CHAPTER TWO

HE'S STILL ALIVE ISN'T HE?

(TWO WEEKS PREVIOUS)

Appa slowly glided down from the dawn's sky until the group saw that they were above the ocean. Above the Southern Water Tribes ships. Sokka looked eagerly down, "There's dad's ship?" He pointed straight down as he exclaimed.

Katara looked down at Aang's pale unconscious face. She lifted her right hand to lightly run down his cheeks. "It's all right now, Aang. Dad will allow you to recover on his ship."

"I have never been aboard a Water tribe ship before." The Earth King said with a smile, not a smile of someone excited or even curious; just a sad tight smile. His right brow rose, "Matter of fact I have never been on a ship before."

"Don't worry Earth King dude; dad will quickly teach you how to be a successful sailor." Sokka looked the king up, and down quickly. Lifting an quizzical eyebrow, "Perhaps he can even train you to be a top notch warrior."

"I don't think that I can lift a hand against anyone." The Earth King softly stated.

Sokka nodded respectfully. Turning his head he looked once more at his father's ship. Everything will be all right once again. Even through Aang is dangerously hurt. With dad, and his men to protect us; Katara will be able to concrete all her needed strength to help heal Aang.

Katara bowed her head to hear Aang's gentle, but ragged breathing. "Oh Aang." She whispered as tears rolled down her cheeks. "I should have realized what Azula had planned; instead of being happily awed that you learned how to control the Avatar state. I should have water ripped the lighting out of Azula's fingers before she had a chance to blind side you." Katara face harden; "I should have known. I should have learned when she blindsided Iroh like that."

Breathing deeply, "No one will be able to hurt you ever again. I promise you that Avatar Aang." Lowering her lips to gently capture Aang's. "I love you Aang." She whispered as she pulled away an cementer; "Come back to me Aang. Just come back to me."

Appa began to drive down towards the ship. His heart breaking as he felt his familiar was ever slowly dying. He knew that Aang had died; but the water bender had miraculous brought him back to the living. But Aang was still in very critical condition. Appa could still lose Aang to death.

Appa didn't think Momo would be enough reason to live without Aang. "No matter what happens to me boy; you are to protect Katara. Even if I'm not around to help; I want you to protect Katara." Aang eyed his flying bison straight in the eyes. "You may not follow me into the spirit world. Your job still remains with the living. With Katara." Appa's eyes harden as he firmly nodded. Yes; he would remain to protect Katara.

Hakoda looked up as he watched the Avatar's flying bison begin to rapidly descend. "That can't be good." He murmured. Keeping a sharp eye on Appa, he just prayed that it wasn't one of his children that was seriously injured. He didn't know what he would do if he was on the edge of losing either his son or daughter.

He began to breath easier as he found his son, and daughter sitting up right. Not smiling. Not frowning. Just frozen in shock. As his eyes drifted down his daughter's body; he saw that she had a deathly gripe on the Avatar. From Bato's description; Aang; the Avatar; was a very lively twelve year old. Couldn't remain still for one moment. Hakoda knew that Aang was in death's hold – because otherwise why wasn't Katara calmly tending to him?

He held his right hand to gently brush Appa's jaw as he softly landed on the boat. "It's going to be all right now boy." He gently said looking Appa straight in the eyes.

"Hey Dad." Sokka said in a soft voice as he slid off Appa. He quickly threw his arms around his father's waist.

"Hello son." Hakoda said wrapping his arms tightly around his son. "Let's tend to Aang. Then we'll have a longer visit."

Sokka pulled away. Nodding tightly, "Of course." He turned, and looked up; "I'm going to come up there; and together we'll gently lower Aang into Dad's arms."

Katatra's arms tightened Aang. She wasn't going to give up Aang. They couldn't force her too. She would tear apart anyone whom comes close to Aang. Her face tightened as she glared into Zuko's scared eyes.

Sokka climbed up Appa and watched as the Earth King's bear jumped gently off. Turning to face his silent sister. "Here Katara let me …." he put his hand on Aang's shoulder. He lost his voice when his sister's eyes lifted; and he saw sheer steel in them.

"Get your hands off of him now, Zuko." Katara's voice held steel.

