Katara glared at Aiko who chatted with Haku as she waited by the door to the hallway. They were currently on the Bridge and Aiko was trying to get a guide for the tour of the Phantom Flame.
"Come now, we need to know our way around and it has been so long since I have been on the Phantom Flame." Haku glanced at her before looking over a map.
"I agree with you, Aiko, but Admiral Amaya is insistent on everyone pulling their weight and avoid getting caught that we don't have anyone to spare." Haku argued his point as he turned to a soldier and handed them a scroll. "Deliver this to the engine room." He muttered as the soldier took the scroll. With a bow, the soldier left.
"Surely there must be someone who knows their way around the ship that is free?" Aiko pressed, holding her parasol down in front of her. Haku glanced back at Aiko once more. "How can everyone be busy?"
"Simple, we are in the middle of creating a civil war. Everyone is one edge and has their part to play." Haku answered.
"So is that all we are?" Katara asked, annoyed. "Pawns for Amaya?" A hushed state bloomed over everyone in the room. Haku narrowed his eyes at her.
"Admiral Amaya." He corrected. "And no, the Admiral isn't treating this like a game. This is our nations that we are struggling to free." He would have continued but a soft voice interrupted him.
"It's alright, Commander." Everyone turned to see Amaya coming into the room. "She was Water Tribe. She does not understand everything that has happened." Katara narrowed her eyes at Amaya.
"I still am Water Tribe!" She cried, angry. Amaya turned her golden eyes to Katara. Staring down at the young waterbender, Amaya smirked while resting her hand on her hip.
"You agreed to become my ship's healer." The female Admiral pointed out. "In becoming a crew member of my ship, you became Fire Nation." The waterbender's anger rose up to a new level. Katara was Water Tribe! She refused to have that taken from her.
"I don't want to be one of you murderers!" Katara yelled making Aiko gasp.
"Ms. Katara!" Amaya held up her hand to stop Aiko from saying anything else.
"No, let her rant." The firebending master murmured. "Let her get this out of her system."
"I can't stand the Fire Nation! For a century it has been destroying families! It takes mothers from their children! It sends fathers to war! It tears apart siblings! And it makes a twelve year old boy have to grow up too fast!" Tears were brimming her eyes as she breathed heavily. Amaya nodded after a moment.
"You're right." She whispered loud enough for everyone to hear. "But what you are wrong about is the idea that only the Earth Kingdom and the Water Tribe go through all that." Her voice was harsh and hard as steel. "Want to know something? The people are innocent. It's the Fire Lords that are to blame. Because of them, children have been killed. Because of them, sons have been hated. Sisters have been corrupted. Mothers have been forced away. And honor has been stolen." Amaya tightened her hand into a fist but no one noticed. "You don't know the pain that the people of our nation go through because you don't want to. Because that might destroy your perfect little life. It really is something, to believe yourself better than a whole nation. I used to think myself better than two nations. Yet I began to see what the war did. I saw what it did to our people. I say what it did to other nation's people. Do not presume yourself better. Or I will cut you down." Katara glared at her still. "Why don't you get to know the Fire Nation before you judge it."
Zuko stared at the flame in his small room. It was the only source of light in the room. He closed his eyes and frowned as he sat before a candle. The clothes he wore were identical to the ones he wore when his mother was still around.
"I'm not going to fight him." He muttered. "Once I've completed my training . . . . I will find mother and spend the rest of my life in hiding with her." His words were hollow and distant. The former prince turned and opened his eyes to look at Keiko as she stood beside the door. "I can't fight him."
"The deal was-"
"The deal was that she would teach me everything she knew! That she would make me a master!" Zuko yelled. "I never agreed to kill my own father! How heartless do you think I am!" Keiko narrowed her eyes.
"While you may not have agreed to kill Ozai, you did agree to lead Admiral Amaya's army! That was part of the deal." She hissed. Zuko looked away from Keiko.
"Get out, Keiko." Once more his words were hollow. He was tired. Tired of running, tired of hiding, tired of fighting for his father's love. Keiko closed her eyes and bowed to him.
"Of course, my prince." With that, Keiko was gone. Zuko looked at the flame on the candle. The flame danced before his eyes while he simply stared at it.
"I . . . don't know what to do." Zuko looked at his hands. "I can't kill father. I can't. I don't know how to deliver my people. Do they even need to be delivered?" He closed his eyes again ran a hand through his short hair. "Mother, help me."
". . . you love your mother very much." Zuko jerked his head up and looked at a young boy standing in the doorway.
