Author's note: Hey! So this is my first fanfic... like ever. I am worried it's a little plagerizy, if you know what I mean, because it's basically in line with Zuko's story line. Reviews are totally welcome and encouraged ^.^ hope you like it... I mean if it does seem plagerized, I'm totally taking it down, because I really just don't want to deal with that. So I DO NOT OWN AVATAR: THE LAST AIR BENDER. Credit goes to the gods of creativity, Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko. Enjoy!

Chapter 1: Seeing You Again

Ming stood at the edge of the dock. It was lined with many of her father's large black ships, all awaiting his command. She heard the ship before she saw it come into port. The crunch of the metal engine as it staggered onto the dock was louder than any properly working engine, and it made her wince. She turned away from the loud crunch, the small ship flashing in the sunlight as Ming turned away from it.

She walked through the camp. Fire Navy soldiers sparred, or ate food around the glowing campfires. Loud clanks came from the blacksmiths, sparks flying from their hammers as they forged weapons. The smell of rice and noodles wafted through the air as Ming passed the kitchen tent, where food was prepared. She glanced at the mountains surrounding the camp. They were sparse, and tan, the only dots of green were the sparse trees that dotted the dusty landscape of the Earth Kingdom. This had once been a great Earth Kingdom port, but, Ming's father had claimed it with a bloody battle, and now it was the command center of the seas.

Commander Zhao stood there, glancing at his daughter before going back to his battle plans. He was tall, and muscled, his large sideburns were brown, tinged with gray lines. His hair pulled back into the traditional bun that many officers in the Fire Nation had. He wasn't old, only in his early forties, but the toll of war had aged him.

"There's a... damaged ship coming into port, Father," Ming grabbed a cast iron pot, and put some water into it knowing that guests meant tea. "It's not one of your ships, you might want to check it out." A flame burst out of her palm and flew beneath the burner underneath the pot.

"Very well," Her father said in his full bodied, intelligent voice, then she was alone. As the pot of water boiled, Ming went to her tent next door and looked in the mirror. She smiled at herself, but then saw the scar on her midsection. From afar it looked like a tattoo of the sun, spiralling and burning on her skin. It was a beautiful scar, which made it even worse. She glanced at her face, her amber eyes blinked at her. She reached up, and held her curly ebony hair back into a long ponytail, letting the cool air kiss the back of her neck. She let it drop after a moment, and then heard a familiar voice from her father's tent.

"If my father thinks the rest of the world will follow him willingly, than he is a fool," Ming's surprised eyes blinked back at her. She knew that voice well. It's intonation, the slight accent that had never made sense so she always thought it was more of a lisp, it's raspiness. It was certainly deeper than it had been, but she knew it. She bounced from her canvas tent to her father's.

"Zuko!" She smiled at her old friend, his hair was... different than it had been. He was almost bald, except for the diamond shaped length of hair that was wrapped up in a high ponytail. She glanced at his golden eyes, seeing the scar, she turned away, the memory of his unmarred face flashing in front of her eyes, "What are you doing here?"

"Ming, get some tea for our guests," Commander Zhao ordered, "I'm speaking with them."

Ming paused before turning to her favorite jolly elder, "Is ginseng tea still your favorite General Iroh? I think we have some."

"That would be splendid!" General Iroh patted his belly, happiness swelling in his face.

"Ming! Leave!" Zhao said, his voice raising a note that Ming knew, and feared, she bowed and left the room, heading to the kitchen tent. Zuko had forgotten her. All those years they spent together, and he hadn't even glanced twice at her, or said anything. She hadn't even had the chance to say goodbye to him on the day he left the Fire Nation. He was pushed out the door. She hadn't seen him since the day he was banished. She grabbed the Ginseng tea off the shelf and put it on a tray along with four cups and her favorite blue teapot. It's cast iron koi fish smiled at her as she set it on the red tray. She was after all on Earth Nation Soil, everything was either green or red, and she was tired of it, so she bought the blue teapot.

