A Family Reunion

A Hero Always comes Home

Katara found everyone unconscious when she woke up. Except for Zuko. Katara saw Zoe sitting at the edge of the cart, but she didn't care.

"Zuko?" Katara asked gently. Zuko turned around his face full of worry.

"Katara!" A wave of relief seemed to wash over Zuko.

"Are you okay?"

"I'm fine. I thought you had-"

"What happened?"Katara asked. Katara couldn't believe Zoe had betrayed them. I was never on your side. I didn't betray anyone.

"You got hurt and well…"

"He wouldn't fight 'cause he was afraid I would hurt you." Zoe snapped. Katara felt her heart leap.

"Really?" Katara asked. That had to be the nicest thing anyone had done for her.

"Yeah."Zuko muttered. He wanted to tell Katara why he couldn't risk her getting hurt. He wanted to tell her so bad.

"Why?"Katara asked. She hated herself for asking but she had to know if he really had done it because he loved her. But what if he didn't?

"Because… Because I…." Zuko felt his face burning. "I…l love you." Zuko heard the words slip out. You idiot! Why would she like you? She's so pretty and I'm…I'm….

Katara felt her stomach flip flop. Her heart was beating so fast.

Zoe heard all of this. You shouldn't have said that Zuko. Ozai will use it against you. But then again tehy make a really cute couple. Sokka will 

kill them. So will Mai. Mai and Sokka wow. They could be like Maikka. Wait what the heck? Why am I so distracted? I'm acting like Ty Lee.

Zoe snapped out of it. Stupid Zuko was saying something.

"If you hurt her because of me..." Zuko warned. Zoe didn't look ashamed. She looked fearless and defiant.

"Zuko I have done terrible things. What would stop me from telling?"

"I'll kill you." Zuko promised it with such defiance, and such hate. Zoe looked into his eyes and believed him. But this didn't scare Zoe. But it did scare Katara.

"Zuko! You won't kill anyone!" Katara exclaimed.

"He already has."Zoe stated coldly.

"I didn't kill her!" Zuko yelled. He broke his bounds and wrestled Zoe to the ground. He raised his hand and stared into Zoe's eyes. Zoe didn't even flinch. Instead she stared right back.

"Why don't you believe me?" Zuko demanded.

No answer.

"Answer me!" Zuko yelled.

Once again Zoe remained silent. She stared into Zuko's eyes, her face drained of emotion.

"Get off of me." Zoe stated coldly. She was dead serious, and her eyes showed no fear.

"Untie my friends." Zuko demanded.

"No." Zoe replied. Her voice was monotone. Zuko felt a chill down his spine. Zoe sounded like Mai.

"I'll kill you if you don't." Zuko heard his voice shake and cursed himself.



"No you won't."Zoe replied, undaunted by the threat on her life. Zuko grunted. Zoe kicked him in the stomach and pinned him to the floor. Zoe tied him up. She placed him next to Katara.

"Good try." Zoe stated coolly. Katara leaned in towards Zuko.

"Cool it." Katara whispered.

"Where are we going?" Zuko asked.

"You're going to have the honor of meeting Firelord Ozai." Zoe replied.

Zuko remembered the day Zoe had called out so defiantly screaming she'd never give in to the Fire nation or Ozai. She had called him Owimpalot. Zuko smiled. Even though had been enemies at least they had been fighting the same enemy. He had hoped that Zoe remembered too.

"You never thought it was an honor to meet Ozai before."

"I've changed." Zoe said, fighting back the memories of her past. Suddenly Toph woke up.

"I'M GONNA KILL YOU ZOE!!" Toph screamed. Suddenly the rest of the Gang woke up. Sokka started making threats on Zoe's life too. Iroh looked at Zoe, asking with his eyes if this is what Zoe wanted.

"Ok! Ok! OK! Can you come up with something else other than 'I'm gonna kill you' seriously? You had a great opportunity and all of you couldn't bring me down." Zoe snapped.

Sokka was silenced. Toph struggled for a couple of moments. Then she subsided.

"Iroh, stop looking at me like that." Zoe snapped. Suddenly the cart stopped. Azula came into the cart handing Zoe six blindfolds.

"Blindfold them." Azula demanded. Zoe glared at her.



"I'm on your side. But I'm not your servant." Zoe replied as she threw three blindfolds back. Azula grunted. Together the two girls blindfolded the gang. Zoe grabbed Toph and Zuko. Azula grabbed Iroh and Aang. Hama grabbed Sokka and Katara.

"Smart put a blindfold so I can't see when I'm blind." Toph yelled.

"Oh shut up!" Zoe snapped. Zuko felt his blood boil. No one talks to his friends like that.

"Why don't you?" Zuko snapped back. Zoe pushed the two and they started walking.

"Oh my God Zuzu you are so clever. How do you do it?" Zoe replied coolly. Zuko heard large gates open. His blindfold was ripped off. He heard the rest of the Gang's blindfold being ripped off. In front of him was a large fire and a throne. The man that occupied it stood up. He raised his hands and the fire parted. The man stepped down. Zuko looked down until he saw the man's feet.

"Hello Zuko." The man's voice was cold. Zuko felt a chill crawl down his spine. Zuko spit at the ground.

"Is that the way you should greet your Father?"