Part One: Winter

Chapter Six: Our Adventures Start Here

Disclaimer: No, Avatar: The Last Airbender does not belong to me.

The prisoner tossed her head, shrugged.

He scowled. Useless. She was lying, all she said were lies.

He yelled at her, she tossed her head, smirking.

He saw her glance once at his companion, whose pale face was hidden in the shadows,

Then looked into his sister's eyes,

Her amber eyes, glinting with malice and evil

And resolved to himself:

"I need to get away from here.

Far away from here

And tell the world that

I, Prince Zuko

Am not like Azula at all."

He had set out early in the morning, a small sack on his shoulder.

Iroh had told him to go to the army camps first. To apologize for trespassing.

Zuko had tried to reason with him, but the Fire Lord had not listened.

"Prince Zuko," he had said. "If you wish to heal the world, start with your mistakes."

Azula had caused too much pain in the world for him to apologize for.

At least he could fix his own problems.

Toph woke up early, surprisingly.

The warrior found her lying on Appa's saddle, tossing a pebble up and down in the air.

He sighed. "Toph, why'd you get up so early? We're not leaving until noon."

The Earthbender stayed silent. Up, down, went the pebble. Up, down, up, down.

The pebble landed square in her palm, and she faced the warrior.

"Call Katara up. We need to get to Gaoling now."

Sokka looked at her, confused, and Toph continued.

"My parents used to think that Aang kidnapped me. The longer we stay here, the more they'll think something bad happened."

She continued to toss the pebble.

Sokka shrugged. "Didn't you want them to know that something bad happened?"

"I dunno. Whatever. If we're going to Gaoling, then of course not."

Toph sighed.

"The last thing I want is a teary reunion. Trust me, Sokka, my parents are certainly capable of giving me one."

The warrior nodded, and turned in the direction of the tents.

Sokka couldn't hear it, but even atop of Appa, Toph's heightened senses picked up something. "Wait, who-"

Footsteps, crunching on dead, fallen leaves.

Sokka spun around. He could hear it, now, and he nodded at Toph, only to remember that she couldn't see it.

I hear it too, Toph. Who?

"I don't know who it is. You have eyes, use 'em!" She hissed, as if reading his mind. Startled, Sokka let a minute of silence pass before he made any comment. He saw a cloaked figure making its way up the steep incline and immediately recognized the tall, shadowed form.

Hey, what do you know? Having a deranged prince chase you around for the past year or so did come in handy.

Back to the point. Sokka squinted in the distance for clarification, and spoke again in hushed tones.

"Zuko. Coming up the hill. Why the heck is he here?"

"Dunno."

They let the prince climb up the hill. Toph dropped down from the saddle, landing with a bump, as Sokka neared her side.

"What do you want? We told you to leave!" He shouted into the distance.

"I'm here to apologize!" Zuko called, a little angrily.

"Doesn't sound like it," Toph taunted, a smirk on her face. Heh, his vibrations were way too easy to sense from down here. All his angriness certainly put some weight in his step, and she shrugged. Yeah, she was the greatest lie detector on earth.

Ignoring Toph, the prince stopped for a mere second before continuing on to the settlements.

"Where's he going? Don't tell me he's going to his tent..." The Earthbender moaned. A quick step confirmed it, and she shook her head.

"The idiot. But he's going to get his butt kicked by Katara, that's for sure."

Sokka nodded in agreement.

"Yeah. Then he'll be gone for good."

"We're going to get you somewhere safe. We're going to make you better."

She hugged him close to her, then continued filling her bag with the herbs she picked from the forests.

She had cut some bandages up from some old clothes. Socks, hats... she could go without a sleeping bag.

For the Moon Spirit's sake, she could go without anything. Food, water, her own life.

For him.

Only for him.

She had spent the last night or so worrying endlessly about the journey. Would he be warm enough? Would he have enough air?

Would he survive?

Around, around, she wound the bandage. Once, twice...

