This is my first Avatar The Last Airbender fanfiction thank you to LunaStar07 for helping out with my writing and beta reading my work hope you enjoy the next chapter

First I would like to thank all my patient reads and hope you enjoy this next chapter and for all those reading please stay safe out there especially with the virus going around because if you don't stay safe how will you be able to read what comes next

Now thank you and enjoy and this is the first official chapter that ties directly with the show and all following chapters will be part of the series going forward so hope you enjoy my take on it

Disclaimer I don't own anything related to ATLA

Zuko was Kyoshi. It was still hard to believe and a lot to process. Even when they left the Mao outpost, it was still on his mind. For the first time in three years, he was part of something, he belonged to something. And now he had expectations, he had a duty, a creed. And for some reason, even with all these new things on his shoulders, he felt... lighter. It was strange to him, and he couldn't put it truly into words, but he was happy. Happy; the word itself felt foreign to him, but it was the only word that came to mind. He was banished and a scarred prince being hunted for treason by his own sister and he was happy.

"Something must be wrong with me," he mumbled to himself, letting out a soft chuckle, before wiping the sweat from his brow, and taking a gulp from his water skin. The heat became more intense as the sun beat down on them. Their journey through the Earth kingdom's barren landscape was anything but smooth. They almost had a close call when they arrived at a decrepit bridge suspended over a ravine. The bridge nearly collapsed as they tried to make their way over, several of the planks giving way as the carts rolled over them. Luckily, they all managed to make it safely across before the ropes unravelled and they plummeted to their doom.

"That was a little too close for comfort," Suki said as she peered over the edge, watching the wooden planks being smashed by the raging waters.

"Yeah, too close," Zuko nodded in agreement as he gripped his Ostrich horse's reins, patting its side to keep it calm. "Next time, I recommend we take the long way round."

Suki couldn't but turn and chuckle at him. "Oh and why is that? Is the great Blue Spirit afraid of little heights," she teased.

"No, I just have reservations about falling to my death, it doesn't sound like a pleasant experience," Zuko retorted, earning him another giggle from the painted warrior. "No, haha it definitely doesn't."

"Speaking of things that don't sound too pleasant. Would you mind doing me a favour?" Suki asked with a sheepish grin.

"What is it?" he asked curiously.

"Well, thanks to your lovely gift, I found a town a few miles out east from here," Suki said with a wide smirk.

"That's good... wait, why did you say it wouldn't sound too pleasant then?" he questioned, confused.

"Well, I was wondering if you could scout ahead and check it out. See if there is a place we can stay for the night," she explained. "If not, there is another route we can take that'll be a little more direct to Ba Sing Se."

"And you want to make sure which one to take," Zuko said understandingly.

"Exactly, plus we will need to check on the refugees and make sure they're all doing alright. Especially with Ying so close to her term."

"Yeah... wait whose Ying?"

"Ying... the pregnant lady... the one you saved from that burning building back at Chong Sheng. Hahaha, wait, are you telling me this entire time, you never learned her name?" Suki definitely couldn't hold back her laugh this time, mocking the banished prince.

Zuko just groaned and rolled his eyes at her. "Anyways, you want me to go scout ahead to see if this town is good enough for tonight?" he asked, trying to change the subject.

"Haha yes please, if you wouldn't mind," she said with a soft smile.

"Okay, I'll be back in a few hours then. See ya, Suki,"

"See ya Blue," Suki smiled as she watched Zuko snap his reins and galloping off down the dirt road, disappearing into the haze.

As he rode on, the blazing sun rose higher in the sky, beating him down with its heat. His water skin now bone dry as he gulped what little remained, barely getting a drop to roll down his throat as the dry choked him. Luckily, it didn't take too long for the town to come into Zuko's sight. And at first glance, it wasn't promising. The buildings were decrepit and old, almost like the slightest breeze could knock them over.

"This is no place to settle for the night," he thought to himself, swearing that if it wasn't for the few people walking around, he'd swear no one lived here in years. He then decided not to make this trip a total waste and strode over to the market to pick up some food before heading back.

When he approached the merchant and dismounted his beast, he noticed he was getting unwelcome glares from a few gambling Earth Kingdom soldiers. They eyed him up with suspicion and annoyance, at the stranger in their midst. Zuko simply turned his back to them not wanting to start a fight. He just wanted to get in and get out as soon as possible. "Could I get some water, a bag of feed and something hot to eat?" Zuko asked as he went to pull out his coin pouch.

