Disclaimer: I don't own Avatar: The Last Airbender or the characters.

Author's note: February 26, 2009: I'm sure the readers and lovers of this fic hate me for not updating for a year and a month. I'm sorry, but I got a boyfriend last year and most of my time was spent with him and his friends. At some point along the way, I forgot about my stories. I'm sorry you guys. I'll make this one extra long, to make up for a years worth of being absent in my writing. Though, I encourage you to check out my new fic's. :D Do review this one when you're doing reading it. Thanks.

And there is this really annoying ringing buzz sound, and it keeps fading away and then coming back. It's like the white noise sound. Annoying.

As a little note, I'm drinking Tazo Awake tea, so if some parts seem a little 'blah', it might be because I'm tired and sleepy. But, mmmm... Black tea. 3

Oh! Oh! Oh! Rape! Great addition to the story, no? I thought that was most devious of myself. I was cackling as I wrote it. By cackling, I mean every bit of evil laughter I could muster, because of my lovely fans that are strictly Zutara fans. Ah, I'm sure you guys wanna throw a rock or two at me now, because of that. That and because of the YEAR long wait on this awesome supertastical chapter seven of awesomeness. :D Enjoy.

Start time: February 26, 2009. 3:37 AM - 8:21 AM (End time)

EDIT#1: This is the edited chapter. I went back to read it and realized I had already mentioned some of what happens in this chapter in chapter eight. I also fixed some minor errors.
EDIT#2: Fixed grammatical errors. Added horizontal rulers to space out the transistions and separations in the story. I MAY or MAY NOT redo this chapter. I need your suggestions, comments on whether or not I should. 7/1/10

Promoting Peace

Chapter Seven

Zuko sat at the table, waiting for dinner to be served. He overhead the cook say that it was going to be a feast, to celebrate not being on the cramped ship anymore. Zuko made a mental nod on the thought. He agreed that the ship was cramped and it would be good to get off of it. The quicker this is done, the quicker the Avatar appears. He thought. His amber eyes lingered towards his uncle, who seemed rather cheery. "What are you so happy about, Uncle?" He questioned sternly.

Iroh had been sitting a few seats away and across the table from Zuko. His mental smile formed on his lips. The atmosphere around him seemed happy. He was wondering how Katara's trip was going and how their children would look. Iroh was taken away from his thoughts when Zuko spoke up. "Oh, I get have some good ol' fashioned green tea." He lied.

"Tea? That's why you're happy?" Zuko questioned again, not believing him.

"Yes, tea. The ship's tea supply has run out." Iroh replied.

"Uh-huh." Zuko went back to ignoring his uncle for the time being.

The waiters came out with a ten course meal and set the platters on the table. A couple more waiters came out with drinks for everyone. The guards were dining with Iroh and Zuko that night. The waiters poured fine rice wine into the itty bitty cups and left a couple of bottles of the sake on the table in different sections. Then everyone dug in, savoring each and every bite, but at the same time scarfing it down. Some of the guards ate like they haven't ate in days, maybe even weeks. They were taking in as much as they could before they docked.

Moments later everyone sat back in their chairs, stuffed. Some guys felt too bloated, like they were going to burst. Zuko was the first to excuse himself from the table. He begun walking towards the door to the hallway. His head felt a little dizzy, he didn't realize it, but the guards kept giving him more and more sake. He reached the door, turned the knob, and disappeared into the hallway, the door swung shut with a creepy creak noise to boot. He was headed toward his room, when there was a sudden stir amongst the ship, it rocked against the angry waves. He stumbled a bit, catching himself on a nearby wall. He steadied himself, he turned around and began heading towards the deck. Upon reaching the deck, there was a rather angry storm awaiting him. Waves crashing and turning, winds roaring and swifting nearby objects away into the air, lightning brightening up the dark sky, thunder booming loudly. In the distance he could see the port, they were getting close. They were going to arrive there on time, he thought, making his way up to the captain's area. "Make sure we get there on time." He said angrily. The captain nodded and obeyed, doing everything in his power to keep the ship on course.

With that Zuko turned around and headed back toward his room. Stumbling a bit on the way down the stairs. His head still a little dizzy, but the crashing waves against the ship were the cause of his stumbling. As he neared his room, his uncle appeared out of no where.

