-1Proposition for Zuko

CH19

Zuko reached the building first, charging at the person holding the torch. Iroh and Kin were a few feet behind readying to blast her if needed. The women turned to see who was charging but only stood with her arms open as if welcoming a friend. When Zuko was not but a few feet away he leapt straight at her giving a flying sidekick and shooting a flash of flames. The demon stepped to the side, sticking her arm out and slamming it straight into his face (cloths lined him) causing him to fall straight to the ground, landing on his back. Kin shot three fire balls at the demon, she ducked and rolled toward the building housing the fire benders. " That was a little sad. Hope you can do better than that. Surly you big strong men won't get beat up by a women will you?" She said with a grin, Iroh aided his nephew as he stood up rubbing his face. Iroh then turned his attention towards the women arching his head. "What are you going to do you can't go inside or do anything from the outside." he pointed out, the demon shook it's head and pointing upwards towards a open window, giving a light chuckle at the question. "True that would normally be the case but if a window is open then I can just throw something in side say a flame, like so." when she finished the torch was thrown through the top window and landing inside. "Oh, by the way the names Kei!" she yelled into the house, Seconds later the room caught fire and began to spread beyond the room and past the door. The fire benders tried desperately to contain the fire by using what water they had to put out some of the flames or stomping out the flames but would soon be forced to leave the safety of the building. Zuko Iroh and Kin watched in horror as the building slowly burnt and panicked screams could be heard from the inside, Zuko couldn't stand to hear his crew like this. Kei then turned to face them dropping her hands to her side. After giving a smile and a wink at the group she ran into the woods, leaving the fire benders to watch the flames. Zuko was to angry to think about what was happening and before he relished it he was chasing after her ignoring his uncles warnings. "Zuko stop! Don't follow her! It's a trap!" Iroh yelled into the forest. He then gave up and began to chase after him as Kin followed. "No Kin you need to stay and help our men out of the house." "But sir you'll need…." "NO! Stay here and help the crew now!" Iroh and Kin argued, Kin new better than to argue with the general and ran back to the house and worked on helping the crew.

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Sokka charged straight at the large creature swing his ax wildly and ignoring the warnings of his sister. He swing and hit Zinan in the stomach but the only sound heard was the clanging of metal against rock as the ax hit and shook. Sokka was in a lost for words and began swing his ax again and gain each time the same thing happening and causing no damage. Aang and Katara awed at the sight neither believing just what they were seeing. In the midst of a swing Zinan brought out his arm and caught the ax and lifting both the ax and Sokka in the air till both their eyes met. Fear could be seen plainly in Sokka, as he gave a nerves gulp and hung limply to afraid to move. He was brought out back to reality as a hard fist made contact with the side of his face sending him flying a couple feet and rolling into a stack of barrels. Sokka lied unconscious as the barrels full of water fell on him spilling on the ground. Katara ran to his aid as Aang stood before the demon in a mix of fear and anger holding on to his staff though his life depended on it. Zinan turned his attention to Aang and began to stair him down and shaking his head in disappointment. "Children…. This is what I'm reduced to fighting now children. How disappointing I had expected a great master, a warrior and here I am matched up with a child." Zinan said, Aang had a hurt expression on his face, never hearing someone talk down like that to him before. (" What's wrong with me?") Aang wondered, "Hey, listen I may be a kid but I'm still pretty tough and I'm the Avatar so watch out! He shouted, Zinan laughed at his out burst and took a few steps forward. Aang then took a step back readying for a attack. "Tell me Avatar, being reincarnated as many times as you, do you know what it feels like to die? It's a pleasurable feel. All your fears and worry's leave you, you feel nothing and taste nothing. It's like you never even existed." Zinan gloated, Aang arched his head trying to figure out just what he was talking about. Seconds later the smile on the creatures face grew even wider as he charged straight at Aang bring his fist straight up and back down towards him. Aang finally snapped back to his since and jumped to the side out of the monsters reach and before he could turn he could hear the sound it made as his fist hit the ground. Zinan turned and charged at the Avatar again throwing another punch straight towards the ground. Aang jumped straight in the air above him and was terrified at seeing the creature hand go straight into the ground. Aang shook his head and used his glider to glide a couple feet away. As he landed the thundering sound Zinan made when he ran could be, the earth seemed to rumble with each step before he jumped straight at the Avatar. Aang rolled to the side and watched the demon fly past and break peaces off a large rock that sat in the ground. Aang shot a blast of wind at it only to see Zinan be pushed back a couple inches and laugh. ("I'm going to need to give this guy everything I got") he thought, Aang moved his arms side to side taking deep breaths, as he did this wind picked up harder and harder with each motion of his arms. Zinan looked confused as he eyed the area trying to figure just what the Avatar was doing. The air pushed seemed to gather between the Avatars arms causing the wind to blow violently, Katara could hardly stay on her feet as she watched. Zinan finally gave up waiting and ran towards Aang for a full assault. Aang pulled his arms back bring his together and cupping them as the air around him seemed to circle him. He then shot his arms out towards the demon and sending a blast of a small tornado, hitting Zinan and sending him crash into the same rock breaking more of the rock into pieces. "How was that? Pretty good for a kid huh?" Aang shout in joy, but his smile faded as Zinan got up brushing himself off as if falling into a mud puddle. "More! Give me more! Hit me again, I want to feel something! Come on try to hurt me!" he cried out. Aang was horrified, ("What, that move would severely hurt if not kill someone and he acts like it was nothing.") Aang thought, as he jumped to the side dodging Zinans punch and sending another blast of wind at him.

