Yay! chapter 10 has finally arrived...

"Princess, are you sure you want to fight him?" Nira asked her as she changed her. "I mean, he is a well known fighter and he did defeat General Zhao," she informed, fastening the waist on the outfit she had asked for.

It was like something she used to wear, without silks or pretty embroidering. It was simple cotton and the sleeves were tight. The skirt was slitted and came up to her middle thigh. Underneath were leggings, making sure she was at least modist. Other than that, it was really a regular dress. She slipped on her shoes and fastened them so they wouldn't fly off.

"I know all that," she replied. "I just want to show a little respect for my country. Besides, this is the only thing we have in common. If we can do it together, it would be better for the both of us."

"But, still..."

"Trust me, Nira," she said, turning to face her. "You've never seen me fight, so you're in for a surprise."

"Prince Zuko, are you sure this is wise?" Iroh asked his nephew, as he dressed for a duel. They were in the chamber outside of the dueling arena, and Zuko placed the ceremonial wrap around his neck. "You are fighting a water bender."

"I know that," he replied, looking over his shoulder. "But, who am I to accept a challenge? It's not a competition, just friendly battle. Besides, do you honestly expect me to hurt her?"

"It is not she I am concerned about, Prince, but you. Don't take her for a weakling. That, I can assure you, she isn't. She has her father's strength," he replied.

Zuko raised an eyebrow. "And you knew him?"

"Prince Keron was a fine duelist in his day," he stated. "Everyone knew about him. It is why everyone was surprised by his death — defeat in battle. I doubt you remember, though. You were merely five years old at the time."

"Well, look at the time," Iroh stated, pushing him towards the door. "You must get out there or they might think you backed out."

"They?" he asked, stopping in his tracks.

"There might have been a leak of information amongst the servants," he said, looking away, innocently. "Some have come to witness the event..."

"You're kidding me," he replied.

"I am sorry, but I'm not. There's quite the crowd out there. Your father isn't there, but your sister is," he replied.

"Wonderful," he said dryly, heading to the door. "All I needed."

He pushed open the doors himself and walked out to the battle field. Those in the audience fell silent as he walked up to the middle, but he didn't see Katara anywhere. She had yet to appear.

So when he heard the doors opening, and the gasps and whispering from the crowds, he turned and knelt down in position. Obvious to the fact that she was given the rules before hand, he waited until they were given the signal to fight.

Katara kept her head high as she climbed the stairs to the arena and turned around to begin the match. She looked to Nira, who stood at the side lines. At first, her friend looked worried, but then she looked up to her with an encouraging smile. She nodded and waited.

The battle began and she stood, the wrap around her shoulders slipping to the ground. She turned and faced Zuko, who was in a fighting stance already, his hands straight, arms and legs bent.

Instantly she smiled and lifted her hands up, one going across her chest and the other high above her head as though she was doing a dance more than a fight. "First round without bending," she stated. "Only ourselves. Then we can add bending or weapons."

He nodded as well, giving her a grin.

And then he stuck out. He ran up and started throwing blow after blow, but each time she would jump or duck out of the way carefully, gracefully putting herself out of harm's way. She grinned at him again, seeing that he became somewhat frustrated. He threw another blow, but she flipped backwards out of the way, kicking him to his back as she did several back-flips. She landed on her feet, facing the other way and turned to him innocently. Her performance gave her a few gasps from the crowd.

"That would be round one, no?" she asked, as he picked himself from off the floor.

Anger behind his gaze, he held it back nicely as he stood and his hands formed flames. "Exactly."

Instead of smiling, she only looked down and cupped her hands together, a pool of water appearing in her hands. "Lovely," she replied.

His eyes widened at that, seeing as no other water bender could actually make the water they bent. With the water, she turned around in a circle once, whipping her hand around to throw it, it coming out like a whip.

It hit his hand and it extinguished in simple steam rising and disappearing into the air. He looked at it with almost shock, then to her with plain anger.

To the side line, Nira watched with fear as the two fought it out. She brought her hand up to cover her mouth when the two continued their battle. Iroh came over to stand next to her and looked over to her with curiosity.

"You are afraid?" he asked.

"Oh, my lord. Her majesty is out of her mind, I'm afraid. Fighting the prince? And she's not even fighting smartly," she replied.

He grinned. "Actually dear child, she is winning," he replied. "Look how she memorizes his stances and how he'll react to something. She stays out of harm's way and measures up his strengths and weaknesses. And being a water bender that can use the water in the air as a defense and offence, she certainly is doing nicely."

As he spoke, Katara caught a punch and turned it around, smoke from their battle erupting with loud bursts every few seconds. She twisted his arm back, but she left her other side open. He instantly struck her and she fell back, landing hard on her back.

But, she managed to get up, raising to a sit when she did. Giving a glare to her fiance, she blew a piece of hair out of her face that had fallen out. He simply stood and waited for her to stand with his hands crossed. "You won't do that again," she mumbled, pressing off her arms to come to a stand.

She grinned. "Won't I?" he asked, taking another pose.

This time he waited for her to attack. When she did, she took a lunge towards him. But as soon as she did, he moved out of the way. In mid-air, she was going to fall, but she hooked her leg under his. As she fell, so did he.

Katara landed on her side, and he on his back, but they faced each other as they did. Both were out of breath and they stared each other down with fury. It took a while for them to notice that the audience was clapping and the people on the side lines walked up to them.

Nira came over and bent down next to her charge. "Princess, are you alright?" she asked. She nodded, keeping her eyes on her fiance as she was helped to a stand.

"I'll be fine," she said, getting to her feet.

"It was a draw," Iroh announced, standing next to his nephew. "Should I have known how good of a fighter you were princess, I would have warned Zuko instead," he stated with a little chuckle.

"We weren't exactly in a regular water arena," she stated. "I would have been better there."

"Then it is a good thing you weren't." Again he chuckled. "No, enough of all of this. It is late, we should all retire. You both have things to do tomorrow."

He led Zuko away, but he still watched as she walked, heading out the door with a glare. For some odd reason he couldn't look away. He didn't know why, but something about her in his eyes changed.

Katara just turned and walked away without another glance.