A/N: IM BAAAAAAAAAAAAACK! Here's a BIG thank you going out to EVERYONE who has reviewed so far, and a SPECIAL thanks to:
divinedragon7
Galaxya
ZaphodChick
If it weren't for you all's constructive criticism and ideas, this chapter wouldn't be here! (applauds)
Disclaimer: If I owned Avatar, do you REALLY think I'd be writing this? (instead of watching all the new eppies before everyone?)
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(With Zhao)
Zhao's ship sped down the coastline, eager to follow the rumors of the Avatar, when an oddly familiar black shape appeared on the horizon. Only one word popped into Zhao's mind at the sight of it;
Zuko.
"Oh, this is too rich," thought Zhao. "Helmsman! Set a course for that ship!" Zhao then turned to the rest of the crew and said "Let's pay a visit to Prince Zuko, and his little brat, I mean princess." The crew joined him in an uproarious laugh as they continued on their new course.
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(With Iroh & Zuko)
As Iroh looked out over the sea, he spotted a not so pleasant sight.
"This does not bode well." He said, hurrying down the stairs to warn Zuko.
Zuko heard the labored breaths of his uncle, and turned towards the old man with a question in his eyes.
"Prince Zuko! Zhao's ship has been spotted! He will be here in fifteen minutes!" Iroh huffed, kneeling over to catch his breath.
"Shit!" Zuko ran into the sick room, grabbed Katara by the arm, and hauled her to her feet roughly.
"Hey! What was that for?" she cried indignantly.
"No time! Zhao will be here in less than fifteen minutes! If he finds you here we're both dead!" Zuko said hurriedly, leading down the halls to a storage room. He walked over to an empty crate and opened the lid.
"Hide in here. I'll come get you when it's safe." He whispered. Then, he walked quickly out of the room and shut the door. As he made his way to the deck he started to here voices.
"Ah, General Iroh! It is good to see you again. Tell me, where is the Prince? And the young Princess?" Zhao said, his cordial voice laden with poorly disguised malice.
"I regret to inform you that Princess Aurora is ill. Prince Zuko is attending to her right now." Iroh said calmly, his own voice filled with hidden power.
"That's a terrible shame. May I go below and see her for myself?"
"Of course. I must ask, however, that you do not get to close. We wouldn't want the great Admiral Zhao to come down with a fever."
"Thank you for the advice, General."
Zuko heard Zhao's foot steps approach the top of the stairs, so he hurriedly made his way back to the sick room, where Aurora lied, her face still having an ashen cast to it. He then kneeled down near the bed and started to dab her forehead with a wet rag. A few minutes later, the door was pushed open and an overly arrogant Admiral stepped through.
"Greetings, Prince Zuko." Zhao said arrogantly. "I trust you've been well?"
"Zhao." Zuko hissed, turning his head to look at the monkey faced Admiral.
"Now, now, Prince Zuko, where are your manners? I've only come to check up on your progress and the health of the Fire Lord's new granddaughter." He replied with false innocence. "By the way, have you see the Avatar lately?"
"No. I've been caring for my daughter for the last four days."
"Then you wouldn't mind if my soldiers searched your ship?"
"Not at all." Great Agni, please don't let them find Katara! He thought.
"Wonderful! Captain! I want you to search the ship top to bottom!"
"Yes sir!" replied a man standing outside of the door.
(with Katara)
The crate was kind of a tight squeeze but it served its purpose. It was ten full minutes until Katara heard the sound of the door opening.
"Aw, its just a storage room." She heard a man say. "Go check the one at the end of the hall."
The door was then pulled shut, and a breath she didn't know she had been holding was let out.
I hope Zuko comes for me soon! She thought.
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(with Zuko & Iroh)
It was around early evening when Zhao's men finished their search.
The Captain reported that nothing out of the ordinary was found, and that there were no prisoners in the hold.
"I suppose I'll take my leave of you now, your highnesses. Good evening." Zhao then made his way back to his ship and then back down the coast. When he was out of sight, Zuko rushed down below and into the storage room to get Katara.
When he finally hauled her out of the crate, the first thing she said was, "Thanks Zuko. It certainly took you long enough though."
"I had to wait until it was safe." He replied defensively.
"Riiiiiiiiiiiiight." She then made her way back to Aurora's room, where she continued to heal the little girl, crooning her soft lullaby all the while. As Zuko watched her, his eyes softened. Her hands moved gracefully and gently over the girl's body, and her beautiful voice calmed the girl into a restful sleep. Her ocean blue eyes reflected a great love for the little girl and shone with a wisdom that surpassed her age. Zuko found himself entranced by the waterbender, his ears hanging on to her every word.
Katara felt eyes on her, and when she looked into the mirror across the bed from her, she saw that it was Zuko, his eyes of molten gold following her every move and shining with a warmth she had never seen before, except when he and Aurora were reunited at the lake. A heat rose to her cheeks and she blushed a great cherry red. Zuko must have seen it, for when she was about to turn around he said "Dinner is ready. You should get something to eat." And walked out the door, leaving a blushing Katara in his wake.
"Why did he look at me like that?" Katara thought, the memory making shivers go up her spine, not unpleasantly though. "Does he like me? No, that's impossible. He's a prince and I'm a peasant. He's Fire Nation and I'm Water Tribe. We just don't mix."
"Nothing's impossible." Another part of her brain thought. "So what if you're different? Opposites attract, remember?"
"But I would be betraying Aang and Sokka! I can't do that."
"Haven't you noticed that he almost NEVER attacks you anymore? Or that when he does, he doesn't give much chase?"
With her mind in utter chaos, she left the room and went to the dining hall, making sure that she did not have a blush on her cheeks. When she did enter, Iroh waved her over to his and Zuko's table.
"Ah, there you are Miss Katara! We were wondering where you were! Come, sit here and eat. You must be famished." He said, offering her a seat between him and Zuko. She felt another blush rise to her cheeks as she gazed at the Fire Prince, so she quickly sat down, gluing her eyes to her plate. When the food was brought out, she could not help staring at the marvelous feast. She and the others were used to fairly small rations, so this respectably sized dinner was like a feast! Her mouth,(along with many others) started to water when the fried catfish was brought out. As she piled up her plate with food, Iroh asked some questions.
"What do you think of Aurora?" he asked.
"She a marvelous girl!" Katara replied, her eyes shining with delight. "She's trusting, loyal, smart, determined, compassionate and down right adorable! Her firebending is also very impressive."
"A compliment to you Prince Zuko! It seems you training her has really paid off." Iroh responded, his eyes glinting teasingly.
"You trained Aurora?" Katara asked Zuko, all embarrassment forgotten.
"Of course I did. I'm her father aren't I?" he said with a slight tinge of anger.
"Jeez! You don't have to get all huffy about it." Katara replied, getting irked a little herself.
Iroh, deciding to avoid an argument, quickly changed the subject.
"Oh! That reminds me. Miss Katara, have you ever been to Music Night?"
"What's Music Night?" she asked.
"The worst night of the week." Zuko replied. "The whole crew goes up on deck and sings and dances and gets drunk almost all night long."
"That sounds like fun! I love to sing."
"That's a marvelous idea! Miss Katara, would you like to join us tonight for Music Night?" Iroh asked, his glee barely suppressed.
"I'd love to!" she replied.
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A/N: OMG! A CHAPTER! Please remember to review, and don't be afraid to leave CONSTRUCTIVE criticism!
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