Wow, this story is really taking off! I am having so much trouble with chapter 14 but never fear, it will be up before my birthday! I'd like to dedicate this chapter to Avafangirl, one of the greatest writers on the site and AirgirlMaddie, a fantastic reviewer. This also mourns the loss of a fantastic reviewer, 1bzwriter whose amazing feedback will be sorely missed. Come back soon!

Okay, Chapter Seven, with some interesting Zuko/Katara interaction! Have fun and don't get burned as alliences start shifting!

The Riddle

Here's the one sweet lesson of history

Ev'ry soul is a mystery,

Faces change, What you knew grows strange

And we all have so many faces,

The real self often eraces

With all those lies, dancing in our eyes!

---Scarlet Pimpernel

Prince Zuko walked into the dark prison cell, trying to shake off the residual anger. He did not know why he had gotten so angry with Hotaru; he just couldn't tolerate her seeing him as the helpless child she had left behind. He must be respected. He would be returning to the throne and he must maintain his dignity. He had definitely overreacted though, he would have to do something to make it up to Hotaru.

Uncle Iroh had always told him a sign of a true leader was the ability to keep a level head. For a family who had ruled the Fire Nation for over eight hundred years, Zuko had only known one member who displayed that true quality of leadership and that was the one person who wasn't even in direct line for the throne. No doubt about it, his family had problems controlling their temper. He smiled to himself, because for the first time in his life; the word "family" didn't have the emotional sting of a whipping. And all thanks to the little monk who lay chained before him.

"Thank you for not hurting her," the monk suddenly piped up, his voice weak from the choke chain. Zuko had definitely ensured that escape would be impossible, for the Avatar's arms, legs, ankles, wrists, waist and throat had all been restrained by tempered steel. A komodo rhino couldn't bust out. Why was a simple spat on his mind? Didn't the Avatar have more important things to worry about? Why was he being so selfless?

"My sister doesn't need your input and I told you before, property doesn't talk!" Zuko growled, unwilling to want to think of his prisoner as anything more then goods to be transported. It made him feel less wrong about this whole sordid affair. Once he returned to the capital, he would wash his hands of this entire business. Only the scar on his face would remind of him of the pain he had suffered over the last two years.

"I'm no one's property! I'm a living breathing person!" the Avatar snapped, staring at Zuko with angry gray eyes. Zuko had to admit, the Avatar had guts. Even trussed like a fowl for slaughter, he still felt as though he had any authority to make demands.

"When my Lord Father is done with you, you will wish you weren't," Zuko said, as he prepared the straw for the prisoner to have his meal. He said that without any mockery, the thought of seeing his father again was enough to make his knees shake. He tried to force that thought from his mind. His father would welcome him home with honor the moment Zuko handed over the Avatar. He would embrace him and praise him before the entire court. Zuko could see his father's face, not cold and angry as it was the last time he had seen him, but warm and paternal, filled with pride at his son's capture of the elusive Avatar.

The Avatar's face paled even more at that information concerning his fate. His head dropped to his chest. Zuko was pleased to stop that conversation. He wanted to end this odious task and return to spending time with Hotaru and Uncle, his two favorite people in the world.

"Why are you doing this? You aren't a bad person. I know it. There is good inside you, a lot of it. Why are you doing something so…wrong?" the Avatar asked suddenly, in a trembling voice. He looked so confused and helpless. Behold, the mighty Avatar acting like a nanny, scolding her charges!

Zuko could have laughed if it wasn't so pathetically stupid. What kind of game was the Avatar playing, trying to garner sympathy like that? He was commanded to bring the Avatar back. He was only following orders. "You know nothing of me, Avatar," he spat back, as he held up the bucket. He'd best get this task over with and soon before he lost his temper again. He did need the Avatar alive after all.

"I know that there must be some good inside you. During that storm, you had a chance to attack me, but you choose to save your crew instead. And…at the Crescent Island temple, Avatar Roku helped you for a reason. He was concerned about you enough to free you," the Avatar responded, looking at him clear in the eyes. "There has to be a reason."

Zuko hated that soul-searching glance. If he hadn't been taught that it was a sign of weakness, he would have looked away. He remembered nearly getting captured at the temple and having a blast of fire free the chains binding him. "Avatar Roku was my ancestor. He was merely protecting his descendant and a fellow child of Fire. It has nothing to do with my quest for your capture about. You know nothing about me and would do well to keep your opinions to yourself. I don't have to make your captivity so comfortable. Now eat up!" he said, shoving the straw into the Avatar's open mouth. He really should gag the monk, who was spoiling his good moods. Zuko was rarely enough in a good mood for it to be spoiled now.

