Disclaimer: I don't Own Avatar: The last airbender.

Chapter Five: Save... Me...

Amber twisted the knob of The Prince's shower and felt the temperature. It was a surprisingly comfortable temperature. She glanced around and made sure Zuko was not in the room before she undressed. The warm water caressed her skin, washing away all the sweat from the workout and the oil and greases from her hair. She hoped he wouldn't mind when she used some of his perfumed soap, knowing it was particularly expensive in the Avatar world. She wondered if Uncle Iroh still had some of the perfume bottles he had stolen in the episode where Zuko tracked Katara with her necklace. She laughed. The fact that she fit in quite well surprised her. It had always been a private dream to train with the fiercest of firebenders, wave with waterbenders, and ride the aircurrents on the back of the last airbender. Amber couldn't help but note the sharp pleasant smell Zuko's shower gave off. It smelt just like his shirt. Prince Zuko smelled fantastic, she decided. After finishing her calming shower, she saw that a new clothes had replaced her old ones. How kind! was her first thought. Her second was I'll kill the pervert that walked into this bathroom without knocking first!

Meanwhile, Cassidy was fingering some of coslty necklaces that Zuko had splurged for her.

"If you want to escort me, you'll at least have to look like royalty." he had commented rudely. She blushed with anger, but said nothing. Zuko noted the cherry red in her cheeks, but hadn't apologized. He had been a little bit kinder, but never apologized. She tossed an expensive golden chain back into the small box he had bought her and paced the room. Every time she turned around there was a gaurd. They all looked at her funny, like some of the guys at the highschool that dreamed to date a cheerleader, but never could. She flopped onto the bed and let out a groan of boredom. Cassidy wanted to go back to her world, the one with electricity, gas, cars, and really hot guys. She made a face remembering the Prince's kiss. He seemed genuine, but she knew she wasn't . Her act was half hearted now, and she didn't really want to try anymore. She flashed a smile to one of the younger firebenders as he passed by. The young man grinned back and winked, then dissapeared around a corner. Soon she would have the whole crew under her finger. She just had to figure out what she would do after that.

Dressing in the new clothes was much more pleasant than she figured. The undergarments were particularly tricky to figure out, but when she did it was cake from there. She slipped on the soft cotton underdress, then the red silk overdress that was extremely comfortable. She tied the wide sash around her hips and pulled on the black pants that went with it.After she finished dressing, she opened Zuko's bathroom door and smoothed her dress over her body. Looking up she almost jumped at the sight of Zuko. He stood from the bed and studied her momentarily.

"So the shoes didn't fit." he snorted. "I told Uncle you had big feet." Amber rolled her eyes and ignored him. She grabbed the door handle and swung the door open.

"Hey," she said before leaving the room. Zuko looked up in annoyance."I want my penny back." Zuko blinked a few times as she shut the door and when he was sure she was gone, he burst out laughing. He called a gaurd into his room.

"Go get Cassidy, and tell her to get ready to dock. We will be going into town for the night and leaving the ship to be purged and cleaned." he ordered. The gaurd nodded and ran off to tell her.

The next day, Iroh looked excited about docking. Cassidy had slipped her arm into the Prince's and the General was looking for his young escort. She came running up the stairs and took her place beside Iroh. Taking the umbrella from a nearby servant, she popped it open and shaded Iroh. Zuko smirked as an idea entered his head.

"Don't do that!" he said with a scowl. "That's no kind of job for a strong young woman like you to do." He nodded to another servant, who nodded and ran to get something. The servant came back with another umbrella, about four times the size of the smaller one for Iroh. Amber gaped.

"This is what you should be doing." The Prince growled in a low teasing tone. A death glare siezed her eyes, and if not for Iroh's constant training to control her temper, she would happily discard him like the brat he was. She snatched the umbrella from his arms and opened it, walking behind Iroh, Prince Zuko and Cassidy, who smirked at her triumphantly. And to think I wanted to SAVE her from being beaten! Amber thought angrily to herself. Nevertheless, she was quite happy with the obvious signs that Cassidy was tiring of being Zuko's escort. Amber's foot hit a rock and she stumbled and nearly fell if not for Zuko's steadying arm. He glared at her and straightened.

