AN: ummmm...I'm running out of witty things to say, and I've really got this story going...so I think I'll take a break for a little bit and work on 'Brotherly Love.' Funny. It's slowing down while this is picking up. Hmmmmmm...

Everybody read Khazia's Hush. It's awesome. And read The Midnight Woods, a Zutara. You can find it at the C2. It's great.

Chapter 14: A Father's Promise

Captain Zethan stood on the prow of her ship. The sun was bright, that appreciative shine that came just after the rain. The Fire Lord came up behind her, his left arm in a sling, but other than that, he finally looked like he was supposed to. His hair had been trimmed and fixed, his clothes cleaned, and now he looked presentable. It was also clear that he wasn't happy with her.

"My lord, the ship is at her fastest speed and we will reach your son's ship before noon. Please be patient."

Fire Lord Ozai made a disgusted sound behind her and after a moment, she heard the door to below open and shut.

Natalani was glad to see Ozai when he came to her. He'd been very happy to know she was all right, but he was still worried about Zuko. She knew this because she was worried about Anzha. He continued the pacing beneath the window that he'd begun during the night.

"Ozai, I know you're worried, but you really should rest." But he couldn't.

She didn't know, she hadn't heard him, the day he made the biggest mistake of his life. But it hadn't been giving him that scar, which was forgivable. He could've apologized to his precious son and his son would've never thought any less of him. Zuko would've understood. Tears came to his eyes as he remembered.

He stood in front of his throne. No one but his most trusted members of his Council was there. He needed witnesses, but he didn't want too many. The disgraced teenager came in, flanked by two guards.

"Prince Zuko." He looked up, meeting his father's gaze with one eye, the other was covered in bandages. It was right then that Ozai nearly called the whole thing off, nearly fell to his knees in front of God and the world and begged his son's forgiveness, when he looked into his son's eye and saw confusion, pain…and fear. Dear God, his son was afraid of him.

"Prince Zuko, you are hereby…banished from the Fire Nation." The words came out in a rush.

"Do not despair, for there is hope." Now it was just formalities. "If you capture the Avatar, you may return with your honor intact. Until then, you are an outcast, never to set foot inside the boundaries of the Fire Nation."

Shock crossed the boy's face.

"…Father…"

"Do not address me in that way! If and until you capture the Avatar, I have no son!"

The boy's mouth worked silently and furiously as his mind worked desperately to understand.

The Fire Lord nodded to one of the guards, who tried and failed to shake the prince out of his trance. In the end, the guard picked the boy up and placed him over his shoulder. He still faced the Fire Lord, and Ozai looked down, unable to meet his son's gaze any longer. He prayed that the boy wouldn't speak, for he knew he wouldn't be able to bear it. Hearing the doors open, he breathed a sigh of relief…one moment too soon, for it was then the prince's voice returned to him.

"YOU PROMISED YOU'D NEVER LEAVE ME!"

The shout echoed around the room and the only thing keeping Ozai on his feet was the table in front of him. The doors shut and the Council members filed out. Once the last person left and Ozai was alone, he fell to the floor in a huddled heap, and sobbed.

"I promised…"

"I promised I'd never leave him, Natalani, and I'm not going to."

Zuko woke when the sun slipped into the cave and played games across his face. Katara was asleep across his chest, her arms latched around his neck. He remembered crying, sobbing for all that he'd lost and would never be able to rectify, and she'd begun to cry as well, for reasons unknown to him. Now, he slipped carefully from her arms, lying her back down on the floor of the cave gently.

His clothes were still damp, but wearable, so he dressed. His boots, however, were decidedly wet, so he left the cave bare foot. He looked around, marking the place in his mind.

It was easy to follow his path from the night before to the shore, and he followed the shore around the island. It wasn't very big, taking him only a couple of hours to get around it. There were some cliffs he wanted to explore, but they would have to wait until later. Now, he was making the last stretch back to where he started when he heard someone calling his name frantically. He basically assumed that it was the Water Tribe girl.

