K15: So I've got two stories on chapter 5. That's odd. Hopefully that will change and they'll be a chapter apart.
Katara: I highly doubt it.
Me: I don't. So enjoy this chapter. I think I had a few right guesses on whom the Red Spirit is. So she's going to be revealed in this chapter. Enjoy the fic. Later. K15
Disclaimer: I don't own Avatar the Last Air bender. If I did Aang might have been seriously injured and Sokka would be dating someone by now.
Chapter 5 The Red Spirit
Zuko stared at Katara. He couldn't believe she had just said that. Zuko watched Katara turn away from him. "Oh no, you're not getting away from me that easily peasant." Zuko hissed grabbing her wrist. "I need an explanation."
"I don't love you, Zuko you're a fake, a phony, and you mean nothing to me!" Katara yelled.
Zuko looked into her eyes, it was clear that she was lying. Her cerulean eyes were filled to the rim with tears. She didn't mean a word of it.
"You're lying." Zuko said. "I can tell by your eyes. I will not allow myself to fail this love test."
"Is that all you care about? You and your stupid ritual?" Katara yelled.
Zuko looked away from the water bender. He refused to believe a single word of it. He would deny it as long as possible if not longer. Was it possible that they had grown apart in three months?
Katara turned towards the exiled prince. "All you care about is yourself! Passing your stupid ritual, capturing the Avatar, regaining your honor! It's all about you!"
Zuko couldn't stand it any longer. He wasn't going to put up with the crap that she gave. He loved her and if she didn't realize that then so be it. He wasn't going to love her any longer either.
"Fine, be that way!" Zuko snapped. "If you don't love me, then I don't love you either!" he took his gloves and threw them to the ground, not caring if she saw his injury. Then he stormed off.
By this time Sokka and the Red Spirit were staring at the two. They had confused looks on their faces, but at the same time they knew that they had to do something about this. After all, they had heard every word that was just said.
"Zuko, hey buddy calm down. I'm sure we can work something out." Sokka said.
"Leave me alone." He snapped pushing Sokka to the ground. "I don't want to be bothered."
"Well, what are we going to do?" Sokka asked as the two teens headed off into two different directions of the camp.
Red Spirit looked over at the girl and the boy. "I don't know Sokka." She replied softly. "I honestly don't know." With that said she walked off into the forest.
With AangAang also had heard the conversation between the prince and the water bender. It seemed that he was to blame for this. If he didn't allow his lust to get control of him, then he wouldn't have to deal with Katara being so upset.
It was then when Aang came up with a brilliant idea! He looked at Momo and whispered something in the lemur's ear. Momo nodded and flew off leaving the air bender to his own thoughts.
"Maybe I'll have Katara all to myself after this plan." He said with a chuckle.
With the Red SpiritShe was walking off into the forest. She needed time to think about what was happening between Zuko and Katara. The boy was supposed to pass all of his tests; he wasn't allowed to fail a single one, not with her being there.
"This is so not fair!" Red Spirit yelled to no one. "Why can't he be more like his mother? And not like his father?"
"Because my father was raised by both of them." A voice said.
Red Spirit spun around and came face to face with a boy. His hair was pulled up back into a ponytail and his hair was black. His eyes were a bright blue color much like Katara's. His skin on the other hand averaged out to be a dark ivory color, but not too dark.
"Who are you?" Red Spirit asked taking her bow off from her arm. She reached into her quiver and pulled out an arrow. "And what do you want with me?"
"Actually it doesn't matter who I am. I want to know who you are." He replied. His blue eyes were pretty much piercing a hole through her. "But if you must have a name my name is Kozu. I'm prince of the Fire Nation."
"Zuko's son, then your sister is Kianna!" Red Spirit realized. "What do you want with me?"
"Oh nothing much. I'm after blood. My goal is to destroy people close to Zuko after all that's what Zhao hired me for." Kozu replied. "So what if I'm a traitor to the royal family. My sister is totally clueless to everything around her so it doesn't matter."
"You're after blood?" Red Spirit asked. "Why?"
"You're as dumb as you look. I already told you, twit." Kozu answered. "Because I work for Zhao. I was granted the gift of time travel by the Great Agni to help my father with his tests."
