired covered knuckles. The only other notable thing about him the wax-wood staff he was using as a walking stick.

As Azulon got to his feet he could tell that the figure was not happy about being taken & brought here. This was confirmed when the figure finally spoke.

" Azulon you simpering twit! Why have you summoned me here? WELL! Speak up old man. What is it? "

Azulon knew he had to choose his words very carefully.

" My youngest grandson is dying, I ask that you save his life. "

Though he sounded dignified, there was a note of begging in his voice. The cloaked figure however did not look pleased.

" You Blind, Arrogant, Self IMPORTANT FOOL! You think yourself so great as to ask this of me? "

Azulon did not show any emotion as he replied " No I do not, but the boy is only in the early stage of his life. He doesn't deserve to die. "

While the figure still did not look pleased, his hidden scowl softened.

" I would ask if you know what this will cost, but I doubt if you are so ignorant. Especially after what happened when your wife died, but be warned, I cannot promise anything. "

Azulon finally raised his head and said " I know, but please try. "

" Very well, lead the way. "

He then made a gesture with his hand as Azulon got up and began to walk. Once they got to the door Azulon stepped on a rectangular panel in the floor that opened the passage. Once that was done they exited the Fire-lord's chambers and made their way for the chambers of the fourth Prince. It took them about 35 minutes with the size of the palace and the distance. Once they arrived at the door to the boy's chambers They paused.

As the Fire-lord he didn't have to knock or ask to enter. Therefore his entrance simplely involved pushing the door open and bursting in. This entrance appeared to startle the rest of his family. As he observed them all individually, each had a different expression. The one with clearest look of agony was Ursa, evidently a mother on the verge of grieving. The only other person with an obvious set of emotions was Lu-ten. Clearly the 2nd in line for the throne felt sadness and a great deal of guilt as he felt responsible as one of the main targets Of the assassination attemp. Iroh's expression was stern, but clear showing that until Zuko was truly lost he would not break. Azula was more complex in that she clearly didn't just want to hide her fear from others, but from herself. Ozai was the only one who looked angry. It was clear to Azulon however that he wasn't just angry with the assasins, but with himself for fealing this way.

Azulon had known for a long time that his youngest was trying to strip himself of all attachments for awhile now. It seemed to start around the time his mother died. And while to the rest of the world it appeared it was succeeding, Azulon knew better. He knew it was only a ruse that fooled everyone, including Ozai himself.

While Azulon had taken a second to analyze his family, his family had taken notice of their patriarch and his guest. Wasting no time Azulon got straight to the point.

" Before you ask no I did not call to have the anti-venom shipped here, as it would not have arrived on time. " at this Ursa seemed ready to beg and protest, but Azulon stopped her. " However, in wake of this I have called on an old friend who may be able to do something. "

At this most of those present looked hopeful, though Azula tried to look indifferent and Iroh looked weary. Ozai on the other hand looked outright distrustful and was not araid of expressing this.

" You are a fool old man, trusting someone with little credentials with a task this important! To secure the life of my son, your grandson! In the hands of this whelp! "

Most looked shocked at this outburst. Azulon and the figure did not however. While Azulon could have dealt with the show of disrespect, he though he'd let his friend deal with it.

" First of all BOY, My name is Wu. Sen-wu, and I demand respect. Secondly, if your son is to survive he will need my aid, so please remove yourself from my path and sit down. "

For a moment some of them thought Ozai might burn the man to a crisp. However he surprised them by begrudgingly sitting down.

Once that was done Wu stepped forward and placed his hand upon Zuko's head. While he had expected to simply feel the boys energy receding along with seeing the way to treat it, he did not expect to already feel a spiritual influence over the boy, an unnatural one. This was interesting, but sadly he did not have time to speculate on it. It was at this point he gave orders.

" I shall require a glass table top, along with a tub. " The way he said it left no argument.

Ursa was the first to move leaving the room to locate a servant. While she did that Wu proceeded to pull 6 mason jars from his cloak, each one filled with a cLear grass green liquid. He finally pulled out the final jar which instead contained a thicker plum colored substance.

While Zuko's bed was usually flat, it had been situated in such a way that he was cocooned with a wall of blankets and pillows around him. Soon Ursa arrived with the servants in tow. Behind her were 2 servant's with the glass and 2 more behind them holding the tub. Next Wu game them instructions to have Zuko lifted out of the bed as the tub was placed down. Then he had the seven year old stripped of all clothing except for his undergarments and set down inside the tub. After that he had Zuko's nose clamped shut as he proceeded to pour the plum substance down his throat forcing him to swallow.

Once that was done he unclamped the boys nose and filled the tub with the odd green liquid, strangly Zuko did not float which worried his mother with how things would go. But it was what happen next that caused her and manny to panic as the strange man proceeded to light the liquid on fire.

While this happened everyone tried to stop him, Azulon however stood in their way long enough for Wu to place the class on top of the tub. As the flames continued to burn all those watching were astonished to see the flames as they turned green, and then turn to gas. As this happened Zuko began to scream.

This seamed to set everyone off again. As this was the case Wu tried to explain.

" Do not panic, the gas merely causes a small bit of mental anguish. He will be fine when it is all over. "

Suffice this say his words fell on death ears.

3 Hours later.

After the brief attempt by Wu to calm everyone down, it took about 40 minutes to get things to settle. After that it took another 2 hours and 20 minutes for him to announce Zuko cured, though not recovered. With that everyone settled down to talk to Zuko. In the mean time Azulon and Wu said goodbye.

" I thank you for everything. Were it not for you he would have died. " Proclaimed the thankful Fire-lord.

" Please, it was nothing, and I had fun. It's been a long time since I enjoyed myself this much. "

At this the two seemed to have reached an understanding. So they embraced, said their goodbyes, and Wu headed back to the secret chamber to get home. He did not mention the previous influence on the boy, or how it appeared to come with the serpents bite. He suspected one of the assassins was a kind of spiritual alchemist, one who had not tried to kill the cousin but get to the fourth Prince, and pass something on. He did not yet know what it was, but he also suspected that it was designed to act in Union with his cure, though he though not for some time would it take full effect. But whatever the case, he could tell the boys fate would certainly entertain him.

Meanwhile somewhere ...

While all this was going on we find that on a different plain of existence entirely, another young man was going through something similar. He was tossing and turning, sweating in his sleep. As this goes on his thrashing became more and more intense, and just as the young man sat up in fright we here a babies cry, and a monkeys screech ...

Yeah, that was the prolouge. Anyway, please review, should have the next chapter soon.