A/N: Before continuing, I would like to say that this is NOT going to be a Zuko(OC), whom she'll end up with though, you'll have to find out for yourself. The relationship between Zuko and Adara is simply friendship.

        Fourteen year old Adara stood guard with the other soldiers and watched as Commander Zhao walked into the Pohuai Stronghold and demand that he speak with Colonel Shinu. She was hesitant at first, but she took him personally to him while the others continued to train. She wasn't sure why he was here, but she figured that she would probably hear about it soon enough. When she arrived at Colonel Shinu's office, Adara announced, "Commander Zhao wishes to speak with you. He says that it is urgent."

        "Send him in." Colonel Shinu said. Adara moved out of the way and gave Commander Zhao the signal that he was allowed to enter. Once Commander Zhao entered, Colonel Shinu turned to her and said, "Keep guard. This will not be long." Adara nodded and stood guard while the two officers spoke. She couldn't hear exactly what they were saying until Colonel Shinu shouted,

        "Absolutely not! The Yuyan Archers stay here. Your request is denied, Commander Zhao." Colonel Shinu stated.

        "Colonel Shinu, please reconsider... Their precision is legendary. The Yuyan can pin a fly to a tree from one hundred yards away... without killing it. You're wasting their talents as mere security guards." Zhao tried to persuade. Adara remembered that being her final test. The thrill of being able to pin the fly to that tree was indescribable. It took her years and many dedicated hours of the day to be able to do that. It was the most difficult challenge she ever faced as an archer.

        "I can do whatever I want with their talents, they're my archers and what I say goes." Colonel Shinu proclaimed. Adara smirked and was rather thankful that she or her fellow archers would not be going on that mission. She had no doubt that the Yuyan Archers would be able to track down and capture the Avatar, but she didn't want to be the one to do it. Only Zuko should have the honor of capturing him. 

        "But, my search for the Avatar is-" Zhao was interrupted again, but Colonel Shinu cut him off mid-sentence, "Is nothing but a vanity project! We're fighting a real war, and I need every man I've got, commander." Zhao was about to protest again, but Shinu stated, "That's final! I don't want to hear another word about it." Suddenly, Adara heard the screech of a messenger hawk.

        "News from Firelord Ozai?" Zhao questioned. Adara wanted to see what was going on behind her, but she couldn't leave her post as a guard. She would have to wait for Zhao's response, then Zhao continued, "It appears I've been promoted to Admiral. My request... is now an order." Adara's eyes widened. This was her first field mission and it was to capture the Avatar of all people. She thought about Zuko. She wouldn't be able to see him again if she completed her mission... unless... she informed him on what happening.

        Colonel Shinu walked past her and told her that she was dismissed. She went back down to the training grounds and slipped into the group that held meeting to discuss the mission to capture the Avatar. She would inform Zuko later tonight.

        She remembered hearing that the sages predicted that the Avatar would be the last airbender, but that's impossible. Aang was the Avatar and he was the airbender, but he disappeared so long ago. He'd have to be dead by now. The next Avatar would have to be a waterbender.

        She snapped back into reality when Admiral Zhao said, "The person that you are assigned to capture is the Avatar and like the sages predicted, he is an airbender. I have seen and faced the Avatar himself. This is what the Avatar looks like." He handed several pieces of papers to the Yuyan Archers. When Adara received hers, she nearly gasped. It was impossible. It looks like her grandfather was right. His friend is still alive. Aang is alive. How was that possible though?

        "While he may be a kid, he is highly dangerous and as of now, these wanted papers are being handed to every outpost, so it won't be long before we know his location and we have to be ready. You are dismissed." Admiral Zhao said. Adara trained for a while longer, then went to corridors. When she got to her room, she pulled out an old portrait. It was of her grandfather and Aang. They were both so young. She remembered grabbing this photo from her house when she left for the Pohuai Stronghold. She didn't know what to do. She didn't want to capture the Avatar. He was the world's last hope to end this war, but she didn't want to betray her fellow soldiers.

        Adara got out a piece a paper and was about to write to Zuko, but stopped when two familiar broadswords press against her neck. She rolled her eyes and said, "How did you know that Admiral Zhao was here?" The broadswords dropped and she turned around. She was surprised to be meet with someone in a blue mask, but was relieved that it was Zuko when the mask was lifted.

