Warning: alteration of Zhao's timeline and a few episode skipped. Alteration of The Blue Spirit episode. I tried...

Chapter 7: Back with You

Zuko flipped the drapes of Isla's room. The jars and bottles around the area were still in place but there was no more water in any of them. The soldiers had emptied them. Zuko made his way to the mattress. Katara's necklace was right beside the pillow. Iroh wanted to come in, but he stopped at the entrance when he saw Zuko staring at the bed.

"I'll get you back…" Zuko muttered under his breath.

It was a usual day for everyone on the ship. They changed course to a port of call to get Iroh his lotus tile for his Pai Sho game.

Isla stared at herself in the mirror. An A-line dress with a long cape covering her shoulder. She did not look like a warrior. She felt as if her pride was taken away. Zhao came into the room, in his new uniform. He was promoted prior to arriving at the Fire Nation and telling his tales of how he almost captured the Avatar.

"Now, who's looking like a fine woman," he smirked.

"I am still a child. I still want to be your right hand woman in subduing the Avatar," Isla said, clenching her fists.

"Oh don't worry, with our contract, you can come with me to anywhere I go," Zhao said.

He lifted her chin with his right hand. Isla looked away immediately, disgusted.

"Don't forget, I hold your secret," he said. He exited the room after that.

Isla looked away sadly. She clenched her hands into fists, trembling in anger. Zuko's face flashed in her mind.

Iroh and Zuko got off the ship to start searching for the lotus tile. Iroh could sense that something was bothering Zuko.

"I know how much you want to find him, but please allow me sometime to find my lotus tile. You can take a breath while we're at it…" Iroh said.

"This is a complete waste of time for sure…" Zuko sighed.

"Ah, let's go to that stall first," Iroh said, pulling his nephew with him.

Evening came and Iroh completed his shopping at the pier. There was no lotus tile to be found anywhere. They went to a pirate ship that sells rare wares. As they were looking around, one of the pirate goons mentioned Katara and Aang.

"This monk, did he have an arrow on his head?" Zuko asked the pirates.

Isla was back in her warrior uniform. She tried to catch her breath. More fires were shot at her. She swiftly spun her body to dodge all of them. Zhao was observing her. They were on the deck of his ship.

"You need more intense training!" Zhao said sternly.

"I need more water..!" Isla huffed, almost falling to her knees again.

"You will get some water when you complete your training," he replied.

Isla started coughing. The soldiers surrounding her looked concerned. Zhao told them to keep on firing at her. Isla again tried to dodge each and one of them. Suddenly, she fell off her stance. A fire shot hit her back. She gasped.

"Sir?" a soldier turned to Zhao.

Zhao looked disappointed. "That's enough for today."

One of the female soldiers came to help Isla. She handed her a bottle of water to drink.

"Thank you," Isla smiled.

"Miss Isla…will you be okay?" she asked, concerned.

"Yes. I can make it to my room alone," Isla replied.

She dragged herself to her room. Once she reached it, she slammed herself onto the mattress. She reached out for some water and started healing her small wounds. She held in her tears. It had been awhile since she was tortured in training. Iroh was much more gentle. She was a waterbender and was taught by the Fire Nation.

"I'll endure this. This is nothing," she muttered and collapsed.

Isla stepped out of the carriage. She was wearing a Fire Nation uniform. Her hair was tied into a high ponytail. One water satchel was each buckled on her left and right waist. Two more were attached to her back. As she walked by, the soldiers greeted her. She came up to the watchtower where the Yuyan Archers reside. Colonel Shinu made his way down the stairs. She bowed when he passed by. Then, she turned to Zhao.

"You called?" she asked.

"Yes. What do you think of them?" he asked her.

"Like you said, their precision is beyond what we are capable of," Isla replied reluctantly.

"You have a keen eye, just like mine," Zhao said proudly. "Keep watch on them."

Isla nodded. Zhao made his way down the stairs. She looked at the Yuyan Archers. They were very focused on their targets. She was impressed by them.

The next morning, Isla was ordered to board a ship to gather leads and information about the Avatar. She stared at the ocean. How she wished she could just dive in and hide herself. They spotted a small fleet across their way. She furrowed her brow.

"Shall we pay a visit, Miss Isla?" the General asked.

Isla nodded. "An order is an order," she muttered.

