I don't own the Avatar: The Last Airbender or any of its characters.


All I Need

Chapter 9 - Zuko, Don't...!

Story by Last Butterfly


Summary: While the gaang's looking for Appa in Ba Sing Sei, Zuko had his own reasons to go and find them, and he's also forced by two freedom fighters to look for their disappeared leader. What will happen if they meet?
It's a continue after Ep36. Zutara, Blutara


Sokka turned a corner. Ty Lee still ran after him. Good.He thought. He looked through the street then narrowed his eyes. Boxes… roof… freedom… He smiled.

He ran to the huge pile of boxes and pulled himself on them. Then he jumped to the roof and kicked the boxes down. Ty Lee stopped and looked at him with a frown.

Sokka smiled and waved. „You didn't count on this, did you?"

Ty Lee narrowed her eyes and made a smile. Then she ran towards the wall. Sokka raised an eyebrow. She jumped, kicked the wall and grabbed the roof's edge.

Sokka's eyes widened then he whirled around and began running again. Ty Lee was on his tail. He peeked back at her but in the next moment he realized that it was not wise… his leg slipped on the roof and he fell on his back. The roof slowly slipped away underneath him. As he felt his legs kicked into nothing he grabbed the edge of the roof and stopped.

As he looked up he saw Ty Lee stood above of him with her arms crossed. He smiled up at her „Could we agree in a draw?"

Ty Lee narrowed her eyes then shook her head. She raised her hand but in that moment Sokka pulled a roof tile that made a raw of it slip downwards. Ty Lee widened her eyes and waved with her arms but she couldn't stop falling.

Sokka widened his eyes. She is coming this way… With that Ty Lee whirled him from the edge of the roof.

They fell right onto a clothes selling pavilion… Sokka jumped and began running again. As he peeked back Ty Lee moaned and jumped on her feet too. Her face showed frustration as she ran after him again.

He turned another corner and came to a halt. Dead-end. He widened his eyes and turned back. Ty Lee was there. He raised his boomerang and narrowed his eyes.

Ty Lee raised an eyebrow and smiled. She lifted her hands.

Sokka waved with his boomerang but Ty Lee was quicker. She hit his arm and it fell out of his hand. Sokka frowned. Not again… „Woah!" he jumped away from Ty Lee's hands and leaned down for his weapon with his other hand. He raised his hand and waited.

Ty Lee jumped towards him but he got out of her way. She frowned.

„Not this time!" Sokka smirked and lifted his arm again. Ty Lee smiled and whirled around him by his side where his arm was numb. What the…? Sokka widened his eyes and tried to turn around but he felt two sharp hit on his back. His eyes widened even more. He felt like his bones would have disappeared from his legs. He waved with his working arm but Ty Lee hit that too. He fell on the ground to his face.

He slowly lifted his head and grimaced. „Ouch…"

„Hey, Sokka!" He heard a voice and turned that direction. „Do you need help?" He saw Jet's half smile.

„Jet!" his raised his eyebrows. „Yeah… I would appreciate that!"

Jet's smile widened a bit then he turned to his enemy. His eyes widened and he blinked sometimes. „Ty Lee?"

Sokka frowned as he peeked back at her. She smiled and waved at the newcomer. „Hi!" she said and straightened up.

Sokka looked back at Jet. „Do you know each other?" he asked surprised…Bad surprise…

„Just casually…" Jet said then looked back at him. „What did you do that made her to do this?" he smirked. Ty Lee crossed her arms and smiled.

Sokka eyes widened. „I've done nothing! She's our enemy!" he said.

Jet's smile widened a bit. „That's the only way you can get close to a girl, Sokka?" Ty Lee's smile widened a bit too as she peeked at Sokka.

Sokka's face darkened. „Jet she's from firenation!"

Jet's eyes widened as he looked at Ty Lee again.

Ty Lee still smiled but it slowly faded as Jet's face darkened. She raised an eyebrow.

Jet narrowed his eyes and drew out his swords. „I hate firenation!"

Ty Lee's eyes widened then she stood in her fighting stand again. „I thought you wouldn't fight with girls." She said and raised an eyebrow.

Sokka smirked as she said that. You have no idea…

Jet frowned „From that point it doesn't matter!" he said and jumped towards her. His swords flew above her because she leaned down and hit his stomach quickly as she ran away next to him. She turned back towards him.

Jet grimaced then shook his head. He slowly straightened up and turned towards her again. He made a half smile but his face stayed dark. „All right… I was just testing you…" he narrowed his eyes. „Now let's play real." He raised his swords again.

Ty Lee just kept silent and whirled out of his way. She made the same trick that worked with Sokka.

