Hey everyone, I want you guys to know that school for me is starting next week and it might get hectic but I'll try my best to update each week! Also, a belated happy birthday shout out to Beverly Vulcan Princess! Now I won't keep you waiting any longer, here it is, chapter 26!

Chapter 26 Punishment

Two days after Haru's death came and went. Katara and Zuko barely talked during the time, for fear that their conversation might turn ugly. Zuko was busy keeping the crew in tact and trying to track down the Avatar and Katara's brother for reasons that are debatable. While Zuko was doing that Katara was being comforted by Iroh and practicing her Waterbending while Iroh watched and would sometimes join in.

Katara suddenly woke up alone in bed. Sweat beads were forming on her brow and she wiped them away with one movement of her sleeve. That was a horrible dream, she recalled as part of her dream stayed fresh in her head. She remembered how in her dream, Zuko had strangled Haru and then had tried to strangle her. That's when she had woke up and she was thankful that she did. It was just a dream, probably over my mixed feelings about yesterday. She decided that the dream would get out of her mind once she did something. She quickly got dressed and headed up to the dock.

She stepped on the deck and gasped as she saw what lied ahead of her in the ocean. "Katara!" Zuko sounded surprised and shocked when he say her in the doorway. "When did you wake up?" Iroh and Lt. Jee stood next to him. Lt. Jee quickly rolled up at scroll that he had been showing to Zuko and placed it in his belt.

"Those are ships from my tribe!" she announced as she pointed at the three small boats ahead.

"Yes, I had figured that much." Zuko sighed as he handed her a small scroll. "They just sent us the message, they're going to attack us before noon." Katara quickly red over the terms of surrendering and plans of attacks that had been written on the parchment.

"What are you going to do?" she asked. She didn't want to hear what his answer would be, she just knew that she was going to be fighting against her own tribe.

"Katara, you should go back to the room." Zuko ignored her question and started to lead her to his room.

"Wait, Zuko. What if I talk to them? I'm from their tribe, they'd listen to me!" Katara pleaded as she grabbed a hold of Zuko's hand.

"I had already thought of that, in fact I had told the messenger that you were on my ship. He said he knew and that that was the reason that they are attacking. They've come to take you away Katara. They briefly informed me that they had spoken to your brother and the Avatar. Those two went looking for an Earthbending master and had told these ships to come get you from me."

4 Days Ago...

"Aang, we lost sight of Zuko's boat again, didn't we?" Sokka sighed as he dumped out the few remaining crumbs of their food supply.

"I'm afraid we did but look at that down there!" Aang pointed at the ships below them. "They look like that ship Bato had docked!"

"That's because they're our ships!" Sokka beamed as he peered over Appa's saddle. "Aang, go down, I have to talk to them!"

"Sokka! It's Sokka! And he's with the Avatar!" the men cheered as Appa landed in the water next to them.

"Where's my father? Is he here?" Sokka looked around eagerly for his father's familiar face.

"I'm sorry Sokka," one of his tribe members informed him. "You're father is with the others from our tribe heading into the Earth Nation."

"Oh, I understand. But did you guys see a Fire Nation ship past by here a while ago?" Sokka asked, trying to learn any information about his sister.

"Actually we did but it didn't see us. We were just heading out now after it passed by us about an hour ago to try and sneak up behind it and attack. Why, are you searching for it?" they asked.

"Yes, that boat belongs to Prince Zuko of the Fire Nation and he has my sister, Katara, as his prisoner. We need to rescue her," Sokka paused and placed his hand under his chin. "And I think I just got the perfect idea!"

The battle was about to begin when Prince Zuko's catapult was set up and ready to fire. He told his men to aim at the center boat and then be prepared, he knew they would only get one shot. He held his arm out in the air, pointing forward at their target. The men on board held their breath and were ready to do what they had been trained to.

Zuko's hand dropped to his side and the trigger was pulled. The giant mass of fire formed into a ball was hurled through the air toward the opposing ships and hit their target dead on. One ship was down, now two furious ones bent on revenge remained and started to charge toward them. They're coming to take her away, Zuko gritted his teeth as he took out his dual swords. But I won't let them touch her, I won't let anyone touch her except for me.

