A/N hey guys! So this is my first fanfiction. I hope that didn't send anyone running... Haha... *Cricket chirps* anyway, I really hope you enjoy because I am super nervous! Please let me know how I did, okay? Thanks for reading! -Nerdy J
"Fire Nation! It's a raid!"
The cry echoed through the village, a call to battle for all Earthbenders. I growled and ran towards the docks. You're not getting any victories today. There they stood, the cowards behind white masks. One did not hide behind the uniform of a Fire Nation soldier, but was decked out in full armor. My mind moved swiftly, deciphering the difference. In front. Different uniform. Leader. He's mine.
The Firebenders rushed forward, flames issuing from their clenched fists as they moved forward in perfect formation. I felt many presences behind me, and smiled. My village was behind me. I fought my way through multiple soldiers. I made my way to the clear leader of the raiders.
I shouted in anger and launched a ripple through the ground. The wave of earth sent the Firebender flying backwards, crashing into a nearby house. Hey, I may be a skinny little teenage girl, but threaten my home, my family... And somebody's going to get hurt.
The Firebender shot up, firing off a rapid series of flaming kicks and punches. Not today, Firebender. I raised a wall between me and my enemy, quickly taking this opportunity to burrow beneath the ground. I could hear the Firebender break through my divide, fairly quickly, I noted. There were his footsteps, just overhead... And I broke to the surface, wasting no time in locking him in place with tight slabs of rock.
He growled, rage in his wicked amber eyes. The left eye was marred by a roughlooking scar. What the hell happened to his eye? I ducked as the Firebender breathed fire at my head. I just smirked.
"Not today, pretty boy. You're my prisoner. Not the outcome you planned on, now was it, flame demon ?" I hissed the last words.
"Shut up! Release me at once, you filthy peasant!" he shouted.
I narrowed my eyes and grabbed him by that stupid black ponytail of his. "I don't know how exactly it works where you come from, flame demon, but here, prisoners don't make demands. They plead for their lives. Although, considering you're from the Fire Nation, I doubt prisoners can make demands there either."
I stomped my foot, and began sliding the stone prison along. "Like it or not, you're gonna have to answer to my father for this. And I doubt he's in a merciful mood." The Firebender began to shout angrily, but I cut him off with a sharp stone to the jaw. "Silence, Firebender."
We arrived at my house within a minute, and I left him trapped in the woods behind it. Close enough that I could find him, far enough that his Fire Nation buddies couldn't.
"Now, if you'll excuse me, flame demon, I have a battle to win. I'll be back soon." I snapped on my black, fingerless gloves, and ran out into the streets of my village once more. We were under attack, and I was going to kill the next Firebender I saw.
I hissed in fury as the insolent girl ran off. How the hell did I get captured by a weak Earthbender girl?! No. She's more than a little girl. She must be a prodigy of some sort! I surveyed my options. None of them were realistic. The sneaky brat had caught my arms and legs together in such an awkward position, I couldn't possibly produce enough fire to make a difference. I had my firebreath, but there wasn't a way to get a good angle on the rock. Plus, I'd probably just burn down the forest.
Okay, that was actually a good idea, but not one that would help me escape, and it would most likely just provoke the little worm further. All I could really do was wait. Uncle Iroh would find me soon. Hopefully before the peasant returned.
About half an hour passed. Half an hour of me plotting my revenge.
"Zuko? Are you here?"
I smiled. It was time to conquer this village. Take the defiant Earthbenders out of the picture. And deal with the wicked little girl.
We couldn't keep this up much longer. Most of our benders had already been captured. Why are they attacking us?! Dumb question. It's because they're Fire Nation. Being evil is kinda their thing. Soon it was down to two of us. Just me and my dad, back to back.
"Misuki," he said, "We can't win."
I launched yet another earthquake at a group of men."Yes we can! Don't give up, Dad!" We fought hard, but there were at least ten times more Firebenders than there were us. I realized that my dad was no longer behind me.
I have to win. I have to save them! Suddenly, there was an intense heat beneath my chin, and an arm restraining my own.
