Chapter 24

Katara panted and whimpered quietly as she clutched her hands to her chest, crouching by a small creek that branched out from the river. Liling managed to catch up to Katara she sat down.

"I know it hurts." Liling soothed she took Katara's hands to take a look at the damage.

Liling looked at the angry red burns at her friend's palms and fingers.

"It'll be okay."Liling said looking at Katara.

Liling bended the water from the river and formed a bubble in her palms. "First let's clean it." She said softly. "It might sting."

Liling lowered her hands as the water coated Katara's, Katara shuddered and clenched her teeth at the stinging pain before sighing as the water soothed the burns.

"How does it feel?"Liling asked

"It feels better.."Katara replied

Katara opened her eyes and stared at her hands, her eyes widening and a soft gasp of surprise leaving her lips as her hands began to glow bluish-white under the water. She pulled her glowing hands out of the water and them up so she could stare at her palms in awe as the glow faded, leaving behind perfectly healed hands.

"You have healing abilities."

Katara lowered her hands and looked over her shoulder, Liling followed her gaze as Jeong Jeong walked towards the females.

"The great benders of the Water Tribe sometimes have this ability." Jeong Jeong said as he crouched down next to them, "I've always wished I were blessed like you, free from this burning curse."

"But you're a great master." Katara replied, looking at Jeong Jeong in confusion, "You have powers that I will never know."

"Water brings healing and life. But fire brings only destruction and pain." Jeong Jeong stated as he looked at his reflection in the water, "It forces those of us burdened with its care to walk a razor's edge between humanity and savagery. Eventually, we are torn apart."

"That's not true." Liling spoke up. "The real way of firebending isn't like that. It's never about rage or hatred, destruction or anything like that. Fire is much more than that. It's energy and life..it's something that I learned from him. But..that didn't stop him from wishing the same thing as you Jeong jeong."

"You have the ability to choose, I don't."Jeong Jeong replied softly at the dualbender.

Katara glanced over at Jeong Jeong and at Liling wondering what he meant so she opened her mouth to say something but the water in fronted of them was suddenly blasted with fire. Jeong Jeong leapt to his feet and took a defensive stance, dispersing the flames that washed over them. Jeong Jeong's eyes narrowed when he saw the Fire Nation river boats sailing towards them.

"Get to your friends and flee!" Jeong Jeong orders the girls, "Do not come back here or you will be destroyed! Hurry!"

Liling looked back at Jeong jeong for a moment hesitating slightly then followed his order and left in a hurry.

Jeong jeong waited until Katara and Liling were out of sight then turned to face the river boats as they continued to launch fireballs at him. Jeong Jeong shifted into a wide tance and began motions with his arms, Firebending a massive wall of fire in front of three river boats to keep them from continuing down the river.

The boats turned and docked on the riverbank, harmlessly surrounding Jeong Jeong.

"Don't worry, men." Zhao stated confidently as he jumped from one of the boats and walked onto the bank, "My old teacher gave up fighting a long time ago."

Jeong Jeong's eyes narrowed as he watched his former student part through the wall of fire in front of him, a smirk on his face.

"Haven't you, Master Jeong Jeong?"

Jeong Jeong stared at Zhao coldly then let the massive wall of fire fall away easily.

"Katara!" Sokka shouted when he saw Katara and Liling as he prepared Appa for their departure, "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine, we've got to get out of here." Katara replied urgently then looked around, "Where's Aang ?"

"Did he ran off?"Liling asked

Sokka gestured to Jeong Jeong's hut and Katara hurried inside, Liling followed suit, Aang sitting cross-legged a semicircle of lit candles with his back to them.

"Jeong Jeong tried to tell me I wasn't ready. I wouldn't listen….Lils tried to warn me so many times and I didn't listen to her…." Aang said quietly, "I'm never going to Firebend again."

"You'll have to eventually." Katara reasoned as she walked closer, stopping just outside the semicircle of candles.

"You can't just not firebend, you have to learn it."Liling spoke up. "This is why you should learn the other two elements before you even try to firebend. I could-"

"No," Aang firmly said as he glared down at his hands folded in his lap, "Never again."

"It's okay, Aang. I'm healed."

