A.N.: You guys are so lucky you're getting this update. Sorry it wasn't out last week...it wasn't finished...and I reiterate, you guys are so lucky we're updating today because we had exams yesterday and today. Also to Japanime Nerd, 'Shikata ga nai' means 'it can't be helped' or 'nothing can be done about it.' Now onto the fic.
Disclaimer: refer to previous chapter
Chapter 10: Title? What title?
:Jess's POV:
"Ohh! Kiwi...at least it looks like kiwi..," I turned to hairy-like fruit in my hands, studying it with intensity. Then, without warning, Sokka walked up beside me; Faithful meowed in greeting.
"It's a furry fruit," he told me as he stuffed bread and jerky into a bag.
"Don't buy too much Sokka because in a few days it will all get wet," I pocketed the 'furry fruit' and turned around only to find a fire bender aiming a spear between my eyes.
"Well, well look at what we have here," the ugly bender remarked and sneered, showing off his yellow teeth, "You look like a rich traveler," his eyes roamed a little too low for my liking and I felt my anger rising each second.
"What makes you say that?" he smiled again and I winced. If his smile could kill, it would kill thousands.
"Your clothes and your uncalloused hands," I narrowed my eyes and secretly reached inside my pocket and grasped the only weapon I had, the furry fruit.
"You're wrong. I have no money."
"Then you won't mind if I search you?"
Oh, he'd be searching all right. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Sokka and Aang standing nearby, watching me. I knew though that I would have to handle this on my own.
"Yes. I mind," mad as hell, I squeezed the kiwi juice into the man's eyes and ran in the opposite direction of Sokka and Aang. As expected, a mob of fire benders chased after me. What they didn't know was that I knew where to hide. In another tree. Using my airbending to run faster, I ran right into the heart of the woods. There, I leaped into a tree and hid inside its branches.
Like the dumb idiots they are, the fire nation soldiers walked around the forest searching for me for hours until night fall.
When they gave up their search, I climbed down the tree and pulled out Faithful who was napping inside my shirt.
"We made it!" The cat's response was the opening of one eye and a lazy flick of an ear.
I rolled my eyes and tucked her back inside my shirt so I could run at full speed towards Appa. Where I was sure Aang and Sokka were waiting for me. Sure enough, when I arrived at the barn they were there, arguing no less.
"We have to go look for her!" Sokka was saying.
"What about your sister?" Aang asked, his eyebrow raised questioningly.
"They won't kill her!" my water tribe member yelled after I had taken five steps inside.
He opened his mouth to say more, but stopped when he noticed me, his mouth hanging open.
"I took care of them. Let's go save your sister."
They nodded silently and together we packed up and flew off towards the ships.
"I can't wait to kick fire-bender booty!" I muttered to myself with a smile on my face.
:Leah's POV:
My heart thumped loudly in my chest as I glanced down at where his hand grasped my arm, "Yes?"
He opened his mouth to say something, but was interrupted by the loud rumble of thunder.
I winced and thought sadly, 'There goes that romantic moment...'
It crashed again, but it was louder this time.
"We'd better get inside," Zuko suggested when I involuntarily jumped as lightning flashed across the sky.
"Yeah," I agreed, not knowing what else to say, and followed him silently.
(A.N.: Sorry guys...I think it's a little too early for romance.)
Almost instantly once we went below deck, rain started to heavily pour down.
I glanced at Zuko; he was staring off with a thoughtful look on his face.
I inwardly sighed and said, "I'm going to go take a nap...I'll see you later."
"Later," Zuko replied, not even realizing that he was using my slang.
:Jess's POV:
"We're off to kick firebender ass, firebender ass, firebender ass. We're off to kick firebender ass. So we should have some fun," I sang that impromptu song over and over again out loud until we reached the ship and talked to Katara.
Afterwards Aang went down into the dusty, cold, smelly place that I had no desire to venture into. Of course, when the fighting started, I ended up with coal smudges all over my clothes. I thought that was entirely unfair. The others looked as if they had just went out for a casual stroll.
I was also the only one combining my bending with my punches and kicks. The fighting style served its purpose well, but it was messy. I liked it because I got to smash a few faces. Faithful scratched any other firebenders that got too close.
