Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar: The Last Airbender, I only own Alice: The Fire-Eater and Jei

Sorry for the wait and thanks to Jade for the awesome riddle. Enjoy!

Chapter 8

~In a Earth Kingdom village~

Another pillar of smoke rose high over the ruins of a once prosperous farm village. Soldiers in red metal armor ran around under orders of an angry commander to destroy any and all Earth Kingdom citizens that defied the Firenation.

On the surface Commander Zhao was fighting for his leader, the Fire Lord. Secretly he was searching for any information he could get on the infamous Fire-Eater. He asked would ask the dwellers in each city; the scared answered with a rumor they heard while the brave said nothing but venomous spite toward the rampaging soldiers. Both dies the same way, burned down with their homes unable to escape as Commander Zhao watched.

"Sir, we have news that she was spotted at a tea shop west from one of our ports." A soldier pointed out a location to his commander "It was also said that she was talking with an old firebender also drinking tea."

Zhao stroked his chin as she stared at the western sky with a smirk "An old firebender, huh?" He laughed once "Find out where that no good prince has run off to and his uncle. Its time I pay them a visit."

"Yes sir" the soldier bowed respectively before leaving to follow given orders.

"Getting smug with those traitors are you my dear?" Zhao asked ears that couldn't hear "I will be sure to make sure they join you in the afterlife."


~Aang POV~

"Uh, uh, no flying this time" Sokka said as Katara handed me a bag.

"What?" Katara asked surprised

"Why wouldn't we fly?" I inquired

"Think about," Sokka explained "Somehow Zuko and the Firenation keep finding us. It's because of Appa, he's just too noticeable."

"What?!" Katara disagreed "Appa's not too noticeable."

"He's a gigantic fluffy monster with an arrow on his head; it's kind of hard to miss him." Sokka argued.

Appa growled saying "What's wrong with that?"

"Sokka's just jealous because he doesn't have an arrow." I comforted Appa.

"His ponytail isn't an arrow?" Appa joked. I chuckled rubbing his forehead playfully; his fur was soft from a recent bath. I rubbed my face in his fur reminding myself of simpler times. I wanted to see the world again though those eyes. I grabbed Appa's horns holding myself sideways but everything still looked the same so I released my right hand spinning myself until I was upside down. Everything still looked the same… but funny in an odd way.

"If anyone is the leader it's Aang," Katara pulled me back to reality. "I mean he is the Avatar."

"Are you kidding, he's just a goofy kid."

"He's right." I agreed

"Why do boys always think someone has to be a leader," Katara scoffed "I bet you wouldn't be so bossy if you kissed a girl."

My vision was ever so slightly blurring, a usual accordance from hanging upside down too long. Walking on foot didn't sound too bad, give Appa a break. I grabbed my bag getting ready for a hiking trip.

"No, besides Gran-gran." Sokka waved his arms in the air in frustration. "Look, my instincts tell me we'd have a better chance of slipping through on foot and a leader has to trust his instincts."

"Ok, we'll try it your way O-Wise-Leader."

"Who knows, walking might be fun." I chimed in.

Little by little my feet started to hurt followed by an ache in my legs until all I wanted to do was sit. "Walking stinks!" I cried "How do people go anywhere without a flying bison."

"I don't know Aang, why don't you ask Sokka's instincts?" Katara chimed "They seem to know everything."

"Ha ha, very funny." Sokka replied monotone

A tremendous weight crushed my shoulders. "I'm tired of carrying this pack." I complained

"You know who you should ask to carry it for a while?" Katara said "Sokka's instincts."

"That's a great idea!" I replied "Hey, Sokka's instincts. Would you mind-"

"Ok, ok, I get it." Sokka snapped "Look guys I'm tired too but the important thing is…" I didn't hear Sokka as he tread past some bushes. Something caught my eye.

"Hey, it's the fire lady." I said pointing to the woman who turned me down a few days ago

"Oh, hell." She said irritated.

"Run!" I heard Sokka's voice followed by the bushes burst into flames.

Katara and I cried in unison "Sokka!"

"Katara can you put out the fire?"

"I don't have enough water, the fire would dissolve it." Katara answered with growing panic "Can you make it decrease? Then maybe I can put it out."

"But I'm not a firebender." I replied

"Wow you're an idiot." The fire lady chimed "You're an Airbender aren't you. Fire feeds on what?"

"Wood" I answered

She slapped her forehead in annoyance "With you as the Avatar the world is definitely doomed."

"Then what am I supposed to do?" I asked irritated and anxiety growing

"Suck the air out dumbass."

"What air?" I turned back to the fire studying it.

Three bangs and a sigh came from her direction "You owe me so much for this." She said. When I glanced back she was gone.


~Zuko POV~

Above me were the familiar panels of metal that made my room aboard my ship. Was I here the whole time? Was everything that happened a dream? It didn't feel like a dream.

I recalled the moment my uncle betrayed my orders for his own comfort like a coward. No, he wouldn't do that regardless of the circumstances. It wouldn't make since for him to do that. He has always supported me since that horrid day. He wanted the avatar caught just as much as I did. He would do that.

