Borrowed
Walking down the hallway, barefoot, Ceres kept close to the walls. Her emerald eyes darted from side to side. Soon. Soon she would take the girl's body and be able to reign supreme in her new body. The ancient demon could already taste the fear. She pressed her body against the wall as she heard a sound. Her hair was pulled back into an high ponytail so that her curls could be shown to the world. A bright red robe had large flowing sleeves and fanned out behind her as she walked. The black, low cut dress she worn under it was short, barely going pass her fingertips. Her crystal dagger lay on its chain against her pale skin. Although it was hard to blend into the shadows, the demonic being did it with skill. Two soldiers walked by.
"Did you hear about Prince Zuko not only bringing the Avatar here, but Ceres's prey?" This caught her attention. She narrowed her eyes and listened closely. The other soldier nodded.
"Not only that, but he's gonna end the war. Says Ceres is more important and the war is bad for the Fire Nation."
"Hmph, well, I guess it will be nice not to have to worry about being sent into battle daily." She watched as they wandered down the hallway and out of sight. Ceres smirked and tapped her chin in thought.
"Well then," She muttered softly into the shadows. "I think I need to take a look into this matter." She eyes narrowed once more as a wicked smile worked its way onto her face before she disappeared into the shadows.
- - - - -
Zuko paid no attention to the crowds' cheering as he entered the palace. Immediately advisers flocked to his side.
"Sir, is it true? You're going to end the war?" Zuko didn't even glance at the nameless adviser who asked him the question.
"Yes. The avatar has mastered the elements and Ceres is more important than the war." He marched forward and he heard the soft thuds of someone trying to keep up with him. The advisers stared in wonder and surprise as the young woman sped up to walk beside Zuko.
"I'm not use to walking again." She muttered quietly so only he could hear. He paid no mind to her words, making her roll her blue eyes in annoyance. Her blue water tribe robes rustled softly as she matched his step.
"Wait up!" Aang called as he hurried to catch up to the two. Zuko still did not slow his pace. An adviser snapped out of his shock at seeing the Avatar and hurried to follow Zuko along with several others who woke from their startled states.
"Sir, you've brought the Avatar!" Zuko finally glanced at the adviser. "That was the only requirement before you could regain the throne. Your father never said that you had to capture the avatar." Zuko looked ahead and nodded.
"Yes, I suppose you're right. Now, if you would leave." The Fire Nation members nodded and excused themselves before leaving as Zuko entered the throne room. The heavy wooden doors were closed after Iroh and Sokka. Zuko marched up the steps to the throne and only stopped to turn around. He let out a breath and sat down in the seat and looked down at the people in front of him. Iroh, Sokka, Aang, and Katara were the only others in the room. He stared down at them as he rested his hands on the arm rests. Smiling, Katara looked around the red and gold room.
"It's been so long since I last saw this room." She muttered as she turned back to Zuko. Bowing her head slightly to Zuko, she smiled softly at him. "My precious little boy, how I've waited for this day." Zuko's eyes flickered to her face briefly before he looked away.
"Please don't, mother. It is strange enough seeing you control Katara's body." She sighed and nodded.
"It is strange to have a body again." She looked over at Iroh. "Tell me, do you mind having tea later. I have missed its taste and-"
"Not now!" Zuko boomed as fire sprung up to life all around him. "We don't have time for this. We need to find Ceres." 'Katara' glared at Zuko and put her hands on her hips.
"Don't you take that tone with me, young man." She snapped.
- - - - -
Zuko threw open the doors to his room. It was the same as he left it. That is, except for Katara laying in his bed, looking as if she were asleep. Sighing, Zuko closed his doors and locked them. He quickly stripped down to his pants as he looked out a window. Night had fallen.
"You know, you will have rumors flying about with Katara in your room." He looked over to see 'Katara' watching him.
"Let them talk." He looked to back outside as he locked the window.
". . . . I can only pose as Katara for so long, my son." She sat up and pulled her legs into her arms.
"You said yourself that Katara will wake up any day now." The body of the young woman looked at him dryly.
"I also said that anger will lead you no where, but you failed to listen to that part of our conversation."
"I won't lose to Ceres, if that's what you're thinking." She shook her head as she stretched out her arms and laid back down.
