Avatar The Last Airbender Fan Fiction ❯ Breathe Again ❯ Deception ( Chapter 18 )

Sadly I do not own Avatar the Last Airbender :D It belongs to Nick and its Original creators.

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I am still a new writer and this is a tester fanfiction for another one that I am currently planning that will hopefully be much better, critiques are highly welcomed

 

Breathe Again

~Chapter 16:Deception~

 

- - -

Zuko stared at the young woman in his arms; he wanted nothing more than to remain enthralled in her embrace but the insistent knocking at their door told him otherwise. The prince hissed through clenched teeth as the cool air hit his naked flesh sending chills down the length of his spine; pulling on his robe he quickly approached the door.

 

“What is it? The sun hasn't even risen yet and you're pounding on my door.” Zuko growled at the Dai Lee that awaited him just outside his chambers, the man gulped slightly at the irate prince's greeting.

 

“Lady Azula wishes to see you immediately… It would seem one of the Avatar's other companions has been apprehended.” The man said flinching slightly as Zuko pushed passed him heading towards the conference hall.

- -

“Azula!! What the hell is this about?” The Fire Nation Prince barked as he entered the conference hall, Azula who was currently ignoring his very presence had her gaze set on a lithe young woman and a small group of her followers as well as the detained Earth Bender.

 

Zuko glanced idly at the woman his sister seemed so interested in; she turned to face him a cocky smirk plastered across her tomboyish features. “Zuzu! Long time no see! How have you been?”

 

“Huh? What the--!” Zuko gaped at the forwardness the woman expressed as she nearly leapt on him knocking him to the hard stone floor of the chamber.

 

“Geez… You royal men really are dense! You don't remember me either?” She said with a pout her blue eyes sad as she stared down the bridge of her nose at the Prince where he lay underneath her.

 

“…. Akai?” Zuko said, his voice barely audible to her even with their close proximity. She smiled giving him a quick peck on the cheek before jumping up and glaring at Azula.

 

“Damn right it's me! I couldn't let this bossy little wench try to tell you what to do! I'll get us both back in the palace just you wait!” She said with a smile as she offered him her hand, he accepted her offer and allowed her to help him up.

 

Azula's honey hued eyes narrowed and she rose from her seat the air around her crackling as her anger made itself known, “And what makes you think you can ever return to our palace you half breed wretch!” She growled her voice dripping with venom as she began her descent towards Akai fists clenched at her sides.

 

“Look Princess… I know you want a rematch since you missed me sooomuch but… I think we've got more important things to worry about. Namely your little friend the Avatar…”

 

Azula's eyes narrowed further as she halted her advance, a small jet of stream erupting forth from her snarling lips. “What can you tell me that I don't already know? And do you really think having one more of his friends here will change anything?!”

 

Akai raised an eyebrow at the Princess' statement, “One more? You mean to tell me you've got another one here already?” She lied easily her blue eyes narrowing to their own glare.

 

“Yes we do, and if I'm right that pathetic little Avatar is in love with the wench too. What can the Earth Bender offer us? Nothing more than another mouth to feed…”

 

“On the contrary Azula, she's quite good at fighting, so in a sense we've at least weakened their forces. That in itself is an accomplishment, and if my forces agree to help you then you'll have some of the best Fire Nation mercenaries on your side. That or you'll have a new batch of enemies to contend with…” Akai said her voice dripping malice as she glanced over her small but well trained unit with a confident smirk.

 

Azula returned to her throne with a growl her long nails digging grooves into the gilded wood of the oversized chair, “You could come in handy… For when they attack…” She mused her eyes staring off down the hall blankly, Zuko glanced at his sister confusion written all over his face.

 

“When we were masquerading as the Kyoshi Warriors that fool of a King alerted us to the Avatar's plans… They know of the Fire Nation's weakness and they plan to exploit it.” Akai and Zuko's eyes both widened knowingly at the Princess' statement.

 

“Sister, y-you can't mean that they… How did they discover this?” Zuko said his voice filled with worry as his mind processed the new information.

 

Akai shook her head, “I don't think how they obtained the information is as important as how we are going to stop them, not only will this cause the end of the war but… How many innocent people will be killed because of it?” She said in a quiet voice casting her captive a meaningful glare.

 

“Though I will admit I feel no compassion for the leader of my country I do not wish to see the Fire Nation fall, we need to alert the capitol at once!” Azula averted her gaze back to the older woman a frown pulling across her brow.

 

“We have more than a month until the attack, and we know exactly when it falls because they only have so long to utilize this weakness of ours… But the protection of our newly grasped hold on the Earth Capitol is of utter most important at this time.”