"Sorry, don't have much food to sell. But I can get you two bags of feed instead," the merchant apologized as Zuko groaned in disappointment. "Fine," Zuko sighed as he handed the money over for the feed.

The merchant accepted the coins and left to grab the feed. But just as he left, Zuko noticed two children hiding beside the store counter. They both whispered and giggled mischievously as one of them pulled out an egg. Without hesitation the boy then chucked it towards one of the soldiers, it burst against the back of their head.

"Ow!" the soldier cried as egg yolk dripped down his face. Before any of them could turn to face their attackers, the two boys scurried off. Leaving only Zuko standing there as the Earth Kingdom soldiers rose to their feet.

"Hey! You throwing eggs at us, stranger?" the leader of the soldiers roared marching over to him, though Zuko did not turn to face him.

"No," Zuko replied simply, his voice calm and steady.

"You see who did throw it?"

"No," Zuko replied, turning his gaze to face him.

"That your favourite word, no?" one of the other soldiers asked but Zuko didn't respond, his eyes locked with their leader's.

"Egg had to come from somewhere," the leader said crossing his arms and puffing up his chest.

"Maybe a chicken flew over," Zuko mocked as he turned his back on the man. One of the soldiers couldn't help laughing at his remark but was quickly silenced by the leader's angry glare.

At that moment, the store owner returned with Zuko's feed bags. Right as he reached out to hand it over to Zuko, the leader snatched it up before he could claim it. "Thanks for your contribution. The army appreciates your support," He says with a smug grin and tossed the bags for his men to carry.

"You better leave town. Penalty for stayin's a lot steeper than you can afford, stranger. Trust me," he says patting the hammer at his side menacingly. Zuko wasn't intimidated, he just silently glared at him, holding his tongue for now.

"Those soldiers are supposed to protect us from the Fire Nation. But they're just a bunch of thugs," the store owner commented once he saw the soldiers out of earshot.

Zuko didn't reply to the store owner, he just turned to his beast ready to leave this forsaken town. And just as they are about to re-mount, one of the little boys from earlier popped up from behind the animal. "Thanks for not ratting me out!" he says cheerfully. But Zuko just ignored the boy, getting on his steed and started to ride away. The boy cast him an annoyed look before brightening up and racing up to his side.

"Hey, how about I take you to my house and feed your ostrich horse for you. Come on, I owe you!" the boy said cheerfully. Zuko tried to argue or protest, but the boy was already running and pulling on the reins of Zuko's Ostrich horse. The boy then guided him down the street towards a couple standing by the entrance of another shop.

"Lee, where did you run off too? And who is your friend?" The man called out as Lee led Zuko over. He trotted behind Lee as he rushed to grab his father's arm. "This guy just stood up to the soldiers! By the end, he practically had them running away!" he said excitedly.

"Oh really?" The father says as he looks up to the stranger as he dismounts his beast. "Anyone who can hold his own against those bully soldiers is good in my book. Those men should be ashamed to wear Earth Kingdom uniforms," he says with distaste in his tone.

His wife nodded in agreement as she placed her hands on Lee's shoulders. "The real soldiers are off fighting the War, like Lee's big brother Sensu."

The man nodded in agreement "Names Gansu by the way, and this is my wife Sela," he says introducing his family. "What brings you into town?"

"My companions and I are escorting refugees to Ba Sing Se, and we were hoping to find lodgings for the night," Zuko answered as he glanced around at the run downtown. "But it doesn't look like we will find anything suitable here, so we will be moving along," he answered.

"Oh, Mom what if they come to our house, we have a farm, and a barn, and everything?" Lee asked smiling up at her with a toothy grin.

"Actually, it's okay. We would hate to impose," Zuko interrupted. But Sela shook her head in response. "Don't be silly, you wouldn't be imposing at all. We would be happy to have you," Sela smiled but could tell he wasn't convinced. She then turned to her husband giving him a knowing look, which easily made the man relent.

"Well, I could use some help on the farm, if you don't mind helping out. You can earn your keep and stay the night," Gansu offered.

