Scars

The Truce

How had he gotten into this situation? Didn't really matter.

Zuko was surrounded by people who were his enemies. The Avatar and his followers. Under any other circumstances the Avatar would be his and the honor that was taken, restored.

That though was out of the question, because an even worse enemy was standing in front of him. Azula... His own sister. The Firebending prodigy and the worst sister in the history of evil sisters.

They had her surrounded. Zuko.... The Avatar gang. And Iroh... His uncle who had somehow showed up out of the blue and now stood right beside him... Like he had done for three years.

Zuko was not sure what was happening at all, but it didn't matter. Azula was the dangerous one. His largest threat. Zuko could see in her narrowed eyes, the set of her mouth that she was not afraid and she was ready to kill him. Ready to kill them all.

Zuko had been declared a traitor to the fire nation. And Azula would be more than happy to kill him just because it was fun for her. She just wanted to watch the world burn.

It was exactly what she had tried to do just a few seconds ago as they fought.

Now there she stood, with her hands in the air and her back against the wall. Nowhere to run.

Perhaps Zuko should have seen it coming. She always played tricks, there was a light in her eye and then out of nowhere she struck, it was so fast... So incredibly fast. She fired a bolt of blue lightning and hit Iroh, right in the chest sending the old man flying through the air until he slammed and rolled to a stop on the ground. It felt like Zuko had been struck himself, consumed by an ice cold pain and a wild panic.

The world stood still as Zuko saw the limp figure of Iroh who was not moving. He wasn't even making a sound. This was bad. Zuko reacted, so did the others.

Four benders aimed a simutainius attack at Azula, creating a colossal blast.

Zuko didn't even stay to see what happened to Azula. He turned around and in a wild dash, ran for Iroh. Sliding in the dirt, Zuko grabbed the man's shoulders and looked for any signs of life.

"Uncle?" he whispered fearing the worst. For almost three years, Uncle had been there for every failure and every success. When Zuko couldn't face the world, Uncle picked him up and told him to never give up without a fight. When he was angry - which was often, Uncle calmed him down, held him back or helped him to see the consequences of the choices he could make. But despite all of Zuko's failures, Uncle never gave up on him. Yes, even when Zuko told his uncle that he was leaving him behind, he never gave up. Never.

But this was an unimaginable consequence of standing up to Azula. Thinking he could win this time. His uncle being gravely injured.

Limp... his shirt burned and exposed burned flesh which stank into the air.

Zuko grabbed his hair, hissing. Yelling... This couldn't be happening!

A weak groan came from Iroh's mouth just as a shadow approached and blocked out the sun's hot rays. Zuko sharply turned around to see them approaching.

Those people! The avatar and his followers. "GET AWAY FROM US!" Zuko wildly flung his hands in the air before turning back to Iroh who still only groaned.

"Zuko I can help." The water bender girl shouted.

Zuko didn't hear her words though, he only felt the presence coming closer. The enemy is out to hurt them. He was fuelled by fear, rage and adrenaline. They were going to hurt them! Hurt his uncle whilst he is down, just like Azula!