Chapter 2: Sunken Low
Katara's face was hidden in a mess of dark brown locks, hiding away her pain and misery. Sokka and Toph had stayed silent for her sake; even Toph couldn't think of anything to say.
The hours lugged passed them as they waited for Aang to return, but he never came. Previous encounters with Zuko replayed through their heads as they tried to decide whether or not Aang had been captured. In Toph's opinion it was all Katara's fault, but she didn't have the heart to admit it.
"We need to go back," Katara whispered. Sokka looked up at his desperate sister. She stood up, combing her hair back with her fingers. Toph stood up as well, following suit.
"I'm in," she chorused. Katara forced a smile, glancing at Sokka.
"Fine." The three kids filed atop of Appa, Katara steering.
"Yip yip," she whispered tonelessly. Appa soared tiredly into the night sky. Momo made clicking noises of disapproval, hiding himself in Sokka's bag. Katara spotted a large scorch mark just where their campsite had been, but no sign of Aang or Zuko.
Appa landed not so smoothly as Katara jumped off, running to the large mark. She gasped in surprise.
"What is it, Katara? You find Aang?" Toph slapped his shoulder, eyeing the mark. It was shaped as a broken skull. Katara swore loudly.
"THAT LYING BASTARD IS GONNA PAY IN BLOOD!" she hissed, kicking a nearby rock, revealing some sort of note. Picking up the parchment, Katara stared it down, eyes practically bleeding in frustration as she decoded the symbols.
"Cheaters may prosper but their victims will pay," she read out loud.
"I don't get it," Sokka said stupidly, scratching his chin. Toph slapped her forehead.
"Zuko is saying that I cheated on Aang, so Aang will pay." Katara clutched the note with anger. "I never truly dated Aang, but Zuko must think otherwise." Her vision was blurred by tears.
"How will he pay?" Sokka asked her, settling his hand on her shoulder.
"One lucky guess," Toph mumbled.
OoOo
Aang had been captured. It had only taken ten men to hold him down, four men to chain him, and finally a variety of threats including Katara, Sokka, and Toph from the bastard himself.
Now, Aang was rotting away in a cell that smelled of vomit and decay, with greasy black walls covered in soot. And you'd think the Avatar would get better treatment!
A guard outside interrupted Aang from his thoughts.
"Prince Zuko would like a word," the man muttered, rubbing his tired eyes.
"Tell him I don't care," spat Aang.
"He said if that be the case, burn you in your cell."
"When do I see him?" Aang's voice rose brightly.
"Now." The man unlocked the cell and Aang's chains, giving his wrists the death grip. Aang was brought to another room on the ship where Zuko was meditating.
"The prisoner is here, Prince Zuko," the man said, slamming the door. The corner of the banished prince's mouth twitch upwards.
"Here that Avatar? Prisoner. First time in your life, I'd expect," he cross examined Aang. "SO, I think you know why you're here."
"To be turned into that son-of-a-monk Ozai?" Aang muttered.
"DON'T SPEAK OF MY FATHER THAT WAY," Zuko through a fireball at Aang, hitting his arm. The sleeve dissolved, leaving a painful burn. Aang jumped back.
"Why am I here?" Aang crossed his eyes as he spoke.
"I choose to strike a conversation with you, about Katara." Aang felt his heart skip a beat at the mention of his secret love's name.
"And a Katara is a-"
"Don't play dumb, Avatar. She spoke highly of you."
"You haven't been speaking to her, Zuzu," Aang stated in a-matter-of-fact voice. At the words, Zuko grinned evilly.
"Ahh, she hasn't told you...well, I might as well tell you since everyone else knows," Zuko strolled up to Aang, his hands behind his back and whispered in his ear-
"she's my girlfriend." Aang glared at Zuko.
"Liar."
"Oh? You want a story, do you?" Zuko folded his arms and straightened his black and red robes. "We've been going out since the North Pole attack, Aang. She told me her life story, I told her the parts of mine I wanted her to hear. Intrigued, she willingly kissed me that day. Around the time she was suppose to be guarding your body, as you entered the spirit world. When I attacked, she spoke to me like I was a god. Stupid girl. Ever since then she sneaks away at night. Tonight she decided that she didn't want my kisses, so I began to realize she wanted yours.
"We then came to fetch you. Your friends fled like church mice, we captured you, we spoke." Aang stared at him in horror. When he couldn't have possibly stopped it, she made her move on Zuko? Aang felt his emotions run haywire, and his hormones and adrenaline exceed average. Tears flooded his eyes, as he crumbled to the floor.
"Ha!" whispered Zuko. Then, his arrows began to glow.
A tornado erupted under him as the Avatar State took over. Aang skillfully and dangerously through icy boomerangs of water and air at Zuko. Zuko fell to the floor with pain.
"You will feel my pain," Aang hissed with his echoing voice. Zuko's amber eyes like with fright like a flickering bulb as he felt his ponytail get sliced off.
"AHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" he screamed, closing his eyes and falling. "My- PONYTAIL!!!"
OoOo
Katara felt like she'd just been hit with a wave ice. Something was wrong with Aang.
"Look at that light," Sokka pointed to a distant light that was shining directly on something peculiar, forcing it's way through a storm cloud.
"Holy earthbending lemurs," cussed Toph.
"Aang! Come on we need to follow that light!" Katara pointed at Appa as Toph and Sokka climbed aboard.
OoOo
Zuko had run for his life as Aang destroyed his boat. Everyone got out alive, but their belongings and beloved ship were history.
Aang hadn't felt more hurt then he'd ever experienced. While he was in his state, however, he felt someone tug his spirit away. He sailed up to the clouds, meeting Avatar Roku and Avatar ----.
"What happened..." whispered Aang, pain painted across his face.
"A very important thing has just happened," Roku's grave voice echoed.
"What?" Aang asked, pain pouring out of his lips.
"Katara," Avatar ---- said simply.
"Love was forbidden to monks long ago, but since you're the last airbender we made an exception. However, you have just had your first heartbreak. That powered up the Avatar state. You mustn't let it happen again, Aang. Right there, we weren't in control like a normal state. You were." Aang watched as everything disappeared, landing him back in the normal world.
Into Katara's arms.
"Aang?" Katara whispered. Toph and Sokka stared at him with pity and confusion.
"Get away from me," Aang turned and walked towards Appa, not looking back. Katara looked at his back with sad eyes, then her eyes traveled to the wrecked ship and the abandoned waters of the small creek Zuko had been traveling on.
"What happened?" she whispered.
"I had my heart broken in half, that's what."