Hi loves! I have another one for you today. I hope you enjoy!

Chapter 6 – The Fire Temple

After Iroh had put on his clothes, they all had mounted the rhino and made their way back to the ship. Zuko, in particular, couldn't wait to get back and finally get away from the Water Tribe girl sat in front of him. He had a difficult time keeping his emotions and hormones in check while she smelled the way she did, or even breathed the way she was breathing. Every little thing about her was enticing him. It made him crazy, to say so the least.

Suddenly, a village appeared in front of them. They hadn't seen it before, so they must have taken a different way back to the ship. It was silent. Probably because it was in the middle of the night by now. Most people would be sleeping, safe and sound, inside their homes. Zuko quickly mounted off the rhino, making his way towards the biggest house in town, figuring it belonged to the leader. If I want to know the Avatar's whereabouts, he must know the answer, he thought to himself.

Milah was watching him, confused, and decided to follow him on foot. But when she wanted to ask him what his deal was, he spoke up, ''Having trouble sleeping?'' Milah saw he was talking to a man that had just exited his home. Zuko roughly pushed him to the ground. ''Seen the Avatar lately?''

Milah gasped and put her hands over her mouth, quickly making her way over to him to hold him back from inflicting serious harm to the defenceless man. She put her waterbended hand over his flaming fist and pushed him back sharply. He gave her an angry look.

''Zuko,'' she called him out with a loud voice. ''Tell me exactly why he of all people would know anything about the Avatar's whereabouts, huh?'' His look filled itself with guilt for a second, but he quickly recomposed himself.

''Milah,'' he answered, mockingly, ''why don't you go and help my uncle, huh? Leave me to my own business maybe, if you please?'' She let out a strangled cry and bumped him with her shoulder on her way out. But before she left the house, she turned around to say one more thing.

''If you ever so much as hurt one hair on his head, I'll hurt you back ten times harder, you hear me?'' she warned him with one hand on her hip and the other one raised, pointing a finger at the angry Prince.

''Just go!'' he shouted at her and turned around after that, questioning the man, who was still on the ground. Milah walked away, panting with rage. She saw that Iroh was watching her with a worried expression.

''Tell me,'' she demanded from the old man. ''Tell me! Why is Zuko questioning him about the Avatar?'' Iroh gently put an arm on her shoulder.

''Calm down, Milah,'' he said to her softly. ''I am sure my nephew has a good reason for his actions.'' Milah felt some of her anger slip away ever so slightly, but she was not calm yet, not even near. Not long after Zuko returned to the pair, determination shining in his eyes.

''Quickly,'' he said hurriedly. ''We must get back to the ship now.'' He grabbed Milah swiftly, putting her on top of the saddle. She almost wanted to protest, but he had got up behind her too quickly for her to do anything about it.

''Zuko!'' she called out to him rather loudly. ''What were you-'' but he interrupted her before she could continue.

''Because,'' he began, with a much softer voice, ''he knew where the Avatar is going.'' Milah made a noise of surprise.

''That is wonderful news, Prince Zuko,'' Iroh said to his nephew, but Milah noticed that Iroh did not sound genuine and she shortly wondered why. However, her thoughts were occupied by another matter.

''Did he mention any companions of the Avatar?'' she asked him with a hopeful voice.

''He said something about two Water Tribe siblings, yes,'' he told her truthfully and he could feel her relax against him.

''But wait…'' Milah softly began again. Zuko sighed, annoyed that she wasn't going to drop the subject. ''You never did tell me why you were so sure that the man knew anything about the Avatar?''

He had to make up a lie. He had to. But it was hard lying to her, especially when he could hear the fragile state of her voice, indicating the frail state of her mind right now. She was so hopeful to see her siblings again, unharmed. ''It was a gut feeling,'' he ended up simply telling her. Whether she believed it or not, he wasn't sure, but she didn't argue with him for it.

Milah then realised that this was the moment. Her moment to prove herself a good family member to them by sabotaging Zuko's goal of capturing the Avatar. But she also knew that by doing so, she would have to betray him and Iroh.

It hurt her to think about that. Betraying them. In the month they had been together, she had grown to… care, maybe, about the two Fire Nation royalties. It was silly, she knew, but still. But, Milah thought, she would do it in a heartbeat if it meant seeing her siblings safe and sound. Even if that meant that she herself would get hurt, or maybe even die. It didn't matter. Only Sokka and Katara did.

When they arrived back at the ship, she tried to make her way to her room as inconspicuously as possible, wanting to find a hiding place for her until the moment was right for her to try and stop Zuko from accomplishing his goal. But it didn't work. Almost immediately Zuko had grabbed her arm tightly, dragging her towards Amim and another guard she didn't know.

