"Zuko! I have to speak to Zuko! Where is he?" Katara shouts at the top of her lungs, running towards his house in the middle, thankful that Azula isn't here. Or is she already here, just waiting to make her move? "Zuko!"
"What's going on?" He rounds a corner and skids to a halt in front of her, grabbing her shoulders. "Are you okay? What's happened?"
To Zuko's horror, tears well up in her eyes. She'd been fighting them for hours and seeing him in front of her, it's just too much. "Zuko, you're alive, you're okay!"
"Yes, why wouldn't I be?" He glances around at the mass of concerned soldiers before leading her inside. "Let's talk in private." She nods mutely.
There's no door but he pulls fabric down over the opening then turns to her. She launches herself into his arms, already crying borderline hysterically. "I - was - so - afraid," she sobs as Zuko awkwardly pats her back, "Azula - she's - she's - here!" Zuko freezes, the blood draining out of his face.
He pulls her away from him, holding her at arms length. "What do you mean?" He gasps. "Where is she?"
Katara inhales deeply, trying to get her breathing under control. "She's - she's in Ba Sing Se, in - in the palace. The Dai Li are working with her."
"What!" Zuko shouts and Katara nods. "Did you see her?" Katara nods again and fear seizes Zuko.
"I don't know how, but she and the Dai Li have teamed up. We have to get you out of here."
"No, I can't leave. These are my men, they depend on me. I have to talk to the Council and get them to help my people. They depend on me, I have to." He sinks into the chair in front of his desk, head in his hands.
"Zuko, if Azula is in Ba Sing Se and the Dai Li are wandering the city again, do you really think that the Council of Five will be able to do anything? Do you really think they're still in power?" He looks up, frustration, fear, anger, and so much more flitting across his face. "Zuko, you have to leave."
"No," he shakes his head emphatically. "I can't do that. This is -"
A cough from outside interrupts him and in walks Captain Mako who quickly bows and has quite obviously been eavesdropping. "Prince Zuko, Lady Katara. General Iroh asked several of us back at the North Pole to protect and possibly advise you if there was ever the need to do so when he wasn't available. He would want you to go."
"But -"
"Forgive me Prince Zuko, but for the sake of time I must be blunt. Many of these men haven't truly picked a side and when faced against Azula, many are so afraid and have been told of Fire Nation glory their whole lives that they'll join her. This camp can easily turn into a slaughterhouse and we can't have you here. You're too important."
"Zuko," Katara kneels in front of him, taking his face in her hands. He takes in her tear stained cheeks and the tremble in her fingers. "Please Zuko, you have to go. You're the next Fire Lord and you're Aang's fire bending teacher. The world needs you to get out of here in one piece. Please."
Zuko sighs. He can't face Azula, he's never been able to. The best solution when dealing with his sister is now and has always been to just get away from her as quickly as possible. "We need to get as many of my men out of here as possible."
"Yes, I agree." Captain Mako states gravely.
Katara looks up. "Tell them to go towards the Fire Nation. Tell them -"
"No," Zuko stops her. "We don't want to give them any rendezvous point in the Fire Nation. We tell them to meet us where the Southern Water Tribe is docked. It'll be easy enough to escape from there in case someone tells Azula."
That would put her father, her tribe in danger. She doesn't want to do that! It's the best idea though, she realizes. He's right, they would be able to escape from there and at least she'd be right beside the ocean. She shudders to think what would happen if she fought the Fire Nation Princess anywhere else. "Okay, that's a good plan."
"Good," Zuko straightens, once again in command. "Captain Mako, call everyone to the center of camp. I have an announcement."
"Prince Zuko, if I may, let's get you to the wall and get an earth bender to agree to open it before you tell anyone the news. I wouldn't want you to get stuck in any ugly aftermath."
"Fine," the prince growls. "Let's go." He marches out of the house, Katara and Mako in tow.
Immediately a crowd surrounds him. What's going on? Voices mutter all around them. Why was the water bender surprised he was alive? I think I overheard someone say Azula. Zuko's pace quickens. The wall is so close. Is the Princess coming? Who do you think would win between those two? Someone scoffs. Who do you think? The prince is suddenly more than a little uncomfortable being in the middle middle of all of these Fire Nation soldiers, soldiers who haven't thrown their full support behind him. He notices Lian and a few others who have helped him get closer.
