Warning-Contains some slightly graphic material

Leiko had rested for three days straight after doing the Mat Su Se. It had worn her out completely. General Iroh had been told about the great success and ordered the men to arrange a festive dinner in her honor. She attended with much gratitude and sat at the head of the table, next to Zuko and Iroh. The men had a toast in her honor.

Meanwhile, Admiral Zhao was in his quarters back at the Fire Nation. He was eating dinner when some men walked in. He just looked up from his dinner. "Admiral Zhao, it is with great regret that we inform you…that the army division you sent out has been eliminated." The first man stated.

"What?" he stood up in shock.

"The general was very strong and lead the men to victory. In fact, while all of our men were killed, none of the other army died. It was a massacre sir."

"Where in the name of hell did they fine a general?" he bellowed.

"Well sir, we know the general. It was one of our own."

"The prince?"

"No sir…it was your daughter." Zhao growled in defeat and slammed his fist down. "She was too strong, sir." Another soldier informed him. "In fact, she did the Mat Su Se." Zhao's eyes widened. "And she lived, sir."

"She's done that move before. It was the first move she ever did." Zhao recalled.

"Sir, she's clearly one of the strongest firebenders from the nation. How will we beat her?"

"We'll just send someone just as good as she."

"But there is no one."

"There is one." He said with an evil smile.

Days later, Leiko woke up late in the evening in Zuko's bed. Zuko and she had been up the night before talking about little things. For some strange reason she just wanted an adventure so she got up and got dressed. She walked out to the deck and off the ship. Zuko was just outside the ship with some of his men, ordering how to burry the men they had killed in battle. Leiko walked past them. "Where are you going Leiko?" Zuko asked her.

"Just out for a walk. I'll be back before nightfall." She said and walked into the brush. She stepped over roots and pushed her way further in. She got tired of pushing and began to use her katana to cut through the bushes. She went on for the longest time, walking in no particular direction and enjoying the scenery. But her friendly nature walk was soon interrupted when a knife flew past her and into the tree! She stopped and turned around and spotted someone dressed like her coming out of the trees! It looked like another warrior! "Who are you?" she demanded as she bared her sword. The person threw another knife, but Leiko reflected it with her sword!

"I'm your biggest rival." The girl said. Leiko just readied for battle as the girl whipped out a katana of her own and ran towards Leiko. She jumped up and missed sword, the brought hers down and the other girl blocked her blow.

"I don't have one."

"Oh yes you do. Don't tell me you've forgotten about me Leiko." The girl said and then removed the bandana. The face was revealed and to Leiko's horror it was really her old rival…Princess Zula!

"Zula?" she was surprised.

"That's right. When I heard you ran away with my big brother, I just had to come and visit." She said and they both lowered their swords. "Oh, and I was sent by your father to kill you."

"You couldn't kill me if you tried!"

"You'll have to fight me Leiko. Either fight the royal or die." Zula said with a grin. Leiko's sword lowered to the ground and her eyes dropped. She was right. She would have to fight the princess or lose her life. But fighting a princess would be dangerous in so many ways that she couldn't even list them all. This was the little sister of the boy she loved! How was she supposed to overcome this? If she fought the princess who knew what would happen.

"I won't fight you." Leiko said. Zula laughed and smiled.

"Okay than, this will just be easy." And she swung her sword at Leiko, but she ducked and missed it! Zula continued to shove her sword into Leiko's space, making her jump back or flip out of the way. "Scared, Leiko?" and she would repeat technique. Leiko picked her sword back up and used it to block the blows and hits that Leiko sent furiously, yet uncoordinated, at Leiko.

"You haven't trained much have you?" Leiko asked with a grin when she noticed the princess's weakness. Zula glared.

"I don't need to." And she swung again, but Leiko did a back handspring and landed swiftly further away.

"You must have missed the memo. I'm a real warrior now." And she was forced to jump out of the way again. "You couldn't beat me if this was a fair fight."

"I can do whatever you want! If you're so high and mighty, than fight back!"

"I won't fight a royal. That's exactly what you want me to do, isn't it?" and Zula smiled again.

"Very good! You must be smart!" and then she went to stab Leiko but Leiko jumped up and kicked Zula in the face, sending her skidding back on the ground. Leiko just crossed her arms and smiled at her foe.

"Self defense." she taunted. Zula jumped back up and charged at Leiko, who promptly dodged the attacks without flinching. Leiko jumped up and kicked Zula twice with a spin kick and then landed on her feet. Zula rubbed her aching cheek and charged again. Leiko persisted making a fool of Zula.

"Just wait until I'm done with you! Soon guards will come and drag you away and send you to face justice for betraying your nation! And then once you're gone I'll finish off my brother and take his place on the throne!" Zula said. Leiko crossed her arms and snickered.

"Please, I can beat anybody who comes up against me. I've been trained too hard."

"Trained or beaten?" Zula said, making Leiko blink in astonishment, "You know you don't want to be this. You were born to be weak. That's why your father beat you every single day." Leiko growled and her hands began to tremble. "He was right when he said you were nothing. You have no future and no purpose. You're just here, like an ant. There for not mere reason to us superior ones. I only wish I could see Zhao beat you ruthlessly like he used to." Zula grinned.

Leiko could feel her anger rising to unmentionable levels. How dare she! She began to grit her teeth and her arms ripped out her sword and held it only an inch away from the other girl's face. Leiko drew the sword back and growled; her blood curdling and turning black in her veins, and her amber colored eyes began to burn as they glistened like flames. "You bitch!" Leiko snarled just loud enough for them to hear and began to swing her sword furiously at Zula! Zula shut her eyes and waited for the pain to come, but it didn't. She opened her eyes and looked at Leiko who stood in front of her, trying to catch her breath. Then, the armor fell off of Zula. Leiko had cut it all off in a state of pure rage.

"That's the Leiko we know." She said and laughed. Leiko charged at Zula and they began to fight!

Leiko didn't know what happened, as if she was blind. But all she knew was that her body had taken control and she was involuntarily striking at Zula. It was all a blur, but it ended when they were in a draw and a sharp pain jolted through her gut! She stopped dead in her tracks and gasped. Tears came to her eyes in pain and she looked down. Zula's sword was jabbed into her stomach, and she was leaking blood everywhere. Zula grinned in her face. "I win." She hissed like an evil snake. But it wasn't over. Leiko stepped back, letting Zula's sword draw slowly out of her gut. Leiko raised her sword into the air and brought it down, scratching Zula's nose!

"I'm not finished." She said in pain, and then she sliced her sword across Zula's throat, cutting it and spilling blood! Zula gripped her throat and fell to her knees and blood soaked seeped through her hands and leaked everywhere. Then within a matter of seconds, she fell to the ground, face down…and was dead.

Leiko had killed the royal. She stood there, knowing what awaited her. There was only one thing to do with someone who killed a royal. She didn't want to face it, though she deserved it, and knew she did. So she did the only thing she knew to do. She dropped her sword and lay down slowly on the ground with no intention of getting up. Her wound would surely be the end of her. She was awaiting her death and watched her own blood trickle out from her body and spill onto the ground.