Disclaimer: Steal my story and I will send Zuko to firebend your ass! (Excuse the French, please!)
(((((((((((((((((((o CHAPTER THIRTEEN o)))))))))))))))))))
Zuko's heart pounded with the rhythm of a war drum as he and Katara raced towards the sound they had heard. The ship's horn sounded again, a noise so loud that it sent a shiver down his spin. His ship.
Thank the Spirits for Uncle Iroh, he thought excitedly. He must have been worried about us.
Even as he ran he felt his heart swell with hope. The ocean's salty smell filled his nostrils, the sunlight grazed the tops of the remaining trees, and suddenly Zuko's foot sank into a wad of sand. The sunlight glared harshly off of the water's surface, but he shielded his eyes and searched for his ship nonetheless.
"Do you see it?" Katara asked, searching the waters herself. "Zuko, how do you know it's your ship?"
"Every ship's horn sounds a little different. I've lived on mine for two years, so I should know what it sounds like." Zuko's voice was not unkind to Katara as he told her this, but rather…joyful.
Katara slowly smiled at the Prince. Zuko probably didn't know it, but he had a giant smile plastered on his face, glorified by the sunlight raining heavily down on them. She remembered the argument they had been having, how harsh he looked when he scolded her.
It's such an amazing change…She thought, but she was interrupted by the firebender's voice.
"There it is!" Zuko cried. Immediately he pumped his fist in the air—not only a gesture of celebration, but as a signal. A ball of fire exploded above the teenagers' heads and rocketed hundreds of yards into the air.
"Zuko!" Katara screamed, started by the blast.
The firebender ignored her, and instead sent up another blazing fireball, but his smile was fading.
"They…they can't see it." He mumbled brokenly. "The…sky must be too bright."
The Prince hung his head, seemingly defeated, and let out an exasperated breath. He watched with a frown as Katara approached the water's edge and crouched down. She cupped the cool water in her hand and began to bend it into a long, winding rope.
"Why can't you just burn some firewood and make a smoke signal?" Katara suggested, glancing up at them.
"No." Zuko disagreed, shaking his head stubbornly. "Zhao's troops would see it and flock to this place."
"Wouldn't they have seen your fireballs? And won't they be flocking anyway because they heard the horn?" Katara said wittily. She let the water she was bending fall onto the flat sand and watched it sink in. She turned to the firebender to watch his reaction.
Zuko clenched his fists, and inhaled sharply though his nostrils, but then paused.
She's right. He thought. Zhao's troops would love to hijack my ship. If they head this way they'll find us.
He stood back up. "We have to get to them, or Zhao is going to find us." He glared down at Katara expectedly.
Katara looked back, clueless. "What?"
"Start waterbending!" Zuko said impatiently. "We can't walk on the water to the ship!"
The waterbender dusted off her hands and straightened, locking eyes with the Prince. "Zuko, I'm not going. I can't let you do this to Aang."
"You would rather be recaptured by Zhao and tortured?" Zuko shot back. "Katara, do you have any idea what that man can—"
Katara closed her eyes, struggling not to replay her horrible experience in her mind. "Zuko, I know exactly what that man can do."
She looked back up at him heartbrokenly. "But unfortunately I also know what you will do, and that hurts me more." Zuko watched in shock as the girl backed away from the water and began to retreat away into the trees.
"Katara!" He yelled after her, but she didn't respond. He raced up and cut her off.
"Katara, please—you can get us there." He pleaded. "I saw you when we came upon my boat…just because you think you're not powerful enough…"
Katara shook her head and tried to pass. "That's not the issue here! And you know it! Stop trying to manipulate me."
"What! Who's manipulating who?" Zuko fumed.
"Excuse me?" Katara asked.
Zuko pointed a very accusing finger at her chest. "I know what you're up to. You want me to grovel at your feet and let your little Avatar go! I'm not letting you do that!"
"I'm not letting you imprison my friend!" Katara retorted. "Even if it does mean that Zhao catches us!"
Zuko couldn't believe what he was hearing. Was she actually going to give them both up so that her Avatar friend could be free? It was impossible! He had to do something or else…or else he didn't even want to think of he consequences. Meanwhile, Katara was brushing past him, heading towards the forest once again. Zuko turned around.
