A Change

AN: YAY! I just brainstormed this entire story, and I know everything that'll happen! It's totally unique, too! Wa-Hoo! Here's the story—chapter—whatever! Here IT is! )

(Now you will be experiencing time travel—we are going to go back to the point when Aang and Sokka took off. Enjoy!)

Haru stared sadly as some of his only friends left for a final time.

He couldn't just stand here! He had to do something! The only girl he ever really liked could be experiencing torture and pain right now! He sprinted back to his house, andscribbled down a quick note telling his father what occurred and what he was doing, then raced back out the door. He ran toward the harbor, untied his boat, and went off in the direction all of his companions had gone short while ago.

Aang knew what he had to do. Saving the world was crucial, but he couldn't do it without Katara.

"Sokka, we need to go get Katara. I won't be able to learn any of the other elements without her. And we need to go either east or south, or both, to find her. We know he didn't go north because we haven't seen him here yet, and I doubt he went into the Fire Nationfor I perceived that he isn't allowed in, but I'm not really sure. He left on the north side of the island, and would have had to all the way around it to go south, and we would have seen him, so that means he would have gone east from the island, so we should head southeast from here to find her." Aang finished smartly, smiling at a dumbstruck Sokka.

"Whatever, you sounded smart, so I'll go with you on this." And Sokka turned Appa around 135 degrees and went full speed ahead to go find and save Katara.

Zuko sat in his room, his head in his hands, thinking. There was a good plan forming, but it wasn't foolproof yet. There were many things that were unknown and risky. Yet as he thought about it more, solutions came, and Zuko was ready. (AN: NO, you won't learn Zuko's plan until later in the story, but I bet you can brainstorm it!)

Katara had just experienced a nice, peaceful, sleep, and was still pleasantly full in her stomach. She was even starting to think that it wasn't nearly as bad as she had imagined it to be--I mean, he isn't torturing me or anything, and I've got a lot of space and now food coming at regular intervals! Then Zuko himself walked in.

Katara sighed—of course he's back, he wouldn't give up! Now I'm really gonna get it.

Katara glared defiantly, and asked, "What do you want?"

Zuko walked over, took out some keys, and unlocked the door. Then he motioned for her to come with a hand.

Katara got up hesitantly, not trusting him at all, but walked over to him, a questioning look on her face.

Zuko grabbed her upper arm tightly so she couldn't get away, and walked down the hall with her. Katara felt her face blush slightly.

At the end of the hall, someone stepped out of the doorway nearest them.

"Oh GOD, no!" Zuko said, exasperated, while Katara stared quizzically between Iroh and Prince Zuko.

"Well, Prince Zuko, it looks like you're finally warming up to this fine young lady. Good for you!" Iroh said, chuckling.

"I'm just taking her out for some air, and I'm not letting her get away." Zuko said, his eyes blazing, as his grip on Katara's arm tightened.

"Taking her out, are you?" Iroh said, failing to hide a smile, "That's so nice, what's next, babi--"

Iroh was cut off as he was pushed away by a now angry Zuko, and they strode—more like Zuko strode and Katara was pulled along—out onto the deck.

Katara stood there with her tangled hair whipping in the wind. The wind blew back her brown, dirty, prisoner dress as they sailed upon the cool, clear water. Katara had never felt freer, even with the Prince of the Fire Nation gripping her arm so tightly it lost circulation.

She took a deep breath in and out, and sat down, accidentally pulling Zuko down with her. They sat side by side and watched the ocean shine as it reflected the last rays of sunshine for the day.

Sokka had been standing up in the saddle for a while now, practicing his fighting skills, despite the continuous warnings from Aang that he would fall off.

Sokka punched the air again, saying confidently, "HA! That spoiled prince and his men won't stand a CHANCE against me! I'll beat him up at his slightest threat, and—WHOA!" Sokka fell backwards, hitting his head on the saddle. Rubbing the back of his head, he yelled at Aang, "What you'd do that for?"

"Sorry, Sokka, but you were going fight—happy (AN: Whenever someone goes, for example marker-happy, it means they'd go crazy with--in this case--markers. Sorry, I like to say that! Write it...whatever!). I had to do something before you jumped off Appa yourself. Relax, okay, we aren't ANY where near where Zuko is likely to be—yet."

"Hmph!" Sokka pouted, yet he sighed and lay back into the saddle.

Haru was running low on fuel, so he stopped by an island to get some more, and he would get some more provisions, too.

He found a nice area with packed earth and with great vigor, hoisted it up, did some complicated and cool Earthbending to turn it into coal, and brought it back to his boat. (Don't ask about the transforming thing, I made it up—if waterbenders can turn water into ice, then Earthbenders should be able to transform a type of earth into another!)

But just as he was about to leave, he heard something behind him, and he whipped around, only to find a dozen Fire Nation soldiers.

Zuko had taken his hand away from Katara's arm—she doesn't seem likely to run away, and she's practically falling asleep on me, anyhow!

"You want to go to bed?" Zuko asked her softly.

Katara wanted to go to sleep, but not to "bed"—for if that meant the dirty, thin mat in her cell, she'd rather stay out her the entire night next to a hot firebender—literally!

As if reading her mind, Zuko sighed and said, "I guess you don't have to sleep in there. You can sleep in my room, if you want—the guards and my Uncle are too perverted to be trusted, though.

Katara smiled—Zuko loved it when she did that—and said, "Okay then." Though it was a simple statement, she showed her thankfulness enough for Zuko, at least, by smiling.

Zuko led her back to his room, unlocked the door, and let Katara inside.

As Katara walked in, she heard him lock the door behind her. Then she saw one bed on the wall. Crap! Does he expect me to sleep with him or something in a LOCKED room? No way! I'll just…play sleepy!

Katara pretended to be really tired, and collapsed on the floor, accidentally hitting her head really hard on the edge of a stool, and knocked herself out.

Zuko stared quizzically at her body—Damn! Look at those hot curves, and those—wait, what am I doing? Stupid—she's a prisoner...a hot one, said the perverted side of his mind, and rubbing his confused mind, Zuko went over to his own bed and fell asleep, dreaming about you can just guess what and who.

AN: You like? He, he! This is really fun! Wahoo! Weeeeeeeeeeeee!

I'm hyper (self: Oh, great, sugar rush) read and reply, please!

P.S. I don't EVER cuss in real life, but that was Zuko, and a quote from a story that was quoting another story says, 'Zuko wouldn't just say (or think) "Ah, shucks!" Which story the quote was actually from I do not know--I've read too many fanfics to keep track, but if that author replys and tells me, I'll post it on the next chapter after that review. Bye for now!