She glared at the sixteen year old. He was really starting to get on her nerves. There were things that she was unable to understand in this world. For instance why in the world the great Agni would even meddle in affairs of mortals. It was surely none of his concern if Zuko passed or failed the tests.
"I'm not afraid of you." She finally said after a moment of thought. "You can't defeat me."
"Oh but I can." Kozu replied. "I've not only got my father's fire bending spirit but I also have the grace and strength of my mother's water bending spirit. Though I control the element of Fire."
"Zhao taught you that none the less."
"Very good. Again your not as dumb as you look." He then launched a fireball across the way barely missing Red Spirit's mask. "I'm pretty sure that the mask you have on is wood. I would suggest you run."
She brought her weapon up and pulled back ready to shoot the boy down. "I'm not going to back down from a fight."
"Shame you really should." Kozu said tossing another fireball up and down. "You could get yourself killed that way."
Red Spirit looked around before running off deeper into the forest. She, of course, had dropped her weapon. She wanted to keep a good distance away from the boy. And if she couldn't do that, then there was a chance that she might end up dead.
She jumped over a log on the ground and came face to face with Kozu. "I told you that you couldn't get away from me."
"I'm not afraid of you."
With Zula"Shadow's my real name." Katrina said. "I'm fear."
Zula had heard of this girl before. Zuko and that stupid water peasant that the boy was obsessed with supposedly defeated her. There were things that even Zula didn't understand about what went on through the past three months.
Nyla would understand what went on between them, because she was pretty much one of the center points as well. "So what can I do for you Katrina?"
"I was sent by my father, along with Zuko's twins, to help Zuko fail the Fire Ritual." She replied.
"I didn't know that the boy was even taking the test." Zula answered. "So who's your father?"
"The great Agni." Katrina answered. "I was to be one of the tests. The test of Fear of course, Kianna, his daughter was sent to help him with the test of trust."
"Did he pass?" Zula asked.
"As far as my knowledge he did." She replied. "Kozu is right now taking part with the strength test. He will also deal with part of the love test as well today. And to my knowledge he needs to pass that one to live."
Zula smirked. "My father failed that one. Why is he still living?"
"Because my father allowed him. It was all part of a bigger plot that is yet to be revealed to us yet." Katrina replied. "Until I tell you other wise I am a noble of the Earth Kingdom. And I am to be addressed appropriately."
"Understood." The answer came from the Fire Princess.
Zula showed Fear to where she would be staying for the night. But of course Zhao had to show up and start arguing.
"Do you think it's wise if the girl stays in the royal tent?" He asked.
"Zhao, if I didn't think it was good for to stay there, then I would have put her there for the night." Zula snapped. "Now if you have a problem with that I suggest you go off and make sure we have plenty of supplies."
Zhao bowed before leaving the princess in peace. He officially hated that girl. And if he had his way he would marry her just for the throne. But he didn't so he would have to continue to wait until the Fire Lord gave him the permission he needed.
Zula didn't trust Zhao. Even though he was almost a general in her father's eyes it didn't mean squat to the princess' and prince who was working with him. Something about him gave her the idea that he was bad for the nation.
But of course she never said anything because of what happened to her brother. She was personally glad it happened to Zuko. That was she was going to be able to get the throne, after she was declared Nyla dead.
Zula decided it was best if she went into town to see if any of the locals had heard anything about her brother. Hopefully he was dead and everything would be perfect, but Zula knew better than to jump to conclusions like that.
"Uncle Iroh?" Zula asked blinking her eyes a couple of times to see her uncle standing there with a bounty hunter that Zhao had hired about three months ago. "Are you…" She couldn't even finish her question she was to grotesque by the thought.
"Ah, Princess Zula." Iroh said turning around. "It's great to see you again. I was wondering when I would see you. Tell me how is Nyla?"
"She left on a scouting mission and hasn't returned yet." Zula answered.
"Good to hear." Iroh seemed to be distracted. Zula already knew why. "This is Jun, she's a lady friend of Zuko's."
"We've already met, on several measures." Zula answered before Iroh could describe anything else to her. She paused to think it was just bothering her too much.
"Uncle Iroh, if I could ask you a question." Zula started.
"Ask away my dear." He replied.
"You're not dating her are you?" Zula blurted out the question before she had a chance to think about it.
"Why yes my dea…" Iroh was stopped by Jun clearing her throat.
