Author's Note: Thank you for reading, here is Chapter 5. Reviews are appreciated :)
Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar: The Last Airbender or any of its characters.
There was no hope left for him. He was certain of that.
Zuko sat on the floor of his cell, slumped in a heap. A thick silence hung over the room, the only sound cutting through it being his raspy, painful breathing. His weary mind had lost count of the days, and the beatings. The last spark of his inner fire had long since faded from his dull eyes.
He wondered, briefly, of his uncle's whereabouts. His heart ached to see the old man whom he thought of as his father, and it was all he could do to utter a prayer to any god who may listen that the old man was safe.
The banished prince was shaken from his thoughts as the door to his cell swung open, clattering against the wall and echoing through the small space. Zuko lifted his head to see three men staring down at him.
"This is prisoner F-17, sir," the man on the right spoke to the middle. He wore a guard's uniform, and Zuko vaguely recognized his hard-set face as a patrol officer who worked the halls.
The man in the middle stepped forward. "I see." He reached a hand up to his chin to run it down his long, brown beard. His gray eyes bored into Zuko's, assessing him as though he were a piece of merchandise.
The prince recognized this man; he had been there when Iroh was taken. It was General Fong. And his arrival could only mean one thing: they were taking Zuko.
"Bring him," Fong ordered curtly to the two guards, before turning and striding out of the cell.
Zuko's heard thumped in his chest as the guards stepped forward and roughly seized his upper arms. They dragged the firebender out the cell door and turned sharply to the right, and it was all Zuko could do to stumble along and try to keep up.
Zuko didn't know where they were taking him. But as the all-too-familiar face of Rafael appeared in his mind, he decided that whatever fate lay before him now, even death, would be a saving grace from that hell of a prison.
The scuffle on Zuko's feet and the steady thumps of the guard's echoed off the dark walls of the corridor. General Fong led the way, glancing over his shoulder every so often to send the prince a look of thinly-veiled disgust. His thoughts were written all over his face: filthy Fire Nation scum. They all got what they deserved.
They came to a stop at a solid rock wall that was heavily guarded by many men in dark armor. Their eyes were all fixed on the weak, panting prince, who was exhausted from the simple walk from his cell. Zuko could almost feel the hate radiating from the men inside the armor.
The General nodded at the two guards nearest the wall, and they took wide stances, before there was the sound of rock scraping on rock, and the earth was bended to the side to form a doorway.
Zuko was ushered inside, followed by the guards and General Fong. The space was small a square room, with a smooth stone floor and no ceiling, but instead a large elevator shaft.
The guards outside the door raised their gloved hands slowly, and with a deafening creak, the stone floor began to respond and rise slowly from the ground.
Weak legs wobbled beneath Zuko's body as he struggled to stay upright. The light grew nearer with each passing second, and the closer it got, the harder his heart pounded in his chest. What's going to happen to me? Finally, the elevator reached the top of the shaft.
Brilliant, white light washed over Zuko, and he abruptly squeezed his eyes shut to block the invasion of his senses. After spending months in the dark beneath Lake Laogai, the bright sun hurt his eyes and made his head pound. But the ache soon subsided as he soaked in the warmth and life of the sun. The prince was finally in touch with his element again; he could feel strength slowly seeping into his body, and a small spark seemed to relight. Inhaling deeply, his chest expanded and he slowly opened his eyes.
Zuko was standing on a platform surrounding by water on three sides, except for a wide path in front of him which led to a rocky shore. There were two towers rising from the water to his left and right. Soldiers in Earth Kingdom colors stood and kept watch from the towers, armed with razor-sharp spears that glinted in the midday sun.
Zuko's eyes flickered forward to five forms on the path. Standing before him three men and two women, all dressed in blue and silver attire. They had noble faces, and brilliant blue eyes that were evidence of their origin. Water Tribe, Zuko knew instantly.
General Fong stepped forward and bowed respectively to the men and women. "We've been expecting you," he murmured with reverence. "It is an honor to be of service."
