Chapter 4 "Fire Bender"

A/N: Here's Ch 4! I think you'll like this chapter and Ch 5 "Secrets of the Past." So here you go enjoy! And if you have any questions

E-mail me at Zuko sir," a fire nation guard said kneeling on one knee in front of Prince Zuko of the Fire Nation. "There are reports of the Avatar in this area."

"Are you positive!" Zuko yells turning around.

" Positive sir!" The guard salutes.

"Tell the captain the location and set sail."

"Yes, sir!" The guard runs off.

"I'll get you Avatar." Zuko says with hate in his cold eyes.

"You know what you need Prince Zuko, a lady friend." Zuko whirls around to see general Ido.

"What?" Zuko yells angrily.

"You heard me." Ido said calmly.

"Not in this life!" Zuko yells walking toward his room.

"You'll change your mind when you meet the right one!" Ido said with composure.

"Whatever!" Zuko murmured shutting his door.

"So why did that mob beat you up?" Pacia asked the new person in the group, Erono.

"Because my family was the village outcasts." He said calmly.

"Why?" Katara asked.

"Because my father married a foreigner." He answered.

"Oh… What do you mean?" Aang asked a little confused.

"Okay, I'm a water bender."

"What!" The group yells in unison.

"But you have an Earth Kingdom name!" Vala yelled.

"You should talk!" Erono said with a frown. " Your name sounds like a Fire Nation name to me!"

"What!" Vala yelled heatedly.

"Uh, Vala" Pacia said tensely, putting a hand on her angry best-friends shoulder. "Calm down."

"Fine!" Vala spat not taking her eyes off of Erono. She stormed out of camp.

"What was that about?" Sokka blurted out.

"I think she's just grumpy because of that wound on her head." Katara said.

"Me too." Pacia agreed, "Go on Erono, so you're a water bender?"

"Yeah, in the village I live in water bending is illegal. As soon as the Fire Nation signed against it, the villagers killed my mother, who was a water bender, and arrested my father who died in prison 1 year ago." Erono said quietly. "So I've been staying with the local thief lord and stealing what I needed from the village."

"So that's what they meant by you owed them!" Sokka yelled.

"Yeah, for 4 years I've stolen what I've needed." He said with a proud grin.

"Wow, four years! How old are you now?" Pacia asked.

"I'm 14 now." Erono replied.

"Wow," Aang said.

They all sit there for a little while until Pacia breaks the silence asking Erono,

"Do you have a gir----."

But she's interrupted by a loud

Boom!

9 firebenders lead by Prince Zuko ran from the surrounding forest and attacked the group of friends.

Pacia watched in horror as a firebender jumped on Sokka. And Erono squared off with a firebender. Then she stepped back and stood in a back to back with defensive position with Katara. Then she looks around her and sees 4 firebenders slowly surround Katara and

herself. They use the water whip (which is her favorite move), to keep the benders at bay. She looks over to see Aang battling Prince Zuko. "Are you ready to lose Avatar," Zuko said coldly as he sent a fiery blast at Aang. But Aang used his staff to deflect the blast, and sent it flying into the sky.

"Not a chance!" Pacia heard Aang yell as he made a tornado. It fly's at Zuko, but he dives out of the way. The tornado keeps on going until it fly's right into 3 firebenders sending them on a one way trip to the surrounding forest. Leaving 6 for Sokka, Erono, Pacia, and Katara to deal with.

Pacia looks over to see Sokka being double-teamed by two firebenders. Vala, where are you?

Somewhere in the forest

Vala was working off steam. She was so mad! She roared in frustration. Until... a firebender fell on her.

"What the..!" She cursed and rolled him off of her. Where did he fall from? The sky? No... but he couldn't have fell from anywhere else, could he?

Vala, where are you?

Okay, now she was getting freaked out. That sounded like Pacia.

Vnala, remember your destiny, for yours is mighty. Time to show them who you really are. Show them the fury worthy of the daughter of fire!

Now she was just plain FREAKED OUT! That last voice she didn't recognize. Who was he? He sounded familiar once she thought about it. She knew one thing though; her friends were in trouble. She felt it. She started to run toward camp.

Sokka is unconscious lying on the ground. Erono is being roughly held down on the ground, by two firebenders. And Pacia and Katara are being held with their arms behind their back, by a firebender each.

"Give up Avatar, your friends depend in it." Zuko said coldly. Aang turns around to see his friend at the mercy of firebenders.

