A/N: I want to thank 02 and JustBeYou for their reviews. More to come

The Highest Bidder

The Author's Note

I've incorporated this within Chapter Thirty-One so that I can answer possible questions and clarify anything that would make the story more understandable, though I think the readers do understand that's going on. However, just so there is no confusion, I'll outlay this little…questionnaire…as sort of like an interview. It'll all be related to the story; there will be no "How did you come up with character?" questions or "What is your favorite scene so far?" questions; it's ALL related to the plot and the characters. Relationships, spirits, powers, and everything in-between will explained. If you already grasp the whole story and there are no blur lines, please by my guest and skip all this until you get to the chapter headline in this document. In your review of this chapter, I would like your opinion on your favorite episodes, characters, and…anything else that you can think of that would make your reading experience more fun. You know, like if you want smut scenes or more romance moments, tell me. Or maybe there isn't enough action and you want Mura or even Zuko to kick more butt, let me know. Anything.

All right, here we go.

In The Highest Bidder, Mura's ability is obviously telekinesis. What exactly are her limits, other than what she told us in the very beginning?

Mura Lynn has all this power that she's capable of possessing—she can do telepathy, move people with her mind, and all the powers that telekinetics like Jean Gray from X-Men can do, but she's only sixteen and her mind is only so powerful as she can afford. She can use telepathy, but that would mean she'd have to use invade somebody's thoughts, and plus, it's just more work on her part. Mura can usually tell if somebody's lying to her anyway, so reading somebody's mind would be a bit overkill and ruin some of the plots that are already staged in Avatar: Last Airbender.

How would you describe Mura's personality?

Well, she's obviously sarcastic; she teases Zuko quite a bit. She knows that she's very pretty, what with the blonde hair and the amber eyes; but at the same time, she really doesn't think about herself as a vain person would do. Mura knows, too, that she has all this power; but she doesn't really gloat about it in her testimony to the public. She knows that she has many weaknesses. Mura is very spiritual; she's almost like a cross between Iroh—who enjoys the simple things in life—and Aang, who knows that some people just really need to have fun. Mura respects the other nations, and she recognizes that her own homeland is actually a terror to the other four; she also has some respect for the other bending elements. Mura is quite an animal lover; you know, she loves all animals, and they love her back. But she isn't the nicest person in the world; she's got a nasty temper. She's really only aggravated by those who insult her loved ones, which mainly is Zuko and Iroh. Mura also is quite charming and a bit cunning, and she has a bit of a provocative streak because sometimes she irritates Zuko just to see him angry. That's the bit of Mura that seems to be where her Fire Nation blood comes from, but she's a little bit of every nation.

Mura and Zuko form a romance in The Highest Bidder. Could you shed some light on that for the readers?

Mura and Zuko are both Fire Nation, and they were actually childhood friends; however, Mura was closer to Azula, which automatically splits them apart. It takes about seven months for Zuko to realize that Mura is a fugitive, but her reason for trying to steal from Fire Lord Ozai is actually justifiable. Zuko and Mura form this sort of hate/love relationship. They're in command of the ship, so it's sort of a forbidden romance since they really can't take control of a situation without worrying for other. But Mura insists that Zuko and she should start something, and after a while, he sort of just gives in. Even though Zuko and Mura argue quite a bit, and they actually fight some in the story; they sort of just apologize afterward and get along. The romance actually sort of lifted off when Iroh told Mura that Zuko actually liked her, even though he snaps at her a lot. So they start "dating", but nothing really happens as far as going out to eat or dancing in a town square. They sort of just sit around on the boat and when the Avatar comes, that's their date. But you actually do find out that Mura really does love Zuko. I mean, in the last chapter, she absolutely loses it when she found out that Zuko wasn't there; he had been blown up, you know.

Speaking of losing it: when Mura does lose control of her temper, or she feels that overwhelming grief when she saw that Zuko's ship was blown up, it seems that when she does feel such devastation, she goes into this state that's like the Avatar State. It's got to do with that spirit that lives in her, right? Could you explain that?

