Ch 7 "A Deal For A Deal."

On the last chapter... "Erono!" The guards, and Vnala turn around to see Pacia stand up and yell, "Erono!"

Vnala takes that chance to pull away from the guards and charge Zuko, with her hands still locked behind her back.

Zuko lets Erono fall to the ground as he turns to see what the noise is. He turns just in time to be tackled by Vnala. They tumble over the ground, and end up with Zuko on top of Vnala, holding her shoulders down, with one arm and another arm over her neck. Preventing her from moving without effort.

Vnala looks over at a terrified Pacia and a beaten Erono, then she looks up at her seething captor, who's face is less then inches above hers.

"I…" She tries to speak, so Zuko removes the pressure on her neck, "I challenge you to an Agniki, (Fire duel)." She said serious.

Zuko smirks as he stands, the guards come and lift Vnala into a standing position.

"I accept," He said at once.

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"Vala are you sure about this?" Pacia asked as Vnala and her-self helped Erono into a seat. Within the make shift arena, on top off the ship.

"Yeah," Erono asked. His words were slurred due to the swollen lip Zuko gave him.

"I'm sure, if I win I can get you two out of here." Vnala said sitting down next to Erono. She absently rubbed the cuffs on her wrists.

"What about you?" Erono slurred.

"I'll find a way out." She said turning to look at the sun. "You two just have to get to Aang and get him out of here." She stands and walks out of the seats before they can protest.

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"Are we ready to leave yet?" Aang said for the fifth time this hour.

"No Aang," Katara said trying to practice her water bending. "We can't get them till tonight." She looked sad.

Aang looked up at the setting sun, "I don't like leaving them with Zuko this long."

"Neither do I Aang," Katara said looking at the sun also, "Neither do I."

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"Are you two ready?" Iyro said walking in between the two fire benders, who's backs were facing each other. "The deal is, if Lady Vnala wins her friends are freed. And if Prince Zuko wins her friends stay and Prince Zuko gets two un interrupted hours alone with Lady Vnala. Where she will be honor bound to answer any questions. I that true."

"Yes," They mutter at the same time. They both were thinking about totally different things.

Vnala was thinking about how to stop Zuko without hurting him too badly, before the eclipse that was scheduled that night. Before they both lost their bending powers for the night.

Zuko on the other hand, was praying to any god that would hear him that Vnala was an exception to the strict Agniki dress code. No shoes, no shirt, only traditional pants, because he knew that if she had to fight shirtless, he would lose…badly.

"Since neither of you are masters, I will judge." Iyro looks at each fire bender as they stand and bow to each other. "Fight!" Iyro yelled stepping back out of the way.

Zuko breaths a sigh of relief as he notices that Vnala is wearing A tight maroon sleeveless mock-collared shirt, as well as the traditional pants.

They both drop down into fighting stances.

Zuko starts the fire duel with a charge, with each step the fire ball in his right hand grows larger and larger. He throws the huge fireball at Vnala when they are only two feet away from each other. Vnala braces her-self for impact as she tries to break the route of the fireball. There is a loud crash and a lot of smoke as the fireball collides with Vnala. The only thing you hear is the hoots and hollers of the spectators, and yells of dismay from Pacia and Erono.

The smoke clears to show a smirking Vnala. She flips her badly singed blonde hair and charges forward. She acts like she's going to send a short close range blast to Zuko's stomach, but at the last moment she jumps over Zuko's shoulder to land behind him. Zuko turns to see smug turquoise eyes as Vnala flips onto a hand stand and does a windmill with her legs, less than a foot away from Zuko. Flames burst from her bare feet. The windmill motion causing the flames to fly out in a windmill like circle around Vnala, traveling a distance of two feet. Colliding right into Zuko. Zuko goes down with a curse. The next thing he know he looks up to see Vnala standing over him menacingly. Her eyes shining with triumph.

