Chapter 1

A not so heroic rescue

3rd person

Zuko glared at his uncle. He'd been doing this for the past ten minutes. The older man had changed their course yet AGAIN to look for a crummy lotus tile. "But Zuko, it's the key to my winning the game!" His uncle had nagged and nagged until Zuko had finally given in.

"Fine, we'll go check the north again then you can go to a port." Iroh had grinned at this, before putting his hands in the others sleeves and walking away. Sighing, Zuko looked over the railing, watching as they passed several ice burgs. Growling he walked to the head of the ship and looked around. Watching as the ship hit an unstable amount of ice and stopped, unable to plough through. Snarling, Zuko blasted several fire streams at it, but he was unable to break though. Annoyed, the young prince looked down at the ice; sure it was several layers thick. "Uncle! Get up here!" He bellowed, sure that the mighty dragon of the west would be able to break though the transgressing ice.

Slowly making his approach, the dragon of the west walked towards his nephew, grinning. "What is it Prince Zuko?" He asked politely. Shaking his head, Zuko looked back at the ice, Iroh joining him. "Oh, I see… What do you plan to do about it?" Pinching the bridge of his nose, Zuko forced himself not to yell.

"Why do you think I called you?" Iroh looked at him and looked surprised.

"Your right, I'll go and get a big rock." And with that, the dragon of the west raced off below deck, leaving his nephew to curse the man's slow brain.

"You, you and you." Zuko yelled, pointing to three of his firebenders. "Get rid of that ice." He shouted. Yawning, the prince set off to chambers ready to get some rest. As he was walking, Iroh passed him with a big rock, grinning. Shaking his head again, Zuko opened his door and took off his armour. Getting into his sleeping pants and robe, he lay on his bed, pulling the covers up. Gah, how do people survive in these conditions? Just as his eyes began to close, there was a knock at the door. Growling, the prince sat up. "What now!" He bellowed.

"Sir, there's a girl on the ice." Puzzled at this, Zuko got to his feet, but still annoyed. He marched out of his room, following the man onto the deck. When they got there they went to the starboard side, looking out to the ocean. Zuko followed the man's pointing finger and spotted what he was looking at. On one flat iceberg, a girl laid, unconscious. She was wearing blue, so it was clear what nation she belonged to. "What do you want to do sir?" Sighing, Zuko looked the man in the eyes.

"Get the small boat, I'll go get her."

Earlier that day…

Girl's POV

I watched as my father pulled out of the port. "Stay here!" He yelled, waving. "No! Take me with you! Please!" I cried out, but it was no use. My friend Tuko grabbed me, stopping me from diving into the ocean. "Wait for me!" I shouted, crying. "Please, please, take me with you." I woke from the nightmare quickly, sitting up. The healer came in, looking at me.

"Are you okay, you were shouting in your sleep?"

"I'm fine." I shook my head clear. That nightmare had been real two days ago, and today was the day I would take off after my father. I got dress in heavy clothes, but at least they were warm. After eating a small amount of food, I walked out of my hut. The northern water tribe was a good place to grow up. Since I was ten, my father had left me here so he could earn a living for us. He traded with the earth kingdom, and only came home every two months. But it wasn't enough for me. I had promised myself that when I reached fifteen I would go after him, and today it was my birthday. Before I could be dragged off to one of the water tribe's parties, I was escaping after my dad on a raft Tuko and I had built for fishing. But my friend didn't know this, and I had left a letter on my bed for him. I hope he would understand.

Grabbing the oar, I began to slowly paddle out of the dock, claiming I was off fishing. Every time I use to do this, Tuko would be with me, and we would find a strong iceberg out at sea that he could teach me water bending on as girl weren't allowed to water bender here. I paddled out, taking off towards the earth kingdom. I'm coming dad. I began to paddle faster and once I was out of sight, I threw the paddle aside and began to use my water bending to speed things up. I had enough food to last a day, and I could easily get clean water, so I was ready. I forced the waves to push me onwards, praying I was heading the right way. But as I started to slow, I saw something I didn't want to. The wreckage of a water tribe boat.

Gasping, I moved forwards, salty tears trickling down my flustered cheeks, unable to believe it. The flag was floating still, it was my father flag. I knew instantly he couldn't have made it. "NO!" I cried out, smacking the boat. "NO NO NO!" An ear-splitting crack behind me made me turn around. With my rage fuelling it, I had accidently cracked an iceberg. Screaming, I jumped from my boat onto the nearest iceberg. I ran, still screaming, tears still falling from my face. The ice was crumbling beneath my feet and I knew I had to jump for it. Using my own gliding technique, I flew forwards, jumping from one iceberg to another. I hit the ice and let out a cry. I'd just broken something, I knew it. Unable to move, reality began to slip away… This was the worst birthday ever…

Now…

3rd person

Sighing deeply, Zuko began to paddle towards the iceberg with the sleeping girl, irritated by his task. He climbed out of the boat and slowly made his way to the girl. When his bare hands touched the ice it left a hand print. The girl's hood was up, covering her face. Pulling her towards him, Zuko's eyes widened when he saw her foot. It was twisted to one side, looking painful. He climbed back into the boat, after laying the girl down. He placed a hand on her cheek and withdrew it quickly. She was freezing. Paddling back slowly, Zuko neared the girl, increasing his temperature. Stupid peasant, getting into trouble… Yawning again he paddle to the side of his ship and attached the boat to the ropes. As he was lifted up, he looked again at the girl. The colour was starting to return to her cheeks, and Zuko noticed she was nearly as pale as he was. Pausing, Zuko pulled back her hood. Her long brown hair fell neatly around her head, shining in the setting sun. How long has she been out there?