"It seems there's a storm, Zuko." Iroh mentioned, his tone casual.

"Yes, I know, Uncle." Came his reply. A bit irritated, because he already knew that.

Iroh stood there for a moment, thinking. Then without word, he just left. His cheery mood, seemed to dissipate a little with the storm there.

Zuko eyed his uncle's back suspiciously as he walked away. Then Zuko turned his gaze away, placing his hand on the cold steel knob to his quarters. He pushed down on it a little and entered. For a moment he saw a girl, crying in the corner on his bed. Brown hair down to her back and covering her face. Blue clothes wrapped around the body and her legs held to her chest by her arms. The sound echoed for a moment, when Zuko blinked, confused, the girl was gone. What the hell was that? He thought, confused still. He eyed the room for a couple of minutes, making sure the girl wouldn't appear again. He walked to his bed, and sat down. Unwillingly his hand went towards the corner the girl was sitting at, it was warm. Strange. That looked like that peasant. He huffed and withdrew his hand and got up. Angry that he felt pity for her. He resumed his training within the room, exercising.

An hour or so later, a knock came to his door. He got up from his sitting position on the hard floor. Sweat dripping from his forehead to his neck and collarbone. His slender fingers curled around the knob, turning it. He opened the door, looking at the person before him. A guard.

"We've docked, Sir." The guard said, quickly, not wanting to be struck by what appeared to an annoyed Prince.

Zuko nodded to him and closed the door. He walked towards his bed, he had laid out new clothes for himself. He grabbed them and headed for the door again. Opening it, there was Iroh standing in front of it, he had replaced the guard.

"Uncle." Zuko casually said, curious as to why he was there.

"When we leave the ship, we'll be going to the nearest Inn to take shelter from raging storm, brooding overhead." Iroh mentioned.

Zuko nodded. "Alright, Uncle."

For some reason, it seemed more and more, each day that Iroh was hiding something. But, Zuko didn't press the matter. He didn't want another one of his uncle's lectures, again. He had stepped around his uncle and headed for the washroom. He opened the door to the washroom, as a guard was stepping out. The guard saluted to him and Zuko nodded. After entering the bathroom, he locked the door and took off his armor first. Then the sweaty dirty clothes that clung to his build, were next. He removed them. He looked himself in the mirror. His reflection showed him an image that wasn't him, and image before the banishment, before the scar, before he lost his mother. He was just a lad in the reflection. A boy, who had no worries, who had no fears, a boy who had a loving and caring mother. Zuko turned his head away from the image displayed before him. His heart felt sentimental, but his head, his head was filled with rage. Why? Why are these images coming now? Of all times, why now? He shouted to himself. He cursed and swore to himself. Though, something inside him, made him feel at ease with himself. And he calmed down quicker than he thought he would. He turned on the water, and stepped into the shower.

The filth and sweat washing away from his tense muscles and rough flesh. The warm water easing the scars that were here and there. Steam filled the washroom. The mirror fogging up. His muscles relaxed as the water coaxed his problems away. Minutes later, he shut off the water and stepped out. His hair drenched, his body tensing up once the cool air pricked at his body. He reached for a towel and dried himself off. He replaced the towel with clothes, and then put his armor back on after letting collect cool steamy air, giving it a lovely steam scent. Zuko dried his hair. And then left the washroom, placing his other clothes in his room, on the way to the deck.

On the deck, the storm was fierce. The boat rocked about, as guards, soldiers and crew mates walked on the unsteady plank to the shore. Iroh had been waiting for nephew. Zuko's strides were long and powerful. He reached his uncle in no time. His uncle allowed Zuko to go first. They walked down the plank, their posture was even, throughout the walk. It was like the raging wind wasn't even rocking it. Iroh bumped up his pace as Zuko had taken the lead. Iroh had appeared at Zuko's side. They walked toward the Inn together.


Katara walked up towards the deck. Her fists balled. A ferocious atmosphere surrounded her. Every ounce of depression was gone. The water churned with her rage, rocking the boat side to side. She could hear a thunderous storm above the ship. She even felt the boat rock a bit. Somehow, the weather only provoked her rage. Her blue eyes narrowed as she spoke the guard following behind her. "Who are you loyal to?" She questioned, stopping for a moment. She turned around, waiting for a direct, honest answer.

"Commander Zhao." He lied.

