I don't own Avatar: The Last Airbender or any of its characters.

Shady Memories

The Fall of a Prince

A loud bang echoed through the prison cell showing the old man in the darkness that somebody entered.

A young scarred man – almost a boy took some steps and placed down a tray with a teapot, a cup and a candle behind the man who sat with his back towards the other.

"I've brought you some tea." The boy said and lowered his head as the other didn't move. He made a slight smile as he added. "Don't worry, I only watched when the cook made it." Even that little smile faded from his face as he got no reaction. "I am sorry." He sighed looking away with shame. "I didn't plan it this way."

The old man shifted a bit but still didn't turn or look at him. Zuko furrowed his eyebrows and looked downwards. "At least talk to me…" He said as desperation slowly filled him. "Uncle, please…"

He didn't have time to finish his sentence as the Dragon of the West got to his feet quicker than anyone in his age and despite his chains he slapped his nephew on his right cheek who slowly turned his head back with shame in his eyes.

"Don't call me uncle anymore!" The old man spoke with fury. He continued on an ashamed voice. "Your father would be proud… you've become just as treacherous as him." After that he turned his back on the prince again and slowly sat down. "I hope you enjoy what you have now. I doubt you'll ever have more…" He added darkly and with that he finished his part of the conversation.

Zuko raised a hand to his swollen cheek then let it fell back to his side while clearing his face from any emotion. "You can thank this to yourself you know." He started straightening his back. "We could have returned together… you could have been a hero!" He said and the belief in his voice made Iroh's face wince.

The prince made a sigh as he went to the door. He knocked on it once but turned back to his uncle as the guards opened it. "I'll come back tomorrow… I want to be sure you're well." He said and started to walk out of the cell but came to a halt when Iroh spoke again.

"You don't need to tire yourself anymore Prince Zuko."

Zuko frowned ahead of him as he nodded to the guards who closed the doors again.

The old general didn't move when he heard his nephew's steps then a female voice. "Zuko, Azula wants to see you."

The prince made a sigh. "I'm going Mai..."

Iroh slightly turned his head to see the guards didn't watch him anymore. He turned towards the tray and while still watching the door's peeking window he lifted the teacup and the leaflet-like paper under it before turning his back towards the door again.

After he reached its end he held it into the candle's light to make it perish while a thoughtful frown appeared on his face. The little letter only contained four sentences:

We can't wait more. Perhaps the avatar is more injured than we'd thought. She wants to send you away. We're leaving tonight…

Zuko walked through the palace of Ba Sing Sei watching the practicing Dai lee guards on the courtyard and directly slowed down when he realized his sister's friend was still following him from a distance. As she slowed down too he stopped at a balcony and rested his elbows at its bar while making a sigh. "You can walk next to me you know." He said then looked at the girl for a moment. "She's the one who sends you. It's not like you'd want to follow me or something…"

He was already watching the practicing Dai Lee members and because of that he didn't see as she shifted uneasily in her place. Mai reduced their distance but stopped exactly five steps behind him.

He looked downwards for a second then without warning he stepped in front of Mai looking at her.

Her eyes widened for a moment and one of her hands disappeared in one of her sleeves – probably holding her daggers already. Then she cast her gaze downwards as a slight blush appeared on her cheeks.

He smiled lightly as he turned away but didn't say a word. As he could remember Mai had always been wary around him and this was not the only time she blushed when he watched her, even when they were kids… but that was the past.

He went through the last hall with stern expressions while the girl still followed him from exactly five steps behind. She was the loyal and obedient friend of his sister… and with that remaining a taboo in his eyes. He probably couldn't have looked at Azula in the eye if he'd ever done something with the girl…

He shook his head as he reached the huge doors. Earlier there used to be guards to open them… he wondered where Azula sent them this time. He reached to open it when he heard a cheerful girly voice saying goodbye inside but still far from him.

The door hardly moved and he grabbed it with both hands to pull it open. When it finally moved the owner of the voice ended an acrobatic move so badly in her surprise that she almost knocked him out of his balance too. The girl somehow fell on his chest giving him quite a hit around his stomach with one of her fists.

