E.I.: So, hey everyone! This is my first time writing a fanfic concerning Avatar: The Last Airbender which I have grown to love over these past few weeks. Such a good storyline, but I am a little disappointed with the outcome of the movie though =( Nevertheless, I do hope that you're going to enjoy the story. I haven't written stories in a very long time either so I may be a bit rusty. So I also hope that you will bear with me =)

Also, in this story, I will place the fact that Aang and Katara haven't been together.

Disclaimer: I do not own the cartoon series, the movie or anything related to it.

xXx

Katara's beautiful blue eyes caught sight of a metal piece glinting right in front of her. Due to her hazy vision, it took a while for Katara to recognize such object since the only light source was a single lit candle which was placed somewhere at the back of the room. She squinted her eyes and waited for her vision to readjust.

Her eyes snapped open completely when she saw and realized…what it really was.

It was a metal handle of a long black leather whip being held by an extremely muscular man, dressed in spiked armors with a worn looking red tunic underneath. He was two feet taller than her and a smirk was gracing his morbidly scar stricken face.

This doesn't look great.

If only she could water bend! If only she could! She would've escaped from this unknown hell hole already!

2 days ago…

Katara was going to visit Ba Sing Se, due to some personal affairs and maybe drop by on the exquisite tea shop owned by the Fire Lord Zuko's Uncle, Prince Iroh…or well, Iroh. He was a very good man and whenever she likes to talk to him since she gains a lot of insight and wisdom from his words. He's very warm hearted too, so he's like family to her.

Fire Lord Zuko, she wondered what he was going through right now. From trying to recuperate from The War, he also needs to reestablish the Fire Nation's relation with the other countries, undo the damages, and rule his own nation at the same time. That's a bit too much, even on his young age, but the last time she heard of him, they said he was doing great as a ruler. So generally he must be doing well.

She was by the outskirts of the great city of Ba Sing Se when all of a sudden she felt a sharp pang on her back which followed on the other areas of the body. Upon the second strike, she finally recognized what it was.

It was a technique which correlates to Ty Lee's style, a skill to block the chi of a bender.

Before she even realized it, she dropped on the ground with a heavy thud but saw a pair of legs in her peripheral vision. She tried to struggle free, alarmed that they had taken advantage of her relaxed state and terrified of their speed. Are they Ty Lee's comrades?

No, she's with the Kyoshi warriors now. It's impossible.

So then, do they practice the same martial art or something?

"You sure that's her?" Came a hoarse sound that came from behind her, breaking off her rapid stream of thoughts. "We can't afford to make a mistake."

"She looks exactly like the one in the portrait right?"

"WHO ARE YOU?" Katara bellowed at the top of her lungs which caught the two men off guard. She tried to look up, but only caught sight of a spiky armor. He was so tall! "What do you want? I didn't do anything to you!"

Are these guys robbers? Most likely…but their skills and proficiency matches that of a bounty hunter.

"Ssh woman. You're too loud. You can't water bend nor move so can you just shut up?" The larger one hissed and before she could even respond, she blacked out.

When Katara woke up, she found herself in a small empty room with both of her arms tied up in a rope that was connected to the ceiling and her mouth was covered by a stinky piece of burgundy cloth. It made her nauseous but she knew she couldn't afford to vomit right then and there so she tried to manage it. However, she was weak as ever and was sweating profusely.

She has been held there for two days and the only people that she saw were the same ones who abducted her. One was a smaller looking man with spiky brown hair and a mustache, wearing a robe that reminded her of a Fire Nation ensemble. The other one was the large guy and he was the one constantly doing the chi blocking technique to make sure she cannot water bend. But in this state, she would love to do some heavy duty blood bending on them…if only she could.

For two days she hasn't eaten and drank only a few sips of water. They refused to say anything or talk in her presence though she can hear them whispering to each other every now and then. They did several things to harm her. Whip, spitting on her face, slapping her, any forms of physical abuse. Heck, the slimmer one even started molesting her!

It was a nightmare! She missed her family, her friends, everyone!

Back to the guy with the whip. She realized that it was whip session again, and somehow her mind had grown some sort of immunity from it. She grows blank, like a lifeless doll waiting to be killed. They were very skilled in chi blocking and they were very good in making sure that she doesn't escape. The ropes were scraping her skin and it was painful. She was extremely tired too.

"Guess not even the Avatar can save you." The big one said, grinning at her demise. Katara tried to give them the nastiest glare that she could muster, before they whipped her which created a new gash on her heavily wounded arms.

Aang was currently in a world wide expedition to do his work as an Avatar. He was very busy but visits the South Pole frequently. Sokka was the new leader under his father's supervision and the Southern Water Tribe was busy rebuilding itself with the aid of their sister tribe which was still under Chief Arnook's leadership.

Katara didn't know why she was abducted and why she was being tortured like this. She felt like she's going to die out of pain and exhaustion any moment now. She was frightened, she was terrified. She was praying fervently that either she dies or someone saves her.

