Disclaimer: See previous chapters if you care.

I am so sorry it took me so long to update! But, guess what? I graduated! YEA!

So, here's my excuse on why it took so long to update. I have been getting ready for graduation, studying for my finals, homework, getting ready to go to china for college, in two plays, and AP biology.

However, I did update my profile. It actually is quite amazing now. Every line has a picture for your viewing pleasure. I will be constantly updating this now as I keep taking new pictures of my life and such, so just keep checking it.

Ok, that's really it. Thank you for waiting!

26

Melia stood on the front deck next to Zuko, gazing at the port where they would be disembarking in a few minutes. She could feel Zuko's nervous energy vibrating off of him, and she was trying to calm him down as much as she could, but she wasn't succeeding very well.

Feeling another presence walk up behind her, she turned around and saw Kila standing there in the bland green outfit, looking radiant. Because the outfit was so boring, it made her stand out among everyone else.

Kila herself was also quite nervous. She still was wanted by the fire nation, and even though she had enough evidence to prove her innocence (Having the avatar on the ship and not bending other elements except fire in anyone's presence) she still knew that she could be imprisoned, or even killed, for any wrong step. Kila began to hum to calm her nerves down, which usually helped. Today however, it just made her even more nervous.

And it made Zuko even more irritable.

"Must you always make so much noise?" He growled at her, making Kila shrink back.

"I'm sorry! I'm just nervous!" She explained.

"You're nervous? What about me? I haven't been home for two years! What is everyone going to say about me? What kind of reception am I going to get?"

"What is Azula going to say?" Melia said, jumping into the conversation.

Zuko sighed. "That's my main worry. She can manipulate my father in ways that are unimaginable."

"You're going to be fine." Melia said, realizing that she hit a sore spot with the banished prince. She placed her hand in the crock of his elbow to reassure him, but that also made him tense up. "Once we land, you'll deliver the Avatar. Then your father will accept you again. You can fight in the war and end it, and then we wed. It will all run smoothly."

"Nothing ever runs smoothly." Zuko replied. "Not for me."

They docked safely and met a reception of none other than Admiral Zhao and his band of merry men. "Word on the street says that you have, by some miracle, have captured the Avatar."

"That is correct. He's in the prison hold right at this moment. I have fulfilled my duty, I am no longer banished." Zuko stated with a straight face, although inside he was trembling like a leaf.

"We'll see about that." Zhao snapped his fingers and two men jumped into action and began boarding the ship. But just then two of Zukos' men came forward with a bound and gagged Aang and Katara. Kila made a mental note to herself to find where Momo had wandered off to and to find him.

"As you can see Admiral, I do have them. Now let me pass." Zuko stated quite calmly, while trying to not point and laugh at Zhao's amazed expression.

Zhao quickly composed himself and resumed his smirk. "Well done. You finally captured the Avatar. Yet you have someone else who happens to be wanted on your ship as well." He then pointed straight to Kila, who then shank back a tad. "She happens to also be an avatar, for some unknown reason, and is therefore under arrest."

"Come now Zhao." Iroh said, stepping out onto the ship. "There is no such think as two avatars. You're mistaken."

"Oh, I don't think so. I saw her myself bend air." Zhao said.

Kila turned to Iroh and whispered loudly so everyone could hear "You can see a person bending air?" This only engaged Zhao more.

"It doesn't matter! She is somehow able to bend more than one element, helped the Avatar escape, and is a traitor to us all."

"Admiral Zhao, it is impossible for me to bend more than one element. Perhaps you were so busy glaring at me that you didn't realize that Aang here was the one that blew you and your men against that tree." Kila said, piping up.

"Be that as it may, you still freed the Avatar when I had him under my control."

"Because I wanted Zuko to capture him. I was actually leading them towards Zuko when you apprehended our little party. I should say that you freed the Avatar when I had him under MY control." Kila lied, trying to move the conversation into her favor.

"Ahem." Iroh said, clearing his throat, putting Kila back into her senses. "Admiral Zhao," he continued. "If the Avatar is captured by the fire nation, it should not matter who captured him. Now, let us stop standing around and get this business taken care of." And with that said he pushed past the stunned Zhao and made his way towards the castle. Zuko motioned towards his men holding Aang and Katara and then started after his uncle. Melia and Kila followed, both holding their heads up high, Melia practicing for her soon-to-be title, and Kila to act like she knew what she was getting herself into.

"Well, this is a comfy room indeed." Melia smiled as she looked around. "I think I will like it here." She examined the bed by jumping on it and sighing at the bouncibility of it.

Kila sat on the window ledge and watched Melia as she enjoyed her new luxuries. She tried to smile, but she was more concerned about what was happening to Aang and Katara.

They had walked right through the city, but when Kila and Melia got towards the castle, they were escorted off away from the party and towards their rooms…or more accurately towards Melias' room. Kila did not have one at the moment because she was not expected, so, once again, she was sharing a room.

