Unpredictable Love (ATLA Zutara fanfic)

Chapter 3

3 Months later,

He snapped off his bed. He could have sworn that he heard something. His door was heavily guarded by the Kyoshi Warriors so anyone who would try to attack definitely wouldn't be from there. He walked towards his balcony and got outside being greeted by the midnight's darkness and cool breeze.

Before he was able to make a step further he felt someone placing a knife against the soft flesh of his neck. He didn't move, knowing that each move he would try to make, would make things worse.

"Don't move!" the man ordered from behind. But that voice... so familiar, it couldn't be.

"Father?!" Zuko asked as his eyes widened.

That evil laughter, he so much despised, heard. Ozai's breath tickled his ears. "How observant," he said mockingly.

"But, how?" Zuko asked confusedly.

"As I said... the Avatar is just a weak, Air Nomad relic!" Ozai hissed "You think he took my bending?" he asked and then he started laughing.

There was something off about him. Zuko couldn't explain it. He'd felt this way when his sister turned mad on the day of their Agni Kai during the war.

"He only made me more powerful!" Ozai said pleasingly.

Zuko's eyes widened. It can't be! He thought trying to convince himself. Aang had taken his bending and he hadn't bent ever since. How could he regain it back?

"I could have you right now. All it needs is shift my hand..." Ozai said piercing the flesh of Zuko's neck making it slightly bleed "...but no, I want to see you suffering... I want to see you turning mad, hurting your friends... and when you realize what you've done... I wanna hear you scream!"

Knock, knock... knock, knock...

The hits on his door became louder and louder like it was something urgent. He tried to wipe whatever image remained in his head from the nightmare as he buried his face in his hands, waking on sitting position.

The knocking on the door became louder and louder urging Zuko to wake up, wear his red robe and say "Okay, come in," Suki entered the room with a worried look on her face. "What is it?" Zuko asked trying to recover from sleep.

"It's not a way to start the day, but... Ozai escaped," Suki answered crossing her arms.

Zuko's eyes widened "What?!" He asked half angry, half confused. How could Ozai possibly escape from the Fire Nation's most heavily guarded prison?! We escaped from the Boiling Rock... The voice in his mind reasoned. He feared that it wasn't a coincidence seeing his nightmare coming true.

"The guards say he fire bent his way out of his cell," Suki said.

It can't be happening! He thought, trying to work all these in his mind burying his fingers in his hair. "Give me a moment to dress up and we'll get to the prison," he said. Suki nodded and she walked out of the room.

He dressed as quickly as he could, into the Fire Lord robe and he walked out of the room. He didn't care to share breakfast with his mother and his little sister as much as he cared for their safety. Now that Ozai was out, even in the Palace, no one was safe.

Suki and Ty Lee escorted him to the prison. Countless guards stood injured around the halls of the prison, most of them with burns in several places on their bodies, and healers taking care of them. As much angry as he was, Zuko didn't attack any of his stupid soldiers. He tried to remain calm.

As he passed through the halls some of them managed to wake up and bow to their Fire Lord trying and ignore their injuries.

"Please, sit down," Zuko said to them and they nodded respectfully. He recognized the guard of his father's cell and he stopped in front of him saying "Just tell me what happened,"

The soldier had a large burn on his right hand and some bleeding cuts to his face. It must have been some fight... "He...he fire bent... I don't know how it's been almost two years since he had fire bent again... he busted himself out... I've never seen anything like this... someone helped him... someone from the guards," The soldier tried to describe... but he seemed in shock and unable to describe everything.

Zuko requested an audience with all his Generals and Admirals trying to put their experience in finding his father. But even if they searched the entire City... even if they searched the whole Nation, Ozai could be anywhere. He might have left the Capital, or gotten out of the Nation.

Dismissing his Generals and his Admirals, he sat on his throne trying to think of something. He couldn't do this alone. The entire Caldera City was in danger. With Ozai escaping, he was sure the New Ozai Society would rise again. And with some of the guards helping Ozai escape... he couldn't help but suspect other spies within the Palace

Shit, shit, shit... He couldn't help but think of that. He considered the idea of calling the gang back in the Fire Nation to help him. He could use Sokka's 'detective abilities to find evidence in the prison cell, he could use Toph's abilities to track liars and Aang... well, he was the Avatar, and Katara's healing abilities...

He stopped thinking when he whispered Katara's name. How much had he missed her? Her touch, her hug... They hadn't seen each other since the South Pole.

It was foolish to think of her in a romantic way. It hadn't even been six months since he broke up with Mai and things were still awkward between them. Still, Katara was with Aang. They seemed so... perfect for each other like a... perfect couple. And Aang was his best friend he shouldn't try steal him the only woman he'd ever loved.

He sighed sharply and he set off to send a messenger hawk back to the South Pole. Katara, Sokka and Aang would still be there trying to rebuild the Southern Tribe.

It'd be better if he did not refer to the letter the situation. Zuko had suspected that there might be another member of the Ozai Society in his Palace... it was terrible not being able to trust his own guards...

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"Hey, a messenger Hawk," Katara said as she walked towards it and it landed on her shoulder.

Aang, Toph, and Sokka walked towards her pausing constructing a building with Malina and the metal bending students. "What is it?" Aang asked.

Katara had already started reading it and her eyes widened "It's from Zuko! He needs our help,"

"What happened?" Toph asked placing her hands on her waist.

"He doesn't say, but it's urgent," Katara said giving the letter to Sokka to read it again as Aang slipped beside him to take a look at it. Sokka read it out loud so Toph could hear what Zuko had written.

Aang, Katara, Sokka I need you all in the Palace. I can't trust anyone else. Bring Toph with you and come as quick as you can. It's urgent.

Zuko

"Someone will have to stay behind to help with the Construction Project," Sokka said.

"No, it's okay. Looks like Fire Lord Zuko needs your help. Penga, Ho-Tun, the Dark One and Malina can take care of this," Hakoda's voice came from behind making them all turn around and look at him.

"You sure you don't need any help?" Sokka said and his father nodded.

Toph placed her hand on his shoulder saying "Common, Sokka, the Lilli-livers- I mean my students can take care of all the metalwork," Sokka looked at her smiling and he nodded to Aang.

"I'll call Appa," Aang said.

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Here it is guys! I hope you liked it and I might update again within the day!

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