Chapter Two. This chapter was meant to follow episode two, but it was to long as I'm splitting it up into two chapters.

Sorry for the long wait as I have been busy with track as I had a bunch of meets this week, but my season is now over sadly. So, now I have more time to focus on the story!

The engineers sighed heavily as they struggled to continue working in the steam filled ship hull, pipes releasing the thick steam throughout the inner hull forcing many of the engineers to complain about where they were stationed in the ship. Slowly, emerging from the thick steam cloud was six figures who were all covered in standard Fire Nation armor. Three of the men wore the white skull like mask of a Firebender while the other three wore the standard non-bending uniform of infantry grunts, armed with the standard weapons of the Fire Nation. The men all expressed uneasy expressions on their faces as they were nervous about facing the Avatar himself, but they all felt slightly at ease with the thought of having two of the Fire Nation's strongest with them. The fierce banished Prince. Zuko and the tactical genius Captain. Takeshi.

"Damn, it's hot in here!" A voice cried out as two figures made their way through the thick steam to where the six soldiers stood, the men standing up tall upon sight of their Commanding Officer and ruling Prince. The engineers all did the same as they saluted the two men, but their salute looked more unprofessional then the soldiers as they wore the attire of sweat covered sailors who were beyond exhausted.

"Men! We are after one person and one person only, the Avatar! If any of these Water Tribes warriors get in the way we will slay them, but keep your eyes on the prize!" Zuko roared loudly as the six men all nodded in agreement realizing that this was the moment the young Prince was waiting for. Zuko had been so obsessed with catching the Avatar and the crew knew how important it was to him, but they didn't know why he was so obsessed with catching the Avatar. None of them were aware of how he got his scar, or his past.

"That means no harming the civilians!" Takeshi roared loudly as he was known for his booming voice when yelling. The crew had never served under the young Captain in the field, but they knew that he had a very strict rule towards civilians. If any of his men disobeyed his rule of not harming the civilians, there was always terrifying concupiscence.

The ship suddenly came to a viscous shake as it was obvious to everyone that it had hit land and that the ship was now at its destination, the Southern Water Tribe. Takeshi gulped lowly as he had faced battle many times but had never came face to face with someone as powerful as the, Avatar. Yet, he was prepared to do whatever it took to help his brother regain his honor, as in his eyes he was only allowed to live by his father to help his brother's search for the Avatar.

"Remember Zuko, control your emotions or you'll be fighting yourself rather then the Avatar" Takeshi muttered lowly into his brother's ear so that none of the men could hear him, but loud enough so his brother could hear him. Suddenly, the whole ship came to a violent shake as the anchor was dropped. A few of the engineers wrapped their bodies around near by pipes to keep themselves from falling over, but the men in armor were unfazed by the sudden halt of the ship's movement. Their bodies were to tense to be moved by such a shake.

"Lower, the walkway!" Takeshi roared loudly his famous voice booming loudly as several engineers passed down the order until the final engineer, a elderly man got the word. Sighing heavily the elderly engineer pulled back a lever and pulled a metallic chain downwards, triggering the hull to open up.

Zuko's heart was beating rapidly as the hull wall in front of the them opened up and a bright beam of light blinded them. The once hot steamy room was suddenly filled with a cold chill as icy winds entered through the gaping entrance in the ship. Zuko felt his body rush forward towards the bright light as he was in a rush to find the Avatar, but he was topped by a warm hand on his shoulder. Looking over his shoulder Zuko caught sight of Takeshi standing beside him, the young Captain reminding him to act calm.

"Move out, men!" The Prince roared loudly.

The eight men began their advance down the walkway of the ship their exposed skin being greeted by the icy cold winds of the South pole, but the determination that burnt within the men were enough to keep them spiritually warm. Yet, Takeshi would of preferred thicker clothes at the time. With no warning, a ear piercing war cry filled the air. Takeshi couldn't help but feel startled as he was prepared, but ever since his days in battle whenever he'd hear a war cry he would be reminded of his days in battle.

Takeshi felt his eyes lock on the end of the walk way where a young boy about their age was rushing towards him. Takeshi had done his research and knew that all of the warriors in the tribe wee off fighting the war, but he also knew they'd never leave the village unprotected. Takeshi could tell the boy had been taught in the ways of fighting at a young age before the warriors of the village left as his stance that he used too charge them wasn't bad, but it had sloppy traits. The Water Tribe boy didn't stand a chance as Zuko easily kicked the club out of the boy's hand and without even resting his leg on the ground the prince kicked the boy right off the walkway. Takeshi watched the boy crash into the snow and although the boy was easily defeated, he couldn't help but admire his bravery.

'Sometimes bravery is the only thing that it takes to win' Takeshi thought to himself as he could easily tell that the Water Tribe boy stood no chance, but his will to fight would one day make him a strong warrior and even more important, a good man. Takeshi only wished he could see his brother the same way, the Prince had became slightly cocky with his constant training battles against his weaker crew members.

