A.N. I'm sorry this chapter was posted so late, thereis agood reason why it wasthough. Fanfiction wasn't letting me log in for the entire week so this is the first time I was able to post it.
As for Friday's episode, I'm glad that Crazy Foaming Mouth Guy came back but sad that Zuko left Iroh, but we know that's not the last we'll see of him! That crazy, old, General Iroh will return!
Chapter 14 Tradition
Sokka shrugged his shoulders at Katara's question. "I'm not even sure what I thought of him before. Scratch that, I thought he was a self absorbed bastard before, but now I think he's just a regular bastard," Sokka replied with a grin.
Katara crossed her arms over her chest and glared at her immature brother. "Sokka, what did I tell you before? Zuko is not a bastard."
"Maybe not to you, but that's only because you're too caught up on him to notice the truth." Sokka lowered his voice and glanced at the door. He wanted to make sure Zuko couldn't hear him. "He's trying to change you Katara, he wants to turn you into one of those stuck up Fire Nation citizens or maybe even worse. I know he's really in love with you, Katara, and I only hope that you're crush on him will end soon before he does something rash."
Katara rolled her eyes. "And what do you think he's going to do?" Katara asked in a mock-concern voice.
"He's crazy about you Katara, I can tell because he's already crazy about everything else. He might get too serious about you and even ask you to marry him." Sokka frowned. "I've overheard some guards the other day as they passed by the door, they mentioned a ring and dinner plans. If I was you I'd refuse to eat dinner with him Katara, be wise and make up some excuse. Then he won't be able to get a chance to ask you."
Katara sighed and shook her head. "Sokka," she held out her hand and he stared at the ring now on her finger. "He already--"
"Get out." Sokka's voice was stern and his gaze went to the floor.
Katara pulled back her hand. "But Sokka, you don't understand. He--"
"Get out." Sokka raised his voice but kept it stern and angry. "Get out now."
"Sokka, please listen to reason," Katara begged.
"How could you do that Katara?" Sokka shot at her. His hate filled eyes set upon her quivering, sad ones. "I always thought you knew better, that you wouldn't let him deceive you with lies about he's just misunderstood." Sokka paused. "But I guess I was wrong. I should have known you're not good at choosing the right guys, ever since that incident with Jet." Sokka shook his head and stared at her, his eyes calming down. "And here I was thinking you'd find a way to free us and we could go back to helping Aang save the world. Instead, you joined their side."
"Sokka--" Katara held back her tears.
"No, I want you to leave, and I hope you're happy being a princess of the nation that will destroy us all, just like they already did to our family." Sokka's gaze returned to the floor as Katara stood up. She grabbed Momo's cage and hung it back up in the corner.
She opened the door and as she stepped into the hallway she heard her brother mumble 'traitor'. She gasped then she turned around and slammed the door shut as hard as she could manage.
Zuko, who had been standing to the side of the door, looked up at her with a concerned look on his face. "That bad, huh?" he asked.
Katara shot him a death glare and he raised his hands in front of himself in defense. She turned and stormed down the hallway up to the deck. "Sorry I asked," he mumbled to himself as he followed her onto the deck.
She had her arms folded over her chest and she had an angry expression on her face. This isn't looking good, Zuko took a deep breath and reassured himself that he'd make it through this conversation. "Katara?" He walked toward her.
"He didn't even give me a chance to let me explain myself, he just started telling me to leave and that I was making a huge mistake." Katara balled her hands into tight fists and clenched her teeth.
Zuko chuckled at the sight but stopped when Katara gave him a warning glare. "Relax, Katara, like you said, if you think about it, it's funny." He placed his hands on her shoulders in a supportive way and she tensed down a little.
"What do you mean? What's so funny?" Katara took several deep breaths to try to calm herself down.
"Just the fact that you already seem in character for tonight," Zuko kissed Katara on the top of her head and she patted his hand.
"Are you saying I'm acting just like you?" She asked, a bit insulted.
"If you could Firebend, you would have shot flames out of your mouth by now," Zuko declared as he started gently rubbing her shoulders and neck.
"It feels like I still could," Katara mumbled. She closed her eyes and allowed a soft moan to escape her throat. "That feels so wonderful." Zuko grinned as he heated his hands up to a certain degree that was warm and felt good to the skin.
