HEY! Sunday, but not late, like I promised. School starts up again tomorrow so I'll take a little time. Next chapter by Friday or Saturday. Note that it says two different chapter names... it's because The Fortuneteller has no Zuko parts. Okay, continue. PLEASE REVIEW. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar series or Disney :(
P.S. Anyone is confused this NOT a new Chapter. This was just a mistake in one of the lines so I HAD TO CHANGE ONE LINE. Next chapter will be soon.
Yes, the Past Can Hurt
(The Fortuneteller- Bato of the Water Tribe)
As he promised, Zuko shared the story of how he snuck his way into the base. It was rather a fascinating story. The way Zuko cleverly fooled the guards to let him in, climbed the walls when everyone was distracted, used the sewers to get inside, took out the guards positioned by the Avatar, and how he escaped was all incredible. He could have been making up the whole story, but I believed him.
Although, when the retelling of him waking up with the Avatar, the details were seriously lacking. I didn't bother to ask him at the moment, he seemed stressed. Now that the Avatar was free again, we had to find him. We had no trace either.
Now that Zuko had retold me the story, it was time for our morning training.
"What are we going to do today, Smolder?" I asked.
"Today we'll spar," Zuko stated.
I smiled.
"Without using bending though," Zuko added.
My smiled dropped into a frown.
"Hand-to-hand? I've never worked on that," I admitted.
"That's why we're practicing. Fighting isn't all about bending, sometimes you have to use your own strength. Or speed which I assume in your case," Zuko stated.
"Why speed?" I asked.
"Girls usually have a better chance with speed. Strength doesn't always work well against male opponents. You have to use their strength against them by being faster," Zuko explained.
"Wow Smolder, I didn't know you knew so much about being a girl," I teased.
Zuko glared irritably at me.
"Funny. Now stand in a fighting stance," Zuko ordered.
I did as we was told. I spread my legs apart slighting and held my fists out. Zuko examined me. He nodded before adjusting me. Zuko first moved my right leg out a little further out.
"This will help you keep balance," Zuko explained.
Zuko came around behind me and turned my hips. His hands on my hips made me blush.
"Your hips should face your opponent," Zuko stated.
I nodded. Still from behind, Zuko stepped closer and moved my hands closer and in a more protective stance.
"Keeping them closer gives you more control. It also makes you seem smaller to your opponent. He or she will underestimate you. That gives you another advantage," Zuko said.
I could feel my cheeks burning. Luckily he was behind me and couldn't see. I nodded again.
"Has something preventing you from being able to talk?" Zuko asked.
I shook my head, forcing my blush to go away.
"No, I just didn't want to interrupt," I said.
"Very well," Zuko said coming around front. "Now there are two main options in how a fight begins. Either you wait for your opponent to go first so you weaken his move, or in your case, strike first quickly enough your opponent doesn't have time to react."
"I see. A quick, powerful strike to take down my opponent," I repeated.
"Fight so he or she doesn't have time to fight back. Eventually, they will get a first move in. That's when you use their abilities against them," Zuko said.
Zuko stood in a fighting stance.
"Come attack me. Quick, powerful strike," Zuko said.
I nodded. Waiting a few moments to get tension, I sprung forward quickly. However, it wasn't quick enough to distract Zuko. He caught my arm, spun me around, and flipped me onto my back. I could feel the giant bruise forming. Zuko stood above me still holding my arm.
"Not great, could be better," Zuko stated.
"It was only my first try," I reminded him.
"Is that what you would say if this was a real fight?" Zuko asked.
"No, I would find another advantage," I said.
"Good. How would you get out of this?" Zuko asked.
Thinking quickly, I formed a plan. Moving my free hand slowly I talked to distract him.
"I'd come up with a plan. While you're holding my arm, probably bruising it under your hand, I would do this," I stated.
I bended the water and hit Zuko with a whip. He let go to dodge out of the way. I stood immediately and back into my fighting position. Zuko nodded.
