Hey there! I'm RunsWithScissors; you can call me RWS for short. So this is my first Avatar: The Last Airbender fanfiction so please be kind and give me advice where I need it!

If are going to flame (If you are a Kataang fan) please be gentle! Remember, first timer here people!

Disclaimer: I don't own Avatar: The Last Airbender. I only worship it as a Zutara and Taang fan!

xXx Chapter One xXx

Bounty

Remember to breathe slowly

Breathing is the most important thing to a fire bender

Uncle Iroh's teachings kept running through Zuko's head as he meditated by a river. The rest of winter's ice had melted so the river was higher then usual, forcing him to sit farther up the shore the usual. As the cool early spring air brushed against his skin, Zuko inhaled deeply.

He had been sitting by the bank for over an hour, meditating and practicing his fire bending. Zuko slowly opened his golden eyes and looked around. Night's dark shadow had settled on the river and nearby forest, making Zuko slightly worry about his uncle's safety.

'If he already started his tea, then he'll be too relaxed to notice anything or anyone around him,' Zuko thought, slightly aggravated at how many times Uncle Iroh was almost hurt because he was paying too much attention to his tea.

Zuko slowly stood up and brushed off the sand and gravel from his long black pants and simple black boots. He had only a light deep red vest covering his chest which made the night air seem even chillier. He quickly stretched his now relaxed muscles and turned to go back where his uncle was.

As Zuko turned towards the forest though, he sensed someone watching him. He slowly, hoping the person wouldn't notice, got into a firebending pose. Then out of nowhere, a streak of blue fire shot at him. Zuko quickly jumped out of its path, barely dodging it. More attacks were sent at him, each he dodged swiftly but each almost hitting their mark. Him.

Suddenly they stopped and a light chuckle was heard among the trees. "You did well, Zuko. Uncle must be showing new tricks because you never use to be this agile" the person said, the voice identifying the person as female.

Zuko growled low in his throat. "Get out here Azula, I know it's you!" He yelled into the forest, looking through the trees hoping to spot his younger sister. A shadow dropped out of a large tree right in front of him. It stood underneath the tree's large shadow making their identity unknown to a common person but Zuko knew who it was.

"What do you want Azula?" Zuko said, his stance tensing slightly in case she attacked him again.

Azula threw back her head and laughed heartily, but the laugh was like a splash of cold water to Zuko.

"Haven't you heard older brother?" Azula said, shooting another blue stream of fire at Zuko. He quickly dodged the shot and sent a large fireball back at her.

"Have I heard what sister?" he asked, watching as the fire flew towards her.

Azula just smirked at the fire and quickly dispersed it with her own fire. "There is a bounty on your head," she said, a large smirk across her face.

"What?!" Zuko shouted, his golden eyes blazing and glaring at his sister. "Who issued the bounty?!" 'If it was that Zhao, I'm going to kill that man," his hands balling into fists.

"Look for yourself brother," Azula said, taking out a rolled piece of parchment. She threw it at Zuko, the paper unrolling through the air. It floated down and landed at Zuko's feet. He bent down and picked it up; keeping one eye on Azula to make sure this wasn't a trick.

Warning to All Fire Nation Citizens

A traitor to the Fire Nation has been found and needs to be apprehended.

The man's name is Zuko, Son to the Fire Lord

He is wanted Dead or Alive

A bounty of 10,000 gold pieces will be awarded for his head

Issued by the Fire Lord

Zuko read the flyer over and over again, making sure he was seeing this right. "What is this, Azula?!" Zuko said, his anger causing the paper to burst into flames. "Is this some sick joke to kill me with an excuse?" He yelled, his body temperature rising as fast as an erupting volcano.

Azula's smirk, if even possible, grew in size and became sinister. "No Zuko, the bounty is real as that flyer is. It seems like father wants you dead," she chuckled slightly, when she saw Zuko's face fall slightly in disbelief. "He's probably sick of you disappointing him and sick of waiting around for you to capture the Avatar."

Zuko's whole body shook, anger and shock filling his veins. His mouth turned into a snarl. "I don't give a damn about father!" He yelled, shooting a fire at Azula. It caught her off guard and singed her clothing. Before she was able to recover, another attack was sent at her.

