Chapter 10
Katara immediately fell to her knees and began to cry. It was her fault in the first place that Zuko was hurt or worse. She couldn't think about it. Both Sokka and Aang tried to calm her down the best they could, but as you could imagine it wasn't working well. Katara kept thinking the worse happened to Zuko and everything. She took in a couple of deep breaths.
"Lets continue on with the plan." Katara stood up and looked at the two boys. "We'll worry about Zuko later. All we can do is hope that…" She stopped mid way and turned around.
It seemed odd that things were still quiet after Zuko and Ruko's disappearance. Katara knew both boys well and knew that neither of them would go done to the other quietly. She walked her way down the hall and came face to face with Lord Ozai, Zuko, and Ruko.
"I found him father he was trying to kill me." Ruko said pulling Zuko's ponytail.
"Then I guess his execution will be earlier than I thought." Ozai replied patting the older boy on the head. "Go ahead and inform your sister. I'll be getting ready for his death."
"What should I tell Katara?" Ruko asked. "And where should I put the boy until there?"
"Put the boy in chains and leave him here. I don't care what the hell you tell that girl. In fact she doesn't have anything going for her except looks." Ozai said turning around heading the opposite way.
Katara hid herself quickly as Ruko chained Zuko to the wall and made his way up to Ember's room. After Ruko was out of site Katara ran up to Zuko. She fell to eye level with him almost immediately.
"Katara I'm so sorry." Zuko said as Katara caressed his scar. "I shouldn't have brought you into my family problem."
Katara placed a finger on Zuko's mouth. "Now Zuko there is nothing wrong with making mistake. After all everybody makes them." She leaned up against Zuko. "I swear everything will be okay."
"It's not nice to swear." Zuko chuckled. He stopped and looked on the other side of Katara. Both the Avatar and her brother were watching them. "Quiet staring it's rude." He snapped.
Sokka walked up to them and checked Zuko head where he had been bleeding before. It was now a scab but still something to worry about. "Okay girl let go of lover boy and lets go before his brother comes back." Sokka said turning to Katara.
"Katara in my room should be Uncle. Tell him what happened and he should help you." He pulled out a necklace that was around his neck. Katara gasped at how beautiful it was. "This was my mother's. I want you to have though. And don't worry about me I still have one trick up my sleeve that only Uncle knows about. Now hurry. You've got only minutes before my execution."
Katara took the necklace and put it around her neck. She turned towards Sokka who nodded. She leaned down and kissed Zuko before running off towards his room. Sokka turned towards him and smiled.
"Like I said before you're lucky my sister cares for you so much." Sokka said.
"Yeah I know. And I wish I could show her the same affection back." He replied. "Now get out of here before I get angry."
Katara flung open the door and saw Iroh on the bed sipping tea. "In the closet." He said pointing towards the door. "Zuko had this all planed out just in case. Don't worry my nephew will be the father of your children sooner or later."
"Iroh not now." Katara said flinging the doors to the closet open. "I don't get it there's a dress. A very pretty dress but a dress all the same."
"It's his mother's okay was his mother's. He wants you to wear that to the execution." Iroh smiled. "He actually wants you to be able to move freely and blend in. Plus I think he has something big in his head. Only he could do this."
"So why did send Crystal and Nyla on that mission?" Katara asked.
"To spend more time with you." Iroh replied pushing Katara in the bathroom. "Just trust Zuko. He knows things that neither of his siblings know."
Katara nodded and quickly changed into the outfit that Zuko left for her. When she walked out Iroh had a pair of red boots in his hands.
"Things will be different. I know Zuko hasn't told anyone about this yet but his mother died in that dress and that dress is important to him. You must be a special girl for him to tell you to wear the dress." Iroh smiled and looked out the window. "Dawn. Katara just remember any basics you were taught over your life and everything will go fine."
"And then you'll get your nieces and nephews?" Katara asked slipping on the boots.
"Yes you know me well. You should be part of the family." Iroh laughed pushing Katara out of the door. "Just trust Zuko and everything will work out perfectly."