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Zuko gave blast after blast trying to hit the demon as she ran from tree to tree. Iroh had managed to catch up but was still several yards behind, his cries of warning went on deaf ears. Kei leapt from branch to branch as Zuko set each one a blazes. Zuko finally found the branch she would go to in the future and shot a blast of fire straight at it catching it on fire. Kei landed on it causing it to break. She fell breaking several branches before finally grasping to one and hanging. Zuko smirked and sent another fire ball at her, this time several time more powerful. Kei saw it coming and swung to another branch behind a tree and disappearing. Zuko ran to the tree, now near a small stream searching for any signs of where the demon went. As Zuko looked into the stream he saw his reflection and saw her coming straight down at him. Zuko gave a small jump to the side then gave another leaping sidekick, hitting her in the face. Kei fell to the ground with a loud thud but only roll back wards flipping her self up with her hands and landing on her feet. Zuko sent two fire balls at her before charging her himself. Kei ran and rolled forward under the fire balls. Sitting on her feet and sending her fist straight into Zukos gut. He catches her punch and brings his foot up and nailing her in the side of her head sending her face first in the dirt. Zuko prepared to launch another fire ball at her but was instead kicked in the face as Kei stood on her hands and twisted her body clock wise giving a tornado kick sending Zuko into the ground. Kei stood and jumped backwards distancing herself from him. Zuko stood, ready to blast her before she shot her arms out protesting to the fight.

"Enough! Were far enough from everyone to talk." Kei shouted, Zuko stood dumb founded, completely confused. ("She came here to talk not fight… Why?") He wondered, "Talk? Talk about what, you tried to kill my crew?" Zuko shouted, Kei smiled innocently and shook her head in response. "No…. I only wanted to get your attention and motivation to come after me so I could talk to you. If I wanted to kill them I would have set the building on fire earlier. I figure if I yelled my name that would help convince you. People seemed to want to know the name of their killer, strange isn't it?" Kei explained, Zuko stood silently trying to figure out what she was up to. Kei turned her back and stared at the stream appearing to be lost in thought, her hair blew to the side covering her face and her expression in the reflection on the water when she finally spoke Zuko nearly launched another attack due to her sudden change. "What do you think of your life Zuko?" asked Kei, Zuko nearly fell in surprise after hear her ask a innocent question like that. "What?" Zuko asked questionably, "I mean what do you think of your life after everything that's happened in it, good, bad, what?" Kei asked now facing the fire prince her hair now not being cover with her hair and staring him straight in his eyes, "It's not great, should be better and will be better soon." Zuko stated, "Really… I dough that even if you accomplish your goal you still will be banished. Humans like your father only care about power, nothing else. Before you get defensive I know what happened to you, why your banished and your scar." She finished with a small grin, Zuko took a step back, eyes wide open, not believing a word. "How do you know… we've never met before?" Zuko asked, "Oh, my master can see into peoples minds and souls and read them like a book. But honestly you actually think you'll be welcomed back… you poor fool." "what! How dare you talk to me like that. You don't know what your talking about!" Zuko cut her off, Kei's expression soften and decided this wasn't going to help. "What I mean your father is the kind of human that only respects power and those of greater power. Sorry to say you probably will never show enough to impress him or at least not as you are now.' Kei whispered as she took a step forward, Zuko could feel his blood boiling as smoke began to come from his mouth. "Your wrong when I bring the Avatar I will have his respect as well as my honor!" Zuko yelled,

