Okay, this is chapter 2! Thanks to everyone who reviewed chapter 1! Anyways, I promise that this story will get way less depressing….and remember, things aren't always what they seem! (I have wanted to put that in a story for almost FORVEVER! Yay, I did it!)

Disclaimer: Nope, this hasn't changed since last chapter, I still don't own Avatar. I'll even say it in French to make you happy. Avatar ne m'appartient pas. Too bad… (sigh)

Here goes…

Prince Zuko was almost crazed with anger: against himself, against his troops, against his uncle… He had let himself be caught like a beginner, without even catching a glimpse of his attacker. It went against every thing he had learned, or at least, against everything that he had thought he had finally understood.

He cursed himself mentally for having moved during his anger crisis against himself. The burning fire that he could feel on the burn that covered the left side of his chest had just become stronger. He could still feel the pain. The searing agony that had wracked his body as his captor had burnt him was back. He repressed the reflex of moaning in pain and bit his lip to try to shut out some of the pain.

Tasting blood, he stopped. The pain had reluctantly regressed to a dull ache and he looked around the small room of which he was lying on the floor. It was very small, with no furniture at all. His pain-clouded brain took a few moments to notice that everything was made of metal. The ship had to be Fire Nation, or at least Fire Nation-made. There was nothing else that he could gather from the room so he stared around aimlessly for a few moments before his brain decided to make him think of the one thing he didn't want to remember: how he had gotten into this mess.

OoOoOoOoOoOoOo Flashback oOoOoOoOoOoOoO

It had all started as an ordinary day: practicing firebending, running after the Avatar, ordering the crew and his uncle around… It was about midday and they were getting low on supplies so Prince Zuko had ordered the crew to stop at the next village. He wanted to make the stop as short as possible so they could continue their search for the Avatar without too much delay. However, he hadn't planned that a storm would break out.

Grumbling at the weather, Zuko, his uncle and the three soldiers who had come ashore took shelter at a full but good-humoured inn. The innkeeper, a roundling woman in her thirties, came to greet them as soon as they entered.

"Hello my Lords. It isn't that we don't appreciated your coming here but I am truly sorry to tell you that we have no rooms left for you to spend the night in. All my excuses, but unless you choose to buy a meal, I will have to ask you to leave."

During her speech, Iroh had seen his nephew grow more and more tense. Before the teenager had time to say anything, the retired general spoke up.

"Thank you, fair lady." At this, the woman flushed slightly. "Are you sure that you would not have an empty stable where five tired travelers could rest during the storm?"

The patron looked around thoughtfully then nodded and led them to a dark stable in the corner of the barn. She departed soon after, leaving them a half-empty lantern.

Iroh looked around them and said "This seems like a prefect place to spend the night." And with that, he turned out the lantern. Zuko grumbled at him then lied down angrily, cursing the Water Goddess for making it rain. Sometimes, it seemed as if the whole world was against him. Somehow, his thoughts ended up on the little waterbender who traveled with the Avatar.

He truly loathed her for even daring to fight him, the Fire Prince. How dare she? But he had to admit to himself that there had been something that had happened during their fight in the North Pole that had made it seem…magical. Yes, that was the right word. Even as he had fought her, he had felt at peace with himself. For a handful of seconds, all the hatred and anger, all the bitterness and fear that he had felt since his banishment had simply dissolved.

It was as he was wrestling with his thoughts and emotions that his captors had attacked. He had been so deeply lost in the inner workings of his mind that he was caught completely unaware. The only reason that he hadn't attacked at once was the he had felt fire on his left side.

"Don't move, hissed a voice, or I'll burn you to a crisp." Zuko froze. He hadn't even felt the smallest sense of recognition at the sound of his attacker's voice. But all rational thought had flown out of his head as soon as he felt the left side of his body be set on fire. He screamed in pain and knew no more.

After what seemed like days later, he had awoken in his prison cell. He didn't even have a vague notion of time to comfort him since, like in any Fire Nation ship, the cells were windowless.

OoOoOoOoOoOoO End of Flashback oOoOoOoOoOoOoO

Suddenly he emerged from his memories. He could hear footsteps coming his way. Someone or something was making its way towards his cell. But to his surprise, the owner of the footsteps passed his cell without stopping. They seemed to stop at another one close to his. There was silence for a moment, only broken by Zuko's erratic breathing. Then there was a crash and the footsteps started up again, this time fading softly in the distance.

Suddenly, he heard a noise that made him turn his head towards the wall between his cell and the other. He could make out a voice. The words sent shivers up his spine.

"Hello? Is anyone else here? Please answer me! Is there anyone else! Please, talk to me. Please, answer me! Is there nobody else? Hello?"

He froze. He had recognised the voice coming from the other side of the wall. It was like a distant memory finally coming forth. He remembered where he had already heard that voice. And he hoped, for the first time in his life, that he was wrong about something.

This one was a bit longer! So, did you like it? Don't worry, Zuko and Katara will meet up eventually. Anyways, if you loved it, hated it or don't know what you thought about it, go ahead and review!

I have something important to go do right now so, that's it! CHOCOLATE (runs off)

- iolar abu -