She heard Toph and Sokka bickering again. Was that another voice she heard? Once, twice...

Footsteps. She didn't look up, assuming it was either her brother or one of her friends.

Once... twice...

"Katara?"

...And stop.

She looked up, startled, as the makeshift door toppled to the ground. Zuko stared back apologetically, awkwardly picking the door up and setting it at an odd angle against the wall.

"I told you to leave!" she said, very low, glaring into those amber eyes.

He glanced defeatedly at the ground.

"I want to apologize."

"For what, exactly?"

"For trespassing. For coming to the army camps."

He paused a minute, then drew a small bundle out of his sack.

"What-"

"Medicine. From my uncle."

Silence.

"Why?"

Again, slower. "I wanted to apologize."

Eyes narrowed.

"Didn't know that word was in your vocabulary."

"Well, at the Western Air Temple-"

"All that stuff about changing. I didn't buy it then, I'll never buy it again. You made a choice."

"To what?"

"To go back to your nation! To crawl back there and become Prince again!"

"What does that have to do with anything?"

Zuko was evidently losing patience, and Katara glared at him.

"The nation that nearly killed him. You chose to join them again."

"But I'm going to apologize! I'm apologizing right now and I'm leaving the Fire Nation! Well, not really, but... well, I'm going to travel the world and restore it!"

"Your sister was a liar too, you know!"

"I know." Zuko strode across the dirt floor and stopped at Aang's makeshift bed. Almost instinctively, Katara drew the boy closer to her, staring at the prince with fury in her eyes. "Just let me tell you that I'm sorry."

"I am not going to let you hurt Aang!"

"I'm not going to hurt him!"

"Forget it!"

She held Aang close.

"We are going to leave now, Prince Zuko." She stated his name with contempt in her voice. "We don't need you to apologize. What you and your nation did was too horrible to make up for in words."

"Then how about actions?"

Katara put Aang down softly, stood up, looked straight into Zuko's eyes.

"There is nothing you can do that'll make me forgive you."

"But you need transportation."

"What?"

"To get help. Assuming that's what you need."

"I don't need help from lowlife like you!"

"You need to get him help, and my ship is faster than that bison of yours."

Silence, then he continued.

"Your friends go to Gaoling, I'll take you to wherever you need to go."

"No- and how did you know we were going to Gaoling?!"

"Hey, my sister didn't lie after all."

It was more of a thought than a statement, but it provoked Katara beyond description.

"Sister? You've been spying on us, haven't you? No- she's been spying on us. So she can try to get her hands on Aang and end him for good!"

"My sister's in prison! She just heard... arguments..."

Wow. That sounded exceedingly stupid. He took a deep breath, then continued.

"Well, she heard stuff. From her cell. Because it's close to the army camps."

Ha, that was his idea of an argument? Big mistake.

Katara had neglected her waterbending other than doing some healing, and she was itching to use it again.

Zuko was the perfect training dummy.

Drawing her waterskin close to her side, she glared at him, glints of anger in her eyes, and put every ounce of hostility in her voice as she stated:

"Get out or I'll KILL you."

"You have to believe me! Really. I haven't attacked you or your friends once, and I've never betrayed your location. Otherwise, this place would be crawling with soldiers right now. Besides, I didn't even bring swords or anything. I gave you medicine."

This all came out in a quick, awkward sentence, and Katara was convinced that whatever good points he made, whatever he was pleading or sacrificing, nothing could make up for the simple fact that he was Fire Nation again.

And the Fire Nation had nearly killed Aang. Twice.

Fury. Anger. Resentment. I want him to die.

"I told you to GET OUT!"

She drew a thin snake of water from her side and brought it down on Zuko in a deadly torrent. She didn't care what pain she was causing; she was convinced that Aang had felt far worse before.

Ice daggers, showering down. She didn't care if they hit him or not, as a matter of fact, most of them did. She just loved attacking him again.

She bent the water to her will, stopping only when she realized that Zuko was just taking it.

What... he wasn't fighting back...

