Chapter 2
Any of the Avatar characters and places mentioned belong to Nick.

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Zuko found himself surrounded by flames on all sides. They licked at his skin, swirled around him, but never burned him. In fact, he could feel no heat from the fire. He was reminded of his mother, and comforted by that fact. Suddenly, he heard a voice behind him. Although he could not distinguish what was being said, he understood that it affected him and struck terror into his soul. Turning, he found himself in a very familiar room: the Dueling Arena at the Fire Palace. Zuko gasped as he looked around, everything was the same as that day; all the people, the decorations, as well as the tension. The flames pulled back from around him, expanding his view of the room, as they diminished to become the flames on the torches. Slowly, his eyes followed the line of the raised platform on which he stood, knowing what they would find: his father. The Fire Lord. It was he who was speaking and his words became understandable.

"So, you would have me believe that this war is wrong," Ozai drawled, almost serpentine like. He turned to the audience. "My son is a traitor and a coward. For refusing his position's dues, he is hereby banished from my lands."

Although Zuko had heard these words before, and had replayed them over and over in his head, he felt like he was hearing them for the first time again. His reaction had not changed to those words, and they wound around him, constricting tighter, and tighter.

"Rise Zuko, and show me that you are not a traitor," his father called to him, gesturing for the guards to bring a bundle to the platform. "My son, if you are a true son of fire, then prove yourself. Show me that you will fight this war and be merciless until our victory. Kill this barbaric bender." With that, the guards threw the bound creature on the stage, its blanket unwrapping. There lay a toddler, no older than four years. As Zuko stared at it, he realized it was a Water Tribe child. Eyes wide, the child looked around. Fastening on Zuko, he began to crawl toward the prince, a small smile decorating its face as it gurgled happily.

Zuko couldn't believe it. His father wanted him to kill this child. Just to prove his loyalty to the Fire Nation, or rather his father. As the child crawled toward him, Zuko saw flashes of what the water child's life should be.

He saw a boy dressed in blue being held by a women in blue. White surrounded them. Suddenly, another blue shaped emerged, the father had returned home. The little boy struggled from his mother's arms to grab his father's leg. Chuckling, the man reached down and picked him up. Th whole family was smiling as the baby gurgled happily. Then, Zuko saw the boy, for he was a boy now, struggling to pick up a spear. The father entered the picture again. He crouched down, helping the boy to lift the weapon. As the boy said something, the elder laughed and ruffled his hair. Then the boy became a teenager. With the age change, came new rights. Zuko watched as the teen ice dodged (gaining his rights as an adult male), went on his first whale hunt, and fell in love. Again the vision changed, and the teen was a man, married to his first love. As the women walked to the man, she carried a blanket. In it was another baby, the man's daughter. Shapes spun again and the man was now a village elder. He gave wisdom to the young. As he sat in his igloo, small blue shapes bombarded him. His grandchildren were crawling all over him smiling and creating messes while the man laughed.

Then Zuko was back, facing his father, the Water Tribe boy at his feet. "No father. I will not hurt the innocent like you do. I am a true son of fire. I will remain loyal to this land until my last breath, but I refuse to do your bidding. I refuse to kill those who have done nothing. And I refuse to remain loyal to you!"

"Then, my son, you will be marked. May all who see it recognize you as a traitor!" With that, Ozai sent a blast of fire at Zuko. As the flame ripped across the prince's face, all the fires in the room flared up, consuming everything and everyone. Unlike the last incident, the fire snarled at Zuko, threatening to capture him in its burning jaws. As the prince screamed, the floor fell out beneath him and darkness replaced the flames around him.

As quickly as the pain had come, it was gone. As well as the black and the flames. They were replaced by blue. It swirled around him, soothing his wounds, and holding him from the oblivion he threatened to fall into. In a split second, the blue wave faded into white and two blue orbs filled his vision. Looking at them, Zuko realized they were eyes. The most amazing eyes he had ever seen. They appeared blue, but they were much more. In them, Zuko could see the oceans swirl. Peace invaded every inch of his being as sweet words were whispered into the nothingness.

