Sarah: OMG LLOIKE (one of my favorite words) I HAVEN'T...UPDATED...IN...a..long...time...I got excited...mmkay, well, here goes Chapter 13

Chapter 13 (der)

Matari was feeling weaker with every step they took. This was it. Zuko was going to have his way and Aang was going to be in huge trouble.

Nori had tied her hands behind her back so she couldn't get out of her grip, and running away just seemed pointless.

Matari looked over to the right, and then to the left, Everyone they met seemed a little scared of Nori. There was probably a good reason for that...

Aang was pushed down the corridor again. He didn't want to have this happen, and for that he felt terrible, but there seemed to be nothing to do

but go along with this and get Matari where she needed to go. He only hoped she was alright.

The gaurds pushed the door open and threw Aang before Zuko's thrown.

"Avatar Aang...where is your daughter?" He said in a calm tone.

"Away from you! Matari didn't do anything, she dosn't need to be involved in this!"

Zuko sighed. "That's something I'd expect you to say, Aang. You know, I never really thought that you would still have a living daughter, with all the

enemies that you've made."

"Matari dosn't need this. She's only nine years old, Zuko! She's a child!"

Zuko shifted possition in his chair. "True, very true, but this isn't about your daughter, Aang. This is about what happens when you mess with the

Fire Nation."

Aang was getting angry. "What do you mean, you know why I had to stop your father, Zuko! I tried to reason with him and he almost killed Katara

and he probably would have killed you too!"

"MY FATHER RESPECTED MY AUTHORITY!" Zuko exclaimed, leaving his throne.

"Zuko, try and understand. What I did was for the good of the world, not to hurt you or anyone in this nation, for that matter. I had no choice,"

Zuko stood in front of the throne.

"It was my job."

Zuko blinked, showing the fury in his eyes.

"I know what I did was unforgivable, but you have to leave Matari out of this, and if we must fight..."

Aang couldn't think of anything else to say.

Zuko rested back in his thrown.

"Don't be like your father, Zuko. He didn't want respect, he just wanted power. Think of all the misery he caused; all the lives he destroyed, all the

sufferng he put in the hearts of those who followed him!"

Zuko said nothing.

"THINK OF WHAT HAPPENED TO MY PEOPLE!" Aang yelled.

Zuko looked at him. "I have to think. Go back to your cell. I'll set your daughter free, but you're staying right here."

Aang nodded.

Meanwhile...

After only about 20 minutes after Aang returned to his cell, Matari and Nori bursted into the thrown room.

"Lord Zuko, look who I caught trying to escape!" She thrusted Matari on her knees.

"It's alright, Nori. I'm letting Matari go."

Matari looked over to Nori to see her face fallen with dissapointment.

"What? But she tried to get away! She defied you, Lord Zuko! Don't you think she should be punished?"

Matari looked back to Zuko, fear glowing in her dark eyes.

"I know, but she has no place here. I have no use for her."

Nori's eyes widened a little.

"We...well...but...

"Nori! Do not disobey my orders! Let the girl go, or you can go join The Avatar in that cell."

Nori was silent. She bowed to Zuko, untied Matari's wrists, and escorted her out the door.

Matari was forced out the door. She turned around before Matari could leave, though. She wanted to help in some way.

"Nori, I'm sorry."

Nori turned around. "WHY SHOULD YOU BE SORR FOR ME?" She yelled. "I ALMOST GOT YOU KILLED AND IF IT WASN'T FOR THAT

SOFT SPOT ZUKO HAS FOR YOU AND YOUR DAD HE WOULD OF! HOW CAN YOU BE SORRY WHEN I'VE OUT YOU THROUGH ALL

THIS SHIT?"

Matari cringed for a moment.

"But...but...I just wanted to appologize. It didn't seem that I was much help to you.

Nori settled. "You don't understand. This isn't the first time Zuko's changed his mind about something when I was so close to finishing. All I want

is his respect, I don't want any suffering. He's never liked me, because I'm his neice. Do you know who my mother is?"

Matari nodded her head side to side in the 'no' position.

"General Zula is the general of the Fire Nation army. She dumped me with Zuko and ran off with her new boyfriend after I turned five. I haven't

seen her since then."

Matari put her hand on Nori's shoulder.

"I'm..sorry, Nori. I only wish there was something I could do."

Matari turned and left the palace enterance.

Sarah: Don't worry, you'll find out more!