Avatar The Last Airbender Fan Fiction ❯ Prophesied ❯ Never Alone ( Chapter 11 )

AN: Due to common thought and my own feelings, I'm thinking about changing the title again. As a reviewer said, it's not just about Zuko anymore. But I want to get a vote first. The new title I have in mind is “The Prophecy of Four.”

 

Chapter 11: Never Alone

 

Makani grew tired of watching the lemurs glide from tree to tree and turned to her husband who stood nearby.

“Samir, during the meeting was the first time you've been on my side in centuries.”

Samir made a sound she couldn't quite interpret. She frowned.

“I'm still trying to decide if it was a good thing.”

He turned his head to look at her. “A good thing? Was it a good thing that we banished Agni to the Spirit World? Was it a good thing that we took the risk of killing one of our own to save thousands?”

She sat forward. “Was it a good thing for you to sleep with Kaia?”

His eyes narrowed. “Was it a good thing that the only reason I stood with you was my hatred for Mamoru?”

“That's your own fault.”

Samir growled. “You women are always the same. You never forget and you never forgive.”

“Like you care for my forgiveness.” Makani stated calmly and Samir was silent. “You like it simple, you like women for one night and then you are done with them.”

She sneered and Samir glared at her but his eyes said he didn't care about what she was saying, but Makani knew how to hurt him.

“All those women Samir, and not one child has any of them borne you.”

Samir looked away, but Makani couldn't stop the tears that filled her eyes.

“You used to want to be a father…I would've given you a child…if you loved me.”

Samir did not look her way again and after a moment, he turned and left. Makani turned back towards the woods, drew a shuddering breath, and a single tear fell from her storm gray eyes.

A Fire Nation warship churned through the waters. Iroh sat on the deck staring at his teacup as if all his worry were its fault. He had done the only thing that seemed sensible, especially since the crew was already travel worn. So they headed back towards the Fire Nation, back towards home.

Iroh could not see it in any other way except as abandoning Zuko to his own devices. What other choice did he have? He reminded himself of that, though his conscience tried to bring up several.

But without Agni to guide him, was Zuko really able to take care of himself? He'd been with someone always, always had someone there for him. For most of Zuko's short life, it had been he, Iroh, who took care of the young prince. And now, being apart from his nephew was so frustrating him.

Yet, he turned the ship towards the Fire Nation. He knew nothing else to do.

After a while, Katara managed to stop crying, but Zuko didn't seem to want to let her go, and for the moment, she was content to remain in his arms. But after a minute, it became clear to her why he was still holding on to her. She pulled away and he began to shiver.

“Zuko! You're freezing!”

He glared at her. “O-of course I-I am. I-I wa..sn't pre-p-pared for win-t-ter a-and you r-ran off.”

Katara began rubbing his arms with her hands and after a moment pulled him to his feet.

“Come on we have to get back to Misu.”

Zuko had tucked his head in and crossed his arms for warmth, and he gave Katara a weak smile.

“I-I think we're s-still o-on Misu.”

Katara glared at him. “Whatever! Back to the warm side. Now, which way to the wall?”

Zuko looked up blearily and nodded in a particular direction. “That way.”

Katara nodded and headed off in that direction, her arm hooked around Zuko's shoulders as she led him back towards the wall and their camp. She'd been barely walking for a minute when Mika came up and began leading the way.

Looking around, the worry grew in Katara's heart, for she recognized the signs of a coming blizzard.

“Zuko, we have to move faster now.”

He shook his head. “Donwanna.”

To hear him speak so slurred only made Katara fear more and she turned and shook the prince as hard as she could until his eyes snapped open and viewed her alertly.

“Zuko, a blizzard is coming.”

His eyes darted fearfully from hers to the horizon behind until she grabbed him and forcefully turned him once more.

“We have to go now!”

He nodded and together they walked/jogged after Mika, through the ice and snow. Katara didn't even want to think about the state Zuko's bare feet would be in after this romp, but right now she forced herself to focus on keeping him alive.

The wind whistled sharply around them, growing in intensity as it picked up ice and snow and created small tornados. Mika walked forward never ceasing but after a while, Zuko began to lag. Katara pried one of his arms free and wrapped it around her own shoulders.

“Come on Zuko. You are stronger than this! You're letting me, a peasant from the Southern Water Tribe, beat you at this!”

Zuko didn't blink, only mumbled something illegible and continued walking blindly forward. He fell for the first time only moments later. Katara fell with him but pulled herself up quickly. Zuko merely lay there in the snow.

“Zuko!”

Katara screamed over the growing wind and got his arm around her once more, struggling to pull him back to his feet. Again, Zuko muttered something she could not understand and, with her help, got to his feet. Mika was moving a bit more quickly now, and Katara practically had to drag Zuko into the slow jog the cub set.

The mind-numbing cold threatened to bog Katara down as it had Zuko, but she fought it off, biting her lip and shaking her head repeatedly to ward off fatigue. How she had run this distance she didn't know.

Suddenly, up ahead something caught her eye and she ground to a halt. Her stop caught Zuko unawares who took several steps forwards without her support and upon stopping, promptly fell to sit in the growing snow. Katara quickly knelt before him to pull him up once more.

“Leave me and go.”

Katara stared at him, his golden eyes full of determination, and her own eyes hardened.

“No.”

“Go!” he tried to shout but it came out barely above a whisper.

