Chapter Twelve, things will start to get interesting, or intense or maybe not. I've been writing a lot lately, eager to get this story over with so I can start the next one and because I've really enjoyed writing the last few chapters. Plus I can't wait until Anala has a run in with a member of the gang in Book 3 Air. I'm excited and that is all I'm going to say. Ok, so in this chapter I hope I explain well enough why the Jewel is so important. If someone doesn't understand just review and I'll explain it in this bold bit I have at the top of each of my stories. Onto chapter twelve!

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The whole night they travelled, not stopping once and not getting distracted by anything. They'd stayed away from the edge of the cliff, afraid they might ride over it in the dark. Anala made sure to keep a small flame lit so they could at least see the environment around them.

It was very early in the morning. Fog had surrounded them, forcing them to slow their pace and be extremely careful. If the Jade Jewel was so sought after there was a huge chance that Kai could be followed by one or several people. Also, the idea of falling to their deaths over the side of the cliff didn't exactly tickle their fancy.

The two had drifted off to sleep when Anala suddenly woke as their ostrich horse became spooked. She rubbed her eyes and glanced ahead, shuddering as she spotted the glow of a green light. She shook Fritz awake in front of her. "What?" she shushed him and pointed. His gaze followed along the path she was pointing until he spotted the light. "Oh," was all he said.

They rode quickly towards the light and stopped right in a sleepy Kai's path. Fritz glared down at her while Anala simply ignored the fact they knew each other and dismounted. She walked carefully towards Kai and held out her hand. "You need to give me the Jewel," Anala sated as calmly as she could, even though she ached to pick the younger girl up and throw her over the cliff.

Kai looked shocked and scared for a moment before she grasped the Jewel and held it tightly, leaning away from Anala. "Why should I?" she hissed.

"Because if you don't you are going to put the whole world in danger," Anala stated simply. "Now give me the Jewel."

"NO!"

"GIVE. ME. THE. JEWEL. NOW!" Anala screamed. Kai opened her mouth to say something in protest but the black ostrich horse jumped in fear, knocking Fritz from his back but didn't run away, just stood there watching dumbly as a group of figures came into their view, appearing from the fog like ghosts.

Without stopping, one of them rode towards Kai and tried to make a grab for the Jewel but Fritz earthbended the man and his ride away, sending them flying into the air and over the cliff. Anala and Fritz stood protectively in front of Kai, not hoping to protect her but to keep the Jewel safe.

The men snickered before a couple of them jumped off and began to show their ability for bending. Anala and Fritz did their best to fend them off but Anala's fire was no match for the strength of the earth that was hurtled her way and she was knocked off the cliff. She yelped as she clung onto the ground, trying not to let go.

She could only watch in horror as Fritz too was thrown over the edge, falling further down then she had but managed to use the earth to his advantage. He captured himself by making a small ledge to hold him but had knocked himself out cold in the process. One of the men ran to Kai, ripped the Jewel from her neck and pushed her to the ground before riding away with his mates minus the one that had been thrown over the edge.

Anala was beginning to have trouble holding on. The earth beneath her fingers began to crack and crumbled, and she knew Fritz would not awake in time to catch her. She looked to Kai. "Quick, get onto the bird and get that Jewel back, you must!" Anala cried as she began to slip more. "Go!"

Kai looked at her fearfully and then towards the direction that the men had taken off in. "GO!" Anala screamed as the earth finally caved, sending her screaming downward.

She closed her eyes, waiting for the painful death that was surely going to come but opened them in shock as she felt something grab her wrist and hold on tightly. She looked up and her eyes met the blue ones that had haunted her since the first day she'd seen them. "I left you once. I'm not going to make the same mistake twice." Anala couldn't help but smile weakly as Kai hauled her back onto solid ground.

The two panted and looked to the direction that the men had taken off in. They couldn't see anything due to the thick fog but could hear their smug laughter and loud boasting. "Well this sucks," Anala said, glancing back down at Fritz to see he had started to stir.

"I thought you said the next time we'd meet we would be enemies?" Kai asked, smirking.

Anala glared at her former companion. "I did and I meant it. I'm not here for your friendship, I'm here to make sure the Fire Nation doesn't take over the world." She emphasized this, remembering Kai was never one to take situations seriously. She felt sad deep down, way deep down, when Kai's smirk disappeared and looked down with her cheeks burning bright red.

"Thanks... for saving me," Anala said after a moment of silence, looking away from the girl that sat opposite her with a frown on her face as she felt her cheeks heat up in embarrassment. Kai looked back up and gave her a genuine smile.

