The hiatus is over! I have so much time to write these days, yay. Enjoy!

Chapter 3: Black Fire Circus

It took two nights for the girl to regain consciousness. Katara was a miracle worker. Her expert hands and water bending mastery saved the girl from blood poisoning and broken bones. Katara guessed that she had acquired her injuries from an attacker. Most likely an animal according to the canine shaped puncture wounds located mainly on her neck and other various places around her body.

Zuko waited inside his room, in one of the air temple buildings, when he heard that she had came to. He didn't want to upset her further when she was sure to be more than disoriented waking up in a strange place. They could only hope that the Avatar's presence would be enough to convince her she was safe. He wasn't even sure she'd remember him. Was the memory as vivid for her as it was for him? He didn't know. But he did want to stay on the safe side. He stuck to pacing around the tight space of his room.

The day he met the girl started out unusually. That morning his not so loving father had offered to take him and his sister Azula to a popular circus located in the Fire Nation, the Black Fire Circus. It was not common for the Fire Lord to offer to do anything for his children in his spare time but Zuko didn't think much of it. Besides, a trip to the circus? To the twelve year old version of himself, that actually sounded like fun. Which was not something he came by often.

The trip to the location was only two hours by private air ship, and they arrived at the circus in no time. Unsurprisingly, the large tent was decorated with their signature red and gold colors, and of course, the insignia of the Fire Nation. Upon entrance, Zuko could smell the various circus foods, and even different animals they must have kept there for the show. Looking around he saw circus people, regular people, and exotic animals that he had never seen wondering in and around the palace.

Taking their royal seats for the show, Zuko looked up at his father. His heart sunk. The Firelord's face was a mask of business. Not the joy or amusement Zuko had hoped for. Flooded with disappointment that his father was not enjoying himself, he stole a glance at Azula. No surprise, she was wearing her usual look of self satisfaction and smugness.

It was a brilliant showcase. The performers were stunning and talented. People were constantly gasping, and jumping out of their seats. When the show ended, even the Firelord stood for a standing ovation. As they were preparing to leave, the Firelord requested to speak with the circus official. Business stuff. Zuko tried to ask his father where the restroom was but he was quickly waved away. He decided to search on his own. Azula stood obediently at his father's left side, paying attention to the business talk closely.

There were no signs to aid him, and he was too shy to ask one of the crazy looking circus people, he had to blindly wander the tent until he could find it himself. He stalked past cages and cages of unique animals. He approached a dimly lit area, sectioned off by a draping red cloth, that looked promising. Looking around he noticed that he had strayed way off from where people had been mulling around. He was completely alone.

Pulling back the cloth, he gasped in horror.

Cages upon cages, the same ones they used to store the animals, were full of people. People that didn't look much older than him. Some even younger, boys and girls alike.

He ran up to the cage closest to him. A girl, his age. She looked up at him with large brown eyes, a dirty face and a bloated body that screamed malnourishment.

"W-why? Why are you locked up like this? Like an animal?" he stammered in a hoarse voice. He was scared. Terrified. Whatever was happening, he was sure it was extremely wrong, and he should not be there. The girl jumped up clutching the bars of the cage with her tiny hands and startling Zuko.

"Can you help us?" she asked urgently. He didn't understand. What were all these people-kids doing here locked up like circus animals? He shook his head.

"I don't know, what can I do?" he could feel the lump in his throat choking back the sob that was fighting to be free.

" Listen, " the girl said with snapping urgency. "You have to try and break the lock, you hear me? Can you firebend?" He shook his head slowly, trying to clear it.

"Only a little." he said slowly "Not enough to break the cage." he uttered hopelessly.

"Please, you have to try. For everyone here you have to try!" she pleaded with him.

He nodded slowly and assumed his form.

"Step back." he said with just a bit of confidence. She quickly obeyed and crouched in the back corner of the cage.