''Never let her out of your sight,'' he ordered them. ''I bet she'll go to any length to try and stop me, so don't hesitate to fight back.'' With that, he let go of her and went back towards the steering room to give a course. Almost all of the crew members were running back and forth.

Milah gave Amim a pleading look. ''Please,'' she begged him with a trembling voice, ''he's going to attack my family. Just please…'' Amim looked unsure of what to do and gave his colleague a questioning glance. The man shrugged at Amim and grabbed her arm as Zuko had. Tears filled her eyes, fear seeping into her body, fear for her family's safety. Amim followed the man's actions not long after and together they dragged her towards the railing. The man, whose name was Jiro, she found out, tied her arms around one of the railings with a tight piece of rope. It cut into her skin, making it impossible for her to try and break free.

Amim was looking at her with a painful expression. He felt sorry for the Water girl, but it didn't do her any good. He couldn't move against the orders of Prince Zuko. The blue-eyed girl was doomed.

Milah stayed in her place for a long time. One time, she could see the Avatar's flying bison in the sky, making her heart contract. She wanted to scream, to cry out, for them to run. To go anywhere but the direction they were flying. She could also see Zuko standing at the edge of the deck, gazing in a binocular towards the Avatar, his whole body tense from aspiration.

Hatred was what she felt, suddenly. A bubbling, hot substance in her stomach, threatening to come out. She had to do something. She had to overthrow the egoistic, cruel, hateful man that was threatening to hurt her family, even after the fragile friendship they had somehow formed in the month she was his prisoner.

It came to her in an instant. Little droplets of water caressed her arms and legs from the seawater that had splashed over the railing. It was a tricky Waterbending move, one she hadn't used yet, but her grandfather had taught it to her anyway. You never know when you'll need it, he told her. And he was right. She was able to bend the little droplets against her skin and made them move towards the rope around her hands. She was visibly struggling, heavy breaths coming out of her mouth and a single little stream of sweat was rolling against her temple. When she finally had enough water to freeze the rope, she was able to break the rope with ease, freeing her hands.

But she decided to wait. It was better to wait since Amim and Jiro would certainly notice the rope missing from her hands. Only at the last moment, she decided, would she freeze over the bended water.

Meanwhile, Zuko was still looking through his binocular. He was feeling heavy somehow, but he didn't know why. He did know that as long as he stared through his binocular to the Avatar, it would distract him from hearing the soft sobs behind him, coming from the blue-eyed girl dressed as Fire Nation.

He noticed his uncle coming up beside him. ''Sailing into Fire Nation waters,'' his uncle began with a somewhat angry voice. ''Of all the foolish things you've done in your twenty years, Prince Zuko, this is the most foolish!'' He turned around to face his worrying uncle.

''I have no choice, uncle,'' he told him softly.

''Have you completely forgotten that the Fire Lord banished you?'' he almost yelled in the Prince's face, then his angry and worried expression turned into a fearful one. ''What if you're caught?'' Zuko let down his binocular.

''I'm chasing the Avatar! My father will understand why I am returning home!'' he exclaimed, trying to convince himself he was right. His uncle fought him on.

''You give him too much credit. My brother is not the understanding type!'' Iroh tried to reason with his nephew, feared for his safety. Zuko turned away from him stubbornly and rose his binocular to his eye again, looking at the sky. And there he saw the Avatar's bison.

''There they are,'' he shouted to all of his crewmen. ''Helmsman! Full steam ahead!'' The Helmsman gave the Prince a short nod and sped up the ship. After that, he turned towards the armour-clad guards.

''Quickly! Ready the catapult!'' he ordered them and suddenly met the tear-filled eyes of Milah. A pang of emotion shot through his chest, but before he could think of it, his uncle spoke up.

''Uh, really Prince Zuko, couldn't you shoot them down with something more fragrant?'' Zuko shook his head and made way towards the catapult.

''On my mark! Fi-'' but he was interrupted by a strong force that pushed him away. A flash of brown hair and blue eyes tackled him to the ground, trapping him with ice. He saw Milah standing on top of him, a livid look in her eyes. His guards quickly took action, trying to take out the girl, but it was in vain. Her anger fuelled her somehow. She was determined to win, determined to protect Sokka and Katara.

Up in the sky, Katara was watching the whole ordeal. But because they were too far up in the sky, all they could see were blurs of fire and water hitting each other all over the ship. A girl that was dressed in Fire Nation was bending water like a true Master. She had never seen anything like that before. And then she realised it.

