This is one of the shorter chapters. It's okay things just go by pretty fast, but that's what its intended to do so don't think that it is bad writing!
"What do you think it is?" Sokka said poking the thing with his boomerang.
"Don't be stupid! It's obviously a man." Toph scoffed and began poking him with her toe.
"Guys stop poking him! It's not just any man, its Zuko's Uncle!" Aang said staring down at Iroh in wonder.
0000
Katara sighed. She hadn't spoken to Zuko since he came back into camp. She didn't know what to say to him and she didn't think he wanted to talk to her. Akiko and Zuko made small talk but it wasn't like it used to be. Zukos eyes were always tired and blank now. Akiko always completely covered her scar with her hair; Katara thought she didn't want to make Zuko feel bad by having him see it everyday and night.
Akiko was resting in camp reading over Mora material to build up things to say when they get into court. Katara sat under a tree relaxing thinking about the future. Something she hadn't been doing in awhile. She had been to busy to really wonder how it would be to go into the Fire Nation as pretty much royalty.
A loud blast interrupted Katara's thoughts. She jumped to her feet and saw smoke coming from the river. She crinkled her brows and started running to it, through bushes and around trees. When she got to the rivers edge she gasped and ran instantly to Zukos side. He lay flat on his back eyes shut breathing deeply like he was highly irritated. The ground was scorched.
"Zuko…Zuko wake up! What happened?" Katara said lightly tapping on his warm cheeks. Zuko's eyes opened and he slowly sat up, one vertebra at a time. He rubbed his head in frustration.
Katara sat on her knees and touched his shoulder softly. "Zuko, what were you doing?"
Zuko stood and stared at where he scorched the earth. "I was trying to make lightning. But I can't…" he said dryly turning towards the river.
Katara stood next to him, "Was Iroh teaching you?"
Zuko nodded.
"Well, I might not be able to offer any help but I would like to know what he said. Maybe you can get some clues you missed or something."
"Forget it."
"Come on just tell me what he told you about the move!"
Zuko scratched his ear in mild irritation and thought. "He said he learned the move from the waterbenders but I don't see what…"
"Really? Well I can help you!" Katara beamed.
Zuko took and step back and shook his head, "I don't really think that…"
"Oh come on! How could you learn a waterbending move from anyone other than a waterbender?" Katara smiled and began pulling the sighing prince to the water.
Katara began pulling off her clothes and into her white undergarments. Zuko blushed lightly and looked away with arms crossed like he wasn't paying attention. He was really watching her shoulder muscles flex and un-flex with her movements and her spine shift with every motion and her soft tan skin glow in the mild sunlight…
"Okay! Let's get started!" Katara grinned as she wadded knee deep into the water. Zuko moaned and kicked off his shoes and pulled off his shirt. Katara stopped smiling as she saw the milky white muscles toned and flexed in the sunlight. She had never seen a more toned and attractive body…. 'ATTRACTIVE!!!????'
"Well? Are you doing to teach me stupid waterbending tricks or not?" Zuko demanded still on shore. Katara rid her thoughts and nodded.
Zuko waded in front of her and crossed his arms with a skeptical eye. Katara grinned and put her hands on her hips. "Well, just what was the move that your uncle taught you?"
Zuko looked away embarrassed and ran a hand through his hair, "I can't really make lightning, Uncle was teaching me how to redirect it. It went like this…" Zuko preformed the action-less move.
Katara sighed and shook her head.
"What!" Zuko demanded instantly feeling insecure.
"You're thinking like a firebender." Katara said simply.
Zuko arched a brow, "In case you haven't noticed, I am a firebender."
Katara gave him a small smile and rolled her shoulders, "The key is to loosen up. Waterbending is all about being in touch with the softer movements of the body and breath."
"Firebenders aren't the most flexible people in the world, we can't bend like waterbenders."