Zuko then thought carefully at their offer, but inevitably nodded in agreement. Gansu then gave him directions to their farm before they both parted ways. Lee waved Zuko off as he returned to his group.

Once returned, Zuko informed Suki of the deal and was able to lead the caravan, escorting them to the farmstead. It didn't take long to find the farm as most of the land was wide open plains. Yet as they got closer, their approach was far from silent. A wide range of pig, cows, and sheep hogs began oinking loudly. "At least no one can sneak up on us," Suki commented as she rode next to Zuko. "Tsk, no kidding," he said as they dismounted their Ostrich horses while the farmer approached.

Gansu then told them the chores that needed to be done around the farm. The Kyoshi warriors and the refugees were both more than happy to help where they can. From tending to the crops to doing general repairs to the barn.

Zuko and the Kyoshi warriors did their best but it was obvious they never did farm work before. When Zuko was hammering nails in the shingles each nail bent and broke as he hammered them in. However Gansu said nothing knowing he was doing his best. It was good enough for him. Though they weren't alone as Lee came to join them, peeking over the roof to watch.

"You don't seem like you're from around here. Where are you from then?" Lee asked as he leaned against the ladder.

"Far away," Zuko replied simply as he lined up another nail.

"Ohhh. Are you a soldier or something, are you part of the army like my brother?" Lee interrupted again, drawing Zuko's attention away from his work.

"Lee, give it a rest. Stop asking the man personal questions, got it?" his father said disapprovingly. He himself was getting a little annoyed of his son's badgering.

"Yes," Lee sighed disappointedly as he rested his head on his arm. Though his curiosity got the better of him. "So, how'd you get that scar?"

Zuko, surprised at the question, swung down his hammer a little too hard. Striking his thumb, now throbbing red, as he groaned in pain.

"It's not nice to bother people about things they might not want to talk about. A man's past is his business," Gansu said, trying to get through to his son. Lee then silently nodded his head as he let them continue their work uninterrupted. Zuko and Gansu soon returned to hammering away.

The hours soon flew by, all the chores finishing quickly with all the extra hands. Supper was soon ready and served out to everyone. The refugees and the Kyoshi warriors were more than grateful for the food and the lodgings. After supper, everyone retreated to their cots getting ready for an early night's rest for an earlier morning rise. Though not everyone was asleep.

Lee snuck into the barn while everyone was asleep. It didn't take too long to find the scarred warrior. Seeing him lying near the others, they all appeared fast asleep. Though when Lee spotted the twin sword resting to the side, he quietly made his way over. He snatched up the twin blades before making a silent escape. Though he wasn't as silent as he thought as Zuko rose from his spot following Lee outside.

Lee was swinging and slashing the swords around, practicing with them. But each slash was clumsy and choppy, as he sliced through the sunflowers and Stabbed a nearby dead tree trunk. His tongue lolling out of his mouth and breathing heavily in the effort. Zuko silently approached behind him judging his performance.

"You're holding them wrong," he announced, startling the young boy, making fall back in surprise.

Lee then looked to Zuko, seeing him scowling and arms folded as he towered over him. He then got back up, looking down ashamed, as he held out the swords to Zuko.

Zuko took them both giving them a look over before turning to Lee. "Keep in mind, even though they are two blades they are two halves of a single weapon. Don't think of them as separate, 'cause they're not. They're just two different parts of the same whole." Zuko explained as he swung around the swords carefully, demonstrating his skill. With a fluid motion, the twin steel blades became one as he slashed out. Several sunflower heads being sliced billowing to the ground. He then turned around, and handed the swords back to Lee to try. Lee is a little more careful this time, and a little less awkward with the swords. He turned to Zuko once he is was done with his own mini demonstration.

Zuko smiled kindly as Lee smiled back with a small grateful laugh. Zuko then walked Lee back to his house, walking away from the sunflower patch, side by side with the full moon shining down on them.

"I think you'd really like my brother Sensu. He used to show me stuff like this all the time," Lee smiled

"Maybe I would. Night, Lee," he said as he turned to head back to the barn. But as he reached the door, a familiar face was waiting for them.

"So, how was your late night sword lesson?" Aikio asked as she leaned against the door frame to the barn.

Zuko just rolled his eyes at her remark wanting to just head to bed. "What do you want Aikio?" he asked annoyed.

"What? Is that any way to greet your new sis, I'm offended," she said mockingly. However, Zuko wasn't having it, scowling at her till she answered.

