CHAPTER 17

KATARAS POV

Katara woke to the sound of a girl humming, her melodious voice sounding almost haunting. She cracked her tired eyes open only to find the other side of the bed empty. Getting up and rubbing her eyes blearily she made her way towards the sound. She was lead to the balcony where she found Yue siting crossed legged on the chair and knitting what looked like some kind of garment.

"I wish I could still cross my legs" Katara jested from behind her. Yue turned her head quickly registering Katara's presence. The northern princess giggled, her eyes alight with mirth.

"And I wish I was as close to birth as you are…no one ever told me how exhausting carrying a child would be" she countered. Katara shook her head as she sat in the chair next to her. They both looked out at the cactus gardens below them. It was just past dawn and the sun had not yet reached its hottest point in the day. There was a cool breeze that passed over them, still chilled from the left over night's air.

"I hope you don't mind me using your yarn. I saw the baby clothes you made and wanted to try it out myself…I'm not the best at knitting" she confessed. Katara smiled observing the hat she was attempting to make. While it was a little lopsided it still had a good shape to it, and it would surely keep her baby's head warm regardless of how it looked.

"I think it looks good, you should restart your stitch here" she said pointing out her small error. Yue blushed slightly and nodded her head.

They both fell into a comfortable silence, the only noise amongst them was the steady clicking of Yue's needles.

"How do you feel about Zuko going to fight at the wall?" she asked after a while.

Katara hesitated for a beat. How did she feel?

In all honesty she was conflicted. On one hand she knew that Zuko was right to go. Druk would be crucial to their chances at winning. Even with the Earth Kingdom and Northern Water Tribe's army combined it would be hard to beat the Fire Nation. Ozai had sent out a draft to all able bodied men in his nation over the age of sixteen, forcing them to be soldiers; something Bumi and Sokka were both unwilling to do. This led to quite a large gap in the sheer number of soldiers each side had, not to mention the Fire Nation's advanced technology. Ba Sing Se's wall wouldn't stand a chance, especially with the insidious work the Fire Lord had done within the Earth Kingdom's walls. Ozai had managed to destabilize both Water and Earth nations with his political warfare causing inflation on goods to rise, their economies to plummet, and leaving their citizens without hope. Ozai and his forefathers had played the long game…and they had played it well. The Fire Nation had been the aggressor on all other nations for over one hundred years, and had sucked the life out of the world. Fifty years ago they had almost wiped out the Air Nomads, killing off the entire Eastern Temple. Each nation was at its breaking point, weak enough to fall from a single battle. One extraordinary sweep of destruction.

"I worry for him every time he leaves" she admitted after a minute "but I know that he must do this. It is his destiny."

Yue nodded her head stiffly.

"You are truly the brave one Princess Katara. You hold your head high even in the face of loneliness…even though you could lose everything" Yue turned to face her, putting her sewing needles down beside her.

"I have no choice but to be brave. The world needs all of us. I just wish that I was in a position to fight with him" she sighed.

"Bringing a child into the world is a fight in itself. Do not downplay your role…you carry the future of a powerful nation within your womb."

"As do you" Katara smiled. She reached over Yue to grab her needle fixing her crooked stitches with ease. There was a knock at the door, both girls turning to see the intruder. Lo and Li walked in, their night robes flowing past their feet.

"Come children, we must prepare the last breakfast for our soldiers" Li said approaching them slowly.

"It looks like it will be just the four of us here for a little while after today…let's make the most of it" Lo added.

ZUKOS POV

Night was approaching fast and Zuko was a flaming ball of nervous energy. Tonight he was going to free his Uncle. The man who had stepped up to be a father to him when his own sire had failed so miserably. It had been four long years since he'd seen him. He could not imagine what kind of heinous conditions his father had had him in all this time. He prayed that his Uncle, the famed Dragon of the West, was in good health and spirits…at least enough to get him out of the palace's prison. He had heard from June that he had been using his isolation to strengthen his body. He hoped it was true.

Zuko couldn't pinpoint why he felt so uneasy. Their plan was truthfully seamless. The Fire Prince had ran it over and over in his head countless times.

Suki and Toph had already made their way to the factory earlier that morning after breakfast. They had taken a boat from Ember Island to the main land, and by now should've been close to Caldera already. Toph and Suki were to infiltrate the factory, Toph using her bending to take them underground and through the basement. From there they would open up all the gas valves throughout the production line, being careful to remain unseen. By the time night fell Zuko and Sokka would be on their way with Druk. The dark sky did good to hide his form while flying. Once Suki and Toph were cleared from the building him and Druk would create a fire tornado engulfing the bomb factory and effectively blowing it up beyond repair. It was their hope that the major catastrophe would take some guards within the palace away from their post to help and cause a long enough distraction. While everyone was occupied trying to kill the fires he was going to be coming for his Uncle, with Sokka by his side to aide him.

