Disclaimer: I don't own Avatar.
Okay, there's no actual contact with ZukoxKatara in this chapter...but it kind of sets things straight. There'll be lots of Zutara in the next chapter. And you'll find out why Ozai left Iroh in charge later.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Zuko was seated on his favorite chair, the throne. It was dark red, framed with thick, luscious gold. It rose high above the ground, to create an intimidating scene. Flames danced and flickered on all sides. He sighed and leaned back; he was comfortable in his element.
He relished the way the guards bowed to him as they pushed the heavy doors open. His sister, Azula, was dragged in, kicking and fighting. She glared defiantly up at the new Fire Lord; Fire Lord Zuko.
"Azula; good to see you home again," said the Fire Lord, his expression serious as his sister fought the iron grip of the guards. Her face was distorted with fury.
"You don't deserve the throne! You were banished!" she screamed, her normally tidy bun messy with stray hairs. She could have firebended her way out, but unfortunately, Zuko had found a contortionist like Ty Lee and had her paralyze Azula's firebending while she was asleep. Then, she was informed of the news and her arrest. Zuko almost smiled.
"Banished...who would have thought that Ozai left the throne for his old brother, Iroh? Who would have thought that he would have given it up for me?" sneered Zuko, unable to resist gloating. Azula looked like she was going to explode.
"What are you going to do to me? Torture? Life imprisonment? Banish me?" she snarled, mocking him with her words. He didn't even flinch.
"Believe me, all of those were considered, but I've decided to let you off easy," he said slowly, and she stopped struggling. Mixed hope and suspicion rose in her eyes.
"I've decided to let you keep the position of Princess...and advisor," he started, and Azula's eyes widened in disbelief. "With a few considerations. You are never to be able to firebend. Your firebending will be taken away every night before you sleep, and every morning before you wake. You are never to ascend to the throne. If I die, and I don't leave a will or an heir, Iroh will decide who takes it immediately. Your rights as a Fire Nation citizen will be limited, and my word is your law."
Azula didn't move for a few seconds. She stared in silence, drinking the information in. Finally, she blinked and looked up at her brother. With the grace and respect born into a life of royalty, she bowed deeply.
"Your word is my law," she repeated quietly, her eyes full of nothing but obediance. Zuko frowned, though. He didn't trust Azula, but he had no other choice than to give her a respected position. If she was imprisoned, there was a very good chance she could escape and regain her firebending skills. Azula was crafty enough to wiggle into the throne, and intimidating enough to scare off any rivals. Perhaps, with a little work, he could gain her loyalty. He seriously doubted her obediant tone, though; who was she kidding?
"Dismissed," he muttered, waving a hand towards the door. The guards had released his sister, and she bowed again before leaving the room. He waited until the doors were closed before resting his head in his hands.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Katara sat on her bed, thinking hard. Aang was practicing his airbending, while Sokka was sharpening his boomerang. Toph was playing lazily with Momo. She had seen the signs, and was worried.
"Aang, how can you just be lying around like this?" she growled, reading the flyer again. Zuko; ascending to the throne. It was terrible. Aang smiled that goofy, careless smile of his again.
"Katara...don't you understand? Fire Lord Ozai is dead! We're safe in Ba Sing Se, and the Fire Nation is in chaos! Once the Earth Nation launches an attack, the Fire Nation will be damaged beyond repair! Finally, finally the war will be over," he grinned, spreading his arms wide in triumph. Katara shook her head.
"It won't be in chaos; Zuko took the throne," she said dully, pointing to the poster. Aang just shook his head.
"He's seventeen; how much worse than Ozai could he possibly be? Besides, I've defeated him before," Aang added, shrugging. Katara shook her head again. She couldn't rest until this war was completely, totally over.
"He may be seventeen...but don't forget, Azula is only sixteen, and she's the most ruthless killer I've ever met. Maybe it runs in the family," she said, her face filled with worry. The last thing they needed was another Ozai.
"Yeah...Azlua and her cute friend...the pink one..." murmured Sokka dreamily. Katara glared at him and shot a water whip. Sokka yelped and fell over. Toph frowned.
"I think Katara's right. I won't be able to sleep until this was is over, and that better be soon," she grumbled, pulling Momo's tail a little too hard. He screeched and jumped. Sokka sat up and snickered.
"Because we all know how Toph gets when she doesn't sleep," he muttered, but she heard him and glared in his general direction. Katara put her chin in her hand.
