Special thanks to starlightz1112,almostinsane,Cala Akina Morushiku, nonesofar,Fran, Mystic Water Bender3, frozonedude12, albr62,Tree Flower,Junkfood, Kiriko-sama,LittleYugiBoy,Gmasangel, Animeloverja,TMW, Sirius123,fanfictionfun, queenyasha,twiztidchick666, me-obviously, and Yumi Katsura for reviewing. :)
Disclaimer: If I owned Avatar the last air bender I wouldn't be here writing a fanfic about it- Or would I? but than I wouldn't have to write the disclaimer so you can all safely assume I don't own it.
Here's the next chapter! Alright the polls are closed! The winner is; A Zuko&Katara. :)
"3!"Cried Sokka smiling victoriously as his faithful boomerang knocked out another fire bender. He took out a knife and knocked another soldier out by hitting him in the head with the sword. His helmet protected him from any permanent damage but he was out for the count. "And that's 4!"said Sokka triumphantly.
"16, and 17."said Zuko as he grabbed two fire benders by surprise and gave them harsh kicks to the head. Sokka scowled crossing his arms. Now that the water benders knew who he was there was no reason to hide his fire bending which gave him more advantage. Hopefully this would convince Caleb he was on his side. Katara shot a water whip at some unfortunate water bender knocking him to the ground, where he got trampled by several fire benders running from a mass of water benders.
"23."said Katara.
"I didn't know he was playing. No fair."said Sokka pouting even more. Zuko shot a fire kick at another fire bender.
"18."Zuko said. Sokka smacked a fire bender with his boomerang while dodging a fire blast from another soldier.
"5. You know there's something familiar about that water bender."said Sokka watching as Katara shot a blast of water at some fire benders. Zuko rolled his eyes.
"It's Katara."said Zuko punching some guy in the face. "19. Ha. I'm catching up. I will not let her beat me."Zuko muttered.
"Katara?"cried Sokka ducking as a fire bender charged after him, fell over him to the ground as Sokka removed his helmet and smacked him in the head with his boomerang. Zuko nodded. "6. So that's why she's wearing the mask...okay I get it."Sokka said. Zuko rolled his eyes charging at another fire bender catching them unaware as he sent fire blasts at them.
"Whoa..."said Zuko. The battle came to a sudden stop and they all turned around curiously as a beam of white light shot out of one of the village huts so far away.
"What is that?"demanded Sokka. The clouds began spinning around the white light.
"I don't like this."Katara said standing next to Zuko and Sokka.
"The Avatar!"Azula said quite loudly. They turned towards her.Azula took off into a run to the hut. Zuko ran after her.
"Wait for us!"Sokka yelled. He and Katara ran after Zuko and Azula. Caleb blinked looking at his army than looking at the fire army which had just lost their commander. They muttered looking around as if not sure what to do. That is until Zhao appeared. Zhao smiled darkly. The battle was on once again.
"Should we go in?"MaKala asked as clouds up above began swirling around the beam of light.
"THE AVATAR!"screamed a crazed voice. Both turned to see the fire nation princess.
"Azula! Nice to see you again!"said Iroh. Azula paid him not attention and tried to open the door.
"It's locked!"she growled. Zuko,Katara, and Sokka appeared.
"Give it up Azula!"yelled Zuko.
"Oh Zuko. How far you have fallen."said Azula with a cruel laugh."Look at what your wearing! Water bending armor? And I thought you could sink no lower."Azula said darkly. Zuko growled.
"Look..."gasped MaKala. Through the beam of light, two children were seen. Aang and Varvara.
"What are they doing?"Sokka cried. A brilliant light blinded them. They ducked to shield their eyes. When they opened their eyes a strange sight was seen. Iroh, Zuko, and Azula laid on the ground unmoving. Katara tore off her mask and started shaking Zuko.
"Zuko?"she said.
"Is he dead?"cried MaKala. Sokka pushed Katara away gently and checked the prince's pulse.