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"I'm sorry but I'm just a little bit skeptical about the whole "Jade Jewel equals location of the Avatar" thing, it's a bit weird," Fritz said as they sat beneath a tree near the cliff, planning on what they were doing next. Anala had chosen then to take the note out of her dress and show it to Kai and Fritz, explaining what was so important.

"It's spiritual probably," Kai stated, examining the letter. "It only makes sense I suppose. The Avatar did carve it out of the ground and turn it into her own personal accessory."

"... yeah, no, still weird," Fritz said after scratching his chin in though.

"Look, Fritz, I'm going to explain this to you again," Anala said, rubbing her forehead in annoyance. "The Fire Nation, or specifically, the Fire Lord-"

"Your Uncle," Fritz interrupted. Yes, they'd let that cat out the bag. They'd explained to him everything from the moment Anala discovered Kai in a cell up until the point where the discovered Kai in the early morning and were attacked. Fritz had been shocked and hurt at first that she'd never told him anything about her past or who she really was but it only took him a minute to push it beside, assuring Anala that her past and who she was related to didn't change his view on her. He reminded her that he came from a family that had more firebenders than they did earthbenders, but she was still cautious and careful in case his reaction changed.

"Yes my uncle, the Fire Lord," Anala snarled. "Look, just shut up for a second." She poked him in the chest as he opened his mouth again. "The Fire Lord wants to take over the world and make the Fire Nation the most powerful thing out there, just like his father and his father before him. But, to do this, he has to make sure there is no Avatar. Clearly, his grandfather failed to kill the Avatar when he destroyed the Air Nomads. He knows the Avatar is still out there. How? The Jade Jewel is somehow connected to the Avatar's spirit or whatever. At least… that's what it says in the note," Anala looked at the note again, rereading the words, also developing doubt that the Avatar was still alive. It had been gone for a hundred years after all. But she just shook her head and let the note drop to the ground. "Are we clear?"

Fritz stared at her blankly. "Oh, don't you get it? If they get their hands on that everything is ruined!" Anala yelled at him, slapping him over the back of the head, trying to knock some sense into him.

"Well why are we still here?" Kai asked, standing quickly and heading to the ostrich horse. "Let's go get it before Fox-Rat Man gets his hands on the stupid thing."Anala stood also and stretched, getting ready.

"That's another thing I don't understand," Fritz said, following Anala who made her way after Kai. They both got onto the ostrich horse and looked down at him. Anala was at the front while Kai sat behind her. "Where does he come into all this?"

"He's the man who figured it all out. Fox-Rat Man is the one who researched this thing, it's his case, and it's his responsibility. And now, we are going to kick his ass." Anala said simply from her spot at the front. She held the reins tightly and steadied the animal that protested against another person joining the others on his back.

"Hell yeah! Let's kick some ass!" Fritz yelled, jumping onto the ostrich horse and slapping it's behind, sending it off into a run.

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He rode quickly after the pirates who were making their way towards the nearest town to meet up with him. He smirked and called out to them, catching their attention. He rode over to meet them, looking innocent but eying the Jewel with gleaming eyes. "Why, gentlemen, that is a fine item you have there," he joked and reached out to take it of the biggest man. He growled in anger as the pirate moved it away from him.

"Pay up or you ain't gettin' it," the pirate said gruffly, his animal fidgeting from the weight of him.

The man assessed the situation, he was clearly outnumbered and out of cash but they didn't exactly need to know about the latter. He reached behind him and took out a large bag that would a appear to be filled with gold but in reality, it was just filled with all sorts of heavy stones, though he knew the idiots in front of him wouldn't figure that out until it was too late.

The pirate threw the Jewel to him while he sent the bag flying over to them. They nodded and carried on their way, not bothering to check the bag. Fools, he thought as he watched them ride away.

He held the Jewel out in front of him and examined it. Yes, he though while smirking wickedly. He'd spent years studying the rock that he held in front of him. He'd spent his whole life researching information about it and it was finally in his grasp. The Fire Lord would be most proud once he delivered it back to the Fire Nation.

He noted that it swayed slightly to the south, thinking it odd but he ignored it for the time being. Once he had it returned to the Fire Nation, then the search for the Avatar would begin and once the Avatar was destroyed there wasn't much stopping them. Most of the world was skeptical to the idea that the Avatar was still alive somewhere but he knew better. He could feel the power, it was still there. But with the Jewel in held tightly in his hand he knew it would be gone soon. Nothing much could go wrong from that point.