Sorry it took long my computer plug wasn't working again and I had to get a new one, then I to read at mass on Tuesday…. So I made it up by putting Zuko in this chapter. I hope you like. R&R.
**Disclaimer** I do not own Avatar the Last Airbender. I only own Pan and Alia.
" This should bring your fever down." Katara said, dapping a wet towel to Sokka's forehead. I watched as he coughed more and more each time getting worse. I felt bad for Sokka, I mean I've had the flue before and it wasn't fun. But this looked worse.
" You know what I love about Appa the most. His sense of humor." Sokka said with a stuffy nose. I walked closer over to my sick friend.
" Alia don't get to close, I don't need two sick people to take care of." I ignored Katara's warning and sat beside Sokka. He looked worse closer up. I cold see little beads of sweat on his forehead.
Aang came over. " How's Sokka doing?" I looked up at Aang then over to Sokka who was laughing for no reason what so ever.
" Not so good." Katara answered, still dabbing the wet piece of cloth onto his head. " Being out in that storm really did a number on him." I looked down and saw Sokka now shivering and twitching his hands, snot was dripping out of his nose.
" I couldn't find any ginger root for the tea, but I found a map."
" And how is a map suppose to help Sokka get better?" I asked.
" Well there is an herbalist up at that mountain, we could probably find a cure for Sokka there."
" Aang he is in no condition to traveled. Sokka just needs more rest. I'm sure he will better by tomorrow." Katara said. She started to cough as well. If Katara was getting sick will I get sick also? I was starting to panic.
" Not you to." Aang whined.
" Relax, it was just a little cough. I'm fine." Then she started to cough again.
" That's what they all say." I said standing up and moving away from the two sick siblings.
" I'm going to find some medicine." Aang said grabbing his staff and standing up. I watched him as he walked over to the window. Then lightning flashed across the sky.
" Maybe its safer if I go on foot."
" Aang wait let me go with you." I said running over to him.
" Are you sure?"
" Yes, I'm positive. I rather look for some medicine lady then take care of those two. Appa roared and Sokka laughed hysterically. I turned back to Aang.
" Ok fine, just hop on my back." He said. I stood there with a puzzled look on my face. " Well, what are you waiting for?"
" Aang I know I'm skinny, but you are twelve. I don't think you can carry me." I know I didn't weigh that much maybe 95, but it was still a lot for him to carry.
" It's the only weigh you'll be able to keep up." I sighed on climbed onto his back. Aang took off running. I didn't expect to go this fast. I held on tight to him afraid that he might drop me.
We arrived at the herbalist place. I hopped off of Aangs back. I ran my fingers through my long dark brown hair untangling the knots and pulling out twigs.
We ran into a dome looking building and approached her.
" Hello I'm sorry to barge in like this, but we need some medicine for our friends. They have fevers and they've been coughing…" Aang said. The old lady cut him off before he could finish his sentence.
" Settle down now young man. Your friends are going to be just fine." She said calmly.
" How do you know that Grandma." I sneered.
" I've been up here for over 40 years you know. "
" No kidding."
" Use to be others, but they all left years ago. Now its just me and Miyuki."
" That's nice." Aang said.
" Wounded earth kingdom troops still come by now and again. Brave boys and thanks to my remedies they always leave in better shape then when they arrived." She said mixing things in a bowl.
" Nice history lesson, now how about the medicine for our friends?" I pleaded.
" Hold on, I just need to add one last ingredient." She said walking off mumbling all types of plants and flowers. I turned to Aang a gestured to the old lady.
" Just be patient." He mouthed to me. I rolled my eyes and looked at an interesting flower.
After a couple of minutes she found what she was looking for. I walked over to the table where Aang was resting his head.
" Finally." Aang mumbled. He reached over to take the bowl from her hand. Wrong move. She whacks his hand away with a wooded spoon. I couldn't help but laugh and the sight.
" Hands off, what do you think you're doing?" The lady asked still having the spoon ready to whack just in case Aang might try to take it again.
" Taking the cure to my friends." Aang stammered. The old lady lowered the spoon and laughed.
" This isn't a cure, its Miyuki's dinner. Plum blossom is her favorite." I looked at her with disbelief. She has to be joking.
" What about our friends?" Aang whined.
" All they need is some frozen wood frogs. There are plenty of them down in the valley swamp."
" And what are we exactly suppose to do with frozen wood frogs?" I asked.
