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Borealis: A Zutara Story	By : jaded_priceless Category: Avatar - The Last Airbender > AU/AR - Alternate Universe/Alternate Reality Views: 33555 -:- Recommendations : 2 -:- Currently Reading : 4
Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar: The Last Airbender, Avatar: The Legend of Korra, any historical figures or events, or easily recognizable persons, places or things. I make no profit from this work of fanfiction

Chapter List
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- 71
Chapter 69
Zuko and Katara were woken by the distinct tones of three different ship’s horns. He quickly rolled away from her and burned the rope tying her to the bed. “Get dressed hurry. Something’s happening,” he commanded throwing her a set of his old clothes he’d brought from the palace and grabbing a similar outfit for himself.
“Stay beside me until we know what’s going. It could be pirates, an escort or maybe my father has decided to come aboard. It’s been a while since he’s been out of the country,” he added frantically lacing up his boots before putting on a shirt.
Katara quickly dressed herself and pulled on her shoes. She’d grown accustomed to rapidly changing while they were being chased by the Fire Nation. She didn’t want to be near Zuko, but she wasn’t looking forward to facing another group of pirates or his father either. “Aang and my brother” she cried running for the door.
“They’ll be safe. No one will be allowed to breach that level of the ship with the Avatar on board. He is to be protected at all cost and your brother’s cell is right outside his door. He’ll be protected by default.” Zuko responded pulling her to him before strapping his swords onto his back.
“Stay beside me, between me and the wall,” Zuko ordered as he opened the door.
There were several sailors rushing about, but the call to man the battle stations hadn’t been raised. Zuko crept stealthily towards the bridge and Katara moved just as silently beside him.
“I see the impetuous little prince has finally learned to be cautious,” A voice called from the control room.
“General Bujing,” Zuko greeted coldly.
The disrespect in the man’s tone was enough to make Katara wary before she heard Zuko’s reply.
“I had heard that Fire Lord Ozai lifted your banishment. I suppose congratulations are in order for finally securing the Avatar although I did hear he just fell from the sky into your lap,” Bujing said snidely.
Zuko’s eyes narrowed. He’s heard enough insults to his masculinity to recognize the older man’s comment for what it was, “No, the Avatar fell to the ground, his Waterbender fell into my lap.”
“Did she?” the man replied haughtily looking at Katara. “I’m guessing it won’t take much for her to fall out.”
Zuko laughed. “I assure you, she is firmly planted, I’m guessing a man your age still capable of at least grasping that concept,” he replied giving the much older man a once over as he implied Bujing was growing impotent.
“You little…” the man snarled thrusting his shoulders back and puffing himself up to his full height.
“Careful old man, this time my father is not here to fight your battle,” Zuko replied stepping forward to answer his challenge.
“Prince Zuko I see that you have met two of our guests. General Bujing and Admiral Liang’s men will escort us to our first port. There have been rumors the Water Tribe have been using cruisers stolen the day of the invasion to attack larger ships. We can not allow our cargo to get in their hands,” Admiral Chu-hua said eying Katara evilly.
The Waterbender smiled back in the same manner. Over the past two years she had grown to rely on Sokka and Gran-Gran so she had forgotten another possible escape route. Survive long enough for her father to rescue them. All she needed to do was find a way to let him know which ship they were on and he would do the rest. It may even be worth letting Zuko live just to see how many tiny pieces her father could chop him into.
“Katara, why are you smiling?” Zuko asked. Bujing would no doubt take it as a sign he couldn’t control her.
“Just happy to be in your presence my prince, I was imagining our future and I could not help myself,” She replied coyly. This man reminded her of those she had met at the palace. It was better to defer to Zuko and stick with the devil she knew rather than risk being foisted off on him.
“Really girl, what part of a future with him made you smile in such manner,” Bujing asked eying her lasciviously.
Katara returned his leer with a glare of her own. She replied sharply, “His penis. The very idea of getting my hands on that magnificent dragon fills me with such unspeakable glee that I can barely contain myself.”
The old man gasped in shock then caught himself; he had been told the boy’s hold on her was weak. He was starting to look forward to proving to the brat that he was perfectly capable of firmly putting both of them in their places.
“Got you,” Zhao 1, one of ships communications officers, hid as a sneeze. Bujing was the one who suggested that he along with his twin, Mu and the other non-benders from their former division benders be slaughtered as a diversion.
“Bless you,” Katara said kindly.
Admiral Liang watched the exchange interestedly. It seemed as though he would have a little entertainment on this leg of his trip back to Ba Sing Se.
