Kiren sighed and let her head fall onto the princess's back as they rode the mongoose dragon.
Azula hummed and asked, "Comfortable Kiren?"
The firebender pressed her head further into the princess and murmured, "Quite, thank you very much."
Sighing, the royal shrugged the older girl off and scoffed, "How stupid does your avatar believe I am Kiren? I mean leading me out this far as if I wouldn't know it was a false trail."
Ignoring the fire princess's protests Kiren resumed leaning on the royal and replied, "I don't know, do I look like I know the workings of a twelve year old boy's mind?" at Azula's muttered 'yes' Kiren pinched the girl's arm hard, causing a yelp. "What makes you think Aang will still be at the end of the trail when we get there Az?"
Azula smirked, "Simple, I have something that he wants and he'll want to confront me."
Kiren hummed contentedly, "Nice to know I'm a desired item."
The princess snorted trying to contain her laughter but failed miserably. "It's not like I wasn't going to return you."
The older firebender exhaled exasperatedly, "Great now I'm back to being a lost puppy."
Sitting up straighter Azula turned her head to glance at the warrior, "Who was the small girl that left with the Avatar? I've never seen her before."
"Are you talking about pipsqueak? That's Toph Bei Fong, an earthbender."
"I can't imagine how you convinced the Bei Fong family to allow their young child to aid the avatar in a quest. Even for me that would be a little farfetched."
Smiling Kiren replied dryly, "I didn't convince anyone. We found Toph in Gaoling participating in an underground earthbending tournament. I volunteered to fight her and asked if she would like to teach Aang earthbending. She refused so I knocked her out, threw her over my shoulder and walked out of town. When she came to Katara explained why it would be important for her to join us." Chuckling Kiren continued, "She scoffed at the ethics of it, Toph only came along so she could have a rematch with me."
"You kidnapped a Bei Fong." Azula stated wryly. "I'm impressed."
Kiren scoffed, "It wasn't kidnapping if she agreed to come with us. And don't give me that, I already got chewed out by Katara for resorting to violence. Even when I explained how I asked nicely first she was still miffed at me."
The two continued on in silence and when they approached an old deserted town Azula brought the mongoose dragon to a halt and turning around, she efficiently shoved the older girl off her mount.
"Hmph," Kiren sputtered. "I hope Aang knocks you out with a building."
The princess chuckled darkly, "Why Kiren I thought you were trying to get me on your side, not wishing my demise."
Kiren's eyes softened at her friend, "I'm not trying, I will convince you that you are wrong, and you will join us. I just hope it won't be caused by your father's betrayal."
Silently the duo walked through the rundown village following the remnants of Appa's fur that Aang had used as a trail, and at the end of it sat the avatar.
"Alright you've caught up with me," Aang began upon seeing the two. "Now who are you, and what do you want."
Azula stopped several feet short of where the avatar sat. "You mean you haven't guessed, you see the family resemblance? Here's a hint." She covered her face with half a hand and continued in a deeper voice, "I must capture the avatar to restore my honor."
Kiren snorted at the imitation while Aang just glared, "So what now?"
"Now it's over you can run, but I'll catch you."
The avatar stood and exclaimed, "I'm not running anymore."
The older firebender sighed and blew a strand of hair away from her face that had escaped her topknot. She'd hoped Azula would have just handed her over like a nice little hostage and been on her way. Well a girl could dream couldn't she?
"Do you really want to fight me?" Azula called out.
Before Aang could reply another voice called out, "Yes, I really do." Zuko's ostrich horse continued to run as he jumped off landing on his feet.
Azula smirked but Kiren just flat out laughed. The prince looked startled but quickly his face was blank.
Kiren continued to chuckle and said, "Sorry but its a little anticlimactic Zuko, considering we knew you were following us."
The fire princess continued to smirk as she said wistfully, "I was wondering when you'd show up Zuzu."
Setting deep in his stance Zuko ignored her statement, "Back off Azula he's mine."
