Firefly (ON HOLD)

Prologue - Perspective

YOU ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO WATCH THE TRAILER UP TOP! IT'S AMAZING EVEN IF I DO SAY SO MYSELF, EASILY THE BEST TRAILER I'VE EVER MADE SO WATCH IT!!

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"Wei Jing! Hey, WEI JING! Wait up!" Wei Jing turned, frowning, as a young boy ran up to him. The kid was waving a piece of paper, and there was an excited grin on his face.

"What is it Hue?"

The boy stopped in front of him, panting, and thrust the paper into Wei Jing's face. "It's from her!"

With a gasp, the tall earthbender took the paper and unfolded it, quickly skimming it with his eyes. Slowly, a smile spread across his face. There were only two words on the paper, but Wei Jing knew what they meant. He folded the tattered missive carefully and tucked it into his pocket, still smiling. Hue looked at him with wide eyes, expectant. "Well, what did it say? Is she coming?!"

Wei Jing laughed and rumpled the boy's hair. "Come on. We need to get this to the captain. He'll want to send a garrison right away."

"A garrison? But why? Isn't the Lady coming here?"

"No, but she's told us where she'll be. It must be a big drop if she's guarding it herself."

"Do you think it'll be enough to save the western villages?"

"It just might be, Hue." The pair walked toward the camp, both of them smiling radiantly. If the money the Painted Lady was bringing this time was anywhere near as much as the last drop had been, they'd be able to save Hue's family for sure. They didn't have enough men in their small army to fight the Fire Nation directly, but with the money the Lady sent them they could still get most of the Earth Kingdom citizens to safety, sending them to refugee camps or Ba Sing Se and Omashu.

"Is it true what they say, Wei Jing?"

"Is what true, Hue?"

"The Painted Lady. Is she really a spirit?"

Wei Jing laughed, shaking his head. "I don't know, kid. But it doesn't matter. She's saved a lot of people from the Fire Nation, and that's enough for me. I don't care what she is, even if she's a bandit like the Fire Nation says; we need all the help we can get in this war."

Hue nodded, his big brown eyes alight. "Can I go tell the others, Wei Jing? About the drop I mean?"

Wei Jing smiled again, poking the boy's cheek. "Sure thing, Hue. Just make sure you tell your sister first or she'll have your head."

Laughing, Hue ran off in the direction of the village, leaving Wei Jing to take the news to his captain alone.

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"My Lord! A report from the Outer Isles just came in!" Ozai looked at the bowing soldier from the corner of his eye, forcing down a scowl. He didn't have time to worry about insignificant reports when he was fighting a war.

"Take it to General Yang."

The man quivered, but didn't leave. Ozai scowled.

"Forgive me, Your Majesty, but I just came from him. He said to bring it to you." Ozai started to berate the man, then thought better of it. If Yang had sent it to him it might actually be important. He took the missive and waved a hand to dismiss the soldier, who left quickly.

With an irritated air, the Fire Lord unfolded the paper, reading it quickly-and his expression quickly changed as he did so. Gone was the irritated air-now Ozai was furious.

With a swipe of his hand, the missive burned to ashes, and Ozai strode from the courtyard into the palace. He would have Yang's head for this! How incompetent were his soldiers anyway? They couldn't even catch one worthless peasant! The Painted Lady had been a thorn in his side for nearly three years, stealing his money, destroying his factories, intercepting his army's communications.

She was just one woman, how could she cause so much trouble? Ozai didn't believe for a second that she was a spirit-no, she was a bandit, a criminal, and he would see her pay if it was the last thing he did!

Even if he had to do it himself.