Previously…
"I'll see you later?" She offered, noticing his lidded eyes slide to hers at the sudden lack of contact.
Gulping, he nodded.
Before he could say anything, she'd turned and went out the door, nearly tripping over herself as she went down the stairs.
As much as she wanted to feel his lips on hers…she thought as she pushed the door open and stepped into the sunlight.
It would have felt too much like a final goodbye.
And that…that was something that she couldn't handle right now.
Her fingers brushed her lips and she turned back to gaze at the Akagi one last time, before walking down the ramp.
When Katara made it to the end of the dock, she heard the ship pull away behind her. After a sidelong glance at the departing vessel, she turned to the growing crowd that'd gathered on the platform ahead. There'd been more people than she expected, familiar faces turning to smile at her or greet her hello as she zig-zagged through in search of her friends.
Duke and Pipsqueak of the Freedom Fighters waved at her from the other side of a group of earth benders that she didn't recognize. Smiling, she raised her hand to return the wave, heart pulling at the thought of Jet.
As misguided as he had been, he didn't deserve to die.
Not like that.
Katara marveled at how many people she didn't know or didn't remember.
Had Aang really touched this many lives? Or had they come to show their support even without meeting the Avatar directly?
Over two dozen earth benders, all dressed in tan or green sat with Haru and the Earth Kingdom brawlers. Nearly the same could be said for the water benders, the Northern Water Tribe and swamp benders settled in piles of blues and leaf-greens.
From an elevated platform along the cliffside wall, she saw Sokka. He stood awkwardly atop the stage, gazing out at the crowd. He cleared his throat, trying to get everyone's attention. After deciding he wasn't going to get said attention anytime soon, he turned to start draping large scrolls out on the board that was propped on an easel.
Toph's loud voice came from the other side of the group of water benders, commanding them to shut up and sit down.
The group obliged, the usually uptight northerners murmuring amongst themselves in shock at the brazen nature of the young girl.
"There you are, Katara," Toph said as she passed by Katara. "Get to the front. Sokka is about to make his presentation."
Katara smiled as the shorter girl continued barking orders at the adults, a smug look on her face.
She did as she was told, having a much easier time making it to the front with everyone seated.
"Hey," she greeted Aang, smiling. "Toph's really making quick work of the crowd."
Katara snickered, watching as Aang stared out into the settling crowd, mouth dropping at the sight.
Momo chirped overhead, swooping down to land on Aang's shoulder.
"Oh, Katara!" Sokka said, climbing off the stage. He picked up a blue stack of clothes off the edge. "Dad thought you might want these."
Her eyes lit up at the sight of an all too familiar outfit - a light blue wrap tunic, trimmed in white and dark blue leggings. An extra water skin sat on top.
"Thank you Sokka!" She exclaimed, taking the items from him. "It's been far too long since I've worn blue!"
Aang and Sokka grinned, nodding in agreement.
Seconds later, the noise of the crowd died down substantially, and the group looked as Hakoda and Toph made their way back to the front.
"Don't worry," Hakoda said to his son, who was sending wide-eyed glances at the crowd in front of him. "You'll do great."
Sokka shot him a wary smile.
"Go get em tiger!" Toph said, smacking him on the back.
He winced, stumbling forward at the force.
"Good morning everyone!" Sokka called loudly, attempting to climb up onto the makeshift stage.
With a stomp, Toph sent the earth beneath Sokka's feet up, propelling him to the same level as the stage. Yelping, he staggered forward, knocking into the easel and sending the wooden display rocking.
He grinned sheepishly and grabbed onto it, a nervous laugh barking out of him. "Oops."
Toph chuckled quietly from beside Katara.
"Hello. I'm Sokka. Hakoda's son." He blinked, awestruck at the massive group all staring ahead at him. "Today, we're invading the Fire Nation!" He paled, wiping sweat off his face. "Well. I'm sure you already know that because, why else would you be here?"
Icking at the condensation on his hand, he wiped the sweat on his shirt, cringing further at the dark smear.
