Chapter 22

Liling laid in bed, her hand touched her lips. At the memory that happened yesterday…Zuko had kissed her again…but it didn't feel like the kiss she always shared with Ru…Zuko had kissed her so fiercely and she didn't know why he did that! and somehow she didn't stop him. Did she wanted to be kissed? Well…it was in the heat in the moment yet…

Times like this she wished she had her mother to talk to for advice.

'Oh spirits, what do I do?'Liling thought

Liling shook her head and started to pace around her room.

"Why him?! Tell me that universe! Why did I have to be kissed by him?!"Liling asked but obviously there was no one to answer her.

Liling heard a soft knock from her room.

"Liling, it's me."

"Iroh?" Liling said she got up and opened the door seeing the retired general with a worried look on his face. "What's wrong?"

"My nephew wasn't with us for breakfast this morning he said he wasn't hungry but I am a bit worried, I was wondering if you could fix something up for him."Iroh said

Really?!

"But-"

"I know he may not be the most to express his feelings but he is a good man."Iroh said Liling stared at him.

Oh…spirits..he knows! He really knows what happened!

Liling could feel herself burn up a bit.

"Sometimes he makes it a bit harder on himself to even admit his own feelings."He continued "But I know that in time he'll say it."

"…..Yeah, so….i better go and start making something for Prince Firecracker."Liling said

Liling ran as fast as her feet could take her, she lightly touched her cheeks and could feel the heat.

Great…he must've saw us kiss or he put all the pieces together…great..just great!

Liling went into the kitchens and started to make a portion of food for the banished prince.

Zuko sat in lotus position before his four meditating candles, But failed everytime he tried to be in a peaceful state his mind went back to yesterdays events.

Why? Why did I do that? why did I kiss her? I should've just yelled at her and told her to stay in her room. Now thanks to her I feel all confuse and-

He jumped as he heard a soft tapping at his door.

"WHAT?!" he snapped, the candles flaring up before him in a blaze, only to die down to a simmer in an instant as a soft voice answered.

"Hi, it's Liling…may I come in?"

His mind gave him so many excuses to avoid her but as usual his body betrayed him.

"Y-Yes.."

The door opened to reveal Liling, dressed in her short green tunic and pants with a dark green sash. Her hair was in a bun with a few black clips holding it in place.

"I hope you like today's meal….wonton soup."Liling mumbled

"Yeah" Zuko muttered, his eyes looking into his lap. Liling shifted a bit and started to walk inside.

Liling suddenly tripped forward, Zuko quickly reached out and caught her hands under the tray in a attempt to help luckily the contents in the tray wasn't spilled by his quick reaction. The two looked at eachother for a moment.

"Enjoy your meal!"Liling squeaked nervously while retreating back.

"Wait"

Liling turned just as Zuko stood up to his feet, his gaze anxious but determined as he walked towards her.

Once he was just within reach he stopped and gulped.

"Listen…about yesterday. What I did.. I-I'm…sorry…" he trailed off, turning his face to the ground in an attempt to hide his very warm very red cheeks. "What I did was-was- inexcusable to just K-kiss you like that.."

"It's okay." Liling spoke up. "That kiss was just in the heat of the moment, It doesn't mean anything."

Zuko's eyes narrowed.

"The heat of the moment?"Zuko spat "That was all you can say about what had happened between us. "

"Yeah." Liling nervously said "It was nothing."

Zuko stepped closer to her.

"Are you sure it didn't mean anything to you?"

"Yeah, it didn't-"

"Nothing? You didn't feel anything from that?" He hissed down into her face. "I know you did, I felt your hands on me you could've pushed me away but you didn't."

Liling stared up at the scarred prince's face, eyes wide as he leaned down to murmur.

"Why don't you just admit it?"

"I..It's just like I said it meant nothing." Liling said

So..that's what she's saying? It didn't mean anything to her? But I know what I felt t that moment she could've pushed me away or even do something..so why? Gah! I seriously don't get her!

" So enjoy your meal, I'm going back to play Pai sho." Liling said

Moments later Iroh sighed happily after he took a sip of the tea and took one of the cookies that Liling had made, his face looked so relaxed. Liling held a cup in her hands.

"Aahh!" He exhaled softly as he placed his cup on the low table, "See Prince Zuko, a moment of quiet is good for mental well-being."