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Katara had been awoken roughly earlier to the sounds of a struggle. It was the stranger. He was fighting tooth and nail with his covers, which were smoking in random spots. His face was contorted into one of pain and hatred, his jaw clenched, with sweat trickling down his face. Touching him, Katara quickly recoiled. He was hot. Looking at the burn spots and remembering how warm he was earlier, the waterbender realized that this man must be a firebender. But even if he was naturally warmer than most, he was burning up. The healer quickly gathered more blankets for him.

As she began adding more blankets, Katara heard him muttering. "....child....father...fire...good of nation....innocents....waterbender....destiny...loyalty.....NO!" The man on the bed screamed, reaching for his face. Pulling water to herself, Katara laid a layer of it on the man's head. He stopped struggling and lay still as his breathing returned to normal. But he was still twitching.

"Shush," she cooed to him. Like a mother to a child, trying to calm him. "It's okay. No one is hurting you. You're fine. Just relax. Sleep." Slowly, he stilled. Feeling his head again, Katara found that the fever was vanishing. Must be a firebending thing, she thought. Straightening, she glanced outside. The sun's golden rays were pooling inside the room, courtesy of the large, south facing windows. It was the seventh day that he had lain there, on the bed unconscious. Katara wondered if he would pull out of it. Maybe he would. Today, he had shown the most amount of animation so far. He had rolled around before, whispering to himself, but today, he had practically talked. It was a good sign that maybe he was improving, especially when Sokka came into the house, muttering about death and overly-compassionate waterbenders. Sighing, Katara looked at the man. Maybe today is the day he will wake up. Silently, she walked over to the door and walked from the house. She needed to get air and food. Maybe today.....was her last thought as she left the house.

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Walking back to the house was hard. Katara had a tray with a bowl of soup and various plants on it and each step threatened to make her drop it. Balancing the tray on one arm, she leaned against the door, turning the lock and pushing the door open. Entering the room, she kept her head down, watching the soup, as if daring a single drop to spill. Looking at her patient, she squeaked and dropped the tray, the ceramic shattering and the liquid spreading across the floor. The man was sitting up, leaning against the headboard, staring out the window.

"How...when...." she started.

"Where am I," he asked, his voice rumbling in his throat.

"Kyoshi Island." He was silent for a bit, contemplating this news. When he spoke again, Katara jumped, as she had been straining to hear if he was talking. "How long have I been out?"

"It's been seven days since I found you on the beach." Closing his eyes he turned his head toward her, tilting it down toward the floor.

"What exactly happened? You were a mess, by the way. Sokka, my brother, thought that you were dead."

"A battle and....and escape. That's what happened," he whispered darkly. He drew his head up, his eyes meeting hers for the first time. She heard a gasp, but didn't know if it was from him or her.

Gold....she thought. His eyes are gold, just like the sun....

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Blue....he thought. Her eyes are the ones from my dream. They really are like the ocean, pulling you in...drowning.....Water Tribe.

He turned from her, thinking of what she had told him. Not only was he alone, probably the only survivor from his ship, he was on an island, near the South Pole. Nearly as far from his destination as he could get. Also, the time. A week! I've been asleep for a week! I need to go as soon as possible. He swung his legs over the edge of the bed, preparing himself mentally for the pain that was sure to come.

"Just what do you think you are doing," the irate healer demanded.

"Leaving," he grunted as he stood. Zuko felt his legs wobble.

"On no you don't. You are not going anywhere. Not in your condition. Now get back in that bed before I make you."

Zuko snorted. Like this weak girl could pin him down or make him do anything. He continued his slow walk to the door. Suddenly, he stopped moving. Looking down, Zuko discovered that his legs were frozen to the floor. Waterbender.... Concentrating on his inner flame, Zuko raised his body temperature and dissolved the chains from his feet. As he continued struggling toward the door, he felt a cold substance wrap around his midsection. Glancing down, the prince discovered a loop of water that led back to, oh yeah, the waterbender. The liquid arm suddenly jerked, pulling the prince onto the bed.

"Now stay," the girl ordered. Simmering, the firebender conceded to stay in the bed, at least until that night. Flicking her hair over her shoulder, the waterbender left, muttering something about finding her brother and locks.

