With the enemy

AN: crazyaboutavatar, I know what you mean. But see, Prince Zuko also wants to go along with Aang because Commander Zhao would most likely be able to take the Avatar as prisoner. And he needs the Avatar to regain his honor after all. And he couldn't risk Aang escaping him and loosing Kushai. And Katara was crazy enough to go back and get her necklace, but also save the girl (Since she is after all very caring). And about Kushai teaching Aang watebending was going to happen later on in the story. And that is pretty much it. Thank you for pointing this out, so I could try to clear it up a bit. (If it at all worked that is….)

Prince Zuko, and Sokka later on

"Why can't I just come along? This Commander Cao, or what's his name, has my sister as prisoner. I should be the one to save her! And Appa trusts me much more than he trusts you! You don't even know what to do if Appa sneezes on you!" Sokka blabbered on as Prince Zuko finally was atop Appa. The last comment was quickly stricken off the list.

"Because your blabbering is deafening," The Prince spat as his hands flew to his ears. "Make this thing move before I burn up your friend!" Prince Zuko could feel small puffs of smoke breathed out.

"Ok, ok! I'm sorry Sokka, but I suggest you listen to him in this round," Aang's voice softened throughout the distance as if increased between Appa and Sokka.

"Oh, just great! Goofy kid and the maniac to the rescue! Could this get any worse!" Sokka squeaked as the guard pushed him at a door.

"General Iroh, sir, where would you like me to take the prisoner?" The guard questioned a man with a tea kettle in his left hand, and a cup in the other.

"Prisoner? This must have been my nephew's doing," The General sighed. But looked up to hear muffled 'pft's' and 'shshaha's'.

"What is so funny?" The man asked Sokka , whose face was explode ready.

"No…tee…pft…shshaha…thin….HAHAHAHAH!" Sokka fell to the floor as the guard struggled against the weight. As embarrassing as it was to the guard, it wasn't enough. He tripped over Sokka and fell right in front of the General. The man scuffled up quickly, as Sokka just pushed himself up lazily.

"So, then why are you laughing?" Iroh continued on, with a puzzled and annoyed expression. Was it the tea he was drinking? Was it the clothes? Or did he have toilet paper stuck to his shoe again…?

"Prince Zuko…haha…is..pft…YOUR NEPHEW…?" Sokka once again got into his giggle fit, struggling against the vein of laughter tingling at his mouth.

"Yes he is my nephew. Is there something wrong with that?" The man raised an eyebrow, but could feel a wave of relief wash over him. So, it wasn't toilet paper…

"No, nothing. Nothing at all," Sokka smiled innocently, as he got to the excruciating task of holding in his laughter.

"Hm…ok then. Well, would you like some tea? And maybe some chicken soup…?" Iroh sat down in a chair as he nodded in approval for the guard to leave.

"Well….OK!" The boy smiled eagerly at Iroh. Iroh's thoughts turned back to his nephew.

"You don't supposedly know where my nephew has gone do you?" The old man questioned as he searched the room and out the door with his eyes.

"Oh, he went with Aang to save somebody," Sokka yawned uninterestedly, which is no new task for Sokka. But the boy suddenly realized the fact that 'Zuko was with Aang', on their way to save Katara and Kushai.

"Haha. That was truly a good joke, but now, really, where is he?" Iroh chuckled a couple of more laughs, but found a creeping frown on his face as he looked over at Sokka's puzzled face.

"He really did go with the bald kid…to save somebody you say?" The General scooted over to Sokka, and prepared for the story.

On top of Appa

"So….where did you tell the guard to take Sokka?" Aang shifted uncomfortably, looking straight forward. Not daring to lock with those flaming eyes.

"I didn't," Prince Zuko replied shortly, seemingly calm, but in his mind was a hurricane of thoughts. The Prince cursed a line of bad words at himself in his head, realizing the guard would most likely go to Iroh to get directions. And with that he would know the whole story.

"Ok…" Aang nodded as he pulled on the reins once more after a simple point in direction from Prince Zuko.

Momo who had been sitting there quietly, sneaked up to the Prince. In a matter of seconds Momo had jumped up on his head.

"What is that?" Prince Zuko hissed as he pulled the lemur of his head. Momo tilted his head, it was his little, innocent face.

"Oh, that's Momo, he's a winged lemur. He's really nice," Aang cooed to Momo, trying to calm him after the Prince's outburst.

"Keep on heading North for about 5 more minutes. Then go Northwest," Prince Zuko directed to Aang, who nodded, but then turned around quick enough.

"Northeast…umm…would be that way right?" Aang rubbed his neck, as a drop of sweat made it's way down on his forehead. It was stressing being with someone that had such a dangerous temper.

"…..," Silence.

"Well, it's not like there are anybody to teach me this! Except for Katara, but she isn't here," Aang answered the silence with a defensive, but weak little outburst.