They had already secured a boat for his Uncle to take back to the safety of Ember Island while Zuko flew Druk back to Ba Sing Se.

Zuko had mixed feelings about leaving Katara on Ember Island. There weren't many places in the world he would consider to be safe territory right now, but he knew that the people who would want her dead would be in Ba Sing Se fighting at the wall. He would feel much better once his Uncle was free and could protect her and Yue.

Zuko also worried that she would give birth while he was away. Although she wasn't due for another month anything could happen, and with his luck he wouldn't be able to see his child be born. That was the part that haunted him the most.

"What are you doing out here?" Sokka asked coming up behind the young prince. Zuko hadn't realized he had walked to the end of the docks, staring out at the setting sun across the water.

"Thinking…" he said wistfully.

The hour before Lo and Li had taken him to the top of the far hill to be closest to the sun. They had prayed over him, begging Agni to keep him safe on his journey. He had already said his goodbyes to Katara and he could not go back into the house for fear of seeing her which was just too painful, knowing it may be his last time.

Sokka gave a stiff nod "Well I'm all set to go. Katara and Yue are settled in for the night…Lo and Li have just finished making them dinner."

"That's good…" Zuko trailed off.

"Look Zuko… I know this is hard. I can't believe I'm leaving Yue right now either. She hasn't been out of my sight since we married. I promised to always protect her…but protecting her looks different now I guess" the young Chief said. Zuko stared ahead watching the yellow orb in the sky descend below the horizon.

"I don't want her to have to do this alone…I know she is afraid I won't return…"

"But you will return. Because I'll be right next you on that field. Just like old times" said Sokka.

"I'm more frightened of what their future will be if we fail than I am of dying" he confessed.

"You won't die" Sokka assured. It was halfhearted assurance at best. They both knew that their odds were slim.

"Let's head out. The sun has set."

Zuko had to lift Sokka onto Druk in a semi undignified way. To mitigate the embarrassment the fire bender tucked his arm underneath the tribesman's shoulders providing back support as he lifted them both into the air with jets of fire.

"Hey!" Sokka yelled as he was tossed somewhat carelessly onto the dragon's back. Zuko had modified a horses saddle to fit between two spikey spines on Druk's back. He had many spikes, black in color, running along the back of his neck all the way to his tail.

Sokka settled into the saddle as Zuko took his position up front between his twin spirit's two horns atop his head.

He preferred to ride up closer to Druk's head. For some reason it felt easier to talk to him when their minds were physically closer to each other. Zuko could actually see what Druk saw sometimes. It was much more difficult to unlock the dragon's vision when they were farther apart, but he had been successful a few times as of late. One thing Zuko loved about unlocking his vision was that Druk could see much better than humans, his reptilian eyes were stronger in the dark and could see detail even in the blackest of night. The prince had also discovered that Druk could see thermal energy, even as deep as twelve feet underground. With his twin spirit alive and on his side, in this world, Zuko felt superhuman.

"Hold on tightly!" he warned as Zuko gave his dragon the mind command to lift off. Zuko didn't need a harness, he had practiced riding every single day for the past three weeks.

They lifted off into the air after Druk's brief running start along the beach. The large beast was surprisingly agile for his massive size. His serpent like body was able to twist and turn at lightning speed. There was no wonder before they had been hunted to extinction, dragons were considered the world's super predator.

They flew across the water, the wind lifting both men's robes violently. Zuko could occasionally hear Sokka's screams soaring across the wind and whipping past his ear.

'Is he going to continue screaming like that?' Druk asked.

"Give him a break…it's his first time. I have to admit riding you is not for the faint of heart" Zuko reminded him.

'Yes but he's bursting my ear drum' the dragon complained.

Riding Druk without a harness was like a balancing act. Zuko had to gauge his counterweight as the dragon made sharp twists and turns with it's body which propelled him forward with more speed. Even though it took a lot of equilibrium as his rider, because of their mental connection, Druk knew when not to overextend himself lest Zuko fall. Zuko had fallen plenty of times when they practiced, but this was something they could not afford in battle.

It had only taken them an hour to make it to the main land. Once they landed they dismounted Druk, Zuko helping Sokka down.

The young Chief doubled over almost immediately after his feet touched the ground, vomiting all of his dinner onto the ground.

"Shit man…" Zuko whispered, patting his friend on the back as he coughed in struggle.

"That was…the worst…hour….of…my life" Sokka gasped out as he continued to gag.

"I didn't think you'd get so motion sick. You used to fly on Appa all the time" he argued.

"THAT was NOTHING like riding Appa" Sokka cried, his eyes wide and watery. Zuko shook his head ushering the young Chief forward.

"C'mon we don't have much time. The factory will be changing shifts soon."

