Young Dragon: Nightmare Of Flames

Pairing: Zuko & Gaang

Genre: Family & Tragedy

Rating: K+ - T

Disclaimer: I don't own A:TLA – Simple.

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Footsteps… Light and stealthy but heard… It was coming closer…

He shut his eyes and grasped on to his red silk blanket, fearing the footsteps he heard throughout the hallways. They finally stopped, and he heard his door creak open and light peaked through the crack. A shadow moved along the floor and moved closer to his bed. The figure stopped at his bedside and stroked his face, the young boy cracked his eyes open to see who the mysterious shadow was. His last thought was it being his own mother dragon. Dragons… Extinct for centuries… He loved them. He thought of his mother as a dragon; caring for her young yet fierce and brave in the time of need. "M-Mom?" His voice croaked in a whisper. The mother shushed her son and replied lightly, "Don't ever forget who you are… My son… Zuko…" She leaned in and placed her lips on his forehead. He nodded, his eyes followed his mothers retreating figure back into the hallway. He stared at the now closed door… The last place his mother was seen.

"Mom…" The boy muttered, wondering where the dragon was going, "Where are you going Mom?..." He asked himself, sleep was taking over him and his vision was dimming. "Don't leave Mom…" Was the last thing the boy said to himself before his vision was taken over by blackness and the last thing he said to himself before he knew his mother was gone.

Mom… Why did you leave me? He told me that he banished you, and I knew he would have done such a thing to you… Where did you go? My mother dragon is gone…

"Is he okay?"

"I don't know! Why are you asking me?"

"Oh I'm not to sure Toph! Maybe because you have feet!"

"Oh, I didn't notice! I also didn't notice the burns on my feet either!"

Mom…

His eyes snapped open and he jolted up, the people surrounding him took a surprised step back. His vision was blurred and he was drenched in sweat. He brought his hands up to rub his eyes to only feel them get moist, 'Tears? I was… crying?' He wiped his eyes and took a look at the people surrounding him, "Hey Sparky, you alright?" He glanced at the blind Earthbender, "Y-Yeah…What happened?" He asked in reply. "We woke up and you were sweating and you were really feverish. You said stuff like 'Mom' and 'Don't leave' and such." A certain water tribe girl answered. He blushed and stood up, he turned around and started to walk, "Nightmares…" The scarred dragon murmured audibly to the confused Gaang.

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His only cure to nightmares… Firebending. He was practicing his katas to be interrupted by none other than the annoying water tribe boy himself, "Hey Zuko… About what happened this morning…" He started, "What about it?" He asked in reply.

"We were really worried and… What did you have your nightmare about?". Sokka's reply was silence. The banished prince sighed and took a seat on the stone floor, he crossed his arms and said in a nearly muted whisper, "My mom…". Zuko hung his head as if the cold stone floor was the most interesting thing in the world, "Oh… What happened to-"

"Banished, never known to be dead or alive." He snapped, cutting off the water tribe boy. "You want to talk about it?" The young man offered. He shook his head and kept his head down. Sokka sighed and sat down next to the young firebender. "My mom died in a Fire Nation raid. Katara was the last person to see her… She died protecting her." Sokka said, "So did mine…" The young dragon started. Sokka glanced at the firebender, his eyes begging for a story. The prince gave in and sighed, "My grandfather, Fire Lord Azulon wanted me dead because Uncle's son – Lu Ten died in the war. He said it would only be fair if the first born of his second son died too, my dad agreed, being the bastard he is. My mom on the other hand… She spoke out, saying that she wouldn't allow me to die at the hands of him. Ozai silenced her and apologized to Fire Lord Azulon, only to be muted. My mother pointed to Azulon and said, "I won't allow my son to die at such a young age. Please… Kill me instead of him." Azulon was impressed by her bravery and banished her, giving her only the night to leave. She came to my room at night and whispered to me, "Don't ever forget who you are… my son… Zuko…" Then she left. That was the last time I saw her." Zuko finished. "Dude… You family is sick… besides your mother and uncle… that is just…"
"Cruel… I noticed." The fire nation prince finished for him. He sighed and stood up, seeing the sun lowering in the golden sky. He heard the waterbender call them to dinner so he and the Water tribe boy started walking back to the group. The young dragon stopped and looked up into the sky, wondering where his mother was right now. Sokka put his hand on Zuko's shoulders reassuringly, "Don't worry dude, wherever your mom is… She'll be proud of you." His words were kind and caring.

Ever since they went on the risky mission of rescuing his dad and unintentional mission of also bringing back his girlfriend, the two boys grew a certain bond. They were brotherly like toward each other. They had a connection that only the two knew of. They watched each other's backs and cared for each other, they would make sure that whatever secrets they told each other were kept a secret between the two.

Zuko faced the other boy and nodded. They continued walking toward the bigger, main area of the abandoned Airbending temple. Dinner was peaceful and talkative, however nightmares were awaiting the Fire Nation prince… Worse then expected…

So, how did you like the story so far? Good, bad, okay-ish? Remember! If you have any suggestions or comments, review or PM me! I'm always glad to be getting reviews, favorites, follows and such! I will hopefully be updating at least one to two times a week! No flames please but I do accept constructive criticism! Thanks :D