Chapter Five:

Disclaimer and all that: I don't own da avatarness. But, as my cat as my witness, I WILL :D (Cat goes to sleep) Note: A few Disney songs will appear :)

She was back in her water-tribe village. But she was only 12; and Cong was nine. It was a bright day, and everyone loved it. The men were training while the wemon

were doing all the chores. Mei Ying's mother was teaching her how to sew and how to fix her father and brother's pants when needed. She learned much but it still was hard for her. Her mother was wounderful; she always had a smile on her face that made Mei Ying not mind her work.Her mother was timid twords everyone except Mei Ying; Cong; and her father. She had her hair tied at the end; with beads holding her bangs to the side. But the bright day was not meaning that the night would be the same.

That night was the fire nation raide. Mei Ying's mother hid her and her brother under some snow which she covered them with; and ran off to help her husband. But as she approched her husband; he had a blast of fire blown onto him; knocking him to the ground and then a spear through his heart. Her mother was shaking as she fell to the ground and wept. The soldier approched her and killed her as well. Just as the spear went through her mother's body...

Mei Ying shot up in her bed. Breathing hard. She looked over at Cong whom was sleeping silently after his scare that day. She was wearing her blue, water tribe dress. She wiped the sweat off her brow as she sat up and grabbed the red robe which Iroh had given her. She put it on over her dress; and left it untied. She left the room without wakeing Cong;and walked onto the deck. She was alone on deck; which was rare during the days. Finding it hard to go back to sleep; she figured she'd practice. She ran back down to her room where she put her robe; and then back onto the deck where she practiced with sea water. She first practiced the water whip to get herself warmed up; and then she bended alot of water around herself to practice the water dragon. It was a move where the water took the form of a dragon; which sprayed water from it's mouth like the unagi; and forced the apponite to the ground. All being controled by her like a puppet. She ended up practicing from two in the morning; until dawn when everyone woke and saw her practicing.

"How long have you been up?" Zuko asked once he saw her practicing. She smiled and kept practicing as she had her conversation with him.

"Since two. I had a nightmare and couldn't get back to sleep." She bended the water back into the sea and turned to face him. "I'm sorry if I woke you." He shook his head.

"I would like to see how well it's been going however." He got into a fighting stance; she nodded and bended the dragon puppet and used it as it was to be used. It sprayed water on him; but not as hard as it usually would have; because she was going easy on him. He shot a fire ball which dissolved into smoke the second it touched the water. Soon; she just let the water drop and told him he won. "I didn't really did I?"

"Of course you did." She told him false. While at the same time it was true; he did win; only because she quit. He crossed his arms and asked why she gave up so quickly. "I'm just..not really in the mood right now. Tomarrow might be better."

"Why not?" He stubbornly asked. Wanting to get to the bottom of why she didn't want to fight him anymore.

"I just don't!" She ended up shouting at him; and storming back to her room; where she sat on the bed.

"What's your problem?" Cong asked tiredly; having been woken up from his sleep.

"Nothing." She snapped. "Do you know what today is Cong?" There was silence as he woke up and thought about which day it was. Once he remembered; he looked at her sympathedically.

"Oh..." He mumbled; sitting up. "I forgot for a minute."

"I didn't.." She sighed sadly. "Cong..can you go train with Iroh or something?" Cong immediatly nodded and got dressed. That was a day he figured he should leave her alone for that day. He left the room once he was dressed and went to the dining room to find Iroh and Zuko eating breakfast.

"Where is Mei Ying?" Iroh asked gently. Cong shook his head.

"She isn't coming. Today really is a bad day for her to be around anyone."

"Why?" Iroh asked again; pouring Cong a cup of tea; and watching him take a seat.

"Today is just a day she is upset. It was four years ago that our parents died. She really hates to be around anyone today."

"That would explain alot." Zuko spoke up; eating his breakfast. "Is that why she got so mad before?" Cong nodded.

