Author's Note: I do not own "Avatar: The Last Airbender" or anything related to it. I do, however, own my characters. If you steal them or borrow them without my "Yes." I will hunt you down. Thank you for your time. And if you do not like this, you don't have to read it! I will not force you or beg you.

Dedication: This story is dedicated to Winter Rose Alchemist. She is my buddy, a sister-figure, and a great person to talk to. This story is for you, WRA (a.k.a. Winter Rose Alchemist)! And to my reviewers, readers, and - of course - my other friends!

-Deceived Yet Again-

The sun was high in the sky by noon. Two days had already passed by without much excitement for the small traveling group, only the occasional little fights between Katara, Sokka, and Artymis. They would always be silent, when Momo would jump off either Katara's or Artymis' shoulder and land on Soak's head, who would wake from his sleep grumpy. He'd point an accusing finger at either his sister or friend. Today, though, it was different. The three, along with Anduril who would sometimes join in, played "I Spy".

"I spy with my little eye..." Sokka looked around.

"The ocean." Katara answered, reading Sokka's mind easily by his wandering eyes.

"Hey!" Sokka glared at her. "Ok, I'll go again: I spy with my little eye..." He searched again for something.

"A cloud." Artymis said, seated down next to Katara.

"You're good too!" Sokka then looked again for something. "I spy - "

"Appa." The girls chorused, then laughed while an upset Sokka scooted in his corner and muttered angrily to himself.

"Hey, I wonder where Prince Zuko went." Artymis commented thoughtfully, her eyes looking behind Appa. All she saw was the deep blue ocean and the end of Anduril's tail slithering behind him.

"Why do you wanna know?" Sokka asked, raising an eyebrow at her. "I mean, he's just some hot-headed guy who just hunts us down and attempts to kill us."

Katara rolled her eyes and looked over Appa's saddle and down on the ocean. "You know, I would like to know where he is." She turned to her brother, "You know, so we can know where not to go and won't face a near-death experiment!"

Artymis chuckled and continued to look upon the ocean's surface. "I wish we could swim."

"Swim?" Sokka repeated.

"Yeah, just have a little break." Artymis explained.

"A break would be nice." Katara sent a glare to her brother, who had pushed them to travel non-stop.

"We had a break two days ago!" Sokka raised his arms.

"In Omashu?" Artymis asked and shook her head.

"Omashu wasn't really a break." Katara sided with her friend.

"But still! No Fire Nation came looking for us!" Sokka was gaping at them now.

"Sokka, we - " Katara was cut off by a tap from Artymis.

"I'll ask Anduril." Artymis crawled over to the other side of Appa's saddle and glanced at Anduril. Anduril, do you and Appa want a little break?

That would be appreciated. Was all Anduril's answer.

Artymis turned back to her friends, they already knew the answer. Katara sighed from relief, and Sokka stared at Anduril and tried to change both Anduril's and Appa's minds. He only failed. Artymis sat back down and smiled to herself as the distant brown line across the horizon came into view as Appa and Anduril headed to land up ahead. Artymis smiled at a break fro her and her friends. The bison and dragon landed on the uninhabited beach and laid down to rest as the three friends and Momo jumped off and ran on the sandy beach.

It was afternoon now.

"Wait for me!" Sokka whined, stumbling on the sand.

"Slow poke!" Katara called out over her shoulder, smiling. She was running almost side-by-side with Artymis, who had proposed a race.

"Come on!" Sokka tried to catch up, but the girls just had so much energy away that it seemed they would never stop running.

"Commander Zhao!" A Fire Nation soldier saluted to Commander Zhao, who had his back to him.

Zhao turned around, "What is it?"

"Sir!" The soldier let his hand drop, but stood as still as a nutcracker. "I am here to report about strange creatures landing on the beach here. One looked liked a flying Buffalo and the other, looked liked a dragon."

"Flying Buffalo?" Zhao rose an eyebrow, "Dragon?"

"Yes sir."

Zhao turned his back, his hands clasped, and looked out to the trees in thought, he half turned his head. "Sent a small group of scouts and study the strange encounters. Have them report here at sunset."

"Yes sir!" The soldier saluted and left.

I wonder if... Commander Zhao looked again at the trees. The Fire Nation grand campsite. "Captain?"

"Yes sir?" The captain came forth.

Zhao didn't say anything for about a second, then he turned around with a smirk on his face. "I have a plan in mind..."

Artymis shielded herself from the water that Katara was sending to her with her Waterbending skills she had so far. "No fair!" Artymis whined, but her smile instantly returned when Katara splashed more water, without Waterbending this time.

"Fair enough?" Katara smirked, placing her hands on her hips. Her smirk was whipped off by a large splash. Now, she was soaked. "Sokka!" She turned and glared at her brother.

Sokka smirked and floated on the cool water of the beach. "That was fair." He said, and received a waterwhip for it. "Ow!"

"Want more?" Katara asked.

"Now, now you two." Artymis came and looked from one to the other. She sighed and smiled. "Boy, you two do fight a lot."

