Disclaimer: "Never, in my whole life, have I pledged allegiance to that show!" I don't own Avatar or Braveheart.

Tai-Lee awoke in the early dawn. Jet was still sleeping against the tree, his breathing was calm. She looked at the arm she had set last night. It was lying across his chest. She would have to take him prisoner, but not now.

She stared at him for almost an hour, wondering how he could fight the Fire Nation so zealously. He'd been in terrible pain for the last part of their fight, but he hadn't shown it at all. Waht could drive a person like that? He had even tried to make her abandon him. "What's happened to you?" she asked quietly. He didn't answer.

Tai-Lee walked over to him and checked over his body. His left arm had regained movement and his right would probably work in a day or so, just very badly. He had stopped crying sometime in the night, she saw where they had cleaned the dirt from his face. She found his canteen and it was empty.

"Well," she said "I can at least get water." She walked through the forest, listening for a river. She heard it and quickly ran to it. The rushing water looked beautiful with the tall auburn trees.

Filling up the canteen, she tried to remember the lessons her master had taught.

Flashback

"Tai-Lee, you can not show compassion for the enemy!" Master Krow was scolding her for letting her sparring partner give up.

"But master, he's bowed in defeat "

"A defeated enemy is still dangerous. They must be crushed utterly, never able to fight again." He was a wise man.

"Yes master," she said, turning to her cowering opponent.

End Flashback

She hadn't thought of that match in a long time. She'd never shown mercy to the enemy again, until now.

She walked back to Jet, thoughtful. She didn't like being thoughtful, it made her frown. He was the one doing it. No one had ever made her question the Fire Nation's ethics, what was it about him that gave her such ideas? She had to know.

Flashback

"Remember Tai-Lee, the key to paralyzation is relaxing the muscles. To suppress the whole body, you must stop all impulses from the mind. Several points along the spinal column must be pressed before all conscious thought ceases." Master Krow was teaching her the most powerful move of his martial art. "This can leave the recipient unconscious for several days if performed correctly, never use it carelessly. Now what is it, I see a question in you eyes."

"Master, why do I learn these skills? Isn't the Fire Nation powerful enough to finish off the crumbling Earth Kingdom?"

"It is not our place to wonder so," he said calmly, "Fire Lord Sozen started this war with grand designs one-hundred years ago. We should be content to know the world will be united under our glorious banner within a few more. As strong as we are, new soldiers will always be needed to further our glory. Does that answer your question?"

"Yes master."

End Flashback

Maybe it hadn't been her place to question the war, but then again, maybe it was.

She had arrived back at Jet's tree. He was awake and looking around with his sightless eyes. "Who's there?" he called, struggling to his feet.

"Relax," she said, "it's just me. I was getting water."

"Oh," he said, sliding down the trunk, "I thought you were one of those girls."

She approached him. "What girls? Is there someone you're not telling me about?" she giggled.

"No," he smiled, " they were the elite soldiers I told you about last night. One of them messes me up pretty bad."

"So you fought some girls, and you got hurt by one?" Tai-Lee giggled again. " For some reason I thought you were a warrior."

"They weren't you average ladies, I think they were royalty or something." He glowered. "Now I can't even protect this forest, they could burn it down and I wouldn't be able to stop them." His voice grew angry. "I can't even protect myself anymore!"

Not knowing what else to say, she asked, "How's your body?"

"It hurts pretty bad," he said, "my let arm is fine now, but I can't move it with any dexterity. My whole right side is numb," he said sadly, "and if I move at all a dull throbbing starts." Looking down he said, "I can't move my right arm at all, I'll need a sling. He added bitterly, "I hate the Fire Nation."

Sitting down in front of him, she asked, "Why do you hate the Fire Nation so much Jet? What have they done to you?"

"They killed my parents," she gasped, "and something else. When my parents were alive, I loved them deeply. They always tried to help me with my life, even when it was hard. For several years I had inner peace, and a balance with everyone I knew. It was wonderful." He shed a tear. "Then fire benders attacked my village and disturbed the peace. They killed my parents and others, then they burned our homes to the ground. There was no one there for me. My inner peace had been disrupted, and replaced with rage. Rage at the fire benders for killing my parents, rage at the Fire Nation for starting the war, and rage at myself for not being able to stop them. I was only eight, that day changed me forever." He paused a moment. "I took up my swords to make sure that never happened again. My rage never faded, it became my sole reason for living. I would do anything to destroy the Fire Nation, anything. Then one day as I was about to commit a terrible act, the Avatar stopped me."

"You met the Avatar?" she asked.

"Yeah," he continued, "his friends pushed the rage from my mind, and left. I dismissed my folllowers after that, I didn't want them to share my pain anymore." He stopped.

A few second passed and then Tai-Lee said, "But you're still fighting the Fire Nation. Why?"

"Why?" he mused, "Because there's nothing else for me to do. I've fought them for more than half my life, and I can't turn from my path." He sighed, "I can't find happiness until their flame has been extinguished. While they continue this war, anyone who stands by me could be hurt or killed. Until the day that the Avatar stands victorious over the Fire Lord, my pain can't cease. That's why, Tai-Lee, you can't stay with me, you'll be caught up in this war."

"Jet," she said, her eyes tearing up, "I can't let you fight like this anymore. You're hurt so badly." She edged closer to him.

"Please Tai-Lee, you don't want to be with me. It's not your fault I'm injur..." he stopped. She had put her arms around him.

"Please Jet," she was crying, "don't give up on your happiness. Even if this war ends, things won't return to normal. Let me ease your pain, I don't want to leave."

Jet rose his left hand to her face. She looked up. "You have such a nice face," he said with his fingers on her cheek, "it's much too nice to be crying." He hugged her close, "Your compassion dulls the pain. You don't have to leave."

"Thank you," she said, wiping away her tears.

End Chapter

A ship is born! By the by, I noticed some people don't understand why Jet is blind. When Tai-Lee tried to paralyze his entire body, she only short circuited his sight before he tossed her like a bad habit.

R&R. It means a lot to me.