A/N: ...

... ^-^ I friggin love you guys. Seriously, I got so many supporting reviews, and the chapter was an author's note. Damn! You guys must really love this story. And, note taken, I'll definitely do the omake fic now. I figure that if I put all my bizarre ideas into that one, I'll be able to cut to the chase in Happy Endings. That means more plot, less side-crap.

I still can't believe how long this fic is. I might have to re-write the earlier chapters and cut down on the excess. But for now, it's staying the way it is.

Without further ado, you awesome, bad-ass readers, here is the next chapter. Enjoy!

Chapter Twenty Three: Fight or Flight, Part II; When All Else Fails...

(Zuko's POV, third person)

Stupid peasant...

Heaving a sigh, Zuko sat up slowly; closing his eyes and squeezing them shut as his fingers massaged his temples for the umpteenth time. Damn that girl. This was all her fault; both that he didn't have the Avatar AND that Zhao was detaining them. Because of her flighty temper, his entire crew was going to be under scrutiny until this mess could get cleared up.

Or until the Agni Kai. But Zuko knew that if it came down to a duel at sunset, they were all screwed. Julie may be a fighter, but she's definitely not a warrior. Zuko doubted she could beat up anyone.

"She's such a pain," he muttered. "That stupid girl...Julie..."

He didn't like using her name. It would really show just how far gone he was if he started acknowledging her by name. Granted, it was getting harder to hide now that they were no longer enemies...and even he had to admit that he was content with her company at times.

Joining her at meals and making her do tarot readings for him had only been ploys to learn more about her, to make sure that she wasn't a threat. But he had expected the task to be close to unbearable. To his surprise, it was just the opposite.

Zuko couldn't remember exactly when things had changed. Maybe it had been when he found her playing with the Avatar's bison; when she listened to his troubles with something akin to sincere interest. Her eyes, watching him talk about his banishment; while wary, they hadn't been judging him like they should have been. That was more than he had expected from anyone, let alone an annoying, trouble-making peasant girl.

He felt a head-ache coming on. "At least she can't get into any more trouble..."

At once, there was an urgent knock at the door. The Fire Prince felt himself stiffen at the disturbance, already sensing the cause. Iroh poked his head inside, but hesitated when he saw the look on his Zuko's face.

"If this has anything to do with that girl, then I don't want to hear about it," he said quickly.

Iroh chose to ignore that; or perhaps he had no choice in the matter at all. "Julie has attempted to flee the docks, and was captured by Zhao's men along with a young Earthbender."

Zuko digested that for a moment, trying to make sense of his topsy-turvey emotions. Foremost was anger. It was clearly impossible for her to go through a single day without causing him undue stress and aggravation. But he also felt stung that she had been going to leave him and his Uncle. He had no idea why that should have bothered him, but it did.

"Where is she now?"

"In Zhao's tent. You might want to come help straighten things out. The Commander is accusing our crew of assisting in her escape. He is calling us all traitors."

Zuko cursed. "All of this over a peasant! I just don't understand it, Uncle. Zhao has to know that she isn't the Avatar! Why is he doing all of this?"

"Perhaps it is merely a matter of pride. Julie, a girl of no rank or station, has insulted the man to his face. And in front of you, the Fire Lord's only son."

"His only exiled son."

"Even so, Zhao is very ambitious and obviously dislikes you. My honest opinion is that he is using her as an example. Even he was bound to notice how protective you were acting before. In punishing her, he must think that he is punishing you."

Zuko sputtered. "I...she...that's ridiculous..."

"Is it?"

The two locked gazes for a heated moment. Nothing else needed to be said.

The soldiers quickly dragged me back to Zhao's tent. When they wouldn't let me walk on my own, I spitefully dug my heels into the earth. The silk shoes that Jee had given me were now completely ruined, but I figured that it was worth it. These guys were all jerks.

"Move!" the guard on my immediate left growled, jerking me roughly.

