Book 2: Shadow Heart

by CrystalineDreamer

After the Fire Nation's failed attempt of the 'Siege of the North' Ling, Zuko, and Iroh find themselves on the run from both the Earth Kingdom and Fire Nation. Loyalties will be tested, friendships will be broken, and Ling will have to choose which side she's truly on as well as come face-to-face with the person who single-handedly ruined her life.

1. Chapter 1

DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN ANYTHING BUT MY CHARACTER LING. EVERYTHING ELSE IS OWNED BY THE CREATORS OF Avatar: The Last Airbender

I don't mind constructive criticism as long as you aren't a jerk about it.

So sorry this took so long but here it is.

ENJOY:

Chapter 1: Prologue

The girl refused to speak her new name. She hated it. And the caretaker wasn't letting up, which really sucked. That's why she was in the dark, freezing her pants off. They didn't think she was a fire-bender but they wanted to be safe since she was supposedly the daughter of not one but two traitors to the crown. She couldn't hide the evidence that she'd been disgraced. It was carved into her very skin with red lines and silvery hues.

She nearly laughed when the overseers refused to touch it. They were all a superstitious bunch and she found them idiotic and ridiculous. They believed they were so high and mighty but she was wise beyond her years, her parents had seen to that, and knew how to observe others and find the weaknesses in their armor. For all of their big talk, they were all terrified of disappointing the Fire Lord and were doing their best to follow his orders to the "T".

She wouldn't let them turn her into a weapon for their own gain but she would have to play the part in order to get out of this ordeal. She knew in that moment that she would have to adapt to the cruel environment if she wanted to survive and eventually escape this place.

It might take a few years but she was fine with that. She didn't have anything to go back to anymore nor would anyone take such a bad luck magnet like her.

So she would bide her time and learn from them. Learn how to turn herself into a weapon but not for their benefit. She would learn to hone her body to perfection so that she'd be able to survive. She would learn everything she could about which plants were poisonous and which weren't so that she would be able to survive in the wild. She would watch the fire-bending masters and study in private and learn to control her native element.

She smiled to herself as she heard the door open behind her. "Have a nice little time?" The chief overseer sneered at her.

The girl slowly turned to reveal her shivering hunched over figure. She wouldn't fight today, nor tomorrow, but eventually she would fight. She would fight to bring them all down.

"Well?" The chief overseer barked at her.

"Y-yes, sir." She stammered out while looking at the ground. Let them think they've won for now. In the future, she would be a force to be reckoned with.