"Princess Zula, your uncle and I have pressing matters to attend to." Jun started looking down at the old man. "More private matter that we wish to not talk about. And since all we came for is some chains we must be on our way."
"Yes, well hope to see you again soon, Princess Zula." Iroh said turning to leave.
Zula watched the very odd couple walk down the street. She felt like gagging at the thought of little Iroh's and Jun's running around the Fire Palace when Zuko was Fire Lord.
"That's wrong on so many levels." Zula said to herself. "And I honestly do not want to know what those chains are for." She turned on her heal and headed back to camp trying to get all the images of her uncle out of her head.
With Zuko
Zuko sat on the beach alone. Katara had truly left him, and there was nothing he could have done to stop her. He felt horrible for even letting her say that to him.
"What have I done?" He asked himself. "I've probably failed the love part by now. Oh great Agni why do I feel so betrayed."
Zuko let out a long sigh and fell back onto the ground staring up into the sky. He couldn't' deal with any more heartbreaks. He would be lucky if he could get through another one with Katara.
"So down in the dumps?" Aang asked leaning over the prince. "I've got the best thing to cheer you up!"
"What are you trying to sell me, Avatar?" Zuko asked not bothering to sit up. "Whatever it is I don't want it."
"Of course you do. It's to make you forget about Katara and everything she's done to you." Aang replied. "I couldn't help over hearing the fight you two had. Okay I think the whole surrounding area heard. Even Suki and Haru who are busy making out in the forest."
Zuko let out a groan. He didn't need to hear what too teens were doing. It reminded him too much of what him and Katara could have been doing together if they didn't have this fight. He closed his eyes and suppressed another moan.
"I can tell you need a girlfriend!" Aang said too cheerfully. "I want you to meet someone!"
Zuko opened his good eye and stared at the Avatar like he was crazy. "Whom in the world would you want me to meet?" He asked.
"My sister!"
Zuko finally sat up and looked at the Avatar wit the same expression. "Aang, you're a hundred and twelve years old. Your sister couldn't have survived."
"Oh but she did! And she's my twin and sixteen."
"What that doesn't make any sense." Zuko said trying to process everything had just happened in the last five or six seconds.
"Oh but she is." Aang answered. "She froze herself four years after I did. See when we were born the Avatar powers split, so she was born with half of the powers I was born with."
"Okay you're still not making any sense."
"Okay, lets try this. When an Avatar is born he receives all of the previous Avatar's powers, but is already a master at his own right?" Zuko nodded. "Well it's simple when me and Mei were born the power split. Giving her half and me half, creating two Avatars!" Aang said slowly making sure that the boy knew what was going on.
"So you have a twin sister that survived four years after you disappeared?" Zuko asked.
"Yup."
"Let me see."
"Mei!" Aang yelled.
A girl walked out from the bushes. She had long wavy light brown hair. Her eyes were much like her brothers, a grayish bluish color. Her skin was pale color much like Aang's. And you could see an arrow on her forehead and on her hands.
"And she's now older than you?" Zuko asked again.
"Yup. I'll let you two get to know each other." Aang said giggling slightly.
He pulled out his air scooter and got on it laughing as he rode off into the forest. Zuko tried to grab the boy but ended up falling face first into the mud.
Mei giggled slightly and leaned down by the prince. "You're sort of funny." She giggled.
"Go away. I don't want to date you."
"Oh but your so handsome." Mei said as Zuko got up and spit out the mud that was in his mouth.
"You don't understand, I'm going under a…" Zuko started.
"That requires a love test. I'm so ready to help you for that. I can be your lover." She giggled.
And I thought the Avatar was an airhead. Zuko thought.
There was a scream off in the distance and Zuko's head snapped up. "I'm sorry," he said quickly. "I've got to go. That's someone from my team." He took off into the forest leaving Mei where she stood.
With Red Spirit
Red Spirit was currently being chased by a sixteen year old. She wasn't in the mood and when a fireball hit her she knew that things were going to be harder than she expected.
Another fireball was sent flying past her head hitting a nearby tree. She was going to have to get out of the forest unless she wanted to see it get burned down. And at the moment she didn't want to see that.
"Give up! Kianna said you're strong. Boy was she wrong!" Kozu yelled jumping over a log.
She finally stopped as soon as they reached outside of the forest. She was ready; even if she had to fight to the death she would do it.
