Avatar the Last Airbender: Wherever You May Be

A/N: Thanks to all of my reviewers! I would like to give out congratulations to Trombe and artsyelric who are writing What I Don't Like About You. They're nearing their 1000 review for that story. For anyone who likes a well-written story about Book 3, this is the one to read! A Zuko x Katara story of course!

So, you'll notice Zuko is a little bit more…friendly around strangers in his conversations with them. The only thing I can say when you read this story is to keep in mind that is has been six years since the end of the war and no one stays the same for that long. Call it…social growth on his part. Also, every author has their own interpretation on who the characters are and how they act and that influences how we write our stories. However, if something seems terribly, terribly out of character, let me know and I will look into it.

Next topic: the weather. I am going with a general rule of thumb that every part of the Avatar world goes through the same seasons at the same time. For you brainy people out here, this should be done by the assumption that their earth isn't tilted on its axis like our earth is which gives the whole summer in one place, winter in another. So, when Zuko goes up North this chapter they are in winter just like everyone else. I varied from the show here by saying they get locked in during the winter due to the formation of ice shelves surrounding the city, which wasn't the case when they had visited in Book 1 and the water was open. This goes back to the axis thing, so deal with it please!

Sorry about the long A/N, but sometimes I think it's nice for authors to explain the reasoning behind some of their writings. The query about Hundred posted on the Prelude is still open to whoever gets the answer!

Wherever You May Be

Chapter 1


~sSSs~

She was thirsty.

She was dirty.

She was exhausted.

Groaning, Katara tried to shake the fog that had taken over her but whenever she tried to focus her head screamed in pain. From the few times she had gained brief clarity she knew she was in a small cell made entirely made of metal with two small windows for ventilation and the slot in the door that could be slid open to allow food and water in.

A candle was burning not far from where she was laid out on an uncomfortable cot, but the light made her head throb so she closed her eyes to prevent any more pain. Her body hurt and she reached up to rub the most painful spot, right above her heart, in an attempt to easy the pain. Her arms and legs were throbbing, but she didn't feel like moving enough to try and ease the pain elsewhere.

She had already figured out they were drugging her somehow through the air rather than the food. Since she couldn't simply stop breathing the fog in her head never went away when she was awake and for as long as she spent her time unconscious she was always bone-tired when awake. Even now she could see they had brought her bread, water, and some meat while she had been sleeping but she didn't even have the energy to bring the water to her, let alone go get the food.

Twisting on the cot Katara curled up into a tight ball as intense pain suddenly ran through her body, the movement only causing more discomfort rather than the relief she sought. Tears escaped from her clenched eyes as she held back the sob that wanted to escape.

Slowly the pain eased from her body and Katara wearily returned to the world of dreams and nightmares as the candle continued to flicker next to her.

sSs

"Are you Captain Xin?"

Looking up from his tea, Xin blinked at the person standing across from him.

It was a young man, he could tell that much from the garb and the combination of height and width of the shoulders, but part of their face had been wrapped in bandages and he idly wondered how they had been so wounded that half of their face was required to be covered. In the end he decided it was some old wound left over from the war that the person wanted to hide for one reason or another and let the matter rest in his mind.

"Aye, I'm Xin, but I ain't a captain anymore," Xin said, sighing back into his tea. If only he could hold his alcohol better he could drink something other than tea to make up for the loss of his ship. "Got hit by some pirates on my last trip; just made it to port a few weeks ago with only a few of my crew alive."

They were lucky they made it to land when they had. Winter was arriving quicker this year and the bite of the winds and the water would have been their doom if they hadn't been found. There was even talk of snow arriving soon, which would be a few weeks earlier than normal for this port on the most North-Eastern point of the Earth Nation.

"I have some questions about your last trip," the stranger said, taking the un-offered seat across from Xin. "Especially any passengers you had."

"Didn't have any passengers, just the regular crew," Xin murmured as a fresh pot of tea arrived, the tea house's trademark Jasmine Dragon Tea. "I was expecting one though."

"Who?"

"A female from the water tribe had approached me and asked for a ride back to port when we left and since we didn't have any passengers I told her we could take her. She even paid in advance," Xin recalled. "Beautiful, maybe early twenties, long dark hair with the bluest eyes I've ever seen, even for a Water Tribe native."

"What happened? Do you hear why she didn't get on your ship?" the stranger asked and Xin frowned at him, setting down the tea.

"Why you looking for her?" he asked, feeling protective of the young woman traveling alone.

"I'm trying to find her," the stranger told him. "I'm a friend of her family from the Southern Tribe and she never showed up or made any contact in the past two months."

"Hm, alright," Xin murmured, hearing the rasping sincerity in the person's voice, even the exposed pale skin and equally pale eyes showed part of the story was a lie. Didn't often find Fire Nation folk in cold areas, not matter how good of friends to the family they may be. "I waited for her as long as I could before headin' out. Another ship had been in port heading elsewhere, left before ours. Turns out she got on it last minute. Forgot all about it with loosing my ship and all."

