AN: So glad to have gotten this written and posted. I apologize for the wait; my muse made a bid for New Mexico when my back was turned.

I also apologize if this chapter seems a little jumbled; the site's not letting me add dividing lines for some reason (heck, it might even be my own computer giving me crap. I'm not even entirely sure if I submitted the correct version of this chapter). I tried, and hopefully they are there, but until this is submitted I will not know for sure. So, just in case, I will separate this before-chapter junk from the chapter with "- - -"

And for those of you who care, this chapter holds great importance to me. And no, I will not tell you why, you'll find out later. For now, I will wait here, grinning like an idiot in a straightjacket.

Disclaimer: With this hiatus? You must be kidding. I would never allow this cruelty were it mine.

- - -

Learning to Play with Fire

Chapter 11: The Affairs of Cats and Mice

The beach was picturesque, its warm, white sand untouched by civilization and shaded in patches by gently swaying palm trees. It was a honeymooning couple's dream. Only a castaway could find fault with it. Sadly, that's exactly what Zuko was. As if being a prince used to the comforts of royalty crammed on a musty little warship wasn't enough, fate just had to do this to him. At this point in his adolescence there was little on this planet that Zuko couldn't place on his "hate" list.

"Isn't it a beautiful morning, Prince Zuko? If only we'd come to this place on better terms, eh?"

The Fire Heir found it especially difficult to remember that family was a noun that should be on the "love" list as he watched his portly uncle shuffle about the beach, occasionally squatting to observe a shell or a crawler of some sort.

With a long-suffering sigh, the young Firebender turned to regard the greying man standing beside him. Jee stared bleakly back, reminding Zuko strongly of an irritable draft Komodo rhino. The rest of the crew that had accompanied their lord to scout the beach were looking just as downtrodden; they had their Kicked-puppy Expressions™ on.

Unnamed Island, Southern Sea

Sokka gazed about the clearing, his most threatening glare on his face – or at least that's what he thought, in reality he just looked sullen.

The guards talked about it incessantly, unsure if he was hungry or needed to go to the bathroom. It wasn't as if he could hate them or anything; they were the most lovable guards to be found in any nation – and they'd know too, they'd been in enough prisons. And the fact they'd gone to jail didn't make them bad, merely unaware that indecent exposure was considered a criminal offense.

But back to Sokka; he glared at the grass, scowled at the stones, did everything in his power to make the island as uncomfortable as it could be. The isle sat disconsolate and still however, trying to put on an unconcerned facade. Luckily for it, Sokka was fooled. With a huff, the Water Tribe teen turned his attention to other things, like his little sister.

Katara sat next to him, her arms bound to the tree behind their backs just as Sokka's were. Often, she would shift her legs restlessly, the action only serving to aggravate her bound ankles. Her brother tolerated her fidgeting for a few minutes before snapping at her. "Cut it out, Katara! Keep it up and your rope burn will be so bad you'll foil our escape," he hissed aggressively.

The Waterbender scowled at him. "What escape? We're not gonna get out of here if we don't try anything, Sokka."

"Stop it, both of you," murmured the third prisoner, the young Avatar, reproachfully.

The siblings looked down at their feet, somewhat guiltily.

"Katara, those ropes aren't getting any looser, so you may as well stop," Aang continued in a gentler voice. "And, Sokka, escape isn't an option right now. Even if we did get loose, we have no where to go."

Sokka glanced at the Airbender. "Can't blame me for trying," he muttered eventually.

"Trying? You weren't doing –"

Aang cut her off. "No, I can't. But just cool it for now, okay, guys?" He smiled; the sunlight filtering through the tree canopy gave his pale skin a greenish tint.

Sokka nodded. After a moment of hesitation, Katara repeated the gesture.

The trio shared a moment of mutual peace then, and grinned at one another in the cool shade of the jungle surrounding them, blissfully unaware of the bright gaze watching them intently from the treetops.

Unnamed Island, Southern Sea

The infamous Fire Prince stalked back into the makeshift encampment in the light of the setting sun, his scouting party (and Uncle Iroh) in tow. His simmering golden gaze swept over the scene imperiously, taking note of the conversing soldiers and the grinning prisoners with a growing sense of dread.

He paused, his Firebenders slipping past him on muffled feet to join their fellows. Iroh stepped forward to stand beside him. "Copper piece for your thoughts, Prince Zuko?"

Zuko shrugged, sending a furtive, askance look to the tree line. "I'm not quite sure, Uncle, but something's wrong."

The elderly man frowned contemplatively. "Hmm, perhaps you are right... After all, there are some great evils in this world, some more mysterious than others."

