Zuko awoke to a blue haze of a cloudy sky, he rubbed his head which was sticky with blood he crawled to a puddle splashing his face grimacing as he rubbed his hand over the injured part of his head.

His vision was blurry he blinked pressing his eyelids into his cheek in an attempt to improve his vision—no such luck. The puddle calmed and he saw his reflection. He glared at it, hating it. Angrily he smacked the vile visage of himself. His taut sore shoulders lowered and he relaxed his sore body in seeming surrender he let out a groan and fell back down in the mud, he felt the cold slime on his back. He shivered glaring up into the cloudy sky.

In the air among the clouds Katara sat on the back of Appa staring off into the distance wondering…

I wonder what happened…did he die?

Her eyes shimmered.

"Hey, sis what's the matter?"

"Nothing Sokka!" she snapped.

"Jeez, sorry oh queen hormonal" he rolled his eyes and turned away.

She wanted to apologize but her pride stopped her.

She began to drift to the past…

"I just wanted to do the right thing!" He screamed his voice sounding a little hurt.

"Zuko! Spare me." She hissed "I don't have time for your lies. I really thought…"

"I'm not lying this time please don't…" he inhaled sharply not able to look her in the eyes "Don't leave me here…"

"Please, shut up"

"Fine" flames ignited on his fists.

"Katara!" it was Aang

"No wait don't Aang!--" …but she wasn't quick enough Aang had already sent a large cannon ball of mud towards Zuko. Zuko was all too happy to oblige he dodged the chunk of earth and sent a flame at Aang. Aang had been hurt already with his fight with Azula, and didn't dodge. He was hit hard.

NO! Katara screamed

"Get out of here NOW Aang!" her eyes aflame

"No.." he said weakly

"Sokka get him out of here." She growled Sokka grabbed Aang up in his arms staring wide-eyed at his sister, and he ran. "No" Aang mumbled.

"Please, come back sis." He whispered.

"So this is how you want it" he sneered.

"No, this is how you made it!" She threw back her shoulders to attack…

Katara turned to stare down at the ocean as the tears fell from her face.

Limp. Limp. Limp.

"Agghhhh!" Zuko threw himself on the ground.

"My leg…" he groaned. "I can't go…on" He looked up at the sun glaring at it tears burned down his cheeks.

"I've lost everything! You've taken everything from me!" H shook his fists at the sky then slammed them on the ground in anger. "Uncle….why did you leave me, alone?"

"Awww look at the little boy cryin' on his knees."

Zuko was suddenly surrounded by a group of what could only be bandits.

"Bet he has nothin' worth stealin' boss"

"Nah, but he looks like—"

Zuko landed a punch on his face

"The hell?! He punched me—kill him!" the ugly man yelled.

Flames ignited at Zuko sides he ignored the pain that encompassed his body.

"Wha—a fire bender!" the large bandit cried a flash of fear went across his face.

This made Zuko smirk a little.

With the cry of a warrior he shot flames like a mad man. Trees around him began to burn and sizzle he punched on after another delivering hard kicks to their guts.

"You bastards! You lowly bandits are no match for me! I could beat you even with my dying breath!"

A cry of anger came from his right. He didn't have the time to react.

He suddenly felt a sharp pain in his shoulder a warm substance pooled on his shoulder and splattered on his face. The point of a bloodied spear stuck out through him. He stared at it for a moment in surprise. He cranked his neck around to see a shivering bandit.

"YOU!" He cried grabbing the spear end and crying in agony as he burnt it from his body he fell to his knees a smoking hole where the spear had been.

The criminal backed up in horror. Zuko spotted another spear that had fallen and lunged at the man. The sound of the spear penetrating the mans body would never leave the exiled prince's memory. As he stared into the dying mans eyes. His eyes wide in shock he dropped the weapon backing up uncertain of what to do now. He ran through the burning trees not even flinching as the branches cut into his face leaving small lines of blood.