"Look who's talking?" Sokka said, looking to his friend.

"What do you mean?" Artymis asked, looking confused.

"Come on!" Katara strolled over to Artymis' side. "Like you and Anduril don't fight?"

"We do, but..." Artymis looked over her shoulder to sleeping Anduril and Appa beside him. Unexpectedly, Katara snatched the lavender rose from Artymis' hair swiftly. It didn't hurt, but it sure ticked the Avatar off. She whirled around and glared at laughing Katara. Sokka was gapping at what his sister just did. He had never expected this. "Give it back!" Artymis demanded.

"Tell us who gave it to." Katara teased, "Then I'll give it back to you."

"I already told you: nobody!" Artymis lied, trying to snatch the rose away from the Waterbender's hand.

Katara eyed the white ribbon and golden ring, her jaw fell.

"What?" Artymis asked.

"This is a - " Before Katara exposed the secret of the rose, Artymis snatched it and clutched it to her heart. Katara realized Artymis wasn't ready to reveal who her suitor was. Though she wanted to know who and wanted Sokka to know how vulnerable Artymis was to romance, she kept her mouth shut. It was against her better judgment, but she knew that her friend would tell them, maybe soon. "That rose was.. an ugly one!" Katara joked, Sokka knew she was lying, but went along with it.

Artymis placed the rose back in her hair, behind her ear and stared at Katara.

"Sorry," Katara apologized. Her apology was accepted by a splash of water in her face.

"Apology accepted" Artymis laughed.

"Oh yeah?" Katara did a soft waterwhip towards Artymis' legs. This went on between the girls as Sokka floated peacefully, even Momo splashed Sokka a bit.

He broke the fun as the sun started to set. "I'm hungry!" He called out.

"You know what?" Artymis asked, as her and her friends walked back to Anduril and Appa. "I am too!"

"Race you both!" Sokka began to run.

"Hey!" Katara sprinted after him, Artymis behind her.

"Now who's the slowpoke?" Sokka asked over his shoulder.

Artymis smirked and concentrated on the wind. Katara and Sokka saw a blur of white with dust arising from the ground. Both, a minute later, were eating coughing out dust. Artymis ran as fast as the wind and reached their small campsite way before her friends did. When they did arrive, they fell down near the fire and tried to breathe.

"Eh, what took you so long?" Artymis teased, trying to hide her grin.

"Ha ha! Very funny," Katara straightened up.

"You - " Sokka tried to say between breaths, " - cheated!" He fell flat on his bottom when he tried to get up.

"Not necessary." Artymis said in a teasing voice, she sat down as well as Katara.

They ate some fruit that King Bumi had given them. The food was suppose to last for five days, if you only had three meals a day. Momo ate a few nuts he found, Anduril and Appa left to find some meat to eat. So, only the three friends and Momo ate their dinner close their campfire. The sun had already disappeared behind the horizon and a few stars started to appear upon the dark blue sky.

Sokka yawned. "'Night!" He said and snug in his sleeping bag.

Artymis and Katara looked at each other for a minute, and laughed quietly.

"Good night." Katara said, laying down in her sleeping bag.

"Sweet dreams." Artymis whispered, and closed her eyes.

An hour passed, and another, and Artymis was the only one wide awake. She slowly closed her eyes and opened them. Anduril and Appa still had not returned, which sort of worried her. Sokka and Katara were worried, but thought that the bison and dragon were having a hard time looking for dinner on an uninhabited-looking land. Artymis had tried to contact Anduril, but he was too far away apparently or had a very busy mind right now.

Artymis rose from her sleeping spot and carefully walked around the burned-out fire and her sleeping friends. She smiled when Momo leaped on her shoulder and chirped quietly. Artymis pressed a finger to her lips and started heading alongside the shoreline. She gazed over the ocean and listened to its wave softly crashing one another. Momo left her shoulder and ran up to a washed-away coconut.

"Found something, Momo?" Artymis bent down by Momo, who tried to bite the coconut. Artymis laughed softly. Before she even knew it, a hand covered her mouth and grabbed her arms and held them behind her back. She muffled a scream and kicked. Momo, seeing this, screeched. Other dark figures, about five, came out and tried to tie down Artymis, but she refused to cooperate.

"Quiet, you weak woman!" A young man's voice hissed from behind her, now this really made Artymis mad.

Weak, huh? Artymis bit the man's hand and he backed away, holding back a yell. Artymis kicked him as well as any other man who attempted to even come near her. She used a small wave of powerful air and knocked them off their feet. Artymis knew she couldn't lead them to her friends, so she made a run into the trees with swift Momo as her guide. "Momo, don't stop!" Artymis warned. She kept running and dropped on her knees when she was in a clearing between trees. She panted and was on all fours, her hands gripping the soil. "I hope they haven't found Katara and Sokka," Artymis whispered, out of breath. Last I saw, they were a few feet behind me.

"So, we meet again, milady?" A familiar voice asked.