Kiren scowled looking at the banished prince, "You two are pathetic, it's like you are fighting over a toy. The avatar is neither of yours and neither of you will catch him."
Azula looked disgruntled and snorted a small flick of fire, "I really could care less about capturing the kid, what is he, eleven? He isn't a threat. I just want a chance to kick my brother's ass, is that too much to ask?"
The girl just sighed and replied, "You could do that in your sleep Azula, what's the point in wanting to?"
Zuko glared at the duo and snarled, "Not helping Kiren. Which leads me to ask, why are you helping her?"
"Great now I'm the toy." Kiren muttered and continued in a stronger voice raising her bound arms, "Does it look like I'm helping either of you?" Glancing at the two siblings now both in strong stances Kiren quickly urged the young avatar, "Aang you might want to run now."
Lifting his staff the boy quickly replied, "I came here for you Kiren, I'm not going anywhere."
For several moments there was no sound, then Azula as impatient as always quickly shot off a small blast towards the fire prince; propelling the firebender into a house. Aang quickly turned to take off but was interrupted when he had to break through the long fire whip Azula sent his way. The fire siblings exchanged blows but each of the three managed to avoid one another. Kiren struggled to remove the rope from her wrists, but it was tied much too tight so she was unable to maneuver her hands to burn the restraints.
She watched helplessly as the royals chased the young avatar into an upper level house. Soon Zuko was blasted out of the first story by a blast of blue fire and was not returning to his feet. Azula quickly exited the unstable building and continued to attack the avatar. Watching the airbender climb a different building only to fall off the crumbling wall and into another house; thinking quickly Kiren breathed deep and burnt the ropes with her breath of fire.
Aang struggled to free himself from the wreckage of the house but the beams were too heavy. He continued to struggle as the fire princess approached him at her leisure. The royal raised her hand to end the fight when a strong hand wrapped around her wrist and lifted the princess off her feet and she slammed into the doorway. Glaring, the young firebender looked up only to see a snarl on Kiren's face.
"That's enough Az. Leave now," the dark warrior commanded.
About to remark the princess was interrupted as a water whip wrapped her arm and yanked the girl from the house signaling the water siblings' arrival. Kiren quickly turned and lifted the beams entrapping the young avatar with ease. She ran out of the damaged building to join the others along with Iroh and Zuko cornering the young princess.
Azula raised her arms and snarled, "Well look at this, enemies and traitors all working together. I'm done; I know when I'm beaten. I surrender."
Looking at the royal's face Kiren knew what the girl was going to do before the thought was completely formed. Turning sharply the young warrior jumped towards the distracted general just as the princess dropped low and released her fire. Blocking the blaze that was directed towards the general's heart; the firebender lowered her hands and shook her head sadly. Not sparing the disgruntled royal another glance she looked away.
After the cunning girl escaped Kiren turned towards the general, "Iroh take Zuko and go. No matter how strong you are, you cannot take all five of us."
The fire prince's eyes narrowed, "No," he shouted striding towards the airbender.
Snarling the archer turned on her heel, grabbed the royal's collar, and tossed him a short distance away. "Leave now Zuko," she ordered.
The prince roared and shot a blast of fire at his friend catching her off guard and burning her arm. "What is wrong with you," he asked. "You should be helping me, not them! You're just like her aren't you Kiren? Aspiring towards your own gain? Or are you just intent on being a traitor to your country?"
Kiren saw red, ignoring her burnt arm the girl shoved the prince back and held him by his throat to a house. "Do not assume anything about me young prince. Not only do I not conspire against others for my own gain, but neither does Azula. Do not disrespect your sister that way again. For you and I both know that family is important. I would do anything to have a relationship with my siblings, do not spurn your sister."
Zuko glared hard at the girl before releasing a breath of fire. The girl leapt back barely escaping the flames and was further angered. Friendship aside she prepared to retaliate, but before she could so much as sink into a stance the general blindsided her. The archer skidded several feet before turning to stare at the two incredulously. She smirked at the smoke visibly seeping from the prince's ears as the general began to lead the royal away.