He forced himself to turn to the easel, staring at the maps and pictures he'd hung.
"This is the capital," he turned to look at the crowd and his stomach dropped. Looking back at the maps his eyes widened.
That was in fact, not the capital. It was the map of all the nations. Katara noted, cringing for his sake.
The map was the stick that broke the proverbial ostrich-horses' back. Sokka broke off into a nervous tangent, over-explaining the eclipse, under-explaining the plan, and then oversharing far too much on how they'd met Aang.
"Dad," she hissed, leaning forward around Aang. "Do something."
Her father pressed his lips together and nodded once, getting to his feet. He stepped up onto the stage and gently nudged Sokka, murmuring something to him.
Sokka hung his head and nodded once.
"Today is the day of Black Sun." Hakoda stood tall on the stage, staring out at the sea of faces. "I want to thank you all for your self-sacrifice and your courage."
Sokka came to sit beside Katara, looking thoroughly embarrassed.
Offering him a small smile, she patted his leg reassuringly.
It didn't seem to help.
~0~
The westward journey into the Fire Nation passed in the blink of an eye.
Before Katara knew it, her father was announcing that they were almost in range of the Fire Nation navy patrolling the gates and requesting fog coverage. Aang and Appa had landed beside their lead ship and the bison floated alongside them.
A massive statue loomed on the horizon, two flanking dragons just visible on either side. Katara steeled her nerves, knowing that maintaining the fog for the entire distance would require the utmost concentration.
Two swamp benders stepped out of the group, sending her and her father a determined smile before taking place beside her near the bow of the Water Tribe vessel.
The three of them pulled the thick humid air from the sea, the fog rising and cloaking them in seconds.
The ships continued forward, inching closer and closer to the gates, back to their normal pace.
"Keep it up," her father called, smiling at her encouragingly. "We're almost through!"
Another moment later, shrill bells sounded, the ring echoing the alarm that ships were detected.
How the system worked, Katara hadn't a clue. This, however, had been expected and was part of the plan.
As the thick wire fence rose through the mist, they dropped the sails, the gate bursting into flames.
"Everybody below deck!" Hakoda called, his voice echoing across the ships.
The group complied, the ships growing eerily silent.
Aang bent a bubble around Appa's head, an innovative sort of water helmet, and dove beneath the surface.
Meanwhile, everyone filed into the belly of their ships.
"Let's hope this works, Sokka," Hakoda murmured, the steel hatch slamming shut above their heads.
Months prior, Sokka had left his drawing with the Mechanist. It had been no more than an idea, a stick figure drawing of benders inside a whale-shaped underwater ship. After a few failed prototypes, the elder man managed to successfully build it. The whale-shaped creation crafted out of metal, wood and thick panels of glass served as the perfect vessel to sneak beneath the Great Gates of Azulon. Once the Mechanist got ahold of the Water Tribe style ship, he was able to rig an attachment system alongside the bottom of the ship. It ruined the ships after it detached, but the sacrifice would be well worth it.
Especially if it got them through the gates.
And it did.
Muted shades of blue sped by outside, each bender working to keep the ships submerged.
The engines roared in the background, the water absorbing the majority of the noise.
Katara's ears popped for the third time, the pressure of the sea weighing heavily on their deep-sea travel.
The benders aboard all five ships had been shown what to do in order to keep the vessels submerged. Earlier that morning, the fifteen minute crash course had been given on how the Mechanist - a non-bender - thought one might have to bend to control the ship. There had been a slight learning curve, but all of the benders, backed with the pressure of the Fire Nation soldiers closing in above, seemed to figure it out fairly quickly.
In the distance, she heard Toph vomit and grumble about Sokka's way of travel being even worse than flying.
All the while, she forced her body through the fluid moments that kept them submerged.
Her mind eventually wandered to Zuko, miles away.
The Akagi probably had already docked inside the First Lord's Harbor. By now, Gin would be headed off to see his family and Zuko headed to…well, wherever he was headed.