"Who are you loyal to?" She asked again, pointing viciously at him, her finger just mere inches away from his chin.

"General Iroh." He replied, honestly, a bit fearful of the young waterbender.

"Good good. This fits in perfectly with my plan." She mentioned, a devious notion in her voice. "Come here." She beckoned to him with her finger. He obeyed. He bowed his head, and she whispered into his ear, her plan.

"Here is what you're going to do. Go fetch my brother and when you return. We're going to be a force to be reckoned with. Or we'll just casually escape." Her voice was velvety. The guard nodded and she shooed him away.

Katara walked up toward the deck. Zhao was no where in sight. She smiled. Relieved he wasn't here. She didn't exactly want to face him right now, though her anger contradicted her. Her head swung around as a man's voice spoke.

"Well, well, if it isn't you." His voice hissed while he spoke. Like a snake eying it's prey.

Her anger was gone now, she was a bit fearful at the mere sight of him. She backed up as he stepped ever so closer to her. Stay back. She thought, fearfully. Her blue eyes showed to him that she was scared.

Zhao took several steps toward her before saying something that would set Katara off. "How do you feel, my little sex toy?"

Her anger flooded back to her. The water surrounding the ship rocked a bit more fierce now. The scared expression was once again gone. Just in time, Sokka and the guard came running up the stairs behind Zhao to witness what was about to happen. Katara raised her hands up, and huge amounts of water on both sides of the ship, raised with her hands. She took several steps in front of her. "I. Am. Not. Your. Sex. Toy." She hissed violently.

Sokka and the guard watched her, her anger getting the best of her.

Zhao got fired up and threw a couple of fireballs at her. With a simple movement of her hand, she easily burned them out. Steam arose with each attack. Since the sun was covered, Zhao's attacks were weaker. Katara had the upper hand. Sokka went to help his sister, but the guard held him back.

"Let go. She needs my help!" Sokka complained to the guard.

"No, she's going to win this one." He replied. As he said that, more guards, the ones loyal to Zhao came running up onto the deck, they stood behind Zhao. "Or you can go help her."

With that, Sokka attacked a guard from the back, whacking him in the head with his boomer-rang; knocking the guy out, cold.

Katara's rage only inclined with every word Zhao spoke. He was taunting her now.

"Your body was so frail, I felt like I was crushing you. Ripping away your virginity was delicious." Zhao spoke, his character lost in the lust of his hormones. He liked it when she was feisty.

In one moment, Katara brought the water crashing down onto the ship, sweeping away Zhao's men. Leaving him to stand alone before the young waterbender. Katara pushed forward with her hands and brought him up to the captain's bridge, than froze the water. She had done what she did to Zuko before. Before he defeated her and took Aang.

Here, she won. Zhao was clearly no match for a woman's scorn.

She moved the rest of the water off the boat and guided the boat to shore.

Thirty minutes have passed, and she was doing this to vent. Sokka felt prideful that he got one guy down. He walked up to his sister and placed a firm hand on her shoulder. "You did well, sis."

Katara backed away from the touch, but noticed her brothers voice. "Ah, sorry. Thanks."

Sokka felt a pang of hurt in his chest, that she had moved away. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine." She replied. "We're here." She docked the boat and noticed there was another fire nation boat next to the one she was on. "It seems he is here as well."

The guard had run back to their rooms and gathered their stuff. He handed Katara and Sokka their stuff. Then he ran over to the plank that lead to the shore and dropped it, so they could get down. Sokka and Katara walked to him. "Ladies first." He said, motioning for Sokka to go first.

Katara chuckled as the atmosphere had lightened. Sokka took a step forward and then paused, and looked at the guard. "Hey, wait a minute!" Katara stepped around him and walked down the plank. The other two followed in tow.

"Do you know where we're supposed to go?" She asked the guard.

"Yes, the closest Inn. That's what Iroh said." He replied and they headed there.


"They should be here soon." Iroh announced, sitting on a pillow, near a table. He was sipping at his tea.

They were sitting in their room. Drinking tea. A knock came to the door. Iroh got up and answered it. "Yes, Miss?"

"Your guests are here, Sir." The young woman replied and guided Iroh from the room to the lobby area.

Zuko remained in the room. Drinking his tea. He overheard the woman and groaned at the very thought. She's here.