They climbed up the rocky beach, finally reaching grass after about a mile uphill. Druk slithered closely along side them keeping low to the ground.

It was a good thing the factory wasn't remotely near any residential areas so staying hidden away from people was easy. They walked for another hour, Zuko having memorized the route to get there.

They were on desolate Fire Nation main land, but had not yet made it up the volcanic crater that housed the great city of Caldera, home of the Fire Nation royal palace and it's nobility. It was a good thing the bomb factory rested just before the precipice of the city's entrance, far away from anyone's sight.

They approached the bomb factory after another hour on foot. It felt like they were in the middle of nowhere, as they approached the iron building.

The facility spanned over four acres of volcanic land, it's black iron exterior glistened against the moonlight. The entire property was pitch aside from the soft glow of fires behind the many windows.

Toph would be able to sense they were there soon enough. That would be the girl's signal to open up the gas valves and make their way to the meeting spot.

Sokka and Zuko approached the fortress walls, pressing their backs against the cold stone. They scaled the side of the wall before the entrance, Druk remaining a few feet away hiding behind a shed. The closer they approached the entrance the more they could hear the workers within the walls patrolling it's boarders. They eventually made it to the entrance. The portcullis gate was closed, with no way inside. They would either have to go over the wall, with the help of Druk, which ran the risk of being sighted, or break through the gate somehow, which would be loud he imagined. He hoped someone would have a reason to come out to the shed.

"What should we do?" Sokka whispered from behind him. Just then they heard the loud creak of the gate being lifted. Both men unsheathed the swords at their backs.

Even though Sokka preferred his single sword he still followed Zuko's lead and brought out his dual blades.

Both leaders had a love for swordsmanship. It was the reason they had grown so close over their months of traveling with Team Avatar together. Zuko had taught Sokka the art of the dual swords and Sokka had taught Zuko the art of Ahiiyj sword fighting; a sword style that used water bending form techniques and a heavier sword.

It felt like they had been standing there for ages when the gate finally opened completely. Out came strolling a man with fire nation guardsmen gear on. Zuko acted quickly, lunging forward and severing the man's head from his body with one single sweep. Blood spirted violently from the man's open neck, his body crumpling limply onto the hard ground. Zuko hated killing people who hadn't attacked him first, but his brain had entered into survival mode. One slip up on this night and they would be in deep shit. Meddling around on Fire Nation territory was risky business, and if his father got ahold of him he was as good as dead.

Sokka and Zuko slipped beneath the iron gate unscathed stepping over the guard's body. They continued walking close along the wall, until they came to the entrance that was supposed to be their meeting spot. They approached the metal door. It was locked with a fire padlock. It was a specific kind of lock that only fire benders could unlock if they knew the exact sequence. Zuko wrapped his hand around the lock pulsing his fingers with fire in seemingly random order. A soft click was heard and the door cracked open. They moved with stealth through the door and across the narrow hallway they'd walked into. Everything inside was made of metal, even the walls. He could feel the heat from the coal fire infernos burning on the other side of the hallway. They made a sharp left into a different hallway, finding the supply room they were looking for. Zuko opened the wooden door, both him and Sokka slid into the room and shut the door closely behind them. They walked in to find Toph metal bending a shelf rail around a guard's arms locking him in place before Suki spun kicked the man in the chest. She sent the final blow to the man's throat, slitting it open with a spin of one of her metal fans. Another guard came behind Toph, but before he could do anything Sokka stepped forward elbowing the man in the nose. He gave out a cry when the sickening crunch of his nasal bone sounded through the air. Sokka unsheathed a single sword driving it deep into the guard's belly and out the other side of his back. The man coughed, sputtering blood from his floundering mouth. Sokka pushed him off of his blade turning to engage with his next victim.

There were three more guards in the room one of which had initiated a fight with Zuko. The young prince had to admit, the man was quick. Zuko rolled across the ground narrowly dodging a fire blast from the man's fist.

"You might not want to keep bending in here. This place is going to fill up with gas soon" Zuko warned the man. The guard growled lowly taking a sword from his belt. Zuko unsheathed his two dual swords from his back, quickly parodying the guards attack by crossing his blades above his head. Zuko pressed his weight forward onto his blades pushing the other man back.

Although Zuko was not the greatest swordsmen to ever live, he had his martial arts and fire bending techniques that made him highly skilled. He was lighting fast and had enough power behind his blows to overwhelm most opponents. Zuko brought his leg up, kicking the man in the chin and causing his head to snap back. He stumbled back, his face stunned, as Zuko drove his sword through his heart. He fell to his death before him, the color red pouring like a river from his chest.

When the Prince looked up the others had finished their fights too.

"I hope no one heard that" Suki whispered.

"I don't feel anyone coming this way" Toph said.

"Let's make this quick. Did you guys get all the gas valves open?" Zuko questioned.

