Chapter Nine: Unexpected Circumstances
Katara was forced down onto her knees in front of the throne. She glared defiantly up at the flames. She could hear Ozai laughing behind the flames.
"Leave her." Ozai ordered the guards. When they didn't he lowered the flames. "She's a water bender, there's no water in here. Leave."
She felt them let go of her arms and she stood. "What do you want?" she growled.
"Have you thought about my offer?" he questioned. "You could sit here next to me and rule the world with me."
She felt queasy. "What makes you think I would want to rule the world with you. I'd kill you in your sleep."
"It'd be hard to do without water." he laughed.
"I don't need water to kill a pest."
"You think you can take me little girl?" he raised an eyebrow.
"I don't think, I know." she snarled. "You're just like that worthless daughter of yours. Always thinking you're better than everyone. Where is she now? I'm guessing she's stuck somewhere licking her wounds."
The flames around the throne exploded. "Azula is a genius! She would never lose to some water bender! Guards!"
Katara laughed causing Ozai to watch her as the guards stormed in. "Azula a genius. She lost to a boy with hooks when he sent her own lightning back at her burning her leg. She nearly blew herself up trying to attack him." her laugh unnerved him.
"Take her to the lowest chamber. No food or water! Have some fun with her." he growled. "But do not kill her, she'll come around after two days."
They pulled her out of the throne room leaving him to think on what she said. Before they got her out the whole way she shouted back to him.
"Hey, Ozai." she laughed. "Maybe you should have kept that son of yours around. Azula always lies!" They yanked her out of the throne room.
"Are you insane?" the one guard hissed.
Katara turned her head to look at him. "No."
The other guard pushed her hard and she stumbled. "Disrespectful water peasant. We'll beat it out of you."
Katara noticed the other guard stiffen at the mention of beating her. "For your information, I'm not a peasant." he pushed her again. "Push me again and it'll be your downfall."
He laughed as he shoved her harder. "All talk, peasant."
She bit the inside of her cheek. "We'll see." she muttered as they put her in a cell that smelled of old blood and vomit.
"See you in a few hours, savage." the guard snickered.
She glared as he left, but stopped when she noticed the other guard staring at her sadly. "What?"
"I... we'll get you out." he mumbled.
She froze. "No." she hissed. "This is my mess, you stay out of it."
He lifted his face plate to reveal one of the freedom fighters that took them to the tree village. She sighed as he stepped closer to the bars.
"What I need you to do is keep doing what you're doing." she smiled weakly. "How's it going sneaking people in?"
He was about to answer, but the sound of more guards coming down. He replaced his face plate and stood against the wall. She sat down in the cell waiting.
Toph had been pacing back and forth since Katara was pulled out of the cell. They took her to see Ozai that's all she knew, and since she'd been gone food came twice.
"Where is she?" Toph growled. "What could he possibly want with her for half a day?"
"I'm sure she's fine." Ty Lee sighed. She didn't know what to say. She was just as worried.
"If she's not back by night fall, I'm going for her."
"How? You don't even know where she is."
"I'll feel her." Toph sniffed.
The door opened and a servant boy walked in carrying a tray. "I was told to bring tea." he whispered. "And to tell you Lady Katara has been moved to a different cell."
Toph bent the bars she had been gripping. "Why?" she bit out as she bent the bars back.
The boy bit his lip. "She threatened the fire lord."
Ty Lee gasped. "No! What cell..."
"Lower cells." he cut in.
Toph turned towards Ty Lee. "What's the lower cells?"
"Torture cells." the boy and Ty Lee whispered.
Toph growled. "He's dead. Doesn't Sparky know?"
The boy looked to Ty Lee in confusion. "Zuko. Does Zuko know?" When the boy shook his head, she sighed in relief. "Make sure he doesn't find out."
After two weeks on that retched ship, she was finally on fire nation soil. She limped up to the carriage with Mai by her side. As they drew closer to the palace, she began to feel something she never felt before. Nervous. If her father found out about her leg, he'd call her a failure.
"Mai," she snapped. "If you see me limping stop me. I can't have him finding out."
