XII

Disclaimer: I DO NOT OWN AVATAR FOOS! Italics-her letter bold italics- thought

Deeper in the cave they went; and had rebuilt a lot of buildings; but still not the whole village. Renee; a middle aged earth kingdom woman; was really the only one who came to thank them.

"Thank you." She began. "I can't possibly repay you all for your kindness."

"No need." Katara spoke up.

"Were more than happy to help." Monica added. But Renee insisted on finding a way to thank them.

"I have to thank you somehow. how about you five stay at my house tonight? You can have a hot meal; and-"

"A private bath?" Katara asked; Glaring at the boys who had peeked in on them in Matataki. Renee nodded. "Oh please Monica?"

"It couldn't hurt."

Renee had fixed them a hot meal while Katara was enjoying the private bath. Sokka ate the hot soup like a starving dog; and swallowed it like a duck. Monica, Zuko, and Aang kept woundering when he'd start to choke. Renee had allowed them to sleep in the barn that night. Katara came down later and saw Sokka eating like a pig.

"Sokka! A few manners?" She barked at him; her wet brown hair was not tied in the water tribe fashion; but just rested on her shoulders; dripping. She had been wearing her water-tribe dress. Aang was the next one to use the bath; so he finished eating quickly and started up to the bathroom. Katara thanked Renee for her kindness and began eating the soup herself.

That night; when they went to sleep; Monica had stayed up later helping Renee with the house work as a repayment for her kindness; which was actually a way to pay them back; so they were paying each other back. Zuko and the others were fast asleep when she came in quietly and rested beside Zuko. The spot beside him was the only one open; so that was why she took it. She rested her head in they hay and closed her eyes.She soon felt Zuko's arm move subconsciously around her; and pull her closer to him. She opened her eyes and lay perfectly still. Figuring she might as well sleep anyway; Monica shut her eyes and soon fell into a void of calming sleep. Zuko's head rested on top of her's; fast asleep. But when he opened his eyes the following morning; and saw Monica sleeping soundly so close to him; he turned extremely red and tried to find a way to let go of her before she saw what position they were in and slapped him silly. He lifted one arm off of her slowly; letting it fall to the other side. Soon; she rolled off his other arm and he was able to get out home free.

Katara was outside practicing her waterbending; Aang his air; and Sokka was sharpening his knives. Zuko began to practice his fire bending; when he spotted Monica walking inside to take a shower and wash the hay out of her hair.Katara came over to Aang and asked him to practice with her. The nodded and they ran to the pond they had recently added into Norune ands started practicing. Soon; after Monica had finished dressing after her bath; Renee asked her if she could bring Katara in the house. Monica nodded and went after Katara; the two girls walked into the house and Renee gave them both some gifts.

"New cloths." Katara smiled after she opened her gift. "Thank you Renee!"

"Yeah!" Monica replied. "They look great!"

They boys turned their heads to the girls when they came back out; Monica was wearing a white shirt with an orange poncho like thing over it; a green cap on her head; black pants and brown boots. Along with a red belt and brown gloves. Katara wore a green dress that only went to her thighs over some black shorts; and black boots.

"Wow. New?" Aang asked. They nodded.

"Renee gave them to us. As a thank you."

"You look great." Aang commented; getting Sokka to nod with him.Zuko just glanced at them and went back to practicing.

Back into the cave they went. Renee gave them supplies before they left; and then they were off. Running down the stairs until they reached the floor they left off at last. Further and further down they went; until one of the doors reveled a round room with a tan colored cat standing on the side of the platform; in the middle stood Azula; her arms crossed; and her eyes blazing red.

"About time brother." She commented. "I was beginning to wonder if you were going to show."

"Azula." They all glanced at Zuko. Whom was burning up with fury. She snapped her fingers and her soldiers grabbed Monica, Katara, Sokka, and Aang. Leaving Zuko to fight her first.

"Father sent me after you Zuzu." Azula spoke to him. "He called you a back stabber; he wanted me after you; to kill you; all of you; and make sure you don't mess his plans up any further." Azula cast the first attack; a spinning attack; while incasing herself in fire. Zuko blocked the attacks with his arms at first; trying to find an opening.

"Zuko!" He looked over at Monica. "The snake! Do you remember the white snake?" Zuko thought back and tried to remember.

Monica had her sword in hand; and they were in the middle of the Rainbow Butterfly Wood; A white serpent had slithered out from the bushes and was ready to kill them. But Monica took her sword and moved the snake into a spiral...

That was it! The spiral! But this was different than the snake; Azula didn't have a tale to step on and he didn't have a sword to stab her through the head. But he maneuvered her into a spiral; taking his steps carefully. Once in the center of the spiral; Zuko used his foot to hit her ankle and knock her to the ground; stopping her attack.

"Azula; why are your eyes red?" Zuko asked during the fight. But Azula didn't respond; she just kept fighting. Zuko remembered what his uncle told him about fighting; that his basics were his most powerful weapon. Azula didn't use her basics; he knew that. She was all about using big techniques that weren't as powerful as they looked. He knew that from a childhood of fighting with her.

The others watched attentively. None of them ever saw a fire bender Vs. fire bender fight. When Zuko kept using his basics like uncle Iroh taught him; they found themselves cheering for him. Even Aang, Katara, and Sokka. But he didn't let the praise distract him from fighting; Azula was much more swift than he remembered. All the while that cat watched; and at some point; sat beside the others and watched.

About an hour into their fight; Azula pulled out a paralizasis amulet she had purchased on her way there. A yellow piece of paper that had "PARALYZE" written on it.She stuck it on Zuko's side and watched has his body gave out. Soon; he was completely unable to move. Azula was almost going to throw the final blow to him if Monica hadn't kicked the soldier in the balls with the back of her foot; causing him to topple over in pain and let her go. She grabbed her sword and went infrount of him before Azula could hit him. Her firey hand went deep into the sword; melting the metal.

"My sword! You son of a-" She took her sword and slashed it across Azula's face. While she was unconscious; Monica grabbed Zuko and tossed his arm over her shoulder. The others got themselves free the same way Monica did; and they all retreated to the surface. The cat following them all the way.