Joining In
Ceres smirked as the firewall finally died down. With ease the demon stepped through the cave entrance and out of the cave into the fresh air. Inhaling deeply, Ceres breathed her first breath of true freedom. Freedom from that awful cave she had been trapped in for so long. No longer did the sent of smoke suffocate her senses. Ceres turned around and glared at the cave before spread her arms out. Slamming her hands into the sides of the cave entrance, Ceres yanked her hands out of the rock, causing a cave in. The rocks groaned as they were violently ripped from the Earth and slammed together. A cruel smirk crossed Ceres's face as she destroyed her former prison. A cloud of dust rose up but did not touch Ceres. Brushing her hair out of her face, Ceres crossed her cold arms and turned to look over the island. However, her eyes widen in shock as she saw a small ship in the distance. Ceres scanned over the island, desperate to find Katara. The demon uncrossed her arms looked around frantically. She let her snake tongue flick the air as a horrible look of rage crossed her face. She could feel no other presence on the island. Ceres let out a deafening scream as she realized that Katara was gone. Once Ceres's voice died down, she panted with rage.
"No . . ." She whispered roughly. "That girl's body will become my new host!" Ceres looked up to the sky as insane laughter filled the air. "Run all you like Katara, but you will never be able to hid from me." Ceres hissed.
- - - - -
Zuko glanced at Katara from the corner of his bad eye. She was giving her brother one final hug before he and the Avatar would leave. The young Avatar bit his lip and made his way over to Prince Zuko. The teenager turned when he saw Aang making his way over to him while Sokka spoke with his uncle over how Katara would be treated. Iroh smiled softly and reassuringly as the brother demonstrated how overprotective he was.
". . . . we're going to the North Pole . . . . your uncle said that you'd be following us . . ." Zuko turned and looked back at ocean.
"I know." Aang was silent for a moment, trying to find the right words. The banished prince glanced at Aang once more. "Avatar, is there something you need?" Aang moved so he stood in front of Zuko and looked him straight in the eyes as the prince looked down at him, slightly confused.
"Aang." Zuko tilted his head slightly to show his confusion. "My name is Aang." Zuko looked back up at the ocean.
"If that is all you have to tell me Avatar, then you can go." Shaking his head, Aang drew Zuko's attention once more.
"No. I . . . I want you to treat Katara well." Zuko rose his eyebrow.
"She will not be mistreated. Should anything happen to her, Ceres will move onto its next victim and we will have no clue as to who Ceres will be. That would make it impossible to hunt down the demon." Once more, Aang shook his head.
"No, I want you to make sure nothing happens to her. Like your soldiers. I don't know them and I don't want them to do anything to her. She's like my sister." Aang whispered the last part to himself but Zuko still caught it. He didn't say anything about that part though.
". . . . the girl will be treated like the plague. No one will harm her. No one will go near her. Not with Ceres after her. They do not want to be in danger from the demon." Zuko closed his eyes as he tried to explain to the young air monk. ". . . . when it comes to the demon Ceres, even my father, Fire Lord Ozai, would not dare harm the prey of Ceres, in any way." Zuko opened his eyes and looked down at Aang who was hanging on his every word. "The girl will have to be close to me every minute of the day. That is the only way that we can assure her safety. I will probably be the only human interaction she has, other than my uncle." Aang nodded and looked around Zuko to see Iroh laugh at something Katara said to Sokka. ". . . . I will not allow any harm to come to her. You have my word." Aang nodded and moved to leave but Zuko's voice stopped him. "You . . . you did not tell them about that night, did you?" Aang shook his head.
"No. I figured you would want it to stay between us." Zuko hesitated as he struggled with himself before speaking again.
". . . . thank you."
- - - - -
Ceres stalked along with water's edge, trying to find some way off the island.
"Damn them! Her body will be my new host!" Ceres hissed through clenched teeth. Looking around Ceres spotted several trees and narrowed its eyes. Storming over to the trees, Ceres grabbed hold of one of the trees and used its inhuman strength to rip the tree straight out of the ground. Throwing the tree to the side, Ceres moved onto the next tree and yanked it out of the ground.
- - - - -
Katara waved as Appa lifted itself into the air and flew off with Aang and Sokka. She fought back tears as she watched her only family flew away. Feeling a hand weigh down on her shoulder, Katara turned and looked at Iroh. The old man smiled softly as he lead her over to Zuko.
"Do not worry. You will be treated with respect. No one will harm you." Katara hugged herself as she watched Appa disappear into the sky.
". . . . I miss them already . . . ." Iroh nodded with a saddened smile of reassurance.
"No one should be taken from their family." Katara did not notice Prince Zuko stiffen slightly at his uncle's words but Iroh did. "Perhaps some soothing tea?" Katara rubbed her eyes to keep away the tears and nodded. "Would you like some tea as well, your highness?" Zuko glanced back at his uncle.
". . . . no." Zuko turned as Iroh began to lead Katara below deck and followed them. Iroh glanced back at Zuko before speaking to Katara.
"You know, things will not be that bad. True, Prince Zuko has no humor-"
"Uncle . . ." Zuko growled, cutting him off. The retired general sent his nephew an innocent look.
"What?" Zuko glared at Iroh. With ease Iroh shrugged off the glare and changed the subject. The old man wanted to have a little fun at the expense of his nephew. "Anyways, your highness, Katara will have to sleep with you."
