Chapter 9

It has been a day since they departed from Ursa's secret home. The group was studying their map constantly, trying to pick the fastest route to Sakura Island. However the bickering between Sokka and Zuko never came to an end.

"So Sparky, what are you supposed to find on Sakura Island again?" the Water Tribe warrior questioned the furious firebender, who was constantly running his hand through his hair from frustration, "Why are you asking me this every 5 minutes?" he smirked, "Everyone said you had a brain, obviously if you can't remember; it can only mean one thing."

The warrior looked up from over the saddle, "Excuse me? I wouldn't talk if I were you! You are the one who is always complaining about how slow Appa is flying!"

Zuko's eyebrow twitched.

"Actually…" a sarcastic voice cut into their conversation, "Now that I think of it; you never really given us an answer Sparky."

"Stop calling me that!" Zuko spat out in frustration and threw his head back resting on the edge of the saddle, "To be truthful…" he trailed off for a brief second, "I don't exactly understand why."

Everyone spun around starring at him with wide shocked eyes, "WHAT!?" Aang airbended himself over on to the saddle from Appa's head, "We are wasting our time-,"

"A voice told me." Zuko replied cutting Aang's argument, "However, whoever contacted me in my dreams told me that I will meet them on Sakura Island."

Sokka scowled in responds, "You are kidding me right!? YOU WERE SICK! When people are sick, THEY HEAR VOICES!"

"Why? That happened to you?" Zuko demanded with an annoyed look on his face as he sat up and leaned against the saddle again.

A sigh was heard from corner of the saddle, "Zuko was facing a Spiritual Ritual. We all know that." Everyone turned to face the Blind Bandit who had an annoyed expression on her face as well, "Lady Ursa even told us so, yet she doesn't understand it that well."

"But still, a voice calling out your name and showing you all of these visions sounds like madness!" Sokka exclaimed waving his arms dramatically around in the air, "we are wasting our time searching for an Island when we could be searching for Katara."

Zuko turned away from his new companions with a heavy sigh, "This could be important." He glanced down at the sea below them, "I don't know why, but whoever I am meeting might be able to teach us advanced firebending that I may have not come across yet."

The group was quiet, the sun was setting over the blue sea below them, the moon was already shinning out brightly.

"I would like to be reminded why we are working with this Prince." Someone stated in a harsh tone.

Everyone turned to face Haru who had an angry glare on his face; eyeing the Prince specifically, "Why are we helping you when you could be leading us into a trap."

Toph arched an eyebrow as she felt the tension between the former Fire Prince and the Earthbender.

Aang stood up with a frown, "We can trust Zuko." He glanced at Haru straight in the eye, "Just because you had a bad past with Fire Nation, doesn't mean that it's all Zuko's fault."

Haru rolled his eyes, "Whatever, I'm not in the mood of arguing, so I'll drop it from here." He paused for a brief second before turning his gaze over to the Blind Bandit, keeping thoughts to himself; and closed his eyes, ending the convention.

No spoke again for the rest of the night.

The sound of clattering chains that fell to the ground echoed the cell softly, the whispers of the soft steps that were light and quick; disappeared quickly as the Master Waterbender of the Southern Water Tribe escaped from captive's base, and disappeared into a forest, and into the darkness.

'Alright! That was a complete success!' she thought to herself with glee, a wide smile was glued to her face, 'Now I just need to find the others…' she continued running, but unconsciously decreased her pace as her worst worries occurred to her.

'I hope Zuko didn't take any advantages without me there.' She stopped as another thing occurred to her that she happened to forget, 'Wait, Zuko was ill…So he wouldn't be able to anything against us…Heh, heh…sucker….' Katara quickly sped up her pace and rushed through the forest, with a smirk on her face.

However her smirk did not last; she stopped and looked around, there was just one problem that she didn't think about before she escaped.

Where was she?

The waterbender fumed and swung her fist into a tree making a mark, "Oh great! Now I'm lost!"

"Why did you drag me into this mission again?"

"Why do you think Mai?" a silky voice replied smoothly, "I thought maybe this would cheer you up!"

Mai looked at her friend with a confused expression on her face, "Really? I mission to hunt down your brother again, how is that going to cheer me up?" she demanded sarcastically.

