We have a really weird movie critic that writes in our paper. I particualarly liked his comment on "Flightplan"where he said: "Hear that sucking noise? that's the sound of Flightplan preparing to suck your brain out through your nostrils like a humongous sucking vortex of suckitude that sucks things." You are so professional mister Clark! Anyways, sorry that these chapters aren't popping up once every day like they used to, but I'm just running short on time lately and am not able to put them out like I used to. I'M GETTING OLD! Okay, I'm not. But I will be on January 14th when I turn 18! GASP! Another thing about my story. I know I keep saying there's only a few chapters left, but at this point with the influx of ideas I've been getting, I really have no idea about how many more of these buggers I'm going to keep putting out. Don't be surprised if it really does never end. The new Avatar episode ROCKED! Whoah! I've got it taped (oh I'm bad) so I've now seen it about twenty times. Wanna hear my prediction for the series? I think Aang and Katara really aren't going to end up together, the powerful bender was probably Zuko or someone we haven't met yet, but I'm leaning more towards Zuko. I figure this because if marriage was such a deffinite think in Katara's future and if she is supposed to marry Aang, wouldn't this be just as obvious in his reading? Anyways, update about my life. I went paintballing yesterday! Yay! And it's about time, I was beginning to have withdrawls. I was shot fifteen times (I know I told you I was shot thirteen times, O-dragon, but I found a few more welts. I also told ya paintballs travel at 150 mph, but that was a lie. me and my dad calculated it, they fly at around 204.5 mph). It was so fun! I've gotten to the point where most of the shots I take I barely even notice, but there's always a couple that hurt so bad that you want to throw up. Like my two kidney shots that are only a few inches apart from each other. My cousin is a dip. he was hiding behind a bush, so I told him to come out and take it like a man. So he came running out, stood two feet away from me and shot me twice in the arm. But the friend he brought was cute. The friend shot me once in the butt. I don't know if I shot him though, you tend to lose count. Anyways, that was really long but I get really pumped about paintballing. I can't wait to go again next weekend!
lovergal1227: Sorry the time gaps were confusing. Zhao will come in later. I certainly hope squirrels aren't evil! We have one living in our back yard right now. It's been snitching walnuts from us.
Zukoscute2: I am totally calm! (twitch)
O-dragon: Hm, Iroh. He will come in soon, just not now. NO IROH FOR YOU!
Plutobaby494: I'll explain what happens to the trio in this chapter, don't worry.
Random Firebender: I'm so sorry about not letting anons review before. I swear on all that is...something clever...that I didn't know I wasn't accepting them. And I'm glad you are such a loyal fan and thanx for the review.
darklight4ever: I'm continuing with all the powers of my mighty brain muscles (that's a quote I made up while writing this chapter that I've decided I really like)! I swear it!
Petitio Principii: Sorry you found it unfutting. I just decided at the last minute to do something different from everyone else. I promise that Aang will be the one to out Ozai in the cartoon...even though I really have no control in the matter. As forYew-ta...we shall see.
Titan09: Actually, there ain't much distinction between the positions of heathen and fiend. If ya want me to, I'll come up with more stuff to call ya! j/k. The witch scene is one of my favorite parts. I've seen it so many times I can quote it word for word. Actually I can do that with the entire movie. I actually saw the scene in school last year as well, but it was in my leadership class. I can't remember why exactly we watched it, but I was happy. I'll have to check out that site! Sorry, I didn't mean to take your nickname. I didn't know it was your nickname, but sorry still. That's...a weird thing to sell.
Katara183: Okay. Yeah, those are great people to want to be. I especially like prince Erbert and the black night. I scared one of my friends on time. We got in an argument over something really dumb (as always) and she's an idiot so the points she was trying to make really didn't make sense and weren't plausible. so all of a sudden I just yelled "LOOK YOU STUPID BASTARD! YOU'VE GOT NO ARMS LEFT!" That shut her up. We haven't really talked much since then.