The man in the middle, not the tallest of the five, but certainly the most muscular, nodded appreciatively. "Our agreement?" His voice was low and authoritative, but kind.
The General stepped to the side and extended his arm to Zuko, presenting him.
Zuko's eyes flitted back and forth between the Water Tribe people and Fong. Many pairs of eyes were trained on him, assessing and calculating. Unlike the guards who had taken him from his cell, there was no hostility or hatred in the eyes of the Water Tribe men and women. There was only curiosity and careful consideration. Zuko locked eyes with the man who had spoken, and the man gave a small nod, and Zuko briefly wondered if he had imagined it.
"We appreciate your cooperation," the man spoke, shifting his eyes from Zuko to General Fong. He glanced to the man and woman who stood to his left and murmured, "Help him to the ship."
The man and women stepped forward and lifted Zuko's arms over their shoulders, and started down the path toward the shore. After a few steps Zuko looked back over his shoulder, and he saw the man who had spoken hand General Fong a large, leather pouch. The General reached into the bag and pulled out several large golden coins, then let them drop back with metallic clings.
Zuko's eyes widened slightly. Had he just been…sold?
He turned his head back forward and tried to ignore the bad feeling gnawing at his stomach.
They reached the shore and ascended the rocky slope, and Zuko began panting before they made it even halfway.
"Hold it together," the woman supporting his right arm told him a bit harshly, "we've still got a ways to go."
Zuko gritted his teeth and forced his stiff legs to climb the slope. Sweat began to form on his forehead as he breathed heavily. His joints protested all the movement after being dormant so many months, but after slipping more than a few times, he finally made it to the top with a sigh of relief. He gazed at the scene before him. The earth beneath his feet gradually slope down to a small grove of trees, which rustled in the slight breeze. Just beyond that he could see shimmering, blue water, and a ship just beyond shore, which he assumed belonged to the Water Tribe men and women.
The trek through the woods was thankfully easier than the one up the slope, and before long, the small group reached the ship.
The majestic curves of the dark wood were of the finest craftsmanship, and the large blue sails rippled slightly in the wind. Zuko had always viewed the ships of the Water Tribes inferior to those of his nation – wood burned, metal didn't. But now he could see the sturdy beams that ran along the ship, and he knew instantly that it could hold its own in a fight.
He was ushered up a ramp onto the ship and followed closely by the five Water Tribe members who had taken him from Lake Laogai. A small crew awaited them at the top, eyeing Zuko cautiously as they assumed their positions to prepare the ship for sailing.
The man who had supported his left arm along the trek approached Zuko. "Come with me," he ordered curtly. He strode off to a trapdoor in the floor, and with a bit of effort, lifted it and let it rest on the smooth wood of the deck.
Zuko, slightly overwhelmed by the faces, noise, and uncertainty, followed the man through the trapdoor and down a small wooden staircase. At the bottom, he found himself in a dim room with a bed, a few chests, and a small table and chair in the corner.
"You will stay here until we arrive at our destination," the man informed him.
Zuko looked at the man, and in a raspy voice, asked, "Where are we going?"
The Water Tribe man didn't answer his question, but instead told him, "If you need something, let one of the crewmembers know. You will be provided with a meal in a few hours." He turned and climbed the staircase, but Zuko didn't miss the look of slight pity the man's eyes held.
The trapdoor shut behind him with a dull thud, and Zuko inhaled a shaky breath. His heart thumped at a fast pace, and a wave of panic threatened to overtake him. Calm down, he told himself. Wherever they're taking me, it can't be worse than that prison. He stepped over to the bed and sank down onto it, relishing in the comfort. Compared to the painful straw of his previous bed, the soft furs of the animal pelt blankets was heaven. His pale fingers ran over the smooth blanket, and he took a bit of comfort from them. Zuko laid back on the bed and closed his eyes.
There was fear gnawing at him; he had no idea what lay in his future, or what was even happening in the present. But he needed to stay strong. He would hold his head high, and keep fighting until the end. A strong determination rooted itself in his mind, and his inner fire burned a bit brighter.