I ended up losing a shoe just as we reached Zhao's tent. The flap of the tent was held open as I was thrown inside. For a moment I listened to Kuba kicking wildly at the soldiers holding him. He couldn't Earthbend the way his arms had been bound, but he was damn well trying to. It all proved futile when he was thrown inside and hit the ground beside me.

For a minute, we just stared at each other.

"Well that sucked. A lot."

Kuba didn't reply. He looked bitter and refused to acknowledge me. His shoulders were stiff as he tried to get his cuffs off, without success.

"Want some help?" I asked, edging closer.

Kuba scowled, but nodded. Since my arms were also tied behind my back, I scooted backwards until we were sitting back to back. Then I strained my wrists trying to get a good feel of the cuffs. Unfortunately, I was not Toph Bei-Fong; but I think I managed to arrange them so that they weren't digging into his wrists the way they had been before.

"They won't budge," I told him.

"S'okay. That feels better, anyway."

We both fell silent as the flap to the tent opened again, and Zhao entered the room like a cold breeze.

"So, we meet again," he said smugly. He looked down at my disshevled kimono and smirked. "I like the dress. I think this suits you much better."

Hastily, I tucked the hem of the kimono over the one leg I had exposed and glared at Zhao. I watched him warily as he came over to me and flinched when he gently took a strand of black hair in his fingers.

"And I like the new hair-do."

"You're such a creep!" I snapped, feeling my cheeks burn in embarrassment.

"Sticks and stones." His voice held a note of dismissal. Carelessly, he let the hair fall out of his hands and gave Kuba a searching look. "I don't believe I've had the honor of meeting your little friend here."

"He's not my friend," I immediately denied. "I don't know why your men brought him along too. I don't even remember seeing him near me."

"You're a terrible liar, Julie."

He gave me a twisted, amused little smile. Seeing it made me feel sick to my stomach.

"My men tell me that you're an Earthbender," he said to Kuba. "How old are you?"

Kuba had stopped glaring. The look he was giving Zhao was pure, blank indifference. "Nine."

"So young to be on your own. Where are your parents?"

"Got none."

"I see. And did you know you were aiding an enemy of the Fire Nation, boy?"

I felt Zhao grab the back of my dress as he hauled me on to my feet. I tried to swat at him, but it was hopeless. My arms were still bound behind my back. Bizarrely, I got the mental image of someone holding a cat by the scruff of its neck and dangling it in the air.

"Let go of me!" I snapped.

Zhao dropped me unceremoniously to the floor. I felt my legs buckle and I ended up kneeling in front of Kuba, who was watching me with wide, nervous eyes; the same eyes he had worn when he had nearly stabbed me back in the alley. Zhao was scaring him.

"I never met her in my life," Kuba muttered. He averted his gaze so that Zhao couldn't see the lie in his face. "I just wanted to mess with the guards. I wasn't trying to help her or nothing."

"You were Earthbending at my men. I consider that to be a very hostile act. If I wanted, I could easily have you executed for that."

I felt the air leave my lungs. He can't...!

Five feet away, Kuba stared back at me, equally as horrified. "Executed...?" he choked.

He can't do this! I can't let him do this!

But I didn't know what to do. I was helpless, and Zhao knew it. Not only did he know it, but he was loving every second of it.

"However, I am not an unreasonable man," he said. He paced the room as he smugly eyed the prey sprawled at his feet. "I can even be generous towards people who show me due loyalty." He turned and gave me that old, let's be friends smirk. "I'll be blunt. I know that Prince Zuko is hiding something. And I know that you know what it is. So I'll give you one last chance to tell me what it is."

I just stared at him. "What?"

"If I find your answer to my liking, I might just call off this Agni Kai of ours, girl. We can just forget any of this ever happened. And I'll even let the Earthbender child go. How does that sound to you?"

I looked at Kuba. He stared back at me, eyes wide.

Zhao was offering me a trade. A life for a life. That's what it was going to take to keep me alive. Not just me, but Kuba too. What was I going to do? I couldn't betray Zuko, but I couldn't just let Kuba die either.

