Hmm, I have no idea why I'm starting this but it won't get of my mind so I might as well eh?
I do not own Avatar or any of these characters except Ana
A young girl of about 15 trudged angrily across the dew covered grass.
"I hate her!" She snarled as she still walked grumpily towards the deserted playground, not noticing her pants leg becoming rather sodden in the wet grass. "I can't beilieve she doesn't even care!" She struck the misty air with her pale fists angrily, the bag on her back bouncing rythmically to her movements, it bulged with clothes and belongings. "Ana do this, Ana do that!" She copied with a high, sickening and mocking tone, "Bah!" Her normal voice echoed and bounced of the now approching play equpiment all rusty and with cheap paint peeling off in the fog. "Well" Said Ana lifting her head in a act of determanation "She won't have to nag me any more, cause she won't see me anymore!" Ana stated or rather yelled thrusting open the stiff gate and trooping over the squeaky swings. She sat herself on the seat making her pants even more wet as she sat in a puddle collecting in the center of the swing, and grabbed hold of the stiff chains. "Damn!"She growled as she inspected her behind, she grumpily slumped back into the seat, to stubborn to move.
She sat still for a second inspecting her trainers, they were caked in mud and strands of grass. She tried to scrape some off on the tarmac, but with little effect. She glared at the ground again, when something shiny hidden in the grass caught her eye, she stared at the patch of the grass for a second before deciding to see what it was, she got of the swing, walked over and squatted down to look around the grass, she was about to give up when she spotted what had shined. She cautiously picked up some leathery and tough string, tied to it, as though it was a necklace, was a lense surrounded by a thin gold frame, It wasn't very big, only about 2cm diametre, but it still looked pretty out of place. She held it dangled in front of her face, inspecting the object. What was it? She walked back over to the swing and plopped herself back on the seat leaning to an angle on her heels. She tried looking through the lense, everything was out of focus, not bigger or smaller, just fuzzy. She figured it was one of those things those blokes in some of those old fashioned movies used instead of glasses, she clicked her fingers, what was it called...? An eyeglass! She tried the lense again this time at the sky, it was becoming clear after the recent rainfall and the fog was slowly dissapearing.
A plane was leaving a trail while it flew across the sky, she tried to folow the trail with the lense though she could feel her hands slipping of the chains, suddenly she crashed down, hitting her head on the tarmack, a searing pain went through her as her head collided with the ground. She felt herself slipping in and out of conciousness as she squeezed the lense in her palm while she eventually lost herself in the over coming darkness.
"Uncle! Why can't you understand?" Shouted Prince Zuko as he sat infront of the weak campfire. " I did it to help us on our journey!" His Uncle sat calmly next to him.
"I'm not too sure Prince Zuko." Said his Uncle opening one eye slightly to look over at his at his moody nephew. "Are you sure you didn't just do it for an excuse to go back?" Prince Zukos face reddened for a moment but it soon turned into a irratated scowl. He was about to argue back when he heard a rustle in the bushes, he stood up briskly and ignited his fists.
"Who's there?!" He shouted into the forest, his Uncle came up to him.
"It was probably only a cat-dog, no need to get excited." Zuko watched as his Uncle walked back over to the fire then sharply turned to the bushes again, squinting. There was soon another rustle.
"Come out coward!" He shouted again, suddenly a hand extended from a clump of bushes from the right, he braced himself, ready to attack, but was confused when the hand started waving, another came to join it. And a shadowy figure stood up out of the bushes, they gave out a groan and hobbled over little, then tripped on a tree branch and fell right on there face.
"OWWwwww..." The body let out, the voice muffled by the ground being pressed up against there face. Zuko, still braced, realised what he was up against and let his fists come down a little as he looked down on the figure. Fed up waiting, he nudged the body with his foot.
"And who are you supposed to be? One of Azulas misarable followers?" There was a moments silence till the figure spoke.
"Who the hells Azula? And where the heck am I?" Zuko raised an eyebrow. Soon his Uncle joined him.
"That's a very big Cat-dog..." Suddenly the figure jumped up.
"And what's that meant to mean?!" Shocked by the sudden movement they backed away a little. But soon regained there ground.
"Who are you?" Asked Zuko gruffly taking in the persons outfit. "And where did you come from?" The person standing infront of him seemed to be a girl, she had scruffy blackish hair stretched back in a small ponytail and colourless grey eyes, her clothes were something he knew he'd never be able to discribe in this lifetime.
