Hey, well sorry it didn't update within the day. I've got carpel tunnel and have to wear this thing on my wrist so I type slow and well...that's why I didn't update as quickly as I did the other chapters.
Disclaimer: -sigh- You know the usual, don't own anything but this story
Katara headed into the palace to search for Aang and tell him that her dream was interpreted and he would have his answer tomorrow but as soon as the teen entered through the doors she realized that she hadn't a clue where they had headed off to.
The palace doors shut loudly behind her and left an echo through the empty hallway. Katara couldn't figure out why it was so empty but it was too eerie of a silence. The blue eyed teen kept focus on everything around her as to make sure she didn't get attacked unaware of anything.
"Hello once again, Katara." A voice whispered behind her but when she turned there was no one. Suddenly she fell to the ground and when she looked up she saw Mai over her cackling. The older woman leaned down over her on one knee and lit her hand on fire.
"I told you," She brought her hand closer to Katara's face. "That a little whorish teen wasn't going to take this away from me. Just because you 'helped' save the world doesn't mean that you can beat someone like me." the woman stood up and made a motion with her hand and a few men came out from behind the curtains draped form the roof.
The brown haired girl lifted herself from the ground while looking at the men in front of her. They were much older than Mai and herself, and Katara could only wonder why they were helping the woman standing in front of her. Of course, the 15 year old girl knew that just because the fire lord had been defeated did not mean that the world was free of evil and greed. There would always be that somewhere in every place.
"Now I'm going to get rid of you for good so you can't have the chance to interfere with me and my Zuko ever again." The black haired woman smirked and the three men beside her lit their hands. Sadly Katara had no water with her or near her and could only think of trying to use any moister in the air but in a fire nation that was little to none.
Luckily there was a tad bit in the air that Katara could suck into her powers but it wasn't nearly enough. Soon she was feeling hits of fire left and right and could already feel the burning scars on her body. A hiss would escape her lips as she tried to fend off the men but she couldn't. Mai of course was off to the side just watching.
"Trying is just going to make it more painful." Mai laughed and walked a little closer but not too much. Then all heard the large doors opening and Mai gasped and ran and shoved the men off Katara and was sitting beside her gasping and crying fake tears.
"What happened?" The fire lord ran to Katara's side and looked her over. There was a deep scar across her arm and a still bubbling wound on her leg. A few small scratches here and there were on her face and blood was seeping form her stomach. The teen was just barely conscious.
"These terrible men started to attack Katara and I had to run and fend them off. She doesn't look good at all Zuko! We need to get her help!" Mai cried out while gasping. Zuko quickly picked up Katara and ran toward the healing room, with Mai behind him. Soon they reached it and Zuko ran in, telling Mai to wait outside for him. Grumbling, she obliged to his request.
"She was attacked! We need to tend to her now!" Zuko yelled. All the medics realized it was him and ran over quickly. They took the girl from his arms and set her on an empty bed. Five medics were crowed around her, Bandaging her wounds and there was a water healer, healing the one bubbling wound to the best of her abilities. After about 15 minutes they dispersed and told Zuko that she was sleeping and he could come back in a while when she awoke.
The fire lord walked out of the room and saw Mai standing there, waiting for him. He could have sworn that before he walked out she had been smirking a dark smirk but it changed quicker than he could blink his eye and she had tears and was looking distressed.
"Is she going to be okay, Zuko-baby?" Mai cooed out his name. He had to hold back a sneer because he had always hated that nickname.
"As best as she'll ever be. Do you know who it was that attacked her?" The fire bender asked his current girlfriend. She shook her head and ran over and hugged him.
"I tried my best to see who they were but they wore the battle mask and I didn't know at all. All I saw was Katara being ambushed by those horrible men. Oh it was such a terrible sight." Mai let tears trail down her face but Zuko didn't bother with them. He knew that it was much worse for Katara and she would have scars that would never heal from it.
"Well I'm going to wait until she wakes up. So why don't you go get a massage or something?" Zuko suggested gently while pushing her off. He looked at Mai's face and she looked hurt and upset.
"You're always wanting to spend time with her! You send me off while you're with her! Why can't you spend time with me?" Mai yelled. Zuko looked at her with an astonished and angry face.
"Why do you have to be so selfish! My friend in their just got attacked and you're hear wanting me to spend time with you?! Are you kidding me? Go away! I'm waiting with Katara! Do what you want, I don't care but you're not going to hang around here!" Zuko turned on his heel and went into the medical room to sit and wait for Katara to awake. Mai sneered and walked off.