"He's alive. Just knocked out."Zuko said. Shouts of victory were heard from the battle.
"Stay here."MaKala said running off. Katara and Sokka looked up. There was no longer a beam of light. The sky was normal now. But two figures were seen falling.
"Aang!"cried Katara. Aang and Varvara landed in a pile of snow. Katara and Sokka ran over. Aang looked very confused and Varvara was laughing.
"That was fun."she said.
"What the heck was that?"Sokka yelled. Aang blinked as if confused.
"I...Where are we?"Aang said.
"At the north pole."Sokka said.
"I know that- but weren't we just talking about what to do when the fire nation attacks?"Aang asked.
"Aang...the fire nation did attack."Katara said. Aang looked at her in shock.
"Now what about that light- I am SO confused."cried Sokka.
"Light?"Aang asked confused.
"Whats the last thing you remember Aang?"asked Katara placing her hand on Aang's shoulder.
"I was trying to contact the spirit world. I was asking for help then I was heading face first into a snow bank."Aang said wiping snow off his bald head.
"Well I guess the spirits helped."Katara said looking at Zuko.
"So the fire nation already attacked?"Aang asked. Sokka and Katara nodded. Aang blinked.
"And you."said Sokka looking at Varvara."Did you do that freaky light stuff?"
"Your welcome."Varvara said.
"How did you-" Katara started to ask but she fell silent as Caleb and MaKala walked over.
"The enemy has been defeated. After that strange light all the Fire benders were knocked out cold- even these two it seems."said Caleblooking atIroh and Zuko with a frown.
"Do you got a big enough place to stuff all these guys?"Sokka asked.
"There is an ice dungeon below my father's hut."said MaKala. Two water bender guards grabbed Azula. Caleb looked at Zuko.
"Now what to do with him."He said.
"He's my friend- he helped you. You can't lock him up."Aang said.
"He's a fire bender though. My people will not feel safe with the prince of the fire nation here...I have no choice please understand."said Caleb with a sigh. Guards picked up Zuko and Iroh.
"You can't do this!"Sokka cried angrily.
"I have no choice! Listen I'll let him go, and him alone when you leave. Than I will bargain with the fire lord for his daughter and brother."said Caleb a smile tugging on his lips.
"That wont work! The fire lord will never make a deal with you! He will send tons of army ships here and blow up the north pole!"cried Sokka.
"I thought we worked this out earlier!"cried Katara.
"I will do what I see best for my Kingdom. If I just let the rest of them go once you leave, they will not forget. So I might as well use them as leverage. I'm sorry about your friends but it's the only way."said Caleb and she snapped his fingers. The guards walked away with the prisoners. Katara screamed loudly.
"He helped you! How can you do this?"she yelled.
"He will be well taken care of."Caleb said. They stared at him darkly."Now if you will excuse me I have work to attend to."said Caleb and he walked off.
"I'm so sorry..."MaKala said. Sokka groaned loudly.
"Well it's okay. Zuko isn't going to be too happy- but when is he ever happy anyway?"Sokka said. MaKala smiled smally. Katara however stood with her arms crossed a stubborn look planted on her face.
"This is wrong."she said.
"It's just until we learn water bending Katara."Aang said.
"So Varvara what was that light thing about?"MaKala asked.
"Aang asked the water spirit to help defeat the fire nation. The water bending spirit was busy so I decided to help Aang. Your welcome."she said a smile played on her lips and she turned and walked away.
"That little girl scares me."Sokka said.
"How did she know I was asking for help from the water spirit?"Aang asked.
"Iroh said she...was connected to the spirit world."said MaKala. Aang blinked.
"This is way to freaky for me!"Sokka said shaking his head.
"Ive spoken with the water bending master. He will see you tomorrow."MaKala told them.
"Until than, how about we go PENGUIN SLEDDING!"yelled Aang with a laugh.
"Oh that's kid stuff! We should train just in case something bad happens."said Sokka. Katara laughed.