Azula pouted for a brief second before replying, "We're both after the same thing. We aren't just hunting my brother remember; I'm meeting someone and then we will continue our plans about assassinating Zuko and his friend." She fiddled with her bangs, "Besides, it's mending a broken heart best cure for a girl is to receive…" she paused for dramatic effects, "Revenge?"

The evening breeze was calm; the moon was shining brightly reflecting the crystal clear blue ocean. The tired flying bison groaned quietly into the night, while soft snores were heard from the saddle.

One was awake, staring at the night sky with wonder, in deep thoughts; with an uncertain mind.

His golden eyes closed for a few seconds as he took a deep breath into the night air, and stared up at the stars once again. Turning his gaze from the starry night sky over to his sleeping companions, he sighed softly and withdrawn Katara's necklace that he had kept hidden from the others and ran his thumb across the pendant's surface and stared at the engraved waves. His eyes never left the pendent until the avatar's flying lemur; Momo crawled over to him tugging at his shirt leaping up and down, making strange sounds. Zuko stared at the lemur as he put aside the necklace back into his pocket as he sat up straight and crawled over to the edge of the saddle and glanced down below at the blue sea.

His eyes widen and spun around hissing, "Aang!" he shook the sleeping airbender, "Aang! Wake up!"

The airbender was dead asleep.

"Damn it…" the firebender crawled over to the bison's head and took the reins, "Uh…What was it again…Yap…Yip…YIP!" he shouted as Appa groaned tiredly and took off like the wind.

Momo flew over to Zuko and landed on his shoulder. The former prince stroked the lemur with one hand as the other held the reins.

"Appa needs to rest, and he won't stand a chance with a pursuit on our tail." He told the lemur as Momo shook his head and groomed his face.

A small, weak smile appeared on Zuko's face for a brief second, he turned his head to the east and spotted the last thing he expected.

"I don't believe it." He muttered mostly to the lemur than himself. His hands gripped to the reins and yelled, "YIP! YIP!"

The flying bison took off down towards the small island with glee. For Zuko; the sooner, the better. However for the bison that is; LAND! FINALLY A BREAK!

Appa flew faster than Zuko could imagine to the small island, the former prince feared that he might be thrown off.

The flying bison groaned with glee, as he landed roughly onto to the island, which have awoken its companions from their beauty sleep.

"Ugh…FIRE NATION!" suddenly screamed the Water Tribe warrior, who was still half asleep as he waved his sharp sword around wildly, the Blind Bandit swiftly drowned him into the earth keeping his head out so he wouldn't suffocate.

The air monk yawned and scanned their area, and asked lazily, "Last time I was conscious we were flying, now we are on land…Are we already here?" he yawned once more as he jumped off the saddle and glanced at Sokka, who was helplessly squirming under the earth.

Zuko nodded as he glanced up at the mountain ahead off them then dashed off towards a green hill with overgrown grass waving, and bloomed Fire Lilies from the soft breeze. He stood at the top of the hill and glanced at the ocean that glowed from the moonlight.

His face was expressing a sharp frown as the dark ship approached the island much more quickly.

"Is that Azula?" a sudden voice asked.

Zuko jumped from surprise, but quickly recovered his frown, "Yeah, it looks like I wasn't the only one who had the dreams then."

"Eh?" the avatar looked at the former prince with a surprised expression on his face, "What do you mean…Azula, too had the dreams?"

Zuko looked over from the ship to the airbender, and then glanced up at the mountain, "I need to get to the mountain."

"Why not we just fly-,"

"My vision told me to go through the forest. It's the only way in." he turned back to Aang, "You may follow behind me, but on foot; besides, the best idea right now is to allow Appa to rest, he's exhausted." A small smile appeared on his face, " If Azula comes across us and creates a fight, be sure to show off your firebending." He half joked, with a chuckle.

Aang giggled childishly and turned his body to face the mountain, "That's pretty tall…" he trailed off glancing at the Sakura Trees, he caught his breath in awe, "What a beautiful scenery…"

Zuko nodded, but then suddenly turned the airbender as the child whispered out loud, "I wish I could show this to Katara."

