.okay..bare with me...this is my first ever fanfiction.

-:Summary:-
Zuko is plague by nightmares. Souzen's Comet is coming closer and Aang still needs to learn firebending. Katara finds true love along the way in the form of a masked warrior.

oh yes; beware, I will double post to make reading the story easier.

Rated: T
Genre: Romance/Adventure
Character pairings:- Zuko&Katara

-:-Chapters posted so far-:-
1. Agni's Dream
2. Kidnapped
3. A Blue Spirit Rescue
4. The Unholy Nightmare
5. So Close Yet So Far Away
6. Dances With Dragons

=:Agni's Dream:=

Water…Earth…Fire…Air…

Long ago, the four nations lived in harmony…

Until the Fire Nation attacked!

Only the Avatar…

Master of all four elements could save the world…

Yet, when the world need him most…

He Vanished!

A hundred has past and my brother and I found the new Avatar…

An Airbender named Aang…

And though his airbending skills are great, he still has a lot to learn…

But I believe…

Aang…

Can save…

The World!

Aang has mastered Waterbending and Earthbending, and we met a while ago a group of rebels with a firebender, the only problem is, we can’t find him, so he can finish teaching Aang the last element…

Firebending.

Worst, Prince Zuko is hot on our trail, and worst…

Another Fire Navy ship is following us!

-:-:-:-

Zuko’s ship, Zuko dreaming

Left…right…attack! The shadow figure fell down; the person took another right, fought again, took two rights and three lefts and then came face to face with a very big guard. They engaged in battle, the guard fell down, and the victor came to face a door. The victor opened the door and saw a bright white light…

-:-:-:-:-

Dream ends

Zuko woke up, his chest rising and falling with each heavy pant as he tried to calm his racing heart. He was in a cold sweat, but why? He never had a nightmare like this one, before. A knock sounded on his door.

“What?” Zuko snapped.

“Are you okay?” Iroh asked.

“Fine,” was Zuko’s answer, as he lay back down, drawing the blanket around his bare shoulder. He closed his eyes, but images flashed of the girl…his father…and the girl’s lifeless corpse. He snarled, and rolled over, trying to banish the images and the voice that rang…I love you! The Fire Prince was unsuccessful in his attempts to banish the images and the voice.

-:-:-:-:-

The iron ship sliced through the water, like tall shadowing dragon of deep foreboding.

High above them was the starlit sky, a deep inky black indigo and a waxing crescent moon cast silver light down upon the ocean far below. A shadowy shape of a bison pasted before the moon and a voice floated through the air.

“We’re floating through the air! We’re floating through the midnight sky! People far below, are watching as we fly! Suddenly…the light does sing! We’re floating the air! We’re floating through the midnight sky! We’re flying past the moon and cities passing by!” sang the voice. Slowly, ever so slowly, it drifted down to the black ship, and through the cracks of the door to the room the sleeping prince.

The song engulfed him, wrapping him up like a warm invisible blanket. He stopped his moaning, as his strange dungeon dream appeared, it banished the corpse of the girl and the voice that said I love you. It soothed the prince to a dreamless slumber. Assuaging him like a small child, softly he whispers, “I love you too…” before drifting of to sleep.

=:Kidnapped:=

A few miles away from a small village, Aang, Katara and Sokka made camp. It was near a small river and Katara was practicing her waterbending. She pulled the orb of water out of the river and bent it into a shape. It looked very much like Prince Zuko, and Katara smiled at her trick.

“Hey, Sokka look!” Katara called at her brother. Sokka looked.

“Great Katara,” he said tiredly. “Just like Mom.” Katara looked at him.

“Aang, you try,” Katara said and the young Avatar tried and made the water into a flying-bison. “Great job Aang,” Katara said and smiled as they threw the water-shapes back into the river.

“Katara, that song you sang last night. It was beautiful, where did you hear it?” Aang asked and the young waterbender shrugged.

“Dunno; it just came to me, that’s all. Like I always knew the words, but I just couldn’t find the right moment to voice them. I also felt a great fear…and foreboding last night, as if someone was out there, that need help…that needed to be comforted because of an awful nightmare,” Katara said and began to hum the song again. Aang swayed with the rhythm of her voice. She was so beautiful, like a water goddess walking among mortal blood. Katara’s humming rose with the climax of the song and she began to waterbend to the rhythm of the song she hummed. Aang joined in.

“We’re floating through the air! We’re floating through midnight sky! People far below, watching as we fly! Suddenly…the light does sing! We’re floating the through air! We’re floating through moonlit sky! We are high above the ground and cities passing by!” Katara sang, her eyes closed as she bent water in the shape of a beautiful dragon with two riders. She held that shape, and danced around with it, as she sang the song. The wind, was stirred by her melody and took the words and harmony of the ballad upon its lofty breezes and carried it to the chosen ears the song was meant for.

-:-:-:-:-

The Market Place

Prince Zuko scowled as he looked at the items the shop had for sale. Why, did his uncle drag him to this stuffy little shop was beyond him. Zuko picked up a sleeping azure glass dragon with golden eyes like he had. That was when he heard the song. He looked up and scanned for the shopkeeper, he found the old man.

“You! How much is this figurine?” Zuko asked and the man smiled.

“Ah! My prize possession, that dragon has been in my family for countless generations, ‘twas a gift, you know,” the man looked at the prince and spotted his scar and smiled in a sagely manner. “By the same person to bear your name and scar. You are his descendant are you not?” he asked.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. How much is this?” Zuko asked.

“You know very well what I’m talking about. The First Fire Lord…the First Fire Avatar… Lord Zuko, First Avatar to grace the burning soil of the Fire Nation, he who united the four clans of Fire! You also bare the blood of the brother of Fire Prince Jin-Lung, husband of Bender Hu-Ying,” the man smiled again and touched Zuko’s hand that held the blue dragon made of glass. “Destiny, I see. For the one of the Water Tribe that has Fire Nation coursing through her very veins. The threads of faith and destiny of both you and her are deeply woven in prophecies and foresights older than the elements and the Avatar themselves…the figurine is fifty gold pieces, so cough up if you want to buy it,” the man said and held out his hand. After listening to man babble for two minutes, Zuko might as well buy the stupid statuette. He placed fifty gold pieces in the man’s hand as his uncle appeared.