Artymis looked up and saw Zhao standing between two trees, watching her. He smiled down on her in a way that made Artymis feel strange. She stood up quickly and wiped the soil off her hands behind her back. "Zhao! How'd you find me?" She asked nervously.

"I was stationed here." Zhao began to explain her. "I decided to get some fresh air, and that was when I heard a familiar voice yelling." He offered her his hand, "Are you hungry, Artymis?"

"Um..." Artymis' voice was full of doubt, as well as her mind. Maybe, Zhao would help her and her friends from those men. "I suppose I am." She placed her hand on top of his, she was glad her hand wasn't as dirty from the soil.

Zhao smiled and led her away from the clearing and on a dirt path. He turned his head around to make sure she wasn't in doubt. He smiled when he saw that the lavender rose that he had given her was behind her hair in her brown hair. "I see you still have my gift," He commented.

"Yes, I do." Artymis said, she then asked. "Zhao, did you know - " She was cut off when Zhao led her to a campsite of the Fire Nation, guards on duty on the outskirts of the camp. The camp had a few watchtowers and many tents with the Fire Nation symbol.

"Wait here, milady." Zhao left and began talking to a man who was stationed just a few feet away from them. After talking to the guard for half a minute or less, Zhao came back. "Follow me." Artymis hesitated, she could feel the wide eyes of the guards on her. Something didn't feel right. Zhao saw her doubt and asked her quietly, "You do not trust me?"

"What? No!" Artymis replied softly.

"Then?" Zhao offered her his hand again.

"Zhao..." Artymis opened her mouth to say something, but decided against it when she saw that Zhao seemed saddened at her doubt of him. "I do trust you, I was just... nervous."

She overlapped her hand over his again and he led her around the tents towards a grand tent, at the entrance, there was two guards. Zhao led her inside the tent. In the grand tent, there was a large piece of red cloth that had the Fire Nation symbol in the center on one end of the tent. There was a table, it was long but not too long, with a chair at each end. On another wall, there was a map of all four nations.

Zhao left Artymis in front of the world map. She looked at the map, and remember a memory as she pinpointed where the Southern Air Temple once was. Zhao went behind a draping cloth and came back out with a familiar white box. "Artymis?" Artymis turned her attention to him as he stood in front of her. "Did you forget something? A gift, perhaps?"

Artymis gave him a questioning look. He smiled and opened the white box in front of her. Artymis' jaw dropped. It was the dress that Zhao gave her. "Where did you - ?"

"I found it among the trees." Zhao cut in, "Perhaps you dropped it? I would be filled with despair to find you didn't like my gift."

"Oh no!" Artymis shook her head, "I didn't even know it was missing." She confessed, looking up to Zhao. Was he mad? She only found him smiling at her. "Thank you though, for finding it." She gently took the box back. Where did he find? I don't remember it disappearing. Unless, it fell off of Appa's saddle then - her thoughts were interrupted by an unexpected question that Zhao asked her.

"Perhaps, you will join me for a dinner?" He asked her, Artymis gave him a startled look. "It gets lonely for a man like me to eat dinner, and not be accompanyed by a princess like you."

Artymis blushed when Zhao called her a princess. She dropped her eyes and smiled. She looked up at him and gave him her answer: "I do."

"Very well," Zhao said, he left the tent for Artymis to change into her dress.

Artymis did feel uncomfortable about changing, but found a changing screen in a corner. She went behind it and changed from her outfit to the beautiful lavender kimono. Once she was done with that, Artymis hid her necklace under the fabric, just in case Zhao was going to ask her about it. She didn't want him to know she was the Avatar, she was on friendly terms with Zhao now, that she didn't want to reveal that she had abandoned the world 100 years and let Prince Zuko break out a war. Artymis still wore her white boots, since she didn't have anything to wear around her feet. She folded her white outfit and placed it in the white box and left it behind the changing screen.

I look... different. She thought as she gazed at her reflection in a mirror. The lavender kimono made her look more elegant and a little older. The dress trailed behind just as she thought, but not too much. The sleeves were a little too big for her. Artymis looked at herself in the mirror again. What would the others - Katara, Sokka, Appa, Anduril, and Bumi - think if they saw me right now? Would they be worried? Happy? Surprised? She thought they would be more surprised, since she was one not to fond of dresses - especially kimono. Artymis, to make sure Anduril and Appa was safe, she tried to contact Anduril.

Anduril? Can you hear me? Artymis' only answer was an invisible force nearly knocking her off her feet! She managed to hold her ground. Anduril? Anduril? Anduril! For a few seconds, there was no answer. Maybe, he's just busy...

Away from the Fire Nation campsite, further into the woods, was a small bonfire. There were two large, strong metal cages with two creatures in them. A bison and dragon. In their imprisonment, the creatures were weak, very weak. They were drugged and captured. Giving no food, brought the creatures' strength down even more. Both were sleeping, so they would not roar. Otherwise their roars would carry out down the beach where two people were sleeping soundly.

