AN: I'm sorry I took so long updating. You may all blame my sister and the author of the Labyrinth fic, Crystal Balls, for writing 107 chapters that I had to read. And blame my sister for kicking me off the comp every night. And blame that spider that made a home in my truck. shivers involutarily And blame...(three hours later)... And now you may read the chapter. Sorry it isn't very long. This and the next one will probably be short, a couple of my go-betweens.

Tell me I was dreaming...Tell me you didn't leave me here to cry...

...Tell me I didn't hear your heartbeat fail, that it's just my imagination running wild...

...Tell me that you didn't say goodbye...

Chapter 26: The Dying

Flashback
The 11 year-old Fire Prince stood comforting his youngest sibling, who was sobbing silently into his shoulder. It was well past midnight, and an exhausted Fire Lord entered bemusedly into the dining hall where his three children stood, drawn by their shouts.

"You have no right to go and scare her like that!"

"She's a Princess of the Fire Nation and I won't allow anyone to think my sister is weak!"

"She's seven years old! She's allowed to be scared of a nightmare! And she doesn't need you reenacting it for her!"

"The only thing she doesn't need is an older brother who insists on protecting her from everything on the planet! You won't let her do anything!"

"She can do anything she wants to! I'm only here to comfort her and protect her from psychopaths like you!"

The siblings' fight was highlighted by the youngest Princess's sobbing from her place on the table's edge where the Prince had set her a moment earlier. Knowing his two oldest children, the Fire Lord stepped into the room to prevent any injury to either of them.

"She would do better without you! At least if you were gone, she could learn to be a strong leader without you babying her!"

"The only way you'll get Ediera away from me is to pry her from my cold lifeless hands!"

"That can be arranged!"

It happened before the Fire Lord could react. The oldest Fire Princess grabbed a fork from the table and stabbed itinto the left side of her older brother's chest. A startled cry from the Prince echoed around the room, followed by the sick sound of flesh being torn as the Princess jerked the fork from her brother's chest.

The Fire Lord flew stricken to his only son's side, and the Princess looked horrified to know her father had been there the whole time. But the Fire Lord merely scooped his dying son into his arms and demanded that a nearby maid escort the youngest Princess to his wife's chambers.

Less than an hour later, the doctor proclaimed the boy would live. He spoke privately with the Fire Lord.

"God smiles down on the young prince. The blow would've pierced his heart, if it had been there. It seems that God created him with this event in mind." The Fire Lord stared at the doctor, confused.

"How?" was all he could say.

The doctor laughed and placed a hand on the left side of his chest.

"His heart is not here." He moved his hand to the right side.

"It's here. A definite advantage in battle."

The Fire Lord nodded, agreeing the doctor and relieved that his only son would live.

6 years later, the event had taken place again, for Zula had never learned of her brother's uniqueness. Before, Zuko had been placed under doctor's care immediately. Now, with each passing second, he lost more blood, and drifted closer to death.
Zula and Zhao took their two prisoners to a ship instead of a fortress. Once below, Aang was tossed unceremoniously into a cell and the door was shut and fire-sealed. There was some noise outside and Aang could see them talking and gesturing towards Zuko, who was lying unconscious over a soldier's shoulder (try saying that fifty times fast). After a moment of debating, they threw him into the cell next to Aang's, but left the door unlocked. Zuko rolled a couple of times from the momentum of the throw, but remained motionless where he lay after coming to a stop. One arm was awkwardly positioned behind his back, and he laid half on his stomach and half on his back. The position just looked uncomfortable, but Zuko made no move to shift.

Aang slipped to the side of the cell, put his head against the bars, and spoke softly.

"Zuko, are you okay?"

No answer. Tears filled the 14 year olds eyes.

"Zuko please, you're scaring me."

The dying prince did not answer, did not even know that Aang was speaking to him. The cold metal turned a darker shade with the Avatar's tears.

Outside, the pinks and oranges of sunset had given way to the darker blues and blacks of night. In the forest, a ways away from the place where the gang had meant to spend the night, the moonlight outlined a pair of figures.

"I love him Jet, and there's nothing you can do about that."

Jet sighed.

"I know Katara. I have no intentions of coming between you and Zuko. Would you hear me out already?"

"That's not the Jet I remember."

"I've changed…a lot. I realized that what you said was true. My Freedom Fighters have even teamed up with a group of Fire Nation rebels."

Katara looked astonished.

"The Guerriers Réels?" Jet nodded.

