AN: You might remember that in the very beginning I said Aang was 13.. well, for my own purposes, everyone is one year older. Mk?

damn you disclaimer.. I do not own A:TLA, here, nor in chapter seven where I forgot the stupid thing. Honestly.. isn't it obvious I don't own the show! It's not like I'm pretending I do..

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Chapter 8: Fighting For Who?

The others noticed Zuko had stopped walking, and turned around themselves. Iroh squinted, shading his eyes from the sunlight, but there could be no mistake as to the figure's identity.

Sokka, Aang and Katara just looked from Iroh's face to Zuko's, and then to the girl standing opposite them in confusion. Katara tensed with the realization that something was wrong, Zuko and his Uncle weren't reacting how she'd supposed they'd act if they met firebenders. Something was very wrong.

The figure then sauntered towards them, confidently holding her head up and smirking victoriously at her brother.

"Why am I not surprised?" She looked at the little ragged troupe up and down, and her ruby lips curved upwards maliciously. "I always knew you were too soft, too weak, to remain loyal to the Firenation; and here you are, standing right beside the Avatar- and you're probably teaching him firebending no less!" She paused, letting all she had said sink in to her brother's ears. Zuko was frozen in his place, ready to erupt in anger, fire roiling within him; but he could not expose himself. No matter what he said to Zula, he knew she was here for two reasons: To capture the Avatar, and arrest Iroh and himself. He must remain silent. His nails dug into the palms of his hands, his jaw was set and he clenched his teeth to keep himself from shouting, yelling, attacking her. "You know brother, I didn't expect to find anything of great value in this little excuse for a town, but I stopped by to pick up supplies just in case; and would you imagine my luck!" She slowly began circling them. "Not only do I find the Avatar, but you and dear Uncle Iroh as well!" Her gaze was that of a hawk, ready to snatch up it's prey. "Now if you'll just come quietly, all of you, I won't have to kill anyone..."

"What? There's ONE of you and five of us, and you expect of to come quietly?" Sokka blurted out.

"Uh, Sokka.." Aang tapped him on the shoulder and pointed to the Firenation guards that had circled around them from a slight distance, cutting off any escape.

Zuko now had a choice to make. He could tell his sister his plan, let her capture the Avatar and turn himself in, or he could fight with Aang and Katara against her and her guards for freedom. Either way was a sacrifice.. but fighting with the Avatar? That went against everything he had stood for his entire life.. he would be fighting his own nation.. it wouldn't be the first time.. he thought as he remembered Zhao.

But it was his sister. Jealousy can make a person to funny things. Her taunting words enveloped him, and mocked him. Zula would not have the triumph of returning to their father with the Avatar- right from his grasp. No, that was not an option. He would not let her be victorious; she had always won in their childhood sparring games- she had won at everything. She always did everything right to please their father.. this time she would be the one to hang her head in shame!

Katara, Aang and Sokka waited, frozen, apprehensive of what this situation could lead to. Would Zuko betray them? Had he been deceiving them all along, and was he now going to hand the Avatar over without a second thought? Katara's heart raced at the thought of this, her eyes narrowing into a deadly gaze at the back of Zuko's head. If he betrayed them (which, although it seemed improbable because of his situation, was still a distinct possibility) she would make sure he wouldn't live to tell about it.

"So what will it be? Are you foolish enough to challenge me? To fight me? You can't beat me Zuko, you know you can't, you're just not good enough-"