"That's none of your beeswax!" Said the girl straightening herself out."All I want to know is where I am, then I'll be happy." Zuko glared than crossed his arms.
"Why don't you ask one question then we ask one, and we go on like that?" The girl seemed to think about this for a second then nodded.
"Okay." Zuko turned round to see his Uncle already back sitting at the fire again. He went to join him with the stranger, when suddenly she rushed back into the bushes.
"Hm?" Zuko turned round hearing another rustle, he saw the girl bringing a bag out of the bushes.
"Glad I didn't lose this!" She said trudging over to the fire and dumping everything on the side except a small lense on a string, she looked at it for a while than decided to put it round her neck. Zuko countinued to walk over and sit cross legged on the ground, the girl looked round to see both where doing it, so she politely did the same.
"Right, me first!" Said Zuko quickly "Who are you?"
"My names Ana Summers, I'm 15 years old and ..." The girl didn't know how to countinue, she began tapping her chin. "And I'm lost." She said rounding it all up. She smirked "Now it's my turn!" Zuko crossed his arms again.
"Fine."
"Who are you two?" She asked pointing her finger between both of them. Zuko and his Uncle thought on this for a bit, wondering if they should use alliaces, but didn't bother since she'd probably find out anyway with all the wanted posters.
"I'm Prince Zuko, hei-!"
"You mean Banished Prince, Zuko." Zuko jabbed his elbow into his Uncles stomach scowling. "What? It's true."
"Anyway, as I was saying, I'm Prince Zuko heir to the firelords throne, and this is my Uncle Iroh." Said Zuko half-heartedly throwing a point at Irohs direction. Ana looked exspectantly at them. "...what?" Said Zuko after a while.
"Oh c'mon, you must be more a little more interesting than that!" Ana said crossing her arms. Zuko just glared. It was a while before anyone spoke again.
"Um, would anyone like tea?" Iroh asked trying to bring them out of there staring contest. Zuko looked at Iroh with a 'Isn't it obvious?' look on his face, while Ana shook her head.
"No thanks, I'm not a big fan for tea." Iroh looked at them for a while, then grinned.
"Fine then, more for me!"
Suddenly Ana shot up, once again shocking Zuko out of his skin.
"But I'll tell what I do like!" Said Ana with a smile as she headed over to her back pak. She scooped through her stuff until she found what she was looking for. She held up a drink can for the world to see. "Floaty Co!"
"Uh, what is that?" Asked Zuko pointing at the can, his Uncle sat down back on the floor with a steaming cup of herbal tea. Ana looked blankly at the two for a moment, then started giggling.
"Your telling me you haven't seen one of these before?!" Zuko developed another scowl.
"And what's so funny about that!" He asked getting annoyed. Ana shook her head again.
"Nothing, nothing..." Ana sat down on the floor again infront of them.They watched carefully as she opened the can and sipped the drink. She stopped suddenly and looked at them. "What?" Ana then got an idea, "You want a bit?" Asked Ana shaking the can infront of them. They looked at it for a bit thinking. Iroh spoke first.
"Does it taste like tea?" Ana looked amused at this question.
"No!" Iroh went back to his tea to get more.
"I think I'll stick with this then." Ana turned to Zuko.
"What about you?" She asked taking another sip. "Mmmm tasty..." She said mockingly at the drinkless Zuko. Zuko still scowled. "Oh c'mon, you must get sick of water and .." Ana turned to look at the tea. "...leaves?... Sometimes!" Zuko didn't take her seriously. Ana was about to give up when she had a idea. "You're not scared are you?!" She said with fake surprise. Zuko looked a bit naffed. "I mean, if a poor, defenceless girl like me can raise the courage to drink such a big, strong drink, I thought you could but I was obviously wrong, I guess I shouldn't of tried..." She turned round to show sorrow, but smirked under her fringe when he wasn't able to see her face.
"What are you getting at?" He asked annoyed.
"It doesn't matter Zuko, your obviously not ready, I understand." She patted him on the shoulder. Zuko glared. Ana laughed inside, it was working!
"Give me that!" Zuko swiped at the drink. Ana broke the act.
"Hey! Manners would be nice!" She shouted back, moving the can further away. Iroh looked over at the comotion. Zuko leaned over and grabbed again. Suddenly Ana jumped up and backed away a little with a smirk on her face. Zuko got up as well, forgetting to keep his image.