"Be careful." he said quietly. Her mouth tightened, but she nodded and continued behind them. She walked behind them to the inn that they were staying at following behind a pack of rhinos, and the humiliation she felt as dozens of men stared at her was almost unbearable. She searched and scanned the crowds, watching other interesting faces that passed. Suddenly, one face stood out. It was an angel among the demons! Her heart soared as she noticed Katara bartering with a man for some fruit. Zuko and the rest of the crew had stopped to pick out some foods that they would eat in the rooms, so she shoved the umbrella into the arms of another servant and carefully slipped away towards her.

Katara was just about to give in and use waterbending to whip the stubborn trader.

"It isn't worth that much! It's a peice of fruit that is going to mold in a few days anyway!" she shot back to the shopkeeper.
"You heard me! Two silver pieces, and you can have it!" He harrumphed and folded his arms, waiting fo her to make a choice. A tap on her shoulder startled her, and she looked back to see a rather anxious young woman. The woman looked behind her towards a group of Fire Nation soldiers before speaking.

"Here." she said, tossing five gold coins on the table. "Let her take what she wants." The shopkeeper snatched up the money and waddled back to the front of the stand to slap the children's hands away from his precious fruit. The woman grabbed Katara by the sleeve and pulled her, and her fruit, away from the view of the soldiers.

"You have to help me." she begged. "I need to get away from Zuko. I can't stand this anymore, please." Prince Zuko was here? How did he keep finding them!Katara studied the woman for a moment. There were a few old bruises on the girl's face, and her lower lip had a scabbed scratch on it.

"What's your name?" she asked cautiously.

"Amber." she answered. "If you are going to take me with you, we must hurry before-" no sooner had the words come out of her mouth did she hear her name being called. The young woman's eyes widened and she turned Katara around and shoved her towards the forest.

"Run!" She hissed. "Or he will catch you!"

"What about you?" Katara asked quickly. Amber shook her head and looked in the soldiers direction.

"It's too late. I am a servant on Prince Zuko's ship. Go, Now!" she said, pushing her toward the forest. Katara obeyed and once hidden she watched from a spot as the Prince hit the young woman on the side of the face hard enough to make her stumble. She stood tall again and took a silent verbal abusing as Prince Zuko came closer. Too close. Katara blinked and blushed as Zuko's arm began to slither close to Amber's stomach. Before he could, she landed a hard slap to his face.

Amber had had enough. Now that she knew where the Avatar was, she was determined to make it out of here with them alive. She slapped Zuko's face as hard as she could, and almost swore. When he seemed like he got his bearings, she hit him again on the other cheek.

"Don't you dare touch me again, you... you... pig!" she yelled, backing away as flames came crawling off his back.

"How dare you insult me, peasant. I should kill you right now!" he roared, grabbing her forearm and pulling her over to Iroh. Iroh took the squirming girl and tried to calm her rage.

"If anyone should die, Prince," she spat, cursing the name, "It's YOU!" With that she landed a solid knee in his stomach, making him double over and giving her time to rip free of General Iroh's arms. Iroh laughed as Prince Zuko sucked in a breath and started after the girl.

"Hurry up Zuko! She might be three towns away by the time you catch her!" Iroh called after him.

Amber panted heavily and kept running. She glanced back and saw the Prince barreling other peasants out of the way. She weaved through and once she was on an open road she tore down it, running as fast as her already tiring legs would carry her. She backpedelled for a moment, throwing fireballs his way and turning to gain some more ground. Unfortunately, turning had slowed her down too much. Zuko had already gained enough ground to tackle her, but she slid to a stop and surrounded herself in a wall of flames as Iroh had taught her. The funnel shape went up another five feet in the air, and the flaming wall stopped Zuko. The Prince looked frustrated, but he knew that the swerving and focus in that move would tire her out in a matter of moments. He was right. She couldn't keep the wall up for more than another 15 seconds before she dropped to her knees and almost passed out. Prince Zuko grabbed her and hoisted the limp girl over his shoulder.