- Anduril! Anduril immediately opened his eyes. He heard Artymis' worried voice in his mind, calling out in his mind. He growled when he saw what was done to him and his companion, who still slept. Anduril rose his head and gave out a terrifying roar that spread.

Appa, awoken by this, gave out a roar as well.

"Quiet you creatures!" A Fire Nation captain commanded, shouting.

"What had happened, captain?" Commander Zhao came forth before the caged creatures, who gritted their teeth at all of the Fire Nation people.

"The creatures have awoken sir!" The captain saluted.

"I can see that, captain." Commander Zhao snapped, "Otherwise, I wouldn't have heard the roars that would awake people miles and miles around here!" Zhao glared at the creatures. "Give them the drugs again." He turned and left.
Anduril and Appa growled, and both gave out a roar of pain, as a soldier injected a shot in them.

Artymis was standing before the world map. She half turned her head when she heard roars. She looked around, where had she heard those roars before? It sounded like a creature was in pain. Two actually. The second roar had a different sound to it and belonged to another creature.

Anduril?

She turned and went towards the tent's only entrance and exit. She pushed the cloth away a bit and peered outside. There was no one, but you could hear other soldiers joking and laughing among themselves. The two guards standing guard at the Commander's tent, sense her, they both turned their masked faces to her. Artymis disappeared behind the cloth and walked back to the world map. She heard the roars again, her hair whipped around as she turned her head.

Appa? Artymis listened for more sounds, but heard no more. Maybe, it's just a whale or something.

Before she could really confirm her suspicion, Commander Zhao entered the tent. He looked up to see Artymis. He blinked in surprise and sent her smiled. Zhao walked up to her, gently held her hands and kissed them as any gentleman would. Artymis could tell her cheeks were getting red, she lowered her face and smiled sheepishly when Zhao looked up to her.

"I believe I am dinning with a princess, today." Zhao commented. He sat on one end of the table and Artymis sat on the other, directly across from Zhao. He sat down and filled his plate with the food that a few servants served after Artymis dressed and was waiting for Zhao to return.

Artymis filled her plate very little, since there was mostly meat to eat. Luckily, though, there was salad and fruits and vegetables. She ate politely with the silverware, was this all Bumi did, now that he was king? Eat in silence in his palace. Poor Bumi, she thought, if must've been really lonely for him. And having me with Sokka and Katara probably brighten him up.

"Artymis?" Artymis looked up from her food and up at Zhao. "May I ask, where do you live? I've seen you in two different places now, not to mention they are very far away."

Artymis blinked. "I travel a lot, so I really have no home."

"Alone?" Zhao asked, drinking from his cup.

"Yes." Artymis answered, "Sometimes with my friends, though. But I am traveling alone for right now." She suddenly remembered Sokka and Katara, all alone. "Zhao, I remember there were two people I met here, on the beach."

"On the beach?" Zhao repeated, but he knew very well she meant the Water tribe peasants.

"Yes, I would like to check up on them, to see if they're alright." Artymis said.

Zhao rose a hand, "No need, milady, I'll tell one of my men as soon as possible."

Artymis smiled from relief. Zhao was so nice to her. She continued eating, and she and Zhao began to know one another a little more. Though, he was the one asking her many questions, Artymis answered them all while not trying to reveal her secret mission. But she scarcely got anything out of Zhao, she noticed. Did he have a bad past, and wanted to forget it?

"Zhao?" Artymis had just finished her food. She looked at Zhao, who looked up. "Did you know that the rose you gave me, was a suitor's rose?" She asked.

Zhao remained silent for a moment. The expression on his face was hard to tell. "I knew."

"Then, why didn't you tell me?" Artymis asked.

"I thought you knew." Though, I knew you wouldn't. A suitor's rose is over a thousand years old, but Airbenders - such as yourself, Avatar - wouldn't know. Zhao kept this to himself though. Why ruin a perfect plan now?

"Well, I didn't!" Artymis' cheeks were rising with heat now.

"Why are you mad?" Zhao asked her.

Artymis cooled down and sighed, "I had wished you told me."

Zhao rose from his chair and walked to Artymis' end. He touched her hands and rose her from her own chair. He brought her a little close to him, but not too close. He gave her a tiny smile, "I am sorry, milady."

Artymis knew she should at least forgive him. She smiled at him and nodded her head. Artymis was about open her mouth and say something, but a voice outside the tent interrupted them.

"Commander Zhao?"

Zhao passed Artymis to speak with a Fire Nation soldier, who whispered something to the commander. Artymis let her eyes wander, she didn't notice Zhao giving her a look between worry and anger once he was informed of an unexpected guest. The soldier was dismissed and Zhao laid a hand on Artymis' shoulder, she turned around to face him.

"Is something wrong?" She asked.

"No, I just need to speak with someone." Zhao bowed his head, "I will be back, milady."

"Um, ok." Artymis watched Zhao go. She sighed and walked around the tent. She pulled a strand of hair away from her hair. Artymis crossed her arms and hoped Zhao would come back soon.

