I have finally returned with another chapter! Sorry for the delay! I swear, I'm still writing. This chapter was difficult because I came back to it so many times over the course of like two weeks and I made all of these little changes and then I went back and erased some of them, made some plot adjustments, etc. So, I hope the final product doesn't suck :p
Thank you all so much (especially those of you who reviewed the last chapter!) for supporting this fic so far! Honestly, every time I feel like not writing, it's the reviews that keep me going! I have a tendency to be a terrible procrastinator, so seeing that there are people still reading warms my busy little heart and keeps me on top of writing :)
I'm not going to post a whole bunch of review replies for this chapter because I realized that they were getting sort of long.. and this chapter is already really long. I was thinking about replying to reviews over PM, but I guess lots of people don't do PM... I might give it a try and see how it goes. I love being able to interact with readers because it helps me develop as a writer and storyteller, so I'll try to keep review responses going in one way or another. Just know that I see you, reviewers, and I very much appreciate your input! Srsly. I love you guys.
This chapter is inspired by another Of Monsters and Men song called 'We Sink' from their 2015 album 'Beneath The Skin'.
Disclaimer (because I remembered this time): I don't own any part of A:TLA or any of the songs that I have listened to and referenced for inspiration.
I hope you enjoy this chapter! Please feel free to let me know what you think (even if it is criticism)!
Chapter 21: We Sink
…
All those eyes on me
As I sink into the open sea
Color in my sheltered mind
Fill the gap between you and I
…
I know that it's a waste of time
Chasing in the dark
But keep me in your clouded mind
Until time ignites a spark
…
It felt like he had spent an eternity in the shadows of his cell. With no real indication of time, the hours seemed to stretch onwards to infinity. Someone whimpered pitifully in the distance, the sound echoing through the hold while the ship rocked back and forth, a sign of the rough seas outside the damp darkness of the brig. A storm was battering the ship, lurching the vessel as waves crashed against the hull. Zuko sat with his back against the wall of his cell, his head resting on his arms as he tried to ignore the swaying motion of the roiling sea. With little else to do when he wasn't fighting off nightmares in his restless slumber, he had spent a majority of his time inside his own head.
Zuko knew that he had always lacked some level of forethought – something his uncle had alluded to often during their time at sea. He rarely made plans and, instead, preferred to read the situation and improvise. Many of his decisions were made on the spot and were largely dictated by his feelings; which, given his normally turbulent emotional state, wasn't exactly the best model for living a life free of regret. And now, in the confines of his cell, those regrets nagged at him, pummeling his sanity as he questioned his every decision and clung to the mistakes of his past. He couldn't help but wonder how things could be had he chosen differently.
What if he hadn't waited so long to let Katara know how he felt? As much as he had tried to suppress it, his feelings for the waterbender had developed long before their kiss. Despite himself, he'd had a soft spot for her from the start. But it wasn't until she had been burned by one of his soldiers that he realized the depth of his endearment towards her. In that moment when he held her limp body, he had thought he would never be able to care about another person again. He had believed that she would die right there in his arms; That all the things he couldn't bring himself to say would die with her, as would a part of himself. And the shock of it all, the gruesome realization that she might be gone forever, was awfully reminiscent of the pain he felt when he found out his mother was gone.
Zuko clenched his hands into fists at the memory, a whorl of recollection stirring the surface like the churning currents of the stormy sea outside. He hadn't forgotten her cry of pain when Private Wong burned her back; it echoed in his nightmares. The shame of it all – of his soldier's dishonor, of the part he himself played in her injury – still enraged him.
What if he had said something to her back then? Would he be with them right now at the Earth Kingdom fortress, with her in his arms?
Just before Zhao took him captive, she had pleaded him to go with her and he almost had. He'd wanted to. She had suggested it less overtly so many times before but he had repeatedly brushed it off, never having given the prospect much thought beyond the notion that he needed to regain his honor by capturing the Avatar. Perhaps if he had chosen more wisely early on, he could have had everything he wanted – his honor, his crown, and his waterbender.
Perhaps he should have joined them. Perhaps he could have apologized to Katara's friends and the Avatar for chasing them around the world… and gained their trust. He could have freely admitted his feelings for her and allowed himself the contentment she brought into his life. Perhaps then, he could have bided his time until the right moment…-
A loud, repetitive clanging interrupted his thoughts, ringing in his ears. Suddenly furious, he turned towards the door to his cell to see Toph banging her metal tray along the iron bars of her cell. His gaze flicked to the Kyoshi Warrior in the cell next to hers. The young woman named Shinko was propped up against the wall, apparently unfazed by the blind girl's racket, glaring at him.
