Chapter 3

Zuko kept riding not looking behind and not really caring where he was going. He felt like he was on the run again like he was when him and his uncle were trying to avoid the fire nation.

Zuko missed his uncle the one man that ever showed him affection. And one of the only people that was there for him other than his mom. He looked forward and all he could think about was his uncle. Just thinking of his uncle inside of that fire nation prison made him want to cry.

He wanted to go back so bad and make things right with his uncle. But he knew he had to get the Avatar and then he could try to help his uncle. But then he just wanted to go back and break his uncle out and go back on the run. In his mind the best time of his life was when he was with his uncle.

He finally got everything that he wanted. His dad appreciated him, people worshiped him. He knew that one day he would even rule the fire nation. Yet he still felt empty. He wanted to go back with his uncle drink his tea and listen to his wacky stories.

He didn't know what he needed to do. Should he get the Avatar and look good for his dad and his country. Or should he disobey everything and get his uncle and once again run away from the fire nation. That was what he wanted badly.

But he knew that if he broke his uncle out the fire nation would do anything to get Zuko and his Uncle. And how fast Azula had found them the first time he didn't want to test her this time. Zuko kept riding on he knew now what he had to do.

Aang watched as Katara put the fire out and turned and looked at Sokka as he had trouble wrapping his sleeping bag. Toph was behind him already in Appa's saddle. He just wished everything was over. He tried to keep things bottled in. He tried to make it seem like everything was okay and this adventure was fun to him.

But honestly Aang hated it. But he knew his duty as the Avatar made him continue. He walked out on the world for one hundred years and he wanted to make up for those hundred years. Everyday Sozen's Comet came and everyday the pressure got bigger and bigger.

He was only twelve and was being asked to save the entire world. He wanted to be a regular kid playing games going to school and being with his friends. But not Aang he needed to save the world. And even after that he would never be a regular kid ever again.

"Come on Aang we are ready to go," Katara said down to Aang as she climbed into Appa's saddle and sat next to Toph.

"Coming right now," Aang jumped up unto Appa's neck and turned and made sure everyone was there. Sokka was reading a map like he always did. Toph was picking her toes. And Katara was brushing her hands through her hair.

Aang swallowed very slowly and watched as Katara's hand slowly went through her hair. Oh how Aang wished he was the one brushing her long brown hair. Katara noticed Aang staring and she stopped and blushed.

Aang as fast as he could turned and yelled "Yip Yip!" and pulled Appa's rein and pointed him out of the cave. Appa flew straight out of the cave and went straight up into the clouds. Momo ran up unto one of Appa's horns and watched as the clouds came closer and closer.

Aang sat back and started snapping his fingers. Every time a small flame would appear in between his fingers. That's all he could do now but he kept trying and trying. He knew if he got better at it he would be able to make a full flame come out.

Firebending seemed to be the hardest element to bend. He thought earthbending was but the fact that he didn't even want to learn firebending made it hard for him to even make a flame in between his fingers. He wished he didn't even have to learn it. He hated it but he knew one day it would help.

He wished he could talk to Avatar Roku and seek his wisdom. He hadn't talked to him in a while and he missed it. He was scared and he didn't know what to do. But all he could do was keep learning and get closer and closer to the fire lord's palace.

But at the same time keep an eye out for Azula or Zuko.

Zuko saw a small village ahead and he could see the villagers doing their daily work. He was on top of a cliff looking over the village. He was hungry and he knew that his mongoose dragon was just as hungry. He pulled the rein around the lizards neck and turned him towards the right of the cliff.

The lizard glided over the rocks and grass and landed on the floor beneath the cliff that he was once on. The lizard ran towards the village, villagers seeing a large lizard and a man coming at them very fast. They made a hole as the lizard ran straight into the middle of their village. Zuko jumped right off the lizard and grabbed its rein.

He pulled the lizard behind him as Zuko walked towards a shop with assorted meat hanging over the stand. He stopped in front of the shopkeeper and looked him in the face. The shopkeeper right away saw the red scar on his left eye.

"Prince Zuko ummmm what can I get for you?" The shopkeeper said to Zuko very nervously.

"Yeah I'll take this piece of meat and that one," Zuko said as he pointed at two different pieces of meat. Zuko turned around as he heard people whispering behind him. Probably wondering what a Prince was doing in a small village.

He knew now that walking into a village may just let it easier for Azula to find him. He knew that his sister was very easily going to find him. But he wanted to make it as hard as possible. But sadly he just made it very easy to find him.

The shopkeeper put the meat he wanted into a bag and handed to Zuko. He grabbed it and just dropped some money on the counter turned and walked away. When he was away from the village he pulled out a piece of meat and started to eat. He tore off a chunk and fed it to his lizard. He petted the giant lizard and watched it eat the meat.

Zuko looked at it and silently named him "Azulon" so he could always remember why he was doing this.

Hey I would like to thank all of you guys who have read and reviewed this story. It really means a lot and makes this story so much more worth writing. So thanks again and look out for Chapter 4 it's a crazy one.