Carrying her onto the neck, he dumped the girl into the nearest soldier's hands. She stirred at this and her eyes fluttered open. She screamed, most likely from the pain of her foot. Dropping her, the soldiers scooted back, out of her range, or so he thought. Yelling multiple curses, the girl drew water from the ocean, smashing it into the nearest soldiers, some flying over board. Zuko was not prepared for this. He was flung back, slamming into a wall. Screaming at them all, the girl frozen and ice shield around her before letting her tears fall. Marching over to her, Zuko snarled, annoyed beyond all belief. He placed a hand on the ice, melting it on contact, hissing at her to get out. "No, leave me alone, take me home, go away!" She screamed, murdering Zuko's ears. The ice melted, turning into a jet of water, aimed squarely at Zuko. Not been able to dodge it in time, the prince summoned his fire, blocking it. He raced forwards, his hands on fire. The girl was on her feet, or rather foot and summoning water and blasting it at him. She forced it around herself and it carried her into the air, dodging the fire bender. Zuko snarled before flipping, a trail off fire following his feet and slamming into the bubble. The water bender landed roughly on both feet and she screamed. She crumpled to the floor, her foot bleeding, her ankle bone sticking out.

Getting to his feet and ready to teach the girl a lesson, Zuko prowled over to her, before Iroh stopped him. "Prince Zuko, she needs healing, and then you can sort her out." Zuko snarled at his uncle, marching down to the medical room to alert the doctor. Pitying her, Iroh wandered over to the girl, looking at her injury. She was withering in pain, clutching her leg, tears trickling down her eyes.

"Go away" She said weakly, trying to push the older man away.

"Do not worry Miss, we will help you." She looked up debile at Iroh and he took note of her eye colour. Her eyes were blue with silver flicks, looking dazzling.

"Uncle!" Zuko yelled, the doctor hot on the prince's heels.

"Oh dear, this isn't good at all." Looking up at the doctor frailly, the girl winced in pain. "We're going to have to push the bone back in and stitch it up." Iroh held the girl's leg steady while the doctor slowly began to push on the bone.

"GET OFF!" She screamed, thrashing about.

"Zuko! Hold her down!" Iroh yelled, having trouble holding her leg.

"Why me?"

"Do it Zuko! NOW!" Sighing, Zuko sat on the girl's stomach, stopping her thrashing for a second. He held her arms above her head, forcing her to stay still. She screamed in pain as the doctor tried again and fresh tears trickled down her face. Iroh held her leg down while the doctor stitched it up. The girl was still thrashing and Zuko had to half lay on her to keep her still.

"GET OFF!" She screeched, feebly convulsing.

"Stay still!" Zuko hissed and she looked the prince in the eyes. Her's were filled with pain and anger, while his were angry and annoyed.

"Done, just make sure she doesn't walk around." The doctor said, scurrying off. Iroh let go and watched Zuko handle the situation.

"Now I'm going to take you to a room where you can sleep, but you can't walk on your bad leg, got it?!" Then the girl looked up at him, anger forgotten. Pouting, she nodded before her eyes closed for a few seconds. Hesitating, Zuko slowly got off her and she laid still, looking up at him.

"Well?" She asked her voice slightly calm. "Aren't you going to carry me?" She asked annoyed. Growling, Zuko looked down at her.

"Do you know who I am?" He snarled.

"Fire bending Scum?" She asked equally annoyed.

"No, I'm Prince Zuko!" He yelled.

"Of what?" She snapped.

"The fire nation!" He shouted, picking up the girl and throwing her roughly over his shoulder.

"Put me down!" She screamed, punching his back.

"Gladly!" He walked over to the side of the boat and began to lower her over the side.

"NO! Keep me up, keep me up!" She screamed again, clutching onto his arms. Zuko laughed cruelly before his fun was interrupted.

"Zuko!" His uncle yelled. Sighing, Zuko flung her back over his shoulder, letting her land with an oomph. He chuckled before carrying her to his room which had the spare bed set up. All the time they spent walking, she would glare at him, too tired to hit him.

After gently dropping her on the mattress on the floor, Zuko made to leave the room, only her voice stopping him. "My name's Kai, and this has been the worst birthday ever." She whispered before rolling over. Zuko looked at her. A small amount of pity hit him as he walked out. Captured by the enemy on your birthday… Zuko shook his head. Stupid peasant, getting to me already. Moving the small amount of hair out of her eyes, Kai looked at the fire nation flag on the wall. She'd heard the stories of how they'd left benders to die before, so why was she here on this boat? Why had they taken pity on her… What were they going to do with her?