"Yes! In your face, jerk," I screamed in triumph after punching the lights out of a particularly ugly guy with a sharp spear, and by that time the other firebenders were swimming with the fishes. When I turned around to face everyone else, several pairs of eyes were looking back.
"Oh! Hello...," I stuttered and rubbed the back of my neck modestly, "I got him."
A few shook their heads and some stared at me as if they'd seen an alien.
"Are you okay?" Sokka asked from behind me as he kicked a few fallen benders in the stomach.
"A little dirty, but that can be fixed," I replied and ran my hand through my hair since it came free from its tie during the battle.
"Good, good. We'd better get going soon. Never know what is going to happen next."
"I know...," the words slipped from my mouth and I instantly slapped the hand in my hair to my mouth.
"Ha! I knew something was up! You never seemed worried when you were wearing the creeping crystal and when you were captured by Zuko! You knew what was happening or what was going to happen!"
I sighed helplessly and crossed my arms over my chest, "I am from another world where I watch you on a box. In my world I can find out what you're going to do next in the blink of an eye. Then when I appeared in the south pole I came through some kind of strange portal in the box."
Sokka's reaction was expected. His mouth hung open and his eyes grew huge. I couldn't blame him. I was surprised when it happened too.
"Kinda weird huh?" I grinned sheepishly and walked over to Appa. With the help of airbending I hopped onto the saddle.
"Time to fly! I love flying like this, but I do wish I had my own glider," I thought about what I said for a moment then smiled again, "I can get one in a few days when we visit..."
I caught myself and to cover up my slip up, I picked through a bag looking for food.
:The next day:
"It looks like a giant scar," Katara remarked as we flew over a huge forest. I'd never seen one so big. It was intimidating.
'Now the fun begins,' I thought as we landed on the blackened earth.
:Leah's POV:
I walked along silently beside Zuko while we searched for his Uncle.
It's hard to believe what happened last night; I've never done anything like that before.
We were searching futilely, so I suggested, "Why don't we check the hot springs over there?"
"Alright," Zuko nodded and went in that direction.
I decided not to follow and sat down on a nearby boulder of what appeared to be gneiss.
"It's so nice to be on dry land again," I hummed happily to myself.
Zuko was irritable again, which suggested he was plotting one of his evil plans.
Speaking of which, a scowling prince emerged from the springs, "He better be back in half an hour."
I knew he wouldn't, but chose not to say anything; instead I tilted my head to the right, "So was I correct?"
"Yes, you usually are," he replied as he walked by me.
"When wasn't I?" I rose an eyebrow at him in question.
"Last night," he said gruffly.
"Which part?" my interest was now piqued.
"We'll discuss that later," he avoided answering me.
My eyes widened, "Now I'm really curious. Please tell me?"
"Not yet," he brushed my request off.
My brain was scrambling around, trying to find any excuse for him to tell me now.
I sighed when nothing surfaced from the dark recesses of the black hole I call a brain, "Fine."
:Jess's POV:
It felt weird knowing everything that would happen, but in a good way. As I watched Aang and Katara talk about the forest growing back, I pulled off the outer layer of my outfit. Then, I tied the long sleeve shirt around my waist. The earth bender short sleeve shirt was loose and not very confining, so I was cooler that way. Also, the necklace stood out more.
Before I knew it we were in the village talking. It seemed all we ever did was talk.
Blah, Blah...I covered my mouth and yawned surrepstiously. When I glanced at Sokka he look genuinely worried about Aang. I wished I could tell them everything would turn out fine, but alas, life isn't that nice to people.
Instead, I hugged him. It was as close as I could get to 'It will be okay.' The hug was awkward and stiff, btu the worry lines on his forehead softened. He knew my origin and might have guessed the meaning of my hug, but I didn't care.
When I released him, I smiled and winked before walking away to wish Aang good luck.
"Aang, be careful," I told him with my hand on his shoulder.
"I am the Avatar; I should be able to do something...right?"
"Yes..," I smiled and stepped back as everyone else talked to him.
Talking...I'd much rather beat some firebender ass, but that wouldn't happen until later. Darn.