Zuko walked over and noticed that Katara was awake, but sleepy as well. He thought it was a amazing she was even being able to keep her eyes open. The fire lord quietly took a seat beside her and looked at her bandages. There was one covering most of her arm and one covering her entire thigh. Then there were small ones that covered small wounds on her face. He could only image the size of the bandage on her stomach.
"Hey." Katara said quietly. He smiled a soft smile toward her and she returned the gesture.
"Hey. I'm amazed you managing to stay awake." Zuko said and at that moment a nurse walked past and he gently grabbed her arm to stop her. She turned with a smile toward him.
"Yes, what is it you need my lord?" The lady asked. She was older than Zuko himself and seemed nice.
"I was wondering if you could get everyone to find my friends Toph, Aang, and Sokka." The nurse nodded her head and went off. Then Zuko turned back to Katara.
"Do you know who it was that attacked you?" He needed to get to the bottom of this. A horrible feeling was in his gut because of this. Somehow the fire lord felt it was his fault for leaving her alone.
"Yeah...It was Mai." Katara sighed and closed her eyes. Talking wasn't easy for her at the moment.
"How do you know it was her?" Zuko wasn't getting angry but he was surprised at her accusation. It didn't seem far fetched though.
"She was there leading the entire thing. She said I wouldn't get in her way this time. Then three men attacked me while she stood by and watched." The hurt girl said quietly. This turned the fire lord confused.
"But she was by your side when I walked in." The brown haired boy stated. Katara shook her head and coughed slightly.
"No, she saw the door open and butted in to make it look like she was the hero. She keeps saying I'm going to steal you." Katara said. "I need to tell you something, Zuko."
"Alright, I'm listening." He listened intently to her because she was so quiet.
"I figured out who I belong with." he nodded his head to confirm he heard her. "I figured out it's-" All of a sudden the hospital door opened and in burst the trio, who went over to Katara's side. Both Zuko and Katara looked a little disappointed at the blue eyed teen not being able to finish.
"Katara, are you okay?" Sokka asked and looked her over. They all sat down beside her bed side and looked worried.
"So, did you figure out who did this?" Toph asked.
"Yeah, we did. It was Mai. I'm going to go tell the guards right now." Zuko got up and went off to tell a guard to search the entire palace with others for Mai. While he was gone Aang decided to talk.
"See, Katara, if you go with him this is what will happen. I wouldn't let this happen to you. It hasn't happened to you until now since last year. What does that say?" Aang said. Sokka and Toph got up and stood by the door.
"It was a mistake. He didn't mean to. He's only human and didn't even know it was going to happen." Katara looked away from Aang's angry desperate gaze.
"So I'm not human, now? Fine, Katara! Go with him and end up dead like millions of others!" Aang quietly yelled. Katara turned to him with tears in her eyes.
"You aren't the only one suffering Aang! I'm stuck between two of the greatest men I've ever met and don't want to hurt either one of you!" Katara quietly yelled back. The tears were threatening to run down her face.
"You'll hurt me more because I had you first!" Aang replied, tears in his eyes now.
"You can't hold that over my head! And you don't know if that's true. Zuko could get hurt just as much by it! And I know choosing one or the other I will be giving up some things but you can't hold your pain over my head because then I'll chose for the wrong reasons!" Tears then ran down her face and she looked away quickly. Aang didn't reply because he knew what she said was right.
He got up and left her bedside. He pushed past Toph and went off in an angry manner. Toph and Sokka walked back over along with Zuko. It was silent around Katara's bedside until Toph decided to speak up.
"I told you to listen to yourself, not others. Deep down you know which path is right for you, Katara. Now is the time to choose...left or right?" Toph then motioned for all of them to leave and that they did. Katara went into a deep sleep under the watchful eye of the medics and nurses.
-With Aang-
The avatar stormed through the halls and bumped into someone. Looking up he noticed it was Mai. She sent him a sweet smile and he sneered at her. Then it came to him. Maybe if he took her out and showed Katara he would always protect her then she would choose him.
"I know what you did to Katara. You're being hunted by all the guards but I think I'm going to take you to her." Then Aang summoned all his powers and fought Mai. It was fire against the four elements and she didn't hold up well. Quickly she was passed out and he lifted her with air and slowly guided it toward the hospital room. As he reached it he opened the doors and gasped at what was happening. He dropped Mai in a corner and earthed her and then stood beside Zuko who was facing about 10 of his people against him. They were after Katara and her death.
Well that's the end of this chapter. I bet you thought that's all Mai had to give but nope! Well I hope you enjoyed it. And Thank you once again for all the reviewing.