"Who are you? What are you doing?" Zuko demanded of the young boy who couldn't be more than eleven, if that. His hair was dark black and pulled up under a red cap. His red gi was sleeveless and over a long sleeved golden shirt. The sleeves were huge and passed his small hands. His black pants were rolled up slightly so that he would not trip over himself. Black slippers adorn his small feet. The most interesting thing about him was his green eyes. Other than his eyes, his pale skin and hair put him in the Fire Nation.
". . . sorry. My name is Yong. I . . . wanted to see you in person."
"Yong?" Saying Zuko as surprised that this boy was Yong was an understatement. "You can't be Yong." Yong cocked his head to the side.
"Why not?"
"You're just a child!" Zuko reasoned. "You're too young to be apart of Amaya's crew!" Yong smiled innocently and shook his head.
"Prince Zuko, you are mistaken. I may be a child but I am not apart of my mother's crew." Yong informed the Prince with a cheerful tone.
"M-mother?" His mind was sent wheeling. "Amaya-she can't-there's no way-" Zuko sputtered incoherently.
"Well, she's not my blood mother." Yong amended, calming Zuko down slightly. "Mother raised my sister and me when my father died. She saved us from death." Zuko closed his eyes as he remembered what Amaya had told him the night before. Amaya had not mentioned that Shizuko and Yong were the children she saved. Opening his eyes, Zuko stared at Yong with little interest.
"So, you must be Zhong's son." Yong nodded. "Why do you bother me?"
"I told you, I wanted to see you. Mother has spent so much time getting us ready." Zuko quirked his eyebrow.
"Ready? For what?" The boy smiled at the Prince and laughed as his question.
"For your ascension to the throne."
Katara frowned as she looked over her shoulder at Aiko. Aiko was hurrying to keep up with Katara's brisk pace.
"Why do you follow me? I just called you a murderer." Katara asked. Aiko sighed and kept up her hurried pace to stay in step with Katara.
"You are mad. We do not say things we mean when we are mad. Besides, I have killed before, though I didn't like it." Katara gave out a frustrated huff and sped up. She almost ran into a young teenager barely older than herself. The young woman wore a sleeveless crimson robe with a gold sash over a long sleeve black dress. There was a slit up the front of the dress and revealed red pants and black boots. Her raven hair was pulled under a red hat with the Fire Nation symbol on it. A fire design trimmed the robe. However, her raven bangs were barely kept out of her emerald green eyes. "Oh, hello Shizuko." Aiko smiled at the young girl. Her green eyes stared at Katara, no emotion showing whatsoever. Katara couldn't help but stare.
". . . you're Shizuko?" She asked wide eyed and slack jawed. Shizuko nodded before stepping around Katara and walking through the halls towards the bridge. "She can't be Shizuko!" Aiko blinked in surprise and looked back at the hallway Shizuko had disappeared in.
"Really? Why not?"
"Because she can't be older than me!" Katara reasoned. However, Aiko only shrugged.
"Well, she's fourteen and she's been on the ship for as long as our Lady has been in command of it. Shizuko is a warrior and you should know that it doesn't matter the age when one is a warrior." Katara stared after Shizuko.
"Still . . . why is she a warrior? To be on Amaya's ship so young?" Aiko smiled sadly.
"That is something you must speak with our Lady yourself."
"Why is it that no one tells me anything." Katara muttered as she turned and stormed down the hallway.
"Ms. Katara! Not that way!" But it was too late. Katara had gone far ahead of Aiko and even then, she would not have paid attention. Aiko sighed and looked torn between following Katara and going another way. However, she soon gave up and ran after Katara, nearly bumping into her when Katara stopped outside a door that was slightly ajar. Katara spun around and firmly, but quietly, placed a hand over Aiko's mouth and made a shushing motion.
"I . . . father would never allow it." Aiko furrowed her brow. Wasn't that Prince Zuko? Katara leaned back against the wall and listened.
"Why do you still care about him?" A young boy's voice carried to their ears. "Mother has taught me that if one does not deserve my love, then they should not receive it." There was a sigh from Zuko filled the air.
"I don't care what he's done. He is my father. That should be enough to explain my actions towards him." There was a pause, as if the young boy was trying to find the right words.
". . . but what about his actions towards you?" A long, strained silence followed that question, causing Katara to lean towards the door, trying to pick up on anything and everything.
". . . he is Fire Lord. He must do what is best for the Fire Nation. I was too weak a son for him." Before anything else could be said, Katara fell forward. Aiko flinched as the door swung open and Zuko stood there, furious, with a little boy standing behind him. Zuko spotted Katara and Aiko and his anger doubled.