“You bought something?” Iroh asked.

“Yeah,” Zuko said and the song danced in his head, he turned the dragon over and read the name etched into its base. Zuko.

The Prince nearly dropped it and looked for the shopkeeper, he was nowhere to be seen.

“Uncle, did you see the shopkeeper?” Zuko asked and Iroh gave his nephew a concerned look.

“There was no shopkeeper, Prince Zuko,” Iroh said. Zuko growled, nobody could vanish into thin air like that. And…why were he and his uncle standing, in all places, a public bathroom! Snarling Zuko walked out and was followed by his uncle. That’s when he heard the screams that chilled his heart!

-:-:-:-:-

The Avatar's Camp

Sokka threw his boomerang at the monster that held his sister captive. Aang stomped his foot and a boulder about the size of Appa’s head came up, with a hiya! The Avatar sent the boulder at the man that held Katara. The man cackled.

“You think your earthbending and your little boomerang is going to stop me from luring both you and that foolish prince into my fool-proof trap?” Zhao asked, as Aang sent a blast of air at him. Zhao dodged and signaled his men to keep Sokka and Aang busy, while he made his get away. Roaring with rage, Aang shot fire, well he tried to and did manage to make a flame, but it was weak at best, and Zhao batted it aside. But the Last Airbender wasn’t going to give up without a fight.

Back flipping in the air, and thrust out his arms over the river, parting them and allowing him to stand in the riverbed; stomping the ground with each foot he called two columns of earth to arise from the ground beneath his feet. Snarling, he twisted the water around the two pillars of earth, and toppled the earth pillars, he added air to the mix and he even added his limited firebending to the mix. Leaping out of the chaotic clash of elements, pulling them towards him, like his wrists were chained the four elements that made up the world, he focused his sights on Zhao.

Aang, stood in the air as the four elements twisted in their forced serpentine danced around the Avatar. Aang, felt that his hold on fire was slipping so he activated his Avatar Spirit, his eyes and sacred airbender tattoos glowed blue-white, a visible column of fire in the elements. With a fierce war cry, the Avatar sent the elements hurling at Zhao, but the Admiral somehow managed to dodge the Avatar’s attack. Zhao turned to face the Avatar and the water whelp that was the girl’s brother, and he sneered at them.

“You thought that your measly weapons and pathetic bending could stop me? Fools! I have your girlfriend now Avatar, and I will take her to Castle Wu Ming Dang! The castle built by the First Fire Avatar, nobody has ever escaped from Castle Wu Ming Dang! NOBODY! And this little girl won’t be the first nor will she be the last to enter the walls of the grandest castle of the Fire Nation! Retrieve her if you dare!” Zhao taunted and left.

Water shot up in two roaring geysers, the earth shook and Appa tossed Sokka onto his back and took to the sky, as fissures appeared in the earth that tore the ground asunder. Fire, hissed as it escaped from the cracks in the earth and an eye of a hurricane formed above the Avatar that was suspended in the sky.

“KATARA!” The Avatar screamed as the world shook violently.

“AANG! CALM DOWN! WE’LL THINK OF SOMETHING TO GET HER BACK!” Sokka roared over the rising gale of wind, as the squall grew in strength to its deadly climax. Then suddenly the Avatar dove towards the ground, the elements following him as if he was the lord, kind and master. The Avatar ran through the forest, water roaring besides him, mountains, though small, awakened from the timeless slumber, spouting fire as they erupted to life and the wind howled as the man-made storm grew in power.

-:-:-:-:-

Prince Zuko looked over his shoulder and saw the storm, the eyes of the little dragon he held, flashed. The banished prince shrugged and barked orders to his crew, making them work faster to avoid the terrible storm, but a titanic wave of water and air pinned him to a gigantic wall of earth and fire. Zuko tucked the little dragon away safely in his pocket and broke free of the chains of fire, only to bend them back at the Avatar.
“I finally, have you now Avatar! Finally, after two long years or searching on a wild goose-chase, I will be able to return to my beloved homeland! Have my honor, my throne, my country, and my father’s love returned to me, when I deliver you to my father’s feet!” Zuko hisses evilly, and got a gut full of water and was sent flying as he landed on his back. In a savage predatory snarl, the prince shot fire at the Avatar, but the Avatar blocked it with a shield of air and water.

Zuko charged at the Avatar, only to be tripped by air, for the Avatar had dropped to his feet and swung his leg around while he bent air. The Avatar sent several swift jabs of fire at Zuko, one grazed the prince even though he dodged all. Zuko, snarled and leaped at the Avatar, hitting him in the chest and knocking the wind out of the boy and breaking the Avatar Spirit’s hold over the child. The storm died, the fire returned to its deep resting place in the bowls of the earth. The earth returned to its tranquil slumber and the water returned to its serene majestic tranquility. Aang panted, his chest rising and falling, but determination was on his face. He slapped away Zuko’s hand, and took a stance, readying himself for a battle with Ozai’s son.

Zuko took a stance as well, a smug smirk on his face, he was going to capture Gyatso’s pupil and bring him to his father, but Zuko was off in his own thoughts, and Aang took this time to cage Zuko in earth.

“I’ll let you go if you hear me out,” Aang said, keeping his voice steady and calm, and his face and eyes void of any emotions. Zuko glowered at the airbender.

“Fine! What is it?” Zuko snapped, but continued to struggle, Aang closed his fist, and Zuko was trapped in a pillar of earth, with only his head free.

“I’ll let you go if you listen,” Aang said again.

“I said I will, now tell me!” Zuko snarled, fire and smoke coming out of his nostrils.

“Zhao captured Katara and took her to Castle Wu Ming Dang, I need you to get her out and return her to us,” Aang said.