"Thank you for your help," the stranger said as he stood up and gave a polite bow, Earth Nation style rather than the Fire Nation he had honestly been expecting. Reaching into his clothing, he removed something and handed it to Xin. "May I request a favor? I am willing to pay."

"Depends on the favor," Xin answered slowly. Even with the end of the war there were some who were less than honest in their intent or actions, unwilling to let go of the past as most of the world had. However honest this younger man seemed, he knew to watch out for traps.

"I need this letter to arrive at the Fire Nation capital as soon as possible. Can you get it there, Captain?" the stranger asked and Xin shook his head.

"Told you, I lost my only boat and my wares to pirates. This far from the Fire Nation there isn't anything I can do to help."

"And I told you I would pay," the stranger said and Xin noticed the purse being held out to him that was so full the stitches seemed strained. "There should be enough here to procure a new ship for you to make the journey."

Before Xin could answer, he found himself holding the purse and a long metal tube as the stranger slipped out of the tea house, most of the other guests not even noticing him. Blinking, Xin peeked inside the purse only to start laughing as he stared at the gold pieces that would allow him to build an entire fleet of ships, plus replace his lost one.

Wiping at the tears running down his face he looked at the tube only to stare at the locking mechanism that had a familiar seal stamped on it. Everyone around the world knew this symbol after being at war for so long.

Seems he just shared a cup of tea with the young Fire Lord.

sSs

Getting to the Northern Water Tribe was more difficult than he had thought.

Most ports were preparing to close up for the cold winters that froze the waters solid for five months and no one wanted to be stuck away from their homes, so finding a ship took some looking around. He had just given up hope when he came across a ship belonging to the Water Tribe that had been delayed at port due to damage being repaired. The captain was willing to have Zuko on board after seeing the symbol of the Fire Lord and a quickly written note saying 'Lee' was traveling up north as a favor for Fire Lord Zuko.

He had been smart enough to buy warmer clothes in the port, but Zuko still felt himself shiver as he stepped off the boat into the small port the Northern Water Tribe had built in the past few years to expand their own trading. Pulling the fur-lined hood further down to cover his face and his identifying scar, Zuko followed Captain Fa towards the beautifully built palace. The awe he had harbored from when he had first visited the town six years ago was still with him and he was happy the damage that had nearly destroyed the village was no longer visible. He paused briefly next to the statue that had been erected for the dead princess from that horrible night and Zuko offered the symbol of the moon a quick request of forgiveness before continuing on.

"You are aware of the events that happened here, then?" Captain Fa asked as the two reached the entrance to the palace.

The Captain was an older gentleman, probably in his fifties from the slight graying in his otherwise still dark hair. He lacked the usually roughness of one who lived at sea, but then again the Water Tribes had only recently dropped their own isolation and returning to trade and travel the world again, so it was not that unusual. He also wasn't a waterbender, Zuko had found out, which had initially surprised him as most sea-faring tribesmen from the North were. Still, he was a good captain and his lack of bending didn't lessen him in the eyes of his men.

"Everyone in the Fire Nation was told how Princess Yue gave her life to the moon spirit after a Fire Nation Admiral killed her predecessor," Zuko explained truthfully as he presented his hastily written scroll to one of the guards at the entrance of the palace who took it to show it to the chief of the tribe. "Fire Lord Zuko even built a new temple in forgiveness in the Fire Nation soon after his ascension."

"Chief Arnook is willing to grant you an audience, messenger," a guard said reappearing and Zuko followed him, Captain Fa falling in line in curiosity as to why his old friend was being sought out by the young Fire Lord. "In here."

Stepping through a set of ice doors, Zuko lowered his hood as he took in the throne room. He had only been to the throne room, which also acted as a gathering hall during celebrations he had learned from Captain Fa, once before, when he had first returned to the Northern Water Tribe after the end of the war. Seeing the elder waiting for him near the dais where he normally sat with the tribal elders, Zuko slowly approached, noting where the guards were positioned just in case.

Chief Arnook, who Zuko had met once before, was busy flipping through paperwork spread out before him on a wooden table. However, he glanced up as Zuko stopped next to the table only to blink in surprise before frowning.

"I thought they said you were a messenger," he rumbled as he straightened up, crossing his arms as he looked at Zuko. It had been years since the two had met, Zuko realized as he took in that they were the same height verses when they had first met and he had still been inches shorter. Thankfully, both Ozai and Ursa were tall and so was he, only a few men truly taller than him. He had been secretly terrified for a while that he would remain as short as Uncle had until he finally started to grow after turning eighteen.

"I saw the scroll, Chief Arnook. Fire Lord Zuko sent him," Captain Fa said as he joined them and Arnook snorted as he waved a hand at Zuko.

