Chapter 13: Aftermath and Awakening
Zuko awoke to the sensation of being buried alive. His body felt heavy, as if weighed down by an invisible force, and every breath was a struggle against the tight bandages wrapped around his chest. The air was stale, and the room was dimly lit, the only light coming from a flickering lantern hanging from the ceiling. He blinked slowly, his vision blurry as he tried to make sense of his surroundings. He was no longer on the scorched battlefield but back in his quarters aboard the ship. The familiar metal walls and the faint hum of the engine reassured him that he was safe—or at least as safe as one could be after being struck by lightning.
As his senses gradually returned, he noticed his uncle, Iroh, sitting in a chair beside the bed. The old man was slumped forward, his head resting on his chest, his soft snores filling the room. Zuko's heart ached at the sight. Iroh had clearly been keeping vigil over him, and the exhaustion was written plainly on his face. Zuko tried to sit up, but the moment he moved, a searing pain shot through his body, radiating from his chest to his limbs. He let out a strangled scream, the sound sharp and guttural, like the cry of a wounded animal.
The noise jolted Iroh awake. The old man's eyes snapped open, and for a moment, he looked disoriented, as if he had been pulled from a deep dream. "What happened? Is it the Earth Kingdom?" he blurted out, his voice tinged with panic. But his confusion quickly faded when he saw Zuko writhing in pain on the bed. The bandages covering Zuko's body were so tight that he resembled a mummy, his skin pale and slick with sweat beneath the layers of cloth.
"Cgghgn uyhu khgett might oighught of thghgigsghsgh!" Zuko tried to speak, but the bandages covering his mouth muffled his words, turning them into incoherent gibberish.
Iroh stared at him, his brow furrowed in confusion. But the confusion soon gave way to concern, and without a word, he leaned forward and began unwrapping the bandages from Zuko's face. The process was slow and careful, but Zuko could feel the sting of the burns beneath the cloth, each movement sending fresh waves of pain through his body.
Once the bandages were removed, Zuko opened his mouth to speak, but before he could utter a single word, Iroh grabbed a metal cup of water from the nightstand and pressed it to his lips. Zuko tried to resist, but Iroh's grip was firm, and the water poured into his mouth, cool and soothing against his parched throat. The liquid had a bitter aftertaste, and Zuko realized it must have been laced with some kind of medicinal herb. He drank reluctantly, the water easing the burning sensation in his throat and chest.
When the cup was empty, Iroh set it aside and sank back into his chair, his expression unreadable. For several minutes, the two sat in silence, the only sound the faint creaking of the ship and the distant hum of the engine. Zuko avoided eye contact, his mind racing as he tried to process what had happened. The memory of the Agni Kai was still fresh in his mind, the image of Zhao's lightning crackling through the air like a serpent of pure energy. He had been defeated, humiliated, and left broken on the battlefield. The thought filled him with a bitter sense of shame.
But beneath the shame was something else—a cold, calculating clarity. Zhao had been stronger than expected, far stronger than he had been in the series. The ability to generate lightning was a skill reserved for only the most prodigious firebenders, and Zhao had wielded it with terrifying precision. Zuko had underestimated him, and it had nearly cost him his life. But the defeat had also revealed something important: this world was not the same as the one he remembered. The rules had changed, and he could no longer rely on his knowledge of the show to guide him. He would have to adapt, to forge his own path.
The silence between him and Iroh was heavy, filled with unspoken words and unresolved tension. Zuko knew his uncle was worried, but he also knew that Iroh would not press him for answers. The old man had always respected his boundaries, even when it pained him to do so. But Zuko could not let the silence linger forever. He took a deep breath, wincing at the pain in his ribs, and finally broke the silence.
"I guess I lost, huh?" he said, his voice hoarse and barely above a whisper.
Iroh turned to him, his expression softening. "Zhao has grown stronger since I last saw him," he said, his tone thoughtful. "Only a handful of firebenders can generate lightning, and he is now among them. You could not have known."
Zuko shook his head, his jaw tightening. "It doesn't matter," he said, his voice firm despite the pain. "All that matters is that he bought it. He doesn't know we still have the Avatar captured on the ship. When we leave this naval base, there won't be anyone else who knows the truth. Besides, a true master would have anticipated any scenario in a duel. I should have been prepared."
Iroh wanted to argue, to offer words of comfort, but he knew Zuko was right. The boy had always been hard on himself, but this time, his self-criticism was justified. "In a fight between masters," Iroh said slowly, "one should not come with expectations. Those expectations can shatter in the face of true adversity."
Zuko nodded, his expression grim. "True," he agreed. "But I still think I could have won if I had actually tried. I didn't go into the fight intending to lose, but I also didn't want to win. If I had defeated Zhao, his resentment toward me would have grown, and he would have caused even more trouble. The lightning was a surprise, but in a way, it was a blessing in disguise."
Iroh's brow furrowed, and he leaned forward, his eyes searching Zuko's face. "Going into a fight with the intention to lose is not a habit you want to cultivate, Zuko," he said, his voice tinged with concern.
"I know, Uncle," Zuko replied, his tone weary. "And I know it's dishonorable. I didn't go into the fight to lose, but I also didn't want to win. My pride wouldn't allow me to just throw the match, which is why I'm glad Zhao's lightning attack came when it did. It gave me an out."
Iroh's expression darkened, and he opened his mouth to respond, but before he could speak, a loud banging on the door interrupted them. The sound was sharp and insistent, echoing through the room like a gunshot.
"Come in!" Iroh called, his voice firm.
The door creaked open, and Lieutenant Jee stepped inside. His eyes immediately fell on Zuko, and he nodded respectfully. "Prince Zuko," he said, his tone formal but not unkind. "I see you're awake. How are you feeling?"
Zuko managed a weak smile, though it was more of a grimace. "Well, I was struck by lightning and wrapped in bandages from head to toe. My whole body feels like it's on fire, but other than that, I couldn't be better."
Jee's lips twitched in what might have been a smile, but he quickly regained his composure. "I'm glad to hear you're awake," he said. "The repairs to the ship are complete, and we're ready to resume our search for the *Avatar*."
The way Jee emphasized the word "Avatar" made Zuko's stomach twist. He realized that someone must have been listening outside the door, and Jee was being careful not to reveal too much. Zuko was grateful for the lieutenant's discretion, but his relief was short-lived. A sudden, horrifying realization struck him, and his eyes widened in panic.
"How long have I been out?" he asked, his voice trembling.
[A/N: Hey guys, so here we are again. So I am still in the process of staking up on chapters but I have written 2 dozen or so over the weekend. Most of them are now available on my patreon. I have created a tier for it on my patreon. If you want exclusive early chapters you can find them on patreon.com/saiyanprincenovels. Anyway thank you for the feedback of the series I appreciate it.]