I had totally forgotten how long its been since I've done this one, wow!

The Literate Devil: I will! I'm keeping it in the dark intentionally ^^'

Guest from December 18th: Thank you! I'm afraid I've been neglecting this one ^^'

Wicked Neko: Honestly Fight scene's aren't my forte. I always end up 'drawing back' a little when I'm writing them, you know? And any mispselling I'm sorry for, but I have no beta. Zhao has no honor, he's a dick.

Yaya: Thank you!

Fellow: Thanks!

Wei patted her burnt arm and Shizi winced, looking back at him. He was giving her a Look. The one that conveyed you-fire-damned-idiot, followed by a shrug she figured meant, why-do-I-deal-with-you.

"I still won," she muttered, "And besides, who care's about a few burns, we're on Kyoshi island!" A grin started growing across her face. She had left the helmet away for the time being, letting the sun warm her dark hair. Zuko was a few yards away, on his own Rhino. Shizi was re wrapping a bandage that had come loose under her arm guards before they reached their destination.

It was just the three of them, as a sort of advanced infantry. The others would be along, once they had gotten their butts in gear.

Wei cocked his head and Shizi went on, one of his hands on her hip while the other held her polearm for her. The others were only a few minutes behind. If not for her prince's impatience they would have all been together.

"The Kyoshi warriors are all female, non bending fighters. I can't wait to see what they can do," her eyes shone amber in the warmth of the sun. They were light, with a spot in one by the pupil.

Zuko snorted and Shizi bit her tongue. She wanted to say, 'don't let Ty Lee hear you do that', but Zuko hadn't liked to think of his sisters friends since his banishment. She wouldn't bring them up. She did need to send the little acrobat a new letter though, now that they were close enough for hawks to reach the mainland.

Shizi faced forwards again, looking out over the island in front of her, she could see where the grass had shrivelled and died, and where brush was bound to grow come winter. It really did have the potential to be beautiful. Or it would be in summer, she figured, it was still covered in snow for now. The rhino's didn't like that one bit.

Shizi didn't blame them at all. After their ordeal in the south pole she couldn't find it in her to like anything too cold.

She hated the cold.

The path opened down the hill, revealing a small village nestled between a set of hills. At one end was a large statue of a woman holding two fans, one per hand. Avatar Kyoshi, she figured.

She was the only Avatar that Shizi could see. In fact there were no people to be seen at. Not a man, not a woman, not a child. No Avatar stood save Kyoshi. .

"Come out, Avatar! You can't hide from me forever," her prince barked, his voice carrying easily across the main street. When no one came forth to offer themselves, her prince looked back at the party he'd brought along, the others catching up when they had come up to flank them.

"Find him," he ordered, and all but Shizi urged their mounts forwards. The Rhino's were commanded by non-benders, all armed with spears or lances. Behind them sat Firebenders, distinguished by their crested helmets.

Shizi and Wei watched them go. The girl looked around, her eyes narrowing. The village was not covered in ice, there were tracks in the snow that showed foot prints. The road to the village was clear and the statue was vibrantly painted.

"It's a trap," she realized, embarrassingly slow. Too late. A girl was sprinting towards her prince while another came at them from the the side, yellow fans open. They were painted like Kyoshi, green armor hiding them from easy view.

"Wei," she warned, but he was already throwing down cover fire. Shizi swept through it with her spear, but the wood broke, splintering under a blow from the woman.

Shizi grinned and shoved the reins into her companion's hands, surprising him enough the his fire cut off. It was fine by her, she was busy vaulting off of the Rhino, smashing a kick into the girl's shoulder, where the breastplate didn't cover.

The fan struck at her leg but all she had to do was lift it to block with her armored boot before kicking the warrior in the face.

She fell back, her nose as red as her lips and eyes.

A shout had Shizi spinning in time to see her prince kicked off of his Rhino and surrounded. She made for him but he beat her to it, spinning on his hands while fire erupted from his feet to send the Kyoshi Warriors flying. Shizi smiled her pride. A glance at Wei and he threw his hand at her, gesturing, and she took the hint.

Shizi ran for her prince, falling in beside him.

"Nice try Avatar," he shouted at the air, "But these little girls can't protect you!"

Shizi cleared her throat pointedly and he looked at her and cringed a bit.

"Over here!"

Shizi looked back and there, indeed, was the Avatar.

"I find it odd that shouting lures out someone who's been hiding for a hundred years," she confessed, turning towards him.

Wei appeared on Zuko's other side. His arm was raised, but only the left one. The right was hanging limply at his side. Someone had dislocated it. Shizi winced her sympathy.

Shizi spun a spear off the ground and prepared herself.

She had never seen anyone who moved like the little bald boy. He was fast, he jumped high, and more than anything he never let a strike land, or landed one himself. Shizi circled him on one side, her prince on the other.