"I'm ready to take you on!" She said strongly.
Zuko ran up into the scene just in time. He had followed the sound of their running. He needed to see who was in trouble and why in the world they would scream.
So you finally get to see the girl fight? A voice in his head asked.
I'm not going to deal with you now. You've caused me problems in the past.
Just admit it, you're anxious to find out who the girl is behind the mask is. The voice continued to pester Zuko.
Zuko pushed the voice down and climbed up a nearby tree. He didn't want to be noticed by the two that he was fighting.
Just a little longer, if they notice me or get into trouble I'll interfere. Until then I'm to stay hidden. Zuko thought to himself.
Red Spirit took a fighting stance that resembled one of an Agni Kai's. She was ready for anything that the boy brought.
Kozu was the first to attack by launching two fireballs from his hands. The attacks didn't stop there; he quickly added a flamethrower from his foot. He was going to show this girl who was the better fire bender.
She quickly did a back flip to dodge the attack and when she landed on her hands she launched a flame from her feet. She wasn't going to back down so easily. Her years of training were going to pay off.
Kozu began to pace around the girl. He was thinking of an attack to do. But Zhao and his father taught him a number of attacks, so it would take a couple of minutes to think about which attack to use.
"Okay that's perfect." Kozu said smirking.
This statement caused Zuko to lean forward. He wanted to see what in the world the boy was doing. He was curious, Kianna had mentioned something about her twin brother and how Zuko liked him more. Was this the boy?
Kozu took in a deep breath and called a flame to his hand. After that he began to spin around in a circle, allowing the fire to encircle him.
Red Spirit looked up and moved her head up to see what the boy was doing. She didn't trust the attack at all. Zhao had shown it to her once causing her to get a dragon shaped burn on her back. He had then told her that the only person who knew this attack was her brother, and he was able to control it with ease.
Kozu stopped and thrust his foot forward. This launched the flame that was around his leg and caused it to make a flame wheel, bigger than the Red Spirit herself. This didn't end his attack. He continued to spin and then launched a phoenix type attack at the girl.
Red Spirit was hit and sent flying into a tree. She was seriously hurt and currently set a flame. Her mask was slowly burning off her face.
Zuko jumped down and ran over to the girl to see if she was okay. With a wave of his hand he put out the flame. "Hey, are you alright?" Zuko asked trying to move the girl's hands away from her face.
The mask fell from her face and when it hit the ground it shattered. Zuko looked down at it before trying again to remove her arms from her face.
"No I don't want the prince of the fire Nation to find out who I am." She whimpered.
"It can't be much worse than me betraying my nation to be with the one I love then having her dump you." Zuko smirked. "And on top of that I'm stuck doing a stupid ritual, because I was so stupid to actually think she loved me." He finished before leaning back on his heels.
"Now, let me see." Zuko said sternly.
Kozu was getting ready to launch another attack while they were talking. "So Mom doesn't love Dad any more. This must be the reason why the house is always in arugment." He said his fist flaming.
"Shut up!" Zuko hissed. "I'm in the mood for your crap. Your sister was right about you, you are a brat."
"Don't judge me. You raised me like that. Plus if you weren't desperate to prove to Mom that you loved her then you wouldn't have…" Zuko didn't allow the boy to finish his sentence because he launched a flame at him.
"I don't have time for your mouth. You know nothing about me or my problems." Zuko snapped. "You're just a kid."
"I've been through much more than you ever have been Father." Kozu said sternly.
Zuko let out a short growl before turning back to the girl before him. He let out a long sigh as he saw that she was gone. He did not have time to go hunting down the girl.
Kozu was sent flying past the banished prince. He wasn't even expecting the attack. Zuko's head snapped to look behind him. Before him he saw his sister.
"N-n-n-Nyla?" Zuko choked out.
K15: Yup. Nyla's the Red Spirit! And Katara doesn't want anything to deal with Zuko. You'll have to see why Zuko fails the Love test… Oh and if Mei seems like a Mary-Sue… I think that's is what she would be considered. Don't worry she's not. It's just her blondness showing throw. Trust me she's like Aang but somewhat like Katara. Hopefully this will get better. And hopefully today I'll get a new story posted up. Because I have a new idea that I have DJ to thank for. Yeah okay now I'm babbling. I hate when I do that. So until next time readers. Later. K15