I raised the rating because of a few curses and some fairly mild violence. I was conflicted though, I think you see more violence on the discovery channel than this. Oh well... Hurray! Because of the lack of reviews, I can thank all of you personally - Fun fun huh?

Oh, and one more thing. There's only one more chapter left, about this length. So Still - Barely any commitment eh?

bluedragonstarheart: Thank you so much for the compliment, though don't worry, content is no problem... well, it may be.

Ookami: Yes yes, I had to write something not all lovey. I'm not the biggest fan of romance. Thanks for the kind words and I hope you stick with my story.

breadrollminion: And I am glad you read my non-romance serious story. Haha, I hope you enjoy this chapter also... this is where I normally get kinda sloppy and dialogue heavy... or barely any dialogue at all

Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar: The Last Aribender or any of it's characters. But I do own this ice-cream I am about to eat. SO BLEH! to you

Chapter Two - Part one: Weak and Powerless

Prince Zuko's men ate in a separate room as Iroh and his nephew sat anxiously at a large dinning table. Huge ugly and chipped painting hung from walls that looked like they were once white, but now developed a yellowish hue - especially around the paintings. Though the red and gold theme still held firm in all of the chairs and decorative doors. Despite the many exits from the room, Iroh still felt trapped and he cast a sideways glance toward Zuko.

His nephew's gaze was fixed on a large golden axe that hung loosely above a particullary gory picture of a battle. Iroh could tell he was looking at the axe instead of the picture and he could relate with the boy if he was thinking of using it as a weapon is something were to happen.

"I'm not feeling well, uncle. Perhaps I should skip dinner." The young prince said in a voice that contradicted his own words. Iroh knew the boy was scared, but how scared was beyond him. He was never good at reading his nephew's emotions, though he could say that he was better at it then Zuko's father. Nevertheless, he cleared his throat to speak.

"This will go well, prince Zuko. We have already made a deal and I'm sure that Lord Liam will not go back on it." He said, trying to convince both himself and his nephew. "There is not much reason to go back on it," He whispered so lightly that Zuko would not have heard if he wasn't sitting directly next to Iroh.

No one talked for a long while, that is until about nine or ten people dressed in rags marched in holding a meal that could've fed all the men on their ship maybe six times. They placed the food down in pre-set places on the table and then filed out just as Lord Liam came in. His robes were large and extravagant, billowing out in all directions and coming to stop about a few feet from where they stood. They were red and gold also. Iroh thought that if the man would step to the left a little, he would blend completely into the wallpaper.

"Bow to me," He ordered lightly. "This is my palace and you're under my rule. Do as I wish and bow to me!" He said more forcefully when he noticed the looks he was getting.

"Never!" Zuko spat and sat up straight in his chair - ready to fight if such a situation presented itself.

"You dare oppose me?" Liam bellowed and his voice echoed endlessly through the chamber. In not a moments time, Liam cleared the space between him and Iroh's nephew. With a tight gaze, Zuko held his ground. Silence an answer enough for the Lord, he yanked his hand back and hit the teenager. Of course Zuko didn't budge, and to make matters worse, he spoke again.

"That's all? My mother could've done worse," He said and Iroh pressed himself against his chair. His nephew would pay for that. As he guessed, something in the room changed. A definate cold that loomed around the table closed in taking Iroh's breath away. He looked to the prince and could tell the boy had felt it too by the way his eyes darted around.

About twenty glowing figures appeared around them. They were just like the one that Iroh saw on the ship. Liam said something, but he couldn't hear it over the blood that rushed through his ears and pounded behind his eyes. One figure stepped forward and wrapped a large-firm hand around Zuko's throat and lifted him out of his seat and off the floor. Zuko choked and his hands flew up in a mild attempt to loosen the deadly vice that cut his airways off.

Again he made to help the boy, but just like on the ship, two arms encircled him and washed a cold feeling through his veins. Black dots swam in his vision and he wondered if his nephew was experiencing anything like this. It didn't take long for the dots to consume all of his sight in their magic dance.

Suddenly, the cold went away and he opened his eyes to find he was on the ground. Without wasting his time, he jumped to his feet and watched as the figure that held his nephew slammed the boy against the wall, the wall with the axe. The bump rattled the axe, but it stayed up there. Fighting the hands that still held his neck, Zuko reached up just high enough and tore the axe from it's holding place.

In one swift motion, he cut down and a stream of blood poured out of the figure and rushed onto him. He was abruptly dropped to the ground. The prince dropped the axe and grabbed his sore throat. He was gasping for breath. Iroh would've went to the boy's side, but he was too shocked. All the figures disappeared and Liam was standing at the far end of the room with an expression that matched the wise uncle's.

The once invisible figure in front of Zuko turned from not there to there in seconds and made the whole room wish it hadn't. Not many people had the "pleasure" of seeing a man almost cut in half right down their center, but it wasn't pretty. What resembled a man was sprawled out in front of Zuko. Organs and blood poured from the remains and had everyone frozen in their tracks - especially the teenage prince.

Hands still around his throat, he stared at his legs that were almost completely covered by what he had killed or what was now suitable, who he had killed. Liam was the first to move, and his actions sparked a chain of events. First, the man ran from the room, then Iroh started to run to Zuko, but was instead grabbed by a gaurd who reluctantly dragged him to the room that he and his nephew were to stay in.