"Waterbenders aren't all flexible Zuko, we just move fluidly. Waterbending doesn't require backbends and splits just soft easing movements." Katara explained. She herself wasn't the most flexible person in the world; her back was stiff as a board. "So now try to move fluidly."
Zuko narrowed his eyes and began creating stiff circular motions with his arms. Katara started laughing making his cheeks flush and for the movements to stop. Katara smiled and splashed cool water on her face.
"Okay, I guess that wasn't the right way to go." She giggled.
Zuko snorted, "Obviously,"
Katara thought a moment. "Okay well try watching me, maybe you're a visual person."
Katara got down on her knees in the water so it came just up to her belly button. The cool liquid made her body hair stand on end but it felt good. She stretched her arms out in front of her and circulated her arms in, out, around and in again.
"Okay now do it with me."
Zuko stared at her long and hard to somehow memorize the movements she was making, the exact way she was doing them. Katara smiled when he began circling his arms too, his arms stiffened powerfully and his shoulders tensed ready to strike. Katara stopped and stood again.
"If you're not a verbal person or a visual person then what are you?" Katara pondered. "How did you learn firebending?"
Zuko thought a minute, "When I started to get any good it was when my Uncle came back and started teaching me. He would always place me on his feet, hold my hands and lead my through the moves that way."
Katara flushed and looked away, "And that's how you learned?"
Zuko scratched his head, "I guess…" it clicked, "so…"
Not wanting to have Zuko see her bashful Katara straightened out and looked authorative. "Well, I guess this is how I am going to teach you."
Zuko didn't say a word. He didn't dare to.
Katara kneeled in the water and waded over to Zuko and pressed her back to his chest and laughed little awkwardly. Her head perfectly under his chin and she found herself blushing at how close they were.
"Okay…grab my wrists." Her voice shot up four octaves. Zuko didn't seem to notice when he cleared his throat and grabbed around her slender mocha wrists. He tried to keep his breath steady but the last girl he had ever been this close to was Song, and she was still a good distance away from him.
When Zuko had his hands on her wrists Katara took a deep breath and slightly arched him over her. She made him bend his elbows and she began moving in the circular motion they were doing earlier.
"Slacken your shoulders a little more…wow you have it Zuko!" Katara beamed when she left him doing the movements. Zuko himself was feeling very proud and he let it show in his facial features when Katara wasn't looking.
"Okay, let's practice some other things to get the feeling of being a waterbender." Katara said still beaming. She slowly removed herself from in front of Zuko, the same tender blush spilling over her cheeks. Zuko cleared his throat gruffly and scratched the back of his head, the area on his chest and abdomen was now cold and empty.
Katara kneeled in the water directly in front of the nation confused man and smiled warmly. "Okay, now I will guide you through this motion."
Katara placed the tops of her hands under Zuko's palms and slowly moved them up and down her wrists turning her palms up and then down again. Zuko followed the movement after her watching her hands, then her arms, then up to her shoulders, down to her middle and then her legs. He made note of her steady breathing in beat with the movements.
"Wow, you really learn fast!" Katara admired watching him perform the movement flawlessly. Katara smiled to herself and moved next to Zuko.
"Okay now pretend your doing this with me." Katara said and lifted a small portion of water into her control. She breathed slowly through her nose and lifted her arms and watched it gracefully slither into the air. Zuko followed the move. Katara stretched up her arm and spread her fingers guiding the water behind her and back to her front. Zuko followed the move. Katara moved it around in circles again watching Zuko completely absorbed in her movements. She slyly grinned to herself at a plan she had created.
Katara pulled the water over her head and around the two of them. Zuko wasn't even minding the water just the way she moved which was perfect. Katara released the water from her control and let it splash right down on Zukos head. She began laughing hysterically even before she let it go. Zuko shook his head and stared at her in bewilderment.
"Oh come on Zuko, take a joke!" Katara laughed physically splashing him.
Zukos jaw stiffened, "There is nothing funny about this. It is immature and I for one am not spending this time with you for games."
