Never Follow Strangers…

Chapter One

Zuko looked out of the grated hatch above him. The red sky was shifting to violet and the unfamiliar sounds of forest animals drifted down to meet him in the cooling prison cell.

It hadn't been a good day.

The day started same as usual; Zuko had awoken with the first few rays of light glancing over the ocean's horizon. He ate a pitiful breakfast of gruel and stale ale, then practiced with his hook swords before most of his crew was even awake. He resisted the urge to yell at them to get out of bed just as he resisted the urge to hurt them when they demanded over their breakfasts that the ship make port.

Who was the captain here? Even if he wasn't very old or experienced he was the fucking prince of the pirates and that counted for something, right? Besides, he had his Uncle Iroh to help him with all the 'being old and experienced' decisions.

Zuko had spent the past three years of his life, banished from Pirate Island and scouring all Never Land for the Avatar. His chances at actually finding the Avatar were greatly hampered by constantly having to comply to the wishes of the damn crew – but as his uncle reminded him, a mutiny would impede him far worse.

So Zuko ate lunch on dry land – at Moon Bay Port on Never Island to be specific. His crew would stay the day, eating and gambling, and spend the night sharing diseases with the local women. Then they'd load the ship with fresh provisions and be on their merry way.

Meanwhile their captain scowled and slumped in a dark tavern, cursing everyone from the damn crew to the stupid tavern owner.

A whore tried to lure Zuko in and he shooed her off. Some of his crew laughed from across the filthy pub, drawing more attention to the spectacle (which, Zuko noted, his uncle found rather amusing).

The lunch the tavern owning elf finally served tasted like slop and Zuko could barely eat any of it. His uncle, however, ate it all heartily, then sat back and enjoyed some supposedly rare ocean elf tea.

Zuko busied himself with asking people about the Avatar, but as usual he learned nothing, but that no one had seen him.

The knowledge that Zuko had accumulated in his three years of searching told him that the Avatar was a man, possibly a woman, with the appearance of an infant/child/adult/decrepit old person, and that he was an elf, but maybe a human, could be a fairy – and according to one account, most definitely a dragonfly.

The Indians claimed he lived in Indian Forest and the woodland creatures Zuko'd spoken to said he lived in the swamp. Zuko had managed to interrogate a mermaid once and she'd said the Avatar was frozen in ice far in the south – but that was impossible, it was never cold enough in Never Land to support more than a light frost.

It was the tavern owning elf that told Zuko that the Avatar was in the Forest of Fae. He nodded his long blue head sagely and blinked his mirror eyes and told Zuko that elves 'knew these things'.

It was then that one of the crew retched on the floor quite noisily – already drunk – and Zuko decided he might actually hurt someone if he wasn't alone for some period of time.

The elf told him that the Avatar frequented Lake Laogai, so Zuko made the decision to go himself to investigate. He would travel on land, following the Li River until it bled into the lake – from there he would do a brief scout of the area, then return to port and take the ship and crew up river to investigate further.

Iroh didn't like the idea of his nephew going off alone, particularly when he was a stranger in a strange land, but Zuko had listened to his uncle once already that day and didn't feel badly disregarding him. Iroh didn't understand what this meant to him. New news was hope.

Zuko was well and used to ocean elves – they lived in the ocean (where pirates were known to reside). Other types of elves were more foreign to him. Zuko stood in the 'finest' stables in all of Moon Bay, his boots soaking in muck, glaring down at a rock elf.

Whereas the ocean elf was tall, lean, and blue, this creature was grey-brown with stocky limbs and it barely reached Zuko's waist. The only similarities between the two creatures were that they both had large pointed ears and unnecessarily huge eyes. The combination of these traits might have made the elves cute to some, but unfortunately the two subspecies had another similarity: they were both annoying.

"What do you mean you don't have horses?"

"Have ostrich-horse, mongoose-lizard, komodo-rhino. You want eel-hound? I warn, very expensive." The elf's voice was so high it could have shattered glass.

"I don't want an eel-hound, I want a horse!"

"Ostrich-horse I have."

"No, just a plain old horse!"

"Like on Indian Island?" If it was possible the elf's eyes got larger. "We no have here – we have ostrich horse."

"Fine," Zuko pinched the bridge of his nose, "I'll take the ostrich thing."

