-Part Four- Kiena-

We have been fighting for a while and still no winner. I would dodge a fire blast and hit him back with a water whip or earth attack. Except, he would just dodge them and try again, but getting a step closer to me each time. He even has a smirk on his face! I am trying as hard as I can to leave and he is HAPPY?! This is so aggravating!

As I think, a fire ball comes flying from above me. Quickly, I roll on the ground toward Zuko, getting even more upset, "What was that for!?" I yell 10 feet away from him.

"Since when do you day dream during a fight? I had to wake you up some how," He stated playfully. i Men. /i

He is just playing with my emotions. After his teasing comment, I should teach him a lesson. I bring my arm to my side near my pouch and throw ice draggers at him. He dodges them all, but one. Then, that one extra, pins him to the garden wall. While he melts that thick piece of ice away, I can finally think.

I walk up with my eyes looking straight through his, trying to find some information about his plan. Is he even trying? Every attack Zuko sends to me seems weak. It's like he is saving his energy for one giant attack. Wait, that's his plan! It has to be. He wouldn't use this little energy on me. Now all I have to do is escape before he uses it.

He completed melting the ice away and starts throwing constant fire blasts at me. I kick-spin my leg so the air around can make the blasts go in different directions. After that, I repeated the step, but this one is for Zuko. Of course, he dodges it, but right after, I run up to him and give him an ice ball punch right in the stomach. Zuko falls to the grass in pain as I walk up to him.

Once I reach him, I stand high and mighty saying, "You can't surprise me."

Right after, he quickly sits up, "I'm not finished yet."

"Yes you are, and I am gone."

As I begin to turn around he starts talking, "I say we need to make this fight more interesting."

I look at him and declare, "You're not in any position to higher to stakes." I mean he is on ground holding his stomach.

He gives me that same smirk and sends a quick whip of fire right at my knees. I land on the grass with a thud. Man that hurt. Once I am down, Zuko gets up with out any pain, walks over to me, kneels down and states, "Now we're even."

In an instant, I get up and brush the dirt off my black spandex, "Okay, so what are you implying?"

"Since you are the avatar, using more than one element isn't exactly fair for me. And-"

"Although, you i are /i a powerful fire bender and I'm injured. Isn't the fight fair?" I ask sweetly.

"I am the fire lord; this is my nation, so my rules apply. You can use only one element...but our elements must be the same. Besides, you wouldn't be leaving if your shoulder was injured. You healed it before you left," I gulp, "This is a test to see if you are lying to me about the bending, like you lied to me about your injury just now."

Guess the nice act didn't work, "Don't you remember, I can't fire bend. Well, I am no good at it right know."

"If you can knock me down with only fire bending, my men will escort you back to where you live. But if I win, you stay at the palace, until you can finally beat me."

"What would I be then? A prisoner?"

"A member of the court. I can't keep the avatar in a prison cell, but if you were a guest you could leave at anytime."

"No thanks. You should be able to run your own country; not let the avatar be your personal decision maker."

"Well, since you refuse, you leave me no choice, but to call Azula and make you my prisoner."

"But you just said you-"

His voice lowers and pleads, "Kiena, do you want to finally complete fire bending? I can help you."

What is with the mood change, although, "…That would be nice…"

"Then if you stay, I can teach you."

If I lose to Zuko, I will become a person living in the palace and possibly train, but if I win, I can go home. They both are equal. I should just let destiny take its course. If I am to train with Zuko, then so be it.

"Alright, we'll fight your way. The first person to hit the ground loses!"

He doesn't waste a second and creates a whip of fire. I turn to the side and throw my pouch away from the fight. While he continues slashing the whip at me, I twirl my hands in front of me to create small flame shields.

This must be his big attack. I missed my chance. But, it isn't bad that I lose right?

Wrong!

Wait-why wrong?

There is something we have to do at home. Don't you ever forget!

Of course. I have to go home. Fire bending training can wait. I need a plan, so I can win. But with the little moves I know, it won't be enough to take him down. So I need a way to make it look like I pushed him down with a powerful fire bending move. I'll run past him and go right behind him. Then, since he will swirl around with his fire whip trying to get me; I will create some fire in one hand and push him down with the other so it looked like I blasted it from far behind. It's perfect!

He throws the whip again that barely misses my shoulder. Then, he tries again, but I cup my hands together to stop it. While the whip returns to his side, I rush behind him. Time to put the strategy into play.

What is he doing? My plan. Sure the whip came back, but why isn't he trying to get me? Doesn't he know that I'm behind him?

Then, Zuko twists his hand so the fire disintegrates. His hand is down with his eyes closed. Has he given up? That isn't like him. After his eye's open, he sighs. Slowly, I begin to walk to the side to gather my pouch when- BAM!!! Lightning splits right across my face! I turn to Zuko in shock. He gives me the smirk. Not good. He hits me with a fire ball punch, since the lightning was just a distraction. After that, I fall to the ground on my stomach, and lose the fight.

I turn my body around and see Zuko standing tall in front of me, blocking the sun from my face saying, "Guess you're staying here for awhile."

There is a small silence as I continue getting his attack planted into my head. Finally, he helps me up and I shout," You cheater! You used lightning against me!"

"Lightning is fire, and it's better than pretending to hit someone with their own fire blast. I'm not stupid Kiena, and I'm not falling for your tricks like I did eight years ago."