“Why? What’s in it for me?” Zuko asked, and Aang lowered his guard just a tad bit and Zuko knew in that moment that the Avatar loved the waterbender, and Zuko knew that Aang would pay the ultimate price in order to see Katara is safe and free.

“I’ll surrender to you,” Aang said, his voice strong and sure, no doubt hid in his words as he spoke to the prince. Zuko kept his face expressionless as he nodded.

“Very well, we have a deal. I’ll have one of my men contact you when we find Castle Wu Ming Dang, and set up a meeting spot okay?” Zuko looked at the monk. “There, I’ll return the girl to you and you can send her on her way back to her brother and you can come with me and we shall return to the Fire Nation,” Zuko said as Aang nodded and released him. They shook hands and they parted. Zuko watched as Appa picked up Aang and the bison flew out of sight. Lieutenant Jee ran up to Prince Zuko.

“Prince Zuko what are your orders?” Jee asked and Zuko smiled.

“Head for Castle Wu Mind Dang, we have an errand to run,” Zuko said and walked to his room, and on a shelf in his room he placed the little azure glass dragon with golden eyes, that somehow, miraculously survived the skirmish between the Fire Prince and the Avatar.

^^ I like! I like much!!

OC PARTY!!!

Alyssa: *gets cookies*
L: *eats cookies*
Al: *hugging Kittens*
Ed: *killing kittens*
Al: *crying*
Roy: *asking random people out*

Volital: Uh-oh... Yet another story that makes them go crazy with glee... Is this Zutara?

yay! my first reader!
thankyou so much for liking it.
.i worked really hard. i had to like review some of the earlier episodes to get some things right.

so with that; i post chapter three!

=:Blue Spirited Rescue:=

Two days later near Castle Wu Ming Dang, Fire Nation

Zuko sighed as he drank deeply the humid air of his beloved homeland. The Castle Wu Ming Dang loomed like some monument to a long forgotten age, half-remembered by dragons. Zuko knew he was risking everything to help the Avatar. So far, their plan had worked perfectly, now he had to do the hard part, getting into Wu Ming Dang, getting Katara, getting out of Wu Ming Dang, all without being spotted. The only flaw he saw in the plan was the fact that Wu Ming Dang’s dungeons were like a twisted labyrinth of catacombs that confused the person, to the point where they are forever lost in the eerie shadowy black darkness. Only the guards had maps to the dungeons, Zuko didn’t, but he knew he had to try.

Waiting until everyone was preoccupied with something, Zuko traded his armour for the loose fitting, light black ninja outfit and hood. He traded his face for a blue demon mask, and he traded his firebending for twin broadswords that interlock for traveling convenience. Silent as the shadows he wished to claim blood-kinship to, Zuko snuck out and made his way to the land.

-:-:-:-:-:-:-

Zuko slipped through the dark forest, silent as the shadows themselves. He slipped into a wagon, listening for the guards as they inspected the wagon for stole-aways; Zuko was able to get in undetected. Like a moth, he leaped off of the wagon and he swiftly walked to the grate that was for water. He leaped down into the ankle high water and ran along the tunnels, this was just like his dream.

Could my dream be my map? Zuko wondered as he slip through the bars, and hastily pressed himself against the wall as a troop of guards marched passed. Whoo, that was close. Zuko thought, before he continued to slink down the shadow filled halls of the dungeon.

Right…left…right, so far, he was following his dream exactly. When he turned the last corner, he met up with two guards. Remembering his dream, he knew he didn’t need his weapons to defeat them. Tripping the guards, the two men fell and Zuko leaped into the air and did the splits, slamming their helmeted heads to the ground, knocking them out cold. Zuko continued down the hall, and he swiftly plastered himself against the wall as Zhao walked by. Zuko held his breath as Zhao stopped, looked around with his eyes and walked down the hall Zuko was hiding in.

The monkey-faced admiral stopped right in front of Zuko, with his side facing the prince. Zhao turned, his boots slapping the ground as he did so. He inspected the other wall.

Great Agni…please! Please! Don’t let him catch me! Zuko prayed silently as Zhao turned around and stared at him in the face. Thankfully, Zhao was either a twit or Zuko was really good at hiding in the shadows or the gods heard his plea and aided him for this particular mortal amused them enough for them to protect him with their holy and divine heavenly grace. For whatever reason, Zhao being a twit, Zuko being excellent at hiding or the gods favoring Zuko, Zhao didn’t notice the prince and walked away.

Hastily, Zuko left and Zhao turned to see something, perhaps a black shoe heel? Zhao shrugged and left. Zuko sprinted down the hall, and leaped over the heads of two bewildered guards, the guards and Zuko locked eyes for a minute.

“W-w-w-w-what are you?” asked the first guard in a shaky voice.

“Are you a demon? Or a ghost?” his companion questioned, and Zuko smiled being his mask.

Time for some fun, the prince thought as he continued his eerily, haunting, hypnotic masked stare contest with the guards.

“I think he is a ghost!” the first man said.

“Or a demon!” the other guard answered.

“Maybe he is a spirit of the dead…or the spirit of Avatar Zuko!” said the first man. Zuko smiled, for this part of his dream came back to him. Ever so slightly, he used his firebending to make the nearby candles flicker, before going out with a poof.

“Ah! I hate the dark!” cried the first guard.

“I’m not a firebender!” said the second guard.

“I am the Blue Spirit, guardian of the Avatar and all souls lost to war and messenger to Great Agni, God of Fire and Dragons, Protector of All Firebenders, Lord of the Firebirds!” Zuko said in a deep voice, making the guards whimper in fright.

“What did we do to anger Great Agni?” they asked, together.