Katara paced around the room, worried and upset about the battle that was going on above her. Iroh sat in one of the chairs in the room and sipped his tea. He had been ordered to personally and closely watch over Katara. Also, Katara wasn't too thrilled when Zuko had locked her in his room with his uncle and had grinned saying that 'It was wise of me to get that lock attached on the door when we went into port'.

Katara growled and sat down in her chair next to Iroh. "Relax, Ms. Katara, Zuko is sure that this battle won't take long. We discovered that we have the same number of men but from what you've told us, none of them are benders." He laughed as he remembered Zuko's words as he was told to stay in with Katara. "'We don't even need the old Dragon of the West for this battle', Zuko told me. I just hope Zuko isn't being too sure of himself."

Katara frowned and placed her head in her hands. "That didn't help, General Uncle. Now I know that my people are about to be massacred all because of me!"

Iroh furrowed his brow and looked at his tea set. His brow then smoothed and he grinned as an idea came into his mind. "You should really try some of this tea Ms. Katara, it always relaxes me so. I sometimes fall asleep and drop my cup on the ground, shattering it to pieces. Then when I wake up I find that Zuko had just replaced it because we have so many extra tea cups on this ship." he yawned and sat back in his chair. "I don't think I'd notice if any of these cups just disappeared." his eyes slowly closed.

Katara looked at Iroh in confusion until she understood what he had been saying to her. She picked up one of the and hurled it at the small window, making a loud crashing noise but that didn't seem to disturb the General's peaceful sleep. Katara shook her head as a smile formed on her face. She calmly got into a Waterbending stance and called the water up through the now broken window.

She guided the water onto the hinges on the door and took a deep breath as she gently exhaled on the wet metal, freezing it. She kissed Iroh on the forehead and he smiled in his 'sleep'. She then ran at full pace toward the door, bracing herself for the collision. She hit the door head on with her side and broke it the way she had expected it to, completely knocking it off of it's hinges and having it fall to the ground fully on it's front. She rubbed her side but was startled when she heard the commotion to her right.

There were screams of men and the clanging of metal against metal as she knew the battle was commencing and maybe was almost over. She didn't know what she was planning on doing exactly but she knew she had to try and stop it. She jumped up the couple of stairs and pulled open the dock door to the slaughter that lied ahead of her.

Iroh opened his eyes when he was sure that Katara had left. He sighed and scratched his balding head. Zuko's not going to be happy about what I just did and he won't buy that I'm a heavy sleeper. Iroh shrugged his shoulders and gathered his tea set. Lost another cup today, he chuckled as he started to walk down to his room.

Zuko needs to learn some new lessens though, Iroh turned down the corridor. He needs to learn that he won't always be able to just lock Katara up and expect her to just let her tribe down, especially when she's so miserable like that. How he can stand to see his loved ones miserable is beyond me, I know I never enjoyed seeing my loved ones like that.

Iroh felt his hand slipping on one of his cups so he stopped and stacked them on top of another. He grinned at his tower of tea cups and started on his corseback to his room. Zuko, if anyone, should know that Katara won't give up without a fight. Who she happens to be fighting for right now, well, we'll just have to wait and see to figure that out.

He opened his door and sat down on his small bed, his room on the ship always seemed empty to him. He placed his tea set down on the floor beside him and laid on his back. He rested his head against his pillow and focused on his breathing. Might as well try and get some peaceful sleep before Zuko comes down and gives me hell for what I did. Iroh scratched his grey beard. Maybe he'll believe that I'm going senile, he always did accuse me of being crazy. Iroh slowly started to drift to sleep with a smile on his face.

Katara's hands flew up to cover her mouth as she stared at the gruesome sight. She saw blood on the ground and over corpses of those she once knew but now wouldn't dare try to recognize. The battle kept mostly in the middle of the deck and she was thankful for that as she ran over to the railing, leaned over it, and puked her dinner from last night over the side.