Prince Zuko waited for Commander Zhao to come. His uncle waited beside him. Zuko knew they weren't welcome, but he desperately needed more fuel for his ship. He had tracked the Avatar non-stop 'till there was only a tiny bit of fuel left in his ship. Zuko waited at the Fire Nation's campsite, two guards watching him.

What are they looking at? the prince thought. His golden eyes narrowed as Commander Zhao came before him.

"Well, well, well. If it isn't our favorite banished prince." Zhao taunted, smirking.

"Commander Zhao," Iroh bowed down respectably. Zuko remained standing still.

"We need you to provide us fuel." Zuko said, getting to the point.

Zhao rose an eyebrow, then did something Zuko didn't expect him to do - at least not so fast. "Fine," Zhao turned to one of his soldiers. "Be sure they have enough fuel."

The soldier saluted him. "Yes sir."

"Why, thank you, Commander Zhao." Iroh thanked, with his usual generous voice. But he knew as much as his nephew that Zhao was up to no good.

"Just as long as you're out of my sight." Zhao said rudely, he was walking away when the old man asked:

"Might we have some tea?"

Zhao closed his eyes in frustration. "Not today, I have a special guest."

"A guest?" Iroh asked.

"What kind?" Zuko asked.

Zhao turned to the prince, "Oh, a certain someone. A young maiden."

"Your cousin?" Iroh offered.

"No, someone else." Zhao said. "Someone you are not allowed to see. Now if you excuse me, my guest is waiting." With that, Zhao left.

He's up to no good, Zuko thought as he and his uncle, along with an escort of Fire Nation soldiers, returned to their ship. Zuko sat on a boulder while his ship obtained more fuel.

Iroh went over to his nephew. "Something troubling you, my nephew?"

"Yes, it's Zhao." Zuko answered. "He seemed to eager for us to go."

"Yes, indeed." Iroh agreed.

Zuko got up from the boulder and said, "I want to go back."

"But why?" Iroh asked.

"I want to see who is his special guest." Zuko answered.

"Well, it's a young maiden, we know that for sure." Iroh said.

Zuko looked around to make sure no one was looking, only his uncle, he was lucky it was dark. Zuko slipped into the trees, his uncle behind him, and snuck back into the Fire Nation camp.

Artymis fingered her hair and sighed. What took Zhao so long? She was starting to get bored and knew she had to get back soon, if she wanted to get there before Anduril and Appa and before sunrise. Artymis decided to leave, but leave a note for Zhao. So he could understand why she had left before he returned. He wouldn't mind. Artymis grabbed the white box and was about to get behind the changing screen. But she felt something bad was happening. With the white box in one hand, Artymis pulled the draping cloth of the tent and peeked outside. The guards that were once standing outside, had fallen. Artymis stepped out of the tent and looked around. She gasped.

Nearly half the campsite of the Fire nation was on fire. There were shouts and yells. Fire was thrown everywhere. Artymis bent down to one of the fallen guards, she felt his pulse. He was still alive. Artymis sighed from relief. She stood up and called out, "Zhao?" A piece of lying wood hit her on the back of her head and she fell on her stomach. No one didn't notice the Avatar had fainted.

Prince Zuko had never expected this. Nearly half the campsite of the Fire Nation was on fire. Zuko and his uncle had tried to avoid the attacks of soldiers while trying to find Zhao's "special" guest. When they dodged fire attacks, some of the tents caught on fire and the fire would spread. Zuko was separated from his uncle and intended to find him. He took a wrong turn and found himself nearby Commander Zhao's tent. He smirked. Maybe he would find out who the special guest was.

He was rushing towards the tent, when a lavender figure caught his eye. A young maiden was lying on the ground with a lavender kimono on. Zuko guessed this was the guest. He bended down and turned her over carefully. He nearly dropped the maiden when he found who it was.

Avatar Artymis.

Zuko was shocked at her appearance though. Her lavender kimono with white roses made her look more like a rich lady, then the strong and rebellious Avatar she was. Her hair was down and wavy, it framed her face. But he balled his hand into a fist for some unknowing reason when he saw the lavender suitor's rose behind her ear, in her hair. Zuko relaxed and pushed a lock of hair away from Artymis' face, she seemed to have fainted or something.

She looks some sort of a princess.

"So, you're Zhao's special guest." The prince muttered, still staring at her face.

"Yes, she is."

Zuko looked around.

Commander Zhao was walking calmly towards him and the Avatar. A look of mischief on his face. "And I appreciate it if you let the Avatar go, Prince Zuko."

Zuko smirked, "I don't think so." He sent a fire punch at Zhao. Zuko lifted the Avatar in his arms in bridal style and carried her away. He had placed the white box from her hand in her lap, he didn't know what it was for, but he did it anyway. Zuko rushed out of the burning Fire Nation campsite. Just as he suspected, the soldiers that Zhao had sent earlier were still there, even though he was sure the ship had enough fuel now.

