Chapter 5

Aang began to pace the room as Sokka explained to Crystal what in the world happened to Katara. Both Crystal and Katrina listened closely and finally understood what was going on.

"That's simple can't you tell?" Crystal giggled.

"Crystal that's enough. Aang came here for some earth bending not some stupid stuff on gossip." Katrina scolded the young earth bender.

Rolling her eyes Crystal went over to a closet and pulled out a suit of armor. Sighing she repeated what her mother had told her before the fire bender raid two years ago.

"This suit of armor represents what earth is. It's heavy and if you can master moving in it earth bending will be a piece of cake." Crystal said in a monotone voice. "I'll help you with getting the armor on but anything else you're on your own with." She slipped the armor over Aang's head and snapped the rest where it belonged. She stepped back and looked at the boy struggle to keep balance. Finally Aang fell over.

Sokka placed his hands on his knees and started laughing. "Aang, you're supposed to be strong."

Crystal smiled and excused herself from the group. She walked out of the room and prayed to the gods that Sokka would follower her. To her luck he did. She wanted to talk to him so much.

"Crystal, what's wrong?" Sokka asked tilting his head slightly.

Crystal pushed him up to a tree and began to kiss him hungrily. She had always felt something for the young warrior but it was different now. She was young the last time she saw him and didn't understand those feelings but now she understood it completely.

"Hey… Crystal… can… you… slow… down?" Sokka asked around the kisses.

Crystal pulled away from the boy and looked at him. He smiled and knocked her down. He kissed her and began to kiss her neck occasionally running his tongue over the spot he just kissed.

"Hey Sokka." Sokka stopped and looked up at Crystal. "Do you like me?"

"Ever since I first laid eyes on you." He replied kissing her passionately.

"Hey is that part of Sokka's training?" Aang asked walking out.

Both teens turned and looked at Aang who was walking easily. "How did you?" Crystal stuttered. "It took me a week to move. If not longer."

"I'm lucky I guess." Aang laughed. "So what's next?"

"The actual earth bending part."

Katara walked up to her room after the date with Ruko. That boy really had a way of kissing. She ran her fingers over her lips. She couldn't help thinking of how rude she was to Zuko though. After all it was his decision to come here slowing down the ship was only to protect her. She thought of what she had told Ruko.

'When I turn sixteen I'll marry you.'

Katara didn't know if those words actually came from her mouth or not. She realized what month it was. After about two months of traveling with Aang it was now May. She had less than a month before she turned sixteen.

She sighed and then smelt smoke. She opened Zuko's bedroom door and saw him sitting in front of what use to be his dresser with his shirt off.

"Come to brag on how Ruko is a better kisser than me?" Zuko asked without turning around.

Katara walked in shutting the door behind her. No matter how mad she could get at the banished prince she could never stay upset with him. "No I came to see if you were alright." She replied sitting down next to him. "I smelt the smoke and got worried."

"Glad to see you still care." He answered.

She leaned on his lap and looked into his closed eyes. "I'm sorry if I hurt you."

Zuko suddenly stood up and opened the door. "No your not if you were then you wouldn't have pulled that stunt in the first place. Now get out of my room slut."

She looked at Zuko feeling tears swell up into her eyes. She ran out of the room crying. She knew that Zuko didn't care about her and like wise she didn't care about him. It was just about capturing the Avatar to him. And Katara and him knew it.

Zuko sighed slamming the door closed. He turned and looked at the burning wood piece. The flames were sent rising up almost touching the ceiling. He knew that it would be dangerous so he had to put it out. Sighing he focused the flames until they were completely gone.

Zuko walked out onto his balcony and looked out over the garden. Seeing his brother and sister out in the yard he decided to listen up on them.

"You know that she has to be older than what she is." Ember said folding her arms.

Ruko sighed. "Yes she has to be sixteen years of age to be married in the Fire Nation. But see that's when an exception comes in. Remember mom's last ruling?" He asked smirking.

Zuko couldn't forget his mother; he couldn't forget anything about her. Her last ruling was two years before his banishment. It was something about being truly in love to marry. That had caused his father to go on his killing spree. Falling to his knees Zuko remembered what happen nearly four years ago a memory he was trying to forget.

Four years ago

A young Zuko walked down the halls with his mother. She was teaching him the art of Fire bending; something his father never had time for. His mother was beautiful and was well respected through out the nation. She had long light brown hair that was pulled back braided into three different braids. Her eyes were a golden yellow color much like his. For this actually training session she was wearing her normal outfit. An orange training jacket with black pants; something she was able to move freely in.

"Zuko, I want you to promise me that you wont use this type of bending against your brother and sister." She knelt down next to him. "They don't even know this yet. And I'm sure your father wont teach it to them."

"I promise mother." A smile flashed against the young prince the last one he would have for a long time.