Katara still smiled though she had stopped laughing, "You know the best way to learn?"
"What?" Zuko growled shaking out his wet hair.
"To have fun!" Katara wailed and dunked Zuko under the water.
Under the water Zuko groaned and grabbed her ankles and flung her back. When he popped up he was just able to hear her squeal with laughter and bliss at his action before she splashed into the water. He almost grinned at how youthful it sounded even though he hadn't meant it to be 'fun'.
Katara came to surface spitting out water with a huge grin on her face. Zuko gulped when her face suddenly twisted into a mischievous smirk. Katara dunked under water and in seconds she popped up to Zuko's side and spit a full mouthful of water in his ear. Zuko yelped and shook the warm substance from his ear.
Katara giggled at his reaction and how immature she was being. Zuko turned to her with an odd glint in his golden eyes. Katara arched a brow; she had never seen that look before. Zuko cupped his hands in the water and gave her a full splash in the face. Katara laughed and tried her best to block it with her hands.
"Oh you did it now, Zuko!" Katara laughed. Water gripped her wrists and flung her through the air and she landed on Zukos shoulders. She manipulated the currents under them to pull them along at a quick pace up and down the river and in circles. Zuko tried not to fall back and held the waterbenders legs for support. He heard her laughing and smirked. He reached up to her ribs and shockingly tickled her causing her to shriek louder and the currents began to slow.
Katara looked down at him with a mixture of joy, surprise, and something else she couldn't explain. She felt tears slide down her cheeks from being tickled ruthlessly. No matter how much she kicked her feet or how hard she gripped his wrists he wouldn't let up. She finally leaned down into his ear and blew cold air on the tip.
Zuko released her from the freezing cold air on his ear and they both fell back into the water. Katara popped back up as soon as he did and tackled him back into the water around the middle. And for the first time Zuko didn't just smile a little he laughed. Her failed attempt to knock him full in the water was rather funny.
Katara looked up at him with shock and wonder. But a smile broke madly across her face and she began splashing him back. They laughed and shouted, "Hey!" to each other having generally a great time.
"Hey guys I-" Akiko came running through the bushes but stopped at the sight of the two opposites splashing each other and Zuko picking Katara up and carrying her on his shoulders while she wailed and carried on like a child on Halloween night. Akiko grinned ear to ear. There was definitely a frisson going on here like she had originally said back on the train. Katara had broken Zuko's shell, if only for the moment. She backed into the bushes and went to continue her reading.
"I didn't think you could have this much fun!" Katara laughed now spread out in the water on her back. Zuko stood and shook his hair his face blank. What did he just do? He just made a complete fool of himself, pulled down all his walls for this mere peasant whose name escapes him! He cleared his throat and waded out of the water.
Zuko crossed his legs and placed his hands on his knees and closed his eyes. He cleared all thoughts from his head and took in deep steady breaths. Katara arched a brow and slithered up on shore next to him. She watched his blank face peaceful and concentrated.
"Tell me Zuko," Katara pondered.
"Tell you what?"
"Did you ever have a girlfriend?" Katara grinned slyly when Zuko's eyes popped open.
"I don't want to have this conversation with you."
Katara laughed and rolled over on her back, "Come on, you can tell me."
"Did you ever have a boyfriend?" Zuko retorted. Katara stopped smiling and sat up and looked down into the water. Zuko had asked the very wrong thing.
But to Zukos surprise she sighed and said, "Yeah."
"Oh. The Avatar?"
Katara smiled and turned around to face him. "Aang is pretty much my brother. I could never love him that way, but I do love him."
"Someone loving the Avatar…" Zuko trailed off shaking his head. "But I have to wonder, since when did you get the license to feel so comfortable around me?"
"Since I saw you are a real person." Katara smiled and walked off with her clothes in hand.
0000
"So what are we going to do now?" Mai asked with no real concern or interest in her dull tone.
"I don't know but I hope Azula comes up with a plan soon." Ty Lee said braiding and unbraiding her hair as she hung from a chandelier on the ceiling.