"Alright." Mai replied. "And what if he catches you when I'm not around? What if he asks to see your leg?"
Azula glared at her. "Let's hope he doesn't." She glowered as the carriage stopped and the doors opened.
Mai looked up as she got out. "Looks like you have to start acting now." she whispered.
Azula stepped down and smiled as her father walked towards her with a scowl on his face. "He knows." she hissed. "But how?"
It had been hours since she'd been locked in the new cell. She only hoped Zuko didn't blow his cover when he found out where she was. She knew Toph would come for her at dark, and that was all she could hope for.
"Well, if it isn't the water peasant." came a familiar voice.
Katara lifted her swollen eyes to look Azula in the face. "How's the leg your highness?" she smirked.
Azula scowled. "I don't even know how you knew about it you weren't there!"
"You might not have seen me, but I was there." Katara tried to smiled though her face protested. "I healed your brother."
Azula growled angrily and threw a fire ball at her. Katara was too tired to dodge it. It hit her in the shoulder, but she didn't cry out. The guards had beaten her and burnt her, the only thing they couldn't manage was rape. Anytime one got near her waist she had fought like the caged animal she was.
"Not so tough now are you, peasant." Azula sneered. "I'll be back tomorrow to find out where my traitor of a brother is. Uncle is worthless. His days are numbered."
Katara forced herself to sit up. "No," she felt blood leaking out of her mouth. "Your days are numbered Azula. You and Ozai will fall."
Azula kicked her angrily in the head knocking her sideways to the floor, before turning and limping away. Katara let out a small chuckle as she propped herself up against the wall waiting for Toph. Not too long after Azula left another set of foot falls could be heard.
"Sugar Queen?" Toph whispered. "Are you alright?"
Katara crawled toward the younger girl. "I'm alright. I need to get to the bath house though. Can you sneak me out?"
Toph formed a key out of the meteor rock and gasped when Katara fell into her. "You sure you're okay?" she said warily. "You can barely stand.
"I'm fine." she hissed. "Just had a rough day."
They were just entering the hall with the bath house, when Zuko dropped down in front of them. "What the hell happened?" he said scooping Katara up and rushing toward the bath house.
"Sweetness threatened the Fire Lord." Toph snickered.
Zuko looked down at the nearly unconscious bender. "She's lucky to be alive. Why are you laughing?"
Toph straightened her back. "She said she was fine."
He sat in the water with her cradled to his chest. "Well, you know she was lying. I thought you could tell?" He shook the battered the girl awake. "Brother, wake up."
Toph stood next to the bath feeling guilty. "I guess I was just happy I found her that I didn't think she was lying. I-I'm sorry."
He glanced at her. "It's okay mud bug. She probably thought she was fine." He splashed some water on Katara's face.
Blue eyes opened to show pain. "Zuko?" she croaked out. "You didn't blow your cover did you?"
He sighed. "No. But I think we should get you, Toph, and Ty Lee out of here."
"I agree. That way I can kick you butt for lying." Toph growled.
Katara rolled her eyes and started healing herself. "We can't leave now. Azula and Mai are back. That's how I got some of my burns."
Zuko tensed. "Did... did they try to ra..."
"No." she shivered. "A few tried, but they couldn't get close to me."
"Sugar Queen?" Toph sniffed. "How are we supposed to help with the invasion if you're all beat up."
Zuko watched in fascination as all the burns, bruises, and cuts disappeared. He knew they only had a few more days for her to hold out.
"Don't worry about me. You won't come to get me after tonight." Katara sighed as the last of her wounds healed.
"What do you mean? We're not leaving you there all beat up!" Toph hissed. "Even Sparky was out looking for you, and the only reason he didn't get to you first is because I had Tomboy stall him."
Katara pushed herself up out of the water. "How long until my birthday?"
Zuko counted on his fingers. "A week and a day. Why?"
She stepped out of the tub reaching for a towel, but Zuko dried her off with steam. "Thank you. I need to get back. Who knows if Azula will visit me again tonight. Make sure to keep my bags well hidden. I'll send someone to get them the night before."
They watched as Toph led the way back to Katara's cell. Everyone in the bath house had a feeling of foreboding as the girls disappeared around a corner.