"Just let me try it already!" Ana held it up above her head, even though she knew he would still reach it.
"Uh uh uh!" Said Ana wagging her finger. "First, you'll have to beat me in a duel!" Zuko got ready. "..Of!..." Zuko waited for the challenge. "Rock, Paper Scissors!" Said Ana finnaly with a grin, Zukos fists fell to his sides.
"What?"
"You know? Rock, Paper Scissors!" She sat back on the floor. Zuko groaned, he had the worst luck when it came to that game.
"Fine!" He slumped back on the floor and got ready facing her. They got the fists ready.
"1,2 3!" They made there different signs. "1 to me Zuko, Rock beats Scissors!" Zuko shuffled in his spot. Iroh just watched, was Zuko, playing?! "1,2 3!" Ana grinned in satisfaction while Zuko looked like he would of rather done a Agni Kai. "I win again, Paper beats Rock!" Ana watched smiling as she watched his face contort into a scowl once again. "Okay, once more! 1,2 3!" Ana jumped up and did a dance while Zuko ran a hand through his hair in defeat. Iroh meerly wondered why the heck Zuko had agreed to the match in the first place.
Ana danced, though she wasn't finished, she side glanced at the can. She sat back down on the floor Zuko was back to glaring again. Ana grinned openly in his face. While Zuko sulked.
"Nah! I was only joking!" Zukos eyebrow rose a bit. "Here!" Ana got another can and handed it to him, though he saw her shaking it before. Zuko took and looked at the can.
"But I lost" Ana shrugged.
"Complimentary prize!" Zuko looked warily at the can. Ana was getting impatient. "Look, I didn't poison it if that's what your'e worried about!" Ana said crossing her arms. "You open it like this!"She mimicked opening the can. Zuko pulled on the loop, and opened the can only to get sprayed forcefully in the face by a stream of fizzy drink. Ana burst out laughing as Iroh tried to stiffle his laughter, and hid his face behind his tea. Zuko still holding the can sat there with the most pathetic look you could get him to wear, his hair was dripping wet and sticky and his top half was soaked to the bone.
Ana wiped a tear from her eye.
"Sorry Zuko..." Ana said still giggling a little. She kindly lent him the towel out of her back pak. "I just couldn't resist!" Zuko put down the can and started rubbing his face with the towel.
"What are you? A water bender or something?" He asked, his voice muffled by the towel. Ana held up a hand to her ear jokinly as she stopped laughing. It was then when Iroh decided to join the two teenagers.
"What was that?" Zuko removed the towel from his face and started rubbing of his arms.
"I said, are you a water bender or something?" Ana looked at him blankly.
"Zuko, I have to honestly tell you I have no idea what you're talking about..." Zuko started on the other arm.
"You know,... a water bender? You water bended the drink right?" Ana shook her head.
"All I did was shake the can..." Zuko looked confused at the girl who looked thoroughly confused compared. Uncle Iroh stopped sipping his tea to interrupt.
"Prince Zuko, maybe she has not heard of bending, and you are making no sence." Ana signaled to Iroh.
"You should listen to him." Zuko didn't know who to argue with first so he decided on just drying his hands.
"Forget it." He said after a while. Ana laid back on the ground.
"Fine with me." Ana then jumped up again.
"You don't get very tired do you?" Said Uncle Iroh looking at how dark the sky was. Ana smiled at him.
"What do you expect? I've just had Floaty Co!" She ran to her bag again and got something from the front pocket.
"I bet you guys haven't seen something like this!" Zuko just continued drying his hair, though Iroh looked interested and actually put down his tea.
"What is it?" Ana smiled excitedly.
"This, my friends, is the latest in music technology!" Iroh clasped his hands together.
"Music?!" He asked happily, he was always a big fan of music night on the ship before they went into hiding. Zuko grimaced under the towel.
"That's right!" Said Ana grinning like she was on some type of commercial. "Music!"
"So what's this called?" He asked inquisitive, Zuko just stared at them like they were idiots.
"This, Iroh, is called a CD player." Iroh was transfixed on the CD player. Zuko leaned back on his elbows.
"Wow, that's truly amazing!" He said sarcastically. Iroh sent an irritated glance in Zukos direction, but went back to smiling when Ana started again.
Ana took some earphones into her hands.
