Chapter 3 Fighting the Future
Zuko ducked as the archer took another swing at him. For some reason he wasn't really paying attention to the battle. If this was the test then it was too easy even for him. The prince ducked another swing from the archers arm.
"Okay let end this." Zuko hissed.
Obviously this guy wasn't fighting his hardest. Zuko quickly swung his foot colliding with the archer's jaw. Katara heard a crack and saw a guy flying. It was then that she knew that the boy was out cold.
Zuko rolled his eyes under his mask. He turned his back and walked away from his water bender. A few steps later he was tackled to the ground.
Katara ran over to the girl that was now atop of Blue Spirit. She threw her off and helped the boy to his feet. "Are you alright?"
"Get away from him you dirty water peasant!" The girl yelled.
Katara spun around and came face to face with the new girl. She had long brown hair that was pulled up into a ponytail but was also braided to about her shoulders. Her skin was a pale ivory color. Her eyes were amber gold and full of fire. The girl's eyes reminded Katara a lot of Zuko's eyes. But what freaked her out the most was the necklace around her neck; it was her mothers!
"Where did you get that little girl?" Katara asked approaching the girl with extreme caution.
"My mother gave it to me water peasant. She said it was my grandmothers. And I'm sixteen and my name is Kianna but you can call me Kia." She snapped.
"Kia who is your mother?" Katara asked.
"That is none of your concern." Kia turned away from the water bender. "I'm here to fight that masked boy. I was sent by the Red Spirit."
Zuko glared at the young girl under his mask. So the Red Spirit knew something about his tests. That had to be the only reason the girl was here.
"Don't bother talking." Kia growled. "I'm not here for ideal chit chat. All I want to do is make sure that you don't pass the tests. That way my brother, Kozu, will never be born."
Zuko wasn't going to ponder on the fact that she was just a peasant who had an attitude and who also had family issues. If it was a fight it was a fight she was going to get. He took a stance and stared at her straight in the eyes.
Kia couldn't help but smirk at the fact that the Blue Spirit was going to fall straight into her trap. If she could ruin this boy's past then she wouldn't have to deal with him in the future. She knew that he passed all of his tests, after all the Red Spirit had told her that. And she had also been informed that he almost died a few times during these tests to save his love one, Katara.
Zuko was the first one to attack and swung his right leg over her head. It was a simple test that he could do. After all, this little peasant was only getting in his way and that was not acceptable.
Katara backed off closer to the ocean while these two dueled. Kia had the exact same necklace that Prince Zuko had taken from her a while back. Things were different now and that necklace meant everything in the world to her.
Zuko blocked Kia's kick with his arm. Since he didn't have his armor on it hurt just a little more than usual. He swung his leg down low trying to break the girl's root. At the same time his mind was racing with questions that weren't being answered. He couldn't really do anything unless he knew what type of bender Kia was.
"Give up, you're going to end up failing the most important test anyway." Kia growled.
Zuko increased the speed of his attacks and tried hard not to release a fist full of fire. He had to keep his identity away from Katara. If he could do that then he could that long enough was going to be able to pass all the tests anyway.
Kia did a front flip over Zuko's head and hissed in his ear. "I wouldn't even think about trying the next tests Zuko. Red Spirit said that you fail the most important one. Which brings your family to destruction." She kicked him in the back causing him to lose balance.
Zuko was angrier than before. He couldn't believe that some peasant girl was beating him. And on top of that she knew his identity!
The fire prince finally lost his temper and did a fire kick at the girl. Kia stopped for a second and quickly blocked it with the water from the ocean. She looked at her hands then up at Zuko.
"You're lucky there are certain times my water bending works." Kia stated. "And it's because of my fire bending cancels it out. Yeah I know I'm weird so sue me." She did a spinning kick hitting the blue spirit in the jaw.
The mask began to crack and Zuko panicked. He glared at Kia and quickly took off running. He couldn't allow Katara to see who he really was. After all he was only traveling with them for a day. That was much too soon for the girl to know.
Kia didn't give up though. She smirked at Katara and motioned for the water bender to follower her. The chase was on it was pretty much a game of cat and mouse and the mouse was Zuko. And this time he wasn't going to escape.
"You're going to fail the most important test you traitor!" Kia yelled. "That's why my family is apart. Because of you!"
Katara couldn't help but wonder what this girl was doing. What test was Kia talking about? And did she know who was behind the blue spirit mask?
"Don't worry you'll soon find out who is behind the blue spirit mask. We'll walk from here." Kia said slowing down her running. Allowing Zuko to take an early lead. "It's destiny for him to fail the test after the upcoming two."
Katara slowed down as well giving Zuko a chance to get away. She stopped and looked at Kia. "Kia?"
"Hmm?"
"Who is your mother?"
With Zuko
Zuko finally allowed his mask to shatter. He was pretty sure that the two girls weren't following him any more. He lowered his hands and thought of that girl; Kianna was her name. There was something about her that reminded him of his self somewhat.
He looked up and came face to face with the Red Spirit. He glared at her before turning around.
