Another replaced chapter.

Disclaimer: I don't own Avatar... :( but the Choso family is mine :)


Chapter 2: Fire

That morning, Katara and the others watched Aang train with Jung outside, and he wasn't doing well, at all. Shaya and Kaysa showed him their techniques, and they were exceptional. They were able to move a gigantic rock easily on their own. While, the only thing Aang could move was a rock about the size of his fist, and he still managed to lose control, managing to hit Sokka in the head. Kaysa and Shaya helped him to the house, for some first aid, while Katara, Aang, and Zeeva stayed behind.

"Zeeva," Aang asked, "Why didn't you show me your earth bending?"

"Huh?" She replied, "Oh, well, I'm not an earth bender." Both Aang and Katara looked at her confused.

"But," Katara started, "How come your sisters are? Isn't your mother an earth bender too?" She nodded, and explained, nervously, "My… Great Grandfather wasn't an earth bender; I guess I got it from him." It was understandable, neither of Katara's parents were water benders, but she was.

"Katara, you're a water bender, right?" Zeeva asked. Katara nodded with a smile, and told her about how she was the only water bender left in the South Pole, and how she had trained at the North Pole with Aang. Aang nodded in agreement to everything she said.

When Katara was done, all Zeeva could say was "Wow." She looked at Katara, and out of the corner of her eye, she saw Aang trying to practice, again. "Aang, you have to relax. You're to tense, like a fire bender, you've gotta breath," she said.

"What do you mean?" Katara asked.

Zeeva looked as though she'd said something mistakenly. "Well… I mean… we do live near the fire nation, do you think I've never seen one before? They're supposed to be really relaxed, in a way, when they fight. 'Course that is if they're good. Some fight angrily and aimlessly. They aren't good at all." She smiled at Katara and Aang.

Aang quickly forgot her reaction, and started using Zeeva's advice. Katara, on the other hand, wondered why.

Zeeva continued to help Aang, until her father came back and took over. The rest of the afternoon went like this, and Katara continued to think about Zeeva.

"Uncle!" A 16-year-old boy yelled for an old man. The boy was tall, and bald besides a black ponytail held back with a red wrap. He was wearing a Fire Nation soldier's uniform: head to toe in red. His eyes were gold; his left eye was scarred with a large burn.

The old man was shorter than the boy by about half a foot, with a head full of gray hair, some pulled back in a bun, and he had a long matching gray beard. He, too, wore red, but a red robe as oppose to the soldier's uniform.

They stood on a Fire Nation ship, full of other soldiers and on their way into the Fire Nation itself. The old man came up to the boy with a somewhat annoyed look on his face, for he had warned the boy what would happen if he went there.

The boy was the banished prince of the Fire Nation. He was told to never go back unless he had caught the Avatar, and regained his honor.

"Yes, Prince Zuko," the old man said with a slightly aggravated look on his face.

The boy looked at him, with about the same annoyance. "I told you I'm not turning back," Zuko said.

The old man nodded, "I know," he replied, "What did you call me for?"

Zuko looked back towards the on coming shores of the nation, and explained to his uncle, "The Avatar is somewhere nearby here. If I catch him, I would have regained my rightful place at the thrown," his speech of honor wasn't a new one. He looked to his Uncle and explained with anger in his tone, "Tell all the men on board to not mention a word of this to anyone here!"

His uncle could see what Zuko truly felt. He felt that this was his last chance. If he failed it would be all over, and he would have no chance in returning home. "Yes, Prince Zuko," his uncle said as he turned to go below deck and tell the men.

Zuko looked out towards shore, again. It was the first time in two years since he had been there. He was forced to leave by his father, Fire Lord Oazi. After telling a general that his plan to sacrifice young soldiers as a distraction in the war was inhuman, he had offended his father, and had to fight him. When he refused, he was banished and with his uncle, retired General Iroh, and the large burn on his face. They returned for one reason, and one reason only, to find the Avatar. If the banished prince brought his father the only thing that could stop him, the Avatar, he would allow Zuko back. However, it was not that easy.

He went below deck to his room, for he had to rest before he could even think of confronting his father. He removed his armor and lay down on his small bed in his chamber. Lying down, he stared at his steal ceiling.

There was one thing Zuko was looking forward to on his return. He closed his eyes and began to think to himself. He pictured a girl with pale skin and freckles. She had short hair, only about shoulder length, and gold eyes. "Welcome back, Zuko!" She said with a smile and in a cute little girl voice. She embraced him, and Zuko joined her in he embrace. She looked up at him with her small smile shining brightly. She was only some bit younger than he was, and he smiled back down on her. He smiled, as he thought of the girl in his slight slumber.