"We weren't able to make it to the far south wing. It's too heavily guarded over there. I think they're making some other weapon…something stronger than the bombs" explained Suki.

"Hopefully we never find out what it is. The combustion from the other three wings should be enough to destroy the whole factory" Sokka assured.

"Take me to all the locks" Zuko ordered. This was the reason Zuko had to come into the factory. He was the only one who could disrupt all the locks on the door, making it so that no one within the factory would be able to get out. He had learned this trick from his Uncle years ago. He had to ensure that no one made it out of the factory alive to report back what they witnessed tonight to his father. If Ozai found out that they had a dragon it could give him time to think of a way to level the playing field. He needed Druk to remain a secret weapon.

Suki took the lead as they exited the supply room showing Zuko each lock. There were only five main entrances in the entire facility therefore disrupting the locks only took about twenty minutes.

"Alright, let's get out of here before one of these idiots fire bends and blows us all up. I can already smell the gas filling the air" Zuko said.

"Good idea" Toph agreed.

Once they had all made it outside and on the other side of the wall they spotted Druk still sitting behind the shed where Sokka and Zuko had left him.

"Are you ready?" he asked his dragon.

Druk gave a single nod of his giant head, turning his body to the side for Zuko to get onto his back. He shot upward landing on Druk's warm scaled neck.

"Get as far away from here as you can!" Zuko yelled down to his friends. He didn't want them getting injured, there was no telling how big this explosion was going to be.

Zuko waited until Sokka, Suki, and Toph had made it at least two leagues away. He could see that Toph had bent them a 30 foot cliff to stand on. From this distance they looked like tiny ants to Zuko.

Druk lifted up into the sky, using his vast leathery wings to propel them upwards. The heavy winds whipped Zuko's hair around his head like an unruly dark halo. He focused in on the factory urging Druk forward with his mind. They flew directly above the facility.

'Are you sure you want to do this? We've only practiced the fire tornado once' Druk asked. Zuko had decided that this was their only option. The bomb factory sat too close to Caldera city where thousands of innocent civilians lived. The tornado would keep the explosion contained, making the combustion shoot up and not out.

"Yes" Zuko answered, climbing up Druk's neck and standing atop his head. He stayed balanced upright while they flew.

"Now!" Zuko yelled. He dropped down into a lung summoning his inner fire from his fist.

He aimed downward just in time to meet the fire erupting from Druk's mouth below him. Druk breathed an inferno onto the factory, rotating himself around the building in a circle. Zuko waved his arms in a spherical water bending-like motion, conducting the flames within the circle Druk was creating. Eventually the flames themselves were producing enough wind on their own to sustain the tornado.

He heard the screams of the factory workers and guards below him. They were horrendous and soul wrenching screams. They were the screams of his countrymen fighting for their lives and being swallowed by the hellish flames he was creating.

"Dragon!" he heard them yelling from beneath them. Zuko ignored them, keeping the flames contained within the factory's grounds.

The south wing exploded first, causing enough vibrations to disrupt Druk's flying. Zuko's balance wavered atop his head and he reached out for his horns in a desperate attempt to stay upright. Almost immediately after the entire building exploded simultaneously creating a powerful blast that knocked Zuko clean off of Druk's head. He felt himself free falling from one hundred feet in the air. It seemed like time had slowed down as he his arms reached uselessly for Druk, the dragon becoming farther away with each passing second. He heard him let out a billowing roar as he nosedived towards Zuko in an attempt to save him. The prince could feel the heat on his back from the burning hellhole they had created below them.

Was this how he was to die? Swallowed by the flames of his own creation? He locked eyes with Druk as he fell. The beast flew frantically toward him. Zuko reached, reached, and reached to close the gap. The heat was getting stronger. Then Druk did something unexpected. He flew right past Zuko.

"No!" he yelled trying to muster any flames he could to hopefully keep him propelled in the air, kicking his limbs in a desperate attempt. It only seemed to make him fall faster. Then suddenly he landed onto a leathery spine, just when Zuko had thought it was over for sure. His dragon had saved him, flying underneath him to catch his fall.

'You thought that I would let you fall?' Druk asked as he flew them over the burning factory and towards the cliff his friends were waiting on.

"You had me there for a minute" he admitted, his voice shaky and rough. His hands were trembling uncontrollably from his near death experience as he grabbed onto Druk's horns.

After a few minutes they had landed on the cliff soundly. Toph immediately engulfed Zuko in a tight embrace as soon as his feet touched the ground, knocking the wind out of him.

"Sokka told me you fell…we all thought you were going to…" Zuko had never heard Toph's voice sound so broken. He had no idea that the thought of losing him would affect her so greatly. The prince truthfully wasn't used to anyone caring so much about his wellbeing. He looked around at his friends only to find Sokka and Suki with equally forlorn expressions on their faces. He wrapped his arms around the small girl rubbing her back to sooth her.