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Damn... he thought as he walked carefully across the floor, trying to avoid the loose boards, but failing. Talking to the waterbender earlier, he had been told about the town, including the locations of the barns and docks. Now to get an ostrich-horse, a boat, and get out of here before that insane girl finds me again. For the past couple nights, Zuko had attempted to escape the water girl's clutches, but before he even made it from the bed, she found him. However, tonight he decided to leave once she was asleep, a task that was nearly impossible. Did the girl not sleep?! Or was it a waterbender thing to stay up as long as the moon ruled the sky? Exhaling softly, Zuko slid the door open slowly. Accomplishing that task, he held his breath, waiting for a word to be ignored and an inescapable water arm.

Hearing nothing, the prince ducked his head and crossed the threshold. Upon returning the door to its normal position, Zuko examined his location. Turning, he easily spotted where the barn was. Getting to it was another story as each step sent a spike of pain through him. Clutching his torso, Zuko forced himself to walk, ignoring the pain and focusing on his mission. Reaching the barn, the prince paused, holding the door frame while trying to catch his breath.

Maybe I shouldn't try to leave.....No, I have to get this information to the rebels. It's the only chance for these people to survive. Zuko straightened, this reminder driving him to complete his escape. Glancing in the stalls, Zuko found a sturdy looking ostrich-horse. Quickly capturing it, the prince began saddling it with the ease of one well-practiced.

"What do you think you're doing?" Zuko stiffened, pulling the cinch on the saddle tight. Turning, he found the one person he had feared meeting: the waterbender. She stood in the stall door, hair messy, with a blanket wrapped around her shoulders. Must have woken up...

"Honestly, how do you think you're going to heal if you are constantly running around in the night?" Softer, she continued, "She must be important, if you are willing to risk your wellbeing to travel to her."

Zuko's eyes widened at the last statement. She thought he was leaving for a girl! "I'm not going to a girl," he whispered roughly.

Surprise was on Katara's face, but none reached her voice. "Well, I don't care why you are determined to leave. All I know is that you are staying in that bed until you are fully recovered, which will probably be a few weeks."

"What!" He roared, stepping toward the healer. "No. You have it wrong. I have to get out of here, now. I can't wait any longer...my mission can't wait....the world can't wait...."

"I don't really care. I'm a healer, and by the gods, you are staying in that bed....Wait, what did you just say?"

"I have to go, it's crucial for the world's survival." He replied, staring at the ground.

"Who....who are you? You're not just some soldier are you?" Katara looked at him, trying to guess at who he was.

"I....It's not important who I am. All you need to know is that I have to get out of here...." A sudden explosion cut him off. Blue met gold as the benders looked at each other, pausing for a second before turning and dashing out of the barn. The sight that they saw made them stop: a plume of smoke was rising from the edge of town near the harbor, red-armored men were marching into the town, and a man stood at the base of Avatar Kyoshi's statue. He not much taller than the other men, but an air around him made him seem more threatening. A blood-red cloak spilled out behind him, moving slightly in the breeze. He seemed at ease, but yet ready to pounce at any minute, like a deadly cat.

"Katara!" A man dressed in blue called, running up to the two. "Thank the spirits you're okay."

"Sokka," Ah, that was her brother, Zuko thought. "What's going on! Why are firebenders attacking?"

Before Sokka could answer, the man in the cloak spoke. "Greetings, Kyoshi Island. You may be wondering what we are doing here, and the answer is simple. We seek a traitor. A certain banished-prince. His ship was caught in a terrible storm, and it is believed that he may have reached your shores. The Fire Lord demands to know if you have found him, and remember, any wrong answer will be met with your suffering."

Katara couldn't believe this. If they were just looking for a traitor, why not ask? Why attack for no reason? And who was this banished prince. He couldn't be the stranger, could he? She turned, prepared to ask the firebender only to discover, he was no longer at her side. Instead, she saw a dark shape, moving quickly through the alleys.

The cloaked man paced, gold eyes roaming over the gathered civilians. "No answer? Well, that's a shame," he spoke with a feral grin.

"Back off, Zhao. These people have done nothing to you." The man straightened, a smirk reaching his lips.

"Well, well, well. It seems as though my quest has been fruitful. The Fire Lord will be pleased to know that you are safe, Prince Zuko."

Katara gasped. The man she found washed up, half drowned on the beach, was the crown prince of the Fire Nation! But why was this soldier ready to kill his prince?

"Zhao. Get back on your ship and leave. These people have done nothing to you nor the Fire Nation."