"Katara." He said, in a tone he didn't even know he could emit. "Please."
The waterbender hesitated, and then glanced back at him. Zuko couldn't make out the expression on her face. Was it grief? Anger? Question? Slowly Katara turned around to face Zuko.
For an instant Zuko felt as if the sand around his feet was sucking him down. Helpless. He had no idea what he could say to her to make her change her mind. So instead, he stared at her and did some mental clarifying.
Alright…do I care about Katara? He asked himself. That was easy enough to admit, given he'd already kissed her. Yes.
Why? That was the harder question. She was as stubborn as he was, with a mouth that did too much talking and a brain that didn't do enough thinking—especially in the common sense area. She was difficult to get along with and she refused to be changed…but Zuko couldn't deny it. I just do. I can't give a reason. Damn it.
His thoughts were interrupted by Katara's voice, harshly reprimanding him for calling her attention and then spacing out.
"Hello? Are you listening to anything I'm telling you?" She was nagging, huffing and stomping her way over to him.
"Well?" She demanded as she came to a stop directly in front of him. Zuko struggled with his conscious.
"What…what do you want me to do?" He asked brainlessly, for the second time that day.
Katara paused before answering. "You'll do the right thing—let Aang go. Even join us. Sokka won't like it, but I would. And you could help us end the war. That would be honorable."
"I care about you, Katara." Zuko blurted. Katara made a doubting face.
"Stop looking at me like that. I do, alright." He said. His face twisted. Zuko tried desperately to tell his feelings. "I--I don't want to be your enemy."
Katara smiled slightly. "That would mean you couldn't be enemies with Aang either."
Zuko groaned and frowned. "Please, Katara…don't make this harder than this already is."
Katara softened. Zuko really had changed during the time she'd been with him. Changed…or just revealed what he was really like, instead of hiding inside himself like she suspected he'd done most of his life. She smiled at him.
"Let's do this:" She offered. "I'll waterbend and get us to the ship. Then we'll discuss this in safety."
"Done!" Immediately cried the Prince.
"But…" Katara sternly interrupted. "Until we make any agreement, you have to stay away from Aang and Sokka."
Zuko clenched his teeth and forced himself to agree to the waterbender's demands. "Fine." He grunted. "Stubborn waterbender."
Katara smiled even brighter, ignoring the firebender's unpleasant grumbles. Zuko was secretly glad that he'd managed to bargain with her. It was something he'd never learned to do in his country. Their creed was not to make deals, but to overpower others and simply take what they wanted. He was even gladder when Katara threw her arms around his neck and embraced him. With only some hesitation, he curled his arms around her shoulders, savoring the feeling of her against him.
"Thank you, Zuko." Katara said. "I know we can work this out."
She slowly and reluctantly pulled away from him, but found herself caught, encircled by Zuko's strong arms. She looked up at him, questioning his motive. A smirk had formed on Zuko's face.
"There's another condition I want fulfilled before I agree to this whole thing." Zuko said.
Katara looked at him, baffled. Great. This can't be good. She thought.
"I want another kiss." The firebender declared with a widening grin. The waterbender blinked, surprised by the sudden request.
"Why?" She asked out of instinct.
"As part of our treaty." Explained Zuko, clearly enjoying her confusion. "I'm not agreeing to anything until I get what I want."
Katara felt a blush begin to creep up onto her cheeks. She couldn't deny that she didn't want a kiss.
Why do the spirits do this to me? And why Zuko of all people?
Katara couldn't say that she was complaining that she had captured the affections of the firebender. She'd always believed that every event happened for a reason…but what purpose would Zuko have in her life? At this moment she couldn't say nor ponder that purpose.
"I'm waiting…do we have a deal or not?" Zuko urged impatiently, as always. He looked at Katara expectantly.
"Oh, alright!" She granted. "Stubborn firebender."
Zuko dipped his head low to meet her mouth, and their lips connected. A soft breeze blew and he felt that warm, wonderful, and wanted feeling flush through his body. He knew Katara could feel it too, for she sighed and allowed herself to be pulled further into his embrace.
Another soft gust of breeze came, and it caught Katara's long hair. The breeze was followed by the last, piercing sound of the ship's horn. Out of the corner of his eye, the Prince could see the small black shape of his ship just entering the bay. Reluctantly, Zuko pulled away from the kiss.