" Why suck on them of course." She said laughing. I immediately felt sick to my stomach. Of course the sight of Katara and Sokka sucking on frogs was hilarious, but it was also sickening.
" Suck on them!" Aang exclaimed.
" The frog skin releases a substance that will cure your friends, but make sure you get plenty. Once those little critters thaw out, they're useless."
" You're insane, aren't you?" Aang asked. She said yes. We continued to look at her.
" Well, I'm officially dumbfounded. Can we go now Aang?" He shook his head and we hightailed it out of there.
As we were running, two arrows flew out of nowhere and pinned Aangs leg to the ground. Luckily he didn't topple over. I pulled the arrows out and looked up at the sky. A bunch of them were aiming right toward us.
Aang blew a gust of air and sent the arrows away from us.
" I think you dropped this." Aang said holding up an arrow to the sky. I slapped my self on the forehead. Was it just me or was this day getting weirder by the seconds. I looked back up to see some men in the trees. They looked like the Yu Yan archers. I always wanted to meet one.
They started to shoot more arrows at us, especially Aang. I tried to dodge the arrows while running away. Aang and me came to a cliff; the only way was to jump.
" Do we have to?" I asked. I turned around to see the archers running after us. I sighed. " I guess we have to." Aang and I jumped off the cliff, also followed by the archers. We hit the trees on our way down, branches smacking into my face.
We started to jump from tree to tree down to the bottom. I started to think how lucky I was to grow up in a forest, or else I probably would have hit the tree hard. As we were jumping, they were still shooting at us.
Eventually we got to the bottom and what to my surprise. We were down by the swamp. We ran into the water, then Aang sort of fell into something. I pulled him up and he had a frog in his hand.
" A frog!" He exclaimed. Then an arrow shot it out of his hand. I was starting to not like the Yu Yan Archers. I've had to many arrows come near my head for one day. Aang and I started to pick up frogs while still being shot at.
I lifted by head and saw Aang pinned against the fallen tree bark. I tried to get over to him, but an arrow shot me in the shoulder knocking me down. They shot more arrows at him, but Aang made an ice wall. It didn't last long; they broke the wall then pinned both his arms down. Then shot a net at him.
Four of the archers walked over to ties Aang up, while 2 went over to me. I looked up at them, pain still in my shoulder. They didn't say anything, and then one reached out and yanked the arrow out of my shoulder. I let out a cry of pain.
" Alia!" I heard Aang yell. I couldn't answer back, the pain was too much. One went to tie me up, but I water whipped him away. I tried to fight my way out of their grip, but it was no use. They carried Aang and Me to wherever they were taking us.
After about an hour of walking we reached a huge bate door. I looked over to Aang with sad eyes. Was this it, was this the end. I never thought my life would end this way. I started to miss Jet and my home. If I listened to Jet and stayed with him, I would never be in this position right now.
" I'm sorry I brought you into this." Aang said sadly. I felt bad for him. If I get hurt or die because of Aang, he would never forgive himself.
" Mpmhpmhmhp." Is all I could say because they put a cover over my mouth when I wouldn't stop screaming and shouting. As we walked in, we were handed over to a guy in a uniform. I saw one of the archers whispering to him, the soldier nodded in agreement.
The firenation soldier took us up some stairs that led to a tower. When we entered the room, there were a few men in it. None of them dressed like our 'escort'.
" Well what do we have here?" A guy maybe in his 50's asked us. I looked at him with disgust.
" I know one of you is the Avatar, but who's they pretty little lady?" A couple things a hate; one is being called a lady; two is being called little lady and three the way this guy is speaking to me.
" An archer told me she was with the Avatar when they found him. They also said she was a waterbender." The soldier said. The commander nodded his head and walked over to me. To grabbed my chin and looked me in the eye. He glared at me for a few moments then let me go. I quickly went back over to Aang who had a worried look on his face.
" Little lady here looks a lot like firenation to me, except the eyes." He did have a point. I had very little water tribe features, except for my big eyes, which were blue. My skin was very pale, but I did have a few freckles on my face.
I looked over to Aang and he smiled weakly. The commander snapped his finger and we turned our attention to him.
" Admiral Zhao wants the Avatar put in a room, make sure he is tied up in chains. As for the girl, we'll just have to wait and see what the Admiral says. But for now put her in the same room as the boy. Make sure she is chained up ass well." The commander turned around and went back to his other work.