"Not bad," Zuko stated.
"I cheated though. You said no bending," I said.
"In a fight, there is no cheating. There's survival or death," Zuko said.
"Now what?" I asked.
"The other approach. Wait for your opponent to make the first move and use their abilities against them," Zuko said.
We stood there… for several minutes. Zuko had not moved from his spot. We stared at each other. My body was stiff from standing still so long. I loosened my arms a little.
"Are you going to attack today?" I asked frustrated.
"What are you doing? You aren't waiting for me," Zuko said.
"You're not going!" I stated.
"You're not patient. It's important in any fight. Drop and give me twenty," Zuko demanded.
"Twenty? For what?" I asked.
"Talking back. You can give me a hundred now," Zuko stated.
I growled but complied. I started the push-ups; they were incredibly hard.
"Pathetic. Have you ever done push-ups before?" Zuko asked.
I dropped to the deck after seven.
"No! I've never trained to fight before!" I stated. "I can't do a hundred push-ups."
"You want to be able to fight?" Zuko asked.
I nodded.
"Then you're not leaving this spot until you finish them," Zuko said folding his arms.
I groaned and continued doing them. By the time I got to thirty-five Iroh came onto the deck for Zuko's training.
"Can I stop now?" I asked.
"You aren't close to being done. I don't care if it takes you a hundred years, finish your push-ups. And since you stopped you can add another hundred to the ones you have left," Zuko said.
Silently, I continued the push-ups. Zuko started his other training not too far away from my spot. Iroh thought better than to ask. It seemed like hours by the time I reached a hundred and twenty-four. I could no longer feel my arms. They felt like noodles. Speaking of noodles, I was so hungry, but I wasn't done. Maybe Zuko wouldn't notice if I wasn't really done. He wasn't paying attention anyway. I was about to stand.
"Finish them," Zuko ordered without looking at me.
"How do you know I'm not done?" I whined.
"I'll know when you finish," Zuko argued.
Groaning again, I continued the push-ups.
One hundred and ninety-eight, one hundred and ninety-nine, two hundred. I fell to the deck, my arms completely useless. I was breathing heavily. Zuko walked over to me. I assumed his usual training was finished.
"Now get up," Zuko demanded.
Shaking, I stood up. My arms hung down at my sides, burning with pain.
"Into your stance, this time wait," Zuko said.
My eyes went wide.
"You're kidding me," I said.
"I'm serious. Come on, let's get it right this time," Zuko said.
Zuko got into a fighting stance. I compelled my arms to do the same. I waited as Zuko stood there unmoving. Finally, he came out me. I moved to block him, but I was too tired. Zuko pinned me easily.
"You were too slow. When in battle you are weak/tired, you need something to help you. Simply waiting and blocking isn't going to work," Zuko said.
"But you said to wait! One lesson at a time Smolder," I said.
"In a real fight you have to think of all the variables at once. Not just one lesson after another," Zuko said.
I glared at Zuko.
"Has anyone told you how annoying you are?" I asked.
"Not to my face," Zuko said.
"Well I'm sure they're all thinking it," I said.
Zuko pulled me up to stand.
"That's enough training for today. Same time tomorrow," Zuko said.
"Everything is spinning. Point me in the direction of food," I said.
Zuko sighed and guided me to the kitchen. He had someone whip something up for me. He took me back to my room.
"You should get some rest. Don't do anything until after dinner," Zuko recommended.
"Don't have to tell me twice," I said.
I finished my food and fell asleep in bed. Sometime later I woke up, still feeling sore. I got out of bed and decided I was hungry enough for dinner. It was few minutes for the sun would set. It was a little early for dinner but I didn't care.
The day was so beautiful that after dinner I climbed to the very top of the ship. It was the roof of the main control room. From here I could see miles of sea.
"What are you doing?" a voice called from down below.
I nearly fell. Catching myself, I looked down to see Zuko on the platform. He looked at me. His hands were folded. He didn't looked irritated, just confused.
