Chapter 36: Phase 2
Iroh slowed the ship just out of the ring of the Fire Nation navy's sight. The gang gathered together in the captain's quarter's to discuss what they were about to do.
"Ok, so are we all clear on what we have to do?" Sokka asked seriously.
"I hate you." Toph said irritably.
"I'll take that as a yes. Right, let's move out!"
It was a sign of Zuko's new loyalties that he was willing to risk his life like this. He was once more in the smaller vessel with Aang, who was hidden well beside the wheel, heading straight towards the ring of Fire Nation ships. Zuko couldn't help but feel much more apprehensive than the last time he'd dealt with this situation. A white flag fluttered on the ship's highest point, in the hope he would not be fired upon.
He was not, but they could clearly see his ship and were aiming their weapons at him.
"You there!" a voice hailed from the closest ship. "Show yourself and explain your purpose!"
Zuko glanced at Aang, who nodded slightly, then took a deep breath and stepped out into full view. He heard gasps from above him.
"Prince Zuko!" The captain of the ship gasped. "Y-You know the penalty for returning. Your father wants you arrested on sight."
"He never renounced my original terms of return, though." Zuko said in a determined and commanding voice.
Though his father and sister had ensured that the Fire Nation had lost respect for the former prince, the men that watched his brave stand couldn't help but feel a little of it growing inside them.
"My father said I could return to the Fire Nation - if I returned with the Avatar."
Aang took a deep breath and stepped out to stand beside Zuko, waving nervously.
"Hi!" He called.
The commander of the ship stared. His crew stared. Aang lowered his hand and coughed apprehensively.
"Prince Zuko...the Avatar...he is not your prisoner?" The commander managed.
"No. He is my friend. Ozai never specified that Aang had to be in chains." Zuko said with the hint of a smile playing across his lips.
"It's true then...you have betrayed us."
"No, he hasn't!" Aang cried out, surprising Zuko. "Ozai is the one who's betraying you; he's the one forcing you to fight the other nations, to never see your families. He's the one that's forcing the world out of balance!"
The commander's face softened slightly.
"I am here to deliver a warning." Zuko said. "Disband, and either join us or return to the Fire Nation, and let us pass by. If not, your entire fleet will sink."
Though the commander could see the youth's words were truthful, he remained resolute.
"I have been a soldier for forty years, and not once have I disobeyed an order. I can't start now."
"Then I guess we have no choice." Zuko said sadly. "Thank you for listening at any rate. Before I go, I should mention that I never thought you'd let me through. We're just a distraction."
Aang raised his arms and pushed away from his body, waterbending the ship back as fast as he could. Both boys knew that below them in the water, Katara and Toph would begin.
Both girls sat on Appa's head, submerged completely beneath the waves. Katara had created an air bubble around the bison's head, keeping them warm, dry and above all else, able to breathe. Toph sighed impatiently, digging her toes into Appa's fur. Katara kept her eyes in the small ship above them, biting her lip nervously.
Aang...Zuko...be careful. She thought desperately.
She took in a quick breath when she saw the boat move away from the line of ships at great speed.
"Katara?" Toph questioned, hearing Katara's gasp.
"We're on."
"Excellent! Let's make some waves!" Toph cried, sitting up in excitement.
Katara grabbed Appa's reins.
"Yip yip. Head straight for them, Appa!"
Appa moaned and shot forward in the water, his tail providing the perfect rudder and propeller. As they neared the ship Zuko had contacted, Katara readied her stance.
"Ready Toph?"
"It's now or never." The blind girl said nervously.
The bow neared and just before they reached it, Katara slung a water tentacle around Toph's waist and sent her flying towards the metal. The water parted easily as the earthbender was thrust towards the ship. The minute her fingers hit metal, they dug in and held on tight. As Appa continued forward, Toph, being simultaneously held and pulled by Katara's water rope, forced a
huge chunk of the metal away from the side of the ship, creating a huge hole from the bow to the stern. They veered away when they neared the propeller and Katara pulled Toph back onto Appa's head.
"Man, that was awesome! Is it working?" Toph asked.
Katara looked back to see the ship taking in massive amounts of water, and starting to fall onto it's damaged side.