“By participating in this war which Great Agni looks down upon in hate and disgust that one of his own Children will slaughter needlessly, the Children of Mighty Aap, Loyal Prithvi and Wise Vayu, in such a foul and barbaric way,” Zuko summoned flame to his palm, and with a great deal of effort, forced it to hang in midair between him and the two guards, illuminating both the guards’ terrified faces and his own blue mask. “Great Agni told me to tell you, that you better beware of further angering him, for next time he might send the Lord of the Dragons Chang Chen to dish out the Fire god’s punishment for you two!” Zuko said in his deep voice and killed the flame. Silently, he severed the straps of their armour and their clothing was cut to ribbons. Zuko stared at them in the darkness. “Boo!” he said and turned on the lights and vanished at the same time.

“AAAAAAAAAH!” the two guards screamed and Zhao came running, and gasped at the sight.

“Imbeciles! Put some clothes on!” Zhao said as he adverted his gaze. For the two guards, were standing in the heart of the heap of their armour and clothing, standing only in their underwear.

“The Blue Spirit did this Admiral!” squeaked the first guard.

“He said that he’ll tell Great Agni to send down Chang Chen if we anger the Fire god again!” squealed the second guard, and a very suspicious yellow liquid seeped out of both of their underpants and down their legs.

“I stopped believing in ghost stories a long time ago,” Zhao said.

“Then you better believe in ghost stories Zhao…because you’re in one!” the Blue Spirit said and kicked Zhao in the gut, sending him into the two horrified guards. Zhao shook his head and blinked, but the Blue Spirit was gone.

-:-:-:-:-:-:-

Deep In Wu Ming Dang’s Dungeons

Left…right…Zuko attacked the two guards, as he fought his way through the dungeons. After taking a left turn, he met a very large guard that looked pretty stupid. The big guard cracked his knuckles and grinned. Zuko didn’t flinch at the ogre of a man’s stupid smile.

Maybe the guy is as dimwitted as he is ugly? Zuko thought as the giant lumbered towards him.

“Zhao told Yao to guard Water girl. Yao guards Water form little man in blue mask,” Yao said stupidly.

“So, my thoughts are confirmed, you are just as stupid as you are ugly,” Zuko mocked in a deep voice.

“Yao not stupid! Yao not ugly! Yao will crush little man in blue mask! Yao will grind his bones to make bread!” Yao shouted.

“So, you do admit that you’re a twit,” Zuko mocked as he dodged Yao.

“Yao not twit!” Yao yelled as he smashed his gorilla-sized fist into the metal door’s hinges, Zuko sent a kick to Yao’s elbow and the giant howled in pain.

“Now Yao hurt little man!” Yao thundered.

“Oh, so you are a dimwit,” Zuko mocked and forced Yao to slam the second hinge.

“Now Yao really mad!” Yao said and charged at Zuko, who leaped over his head and with a swift kick to the neck, knocked Yao out.

“Thank you very much, I’ll be taking these,” Zuko said, taking the man’s keys and unlocking the badly damaged door. Inside was the girl that Zuko saw as a bright white light.

“Stay back! Don’t come any closer!” the girl shouted.

“I am the Blue Spirit, friend to the Avatar, servant of the gods. I was sent by your mother and the Avatar to rescue you from Admiral Zhao,” Zuko said in a deep soothing voice, as he unlocked Katara’s shackles, he scooped her up bridal style in his arms and he left the dungeons.

-:-:-:-:-:-:-

In The Woods

Zuko jogged with Katara in his arms, he saw Aang and he set Katara down and the young waterbender ran to his friend. Zuko watched as Aang wrapped his arms around Katara and the two kissed passionately, making Zuko’s body tingle with fire. He watched as Aang let go of Katara.

That’s right twit; let my waterbender go! Zuko was shocked at his own thoughts. What in the heck am I thinking! I can’t love her! She’s my enemy! Then why do I feel like capturing the Avatar after what I did for him is wrong? Zuko thought, but swiftly snapped out of his weird thoughts.

Aang held out his hands to Zuko. When the young airbender didn’t feel the cold metal on his wrists or the metallic click of the shackles locking, severing his freedom and ending his quest, Aang looked at Zuko.

“We had a deal Zu—” but the Blue Spirit cut Aang off.

“I made no deal with you Avatar, Prince Zuko did, but I am the Blue Spirit. You are free to go,” the Blue Spirit said. What no! You did the same thing last time you idiot! Capture the Avatar and get the heck out of here! Now, before it’s too late! Zuko thought in his head.

Katara smiled and took the Blue Spirit’s hand and led him away from Aang. There in the shelter of the trees, on the beaten forest path, she stared into his masked eyes.

“Its tradition in the Water Tribe for the girl to give her rescuer a kiss, I will not break that tradition Blue Spirit,” Katara said softly. Every fiber of Zuko’s body screamed run away! But he stood still as Katara slowly lifted the mask, until it rested on his nose. Their lips locked.

It was like nothing either of them had experience before. Hot and cold, bitter and sweet, love and hate, life and death, everything and its opposite was in the kiss, supreme bliss and ultimate suffering, peace and war, yin and yang! Neither of them wanted it to end. Slowly, Katara pulled away, as she did so, she slowly brought down the mask. As their lips fruitlessly clung to each other in a vain yet valiant attempt of continuing the kiss for all time and age, the mask broke the small thread that linked the two together.

“Well, well, well, look what I caught in my snare, a rabbit and a hare!” Zhao chuckled darkly.

“Aang,” Katara breathed.

“Oh, don’t worry, girl, your little monk friend was smart enough to high tail it out of here, you on the other hand, were foolish enough to linger and kiss a ghost,” Zhao told her. Katara narrowed her cerulean eyes. Zhao gripped on edge of Zuko’s mask. “Now, I wonder,” he gave a nasty smile. “Who is the man…exactly, behind the mask?” Zhao asked the darkness.

Zuko did a spinning kick, knocking the wind out of Zhao, and the admiral hit his head against the tree, going unconscious. But the mask and hood fell off. Katara stared at her savior’s back as he gave a victorious smile at his fallen foe. Not realizing at the moment that the mask was off, the ninja turned and locked eyes with Katara.

