Disclaimer: Nope, I still don't own it, even a year later. Though after that piece of crap movie, I –reeeaaally- wish I did.

Ignition

Chapter 10: Scorched

Katara stalked through the trees, trying to avoid the numerous roots and subtle rocks threatening to send her sprawling. She scuffed the ground with her boot, dislodging several pieces of rough, porous rock. Frowning, she bent to pick one up, turning it over in her hand. The coarse, red rock that composed most of the Fire Nation's land felt odd in her hands. Her brow furrowed; everything about this place was wrong. The rocks, the people…the ruler. Her blue eyes closed as she brought her hand to her forehead momentarily before flinging the rock as far from her as she possibly could. It landed with a thud some meters away. "Good riddance." She muttered before adjusting her pack and continuing to trudge onward.

Zuko paced in the clearing for a few moments, his arms repeatedly crossing and uncrossing in distracted frustration. With a sigh, he flopped down with his back against one of the scrubby, twisted trees which surrounded him. He scratched idly at the bark before noticing the familiar resin-like scent. His eyes opened wider in surprise; his mother had frequently used a perfume made from the bark of the Azulon tree. He closed his eyes angrily, leaning his head back against the trunk of the tree. A bitter look stole across his face as the briefest of thoughts crossed his mind. I drive away everyone I love.

Memories played out in his mind as Zuko drifted in and out of consciousness without regard for time. He played in the courtyard with his sister when they were young. After coming to the defense of a small bird she had been torturing, they fought. Azula suddenly performed something she had learned from one of the temple sages: the blue fire she produced shocked them both. Zuko staggered backwards, stumbling in his attempt to avoid being burned. Suddenly his mother stood above him, chastising Azula as she shielded her son. The image blurred then faded to black as another memory drifted into being.

"Why do you coddle him? He will never grow, never advance. All you do is enable his weakness. You both are an embarrassment to the crown." Ozai spat, the flames from the fireplace casting frightening shadows across his sinister face. Zuko watched from the floor through a cracked door as his parents argued.

"Why are you so hard on him? All he does is attempt to please you and you treat him with disdain and derision. Should his respect for the art of bending and the life around him really be met with such aggression? So he doesn't set flame to everything he sees, doesn't burn everyone that vexes him. He possesses something your protégé Azula does not: control. I will not punish that, nor will I allow you or Azula to continue to do so." Ursa replied coolly, her typically warm, chocolate colored eyes narrowing with a coolness Zuko had never seen before. His stomach clenched; he feared for his mother, and the sight of his fighting parents did not help to lessen his anxiety. While his father was generally stern and heavy-handed, he was still his father. The sight sickened him.

Ozai turned his back on his wife, hiding his face from view as he stood in silence. To Zuko, he resembled a two-headed rat viper, still and calculating before it struck with startling, fatal accuracy. Soon, the child's imaginative connection was further enforced as Ozai struck his wife. The movement of his hand was barely registered by his son. As soon as Zuko had noticed his father's movements, his mother was on the floor. "Outspoken wench." Ozai spat. "Get out of my sight." he added, standing over his stunned wife.

Zuko seethed as the memory faded and he opened his eyes. An odd mixture of guilt, anger, and a terrible longing filled him as he stared into the canopy above him. "If I had said something, done something, maybe you would be safe…" he whispered to himself. He shook his head and glanced towards the spot where Katara had stood what seemed like hours ago. I let her go… he thought. Just like I let Mother go. His face became set in defiance as he stood. No, he would not allow another he loved to slip into the unknown. "Not this time." He growled before gathering what remained of their camping and travel supplies and shouldering his pack.

Zuko took off after Katara at a quick pace, pausing occasionally to make sure he was still on her trail. The occasional footprint encouraged him. With a chuckle, he noticed she was doing her best to remain untracked. To be fair, she was doing quite well for herself. His keen eyes could only discern the odd heel or toeprint from her boots. The prints stood out to Zuko because Katara's boots were in the style of her homeland and slightly different than the boots and slippers worn in the Fire Nation. Encouraged, he picked up his pace, eager to find her regardless of how he would be received.

Narrowed eyes watched the young Fire Lord from a cluster of dense shrubbery several yards to Zuko's left. The man's neutral clothing allowed him to blend in with the surrounding forest easily, though Zuko's distraction made camouflage practically unnecessary. The man held up two fingers, signaling to the other behind him. As he dropped his hand, the trap was sprung.

Zuko barely had time to register what was happening before an arrow struck the ground at his feet. The whizzing of several more announced the presence of multiple archers and a brief electric shock traveled through his body. He leapt into the air and spun, extending his leg in a sweeping motion before him to create a streak of flames in the air. The arrows incinerated on contact as he dropped to the ground on one knee, tossing his pack to the ground beside him. He surveyed his surroundings through narrowed eyes, taking note of the numerous potential hiding places from which the attack could have originated.

