Avatar The Last Airbender: The Sins of the Past [Katara x OC]

Chapter 1-19: The Siege of the North (Part 2): Solemn Victory

I wake up with a splitting headache, and groan in pain. As I open my eyes, my vision clears enough for me to see that I'm in a small cave, and Aang and I are tied up, a fire between us. Aang is still unconscious, likely still wandering the Spirit World, and I hear Zuko speaking.

I turn toward the voice, listening to him as he's facing toward the cave's exit, leaning against a wall as he says, "I finally have you, but I can't get you home because of this blizzard. There's always something. Not that either of you would understand. You're like my sister. Everything always came easy to her. She's a fire bending prodigy, and everyone adores her. My father says she was born lucky. He says I was lucky to be born. I don't need luck, though. I don't want it. I've always had to struggle and fight, and that's made me strong. It's made me who I am."

He doesn't seem to realize I'm awake, jumping a bit as I say quietly, "I didn't know you had a sister."

He turns to look at me, glaring down at me.

I add, "I had a sister, too. And a mother. But I got separated from them after Fire Nation soldiers invaded our village, burning our houses down in retaliation for being against Fire Lord Sozin, my father's killer. At least you know your sister's still out there somewhere. I'll never see mine again."

His eyebrows furrow, and his expression softens slightly before he turns away, watching the growing blizzard outside with his arms crossed. After a long moment of silence, Aang's sleeping form takes a deep breath, Zuko turning to look at the sound.

When Aang still doesn't wake up, Zuko says, "Guess we'll be here a while."

I remain silent. I've already told him too much, and I just want to get out of here. A while later, a bright light fills the cave and Aang wakes up, attempting to get out of his restraints and he glares at Zuko.

The banished prince says, "Welcome back."

Aang narrows his eyes at Zuko, saying with hostility, "It's good to be back."

Aang wiggles over to me before airbending Zuko into a wall, then propelling the two of us out of the cave. Once we're outside, the freezing snow hits me, and I shiver. Aang tries wriggling like a worm in an attempt to get away, only for us both to get caught by Zuko, grabbing both of us by the back collars of our shirts.

He says, "That won't be enough to escape."

I notice a large shadow descending toward us and know it could only be one thing, saying with a smug smile, "Maybe not, but that is."

Appa lands next to us, Aang exclaiming happily, "Appa!"

Katara slides off of the bison, and Zuko throws Aang and I aside, dropping my face into the frigid snow. At least the cold is helping soothe my headache a bit.

Zuko asks, getting into a defensive position, "Here for a rematch?"

I lift my head as Katara responds confidently, "Trust me Zuko, it's not going to be much of a match."

She uses waterbending to launch Zuko into the air with the snow beneath him before plummeting him back down to the ground, knocking him out. Sokka runs toward Aang and I to untie us while Zuko lies unconscious.

He exclaims, "Hey, this is some quality rope!"

I say, "Well, he is a banished prince with lots of money. Money buys quality."

Aang exclaims once he's untied, "We need to get to the oasis; the spirits are in trouble!"

I ask, "What? How?"

Aang responds, "I don't know, but we need to get to them as soon as possible!"

Sokka, Katara, and I climb into the saddle next to Yue, and Aang airbends himself atop Appa's head. I give Zuko one last look as the blizzard starts burying him in snow. He won't survive long out here if we leave him.