Sesshomaru's Woman: That is so cool that you got to go to the expo! I didn't, but there's a site somewhere where I've checked out all sorts of stuff for the upcoming season. Wow, there's someone named Lin? I didn't know about that. I knew there's a bounty hunter girl that's going to show up named Jun. I wish I had her outfit. I predict that she's going to have Zuko wrapped around her finger. I know she's hired by Zhao, so hopefully Zuko won't get too involved with her. I think Katara and Sokka's dad is kinda hot, even though he's old. I don't know, I guess I just havea soft spot for dreads myself as long as they aren't nasty and lice-ridden. I've seen a sketch of Zuko's blimp and I think it looks kinda cute. BTW, that was a mean crack about your sister...even though it made me laugh and think the same thing about my own. Oh, we're evil! I din't see much technology stuff except a weird firenation tank thinger, it looked pretty deadly. I can't wait for the next episode! I know it's going to be called "The gliders" or something like that, I've seen a few storyboards, but I really can't tell all that much about it. I'm thinking they'll eventually end up at the East or West air temples. I hope there are some female airbenders still hiding out there. The pictures of the temple are great.
blue 1/2: I promise to never talk like that again. I had to scrub my mouth out with lye soon afterwards. Nothingness is a terrible sickness against the mind. That's why I gave up such superfluous things as sanity years ago. I'm glad you liked my little segment on Hope, there'll be a few more. And I'm sorry you thought the end battle was a little short lived, I think so too. Don't worry. Everything will come together eventually.
Randomwriter88: Of course Zuko didn't kill the baby!
Khazia: Oh my gosh. that stuff about your mom is so sad. I guess I'm lucky in the fact that everyone in my family has had no trouble with having kids. I have a feeling I'll be okay too. That's just so sad! Did she really lose ten?
Athenera: I can't believe Zuko wasn't in it as well. Ain't ita burn? I LOVE YOU TOO!
Evangline Angel: Hallelujah! Criticism! And I'm glad you still enjoyed the story despite all of that. I read your fic and loved it! I'll advertise for you, how 'bout that?
Serori: Yay! A new fan! I'm glad you like!
MitaraiWaterDragon: YAY! YOU'RE ALIVE! I was afraid I had offended you or something! Oh squee! (Accepts award and blows kisses to comp. screen)
Crouchingbunny: Yeah, seeing commercials makes me bubble over with excitement. I hope they show more of them. That is a great word! Awesomest! I'm going to add that to my vocabulary right now!
Woman of Middle Earth: Thank you for all of your lovely review! And no, the search engine isn't evil. I am. I just couldn't stand the constant presence of PW&A in my mind anymore. I came to hate my total Mary-Sue character, hardly anybody was reading it and the plot was stale. I just couldn't come up with anything for it. Trust me, you're better off not reading it. If I ever feel the dire need, I might repost it. Just not now.
And...Once again...there is another reviewer on my stats page, but it'll take another hour before my computer will let me actually read it. So sorry about that currently shielded reviewer. I still love you!
Wow! That's a lot of reviews! Now here's some advertising!
Go read Evangline Angel's fic "End with Honor" It's awesome. And O-dragon has a story out called "Aishiteru"which is really great as well! Read them both and it may cause the braincells to regrow that have been popped and wringed dry from reading my stuff!
When Katie woke up she could feel the motions of the ship rocking beneath her. It was lulling in fact. They had just set sail the day before. Katie opened her eyes and rolled over. She almost jumped out of her skin when she saw Zuko's sleeping face only a few inches from her own. For the last few years he had been getting up hours before she awoke to fulfill his duties. Then he usually wouldn't turn in until after Katie had already fallen asleep. Katie gazed into his face for a few minutes, then leaned in and kissed him softly. Zuko stirred in his sleep and rolled onto his back. Katie took the opportunity to scoot close to him and cuddle up at his side (another thing she had been missing). Zuko woke up the rest of the way at her touch and shifted himself so she could move closer, resting her head on his chest.
"Good morning Zee." Katie murmured.
"And you as well, Love." Zuko brought a hand up and gently stroked her cheek. Katie wrapped her arm firmly around his waist and buried her face into his shoulder to breathe in his scent.
"I've missed you." Katie said. Zuko's entire body seemed to tense for a fraction of a second.
"I'm so sorry that I haven't been there." He said and resumed stroking her cheek.