Zuko edged further away from the darkened forest subconsciously. "What should we do?" he whispered.

Iroh's lips twitched. "Keep a sharp eye out. Something is here now, Prince Zuko, a presence that wasn't here when we first arrived, and it is evil. An evil that I believe would make even spirits cringe – just the lowliest ones; there are many great spirits that would scoff even at the Avatar. Nevertheless, we must be cautious."

Zuko nodded, appreciating his uncle's wisdom.

Unnamed Island, Southern Sea

Fire Princess Azula, daughter of Fire Lord Ozai, stepped gracefully off the river boat. She studied the immaculate beach with a deductive eye. Her full lips quirking as she spied a dark grey smudge on the distant white shore – another landing craft, one identical to the four parked in the shallows behind her.

"So they made it here."

The quirk evolved into a smirk as she looked over her armored shoulder at the tall Firebender behind her. "As if there was any doubt that they had. You underestimate my uncle, Admiral."

Zhao's brows lowered briefly before he turned away from the delicate girl to survey the jungle. Azula grinned inwardly, she loved to rile the Admiral up. Esteemed officer or not, the man was far too foolhardy for her tastes, he desperately needed to learn his place.

Two soldiers approached the pair, their helmeted heads lowered respectfully. Behind them the chosen mounts of the royal and the officer pranced excitedly: a Komodo rhino bull for Zhao, a sleek basilisk for Azula.

Mai and Ty Lee watched their mistress from the tree line, already seated comfortably on their own basilisks.

With a slight grin, Azula accepted the reins the no-ranker offered to her and vaulted onto the back of the giant reptile with ease. Next to her, Zhao climbed into the saddle on the rhino's broad back.

She tapped the heels of her boots against the lizard's scaly flanks, urging the basilisk forward to join her two friends. Zhao's rhino lumbered along after her.

She jerked the beast's reins and it whirled around, bringing the Princess to face the sea, the tree line at her back. Before her stood the troops selected for this mission. There were 48 in all, the best of both her and Zhao's men. They stood impassive and silent on the beach, their dark armor contrasting strongly with the ivory sand. The skull-like masks of the Firebenders gleamed malevolently in the dying sunlight.

"On this pathetic spit of land are the traitors Prince Zuko and General Iroh and their crew, with them is the Avatar. You are to find them; only the Avatar absolutely must be captured alive – do with the others what is most convenient," she ordered with a feral smile. "Leave no man behind that can wield a weapon or bend an element. You will travel in groups of sixteen under the command of either Admiral Zhao, Lady Ty Lee, Lady Mai, or myself. Am I clear?" she inquired sweetly, an indigo flame coiling innocently about her tapered fingers.

"Yes, Your Highness!" chorused the soldiers.

Azula grinned. A wise answer.

"Split up and move out!"

Prince Zuko's Ship
The Cargo Hold

"Corporal Samuru, what is your status?"

Corporal Samuru, A.K.A. The Clueless Corporal, stopped furtively examining his fellow no-ranker's hand and instead focused on the third guard, who had addressed him.

"Uh..." He stole another glance at the other's cards."Huh, looks like I'm out, Natsu," he mused.

The guard, Natsu, nodded before turning to the other man, who was engrossed in his own hand of cards. "What about you, Private Kaipo?"

Kaipo looked up blearily. "Naw, Natsu. I got nuthin'..."

Natsu grinned and leaned forward with a joyous cry of "Huzzah!" Only to flinch back when a low groan echoed around the hold.

Clueless Samuru grimaced and stood, looking excitedly over at the hulking fluffy white mass in the stall. "Hey, he's waking up! The buffalo/bison is waking up!"

Natsu, the most intelligent of the trio, stood with a frown. "We should alert someone."

Kaipo, who had remained on his haunches, looked up at his fellows, blinking owlishly. He had been doing that often today. Perhaps he had a hangover."Who are we gonna tell? Zhao's gone off with the princess."

"The beautiful and powerful princess," Samuru admonished.

Natsu rolled his eyes behind his pale mask. "We tell the Cap'in, you idiots."

"Oh," Kaipo said to the floor.

Appa groaned again.

Unnamed Island, Southern Sea

Iroh observed the camp silently.

The men were arranged in small groups about the outskirts of the clearing in strategic positions. Should an attack occur, everyone would be alerted in time to make their escape and, if necessary,fight.

The Water Tribesmen had been tied to a single tree, while the Avatar was tethered to another tree some distance from his companions.

Iroh's nostrils twitched and he cocked his head in thought. After a moment of concentration, he climbed laboriously to his feet and trudged over to the center of the clearing where Zuko and his officers were gathered. "Prince Zuko."