Maybe it was because he'd haggled the elf down from forty to fifteen silver pieces, but the little imp seemed to slam his doors behind Zuko as he set off for the forest on the strange, new animal. Then, not ten minutes after they'd set out the bird-horse thing turned it's head to peak over it's shoulder at Zuko and said in a quietly begrudging tone: "Y'know I won't slip a shoe like a horse would."

Having fallen off his steed in surprise, with no one but the animal in question there to laugh at him, Zuko thought his day wouldn't get any worse.

The deeper Zuko journeyed, the taller the trees grew. Massive canopies of jade leaves allowed only a few slivers of light to pierce through and illuminate the ground below. Moss grew in the shadows along the forest floor while feeble grass and shrubs, and the occasional ambitious sapling grew in the patches of light. Everywhere tree roots jutted upwards, breaking through the earth and forming miniature mountain peaks for the colorful insects and chittering rodents that lived amongst them.

It was Zuko's first time being so far inland and he couldn't help but stare at the tiny creatures scurrying between browned leaves underfoot. Above him colorful birds chattered and as he looked he allowed himself to be distracted by a particularly strange one. This bird seemed to be a cross between a parrot and a monkey – or perhaps a lizard? The green-feathered thing skittered across the branches above him, stopped to preen itself, then screeched at him.

Then Zuko's day really went to hell.

The quiet of the hot forest day was broken as a figure launched from the shadows, lunging straight for Zuko. The young pirate was forced to jump from his steed, narrowly avoiding the attacker's very dangerous looking hammer.

"Oh dear!" The ostrich-horse squawked before it turned and ran away. Zuko was glad he hadn't paid the rock elf what he had asked for.

The figure attacked with not one, but two hammers and Zuko's hands flew to his belt to grab his hooks before he noticed his attacker's appearance; tanned muscles, weathered face, bad teeth – clearly a pirate.

"Hey—" Zuko called out to tell the brute just who he was dealing with when a second pirate attacked from behind.

If Zuko had been having a good day he would have realized there was a second pirate in time to at least raise a self-defense, but he was having a shitty day and instead he was tackled and his hands swiftly tied. The first pirate gagged Zuko quicker than he could speak – probably to stop him from crying for help, but more annoyingly stopping him from reasoning with them.

The second pirate pulled Zuko to his feet. "Nice pirate costume," he scoffed at the boy's boots and red jacket.

Zuko swung a high kick and clocked the man's jaw, then took off running, dodging a lunge from the first pirate. He didn't get far before the parrot/monkey/lizard from before flew at him, shrieking and clawing and surprising Zuko more than anything. The first pirate caught him and shooed the green fiend away.

"Down boy, down, this one's face is damaged enough," the thug laughed, mirthlessly and Zuko jerked away, kicking hard at the man's knee. Unfortunately the metal tips of his boots missed the back of the knee and instead only hurt the brute instead of knocking him over.

Pirate no. 2 came over and grabbed Zuko's bound hands in one meaty fist, then punched Zuko hard in the stomach with the other. "Little lost fuck," he spat, "do that again and I'll cut off your hand!"

Here, Zuko decided to avoid doing things that would result in losing a limb and allowed himself to be led by the two pirates. It would be fine, he reassured himself. The pirates would show him to their captain and the captain would undoubtedly recognize Pirate Prince Zuko.

A few hours later found Zuko in the predicament of being locked up and being used as a hostage – but not because he was a prince.

'Honestly, I have hook blades and a burn scar on my face – can't the captain remember two little things about his prince? At east enough to identify him instead of using him as bait to catch some local delinquents?' He thought angrily, still bitter at the mix-up. He just hoped that when they finally realized who he was they didn't try to take him back to Pirate Island. There was a good chance he might be executed for breaking his banishment.

Time passed as day bled into afternoon, into evening, Zuko got hungrier and more annoyed with each passing moment. The gravity of the situation began to weigh on him and he racked his brain trying to think what to do. The grate above him was his only way out. It was too far up for him to reach. He could jump for it but he couldn't unlock it either way. Another option – though not so favorable, would be to pay his own ransom. But in that case he'd need to know how much he was going for.