She wiped her mouth after she was finished and looked to her left at the battle. I have to find a way to stop this! She ran to the front of the boat, keeping one hand on the railing incase she felt an urge to puke again. She stopped running when she saw a body covered in red and blue laying against the railing. "Are you alright?" she ran over and held the figure's hand. He turned his head slowly and cringed. He had a deep wound that ran from his shoulder to his hand.

"Katara? It's so good to see you again. Katara quickly you have to," He went into a sudden spasm of coughing during which blood flew from his mouth. "To the side, jump over it, your brother is waiting."

"What are you talking about?" she held his hand. "Just hold still, I can heal you if..." her eyes widened as a dagger was thrown from the crowd into the man's throat. More blood flew from his mouth and drizzled down to his chin.

A solider ran from the fight over to Katara and the corpse. "Ms. Katara, Prince Zuko doesn't want you up here." he reached over to the corpse and grabbed the dagger out of the man's throat and wiped it on his sleeve. Blood spirted out of the wound and Katara screamed as her hands covered her mouth. She panicked and quickly ran to the opposite side of the ship. I'm going to puke again, I know it!

She leaned over the railing and her eyes lit up with joy. Below her she saw Appa with Aang and Sokka on top of him. "Sokka! Aang!" she screamed as she jumped over the railing and into the water just behind the bison.

"Katara, grab my staff!" Aang held his staff out toward's her. She grabbed onto it and Aang pulled her in. She quickly embraced the monk, soaking him as well.

"Oh Aang!" She felt tears roll down her cheeks. "Wait! Aang you have to save my people!"

"Don't worry Katara, I will, our plan of rescuing you is still going on." Aang smiled as he pulled slightly out of her arms. Sokka whipped Appa's reigns and 'yip yiped'. Appa floated directly upward and Aang smiled at Katara. "I'll be right back!" He jumped to Zuko's ship and cupped his hands around his mouth.

"Now!" he shouted over top of the clanging of the metal weapons. Suddenly, each water tribe member pulled out a smoke bomb and simultaneously through it to the ground. The Firebenders were sent into a coughing fit as the Water Tribe exited the area. Aang grabbed his staff and shifted into his Airbending form. He took a deep breath and prepared himself.

Moments before...

Zuko's face was filled with his determination of keeping Katara with him while he went sword to sword with his opponent. He could have easily burned the pathetic fool to a crisp but he had told his men only to use Firebending as a last resort, he didn't want Katara to have to smell the scent of her tribe mates' burning flesh.

When his opponent left himself open Zuko went for the spot and sliced his sword through him. You won't be taking Katara anywhere. He stared down at the mutilated body and pulled his sword out. A high pitch scream filled the air and Zuko instantly recognized it as Katara's. Without thinking Zuko darted through the crowd of fighters and ran down to his room.

His eyes widened as he stared at the broken down door. They took her, he looked in the empty room. Where's Uncle? He was suppose to watch her! He noticed the broken window and he cursed to himself. They didn't break in, his fists lit up as he quickly grew furious. She broke out.

He quickly ran back up and was faced with the last thing he wanted to see. The Avatar. He glared as he stared at the smoke covered, coughing group and knew that the Water Tribe members had this planned the entire time. He watched as the Water warriors cheered and returned to their ships. He knew that they were planning on having the Avatar rescue them when they were losing. But they didn't plan on him not being blinded by their smoke trick.

He growled and lunged himself at the Avatar before he had a chance to Airbend. He tackled Aang to the ground and pinned his arms to his back. "You're not getting away this time, Avatar!"

"Aang!" Katara shouted from on top of Appa. "Sokka, I need to help Aang. Now don't try to stop me because I know this is rash but you have to leave when I tell you to. Understand?"

"Katara, what are you planning?" Sokka reached out to try and contain his sister but it was too late. She had taken off back onto Zuko's ship and had tackled Zuko from behind off of Aang. She sat on Zuko's stomach and he stared up at her in disbelief.

Her own eyes widened and she turned back to Aang. "Get out of here, Aang! You have to leave now!"