"Indeed I have come up with a plan." Azula smirked and stepped into the room.
"Azula!" Ty Lee shrieked and flipped from her spot when she finished braiding.
Azula side-stepped Ty Lee's hug attempt and sat in a throne in the middle of Mai's and Ty Lee's. Ty Lee flipped into hers as Mai lounged lazily in hers. Azula sank into the velvet seat and folded her arms waiting for the question to be asked.
"So what is this plan?" Mai asked flipping a blade in her fingers.
Azula smiled cruelly, "Bring her in."
"Ouch, hey!" a feminine voice cried as she and an ostrich-horse were shoved into the room along with a young man with chains on his wrists and ankles. He stared grudgingly up at the Princess of the Fire Nation.
"Why do these peasants matter?" Mai asked bitterly.
"You'll see Mai, you'll see."
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"So Katara…" Akiko droned with a slow smile spreading across her flawless face.
Katara arched a brow at her as she began slicing fruits with a knife. "What is it Akiko?"
"How was your little day away from camp?"
Katara smiled lightly and turned back to her fruit, "It was fine."
"Was the day fine or was the person fine?" Akiko giggled.
Katara shrugged her shoulders, "It was just a very calm peaceful day with one of my fellow travelers. Don't get any ideas Akiko."
"Whatever Katara, I just don't want to wake up to hearing noises okay?"
"What the…" Katara jolted into alertness.
"And you don't have time for being 'active'. We still have a lot of planning to do."
"You little-ugh!"
"Is dinner ready?" Zuko's cool voice rang.
"Just about Zuko," Akiko smiled and began setting the food on wooden plates and juice in wooden cups. She turned and winked at Katara.
Katara grit her teeth at how nonchalantly Akiko expressed such things. Of course she was teasing so why was Katara blushing like a cat-lobster? Katara shook her head and put a hearty amount of fruit on everyone's plate. And they all ate in silence.
"We don't have much time to get into the Fire Nation. Katara, you already know the basic facts about Mora's life. Now we just need to get you pampered up." Akiko said.
Katara didn't say anything as she popped a grape into her mouth.
"Which means what? We buy her a nice dress and fix her hair up? That's not going to cut it Akiko." Zuko growled and downed his juice.
"No," Akiko sneered leaning over into his face, "It means that we teach her to drink, eat, dance, talk like a Fire Nation royal would. I'm not stupid you know!"
Zuko was about to retort when he saw faint signs of the scar he left her on her neck that she now covered with her hair (for his sake). He sighed and looked away, "I know."
Katara looked into her tan palms and let tears fall into them. Those hands didn't belong to the Fire Nation. Or at least it didn't look like it. And damn the tears that splattered the confusion. She felt Zuko's golden eyes settle on hers as Akiko slowly gathered everyone's things. He wanted to ask what was wrong but he bit the inside of his cheek to keep silent and remind himself that he didn't give a damn.
Katara slowly stood and tried to pretend she didn't notice the tears splattering her blue dress and the dry earth. She turned and left to find someplace where she could think. So she settled on a willow not to far from camp but still far enough that no one could hear her cry.
Akiko stared at Zuko long and hard as if he would know what to do. Zuko shrugged and reached for his hat before putting it over his face for a snooze and he sunk deeper into the dusty earth. Akiko puckered her lips, "Stupid," Zuko lips slightly curled into a small smile and the angelic beauty pushed her way into the forest.
0000
Katara leaned over on the ground sobbing into her hands. Why did she have this all dumped on her? She was going to meet the Fire Lord on friendly terms when she was just with the Avatar to kill him!? She wanted her old lifestyle back! She didn't want this pressure. But the worst thing is keeping herself from them!
"Katara?" Akiko placed a hand on the sobbing waterbenders shoulder. Katara looked up at her with tears trailing down her cheeks.