"Look me and Suki were talking earlier, and I guess she suggested that I should make some effort to be nice to you... and I guess since you are my brother, I should try, at least," she said as she pushed herself off the door frame.

"So this is me making an effort," she said as she tossed a wooden rod at him, which he easily plucked from the air.

"What's this for?" he asked, arching his brow.

"Training. I'm gonna teach you how to sword fight like a Kyoshi," she said with a knowing smirk as she picked another wooden staff.

She guided Zuko to a clearing behind the barn, where she drew out a circle in the loose dirt. He had no idea what she was planning or her ulterior motives but decided to humour her. "Look you are good, not gonna lie, but when you fight with one sword you are sloppy. You keep your side too open and during a real fight, someone would abuse that."

"Like, you did," Zuko retorted.

"Exactly, but I wasn't trying to kill you then." she chuckled

"Then?"

"Don't worry about it, just focus on the now, okay," she said, raising the wooden stick mimicking her sword fighting stance. "You want to keep your blade and yourself centred at all times. Your stance must be firm and unmoveable," she said as she demonstrated planting her feet firmly to the ground, digging in her stance as she brandished her wooden sword.

Zuko decided to follow along, getting in the same stance she did. But once in position, she suddenly turned and slashed down at him. He quickly brought up his weapon to meet hers, easily deflecting the blow. Though she looked at him disapprovingly as she looked down at his feet "Wrong, you have to keep your stance firm, you can't allow your footing to shift," she said backed off of him. "You must be immovable like the mountain, now again," she said, bringing her wooden weapon down on him again and again. Zuko doing his best to keep steady meeting her strikes.

Aikio then began changing up her attacks coming from different angles, swiping at him with the wooden rod. He would block them but she would chastise him every time he shifted till he got it right. Once she was satisfied she taught him how to strike. She went through a routine of lunges, thrusts and slashes. A single blow that could take down any opponent.

They practiced almost through the night, the once dark blue skin, now tinted purple as the sun started to peek around the horizon. Though their breath was heavy and their brow dripping of sweat. Neither of them were truly tired, their strikes were as strong as when they started. And in Zuko's case, they were strong as the sun rose. "Huff, huff, huff... you know you aren't too bad at this," Aikio commended him.

"Nor you," Zuko admitted as he wiped the sweat from his eyes and rubbed his neck.

"I'll take that as a compliment," she said with a soft chuckle. "We better get back before we end up not getting any sleep at all," she said, stretching out her back.

"Agreed," Zuko nodded as they just dropped the makeshift swords and headed towards the barn door.

"You know, I still don't like you much, but you do make a good pupil," Aikio smirked as she punched his arm good heartedly.

"Ha, my Uncle would be glad to hear that," he said with a soft sigh. They both then quietly made their way into the barn, rejoining the rest of their group. Letting themselves slip off to sleep after crawling into their cots. Getting just a few hours' sleep, before everyone woke from the hog roosters caw.

When morning came everyone got into gear, gathering up and repacking the carts. The family even offered some of the food that the refugees helped harvest. "This is really too much, we can't accept this," Suki argued politely.

"Nonsense, it is the least we could do," Sela smiled as Zuko and Gansu hauled the bundle of food on the cart. "You helped us out tremendously. It would have taken my husband weeks to harvest this much food. Besides, in these trying times, we have to do what we can."

Suki then nodded in agreement. "Then thank you, we will make every bit of it count," she said as Zuko and Gansu finished. "You're all loaded up and ready to go," Gansu announced as he joined his wife and son's side while Zuko went to mount his beast.

Just as he slipped onto the saddle, he noticed a growing cloud of dust in the distance. Riding onto the farm, the same group of Earth Kingdom soldiers that were harassing him in the town.

Gansu stepped forward, pulling from his wife to meet the intruders as they approached. "What do you think they want?" he asked bitterly. "Trouble," Zuko answered under his breath as he gripped the sword at his side.

The soldiers then pulled up to Gansu's family, their beasts trotting in place. But Gansu was not threatened even as the leader towered over him. "What do you want, Gow?"

"Just thought someone ought to tell you that your son's battalion got captured," Gow declared with a cruel grin as he turned to his men. "You boys hear what the Fire Nation did with their last group of Earth Kingdom prisoners?"

