I am not associated with the show Avatar: The Last Airbender.
Guess what, guess what, guess what! I doubt anyone cares, but I just got my driver's license! (Runs around in circles singing "Born Free") Hah, hah. Sry. Had to say something.
Anyway, Season Two has finally begun! Sheesh, I'm thinking now that my portrayal of Azula in Chapter 5 was pretty much spot on. She makes Zuko seem rather sweet and sensitive. Anyway, on to Chapter 12
Chapter 12
Dinner that night began no different than usual. The seven guests dined with King Bumi nightly. A few, namely Zuko, would have preferred it otherwise. But the chefs only cooked once and if you didn't eat then, you didn't eat at all.
The large dining hall echoed with talk and laughter coming mainly from Bumi, Aang, and Iroh's end of the table. The rest just ate and talked quietly amongst themselves. It was an odd gathering to observe: and Earthbender, an Airbender, two Firebenders, two Water Tribe members, a bounty hunter, and a witch. The demon considered this as it watched from its perch in the ceiling beams above. Strange how desperate times could bring such different people together.
Unbeknownst to the relaxed diners below, and throughout the entire city, a company of several hundred shi were stationed near the entrance to the city, cloaked from the guard's eyes by the onrushing blanket of night. They waited only for the signal from their leader who in turn was waiting the last few torturous minutes before darkness took over all. Then they would end this once and for all; take away the world's only hope before the war even started.
The Demon slunk along the high beam until it was in a position where it could observe as the last few streaks of light disintegrated into black. It was time. Rising to a low crouch, the sandy body darted away, never once observed by the merry party below.
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"So tell me, General Iroh, how exactly do you plan on persuading your brother to put aside our differences for a time and join forces?"
It was about half an hour into the meal and talk had turned from the formerly lighthearted banter to the more serious topic that was weighing heavily on every mind.
Iroh waved the king's question away with a shrug. "There's several weeks worth of travel between here and the Fire Nation. I'll have plenty of time to consider it."
"I just hope we'll be able to hold out here for that several week's time," Bumi said grimly. "If we're overrun, it won't matter what the Fire Lord says."
"Me'n Appa can take you to your ship," Aang said helpfully. "He's well rested and it will be much faster than going on the ground."
"Excellent!" Iroh exclaimed happily. "I have yet to ride on that remarkable beast. It should be a lovely flight."
At the other end of the table, Zuko shook his head hopelessly. "Are you ever not happy about anything?"
"Now, now, my nephew, even in the midst of war if isn't a crime to have something to look forward to. Good morale can be a decisive factor in the outcome of a battle."
Zuko rolled his eyes and turned back to his meal just as a soldier entered the room at a run. He sprinted up to King Bumi and gave a hasty salute. "Sire, we are under attack," he gasped.
Everyone at the table immediately looked up.
"By who?" Bumi asked.
"A few have a similar appearance to that beast from a few weeks ago," the soldier continued, "but most of them are different…human, these ones, but incredibly cadaverous and…dead-looking. They are approaching from the west."
This was enough to send everyone at the table to their feet in a frightened wave. Automatically, they all looked to Shen for instruction. "How many?" she asked the frightened soldier.
"No more than a dozen of the former, but at least four or five hundred of the latter. Not an incredibly large force but…" he trailed off and shook his head.
Shen turned to Bumi. "Normal weapons can destroy the shi, but they feel no physical pain and have only one goal—kill any living thing. You can fight them but it will be difficult. Zuko," she said, spinning towards him, "I still don't feel comfortable with Katara using the Dragonblade yet. Take out as many of the demons as you can. The shi make up most of the fighting force, but they can't think for themselves very well. Destroy the demons and you take the head off of the beast."
Zuko was already halfway to the door. "I'll take care of it."
"Assemble the soldiers," Bumi spoke to his guards. "Our entire army. They must not be allowed to enter the city." The men saluted and left in a rush, quickly followed by the others. They would need every hand they could get.
