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8 years later…

I informed the captain to pull into the nearest port available. I then made my way to the deck of the ship. I walked to the railing and breathed in the salty air. The wind wiped at my face and hair. I looked out across the open horizon. There was nothing but endless sea. The only constant and ever present thing in my life for the past three and a half years. Besides my uncle. I don't know why he has stayed with me for so long. You think he would tire of this constant traveling, and want to return home, to the Fire Nation, and enjoy his retirement.

"Prince Zuko."

"Yes uncle."

"What are you doing Prince Zuko?"

"Thinking."

"Ah. That is good… I came to tell you that we will be docking soon. The captain has found the nearest port."

"And what would that be?"

"Well Prince Zuko, I don't think you are going to like it."

"Uncle, you've taught me that in order to be a great leader, you must keep a level head and take the good news with the bad. Now I'm sure whatever it is I can handle it."

"Alright then, the only port we could find close by is one that Zhao and his men are occupying." I felt a surge of irritation flow thorough my body.

"WHAT!"

"Now Prince Zuko…"

"ARE YOU SURE THAT IS THE ONLY PORT!"

"Yes. We have checked the maps several times and it is the only one nearby."

I turned away from my uncle and stormed to my room, to meditate. I hated Zhao and now we were heading into his port. Uncle knew that he and I did not see eye-to-eye. I hated him. Zhao was one of the only people that stood in my way of capturing the Avatar. This is just what I need. Another chance for Zhao to antagonize me about the Avatar and he'll want to know what information I have about the Avatars whereabouts.

When we pulled into the port I felt the ship shudder as it came to a stop. I dressed in uniform and made my way to the hull. Uncle was already waiting for me. As we walked down the ramp we were greeted by Zhao. I felt myself frown and made myself stand tall. I was not afraid of Zhao and I was going to let it show.

That night Zhao extended an invitation to us to stay in his own home there on that particular island. I urged uncle to reject the offer but he was stubborn and refused. He said it would be rude to not accept the Generals offer. No wait. I almost forgot he had been promoted to Admiral. What was my father thinking, putting that man in such a high ranking position? We arrived at the Admirals, and attended dinner. When the meal was over, he called to one of his servants and whispered in his ear. Then spoke aloud, "well gentlemen, I have a special after-dinner-show prepared for you."

I saw uncle perk up at the news of this. "Oh really, it would happen to be a musical would it?"

"No General Iroh. It is much more…" he paused searching for more the right word. "lively than a musical." He went on babbling about something I paid no attention too at all. "Then a few years ago I came across a General who had gotten into the most curious trade and he had come across a very rare species, and I just so happened to acquired it from him." he said with a smirk. I had to keep myself from cringing at his words. Zhao in my opinion was not a very honorable man and there could be no telling what he had "acquired".

We turned down a hallway, and came to a dim lit room, with a large glass window on the wall. We were seated in front of the glass and the attendants left the room. I stared into the room on the other side of the glass. There was a small stage and that was it. I relaxed when I assumed we were just watching a short play or musical. Then a small woman came into the room carrying a bottle of wine and glasses. Zhao took the bottle and filled the glasses. I sipped at mine. I was in no mood for wine and defiantly not from Zhao. He might have poisoned it or something.

After the woman left music began to play from the room in the glass window. Drums and tambourines played and girls flitted into the room. They danced around us in a swarm. I didn't like this. It felt like a tavern. I watched as uncle's hope of a musical faded away and saw a unhappy expression form across his face. I watched Zhao. He on the other hand seemed to be enjoying his self. I then knew what trade he was referring to earlier. He was buying women. He frowned even harder. I kept my temper under control and waited for the women to leave the room. They had all gone, but one. She was seated in Zhao's lap whispering into his ear. Then uncle spoke, "I think Prince Zuko and I will retire for the night."

"Wait Iroh, there is one other thing I would like you to see, you have yet to see my exotic specimen."

Uncle sat back down in his seat, clearly unhappy, and waited. Zhao mumbled something to the girl in his lap and she quickly got up and left. Then I returned my attention back to the glass window. A door opened and a dark haired girl sashayed into the room. Her hair was black and she had pale skin. Two guards entered as well and stood at the door. She girl turned to them and glared, and stayed right where she was.

"Here she is gentlemen. Isn't she something?" Neither uncle nor I spoke. She was beautiful. Her wavy black hair was pulled back on the sides, fell down past her shoulders, and stopped about mid way down her back. She wore a white top that didn't cover her stomach. And what might once have been a skirt, but the sides were missing, and revealed everything from her calf to the top of her thighs. Zhao stood and walked over to the window. He motioned for the girl to come closer but she didn't budge. He laughed "She is a very stubborn creature." He tapped the glass and the guards moved toward the girl. She backed away from them and came closer to the glass. She was even prettier up close. Now that she was closer I could see pink streaks in her hair but just barely. Zhao spoke again, "What nation would you think she is from?"