"What? How?" Aang demanded in surprise as he looked over his shoulder.

"I'll explain later. But right now, we have to get out of here." Katara replied, her tone urgent, "Zhao and his soldiers are attacking."

Aang jumped to his feet and spun around to face Liling and Katara, "Where?"

"By the river." Katara responded as she pointed in the direction of the river, "They've captured Jeong Jeong."

"I have to help him!" Aang exclaimed and made to rush out of the hut but Liling stopped him by grabbing his arm.

"I'm going with you."Liling firmly said

The two ran out as fast as they could.

"Look at you. You were once so great." Zhao sneered as he looked his former teacher up and down with his men standing behind him, "I can't believe my former master has become nothing more than a simple savage."

"It is you who have embraced savagery, Zhao." Jeong Jeong replied

"It's Admiral Zhao, now." Zhao corrected with a smirk.

"That title will not help you against the Avatar." Jeong Jeong said heatedly, "Do not try to fight him! You are no match!"

Zhao looked at Jeong jeong in amusement, "I think I can handle a child."

"I have never seen such raw power…" Jeong Jeong replied, looking away from Zhao.

Zhao growled angrily, his lips curled into a snarl as he glared at his former teacher before his attention was grabbed by the young monk and the dark haired girl running towards them, shouting his former Jeong jeong's name.

"We'll see." Zhao said with a smirk then waved his men forward as Jeong Jeong backed away, "Men! Take the deserter!"

Aang and Liling stopped as they watched the six Firebenders surrounding Jeong Jeong close in on him. Jeong Jeong smirked at the Fire Nation soldiers then spun around, wrapping himself in a ball of flames that sent the soldiers reeling backwards. The flames cleared a moment later only to see that Jeong jeong disappeared.

"It's a trick!" Zhao shouted as he pointed to the woods behind his soldiers, "He's run off into the woods. Find him!"

The soldiers disappeared into the trees Zhao turned to face Aang and Liling.

"You're the girl that was on his ship."Zhao said staring at Liling. "Is he here?"

"As if he's here! I left that ship!"Liling replied glaring at Zhao. "I only go wherever my friend goes." She looked at Aang. "Jeong jeong taught us so get ready."

"Let's find out what my old master has taught you." Zhao sneered as he walked towards Aang who was running to meet him.

"You were Jeong Jeong's student?" Aang asked, pausing mid-step and recoiling from Zhao in surprise.

"What?! He taught you?" Liling said in disbelief

"Until I got bored." Zhao replied then launched a fireball at the duo, Aang who leapt easily to the side while Liling shot a large amount of water canceling eachother out.

Zhao threw another fireball and Aang ducked to avoid it. They began circling warily, as the trees behind Aang caught on fire.

"I see he taught you how to duck and run like a coward." Zhao taunted with a scornful look, "But I doubt he showed you what a Firebender is truly capable of!"

"As if you ever knew what firebending is!"Liling snapped "You call that firebending!"

Zhao glared at Liling and he twisted around and thrusted both of his fists forward, sending an large fire blast at Her. Aang swiftly grabbed her and moved them to the side.

"Whoa!" Aang said as he looked over his shoulder, "Wild shot!"

"I'll show you wild!" Zhao roared with rage and launched another fire blast.

Aang smirked and twisted around, pushing himself into the air as he used Airbending to send the fire to either side of him. Liling smirked as she dodged each blast it looked as if she was dancing around the flames.

More fire blasts were launched at them and Aang rolled, ducked, and spun away to avoid them. Liling moved from side to side at a rapid motion. Aang glanced at the fire burning the trees behind him then looked back at Zhao, Liling looked at the fire spreading to the forest.

"No self-control…" He muttered then he smirked as an idea came to him and he looked at the three river boats docked on the bank behind Zhao.

"Stand and fight Avatar!" Zhao barked angrily, pulling Aang's attention from the boats and back to him. Aang glanced at Liling and she nodded as if she knew what he was planning to do.

"Oh, were we fighting?" Aang asked mockingly as he smirked, "I thought you were just getting warmed up."

"I was thinking the same, does he think those little fireballs would scare us?"Liling mocked

"Why you little-" Zhao growled in anger and launched another fireball, which Aang dodged easily. This took Liling by surprised seeing multiple shots of fire blasting straight at her.

