Chapter Six : Old friends
Iroh was surprised and worried with the latest letter. Toph had been next to him as he read it.
"Is everything alright?" she mused as she played with a rock.
"Zuko was poisoned." he sighed.
Everyone in the room froze, even Sokka. "Is he alright?" Sokka asked in concern.
"Yes, Miss Katara saved him using her blood bending." he sighed in relief. "I didn't even know it was possible to blood bend."
"Well, Toph's a metal bender." Sokka said with relief evident on his face. "I'm glad Katara came to terms with her ability though. She was torn apart after she learned it."
Toph eyed him cautiously. "You okay Snoozles?"
"Yeah, why?"
"You asked if Zuko was okay." Aang smirked. "And you said Katara's name without flipping out. Where's Ty Lee?"
Sokka smiled. "She went to the circus for a few days. Azula's headed there. And Zuko's been watching out for Katara. As much as I wish it was me, he's doing a good job of keeping her in her place. More than I could anyway." he sighed. "Besides, it's only a few weeks until they get here."
Everyone stared at him as if he'd grown an extra head. He just continued to eat his breakfast as if what he said was the most normal thing in the world.
Katara and Zuko walked out of the inn with their bags in hand. The towns people were out and about. When they passed the diner, several people dropped to their knees in front of Zuko.
"We apologize for our foolishness, sir." a girl, the one Katara singled out, begged forgiveness.
Zuko glanced to Katara. "I see the Painted Lady passed judgment. I will forgive you this once. But remember, I am not the Painted Lady. Receiving my forgiveness will do nothing if you continue on with what you've been doing."
The girl gazed up at the couple in awe. "She must have saved you from our treachery. No fire bender ever survived the hemlock poison." she whispered.
Zuko cast a glance around. "It's a shame she couldn't save more." he sadly stated. "Come Rivlyn, our stay here has been tarnished enough. The Painted Lady will watch them."
Katara nodded and bit down to hide her smirk as men cowered at the sight of her. Zuko raised an eyebrow to her in question. "Later." she whispered to his silent question.
As they reached the woods on the outside of town, Katara giggled. He glanced at her in amusement. "What?"
"Nothing." she smirked. "Well, played husband of mine."
"Mind telling me why all those men were cowering away from you?" he raised an eyebrow.
She gave him a crooked smile. "Did you ever see a girl my size carrying someone your size through a town, after demanding answers from an entire kitchen staff?"
He looked at her in surprise. "You really did carry me! How? You're... tiny!"
She mock glared at him. "I may be tiny, but I can carry my own weight."
He shook his head. "And then some. The next town should be the last. It's a port city. We'll be back with the others early. Unless you wanted a vacation."
She smiled. "No, I think we should get back to our families. And I think the brothers should be the ones to surprise them. I want to make sure they've been training."
"Won't your earth bender know it's us?" he smirked.
She winked. "How far is this port city?"
"It'll take a day to get there."
"Screw this." she dropped her bag and pulled out her "Brother" attire. "Get those fancy robes off you." She ducked behind a bush to pull the dress off. "Damn. Z-Li, come here."
He walked around the bush to see her in baggy pants and her chest wrappings. She caught his blush. "Oh stop. Hold this up just in case. I need to tighten this thing to hide these stupid things. They had to grow now." she complained.
"What are you talking...s-sorry!" He pulled his head back behind the dress and blushed furiously.
He jumped when it was ripped out of his hands, only to meet the angry face of Katara. "I hope you enjoyed the show Princess." she growled.
"I'm sorry! I didn't know what you were talking about!" He pleaded.
"You can't tell me you've never seen a girls... breasts." she scoffed.
"Well, not really." he said quietly.
She stopped. "What did you and Mai do? Hold hands?" when he turned the other way she stared. "Unbelievable. Did you kiss at all?" she tucked her hair up under her wig.
He stuck his chin out. "Yes, a few times. Why does it matter?"
She shook her head and stuffed her dress back into the pack along with his robes. "First thing I'm telling your uncle is to give you the talk." She pulled on a tunic and slung her packs over her back. "Let's go princess."
He growled in frustration as he grabbed his packs and followed. "Did you ever do more than kissing?" he snapped.
She smirked. "Of course not. I'm not allowed."
He stared at her. "Why?"
"Ever travel with an overprotective brother? That and I tend to ...scare men away. I've only been kissed twice. Neither which I prefer to remember." she scowled.
Zuko was silent for awhile. "Kissed by two separate guys or two different times?"
She raised an eye brow. "Why the sudden curiosity? Two guys, princess. You?"
"Only two girls." he blushed. "The first one was uncle's fault."
"I'd have thought you'd have all kinds of ladies lined up to get in bed with you." she snickered. She felt her stomach growl and sat down. "Lunch. Once the sun starts setting, we'll make camp."
"You're going to sleep out in the woods, and you don't even know if it's safe?" he scoffed.
She patted one of her bags. "Covered. Sokka's not the only inventor." she smirked.
"Uncle was right, women are insane." he muttered, but she heard.
"Too bad Sokka was wrong about men only wanting one thing." she laughed at his perplexed expression. "Forget it. Eat, and we'll move on."
"Ty Lee!" Azula's voice called across the grounds.
Ty Lee stuck her head out of the tent. "Azula?" she blinked and smiled broadly before running up to her friend and hugging her. "What are you doing here? I thought you'd be relaxing in the palace."
"Mai wanted to see you in action." Azula said with a nasty smile. "Is there a show today?"
Ty Lee shook her head. "No, our next show isn't for a week." she smiled. "But I can see if we can do a special one for you!" She bounded off toward the ring master's tent.
Mai watched her sadly. "She's here. Does that mean you won't hurt her?"
