Authors note:
I thank all those people who positively commented on previous chapters :) That meant a lot.
Also, I have a question. Personally, writing in third person is easier for me, and I can write better that way. I know I already started in first person, but would you guys mind if I switched? Please tell me ASAP - until then, I'll stick to first person.
Disclaimer: No matter how much I wish I did, I own none of these characters, nor Avatar itself.
We took four Ostrich-Horses, as they were relatively fast, and set off for the Earth Kingdom of Ba Sing Se. It was about a days ride. And I was not looking forward to it.
The sun shoned down mercilessly onto my shoulders, and there was not one cloud in the sky. Even the wind offered us no mercy, it simply shoved the dry, hot air into our faces. At times like this, I missed the cold tundra more than ever. But, at last, I would be returning home.
With Zuko.
After our kiss, I don't think either of us knew what to do. We talked on the road, and had petty arguments, just like we always did. But something was different. Instead of bickering, it was more like flirting. Instead of scowls, they were more like smiles. We didn't dare discuss what had happened, but it was on both of our minds.
"It's noon. Can we stop for lunch?" Zuko asked. Even after two years on the run, he couldn't get used to being hungry, or having too much discomfort.
"Sure. " I replied, then pointed to a little water hole with a tree. "How about there?"
Zuko nodded. We tied the ostrich-horses to the tree and gave them some feed. Then Zuko took out some roast duck and bread, and we ate relatively nicely.
I finished before Zuko, and while I waited, I started to play around with the water.
"What are we going to tell Toph, Sokka, and Suki?" I asked Zuko. We had agreed that Suki would be a great help, and that she should come, too. Not to mention that my brother would most likely prefer that.
"Nothing. You can tell them you and Aang broke up, but.. But until we figure this out ourselves we should keep it quiet."
I nodded. I knew I had feelings for Zuko, but admiting it was too hard. I couldn't just jump from Aang to Zuko, to use him as a rebound. But the feelings kept pestering me. Zuko's red lips kept tempting me. His warmth, his strong arms, they were so inviting, it took all my willpower to keep some distance between us.
"We better get going." I spoke up, seeing that he finished his lunch.
With that we sat on our ostrich-horses and sped off, towards Ba Sing Se
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After hours and hours of annoying travel, we had finally made it. The grand, stone walls greeted us, along with the expresionless guards.
"What are you doing here, Fire Lord?" They asked, their deep voices echoing off the walls.
"I come with no intention of harming anyone. I understand your dislike for my nation, but please, let us in, we need to talk to some friends of ours."
"Hmmm... And girl, why are you here? Who are you?"
"I am Katara of the Southern Water Tribe. I was the Avatar's wanterbending teacher, and know the Earth King personally, along with a few other ones. It would not do you much good to kick us out, or to harm us in any way."
The guards looked at eachother, and started to laugh.
My eyes widened in surprise. Then my whole face was masked in furry.
"Do you *haha* hear her? .. Threatening *laugh* us???" One of the guards said to the other.
"Oh, I'll show you." I whispered under my breath.
And with that, I turned the air around me into water, and after forming it into two prisons, I set them over the two guards. I started to make the cells smaller and smaller, but thicker at the same time, while the inside I was filling up with steam. Soon enough, the cell's became to small for the massive guards, and the heat and humidity was too much, and so they both surrendered.
"Fine, fine. We believe you. We'll open the doors for you. Just... Just let us out of here!" One of the guards wailed.
Katara did as he asked, but kept the cell's above their heads, incase she needed to encase them once more. But luckily for them, they let her and Zuko through.
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"You did what?" Toph asked, laughing at my story. After making the guards let us through, we stubled apon Toph pretty easily - she was drinking tea at Iroh's tea shop. Zuko and I hadn't found Sokka and Suki yet, but Toph promised to help us find them. We hadn't told her our plan yet, we decided to tell all three of them at once.
"I think I see Suki and Sokka." Zuko said, pointing at two people standing close to eachother in green clothes. One of them seemed to be doing a random jig - Defineatly Sokka.
We walked up to them, and after hello's and hugs, I went ahead to tell them what was going on.
"That sounds..." Suki began.
"Fun! I am so it, Sparky! Toph interupted her.
"So am I, sis. And it would be nice to see gran gran again..."
"I was going to say dangerous, but, I'm in. I'll do anything to help find your mother, Zuko."
"Great! We can leave tomorrow morning. Until then, come on. I know the perfect place to rest." Toph said, dragging me by the hand to whatever inn she was talking about.