"Not the outcome you planned on, now was it, Earthbender?" A voice, hoarse and cold. I realized very quickly that this was the Firebender I had captured earlier, and he was holding a small but powerful flame to my throat.
"Let... go, flame...demon," I spoke as boldly as I dared, careful to not move my head, which was in danger due to the fire beneath my chin.
"Be silent, peasant. You're lucky that I'm not killing you here and now."
"Come on, men, let's get these Earthbenders onboard the ship." A tall, well built man reached for me. The scarred Firebender that still held me pulled me back.
"You can take the rest of them. This girl..." He released the flame, and pulled my chin harshly to the side so he could look me in the eye. Green met gold. "Is my personal prisoner."
"You wish, flame demon," I whispered.
A swift stomp of my foot sent a sharp spike of rock between us, catching the Firebender in the face. I ran as fast as my feet could carry me, bringing a solid wall of earth along with me on either side to keep the soldiers away. I made it to the woods, and ran along the dry riverbank. I'm going to make it! I'm going to outrun them...! I felt something wrap around my ankles, and I fell to the ground, skidding along for several feet before stopping.
I rolled over on my side, thrusting my hands into the air in a vain attempt to take out the boy with the black hair, but I just laid there wide eyed as he effortlessly leapt over the stones. I couldn't sit up, and lying on the ground left me at an awkward angle for strikes. My hits became wilder and more desperate the closer the Firebender came. I'm finished. Done for. Today I am going to die at the hand of a Firebender and never get to tell my family goodbye.
He caught my fists in his own hands, quickly flipping me onto my stomach and securing my hands behind my back. He picked me up roughly by the hair. I was so short, that he easily held me up without my feet touching the ground. I could feel the heat from his hand radiating towards my scalp. I was surprised that my hair wasn't on fire yet.
"I swear, Earthbender, you try and escape one more time, and I will take your life. Don't tempt me."
I glared at him with as much ferocity as I could muster, considering the fact that my head was on fire (not literally, thank goodness) from the grip he had on my braid.
"Go ahead, Firebender. I don't care for my life if it means having to look at your ugly mug one minute longer."
He narrowed his eyes at me. It looks like he literally has fire in them.
"Maybe you don't care about your life," he hissed, "But maybe you care about the lives of your family and neighbors? You try and get away once more, and I will not hesitate to wipe out the entire village."
No! I didn't move my eyes from his for an instant. Don't show you pain. Don't show your weakness. Don't show your fear.
"I'll go with you."
He looked surprised at first, and then insufferably smug. "Good choice, peasant. Not as stupid as you look, then. Let's get back."
He didn't break a sweat as he tossed me over his shoulder and began carrying me in the direction we came. The woods I had run through just minutes before passed in a blur, and we arrived in the village. I spotted my house from the corner of my eye.
"Wait."
He scowled at me. "What?"
He won't let me. But I can't leave knowing I didn't try.
"Can't I at least say goodbye to my family? Since I'm apparently never going to see them again?"
He didn't even think about it. "No! Maybe you should have been thinking about your precious family when you attacked me!"
I scoffed. "And what's so special about you, bigoted brat?"
He growled and was about to retort when an elderly man approached us.
"Zuko! This is the Earthbender you are taking prisoner? She is only a child!"
"She is a dangerous bender, Uncle! I can't allow this menace to go free!"
I narrowed my eyes at the younger man. "I already promised you my freedom. The least you can do is let me see my family... Or what's left of it. You've already taken my father." I snapped.
The white haired man shot the boy a harsh look. "Zuko! You are better than this. Put the girl down."
The tall teen growled, dropping me on the hard soil. I coughed slightly as the dust around me kicked up. The older man, who was apparently this Firebender's uncle, undid the cord from around my ankles. I noticed that it had weights on either end. That's how he threw it.
The elder of the two smiled sadly at me. "Where do you live?"
I turned my head and tossed it towards the small house we had just passed.
He nodded. "Go on, my dear. Say your farewells."
I narrowed my eyes at the man for a moment. Why is he helping me? Deciding to decipher his motives later, I stood and walked towards my home.
