Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Avatar Characters. Nickelodeon owns them.
Story Title: Ghost Town
Category: Romance/Mystery/…
Rating: T for Teen
Pairings: N/A Yet
Summary: Katara gets seperated from the group, and instead finds herself in the middle of a town completely destroyed by the Fire Nation troups. But is it really destroyed? And is she really alone?
A/N: Wow, did it take long enough to update? Must have. It took me forever to update this time, but I ended the last chapter in such a strange place I felt I couldn't write even one more word. I felt terrible! (For those of you who were wondering what else kept me up, it was the beginning of my Freshman year this week). Thankfully, it was my dear fried Cold Static who reminded me that I better update my Ghost Town story (through a very discreet note in my planner). So, everyone thank her for reminding me to update. Here's the next chapter. Thanks to all of the lovely reviewers, by the way! Enjoy! –Solar Beam
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Chapter Four:
Zuko shrugged himself forward. He had left her there, all alone. Perhaps he should turn back. He paused and glanced back through the woods he had just trampled through in a rage. She had, of course, used the nickname Azula had so thoughtfully created for him. Zuko highly disliked the nickname; it made him feel weak and stupid. He sighed heavily and began to turn back around to walk to where he thought his Uncle might be. And of course, after only about an hour of walking, Zuko spotted a small puff of smoke escaping the tree-tops ahead. Eager to see his uncle, Zuko sped his pace up.
He lifted the bushes away from him as he appeared his eyes wide with glee. "Uncle!" he cried in excitement.
His Uncle looked up curiously. And then his wrinkled eyes narrowed suspiciously and his eyes searched the woods surrounding Zuko. "Uncle, I'm back," Zuko paused when his uncle continued to ignore him by staying silent, only looking into the trees distrustfully, "Haven't you missed me at all?" No answer.
The old Dragon of the West rubbed his chin thoughtfully a moment, before standing and brushing his dresses off from any dirt or dust. He stepped over the flames of the fire, which had a pot of Jasmine Tea dangling from a stick above it, and came closer to where Zuko stood. "Spirit," the old man said, "You must pass over to the other side. You know that, do you not?"
Zuko stared at his uncle in bewilderment. "What are you old gas-bag talking about? Stop playing these silly games!"
Iroh stroked his beard a moment longer, and then his eyes widened. The old man stared at the empty space in front of him (where Zuko actually stood) and his mouth fell open. "Zuko, my nephew! You fell into the clutches of that town, didn't you?" Zuko sighed and nodded.
"Finally you are done with your game. Yes, I did. And that stupid waterbender was there, too. We got out though and—"
"Nephew, you are stuck in the Spirit World! If you ever wish to escape it, you must find a way out! I can only see your outline, and I can only see your aura, but I know it is you. It is very clear to me. You are unseeable to the human eye right now."
Zuko let it soak in. He blinked, "You really are crazy, aren't you?"
Iroh shook his head. "Many years ago I was wandering through this same forest when suddenly I was drawn into this destroyed town by a melody my wife used to hum to Lu Ten. I was in that town for only a few minutes, it seemed, before it got dark and everything came to life. Long story short, I got myself out only to find myself in the Spirit World! It took me years to get out, it seemed, when really it was only a mere few days! Zuko, you must escape. The reason I see spirits is for that reason: what is days in the living human world, is years to the Spirit World! Time in that World is like an illusion, a very long illusion. Zuko, you must escape!"
"I don't understand," Zuko said uneasily, looking at his Uncle in worry. Not for himself, but for Katara…and if he left now to find a way out, he would have to leave his Uncle behind.
"Don't you understand, my boy? I really spent years in the Spirit World! So many years, that I died in the Spirit World. That is how I can see spirits, because I was supposed to die. I never aged physically, just mentally. My mind got slow, and I could feel my energy draining out of me every passing living day. I was still young-looking, however. Zuko, you must find a way to escape! It is very dangerous in the Spirit World, Zuko; there is no bending!"
Zuko stared at his uncle a moment, but it was clear that he was not lying. Zuko began to panic silently. He had left Katara alone! She did not have any bending abilities here, and she would be completely helpless! He had left her alone!