I can, I can. Mura has a spiritual connection, like the Avatar, to the Spirit World, but she isn't a second Avatar. Because she's capable of telekinesis, which is mind-over-matter, this gives her a link to Shen Si Ling, who resides in the Spirit World. Mura's connection to Shen Si Ling sort of gives her an insight to the other spirits; that's why she wouldn't open the door in the Fire Temple when Roku was inside.

Shen Si Ling is not exactly a casual spirit; she feels emotions and has thoughts. Whenever Mura becomes so angry, Shen Si Ling sort of 'takes over' Mura's mind and body. It's the responsibility of a telekinetic to keep the mind pure so she won't harm anybody of spite. In order to keep Mura's soul pure—free from corruption—Shen Si Ling sort of 'swims' into Mura's spirit and 'becomes' Mura. When Mura is angry, or feeling vengeful, Shen Si Ling takes on the form of sort of like a demon vampire. When Mura becomes self-righteous or protective, such as saving her crew members from a storm or fighting off enemies, Shen Si Ling takes the form of an elegant angel. She only shows for a second in Mura; the people could see translucent wings on Mura's back or a flash of red or white eyes in Mura's face. When Shen Si Ling takes control, Mura absorbs all the knowledge from Shen Si Ling, which gives her the abilities to concentrate on several people at one time; or be able to bend water and earth as long as she's in full contact. It's very much like the Avatar State, but not so much on a broad level.

In the beginning of the story, it's told in third person; and the readers start out with the knowledge that Mura is this terrible traitor who followed Azula every step of the way. But in the story that follows in Mura's view, it's like she's only loyal to Zuko and the balance of the world, and actually hates Azula. What can you say about that?

Well, for one, the introduction is actually told by Mura's district attorney. She's facing these charges, and the DA has told the public that Mura is this thief, liar, and overall terrible person who will tell a bogus story. Mura tells her side of the story, which is the actual truth. The lawyer that has been appointed to her obviously doesn't seem to think that she's a hero. Mura puts the audience straight by saying that she was never loyal to Azula in the first place.

When Mura is testifying, she sometimes addresses the public. Who exactly is listening to her testimony?

Mura is standing trial a few days after Sozin's Comet and the coronation of Fire Lord Zuko. She's sort of like on a huge stage in front of most of the people that are introduced in the books as the Gaang reaches the Fire Palace. It includes Fire Lord Zuko, Mai, Ty Lee, members of the White Lotus, Team Avatar, and pretty much everyone that you can think of who hasn't died. Azula is actually not present during the trial; she's in like a rehab center.

Several times, Mura eludes to a vicious crime that she caused Azula. What exactly does she mean, if Azula is actually alive?

Well, I won't tell you right now, but it's pretty close to the last Agni-Kai between Zuko and Azula. That's when it happens.

What exactly is the attraction between Zhao and Mura? It seems that he sort of likes her in a…well, perverted…sort of way.

Admiral Zhao is only interested in Mura because she's got this incredible power; and he wants to use it against the world and the Avatar. He is attracted to her because she's incredibly intelligent when she wants to be, and he wants her loyalty, but she belongs to Prince Zuko. The moments during the story where he expresses physical attraction is actually sincere: Mura is a very beautiful woman. He does his little 'kissy kissy on the hand' and taunts her only in front of Zuko because Zhao knows that Zuko and Mura are actually together. You know, he just does it to make him mad.

Although Mura destroyed Kyoshi Island, and she intimidates people, would you consider Mura to be a 'villain' like Zhao, or a good guy like Aang?

Mura isn't exactly a bad person; she has morals like any other person in the Gaang. She isn't really like a guru goodie goodie, though, because she does have somewhat of a morbid side. She does enjoy intimidating soldiers, but it's really just a little game. The main bit where you can tell that she can be a villain is when she actually fights Sokka and Katara, or when she takes down a whole village with her powers; though, the Kyoshi Island thing was really out of irritation for Zuko. So Mura can be a bad guy, but she'd rather antagonize than fight.

Out of all the characters in Avatar, who would you say is most comparable to Mura?

