Hey guys! I'm sorry for the delay! I've been dabbling in other fandoms for the past few weeks, but don't worry, I'm still on track with this story! The OC contest is still on until next chapter which won't be posted until around two weeks from now so please provide your Ilvermony OC's!

PLEASE READ AND REVIEW!

Chapter 6: Agni Kai

"Why did you interfere!?" It took Zuko only ten seconds to turn his anger on Bobbi. His eyes burned furiously into hers as he stood above her. Bobbi swore she could see smoke coming out of his nostrils.

Putting her tea cup down, Bobbi took a deep breath, preparing to stay calm. Despite her readiness, however, she could feel her patience wearing thin as anxiety-fueled adrenaline began to increase her heart rate. She decided to supply the prince with the logical answer. The draconian one. The abridged version. The half-truth. "What Zhao was saying was awful," she reasoned, biting the inside of her cheek and flexing her fingers, trying to physically release her frustrations. "I thought I was helping."

"Well you weren't," Zuko hissed. "All you do is bother me and get in my way. You're no help at all, and you're ridiculously inept. You endanger yourself. You don't take orders. And you're just stupid!"

It definitely wasn't the worst thing anyone had ever said to her, nor the most offensive, but Bobbi was tired and stressed and frankly tired of the prince's verbal abuse. Her vision turned red with anger, with frustration, with magic…

There was a moment in time in which Bobbi experienced everything in slow motion. She felt her magic rush out of her, breaking free like water from a dam. It was exhilarating; it was frightening. She couldn't do anything but attempt to redirect it where it wouldn't hurt anyone, where it wouldn't destroy anything…

BANG!

The teapot at the center of the table exploded outward, sending shards of shattered china everywhere. Everyone ducked down and slowly, slowly, came back up. Bobbi sighed with relief: miraculously, neither Iroh or Zuko appeared to be injured.

A numb stinging in her left palm distracted her, however. She looked down, staring at the piece of porcelain protruding from her palm.

She stood up and took a deep breath, looking at the surprised prince and his uncle, "I'm sorry, er, uh- Please excuse me while I go find some bandages."

Her heart pounded in her chest to the rhythm of a repetitive mantra as she sped towards the entrance of the tent.

Control yourself. Control yourself. Control yourself. Control yourself…

oooOOOooo

Bobbi sped out of the room faster than a lizard-hound. Zuko watched her leave, noticing the blood drip from the wound on her hand. He turned toward Iroh who was on the floor, picking up the pieces of the broken teapot.

"Uncle," he paused, taking a breath, trying to decide what to say first.

"Yes, Prince Zuko?" Iroh neatly placed the shards in his hand in a pile on the table.

"How did- Why did the teapot explode?"

"Well, nephew," Iroh began. "Sometimes when porcelain is overheated-"

Zuko looked over at the heater underneath the teapot, noting that the flame was not lit. "Nevermind," he murmured, crouching down to scoop up a shard near his shoe, examining it closely before placing it in Iroh's pile. "Let's just clean this up."

"How helpful of you, nephew," Iroh complemented.

Helpful. Zuko's thoughts turned back to Bobbi. The golden-haired girl. Who in Agni's name did she think she was?

"Right, helpful."

He sighed, bending back down to pick up another sharp piece of porcelain and throwing it into the pile.

oooOOOooo

Bobbi slammed the door of the outhouse behind her, quickly pulling out her wand and performing a locking charm. It smelled rancid inside, like urine and mold and mildew, but at least no one would be able to find her here. A small lantern lit the little chamber, and a piece of wood jutted out of the wall, acting as a bench. Bobbi sat down on it, and carefully pulled out the shard of china with her fingers.

"Oh ow!" she hissed, letting a stream of air out of her nose.

More blood flowed from the cut dripping down onto the aging wood in tiny rivulets.

Bobbi held out her wand, "Episkey."

The cut closed completely leaving a small white scar in its place.

"Tergeo," the blood siphoned off of the wood landing on the ground and being absorbed into the dirt.

Bobbi flexed her fingers, testing the mobility of each digit. Her hand felt a bit numb, as expected, but there was nothing time wouldn't heal.

"Ferula." Tight bandages wrapped around her palm.

There. All better.

Bobbi's magic was powerful today, likely fueled by two days of being unused and turbulent emotions. Bobbi closed her eyes. She shouldn't have let her magic loose like that. She could have exposed herself. She could have hurt someone. She could have-

Out of the blue, her thoughts turned to her family. What would they say? Dad would have reprimanded her about the rules. Bodie would have teased her about letting a boy get to her? And Mom? Would hug her and laugh about it and-

Bobbi let out a choking sob, burying her face in her hands. She missed her family. She wondered if they missed her. That inquiry made her cry harder.

She finished grieving about five minutes later. After quickly composing herself, she unlocked the door, walking quickly and purposefully back to the tent.