''Sokka! Sokka quickly, come look!'' And together they watched their sister fighting for her life, for their lives. She had never been so relieved, her sister was alive.

Meanwhile, on the ship, Milah was battling five Firebenders at the same time. Burns already covered most of her arms and legs, but she didn't notice. She was shifting her weight left and right, raising her arms in the air and lurched the ship to the right by creating a big wave. All of the men fell to the ground, sliding to the railing, but before she could whip them all off, she was grabbed from behind by two strong arms.

Zuko had freed himself after some time – without any help from his uncle, who was standing at a distance, watching Milah with amazement – and he could trap her in time before she would take out his crew with one single sweep. He could say he was amazed by her as well, but he would never admit it out loud to her, or anyone. Her body was swaying with every move, her hair flowing around her like the water she was controlling.

He pressed her body tightly against his own, trapping her arms behind her. She was crying for him to let her go, but he ignored her, pushing her in the hands of Amim instead. ''I told you!'' he barked at the soldier who visibly gulped, but took Milah by the arms and led her away from the scene. Zuko turned around after that, suddenly noticing something from afar.

''A blockade!'' he shouted. Commotion began. Iroh quickly ran up beside him.

''Technically you are still in Earth Kingdom waters. Turn back now and they cannot arrest you,'' he told his nephew. But Zuko wasn't planning on turning back. He quickly grabbed his binocular once more and took a look at the Avatar.

''He's not turning away!'' he yelled. Iroh put a hand on his shoulder.

''Please Prince Zuko! If the Fire Nation captures you, there is nothing I can do! Do not follow the Avatar,'' he tried convincing the stubborn Prince, but it was of no use.

''I'm sorry, Uncle,'' he softly said to Iroh with sorrow in his eyes, his head hanging low. But he quickly shot his hand up in the air, signalling the captain. ''Run the blockade!'' His crewmen made preparations to destroy the ships that were in the way.

Iroh knew there was no way they could run it. The ships that were forming the blockade were at least three times bigger than Zuko's.

While Zuko was still watching the Avatar through his binocular, he suddenly noticed something big and red coming their way. His eyes widened. ''Incoming!'' he screamed and ducked out of the way. Several fireballs were hurled towards them, one hitting the side of the ship where the engines were located. An engineer was running towards them.

''Prince Zuko!'' he called out. ''The engines are damaged! We need to stop and make repairs!'' He gave him a determined look.

''Do not stop this ship,'' he ordered the engineer harshly. The man nodded quickly and ran back to his post.

Meanwhile, Milah had escaped from Amim's grip. They had been slung across the deck of the ship when the fireballs dropped and he had fallen unconscious. She had quickly searched for a hideout place in a concealed corner at the back of the ship, one that allowed her to follow the actions of the Prince, but obscured her from anyone's view. She could see him gazing intently over the railings towards the blockade, gripping the metal of his ship so tightly, it made his knuckles go white. Iroh still tried to reason with him, gripping his shoulders and shouting at him in a desperate matter. Milah could not understand what they were saying, she was too far away for that.

She could see the Fire Nation ships were coming closer and prepared for collision in her little hideout. But none came. Why would they let us pass like that, she wondered but didn't think too much of it. She saw Zuko staring intently at the man she had seen before, the man she knew as Commander Zhao.

When they had passed the blockade, she saw the men preparing a vessel that was hung outside of the ship. Her eyes widened. He's going to make a diversion, she realised slowly and understood what she needed to do.

The wait was agonising Milah. Her heart was racing at an abnormal speed, afraid she would get caught before she could carry out her plan. Several guards were roaming the front and back of the ship; they could easily catch her. But luckily, they didn't, for when the men lowered the vessel holding Zuko into the water, she quickly came out of her hideout and before anyone could see her, jumped into the water.

Her body reacted immediately, savouring the liquid that had been absent from her body for months. She could feel the strength oozing through her body, lifting her spirit and heart. Her eyes followed the contour of the vessel that went into a different direction than the ship and moved her arms around her, making a current around her that would lead her to the vessel. She quickly caught up with the little metal boat and grabbed the railing silently, not wanting to let the Prince know she had followed him.

Zuko led his vessel at full speed towards the shore of the island and didn't notice he was being followed. His eyes were narrowed, his ponytail flapping against his face. His hands were in a tight grip around the steer and his breath came out raggedly. I'm so close, he kept thinking.