". . . . this is a morbid subject. Tell me, you love Katara, correct?" Zuko looked away as he sat down at his desk.
". . . . this is not a subject I would like to talk to my mother about when she is controlling my girlfriend's body." 'Katara' smiled before yawning and rolling over to look at Zuko.
"But you love her, right?"
". . . . yes." Propping her head up on her hand, she laughed.
"I don't think you should hesitate when telling a girl that." He sent her a glare.
"If in case you forgot, I have trouble expressing these emotions. Father was not very kind towards my show of emotion." Her eyes softened at the mention of Ozai.
"Zuko . . . . he was a good man."
"Yes. Good enough to turn me into a hideous man. Katara is the only one to find me attractive." Standing up, the young woman made her way over to Zuko. Kneeling in front of him, 'Katara' looked up at the young prince and held his hands.
". . . . what he did was wrong. But before that, before the throne, he was the man I was in love with. Before my death, he was a good man. The power corrupted him. I just hope it does not corrupt you." Zuko stood up, making her reel back in surprise.
"I will never be like he was." Smiling, she stood up, too.
"Then I give you my blessing." Zuko blinked in surprise.
"What are you talking about?" Sighing, 'Katara' moved back to the bed and sat down on the edge.
"You'll figure it out on your own." She laid down and closed her eyes, yawning again. Frowning, Prince Zuko crossed his arms.
"And you can't tell me because . . . . ?" He waited for an answer but none came. He rolled his eyes when he realized that she had given up control of the young woman's body. Sighing, the prince reached down and brush some hair out of her face. Katara looked so peaceful. She really did look like she had dozed off, not had her soul locked away. Slowly, he extinguished the candles lighting the room and pulled Katara closer to him before being lulled to sleep. He lost himself in her warmth and the sound of her heartbeat.
- - - - -
Zuko woke up the next day to see Katara already changed. She looked back at him and smiled softly.
"You've always been cute when you're asleep, my son." Zuko closed his eyes and fought back a sigh. It hurt to hear his mother through his girlfriend. Not to mention that is was strange. He wanted to hold her, to kiss her, but at the same time, he wanted her to hold him and tell him stories. It was messed up.
"How much longer until Katara wakes up?" She squatted down in front of her son and sighed.
"It is strange, you love me in two different ways. You love the girl, whose body I control. You even may want to make love to her. But at the same time you know it's me and you want me to have fun with me and talk to me like we used to." Zuko winced when she mentioned making love. It was . . . . uncomfortable to talk about with his mother. Especially when she controlled his girlfriend's body. Sensing his discomfort, Leila, controlling Katara's body, stood up. "I don't think I could even hug you without confusing and disturbing you. You wouldn't know how to take it. Should you take it as a loving embrace from the woman you love romantically, or the caring embrace of a mother. You would know it was a mother's touch but at the same time, it isn't a mother's touch."
". . ." Zuko stood and looked at her in the eyes. For an instant, he could have sworn that golden eyes stared back at him. But that moment was gone as quickly as it had arrived. "It is true . . . I don't know how to deal with you. I look at you and my heart knows it isn't the woman I want to kiss and hold. I know that you are my mother in a different form. But that doesn't make it simple. I . . . . I don't know how long I can do this." Nodding, the woman sat down on his bed.
"Well, Katara will be waking up soon. So you'll be able to go back to kissing her without a care in the world." Zuko shook his head, causing her to tilt her head to the side, confused. "What's wrong?"
"To know that you'll be watching everything I do. It is unsettling." She blinked, surprised, before laughing.
"My son, I am not interested in seeing that. When you are having a moment with Katara, I usually leave the room. I go . . . . haunt Iroh for the time." She stood up and laughed again. "He is a good matchmaker, though. Who would have thought you would end up falling in love with a waterbender. And a peasant, no less."
"Don't talk about Katara that way, mother." Zuko growled, making her sigh and sake her head.
"You are too protective." She turned her back to him. Zuko rolled his eyes at her.
"Whatever. Set outside of the room so I can-" Katara fell back onto the bed. She breathed softly, signaling that she was fine, his mother had just given up control for the moment. ". . . . change. But I guess you can do that."
