Overwhelmed
Zuko felt his mind scream at him, bringing him back to reality. His eyes widened in shock as he released Katara and stepped away from her. The waterbender looked at him with curiosity overwhelming her. He kissed her. Why was he acting like she'd slap him? Zuko averted his eyes and stared at the floor.
"I-I shouldn't have done that!" Zuko turned to leave but Katara's hand on his shoulder stopped him.
"What's wrong?" Zuko pulled away.
"I shouldn't have done that!" He repeated, stepping away from her. "I-it was wrong of me! I'm sorry." Katara grabbed his arm, stopping him from leaving once more.
"Don't be sorry Prince Zuko." She smiled softly.
"No!" He handed his arm out of her grip. "I can't!" Zuko turned his back to her. "What happened should never have happened. I was out of place." The fire prince began to walk off, not even pausing when Iroh stepped out of the hatch onto the deck with a worried look on his face. Katara looked down as she heard the hatch slam shut.
"What's wrong?" Iroh asked Katara, concern etched on his face.
"He . . . ." She looked up at Iroh briefly and then looked away with a blush staining her cheeks. ". . . . it's nothing . . . ." Frowning, Iroh watched as Katara looked out over the ocean.
"Katara . . . ." Iroh soft voice caused Katara to turn and look back at him with an expression of curiosity. ". . . . perhaps this old man has been pushing Prince Zuko too hard." Iroh muttered quietly, almost too soft for her to hear, Scrunching up her brow in confusion, Katara let her soft voice fill the air.
"What are you talking about Iroh?" The old man smiled bitterly as he answered her question.
"Katara, my dear, I watched as the two of you started to grow affection towards each other. I . . . . wanted you both to be happy so I began to play matchmaker. Prince Zuko . . . he has had painful experiences when it comes to those he loves. Thus, he is weary. I should have taken that into consideration. But I was too busy trying to make the two of you happy. I was too busy playing matchmaker." Iroh raised his hands up in defense as Katara opened her mouth to speak and cut her off. "Let me finish. I wasn't trying to disrespect either of you. Especially not you Katara . . . . I knew that his highness respected you and would never harm you. Nor let you be defiled by himself. He would not stand to see a woman such as yourself disgraced in such a way. He has his honor and he would not allow your honor to be thrown aside. His mother and I have taught him that much." Sighing wearily, Iroh continued. "The point is that I pushed him. I pushed him into a situation that scares him."
"Scares him?" Katara echoed, confused.
"Yes. He is afraid to allow his feelings to be shown. His father put that fear into him. And his mother's death scarred deeply, worse than what his father did." Katara nodded as she remembered Zuko's words to her.
"Yes, he told me."
"He told you?" Iroh was surprised. Perhaps that was why the prince kissed her so suddenly. They had shared an intimate moment and he lost himself in it. That would be the only thing that made sense. Looking down, Katara blushed.
"Yes. He told me all about his mother. I . . . . wish to have met her. She sounds wonderful." Katara frowned as she looked up at Iroh. "Oh! Prince Zuko. That must have been so painful to bring up and then he feels wrong for kissing me! I have to go talk to him! Otherwise . . . ." Katara trailed off, knowing that Iroh understood what she meant. Otherwise the prince would despair for awhile. He would blame himself for acting on his impulses and that, added to the pain of speaking of his mother . . . . it would be almost too much to bear, for anyone.
- - - - -
Ceres opened her eyes as she laid across the floor. Her hair fanned out against the cold metal and she wore a plain black robe. Pulling her body up into a sitting position, almost as if she was being pulled by strings, Ceres wrapped her hand around the crystal dagger.