"How dare you!" Zuko roared. "What gives you the right to eavesdrop on me!" He demanded, reaching down and grabbing the master waterbender's upper arm. The prince of fire hauled Katara to her feet and held her by the shoulders. "Tell me now!" Katara, startled at first, looked up at him. She watched him narrow his eyes while tightening his grip on her. She searched his eyes before she spoke.
"What did Ozai do to you?" Katara asked quietly, surprising Zuko. Surprising him so much that he let go of her as his eyes widened.
"What?" Zuko asked her, confused and surprised.
"What did Ozai do to you?" She repeated. Zuko narrowed his eyes again as old memories that haunted him flashed before his eyes.
"Leave me." Zuko hissed as he turned away. However, Katara reached forward and grabbed his wrist. Aiko and Yong had been forgotten by the two.
"I asked you a question. Or are you so much of a spoiled prince who thinks of no one but yourself that you don't think-" Aiko gasped at Katara's words.
"SHUT UP!" Zuko yelled as his fists ignited into fire as he yanked his wrist out of her grasp. Yong jumped forward and yanked Katara back while Aiko stepped in between the two.
"Yong, get Ms. Katara out of here."
Keiko stood behind Amaya as she stared out through the window on the bridge.
"Things are so boring . . ." She muttered as she held her hands behind her back.
"Isn't that a good thing, Admiral?" Haku asked as he nodded his approval to an officer who bowed and left to get more maps. "After all, you may hate it when it is boring, but the crew doesn't." Amaya shrugged as she pouted.
"That my be true, but I still hate it." Amaya turned to a soldier with a bright and hopeful expression on her face. "Haven't there been rumors of pirates around these parts?" The soldier looked at her, startled. It took him second to realize that she was hoping for a yes before he flinched and answered her.
"N-no ma'am." He stuttered. Amaya pouted once more and sighed. Crossing her arms, Amaya closed her eyes.
"Well, that's no fun. What I won't do for some action around here. I know!" She opened her eyes with a mischievous glint and slapped her fist into her open palm. "I'll find my precious little nephew!" Amaya started towards the door when Haku noticed a commotion out on deck.
"Admiral!"
"What now?" Amaya whined as she spun around and marched over to the window and peered at what was out on deck. "This can't be good."
In his effort to get Katara way from the enraged Zuko, which was never a good thing considering he was a powerful firebender, Yong had dragged Katara out on deck. Perhaps it wasn't the best idea to give a ticked off waterbending master an entire ocean to bend. But it was all his young mind could think of at the moment. However, what he didn't count on was Aiko being knocked aside as Zuko chased after the two, hot on their trail.
"Prince Zuko, please, she knows not what she says!" The young Yong pleaded but was soundly ignored by Zuko. Katara pushed Yong behind her.
"Let me deal with this jerk!" Katara snapped as she began to move her arms through the air. However, it took too long for her to bring the water up from the ocean and Zuko was too close. He barreled into her and the Katara went rolling across the deck. Soldiers had stopped what they were doing and stared, not sure what to do. They would step in if things got out of hand, but they didn't want an irritated prince on their hands. Not that he wasn't usually irritated, Agni knows the temper he had, but they didn't want it worse than usual.
Zuko wasted no time in pouncing on Katara. He knew the danger she presented should she get enough water. While she was a master waterbender, he was still a student. Even with the sun on his side, he was surrounded by water. Zuko grabbed her wrists and straddled her waist in an effort to keep her down. Katara pushed herself up as much she could and bit his arm.
"Son of a-" Zuko started as he loosened his hold in surprise, giving Katara enough of a chance to rip her arm free and slug him in the eye. She managed to push him off of her and began to pull more water up but Zuko knocked her back down. This time making sure she was on her stomach so she couldn't reach up and bite him again. "You little-" Katara rammed her head up into his, making him release her again. She elbowed him and jumped to her feet. Zuko glared at her as he charged. She also charged him and the two tackled each other and pulled each other's hair, bit each other (actually it was more like Katara bitting Zuko), elbowing the other person, kicking them, all in all it was a fight that had no discipline in it whatsoever.