Akiko leaned down and hugged her obviously overwhelmed friend. "Katara, we can pull this off. Just tell me exactly what is bothering you."
"I-I can't tell you!" Katara sobbed burying her face in Akiko's shoulder. Akiko crinkled her brow in confusion.
"Of course you can. Just tell me."
"No I really can't Akiko! I'm scared to tell you!" Katara choked. Akiko pulled away from Katara and leaned against the tree with a frightened look in her eye.
"Katara you're starting to scare me! Please just tell me?"
Katara shook her head and placed her face in her hands. "No I really can't Akiko!"
Akiko grabbed Katara's shoulders and made her look up into her pale eyes. "Katara you can tell me anything! Please we're friends, come on!"
Katara bit her lip, "You won't believe me."
"Yes I will Katara. Please just tell me what's wrong."
"Okay…" Katara sniffed, "I…am really Mora's reincarnated generation."
Akiko's eyes bugged, "No…wait…what!?"
"Shh!" Katara hissed, "It's true, look!" Katara pulled off her necklace and showed her the trinket in the back. Akiko wobbled on her knees and her eyes fogged a little.
"You're serious…"
Katara nodded and both broke into a small smile and hugged. Akiko pulled away and bowed lowly on the ground, "Sorry, I'm not sure if I am allowed to hug a Princess slash Goddess!"
The girls gave each other brief smiles and stood. Akiko held her shoulders. "This won't be any easier will it?"
Katara shook her head and grinned.
"I knew you looked like the painting! You little liar wait till I tell Z…" she suddenly gasped, "oh, we can't tell Zuko can we?"
Katara gasped, "No!"
"Well why not?"
Katara shrugged, "I don't know, something is telling me not to."
"That's not a very good reason."
Katara sighed, "I know. But things would get even more…tense."
"Whatever, you're Mora, not me."
"Yeah well…" Katara couldn't finish her sentence. She was blinded by a long flash of light. She felt her knees buckle and her body collapse. She vaguely heard the desperate screams of Akiko begging her to wake up.
Flash
"My darling Mora, come away with me." A deep masculine voice said.
"I would if I could, but Resbuto is out and looking for me. I can not put you at risk by being with me." Mora said facing the dark sky. Silver tears floated down her perfect tan cheeks. Her dark hair blew freely around her and the wind blew her dress around her ankles. The cold air numbed her nose.
Aun cupped her cheek in his long pale hand. "Mora, to die for our love would be of the greatest honor. If Resbuto does kill me, it will be worth having the time with you."
Mora turned to face him, bright violet eyes glazed with tears making them more luminous. "Part of my soul is parted with me just in case. Gone back to the sky to rest in a future generation's heart. Maybe one of our future kin will learn to love her as you love me. When I am gone the rest of me will settle in that special heart and set what is wrong right."
"Such ridiculous talk, I command you to bring down your soul from your kin and place it behind your eyes again." Aun said and brushed his thumb over her lips. "Destiny is such a strange thing Mora, even one as powerful as you cannot change what is to come."
"I can always try." Mora said and bit her lip, "For if things go sour history will come close to repeating itself."
"Mora, I tell you stop saying such fools chatter!" Aun said growing angry. "Pull back down the missing pieces of your soul and put them back in their proper places! And I tell you to stay!"
Mora sighed and turned away from him, looking out the large window across the Southern Water Tribe. "I will stay and wed you when Fire Nation is under our feet, but I cannot pull the missing parts of my soul back. I will not risk this for I can vaguely understand what my soul in the sky will be seeing. Destiny is everything to me."
"And what is that?" Aun asked his voice not as dark and heavy.
"Danger, pain, confusion, frustration, death, resurrection, secrets, lies and…"
"Alright I get it!" Aun roared and slammed a fired fist into the wall. "But how can you possibly know!"
Mora lowered her head, "I can feel them."
There was a long silence.
"Here Mora, I want you to have this." Aun said dully and dropped a gear shaped trinket into her hand.
