Sorry its been so long, just waiting for the new episodes of Avatar for inspiration. I can't believe Zuko cut his hair! WAHHHH!

Chap: Draining

The next morning, the prince woke shortly after sunrise. He stretched slowly, using the time reorient himself in the unfamiliar surroundings. He scowled at the memory of the situation they were in. Though it wasn't uncommon in the Fire Nation, he still hated slavery. He had refused to use any for his own servants. And now he was stuck masquerading as one.

He got up, glancing over to the bed. The girl was still asleep. He decided to use the time to practice his forms. As long as he was quiet, he shouldn't disturb her. He cleared away some of the furniture to make a space, and began his drills.

Before he was a third into his routine, he stopped, confused. He tried one of his moves again, waiting for the short burst of fire that should accompany it. Nothing happened. He tried it again, focusing his energy into the blow.

Nothing. Not a single spark or ember appeared.

He scowled. He went into a light meditation trace, searching for the inner fire that all firebenders possessed. It was still there, still burning, but the flame was muted, and he couldn't reach it. No matter what he tried, he couldn't pull the fire into his reach. Zuko was nearing to panic. He made for the door, hoping his uncle was up by then. The door opened just as he approached it. Iroh made to come in, looking concerned. "Nephew? Is something wrong?"

"Uncle, I can't flame," he said urgently.

"What?"

"I tried, but I can't make flame!"

"Shh, keep your voice down," the old man hushed him. He held out his palm, obviously focusing to create the fire that marked their people, but his results were the same as Zuko's. He nodded, a grim expression coming onto his face. "I've checked with some of the crew. All of the soldiers can no longer create flame. I noticed that on the march to the castle, no one, anywhere that I saw, was bending. I am beginning to believe that we can't while we're on this island."

"No one can bend? How is that possible?"

"I don't know," the old man said, shaking his head. "Until we find out more about this place, there isn't much we can do about it."

"Do you think it's permanent?" The boy asked nervously.

"I pray to the spirits its not."

Zuko took that as an 'I don't know.' "How are we supposed to escape?"

"We'll have to figure something out. For now, we have to play along. There are too many soldiers for us to just try charging out of here without our bending."

Zuko paused, glancing over to the girl. "But she can still bend. How is that possible?"

Iroh thought a moment. "The Captain said something about the Empress wanting waterbenders. I haven't seen any, and from what I can tell from the rumors among the guards, there are no others on the island. Perhaps waterbenders are the exception to rule here."

"Great," Zuko muttered.

"Do not despair. You have seen for yourself how powerful she is. And I do not think that she would abandon us here."

"She's a waterbender," the prince argued. "She has no reason to help any firebender, us in particular." He hid his blush at the memory of last night.

Iroh's face fell for a moment. "She is from the southern tribe. Do you know the story of the south pole?"

Zuko frowned. "Just that the army swept through it a long time ago."

Iroh nodded, going over to a nearby bench and sitting down. "It was during the first twenty years of the war. The Avatar had disappeared. Some thought that he had been killed already, and since the next incarnation in the cycle was water, the fire lord ordered that the entire people be wiped out, as the Airbenders had been."

"You mean, like genocide?" Zuko said, horror showing in his voice.

"Yes," Iroh said sadly. "The army made to attack the South Pole first, waging war for over fifty years. Every bender was killed on sight, in the hope of stopping the avatar."

"But that would send him to the next incarnation. Earth, right?"

"Exactly. So the then they could just go out and kill all the earth benders too." Bitterness leaked into Iroh's voice, showing his distaste for the bloody history he was heir to. "But the water tribe proved more tenacious than the fire lord thought. They held on, despite all the odds. They finally had every bender pull out of the south, to run for the earth kingdom and draw the army's attention there. They were hoping to keep their families safe, and for the most part it worked.

"But every ten years or so, the fire lord would order the south pole to be attacked, to draw out any new benders that hadn't made for the army already." He looked over to Katara. "Bending runs in families. I imagine her mother and father were benders as well." He looked back to his nephew. "She really does have no reason to keep up this charade. But she defended us anyway. She actually ran in front of us when the guards were trying to shove us from the cliff and told them that if they wanted to get to us, they would have to go through her first. You do not give her enough credit."