"Just watching the sunset. I already ate," I confessed.
Zuko nodded and climbed up to the roof to where I was.
"Not a bad view huh? You can see miles of open sea from here," I smiled.
"It's a good view," Zuko admitted.
We sat in silence for a while. Zuko seemed to be thinking more than looking at the view.
"Want to play a game?" Zuko asked.
That certainly nearly knocked me off the roof.
"A game?" I asked confused.
Zuko nodded. We were finally looking at each other.
"I'll ask you a question and in turn you can ask me any question you like," Zuko explained.
I looked away shaking my head.
"I don't know…" I trailed off.
"I promise not to ask where your people live," Zuko said.
"Then why play?" I asked looking back at him.
Zuko grew a little annoyed.
"Look do you want to play or not?" Zuko asked.
"Okay, okay. Only because you asked so nicely," I teased.
Zuko nodded and cleared his throat.
"You told me you left home to travel, where did you plan on going?" Zuko asked.
"I wanted to go everywhere. I want to see the world. My whole life I've been stuck at home. I just knew the world had so much more to offer and I wanted to see it all," I answered.
Zuko nodded.
"You may ask a question now," Zuko said.
"Okay. What's it like living in a palace?" I asked.
"Everyone does everything for you. It has big empty rooms but hardly any people. Living in a palace makes you feel important," Zuko replied.
"Don't you ever feel lonely?" I asked.
"No follow up questions," Zuko said.
I groaned but smiled.
"Do you have any siblings? Mother? Father?" Zuko asked.
"I have a father and mother. As for siblings, no I don't. I would have had an older brother but he died at birth," I said.
"I'm sorry," Zuko said sincerely.
I nodded.
"It's okay," I said solemnly before changing my demeanor to a happier one. "So, did you ever get lonely in the palace?"
Zuko sighed, somehow knowing I'd ask that question.
"Not always. I have a younger sister. She always wanted to play when we were little. She'd make me play with her and her friends. I also had a girlfriend before I left. I liked to be by myself a lot though. It was just the way things were," Zuko stated.
I nodded.
"When will you call me by my name? And not Smolder. You said I had to earn it. How long will that take?" Zuko asked.
I giggled.
"I don't know. When I can trust you," I said.
Zuko nodded. He seemed to care more about that question.
"When you woke up to the Avatar, what did he say that you don't want to tell me?" I asked.
Zuko rolled his eyes before taking a deep breath.
"He asked me if he had known me a hundred years ago, before the war, if we could've been friends," Zuko responded.
"And what did you say?" I asked.
Zuko smirked.
"No follow up questions remember," Zuko said.
I groaned.
"I keep forgetting!" I laughed.
Zuko became serious.
"When Iroh asked you what games you played as a child you lied, why?" Zuko asked.
I froze. Not this again. I looked away.
"Well?" Zuko persisted.
Hearing Zuko's question I stood.
"Enough questions. I should get more rest before I train tonight," I said.
I quickly climbed off the roof and went inside. Iroh looked up from his game at me. He silently asked me what was wrong. I lowered my head and continued on my way. I ran to my room, closing the door behind me.
I knew that question game was a bad idea. I laid on my bed having every intention to fall asleep, but I could only lie there staring at the wall.
It only could have been a few hours later when I decided it was dark enough to train. Going to the deck I saw that I was right. The sky was dark except for the twinkling stars. Hardly anyone was out. And luckily Zuko wasn't one of them. Instead of bending, I ran some laps around the top deck.
After running till my legs were numb, I bent down and did some pushups. I didn't count but it had to be a lot. I fell on the deck, all my limbs numb and practically useless. My breathing was heavy and irregular.
I managed to pick myself up and drag my body to bed. I fell asleep almost immediately. The next morning's training was a little awkward. After yesterday we didn't really know how to talk or look at each other. It seemed Zuko tried avoiding me the whole time after our training. I didn't care, I wasn't too thrilled to be around him.