"Stop!" He seethed at Toph. "You're giving me a headache."
She paused to inspect the tray with her hands, running her fingers up and down its length as she stared blindly ahead, ignoring him. Setting down the tray, she grasped the iron bars in both hands and rested her forehead against them, her brows furrowed in concentration as if deep in thought. After a moment of silence, she lifted her head.
"So, if you're the prince of the Fire Nation, are you a firebender?" Toph questioned.
"Yes." Zuko replied tersely. His tone was bitter when he continued, "If I wasn't a firebender my father would've killed me as a child."
"Oh, boo-hoo," Shinko mocked him.
Zuko scowled at her.
"Interesting…" Toph rubbed her chin.
"How is that interesting?" He snapped, getting increasingly annoyed with the two.
"It's not." Toph shrugged, "I just needed to know if you're a firebender."
"What does it matter? I probably can't even firebend like this… I'm too weak from lack of food and water." Zuko groaned, sinking back into his position against the wall.
The scraping of her metal tray against the ground echoed in the dimness.
"What are you doing?" Shinko whispered, disapproval in her tone. "They aren't going to give you more, you know."
Toph remained silent. She had slid her tray across the hallway to rest outside of his cell. On the tray was a single rice ball.
Zuko glanced up at her face. She was expressionless, still holding onto the iron bars of her cell.
"Why are you doing this?" He questioned.
"You're hardly any use to me if you can't firebend," was her nonchalant response.
"Any use to you?" Zuko hissed. "If you think you're going to be able to escape here, you're delusional."
His scathing remark wasn't meant to be funny, but the blind girl laughed like he had told her a joke. Grumbling, Zuko grabbed the rice ball, ignored the contemptuous stare from the Kyoshi, and returned to brooding against the wall. If Toph was going to sacrifice her own meager portions to give him food, he wasn't going to complain.
…
The night around them was hazy and obscured, a mess of blurry shapes that drifted in her peripheral vision; but the desire in his amber eyes was crystal clear, burning into her as she pulled in ragged breaths.
Zuko's lips brushed against hers as he settled himself between her legs. His weight pressing down on her sent a warm sensation radiating through her body. It felt like she was burning up. Like a fire had been lit inside her and only he could control the flames.
I want you…
His voice was husky in her ears and a moan escaped her throat. She wanted him too. Spirits, did she want him. She wanted to stay like this forever – balancing intimately together on the precipice of bliss.
"Katara?"
The familiar voice splintered the silence, but Zuko seemed not to notice as he leaned in towards her. He captured her lips with his own and she melted into him. His hips pushed into hers and they groaned in unison as she wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him further down on top of her. Zuko was sucking on her bottom lip, snaking his hand through her long wavy locks, when the delirium was shattered once again.
"Hey, are you awake?"
Katara's eyes shot open and she rolled out of bed at the sound of her friend's voice, yawning. It had all felt so real. She reached up to brush her fingertips against her bottom lip, still tingling from Zuko's heated kiss. Reality came crashing back down on her when she remembered where they were – where he was – as guilt and trepidation surged through her once more. She said a silent prayer to the universe, the spirits, anything that was willing to hear her; Please, keep him safe.
Her mind spun as she moved to stand up.
It was only their third day at General Fong's Fortress and she was exhausted. Spending the whole day at the infirmary had drained her, both physically and emotionally. The sheer number of injured soldiers alone was saddening, but to be there to witness their suffering, to hear their stories, to look in their eyes and see a lifetime of pain, was taking a toll on her.
It reminded her of the days of her youth after the Fire Nation raid on her village. She had stumbled into the tent that housed those who had been injured trying to fight off the soldiers and defend their homes. Though at a larger scale, it was much the same here in the Earth Kingdom Fortress – the heaviness of the air, the melody of painful groans, tears slipping down cheeks for those who were lost. Sitting up, Katara tried to wrangle in her emotions and suppress the exhaustion.
"Katara?" Aang's voice came again through the doorway.
"Yeah, I'm awake!" She replied, slipping on her boots. "You can come in."
The airbender paused before entering the room, then sat down on Suki's empty bed across from her.
"So, you're going back to the infirmary today?" Aang rested his hands in his lap, twiddling his thumbs.
"I am. They really need assistance down there and I feel like it's my duty to lend a hand if I can," She smiled at him as she strapped her waterskin around her waist. "What are your plans for the day?"