Katara gasped in shock, fear, hate, and rage when her azure eyes met with Zuko’s golden ones, the scar a bright screaming fire on his left side. Katara placed a hand to her mouth. She slowly backed away.

“No…it can’t be…not you!” she breathed and turned on her heels and ran, tears rolling down her face.

“Katara…wait! Let me explain!” Zuko shouted after her, but she was long gone. Sighing, he replaced his hood and mask and returned to his ship. After telling his uncle, he didn’t want anyone to disturb him while he slept, Zuko went to bed, but he was soon plagued with a terrible unholy nightmare.

O.O HSTA!!

Alyssa: *speechless*

Ed: *snickering* “Then you better believe in ghost stories Zhao…because you’re in one!” the Blue Spirit said and kicked Zhao in the gut, sending him into the two horrified guards. Zhao shook his head and blinked, but the Blue Spirit was gone. *more laughing*

Al: Hahaha... POC reference... Lolz... Johnny Depp and that guy who plays Captain Barbossa is going to SUE!!!

Truth: No they're not.

Al: Why not?

Truth: Because... I dunno, maybe because they probably won't find this site?

L: There is only a 0.000000000000000098% of them finding this site. Muse has nothing to fear.


:scaryangry: I WAS GOING TO SAY ALL THAT!!!

My OCs: :chidorisd:

squeee! I'm so glad you like it!
well, I have chapter four. so I'm posting it up!
<3

oh, nuu lawsuit shall take place...i have everything under control.

Kuca: She really doesn't...

=:The Unholy Nightmare:=

Zuko’s Ship, Zuko is Dreaming

Zuko stood before his father, pride swelled in his chest as he stepped aside to reveal the Avatar and his two minions. Zuko looked at his father.

“Father,” he said in a proud voice. “I have brought you the Avatar and two of his minions from the Southern Water Tribe. Am I worthy in your eyes to be your son and heir?” Ozai stroked his square jaw, and narrowed his topaz eyes that were like the gems themselves, as he studied the three before him, down is unbroken nose.

The Avatar was stern looking and unafraid, the Water Tribe boy was in shock at being in the hands of his enemy. But the girl, the girl was quivering in fear, her lower lip trembling, tears shining in her eyes and rolling down her tear-stained cheeks. She kept looking from Zuko to Ozai. Ozai sat back in his throne.

“You have one final test, Zuko, before you have your honor back,” Ozai said and Zuko looked at his father.

“What’s that?” Zuko asked and Ozai smiled evilly.

“You must kill the girl,” Ozai said calmly. Zuko balked at the order but nonetheless, the young prince walked towards the girl, fire in his palm, and it was growing.

“Please Zuko! Don’t kill me! I love you, Zuko!” the girl begged, touching her head to the floor. Ozai laughed.

“Don’t waste your mercy on my son wench! He is not weak like a water peasant like you,” Ozai cackled as he watched his son raise his hand.

“Zuko, please! Don’t kill me! Zuko, I love you! I LOVE YOU!” the girl screamed and suddenly, Zuko was face to face with his fourteen-year-old self, before he had his scar. Zuko glanced around and saw the Agni Kai arena. The older Zuko looked over his shoulder at his father, and Ozai nodded. Zuko turned back to the boy.

“Please, Zuko, don’t hurt me! Don’t you remember me! It’s me! It’s your heart! Don’t scar your heart!” the boy said.

“Silence whelp! I don’t need my heart to be a good person!” The scarred Zuko yelled at the unscarred Zuko.

“Yes, you do need me, Zuko! You do need your heart! Don’t kill me, Zuko! Don’t kill your heart! You are better than this, Zuko! Trust me! Trust your heart!” the boy said.

Zuko snarled and let loose the fire upon the child’s face. The boy screamed and suddenly, Zuko was thrust back into his familiar nightmare, where he was face to face with his father, only Ozai had Zuko’s faced face…

End of Dream

-:-:-:-:-:-:-

Zuko gasped loudly and sat up in bed. He had slept all day and most of the night, he shook in an unheard of fear, and was covered in cold sweat. Snarling, he got out of bed and walked swiftly to the deck.

Iroh heard Zuko, and followed his nephew. The old man found the young boy doing fast pace firebending, in only his black sleeping pants, his chest and feet both bare. With each jab and kick, Zuko shouted out loud.

“If you keep that up, you’re going to pull a muscle,” Iroh said with a yawn. Zuko glanced at his uncle before continuing. “You really should go back to bed Zuko, you will be grumpy all day long if you don’t,” commented his uncle.

“I don’t need sleep,” Zuko said sternly, and besides I can’t go back to sleep, those dreams will just return. I can’t face my fears. Zuko thought as he did a flaming roundhouse kick. He needed to do this, for it kept the nightmares at bay. He needed to show the demons of the night that he wasn’t weak that he was strong. He needed to show the shadows of the darkness that he was Zuko, Prince of the Fire Nation, son of Fire Lord Ozai and Fire Lady Aatara. He needed to do this! It was the only way to keep the nightmares away. He will never go back to sleep, he just couldn’t face his dreams. He will banish the nightmares with fire, just like his father banished him with fire.

You are unwanted by your own father…by your own element! Nobody wants you, scarred, bitter at the world. Why would any other element want you? Hmm? Said the shade that haunted every living soul. Zuko snarled, he wouldn’t let the shade win, he wouldn’t weaken his resolve to capture the Avatar and restore his honor that his father… that his element wrongfully took from him.

Firebending.

It was the only way that he could free himself from the nightmares and the Darkness Shadow that lurked in his heart. Zuko did a difficult move and pulled a muscle, he felt the burning pain, but ignored it. He had to keep going, he just had to keep bending until every muscle in his body screamed in fatigued and he collapsed onto the iron floor of the ship’s metal deck in complete exhaustion. He pushed the shade out of his mind and focused on only his bending. Allowing his breath to make the fire, and he put every emotion that his beating heart felt into each breath, making his fire brilliant and stunning to look at.