"Zuko!" General Iroh yelled through the ship. Zuko jumped from his bed, to look at his door. The image of the girl was gone, and all that lay before him was his uncle. "What is it, Uncle?" He asked annoyed, as he looked at him, he began to put his armor back on.

"There is a blockade," he responded out of breath, "You should come see." The two ran up deck, and sure enough, a blockade intersected their path in to the Fire Nation's waters.

Zuko looked around the blockade, and found a space between two ships. "Go through there," he commanded. The ship started towards the gap, at high speed. Zuko kept his eyes on the gap as well, as it began to shrink.

"Prince Zuko?" General Iroh questioned his nephew in the situation.

"We'll make it, Uncle," he reassured. The ship gained more speed, and just made it in between the two other ships before the gap closed.

Zuko glanced at the crewmembers among the ships, all looking at him with confused looks on their faces. They were ordered to keep him out, but didn't know why, after all, it was a Fire Nation ship.

Zuko ignored the looks and continued his way into the nation's waters. His ship came up to a large dock, and he told his crew to tie the ship up. He and General Iroh had another appointment that day. They had to convince the Fire Lord to let them stay, without telling anyone else of the Avatar. They walked up a stairway covered in soldiers, all looking aggravated at the two. They entered the palace, and continued their walk to meet with Fire Lord Oazi. When they entered the meeting room, he was not happy to see them.

"What are you doing here?" He yelled at them, mostly at his son, who was trying his hardest to look brave. The truth was, he was terrified. It was his idea, but he was scared out of his mind at the thought of what his father might do to him.

"We came here for shelter, Brother," Iroh explained.

Zuko nodded. At least one of them had the strength to talk to him. He watched and nodded with General Iroh as he told his brother of their journey to find the Avatar, led them back to the Fire Nation. Zuko tried not to make eye contact with his father, but agreed to everything that his uncle said. In the end, his father's angry expressions softened a bit.

He looked down at his son in annoyance, but sighed. "I see," he said. For the first time since they had arrived, Zuko looked at his father. "I'll let you stay, but if in 1 week, you have not found the location of the Avatar, you will be sent away, again."

Zuko looked at his father, surprised, then bowed to him gratefully. "Thank you, Father. I will find the Avatar, and I will bring him to you as soon as I do."

"Right," He agreed, "But you are my son, so I must ask…"

Zuko looked up at his father in slight confusion. "What?" He asked.

"Have you met any girls that you would like to marry?" The Fire Lord finished.

Zuko and Iroh could only stare at this question. They were speechless.

Zuko blushed at the sudden question. "Uh- uh- no… no I haven't, why?" He asked with a sign of fear in his voice. As much as he was glad his father made no attempt to strike him, Zuko thought that that would have been a lot better than his question.

"Because you know damn well that you are of the marring age, and if you do return, I expect you to have already chosen a bride," he explained.

Zuko stared at his father. It was true, he was of the age, but that was not on his mind at the moment, at least not entirely. "Well," he started, "I do have a question to ask you that may, or may not, answer your question." The Fire Lord looked at him. "Is… is… is Zeeva here?"

General Iroh and the Fire Lord looked at him, just as Zuko and Iroh had at the Fire Lord.

"Wh- what?" The Fire Lord questioned.

Zuko blushed quickly, then tried to cover up what seemed to be a mistake. "I- I mean… Oh, forget it. I'm sorry to have wasted your time, Father."

"I believe he is referring to his old play mate, Zeeva. Is she here?" Iroh told his brother.

"UNCLE!" He yelled to stop his uncle's thoughts, for they were true. He, however, was too late.

"Oh," his father replied, "I understand, but…" Zuko looked up to his father as he said, "She killed herself not long after you left two years ago."

The look Zuko was giving his father, turned into sudden heartbreak, but he didn't show it. He simply walked out of the room, after silently saying that he would be at the ship, leaving General Iroh and his brother, alone.

VOOSH! The sound of another rock flying off another tree filled the yard, again.

Aang had continued to practiced, and continued to fail. He just couldn't do it.

Zeeva and Katara knew it was wrong, but they continued to laugh whenever Sokka, or someone besides them, got hit with an uncontrolled stone. Kaysa and Shaya tried to show him, once more, but the sun began to sink, and they left their teachings for dinner. Katara hadn't found out anything about Zeeva all day. All they talked about was she, Aang, and Sokka. She hadn't gotten anywhere. They walked into the house and had dinner, then went to get ready for bed.

As the girls changed, Katara couldn't hold back any more. She was going to get some information out of Zeeva if it killed her. "Hey, Zeeva-"

"I'm gonna go to the spring. If they ask, so I don't get yelled at again, tell them. Ok, Katara?" Zeeva cut her off. All Katara could do was nod. She had to admit defeat, and wait to talk to her tomorrow.


Very elusive that girl is. Be as determind as Katara and R&R