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Katara was just leaving her room, water canteen in hand, when she nearly ran into Zuko in the hall. She gasped in surprise and then glared at him. "What are you still doing here? You need to get out and help the others!"
"This'll only take a second," he said hurriedly, holding a sword out to her. For one startling second, Katara thought it was the Dragonblade. Then she realized the priceless weapon was strapped across his back. The one he held out to her was one of the Dao broadswords the Blue Spirit used. "A bokken won't do you any good," he said, "and since there is no water nearby you need some backup."
Katara took the sword from him. It was quite a bit heavier than the wooden practice weapons she had grown accustomed to, but not so much that it would be unwieldy for her. And she knew she would be glad for the extra protection. "Thanks," she said to Zuko.
To her surprise, he leaned down and gave her a quick peck on the cheek. "Be careful," he said softly before disappearing into the shadows of the dimly litted hall.
It was a second before the young Waterbender could move, her mind practically singing with confusion. Zuko had just kissed her! Katara's mind could barely comprehend what had just happened. Sure, it was only a small, friendly gesture, but coming from Zuko, of all people; the hard, cold-hearted Prince of the Fire Nation expressing any kind of affection towards a lowly Southern peasant…
Katara shook her head. A second later she was rather ticked off about it. Here she was about to go fight a horde of otherworldly creatures who would like nothing better than to rip her limb from limb, and she was letting herself be distracted by a boy. "Stupid hormones," she muttered embarrassedly. Quickly fighting down the crimson blush staining her tanned cheeks, the girl sprinted towards the palace entrance.
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Already making his way through the city towards the West Wall, Zuko was having similar thoughts. Why on God's green earth had he done that? It had been a purely impulsive act stemming from the thought that this would be a dangerous fight and any of them could easily lose their lives. Sokka had already asked Katara to stay in the palace, and if she wouldn't concede to her brother's wishes, why would she do so to his? The girl was a fighter and there was nothing to do other than make sure she was as protected as possible. And any argument against her going would only bring out into the open the feelings he was slowly starting to develop for her. He didn't want her to know that. Heck, up until that moment he had offered her the sword, those sparkling sapphire eyes staring up into his, he hadn't even known that. And then he just had to kiss her.
Zuko's line of thought was broken off when he heard the thudding of feet before him. He skidded to the side just in time to avoid Jun's shirshou as it hurtled out of the night and slid to a stop beside him. Shen's jackal, Bai Yin, was following close behind. He looked at Zuko with an almost cheerful expression mirrored in his electric blue eyes. He knew a fight was coming and he couldn't wait.
"Get on," Jun said to Zuko, motioning towards the saddle behind her. "Almost everyone else is already at the wall, and it looks like it's about to begin." The prince quickly pulled himself up behind the bounty hunter, Bai Yin yelping at him as if telling him to hurry. In just seconds the dark, silent shops and houses on either side turned into a rushing blur as the mole-like creature lunged forward, silver jackal loping along gracefully beside it.
Zuko was nearly unseated when the shirshou leapt nearly straight up to mount the high wall. When the vertigo from the jump passed, he dismounted and he and Jun hurried over to join the small crowd made up of his uncle, Sokka, Aang, and Shen. Bai Yin joined the group a moment later, having had to take the stairs. They all stared silently at the mass of bodies on the earth beneath them.
"This is going to be a long night," Sokka sighed, eyeing the army nervously. "But I wish they'd do something besides just stand there. It's creepy."
"Just their presence is enough to scare anyone to death," Shen said, "and they use it to their advantage. Look." She pointed to either side at the soldiers lining the broad walkway. Not many among them knew the nature of this new enemy but all were shifting uncomfortably and grimacing in fear as they studied them. There was no doubt in any mind that this wasn't a Fire Nation attack, but an unknown foe was even worse. "They are already frightened. Not only the new recruits, but the battle-hardened veterans as well. That alone can lose us this battle. And the entire war if anything happens to her." Shen nodded at Katara who was mounting the battlements.
