Um.. hi. This is Jimmy, and I just wanted to apologize for not saying anything last chapter! Sorry! *Looks nervous* Anyway, I'm still quite new at writing chapter fanfics. The last one I produced I hated so much I made a copy of it and burned it. *Laughs* There's no way it'll make its way here, sorry...
Toph: Just get on with it! Seriously, don't you know anything?!
I'm sorry! Anyway, I own nothing but my imagination, which is suffering for the moment, so please don't expect this to be too great... Now, on with the story! *Grins*

Zuko woke at dawn to a feeling of warmth that was unfamiliar to him. It wasn't the feeling of his firebending, but something external. He tried to ignore the feeling of the sun as its influence called to him, but it's power was too great for his will. He unwillingly forced his eyes open and was greeted with an odd sight. He had not one, but TWO twelve-year-olds who were snuggled up tightly against him. While Toph had her arms and body attached to his chest like a gecko-bird, Aang was similarly wrapped around his back. Even stranger was the metallic stone encasement that trapped his right arm in one position and against his chest. He blinked again, confirming that this wasn't a dream before he shot up, depositing a semi-awake Toph and Aang to the ground. Events from last night bloomed before his mind's eye and he quickly scrambled away from the two children who were both staring at him with sleep-induced confusion.

"Wh-what the hell?!" He hissed, putting a good ten feet between himself and the others. "What the hell are you trying to do?!"

Toph groaned before flopping back onto the ground, falling asleep quickly. Aang, on the other hand, became more alert at the look Zuko was shooting at him. The older teen looked like a panicked wild animal, ready to flee at the slightest move. "Zuko, it's alright," He breathed out calmly, trying not to startle the Firebender. "We were just making sure you were going to be ok."

The wild look in Zuko's mismatched eyes dimmed as he began to grasp what his mind was trying to say. "...Why is my arm encased like this? Did the Waterbender fail at healing me?"

Aang sighed. "Zuko, she has a name just as much as the rest of us. You should call her by it."

"You're avoiding my question, Avatar. Why is my arm trapped within this rock prison?"

"It's serving as a cast until your arm properly heals."

Zuko snorted. "So the Waterbender deliberately failed. Figures."

Aang looked confused. "What are you talking about?"

"It's nothing," He replied, dismissing it. "So, are you just going to leave me like this for the three to four weeks it'll take to heal my arm, or are you going to make Katara heal me properly?"

Aang looked uncomfortable. "Well, I don't want to upset Katara, but I need to start training as soon as possible..."

Zuko realized what he was saying and looked away apologetically. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't try to make you choose between your friends and... me. I can still teach you, even with a broken arm. I don't don't want to impose or anything," He muttered before he practically fled the area, being swallowed into the slowly vanishing shadows.

The Airbender looked surprised before his expression became a little put off. This new Zuko so quickly retreated into his little shell like a scared turtleduck! He had every right to say what he said, since Aang needed him at his best. He sighed before falling down to lie next to Toph once more, looking a little aggravated. 'I'll talk to Katara later.'With those thoughts, he fell into a shallow sleep, careful not to wake Toph. She was never a morning person.

After several minutes of running, Zuko stopped as he leaned against a wall, staring down at the large empty space close to his feet. He slapped himself in the forehead for running off so blindly, like a schoolgirl confronting her crush! He was more dignified than that, he was the prince of the almighty Fire Nation, after all!

His eyes opened wide with shock. 'Where did that come from?' He thought, swallowing thickly. He had thought he had moved on, that he wouldn't be haunted by these thoughts! He KNEW the Fire Nation was in the wrong, and they had to be stopped, so why was he thinking like he used to?

"You seriously don't believe all that nonsense the Avatar is spitting out, do you?"

Zuko literally choked on air as he looked around wildly, trying to find the source of the voice, which was scarilly similar to his own. "Who's there?!" He growled after he stopped choking. "Toph, if that's you, this isn't funny."

Whoever it was chuckled darkly. "Oh, Zuko, you haven't forgotten about me, have you?"

Zuko looked over to the abyss and was scared speechless. There, standing in front of him, was an intangible version of himself, only back when he was still hunting the Avatar, ponytail and all. It floated above the abyss as though there was solid ground beneath it's fee- 'Holy shit!' He thought, backing away from the edge. 'It doesn't have any feet!'