She arrived just in time to hear Zuko shout the words "Agni Kai."

oooOOOooo

The sky was blood red as the sun set in the horizon. According to Professor Barnaby, Bobbi's third year astrology teacher, a bloody sky like this meant conflict was brewing in the near future. She supposed this prediction made perfect sense considering the fact that a duel was about to take place. Or, excuse her, an Agni Kai.

Iroh had told her what it all meant after she arrived back at the tent, taking her aside as Zuko, pumped with adrenaline, began to prepare for battle. In the Fire Nation, an Agni Kai was a duel for honor and respect. While the victor won honor, the loser lost their reputation. It was basically a cruder version of a wizarding duel, fought with flames instead of magic. And by the way Iroh insinuated it, Zuko had already fought one and lost.

It was easy to put two and two together: Zhao's references to Zuko's father, and Iroh's story. The Fire Lord had not only harmed his son, but he had purposefully fought his child in front of a whole court of people.

The thought of the action made Bobbi sick and perhaps a bit sorry for the arrogant prince. A bit. As she watched him scowl, his muscular body standing taught and strong in the light of setting sun, she could tell he didn't want pity. He didn't want tears or woe. He wanted honor. He wanted to be seen as a prince of his people again. He wanted to be loved.

A heavy gong signaled the beginning of the duel and Bobbi's heart thumped in her chest. Iroh looked over from next to her, amber eyes calming and sad at the same time. "Breathe, Bobbi. There's no purpose in worrying about what might be."

She nodded, taking in a deep breath as she turned her attention back toward the arena.

Zuko and Zhao turned to face each other, assessing each other, glaring at each other. Out of the two of them, Zhao was taking the fight less seriously. The Commander smirked at the teenage prince, overconfident, prideful, "This will be over quickly."

The two fighters rushed at each other.

Zuko was the first to attack, shooting a fireball to Zhao's left (which was dodged) and another to Zhao's right (which was also dodged). He continued this tactic, sending whips of flame toward the commander who blocked and dodged alternatively. They switched roles a few times: offense, defense; defense, offense, until it was clear that Zhao was beginning to win the upper hand.

"Come on, Zuko!" Iroh yelled as the prince began to tire. "Break his root!"

Zuko made a strike (which was dodged). He made another strike (which was blocked). And the commander sent the Prince sliding backwards with three impressive whips of fire and sent his younger opponent sprawling on his back.

Zhao aimed a fist of fire toward Zuko's head.

Bobbi's wand hand moved toward her belt.

In a flash, Zuko gave a sweep at Zhao's feet, using the older man's gravity to propel himself up. Now Zuko, in the winner's position aimed a ball at fire at Zhao.

But there was hesitation in his eyes.

"Do it!" Zhao shouted angrily, for some reason goading his opponent on.

WHOOSH!

Zuko's fire scorched the ground, inches from the commander's head.

"What?" the commander hissed. "That's it? Your father raised a coward!"

"Next time you get in my way," Zuko said. "I promise I won't hold back." For the first time talking to the general, his voice was calm and even.

The prince turned around, beginning to walk away, and Bobbi's widened as she watched Commander Zhao stand, summoning a whip of flame.

"Watch out!" she yelled at the prince rushing toward him. Zuko turned his head, and gray eyes met gold ones for another moment.

Iroh lunged forward, using a hand to snuff out the commander's fire. He held onto Zhao's foot for a moment (Bobbi made a mental note that Iroh was much more powerful than he appeared) and pushed him back into the dirt. Then he placed a hand on his nephew's shoulder as the prince had begun to tense with anger.

"No, Prince Zuko," Iroh warned calmly. "Do not taint your victory."

The weathered general turned back to Zhao, amber eyes critical but calm (as usual). "So, this is how the great Commander Zhao acts in defeat. How disgraceful. Even in his exile, my nephew is still more honorable than you."

At the corner of her eye, Bobbi could see Zuko's face light up in pleasant surprise, his lips quirked up slightly and his good eye widened considerably.

"Thanks again for the tea," Iroh was finishing his speech courteously to Zhao. "It was delicious."

Iroh turned around, coaxing his nephew to do the same. Bobbi was the last to break eye contact with the Commander and found herself wanting to say something, to tell him off, but she found herself to be too tired. She simply gave the man one last glare before following Iroh and Zuko out of the gates.

"Did you really mean that, Uncle?" she heard Zuko ask Iroh. His voice was quieter, calmer, and she found it to be more pleasant than when he was yelling.

"Of course," Iroh replied smoothly. "I told ginseng was my favorite. I feel so bad about the broken teapot, though. It was such a beautiful work of art. Don't you think so, Bobbi?"

He turned around now, staring at her, waiting for her answer.

"Yes, of course." She smiled walking forward toward the harbor, happy to escape Zhao's base.

Again, if you didn't read the message above the beginning of the chapter: more people can submit OC's. Indeed, I will prefer it that way because I need a big cast for an Ilvermony scene next chapter and I can't continue without an Ilvermony scene. If you have submitted one OC, you can submit more if you want. Just please, I need to have a well-rounded supporting cast for my characters in Ilvermony.

Thank you,

-GrumpyCat503