        "Zhao is just as determined to capture the Avatar as I am. I figured that he would try and request you guys. Looks like he succeeded." Zuko said.

        "Zuko, you know that I don't want to capture the Avatar, but I also have no choice. The Yuyan Archers will succeed with or without me. Maybe it will be better if I go with them and capture him. I can be your inside source because either way, the Avatar will be delivered to the Pohuai Stronghold." Adara told him.

        Zuko thought for a moment, but shook his head saying, "Adara, it's too risky. What if you get caught? You would be stripped of your title as a Yuyan Archer and there's a possibility that you could be sentenced to death because this would be treason."

        "I don't care. I'm not about to let Admiral Zhao bring the Avatar to the Firelord. That belongs to you." Adara said.

        "Fine, but you must be careful. I'll free the Avatar by myself. You just inform me of when he's captured." Zuko ordered. Adara nodded in understanding, but in her head, if Zuko and Aang were to get into a tight corner with no way out, she would assist them. She wasn't going to let Zuko know that.

        Adara embraced Zuko and whispered, "Stay safe out there. I've missed you." Zuko was stiff at first, but he eventually hugged her back and said, "I missed you too. I have to get back to my ship before I am missed by the crew." Adara let go and nodded. Zuko quietly slipped out the window in her room and she went to sleep.

        She was woken up early the next day. The Yuyan Archers had to be prepared for when they received news about the Avatar's location and soon enough, they received their news. The Avatar was spotted from a small outpost nearby. While they were preparing for battle, Adara quickly wrote a note to Zuko informing him that the Yuyan Archers had discovered the Avatar's location and gave it to a messenger hawk. She joined the others and they departed from the Pohuai Stronghold.

        They soon were in range of a herbalists shop. Why was the Avatar here of all places? The other archers and her waited patiently for the Avatar to come out of the building, when he did, they began to fire. The Avatar was able to dodge the arrows and he picked one of them up and said, "Uh. I think you dropped this." Adara was so shocked. How was he still so young? He doesn't look any older than the time her grandfather and him were kids.

        The Avatar realized that he was being ambushed and ran. He ran over the edge of the cliff and the Yuyan Archers chased after him. They reached the bottom of the cliff. When they caught up to him, he seemed to be picking up the frozen frogs from the lake. Adara fired a shot and hoped that it would miss, but the arrow caught onto the Avatar's sleeve and it pinned him to the tree. The Avatar waterbended a shield of ice, but it was quickly broken by the arrows. More arrows pinned the Avatar's other arm and Adara couldn't help but feel that what she was doing was wrong. She was capturing her grandfather's friend. If he saw her now, what would he think? One of the other archers threw a net around the Avatar and the battle was over. He was caught.

        On the way up, Adara was doing her best to ignore the Avatar's pleas to be let go that his friends need him and that they were sick. She wanted to cut him free, but she had to be patient. Zuko would be here soon to free him. That thought nearly made Adara stop. She knew that Zuko was not like his father, but his father is a cruel man and she wanted this war to end, so that there can finally be peace. She didn't believe that fire was the superior element like the other soldiers around her did. Each element is unique and powerful in it's own way. She loved her nation, but they were taking it too far. They wanted power not peace and the Avatar was the only one who could restore it. If Zuko takes the Avatar, the Firelord would win.

        Soon, they reached the Pohuai Stronghold and Adara went with the others to train. While she trained, she thought more. If she truly wanted peace for the world, she couldn't let Zuko or Zhao have the Avatar. Was she really willing to betray her best friend and her country?

        Night came and Zhao had them gathered in the center of the courtyard and announced, "We are the sons and daughters of fire, the superior element! Until today, only one thing stood in our path to victory, the Avatar. I am here to tell you that he is now my prisoner! This is the year Sozin's Comet returns to grant us its power! This is the year the Fire Nation breaks through the Walls of Ba Sing Se and burns the city to the ground!" Adara's widened with horror as everyone else cheered. This could not be allowed to happen.

        She knew what she had to and there was no coming back from this. She would have to wait for Zuko and do the hardest thing she would ever have to do.

