The Forgiven (Zutara)

Foe, Definitely Foe

"Youre the travelers the town is talking about, right?" A woman walked up to us. She had pale skin and amber eyes. She resembled all the traits of the fire nation.

"Who wants to know?" I asked.

"My name is Erula. I served in the palace under your fathers reign, Firelord Zuko." She said stepping closer to us so we could see her better and bowed to us.

"If you're here to start trouble I'm warning you now, I'm trying to get something done and you will not get in my way." I warned her. She shook her head.

"I only wish to help. I knew you're mother well. She once considered me family. She'd hired me to pass letters from her to her true love, Ikem." She said. I looked from Katara then back at the lady.

"Do you know where she is?" I asked.

"No. But I can take you to the town she told me she was going back to." Erula said.

"If you served under my mother, especially doing something that was a crime against the crown why did you stay in the palace? Why not leave with her?" I asked.

"Because of your father Firelord Zuko. He terrified me, I was too scared to leave." She replied. "If you come with me I can lead you to where she last was. Where she was raised." She continued. I looked to Katara again trying to read her. Her face was rock solid not allowing any emotion in her face, and her eyes were even harder to read.

"And you can take us to her?" I asked. She nodded.

"Yes your majesty." Erula spoke. I looked to Katara once more completely desperate for any advice she would give me, she finally hesitantly nodded. "If we leave now we might be able to make it there by the time she gets up to make breakfast for her children." Erula continued.

"She has children?" I asked my eyes wide.

"Yes. Two. A son and a daughter." Erula answered. "The daughter is eldest. The boy is only a couple years old." Erula responded. I tensed. Had she regretted Azula and I so much she completely decided to restart?

"Katara, we can stay and rest if you're tired. It's your choice." I told her. She shook her head.

"I'm fine. We'll leave now." Katara said sternly. I nodded.

"We'll follow you." I told Erula. The journey there was silent. We walked all night. Katara came over and grabbed my hand, holding it tight.

"Don't read into it Zuko. You just looked like you needed someone to ground you." She said motioning to her holding my hand. I chuckled, she was right, I did need someone to ground me, and she knew exactly how.

"Noted. That obvious?" I asked. She shook her head.

"Yeah. But I can't blame you. If I found out my mother was still alive and had two more children my thoughts would be churning too." She said. Since neither of us had time to dress, she was still in my tunic, it was a sight that I missed. She used to wear my clothes anytime she got cold or missed me when one of us was separated from the other. I did my best to shut off my mind, trying not to think about anything other than getting to my mom. The time passed quickly and there was still nothing to be said between any of us until Erula broke the silence pointing to a house just down the road.

"There. That's her house. It's sunrise, so I imagine the kids are still asleep." Erula said. Katara and I stood at the edge of the forest starring at the house for a good couple minutes. Then three men approached it. I turned around looking for Erula, about to ask her who they were. But when I turned I came face to face with a large group of people.

"Hello Firelord." One of them men smirked. I sighed, all of the pieces slowly coming together.

"Should've known. Let me guess you're part of the New Ozai Society?" I growled.

"Good. So you've heard of us. Then we won't waste any time telling you who we are." He said then three out of the 6 men shot a large blast of fire directly at me and Katara. I grabbed Katara stepping in front of her and using a fire shield to block the fire.

"Where's Freya?" Katara asked as we engaged in the fight. I searched the field looking for her but being distracted by the fight I couldn't quite find her. "Freya can handle herself! Those men were part of these men. We need to go!" Katara said.

I nodded and we both sprinted towards the house then Katara was dragged back. A fire whip around her ankle. She shot a blast of water at the men attacking her. "Zuko go! I can handle this!" She yelled back. Hesitantly, I kept running towards the house breaking down the barricaded door coming fact to face with a man immediately. While he was down I searched the room for my mother. I couldn't find her. We saw more men in the house so I knew they must've had her somewhere. I made it to one of the bedrooms and found even more men holding the children, my mother and her husband. Even if I could take down a couple at the same time these were bloodthirsty groups of men, they'd kill whoever they could.

"What's going on mom?" The little boy cried as the older girl held him tight, mom holding them both.

"I don't know just be quiet." She whispered holding them.

"Step down Firelord. We've got your friend too. And that little pet of hers too." Another man said stepping forward with Katara who was bleeding from her stomach.

"Don't hurt them. You've got me, you don't need anything else." I said trying to reason with them.

"Zuko lookout!" I whipped my head around and looked at the fire blast headed directly for my heart. I didn't have time to respond, but thanks to Katara I didn't need to. She blocked the blast with her water bending. But the man holding her, slammed her head against the wall knocking her out. My eyes widened as I watched her body go limp.

"What is this?!" Mom asked the men, her eyes glazed over with tears threatening to spill.

"Noriko, that is your son. Firelord Zuko." The man who must've been my mothers husband said. She looked confused...Did she not remember me? Was this the wrong person? She sounded just like my mother. I felt a hard hit against my head and suddenly everything went black.