Yes, gasp, another what if. I was gonna do this in a full fic along with several others bt I am currently trying to clear space on my computer so several, once full fics, I had are now going to be in this. Hope you enjoy it! Don't own ATLA.

Zuko gasped as the lightning came at him. With practiced reflexes he followed the old movements his uncle had taught him so long ago. But as he ran through the motions he felt a sharp pain in his chest, the lightning had hit his heart, just what uncle said never to do.

With a wince he finished the movements, succeeding in launching half of the lightning at his father. In pain he gripped his side, feeling the blood stream out of his side. With another wince he turned, running his hardest, he had to get out of there.

After minutes he got out of the bunker and to where he had previously tied up a komodo dragon. However he struggled to get up, his side hurting like no other. Looking down with pain clouded eyes he saw a bloody wound on his side that stretched to his chest.

He knew if he couldn't get help then he would probably die of blood loss. That little fact managed to give him the strength to climb up onto the mongoose dragon with difficulty. He then kicked his heels into it's side, racing to get out of the palace city.

Above him he could see Azula launching the war balloons his father had stolen. He urged the mongoose dragon faster as he neared the rim of the volcano. Unfortunately he was instantly met with people facing him with weapons. Zuko scowled, how had Ozai sent word that quick?

Swiftly he sent out a weak fire blast at the people that hardly fazed them "Toph he seems injured" a distant voice said.

Zuko groaned, his eyes going fuzzy "I think he is twinkle toes! Is he one of ours?" a voice asked.

Zuko lowered his head in pain as the men surrounded him carefully "No, he's a fire bender" the first voice said, close by him. Zuko then felt a pulse of heat race through his body and he wrapped his arm around his chest and side where blood continued to seep through.

He groaned, his hand loosening around the mongoose dragons reigns as he slipped to the ground, the frightened animal darting off. The people then tried to approach him slowly. Frightened Zuko did a circle of fire that lasted for five seconds before dieing out "Aang! He's definitely injured…bad! He'll die in seconds unless we get him to sugar queen!" the second voice shouted.

Zuko shook his head, it had to be a trick "Stay back" he whispered hoarsely.

He tried to back off a little but couldn't "It's okay, we can help you" a new voice said softly, a girl.

Zuko scowled, looking up at last to be met with nearby bright blue eyes. He saw her gasp in shock and recoil "It's Zuko!" she shouted in alarm.

Zuko scowled, trying to back away "Stay away from me!" he shouted, his memory going blank on where these voices and people seemed so familiar. He then felt a small hand on his face and instantly a memory flashed through his mind.

"It has special properties and I don't know if it would work but…" the young water tribe girl said, gently putting her small hand on Zuko's scar.

Zuko gasped, looking up into the eyes of the water bender who had offered to help him all that time ago. And he threw it in her face "I'm sorry…I'm so sorry" he whispered.

He closed his eyes, hearing the girl turn to someone "Aang, help me get him to Appa" she called out.

Zuko winced as to people began to lift him by his arms before one of them stopped "Katara there is blood all over his side…" a voice said, getting distant.

Zuko shook his head, trying to shake free the blurriness as the two picked up the pace "Who did this?" the second voice asked curious.

Zuko frowned, his head lowered in defeat "Ozai" he whispered.

He could feel both people stumble before continue on "Why?" the water girl asked gently.

Zuko smiled weakly, opening his eyes "I told him…the truth…that I would…leave him and join…the avatar…and take him down…." he said.

The last thing he heard was someone else running forward to them "Katara, Aang, Toph! They just destroyed the subs, the younger ones are retreating on Appa and we're supposed to go with…"

Line break

First thing he was aware of was pain, mind numbing, endless pain. Slowly he groaned, turning his head to the side, feeling an unexpected warmth hit his face. His eyes snapped open for the sunlight to hit him full force. Swiftly he turned to the side, facing an open room.

He blinked in confusion, his eyes adjusting to the bright light. His mind was blank as he tried to remember what happened. Slowly he got up, grasping his side in pain. With a groan he looked down to see his chest and side all bandaged.

Suddenly he reeled back as memories flooded to him at full force. He gasped out as pain also hit at that moment "The invasion" he wheezed.

Carefully he got up, wincing the whole way "Why am I here?" he muttered to himself.

Surely if Ozai had caught him he would be dead right? But death couldn't be this painful…right? Zuko shook his head to clear his thoughts, hoping to break out of his daze. Carefully he rose to his feet, his body shaking in exertion.