"I don't care if he wants me dead!" Zuko screamed, his rage blinding him. He shot a fireball twice the size of Azula at her. She didn't have time to dodge it and was thrown against a nearby tree. Burns ran up and down her arms and on her neck. Zuko stormed over to her.

He grabbed her around the throat, flames bursting from his fingers. Azula desperately grasped onto his arm, trying to release his iron grip but he didn't flinch. "You can tell father Azula," he said, tightening his grip, "if he wants me dead, then he is going to have to kill me himself." Zuko picked Azula up and threw her into the river.

Azula burst above the surface, choking and inhaling sharply. The current was too strong for her to fight against in her state. She glared at Zuko as she was swept down stream quickly by the cold river.

"I'll tell him that Zuko," she whispered, as if Zuko could hear her.

"And he'll be ready for you. Then older brother, then you will die."

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"There you are Zuko," Uncle Iroh said, smiling and taking a sip of his tea. Zuko stormed into their camp, the flyer clenched in his fist. He stormed over to his sleeping mat and fell down on it.

"Something wrong Zuko?" Uncle Iroh asked, looking at his nephew with worried eyes.

Zuko threw the paper at Iroh, hitting him in the forehead. "This is what is wrong," Zuko mumbled, pounding his fist into the ground.

Curiously, Iroh picked up the flyer. He quickly read over the flyer, anger slowly filling him up. "Well this is a problem," Iroh said, folding up the flyer and setting it by his sleeping mat.

Zuko sat up quickly, looking at his uncle. "Oh? You think?! I have a bounty on my head!" Zuko snapped, clenching his fists tighter. He immediately felt bad when he saw hurt in his uncle's eyes.

"I'm sorry Uncle Iroh, I didn't mean to snap at you," he said, bowing slightly.

"It's ok Zuko, I know you are just frustrated over this," Iroh said, walking over to Zuko and placing a comforting hand on his shoulder. "This is a problem that we are going to have to fix…………somehow," Iroh said, trying to figure out what to do.

"Let's consider our options shall we?" Uncle Iroh said, sitting down in front of him. Zuko nodded at sat up, facing his uncle. "Your father doesn't seem to care about you anymore so you search for the Avatar is pointless," Iroh said, stroking his beard. Zuko flinched but nodded in agreement.

Iroh sat that for a moment when all of a sudden his face lit up. "Wait Zuko, that's it!" He said, grabbing Zuko's hands.

"What's it uncle?" Zuko asked, hoping he had an idea that would get them out of this situation.

"The Avatar! We could team up with them and bring down your father!" Uncle Iroh said, a grin plastered on his face.

Zuko's face fell, his golden eyes setting into a glare. "Are you serious uncle?" He asked, his voice low.

"Yes! Don't you see?! The Avatar hasn't learned firebending yet and we could teach him and then when we befriend the Avatar and his group we could ask them to help us bring down your father!"

"Are you crazy Uncle?!" Zuko yelled, taking his hands away from Iroh. "They would never trust us! They would think we were trying to trap them and capture the Avatar! That would never work!" Zuko yelled, storming around camp, throwing his arms up dramatically. Uncle Iroh sighed and when Zuko walked near him he spun around and tripped him.

Zuko hit the ground, smacking his head against the ground. "What was that for?!" He shouted, holding his throbbing head.

"You listen to me Zuko," Iroh said, standing over his nephew, "the Avatar is staying at the nearby village. Tomorrow we will go to him, explain our situation and ask him if we can travel with him." Uncle Iroh walked back over to his tea. He sat down and grabbed the tea full of the fragrant tea.

"There is no harm in asking Zuko," he said, taking a sip of his tea.

Zuko grumbled and slowly stood up, brushing the dirt off his clothes. "Whatever Uncle but you are the one who is doing the asking," he mumbled, walking over to his sleeping mat. He collapsed on it, falling asleep immediately.

Iroh smiled at his nephew and took another sip of tea. "Don't worry Zuko," he said, looking over at the sleeping fire prince, "things will turn out fine."

Okay so first chapter is done! Please review and give me your opinion! Once again for flamers, be gentle!! See you next chapter!

Love & Peace

RunsWithScissors