Disclaimer: Howdy podners! I hope y'all get the jist that I don' own Avatar haer. All I own is this absolutely kickin' plot laine.

And yes, everything up above is spelled that way on purpose. It's my Texan accent kicking in.

Chapter XIV: Dreaming of Independence

"You're evil, mother!" Shaiya yelled at her mother while Meiya threw Onya and Shaiya in a prison cell.

"Well, that is expected. And deary, even though you are sixteen, I still have control over you. And I will, until a man proposes to you. That'll be the day."

"Oh, yeah, it will! The day I'm free from you! Bitch!" Meiya smirked at her daughter. She had made sure that the dirtiest, darkest, dankest, dampest cell was reserved for her daughter and friend. She didn't want them getting in the way of her beloved Zhao and his plans. Just as that thought crossed her mind, Zhao came up behind her.

"Good afternoon, milady." he purred. Meiya giggled while the girls gagged.

"Hello, Admiral." Meiya replied.

"I have a question for you, Lady Meiya."

"Okay, let's hear it." Meiya answered as she turned to face Zhao. He reached into a little pouch on his belt, pulled something out of it, hidden by his fist, and knelt in front of her.

"Lady Meiya, will you honor me by becoming my wife?" he asked, his voice a liquid purr.

Meiya's eyes widened. "Oh, Zhao! I'd be honored!" she yelled as Zhao stood. Shaiya and Onya gagged again. What a perfect couple. Shaiya thought. Meiya threw herself upon Zhao. He smiled as he took her right hand and the gold-banded red ruby ring he had bought her and placed the ring on her ring finger. She smiled and kissed him severely.

Zuko headed down to the galley, his head hung, clutching the letter from Shaiya. He looked like a little boy who had just got caught doing something he knew was wrong. She was one of his greatest friends, and one of his only friends. He decided to try and remember all his boyhood companions. His cousin, Sotto, Ton, Chasta, and Haleini. That was all. Many of the royal kids didn't like him, his attitude, or his father. Only General Vista's son and daughters would play with him. Sotto seemed to be the only one who liked him for the person he was back then. And then Sotto was mauled by a tiger-pit bull cross. And two weeks before his banishment, General Vista, Ton, Chasta, and Haleini moved to the southern part of the Fire Nation. He never saw them again. He was heartbroken.

And now, it happened again. Except this one hit much closer to home. He had kissed this girl, he had slept with this girl, he even liked this girl. And she liked him. He debated falling into a dark hole of depression. But he knew he couldn't. She was counting on him for saving the world from his asshole father. And he would.

Zuko walked into the galley, his head still hung. Sokka, Katara, Aang, and Iroh were already seated, deep in conversation. Iroh looked at his nephew's sullen figure.

"What's wrong, Prince Zuko?" he asked.

"This." Zuko said as he sat down at the head of the table. Iroh took the letter from his nephew and read it aloud. He didn't read the postscript however. He felt it better that the other three didn't know.

Katara broke the silence that followed Iroh reading the letter.

"Oh, Zuko. I'm so sorry." she whispered. Zuko nodded. He looked at his food when the chef put it down in front of him. It was Sokka's turn to speak.

"Hey, Zuko. I kinda know what you're going through." Zuko looked up at him when he said this.

"Onya and I were real close, too. If it makes you feel any better, you're not the only one suffering. I am, too." Zuko returned his gaze to his breakfast. A silent tear crept its way down Zuko's cheek. Everyone saw. Zuko stood and left, declaring he wasn't hungry.

"Oh, Iroh, will Zuko be okay? Will he even be able to help us defeat Ozai?" Katara asked.

"Dear girl, I do not know. I may be old and I may have lots of experience, but I do not know. My nephew is a complicated young man, and I do not know if he will pull through this. Shaiya was his first true friend since he was banished. And now he loses her, just like all four of his other friends."

"He had four friends? But he's a prince! Shouldn't he have more friends than he does hairs on his head!" Aang burst out suddenly. Everyone looked in his direction.

"I mean, I didn't think anyone could have so few friends. It seems…impossible." Aang finished off.

"Maybe I should go talk to him. I know where he's coming from." Katara said as she got up and left before anyone could tell her otherwise.

She walked on deck where Zuko was watching the sun rise. Or so it appeared. Instead, he was crying. He heard Katara's footsteps on the deck and quickly wiped them away, closing his eyes.

"Zuko?" Katara said as she reached him.

"What do you want?" he asked, rather sourly, as she approached, turning his head.

"I want to talk."

"What do you know! You can't help. Nothing can." he whispered. Another tear cut a path down his cheek.