"We should go." He said breathlessly.
Katara nodded, but didn't say a word. She was freed from Zuko's grasp and headed back down the sandy dunes towards the water. Zuko followed a few feet behind and watched with interest as she closed her eyes and concentrated on her element. The Prince stared at the water and stared in awe as it began to weave, and to slither away. It left a bare patch of wet sand, upon which Katara advanced. Slowly more water began to move. A path of seabed shot out in front of them, towards the open ocean. Zuko was impressed—she was becoming more powerful.
Katara let out a breath and turned to Zuko, motioning for him to follow her.
"Come on, it's safe." She teased.
Zuko frowned, but obeyed. He never liked water, and living on a ship for two whole years had intensified that dislike. But it was Katara's element, and she was a wizard with it. Slowly he walked beside her.
"Watch your step." She instructed, and she pointed to a particularly large starfish lying in front of them. Zuko paused for a moment to stare at the thing. It wasn't very often he saw one. He then stepped over it carefully and the couple continued along the ocean floor.
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Iroh stood about the deck of his nephew's ship, his stubby, old torso leaning out towards the waves. The old man was squinting, trying to get a good look at the shoreline. But he could see no signs of Zuko and his waterbending counterpart.
They had discovered the remains of the Prince's boat early this morning. His soldiers had searched every inch of it, even the parts that were underwater—but they'd found no sign of the General's nephew nor anything else. What they had found…troubled Iroh deeply. One of the soldiers had returned to the ship with something tightly grasped in his hand.
It was a mask. One that Iroh recognized as Zuko's.
Many of the crew had accepted the Prince's fate rather quickly. A sunken boat and the mask left at the scene most likely meant that Zuko had been captured or killed by Admiral Zhao. But Iroh refused to believe that his nephew could come to an end so quickly. Besides, signs of a struggle would have survived in the sand, and there was none.
Instead there was a pair of footprints aged approaching the shore, and then retreating back towards the forest. Iroh hadn't allowed his men to enter the wooded area. The footprints would have been lost in the thick underbrush anyway, and who knew if Zhao's soldiers were still lurking around.
Now they were pushing full speed around the peninsula of land, knowing that Zuko—if he was even alive, would probably reside there and try to signal them. And he had a waterbender with him, so the chance of them being closer to shore was greater.
Beside the General sat the Avatar, perched like some sort of orange and yellow bird on the railing. The boy didn't have to worry about falling overboard; if he fell he could simply blast himself back up using his airbending powers. Beside the Avatar was the waterbender's brother, who looked worried sick. Iroh turned to them and tried to comfort them with some warm words.
"Don't lose hope, my friends. If anyone can take care of your friend in the wild, it's Zuko." He said proudly. "My nephew is very skilled with survival tactics. I taught him everything I know."
Sokka looked unconvinced. "I'll just be happy when Katara is here and safe."
The older boy still didn't like the thought of his little sister caught in the forest with the firebending Prince. But he had to admit that Zuko wasn't just some dumb fellow, and neither was his old uncle, so what Iroh said probably rang true. But still, his worried heart couldn't be consoled until his sister was with him.
Sokka looked at Aang, somehow balancing on the ship's railing like a bird or a monkey or something. The Avatar felt his gaze and turned towards him.
"I hope something bad hasn't happened to them." He told the older boy.
Sokka noticed the boy had used the word "them." Personally he could care less what happened to Zuko, it was just Katara he was concerned about. But Aang obviously had too big a heart.
"I'm hoping the same thing." He answered, and sighed, leaning heavily on the railing for support.
Aang turned back to the ocean and continued scanning the shore for any signs of Katara and Zuko. The boy was forcing himself not to show how much worry racked his heart. Ever since his dream…vision…apparition…whatever it was, he'd been troubled by something inside. He knew that if they did find Zuko and Katara, the struggle wasn't over yet.
Something was going to happen.
(((((((((((((((o Personal thingy o)))))))))))))
WHOOOO! I'm VERY happy today! I actually feel like I wrote well! Sorry for the cliff hanger…I hope you guys liked Zuko and Katara's second smooch…will they get to the ship or will a shark come and gobble them up? You'll have to find out in the next chapter.