"No… you may never equal him. You may never equal the Avatar but I could help. Help you gain the needed strength to catch the Avatar and to gain your fathers respect." Zuko stood in silence listening to her proposition. "Zuko humans are many things, corrupt, greedy, selfish and weak in more ways than one… body, mind and soul. Though humans can grow strong physically or mind by their standards but will always remain weak in the soul. Ready to throw their beliefs, ideals and dreams away at the first sign of something greater. You may not understand but the very thought of greater power drives human into submission, they are weak. Has your father ever complemented you on your strength or showed you any respect? Probably not, and that's because he doesn't see you as a source of power like his generals of other nations leaders… think about it." Kei explained, Zuko stood thinking about what she said and about his own power. ("That can't be true. I'm powerful enough to fight the Avatar and powerful enough to defeat anyone. But father is stronger and I groveled at his feet last time I saw him, could I ever match him in strength… he seemed to always respect those who held power, never once did he complement me on my skills just my sister. Did father ever respect me?") Zuko wondered, his face softening, his eyes falling to the ground. "Zuko!" Iroh yelled as he ran in on the two snapping Zuko out of his thoughts. Kei glared at the old man as he stood next to his nephew putting a hand on shoulder. "Are you all right?" Iroh asked gasping for air as he tried to catch his breath. Zuko looked towards his uncle now regaining his composure and not responding. "Zuko as I was saying I can help you gain what you desire, respect and the power to do it. Become a demon and you'll have all the power you'll ever need. Imagine what your bending abilities will be like and how much stronger they'll be. You could easily defeat both your father and the Avatar. You deserve it after all, defending your people, yourself and your honor." Kei pleaded, Iroh looked concerned at his nephew seeing the lost look on his facing knowing he needed help. "At what price, his soul? His humanity?" Iroh turned to his nephew, "Zuko listen to me, you can't actually be considering this! Even if she does what she claims and you were to become a demon what would that change? Nothing you still be you on the inside and no matter how much power you would have you would gain respect of anyone only fear and resentment! You are my nephew and if you were to do this I… will still be your uncle and still care for you but the respect I hold for you… the respect you earned for never giving up or taking the easy way out… it will be lost and all those who respect you will lose respect for you as well! Iroh pleaded, It took all of Kei's will power from stabbing the old man in the back and silencing him. "This is Zuko's life… his choice not yours!" Kei yelled, Iroh shook his head at her and glared, "Wrong Zuko is family and what he does and happens to him affects me, I care for my nephew as if he were my own son. I will look out for him and help when he needs it!" Iroh answered, Zuko stepped forward glaring at her holding his uncle back. "I will remain human and finish my mission, now ether fight or leave." Zuko threaten. Kei opened her mouth to speak to was stopped as she stared at Iroh who looked ready to speak against her. ("I won't get any where with that old man here… I'll have to try again later.") she thought, and walked away into the forest leaving the fire benders alone. "Zuko we should go who knows what else is out here." Iroh subjected. Zuko said nothing and turned and started to walk followed by his uncle. "Uncle did you really mean that?" Zuko asked, Iroh smiled as if hearing him ask about women. "Of course I told you before how I felt and my feelings will never change." Iroh said, Zuko smiled and went silent. Their walk changed into a run when they remembered the crew and the Avatar.

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The wind had picked up greatly and blew on and off followed by the thundering sounds the demons fist hitting what ever stood in his way. Aang stood breathless, exhausted and running out of ideas. Zinan charged Aang again slamming his fist into the ground followed by turning his body around slamming his elbow into the ground as he attempted to break the Avatar. Aang dodged to the right and noticing the elbow flying down and took a deep breath then released it sending him a safe distance. Zinan stood up and began to walk over to Avatar. Aang stood in a puddle of water trying desperately to come up with some sort of plan. A blast of water hit the demon completely soaking him causing a confused expression to form on his face. Everyone turned to see Katara was the one who shot him and took a deep breath and released it towards the wet demon, covering him in ice. "hey nice one Katara I forgot about water bending!" Aang shouted, "Yeah I figured he forgot as well. Guess you owe me one." Katara said, Their victory was short lived as the ice began to crack and break apart leaving a very annoyed demon turning his sights from the Avatar to Katara