"Lils!"Aang panicked

'Never hide who you really are…never forget my little jasmine flower…'

Liling swiftly parted the blasts of fire in front of her and redirected it towards one of the boats, Zhao looked at Liling in complete shock, she then shot a fireblast at Zhao he swiftly deflected it.

"You're a firebender?"Zhao said. He glared at the darkhaired girl. "You're a disgrace of our nation for protecting the Avatar."

"Me a disgrace? Ha!"Liling sneered "The only disgrace to the firenation I see is you and those soldiers of yours!"

Zhao growled and blasted fire at the duo, they dodged it in sync, they ran towards the boats.

"Is that all you got? Man, they'll make anyone an admiral these days!" Aang taunted and leapt to the side to dodge another fireball, then he ran towards the first boat and jumped onto the roof of the cabin.

"Ahoy!" Aang shouted as he faced Zhao then turned around and shook his butt at him, "I'm Admiral Zhao!"

"Zhao is a codfish! A codfish!"Liling shouted as she snickered

Zhao roared in anger and blasted a large ball of fire at Liling, she was quick to dodge it as the blast hit a boat as Zhao ran blasting fire at Aang leapt of the cabin roof just as Zhao jumped onto the front of the boat and sent a blast of fire at him. Aang grinned as he landed on the back of the first boat then he jumped to the second one, the impish grin on his face widened when he turned to look at a furious Zhao again.

"I don't know why," Aang said as he walked along the rail of the second river boat then turned to face Zhao with a disappointed look on his face, "But I thought you'd be better than Zuko."

Aang's eyes went wide and he flattened himself onto the deck just fast enough to avoid the wave of fire Zhao sent at him. Aang got back to his feet and looked over his shoulder at Zhao with a taunting expression on his face.

"Sloppy. Very sloppy." He mocked as he ran across the the other boat seeing the dark haired girl there Aang then back-flipped onto the back of the last river boat Liling was quick to drop on the floor just in time to avoid being burnt by another fire blast.

"That is just so sad…trying so hard yet you can beat a couple of kids."Liling said in a sing songy voice taunting the admiral.

"Nowhere to run now, you little smart mouths!" Zhao snarled as Aang and Liling moved into a defensive stance.

Zhao sent a powerful fire blast at Aang, but then Aang grabbed Liling as he leapt into the air and spun around being on Zhao's back with the help of some Airbending.

"You've lost this battle." Aang stated confidently as he landed lightly, Liling smirked.

Aang leapt into the air again having a firm hold of his friend when Zhao spun around and kicked a blast of fire at them. Aang manage to landed gently on the stern of the river boat gently letting go of Liling as he looked at the man in front of him.

"Are you crazy?" Zhao demanded angrily as he glowered at Aang, "You haven't thrown a single blow!"

"No, but you have." Aang agreed then gestured towards the three burning riverboats.

"My dad always said that most firenation men are hot heads."Liling said

Zhao looked around and his mouth dropped as he watched his river boats burn and begin to sink into the river.

"Jeong Jeong said you had no restraint." Aang stated then he dove into the water.

"Temper temper." Liling stated with a tsk, tsk. "I do hope we don't see eachother anytime soon." Liling the jumped in the water swimming a few feet away from the burning boats.

"Have a nice walk home!" Sokka yelled

"Aang, Lils! come on! Let's go!"

Liling turned to look at the opposite bank where Appa growled, Katara and Sokka were on the saddle. She hesitated for a minute wondering if they saw what had happened.

Aang ran out of the water quickly and jumped onto Appa's head but quickly ran back taking out his hand grabbing Liling off the river, making sure that she wasn't left behind. He quickly sat on Appa's head and flicked the reins. Appa grumbled lowly as he took off into the air and started flying away.

"Wait!" Aang said suddenly looking at the other three worriedly, "Where's Jeong Jeong?"

"He disappeared." Sokka replied as the foursome looked down at the now abandoned huts, "They all did."

"I hope they're okay…"Liling replied

Chey walked down the stone path that lead into the village and looked around in confusion.

"Hey, where did everybody go?" He asked then his expression soured, "Very funny guys."

