Wow Reviews. Do not own ATLA own the is this plotline. OOOOOO major stuff going on now. The plot has now come to a nice bubble, now we add in a teaspoon of villainy, an ounce of sentiments, 1 5/8 of romance, and a dash of drama, an air of innocence. Stir in a few characters and what do you get? A chapter of a story. This could possibly be the last chapter.

Chapter 7: Captured and Reunited

The band of wagons were just beyond Full Moon Bay, and were parked for lunch. Suki was not pleased in the fact that she not only had to cook the food, but she also had to serve it as well. She felt like she was working back at the inn considering how ungrateful the men were behaving. She did find comfort in the fact that Ozai had yet to show up, but she knew he was chasing her daughter who had hopefully reached the king by now. Once lunch was finished, and everything was cleaned up they started to move again, and Suki was placed inside the wagon she would lead into Ba Sing Se. Only when this happened did she ever feel like a hostage. She would usually stare out the wagon window, and think of a time when things were better, and not about to be blown to hell.

Meanwhile Katara and Zuko were not far behind the wagoners, since they couldn't sleep they were so excited about the sword, and that they were so close to Ba Sing Se, they were able to cross Serpent's Pass in the night. The raft that Toph had bended, and with the combined efforts of Zuko, Katara, and Aang were able to make it halfway through the pass. Katara however was more worried about her mother than anything else, and she felt a little guilty for not thinking about her enough. She just got so wrapped up in the journey, that her mother was placed in the back of her mind, and only came back to remind her to hurry up.

"Zuko do you think my mother's alright?"

"If you're her daughter than she's more than fine. Now come on we gotta hurry. Toph Aang try to keep up now ok."

"We're trying, can you believe this Toph our first trip to Ba Sing Se."

"Oh yea sightseeing is gonna be loads of fun."

Katara and Zuko meanwhile had reached the ground past the Pass. Everyone was glad to be out of Serpent's Pass as they did not have to fight the giant water snake that inhabited the pass, and for which it was named. They stopped for a minute or two so that Aang and Toph could catch up. Momo flew ahead, and chattered and perched on a branch in the nearest tree. Once the kids had caught up The group pressed on, they needed to get to Ba Sing Se by the end of the day tomorrow they'd head for the palace and have beaten Ozai. Momo returned to her favorite perch on Zuko's shoulder, he handed her a small nut and she munched on it happily.

"Feel's good to be on solid ground again."

"Yea, we've reached the end of Thieves Passage.", Katara looked at Zuko with a look of excitement even though he couldn't see her he knew what she was silently asking, "Go ahead, it's OK. I'm right behind you." He finished in a whisper, but she didn't catch it as she was running up the nearest hill and he followed her with his head downcast. Toph and Aang had got ahead of him and were once again arguing about who knows what but Zuko caught, "If you don't want to go sightseeing we don't have to."

"Please by all means if you want to then don't let me stop you. I'd really rather not be the one to hold you back."

"Who said you were holding me back? Katara and Zuko didn't say it. The only one making a big deal about nothing is you. And you do not hold me back!"

Zuko walked past them and said in rough voice, "Knock it off."

"What's up with him."

"I don't know."

Katara had now neared the top of the hill, and as she reached the top and got her first glance of Ba Sing Se ever and was amazed at how big the city was. The wall was enormous from what she could see, and from what Sokka had told her it went around the whole city. She also remembered that he told her the city was big on the inside and had three rings, a lower ring where the poorest of the people lived, the middle ring where the middle class people lived and where the markets were, and the upper ring, where the upper class families and markets were. He had also mentioned that the palace was in the center of the city, they still had Elise so they could make it in plenty of time.

"Oh Zuko, the city's amazing." Katara said in awe, but Zuko had become even more downhearted as he came closer to her, seeing the look on his face Katara tried to cheer him up, "I wish you could see it-", she went to say something but he cut her off before she could even say a word, "I have seen it, remember I lived there before, and now that part of my life is over and done with. Take Bashkim to Haru you're running out of time."

"We'll deliver it together, just like you said, come on Zuko we-"

"No you guys deliver it I can't go back there, I don't belong there anymore.", he said while thinking, 'Please don't make this any harder than it has to be.' and ended the conversation by walking away, with Momo flying behind him.

"If only could see how you belong in mine."