Meanwhile, Zuko was busy looking at his map. The captain was explaining to him where the Avatar's whereabouts were. The large ship stopped beside them.

"What do they want?" Zuko questioned.

"Perhaps a sporting game of Pai Sho," Iroh said excitedly.

The General came in with a wanted poster of the Avatar. "The hunt for the Avatar has been given prime importance. All information regarding the Avatar must be reported directly to Admiral Zhao."

"Zhao has been promoted? Good for him…" Iroh said, giggling.

"Did you say Zhao?" Zuko asked.

"Yes, that is correct. Miss Isla?" the General called.

Isla made an entrance. Iroh stood up, causing the whole Pai Sho board to fall over. Isla flashed a small smile.

"Isla…" Iroh approached her.

She froze, unable to do much. The General blocked his approach. "No one is to touch Miss Isla, this is also a direct order from Admiral Zhao."

"It's okay, General. Please wait outside. That is an order," Isla said.

The General observed her from mere seconds before replying, "Very well, Miss…"

Isla hugged her father so tight. "How have you been my daughter?" he asked.

"I've been better…" she forced a smile.

Zuko kept on staring at her. How frail and thin she turned, but still managed to keep it together. Isla glanced up at Zuko and flashed a smile.

"Zhao is not allowing ships in or out of this area. You should turn back please… It's not safe," Isla warned them.

"You're going with him?" Zuko managed to speak.

Isla nodded. "If I stay now, our circumstances will be worse. Please heed my warning," she said.

"So be it. Get off my ship!" Zuko kicked her out.

Isla nodded and was on her way. When she boarded her ship, she was awfully quiet. The same female soldier was concerned and wanted to ask her.

"I'll be in my room to meditate." she announced.

Isla entered her room. She took a look at herself in the mirror. She felt very used by Zhao, but she was aware of the consequences if she refused.

Zuko was raging on his deck, blasting fire here and there. Iroh came up to check up on him.

"I guess seeing Isla was too much for you. Is everything okay?" he asked his nephew. "You have not given the men any orders for a few hours."

"I don't care what they do! Or what she does!" Zuko shouted.

"Don't lose hope yet. You can still capture the Avatar before Zhao does," Iroh said.

"How? With Zhao's resources, he could capture the Avatar at any time by now! My honor, my throne, my country… I'm about to lose them all," his shoulders fell.

Isla made her way to Zhao who seemed to be waiting for a guest. She looked a bit questioned as she watched him walking up to the prisoner hold, which was located at the center of the whole fort. As they entered, she was surprised to see Aang.

"So this is the Avatar, master of all the elements.." he started circling the young boy. "I don't know how you've managed to elude the Fire Nation for a hundred years, but our little game of hide-and-seek is over."

Aang looked over at Isla. She looked away from his gaze. Aang glared at Zhao. He struggled to get off of the chains.

"I've never hidden from you. Untie me and I'll fight you now!" he shouted.

"No," Zhao looked over his shoulder at Aang. "Tell me, how does it feel to be the only airbender left? Do you miss your people?"

Aang widened his eyes and looked away sadly. Zhao promised not to kill him because he did not want the cycle to start all over again. Aang blew air, sending him off to the wall. Before Zhao left, he glared at Isla who immediately followed.

She mouthed, "I'm sorry…" to Aang.

Isla was locked in a room specially readied for her. She was again in a dress. She looked at herself. She was not happy about it. Zhao was going to make an important announcement about his successful capture. She heard rustles on her window. She started to approach it.

Zhao's speech began.

"We are the sons and daughters of fire, the superior element! Until today, only one thing stood in our paths to victory: the Avatar!" he shouted.

Isla was greeted by the Blue Spirit, a masked marauder with two-hand swords on his back. Somehow, she recognised the aura. They stared at each other for a couple of seconds. The speech continues…

"I am here to tell you that he is now my prisoner! This is the year Sozin's Comet returned to grant us its power!"

Isla followed the Blue Spirit in pursuit to release and rescue the Avatar.

"This is the year the Fire Nation breaks through the walls of Ba Sing Se and burns the city to the ground!"

Isla, back in her Fire Nation uniform, made her way to the hold. The four guards greeted her. "Miss Isla… Shouldn't you be beside the Admiral?"

"There has been a change of plan…" Isla muttered sternly.