Iroh shut his eyes for a moment, feeling a wave of panic rush through his nephew's spirit. Then, it was gone. Iroh opened his eyes, expecting to find his nephew calm once more. But instead, Zuko's aura was gone completely. Where his spirit had stood, were the simple words: 'Lu Ten sends his love.'
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Katara fell to her knees. "Come on, you guys. Wake up, Katara. Just wake up, already." She slapped her fisted hands against her forehead, trying to wake up. She never did. One tear streamed down her cheek. She couldn't believe she was stuck in the Spirit World. She wondered if Zuko was stuck, as well, or if he had gotten completely through. She shuddered. Being here alone; she couldn't think she could handle it.
And then she was up once more on her feet and stomping around in front of her worried friends, her arms waving in the air in annoyance. She stopped in front of Aang and glared at him. She tried to slap him on the back of his head, but her hand went right through his head and Aang ended up scratching where she had meant to hit. "Aang! Some Avatar you are; 'Bridge between two Worlds'…yeah right!" She tried to hit him again but it went right through, and he scratched his cheek too, his eyes curious. Katara began to storm around, in front of Sokka. "And you! Why couldn't you hear Mom's lullaby, and I could? Its not fair! You are such a pig-head!" So she swung once at her brother, and he slapped his cheek as if there were a bug on it.
Aang looked at Sokka curiously. "Do you feel as if you are being bitten up by mosquitoes?" Sokka nodded curiously.
Toph looked over at the two curiously. "I don't feel anything. I don't think I am being bitten up."
They looked at her and continued talking, their conversation for the moment changed to the topic of mosquitoes, and Katara let out a cry of annoyance. It sounded more like a strangled scream, changing tunes from that of terrified, to annoyance, to anger, to horror, and back to annoyance. She stomped around a few times, throwing her arms in the air before falling to the ground right as something jumped at her—well, over her, considering right as it flew at her she fell to the ground in exasperation.
Instantly Katara was back on her feet and in a ready, waterbender's stance. But her stance slackened when she found, lying on his stomach on the ground, was the Prince of the Fire Nation himself. Aang and the others ignored him completely, as if he wasn't there. "Zuko, can you see me?"
Zuko was on his feet in an instant, his hands up in a fighting stance as he circled the clearing her friends were at as if he were looking for danger. "What's the matter? Why did you scream? Where's the danger?"
Katara blinked, "Danger?"
Zuko spun around. "Yes, danger! We are in the Spirit World…there's going to be some sort of danger here! Why did you scream?"
Katara blinked once more, "Because I was…aggravated?"
Zuko nearly fell over onto his side in exasperation. He straightened himself up and in an instant he was in front of her, grasping her wrists tightly and glaring into her eyes. "Do not scream like that unless you are in trouble, you stupid peasant!"
Katara blinked once more (she seemed to be doing that a lot lately), "You were…worried about me?"
Zuko let go of her and in an instant he was facing away from her, eyes glaring at a tree with his arms crossed over his strong chest. "No."
"You were. You were worried about me!" Katara said, her eyes widened and a slow grin spreading across her lips. She stepped forward to be beside him, she leaned forward (her hands on her knees) so that she could look into his face from beside him. She poked him in the side. "Weren't you?" she asked slyly.
Zuko looked down at her in disgust. "I was not worried about you! I was worried that if you got hurt, I would not have a way home. Who knows, perhaps we need each other for this escape as well."
Katara straightened up and set her arms on her hips. "Whatever you say," she said with a shrug, and then in a monotone she said under her breath, "though its obvious that you were worried about me."
Zuko stomped his foot and stormed into the surrounding forests, leaving Katara behind in his dust. Katara squeaked, not wanting to be left behind, and raced up behind him (while dodging branches he let go of while he passed). She kept up as best she could behind him. "So, any ideas?" There was silence.
"Ideas of what?"
"Of how to get out of here, Zuko!" Zuko released a branch and Katara just narrowly escaped it as it came flying back at her chest. She ran up beside him. "And watch out for those branches! One nearly be-headed me back there!"
Zuko spun around at her and she bumped into him clumsily. "Has anyone ever told you that you complain too much?" he growled, glaring at her.
"…No."