"Well, I guess I'm going to try figure out the Avatar state… I did promise General Fong that I would try." His gaze shifted to the floor and Katara couldn't ignore his body language.
"You really don't want to do it, do you?" She noted.
"What other choice do I have?"
"You always have a choice, Aang."
"But I don't!" He stood up abruptly as a gust of wind blew through the room, rustling her bedsheets. "We need to get the General to work with the resistance. And he was right, anyways – People are dying out there every day and I'm already a hundred years late! If I can end this war by using the Avatar state, I have to."
Katara frowned at her friend and nodded. "I really don't like the idea myself, but if you think it's the right thing to do… Just promise me that you'll be careful."
With a sigh, he slumped back down on Suki's bed. "I promise. I… I'm sorry I blew up there." He loosely gestured at the room and slumped further.
"Don't worry about it," She smiled reassuringly and crossed the room to offer him her hand. "Let's get some breakfast. We've both got a long day ahead of us."
The infirmary seemed even more crowded than the day before. As soon as Katara passed through the threshold, one of the doctors gave a relieved sigh and called her over to the bedside of a soldier whose arm had been recently amputated. The doctor called over a nurse while he explained the situation: the soldier had lost a lot of blood. Katara nodded, listening to the doctor while she bent water out of the vessel that the nurse provided.
Healing the injury from the amputation wasn't too difficult, the skin knit back together easily. It was when the man fainted again that she ran her hand up his shoulder and over his chest, listening to blood flow through his veins. His skin was cool and clammy under her touch and the sound of his heartbeat pounded rapidly in her ears. Despite his racing heart, his bloodflow seemed to wane, as if there simply wasn't enough.
The doctor muttered to himself, jotting something down on his clipboard before turning to the nurse. "We'll need to do a fluid replacement. Grab some of the isotonic solution and come back to assist Miss Katara. I need to go check up on Private San after his operation."
The woman rushed off to follow orders, while the doctor gave her a terse nod and swiftly left. Katara returned the water to its bowl and placed a hand on the soldier's chest.
"It's going to be alright." She whispered, though she wasn't certain the man could hear. "You can make it through this."
The nurse returned with another bowl, this one containing an aqueous solution.
"Thank you," Katara offered her a solemn smile. She coaxed some of the solution into her hands and placed them on the soldier's chest.
"It's truly amazing that you can do that," The nurse breathed, watching Katara's hands glow. "I wish earthbending came with healing abilties."
"Are you an earthbender?"
"Sort of… I'm still a beginner. I've never been trained or anything."
"Neither have I, really." Katara sighed, "I was supposed to be heading up north to find a master. My name is Katara, by the way. What's yours?"
"Wen," The nurse chuckled bitterly, "I was hoping to find a master here."
"Could you not find anyone in the Earth Kingdom?"
"I came from the Fire Nation colonies… unauthorized earthbending is punishable by imprisonment there."
"Unauthorized... Really?" Katara had heard of the Fire Nation colonies, but she had little knowledge of what it was like there. "How can they do that?"
"The colonies are under complete control by the Fire Nation. They are the law."
"That's awful… I'm sorry." Katara frowned. She had never considered what it must be like to live under the iron fist of your oppressors every day. The extent of the Fire Nation influence on her village was the death and destruction they had caused in raids. They had never stayed for long; within hours of their ships pulling up to the icy shores, they were setting off to sea once more, leaving burning tents, ash-riddled snow, and a growing pile of charred bodies in their wake.
"Has no one tried to rebel? We met some resistance fighters from Omashu on our way here."
"We've been fighting back for decades, ever since the first Fire Nation settlement a hundred years ago. But I think my people have lost hope. We've become accustomed to living under Fire Nation rule – generations have grown up under it. And people are afraid. With the fall of the south, the Fire Nation are closing in on the Earth Kingdom. There's little hope left for anyone."
Katara bit her lip as she removed her hands from the chest of the soldier, having replenished the dwindling blood flow in his veins with the solution. It made her chest ache to think that people in the colonies had lived under Fire Nation rule for so long that many of them must have forgotten what freedom was like. The Fire Nation had criminalized earthbending. Perhaps it was to strip the Earth Kingdom citizens of their means of defense. Perhaps it was also to strip them of their identity and culture. It made her feel sick.
"But people are fighting still," Katara tried to reassure her. "You're here and so am I. My grandmother used to say that 'we have to believe there is hope, otherwise we've already lost'."
"I wish I could fight," Wen scowled. "They won't even let me earthbend here. It's sad, but in some ways, the military officers of the Earth Kingdom aren't all that better than the Fire Nation. Only, they aren't trying to rule the whole world, just their women."
