Rose POV

I woke up to screaming and shouting from women and children. Not the best way to wake up. I didn't have any time to question my environment or why my head was throbbing, but I knew someone was in trouble. I shakily stood up and sprinted out of the tent.

I saw a young man of my age holding an old woman by the arm. And, nearby, was Xiu Juan. I ran to her, and pulled her along to stand with me in front of him. We made ourselves a human barrier between him and the people. He was seemingly surprised as to why two girls, one that looked like she was Water Tribe, and another of his complexion was crossing him. I glared at him. How dare he terrify these poor people?

And then his eyes lit up, and squinted mischievously.

Oh no. I know that look. Please, don't let him have figured it out.

But he did. He threw a slight flame at me. I subtly cast it aside. Not wanting to scare these people anymore, I taunted him.

"You missed." His eyes practically became fireballs. I could tell that he wanted to kill me. And he might have. But before he could, a small kid in an orange outfit slipped between his legs and knocked him down. I guessed that it was the Avatar because it was an Air Nomad monk outfit he sported. When he stood up again, he told the Avatar that he would leave the people alone if he came with him. The Avatar agreed. The young man turned and started to walk to the ship, but he turned back to us.

"No. Guards! Bring those two!" The soldiers advanced towards my sister and me. We weren't going to be captured without a fight. We struggled against them.

"NO!" I moved out of their grasp. When one of them reached for me, I grabbed his wrist and twisted it. He shouted in pain, giving me enough time to escape his arms. Being petite can be a gift. But when I turned around, the young man, apparently his name was Zuko; put a sword to my throat. I gasped and held still. I was still not giving up. I turned my head toward his. Oh, how I LOATHED using this tactic. I moved my head in and pecked his cheek with my lips.

He was stunned for only a second, but that was enough time for me. I slipped out and kicked the side of his leg. He fell over. Although, before I had a chance to free myself, the little boy, and my sister, another soldier held a spear to my back. I sighed, defeated at last. They led us into the ship.

When we boarded the ship, Zuko began holding the little boy's staff and taunting Aang, Xiu Juan and I. "This staff will make an excellent gift for my father. I suppose you don't know much about fathers, being raised by monks. And you two," meaning my sister and I, "will be servants in my father's palace. He always needs more labourers. And don't worry;" he pointed to me, "I'll make sure you get PLENTY of work to keep busy." He walked to my sister. "I didn't know that there were any waterbenders left in the South Pole." She pursed her lips and answered him.

"There AREN'T any."

He condescendingly laughed. He stepped away from her and faced me. "And where did you two come from, if not the South Pole?"

I stayed stubbornly silent.

"Answer me."

More scornful silence from me.

"ANSWER ME!" He shouted in my face, and I glared up at him.

"I don't answer to anyone in the Fire Nation! Especially not Imperial SWINE like you!" His anger peaked. He pulled his arm back and slapped my face. I spun around and landed on my side with the force of his blow. I cried out in pain.

"You stupid PEASENT!" He bellowed.

He probably would have kicked me in the stomach if it wasn't for the elderly man; an old General of the Fire Nation grabbed his arm.

"No, Zuko! Do you not see what your uncontrolled anger has done? You have dishonoured yourself by not only striking, but you have also injuring a girl!" I stood up, and even though the rims of my eyes were red and watery, I shook myself off and interrupted him.

"Stop; it doesn't matter. I've been struck before and harder, too, and that didn't kill me." I locked my jaw and looked down, stone-faced. Zuko told the guards to take us down to the lower deck. We complied peacefully. That is, until Aang softly whispered to Xiu Juan, who whispered it to me, that we needed to duck in exactly five seconds. We counted down to one, and dropped.

Aang used airbending and knocked the guard in front of us into the door, and the other hit the wall behind us. We followed him through the many corridors until we entered a door. Aang ran into it, and we went in after. He grabbed his staff, but then the door slammed behind us. I spun on my heels and saw Zuko, with a hand against the back of the door. He was speaking to Aang.

"I underestimated you, escaping my guards. But now, I'll have to stop you." He fell into a classic Fire Bending stance. I nearly mirrored his stance. But that would've given me away. So I just took a normal position. And then Aang slammed him into the wall, and then into the ceiling, and then back on the floor. I laughed.

We ran out of the room and headed to the deck. The soldiers came swarming out from all areas of the boat. I resisted the urge to use my natural and favourite element, Fire, and instead used Water. I was not as fluent at this element as my sister was, but she was a natural born Waterbender, and I wasn't. We continued to help Aang fight them off, but they were beginning to become more than the three of us could handle. Then, Aang fell off the side of the ship. I shrieked. If Aang died, then so would the World's chances of surviving this war.