The Avatar didn't eat for a moment. He just looked up at him with blazing gray eyes. "Oh don't worry, it's not poisoned. If I wanted you dead, I would have slit your throat and been done with it. No, I need you alive for the time being, so you might as well eat if you don't want me to get the guards and have them force it down your throat," Zuko explained, lifting his only eyebrow. It bothered Zuko that such a powerful person should be a mere child.

To Zuko's relief, the Avatar began to suck the gruel through the straw. Not the most palatable meal, but it would keep the Avatar alive long enough for him to serve as a sacrificial lamb on the altar of ambition. Zuko hated this task, but he didn't want anyone inside this cell unless he was with them. Nothing would get between him and his triumphant return to his rightful place on the throne!

Zuko studied the Avatar. He was so young! That bothered Zuko; such a powerful person should be a mere child. Zuko was aware more then anyone that responsibility often fell on young shoulders, but he marveled at the Avatar's extreme youth all the more. He supposed he should be grateful. Had the Avatar been fully-grown, this would have been a suicide mission; Zuko would have had to face a master of four elements with powers unimaginable. He supposed he should thank his lucky stars that Agni had been on his side.

After a few moments, Zuko removed the bucket. "See you tomorrow," he said, turning on his heel. He had finished the loathsome task and he would be stopping by the kitchen to see if they had any moon-cakes. Those were Hotaru's favorites, if he remembered correctly. He would also have to buy her some decent clothing for that pirate dress was not appropriate for the sister of the future Lord. She needed lavish kimonos and elegant jewelry. He would make everything perfect again.

"Wait…" the Avatar called out. Zuko turned, glaring at his prisoner. He had been in the middle of a happy thought; couldn't the monk take a hint and shut his air hole? "If you are the descendant of Avatar Roku, then you are also my descendant…well, off a past life, but still, we are family!" the monk babbled. He pulled against his chains a bit, making them clink musically. He wasn't going anywhere.

Zuko snorted, as he checked the lock on the iron door. He had to admit that the Avatar had a nasty fate ahead of him but very little could be worse then being a member of the Royal family. Between Zuko's terrifying father and his cruel mother, it was a wonder Zuko hadn't gone insane already! If the Avatar thought that ploy would garner him any sympathy, then he was just as mistaken as the first plot. Zuko had shown "shameful weakness" before his father once; he would not repeat the mistake again. The scar on his face reminded him of the price of failure. "As touching as this little reunion would be, I have enough family as it is. But I'll be happy to introduce to my father, another one of your descendants. We'll see how far being family will protect you," he said bitterly.

"At least let me see my friends. If you've hurt them…" the monk said, his eyes blazing with anger. Zuko took an involuntary step back, remembering the Avatar's power when he got angry. He had to keep him in a state of depression, not aggression.

"Calm yourself, monk. Your friends are unharmed for the time being. As for Katara….she really doesn't want to see you. Can't blame her, she's far too busy enjoying the rewards I've given her. But…I will consider allowing the Water peasant visit you if you both behave yourselves," Zuko mused. He supposed there would be no way that could cause any problems and it would be an act of mercy. Of course, Zuko had been taught that mercy was for the weak. Well, he could decide later. Without another word, he walked out of the cell and slammed the door behind him.

Ryota and Shimano were still standing guard, their faces unmoved by the conversation. Securing the padlock and replacing the key around his neck, Zuko did something he rarely did. He smiled, something that made the hardened guards nearly jump. "See to it that no one comes in, and ignore everything he says," he ordered, before turning on his heel to get some moon cakes from the kitchen.

Katara sat at the table, weeping hysterically into her chained hands. She had only known this feeling of supreme emptiness once before in her life, when she had lost her mother. For days, Katara had walked around with a hole in heart, feeling as sad and helpless as a beached whale. She had resolved those feelings by being strong for others. She had vowed to care for her people, her brother and her grandmother to cover the pain she had felt. She had drowned her sorrows in work and in learning to perfect her bending skills. She had forgotten to laugh, to have fun and had grown old before her time.

