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Braving Time
"Chapter 2"

She knew it.

Irate emotions filled Katara, as she paced back and forth, glaring at the Fire Nation crest imprinted on the hanging cloth upon the wall. Somehow, during their entire squabble, Zuko had managed to subdue her -- possibly by poison... which would explain her previous hallucination. Whatever the method, Katara found herself in a dangerous predicament. Not only did their enemies capture her, and the gang, but they were all separated. To make matters worse, it didn't help that the Fire Palace was at such a gargantuan size. Katara needed a plan, and fast!

She continued to pace about, thinking, until she heard a group voices echoing up the corridor. She froze out of shock.

"Hurry! One of the royals is coming!" The raspy sound of a man's voice slunk through the hall. He sounded scrambled and hasty and Katara deduced that he, along with any other people, was coming down the hallway fast. She jogged a bit down the corridor, putting some distance between her and the source of the voice. Up ahead, she saw another hall to the right, connecting to the one she was currently in. Immediately, she turned into the new passageway and withdrew behind a dragon statue sitting on the left side.

A few men ran past the opening Katara was hiding in; however, she was left unnoticed. As more voices and footsteps rang down the chamber, Katara grew anxious. She couldn't take the path she previously travelled, because she would get spotted. On the other hand, if she moved from her current position behind the sculpture, she would undoubtedly be seen. The only thing she could do, was wait for the men to pass.

Three more guards scurried down the hall. They were all dressed in traditional Fire Nation armor. "It's Prince Zuko!" One of them shouted.

Katara flinched at Zuko's name. Traitor!As he passes, she would jump out and attack him using water bending. His destiny was going end, right then and there. Slowly, Katara uncorked the lid to her water pouch, gathering energy as a sphere of liquid began to form within the palms of her hands. At any moment, Zuko will walk by, and she would deliver a mighty blow to his chest. Any moment...

"You there!"

Katara yelped and turned behind to see four officers heading in her direction. She panicked as their hulking bodies bulldozed their way towards her. Out of desperation, Katara sent her water in a furious blast at the quadruple set of men. As the water flew through the air, she anticipated its great collision with the group of magistrates. Unfortunately, nothing happened. Instead, the water passed through them, gently floated to the ground, and disappeared.

What?

Katara bended more water, but each time proved futile, as the same results remained.

"Hey!" A man to the left called out. As the officers came near, one of them reached out his hand, ready to assault his victim.

Katara didn't know what to do. She couldn't run; she couldn't hide; she was trapped!

"Stop!" She yelled, while she extended her arms in an attempt to shove them away. But, to her astonishment, her arms went directly through them, just like the water. She stumbled forward, due to the force of her push, and fell hard against the marble floor. All the while, the four men continued their trudge through her, as if she were part of the air.

She got up quickly and turned to look at the guards. The weren't talking to her; they were addressing one of the other people, in the adjacent hall. Katara contemplated this curious situation and then thought of an idea.

Slowly tiptoeing behind one of the patrols, she proceeded to slap him across the back. And, just like before, her hand moved right through him. Cautiously stepping out into the main hall, Katara swatted the air in front of a couple of other people. But nothing; there was no response.

She couldn't be seen.

What an unusual sensation. It was almost as if she was invisible, nonexsistant. Butterflies began to fill her stomach, but Katara, nevertheless, felt somewhat relieved. She leaned against one of the walls to calm herself down. If her enemies couldn't see her, then it was best if she observed their nature. She sank to the floor, listening the conversations that went on.

"Did you hear? I heard Prince Ozai is pretty angry that he's not going to receive the crown," stated a young woman. Civilians began to file into the hall.

"Oh no, that's just a roomer. Prince Ozai admires his brother Iroh."

"Shh! You shouldn't use Crown Prince's name so informally," murmured a patrol.

"But Iroh is such a gentle soul, he wouldn't--"

"That's enough, here comes Prince Zuko!" Citizens and magistrates, alike, hushed and lined up against the walls. They cleared a path for the two figures that were marching down the passage.

Katara was now on her feet, waiting in apprehension for the conniving little...

"Hello!" Announced an amicable boy.

Katara was flabbergasted as the two silhouettes came into view. Their shapes formed that of a woman holding the hand of a youngster. The child was a small boy, with a neatly tied ponytail, hanging from the top of his head. He had golden eyes and soft milky looking skin. A small grin graced his features.

"Good evening Prince Zuko," the crowd said, with a bow in unison.

Katara almost had to do a double take. She carefully ogled the little person everyone was referring to as "Zuko." He couldn't be more than five or six years of age. How was that possible? The little boy couldn't be Zuko. Katara contemplated... the Zuko she knew was probably about seventeen years old.

The boy waved playfully at the people along the corridor walls. He giggled as the woman who held his hand, possibly his nanny, tugged him along. As they came pass Katara, the boy looked over his shoulder, and his eyes met with hers. For a few seconds, his bright yellow orbs filled with wonder and interest, as they shone innocently towards Katara's gaze. She blinked a couple of times only to see the boy's stare averted back ahead of him; his wrist had been gently pulled to follow.

For a small moment, Katara thought he had noticed her.

Thinking nothing of it, Katara decided to pursue the woman and the little boy. If he was really Zuko (which seemed physically impossible), she was going to find out.

Author's Note: Just to let you know, I'm slightly manic. Also, I have midterms all week, so I probably won't update until the weekend... yeah. Anyway, a big "thank you" to those who reviewed; I love you. To those who didn't, I kick you in the shin :) Oh, the italics are Katara's thoughts, I guess. :)