The boy (what was his name? Zuko?) protested, but his uncle must have restrained him. I pressed the door open with my shoulder, since my hands were still shackled. I ran to the table in the middle of the room. My mom was kneeled beside it, embracing my brother, who was crying.
"I'm home," I said softly.
Mom looked up with relief, and pulled me into a tight hug.
"Misuki! What... Where's your father? Everyone's been coming by in a panic! They said that all the Earthbenders were captured!"
I could barely hold back my tears anymore. "Yes Mom. We were."
She noticed that my hands were bound. "Misuki... What..."
"That Firebender decided to take me as his personal prisoner. Guess I messed with the wrong guy... Mom... I'll be fine." I couldn't let them worry about me.
My brother stood up, looking angry and afraid all at once. "No! They can't!"
I smiled sadly at him. "Don't worry, Haru. These Firebending bastards can't break me. I'll come back one day."
Haru shook in anger. "I'll fight them! I'll do everything I can to get you back home!"
No. "Haru, you have to promise me something!" My voice was urgent. I knew I was almost out of time.
"Anything, Misuki!"
I looked my younger brother firmly in the eye. "Never ever let anyone know you can Earthbend. They'll take you too. I can't... I can't let that happen. Swear it."
He shook his head. "I have to! I'll drive off those flame demons!"
I could hear the Firebender stomping up the path. "Swear it!" I screamed.
Haru nodded, fear obvious in his tan face. I felt a heated presence behind me.
"That's long enough. We are setting sail. Now!"
I stood between him and my family. "Get out of my home! I'll come out in a minute! I already promised you, didn't I?!"
He glared fiercely at me. "You have one minute. Then I'm dragging you out the door!" He marched back out.
Mom sobbed as she hugged me tight again. "What did you promise him, Misuki?"
I took a deep breath. "That's... not important. Don't worry. I will come back one day. I have to go now. I love you both so much," I whispered.
Haru touched my face solemnly. "I won't let them know that I can bend. But I won't give up, either." I choked back a sob as he went on. "Don't show your pain. Don't show your weakness. Don't show your fear." Haru looked at me sadly.
"Don't let them see that it hurts," I finished it for him. "G-goodbye." I wanted them to see me walk out on my own. Not be dragged screaming by an angry Firebender.
I blinked back my tears. Don't show your pain. The prince clearly didn't care that he had just torn my family apart, as he grabbed me by the arm and started dragging me along towards the piers. Retreat inside yourself. Pretend you're not here. This is just some horrible story you're reading. I didn't pay attention to anything that happened. It felt like only a second passed before he threw me onto the deck of the ship. Where's the old guy? If nothing else, he treated me like a human. I winced slightly as the my face met the cold surface of the warship. Don't show your weakness. I shot daggers at the taller boy with my eyes. I wouldn't speak to him, though, I decided. I got the feeling that not responding to him would drive him mad.
His boot was on my face. "A few rules, peasant. One, no trying to escape. It would be a pain to have to sail all the way back here to crush your pathetic town. Two, no fighting. Obviously you won't be able to Earthbend on a metal ship in the middle of the ocean, but you seem the type to try and fight with or without your bending. And the third..."
He pressed his foot a bit harder into the side of my face. "It would be in your best interests to not anger me. I am not a patient person. Do you understand?"
I ignored him.
"I asked you a question, Earthbender. Answer me!"
Nope, I'm good, thanks for the offer! He growled, and I felt flames lick my back, eating away at my clothing, and making contact with my skin. It burned so bad! Don't... Show your weakness... I ground my teeth together. I refused to give him the satisfaction of hearing my screams. Don't let them see that it hurts. That was my last thought before I fell unconscious. It had only taken a few seconds for this Firebender to break me.
UPDATED A/N (JULY 12TH, 2017) Oh my word guys how did you get through that mess? Now I'm shocked that I have any readers. You brave souls, washing through those GIANT paragraphs! Bless you! Well, the writing is still crap, but I'm not doing rewriting right now. At least I made it feasible to get through. Geez.