𝙲𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝙵𝚒𝚟𝚎

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La'kea was already half asleep on a pile of hay by the time Zuko entered the barn they had been permitted to sleep in. Exhausted, he only hung his sword sheath on a hook before collapsing next to her, not even bothering to take off his outer garment.

The sudden movement startled her awake and she looked up at him with large dark eyes that seemed to gleam in the moonlight. "Sorry," He settled down as best he could in the hay pile, hand tucked underneath his face, "How do you sleep on this?"

She stifled a yawn, blinking slowly, "I slept on a stone floor for years, I learned not to be picky."

He grimaced, pained with guilt once again, "Get some sleep. We're on the road again tomorrow."

"Yes, your highness," She said with a drawl, rolling onto her side with her back to him. Sela's question was still lingering in the back of her mind, embarrassment plagued her the more she thought about it. Even as she fought to push it to the back of her mind, it was persistent.

Perhaps if they had met under different circumstances, and she didn't have more important things to think about. Like how she was, you know, enslaved by his people. The prince was awfully handsome, and there were moments where he was so thoughtful and kind even though he tried to hide it. And his touch was so warm and gentle-.

La'kea resisted the urge to groan into her hands, these thoughts were useless and messy, and exactly what neither of them needed. Dead weight. So she forced herself to let her mind go blank, focusing on the crashing of waves against a sandy shore. The sparkle of the moonlight against dark and calm waves, the ebb and flow of the tide.

Oliana's urgent glowing face appeared in her mind.

She stifled a scream of frustration, no matter where she turned her mind to there was always something. Tossing and turning, trying to find a comfortable position, the barn door suddenly creaked open and she froze. Relaxing when she realized it was just Lee, the boy tiptoed over to Zuko and reached around them to snatched the swords of the hook.

La'kea remained still, feigning sleep even as Zuko slowly got up to follow after the boy.

He must have done more than chew the poor kid out, cause it was late at night when he finally returned, the door squeaked open and shut. She dropped the pretense of sleep, not getting much rest anyway, she sat up and rubbed her eyes. "Tell me you didn't yell at him too much?"

The prince gave a quiet chuckle, lowering himself back onto the hay pile, "I showed him how to use dual swords." The surprise must have shown on her face even in the darkness because he shrugged, "I don't know why I did it either, but... I didn't mind it."

Smiling softly, she closed her eyes, "I'm glad."

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"Here," Sela handed them a parcel containing food the next morning as they mounting their ostrich horse. "This ought to get you through a few meals."

Before they could accept the gift, the sound of hoof beats pulled everyone's attention away. The back of La'keas neck tingled, someone was stirring up a cloud of dust heading for them. Everyone present tensed at the sight of the four Earth Kingdom soldiers riding towards the farm.

Gansu stepped forward cautiously, "What do you think they want?"

Her eyes narrowed as Zuko replied, "Trouble."

"Maybe we should give it to them," She hissed, rolling her shoulders.

"What do you want, Gow?" Lee's father demanded, standing in front of his wife and child.

The man looked all to happy with himself, sneering, "Just thought someone ought to tell you that your sons battalion got captured. You boys hear what they did with their last group of Earth Kingdom prisoners?" La'keas grip on Zuko's arm tightened.

"Dressed them up in Fire Nation uniforms and put them on the front lines unarmed," One soldier spat onto the earth. "Then they just watched." Her stomach clenched.

Gansu flung a finger towards them, "You watch your mouth." Sela had a hand to her face, and another on Lee's shoulder.

Gow stirred his horse forward, only to suddenly be intercepted by the two strangers on their ostrich horse. The prince stared the older man down, steadying his mount.

The captain scowled, "Why bother rooting around in the mud with these pigs?" Pulling his reins, he led his men away from the farm, and they watched them leave.

Zuko bowed his head listening to Lee asked his parents behind them, "What's going to happen to my brother?"

Holding his wife at arms length, Gansu said firmly, "I'm going to the front. I'm going to find Sen su and bring him back." He held Sela as she walked back to the farmhouse, sobbing quietly. Lee ran over to them, still sitting on the ostrich horse.

He looked up at them hopefully, "When my dad goes... Will you stay?"

La'kea looked away as Zuko answered curtly. "No, we need to move on," The prince took something from the saddlebag, and bent to the side to hand it to the boy. "Here, I want you to have this. Read the inscription."

"Made in Earth Kingdom," Lee squinted with confusion at the bright pearl dagger.

"The other one," Zuko corrected patiently as La'kea suppressed a small giggle.

"Never give up without a fight," The boy murmured, looking up to see the ostrich horse already gone down the dirt road.

They didn't ride for long, just stopping far enough from the farmhouse and the village to rest on a hill.

"Will you stop pacing?" Zuko muttered in annoyance as he watched La'kea walk back and forth from where he was laying in the grass.

"I feel so guilty," She said, spinning around to face him, flinging her arms out. "Why do I feel guilty? This isn't my fault, there's nothing I can do. So why do I feel guilty?"

He dropped his hat over his eyes, blocking out the sun, "Because you're too empathetic. Turn it off and you'll feel better."

She nudged his foot harshly, plopping down in the grass. "Thanks for your advice," She intoned sarcastically.

The sound of an ostrich horse's squawking and hoof beats made them sit up abruptly. It was Sela, sitting atop a hay cart, looking frantic. "It's Lee," She cried out, and La'keas stomach dropped. "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!"

"Then they took him away," A strangled sob escaped the older woman as Zuko avoided her eyes. "They said if he's old enough to fight, he's old enough to join the army. I know we barely know you but-."

La'kea grasped Sela's hands, "We'll help."