"Those are brave words, coming from a pup." The man's feral look was back as he slunk back toward Zuko. Zhao stopped and turned back toward the harbor. "But you see. That's the thing, I don't take orders from traitors!" He yelled as he flung fire toward the prince.

With a grunt, Zuko blocked the fire. There was no way he could win this fight, not broken as he was. As Zuko prepared for the next attack, a jet of water shot at the Admiral, knocking him to the ground.

"What!" He growled through clenched teeth. Rotating his head, his eyes found a girl in blue standing before him, defiantly, a water whip formed around her.

"Get out of my home and get off this island, before I make you swim for home," the girl's voice was low and dangerous. Zuko was surprised that the girl who was such a patient and kind healer, was also very, very deadly it seemed.

With a low growl, Zhao stood and strode from the square, beckoning his men to follow him. Impossible, Zuko thought. A single waterbending girl just got Zhao to run back to his ship with his tail between his legs! As soon as the man had left, Katara rushed to Zuko's side.

"Are you okay," she asked while checking him over for any new injuries. Instead of replying, Zuko stared down at her, his mouth hanging open. "Sokka! Help me get him back to the house." Between the two of them, they managed to practically drag the shocked prince back to the house.

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Settled back on the bed, Zuko made it a point to not meet either pair of blue eyes, instead opting to stare at the wooden paneling. A sudden weight on the bed made him look up. The waterbender sat there, her hands in her lap, looking off into the distance too. Her brother stood off to the side, watching the raven-haired bender closely.

"Is this the reason why you need to leave?" She spoke carefully, as if a sudden noise would frighten him into running.

Still staring at the wall, Zuko answered grudgingly. They did deserve an answer after all. "It is. Well, it's part of it." Rather than waiting for her to encourage him, he told the Water Tribe siblings his mission, his banishment, and of his escape. The two listened, horrified at the news the prince brought; of Ozai's plan, the building conflict, and the inescapable threat on peace.

"....And that's why I have to leave here. The sooner I get to the rebel base, the safe the world will be." During his entire story, never once did the prince look up at either listener.

The siblings looked at each other, conveying thoughts with their look rather than words. Katara spoke first, "Tonight, you will stay here and rest. My brother and I will try to come up with a plan."

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When the sun's rays reached across the horizon and entered the small room Zuko lay in, the prince awoke. His gold eyes glanced around the room, looking for any other person. At that moment, Sokka came into the room. The prince froze. He had not spoken to this Water Tribe member; in fact, the only person from the village he had talked to was the waterbender, Katara.

The younger man looked at him, his eyes hard as he measured up the man laying on the bed in front of him. Zuko met the man's blue eyes with the same look, he would not be scared by a peasant. Sokka gave a grunt and walked toward the prince. Stopping at the edge of the bed, he laid something on the table beside it. As he was about to walk out the door, he stopped and turned back to Zuko.

"Aren't you going to put those on? We have to get going you know..."

Glancing at the bundle, Zuko discovered it to be clothes, designed for long wear and heavy usage, perfect for traveling. What a second....did he just say we? Eyes going wide at the thought, the prince scrambled out of the bed and dressed in a rush.

Outside, Zuko ran down to the docks after Sokka. Tied the wooden pilings was a small sail boat, big enough for three people plus supplies. And on it, stood Katara, busy stowing supplies below deck.

"Oh no. You two are not coming with me," Zuko said, running up the ramp. "This is far too dangerous for either of you. People are going to die and....."

"Zuko," Katara said, attempting to shut the prince up. "We're coming with you. This is our war too and besides," she continued with a sly glance. "I can make sure you actually heal properly."

Zuko stared at the girl, trying to decided if she could be convinced to leave. He heard Sokka walk up behind him. "Please tell me you will make your sister stay..."

"Sorry man. Once Katara gets anything into that head of hers, you'll never stop her," he replied with a casual shrug.

Zuko looked back and forth between them. Then he sighed and shook his head. "Fine. I'll probably regret this, but you two can come."

"Thanks for the permission, oh great prince," Katara drawled, a grin covering her face.

Zuko sighed again. Great. I now have to attempt to save the world from my father's wrath with these two. Pausing for a moment he thought while examining the waterbender, remembering the fight with Zhao. Well, maybe that's not such a bad thing....

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