Book 4 Air

Chapter 56 Alerting

"General Iroh, the Avatar has arrived sir." A guard said informing the old man.

"Oh? That's wonderful news…" Iroh said as the guard paused, "He also has the princess." The guard said as Iroh's small smile dimmed.

"I see…" Iroh said.

"Shall I report to the General Jee?" The guard asked as Iroh shook his head.

"No, leave Azula to the Fire Lord. Please inform him, the Avatar's arrival." Iroh said in a stern tone as he left down the hallway.


Standing at the front gates of the Fire Nation Palace, the four travelers waited as the six guards stood aligned in front of the gate at each post with blank faces. Mai stood next to Azula and Sokka as Aang walked up to the guards.

"Aren't you going to let us in?" Aang asked as the guards tensed but said nothing.

Azula then clinged to Sokka's left arm as she bit her lower lip. Apparently the fire princess knew the men's stances and firm postures meant something serious. Sokka looked down at the girl. Why was she so afraid?

Mai narrowed her eyes, "They are probably informing the Fire Lord…" Mai said with little emotion in her voice.

"That's good right? Then he'll know we're here and then we can all talk it over." Aang said naïvely, unaware of the dire consequences of bringing two criminals, literally to the Fire Lord's door step.

Mai snorted, "Sure, Avatar…We'll all talk it over and drink tea." Mai said sarcastically in a dry tone.

Sokka tensed as he narrowed his eyes sharply, "Mai, how serious is this?" Sokka asked as Mai turned her head to the young man as her straight hair flowed to the side.

"More than you know…" Mai said flatly as she turned her attention to the front gates.


Changing into her night kimono of thin red silk with a dark burgundy sash, as it hugged comfortably on her form, Katara sighed lightly.

Hopefully she'll get a good night sleep…

As the girl combed out her hair, she suddenly heard what sounded like loud marching outside her bedroom door. Quickly pacing to the door, she cracked it open to see three rows of guards marching in single files down the hallway with weapons on hand.

Opening the door more, she stuck her head out looking back as the men passed her bedroom further down the hall. Curious and worried, Katara stepped out of her room. 'What is going on?' Katara thought as she continued to look back at the departing guards.

Just then, a woman entered the hallway. "Miss Katara, please return to your room." Ming called out as she paced to the girl's side.

"Ming! What's going on?" Katara asked as Ming started to lead the girl to her bedroom.

"Nothing, Miss…Now please return to your-

"No! I saw those men carrying weapons! What's going on here?" Katara demanded as she stopped quickly, pulling away from the anxious servant.

"I am not certain, Miss…Please return to your bedroom…I am sure it's nothing…" Ming said as she tried to hurry the girl inside.

Katara stepped back as her eyebrows furrowed angrily. She knew something was wrong, why else would Ming be so nervous and informs Katara as Miss again? She was afraid of something; she knew what it was and she wasn't telling her…

"Tell me, what is going on! I demand to know as fiancée of the Fire Lord!" Katara said in regal tone.

Ming's eyes widen as she then bowed to the floor, "Yes! Forgive me…" Ming said as her nose almost touched the cherry red carpet.

Katara sighed, she supposed her anger got the best of her and now she's frightened the girl even more. Kneeling down to the servant, Katara lifted Ming's chin. "Please…Tell me." Katara said in a kind tone as Ming sighed.

Sitting up on her knees while still keeping herself below the waterbender's height as a sign of respect, Ming told her the news, "There has been a report of the princess here in the city along with the Avatar. He's captured her and has brought her to our Lord." Ming said as she bowed her head.

Katara's eyes widen the narrowed. She had to find them, she had to help. Aang could get hurt.

Standing up as her hands clenched Katara closed her eyes as Ming looked up at the girl. "Miss! Please, you must return to your room. I was ordered by the Fire Lord himself to insure your safety." Ming begged as Katara opened her eyes.

"Then I'm going to find him." Katara said as she paced pass Ming. The servant girl then bowed to the floor again as she whispered, "Yes, Miss…"


Hearing the news was surprising enough, but now he had to worry for his people's security. As he walked down the hall with two of his generals in command, Zuko ordered for all staff to return to their quarters along with two guards to protect Katara's bed chamber with her locked inside.

Her safety was his top concern.

"Sire, there is an report of two more people by the Avatar's side." One general said as he looked through his document.

"State their appearance." Zuko said as the three men continued to pace down the hall.

"A young woman dressed in dark clothing and a young man in Water Tribe attire and armor." The general said as Zuko's eyes widen slightly.

'It couldn't be could it?' Zuko wondered as he spoke, "General Sho please report to the eastern wing, General Jee come with me." Zuko said as one man left and the other stayed closer to his leader.

'I'll see for myself who they are…' Zuko thought as he entered into an open lobby.


The view of a girl wearing a red kimono was seen as her dress draped behind her like flowing silk curtains as her hair fanned out like rivers of lithely dark brown wavy curls as she ran down the hall, looking for any sign of Zuko.