In an instant, ribbons of flame shot towards Zuko from the nearest clump of bushes, wrapping around his wrists. Zuko struggled against them as two Firebenders appeared from behind a group of trees. The two holding him captive by his wrists stood, approaching slowly while maintaining their control. Suddenly, a face Zuko recognized appeared before him. "You!" he snarled.

General Bujing smirked and mockingly inclined his head. "Still as rude and insolent as you were as a child I see," the man replied as he paced before Zuko. "And still as dim-witted." he added with an irritating chuckle. "How I hoped that I would be the one to catch you. Your father of course wanted you returned alive, I suppose to do away with you himself as he should have done when you spoke out against me, but you do seem the type to struggle. Perhaps one of my men will be a bit heavy handed in subduing you." Bujing muttered, eyeing Zuko with cold-hearted interest. "I can't imagine your sister would begrudge me this one tiny indiscretion. She never was fond of you." He finished, a dark look encompassing his face. Oh yes, boy, I will enjoy this…

"Then I regret to inform you my sister is dead." Zuko spat, his voice dripping with disdain for himself and contempt for the arrogant man pacing before him as he admitted his crime aloud for the first time. "By my hand no less." he finished angrily, glaring at Bujing through eyes barely more than slits, hatred emanating from every fiber of his being.

"Wonderful, no one will envy me the opportunity to kill you." Bujing replied simply, an insidious smile spreading quickly across his face. "Restrain him." Bujing commanded, waving his hand to three of his men, before turning his back on his captive. "Your father is not here to take pity on you. And this time you will not escape me." the general muttered with a slight grin.

At the general's command, two of his rushers darted forward to fulfill his order. The third hesitated before following behind them at a slower pace. As they reached Zuko, one produced a large, heavy chain of iron with which the former Fire Prince was to be bound. They muttered amongst themselves as they prepared to assume control of their powerful prisoner.

"Best to block his chi I think." murmured the stocky, built man standing directly in front of Zuko, sizing him up and down. His name was Jin. He was one of the more intelligent members of Bujing's group. His second, a taller, more slender man known as Noro simply nodded in agreement. The third and most hesitant was barely more than a boy; he stammered as he spoke.

"But if what he says is true, h-he is the Fire Lord." he muttered, his voice barely above a reverent whisper. His comment merely earned him a quick cuff over the head from Jin.

"Shut your mouth, Rhyu." Jin spat angrily. "Even if that was so, he hasn't been crowned yet. He's no Lord. Besides, regardless of who's in charge back home, Bujing's holding the reins here and that's all that matters. We do as he says, we earn our keep. Otherwise, we're expendable, see? Now quit yammering and follow the orders of those with some sense." Jin finished gruffly, returning his attention to the task at hand. He assumed his fighting stance, one foot sliding back and to the side in a wide arc, his body facing forward. "Once I've blocked his chi, release your bonds. Not a second before!" commanded Jin.

Zuko struggled suddenly, managing to strike the older man restraining him on his left with a well-placed kick using the hard, metallic heel of his boot. The man stumbled, his concentration wavering for only a second. That was all the time Zuko required. With one arm free, Zuko dangled awkwardly in the air. He twisted slightly, drawing from his chi as he moved, willing his power into tangible existence. Bringing his legs upwards, he kicked towards the sky, sending a large, dense plume of fire shooting into the canopy above them. The injured man was quickly replaced, and once again Zuko was restrained. In an instant, Jin moved confidently, jabbing swiftly and accurately at the numerous pressure points on the captive's body.

Zuko's struggle was brief as he felt Jin's attack taking effect. He felt the strength leave him almost instantly and when he felt for the warmth of his power, nothing came to him. His attempts to draw from his internal flame, to move and bend his chi to his will were futile. He sagged in defeat, his face distorted as he watched the general's men bind him. Please don't let Katara see it…Let her stay away…

Jin and Noro worked quickly, tightening the heavy iron shackles about Zuko's ankles, a heavy chain connecting them with barely enough room for Zuko to shuffle along. Rhyu moved forward, his shoulders hunched, to shackle Zuko's wrists. He met Zuko's eyes ever so briefly, his apology clear in his concise but heartfelt gaze. Instantly he broke the captive's sight, torn between his sworn duty to the crown and his allegiance to his immediate superior. With a sigh, Rhyu couldn't help but think that somehow everything had seemed wrong since he left home.

Author's Note: Well, there we go. Finished this chapter, at least for now. Sorry for any confusion, I forgot to mention that this chapter was not entirely complete when I last updated. Will Katara come to his rescue? Or will someone else? Dun dun duuuuuuun…

As always, thank you sososo much for all of your reviews and such, much love!