WESTERN AIR TEMPLE

TWO YEARS AGO. . .

Zuko stomped back onto his Fire Nation ship. He had just started his quest. . . and yet he had failed already. There was no proof of the Avatar hiding out at the Western Air Temple. Nor was there any clues as to where the Avatar would be hiding. Maybe he had missed something. . .

Zuko was furious. He ignored his crew and his Uncle Iroh. He couldn't bring himself to speak to them, any of them. Somehow he had found his way to his quarters. Once inside, Zuko let out a howl of fire out of his mouth, letting his fury unleash. More than anything in the entire world, he wanted his honor back. Only his father, Fire Lord Ozai, could redeem it. And the only way his honor could be redeemed was if Zuko could capture the Avatar, the last living airbender. Blinded by his frustration, Zuko ripped his ponytail out, which caused his long, black hair to fall down to his shoulders. He wasn't aware of his actions anymore. Picking up a worthless decoration, he chucked harshly near the door. As the decoration smashed into a million minuscule pieces, a scream erupted. The scream did not come from Zuko.

Zuko had not seen the girl enter his quarters. She was the one who had screamed. Zuko had almost caused the decoration to hit the girl on her skull. He saw her eyes widen in surprise, her mouth forming a perfect O. Zuko did not know who she was. Whoever she was she was obviously a servant to the Fire Nation. The servant girl was wearing a dull brown tunic and black pants. Her medium brown, shoulder length hair was hanging loose. Her expression of surprise turned to embarresment.

Zuko locked his golden hazel eyes to the servant girl's bright green ones.

After a moment of this, Zuko felt even more outrage.

How dare this petty, servant girl stare at him like this?

"GET OUT!" Zuko bellowed.

The servant girl bowed clumsily before scurrying out of his quarters.

SOUTHERN WATER TRIBE WATERS

PRESENT DAY

It has been over two long years that I have been on this wretched ship. I am yearning to go home, back to my family. Prince Zuko complains about not seeing his homeland for two years. I have not seen my own family since I was taken away from them when I was ten years old. I keep my heartaches to myself. Like I have kept everything to myself for these past five years.

It is morning and the morning air is freezing. Of course it is freezing, I am in the Southern Water Pole. I pull my thin cloak closer to my chest as I walk onto the ship's deck. I see Prince Zuko and General Iroh, the great Dragon of the West there. Prince Zuko mumbles something and points to something in the sky. I follow my gaze to where the prince is pointing.

A bright, perfect line of light is illuminating the sky.

The sight is so breath-taking I gasp.

Prince Zuko's voice has become full of excitement and urging. It has something I haven't heard in awhile. . . hope. There is hope in his voice.

A FEW HOURS LATER. . .

Prince Zuko has captured his precious Avatar. Prince Zuko is jubilent. As the Avatar is being lead to his prison cell I manage to catch a glance at him.

He is nothing but a young boy. Is the prince really that heartless?

The Avatar boy is short, bald, and has tattoos on his skull and arms.

I am scrubbing the kitchen floors when I hear a voice cry out,

"The Avatar has escaped!"

Chaos is everywhere. If the Avatar escapes completely from this ship, it means that none of us will be going home. I abondon my task and race to the deck. But I am too late. The Avatar has escaped on a flying bison with two Water Tribe companions. Prince Zuko and General Iroh aim a giant fireball at the bison. I was sure that the Avatar would be hit. Instead we are hit. The Avatar has deflected the gianormous flame with an airbending move. A gust of air makes the fireball smashed into an iceburg. The iceburg breaks off and smashes our ship. Prince Zuko stomps up to me since I am the only one not busy defrosting a Fire Nation soldeir.

"Get this cleaned up!" Prince Zuko barks.

Prince Zuko's voice always gives me tingles. So without arguement, I go over to the fallen ice.

Prince Zuko has asked the impossible. I am no Firebender. I am not even Fire Nation.

I am Earth Kingdom.