"Don't be sorry. I understand that you're a very important person. I have to share you." Katie said and began tracing several scars on his chest with a fingertip. Zuko took her hand and lifted it up so he could see the scar he had given her on their wedding night.
"That's no excuse. You're my wife and you should always come first."
"I can't come before an entire country, Zee. I may not always like it, but I understand." Zuko began to protest this, but Katie lifted herself up and kissed him. "Let's not talk about it. We're here together now, let's make the most of it." Zuko looked like he wanted to apologize some more, but instead heaved a sigh and smiled at her.
"I love you."
"I love you too, bud."
"We're only fifteen miles away?" Katie asked the helmsman excitedly two days out to sea.
"Yes my lady, but we will aren't scheduled to stop there." Katie's face fell. She glanced over at Zuko who was standing a few feet behind her inspecting a map. She never undermined his authority in front of his subjects so she pulled him out of earshot.
"Can't we just make one quick stop? It will only put us one day behind and we're already three days ahead of schedule." She pleaded in a hushed voice.
"Those three days are in case of bad weather. I'm sorry, but we won't be able to stop and see Aang and Katara." Zuko said, trying not to look at her. He knew she was making a pouting face in the attempt to break his heart. So when it didn't work, Katie turned to more drastic measures.
"Zuko, let me see my friends or I won't let you within two feet of me for a week." She whispered threateningly. He tensed and began shifting uncomfortably. "I mean it. I'm strong enough to put you in your place now." Zuko grunted and brushed a stray lock of black hair out of his eyes in annoyance. He was still over a hundred times more powerful than she was, but he had to admit that she could still pack a punch when she wanted to.
"Alright, fine. We'll stop. But we will only visit for a couple of hours, okay?"
"Of course." She smiled as she watched Zuko stalk off to give the helmsman the new orders. "Thank you." She said when he came back and hugged him tightly. This seemed to slake his annoyance a bit and he hugged her back.
"Come on. Let's go for a walk." Zuko said, taking her arm and leading her out onto the deck. Every member of the crew they passed would pause from their various labors to bow in respect to Zuko. He barely noticed it but Katie still hadn't gotten used to the constant barrage of praises and it was really driving her nuts.
"Isn't there anything you can do or command to get them to stop licking the floor every time you walk passed?" Katie said loudly, sending a small glare at one of the galley men.
"I don't see why it bothers you so much." Zuko said with a shrug. He leaned against the railing and gazed out across the ocean water.
"Because, it just does. I don't like pretending to be better then all these people, because I'm not." Katie said grumpily. She leaned next to him and began scraping the peeling paint from the railing and then flicked it moodily out at the water. Zuko shrugged again. He really couldn't find a way to argue with her sometimes to make her see things his way, so he had given up years ago. The lack of argument only made her grumpier and she flicked a paint chip at Zuko. It missed so she began peeling back another one.
"You know, I'm surprised at how much I've missed the sea." Zuko said, taking a deep breath of the salty air. "I've been staring out at it from my throne room forever. I really miss the freedom that it offered. I'd forgotten what freedom is being shoved every which way by diplomacy. Sometimes I even find myself wishing I hadn't taken the throne, that I hadn't started this campaign for peace."
"You could always just start the war up again. You could name it 'Operation Impending Doom 2' I can see a great franchise growing from that in my powerful brain muscles." Katie said flicking another piece of paint at Zuko.
"Or I could just run away." Zuko said turning to look Katie in the face.
"Zuko, that's not funny. Without you the nation would crumble." Katie said, the attempt to peel another paint chip now forgotten.
"I know." Zuko said with a sigh and rested his face in his hands. "But sometimes that's just the very thing I want to do. I'm twenty-four years old. I look back on my life and it has been nothing but a montage of being the pawn of others. My father, Zhao, even my uncle to a certain degree. Now my council controls every move I make, I barely have the chance to stop and breathe. And look at us. We've become so distant. I don't want us to drift apart."
"Zee, don't talk like that. We aren't going to drift apart. Times are a bit stressful, but I promise we'll pull through it, together." Katie said, placing a comforting hand on his shoulder. "Now promise me you aren't going to talk like that anymore. You were scaring me there for a sec."