"WHAT!" Both teenagers screamed in surprise. Iroh kept his face neutral as Katara turned beat red from embarrassment and Zuko's fisted hands began to glow.
"Well, how else is Zuko going to make sure you are alright when you're asleep?" Innocently asking Katara, Iroh kept the amusement from shinning in his eyes. Zuko felt his eye twitch.
"B-b-but . . . . he's a guy!" Katara sputtered in shock. Iroh stifled a small smile and nodded.
"Be that as it may, it is the only way." Zuko glared at Katara.
"You can sleep on the floor. I'm not giving up the bed." He bit out causing Iroh to look back at him.
"She's a lady. Don't make her sleep on the floor, your highness." Iroh smiled slyly. "The bed you have is big enough. There should be no problem. After all, we don't have any cots." Zuko grumbled as Katara turned and even brighter red. "Don't worry. The soldiers will have it explained to them and they won't think anything of it." Katara nearly fainted of embarrassment right then. Iroh put a reassuring had on her back. "Come now, let's have some ginseng tea. It's my favorite." Iroh glanced back at the fuming Zuko. "Are you sure about the tea?" Zuko shook with rage before he tilted his head up and left out a stream of fire and smoke.
- - - - -
Ceres looked down at all the trees she had pulled out. Five trees in total. Anger was evident on her face as she stared down at the trees. She ran her hand through her hair in frustration and let out a disgruntle sound. Quickly she picked up one and bent it slightly, breaking it with ease. She did this with the other four, only using a small amount of her strength to test the trees. Only one withstood her small test. With a small smirk, Ceres stripped the tree of its branches and leaves. Finally done with her task, the demon threw the stripped tree into the water and watched it float. Walking in after it, the demon grabbed hold of the log and began to propel itself forward by kicking.
- - - - -
Iroh glanced at Zuko and then at Katara. Less than ten minutes ago the three had come aboard the small battleship. Iroh had ushered the waterbender to his small tea room along with his nephew. Katara had excepted his tea while Zuko merely glared at his uncle when the man offered him tea once more. But now that everyone was quiet, the silence was starting to get to him. The young woman sat, staring into the cup of tea she held in her hands. Zuko had his eyes closed and his arms crossed. The retired general took another sip of his tea before turning his attention to the girl. She looked like she wanted to say something but didn't have the courage to break the silence.
". . . . Miss Katara," Iroh broke the silence, not being able to stand it any more. ". . . . you have a very protective brother." Zuko's uncle smiled, causing Katara to do the same after a moment.
"He's been like that for as long as I can remember." Katara smiled at her memories surfaced.
"It must be nice to have such a brother." Turned to Zuko. "It is a shame that you do not have a younger sister. I could only imagine how protective you would have been." Zuko opened his eyes and looked at his uncle.
"My father would never allow such a thing, you know that uncle." Iroh sighed while Katara looked at the two, curious.
"That is true." Iroh looked at Katara and smiled. "While it is uncommon for there to be only one heir to the throne, my brother did not want to have to chance having a girl. She would not have been able to be a warrior and my brother only wanted a strong man to take the throne after him." Zuko closed his eyes, fighting back the memories of the hours of training his father put him through. Katara glanced at Zuko and bit her lip, only able to wonder the kind of life he had. Quickly though, Katara changed the subject.
". . . . why . . . ." Zuko opened his eyes once more and looked at Katara, waiting. "Why are you two trying to protect me?" Iroh was about to answer but Zuko spoke first, causing Iroh to look at him surprised and curious.
"Ceres is a powerful demon. When it was first free, it reigned over the world, taking everything it wanted and destroying what laid in its path. The four nations were beaten down with ease, including the Fire Nation. No one knew what the demon looked like at any give moment so there was constant fear. No one was safe. We help you because right now you are the key to keeping everyone safe. Ceres will not change bodies before it takes yours. So the world will be safe until the Avatar can stop it. Besides . . . no one desevers to have their soul ripped from their body and have their body possessed by Ceres." Watching Zuko carefully, Katara asked her next question.
"But . . . Ceres is suppose to be weak against fire. How could it dominate the world so easily with the Fire Nation there?" Zuko fought back a sigh as he began to explain to Katara.
"Avatar Senku used the power of a comet to seal part of Ceres's power away. He had hoped that Ceres would be locked away still when the comet passed." Zuko glanced at Katara. "Unfortunately, since Ceres is going to be free when that comet passes, the immunity Ceres had to fire will return." Katara looked down, ashamed.
". . . . I'm sorry I freed Ceres." She whispered quietly, so quietly that Iroh and Zuko almost didn't hear her. Smiling softly, Iroh reached over the table and squeezed Katara's hand in an act of support.
"You did not know. Besides, perhaps this will stop the war." Katara looked up at Iroh along with Zuko, surprised. "The three nations will put aside their differences to fight Ceres. After all, 'the enemy of my enemy is my friend'."
- - - - -
What do you guys think? I hope I cleared up anything that was bothering anybody. I was in a bit of a dry spell and I had a hard time coming up with how Ceres would get off the island. I hope that this way is clear. If anyone has a problem then review and tell me. That way I can clear it up in my next chapter. Even if your not confused, review! Because like I said a thousand times before, reviews make me happy and a happy me types faster. Plus it's always fun to read the reviews 'cuz you guys are funny! ;) So, please review! Ja ne!