AN: See, I told you it wouldn't be that long. Ummm, nothing to say so on with the story.
Disclaimer: Nope.
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Zuko was tossed unceremoniously into a dank cell, hands bound behind his back with metal bindings. He couldn't melt his bonds without the risk of burning his hands off. Using the stone wall behind him, he struggled into a sitting position to better take in his surroundings.
He wasn't that far from the market he was captured in. Through the tiny barred window he could still smell hints of the sea. He pushed to his feet and stretched to see out the window. He was high up, easily five stories. So much for a quick exit through the sewers. He sighed.
He walked over to the open bars of his door and peered through. His cell was connected to a small room with only one door in or out. And there was no guard in sight. If I can concentrate my flame to only the tips of my fingers, I should be ale to burn through the bars. He moved to a discrete spot all the way over, next to the wall, and started working.
He had barely started, though, when the outer door opened. He moved back under the window just in time to his sister walk in flanked by two guards.
"I hope you like your accommodations, Zuzu. They're the best in the place." She waited for the guard to open the door then walked in. "Why don't you get comfortable, brother dear. I think we're long overdue for a little chat."
The guards grabbed his arms, undid his bindings, and attached his wrists to the wall. She sent him a vicious smile. "Now, this can be easy or you can be in a great deal of pain." She twirled a knife in her hand. "Personally, I'd prefer the latter."
Zuko growled. "I don't know what the hell you're looking for, but I'm not going to tell you anything."
A slow sadistic smile spread across her face. "I was hoping you'd say that." Without a word, one of the guards stepped forward. Sounds of flesh striking flesh echoed throughout the room.
O.o.o.o.o.O
"They're at a small fortress about fifteen miles out of town. It looks like they stopped for the same reason we did, refill supplies. It was just pure coincidence that they were there the same time as us." Katara's jaw clenched. "Inside, from what I could see, were the twenty men she had with her plus about the same amount of local men." Sokka looked around the captain's table at the grim faces of the people gathered. "It won't be easy getting to him."
Ishi shook her head slowly. "What I don't understand is why they haven't moved on. She got who she was after and her ship was ready to sail. Why wait?" She looked to Iroh for the answer. He was the only one who knew Azula and what her motives could be.
Iroh, for once, showed signs of his age. "You said she asked about me?" Katara and Sokka nodded. "Then she's waiting for me. My nephew has never been a good liar. He's too honest and straight forward. She knows that I am near and she'll do what she can to make him tell her exactly where."
Sokka snorted. "Great. So we wait and get captured or try to rescue him and walk into a trap. Can't say as I like the options." Aang and Ishi nodded their agreement.
Iroh sat at the head of the table. "Zuko won't tell her. He has suffered much pain in his young life; physical and emotional. He'll be able to handle what she throws at him for a while."
"We're going to rescue him." Every eye in the room turned to Katara.
Lt. Jee was the first to react. "We can't just charge in there. We'll never make it." The look she sent him was pure ice.
"She'll be expecting Iroh and as many men as he has with him to come. But she won't get that. Only a few of us will go in and we'll go in quietly."
Iroh rested a hand gently on her shoulder. "We don't even know where he's being held, Katara. And, from what Sokka described, it's too large to rely on blind luck. It is wise not to enter you enemy's house with your eyes shut."
"But we won't be blind, we'll send in a scout."
Sokka spoke up angrily. "Yeah? And who do you plan to sacrifice? We can't send someone in there alone. It would be suicide."
"Momo." There was shocked silence in the room but she pushed on. "He's small and invisible when he wants to be." Doubtful stares came at her from around the table so she turned to the only person who would know for sure. "Right Aang?"
Brow furrowed in thought, Aang took a moment to answer. "I guess so." He was hesitant at first but the longer he thought, the more he liked it. "That's a great idea. As long as I'm with you, he'll have no problem taking us there."
"Let's not get carried away." Ishi's voice broke into his excited rambling. "We still need a plan. It would be better if we waited a little while."
"We can't wait. We need to go after him now!" Katara slammed her fist on the table hard enough to shake it.
Iroh watched the young woman next to him carefully. "I would appreciate it if everyone would give me a moment alone with Katara. We'll continue this discussion later." As everyone headed for the door, Katara walked to the window. Even with her back to him, he could see the tension in her body. "What's wrong?"
She spun to face him. "What's wrong? How can you ask me that?" Her voice rose with each word. "Zuko's gone. He's surrounded be dozens of soldiers and his psycho sister who's some kind of firebending prodigy. Not to mention that there's a fortress standing between us and him." Her voice echoed through the room and down the hall. "He's captured and it's all my fault!" Her voice broke and she continued in a whisper. "It's all my fault."
He watched her slump against the table, eyes closed as if in pain. "It was Zuko's choice to go with you. And Azula showing up was coincidence. It couldn't have been your fault." He spoke softly, quietly encouraging her to come out of her funk. But she wouldn't listen.