They reach the wall and he's thankful that the camp is as small as it is. An earth bender slides down it, glancing from the prince to the crowd. "What's going on?"
Captain Mako steps forward. "Prince Zuko will need to leave soon. He needs passage through the wall." The soldiers buzz at these words.
The earth bender rolls his eyes. "Fine." The level of professionalism is truly shocking.
Zuko turns to the crowd, his hands sweating. He doesn't like public speaking. No one likes public speaking. He clears his throat. "Something has happened at Ba Sing Se." He starts, then grimaces and takes a deep breath. "We have reason to believe that we're no longer safe here. All those who are loyal to me, who are loyal to the true spirit of the Fire Nation, not Sozin's vain dream, need to travel South to Chameleon Bay. We're rendezvousing with the Southern Water Tribe Fleet there." A hiss ripples through the soldiers. As much as many of them trust their prince, they're not keen on the idea of trusting those barbarians, those men who had attacked their ships, those dirty Water Tribe men. Katara loosens her waterskin, just to be on the safe side, knowing what his next words will be. And he puts himself slightly in front of her. "We leave tonight, now, because Azula is working with the Dai Li and is in Ba Sing Se." The words hang in the air then all of Agni's fiery hell breaks loose.
Fire jumps into the air and the shouting begins. Mako gets in front of Zuko, holding him back. The men who had maneuvered to the front of the crowd form a wall around him. There's no clear division between who wants to give him as a gift to Azula versus who wants to protect him except for the men right in front of him.
"Prince Zuko, you have to get out of here!"
The clang of swords meeting armor rings through the sky. Fear of Azula is a strong motivator.
"Open the damn wall, man!"
The earth bender looks at the chaos around him and instead of opening the wall, he just smirks and begins to raise himself up it. Katara's water whip drags him down, making sure to sling him against the ground in front of her. Hard. "Open the wall," She hisses, ice at his throat. She's not going to let Zuko get hurt.
Zuko's fighting to get away from the captain.
Blood blossoms on Lian's back.
Someone screams.
The wall slides open and Captain Mako shoves the prince through. Katara runs through too. "Go," he shouts, "Protect the next Fire Lord!" The wall snaps shut, just in time to see Captain Mako raise himself in a pillar of fire.
"Zuko, we have to get out of here."
"Let me back in!" He pounds on the unyielding wall. "Let me back in!"
"Zuko!" Katara tries to pull him away. "We need to get away from here!"
"No! I have to help, those are my people!"
She grabs him by the shoulders and yanks with the added force of her water. "The best thing you can do for all of your people, not just the ones in there, is to help the Avatar and defeat Ozai and Azula."
"No, I-"
"Zuko!" Katara shouts. "You have to get away."
"Lian died. Did you see that? He died protecting me!" Zuko's voice borders hysteria. "A man is dead because of me."
"And he'll have died in vain if you don't leave." She states, not sure exactly where the words came from, but not doubting for a section that they'd work. Zuko's shoulders slump and she leads him to her 'borrowed' ostrich horse.
. . .
Zuko's quiet. Katara sits behind him, her arms wrapped around his waist, curled up as much as possible inside of stolen robes. Normally she'd be embarrassed or at least enjoy the touch but tonight she just can't find the energy or desire. He hadn't let her steer, demanding the job in order to keep his mind on something, even if it was just the empty road in front of him. The wet spot of his back has long since dried, her silent tears for kind Lian and the many more who she was sure either were or would soon be dead had fallen hours ago.
She hadn't expected that. She should have though. Zuko's head would help protect whoever brought it to Azula. She nibbles on her bottom lip, worrying about her tribe. Zuko had said Chameleon Bay, who knows when Azula would go to the camp and how quickly she could get to the fleet. Katara sends up another silent prayer that her family will be safe before dozing off.
. . .
Zuko still hasn't said a word. They've ridden through the night, pushing the ostrich horse almost farther than it should go before a villa appears on the predawn horizon and they veer off the road. Katara speaks up, her stomach rumbling. "Why are we going off the road? We need to stop. You need to rest."
"I'll rest when we get to the fleet," He states roughly.
Katara sighs. "Fine but why don't we at least head to that house, they may be able to help us?"
Zuko glances at her over his shoulder. "Or that might be the summer house that the Dai Li were locked up in. It might be someone who recognizes me. We don't know."
