Chiyoko (Child of a thousand generations)

Pairing: Zuko/Katara

Rating: M

Category: Romance, Adventure, Violence, Drama, Angst, AU

Summary: When Love is deep, Much can be accomplished.

Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar: The Last Airbender. I wish, but I don't.

A/N: this is my first Avatar: The Last Airbender fic. I hope you all enjoy this.

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Prologue

"Katara run!"

Her father hadn't shielded her fast enough. She had already seen her mother's smoldering remains.

War cries filled the air and she stared in shocked horror as their community house went up in flames.

"Katara!" Someone screamed again and she blinked as she was suddenly grabbed by the shoulders. She looked at her father, who was suddenly kneeling in front of her.

"Katara." He said. He searched her face and his heart seized when he noticed she was not there. He shook her. "Katara!" He said in a commanding tone. The same tone he used when he was scolding she and Sokka for arguing. "Listen to me," He whispered. "your brother has ran to the Wolf Moon Shelter with the elderly and the rest of the children. You must run there Katara."

She shook her head. "But-Dad-" He shook her again.

"You must be safe Katara. I can't lose someone else. Go!"

She shook her head. "I can't- Dad. I don't want to leave you!"

Tears welled in his eyes and he pulled her into his arms. He hugged her tightly. "I will be with you again soon my moon beam."

Katara's arms tightened around him, tears falling from her eyes. She pulled out of his arms.

Hakoda eyed his daughter with love. "Now go."

She turned and ran, not bothering to glance back. She dodged a blast of fire that came her way with a scream. She was almost close and she could see the giant "hill" that was the Wolf Moon shelter up ahead. She ran faster. Just as she made it to the top of the hill, something collapsed in front of her. Katara's eyes widened and she stumbled back onto the snow. A scream ripped through her as she realized it was a Water Tribe Warrior. His face burned beyond recognition as his dead eyes stared at her. She scrambled backward as a dark figure suddenly loomed in front of her.

She slowly looked up from the smoldering body and gasped. A monster, bathed in red.

Zhao stared down at the little water tribe savage. He smiled cruelly.

"Well," He said. "Just what I was searching for." he raised his hand.

Katara's scream was cut short as the fierce blow of his hand connected harshly with her cheek. She knew nothing more but darkness.

********

Katara's eyes fluttered open and her vision swam before her. She immediately felt the pulsing pain on the side of her cheek.

What happened? She whimpered and tried to lift her hand, frowning when she realized that they were shackled. She looked around in panic, her chest constricting as she looked around the metal prison. Fire nation flags hung from the ceilings. No.

She couldn't be here. She couldn't.

"Well. Well. Well. The little peasant awakens." Zhao appeared in her prison, a smirk on his face.

Katara flinched back as the man came closer toward her.

"You've been out for quite sometime. Which was to be expected considering I knocked you unconscious." He smiled as she attempted to shield herself from him. "So weak." He uttered. "Just like the rest of your people. Which is how my fleet destroyed them so easily."

Katara's eyes widened in shock. "No!"

Zhao's smile widened. "Oh yes. The Southern Water Tribe is no more and for that Fire Lord Ozai will award me handsomely." He titled his head as tears began to fall down the peasant's cheek. "Now Now." He said with mock sympathy. He leaned closer toward her. "Don't worry. You should get comfortable because you're going to be here for a long time."

Sudden anger flared inside Katara's twelve year old body and she spat in the monster's face.

Zhao growled and raised his now enflamed fist. He quickly brought it down toward her face, intent on hurting.

Katara lifted her hands to shield herself, waiting for the terrible blow that was to come, but to her surprise, none came. She opened her eyes, surprised to see the Monster staring down at her with a smirk.

He leaned over her again, placing his face close to hers. "I'm going to enjoy breaking you."

"She will be great." Yang Whispered. "She will be powerful."

"But she shall have pain and sadness." Yin countered "Is someone so wonderful worth the risk?"

"She shall endure," Yang whispered. "As her sisters have taught her. She is strong."

*****

On the other side of the world

Pain radiated from the left side of the banished Prince's ace.

He ignored it.

The pain grounded him. Made him remember why he was forced on this mission. He had made a grave mistake. Now, this was his redemption. He had to do this. He had to restore his honor. He had to do this. He had to.

A strong familiar hand touched his shoulder.

"Prince Zuko," Iroh's concerned tone interrupted his spinning thoughts. "you should be resting. A man needs his rest."

Zuko shrugged the hand off his shoulder. "I'm not tired."

Iroh stared at his young nephew for a long moment before speaking again. "I know you are in pain nephew."

Zuko tensed and he exploded. "I'm not!" he shouted. It was a lie. He was in incredible pain. But, he couldn't rest-he just- Iroh's hand moved to rest back onto his shoulder. Zuko looked as a steaming tin cup was held in front of him.

"Drink this Zuko," Iroh pleaded. "Please."

Zuko snatched the cup from his uncle's hands with a sigh. He lifted it toward his mouth and drank.

"Slowly." Iroh instructed. "Thank you nephew."

Zuko blanched as the drink's bitter taste, but finished it off. "What is this?" He asked. He handed the empty cup back to Iroh.

Iroh hid the cup in his sleeves as he answered. "It's Laudanum mixed with Jasmine tea. It's for the pain."

Zuko noticed. The constant burning throb began to steadily fade into nothing but a very tiny ache. Barely any pain at all. The pressure he felt pushing hard onto his chest suddenly lifted. He glanced back at his uncle, suddenly feeling light headed. He frowned when his vision began to blur at the edges. "Uncle?" He swayed forward.

Iroh placed a steadying arm around his nephew's shoulders. "It's alright my nephew. Laudanum makes one slow down." He turned, letting Zuko lean heavily against him. "Lets get you back to your quarters, so that you can rest properly."

The journey was a slowly one and Iroh sighed heavily as he carefully lied Zuko back against his pillows. "You must rest." Iroh repeated. "We have a very long journey ahead of us."

"Uncle-" Zuko's tired voice said. "I told you I'm not tired."

Iroh only smiled as he helped his nephew out of his armor and boots. He brought the covers up over Zuko. He sighed sadly as he watched the thirteen year old. Most had called him a fool for joining his "shameful" nephew in exile. He didn't care. His nephew was the only true family he had left and he would be with him until the ends of the earth.

"Four more Laudanum treatments and the pain should have faded completely." The ship's doctor, Po Sun, said as he made his way toward Iroh. "He'll probably lose consciousness every time, given his size. He'll be out now for at least eight hours."

Iroh nodded. "That is fine." He turned to make his way back up to the ship's deck. "I'd rather have him resting during these trying times.

Po Sun nodded. "I don't even know how he was even conscious before now." He shook his head. "To be standing after receiving such a burn to that degree-" He trailed off.

"Zuko is strong." Iroh said quietly.

Po Sun placed a hand onto his friend's shoulder. "There will be scarring. Possible nerve damage. Fire Lord Ozai knew what he was doing."

Iroh nodded. "Yes. He did."

Po Sun looked as though he was going to say more, but he stopped himself. "I'll go apply the salve while he's sleeping."

"Thank you friend." Iroh called without turning around.

This was fruitless mission. Iroh knew his brother had no intention of letting Zuko return to the Fire Nation. He clenched his fist in anger. He will not allow his nephew to lose hope. He glanced over at the horizon, watching as The Great Gates of Azulon disappeared from view. This will be an arduous journey filled with a lot of pain for his nephew.

He could only hope he could guide his nephew to realizing the truth. To realizing where his true destiny lies. He knew his nephew was destined to be someone great.

The spirits told him so.

TBC

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