Coming up to two men, Katara quicken her pace to pass by them. The two men were stunned to see the girl. "You must return to your room, we were ordered to protect you at any cost." One guard said as the other stood his ground.

Katara tried to get by, but the two men held her back. "Let me go! I need to find him! I need to see Zuko!" Katara cried out as she struggled.

"Please don't make this difficult, Miss…" one guard said as he tried to calm the frantic girl.

"We are simply following orders…" the other guard said as he gripped Katara's arm.

As Katara struggled the guards soon became distracted by the nearby windows suddenly busting open by a powerful unseen force. Soon did they realize a gush of water came sweeping in. Water puddled on the carpet floor as Katara flickered her wrists in quick jabs, calling forth the water. Unaware of the water staining and soaking into their clothes, as the men continued to tried and calm the girl down. She then blew out a lungful of air at them, shocked by the sudden sensation of ice forming on their legs and torsos, the waterbender froze the two men in placed as she ran around them and down the hall.

"Come back!" one guard shouted as Katara ignored their pleads.

She had no time to waste…She had to find Zuko…


Entering into the antechamber, Zuko prepared himself to see the travelers. Just then he saw a woman entered from a second hallway. Her form was graceful as her hair flowed like a breeze was passing her by. In slow motion, Zuko's eyes widen as he saw the waterbender. Her worried eyes faded as a sign of hope glistened in her fierce blue orbs as she ran to the Fire Lord.

"Zuko!" Katara cried out.

Finding his posture again, Zuko spoke in a serious tone. "Katara what are you doing here? You should be in your chambers." Zuko said as a hint of worry laced his voice.

"No! I need to go with you! I need to see Aang! He could get hurt!" Katara cried out in both concern and frustration.

"Azula is there, she could hurt you. I can't risk-

"I can take care of myself, Zuko!" Katara yelled out as she grew tired of everyone trying to protect her.

Zuko took a deep breathe as he then nodded his head. "Fine, come with us…" Zuko said as Katara nodded her head curtly. Turning around Katara walked to the entrance, as Zuko turned to General Jee. "Watch out for her, guard her with your life." Zuko whispered to the man as General Jee nodded his head.

Returning to a straight posture, Zuko then followed the waterbender out to the front doors.


"Come on! Let us see the Fire Lord!" Aang called out at the guards in front of them.

"Aang, calm down…Just be patient." Sokka said as Azula subconsciously snuggled closer to the water tribesman as Sokka looked away embarrassed.

Aang frowned, as he lowered his head.

Just then the palace doors opened as the six guards on cue moved aside.

"Wow, patience really does pull off!" Aang exclaimed happily as turned around to suddenly stand in front of twelve men with weapons in their hands pointing at the children.

"Ah, I thought the Fire Lord was coming?" Aang asked innocently as a man walked up to the them.

"The Fire Lord will be here shortly, until then we are to insure his safety." A general spoke sternly as he folded his hands behind his back.

The guards lifted their spears all in one motion, preparing for any attack. Azula hid behind the young man in a child like matter, Sokka then narrowed his eyes.

'They're afraid she'll attack…It's no surprise…But in her condition she doesn't need this.' Sokka thought as he kept a protective stance in front of her.

As the twelve guards stood their grounds, the sight of three people walking to the gate were seen. It was Zuko along with a general and someone else. A young woman. She looks so familiar…Aang thought as his eyes widen.

The matured girl in front of him was none other than Katara. She's changed so much since he last saw her.

Her skin looked darker in the red Fire Nation clothing as her brown hair framed over her face. Even her body looked more womanly than before as her dress hugged every curve of her form. Was this the same girl he fell in love the first time he woke from his sleep trapped in the iceberg?

No…She's changed and as much as Aang hated to admit so did Zuko…

The once unsure prince was now a regal lord who stood tall and proud as he stepped forth.

Looking at the girl behind Sokka, Zuko called out an order. "Guards, take her to a cell where she'll be watched on, a twenty-four, surveillance." Zuko said firmly.

The princess jumped by the young lord's voice, her body trembled at his words as two guards walked up to Sokka.

"Wait! You can't just take her away like this…She needs help!" Sokka said in a pleading voice.

"Don't worry, Sokka. She'll get the help she needs at the care unit…" Katara said as she stepped forth and wrapping her hand around Zuko's right arm trustingly. Mai's eyes narrowed at the waterbender's closeness as she then turned her attention to the hysterical princess crying out as the guards pulled her away from Sokka.

"You can't do this!" Sokka yelled as Aang tried to calm him down.

"You heard Katara, Sokka…She'll be fine." Aang said.

Sokka ignored the boy's words as he watched Azula be taken away. The last glimpse of her fearful eyes worried him. He couldn't help but feel sorry for her.

Azula reached out to Sokka as tears fell down her face. Her mouth opened to cry out to him as no words formed from her dry lips. 'Help me…' Azula thought as she lost sight of the group as she was dragged behind the walls of the palace.


Oh dear! Poor Azula! I wonder what will happen, now? Please give me 5 reviews to find out! I need the motivation and love from my readers!