Azula sighed. "I suppose I'll leave her be. She'd be useless during the eclipse anyway. We'll just watch one show, and see if she's seen or heard anything about Zuko."
Mai nodded. "I'm glad you're leaving her behind. She gets out of hand when she's bored, Azula." Azula nodded as she saw Ty Lee cartwheeling towards them.
"We can have a show ready in ten minutes." she beamed. "Oh! Wait till you see the new boy! He's fantastic."
Katara tripped over what she thought was a root. But later found it to be the remains of an old trap. She dug it up and examined it closely, she knew Zuko was watching her curiously.
"What are you doing?" He mused. "Just leave it?"
She smiled as she picked up a heavy stick tossing it straight in front where she was kneeling down. The stick land and a loud snap was heard crushing it.
"Really want to leave them here for some unsuspecting soul to stumble onto?" she smirked at his horrified face.
"That would have snapped a leg in half." he whispered. "How many do you suppose."
She glanced around. "Well, that was how many paces?"
He carefully walked over to the other trap and picked it up. "About ten." he said as he tugged the chain and found which way the next one lay. "It's leading somewhere. Look!"
She drew her hooked swords. "I'm not so sure about that." she pointed to a clump further down the trail. "Looks like these traps are used to feed something... big."
"You are correct." Came a deep voice from above them.
Katara put her back to Zuko's as she watched men drop from the trees. She kept her swords at the ready and heard Zuko draw his. She looked at them carefully, and almost gasped when she recognized them.
"Freedom Fighters." she said softly. "What are you doing out here in the Fire Nation?"
Two of the taller men stepped aside to allow a familiar face to show. "We're headed to help the Avatar." he smirked. "Nice swords. How well do you use them."
"Jet!" Zuko growled causing Katara to gasp.
"You know him, brother?" she said realizing Jet wouldn't recognize her in this disguse. Zuko growled in response.
Jet smirked. "Li, so good to see you again. How's your uncle?"
Jet cooed drawing his swords, he drew back only to be blocked by Katara's swords.
"It's you and me Jet." she snarled. "If you're so bent on helping the Avatar, why do you have these traps set?"
Jet eyed her suspiciously. "Do I know you?"
"Shut up and fight, Jet."
Jet waved the rest of the fighters off and Zuko grabbed for her. "What are you doing?" he hissed. "This kid is insane!"
She shook the hair out of her eyes. "Don't worry. I've beat him before." she whispered.
Jet smirked. "Are you brothers or lovers?" he called.
Katara pushed Zuko back and lunged at Jet. "Why are you still attacking innocent people?" she said catching him off guard.
He blocked and attempted to go on the offensive, but she was way too fast. He decided to take his opponent to his level. He hooked one of his swords into a branch and swung up. He smirked when he realized the boy wasn't following, but it was wiped away quickly as he felt a kick to his chest knock him out of the trees.
He landed on his back in front of the freedom fighters and the boy's brother. "Where is he?" He growled trying to sit up.
"Your ribs are broken, Jet." Katara dropped in front of him. "I won't heal them unless you tell me why you set these traps."
Zuko put a hand on her shoulder and she shrugged him off. As she ripped the wig off. Jet's eyes grew wide as he realized who he'd been fighting.
"K-katara!" he choked out. "You don't understand. The fire nation over took Ba Sing Se! We're just trying to even out our numbers!"
"You..." she pointed her sword at him. "You should do more research before you go around killing innocent people. This island is a combination of earth, fire, water, and AIR benders! They have been hiding the air benders for years and you don't even have the brains to think not all fire nation is bad! When I saw you last you said you'd changed." she shot a nasty look to Zuko who looked down. "Or is that what all the guys say to get a girl to fall for them."
Jet was shocked. "I... I didn't know! How were we supposed to know they were helping other nations!"
Katara looked around to all the other freedom fighters. "Is this the kind of life you want to live? Killing people without knowing whether they've done anything or not? Are you so brainless to follow someone else's orders without question? Smellerbee, I know you and Longshot have witnessed first hand that it's not just fire nation that is evil."
The small girl bowed her head along with Longshot. "Yes, we have. We'd still like to help the Avatar. Pipsqueak and The Duke already went off to help."
She frowned. "I'd need to know your loyalties. I am traveling with a very powerful fire bender. Soon to be fire lord."
Everyone turned to stare at him. "Katara..." he hissed.
One man stepped forward and bowed. "It would be an honor to serve you Prince Zuko." he said honestly.
Zuko stared in horror as the rest of them bowed to him and Katara. "What's going on?" he whispered.
She shrugged as she looked down at Jet. "If I heal you, you will not attack anyone in this clearing." He nodded as she bent down to heal the battered ribs. "What will you do Jet? Continue on with your mission to kill innocent people, or will you right your ways?"
Jet sighed. "I will follow you to the ends of the earth. I will never again hurt those who do not deserve it." He sat up smiling gently.
Zuko heard it all, and for some reason he felt jealous when he saw her smile back. "Katara, we can't take all these people with us. They'll have to meet us after we get the others."
She turned and frowned. "Zuko's right. It would be odd to have a large group traveling together." she said turning back to Jet. "Do you have somewhere we can stay for the night?" she glanced up into the trees.
Jet smirked. "Of course. Freedom fighters home!" He stood as the rest of the fighters disappeared into the trees. He pulled a rope down and held a hand out for Katara. "Going up." he smiled.
She shook her head. "We'll get up on our own Jet." she said turning to Zuko. "I need to speak with Zuko."
He narrowed his eyes at Zuko. "Suit yourselves." He swung into the trees.
She turned to see Zuko glaring at the trees. "What's the matter?" she demanded.
"Nothing." he said coldly. "I just don't trust him."
"That makes two of us." she snapped. "Just watch your back around him. He might say he's changed, but we all know how that goes."
