Chapter 7-The Game Plan

Katara P.O.V

I despise the Fire Nation.

After my little…dance/argument with Zuko, he had to go get introduced to more women, so I was left alone. I tried to find any young girl that would be willing to talk to me, but I found it extremely difficult. If they didn't know about my involvement with Aang, they hated me because all the men were eyeing me when I walked by. If it wasn't that, they were disgusted by the fact that I was working against the Fire Nation.

So I walked around awkwardly for about an hour before I found a few girls who didn't seem to care who I was.

They weren't terrible people…Ty-Lee was amongst them. They giggled and gossiped about the affairs that went on in the castle. I went along with it, but only because I was desperate to look like I was fitting in. Getting my head chopped off in front of the entire nation wasn't exactly on my list of things to do before I die. Funny since I would be dead if I get beheaded, thus ending my list of things to do before I die.

"Oh dear Katara, I think it's time for you to leave us."

Ty-Lee had a sad look on her face, which I didn't really understand. I glanced over at the clock, seeing that it was nearly midnight. "The guards are coming this way." She warned, leading the other girls away. I didn't want to go back to the dungeons. Not that I liked it here any better, but I just felt so…crazy down there. Like the rest of the world put me there so they didn't have to deal with me. At least up here there was more things to look at.

Not wanting to make a scene, I met the guards half way.

"Nice to see you again gentlemen."

They grumbled something and grabbed my arms, leading me through the crowd of red. It amazed me how no one even bothered to look up. They were all too stuck in their little worlds to care. On my way out, I scanned the room for Zuko, wondering if he had been suffocated by the women yet. I spotted his amber eyes across the dance floor, staring at me. I gave a slight nod before my head was smacked by the guard.

"Eyes ahead water peasant."

"I could say the same to you buddy."

That must have made him angry, because as soon as we got out of the ball room, he pushed me down the stairs. Trying to make sure my head didn't get too banged up, I covered it with my arms as I tumbled down the granite stairs. If you've ever fell on granite flooring, you know how much it hurts. If you haven't, I'll break it down for you. For example, when your shoulder hits it, it's like a weight being dropped onto concrete. Solid.

I managed to sit up, although extremely dizzy, and noticed my wrist was bent in a weird position. It was strange though; I felt no pain what so ever. Before I could inspect it, the guards jerked me up by my arms and dragged me back to the dungeon. Everything was blurry, but I was used to that. The only problem this time though, was that it wasn't going away.

Panic stuck when they passed my cell.

"You missed it."

The taller guard only smirked and continued on the dark hallway. What were they planning on doing to me? Had they come up with a new punishment while I was gone? I am now convinced nothing could be worse than getting your hands slammed with a hammer. Then again, the Fire Nation was continuing to surprise me. Perhaps they wanted to have a little-how should I describe this-"fun" with me. Fear stabbed my heart like a fork when these dark thoughts crept to my mind.

They stopped at the end of the hallway, opened a cell, then threw me in.

"What are you doing?! This isn't my cell you idiot!"

This guard had the type of face that just bugs you. Have you ever met someone and just immediately want to punch them in the face when they talk? Well, he's the definition of that. When he speaks, the arrogance and fake stupidity lash out at you, causing a different kind of anger you never know you had. They disappeared into the hallway and the lanterns were put out. The darkness had risen again.

"So you're the girl they all talk about?"

My blood froze when I heard a voice behind me. Not only had they put me in the wrong cell, they had put me in a cell with someone else in it. Turning around very slowly and hesitantly, I replied. "I guess I am." I gulped, wondering horrific thing this guy had done to get stuck in here. I heard movement and backed up against the cold bars. My heart was nearly beating clear out of my chest.

If you're wondering why I was so scared, I can explain easily. Picture this: a weak, malnourished fifteen-year old girl, in a pitch black ten-by-ten cell (in a prison), with a man's hoarse voice whispering to you. Scared yet?

"Has Aang been well trained?"

My mind stopped spinning for a second when he said the name of my friend. I unclenched my fists from the bar and frantically tried to find the man's location. "He hasn't had a fire bending teacher, but other than that, yes." I answered, trying to sound like I wasn't shitting myself. The man chuckled an octave lower than I thought was possible. "He's planning to fight one of the best fire benders in the nation, and he don't know how to fire bend?" The man laughed.

Yue finally saw how desperate I was, and shined some light into the cell.

He was exceptionally built, with muscles that basically took up all of his room in the cell. The man wore a long, black sleeve t-shirt with many holes in it. His jeans were too short for him, just barely going past his calf muscles. His skin was nearly as black as the darkness. The expression on his face wasn't at all what I expected it to be. Instead of anger and hatred, he appeared to be calm and lively. Not what you would expect from someone in a Fire Nation prison. Suddenly feeling confident, I walked forward a few feet and sat across from him.

"What's your name?"

The man smiled, revealing his pearly whites.

"Name's Toshiro, but you can call me Tosh."

I returned the smile to harmless man.

"Nice to meet you Tosh. I'm Katara."

I held out my hand for him to shake it. Saying his hand was large would be an understatement. My hand was pretty big for a girl, but next to his it felt like he was a bear and I was the mouse. "You're really tall," I started to say, laughing a little as I did so. "But I bet you get that all the time right?" I asked. Tosh laughed, and I was sure the whole castle woke up.