"It's okay…I'm here now. Druk will never let me fall" he assured them.

"We're just glad you're okay" Suki said with relief in her voice.

"Time for phase two?" Sokka asked after Zuko had pulled away from Toph. He nodded his head. It was now time for the girls to be on their way to Ba Sing Se, and for him and Sokka to infiltrate Caldera and bust Iroh out of jail.

"Our boat has already been secured. We'll see you guys at the wall" Toph said. Sokka turned to embrace Toph then Suki. The Kyoshi warrior looked surprised as the Water Chief wrapped his arms around her lithe frame.

"Be safe…we will see you in a week" Sokka said as he released her. Suki blushed deeply nodding her head but saying nothing in return.

Toph lowered them onto the ground and the foursome split to go their separate ways; Toph and Suki on foot towards the sea and Sokka and Zuko on Druk towards the city.

They glided just outside the city's walls leaving Druk there to wait for them upon their return. He could already hear the City Watch marching and yelling commands to investigate the factory's destruction, as well as the civilians yelling in chaos. He knew that everyone within the city had heard the explosions and were likely afraid that this was a terrorist attack from another nation. Zuko supposed that they weren't wrong...he was indeed now a terrorist to his own nation.

The disorder and confusion that was ensuing would help them go undetected as they made their way to the palace grounds.

Zuko felt his heart begin to race as adrenaline took over. It had been five years since he had stepped foot onto his family's sacred ground. He no longer felt like he belonged here. His boots touching the Fire Nation soil felt wrong but he pressed on anyway with Sokka trailing closely behind him. The city had descended into absolute madness. People were running in the streets screaming, women crying, and thieves taking the opportunity to rob store fronts amidst the confusion.

"Do something!" a man yelled to a City Watch patrol officer as they attempted to keep order amongst the people.

"Are they coming for us? They're going to kill us" cried a woman holding her baby as it wailed in the middle of the bustling sidewalk.

Smoke and dusk rained on the city as Zuko and Sokka ran swiftly through the crowds of people with their cloak hoods up.

They had made it to the palace grounds within the hour. It looked abandoned, as if no one was inside at all. There were no lights coming from within, no guards patrolling the gates, and most curious of all no sounds of servants bustling about with their chores.

"Something's off" Zuko whispered "there's no one here."

"Maybe they all went to help restore order to the city" Sokka suggested.

"My father doesn't care that much about his people. He's plotting something"

"What should we do then?"

Zuko thought for a minute.

"Let's stick with the plan…we're here now." Sokka nodded in support, following behind him as the prince skillfully navigated his old home. Zuko knew all the palac's weak spots and remembered an underground entrance his mother had shown him a decade before now that would lead them straight into the bowels of the palace prisons.

It was easy enough to infiltrate the prison…too easy. Usually there were at least five guards on every floor, but tonight there seemed to be a skeleton crew. He and Sokka had only had to kill two men so far and they had already made it to the high profile prisoner's floor located at the very bottom. Down here there were no guards at all.

"Do you think it's a trap?" Sokka whispered as they both peaked around the wall they were hiding behind. Zuko's gut twisted into knots as he thought of all the possibilities. What if his father knew he was coming? Ozai always was two steps ahead of everyone else. He tended to know his opponents next move before they even knew it. Had Zuko miscalculated his plan's viability? He pressed forward anyway. He saw no immediate threat and the more time they wasted down there the more likely they were to get caught. Someone was going to find the dead bodies upstairs sooner or later. He ran through the hall of cells, most of them empty but a few occupied by starved and tortured looking souls. He hoped his Uncle had fared much better than the people he was seeing. He reached the end of the hall. There was only one cell left to check. Sokka flanked him, his swords drawn in case of any threat.

"Uncle?" Zuko called as he watched the back of a hunched man in his prison. His hair was long and grey, balding in the center. He dawned a brown tunic that was tattered and soiled beyond repair. He sat crouched in the corner in silence until he heard Zuko's voice.

Iroh turned to regard his nephew. Zuko couldn't believe it. He was standing face to face with the only family he had left aside from Katara now.

"Nephew" he gasped out, his golden eyes blazing with relief and what looked like…dread? Why was his Uncle not happy to see him?

"Uncle I'm getting you out of here" Zuko laughed nervously as tears threatened to spill from his eyes. The bright side was that June had been right, Iroh had used his solitary confinement to work out and build muscle. He had bulked up considerable, reminding Zuko of the way he had looked when he was younger. He felt confident now that he could protect Katara and Yue if needed.

"Zuko I must tell you something" Iroh said urgently as Zuko fiddled with the keys he had stolen off of the guard.

"Whatever it is it can wait until we get to safety" he interrupted. The Fire Prince opened the gate embracing the Dragon of the West in the tightest bear hug he could muster. He felt Iroh return the embrace firmly.