"Do you promise you'll let him go?" I asked quietly. "I tell you everything, and you'll let him go? Just like that?"

"Of course."

I narrowed my eyes at him. "Unbind his chains first. I won't say a word until his chains are off."

Zhao glared at me. "You're not in the position to be giving orders, girl. This is your last chance. I suggest that you tell me everything I want to know before this deal comes off the table."

I bit my lip. I had a nasty decision on my plate.

Zuko fumed all the way to Zhao's tent, muttering things like, "Irresponsible..." and "thick-headed..." It didn't take a rocket-scientist to figure out who he was angry at. As he strode furiously down the docks, Iroh right behind him, he continued uttering dark promises under his breath. The passerby could almost swear that he had been breathing fire.

The only thing he stopped for was to pick up a single woman's shoe that had been carelessly dropped not far from Zhao's tent. It only took two seconds for everything to click into place in Zuko's mind; and when he did realize who the shoe belonged to, he felt another spike in his foul mood.

"Damn that girl," he muttered. "She'll be the death of us both."

Iroh didn't say anything. He didn't have to.

There were two guards stationed outside of Commander Zhao's tent, and neither of them were being very cooperative. Simply put, they were barring Zuko and Iroh from entering. The seconds were ticking by, and the Fire Prince's mood was growing increasingly sour by the minute. He was just about ready to snap when he received the same reply for the third time.

"I'm sorry, your Highness. But Commander Zhao's orders were clear. He wanted to interrogate the prisoners alone."

Zuko's patience had all but run out at this point.

"There is nothing to interrogate her about," he snapped. "Now stand aside before I do something you regret!"

"I suggest that you listen to him," Iroh warned them. "I'm afraid that my nephew isn't the most understanding person when he is angry, and..."

"We have our orders," said the guard, though there was muted alarm in his voice as he eyed Zuko. He could have sworn that the lad was breathing smoke out of his nostrils.

That was all his mind had time to process before Zuko grabbed him by the front of his armor and threw him away from the door. He followed up with a bout of flame aimed at the other guard's face. The man parried the blow, but ended up getting pushed back by several feet and falling flat on his butt.

Zuko stormed inside the tent, not sparing the guards a single glance. Iroh only paused to bow apologetically to the fallen men. "My sincerest apologies. Prince Zuko can actually be quite amiable at times. He just has a bit of a temper."

The guards blinked at him, bemused as the Dragon of the West followed Zuko into the tent.

I looked from Kuba to Zhao, to Kuba again. I had no idea what the right thing to do was.

"Tick, tock," said Zhao, reminding me that it was only a matter of time before his offer was revoked.

I felt my lips trembling as I opened my mouth. But before I could get another word edgewise, Kuba scrambled to his feet and locked furious gazes with Zhao. I tried to stop him, but he darted out of my reach and stood toe-to-toe against the Commander.

"You coward!" he yelled. "What kind of man bullies a weakling like her by taking a hostage?"

Zhao didn't bat an eye. He just reacted. In one swift movement, he grabbed Kuba by the neck and boxed him across the ears. I cried out as his fist slammed into his head, propelling Kuba's small body into the floor. The small boy was stunned, and it didn't help when Zhao pinned him to the ground with his foot, pushing the air out of his lungs.

"Stop it!" I screamed. "Leave him alone!"

Suddenly, there was a commotion outside the tent.

I felt my gut tighten as I heard the sounds of a squabble. Zhao frowned, and took his foot off of Kuba as he turned towards the flap of the tent. To our surprise, Zuko of all people stomped into the room, followed by his uncle. My heart literally flew when I saw them. Zuko and Iroh; they wouldn't let Zhao torture us for information. At the very least, I could get them to help Kuba. Then I wouldn't have to betray anyone.

We were saved!