He'd not been particularly chatty about his plans, aside from sharing how he planned on using the palace tunnels to get to the prison. What he intended to do before then…she hadn't the slightest idea.
Either way, she hoped he'd get the answers he deserved.
If she was in his position, with a secretive father like Ozai…
Her father's voice withdrew her from the thought, instructing them to slowly resurface for air.
That had been the main problem — enough oxygen for so many people.
Creating oxygen in a CO2 saturated environment was something even an air bender couldn't do.
So, Katara's group led the ascent back to the surface, each bender slowly, methodically rising the vessel.
Her lungs and brain felt strange, perhaps at the lack of fresh air, but they trucked onwards. She attested the feeling to the strain of bending.
Now miles away from the once-burning gates, they surfaced. Some people stood on the curved tops of the vessels, some stretched below. The four friends gathered atop of Katara's ship.
"So, I guess this is it, huh?" Aang said, landing beside his friends, Appa floating peacefully nearby.
"Are you ready to face the Fire Lord?" Sokka asked with a small smile.
Aang's chest heaved, taking a deep breath.
"I'm ready."
He plastered his usual smile onto his face, rubbing his recently shaved head. His blue arrow seemed brighter, though perhaps it just had been covered for so long, she'd forgotten what it looked like.
Sokka was the first to move forward, gripping the young man's forearm. The two met eyes and broke out into nervous smiles before pulling one another into a hug. At the movement, Katara and Toph came forward as well, embracing their friends. Momo had even joined in, crawling down Aang's outstretched arm and snuggling against his friends.
"Go kick some serious Fire Lord butt, Twinkle Toes!" Toph said.
Aang's hand somehow managed to reach Katara's, squeezing her hand briefly behind Toph's back before they all broke away.
Hakoda and Bato emerged from the bridge.
"Everyone listen up!"
They turned to gaze up at Katara and Sokka's father, as did everyone else above surface.
"The next time we'll resurface, it'll be in the plaza! So stay alert and fight smart."
He announced that break time was over and that they needed to reboard.
Sokka, Toph and Momo gave Aang one more reassuring smile before they left the two benders alone.
Katara's fingers found themselves entangled in front of her body, unsure of what to say.
Aang easily was one of her best friends and he was about to leave the group to fly into the heart of the capital and face a hardened tyrant.
What could she even say? She wrung her hands, glancing down at the blue fabric of her tunic.
"Aang-"
Katara had just got his name out of her mouth, when he was saying hers.
He smiled up at her.
"You go first," he insisted.
She pushed her hair loopy back to join with her loose hair.
"We've been through so much together, all of us. And you've grown so much, from that scared young monk we found in the iceberg into this," she gestured at him, watching the blush rise across his cheeks. "I…I guess I just want you to know that I'm proud of you, Aang. You've came a long way."
"It's all going to be different after today, isn't it?"
The water lapped quietly against the sides of the ship.
"I'm going to face the Fire Lord, take the fight to him…"
Katara nodded somberly.
"What if…what if I don't…come back?"
Her eyes widened.
He couldn't afford to think that way, not now!
"Aang, don't say that."
The next thing she knew, he'd stepped closer to her, hands gripping her boldly, lips on hers.
She protested, the sound coming out as a mumble, her eyes barely focusing on his eyebrows and tattoo less than an inch away.
His fingers pressed into her shoulder and into her hip, keeping her there for a long second.
The boy pulled away.
"Aang, I-" her brows creased, a frown overtaking her face.
Her hands had remained at her sides the entire time.
Aang didn't wait for her to finish. The moment he pulled away, he sprung into action, extending his glider and taking off the ship with a gust of air.
Her heart sank, fingers brushing her lips.
She didn't feel that way about him, hadn't wanted him to kiss her.
Not anymore.
Had he even noticed that she wasn't pleased he'd planted one on her like that?
It was sweet that he felt so strongly about her, but she was nearly fifteen and he was still just a twelve year old. One that felt like a bumbling younger brother, at that.