I was happy that I would be with Aang instead of with a bunch of men in a room. A shiver went up my spine at the thought.
We were led into a big room and in the middle were chains that were tied to two monuments with fire at the top. I watched as they tied Aang up. He was trying to break free of their grip, but it was no use.
I was next they tied me right beside Aang almost. I also tried to break free, but to no avail it was also no use. Once they made sure we couldn't escape our bindings the soldier left the room. The only good part was that they took the gap out of my mouth.
" That's right! You better leave before I kick your asses all the way to Ba Sing Se and back!" I yelled. All they did was laugh and slam the door. I sighed and slumped down on the ground.
" Well it can't get any better than this." I said sarcastically. I wondered what Katara and Sokka were doing right now, probably acting like idiots. I sighed again, and then the door opened. I didn't bother to look up and see who it was.
" So this is the great Avatar, master of all the elements." The person said. His voice sounded so familiar, but I couldn't place it. Before I could see his faced, he was out of my seeing vision.
" I don't know how you were able to elude the fire nation for a hundred years, but your little game of hide and seek is over." He came back around my way. I looked up at his face. It was the man with the big sideburns that Pan attacked at the market when he was somewhat molesting me.
He looked down at me with wide eyes. A smile slowly appeared on his face. I didn't want to know what he was thinking.
" Untie me and I will fight you right now!" I didn't realize Aang was talking until now.
" Um, no. Tell me, how does it feel to be the only Airbender left? Do you miss your people?" He asked. I gasped; only a real jackass would ask that kind of question.
I stood up quickly. " Bastard!" I screamed. He turned his attention back towards me. He walked over to me and put his on my face I tried to move away, but he held me face firm in his hand.
" Oh don't worry, you won't be killed like they were." He said talking to Aang, but still looking at me. " See if you die then you would just be reborn and the firenation would have to begin its search for the Avatar all over again. So I'll keep you alive, but just barley."
He stroked my face; I took my opportunity and chomped down on his hand. He yet out a yell a pulled away. I growled a little just for kicks.
" And you, we'll lets just say you'll think twice before biting me again. Who knows you might be useful in more ways than one."
He started to walk off again. I looked over to Aang he nodded. Aang sucked in a breath of air and blew it at the perverted middle-aged man. Commander Zhao went flying into the wall.
" Blow all the winds you want. Your situation is fugal; there is no escaping this fortress. And no one is coming to rescue you." Zhao slammed the door and left us alone. I started to cry a little. I could feel the tears running down my face.
" I'm sorry I got you into this situation." Aang said.
" I should've stayed with Jet. He warned me about things like this, but I never paid attention." I said my tears coming down more and more.
" Don't worry, I'll find away out of here."
" You heard Zhao, no one is going to come and we aren't going to leave. Face it Aang it's useless." I slumped back down onto the floor and prayed to all of the gods for a miracle.
I watched as Aang struggled with his chains. I had given up 5 minutes ago. If I really new fire bending, then I probably could have melted the chains off, but I didn't want to risk burning my hands.
" Its no use Aang your not getting out of those chains, without someone's help." I said solemnly.
" What no don't leave frogs, my friends are sick and the need you! Please go back to being frozen!" Aang whined while still struggling with the chains. I watched as the frogs crawled away.
I shot my head up when I heard clanging coming from outside the door. I turned towards Aang.
" What is that noise?" I asked, still looking at the door.
" I don't know."
We continued to stare at the metal door, until we heard the door unlock. Slowly the door opened and appeared a person in a blue devilish mask. He pulled out his sword and made is weigh over toward Aang quickly.
I turned away, not wanting to what might happen next. I heard the collision of metal and Aangs screams stopped. I lifted my head up to see the chains were cut. The blue masked figure slashed the remaining chains off of Aang. He turned around and walked away from us.
" Who are you? What's going on? Are you here to rescue me?" Aang asked
" And are you going to untie me also?" I added.
The Blue Spirit-, which I decided to call him, that-turned around and looked at me for a second then walked back over to where I was chained up and broke the chain off of my hands. Once again he walked toward the door. He gestured us to follow him, something didn't seem right about this guy. But if he was my only way out of this hellhole then I'll just have to deal with it.
I walked out of the room to see a guard on the floor with his hands and feet tied. When Aang wasn't looking I walked over and kicked the guard.