"I wonder what Zuko and Iroh are doing right now…" she mused.

"Oh, I'm sure they're in a big meeting with the Fire Lord." Melia said, rolling over onto her stomach. "You know, Zuko being banished and now having the Avatar so he could return and then you being accused of being an Avatar as well but being innocent and everything else. He has a lot to explain." She then rolled over and faced Kila. "You should really watch your back now…

"I know, I know." Kila said, looking out the window. "I wonder how Aang and Katara are…"

"I'm sure they're fine. I'm more worried about Jet."

Kila looked at Melia and raised an eyebrow. "What is going on between you and Jet?"

"Nothing, we're just friends." Melia said, propping herself up on her elbows. Kila just raised both her eyebrows and Melia frowned. "I'm betrothed to the prince of the fire nation, why would I have any other relations?"

'I wasn't saying anything." Kila said and turned away. She began humming again to calm her breathing; she was now more nervous than ever.

"I wonder if we're invited to dinner tonight…" Melia mused.

"How can you think of food at a time like this?"

"Well it's better than fretting about everything like you are! If I just keep my mind clear from problems and such, then I don't have to worry about them until it's necessary."

"What kind of an idea is that? You always have to worry!"

"Not if it's not my problem." Melia said standing up and striding over to her closet. "Do I have any clothes in here…ah yes, I have a few. Lovely."

"You're ridiculous." Kila said, and resumed to staring outside.

"No, I'm practical." Melia replied as she flitted though her outfits trying to find a suitable one.

"Well, you should be happy to know that through very careful reasoning, your name has been cleared." Iroh explained to Kila later that night. "But you must be very careful about every move you make. Zhao is very suspicious, and could blame you for anything that goes wrong."

"Ok. Thank you so much uncle!" Kila said as she gave him a hug.

"Now I suggest that you go into your room, make yourself presentable, and act on your best behavior at dinner tonight." Iroh said, smiling. Kila nodded and ran off towards her room. "NO RUNNING IN THE HALLS!" Iroh called after her, which made Kila skid to a halt.

"What did you say?" Melia asked.

"I said, 'Melia, transform me!'" Kila repeated.

"No no, before that."

"Oh. My name has been cleared and-"

"No no, after that."

"Oh, that I need to borrow one of your outfits?"

"What makes you think that's going to happen?"

"Because you love me? And because I need to look good tonight at dinner?"

"They're letting you go to dinner?"

"Well, Iroh said I was going, so I assume so."

"Oh, whatever. Just don't wear anything red; it clashes with your hair."

"Speaking of hair…"

"What."

"Will you style mine for me?"

"What am I, your mother?"

"Pleaseeee?"

"You're pathetic."

Melia did style Kilas' hair, but just slightly. It was very difficult to put up because it was cut at such an odd angle and it was still so short.

She also loaned Kila an outfit. But, just like earlier that day, she made sure that it wasn't as detailed as her own outfit. Kila didn't seem to notice, or if she did, she didn't seem to mind.

And so, there they all sat during dinner.

And boy, what an awkward dinner it was.

The adults were doing ok, but the young people of our story weren't doing so hot.

Kila made sure to not look up from her food. She only spoke when spoken too, and that never happened. Melia, Iroh and Zuko were quite amazed that she had the willpower to be able to stay silent for this long.

Melia made sure that she acted the part of future queen. And this meant perfect manners at the table, something she had been lacking on the ship because she just didn't care as much. So she was paying so much attention to her mannerisms that she sometimes forgot to answer the simple questions that were directed towards her.

Zuko was just determined to prove to everyone that he was a changed prince, and was worthy of being admitted back into the court.

Needless to say, it was actually quite a boring dinner. However, I'm sure the food was tasty.

But sadly, Kila was so nervous, all her food tasted like sawdust in her mouth. She was nervous about what would happen to her if she was found out, she was nervous about Aang and Katara and what was happening to them, she was nervous that the servants found find a lemur that she had smuggled into her room, she was nervous about Sokka and Appa, and she was extremely nervous about the comet that was scheduled to hit in a little over a week.

"How are you guys doing?"

"Oh…it's not too bad. Could be better." Aang replied. Kila had asked a few palace guards where the Avatar and the watertribe girl were kept, and so the next day she had snuck down towards the dungeons and found them. Amazingly enough, they weren't being beaten, they weren't hung on a rack, nothing. Aang was just stuck in a metal cell and was handcuffed. Katara was stuck in a normal cell, and it was made sure that there was no water anywhere close that she could bend. But other than that, they were having the good life. Well, as good a life as you can stand while in prison.

"Ok, well I've been trying to figure out everything I can about the comet, but no one is talking about it! It's all done in the hall where the general and the fire lord and all the admirals and such get together and talk. I can't get in there, and I will really look suspicious if I keep asking everyone." Kila said, trying to reassure herself more than anything.

"It's ok, we know you're doing your best." Aang said.

