Nightmares

Chapter 4

Zuko stared out at the open scenery, an angry expression on his features. It was another dead end. It was always a dead end. He had gotten a lead and he had followed it only to be let down once again. Was this it for him? Was he cursed to search for the Avatar for the rest of his life? He swallowed the lump he felt forming in his throat at the thought of never returning to his home. His birth right. Suddenly angry, he growled and brought a flaming fist to the wall behind him.

"I am sorry nephew."

Zuko turned away from his uncle's voice. "Leave me alone."

Iroh sighed as he stared at his nephew's back. He knew this lead had been nothing but a rumor, and he had tried to convince Zuko, but he had been stubborn, refusing to budge on the issue. Not wanting to further anger his nephew, he stopped voicing his doubts and dutifully followed Zuko on this wild Chicken goose chase. It wasn't as if he didn't support his nephew. It was whenever a lead turned out to be nothing, the aftermath was so great. He didn't want his nephew to suffer from the despair that would come from another failure.

"You mustn't give up Prince Zuko."

"Why not?" He suddenly spat. "What's the point? It's been three years uncle! I've searched every corner of this world and I still have not found the Avatar. I'm just a failure."

Iroh shook his head. "Zuko, failure is not falling down, but refusing to get up."

Zuko's shoulders shook with frustration and anger as he turned to glare at Iroh. "That's funny coming from someone who refused to get up at Ba Sing Se." He turned and stalked angrily toward his ship, pushing the guilt he felt from the hurt he saw flash in his uncle's eyes at his sharp words.

Iroh followed Zuko toward the ship at a slower pace. "Words like knives." He murmured sadly.

**

"You'll never wake up if you don't open your eyes."

Zuko's eyes slid open and he quickly sat up with a frown. He was in a field full of grass.

" Your eyes are open, but you are not yet awake."

He turned his head toward the voice with a frown.

"Look up." The voice instructed.

Zuko slowly looked up, he blinked against the large moon's shine. It was nearly blinding. His eyes widened as he realized a blue dragon circling the moon. He stared entranced as it eloquently moved around and around. It seemed to be dancing.

"Isn't she beautiful?" The dragon whispered.

For some strange reason, he knew The Dragon meant the moon. "Yes." He answered softly. He continued to watch the dance in silence.

"You can have this."

He frowned. "Have what?"

The dragon made a twirling loop before answering. "This."

He shook his head. "I don't understand."

The dragon made another twirling loop. "Of course you don't... You must wake up."

Zuko, still annoyingly confused, crossed his arms in front of his chest. "And if I don't?"

The dragon didn't answer and Zuko watched in dawning horror as the moon suddenly turned blood red and the dragon fell from the sky. He stepped forward. "No!"

*****

Zuko sat up with a loud gasp, clutching his chest in terror. That was the fifth nightmare he'd had tonight. It was just a stupid dream. But why did he feel so terrified? More so, why was he having these dreams every single night? He slowly slid out of bed and moved toward his meditating alter. He easily lit the four candles and closed his eyes.

"You must wake up."

He gritted his teeth as he felt himself lose concentration. He breathed in deeply again. "Clear your mind." He whispered to himself. He breathed in again. The flames heightened with each breath he took.

"You must wake up."

He growled and the fire flew high into the ceiling. His eyes snapped open and he threw his head back and roared. Fire flew from his mouth.

He couldn't think straight! His thoughts would not slow down. The words from his dream kept running through his mind over and over and he couldn't stop them!

He slowly turned and he paused as his eyes caught sight of the Oni mask. He slowly reached for it and stared at it. The mask stared back at him, a devious smile on it's face. He shuttered from the strong urge he felt to wear it.

"What's happening to me?" He asked out loud.

******

"Uncle, I'm sorry."

Iroh looked up from his card game in surprise. He had barely seen his nephew in the past day and a half and he knew it was because Zuko was avoiding him. He knew his nephew had felt shameful for what he had said to him.

He smiled up at Zuko.

"Emotions run high when one is upset." He indicated the pillow in front of him. "Please join me for a game of elefuda."