"Dressed 'em up in Fire Nation uniforms and put 'em on the front line unarmed, the way I heard it," one of the soldiers answered with the same vile grin before spitting on the ground. "Then they just watched."

"You watch your mouth!" Gansu bellowed in anger. Gow was about to step forward to show what happens to people who talk back to him. But Zuko came between them, his fingers gripping his sword as he glared daggers at Gow. Even the Kyoshi warriors came to the man's defence, their hands eager to draw their blades.

Gow and Zuko daring the other to make the first move before Gow finally scoffed and tugged his reins. "Why bother rooting around in the mud with these pigs?" Gow blustered before turning around his ostrich horse and all four soldiers rode away, kicking up a cloud of dust behind them.

Zuko remained still watching the soldiers retreat as Gansu turned to his family hugging them tightly. "What's going to happen to my brother?" Zuko heard Lee ask his father but Gansu didn't really have an answer for him. "I'm going to the front. I'm going to find Sensu and bring him back," Gansu declared with his wife crying in his arms as they walk to the house.

Suki followed and tried her best to comfort and talk with the family, while Lee remained outside still a bit in shock. He then turned to Zuko, desperate for answers. "What are we gonna do now... when my dad goes?

Zuko didn't have an answer for him. At least nothing that would help bring his brother back. He himself understood the pain all too well. And as he looked down at Lee with a heavy sigh, he reached to his side and pulled out his sheathed dagger. He then bent down and gave it to Lee who let a faint smile grace his lips at the gift. "Here. I want you to have this. Read the inscription."

Lee unsheathed the dagger looking over at the smooth blade. "Made in Earth Kingdom," he read which made Zuko shake his head. "The other one."

Lee then turned the blade over, looking over the other inscription "Never give up without a fight."

"Never give up without a fight," Zuko repeated the words, nodding his head to the boy before turning to leave. Suki now rejoined them as they got ready to trot off. Even as they left Zuko's mind was still on Lee and what he had lost. Knowing too well what he must be going through.

After a few hours of travelling down the road, they took a little break resting on a patch of grass on the side of the road. Zuko let out a heavy sigh laying back, resting on the soft grass. Letting his eyes flutter closed wanting to relax. And even though he didn't open his eyes he could tell someone had come over to lay next to him. They didn't say a word, but they didn't have to for Zuko to know who it was. "Hey Suki."

"Hey Blue, you doing okay?" Suki asked softly, glancing over to him as his eyes remained shut.

"Yeah I'm fine, how about you?" he asked

"I'm good, just tried," she answered with a soft huff.

"I can imagine, hmmmm what happened... when you talked to the family," he asked a little curious.

"Well, I tried to explain to Gansu that his family needed him, now more than ever. I tried to convince him to stay for them, but he was set on going, nothing I could do would stop him," she said a little saddened at the thought. "How about you and Lee... how did he take it?"

"I don't know... I didn't know what to say to him," Zuko sighed, disappointed in himself. "I wish I could tell him that everything will be okay, or that things will get better, but I couldn't bring myself to do it," he admitted.

"Is it because of... of your cousin?" Suki asked, already remembering when he talked about his family. How his cousin died in the war a few years back.

"Yeah," he said as he sat himself up on the grass finally turning to face Suki. "He was like a brother to me... he went to the front with my Uncle. I thought, we all thought... just a few months and he would come back a hero. Everything would be fine, he would be fine. But when we got the news what happened it just..."

"Got worse," Suki said, finishing his train of thought.

"Yeah, got worse," he said, slumping over slightly.

Suki sighed and nodded her head as she leaned against him. Trying her best to comfort him. She knew how much it pained him and she was glad he could talk to her about these things, and so was he. "Thanks, Suki... for listening."

"Anytime Zuko... anytime," she whispered to him.

He smiled slightly hearing his name own on her lips. It was a nice reminder, letting him know who he was and that he can be himself. Not a banished prince, not the Blue Spirit, not a Kyoshi warrior, he just Zuko. That was nice.