"What do you mean?"
"They wouldn't train me. Women aren't allowed to join the military. When we volunteer for service, they either put us in the infirmary, the kitchen, or the scullery. I guess I was lucky that my mother was the only midwife in our village and I had some experience working with her, otherwise I would be washing dishes all day. At least this way it feels like I'm doing something useful."
"How could they refuse to train you?" Katara asked, indignantly. "Surely, they need all of the earthbenders they can get."
"They said women are too weak in both body and mind to join the military... and we're needed for other jobs." Wen scoffed, "Apparently, they need scullery maids just as much."
It reminded Katara of some of the things Sokka used to say back in the South Pole and she frowned at the thought. "Maybe I can bring it up to General Fong."
"Good luck with that," Wen sighed, moving on to their next patient.
…
Zuko spent much of the remainder of the day – or so he assumed it to be – wondering what the blind girl was planning. She sat with her back to the bars in silence, turning every so often to wrap her dirty little hands around the iron. She couldn't possibly think that they could escape. Where would they go? According to Takuma, the ship was heading for the prison rig off the shore of the Earth Kingdom colonies – a facility surrounded by the sea where the Fire Nation kept dissidents and prisoners of war. Zuko had always been a good swimmer, but he doubted even he would be able cross the watery expanse between the prison rig and the shore of the Earth Kingdom, let alone the blind girl.
Even if, by some miracle, they were able to get out of their cells, they would still be prisoners on the ship, unable to leave. And once they arrived at the prison rig, the crew and the troops onboard would have all the reinforcements they needed to thoroughly quell any escape attempts.
He decided that pondering this any further was a waste of time. Toph was only a child and he could hardly blame her for having a difficult time accepting the world for the cruel place that it was. She had grown up in a noble family of Gao Ling and, despite her unruly appearance and uncouth behavior, had likely become accustomed to a life of luxury, much like he had been before his banishment. He would allow the girl her fantasies. It was neither his place nor intention to open her eyes to the harsh realities of the world.
The usual squealing of a metal door, shuffling of feet, and screeching of a cart alerted him to the presence of guards in the prison hold. As he had suspected, it must be evening and the guards had come to feed the prisoners. When the two guards reached the end of the hallway and placed Toph's tray in front of her cell, they turned to Zuko. It was Takuma and the same guy from earlier whose name still evaded him.
Zuko's voice was scratchy when he finally spoke. "Where are we?"
"We're nearing the colonies now," Takuma replied, shifting uncomfortably on his feet. "We'll arrive at the prison rig tomorrow."
When Zuko only grunted in response, the other guard placed a cup of water and a metal tray in front of his cell.
"I thought you were under orders not to give me any food or water," Zuko noted with a sidelong glance at the two men that used to be part of his crew.
"W-we are…" The other man spoke up. "But we can't let you die…"
"You're still the Prince of the Fire Nation." Takuma finished.
The laugh that rumbled in Zuko's throat was low and scornful, a dark chuckle that held no real humor. Without another word, the two men bowed awkwardly and left.
When they were finally out of earshot, Toph crawled over to the bars of her cell.
"So, this used to be your ship," The blind girl said, interrupting the silent meal he was trying to enjoy.
"Is my ship," Zuko spat back.
"Ok, whatever, Princey." Toph rolled her eyes. "I'm assuming that means you know your way around it pretty well."
"I do."
"What about where they control it? You know, where all the important people hang out."
"You mean the bridge?" He corrected her terminology. The blind girl was annoying, but he had to respect her persistence.
"Sure. Could you take me there?"
Zuko grumbled. All this talk of escape was getting on his nerves. He had lost hope and the blind earthbender's questions only served as a constant reminder of that hopelessness.
"I could, but in case you didn't notice, we're imprisoned," He hissed. "So, unless you can walk through metal, you're never going to get there."
Wordlessly, Toph rolled her clouded green eyes and got to her feet as she wrapped her hands around two of the iron bars on her cell door. With a deep inhale, she shifted her foot and frowned. Zuko watched in awe as the girl pulled apart the iron bars, as if they were no more solid than soup noodles. She smirked and stepped through the gap she had created into the hall in front of Zuko's own cell.
"How did you-?" Shinko gasped from her cell, seeing Toph step into the hallway.
"Ok, I figured out how to walk through metal," She grinned triumphantly. Even though she was clearly mocking him, he couldn't muster a hint of indignation after having witnessed her feat. "Do we have a deal?"