Mora read what was on it and lunged into a passionate kiss with him. "Thank you so much Aun, I will treasure it forever."
Flash
"Mm, Zuko?" Katara said, her vision focused in and out on the concerned face of her fellow traveler.
"Akiko, she's awake!" Zuko called over his shoulder. He helped Katara lean up against a tree.
"What happened?" Katara asked rubbing her throbbing temples.
Zuko sighed and sat cross-legged next to her. "You passed out and started saying the weirdest things."
"Like what?"
"Plenty of things about Mora."
Katara frowned and looked away. "What's funny is, I visited a psychic named Aunt Wu and she never told me anything about this."
Zuko choked on his own spit.
"Are you okay? I mean I told you this before."
"I must have forgotten." Zuko mumbled, "What did she tell you?"
"I am going to marry a powerful bender." Katara said with a sigh, "But that could be anyone! I originally thought it was Aang but, he is a child and I could never love him."
Zuko smirked at the distressed look on her face and tucked his hands behind his head, "I think you're worrying to much about it. You have bigger problems then you you're going to fall in love with years from now."
Katara slouched down on the tree with crossed arms, "I know, but it may not be years from now, it could me months, weeks, even days maybe. Don't you ever think about your future?"
Zuko was silent for awhile, "Everyday."
"Do you ever think of what Aunt Wu told you? Was she right about anything?"
Zuko blinked a few times as it all registered, "Yeah…"
Katara sat up and looked into his profile pryingly. "About what?"
"Loosing someone I care about…" Zuko was stuck in a haze.
"Oh my La! How strange…all you need is the rest!"
Zuko's eyes stung for some off reason, an ostrich horse was somewhere around there. Katara sneezed, apparently there was something in the air. Zuko heard footsteps approaching and tensed as he jumped to his feet swiftly. Katara opened her flask.
"Song!?" Zuko exclaimed. Katara tensed as a tall girl with pale brown hair in a long braid and bunny brown eyes with a baby face came trudging through holding an ostrich horse.
"Lee!" Song exclaimed dropping the reins. Zuko cleared his throat and searched for something to say. There was a long pause as Zuko was left like a statue and Song looked like she was thinking up a storm. Song stepped up to him with big watery eyes.
"I know the truth Le-Zuko." Song said. Katara sat rooted to the spot watching this all happen. Who on earth was this girl?
"What are you-" Zuko couldn't breathe.
"It's okay. I saw posters for you and your Uncle in my village. I'm okay with it Lee…uh…Zuko. I want you to keep this ostrich-horse." Song handed him the reins.
"But how did you get here?"
Song blushed, "I asked around for you. After you left I began to worry and when this got sent back, I knew I had to bring it back to you."
Zuko was too stunned to say anything.
"Hey guys I-" Akiko stared at Song, "Who's the skirt?"
Katara shrugged as Song looked down at her orange skirt and back up at Akiko with confusion.
0000
Katara crossed her arms as the girl in orange took over the fire pit making roast duck she 'caught herself'. Sure she was a nice girl but Katara always had to watch her from the corners of her eyes. Something wasn't right, and by the way Zuko was acting neither was he. He had wandered off twice to vomit and Song 'insisted' that she take care of him. Katara scoffed at just the thought. Song was hardly able to call herself a decent healer. Well if Zuko couldn't handle a little spinach leaves that was his problem.
"I'm going to soak in the river." Katara said, she stared at Akiko for her to follow. Akiko nodded and stood, "I'll go with you."
"Hey, do you girls mind if I join you after I make Zuko some tea?" Song suggested while boiling the water. Zuko moaned and leaned over to upchuck into a bush.
Katara grit her teeth and shook her head before grabbing Akiko's arm and flinging her to the river. Katara stalked after her and tore off her clothes and jumped in. Akiko pulling hers off to reveal and lavender halter undershirt that reached just under her bust like Katara's and lavender short shorts (volley-ball spandex). She shivered.