Iroh stared in horror as he read the report from the Lotus member inside the palace. He noticed Hakoda watching him carefully, and wondered if he should tell him.
"Dragon?" Sokka glanced up at his father's nudge. "Is something the matter?"
Iroh rubbed the back of his neck. "It seems Ozai knew it was Lady Katara. He had imprisoned Lady Rivlyn months ago and set Lady Ty Lee up."
The color drained from Sokka's face. "What... what about Katara and the other two?"
"Lady Toph and Ty Lee were placed in a cell with little security." he read. "My brother demanded Lady Katara to marry him..."
"Oh lord." Hakoda cringed. "Even I know that was a bad move."
Sokka glared at his father. "What's the matter with you? You don't seem worried at all!"
Hakoda raised an eyebrow. "Are you forgetting who it is? Your sister is... violent when some man demands her to do something. So, Dragon, what happened?"
Iroh read further into the letter and bit his lip to keep the smile away. "She spit in his face and told him to lock her away." He didn't read it out loud for one reason. Ozai had told her about her mother's death and how he and his brother were the ones to hold the two children.
"General Iroh?" Hakoda questioned. "Everything alright?"
"What? Oh. Chief Hakoda, may I have a word with you?"
Sokka narrowed his eyes at the old tea drinker, but went back to his plans. He had faith in his sister, and if she got into trouble she had Toph, Ty Lee, and Zuko. He stopped as he thought of that last name. Zuko had been protective of his baby sister, almost more so than he himself.
As Toph locked the cell, she felt familiar footsteps of the fire lord. She hid in the corner pulling the stone work around her. She could sense Katara curling up in her cell to hid her face.
"So, my little pet, have you changed your mind after spending time being starved?" Ozai cooed as he leaned against the bars.
"That depends." she snarled.
"On what my dear peasant?"
Katara turned. "Keep that crazy daughter of yours away from Ty Lee and my daughter and make sure that they are taken care of."
Toph felt shock run through her body. She was going to marry this scumbag to save her and the others.
"Is that all?" He smirked.
"No." Katara stood up. "I can't be married until my birthday. It's my custom. Surely you wouldn't deny me that. After all you had your way with forcing me to watch my mother die."
He tilted his head to the side. "When is your birthday?"
"In a week and a day." she frowned.
"Ah, are you trying to delay until black sun?" he smirked.
"Please, if I had a choice, I'd have my birthday some other day." she scoffed. "Besides, I'm not part of that silly invasion. That's why I was posing as Ty Lee's cousin, to escape the idiots. I took Ruse with me so she would have someone to care for her."
He searched her face for any trace of lies. Toph couldn't even detect a lie in the waterbender's story. She heard him unlock the cell and felt her blood run cold.
"I warn you, if you are lying, I will kill you myself." he stated.
"What do I have to lie about?" She snapped. "They replaced me with the boy that burnt your daughter. Though, she did deserve it."
He narrowed his eyes at her. "Yes, Azula has been a disappointment as of late. Come, I will set you up a new room."
She took his offered arm. "Do I get to see the capitol? When your tea drinking brother joined the group he told us stories of how beautiful it was."
He wrinkled his nose at the mention of his brother. "I suppose. Why is it you chose to pose as a fire nation noble?"
She raised an eyebrow. "Would you want to live on a block of ice? And the earth kingdom is slightly less barbaric."
He laughed. "I supposed my father did you a favor all those years ago." He lead her to a large room and opened the door. "I will have guards outside the door, and I'll have servants bring you food. Unless I call for you, you'll stay in here."
"What of my adoptive daughter? She might be from the earth kingdom, but I'm all she has left. Her family threw her out when she went blind."
He was silent for a moment. "For now, I will leave her and Ty Lee locked in the cell. But I will give them the care you requested, and allow you to visit. After you follow through with your vows I will allow her out of the cell into your care."
Katara nodded. "That's all I can hope for I suppose. I wouldn't trust me either after all my idiot brother is leading that pointless invasion."
He nodded and left. Katara sighed as she heard the door lock. She hoped this worked. As long as it kept Toph and Ty Lee safe.