Chapter Ten :D

Katara was found by her brother, Sokka, pacing and murmuring something incomprehensible under her breath. She was unaware of Sokka's presence which he was only standing in arms reach of her, which, when he reached his arm out to grab her, she instinctively bended a water whip out from a nearby puddle and shot him. He was not hurt, and was not thrown back, but was very startled, but kept him mouth shut about his sister and focused on the message he was supposed to deliver to his sister.

"Katara, we are ready to go. Do you have anything else you need?" Sokka asked.

"I do not have everything I need," Katara muttered, "But are we not going to go look for him?"

"Yes, we are. Haru, The Duke, and Teo are staying here while we are gone. We may need Toph if anything gets… complicated." Sokka said.

"What is that supposed to mean?" Katara asked.

"Well… we both know how Azula is and… what if she hurts Zuko?" Sokka asked sternly.

Katara looked down. That probably was not the best thing to say to your sad little sister, Sokka!

Sokka took his sister's hand and led her over to the giant bison to help pack the remains and climb aboard. Sokka passed Aang the last bag of leftover fish and he flew them up. Katara and Sokka climbed aboard and Toph was already sitting on the other end of the saddle, tapping her fingers against the saddle, swearing about how bad the flight will be and if anybody gets in her way to fresh land she'll…

Katara sat next to Toph, wishing that she did not pounce, and Sokka sat on the other side of Katara. Together, they took up a small portion of the back saddle. Katara had tears dropping down her face. Before Aang reached the front, he stepped onto the saddle and braced her in a friendly hug. He whispered some reassuring words to her, "We will find Zuko. He will be okay. Everything will be alright…"

Even though he was only a twelve year old kid, he was one of the most reassuring people who could make Katara feel better. Her tears slowed and she rested her head on Sokka's shoulder. She slowly reached a sleepy sleep and a dreamless sleep; one that was most pleasant and terrifying at the same time.

Zuko never did wake after that beating to the head, which meant he did not drink or eat. He had last had a drink right before Azula attacked. It had been about twelve hours since then, so Aang, Katara, Sokka, and Toph had eighty-four hours to find Zuko. They only had three and one half days to find Zuko if Zuko was not to die…

A shaking sensation formed at Katara's shoulder. She brushed it aside as if it was nothing, but the shaking shook and shook until she finally opened her eyes.

It was only Sokka, and they were navigating by moonlight on the bison. He looked at Aang and nodded. He stood up and took the reins as Aang went back to sit in the saddle. Aang sat next to Katara and looked deep into her cerulean colored eyes.

"How-how much do you care about Zuko?" Aang asked.

"What do you mean?" Katara asked.

"I am just curious, I will not judge your answer," Aang said, but Katara saw hurt getting ready to rise into his eyes if she did not say what he wanted to hear.

Katara would not lie, "Aang, I-I love him," she choked out. She could tell that by the slight change in face expression that Aang was trying to hold in his emotions. That was good because it showed that he really did mature.

Aang gave a cocky, or over confident smile and said, "Alright."

Aang turned to look at Katara. They both started talking at the same time, so Aang let Katara speak first.

"We've been through so many things together and I've seen you grow up so much. You're not that goofy kid I found in the iceberg anymore." Katara said. Aang blushed at this remark.

"I guess what I'm trying to say is," Katara continued, "I'm really proud of you."

Aang looked down, "Everything's going to be different after today, isn't it?" Aang asked.

"Yes, it is." Katara agreed.

Aang looks down, "What if- what if I don't come back?" He looked back up at Katara to meet her cerulean eyes, trying to make his decision.

"Aang, don't say that! Of course you'll-" Katara was cut off when Aang kissed her. Katara was surprised at first, eyes going wild, then gave into the kiss. Katara blushed, then broke the gaze. As a matter of being the Avatar and all, Aang put on a serious look, then flew onto his glider. Katara looked back at her hero, then was distracted by her brother.

Katara could tell how much that remark had hurt Aang…

Aang sat up and started to talk to Toph, who was sleeping at the time, unnoticed by Aang, and was prepared to knock his head off, but only had her meteor rock… she had to make do.

The group did not know when or what or how or all of those questions involving Azula's ship. When would they find it? How would they find it? How would they know it was her ship? What clue would make them think it was hers?

