Avatar the Last Airbender: Final Destination

Chapter 16: Get Used To It

Zuko and Aang had searched for Katara for three days before they heard any news about Azula.

"Firelord, Avatar, we think we may have found something the was left behind by the waterbender," a guard came forth and said.

Sure enough, he held Katara's necklace between his thumb and forefinger as a glare reflected off of the stone. A spark of hope arose in Aang. During the war, any time someone needed to find Katara her necklace was a guarantee way to locate her. 

"Where was it found?" Zuko finally asked.

"By the older section of the west villages," he replied. "The waterbender was seen finishing the last of restoring the village when she left with another girl."

Aang's ears perked at hearing this. Was it Azula?

"What did this girl look like? Was it Azula?" Aang questioned immediately, rising from his seat.

"No, avatar, it was not the former princess. This girl had short, brown hair. She was also dressed in clothes from the Earth Kingdom," he replied once again.

Earth Kingdom clothes? That had to be Maya. It was rare that outsiders came into the Fire Nation unless the had official business with the government. Something that had been tugging at the back of his mind finally clicked. He heard Maya. You'll regret this, Aang. It was the night he had left for Katara. He had pushed Maya to the floor trying to get away from her. What if Maya was working for Azula? No, they had never met before. Maya was from the Earth Kingdom. Besides, Maya was crazy enough to try and get revenge on her own. But how could Maya overpower Katara? Katara was a master who had obviously shown that she could take Maya down if she needed to. Something wasn't adding up but he needed more facts.

"Focus searching in the western villages. I want every inch of the place checked and reported back to me immediately," Zuko thundered. The guard nodded and turned to walk away. Zuko looked over at Aang. He hadn't said much during their meeting.

"You okay, buddy?" he asked. Usually this kind of affection wasn't Zuko's thing, but Aang needed him. Aang knew he had messed up and he was honestly a wreck with Katara missing like this.

"I'll be okay. We'll find her," he stated solemnly. 

With that, he walked out of the great hall, slamming the door behind him.

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Meanwhile

It had been three days since Katara's capture and she still wasn't sure of where she was. Her cell was made of rock and metal. Not the usual Fire Nation cell. She knew her captors were Fire Nation rebels but she wasn't being kept in their homeland. No, this air was even dryer than that. She knew this air quality from the months she spent in Ba Sing Se. She was being held captive in the Earth Kingdom.

Periodically, a member of the resistance would come and check on her. She assumed this was her guard. He would barely feed her and only gave her water when her hands were tightly bound. Today was no different. He came at his usual time. When he was finished, Katara tried her usual rant of getting him to tell her what was going on. However, when she stood against the bars to get a look at him he brought his hand up and then back down upon her face. She fell backwards, tasting the blood in her mouth before she even hit the ground.

"Silence. The princess will be with you soon," his voice rang out. He opened the metal door and walked through before it slammed behind him.

Katara held her face in her hands as she contemplated his words. The princess? What could that mean? No sooner had the thought crossed her mind did her door open again. Only this time it was a familiar female standing in its entry.

"Hello, peasant," she spoke.

"Azula!" Katara demanded, throwing herself against the bars.

"So it seems you can see," Azula rolled her eyes.

"What do you want with me? Aang will be here to take you down," Katara yelled.

"Oh yes, the avatar. Your boyfriend, right? Although, judging by what your friend says he wasn't so loyal to you after all," Azula smirked. Katara felt the tears brimming on her eyes but refused to let her see them. She turned her back towards the ex princess.

"Where's Maya?" she quietly asked.

"Oh, the mother of the avatar's child is being kept in a separate cell," Azula said, watching Katara's reaction now. Katara slightly flinched at Maya's baby being referred to as the avatar's child. 

"I'm sure he'll be here soon to rescue us," Katara said.

"Maybe. He'll surely be here to rescue the mother of his child. But you? Maybe he'll forget about you again," Azula grinned. Katara felt the tears actually begin to fall. She couldn't take it anymore. 

She turned around and yelled, "Get out!"

Azula frowned before shooting a blue flame at Katara. With no where to run, the flame hit Katara directly in her left shoulder, singeing the tips of her hair. She fell to the ground, wincing.

"Oh, did that hurt? Get used to it," Azula said before turning on her heel, letting the door slam behind her. 

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Afterwards

"Does she still believe it, princess?"

"Of course she does, you fool. However she won't be seeing you any time soon so her suspicions won't arise. The avatar will be here soon to attempt to rescue her. But she won't be going with him. Do you remember the plan?"

"Yes, of course, princess. I won't let you down."

"Good. Leave me be."

Maya bowed and let the metal door shut with a loud clang.