A/N
AH!1111one
My neighbor just complained that I was squealing too loud, and she wasn't able to hear Wheel of Fortune.
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Okay, I'm gonna start it now.
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Yeah. Right now.
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Is the suspense mounting?
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Snack break! Pringles and Oreos!
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"How nervous are you?" Katara asked Zuko, standing next to her.
"Anxious. Not nervous."
"How can you not be nervous?" she exclaimed.
"Look. We can see the ship from right here. Aren't you going to form a plan?"
Haru bounded up to her from behind them. "I met a guy who's gonna show me how to make sculptures with my feet!"
"Do you realize that what we are about to attempt will probably kill us?" Zuko snarled.
"Yeah, but my dad always says that you have to live every moment as if it were your last, and I wouldn't want to live my last breath my complaining."
Zuko snatched the air between himself and the earth bender to prevent himself from flaming or squeezing Haru's throat.
"I think I've got it." Katara said suddenly, after staring intently at the ship that was waiting in river before them.
She twirled around to face the group of volunteer soldiers behind her.
"Okay," she started.
Haru pushed his heel to the ground, and the land Katara was standing on rose violently several feet taller.
"Thanks…" she muttered, trying to keep her balance. "Here's the plan: First all of you will have to raise the ship out of the water; the last thing we need is for it to pull out in the water. So, lift it up and slope it toward the dock. Now, I need five volunteers to stay on the dock and bend earth up onto the deck. If you want the least amount of action, this is what I suggest you do. Who would like to do this?"
Five men raised their hands.
"Okay, good. Then, me and Zu-…My friend and I will go below and find the avatar and bring him up. While we are down there, make sure no one goes after us, especially the princess. She's… not easy to deal with. So everyone got it? Pull the ship up and slope it. The five of you bend earth up onto the deck, and the rest of you pummel the brains out of those fire benders!"
"Rock on!" Haru screamed, throwing his fist in the air.
Katara and Zuko exchanged glances. Earth benders…
xxx
"Isn't that cute? My brother has gathered a little resistance! He hasn't ever failed to entertain me." Azula cooed from her place next to the telescope.
"Shall we fire now, Princess?"
"No. Let's see their little 'plan'. It won't be anything we can't handle, I'm sure."
They watched, bemused, as the enemy moved onto the dock, and faced the ship with grim expressions.
Azula's grin slackened slightly when the ship rumbled and shook and almost threw her off of her feet.
xxx
"Okay! That's good, right there!" Katara shouted.
She turned to Zuko. "You ready?"
He nodded and tossed his hat aside. "Are you ready?"
"I've never been more ready."
She held a fist to the crowd behind her. "Rock on!"
xxx
Aang was swinging forward, the force of the tipped ship pulling at his bonds until he was hanging by his wrists and ankles.
"Shouldn't you guys be going to see what that was?" Sokka asked the guards, who had fallen back against the wall.
"Quiet."
xxx
Katara ran onto the deck first, bringing with her a wave of water and a line of angry earth benders. She swung the wave into about a dozen men, knocking them to their knees and causing them to slide towards her advancing team.
Zuko grabbed her arm and hauled her to the ship entrance. "We have a problem!" He shouted over rolling rock and screaming men.
"Beside the fact that we're attempting to overrun a Fire Nation ship?" she replied, sending a soldier backwards with a water whip.
They tumbled into the ship's interior, the sound outside dulled slightly by the iron walls.
"The prison cell in my ship was accessed from the deck."
"And? Why aren't we out on the deck now?"
"That way was blocked by half a dozen fire benders."
Katara halted, bringing Zuko, still attached to her arm, to a stop with her.
"What stopped you? Let's go."
A slab of stone was thrown over the ship entrance, throwing them into darkness. All that was heard was the panting from each of them.
Zuko lit his fist.
"Well…" Katara sighed. "Never mind."
"There's another way down there, but it's indirect, and I'm not precisely sure of how to get to it."