"Put these on!" She said shoving them in his hands Iroh looked at the earphones while Ana went back to her back pak to get something. Zuko watched as Iroh put them in certain positions on head, snickering at some. Iroh glared at his nephew. He thrusted the earphones into the smirking Zukos hands. At first Zuko looked at them as blankly as his Uncle, before he put them on his head, in a sort of balanced crown like way, he kept as still as he could so he wouldn't knock them off. Iroh was the one laughing now, Zuko looked like he wanted to punch him but had to keep still so he wouldn't send the earphones crashing down.
Ana came back, her head down counting some square boxes she was bringing over.
"Alright guys were all set, lets..get..back to...work..." Ana had spotted Zukos way of wearing the earphones and they could tell she was trying to hold in her laughter. Zuko raised his eyebrow at her, while Uncle looked at the boxes she'd just brought over. Ana still trying to hold it in sat on the floor with the boxes and put them on the floor. She suddenly whipped the earphones of Zukos head. Not really looking she caught them in his hair and he ended up landing on the floor. When the two heard a 'flump' spound. They turned round to see what they had done, this time they couldn't hold in the laughter.
After they had stopped laughing once again at the pissed of looking Zuko they decided that they should get on with what they were doing.
"Right!" Ana said to Iroh, for future reference you put earphones on like this. Ana put on the earphones PROPERLY and showed her 2 man audience. She took them of and handed them to Iroh, who put them on the same way.
"I see..." He said, a bit confused. Then Ana picked a couple of boxes and held them like a deck of cards.
"Pick the one you want." She said hlding them infront of Iroh. Iroh scratched his chin and picked a blue box. Ana smiled. "Good choice!" She took the blue box fro Irohs hands , opened it, pressed a button on the CD player and inserted the disk in the box. After pressing a few other buttons, she presed the final one and turned to Iroh who was looking round to see what he was hearing.
"Well?" Iroh turned round.
"It's very good, but where's it coming from?" Ana giggled.
"From the earphones silly!" She picked up the headband and pinged it back on his head, he noticed the pitch changing with the movement.
"Ahhh, I see!" Zuko just looked dumfounded. Ana turned round.
"What?"
"Nothing" He said with added rudeness.
"Okay then!"Ana said smiling and mockingly copying Zukos tone of voice, she turned around. Zuko crossed his arms defiantly.
"Prince Zuko, you simply must try this!" Iroh was doing a little jig to the music in his ears.
"I don't want to!" Zuko said scrunching up his body again.
"Why?" Iroh said dancing near him.
"Because it's stupid!" Zuko spat.
"That's your answer to everything!" Iroh said walking away. Soon Ana came forward.
"What's the matter with you?" She said looking down at him, Zuko, not liking his position, stood up, he was around two inches taller than her. Not itimatated Ana cocked her head to the side. "Well?" Suddenly, yet another lightbulb seemed to pop up above Anas head. "Wait here!" Zuko started staring at a rock.
'Great' He thought 'Another invention from her world...' Soon Ana was back, she unwrapped something and stuffed it in Zukos mouth. Ana then unwrapped one for herself and put it in her mouth. Zuko still stunned was just standing there Ana though seemed to be enjoying it.
"Chew it!" She said encouraginly. "But don't ever swallow it!" She said. Zuko started chewing was surprised when a sweet flavour came into his mouth.
"Errr, what exactly is this?" Ana beamed.
"This your chewing." She said pointing at his mouth. "Is bubble gum!" She anounced bringing her hand down. Ana was still smiling at him. "Do you like it?" Zuko didn't know what to think of it, it had a nice flavour but a odd texture.
"Um, I guess so?" Ana was about to go when she turned to face him again.
"Word of advice Zuko." She said handing him the wrapper, he loked at it confused. "When you finish with it, don't put it straight in ya' pocket or something, wrap it in this then do that!" Ana walked away,. "I learnt that the hard way!" She looked back grinning. Zuko looked back the wrapper. He decided he'd better remember that, and shoved the wrapper in his pocket for later.
Few hours later...
Zuko sat glaring sleepily but still up holding a look of defiance as he stared into the forest. Iroh took of the earphones after listening to the whole thing three times and had made a dance routine to each song. He picked up his teacup and sipped the tea. Ana sat there chewing making marks in the dirt with her finger. Iroh looked at the two uneventful teenagers and sipped his tea again.
"So Zuko, where are we heading to tomorrow?"
"Where weve been heading every day?" Iroh finished his tea and looked up at Zuko.
"I still think you should give that emuhorse back." Zuko eyebrows knitted as he was reminded about the argument they had earlier that night.
