Safe?
"LET ME GO!" Zuko felt his blood run cold when he heard that. The only other thing in there was Ceres. With the girl screaming like that . . . . Ceres had broken free. The exiled prince sprinted into the cave, off of the flying bison and pass the Avatar and his uncle. When he heard the frightening voice of Ceres he pushed his body, commanding it to go faster.
"Normally I'd like to now more about the person I was going to become, but I guess this time I'll make an exception!" Zuko narrowed his eyes as a shadow began to emerge from Ceres. Zuko pulled a fist back and sent a fiery punch at the creature, hitting the hand that was holding Katara. Dropping the waterbender, Ceres held its hand in pain. The firebending prince reached out and grabbed hold of Katara's wrist, pulling the young woman to her feet and dragging her behind him as he turned and ran. Ahead, he saw his uncle and the Avatar. Zuko glanced behind him as he saw Ceres move to follow them. With his free hand Prince Zuko sent another fireball whizzing pass Katara and at Ceres, knocking the demon to the ground. He looked back again when he heard Katara gasp but then ignored it, knowing that she had just discover who her savior was.
"Uncle!" Zuko called out and the Dragon of the West nodded as the two ran pass him. With a deep breath Iroh let out a huge wall of fire, sealing off the cave. With speed unknown to those his age, Iroh jumped onto the flying bison after his nephew and the girl.
"Yip yip!" Aang yelled as he snapped the reigns, urging Appa to move fast. Katara panted, both from fear and exhaustion. Realizing that she had collapse next to their enemy Katara scooted to the side, causing Zuko to glance at her. She breathed heavily, trying not to panic. Iroh noticed this as well and smiled reassuringly at the young teenager.
"Do not worry. Ceres will have to wait until the firewall dies down before she can come after you." Zuko sent his uncle a dry glare.
"That's reassuring." He snorted as Katara looked at the two, confused.
"W-what's going on!" Iroh sighed wearily as Zuko let out an exasperated sound.
"Once again we have to explain to these ignorant fools." Zuko muttered causing Katara to turn and glare at him.
"Ignorant fools!" She echoed, clearly outraged. "How dare you!" Zuko returned the glare with one of his own.
"Yes, ignorant fools! Avatar Senku's efforts are all in vain now, thanks to you!"
"Avatar Senku? What are you talking about?" Zuko sent her a startled look.
"Even the child knew of Avatar Senku." Zuko pointed to Aang. The young Avatar glanced back at the fire prince.
"Hey, I'm old enough to be your great, great grandfather!" Snapped Aang before he turned back to steering Appa. Iroh smirked alittle at the comment but his face dropped back to a neutral gaze at Zuko's glare. However, amusement danced in his eyes as his nephew glared at him.
"Avatar Senku, probably one of the most well known Avatar firebenders." Katara narrowed her eyes.
"Why should I care about some Avatar firebender!" Before Zuko would retort, Iroh interrupted.
"Avatar Senku was the one that sealed Ceres in that cave."
". . . . why?" Zuko rolled his eyes at her question.
"She just tried to steal your body. Does that indicate anything?" Katara narrowed her eyes and was about to reply when Iroh cut in once again, trying his hardest to stop the two from fighting each other. He did not feel like listening to any bickering at the moment when they had more pressing matters at hand.
"Ceres is a demon. One who steals bodies of whomever it deems worthy. From the looks of it, Ceres has decided that you are its next victim."
"But why me?" Katara asked, still confused as to what was happening. Iroh smiled gently at her.
"Miss, you are a lovely young lady. Ceres searches for those it considers beautiful. Unfortunately, Ceres has picked you. You were the first lovely young woman it set eyes on in over four hundred years. And Avatar Senku weakened it greatly before he imprisoned it. It needs a new body greatly and it has chosen you." Katara felt her eyes widen in horror. She did not wish to be its victim. While she was faltered that she was considered beautiful, she was also scared of what that meant. Ceres had complemented her before it broke free, indeed showing that it desired her body for its new host. "The sent of smoke was left to ward off any potential victims." When Katara sent him a confused look, Iroh clarifed. "The Avatar told us that you smelled smoke while he and your brother could not." Katara nodded, understanding. "Probably why only you could smell the smoke is because Ceres usually prefers woman to men as victims. And the Avatar was suppose to feel danger whenever he go near the demon. So no matter what gender the Avatar may be, they could always be scared off and prevented from giving misguided help." Iroh shook his head wearily. "But those protection methods have failed." Katara looked at Iroh with worry and fear in her eyes.
"How do we stop it?" It was Zuko's turn to answer while he sigh heavily as reality wore down on the group.
"We can't. Only an Avatar has the power to stop Ceres." Glancing up at Aang Zuko continued. "The Avatar has to master firebending in order to defeat it. It is weakest against fire." Iroh nodded, agreeing with his nephew. While the other elements could do it damage, fire had always harmed it the most. Thus it was easier for Avatar Senku to defeat it, him being a native firebender.
"The Avatar must master firebending if we are to have a chance of survival." Aang winced slightly before looking back at the three as they began their decent towards the campsite and Sokka.
