Disclaimer- I do not own avatar, I do not own avatar, I did not own avatar, ok you get it, I hope….
Chapter 14 (Journey to the Fire Nation)
The days flowed by like molasses in winter, slow… The week slowly came to an end, the boat continually rocked and swayed with the tides; we drifted closer to the Fire Nation. Aang stirred little for the first few days, making them uneventful. After sitting in the corner of my cell trying to avoid life, I gave up and pulled myself up against the bars separating me from the others. A groan, a soft moan, and then a sigh of pain were let free as Aang shifted into consciousness. Toph crawled over to him and helped him to sit up with his back against the hard iron wall.
"What," mumbled Aang, "happened?" His words were slow and his mouth over-exaggerated the movements, as if he could not remember how to make the sounds.
"Zuko captured you a few nights back," responded Katara, "are you alright?"
"My head kinda hurts," Aang responded, placing his hand in-between his head and the iron wall as a cushion. Aang fell silent, opening and closing his eyes a few times to get used to the light, or lack of.
"Where are we?" asked Aang, his words flew faster, more sure in meaning.
"In Azula's ship, in the dungeon, about a day from the Fire Nation," I mumbled loud enough for Aang to hear. Only his eyes turned to find me, I saw sadness in them, but hiding in those pools of grey burned a deeper fire of growing strong dislike, probably for Azula or Zuko.
"We need to get out of here," Aang said while sitting up on his own, pulling away from Toph.
"Aang you can hardly sit up, how are we going to escape?" asked Katara. We all turned to Sokka.
"What?" asked Sokka taking a step back.
"You're the plan guy, remember?" snapped Toph.
"We'll think of something!" exclaimed Sokka.
"You won't have to," muttered a new voice, the door slammed shut after his words. Fright jumped into all of our eyes, we'd been caught! No, this can't happen, I told myself, my heart racing. Then the voice continued, "I already have one." I looked up and saw Zuko standing facing the avatar, the boy he'd hunted for two and a half years.
"What?" shouted Sokka, his jaw dropping to the floor and surprise filling his voice, "You're not going to help us!"
"Yes I am," responded Zuko, his coolness about the situation before him seemed as though he was an actor, playing the part he had rehearsed and practiced so long to perfect.
"Why? You kidnapped Aang, your sister and you are sending us to the Fire Nation to the fire lord, everything's working out for you!" exclaimed Katara, her fists turning white against the bars they clutched.
"I don't have to tell you why," Zuko hissed. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath to regain his lost composure. I glanced around the scene before me. Zuko stood alone in the nexus of the circle of cells, illuminated by one stray moonbeam from the crack in the corner of my cell ceiling. Aang knelt near Toph; his breathing was becoming more regular as he tried to stand. Using the cell bars and Toph for support he stood, leaning on the wall and waited. Zuko opened his eyes to Aang's voice.
"What's your plan?" Aang asked, the force behind his words was strong.
"What?! Aang we can't trust him!" shrieked Sokka.
"Why not?" asked Aang, his gaze cutting into Sokka.
"Aang, he kidnapped you!" Katara added, her eyes throwing daggers into Zuko.
"But he's offering to help, what do we have to lose?" asked Aang. Katara and Sokka turned away, frowns deepening on their faces.
"The plan's only going to work if all of us work together," said Zuko, his voice was directed at the water tribe siblings.
"Aang's right, what do we have to lose? We'll help," Katara said. Sokka frowned but nodded his approval.
"Here's the plan. In the morning we'll dock at the city, in about four hours. Most likely there will be a large parade welcoming Azula home, and the capturing of the avatar. Azula and I will be in front while all of you are led behind us…
The deafening roars of the crowds gathered in the streets filled the warm air. Zuko had been right; the parade was the largest I had ever seen. We marched through the royal city, surrounded by the guards from Azula's ship. A few hours before dawn the ship had docked at the port, awaiting the messengers to be sent to and from the palace. We were escorted up on deck to wait with the guards. Azula paid us no heed as she watched the palace walls shine with the morning sun's rays, from behind the railing on the deck.
I felt different that morning; it wasn't nervousness, even though I felt that, I felt almost faint in the warm sunlight. Aang had described a similar feeling before we were escorted on desk, but we had all assumed it was still the aftershock from his unconsciousness. I noticed that Zuko appeared to be fighting off similar symptoms as I was, with much better luck. Why am I so tired? I wondered. As the sun rose high enough to clear the tall buildings the messengers returned from the palace and crowds started to gather in the streets.
Azula and Zuko walked down the stairway to the street. Azula strode down the street, soaking up the praise and cheers from the crowd without showing it. Zuko walked at her side, his eyes set on the palace where his father sat waiting for him. The guards walked Katara, Sokka, Toph, Aang, and I down to the street. Still wearing the simple rock cuffs from Ba Sing Se, Azula's guards hadn't bothered to heighten the means of our confinement. Sticking to Zuko's plan proved hard when escaping now seemed easier than ever.
We inched slowly towards the palace; the sun seemed to creep as slow as we did. I let the group push me forward as I closed my eyes, just for a second. A grand shadow passed over to my face, I felt the cool sunless shade on my eyes and opened them. We passed under the grandiose gate guarding the royal building from the city. Azula walked a little straighter as she passed through the threshold into the palace. As the gates were shut behind the group, the noises of the cheering crowds were gone, silence enveloped us.
We walked to a large archway with thick red curtains covering the entry. Flames from the room left shadows on the floor, dancing, jumping, and sneaking out from under the curtains to our eyes. Azula parted the barrier and let it swing closed behind her. Zuko dismissed the guards from guarding us with a simple wave. They shrugged, walked off down the hallway, and disappeared out of sight. Zuko nodded to us, we flew to the slit in the curtain, hearing Azula's and the Fire Lord's words.
Wow, almost done, I think… Remember, good reviews help me update… Chapter 15 up next! Read and Review!