Suddenly, an ostrich horse could be heard approaching. Everyone shot up to see who was coming, and to their confusion, they saw Sela riding toward them in a carriage. She was frantic and panicked as she pulled up to them. "You have to help! It's Lee... the thugs from town came back as soon as Gansu left. When they ordered us to give them food, Lee pulled a knife on them! I don't even know where he got a knife!" she said, making Zuko eyes go wide, realizing what he had done. "Then they took him away," she sobbed. "They told me if he's old enough to fight, he's old enough to join the army. I know we barely know you, but..."

"I'll get your son back," Zuko stated as he went straight for his ostrich horse ready to ride off and fix what he had done.

"Not alone you're not," Suki said as the rest of the Kyoshi warriors joined her.

"But..."

"No buts Blue, you are not alone. We do this, we do this together," she said as she mounted upon her beast.

"What about your arm?" Ami asked a little concerned as Suki just stopped using the sling.

"Please, the only arms you should be worrying about is theirs," Suki said with a confident smirk and flexed her arm. "Now Tam, Ami, and Kikki; you three are staying with the caravan. Aikio, you and Blue are with me," she said as she turned to Sela. "We will get your son back."

The three warriors rode hard and fast heading back to town. The sun setting upon their arrival. Zuko, Aikio and Suki trotted through a small archway that enters the town. And the people around scatter when they see them coming. And at the centre of the town, Lee was tied up to a tower. He was afraid and downcast, but when he looked up to see Zuko. He quickly regained hope. "Hey! There he is! I told you he'd come!" he shouted gleefully to the Earth Kingdom soldier's annoyance.

Zuko dismounted and turned to face the soldiers that approached. "Let the kid go," he said, his voice hollow and eerie. And as tugged off his straw hat, he revealed the Blue demon mask that adorned his face.

"The Blue Spirit! You losers are so going down!" Lee cheered in excitement.

Gow, on the other hand, just laughed loudly, unimpressed, but quickly regained composure. "Who do you think you are, telling us what to do? You are just a masked weirdo and a bunch of weak little girls."

"Who is he calling weak? Oooh, I'm so gonna smack that stupid grin off his face," Aikio growled about to step forward but was halted when Zuko raised his hand.

"It doesn't matter who I am. But I know who you are. You're not soldiers, you're bullies. Freeloaders, abusing your power. Mostly over women and kids. You don't want Lee in your army... you're sick cowards messing with a family who's already lost one son to the war." Zuko spouted as a crowd began to form.

Gow saw the people whispering and quietly mocking him and his men, which only enraged him more, as he will not be questioned. "Are you gonna let this stranger stand there and insult you like this?" he said, shoving his soldiers and ordering them to attack.

"This is going to be fun," Suki said, cracking her knuckles, the horde of soldiers clumsily charging towards them.

Suki was the first to meet their challenge. Bobbing under their spears she jabbed and rammed her fists into one of the soldier's chests. Easily beating it blue. Another thought he could catch her off guard and drove his spear towards her, but she blocked it with her arm guard and then delivered a right cross to his jaw, sending him sprawling to the ground.

While Suki was busy, a few men tried to take on Aikio instead. Seeing her opponents, she just scoffed. "You guys aren't worth sullying my blade," she says as she pulled the katana from her side, keeping it in its sheath. They tried to thrust and swipe at her with their spears, but she quickly blocked and parried each strike. She then jammed the blunt tip of her scabbard into one of the men's faces, shattering his nose. She then whipped around and swept the leg of another, before whacking him in the back of the head, knocking him out cold.

Finally, there was the Blue Spirit. The soldiers tried their best to fight the masked warrior. But their efforts were fruitless, as they were justifiably decimated. Zuko tossed the men like rag dolls through food stands or piledriving them with his fist, slamming them into the ground. The three warriors left all those that faced them unconscious or running scared. Till there was but one left. The man trembled, shaking in place as he built the courage to try and thrust his spear to the Blue Spirit's chest. But even this was pointless as Zuko simply kicked the spear, snapping it in two. Seeing his weapon destroyed, the man ran off, dropping what was left as he made his escape.

"Show off," Aikio said, eyeing Zuko and his handy work. "Hahaha, now tell me baldy, who are the weak ones now," Aikio shouted at Gow, making Lee laugh in delight. While more of the town gathered to watch along with a worried Sela.

Now with the last of his cronies gone, Gow was next to step up to the plate. His rising anger making the very ground under him began to tremble and quack. And as he drew his dual hammers he signalled the true battle was about to begin.

