Authors note: This one is long, so sorry it took a while. And plus, I was just too lazy.
"NOO!" shouted Ayame as she fell to the floor. "I'm not going back! I'm not going back to the clinic!"
"…Ayame," said Katara helping her up. "We're going to the Fire Nation. Not the clinic."
"Yeah," added Aang with a big smile. "There's nothing you need to worry about!"
"Hurry up!" came the guard's voice. "We don't have all day!"
Ayame got up off the floor and followed the others. They walked through the hall where the front of the ship opens to a latter type thingy.
When they finally left the ship, everybody was staring at them funny. One, because they were dressed funny, or dressed like royalty. Two, because they came off the Fire Prince's ship. That was something you didn't see everyday.
Up in front Ariel and Zuko was locked arm in arm, walking through the crowd of stares.
"Uh Zuko," whispered Ariel. "Can't you like…tell them to stop?"
"I cant," whispered Zuko back. "I'm supposed to be exiled. I can't do anything to control people."
"Oh that sucks,"
"Tell me about it."
Ariel looked back to the others. Ayame was playing with Eduardo, who was playing with a ball. Sokka was picking at his finger. Katara was looking at Aang. Aang was looking depressed. She looked back at Ayame who was flicking some guy off.
Ariel looked back ahead when they stopped. Someone was standing in their way. And Ariel HATES it when someone is in her way. But she didn't say anything, for it was…DUN DUN DUNNN…Commander Zhao.
"It seems out Prince had broke the law." Said Commander Zhao with an evil smirk on his face. "You were only allowed to return if you had the Avatar,"
Zuko grinned. "I know."
Zhao's smile faded. He stepped aside to let them through. As Ariel came by, she stuck her tongue out at him. He ignored it, but he locked eyes with Aang.
As Aang walked by, he couldn't help get this feeling that someone was watching him. Then he looked up and saw that Eduardo was not more then 2 inches away from his face.
"Meep." Came from Eduardo's mouth.
"Eduardo," came Ayame's voice. "What did I tell you about bothering people? …You can only do that to Sokka."
"Hey!" shouted Sokka.
Eduardo jumped off of where ever she was, and landed on Sokka's head. She started playing with his little ponytail thingy.
"Ayame!" groaned Sokka. "Get your little pet off my head!"
"I can't do anything about it," said Ayame fixing her eyes on someone in the crowd. "She has picked her spot. It's rude if I moved her." Ayame focused on that boy in the crowd. He seemed to stick out a lot. Ayame blinked and he was gone.
"What are you looking at?" asked Katara, aware of Ayame's absent-mindedness…which wasn't unusual.
"Hm? Oh nothing…"
Soon, they came up to a giant castle. It was guarded by lots of guards. Enough to make a fleet. They were obviously guarding the Fire Lord.
When they came up to the doors, the guards wouldn't let them pass.
"Tell my father I have returned." Said Zuko calmly.
"We can't." said one of the guards.
"Fire Lord Ozai is in a very important meeting right now." Added the other.
"Best not disturb him."
"Tell him we have the Avatar," said Iroh all of the sudden.
Their eyes widened. "Right away."
"Come in."
While walking in Zuko said under his breath. "Oh yeah sure, listen to him."
"Stay here," commanded one of the guards. "I'll go get him."
"So…" came Sokka's voice from the back. "We have to meat your father?"
"That's right," said Zuko staring straight ahead.
"You don't really want to, do you?" asked Ariel soft enough so that only Zuko could hear.
Zuko didn't say anything. He just silently shook his head.
Ariel looked down. Why did he even bother to come back if he didn't want to? Just to restore his honor? His thrown? Or did he just want his father to respect him? Ariel knew what happened between them. Did his father really do that to him? Well of coarse. She was right there when it happened.
She looked back up to see the guard returning.
"He will be ready to see you in a hour," was his respond.
"Fine," said Zuko. "Come on, let's go get something to eat."
Sokka's face lit up. "REALLY!"
"…Really."
"YES!"
They all went to the dining room, where head chefs were preparing dinner. All the food was brought out in silver platters, with beautiful designs decorated with them. The food was delicious looking. Spaghetti and meet balls, watermelons, meat, salad for Aang, and much other stuff.
Sokka was going crazy over all the food. Just the mere sight of it made his drool. Ayame just stared at him while trying not to get his drool all over her food. Aang on the other hand didn't eat any food. How could Zuko go from evil, to good and giving? It just didn't make any sense.
"Aang," said Katara. "What's wrong? Why aren't you eating?"
"Huh?" Aang came back into focus. "Oh nothing. I'm just…not hungry at the time."
"Oh, okay."
Katara went back to her eating. The food was quite good actually. Not some of that crappy stuff that they were fed on the ship. Man, that stuff was nasty. Not even Eduardo ate it. And she eats practically anything. Even Sokka's sock…that took a strong stomach.
"Come on, eat something Aang," said Sokka, mouth full of food.
Ayame smacked Sokka on the back of the head. "It's bad table manners to talk with you mouth full!"
Sokka swallowed his food. "Sorry."
Suddenly, a guard came into the dining room.
"Fire Lord Ozai," he said. "…Is dead!"
Everyone gasped.
The guard started laughing. "I'm just screwing with you! I can't believe you fell for that!"
"That's not funny!" shouted Ayame.
Everyone shut up and looked at her.
"Have you ever had one of your parents die? No. I don't think so!" Ayame stopped. "…I want pie." She said it like she never had that outburst.
"Okay…" the guard was obviously confused. "Well, he is ready to see you now."
They all walked down the dark hallway silently, each thinking their own thoughts.
Zuko thought about how his father will react. Will he welcome him with his honor? Will he yell at him? What? It was all so confusing. What will he think? Right now he wished he were dead. Dead and gone from the world.