        Adara waited anxiously. She hoped that Zuko got that letter, if not, she would break the Avatar free herself. She went to the armory room and grabbed three quivers of arrows and her bow and slung them around her back. She went into her room, grabbed her coin purse, a fresh pair of clothes, a bit of food, and shoved them into her satchel. She threw her satchel over her shoulder. Suddenly, alarms started ringing and Zhao announced that Avatar had escaped and to close all the gates.

        She ran outside and saw that Zuko was getting overwhelmed. She quickly ran over and did something that she hadn't done in years. Fire bend. She attacked the guards surrounding Zuko and the fighting stopped for a moment. Everyone was surprised. She stood in front of Zuko and faced her fellow soldiers daring them to attack her.

        "Adara, what are you doing?" One of the soldiers questioned.

        "I'm doing what needs to be done." Adara stated.

        She heard Zhao shout, "What are you waiting for? Get the Avatar and bring me those traitors!" The fighting continued, but she could see the betrayal written on their faces. She considered these people family and it broke her heart to do this, but like she said before, it needed to be done. Zuko and her would've got surrounded, but Aang came back and airbended the soldiers away from them. Then, he catapulted Zuko and her on top of the third wall using airbending. Adara and Zuko were surrounded again, but Aang used his stick as a helicopter blade and he plucked Zuko and Adara off the wall.

        Together Zuko and Adara blocked the spears that were coming their way. They barely next the top of the next wall as they crash unceremoniously onto the battlement. Aang's stick goes spinning away as guards instantly rush them. Adara saw Aang run for his stick, but a guard stops him, taking several swings at Aang with his sword. Zuko threw the guard over the wall. Adara firebended a couple other guards off the wall and Aang airbended the other guards off the wall.

        The soldiers brought forward ladders and began climbing them to the top of the wall. Aang, Zuko, and Adara knocked off the soldiers as they reach the top. With two mighty blasts, Aang depopulated the two scaling ladders nearest him, Zuko knocked the one final soldier off his, and Adara knocked the final soldiers off of hers. Aang brings over his two scaling ladders and steps onto the one the Blue Spirit has just emptied. He hands one ladder to the Zuko and one to Adara.

        "Take this and jump onto my back!" The Avatar ordered. Adara and Zuko did as they were told. They used the ladder as massive tilts. Adara looked at the second wall and noticed that dawn was beginning to approach. The first ladder shed still had some soldiers, but it fell into the dust. Aang yelled again, "Give me the next one!" Adara handed him the ladder.

        A soldier sent a gout of flame up the ladder It is too late though, but Adara, Zuko, and Aang jump off and they slammed into the final wall. Adara grabbed hold of the edge, but she slipped and caught her while Zuko grabbed the wall while also trying to support all three of them. Zuko tried to hold, but with all the weight, he let go and they fell to the ground. Zuko drew out his swords and Adara fists went ablaze. Four firebenders approached them and unleashed their flames on them, but Adara put Aang and Zuko behind them and firebended the flames away.

        "Hold your fire! The Avatar must be captured alive!" Zhao ordered.

        "And keep Adara alive as well! I want to question her personally." Colonel Shinu ordered. Zuko brought out his swords and pressed them against Aang and Adara's necks. Zhao glared at him and ordered, "Let them out!" Zuko, Adara, and Aang backed out of the camp. Adara felt uneasy about this. When they were maybe 100 feet away from the fortress and arrow struck Zuko's mask and he fell to the ground. Aang and Adara froze. Aang airbended a cloud of dust and Adara ran to Zuko's side and lifted the mask off of Zuko.

        "Zuko, Zuko, wake up!" Adara pleaded. It was no use. He was out cold.

        "You two know each other?" Aang questioned shocked.

        "Yes, I'm the one who told him that you were here. He's my best friend." Adara admitted. Aang looked horrified and he was about to run off, but Adara stopped him, "Aang, please. You have to help me. I can't get him out of here on my own."

        "How do you know my name?" Aang questioned.

        "My grandfather was an old friend of yours. Please, are you going to help me or not?" Adara questioned. She could hear the soldiers coming their way. Aang hesitated, but he helped her get Zuko out of there. Once they were safe, Adara turned to Aang and said, "I suppose you have some questions for me."