"I was angry at him. I wanted him to feel guilty for what he had done so, instead of staying with him, I went off on my own. If I hadn't done that, he wouldn't have had to come to my aid and he wouldn't have been caught. I never even got the chance to say that I forgive him. He must still think I'm angry."
"That's enough." His harsh tone jerked her out of her thoughts. "All this guilt will do is prevent us from getting Zuko. If you're so wrapped up in yourself, we will fail and then you will be responsible for his fate."
"I won't jeopardize the mission." Her eyes were no longer clouded with doubt and guilt; they burned with a fierce determination.
They are more alike then they realize. They both take more onto themselves then is their share. They are both fighters. "We will get him back. But rushing in there before we are ready will only result in disaster. There is a fine line between waiting too long and not waiting long enough. We will wait for that moment and seize it when it comes. Until then, we prepare and find out as much as we can. I only hope Momo is up to the task."
"He is. Just ask Sokka how many times Momo's stolen food from him." The guilt wasn't gone but it was crushed underneath sheer will and determination. She would focus on the present mission and worry about everything else later.
O.o.o.o.o.O
"I can't believe that he still hasn't said anything." Azula was perched on her chair in the main hall of the fortress. "Who would have thought that such a weakling could last so long?" She got up and began to pace around the room. "He's hiding something, I know it." She thought back to the two men she found him with. They said something about a girl. I wonder who she was.
She signaled to the guards flanking the door. "Bring the prisoner to me." They bowed and left. Soon after, they returned, throwing the battered and bloody form before her feet. "Ah, brother, it's so good to see you well."
Zuko struggled to his knees, wincing as the movement caused the lacerated skin on his back to pull painfully. "Ever the gracious hostess, I see. What do you want?"
She sat gracefully in the chair and looked coldly down at her brother. "Who's the girl you were with in town?" She noticed a slight flinch but then he was still. "It wouldn't be too hard to find her and bring her in. Perhaps she will respond better to my… persuasion tactics. What do you think?"
"You won't find her. Besides, she has nothing to do with any of this."
"You have no idea what my resources are. The two men you beat up have quiet a clear description of her. Humph. My brother, associating with peasants. According to them, you two were quite close." She raised a perfectly arched eyebrow.
"I told you, she has nothing to do with this."
"You've always been a horrible liar, Zuzu." Her face transformed from that of an innocent girl to a face of pure evil. "It will be fun to brake her. Perhaps she'll reveal just how much of a traitor you are."
"I'm loyal to the Fire Nation. I always have been. If there's a traitor here, it's you."
She rose angrily. "I follow father. It's you who is too weak to do what is needed. Remember, brother dear, loyalty to the Fire Nation is loyalty to father. There cannot be one without the other."
"You're wrong." He was on his knees, bound before her, but his determination still burned in his eyes. "They are not the same. Ozai's plan spells the doom of our world and our nation. And you're following right behind him. Are you too blind to see what's happening or are you just too stupid?"
Her fists erupted with flames in the face of her rage and she backhanded him, sending his already battered body to the floor. "Know your place!"
Her hand slid to her side and she drew a long kris from its sheath. Hauling him back to his knees, she rested it against his throat. "What I wouldn't give to slide this just a few inches deeper." She pressed lightly and the blade bit eagerly at his skin. A thin trickle of blood ran down his throat.
She sighed. "But that is an honor for father alone I'm afraid. Pity." Her eyes roamed upwards and focused on his topknot. "This, however, will be my pleasure to take." She grabbed his hair roughly and forced his head back. A malicious smile crossed her face as the knife severed his ponytail quickly and cleanly.
"You're a disgrace to father and a traitor to your nation. You no longer deserve to wear your hair in the traditional style. You are no longer Fire Nation." She took the hank of hair and threw it carelessly onto the brazier. She sneered down at him. "You're nothing more then a commoner now. Not fit to lick the dust off my boots."
She signaled the guards forward. But, before they took him, she couldn't resist one last comment. "Perhaps, before he kills you, father will let me play with you first. I do so enjoy beating you, dear brother."
He heard her laughter as he was dragged past the heavy doors and back to his cell. As he was once again tossed roughly to the floor, he could almost swear that he saw a familiar flash of white fur.
That simple flash of white was soon forgotten, though, as another session of 'questioning' began.
O.o.o.o.o.O
Momo jumped down into the waiting arms of Aang. "Did you find him?" Aang could barely contain his hope.
Momo nodded and accepted the large piece of fruit Katara had waiting for him. "Good boy. Aren't you the greatest?" He preened under her words, clearly pleased with all the attention. She stopped petting him and looked at the fortress. Soon. We'll be there soon.
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AN: Next up: The Daring Escape! Or something like that. Here's a cheer for the dark, brooding, loner types. Mmmmm… yummy. Anyways, Review peoples!