"Yield," Vnala said as a heated fist floated into Zuko's line of vision.

Zuko smirks as he brings a leg out and trips Vnala. She falls down on top of him as he rapidly switches positions with her and ends up sitting on top of Vnala. His legs on either side of her waist, his left hand griping her neck, and a fiery fist in her face.

"Yield." Zuko said arrogantly.

Vnala tries to wiggle free but find out she can't. She looks around, and feels her heart sink. There was only one way.

"I.." she starts, but stops as she feels the effect of the oncoming eclipse. Just one more minute. "I do not Yield!" She yells bringing her legs up from behind Zuko to wrap them around his neck, half- way choking him. He tries to dislodge her grip by squeezing her neck with brusing force, but her legs locked onto his neck only tightened.

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Iyro watched as the two teens struggled in combat. He was greatly impressed at the intensity, in which the two fought. He sighed as he felt his fire bending slip away, with the beginning eclipse. Better stop them before they choke each other…

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"Stop!" Iyro said walking over to the teens. He grabbed the back of Zuko's neck and one of Vnala's legs, and pulled then apart. "It's a tie." Iyro turned around to be assaulted by an angry voice.

"With all due respect Iyro sir." The blonde looked absolutely enraged. "WHAT THE HELL DO YOU MEAN BY A TIE!" she bellowed throwing her hands in the air.

Now Iyro saw his nephew jump in front of the blonde just as angry.

"Uncle!" Zuko snarled, "What do you mean a tie, why the heck did you interfere." He yelled. Then he is roughly pushed aside by Vnala, as she roars,

"I was asking him that!" at Zuko. They now turn on each other as they get in each other's face. Since Zuko's five foot nine inches was six inches taller than Vnala's five foot three inches, Vnala had to look up some.

"Stay out of it!" They snarl at each other. Zuko catches Vnala's hand as she tries to slap him.

He smirks.

"Nice try," He is totally surprised as Vnala's leg connects with his stomach, painfully.

"I thought so." She said grinning, as she tries to pull her hand free. But he hangs on to it, bringing her down with him as he drops to one knee. In a flash he throws her into a head lock, holding on painfully. Just as she curses and stomps on Zuko's foot, Iyro wades into the fray, and uses his bulk to separate them.

"You both know why it was a tie." Iyro said matter-of-factly. "Neither of you can fire bend. So the duel is automatically over. So both of you will get half of you deals granted." He pauses, "Prince Zuko will still get two uninterrupted hours alone with Lady Vnala, but she will only be honor bound to answer two questions. And only one of Lady Vnala's friends will be freed." He turns to Vnala. "Which one?"

"Pacia…" Vnala answered instantly. "Only Zuko can't hit Erono unless he hits him first." She added.

"Deal." Iyro agreed.

Damn… Zuko thought.

They put the cuffs back on Vnala.

"Let me say good-bye to Pacia!" Vnala yelled as a guard started to push her toward the lower deck.

"No…" Zuko answered. They watch as Pacia is escorted off of the ship. Vnala making a ruckus the whole time, until Zuko hit's the pressure point on her neck knocking her unconscious. He catches her as she falls and gently, hangs her over his shoulder. As he does a necklase falls onto the ground. Zuko picks it up and puts it in his pocket. They walk inside.

The last thought rushing through Vnala's head was… Cia, keep Aang away… before she drifted into a blissful sleep.

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Iyro watched as his nephew knocked out the blonde fire bender, and tucked her gently over his shoulder, with thoughtful eyes.

Interesting… He thought as he chuckled. He walks inside with everyone else.

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Pacia was running through the forest when a voice drifted through her head,

Cia, keep Aang away… That sounded like Vala she thought as she ran into a traveler, she looks up to come face to face with Sokka, who was gathering fire wood. Before she fainted…

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A/N: Bwahahahahaha! I love leaving cliff hangers! See ya next update! Don't kill me!

Ja Ne! Sayia