The soldiers rushed forward and began to pull the two apart only to be knocked by kick from Katara to the . . . err . . . lower regions or a elbow in the gut from Zuko. Needless to say, Amaya was not happy when she sat the undisciplined way of fighting from two powerful benders. Amaya ran a hand down her face before letting out a frustrated sigh
"Alright you two, break it up!" She stormed forward and grabbed the two teens only to get her foot stomped on by Katara and a bloody lip from Zuko's fist. She howled in surprise and let the two go as they began to claw at each other once more. Amaya stumbled back as the two fought and touched the blood on her lip as she looked down at her foot. She looked up at the two with a surprised expression on her face."You little-"
"Admiral," She snapped her head back to look at Haku as he stood beside her. "Perhaps it be best if Shizuko handles this with Ute." Amaya shifted her eyes back at the two teens and shook her head.
"No, it will only separate the two for a short amount of time. No doubt that once the two are back up and about, they'll hunt the other one down." Yong tugged on Amaya's black cape and caused her to look down. "Yes, Yong?" The young boy looked as his feet in shame.
"You pathetic excuse for a man!" Katara screamed in the background.
"I'm sorry mom," Yong whispered. "I shouldn't have been so careless as to leave the door slightly open. Ms. Katara overheard us talking."
"Savage waterbender! Stop bitting me!" Zuko roared as Amaya knelt down and scooped her son up into her arms for a brief hug. She released him and stood up to her full height.
"It's alright." Amaya whispered before turning back to Zuko and Katara. 'Can't use bending . . . otherwise they might start to . . .' She sighed in frustration as she turned to her men. "Alright, looks like we'll have to pull them apart. Brace yourselves." Amaya turned back to the two teenage benders and wrapped her arms around Katara's waist, yanking her up away from Zuko while Haku and Keiko grabbed Zuko and pulled him away. Some of the soldiers on deck helped her hold Katara down while the others held back the prince. "Now, both of you! Stop it this instant! You act like foolish children! My own son acts more mature!"
"Son!" Katara sputtered like Zuko had done earlier, her rage forgotten. Her eyes darted over to Zuko in a glare. "There's more of the royal family?"
"They aren't blood related." Zuko muttered as he looked at Amaya. "She has just adopted them. Her two children have no claim to the throne."
"TWO!" Katara exclaimed in surprise.
"Besides," Yong piped up with a shy smile on his face. "we don't want the throne and Prince Zuko has more than earned the right to be Fire Lord. Shizuko and I are more than happy to help him. That's all."
"Shizuko is her daughter!" Katara had ceased her struggles and could only stare at Yong.
"Yes, just like Yong is my son." Amaya answered as she held Katara.
"Wait! So both Shizuko and Yong are your children? But how could you drag them onto a ship that might be destroyed any day!" Katara demanded as she looked back at Amaya. Amaya opened her mouth to answer but Yong cut her off.
"We want to die with mother. She is the only one that has ever cared for us. And, unfortunately, no one off this ship would care for us." He whispered this but Katara heard it. Looking up at Katara with a sad smile, Yong continued. "But we don't mind. The people on this ship are our family and we wish to be with them, even if we could die."
". . . ." Not knowing what to say, Katara looked away. She understood how Yong felt. The young waterbender was the same. She had been traveling with her best friend and older brother even knowing the danger in it all.
"Now, what was this all about!" Admiral Amaya demanded, breaking the silence. "Yong said you overheard Zuko and him talking? That can't be all." Amaya leveled Zuko with a steady gaze. "What else happened?"
"I told Prince Zuko that he was a spoiled brat!" Katara spat out. Amaya looked at Zuko.
"That's all?" Nodding, Zuko looked away, embarrassed that he had overreacted. "Honestly, Prince Zuko! You need to control your temper!" Amaya sighed as she released Katara and nodded to her men to release Zuko. "And Katara," She directed her attention to Katara. "please understand that there are some things you don't say." With that Amaya turned to her men. "Everyone! Back to work!" Her soldiers turned and left, going back to their duties before Amaya decided to get mad. The female firebender turned to Katara and Zuko. "You two, come with me." Her voice was stern and cold.
"You two need to cooperate." Amaya lectured as she sat in front of the two teens. Currently, they were waiting for lunch to arrive in Amaya's private dinning room. "I want you two to stay in this room and hash things out until you come to an understanding." She stood up and went to the door while both teens stared at the ground stubbornly. "I won't let you out until you've both are over your differences. And don't both agreeing to con me. I'll know." With that, Amaya stood and left. There was a distinct clicking sound as Amaya locked the door. Silence filled the room as both benders refused to talk.
Sorry it took so long to update. Once again, writer's block decides to kick my ass. Don't worry, I'll get to the zutara stuff soon. Please review and tell me what you think. Maybe even give me an idea or two. Anyways, I hope you like it!