"Hey!" He called out. He could see the shadow of the guard standing overhead, turning his head in acknowledgment. "What are you ransoming me for?" Sure, he could've attempted subtlety, but that had never been Zuko's strong point. His lack of tact didn't seem to bother the guard – who ignored him.

"Hey!" Zuko weighed the likelihood that his question would be answered if he said 'hey' over and over. It would probably just make his throat sore. And make him feel stupid. Yes, a lot of that. "How long are you going to keep me here before you realize no one's coming for me?" Boy, that came out more tragic than he'd intended. He waited, brushed his black hair out of his face and felt that it was getting way too hot for him to stay in that hole.

"Look, I have money – if you let me out I'll pay you." Zuko could tell by the guard's change in posture that he started listening after he heard the 'm' word.

"You don't have money." The guard finally spoke.

True, the thugs who brought Zuko in had been almost uncomfortably enthusiastic about searching his pockets. "I told you guys – I'm a ship captain," and a prince, "I have plenty of money."

The guard laughed nastily and turned away. "Nobody in their right mind would have a whelp like you for a captain – you can't lie, we all know you're one of them Lost Boys."

"And so you're ransoming me to them because they have lots of money?" Zuko was pretty sure he'd heard that the Lost Boys were delinquents who lived in trees; they didn't sound particularly wealthy.

"They have the Avatar."

Zuko felt like the world had tipped suddenly. Could it be? He felt a new hope rising. How likely was it that these Lost Boys had the Avatar? He wracked his brain, searching for anything he knew about them. Damn, he knew just about every rumor about the Avatar there was but he hadn't bothered to learn anything about any of the other Folk on Never Island.

This burst of hope was followed by a creeping doubt. The Lost Boys had the Avatar – the key to immortality – and they were going to trade this all powerful, everlasting being for Zuko? 'Damn,' was all Zuko could think. He'd grown up around hostage situations (though usually he was on the side taking hostages) – the Lost Boys wouldn't pay the ransom, Zuko would be killed (maybe a few of his limbs would be cut off and sent to the boys first), then his body would be left where the delinquents could find it and still not care because they hadn't known him anyway. Or worse, they'd know who he was and laugh that these fucking idiots had killed one of their own by mistake.

'Damn.'

After Zuko didn't say anything the guard went back to his bored silence. The young hostage was left to stew in the impossibly hot cell, thirsty, hungry, and more annoyed than ever. He pulled off his coat and loosened his cravat. He refused to undress further, his guard kept stealing glances that were making him uncomfortable. Not to say Zuko had any prejudice in regards to sexual orientation – he'd be just as creeped out if an old, unattractive woman were leering at him, than he was when it was an old, unattractive man.

Maybe a tiny part of him was flattered. With the burn scar on his face and always being surrounded by smelly, drunken pirates, he didn't often get checked out (except by the occasional whore and they usually were just appraising him).

He felt less flattered later when a large, tiny-eyed brute came to change shifts with Creeper Guard. Tiny-eyes proceeded to eat the rations that he'd told Creeper were meant for Zuko – when Zuko complained and demanded he at least get a drink Tiny-eyes began to spit through the grate. Zuko huddled against the way farthest from the rain of loogey and vowed to someday punch him between his stupid little eyes.

Finally Tiny-eyes got tired and turned away to smoke. Zuko remained against the wall, away from the hot rays reaching through the grate. The air was warm and heavy with the scent of smoke and flowers. Zuko figured his capturers had made anchor along the Li River to be close to the Lost Boys – who lived in the Forest of Fae – that Zuko knew for sure, the few Indians he'd spoken to had assured him the Lost Boys lived there and not with them.

It might have been the heat, or his boredom, or the heavy scents and lulling sound of bird chatter, but Zuko actually managed to fall asleep while sitting crunched up in the corner of a hot cell.

When he snapped to later he woke with a start, then froze. At first he thought the ominous tick-tock of nightmare had followed him into reality – but he knew that tick-tocking better than he knew any other sound and he quickly realized that what he was hearing was more of a mechanic clicking; still not an unknown sound – it was a lock being picked.

With a click and clunk the lock was undone and put aside. Zuko stood hurriedly, ignoring the protests of a body stuck in one cramped position too long.

