Ok! I'm back. I stopped writing my other Original character fic because the two reviews I got made me feel like shit. but i'm back and going to try again. Please review please please please.
Disclaimer: I don't own Zuko or ATLA, I'm just a rabid foaming at the mouth fan.
I stood on deck of the iron hulled battleship. I closed my eyes and breathed in the salty sea air. I heard Prince Zuko shout and my eyes flung open in annoyance. Why did he have to yell so much? Then I saw why. My eyes widened a little at the bright shaft of light shooting into the sky. prince ponytail whirled around and continued to shout at General Iroh.
"Stop yelling at General Iroh!" I said annoyed at his lack of respect. He whirled around and glared at me.
"How dare you give me orders! You may be a guest on my ship right now but that doesn't mean I would hesitate at all to throw you off, peasant!" He yelled. I felt a nerve Pop.
"Why do you yell at everyone! What crawled up your ass and died to make you so angry!" I yelled back feeling my cheeks heat up in anger. I heard a hearty laugh come from where Iroh was sitting.
"Children, children, stop fighting. Nephew, Lieutenant Jee's daughter is my guest on this ship, so try to be a little nice at least." Iroh said in his deep voice. Prince Zuko growled in frustration and yelled his orders to the crew before stomping below deck.
"Set a course for the light."
The next day.
I sat on a wooden crate that was tied to the ship. My face felt warm from the heat Prince yells-a-Lot was creating taking down his crew members for training. I snorted to myself. Benders think they're so cool. Once again he was yelling at his uncle. I stood up and walked over fully intending to tell him to shove a sock in it when Iroh spoke to me.
"Lyra, would you like to spar with my arrogant nephew?" He smiled and his eyes crinkled. Prince ponytail looked like he'd been punched.
"She's not even a bender uncle!"
I bristled. "I don't need stupid bending to take down a stupid jerk like you!" I said Hotly.
"Zuko, it is important to make oneself efficient in non bending combat as well, now go on and have a good spar." Iroh's voice broke us out of our arguing again. Zuko sighed and walked over to the middle of deck and moved into a stance.
"Fine! But I'm not holding back little girl!" He snarled at me from his position across from me. I focused myself and tuned into my senses like my dad had taught me. Zuko stepped forward to punch and I slid down on my haunches and swiped his foot off the ground. Knocking him on his butt stunned. I smiled.
"Serves you right you brat!" I said sticking my tongue out at him. Suddenly a flare went up in the distance an Zuko was up in a flash. He produced a telescope from somewhere... I nearly jumped when I heard his voice again.
"The last airbender, quite agile for his old age. I've found the avatar, as well as his hiding place." My eyes widened.
Later that day
"Zuko! What are you doing? You can't just invade a peaceful village." I said as the boat steamed towards the small village in view.
"Don't interfere!" He yelled as he stormed below deck. I started to follow him angrily when I felt a warm hand on my shoulder. I stopped. I looked back at my father's face
"Dad, this isn't right." I said quietly.
"Don't say that to anyone but me Lyra." He said sternly. I turned around and faced him fully. He put both hands on my shoulders and leaned down to look me in the eyes.
"Lyra, please be good for me. We are very lucky that General Iroh was so lenient about me sneaking you on the ship. Don't make it worse for me or you, just hang in there hun."
I looked down feeling guilty.
"You're right Dad." I said. I looked up again and he smiled at me.
"Oh and try to get along with Prince Zuko." He added. I huffed in protest, but was silent.
"Thank you sweetheart." He said. I watched him scurry off to his post as I felt the boat lurch underneath me. I looked to my left and saw General Iroh sitting and brewing tea at the small table he had set up on deck . I walked over to him and bowed politly to him.
"General Iroh, May I speak to you sir?" I said as respectfully as i could. He looked up at me and laughed.
"I haven't been a General For a long time. Please, just call me Iroh. Also do not worry about speaking so formally. I know your father wishes you to talk more respectfully but I rather enjoy the youthful atmosphere you bring to the ship."