However, a tense silence followed; during which Zuko's gaze slid down to where I had slumped on to the floor. I realized that he was staring at my outfit...namely, the dress. Suddenly, I felt very self-conscious. The kimono, besides the fact that it was ruined with dirt and streaks of mud, felt silly and girly. I thought I would die of embarrassment.

"What is the meaning of this?" Zhao demanded angrily.

Zuko's attention was dragged away from me, but only for a moment. He seemed to be at a loss for words as he gaped at my girly wardrobe.

Jee had told me before I left that I looked like a delicate blossom, petals open in bloom. This was more a testament to his keen eye for pretty outfits than a compliment. Even so, I didn't look so good now. At my best, I must have looked like a crappy origami flower that someone dragged through the mud. No wonder Zuko was speechless. He clearly wasn't expecting to have to deal with a muddy flower.

Iroh put a hand on Zuko's shoulder. The Fire Prince quickly looked away and flushed red for some reason. "Why is she...like this?"

"She refused to come quietly, so my men had to bring her back by force."

"No. I mean why is she wearing a wig and a dress?"

I scowled. "It was a disguise." In disgust, I ripped the wig off my head and tossed it into the corner."Do you honestly think I'd dress like this if my life weren't at stake? Or maybe you thought Zhao has some weird kick for geisha girls."

Zuko turned even redder, sickened by my lewd suggestion.

"I hate to repeat myself," Zhao said, the outrage soft in his voice. "Prince Zuko, state your business before I lose my patience with you."

Zuko, still choking on my insinuation, could only make a strangled sound of fury before sinking into the nearest chair. Iroh patted him on the shoulder, a sympathetic gesture. I think I would have laughed, only I was starting to wonder if I had just screwed up any chances of being rescued. Zuko didn't look like he was in the position to breathe, let alone save anyone.

"You'll have to give him a minute," said Iroh. "My nephew has been a bit high-strung lately."

"Unfortunately, I don't have a minute to spare. I was in the middle of something."

Zuko forced himself to recover, even though he was clearly suffering from a bout of that's what she said. "My business is with my servant. I didn't consent to this interrogation. I demand that you release her at once."

Zhao merely quirked an eyebrow. "No."

"You have no right to hold her here!"

"Julie was attempting to violate the conditions of our Agni Kai. And she's been caught with an Earthbender. Do you honestly expect me to just release her?"

For the first time, Zuko noticed Kuba. He took a good look at the bruise that was forming on his face. Seeing it made him pause as a strange expression flitted in his eyes. It was one of pained recognition. But that only lasted a few seconds before his gaze trailed back to Zhao.

"Why don't we keep her in custody on our ship?" Iroh suggested. "We only have a few hours until sunset, anyway."

"I wanted to question her about the Earthbender."

"I already told you" I growled. "I don't know this kid. He's just an innocent bystander." I turned to Zuko, my eyes pleading. "You have to do something! Zhao won't stop until he kills him!"

Zuko didn't look at me. He was still brooding over something, but I didn't know what it was.

"We'll keep them both in custody," he said quietly. "I'll personally escort the prisoners back to the ship, if you don't mind."

"Actually, I do mind. I don't think Julie could have gotten past my men without help. And she herself just admitted that the boy was just a...what was it again? Oh, yes. A bystander."

"So, you think my men are responsible for this?" Anger colored Zuko's tone a vibrant red.

"I just don't think we should take any chances," said Zhao smoothly. "After all, traitors come in all shapes and sizes, Prince Zuko. It's important to weed them out and eliminate them."

Not even a retarded horse could miss the insinuation the Commander made. I felt an tremor of guilt. What if Zhao figured out who snuck me off the ship? Could Jee be executed for this? Shit! I hate make-overs as much as the next sane-minded girl, but I wouldn't kill anyone over it!

Zuko looked like he was going to burst into flames and singe Zhao into a black smudge on the floor. But Iroh intervened, yet again.

"I can assure you that every one of our men is honest and trust-worthy," he said. "However, you may station your own guards to keep an eye on Julie if you feel it is necessary."