She hooked her blades in the branch above her swinging into the trees, leaving him feeling even more guilty. When he reached the top, he was surprised to find a whole town in the trees. He glanced around for Katara and found her sitting on a branch near him replacing her wig.
"Ready, brother?" she smirked.
He nodded his head as she tossed him a hooked blade and zipped down the line to a large tree house. He followed her, handing her back her sword once they touched down.
"What is this place?" he mumbled.
Katara was about to answer, but Jet interrupted. "This is our haven. We have several around the world. Katara, where exactly are we supposed to meet up with you? And when?"
"Call a court with your highness ranking fighters." She said. "Zuko and I will need a place to stay until dawn."
Jet was taken aback by her forwardness. "You've changed."
"Is that a bad thing?" Zuko demanded.
"No, it's just strange to see her taking charge and not playing mother." he smirked. "You handle those swords well, Katara."
"Shut up and call your fighters." she snapped.
Zuko watched her carefully as Jet jumped off into the trees. "Did I miss something? Do you know him?"
She turned her narrowed eyes to him. "Yes, I know him. He's a liar. But he's a good fighter. It's just now I have to watch my back more often."
Zuko gave her a crooked smile. "What? I thought you were watching your back because of me."
She punched him in the arm. "Shut up. Even though you're a spoiled brat, the reasons you pissed me off are understandable. Jet, he's..."
"Insane." Zuko finished.
She nodded as seven people landed around them. "Where's Jet?"
Smellerbee shrugged. "I guess he's getting your room prepared. What's the plan?"
"I'm not saying anything until Jet gets here."
"I'm here. Everyone inside." He smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes as he watched Zuko.
Once everyone was settled in, Katara got to work. "How many freedom fighters are there?"
Jet scratched his chin. "There's fifty in this camp. Smellerbee's been to the others recently. I've been here healing."
Katara turned to Smellerbee. "There's about twenty-five camps spread out throughout the earth kingdom. Plus we have this one and four others in the fire nation."
"How many in each camp?" Katara brushed her bangs out of her eyes and started to scribble on some paper.
Zuko took the brush and paper. "I'll write. You talk."
She smiled at him. "Thanks." she missed Jet's heated glare.
Smellerbee was counting the camps and she finally smiled. "I'll write you a list, but I know for a fact that it's at least fifty a camp."
Katara smirked. "Sokka is going to kick himself when he realizes he left out a major fighting force."
Smellerbee gasped as she finished writing out the count. "We... we have eleven hundred and fifteen fighters all together." Jet turned to stare.
"I... I had no idea." he muttered.
Zuko blinked. "Aren't you their leader? Shouldn't you know how many fighters you have?"
"Smellerbee and Longshot take care of that." Jet sighed. "I've been... out of commission for awhile."
Katara shook her head. "If you intend to be a good leader, you might want to make a few rounds. Sokka is planning an invasion on the day of black sun. It's in four weeks, a month before the comet."
Zuko's head shot up. "Azula knows. When they were dressed as the Kyoshi Warriors the Earth King blabbed it to her. I overhead her talking to my fa- Fire Lord Ozai."
Katara tapped her fingers on the table. "Then, we'll need a back up plan. Smellerbee, how many of your people can blend in as fire nation?"
Smellerbee looked at her list. "Well, sorry Jet, the four around the capitol are all fire nation refugees that are against the war. They can blend in perfectly. Most of the people here can as well. But we'll have to send people out to the other camps. So, two sixty five minus about thirty people. I'll take Longshot and we'll round up this camp and the ones around the capitol."
Zuko and Jet watched to two women closely. "Hey L-Zuko, I think we've been overthrown."
For the first time since the ferry to Ba Sing Se, Zuko agreed with the boy. "I see that." he handed him a piece of paper and brush. "Wanna play secretary?" Jet snickered and took the paper.
"Bee, do you think you could get in to the servants quarters like I said?" Katara's voice brought the boys back to reality.
Smellerbee smirked. "Of course. It's an excellent plan. There are a few women that can go with me."
"Wait! We missed something! Go back!" Zuko interrupted.
Katara raised an eyebrow. "It wasn't for you to hear." she winked. "How long will it take to round everyone up? If they're expecting the invasion on black sun, I don't want to send in our strongest force first."
Smellerbee read through her notes. "It'll take a week to round everyone up. We'll be in the camps around the capitol four days before the invasion. Will that be enough time?"
Katara nodded. "That's perfect. Now, I just need to get to Sokka. We told them we'd be there in a few days."
Zuko bit his tongue. "Is that everything then?" when Katara and Smellerbee nodded he sighed. "I suggest we all get some food and rest. We're going to have a busy few weeks."
Jet narrowed his eyes at Zuko and opened his mouth to snap something, but Katara beat him to it. "Bee, would that be alright? Zuko and I still have to stop somewhere before we meet up with Sokka."
Smellerbee nodded. "Twitty, go get them some food. I'll show them to their room." she said standing.
"Hey!" Jet shouted.
Longshot stood in front of him. "You need to earn your leadership back. You are still our leader, but you've lost sight of what's important."
"For someone who rarely ever talks, you sure are rude when you do." Jet sighed. "I'll head out tonight to our camps in the earth kingdom. Who wants to come along?"
Katara turned. "You will stay and rest for tonight Jet. Everyone will." He was about to interject when Smellerbee turned and gave him that look every man hated.
Zuko who was still next to him leaned over. "It's worse when you can't see where their eyes are looking..." he whispered.
"I heard that!" Katara said pointing to the door. "Zuko come here."
"Well, maybe she didn't give up on the mother thing." was that last thing Zuko heard from Jet's mouth before they left for their room.
