Katara watched helplessly as the guards dragged off Zuko. She knew it was her fault. Maybe if she had put up a fight or even gone with Zuko in the first place she might have been able to save his life. But now things were different. Zuko was going to suffer death because of her. She had to do something. Running towards the door she tried to get out. Ruko stepped in front of her and slammed the door shut.
"Let me out!" Katara yelled banging on the door trying to get it open.
Ruko smiled as he welded the door shut. "I don't think so. I'll be back for you in the morning so you can see my brother's death."
Katara couldn't believe that monster. He really was just a flirt, and only cared about himself like she was told earlier. Running back to the bed she jumped on it and began to cry uncontrollably. She really did care for Zuko more than life itself. And now she was going to be taken away from him forever.
With Sokka and Aang
Aang had mastered earth bending quickly. Katrina was impressed with it. Looking around she saw Crystal and Nyla running towards. She had sent the two to the market for supplies. Sokka ate a lot more than he did when he was younger so that meant they needed a lot more food.
"Grandmother!" Crystal yelled running up and out of breath. She put her hands on her knees to regain her breath. Running all the way here was hard.
"What is it child?"
Nyla popped up and smiled. "The prince of the fire nation has a death sentence. He's to die at dawn."
"Which one?"
Aang and Sokka had come to see what in the world was going on here. To their surprise they found themselves in the presence of Crystal, Katrina, and Nyla.
"Prince Zuko." Crystal said regaining her breath.
Aang dropped Momo and looked at Sokka. "Sokka that creep must be in a fire nation city."
Sokka nodded his head understanding what the young boy was trying to say. "Katara's in trouble."
Katrina turned her head to the two boys and smiled. Handing them a basket she said, "You must bring her back. She might be in the nearest fire Nation city."
"That's a three days walking trip north." Nyla piped in.
Crystal hit the younger girl on the head. "You're going to need a guide these hills are oh so dangerous."
Katrina smiled as the two girls headed towards the cabin to get their stuff. Knowing that the Avatar would need earth bending on his side if he was going to successfully defeat both Ruko and Ember. Both girls came back out with their stuff and smiled at one another. They were going on a real adventure like the kind that only Katrina would tell them when they were young.
"You two this is dangerous…" Sokka tried to convince.
Crystal shook her head. "Aang is going to need some help and I'm sure a little earth bender wont hurt anyone. And two is even better."
Sokka shrugged as they loaded up Appa. "Take care granny."
Katrina blew off the group of kids as her way of saying good luck. Silently she was praying that they stayed safe during this fight. The fate of the world depended on keep Zuko alive.
With Katara
Katara was pacing her room. She knew what was going to happen before the night was over. She wasn't ready to have kids let alone sleep around like some kind of slut. She wanted to spend her first night with her one true love. At that moment in time it looked like it wasn't going to happen. The door opened slowly and Ruko was standing there leaning on the frame. She really didn't have a plan but thought it was best if she just did what her heart told her to do. Running towards the fire bender she ducked under his arms just in time to avoid a hug or a kiss. Looking down the hall she turned left trying to remember the way she had come in with Zuko a few days earlier. She found her self in front of a grand staircase and looking around trying to find a safe way to get down it. Turning around she heard footsteps coming down from her room.
I will not let that boy get me. Katara thought franticly and jumped down the stairs six at a time. It was like playing tag but the object of this game was not to get caught. She needed to find Zuko and get him out of there. There must have been some way to get down there without being noticed.
Suddenly she was pulled into an open door. Her mouth was quickly covered so that she would not alert Ruko where she was. Looking up at her 'kidnapper' she found it to be Iroh.
"Thank god it's you." Katara gasped as soon as Ruko ran past her. "I was worried it was like Ember or Ruko himself."
Iroh held a finger telling her to be quiet. He lit a fireball and led them down a hall that she was in. They finally stopped at the entranceway of the castle. There she found Sokka, Aang, Crystal, and Nyla waiting for her. They had gotten there quicker than anyone had thought.
"Sokka you're safe!" Katara shrieked but was cut short because Sokka covered her mouth as not to alert Ruko.