"Uncle I told you earlier I did it s-!" There was a small pop. Zuko brushed it of and started again. "Uncle I told you ear-!" There was anouther pop a little louder that the first. Zuko looked round his shoulder just to see Ana playing with a stick. She noticed them staring at her.
"What? You never seen a stick before?" They turned around again. Zuko was about to repeat his sentence when a louder pop echoed around the forest.
"Will you stop that!" Zuko shouted to noone imparticular,awake, he realised where the sound was coming from and looked round the back of him to see the chewing Ana blow a bubble.
Ana looked innocently at the two. She put her hands infront of her as to surrender.
"Sorry?" Zuko sighed irratably and turned too his Uncle once again.
"I give up..." He said "I'm going to bed." And he walked away rubbing his head Ana and Iroh looked after him, until Iroh spoke up.
"What about the emuhorse?" Zuko turned sharply.
"What about it?" He asked fed up.
"I think that if we've took it without permission we should atleast check it's alright, we haven't for a while." Zuko looked like he was at the end of his rope, which he probably was.
"Fine! I'll check on the frigging emuhorse!" He stomped in the opposite direction. After a moment Ana broke the silence.
"What's an emuhorse?" Go see for yourself, it's right over there." He said pointing in Zukos direction. "Unless Zuko let his wrath unleash on it, then it'll be the way to toast city!" Ana confused by Iroh got up and started wandering in the direction he was pointing. Looking to see if anyone was watching after she was gone. Iroh turned on the CD player again.
"Stupid horse, I wish I'd never stolen you in the first place!" He said ranting to himself as he headed towards the emuhorse. He reached it and waved his arms at it angrily. "See?! I was right! Nothing wrong with it at all!" He said defiantly looking at the animal. "Stupid chicken." He mumbled under his breath.
"God, do you need anger management classes!" It was more of a statement tham a question, he turned round to see Ana heading towards him.
"Like I've never heard that one before..., what do you want?" Ana walked up and poked the lump.
"So this is the famous emuhorse...it doesn't seem that special to me!" She said poking harder. Zuko watched warily.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you..." He said stepping back. Ana looked round at Zuko.
"What? This?" She asked poking the horse again. "What's it gonna doahhhh!!" Ana was sprawled across the ground with a throbbing red patch on her head. She got up defiantly and glared at the emuhorse. "Actually, I think it's ya' horse who needs anger management!" She said throwing a point at the horse. She rubbed her head as the horse laid down again.
"Told you." Said Zuko trying to surpress a smirk but failing misarably.
"Shaddup!" Said Ana defiantly. She thought of a comeback.
"Hey I have a perfect name for this monstrosity!" She said grinning.
"Hm? What?"
"Zuko 2" She giggled a little as Zukos smirk dissapeared flatly.
"Oh, Ha ha!" He added sarcasticly.
"Nah, I'm just kidding, that's too hard on the horse." Zuko glared at her and turned round to check if the horse was tied up strong anough. Ana avoided going near the animal as much as possible as she went to see what he was doing. Suddenly she caught a glimpse of the head. "Holy heck! That thing has a beak!!" Zuko turned round with a amused face."
"Um, duh!" He turned back round to tighten the ropes. "It's called an emuhorse, what did you think it was."
"I thought it was just a nickname, I didn't realise that you were talking about it was."
"Well, now you do!" Zuko, finished, tromped back over to the direction of his uncle. After a few more moments of staring at the animal, Ana made a quick escape and decided to follow Zuko.
"What do you want now?" Walking a little more briskly. Ana had to jog a little to keep up.
"Quit it!" She shouted.
"How about, no?" Ana gave up and stood sulking, being tired was taking it's toll on everyone as Anas eye lids drooped slightly. Rubbing her eyes quickly she decided to go see how Iroh was doing. She turned round the corner to see him lying on the floor.
"Hey Iroh! What cha'...doin?" She looked down at him with a grin on her face, but it soon turned into a dissapointed frown as she heard him snore.
"Ugh!" Ana slumped on the floor and felt like stepping on something. She checked her back pak. She pulled out a blanket and walked over to the otherside of the fire. Putting her bag down and wrapping herself in her blanket, she crouched down carefully and put her head on her back pak. 'Ahhh, sleep at last...' She snuggled into the blanket and began to droop of into sleep. She watched the fire dacing in contrast to the dark sky. Dreams over came her and she fell asleep...