"Becoming an orphan was just really hard on us. Mostly Mei Ying because she had to find a way to make money; and give me the life mom would have given us." He paused for a moment to get a drink of his tea. "She's like this every year. She'll train with her waterbending but she won't fight anyone. You tried to fight her didn't you Zuko?"

"Well yeah. She said she's been training since two; so I figured I'd see what she learned."

"Two? I wounder why she was up that early.." They all turned their heads to see Mei Ying walking in silently and takeing a seat. She didn't say a word; pouring herself a cup of tea and getting a bowl of rice. No one said anything; and they all ate. Mei Ying finished eating and walked out onto the deck to continue her practicing. They all watched as she walked off.

"That was weird." Zuko spoke up. Breaking the silence. "Does this always happen?"

"sometimes; whenever I had decided not to leave before she got up; she'd cook breakfast but never really eat any of it; leaving it all for me." They all sighed softly; hateing that she was feeling so sad; but she had a good reason. Four years ago that day; she had lost her parents.

"What has helped her in the past?" Iroh asked. Cong sipped at his tea and then answered.

"Just leaving her be. She'll be back to her old self by tomarrow with any luck." There was silence. "Although it sometimes lasts a couple of days; two or three at the most."

She bended the water on deck; sometimes doing tricks with it; sometimes actual moves. She practiced the water whip; and she tried to complete a new move she thought might work; which is what she often did; think of new moves and try to teach them to herself.

"Hey.." She turned her head and saw Zuko greeting her. She nodded in acknoigment and went back to her bending. "I know you must be upset-Cong told us-"

"I'll get over it." She told him; her voice started sharp; but ended soft.

"I know." He told her; approching her and makeing her stop bending. She just looked at him; her blue eyes were slightly dim; but the dimness would leave soon.

"Then why won't you just leave me be? Didn't Cong tell you to?" He nodded.

"Yes; but that doesn't change anything." He was stubborn; but she soon retreated to her room so he would leave her alone. He didn't see her again untill nightfall. When everyone except himself and Mei Ying were sleeping. She was on deck; but not practicing. She was just leaning on the railing; thinking; and remembering her parents. She felt a hand on shoulder; when she turned she saw Zuko.

"How are you feeling?" He asked. She looked at him for a moment and then turned back to the sea.

"Fine I suppose." He took his hand off her; not knowing if that was where it belonged or not.

"My mom ditched me when I was younger; I'm not completely sure why; but I was asleep one night and she woke me up to say goodbye.She had always said that I was someone who kept fighting; even though it's hard. Mom loved me; Dad loved my sister; and my uncle loved us both equilly." He explained; hopeing that would make her feel better. She just gave him a short smile and then was silent. "I'm just saying...that I know it hurts to lose your mom; but..You've got Cong; and uncle; and me. It isn't like your all alone."

"I know." she wiped her eye. "Mom just made me feel important; after she died I wasn't important to anyone except Cong." She shook her head. "But as he got older he was just like all the other guys"

"But now you've got uncle and me. Were your family now." Mei Ying looked at him as he went on further explaining that it was rare for him and his uncle to become so attached to a waterbender; and that since he was banished too; it would only make sence that they would be a sort of "family" A banished one. He actually studdered more than spoke and really just threw out words that came to his mind first. They all just happened to make a sentence.

Cong walked out onto deck late at night. He had woken up from a dream and saw Mei Ying wasn't asleep. Due to his protective brother-nature; he had gotten out of bed to go look for her. He found her on deck; and Zuko was hugging her. He couldn't see if from where he was; but Mei Ying was crying on him.

sure took me long enough to write this. I had to fix the mom thing for the NEW EPISODE FRIDAY THAT IS ALL ABOUT ZUKO! oh god that will be a hott episode. You all know it. All fangirlz of Zuko know it! my spell check site is moving so I won't be putting this one through one. Gow tih me on it; because I'll definetly put the next chappie in a spellcheck.