Then Aang had come to the village, bringing back laughter and happiness. Katara had followed him, risking her life and the life of her brother to become the guardians of the Avatar. It made Katara feel like she was doing something for the war when she took care of Aang. Yes, it had been scary, there were times that Katara had been sure it was the end. Yet each time, she been able to face trouble with her head held high. When she had been captured by the King of Omashu and nearly encased in rubble, she had not doubted Aang's ability to solve the riddles. When she got herself captured by the Fire Nation to save her friend Haru, she had counted on Aang to save the day, and he had. When she had waited for Aang to return from the spirit world, she had never lost faith in her friend. He had done stupid things, like forgetting to mention a letter from her father or trying to learn firebending too early, but his heart was always in the right place. Even when she had traveled to the Fire Nation and gotten captured by that evil Commander, or when Sokka had been trapped in that awful storm, she had never doubted that everything would be okay. She believed in Aang, she knew he would not let her down.

Yet at this moment, Katara felt like the world's biggest failure. She had let Aang down. Had she made the right decision in betraying the Avatar? She knew that Aang was the world's last hope but she couldn't bear to see her village sold to the mines. She had chosen selfishly and damned the entire world for her own people.

She had tried to warn Aang and Sokka, she really had. "What haven't you done? You came to our village, you attract the Fire-Nation like a fish attracts penguins, you can't shoulder a bit of responsibility and we are never going to reach the North Pole! If the world is relying on you to save the world, then we might as well give our loyalty to the Fire-Nation. The Fire-Nation is a far better alternative to you!" she had snapped, repeating the word "Fire-Nation" as often as possible, praying that they would get the hint and run for it. Aang had looked so hurt that Katara had to force herself not to embrace him and apologize. The pain in his eyes hurt worse then anything she had ever known. Only the fear of what Prince Zuko would do if she broke the bargain kept her from breaking down entirely.

Then her brother had appeared. Sokka was as annoying as fleas, but Katara adored him; he had been her little father after her real father had moved on. They had taken care of each other; they had stood by each other. Seeing the hatred in his eyes had burned her. If only he knew why she was doing this? As the only adult male left in the tribe, Sokka had been the chief. She wondered if he would have done the same thing in her place.

"Oh shut up, Sokka! You are just as lost as Aang here. Between the two of you idiots, I am surprised we haven't been killed or captured by the Fire Nation, you giant eared cretin!" she had shouted, repeating the word "Fire Nation" again and using the insult she had used in the mock fight to get herself captured. She prayed Sokka would trust his instincts, that he would understand the message she was sending.

It hadn't worked. Prince Zuko had captured them all and she had helped him. She was the lowest form of existence possible; she was beneath a fire-bender in terms of dishonor. She just prayed that Prince Zuko kept his end of the bargain and didn't sell her village into slavery anyway. She couldn't trust a Firebender.

The handcuffs around her wrists clicked menacingly. She had been taken to the galley and chained there. Katara would normally resent being imprisoned in a kitchen just because she was a female, but this time she had more important things to be depressed about, such as the fate of the world. The cook in the kitchen basically ignored her, busily making wonderful smelling concoctions for that disgusting prince. Katara resisted the urge to ask if she could poison the food, that death would not be slow and lingering enough for her tastes.

She didn't know how long she had sat in the corner, weeping when she heard hard metal footsteps and a gasp of surprise. "Sir?" asked the cook, sounding quite deferential.

"Do you have any moon-cakes?" asked a voice that Katara never wanted to hear again. She looked up and glared at the prince, who stood there shameless of all the pain he had caused. He had the nerve to order desserts at a time like this!

"Moon cakes? Why, to toast your blackmail and underhanded treachery?" Katara spat. What she wouldn't give for the chance to ice him! She would make him beg for mercy at her feet.

Prince Zuko looked up at her and smiled. It was amazing how someone so young could be so evil. That scar on his face marked the Gods' punishment of him for some evil act. "What's the point of victory if you don't enjoy it? Can I offer you some cakes? You did play such a vital part of the victory, it would only be fair," he asked, with a nod of his head.

Katara's eyes blazed. How dare he mock her like that? He had the nerve to threaten her people and then ask if she wanted to celebrate! "I hope you suffer a long and horrible torture," she hissed, getting to her feet.

Zuko shrugged. "You got what you want. Your people are safe, so keep a civil tongue in your head. Do you want to go back on our deal? I am sure I could still get a good price from the mines," he said airily. Katara bowed her head and said nothing as tears ran down her cheeks again.

