The only thing I own is the plot on your screen. If you plan to take my ideas and put them into your own fanfic, claiming to be your own mind that thought them up, get a hobby. Plagiarism is wrong, don't do it!
I dedicate this chapter to all those people who want Zhao back.
It has been four days since Prince Zuko last saw Katara. He spend his time sulking in his quarters. Katara's departure had really gotten to him, he felt like his heart had been trampled on ruthlessly.
He hated her for making him feel so weak…so unwanted.
Iroh had tried to cheer him up, by making excuses for Katara's leaving. She possibly didn't want to leave Prince Zuko. Her brother probably took her by force. She has to do what he says. After all, he is like her guardian. Zuko wanted to believe it. He wanted to believe that she wanted to stay, but that her stupid brother had made her leave.
But he couldn't.
"Why would she want to stay with me?" he asked himself as he stared at the cold metal ceiling. Because she loves you. Because now that she's met you, she realizes that you mean the world to her. Because she knows that you aren't the cold-hearted man that everyone else thinks you are. "It's too late. She's gone and there's nothing I can do," he breathed. What happened to the Prince Zuko that fights for what he wants? …Find her.
"I'm not suppose to love you, I'm not suppose to care,
I'm not suppose to live my life, wishing you were there.
I'm not suppose to wonder where you are or what you do,
I am so so sorry, that I fell in love with you." -unknown
Katara petted Momo subconsciously while staring into space. Since the day she left Prince Zuko's ship, she's been wondering about what would've happened if Sokka never came to get her. Would she have run away?
No. She wouldn't have been able to bear it…
"Are you coming to the market with me?" Sokka asked Katara as he walked up behind her. "We need to get some more food for our trip."
She snapped out of her little trance and turned around to face her dear brother. A soft smiled crept on her lips, and she nodded. She let Momo go and got to her feet, dusting imaginary dust off of herself. "How much money do we have?"
"Not much. Just 11 copper coins," he answered holding the coins in his hands.
She sighed and took out a small blue bag, from a fold in her clothes. "I've got 4. That should be enough for now. Is Aang coming?"
Sokka shook his head, "No. I think it'd be best if he stays here. If we see any Fire Nation soldiers, we can leave without them noticing. But Aang attracts too much attention to himself. You know, his air bending and all."
"Yeah, you're right," Katara agreed and walked towards the small dirt path. "We'll be right back Aang! Don't leave this spot!" He didn't answer, but she was sure that he had heard. Sokka grabbed his boomerang, just in case, and walked after his sister.
The humble town was scattered with all different types of people. A group of Fire Nation soldiers were gathered by a small wooden shack, and by the laughter emitting from their location, the two siblings could tell they were having fun. Katara couldn't help but smile at the cheerful group. The time on Zuko's ship, showed her that not all fire benders were bad, they just have that ugly reputation following them. She was glad that they were having a good time, after all, they do work their butts off to please that jerk of a Fire Lord. As they approached the different kinds of food stands, a couple of girls passed by, giving Sokka an opportunity to show off a little bit. Katara laughed at her childish brother and walked ahead, trying to find the things that they needed. Finding a decent produce stand, she interrupted Sokka's 'moment of glory' and dragged him to it.
"This looks good," he said lifting a filthy fruit, and examining it.
"Sokka, you wouldn't eat that. It's dirty," she said looking at the fruit in disgust.
"Give it a nice wash and I'll eat it," he said proudly, rubbing the fruit with the hem of his shirt.
Katara laughed at him and picked up an apple, "How about we get things we know are edible." She set the apple within her basket and paid the owner of the stand, its moneys worth.
"Well. Well. Well. Look at what I found," a familiar voice asked from behind.
Katara froze. No… She shuddered as an image passed through her mind. She turned around slowly and looked up at the face of the man who had just spoken. "What are you doing here?" she asked, fear behind her voice.
"I'm getting food for my men," Admiral Zhao said and looked at the riled boy beside Katara. "Who are you?" he asked annoyed.
"I'm her brother," he answered and took a step closer to the man. "The real question is…who are you?"
"I'm Admiral Zhao," he stated, standing up straight. "Previously known to you as Commander Zhao. I was promoted by the Fire Lord." Pride dripped on every word that he said, like venom.
The boy frowned as he remembered Katara and Zuko's conversation four days ago. Can you do me a favor?…Don't ever mention Zhao's name again. Sokka thought deeply about those words, Why does she hate him so much?
"I see that you ran away from Prince Zuko. And I thought you two were going to get married and live happily ever after," Zhao mocked.
"What do you want?" Katara asked frigidly.
"Don't deny it. We both know that you love him. So tell me, how did you get off that ship? Did he let you go or did your brother, over here, rescue you? Because lets face it, you wouldn't have the heart to leave your lover," Zhao said with a smirk on his face.