"Yes, but we still need food. We still need a break. We've been riding all night and -"
Zuko abruptly stops the ostrich horse in front of a copse of trees and swings down. "I'll get us food, but then we keep going. Okay?"
"The ostrich horse-"
"Will be fine. Trust me."
Katara dismounts and stares at him, pursing her lips before nodding. "I'm coming with you."
"No. Let me take care of this. I'm the Blue Spirit, remember?"
"You don't have your mask, your swords, anything. If you get caught all you've got is fire bending which if you remember, we're in the middle of the Earth Kingdom!"
"Katara," he grimaces and too many memories of the ship flood his mind. He has to take care of her. He has to protect her. He couldn't protect his men so at the very least he can make sure she's safe. He can do that one thing, can't he? "Stay here and wait for me. I'll be quicker on my own."
She sighs then abruptly pulls him into a hug which after a moment he returns. "If you're not back in an hour I'm coming for you."
"I'll be back in time, don't worry." Zuko sets off, still protected by the last shred of night.
Katara lets their mount graze and keeps an eye on the sunlight starting to peek over the hills and muted pinks and purples that fade into black. She tries to avoid thinking too much, to no avail. How many of those soldiers, if any, would make it out alive? Will they make it to the Southern Water Tribe Fleet? Mostly, will Zuko ever forgive himself for leaving? She's not sure, she doubts it though.
The sun climbs higher, the sky lightening to blue, and Zuko isn't back yet. It's been nearly an hour and by the Goddess, if he isn't back soon she'll raise hell. She never should have agreed to let him go alone! The ostrich horse is sleeping under a tree so she secures its bridle and repositions her water skin, thankful that it made it out of Ba Sing Se, hidden under stolen clothes which are now compiled up on the back of the saddle. The master waterbender squares her shoulder to set off right as Zuko reappears, leading a camelelephant.
Katara breathes out a massive sigh of relief, reaching forward to touch him, just make sure he's really there but his words suddenly come to mind. I love you. She lets her hand drop, then she notices the new addition. The camelelephant steps forward and towers over her, its head easily two feet above hers. A long trunk hangs down almost to the ground and a saddle with several bags is strapped over two humps on its back.
"The ostrich horse is tired. These can go for much longer."
"Won't they notice that it's gone?"
Zuko shrugs. "We'd better get on our way then." He quickly unties the ostrich horse, hoping it'll know how to return to its master before getting on their new mount and pulling Katara up behind him. This time she doesn't wrap her arms around him. He pulls two buns out of a saddle bag, handing one to her, and their journey starts again.
They give the villa a wide berth and silence hangs between them. Eventually Katara falls asleep against Zuko's back and he pulls her arms around him to make sure she doesn't fall. He has to make sure she doesn't fall. He couldn't protect his people. At least one man is dead just for trying to protect him. Azula is in Ba Sing Se. He has to end the war. His people shouldn't have to die for this. Azula could have taken Katara.
The same thoughts keep swirling around his head. He couldn't protect his people. At least one man is dead just for trying to protect him. Azula is in Ba Sing Se. He has to end the war. His people shouldn't have to die for this. Azula could have taken Katara.
Azula is in Ba Sing Se.
He couldn't protect his people.
He urges the camelelephant on.
Katara wakes up when Zuko almost falls out of the saddle, catching him just in the nick of time. The sun is low over the hills and she convinces him to stop for the night next to a little stream. Zuko pillaged enough food that they'll be set for a few days and so they settle in, no fire, no words, just cicadahoppers clicking in the background. They both glance awkwardly at each other, not sure of what to do. I love you hangs heavily in the air between them. They go to sleep a few feet apart, nestled up against the camelelephant's side.
. . .
Zuko dreams. Chang is in his head tonight, bones crunching underfoot. The face shifts and suddenly it's Lian. It's Akina. It's Jee. It's Mako. It's Uncle. He can't stop kicking the curled up body. He killed him. His men are dead!
Zuko jerks awake, panting and sweating. It isn't real! But it is, his men are dead! Uncle is - he shakes his head. He can't think about Uncle. Uncle has to be safe. He has to be! Someone will have gotten him out! He jumps up, looking nervously around. Pacing to get off the sudden energy.
"Zuko?" Katara mutters groggily. He pauses, surprised to find her staring at him. "Want to talk about it?"
"No."
"Okay."
He sighs, and plops down onto the ground beside her. It doesn't even take a bottle of spiced wine for him to open up to her now. "I should have been able to save them. I shouldn't have ran."