She was quiet, and Zuko sighed heavily before turning back around and continuing walking. Katara kept up with his pace, this time nearly perfectly. They were both quiet a moment as they walked, but finally Katara broke the silence. "Where are we going to go, Zuko? We have nowhere to go to! We are in the Spirit World! How are we going to get out? Zuko! Answer me, darnet!"
Zuko was quiet, he only knew one person to turn to. He finally saw the smoke up ahead and sped up his pace a little. He pushed through the brush and ended up back at his Uncle's camp. This time, Iroh looked up expectantly at the empty space in front of him. "Ah, Nephew, you have returned!" Katara popped up beside Zuko, complaining to him about leaving her in his dust. "Ah, and you have brought a friend? …She seems familiar, Prince Zuko. Is she perhaps the young waterbender who travels with the Avatar?"
Katara stepped behind Zuko, as if she saw something terrifying in front of her, her eyes wide. "He can see us?" she whispered.
"Of course. He went through the same thing we did. Katara, we have to get out of here as soon as possible. I don't know how, but I do know why. Time in the Spirit World goes by quicker than in the Living World. One day might be two years. We grow older each time, though our physical appearances stay the same, our mentality grows older until we finally die."
Katara gasped and stepped forward from behind Zuko to get a better look at the old man. "So how can he see us? And who is he—I mean I always see him with you, but I've always wondered who he is. Oh, and his wound is much better, I see!" She, of course, was speaking of the lightning strike Azula had put upon the old man in an abandoned town not too long ago.
"He can see us because he was stuck in the Spirit World as well, I suppose. He was in the Spirit World for a few days, perhaps a week or so, and he was on the brink of death when he escaped. Therefore, I guess, he can see outlines of spirits. And he is my Uncle Iroh, Dragon of the West," Zuko managed to explain through gritted teeth. Not only did this girl manage to complain, but she also managed to ask aggravating questions.
"The Dragon of the West? I've heard of him! The general who tried to get through to Ba Sing Se. I believe I remember over-hearing that when my mom and dad were talking one night." She went quiet and Zuko let out a thankful sigh.
"Well, it seems you two must work together," Iroh was saying now, stroking his beard thoughtfully. "You will need the strength in each other to get out of this. And perhaps it will be easier with two people; I was on my own, you see, when I managed to escape. There is a very good chance you will be able to get out before your mentality gets older. But right now you are in the veil separating the two Worlds, Zuko. You must get to the Spirit World itself. Perhaps the Avatar would be able to help you, or perhaps he is too young. There must be a totem, something spiritual around these forests to help you along the way besides the broken and destroyed town."
Zuko glanced down at Katara who was fidgeting with the necklace around her neck. He looked back at his uncle. "We will try and find something, Uncle, don't worry about us. I'll protect the girl."
"You two should go now. You do not want to waste the precious time you have," he paused before saying, "and Zuko, please protect the girl. Who knows what the Avatar would do if you lose his dear friend?" Zuko nodded, even though he had already stated that he would protect her. Katara blushed, worried, remembering the last time she had been in harm's way. It was when they were with the crazy General Fong, when he had put Katara under ground. Aang had put himself in the Avatar State in anger. The whole fort was nearly destroyed by Aang's fury.
Zuko grabbed Katara's forearm and dragged her away. Katara stumbled behind him, for he was just dragging her behind him as if she was nothing but something to hold on to. "Hey, not so rough! Let go!" Zuko swung her body out in front of his, her back to him, and he let go of her arm, pushing her forward with a finger.
"I want you in front of me at all times, Katara, where I can keep an eye on you," he stated firmly. He poked her in the back once more when she stopped walking, her arms across her chest and her nose in the air stubbornly. He poked her harder and she stumbled forward. She shot a hard glare at him before continuing on walking.
They continued like this in silence for a long time. "Are you sure you know where you're going?" Zuko finally asked, dodging a branch that came back swinging at his head.
Katara scoffed. "Of course I don't! You should be leading, not me! I don't know where I am going!"
Zuko slammed a hand against his head, only to be smacked in the chest by a branch that came swinging back at him as Katara passed. She spun around when she heard a thud against the ground, and blushed in embarrassment when Zuko slowly sat up and rubbed his stomach. "What where you are letting those things go!" he yelled angrily, "and we were going to head toward the Avatar!"
"You never told me that! Why didn't you just say so? Why are you so stubborn?" she hollered back, stomping a foot with her hands on her hips.