"We need to form a...a surprise attack, and catch them off guard," she mused out loud, but Aang stopped her.
"Katara...how could I kill a teenager?" he said softly, staring at his hands. A blinding flash, and he saw them covered in rich, dark blood; burning, fiery blood. He blinked and rubbed his eyes. Katara opened her mouth, and closed it.
"If he proves to be a threat...you may have to," she murmured, and they were all silent. Katara looked outside.
"It's getting dark; we had better get some sleep."
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"Find him...but don't kill him. I need him alive," muttered Zuko. "Your loyalty will be tested now."
Azula bowed and nodded, her royal garments on and her hair in its neat bun. She wasn't about to mess this up. He was giving her a second chance, as foolish as it was, so she would wait. He had earned himself a bit of extra time before she eventually killed him. The cogs in her mind were working on how to get her onto the throne.
"What shall I do with his friends, Fire Lord?" she asked respectfully, managing to force the royal title out. Eventually, she would be the Fire Lady, and Zuko would be dead. She would rule the kingdom with an iron fist. Zuko looked thoughtful.
"I don't care. They're no threat without their Avatar," he said, wondering if that was a mistake. Anyway, he wanted them to live long enough to see their nations crumble. Fire Lord Zuko would be the greatest military leader the world had ever seen...but he needed to prove himself. The Nation's morale was weak.
Azula left, but without her friends, Ty Lee and Mai. If she was to make any attempt to betray her Fire Lord, she would pay the price. Zuko's most loyal soldiers accompanied her to battle. Ty Lee and Mai were tolerated, but not welcomed. They were here to keep Azula company, but they could never be in private together. Zuko kept a tight leash on those most likely to form a rebellion.
"Are you sure that was such a good idea?" asked Iroh, meandering into the large room. Zuko leaned back onto the red cushions, sighing.
"Yes, Uncle, I'm sure," he said softly, bracing himself for another lecture.
"I don't know...that waterbender was rather strong," said Iroh, helping himself to a biscuit from the tin he held. "and I wouldn't want to mess with that feisty earthbender."
"Uncle...they are three against an army. They have no chance. They have delayed my capture of the Avatar for far too long, and thus delayed my ascension to the throne. They deserve to live to see their Nations fall," muttered Zuko, but Iroh frowned, not bothering to hide his disappointment.
"I thought traveling as a refugee would change your outlook on the other Nations. I guess I was wrong," he murmured, and turned to leave. Zuko didn't stop him, but he couldn't push the guilt away. Why was he guilty?
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Katara woke up, yawning and rubbing her eyes. She looked around, only to see that she was alone. Even Momo was gone.
"Hello?" she called cautiously, but heard nothing in response. She did hear, though, noises from outside.
"Fire Nation! Everybody, run!" someone yelled, and Katara instantly leapt to her feet.
"No," she whispered, dashing to the window. She could barely see. Smoke clogged the skies, and the streets were dark. Soldiers were everywhere, but they all bore the Fire Nation emblem. Strangely, they didn't bother with her. Katara pulled on her dress, grabbed her cone of water, and ran outside.
"No!" she cried, seeing the walls of Ba Sing Se being torn apart. With every crack, a thousand soldiers leapt in, shooting fire. Katara backed up, not sure where to go. The streets were filled with chaos.
"Aang!" she screamed, "Sokka! Toph!"
No one answered. She wondered why no one had woken her up...what happened? Suddenly, she was swept off her feet by a soldier.
Crying out, she smacked him with a water whip. He grunted and dropped her, but ten men took his place.
"Water bender! Grab her!" they cried, leaping upon her and binding her wrists and heels. Wriggling and writhing, she struggled to free herself, but couldn't. Her water canteen was knocked to the ground as she struggled to grasp it. She tried to lift another water whip, but her arms were bound to her sides. She kicked and struggled as hard as she could, and years of waterbending hadn't left her a weak little girl. About three men were trying to hold her down. Suddenly, she felt a sharp blow behind her head, gasped, and everything went dark.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"Send the message, Private Geng. Ba Sing Se has been captured, refugees apprehended, and rebels caught and burned."
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Once again, Zuko didn't imprison Azula because he doesn't want her escaping and turning on him, and it would be difficult to kill her, even if she couldn't bend. He wants her on his side. And Aang, Sokka, and Toph were taken in the night, when everyone was asleep. You'll find out why Katara wasn't taken with them in the next chapter.