"He's mine," Zuko said, his eyes locked onto Gow, drawing his twin swords.

Suki nodded her head in agreement. "Get him Zuko, go knock his lights out," she smirked as she and Aikio stepped to the side, joining the spectators that amassed to watch the fight.

Now with their weapons at the ready, Gow didn't waste any more time and made the first move. Taking his hammer, striking it against the ground, launching a rock straight for Zuko's head. Zuko easily deflected the blow, splitting the rock with his steel. Gow gritted down his teeth as he slammed his hammers against the earth, launching even more rocks towards the Blue Spirit.

Zuko twirled and spun his blades, slashing away at the rocks and boulders being catapulted towards him. The pieces of earth crumbling and shattering from each strike. However, this only enraged Gow further making him fire off even more rocks at the Blue Spirit. A few make it past his swords, hitting him and pushing him back. He shook off the blows quickly, his new armour shielding him quite well from the attacks.

"Hey, what did I teach you?! Watch your footing Blue! Remember, be the mountain! BE THE MOUNTAIN!" Aikio yells out to him making Suki arch her brow confused at her sister.

"You taught him?" Suki said with a surprised smirk.

"So what? I gave him a few pointers. It's no big deal. Now shush, I'm trying to watch baldy get his butt whooped," Aikio said, rolling her eyes as she turned her attention back to the fight.

Zuko followed Aikio's directions and dug his feet in as he made his advance. The rocks sent his way barely making a dent as he cut each down. Gow became more erratic as he threw as much earth as he could muster. Three large rocks now race towards Zuko. He ducked and bobbed under the first two, but the third he leapt up, jumping on the boulder, using it to kick off and vaulted towards Gow.

Gow was shocked to see the Blue Spirit flying towards him. In desperation, he earthbent a rock wall to shield him. And it was just in the nick of time, the blades dug into the stone. The Blue Spirit then began slicing and cutting away the rock walls Gow erected. Again and again, he tore through his earth defences like they were nothing.

To Gow, losing was not an option. He wouldn't allow it. He won't allow a stranger to best him and take away all his power. He would not allow it. Just as Zuko cut down the next wall, Gow summoned all his might and slammed his hammer into the ground. The earth then erupted an explosion of dust and rocks arose. Zuko was blasted backwards thrown off his feet. He quickly stabbed his sword into the ground to slow his momentum as he slid across the dirt. But Gow did not relent his assault. He earthbent again, sending wave after wave of rocks towards the masked warrior. Zuko manages to destroy each, one by one. But he fails to see Gow's next attack, as a rockalanche driving through the earth directly at him.

The crowd gasped collectively as Zuko was sent flying and landing straight on his back, his mask dislodged from his face falling a few feet behind him. "Zuko!" Suki couldn't stop herself from screaming out as she saw him collapse to the ground. "We have to stop this!" Suki said to Aikio, but she shook her head. "Don't worry he's got this," she said and yelled to him "Get your lazy butt up Blue, get up!"

Suki looked on with worry but began to yell too "Get up Blue! Get up!"

Even Lee and the crowd began to plead "Get up...!" But he still hadn't moved as Gow approached and towered over Zuko's limp form. His eyes still clenched shut, his swords barely in his grasp.

"Get up!"

"Get up!"

"Get up!

"Zuko, what do we do when we fall?" Out of all the voices calling to him, one voice finally broke through the chaos. His mother's soft words speaking to him now from a memory. "Zuko, what do we do when we fall?" Ursa asked again and his younger voice spoke. "We get back up, and try again?" He could almost see his mother smiling down at him at the answer. "That's right Prince Zuko, now get up. Get up."

Just as Zuko's eyes finally began to open, he watched as Gow rose his hammers ready to deliver the final blow. In that instance, his instincts took over and he reached for his swords and summoned his fire. A hurricane of flame shot out around him as he twirled his blades.

Gow was thrown back from the blast, his hammers flying from his grip. While a silence fell over the crowd, shielding their eyes from the heat. Soon they were able to peek through and watch as Zuko rose from the flames. "And to think I thought he looked like a demon before," Aikio said stunned, Suki silently nodding in agreement. The people that once cheered for now looked on at Zuko with horror.

Although unarmed, Gow brought himself back into his stance raising his fists, determined to finish the fight. Zuko roared and charged him, he twirled his blades letting the fire dance and juggle between them. Then with a flick of his sword, the fire leapt from his steel blasting straight for Gow.