"In any case, we have to find it, and we have to do it quickly."
xxx
"Something big is going on out there." Sokka said, longing drenching his voice. He looked to Aang.
"Rescue?" Aang spared a breath to ask through the mask.
Sokka shrugged.
Four hopeful eyes were glued to the doorway.
xxx
Katara and Zuko came to an intersecting hall that seemed to place itself before them just to prove that they were hopelessly lost within the ship's hull.
"Wait…" he said, glancing around him. "This doesn't look familiar at all."
"This isn't your ship! Of course it isn't familiar!"
He didn't answer, but looked around the crossing hallways with increasing desperation.
"Are we lost?" Katara asked tiredly, her voice echoing along the metal walls.
"No. We aren't… lost. Let's go this way."
"How about we go to the prison cell? How's that for an idea?" Katara snapped.
He whirled around. "Fine. If you think you know your way better than I do, go ahead. Lead."
She bolted down the adjacent hall, and Zuko followed reluctantly. The two sped along and rounded a corner.
She halted, and Zuko slammed against her.
"Sokka!" She screamed.
Five soldier's heads swiveled in their direction.
Zuko pulled her back around in the hall, clamping a dry hand over her mouth, which he didn't release until they'd backed slowly down the hall quite a ways.
"What were you thinking?" he hissed.
"I found it, didn't I?" she snapped back.
He drew his swords and faced the footsteps that were picking their way down the hall towards them. Katara uncapped her water pouch and stood at-the-ready as well.
Zuko glared at her and jerked his head, mouthing, "Get back."
She shook her head, staring back at him just as determinedly.
They listened to each foot fall, and each ring of it seemed to be echoed by their own heart beats. Closer and closer still, until finally…
Katara engulfed the man's head in a swirl of water and yanked him around the corner. Zuko took the opportunity to jump behind him in his confusion. One of his hands pinned his arm behind the man's back, and the other hand took a firm grasp of the back of the man's helmet. Katara shuddered as Zuko slammed the man's head repeatedly into the wall, making a sick thud with each slap, until he slumped to the ground.
Zuko knelt down and instantly began peeling the armor off of the soldier.
"What are you doing?" Katara whispered, horrified at his sudden actions.
"Help me. Take off the uniform."
She knelt to help him, pulling off his arm casings and yanking the helmet from the unconscious man's head. The two of them succeeded in tugging it all off in a matter of seconds.
"Ni-Lin! Are you there?" Another soldier from the prison cell called.
Zuko and Katara froze and gave each other frightened stares.
He cleared his throat and answered in a gravelly, deeper tone, "Yes. I just… bumped my head. I'm lacing my boot, be back in a moment."
Katara bit her tongue to keep from laughing at him. Zuko dragged the man into a room off the hall they were positioned in.
"Help me put this on." Zuko whispered, ignoring his state of slipped dignity and gesturing to the pile of disembodied armor.
Katara's fingers fumbled to strap on the strange clothes to Zuko's frame.
"You do have a plan, right? You're not just dressing up for the fun of it?" she asked, yanking the chest plate over his head.
"Stop nagging," he barked.
They finished securing everything and Katara stepped back to check that all was in its place.
"You're good to go," she whispered.
He pulled the helmet over his head and leaned towards her before covering his face with the bone-white plate.
For a sickening long moment, Katara thought he was going to kiss her, but he hushed in her ear, "Surprise them."
Before explaining himself, he slipped around the corner, leaving the water bender to marvel at the complexity of the fire prince that had just left her side.
xxx
Ni-Lin waltzed back down the hall. At least, Sokka considered it a waltz. There was no other word to describe the pompous way he threw his hands back with each step and hunched his shoulders like an official. He thought Ni-Lin was a low-rank; that's why he was guarding Sokka, and not on deck, aiding to whatever battle was being waged up there.
Ni-Lin reached up subconsciously to tug at his neckline. "I've been up on deck, assessing the situation-."
"You went on deck?"