Damn! he thought, If I loose the Avatar now, I can never regain my honor!

Zuko stepped out in the open, so the soldiers would clearly see him. One of the soldiers turned and pointed at Zuko. "Look there! Get him!" The same soldier advanced forward but was hit square in the chest by a spark of fire. Zuko smirked and turned his head to see his Uncle Iroh in fighting position. "Seize him!" The rest of the soldiers, about four, aimed their spear at the old man. Zuko knelt down and laid Artymis down on the ground. He and his uncle began fighting the soldiers, which were quite easy.

Once they were done, and the soldier were down, Iroh turned to his nephew. "You have improved, Prince Zuko." His eyes fell on sleeping Artymis, "So, you have found the Avatar? How?"

Zuko turned his back on his uncle, walked over to Artymis, and picked her up in bridal style again. "The Avatar was Zhao's special guest." He answered. Zuko walked up the plank to his ship with her still in his arms.

"Zuko?" Iroh asked, following his nephew. There was no crewman on deck, all of them fell asleep and returned to their small dormitories. Zuko took Artymis to his room and laid her down on his bed. "Zuko?" Iroh entered Zuko's room with a questioningly look on his face.

"The Avatar seemed to have fainted from a hit or something." Zuko explained, his hand on the back of Artymis' head as he laid her head down on his pillow. Zuko placed the white box from her lap on the floor beside the bed. He knelt down by the bed and stared at Artymis' face. He didn't realize he was doing this, really.

"Prince Zuko?" Iroh was now really confused by the prince. "Are you alright?"

Zuko blinked and stood up, he turned his face to Iroh. "Uncle, I think we're finally going home now."

Iroh smiled and nodded. "Yes, I do believe so now." He turned and walked out of the room, but stopped at the doorway. He half turned his head, "And if I might say, the Avatar's kimono suits her, don't you think Prince Zuko?"

Zuko stared at his uncle in confusion and back at the Avatar, wondering where she had gotten the kimono she was wearing. Was it from Zhao? Zuko felt heat rising in him, he didn't know why, but he was jealous.

"Yes, I think so too." Iroh grinned.

"But, I haven't even said anything!" Zuko glared at his uncle, "And besides: that stupid kimono is too - too - "

" - Too plain for her, Zuko?" Iroh cut in.

"No!" Zuko nearly shouted, "She's not even pretty!"

Iroh frowned and sighed, but he remained to say: "'Her eyes like shining emeralds'." He teased and quickly left before Zuko could whine.

"I didn't mean it when I said it," Zuko muttered. Or did I? He looked again at Artymis, who still slept as if she was dead. "I wonder how it feels like to..."He muttered. Kiss her.

Zuko knelt down and his face hovered over Artymis'. He overlapped his right hand on top of both of her, which were setting on her stomach. With his free hand, Zuko pushed a small strand of her hair away from her face and stared at her. He placed the same hand under her back and pushed her up only a little. He softly gripped her hands and he neared his face to her. Zuko blinked his eyes and he slowly parted his lips. He felt an emotion, a strange one, inside of him that he couldn't explain. Zuko closed his eyes and didn't realize that the Avatar's eyes were fluttering open. His lips, a centimeter away from her own...

Commander Zhao groaned in frustration and glared at where Zuko was, with Artymis in his arms. Zhao stood up and marched across the burning campsite. He balled his hands into fists.

I was close, he though angrily. So close into getting the Avatar and ruining the prince's chance of ever returning! So darn close!

"Commander!" A soldier stopped in front if Zhao.

"What is it, now?" Zhao snapped.

"It's the creatures: the bison and dragon."

"What about them?"

"They have just escaped."

Artymis fluttered her eyes open to find Prince Zuko's face hovering over her own. She also felt a hand gripping her own softly, and another hand under her back. She suddenly felt a waking emotion coming from her, a sweet and yet strange emotion that she had never felt before. The closer Zuko's lips were to her own, the stronger the emotion became until Zuko's lips were a centimeter away from her own. Artymis didn't hesitate, she held her hands up and pushed Zuko away. She laid there for a second, somehow regretting what she had done to drive Prince Zuko away. Artymis ignored the feeling of regret and hugged herself as if a mean to protect herself.

"Pervert!" Artymis said out loud, pointing an accusing finger at him.

"What did I do?" Zuko got up from the floor and glared at him.

"Try to steal a kiss from me!" Artymis stopped for a moment and looked around herself. She had just realize that she was in Prince Zuko's room, judging by the furniture and all. That was when she realized that she sitting on a bed, Prince Zuko's bed. Artymis jumped off and gave Zuko another hard look. "Just wait 'til my brother hears this! He's gonna - " She couldn't finish because Zuko had run towards her and grabbed her arms. His strong and hard grip would leave a mark on her arms, Artymis knew. His face was really close to her own now. She breathed heavily as she stared into his golden eyes.

"I wouldn't count on seeing that dragon." Zuko hissed, his glare came hard on her.