" Now you know how I felt." I whispered. I eventually caught up to Aang. He was on the floor gathering frogs. The Blue Spirit grabbed Aang by his shirt and started to pull him away.
" Don't worry Aang, we can get more when we leave this place." I said patting Aang on the back.
Blue Spirits Pov.
After taking care of the guards I opened the door to see the Avatar in chains right in front of me. I also saw a girl maybe around 14 tied up beside him. She was new to his group, I assumed. She looked firenation, but with big blue eyes, long brown hair and pink lips.
I walked over to the Avatar and broke the chains holding him. As I was walking to the door while the Avatar was asking a million questions. When he finished the girl spoke.
" Are you going to untie me?" She asked looking at me. I stared at her for a couple seconds deciding if this would be a good idea to bring his friend. Without thinking, I went back over and broke her chains also.
I realized we were wasting time and that all of us needed to get out of here. I walked back over to the door and gestured for them to follow. I passed the soldier that I tied up not even looking down at him. A few seconds later I realized the Avatar and his friend weren't behind me anymore. Coming back around the corner I saw him picking up frogs. I grabbed him by his shirt dragging him away.
" Don't worry we can get more later." The girl said
We were climbing the wall, when an alarm went off. I almost dropped the rope, trying to cover my ears.
" There on the wall!" I heard someone yell. I looked up to see a soldier was cutting the rope. We started to fall to the ground screaming until Aang air bended us on our feet. The Blue Spirit pointed to the open gate. I started to run towards it as fast as my legs could carry me.
" The Avatar has escaped, close all of the gates immediately!" I heard Zhao yell.
Hearing him made me run faster.
" Stay close to me." Aang said. I did what I was told to do. A group of soldiers got in our way. Aang shot a blast of air at them sending them flying away. We kept running until some soldiers surrounded me the blue man.
I couldn't bend and I didn't have my arrows. All I could do is try to avoid getting hurt. I tried to punch a soldier, but pain shot through my arm. I remembered what happened.
Aang came over to us and blasted us up onto the wall. I didn't feel so great flying like that. I landed with a thud on my shoulder that is already injured. I winced in pain, but got up anyways.
Aang grabbed him and me and we flew up in the air. I looked up and saw Aang trying his hardest to stay up. I knew this was too much weight for Aang to carry. A spear flew past me.
' Great now they're throwing spears at us.' I thought.
The Blue Spirit kept kicking away most of the spears. Eventually Aang's arms gave out and we all tumbled to the ground. Second time today I've fallen on my shoulder. Guards were coming up the stairs. Aang and Blue were able to hold them off.
I walked over to the edge and saw some of the soldiers coming up on bamboo ladders.
" Hey guys." I said pointing to the soldiers coming up. Aang and The Blue Spirit wasted no time fighting them off.
" Take this. Jump onto my back." Aang said handing a ladder to blue. I climbed onto The Blue Spirits back as blue climbed onto Aang. If we weren't trying to escape the firenation, I would laugh my head off.
Blue Spirit handed Aang the next ladder. We were almost there. I looked down and saw fire.
" Jump!" Aang said. I did exactly that I thought I could make it; I knew I could make it. But did I make it? No. I went flying to the ground screaming bloody murder on my way. My prayers were answered; I didn't land on my shoulder. I landed on my arm. I can't describe the type of pain I was in. It hurt so damn much. I was 100% sure I broke my arm. Seconds later Aang and our rescuer fell down and landed right beside me while I was trying to get up. Aang didn't see me on the ground but the blue-faced man did. He saw I was trying to get up. Blue held out his hand, I took his hand with my good arm.
Soldiers surrounded us as I stoop up. They shot a stream of fire, but Aang protected us with air.
" Hold your fire, the Avatar must be captured alive." Zhao said. Blue pulled his swords out and held them to Aangs throat.
" Are you crazy?" I whispered. He didn't respond. Zhao and him were having a glaring contest. Aang looked at me with pleading eyes. I realized what he was doing. I held my finger up to my lips and Aang looked at me curiously.
" Open the gate." Zhao said. He took a second to look at me. I glared right at him he averted his eyes immediately.
" Admiral, what are you doing?" A firenation man asked.
" I said let them out!" He barked. I heard the gate start to open from behind me. Blue, Aang and I started to walk backwards slowly. I stuck my tongue out at Zhao just to see what he would do. I got a death glare out of him.
We continued to walk backwards; he was still holding swords to Aangs throat.