Ariel worried about Zuko. She knew what this meant to him. She knew his father was and insolent pig whom only cared about himself! What kind of person is that? And why didn't he care about her?
Ayame was thinking the obvious. Nothing. Then it hit her. The reason why she ran away from home. She had insulted Ozai, and that's why her parents were dead. Will he remember her? She grabbed on to Sokka's hand and squeezed. She tried so hard not to have a nervous brake down.
Sokka felt Ayame's hand go into his. Then he felt her squeeze it, quite hard actually. He could tell she was scared. He was scared also. But he would not let it show. Not a big, strong, warrior like him. But he could feel his heart pounding faster and faster. He was almost certain that the others could hear it.
Katara was the most worried of all. She feared for Aang. What would happen to him? Would Fire Lord Ozai kill him? No. He would be reborn into the water tribe and they would have to look for him again. Would they keep him locked up? Or would they use his powers for evil?
Aang just kept his eyes down to the floor. He didn't want to think about what would happen. That would just make it worse. Maybe, it wouldn't be so bad. Maybe, Ozai was a fun person…once you get to know him. But he knew he was wrong.
Finally, they reached the door. For what was only a mere 5 minutes, seemed like 5 hours. The doors slowly opened, revealing what seemed like a giant arena.
There were Fire Nation symbols everywhere, with curtains hanging down with the same design. A lot of candles glowed. There was one long table for where meetings were held meetings, and war tactics. And, above it, was a fire pit with one chair, and a shadowy figure sitting in it.
Ayame squeezed Sokka's hand tighter and tighter. She was ready to scream. She felt Sokka flinch a bit, but maybe it was just her.
"Father," said Zuko all calm. He was trying not to sound to demanding. "I have returned."
"You were only supposed to return when you have captured the Avatar." Came Fire Lord Ozai's booming voice from his thrown.
"And I have father," Zuko stepped aside, so that only Aang was showing.
"So this is the Avatar?" came Ozai's voice. "Ha. You're the person that my men and son had so hard time capturing?"
Aang was afraid to speak at first, but seeing as what he did to Zuko FOR speaking, he didn't want to take his chances. "Yes, you highness."
"What a pathetic bunch they are then." Ozai glared at Zuko.
Zuko held his rage inside of him. He felt like beating the shit out of him, but he knew he wouldn't win. And plus, he would never fight his father.
"I'm sorry I disappoint you father," was all that Zuko could say.
"Avatar," said Ozai. "Come to me." When Aang didn't move, he stated it again, only louder and more demanding.
Aang airbending his way up to the thrown. He was afraid, but it was his job not to show it.
"What is your name Avatar?" he asked.
"A-Aang." Aang stuttered.
"No need to be afraid Aang. I wont hurt you like my honor-less son."
"But he never hurt me, he was real nice."
"SILENT!"
Now everybody could see what kind of man he was. He wasn't a man at all. He was just a child with a temper.
"Excuse me your highness," Katara spoke up. "May we get some rest, we are very tired."
"Oh well who do we have here?" asked Ozai.
"I'm Katara of the Water Tribe." Said Katara.
"I WILL SAY WHEN YOU MAY SLEEP!" he shouted suddenly.
Everybody took a step back besides Zuko and Ariel.
"Who are the rest…behind you." He asked, suddenly calm again.
"That's my brother Sokka, and that is Ayame." Answered Katara.
"Ah, Ayame." Said Ozai. "Long time no see. My dear Aye, how are you doing?" Ayame just glared at him. The way he said it, so taunting, so vile. She was ready to pounce on him.
Zuko, Sokka, mainly everyone was surprised that he knew her. But of coarse, Fire Lord Ozai tormented and killed so many families that it wasn't uncommon for him to know someone.
"Father," said Zuko. "With all do respects, may we please go rest? We are tired from the trip here."
"Fine, you may sleep," he said. "But the Avatar gets a special room." He paused for a second. "In the chamber."
O.o
They didn't exactly get the royal treatment. They all had to stay in one room. At least there were separate beds, and the beds were pretty nice. But it was so hot in the room. With everybody cramped together and everybody breathing made it even hotter!
"Hey Sokka," whispered Katara. "Are you awake?"
"I am now," Sokka whispered back. "What is it?"
"I'm worried about Aang."
"Katara, we all are. He'll be fine. Now try to get some sleep."
Katara couldn't sleep though. She started thinking about her dreams again. It probably was Ozai who was hurting Aang. And that wasn't good.
The next morning was horrible. Eduardo had caught a fever. Katara hadn't slept all night. Ayame was hungry. Sokka was…Sokka. Zuko and Ariel were lucky that they gotten a room of their own, with air conditioning and room service.
"Sokka get up," Katara shook Sokka, trying to wake him.
"5 more minutes Gran Gran." Sokka muttered in his sleep.
"Sokka get up!" shouted Katara in his ear.
"AHHH!" Sokka jumped up.
Katara and Ayame started laughing.
"It's not funny…" muttered Sokka.
O.o
"Are you ready?" asked Ariel. She put her hand on Zuko's shoulder.
Today was Zuko's welcome back ceremony. A ceremony for him to regain his honor.
"I don't know," he finally admitted. "Will they welcome me back? After I have been banished for 2 years?"
"Of coarse they will," said Ariel. "They will except my Princy…THEY BETTER!"
"Princy?" asked Zuko.
"It's your new name!" explained Ariel. "I made it up last night!"
"But-."
Zuko was cut off by Ariel's death glare. He did not want to make her mad. The last time he did that, he almost had a scar on his other eye. And not from a burn.
Authors note: Sorry this one was short…well shorter then I wanted it to be. Next chapter they will make their escape! MUHAHAHAHAHAHA! PLEASE REVIEW!