"Yeah, but I haven't mastered the other elements yet." Iroh and Zuko exchanged a confused and worried glance.
"But . . . . what have you been doing the last hundred years?" Asked Zuko, surprised. Aang rubbed the back of his head sheepishly.
"I've . . . kinda been frozen." Appa landed before another word could be spoken. Hopping off of the bison, Katara looked around, trying to find her brother. Finally, Katara caught sight of her unconscious brother and cried out in alarm.
"Sokka!" She rushed to his side and knelled beside him. With a harsh glare towards Zuko and Iroh, Katara spoke. "What did you do to him!" She demanded. The fire prince glared right back at her as he responded.
"We didn't do anything to the fool. He was like that when we go here." Snapped Zuko as he helped Iroh off of the flying bison. Before Katara could say anything back, Sokka grumbled and turned over while letting out a snort. Zuko felt his eye twitch upon realizing that the water warrior had been asleep. Iroh glanced back at where the cave was and was relieved to see flames still holding Ceres back.
"We must hurry. It is not safe here." Nodding, Katara shook her brother awake.
". . . five more minutes Gran-Gran . . ." Muttered Sokka as he snuggled closer into the ground, trying to seek out warmth.
"Leave him! We have to get you away from Ceres!" Zuko shouted at Katara, causing Sokka to spring up with his boomerangs
"Zuko!" Sokka growled, surprised but ready to fight the exiled prince. Rolling his eyes, Zuko turned away from Sokka to his uncle.
"How long with that firewall last?" Iroh looked back and hummed as he thought.
"Perhaps ten more minutes. I put a lot of energy into that." Sokka looked at Aang, who stood next to Zuko and Iroh, and Katara who was standing up from her knelling position.
"Okay, what's going on?"
- - - - -
Ceres paced behind the fire wall. Sweat had built up on her pale skin from the heat emitted by the firewall. Stepping back, away from the fire, Ceres sat down on a nearby rock. She would not have to wait long. The island was small. She could easily find her prey. And when that happened, she would no longer be confined to its weakened state. With a new body, Ceres could be free. The weakness this body had would leave Ceres after she moved onto the next body. A sly smile crept onto her lips as she rubbed her chin in thought.
"Katara . . ." Her snake tongue slithered out of her mouth and flicked the air, catching Katara's sent. ". . . . your new body will help me greatly." She rasped before laughing cruelly. With a wicked smile Ceres licked her lips and waited for the firewall to fade.
- - - - -
"So . . . . you released a demon onto the world Katara?" Sokka asked as he turned to his little sister. Appa flew beside Prince Zuko's ship as they slowly made their way to the small battleship Zuko had called home for the past two years. Katara blushed lightly and rubbed the back of her neck in embarrassment.
"Well . . . . I didn't mean to!" She protested, trying to defend herself. Zuko glared over at the three.
"It doesn't matter now." He snapped, drawing their attention to him. "All that matters is getting the Avatar to master all the elements. Only then can he stop Ceres." Iroh nodded as he paddled over to his nephew with a cup of tea.
"My nephew is right. The only reassurance we have is that it will go after Katara first. It has chosen her as its victim, Ceres will not take another one until it has taken the young lady's body." Iroh looked at Zuko, as if asking for permission. With a curt nod, Zuko looked ahead with his arms behind his back, watching as his sailing home came closer. "You will have to stay with Prince Zuko, Miss Katara."
"WHAT!" The siblings cried out in shock and disbelief. Zuko felt his eyes narrow as his uncle explained his reasoning.
"Because of his scar, Ceres would never take Zuko's body, nor impersonate him."
"Impersonate?" Aang repeated, confused along with the other two.
"Ceres can change its shape. Meaning that while it will still have its body, it can hid in any crowd. Luckily, it can only change shape for short periods of time." Iroh sighed wearily as he glanced at his nephew once again. "It would never take Zuko's shape. It only changes into the shape of things it thinks are worthy of it. Things that are not deformed in anyway." Iroh had a sad look in his eyes as he watched the banished prince. Aang turned his eyes to Zuko and felt a pang of pity. To be labeled as deformed, even by a demon such as Ceres . . . . that had to hurt. Katara was having similar thoughts. Yet Sokka was only thinking one thing.
"Still . . . I understand why Katara should stay with Zuko, but are you sure that it's the only way?" Zuko turned back to look at the three as he answered for his uncle.
"I'm the only one who she can trust right now. No matter what, Katara can trust that I am not Ceres. That's all that matters."
- - - - -
I hope that I cleared up some confusion! Sorry for those that were confused as to who was throwing the fire. And now I bet you guys are happy that you know how Zuko is the only one safe! Oh, and to answer a question, Ceres was based off of someone else. She was based off of Ai from Princess Ai. That's a really good manga. Unfortunately there are only three of the series and it will probably be next July before they release the last one. It is really good though. Also, yes, I am making this story up. It is a Lady Amaya original. Alright people, tell me what you guys think so I can clear up anything that might be confusing and make it better if there are any problems. Of course, you can review even if you're not confused. I like reviews, as I have said at the end of every chapter. They make me type faster. Oh and before I forget, HAPPY 4TH OF JULY!