'Zuko' laughed again. "You see a very accurate vision of yourself and you're afraid because it doesn't have feet? How far you've fallen..."

The ex-Fire Nation Prince's eyes widened before they narrowed into dangerous slits. "I'm not afraid of you. You don't exist anymore! Go back to that empty pit I stuck you in."

"Now now, that's no way to talk to nobility, you know that. Father would be so disappointed in you. So is Azula, your precious baby sister, whom you love to a fault. Even Mai is disappointed, for you've left her alone once more. You've forgotten who you truly are."

"You're lying! I'm being who I am, not some angry jerk who tried to help destroy the world! That's not who I am!"

The other Zuko tsked. "No. You are Prince Zuko, heir to the throne, but the moment you abandoned your role, you forgot who you were. The only 'destiny' you have in life is to follow the will of your present Fire Lord, then when you take over, you are to follow in his footsteps and crush the will of this world. THAT is your true destiny!"

Zuko closed his eyes tightly and shook his head furiously. "No! My destiny is to help the Avatar defend the world and defeat the Fire Lord!" He shouted, trying to drown out his other self's influences. He vaguely noticed that the more it got to him, the more coporeal the other being became.

"What would Mother say if she saw you now?"

Zuko's eyes widened in shock at the question. He couldn't think of an answer. His old self continued on, trying to worm its way back into control.

"Mother would be even more ashamed than the rest of them. To see you act so, so... weak and helpless, she would never be able to look you in the eye! She would just stand there in horror before turning away and leaving you once more, in every sense of the word!"

Zuko clapped one hand over his undamaged ear. "Shut up!" He roared angrilly, somewhat thankful that no one was here to see his mental breakdown. "Mother's dead, and she's never coming back! Don't bring her into this! If you were a part of me, you'd stop and leave!"

The old Zuko smirked in a way that reminded the real Zuko of Azula. "If that is what you want, fine. I'll leave, but I'll still be there. Before you or your pathetic little 'friends' know it, I'll come back and destroy them all, and leave the blood on your hands, forever!"The nearly solid form slowly became intangible once more before it vanished completely. A wind began to blow, as if to mark it's passing, causing shivers to run down Zuko's spine. He collapsed against the wall, shivering. He rested his suddenly sweaty forehead against the cool stone of the splint Toph had forced upon him.

"I have to get rid of this thing, then I need to medidate. I think I'm going insane..." He muttered to himself, glaring balefully at the stone that gleamed o so innocently in the light. Flames licked at his left hand, ready and willing to devour the black stone that dared to bother its master.

"Hey, Sokka, can you call Zuko to breakfast?" Aang asked the older Watertribe boy, giving him puppydog eyes.

"What about NO do you not understand, Aang?" Sokka asked, groaning at the persistent boy. "I don't care if that Fire Nation scum wants to starve himself; it just means that there's more for the rest of us." Aang's pathetic puppy eyes changed into a 'kicked, starved little puppy who's just begging for help' look. Sokka saw the look out of the corner of his eye and grimaced. He tried to be strong, wear out the power of the look, but it broke down his resolve, leaving him a broken, miserable man who would do anything Aang said. "Alright, alright, just stop with that looK!"

Aang grinned in satisfaction. "Thanks Sokka! But Sokka, please be nice to him. He's having a hard time adapting, so I want you to be nice and gentle around him. I've never seen ANYONE so nervous before."

Sokka snorted. "That's because he knows we're onto his little game and that we'll kill him the moment he calls his little sister over."

"Sokka! I'm telling you, he's changed!"

"Whatever," Sokka replied doubtfully. "Anyway, where is our crazy Firebender?"

Aang shrugged. "I don't know. He woke up this morning, at dawn, and panicked before running off. I haven't seen or heard him since."

Sokka groaned loudly before he walked out of the room, to search for the annoying Firebender. "Stupid jerkbender's making me miss breakfast, he'll pay for this..."

Ten minutes of searching and the Firebender was nowhere to be seen. "Damn, if I didn't know Zuko was a lousy Firebender, I'd say he was a chameleon-peacock or something!" Sokka grumbled angrily as he stumbled over a seemingly harmless lump of stone that stuck out just enough for him to trip over it. He glared daggers at the offending rock but it just sat there, all innocent.