He ignored it and continued to rise to his feet, slowly studying his surroundings. His pack was on a small nightstand but covered in a layer of dust that he found interesting. Carefully he walked to the door, stumbling slightly.

With wary eyes he peeked out, instantly recognizing his surrounding "The Western Air Temple?" he asked in confusion. How did he get here? Shaking his head once more he stumbled down the hall, trying to figure out what was going on.

After awhile he paused at the voices he heard, fear striking him. He needed to get to the Avatar before his father did. Slowly he crept towards the voices, stopping when he could properly hear them "Okay, we have one last hope for the invasion and only seven of us" a male said.

Zuko heard a small scoff "Sokka we have Zuko too, he could be a huge help" a female said.

Zuko's heart panged with guilt but he wasn't sure why "Katara he's been asleep for three weeks, remember how long Aang was out of it when he got injured like that?" the first voice asked.

Zuko shuffled closer, he couldn't help but feel a sense of familiarity "Sokka, I was shot with lightning, Zuko wasn't, or at least I don't think he was. Anything could have happened to him, and depending on what it was the effects could have been different" a new voice said.

Suddenly it hit him, it was the avatar and his gang of friends. Slowly he moved forward and looked around the corner to see the avatar and his three friends sitting in a circle. Suddenly Katara yawned "Hey where are Teo, Haru, and the Duke?" she asked.

Toph moved her hand idly in one direction "Hall of statues again, oh and you might want to look behind you" she said, a relieved smile on her face as she looked in Zuko's direction as he moved into full view.

Startled the others turned around, freezing at the sight of the fallen prince standing behind them. Zuko winced and seemed to sway slightly on his feet. Katara took immediate notice of this "You should really sit down, here" she said, getting up and walking to him.

Guilt tore at Zuko once more as she took his hand, leading him carefully towards the circle and helping him to sit. For a moment he studied the tense group before asking the question bugging him most "Was I really asleep for three weeks?" he asked, his voice a little hoarse.

Aang shot him a small relieved smile "Honestly the others didn't think you would ever wake up, only me and Katara did" he told him.

Toph snorted "Well congrats to the little bundle of happiness for guessing right" she said sarcastically.

Katara glared at her "I put way to much healing in for him not to recover, you know that more than anyone" she told the blind bender.

Toph smirked "Yeah but only because you kept me up all night with your worry! I could feel your heart beat on the other side of the fire nation if I wanted" she teased.

Katara glared darkly before turning a soft and concerned look at Zuko "By the way, what happened?" she asked.

Zuko groaned, putting his hand on his head "It's kind of blurry, I remember going to confront Ozai…Told him I was going to join…join the avatar. He said something…made me stay until the eclipse…ended. The lightning was so…fast, much faster than Azula's. I tried to redirect it…but failed" he explained between raged breaths of pain.

Briefly he was aware of Katara moving. Suddenly he was aware of a cool sensation on his chest and he looked down to see Katara concentrating on blue glowing water "Still hurt?" she asked.

Zuko shook his head "Thank you" he whispered.

Katara nodded, focusing on the wound. Sokka then turned towards him "The invasion failed, Ozai and Azula had every move planned out" he told him.

Zuko nodded blankly "She dressed up…as a kyoshi warrior in the earth kingdom. The…Earth king told her…thinking she was an ally. It was the…first thing she spread word of…when we got home" he gasped out.

Katara shot him a worried look "Maybe you should be in bed…" she said hesitantly.

Zuko's face hardened "We've wasted…to much time. I need to be…ready" he muttered.

Suddenly Katara grabbed his hand "Zuko, you've accomplished so much, please…rest, for me" she said. Zuko shot her a despairing look before he nodded.

He stood to go but not before shooting Aang a brief glance "fire bending practice starts tomorrow" he said, surprising them all before he turned to leave.

Aang chuckled nervously, turning to Katara "I think it's a bit early for him to be doing that right?" he asked.

Katara smiled mischievously "Well I'm off to bed" she said, ignoring the question.

Aang twitched "But it's only noon!" he shouted.

Sokka also stretched, carefully inching away "I've got to do some manly things" he said before taking off.

Aang turned despairingly towards Toph who smirked "Have fun" she said casually before walking off.

Aang shivered, he so didn't want to fire bend! "Guys?" he asked.

Hearing nothing he groaned "Guys come on!" he shouted.

And with his dismay he didn't even hear the young fire prince chuckle before he continued to his room.