"Prince Zuko! We should celebrate!" Iroh came in, a happy look on his face and two cups in hand. "With some tea - " He stopped and stared at the two teenagers. "Maybe I should come back later?"

Zuko turned his face to his uncle, he sent his uncle a hard look. "Uncle! Can't you see I'm busy?"

Artymis didn't hesitate. She lifted her knee up and kicked Zuko's stomach. His grip on her arms loosened, Artymis grabbed the white box, which she spot immediately, and ran out of the prince's room. Iroh dropped his cups and placed a hand on the Avatar's arm.

"Avatar!" Iroh pleaded, his voice a mixture of kindness and anger. "Please understand - "

"Let go of me!" Artymis shooed his hand away and ran up the stairs to the deck to escape.

But Prince Zuko recovered quickly, and two seconds after the Avatar ran out of the room. He reached the bottom of the stairs and extended a hand out and caught the Avatar's ankle and pulled her down. Artymis nearly fell, but only she managed her balance with one hand on a step. She twisted around and attempted to kick Zuko, he easily missed. Artymis , with a wave of her arm, sent an attack - similar to a waterwhip - and it made Zuko loose his grip on her ankle.

"Get back over here!" Zuko shouted, looking up.

Artymis made it to the top of the stairs and ran across the deck. She went to the front of the ship and nearly was thrown over the rail. She gripped the rail and looked around, her hair whipped by the wind. Zuko was at the top of the stairs, when he froze in his place, he stared at the Avatar as if he just realized she was there.

She looks...beautiful. Zuko thought, as his eyes bore into her green ones.

Why is he just standing? Artymis thought, blinking in confusion. Staring at me? "What? What a re you staring?" She snapped.

Zuko's eyes moved over to her suitor's rose. "I need to know who gave that to you?" he asked.

"My suitor's rose?" Artymis was taken back. "For what? So you can kill them too?"

"Just tell me!" Zuko demanded.

"If you must know!" Artymis said, "Zhao gave it to me!"

Zhao? Zuko lost it. "Zhao? Zhao!" He felt fire rise in him quickly. "That son of a - "

"He's way better than you!" Artymis cut him off. "He's far more nicer and controls his temper! He, at least, didn't try to kill his own father!" Artymis didn't care if anyone was listening or if it was making Zuko mad, she needed to have a saying. And Zhao is nicer than this spoiled brat! This was the first time she had thought of anyone being spoiled or thinking rotten of them.

"What are you talking about?" Artymis could've sworn she saw a shadow of pain across his face.

"Zhao told me everything!" Artymis answered.

"He's a liar!" Zuko took a step forward.

"You're the liar!" Artymis shouted back, she turned and jumped over the rail of the ship.

Zuko ran to where she was standing and watched her go down to the dark waters. She seemed to have already gone below. "Avatar!" He shouted, his hands gripping the rail nervously.

"Prince Zuko..." He heard his uncle come close and lay a hand on his shoulder.

Zuko shut his eyes. "Uncle, how can she listen to Zhao's lies?"

"Zhao seduced her." Iroh began to put a few pieces together. "It was the suitor's rose, and I bet the kimono. The Avatar was seduced, Prince Zuko."

Nearly an hour later, Artymis reached the beach, very close by where Katara and Sokka were. She was dripping wet when she collapsed on the sandy floor. "That wasn't...what I had in mind!" She gasped, and pulled her wet hair away from her face. She sat up and looked down on her dripping wet kimono. "Oh great! Now my dress!" She groaned. Artymis looked up and studied the sky. "Sunrise is four hours away. better hurry!"

But that sure took me a long time to get away from Zuko's ship and come close to my own campsite, she thought.

Maybe because your freakin' kimono has lots of fabric! Another voice popped up in her mind.

Shut it, Artymis silently commanded, in a deadly tone.

Artymis went behind a large boulder and changed into her white outfit that was in her box - luckily her outfit didn't get too wet. She placed the kimono carefully in the box. Artymis looked at her reflection in the waters and combed her hair with her fingers. She stopped in the middle of the process and gazed at her reflection on the glassy water.

"Why did he want to kiss me?" She whispered to herself. "I'm not that pretty." Artymis leaned closer to her reflection and her green eyes widen in horror. Right behind her, in the reflection, was Prince Zuko. His golden eyes were staring at her. Artymis twisted around in her seat and looked wildly for Zuko. He wasn't there. Artymis looked back in, it was just her reflection that was there. She sighed and laughed softly and uncertainly to herself. "I must be loosing my mind! Why am I thinking of that spoiled prince anyways? He just tried to steal a kiss from me and nearly swore about my suitor!" She hadn't realized she called Zhao 'her suitor'. Artymis stood up, with the white box in hand, and looked carefully around.

Was he really here? she asked herself silently. She shook her head. "Maybe not."

Artymis walked away to her sleeping friends. She was in deep thought of Prince Zuko when she fell asleep.

(The Next Morning)

"Art, wake up." Katara's voice seemed distant at first, but Artymis' eyes fluttered open to see Katara's bright face.