"There's a certain trick to it. You have to get your hands to the perfect temperature, then you're able to make the girls melt into your hand." Iroh walked up next to them, his hands in his sleeves. Zuko retracted his hands off of Katara.
"Hello, General Uncle." Katara frowned. Why did he have to ruin that? I was enjoying myself, Katara rubbed her shoulder.
"My brother knows the trick and that's why he's able to get the girls." Iroh shook his head from side to side. Katara hadn't heard anyone mention anything about the Fire Lord and was surprised Iroh would actually be the first to say something about him.
"Doesn't it help that he's able to order them around?" She wanted to try to keep the conversation on him. "I mean, he is the Fire Lord after all."
"Why yes, I suppose that would help too. All I know is that he didn't have charm with the ladies like I did." Zuko rolled his eyes. "But enough about the old days, it's about time you start thinking about tonight. I shouldn't tell you, but I wanted to give you a little warning anyway, which ever one of you is a worse actor than the other gets a certain punishment."
"What kind of punishment?" Zuko looked at his uncle with an annoyed face. Who on this ship would even think of punishing either one of us? Zuko growled with annoyance. "Uncle, are any of the crew members thinking traitorous thoughts?"
Iroh's eyes widened and then they closed and he grinned as he shook his head. "No, no, Prince Zuko, far from that. The punishment isn't punishing, more of embarrassing moment. If Katara is a better you than you are her," Iroh paused as he stroked his beard. "Then you would have to sleep with the rest of the crew tonight."
Zuko had a look of disgust on his face. "You mean I have to sleep in that hot, smelly, tiny room with the rest of the crew?" Iroh nodded and Zuko smirked. "Then I'll just have to win."
"But the punishment for Katara is just as bad," he turned to Katara. "You would have to clean the room where the crew sleeps."
Katara chuckled. "So either way the crew gets some sort of satisfaction out of this new rule they made up? Sounds fair enough I suppose, they are a hard working bunch of disgusting men." Katara brushed off her hands and extended one to Zuko. "May the best woman have the best acting skills."
Zuko took her hand and shook it. "Don't worry Katara, I plan to." Zuko paused as he realized he had just said that he was a woman and Katara began to grin as she realized too. "Well, I will be acting like you." Zuko stated as he took his hand back.
Katara rolled her eyes and walked along the railing, laughing quietly to herself. "Well, at least that cheered her up, I do hate to see her in a bad mood and I suppose you do as well?" Iroh looked at Zuko and he nodded.
"Thank you, Uncle." Zuko quickly bowed his head to show his gratitude to his uncle.
"Don't be thanking me just yet, Prince Zuko. By tonight you'll be taking back every nice word you may have ever said to me." Iroh walked away, leaving Zuko standing speechless.
Iroh looked as the door swung open harshly. "If you laugh, I will cut your ration of tea in half." Zuko threatened as he stood in the doorway, his hand still on the door.
"Prince Zuko, why would I laugh? You look wonderful in blue, it suits you well." Iroh chuckled slightly as he looked his nephew up and down. "Even though your shoes don't really go with that outfit,"
Zuko was still wearing his shoes for he didn't fit into any of Katara's. The crew was upset that they wouldn't see him in heels, but they decided that the dress would be good enough.
"How can she wear this while doing anything?" Zuko pulled the parka's neck away from him. "This thing is incredibly hot," he complained.
"Then take it off, Ms. Katara usually does only wear the dress under anyway." Iroh stepped forward to help take off the parka when Zuko stepped back and shot his hands up in protest.
"No, I'd rather be hot than just wear the dress. This thing at least isn't too bad." Zuko rolled up the sleeves.
"Why, Prince Zuko, are you afraid that you don't have the figure to wear Katara's outfit?" Iroh stroked his beard with a grin on his face.
Zuko began to become enraged. I can't let him get to me; I won't allow any of their comments tonight shame my honor. A thought popped into his mind, I'll do what Katara usually does and respond sarcastically, she's always good at that.
"Not really, I'm just afraid they'll like what they see too much to control themselves." Zuko batted his painted eyes and flipped his braided hair. Katara had spent all afternoon doing his hair and makeup. He had hated every moment and he was sure to hate every moment of tonight.
Iroh held his sides as he roared with laughter. When he calmed himself down after a moment or so, the entire time Zuko had to clench his fists, he looked Zuko up and down again and smiled. "Getting into your character already, Prince Zuko?" Zuko rolled his eyes and continued clenching his fists.
