Chapter Two
Prince Zuko paced restlessly around his quarters below deck. He had been there for hours now and was no closer to finding a lead on the Avatar then he had been when he started. I just can't find where he's gone. He thought angrily. Why does this always happen! His gaze fell onto an old map that was pinned to the wall. It was covered with red X's that marked all the places he'd searched in vain for the Avatar, only to turn up empty handed. In frustration he grabbed the ink quill he had been writing with and flung it like a dart at the map. It stuck with a resounding THUD! in the center of the map. He glanced at it and was surprised to see it had landed on a spot not covered in red X's. Curious, he walked over to take a closer look. HE stared at it for a few seconds and suddenly his mouth dropped in surprise.
"I don't believe it…." He whispered in astonishment. Suddenly he smacked himself in the forehead. "Of course! How stupid I've been!" He pulled the quill out of the map. It left a tiny hole where it had struck.
"Uncle! UNCLE! UN-!"
"Alright Prince Zuko, there's no need to yell. I may not be as young as I used to be but my hearing works fine." His uncle came into the room still sipping a cup of tea. "What is it?" he asked.
"Look!" Prince Zuko pointed in triumph to the tiny spot on the map. "I can't believe I didn't see it before! The few places we've spotted the Avatar have been along the coast, and they go in a pattern, though I didn't realize it until now. And look! The next, unsearched place is the small island of Shitoku." He waved excitedly at it.
His uncle studied the island. "Yes, it does seem a logical guess. Would you like me to alert the commander of the change in our course?"
"No, I will tell him myself. I need some fresh air. Besides," added Zuko smirking, "I think you would prefer to stay down here and enjoy your tea."
His uncle shrugged, "Suit yourself. By the way," he raised an eyebrow, "Is there any particular reason that this spot on the map has a hole in it?"
Prince Zuko felt his face flush, "No! No there's not." He said huffily and stalked back above deck.
His uncle just laughed and shook his head, "Teenagers! I'll never understand them."
There was still and silent. The moonlight shone brightly into the little hut where Aang lay on his bed, staring at the ceiling. It was late but he just couldn't seem to sleep. Something just didn't feel right but he couldn't figure out what.
"What do you think Momo?" he said, rolling over to address the lemur that was sitting on his bedside table, staring at him thoughtfully, "Maybe I'm just nervous about reaching the North Pole. I don't know. I just don't see how I can possibly learn it all before the comet comes. What if I fail? What if I can't save the world?"
Momo looked at him for a minute then jumped onto the bed and licked his face. Aang laughed and stroked his head. "You're right. I'll just have to try my best."
He rolled over and closed his eyes. His thoughts drifted to when he first met Katara and Sokka. So much had happened since then. If he could make it this far surely he could go on. He hoped.
Crack! Aang sat bolt upright, his eyes flying open.
"Katara," he asked groggily, rubbing his eyes. I must have dozed off. He thought.
Crack! The noise came again, closer now. Aang slid swiftly out of bed and slipped quietly over to the door. He opened it slowly and peeked out into the night. Everything looked peaceful and quiet. Perhaps to quiet. Without making a sound, Aang slipped out of the hut with Momo on his shoulder and headed down towards the shore.
"There!" a voice suddenly boomed out of the night, erupting in the silence and causing Aang to jump and Momo to scamper away chattering. A shadow appeared beside the next hut and Aang quickly dived behind the nearest tree.
"What is it?" came another voice. It sounded slightly familiar but Aang couldn't quite place it. "What did you find?"
Two figures appeared in front of the hut. Aang gasped in surprise. "Firebenders," he muttered under his breath. One was a stranger but the other he recognized all to well. It was Prince Zuko, one of his deadly enemies that seemed to show up at every turn to try and stop him "What are they doing here? Surely they couldn't have found us! I must warn Katara!"
"Something moved! Over there in the bushes!" the other firebender said, running towards where Aang had just come from. Aang held his breath, his heart pounding in his chest. Please don't let them see me; please don't let them see me.
The two firebenders came closer and closer. Just when Aang thought he was going to have to fight his way out, Momo suddenly leaped out of a tree, landing on the firebender's head.
"Ah! AH! Get it off! Get it off! Oh my goodness it's eating me alive!" he screamed, running around and swatting at the lemur which leapt away into the night.
"You idiot!" Prince Zuko said, hitting the firebender in the back of the head, "You'll wake the whole village! It was a stupid lemur! Come on, there's nothing here. Let's search the other huts." They turned and walked back down the beach. Aang let out a sigh of relief and quickly ran into the woods. I'll have to circle around to Katara's hut. I can't let the firebender's know where I am.
He crept through the woods, as quietly as he could, until he arrived behind Katara's hut. Good, they haven't been here yet. He thought with relief. He slowly parted the brush and crept to the back of the hut.
"Katara," Aang called softly, "Katara, can you hear me?"
"Gotcha!" suddenly a hand clamped down on his shoulder. Aang yelped in surprise and tried to twist around, but his captor had a firm grasp and was already dragging him back through the trees.
"Prince Zuko! Prince Zuko," his captor shouted, "I have found the Avatar! He is here! Come quick!"