Katara had just turned to stare at his departing figure when the hatch creaked open behind her.
He's in love with you.
The realization echoed through her once more.
"What are you doing?" Sokka asked. "It's time to submerge!"
Her eyes brows shot up and she blinked, whirling around to look at him.
"What? Oh, right," she said, turning towards Appa and bending a bubble of water up. "I'm on it."
She glided the short distance to the sky-bison, landing on his head.
After bending the water helmet to keep air inside, they dove back under, following her father's ship.
Not long now.
~0~
"I know you are here, boy."
Zuko froze in his place, body pressed against the pillar.
His heart roared in his ears as he stuffed the picture of his mother in his robe pocket.
That voice…
He'd not heard it in over three years, yet it still elicited the same tense response.
The Fire Lord's footsteps echoed down the hallway, eyes scanning the area outside Ursa's room, two doors down from his own. The clanks of the Fire Lord's personal sentry rang behind the voice, much quieter.
Zuko had not planned to get caught in the palace like this, not with the eclipse so close…but he couldn't help himself. If Aang succeeded and defeated his father, then he might not ever get this chance again. His father surely had those loyal to him that would destroy things that Ozai wouldn't want getting out.
Like information on his mother…
The Fire Lord and Fire Lady had two separate, personal rooms, joined together by the suite in the middle. He'd just finished rummaging through his father's things when he'd heard the approaching footsteps. That sent him fleeing over into his mother's room - a space he'd not been allowed in since she'd been at the palace.
The banished prince had only the time to swipe a photo before the voices grew louder in the adjoining suite.
The cool stone of the pillar ate through his cloak, reminding him of the danger he was in. His sword burned at his back, fingers itching to draw the blades.
"Are you courageous or stupid, coming here?"
Two more slow footsteps. A thoughtful hum.
"Perhaps you are both. I thought you would have learned something, but with my treacherous brother as your guardian…it is no surprise."
Zuko remained in place, a scowl spreading across his face.
Ozai scoffed. "Surely you did not travel all this way just to linger in the shadows."
The sun was still high in the sky, the eclipse still minutes away. Despite his difficulty bending, he still could feel the sun's power flow through him.
And if he could still bend…then so could Ozai.
Regardless, he decided he would no longer balk in his father's presence.
Drawing his swords, Zuko stepped into the middle of the hall.
The Fire Lord straightened, partially in surprise, partially in disgust.
Three soldiers were stationed behind him, all coming to attention at the sight of the banished prince.
Ozai glanced over his shoulder, raising a hand to stop them. After a moment, he jerked his hand in dismissal.
Once the three had reluctantly left their charge alone in the hall, Zuko spoke.
"I am going to speak my mind."
The voice that came out of the banished prince surprised even him, the tone steady and sure. "And you are going to listen. I am done taking orders from you."
Zuko strode forward, eyes trained on the elder man, watching intently for any indication of attack.
Ozai raised a thick eyebrow and crossed his arms expectantly.
"I spent years wishing that you would love me. Accept me. I thought it was the honor that you supposedly took from me that I wanted, but really… I just wanted to please you. You, my father, who banished me for talking out of term and challenged me, a 13 year old boy — a child — to an Agni Kai!" Zuko's voice was unnaturally calm, his sword jabbing in the Fire Lord's direction. He'd managed to hold his gaze the entire time, neither blinking. "How can you justify that?"
The Fire Lord's expression seemed to get angrier and angrier the more Zuko spoke, the area between his eyebrows wrinkling intensely. He opened his mouth to retort, but Zuko continued, not wanting to hear his twisted reasoning.
Deep down, he knew what he would probably say. The banished prince had asked Iroh about such reasonings long ago, and once he became old enough to understand, Iroh had obliged.
His father had always been unnecessarily cruel towards him, even before the banishing.
"It was cruel and it was wrong," He squeezed the handles of his swords.
"Disrespectful and traitorous to your last breath." Ozai sneered.