The young pirate blinked in surprise as a tiny, orange-yellow light winked into view through the grated hatch. Whatever it was, it jumped down from the grate, landed at Zuko's feet, then, spry as a grasshopper, jumped all the way up to his eye level.

The teen captain looked in shock at the tiny, orange face before him; narrow red eyes glimmered in the light of flaming mane, trailing down the creature's back. Whatever it was, it fell back to the ground and before Zuko could react, jumped again, springing over Zuko's head and neatly slipping through the grate.

The young pirate was stunned. He'd seen many creatures in his travels – but never had he been so far into the Forest of Fae to see an actual fairy. And it had removed the lock!

A quick look confirmed there wasn't a guard in sight. Zuko spent a moment looking at the hatch in the dying light, calculating his jump. Finally he sprang, fingers grasping just strong enough at the wood of the hatch frame. He swung his body and metal tipped boots smashed the grate open. He let his momentum carry him through the narrow space and landed catlike and quiet on the ship deck, face to face with the wildest boy he'd ever seen.

Gold eyes met dark ones as both jumped in surprise. Zuko couldn't help but stare, he rarely saw people his own age either at sea or at port and he couldn't help but marvel over the completely foreign whelp before him. His skin was bronze and his eyes dark and focused like an eagle's. He shook his head slightly, flipping his shaggy brown hair away from his face. He grinned ruefully around a stalk of grass between his teeth.

"So – who are you?" He quirked an eyebrow and his dark eyes looked Zuko up and down.

"Wha – Zuko." He didn't add a 'prince' or a 'captain' to his name; this boy didn't seem the type to care.

"Hey Zuko, I'm Jet," the wild boy said in a suave, but friendly voice. "Are you lost?"

Like the smooth-talking pirate he was, Zuko had no witty comeback when approached by a charismatic stranger. Jet didn't seem to expect one, perhaps he was used to making people go speechless?

"Nice pirate outfit," Jet stood up and leaned back on one leg, looking around in a way that was both careless and attentive.

"This is how I normally dress," Zuko said defensively, mimicking the other boy as he stood and looked around. "Where did the guard go?"

Jet smiled around the grass stalk in his mouth. "Dunno."

There was a flash of light and the fairy from before sprang across the deck and up onto Jet's shoulder. Zuko saw in the orange fairy light that the boy's messy hair was curled and burnt nearest his shoulders, as though the flaming sprite often sat there. There was a soft chittering noise and Jet's smile broadened. "The guard's napping on the far side of the ship."

Jet darted across the deck toward the rail. He looked over his shoulder and saw Zuko still crouched at the grate, unsure whether or not to follow.

"C'mon," the wild boy beckoned and the pirate hesitantly followed.

"The pirates took my swords," Zuko hissed.

Jet 'tsked' and grinned a casual, devilish grin that shouldn't have looked as good as it did. "Well we can't have that," he took off again, this time Zuko knew to follow.

The young captain was a little distracted, still in awe of this bewildering stranger. Jet moved fast and low like a fox, and was completely silent, even running up the creaky wooden stairs. The little fairy trailed after, it's fiery tail making it look like a tiny comet as it darted up the steps and across the quarterdeck to the captain's cabin.

With a coordination that seemed practiced the flaming sprite squeezed under the door and unlocked it from the inside. Jet walked in boldly and went right over to the windows at the back of the cabin.

The windows were large and undoubtedly expensive with thick, velvety curtains. Jet looked at them a moment while the fairy alighted on his shoulder. He turned slightly to the creature, grinned and nodded.

Zuko missed this interaction; too busy wondering at the captain's expensive tastes, the cabin was well furnished with a wardrobe, desk, table, bookshelf, and several chests. "You're swords are probably in one of these chests," Jet said in a voice so quiet Zuko almost missed it.

The sound of the caption snoring in his bed just on the opposite wall explained the need for silence.

Zuko started to look for his hook swords, but was momentarily distracted by the fairy. While Jet began picking up random items and stashing them on his person, the creature seemed to be amusing itself by smearing it's flaming body across the window, melting and warping the expensive glass.

