Katara woke to the sound of the ship getting underway. She was confused at first, but suddenly remembered where she was. She turned and looked out her port window.

This is it. I truly am a prisoner. I hope Aang and Sokka got away. How am I going to get out of here? Wow, I'm hungry.

There was a bowl of water and a towel sitting on a dresser. She got up and splashed some water on her face. At least, so far, they aren't barbaric.

Just as she was going to undress and wash herself, she heard the lock turn and her door swung open.

"Oh!" She exclaimed. It was the Prince. He had a slight look of embarrassment on his face, but when he noticed that she was fully clothed, his air of command resumed and he strolled into the room.

"This is an interrogation. I will not harm you if you corroporate. I am in command of this ship, there is no one higher than me. When I am through asking questions, you are free to roam the ship with a guard at your side. The guard outside your door, Kai, will be your personal guard. Do you understand this?"

Katara nodded. She would answer his questions…to a point. She noticed that when he first entered the room, he had done a once over of her. He was checking me out! What is he planning to do with me? The fear grew inside her, but she did not show it. Only her eyes grew bigger. No one but her brother knew when she was scared. She did not like to show it. But somehow the prince noticed.

"Don't be afraid. I am not here for anything other than answers. What is your name?"

She swallowed. "Katara."

"How old are you?"

"Fourteen."

He nodded. There was a slight pause. Katara didn't know what to do. He's just starring at me. Is he going to ask me at all about Aang? Thank the stars I don't know where they went. It will be easier to make up a story.

"The Avatar, where was he going?"

Surprised at the bluntness of the question, Katara looked the prince right in the eyes.

"I don't know." Blast. So much for making up a story.

The prince laughed. "I know that was a random question, but I do not expect you to give me too much information on the Avatar. I sense that you are strong. No matter, I don't need you for information anyway. The Avatar will come to me."

"No, he won't! You're wrong. He won't come. He'll see that this is a trap!"

Zuko stopped laughing. "So, he will abandon you then? Ha, so much for friendship. Very well, if he won't come I will find him. But, what to do with you?"

Oh no…is he going to kill me? I'll fight, I have to. Oh Aang, I don't want you to come, but I need to get out of here! Sokka, help!

"I wager you would be sold very easily on the slave market. A strong, young…pretty girl."

Tears filled Katara's eyes but she refused to let them fall. Slave. Pretty?

"Aw, I see I've got to you now. How about…."

"Sir!"

Irritated, the prince turned to the doorway where a solder stood. "What? I am busy."

"Sir, I'm sorry, but the children you brought on board. They are getting restless and want to leave their room. We can't use force on them…." The man was obviously confused on how to handle naughty children. He was not a father. Zuko sighed.

"Tell them I'll be there in a moment." He turned to Katara. "I do have a job for you. I am giving passage to two children. They are orphans going to live with their aunt. You can care for them. A meal will be served in a few hours. I suggest you eat, starving yourself will not save the Avatar." He looked Katara deep in the eyes one last time and left, closing the door behind him.

Why does he keep looking at me like that? Katara started to leave the room, but stopped. Children?

What is wrong with you, Zuko? Stop it…she is the enemy.

But she is quite beautiful…and strong. I am 16, I'll need a bride soon, if I expect to get the throne…What is the policy again on foreign brides?

NO! You can't marry HER! Father would never…

But what would it matter? You'd be king by the time you married. Father would have no say.

Angry at both sides of his conscience, Zuko shook his head as he walked to the children's room. He hadn't expected the girl…Katara…to be washing at that time. Zuko blushed. He had seen a woman naked before, but that was for educational reasons when he was in school. To be frank, the boy had never had a lady friend. He had only kissed a girl once, and after the kiss he was slapped, so he didn't count it.

"Sir! This is wonderful! I've never been on a boat this big before!"

"Bree, this isn't a boat, it's a ship! Learn your terms. She's so ignorant when it comes to this stuff, don't mind her."

Bree and Ronan were very excited to see Zuko when he entered the room. Their energy was all over the place. He couldn't help but smile.

"Well, why don't you try to educate her?"

Pause.

"Cause she's stupid."

"Ronan! I am not!"

Zuko laughed. This would be fun, but he had to get down to business. He didn't have much time to ask them any questions when they boarded the ship. He needed to know who he was being so kind to.

"I need to ask you a few questions. If you're going to be on my ship, there will be no secrets, understood?"

The children, suddenly serious, nodded.

"Good. First, how old are you?"

Ronan answered. "We're ten and three quarters."

"You are twins. I guessed that much. What happened to your parents?"

Bree looked at Ronan. Again, he answered. "Our mother died a little over a year ago. She was seven months pregnant when the babe came. He was small. To small to live. It was hard for Mother. She didn't live much longer."

Bree started to cry. "I could've helped. I knew what to do! But that old hag Mrs. Ana wouldn't let me go."

"Bree, stop crying. There was nothing you could do."

"But there was!" she wailed.

Zuko was uncomfortable. "Who is Mrs. Ana? How could a nine year old help?"

Ronan was trying to get Bree to stop crying. "Bree was a maid in Mrs. Ana's house. When I went to get her to help Mother, Mrs. Ana said that Bree hadn't worked a full day yet and couldn't leave."

Bree hiccupped. "The women in my family are famous for their medicine and midwife skills. We have always been trained at an early age."

Zuko nodded. He had heard stories of these kinds of midwifes who could tell a woman was pregnant before she knew herself. "And your father?"

"He was a proud solder in the Fire Nation Army. His platoon was new recruits. They were sent to attack an earth bending town. There was supposed to be back up. It never came until too late. Rumors were his platoon was bait."

Zuko's heart skipped a beat. New recruits? No back up? "When did this happen?"

Ronan thought. "Two years ago? I am trying not to count. Mother was angry. She blamed the Fire Lord. She always believed he had gone over the deep end with this war. When word got out you were banished for something, she was beside herself with rage. That was when we moved out of the Fire Nation."

"Mother always said that the day you took the thrown would be the most glorious day in Fire Nation history" said Bree.

Zuko was shocked. This is too much information at once. Their father died in the very battle I tried to stop and was banished for? I still have loyal subjects? He could feel his breathing get faster. I have to get out of here. But I still have questions.

"If your father died two years ago, how was she pregnant?"

Ronan blushed. Bree's expression turned to stone. "No one would hire her because we were Fire Nation refuges. Eventually, she made Ronan hide his bending abilities. We worked odd jobs to survive. She met Madam Rosa a year ago and started to…sell herself so we could live. Ronan and I tried to make enough money so she could get out of the business. Then she was with child."

This is horrible. They aren't even 11 yet! How could they live like this and still be innocent? Zuko had had enough.

"That is all for now. You are free to roam the ship as you please. Don't get in the way of my men. A meal will be served in a few hours." He stood up suddenly. Ignoring the shocked looks on Bree and Ronan's faces, he stormed out of the room.