Zuko looked tense though. He was putting a lot of pressure on himself to find the Avatar. It required twice as much work now that Zhao had so many resources. One of the soldiers told me that we'd be docked tomorrow to see if any news came about.
The next day came sooner than I thought. Since we reached port early morning, training was cancelled. I didn't mind. Zuko's head didn't seem to be in the right place anyway. I watched from the control room as things were loaded and unloaded.
"Miss Mikaila," a soldier said announcing his presence.
I turned and looked at him.
"Yes?" I answered.
"Prince Iroh and General Iroh are waiting for you. You're to join them for tea," the soldier stated.
I stood and nodded. The soldier escorted me to the Zuko's quarters. Iroh and Zuko sat across from each other. I sat between them.
"Glad you could join us Mikaila," Iroh greeted.
"Of course Iroh," I replied.
The tea pot next to Iroh was beautifully decorated. Iroh picked it up and poured all of us a cup. Zuko stared at his cup in deep thought.
"I don't have time to drink tea," Zuko retorted.
"Take a minute, relax. Enjoy nice, soothing tea," Iroh insisted.
Iroh picked up his tea cup and took a sip.
"Ah, see Prince Zuko. A moment of quiet is good for your mental well-being," Iroh said.
Zuko and I went to take a sip at the same time. A big crash caused me to choke on the tea while Zuko was splashed by his. He grunted in irritation. He wiped his face, sat down the cup, and stood. Iroh and I followed Zuko on his war path.
Outside on the deck, a group of soldiers were concentrated on one side. A huge brownish, orange and furry beast climbed aboard. An intense looking woman sat on its back. She wore black and dark clothes and make-up. Her hair was black as well and went past her shoulders.
"Look out!" one of the soldiers warned.
All the soldiers ran back to the center of the ship where we stood.
"Get back! We're after a stowaway," the woman said coming closer.
Zuko looked pissed.
"There are no stowaways on my ship," Zuko argued.
The beast broke a piece of metal from the deck and flung it toward the tower. Everyone ran away while Zuko and I ducked. Oh, that girl was going to get it. The beast stuck its head in the hole. A few moments later, a man ran out across the deck. He looked like a stowaway alright. The beast charged and hit the man with its tongue he fell, unmoving. The woman hopped down.
"He's paralyzed," Zuko stated amazed.
"Only temporarily. The toxins will wear off in about an hour. By then he'll be in jail and I'll have my money," the woman stated.
She picked up the man over her shoulders and flung him on the back of her animal.
"But how did you find him on my ship?' Zuko asked stepping forward.
"My shirshu can smell a rat a continent away," the woman said patting the animal.
She climbed onto its back. Iroh smiled.
"Wow I'm impressed," Iroh stated.
"That was awesome," I stated.
The woman looked over at me and winked. She hit the shirshu with a whip and left.
"Very impressed," Iroh said slowly.
Zuko glared at the both of us.
"I'm just saying one of those would be handy. You could find anyone," I stated.
Zuko stared at me curiously, thinking of something.
"Yes… even the Avatar," Zuko smirked.
"You really think she'd help you?" I asked.
"She damaged my ship. She has to pay back somehow," Zuko stated.
"You think that she'll help in exchange for the damage of your ship to be paid for?" I asked. "You're nuts."
Zuko walked off without another word. I sighed. For the next few hours, Zuko got everything on the ship organized. Zuko and Iroh were to look for the woman with the shirshu any moment now. I sat on the deck watching.
"Ready?" Zuko asked from behind me.
"Ready for what?" I asked turning around.
He looked at me unamused, as if it was obvious.
"To find the woman and then the Avatar," Zuko stated.
"I'm going with you?" I asked surprise.
"Yes, otherwise you'll escape if you stay on the ship," Zuko said.
"What makes you think I won't escape while I'm with you?" I asked.
"If you try I'll catch you. And you won't like the consequences," Zuko stated.
I nodded and followed Zuko and Iroh off the ship.