He coughed from the impact but held her shoulders so she could gain her balance back. When she did so she straightened up and while looking at him with round eyes she made her most innocent smile. "I'm so sorry! I didn't want to…"

"It's alright." He said coughing once again and stepped inside to see his sister standing up from her throne.

"Brother…" She said on a welcoming voice with a smile.

"Azula." He nodded as he reached the stairs. "You wanted to talk to me."

Always straight to the point… Her smile faded. "Yes. I've heard you'd spent a lot of time down at the prison cells…" She said and she tried to read from his eyes but yet didn't find anything so she went on. "You shouldn't waste so much time on uncle after how he treats you…" She said this time making him shift his weight from one leg to the other uncomfortably.

So she truly hears us out… He thought and brought a sad look towards her. "I feel it as my duty." He said then to make it seem he feels more guilt he asked. "Do you mind?"

Azula forced herself not to smile and her face filled with faked concern. She even put a hand on his shoulder as she spoke. "I just don't want you to feel bad. Guilt does not suit you. You're a prince… you should be proud."

Zuko frowned before he could stop himself. His uncle's words rang in his ears. Your father would be proud… Even remembering his voice deepened his shame. After all he was the reason why he was imprisoned while he had a royal bedroom…

"But he's not the only one you're visiting as I heard." She said bringing him out of his thoughts just to see Azula's smile. "You've talked with Long Feng, didn't you?" she asked directly still wearing her smile yet he felt like a prey under her observing gaze.

But he already got ready to this question. In fact sooner than he made his first talk with the man. "He's the head of the Dai Lee and also served under the Earth King all his life. He has important information about…"

"He was the head of the Dai Lee." She corrected him on a cold voice. She didn't try to hide how much this little mistake annoyed her. "And I don't want you to get involved with that scum." She said and made another smile. "If you have any questions just ask me. I would be more than glad to answer them to you."

He made a nod ignoring the intense look in her eyes. "I will." He said then took a step back. "Now if you have n…" He coughed again with a frown as he tried to finish. "Nothing else to say…"

Azula narrowed her eyes as he coughed again. "Oh my Zuzu. That cough sounds really bad." She started. "Make sure you won't get sick for your sake… seeing their leaders I wouldn't like to meet the earth peasants' doctors." She waved lightly. "Maybe you should take a nap." She advised.

"All right…" Zuko said rubbing his forehead and with it deepened her thought that he was not well. "See you later." He turned around and walked out of the room nodding to the dagger-throwing girl.

Azula narrowed her eyes then let her lips curl into an evil smile as he disappeared. "Yes… later."

Zuko woke shortly before sunset. He decided to listen to Azula's advice. After all if everything went right he still had a long night ahead of him.

He sat up in the royal double bed. After he joined his sister he was placed in the Earth King's former chambers as a sign of her respect. He made a smile as he stroked the soft green sheets then turned to look at the setting sun. Only now he realized how much he wouldn't miss this.

He scooted to the edge of the bed, kicked away the sheets and as placed his bare feet to the ground a chill ran down his spine. He felt cold.

He hardened his face as he stood up. A bad omen… He didn't feel cold in the last twelve years except when he was ill… but there were no sign of illness he could find. Now he didn't even cough.

He guessed it was a part of his nervousness. Last time he had to save the avatar from a prison. Then his bison… It seemed he had to break in prisons quite frequently.

He didn't have his mask anymore. He didn't need it to do the right thing. And with being with Azula made him hide his emotions once again. He made a frown. I've become the mask myself…

He grabbed a pack and his dual swords then went to the window. With one last glance at the room he climbed out and started to ascend towards the prison cells on the most unguarded route. He knew how the guards moved to know how to avoid them.

Since he was here he spent most of his time to find out everything about the Dai Lee. He wanted to turn them against Azula with the help of Long Feng… but when his sister told him that Iroh was about to be sent away he couldn't go on with the full plan. He couldn't endanger Iroh anymore… and he was sure he already caused enough trouble to collapse Azula's plans at the right time.

He paused for a moment when he reached the staircase that led down to the prison and narrowed his eyes. Last time it was enough to bring a bucket of water against firebenders. But this time… He drew out his swords. I need to be a bit more violent.

