Caught: Chapter 4: Nightmare

Legal disclaimer things… I do not Own Avatar: the Last Airbender nor any of it's characters…

Warnings: This story contains minor mature content and some language.

I LOVE THIS CHAPTER! I think it's my best yet for this story! Hopefully future chapters won't be a let down for faithful readers, you all know who you are! 

Thought about waiting till this weekend to post this up, bet hell… I had it pretty much written before I wrote Chapter 3… so why not put it up now? Just a side note... my life's getting hetic, so there may not be any more posted up till well into next month, Gomen!


58.127 hours after Aang's episode in the interrogation cell.

Trumpets sounded in the distance, announcing the Prince's successful return to the Fire Nation. Zuko stood tall at the bow of his ship, the Avatar tied up next to him. He had won. He had done it. He had outwitted the Avatar, won the bet and now he was able to return home with his honor.

Scanning the crowd below, he spied his father in the back. He was sitting tall and proud in his lavish carriage. Zuko could just make out the satisfactory smirk on his face before he commanded the carriage bearers to take him back to the palace. Zuko could understand his father not greeting him at the dock… even though it still hurt deep down.

It didn't stop Zuko from enjoying the glorious march back to the castle… his home. Red streamers poured from windows, guards saluted and everywhere he looked there was nothing but smiling happy faces. The recognition and respect felt good after so long.

Zuko's pride swelled as he took in the throne room. All was set up for the formal occasion; the giant red and black tapestries, the sent of the Fire Nation's best oriental incense, and the red and gold rug which before had only been set out for his father when he returned home from a long and successful conquests. At the end of the 60 yard march down the throne room, Zuko knelt in respect to his father shoving the Avatar before him. "The Avatar, as requested Sir."

Lord Ozai's face displayed no emotion as he took in the sight before him. The boy had actually done it. "Guards, escort the prisoner to the dungeons." He barked, and instantly 5 guards surrounded the Avatar and lead him away. Prince Zuko ignored the sad puppy eyed look that the Avatar was giving him and instead kept his attention focused on his father. Surely his father was now going to praise him.

"Congratulations in your success in capturing the Avatar."

"Thank you father." Bowing his head, Zuko held his breath as he wished his father would just admit how much he had missed him.

"I shall expect you at the officers meeting in two hours."

"Yes Sir."

.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.

Up in the Prince's room, Iroh watched his depressed nephew unpack his few belongings. He wasn't sure what to do for the boy, so he did what he always did when in this situation. Iroh put on his happy face and started up a polite conversation. And no polite conversation was complete without the chosen nectar of the Dragons. "Would you like to join me for a cup of tea before the meeting Nephew?"

"No thanks Uncle." Zuko responded flatly. Iroh knew the situation was grave indeed when his Nephew refused tea devoid of torching anything.

"Well, it sure is good to be home. Isn't it." He smiled brightly. He was determined to brighten his Nephew's mood.

Zuko just wished his Uncle would go away and leave him alone.

When all he got was silence, the cheery expression left Iroh's face and he walked up to his Nephew and placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. "I warned you that your father wasn't the understanding type." Zuko's shoulder slouched. "I also am troubled by the fact that love seems to be lost by my brother."

"My father does love me." Zuko shouted angrily to his Uncle. Not really sure of who he was trying to convince more, his Uncle or himself.

.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.

The wait for the war meeting was sheer torture for Zuko. He was ready five minutes after his Uncle had left, but the meeting was still an hour away. Mediation was what he needed, and what better place than the garden he hadn't seen in over two years. While in deep concentration, Prince Zuko was pleasantly surprised when he opened his eyes to find out who was that dared to interrupt him. Quickly standing, "Father" Zuko proclaimed as he bowed in respect.

Fire Lord Ozai looked down upon his son. "I am pleased that you had the strength and skill to bring in the Avatar."

Zuko's heart quickened, his father was pleased with him!

"I am rewarding you for your loyalty and success by making you a Commander within my armies."

"Thank you Father!" Zuko bowed deeply at the waist. This was so incredible! He looked up as he heard the retreating footsteps of his father. Zuko went to sit back down to contemplate on his new position, he almost succeeded in allowing himself to not realize that his father still didn't mention the fact that he loved him.

"One last thing."

"Yes." Zuko managed to sound normal even though the tone his father used chilled him to the bone.

"Dishonor me again and you will be executed."

Hastily Zuko knelt on one knee, face staring at the ground. "Never in a hundred years." Tears formed in the corner of his good eye. How could he…

.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.

Zhao glared daggers at the Prince who now held the same rank as he. Zuko loved it, he now had the rank to not have to take Zhao's shit anymore. It was a great feeling, but it didn't last long as he took in what the commanding General was announcing.