The boy looked up, "Yes, Uncle?"

"Douse the fire," Iroh stated quietly.

Zuko's lip curled, "What? Why?"

Lt. Jee leapt to his feet, turning his head from side to side. "Is there something wrong, sir?"

Iroh nodded sagely.

Zuko extinguished the fire with a wave of his hand. "What is it?" he asked softly.

Iroh looked away from them, his intense flaxen gaze turning to the night sky. "We've been pursued."

As if on cue, a brilliant red ball of light rocketed into the sky to the north of their encampment. Two more flares shot into the starry sky to the east and west of their clearing, painting the black jungle red.

"They're hunting us," murmured a soldier in a bemused voice.

Zuko and Iroh exchanged a glance and whirled away in opposite directions. Zuko made a beeline for the bound Avatar, unwilling to lose his catch; Iroh turned to the men. "We're under attack! Form ranks!"

Then all hell broke loose as figures in blood red armor burst from the brush. Zuko's soldiers hurriedly assembled to combat them, charging forward as Iroh sounded a rallying cry.

Zuko nimbly evaded an enemy Firebender, darting under the larger man's arm and spinning around to deliver a lit punch to the back of the man's neck that sent him sprawling. The Fire Heir had resumed his dash for the bound Airbender before the man hit the dirt.

Zuko skidded to a stop in at the Avatar's side, his boots sending a large arc of sand into the bushes. Aang struggled against his bonds frantically. "Wha–"

"Shh!" Zuko hissed, fiddling with the knots of the ropes.

Aang stiffened suddenly. "Look out!"

Zuko ducked and felt something fly over his head. He scrambled to his feet and sunk into fighting stance, facing his newest adversary.

A petite girl in a scanty pink outfit grinned at him from her position on a tree branch. Zuko's brows furrowed, she was vaguely familiar.

"Hey, Zuko! Long time no see. I must say, you're looking great," she chirped, her grey eyes roved over him hungrily.

Zuko didn't respond, choosing instead to spin around at the sound of sharp claws scrambling in the sand.

He gasped as bulbous yellow eyes met his gaze, reptilian lips parting to reveal razor sharp teeth. The beast lowered its head, its fangs flashing white in the darkness. Zuko tensed in preparation of the pain, unable to do anything to avoid the lightning fast attack. A forked tongue slipped out over the jagged jaw and the basilisk squealed in surprise as it was thrown backward by a gust of wind. The lizard connected solidly with a copse of trees and fell to the sand, its tail thrashing.

Zuko didn't keep his eyes on the basilisk long enough to see it still. The reptile's owner didn't wait either. The girl sprang lithely from the trees, accenting the maneuver with a flip. She stuck a perfect dismount inches from Zuko.

"Well," she commented lightly, batting her eyelashes, "don't you recognize me?"

"Ty Lee," he growled as he backed away from her.

She giggled and he eyed her warily.

"Oh, Mai would be so jealous if she saw me now." Zuko winced at her comment.

"Whatever. Go away."

Ty Lee grinned. "I'm sorry. I can't do that. I've been sent to catch you guys – or rather, I've been sent to catch him," she eyed Aang pointedly. The Airbender gave her a cheeky smile and edged around the tree and out of her sight. Ty Lee refocused on Zuko. "They don't really care whether you survive this or not," she shrugged. "Sorry, Zuzu, no holding back this time."

Zuko bared his teeth. "Don't worry, I won't." Bimbo, he added silently.

Ty Lee's grin widened. "Good." She lunged forward, fast as a striking viper. Her thin hands extended towards him. Seeking the pressure points, Zuko thought, recalling the time when Ty Lee had displayed to Azula what she had learned at the Fire Academy for Girls. He leapt backward, her long nails just brushing his tunic.

The gymnast gave him a catlike smile and somersaulted away into the brush and out of his sight.

Not wasting time, Zuko darted back to the Avatar and began untying the boy as fast as possible; well aware that Ty Lee was presently sneaking about in the treetops, seeking an opportunity.

He pulled the last knot loose just as a flash of pink out of the corner of his eye alerted him to her return. Zuko ducked under her kick and rolled around the tree. With a snicker that was equal shares amusement and frustration, the acrobat gave him chase.

The Fire Heir wove through the trees on muted feet, listening to the huffs of his pursuer. He hated running, but presently saw no other choice. Any strikes he made could easily be used against him. Ty Lee, who he had always considered goofy and annoying, was a surprisingly tricky opponent.