"I don't even want to speak to you. But what Kianna told me confirmed my thoughts." Zuko said softly. "You're part of the Fire Nation!"
"Yeah so what if I am?" Red Spirit demanded. "There's nothing you can do about it."
Zuko glared at the girl. "You know about this test. You know that I'm the chosen one. And you know more about me than you're leading us on to believe."
Red Spirit looked up and saw the two girls off in the distance. She walked around Zuko; this was part of her plan. "Yeah so what if I'm leading you guys on. There's nothing you can do to stop me."
Katara stopped dead in her tracks when she saw Zuko standing there in front of the Red Spirit. In his hand was a fragment of the blue spirit mask. She gasp it was then when she started to remember everything that happened three months ago.
Kia looked at the ground and smirked. She wasn't about going to tell the water peasant whom she was related to. After it was her job to figure out that answer.
Zuko looked over at Katara then saw Kia standing there. There was a grin across her face. Zuko glared at the Red Spirit before snapping, "I'll deal with you later."
He then ran over to Katara and looked at her. "You lied to me."
Zuko placed his hands on her shoulders but she just knocked them away. She got up and ran off. The traitor prince watched her go but figured she'd be easier to find after he got Kia out of the way.
"So Kianna," Zuko smirked. "I should have recognized the signs before. You're no ordinary bender. You're the daughter of mine and Katara's."
"Very good father! I thought you might be the first one to find out." She smirked as they began to pace around.
Zuko never took his glance off of the girl. He wasn't going to. After all he still had to figure out what this part of the test was about. He ran through his thoughts a list of compatible tests. Not one of them seemed to match up with his current dilemma.
Kia was the first one to attack. And she started out with a martial arts type move. She ran at him then stopped right before she hit him. It was then when she swung her leg hitting Zuko square in the jaw.
Zuko growled as his stumbled backwards slightly. So he personally did training with his daughter. That was good because she was going to need all the training she could get to beat him. Zuko first started out with an uppercut; well at least he tried to do an uppercut. She backed up slightly causing him to miss.
"I know all your moves Daddy." Kia teased.
"Very good Kianna. But I'm pretty sure that I haven't used every single move on you that I know." Zuko felt like he was Zhao and his daughter was himself.
"Don't call me Kianna." She growled.
She did a swinging kick again hitting him in the jaw. If she kept this up then his jaw would eventually break. Zuko ducked when he saw another swing coming at him. He was letting his guard down. Even his uncle's training didn't prepare him for this type of battle. This was nothing like the Agni Kai he did with Zhao.
Zuko didn't really have time to think on his feet. This girl knew what she was doing, and she also knew where his weaknesses were. He stood up quickly and jumped over her next two kicks. He had to try to get a battle plan quickly.
"Try doing that one attack you never showed me. After all, you never know what might happen." Kia smirked.
Zuko knew of one attack that was in the master moves. It was the only attack that he could convince his uncle to teach him. But the move was not only dangerous but also could be very deadly. He was already pushing his luck with the fact that he did this stupid testing thing before he was twenty like most fire benders usually do.
Zuko stopped and allowed Kia to hit him once again; but this time it was in the chest. Zuko stumbled backwards and fell to the ground. He knew that he needed just a little more time before he could use this attack.
Finally Kia stopped her on slaughter and stared at the prince sitting below her. "I think I win daddy."
Zuko smirked. He released his fire bending hitting and sending the girl flying off into a tree. He stood up and glared at the girl. He knew that there was nobody ever who was able to survive this attack. But if she was the daughter of the next Fire Lord there was a slim chance that should survive it.
Zuko started out twirling his right index finger in a circle. A small flame came out and started to twirl along with it. It got bigger and bigger until it was about the size of Zuko himself.
He moved his other hand straight through the middle of the circle and focused on the energy. He allowed the flame to consume his whole body before he relaxed. He had to be one with the flame and the only way to do that is to allow the flame to consume not only your body but your soul as well.
Zuko opened his eyes. Though they were not the usual amber gold color any more. They were a glossy red color and burned with the fire that was within him. He launched an attack straight at the girl who was hit. She was now on fire. He wasn't afraid to hold back. After all she was the one who challenged Zuko in the first place.
"Hey maybe you should be a little more careful whom you pick your fights with little girl." Zuko growled walking closer to her. "Kianna you of all people should know not pick a fight with me."
Kia let out a short growl. "Don't call me that! You never cared about me! That's why you and Mom call me Kianna! Uncle is the only one who doesn't call me that." She yelled. "You just care about Kozu and what's going on his life. That stupid boy, if I didn't know any better you favor him over me!"
Zuko shot another blast of fire at her. She whimpered slightly before turning her back to him. "You little peasant, I suggest you shut up and learn some manners."
Kia glared at him. "You're going to fail the love test. This is only one of the many. I can't tell you if you passed this one you'll know. But you're going to fail the love test. And Katara will die a horrible and painful death remember that dad." Kia said before a white light surrounded her. When it cleared she was gone.
Zuko sighed before falling to the ground. His eyes rolled back into his head and he became aware of the great Agni before him. He was now in the Spirit World.