"How do you know my sister?" Sokka asked, moving between Katara and Zhao. Why is he so close to her? What is his infatuation with Katara? Why is she so nervous? Endless questions flooded his mind. He was so confused. Katara never mentioned any 'Admiral Zhao'.
Zhao pushed Sokka. "Move aside…boy," he ordered and laughed as Sokka stumbled. The Admiral faced Katara and smiled. "Don't tell me that you haven't told him." Katara looked away.
"Tell me what?" Sokka asked his sister. What's going on?
"Katara and I have a little history," he whispered placing two fingers under her chin.
"We have nothing," she said and pushed his hand away.
"My, my, someone here has a little temper. Tell him Katara." He pulled her closer to him. "What are you waiting for?"
She pushed him back and tears began to sting her eyes. She hated him so damn much. "Don't touch me. Don't ever touch me. EVER!" Katara yelled, panic hanging on her every word. Her heart was racing. Take off your pants, or I'll do it for you… Katara shut her eyes as the memory played in her mind.
"What did you do to her?" Sokka demanded as he looked at his frightened sister. "WHAT!"
"He almost raped me Sokka," Katara whispered with her eyes still shut. Her hands were shaking.
Sokka froze. "What?" His breath was taken away and hate began to engulf his entire being.
"Rape is such a harsh word Katara," Zhao stated. "How about…I almost made you mine."
The warrior looked at Zhao with disgust. He wanted to kill him for making her suffer, but he couldn't stand a chance against an Admiral. "When was this?" he asked in disbelief. Is that what I sensed those nights ago? Did I sense the abuse of my sister…my baby sister? "Katara?"
"Oh, about a week ago," Zhao answered. "I would have succeeded too but that Prince Zuko walked in on us. He just had to be the hero," he paused to think back on that day. "You have no idea how much I hate that boy. He's always interfering in my plans. He drives me insane." He smiled as he looked at the young water bender. " But you made my day Katara. You want to know why?" She gave him a questioning look . "I have the security of knowing that he's moping around his ship because his beautiful Katara, left him. You can't even imagine how happy I am that you left. He deserves to suffer." Katara shook her head in disagreement, but said nothing. "How did you manage get off his ship"
"My brother rescued me," she answered desolately.
"You don't sound very happy about it. You probably wanted to stay with the Prince, but your brother made you go with him."
"No, I wanted to leave," she stated and took a deep breath. "I wanted to leave."
"Right. I'm sure you wanted to leave the love of your life," he mocked.
"I don't love him," Katara whispered and looked down.
"Stop lying to yourself. You know you do."
"I don't."
"You love him and he loves you," he insisted, "and that's the truth."
"What makes you say that?" the warrior asked and eyed him suspiciously. "What makes you so sure that Prince Zuko loves my sister?"
"I asked him," he laughed, "and the stupid boy actually told me the truth." He smirked at Katara. "Did Prince Zuko profess his love for you?"
The water bender glanced at her brother and thought for a moment. Should I tell him the truth? She faced Zhao and nodded lightly.
"Wait!" Sokka interfered. "Everything is going way too fast," he grabbed his sister's arm and made her face him. "Prince Zuko actually told you that he loves you?" She closed her eyes and nodded once more. "How come you didn't tell me? I'm you're brother! You are suppose to tell me these things!"
A small tear slid down her face. She felt so guilty. He was right. As her brother, he was suppose to know. She failed him as a sister as far as she knew. She failed her brother, and it hurt. She opened her mouth as she was about to explain to Sokka everything, but Zhao interrupted.
"She didn't tell you anything because she was afraid that you'd go off like a maniac, and kill Prince Zuko. Then, after you'd kill the guy, you'd ask her if she loved him too and when she responds with a 'yes', you'll go off like a maniac and shun her for loving the one man that you truly hate the most. Am I right or am I?"
Sokka looked at his sister, waiting for her to deny it. To yell in Zhao's face that he was wrong, that she didn't love Prince Zuko. But she never did. She hung her head in shame, and salty tears fell on the dirt floor below them. "Tell him he's wrong." She continued to cry and Sokka's world began to fall. "Katara, tell him," his voice cracked. No. "Katara?" Sokka placed his hands on her shoulders and shook her a couple of times. "No. Katara tell me you don't…"
Zhao began to laugh. "Well, I'll be leaving now. My ship awaits. Have a nice day. No, no, have a wonderful day," he said and walked off towards his ship, laughing to himself.
The warrior placed his hand under her chin and lifted her head. He looked into her deep blue eyes and frowned. They no longer had their eternal sparkle. Sadness conquered her enthusiasm. "Katara, are you in love with…" he paused, "Prince Zuko?"
Katara shut her eyes and more tears slid down. "I'm so sorry," she muttered between a soft sob.