"I am not stubborn! You are! Why can't you just do as I say?"
Katara was screeching now, "You didn't tell me anything! You've been shut-up all day!" She stomped her foot once more, her eyes shut tightly and her nose in the air in defiance. She felt she really disliked him at the moment, perhaps not hate, but something close to it.
Zuko snarled at her, but stood up slowly. "Come on, then; do as I say and walk forward." Katara looked as if she were about to reply, but shut her mouth, clenching her jaw, and spun around and walked as he said. "And we are going to look for your little Avatar friend."
"Did ssssss-someone ssssss-say Avatar?" asked a silky-smooth voice. Suddenly, a large snake-like demon appeared in front of the two teenagers, eyes glowing dangerously in the light of the dim day. Zuko's heart jumped and he could feel Katara stiffen and reach discreetly toward her canteen filled with water. Zuko grabbed her hand, though, for she was in reaching distance, and stopped her. She glanced back at him and he slowly shook his head, indicating that she shouldn't. He was reminded that they could not bend in the Spirit World.
"Then what do you suppose?" she said in a hushed voice through gritted teeth, not leaving her eyes from the snake as it slowly began to curl its way around the two teens, making them come closer together as it coiled around.
"On the count of three," Zuko began slowly, "we run."
Katara was pressed up against Zuko by now, her eyes wide, her back against him as she stared at the coiling scales surrounding her. She hated snakes. Why'd it have to be a snake? The snake's sparkling scales, black and yellow mixed with browns and reds, sparkled in the veil's dim respect of light making Katara shiver. The snake was looking at her as if she was a snack. I'm probably a salad compared to Zuko, she thought with another shiver.
The snake's tongue triggered out and wiggled beneath Katara's chin temptingly, and Katara fought a scream that itched its way into her throat as she stood paralyzed at the spot. She couldn't move—no, she didn't want to move. But already Zuko was beginning to count down. "One…"
Katara tried to tell Zuko 'no', tried to force the words that she couldn't move out of her mouth. "Two…"
Katara didn't know now whether she really was paralyzed or not. The feeling in her body was slightly similar to that of the bounty hunter's xir-xu, but she still couldn't tell. Zuko had his hands on her upper forearms, and they tightened reflexively as the snake drew back its head with its fangs open wide. "Three!" Zuko threw Katara over the snake's coil and jumped over just as the snake shot out, biting into the dirt other than the two morsels of humans. "Run, Katara, run!"
Katara found her footing and began running blindly through the trees. "Run!" Zuko's voice was close behind her; he was obviously still keeping up to the law of her being in front of him so that he could keep an eye on her. Katara jumped over a fallen log, only to clumsily fall over onto her hands and knees. Zuko was beside her in an instant, his hands picking her up and setting her on her feet. The crash of a large body against invisible shields were heard behind them, and then the snake's head reared into view behind them.
Finally, Katara's scream was let loose and Zuko covered his ears in an attempt to block it out. The snake hissed furiously, but it seemed pleased. "Dinner to go…how delightful!" it purred as it struck out once more. Katara was thrown aside and Zuko landed on top of her in the brush. The snake shook its head furiously, and Katara found herself on her feet once more, being pushed forward by a persistent Zuko.
"Keep going, don't look back!" he urged quietly. Katara started making her way slowly through the brush this time. Suddenly Zuko put his hand on top of her head, pushing her down into a crouch with himself beside her. His eyes were narrowed as they felt a shudder in the earth. The snake was passing right by them on a path made for the Living; it was sniffing the air with its tongue.
"Come out; come out, wherever you are my delicious morsels!" it purred temptingly.
Katara felt her breath hitch in her throat as it finally passed completely. Zuko nudged her and pointed her in the opposite direction, to the way they had come from and Katara nodded, understanding. She kept on her hands and knees, and crawled forward as best she could. She could see a path up ahead, and began to veer to the side when suddenly something grabbed her from behind and flung her into the air. She let out a scream and she heard a holler from Zuko bellow. Katara didn't know what was happening, she could see the land bellow her, feel the wind hitting her face as she fell from mid-air. How did I get up here? She wondered dazedly, until she saw a pit of blackness coming closer to her. She shut her eyes tightly, and then met darkness.