"Aang, you're burned." Katara said "Let me help with that." With a soft smile she bended some water from her canteen, coating her entire hand.

The other three watched as Katara laid her water-covered hand over the burn mark doing the same thing that Liling did earlier. She held her hand on the burn for a moment then pulled away. The water covered Aang's arm for a second before falling away, leaving his arm completely healed.

"Wow, that's good water." Aang joked lightly looked at Katara in amazement.

"When did you learn that?" Sokka asked curiously as he looked at his sister.

"Lils, did the same to me." Katara smiled and shrugged slightly, " I guess I always knew what to do."

"Oh… Well then thanks for all the first aid over the years." Sokka grumbled sarcastically as he rolled his eyes and crossed his arms over his chest, "Like when I fell into the greaseberry bramble. Or that time I had two fishhooks in my thumb!"

Sokka thrusted his thumb in front of for emphasis and Aang quirked a brow in surprise while Liling tilted her head curiously at him.

"Two?" He questioned in shock and Katara giggled quietly.

"He tried to get the first fishhook out with another fishhook." The dark-haired explained in amusement, causing Aang to chuckle and Liling to giggle.

"Oh, and the time that ming-snake bit me!" Sokka continued to rant sarcastically, "Thanks for healing that up! That was great, really helpful."

Aang,Liling and Katara shared exasperatedly amused looked as Sokka continued to rant.

Liling then took a deepbreath and she rubbed her left arm. " Katara…Sokka..i have to tell you guys something.." Liling started.

"What is it?"Sokka asked

" Did something happened?" Katara asked worriedly.

Liling shook her head and stared at the watertribe siblings. " I haven't been honest about something and I think I should tell you guys about it." She slowly said

"Lils, your scaring me." Katara said "Did something bad happen back when you guys were fighting Zhao?"

"Did he try anything to you?!" Sokka asked he growled "If he did then he's-"

"No! it's not about that at all!"Liling firmly said she drew another breath. "You see…well…you guys know that my mother is from the watertribe…but my father he's from the firenation."

"You'r dad's from the firenation?!" Sokka said in disbelief "So you're from the firenation?!"

"Sokka, I'm sure Lils has a reason for not telling us that sooner." Katara calmly said

"All this time! All this time you were-"

"Sokka! I know you're angry and shocked maybe confuse..but remember that was a hundred years ago, my father had no part of the war and I didn't know either!" Liling explained

Sokka just looked at Liling's brown eyes, she was being sincere about this, she wanted to tell them about this now.

"But how did your parents meet?" Katara asked

"That's another story for another day." Liling said "I just wanted to tell you guys about this and-"

"That's why you kept warning Aang about the fire, because your dad practiced his firebending." Katara concluded

Sokka kept his gaze at Liling he hasn't said a single word until Liling had finished what she wanted to say.

"I know you hate firebenders, I was just scared at what you two were going to say." Liling said softly. " I'm sorry for not telling you guys.."

"Lils.."Sokka said placing his hand on her shoulder making her look up at his ocean blue eyes. "It's okay..i guess if you told us earlier than I would never go with you two..but after being on this journey with you and Aang I realized that maybe not all of them are bad..after all you're…well…you're not bad for a firenation girl."

Liling stared at Sokka she then hugged him surprising the watertribe boy.

Zuko kept watching the amber stone in his hand, he kept thinking back at what happened between Liling and him, in the end he felt like a fool. In the end she's not here and he wouldn't blame her after what happened. He glanced at the mirror seeing the permanent mark on his face. What kind of girl would ever want to be with him anyway? Yes he's a prince but with this scar a symbol of a constant reminder to himself of that day that he lost everything… a girl like her with a guy like him? Impossible just impossible.

"Prince Zuko?"

Zuko glance at his uncle standing in the doorway.

Iroh watched his nephew stare at the stone in his hand. "What is that?"

"I found it." He replied

Iroh recognized the stone, the same stone necklace that Liling wore, the retired general didn't say anything else he just stared at his nephew. He had a feeling that the banished prince was thinking about that darkhaired girl.

Please leave a review. Also i'm thinking that Liling should have an animal friend i was thinking a baby panda but i'm opened for suggestions on that. Any ideas about what animal pm me!