"You knew that?" A tint of red hits my cheeks.

"Fire Lord, brother, a guard reported to me that there is a fist fight going on in front of the palace," calls Azula. She runs out with a guard at the door, "You go handle it, big brother; I will show the Avatar her room."

"How do you know about me staying here?" I ask Azula with one eyebrow up.

"Oh, well I came looking for Zuko. When I found you two fighting, I just had to watch the show. You seem all better Kiena. Good."

"Alright, I'll see you ladies later," he walks in-between us and looks at Azula, "sister," then at me, "member of the court." After that line he smiles and continues into the palace with another guard waiting at the door.

I roll my eyes and walk with Azula. Once we are inside the main hallway, Azula shoos the guard away. "I need to speak with the Avatar alone. Go help his royal majesty with the argument outside."

While she brings me to my room, I look around the walls. They are so different from home. The colors fade from the ground to the ceiling, dark to light in every shade of red. Every hall way, every wall, they are coated with red, and black paints.

We finally get to my room. Before Azula opens the door, we talk. She leaves her hand on the gold knob and tells me, "It's so exciting to see you again. I never suspected to see you here eight years later: where your destiny took place. I hope we can put our differences aside, start fresh. About the blast a few days ago, I was just protecting the fire lord; it's one of my jobs." She speaks calmly like nothing between us ever happened. I go along with it.

"Actually I didn't even expect to come here, but it is nice to be part of the world again, instead of living in hiding."

"Look, Kiena, you are a unique woman with extraordinary talents. Do you have anything else planned in your spare time?"

"What do you mean exactly?"

She sheds a smile, "You know what I mean. We are both young women. Will you be i looking around /i during your stay?"

I take a moment to finally understand her meaning for i looking around /i , "Oh no! I'm not looking for a relationship."

"I see," Azula opens the door while her smile vanishes, "Here is your room. Someone will come by soon to announce that lunch is ready. I will see you then." Azula leaves as I just stare at the room in awe.

"…sure…," My eyes are open as is my mouth. The room is amazing! Not like anywhere else in the palace. It has red, pink, black, brown and mustard yellow designed walls. Not one is plain. The gold ceiling has a small crystal chandelier in the center of the room. The bed is to the right with three matrices, lake red sheets, and a million pillows. The metal floor is highly expected, but compliments the, of course, i red /i carpet and yellow fringe. I run inside the room, smelling each candle at the desks; lilacs. Lastly, for my pleasure, a balcony! I can stare at the blue ocean all day if I want to.

"Isn't it beautiful?" Zuko walks in as I turn my head to see his form, "If anyone asks about your stay, you are a member of the court," He serious face returns. I think I would prefer the smirks. At least he smiles then. "Yet, that is a job that won't take much of your time. You, me, and Azula are the only ones who really know the purpose of your stay.

"Right, continue where we sort of left off, 8 years ago?" I state with my serious face.

"Yes, you need to know all of the elements, and since you lost the fight, I will teach you."

"Well, it's not like I don't remember how to fire bend, it's that I don't know the more advanced moves."

"If you want help, every morning I am in the out door training area. Just come and see me." He steps out of my room and walks away.

Now it's just me, living in a palace, with servants wanting to please, in a giant room, with a huge bed! So, I leap to the bed and bounce all over, yelling, throwing off the pillows, acting like a five-year-old. I knew I couldn't keep that serious face for very long.

While I continue jumping, there is a knock on the door. I start to panic and plop onto the bed trying to straighten it out, "Come in."

A maid walks in and announces, "Lunch is ready. Will you be dining in the dining hall?"

I pause. Even though I promised to be with Azula for lunch, I don't entirely trust her. "Oh, well, would it be alright if I ate here?"

All she does is nod and walks away.

After a few minutes, a cart of food comes in. What to pick? The foods, since it is fire nation, are all probably really hot and spicy. So, I'll just take some fruit and that's all. The woman nods again and closes the door with the spicy victuals.

Once she is gone, I take a bag from the dresser and stuff the food inside. At the desk I left a note to Zuko apologizing and stating that there is something very important I must do at home that everyone will hear about in the near future.

My foot hooks over the edge of the balcony with the rest of my body ready. Now is the perfect time to escape. No one can see me; there are no guards of fire nation nobles anywhere. Yet, something inside says I should probably stay here and let Zuko help me. I need to learn fire bending in order to keep balance. And the arrangement can always be postponed. Except, can I really trust him like I did so long ago? Staying here would be awkward if anything from the past comes back to memory. But I need to give him a chance. He already makes it seems like we are friends. My legs swings back over the ledge and I put by things back inside.

There is a mirror attached to the desk on the right side of the room. My eyes glance at the letter in the center. Is this the right choice for me to make? After rereading it, I brush it off the desk to let it fall into the garbage.

The pillows are now back in their positions on the bed. Next to the king sized bed, is a small metal table covered with a brown and red embroidered cover. I place my mother's necklace on it and whisper to myself, "Guess, I am staying."

Then, I leave my room to go apologize to Princess Azula for not coming to lunch.

As I turn the corner and can no longer sight my room, Azula from the opposite side, places her hand on the door knob and closes the door. With her wicked voice she chants, "Men, I need you to keep an eye on my dope of a brother, and the Avatar. They must be closely watched for anything interesting. While you do that, I will find away to break them apart. She will i not /i destroy five years of hard work."