As he continued to curse at the stupid rock and the stupid firebender and life in general, a faint smell began to pervade the air. Sokka couldn't decide what the scent was until it grew stronger, coming from a small alcove he could barely see down the dark hallway. It smelt like cooking meat. Sokka's eyes widened. "If Zuko has meat then I'll just eat with him! THAT'S why he's not coming to breakfast!" At the prospect of juicy, rich meat just finished cooking over a fire spurred Sokka into action, causing him to dash exictedly towards the small opening.

When Sokka burst into the light, the sight before him stunned him, struck him in the core of his very being. He watched in shocked horror for several moments before he turned away and actually vomited from the disgusting sight.

Zuko looked up from the halfway removed cast on his arm and was mildly surprised. "Oh, hi Wate-I mean Sokka. What are you doing here?" He asked pleasantly. He was confused as to why Sokka looked so horrified, or had even vomited in the first place. His brow furrowed. He wasn't that bad to look at, was he?

Sokka's hands were shaking wildly when he looked back at Zuko. "What the hell are you doing?!" He whispered hoarsely. The o so pleasant smell of roasting meat had been Zuko's arm being burnt under cherry red metal, and the older boy acted like it didn't even phase him! "Look at your arm, dammit! How can you not feel that?!"

Zuko blinked in confusion once more before looking down at his arm, which was not a pretty sight. It was covered with horrible red burns that were actually weeping before his eyes. He glanced down at his left hand, which was an even worse sight. It was alternating between burns so horrible they were black and flaky and bits and pieces of flesh missing. He stared in fascination as he twisted the appendage to and fro, watching the damaged muscles move, exposed to human sight. He could even see a small white piece of bone here and there. He glanced at Sokka once more, looking a little shocked. "...What am I supposed to be feeling, Sokka? I don't feel a thing." He said this perfectly calm, as though not noticing the worst set of burns either of the boys had ever seen was a typical, everyday thing.

Sokka could only stare in horrid fascination as Zuko stood with ease, wincing when the teen's injured hand dug into the ground, picking up bits of dirt and rock that stuck in the soft muscle and harder bone. "You need Katara, now! You're wounds need to be healed, and fast!"

Zuko looked slightly uncomfortable. "But I don't to bother anyone..." He muttered, looking worried. "Seeing me bothers her. Besides, it doesn't hurt. Never has."

Sokka was momentarily struck speechless. His mouth moved but no sound came out. Instead, he decided to grab the pale boy by the upper right arm and drug him to the rest of the gaang, who were somewhat anxiously awaiting their arrival.

"What is TAKING them so long?!" Katara groused as she continued to stir the rest of breakfast, after having fed the people who were present. They were all still hungry, but Katara refused to give anyone seconds until Sokka showed up to eat, with Zuko or without. Aang had protested, saying that they should all wait for Zuko as well, but Katara wouldn't listen, not even for the young Avatar. "Toph, can you feel either of them?"

Toph glared somewhere to Katara's left as she rested with her feet resting above the ground, the soles still red and sore. "Uh, hello?! I can't 'see' very well, remember? Don't ask me!"

Katara growled. "Don't take it out on me Toph, just because the traitor decided to burn your feet! Serves you right for trusting him in the first place..."

Toph's eyes narrowed in anger. "What did you say, Sugar Queen?! Are you saying that I DESERVED to have my feet burned?!"

"No! I'm just saying, bad things happen to people who try to trust Zuko. He always double-crosses them!"

"Katara, please! He's really changed! I can tell," Aang replied hastily, trying to avoid a cat fight between the only two girls in the group. A faceoff between Katara and Toph always left the diminuative Earthbender as the winner and a sulking, EXTREMELY pissed of Katara who took her anger out on everyone, even Aang. "A-anyway, I'm going to go look for them."

Katara's eyes narrowed into thin slits, looking like an angry tigersnake. "I forbid you to go looking for Zuko, Aang. It's just too dangerous. He could betray us at any moment, and I don't want you anywhere near him unless someone else is around!"

Aang grinned in response. "But Sokka will be with me! I bet he's already found Zuko, but got lost on the way back. I'll go find them and bring them back!"

Katara was about to reply when Toph straightened up, looking worried. "Snoozles is coming!" She called out to everyone else.

"Finally..." Haru huffed from his position on the other side of the fire, absently grooming his moustache.