"That man . . . ." She whispered quietly. ". . . he infuriates me. He says that he'll find her for me yet I find myself doing all the damn work!" She hissed as she stood up. Holding the crystal dagger by the chain it was on, Ceres held her free hand underneath the dagger. A strange wind appeared, flowing around her. Ceres's eyes grew wide as she grinned. "Let me see the girl I seek." The ancient demon released the chain and moved her hands to hover at the sides of the dagger. "Show me the girl whose future is bleak!" Streaks of lightening came out of the small dagger as Ceres's hair and robe were blown around her and she hovered slightly above the ground. A cruel smile worked its way onto her face. Inside of the crystal showed Katara kissing Zuko. After that a powerful blast of fire came out of the crystal and threw her against the wall. Ceres let out a cry of pain as she fell to the ground, winded. Laying there for a few minutes to catch her breath, Ceres narrowed her eyes. "It . . . . a-appears . . ." She wheezed and regained her breath. ". . . that someone has put that blasted girl under their protection." Ceres forced her body up into a sitting position. "But who?"
- - - - -
Katara cracked the door open to see Zuko sitting before his dragon alter. He was breathing evenly with his eyes closed, control the flames. After a moment he stopped and spoke without turning to her.
". . . . I should not have done that." Katara opened the door up the rest of the way and stared at him softly while he spoke. "I do not know why I did that. It was wrong of me." Finally, the prince turned his head and looked at Katara over his shoulder. "I took advantage of you. It will not happen again." Katara looked away with a light blush staining her cheeks.
". . . . . why not?" The fire prince looked at her, surprised. Katara looked up at him, feeling bold as she moved towards the prince. She stopped a few feet away from him.
"What are you talking about Katara?" Zuko asked, causing Katara to kneel down and grabbed hold of the prince's hand, surprising him once more. The prince of fire blushed when Katara held his hand against her cheek and closed her eyes.
"Zuko . . . . please don't regret your actions." She smiled softly as she opened her eyes. "I . . . . may not be here for long. I want to enjoy every moment. I want you to feel free to love me." Zuko leaned closer to Katara and the waterbender closed her eyes again as he slowly closed his eyes. His lips met hers softly.
- - - - -
Ceres fell onto her bed and let her mind drift. Who would put the girl under their protection? Pulling the covers over her tired and bruised body, Ceres pondered the events. The flame that had attacked her had done its toll on her body. And to block her . . . . what power they must have! Ceres tried to look at Katara again, only to find nothing. It made her more angry than Admiral Zhao. Whoever it was, they were going to pay.
"But who?" She racked her brain for answers. "The fire gods? No, they would not get directly or indirectly involved. Celestial maidens? They don't last long on Earth, too frail without their heavenly robes. And anyone can steal a robe while they bathe." Thinking, she tried to find some other powerful being that could have sent that blast of fire at her. "The Avatar? But he hasn't learned firebending yet!" Ceres lifted her hand up and held it in front of her chin as she thought. "Maybe . . . . a last defense Senku set up to stop me?" Sighing, Ceres let herself sink deeper into her sheets. "Who?" She asked the air, trying to find an answer. "Who could it be?" The demon let out a frustrated breath. "Or it could be a totally new being that wants to take part in this game of cat and mouse. And why was I shown that boy kissing her?" Narrowing her eyes, Ceres rolled onto her side. "I do not like this."
- - - - -
"Admiral Brenda!" Dismissing the soldier she had been talking to, a woman turned around, letting a black cape flutter behind her as she marched towards a saluting soldier. Her pitch black hair was tied in a braid and draped over her left shoulder Her bangs were grown passed her chin most of them were kept in the braid, but on the far right side, out of the way of her eyes, her long bangs were allowed to be free. Fire armor adorn her pale body and a long, thin sword hung at her side from her belt. She walked past the solider and sat on a chair, resting her head on her hand as he elbow was supported by the chair's arm. She crossed her legs and shifted most of her weight onto her arm. Beautiful golden eyes glanced over to the soldier.
"You can stop saluting now." Her deep silky voice filled the air as she closed her eyes. "I don't like people disturbing the relaxed atmosphere I have on my bridge." The soldier stiffened as he let his arm drop. Another soldier, who had come to stand beside her, fought back a sigh.