"You can believe what you want. I've learned everything on my own…with some help from my uncle." Zuko mirrored Ozai's contemptuous expression. "Growing up, you have them teach us that we are the greatest civilization in history. That the war we wage on every nation is our way of sharing the greatness…but what a sick, twisted lie. Waging war serves no purpose other then harboring fear and hatred. And we deserve it. The Fire Nation created this era of fear in the world and it will destroy all of us if we do not replace it with peace and kindness."
The Fire Lord's face slipped back into the guarded expression regarding his son's words. After a moment, he chuckled darkly.
"So your sister is right. You are a full-blown traitor now." He slid into a lunge, Zuko's brain shifted to high alert, anticipating the inevitable blast. "I would say send your uncle my regards…but…"
A fireball ripped down the hallway.
Zuko dodged, slamming himself against the wall, allowing the blast to fill the corridor with smoke.
His mind reeled.
Was this a fight he wanted to fight? Here, now?
Katara's lips brushing against his cheek, begging him to be safe…pleading with him to come back to them — back to her.
If the palace was in the process of evacuating, then their plan to get Aang and Ozai in the same room would fail!
As his father's angry footsteps advanced down the hallway, he made his decision.
There could still be time for this later.
His hand wrenched open the door of the nearest room and slipped inside, sprinting towards the window.
~0~
The first leg of the invasion went smoothly. While it was clear that the Fire Nation anticipated their arrival, they definitely didn't expect such creativity backing their attackers.
Midway through the plaza now, Katara and Sokka burst out of the smoke filled battlement, eyes scanning the adjacent for any sign of their father.
A sense of dread filled Katara's stomach like lead, stealing an uncertain glance at her brother.
He should have been done by now.
There were only three soldiers in there and he had the element of surprise. He was stronger, faster, more skilled—
A massive blast shook the ground and fire licked out the front window, towards the plaza below.
She jolted, hand gripping her brother's arm in alarm. The same feeling ripped through Sokka, eyes widening and mouth gaping.
Katara's ears rang, heartbeat pulsing in her water coated arms.
The battle raging in the gully of the plaza always seemed so loud.
But now, it seemed to fade away.
The door should have opened now. A loud voice protested deep inside her. He should be outside.
"Dad!" Sokka's yell brought her back to her more immediate surroundings, his eyes picking up the moment the door moved an inch.
Two men emerged from the battlement. One had on the familiar wolf-helmet. The other…the other had a mussed dark head of hair, a deep red scar, barely visible beneath the maroon and gold trimmed cloak.
Zuko.
The breath Katara forgot she held whooshed out of her, lungs demanding more oxygen to supply her running footsteps.
"Is everything okay?" Katara asked, searching Zuko's face.
"Yeah," Hakoda bit out, turning to stare at Zuko with a look of gratitude. "Thanks to Zuko."
The fire bender held Katara's gaze, a grim smile on his lips.
"Dad, you had us worried!" Katara's eyes raked down his body, breath catching. "You're bleeding!"
Hakoda withdrew his hand from his side.
Sure enough, red slicked his palm.
"They just grazed me. I'll be fine, Katara."
Sokka squinted at the red caked fabric, face hard.
"Thank you," Sokka said to Zuko, meeting his eyes.
Zuko wordlessly bowed his head.
"Did you find him?" she asked Zuko. "Did you find Iroh?"
Katara glanced up into Zuko's amber eyes, hands prodding Hakoda's wound.
The elder man's gaze flicked from one to the other, silently observing.
"Didn't quite make it that far." Zuko rasped. "I came to find Aang. The palace is empty. They were evacuating."
"Dad," Katara said, studying the injury. "This is a little more than a graze. Are you sure you can fight?"
Steely eyes met hers.
"Everyone's counting on me to lead this mission. It feels better already. I can handle a little pain."
Katara glanced uncertainly to her brother.
It would be his call, in the end.
"Sokka?" She felt the tissues fuse together beneath their ministrations.
"We shouldn't stay out here for much longer in the open like this, it's not safe." He jerked his head towards the armored bison.