Standing up she took Zuko into a training room secluded from everyone else. The only one standing in the room was Uncle Iroh, who shortly had a message for the queen. She told him she would deal with it after Zuko's training session.

It was his mother's judgment; Zuko was still too young to realize what was going on. Probably a reason he wasn't allowed to watch it, Iroh took him in anyway. His mother was now wearing a Chinese style dress with her red necklace around her neck. Zuko and Iroh hid themselves among the crowd near the front as the case started.

"Mea, you are accused of doubting the Fire Lord's marriage laws are you not?" A high judge asked.

"I am." Mea, Zuko's mother, replied standing up straight and looking in the eyes of the court. "I'm not about to back deny my doing."

The fire Nation lord walked out to the judge's seats. He looked at his wife and sighed. "Mea, please say that you're not the one."

"I will not deny anything my lord." Was her reply once again, "I'm not worried about the consequences that behold me."

The Fire Lord nodded. Turning to the crowd. "What you have before you is a traitor to the royal family." The crowd booed. "The punishment for being a traitor is banishment or death."

Zuko flinched at the word death. His mother, the only one who cared about him was going to die. He turned into his uncle's clothing to hide his tears. Iroh tried his best to reassure the young fire bender then looked towards his older to siblings; they were both in wide smiles.

"High council you have your choice. It is your responsibility to decide the girl's fate." The fire lord turned and left the room. "You have till sun down."

"Death will be issued for this. No other rulings will be issued." The high judge said turning to Mea he sighed. "I'm sorry my child. You have till sun down to say goodbye to your family."

Mea nodded turning towards the crowd she made her way down it. Zuko ran after her not caring who saw him.

"Mommy!" He cried running into her arms.

"Zuko, you're my son." She took off her necklace. "This is what I want you to give the girl you're going to marry." Mea wiped away his tears and kissed his forehead. "Do anything for the Fire Nation my boy. You'll make a great king some day."

Zuko nodded and wiped away his remaining tears. "Mom I blame Ember and Ruko for this."

"Don't baby." She stood up. "Zuko do what's best for the Fire Nation despite the consequences."

Zuko walked through the halls wanting to kill his father for what he did. It was stupid that Mea should die because of a better law. But things were hard for time for the nation. During the war they lost many of their faithful followers and even more lost friends and family. That night Zuko went to his mother's death sentence despite Iroh's warning.

"It won't be a good sight Prince Zuko." Iroh tried to reason with young prince. But Zuko wouldn't listen; he was going to be as stubborn as his mother.

Sneaking onto the roof where the sentence was held he saw everyone there pretty much. Zuko's siblings were smiling and his father wouldn't look directly at the executioner. Zuko snuck by those three to find out what was happening. Mea's eyes were full of sadness and fear; something Zuko hadn't seen from his mother. A brown bag was slipped over her head and the executioner looked at his father.

"Off with her head." Zuko gulped. His uncle was right he didn't want to see this. Before he had a chance to get away from the place an axe was dropped down on Mea's neck.

(Present time)

Zuko screamed at the sight of his mother dying in front of his eyes once again. It wasn't loud enough to alert anyone but it was still loud enough for himself to hear his own voice. Tears rolled down his face at the thought of losing his mother. He never told his uncle how they really killed Mea but either way Iroh some how knew.

"My siblings are planning to use that law to get Katara to marry them." Zuko stood up and wiped away his tears. He took out his mother's necklace and looked at it. It glittered red just like it had done four years ago.

"So if we just get Katara in your bed you'll get the thrown and we won't have to worry about our damn little brother capturing the so called Avatar." Ember smiled.

Zuko walked back over to his balcony determined to find out what the two were planning.

"It's easy all I have to do is convince her that she by the time father comes out for his yearly visit." Zuko gulped, Iroh and him had to get out of there by less than a month if he wanted to survive his father's visit. But the way things were going with him and Katara it looked like it wasn't going to happen.

Running into to Katara's room he opened the door and found the room dark and he heard a sniffling noise. She must be crying, Zuko thought to himself.

"Go away I'm just a slut remember." Katara sniffed.

"No you're not. I was just letting my temper speak." He gulped at the next words he was about to say. "You're the most beautiful thing in all three kingdoms and I care about you more than anything else."

Katara sat up and wiped away her tears. "Really?"

Zuko smiled and walked over to her wrapping his arms around her. "Really," he replied kissing her forehead. Both laid down Katara moving closer to him for body heat.

He smiled brushing her hair with his fingers and thought, Mom I think I've found the girl.

Author's Note: Ok my faithful readers I'm running out of ideas I have one but it's not ready for print yet. So if you guys would be so kind to give any ideas to me I'd be thankful.

Zuko: She gives credit where it belongs so don't... be afraid to give any ideas.

K15: I can use most.

Ruko: Off with his head!

K15: Ignore my weird boy he's just obsessed. Anyway plz review. Later. K15