"Alright, I promise." Zuko said with a sigh. He ran a hand through his longish bangs and looked back out at the ocean. "We're getting close." He said nodding to a coastline looming in the horizon.
"I'm gonna go get ready." Katie said and disappeared back into their room. One thing Katie had to get readjusted to about living on a ship was lack of bathing. There was a small basin of fresh water to wash your face and hands in, but that was about it. Fresh water was just too precious to use for something so frivolous and you could hardly feel clean after bathing in salt water. Luckily Zuko had taught Katie another method of bathing. It wasn't nearly as relaxing; in fact it was quite exhausting to pull off. Pretty much you heated your skin to the point that all dirt, bacteria and dead skin were burned away. After her fire bath, Katie felt the ship beneath her feet come to a grating stop at the port. She quickly got dressed and pulled her hair up, purposely forgetting to put in her royal ornament, and went up to go ashore with Zuko. Katie had only been to Aang and Katara's house once before even though their village was such a short sailing distance from the capitol. After Zuko had taken the throne, the two and Sokka stayed at the palace for a month. After that they resumed world traveling. After a year, Sokka split ways with them and settled down with a girl he had met from the Northern Water tribe. The last Katie had heard, he was a prospering fisherman. Aang and Katara had kept traveling, but three years later decided to get married and they settled in this firenation village. Katie still couldn't understand why since they had both come from colder climates. She herself was still trying to get used to the pressing humidity and constant summer heat.
After twenty minutes of walking into the village they came to a decent sized house set in a yard filled with trees and flowers. They heard some little giggles coming from a bush to their right.
"Ready or not, here I come!" A deep voice boomed from the back yard. A young man tip-toed from around the corner and glanced around with an evil look in his eyes. The man was bald with an arrow tattoo on his head, but was sporting a dark brown beard. He was tall and muscular, no longer a stringy twelve year old. But those dark gray eyes were unmistakably Aang's. He froze mid-prowl when he saw Katie and Zuko standing just outside his property and the evil grimace immediately melted into an ecstatic grin. "Well hello there!" he said happily and jumped forward. Thanks to his airbending he was right in front of them in an instant.
"Aang! It's so good to see you!" Katie said and hugged the man tightly.
"It's good to see you too! Come on, let's go inside. I know Katara will just go crazy when she sees you!" Aang said while shaking Zuko's hand. "Oh, wait. Hold on a second." He reached into the bush at their side and pulled out two small children. He tucked on beneath each arm and led the guests back to the house. Katie recognized the children as the two-year-old twins, Boomy and Sokka. They wiggled and squirmed in their father's grip, but eventually gave up and just hung limply at his sides. Aang nudged the front door open with his foot and called inside with a sing-song voice. "Katara, I have a surprise for you!"
"If it's a dirty diaper it's your turn." She called back in the same tone. She walked out of the kitchen into the main living area and froze at the sight of Katie and Zuko in the doorway. After the initial shock wore off she let out an excited shriek and ran forward to give Katie a hug. "Oh my goodness! Look at you! I would kill to have your figure!"
"Oh puh-leez! You look great! Especially after just having a whopper of a baby."
"You have to see her! She is such a chubby little thing. She has Aang just wrapped around her little finger." Katara grabbed Katie and steered her through the house into the kitchen. The baby was lying on a blanket on the floor surrounded by pillows and toys. Katara scooped her up and held her for Katie to see.
"Oh my goodness, aren't you just the sweetest little thing!" Katie said touching the baby's soft cheek. The baby wrapped her chubby little fist around Katie's finger and pulled it with surprising force into her mouth. "Ow, she has some teeth on her!" Katie said but didn't try pulling the finger away.
"Tell me about it." Katara said. She held the baby out a bit and Katie took her without hesitation.
"You never told me what you've decided to name her." Katie said, rocking slightly.
"Deige." (It's kinda my own rendition of the Gaelic word for ice) Katara said stroking the baby's soft dark hair fondly. "Go ahead and have a seat in the living room. Lunch is almost ready."
"Do you need any help?"
"Of course not! You're a guest. Now go and sit down and relax." Katara said, shooing Katie and the bundle from the room. Zuko and Aang were sitting around, chatting politely. Little Sokka and Boomy were wrestling on the floor much to the amusement of the two grown men. Pretty soon they had abandoned their conversation and were instead calling out encouragement and tips to the twins.