Taking a deep breath just like he was taught, he tried to conjure as much power as he could. He used all the anger he had stored up from this entire situation, and channeled it into his bending. Finally, a blast of fire shot straight at the lock. His heart fluttered in triumph, and the people in the nearby cages gave a shout of joy. Their victory was not long lived, however. When Zuko picked up the lock, it was as strong and as unmovable as ever.

He crashed into the cage with fury and frustration.

"I'm sorry… I couldn't do it." he muttered.

The girl only gave him a look of pure agony. Tears welled in her eyes and Zuko's heart shattered. Some of the kids had started to cry.

"I can get help. I can grab my dad!" he said with a surge of hope. The girl shook her head in sorrow.

"That will only get you and your dad killed." she said quietly.

"No, you don't understand." he said suddenly excited. "My dad's the Firelord! He can fix this!" The girl looked up at Zuko with wonder.

"You're a prince? Your dad's the Firelord?" She was jumping up inside the cage now. "We could actually leave! We can break free! The Firelord will save us all!" she exclaimed happily. Kids everywhere were cheering now. The girl suddenly turned and shushed them.

"Do you wish for them to come back?" she turned back to Zuko. "Prince, you must go and get your father, the Firelord. He's our last chance." she spoke clearly to him. Zuko nodded his head and looked down at her.

"I promise, I'm going to get you out. I'll be back soon." he turned back the way he came and ran. Ran as fast as he could to get back to his father. Surely he would set them free, and shut down this awful circus. He turned his head back one last time to look at the girl.

"I promise!" he yelled back at her.

He tried as hard as he could to not slam into people as he quickly made his way back to his father. He was soon met with the Firelord's disapproving scowl and Azula's usual smug face.

"Busted." Azula taunted him But Zuko didn't have time for Azula's behavior. Almost out of breath, he stopped in front of his father.

"Father, I-"

"Zuko, where have you been? You just disappear without telling anyone? Without telling me?" he boomed. Zuko shook his head, he didn't have time to apologize

"Father you don't understand, there are children back there, locked up! We need to-"

"Silence, Zuko!" Ozai snapped. Zuko obeyed his father's command. Ozai continued,

" We are leaving now. You are to go straight to the air ship, and not to ever speak of this day ever again. Do I make myself clear?" Zuko looked at him incredulously.

"But-" he was quickly cut off,

"Not. Another. Word. Understood?" Zuko nodded, defeated. He knew he couldn't go against the Firelord's commands without seeing huge consequences. He made his way back to the airship with a pit in his stomach.

Azula practically skipped next to him.

"What are you so happy about?" he questioned with disgust.

"Oh, nothing." she trilled "Just a lovely trip to the circus, wouldn't you agree?" she mused. Zuko practically shouted back at her.

Azula this is serious! There were kids back there, locked up in cages!" she simply shrugged.

"Father already knows that dumb-dumb." she rolled her eyes at him. "Why did you think we came here today?" Zuko was shocked. No way his father knew of the horrors that were happening inside the Black Fire Circus. Azula was lying, of course. Azula always lies.

"No." was all he could muster. He was beginning to feel sick to his stomach.

"Whatever you wish to believe, Zu-Zu." she mocked. "Why are you so concerned anyways? They're just war prisoners." That fact didn't even matter to him at that point. They were still children, just like him.

" Just remember you're forbidden to speak about this day ever again." Her voice betrayed a bit of concern, probably not for him.

Could he seriously live the rest of his life as if he never saw those children locked up like that? He was sure he couldn't. He was also sure he had to.

Overwhelming dread came over him for the rest of that day, and days after that. Years passed and he learned to choke down the memory every time it surfaced his thoughts. At age sixteen, he had almost forgotten the incident entirely. Almost.

Now here he was destined to face the girl again. What would he say to her? He had let her, and all those people, down. He was ashamed. He had dishonored his word.

A quick rapping at his door signaled his time to face the very memory he had become an expert in smothering. Sokka peeked his head into the room, nodding his head. Zuko took a deep breath.

"I'm ready."

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