"She really shouldn't fight," Aang spoke up nervously. "What if she is killed?" It was obvious from the young boy's expression that he wasn't only thinking of the disaster that Katara's death would spell for the world.
Shen was silent for a moment as she watched the younger girl walk towards them. But her gaze was unfocused, as if she were seeing something beyond the scene in front of her. "I don't think we have to worry about that," she said quickly before the girl could come within earshot. "This one is strong."
"You forgot to give me a scabbard," Katara called to Zuko frustratedly, although pointedly avoiding his eye as she spoke. The long katana was thrust through the sash at her waist. "I was hard put to keep from slicing my leg off."
"Uh…oops," Zuko said, rubbing the back of his head. What in the world was wrong with him? "Well, unless Uncle's got one hidden in his sleeves somewhere, I don't know what to tell you."
"Keep it out," Shen said. She was watching the army again, her entire body tense. "Even as untrained as you are, it'll do you better than Waterbending against these adversaries. Be ready."
Not a second after her declaration, a shout was heard below. Everyone on the wall jumped. The shout came again, louder, in a language only two of the defenders understood. Shen looked at Zuko wryly out of the corner of her eye. "Can you tell me what he is saying, Prince?"
It took Zuko a second to pick out the creature the steady flow of cries was coming from. This one was different from the other demons he had seen. It was surprisingly similar to Bai Yin, only sandy gold instead of silver. It slunk around the front line of the shi, not fifty feet from the wall. The guttural demon language burst from its throat in sharp snatches.
Zuko squinted in concentration. "Just sounds like your normal pre-battle prep. Kill all who oppose, show no mercy, all the typical stuff." He flinched. "'Remember that destroying the Dragonblade is the main objective.'"
"That's comforting," Katara muttered.
Another moment of silence passed on both sides. Tension hung thick in the air, so dense you could almost see it swirling nebulously before you. No crickets chirped, no night birds called. All waited in nervous anticipation for the coming clash.
King Bumi in the meantime was moving genially down the line of men, speaking quick words of comfort and encouragement. He eventually made his way to the company gathered near the middle of the wall. He looked at them bleakly.
"It seems someone has generously decided to bring into the open what we are up against. Everyone now knows that these are creatures of the Underworld. Not many doubt it. And it does not bode well with them, as you would imagine. Miss Shen, I have been wondering if you know how these shi fight?"
"Pretty much as any normal person would," the girl answered, examining her nails diffidently. "Of course, those that were benders in life can no longer fight with the elements. But they do use weapons and can carry out whatever battle strategy the demons tell them to put into play. And they do not move as your stereotypical zombies do. Quick as a cat, strong as a rhino. As I said before, this will not be an easy fight."
As Shen spoke, Zuko was watching her curiously out of the corner of his eye. He was surprised by how relaxed and almost indifferent she seemed. But there was an anxiety hidden just beneath the surface similar to the one he had sensed in her jackal. She couldn't wait for this to get started. "And what about you Shen?" he asked. "You said when we first met that you didn't cast spells or create potions of any kind. So how do you fight?"
Shen grinned. "I am a scholar of the supernatural first and foremost. But that does not mean that I am not versed in the practice of weaponry as well." Suddenly, she pulled two sai seemingly out of nowhere, flipping them around in her hands. (For anyone who doesn't know, sai are these miniature sword-like knives. They're the weapons that Elektra uses. Also, Eva and that one evil Egyptian chick fight with them in The Mummy Returns.) "I've been using these since I was a kid. And I am quite good if I may say so myself." They disappeared again. "I can hold my own in battle just as well as any of you big, strong men."
"Something's happening," Aang spoke up, interrupting the conversation. He had been unnaturally quiet the last few minutes, observing their motionless foes. Everyone turned at his remark.
Shen's eyes narrowed suddenly, the hazel glow of her irises sharp in the moonlight. A wild look came over her elfin face. At the same time, Bai Yin sat back on his haunches and let loose one long, terse howl. "And so it begins," the witch smirked.
The lead Demon gave a sharp command.
