AN: First, huge, heartfelt thanks to Rashaka for pointing out my English 101 error. I'm so embarrassed. I apologize if anyone was confused because of it. Chapter 11 is fixed and, eventually, I will go back to fix the previous chapters as well. Second, I know this was a long time in coming but I've come up against writer's block. Actually, it's more like a granite wall. I'm trying to work through it though and I hope you enjoy the chapter.
Disclaimer: You know the drill.
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Katara groaned as someone banged on her door. It was early and she hadn't gotten much sleep the night before, her mind wouldn't let her. She rolled onto her stomach and covered her head with a pillow. Maybe, if I ignore them, they'll go away. The banging continued.
Apparently, the person behind the door couldn't wait any longer. Aang burst through the door. "Katara." She curled deeper into the blankets. "Katara!" She groaned and hugged the pillow closer to her head. Aang frowned; she was never this hard to wake up. He gave her one of his boyish grins. "Wakey wakey, Katara."
He airbended, lifting the blankets in the air and hitting her with cold wind. "Aieee! Aang, there are better ways to wake people up."
He bounced on the bed next to her. "Well, if you were up when you normally were, I wouldn't have had to wake you." She glared at him. "Aren't you grumpy this morning?"
"What is so important that it couldn't wait?"
He looked down at the floor. "I've made my decision." She looked at him, waiting for him to continue. As the silence stretched, she barely prevented herself from shaking the answer out of him. He let out a huge sigh and continued. "We should join him."
"You don't sound so sure, Aang. What's bothering you?"
"I'm not nervous about it, not really. It's just that it's odd." He was quiet for a moment. "You know I asked him once, if it was a hundred years ago, could we have been friends."
"And what did he say?"
"He didn't say anything. He attacked me, but he didn't say anything. And now…" He shrugged.
"I know it's weird and it'll take a while to get used to everything but it's for the best. Even if he is a cocky, arrogant…" She took a deep breath to calm down. He wasn't a total jerk last night. She blushed when she remembered how close they had been. She sighed. "He isn't so bad. He just isn't easy to understand."
He nodded. "So, how are we gonna tell Ishi and Sokka?"
Katara winced and dropped her head into her hands. "Ishi already knows and she seems okay with the idea. But she actually hasn't come and said that she'll join us either. And Sokka, well I don't see him taking this very well. But Ishi's right. He's smart, he'll come around. Eventually."
Aang flashed her a smile. "Fine. But you're telling him." He ducked the pillow flung at him and ran out the door.
O.o.o.o.o.O
She worked her frustration out at the pond. But, as Sokka approached her, she let most of the water slide back in. "Not playing in town today?"
He stuck his tongue out at her. "You're not the only one who's been working, you know. I've been very busy." He struck a pose. "Yup." He flexed his muscles causing her to laugh. "You're looking at the best fighter in the village."
"Ahhh. No one older then ten, huh?" She struggled to keep a straight face.
He deflated. "That was cold." He laid down in the grass. "So, who put the fish in your parka?" She turned to him, a question in her eyes. He snorted. "I'm not blind. What's wrong?"
She sat next to him and played with a water ball. "We need to find a Fire Master soon. And we don't have many options."
"What about that old guy from before?"
"We don't know where he went. He went into hiding, remember?"
"Fine. So, what's the plan then?"
She swallowed visibly. "Aang and I think we've found a teacher. Plus a few other people who will go up against the Fire Lord with us."
"Great. The more the merrier. As long as it's not that jerk of a prince. I mean, could you imagine working with him? I'd rather kiss Appa." He looked at the expression on her face. She looked like she ate a bad leachy nut. His jaw dropped. "Please tell me you're joking. You can't be serious!"
"Pucker up, lover boy, 'cause you're kissing Appa."
"No! There's no way we're joining up with him. We're not going with some psycho firebender who's been after us since the very beginning!" He was on his feet and shouting in her face.
She shouted right back. "I trust him and so does Aang. Isn't that good enough for you?"
"We've already seen what happens when we follow your instincts about a guy. We can't afford that. Not now and not with him. Jet was easy for you to beat and his plan wasn't that hard to stop either. Zuko's different. You won't be able to stop him so easily."
"Sokka, I know I made a mistake with Jet but don't you think I've learned since then. And Zuko's not Jet. He's upfront with what he wants and what he thinks. We can trust him."
"What are you talking about? He's scum, all firebenders are."
"How can you say that? What about Jeong Jeong or Iroh?" She reached up and put her hand on his shoulder but he jerked away.
"It's because of Iroh that Yue's gone."
She was taken aback by his harsh tone. "You're wrong. It wasn't Iroh's fault. The real person to blame is Zhao. It was his actions, his plan. Iroh tried to stop him."
"And what was Zhao? A firebender! They're power hungry and crazy, all of them. And you want to join these freaks?" She grabbed his arm and forced him to look at her.