They sensed something was off. Before the soldier could warn the others about the intruder, a dagger was thrown, making him drop his horn. The Blue Spirit rushed in to hit each one of them. Isla hurried inside. She froze the chains and broke them. Aang looked at her.

"I'm sorry, Aang but we have to get moving," she said.

"Why?" Aang was confused.

The Blue Spirit opened the door and gestured to them to follow him. Isla nodded. They made their way into the underground pathways.

"So where are your friends?" Isla asked in a whisper.

"They're very sick…" Aang replied.

They stepped out in the darkness and hurried to the high walls protecting the fort. The Blue spirit threw a rope up and invited Aang to climb first. A loud ringing was heard, sending warnings that the Avatar had escaped.

"There! On the wall!" a guard spotted them.

The rope was cut and Aang fell down. They saw an opening. They ran as fast as they could. Zhao appeared at one of the balconies.

"The Avatar has escaped! Close all the gates immediately!" he announced.

He caught sight of them running. He was not surprised to see Isla with them. Aang ran ahead of the two.

"Stay close to me!" he said.

He ran in. A wall of soldiers was blocking the exit. Aang blew them off with his airbending. They started to attack with spears. When they were in contact with Isla, they were reluctant to attack her. The girl took the opportunity to wipe them out with one water blast.

"She's a waterbender?!" one of the soldiers exclaimed.

Aang nudged the Blue Spirit and Isla up onto the first wall with his airbending. Then he came up himself and paused for mere seconds. He was hit with a spear before he could proceed further. Isla looked around and assessed the situation. She grabbed hold of her water satchel while Aang and Zuko were busy fighting off the soldiers. More soldiers started coming up with ladders. Aang with all his efforts, pushed them away with his airbending.

"Let's go!" Isla said, summoning all of her water and creating an ice bridge.

She made sure the two guys crossed over first before her. While she crossed over, Aang covered her from the spears and arrows coming at them. She used the same method onto the next wall as well. When they came to the last wall, Isla was very drained and exhausted. She took a deep breath before falling onto the ground.

"No!" Aang shouted, he tried to grab her but failed.

He jumped down as well. The Blue Spirit came after them.

"You should just go…" Isla muttered.

"We can't leave you," Aang said.

Soldiers were surrounding them. The Blue Spirit was ready to fight. They aimed fire at them, but Aang used his airbending to block it.

"Hold your fire!" Zhao called. "The Avatar must be captured alive!"

That was when it hit Isla and the Blue Spirit. They had the best idea yet. He grabbed hold of Aang with his dual swords ready on his throat. Isla slowly backed away when all attention was on the two boys.

"Open the gate…" Zhao said in a very low voice.

"Admiral, what are you doing?" Colonel Shinu was shocked.

"Let them out, now" Zhao ordered.

The gate opened very fast. Isla took the opportunity to sneak out and leaned her body onto the wall as much as she could. She watched as the two boys slowly backed away. An arrow came flying towards the two. Isla gasped as she saw the Blue Spirit get knocked out. She ran up to them. Aang has taken off his mask to reveal it was Zuko. The boy was even more shaken up.

"Aang, we gotta go!" Isla called.

The boy used his air to make a smokescreen. They took the opportunity to escape into the woods. Aang laid Zuko on a bed of leaves. Isla sat beside him to check for injuries.

"Good, nothing major…" she heaved a sigh of relief.

"Why are you with the Fire Nations?" Aang asked.

"I have my reasons… but trust me, I am on your side," the girl replied.

She handed Aang one of her water satchel. Aang took a few sip and handed it back. Then, she stood up. She looked around the forest, jumping onto a tree.

"Thank you, Aang, for saving him," she said and disappeared into the dark night.

Zuko arrived at his ship. Iroh greeted him.

"Where have you been, Prince Zuko? You missed music night," he said to the young prince.

"I'm going to bed. No disturbances," he announced.

"Not even from me?" a familiar voice asked.

Zuko widened his eyes. He turned around to see Isla in the waters, landing on his ship. Iroh was overjoyed to see her. He gave her a tight hug.

"I thought you…?" Zuko asked.

"I would never abandon father and you," she smiled.

"Good to have you back. I was worried," Iroh smiled.

Isla returned the long hug, a tear trickling down her cheek. "It's good to be back…"she muttered.

She glanced up at Zuko. He gave an approving look.