Hakoda sighed as he received a letter from his son explaining what had been happening. He was upset that Katara was foolish enough to split from the group, but after the second letter from Sokka he calmed.
Now, he laughed as he thought back to what Bato said about a fire bender asking for Katara's hand. If her and this Zuko continued to accompany each other across the world he'd most likely be the one.
"What are you laughing about?" Bato sat down with a grunt and handed him another letter.
"A fire bender asking for Katara's hand. I believe it might happen." he chuckled.
"You might want to read that letter then. It's from her." Bato smirked.
"Invasion is not secret. Earth King told Azula thinking she was Suki before the fall of Ba Sing Se. Meet four days before the invasion in the usual place. My companion and I will be meeting up with the others shortly. Miss you. And no, I am not going to marry him. Him, referring to any that asked. Love Kata"
He laughed as he finished reading it. "That girl is too smart for her own good."
Bato laughed slightly, but felt uneasy. "If they know about the invasion..."
"I believe that girl has something up her sleeve." Hakoda sighed. "I knew there was a reason she split from the group. Now, she has a personal guide from the fire nation. Just hope he knows to keep his hands to himself." he ended with a smirk.
Bato blinked. "Are you threatening the boy or praying for him?"
"Both."
Katara woke the next morning to find dark brown eyes watching her. She glanced over to see Zuko still sleeping.
"What is it Jet?" she whispered swinging out of her hammock.
He grabbed her arm and pulled her out of the room. "Just wanted to say good bye. A few of us are heading out before the sun comes up." He leaned in to kiss her and she turned her head to the side. His lips caught her cheek. "Oh." was all he said before drawing back. "Goodbye, Katara."
Katara walked back into the room and slammed the door so hard it broke off its hinges. Zuko, who had been watching the interaction, jumped when he heard the door break. He jumped up into his stance and froze when he saw Katara's shoulders shaking as she faced the broken door.
"Katara?" He said carefully turning her to face him. "What's got you all worked up?"
She looked up at him angrily. "Jet was my first kiss. He used me to destroy a village. Played off my emotions. And just now he tried to kiss me again!" Angry tears slipped out of her eyes as Zuko pulled her into a tight hug.
Now he knew why she was so cold towards the boy. And why he always got an uneasy feeling with the looks Jet sent her way. He let her cry quietly into his shoulder, but as he was about to say something to calm her, but she pushed away.
"Don't even think about trying what he did. Trying to use me to get what you want and then some!" she spat. "If you are just sticking with me to get the avatar, then leave!"
He watched her get hysterical as she threw her tantrum, but when she accused him of betraying her he lost his cool. He grabbed her roughly and pinned her against the wall. Keeping her hands tightly tangled in his and her legs pinned between his.
She stared at him in surprise. "What are you doing?" she said coming out of her anger.
"Listen and listen well." he said dangerously. "If I were going to turn on you, I'd have done it. I could have had my way with you several times before when you were too exhausted to make it back to the room. I took care not to undress you more than what was acceptable. As for the avatar, I don't want him as an enemy. I would never have gotten my honor back using him." He breathed deeply and opened his eyes to see her staring at him in awe. "What?"
"I'm sorry." she said quietly. "I didn't mean to accuse you."
"What happened to the door?" Smellerbee said stepping into the room and freezing. "Oh. I'm...sorry."
Katara frowned and glanced at their awkward position and how close his face was to hers, before blushing. "Bee, it's not what you think. We were having an argument. He was keeping me from bending."
Zuko let go of her as if she'd shocked him. She felt cold when he moved away from her. She shook her head and decided to think about it later. Zuko was packing up his things and pulling out his robes and a dress for her, along with her make up.
"Sorry about the door." Katara said shyly. "Is there something you needed?"
Smellerbee blushed as she saw Zuko pulling out the knots in Katara's hair before running the brush through it. If Jet tried to break them up, she'd tear him apart. "I'll come back later." She blushed.
Katara raised an eyebrow as she tilted her head back to Zuko.
"What was that about?" he asked her, but she only shrugged. "We don't have a mirror." He noted.
She giggled as she waved her hand forming a sheet of ice to look in to do her make up. He finished her hair and grabbed his robes to change into, but he left the buttons undone. He wasn't going to fight with them. She finished her make up and pulled her dress on, allowing him to tie the corset.
"I swear, your fire nation women are crazy." she groaned.
He chuckled. "All women are crazy."
She spun around and smacked his chest. "Are not." she said as she buttoned the robes. "Wonder how far that port city is. I think we should just take inventory for now. If it's bad, then we'll deal with it."
"Why is that?" He said trying to tie his shoes.
"I figured we could always take a little vacation to sweep through the fire nation once Ozai is out of the picture." She smirked. "Besides, you need to see how your nation runs. Iroh can run the country for a little while we set things right."
Zuko blinked at her. "Are you serious?" he smiled. "You'd do that. You'd stay a little longer to help me get my nation back on its feet."
She brushed dust off of her dress. "Sure. Why wouldn't I?" She saw Smellerbee waiting outside. "Come on. We'd better go."
Zuko watched as she stepped outside and began speaking with the tomboy. He saw her turn and wave him to her. "Grab my hooks, please." she called.
He threw two packs on his back and grabbed her swords. "What about your packs?" he said as he stepped out handing her the swords.
She sat the hooks down and threw the packs on her back. "Thanks for your help, Bee. Be safe where you're going." She hugged the girl.
Smellerbee hugged her back. "See you on the inside." the girl winked before turning to Zuko. "Keep her safe." she whispered as she gave him an ackward hug.
He nodded. "Who'll keep her from killing me though." he joked.
"Come on princess!" Katara said hooking one of the zip lines that would drop them at the edge of the woods. "I want to get to this town and get some breakfast."
