CHAPTER NINETEEN
The Plan of Attack
Though Zuko was upset and embarrassed about what had happened last night; being spied upon
while he was with Katara. He had to admit that if the incident had not forced him to retreat into
solitude; he never would have been able to formulate a plan to get into the Fire Nation and
confront the Fire Lord. The plan was simple and dangerous. Zuko would present the Avatar to his
father; and while everybody was busy celebrating he and the rest of the group would strike. Most
unfortunately he had to offer the rest of the group including Katara as prisoners along with the
Avatar in order to make the ruse convincing.
In order to make it seem like he really had captured the Avatar and his friends; Zuko would have
Hakoda and his Water Tribe Warriors act like pirates and bounty hunters who had helped him
capture and deliver the Avatar. There were so many ways that this plan could backfire; and since
it was Zuko who would be putting everyone in danger it would be Zuko who had to keep them
safe. If anybody got hurt, especially Katara Zuko would never be able to forgive himself; and
neither would anybody else. The hardest part of the plan right now would be presenting it. Zuko
didn't like the plan; and he knew that nobody else would either.
As expected when Zuko told everyone the plan he received many objections. "You expect us to
go along with this plan; and march straight into the heart of the Fire Nation and meet Ozai face to
face?" Sokka asked incredulously. "You can't put Aang and the rest of us in this much danger!"
Katara declared. "I'd have to face him sooner or later" Aang said resignedly. "And this may be
the best way to defeat him and end this war." Seeing Aang determined to meet his fate no matter
what it may be startled everyone including Zuko. The silence was finally broken by Sokka who
asked "How do we know this plan isn't just to get us to go along with you to our doom? How do
we know you aren't really going to give us to the Fire Lord?" Fire immediately lit up in Zuko's
eyes; and he said very heatedly "despite what you may think I have a certain code of honor that I
will never break. I will not leave any of you at the mercy of my Father. I will not give up
everything that I have gained just to get what my Father never gave me. You can trust me on
this." "Well I don't trust you!" Sokka shouted. Sokka and Zuko were staring daggers at each
other until Katara stopped them. "STOP RIGHT NOW!" she shouted. "We're not going to end
this war if we're fighting with each other." "Sokka if Aang thinks that Zuko's plan might work
then we may as well try it." "Okay, fine, whatever." Sokka said with an angry snort. "Now that
this is settled let's get moving." said Katara. They set off, hoping against hope that this plan
would work. So many things could go wrong; and the world could not afford their failure.