He was speechless. Hope flooded back through him, washing over him like a blinding light after days of darkness. Perhaps they could escape. Perhaps all was not lost. His destiny was suddenly back within reach, and so was Katara.
"So, what do you say, Princey?"
Zuko nodded, unable to form words.
Shinko looked back and forth between them from her cell before crossing her arms and shaking her head. "She can't see that your nodding. She's blind," She snidely reminded him.
"So it's a yes?" Toph smiled.
"Yes," Zuko mumbled, though he was still unsure of what he was witnessing. Had she truly just bent metal?
"What about you, Shinko?" Toph turned to the older girl. "Are you in?"
"Does it mean I have to get along with him?" She eyed Zuko with a venomous glare.
"No, just don't kill him," the blind girl shrugged.
"I guess I can if it means escaping," Shinko sighed and then shot him a derisive glare, "Just don't do anything that will make me want to kill you more than I already do, Prince."
Zuko glowered at her, returning the venom. "You couldn't kill me if you tried."
"Ok, that's enough you two," Toph snickered at their petulance. "If we're going to do this, we need all the help we can get. And, based on what those guards said, it's going to have to happen tonight."
…
The evening sun cast golden light through the doorway to the infirmary and moisture hung thick in the air. Katara and Wen had worked together for much of the day, going from bedside to bedside. Wen assisted Katara in moving the soldiers, holding down their arms if need be, supplying water and instruction when necessary. Over the hours, Katara had managed to learn a lot about the human body and medicine. Wen had years of experience working with herbal remedies, expectant mothers, birthing, and neonatal care. Though military medicine was a far cry from what she had been used to, Wen was surprisingly sharp and Katara very much appreciated the knowledge she offered as well as her company.
"Doctor Fu mentioned something earlier about new troops," Wen remarked, moving onto the next bedside with Katara in tow. "This must be one of them."
The young man lying in the bed was not dressed in the same green uniform as the other soldiers, he wore civilian attire, caked with dirt, tattered and singed from combat. His face was hidden from view as he curled around his abdomen, clutching at his side in pain.
"How are you feeling?" Katara asked the man, bending down as she placed a hand on his shoulder, careful to avoid the area that appeared to be paining him. "I might be able to heal you."
The man turned, groaning, and Katara's breath caught in her throat when she realized that she recognized him. His dark hair was matted with blood and mud, clinging to his sharp jawline and the muscles of his lithe form tensed as he rolled onto his back, but the familiarity was unmistakable.
"Gan…?" Katara's voice came out in a squeak.
At the sound of his name, the resistance fighter from Omashu met her gaze. His eyes widened in recognition, as if his pain had been momentarily forgotten. "It's you… Katara? I thought we had lost you in the dungeons under Omashu," His voice was strained.
"It's a long story," She deflected nervously, not wishing to share any details of her subsequent capture by Zuko. "But I'm fine, now. You, however…" Katara furrowed her brow as she lightly ran her hand over his ribs. "What happened? Did the rest of the resistance make it here?"
Gan stiffened momentarily, the emotion draining from his face as he averted his gaze. "We were ambushed by Fire Nation scouts on our way here. Guotin, Yong, and Feng… didn't make it."
"They didn't…" Her voice trailed off. She remembered them one by one, picturing their faces. Guotin, the leader of Omashu's resistance, had seemed like such an unstoppable force; the way he carried himself exuded fortitude and conviction. How could he have fallen? She almost couldn't believe it.
"We lost half of our forces," He continued, still staring at the ground. "I was carrying Feng when one of the scouts charged at me on a rhino."
Katara's gaze dropped to his ribs. The dark bruising and swelling in his side were clear indications that something was broken. The whole thing felt so surreal. So many people she knew – even if it had only been for a few fleeting encounters – were gone.
"Gan, I'm so sorry…" She breathed, her voice almost a whisper as her hand reflexively moved to his shoulder. "I can't believe that Guotin… and Feng and Yong…" She trailed off again. "They were good men and they deserved better. Just know that I'm here for you if you want to talk and I'm so glad that you made it here."
Gan settled back again with a sigh. "Thank you. It's just good to see another familiar face. Guotin, Feng and Yong… they died fighting for freedom – at least it was an honorable death."
…
Whispers echoed through the brig. There was a palpable excitement in the air, a sharpness like electricity before lightning strikes. It had been hours since they had made their plan and the news traveled quickly to the other prisoners in hushed voices as the information was passed along the line of cells.