"Well," Zuko said impatiently.

"I... surrender," Aang said tossing his staff aside.

"Good," Zuko said picking up Aang's staff. He swings the staff to his side and hits Aang on the side of the neck hard. Aang falls over unconscious.

Zuko has a pleased smirk on his face until… A flash of blue, black, and yellow is seen out of the corner of his eye. And the two remaining guards are sent flying into trees. Zuko turns to confront a very furious Vala.

"Vala!" Katara yells but is silenced by a firebender. Vala turns to Zuko and says,

"Let my friends go." through clenched teeth.

"And what if I don't. What are you going to do about it, you Water Tribe peasant!" Zuko said annoyed.

"Who are you calling a peasant! You exiled prince!" Vala said coldly. Zuko glares at Vala. She glares back. They start to circle each other, getting ready to fight.

"How did you know that?" Zuko demands of Vala. As he hurls three fire blasts at her. Vala dodges the blasts with ease. She runs up to Zuko with a fighters grace, and swings her leg up to kick him. But he catches her leg.

He smirks.

She fiercely glares at him. And brings her other leg up and kicks him while he's holding her other leg. They fall to the ground. They stand up at the same time. Zuko runs forward, grabs her neck and starts to squeeze. She gasps for breath, but uses her arm, no less, and punches him in the face. He falls back, but meets her running ready to strike. They meet and lock hands. They stand there struggling for a moment. Until Vala starts to falter. Zuko seizes his chance and rams her into a tree. Pain erupts onto her face. But she gets angry and head butts him very hard. He falls back stunned hut he holds on to her. He spins her around and throws her into a headlock.

"Hey, she fights like one of us." One of the firebenders whispers. "And she's pretty good to."

" Well, how did you know that!" Zuko said catching his breath. Vala struggled under his unbreakable hold. "Well,"

Zuko said angrily. She didn't answer so he pushed her head forward and her arms up too far. There's a loud Snap and Vala shuts her eyes tightly. Her face is a torrent of pain. She grits her teeth.

"Grrrrrrr." She growls in pain. "I… I know more then … you think I do, Prince Zuko." She said through excruciating pain. She brings her foot up and smashed it into Zuko's shin. He hisses in pain and loosens his hold. Vala slips out of the hold.

She runs over and kicks the two guys holding down Erono.

"Thanks," He says getting up.

"Help the others!" She yells. He runs off. Just when Zuko tackles Vala. They both flip a couple times, then Vala kicks him off of her. She gets you and yells,

"It's time to finishthis!"

"VALA!" Pacia shouts pleading, "Don't!"

"Sorry Cia!" Vala yells staring at Zuko with fury in her turquoise eyes. "You have angered a volcano, now feel her fury!"

Fire engulfs her body. When the fire dies down it gathers in her hands and forms fireballs. She throws them at Zuko. He looks socked but he dodges them, no less.

"So that's how you knew! You're a firebender!" Zuko said that last part unbelievably.

"The one and only!" Vala said with a savage smirk. She sends a frenzy of fiery blasts at him. He dodges them, except the last, and very big blast. It hits him head on and sends him flying into a huge tree. The blaze in Vala's hands disappears. She walks up to a still unconscious Aang and tosses him over her broad shoulders.

"Stop staring and run!" Pacia yells at Erono and Katara who are carrying the unconscious Sokka.

They grab their bags and jump on Appa.

"Yip yip!" Katara yells slapping Appa's reins. Appa jumps into the air, and flys away.

Vala looks back at the unhappy prince, and sighs. She had never meant for her secret to go this far, but it has. Now the Fire Nation knows where she is. And they will come, she knew this. She is wanted just as much as the Avatar, maybe more. She saved her friends, but put her-self in danger. Plus, she beat up her nations prince. And, her friends will want a explanation when they bet beck to camp. She looked around, Pacia was trying to get Aang and Sokka to wake up, Erono was giving her the dirtiest look ever conceived, and Katara was looking confused.

Vala sighed again, it was going to be a long night. Because when they land, the truth will have to come out.

A/N: Ta-da! Wha-cha think? On the next chapter you will hear Vnala's and Pacia's stories. And Zuko has taken a personal interest in someone! But who?

Also, I have a question for ya'll! What do you think the parings will be? Their are two! Katara and Aang are NOT a paring in this fic! You can put your answer in your review or E-mail me! Write parings for subject.

Later!

Sayia