Coming of a New Age

The Dream

Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar the Last Airbender. Yada yada yada, I think we all get the point.

Warnings: I guess this will have some spoilers for anyone who hasn't watched the show... but if you haven't watched it you wouldn't be reading it... I think...

Zuko lay in the damp grass with his arms crossed beneath his head. He silently watched the stars above with his golden eyes. He could still see the fire glistening brightly beside him and he could feel the heat still slightly caressing his side.

It was freezing under the night sky, but he had given up the blankets to his Uncle Iroh. It was at this point in his lifetime that the Prince did not care whether he lived or died, but he was not going to have the death of his Uncle resting on his shoulders. Iroh had been the only one to still take him in after that incident a little over three years ago.

The only one in his entire family.

He turned over, putting his back to the fire. The only way to stay awake was to keep moving. He did not want to fall asleep. Now that he and Iroh were 'traitors' in a sense, he could not let his guard down for a long period of time. Actually, he should not let it down at all.

He turned again as his eyes started to droop. He draped his right arm over his face in agony. This was absolutely ridiculous. First, he is living like a criminal. Sleeping outside on the bare ground. Then, he would not even let himself sleep because he was afraid someone would come after him. He had been banished, and then shortly after that betrayed. Why else would anyone want to come after him? He needed his sleep and if he did not choose to do so willingly, his body would take over. It was almost as if he was delaying the inevitable. He had such a desire to sleep but at the same time he continued to fight it. Just as he had and will do with everything else.

His eyelids fell closed over his eyes. It seemed so calming. He shot his eyes open again, realizing that he was starting to give into something. Maybe that was what he needed. To finally give in and face the facts. He closed his eyes, and shortly after it was welcomed with the darkness of sleep.

Zuko suddenly saw a bright light in front of him. It was close, almost too close. However he could not tell what it was. He stared at it in fascination wondering whether he should get up and move or stay and accept it. But what was it that he would be accepting?

You will learn respect, and suffering will be your teacher.

Those words rang throughout his head. Who had said them? What was he trying to say?

Pain started searing through Zuko's head and spread throughout the rest of his body. He was frozen and could not move. He finally realized the source of his pain. It was coming from the left side of his face. He opened his eyes wider and saw a tall figure towering over him. He was no longer outside but rather in an Agni Kai chamber. There were people all around staring at him in fear. Suddenly another light, and this time Zuko recognized it right away. Fire.

The pain was unbearable, making him feel as if it would be the last thing he would experience. Then came the horrid smell from his own burning flesh and blood. This was the Fire Nation. This is what they did to people? Had all their victims experienced this pain?

There was a loud scream that rang throughout the chamber. It was too loud. Zuko wanted it to stop, but it wouldn't. He tried to clutch his head to stop the pain and to block the screaming, but he couldn't. He was helpless.

The screaming continued to get louder as the pain grew worse. It was him. He was the one screaming and he could not control himself. He felt the stares of the people. He hated them. He hated how they just stood there and did nothing. NOTHING! How could he ever call this place home again? How had he called it home in the first place?

He could feel the fire tearing at his skin. Tearing at his soul. His father. He was the one doing this to him. Fear, pain, and hate. All he has ever known, and now he was forced to experience more? Then to top it off... Shame.

He fell to the ground still screaming. Everyone was quiet. In fact no one was even breathing. What did they feel for him? Pity? No. They felt that justice had been served. That he, their prince, deserved this. Even if they did not feel that it was right, it was not as if anyone was about to do anything. No one would ever stand up to their beloved Fire Lord.

Ozai knelt in front of Zuko and lifted up his son's chin, forcing him to look directly into his eyes. Tears still streaming down Zuko's face, mixing with the blood, and dropping onto the ground.

"Get out of my nation. The throne no longer belongs to you. You are not the prince of the Fire Nation anymore."

These words tore at Zuko's soul. Tears that would never heal. Tears that would continue to grow and would become the source of his rage and hatred. Tears that would control his life in the near future.

Zuko sat up straight dripping in cold sweat. A nightmare, that's all it was, Zuko thought to himself. He wiped the sweat from his brow and took a deep breath to try and calm himself down. He reached up and rubbed the scar on his face. It was slightly sore, almost as if his dream had triggered it.

The sun was slowly rising, but it was still very early in the morning. Embers from what once was a flame started to dim in the pile of burnt wood. He had been asleep for a few hours. Not very long though. Everything seemed to be fine. Iroh was still asleep... and snoring. That proved that he was still alive. For once, nothing bad had happened. No matter how short the time was.

Then he started to think.

Unlimited things ran through his head. Questions that could not be answered. Old phrases being said over and over from the past. However, one question in particular hung out in front of him. One that he needed the answer to. It would decide his future, here and now. He could not wait for it.

"Uncle?" He called out gently in the dark.

Iroh groaned in his sleep and subconsciously scratched his belly. He tended to do that often so he most likely had not heard Zuko's voice.

"Uncle!" Zuko yelled.

Iroh jumped up throwing the blankets off of him. "Hmm? You know who stole the ginseng tea?" He asked wearily.

Zuko slapped himself on the forehead.

Great, Zuko thought to himself, I'm having a nightmare about my past and the worst possible nightmare he could have is of someone stealing his tea.

"Uh... no. It's something else." Zuko answered lowering his hand.

"Oh, well I'm going back to sleep then. We can find the tea in the morning." Iroh said as he laid back down.

"UNCLE! Your tea isn't missing!" Zuko yelled at him.

Iroh sat up and rubbed his eyes. "It's not?"

"No!" Zuko answered. "I need to ask you something." Zuko clutched the grass beside him, still running the possibilities of the answer through his head.

Iroh slowly sat back up as he heard the serious tone in Zuko's voice. He stared at Zuko, a light of wonderment in his eyes. "It cannot wait, can it?" He asked although he already knew the answer. Zuko simply shook his head and continued to stare at the grass in his hand. "Okay then, what is it Prince Zuko?"

Zuko took a deep breath, never thinking that he was ever going to ask this. Never knowing that he had had this doubt inside of him the entire time. It was now that he needed to know the truth.

"Father doesn't want me back, does he? He never did."

Author's Note: Okay, so there's the first chapter of my first fanfiction. I know most of it was a re-cap of the episode The Storm, but I thought I would start it off that way to lead to the question. The descriptive part of it might be a little weak, so if you can help me in anyway, it would be appreciated. And just be warned... I'm not gonna lie so this story might end up being anywhere from 10 to 20 chapters. But bear with me! We'll see where it goes. Please review! -