"It's good to see ya crazy old man" Sokka said with a smirk as a single tear fell from his eye. The older man let go of Zuko and embracing Sokka just as tightly.

"Let's go, we'll take the tunnels. They will take us right outside the city walls" Zuko said. They moved quickly finding the tunnel entrance with ease. The more they were able to move throughout the prison without being confronted by guards the more on edge Zuko became. Once they made it to the tunnels Zuko lit a fire in his palm to light the way. The passageway was lined with dark brick and the ground covered with dirt.

"Did every guard take the day off or something?" Zuko grumbled as the three of them jogged swiftly down the channel. It wouldn't take them long to reach Druk right at the wall.

"That's what I must tell you Zuko-"

"Duck!" Sokka shouted as a fire ball hurtled at their heads. They ducked the flame barely missing them.

Zuko sprinted toward he threat. There were two guards standing at the exit of the tunnel, blocking their way out. His uncle ran by his side sending fire whips toward their opponents.

"It's the Prince!" one of them shouted in recognition. Zuko unsheathed his swords lighting them both on fire. He came upon one of the guards slashing at him in quick succession as the man in front of him tried to dodge and deflect his advances. From the corner of his eye he watched his Uncle summon another fire whip and wrap it around the other guard's torso killing him instantly. Zuko cut down his opponent at the same time. Finally they were in the clear as they pushed open the gate and walked out into the open.
"Uncle don't freak out but-" he tried to explain in a rush as Druk emerged from his hiding spot a few feet from them.

"What?" Iroh questioned when Druk stepped out from behind the other side of the wall's bend. As his dragon revealed himself Zuko watched his Uncle's reaction very closely.

In his past Iroh had been given the name The Dragon of the West. He was made infamous for having killed the last dragon three decades ago. But only Zuko knew that his Uncle had not in fact killed any dragons. He had actually protected them. After their species had been hunted down for a century there had only been two dragons left on Earth, Ran and Shão. Iroh had boasted about being the one who had killed them so that they could live in peace. Iroh hadn't seen another dragon in thirty years. His eyes widened as he looked up at Druk's colossal form.

"I can't believe it" Iroh whispered. Zuko's lips split into a grin when his uncle regarded him with pride. Their ancient decedents had danced with the dragons. Every fire bender's ancestors had learned the art of bending from them.

"Is he Ran and Shão's offspring?"

Druk bent down, lowering his long neck to be face with Iroh.

"He says thank you for saving his parents" Zuko explained to him. Iroh smiled sadly, no doubt wishing that they never needed to be saved in the first place.

"Where are they now?" Uncle asked. After a long pause Zuko stepped forward to lay a hand on Druk's head. Out of nowhere his head began to throb in pain. He clutched his skull in agony but was unable to remove his hand from Druk. Zuko blinked rapidly as he felt his eyes roll into the back of his head. Was he having a stroke?

Just then Zuko was transported into a different world. A world where he was just a hatchling, his wings not yet fully developed. A world ten years before now. He looked down to find his body covered in red scales and his feet clawed with thin but razer sharp nails. He gave his wings a small flap to feel the stretch in his limbs. Zuko looked up from the large nest he was in to find that he was on the side of a mountain he did not recognize, but for some reason it felt like home. Suddenly a blue dragon appeared in the distant sky. It was Shão. Zuko recognized her from the drawings in his textbooks. He croaked in hunger as she came near. When she landed in the nest she wrapped her long and graceful body around his, folding her tail in a tight circle around him. She dropped half of a roasted lamb in front of him. Zuko uncontrollably fed on the dead animal, filling his belly to satisfaction.

"My son," Shão said softly "eat slower dear". Zuko coed at the warmth radiating from his mother as he finished his dinner.

As night fell Zuko began to feel sleepy. He curled in on himself and was slowly being lulled by his mother's deep steady breathing. Before he could fully close his eyes a massive red dragon appeared in the nest. His long whiskers flowed in the wind as he came face to face with Shão and nuzzled the side of her cheek. This dragon looked a lot like Druk, but bigger. And instead of golden eyes his orbs glowed red…even in the dark. Zuko felt his heart beat increase as he locked eyes with the mighty dragon. He stayed laying down not wanting to approach him.

"My son" he said as he wrapped his body around Shão "come here."

Zuko stood up obediently and walked to his father, his heavy tail that he had not yet grown into making him waddle unsteadily. He sat down in front of him expectantly, blinking up at his intimidating form.

"The people are getting bold again with their hunting. There are those who do not believe our human friend Iroh and still seek to rid the world of the last dragons" he explained to both of them. Zuko's tiny heart thrummed in his chest. He had never seen a human before but his father had described them to him in the past. And he knew, from his parent's teachings, that he should trust no human except for General Iroh. His father had even taught Iroh to breath fire like them long ago.