She inhaled deeply, filling the teapot with boiled water. The aroma of ginseng filled the air of the tent. It followed her as she left the kitchen and went back to give the tea to Iroh and Zuko.

"...The avatar probably died off a long time ago," There was a pause as Ming entered the tent, and Zuko stood up. He looked at her, his expression determined, angry. So different... Ming thought again, "Come on Uncle, we're leaving." He walked right past her until the guards stopped him. Ming set the tray down and poured the cups of tea. She handed one cup to Iroh, and to her father as the lieutenant explained that Zuko had captured the Avatar. That he had lied to Zhao, that the Avatar had caused the damage to the ship. She glanced at the third, Zuko hated tea, and he was fuming right now. It was rude to not offer him the tea, but it would make him angry if she did. She stopped and just handed him the cup. He glanced at it, then at her, and took the cup and drank it down, "Thank you," he said.

"Tell me exactly how your ship was damaged Prince Zuko," Ming watched as her father threatened the prince of the Fire Nation. She didn't want to, and she hoped that the tea water would run out and she would have to make more tea, but it didn't.

Zuko sat back down, he sighed, frustrated. "I captured the Avatar in the South Pole. He was hiding in the southern water tribe. It didn't take too much force. There was only one warrior there, and he was a miserable one. The Avatar is young. I have no idea how he survived and didn't age. I underestimated him. It won't happen again."

Ming's father didn't even pause to absorb this vague tale of the avatar, "No, you will not, because you won't be getting a second chance."

"I've been hunting the Avatar for two years, and I've-"
"You have failed," Zhao interrupted with a burst of angry flames as he spun around to face Zuko, "Capturing the Avatar is too important to leave in a teenager's hands. He's mine now."
Zuko lunged at him, but the guards captured him by his arms. Ming didn't move. She wanted to help, she really did, but her fear kept her gracefully sipping tea in her seat. "Keep them here," Her father's calm voice ordered, as he left the room. He looked at her as he left. She knew he meant her. She was his little prodigy, if anyone could hold Zuko here, it was her.

As soon as he left, Zuko kicked the table, breaking it and sending tea and splintered wood everywhere. Ming jumped from her seat snatching her teapot from mid air letting the expensive tea cups fall to the floor and shatter.

"More tea, please," Iroh stated, raising his hand.

When the guards didn't move, Ming turned toward one of them, "More tea, please," She smiled, the guard left.

"Ming, it has been such a long time," Iroh stood and hugged her. "You have grown to become such a beautiful young woman," He smiled kindly at her.

"I've missed you, General Iroh," Ming said. She looked at Zuko, "and you most," She said, wrapping her arms around his shoulders.

"I missed you too Ming," He hugged her back, his arms clung to her tightly. He didn't smile, but he was happy. Happy to see her, even though her father threatened to take everything away from him. His family, his home, his honor, would all be gone if he didn't capture the Avatar.

Ming stepped back as Zhao entered the room flanked by guards. "My search party is ready," Ming knew this involved her as well. She was going to help her father take Zuko's honor away, not by choice of course. She had to. Her father was... a tyrant. "Once I'm out to sea, my guards will escort you back to your ship, and you'll be free to go."

"Why?" Zuko asked, uncertainty filling the voids of his voice, "Are you worried I'm going to try and stop you?"

Commander Zhao let out an amused laugh and Zuko's words, "You stop me? Impossible."

"Don't underestimate me, Zhao. I will capture the Avatar before you," His hot-headness was getting to him. Ming wanted to warn him to stop, but Iroh beat her to it.

"Prince Zuko, that's enough."

"You can't compete with me," Her father spoke in a degrading voice, not angry, simply telling the truth, "I have hundred of warships under my command, and you, you're just a banished prince. No home, no allies," Oh how Ming wanted to laugh at her father for that, "Your own father doesn't even want you."

"You're wrong. Once I deliver the Avatar to my father he will welcome me home with honor, and restore my rightful place on the throne."

"If your father really wanted you home, he would've let you return by now. Avatar or no avatar. But in his eyes you are a failure, and a disgrace to the Fire Nation," it took all that Ming had not to jump up and slap her father. She could imagine every word he was saying was like an arrow piercing through bone and marrow that was already injured.