To her surprise, the prince walked over to her. "Now, enough tears. You and your village will be free in three weeks. You are only making this harder on yourself. You might as well face the facts that I've won. This wasn't personal, I just did it to regain my honor. Now, is there anything I can do to make your stay more comfortable? I am grateful for your help. I'd like to reward you," he said in a smooth voice.

"You could die a slow and painful death," she whispered, but her tone was defeated. Prince Zuko held every advantage, she had nothing in the world. She felt a hand lift her chin up to face Prince Zuko. One side of his face was smooth and even handsome, the other marred by the burned flesh of a scar. Katara would have pitied him if she didn't hate him so much.

"Careful that your sharp tongue doesn't get you that very fate. Firebenders do not have infinite patience," Prince Zuko warned, leaning down and grabbing hold of Katara's handcuffs. "Come along."

Katara jerked up in protest. She was not about to be lead anywhere, especially by this sadistic royal who had the morality of a pit viper! "Let go of me, where are you taking me, you scarred freak?" she demanded.

Prince Zuko's eyes narrowed in sheer fury. Before Katara could blink, Prince Zuko whipped around and yanked her chains again, slamming her up against a wall. She whimpered out of fear. He would kill her now, she had no way of fighting back. As if to confirm her own thoughts, the free hand was now filled with flames. She closed her eyes, waiting for him to touch her and melt the flesh off her bones. She would die, just like her mother had, a pile of ashes.

After a murderously long pause, a tap on her nose made her open her eyes. Her captor smiled a chilling grin, especially for a Firebender. He yanked the chains towards him again. "Agni should have created the female mouth with a muzzle. Let us get something straight here. I am the one in charge and I will not be questioned or insulted. I don't have a reason to hurt you, don't give me one," he said, aiming a ball of fire at the wall next to her. With a flick of his finger, he burned a piece of the metal. Katara realized how easily his hand could move an inch to the right and do the same to her.

"As for where you are going, that is up to me. I could be taking you for a reward. I could merely be transporting you to a proper prison cell. I could be taking you to my bed to warm it for me. I could be going to the crew's bedrooms and passing you around for my men to use. I could have you perfumed and sent to my father as a present. In all of those cases, there is nothing you could do about it," he said, an odd gleam in his eyes as he studied her. "After the way you behaved, you can decide which one you think I'll choose."

"You…monster! You wouldn't dare!" Katara muttered, realizing just how amoral this blaggard was. He could and he would make her life a living nightmare. He had threatened to sell innocent civilians into slavery, what lows wouldn't he stop to? She knew she was goading him, but perhaps he would just kill her quickly.

Prince Zuko didn't stop smiling as he twisted the chains around one hand. "You'll just have to wait to find out, no? Really, you could be more polite, it might earn you the assurance of a pleasant fate," he said jauntily, pulling her along as if she was a pet. Katara tried to struggle, but she was up against an opponent with far superior strength. He was strong, frighteningly so. She was aware of just how quickly he could snap her neck and how willingly he would do it.

Katara trembled at that thought, but tried to hold her head high. Whatever he did to her, she would not give him the satisfaction of hearing her cry out. She would silently hate him as he tortured her, cursing him to the Gods.

Neither spoke as Zuko led his hapless prisoner around, although Zuko whistled a bit as they passed people in the hall. Katara was shocked, but that was nothing compared to the open staring of the crewmembers. Obviously, the prince was not normally an effusive person even among his own people. "Where's my brother? Where's Aang?" she finally demanded, as Zuko pulled her down a row of stairs and into a narrow hallway. "If you've hurt them!"

"As I said before, none of that really is any of your business, is it?" Prince Zuko replied, just as briskly. "You talk too much." There was something placid and warm about his mockery, as if he was a naughty boy who had just raided the seal blubber and knew his father wasn't around to catch him. What if he was going to celebrate his victory by violating her? Katara trembled a bit at that thought as they arrived at a door. She could only imagine what was inside.

"You're shaking?" Prince Zuko turned, grinning at her. "Last chance to beg me for mercy before we find out what's behind the door. I am a reasonable man. I don't want to have to hurt you."

Katara glared at him. "I am not afraid of you," she hissed, defying him as much as being chained and helpless allowed her to be.

Prince Zuko paused for a moment, before opening the door with his free hand and pushing her inside. Katara turned away for a moment before hearing a familiar yell. "Katara!" and hands grabbed her arm. Aiiro was standing beside her, looking up at her with his huge blue eyes. His hands were cuffed but he was alive and unharmed.