"Prince Zuko, if you're going to be angry the entire night, you really might want to take off that parka or else you could overheat. What's worse is you'll lose your acting contest. I'm sure Katara has never overheated in her own outfit," Iroh snickered as Zuko agreed and began to take off the parka.
Iroh's grin touched his ears as he stared at the blue dress on his nephew. Katara's sleeves barely past over his elbows and the dress fell just below his knees. Zuko began to fume as his uncle grabbed his arm and started dragging up to the deck. "Time to start, Ms. Katara is already waiting for you up there." Iroh pushed Zuko through the door and closed it behind him as he walked out behind Zuko.
The entire deck, filled with the entire crew, went silent as Zuko came through the door. "Princess Zuko has finally arrived!" One of the crew men shouted out from the crowd. Laughter broke out as the crew fell to their knees, pointed, held their sides, and cried at the sight of the teenager.
Katara stepped out of the crowd and walked up to Zuko. He examined her as she walked and he could tell she was trying her hardest not to lose her balance. My armor must be too heavy for her, Zuko smirked, she won't be able to win wearing that.
His clothes were baggy on her and her hair was pulled back into a high ponytail. Her steps were caustious at first but it seemed like she was begining to get use to the armor's weight.
Katara eyed him up and down while she tried her best not to burst into laughter like the rest of the men had. "Aren't you glad that I wear pants?" Katara snickered as Zuko smirked at her.
"To tell you the truth," he paused. "I really am." Iroh walked up in front of them and held up his hands for silence. The crew quickly stifeled their laughter as Iroh cleared his throat.
"We all gather here tonight to wish Prince Zuko and Ms. Katara good luck and a long, happy relationship." Iroh proclaimed. "Now, as a tradition of the Fire Nation, they must first perform a demonstration of how well they know how the other person acts. Tonight they will switch positions, as well as genders," a few men laughed. "While they act outa scenethat never happened, but takes place back when these two hated each other. The setting will be a forest, they're both lost and alone, when poor Ms. Katara, exhausted from running away from Prince Zuko already, loses her balance." Iroh bowed and joined in with the crowd.
Zuko laid down on his stomach and then pushed himself up. "I must keep running, I have to return to my friend and brother before that strong Zuko catches up with me again." Zuko announced in a mocking high-pitched voice.
Katara grabbed Zuko's shoulder and spun him around. "Where is the Avatar?" Katara asked in a low-pitched voice. "I know this is basically what I always say, and that no one ever tells me, but I feel the need to keep asking anyway."
Lt. Jee bent down next to Iroh. "It seems like they're not doing a good job of acting like each other, they're kind of just mocking each other." Iroh nodded.
"Still, it will be fun to watch." Iroh tucked his hands into his sleeves and chuckled as Zuko batted his eyes and placed his arm over his forehead.
"Oh no! What ever will I do? Now that Zuko has caught me I have no chance of escaping, but I will anyway, just to be stubborn and to keep him busy."Zuko held out his finger to Katara. "One moment,"Katara let go of Zuko and he ran off to the lower decks. He returned minutes later with a glass of water. "Water attack!" Zuko screamed as he splashed the water on Katara.
Katara gasped and then smirked. "Stupid water peasant, water can't defeat me. Now face my wrath!" Katara ran past Zuko to the lower areas then returned shortly after with one of Zuko's red pillows. "Fire blast!" Katara threw the pillow at Zuko and hit him in the chest. Zuko flung himself backwards and did a fake, girly scream.
"No!" Zuko fell to the ground. "It seems like Zuko was too much of a match for me." Katara walked over to Zuko and glared down at him.
"Where is the Avatar?" Katara demanded as she placed her hands on her hips. "Tell me or else!"
"Do your worst for I will never betray my friends, I am too much of a trusty person to do that." Zuko closed his eyes and held his hands up in front of him.
"I would never hurt you," Katara turned her back to Zuko. "Oh no, what am I saying? I can't let my guard down because of this beautiful and wise girl. I never let my guard down and I'm not about to show my feelings now." She faced Zuko again. "I mean, I won't hurt you because I'll use you as bait to catch the Avatar." She placed her hands on her hips and turned to the crew. "Oh yeah, I am so original for thinking of this plan of kidnapping people close to others to make them do what I want them to do." Katara did a fake evil laugh as she held her hands up.