 

“Azula! We can split our forces! How will the Avatar know if we send out a small group to meet up with your fleet? It's the only way! The armies will need to be puller back in to properly protect the country when the other nations attack!”

 

“Zuko is right Azula… We have to move quickly, but… I'm worried; the enemy might find it suspicious if all of our units suddenly withdraw to the capitol. We'll have to call them back in groups and act as if they aren't connected, any way we go about this the enemy will probably catch on to the fact that we know what they're planning.

 

Azula heaved a heavy sigh her eye tooth worrying her lip as she wracked her brain for some way for the Fire Nation to once again come out on top, “Well… Maybe if we'd been smart enough to recover Uncle with that stupid little water tribe brat we wouldn't have to worry so much about the Avatar!” She growled, “We've given him the means to learn from one of the greatest Fire Nation generals as well as someone who knows the Fire Nation like the back of his hand…” She swore angrily slamming a fist against the arm of her throne.

 

-

Katara's eyes fluttered open slowly a groan passing forth from her slightly parted lips, “Hmm? Zuko?” The water bender glanced around feeling for the Prince on the oversized bed, she pouted slightly when she found he was not there.

 

The young woman glanced towards the door as she heard a soft knock, “Um, yes hold on!” Katara scrambled free of the blankets and hurriedly threw her sleeping robe back onto her nude body. As she did so her mind drifted back to the events that had taken place last night, a blush quickly spread across her cheeks.

 

“Come on! What are you doing in there girl?” Katara chuckled to herself lightly as Ty Lee's voice reached her ears; she pulled the heavy door open with a tug.

 

“Took you long enough… If Azula's pissed we're pinning it on you Water Bender…” Mei grumbled rubbing idly at her tired eyes, Katara blinked slightly.

 

“Eh? Azula wants to see me…?” She asked with a frown, the other two girls nodded.

 

“Yeah… I don't know what's gotten into her… I mean she could have at least waited until the sun was up!” Ty Lee said with a dramatic yawn, Mei seconded her friend's statement as she attempted to stifle a yawn of her own.

 

The three girls grew serious as they entered the conference hall, the room was silent and tensions were high. “Katara right…? Come here now, I want you to answer some questions for me… And if you don't answer them then I'm sure we can find ways to change your mind…” Azula ordered glairing intently at Katara and then shifting her gaze to the unconscious Toph.

 

“Toph!” Katara cried moving towards her wounded friend and then stopping abruptly as the Dai Lee holding her pointed their projectile gloves at her friend's neck. “…Fine, just don't… Don't hurt her Azula, she doesn't deserve this.”

 

Akai stared sadly at the Water Bender her blue eyes locked with the other girl's for several seconds, “Katara… We need to know what the Avatar is planning for his attack on the Fire Nation…”

 

“What plans? I don't know what you're talking about.” She answered flatly her eyes dark, Azula chuckled slightly at her response.

 

“Don't even bother trying to cover it up, the Earth King told me it was you who was in with the generals making battle plans so don't be cute…”

 

“What's to tell? You know that we're attacking and we can only attack on a specific day, I have nothing to tell you Azula. Besides with the Earth Kingdom in your hands the plans I helped to create are all void anyway…”

 

Zuko cleared his throat, seeing this was going know where he decided to try a different method. “Katara, how far is Aang in his quest to learn the elements? You do realize that my father will not think twice about throwing innocent people in the front of his army to protect our nation… That includes any prisoners that we've taken throughout the war.”

 

“The Prince is right, Ozai has done it n the past I have no doubt in my mind he wouldn't do it again…” Akai said in confirmation of Zuko's words, Katara bit her bottom lip in frustration.

 

“Aang is the Avatar, he's been able to bend each element at least once… That's all I can tell you.” Azula watched her expression with interest, she decided she wanted to push her farther.

 

“I was also told that the Avatar had gone of to see some Guru… Tell me, what is it that he was to be doing with this said Guru?” Katara's eyes widened at this, the Earth King wasn't very good at withholding information and it was obvious that the man was far too trusting.

 

“I don't… Know.” She said lowering her head; Azula's eyes narrowed a cruel smile splitting her features. She lifted her right hand and within seconds Toph's screams were echoing throughout the hall.

 

“S-stop it! Don't hurt her!” Katara cried as she watched the Dai Lee torture her small Earth Bending companion, Zuko turned away his chest tightening as he heard the pain in Katara's voice.

 

As Toph's screaming became more intense Katara's resolve finally broke, she took a deep breath. “…. I'll tell you whatever you want ….”