"I can help. You don't want me to, but I can. Just give me a chance, Zuko. Please." Katara pleaded.

"Fine, you've got five minutes." he muttered, his eyes still closed.

"I know what it feels like to have someone really close to you leave. Or in my case, get left behind. When I left to help Aang, the only person I really knew was my brother, Sokka. I didn't even have a crew to yell at, like you do. I had to leave my entire village to help Aang. Then, when we got to the Northern Water Tribe, I had a chance to stay, but I didn't. I went with Aang and Sokka. I met lots of people there, lots of very nice, caring people that would've gladly taken me in, and I left them for the better cause. Zuko, just give it time, and you'll see her again. I promise." Katara said as she laid a hand on his shoulder.

Much to her surprise, he didn't jerk his shoulder away from her and say something rude, instead he collapsed into her arms, sobbing.

"It - It's just - not fair! Why did - it have to - be her? Why!" he sobbed into her shoulder. Katara cradled Zuko in her arms as she shushed him softly, her motherly instincts kicking in.

"Zuko, I promise you'll see her again. And when I make a promise, I intend to keep it." she finished.

Iroh walked on deck. He saw his nephew sobbing in Katara's arms, both kneeling on the ground. He smiled. I'll leave my nephew in her capable hands, then. he thought as he turned back to the galley to finish his breakfast.

Shaiya couldn't tell what time it was, but her internal clock told her it was reaching midday. Oh, joy. More mush that I'm gonna gag on. She smiled to herself as she thought of an escape plan. She decided to rouse Onya.

"Hey, ON! Wake up, idiot!" Shaiya yelled to her friend.

"Ugheck." Onya grumbled.

"Doofus, wake up. We got plans to go over." she whispered. Onya looked at her and both smiled evilly.

"Okay. We need, first, to figure out how to get out of this hellish place. I can't stand the smell." Shaiya smiled at her friend. She then introduced her plan.

"Well, I was thinking, since the guards unlock us so we can eat, we need to wait until we get food. Then, when they unlock us, we jump 'em and knock them out and take their armor. How is it so far?" Shaiya asked. Onya nodded, so she continued. "Well, after that, we put them in our clothes, providing they fit in our clothes, and then we put on their uniforms. We lock them up and we leave 'em here."

"That's pretty good, but what about if, instead of us walking out there in broad daylight, we wait until they bring that crap they call dinner for us, then we knock 'em out. And instead of leaving right then, we wait until near midnight, or until most of the guards head for bed. Hey, that rhymed."

"Moron, focus!" Shaiya scolded her friend.

"Sorry. Anyway, we could make our escape using the cover of night. Whadda ya think?"

"I like it. So, we're gonna do that, and if that fails, just run for the pens, grab K and V and we take off."

"Yup. Wait, I forgot K and V in my plans. I'm an idiot, Shai." Onya said, smiling.

"No comment, pal-o-mine." Shaiya said. The guards came with their lunch, or whatever it was. The girls were unlocked, and they ate the bowl of whatever it was they were brought in peace. Just wait until tonight, you fools. Onya thought silently.

Zuko finally quit his sobbing. He sniffled once and looked up at Katara, his cheeks stained with tears.

"Th - thanks. I - needed that." he said between sniffles. She smiled. Katara stood up and offered a hand to Zuko. He took it and pulled himself up. For the first time in a long time, Zuko smiled a real genuine smile, one that he meant.

"Are you going to be okay for a while?" Katara asked.

"Yeah. I think I'm going to head down to my room for a while. I'll come up later, maybe."

"Zuko, you can't brood the entire time. And your uncle is tiring. He's been teaching Aang firebending, and I don't think he can handle much more. Please consider trying, for the better cause. I'm sure Shaiya would approve." Katara said. Zuko turned his head away, toward the west. He crossed his arms.

"I guess I could give it a shot. For Shaiya." he stated matter-of-factly and headed for his room to finish reading her diary.

A/N: Not much to say in this author note, other than the following:

a) I WON CHAMPION AT THE JUNIOR LIVESTOCK SHOW! I beat...about 20 people, well, me and my horse, and I have a VERY cool buckle to show for it.

b) I'm very sorry it took so long to update. I was gonna add more, but I decided to leave it here. Hope you like!

c) POLL TIME! Woohoo! Answer in your reviews, if you please!

Who do you like best? (guys are who you choose from)

a) Zuko

b) Sokka

c) Aang

d) Jet

e) Haru

f) King Bumi

And now, to close my story. I hope you all weren't mortally disappointed in this chapter. I wrote it all yesterday.

Love always,

Raaon Teisha a.k.a. Rhinestone Cowgirl

;D