The Dead Prince

Prologue

It was red. Everything was tinted red. His whole body was aching in a way that he almost didn't feel it, maybe he was going numb. Or could it be that his rage…that awful loathing rage that he was feeling for that snake was numbing his exhaustion, ache. He couldn't even feel the cold. That indescribable North Pole's cold that felt as if it will freeze his bones and then at a small impact they will shatter. He could feel steel coursing through his veins. His inner flame was burning white even under the bizarre and frightening moon turning the sky red.

That good for nothing Zhao tried to have the Prince of Fire Nation assassinated and now he was running away like the coward that he is! Zuko felt a feral growl growing in his throat. No, calm. Stay calm. Keep the breath steady.

Zuko felt a kind of detached calm overcome his senses even with the anger burning white hot. Before he knew it Zuko and Zhao were fighting. Exchanging blow for blow. He was taunting him but Zuko didn't exchange any of the taunts. In the back of his head he could hear a voice strangely matching his uncle's. Urging him to keep his head leveled with his aim.

His aim. Make Zhao pay.

Let everyone see who the real traitor is.

Shooting a powerful fire ball towards Zhao he ducked back under the retaliating flame. Quickly getting up he saw Zhao jumping from the wall down an ice bridge. He followed. Anger and calm creating a dangerous concoction.

Every cruel word lie went ignored. He could see Zhao was getting angry. Frustrated. He felt his mouth being pulled into a slight smirk. Allowing the smirk to form he felt the pressure. Horrendous pressure of failure after failure after failure loosen a bit. The momentary relief literally felt uplifting.

He a heard loud noises. Of steel on steel and screams of terror and an eerie silence contrasting each other. But that's all it was. Noises. White noise in the background. Distant and unimportant. All of his concentration was absorbed in his duel. He was so close now so close to victory against this bastard.

Then he saw the blue light. Light that was alien yet familiar glowing out from the deep waters surrounding the bridge. They stopped abruptly and water rose. Glowing and menacing. Forming two claws and looming above them from both sides of the bridge ready to snatch. Zuko was mesmerized until suddenly he realized that the claws were really drawing closer. He tried to dodge but soon he found himself caught in a grip both hot and cold.

Zuko could feel his heart thudding like a tightly strung drum in his chest. He struggled though. He kept struggling fervently. He felt his left shoe loosening and saw it drop forlornly on the bridge. He looked up seeing Zhao caught in a similar predicament and to his horror saw him smirk when their eyes met. Zuko looked away sickened.

The Prince's mind suddenly flashed back to his uncle. His voice subdued with grief and worry as he reminded him how much he cares. Telling him how he lost a son to war. Hugging him and trying to cling desperately to the stiff board that was his nephew, as if he could just hold him a bit more tightly it will change his mind and stop him from going down. Stop him from chasing the Avatar.

I am sorry, uncle.

And the claw dragged him down. After a little while he could see no more.

To Be continued…

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Avatar: The Last Airbender Concept and Characters Nickelodeon 2005-06

Created by Michael Dante Dimartino and Bryan Konietzko

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Thank you for reading and I hope you enjoyed it. Please do tell me your opinions in a review if you liked it. I did love to hear it. Constructive criticism, ideas, and questions are also appreciated.

-StarLuce