Katara walked up to the roof and felt a strange sensation doing it. She knew that Zuko would be dying but she went there anyway. First was the proof that he deserved to die then the actually death sentence. Katara wiped away a few tears that were sliding down her face. She had to brave for Zuko's sake. She walked onto the roof and saw there was a crowd and pushed her way to the front.
"Prince Zuko you're accused of entering the fire nation during your banishment. And speaking out during a war meeting." Ozai read off a list. "What do you have to say?"
"I deny none of it." Zuko replied standing up straight. "I only had the fire nations best interests at heart."
"Sounds familiar." Ozai said then smirked. "You look just like your mother standing there like that. And you're going to die the same way too."
"So do I get an hour to say good bye to my family?" Zuko asked.
"What family?" Ruko asked. "You're sixteen."
"You're right there, Katara is my girlfriend that whom you stole. Remember mom gave me her stuff saying I can marry the girl with her stuff." Zuko smiled. "And look at what she's wearing."
All eyes were on Katara. She looked down at what she was wearing then up at Zuko. She narrowed her eyes as he came near her.
"What in the world do you think your doing?" Katara hissed.
"My mother taught me two things that my siblings don't know." Zuko put his hands on her shoulders. "One was that use any tactic to get your girl. And two was a fire-bending move that will be revealed in time."
Katara smiled and asked, "What about your plan?"
"This is it." Zuko whispered. "Katara I'm sorry about having to leave you here alone. But things will get better I promise."
Zuko kissed Katara and then walked back to his spot. Katara touched her lips and hoped that he knew what he was doing.
"That was sweet boy. But your brother gets the girl now." Ozai said. "Any last words?"
"Yeah just a couple." Zuko smirked. "Katara's not getting married to Ruko. And I'm not dying."
"Right and I am not the Fire lord." Ozai laughed.
"You wont be." Zuko's hands were tied behind his back. "I swear by all that is fire that you won't be fire lord any more." He smirked and winked at Katara.
A guard forced Zuko down as Ruko walked up. Ruko grabbed an axe and picked it up. "So baby brother you're the second to die. Tell mother how much I hate her." Ruko swung the axe down and Katara quickly covered her eyes not see Zuko's death.
There was a short scream, a flash of light, and suddenly it got really hot. Katara opened her eyes and saw that Zuko still had his head. In fact he still had every part of him but he was now glowing a dark red color. Ruko was on the ground by the wall and he was missing his right arm and his right half of his face was disintegrated.
"See brother what happens when you don't pay attention to mother's lessons you get burned." Zuko snapped and walked dangerously close to Ruko. "And look you have a scar to match mine."
Katara laughed slightly then looked at Ruko who was getting on his feet. She pulled out water from her canteen and splashed the boy who was flaming from his anger. "Didn't your mother ever teach you not to play with fire? You might get hurt." Katara said putting out his flame.
She ran towards Zuko and grabbed his arm. "Lets get out of here." Pulling slightly on it. "We're going to killed." She tried moving forward a bit but Zuko stayed where he stood.
Zuko put his hands on Katara's shoulders. "Katara, get out of here. Take Uncle and get out of here." Zuko looked towards his father. "I may not get out of this one alive…"
"Zuko you can't be serious." Katara wiped her tears.
"Katara I just want you to keep this stuff and remember me. I'm going to fight this battle until the end." Zuko said taking her hands into his own. "Katara I…" He shook his head.
"Zuko I want you to know that I've never had a better friend." Katara said then looked behind her. Ruko was getting up.
"Go now. I'll try to be out there in as soon as possible." Zuko pushed her down the stairs. "Find your brother and the Avatar and get out of here."
Katara looked at him one last time before running down and didn't look back. She was starting to get worried when she didn't hear any sort of noise from him. Then she heard a scream and was pushed down the stairs by a flame. Katara went tumbling down the stairs and came crashing into a wall. The next thing she knew everything went black.
K15: Hey guys here's the next chapter. Okay I already have the ending chapter in my head. You're proabably not going to like it. Thus meaning a sequal is invovled which I already have an idea for the first chapter to that. Yup. Okay so see next time. Later. K15