"More then you deserve," Prince Zuko said, slamming the door behind them. Katara nearly lurched. He had brought her all this way, scaring her half to death just to reunite her with Aiiro. That didn't make any sense, he had chosen to do something nice to her? The fact that he did it in the cruelest way possible mitigated the confusion somewhat, but it didn't answer the question. Why was Prince Zuko doing this to her? Well, she could think about it later, she needed to comfort Aiiro.

"Katara, I was so scared. But you didn't let them hurt me, now you'll protect me," Aiiro babbled. "Where's Sokka and Aang?"

Katara winced and sat down on the cold metal floor. That was a subject best not discussed at the moment. She didn't know if she could explain to poor Aiiro what she had traded for his life. She allowed Aiiro to climb into her lap. "They were captured too, but they are all right. Don't worry about them. What happened to the village?" she asked, as Aiiro snuggled up to her, laying his head on her shoulder. She felt less like a traitor for the moment, knowing that Aiiro was safe and not trapped underground.

"Some pirates came to the village. When we were sleeping, they broke into the igloos and grabbed everyone. I was sleeping in my bag, when they got me. When they captured everyone, they tied us all up and put on this smelly ship. There wasn't much food or water, but at least we were all together. The pirate ladies were mean. They laughed at us and called us peasants. Especially the chief pirate, she was horrible," Aiiro recounted and then burst into sobs.

Katara's heart broke. She tried to wipe away the tears running down his chubby little face. "It will be all right, don't worry," she lied, knowing that the end of the world was here. Yet, there was no point making things seem even worse for the poor boy. "What happened to Gran Gran?"

"I don't know…they separated us. The older people went on one ship, all the girls went to another ship and I was supposed to be taken with the boys. I had to say goodbye to Aunt Sura," the poor boy wept. Katara knew what it was like to be separated from those one loved most. How could they separate a six year old boy from the village elder who had been like a mother to all the little orphaned children? She hated the pirates more then anything! She let Aiiro snuggle into her arms a bit more, allowing him to calm down a bit. Aang was supposed to end all this pain and misery, but instead Katara had betrayed Aang instead.

"Then what happened?" she asked, when the sobbing grew softer. She looked around, it seemed like it was a storage closet that was now doubling as a holding cell. Meaning it might not be as reinforced as a true prison cell. She'd have to test that theory later.

"The chief pirate's daughter said they needed a sample. The chief pirate lady grabbed me. I held on to the mast and tried to get away, but they hit me. When I got up, I was chained up in this tiny room. They kept me in there for soooooooooo long. No one spoke to me and I thought everyone forgot me," the boy recounted, his shoulders shaking. He buried his head in Katara's sleeve and wept again. "Then one day, the chief pirate and her daughter just opened the door. They tied a leash around me and dragged me to…Prince Zuko. I was so scared, because he was from the Fire Nation but he told me not to worry," the little boy recounted.

"Then what happened?"

"They locked me up but at least I had food and they let me sit in the kitchen. I tried to be brave like Sokka and escape, but I couldn't pick the lock. I got caught," he said, pointing to the bruise on his cheek.

"My poor Aiiro," Katara whispered, rubbing his back to comfort him. Poor Aiiro was such a happy little boy back in the pole. Even the loss of his father had not quenched the boy's high spirits. Now he just couldn't stop crying. "That monster of a prince will pay for what he did to you."

Aiiro shook his head. "No. He wasn't the one who hurt me. He told his men to give me food. He made them take off the leash and he told them to treat me nicely or he'd get angry," he explained.

Katara was completely confused. At this moment, she would believe penguins could fly. Prince Zuko had ordered his men to be kind to Aiiro? "Are you sure you know which person you are talking about? Prince Zuko, the scary evil Firebender with a scar on his face?" she asked. The world had gone mad. She had betrayed the Avatar and Prince Zuko had a conscience.

Aiiro nodded. "Yeah. He is scary, but when he saw the bruise, he picked me up and told me it would be all right. Then he found out I tried to escape, he got angry and threatened to keep me, but at least he told them they couldn't hit me anymore," he explained. "I thought he'd burn me right up, but he was so nice to me. I just don't understand why he cared about me?"

Katara sighed. There was just too much information crammed inside her head, along with guilt, rage, confusion and sadness. "I don't understand either," she whispered, hugging her little friend. She felt herself tear up again, but she forced herself to choke it down. There would be time to grieve later. For the time being, Katara could still be strong for someone.

AN/Chapter 8 should be up Monday