Aang continued to struggle but realized it was useless. "Katara! Sokka! Help! He-!"
A hand clamped down over his mouth. "Pipe down you little pipsqueak!" Suddenly they burst into a clearing. Aang's captor hurled him onto the ground at Prince Zuko's feet. He landed with a thud and scrambled up.
Aang glanced around him for an escape route but he could see no way out. He was surrounded by a ring of firebenders. Prince Zuko was eyeing him in triumph.
"Well, well Avatar. We meet again." His voice was filled with malice. "I wouldn't try escaping if I were you. My men have orders to blast you at the sign of resistance and it would be a pity to lose something so valuable."
"Aang!" Katara's voice suddenly rang out across the clearing. Prince Zuko spun around, the smirk slipping from his face.
"You!" he said as Katara and Sokka emerged from the trees. "Guards! Get them! The Avatar must not escape!"
Half the guards ran towards Katara and Sokka, the rest started to surround Aang but he was too quick. Before they could reach him he flipped backwards through the air and over their heads. The air exploded with bright flashes of light as fire began to rain down around them. Aang heard Prince Zuko shout just as a fireball whizzed by his left ear. He conjured up a tornado of air and aimed it at the nearest guards. There was a confused shout followed by a thud as the guards went flying.
"Aah!" Sokka's cry reached Aang's ears and he turned to see him on the ground, clutching his left arm in pain. His head dropped as he passed out.
"Sokka!" Aang whipped out his flying staff and jumped into the air. The wings popped out of it and he flew over the guard's heads, dodging fireballs, towards Katara. She was desperately trying to hold the guards back with waves of water she was conjuring up from the sea. However, despite her best efforts, they slowly began to advance.
"Hold on Katara!" Aang cried. He dodged another guard. Suddenly Prince Zuko appeared in front of Katara and Sokka.
"Katara! Look out!" Aang gave an extra burst of speed and swooped at Zuko. Zuko ducked, shouting, and aimed a blast of fire at Aang. Aang swerved and sent a blast of air at Zuko.
"Give it up Avatar! You cannot defeat me!"
Suddenly Prince Zuko sent three fireballs whizzing at Aang. He tried to dodge but wasn't fast enough. The third fireball hit the right wing of his glider and he suddenly plummeted from the sky.
"AAAHHH!" Aang cried as the ground rushed up to meet him. He twisted and sent a blast of air to break his fall. His timing was off, however, and he landed with a bone-jarring thump.
"Aang!" Katara shouted, suddenly aiming a blast of water at the back of Zuko's head. It hit him square in the face as he started to turn around. For a second he looked shocked, then his eyes narrowed in anger and fire began to grow brighter and brighter in his hands.
"You little wretch! You'll pay for that! I'm sick of these games! I have business to attend to." In a sudden whir of movement, Prince Zuko sent fire hurling at Katara. Gasping she tried to dodge but his moves were too swift. A fireball grazed her leg and she cried out and stumbled.
"Katara! Katara!" Aang pulled himself to his feet and ran towards the furious Prince. "Leave her alone! It's me you want!" But Prince Zuko, still furious from his earlier soaking, was focused on only one thing: revenge. He sent a final burst of fire which exploded in front of Katara, showering her with sparks. She quickly threw her hands up to protect her face, the sparks rained down on them and began to burn her skin. Suddenly a spark landed on the bottom of her dress and began to smoke, then caught fire.
"Your dress!" Aang shouted in fear. He was about to dart forward but suddenly strong hands grab his arms from behind and twisted them behind his back. He turned his head to see two of the guards he had knocked down earlier. He managed to fight one of them off but they kept circling around him, making it harder to escape.
Katara, her faced twisted in pain, had conjured up a wave of water and dumped it on the fire of her dress. However, this was the distraction Prince Zuko was looking for. With almost all his men down, he realized that he couldn't capture the Avatar alone, so he had worked up another plan of action. He rushed forward, while Katara's guard was down, and grabbed her by the arm, dragging her away. She cried out in protest and began to fight him but he turned around and aimed a fireball which landed only feet from Sokka's head.
"Come along quietly, or your brother won't ever wake up again." He said in a threateningly soft voice, staring straight into her eyes. Katara stared at him then glanced at Aang.
"Katara!" Aang cried, finally managing to knock the guards out. He rushed across the clearing towards where Zuko and Katara were. But Prince Zuko was to fast. Dragging Katara behind him, he went up the ramp onto his ship. He pulled the ramp up behind him and the ship started to sail away.
"Listen closely Avatar! If you ever want to see your little friend again you will do exactly as I say. I hear that you have learned of the comet that is to come at the end of this summer. Once it comes it will be too late to stop the fire nation, your powers will be useless. You could never become strong enough in time to defeat us but just in case I'm going to keep your friend with me. She will pay for your making things so difficult for me. I'm taking her back to the fire nation. I should reach there by summer's end. If you want her to live you will have to show up there the day the comet comes. Then it will be too late to stop me and the fire nation will have won once and for all." Laughing he turned and dragged Katara below deck.
"Noo!" Aang fell to his knees. What am I going to do? He thought sadly. What am I going to do?