When he reached the shore he ran up the stairs that would lead him to the entrance of the temple. He manoeuvred around obstacles, punching fire against the doors that blocked the way in. once they were opened, he could hear voices coming from above him. Stairs were at the end of the hall leading to upper levels of the temple. He ran like his life, his honour, the love of his father, depended on it.

Milah almost passed out when she finally reached the opened doors of the temple. She could only just make out a silhouette turning around a corner, running up a stairway. Her hair was sticking against her face and neck, her muscles sore from running and the previous fight she had back on the ship. She hadn't had time to heal herself, so the bruises and burns were still visible on her whole body.

She took a deep breath and continued her chase. She wouldn't, no, couldn't let Zuko reach them before she did. Her legs ached when she climbed up the stairs as quickly as she could, her eyes shining with desperation. She could make out voices coming from above of her and heard Zuko's footsteps faintly. He was stealthy, and the only reason she could hear him was that he was directly above her.

After what felt like forever, she had reached the upper level. Zuko was standing only a few metres away, obscured from anyone else's view. She readied herself to attack him but was too late. He had lunched forward. She quickly followed her, a strangled cry coming out of her mouth. She saw him holding Aang by his arms, holding them behind his back.

''Aang!'' a feminine voice called out, one Milah recognised as her sister's. ''Now's your chance!''

Zuko made himself known at that moment, sneering with accomplishment, ''The Avatar's coming with me!'' Milah ran towards the scene and she saw Zuko blinking at her in surprise at her arrival. She saw sages attacking her brother and sister, tackling and holding them to the floor. ''Close the doors! Quickly!'' Zuko called out before Milah could do anything.

But then, with a battle cry, Milah used all her strength to whip the bitter and honour-obsessed Prince out of the way. This broke Aang free the moment the strong water whip hit him in the face, leaving a cut on his cheek, and Aang used this to quickly make his way over to the closing door.

Zuko smashed against the wall behind him and toppled down the stairs after. Milah quickly went to attack the sages that attacked her family, but she was pinned down by a strong force. She let out a cry of hurt – the person had hit her hard on her sore and blistered arms – and turned around to face her attacker.

Zuko, with on the left side his scar, and on the right side a big cut on his cheek, was gazing at her with burning eyes. He took her over to one of the columns and tied her up like the sages had tied her brother and sister. After that, he stared at her for another moment. It almost seemed apologetic, she thought but banished the thought out of her head. It wasn't like him to apologise, or feel sorry for anyone for that matter. The only thing he cared about was himself. He didn't even show affection to his uncle, who had been more of a father to him than his own father was. Milah had figured that out when she overheard Iroh one time while speaking to one of the men on the ship.

After he had turned around, Milah tried to capture the eyes of Sokka and Katara.

''He made it,'' Katara exclaimed with a satisfied sigh and Milah could see her body relax slightly. Then, Katara's eyes found Milah's and they both filled with tears.

'You're alive,' Katara mouthed to her. Milah answered with a happy nod and mouthed back, 'so are you.'

Sokka tried to wave at her excitedly, but due to the ropes that restrained any moves, he couldn't. Milah understood the gist, however, because the enthusiastic look in his eyes told her everything she needed to know.

Milah tried to repeat the Waterbending move she had performed back on the ship with the ropes, but this time it didn't succeed. Her energy was drained and her body was hurting too much. She let out a frustrated sound.

At the same time, Zuko was bending fire towards the pipes that were used to open the room Aang had just entered. But it didn't work and just like Milah, he let out a frustrated cry. ''Why isn't it working?'' he shouted towards one of the sages. ''Why is it sealed shut?''

''It must have been the light,'' the sage answered the Fire Nation Prince. ''Avatar Roku doesn't want us inside.'' Zuko gave out one more angry punch of fire and then turned towards the Water Tribe girl, disguised as Fire Nation. Her head was hanging on her chest, her breathing coming out raggedly. Another pang of emotion shot through his stomach, but he didn't give any attention to it.

To feel is to be weak, he told himself in his head. When he reached her, he grabbed her chin and made her look into his angry eyes.

Milah's eyes were drooping shut, her mind slowly passing out from her wounds and fatigue.

''Let her go!'' Katara screamed at the banished Prince who didn't even turn around to look at her. He simply studied Milah's wounds, his heart contracting at seeing her in this state. But he knew there was nothing he could do now to help her. If he would untie her, she would try and attack him again and he knew that the only goal he had at this moment was to capture the Avatar. Nothing was more important to him than that and certainly not Milah. Certainly not.

And with that, he let go of her chin and walked towards the sage that was sitting on the ground with his hands tied behind his back. He looked up at the prince while wearing a fearful expression on his face. ''Why did you help the Avatar?'' Zuko demanded, gripping his collar.