General Iroh and Mura are quite alike. They enjoy music night, and they take walks. She's the daughter that Iroh never had, and Iroh's sort of like a father to Mura. They both respect the Four Nations and the four elements because they understand that inbalance can destroy each person from the inside. Mura and Iroh sort of get along so well because he actually admires her abilities; and he doesn't call her a witch either. Mura also gets along well with Iroh especially during music night; she sort of developed this beautiful alto voice and can dance to Four Seasons. She's talented, but she's modest about it.

Well, that's the end of the interview. I hope I cleared up a few things, or perhaps gave you further insight. Anyway, here's Chapter Thirty One.

Chapter Thirty-One: I Thought I Lost You

I thought it would be easy to accept the death of a loved one, sort of like I assumed that my parents were dead. As it turned out, I felt lost without Prince Zuko; and it didn't help matters when Iroh came to me with Zhao's request to see the two of us for tea. Iroh talked to me for a few hours, told me that our loved ones never truly leave us—that they still were around. I considered his words with only an ounce of open-mindedness. When I didn't respond, Iroh closed the door behind him and sat down in front of me with a soft gaze. He looked sad; his eyes were glazed with watery tears. I looked down at my hands, sitting on a rug beside my bed. Even the metal floor beneath me looked comfortable. Iroh knelt down in front of me and took my weak hands into his.

I found my pain unbearable, and I closed my eyes to try to cast it aside. Hot tears fell down my cheeks. I opened my mouth to speak, but I hesitated to say what I wanted to say. Iroh patted my hand sincerely. When he spoke, his voice was fatherly and gentle.

"I know your pain. I have felt it before, when my son was killed in the war. You feel that you could have done more, and you tell yourself that if you could reverse the past, then everything will be all right again. But sometimes, it's better to embrace the past and start anew."

"How can you say that?" I uttered tearfully. "How can you say that without crying like me? How are you able to be so calm when he's gone…?"

"Because I'm not."

Iroh's hands left me, and another held mine. Shocked, I looked up in surprise to see a Fire Nation soldier squatting in front of me, a face shield staring back at me. A wave of fury passed through me, and I pushed the soldier away from me. Iroh grabbed me to stop me.

I rose to my feet.

"How dare you say such a thing to me," I said angrily. I gestured in the air, and the soldier slammed hard against the wall, grunting in pain. "How dare you impersonate—Wait, what?"

Because I'm not.

I fingered the air, and the soldier's body answered my beck and call. He floated toward me, feet hovering a few inches in the air. I set him down on the ground. The soldier pulled up his face shield.

"Mura."

"It can't be," I whispered.

The face of the Fire Nation prince was bruised and cut, but when I stared into the eyes of the man for a few moments; and I located the familiar scar on his left eye, I was immediately overcome in relief.

Zuko startled when I threw my arms around him, embracing him tightly. He patted my back quietly.

"I thought I lost you…"

"Uncle told me what happened," said Zuko, pulling me away lightly. "I—Ugh!"

"Mura," Iroh gasped, surprised.

I smacked Zuko across the head. He fell to the floor, setting his helmet straight.

"How could you not tell me that you were alive?" I said angrily.

"Shh," Iroh calmed me down by pushing me gently onto the bed. "You must be quiet. Zhao doesn't know that Zuko survived. We have to keep him secret. And you have to act like Zuko is still dead or else he'll get suspicious."

I frowned.

"What exactly are you going to do, Zuko?" I said, rising to my feet. "Sneak in while the Water Tribe is fighting off Zhao?"

"That's exactly what I'm going to do." Zuko retorted. "But in order for me to even do that, you have to act like nothing has happened. If you're as good of a liar that you are, you'll pull it off without any trouble. Just keep your temper under control…"

Iroh pushed along Zuko.

"Hurry, you have to board Zhao's ship before he gets suspicious. Mura, we have to meet Zhao for tea. He's going to talk to the both of us. Stay calm," he warned me. "The last thing we need is for you to blow up Zhao's ship."

"Fine."

I was happy to see that Zuko was alive, but I half-expected that Zhao was behind the attack. Screw it; I believed that Zhao was behind the entire thing. After all, there was no such thing as a coincidence, especially with the Fire Nation.