An actual fic this time, instead of drabbles.

Zuko had told himself that asking for help was weakness and no self-respecting Fire Prince would do it. Then again, he wasn't exactly a Fire Prince or very self-respected right now.

And that was only reason that he was allowing the Avatar and his friends to help him. (That, and the fact he could move very well, having been paralyzed by Jun's giant…thing with the tongue.)

"Why would some creepy bounty hunter want him?" the newest friend of the Avatar, a little blind Earthbender, asked. If Zuko could have moved from his position and glared at her, he would have.

"I think it might have something to do with the poster we saw in that desert village, Toph. It looked like a wanted poster," the Avatar said from his position on the bison's head.

"And we got stuck with him why?" The Waterbender sighed at the "warrior's" comment as she dug through her bag.

"Because if we didn't, those creepy girls from Omashu would get him and no one deserves that," she explained. "Except maybe Jet and Ozai."

The Waterbender must have found what she looking for, because she pulled out a small bottle of liquid. She uncorked it and held it underneath Zuko's nose. As the prince began to sneeze, she smirked. "I knew this perfume was going to come in handy," she said as she corked it and returned it to the bag.

"You call that perfume?" were Zuko's first words since his paralyzing. The Waterbender nodded.

"It came from the abbey where we last saw that bounty hunter. The Mother Superior gave us a few bottles, just in case we ran into her again."

"Fetches a nice price in the Ba Sing Se market, too," the warrior added. The Waterbender looked at him.

"And just when did you plan on telling me you sold some of it, Sokka?" The boy, Sokka, held his hands up in submission.

"I only sold one, the big bottle with the Earthbending symbol etched on it. I got nine copper pieces, three silver pieces, and a gold piece for it, so there." He tossed a small purse towards who Zuko guessed was his girlfriend. She emptied it and counted the money.

"With that, we now have a lot more than we had before," she announced.

"How much did we have before?" the blind girl asked.

"Before Ba Sing Se? Fifteen copper pieces. In Ba Sing Se, we had fifteen copper pieces, but Aang had to buy a new bison whistle, and I needed a new hair tie, so that left us with one copper piece."

"How did it cost fourteen copper pieces to get a broken whistle and a leather strap?" Toph asked. The Waterbender sighed and nodded to the boy.

"Someone sampled the market's food," she said, "and had to pay for breaking a cup."

"Is it my fault the fat shopkeeper put the cup where anyone could knock it over?" Sokka asked.

"Yes."

"Shut up, Katara."

So Katara was the Waterbender, Sokka was her boyfriend, Toph the blind girl, and Aang the Avatar. At least Zuko wouldn't sound like an idiot next time he opened his mouth.

Zuko looked over the edge of the saddle. They were miles above the earth and the sudden realization made Zuko feel queasy. He had never been up this high before. He slowly turned around, praying he didn't look too green.

Sadly, Sokka noticed his face and started snickering. "Looks like someone is motion sick," he taunted.

"I was on a ship for two years, idiot," Zuko spat. "I do not suffer from motion sickness."

"Altitude sickness then."

"Sokka, if he suffered from altitude sickness," Aang replied, "he'd have gotten sick by now."

The Waterbender, Katara, was sympathetic and dug out something to help upset stomachs. "Here. This should help."

"I don't want your cures or sympathy, peasant. As soon as this beast lands, I'll leave you four to whatever it is you're doing." Katara looked a little hurt, but put the cure back in her bag.

"Leaving us is fine," the blind girl interrupted, "but how far do you think you can get without that ostrich horse? We had to leave it at Ba Sing Se."

"What?"

"We left that thing you were riding back at the city. Appa couldn't carry it and us," she explained. "And, personally, I think those creepy girls with the lizards might just catch you if you walk to wherever you're trying to go."

Sokka groaned. "Leave it to Toph to point out what I was trying to forget."

"I still don't see why you guys say he's an angry freak with a ponytail," Toph said simply. "And Katara said so herself, no one deserves to have those three freaks capture him."

Angry freak with a ponytail? He didn't know which one had said it first (though he had an idea), but Zuko was going to kill him. "What are saying?" he asked, trying to keep his temper in check.

"That unless you want to be giant walking lizard food, staying with us would be a good idea," Toph said.

"Besides, there's your ankle to deal with," Katara added. Zuko turned to her. His look would have caused a weaker being to quail, but Katara just looked right back at him and continued. "You might not be able to feel it just yet, but you either broke your ankle or sprained it, though it's probably just sprained."

"So you definitely wouldn't be able to get far at all," Toph said.

"So you're saying he's stuck with us! Sis, that's cruel to all of us," Sokka complained. Katara held her hands up submissively.

So they're brother and sister, Zuko noted, glad he hadn't said anything before.

"Has anyone asked Zuko about this?" the Avatar asked. The other three paused, then the two Water brats turned to Zuko. He looked away.

"What choice do I have?" he muttered. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the boy shrug and turn to the Avatar. His sister looked at Zuko a moment longer, then turned away, a sad look in her eyes.

Would someone clear something up for me? What side is Zuko's scar on, left or right?