Iroh didn’t know how long he stood there watching his nephew firebend, for soon the sun rose and the crew went about their day. Zuko cut himself on the edge of a man’s armour that protected his shoulder, but the prince didn’t notice nor care. Zuko kept at it, until three o’clock in the afternoon, when he collapsed in total exhaustion. Iroh watched as his nephew struggled to rise, refusing to admit defeat, to admit his weakness, which was only natural. Zuko rose to his feet and though, unsteady, he continued to bend for another two hours, before his body could take it no more and he fell down face first in complete absolute exhaustion.

Iroh gasped and ran to his nephew’s side, as did Jee from the other end of the deck. Iroh knelt by his nephew, and rolled him onto his back and propped Zuko’s head onto his knee. The former Dragon of the West looked at Jee.

“Get some water, and be swift about it,” Iroh ordered and Jee ran off.

“Uncle, go away, I’m fine,” Zuko said and weakly tired to stand, his entire body trembled as his muscles protested. Jee returned with some water and helped Iroh hold Zuko down, and the general made Zuko drink the water.

The stubborn prince only took a sip, before batting the water away, knocking the glass to the floor with a clatter, the water slipped. Zuko tried to stand, but Jee and Iroh held him down. With Jee’s help, Iroh stood and carried his nephew to his room, where he set Zuko down in the bed, and with loving tenderness, that one would expect of a father, Iroh tucked the prince in and kissed him on the forehead, for while Iroh carried his nephew, the boy fell asleep. Iroh smiled, and sighed at the peaceful sight of his nephew.

If only he was Iroh’s son.

Iroh closed the door and left, and drowned himself in Pai Sho and tea, which helped banished the hatred the retired general felt towards his own kin… his own brother.

Kai: *squee* Yay for Zuzu!!

Alyssa: She's my OC for Avatar... And paired with Zuko... Lulz.

Truth: I dun get it... Why would she like the guy with the scar and the angst and the fire and the angst and the hatred for his own people and the angst and the scar? I mean, LOOK AT HIS HAIR!!

Alyssa: ...Wha? O.o You make no sense.

Truth: Yuppers! ^_^

Me: Anyway, it was good... And they always have such weird conversations!!

Kai: I LOVE ZUKO!!!

Me: BACK DEMON!! BACK!! *hits with stick*

=:So Close and Yet So Far Away:=

Katara looked at Aang, and she smiled. She was so happy and at peace near him, she never told Sokka or Aang, for that matter, that she had a crush on Aang. Then why did she kiss, Prince Zuko?

Because he saved me, she said to herself.

Is that all? Asked a voice.

Yes, that’s the only reason, why. Katara said to herself.

But then why do you regret your kiss with Aang, when you saw him again, before you kissed the Blue Spirit…Prince Zuko? Asked the voice.

Because…I have feelings for both? She answered.

Or, maybe you truly love Zuko and not the Avatar. You know Zuko has feelings for you, you see it every time you look into his eyes. Yet, the question is, do you love him? Or are you going to listen to Aunt Wu, and forget about carving your own destiny, and your own powerful bender? The little voice questioned. Katara sighed, as she thought back to her conversation with Meng, after the volcano blew, yet before they left.

-:-:-:-:-:-:-

A Few Months Ago

Meng patted Katara’s shoulder, and smiled at the waterbender. “Its okay Katara, you’ll figure it out,” Meng said softly.

“But what if I don’t want Aang to be the powerful bender! What if I want someone else to be my powerful bender?” Katara asked.

“You know Katara, Aunt Wu’s predictions aren’t always correct, and sometimes they are a riddle of words. For each action, there are ripples, and she sees certain ripples in a person’s life. Like Aang could be, my big-eared hero or he could not. Your powerful bender may be a non-bender of a powerful position that can bend the will of law and nation. Or he could be both a powerful bender and a powerful person in general, like prince or a lord,” Meng sagely, reasoned. Katara nodded at this.

“Sometimes, Aunt Wu’s prediction’s don’t even come true!” Meng said. Katara nodded, still thinking about what Meng said, and she smiled at the girl.

“Aunt Wu told me that you have hair trouble and skin trouble. My advice is to fine talong oil for you skin and talong cream for your hair. It’ll help,” Katara with a smile and Meng grinned.

End of Flashback

-:-:-:-:-:-:-

Aang walked up to Katara, and sat down next to her. He smiled. “Katara, you are-”

“So going to hate going into town,” Sokka interrupted. Both Aang and Katara groaned as they made their way to the market. “I can’t help it if I eat all the food! I’m a growing boy!” Sokka said.

“Your also a bottomless pit,” Katara grumbled. Aang giggled. When they reached the town, Sokka turned to Katara.

“Katara, listen, you can wander the market by yourself, while Aang and I get some food. Meet us back here in half an hour, okay?” Sokka said.

“Gotcha,” she gave her brother two thumbs up and vanished into the crowd.

-:-:-:-:-:-:-

In The Market

Zuko looked at the ground, following his uncle. He thoughts didn’t dwell on everything, he only thought about Katara.

You’ve liked her the day you saw her at the South Pole. That’s why you grabbed the old woman instead of her! Isn’t that right Zuko? The voice mocked. Zuko growled.

“Its only for an hour Prince Zuko!” Iroh said.

Even though you reasoned it away as wanting to show the “stupid” Water Tribe peasants what you were talking about, when you truly know it was because you couldn’t dare harm the girl. That’s why you were gentle with her with the pirate fiasco, wasn’t it? The voice questioned and Zuko snarled.

“Its good to get off of that stupid ship, every now and again,” Iroh said, unaware of the conversation Zuko was having with himself in his head.

And you were so ticked off about the Avatar taking her necklace when you truly wanted to give it back to her personally, even if you didn’t get the Avatar out of it! Face it Zuko, you are madly in love with her. You have been since you first saw her; only it has taken this long for you to truly see that it’s love and not something stupid like a crush. You love her and you hate seeing her with the little bald monk! The voice teased.

“I’M NOT IN LOVE WITH HER!” Zuko yelled.

