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,Yumi Katsura, lida, and Avtr1200
for reviewing. :)
Disclaimer: The moon will set, the sun will rise, as night fades into day. So Remember NovMists doesn't own Avatar in any way. :)
Here's the next chapter I'm so sorry for it taking so long I was out camping and YEY it's a year old! i'm so happy it's gone on this long, but i'm sorry to say I think the next chapter will be the last. It's been an awesome experience writing this and thanks again everyone who has reviewed and kept me writing this. :)
"LET ME GO! Let me go now and I may spare your life!"Zuko growled. Jet laughed softly standing up pacing back and forth.
"See fire bender, you are in no position to bark out orders, I'm the one who will be barking out orders. Here is how it's going to work. I'm going to ask you questions and your going to answer them. Now, again, how many more of you are there?"Jet asked. Zuko growled and turned away refusing to answer.
"Looks like were going to have to do this the hard way."Jet said kicking him in the side. Zuko grunted and glared his eyes darkening.
"I can do this all day."Jet said circling Zuko. Zuko gritted his teeth.
"How many more of you are there?"Jet asked again. Zuko didn't answer. Jet made a move to kick him again and an angry burst of fire flew at him from Zuko's throat. Jet jumped back barely dodging it.
"Next time I wont miss."Zuko said with a growl.
"Oh. The mean fire bender knows some tricks."said Jet and he picked up a rock throwing it and it nicked Zuko in the head. Zuko growled sending another burst of fire at Jet but it didn't reach him. Jet picked up another rock. Zuko groaned. This was going to be a long night.
"Something is definitely wrong we have to-FIRE NATION SHIP!"yelled Katara. They all looked up and in the distance a ship was heading towards them.
"We have to get out of here now!"Aang yelled.
"But what about Zuko!"cried Katara.
"Look lets just fly on Appa and go in the middle of the forest or something okay?"Sokka cried.
"But when Zuko comes back we will be gone and all he will have to meet is a fire nation ship!"cried Katara.
"This is a dilemma."Iroh said sipping his tea.
"We can't just sit here and let them capture us too Katara!"yelled Sokka. Katara sighed defeated. "We have no choice we have to hide!"Sokka yelled.
"Fine- you all hide I'll look for Zuko!"Katara cried.
"Katara we should stick together-Katara- we will be in the center of the forest!"Sokka cried as Katara took off into the dense forest. Sokka sighed. Makala put her hands on Sokka's shoulder.
"What next brave leader?"she asked. Sokka blinked and smiled.
"She called me a brave leader!"he whispered in Aang's ear. Aang rolled his eyes. They got on Appa and flew to the center of the forest and landed underneath a willow tree.
"Looks like we will have to stay here. Katara knows where here and she will probably find his royal highnass."said Sokka.
"It's highness."Aang said with a frown.
"I know I was- oh never mind!"cried Sokka. MaKala looked at Sokka and smiled. He blinked and blushed.
"She's burning up."Ryu said with worry looking at Azula.
"Were heading up to an island. It doesn't look like there is any civilization, but there may be medicine herbs of that sort."said Zhao giving the princess a quick look. Ryu caressed Azula's face softly. Zhao raised an eyebrow.
"You are in love?"Zhao said. Ryu stiffened.
"No."he said quickly.
"It's obvious."Zhao said and he put a wet cloth on the sweating princess's forehead. "But you two could never be together. You were nothing but a servant, now your but a common soldier."said Zhao.
"I'm working my way up! Some day when I get as high as admiral like you, than we could-"
"Keep dreaming."Zhao said with a snort. Ryu sighed sadly and looked at Azula. He hoped she would be alright. She was his world. Sure she acted cold and cruel, okay she was cold and cruel, but there was a soft sensitive side in her, that she saved just for him. He would make sure she would get better if it was the last thing he did. The door opened and a fire bender guard came in.
"Sir! The crew- there all getting sick like the princess!"
"How many of you are there!"Jet yelled. Zuko was still staying strong. It would have been easier just to tell Jet who he was and who he was with, but Zuko was stubborn. He wouldn't be threatened into anything. He glared at Jet. Jet growled and kicked Zuko jumping back to avoid another blast of fire. There was a snap of a twig as Katara appeared.
"Well long time no see."Jet said turning towards her. Katara looked at Zuko wide eyed and back at Jet.
"What are you doing?"she yelled. Jet rolled his eyes at her and pointed to Zuko.
"Fire bender."he said and pointed to himself. "Good guy." Katara glared. "get it?"he said.
"Untie him now!"Katara yelled. Jet glared.
"What is it with you? Doesn't the fact that the fire nation killed your mother mean anything to you?"He yelled.
"He's a good man!"Katara yelled.
"He's a fire bender!"Jet yelled.
"Let him go Jet!"Katara yelled. Jet stared at her.
"I knew you were crazy!"he yelled.