As he got near to his destination he listened carefully behind him. This time they needed to get out before the guards would find out what was happening… Azula wouldn't care if their uncle was alive or not.

He made the last corner. The two guards next to his uncle's cell door looked at him dumbly but when their eyes wandered to his swords they made their move.

Two earth fists flew towards him and as he cut them through there came a much bigger problem: a boulder twice as wide as him. He started running back...

The huge stone slammed into the wall making a vertical crater and filling the area with a cloud of dirt and dust that made that part of the corridor a perfect place to hide.

"Damn..." said the Dai Lee guard with a cut under his eye that went down to his cheek.

"Do you think we got him?" Asked the other and younger one with excitement in his voice.

"Don't underestimate him, Zen..." Said the first then narrowed his eyes as he thought he heard something from one direction and immediately sent his second stone fist there. But he regretted it quickly because - almost instantly after the moment when it crashed to the wall - he got a full kick on his chin from the shadow that flew out of the cloud.

As the Dai Lee member fell to the ground the scarred prince straightened up. The younger guard's eyes widened and he sent another two earth gloves towards their attacker to defend himself but it turned out quite a weak move...

Zuko showed them away with one of his swords then swung the other to his opponents neck – in the meantime cutting through the string that held his circle-shaped hat in place.

The prince's face cleared as he looked at the guard... he was not much older than himself and watched him with fear. "Turn around." He said and the other with the name 'Zen' started trembling.

"W-what are you going to...?" As Zuko narrowed his eyes at him Zen swallowed and hesitantly turned around while looking upwards. He's going to give me a quick death... He squeezed his eyes shut when a sharp knock on his head sent him to the ground.

Zuko stood clenching the handle of his sword after he hit the young guard with it then looked at the other one who was still uconscious.

Then he turned and opened the cell's door but gasped when he looked inside. "Uncle!" He ran in throwing his swords down while heading to the old man. His eyes were closed and he was beaten but most of all: he was held in a standing position and pinned to the wall with the same green crystals from under the city.

"Uncle, hold on!" Zuko said pulling his shirt's long sleeves back... last time he totally ripped his other one with breaking through these things.

He took a deep breath then hit hard with both of his fists on one of the crystals creating cracks on it. This time he only used his left hand and broke the damaged one easily... He made the process once more on another when he jumped in alert as a voice filled the cell.

"How impressive..." Amused Azula's voice as her brother turned to her in his fighting stance. "And you don't even firebend." As he didn't speak she made a smile. "Well that's the least I should have expected from the famous Blue Spirit." Zuko's eyes rounded. How did she know? "After all if he saved his worst enemy how could he leave his beloved uncle in prison?" Azula slightly turned her head away. "No wonder why Zhao wanted to kill you himself. You're even a bigger traitor than uncle ever could be!"

Zuko's face darkened but he remained silent. It was always their way... Azula talked and he listened. If he tried to get over her words with his own she only turned more cruel. She was professional with it.

"You don't even try to defend yourself?" She asked with an eyebrow up then went on. "Perhaps you want to know how I found it out, don't you?" She made a smile and a nod. In the next moment the Dai Lee guard with the cut on his face stepped in the room with two other. "Chan here recognized you from earlier... even if you didn't."

Zuko narrowed his eyes. That's why he was so familiar... "Out of my way, skinny!" He couldn't help smirking a little. He learned nothing about defense since then...

Then Azula made a smile... a smile Zuko learned to recognize... the smile of victory.

"So how are you, Zuzu?" She asked on a half-teasing voice then narrowed her eyes. "Aren't you cold?" She asked and immediately sent her blue flames in a wave towards him.

He took a step back to cover his uncle more and waved his hands to... to see that nothing happened. His eyes went wide. This can't be!

His brain got out of its shock just in time so he could have jumped away but before he made his move he remembered something... his uncle was unconscious behind him. He clenched his teeth, squeezed his eyes shut then raised up his arms to defend his face and upper body before the flames came.

But before it reached him the flames perished. He opened his eyes just to see her laughing. "So it's true..." She said on an evil but cheerful tone. "Ty Lee took your breath away."