Iroh picked up the teapot and poured the scarred prince a cup of tea while Liling avoided his gaze at her, she set her own cup back on the low table. Zuko lifted the small cup to take a sip but the ship suddenly jerked violently, causing the tea to slosh out of the cup and all over Zuko's face and hair.

Liling covered her mouth to try to contain her giggles. Zuko growled in frustration and leapt to his feet, stomping out of the room and up to the main deck with Iroh and Liling followed after him.

The three arrived at the deck where several Firebenders were poised for attack just as a large beast with a young, dark-haired woman mounted on its back leapt onto the deck.

"Look out! Argh!" One of the Firebenders shouted as they fled from the large creature.

"Get back!" the woman barked at the crew as she directed the creature, "We're after a stowaway."

Zuko stepped forward with a glare, "There are no stowaways on my ship."

The creature tore a chunk of the metal deck floor and then hurled it in Zuko's direction. Without even thinking, Liling bended some water to hit the chunk of metal she manage to send the piece of metal flying over their heads chucking it near the port somewhere. Zuko growled as the creature shoved its head inside the hole in the deck, sniffing loudly.

The creature lifted its head from the hole and screeched as strange man climbed out of the whole and raced towards Zuko,Liling and the rest of the crewmen.

The creature instantly gave chase then struck the stowaway twice in the neck with it's long tongue. The man fell to the deck, completely paralyzed with terrified look on his face.

"He's paralyzed." Zuko muttered in shock.

"I never saw something like that before." Liling muttered looking at the creature in amazement.

"The paralysis is only temporarily." The woman stated as she hauled the paralyzed man up onto her shoulder easily, "The toxins will wear off in about an hour. But by then, he'll be in jail and I'll have my money."

The woman walked over to the creature and tossed the man on the back then prepared to remount.

"But how did you find him on my ship?" Zuko demanded, causing the woman to pause and look over her shoulder at the prince.

"My shirshu can smell a rat a continent away." The woman stated smugly then finished pulling herself back onto the shirshu's back.

She's such a badass….so cool… Liling thought

"Well, I'm impressed." Iroh stated as he, Liling and Zuko watched the woman crack her whip and the shirshu bolted off the ship, racing down the docks.

The three walked over the edge of the ship.

"Very impressed." Iroh said with a smirk as he stroked his beard and Zuko gave him a disgusted look, while Liling shook her head she never thought that the retired general would say that.

Time went by so fast that it was already nightfall, Liling was carrying a tray to have a game of pai sho with Iroh but she heard voices.

" Uncle I found where to find that woman, if we can get her to find and capture the Avatar with that animal of hers." Zuko said

"It would be quite nice to see her again." Iroh replied

Liling heard footsteps and quickly hid. 'Aang…' Liling had a determined loo on her face and quickly went back to her room.

'Their going to find Aang! Oh spirits please don't let Prince firecracker find Aang or Sokka and katara.' Liling thought she glanced at the window seeing the prince go with his Uncle to search for the woman. 'The tough part now is that these guys might be watching me now…..'

"I have to try…"Liling muttered

Iroh followed Zuko to a seedy looking tavern in the small Earth Kingdom harbor town.

"Out of my way!" Zuko barked in annoyance as he shoved people out of his way, "Step aside, filth!"

"He means no offense!" Iroh apologized "I'm certain you bathe regularly."

The two reached the table where the bounty woman was arm-wrestling with a man that looked twice her size.

"I need to talk to you!" Zuko stated loudly as he glared down at the woman.

"Well, if it isn't my new friends, Angry Boy and Uncle Lazy." The woman commented.

"Your beast trashed my ship." Zuko growled lowly, "You have to pay me back!"

"Well, I'd love to help you out, but I'm a little short on money." The woman stated as she collected her winnings then leaned back in her chair and addressed the boisterous crowd, "Drinks on me!"

The crowd cheered happily at the woman's words, then quirked her brow when Zuko grabbed the woman's wrist in a vice grip when she lifted her cup to her mouth.

"Money isn't what I had in mind." Zuko stated lowly, his tone dangerous.

"I need you to find someone." Zuko said after He , Iroh and the bounty woman left the tavern.

Liling had her backpack and small bag, She carefully slip it on.