"So where do you suppose she is?" I asked.
Zuko looked to be on a war path. There was somewhere in particular we were going. We came to a forest and not too far into it was a building. It was three stories high and light poured out every window. The shirshu was lying on the ground by the side door. As we got near I could hear all the voices. After a scream a man came flying through the window and landed in front of us. What was this place?
We entered. My eyes went wide. There were men everywhere. There were only a couple woman, but not much. They all circled something in the middle of the room. Above, the room was open to all the floors. Men stood by the rail with drinks in their hand. They watched something down below. I was busy looking around when someone touched my butt from behind. I turned.
There stood an ugly looking man who was probably more than drunk.
"Say, you look too good to be here. Shall I take you somewhere else?" the man asked.
He reached out to touch me again. Before I punch him, Zuko grabbed his arm, crushing it roughly.
"Touch her again and you lose this hand," Zuko said.
He shoved the man who hit the wall and was knocked out.
"Thank–" I started but Zuko turned and marched through.
"Out of my way. Step away filth," Zuko said shoving his way through the crowd.
"He means no offense. I'm certain you bathe regularly," Iroh said trying to calm everyone down.
I wasn't sure his statement was true, on either account. We came to the center where the woman and another man were arm-wrestling. It was pretty impressive.
"I need to talk to you," Zuko demanded.
The woman turned her head.
"Well if it isn't my new friends, Angry Boy and Uncle Lazy," the woman said.
The man she was arm-wrestling looked to be sweating a lot. He looked to be straining himself. The woman didn't look as she was breaking a sweat. Iroh laughed at her joke. The woman hit the man's hand down. Money was thrown toward the woman.
"Your beast trashed my ship. You have to pay me back!" Zuko said angrier.
"Ah I'd love to help you out but I'm a little short on money," the woman said smiling. "Drinks on me!"
Everyone cheered. The woman went to take a sip when Zuko grabbed her arm.
"Money isn't what I had in mind," Zuko said.
The woman, seeming to understand, nodded and stood. She went to the back and grabbed a huge piece of meat.
"So who's this? Your girlfriend?" the woman asked.
"NO!" Zuko and I both shouted.
"Okay, okay," the woman said holding up her hands. "I was just asking."
"My name is Mikaila and I'm Angry Boy's prisoner," I said smirking.
The woman smiled widely.
"I like you. My name is June. But I think I'll call you…" the woman said thinking. "Sassy Girl."
"I love it," I smiled.
"Enough!" Zuko interrupted. "Just take us to your beast."
"Shirshu," June corrected rolling her eyes.
She brought us to the side door. The shirshu stood as we approached. June fed her shirshu and he laid back down. Zuko reached into his pocket and showed Katara's necklace. He still had that?
"I need you to find someone," Zuko stated.
"What happened? Your girlfriend run off on you?" June asked folding her arms.
Why was every girl his girlfriend?
"It's not the girl I'm after, it's the bald monk she's traveling with," Zuko said.
Why didn't he deny that she wasn't his girlfriend? Why did I care?
"Whatever you say," June said.
"If you find them, I'll consider the damage to my ship paid for," Zuko stated.
I hit my forehead. There was no way a woman like June would do that.
"Forget it," June said climbing up the shirshu.
"Plus we'll pay your weight in gold," Iroh said quickly.
June stopped. She jumped down in front of Iroh.
"Make it your weight," June said tapping his chest. "And we got a deal."
"HAHA, you got it," Iroh laughed.
"Get on," June said taking the necklace.
While they turned, I slowly stepped back trying to escape. The moment I turned my back, Zuko held my arm. I stopped.
"I have no choice now," Zuko said.
He grabbed some rope from his pocket and tied my hands together. Iroh sat in the front. Zuko lifted me up to sit next and then Zuko in the back. I growled. And tried to remove the rope. Zuko held my waist so I'd stop.
"Stop moving or I'll resort to harsher methods," Zuko threatened.