Zuko pondered that for a moment, her willingness to treat his injury coming into a new light. "It's getting late. Should we wake her?"

"No. She has exhausted her energies. Let her sleep a bit longer. If she isn't awake past midday, then try to wake her." The boy nodded his understanding. "Until then, how about some pai-sho?"

Four rounds later, Zuko was struggling to keep his last piece safe. He sat back, thinking hard. All he had left was one movable pawn and his lotus tile, but what good would that—oh. He smirked, making his last move.

Iroh frowned in consternation, then smiled. "The rarely used 'back to the river' move. Well done, Zuko."

"Thanks uncle." He glanced out the windows, noting the time. "It's getting into the afternoon." He looked over to the girl, frowning. "Shouldn't she be up by now?"

Iroh nodded, getting up from his seat. "Yes, she should." He went over to the girl, eyes widening at her flushed face. He reached out to feel her brow, frowning at the feel of such heat. "Zuko, get the guards to call for a healer."

"What's wrong?"

"She's used too much energy," he said, pulling up the blankets around her shivering form. "She's in drain shock."

Zuko gasped. Drain shock could be lethal. When the bending energies of the body were so exhausted, the bender could unknowingly start draining their own life-force to replace the energy needed. He made for the door, finding a waiting Pai Long. The boy started from his position on the floor. "Is something wrong, Master Zuko?"

"Get the guards to fetch the healer. The princess is ill."

The healer diagnosis was the same as Iroh's, but his treatment differed. He recommended that the tub from last night be brought back in, filled with warm water, and the girl made to submerge in it. According to their research, a drained bender needed to be surrounded by their element to regain their energies. The bath last night had helped, but she needed to be in the water for a few hours at least. Zuko kept watch the whole time, making sure to go along with the charade.

He insisted that she keep some clothing on, to preserve her dignity in front of the older men. They agreed, leaving her in her light robe to soak. The doctor took his leave after leaving some further instructions for the girl to take it easy for a few more days. Zuko easily lifted her into the brass tub. She unconsciously drew in a deep breath, and the water began to glow with a soft light. Both fire benders and the young geishan drew back in awe as the water seemed to move with a mind of its own, molding to her body like a second skin. A few moments passed, and the glow slowly faded away.

A few hours later, Katara stirred, shivering in the now tepid water. "What's going on?"

"You have just successfully been treated for drain shock," Iroh said cheerfully from his chair. He and Zuko had passed the time playing a few more games of pai-sho, the young man still barely holding his own. Iroh had been teaching Pai Long some of the rules, using his bout with Zuko to demonstrate the game. "You had us quite worried."

"I'm sorry," she murmured. She looked down at herself in confusion. "Didn't I get out of the tub last night?"

"You did," Zuko said, taking one look at her and getting uncomfortable. "Pai Long, out."

"Pardon, Master?"

"I said, out! You are not to see her in this state!" The boy nodded frantically, bowing his way out the door. The prince sighed, turning back to the girl. "Now get out of those clothes." She chucked a bar of soap at him. "Hey, what was that for?"

"You pervert! I'm not getting naked in front of you!"

"I don't want to see you naked in front of me! So put some clothes on!"

She gestured down at herself as she stepped out of the tub, "I do have clothes on!"

"They're soaked! And you can see right through them!" He pointed out.

She gave herself another glance, gasping in horror. "What are you doing looking?"

He looked completely flustered for a moment before collecting himself. "I can't help it, you're right in front of me!" He roared.

The waterbender looked like she was about to blow a vein. "Then get out! Get out, get out, get out!"

"I can't leave, remember!"

"Then turn around, idiot!"

"I was going to anyway! And will you stop laughing, old man?"

Iroh was clutching his sides, knees buckling with laughter. "You---(gasp)---you two….fight…..like a married couple!"

"Oh, Agni forbid," Zuko said. "Stuck in marriage with an insane, indecent waterbender."

This time she threw a shoe at him.

(&&$

Please review!