Sokka widened his eyes. „Watch your back!" he yelled but it was already late.

Jet just started to turn as Sokka shouted but he was not quick enough. This time Ty Lee hit near the neck. Jet's eyes went wide as he lost control over his body. His legs didn't hold him any more. He fell on his back. He grimaced as he tried to move his arms but nothing happened. He could only move his head. He roared and hit the ground with the back of his head.

Ty Lee sat on his stomach with her arms crossed. „So you hate firenation?" She asked with an eyebrow up.

Jet frowned. „YES! I HATE FIRENATION!" he shouted and his face darkened. He grimaced again. And I cannot even cross my arms! He thought. „That's all you can do!" he said through gritted teeth. „Attack, kill and paralyse!"

Ty Lee narrowed her eyes and pursed her lips. „Hey! First of all… you attacked me!" She crossed her arms and turned her head away. „And that's not all that we do…"

„Then prove it!" Jet said as he looked up at her with narrowed eyes. „Undo this!"

„That I cannot…" She said then peeked at him. Her face got friendlier as she made a smile. She quickly leaned close to him and kissed his cheek. Jet's eyes went wide. She stood up and turned back towards them. Jet did not say a word just blinked.

Sokka's jaw dropped as he watched them.

Jet slowly began smiling that made Ty Lee giggle. She stood up and smiled widely as she looked at them. Guys are groveling at my feet… She giggled again. „Goodbye guys!" she said and turned where she came from. She peeked back at them as she began running back „Perhaps you should come and watch our circus once!"

Sokka's eyes were still wide but Jet's smile stayed. Perhaps… once I will… He thought but Sokka's voice interrupted him.

„I cannot believe it!" he said. „She. Kissed. You?! "

Jet's smile turned from smile to smirk. He closed his eyes „I'm simply better with women…"

Sokka snorted. „Yeah… in your dreaams man!" Then he frowned. „And what do you mean by better?!"

Jet looked at him. „First Katara… now Ty Lee…" His smiled widened. „I'm better."

Sokka gasped. „K… Katara doesn't count! She's my sister!" he narrowed his eyes. „And you were sooo far away from her!" His face turned dark.

Jet smirked. „Whatever…" Sokka frowned and somehow crawled closer to him. He lifted his head and looked at him in the eye. As his smirk didn't fade Sokka decided. He raised his head a bit higher and hit Jet's head with his forehead.

„Ouch!" Jet frowned and closed his eyes.

„I said…" Sokka continued as he looked in his eyes again. „You were as far as you could be! Do you understand?" Jet's face darkened and he opened his mouth when another voice could be heard.

„You got beaten by a girl then you argue on this?" sounded a girl's voice. They turned to her.

„Smellerbee!" they smiled as they realized who it was. „Longshot!" Jet smiled widely. „At last!" He cleared his throat. „I was heading straight to you guys…"

Smellerbee smirked. „Yeah… we can see that…"

Sokka's eyes widened. „The others!" He turned his head towards Jet. „We must go after her!" He shouted. „Katara's in danger!"

Longshot and Smellerbee stood next to them. Smellerbee turned to Longshot. He frowned. „I won't take them both." He said and looked back at them.

Sokka and Jet raised their eyebrows and looked at Smellerbee. She frowned. „Don' look at me! I'm half as tall as you." She crossed her arms and looked away. Then she smiled and pointed „Longshot look!" She looked at him. „A barrow!" She smirked and turned back to them. „I'm afraid it'll be a bit uncomfortable guys…" They both frowned and looked at each other.


Zuko threw a fireball towards Azula but she just lifted her hand and stopped it. She narrowed her eyes. „Where are your fancy swords?" she smiled. „You know you cannot win without them…"

Zuko frowned. „I'll try to!" he threw flames at her then he peeked at Katara. Every time she had to stop knives and flames at once… he leaned away from a blue flash then made his mind. We should attack one together. He peeked at Mai.

Azula threw blue flames at them both. Katara waved her hands and the water turned to ice. Mai's flying dagger was redirected towards the wall and the flames died and caused more steam. She frowned and recovered the water from it. Then she made a wave of ice and sent it towards Mai.

Zuko waited for this moment. He waved his hands and his flames headed towards Mai.

Azula's eyes widened and she yelled to her friend. „Mai!" Then she narrowed her eyes and threw flames towards Zuko and Katara constantly.

Mai shot the ice with a dagger then whirled away from the flames. Her usually bored expressions this time changed to furious.

Katara tried to stop the flames. She slowly had to step backwards.

Zuko was already close to the wall. He raised his hands and concentrated on the blue fire. His hands were half raised as he stopped the flame when he saw a flash. His eyes widened. Knives…He realized them late. Four knives got his shirt on his arms and nailed him to the wall.