"That is Fire Lord Zuko, Captain Fa," Arnook said and Zuko nodded as Fa stared at him in surprise.

"My apologies, Captain," Zuko said, nodding his head at the captain as he removed the medallion from his neck. "I was trying to keep a low profile while traveling through the Earth Nation."

"Of course," Fa murmured as he returned the medallion and glanced at Zuko before nodding to Arnook. "Arnie, if you need me I'll be unloading my ship."

Zuko couldn't stop the look of surprise off his face as Fa left the throne room with Chief Arnook scowling after him.

"Friends always come up with the most annoying nicknames," Arnook muttered and Zuko smiled, thinking of his own nicknames he was still called by his friends. Sokka referred to it as grounding, but he believed his friend just liked the term 'Jerk-bender' too much. "So, tell me reason for this secret visit, Zuko."

"Katara has been missing since she left your tribe," Zuko said and Arnook frowned at him before motioning one of the guards over. Zuko frowned as he asked for Fa to be stopped and return to the throne room and the guard nodded before leaving the throne room. "Chief Arnook?"

"It was Captain Fa's ship that Katara boarded when she left," Arnook explained. "I accompanied her myself even though she was rushed. She hasn't been seen since?"

"No," Zuko said, sighing. "Her brother contacted me after there had been no contact for a month, weeks after she was expected to meet up with the Avatar in the Earth Nation."

"We heard of the uprising there," Arnook murmured as Fa re-entered the room. "Katara asked us to lend support to the problem but with winter arriving we don't have enough men to spare. I redirected the few we have in the other nations to lend assistance if they could reach the area, but that is all I can do for now.

"Captain Fa, do you remember Lady Katara?" Arnook asked once Fa had joined them again.

"Of course. She was with me on the trip to Chengdu then separated from us there," Fa replied. "From what I gathered she left the city soon after we arrived, before we returned here last month. Did something happen?"

"She seems to have disappeared," Arnook said with a sigh as he turned to look at the map spread out on the table he was been working at. "Chengdu is northwest of Ba Sing Se and west of the Northern Air Temple. I wonder if she headed to the capital before continuing to meet up with the Avatar."

"I told her not to take that route," Fa said shaking his head and Zuko frowned.

"Why?"

"It's all mountains until you reach the valley outside Ba Sing Se," Fa explained, tracing the area he was talking about with his finger. "They collect snow earlier in the year than most places and are hard to travel through, even for a master waterbender such as Lady Katara."

"Do you think she headed elsewhere?" Zuko asked, trying to think what else was in that area. "There is the Northern Air Temple, but I can't see her heading there."

"She may have boarded another boat to take her along the coast to Ba Sing Se," Fa suggested before looking at Zuko. "It will take my men a day to unload my ship, Lord Zuko, but once we are able I can take you to Chengdu."

"Will you be able to return here before the water freezes?" Zuko asked. He needed to go to Chengdu, but he didn't want to strand Fa and his sailors in the Earth Nation for five months.

"I will take some of our waterbenders with us," Fa explained as he tugged on his ear while thinking. "It will make it possible for us to return before the storms begin. I'll go supervise my men and contact you here when I know we will be able to leave port."

"Thank you for everything," Zuko said and Fa nodded before leaving Zuko and Arnook alone again. "Do you know why Katara would suddenly change ships?"

"I believe she received a message a few days before departing from a messenger hawk," Arnook remembered before shrugging. "She didn't mention what it contained, but I figured since she changed ships it was rather important.

"Go get some rest, Zuko, you look tired. I will make sure Fa's message reaches you."

sSs

"It will take us a little over a week to reach Chengdu, Fire Lord Zuko," Fa explained to him as the ship sailed away from the Water Tribe port. He had unloaded and restocked his ship in one day, figuring that if he was going to Chengdu he could make a profit while he did so. Next to him Zuko nodded but didn't say anything as he stared at the water that they passed through on the ship. "You are still welcome to join me and the crew at night, but I recommend you don't stay outside for very long, even if you are a firebender."

"Thank you Captain," Zuko murmured and heard Captain Fa leave him alone on the deck. The rest of the crew was staying inside where it was warmer, but Zuko didn't feel like joining them just yet.

Sighing, Zuko closed his eyes as he rubbed his forehead, feeling a headache starting from the cold. He felt restless after traveling for so long, but he knew that under the restlessness he felt useless, still not any closer to finding Katara than when he had set out. She had been missing for over two months now and who knew what could have happened to her in that time.

Opening his eyes, he continued to stare across the blue expanse in front of him, long suppressed memories slowly returning.

sSSs

Ending A/N: Up next, flash back episode! I'm thinking I'll get it posted on unlucky Friday the 13th, but the intent is to have it available on Valentine's Day.

Disclaimer: Avatar the Last Airbender belongs to Nickelodeon and its creators. I just play in their world.