Smellerbee giggled as Longshot stepped up beside her and gave her a look that said exactly what she'd thought earlier. "Jet best back off." Was what they both thought.
Zuko hooked the other hook just behind her. "Ready, Lady Rivlyn."
She spun around to look at him. "Oh no. You're not going behind me." she shook her head and unhooked her blade from the line moving to the next. "We're racing!" She heard two laughs behind her before kicking off and leaving a stunned Zuko behind.
"Hey! Cheater!"
Sokka was bored. He asked Iroh if he he could teach him fire bending stances. The old man agreed, even if he was a little curious, he thought it was great the young man was learning different forms. He'd gone through most of his sets, and even some Ty Lee taught him. But it wasn't any fun without someone to practice with.
"Hey Snoozles." Toph said sitting down next to him. "Wanna learn some earth bending? I heard you ask the dragon to teach you fire bending. Twinkle Toes said he'd teach you some air bending once his lessons were over."
Sokka perked up. "Alright. But you're not going to throw rocks at me are you?" he said getting up.
Toph tilted her head. "Of course I am. How else will you learn?"
Sokka pulled out his club. "Just no boulders, please. You throw them I'll try and hit them."
She cracked her knuckles. "Widen your stance. All I'd have to do is..." she stomped her foot and he tumbled over. "Wider. Earth bending stance is like a fire bending stance. Just lower. Good. Ready?"
"Ready." he said nervously.
They never noticed the other two watching them from above. One of Sokka's hits flew up over the wall and landed between Aang and Iroh, which caused them to look over the wall. Any other wild shots Aang dispersed of, but they were content in watching this game.
"That boy is very eager to learn." Iroh commented.
"It's a shame he's not a bender." Aang smiled sadly. "He'd have been great."
"I don't think he takes it as a handicap." Iroh smiled watching Sokka hit one right at Toph's head and appologizing as she caught it inches from her face.
She dropped it and pulled a ribbon from her pocket. "Let's make this fair." she said as she walked up to him.
Sokka not wanting to anger her, knelt down and allowed her to tie the blindfold on. Above, Iroh and Aang glanced at each other nervously both wishing Katara was there. At least she'd be able to heal Sokka's wounds.
If anyone had been walking through the woods that day, they'd have sworn they heard the spirits romping around in the trees. Had they looked up, they'd have seen a blur of white and red being followed by a larger blur of black and gold.
Zuko watched from behind as her dress flowed out behind her, making her look like an angel in flight. Her high pitched laughs brought a smile to his face, as he raced past her.
The zip cord ended after a short while and he landed in a crouched position waiting for Katara. She zipped up and flipped off the line landing in the same position.
She stood up smiling brightly. "That was fun!"
He smirked as he took in her wind blown hair. "Yes, but now your hair is all mess up."
Her hand flew to her hair. "Oh no! Fix it!"
He scoffed. "I'm not your hair dresser." He spun her around and made quick work of her fly away hair. "All better. Now, let's go. You were the one who was so hungry."
He handed her the hook he had, and held out his arm for her to take. The zip lines placed them at the edge of the town to their surprise. As they walked in, Katara noticed how dreary it was.
"Why is this place so different from the rest?" She whispered.
Zuko looked around and spotted a fire nation rig in the port. "Because this is an all fire nation town. I'm guessing they sent the others further inland to protect them."
She shivered as she heard a voice she had come to hate. "Load the coal and let's get out of this dump!"
Katara felt Zuko stiffen next to her. "Sh. Relax." she soothed. "We'll stay here until she leaves."
He turned to look at her and noticed a woman waving to him. "Do you know that woman?" he whispered.
Katara looked over and beamed. "Come on. We can go there until Azula leaves."
He allowed her to pull him to the woman's house. "How do you know she's safe?" he hissed.
"Look at her pin. It's a white lotus." She shot back quietly as they reached the house. "Thank you." she said as she ducked in.
The woman smiled as she shut the door and locked it. "My name is Ling. I saw Princess Azula pull in late last night. She was searching for you, Prince Zuko. I know you two are the Twins, but you must get to the air temple before Azula does."
Katara paled. "Why is she going there?"
"She knows Uncle took me there after my banishment." he said through clenched teeth. "Is there somewhere we can change?" He asked Ling.
She nodded and pointed to the back room. "Back there. There's a secret room behind the painting of the white lotus plant. Go in there in case Princess Azula stops in."
They grabbed their bags and rushed back into the back room, finding the secret room and shutting themselves in. Zuko quickly undid the corsett, but instead of taking the dress off she turned and undid his buttons in one swift movement.
"How are you going to get that make up off?" He hissed looking around for water.
She moved her hands around and pulled water from the air. "Find me something to put it in." He dumped out the bags and found a gourde bowl and handed it to her. She made a mirror out of ice and started scrubbing her face.
Zuko dug out her 'brother' outfit and his black outfit, stuffing everything back in except the masks and swords. When he looked up she was shimming out of her dress. He turned his back and slipped into his black outfit, only to turn when she called to him.
"Zuko." she whispered.
He turned to see her holding her bindings to her chest. "What?"
"They broke." she said in a panic. "Do you have anything I can use?"
He shook his head. "Maybe I can fix them?" he said in an odd voice.
She grabbed her tunic and threw it on pulling the bindings off and tossing them to him. She pulled on her shoes quietly and tucked her hair up into the wig.
He sighed and looked up at her. "They can't be fixed." He blinked when he realized that without bindings she had a very girly figure.
"Damnit." She hissed. The wall moved and Ling stepped in carefully.
"Azula's walking this way. Her friend saw you walking in." she said in a worried voice. She blinked as she saw the two of them. "Heavens, you look like siblings."
"Ling, you don't have any bindings do you?" Katara asked nervously. "Mine broke."
