I just read my whole story and I apologize for all the bad grammar and badly typed words I found. Maybe when I'm done with the story I'll go back and fix all the errors, but as for now I thank you for kindly dealing with them. :)

(Insert lame excuse here for not updating) Wow, the season finale was just wow… I can't wait for the next season! Ok, thanks for listening to me ramble on, here is the story you want to read… I hope… ;) Maybe the creators of avatar will give the show to me for my Christmas present! Until then it's not mine… :(

Chapter 11) Fleeing the Ship

The rocking of the boat subsided until only the tides moved against it. We stood, ears pressed to the metal door, waiting. Clanking footsteps and a shadow under the door signaled the watchmen assigned to this area had passed, beginning our ever closing window of escape time.

Zuko stood back, took a breath, and bent out a steady stream of fire onto the door hinges. I stood watching; not sure how to help. I had no water on me; and even if I did, showing Zuko my special abilities if I didn't have to wasn't too high on my list of things to do.

"Need help?" I asked. Not expecting an answer, I stepped closer, and took my stance. Zuko turned his head in my direction, gave a confused look, and shrugged. I blasted a simpler river of flames at the hinges. Together the intensity of the inferno was too much for even the work hardened iron of the door. Door down the glowing door Zuko led me back to the deck. How in the world does he know where he is going, he was half-conscious when they dragged him in here! My mind pondered. How ever he did it, we both ended up, in one piece, up on the top deck. Dusk had fast approached and left us, for the most part in the dark.

"How do we get to shore?" asked Zuko looking around, his pupils widening in the dark.

"The life boat!" I said pulling the tarp off the covered boat.

"We'd better hurry, someone will soon find that door singed off," stated Zuko, but the rest of his sentence died on his tongue as four soldiers filed up onto the deck.

"Get the boat ready Niki, I'll take care of them," Zuko smiled. For a second I saw the old prince Zuko, with his pony-tail and hurt honor smiling before me, relishing the challenge these soldiers would provide. I grinned inwardly and began to ready the boat. Pulling the cables clear I shoved the boat over the side of the ship, where it hung, swaying back and forth, ready to be freed on the sea. As I readied the crank, one of the four men saw me and sent a fire ball my way.

Dogging the flames, I kicked and punched fire in his direction, making his escape impossible. He took a flame to his left side and hurled another blast. Ducking, twisting, and side stepping I maneuvered myself across the boat into an open area to bend. Taking a final step backwards, my body collided with another. Turning my head side ways I saw Zuko, back to back with me, taking on the other three.

"Is our boat ready?" he asked, turning back to bend another fire blast, braking their form.

"Aye, Aye, Captain, the boat awaits," I responded, kicking the air sending a large blast of orange flame into the soldier closet to me; rocketing him over the side of the ship. I raced over to the boat, swung myself over the ship into the suspended life raft, and called to Zuko. He responded by breaking stance, racing to the boat while sending two arrows of flame at the supporting cables, and leaping in next to me. We dropped two stories to the water below, creating a sickening thud. Zuko feverishly grabbed the oars and began rowing us away from Azula's ship, and towards shore, now over two miles away.

"Niki, I knew you were a firebender… but… and I knew you were good…. But I just didn't think… and you helped my sister when you were younger… I just didn't… and I'd never seen you bend before…" stumbled Zuko. I didn't know what point he was trying to get across; I didn't even think he knew.

"What are you trying to say, Zuko," I asked, rolling my eyes slightly. I hope he isn't going to try to keep the boyfriend/girlfriend thing alive, IT'S DEAD! My mind screamed at him. He fell silent and continued rowing into the night, while I gazed at the stars. The ocean's undertow seemed to exert itself more then it needed to, tonight. Its power was stronger then Zuko's rowing, forcing us slowly back towards the ship we were trying to avoid.

"Zuko you look tired, let me row for a while," I said growing bored of the silent stars. He handed me the oars to the boat, leaned back, and closed his heavy eyes to relax. I weighed my chances and set down the oars in the boat. Balancing precariously in the rocking boat, I stood up and took my waterbending stance. As I had done with Azula's ship, I summoned a wave under the small boat, and urged the water and it's cargo towards shore.

Zuko never opened his eyes during the ride, until the boat bumped against the rocky shore. I stepped into the icy water and pulled the boat onto the beach, waking Zuko in the process.

"Wow, how long was I asleep?" asked Zuko, rubbing his eyes.

"Not too long, the tide came in," I lied and smiled inwardly, I'm getting better at this. We walked up to the forest lining the ocean; the trees were glazed in a salty crust from the ocean mist.

"I guess we walk now," I said shrugging, Zuko nodded. Night had wrapped its thick cloak upon the forest, making travel difficult. Even with the small flame Zuko cradled in his hand shedding streamers of light, it was hard to see. Following the stream that flowed into the ocean from the forest near the desert, we traveled back to the city. Glancing up at the shining stars, listening the hooting owls; or what ever animal they were here, I was completely relaxed. I felt Zuko's tenseness behind me building within him, but I didn't press him about it.

A glittering movement caught me wandering eye like a gnat to a candle flame. Up ahead near the stream a lone figure stood. Only their silhouette showed at the angle we approached by. Coming closer, Zuko and I saw the identity of the figure… Zuko drew a quick breath and his heart beated faster…

Who is it? Don't you just love Cliffhangers? I wonder what the next season is about. I have a question for the readers… how are my fight scenes? Do they have enough detail? What do you think?

Thanks, R&R