"The plan has been worked out for every possible situation that could arise. It is now ready for execution. We shall have Commander Zuko lead the first and center attack…" Shock and anger consumed Zuko... They all knew he would do it for that was all there was for him… For his Nation.. His Father. Lives had to be lost for the greater good. It was his only place… To be yet another expendable puppet of his Father, just like every other body in the Nation... soon to be world. Zuko screamed. He was not something his Father could just create then throw away.

"NO!" Zuko screamed as he attempted to bolt upright, an impossible feat when laying facedown. Besides that, his muscles intensely protested at having to move at all. Still, Zuko did manage to shift to a sitting position on the stiff bed. He didn't give a damn about the fact that his ass didn't want any weight on it.

Sweat covered the Prince's body as he sat there eyes closed, breathing labored for several minutes… 'I'm not just another one of my father's pawns he can throw away…' Fighting the uncontrollable urge to cry. A rouge tear did manage to escape, and irritably Zuko wiped it away before it had the chance to touch his cheek. Course fabric scratched at his skin and he looked taking in the new fact that he was garbed in the standard brown and green Earth Kingdom tunic and pants. "Fuck me…"

"No thank you. I much prefer my wife for that kind of business."

Startled at the realization that he was not alone Zuko found himself desperately wanting to flame the owner of that voice for that remark. Glancing slowly over he saw the Captain from his interrogation. Flexing his fingers he found that they were still free of the annoying iron gloves, but Zuko wasn't into a physical fight right at the moment. His nightmare had left him mentally whipped. He'd rest now and be ready to fight latter the Prince decided. Instead Zuko just gave the Captain his best death glare, it was perfected to the point he could throw it at anyone, any time.

"How long have you been there." The young fire Prince commanded in a low threatening tone.

"Long enough." Was the cool, nonchalant reply. For the moment Wren's composed mind was winning the battle against his body's natural fleeing response to danger. The temperature in the room had gone up a great deal, but Wren kept the cool demeanor he was well known for. Though he couldn't help but wince as the glass of the oil lamp beside him cracked and popped from the intense heat of the flames that flared with a life not of their own.

Thankfully the Prince talked in his sleep. Wren now had a small insight into his mind and life. It allowed him to realize that the Avatar was right, the Prince wasn't really bad himself, just suffering from a horrendously bad life.

"Typical procedure for Fire Nation outcastes and runaways is servitude in our legions. What do you say to the offer of joining our Earth Kingdom armies?" Wren posed the question the King wanted asked. Wren personally agreed with the Avatar, that fighting was the last thing the Prince needed, but it was the one issue the King wouldn't back down on.

"I'd say you could take your offer, shove it up your commanders ass, rip it out though his beating bleeding heart and throw it into the fiery mauls of the Celestial Dragons."

'Ouch.' Wren mentally cringed. Wren knew the Prince was in a bad mood from his dream, but still… a simple no thanks would have been sufficient. Second thoughts were quickly entering his mind… did he really want this kid around his eight year old daughter?

Thankfully, the guard came with the tray of food for the prisoner. The Prince obviously needed some alone time to deal with the emotions stirred up by the nightmare, and Wren knew he hadn't eaten for a least 24 hours. It was the perfect opportunity to give the Prince both.

"Eat something. I'll be back to talk latter."

Zuko peered out through his good eye in time to see the Captain's retreating back. Before him on the bed sat a dented yet clean tray actually filled with food. 'What is this? My last meal?'. Zuko wondered, he had never seen so much food on a prisoners tray before. A large bowl of steaming meat and vegetables, a fairly decent chunk of bread, an apple and two glasses. One was clearly just water, the other some sort of tea. The smell of the strange stew wafted up and it reminded Zuko that he had no idea when he last ate. Tentatively he picked up the heavy spoon, it was still a most usual way to eat one's food. At least the Earth fools were capable of doing something halfway sensible, they didn't provide him with the other two sharper objects people outside of the Fire Nation ate with… pity.

Before he had realized it, the stew was gone. Staring mindlessly into the bottom of the bowl, Zuko came to the realization that it didn't taste half bad. Taking up the apple he inspected it. He didn't want to dwell upon his nightmare, he had been running from it for so long. It was his duty and responsibility to bring in the Avatar and restore his honor. But what was the cost of this loyalty? In every nightmare it was either his life or his humanity.

Honor was what truly mattered. It was his founding self religion. His focus for being. He always believed the Fire Nation was the most honorable nation in the world, yet if that was really true… why did the other nations distrust Fire benders so much? Hate Zuko could understand. War made people hate other people. But trust came from Honor.

Zuko lost honor in his father's eyes because he lost his father's trust. His father distrusted him because he showed compassion and loyalty to their subjects. But as the ruler of the Nation, wasn't it compassion and loyalty to their subjects that was supposed to earn his father's trust?

Prince Zuko was stuck in a Catch 22… and was utterly confused on how to deal with it.

END - Chapter 4: Nightmare

C&C always welcomed! And as always, long constructive or complementing reviews help me write sooner rather than latter…

Ja Ne!