"No!" she protested weakly, squirming off his shoulder and landing on the ground. She flailed her arms and rammed forward with what little strength she had left. Prince Zuko laughed at her pathetic attempts to break free. She tried to firebend once more, but it drained her.

"No..." she whispered as she pitched forward. He caught her and picked her up, carrying her bridal style back to the inn. General Iroh had waited outside for him while the rest of the soldiers prepared their rooms.

"So you managed to catch her. What happened?" Uncle asked. Prince Zuko glared at his Uncle.

"She tired out trying to bend beyond what she was ready for. I just waited until then." he answered, shoving the body off onto him. Iroh took Amber's frail body and brought it into the room he had purchased for her. He threw the sheets back and lay her gently onto the bed, blowing the lamp out as he left.

Katara was pacing the shabby little camp that Aang and Sokka were now picking up.

"But what about Amber?" she asked, trying to convince the boys to take the poor girl with them.

"She's a firebender. No way!" Sokka answered, grabbing a sleeping bag from her hand and throwing it up to Aang.

"What happened again?" Aang asked, jumping down from the bison. Sighing at the empty mindedness of the two, she retold the story.

"She came up to me, bought our food, and asked for help. She told me that Prince Zuko was in town, and that she couldn't stand being with him anymore. So when Zuko's crew started looking for her, she told me just to go and not worry about her. So I did, but I watched, and Zuko was being," she paused," uh, friendly with her. She didn't like it, smacked him twice and took off down the road. I don't know if she got away, but we have to help somehow!" Aang thought for a moment, then nodded in agreement. Sokka stared at both of them in disbelief.

"What! How are you ever gonna master all four elements if you keep going on all these sidequest thingies! And what do you mean by 'with Zuko'?" he shouted after them as they got on Appa.

Amber woke to a dark lamplit room. Sunlight poked beneath the door. It was blocked by a sudden shadow that slowly turned the doorknob in hopes of keeping her asleep. She closed her eyes and slowed her breathing, appearing to be asleep by whoever had entered the room. The door opened quietly, sending sunlight directly into her face. She groaned and rolled over, turning her back to the door. She could hear the soft padding of bare feet coming close to her bed. A hand gently laid on her bare shoulder, and she assumed that it was Uncle Iroh. She placed her hand on his and squeezed gently.

"Thanks, Uncle." she said quietly. When she got no answer she let go.

"Sorry about that thing with your nephew. Its just, he makes me soo mad sometimes I just want to kill him!" she stopped, then smiled softly. "Other times I remember his heroism and want to hug him." she sighed and snuggled deeper into the bed.

"Can I sleep just a little longer? Pleaaasseee!" she begged, sleep still tugging on her eyelids. She felt a pat on the shoulder and heard Iroh walking away.

"Thank you Iroh." she said softly. There was a pause at the doorway.

"Your welcome." came a familiar voice, but not the one she had hoped it was. She grabbed the sheets and spun around to see Prince Zuko's back as he walked out of the room. She slapped herself on the forehead and blushed deeply. I am soooooo stupid! she thought to herself, metally kicking her butt because she hadn't bothered to check.

Prince Zuko rubbed his fingers together, savoring the sweet touch of soft, rough skin. He leaned against the door. Though she was a pain, she certainly did have her moments when, as she had so perfectly put it, he could hug her. He stood straight as he noticed a door close completely from the hall. Uncle! his thoughts screamed. He was about to ram into the door, but he decided against it. I'll let it pass just this once.

Author's note: AAAAAAHHHHHHHHH! (okay, if you guys were expecting romance, let you heart do that lil backflip and scream). AAAAAAHHHHHHH! My fingers almost burn, I can't believe I wrote that! Well, yeah I can, but that was soooo perfect! Jenae, this goes out to you! I have totally come up with a plot that will have your guys' head spinning! Read and review on! Godsspiker

PS To all the peeps that have reveiwed: Lovenelie/ Eye of the Wolf aka Nat/Kiysta(I love your Christian Lyrics!) I LOVE YOU GUYS! KEEP REVEIWING!