Zuko meditated, listening for the signal. This was their best chance to escape and he hoped that Zhao was too proud – as he expected – to command the fleet from Zuko's relatively minuscule vessel rather than his own flagship. If he had to fight Zhao again, he wasn't certain he would fare well this time, given his general lack of nourishment and sleep. He coaxed his inner flame, feeling its warmth as it flickered and danced with anticipation.
A low whistle resonated off the metal walls and his eyes shot open. Toph stepped up to the entrance to his cell and began, warping the iron bars to allow his passage. As he squeezed through the gap, the blind girl moved on to Shinko's cell. Once he, Shinko, and two other Kyoshi Warriors were freed, they padded silently past the other cells towards the entrance to the prison hold.
The soldier that sat near the door was painfully unaware of their movements, yawning as he rested his chin on his hand. Zuko made eye contact with Shinko and the other Kyoshi in a silent command and they nodded. The drowsy guard snapped out of his lethargy at the sight of the Kyoshi Warriors approaching him from the shadows.
"How did y-" He started, jumping up from his seat, but was interrupted when Shinko grabbed his arm and twisted it behind his back. The other two Kyoshi were on him before he had time to fight back, removing his helmet and stuffing a sock in his mouth as they restrained him. The man grunted and struggled, but the women from Kyoshi were quick, easily rendering him immobile.
One of the Kyoshi handed Zuko the helmet as they began to remove the soldier's armor, leaving him in only his under clothes. He growled indignantly through the sock obstructing his mouth and frowned at Zuko.
"Put him in my cell," The prince instructed, averting his gaze.
The Kyoshi dragged the thrashing soldier to the back of the brig past the other cells as the excited noises of children filled the silence.
Zuko donned the armor, steeling himself for the inevitable clash ahead. The Kyoshi returned as he placed the helmet on his head.
"If you betray us, I will kill you," Shinko muttered under her breath for only him to hear.
Zuko scoffed at her presumption but didn't justify it with a response as he hid his face behind the visor of the helmet.
Toph continued down the hallway, bending open the cells, as Zuko crept up the stairs towards the door that led to the deck, with more Kyoshi Warriors at his heels. He held up his hand as he reached for the iron handle and the warriors crowded behind the door.
The heavy metal door squealed open, immediately alerting the guard outside. Zuko stepped through the threshold onto the deck, scanning the vicinity for others. A patrol of two soldiers walked the perimeter of the deck, eyeing the waters around the vessel, but did not notice Zuko as they made their way towards the bow.
"What are you doing, Private Wang?" The soldier guarding the door to the brig grunted, "The watch doesn't change for another three hours."
Zuko silently nodded at the man.
"Did you not hear me?" The soldier hissed but paused when he saw movement over Zuko's shoulder. His eyes widened and his mouth dropped open.
"Now." Came Zuko's voice, muffled by the visor of his helmet.
Shinko and the other Kyoshi reached out and grabbed the man, pulling him through the doorway, covering his mouth, and closing the door before he could alert others on the ship to the escape attempt underway. A sigh of relief slipped from Zuko's mouth as he straightened and took the soldier's position outside the door.
He waited patiently, eyeing the dark waters surrounding them. The large majority of Zhao's fleet was ahead, blazing a trail for the prison vessel – his ship – to follow. They were flanked on either side by Navy cruisers, but, as far as he could tell, the sea behind them was empty. He breathed a sigh of relief – their plan might actually work. Zhao was likely on his flagship, leading the fleet from the front, having left Zuko's ship drifting along near the posterior. The Commander's persistent underestimation of the Fire Nation prince was certainly infuriating, but it had saved Zuko more than once and he silently thanked Zhao's ego for clouding his judgement.
Not five minutes later, a light knock sounded from the heavy iron door. Zuko watched the two soldiers on patrol as they made their way towards the stern. When they disappeared behind the conning tower, Zuko rapped on the door; three quick knocks to indicate the coast was clear.
Shinko stepped through the door in full Fire Nation Navy armor. Behind them, the other Kyoshi and Toph waited in the shadows.
"Let's move," Zuko whispered, and Shinko motioned to the Kyoshi who cautiously followed her out onto the deck.
Shinko nodded to him and stationed herself outside the door to the brig to keep up appearances as the rest followed him.
With Toph and the other Kyoshi on his heels, Zuko led them around towards the entrance to the conning tower. The clinking of metal fetters that they each held was the only sound they made as the group crept around the conning tower, keeping close to the iron wall.
They quietly entered the conning tower. He breathed another sigh of relief when they reached the stairs without encountering more soldiers. With a series of hand signals, Zuko stationed the Kyoshi Warriors along the corridor, as they continued towards the bridge. He breathed deeply as they approached the heavy metal door that led to the command center of the ship.