"You sound so positive."

"Dammit!"

"What's wrong Zuko?" My uncle barged in with a worried expression

"Nothing." I snapped

Uncle frowned "Are you mad at me?"

"For what?"

Uncle raised a brow puzzled "What do you remember last?"

I wasn't entirely sure. If Uncle betraying me was a dream then spotting the avatar near that village must be the last thing that real.

"Oh, you're smarter than Zuko."

I gritted my teeth. It wasn't real, I refused to believe it. Uncle would never do that to me.

"Well fine if it makes you feel better. It's not the first time you lived a lie."

My hand reached for something and threw it against the wall. Glass shattered. "Get out!" I screamed at them "Get out! Both of you! Get out!"

Uncle pity filled eyes looked at me one last time before he disappeared.

I clutched my fist around the sheets that lay above me. The same feeling that has been stocking me since the day of my banishment. The hatred, the self-loathing, disgust; I had enough of that myself I didn't need it from other people – especially uncle.

Someone I once loved flashed across my vision.

I reached into the top drawer of my bedside dresser and pulled out an amulet. The chain was made of fine rope; at the base of the chain was a wood carving of a thin creature that looked like a type of dragon without legs or wings. The creature looked like it was slithering out of look night sleep.

I don't know why she gave it to me but I held onto it ever since.

"What does it mean?" I asked no one in particular. No one answered not even that stupid woman's voice. Of course, what was I expecting? No one has helped me before why would someone help me now.

"You still think you're alone. You really should be slapped."

"Why can't you make yourself useful stupid woman?"

"Most likely because she's not really here, this is just your conscious you casted her voice to play."

"I hate you."

"I know." her voice laughed mockingly.


~Jet POV~

The soldiers lazed about eating food and telling stories to their fellow murderers. Various tales of raids they made; treasures they looted and woman they picked up on the way. The sight of them made me sick; I yearned to kick their face in—it is the only reason I'm still here after hiding in this tree for hours. If only-

A boy about my age barged in stopping in his tracks when he found himself surrounded by firenation soldiers. The look on his face was comical. "Run!" he screamed dropping his bag as if he wasn't alone. He tried to slip back through the bushes but the soldiers cut him off by burning the bush, bastards. Voice came from behind the now burning bush, so he wasn't alone. Didn't matter, he would be joined back with his group soon.

The soldiers surrounded ignorant that they fell right into our plan. I signal Long Shot to get to fire.

"If you release me I promise not to hurt you." The boy said sounding cocking. He was a good bluffer I'll give him that.

"You promise not to hurt us?" The captain sneered at the boy severally doubting the boy.

Long Shot was about to shot his arrow when another voice spoke

"I can promise not to hurt you." A woman appeared out of the fire; she stood tall with a straight back and relaxed shoulders. She did wear strange clothing but I was more intrigued by how she carried herself. The woman walked in like she owned the place. "Just go back to your business and we can all go free."

I signaled Long Shot to hold his fire; I wanted to see what she could do.

Her eyes turned toward to me. Even though I was heavily camouflaged in the leafs of the tree I got the feeling she saw me.

"Who are you supposed to be?" The stupid captain asked bitterly

"And here I thought my red hair gave me away." The woman replied

The water-tribe dressed boy behind her whispered something to her.

"Oh yeah, I guess." She replied to whatever he said. "Regardless, I'm not here to prove anything. You can walk now." She made a shoeing motion at the soldiers.

The captain made a snorting noise. "We're not going anywhere." He shifted into aggressive stance "Men capture the intruders."

"With what? Firebending? Can't you make this a little more interesting for me?" She said both cocky and bored

A soldier stepped up and blasted a giant fireball at the woman's face.

She didn't duck, rather she caught the fire with her right hand twisting her wrist and pulling back preparing to throw; when she did the fire transformed into a net of thin strings.

The net flow pasted several soldiers leaving them in small pieces soaking in mixed blood. She shifted her hand and pulled back directing the net back toward the other half of the soldiers. The panic look on their face was a delicious treat.

Two or three soldiers were hit with the net with the captain cried out. "Stop! I'll duel you, sword to sword. No bending… and whatever it is you do."

She smirked "Sounds good." She relaxed her hand allowing the net to turn back into fire. The second round sliced two and a half soldiers; the third cut halfway screamed as the fire covered him.

"Put him out." The captain ordered the Fire-Eater lady

"You're firebenders, do it yourself." She replied.

After a small hesitation the captain swung his sword at his burning soldier silencing him permanently. Typical firenation.

"How compassionate of you." The Fire-Eater said to the captain with a small smile.

"I will make you pay for what you've done to my soldiers." The Captain spat at her

"One problem," She said "I don't actually have a sword."

"All the better for me." The captain replied before swinging his sword angrily at the woman.

She stepped aside letting the blade hit the ground. The captain stepped forward turning his blade to swing up. The woman stepped back letting the sword slice air. The captain stepped one, twice, shifted slightly sideways; his sword moved down aiming for straight assault. He stepped again pushing his blade straight in. The woman turned sideways allowing the sword to reach directly in front of her. The captain was completely at her mercy—I deeply hoped she spared him none.