Prince Zuko's Ship
The Cargo Hold

Appa moaned and rubbed a horn against the stable wall in irritation. Why won't those Firebenders just shut up?

"So I says to him... Er..." Kaipo lowered his voice and turned to the man he had come to rely on for wisdom, "Samuru, what was my punch line?"

Samuru shrugged, "It's your story – um, joke, man, you tell it."

Kaipo nodded and growled: "You're right. I'm telling it, so shut your trap."

Samuru obliged and returned to examining his gauntlet.

Natsu shared a look of mutual misery with Appa. "You're both giving me a headache."

Unnamed Island, Southern Sea

Aang slipped out of the ropes and scurried over to where Sokka and Katara were straining against their bonds. "Hurry, Aang," Sokka hissed.

The Airbender's slender fingers strained at the bonds. "They're too tight, I can't get them undone. Your wriggling tightened them," he whispered back testily.

Katara ceased struggling. "Well, just find something sharp and cut them."

Aang straightened and scanned the clearing,but spied nothing sharp that wasn't in the battle save the pearly fangs of the basilisk. He looked down at his friends, a frown marring his features. "I'll be right back," he promised. "Stay quiet," he called back over his shoulder as he disappeared into the fray.

Unnamed Island, Southern Sea

Zuko bolted into the clearing, emerging amongst the fighting forces. Dark shapes dashed through the smoke that cloaked the battle, shouts and cries of pain rang out in the night. Cautiously, he crept through the combatants, occasionally aiding his men with a well placed strike. Wounded soldiers stumbled past him, their eyes haunted, and the young lord drew back in shock whenever he recognized a bloodstained and blackened face.

This is madness, he thought. Absolute madness.

What's the point? What's the cause? Who could justify this? he wondered, his emotions reeling.

Your father could, and he does everyday, muttered a sardonic voice in the back of the prince's mind.

Zuko shook his head. No...

Oh, yes, argued the voice. It went on, sounding amused now. Why are you fighting your own knowledge? Your own memories? You do remember, don't you? Of course you do. You were there and the reminder looks you in the face whenever you look at your reflection.

Zuko placed his hand to his scar. No.

The voice didn't reply. It was gone and he was alone. Just as he always had been.

Unnamed Island, Southern Sea

"Fall back!" yelled Iroh, his deep voice raised above the din.

Slowly, wary of giving too much ground to their attackers, Zuko's soldiers drew back; pushing the mechanics and the medic ahead of them. Their flight stopped momentarily as they paused to untie and re-restrain the Water Tribesmen, who struggled against the soldiers dragging them away from the clearing mightily, wailing for their friend. The Avatar was no where to be seen.

Ty Lee's men moved forward in pursuit, only to leap back with yelps and screams as Iroh ignited the brush as he and his men drew back, creating an effective firewall.

The Dragon of the West paid them no mind however. Another figure had caught his eye.

On the far side of the barricade Zuko stumbled after them awkwardly, attempting to fend off the young woman that kept pace with him doggedly at the same time. Iroh's narrowed flaxen eyes picked out his futile forays into bending, his struggles to reclaim a fire that wouldn't come.

"ZUKO!"

The plump man began retracing his steps, determined to save his nephew. Ty Lee's soldiers converged to stop him and Iroh was forced to stop. He paced, Zuko's men drawing up around him.

Beyond the flames, Ty Lee charged Zuko, targeting the chi points that would knock the Firebender unconscious. Another blast of wind intervened on Zuko's behalf, and this time it was Ty Lee, rather than her mount, that was sent flying. The acrobat was tossed up and away from the prince, and no amount of flips enabled her to land on her feet this time. She landed amongst the ferns with a dull thud and lay there, looking like an abandoned doll.

Iroh smiled in relief as a flash of festive orange and yellow joined Zuko on the ground for the barest instant before springing away into the jungle, whisking the prince away with him.

Entrusting my nephew's life to a 12 year old is a surprisingly easy thing to do, Iroh reflected as he and the crewmen sprinted away from the battle scene, the Water Tribe siblings following them more willingly now that they were certain their friend had eluded capture.

Unnamed Island, Southern Sea

"Sokka and Katara told me about that little threat you made the other day."

Zuko looked sidelong at the young boy. "Huh?" he commented intelligently.

Aang sprang lightly over a rotting log before turning to regard his companion. "The one about maiming them and leaving them for the buzzards," he replied with a thin smile, watching as the Firebender clambered over the fallen tree.