" I think its safe to let him go now." I said. The Blue Spirit didn't say anything or look at me. His eyes were focused on the fort.
" I said." I didn't finish, next thing I knew The Blue Spirit was knocked to the ground by an arrow. It didn't go into him-lucky bastard-but it knocked him out. Aang stared at him with shock; part of his mask came off his face. Aang made a cloud of dust that blocked anyone from seeing us.
Aang pulled off our rescuers mask and fell backwards gasping.
" What's wrong? Who is he?" I asked. I looked at his face; he had a huge scar over his left eye. I realized it was prince Zuko. " Oh." Was the only thing I could say? Aang got up and started to run away.
" Aang, we can't leave him like this." I said.
" But."
" But nothing he is still a human being. He helped us, now we must help him." Aang nodded his head. He picked up the unconscious prince from the ground and ran off. I followed behind.
I was sitting on a tree root watching Prince Zuko sleep. I realized it seemed kind of creepy. He would be cute if it wasn't for the scar and the ponytail. I sighed looked at my shoulder.
I could see blood on my shirt and there was a tear. When we get back to camp, I'll ask Katara to look at it when she feels better.
Hearing groaning coming from the ground, I looked down and saw Zuko awake. He stared at Aang.
" You know what's the worst thing about being born 100 years ago? I miss all the friends I use to hang out with. Before the war started, I use to always visit my friend Kuzon. The two of us we would get into so much trouble together. He was one of the best friends I ever had. And he was from the firenation, just like you." Aang said. His story was making me tear up. Zuko was still staring at him.
" If we would've known each other back then, do you think we could have been friends to?" A silence washed over us. Aang was smiling. Such a calm-peaceful-tranquil moment. I was about to say something when Zuko shot a fire blast at Aang.
I sat there with my mouth open while Aang hopped away from the fire leaving me sitting there. I watched the prince as he watched his honor jump away.
Standing up, I jumped off of the tree root. I guess Zuko didn't know I was here because when I hit the ground he jumped a little. He looked at me and I looked at him. I took a step toward him and Zuko got into a defensive stance.
I didn't feel like fighting, plus my arm still hurt. All I did was smile at him. His expression became confused.
" Thank you for, well you know. Helping us escape." I said. He continued to stare. Walking off, I turned around one last time and waved to him then ran off to go find Aang. I had an idea where he might be.
Finally I reached the swamp, I saw Aang picking up frogs. I walked over quietly.
" Hey." I said.
" Hey." He replied. I stood there in the water watching. I noticed a few arrows were sticking out; walking over I picked up a few and examined them. They looked really nice. I decided that I would take as many I could find.
" Hey, what happened to your arm?" Aang asked. I looked down at my arms. Blood was oozing out from my wound.
" You know get hit with an arrow in the shoulder then fall about 20 feet onto the ground a three times. No big deal. Just an average night with the Avatar."
He laughed at my joke and we made our way back up to camp.
Aang and I walked in slowly dragging our feet.
" Here suck on this, it will make you feel better." Aang said putting the frogs into Sokka and Kataras mouth. I collapsed on the floor, pain shooting through my arm when I made contact.
" How was your trip? Did you guys make any new friends?" Sokka asked while sucking on the frog. I glanced over to Aang to see what he will say.
" No." was his only answer. I felt bad for Aang, he tried to make friends with the stubborn prince but it was impossible.
15 minutes passed and they were still sucking on frogs. Aang was asleep and Pan was lying on my stomach.
" This taste amazing." Sokka said. I glanced at him. He looked funny sucking on a frog. Sokka spit the frog out when it became unfrozen. Katara did the same. They started to wipe their mouths clean of the taste of frog, while Momo and Pan were chasing he little creatures.
I was laughing my head off at the sight. Sokka and Katara glared at me.
" Hey it was the herbalist not me." I said raising my hands in the air forgetting about my shoulder.
" Owww." I cried out loud. Katara looked at my shoulder and saw my wound.
" What happened? How did this happen? Let me see." Katara was saying. All I could think of now was welcome to hell.
Hope you liked this; I wanted to make Zhao a major pervert because he deserves it. Sorry if any of you liked Zhao anyway next chapter will come quicker. So don't worry, also REVIEW. Hope I don't sound desperate, but it keeps up my hope. I'm hoping to reach 20 reviews or more. I take anonymous also. So anyone can review. Have a good night and see you next time.