''Because it was once the sages' duty. It is still our duty,'' he told the Prince proudly. Zuko growled, wanting to throttle the man, but a loud clapping of hands refrained him from doing so.

Zuko quickly looked and saw Zhao coming his way, smirking. Zuko's eyes widened, suddenly aware of his vulnerability seeing he didn't bring any backup, and Zhao having six guards at his sides.

''What a moving and heartfelt performance,'' Zhao said evilly. ''I'm certain the Fire Lord will understand when you explain why you betrayed him.'' Zuko almost growled at the sight of the despicable excuse of a man and let go of the whimpering sage in front of him.

''Commander Zhao,'' all the sages greeted the slimy git.

''And Prince Zuko,'' he sneered. ''It was a noble effort, but your little smokescreen didn't work. Two traitors in one day, the Fire Lord will be pleased.'' There was nothing he could do, Zuko realised and was grabbed from behind by one of the guards. And with one last effort, he pushed his face into Zhao's, making the Commander take a simple step back, fear showing on his face for a split second.

''You're too late, Zhao,'' the Prince hissed, ''the Avatar's inside and the doors are sealed.''

Zhao simply grinned at the struggling, pathetic Prince. ''No matter. Sooner or later, he has to come out.'' Meanwhile, Zuko was being tied up against the same column as Milah. He saw that she had passed out by the way her whole body was slumped against the ropes. Katara was watching the ordeal with worry, but Sokka was doing his best to keep it positive.

''She'll be alright,'' he whispered to his sister. Katara glared at him.

''How can you keep saying that? Look at her!'' she whispered back.

''She's survived the Fire Nation before, remember?'' This made Katara think. She had survived being Zuko's prisoner and even looked healthy, for so far you can call her state of body healthy. She wasn't underfed and the wounds had probably been inflicted during the fight they had witnessed from the sky.

''You're right,'' she admitted to Sokka. ''I'm sorry.'' He looked like he wanted to say something clever and stupid at the same time, but decided against it, seeing the look on his little sister's face. He knew better than that.

At the same time, Zuko was trying to wake up the girl next to him. ''Milah,'' he whispered to her, nagging her foot with his own. She didn't respond. ''Milah,'' he called out a little harder. He looked around the room; no one had heard him. He shuffled closer to her, as close as he could get, and squeezed her arm. She still didn't answer him. He let out an exasperated sigh.

But then, suddenly, a blinding light filled the room and the doors to the Avatar's room opened. Zhao quickly ordered everyone to get in position, taking on a fighting stance.

''Ready?'' Zhao yelled. ''Fire!''

''No! Aang!'' Katara called out, tears filling her eyes.

But the attack of fire didn't do anything. Smoke slowly oozed out of the room and a silhouette of a full-grown man appeared. Zuko's eyes widened. It was Avatar Roku.

Several sages cried out and fled the scene quickly, afraid of the deceased Avatar that suddenly made an appearance. Zhao took a step back, horror striking his body. Avatar Roku held the bended fire by the guards in his hands and bended the fire towards the Commander who quickly got out of the way. Instead, the fire melted the chains of both Katara and Sokka and Zuko and Milah.

Zuko hesitated for a second. He could hide and maybe capture Aang when Roku would leave him. But then he took one look at the passed out Water Tribe girl, her body hurt in all places and slightly shaking from, probably, a fever. And then he picked her up, scooping his arms around her waist and legs and quickly ran down the stairs, out of the temple.

''No! Milah!'' Katara cried out, but Sokka held her back.

''Katara!'' he screamed into his sister's face. ''She'll survive! Aang won't with the way he is blowing up the temple.'' Katara hesitated, ready to face the Fire Nation prince. But she took one look at Aang, currently possessed by Roku, and decided to stay and fight for Aang's life. It was her mission after all.

Back in the vessel, Zuko laid Milah down on the ground. The little boat didn't have a sleeping place, so she was doomed to a cold surface. Her fever had exacerbated. The sweat that covered her forehead and the noises she made confirmed it.

The worried Prince quickly set course for his ship. His uncle would know what to do. For now, he could only hope she would hold on long enough for him to try and save her. He didn't know what he would do otherwise.

Please don't die.

Reviews:

Maria Isabelle: Thank you so much for your kind review! I'm overjoyed! Really, you made my entire day. You are my first review, ever! And I couldn't be happier. I aspire to update every day or every other day. I can't wait for my story to get on with it and to write about the second half of book 2 and of course, book 3. Tomorrow I have more for you!