Chapter 14: I'm going to miss all that hair.

"Ko-chaaan!" I whined, sitting beside him while Iroh-san received his massage. I pouted slightly and punched the brute. He frowned, but looked to my ponytail, tied back in one of his ribbons. "I'm bored."

"I care how?" Zuko remarked, frowning. I just couldn't get a smile out of him anymore. Not that I ever did get one out of him. Sighing, I waited for Iroh-san to finish before we set out.

"I am so glad to have you back with us, Sammy!" Iroh-san said with great enthusiasm. I tried my best to smile back, but I couldn't do very well. Zuko seemed more down than usual. Either way, I hoped that it was enough to fool Iroh-san. The last thing I wanted was for him to worry.

"I see that Zuko has given you a token of gratitude, but I thought you had died!" Iroh-san exclaimed. I laughed, and twirled my hair, that fell to just about my butt.

"I did too, Iroh-san. I did too."

We arrived at a seashell shop and Iroh had bought a lot of the shells. I laughed as he went on about how this would be a wonderful souvenir to look at in future times. "Iroh-san, you can show that too all of your grandchildren!" I said, laughing.

"Hello, Zuko."

I looked back to see someone who looked very similar to Zuko. I saw the scowl on Zuko's face, as he demanded, "What are you doing here?"

"Zuko, you know it is very well my culture that we greet with hellos before asking questions. Have you become that uncivilized already?" the girl asked with a slight smirk. I frowned. This girl was being a jerk. She was a JERK-MEANIE-POOP-PAIN-IN-MY-BEHIND kind of person, really.

"I asked, what are you doing here," Zuko pressed.

"Yes, why are you here?" Iroh-san backed up. The girl sneered at Iroh-san with distaste. Could I punch her? Seriously. This girl was acting like we were… garbage. YOU KNOW WHAT'S GARBAGE? HER BANGS ARE GARBAGE! NEH, TAKE THAT!

"I see it passed on to you too, Iroh. Either way…" the girl turned back to Zuko and casually went on. "Father wants you to return, Zuko. There is rebellion going on, and family is only what he can trust now. He says he regrets banning you and wants you to come back home."

"Home…"

I almost punched Zuko. So… this snot was his sister—just as bad as his girlfriend. Zula? I think that's her name. Zuko, Zula… hahah, they rhyme. However, this is not a laughing matter. Zuko wanted to go home, but didn't Iroh-san say that Zuko's father was not one to forgive? Either way, I was ignoring Zula and was pleased when she left.

"I… don't like her," I said, once I could hear she was out of ear-shot. I looked at Zuko. Boy, he was in shock. It might as well say, 'I'M DUMB' across his forehead. I could WRITE that right on there and he wouldn't care. "I think she's lying!"

"Sammy is right, Zuko. My brother is not one to regret," Iroh agreed. Zuko frowned at the both of us.

"You don't know anything! I can finally go home!" Zuko shouted.

"But—"

"There is no but's about this! My father wants me home. Don't you know how long I have been waiting for this day?" Zuko asked me. I nodded. Last time, I wanted to go home so badly also. It seemed like we were in each other's emotions all the time.

"I…" I stopped myself in mid-sentence and nodded. Giving my best smile, I turned away. "I will be going now. I wouldn't be accepted. I'm not from the Fire Nation."

"At least stay with us until you say goodbye," Iroh-san said. His eyes told me all. I could see it. He didn't believe the story one bit like I did. "I would much rather have it that way."

The morning soon came and Iroh-san and Zuko were ready. I smiled as I watched them board the ship. Soon, the captain shouted, "Troops! Load the prisoners on board!"

That set it off. My emotions were swirling. Zuko and Iroh-san started the battle and it raged on. I couldn't do anything, but luckily I was far enough to not be involved. But… this whole time, Zuko's hope had died. I saw his smile. I saw his joy. He was so… happy to go home, but he couldn't. No… he couldn't.

"TSUBASA!" I screamed out and wings sprouted from my back as I jumped over the troops. They disappeared as I landed and I saw Zula with that cocky smirk on her face. I growled so angrily that the ship began to rock. "CLAWS!"

My hands were turned into fists and transparent claws appeared on my knuckles, three on each hand. I dove for Zula, not seeing anything else around me. I was enraged, and nothing would stop my fury! I managed a rough scratch on the side of her stomach.

"What are you—?" she asked me. Quickly, I felt a jolt of pain course through my body and I flew backward. But did that stop me? HECK NO! I got back up and attacked at twice the strength. I could see the confusion in her eyes. "You're not…"

"YOU'RE GONNA DIE!" I screeched and a wave of sound flew from my position, knocking her over. "YOU DISRESPECTFUL LITTLE SNOT BALL! YOU RUINED EVERYTHING!"

I soon saw the electricity form in her hands and Zuko pulled me away, putting himself in my place. My eyes widen in shock and I quickly screamed. "Don't do this, you idiot!"

Before Zula could attack, Iroh-san leaped in and directed the lightning away. It knocked Zula off the ship and I almost dove in to beat the snot out of her before Zuko and Iroh-san dragged me away.

"That little snot ball of crud!" I ranted, angry. My power had faded and pretty nothing happened. Iroh-san sighed and sadly placed his hand on my shoulder.

"Sammy, we will have to change our looks," Iroh stated. I knew what he meant. I grabbed my hair my instinct. "I hope you do not mind."

"Anything, if it will mean that you will all won't be harmed," I answered.

"It is not for ours, but for yours."

So, we sat aside the river and soon, Zuko cut off his ponytail, and Iroh-san cut off his. I was handed the blade and brought my hair to my side and cut it all off until it was about a few centimeters past my shoulder with a few lopsided bangs and let my hair flow in the wind.

"I'm going to miss all that hair," I sighed, frowned. But I looked up with a smile and everything felt a little better.

End of Chapter 14: I'm going to miss all that hair.

Author's Notes: SORRY! Man... this has not been my weekend. o.o My internet has been a total butt-munch to me, it's not even funny. I remember fixing this chapter... guess it didn't save. Sorry everyone.

I bought Avatar bandages...

Sammy