"That would be acceptable," said Zhao grudgingly. After all, Iroh still out-ranked him, even as an ex-General.

I still thought it was kind of bogus the way Iroh could get away with this, but somehow had no power to interfere in an Agni Kai. I was told later that not even the Fire Lord had the ability to nullify an Agni Kai once the challenge had been declared (except, of course, when it was convenient for him; people tended to look the other way if you were the Fire Lord). How stupid.

"Very good," said Iroh, rather calmly in spite of the situation. "Prince Zuko..."

Zuko didn't wait for his Uncle to finish. He immediately knelt down beside me, moving to pick me up and throw me over his shoulder like last time. But I think he thought better of it when he noticed the dress again. Scowling and flushing angrily, he took out the shoe he had found outside; my shoe.

"This is yours, right?"

I just stared at him and gave him a stiff nod. Silently, Zuko pushed the shoe on to my bare foot and dragged me to my feet. Then, abruptly, he turned his back on me and started walking out of the tent. I realized that I was expected to follow him. I only waited long enough for Iroh to collect Kuba before I staggered after Zuko.

We walked in silence for a while, and I couldn't tell what he was thinking. It made me nervous when he wouldn't look at me, wouldn't say a single word to me. For some reason...that made me sad.

"Zuko...?"

He slid his gaze to meet mine. "What?" he asked coldly. "Are you going to apologize? Don't bother. I wouldn't accept your apology even if you meant it."

"I do mean it."

Zuko just stopped short. "You don't even know what you're apologizing for, do you?"

I bit my lip and looked at the ground. "Well...I'm sorry that you're mad. I didn't want to...I was trying to..."

"To save your own skin. And then you would leave this mess for me and my Uncle to deal with while you ran free. You don't even care, do you? I mean, why would you care? You're probably used to someone else solving all of your problems for you."

That felt like a slap in the face.

"That's not fair!" I cried.

People around us stopped and stared at us. Hastily, I lowered my voice, but it didn't stop the rage from spilling out of me.

"I stuck up for you before!" I hissed. "I could have told Zhao everything to save my own skin. But I didn't! I kept my mouth shut like you asked me to, you jerk!"

Zuko tried to keep up his angry facade, but my comment seemed to have caught him off guard. "What?"

I gave him a bitter look. "Zhao offered to call off the Agni Kai if I told him the truth. And you know what? I almost did it. He was threatening to kill that kid, and he said he'd let both of us go if I told him what he wanted to know."

"But you didn't take his offer?" he said, dumbfounded. "Why would you do something like that?"

I just stared at him. "I dunno. I guess I thought that we were friends."

Zuko couldn't keep the bewilderment off his face. As though the thought of him being friends with a peasant was too ridiculous to comprehend.

"I know. Pretty stupid, huh?" I muttered.

Before he could answer, I pushed myself past him into the girdle of guards that Zhao had ordered to escort us; preferring to surround myself with these indifferent strangers. At this point, I didn't see much of a difference except that I could tolerate looking at these guys. On the other hand, I doubted that I would ever want to see Zuko's startled face again.

A few hours later I was locked away in the ship's dungeons. Don't get any stupid ideas, either. There's nothing darkly alluring about a dungeon. Because guess what? Dungeons are cold. They're dark. And they smell horrible. No one bothers to clean them, and there are elephant rats everywhere.

Zhao's men had been about to put me in shackles too, the ones that were attached to the wall. But I had thrown a fit because of the elephant rats. Mercifully, Iroh had let me have the cell with a bunk in it. I sat on the stale bedding and swung my legs over the side of the cot, looking morosely at the General as he poured himself a cup of tea. He was keeping me company during my final hours.

"So I still have to fight this stupid Agni Kai?"

"I'm afraid there is no avoiding it, now," he said somberly. "We only have half an hour left until sunset. Zhao refuses to change his mind. He says you will fight or be severely punished."

I swallowed the lump in my throat. In spite of the fact that the General was with me, I still felt lonely and cold. I hadn't seen Zuko since I left him at the docks. Strangely, painfully, I found myself actually missing the jerk. So much for holding a grudge.