Ling looked down at the frayed bindings. "I can go out and get some." She said pocketing the bindings and sneaking out another door.
Katara crossed her arms over her chest and glared down at them. "You had to grow now." she scowled. She snapped her head up and glared at Zuko when she heard him chuckling. "What?"
"I thought girls liked having those." he snickered.
"Most girls do, I suppose. But not girls who are attempting to fool their enemies in to thinking they're a boy." she sighed. "They only get in the way. And frankly, I intend to keep them hidden as much as possible."
He tilted his head. "Why? The men will be drooling over you." He mentally slapped himself. She'd get the wrong idea if he kept blurting things out like that.
She blushed. "That's exactly what I don't want. I'm old enough to marry in a month." She frowned. "The day of black sun is my birthday."
"What a way to spend your birthday." Zuko said solemnly already trying to find a way to keep her out of harms way.
"Yea, tell me about it. I doubt anyone will remember." she sighed. "I just hope I don't lose anyone I care about."
"Ka-"
They heard a knock on the front door and froze. Zuko put out the candle and pulled Katara close to him. They listen as the knocking persisted, both knowing Azula would kick the door in if it wasn't answered. The secret door was opened and something was thrown in. Katara felt around on the floor for the bindings as she heard Ling out in front of her house.
"Princess Azula, what an honor it is to see you again." Ling's voice carried. "I'm sorry I was out back in my garden."
"Zuko." Katara whispered frantically. "I need a small flame. I can't find the bindings."
He lit a small flame barely bigger than that of a candle. "I can't keep it lit though." She nodded when she found two rolls of bindings and shoved one in her bag, dragging them next to them. "Ready?"
"Okay, put it out." she hissed tugging the tunic up and over her head.
Zuko was grateful it was dark. He felt his face heat up the second she bared her midsection. He felt her hand searching the floor for something and jumped when she grabbed his hand placing it on her side.
"Move that hand any higher and you'll lose it." She warned quietly. "It's harder to do this in the dark."
Again his face heated up, but he said nothing. He just listened to Ling out in her front room entertaining Azula. He hoped Azula didn't hurt this woman. Katara grabbed his hand and squeezed it.
"It'll be okay." she whispered. "I'm done." She pulled her tunic back on. "We need to get on Azula's ship."
"What?" he asked staring in her direction.
"If they're headed to the air temple already, we can sabotage her ship on the way." she beamed. "Of course, we can't do it till they stop at the temple, but they have Toph. She'll sense Azula and they'll hide." Hopefully, she thought.
He nodded, but realized she wouldn't see it. "It's a good idea, but how do you plan to sneak on in broad daylight."
Zuko felt water drip onto his hand and realized she was kneeling in front of him. "You're not afraid to swim are you?"
He smirked. "The water will be freezing." A loud bang from outside the room had them freezing. "She set the house on fire!" He gasped.
Katara jumped up angrily only to be pulled back against Zuko. "Let me go! Ling's out there!" She growled.
"So is Azula." he stated. "I know she's waiting to see if we're... I'm in here. Ling's a fire bender. She can keep the flames away from herself as long as Azula stands outside. She probably has people stationed around the house as well."
Katara dug her nails into his arm. "There's not enough moisture in the air for me to protect myself from the fire."
He noticed she was actually starting to panic. "Calm down. Ling might be pushing the fire away from us. But we'll need wet rags to cover our mouths to keep the smoke out of our lungs."
She blindly felt around in her bag for something to use and ripped it the first thing she found. Soaking them through she tied one around her nose and mouth and handed Zuko the other one.
"Oh no!" she pointed to the smoke entering the room. Small flames licked the floor under the door. "I'm going to get Ling." But he grabbed her as the door burst open and Ling stumbled in.
"The house is surrounded." Ling coughed. "I may be a bender, but I'm old."
Zuko jumped up and ran out into the burning rooms. He returned seconds later with two heavy blankets soaked with water. "We'll have to let the house burn. They won't leave until it does." he said tossing the blankets around the women.
Ling stood up and pushed a rug back. "Get in. I'll come back for you two." She pushed them down into the cellar along with their bags, swords, and masks and slammed the door shut. They heard something heavy drop on top of the hatch and her footsteps retreating through the house.
"Will she really survive?" Katara asked warily.
"If she's a lotus member." Zuko stated. "Uncle always said there was always help... I can't remember what he said, but Lotus members aren't easy to get rid of."
They heard the fire spreading throughout the house and waited.
Azula watched the house burn halfway before getting bored. "Guards, stay and watch it burn. If anyone comes out kill them." She turned and walked back to the ship with Mai.
Several of the guards shifted in their places, before one man ran forward into the house. The other guards stood stiffly, they all knew this was walking a fine line between humanity and animal-ism. Six more guards ran in after him. The only two left outside stood guard watching for Azula.
Several minutes passed until the eight returned. The first man was carrying the old woman. She was unconscious from the smoke. The other two watched nervously as he walked to the healing hut and left her there. No one saw the two figures slip away into the shadows towards the beach.
Zuko stood as close to Katara as he could as they walked along the bottom of the ocean towards the ship. He watched the fish swimming around outside the bubble that kept them from drowning.
"I hope there's not a sea serpent this time. I don't have Toph to raise us up." she mused.
"You've done this before?" He leaned forward a little to look at her face.
"We needed to get across Serpent's Pass." she said offhandedly. "That was mild compared to some of the things we've been through." She sighed remembering back to her little family.
"What else have you done?" he smirked.
"Well, there was the serpent. The giant spirit owl trying to bury us alive. The pirates, you were there for part of that." she smirked. "We rode hog monkeys, and let me tell you they don't like it. Ooh! We got attacked by a swamp. We even met a few hippies that took us through the cave of two lovers..." she stopped.