"We'll get your son back," Zuko agreed, standing to his feet and making his way to the ostrich horse, gesturing quickly for her to hop on.

They rode fast to the village, by the time they passed through the archway, the sun was setting behind them. What few people were lingering outside quickly scattered at the sight of the strangers.

Lee, tied to a water tower's post, lifted his head. "Hey!" He exclaimed, "There they are! I told you they'd come."

The soldiers quickly got to their feet, and readied their spears. She put a hand to the water pouch on her hip, only for the prince to lower her hand, shaking his head. Gow entered the street to see them dismount their horse. La'kea quickly pulled her hair into a tight knot at the base of her neck, while Zuko set his hat atop the ostrich.

"Let the kid go," He commanded.

Gow barked a laugh, not impressed. "Who do you think you are, telling us what to do?"

"It doesn't matter who I am," The prince retorted calmly. "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 just sick cowards messing with a family, who's already lost one another son to the war."

She made a mental note to praise him on the speech later as Gow growled, "You just gonna let that stranger insult you like that?"

Stepping forward, she stared down the men, already picturing how she could steal one of their spears, "You don't want this fight."

They didn't deign a response, one man thrust his spear at Zuko's head, only for her to kick his legs out from under him as the prince ducked to the side. Slamming his nose into her knee as he went down, she grabbed the spear from the now unconscious man. Facing the rest of the group with the weapon readied in front of her.

Another soldier eyed his fallen comrade and shook his head, charging forward with a growl. La'kea parried the attack with ease, twisting her spear around her opponents, locking it horizontally just to unbalance him. Letting her knock him back easily, and allowing Zuko to step in and push him to the ground. The man scurried away in fright.

Leaving only one other soldier that she didn't even have to interfere with as Zuko brought his knee up, snapping the spear in half. The soldier gaped at his broken weapon and decided to turn tail, fleeing down the street after the other soldier. Lee laughed joyously as a crowd began to gather at the side of the street between houses, La'kea turned to wink at the boy with a smile discreetly.

With the last of his soldiers gone, Gow stood against the two strangers on his own. He unclipped the two war hammers from his belt, sliding into a defensive stance. Zuko finally unsheathed his dual swords and she gripped the spear in preparation.

Gow slammed a hammer against the ground, throwing a boulder into the air and launching it towards them. Every instinct screamed at her to use the water swinging from her belt, but Zuko insisted on remaining covert. Even if it meant he had to block the rock with just his swords, .

The earthbender summoned three more boulders, firing them in quick session. La'kea ducked around them, holding the spear against her back to dance on her feet. Zuko was not as evasive, opting to deflect them with his swords, but didn't block his middle in time and was struck by the rock. Although he managed to roll to this feet, he still stumbled after, concerning her about the broken ribs she would have to heal after this.

"Behind you!" Lee suddenly shouted. Turning away from the prince, she was suddenly facing a boulder that slammed into her abdomen, tossing her back. Now her thoughts were on her own cracked ribs.

It hurt to breathe, but she still leapt to her feet, in time to see an avalanche crash into the prince. who knocked his head against the ground. And now she would have to add concussion to the list.

Gow was standing over Zuko before she could reach him and as if in slow motion, he lifted his war hammers over the prince, a cruel smile on his face. La'kea's mind scrambled for a solution, she launched the spear at the earthbender like a javelin, but he just stopped it with a rock wall. The crowd waited with bated breath, hoping that the stranger who dared stand up to the thugs would by some miracle survive. The soldier brought his hammers down.

And stopped midway.

The crowds silence erupted into murmurs as Gow suddenly froze, making faint choking sounds, and they finally looked behind him to see the stranger holding her hands out to her side, fingers curled. Someone gasped in horror as the older man strained against the unseen force holding him in place. Black magic was whispered throughout the crowd gathered.

As if to add fuel to the literal fire, Zuko's eyes suddenly snapped open and he twisted to his feet, a circle of flames spinning out. Surprised by the sudden flames, La'keas concentration broke, and Gow stumbled back in shock at what had just happened and what was now happening. Which was the vortex of fire throwing him back.

She braced herself for the blistering heat, but the flames only passed over her as the prince charged Gow. Fire slamming into the captain so forcefully it broke through the earthbenders rock wall and knocked him back against a building. Trapping beneath the rubble, Gow looked up at the scarred stranger fearfully. "Who- Who are you?"

"My name is Zuko," He shouted proudly, swords still steaming at his side as he sheathed them. "Son of Ursa and Fire Lord Ozai. Prince of the Fire Nation and heir to the throne." She joined his side as the crowd gathered before them, feeling a bit left out without a title of her own to declare dramatically. 'La'kea the slave islander,' just didn't have the same bravado to it.

"Liar," A man suddenly accused, "I heard of you. You're not a prince, you're an outcast-." She only had to whip around towards the crowd and glare for them to all go running, screaming 'witch'. Zuko ignored them and grabbed his knife from Gow's belt, walking over to where Lee was being untied by his mother.

Sela didn't let them go any further, she pushed Lee behind her, "Not a step closer."

La'kea bristled at the sudden change of attitude, "We just saved your son's life."

Zuko knelt down and held out the pearl dagger. "It's yours," He calmly stated, "You should have it."

"No!" Lee shouted, "I hate you." The prince held out an arm as the islander made to step closer to them angrily, letting the boy and his mother walk away.

As they remounted the ostrich horse, and set off out of the town towards the sunset. The villagers stared at them with loathing, holding pitchforks and rocks. Sighing with disappointment, La'kea ignored the ungratefulness and thought of when would be a good time to stop and heal.