"If you'd stayed you would have been there when Azula showed up. No one wanted that."
"You think I don't know that?" He seethes. "And what about Uncle? He gave up so much for me and now he's in prison and I'm not even going after him! What kind of a nephew, what kind of a person am I that I let people die for me and haven't gone to save my uncle?"
"You're the next Fire Lord, Zuko, and you're trying to end a war. That's what kind of person you are. Uncle understands and I'd bet almost anything that he's already figured out how to get out of wherever they're holding him."
"But people are still dead because of me."
"The war would have killed them anyway. At least this way, you have a shot at ending things. You have the chance to make the world a better place and that wouldn't have happened if you'd stayed."
"But-"
"Zuko." She puts one hand on his shoulder while the other turns his face to look at her, both illuminated by the light of the moon. "There was nothing more you could have done without potentially getting yourself killed."
"Katara," His voice is raw and though he'd never admit it, scared. He grabs her hands in his, an almost wild look in his eyes. "We have to kill my father and we have to stop Azula."
"We will," she assures him. "The war will be over soon."
He calms down, just a little. "Good," he nods. "We should get going, it'll be dawn soon."
. . .
Every time Katara sways or so much as turns to look at something Zuko's hand tightens around one of her wrists. She doesn't fall though. They make good time and they don't run into many people, word of the Fire Nation drill has reached the lands out here and so travel to Ba Sing Se isn't as heavy. In a few short days they should be at Chameleon Bay, hopefully before Azula.
Katara suddenly stiffens. "What if Aang and Toph go back to Ba Sing Se? What if they run into Azula?"
Zuko's already thought about that. "We need to get to the fleet and then try to get in touch with them. It's no use for us to go back now and it would only help Azula." Besides, he thinks, there's no way I'm taking you closer to my sister's clutches.
"Yeah, I suppose you're right," she sighs.
Making camp that night is just as awkward as the night before though at least this time when Zuko wakes from his nightmares, his heart pounding, Katara's right beside him, even if she'd fallen asleep farther away. He pulls her closer. She doesn't return his feelings, but at least he can keep her safe.
They set out early again the next morning, satisfied that no one seems to be following them until a tremor shakes the ground. "Dai Li?"
"We need to get off the road!"
They scramble to the side, urging their mount on. There's enough of a lip on the side of the road that maybe they can hide. Maybe. The tremors grow stronger and the camelelephant begins to slip as the ground reshapes itself and they're in clear view. Zuko throws himself from the saddle before pulling Katara down too.
Immediately Zuko's fire is at the ready and Katara's water wraps around her hands. The shaking is stronger, it's all they can do to keep their footing. The ground in front of them rises, a hill forming where they just were. Right as Zuko begins to slip, the trembling stops. The hill smooths out and a small green form comes gliding over the top of it, skidding to a halt in front of the pair before throwing herself at them and pulling them into a tight hug.
"Toph, you're okay!"
"Zuko! Katara! You're okay! I was so worried, like you wouldn't believe! I'm so glad you're okay! What happened?" Toph pauses, remembering herself, then straightens up and punches each of them in the arm. "Come on Sparky, Sugar Queen, you couldn't think to send me a note? You didn't think 'oh hey let's make sure the greatest earth bender alive doesn't walk right into yet another trap'? Sheesh."
"What do you mean another trap?" Zuko questions.
"Well apparently the letter was a fake and my parents hired two goons from the Earth Rumble to come and kidnap me. They locked me up in this metal box and started carting me off to Gaoling!"
"What, how did you escape?"
"When I say I'm the best earth bender in the world, I mean it." Toph cackles. "I'm a metal bender!"
Zuko and Katara both blink. "A- a what? That's not a thing."
"You bet your butt it is, I just invented it!"
"That's amazing! Can you show us?"
"With what metal, huh?"
"Oh," Katara laughs, "You're right."
"So, care to explain what happened with you two? I wasn't expecting to come back and find that the Fire Nation moved into Ba Sing Se with the Dai Li. I wasn't gone that long!"
"My sister happened," Zuko replies darkly, the mood of the group shifting suddenly. "And we'd better get going to make sure we can meet the fleet." He turns back to the camelelephant who's still coming to terms with being on solid ground again.
"Leave it. I can get us there way faster, you just give me directions," Toph states. It takes some getting used to but Toph's earth bending gets them to the fleet in record time, definitely quicker than the camelelephant.