I stopped struggling but Zuko didn't remove his hands. June stepped in front and held out the necklace to the shirshu. While it sniffed around she climbed in the very front. She whipped the shirshu and we were off.
We traveled all night to different places the Avatar and his friends must have been. We climbed a mountain to a garden of some sorts. An old woman was bent down picking leaves. A white cat stood next to her. The cat hissed. The old woman turned and stood.
"Out for a bit of fresh air, are we?" the old woman asked.
"We're looking for someone," Zuko stated.
"I hope it's not Miyuki," the elderly woman stated staring down at her fluffy white cat. "Miyuki, did you get in trouble with the Fire Nation again?"
The cat meowed and hid away. I giggled.
"The Avatar's been through here, let's keep moving," June said and whipped Nyla, the shirshu.
Zuko held onto me as we suddenly moved. I had nearly fallen off. He quickly removed his hands this time.
After some time, we came to a nice looking village in front of a volcano. People screamed and ran as we barreled through the streets. We stopped at one particular building. It looked to be the fanciest one. Another older woman stood outside. She was dressed in robes and her hair was up.
"Why are we stopping?" Zuko asked frustrated.
"Because the girl must have spent a lot of time here," June explained.
"We have no time for this," Zuko stated grabbing the necklace. He jumped down. He stuck it in Nyla's face. His tongue lashed out. Zuko ducked and dodged it.
"Hey, watch it!" Zuko said.
"Aw look, he likes you," June said.
"So sweet. I see a friendship blossoming," I giggled.
Iroh, June, and I laughed. Zuko glared. The elderly woman stepped toward Iroh.
"Care to hear your fortune, handsome?" she asked.
"At my age, there's only really one big surprise left and I'll just as soon leave it a mystery," Iroh stated wisely.
June whipped Nyla and she lurched forward. Zuko grabbed onto my waist again more tightly so we wouldn't fall. I could feel the blush that time. We jumped over another building and continued after Katara's scent.
ZUKO POV
What was taking so long to find the Avatar? We seemed to be going in circles! I could feel we were catching up though. Soon we'd find him and he'll be mine.
I looked down at my hands. I could still feel Mikaila's warmth on them. Recently, I found myself touching her more and more often. It was strange, I usually didn't like contact with other people. Touching her was an unconscious thought. She didn't shrug me away either. Did she care if I touched her? Why did I care?
Looking back up at her, her hair flew in the wind and from us moving up and down. She sat there quietly with her hands in her lap. Iroh talked on and on to June, but it didn't look like she was listening.
I had to concentrate. The Avatar could be near. I couldn't get myself distracted over a girl, and a prisoner no less. Shaking my head, I continued forming strategies in case we were to fight, which was likely.
A couple hours later, we came to across a small walled building. We burst through the door. Women everywhere were covered in robes. They had big jars of perfume. The beast sniffed and made a weird noise.
"We're getting close," June stated.
June whipped the beast and we ran back through the forest. I smirked. We were drawing near. A few minutes later, we jumped into a path and spotted the boy and girl, no Avatar. We corned them.
"So this is your girlfriend," June stated while I jumped down. "No wonder she left. She's way too pretty for you."
I heard Mikaila giggling. I ignored both of them though.
"Where is he?" I demanded. "Where's the Avatar?"
"We split up. He's long gone," the boy, Sokka I think, said.
"How stupid do you think I am?" I asked.
"Pretty stupid," the boy said smiling and grabbing the girl's hand. "RUN!"
They tried running but after one lash from the beast's tongue, both fell to the ground.
"What are we supposed to do now?" I asked angrily.
June moved the beast forward.
"It's seeking a different scent. Perhaps something the Avatar held," June said.
The beast sniffed until a scroll fell out of a bag.
"He found another scent," June stated.
"We're bringing them with us," I said.
"Is there enough room? I could stay here and wait," Mikaila said.
"Nice try, we'll make room," I said.