Zuko's fist clenched from an unknown emotion, "Well, you better tell her that I was the one who showed you and your friends this beautiful island. Don't steal my credit." He said almost too seriously; although Aang took it as a joke as he laughed in responds, "Don't worry Zuko! I'd tell her!" he turned to the ocean and frowned, "It looks like Azula is just arriving onto shore." He paused and looked at the prince, "You better get going. You'll need a head start if they are bringing along those lizards."

Zuko nodded as he dashed off down the hill and towards the Sakura Forest.

"Ugh, disgusting!" complained a bored voice.

"Oh relax, it's just mud." A silky voice replied smoothly.

"Ugh, why didn't you just bring Tylee! She wouldn't have minded all of this CRAP!"

"It's not crap Mai, it's mud!" Azula hissed with an annoyed look on her face as she hurried through the forest.

The Princess of the Fire Nation was getting quite fed up about her best friend who is normally quiet during the missions, and much more serious; since they landed onto the beach, she's been causing nothing but annoyance.

"Ugh! I can't stand this Azula! I hate mud!" she nearly shouted out, as she stopped and crossed her arms over her chest with a sharp annoyed frown on her face. The Princess reflected the frown like a mirror on her own face; she too crossed her arms over her chest and tapped her foot.

They stood there in silence for a few seconds before Azula spoke up again, "You don't want to see Zuko; don't you." Her tone was almost sincere.

Mai looked away, her frown never leaving her face.

"You've been trying to get me to burn you into crisp rather than coming face to face with my brother." She sighed heavily as she approached Mai and placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder; "Mai, I understand this must be very…" she stopped as if she was looking for the right word, "…very difficult for you." She finished and forced a fake smile on her face, "But remember what I said earlier." She stopped as her fake smile dropped into a deadly smirk, "I am here to meet someone so that we can assassinate my brother and his new friend. However; I would be more than happy to give you the honor, or could I say, glory of taking revenge on my brother. I am sure you would break his heart even more than he broke yours…it would mend your heart back together, you will be you again. He'll be out of your life and forgotten." She paused to see her friend's reaction.

They stood there is silence once more as Mai slowly nodded, "You are right Azula." She said seriously, she withdrew a sharp knife that fell into her hand from somewhere in her sleeve, and smirked darkly at the princess, "Revenge is all I'll need."

Katara helplessly wandered throughout the woods, she near that whoever her captor was, would most likely search by the river first; she needs this time so that she could safely hide somewhere until she finds her friends.

Her stomach growled from hunger.

"Damn it…" she cursed under her breath as she fell to her knees and clutched to her stomach, "I need food…" she looked around, the bushes around her were covered with berries that looked so tasty; that she would've ate them if they were edible. She was not about to poison herself anytime soon.

She stood up and looked up at the sky; the moonlight was her guide out of the forest, her only light, her only hope to help her find food that wouldn't poison her.

The waterbender approached a tall pine tree and began to climb up, swinging herself from one branch to another, till she reached a certain height where she could scan her area, but remain hidden.

Her eyes began to dilate unconsciously as she realized her worst situation.
She was no where near her friends.

Tears fell from her eyes and down her soft cheeks, she hugged the branch for support as she tried to hold herself together, she sobbed as quietly as she could, not willing to be found by whoever kidnapped her again. Her tears looked up at the sky where the moon shone brightly.

She closed her tearful eyes and took deep breaths, whispering a prayer.

"Yue…Please help me…you are the only person who can see me…" she whispered, almost too quietly.

As if Yue heard her prayer, the moon light shone brightly over the hills pointing to small blurred area.

Katara's eyes widen, as her face broke into a smile and looked up at the moon, "Thank you Yue!"

Climbing down the tree, the waterbender sprinted off to the fields of the open meadow where the tall grass waved freely with freedom.

It was her gate to freedom.

Zuko sprinted through the Sakura Forest following the directions from his dream, behind him Aang and Toph followed, while the others hid and went back to sleep with Appa, while the three of them go off for an adventure.

Toph suddenly stopped and planted her feet into the ground, "Aang? Do you feel it?"

The avatar nodded slowly as he too planted his feet into the ground. Zuko stopped to see what they were doing.

"What is it? Is there someone following us?"

"Not just anyone." A silky voice answered smoothly.