"That's not true," Zuko's voice was slow, his whole body was tense as the air in the tent was.

"You've got the scar to prove it," Zhao said, his voice low like a Saber Moose Lion licking his lips before attacking. He knew this was all it would take to send the boy over the edge.

"Maybe you'd like one to match," Every muscle in Ming tightened, her stomach fell to the ground, as her best friend and her father stood eye to eye, ready to lash out at each other.

"Is that a challenge?"

"An agni kai, at sunset,"

"No!" Ming stood, her eyes frightened. She didn't want them to fight. She didn't want Zuko to get hurt.

"Very well," Her father said, accepting the challenge and stepping back, "It's a shame your father won't be here to watch me humiliate you. I guess your Uncle and my daughter will do."

Iroh paused as Zhao left, the tension dying down, "Prince Zuko, Have you forgotten what happened the last time you dueled a master?"

"I will never forget."

Ming breathed in slowly, looking at the floor. "He has no self-control. Be careful, because he's powerful. He has a weaker footwork, so focus on breaking that, and you will win. He's good at close range and far range attacks, dodge them. If you don't... Just do." Ming left the tent, knowing that for honor's sake, Zuko and Iroh would stay there, and she didn't know what else to tell him, and if she did, she risked herself.

She went to the training arena. Lee glanced at her, "Hey Ming!" He said smiling at her. He was too young to be here, with her father's army.
"Hi," She smiled back at him. She knew he liked her.
"Wanna spar?"
"Sure, if you don't mind getting your butt kicked," She winked at him as they walked toward the ring. He was the best to spar with though, easy, but creatively fun.
Lee started, spinning around throwing a large stream of fire toward Ming. She broke it easily, burning through in a fiery flash of orange and red. The heat dancing around her. That's what firebending always felt like to her, a dangerous dance that could kill you at any second, and she lived on it. Sparring was controlled through. Lee and Ming never threw anything at each other that would hurt them. That wasn't the point. The point was to get better. Ming was far better than Lee though, so it was really more for him.
"Excuse me. Who do you think you are? Walking away from the Prince of the Fire Nation without so much as a goodbye, or anything."
"Pssssh, Prince of the Fire Nation. Banished Prince of the Fire Nation is more like it," Lee laughed.
"Stop it!" Ming said, her gaze stern and commanding, like her father's. "Go back to your normal duties, and if you don't have any duties to attend to, I'm sure you can find something else to do. Now go."
The arena cleared, Lee throwing her a look as he turned away. She sighed, her fingers danced up toward the sky and through her hair, "Ming... You don't have to fight my battles for me. I can handle myself. I'm stronger now."
"You don't understand!" Ming whirled around, looking into his eyes, "You didn't see it. I imagine that it was a million times worse to be you, and have that happen to you," Tears traced her cheeks, "But you didn't watch it... you didn't see it happen. I wake up every morning and I hear it. I hear my father's smug laugh, and, and your scream. And now you're just going to walk into this, with the possibility of it happening again."
"I'll win, Ming. I promise I will win." His hands on her shoulders, their eyes were locked.
She spun away from him. "What happened to your side, Ming? That's not a tattoo."
"I can't say here," She felt his warm hand in hers, "It's not a safe place."
"Come with me and Uncle, when we leave." Ming pondered on his words, wondering if she could get away. "After the Agni Kai. We'll take you with us,"
Zuko knew he father was cruel to her sometimes. "He'll chase you down as if you were the Avatar. He'd say you kidnapped me. He'd do everything within his power to destroy you and get me back."
"He can't beat the two of us," He smiled, it was small and almost unnoticeable, but Ming saw it.

"Ok," hesitance filled her voice, "I'll go,"

"I still have to beat him."

Ming spun around in a fluid fast motion and broke Zuko's footwork and he fell to the ground, letting out a groan.