"I was… afraid that the princess would be dissatisfied with our idleness. She asked that we join her up there. Two of us are to stay down here, and she requested it be me and him." Ni-Lin pointed to the shorter of the four.
Sokka arched his eyebrow. Somehow that guy had contracted a cold within the few minutes he'd been absent.
Aang's gaze pierced the small openings the helmet allowed, searching the eyes that peered out there. One was amber, and the other could barely be seen over a blazing red scar. Aang's eyes widened in recognition, but he kept quiet to keep his friend under the small cloak of secrecy he had erected.
Sokka caught the expression that crossed Aang's features and decided to hold back teasing Ni-Lin.
Three of the soldiers left, adjusting their uniforms. The Princess hated slackers, and that included the dress code.
"If he's here…" Sokka said, jerking his head towards Ni-Lin, "Then where's-."
A sharp splash was heard down the hall, accompanied by a triumphant cry.
"Yes! I got 'em!"
The last remaining soldier jumped out into the hall to help his fellows, but Ni-Lin tripped him.
Sokka jumped on top of the fallen man and swung his fist into the back of his head. The soldier collapsed again and didn't rise.
"Ha! Contain me now!" Sokka exclaimed.
Katara dashed into the cell and threw herself into her brother. "Sokka! You're okay!"
He squeezed her back. "I was so worried about you, Katara."
Zuko crossed the cell and began working on Aang's chains. Katara pushed him aside and froze the chain links closest to her friend's wrists and ankles. She stepped back.
"Okay, now hit them."
Sokka had found his boomerang and club and let out a joyous sound.
Aang, finally released of his steely imprisonment, embraced Katara. She grinned at him. "I missed you, Aang."
Zuko pulled off his helmet. "This is great and all, but where is Uncle?"
Aang crumpled his brow. "I don't know. He's on this level, I know."
"Who's going to find him?" Sokka asked, strapping on his beloved weapons and handing Aang his staff.
A crash interrupted their reunion. They waited, listening to hear some sort of battle cry or symbol of a defeat.
"Zuko! You can't hide forever!" Azula bellowed into the ship's dank interior.
"No…" Zuko muttered.
"That's bad, isn't it?" Sokka asked.
"We need to find Iroh, and we need to distract her," Aang said.
"Who said you could make the plans?" Zuko snapped.
"Oh, please," Katara scoffed, "Just wearing that uniform makes you arrogant again! You were perfectly fine just a few minutes ago!"
"You're not in the-." Zuko snarled. Aang cut him off.
"Guys. Come on. She's gonna find us. How about we split up. Zuko and I will keep Azula busy. Katara, you and Sokka will find and heal Iroh, then take him up to the deck. Zuko and I will meet up with you as soon as we can. Sound good?"
They all exchanged glances, then nodded unanimously.
xxx
"I want you to find them, and I want you to keep them alive." Azula instructed.
The malice in her voice made her soldiers quiver with an unnamed fear. They dashed off into the ship.
xxx
"We need to keep her above this level." Zuko whispered to Aang as they glimpsed her stalk down a hallway.
Aang nodded his agreement.
The two of them snuck down a hall. Zuko reached out to Aang's shoulder to gain his attention; he had a subtle idea that would lead her away without too much pain on their part, but Aang's shoulder wasn't there.
"Hey! Fire-witch! Over here!"
Zuko groaned and grabbed Aang's collar.
Azula spun around and let loose an other-worldly howl that struck the boys' very souls. They bolted in the opposite direction.
"That was really dumb!" Zuko bellowed, rounding a corner and jumping onto a ladder.
"She was about to go the prisoner's block!" Aang countered, hopping up behind him.
"I hope you can keep a firm hand on that avatar," Azula screeched, "If he keeps running his mouth, he may not stand a chance to see my father!"
Zuko pulled Aang up onto the second level before she sent a flame tearing through the portal. They kept running, blindly.
"She's gaining on us!" Zuko cried, glancing over his shoulder.
"Not for long. Grab hold of me!"