“In love with whom?” Iroh asked.

“Katara! I’m not in love with her! Never have and never will be!” Zuko roared, his back to the stall that sold trinkets and knick-knacks.

“I denied that I love a girl too, when I was your age,” Iroh said.

“I’m not in love! I can’t afford to get emotionally attached to someone! It just makes you soft and weak! And I’m not soft nor weak!” Zuko roared and spun around and came face to face with a very bewildered Katara.

“Hi,” she said.

“Uh…” Zuko glanced around; he needed something…ANYTHING…to say to the girl, he saw her necklace.

“Nice necklace,” he blurted out. D’oh! Zuko, you idiot! He mentally kicked himself. Katara gracefully touched the pendant and looked away and blushed. Zuko had never said that to her before and she liked…I mean, she really liked.

“Thanks, my mother gave it to me before she died,” Katara whispered. Zuko was hanging on her every word like a hooked fish.

Say something, Zuko! He thought. “Uh…can I have thewaterbending scroll?” he asked. NOT THAT YOU TWIT!

“Sure, just give it back,” Katara said as she handed him the scroll. Zuko opened it up, looked at it, and closed it and gave it back to her.

“Thanks, it was very interesting, I better go,” Zuko said. “Come on, Uncle!” and Iroh followed his nephew.

“Bye!” Katara called. Zuko turned around and waved at her, still walking.

“Bye—OW!” Zuko shouted at he hit his head on the corner of a low building and then his knee on the water barrel. Aang and Sokka came up to Katara and the three watched the prince walked off.

“What’s his problem?” Sokka asked, pointing his finger at Zuko.

Aang shrugged, “beats me.” Katara just looked bewildered.

-:-:-:-:-:-:-

Outside the Market, The Way To Zuko’s Ship

Iroh was having a field day. He couldn’t believe that his, stubborn, cold-hearted, somewhat imposing nephew had a very large soft spot for the waterbender. He couldn’t help but laugh.

“Its not funny Uncle! I could have gotten the Avatar!” Zuko snarled.

“Yes, it is Zuko! You remind me of your father when he first introduced me to your mother. He acted the same way, bumping into things, tripping over his feet and getting tongue tied only to end up blurting out random things. Its classic love sickness,” Iroh said, patting Zuko’s shoulder. The prince shrugged his uncle’ hand off.

“I’m not love sick or love struck!” Zuko said.

“Yes, you are,” Iroh said.

“Shut up,” Zuko walked off.

“Prince Zuko, the ship is this way!” Iroh called at Zuko’s retreating backside.

“I know that Uncle! I’m just going to take a walk that’s all, I’ll be back later,” Zuko said as he slipped into the forest.

“Okay! Just don’t get lost!” Iroh called back and was answered by a very loud curse.

"I don't get lost!" Zuko yelled back at his uncle.

XD LOL!!!

Kai: *swoon* That's why he's so cute...

Truth: O.o you need to go see someone, girl!

Kai: I only need to see him....

Truth: -.-" You're hopeless.

Kai: I know... Wait, what?

Note before chapter; sorry it has taken me so long to update. i had hit writer's block.
owO

=:Dances With Dragons:=

In A Sylvan Clearing

Zuko growled as he stood in the clearing, his uncle should know better than to tease him about stuff like that, and now, he’s lost like a small child because he stormed off. Zuko shuttered as he remembered a distant time so very long ago…

-:-:-:-:-:-:-

[i]Flashback

Prince Zuko opened the door to his father’s bedroom. The little boy knew his father hated to be woken up in the dead of night, but Zuko had an awful nightmare and he needed his father to tell him that the nightmare wouldn’t hurt him. The little boy walked up to the edge of his bed, right next to his sleeping father.

“Father…” Zuko whispered, gently shaking Ozai’s arm. “Father, please wake up. I had a bad dream,” Zuko said, Ozai grunted and a noise from the outside made Zuko hop in terror and whimper. “Father, please! Please, wake up!” Zuko begged, shaking his father harder, urgency in his young voice. Ozai grunted and woke up and looked down at his small son.

“What?” snapped the Fire Lord and Zuko gulped.

“I had a bad dream,” the little boy admitted to his father.

“So? What do you want me to do about it? Go back to bed, its all in your head,” Ozai said and rested his head against the pillow and went back to sleep. Zuko whimpered. “I mean it Zuko!” Ozai growled and Zuko hung his head sadly as he excited the room.

The little boy began to wander the dark palace hallways, with a flickering flame in his palm. He was too scared to concentrate on his bending and with a strong gust of wind, the flame went out and Zuko couldn’t call the fire back. He was about three hallways away from his room, and in the nighttime darkness and shadows, everything looked different. Zuko tried to find his way back to his bed, but ended up getting more lost than before. He began to run, his heart pounding in his throat, monsters around every corner, vampires in every shadow, werewolves and demons in every nook and cranny. He tripped over his feet, and the ghouls and goblins of his over active childhood imagination began to come out and reach their foul hands towards him.

The little boy whimpered and tried a third time to summon his fire, but he was too scared to bend. He curled up into a fetal position on the floor, and buried his face in his knees and whimpered, loudly, the monsters were still reaching towards him.

“FATHER!” Zuko cried out, but Ozai ignored his son. “Someone! Please help me! ZULA!” Zuko screamed again, neither his half-sister nor some random person came to his aid. “UNCLE! UNCLE IROH! I’M SCARED! HELP! THE MONSTERS ARE GOING TO EAT ME!” Zuko screamed, and to his dismay, his uncle didn’t come. When Zuko felt that all hope was lost, a flame burned brightly in the distance. The monsters looked up and screeched and darted back into their black recesses of Zuko’s young mind. Iroh bent down next to the whimpering child.

“Hush Zuko, I’m here, the monsters won’t get you,” Iroh cooed gently as his nephew clung to him. Zuko buried his face into his uncle’s nightshirt.

“They were going to eat me Uncle,” Zuko whined as Iroh walked to boy back to his room.