"Are you ready?" He asked Toph under his breath as they stopped just outside the door.
"Ready to be back on sweet earth again," She smirked, taking a bending stance.
Toph took off the door, throwing it into the bridge. Zuko entered immediately after and blocked a bout of flames that was aimed towards them. The Kyoshi Warriors poured in behind him, engaging the crewmembers along the periphery.
"Prince Zuko?"
He looked up at the sound of his name. Lieutenant Jee, the man who had served as captain of his ship stood up to look at him, eyes wide. Jee had captained his ship since the earliest days of his banishment and had served under his uncle at the siege of Ba Sing Se many years before. He cringed at the thought of this man, a close friend to his Uncle Iroh, betraying him. The captain watched as a number of Zhao's soldiers that had been stationed in the bridge were shackled by the Kyoshi Warriors.
Zuko watched him closely, preparing for an attack, but it never came. The surprise on the man's face faded into the stony expression of a military officer.
"Most of Zhao's soldiers are in the barracks," Lieutenant Jee informed him calmly. "The ship is yours."
"Lieutenant Jee!" One of the fettered soldiers yelled from the grasp of a Kyoshi. "It is treason to disobey a direct order. Commander Zhao will hear of this!"
"Let him," The captain replied dismissively. "It's also treason to apprehend a member of the royal family without the Fire Lord's prior approval."
The prince eyed him suspiciously. "You were going to let Zhao take me back to the Fire Nation to be tried as a traitor, Lieutenant Jee."
"Prince Zuko, you have to understand," Lieutenant Jee addressed him. "I was only following orders. Commander Zhao commandeered the ship and stationed his own soldiers to keep us in line. I had no intention of allowing you to be tried as a traitor to the crown. Your uncle would have my head."
At the mention of his uncle, Zuko straightened and averted his gaze.
"Speaking of, where is General Iroh?" The Lieutenant asked.
Zuko scowled. "Somewhere in the Earth Kingdom. I need to find him."
"Very well," The captain bowed his head. "Where are we heading, Your Highness?"
"South." He muttered.
…
As soon as she had finished her healing session with Gan and ensured that all her patients were stable, Katara left the infirmary to find Aang. The sun had long retreated behind the mountains that lined the western horizon. Clouds passed over the waning moon, concealing General Fong's Fortress under the cover of darkness. The central square, where military training exercises were held during the day, was empty and poorly lit at night.
Through the blackness, Katara could see the shape of a man walking across the empty square towards her. She squinted as her eyes adjusted to the night and breathed a sigh of relief when she realized that it was Huan.
"Huan, did you hear? The resistance has finally arrived! Have you seen Aang? I was going to tell him." The words flowed out of her mouth, jumbling into a single thought.
Huan seemed impervious to her news, continuing to approach her, a deep frown marring his normally placid expression. When he got close, Katara took an involuntary step back, worried he was going to run right into her. However, the older man grabbed her by the shoulders to keep her in place. Her eyebrows shot up at his sudden aggression.
He leaned in, a volatile glint in his eyes as he muttered, "You may have Aang and your brother fooled, and I don't know what you told Suki, but you aren't fooling me."
"What are you talking about?" She tried to wriggle from his grasp.
"You and that Fire Nation prince. There's something you aren't being honest about."
"Wh- th- that's absurd!" Katara refuted, suddenly flustered.
"Is it? You spent an awful lot of time together after Omashu."
"I was his prisoner!" She yelled indignantly, despite the blush that was creeping up her cheeks. "Where is all this coming from?"
"So you didn't tell him any of our plans? How would those Fire Nation scouts know that the rest of the Omashu resistance was heading for Fong's Fortress?" He hissed. "Those scouts were prepared. They seemed to know about the resistance movements."
"You think I-…" Katara paused, processing the meaning of his words. "I didn't tell him anything! And Zuko isn't even working with the Fire Nation military."
"You so sure about that? He led that Fire Nation Commander right to us."
"Zuko came to warn us about Zhao. You were there, you saw how he helped us escape!"
Huan released her shoulders and took a step back, eyeing her with skepticism. "Even if that's true, one good deed doesn't undo a lifetime of evil. Don't forget who he is, the nation he represents. The Fire Nation is our enemy."
"I haven't forgotten," She huffed, crossing her arms over her chest protectively.