"We must leave this world and return to the spirits. We are much better off there" he said further. He heard his mother gasp in disbelief.

"Ran! You know we cannot do that" she fought sternly.

"If we stay we will eventually perish. This world was never meant for us in the first place…our kind have always fared better in the spirit world" he said. Shão shook her head.

"Then explain why your son was born a twin spirit. He belongs here where his reflection will be…you know this Ran" she begged.

"It won't matter Shão because we'll be dead!" his father yelled. Zuko flinched at his raised voice and stumbled back slightly. There was a span of dead silence. He knew his father's tone meant that the decision was final.

"Father?" he said quietly after a while "what's a twin spirit?"

He sighed bringing his head down to face him closely.

"Some dragons are born with their souls bound to another form…a human form. They were once one soul that split into two. When they are together they become whole again…they strengthen one another…a reflection of each other's ability" he explained.

"How will I find my reflection if we leave the human world?"

"Young one…it is your destinies to find one another. Twin spirits could never be apart…even when worlds away from each other. He will find you, or you will find him." His father's reassuring words calmed his racing heart. They would go to the spirit world where their kind could be safe. He would just have to wait for his reflection to find him.

"Zuko! ZUKO" he heard his Uncle's voice shouting as he came to. His blurry vision finally began to focus as he removed his hand from Druk's head.

"Sorry I-" he stuttered shaking his head.

"What happened?" Sokka asked mortified "your eyes were glowing gold."

Zuko rubbed his temple in disbelief.

"Druk just…shared a memory with me. His parents are in the spirit world" he said finally answering Iroh's question. Uncle looked at him in disbelief.

"I cannot believe my Nephew is a twin spirit" he said in awe.

"As unbelievable as all of this is…we really should get out of here" Sokka said nervously looking around.

"You're right. Let's go" Zuko agreed "Uncle we've secured a boat to take you to Ember Island. We need you to stay there with Katara and Yue. They can explain more about the situation when you get there."

"That's what I needed to talk to you about Zuko…your wife Katara is in trouble" he said urgently. Zuko stopped in his tracks.

"How did you know I was married?"

"That's the thing Nephew. There's a reason there were barely any guards tonight. Ozai wanted you to find me. A few nights ago he came to my cell and told me that one of his spies had witnessed your wedding on Ember Island. He knows you are married and he knows Katara is with child. He's coming for them Zuko, as we speak."

Zuko's jaw went slack. He knew that he should not have trusted Lo and Li's servant.

His chest began to constrict with panic. Even if they left now they wouldn't be back to Ember Island in two hours' time. And they had already been gone for several hours. Ozai had probably already gotten to them. Zuko quickly helped his Uncle and Sokka onto Druk, giving them clear instructions to hold on tightly.

"Fly to Ember Island as fast as you can. Katara's in trouble" he told Druk.

They took off into the night, Druk flying faster than he ever had before… as fast as his wings could take him.

KATARAS POV

Katara stepped out of her milk bath with the help of Yue. They were both getting settled in for the night as Lo and Li cleaned the mess from the night's dinner down stairs. She had to admit that the house being empty gave her an eerie feeling. She knew that if all went well Zuko's Uncle Iroh would be there soon to help protect them if they ever needed it, but she was still on edge. Two pregnant women and two elderly ladies wasn't much of a defense if someone found them.

After they had put on their night dresses Katara and Yue spent most of their evening praying for their husbands safe return and talking about their plans for motherhood.

"I was hoping your Gran Gran would move up North with us to help us raise the baby" Yue said optimistically.

"My Grandmother has never left the South. But if she ever had a reason her first great grandchild would be it" Katara laughed "Have you thought of any names?"

Yue looked down at her bump.

"I was thinking Nanouk…we are hoping for a boy. Sokka and I haven't discussed names together though" the white haired beauty said blushing. Katara smiled softly wondering what she would name her baby. She and Zuko hadn't discussed names either. She was curious if he would insist on a Fire Nation name.

"We should go to sleep. It's getting rather late" said Katara with a yawn. Yue nodded her head in agreeance moving to the dresser to put out the candles. She was blowing out the last one when they heard a crash of glass breaking and one of the twins shout. Katara leapt out of bed her heart jumping through her throat. She went to the bathroom to gather water and ran out quickly with a water whip beside her. Yue looked to her in fear as they heard more rustling and screaming. It sounded like furniture was being thrown around too. Katara signaled for Yue to follow behind her as Katara made her way out the room and to the top of the stairs quietly. She needed to find a way to help Lo and Li. Obviously someone had broken in, and if the twins were hurt Katara would be the only bender left in the house to defend them. She inched down the stairs, being careful of the creaking floor boards when suddenly the rustling stopped. She looked behind her to find Yue a few inches away, her pastel eyes brimmed red with tears of fear. Katara took a deep breath and rounded the corner with her water whip at the ready. She scanned the room to find a streak of fire running along the marble floor. There were two kitchen chairs knocked over and the glass in the china cabinet had been busted. She found Lo first laying in the middle of the floor with a burning hole in her chest. Katara and Yue gasped running to the old woman's crumpled body. Katara dropped to her knees summoning the water to the woman's open wound. She knew it was too late when she looked at the woman's face, her eyes blank and unblinking.