"Here!" he called, jogging through the light sand. As he rounded the bend, she burst out of the trees, throwing her arms around his neck.

"Oh, I was worried."

"I'm all right. I was just exploring."

She smiled.

"Find anything interesting?"

"Just some cliffs that have 'climb me' painted on them."

She laughed lightly, and he felt really guilty, for something had been on his mind all morning.

"Listen, umm…"

"Katara. My name is Katara."

"Oh, well, listen Katara. Last night…um…well, it doesn't change anything between us. When we get off this island, I'm still going to keep trying to catch the Avatar. We're still enemies."

She frowned and looked disappointed for a moment before she backed away from him.

"I know. I just sort of hoped…never mind. Well, we're still on this island, so it'd be easier if we work together." She held out her hand.

"Truce?"

He smiled, and shook her hand firmly.

"Truce."

She returned his smile.

"You look really different when you smile. You should do it more often."

He blushed. Katara had to keep from pinching herself to make sure she wasn't dreaming, but it was real. Zuko…Prince Zuko… had cried on her shoulder, called a truce, smiled at her, and blushed.

"Now, while you were exploring, did you happen to find anything to eat?"

"Yeah, there are some mango trees that way a bit."

"Excellent."

"Excellent."

Aang beamed. He and Iroh were locked in a game of Pi-Sho, and Aang was winning, but just barely. Anzha was watching the game interestedly, but Sokka kept looking out the window. He realized that, even though the sun was up, they couldn't do anything until they reached an island to search, but he couldn't see how everyone else could be so CALM!

With her belly full of mango and some sort of mushroom that Zuko had said was edible, Katara was perfectly content to sleep the rest of the day away. Zuko was more logical. He'd already taken stock of their supplies, which, excluding their bending abilities, consisted of two daggers and a canteen.

"My instincts are just screaming at me that there's something atop those cliffs."

"Hope your instincts are better than Sokka's."

"Well, it makes perfect sense to head over there. I'm sure we can find another cave in the cliff face, and it'll be late afternoon by the time we get everything settled. I'll climb the cliff tomorrow, and let you know what I find. We don't have any rope, and I don't want you risking it. So don't argue."

She looked at him and grinned.

"Are you concerned for me?"

He looked at her, his golden eyes serious and logical.

"I don't want you to die. Listen, I'm going to go get some mangos for the trip and supper tonight. Shout if there's a problem."

"Like if something jumps out and kills me?"

"Yes, that would be a very big problem."

She laughs lightly and Zuko smiles. He's already decided to smile more; it reminds him of his carefree childhood. He stood and watched as Katara laid back on the sand, one hand behind her head, the other resting lightly on her stomach.

She and I could be friends…

No, I have to capture the Avatar.

No you don't. The Fire Lord is dead, and your people will welcome you home, because you're the heir.

But still…

Not easy to give up your obsession is it?

No…

"Zuko?"

"What?"

"What are you doing?"

"Thinking."

"What about those mangos?"

"Working on it."

Zhao's ship was harbored at the nearest friendly port, having repairs done and being restocked. Zhao himself stood on the dock, looking out towards the horizon. He hadn't felt this pleased with himself in a long time. Things were finally working out. The Fire Lord was dead, the Crown Prince was dead, and the Retired General…wouldn't last the week.

Zuko's not dead…

What? What are you talking about?

Zuko's not dead…he's alive…on an island

Why are you telling me this?

Because you requested that I help you gain the throne. You cannot achieve the crown if the heir lives…

Oh…right…

Zuko lives…

I got the point…

Zhao hissed for his good mood was spoiled. He shouted at his men to hurry up, and then plotted the coordinates of Zuko's ship on his map. He'd take care of Iroh first; cut down Zuko's last ally, and then the prince would fall even faster. But not too fast…Zhao laughed, causing his men to work faster and several people to stare. Not too fast.

Dang...I'm on a roll tonight.