(A.N.: I really didn't care too much for this episode, so I am thinking about skipping it..)
:Leah's POV:
'Poor Iroh,' I thought when I realized it was about the time Iroh had been captured by the earthbenders from Ba Sing Se.
Zuko had went to retrieve Iroh, but it was about a thirty minute walk to the springs. He'd missed him.
And he'd be gone for ages, blast it.
"Well...at least I get to sneak off to the Crescent Island the day after tomorrow," I grinned happily.
Night was falling fast. So I went downstairs to bed.
:Jess's POV:
:Next day:
The whole spirit episode was a waste of my time. I didn't even get to kick anyone's ass. Darnit.
As we flew on Appa towards Crescent Island, I styled my hair carefully so it didn't hang in my face at all. I would need my eyes for the battle ahead. Then, I tied myself to Appa's saddle with a long rope so I could still move around and push away fireballs using my airbending.
Sokka stared at me while I did this. I could imagine the lightbulb going off inside his head as he put two and two together.
"We're going to be attacked?" he screamed, his face going pale with horror. I scrambled to my feet to smack my hands against his mouth. The others blinked owlishly at us.
"No, no Sokka. You can't have a snack," I said quickly to cover up his outburst. He glared at me and tried to pull my hands off, but I held tight until the others looked away.
"Sokka! You can't give away the future!" I smacked him half-heartedly on the head and walked over to our bags to make sure our food was wrapped securely inside and that the bags were tied tightly to Appa.
'Good,' I thought, 'The food won't get ruined in the fall.'
As soon as that thought crossed my mind several Fire Nation ships appeared on the horizon and Zuko's ship caught up behind us.
"Get ready guys," I gelled, "It's going to be a bumpy ride."
A second later after my shout out a fireball flew over our heads and Appa flew downwards and side to side trying to avoid being hit. I clutched at the saddle until my knuckles turned white and at one time I think I bit my tongue to keep from screaming, drawing blood.
The next thing I knew we were hit and going down, just as I expected and the strangest thing happened.
My necklace glowed a blinding white at the same moment Aang's eyes glowed with the power of the Avatar State. Their powers combined into a giant surge of power. The water whirled around us and then we were soaring through the skies again. The strangest thing was that I grew dizzy and weak, my vision fading in and out. The last thing I saw before I passed out was Sokka staring at Aang as Aang blasted a fireball into a thousand pieces.
When I regained consciousness again we were at our destination.
"What happened?" I asked the sky. Beside me I could hear the others talking in hushed whispers. The sun hurt my eyes, causing me to groan and roll over. Instantly, Aang was at my side with Faithful and Momo on his shoulders. Faithful meowed and Momo made his weird lemur sound.
"Faithful," I called to her, "Come here honey."
She meowed again and leaped onto my chest so she could peer into my face, unintentionally tickling me with her whiskers.
"Are you alright?" Aang asked curiously and looked me over for injuries.
"Yeah, I black out at impromptu times all the time," I snapped as I tried to sit up. The movement only caused my head to spin and throb, "I feel as if Appa ran over me..."
"You helped save our lives. I think the effort wiped you out. Also, I think that since you haven't been eating a lot that you are weaker than usual," Katara remarked from my right. I nodded slightly and placed Faithful on the ground before steadily rising to my feet. Faithful climbed up my back to place herself on her throne. (aka: my shoulder)
"Let's go. I am itching for a fight."
:Leah's POV:
Zhao was following us and Zuko had just come up with his idea.
Too bad it wouldn't work.
Zuko had told Uncle and I to stay on the ship, but he didn't say which ship.
I love loopholes.
So, Aang's going to the island, Zuko's following him, I'm following Zuko, and so is Zhao.
I gathered up many of my things quickly as I walked about the room.
(ex: ipod, outfit, notebooks, etc..)
I have a bad habit of taking too much stuff with me whenever I go somewhere.
I glanced at my watch. Already five minutes have passed; I better damn well hurry up if I want to stow away on Zuko's ship.
: A few minutes later:
"Ack," I grumbled as I shoved myself between a couple of boxes to hide myself from view.
This was going to be an uncomfortable trip.