He snapped his attention away and spotted a chest squatting between the ornately pairing wardrobe and a table covered in old maps (which Jet seemed to be stealing). The chest was the only one large enough to store his hook swords. Thankfully when they'd searched him, the pirates who'd brought him in had failed to check his hair. He pulled his lock-picking pin from behind his ear. With his pick and a little of his 'talent'opening the padlock on the chest was easy work. He opened the chest to find a stash of weapons – including his own, which he pulled out.

A soft whistle over his shoulder made him jump. Jet was leaning over him, but Zuko hadn't heard his approach. "You've got some mad lock-picking skills." He said, his tone impressed.

"Thanks," Zuko said awkwardly, shifting away so he couldn't feel Jet's breath against his ear. He hooked his swords onto his belt, under his coat. Jet moved forward and Zuko really had to move to avoid full body contact, but Jet only began to rifle through the weapons in the chest, pull a few small items to tuck away on his person.

"Are you a thief or something?" Jet whispered conversationally.

"Isn't that what you're doing?" Thieves and vandals, Zuko noted as he saw the fairy turn it's fiery destruction onto the ornate wardrobe, burning off all it's decorations as it log-rolled down the front of the wooden door panel.

"Most of this stuff is already stolen – I am just reclaiming it in the name of those more deserving," Jet said as he opened the charred wardrobe and began emptying it's contents – not even stealing most of it, just scattering it about the floor.

"Are you one of the Lost Boys?" Zuko suddenly thought.

"Yep," Jet grinned, "You're one too."

"I – what?"

"Tink wouldn't have come to get me if you weren't lost – now that I found you, you're a Lost Boy." The fairy – Tink – came to Jet at the sound of its name and perched on his shoulder.

'Wouldn't I be a Found Boy then?' Zuko bit his tongue, if it was this easy to join the group that had access to the Avatar then he wasn't going to fight it. "I suppose so." He said instead.

"Great," Jet grinned, "I was afraid you'd say you wouldn't join. We could use a lock-picker, I mean, poor Tink gets tired." 'Poor' Tink chattered in a way that could only be described as evil and Jet grinned like the creature had said something dirty (which it probably had).

Zuko normally would have been annoyed by Jet's behavior, but he was still just glad he had this opportunity. He wanted to ask Jet about the Avatar, but quickly rethought that. It would be best to build trust first; the last thing he wanted to do was throw suspicion on himself and risk his new position.

"Do you need help with…" Stealing? Making a mess? "-Lock-picking?" Zuko asked, trying to use his polite tone.

"No, we're done here. Tink," Jet had barely said the creatures name before Tink was all over Zuko. He forced himself not to jump away or flinch as the little thing began pouncing over him, trailing golden dust as it went. He tried not to think of it as the flame that it was and just held still.

"What is this?" Zuko sputtered as some of the golden dust got in his mouth. It tasted like sand and tingled on his tongue.

"Pixie dust."

Zuko watched the tiny flaming creature hop back up onto Jet's shoulder. "That's a pixie?"

Jet laughed like Zuko'd said something very funny and the sleeping captain snorted and rolled over uneasily. Jet quieted in mock sheepishness for a moment before he spoke, "He's not a pixie, he's a fire imp."

"Not a fairy?" Zuko asked in surprise, being extra quiet now that he thought the captain might wake.

"Too small for a fairy, and not dumb enough for a pixie," Jet said in a proud tone. Tink purred on his shoulder. "Now, let's get out of here. Think happy thoughts."

"What?"

"Happy thoughts; thoughts that are happy. Like your favorite food, or a cuddly animal, or a naked mermaid." Jet looked Zuko up and down, "Or a naked wench, whatever floats your pirate fetish boat."

"I do not have a—!"

"Hell's bells!" The two boys jumped as the sleeping captain sat up fast, groggy and angry, then he saw the two teens standing in the wreckage that used to be his cabin. For a moment he only stared at them, then a string of curse words began to flow from his mouth and he flew out of bed.

"Now look what you did," Jet's words were scolding, but his tone was amused, maybe even a little eager – like he'd hoped the captain would wake.

The cocky grin faded quickly from the Lost Boy's face as the green parrot-lizard from before swooped in out of nowhere and the two boys were forced to duck. Tink sprang up to grab the creature's underbelly – a place it quickly decided it didn't want Tink to be.

"Pox-faced whelp!" The captain drew a knife from beneath his pillow and lunged at them. Jet jumped back, light on his feet as he casually dodged two more strikes before Zuko figured it was time to help his new companion.