It was quite obvious when they found her ship, for whose ship could have lightning and blue fire coming off the edges. To keep their cover, they hid behind a rock until it was dusk, lucky for them; Azula's crew had stopped the boat for the night. It would take some serious sneaking around if they were going to find Zuko. The first question would be how to get to Azula's ship without getting caught. Unfortunately for them, she was stopped in the middle of the ocean, not a port. So they would have to swim the distance. Katara, Sokka, and Aang knew how to swim while on the other hand, Toph did not. To make things harder for Sokka, Aang and Katara voted that he had to carry Toph on his back while he swam. That must have been a lot of fun for Sokka, right? So swimming with a one hundred and five pound girl on his back, Aang and Katara swam with Sokka over to the side of the ship, where they saw their next obstacle.

"How are we going to get into the ship?" Sokka asked.

Aang looked around, thinking, and then spotted a low window.

"Hey guys, look here. We could climb through this window, and we could climb up and break through the glass, and have enough time to hide before anyone comes down to find the noise's source."

Everybody nodded in agreement.

Aang climbed up first and shattered the glass with his rock-hard hands from Earth Bending. He quickly climbed in and helped pull in Toph. Then Sokka climbed in on his own, followed by Katara. They had just enough time to hide behind a few barrels, which just barely hid them. Somebody walked in and saw the broken glass and immediately ran out. Aang, Katara, Sokka, and, now that Toph could see, Toph ran into action. Aang gave them some brief instructions.

"Katara and Toph, go look for Zuko. If you find him, get him out and get off the ship! I mean it. Don't wait for me and Sokka. Just make sure you get him safely out! Sokka, you come with me. We're going to find Azula."

Katara, Toph, and Sokka nodded in agreement and headed off.

Katara and Toph ran as silently as efficiently as they could. They snuck past many guards and ran to the lowest and coldest point on the ship. That was where they thought the prisoner cells would be. They had to work fast if they wanted to get Zuko out of here and not be detected.

"Intruders! Intruders!" They heard faintly nearby. Katara hoped it wasn't for Aang and Sokka. But they heard footsteps ascending. Each girl took a fighting stance and turned to face their opponent. They were face-to-face with two beginners. They were even looking at each other as if to ask each other "What next?"

Katara took the moment as an opportunity and disarmed the opponents. She froze them to a wall and took their maps and keys. She looked at the maps but then threw them over her shoulder in disgust. They were right next to the prisoner chambers.

She and Toph ran down the hallway and unlocked the door for the prisoner chambers.

"Zuko!" She called out.

No answer.

She tried again.

Dead silence.

An eerie feeling crept up inside Katara as she searched every cell. Toph was at a cell on the far corner, knelling down. Katara checked each one individually until she was next to Toph. She looked inside and gasped at what she saw.

Sokka ran with Aang with his sword drawn and was ready to take down any solders that got in their way. He had already slaughtered ten unknown guards. Aang had never said anything about the first slaughtering so Sokka went away with it.

They ran through mazes of Fire Nation Ship, Sokka running with a bloody sword and Aang running blowing air balls at random folks. What a funny scene it would be to watch but they were on a mission. They ran through door after door after door wondering if Azula would have enough courage to show her face. They tried heading towards the top, but in order to do that, they had to get to the main deck, which was probably flooded with Fire Nation guards, and they couldn't get out of the maze they had gotten themselves in.

More and more doors passed by them, until they finally came in sight of a staircase going up. They climbed up them not being the least bit quiet.

But something stopped them when they reached the top. Could it be the fact that there were no Fire Nation guards on the deck? Or that the girl's shinny, incredibly black hair was blowing in the wind what stopped them. Truth is told, both.

"I'm not going to hurt you," the gloomy girl said, "Just help me get rid of Azula,"

"How can we trust you?" Sokka interrogated.

Mai stepped towards him, "She has Zuko down there and she is going to have him killed when we reach the Fire Nation! Even though he left me, I may have feelings for him," Mai calmed down, then continued, "If we get rid of Azula, and you get Zuko to safety, I won't hunt you,"

"Tempting but…"

"And if you don't trust me, I swear, I'll rip you to shreds right here!"

"Alright, we'll be your allies."

They heard clapping above their heads, "That was quite a show. Very entertaining!" A voice all too familiar said. All three looked up and saw Azula jump down from her balcony, dressed and all, and land gracefully on the metal. She stood up and dusted off her hands, "It's a shame all of you will have to die tonight."

