diclaimer: i don't own any of the avatar characters..just this plot line...my insane mind (once again) and a dash of salt...
Zuko hung limply from his only support, the iron manacles cutting into his wrists until he decided to get up. He rose slowly and stiffly, he looked around the cell. It was pitch black, the only sound was a drip. He growled as he thought about Katara and tried to burst his hand into fire, but none came.
Of coarse, they drugged me. He thought bitterly, wrapping his arms around his body to try to conserve heat. He felt so feeble, sitting helpless in a dank, freezing pitch black cell as his thoughts turned mulishly back to Katara.
Katara's a strong girl.
But she was also pierced with three arrows; two in her stomach and one just above her heart. There's no bloody way she would've survived that!
Zuko stared into the sea of blackness around him bleakly, for the first time in his life he felt entirely helpless.
Sokka wheezed for breath, watching as Yumi walked hastily into the cell, her glistening black hair sliding into her face as she whirled around to close the door. Yumi ran towards his broken body, tears streaming down her pale face.
"Sokka, you must fight!" Yumi pleaded, her honey brown eyes overwhelmed with worry. Sokka tried to reach a hand out to push the lock of hair that obscured her beautiful face away, but his strength wouldn't permit it.
Lying on his back, he couldn't turn, most of his ribs broken, along with his arm bones and his left leg. Yumi ran a gentle cool hand across his fever sweating forehead, the infection spreading. His tan skin was hidden underneath a layer of bruises, fresh gashes, and half healed gashes. The abrasion that caused his illness was not on the exterior of his shattered body, but on the inside. A doctor was ordered to embed a white-hot nub of metal in his abdomen muscle, which the incision hadn't healed properly despite all of Yumi's care.
"Ca..n't…" Sokka whispered weakly, his hand collapsing pathetically to his sighed. Yumi ground her teeth and began to treat his wounds. Sokka stared into the shadow of his cell, imagining the face of his beloved sister, of Aang, of Suki….of Yue.
Tears rolled down his face, not from the pain, no he'd been numb for a long time; but at the thought of his lost love, of Yue and Katara. He smiled brokenly at the thought of seeing Yue again.
"But I won't see you again, enzerubebii." He whispered, closing his eyes and welcoming the darkness.
For the first time in his imprisonment, he lost all thread of hope.
Aang thumped his head weakly against the iron walls of his cell. He sighed and raised a thin pale hand to wipe most of the grime off his face. He wasn't treated as badly as Sokka, that's for sure, but that didn't mean he was treated nicely. He grimaced as he thought of the whips that had so mercilessly lashed out at Sokka. He had been whipped once…there was a throbbing red welt on his back.
His thoughts trailed to Katara…her unnerving, yet warm loving cobalt eyes, luxuriant brown hair. Her tingling smile. He had eavesdropped on the guards and found out that an unknown person had intentions of breaking him out… the description of the unknown benefactor fit Sokka's, but Aang knew he was in the prison. The only other person close enough to Sokka's description was Katara.
Aang sighed and hit his head on the wall harder, pulling his marble out and feebly trying to raise it with his air bending. No such luck; the Fire Benders had taken care of that. Abscently he rolled it around on the floor, thinking of the one fire bender who had been nice, for lack of a better word, to him. She spoke coldly to him, her face always scrunched in disgust, her golden eyes hard with resolve and determination, sort of like Zuko….Zuko…golden eyes….
Just then the door creaked open, blinding light flooding into his cold cell. There she stood, tall, slender, regal. She smirked cruelly down at him.
"How's the all powerful avatar feeling today?" She asked, her tone had the air of commanding. Her posture was one of nobility, her beauty cold and hard.
"You're…" Aang managed, his voice cracking from lack of use. "Zuko's….sister?" He croaked. Her predator eyes flashed, her pupils wanning into slits. Aang shrank back.
"I am no sister of a banished prince. Much less a traitor." She spat, her strong hand masqueraded as fragile was a blur, but he felt the pain as it collided with his cheek. His vision swam as he tried to remain conscious, but his strength had given days back and he couldn't fight anymore.
The last fleeting thought Aang had before he slipped unconscious was: I failed the world. I'm helpless; the world is helpless.
Katara slipped in and out of consciousness, Yue's voice finally lulled her awake. She lay on a rough blanket, her wounds bandaged, but there was slight chance of surviving. Yue had a nasty gash on her forehead, her eyes and demeanor were exhausted, but her face lined with determination.
"Come on Katara. It's time you embrace your powers." She said grimly, pressing a cool hand on her brow. Katara saw silver fire danceon her eyelids as she closed them, coolness flooding her body, power engulfing her. Her eyes shot open, but Yue was not there. Katara's body was not there. Katara blanched. She stared down at where her body should be, but all she saw was water. Looking closer, she saw that the water slowly, at the pace of her strengthening heart, collect to form a shimmering body. Her body.
Ever so slowly, she floated into the air, still weak. She sensed that this was her last test. She would free Sokka and Aang; but at a price. She would have to sacrifice herself for them; for the world.
Her fate, destiny, and mind resolved, Katara's water form cascaded into a nearby river, natural instinct taking over.
Zuko groaned, the door opening to reveal his sister. "So, Zuko, how does it feel to be beat by me," She paused, swiftly pulling her face inches from his. "once again?"
Zuko growled but said nothing. His plan was determined and he would not stray for a matter of pride. He smiled grimly; in the past he would've torn the world apart for a matter as petty as pride. Zula, thinking he was mocking him, struck, fast and hard.
"I was always the better of the children, wasn't I?" She said casually, examining her nails as Zuko head slowly rose from the blow, three scratch marks on his check from her rage. He said nothing.
"I said, wasn't I!" Zula bellowed, pulling his head back by his hair, a wickedly sharp dagger at his throat. Still, he said nothing. Zula, becoming frustrated, pulled him out of his cell by his hair and into the dungeon that held the cells. She motioned for the guards positioned at two doors to open them.
The avatar was led roughly out, his face bearing the same mark as Zuko's. His clothes were ragged, his body battered, but he was whole. As for the other boy, it wasn't likely he would live. Realization struck Zuko; that was Katara's brother, the one she died trying to save!
Growling, Zuko stood firm, waiting for the right time. In a shadow, chains clinked and he smirked.
"Nice reunion." Zula said flatly, stalking out the dank room, straw burning into flames as she tread upon it in anger. The guards silenced the flames, regarded the prisoners with no expression and followed, closing the door behind them. Why had she let them out of the cells?
Zuko and Aang rushed to Sokka's limp form. "Enzerubebii?" He asked, his voice barely a whisper. Zuko stiffened in bewilderment, the avatar lay next to the boy.
"Kat..ara." He explained, closing his eyes wearily. Zuko shrugged, still saying nothing until he saw the Water Tribe boy's eyes open. Blue, that amazing blue flecked with silver reminded Zuko of Katara…Katara reminded him of that kiss. His hand almost went up to touch his lips, but his instinct took over. His hand was still.
"Your sister…" Zuko trailed off, staring into the darkness of the shadows, more clinks. "She was the Blue Rider…just before I came here, we were ambushed…she may still be alive, there is still hope." He said softly, his eyes catching the flash of two sets of blue eyes in the darkness. A grim smile spread his lips.
Whispering to the avatar, who grinned in the direction of the shadows, he said "It's time to go."
there is only going to be about three or four more chapters; and maybe a sequal...I'll decide later on