“Prince Zuko, please remind your companion that proper ladies do not discuss such matters in public,” Admiral Chu-hua ground out.
“Madam, I assure you I have not been a proper lady since the first night you left me alone with your prince,” Katara intoned hatefully as she curtsied politely in recognition of her position the ships leader; the only thing worse than a man who raped was a woman who condoned it.
Zuko didn’t know whether to thank Katara or to strangle her. Her phrasing was polite enough to convince any nonbelievers that he had indeed tamed the Avatar’s Waterbender, but her tone spoke volumes towards the opposite. He leveled a blank face in her direction, “Katara, behave yourself.”
“Yes, my prince,” she said demurely, batting her eyelashes at him. Zuko smiled and shook his head in response. He had been absolutely correct to place his faith in her; her ability to read a situation was right on target.
Admiral Liang laughed, “Prince Zuko, I congratulate on acquiring such a lively companion. We should all be so lucky as to have one like her by our side.”
“Thank you, Admiral Liang, but I would like to think that luck had nothing to do with it,” Zuko replied smoothly.
“Well said, young man well said. Before we left the palace your father told me you had grown a great deal since you left home and that he expects great things from you. I, too, am looking forward to the growth of our nation’s Crown Prince,” he said convivially.
“Thank you for your vote of confidence, Admiral Liang. It means a great deal coming from a man of your wisdom and stature,” Zuko replied clasping the man’s hand in a Fire Nation style greeting now that he’d garnered the man’s support.
Azula cut her eyes at Mai. Admiral Liang was very influential as commander of the Western Fleet of the Navy and the third son of a prestigious noble family. It would not do for Zuko to have his support. The older girl turned away. She had made her choice in which royal sibling she would support.
Azula smiled, “I had been meaning to keep this as a surprise, but I’ve asked the chef to prepare a proper banquet to celebrate my brother’s success in obtaining something that has eluded him for years. Gentlemen, you and the officers of your ship are all invited. Please let me know a head count by 10:00AM so I can notify the kitchen staff.”
Zuko’s eyes narrowed. Azula was planning something. Katara must have felt it too as he felt her stepping closer to him and fisting the back of his shirt with both hands. He turned to face her expecting to see apprehension but all he saw was anger. He smiled and patted the outside of her thigh. Anger was good. She needed to hold onto that.
“Is there a problem Zuko? Your concubine seems quite tense,” Azula said baiting Katara after noticing the action.
Katara wrapped her arms around Zuko’s waist to thwart the urge to feed creatures of the ocean’s depths with Fire Nation princess, “There is no problem, Princess Azula. I was merely looking forward to an evening alone with my Prince but now I am troubled by which dress to select.
“As a lady I am sure you understand how daunting it is to prepare for a formal event on such short notice. It’s a good thing your brother has impeccable taste. I’m sure he had the foresight to select an appropriate gown from my vaults before we left the Fire Nation in preparation for such an occasion,” Katara added knowing that Azula hated the fact the value of her vault was worth less than Katara’s.
“Of course I did,” Zuko smiled covering her hands with his. Azula’s eye was twitching. It was rare that someone affected her to that extent.
“I don’t understand, what do you mean her vaults?” General Bujing asked.
“My father didn’t tell you?” Zuko said innocently. “Katara opened Fire Lady Nini’s and Princess Kesuk’s vaults. Under Great-grandfather Soizin’s laws of inheritance as my royal concubine their contents now belong to her. I’m sure you heard that Katara was wearing Princess Kesuk’s crown when we left the capital.”
The older man’s nostrils flared and he took a deep calming breath, as did Azula and Mai. If the latter was a Firebender, she too would have exhaled a visible plume of smoke like the other two.
“Lady Katara, I have underestimated you. It is a rare woman who is able to increase a man’s holdings in such a manner. Perhaps when we return to the Fire Nation you would like to introduce the concept to my wife. She seems to think money grows on trees in the Earth Kingdom,” Admiral Liang offered.
“Thank you, Admiral Liang; I would be honored to meet your wife. I am certain there are far more things such an esteemed lady would be able to teach one such as myself than I could ever hope to share with her,” Katara replied humbly bowing in the Fire Nation style.
Mai’s jaw clenched before her face resumed its impartial expression. Men only extended invitations to meet their wives to other wives and fiancées not mistresses and whores. Those women were kept in the shadows along with the rest of their dirty little secrets. Admiral Liang had completely slighted her engagement to Zuko even though he and his wife were both in attendance for the ball in which it was announced. She had been a fool not to sleep with Zuko over something so trivial as pride and principle. It was an error she intended to correct as soon as possible.
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- 71
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Borealis: A Zutara Story