May I just say, a Merry Christmas/Happy Kwanza/Happy Hanukah/if you don't celebrate any of these, disregard this! Consider this my present to everyone. I'm updating! Trust me when I say that's shocking. Now, chapter four! This is gonna be on the short side, sorry, it's mostly about what happens with Zuko and his sister (I'm making her out to be even worse then Zuko; now there's something).

Chapter 4- The Great Escape

Zuko and his uncle crept along the halls, quite aware that by now, guards had come running to their cell, only to find it empty. He smirked at the satisfaction of knowing he was making his sister's life harder; it was what he had always worked for.

"Zuko, are you sure we are going the right?" Uncle Iroh asked, snapping the prince out of his thoughts.

"No", he admitted, "But I can hear the ocean, we must be close to the top"

"Just hope we do not encounter anyone along the-"

"FREEZE!"

"Way", Iroh finished unnecessarily, looking around. Azula was standing in the corridor, a look of pure anger on her face. Zuko stepped forward; it was time someone put this girl in the corner. "You want to fight me Zuko?" she asked, laughing, "This ought to be interesting"

"You aren't as strong as you think are", Zuko said firmly, "It's time someone showed you that"

Before he knew what was happening, a blaze of fire was coming at him. He just barely had time to jump out of the way; the flames burned the corridor behind. He glared at his sister, and without hesitating, aimed at her and fired. She didn't move, merely stood right in the path of the flames. And that was when Zuko knew it wouldn't matter.

"Oh dear brother", she said as she held her hand out; the flames careened around her like a delta, "You really are pathetic, aren't you? You can't beat me; maybe you should just realize that now and come quietly so there isn't anybody hurt. I'm sure Father would like you in one piece"

Zuko eyes widened in shock. He knew his sister was probably one of the best Firebenders around, but he had never seen someone manipulate the flames like that; it was amazing.

"Zuko!" he looked at his uncle, "We must escape", Iroh said, "There is a time to fight, but this is not it. Come!"

He jerked at the harshness in his uncle's voice and ran after him, looking back to see Azula taking aim. He grabbed his uncle and yanked him out of the way; the fireball missed by maybe two inches. Neither of them hesitated before taking off down the hall again. Zuko could see the darkened sky, they were close, very close…

But Azula wasn't letting them get away that easily. Zuko looked back again and saw that she was running after him and Iroh, and was once again taking aim to attack. They ran up the stairs with Azula close behind, and right as thy got out of the prison hold, a burst of flames came up behind them, followed by Azula, a look of complete and total evil on her face. "Give it up Zuko", she said as she took aim again, "You can't win"

The feeling left his legs. He saw the fire coming, closer and closer still, but he couldn't move. It were as if he were rooted to the ground. He didn't react. But someone did. Iroh stepped in front of him, and before Zuko could do anything, Iroh was enveloped in flames.

"NO!" Zuko yelled; but there was nothing he could do. As the flames died away though, he got a surprise; Iroh was standing in the center, completely unharmed. His arms were held out, and Zuko understood; like his sister, Uncle Iroh also had a gift for Firebending. He'd been stupid to forget something like that. Iroh took advantage of Azula's mixture of shock and frustration, and grabbed Zuko by the arm, pulling towards a boat they could escape in. They both clambered in, and Zuko burned the ropes holding it up. The boat hit the water with a splash, and Zuko quickly grabbed the oar and started rowing.

Okay, the almost great escape. That wouldn't make a very good chapter title though. Like I said, not long, but I've got a few more fics I have to update. So review, and my next chapter will be longer. Happy Holidays!