Zuko stood up and then took a few slow steps away. "I have suddenly gotten the strength to try to outrun him again, even though that never works I'll still try." Zuko walked slowly in a circle as Katara began to slowly chase him, both of them pumping their arms and legs to imitate running. "If I make it through these woods and get even more lost, maybe I'll be able to outrun Zuko at least and not be supplied a warm and suitable living environment by becoming Zuko's prisoner." Zuko fell slowly to the ground again. "Maybe if I didn't wear such a tight outfit, I would have been able to have longer strides and I wouldn't trip all the time. Oh well, it seems I'll just have to go with this devishly handsome Fire Nation Prince."
Katara stood over Zuko and glared down at him. "Don't try running again, I'd just catch up to you again because my ego makes me faster." she stated. "Excellent, now that I have her as a prisoner I can start using my misunderstood charm and make her fall deeply in love with me."Katara bent down and grabbed Zuko's wrists. "Now then I'll take you to my ship."
Katara lifted her legs and pretended to drag Zuko to the crowd. "Uncle, I have just come up with another plan to capture the Avatar."
Iroh walked up to Katara and chuckled as he knew that he had just been dragged into the act. "Oh really, Prince Zuko? Tell me of this ingenious plan of yours."
"I captured his friend and left a note with him while he was sleeping and defenseless." Katara grinned as she held up Zuko's wrist. "Now, Lt. Jee,get over here right away, I need to order you to do many things that I could easily do, but just don't want to."
Lt. Jee walked up to Katara and bowed. "Yes, sir, what do you wish for me to do?"
Katara shoved Zuko into Lt. Jee's arms. "Take this prisoner and make sure she's more comfortable than you are. I need her to enjoy her stay so she'll never want to leave. I'm going to my room and I don't want to see anyone until we're close to when the Avatar will meet up with us for my plan to take action."Katara stepped behind them to indicate that she was no longer a part of the act.
"Lt. Jee, ignore my nephew's orders, I will take the young lady and we will have a nice talk over some tea." Iroh grinned as he placed a hand on Zuko's shoulder. Lt. Jee bowed and rejoined the rest of the crew.
Iroh sat on the ground and Zuko sat down across from him. "Now then, Ms. Katara, what do you think of my nephew?"
Zuko flicked back his hair and shuffled his shoulders. "Well," he started in an annoyed tone. He looked around and then moved in closer to Iroh. "To tell you, a total stranger that I barely know, how I feel does seem rash, but I will anyway. I'm madly in love with him!"
Katara stood behind Zuko and placed her hands on his shoulder. "I'm madly in love with you too, Katara, even though I just learned your name, I know we can always be happy!"
Zuko stood up and placed his hands folded over his heart. "Oh, Zuko!"
Katara opened her arms and embraced Zuko. "Oh, Katara!" They stared into each other's eyes, smiled and kissed.
Iroh stood up and stepped in front of them as the crew started to cheer. "I declare this over." Zuko and Katara pulled away from each other and Katara placed her hand on his chest.
"How can you stand wearing this thing on your shoulders all the time?" Katara asked as Zuko helped her out of his armor. He shrugged his shoulders and turned toward his crew.
"I hope that you all enjoyed this, but know this, if you bring the memory of this event up in front of me, you will be punished severly." Zuko turned to Iroh. "So Uncle, how do we know who won?"
Iroh grinned sheepishly. "No one wins," he paused. "Because I made it up." Zuko slapped his forehead and smirked.
"I should have seen this." He rolled his eyes as his uncle walked away. Katara wrapped her arms around his middle.
"Can we change now?" she asked him as he faced her.
He nodded his head, that would be great. He smiled to himself at the thought of being able to breath again. "You know," they began walking to their room. "You have a really tiny waist."
"What did you think, I was fat or something?" Katara smirked as Zuko's eyes widened.
"No, I didn't say that. I meant–" Zuko began when Katara cut him off.
"I know what you mean, Zuko, now just take this thing off of me. My aching shoulders!" Katara smiled as Zuko lifted the armor over her head and down next to their bed.
Next chapter will be posted two weeks from now because my dog is dying some disease called PDE and I have to take care of her which means less time on the computer.