Sokka sighed. "There's nothing to be sorry about. I'm not going to shun you. Why would you think that? I love you too much, Katara. I would never do that to you," he embraced his sister. He hated seeing her so sad. She was the only thing he had left, he needed her to be happy. Last time he saw her cry, was three years ago when their mother died. If she had cried any time after that, she had made sure that Sokka never saw her tears.
"You don't hate me?" she asked.
"Never have, never will," he reassured and let her go. "Now, wipe those tears and lets get the food we need." He grabbed Katara's basket and turned around, to face the produce stand. "Now how about this fruit, looks good, don't it?"
Katara laughed and hook arms with her brother, "I love you Sokka."
"I love you too."
"It's hard to tell your mind to stop loving someone when your heart still does." -unknown
Prince Zuko walked into the Captain's Coop with determination. He wasn't going to let some girl come into his life and ruin everything. He has searched for the Avatar for two entire years, and he wasn't going to quit just because some girl doesn't love him.
But that was the problem, she wasn't just some girl.
He passed his uncle and walked up to the Captain. "Where are we headed?" he asked in his usual angry tone.
The Captain turned around and smiled nervously at the Prince. "We are continuing to head Northeast sir, unless you wish to change course."
"If we continue to head that way, won't we end up at the North Pole?" Prince Zuko asked.
"Yes sir, the Avatar is heading that way," he paused. "We are still chasing the Avatar, right?"
"Yes, but how do you know that he's headed that way?"
"I overheard the girl tell your uncle," he paused when he noticed Zuko look away when he mentioned 'the girl', "and since she's always with the Avatar, I supposed that it would be appropriate to head that way." The Captain shut his eyes, expecting Prince Zuko to yell at him for 'overhearing' a conversation. Surprisingly enough, he…smiled.
"Good job," Zuko said. "Continue to head Northeast, then." He turned around and sat down across from his uncle. "How come you didn't tell me that they were headed to the North Pole?"
Iroh grabbed his cup of tea. "You didn't ask." As he sipped his drink, he watched his nephew roll his eyes. He set the cup down on the table and sighed. "So, how have you been?"
Zuko raised his eyebrow, "Fine. Why do you ask?"
"Well, ever since Katara left, you've been locked in your room."
"Don't mention that wench when I'm present," Zuko said acrimoniously.
"Prince Zuko, must you be so vicious? How can you speak that way about that woman that you love?" the General said angrily. "I am disappointed in you."
"I don't love her," Zuko said and crossed his arms. "She is nothing to me."
"I realize that she hurt you, but you must not lie to yourself. It will only make it worse. Let's go out to the deck so we can speak in privacy," Iroh stood up and walked towards the door. "Come now."
"I don't want to talk about her."
"Prince Zuko, you are much too stubborn. Please come with me," the old man insisted and smiled when his nephew sighed in defeat.
They headed out onto the deck and Zuko leaned on the railing. He smiled as the smell of the ocean breeze. It reminded him of her. He missed her so, but he had to forget her. He needed to. "What do you want to talk about?" he asked indifferently. "Please hurry, I've got things to do."
"I have had enough with this. You love and miss her terribly, I understand that you are bitter, but you can't do this anymore Prince Zuko. For four days, you have been in your room doing who-knows-what and when you come out you decide that she means nothing to you. Are you insane? Do you actually think that I'm going believe such things?" Iroh frowned when his nephew didn't turn around. "What are you going to do when you get married, and you and your wife get into a feud? Are you going to deny your love for her because of that one indifference?"
There was a long moment of silence before the banished Prince decided to face his uncle, "You're right. I'm sorry."
Iroh placed his hand on his nephew's shoulder and smiled. "Why are you doing this to yourself?"
"I miss her," he sighed. "I'm a fool for thinking that she was going to stay with me."
"No, you aren't a fool. You're just in love. Don't give up so easily Prince Zuko. If it's meant to be, she'll come back to you."
"If it's meant to be, and it's not."
"How can you be so negative?"
"She doesn't love me," he said sadly.
Yes she does. "What makes you say that Prince Zuko? Did she say anything?"
"No, but I just know."
"Don't be assuming such things. She'll be back. Until then, don't lie to yourself. Continue feeling the love you have for her. Be happy because you feel what others have never felt. Smile at the memories you have made with her. And don't be bitter, because she left. Be grateful for those eight days that she was here, because those days were the best to you. Think of her as long as humanly possible. Don't let that love go, Prince Zuko. Hold on to it," he avowed wisely.
"Why?"
"Think of true love as a hidden treasure. Only a few have been able to find it. You found it, Prince Zuko. Don't let such a treasure go. Fight for it."
Zuko nodded and smiled. "OK."
"Trust me."
"Thanks uncle." Iroh nodded and walked away, leaving Zuko to think.
Are you going to find her?
Yeah, I think I will.
Then what?
I'm not sure…
I just want to take the time to thank everybody who has read this story. You guys have been so patient with me. I write this for you guys! Thanks again!
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