Zuko wrapped an arm around Aang, preferring to trust him over taking precious seconds to question him. Aang kicked up his feet and flew through halls, his speed proving the reality of his own legend. Zuko's legs dangled behind him. Aang turned a corner, stepping on the wall to counter his speed.
A room they breezed past caught the avatar's attention. He halted, alighting to a stop easily himself, but Zuko's force couldn't be stopped as elegantly. He plowed into Aang and brought him to floor.
"What are you doing?" Zuko gasped, his stomach lurching.
"I think we have some time for a little pleasure stop," Aang grinned, gesturing to the room.
xxx
"He went this way," Sokka said, pointing further down the prisoner's block.
A scream and another crash met their ears.
"I hope they're okay." Katara hushed.
"I hope they can keep her busy," Sokka said. "She's pretty tough."
"Look, there's a light in that room!"
They dashed to it and peered cautiously within. Iroh was slumped in a corner, his slack mouth and limbs blaring his state of illness.
Katara gasped, "He looks bad."
"He was bad when we first saw him, and he hasn't gotten any better," Sokka answered.
Katara knelt next to the old man. "I don't know if I can help him, Sokka. I've only healed cuts and bruises. This is big."
"I don't think he'll last much longer." Sokka said, staring at his sister's face with earnest. "You're his only hope."
Katara bit her lip and stared into Iroh's blank, grey face.
Zuko's uncle… she thought numbly. If I help him for any reason at all, I'll do it because Zuko needs him.
Iroh seemed to fade before her and all she could see was Zuko's stricken expression after he'd hurt her. He wasn't a bad person. He was doing everything out of good intentions. He wanted love, and here this man in front of her had been the only one to give it to him.
Katara pressed a hand to her heart, as if perhaps the sympathy she felt might heal Iroh.
Something sharp pressed her chest.
"Pakku's water!" she gasped. "Maybe it'll help!"
"But didn't he say it only had 'special properties'?"
"That and not to lose it." She agreed. "But it's worth a try."
She uncapped the crystal vial and parted Iroh's lips. She only allowed a small bit of it to escape into his throat, lest it not work. They waited. No signs of progress surfaced.
"Oh no…" she cried. "It didn't work."
"He's getting pinker…" Sokka noted.
The two of them held their breaths and watched him hopefully.
Iroh took a deep breath and blinked his eyes open. He took in his surroundings slowly and finally his eyes settled on Katara.
"Did my nephew finally swallow his pride?" he asked with a smile.
xxx
"Zuko, I welcome you to Princess Azula's royal establishment." Aang said grandly, stepping aside to reveal a lavish dormitory.
Zuko's stern expression went slack. "Why is this fun?"
"I thought maybe you and me could do some redecorating." Aang answered mischievously.
Zuko glanced down the hall. "We don't have time."
"Yeah, we do. Haven't you wanted to do something that would just stick it in her face a little?"
Zuko afforded a small grin. "Only a few minutes."
They entered the room and Zuko locked her door behind him.
xxx
"Are you okay?" Katara asked.
Iroh struggled to right himself. "I will be, if given a few moments, and if I may ask a few questions."
Sokka glanced over his shoulder. "I don't know how much time we have, so be quick."
"Good. First of all, where are we?"
"Azula's ship." Katara answered and checked Iroh's pulse.
"Azula? Well, I missed a lot. I suppose I'll catch up later. Now, where is my nephew?"
"Zuko and Aang went to distract Azula." Sokka answered, as Katara was counting heart beats.
"Zuko… and the avatar?"
The water tribe members nodded. Iroh's eyes widened.
"I've missed quite a lot. And you two are helping me?"
Again they nodded.
"I appreciate your aide very much. I am in your debt." Iroh bowed his head.
Sokka grinned slightly. "Well… That's-."
"We need to get out of here," Katara cut her brother off and slung Iroh's arm around her shoulders.
Sokka followed her lead and they heaved the old fire bender to his feet. A distant boom came from the deck.