"Come on Sokka. It's fun! It will be just like home."said Katara with a smile. MaKala watched as the trio ran off to go penguin sledding. Blasts of fire were seen coming from her father's hut. It seemed the fire benders had woken up. But most of them were in the dungeons already so she had nothing to fear.
That night.
Katara opened her eyes. She could hear her brother snoring in the next hut over. She got dressed and fixed her hair into a nice braid. She crept out of the hut and looked around the village. Everyone was asleep. Perfect. She crept over to Caleb's hut and opened the door slowly, careful not to wake anyone up. Caleb's hut was more of a cottage. It looked small on the inside but was large on the inside. She crept around looking for something that would tell her where the ice dungeon would be. She looked at the rug and smiled. She pulled it to see a trap door. She opened it and disappeared beneath it. Katara closed it and climbed down a ladder. torches lit the ice walls. She didn't think that was a very good idea, seeing as it could melt the walls but it seemed to be doing no harm. She walked down the icy hall way and heard voices.
"YOU STUPID WATER BENDING PEASANT! WHEN I GET OUT OF HERE YOU WILL BE BEGGING ME FOR MY FORGIVENESS!"
"That's Zuko alright."Katara muttered. CLANG! Katara jumped after hearing the sudden loud noise.
"AND TAKE YOUR STUPID FOOD TOO! I DON'T NEED IT!"Zuko roared. Katara rolled her eyes.
"I'll take some food!"said the calm voice of Iroh. Katara smiled to herself. Iroh reminded her strongly of her brother when it came to food. Katara peaked her head around the corner to see more and more hall ways that must have led to different cells. But the cell before her held the two fire benders she had been sneaking to see. Zuko sat arms crossed staring darkly at the water bending guard. Iroh sat on one of the beds enjoying what looked like some time of chowder.
"You will pay for this."Zuko growled darkly at the guard. Katara waited so she could catch the guard unawares. She was waiting for him to turn his back towards her direction. It didn't happen for some time. She seemed to be waiting for an hour before the guard yawned and stretched turned from her direction. Iroh's snores could be heard for about ten minutes now. Katara jumped out and hit him in the back of the head with the water whip, using water from her canteen. The guard fell unconscious. Katara smiled. Zuko scowled.
"What am I doing in here?"Zuko demanded.
"They don't trust you! But don't worry I'm going to get you out."said Katara looking around for a key.
"Key...key..key..."Katara said. Zuko sighed as if aggravated.
"Katara this whole cell is made of ice, and your a water bender."Zuko pointed out.
"Oh right..."said Katara and she blushed from embarrassment. She waved her arms and the ice bars turned to liquid. She paused.
"Well excuse me Mr.High and mighty fire prince couldn't you have just melted the bars?"she asked as Zuko stepped out.
"No. The guard was standing there."said Zuko with a small smirk. Katara sighed.
"You could have taken him on."said Katara.
"I know. But than I couldn't yell at him and degrade him."said Zuko.
"You enjoy making others miserable a little to much Zuko."Katara muttered. She looked at Iroh who was snoring and drooling.
"Should we wake him up?"Katara asked.
"It will be useless. Nothing wakes that man when he's asleep."Zuko muttered.
"Well we can't leave him."said Katara sitting down leaning against another ice wall. Zuko sat down next to her. Katara sighed remembering that dance she had had with Zuko on the deck of his ship. It seemed so long ago. She looked at Zuko and turned away with a blush. He was the prince of the fire nation...and she was a water bending peasant as he put it. It would never work out...
"Katara. What are you going to do once the war is over?"asked Zuko.
"I haven't really thought about it."Katara said truthfully.
"I'm not sure. I guess go home...Although I think I'll miss traveling."Katara said. Zuko nodded.
"I'll be fire lord if all goes well."Zuko said.
"I"m sure you will make a great fire lord."said Katara. Zuko blushed.
"Zuko..."said Katara turning towards The fire prince. There eyes met. He leaned over and kissed her.
