Chapter 13 is it fatal?

Katara looked at Zuko nervously. Even though their whole goal was to rescue Aang but also keep their identity a secret some how his sister had figured out that Zuko was really behind the Blue Spirit. Zuko took off his mask and tied it to his belt. He wasn't afraid to show his face now that Nyla knew who he was. Katara was still nervous about taking off her mask but with a concern look from Zuko she sighed and followed Zuko's actions. It wasn't much of a reaction that she got from the people surrounding her but it still was a reaction.

Nyla smiled as Zhao walked up on board the ship. He took one look at Zuko and laughed. Zuko narrowed his eyes. He wouldn't allow either of them to make a fool out of the young prince. Of course he'd also protect Katara as well. Things were going to be different now that he thought of the water bender as a friend.

"Shame that I have to kill you brother. After all I found out some stuff about our mother that you'd like to know." Nyla laughed.

It was then Zuko noticed something out of the corner of his eye. It wasn't something big but it was enough to make the young fire bender notice. His sister continued to babble about something that Zuko wasn't paying attention. He thought of everything what it could be. Nothing came to mind except an old fable that his uncle and mother had told him when he was younger. It was a shadow and he knew it from the way it just flowed up and down.

Katara noticed his eyes on something but wasn't sure of what was going on. She paid no attention to it but returned to listening to Nyla tell her plan. What is it with bad guys? Katara thought, do they always have to reveal their plan before they put into action?

Nyla stopped in her sentence and noticed the two weren't paying attention. She rolled her eyes and motioned for the two guards nearest them. Nodding both guards walked up to Zuko and Katara and positions their heads so that they eyes were on their beloved princess.

Katara tried to fight the grip on her but the fire bender guard just tightened his grip. Zhao smiled and mentioned. "I wonder how the Fire Lord is going to handle this. After all, I did send him a letter telling him about the Blue Spirit." He walked up to Zuko and grabbed his chin. "After all boy you're a traitor to your country by helping the Avatar and falling in love with this vermin here."

Zuko tugged his chin out of Zhao's grasp. He turned his head away from Zhao's gaze and back to where 'the shadow' was. It was then when 'the shadow' had moved.

"Be nice to me or I'll have my uncle's chickens attack you." Zuko spat.

Nyla and Zhao began to laugh. "Are you kidding? Chickens?" Nyla laughed clutching her sides.

"I'm so scared. I'm shaking in my boots." Zhao said using his knee to stay up right.

Zuko smirked when he saw Iroh just on the shore. They both nodded and chickens flew up onto the deck and began to peck at the admiral and the princess. Zuko kicked the guard that was holding him and turned to the guard that had Katara in his grasp. One look at him and the guard ran off. Zuko picked her up bridal style and ran towards the edge of the ship while Nyla and Zhao were preoccupied with the chickens. Zuko jumped off the edge and ran back towards his ship giving Iroh a signal to call of his newest pets.

With Sokka and Aang

They were now on the Fire Lord's ship. It was amazing how many times they could be transferred to a different spot in less than a few hours. Lord Ozai himself was staring right now Aang down. It was making the Avatar nervous, the look that the Fire Lord was giving him wasn't as pleasant as Zuko or Nyla had given him whenever they captured him. This was more of a look of hatred and lust for blood.

"Um… could you not stare at me?" Aang asked. "It's kind of rude."

Ozai let out a cruel laugh. Well if that's what you could call it. It sounded more like a bark more than anything. "Look boy you're in no position of telling me what to do. You're lucky you're still alive." Ozai came closer to the bars. "I find it hard to believe that a twelve year old kid is going to put a stop to me." He walked away laughing.

Sokka looked at Aang who now turned his gaze to the floor. "Don't worry Katara's going to save us." Sokka put a hand on Aang's shoulder. "Everything will work out in the end. That's if that prince keeps his hands off of my sister."

"I just hope you're right." Aang said standing up straight. His gaze turned to his staff in the corner of the room. Next to it was all of Sokka's weapons. "If Katara doesn't show…" He stopped and smiled.

"What about Appa or Momo couldn't they help us?" Sokka asked.

"That's exactly what I was thinking." Aang said pacing back and forth. "Hopefully Katara will use that bison whistle I gave her before this."

Sokka's face lit up. "And with that bison whistle she'll get us out of here. It's perfect! You're a genius Aang!" Sokka exclaimed doing a strange little dance.

"That's if Ozai doesn't kill us first." Aang replied causing Sokka to stop dancing. "She still has to get past security. That may be a problem."

With Katara and Zuko

Zuko walked up onto his deck and looked around for something. He placed Katara on the ground and walked down to his room. Katara stretched and followed Zuko down to the meditation room. She watched him place out his armor out and sat down lighting the candles to shed some light across the room. He sighed before trying to clear all of his thoughts and focus on a way to get the Avatar out of his father clutches. Instead pictures of Katara kept popping in his head.

"Katara why do I always think of you?" Zuko asked not realizing that the water bender was there.

"Maybe because you have emotions and are human after all?" Katara suggested.

Zuko turned around and smiled at Katara. "You shouldn't stand around like that. You may give someone a heart attack. And what if I didn't want you to hear that?" Zuko asked standing up.

"Tough luck now, right?" Katara asked. "It's not like you didn't want me to hear it anyway?" Katara sat down next to Zuko and smiled.

He shook his head and looked at Katara. "If your brother and Aang is with Ozai they could be in bigger trouble than I thought. This may take a while to think of a plan to get them out of this situation." He said as Katara nodded.

"You don't have to do all the work." She said rubbing her head against his shoulder. "After all you've got me, Iroh, and his chickens."

Zuko smiled and lifted Katara's chin up and kissed her. "I'll think of one of course. But right now I should be meditating." He pulled away and focused on the candles in front of him.

Katara jumped at him tackling him to the ground. He looked up into her eyes as she sat on his chest. His look on his face wanted to know what was going on.

"I have part of a plan. But most of it has to do with just getting there." Katara said standing up and help Zuko up. "The rest of what little plan I have deals around you getting in and being a distraction."

Zuko shook his head in disagreement. "I don't think so." He muttered as Lieutenant Ji came running in out of breath. "What is it?"

"Prince Zuko I'm sorry to bother you but it's your uncle." Ji said out of breath. "He's been injured."

"How injured?" Zuko asked raising an eyebrow.

"He was shot with an arrow. We don't know if it's fatal or not."

Okie dokie people attack of the killer chickens in this one. Anyway this story is very promising. Keep the reviews coming. I like to see how many people read my stories and it keeps me writing. It's an insperation. Even if it's only one reviewer. Anyway sorry weird moment. So hope you like it. I'll update again some time this week. Later. K15