"Archers," Zuko translated. Before anyone could do anything, there was a chorus of sharp twangs and the wall was suddenly rained down on by hundreds of deadly barbs. Many cries of pain ripped through the night before the Earthbenders retaliated with their own small force of archers.
"Katara, get back," Shen snapped. "We can't afford to lose you. Don't get involved unless it's necessary. Zuko, you stay away too until the demons enter the fight."
"I'm not leaving," Katara stated firmly.
"Neither of us are," Zuko agreed. "We're going to see this whole thing through."
Shen glared at them both then shrugged. "Fine. Just don't do anything stupid."
They all ducked as a boulder suddenly hurtled by overhead. "They've brought out catapults," Sokka shouted. There was an earsplitting crash as the massive rock connected with the roof of a building below and sent it crumpling to the ground. The deafening noise rebounded in an almost unbearable crescendo off the surrounding mountains.
But the Earthbenders were already at work, and the rest of the shi's ammunition was turned to rubble before it ever reached the city. "Never fight Earthbenders with earth," Aang said smartly as the final boulder was reduced to pebbles and rained down on the army below. The Demons and shi seemed to recoil, eliciting an excited cheer from the defenders.
"Don't be so presumptuous," Shen muttered to herself but loud enough that those gathered around her could hear. "They've just been playing with us. You could hardly even call that an attack. They're just getting warmed up." Her eyes sparkled in excitement. "Show us what you got."
Zuko was leaning out over the edge of the wall, desperate to catch any sight or sound that he could. Several groups of shi were fooling with something on the ground, carefully supervised by the handful of Demons. He couldn't make out what they were doing in the dark. Squinting hard and leaning out even farther, he began to make out the vague form of carefully assorted poles. It didn't take long to figure out what they were planning.
"Ladders," the Prince said, glancing at the others over his shoulder. "They're going to breach the wall."
Bumi hurried up beside Zuko and looked as well. He grimaced. "Jun, would you be kind enough to take me to my commanders? It looks like we'll have to expect some hand-to-hand combat."
Jun was on her shirshou before you could blink. Bumi leapt up agilely behind her. They moved away at a steady trot, warning the soldiers about what to expect. Any cheers were quickly silenced. Weapons were drawn and the Earthbenders prepared to put their element to work.
"It shouldn't be too difficult, should it?" Katara asked. "The Earthbenders should be able to topple the ladders easily."
"I doubt the Demons need ladders to climb," Zuko said sourly, "and they're the ones we really have to worry about." He held the Dragonblade ready in his right hand, the ruby blade gleaming like blood in the moonlight, once again looking almost alive in its eagerness to bite deeply into the vile flesh of a Demon.
Katara was observing the sword cautiously. In truth, she was afraid of the weapon, in a way. She supposed it was alive, in its own way; it had been created for one specific purpose and it knew what that purpose was. Katara had always been able to sense a bloodthirsty malevolence about the crimson steel. And here, she, a simple, peace-loving peasant from a small inconspicuous arctic village, was expected to wield this murderous weapon. Zuko was much more suited to the task, she thought again.
But, no, that wasn't right either. Katara's eyes moved from the Dragonblade to the young prince who carried it. Living and working with Zuko the past few weeks had given the Waterbender a new outlook on him. He wasn't the cruel, unforgiving killer she had always viewed him as before. In reality he was just a lost, lonely boy, desperately searching for love and acceptance. Katara frowned and looked down at the weapon she held in her own hand. Why must the world be such a cold and angry place?
The girl was jerked out of her thoughts by a howl of terror from the far right end of the wall. It only took her a second to realize what had happened; one of the Demons, jet black and silent as night, had scaled the side of the wall and attacked. As many of the defenders, Katara and her group included, rushed to help, another cry of surprise rose from the other end. The same thing had happened over there.