"K-Kat-Katara; it's me, Sokka." Sokka gasped. His eyes widen in fear as his sister's hands threw up; and suddenly he was flying backwards with tidal wave in his face. He felt his legs go over his head – then his back twisted away from his neck. Before he crashed onto the ship's strong wooden deck; Appa's tail came underneath him. "Thanks boy." He gasped for breath.

"KATARA!" Hakoda shouted up to his daughter. "You have no right to treat your brother in this fashion."

"No dad." Sokka ran up to his father. "You don't know what happened before we left Ba Sing Se. You don't know what Katara had gone through alone." His eyes bowed. "I'm sorry dad. I failed you. I should have gone after to rescue my sister; instead of going to free the Earth King; and his bear."

"Sokka," Hakoda placed his hands on his son's thin shoulders. "You did the only thing that you could in that time. I would have made the same decision if I were in your shoes."

Sokka nodded. Looking up into his father's compassionate eyes. "Let me handle this."

Hakoda nodded; and stepped aside.

Sokka looked up Appa's body, and saw how tensed up his sister was. "Katara, I need you to look into my eyes. I need you to see the truth of my deep love for you, and for Aang."

"I'm not going too allow you to trick me Zuko; the crown prince of the fire nation." Katara shouted.

Toph wished that she could bend the ships wooden deck to where Katara was. But she fully knew that everyone would just end up in the ocean. She couldn't swim, and Aang was seriously injured. Katara was out of mind with grief.

"Katara …." Aang tiredly opened his eyes. Katara looked down into his brown eyes – her blue eyes shimmering in tears. "get me down to Sokka."

"Come on up Sokka." Katara said in a tired voice.

Sokka breathed in relief as he climbed up Appa's side; back to his sister's side. "We'll do this nice and gentle. Dad is ready to take Aang as we get Aang down." He put a gentle hand on his sister's harden cheek. "He'll be all right in the move. Aang needs to get somewhere warm; and dry."

Appa slowly lowered himself to be face level with Hakoda. "Good boy." He gently stroked his fur.

Katara's gripe on Aang loosened. She tiredly returned Aang's tired weak smile. "We'll get you into Dad's cabin; Aang. That will protect you from the elements."

"When I get my rest; lets Penguin sled some more." A tiny dull mischievous gleam in his eyes.

Tears falling freely down her chilled cheeks, "Of course Aang." Katara fought her sobs down.

Aang swallowed hard. "I'm so tired."

"You rest now." Katara said in a gentle voice.

"Why is it so cold?" Aang's body began to uncontrollable shake.

"We'll get you warmed up soon." Hakoda said as Sokka gently handed the young Avatar down to him. Once he had Aang security in his arms; he turned, and walked quickly to the cabin area of the ship. Katara was to the right; her hand resting against Aang's head. His son was walking closely behind.

(AZULA'S SHIP)

Mai stared at Zuko's proud straight back. Only thing was …. she knew Zuko way too well to be fooled so easily. She stepped to the right of him. "He's still alive isn't he?" Her voice so slow so that it couldn't be heard by anyone. She fully knew that Azula had many spies that she could never place.

Zuko stared out at the ocean for a very long moment. "Can I trust you with my life?" He finally asked.

"Yes." Mai said into the silence. "Just as I trust you with my own."

"Yes. He's alive." Zuko replied. Swallowing hard, "I thank the Spirits that he's alive." He turned too face the young woman next to him. "I'm glad that the next Avatar isn't from the water tribe. I can't bare the thought of father destroying the entire water nation just to kill the Avatar." His eyes widen comically, "Not that I'm not happy that the next Avatar will be from the water nation. They are a fine people. Strong."

"I know what you meant." Mai smiled softly. Her brows came close together, "You don't think your father won't go after the water nation after Azula reports that the Avatar has been taken down?"

"I just don't know." Zuko breathed out. "I simply don't know if he'll truly relay on Azula's word that the Avatar is dead." He shook his head; "Father never wanted the Avatar dead in the first place. He just wanted him captured – so Father could finally take over the world. Once he succeeded; then and only then would he order the Avatar's death. I don't know how he'll take it when Azula tells him that she has killed the Avatar."

END CHAPTER TWO

Author's Note: In this story I plan on exploring the whole Zuko/Mai's relationship. How when in the Boiling Rock Mai told Azula that her love for Zuko was more powerful than her fear for her. I want to explore the deep love that Zuko, and Mai have for one another. Every scene those two shared in book three showed that they truly loved one another, and trusted one another.