“How will you survive in this?”

He leaned back, so tired…”I'll make a fire…keep warm.”

Katara shook her head. “For that to work you'd need something bundle up in. You're hardly dressed at all! You're dying right here and the blizzard hasn't even really started yet!”

He shook his head stubbornly and mouthed the word `go.' Katara grabbed his arm.

“I'm not leaving you here alone.”

Zuko groaned as she pulled on him. “I've always been alone, always…been alone…always…” he trailed off.

Katara fell back to her knees and pulled him to her, clutching his near frozen body to her chest.

“You are not alone. You're here, with me, and I'm not going to leave you here alone. I will never leave you Zuko.”

He just let his eyes close and lay down in the snow. Katara let out an exasperated cry but didn't think twice, knowing she needed to gain his attention, to wake him up to their situation.

Grasping his shoulders, Katara pulled him up and kissed him, biting into his lower lip savagely, and she tasted blood. When she pulled away, he was staring at her, open-mouthed, a thin line of blood trailing from his lip.

“Come on.” She whispered and this time he nodded.

Together they stood, their arms wrapped around each other's shoulders and they walked steadily forward after Mika. Now Zuko looked steadfastly forward, fighting the cold as she did; they were relying on each other to keep walking, almost as if it were a challenge.

Without warning, there came the feeling of being torn apart and once again they stood in the warmth of the western end of Misu. Both teenagers sank to their knees in the long grass, letting out cries of thanks and joy in the warm glowing sun. Mika promptly lowered herself to the ground and began to roll around in the dirt.

Behind them, the wall solidified, blocking out any and all effects of the blizzard on the other side.

Katara and Zuko lay there side by side in the grass, the warm wind blowing around them as if welcoming their return. The sun was positioned just after high noon in the sky, and the world was right once more. Katara's hand was still clasped on Zuko's forearm, and neither seemed to notice. They lay there for a while until it seemed that rational thought had returned.

Zuko turned his head to look at Katara and though he made no sound, upon feeling his gaze she turned her head to see him. Their heads were mere inches apart but neither seemed to notice or either did not care. After a moment, Zuko spoke, all the hatred, vengeance, and frustration gone from his voice, and Katara was amazed at the transformation.

“Thank you,” he said simply. “…for not leaving me.”

She found his hand with her own and clasped it, her eyes sparkling.

“You're welcome.”

Deep in the Earth Kingdom, a certain rebel group was lounging about in the trees, making no real effort to any sort of rebelling. Jet sat against the trunk of the tree, gnawing on his newest twig and twirled one sword in his hands. His thoughts were many and jumbled their way through his head.

Briefly, he caught a snatch of the subject being conversed in the group below him.

“Ever since that girl froze him to the tree, Jet just hasn't been himself.”

With an angry growl, Jet turned and dropped to the ground below, drawing his twin hook-swords as he did. The group fell outward with startled cries as he landed among them. He turned around the circle, pointing one sword to each in turn.

“Which one of you said that?”

Silence met his inquiry and he was forced to lower his sword.

“I'll have you know I am perfectly fine. I've just spent this time devising a new plan against the Fire Nation.”

There was a short pause and then a small rebel spoke quietly.

“Well, what is it?”

Jet stopped. “What?”

“What's your plan?”

Jet was silent for a moment, staring at the child incredulously. “I…It's not perfect yet. I'll let you know when I'm done. Why are you questioning me? I'm the leader here!”

“Sorry sir. I meant no disrespect.”

He turned around but no gaze met his. When he'd determined that no one else would dream of defying him, Jet turned and stalked off.

Damn you Katara. Making my men doubt me. Making me look bad.

Damn you for making me…care.

Looking up, smoke caught his eye. He flitted through the trees until he reached the river and beheld a small Fire Nation boat heading downstream. He smiled. Knocking a few Fire Nation heads about would make him feel much better.

Zula made a note in her log upon completing the scouting trip and turned the ship back towards the ocean to meet up with her crew. Stepping onto the deck, she was astonished when a teenage boy leapt onto the deck. He eyed her and drew twin hook-swords.

“Want to play little girl?”

Her eyes flashed dangerously as she settled into a bending stance.

“What game little boy?”

He smiled. “Rebels vs. Soldiers.”

She couldn't help but smile.

“Let's play.”

On Kyoshi Island, a young blacksmith headed home from his day of work. A smile on his face, he couldn't be much happier. A legion of Earth Kingdom soldiers had come through and he'd been able to help the war effort by fixing their broken armor and sharpening their spears and swords.

Now he was able to go home to his fiancée, whom he loved more than life. It didn't matter to him that she was Fire Nation, that she had two children, and that she'd been married, it just didn't matter. She was everything to him.

Stepping inside the unlocked home, he called to her. “Neith?”

There was no answer. This immediately put him off. She always greeted him at the door with a kiss when he came home, even though they were not married yet.

“Neith?” He called again as he walked towards the kitchen, checking in doorways as he did so.

Finally he reached the kitchen and his heart stopped as his gaze fell on a note on the table.

To my dearest Damek:

I am sorry to leave without warning my love, but there is something that I must do. A mother's instinct you could call it.

I will be back soon and in time for our wedding I promise. I love you so much.

~Neith

He did not say anything upon reading the note, only placed it back on the table and sighed. He loved her more than anything else, and if she had something to do, he would wait.