Jet spotted the young pirate getting out his hooks and dodged the captain's next blow, swerving so the man's back was to him. Zuko caught the captain's wrist in his left hook and pulled hard, tugging the man off balance. He slipped his right hook through the back of the man's belt, then pulled with both arms. The captain's forward momentum helped Zuko throw him through the air.

Zuko swung both hooks to let go of the man before he landed hard on his back.

"He fights too?" Jet asked approvingly as he exited the cabin, taking care to step on the captain's face, chest, and crotch before hopping out the cabin door. Zuko followed after, though he went around the injured man, still lying, groaning on the floor. He almost felt like apologizing.

"Your mother was a dog!" The captain gasped through his pain.

Almost.

There was a loud shout from outside and Zuko ran out to see Jet already down on the main deck, fighting a guard. He was winning, but as the ship's warning bell went off Zuko knew they were in trouble.

The rest of the ship's crew began to come staggering – sleepy at first, but quickly recovering – from the forecastle. Four came at Jet at once and Zuko looked around a moment and quickly decided it was best to help sooner rather than later.

He jumped off the quarterdeck rail and caught the mizzenmast with one hook. The metal hook snagged into the wood with a crunch. Zuko let go and flew through the air for a moment before he hooked the mainmast. He turned sharply, letting go of the mast and colliding with three of Jet's attackers.

The metal ends of his boots had the first man out instantly, the second staggered beneath the first. The third pirate recovered quickly, jumping up and drawing his sword. Zuko caught his wrist in one hook and drew the blade away before the man could react. A hard kick to the chin put him to the ground.

The second pirate hopped up while Zuko's back was turned. He ran at the boy, dagger drawn, but Zuko turned away and held out his leg, effectively dodging. The man stumbled, trying not to trip and Zuko caught his ankle, yanking up and over so the thug flipped over his knee.

Having taken out the three he looked around and noted more crewmembers were rising to the alarm. Most were going after Jet, who seemed to be holding his own judging by the sickening amount of blood dripping from the daggers in his hands.

One man lunged for him and the boy dodged nimbly, then stabbed hard, jabbing his attacker in the kidneys. Another crewmember came at him from the side and Jet moved back- so quick Zuko didn't see him take a step. His attacker overstepped, Jet took advantage, grabbing a fist full of his greasy hair and pulling down as he kneed the man hard in the stomach. His knife flew like lightning, piercing the back of the pirate's neck. Jet threw the corpse into oncoming crewmembers and laughed as they stumbled back, shouting in horror and rage.

Zuko's eyes widened. What had he gotten himself into?

"I'll skewer yer gizzard ye hook handed swine!" A pirate with particularly bad teeth spat as he launched himself at the young prince. He had a spear. Of all things.

Zuko caught the weapon between both hooks, stopping its advance. He kicked up hard and the spear's wooden pole snapped. His attacked pulled back the splintered half of his weapon, surprise evident on his face. Then, with a snarl, he charged forward, the pole held like a bar before him.

Behind his attacker Zuko heard a scream of pain that didn't sound like Jet. He may have been trying to get on the boy's good side, but there was no way he could let him kill his own people, right?

He caught the middle of his attacker's pole, pulled down, then stepped up onto the pole and onto the man's shoulder. He kicked off and rolled as he hit the ground. The man he'd used as a stepping stool was not so graceful, he fell on his face, swearing loudly.

Zuko took off toward the crowd growing around the mainmast where Jet was maiming all who came at him. The first pirate he came to was much bigger than him, but he grabbed him by the back of his collar and shifted his weight, preparing to give a swift kick to the jaw.

It was his old friend Tiny-eyes!

"You!" The brute bellowed, grabbing the lapel of Zuko's coat.

"Me."

'Wham!' Zuko punched the pirate hard between the eyes and was a little satisfied to hear the crunch of breaking cartilage.

Tiny-eyes staggered back as blood gushed from his broken nose, giving Zuko a chance to fully assess the situation.