"I know you're angry and I know you're upset, but you can't judge an entire people by the actions of a few. It was Zhao, and Zhao alone, who destroyed the moon spirit. Iroh tried to stop him. You heard him, there needs to be a balance, all the elements working in harmony in order for the world to survive. And it was Yue's choice to do what she did. She may not have wanted it to happen, but she pushed aside her own doubts to do what was needed." She looked him in the eye. "I hope you will too."
She walked away from him, leaving him to sulk. Just inside the doorway, she bumped into Ishi. She reached out a gentle hand to touch the younger girl's shoulder. "It will be alright." Katara nodded in recognition and continued on. But before she got too far, Ishi spoke once more. "I'm coming with you."
Katara glanced over her shoulder at the woman who stood, framed by sunlight, in the doorway. "Thank you, my friend."
Ishi turned to her, smiling and winked. "Just don't forget to tell me when we leave." Katara laughed and continued her way through the house, feeling much lighter then she had in a long time.
O.o.o.o.o.O
Iroh watched his nephew leaning on the rail at the bow of the ship. He's been quiet since last night. I wonder what happened. Iroh leaned beside his nephew. "You haven't yelled once today, Zuko. The crew's worried."
"Not now uncle." His voice was tense, worried.
Iroh looked at his nephew's profile closely. "What's wrong?"
Zuko took in a deep breath. Almost as if he was scenting the air. "I don't know. Something's just not right." He started to walk below deck but stopped halfway. "Keep the men at their stations tonight. I want everything ready if there's a problem."
He continued on his way. Iroh sniffed, the scent of change was in the air.
O.o.o.o.o.O
"You're heading out to see him. So you want me to come with you?" Sokka and Katara were standing on the terrace, waiting for darkness to descend.
"It's fine Sokka. I'm perfectly safe with him."
He grunted. "I don't like it, I don't trust him. Someone should go with you." She smiled but shook her head. "At least take Momo. He won't be mush help but at least he's something. Ow!" A nut bounced off the back of his head as said lemur scuttled over the roof.
"I'll be fine Sokka, we've met alone before and nothing happened. So relax." She gave him a smile but his frown only deepened.
"I don't like you being alone with him. What if he tries something? He's a teenager and teenage boys get ideas."
"Speaking from experience?" He turned bright red but opened his mouth to continue the lecture. She cut him off. "I'm perfectly capable of taking care of myself. Now, enough with the lecture. I'll be back later and don't worry. Nothing will happen that I don't want to happen."
He watched her leave with a worried gaze. "That's what I'm afraid of."
O.o.o.o.o.O
She arrived at the small inlet just in time to see the skiff arrive. He dropped anchor and vaulted over the side to land with a small splash in the water. He stalked towards her and sat be her side.
She let the companionable silence stretch. The corner of her mouth lifted. If someone told me a few weeks ago that I'd be here with him, I'd say that they were crazy. She looked at him out of the corner of her eye. I'm happy though.
"What did the Avatar decide?" His voice was sharp, cutting through the peace like a knife.
Way to ruin the mood. "First, his name's Aang. Use it. Or we could always call you prince." He gave her a low growl in reply. "Just as you like to hear your name, he wants to hear his. It's what marks us as human."
He smirked. "Fine, Aang then."
She smirked right back. "We'll join you; Aang, Sokka, Ishi and myself. Plus Appa and Momo."
He scowled. "Great, more tag-alongs."
"You'll get used to it. And we'll try not to bother your majesty too much." He shot her a look at her sarcastic tone. "When do we leave?"
"Give him a few days to learn more then…"
"Katara!" Ishi tore over the sand, waving her hands franticly to gain their attention. "Fire Nation! They've just come ashore and they're searching the village."
"That's impossible! The rumors I sent out should have kept them from finding the Avatar."
Ishi turned to him. "She's not looking for the Avatar."
Katara blinked in confusion. "Then who are they searching for?"
"She's looking for the prince. Him and his uncle."
Katara scrambled for the trees. "Where are the boys? How far are the firebenders from the house?"
Ishi and Zuko ran behind her. "The boys are gathering what supplies they can and the benders have stopped in the village. They're doing a house to house search."
They met Sokka and Aang running into the courtyard. "Come on everyone, on Appa."
"We can't go on that thing. They'll spot us in no time."
Sokka growled at the prince. "Why should we listen to a firebender scum?"
"Sokka!" There was a chorus of admonishment.
"Fine. What's the plan, your majesty?"
Zuko ignored him and turned to Aang and Katara. "Can your beast swim?" They nodded. "Grab what you can. We'll take the skiff back to my ship; your beast can follow us. We'll set sail tonight, using the island as cover. Let's go."
As quickly and quietly as possible, five humans, one lemur and one ten ton bison made their way to the beach. Before Azula reached the house, they were long gone.
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AN: Again, sorry for the wait.
Iroh: Finally, I'm in a chapter.
Half-elf: Don't complain. You've had constant access to tea and, even though we haven't played Pai Sho, I taught you how to play chess.
Iroh: True, a most interesting game. Oh, by the way, check mate.
Half-elf: What/sigh/ Till next time, dear readers. Review please.