She grabbed his wrist with one hand and removed his sword with the other throwing it a tree far out of reach of any soldier. "If I can't have a sword then neither can you. Let's try this again." She punched his stomach sending him into a tree. The captain gave a short cry when he slammed into the tree then slumped down by the roots without moving.

The Fire-Eater turned to the remaining soldiers "Anything else?"

The soldiers looked at it other both puzzled and terrified. "Spare us." one of the soldiers said

"If you don't attack me I won't attack you." she replied

"Ok." Said same soldier

"What now?" said another soldier

The Fire-Eater shrugged her shoulders "Do what you want, I don't care." She reached the burning bush reaching for the fire. The soldiers instantly shifted into futile defense mode. She gave them a quizzical look before continuing with her task.

She removed the fire from the bush and brought it over to the sliced soldiers creating a blanked over the trashed flesh. She kneeled chanting something as she rested the fire over the bodies. She was cleaning up her mess.

I signaled my people to drop and salvage goods. The left over soldiers and water-tribe boy jumped in alarm as we raided, the Fire-Eater ignored us.

Pipsqueak, smellerbee and I took down the rest of the soldiers with little difficulty.

Two more people passed the burnt bush, a water-tribe girl that looked like the boys sibling and a bald boy with an arrow tattooed on his head. They both looked disturbed by the scene. The boy ran up to his companions seemly desperate to get away from the gore.

While they talked I approached the Fire-Eater. "Hey," I said

She glanced at me before continuing her cleaning. "That was some great fighting out there." I continued

"Sure." She replied uncaring. Not a great conversation start.

I scraped my brain for a topic she might like. "So where are you from?"

"I live in Miami." She answered

"…Yeah?... Where's that?" I asked

"In a place far, far away."

"What brings you here?"

"My feet."

"Fire Lady!" shouted one of the newcomers. The bald boy approached her. "Why did you kill them so brutally?!"

"Would you rather I had been nicer before killing them?" She replied sarcastically.

"No! I rather you didn't kill them at all." He shot back

She finished burning the flesh and putting the fire out before standing up "Listen Bubbles, I don't force my religion on you so don't force your beliefs on me. Cool?"

"Not cool, and whose bubbles?"

"You are, because everything you say is ridicules. Your girlfriend is Blossom because she's annoyingly bossy and her brother is Buttercup because that's what's left." She looked the other two. "Now run along my power puff girls and save the world before bedtime."

The girl stepped up to yell at the Fire-Eater "You are so condescending and conceded its ridicules; I would be amazed if you have friends. You are possible to most pathetic-"

"Katara, shhh" The boy said as he starred at where the body pieces once laid.

"What is it Aang?" Katara asked Aang irritated

Shushed her again. She grunted annoyed.

After a moment of silence, from them, Aang spoke again "I see, she gave them a proper burial." He turned back to his left. I was just as surprised as him when I found her gone.

"How am I supposed to repay you if you keep disappearing like that?" Aang asked the vanished Fire-Eater.

I could try and find the Fire-Eater later, but first I had some unfinished business with the little Earth kingdom town. Perhaps the Avatar and his waterbending friends could help.


~In the Firenation palace~

"My Lord, we have update on commander Zhao." Announced the Fire Lord's personal attendant.

The Fire Lord waved his hand signaling the messenger to continue.

"Commander Zhao has burned several Earth kingdom villages to the ground sparing not even the grain they grow. He has lost all of his men and recruited more in various places from blockades to prisons camps in your name…"

"My name?" The Fire Lord sounded displeased by this news

"Correct My Lord, and the soldiers who question his word were killed." The messenger continued

The Fire Lord Growled silently

"This quest he desperately searched for it the capture of the Fire-Eater."

"Fire-Eater?"

"Yes my lord."

"Tell me about this fire eater."

"The Fire-Eater is said to be able to turn fire into anything she wants. She stands as tall as any man with skin comparable to gold and hair the color of fire. She is reported to were strange clothing never before seen anywhere."

"Color of fire? Meaning red?"

"Yes, my lord."

The Fire Lord mused over this new intelligence. "Have you heard the prophesy of the red-haired woman?" The Fire Lord asked the messenger.

"No, my lord." The messenger replied slightly surprised by the question

The Fire Lord smirked "Of course not, it's an old prophesy dating back to one of the first Avatars." The Fire Lords smile grew "I never thought it was true, or that I would be the one to meet her."

"My Lord?"

"Send a message to Zhao that he can come home for a break. And bring my daughter in, I have a mission for her."

"Yes, my lord" The messenger bowed before exiting.

"Fire-Eater, it's time we meet." The Fire Lord verbalized his thought

To Be Continued…

Thank you all for waiting, I hope you like it so far. It only gets better with every chapter…. I hope. I trust you guys to tell me where I would need improvement to make the story more interesting each update. Anyway, thanks again for waiting.

Thank you Mistical Kat, I am glad you like it. ;D

More will come be coming. Sooner than later… I hope….

Until next time!