“Its okay to get scared Zuko, and its perfectly alright to scream and cry out for help when your lost and scared, someone, doesn’t matter who, will come and save you from your nightmares,” Iroh said and a six-year-old Zuko looked his uncle.

“Every nightmare?” he whispered.

“Every single nightmare your mind can ever fathom to conjure up for you to get scared about,” Iroh smiled as his nephew’s happy grin turned into a sleepy yawn and Zuko rested his head on Iroh’s shoulder…

End of Flashback

-:-:-:-:-:-:-

Zuko growled, he wished that it was so, that his uncle and cuddle him and kiss him on the cheek and forehead and tell him that when the sun rose everything would be all right, that life would go back to normal and the monsters will die with the sunlight. But Zuko knew that was a filthy bloody lie that parents told their children. The world didn’t act like that, and he learned that the hard way at fourteen.

Now, he was lost and scared, and his uncle wasn’t here to save him from the shadows and the growing darkness, nobody was, he was alone.

“He knew better than to tease me about that! He knows I hate talking about stuff like that. I wish I knew the way back,” Zuko grumbled.

“Sadly, you don’t and you have foolishly walked right into my trap,” Zhao said, coming out of seemingly, thin air. Zuko turned at saw Zhao. Growling, the prince ran at Zhao, the admiral sidestepped and Zuko was on a collision with a tree. The prince saved himself, just in time by using his momentum to run up the tree and push off, performing a flaming kick at Zhao’s monkey-faced head. Zuko swung his other leg at the back of Zhao’s head and down. The two enemies fell.

Zuko was the first to rise, but Zhao swiftly tripped him. Zuko did a back flip and was on his feet before Zhao could hurt him. Zuko sent a flaming jab which Zhao blocked and sent one of his own, which the prince blocked.

“You are just as weak as ever Zuko, just like the little Traitor Prince you are!” Zhao mocked and Zuko went into a tizzy. He blindly charged at Zhao, and saw that Zhao had thrown a flaming punch, Zuko batted the fire away and grabbed Zhao’s wrist, pulled Zhao towards him as Zuko clung to the other man’s wrist with a twisting sidestep move, and elbowed Zhao in the shoulder blade. Zhao grunted, and he quickly thrust his leg behind him and locked it with Zuko’s ankle. He pulled and the prince fell to the ground.

Zuko rolled over and saw that Zhao was coming at him with a killing stroke.

Be mindful of your surroundings Prince Zuko! His uncle had always told him, and Zuko rolled away and leaped to his feet. Spun around, building momentum, before slamming his heel down onto Zhao’s exposed back. The admiral grunted, but the attack was softened by the armour the monkey-faced man wear, so it didn’t break his spine. Zhao knew the attack had thrown Zuko for a moment or two off balance and Zhao took this time to strike hard and swift like a viper.

He jabbed the prince in the ribs, Zuko staggered, Zhao kneed him in the small of his back, Zuko staggered again, before Zhao kicked him in the gut, sending him hurling against a tree, as well as knocking the wind out of him. Zuko smacked into the tree with an oof, and saw pretty smiling little stars dance merrily around his head as his eyes spun. Zuko shook his head, clearing him of the overly happy and very cheery stars, just in time to dodge Zhao’s second failed killing move.

Zuko circled his opponent; the prince was like a tiger, ready to strike at a moment’s notice. But the prince was fighting a viper, which was patient, and waited for the opportune moment to deliver his deadly strike. Zuko backed right into the viper that was Zhao.

Zhao grabbed Zuko in a headlock, though his goal wasn’t to asphyxiate the prince.

“You are nothing but a cowardly whelp!” Zhao hissed in Zuko’s ear. “Unworthy of anything, unworthy of being a firebender! Unworthy of being the Prince of the Fire Nation! Unworthy of being Ozai’s eldest and only son! Unworthy of ever hoping to regain your honor, your throne, and your country! Unworthy of Great Agni’s love and protection! Unworthy of even drawing breath!” Zhao hissed with serpentine maliciousness. Zuko struggled against Zhao, and in his struggle, Zhao ripped off the lower part of Zuko’s armour.

Things began to go in extreme slowly motion, from that point on. Zuko heard his swallow gasps of breath as his lungs screamed for more oxygen. He felt Zhao’s heavy hot breath on the back of his neck and ear. He heard the snap as the armour that protected his stomach came off and dully clattered to the earthy floor. Zuko heard the hiss of metal on leather as Zhao drew a hidden dagger.

Zuko felt the cold steel touch his thin tunic, and in one swift motion, cut the fibers of the tunic and opened his abdomen. The wound was deep, but not deep enough for his guts to spill out.

Zuko screamed in burning pain, as his life-blood gushed out much to fast for his body to tolerate. Zuko could smell his own hot wet blood, some of it mixed with the cool metallic scent of the blade, or the rich clean earthy smell of the forest floor. He felt its stickiness on his hands, as he grew anemic, his legs refusing to hold him. Zhao let him go and Zuko slowly fell to the ground, his world growing dimmer.

Zuko hit the ground and was soon a groaning crumble heap of armour, flesh and blood. He saw Zhao’s blurred monkey like face.

“Your father would be please to learn that the burden you are is finally dead, and who knows, I may become High General Zhao in reward for relieving him of you!” Zhao sneered demonically. Zuko snarled as his head touched the ground; his arms wrapped wound his fatal gash on his belly. His would finally went black.

-:-:-:-:-:-:-

Avatar’s Camp

Katara sat up in her sleeping roll, and bit her tongue against a scream. He was dying! And if she didn’t go to him and reach him in time, he would be dead! Silent as an owl, Katara left the camp and followed the haunting magnetic pull to the single most person in the world she didn’t want to die.

O.O

OMG WINWINWINWIN!!!


Kai: *CRAI* WAI!! WAI ZUKO WAI??!?!?!


Ori: To add angst to the story, of course!!


All OCs: CONTINUE WHEN YOU MAY, MUSE-SAMA!!