Zuko froze. The hit... He clenched the shirt around his stomach. The cough... the cold. He clenched his fists. I should have realized it sooner! Then his eyes wandered to the side and stopped at the only thing that could help him out. So did Azula's... The swords.

They moved at the same time. Zuko gave all his strength to his run but when he reached out for them Azula set on fire the handle's surroundings making him stop. As he looked up at her she smiled again. "Give up." She said while he only clenched his teeth. "It's over."

Hardly did she finished he let out a roar and grabbed the swords by its' blades. Her eyes widened as he brought them out of the fire. He turned them in mid-air to their place after he stood up. As he started to charge at her she took a step back. "Guards!" She shouted at once.

He swung his swords but before he could strike his hands stopped like they were squeezed by iron fists. The stone cuffs. The swords were knocked out of his already bleeding hands while Azula gave him a dark glare. "Coward! Fight me!" He shouted as he pulled at his bindings in vain.

Azula made a smile as she saw that Iroh shifted slightly in his chains then she looked at her brother in the eye. "Dai Lee: take him away."

As Zuko yelled again Iroh's eyes opened just to see his nephew was brought away. "Zuko..."

Then Azula closed the door and tossed the key to the awakening boy who just stared at the struggling prince. Zen clenched his fist upon the key when Azula spoke. "And this time guard him well..."

They walked in silence through the prison's corridors. Zuko was tossed sometimes but then the guards were quickly taken aback by his dark stare. In the meantime he memorized his surroundings... he was about to come back. He sterned his face. Sure as hell I will...

Ty Lee hit him more than six hours ago. Its effect couldn't last long from now on. Once they put me in a cell and my bending came back... He narrowed his eyes. There will be no chains that could stop me!

They got deeper and deeper into this maze of prison cells. After they crossed more stairs that led even lower the scene changed. 'Up' they walked between brick walls with iron doors... but here were no doors. Even the walls seemed to be simple bended stone and Zuko frowned as they suddenly stopped. Where are we...?

Azula looked at him with another cold smile of hers then nodded to the guards who bended a doorway in the wall. She stepped forward without looking at him again.

This time he was pushed forward and he heard as the 'door' disappeared behind him.

The room he stood inside was only lit by a torch and there was nothing more but a chair, a strange stone circle that seemed to float waist-high and another Dai Lee member who lit a candle then put it on the floating stone.

"Sat him down." Azula ordered.

He hardly had time to frown before he was pushed into the chair and almost instantly stone cuffs appeared around his wrists and ankles binding him to the chair. He struggled and tried to get up but it only gained him another binding around his waist. He clenched his fists and teeth as he turned his head towards his sister. "What's the meaning of this?!" He snapped.

"Tsk. Tsk..." Azula slowly shook her head as she went to him. She leaned close to his face as she spoke. "From now on Zuzu, you're going to be my loyal servant."

He darkened his face. "Forget it!"

She narrowed her eyes with disapproval. She waved to the guards and stone formed around his neck too. "Now I've decided that it's going to be you who ends the matters of uncle..."

"Never!" He yelled and despite the stone grips around him he almost broke free... but it didn't take long before his bindings hardened and widened holding him down. "You can't force me!"

Azula made one last evil smile at him. "Oh yes, I can." She said and made another nod as she took some steps away from him. "Start it." She gave the order coldly.

The last stone binding formed around his forehead and Zuko found himself unable to move. The Dai Lee member turned towards him in the middle of the circle where the candle started to move.

Zuko's eyes widened as he heard Azula's voice again. "As we agreed. I want him to forget everything."

Gods... Now he knew what this was. Long Feng mentioned it but said that ended with the loss of Lake Laogai... And yet it happened. No! He did the only thing he could think of... and squeezed his eyes shut.

Azula narrowed her eyes and snapped at the guards. "Open his eyes!"

His fingers clenched around the chair's armrests as the guards stepped to him. "Don't touch me!" He yelled as his eyelids were forced to open.

He could do nothing else... his eyes focused on the light. This was truly over. Uncle forgive me...

A/N: Nooow... what do you think? XD Zuko is going to get brainwashed! XD It could probably happen... that's why I wanted to write this story and put it up before season 3... Review please:)