"It's cold out here Katara!" Akiko grumbled and waded into the water pulling her hair back.
"Sorry but I have to talk with you!" Katara said and pulled Akiko in front of her. "Is it just me or is Song a nuisance?"
Akiko rolled her eyes, "It's just you." She shrugged, "So she might be deathly perfect but I don't see anything wrong with her."
Katara sighed after a pause, "You're right. I guess I just got jealous that she seems so flawless."
"Hey girls!" Song smiled and came through a bush her heavy clothes in hand. She had on long white pants that clutched at the ankle a long tank that showed a small sliver of her sun kissed skin tone. The girls swallowed their giggles and stayed silent as Song pushed her way next to them.
"So how did you guys meet Zuko?" Song asked swishing her fingers around in the water. Akiko laid on her back her creamy white skin lighting in the moonlight.
"I met him when I was playing Miss Innocent at some freak-shows place. He was staying there and I was his personal well behaved servant." Akiko said and wrinkled her nose at her inhibitive memory.
"I was traveling with the Avatar and he chased us all over the world for several months." Katara said examining her nails.
"Oh, how did you guys end up traveling with each other?"
Akiko and Katara exchanged glances.
"We all met up in the forest one day. We needed to get into the Fire Nation so we decided to settle our differences." Akiko grinned nervously.
"Yes I heard about your plan. And how awful about Mo-Iroh." Song said with a distant twinkle in her eye. Katara didn't trust that look.
A stumbling through the bushes interrupted them. All heads snapped towards clumsy footsteps and heavy wheezing. Katara screamed at who fell at the rivers edge.
"JET!"
Akiko sighed, "Splendid, more company."
Katara zoomed out of the water to his side. He was breathing heavily and blood clotted on his skin and clothes. His hair was matted and he was in awfully bad shape. Katara bit her lip and brushed some hair from his eyes as they looked up into hers.
"I have to see the Prince!" he coughed. Song was ankle deep in the water with a deep frown on her face at Jet's battered form. Akiko was at Katara's side examining for any broken bones.
Zuko stormed out from behind a tree holding his stomach his eyes wide with concern. "What's going on?"
Akiko left Katara's side and walked up to him, "A friend of Katara's just came out of no where like this! He said he needed to see the 'Prince'. He might mean you."
Jet wheezed and coughed pointing madly at the shocked Prince of the Fire Nation before his head fell back on Katara's lap. Katara had tears welling up in her eyes. She was so confused. All in one single night these two people drop in on an island and everything is torn to shreds.
0000
"He's opening his eyes." A girl with a soft but strong voice whispered.
"Is he alright?" asked a high sweet voice.
"I think so." Kataras voice said slowly.
Jet opened his eyes. He was in heaven. Three girls in skimpy clothes hovered over him. One girl had a pastel appearance with a lean, but curvy figure with noticeable muscles hard under the pale flesh she looked like a model. Another with a sun kissed glow and soft muscles with a wider figure that showed plenty of curves she reminded him of a motherly figure. Another girl had tan flesh, built with muscle and plenty of growing curves and she reminded him of Miss World, Katara.
"Great, he's awake and the first thing he does is check out your bodies." Zuko scoffed and leaned against a tree with an angry face on.
"Zuko, shut up. You're just jealous he isn't looking at you." Akiko grinned and poured some water in Jet's mouth. Jet drank it gratefully.
Zuko made a face and turned away from them.
"Jet, can you tell us what happened?" Katara asked brushing his hair from his eyes.
Jet moaned and looked into Song's face, his eyes lowered. "Yeah,"
"Who did this to you?" Katara asked leaning over him in concern.
Jet darted his eyes face to face then sighed lowering his head, "Me and the crew were on our way to Ba Sing Se. We honestly wanted to make new lives for ourselves. You and your brother really left a mark on me." Jet said and looked into Katara's face briefly, "First we needed to sail to the Western Earth Kingdom to tell our comrades we were not going to stay Freedom Fighters much longer. But on our way there the Fire Nation attacked us. They recognized me and wanted to get rid of me. There was such a large on-deck battle I don't remember all of it but all I know is, I somehow ended up on this island. I haven't heard from any of my comrades since."
