Chapter 1

The crew of Prince Zuko's ship sat around a large wooden table in a bar. Normally, this wouldn't be so strange, but they were in a strip of 'no-man's-land' between Earth and Fire controlled areas. The firebenders were guzzling rum and beer as if their very lives depended on its consumption. Through their drunken stupor, the men saw several figures clad in high-ranking Earth Kingdom Army armor leaving.

"So, it's agreed?" The tallest earthbender looked to his companions. "Our men and ourselves will escort the Gem of our nation to Ba Sing Se along the old trade route early tomorrow."

"Yes." One of the other men agreed. "The Gem is the hope of our nation, we must ensure it's safety."

"Then may we all sleep well and be refreshed for our journey tomorrow." The third bowed and left. He was quickly followed by the others.

Zuko was disgusted by the condition of his crew. As always, after their night off, the ship would be held up another day by the men's hangovers. Still, he was intrigued by the story he heard. "The Gem of the Earth Kingdom? Uncle, have you heard anything about a gem before? This isn't their normal, intoxicated story."

Iroh nodded his head. "There are legends of the Gem. It has always existed, ever since the Earth Kingdom was founded."

"Well, maybe this gem would be enough to destroy the morale of the Earth Kingdom's army if it was intercepted. I'm sure my father wouldn't mind my doing this."

"Of course, but Prince Zuko, you will need to set up an ambush along the road." Iroh motioned towards the men. Most of them were either passed out or vomiting over the edge of the ship. "You should try to find some other men in the town to help you."

"Miss Kuan Jiun, we have a slight problem." A burly Earth Kingdom guard approached the Guardian of the Gem. "There are many firebenders in the city. Many of us think we should delay returning the Gem until more of them have left."

Kuan Jiun looked up from her book with a sigh. "No. The Gem must be returned to Ba Sing Se as soon as possible. Add two more regiments of ostrich-horses and their riders and spread word that we are to leave an hour early. I suppose I shall come also." The slender woman rose from her cushion. Her dark hair and eyes were the color typical to Earth Kingdom citizens. A green and yellow silk kimono marked Kuan's important status. In her belt were a pair of katana embossed with the seal of the Earth Kingdom.

"Uh ... yes, Ma'm." The guard bowed and left.

Zuko shook his head disgustedly as he surveyed the group that he had assembled. Most of the men were green recruits, old men, or just plain incompetent. "Be quiet." He hissed, but the men kept rustling and whispering in the tall grass.

They'd been in place for about five minutes when the combined footfalls of animals and humans could be heard. They must have left earlier to try to prevent an attack ... Zuko smiled to himself as his men quieted down.

As far as the prince could see, there were thirty-two men. This would be a much more even fight than previously thought. Two groups of four on their ostrich birds in front and in back, four large men marching along one side of a howdah, and four men carrying the howdah on poles across their shoulders. The howdah was curtained off by green cloth with the Earth Kingdom's seal woven in gold on the sides.

"NOW!" Zuko roared, lunging forward at the first earthbenders, fire erupting from his fists. The thirty firebenders began to cut through the opposition like hot knives through butter.

Without warning, Zuko found a sword biting into the armor on the fronts of his arms. Kuan Jiun struck again, only to be deflected by the tough armor again. Smiling, she stomped her foot on the ground, splitting it into a gaping mouth.

From the corner of his eye, he noticed a female figure running into the trees. Determined to get the Gem, he struck out and punched Kuan in the jaw, knocking her out. "Keep fighting." Zuko ordered his men as he sprinted after the girl in the trees.

The teen aged girl took several wary glances back and to the side before scooping water from a spring-fed stream into her mouth with cupped hands. Her long hair was a very light brown and her eyes were a dark, dark emerald green. She wore the armor of an Earth Kingdom admiral.

"Running away from a fight? Or are you trying to protect something?" Zuko chuckled darkly as the girl froze. "Maybe a Gem?" He had her. "Hand it over to me and I'll leave you unharmed."

The girl didn't speak as she stood up. Instead, she used an advanced earthbending move to lift a boulder. The pure hate in her eyes burned deeper and brighter than any fire.

"You really think that you have a chance of defeating me? I'm a prince." Zuko couldn't believe the nerve this girl had ... almost like that one water-peasant.

"You're a banished prince." The girl goaded. "I don't see what gives you bragging rights." She threw the boulder at Zuko and ran upstream.

That little ... she'll wish that she'd given me the gem ... Zuko grumbled as he attempted to run up the same rocky hillside that the earthbender had escaped over. He paused as he spotted the girl about twenty feet in front of him. The early morning breeze blew her hair in waves, making the vengeful expression on her face even more frightening. "Give me the Gem."

"Heh ... you forgot where you're standing ... didn't you?" She smirked.

Looking around him, Zuko paled. The girl was about to send the face of the hill sliding back down, when Iroh appeared and knocked the girl over with a fireball directed at her legs and sent her flying. A dull thud was heard as her head hit the ground.

The two firebenders looked down on the now unconscious earthbender. "Uncle, how did you know that I was in trouble?"

"I had my suspicions. Besides, I wanted to see the Gem as soon as possible." Iroh's eyes shown. "No people other than the Avatar and Earth Kingdom citizens have ever seen it. Did you find it?"

Zuko's face twisted into a scowl. "No. She refused to say where it was, so we'll be taking her prisoner." He took the rope Iroh had brought and began to tie the girl's wrists and ankles.

"Prince Zuko!" One of the older men from the group came crashing through some brush. "The earthbenders ... they retreated. We didn't get the Gem."

"I know. Carry the prisoner back to the ship." Zuko ordered, roughly using his foot to start her rolling down the hill to level ground. "Have her locked up in the cell closest to the boiler room, the one designed for the avatar."

"Are you sure that is wise?" Iroh turned to his nephew. "What if you capture the avatar while she is still captive?"

"Then we'll put them both in the same chamber. She is not going to get away." Zuko continued to glare at her. Glad that bruises were starting to form on her face. "I will get the Gem."