I'm Not Afraid
Iroh sighed and pushed his lotus tile forward. Brenda swore and slammed her fist down on the playing table.
"How the hell do you keep on beating me when you're busy worrying about Zuko and Katara!" Iroh blinked and looked down at the table.
"I won?" Brenda ground her teeth together and sneered at her older brother.
"You're losing your mind old man. It wanders about things that are easy to solve." Iroh rose an eyebrow.
"Really? Tell me then, how do you solve our two teenagers' problems?"
"It's simple, really." Her older brother stopped himself from snorting in disdain.
"Really?" Brenda nodded as she spoke.
"Yes it is brother."
"Then how about you enlighten me?" Brenda smirked and glanced at the board.
"I'll teach you how to solve the problem after we play another game." Iroh smiled mischievously at Brenda.
"If you wish to lose again, dear sister." She frowned as he moved his pieces back to the starting point.
"I will win." She growled as she moved her pieces to the beginning stage also.
- - - - -
Katara read the waterbending scroll she had copied carefully as Zuko move through complex sets of firebending. Zuko ducked and twisted his leg around, letting a blast of fire emerge from his foot. Without wasting a second, the prince was on his feet again and sending two fiery punches before slamming his hand onto the ground and breathed out steadily as flames surrounded him, scorching the ship. Pulling his hand back to his side as he stood, Zuko looked at Katara out of the corner of his good eye. He looked away when the waterbender looked up, sensing that she was being watched. When she only found Zuko to be staring at the ocean, she shrugged and went back to the scrolls. Neither noticed that Brenda had come to the deck, angered by her defeat from Iroh. Spying Katara and Zuko, the admiral smirked. Zuko began to train once more, paying no attention to either women as he did a kick. Sneaking up behind Katara, Brenda looked over the waterbender's shoulder and smirked once more when she saw what the girl was doing.
"He does look quite handsome like that, doesn't he?" Looking up, startled, Katara turned and saw Brenda looking over her shoulder at Zuko. A blush stained her cheeks once she realized whom she was talking about.
"I don't care." Katara muttered before turning back to her scroll. Zuko was oblivious to the two still.
"Oh?" Brenda placed her hands on Katara's shoulders. "I suppose he looks better without a shirt. Even though he is my nephew and half my age, even I must admit that he looks wonderful." Brenda's right hand moved across Katara's neck and rested on her left shoulder while her other hand slid down the side of Katara's arm. Katara stiffened as Brenda did this. "What's wrong? Would you prefer my hands to be Prince Zuko's?" Brenda whispered in Katara's ear.
"Take your hands off of me." Katara growled, unnerved. The woman was disturbing.
"And if I don't? Will you call out for my nephew?" Brenda whispered with a smirk playing on her lips, as it seemed to be one of her favorite expressions.
"Let me go." Katara clenched her fists together, her knuckles turning white.
"I can't say I blame you. After all, when you could have Zuko's hands on you . . . well, honestly, I don't think you'd protest but you wouldn't stay quiet, that's for sure."
"I said-" Before Katara had a chance to finish a wave of heat passed by her and Brenda looked over her shoulder to where the stream of fire had missed her, barely.
"That was a warning shot, Brenda. I suggest you do as she says and let her go." Zuko stated evenly with his arm extended. With a frown, the female admiral let Katara go. She soon smirked again as she spoke.
"Would you like to spare?" Zuko narrowed his good eye as he let his extended arm fall to his side.
"What are you playing for? You've never done anything for free. You always want something." Brenda nodded as she undid the clasp and let her cape fall to the ground and pulled off the extra belt she wore that had her sword hung on.
"True. I always do. So let's make a wager." Brenda looked over at Katara with a cold smile. "Whoever wins, gets Katara." Zuko shook his head before Katara had the chance to protest.
"No. She does not belong to anyone. You above all people should respect the fact that a woman is not an object that can be wagered." Brenda tapped her chin in thought.
"I suppose you're right. So, the next best thing!" Brenda pushed her braid back, for once. "If you win, I'll won't bother your precious Katara. If I win, you can't say anything about me bugging Katara." Her smirk grew. "Unless, of course, you're afraid."