"No, something's wrong. He seems panicked about something... His heartbeats insanely fast..."

Katara's eyes widened. "Toph, where is he?!" She asked, half shouting.

Now, before Toph could reply, Sokka burst into the fountain room where they always gathered, breathing heavily. Panic had definitely set into Sokka's mind, because his visible hand was shaking, there was sweat running down his face and neck, despite the cool wind that was gently weaving through the open area, and his eyes were wild with fear. "Katara, I need your help!" He huffed. He pulled Zuko out into the open, who had seemed to be trying to hide behind the Watertribe member like a small child meeting strangers for the first time.

Katara was about to huff angrilly before she smelt the aroma of burning skin and saw the damage to Zuko's arm and hand, along with the melted edges of the cast, which only covered his elbow and forearm. "Sokka, what the hell did he do?!" She asked, immediately running over to him, anger forgotten, only worry appearing.

Sokka's voice shook but his words were clear. "He says he was just trying to remove the cast so he could teach Aang firebending, and tried to heat it enough to pry it off. Look at his hand, Katara! I've never seen anyone like this before, and he says he can't feel a thing!"

Zuko looked a little shell-shocked as everyone gathered around him as best as they could, only to rear back in disgust. Haru pulled the Duke away before he could see, ignoring the young boy's protests. Toph, angry at being ignored and out of the loop, shouted, "Guys, whats going on?! What happened to Sparky?!"

Aang pulled away, swallowing his nausea. "I-i'll tell you l-later, Toph," He muttered, looking away from Zuko, causing the boy to look a little hurt. He didn't understand what the fuss was all about. Yes, he burned himself, but as long as it didn't hurt, it wasn't a big deal, and he could still move his arms adequately. The cast was a problem still, since it caused all movement in his elbow to be obsolete, but he could deal with burns. He WAS a Firebender, after all, but if the Avatar couldn't even look at him, he must have done something wrong.

Katara began to pull Sokka and Zuko away, heading into the hallways that led to everyone's rooms. "You guys can keep eating!" She shouted behind her. "I'm going to take care of these two and I'll be back."

With that said, they disappeared around a corner. Silence reigned for about thirty seconds before Toph voiced her complaints. "C'mon guys! I'm hungry over here! Someone get me another bowl!" Teo and the Duke also began to eat after the young boy brought Toph her bowl of porridge. Haru and Aang, on the other hand, couldn't bring themselves to LOOK at the food, let alone eat it. If they did, they both knew they'd be sicker than dogs.

It was well after lunch by the time Katara left Zuko's room and wearily walked back to the fountain, where everyone was worriedly gathered. Aang had explained to Toph what had happened, but everyone left the Duke in the dark about it, simply saying that the Firebender had injured himself and needed rest. Toph was the first one to speak up after Katara plopped down close to the fire.

"I told you something bad would happen if you didn't heal Zuko, and here it is. How is he supposed to firebend now?" Toph asked, looking smug, yet somehow worried at the same time.

Katara sighed. "Toph, this isn't anything to joke about. I mean, he heated the stone to its melting point and pried it off with his bare hands! There is no way he could have done that without passing out from the pain!"

Sokka rolled his eyes. "Quite obviously he didn't pass out, Katara. Is he going to be ok?"

Katara looked worried. "I don't think so."

"What?!" Aang shouted, standing up swiftly. "What's wrong with him?!"

Katara stared at her hands while she fidgeted. "I don't know what happened. I had just finished healing him, and as soon as I turned to leave, he collapsed. He has a really high fever, the highest I've ever encountered. I didn't feel any infection or sickness or anything, and I don't know what to do!" Her grip tightened in her lap, the cloth bunching around her hands. "He's just lying there..."

Aang sucked in a breath before racing toward the exiled prince's room, fearing the worst.

Hi again! Well, we're at the end of this chapter, and I hope it's good enough for your expectations! Just to let you know, I'm usually not this much of a mush, but I REEEAAALLLYY want people to read this, and if being a pushover will do it, then I'll do it! And I was actually really nervous about posting it. But I feel better. And flames aren't welcome, but I don't care if you send them. I'm just going to give them to Zuko so he can play with them. You know about kids and their fire. Silly pyros.... Anyway, please review! Any is good, especially kind criticism. Byes!

Hit the review button and review, damn you!