I stood there stunned. My mouth forming An 'o'. He laughed once more and it was too contagious to keep my mouth from cracking into a smile. He motioned for me to sit and poured me a cup of tea. I thanked him.
"So Lyra, you wanted to ask me something?" He said sipping his tea.
"Why are you not down there with your nephew?" I asked curiously. He closed his eyes in thought.
"My nephew has been looking for the avatar long before you were snuck onto this ship. there have been many false hopes. Every time, my nephew's fallen face and obvious homesickness cuts a little deeper Into this old man's heart." He said placing a hand over his heart. I looked at my folded hands in thought.
"Wow, you really care about him don't you, even though he's incredibly rude to you." He nodded his head in agreement.
"Prince Zuko was not always like this. It may not show very brightly now but he has good in him. Not all that is gold glitters, Lyra." He said sagely.
Suddenly the boat jerked again, this time moving away from the village. Iroh and I stood as Zuko came onto the deck with a small boy behind him. I frowned in confusion. That kid wasn't more than 12.
"Prince Zuko?" I asked looking at the strange staff Zuko held.
"This staff will make an excellent gift for my father. I suppose you wouldn't know of fathers, being raised by monks. Take the Avatar to the prison hold. And take this to my quarters." He said handing the staff to Iroh and then went below deck. Iroh turned to me and handed me the staff.
"Hey, you mind taking this staff to his quarters for me?" He asked.
I nodded and walked below deck to Prince Zuko's room. I knocked on the large steel door. No answer. I put the staff down and turned the large metal wheel and stepped into his room. I grabbed the staff and walked in. Looking around, it was dark and red. It smelled like spices. It was not a bad smell, in fact I liked it. I wondered if he smelt like this. My cheeks burned and I pushed that thought away. Gross. Even if he smelled good he was still a jerk.
"What. Are. You. Doing. In. My. Room.?" said an angry voice. I turned around mortified. My cheeks intensely red. Zuko looked pissed.
"I..uh...Your uncle told me to take this to your quarters." I finished lamely. He looked at me funny for a second then snorted and mumbled something about Iroh being lazy. He walked in his room and took the staff from me. I stood there for a second and looked up to see him staring at me annoyed.
"You should try to be a little nicer to your uncle. He really cares about you, you know." I said quietly. A sad look passed over his face and I took that as a que to leave.
"I know." It was so quiet I barely heard it as I closed the door behind me. I went to my room and fell asleep not being able to forget what Iroh had said.
When I woke up, all I could tell was chaos was ensuing. It felt like the whole ship was cracking in half. I ran above deck dodging an ice chunk on my way up. When I got there my mouth fell open. There was a glowing twelve year old bending a water...Hurricane...thing.
I saw Zuko and yelled to him.
"What the hell is going on?" My short red hair flew wildly in my face. The glowing kid landed on the deck and my body moved on its on towards Zuko but not fast enough. The boy bended the water around him and shot it forward knocking everyone off deck. I landed on the curve of an anchor. Knocking the wind out of me but I held on tight. I looked up just in time to see Prince Zuko falling towards me. I slid forward so my feet hooked on the W of the anchor and the rest of me hung down. I grabbed Zuko with both hands and grit my teeth in strain. Zuko looked up at me. I laughed pathetically.
"This idea of saving you was a lot easier in my head." I said to him strained. I almost dropped him in shock when I heard him chuckle.
"Did you just laugh? I think I'm hallucinating." He grinned at me.
"I have no idea how to get back up." I said effectively wiping the grin off his face.
"You won't have to, my uncles throwing down a rope." He said. Suddenly the weight from my hands was gone and I saw a rope dangling in front of me, I grabbed it and pulled myself up and over the side of the boat and finally collapsing onto the deck in exhaustion.
I heard Zuko shout "Shoot them down!"
I tried to stand up and take a breath but it hurt too much. With a cry of pain I fell back down. I heard my dads voice yelling for me. Then everything went black.
_-first chapter done! i hope i did okay!