Not soon after, Zuko was pushed into the room and the door was shut loudly. At first, they were both quiet, but it was broken quickly when Zuko let out a sound that could've almost been a laugh, but turned into a sob as he fell to his knees. Iroh finally able to be at the boy's side was there in a second. The prince was covered in foreign blood and shook violently. Iroh placed a hand on the boy's shaking shoulder.

"Maybe we can beat them," Zuko said and pulled his arms to hug himself. A rare show of weakness that Zuko only reserved for the times when it was just him and his Uncle. He chuckled and a wild look came to his eyes. "I mean, that wasn't hard at all." He swallowed hard and Iroh could tell his nephew was trying not to get sick. He wanted to say something, but everything he thought of seemed to make matters worse. Even he was shaken by the kill, and he'd seen so much.

"Maybe he'll give us plenty of axes to work with," Iroh said and wrapped his arm around the boy to help him to his feet. "Guess we won't be having that dinner we were promised." Zuko let a smile pass his lips, but it never quite made it to his eyes. They both stood and Iroh guided Zuko to one of the beds. "Sleep will be good," He whispered, though he knew the young prince would do nothing of the sort. He would be lucky if he got Zuko to even lay down.

"He'll kill us in our sleep. He's probably already killed my men," The boy said as he sat on the bed, his arms still tightly wrapped around his middle.

Iroh sat next to him. "Are you alright, Zuko?" He asked, letting his concern show in his voice. He seemed to be the only one that still considered the prince in front of him to be just a boy. He may have grown up fast, but deep down inside, Zuko was still young. Something passed through his eyes and Iroh knew then that the weakness his nephew was showing was no more. "I'm fine, uncle. Do not trouble yourself." The boy said, his eyes scanning his bloody armor. "We must get out of here. I have a bad feeling."

"Me too," Iroh agreed, standing up and walking to his bed. He wouldn't sleep either. They both stayed quiet until the door to there chamber burst open and Liam strode in.

His robes were different now, but still as extravagant as before. His face seemed to droop more severely and his hair that used to be tame now stuck out in all directions. "You've angered me," He began and walked to the middle of the room. "And as your punishment, our battle will be tomorrow. So you'd better get some sleep if you plan on lasting half as long as you're hoping." His voice seemed hollow. He rubbed his eyes and walked wordlessly from the room. Iroh looked to his nephew and was surprised to see the boy lay down -without any blankets over him- and close his eyes.

"Sleep well, Pince Zuko." Iroh whispered, but stayed sitting. He wouldn't let his nephew sleep ungaurded.

"Thank you, Uncle." The boy responded, keeping his eyes closed. Tomorrow was going to be a long day, and they'd both be lucky to live through it.

Chapter Two - Part two: A Battle for Everything

They were awoken around 5:00am standard time. Of course, Iroh had already been awake, staring with burning eyes at the motionless door. Now him, Zuko, and their men sat in a large room preparing to enter a battle arena that waited just outside a metal door. The rain that was pounding them yesterday still layed above them, threatening to fall at any moment and make this battle even harder.

The room they were in was much different from all of the others. It was made almost entirely out of a heavy stone. The impossibly close walls radiated a coldness that ex-General Iroh had never felt before - that is until they were taken here. Their men talked, some sat like statues, their faces grim, and Iroh's nephew watched the door. A spear was in his hands. That was all they were given - spears. Barely enough for all of them.

Zuko was to lead them out into the wind-swept arena and Iroh was to follow from the behind. There was a sound behind the doors and everyone lined up in their proper places. Backs were straight, spears at the ready. Iroh took a breath to calm his beating heart and bent down, ready to charge up.

"Keep together," Zuko said, speaking directly to his men - something he doesn't do so often. "If one of you is in trouble, help them. If I..." He paused as the door started to slowly creak open. "If I am in trouble, and you cannot help me, do not sacrafice yourselves. Once we enter this battle, we're all equals. We are all risking everything." Iroh couldn't believe what he was hearing. Maybe he heard wrong over the moaning of the door.

The door hit the top with a loud bang and everyone ran, battle cries and clanking of armor disrupted the gusting winds. With ranks forgotten, everyone lined in a straight line in the middle of the arena. Nothing was there. Iroh and his nephew both kept their eyes locked on the door straight ahead of them. The Arena was large and circular. Broken walls crumbled along the sides and the ground was uneven. The sky was painted a hideous shade of gray and the wind was chilling.

"Where are they?" Zuko asked, gritting his teeth at the trickery. Iroh gasped, a sudden realization dawning on him.

"They're here!" He shouted. Turning around to look behind them. Their men looked confused, but Zuko caught on quick.

"Bastards!" He cried, pulling his spear up and looking around wildly. "What do we do, Uncle? We can't fight what we can't see!"

"We have to," Iroh said just as something came in contact with his spear. He flew back and threw it forward, not sure whether he hit or missed, he swung again. Before long, the sounds of a battle were loud against his ears and he couldn't help but imagine what it would be like for someone watching this. Something hit him hard in the side of his face and he tried to throw a fire-ball... but nothing happened.

He spared a quick glance around and saw everyone else was having the same problem. Their chances of winning dropped considerably.

AVATAR

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