"Rule number one, which you should already know. Don't let your guard down." Zuko jumped up, and they leaped and sparred. Ming hadn't had a challenge like Zuko in a while, and it was not boring. He twisted around throwing fireballs at her which she dodged with ease. She fought in her father's style. From afar, sending large amounts of fire at Zuko. Blocking in a strong stance, without thought. Zuko was poised, maybe not as strong, but he tried, he thought through his attacks. Ming didn't make it easy for him, until she stopped.

"I told you, footwork. Save your strength. It's almost sunset," She smiled at him, "I'm going to go pack my things up." Ming packed her things quickly, grabbing her teapot, her makeup, her mother's picture, her weapons, stars, teapot, kunai, throwing daggers all of them cleared and put neatly into her bag. She touched her neck, making sure the golden phoenix was clasped safely around her, letting out a relieved sigh when it was.

She paused in the doorway of the tent, feeling it's rough canvas in her fingers. Nothing that was left behind was of importance. The bed in the corner was made. The large cabinet was open and empty of clothes. A piece of paper sat on her vanity, which was also cleared, and next to it, a small dagger, its hilt was made of garnet, the metal had been tinted to a gold. It was masterpiece of a dagger. Given to her for her birthday by her father the year her mother left. The last things she grabbed were her Sai and white katana. She slung the katana on her waist, and jabbed the Sai into their pouches across her back.

She heard the gong just has the sun was beginning to fall across the ocean. The grunts and slashes of firebending could be heard as she walked into the training arena were the Agni kai was being held.

"Basics Zuko! Break his root!" Iroh shouted the same thing that Ming had said to Zuko at least twice that day.

Zuko, from what she could tell was losing. Zuko broke the fire every time it was shot at him, but he had been thrown back several feet from where he had been when Ming arrived. Zhao hit him one more time, and Zuko fell, sliding back toward the wall. Ming's father shot up, jumping in front of Zuko, blasting fire towards Zuko's face. Zuko curled, jumping up on his hands, spinning his feet around toward Zhao's ankle, knocking him down, and landing on his feet. Zhao jumped up quickly, but Zuko was already sending a burning path of flames were Commander Zhao's feet were. Zhao stumbled back, trying avoid being burned and thus losing the Agni Kai. Zuko pushed and pushed. Ming watched him, her eyes, following his every step, until finally, with a large amount of flame, Zhao tripped and rolled over the ground.

He sat up, as Zuko rushed toward him, his fist aimed at one of Zhao's eyes. "Do it!" Zhao commanded, his voice frustrated and angry.

"Hrrrrrrrah!" Zuko grunted at fire shot out of his fist. Ming gasped, the breath stabbing at her throat as she inhaled. The ground simmered where the flames had landed. Zhao stared at Zuko unburned.
"That's it?" He mocked, "Your father raised a coward."

"Next time you get in my way, I promise I won't hold back," Zuko turned and walked toward his uncle. Zhao stood up, stood for a moment. Ming tensed, she knew as he let out a loud defeated cry, she broke his fire, and kicked his stomach. Zhao flew back, hitting the ground.

Zuko lunged at him, but Iroh caught him, "No, Prince Zuko. Do not taint your victory," Zuko didn't drop his gaze from Zhao, but he backed off. Zhao glared at his daughter, "So this is how the great Commander Zhao acts in defeat? Disgraceful," Iroh's disappointed voice spoke, "Even in exile, my nephew in more honorable than you." Iroh paused before saying, "Thanks again for the tea. It was delicious." He turned and began to walk back toward Zuko's ship. Ming grabbed her bag, turning to look at her father, she didn't say anything, she knew she wouldn't have to.

"Go," Zhao snarled at her, looking at the ground, "Leave, just like your mother. I don't need you either," Ming stood there for moment. "Go!" He yelled at her, she nodded and turned, aware of his every muscle twitching in case he decided to hurt her.

The iron of the ship was cool beneath her bare feet. Zuko waited for her on the deck. "Come on, Ming," He said, almost giving her a smile she remember from long ago, but it wasn't quite the same. It wasn't as full, as bright, but it was a start.