"Sokka told me about your mother. The Fire Nation has taken someone from all of us. They took both my wife and my son from me. If you're going to join this war, you better pick a side. Otherwise, you're doing a disservice to all those who lost their lives trying to fight the tyranny."
Katara bit her lip. Were her unspoken feelings for Zuko really so shameful? Was she truly betraying her mother? Instinctively, she reached up to graze her mother's necklace and grimaced when her fingertips brushed against the bare skin of her throat. The loss angered her.
"How could you think that I haven't picked a side? My mother was killed by the Fire Nation and now, I'm here trying to save as many lives as I can!" She was getting increasingly frustrated. "Just because I accepted help from Zuko when he came to warn us doesn't make me a Fire Nation sympathizer! If he hadn't come to warn us, Aang would be on his way to the Fire Nation capitol by now!"
Huan straightened, returning to his normal unruffled state, and walked past her towards the infirmary without another word. Katara huffed at the implication of his words. Had he really been suggesting that she was a traitor? After all she had done? She had gone out of her way to protect Aang, she had put herself at risk to free the resistance from the dungeons under Omashu, and she was out here busting her ass trying to heal injured Earth Kingdom soldiers.
Did her infatuation – or whatever it was – with the Fire Nation prince really undermine all of that?
As much as she hated to admit it, she couldn't deny the truth of Huan's words: One good deed doesn't undo a lifetime of evil. But Zuko wasn't evil, he had good in him. He wasn't a monster like his father. He had been abused by the man who was supposed to care for him, he had been deprived of a loving mother, and he was afraid to open up to anyone. But he was good. He had risked himself to allow them to escape Commander Zhao.
But still, Huan's words rung true. You spent an awful lot of time together… Don't forget who he is, the nation he represents… you better pick a side.
Katara sighed in resolution. She had chosen her side; she was siding with Aang. She hadn't forgotten her promise. If she were to ever see Zuko again – and she desperately hoped that she would – he would have to join them, she decided. It was the only way she would be able justify her affection for him. She would have to convince Zuko to join her side.
…
With the Lieutenant's support and the help of Zuko's former crew, they made quick work of the remaining soldiers Zhao had stationed on the ship; restraining them and dumping them out on the deck. Lieutenant Jee's crew took back the bridge and changed course to the South, silently drifting away from the Navy cruisers in front of them.
Zuko paced back and forth on the deck, trying to decide the best course of action as he watched the horizon lighten in the east.
It was Shinko that finally broke the silence. "What are we going to do with them?" The Kyoshi asked, gesturing at the soldiers sitting on the deck in fetters.
"Throw them overboard?" Toph suggested with a puckish grin as she punched her fist into her palm.
"I- I can't swim!" One of the soldiers piped up in desperation.
"You're in the Fire Nation Navy and you can't swim?" Zuko scowled at the soldier before placing his fingers on the bridge of his nose and exhaling. "We'll give them one of the lifeboats. I don't want to kill anyone."
Toph shrugged, unfazed, as some of Zuko's crew members followed his instruction and began preparing a lifeboat for Zhao's captured soldiers.
"I still don't trust you." Shinko eyed him. "Even if you helped us escape."
"I never expected you to." Zuko grumbled in response.
"I mean, you still haven't apologized for burning down my village." She reminded him, a sharpness in her tone.
At this, Zuko looked up. He met Shinko's gaze momentarily, before furrowing his brow and returning his eyes to the deck. "I… I never meant to burn down Kyoshi," He mumbled. "I'm sorry."
She continued to watch him with skepticism, as if trying to gauge whether he was sincere. Eventually, she nodded and sighed, "So, where are we going?"
"Fong's Fortress."
"You're just going to take us all to Fong's Fortress?" She crossed her arms.
"That's where you were heading before," Was Zuko's cool reply as he looked between the Kyoshi Warriors standing nearby.
"We were, but what about all the children from Gao Ling?" Shinko frowned, glancing between the prince and the blind earthbender.
"My cousin Yi can handle it," Toph added with a casual wave of her hand.
"Who's Yi?" The Kyoshi asked.
"General Yi Fong. He's actually my dad's cousin, so I guess he's… my second uncle?" Toph contemplated aloud. "Either way, it'll be safer at the military base than returning back to Gao Ling."
"It's decided then," Zuko muttered, then turned to address members of his crew. "Tell Lieutenant Jee to set our course for General Fong's Fortress."
I'm so relieved I finally decided to stop editing this chapter and just post it haha perhaps I will go back later on and change some small details, but I was driving myself crazy, so I'm going to just leave it be for now.
Thoughts? Feelings? Please review? :)
...
With love,
A Storm