Zuko paused, uncertain as to which way to go, when their position at the middle of the wall was beset as well. The starry sky was suddenly blotted out as a large dark body heaved itself over the stone battlements and onto the broad walkway. Zuko flung himself out of the way and rolled to his feet, turning to face the Demon. The formless black face glared down at him and the wide, toothy maw opened hungrily. It swung a heavy arm at the prince, who dodged the clumsy limb easily. The Dragonblade flashed dimly as it swept up and bit deeply into the creature's thick hide. It pulled away with an angry howl, nearly crushing Sokka as it toppled backward. Zuko was on it again in an instant and drew his sword swiftly across the Demon's throat. He stepped back as the body convulsed violently then disappeared.
"Zuko, duck," Sokka shouted. Zuko immediately fell to his knees as the other boy's boomerang whistled by overhead. There was a heavy thunk and Zuko turned just in time to see a now headless shi, broadsword held in one spider-like hand, tumble off the walkway and into the street below. The diversion the Demons caused had worked. The army of cadavers was swiftly mounting the wall, as well as the rest of the Demons. The Earthbenders were quickly being overwhelmed and they were unable to topple the ladders and stop the flow.
Sokka ran over to Zuko as he scrambled to his feet. "What now?" he asked.
Decapitating two more shi, Zuko shrugged. "My job is to kill the Demons. You'll have to figure out how to hold out 'till they're dead on your own." He sprinted off.
Sokka was hardly able to spare his retreating back a frustrated glare before returning to the fight.
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When the Demon had lurched over the wall, Aang had leaped out of the way with the rest and then taken off in his glider. He had seen the shi approaching the wall before anyone else and had shouted a warning, but not many heard it in time. Only two of the dozen or so ladders were knocked over before the corpses reached the wall. Aang caught sight of Katara, Iroh, and Shen fighting together in a tight knot. He couldn't find Zuko or Sokka but he knew they could take care of themselves so he quickly pivoted his glider around and flew off to find Bumi.
It wasn't difficult to find the Omashu King. He was making quite a spectacle of himself, he was fighting with such ferocity. Aang dropped lightly into a vacant spot behind his friend, and swinging his glider around, momentarily cleared the area of shi.
"This is bad," Bumi huffed. "There are nearly twice as many of them as us. We can't hold out much longer."
"I think I might have an idea," Aang said.
"Yes?"
"If we can get all of our people off the wall, then your Earthbenders could topple it, hopefully crushing a large part of their army. It's risky, but it could be our only chance. Especially if Zuko can't kill all the Demons."
Bumi pondered the plan for a moment then nodded in agreement. "I'll call a retreat back into the city. Spread the word to as many Earthbenders as you can as they pull back about what they need to do."
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Katara was surprised at how easily she took to fighting with the sword. Sparring with Zuko was one thing, and she had worried a great deal about wielding the weapon in an actual battle. But the words of her teacher were ever-presently echoing in her head and directing her arm as it jabbed, swung, and cut.
But there had been something else bothering the girl as well; the actual killing. She constantly had to repeat something that Shen had told her a while before to herself. "The shi have to do as they're directed," the witch had said, "they have no choice. But the souls of the people they were in life are still trapped in the bodies. They see everything that they're doing and can't stop. Their only hope of release is to, once again, kill the body. Then those souls can pass over into the Spirit World and never be used by Kameko again."
"They want to be killed," Katara kept reminding herself as she cut off yet another head, drove her sword through another chest. "I'm doing them a favor." Of course, she didn't have to fight as many as she might have. Shen and Iroh were both guarding her well, standing between her and the attackers. But they couldn't keep them all back.
Katara had quickly lost track of time and had no idea how long the battle had been going when Aang suddenly alighted next to her. "We're pulling back to the city!" he yelled over the dull clash of blades and the crack of rocks. "We need to get off the wall now!"
"Take her down with you," Shen said over her shoulder to Aang. "We can't risk trying to get her to the stairs. It's too far."
"I'll be fine," Katara shouted back stubbornly, but Aang had already grabbed hold of her and lifted her into the air.