She turned and walked away from him as he had done to her, Aang and Toph didn't know what to do so they followed Katara. Zuko was on his way to Serpent's Pass and planed to make his way back to his cottage in Full Moon Bay. It had been a few days since he'd seen it and knew he would have to clean it and restock it but his mind kept going back to Katara, but he quickly dismissed them as soon as they came into his head. Momo took her perch on Zuko's shoulder and nuzzled her head to his cheek, she always knew when he was upset and knew just what to do to make him see sense or feel better.

'Like every tree stands on it's own reaching for the sky I stand alone', Momo started chattering as she was telling him 'You're an idiot you know that? How could you let the best thing that ever happened to you walk away like that?', to which he said, "You don't get it, in Ba Sing Se she'd see me through everyone else's eye, a nobody, just a blind man who's not worth the time of day." Only Momo saw him shed the few tears that he did, she knew what to do to but couldn't find the means to tell him.

'I share my world with no one else, all by myself. I stand alone.' He then stopped for a minute before carrying on. In his heart he wanted to go with Katara and the other two but he was afraid that Katara would end up finding someone better than him. So he cut the ties before it was too late but what he didn't know was that if was that it was past the point of no return which is what he was wanting. By Katara and the other two now were about halfway to the city and Toph decided to lighten the mood a bit by earthbending a small rock into a bangle bracelet which she gave to Katara.

"I would try to tell you to forget him, but I know that you needed him. He's an idiot for not seeing how special you are" she said.

"Yea you are really pretty. Who wouldn't want to be with a girl like you?" Aang added, but she was staring at the sword half listening to what they were saying until, "I'm going to get Zuko."

No sooner did the words leave her mouth, but she suddenly lost feeling in her arms and legs. Two men grabbed her by her upper arm and the person she least wanted to see knelt down to lift up her face and smiled evilly at her and the voice said, "Why thank-you for brining me this, I've been looking everywhere for it." Ozai stood up and continued, " You've been trying my patience and that is very dangerous for you.", no one saw two young children approach quietly, and made no noise as they wanted to know what was going to happen to their friend so they could get help. They knew they weren't going to make it to the city in time so the only other choice was to convince Zuko that Katara needed his help which wasn't exactly a lie.

"12 years I've waited to own this sword and now it won't be leaving my sight, put her in the wagon. Make sure she can't escape again. Jee when Suki's part starts you will be in charge of the girl." Ozai then recited a spell that made the sword turn black and ugly, Bashkim was made and used for unification purposes only. Ozai's spell turned the blade from gold to onyx and it now only used the element of fire, Katara was shocked and began to feel drained. It was as if the spell was absorbing some of her energy to complete the transformation.

"Don't worry little one, I'll make sure Haru gets it back, or in the back. Throw her in the wagon."

With that said Katara was thrown into the wagon and was hugged to death by her mother. Suki couldn't help but get teary eyed and say, "You're safe thank the spirits I was so afraid I'd lost you too."

"Mama, I'm sorry I failed. Ozai's men ambushed me before I could do anything. I failed you and Papa, he would be unhappy with me."

"No, Little Kat, no you were brave, and I know that he's proud of you for keeping Bashkim safe. I'm just glad you're safe."

"Mama this is going to sound crazy, but Papa came to me a few nights ago."

"He did?"

Katara could only manage to nod not trusting her voice for fear of breaking down in front of her mother. She could only hope that Aang and Toph could reach the king in time without her. However they did something a little different, Aang quickly made a staff with which he could airbend the currents and get them to Zuko faster as they had to rescue Katara. Toph didn't like they flying since she couldn't see, but they managed to catch up to Zuko.

"Zuko you gotta come back with us we gotta big problem.", Aang said in a rush

"Yea it's big huge come on!" Toph added while trying to pull Zuko in the direction towards the city, but he shrugged her off.

"It's Katara, Ozai got her, it doesn't look good.", Aang continued panic rising a bit in his voice

"Yea someone managed to knock her down before she could even take a stance.", Toph said getting a little nervous. As soon as Zuko heard those words his heart froze. 'No not her, it's my fault, I left her. If I had been there I could have sensed him coming and warned her. I gotta go back, and fix this and tell her how I feel.' He couldn't help but think it was all his fault.

"Take us back we'll make a plan before we do anything rash. Whatever happens don't take on anyone bigger than you by yourself, alone you are two but together you are one. If you work as a team then you can be an unstoppable force.", he told them and they came up with a good plan and made their way back.

I lied, I thought it would have been finished but I guess it's not we'll have to wait and see if the next chapter is the last Read and Review.