"Come on, let's finish this on Appa."
The bender quickly withdrew her hands, skimming her gaze across Zuko.
Where had he gone if he'd not went searching for his uncle? Katara wondered.
His sword was strapped against his spine, the hilt sticking up over his shoulder. She thought he smelled smoky, but that could just as easily be the fight still waging below.
Something flickered on the hillside, a dark blurb.
Squinting, she frowned, the rocky line showing no clear indication of anyone.
Willing herself to keep moving, to keep up with the group, she turned away.
"Katara!"
Just as his daughter's name left his lips, Hakoda launched himself in front of her.
Something hit him with a quiet thwack, his face crumpling at the noise.
Katara gasped and staggered forward, desperate to keep him from falling.
"Dad?" Sokka exclaimed, eyes scanning the hilly terrain in the distance.
Katara grunted as Hakoda's heavy frame bore down on hers, her legs struggling to remain upright.
"Help," she squeaked.
Sokka quickly obliged, grabbing his dad's other arm.
"Hey son," Hakoda slurred. "How's it going?"
Hakoda turned his head to look at Zuko, the motion slow like he was moving through sludge.
"Take it easy," Zuko instructed the warrior, coming beside Katara and taking the weight from her.
They made their way to Appa, Katara now on the offense, still scanning the hillside for whatever she'd seen.
"Lay him down," Zuko commanded and Sokka obliged, laying his limp body down in Appa's saddle.
Something small poked against him and he froze, leaning closer to get a better look.
"What's that?" Sokka asked, pointing at small gold and black fibers sticking out of the man's arm.
"Blowdart," Zuko murmured as Sokka pulled at the foreign object.
Meanwhile, Katara piloted the great flying-bison, her eyes watching the swarms of Fire Nation tanks and soldiers skittering about the dirt like ants.
"Let me see that." Zuko requested, holding his palm out to the young man.
The dart was fletched with short, black and gold fibers.
"I've seen this once before," Zuko said, breaking off the sharp point and tossing it over the side of the bison. "It's from the Yuyan archers…but what were they doing out this far?"
"I don't like the sound of that!" Sokka's voice raised an octave, looking wildly from his father to the banished prince.
Zuko slipped the colored fletching into his pocket.
Hakoda mumbled unintelligently, eyes occasionally opening to stare at the sky.
"Yuyan?" Katara asked, having been strategically glancing over her shoulder to keep an eye on her father.
"I've got to get to the palace," Zuko explained. "I know where they keep the medical supplies. They'll have the antidote there."
The saddle swayed as Appa landed.
Terror flooded the siblings' faces.
"Watch out!" Katara exclaimed, leaping up from the saddle.
A battle cry sounded, alarmingly close. Sokka shot to his feet, black sword at the ready. Without a moment's hesitation, he leapt off Appa with a cry of his own.
Sounds of steel clashing together rang through the air and Zuko drew his own blade, remaining at Hakoda's side. Sokka took out the offenders, two men aboard an armored rhino, with ease.
"Way to go, Sokka!" Katara cheered, watching as Sokka kicked the last rider off the rhino, the man crumbling to the ground in a heap.
Something bumped against Zuko's leg and his head swiveled down.
Hakoda's piercing blue eyes locked onto his.
"Keep her safe," Hakoda's face grew serious for a brief moment, fighting the drug's effects.
Hakoda did not have to ask. It would have been done regardless.
Just as he went to respond, Sokka called his name.
"Zuko!" Sokka snipped, leading the riderless komodo-rhino toward them. "Is he going to die?"
Katara was staring his way too, lips set in a grim line, waiting for the worst.
He fished the black and gold fletchings back out, toying with them.
"No." He replied. "It's not poison, but it'll not be pleasant for him."
Katara swallowed. "Is it what that soldier had on his blade, when I got injured?"
Her fingers brushed the thin scar on her arm.
"I don't believe so." Zuko mused. "As a matter of fact, I don't really think that there was anything on that blade."