As quickly as Zuko had attacked her, Zula with still more agility evaded the stream of fury-invoked fire, and paused for a minute, laughing at the shock in Zuko's face. She knew that he had not expected her to avoid the attack with such ease and grace. "So this is what you have chosen? So be it.. but the weight of your death will be on your shoulders, as you chose to fight me!" She snarled, her beautiful, clean face contorting into a wild cat's roar of fury, her royal elegance lost as she threw all her power into her attacks on Zuko. Chaos immediately ensued- it wasn't long before Zuko and Zula had separated themselves from the rest of the bunch and were battling mercilessly, each driven by their own insane desires. Aang, who had much more power now that he had three elements under his control completely, was able to repel and attack multiple Fire Nation Guards. Katara, a master of water, was involved with two at the moment, though she knew she couldn't hold that pace for very long. Sokka was fighting with great skill and force, his Omashuian teachers had taught him well. Iroh- a great proficient, easily took out three Guards in but a few minutes; but the number of Guards was a problem. It was five to about 15, odds that were not in the little groups favor. It was midday, and the firebenders used that to their full advantage. But in their own world, almost, Zuko and Zula were locked in a battle. Zula; quick, smart, and on the verge of becoming a master, knew the element of fire to it's very core. She was fire; the rage and passion burning within her very soul. She was unforgiving, cruel, and yet oddly entrancing; and she was so young, only sixteen years of age. She fought with the skill and knowledge of a great master, but she had her weaknesses too. Her youth and temper often led to rash decisions, and she was easily frustrated. Zuko, though similarly afflicted, had spent a great deal of the two years aboard ship meditating, working on his patience. It showed. Zula sent fire flowing from her feet, and fists toward her brother in numerous sequential attacks, swooping and curving her body around artfully to give the fire greater force, her deep breathing fueling her. Zuko blocked what he could and dodged what he couldn't, leaving him singed in various places. He attacked when Zula paused for just a moment, sending the strongest blast of orange death to her that he could possibly muster, willing himself not to give up. Thus locked in this fighting dance for life and victory, they were oblivious to all else.

It was midday. The cruel summer sun smiled upon the opposing firebenders, and Katara was running out of water. Breathless fear began to creep into her thoughts, but her eyes showed now sign of weakness. Panicking in her mind, she knew she had to get near a source of water if she was going to stay alive. Immediately she thought of the stream. If she could run fast enough to get to the stream, she knew she could draw a few guards after her, thus leaving fewer to attack Aang, and as a plus, she could dispatch them when she was surrounded by her element. Besides thinking of all this, she thought of Zuko. He was fighting on their side.

Aang saw Katara run into the woods, and wanted to follow her, but he was preoccupied with the firebenders fighting him. His typical tactic was to evade attacks, wearing his enemy out, but this wasn't what was needed now. He needed to be aggressive.

Sweat poured from his temples, wetting his gray hair. He was old- there was no denying it. But he kept fighting, fighting the very country he had served under for so many years, and he wondered where this would get him.

Zula's perseverance did not waiver for one second. Relentlessly she threw fire at her brother, almost tasting victory. She, like an animal, could sense his fear, could sense his weakening.

She ran, streaming through the trees like her own element, fluidly leaping over rocks and protruding tree branches. Her legs stretched out and carried her fast to the water, like a graceful deer she flew. She blinked past the tall arching trees, with their bright green leaves above her head, shading her little from the torturous sun. Sweat began to cascade down her face, her breathing turned ragged, as she could hear the pumping, clomping steps of the Firenation soldiers behind her. Luckily, their heavy uniforms weighed them down considerably, and she gratefully blessed her thin worn clothing, flying loosely about her, hindering her little. As she drew deeper into the woods, she realized she couldn't lead them straight to the campsite, that would just be a stupid thing to do; so she began weaving her way around it, hoping she could still find her bearings. She was tiring.

Searing hot fire overwhelmed his face and chest, knocking him backwards onto the trashed ground. Zuko was tiring too. Quickly, he picked himself up and with heavy arms, continued battling his sister, who seemed almost mechanical in her maneuvers. She was a machine, efficient in every way, bending fire to her will with precise control, submitting it to her desire. She manipulated it to it's full potential to destroy.

The fights raged on, all benders (and Sokka) keeping themselves going with gritty determination, knowing the full weight of what they were fighting for. Sokka had managed to take down two, and was working on his third. Iroh put four down, and was tiring quickly, fighting another. Aang fought two more, and two were after Katara. In total, eight enemies down and seven to go, Zula being one of them. Iroh, Sokka, Aang, Katara and Zuko were all wearing down fast, all unsure of how much more they could fight.

She could hear it! Her ears detected a light gurgle! She followed the sound as best she could, and was relieved when she found the water. Splashing into it, she turned round to face her to pursuers, a serious look on her face. It would take all the strength she could summon from her body to beat these two, but she knew she had to do it.