"Haven't been told that in ten years. You be the first person I talk to in about five."

My mouth dropped open in shock.

"You haven't had a conversation with someone in five years?"

Tosh grinned and folded his legs up to his chest.

"Unless you count talking to myself, then yes."

I wanted to laugh at that, but couldn't find it in me. Here I had been feeling all sorry for myself, when he had been in here at least ten years. Tosh had not felt the sun against his skin in ten years. A wave of guilt washed over me as I peered over at the massive man. A crazy thought squeezed into my mind. "I'm going to get you out of here Tosh." I said, more to myself then to him. He raised his eyebrows and smiled slightly.

"How are you planning to do that?"

It came to me within a second.

I jumped up from my excitement and started to wave my hands all over.

"They switch the guards everyday at five, right? They come in from the left and exit to the right, towards the houses."

"How you know this?"

"I have a lot of alone time, but that's not the point!"

The images of Tosh and I crawling over the brick walls and into freedom made me smile.

"It's been about a week, which means the new and un-experienced guard will be here tomorrow. They always send in the new guys first as bait in case someone has escaped. I'll ask him about the guard meeting, and when he walks past me, I can grab the keys!"

Tosh seemed confused now. "How do you know there guard meeting?" He asked in his stagnant voice. I shook my head, "That's the point! There isn't one!" I said, stopping for a second to realize how crazy I was becoming. One more week in here and I'll be a lunatic for sure. Tosh made an O shape with his mouth and I continued. "He'll spread the word to the rest of the guards and they'll all run to the castle expecting a meeting to be taking place." I explained, still pacing around the cell.

"Then we run?"

I grinned at Tosh and nodded.

"Then we run. We run right, on the outside of the town and get to the brick wall. By the time they figure it out, we'll be long gone. We'll be free."

For a second, Tosh just sat there. He looked up at me, stood up, and embraced me in a hug.

"We be free."

Zuko P.O.V

"Father wants to see you Zuzu."

I had just begun meditating when Azula stormed into my room. I shot her a glare and stood up. "Why would he want to see me?" I questioned, wondering if it was just another one of her tricks. She shrugged while leaning against the doorway. "Probably something about how he's never actually going to give you your honor back." Before I could throw a ball of fire at her, she was out the door.

After taking a breath to compose myself, I walked out of my room.

How I hated these walls. They were plastered with pictures of the two people I hated most: Azula and my father. It seems in my absence, they decided to get rid of all traces of their other family member. I didn't care…the only picture I really valued was the one I had hidden in my room. It was a picture of my mother and I, in her garden. That picture was the only thing that gave me hope. Well, that and my uncle.

Maybe Katara too.

I knocked twice on the door.

"Come in Zuko, come in!"

I opened the door with my head facing the ground. I don't hate looking at my father's face I just…well, I do hate it. All I see when I look at him is death and hatred. I managed the courage to look up towards him.

"You wanted to see me?"

"Yes, sit down please."

I really wasn't comfortable sitting down in front of my father, so I stood in the center of the room. He gave me a slight glare, "Or you can stand." He said, laying his very important looking paper down. What could he possibly want to talk about? It wasn't like he wanted to know how my life was going or anything. He wasn't a very sentimental person.

"I would like to have a discussion about the watertribe peasant."

If you want to capture my attention, that's how to do it.

After gulping once, I replied.

"What about the peasant?"

"Well you see my son, I don't really see any point in letting her live. I mean, we all know the Avatar will come and fight me. He may be a foolish child, but I know he will come. The watertribe girl is of no use to us! Besides, if we do kill her, maybe it will make the fight more interesting!"

Through gritted teeth, I replied.

"What do you mean?"

"Well if we hang pictures all over the Fire Nation of her execution, the Avatar will be very upset, correct? If he's upset, he'll fight harder! It'll be a little…show for our citizens."

In my mind, I had jumped over the desk between us and burned his face off a thousand times. In reality, I simply balled my fists up behind my back. There was no way he would kill Katara. I would not allow her toughness and strength to be wasted. Besides, Katara was actually proving to be…well, not so terrible after all.

"Think about this father. I know the Avatar will not do as you think he will. He's a weak, vulnerable little boy who is in love with Ka-I mean, the watertribe peasant. I honestly don't think he will fight harder. In fact, I almost guarantee that he will not even show up if he learns of her death."

This was a lie. Aang would fight harder if he knew Katara was dead. He would probably win too. There was no way I could let my father know this though. He looked up, an expressionless look on his face. "For once my son, I fear you are right." Picking the paper back up, he motioned me away with his hand.

"Dismissed."

I nearly sprinted out of his office. Being around my father just makes me extremely uncomfortable. The hallways were starting to get dark now, as the slaves were blowing the candles out for the night. I could easily light a fire in my hand and lead myself down to my room. I felt like I needed to be punished for some reason, however, so I did not. Katara filled my mind, along with that terrible feeling that something bad was going to happen.

I thought of how much alike Katara and I were.

So young, but so damaged.

The next few chapters are going to be INTENSE MAN! hehehehehhehe. Just out of curiosity…who is your guys' favorite character? I'm very curious to know;)

Have a nice day and thanks for reading! Keep up with all the reviews! I've been reading them every day because they make me so happy!