"Yea, don't worry about us. Just take your time, and know everything you can in a week." Katara said, trying to bring some comedy into the conversation. Oddly enough, she raised a chuckle out of Kila. But it was only a chuckle.

"Aang, I've been freaking out lately. Usually singing or humming calms me down because it controls my breathing, but that's not been helping me. How are you able to always be so calm?" Kila questioned.

"Calm? We're talking about the same Aang right?" Katara joked.

Aang chuckled. "I meditate."

"How do you do that? Like, the whole cross-legged, form your fingers into circles, OOOoooom thing?" Kila asked.

"Uuuuh…no…just clear your mind and concentrate on nothing. Try and connect with the spirit world," Aang answered to the best of his ability.

"Ok…I'll try. I have to go, I'll visit you guys later." Kila said and then ran out of the dungeon.

While pattering up the steps, Kila ran into Azula. "What were you doing down there?" She questioned. "It could look suspicious if you were seen down there."

"Oh…I was just checking on the avatar…seeing if everything was accommodated for…if he had any chance of getting out…that kind of thing." Kila lied. It didn't look like Zula believed her, but she dropped the subject anyways.

"I hope you're going to the ball in honor of my brother and his fiancé." She replied, turning so she could walk with Kila.

"Of coarse I would, why would I miss it?" Kila answered back.

"Because you seem to have other things on your mind at the moment, or so it seems."

"You really enjoy trying to read people, don't you princess?" Kila said chuckling.

"I try and gain as many powers as I can. Reading emotions enables me to." The princess explained.

"Well, to answer your opinion of me having other things on my mind, it is merely because I am a horrible dancer, and I am trying to find a way I can break my leg so I will be able to attend, yet not partake in that strenuous activity." Kila said, trying to seem as honest as possible.

Zula chuckled. "Not able to dance? I was dancing before I could walk properly."

"Not all of us were brought up with your fine tutelage."

"And who taught you how to dance?"

"Iroh."

"Well, it's no wonder that you can't dance. He's a clod."

Kila blinked a couple times. "He seemed fine to me."

"That's because you can't dance either, so your whole perception is warped." Zula stopped walking and faced her. "I believe many of your other perceptions are warped at the moment, but I don't exactly know which ones. No matter, I will know in time. However, I must go now." Zula combed her fingers through her bangs. "I have to go practice. I hope you practice your bending more than your dancing."

"Of coarse." Kila answered and bowed to Zula. She starred at Kila, trying to read her, but then grew bored and walked off towards the practice arena.

"Your sister is a horrible person." Kila announced to Zuko.

They had met in the hallway and Kila couldn't take it anymore.

"Tell me something I don't know." Zuko said, folding his arms. "What did she do to you?"

"Nothing yet, but I'm definitely worried."

"You have every right to be. Azula is a very cunning person, and will always get her way." There was a twinge of envy in Zuko's eyes at this comment, but it quickly receded. "If you just keep up your guard then you should be ok around her. Just don't anger her."

"Oh, I figured that much." Kila said rolling her eyes. "I have to go practice my dancing now." She began to start walking away when she heard Zuko speak again.

"I didn't hear a thank you." He said.

"For what?" Kila asked turning around.

"For giving you passage here, for rooming you on my ship, for rooming you here, for getting you clothing, for everything I have done for you."

"And I didn't hear a thank you for bringing you the Avatar." Kila answered back.

The two people stood there glaring at each other. Then without saying anything, they both turned around and stalked off, both suddenly in a foul mood.

The next day came, and this was the day of the celebration of the imminent victory of the fire nation, and the also-imminent wedding of the prince.

Against Melias original orders, it was instructed by the Fire Lord that Kila wear red to this gathering. He had noticed that she never wore it during dinner, and he had sent one of his lackies to inform her of his dress code.

So that day Kila went out with Iroh and found an already-made red gown, paid for it, and rushed back to the palace so she could get ready.

"Won't you need some jewelry?" Iroh asked her.

"No, that's too much money. I'll be fine with just the gown." Kila answered, clutching her purchase like a newborn. "Plus I think Melia will be jealous if I look like I'm trying to outshine her."

"Melia would never get jealous of you…" Iroh said, although he didn't even think he believed his own words.

Melia was not in the room when Kila walked in to get ready, because she was getting the royal treatment with her hair and makeup. Kila sighed as she realized she would have to do her own hair herself. Her specialty was ponytails, but maybe she could add in a braid here or there…or perhaps a special twist.

Flopping herself in front of her vanity, Kila picked up the hairbrush and examined it, trying to picture what she would attempt to do with her hair.

Then she noticed a tissue-wrapped parcel on the vanity top. Kila picked it up to look at it, and noticed that it had the word "Kila" scribbled on it. Blinking, she opened up the present, and gasped as a beautiful ruby necklace slithered out of the tissue onto the table, making a beautiful 'clink' sound as it hit.

Ok, that's it! Sorry again it took so long to update! It sound is coming quicker now though!

SeethingxShadows