"What is that?" Iroh asked.
"We rallied a bunch of earth benders to help us get you three back," Katara answered. She wrinkled her nose. Iroh's stench was burning her nostrils.
"Three?"
"Me, Aang, and you," Sokka replied.
"This is going to be some story," Iroh grunted.
xxx
Azula's wrath was not to be contained in fire. As much as she flung about the iron walls of her own ship, her rage was not to be dispersed in the slightest. Of all the places to lose the avatar, in her own ship bowls? She rounded a corner for the fifth time, and once again, failing to find her prisoners. Azula paused, considering heading back down to the first level, when she heard two boyish giggles coming from the direction of her room.
"They had better not be…" she growled and stalked toward the noise.
As her bedroom door came into view, Zuko and the avatar sped off in the opposite direction. Smoke curled around her doorframe.
"I wouldn't go in there, if I were you!" the monk shouted as he and his companion bounded from her view.
Her scream bolstered the boys' spirits considerably.
xxx
Haru wasn't doing badly; he wasn't triumphing, but he wasn't on his knees begging for mercy, either. He swung a boulder into a soldier's side, sending him spinning over the deck. Katara's 'slope plan' was working to his advantage slightly. The earth that the men on the dock bended up to them was much more easily attained. However, as it was difficult for Azula's men to get a good footing on the deck, so it was for the earth benders.
He glanced towards the breeched ship entrance. He hoped that they had found a way to elude Azula, despite his failed attempt to stop her from smashing through the wall he had erected.
Katara, Sokka, and an older man emerged from the ship's gloom.
"Katara!" Haru screamed, waving his hand ecstatically into the air.
She grinned back. Sokka scowled and turned so only his sister could hear.
"That guy again? Where'd he come from?"
"Zuko met him, actually, and he just sort of… tagged along."
"Anyone else I should know about?" Sokka asked.
Katara grinned back sheepishly.
xxx
"The bridge! The bridge!" Zuko bellowed.
He and Aang sped up another ladder. Azula was practically nipping their heels.
"Where's the bridge?" Aang asked, panicked.
"Why are you leading?" Zuko snapped and pushed around Aang.
"You put me in the lead, remember?"
Zuko pushed open a door, and they faced the helmsman. The helmsman was running around to different levers and knobs and trying all of them unsuccessfully.
"How's the view from up here?" Aang asked him jovially.
The man yelped. Zuko ignored him and made his way to the front, to inspect the battle below them.
"Who's winning?" he asked.
Aang peered over his shoulder. "Hard to tell. Look! There are the others!"
"And there you are," Azula growled from behind them.
"Princess…" the helmsman stuttered, "I found the intruders that you commanded we not allow to escape."
"No you didn't! I did!" she replied icily.
Zuko tensed his arm to fling fire at his sister, but Aang grabbed his arm and jumped out the window.
"Aang!" Zuko yelled as he found himself plummeting towards the deck.
Just as they were about to face a most certain death by impact, Aang pulled his arms in front of him and created a cushion of air. They landed softly upon the deck.
"Don't… ever… do that again!" Zuko snapped.
Katara set Iroh down on his feet and ran to her fallen friends. She helped Aang to stand up.
"Did you lose-." Katara began to ask.
"Get back here!" Azula screamed from the helm.
"No." Zuko answered Katara dully. "We didn't lose the 'fire-witch', as Aang calls her."
"Heh heh. So… you found Iroh? Is he alright?" Aang covered his foolishness.
Zuko focused on his uncle and found infinite solace in the old man's healthy, glowing face. Iroh smiled at Zuko.
"He's fine, just tired." Katara said softly, her eyes on Zuko's.
His gaze found hers and they locked eyes for one peaceful moment.
"Thank you," he told her quietly, a message that seemed meant only for her to hear, and probably never to be heard again.