Well, this defeated the whole purpose.

A moment of hesitation was all Zuko needed. He wasn't going to attack, but he wasn't about ready to get killed.

Taking a deep breath, he tensed his muscles and prepared for the blow-

"You just want to apologize, huh?"

"Wha-" A torrent of ice-cold water washed over him, and as quickly as it had arrived, it receded again and formed into a long, lethal waterwhip.

"You can get out, or get killed. Your choice!"

"I already said! I'm not leaving until I'm forgiven!"

The waterwhip lashed out, hitting Zuko square in the chest.

"Stop that!"

"What? I bet your father didn't stop attacking Aang when he was injured- even on the verge of death!"

The waterwhip hit him again, this time in on his cheek. It stung, badly, but Zuko knew that it wasn't all the Master Waterbender was capable of doing. He also knew that she wasn't about to forgive him, not that easily.

"I'm staying! Just forgive me and I'll be on my way!"

"No, I want you to-"

She stopped for a minute, fury and pain raged in her eyes, and she groaned. It was too much to handle. How could he think, after all that his nation did, all that his nation did to Aang, that a simple apology would suffice? How about his head on a golden plate?

She liked that idea immensely, and smirked.

"Want me to what?"

"I want you to-"

Blow after blow after blow. The water, bending so easily under her fingertips, seemed to be more than compliant today.

"Get-"

The whip lashed out again, and Zuko knew, even though it agitated him to hell, that he couldn't fight back, even though he was more than a match for her.

"Out-"

The water receded, and Katara bent it upwards. Clenching her fingers together, she froze it, broke it apart, and sent it flying at Zuko's direction in one fluid motion.

"Of-"

The shards fell, like glass arrows, and Zuko stood firm. Don't show weakness. Don't show any sign of being-

"HERE!"

The ice flew and dug into his skin, cutting him, making him bleed. Needless to say, it hurt like hell, and all because he was asking- no, begging- for forgiveness?

This was an unfair fight. No, it wasn't even a fight. It was torture.

The ice melted and flew through the air, and Katara smirked.

"Had enough, Prince?"

"No! I'm staying here, but not because I want your forgiveness! I want Aang's!"

The water hung, suspended, in midair. Katara's eyes widened at his stupidity.

"His forgiveness? Aang's forgiveness? He's half-dead, that's thanks to your dear father, and now you come crawling back, expecting him to greet you with hugs and tears of joy? What the heck is wrong with you?"

She stepped forward, in an attacking stance, but Zuko held up a hand.

Stop.

There was something in his eyes that made Katara listen, and her hands dropped, causing the water to fall into a small puddle at her feet.

"Look, I haven't fought back. You've wanted to kill me, but really, I had no part in trying to hurt Aang. I- I taught him firebending. I taught him because I wanted to see my father go down."

This can't be happening. Katara reasoned. It's all a trick.

"But now that he's... dead... it's up to my uncle and me to redeem our nation. To fix all the mistakes that the Fire Nation caused. And I'm going to start here." He gazed down at Aang, who was lying still, quiet, on the bed. "No matter how long it takes."

A moment of silence, then Katara nodded. She still didn't trust him, but if Iroh had sent him here, then he probably hadn't meant any harm. All of a sudden, she felt stupid, and as much as it hurt her to do so, she knew she had to admit it.

"Alright, then... I'm sorry for attacking you. You know that Aang means the world to me- to all of us. You have my forgiveness only because of your uncle." She paused a little, looking down at the Airbender. "But Aang... if you want his forgiveness, you'll have to wait. He's not in the best state right now, and we're going to have to leave. Soon."

Footsteps again, this time belonging to Toph. She entered the room quietly, looked at Zuko, and smirked at Katara.

"Well, well, well, I guess it's all over now. Pack up, Katara, we're going."

Katara shot Zuko a blank look and he shrugged. "Fine, then. I... should be leaving."