"I am not afraid of anyone." Before he had a chance to say anything else, Brenda had flipped up in the air and twisted around as she came back to the ship with her heel out, fire following her foot. Zuko barely had time to jump back and avoid the deadly blow. His aunt wasted not time in charging forward and pulling her flaming fist back to punch Zuko. However, the young prince rolled backwards and avoided the flame covered fist. She dropped down and kicked out, intending to take his feet out from under him. The firebending prince saw this and jumped back once more. He grunted as he sent out a flaming punch towards the older woman. She rolled to the side and sent her own punch towards him. Zuko bent down low to the ground, dodging the fire, and spun around with his foot out, sending fire towards her. Brenda flipped backwards several times and avoided the flames. Once more she sprung up in the air and spun around, a stream of fire following her. She punched down at the ground where Zuko had stood a moment ago, before he rolled forward and out of her path. Zuko kicked back as he watched his aunt over his shoulder. She flipped up into the air and landed on her feet in front of Zuko. However, before she had the chance to attack, he slammed his fist into her stomach. Winded, Brenda staggered back, giving Zuko the chance to kick her legs out from under her. He held his fist out in front of her face as she looked up at him with a smirk.
"I guess it's over." Zuko didn't even blink as he watched her carefully. Standing up Brenda turned and walked away, pausing only to pick up her cape and the belt with the sword. Zuko watched her as she left. Once she was gone Zuko let out a breath of air and turned to Katara.
"I don't know why she did that to you. I apologize on her behalf." Katara smiled weakly up at Zuko. She out down the scroll she had been reading before Brenda interrupted and stood up.
"What about earlier?" Zuko stiffened at her words. He turned his back to her.
"Listen, I apologized for my aunt. She shouldn't have done that. But what you want-" Katara cut him off.
"I was just worried about you." The young prince turned back to her, surprised.
"Worried?" Katara nodded as she took a step forward.
"Yes. You were acting strange. I know you had just started a civil war but still . . . " She trailed off and Zuko sighed.
"I . . . other than my uncle and mother . . . no one has ever really worried about me." He muttered, causing Katara to step forward and hug him. Once more the prince of fire stiffened.
"Well, now you have me to worry about you." Zuko tentative wrapped her arms around him.
". . . . you do realize that with me starting a civil war you are in even more danger." Katara looked up at him with a small smile.
"I'm not afraid."
- - - - -
Little did the two bender know that two other benders were watching them up with the captain.
"See, told you the answer was simple." Iroh refrained from rolling his eyes.
"Yes but now Katara might think you're a lesbian after that stunt." Brenda had pulled her braid back over her shoulder and was adjusting her belt with the sword. After she was done she stroked her braid and shrugged.
"As long as I get to meddle with you big brother, I do not care." She laughed causing Iroh to sigh and shake his head.
"Prince Zuko knows that you weren't trying your hardest. Even from up here I can tell that he knows." Once more the Black Rose of the West shrugged.
"Do you really think losing to my nephew will bother me?" Iroh was about to respond when a soldier came up to him.
"Sir, we are about a hour away from the nearest port." The retired general nodded and the soldier left. The younger sibling leaned forward and peered down at Zuko and Katara with great interest.
"Are they . . . . ?" Iroh turned his attention back to his sister.
"What?" Brenda blinked and looked over at Iroh, pointing down at the two teenagers.
"I think they're glaring at us."
"STOP YOUR MEDDLING!" The two shouted, causing Brenda to start laughing, hard, while her brother frowned. He waited patiently for his sister to stop her laughing as the two stepped off of deck and away from the prying eyes of the two firebenders.
"Brenda, they figured out your plan." Her laughter died off as she stood up straight and rested a hand on the hilt of her sword.
"Do you really think that bothers me? So what if they figured out my plan? It worked before they did so I still win." Iroh reached over and tugged on her braid.
"Yet they will be suspicious of you for awhile. Meaning any other plan you have is put on hold." Brenda glared as she swatted her brother's hand away.
"Other plan? I have no other plans."
"I thought you wanted to meddle with me?" Brenda gained another smirk.
- - - - -
Katara walked beside Zuko as they stepped off of the ship and onto the harbor. Brenda and Iroh followed them, but every time the two older firebenders got near, Zuko would turn and glare. Sighing, Brenda glanced at Raymond. Her second in command had just finished telling her what the Phantom Flame needed.
"Good. Anything else?" Raymond looked away, slightly embarrassed. Catching this, Brenda wasted not time in pounce on his embarrassment. "Well, what else?" Commander Raymond looked at Iroh with a slight frown.
