The Fire Nations Prince

'clink. clink. clink. clink' Fire nation boots tap the metal beneath me. I can feel my warm breath against my face with every breath I take; the only relief are those narrow slits in the mask. Sure, fire nation guard uniforms were practical, very protective, they even look pretty cool. They didn't feel that comfortable, though. I glance all around me before I open a large metal door, it squeaks only a little, but still, I freeze, my hand gripping the handle tightly. I glance behind me. I'm not where I'm supposed to be, I know this, and one slip, will certainly blow my cover. I slip inside the room.

I know for the most part where I'm going; I've been on this ship for a while. I certainly had no idea I would end up on the fire lord's son's ship though, that's an obstacle I'm working around. My grey eyes scan the room, there. There it is, I swiftly step towards the table in the center of the room with a map laid out. The four nations, color coded. Water, Earth, Fire, and Air. My eyes hungrily take in the details. Kyoshi Island, there's a marker there. Must be our destination, but why? What's on Kyoshi Island? I hear faint voices and nearly trip over my own feet trying to exit the room quietly and quickly. I'm out of the door, but I see Iroh and his nephew, prince Zuko, round the corner and start down this hall way.

I need to think fast. They haven't seen me exit the room, I just need to play it cool, and pass them, as if I'm patrolling the ship. I take in a deep breath; I can feel my palms sweating. "Conceal." I demand myself. I straighten up, and start walking directly toward the two. Iroh is making pleasant conversation, but Zuko has his eyes locked on me. Does he know? As we grow closer and closer, his eyes don't move. I have no choice now; I keep heading toward them until we are passing each other. "Soldier." Zuko says, emotionless. I stop dead in my tracks. "Did I tell you to patrol here?" I hear Zuko hiss. My heart stops. I lower my voice as low as I can go, still sounding like a teenage boy in puberty, and muster up the best excuse I have. "Thought I heard a noise, sir." He narrows his eyes, "Back on deck." The prince demands. I nod, bow, and continue on as I watch the two head toward the room I had just abandoned moments earlier.

I duck back behind a wall, waiting until the two enter the room. As silently as I can, I'm heading back down the hall. I had just narrowly escaped, yet I yearned to learn more. I stop outside the door, I hear the voices. "This door was not open, uncle." Zuko's voice growls angrily. "Always so quick to accuse others, Nephew. Everything is fine and in order here." Iroh replies. "Now that we know where the Avatar is, we need to get to Kyoshi as quickly as we can." Zuko begins. The Avatar? He's been gone for 100 years… what is Zuko talking about? I hear shuffling in the room, I don't take my chances, and I exit the hallway back onto deck quickly. I spend the rest of the day patrolling like the rest of these dummy guards. Ugh.

Night falls, and I spot Zuko training. My eyes glow with interest, I smile beneath my mask. I duck behind a wall, removing the mask, and peeking out at him. The fire moves smoothly, my hand grows warm. A flame grows In my palm, beautiful as ever. I smile at it, watching him shoot the flames; I try to soak in his energy. I try my best to mimic his moves. Some of them come out perfect, other moves, need improvement. This is how I've been learning from a young age. With the exception of a man back in the fire nation who would teach me in secret. When Zuko is finished, I slink off into the ship once more.

I wake in a storage closet. My thick, jet black hair is going in every direction. I sit up and begin running my figures through my long locks, parting the bangs over to the side as they usually are. I rub my eyes, and pull my hair up into a high ponytail, I can hear voices of other soldiers walking down the hallway to reach their patrolling areas. Must be morning. I pull on the Fire Nation Guard uniform, putting the helmet and mask on last. I dust my pants off before opening the door, where I freeze in my tracks. Prince Zuko is standing 2 feet in front of me, his gaze locked onto me. His eyes narrow. "What the hell are you doing in the storage closet?" This wasn't a question, this was a demand. I'm so shocked; I can't say anything for a moment. I shrug. Why did I do that? "Get back to work!" He nearly shouts. I exit the room and quickly head for deck.

Once I'm on deck, I begin to wander; I'm not really sure where I'm supposed to be. I turn around, only to see the prince's angry glare examining me. "What is your name." He demands, "I…" I start, my voice is feminine, I correct myself, sounding boyish once more, "Uh.. " I stammer. "Tell me your name!" He nearly shouts. He is starting to draw the attention of other guards. Iroh looks up from his Pai Sho game. "Sho…" I stammer. His eyes narrow more. "Remove your helmet." He demands. "Zuko…" Iroh begins, "Quiet Uncle." He says without looking to his uncle. I clench my jaw; this guy is really getting on my nerves. "Remove your helmet, now." He says quieter, yet his tone is dangerous.

Without thinking, my hands move to my helmet, and remove it. The air touches my pale skin, it feels nice. The wind blows my hair out of my face, I star at him defiantly. "A woman guard named Sho." He says, almost sarcastically. "Who are you." He demands, His hands clenched into fists. I use my regular voice, the feminine smooth sound leaves my lips, "Mieko. I am not your guard." I say, anger gripping the last word. "It was you who was in the map room!" He shouts, his hands glow as fire engulfs each of his hands. He takes a swing, sending fire barreling toward my face. I easily dodge it, pulling my hands up in fighting stance. I send a round house kick his way; he's barely able to block it.

"What are you doing here!" He shouts, sending more fire at me. I'm just barely able to dip to the side, and as I return, I send a fist at him, and this time, I connect. I hit him square in the mouth; he stumbles in surprise, like he wasn't expecting it to hurt. He growls in anger, and a wall of fire is coming for me so quickly, I have no choice. I let out a grunt as I pull my hands out in front of me, stomping the ground and moving my arms apart, I tear the fire wall in half, I'm angry now. "Traitor!" He's shouting, that's when I create a fire around me so huge, I almost feel as if I will fall over. It's nearly 15 feet high, wild, untamable. I look at my hands, trying to clench them to control the flame, but it's too strong. "… A fire bender…" I here Zuko quietly say in shock. I grunt even louder, trying to tame the flame. His arm is in front of his face, I send the fire shooting toward him, and the guards, and Iroh, in every direction. I see red, I can't control anything, and the anger is crawling over my whole body, consuming me. My heart is pounding, I'm seething, and nothing can stop it. When my vision clears, I see him. Prince Zuko takes one large step forward moves his arm swiftly, and a flame barrels out, hitting me square in the chest. I'm knocked off of my feet, and onto my back, the air leaving my lungs. I feel a burning on my chest for a few moments.

Zuko and Iroh stand above me, I'm struggling to breath. "Take her to her cell." Zuko demands. My vision begins to go black, and that's the last thing I remember.