Toph nodded firmly, and Sokka, who had appeared behind her, gaze Katara a silent thumbs-up. She looked away, feeling immense guilt, although she had no idea why.

"Well, then, tell your uncle thanks for the medicine," she muttered after Zuko. He smiled faintly and turned around again, walking through the wide opening where the door had once stood and through Toph and Sokka's jubilant faces.

"But, wait-"

Zuko turned at the sound of Katara's voice. Sokka stared at her, dumbfounded, while Toph did a classic facepalm.

"My brother and friend need to get to Gaoling, quick. So if it's alright with them, maybe you can take the two of us- I mean, Aang and me- to the North Pole."

"What?" Toph looked amazed as Zuko considered the option.

Isn't this funny? Katara is great at jokes! Ha-ha-ha-ha-

"Sure."

-Ha.

Sokka looked like he was about to attack someone, and Toph looked as if someone had smacked her in the face. Whatever had just happened, she hadn't gotten the joke at all.

"What just... what did you do, Katara?" The Earthbender asked weakly, and Sokka nodded in disbelief.

"Zuko offered to take me to the North Pole. That way, you and Sokka can get to Gaoling quicker," Katara muttered. She felt herself flush, and she sighed. She hated the idea, but now that she thought about it, it would be better for all of them. Aang would get medical help on the way there, Sokka and Toph wouldn't get killed by the Bei Fongs... sure, she could live with that. "What do you guys think?"

"No." Was Sokka's immediate reply.

Toph took a little longer to think about it. "You, Zuko, alone, on his ship? I don't know, Katara, seems a little... dangerous."

Zuko groaned. Why did these people not get it? He was offering them transportation and, Agni help him, medical attention. And they still thought he was out to get them or something.

"Look, I'll have my crew on there. I'll have the doctors, and the servants, and she'll have a maid." Yeah, right, but he had to convince them. "And Aang will get help, I swear it. You can run the risk of losing him on your bison or entrust him to our care."

Katara looked at Sokka, her eyes pleading.

"Sokka, please. I know you don't want me to do this, and I'm not so excited about it either. But please, for Aang's sake. And I'll be fine."

The warrior shook his head, but Toph shrugged.

"Ignore him. I'm with you, Sugar Queen. Just don't get attacked or anything."

Katara flashed her a grin, but in remembering that Toph couldn't see it, gave her a "thanks" instead.

"I'm still concerned." Sokka stated, and everyone looked at him. "After all, our experiences on Fire Nation ships haven't exactly been pleasant. And who sent you here, anyways? Azula? Trust me, Katara. He might not even be taking you to a ship. This might all be a trap to lead you into the enemy's hands."

Zuko scowled and remained silent. Sokka gestured to him, nodding.

"You see, Katara, he doesn't deny it. That's why you always need to be careful around Fire Nation."

Katara sighed, and looked at the prince. "Zuko, are you telling the truth? And Toph, listen for signs of lying."

The Earthbender nodded, and the Firebender sighed.

"Yes, I'm telling the truth. I'm going to take you and Aang on my ship, take you to the North Pole, and I will not turn you into the hands of people that might kill or potentially harm you. You get that?"

Toph faced Sokka, shrugging. "He meant it."

"You see, Sokka?"

The warrior faced the prince, who stared back at him, and said four simple words.

"Don't hurt my sister."

That was it, and everyone knew it. Katara quietly gathered her supplies and gently gathered Aang up in her arms.

"We're going to help you, Aang. We're going north, at last."

Toph nodded in agreement, and together, she and Sokka left the tent, ready to begin a journey of their own.

Author's Note: I have bored you all with this absurdly long chapter, I think, but don't worry- the next one will be better and have some Tokka goodness.

A Peek At Future Chapters: The Bei Fongs have something... special... in store for Toph, and Sokka doesn't like it any more than she does. What will be revealed for both of them? Plus, Katara is adjusting to life on Zuko's ship... but will desperation and insane sailors drive her over the edge and into the arms of a certain prince? Yeah, right! Stay tuned.