Picking the up the boy first, I put him on the back. Then I went back for the girl. She glared at me. We headed back the way we came from. The walled building we had passed a few minutes ago was in sight. We burst through the doors again.
"What's it doing? It's just going in a circle," I said annoyed.
The beast looked up in the sky. The Avatar flew towards us. The beast stood on its back legs and tried to lash the Avatar. Instead it missed and we all fell of its back. Everyone landed on their stomachs. Some of us groaned.
"Aang," the girl said happily.
June stood up running to her beast.
"Up!" she demanded whipping the beast up.
She climbed onto its back. June ran toward the Avatar but his flying bison hit her to the wall instead. I picked up Mikaila and shoved her down a little out of the way.
"Stay there," I demanded.
I stood before the Avatar, my fists giving off a little flames. I moved my hands and shot fire at him. He twirled his staff and blocked my fire. He shot air back. I dodged. We went back and forth a few times. Switching it up I got closer and shot fire out of my right foot. He ducked.
We continued throwing elements hit at each other. Even at such a close distance, we were able to dodge every blow. Then, Aang shot a blast of air at the same time I shot a blast of fire. The two elements together collided and caused a huge explosion. Both of us hit separate roofs.
Getting up I saw Mikaila still sitting, trying to free herself. I'd deal with her later. Looking over at the Avatar, I noticed he was still out of it. Smiling, I stood and ran around the roofs to the other side. As I raced across the same roof as him, the Avatar stirred.
The Avatar gasped as I ran with my arm pointed to the side, lit with fire, and swung it towards him. The Avatar flew up and over me to the other side. I spun around and leapt at him, kicking fire. He jumped into the air again sending air. Dodging, I sent another volley of flames, forcing the Avatar to land on the roof on his back. However, he spun his hands dispersing the flames and jumped to his feet.
The Avatar sent a very powerful force of air at me, causing me to fly backwards and hit the tower. He ran at me, coping my move of pointing to the side and launching at me. I managed to jump out of the way in time. The beast launched at him when he tried to follow me off the roof. The beast chased him along the roof. Meanwhile I went over to the prisoner.
"What are you doing?" I asked pulling her up.
The ropes from her hands fell. She looked at me with wide eyes.
"Don't try to escape," I ordered.
I pulled her to Uncle.
"Do not let her escape!" I stated shoving her into his arms.
Turning around, I saw the Avatar running towards his friends. I blocked him and forced him to back away. He was panting as he landed in front of a well. I sent blast after blast closing in on my target. He twirled around the well managing to dodge my blows. One blast I didn't give him the chance to move but he ducked. Standing again he looked at my right hand. He looked determined.
"You've got something I want," the Avatar stated in a fighting stance.
He jumped towards me underneath the well roof. I sent multiple blasts but the Avatar managed to change positions quickly enough not to get hit. Having enough, I took out two support beams. When that wasn't enough I kicked the whole thing away. The Avatar gracefully landed on the well's edge.
I leaped onto the edge as well. We danced around blasting each other, never once managing to make contact. At one point he tried to grab the necklace from my hand, but I pulled it out of his reach. The Avatar seem frustrated, not nearly as much as me though.
I lunged forward with a fire blast. The Avatar jumped over me and kicked me between the shoulders. I hit the ground and realized I didn't feel the necklace in my hands anymore. He dove into the well. Getting up I roared as I sent powerful blast of fire down.
That backfired with a huge geyser of water shot out of the well and hit me. I flew into the air and landed on the ground hard on my stomach. Growling I got up and chased after the Avatar. His bison coming toward me, forced me to turn and take a different route.
MIKAILA POV
I stood by Uncle watching the whole thing. Between Zuko and Aang's fight and the bison and Nyla fight, a lot was going on. Instead of helping anyone I just stood there. Uncle put a hand on my shoulder.
"Everything okay dear?" he asked.
"I'm not sure," I answered truthfully shrugging his hand off. "I feel some internal struggle within me. I don't know what to do."