Zuko and the crew slowly approached the village the blue attire of the villagers gave away their origin easily. Zuko grinned at the sight of the fear they showed upon seeing him, he didn't like scaring them but it showed that the villagers had something to hide. The villagers knew the Fire Nation had no use to fight the elderly and the young, so Zuko could easily tell they were afraid that they'd find the Avatar and force them to suffer for hiding him.

"Where are you hiding him?" Zuko snarled at them as his six soldiers lined up perfectly behind them, while Takeshi stood a few feet behind the Prince. Zuko was over waiting and extending his arm out he grabbed a elderly Water Tribes women by his jacket, pulling the women close to him as fear was strong within his eyes. "He'd be about this age, master of all elements?"

"Zuko" Takeshi muttered coldly under his breathe as he didn't like how rough he was being with the villagers. Zuko angrily shoved the elderly women back into the crowd of villagers and takes a step backwards his fist tight as he goes from face; to face of the villagers. Takeshi stepped forward deciding to take another approach with the villagers.

"I'm Captain. Takeshi, we mean you no harm and will leave once we are handed over the person we have came here for; the Avatar!" Takeshi called out loudly wanting his voice to be heard all over the small village so if the Avatar was hiding there, he'd know to come out now.

"No harm" One of the villagers laughed loudly as Takeshi turned to see a girl about a year or two younger then him holding the elderly women who Zuko had just roughly handled. "The Fire Nation sure didn't mean any harm when they paid us our last visit!"

Takeshi had read a few years ago in a history book about the last "successful" raid on the Southern Water Tribe a few years ago, by Commander. Yon Rha of the elite Southern Raiders. "We are not here to harm any of you, I promise. We just want the Avatar."

Suddenly, the sound of crunching snow echoed loudly through the air as everyone turned around to see the Water Tribe boy rushed towards them with his fallen club in his hands once again. Letting out another war cry the boy let no fear be shown by any type of facial expression as most of his pant had been washed off by the snow.

'Determined this boy is, I just hope Zuko doesn't go to far' Takeshi thought to himself as he truly wanted to fight the boy one on one to get a feeling on how Water Tribe warriors fight, but he knew this was Zuko's day to fight in order to regain honor. Zuko quickly ducked lowly as the boy swung at his head, the wide swing flying right over the Prince's head and giving the boy no time Zuko acted. Zuko used all of his strength to send the boy hurdling through the air and into a small snow bank near the villagers. Losing control of himself Zuko fired off a blast of fire at the boy, but with speed the boy dodged the incoming flames. Takeshi was impressed when the boy reacted right away and launched a dull bladed boomerang at Zuko, but wasn't surprised when the Prince just barely dodged the attack.

"Show no fear!" One of the youngest boys of the village cried out as he threw the Water Tribe boy a spear made out of bones of some sort of arctic animal.

"Let me handle this" Takeshi muttered as he stepped in front of Zuko, the two of them knowing very well that Zuko had let his anger get the best of him when he used his Firebending. The boy charged at Takeshi his breathing was heavy, but as the spear came close the boy's breathing came to a halt. He watched as the Fire Nation Captain hit the tip of the spear up into the air with his knee, causing the boy to lose his grip on the weapon. Takeshi wasted no time and quickly landed a firm front kick directly on the boy's chest sending him collapsing on the ground. The boy reacted by throwing snow at Takeshi, who wasn't fast enough to dodge it. Takeshi allowed the boy that small victory.

Takeshi could tell the boy was hurt by his easy defeat and even though Zuko saw this boy as a threat, Takeshi couldn't help but feel differently. Takeshi knew the boy was strong, but his days of defending a safe village hadn't allowed him to work on his skills. One day the boy would get strong, but only by traveling the world. Suddenly, the boomerang came back and hit Zuko in the back of the helmet. Growling lowly Zuko prepared to balls of fire in his hands.

Suddenly, a gust of wind hit them as a group of villagers were showered in snow. At first Takeshi couldn't process that he was seeing but after a moment of starring he realized he was starring at a boy the age of twelve getting off a penguin; which he had just used for sledding. Takeshi thought it was a brilliant idea!

"Hey, Katara! Hey, Sokka!" The boy chirped as his features were odd as they involved a bald head with a collection of blue arrow tattoos.

"Hi Aang. Thanks for coming" The boy who he called Sokka, muttered lowly. The boy called Aang quickly entered a fighting stance and unleashed several shots of wind at the ground, showering his opponents in snow. Hitting the ground with his staff Aang sent a blast of snow at both Zuko and Takeshi, the Prince took the impact with ease and melted it off with his fire; but Takeshi felt his body hit the ground as the snow almost buried him like Sokka had gotten.

"Looking for me?" The boy chirped loudly.

Hope you enjoyed it!

I know you guys probably want to see Takeshi actually fight besides Zuko, but no worries we are getting there. So, review and stay tuned!