She'd opened her mouth to retort when her father yelped from beside Zuko.
"The moon!"
Frowning, Katara strode over to where the two stood, placing her hand on his forehead.
"He's burning up."
Sokka called up from the ground, "Zuko, can you use this to get inside?" He held up the komodo-rhino's lead.
His amber eyes flicked to the battle waging a hundred yards ahead of them. They appeared to be more then three-quarters of the way through the plaza, the huge doors leading to the winding path up the mountain just in sight.
"Yes."
Zuko walked over to a downed soldier, pulling off the man's helmet and shoulder armor.
"This way, I won't draw as much attention," he said. "Can you create a distraction?"
Sokka, who was back atop Appa, grinned maniacally.
"You got it! One distraction, coming right up."
"Wait!" Katara pulled away from her father, having been attempting to remove the poison herself.
She couldn't sense it.
"I'm going with you!"
Sokka stared hard at his sister as she slid down the bison.
"What? No you're not, you've got to look after Dad!"
"Katara, is that a—" Zuko started at nearly the same time.
She held her hand up, going over to the other unconscious man and pulling off his helmet and outer cloak.
Katara froze at his face, the face a reminder that these were real people they were fighting.
"There's nothing I can do for Dad." She pulled the dark red fabric around her Water Tribe blues. "Besides, if we're going to get the medicine and rescue your uncle, two people will be better than one."
Defiantly, she met Sokka's worried gaze.
"Get Dad somewhere safe. See if you can find Aang."
Sokka worked his jaw.
She tucked her wind-blown hair behind her and pulled the helmet onto her head.
"Just warn Aang, Sokka. We'll be back!"
Zuko hefted himself to the animal's saddle, extending a hand down to the woman.
"Zuko," Sokka eyeballed the helmeted prince. "You better bring her back in one piece, or so help me…"
~0~
Katara gripped onto Zuko, chest pressed against his steel shoulder piece.
They'd thankfully made it through without much resistance, Sokka and Appa flying on ahead.
She tried to not think too much about how she'd not seen Aang yet.
Katara prayed that he'd find the palace empty and come back to them - to Sokka and Toph.
Neither had said a word since they started their trek to wherever Zuko was taking them. They'd veered out of the plaza and headed back towards the battlement where Zuko had found them.
Once their komodo-rhino rumbled by the familiar area, Katara inched her head closer to the front of Zuko's helmet.
"Where are we going?"
His head twisted slightly. "To the tunnels."
~0~
How Zuko remembered which turns to take once inside the dark passageway, she hadn't a clue.
Her eyes had thankfully adjusted to the dim lighting, small amounts of what she only assumed was magma lighting their way. They'd removed the white face plates before entering, the steel tucked into their waistbands in case they needed it later.
"Zuko," Katara hissed, the prince's longer strides leaving her behind.
He slowed, just long enough for her to catch up.
"We need to hurry."
Hamstrings aching, she picked up the pace, knowing that he was right.
The eclipse would arrive before she knew it and they still needed to make it to the infirmary and the prison.
Eventually, the passage narrowed into a steep staircase, the hall much darker than the rest of the tunnel.
Hand dragging the cool wall, she climbed the stairs, slowing to a stop once she felt Zuko's presence in the dark.
Something clicked ahead of them, the noise echoing loudly.
Bright light filtered in and she squinted, tucking her chin.
As the door swung open, they stepped out into an empty hallway. The palace's silence was so loud, she swore she could hear it. The white noise seemed to seep out from every empty room and empty hallway they came across. Dark columns existed in nearly every hall, beautifully crafted in a deep red.
It was difficult to not stop and marvel at the ornate architecture present in every nook and cranny inside the Fire Nation's Palace. Katara had never been in such an extravagant building. It was clear that the nation had prospered while everyone else suffered.
"You really grew up here?" Katara asked, voice no more than a whisper.
They rounded another long hallway, Zuko still leading the way.
He slowed, allowing her to walk alongside him.
"Yes."