"Sorry Iroh, you and few of the men here were nice…but I just can't forget why I'm here.."She muttered She left a note to the retired generals room, She took a few steady breaths and snuck out of the room. Liling climb up the stairs and quickly hid as a guard passed by. She carefully manage to sneak out to the deck her back pressed against the wall, she peered around and no one was in sight. Liling manage to get out of the boat safely and started to run out of the docks.

Liling looked back one last time before leaving. She ran as fast as she could to the village, she notice a few merchants trying to sell anything, She saw a small boy wearing earthkingdom clothes holding a leash of an ostrich horse.

"Anyone want him? Speedy's a fast one!"The young boy said to a few people walking passed him.

Liling looked at the animal for a second and smiled.

"Hey kid! How much?"Liling asked

Minutes later Liling climb in the saddle of the ostrich horse and rode off, the young boy smiled holding a gold piece in his hand as well as a new kimono.

Zuko held up Katara's necklace.

"What happened," June drawled sarcastically as she leaned against her shirshu with her arms crossed, "Your girlfriend run off on you?"

"It's not the girl I'm after," Zuko stated coolly "It's the bald monk she's traveling with."

June gave him an unamused look, "Whatever you say."

"If you find them, I'll consider the damage to my ship paid for."

"Heh, forget it." June scoffed and started to climb into the shirshu's saddle but Iroh's next words made her pause.

"Plus, we'll pay your weight in gold."

June smiled and walked over to Iroh, poking his rounded belly, "Make it your weight, and we got a deal."

Iroh laughed merrily, "You got it!"

"Get on!" June instructed as she grabbed the necklace from Zuko. She held the necklace in front of her shirshu.

'The kid was right this guy is fast!'Liling thought she quickly stopped and looked up at the stars.

"Spirits please give me a sign that I'm at the right path to find my friends.."Liling silently prayed.

She felt the night breeze flowing a bit, she took a deepbreath and exhaled. She felt something at the moment and heard a soft sound, she turn to the noise but didn't see anything. She slowly got the animal to carefully walk when no one was around she turned back climbing on the animal. She then heard a soft voice.

'North….leads…friends..' the soft echoes.

Liling did not know if it was a trap. But she remembered her grandmothers words.

'Liling, always remember that there are spirits that are kind and gentle creatures and there's those that want to cause harm and play tricks on you.'

'I know grandma Ling, you tell me these things everyday I shouldn't just go where there's the easy path, trust my instincts and go at it with peace in mind.'

'Especially since….'Ling trailed off a bit.

'Since I have that special connection with them too.'Liling finished 'I know, I heard the story from mom and dad every year on my birthday.'

"Thank you."Liling said She immediately started following the path.

It was now the next morning, The nuns milled around the courtyard, some stirring the large pots of perfume when a sudden rumbling caused them all to look towards the gates. Their eyes widened and they cried out when a massive creature with a dark-haired woman, an old man and a teenage boy with a scar on the left side of his face on its back. They watched in terror as the creature began sniffing around then hissed as it faced the gate again.

"We're getting close." The dark-haired woman stated as she whipped the creature and it raced out back out of the abbey into the woods.

Aang sighed as he sat on Appa's head, looking out at the water with the Water Tribe ship behind him.

"Looks like we're going alone, guys…If Lils was here she would yell at me and leave too." He murmured to the bison and lemur when a sudden noise grabbed his attention and he looked towards the path where the head nun was racing towards him.

"Avatar!" Mother Superior cried out urgently as she reached him, "You must leave!"

"Okay, I get it." Aang said in annoyed exasperation, "Everybody wants me gone."

"A group of people came to the abbey looking for you." The Mother Superior stated in a panic, seemingly not hearing what Aang had said.

Aang started and he looked at the woman urgently, "Who?"

"A fierce looking woman with a horrible monster and a young man with a scar." The elderly nun said quickly and Aang's eyes narrowed.

"Zuko."

"The beast was using the scent of a necklace to follow you." Mother Superior explained and she looked up at nervously.

"What necklace?" Aang muttered then gasped as his eyes widened, "Katara!"

