Chained By Love

The Fire Nation has won. The Avatar has been killed, and his friends have been as well. All except one. Katara remains prisoner to Prince Zuko deep in his dungeon. The unbearable torture rains down upon her everyday without end. Zuko continues to visit her, for reasons Katara cannot comprehend. Slowly, she forms a bond with him, on the sole intent of survival. But now that the Fire Lord has been seduced, he cannot let go. He finds himself falling in love with the water tribe peasant, knowing that his future is one step away from ending. Now, Zuko must deicide between living returning to life as an outcast, or a successor of a never-ending reign.

Chapter 1:

A Grim Sanctuary

Katara couldn't remember that last day when she saw light. The murky cell that she lived in was filled with the heart of darkness, without a drop of sunlight to pour down upon her face. But the more she thought about it, the more the idea of darkness seemed to grow on her. She couldn't bear to see the world now that Aang was dead.

The Fire Nation had woven a flag of terror across the land, killing thousands of innocents all for the sole purpose of glory. Life had no meaning anymore. There wasn't a time to shrug the bad times off your shoulder, and hope for the best in the next day. For there was no next day. Fire Lord Ozai had wiped every once of hope left within her body.

All that was left was the sorrow that was slowly emerging from her heart, and dripping from her eyes. Everyone she loved was now dead. It was like the horror of losing her mother all over again, except this time, it was everyone. Sokka, her beloved brother. He vowed on his life to protect her no matter what the cost. Through dark and dawn, he was always by her side, giving advice when she needed it the most, even if was annoying at times, and she felt his heart in every bit of it.

Now where was he? A cold lifeless object on the streets of the Fire Nation palace bleeding from his throat. His once lively brown eyes now washed with the blood from his body.

Toph, the blind twelve year old earthbender. Like an island in a stormy sea, Toph was rock solid, and could never be torn down. She fought with every once of power left in her on that fateful day. The fury gleaming in her eyes shone bright for all to see. But with the ferocity of the Fire Nation, not even the mightiest earthbender could stand ground against their might.

And at last, Aang, her beloved Avatar. They had been through so much together. It seemed like a decade ago when she found him in that iceberg. He was such a goofy, careless kid back then. And a short time later, he truly became a man. Katara was beginning to see the Avatar he was turning into, and could see the great things he was destine to create. The lives he was going to save, and the love he was going to share. It was all at the end of her fingertips she could feel it, but that one failed invasion cost him his life.

Now the Avatar was dead, and the world was sent right back into a hopeless state, this time for good. The door creaked open and Katara spun around to see two Fire Nation guards walking towards her, leading the way for someone behind them.

A person Katara never wished to see again, a person in which words could not describe her hatred for. Prince Zuko walked up to her cell wearing a brand new red and gold armor with the Fire Nation insignia embalmed in the center. He had his hair tied in a typical pony tail fashion, like the one Katara was so familiar with. On his face was the gloomy scar that haunted her dreams for many countless nights. The single gold eye in the center of the raw flesh stared deep inside of her. She could feel the fire burning into her skin, as if his own eyes could fire bend as well.

"You've done a lot of good for me," Zuko said in a callous tone of voice.

"What would that be?" Katara spat.

"Bringing the Avatar to me, and helping me restore my honor. It has been quite some time since I felt my father's warm embrace."

"The only embrace a person like you should feel is the embrace of a thousand fires burning you to a crisp."

The guards opened the cell and let out a mighty punch into Katara's gut, sending her straight to her knees. The young waterbender held strong, and gritted her teeth as she raised her head to meet the malicious people standing over her.

Zuko gazed into Katara's ocean blue eyes. There he saw his reflection form in two crystal pools. They screamed words of hatred back to him, vowing that one day she'd enact revenge on his life. And when the day came, Zuko would be pleading for mercy.

Zuko ignored the spell gleaming from Katara's eyes, turning his back towards her cell, he began to make his way for the door.

"Why don't you just kill me now, you monster? Why must I live and suffer in your twisted world, while my friends lie dead on your streets? Why do I have to remain in your dark abyss as some prisoner that you have no intent on using? Answer me, curse you!"

Zuko stopped at the center of the door. He took in a deep breath, and gently let out a sigh.

"My dear watertribe peasant. I'm keeping you alive for one purpose and one purpose alone. I want to feel the everlasting sorrow that life brings to you everyday, now that your world is lost. I want to you to experience the humiliation of being an outcast, and to have the world shun you for the person you are, or for what you did. Yes, the many years I spent hunting the Avatar taught me one thing."

"Life isn't about chasing after your dreams, its about bringing down the people who get in the way of your dreams. I've kept you in this cell for five days now without food. That shall change; I will order my guards to bring you meals in the morning and in the evening. A tray of bread and a cup of water, no more, no less. This cell is now your home peasant. Get used to it. The Fire Nation has achieved its victory in the war, and no amount of hope that you have huddled away in that sympathetic heart of yours can change anything for the better."

The wooden cell door slammed shut, and Katara was left alone in the darkness. It was quiet; she couldn't hear a sound, except for the pulse of her heart beating. A tear dripped from her cheek onto her lap. Inside she felt gravely wounded. Broken, beat and scarred for the rest of eternity.

Zuko's cruel words rung in her ears like a bell again and again. All hope was gone. The Avatar was dead, and the world was now ruled by a merciless leader, who only cared for the destruction and torment of others. Those many years she spent praying and hoping that the Avatar would one day return and defeat the Fire Lord, were wasted. As Katara sat in the corner of the cell, she gently began to rub her mother's necklace with the tips of her fingers. Images of happier times flashed before her eyes like lightning. Her mother holding her in her arms, spinning her around and laughing together, while playing in the snow. Kya showing the necklace that Gran Gran had given her some time ago, and telling her how one day it would belong to her. Katara's eyes poured with tears. The world was now lost, and the only way she could experience happy times, were through memories.

This is obviously a much darker story compared to my previous entrees. I know its kind of a slow start, but next chapter will be more revealing. Hope you enjoyed so far!

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