"Has it always been this…fancy?"
"Yes."
They stopped outside a door, Zuko pushing it open to reveal a long room lined with beds. Three large windows backed the room, allowing in copious amounts of sunlight. While the beds lined one wall, various cabinets and wheeled tables lined the other, fewer beds in between.
"Here," Zuko said, going over to the dark walnut cabinet.
Even the infirmary was dotted with extravagant touches, the cabinet and drawer pulls a deep gold, the floors covered in maroon and red rugs.
Rustling through the rows of bottles inside, he pulled out a dark vial, squinting at the script on the side.
"This should be it."
"Should be?" She asked, squinting at the character on the bottle.
"The Yuyan shoot to kill." He said huskily, handing the bottle to her. "If they're using blowdarts, then their intent isn't to kill their target, only incapacitate. They don't miss."
"Do you think they were aiming at me, then?"
Her father yelling her name seconds before he leapt in front of her flashed in her mind.
His amber eyes studied her.
"Most likely."
The sun darkened outside.
"C'mon. The eclipse is starting soon."
Katara didn't get a chance to ask why they'd be aiming at her before they were off again.
Zig-zagging down hallways and staircases, Zuko suddenly stopped, staring at a tapestry.
"Wait." He said, turning on his heel. "I need to make a stop first."
Frowning, she watched as he pushed the tapestry back and slipped down yet another secret passage.
This passage seemed to be more recently traveled than the last, torches lighting the hall every few feet.
They'd just made it to a fork in the path when Zuko shoved Katara against the left wall, hand clamping over her mouth.
Casual whistling met her ears.
She held her breath, heart pounding nervously.
An old man strolled into her line of sight, hands clasped behind him, his back to them.
Her breath trickled out her nose in relief, eyes flicking to Zuko.
Once he felt the air tickle his fingers, he slowly removed his hand, pressing his finger to his lips.
Katara resisted the urge to comment that this wasn't her first time being stealthy, instead rolling her eyes at her previous restrains.
He held her gaze stoically for a moment, not saying anything.
Her tongue darted out to moisten her lips and he regarded her briefly, something flicking in his gaze.
"Come on. We're almost there."
They continued down the hall to their left and went up a short flight of stairs.
"Stay here." Zuko commanded, pausing on the landing.
Unsheathing his swords, he pushed open the two large doors, not giving Katara a chance to protest.
The room ahead was tiled with massive tan tiles, nearly the same color as the brown pillars that lined both walls. Goblets of fire were on each pillar, warming the room with a golden light. A red throne sat on the back wall, a brunette woman perched lazily atop it.
Azula.
Zuko visibly stiffened the moment she came into sight, shifting in front of Katara.
He'd hoped she'd not be seen, but it was evident he would not get so lucky.
"Hello brother dear," she cooed. "How's your little peasant girlfriend? Did the Yuyan archers send my regards?"
Azula sighed heavily, Katara's hardened face peering around him to glare at her. "Oh, she's fine. How pleasant for you."
Her legs were crossed and draped across one of the arms.
"Azula," he rasped. "What do you want? Where is he?"
Twirling a strand of dark hair around her finger, she shifted in her seat.
"Well it's nice to see you too." An evil smirk spread across her face. "It's been a while. Have you been to see Uncle?"
Hands tensing around the hilts, Katara watched his posture stiffen further. She reached out to touch him, fingertips brushing his back.
"No?" She mused. "Hm. What a shame. I hear he's losing it in there."
Her dark eyes flicked towards the roof.
Zuko felt the eclipse start, too.
"Come on Zuko," Katara said, touching his back again. "She's just baiting you."
Azula got to her feet.
"Aw, Zuzu," she strode towards them casually. "You don't want to stay a while?"
Zuko raised his sword, the tip pointed towards her.
"I brought home some souvenirs when I left Ba Sing Se. You both may actually be familiar with them."
Two men, clad in dark green and gold, dropped from the ceiling.
"Dai Li agents." She said in a sing-song voice.