As Mai threw her knives at him she forgot about Katara. She smirked and finally got her with a wave of water. She narrowed her eyes and the water froze. Then she quickly whirled away from a flame. She peeked at Zuko then at Azula who already made another move… her hands were sparkling as she circled them in the air.

Katara's mouth opened with realization. She wants to use lightning! She waved her hands and sent the water between them.

Zuko frowned as he tried to get away from the wall… left… right…This stupid shirt doesn't want to rip… His eyes widened as Azula made her favourite move. Lightning came out of her fingers. He saw as it got through Katara's ice… Down!

As Azula sent her lightning she threw blue flames towards the waterbender.

Katara's eyes widened. Her water came back too slow. She jumped backwards and suddenly felt sharp pain as someone hit her legs. She fell on her knees and saw that Ty Lee returned. She waved with her hands and sent a wave towards her.

Before it could reach her Ty Lee hit Katara's left arm too who frowned and hardened the wave's strength that slammed Ty Lee to the wall. As she waved with her right arm the water froze but it did slower… Too slow… Katara frowned as she looked at Azula and Zuko.

Just before the lightning reached him, Zuko slipped off his shirt downwards and avoided it. He stood up at once and looked around. Mai was frozen and as he peeked at Katara who was on the ground she just slammed Ty Lee to the wall too. She'll be all right… As he looked behind him he saw his shirt on the wall. It had a huge hole in the middle with burned edges. He looked back at Azula who watched him with narrowed eyes. If you keep her attention… „Nice shot." He said and smirked.

Azula's face darkened. „Shut up skinny!" She yelled and threw flames towards him.

Zuko sent his own flames in return and slowly backed away from Katara and headed for the backdoor. If Azula follows me… He peeked back at Katara. She'll be fine. He threw more flames towards her and moved faster.

Azula narrowed her eyes as Zuko peeked at the waterbender. She raised her hands and stopped his fire when he almost reached the other door… She began smiling. „Perhaps you can run away…" she turned her head towards Katara. „But she cannot." Zuko's eyes went wide as Azula's hands began sparkling.

Katara frowned. This sounds familiar… Her face darkened. I'm not defenceless! I'm a master waterbender damn it! She waved with her right arm that made a wave of water ahead of her…Enough of crazed earthkingdom generals and Fire Nation princesses! But as she narrowed her eyes the water did not freeze. She tried it once more but in vain. The water fell back to the ground. Her face was dark as she slowly lifted her head. Her eyes widened as she saw Azula's move. Her hands sparkled as she waved one of her arms…

Katara's eyes widened even more as Zuko ran to her and stopped with his back towards her. She frowned „Zuko what are you doing?!" she yelled. „That's what she wants! Run!"

Zuko stood right ahead of her and did not run away. He lifted his hands towards Azula who just waved with her other arm. He slowly pulled back one of his arms to his shoulder… down to his stomach… up to his other shoulder and stretched it to the other direction.

A shadow covered the doorway though they didn't realize it.

Azula's lightning flew through the air. Katara couldn't tear her gaze away from it as it headed for the prince. No…

Iroh stood in the doorway and dropped his packs at once as he realized what his nephew tried… „Zuko!" his voice filled the room. „No!"

The lightning struck. Zuko closed his eyes and gritted his teeth. He felt the lightning ran through him… around him… his muscles hardened all around his body. He felt a huge pressure around him and the hotness of the strike. And as the lightning faded away from him he suddenly felt nothing at all…

As the lightning left his hand, Zuko fell to the ground. Katara's eyes were wide. Her mouth opened but she couldn't say a word… she suddenly felt like there would be a stone in her stomach. She leaned forward and lifted his head with her left arm. Don't you dare… She waved her hand and bended some water closer to her.

Iroh stepped in the room his face was dark as he turned towards his niece. „Azula!" his voice was filled with anger. He frowned and continued on a cold voice. „What have you done?"

Azula widened her eyes. She looked at Zuko. The waterbender lifted his head from the ground… I've…She frowned. I've done what I was sent for… Somehow she felt uneasy in her stomach… she looked at her uncle. I was supposed to 'eliminate' the enemies of my nation… She looked back at Zuko.

But if I've done the right thing… She closed her eyes. Why do I feel like this now? Her face darkened… she opened her eyes and threw flames towards the wall. Mai and Ty Lee were free again. „We're leaving." She said coldly. Though she just hoped that her voice had remained emotionless. She slowly turned and went to the back-door. She didn't want to look in their eyes…


Aang sat at the table. His hands were turned towards each other. His back was straight.

