Well... chap #2!! YAY it actually would have been uploaded sooner but i couldn't figure it out. Then i clicked context chapters and was like wow um.. blonde moment has passed im gonna get to work on chapter three now and if somone would draw a picture of Zoe i would be super happy! my artistic skills stink ok im gonna stop talking now...

Enjoy!

A Shadowy Figure

A Hero Always Comes Home

Iroh laughed. The Gang stared at him quizzically. How did this girl know Iroh? Zuko gulped and prayed to Angi that she wouldn't recognize him. The girl ran to Iroh and hugged him. She stepped back.

"I'm afraid that I am no longer a General." Iroh replied. The girl suddenly seemed to become very alert. She studied the Gang. Her eyes fell on Zuko. She studied him for a moment.

"Zuko!" the girl spat. Her eyes hardened. They showed a deep hatred. Zuko paled.

"Zoe. Please-" Zuko began. He was cut off. Zoe threw a fireball at him. She raised her arms and the river formed a huge wave. She threw it at Zuko. Zuko instead of fighting back took the hits.

"I hate you!" Zoe cried. She seemed distraught. She was angry but she looked sad and hurt. She turned the water to ice. She broke them apart. One of the icicles was dangerously close to Zuko's heart.

"How can you act like it never happened? Do they know?"She whispered. Zoe looked angry now. Any sign of hurt disappeared. Her rage seemed to control her actions.

"Or did you pretend it never happened?" She asked her voice dripped with venom. Aang realized that Zoe would kill Zuko, given the chance. Aang looked at Katara pleading at her with his eyes. Katara nodded. She raised her hand.

Something gripped Zoe. She felt her knees buckle. Her head was being forced down. But Zoe wouldn't give up. The ice melted away 

from Zuko. Zuko breathed and stepped back. Everyone looked at Katara and Zoe.

Zoe felt like she wanted to surrender. Against this force she looked up. The older girl was bloodbending. Zoe fought against it.

This is my body. My blood. I'm in control!

Katara was having trouble bringing Zoe down. Zoe just wouldn't surrender. Katara met Zoe's eyes. For a brief moment Katara admired Zoe's strength and her will to keep fighting.

Zoe gasped. She just couldn't keep struggling. The older girl wouldn't back down.

Just like you. A voice in the back of Zoe's head said.

I wouldn't travel with murderers! She said to the voice. She let the girl take her down. The older girl sighed. Zoe focused on the river. She felt the moon rising. Zoe smiled.

Katara saw Zoe smile. She felt Zoe resisting. She was sweating. The Gang saw Zoe resisting. The moon and the sun were out. Zuko broke a sweat.

If Katara gets hurt because of me...he thought.

Why do you care? A voice taunted in his head.

Zoe screamed.

This is my body. My blood. Mine. I'm in control. Me. Not… YOU!! With Zoe's last surge of strength she took control of her own body again.

Katara flew back into the trees. When Zoe finally resisted it had hit her with such a force she flew backwards. Katara admired Zoe's strength, but it really did hurt.



Sokka and Aang charged. Zuko stayed by Iroh. Toph was helping Katara up. Zoe saw them coming. She gathered all the strength. She raised her hands. It was going black.

No. just a…little…longer

Fire and water shot from her palms. They encircled around each other. Sokka and Aang flew back. Toph had made a shield around Katara, Iroh and Zuko.

Zoe felt her strength seeping away. It was going black.

No… Have to….Keep fight-

Zoe was vaguely aware of someone lifting her unto a large animal. She struggled to keep consciousness. She had to.

She felt a large force hit the back of her head.

It all went black.

"Sokka!" Katara scolded.

"What?"

"You didn't have to hit her on the head!"

"I wanted to!"

"So? You could have really hurt her!"

"And your point is?"

"Fine! I give up! You're you're ugh!" Katara yelled.

Katara gazed out into the distance. Aang was guiding Appa. Iroh was talking to Toph.

"Zuko?" Katara began.

"What?"

"Why does she hate you?" Katara asked. Zuko stiffened and turned away. It was very quiet. A heavy silence settled in



Suddenly Zoe screamed. Zuko paled.

"Leave her alone!" Zoe screeched. She started to sweat. She tossed and turned.

"No! She hasn't done anything wrong!" Zoe screamed. Iroh placed his hand on her forehead.

"Katara could you?" Iroh asked. Katara nodded. She bended the sweat off of Zoe.

"Please! Take me instead! No! Please!" Zoe pleaded. The Gang wondered what she was talking about. Iroh looked very grave. Zuko seemed like he was ready to kill himself. Iroh wiped the hair out of Zoe's eyes. Zoe stirred.

"It's okay." Iroh soothed. Zoe sat up, she noticed how everyone was staring at her. She walked to the edge of the saddle. Zoe sat down gazing out into the distance. She clutched her necklace. She was lost in the darkness of her past. Zoe heard Hope's voice. Her screams, her struggles to break free. The pain was unbearable. It was a bloody wound that could not be healed, and left the person wounded begging for death. Zoe shook her head slowly.

"It will never be okay."