Katara and Sokka hurried back down the path towards the abbey, hoping to catch Aang before he left with Appa when Sokka suddenly heard a loud rumbling. The young Water Tribe warrior put his hand up, stopping his sister from walking any further just as a large creature leapt out of the trees behind them, causing both Sokka and Katara to whirl around with wide, fearful eyes.

"So this is your girlfriend." June stated as she looked Katara over while Zuko jumped from the saddle, "No wonder she left, she's way to pretty for you."

"Where is he?" Zuko demanded glaring at them, "Where is the Avatar?"

"We split up." Sokka replied "He's long gone."

"How stupid do you think I am?" Zuko growled and his eyes narrowed angrily.

"Pretty stupid." Sokka replied with smirk then he grabbed Katara's arm and yanked her behind him when he started running, "Run!"

Nyla's tongue lashed out, striking both Katara and Sokka at the same time and the two siblings fell to the ground, completely paralyzed.

"What are we supposed to do now?" Zuko demanded in irritation as he looked at the siblings lying on the ground.

June clicked her tongue and nudged Nyla's sides with her heels, urging the shirshu towards the prone Water Tribe siblings. Nyla passed him, causing the banished Fire Nation prince to snarl angrily up at her.

"It's seeking a different scent." June stated as Nyla began to sniff the Water Tribe boy, "Perhaps something that the Avatar held."

Nyla knocked a scroll from Sokka's pack and began sniffing it, then he lifted his head in the direction of abbey, screeching loudly. Zuko smirked.

Liling travelled as far as she could after riding non stop hours in the night with the ostrich horse, she glanced up seeing what looked like a nunnery. She could smell a faint scent of perfume.

'Maybe they saw Aang…it couldn't hurt to ask…'Liling thought

She nudged the animal to move forward to the gates, but immediately stopped when she saw a creature crash through the wooden gates.

"Oh no…."Liling exclaimed

She saw two nuns dragged Sokka and Katara to safety leaning them against a far wall, liling quickly ran and leaned to check on the siblings.

"Lils!"Katara and Sokka exclaimed smiling at the dark haired girl.

"It's good to see you, I'd hug you but…"Sokka said "I'm kinda numb at the moment.."

"Yeah, lets save the hug and mushy stuff for later."Liling said with a soft smile.

Mother Superior hurried out of one of a large hole in one of the abbey's buildings and waved a vial of perfume under Sokka and Katara's noses, causing Sokka to gag and Katara to straighten up, the paralysis in their bodies was gone.

"That thing sees with its nose." Sokka stated as he rubbed his wrist "Let's give him something to look at."

"The perfume?" Mother Superior questioned and Sokka nodded with a smirk.

"Oh I see."Liling smirked "Katara let's show e'm who's boss!"

A couple of the nuns quickly wheeled out four large pots of the perfume then the nuns and Sokka pushed the pots over, spilling the perfume onto the ground, just as Zuko and the shirshu cornered Aang.

The nuns and Sokka quickly pushed the pots over, spilling the perfume onto the ground around Katara and Liling who began to Waterbend the perfume into the air then the girls directed it over to where the shirshu and Zuko had Aang cornered, dumping the perfume all over the creature.

Nyla shook his head rapidly as the perfume began to clog his nose and his 'vision' began to blur together until he couldn't see anything clearly. The panicked shirshu screeched and lashed out randomly with its tongue, hitting Zuko in the chest and knocking him to the ground with a loud gasp of surprise.

June jumped from the saddle and tried to sooth the creature but Nyla was too panicked and he swung his head, lashing out at the bounty woman with his tongue.

"June! No!" Iroh cried out as he hurried forward and caught the now paralyzed woman in his arms, both of them falling to the ground.

Aang hurried over to where Katara,Liling and Sokka were standing by the spilled perfumes pots with the nuns and they all watched as the shirshu began to run around in a circle then crashed head first into more perfume pots. The blinded shirshu screeched and scrambled up the and over the abbey wall, disappearing into the forest beyond.

Aang walked over and picked up the staff and wiped his brow, smiling when Katara and Sokka stood next him with smiles on their faces. Aang smiled even brightly and rushed to hug Liling tightly.

"Lils! You're okay! You're okay…"Aang said lightly sobbing.

"Aang…I missed you too."Liling said smiling at the bald monk."I hope you haven't been riding in the back of a hogmonkey."