Toph could never see how his arrows glow but she could realize if he was in the avatar state. When he passed to the spirit world the vibrations his body created seemed confusing. When she first realized this she was a little afraid but when Katara told her what it meant she felt relief. When he was in the spirit world she couldn't just feel Aang but somehow more… like his past lives would have been together within him. It made her toes itch… she sat next to him and waited for what will happen.

Aang's eyes were closed though he saw… but he was not in this room. He stood in a room where the others were. Zuko, Katara and Sokka just stepped into the room. Zuko opened a door and peeked inside. Then he turned and his eyes went wide as he saw the wall… he turned back to the front door that slowly closed. Azula stood behind the door…

Grey eyes opened wide. Aang gasped and leaned backwards from the table that only made his chair fell with him…

Toph shuddered then made a smile and giggled as Aang stood up with a moan. „We must go!" he said in a hurried voice.

Toph frowned. „Go where?"

„Go after the others!" Aang said and picked up his staff.

„I thought you trusted him…" she said but stood up.

He turned back to her. „I do… perhaps that's the problem." He frowned. „Do you remember who they met while they were together last time?"

Toph raised an eyebrow. „You mean Azula?"

„Yes!" Aang opened and closed his staff. „I saw her… she was there!" he looked in her eyes. „She waited for them!"

Toph face became serious. „Then let's go!" She headed towards the door. „We don't have time to lose…" She hurried next to Aang but he grabbed her arm. She stopped and turned to him with a raised eyebrow.

„You won't be too happy…" He started. „But we'll need to fly."

Toph's eyes went wide. „No. Way." She crossed her arms.

Aang made a smile. „Come on! Nothing's gonna happen! I'll be there and won't let you fall…"

Toph snorted. „I'll walk!" She frowned.

„We don't have time to walk…" Aang stated on a serious voice. „Please Toph…"

Toph rolled her eyes and clenched her hands. Then she sighed and nodded. „All right… but if I fall!" She started but Aang made a wide smile and interrupted her.

„You won't. I promise!" His smile widened a bit. „You'll enjoy it! It's even better than flying on Appa!" His voice was cheerful.

Toph frowned. „That somehow doesn't calm me…"

There was a knock on the door. Their eyes widened as they turned towards it. Then Aang looked at Toph. „Judy…" She murmured and her face darkened. „Backdoor?" She said a bit louder…

„Right!" Aang nodded and started to turn as Toph grabbed his arm. She put her finger to her mouth and listened. She felt that Judy hurried to the other end of their house. She began smiling and nodded towards the door. „Perhaps her ears are great but she's not too smart…" Her smile widened a bit.

Aang smiled too and they slowly stepped out the front door. He opened his staff and turned to Toph. She raised an eyebrow. „Now what?"

„Well…" Aang rubbed his neck. „You should grab my arms and my waist if you don't want to fall off me…"

Toph frowned. „I only have two arms…" She raised an eyebrow. „How could I grab your arms and your waist?"

„Err…" Aang flushed a little then smiled. „You have legs too…"

Toph pouted her lips then narrowed her eyes. „You have planned this, haven't you?" she asked with crossed arms.

Aang's smile widened. „Noo… how could you even think about that…?"

Toph murmured something then grabbed his arms from the back. „But I repeat: if I fell…"

Aang opened his staff and put it behind them. „Just Hang ON!" he shouted and jumped away from the ground.

Toph's eyes went wide. She screamed then began kicking with her legs. Finally she grabbed his waist with them and strengthened her grasp on his arms. She closed her eyes.

„Don't worry Toph!" Aang said. „We're already in the air!"

„I've noticed it THANKS!" she shouted but didn't open her eyes.

Aang peeked back to the house. Judy just ran from the back and looked towards them. She didn't move just lowered her head. He looked around the scene underneath them. He narrowed his eyes as he saw two guards jump from a roof near their house. So we're being watched… Judy didn't lie about that… He peeked back at Toph. Her eyes were closed and she buried her face into his shirt. „Toph don't worry… nothing bad can happen if you're with the avatar." He made a smirk and turned ahead. „Why don't you enjoy the view?"

He felt her gasp hardened even more as she lifted her head and opened her eyes. Her face was dark but he couldn't see it. „ENJOY THE VIEW?!" she shouted through gritted teeth.

Aang's smirk widened. „Hey… did you lost your sense of humour?"

She closed her eyes and buried her face to his back again. „Just tell me when we're there…" She murmured.


A/N: So many things happened here... :) I really love how this chapter ended! Zuko saved Katara, Azula suddenly felt something, Toph and Aang went gliding!

What do you think so far? I hope you've enjoyed it...