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Zuko didn't know how much longer he could go on. As before, the Demons were drawn irresistibly to the Dragonblade, as consistent as moths to a flame on a dark summer night. He had no sooner killed one than two more appeared. His arms were becoming incredibly leaden and his breathing was harsh and ragged. He recalled the soldier earlier that night saying that there had been about a dozen Demons; he wished he'd kept track of how many he'd killed. It felt like he'd been fighting for years and killed hundreds of the supernatural monsters. There couldn't be that many more left.
That was about when the call to retreat came. But there was no way he could. As soon as he moved towards the stairs another beast drove him back and he was forced to fight again. The crimson sheen of the Dragonblade was no longer visible, although Zuko could sense its delight at the thick blood that coated its edge. The Firebender was covered in the sticky mess as well, some the Demons and some undoubtedly his own. He knew he'd be in trouble if he couldn't get out of there soon.
Then, suddenly, the way was clear. The last body shimmered briefly and disappeared as the Dragonblade was driven through its abdomen. And no others came. Zuko stumbled through the menagerie of bodies littering the walkway towards the stairs. Many shi still packed the wall, but most of the Earthbenders had departed. And the Demons were gone; the shi didn't know what to do.
But of course, it couldn't be over just yet. Zuko was knocked to the ground again as something barreled into him from behind. Rising to face this new foe, Zuko groaned at the sight of yet another one, the one that had been calling out orders when the battle started. It was surprising to imagine that this one was the leader. No more than three feet high at the shoulder, perhaps five feet long, he was struck again by how similar it looked to Bai Yin. It's sandy muzzle was coated in blood and the red liquid streaked its body in several other places.
"Not yet, boy," the Demon snarled as it slunk towards him. "You have to go through me first."
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The wall had been almost completely emptied of the Omashu army, leaving only the shi. Katara was shocked that they didn't follow, instead wandering in aimless confusion.
"Why aren't they coming after us?" She asked Aang and King Bumi, standing next to her.
"Who cares, just as long as they don't," Aang answered. "That gives us the chance to destroy more of them."
"Remember what Shen said?" Katara asked. "The shi make up the largest force of the army but the Demons are the head. If they're killed, the shi won't know what to do. Perhaps Zuko got them all."
"Or not," Bumi said grimly, pointing. The other two followed his finger to where Zuko was still trapped on the wall, cornered by the golden, jackal-like leader. They heard it bark out something. And then the shi began to move towards the stairs and down to the city.
"We have to bring it down now," Bumi said. "We can't let them get into the city. The women and children will be found quickly."
"But Zuko's still up there," Katara said, her face pale.
"We can't wait," Bumi repeated. He raised his hand to gain the attention of the Earthbenders surrounding him. "We have to bring it down."
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Zuko flinched as the Demon harshly called out, telling the shi to follow the Omashu army. Then it turned back to him with a wicked grin. "You were fool to think you could defeat us. My army will kill you all, and then I'll take that pretty little sword you hold to my mistress. And all the world's hope will be gone."
"It won't be that easy," Zuko snapped, bringing the sword before him. "If I can kill the others I can kill you too."
The Demon snarled again. Then it disappeared. Zuko lowered the blade in surprise, caught off guard. "Wha…?"
His sharp instincts warning of a presence behind him, the Firebender sidestepped quickly as needle-sharp teeth just barely missed his right leg. But by time he turned the Demon was gone again, quicker than the eye could follow. This time he sensed it coming from the side, and once again avoided the deadly snapping jaws. But he was caught a glancing blow to the head by the beast's heavily muscled shoulder. He went down, the world spinning before his eyes. He felt it coming again. But the vertigo was too great; there would be no getting away this time.
An angry growl sounded not a foot away from him. Zuko scrambled away as the Demon, Bai Yin's long jaws scissored around its neck, was brought crashing down to the stone. At the same time a grinding crack came from the other end of the wall. Zuko glanced up and watched in rising panic as the wall ground and cracked down into the ground, taking the remaining shi with it. And it was heading his way. He lurched to his feet unsteadily, the rock beneath him shuddering violently. Bai Yin still held the Demon firmly around the neck but his grip was obviously loosening. Quickly moving forward, Zuko swung the Dragonblade at the creature's head. It yelped and gave a powerful pull. The jackal's hold broke and the silver animal darted away. Just then, the wall beneath the Demon cracked. Snarling, it leapt desperately away just in time to meet the Dragonblade's razor sharp edge.