Aang and Toph changed their footings into a defensive stance. With a frown glued to their young innocent faces.

Zuko hissed to himself as he looked at his sister with an angry expression on his face.

"I didn't bother coming alone." She continued, as Mai walked out from the bushes and glared at Zuko with a hurt, betrayed expression on her face.

His eyes widen and dilated at the sight of his girlfriend, he took one step forward, "Mai…What…" he couldn't finish; he couldn't stand that hurt expression on Mai's face.

She took one step forward as well.

"Why did you leave us?" she began calmly, her voice was steady, "Why did you leave me?" her voice quivered at the end.

Zuko couldn't look at her as he replied, "This is my destiny Mai. I must do what is right." He peeked a glance at her as she frowned and shouted angrily, "How could you betray the Fire Nation! How could you just leave me behind!" she shook her head furiously, "Azula and I were doing our best to make you happy-," she stopped as tears fell from her eyes, "God damn it Zuko! Were you not happy?" she withdrew a snife from her sleeve; however Toph quickly reacted and pinned Mai to the ground with some earth. However; she did not touch Azula…yet.

"Don't hurt her!" he shouted out desperately as he dashed towards the girl who was stuck to the ground; Aang held him back and looked at him seriously, before eyeing Azula, looking out for any sneaky trick up her sleeves.

Azula calmly studied this and looked at Zuko, "You know Zuko; it's not too late to come back." She glanced at Mai with an innocent concern look on her face, "Mai can't live without you."

Zuko looked down at his feet.
Damn it, why does Azula have to be so good at manipulating people?!

The royal siblings stared at each other for a long time. Nobody made a single attack, nobody moved.

Azula swiftly shot a spark at the stone that pinned Mai to the ground; Toph was about to react when Zuko stopped her and whispered, "Please don't hurt her…"

Toph sighed, "That'll depend if she is a threat." Zuko nodded and looked at Mai, "If you truly loved me, you wouldn't care which side I was on. You would love me anyways. Did you not understand the note I left you? This is who I am, this is what my destiny is." He took a deep breath before continuing, "You have a choice Mai, you can either accept my destiny, or not."

"I refuse to believe that you would throw away all of your luxury!" she screamed angrily.

Azula arched an eyebrow and glanced at her brother to see his reaction. So far this was pretty interesting. She smirked to herself for a brief second before anyone could notice.

The forest became silent; the sound of the rushing rivers could be heard from a distance. The soft melody of the waves crashing on to the shoreline echoed the silent night.

Zuko closed his eyes and waited a second more before opening them and frowned, "If you truly feel that way…" he trailed off, "Then it's over between us." He shot a look at Aang as the airbender nodded and swiftly created a gust of wind and blew the Princess and the Noble girl into the trees behind them.

They all broke into a dash as Zuko led the way to their destination.

For an odd reason his heart did not feel any pain like her thought he would've felt.

Instead; it felt like weight was lifted off his shoulders.

The waterbender sprinted through the fields of crops; she finally busted herself free from the natural maze and continued running to the village that was just down the hill.

She quickly jumped into the bushes when she just remembered that she was still dressed in her Water Tribe clothes.

Her sapphire blue eyes scanned for any sort of clothing; luck was not with her today.

'Great, now I have sneak into the town and steal some clothes.' She thought to herself, then smirked lightly, 'But that's not a problem, I know how to steal.' She grinned mischievously as she slyly snuck around the village. She glanced around her and spotted some clothes hanging on some lines…but they were quite high up.

She smirked as she whipped her hand into the thin air and withdrew a waterwhip,

'This should be easy.' She thought with glee as she studied the clothes, trying to decide what to wear.

"Man, this is going to be harder than I thought." She muttered under breath.

End of Chapter 9

A/N: I know this may seem kinda rushed, but I really wanted to update you know?

YA! FINALLY! I FINALLY GOT TO UPDATE THIS! OMG! I've been studying my ass off. I am still stressing on my Science and Math…History is the worst…Ugh…Stupid Exams…

Well I have to continue studying! The exams are on Thursday and Friday next week!

Once the exams are over, I should be back on track for updating.

Please Review!

OH AND THANK YOU FOR THE 60 REVIEWS! Man, what could I do without your support?