"What is it?" Artymis mumbled.

"It's morning," Katara answered, "Time to get up."

Artymis groaned and pulled the sheets over her head. "No!" She whined.

Katara placed her hands on her hip. She frowned and began tearing the sheets way from Artymis. "Come on, sleepy head!" Katara teased.

Artymis groaned again, but decided not to fight with Katara so early in the morning. Artymis stood up, stretched, and folded her blanket. Artymis looked around when done and saw Appa and Anduril, both looking tired. Artymis came over to them and asked, "Are you both ok?"

Yes, we both are. Anduril answered, he surveyed Artymis closely. There's something different about you.

What makes you say that? Artymis telepath him. She climbed on Appa and placed her blanket on his saddle, protecting her white box from view. She jumped off and patted Appa softly.

Something happened. Anduril's large eyes winced. What happened?

Nothing.

Then why are there bruises on your arms - both of them if I might add? Anduril pointed out.

Artymis stopped and looked at her arms. Where Zuko had grabbed her, there were bruises. They weren't too big, but anyone could spot them. And they were purple too. Um...I hit myself against a few rocks last night. She looked to Anduril. What happened to you last night?

Appa and I went for a hunt. It was very difficult.

Whatever.

Artymis! I'm done with you! Anduril watched her walk away to Sokka and Katara, who were eating their breakfast. Bumi told me to keep an eye on you!

And you are, big brother. Bye! Artymis sat next to Katara, who handed her her breakfast: fish. Artymis ate it hearty. Unfortunately, Katara noticed the bruises as well as Sokka.

"Artymis, why are there bruises on your arms?" Katara asked.

Artymis knew that Katara and Sokka didn't wake up since she left them last night. They had no clue, like Anduril and Appa, the events last night. "Oh, I just hit myself against some rocks." Artymis lied.

"Art, stop lying." Sokka said seriously.

"I'm not!" Artymis argued.

"Then tell us the truth." Katara pleaded.

Artymis sighed, "Ok, I'll tell you." The look on her face was serious. "I was sleep walking - "

"You sleep walk?"

"Shut up!" Artymis snapped. She glared at Sokka, the one who interrupted. She sighed again and continued: "Anyways, I sleep walk. I did last night and I was walking thought two trees, they were so close together that I hit my arms. They had hard bark, so naturally, I got these bruises."

"But they look like someone grabbed you." Katara pointed out, examining the bruises on her friend's arms.

"Um...yeah." Artymis said uncertainly, "Well they aren't!"

Katara frowned, Sokka sighed.

"What?" Artymis asked her friends.

Sokka glanced at Katara, who just shook her head. "Nothing." She lied.

"Ok, well.." Artymis' voice died off.

Out of the blue, Momo came and snatched up three pieces of fish that were suppose to be the friends' lunch. "Hey!" they cried out. Momo turned to and stared at them. One fish in his mouth, and two in his small hands. The friends stood up and ran after Momo, who tried to escape. They chased Momo everywhere on the beach.

"Momo!"

"Come on, you thief!"

"That's our lunch!"

"MOMO!"

The friends forgot about their troubles and the lies they told one another as they chased the lemur. The sun shone bright and the sky was clear of clouds. The trees silent, even though deep inside, the Fire Nation began to repair their campsite as a commander sailed off to guard the Fire Nation borders. A ship carrying the prince began to take off.

Author's Note: I updated! I'm sorry if I updated as fast, it was because I redid this chapter (it was supposed to be the "Imprisoned" episode) but a friends lend me this idea of our two fav. characters close to kissing. I hope you like it, I think this wasn't a very good chapter. The way I wrote it and all. The idea of Zuko and Artymis being REALLY close to kissing was good, I know it would've been better if I made them kiss, but - as I always say, these things must build up and the must take time. Be patient, please. Besides, it would've rushed into their romantic relationship too fast! Well, I do hope you enjoy and tell me if I made any mistakes at all, k? Oh, and ideas are welcomed! Now, thanks to all my reviewers from the last chapter:

PrincessZula24400: Yes, you were the first to review. And, are you online like freakin' 24/7? You're almost the one who always review first! But, hey, I don't blame you, 'cause I usually do that to the stories I like! lol Thanks, anyways!

Mermaid Ninja: Yes, thank you very much. I also thought it was clever as well. I had the "Suitor's Rose" idea for a while now, it kinda different than the Water Tribe's thing - see, they're for ENAGAGEMENT. While the rose is a suitor. Big difference, huh? My mind is so creative! lol

Firework: O.O Dang! You really want me to update, huh? And, yeah it IS a ZukoxOC thingy and the Zutara (shivers I HATE Zutaras! No offense to people who write/read them. It's just, she's like 14 and he's like 16 - not too much of an age difference, but still!) stories are getting a little old. But I saw this really cool video of one, I only saw it 'cause it had two "Phantom of the Opera" songs and it was good! Well, thanks for the reviews - three, I might add!

I will see ya l8ter!