Their bubble of calm was shattered as a crash was heard from the ship entrance. Azula stood among the swirling dust like a phoenix in the dawn, although no one found her presence to be wondrous or beautiful. Zuko moved towards her, glancing over his shoulder to Aang and Katara.
"I'll handle her. Go help the others."
Aang obeyed and flew off to get Iroh to a safety, but Katara stayed, her eyes burning a familiar determined ferocity. She'd help him, whether he liked it or not.
"I don't know what you think you're doing. Did you honestly think to overthrow my operation?" Azula drawled.
Katara noted that she had the same pomposity as her brother was so famous for beholding. It must've been a family trait.
Zuko glared back at her. "I honestly think I am overthrowing you operation. Look around you. You're beat. We've got your ship. I've got the avatar and Uncle, and you don't have me."
"I don't have you yet," Azula snarled.
xxx
"General Iroh, sir." Aang said, alighting in front of him with a bow. "I think-."
"Please," Iroh said, waving his hand. "Do away with formalities."
"Okay. Your niece is gonna blow the place. We need to go." Aang grinned and reached out to escort Iroh. "Oh, and have you seen Sokka?"
"The girl's brother? He's out fighting, which I should be as well."
"Not right now. I'm sure you'll get your turn eventually, but you just need rest."
"And Zuko?"
Aang glanced over his shoulder at the fight that was ensuing between the rivaling siblings.
"I'll come back to help him as soon as you have a safe place to- Appa! They found Appa!"
Aang hobbled with Iroh's arm draped over his shoulder to his animal guide.
"His name is Appa?" Iroh gasped.
xxx
Katara hung back, trying to seem consumed with a fight with another fire bender, but in truth she was just toying with him so she could keep an easy eye on Zuko. She wasn't sure how he could hold up against Azula, but she wasn't willing to risk it. She wanted to be there just in case he fell.
Zuko crashed onto his back and didn't move for a few moments. His eyes were squeezed shut. Azula stepped forward, with two fingers drawing a circle around her body.
Katara pushed the soldier over the side of the ship and bolted for Azula. The princess swung her arms around her, and blue sparks emitted from her fingertips. Zuko raised his head to stare wordlessly at the monstrosity about to hit him head-on. Katara's heart raced. She wasn't sure if she could do anything.
It's lightening… Katara thought suddenly.
The blue engulfing Azula's body became brighter. Without sparing a second thought, Katara threw water around Azula.
Her own power became her downfall. The water magnified the lightning's intensity and sent the wild current through its creator.
xxx
"And that's how Appa and I became friends." Aang explained to Iroh, setting a hand in his friend's thick, white fur.
Azula's shriek that came from the ship blocked out any other sound. Iroh and Aang turned back, mouths agape. An eruption of dazzling white light exploded from the deck.
xxx
It took Zuko several moments to grasp fully what had just happened. Azula had been standing over him, about to send him to his death, most likely, and suddenly she was being zapped by her own blue lightening. He looked her fallen form over. Her clothes were singed, her hair sporting a tiny flame. Zuko gazed wildly around and his eyes settled on a frazzled Katara.
She drew a shaky breath. "I hoped that would work."
"You did that?" Zuko asked.
She blinked and turned back to him. "Yes. I did."
"Woo Katara!" Sokka screamed.
All other members of the deck had stilled, staring disbelievingly at the scene that had been played out before them. The fire benders dropped their hands uncertainly. Their princess was… down. What were they supposed to do now?
The earth benders began roaring immediately following the short stun period and chanting Katara's name.
Zuko's gaze hadn't left the water bender, and hers fluttered back to him. She gave him a small smile.
There were only a few time in his life when he'd been at a loss for words. A majority of them had been within the past few years. One especially being now.
This girl had saved him. Someone had rescued him.
Katara knelt next to him and extended her hand. She didn't have to say anything, nor could she conjure up any appropriate comment to be passed to him.
He took her hand and together they stood underneath a cloak of understanding.
xxx
A/N
There is quite a lot that I am willing to change in this chapter, but overall, it was the yummiest, I think.