Mai, Sokka, and Aang each took a fighting stance. They did not attack at first, but waited for Azula to make a move. She came out at the top. She swirled around in a circle, and Fire went every which way. Aang jumped up, Sokka jumped back, and the fire incredibly missed Mai. She pulled out her daggers and swung them at Azula, only for them to be put to waste, as Azula avoided them. Sokka pulled out his sword and Swung at Azula's head. She efficiently dodged them and sent a flame at Sokka. He moved his head just in time to be he saw the fire and inch away from his nose. Aang was actually able to do something when he pulled a giant wave of water from the sea and pushed it at Azula. She was unable to dodge it and was slammed up against the metal wall. Aang froze the water around her and she was unable to move.

Sokka threatened by pushing his sword up against Azula's throat, he not showing the least bit of interest. He waited, and then she laughed.

"You guys think you are so tough and strong enough to beat me that even when you get the chance, you hesitate. Hesitating is for those who don't know their plans. I always know my plans and my opponents' plans," Sokka's eyes widened, "If you want me gone, then do it. Kill me! I dare you!"

Could Sokka really do this? Could Sokka actually kill her?

"Zuko! ZUKO!" Katara stumbled with the keys until she found the right one that fit the key whole shape. She shoved it in and turned it. At the slightest movement of movement with the door she barged in and cupped Zuko's head in her arms. Zuko was not aware of her. She held his head and cried. Toph next to her, whispered in her ear, "He's okay. His heart's beating and he's at least breathing so he should be fine for now."

Katara probed the area around his head. Sure enough, there was giant gash at his left temple where his old one used to be. His clothes were torn at places and filthy even for the few days he had been here. His hair was dirty and was matted to his head with sweat even though it was freezing down here. His gash at his left temple looked to be a little bit infected, which was not good at all. She picked him up and carried him out. His head lolled to the side and his body hung lifelessly. Zuko needed to fight in the war, which was only three weeks away. Could Zuko wake up that soon? He had to!

They ran out of the prisoner chambers and ran to where they had shattered the glass window. It seemed to be a lot of a shorted run than before, partly because they knew where they were going. They ran into the room and jumped out into the water. But forgetting that Toph couldn't swim. She panicked. Toph seemed to read her mind.

"I'll stay here and help out. Just get Zuko out of here!" Toph said, and Katara nodded. She couldn't say no. Zuko needed their help so much now.

Katara swam over to where they had Appa, struggling along the way with carrying Zuko and laid him on the rock. Appa roared with sorrow. Katara bended some sea water, then bended the water away from the salt and started bending it into Zuko's left temple. Zuko kept on getting hurt and Katara did not know why. Was it because it was a sign? A sign that Zuko was supposed to die? Or was it that Zuko should have already been killed early back at the Western Air Temple? Or could it possibly be that Zuko just had bad luck? She did not know. She worked the water throughout his wound, cleaning it out of infection, or at least she tried, and ripping off his filthy clothes. She kept his pants on him, and thank God that his ribs were not broken… again. She found many bruises along his legs were certain beatings many have happened and found that his left wrist was broken.

Katara began crying knowing that they would not be able to defeat the Fire Lord. She cried softly, for fear that the person she loved would not make it through.

"Well?" Azula asked Sokka. She was not in the position to intimidate Sokka though, for he was the one with the sword up to her neck. Sokka felt furry inside his chest and wanted to kill her. But he couldn't bring those thoughts to actions.

"Okay then I guess that Sukiwas right then…" Azula taunted.

Tears streamed out from Sokka again as he pulled out his sword and was about to stab Azula when Aang held him back and bound his wrists with his hands. He heard the monk's murmur, "She does not deserve to die this way, with confidence." But Aang did not tell Mai that. Mai came out, slashing her tiny daggers at Azula until Azula's head limped over.

Out of mind and out of thought, Aang water bended an entire Tsunami of water at Mai. He heard a cry but nothing else. When the water subsided, he saw no Mai. He ran over to the side of the deck and looked over.

No Mai. She was dead.

Toph came running up the stairs.

"Hey, guys, I'm here to help. I-" Toph stomped her foot on the ground.

Toph felt a trembling, probably crying Aang, a mood-swung conciderate Sokka, and a dead Azula.

Everything had just been altered.