"Right now, the only way to stop the Fire Nation is to rescue Zuko. They have a plan and he's a huge part of it, being that he's the next in line to the throne. It's our duty to let them know what's happened. I've already sent a letter to General Iroh in Jabari."

Katara graced Jet with a smile. "Thank you Jet. I really think you deserve this second chance."

Jet blushed and looked down at the ground. "And what you deserve is a friend, and I'll do my best to be one."

Suddenly, a voice was cleared behind them. It was one of Jet's followers, the one called Smeller Bee. He had a beautiful red hawk balanced on one fist, and the hawk seemed preoccupied with preening a wing. Smeller Bee held out a scroll.

"From General Iroh." Jet took the scroll delightedly and Katara read it over his shoulder.

Stay where you are. We are coming.

General Iroh

It was only two sentences, but those words radiated power and anger. Katara suddenly realized that they hadn't informed a single man about Zuko and Aang's capture, they'd informed a single man who happened to be in control of the largest rebellion force in a century.

The Guerriers Réels were coming.

Zula stood on the deck, unable to turn her thoughts from the prisoners, even as the ship steamed towards Fire Nation waters. She'd killed before, mostly suitors who wouldn't take 'no' for an answer, but never had their faces haunted her like her older brother's eyes did. They didn't seem surprised, or hurt, pained, or afraid. They were resigned.

You've killed me Zula. Again. Why? Why do you hate me so?

"You were Father's favorite. He never expected much of me. I was stronger, I was more like him when you took after mother."

Is that so wrong? For me to have compassion?

Tears formed in the torn princess' eyes. "Yes and no. I wanted to love you brother. I wanted to."

I wanted you to love me. I've always loved you.

"Princess Zula?" The feeling of her brother's spirit left her, and anger replaced the hurt.

"What is it Zhao?" she snarled.

"I completed my part of the deal. I helped you capture and kill Zuko."

"I can't marry you on the damn boat Zhao."

"No, but perhaps…"

Zula nearly screamed. Why in the damn world did I have to give him my word?

"I'll think about it Admiral." Her reference to his military status signaled the end of the discussion, and she heard him leave. She decided quickly to go check on the prisoners, but as she turned, for a brief moment she thought she saw Ediera, standing against the railing, arms folded against her chest, and glaring in a way fit for a Fire Nation princess. But when she turned her full attention to the spot, Zula saw nothing. So, she continued downstairs.

Aang had fallen asleep on the floor of his cell when Zula swept by. Zuko hadn't moved. She slipped silently into his cell and checked his pulse. It was faint and erratic, neither good signs. She sighed, and left him where he lay.

Ediera slipped into the cell as her sister slipped out. Kneeling next to her brother, she reached in and strengthened his spirit, sending him dreams of Katara, and of his friends, reminding him of the reasons he must fight to live. She did not leave his side.
Iroh looked at the map, and Saiza stood nearby. He placed a finger on one area of the map.

"We have four standard war-ships in the vicinity and one heavily armed siege vessel as well. Should we send them after Zula's ship?"

"Yes, but not to engage. Allow them to be seen, but wait for them to join us."

Iroh turned his gaze to the young air-bender captain behind them. "Captain Canace, can you take your air-benders and scope out the area?"

She nodded and bowed. "Of course General." She then turned on her heel and marched out to inform her peers of their mission.

Hessair screamed his anger and frustration at the nearby guards, several of whom yelped and tried desperately to flee from his reach. The angry dragon pulled against the thick chains binding him to the floor of the hold. His wings plastered to his body and his mouth chained shut, he could do little more than snort fire at his captors. But it was all a mask for the pain and worry he felt for his Bond, which he couldn't feel at all at the moment.
The presence of the Oath was going haywire. It struggled desperately to make the dying body it inhabited rise. The Avatar is in danger! We must protect him! But the body didn't rise. The body didn't care.
A silver shape winged across the night sky. She'd slept for a century, only recently awoken. And tonight, she'd felt the responsibility pass from the bison to her. She had hoped to live her life out quietly in the caves beneath the Southern Air Temple, but alas, it was not to be so. But she did not regret her decision to accept the responsibility as the Avatar's new Animal Guide, for another dragon was awake. So she flew silently to the presence of the Avatar that she felt in her heart.
Yes, Zula's having second thoughts about her life and her relationship with Zuko. A little late huh? So Zuko's heart wasn't hit. He still lost huge amounts of blood. Don't get your hopes up. (laughs maliciously)