Zuko pulled the sword from the Demon's chest. It was finally over. But the thought had no sooner crossed his mind then the ground beneath him disappeared. He tensed in expectation of the fall but instead found himself hovering in the air. The prince sighed in relief as he heard Aang's familiar voice overhead. "Sorry we cut that a little close," the boy shouted over the clamor of the collapsing wall.
"Just get me to the ground," Zuko groaned in answer.
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The casualties from the battle weren't as bad as imagined. The injuries on the other hand were horrendous. The cries of the wounded cut through the night air and the medics were being pushed to their limits. Half the wall surrounding Omashu was in ruins, the broken bodies of shi intermingling with the rubble. Many were already at work removing them as well as some of their own.
Tents had been set up near the battle sight for those that needed immediate attention or couldn't yet be moved. The main group was gathered in the central tent. Most had escaped exhausted and beaten up but otherwise uninjured. Only two had suffered anything remotely serious.
Sokka hadn't received any wounds in the actual battle. But when retreating down the steps to the city, he'd tripped and fallen nearly the entire way down to the street below. Now he sat on a pallet in the hastily erected medical facilities, gauze taped over a deep cut over his right eye and dislocated shoulder in a sling. He was also having to endure quite a bit of taunting from Katara and Aang.
The other more seriously wounded fighter had been Iroh. This proved quite a big problem. He had been barreled over by a Demon and was suffering a broken leg and several cracked ribs. It wasn't anything serious, but the healer who treated him said traveling anytime soon was out of the question. Even by flying bison or boat. This was the current topic of discussion of the groups surrounding the two patient's beds.
"Can't you just heal him or something, Katara?" Aang asked.
Katara shook her head. "So far I've only treated minor surface wounds. A broken bone that I can't see is an entirely different thing altogether."
There was a moment of silence.
"This has to be done as soon as possible," King Bumi said.
"Then someone else will just have to go," Shen said.
"Are you volunteering?" Sokka asked her sarcastically.
"I'll go." Everyone turned to Zuko in surprise at his words.
"But you were totally against it," Katara said, recalling what he'd said to her after the meeting. "Why…"
"Because it could very easily be our only chance," he snapped. "I'm not happy about it, but I'm the only logical person to go now. Even if I'm arrested I should still be able to get an audience with my father."
"It would be very risky," Iroh cautioned. "And if you were to be thrown in the dungeon you wouldn't be able to get word to us."
"We'll have to chance it. We don't have time to come up with another option."
"But…" Katara began, unable to squash the worry bubbling in her chest. Then she set her feet firmly and crossed her arms as she faced the prince. "I'm coming with you."
A second round of surprised stares fixed on the Waterbender.
Zuko immediately shook his head. "No. It'll be even more dangerous for you than me."
"If worst comes to worst you can pretend I'm your prisoner or something. Say that I'm a companion of the Avatar and you're bringing me to your father. It could give us the chance we need."
"It wouldn't work," Zuko shot back. "I'm only allowed home with the Avatar, not one of his sidekicks. And I don't want you to get hurt." The words slipped out before he could stop them. He saw the surprise in Katara's eyes, but managed to keep a blank look on his face as if he had never spoken that last sentence.
"It might be a good idea," Shen said ponderingly. "As far as we know, the Demons are only limiting themselves to the Earth Kingdom right now. And they present more of a threat to Katara than the Fire Nation."
"So it's decided then," Bumi said. "Prince Zuko and Katara both will replace Iroh in traveling to the Fire Nation. And no one," he looked pointedly at Sokka and Zuko as they both began to protest, "will have a problem with it." The finality in his tone cut off any objections they would have made.
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Whew. Finally got a longer chapter done. Things are getting interesting now. And the Zutara has finally begun! Tell me what you think.