Bloodbending Prodigy

5

Zuko

After a few hours of flying, we landed Appa near a river to rest. I jumped off of his back and took out a map and sat on the ground.

"What's that?" Toph asked coming to sit next to me.

"It's a map of the places they could have possibly taken Katara."

"Don't worry about that Sparky. We've already come up with a plan." I starred at her in shock.

"Oh just shut up and relax. Katara's a big girl. If anything those archers better watch their backs." The blind girl gave me a smile and a pat on the back. I sighed and put my heads in my hands.

"I know that. I know that she can fight them off, but I'm worried when word gets to Ozai that there's a waterbender in the palace. There's know telling what he's going to do." Toph stiffened.

"Oh…right." I frowned.

"Ok Zuko, tell us how to get to ember island and we should be-

"What?" Getting up, I balled my hands into fists. "You think I'm going on vacation when Katara needs my help? Is that you plan?"

"Your help?" Aang asked. I frowned.

"Yes." He looked away. "Now, if we're going to get Katara back we need to do it fast, before Azula gets to her."

Katara

Shinu and his archers arrested me and brought me to a jail cell. I didn't know whether this was the palace or just some old stinky jail house. It was so dark and cold I couldn't tell what anything was.

I heard foot steps coming down the hall and sat up. It was a guard, who unlocked my cell, walked in, and grabbed me by the arm, standing me up. I frowned at him as the loose pieces of hair feel into my face. I looked back at the cell door and saw Azula followed by two more guards walk up.

"So this is the bloodbender. Funny. Who've never done it before when we met."

"I'm not the one you want. Hama is the bloodbender not me."

"There's no use in lying dear." She gave me a sly smile. "You'll defiantly be a useful member of my team." My eyes widened.

"What do you mean?"

"You know exactly what I mean." Just then two Dai Li agents came down the hall and grabbed me from the guards grasp. I tried to fight them off but there was no use. Their rock hard hands wrapped around my arms so tightly, I started to loose feeling.

They took me to a dark room and sat me down. I felt some sort of belt being tied around me, causing me to stay in place. Then they bended rocks to squeeze my head and forced me to stare at the only light in the room. My breathing got quicker and my heart raced faster. I remembered Jet. This is what he went through; brain washing.

Suddenly the light started to turn and the agent started to speak.

Forget about your past.

You know longer work for the Avatar.

The Avatar and his friends will always be your enemy.

"No!" I screamed trying to look away. He only grabbed my head and turned it to look at the light again.

You will never work for the Avatar again.

You will use waterbending and bloodbending to serve the fire nation and its ruler.

You will work for the princess, Azula.

I felt weak and gave up struggling and listened to what he said.

You will kill the Avatar's friends.

You will kill the ex-prince, Zuko.

And you will bring the Avatar to Ozai.

I felt all my willpower vanish. I remembered nothing. Only that this was my mission and I worked for the fire nation. Anything else didn't matter. The light shut off and Azula walked in front of me.

"Well, you know what to do." After the Dai Li released me I bowed to the princess.

"Yes." I said. "I will destroy the world's last hope for peace."

"Good, follow me." And I did. She led me into a room with maids. They all hustled over to me to take measurements.

"What's this?" I looked over to Azula where she was sitting, legs crossed.

"Please, you work for me now. I wouldn't want to be seen with you in that." She pointed to my ripped blue garments. I wonder why I had these on.

"You can rest in here. Your new clothes will be ready by morning." I saw the maids look up with pleading eyes at Azula. She merely scowled at them and they looked away continuing their work. Something tells me they didn't want to work over time.

"By morning you will remember nothing but me my dear. That shouldn't be any trouble as long as you remember your mission waterbender." I looked in the mirror wondering what was going on. Not remember anything? What could she mean by that?

Zuko

Night fell and I started a fire for our dinner and tea. The food definitely wasn't the same without Katara and her cooking. I missed her already. I had planned such a romantic vacation for us so I could tell her how I feel. Everything was ruined now and it just makes me hate my father more. Is sick twisted way of running a country is driving me crazy. It's taken Katara away from me.

I silently poured everyone's cup of tea then sat down with my own.

"Zuko?" I looked to the side at Suki.

"What?"

"We're all worried about you. You have to-

"Maybe you should worry about Katara." I frowned at her. "That goes for all of you." I said talking another sip of my tea.

"Zuko listen. We all know you have strong feelings for Katara." Toph definitely deserved the harsh glare I gave her. "It's obvious. But you should really calm down."

"Yeah. Don't worry about her she's going to be fine. She did this for all of us." Suki added. I threw my cup to the ground and got up.

"No! Toph made her do it." Toph scowled and said nothing as I pointed to her. "Guilty feeling, huh? See how it feels to feel like it's all your fault, that you messed up and want to start over? Well guess what you can't! So you must feel guilty. It's all you can do now."

"Don't scream at her Zuko, sit down." Aang said as Sokka stood up. I walked over to the little airbender.

"What are you going to do? You haven't done anything! It's like you don't even care!" I was suddenly knocked back by a gust of wind and fell harshly to the ground. Aang came over me.

"You think I don't care?" He said softly. "You think I left Katara there not feeling any pain at all? You think I like it how much time she spends time with you and can only think of me as nothing more than a little brother?"

"Something tells me this isn't about leaving Katara behind." I heard Toph whisper to Suki.

I inched up closed to the Avatar.

"I can't help if she likes me better." I almost whispered. His face got red with anger as he balled his fist and made the first blow. It was nothing, believe me. I caught his fist and threw him back. Standing up quickly, I punched fire at the little punk. He blew the fire away and charged at me.

"Hey you two break it up!" The others screamed and ran towards the fight, trying to break us up.

I wrestled with Aang on the ground pinning him hard.

"You better take that back Zuko!"

"No!" Suddenly I heard a load groan and felt myself being pulled up. Appa grabbed my shirt in his mouth and threw me off Aang. Aang laughed at me thanking Appa, but the bison also took is shirt and tossed him to the side. Sokka walked up beside the beast, petting him and giving him a cabbage. The bison's work was finished and went back to his corner to sleep.

I got and rubbed my head. Grabbing my stuff I walked far away from the gang and set up my sleeping bag for the night. I slipped in and didn't say a word. I felt the stares piercing holes into my back. A single tear rolled down my cheek, wishing Katara were in my arms right now.