Those of the crew who were injured were swearing and screaming, those unharmed were swearing and shouting. Jet was jeering and somewhere that green parrot-lizard was shrieking its head off. Except for Tiny-eyes (who seemed to have retreated) and Stepping-stool (who was looking around for a new weapon) Zuko hadn't been noticed by any other crew – most likely because his clothing helped him blend in. The fact that there were only a few lamps on the ship to light the dark night might have helped.

'Wait, the lamps!' Zuko looked around, it was so dark beyond the edge of the ship, if the lamps went out the crew would be blind.

He looked around, trying to spot as many of the lamps as he could.

Meanwhile Stepping-stool had found himself a sword. He ran at Zuko, yelling and brandishing his new weapon, but by then Zuko had all the lights.

Lock picking wasn't Zuko's only 'talent', he reached out and willed the lamps to die, and with a small hiss they all did. The ship was thrown into darkness as surely as if a black curtain had fallen. Shouts of surprise and fear rang out.

A small, jumping light emerged from the aft of the ship as Tink sprang from the captain's cabin. It followed the same path as Zuko had before it, jumping from the quarterdeck rail to the mizzenmast to the mainmast. Here Zuko thought he saw the faint outline of a person rise up, but it was still too dark to say for sure.

"Don't let them escape ye yellow bellied blowfish!" The captain's voice roared from his cabin. Everywhere was chaos as the crew ran about, trying to find a light while seeking out the two boys. A few of them ran into one another and began brawling, thinking the other was their target. It was even louder than it had been before and as the men ran about Zuko was nearly knocked over.

A sudden light and heat at Zuko's ear and he had to force himself not to slap the flaming Tink off his shoulder.

A hand took his, rough skinned but gentle and nauseatingly sticky. "Good thinking with the lantern's," Jet said as he pulled Zuko away.

"There they are!" One voice roared, many others joined and Zuko's ears rang with the sound of bad insults.

The young prince was halted suddenly as he ran into the ship rail. Were they going to jump?

Jet took his other arm above the elbow and pulled him up. Zuko really wished he could see, the railing wasn't very wide and he didn't know how far down the water below was.

"Think happy thoughts," Jet said urgently.

"What?"

The crew was running towards them now, tripping over rope and fallen shipmates but coming nonetheless.

Jet sighed, "No time now I suppose." Suddenly Jet pulled Zuko's hands around the wild boy's neck. "Hold on," he instructed. Then one of his arms was around Zuko's waist, holding him really close and the situation was far too urgent for Zuko to blush, but he was.

As startled as Zuko was by being held so tightly against the body of a handsome, rugged stranger he was shocked when Jet threw them both overboard. Then instead of hitting water they flew upward.

Behind them the captain was swearing, hurling abuses at the two boys as well as his crew. Jet laughed and Zuko felt it resonate in his chest – most likely because he was holding onto his shirt so tightly.

"Don't worry," the boy said, his tone amused. "I won't drop you." Zuko didn't say anything back, he was too sure he'd scream. They were flying.

As they flew further and further from the ship the sound of the crew grew less and less until the only sounds to be heard were the night animals in the forest below them and the whistling wind blowing Zuko's hair from his face.

The canopy of trees that had towered over Zuko earlier that day now ran below him, still the stars glowed impossibly higher, seeming not to move despite how fast they were flying. It was reassuring in a way and Zuko was able to calm himself enough to respond when Jet started talking to him.

"What did they want with you? Do you know?" Jet asked.

"They thought I was a Lost Boy and—"

"Those morons," Jet scoffed, his voice loud against the wind. "They're always trying these stupid schemes – kidnapping my men, sending in spies, offering bribes."

"Spies?" Zuko's voice almost cracked.

"Not even good ones either, the stubble usually gives them away." Zuko was quiet; he hoped Jet couldn't feel how hard his heart was beating. "Do you know what they wanted?" Jet asked again.

"The Avatar," Zuko answered hesitantly.

"Of course." Zuko could tell by Jet's tone that he was rolling his eyes.

"You… really know where the Avatar is?"

Zuko could see a little of Jet thanks to Tink still sitting on his shoulder (burning the hair at the nape of his neck and currently hissing at him threateningly). He saw Jet turn to look at him and the wild boy grinned. "Of course," he said, "he's my oldest friend."

So I can't promise I'll upload this as quickly as I did Smokes but I hope everyone'll hang on anyway cause the fun's only just started! woot!