"Katara look…" Yue's voice cracked. She followed the Northern Princess's gaze to the far side of the living room where Li lay on the couch, a pool of blood growing around her. Katara rushed to her side cradling her face in her hands. She was still alive but just barely.

"Li! Li can you see me?" she cried. The old woman coughed spurting blood onto Katara's white night dress.
"She's…she's-" Katara's vision blurred with water, barely being able to make out the woman dying in her arms. She blinked away her tears just as Li's eyes went blank. She could hear Yue's small cries behind her as Katara laid the woman down on the couch.

"Boo" they both heard a velvety voice say behind them. Katara and Yue whipped their heads around to find a feminine figure dressed in all black standing in the corner of the room. Her inky locks were pulled back into a high pony tail with long dark bangs framing her slender face. Ruby lips were pulled back into a feral grin as her golden almond eyes shun with delight.

"Azula" Katara hissed.

"Wow…I didn't think my brother's young whore would remember me. Hello Katara" she said, her voice reminding the water bender of a slithering snake.

"What do you want?" she demanded standing to her feet and calling the water to her side in defense. The Fire Princess paced the room slowly as if she was in no rush at all. Her black boots clicked on the hard floors as she sauntered back and forth.

"You see…my father heard about you and your…" she looked Katara up and down "condition…he thought it unwise to leave his grandson up to the devices of his halfwit son" she explained.

"You're not taking my baby" Katara growled and turned her water to ice daggers. Katara acted quickly, her motherly instinct to protect taking over her body. She sent the ice daggers barreling towards Azula at lighting speed, the princess barely dodging them. Azula looked to the water bender in surprise before grinning devilishly. She looked unnervingly like Zuko when she made that expression. Azula lunged forward blue fire igniting from her fist. Katara did her best to duck and dodge, but the truth was she wasn't nearly as fast as she used to be. Fighting with an eight pound weight in her belly just wasn't feasible, but Katara pressed on anyway. She called the water back to her deflecting her fire blasts with her water causing steam to fill the air. She recalled it, forming it back into water and shooting it at Azula's torso. The blow actually landed sending the Fire Princess back a few feet. She recovered quickly, her face angrier than before. She was looking like she was finished toying with her prey. Azula flipped forward dodging Katara's water whips with the agility of an acrobat. She got close enough to punch two fingers into four different spots on Katara's shoulders and neck. Before she could react Katara's legs were giving out and her limbs going numb.

"Katara!" she heard Yue scream as she fell to the floor. Azula unsheathed the sword at her belt pointing it towards Yue in warning.

"Don't step any closer!" Azula warned her. Yue stopped in her tracks looking between her and Katara.

"Run Yue! Run!" Katara cried in desperation. One of them had to make it out to get help.

"My guards are outside and surrounding the house. Walk out of here and they will kill you."

Yue gulped visibly locking eyes with Katara who was laying on the floor paralyzed from the neck down.

"Han!" Azula yelled toward the open door. In less than a minute an armored guard came walking in.

"Pick her up and put her in the caravan" she said pointing to Katara on the ground. The man nodded, bending down and carrying her bridal style out the house. Katara tried so hard to struggle but her body had completely betrayed her when Azula punctured her pressure points.

"Maybe my father will spare you once you push out my nephew" she jested as she yanked Yue along behind them. They were taken outside where a large black caravan awaited. Another guard lifted the veil to reveal a barred cage big enough to fit three people. He unlocked it with a key at his belt. The man carrying Katara dumped her inside unceremoniously after Azula shoved Yue in.

"Where are you taking us?" Yue cried shaking the bars to no avail. Katara could do nothing but lie there numbly and watch.

"My father requests an audience with Princess Katara" she smiled before throwing the heavy veil back over their cage and shrouding them in darkness. After a minute they felt the caravan begin to move.

"Katara…what are we going to do?" Yue whispered. Katara thought for a minute. There wasn't much they could do at the moment, especially with Katara being incapacitated. She knew that Yue wasn't much of a fighter either and had been raised as a noble not a warrior.

"We survive for now, until we can come up with a way to escape" she whispered back. Katara prayed to Tui and La they could make it out of this alive, but knowing they were on their way to meeting the deadliest man in the world unnerved Katara like nothing before. She willed her heart to slow down.

'Please Tui and La…get us out of this' she prayed.

END CHAPTER 17