Gow tried to deflect the fire with earthbending, bringing up a rock shield around him, but the blast was too powerful. The earth was blasted to pieces and Gow was sent flying straight down the street crashing into a building. Rocks crumbled around him, trapping him as he landed in the rubble.

Aikio was completely stunned, she had never seen power like his before. Although Suki had, this time she wasn't as terrified as she was back then. "Come on, let's go," she whispered to Aikio as she went to retrieve Zuko's mask and rejoin his side.

Just as Gow was coming too he looked up and saw the firebender approach him. And all he could do was shiver in fear. "... who are you?" he asked as he held his arms over his head.

Zuko just looked down at the man with pity. The big mean bully now is just a weak, pitiful man. Zuko as he sheathed his blades as he towered over Gow. "My name is Zuko. Son of Ursa and I am the Blue Spirit, Warrior of the Sun," he announced proudly of who he is now. His past titles were nothing compared to the new ones he had earned. Suki couldn't help but smile as she and Aikio joined his side hearing his proud words which lifted her spirits.

"Liar!" a man yelled over the crowd. "I heard of you! You're that prince from the wanted posters, you're an outcast! His own father burned and disowned him!" he shouted loudly, which made Suki glare and clench her fists in anger. She knew the pain that was behind those events and to hear them blurted out so carelessly made her blood seeth.

Zuko just ignored the man as he's already heard worse. Then as he looked down at Gow he spotted the dagger he gave Lee carelessly sticking from the man's pocket. Zuko knelt to retrieve it while Gow shuddered in fear. However, Zuko does nothing to harm him, he only takes Lee's dagger back. Zuko then turns to walk over to Lee to give it back, but Sela intervenes. She shields her son after freeing him.

"Not a step closer," Sela said protectively. This shocked Suki, the once kind woman now staring at daggers at them, like they were the ones that tied up her son.

Zuko then tried his best to not look threatening, like he was approaching a lioness and her cub. He knelt down in front of Sela, with Lee peeking around his mother's back, as he offered the knife. "It's yours. You should have it," he said with a small smile.

"No! I hate you!" Lee yelled as if Zuko was the one who took his brother and father away. And this was the thing that made Zuko look away in defeat. While Suki and Aikio were dumbfounded. Zuko was now the bad guy and what was worse was seeing some of the villagers actually helping Gow to his feet.

"How could you say that?! He just saved your life! He saved your son's life and this is how you repay him!" Suki said not willing to hold her tongue as she spoke her mind.

"You better leave, we don't take kindly to the Fire nation... or traitors in these parts," Sela warned.

"Traitor! I'm no... traitor," Suki spoke out insulted. Then, just as she was about to speak she felt a small pebble hit the side of her head. She turned and saw a few kids getting ready to pelt her with more stones. "Get out of our town traitor!" they yelled.

"Hey! Next one of you who throws a stone at her will have to go through me!" Aikio threatened ready to draw her sword.

"Enough, let's just go," Zuko spoke, tearing them from the crowd's attention.

"But Zuko they..." Suki tried to argue but he shook his head. "It doesn't matter, I don't care what they think of me. Besides, we have a job to do, we better get back to it," he said knowingly.

Suki and Aikio looked to each other then nodded in agreement. "These people aren't worth it," Aikio said with disgust as the three of them started to walk toward their ostrich horses, ready to leave this sorry town.

As they went to mount up, she handed Zuko back his mask, watching him eye it before slipping it back on his face. "I understand now... why you wore the mask, I hate feeling hated," she said, glancing at the growing mob.

Zuko then took her chin in his hand, tearing her gaze away from the people. "There will always be people that hate you... but what really matters are the ones that don't," he said calmly. "Thanks to you and even Aikio, I now know people who don't hate me... and that's enough."

"You do realize how corny that sounded," Aikio said smugly as she swung herself up on her beast. "But you're welcome. Now let's go before the mob gets the torches out since they already got the pitchforks."

"Yeah, let's go," Suki smiled in agreement but still felt downcasted as she glanced at the people who saw her as the enemy. She let out another sigh as she and Zuko mounted their Ostrich horses and began riding off into the sunset.

Please leave a review and let me know what you think and again stay and stay well