"Surrender to me now, Zuko, and maybe I'll spare you!" Zula shot at him between her attacks.

Zuko, his brow furrowed in concentration, made no reply. His hatred towards her was multiplying exponentially with every passing second, his determination on showing her what he was capable of was growing. She needed badly to be put in her place. This silent fury built up within him, and a rush of adrenaline fueled his next wild attacks on her. He thought he saw a hint of fear in her eyes...

She didn't like to kill, but she had no choice. Wrapping the two guards in long ropes of water, she dragged their heads beneath the surface of the stream, cutting off their air supply. She turned her head away as they flailed helplessly, their cries muffled out by the water. As soon as their bodies went limp, she released the water's hold on them, and hurried back to the rest of them, running as fast as her legs would carry her.

Five to go. Sokka, Iroh and Aang, all exhausted, fought with what strength they had left. Sokka managed to knife another, leaving four against three, until Iroh collapsed. Yes, he was a great bender, but he was old too.

Zuko didn't notice his uncle's fall, as all his focus remained on Zula. He would win. He must win. I will win.

Blood and burned earth mixed together, creating a horrible tapestry on the ground. Footprints of fighting dance-steps were sprawled among the pieces of churned up grass and rock. Both Aang and Sokka saw Iroh fall, but could do nothing to help, each of them now battling two guards.

Aang then saw Katara run back into view from the woods, and called out to her.

"Katara!"

She immediately saw Iroh's body on the ground, and went to help him. Aang knocked out three more guards with his now superior earthbending skills, leaving one. Sokka and Aang circled him, and then, with the energy they had left, brought him down.

An ear-piercing shriek brought all of their attentions to Zuko and Zula once more. Zuko had somehow, against all reason, caught her off guard, and he delivered one last blow to her, before he collapsed.

Iroh's knees had merely given out on him, he said, as Katara helped the old man stand up. They surveyed what they had just done.

Bodies of guards lay scattered on the earthy, scorched and bloody ground, their limbs splayed out at odd angles, like in some tableauic interpretive dance.

Katara then spotted Zuko, unconscious on the ground. Her stare at him was of the most confused nature.. only a few hours before she had looked at him with the utmost contempt and distrust. He had fought on their side, defending Aang, defending them. She had supposed he'd turn on them and let them be captured. It was in deed a strange look that Katara gave Zuko, only he was unconscious, and therefor was not able to appreciate it. Had he been awake, he would have smiled, because now, his plan was definitely on it's way to working.

Carefully, she rolled him over on to his back, examining the various burns and injuries he had received from his ruthless sister. Her immediate instinct was to heal, and heal she did.

The three original companions stood over Zuko, gazing in wonder at the choice he had made. None of them had had the time to question his choice as the fighting started so quickly. They had only had the time to defend themselves; and as they stared at Zuko in wonderment, Iroh spotted his niece on the ground. Only he went over to examine the extent of her wounds. He smiled sadly, his old eyes squinting as he saw a drop of blood trickle from the corner of her mouth.

Iroh stayed with Zula, who was holding on to her life dearly, as the trio picked up Zuko (with much difficulty, and complaining on Sokka's part) and carried him back to their camp. All of them needed medical attention, Zuko especially. They didn't call Zula a firebending prodigy for nothing.

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So, there it is. I wasn't exactly sure how to approach a fighting scene.. I wish I could be more descriptive. (At least I didn't say, "and then Katara used the water whip!"). Thanks to all of you who have been supportive of this fic thus far.. stick with me here because I have many chapters to go.. :)

my apologies if the Zutara is taking too long.. I don't want to rush it, because the last thing I want to happen is for them to suddenly and inexplicably fall for each other.. this is will be as realistically timed as I can possibly make it. (I have a timeline thing for this.. so yea). It's not going to be all mushy in a sense where Katara is all... "I love you, Zuko!" At least, they won't be expressing it in those words, or in words at all. Hopefully when I get there I'll be able to convey their emotions through indirect stuff.. but I gotta warn ya it's going to get darker as the story goes on..

New Season... TODAY! 8D

-ai