Zuko slowly sat down, folding his legs in front of him. "How can you forgive me so easily?" He asked as he took the small cards Iroh slid toward him.

Iroh smiled. "There was nothing to forgive. I was never angry at you Prince Zuko." He placed the first card down.

Zuko was quiet for a long moment, lost in his own thoughts. He was obviously distracted from the way he placed an Air bending card on top of Iroh's Earth bending card.

Iroh placed his hand onto his beard. "Hmm." He said. "That is an interesting move."

Zuko blinked and looked down at the line of cards. He sighed. "I'm no good at this game."

Iroh chuckled. "You're not good at any game." He grinned. "You should play more games."

Zuko shook his head. "I don't have time for games."

"Everyone has time for games." Iroh said as he placed two cards down. "I'm winning."

"I can't concentrate!" Zuko huffed, throwing the cards down.

Iroh sighed and glanced up at his nephew. "Prince Zuko, I hope you don't mind me saying, but you look terrible."

Zuko looked away from his uncle with a sigh. "I haven't been sleeping well." He admitted. In all honesty he hadn't been sleeping at all for the past two nights. The nightmares were becoming unbearable.

Iroh placed his cards down and stared seriously at Zuko. "Are you not well?"

Zuko shook his head. "No. I feel fine. It's just-I keep having these nightmares." He looked away from his Uncle. "I have them all night and when I wake up I feel so….so…"

"So?" Iroh questioned.

Zuko turned to look at him, his expression serious. "Scared." He whispered.

Iroh nodded in understanding. "Fear is nothing to be ashamed of nephew."

Zuko glared. "I'm not ashamed!" He yelled

Iroh held his hands up. "Okay." He said. "Why don't you tell me what occurs in these dreams of yours."

Zuko sighed heavily and looked away. He spoke quietly of his dreams with the blue dragon circling the moon. He spoke of the terror he felt when the moon suddenly turned blood red and the dragon fell from the sky. He closed his eyes briefly from the odd feeling he felt once again from merely speaking about it. Because he was turned away, he failed to notice Iroh's wide eyed expression.

"Zuko, you say this dragon spoke to you. What did it say?"

"He said I could have this." Zuko said with a shake of his head. He looked up at Iroh's expression. "Uncle, what are you thinking of?"

"Zuko," Iroh started cautiously. "Fire benders dreaming of dragons are very rare and significant. It can mean a prediction of a number of things. Life changing things."

Zuko stood up from his sitting position. "Life changing?" He repeated. "Lets hope the life changing has something to do with me capturing the Avatar." He turned to walk toward the other end of deck. "Helmsman! Head east. I have an Avatar to search for!"

Iroh slowly closed his eyes. "That isn't what I meant!" he called to Zuko. "Nephew, you should be resting!" He called, but was ignored. He shook his head and stroked his beard, his thoughts swirling. "This is going to be very interesting."

*******

Katara could feel Zhao's eyes on her as she groomed his nails. She could feel his eyes bore in the back of her head. He had been watching her this way since he returned back to the ship. That had been more than three days ago and she couldn't stop the feeling of unease that came with him watching her.

She lowered his left hand and moved onto his right as her eyes strayed toward the strange wooden box in the corner of his office. She couldn't deny that she felt drawn to it.

She looked back down at her task, swallowing to herself as he suddenly shifted in his seat.

"How old are you Katara?"

She paused in surprise. He never used her name. "Fifteen Admiral."

"Hmm." He said softly. "And you were what? Twelve when you were brought aboard this ship?"

Katara placed her hands in her lap as she answered quietly. "Yes Admiral."

Zhao slowly smirked at her bowed head. "She will be a bender of this time," he recited quietly. "Born of the Southern Tribe."

Katara's eyes widened in fear. 'Oh no.' She thought to herself.

"Tell me," He started softly. "What do you think of that?"

Katara didn't answer for a long moment. She closed her eyes, gathering her strength from the spirits who told her to bee strong. She looked up at Zhao, her blue eyes clear. "You tell me." she answered.

Zhao slowly sat forward so that he was eye level with her. "I know your secret."

Katara's eyes widened slightly and she cried out as Zhao suddenly grabbed her by the throat.

TBC

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