Zuko swore as his foot broke through a fungus covered section of the trunk. With a laugh, the Avatar loosed his struggling comrade from the log with a gust of air. Zuko stumbled awkwardly upon landing, a vine caught about his feet, waving his arms frantically to regain balance. He fell against a tree clumsily and very nearly set fire to it. With a small snarl he wrenched his boots free of the vine before turning to level a fierce glare at the monk, only to growl in irritation when he discovered that the boy was no longer in sight.

"Ava–" A noise directly behind him cut off Zuko's call. He whirled around, his fists clenching in preparation to deal out punishment to his evasive prisoner. He instead stumbled back in surprise when Aang thrust his face forward, his nose very nearly bumping the Firebender's.

"What are you doing?" Zuko asked, his golden eyes flickering to the side, seeking an escape route. He would need one, seeing as the Airbender had apparently gone insane (or maybe he had always been).

Aang prowled toward the Prince, a determined and somewhat devious expression on his childish face. His gray eyes focused on the Firebender intently. "You see, Zuko," he spoke in a low, dangerous voice, "I have found a flaw in your threat to my friends, a very important one as it happens. Do you know what that is?"

Zuko gulped audibly as Aang stepped into his way, effectively stopping him from making his escape. "Er... No." Was the kid going to seek revenge for his friends?

The Avatar grinned, pacing to and fro, herding Zuko back until the Fire Heir's back was pressed to a tree. Aang edged forward and Zuko raised his hands defensively. The monk's grin widened. "Then I'll tell you, since it is oh so important."

Zuko began moving his hands slowly, calling forth his inner fire.

"There aren't any buzzards on this island."

"Stay back, you... huh? What?"

Aang smiled at him and shook his head slightly. "There are no buzzards on this island. Buzzards, or buteo, are mainland raptors."

Zuko gazed at him in disbelief. "Of course, buzzard is a pretty broad term. Seeing as it can refer to vultures – which is pretty much synonymous to buzzard; can be a derogatory name for several large birds that are generally omnivorous but mainly scavenge, such as the raven; and can even be used in some areas to refer to some birds of prey that are considered pests." Aang smirked at him arrogantly, his head held high.

Zuko just gaped in response. This was not what he had expected.

Aang paused, tilting his head thoughtfully to one side. "Actually," he continued, "Albatrosses are sometimes ranked as buzzards, in the same way ravens are. So I suppose an albatross could've counted, but I doubt you'd find too many of those in this area."

He arched an eyebrow at the older boy. "It was a rather empty threat, though. Kinda silly of you, but I guess we all can't have learned about birds as well as me. You know, being an Airbender and all, I was expected to show some knowledge of birds and I do like animals rather a lot."

Unnamed Island, Southern Sea

"We should go look for him," muttered Katara.

Sokka looked sidelong at her. "Well, I suppose if we uproot the tree."

He glanced up at aforesaid tree as he spoke. It was a nice tree as far as trees went, with smooth bark and soft, light green leaves. It was a better tree to be tied to than the last – the trunk's slick surface was much more preferable to that of the lumpy thing they had been tied to earlier.

Though I'd rather not be tied to a tree at all, thank you very much, Sokka mused. No offense meant to you, of course, tree, he thought at the tree.

Inwardly, the tree smiled. Sokka thought it even winked at him. Wait... winked? Trees don't wink! The warrior looked up at the branches above his head more carefully. A rustle of leaves and a flash of white made him smile.

Tai Yang Island, Southern Sea

Oh, you owe me, Water Boy. You and your kin female, thought Momo as he gnawed at the ropes binding his pet Air Boy's troupe to the tree.

"C'mon, Momo, chew faster!" Momo growled through the ropes between his teeth and bat the boy's arm irritably with his tail.

One day, boy, I will let myself be caught as foolishly as you have been and then you will have to chew me loose. And then we'll see who's faster. Momo paused and threw an appraising look at Sokka's large mouth. Or maybe not.

Unnamed Island, Southern Sea

Iroh studied the pair across from him quietly. To the Water siblings' credit, they looked slightly remorseful for their actions. Or maybe they were regretting getting caught.

"So, how did you get loose?" he inquired, tucking his hands in his sleeves.

The boy grit his teeth and crossed his arms. His sister pursed her lips. The meaning of their body language was clear: they would not reveal their resources.

No matter, their resource revealed himself.

Iroh looked down in surprise at the furry animal winding itself about his legs. He smiled at the sight of the Avatar's pet lemur. "Hello there, little one. What do you want?"

Momo sat up on his haunches and tugged at the elderly man's robes with a tiny hand. With another smile, Iroh allowed the creature to settle on his lap. He stroked Momo's fur as he faced the Water Tribe natives.

"Traitor," muttered Sokka sourly.

Momo purred.