"What do you think Zhao has in mind?" I asked.

Iroh didn't answer me. He was trying to spare me the details.

"So I'll have to fight then," I muttered. "If I just take the punishment, I'll die. But...if I fight...I could win, right?"

My eyes went to the General's searchingly. He didn't look all that hopeful at my chances of success. His visiting me in the cells was starting to remind me of prisoners in Death Row who, I hear, got a clergyman of their faith to visit them before their execution. To help them into the "Great Beyond." That was assuming there was a something after. I wasn't sure what I believed in at this point.

After all, that night on the bridge, I was pretty sure I was dead. I had been hit by a car and thrown over a bridge. Instead of facing a watery tomb, I ended up here. I got to meet Zuko and Iroh; Aang, Sokka, and Katara; Shen-Long, Bo-Fen, and Lieutenant Jee. Hell, I'd even miss that jerk-face Chaang and his idiot goons who made me climb the mast. I'd miss everyone.

I thought about Jessie. I'd never see her again.

"I never even tried to go home," I said quietly. "I never...really tried. I abandoned her."

"What?"

I jumped. I had forgotten Iroh was there. We stared at each other, and I wondered if I should tell him the truth. About where I came from, about...well...everything.

"I mean to say...well...I'm not from here."

Iroh had an intrigued expression on his face. "Honestly, I had gathered that on my own. I assume that by here, you mean that you are not from the Earth Kingdom. You seemed fascinated when we were about to dock there, as though you had never been there before in your life. Hard to believe from a so-called nomad."

I blushed. Oops.

"And it was obvious how little you tolerated the cold environment of the South Pole. So I gathered that you weren't Water Tribe either. But you were completely unfamiliar with the customs of the Fire Nation. It was almost comical, except that it was so strange. Neither I nor my nephew could figure out where you came from."

He looked at me, clearly waiting for a response.

"Well..." I said slowly. "I...I..."

I tried to push the words out. I'm from another world. I don't belong here. But I couldn't. They seemed stuck inside of me. I don't know why I was so afraid, even now, to tell Iroh my secret. What was I so afraid of, anyway?

I opened my mouth to try again when the door to the dungeon creaked open. Iroh and I both looked up. Zuko glowered at us in the doorway; it was clear that he hated to see me like this, a condemned prisoner. But he didn't comment on it as he made his way towards us.

I lost my voice again. I couldn't say what I wanted to now; not with Zuko looking at me like that.

"It's time," he said quietly.

Gritting his teeth, Zuko forced himself to step aside while Zhao's men poured through the doorway. He turned his face away as they pushed into my cell. Iroh also looked pained as they grabbed me by both of my arms and dragged me towards the room's only exit.

No...!

My hand, the one that could still move, the one that wasn't connected to my brain; it reached out and caught the frame of the door. Zuko's gaze shot towards us, and our eyes met for that split second. Somehow, that look changed everything; shattered his calm. I heard him yelling as the soldiers finally pried my fingers off of the door.

"Julie!"

It was the first time I had ever heard him say my name. But the darkness of the hallway quickly swallowed the sound of his voice.

A/N: Okay, so maybe I made this a tad bit dramatic. But whatever. Agni Kai is up next chapter, and we'll learn the mystery behind Ayla. Hopefully. I'm not very good at sticking to my chapter outline skeletons.

And now, for you lucky readers, I have an offer you CAN'T REFUSE! For the special person who gives me my two-hundreth review, I'll let you pick the theme for the VERY FIRST CHAPTER in the omake fic. I'm writing one chapter for every hundred reviews. I figure this way I won't be wasting time neglecting one story for another.

If you are the two-hundreth reviewer, I'll let you know. DON'T just start leaving your ideas in my review box. When I figure out who the winner is, I'll send them a PM. Then, in a reply PM, you can submit your idea. But make it good. Please.

Oh, and that being said, REVIEW!