"I see, is it possible I steer this thing?" Prince Zuko sighed, there was no way this boy was going to get them to Commander Zhao's ship without heading the opposite way, and all the way around the world.

"Well, I guess…" Aang had the tendency to say no, but knew better. He motioned for the Prince to move over to the reins.

Prince Zuko grabbed them in full concentration. Aang wondered if the Prince always concentrated so tensely on such uncomplicated tasks.

"Look out for fire navy ships, and tell me if you see one," Prince Zuko pointed out, with a hint of nervousness was it? But Aang snapped out of his absent minded carousel and gave a mere nod.

"You know how to steer right?" Aang instantly remembered the importance of steering Appa correctly. Flying bisons were capable of disobeying quite easily. And if the Prince didn't know how to steer, Aang would have to take over.

"Of course I do," Prince Zuko hissed with dripping venom. Everybody had to judge him as something in lower caste than he actually was. But the truth that cringed at the corner of his thoughts, were that he wasn't completely sure….

"Ok, good….." Aang sighed in relief. He was telling the truth…right?

Kushai and Katara

"Do you think Aang and Sokka are on their way…." Katara questioned the absent-minded Kushai, who frowned and looked away to the door.

"Well Katara, Aang and Sokka would most likely think that Prince Zuko was the one that captured us…and…well…"Kushai grimaced in frustration. She hated being bringer of bad news! But she couldn't lie, that's just wrong!

"You don't think they've been captured…do you?" Katara felt a pang of guilt and accusing fingers pointed at her, or was it the lack of sleep that was causing her to hallucinate.

"I'm afraid that's exactly what I am thinking," Kushai pushed aside the worry and frowned a smile. Yes, she 'frowned a smile….don't ask!

Katara nodded, as much as she wanted to deny it. She knew it was a reasonable explanation, but she couldn't help but push away her common sense and think of more crazy answers.

"But I can imagine the arguments between Prince Zuko and Momo right about now. After all, Momo isn't that fond of strangers," Kushai giggled, but she realized it had sounded more like 'tee-hee….heeha…he…uh'. No joke about it, she sounded like a donkey.

Katara smiled, knowing that Kushai was desperately trying to lighten up her face. But in this situation, all she needed was a hug from her mother. Or by the least, a touch at her necklace. But there was nothing to grab, nothing to hold as her prized possession. Only a cold floor, which was hard to cherish at this point. She could always hug Kushai, but it would be different than what she wanted.

Out of nowhere Kushai could feel somebody pull her into a tight embrace. She smiled as she realized it was Katara, and that this was the time to give Katara that relief and security that Kushai didn't have. (It is surprising that you can give people something you don't have, and you don't know how to give. It happens very often with me….it is very confusing…)

"We'll get through this Katara….and I'll be here for you, I'm here," Kushai soothed as if Katara was fragile porcelain. But now there was no difference, she was fragile as glass. And any harsh word could shatter her to pieces. Kushai grimaced as she heard 'clank, clank' and the cling's and clang's of keys at the door. Not now, Kushai could feel Katara tense her muscles.

Katara quickly turned to face Commander Zhao, who faked a mocking 'I-feel-so-bad-for-you-I'm-so-sorry face'.

"Look, save you attitude for a guard or something, 'cause right now it's not wanted in here," Kushai took a step in front of Katara, who was trying to hide her every now and then sobs.

"I thought I taught you a lesson! But I guess not," The man sighed and looked once again at Kushai, with a menacing laugh.

"You're coming with me, one way or the other you will tell me what I want to know," Commander Zhou was about to grab her wrist, but instead he got a kick in the spot! (GIRL POWER!)

"Ouch! D(the bad word...)you!" The Commander sent a wave of curse words out on kushai, while Kuishai and Katara started twitching slightly. Katara could swear that this man and vocabulary had some history!

"Oh, oops! I wasn't aiming for those! I was aiming for your head, but oh well!" Kushai giggled, but froze as the man's tall position was once regained. And he was looking at her with the most puzzling look. But Kushai was pretty sure it was no smile….

"I'm dead…" Kushai smiled innocently as she started taking some steps to her right, but found a vicious flame right in front of her. "I'm taking that as a yes…" Kushai muttered to herself as she prepared to fight. Her energy was restored, and her attitude as always was at its peak.

Kushai did a roundhouse kick, but was blocked to her dismay. She did a back kick, but was once again……blocked.

"Shoot…" Kushai hissed under her breath as she thought about the word 'Commander'. She just now realized the priorities of being Commander of the fire nation. It usually took a master in both firebending AND martial arts to become a Commander.

The Commander shot another deadly flame at her, but Kushai found a stream of water turning it to nothing but harmless water vapor. She turned to see Katara standing up as tall as her body would go, and with a canteen of water.

"Thank the lord…" Kushai sighed in relief as she gave Katara a look that said 'THANK YOU'.

"Let's do this!" Kushai shouted as if she was leading an army. But instead of leading an army, she found 10 soldiers surrounding them. Oh boy….