Chameleon Bay stretches out in front of them, the cliff walls curling around the water and the five Water Tribe ships and the one Fire Nation warship docked there. Katara's heart jumps into her throat. It's been so long since she's seen her father and so much has happened. She pales, realizing Bato will be there too and shoots a glance at Zuko. Hopefully Sokka has already smoothed things over, at least a little.
. . .
Chief Hakoda of the Southern Water Tribe it seems, has not been filled in on the details of what all his children have been up to by either Bato or Sokka and welcomes Prince Zuko hesitantly into camp. Bato on the other hand isn't quite so keen on the situation, his previous sentiments of not all Fire Nation soldiers being evil flying right out the window. His eyes practically pop out of their sockets when Katara introduces Zuko inside of the chief's tent.
"No! No, no, no, no! We don't want that man in this camp, Katara," Bato shouts.
"Bato! He's not a bad guy, he's on our side! He's teaching Aang how to fire bend," Katar shouts right back.
Hakoda looks from his friend to his daughter in confusion. "What's going on?"
Bato turns abruptly. "We don't want him here, that's what. He kidnapped your daughter, she got hurt on his ship, and-"
"And I told you he was fine!" Katara screeches. "He took care of me. His uncle helped me learn water bending. I'm okay!"
The tent flap opens and Sokka strolls in. "What's going on?"
"Family drama," Toph snickers.
"Bato doesn't want Zuko around," Katara retorts.
"For good reason from the sounds of it, young lady!" Hakoda interjects. "Now everyone, shut up. Zuko," the chief thunders, not even caring for a moment that he's about to yell at a Fire Nation prince. "What in Tui and La's name did you do? So help me, if you hurt a single hair on her head then I'll-"
"Dad, you don't get to -" Hakoda silences her with a glare.
Zuko, the only one who hasn't spoken this entire time, glances up at the man towering over him. "I- I did kidnap your daughter, sir. But it was only to capture the Avatar and I never intended for anything bad to happen to her!"
"Oh, only to capture the Avatar, like that makes everything better?" Hakoda scoffs.
Bato speaks up, "When I saw them not long after she escaped, she told me what happened on that ship. A man tortured her."
Zuko's face darkens considerably and the temperature rises ever so slightly. "Chang has been…dealt with. No one is ever going to harm Katara again," he growls. Hakoda's taken aback, suddenly concerned about the intensity of the young man in front of him when he says Katara's name.
"Dad, I'm okay." She grabs her father's arm, steering him away from the prince. "Zuko's helped me, Aang, everyone so much. He saved me from a crazy Earth Kingdom general. He helped free the people of Omashu. He's on our side."
"Katara, if he let someone tor-" he can't get the word out. "If you were hurt on his watch, he's responsible. Now, you may think he's okay but that doesn't mean it's not still his fault." Hakoda explains patiently, as if explaining to a very small child.
"Dad," Katara sighs, not wanting to go over the details but for the last time it's not Zuko's fault! "Zuko's ship got attacked. I got abducted from where I was and as soon as Zuko and his uncle realized I was missing they rescued me."
"They still should have been more attentive. Who even attacked the ship?"
Sokka coughs. "That would be me, Dad. Aang and I did."
Hakoda's head drops into his hands and he groans. "I want that man to stay far away from you." He turns on Zuko. "Do you understand me? I don't want you within ten yards of her or you'll see just what the Water Tribe is capable of."
"Yes, sir." Zuko remembers Sokka giving him a very similar threat initially. Somehow he's more inclined to listen to Hakoda's. "If you'll excuse me." Zuko bows slightly and leaves before anyone can say any differently.
"Dad, you're not being fair!"
"Katara, you don't know what Fire Nation men are capable of."
Katara laughs scornfully. "I don't know? Me? I don't know? You're not the one it happened to? Are you forgetting I've travelled all over the world? I even went into the Fire Nation. Twice! I know damn well what's out there and Zuko is that absolute last person you need to be afraid of hurting me. Absolute last." She stomps out of the tent before anyone can get a word in edgewise.
"You know," Sokka comments, "He really is an okay guy and trust me, he'd die before hurting Katara, or even upsetting her."
The chief glances at his son. "That also concerns me, Sokka."
. . .
No real notes this time, just thank you everyone for reading and your reviews! Please let me know what you think!