"Yep." She said smugly.
The plan was for the girls to take out as many of the ships as they could manage from below they were hoping this would give the crew on board time to abandon ship, and limit injuries and deaths.
"Right. Let's go to Victim Number Two." Katara said, while Toph laughed excitedly.
Zuko and Aang returned to their 'borrowed' vessel, which was heading for the line of armed and dangerous ships they had just run from. Standing on the bow with Sokka, they watched in awe as one by one, the ships creaked as though in massive pain, and slowly fell to one side before sinking even more slowly. Crew were leaping into boats or into the ocean in complete confusion.
"Wow." Aang whispered.
"Do you guys do big stuff like this often?" Zuko asked, wonder obvious in his voice.
"This is pretty big, even for us." Sokka managed.
As the ship passed through the former barrier, Zuko spotted a ship that carried the commander he had spoken to. The older man watched them with a looked of stunned awe.
"I suggest you don't go home for a little while." Zuko called out. "Ozai is not a forgiving man."
To Zuko's surprise, the commander smiled and bowed deeply.
"You are, however. I don't know how you did this, but you could've had us all killed. Thank you."
Zuko nodded, and they past out of ear shot.
"Friend of yours?" Sokka drawled.
"Maybe." Zuko said quietly.
Ahead of them, the water exploded as Appa gracefully leapt out of the ocean then landed not quite so gracefully in a full belly flop, causing a tidal wave of spray to hit the three boys.
"Hey guys!" Toph said, waving and completely oblivious to the three boys glaring in her direction.
"Permission to come aboard?" Katara asked, sending the girls into giggles.
"Well, today seemed to go well." Katara said as she sat down around the fire where everyone else sat on the deck of their newly acquired ship.
"Yeah..." Sokka replied in a suspicious tone. "Too well. Something bad is going to happen soon. We still don't know where Azula is." He was cut off by Toph and Aang chuckling at his pessimism. "Fine, but don't come running to me when she burns a hole in your pants."
Now Katara and Iroh joined the laughter, and Zuko smirked in amusement.
"Why are you complaining? I'm the one who'd have to mend it." Katara grinned at her brother.
"That is entirely not the point!" Sokka cried, looking utterly frustrated. "Don't any of you realise the imminent doom hanging over us!"
There was loud laughter, but a new voice joined in. Everyone turned to stare at Zuko, who's laughs quickly died.
"What?" He muttered, looking away.
"I've never heard you laugh before." Katara said with a smile.
"I haven't heard you laugh since we left the Fire Nation." Iroh said, smiling fondly at his nephew.
"I didn't think you could laugh." Sokka added.
"Well, I didn't think you could use your brain, but today proved me wrong." Zuko said.
It took Sokka a moment to realise he was being teased, then grinned.
"Oh yeah? Well, I reckon you were born without emotions."
"Ha! Only if you were born without common sense!"
Katara laughed without her friends while watching her brother and the firebender clearly enjoying their banter. She was glad that Zuko was starting to feel like apart of there group and was allowing himself to be included.
Zuko leaned against the railings of the ship, staring into the darkness ahead. Everyone else had long since gone to bed.
"Hey."
Or so he'd thought.
"Can't sleep?" Katara asked, leaning beside him.
He shook his head.
"I thought you'd gone to bed." He said quietly.
"I did. But then I realised...we're on our way to the Fire Nation. Your home. It's been a while since you've been back and...this must be huge for you." Katara said, looking at him.
Zuko sighed heavily.
"I didn't think I'd come home like this."
"As a person fighting for what's right?" Katara asked with a smile.
"I guess..." He gazed out over the waters, and could already see the island's in his mind's eye. "I've missed it so much, and going back...I think deep down, a part of me never really believed I would come home. I'd be lost forever."
"But you're not." Katara said, squeezing his hand gently. "You're not lost, and you're returning home in the right way, with friends who care about you, and a uncle who loves you."
Zuko looked at their joined hands, and squeezed hers back.
"Thanks." He said quietly.
Author's note: if you have not read 'Stormbenders' by Fandomme, or in fact any fanfiction by Fandomme, you have not lived. Go read it now! On another note, thanks for the patience, and R&Rs :D