By the way, I'm pretty sure that the next chapter will end up either the last or the second to last one. I don't know, I haven't written it yet, so we'll have to see. My point is that this story is coming to a close. After this I have one idea for a cutesy-fluffy-and-very-Zutara-y one shot (it could probably be connected with this story or just left by itself) but then I'm not so sure about what to write. So…
IF ANYBODY HAS ANY CHALLENGES (THEY DON'T HAVE TO BE ZUTARA) YOU CAN SEND THEM TO ME AND I'LL GIVE ONE A SHOT! I only ask one thing…realize that I can't do every one, and if I don't choose yours please don't hate me. There's always a chance I could write it later.
Anyhow, I have to say that I'm very happy with the amount of reviews I got for Chapter Twelve. Thanks to all you guys who read and reviewed! And I'm sorry for almost quitting. Thanks again to all of those who encouraged me. Please continue to read and review!
Roseblade
(((((((((((o Review Responses o)))))))))))))))
ML7: Hey, it's great to hear from you too, my friend. Thanks for all the reminders to update, this chapter probably wouldn't have gone up if you hadn't sent me that last message, so all these people below you insert arrow pointing downwards here have you to thank for this. I'm glad you liked the chapter, and I'm delighted to here the story makes you feel excited. Thanks again, and I really appreciate your encouragement!
DeafLizgon: Thanks for the review! Glad you liked, and I hoped you liked this chapter too! I spent a lot of time writing that part about Zuko explaining honor to Katara, so I hope it was worth the while. Thanks again!
crzysheelf: WOW! I'm so glad you liked it! Thank you very, very much. I hope you liked this chapter too. Thanks again!
kayko15: Hey kayko! Remember me? LOL. I'm sorry for the (very) late update. College is a huge responsibility, so that sort of occupied me. I'm very glad you've returned and read and reviewed though! Thanks a bunch!
LunaChaos: Hey! Thanks for the great compliments, I'm flattered. I'm glad you liked the chapter and I hope you liked this one too. I love Zukara-ness as well, and it's really upsetting me that the actual show is now leaning very towards Aang-Katara-ness. Blah. I like her with Zuko. Way better. Anywho, thanks so much for the review! I really appreciate it!
FireChildSlytherin5: Yeah, it was sort of a short chapter, wasn't it? Ah, well, I'm glad you liked. Thanks very much for the review!
4EverSleepingDragon: Thanks for the review, and for the encouragement. I guess I don't mind people being impatient, because that's what got the last chapter up in the first place (just as ML7). So I won't be bugged about it…just influenced. Thanks again! I really appreciate the review!
XseabiscuitX: Nope! I didn't give up! Thanks for the review! (By the way, nice to hear from you again!)
DiamondTook3: Thanks very much for the warm welcome back! I very much appreciate it, and YAY! I haven't gotten any flames about my updating being really, really late. I'm glad you liked this chapter and thanks again for the wonderful review! PS: I'm excited for the new season too!
Llamachick: It is crazyness. Thanks for the review! I really appreciate it!
Khazia: Thanks for not being mad at me and welcoming me back, Khazia! I'm very glad that you enjoyed the last chapter and I'm hoping you like this one as well. And I'm delighted you liked the whole "let's see who can cut the other deeper" argument between Zuko and Katara. I worked for a long time on this chapter and it's nice to know that my work paid off. Thanks bunches!
twiztidchick666: Thanks, and sorry to keep you waiting all this time! I'm glad you liked this chapter. Thanks for the kind review and your compliments. I really appreciate it!
Monito: Sorry for cutting off the argument so quickly…I hope you like the chapter and thanks for the review!
thechickenlittle: Wow, I'm glad you like my story so much! Thanks very much! I'll try and update as soon as I possibly can, but ask anyone else here—sometimes that can be a long time. But you have my word that I will try. I hope you found all the answers to your questions in this chapter. Thanks very very much!
jerseygrl246: Ah, I don't care if you couldn't remember at first. It's been a really long time since I last updated, and I'm sorry about the wait. I'm glad you liked the last chapter though, and thanks very much for the nice review!
Vanilla.Swirls.Of.Doom: Thanks very much. Glad you liked my story, and thanks for your review!