"Admiral Brenda, he's new." He explained softly in his young voice. He couldn't have been more than twenty. The female Admiral glanced at him now. "Besides, I'm sure he has something to tell us, after all he is from the information gathering section."
"You've been my second in command for how long, Raymond?" Raymond started when Brenda spoke to him, surprised by her question.
"Well, I'm turning twenty-one in a week. That will mark my third year with you." Brenda closed her eyes and gently stroked her thick braid.
"You should know by now that I already figured he had something to tell me. After all," She opened her eyes once more and motioned to the badge on soldier's arm that signified which section he came from. "I'm not blind. I can see where he's from." She sighed as she closed her eyes once again. "By now, you should know I am no fool." Raymond stiffened at her words, startled once more.
"That's not what I meant, Admiral." A slight smirk played on her lips as he tried to excuse himself from his mistake. "I was just trying to explain. I'm sorry if I offended you. It will not happen again."
"Good. Otherwise I'll have to tease you mercilessly, Raymond." She turned her attention back to the soldier that was from the information segment. "This better not be boring. I do despise things that are boring."
"Admiral Brenda, we have located Prince Zuko's ship. It is-" Brenda held up her hand, cutting him off.
"I don't need to know where it it personally." She made a shooing motion towards the man. "Go tell the helmsman what course he should take to intersect my favorite Prince." The soldier saluted once more and moved away from her to carry out her orders, marching over to the helmsman.
"Admiral, we are suppose to be on patrol. And what do you plan to do once the Phantom Flame reaches Prince Zuko's ship." The woman looked at Raymond through the corner of her eye.
"I know we're on patrol. But it's so boring. It lacks the beauty of battle. Besides, we're in the middle of nowhere. The Fire Lord just put our lone ship on patrol because he wanted me out of the way. And, as to what we are going to do, well, isn't it obvious?" When Raymond shook his head she continued. "Why, to lend a helping hand to my dear little Prince and Ceres's prey. After all, as long as Ceres's prey is out of the demon's grasp, we are all still safe." She looked over at a soldier who stood next to several pipes that came up to his shoulder level and had lids on them. "Tell the engine room that I want to be going as fast as possible." The soldier nodded and turned to one of the pipes and lifted the lid off of it, relaying the message into the pipe.
"Didn't Fire Lord Ozai say that there was no need to fear Ceres? That the demon was weak against fire?" Turning her attention back to Raymond, the woman spoke as she stood up.
"He doesn't fear Ceres because Ceres prefers women. Besides, if he did admit that Ceres was a threat then he would have to stop his precious war and fight Ceres. That would mean he'd have to have a few allies. Meaning there would be a peace treaty. That is something he has too much pride for."
"Admiral!" Raymond gasped, surprised at her words. The admiral glanced at him once more.
"Oh come now, he does have a lot of pride. And it's not like I don't like the war. Ever since I was little I would dream of having my own ship and fighting glorious battles." She turned and walked pass her second in command. "But now I realize that life will be boring after we win the war. So I hope that the comet will pass while our Fire Lord is too busy with Ceres." She stopped at the door as a soldier opened it for her. "There's something to be said about winning a war in one single blow. It's boring and lacks the elegant flare I love so much." She stepped through the door and her words drifted to Raymond's ears as the door was shut. "I'm taking a bath. Don't disturb me unless we find our dear Prince's ship."
- - - - -
Yay! Another chapter done! I think this is probably the last chapter I'll get out before school starts. I don't think I'll be able to get out my chapters as fast as before because of school. Plus I'll be working. But when I do get a chance I'll type as fast as I can and as much as I can. Now, I bet you guys want to know who blocked Ceres? And who is Admiral Brenda and what is her relationship with Prince Zuko? Please guess in your reviews. I almost let the relationship between Brenda and Zuko be revealed in this chapter but I figured that would lose some of the fun. I know, I'm evil. Well, mwahahahahahaha! Anyways . . . . I love your reviews. Please review because they make me happy and a happy me types faster.