        "Why did you help me? Who are you? You were among the people who kidnapped me. What do you mean your grandfather was an old friend of mine?" Aang questioned.

        "My name is Adara. I never wanted to capture you, but I didn't have much of a choice. The Yuyan Archers would've gotten to you either way. I helped you escape because I am tired of all this fighting. I want peace to be brought back to the land. The Fire Nation only wants power. I believe that you are the only person who can restore balance to the world. At first, I was going to just let Zuko rescue you, but, as I thought about it, I knew that if I let him rescue you, he would take you back to the Firelord. A couple years ago, I saw just how cruel the Firelord could be. He wanted power and I wanted peace. He needs to be stopped, Aang, and I knew that if the Firelord got his hands on you, the war would be won. I couldn't let that happen." Adara explained.

        "It honestly feels so good to know that there are people in the Fire Nation who don't support the Firelord. What will you do now?" Aang questioned. Adara froze and answered, "I don't know. I'm a traitor now. I can't go with Zuko. If they see me with him, they might put the pieces together that he freed you, then he'll never be allowed to return to his home. Also, he will try to capture you again and I would have to betray him."

        "Why don't you come with me? We could use someone like you in our group." Aang suggested.

        "Really? After everything that happened, you would want me in your group?" Adara wondered.

        "You lost everything to rescue me and because of that you have no where to go. Besides, we could use a new friend." Aang said. Adara smiled and nodded in agreement. She heard Zuko starting to stir and she was about to go check on him, but Aang stopped her.

        "No, I want to tell him something before he sees you. I'll leave for the swamp afterwards. My friends are sick and they need those frogs in order to get better. You meet me there when you're done talking to Zuko." Aang said. Adara nodded and Aang sat down near Zuko. Zuko was nearly fully awake and Aang began, "You know the worst part about being a hundred years ago is? I miss all the friends I used to hang out with. Before the war started, I used to always visit my friend Kuzon. The two of us, we'd get in and out of so much trouble together. He was one of the best friends I ever had, and he was from the Fire Nation, just like you and Adara. If we knew each other back then, do you think we could've been friends, too?"

        Zuko let loose a huge fireball, but Adara blocked it, which surprised Zuko. Aang flew away on a current of air and disappeared into the trees. Zuko glared at her and yelled, "Why did you do that? I just about had him!"

        "Zuko, I can't let you capture the Avatar." Adara stated.

        "Wasn't that the reason you contacted me in the first place? To free the Avatar and take him to my father so I can finally go home?" Zuko growled.

        "Originally, yes, but I don't want the Firelord to have Aang in his clutches. Your father needs to be stopped, Zuko. He is a cruel man and all he wants is power. I stayed behind to tell you goodbye. When we meet again, we will be enemies. I'm sorry, Zuko." Adara said.

        "For once, Zhao was right. You are a traitor. I'll let you go just this once, in honor of our past friendship, but when we meet again, I will capture you and the Avatar. Then, you will be brought to justice for your crimes." Zuko threatened. Adara choked back a sob and dashed into the forest not looking back. After she was a good distance from Zuko, she collapsed near a tree and sobbed. She'd never thought that she would betray her best friend, but here she was. Her heart felt shattered.

        After a while, she met up with Aang in the swamp, who had collected his frozen frogs. He saw her coming towards and he noticed that her eyes were red. He came over to her and hugged her saying, "I'm sorry. I'm sorry that you had to give up everything you had."

        "It had to be done." Adara said. She wiped away her tears and continued, "We need to get going. Don't need to keep your friends waiting." She was about to keep walking, but Aang stopped her, "About that, my friends aren't very trusting towards people of the Fire Nation. I would appreciate it if you would wait outside of camp, so that I can explain what happened. They may not be very friendly, but I'm sure that they will warm up to you after a while and once I explain what you did for me."

        Adara nodded in understanding and they continued on their way. Aang turned back to her and asked, "By the way, you never told me who your grandfather was." Adara looked at him and answered,

        "His name was Kuzon."

        A/N: And we're finished with episode one! The next chapter will be a filler chapter before the next episode in the series and it will contain the ending where Aang will go into the camp. Until next time and please let me know what you think of the story so far!