Might as well recall a couple of recent events. A short while ago at the blockade my necklace glowed a fierce white light. That was the last thing I remembered.
It had apparently knocked my out. Which was strange. Especially since that's all it had done.
Maybe it had something to do with Jess; I'd ask her later.
:time passes:
'I can't believe I got lost!' I thought frustratedly as I turned down another corridor that Zuko wasn't in.
But this corridor looked strangely familiar, wait, if I turn here then...
Yes! This is the hall with the secret passageway!
I reached up and turned the lamp, then I used firebending, which in turn opened the passage.
After this I walked up all of those stairs, stopping only to gaze in wonder at the lava.
'At least I know where I am now,' I thought with relief.
But what I didn't know was how far into the episode it was.
So I ambled infront of the entryway to Avatar Roku's room just after Zuko had tied up Sokka, Katara, and the Fire Nation monk person.
He had Aang with his hands behind his back.
I blinked a couple of times, where was Jessica?
Then I saw her behind Sokka, also tied up.
This served to flare up my temper, "Idiot! Why is Jessica tied up?"
"Because she was with the Avatar," Zuko replied simply.
"That's not an excuse, dumbass!" I gritted my teeth and stormed past the other monks to untie Jess.
They made a move to stop me, but ceased all movement when I glared at them.
Once I'd untied Jess, I turned on my heel and glared at him, "If I joined the Avatar, would you attack me?"
"It is my mis...," Zuko began only to have me cut him off.
"Would you or wouldn't you?" I put my hands on my hips.
But Zuko never go to answer because he was grabbed by Zhao who then ordered the monks to close the doors.
At the last second Aang broke free and made it into the room.
I heard Jessica singing behind me.
"Hey! That's catchy," I grinned, "We're off to kick firebender ass, firebender ass. We're off to kick firebender ass. So we should have some fun."
I felt someone latch onto my hands and pull my arms behind my back, but I didn't struggle much.
They'd get theirs either way.
(A.N.: Any changes that we didn't realize we made are officially contributed to our falling into the series...and the fact that we were too lazy to look it up...lol...)
:Jess's POV:
The run around the temple was exciting and had my blood pumping. So, when one of the monks grabbed Leah from behind I was itching for a fight. I was only a few feet way from her when she got grabbed so I was on him in seconds. Using my bending combined with a swift uppercut, I knocked the idiot out in a few seconds flat.
"That! Is for touching my friend," I spat into his face and then kicked him in the ribs for good measure. I didn't get to even turn around before I had a fire nation soldier charging towards me. I grinned and moved into an airbending stance.
"Okay fire nation puppet, let's see what you can do," I mocked and dodged a blast of fire he blasted at me. Then, I jumped high into the air and kicked him in the stomach where the armor was the weakest. He dropped like a rock.
"He didn't stand a chance," I mumbled and brushed a strand of hair from my eyes. Faithful leaped down from one of the statues and landed on my shoulder, hissing at the other firebender that challenged me. They stopped in their tracks and stared in horror at the never before seen 'cat.' I would have laughed, but Zhao was coming my way, obviously knowing I was a threat. Good, he's smarter than he looks.
As Leah knocked down the last of her enemies, she looked at me and gave me a thumbs up to tell me she was okay. That meant I didn't have to kill anyone.
"Zhao," I growled.
"Woman," he growled back.
"I should call you heartless bastard, but I am sure everyone knows that."
"Watch your mouth woman, you don't know what you're facing."
"Oh, I think she does," Leah said as she appeared at my right. During the fray Zuko had left early and she stayed behind. I felt stronger with her at my side.
'Could it be I am stronger when she's near?' I thought, but I tucked the thought away for another time as the doors to Avatar Roku's stature room opened and a blinding light flooded around us. Leah's necklace glowed in unison with mine, but this time I didn't grow weak and dizzy.
Within seconds the Avatar had Sokka had Katara free from their chains. I 'd left them tied up so they wouldn't get hurt. The fight wasn't supposed to happen.
"Leah, we have to go. Are you coming with us?" I screamed over the roar of the falling temple. We didn't have much time and Appa would be here with Momo any second.
Then the unthinkable happened.
