Chapter 3

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Out of Mind

The Price Of Being A Prince

I felt far more tired than I thought I would be. Despite the fact that I was bunking with a total stranger I was too exhausted all of the sudden to fight against my heavy eyelids. I climbed onto my bunk and lay down. It seemed as soon as I closed my eyes I was commanded to open them by the rising sun. There was very little light in the room from a covered porthole window but I could feel the approaching sun as if it were right in my face. I wonder why?

I then heard the door creak open and I realized that Pim wasn't in the room any more. Sure enough Pim stepped in staggering a little. Despite the fact that he reeked of alcohol he looked very sober. "I found out you name" he spat at me.

"What is it?!" I asked impatiently.

"It's Zuko. Prince Zuko of the Fire Nation" he spat the words "prince" and "Fire Nation" out like they were something vile-tasting on his tongue.

"No, I can't be." I didn't realize I said it aloud until he started laughing sneeringly.

"Oh you are. I can tell by the scar you're famous for. I hear your own father did it and banished you. And now you're nothing. Just some pathetic little boy who d-d-desperately wants d-daddy to l-love you again." He said the last sentence mockingly, pretending to be a blubbering sympathizer. There was ridicule and venom in his eyes though. "I hear you're a firebender too. It's a part of who you are. It must be Hell to fight it." Suddenly he pulled a knife from his sleeve. "Go a head and make me drop it. Make it so I can never hold it again. You know you want too. Of course it'll be the last thing you ever do but you aren't known for your good decisions Fire Brat."

I clenched my fists and rose to stand in front of him. Glaring violently I hissed scathingly "you want to fight me? You saw what I can do without bending."

"I've heard what you can do too. Burning down villages. Hurting women and children. You truly are like your father: a monster."

"THEN WHY CAN'T I REMEMBER?!"

"Do you WANT to remember?" he challenged.

I roared and shoved him to the side. I knew it wasn't safe here anymore. I hit his head on the back of the metal door thus knocking him unconscious. I grabbed the knife and a small pouch of coins on his belt then ran down the hall. As stealthily as I could I entered the med ward and grabbed some bandages. Next I roamed the ship as quickly as possible finding a bag and some food. I made it to the deck and was loading a life raft when my luck ran out.

"There he is!" A man yelled pointing to me.

"Spirits damn this." I muttered then grabbed the bag and jumped overboard without the boat. The water was freezing so I worked on heating my body with my bending. To my surprise it worked. I stayed down as long as possible finding I had quite a good set of lungs. I must have trained in this. While I was down I swam away from the boat. When I resurfaced I saw an outline of land. Struggling with the cold and the bag I made slow work to the shore.

After what seemed like hours of exhausting strokes and kicks I tumbled to the beach. My whole body felt like it was on fire and my lungs couldn't seem to hold air anymore. I felt a heaviness creeping in again and just as I did I heard and oddly familiar female voice cry "Oh my goodness!" Then warm hands on my face. Then nothing.

OK so apparently Pim decided to channel Jet this chapter for some reason. o.0

"Who is she?" I'm sure you are thinking. She is someone who SHOULD BE A TIED-UP LOOSE END! I will NOT let this go! (You will see what I mean when she is revealed.)

Also this isn't the last we will hear of the dear boat but Zuko wasn't on it long enough for some answers. It will be revisited though so closure will be gotten.