- - - - -
Ceres landed with a soft thud outside the throne room of the palace. She grinned as she looked up at the doors. He was in there. With the girl. At first she had been angered that the sleep spell didn't work. Well, at least not as long as she had hoped. But then she overheard him talking with her. It wasn't the sweet talk her spider had reported to her. Nor did he look at her like she had thought he would. After all, her crystal dagger had shown them kissing. The Fire Gods and the Avatar had favored her . . . for the moment. She knew that they shared any intimate moments. It all came together when she had over heard the girl's brother and the Avatar talking. It was the dead Fire Lady who controlled the body. It would be too easy to kick out the protective spirit and steal the girl's body. Her ears perked up as she heard sounds. No, not just any sounds, voices. Ceres leapt back up into the shadows, disappearing once more. Seconds later the doors open and Zuko stepped out with the girl.
"How much longer?" Zuko muttered, low enough that any normal human wouldn't hear except for the girl he walked with.
"Not too much longer. I'd say about a day or two." Ceres fought back a curse. She couldn't believe it. The girl would be waking up soon enough, making it harder for her to take her quietly. Ceres watched as everyone left the throne room and she snuck in, through the doors right before they closed. Her magic wasn't strong enough. Well, at least it wasn't when she sent the demon spider. Ceres glided up to the throne and draped herself over it, letting her legs hang over one of the armrest.
"I'll have to take the girl before she wakes." Ceres muttered to herself. After a moment of thought, she smirked. She had it, the answer to her problems. "Well, that isn't a bad idea." Standing up, Ceres melted into the shadows again.
- - - - -
"Prince Zuko, sir!" Zuko looked up as he sat at his desk. Aang, Sokka, Iroh, and Leila posing as Katara were all in the room with him. At the moment he had been trying to write a letter to the other nations to ask for assistance. A soldier entered the room.
"What is it?" Zuko growled, annoyed. The soldier did not flinch, only repeated the message he was sent.
"The Admiral Zhao is requesting an audience with you." Zuko's eyes narrowed as he stood up. Zhao was a man he was not too sure about. He had caused him problems in the past and he had let the demon into the palace. But then again, he might have a few clues as to where the body snatching demon was.
"Go on, Prince Zuko. Sokka, Aang, and I will finish the letter."
"Very well. Go tell Admiral Zhao that I will meet with him." Nodding, the soldier left the room. As soon as the soldier turned a corner, he back up so that he was hidden and glanced around.
"Just alittle more," He started as his body changed shape. Ceres smirked as she felt her pupils slit momentarily. ". . . and then," She morphed her body again, this time transforming into Admiral Zhao. ". . . I will finally acquire a new body." The demon glanced around before stepping out of the shadows. Ceres, disguised as Zhao, marched towards the throne room, intent on carrying out her plan. She let her face remain neutral as she entered the throne room to speak with Zuko and the girl. The Prince glared down at Zhao.
"It appears that I have reclaimed the throne, Zhao." Ceres bowed to him, as would any soldier bow to their leader.
"Prince Zuko, I have important news concerning Ceres." Zuko narrowed his eyes as he unknowingly stared down at the demonic impersonator.
"The same Ceres you introduced as a member of the court and allowed to get close to my father?" Zuko leaned forward slightly as his voice took a deadly tone.
". . . forgive me for that, my prince. It was a mistake." Ceres forced herself to look mournful. "But I have information about Ceres." Zuko leaned back into his throne.
"Very well, tell me this information and we will see if it makes up for all your past mistakes." Ceres fought back a smirk, this was all too easy. The girl was close to her. Even the dead Fire Lady knew it would be strange for anyone to be up with the Fire Lord until they were the current Fire Lady. So the dead woman could only stand at the base of the stairs, out of the way and close to Ceres.
"Ceres . . . . is here." Zuko raised his eyebrow.
"What are you talking about?" Standing up to her full height, she dropped the disguise. That's when all hell broke loose.
- - - - -
The writer's block is gone, for the moment. Thanks for the reviews. They helped me through this chapter and are what made it come out so quickly. I hope you guys like it. Please tell me what's wrong, other than my grammar because I already know that I stink at grammar. Well, hope you guys review, it helps me figure out what's wrong and it helps with any writer's block that I may be suffering from. I think that I was able to write this chapter so quickly and easily because I had Ceres in it and she's always fun to write about. Anyway, please review. Thank you.