"Ah, I'm sure you know what to do. You're just afraid it's the wrong choice," Uncle spoke wisely.
"And if it is? The wrong choice?" I asked.
"If you believe in something so much dear, how can it be wrong?" Uncle asked.
I looked at the scene before me. I nodded.
"Thank you," I said smiling.
"For what? All I did was say words of nonsense," Uncle smiled.
I giggled. The Avatar ran pass Iroh and I. Nyla lashed his tongue in front of Aang, using him to back pedal. However, Zuko shot a fire blast. Both tried to hit Aang but he was too quick. I felt something below my feet. It was perfume. Katara stood in the middle of all of it and bended it up in circles and then a giant wave. She dropped it on Nyla, Zuko jumped out of the way behind me.
Nyla started to freak out. He shook his head quickly before lashing out his tongue. In one strike, Nyla hit Zuko and me. We fell to the ground… me right on top of him. The lash had hurt but now it felt numb. And then everything felt numb.
"June! Nooo!" Iroh cried.
Then I saw them fall next to us. I couldn't see anything behind us from my position. I could only concentrate on our scandalous position. I was completely laying on top of Zuko. My head laid on his chest. I could feel his heart beating. And somehow his hand ended up around my waist. Zuko turned his head toward Iroh.
"Uncle?" Zuko stated confused. "I didn't see you get hit with the tongue."
"Shhh," Iroh said holding up a finger to his lips.
June's closed eyes popped open annoyed. The background noise got quieter. It sounded as though the Avatar and his friends had left.
"Now what?" I asked.
"Nyla ran off and we're a long way from your ship. Our best bet is to find him. He wouldn't go too far," June stated.
"Uncle, go find him," Zuko ordered.
Iroh sighed. And started to stand.
"Very well," Iroh stated.
He was going to put June down when she spoke.
"I have to go with you. Nyla will come to me," June explained through her teeth.
"Guess I'll carry you since you can't move," Iroh said smiling.
June groaned. Iroh carried June and started walking away.
"Wait what about us?" Zuko called.
"We'll be back soon," Iroh shouted back.
"But could you at least–" I started.
But they were gone. Zuko and I laid there awkwardly.
"So… what is everyone else doing?" I asked.
Zuko turned his head to look.
"Cleaning up the mess… and glaring at us," Zuko admitted.
"Great…" I said.
Another awkward silence.
"When do you think they will be back?" I asked.
"Not soon enough," Zuko sighed.
"Probably," I added.
Another awkward silence. I was about to speak but Zuko spoke first.
"Remember how I told you about what the Avatar said?" Zuko asked.
"Yeah?" I asked a little confused why he was bringing it up now.
"The truth is I don't know the answer. If it was before the war, maybe. But since it's now, we can't be friends," Zuko said.
Somehow I could see it. I could see pain in Zuko's eyes. It was hard to say exactly where the pain came from, but I could see it there. Zuko looked away again.
"I didn't play any games," I said looking into Zuko's chest.
I could feel his head move and look at me.
"What do you mean?" Zuko asked in a whispering voice.
"When you asked why I lied to Iroh about playing those childhood games. You see Zuko, it's because I didn't play any games. All the kids thought I was too weird, too different. I spent more time alone then with actual people. My grandmother was the only real friend I had and when she left… I was afraid of being there alone again so I guess I left. It was as good time as any to follow my dream. That's why I lied," I confessed.
Zuko didn't say anything for a while.
"Do you think we could be friends one day?" I asked.
He didn't answer until…
"Zuko…" he said softly.
I was confused for a moment before I realized I called him by his name. Oops. I buried my head deeper into his chest. I had to have imagined it because we couldn't have feeling yet but I swear I felt his hand slightly squeeze my waist. I cleared my throat.
"We should never talk about this again," I said.
"I agree… Mikaila," Zuko said.
YAY! Done. PLEASE REVIEW! Remember, if you want your character name in a chapter review with a name ;) Alright, until next time!