The Dragon Princess and the Wolf Warrior

Chapter 2 [~|~] The Avatar Returns

Azara hid her bag under her bed, standing up as someone knocked on her door. Calling for them to enter, Azara turned around to see a guard standing in the doorway. "Princess Azara, Prince Zuko wanted me to inform you that we have spotted the Avatar and his hiding place. We should be arriving soon."

"Thank you," Azara nodded as the guard bowed and left the room. Turning to her drawers, Azara pulled out her set of Fire Nation robes. She did not like wearing the armor or helmets her brother preferred, enjoying the mobility her gained by reducing weight. Pinning her hair back, Azara stared at her reflection in the mirror. Sighing, she turned to join her brother and his accompanying soldiers.

Azara stood her ground as the ship started to shake. The thick ice of the South Pole was difficult to sail through, but the Fire Navy ship continued forwards. The ship slowly stopped, gases hissing as the front of the ship prepared to lower. Azara stood at the back of the group, allowing Zuko to lead the way into the small Water Tribe village.

She glanced up at the sound of a war cry. A lone boy, probably around her age, ran at Zuko, a club raised and ready to strike him. Zuko stared at him with disinterest as he knocked the Southern Water Tribe boy into a snowbank without a second glance. "Where are all the warriors?" Azara thought to herself as she stared at the village. Her eyes glanced over the assembled villagers, only finding women and children among the group.

"Where are you hiding him?" Zuko demanded angrily as he stood in front of the villagers. He waited a few moments before reaching out and grabbed an elderly woman from the group.

"Zuko! Stop it!" Azara yelled, marching forwards.

"He'd be about this age, master of all elements," Zuko continued without glancing back or acknowledging his sister's comment.

"Leave her alone, Zuko," Azara growled out, prying Zuko's hand off the woman's coat. "What is wrong with you?"

"I told you to stay out of my way, Azara," Zuko snapped, knocking her out of his way with his shoulder. Azara adjusted her footing but remained standing as she glared at the back of his head. The sound of another battle cry made Azara and Zuko turn around to see the Water Tribe boy from earlier charging once again.

Zuko easily ducked under the Water Tribe boy's swing, sending the boy to the ground. Azara watched as he rolled out of the way of Zuko's fire blast, throwing a boomerang at Zuko in retaliation. While the boomerang missed, Azara had to give him credit for not giving up, especially considering he was the only semi-warrior the villagers seemed to have.

"Show no fear!" a small boy called, tossing the Water Tribe boy a spear. He charged forwards again, but Zuko easily broke the head of the spear off, grabbing the rest of the weapon from the boy's hands. Using the blunt end of the spear, Zuko knocked him in the head several times, causing the boy to fall to the ground. Zuko broke the remaining spear, looking unimpressed.

The sound of swishing made Azara raise an eyebrow and look behind her, her eyes widening as she spotted the boomerang from earlier. She watched as the boomerang hit Zuko in the back of the head, further angering her brother. As he made fire daggers with his hands, Azara called out to her brother.

"The Avatar is not here, Zuko. You've scared them enough," Azara replied, but Zuko ignored her again. Suddenly, something shot past her, knocking Zuko off his feet and face first into the snow. Azara hid her chuckle with a cough as Zuko's helmet conveniently landed on his butt, causing the village children to cheer. She turned to see who had knocked Zuko over in the first place, her eyes widening at the sight of a young boy, probably no older than twelve, with airbender tattoos.

"The Avatar," Azara gasped out as Zuko stood up, pushing her behind him and signaling to the soldiers to surround the airbender. In response, the airbender slammed the ground with his staff, sending puffs of snow at the Fire Nation soldiers.

"Looking for me?" he challenged, standing with his staff as Zuko melted the snow off himself.

"You're the airbender? You're the Avatar?" Zuko spoke with surprise clear in his tone. The two started to circle each other. "I've spent years preparing for this encounter. Training, meditating. You're just a child."

"Well, you're just a teenager," the Avatar pointed out, shrugging his shoulders. Azara watched as Zuko lurched forwards, sending a blast of fire towards the Avatar. As the two circled each other, Azara noted how the Avatar made no effort or move to utilize any element other than air.

"He hasn't done any training," she thought to herself as the Avatar twirled his staff, effectively blocking a fire blast, but allowing the fire to lick at the villagers. The screaming of the villagers seemed to stop the Avatar from retaliating as he relaxed his stance.

"If I go with you, will promise to leave everyone alone?" the Avatar inquired, standing with his staff. Zuko nodded as the Fire Nation soldiers moved forwards to grab him.

"No, Aang don't!" a girl from the crowd shouted, running forwards.

"Don't worry, Katara. It'll be okay," he assured her, before being pushed forwards by the Fire Nation soldiers. "Take care of Appa for me until I get back."

"Head a course for the Fire Nation. I'm going home," Zuko ordered, walking up the gangplank and into the ship. Azara walked in front of the Avatar, glancing back at the small disheartened village behind her as the front of the ship closed. Turning to walk back to her quarters, Azara stopped as Zuko stepped in front of her, an angry expression on his face. "What was that?" he snapped as Azara narrowed her eyes at her older brother.

"That was unnecessary," Azara shot back at him, brushing past him. Zuko reached out and grabbed her arm, yanking her back once again.

"Don't get in my way again, Azara," Zuko stated, his voice low.

"Or what?" she asked, ripping her arm out of his hand. "Going to challenge me to an Agni Kai?" she continued, knowing she had hit a nerve. It was a harsh statement, particularly when they were about to return home, but Azara was completely over and done with Zuko's temperamental personality and his mission to return the Avatar, who a kid younger than herself, to their terrible excuse for a father.

Storming away, Azara turned around and headed upstairs towards her chambers. Zuko resisted the urge to send a fire blast into his sister's back and settled for yelling in frustration, flames darting from his palms. As he walked away, a guard came running over. "Prince Zuko, we've lost the Avatar!" the guard announced, causing Zuko to growl in frustration before running to his quarters.