Disclaimer- I don't own this show. If I did, this would've actually happened.
So, a quick note about the story. Basically, Zuko joined the group in the Crossroads of Destiny or whatever, or this episode took place after the Western Air Temple, whatever you want. I don't care. But he was present for the Puppetmaster. And Katara doesn't hate him. THERE IS NO ZUTARA. This is pretty much a rewrite of the episode, except with Zuko. The beginning is almost exactly the same, the plot twists come closer to the end. I'm warning you, though, this isn't one of the lighthearted stories I've written before. This thing is actually pretty dark.
Anyways, I'm rambling. T for violence and torture. Enjoy.
"Suddenly, they heard something down the hall in the dark. OOOOoooooOOOOoooo," said Sokka, telling the worst scary story in the history of ever. His facial expressions were amusing, though, and Zuko tuned out the tale and instead watched Sokka's contorting visage.
"It came into the torchlight, and they knew... THE BLADE OF WINGCRAFT WAS HAUNTED! OOOHAAAAAAAHHHHEEEEOOOOOOO!"
A cricket chirped.
"I liked the other story better," commented Aang.
"I'm not sure whether to comment on your terrible story, or your hilarious facial expressions." added Zuko.
"Water tribe slumber parties must suck." Toph said.
"So, who's next?" asked Aang.
"I've got one," said Katara, "and it's true."
"Is this one of those, Afriend of my father's cousin's uncle told him that his dog's aunt said-"
"Quiet. Let her tell the story." Zuko skillfully cut off Sokka's rant.
"Thanks, Zuko." said Katara, "So, one winter, when mom was a girl, a snowstorm buried the village for weeks. A month later, mom realized she hadn't seen her friend Nimi since the storm. So a few people went to check on Nimis family. But when they got there, no one was home. Just a fire, flickering in the fireplace. While the men went to search for them, mom stayed in the house. When she was alone, she heard a voice," Katara paused, then continued, in a high-pitched tone, " It said, 'It's so cold, and I can't get warm. She turned, and saw Nimi, standing by the fire. She was blue with cold.
"Mom ran to get help, but when she returned, Nimi was gone."
Katara stopped. Aang was cuddling Momo, Sokka was hiding behind a tree root, and toph acted unaffected, but Zuko could see she was scared. He had to admit, the story was a little creepy.
Sokka poked his head out from behind the tree root, "Wh-where'd she g-go?"
"No one knows. Nimi's house stands empty to this day. But, sometimes, people see smoke curling up from the chimney. Like little Nimi is still trying to get warm."
The fire flickered in the darkness. If he looked really closely, right beside Katara he could almost see...Stop it, Zuko. It's just a story, he thought.
Toph gasped. "Wait! Did you hear that?"
Aang and Sokka ran over and hugged Katara.
"Hear what?" asked Zuko, seeming perfectly calm.
"There arepeople, under the mountain. Screaming."
"Pfft. Nice try,"said Sokka the Skeptic.
"No, I'm serious. I hear something."
"You're...probably just jumpy from the ghost stories." said Katara, trying to explain the phenomenon.
"...It just stopped."
Zuko saw someone standing, just behind where the siblings and Aang wer huddled. He jumped up and called out, "Who are you and what do you want?"
Everyone except Toph whirled around, screamed and ran over to grab Zuko. Toph just stood there.
"Get off!"
Everyone but Toph ended up on their buts on the ground as the old woman entered the clearing where they had chosen to make camp.
"Hello, children. Sorry to frighten you. My name is Hama. What are your names?"
"I'm Katara," Katara took over the introductions, "This is my brother, Sokka, and our friends, Aang, Toph and, uh..." She trailed off. Zuko was too well known in the Fire Nation for them to give away his name.
"I'm Lee," he said with only the slightest hesitation, "Now, what do you want?"
"I wanted to tell you kids that you shouldn't be out in the forest by yourself, especially at night. Why don't you come back to my inn for some spiced tea and warm beds?"
Now Zuko felt awkward for treating Hama with such suspicion, even though he couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong...
"Yes, please," Sokka squeaked.
A/N So, what do you think? I'm going to try to post things once a week, though you might notice some delay because I'm busy this summer.
And if you notice anything wrong, let me know, by REVIEWING! If you notice anything good, let me know by REVIEWING! In other words, REVIEW! Yes, I am shamelessly begging.