"You guys are barbarians." Katie said, sitting down carefully next to Zuko, but within seconds she was calling out tips as well. "Don't let him get behind you Boomy!"
"Aang! Could you give me a hand here?" Katara called from the kitchen. Aang stood up immediately and left. Zuko turned for the first time to see the little baby in Katie's arms. He smiled, but Katie could see it was just a mask over his sadness. Their Hope had been about this age when she had died. Zuko leaned forward and stroked the baby's hair softly.
"Want to hold her?" Katie asked holding Deige out to Zuko. He looked unsure, but held out his arms anyways to take the baby. He held her and gazed into her round face reverently. He even bent to kiss her forehead softly. Katie felt an overwhelming sadness as she watched him. Deige reached up with her chubby little hands and placed them on either side of Zuko's face. Her little fingers explored his stubbly cheeks and his harsh scar. She grabbed his nose with one hand and his bottom lip with the other and just played with his face as though it were the world's most interesting toy. Katie rested her cheek on Zuko's shoulder and reached around to take one of Deige's hands. She stroked the soft skin with her thumb and tried to ignore the tears of longing that were bubbling in her eyes. Katara stepped out from around the corner and opened her mouth to announce what she had on the tray in her hands. But she froze at the sight of Katie and Zuko. She knew how hard it had been when their daughter passed away. She often felt horrible that she and Aang should be so lucky with their three healthy children. She stepped back silently into the kitchen to allow them some more time.
It was nearly sunset by the time Katie and Zuko finally managed to pull themselves away and head back to the ship. Zuko was grumbling under his breath even though Katie knew he had had a good time.
"Oh stop being such a whiny baby. That there was a very normal family thing. I thought you were saying that's what you wanted this morning." Katie said playfully, looping her arms through his. Zuko just grumbled incoherently. They returned to the ship and were met by a very confused and anxious crew. They set off almost immediately. Zuko went up to speak to the helmsman about a new course plot and Katie just went down to get ready for bed. Katie sat in front of a mirror and brushed through her hair which was now almost down to her waist. The ends of her hair were bleached almost blonde by the sun while her roots were still dark brown. It was just something her hair had always done and it seemed to amuse Zuko greatly. He had never seen someone with blonde hair. Zuko walked silently into the room and snuck up behind Katie. Of course it wasn't a very good sneak because she could see him in the mirror, but she pretended to act surprised for his dignity's sake. He wrapped his arms around her and let his hand fall until he was cupping her stomach just below the belly button.
"Why did it have to happen?" He asked sadly, like an innocent little boy. It nearly broke Katie's heart.
"We may find out why someday, but never in this lifetime. I promise you though, we're going to see her again." Katie said, leaning back against his chest and wrapping her hands over his own. "We can have more." Zuko rested his chin on her shoulder and gazed down at her stomach. That was what he wanted more than anything in the world, to watch as a life swelled inside her once more and to be able to hold something that was a part of him. But he didn't think he could take the pain of losing another one. He was almost too scared to dream of another child. There was also something else that frightened him.
"What if we forget about Hope?" he asked cautiously.
"Zuko, could you ever forget her?" Katie asked, gazing at his reflection in the mirror.
"Of course not."
"Then it's as easy as that." She tilted her head so she could kiss his cheek.
"I'm also worried about my duties. How could I give a child the attention it deserves when I'm so busy? I don't want to make the same mistakes my own father made." He said quietly.
"Zee, you worry too much." They sat in silence for a short time.
"I could still go with my initial plan and run away. Maybe become a pirate or something." He said with a grin.
"You'd definitely make one dead sexy pirate. But how would a life of pillagry and murder be any better than that of a Lord?"
"At least I would be able to be on the ocean." Zuko said with a shrug. Then a grin slowly spread across his face. "I can really see it now. You could be my own personal wench."
"You're a turd!" Katie said, elbowing his ribs.
"But I'm your turd." He could tell he said something funny by the way she choked on her spit while laughing. "What did I say?"
There you go. I don't know exactly when my next update will be, so I hope this lasts you for a while. Remember to review! I likes reviews!