Iroh looked around the lobby, and spotted a group of three. Katara, the guard and Sokka were standing in the middle of the room. Iroh noticed bruises upon Katara's face. Something must have happened. "Where's Zhao?" He asked, confused as to why he wasn't looming over them.

"He was disposed of." Katara seethed at the very mentioning of his name. She was quite pleased with herself. Though, in reality she did not kill him. He was merely stuck in some ice, out cold, on the ship.

"Disposed of?" Iroh asked, a little shocked.

"Don't worry, he's not dead." Sokka announced. "He's just a little hung up right now." He chuckled at his pun, as did the guard.

Iroh eyed him. And walked over to Katara. He held out his arm, for her to wrap hers around his. And she did. "Right this way Miss Katara."

Minutes passed by as they walked in silence to Iroh's room. Iroh was curious as how the bruises got on Katara. The guys were trailing behind a bit. Iroh turned the corner and then turned again, opening the door to his room. They entered, Zuko was in the same spot he was in, when Iroh left. Zuko's eyes wandered over to the opening of the sliding door. He watched Iroh enter with someone on his arm and two people following behind. His eyes focused onto the person on his uncle's arm. He glared at her. She gladly returned the glare. Her eyes narrowing at him.

"Why'd you bring the peasants here?" He seethed.

Iroh spoke up cheerfully. "Don't speak about your bride to be that way. It's bad karma." He guided Katara to sit next to Zuko. She released Iroh's arm, and the other two, took their seats. Unfortunately for her, Zuko was on the long pillow mat.

"Peasant?" She replied, hissing. Glaring at him.

"Peasant's belong on the floor." Was Zuko's reply.

Katara's anger was boiling again. Sokka shouted at Zuko. "You should know better than to mess with a woman's scorn."

"Pretty big words coming from a peasant." Zuko retorted.

"Now, now. Let's just sit here and enjoy the tea." Iroh said, something about his gentle voice calmed nearly everyone down.

Yet, Katara was hurt by Zuko's words. She took her tea and walked off. She headed for another sliding door, it opened to a balcony. She opened it with one hand and closed it with the one hand. She sat down on the wooden floor boards and looked at the sky. How dare he say those words to me! How can he be so hurtful, so easily? She questioned herself.

Zuko waited for a comment from Katara, but none came. He watched her closely, noticing there was different coloration to the skin in her cheeks. A darker color. Purple? A bruise? His eyes lingered to her wrists, there were bruises around those too. They were a bit bolder. Finger marks could be seen around her tiny wrists. He was now curious what happened to her, how she got them. He got up and took his tea with him. He followed after her. Sokka watched him go. He was watching where Zuko's eyes went to. He now noticed the bruises around her wrists. He hadn't noticed before. He felt like a bad brother now.

Zuko stopped in front of the door, and inhaled. He was debating on why he was following her. The bruise. That was his excuse. After he'd get the answer he'd leave her alone.

Katara's head moved up and toward the door, as she heard it open. "Great. You. Did you come to make fun of me some more?" She hissed.

Zuko almost turned back around, but stopped himself. "If that's how you feel, then I'll go back inside." He threatened.

Katara shrugged and turned her head back to watching the clouds overlap one another. It had started to rain. The cool air felt good on her dark flesh, especially on the bruises.

He sat down next to her. His eyes going from the sky, lingering back over to examining the bruises. "How'd you get those?"

Katara frowned at remembering. The depression welding up in her stomach.

"Answer me." He pressed, his voice rough. Annoyed she hadn't answered.

Katara looked to the side, where Zuko wasn't on. She pursed her lips in stubbornness.

He grabbed one of her arms, a bit rough, she turned to face him. "Answer." He was going to get an answer whether she wanted to admit or not.

She sighed in defeat and tore her arm away from his grip. "Zhao."

He watched her carefully to make sure she wasn't lying. When he saw that her eyes held no sign of lies, he was taken back by the sad expression. He was trying to look for the right words to say, but ended up saying the wrong ones instead. "If you weren't a peasant, I'm sure you could of taken him." Shortly after saying those words, he watched her shoot up from her sitting position, face him and yell at him.

"What is wrong with you? Why does everything you say have to end with me being a peasant? So, what if I'm merely from a water tribe. That does not make me automatically weak! I can handle my own, thank you very much! If you weren't so arrogant and incompetent you would know that, because I've kicked your ass many times before!" She huffed after her explosion. This just set off Zuko.