"I . . . I have a question for General Iroh." Iroh waved off the title.
"Please, I'm retired." The commander flushed a little at his mistake but carried on.
"How did you know that Admiral Brenda wasn't Ceres?" Brenda looked over at her brother, also curious.
"Yes, I would like to know that too." Iroh smiled knowingly as he looked up ahead at Katara and Zuko.
"Well, first off, Ceres cannot mimic someone's form for very long. I doubt that she would be able to get on the Phantom Flame when it was in port and then make her way to our ship without reverting back to her . . . normal form." Brenda nodded as she crossed her arms.
"True. But Ceres could have easily hidden while she changed back to her . . . 'original' form." Iroh smiled slyly at the two.
"This may be true, but I specifically had Brenda's favorite tea prepared. It was . . . a test. Along with our conversation. Ceres could never know you well enough to act the way you do and respond like you would." Brenda blinked in surprise before she petted her braid.
"Well then, I suppose you were prepared for everything."
"Yes. Now, let us check the market." Iroh sped up as they neared a shop. Raymond shot the Admiral a confused look.
"Check for what?" Brenda sighed and shrugged.
"For whatever he thinks will be a nice buy." She made a shooing motion to her commander. "Make sure the ship gets everything it needs. That's too boring for me."
- - - - -
Zuko walked quickly through the marketplace, keeping a careful eye out for any signs of trouble. He was not going to let Katara die. That was for sure. He had lost the last woman who worried about him. In all honesty, he had no idea if is aunt cared or not. She was an enigma. All he knew was that she was a great firebender and leader, liked chamomile tea, wanted to overthrow his father, and hated boredom. Her hatred for boredom seemed to fuel most of the things she did. But that was getting off track. He had to protect Katara from Ceres. If Ceres got Katara then her soul would be devoured by the demon and then Katara's body would be host to the demon. His feelings for her were strong enough that he would go to hell and back to ensure her safety. A frown settled on his lips as he spied a familiar face.
"What's wrong?" Katara asked when she noticed the frown.
"Hey Katara!" Turning around, Katara smiled when she saw Sokka.
"Sokka!" She leapt forward and pulled her brother into a hug. After a moment the younger water tribe member pulled back. "Where's Aang?" Zuko himself was wondering that question. The airbender wouldn't miss the chance to see Katara. The younger warrior's eyes flickered over their shoulders to Iroh and Brenda as two silbings made their way over to the three.
"Who's she?" Zuko sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose.
"She's my aunt, Admiral Brenda. Don't worry, she's pledged her loyalty to me, not my father. And, according to my uncle, she already figured out that Katara traveled with the Avatar." Sokka was silent as Brenda stepped up beside Zuko and placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Prince Zuko, is this the girl's brother?" Zuko nodded at his aunt's question. The royal female smirked again and rested her hand on the hilt of her sword. "I am Lady Brenda of the Fire Nation, the youngest of the three royal siblings, with the rank of Admiral, and the nickname the Black Rose of the West." Sokka stared at her with his arms crossed.
". . . . that's a mouth full." This caused Brenda to laugh silently for a moment before responding.
"Yes, I suppose it is. And your name?"
"Sokka, of the Southern Water Tribe." Her eyes wandered over the crowd before returning to Sokka.
"I see the Avatar is wise. Staying hidden when Fire Nation soldiers are wandering about. But there is no need. My soldiers are loyal to the Prince. And they understand that this means siding with the Avatar against my brother Ozai."
"Thanks." Brenda turned to see Aang standing behind them, leaning on his staff, with a fake head of hair and mustache, must like when he was at Omashu. The three firebenders could only stare at Aang, all with identical looks of disbelief on their faces.
". . . you have got to be kidding." Brenda and Zuko muttered at the same time.
- - - - -
Yay! I'm done with this chapter. Okay, let's make this clear: Brenda is not a lesbian. It was part of her plan. She was just trying to make Zuko and Katara make up, which they did. I person have nothing against homosexuals, several of my friends are gay. But Brenda is not. I don't want anyone to be confused so I'm just stating this. But, yay! The two lovebirds made up! Plus, Sokka and Aang are back! If you have any problems, please tell me. If you have anything to say as all, please tell me. I'm always looking for new twists in my story. So, please review! They make me happy and inspire me to type more!