"Prince Zuko of the Fire Nation." He said his red robe swaying in the wind. "You just got a glimpse of what is yet to come."
"I know my lord." Zuko replied bowing down. He had no idea that the great Agni himself was going to be the judge of his test. "I put a lot of faith into that girl's words."
"Not only that but you also put faith in your own abilities and what your uncle had taught you." Agni continued. "The first test is faith. You passed with flying colors."
Zuko let a smile go past his mouth. "Thank my lord."
"But be warned young prince. This testing is far from over. If what Kianna said is true you fail the love part then things will be a living hell for you." He paused. "Do you understand?"
"Yes my lord. I understand perfectly." Zuko replied, not daring to raise his eyes to the god of fire.
"Now rise my son of fire. I would like to see your face." Zuko stood up and the saw the great Agni for the first time.
His hair was black just like a raven. His were gold and full of not only fire and life. Agni had a long beard that flowed to about the middle of his chest. His long robe was red and gold symbolizing the fire nation colors. And on the back of it was the Fire Nations insignia.
"You are a son of fire. I want to see this war over with. I was chose you for a reason. I sent my daughter, Shadow after you to see what would happen. I can tell that you are a boy that lives up to promises." Agni smiled.
"Yes my lord."
"Your honor is still strong my son. And if you continue to trust your friends and family as well as yourself then this test will go fine for you."
Zuko took in a deep breath. The area around him smelt like freshly fallen rain. The skies were the bluest of blue. And reminded him deeply of Katara's eyes. He knew that he had to past these tests not only for his sake but Katara's sake too.
"Now go back and see if you can confront that girl which you love so much." Agni said pushing him out a portal like thing. "And if you die from the testing. I'm just going to send you straight back here."
"Yes my lord."
Back in the living world
Zuko opened his eyes and found him face to face with Sokka. "Hey you haven't seen Katara have you?" Where the first words out of Zuko's mouth.
"Zuko, why do you ask?" Sokka asked.
"I want to know damn it. Just tell me." Zuko demanded sitting up quickly. "I've got better things to do than wonder where she is…"
"Calm down man. She's at the river by the stream, that's by the lake." Sokka said smiling.
Zuko raised his eyebrow. "What are you talking about?"
"Sorry. She's down by the river practicing her water bending. She kept muttering something about her memories." Sokka said scratching his head.
Zuko nodded and walked back to the campsite. After all, they decided that it was best to camp in the forest nearby Haru's village. That way the fire benders that continued to live in that village didn't find them.
Zuko heard sniffling coming from nearby and he looked around a tree. Sitting there with her head buried in her legs was Katara. Zuko felt bad about not telling her the truth in the first place.
"Katara, are you alright?" Zuko asked putting a hand on her shoulder.
"You lied to me." She muttered. Her voice was muffled from the fabric of her dress. "Not only that but you had my brother and the Avatar lie for you too."
"Katara I'm sorry." Zuko said.
Katara turned to the prince reveling her tear stained face. "No your not. If you were you wouldn't have even done it in the first place."
Zuko sat down next to the water-bending girl. She jumped at him and wrapped her arms around his neck and began to weep openly. She couldn't control her tears any longer. Everything that went on three months ago came flooding back to her.
"Zuko, you shouldn't be the one who is sorry. I should have listen to you when you said that I was wrong for protecting Aang." Katara sobbed. "I wasn't thinking. And then I chose to forget everything that we had done together."
Zuko didn't know what to do. He really hadn't dealt with this type of thing before. He rubbed the girl's back and used his other hand to pet her long brown hair.
"It's okay Katara," he whispered resting his head on her head. "I know you weren't thinking. After all, I would have done the same thing."
Zuko allowed Katara to continue to weep. She felt guilty for everything she did. And he knew that she would eventually forgive herself.
"I will understand if you never want to have me…"
Zuko grabbed her chin and brought it up. "Katara, listen to me. Don't you ever talk like that again. I'm always going to want you." Zuko brought her face close to his so that their noses touched. "I love you Katara and it will always be like that. And don't you forget it, you little water tribe peasant." He then kissed her deeply.
Katara pulled away from him and smiled. "Okay I get it." She wiped her tears away. Then pulled Zuko into another kiss.
"What was that for?" He asked.
"Revenge. For kissing me first." She smiled. "And this is for returning my necklace back to me." She said kissing him passionately.
K15: So Katara knows. And you've found out a little bit more about the Red Spirit. So any other guess to whom she is?
Zuko: I know.
Me: of course you know. Anyway, so Katara knows Zuko is blue spirit. Zuko kissed her and all is right in the world right? –Beep- Wrong answer.
Zuko: What are you doing Kayko.
Me: I don't know. Anyway homecoming is today for me. So I'm praying that there is no all-new Avatar. I checked and it said there wasn't so I'm trusting them. I have a half time show. Wish me luck. Anyway, (like you guys care), I've been busy doing homework practices and just goofing off reading fics… instead of updating mine. So hopefully everything will work out in the end. Until next time readers. Later. K15