Zhao blasted me from behind with his firebending, catching my left arm before I could even think to move. I howled in pain and skirted away from him. The burn was painful and I had to hiss through my teeth to keep from crying out again. Sokka appeared at my side and I grabbed his hand with my uninjured hand. He shouted several angry words at Zhao, but I couldn't hear them. All I could hear was the throbbing between my ears.
I did know a fight broke out between Zhao and someone else, but I gathered my sensed in time to yell at him as he ran away to escape the rising lava.
"It was the love of a woman that brought you into this world, and it will be the love of a woman that will take you out, Zhao!" he glared at me as he left like a dog with his tail between his legs.
"Coward," I gasped.
:Leah's POV:
I ran up next to Jess, "Come on! The building's collapsing!"
"So you're coming with us?"
"Yes, yes," I replied and pulled her towards the exit.
Lava stopped us in our tracks, an Appa and Momo flew over.
Sokka jumped on and held out his hand to help Jess up.
"Thanks," she murmured as she took it.
The rest of us jumped on and then Appa swiftly flew away.
"Woot! Go Momo!" I grinned as I took in the lemur's fire-nation-helmet clad appearance.
Aang looked over at me, "We were never properly introduced; My name is Aang."
"Yeah, yeah. I know," I nodded, "That's Katara and Sokka, the lemur's Momo, and the big bison is Appa. My name's Leah."
"Erm...nice to meet you," Katara smiled, "Again."
I nodded and then sighed, "I can't believe Zuko left me."
"Well you were yelling at him the last time you spoke," Sokka pointed out.
"Thanks for reminding me," I grumbled and slouched against Appa's saddle.
"Leah...what happened back there after I was wounded?" Jessica asked.
"Oh, I kicked Commander Monkey's ass," I smirked as laughter lit my eyes.
"Ah, so that was you," Jessica looked deep in thought.
"Yup!" I confirmed as my stomach rumbled, "Er..got any food?"
"You have a hopelessly one-track mind," Jessica sighed.
"So?" I replied and took a bite of a peach Sokka had reluctantly given me.
Jessica sighed exasperatedly.
I gasped, "The episode with that idiot in it is coming up!"
Jessica tried to clasp a hand over my mouth, but it was too late.
"Episode?"
I blinked in confusion at Jessica, "You haven't told them?"
"Well I did tell Sokka...," Jess trailed off.
"Okay..," I looked at the others, "We come from a world where we can watch you guys on a sort of pre-recorded play on a box."
:Jess's POV:
"Leah! You're hopeless!" I sighed and winced in pain when I reached for a bag. Growling at my weakness, I ignored the pain and grabbed it anyway. Aang and Katara stared at me as if I'd grown an extra head and said I was having Sokka's baby.
"Yeah, well, you should have told them you were from another world," Leah told me in the tone she knows I can't argue with.
After a few minutes of searching through the bag I found what I'd been searching for.
"If you haven't noticed yet, I am burned and in pain. So, if you don't mind, could someone please bandage me!" as I yelled out my request over the wind, sweat trickled down my forehead, soaking my bangs on its way down, "I need a bath."
"Me too!" piped up Leah as Sokka approached me with a small bottle in his hand.
"What's that?" I asked him.
"A special lotion used by my people to heal burns."
"Really? Could I use some?"
He ignored my question and knelt down beside me. I didn't flinch away as he reached for my injured arm. I trusted him with my life. He looked into my eyes, then he ripped the rest of the cloth covering the burn. The sight of my wound made me gag. It was worse than I had originally thought.
"Sokka?" I mumbled as he spread the healing salve over my burn and loosely wrapped it in the clean bandages I'd pulled out of the bag.
"Yes?" he answered when he finished. His eyes stared into my tired ones.
"Thank you..," I trailed off and slowly closed my eyes. I fought the overwhelming need to sleep, but it overcame me like a curtain being pulled across my sore body. Unknowingly, I leaned on Sokka's shoulder, trapping him for the rest of the ride.
A.N: Yes...I hope you liked your extra long chapter...because you may not get another one for a while. Seeing as how Jess and I have yet to discover how to keep writing over the summer holidays. Please review! We would like to hear what you thought about this chapter!