Aang laughed happily as he clung tightly to his best friend, he had missed her so much the past few weeks. Katara and Sokka smiled happily as they watched the two embrace before Liling pulled away slightly and grabbed the watertribe siblings by the arms, pulling them into the hug.

"I've missed you guys so much…I was worried about you guys.." She stated, hugging them. "I missed you.."

Aang smiled and wrapped his arm tighter around Liling's waist while Katara and Sokka hugged her tightly as well.

"Lils…I'm so sorr-"

Liling shook her head at Katara. "It's okay, in the end we're back together again."Liling stated

"Uncle?" Zuko muttered, looking at his uncle lying next to him with June lying on top of him, "I didn't see you get hit with the poison."

"Shh…" Iroh shushed him, putting his finger to his lips before putting his hand back down and reclosing his eyes with a blissful smile on his face.

June's eyes snapped open and she glared up at Iroh angrily. Zuko pursed his lips as he glared at the space in front of him, He saw Liling look back for a moment. Until the Avatar hugged her again getting her attention.

'She left.…' The scarred prince thought darkly as he mental swore to capture the Avatar and get some answers from the girl.

"So… Where do we go?" Aang asked as he looked over his shoulder at Liling, Sokka and Katara nervously.

"We're getting you to the North Pole." Katara replied with a smile.

"Yeah," Sokka agreed with his own smile, "We've lost too much time as it is."

Aang turned towards them.

"Don't you want to see you father?" Aang asked

"You guys haven't seen him in a long time…"Liling said Katara and Sokka told her what had happened in the past two days.

"Of course we do, Aang." Sokka responded "But, you're our family too, you and Lils. And right now, you need us more."

"And we need you." Katara piped in with an affectionate smile.

"I wish I could give you a little piece of home, Katara." Aang said as he folded his head on the front of the saddle "Something to remind you…"

"I'll be okay." Katara assured him, though her expression was slightly sad.

"Still, just a little trinket. Maybe something like…" Aang trailed off then held up Katara's necklace with a proud smile on his face, "This?"

Katara's eyes went wide and she took the necklace gently from Aang's hand.

"Aang, how'd you get that?" Katara whispered in shock as she put the necklace on.

Aang smirked at her, "Zuko asked me to be sure I got it to you."

"Aw, that so sweet of Zuko." Katara cooed sarcastically as she batted her eyelashes, "Could you give him a kiss for me when you see him?"

"Sure." Aang agreed with a grin then blushed brightly and started twiddling his thumbs when Katara kissed his cheek.

"I hope we don't see him again."Liling agitatedly said

"Lils, I didn't mean to…I'm sorry that-" Katara started to apologize.

"It's okay…"Liling mumbled "I just don't want to see him or that ship of his."

"Lils…are you okay?"Aang asked slightly worried as he touched Liling's shoulder she slightly flinched since it was the same spot that she was injured a few weeks ago.

"I am..i'm fine."Liling spoke softly.

"You sure? Cause we're kinda curious of what went on in that ship." Sokka piped in then yelped in pain when Katara smacked him upside the head.

"Sokka!"

"What?!" Sokka demanded as he rubbed his head with a pout, "Don't deny it, you're just as curious as I am."

"It's fine.."Liling spoke up "But I..I'm not ready to talk about it at the moment."

"Of course." Aang agreed "You can talk whenever you feel ready, we'll be here."

Liling wasn't ready to tell them what had happened the first couple of weeks or what had even happened the last few days, She knew she would miss Iroh he reminded her of her father…watching out for her after what had happened with Shi…even making her feel comfortable, letting her go with him to the shops and asking her if she wanted anything….Liling smiled softly. She then touched her lips, being on that ship she also saw and noticed a small change in the firenation prince…she never thought he would even help her or much less kiss her. That small part of information will stay a secret and hopefully remain a secret.

"Liling?" Sokka's voice broke Liling's train of thought and she turned to look at him curiously, "Where did you get all of this?"

Liling looked at the teapot that Iroh gave her, she had manage to only pack that and the clothes that he bought for her to replace the ones that got ruined.

"That was a gift from a friend."Liling truthfully answered

Please leave a review and tell me what you guys think!

Bittersweet256- If it was further along i was thinking during the north pole invasion if it wasn't maybe in the deserter chapter, i'm still indecisive.