"Quiet. You're going to blow our cover." Katara smiled, Sokka actually did care about the safety and worrying about saving Zuko.
Katara looked around. It seemed that Crystal and Nyla had come along just to help Aang with his earth bending powers. She smiled at the two girls and then turned to Iroh.
"Zuko's going to lose his head." Katara frowned.
Iroh nodded then stuck his head out to see if the coast was clear. When it was he motioned them to follow him. Walking around the castle itself was harder than it seemed because they had to dodge all these different kinds of guards and stuff just to get down to the dungeons. Dodging consisted of Iroh running around screaming that Katara was dead or various Katara stories. It worked up into a point… that point happened to be Ruko himself.
"Uncle you haven't seen Katara have you?" Ruko asked as Aang and Sokka grabbed the water bender by the arms to stop her from moving.
Iroh smiled and turned around him. "No not since my nephew was condemned to death. I was wondering if she escaped. After all the Avatar is in the area." Uncle pushed Ruko off into a different direction and nodded towards Nyla to continue the track.
Nyla nodded and motioned for the others to follow her. They carefully snuck around Ruko and the retired general and made their way down to the dungeon. At the same time they were thinking of a plan.
Katara stood outside the door towards Zuko's imprisonment. She was nervous turning towards Sokka and the others for support she shivered. It was cold down here and things were going to be harder especially if she wanted to get Zuko out in one piece. Sokka gave her a reassuring nod before Katara pushed open the door. Zuko was chained to the wall and his head was hanging down. She couldn't help but look away figuring that somehow this was her fault.
"Katara?" Zuko asked looking up at her. Katara turned back to look at him. Running up to him she gave him a hug saddened by the way he couldn't embrace her back.
"I'm sorry I should have done something to stop you from this fate." Zuko chuckled and smiled.
"Katara it was my fault not yours. Maybe if I wasn't jealous of you and Ruko I might have not opened my big mouth in the first place." It was Katara's turn to laugh. "What's so funny?"
"It's simple you're not one to apologize to a girl. And the only reason I went for Ruko was because you told me that you didn't love me." Katara leaned up against him. "And now my actions have gotten you condemned to death." She began to cry.
Zuko leaned his head on her back. "Katara, don't beat yourself up over this. Think of a way…" The door opened again not giving Zuko a chance to finish his sentence.
Sokka stood in the doorway with Nyla behind him. Nodding towards the girl she ran in like a monkey and up the wall. Zuko and Katara both raised an eyebrow in confusion. Nyla came back down and hung upside down.
"Hey I'm Nyla." She introduced herself to Zuko. "You must be Katara's boyfriend. Sokka said that you've got a good heart but you don't use it the right way and take everything for granted."
Zuko looked towards Sokka who just smiled. "Aang and Crystal are giving us a little distraction. You Zuko are a very lucky guy to have my sister care for you so much."
"And why's that?"
"Because if she didn't, I'd leave you to rot in this dungeon or let you go through with this death sentence." Sokka smiled as Nyla began to babble again.
"Did you know Sokka thinks you should marry Katara because you two would make such a cute couple. Even though…" Katara looked up at Nyla and hit her.
"Would you just unlock him?" Katara yelled.
"Right." Sticking one of her homemade, or rock made in her case, lockpicks in the lock she twisted them and they fell off of Zuko.
"Thanks twerp. But now what about the part of escaping?" Zuko asked rubbing his sore wrists.
"That's easy." She said as she formed a Zuko sculpture in front of them. "Now he'll never know the difference… but you do need to throw your voice."
"That maybe a problem." Katara said.
Zuko smiled and leaned on Katara's head. "That's where you're wrong. Just give me sometime to think of a plan…" He stopped when he heard footsteps coming down the stairs. Running into an empty cell Zuko dragged both Nyla and Sokka. By the time they were in Katara was left alone and face to face with a very furious Ruko.
K15: Okay faithful readers that's chapter 7. It works out for my next chapter. But either way it will work out in the end. Just keep reading. I'm assuring you it will get better. I hope. Later. K15