"But you have to come back with us!" Aang protested. Katara looked at Zuko's still stunned face and then back to Aang. She nodded and rushed off of Zuko. Zuko snapped out of it and growled as he jumped up off of her. Aang hopped onto Appa and Sokka leaned over the saddle to offer a hand to his sister.

Zuko was right behind Katara and before her fingers barely touched Sokka's he grabbed her waist and spun her around. With his free hand he pulled out a dagger from his pocket and jabbed it through Sokka's hand. Sokka screamed and recoiled his hand, the dagger still in and sticking out of the other side of his hand.

"We'll be back for you Katara." Aang shouted as they flew off. The Water Tribe ships quickly followed after them from below.

"Katara!" Zuko glared. She fell to her knees and started to cry hysterically.

"You stabbed my brother's hand and I don't think I can heal that!" she rocked back and forth as she covered her head in her hands.

"Don't worry about him, you'll never see them again." he picked her up around the waist and flung her over his shoulder.

"Put me down Zuko!" she pelted her hands against his back. "Dammit put me down!" He ignored her cries and unaffecting hits and continued to carry her to his room. He stared at the door still on the ground and clenched his fists.

He continued to carry her past his room down the hall. He went to the room where she had once stayed in for a night and literally threw her in. She landed roughly in a corner, her head hitting against the wall. "Zuko, you bastard! How could you--"

She stopped as he hit her in the face with his fist. "Don't you ever try any bullshit act like that again or else I swear I'll put a dagger through your hand!" he screamed at her. "Now stay in here until I get my room fixed and find out how much trouble this fight caused us." he steamed as he left the room.

Katara's hand raised to her face and she gently rubbed her stinging cheek. He actually hit me and it hurt so much more then it should have. But that strike wasn't just at my face, it also struck my heart. Silent tears streamed from her as she curled herself into a ball in the corner.

Zuko sat on the newly washed deck, his hand on his forehead as he contemplated his actions that he had taken with Katara. His Uncle walked up behind him and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Prince Zuko, have you seen Ms. Katara? I can't seem to find her."

"No Uncle, I haven't seen her but maybe if you had kept an eye on her..." he let himself trail off. Iroh sat down next to him.

"Prince Zuko, is there something you wish to discuss with me?" No, Zuko thought, I don't want to talk about it to anyone. I don't want anyone to know what I did.

"It's nothing Uncle, just from now on I'm going to keep a closer watch on Katara." While she's locked up in my room, away from everyone and everything. No one will be able to touch her except for me, only me.

"Alright, Prince Zuko." Iroh stood up. "The crew repaired your room's window and door. Would you like me to get Ms. Katara and move her back in there? I'll even lock the door."

"No, I'll do it. Later I'll do it, much later." he mumbled. Iroh sighed and headed to the helms. Zuko, you can't keep her locked away from the world forever. A caged bird only wants to fly all the more because it never had the chance to.

Zuko crept into Katara's room later that night. He kneeled next to her in the same corner he had dropped her in. She was fast asleep with a trail of tears drying on her face. It hinted to him that she had cried herself to sleep because of what he did. He kissed her forehead lightly and carefully picked her up. He carried her out of the room bridal style and when he saw her face in the moonlight of his room, he winced. A large bruise had begun to form on her cheek where he had hit her.

He placed her under the covers and crawled in next to her. Katara, I am so sorry. I promise you from this moment on, I will not let anyone hurt you again. He pulled her sleeping form closer to himself and held her in his arms until he fell asleep.

If you're wondering what exactly Sokka's plan was I'll explain it because it was a bit confusing. Sokka wanted his tribe to attack Zuko from the front so they followed him and passed him when they docked at the port. Then they waited for Zuko to catch up and set a tiny rowboat over to infrom Zuko of the surrunderment policy. The Tribe members purposely lied to Zuko and told him that Sokka and Aang weren't around when they actually were beside him the entire time. Then they would go in for battle and if it looked bad for them Aang was suppose to jump in and help. Then they'd sink Zuko's ship and leave with Katara. It just didn't work out that way.