"They're at it again." Sokka sighed, rubbing his temples.

"Arrogant? Incompetent? Who the hell do you think you are? As far as I'm concerned you are weak! Hell, if you were even half as strong as I am, you wouldn't have those bruises!" Zuko bickered back.

He hit a nerve. Katara was trying to hold back her rage, but ended up slapping him across the face. Tears building up in her eyes, she turned away, before he could hit her back. She hopped down from the balcony and into the brush below. She stormed off by herself.

Zuko rubbed his jaw, it was a bit sore. "Real mature!." He shouted at her.

She didn't reply and just kept walking.

He was annoyed with her. Yet, he remained in his sitting position. He placed his head in his hands. Peasants are all the same. He mumbled to himself.


Inside, the three of them, were enjoying the tea and having a decent conversation.

"Oh, things have quieted down. I hope they're getting along now." Iroh noted. Sokka and the guard nodded.

"So, what is your name?" Sokka pointed to the guard. "Chances of that happening are slim to none."

"Ming." He replied. "She's scary when she's mad. Zhao didn't stand a chance."

Iroh remembered the bruises and asked Sokka. "What happened to Miss Katara?" Concern in his voice.

Sokka felt like he wasn't supposed to answer, but did. "Zhao, he touched her. He raped her." His voice caring for his sister and there was again, venom in his voice.

Iroh felt enraged, along with feeling completely and utterly shocked. "Zhao.." He said in an even tone.

"He's stuck to the ship, you can take your anger out on him later." Ming mentioned.

From the balcony, Zuko had overheard the conversation. Now he knew how the bruises got there. If she wasn't attractive, then perhaps Zhao wouldn't have bothered with her. As the thought ran across his mind, his fist balled and he hit the floor, cracking the wood. No! I am not supposed to find her attractive! I don't even like that peasant!

Though, he did not move from his spot.


Katara had been wandering around the jungle based area for awhile now. She felt lost. Like she was going in circles. I wonder how long it's been...Hey! I've passed this stump three times now! Ugh. This is getting me no where. She face palmed and sat down on the stump. Katara fell backwards onto her back. She let the tears fall from her eyes as the rain fell on her face. She was drenched in water. She had been wandering for a couple of hours. Katara sat up, then stood up. I've got to find some shelter. I'll find my way back in the morning. She looked around, it was really dark. She got up and down a path and tripped over some twigs and shrubs. She began making her way up a hill. And noticed there was a cave up ahead. She headed towards that and sat down at just the entrance to the cave. Using waterbending she removed the water from her clothes, body and hair. She watched the ran fall for awhile, until she dozed off.


Zuko had gotten up from his spot and entered the room. Sokka was passed out sleeping, Ming was chatting with Iroh. Zuko headed to his futon and unrolled it. He laid down on it. He just stared at the ceiling trying to sleep. But the nagging feeling of Katara not coming back, was bothering him. He rolled over onto his shoulder and somehow was able to sleep.

A woman standing, fire licked at her feet. A faint glare in her eyes. Water circling around her hands. With a movement of her hand, the fire in front of her burned out, and she had begun her attack. Fireballs shooting out at her. She dodges them, steam rises with each movement of the water coming in contact with the fireballs. Out of no where, a wave water comes crashing down on her opponent.

The dream kept repeating itself, for hours.

Zuko abruptly sat up. "Another one?" He was panting, like he had been the one in the fight with her. His voice was low. He looked around the room, everyone was asleep. But, he only counted three bodies. Katara had not returned. He wondered how long he had been sleeping for. He got up and walked toward the sliding door, he opened it. The clouds were gone and the sun was coming up. "She can't still be out there, can she?" He questioned. He turned away and went back to his futon. He was being blissfully ignorant that she wasn't there. Not my problem. Moments later, he was back asleep.

End of chapter seven. I do hope you've enjoyed this chapter. This one is in fact longer than the other one. I've just been writing this on since 3:37 AM and it's 8:21 AM now. It's been a rather long morning.


Remember to review. Please don't throw things at me. Reviews help with the updating process. Negative ones slow it down. Positive ones speed it up.

Sincerely,

wolf-girl87