"Why do you need to see Zuko then?" Akiko asked.
"The Fire Nation princess was the one who attacked me. She is coming here."
"But she was just here!" Katara gasped. Jet looked away.
"She's coming with stronger forces." Zuko said lowly.
"Maybe," Jet said slowly.
"How far away was this?" Song asked.
Jet looked away, "A good thirty miles."
"We can't spend all our time here. We leave in the morning." Akiko said. Zuko winced.
"We are we going?" Song asked.
"Not far." Zuko said and turned around to begin walking.
Katara stood, "Where are you going?"
Zuko stopped, "The river,"
Katara frowned after him and touched her necklace before tending to Jet's wounds.
0000
The old man turned on the earth and moaned. He slowly opened his slanted gold eyes and stared up at the round happy face of Aang. Big grey eyes and all.
"Oh, well good…" the moon was out, "uh, night."
"He's awake!" Toph shouted. Aang winced as the ground rumbled with her loud booming voice.
Sokka sprang from the bushes zipping his pants, boomerang in hand. He leaned into the old mans face with a scowl.
"Okay old man, we know Zuko's around here somewhere now where is he?"
"Sokka! Knock it off, Zuko is nowhere around here. I checked, I double checked, I even triple checked on foot and in the air." Aang scolded and helped Iroh stand.
Sokka scoffed and flopped down under a tree watching the old man very carefully. Toph smiled in recognition of the elderly man she shared tea with. He indeed was a kind soul and she didn't understand why the boys were so afraid of him! He was absolutely harmless. Maybe he would even travel with them.
"Sorry for being such a bother to you young travelers." He said with a grin. "But see we were all attacked and…well now I'm here. I'm sure my nephew has carried on without me. He's smart enough to do so."
"You're traveling with other people too?" Aang asked.
"Why yes, Miss Akiko and Miss Katara have joined our little venture to go into the Fire Nation."
Sokka wailed 'What!' and got right into the mans face. "KATARA is with your psycho nephew? ALONE!?"
Iroh remained calm, "Zuko is not 'psycho' as you so bluntly put it. And she has her friend Akiko with her. They do need to get into the Fire Nation for whatever reason Miss Katara might have."
Aang's face was blank as a sheet of paper and Sokka was absolutely fuming. Toph shrugged, "We know why Katara needs to go to the Fire Nation."
Aang and Sokka gave her warning glances that she couldn't see. "She is really some Water Tribe spirit person thing."
Iroh looked surprised, "What a surprise! Though I thought she did share a similarity…"
"So Katara is on this island?" Aang said hopefully.
Iroh nodded, "But I suggest we do not interfere, they need to complete this task. For all their sakes."
Aang and Sokka hung their heads.
"Do you mind if I travel with you?" Iroh asked, "And as a trade, I can give you something you need."
Aang knew exactly what this meant and he instantly agreed.
0000
Zuko kneeled at the rivers edge and set out the wooden plate. He put some colorful flowers on it, Iroh's favorite. Zuko heated up the herbal water and set it in the middle. He placed incense on the edges and slowly set it into the water.
"I'm sorry Uncle."
The dark water pulled the shrine out into its depths and let it run along its current. Zuko put his face in his knees and silently remembered Iroh in every great moment he had with him. Which were many.
MUCH Zutara fluff. Not too much but a good healthy amount. Next chapter things heat up and everyone goes a little…green. THEY ARE ALMOST INTO THE FIRE NATION!! and Katara finally told someone her secret! and now Iroh knows so the only one missing the clue is you know who! last chapters reviews were really disapointing. I didn't get hardly any! so please remember to review and tell people about this story.
The faster you review, the faster I update.
FAN ART PLEASE