"You'll have to tell me all your adventures sometime." he snickered.
"Yea, and you can tell me yours." she looked up and spotted the shadow of the ship. "We're here. Hold on to me while I bend us up."
He wrapped his arms around her waist, ignoring the blush on both his and her cheeks. She lifted them up to a port hole big enough to fit them both.
"You're lucky this isn't Azula or Mai's room." He whispered.
She bended the water from their clothes and off the floor. "Looks like a storage hatch. Will we be able to stay here till they reach the temple?"
"If we stay hidden. It'll probably take until night fall to get there." Zuko said sitting behind some crates. "We might as well eat now so we have energy."
She nodded and dug out some fruit, bread, and water. "We should take a short nap as well."
He nodded and pulled some netting down to hide them better. He knew it was dangerous to be on his sisters ship. But he also knew it was dangerous to allow his sister near the avatar.
Ty Lee rushed toward the temple as fast as she could. Even the Lotus members couldn't get her there before Azula. She knew she'd be blowing her cover once Azula saw her. She blew her bangs out of her face and let out a growl. The sun had just set, Azula would be entering the temple. She only hoped Toph would sense them.
Zuko was jolted awake when he felt the anchor drop. He went to move his arm, but found it numb. Glancing down he saw Katara asleep against him, swords in her lap in case they'd been spotted.
"Katara." he whispered shaking her awake. "We're here."
She sat up quickly rubbing her eyes and dragging her packs toward her. "I have some things that will help sabotage the ship." she yawned.
He rubbed his numb arm. "What do these do?"
"Oh, they're not explosive." she smirked. "Not right away anyhow. They're timed bombs. She'll get halfway to the capitol before they explode." she saw him look down. "Zuko, I know she's your sister, but look what she's doing now. She'd kill you the second she saw you."
He sighed. "I know. I have uncle." he took one of the little bug like devices. "They look like beetle bees."
She turned one over and showed him a button. "Push that, and they find the best place to wait until time runs out. She won't know what hit her. There's about twenty of them, so help me set them off."
As they set the beetle bees and watched them skitter away, they heard the crew leaving the ship. Zuko gave Katara an anxious look and she smiled back warily.
"They'll be fine." she said to comfort herself more than him.
"So..." he looked for a new topic until they could leave safely. "What if your father finds you a suitor?"
Her head shot up as she set the last beetle bee. "He won't. Not only do they have to ask my father permission, but they have to ask my bending master. Besides, the water tribe men are afraid of me. I'm not woman enough." she smiled sadly. "What about you? Will you go back to Mai once this is over?"
"No. I probably won't marry."
"Why the hell not?" she gawked.
"Who would marry someone like me." He stood. "It's time."
She frowned. "Fine, but don't think this conversation is over, Princess." she pushed past him and opened the window. "Come on." She hooked two bags over her shoulders as he took her swords and the other two packs. "This will be difficult. So hold on tight."
Sokka was sitting on a balcony when he saw it. He saw the ship's smoke drawing near. He watched as the anchor dropped, and took off to warn the others.
Aang, Toph, and Iroh were sitting around the fire trading stories when he tripped into camp. They all looked up in amusement as he untangled himself from a vine around his ankle.
"Is everything alright?" Iroh mused.
"There's a fire nation ship anchored off the shore." he panted finally releasing his ankle. "What do you want to do? We could take Appa and go, or we can wait here and fight."
Aang looked over to Iroh. "How did they know?"
Iroh shook his head. "They know I brought Zuko here after his banishment. They may just be searching for him. I suggest we leave."
Sokka nodded and stood. "I'll get Appa."
"No." Toph said. "We don't have time. They're already on the hidden stairwell."
Aang looked down sadly. "Then we fight. Toph, how long till they reach us."
"How about now." came the sickening voice of Azula. "Guards, take the traitor. Mai and I will deal with this riffraff."
The tension was broken by Toph's loud laugh. "Did I hear right? The fire princess used the word 'riffraff'. What's this world coming to? The guards are actually Dai Li agents in disguise?"
Azula's frown turned cruel. "Well, for a blind girl, you sure are smart."
Rocks shot from the ground towards Toph, signaling the start of the battle. Sokka was fighting off seven fire nation warriors and holding his own. Toph took on the Dai Li agents, most of them being thrown off the cliffs. Iroh and Aang were facing the remaining fire benders and warriors.
Katara and Zuko were sitting up on a ledge hidden behind the overgrown vines, watching the battle go on and Azula standing back with Mai. Zuko saw a flash of silver and growled when he saw Mai ready to aim for the blind girl. Before Katara could stop him, he jumped down and knocked Mai off her feet.
Azula watched in boredom as Zuko wrestled the knife our of Mai's hand. "Why, Zuzu. I knew I'd find you here. I never would have thought to find you with the Avatar and his friends." she cooed.
Mai froze when she realized just who had her pinned face first into the ground. "Get off me!" she shouted.
The earth shook before anyone could do anything every guard Azula brought with her, was thrown over the cliff. Toph sat with a smirk on her dirty face, as Iroh was being held up by Aang and Sokka. He wasn't in the least winded, but Azula didn't need to know that.
"Fine, I guess I picked weaklings." Azula sneered at Toph before shooting lightning at Zuko. A blur of black knocked him away just before it hit, but wasn't fast enough to pull Mai with him.
The pain filled scream reached everyone's ears as the lightning ripped the flesh on Mai's back away. Zuko attempted to get up only to find his savior had been hit as well. Katara's left leg had caught most of the lightning which was the only reason Mai survived.
Azula didn't seem to care. She just turned and shot lightning at Iroh, Aang, and Sokka. Zuko didn't understand why she wasn't attacking him, but then he realized Katara had knocked them out of sight.
"Katara." He said rolling her over to face him.