"Your the crazy one!"Katara shouted. Jet glared. "Listen- there is a whole ship of fire benders heading this way! We have to get out of here!"Katara yelled.
"Why should I believe you?"Jet asked with a snort. One of his freedom fighters climbed up a tree taking out a telescope.
"She's right boss."He said.
"Alright- lets get out of here!"Jet yelled and he and his freedom fighters ran leaving Zuko behind. Katara knelt down next to Zuko so that she was eye level with him.
"Are you alright?"she asked.
"I'm alright, now that your here."Zuko said. Katara smiled and kissed him gently.
"Could you get me out of these chains?"Zuko asked. Katara laughed and got them off with a powerful blast of water from her canteen. Zuko stood up."When I find that guy I'm going to rip him to pieces."Zuko muttered.
"Later. A ship is coming and we think it's a fire nation ship- probably Azula."Katara said.
"I'm sick of running."Zuko said. Katara looked at him."I say we meet her and end this thing once and for all."
"WE ARE SO DEAD!"Sokka yelled as they all stood on the beach waiting for the fire nation to come. "How could I let you talk me into this!"Sokka yelled.
"Zuko's right Sokka, this has gone on to long. We got Zuko to like us and be peaceful maybe the same can be done to his sister?"Aang said.
"I know you like to think everyone has good in them Aang but she is evil in human form!"Sokka yelled.
"For once I agree with him."Zuko said.
"She can't be that bad."Aang said.
"She's worse."Zuko said darkly.
"Than how do you think we should stop her?"Aang asked.
"The only way I know how."Zuko said clenching his fists as sparks of fire flew out. Aang frowned.
"HAVE YOU ALL FORGOTTEN THEY HAVE LIKE AN ARMY OF FIRE BENDERS?"Sokka cried in a last attempt to get them safe.
"Numbers are not important."Iroh said.
"It is when it's 1000 against six!"Sokka cried.
"I think this can be done peacefully."Aang said softly. A row boat came and Zhao and Ryu stepped out of it. Ryu was carrying Azula.
"We come in peace, for now."Zhao said. Zuko narrowed his eyes. Which was true since all the men on his ship now were deadly sick like the princess and he and Ryu were the last ones that could walk on their own. They'd never be able to maneuver the ship. They needed a cure and fast.
"Why don't I believe that?"Zuko asked. Zhao ignored him.
"It seems the princess is very sick. We want to know if the water bender recognizes any of the symptoms we think she may have picked this up at the north pole."Zhao said and he let out a cough. MaKala walked towards them with uncertainty. Ryu laid Azula down on the ground gently. Zuko walked over to her sister. Azula looked at Zuko and smiled.
"Zu Zu."she said almost cheerfully.
"don't call me that."Zuko muttered.
"She's delusional."said Ryu sadly.
"Our tribe was plagued with a flu a few years back. We've all built up an immunity to it. It seems it's infected her, and it probably has your whole crew by now. I'm sorry but most of you will not make it."MaKala said gravely.
"FLU? DEATH?"cried Sokka jumping back in horror.
"It's really rare. Most cultures are immune to it. Everyone has had a dose of it except for the fire nation and maybe Aang."she said. Aang blinked.
"But if you don't have it now your not going to get it."MaKala said. Sokka sighed in relief. Zhao coughed again.
"You should sit down. I think you have it too."MaKala said.
"I'm fine! I merely have a cold! I need the princess in top condition now what is the cure?"Zhao demanded.
"There is no cure. I told you most people built up an immunity over the years."MaKala said sadly.
"You mean my sister is going to die?"Zuko said softly.
"She may pull through, she may not. There is nothing we can do but wait. Same for her crew."said MaKala sadly. Tears formed in Ryu's eyes.
"She can't die- she can't- she said- we were going to get-"Ryu fell silent turned and ran into the woods. Zuko looked after him curiously.
"Soldier seems to have a crush on your sister."Zhao muttered sitting down coughing some more. He looked at Zuko.
"Where do your loyalties lie?"he asked. Zuko blinked rather shocked at this question.
"I don't know."He said truthfully.
"Well pick fast. Is it with your family, the fire nation or with these peasants?"Zhao said. Zuko was silent. His loyalties were wavering. He had friends now, and Katara, and he wanted nothing more to protect them but he had loyalties for his home land, to the fire nation, and to his family, to his father. But he was a traitor.
"To my family."Zuko finally said. Katara looked at the ground.
"Than if the princess and I don't make it, you will take the avatar to your father!"Zhao said.
"Oh, I'll take Aang to my father. I promise."Zuko said. Zhao seemed to relax. Aang looked at Zuko in horror and Katara's eyes filled with tears.
"We never should have trusted you."Sokka said softly. Iroh looked between them and his nephew. Zhao began sweating and he was soon swept by the fever.
"How could you?"Aang asked Zuko quietly. Zuko didn't answer.