'Please…! I can't take it anymore!'

"Hey." The smaller one broke the ice and both of them looked at him. He was grinning at Katara which gave her the chills and there was a certain air of eeriness to it. "I have a better idea for torture."

Katara's eyes widened.

She has to get out…!

NOW.

xXx

Night time at the Fire Nation capital.

Fire Lord Zuko stretched his arms after a long day of meetings and royal duties and was already heading his way to the bed chambers to get some well deserved rest. He knew he had some papers to attend to, but decided that it could wait tomorrow since he's very tired. He had little to no sleep since the day he was installed as the Fire Lord. But once he decided to take the crown he knew what he was getting into, so he doesn't even have the right to complain.

The whole palace was quiet since most of the officials and servants have retired to their chambers. It was already 12 midnight so it was expected.

As he walked through the wonderfully ornamented halls, he caught sight of the full moon which awfully reminded him of his water tribe friends whom he has not seen for a long time now. It has been years…well, exactly around 6-8 years and he missed them…terribly. But duties first.

Missing… Zuko frowned upon mentally hearing that word. He and Mai had broken up 3 years ago despite their promise to each other never to do so. She left the palace and 2 weeks after they broke up he heard news from her parents that they just knew that Mai left the palace and she never returned home. A search party was initiated in the capital but they couldn't find any sight of her. Even Ty Lee returned and tried to help, but it was a fruitless search.

Zuko absentmindedly placed one hand on the marble railings and let out a small sigh. Surprisingly, his drowsiness slowly dissipated and was replaced by his troubled thoughts so he decided to take a walk. Maybe a surprise checking of the guards would be good.

And so he headed towards the gates of the royal palace, with two guards and members of the Fire Nation's royal procession right behind him. The guards from afar tried to look more closely to see who was approaching, but stiffened upon realizing that it was none other than the Fire Lord. They immediately stationed to their places and once he was a few feet away from them, Zuko placed his hands behind him thoughtfully as the guards gave a small bow to as a sign of respect.

"Quiet as usual?" He asked one of them who looked quite nervous. He stiffened even more upon realizing that Zuko was talking to him. "How are your duties?"

"T-They're well my Lord, and yes the night is very quiet." He responded then gulped. Zuko had to smile wryly at his reaction. Sometimes, he cannot avoid making others feel uneasy. "No abnormalities are noted."

"Good." Nodding, Zuko walked even further down by the gates still with the two bodyguards behind him. They were quiet for a while and Zuko was studying the structure of the palace walls for a moment or two. He knew that walking in the grounds late at night is quite unusual, especially if he isn't riding on a Palanquin, but he preferred walking and practically it was part of his duties as Fire Lord to make sure that his staff are doing well.

"H-Hey! Who goes there!" A sudden voice broke off his trance and Zuko turned around to see who it was. The guards from earlier on had the gates opened a little bit as though they were trying to fend somebody off. "Go away you vulgar peasant!"

"Need…talk…Zuko." Was all Zuko could hear.

His eyes widened.

That voice was familiar.

He was about to take another step when his bodyguard stopped him. He looked up at him in confusion.

"My Lord, we do not know who it is. It may be dangerous."

"Dangerous? I know that voice!" He hissed at him and the guard immediately stepped back to let him pass. Zuko speedily walked towards the scene and ordered the guards to open the gates. The guards were baffled but his gaze brooked no denial so they decided to follow.

Upon opening the gates, Zuko immediately caught sight of something dreadful.

It was a panting Katara, with almost little to no clothes left kneeling on the ground with numerous scars and wounds on her body. She was completely in a mess. Her cerulean eyes immediately locked on his golden orbs. The once sparkling blue eyes were now lifeless and she looked extremely weak.

"Katara!" He exclaimed in shock and knelt in front of her much to the surprise of the guards. He caught her just in time when she collapsed. "Call the physicians! Open the infirmary! Now!" By the roar of his voice, they knew he was dead serious so they quickly ran off to carry out his orders.

He heaved Katara onto his arms bridal style and turned to face the palace. He was devastated at the state she was in, but perplexed at the same time. What was she doing in the Fire Nation, knocking in the royal palace in the wee hours of the night and half dead?

The Fire Lord quickly went back inside the gates and personally rushed to the infirmary. He held Katara despite the guard's offers and was practically in an internal state of panic. Where was Sokka? Her father? Aang? Where were they?

The royal physician was surprised at Katara's state and especially by the fact that the Fire Lord himself carried her but decided not to waste any more time and without delay did several treatments to heal her. Zuko stepped back to let them do their job and hopelessly sat down on the opposite bed while facing their direction. The powerful water bending master Katara who defeated Azula was trying to fight death right in front of his eyes.

Millions of questions raced through Zuko's mind.

xXxxX

Read and review!

No flamers allowed =)

E.I.