Time and Time Again

Chapter 5: Everything Is Going To Be Fine

"Hey! Heellooo?! Anyone out there? I want some answers here! Hello?" Katara's voice was scratchy from what seemed to have been hours upon hours of yelling out. Since she had awoken, no one came down for her. She had no idea how long she had been down in that cell, there was no way to tell. The only light came from a steadily burning torch down the hallway. Katara was in a sour mood. The cell was too hot and her throat was parched. Her stomach growled, demanding food. Giving up, Katara walked over to her filthy little cot and sat down. Slowly, she pulled her legs up to her chest and put her head on her knees. Someone had to come soon; they wouldn't just leave her to die down there, would they?

Katara's brain led to darker thoughts. Why did Aang and Sokka leave me? Maybe they went to find me...Do they know what happened to me? Are they worried? Where are they? Do they have enough to eat? Who will make sure they don't get into trouble? Consumed in her thoughts, Katara did not hear the footsteps approaching.

"Water Tribe peasant!" A voice barked through the window in her door, causing Katara to jump up. She recognized that voice. Zuko, she thought with distaste.

"What do you want?" She replied in a bored tone.

"The Avatar," The prince replied as he briskly unlocked the door. One of the two guards he had brought with him opened the cell door for him. He walked into the cell with an air of importance. His two guards blocked the doorway.

"Really? I thought you were chasing us just to get Momo." Katara replied sarcastically.

"Don't try my patience, peasant. Tell me where the avatar is." The prince looked down at the peasant. Even in the dim lighting, her eyes seemed to glow with an inner strength and her hair still shined. A big bruise accompanied by a cut marred her forehead. Her clothes were covered in dried mud and sand, yet she still managed to look prideful.

"Hmmm...I'm going to assume he's somewhere that isn't here." Katara said, thoughtfully. She knew that the prince had a temper, but she just loved torturing him. She rarely got the chance.

"Peasant..."Prince Zuko growled, a ball of fire appearing in his right hand. Katara's pulse quickened. She tried to hide her fear as best as she could, but her voice raised a little as she spoke.

"Look, I don't know where he is right now, in case you haven't noticed, I haven't seen him since...well...before you caught me the first time." Katara said, eyes never leaving the flames in the prince's hand. She could feel the heat from it; the cell was small, after all, it didn't take much fire to warm it. A sweat broke out on Katara's forehead. Unconsciously, she backed away an inch, which the prince noticed. A smirk pulled on his lips.

"If you don't know where he is now," The prince purred, letting the flames in his hand grow bigger, he almost enjoyed the fear in the girl's eyes, "Then perhaps you'll know where he's going. You must have had some grand destination. You can't be flying around for no reason. He still has to learn three elements. Where were you going?"

Katara's eyes widened, she didn't bother holding back her fear anymore. The flames seemed to stretch towards her, hungry for her flesh. She began to shake, but only a little. She couldn't tell the prince that the Gaang had been planning on going to the Northern Water tribe, but those flames...Then, an idea struck her. She started to shake a little more (just so the prince could see it). She shrank back, away from the flames.
"I-I'll never tell you." She said in a weak voice. The prince smirked, sure he had her. He let the flames grow even bigger, Katara pressed herself against the wall behind her.

"Tell me, and I'll make the fire go away," Prince Zuko promised in a silky voice. Katara gave a sigh and looked down. She let her shoulders slump the tiniest bit.

"Only...only if you swear to stop firebending," She said feebly.

"I swear."

"We were going to go to the Earth Kingdom. Our friends from Kyoshi Island told us about a man who could teach Aang in secret." Katara whispered, a tear sliding down her cheek. She tried to look defeated, as if it cost her everything to tell the prince of their plans.

The prince smiled, extinguishing his flames, and walked out the cell without a word. The guards slammed the door shut and locked it. The trio quickly walked away, their steps left echoes. Katara relaxed her muscles and allowed herself a small victory smile. Aang and Sokka would be safe now.

"Psst," a voice whispered through the window, shocking Katara, "Water Tribe girl!" the voice called. Katara quickly obeyed, hoping it was some other prisoner who had escaped and was trying to help her out, too. Her heart sunk as she saw the head of the prince's uncle, Iroh.

"What do you want?" Katara said, she knew she should respect her elders, but she wasn't in the mood for manners at the moment. The old man smiled despite her disrespectful words.

"You are a very brave, young girl," Iroh started, "I just wanted to tell you, please do not fear my nephew, Prince Zuko may have a temper, but he would never hurt a defenseless girl. Please understand, he is a confused and lonely boy. I can not tell you the details, but Zuko has had a very hard life, and he is only eighteen." Katara looked away from the old man. She didn't believe him. Zuko is royalty, there is no way he could have had a rough life. Iroh could tell the girl did not believe him, but he continued anyways.

"I know things seem bad, now, but do not loose hope. The forest will always get darker before it gets lighter. Things will turn out okay, I know it." Iroh's advice was met with silence. He sighed, no one ever listened to him. He started to walk away when a thought hit him.

"Before I leave, what is your name?" He asked. After a few seconds, Iroh figured that he would not get an answer. Walking away, he almost missed the whispered "Katara" that came from the cell, almost. A smile graced his kind face as he walked away. Yeah, everything was going to be fine.