She waited for her cue, when Zuko threw forth a fire ball big enough to block the airbenders view of her. From under her armor she whipped out her Dragon Hook and flung it into the flames.

It wrapped around someone and she pulled, hard, expecting the little airbender to come crashing out towards her.

Instead, A pie came flying at her face. A pie.

She drew her sword and cut tried through it, sending halfs crashing over her shoulders. It hit the ground in bloody red smears and she spun her hook around again, up into the air, and this time it looped true around the Avatar's ankle.

She yanked, pulling his down to the ground at alarming speed.

For an instant she thought she had miscalculated and that he would break his neck. But the little shit threw somekind of air down at the ground and cushioned his fall so he only kicked up a little dirt when she reeled him towards her.

"Let go! Come on, I didn't do anything to you!" he fought, trying to free his leg, but the hooks had him.

"Doesn't matter," she said flatly, her voice muffled by the helmet, "We need you to come with us."

"Why?" he asked. She could see his eyes darting around. Looking for escape.

"Fire Lord Ozai wants a word with you," she replied steadily. She reached to grab his wrists, and jerked back when a jet of water shot in front of her face. The little Southern girl was back.

The one instant of distraction was all it took for the Avatar to slip out of her hooks and run off.

Her prince screamed in frustration. She could sympathize.

Fuck the Avatar.

"D'you think we'll ever actually catch him?" she asked Wei later that night. He had more experience that she did, and he was more realistic than her prince. Her prince, who she had to keep her voice down to avoid drawing the attention of.

Wei merely lifted his shoulder. Shizi sighed.

"I want to go home," she said softly. Back to the palace on the main island, back to her master and his teachings. Back to following her prince around the halls painted red and black.

She did not wish for Yase island and her Father and Grandmother and Saya. She wanted nothing to do with the big red house by the sea and the water gardens within. She had no desire to take a boat north into port and descend into the forsaken house of her childhood.

They were not her home, they were not her place.

Her place was at her prince's side, his shadow, his protectorate.

That was where she was meant to be.

A hand fell on her shoulder and she looked at Wei, who offered her a rare, soft smile. Shizi couldn't feel the warmth of his palm through the had metal of her armor, but she appreciated the gesture, even leaning into it. Wei was a nice fellow. He always had been, ever since they first started this damnable expedition.

Back when it was just a dreaming prince and a group of people bound to follow him.

She wasn't always sure why most of them stayed. No where better to go, perhaps? None of them were quite like her in their loyalties. Not as vicious and hard of heart.

A horn blasted somewhere in the distance. A Fire Nation outpost had spotted them. Good. They were running low on suplies. Zhao hadn't been able to 'spare' much of anything to them.

How Shizi hated the man.

She patted Wei's arm and pulled away, moving to Zuko's side. He was almost always the first on the ground, which made her the second. Iroh stood up from where he'd been beating Li, badly, racking his winnings into a bag.

Shizi had her own meager pay tucked away safely at her hip, under the hilt of her sword. No one would be stupid enough to go for it so close to where she could cut their whole arm off.

Within minutes they had docked and were walking down into a portside down with Fire Nation banners hanging down around them.

Shizi stayed behind Zuko as they walked up to the portmaster, marked by his uniform for all to see. Not that she had any room to talk. The Royal Procession mask was still fixed firmly on her face plate.

"We need-" Zuko began, only to be cut off by the older man.

"We have nothing to spare."

Shizi stared at him. Nothing? The port was thriving. She could see it from where she was. Fool, by the handful or by the barrel was all around them. Fruits, vegitables, meats. Dryed rice was stacked up in massive bags not a hundred feet from them. Nothing to spare?

"I am the prince!" Zuko reared. He had analysed the same as her, probably.

"And we have nothing to spare for the prince who let the Avatar escape," the portmaster said evenly.

"I didn't let him do anything," Zuko took a threatening step towards the man and Shizi's hand fell to the hilt of her sword. Ready for a fight.

Iroh stepped between them all smoothly.

"Now, now, nephew. I'm sure we can come to an agreement here somehow," he soothed. To the portmaster he said, "We have the money to buy whatever we need. Your people will be fairly compensated."

"Money is not our concern," he said firmly. "We have nothing to spare to you, or your nephew. Good day." He turned away from them.

Shizi was left staring at his back. She looked around, at more than just the goods this time. She looked at the people, and those that had come off the ship with them. All of them were being turned away from the stalls and stands, their money shoved back in their hands.

If they could afford to turn away good business then this place could absolutely afford to supply the prince and his crew whatever they might ask for the voyage ahead of them. They were just being greedy and cruel.

"We need those supplies!" Zuko snarled and tried to lunge at the man, but Iroh held him at bay. Shizi was reminded again that her prince wasn't one for politics. Here was why.

"That isn't my concern," the portmaster repeated. "Good day."

He turned and walked away, leaving the trio standing in the street. This was bad.

This was very, very, bad.