Her face was contorted in pain. "I'm fine Zuko. Just go take care of your sister." He nodded and ran through the overgrowth towards his sister. Katara turned her head. "I know you're there Toph."
Toph popped up from the ground. "Sugar queen!" she hissed bending down to hug her. "I didn't even sense you until you plowed into Sparky. Too bad about Gloomy though."
Katara sat up and touched her leg. "Can you bring her over here. I can try to heal her."
"What?" Toph scoffed. "She's on Azula's side."
Katara wrapped her leg intent on fixing it later. "I doubt it. She probably only followed the bitch for the same reason Ty Lee did."
Toph sighed and carefully moved Mai so no one noticed. "You must have hit your head while we were apart. You even sound and feel different."
"What do you mean?" Katara uncorked her water and set to work on trying to heal Mai.
Mai turned her head. "Why are you helping me?"
Katara put her finger to her lips, but Toph cut in. "I asked her the same thing. That's what I'm trying to figure out. I think she's hit her head."
Mai frowned as she looked up at the boy healing her back. "Why is she calling you a she?"
Katara stiffened. "She's blind." she stated firmly in her huskiest voice. "I can't heal you completely yet. Toph, stand guard."
"Alright, but you owe me an explanation." Toph snapped. "Boy."
Hakoda was doing what his son had asked him to do. He was rounding up all the people on Sokka's list. They had a few weeks left, and so far they had three quarters of the list finished.
"Anyway we can move the swamp fellows to a different ship?" Bato sighed as he sat down.
Hakoda smiled. "Once we reach our next destination, we'll switch them out for our newest fighters. Sokka said they're on an island."
Bato raised an eyebrow. "I hope they wear pants. And possibly bathe."
Hakoda laughed. "All he said was they were warriors. After we pick them up, we're headed to Goa-ling. And then some desert."
"A little out of our element aren't we?" Bato mused.
"I have a feeling we won't have to go inland too far." he smiled. "Sokka gave me a tile and told me to find the closest tea shop."
Azula was fighting against Zuko fiercely. Iroh had pulled Aang and Sokka back away from the siblings. He told them it was a fight between Zuko and Azula.
"Wow Zuzu, I'm impressed. You seem to be getting stronger." she sneered. "But not strong enough."
He thought he was ready. He was prepared to redirect the lightning. But what he wasn't prepared for was the knife being thrust behind the lightning. Though he caught the lightning intent on redirecting it, the knife acted as a conductor. Iroh charged forward knocking Azula aside, grabbing Zuko's hand and pulling the lightning from him. Zuko fell limply into Sokka's arms as Iroh discharged the lightning into the sky and Aang held Azula off.
"Zuko... Zuko!" Sokka said shakily. True he wasn't found of the boy, but he'd never wish what Azula did on him.
Iroh bent down. "He's alive, just knocked out. You have to get out of here. Take Aang."
Azula was throwing relentless attacks at Aang, and he was growing tired. He was still anxious when it came to her. He felt someone push him backwards and he tripped into Sokka who helped him up.
Azula was startled by this new person. She'd never seen him before, and the fact that he took stance between her and the worthless scum threw her.
She tilted her head as he drew out two hooked swords. "Interesting." She mused. "You think you can take me with those little knives and no bending." When the boy ignored her she got into stance. "Fine, I have no time for wanna be warriors!"
Sokka looked up as the lightning went straight towards the figure. When it hit the hooked blades and shot back at Azula, the only person he could think of was Jet. He saw Azula's horrified expression as she tried, but failed to dodge her own strike.
She screamed in fury as she clutched her mutilated leg. "How? Only uncle knows how to do that!"
The boy limped forward. "You'd be surprised what I know Azula." came a scratchy pain filled voice. "Now, either leave or face me."
Sokka, Aang, and Iroh managed to clear out while Azula was distracted, but Sokka still watched from behind the brush. Azula was showing something she never showed before. Fear.
"You will not order me about Peasant!" Azula sneered as she tried to stand but failed. At hearing the other laugh she started throwing knives.
The hooked blades moved quickly, dispelling the knives and daggers. "Come on sweetheart, I'm injured and I'm standing. I thought you were some kind of prodigy child. I guess Zuko was wrong."
Azula growled and forced herself to stand. "I am a prodigy!" she grunted as she thrust blue flames out. She was in too much pain to use lightning anymore. She growled as the boy merely stepped out of the way.
"You should go back to your ship, Miss I'm a prodigy. I have better things to do than play pretend." came a chuckle.
Azula screamed furiously, and attempted to strike one last time with lightning. But it blew up in her face, and unlike Zuko, she couldn't handle the blow. She was thrown backwards head first into the side of a building.
Toph stepped out from the underbrush having watched the fight. "What do we do with her now?" she mused.
Katara turned. "I'll make sure she doesn't die I suppose. But you're going to encase her in metal or something. Then we'll pack up and move closer to the capitol."
"What about Twinkle Toes learning fire bending?" Toph said bending metal around Azula's wrists and ankles.
"Leave her ankles free." Katara mused. "I'm not healing that leg. She needed to be knocked down a peg or two. And we'll find somewhere for Aang to train."
Sokka stepped out helping Iroh pull Zuko along. "You're not Jet."
Katara turned to snap back, but froze as she saw Zuko. "Is he..."
"No he's alive." Iroh said sadly. "But I don't know how long..."
"Lay him down. Toph, go get Mai awhile." Katara said kneeling down next to Zuko and ripping what remained of his shirt off. "Oh... Zuko." She said sadly as she pulled her water out to see the damage.
"Just who are you!" Sokka bit out.
Toph had just walked back into the clearing with a subdued Mai. "Alright. Someone explain to me what's so different about Sugar Queen that you don't recognize her!" she snapped.