Again neither uncle nor I spoke. "You would think with that complexion and dark hair she is from the fire nation or perhaps the water tribes." I raised an eye brow. "But-no-she is not. She is stubborn like the people of the Earth Kingdom. And of course she is no air bender; being as we eliminated them from the gene pool." He let out a small laugh and tapped the glass again, and the guards moved toward the girl once more. She stood her ground and knocked their hands away when they reached for her. She spun away from them and kneed one of them in the stomach. He fell to the floor and wobbled getting up to help the other guard who had the girl backed into a corner. She hissed at him and charged.

She knocked him over and ran for the door. She pulled at the door but it was locked. She didn't look surprised. The other guard grabbed her from behind and she threw her weight around, jerking every which way. The guard managed to hold onto her waist while the other tied her wrists behind her back. She fought them still by kicking as she was pulled to the glass window. She caught one of the guards in the mouth with her foot and continued struggling. The battered guards got her to the window and held her still. Zhao then motioned for us to follow him. He walked to the door at the end of the wall and went in to other room. The girl's eyes widened when she saw the three of us enter. She lunged at Zhao when he came close but the guards held her back. Zhao seemed to find the whole thing amusing. He reached out to touch her face and she bit at his hand. Zhao shook his head and rubbed his chin. He spun around and smacked her in the face. "Zhao!" uncle hollered. "There is no need to…"

"This is how you must deal with her Iroh, or else she doesn't get it, and goes back to her barbarian Water Tribes ways." Uncle opened his mouth to speak again, "Still, that is no way to treat a young lady." The girl lifted her face a little to look at uncle.

The guards still held her in place, Zhao took hold of her, and she spit in his face. "You! What do you think I am? I'm not a freaking animal you can bring out and show off to your friends. And if you ever hit me again I swear I WILL kill you." She half yelled. Zhao spun her around, grabbing one of her wrists and a handful of hair. He pulled her head back and she yelled out. Her nostrils flared and she breathed hard. "Now, you are going to behave while we have guests." he said forcefully. She tried to jerk her head away but couldn't.

Zhao made her walk forward and stand in front of us. "Such fire; She may not be a Fire bender but she is as fierce as any" he said, with his mouth grazing her right ear. The girl flinched and let out an angry, muffled sigh. I could tell from the look in her eyes, that she took pride in the fact, that she made things hard for Zhao, and she obviously didn't like him touching her. "And you see these marks here." he said, eyeing her shoulder, "they are the strangest things. On some occasions they glow or light up." Uncle had an uncertain look on his face and seemed to be contemplating something. Zhao slightly released his grip on the girl's hair and her head relaxed forward. He leaned his head forward and whispered in her ear, "Now you be a good girl and don't do anything rash." The girl cut her eyes to him, and replied, "And if I don't? What are you going to do, hit me again?" Zhao growled, and shoved her aside. She hit the floor hard. I watched as she glared at his back, from the floor, as he turned to go. Uncle and I followed behind Zhao to leave. She pulled her legs through her arms, pulled the ropes off, and threw them to the floor. She got up and ran at Zhao. He turned and just barely dodged her. She hit the wall and eyed the door; then slammed it shut. She turned her attention back to Zhao and lunged at him once again. The guards stepped in front of her and took a defensive stance. She raced at the first and knocked him to the ground. He fell to the floor; out cold. The second guard hesitated moving toward her till Zhao shouted at him. She stepped over the unconscious guard on the floor and approached the second. He swung at her and she moved out of the way. She twisted past his arms and hit him in the back of the neck.

She bent over and picked up a knife from one of the guards belts. Zhao for a moment looked frightened. She now walked toward Zhao; still carrying the knife, with a murderous look in her eyes. "Zhao you have no idea how long I have been waiting for this moment." She had a murderous look in her eyes, "now you are the one who will get scream."

Zhao stepped forward and spoke, "Come now Raeya. After all we have been through…"

"Don't you dare try to sweet talk me!"

"Be reasonable. You don't want to do this.

"You have no idea just how BADLY I want to."

"Well it would be a shame if you were unsuccessful, again..." The girl growled in response. "PUT DOWN THE KNIFE." He hollered.

"NO!"

"This is your last chance. You put the knife down now and I won't have to hurt you like last time" he tried to say in a low voice, to where only they could hear.

"That is a lie and you know it!" Zhao didn't respond but simply stood where he was and waited. She didn't answer either, and weighed her options. Her knuckles turned white as she gripped the handle of the knife, and her other fist shook. She looked him dead in the eye. I could almost see the anger radiating off of her and the marks on her body all glowed. Uncle and I watched the tension between the two grow stronger. The girl shook her head and started forward again.

"The only way you are getting me to give you this knife is if, it is run through your heart, or pried from my dead hands." She lunged at Zhao and missed. He struck her arm and the knife fell from her hand. She tackled him in the stomach, Zhao grunted, and they both fell to the floor. They thrashed around on the floor and Zhao pinned her down. She struggled under him. Her head made contact with his and he was momentarily stupefied. She pushed him off of her and scrambled towards the knife. He caught her ankle and pulled her back. She kicked at him and tried to get away. She struck him in the jaw and this time managed to get the knife. Uncle now was trying to reason with her but she was not listening.

The struggle lasted for what seemed like forever. She was her attacks were fierce, swift, and quick. She now once again hand the blade in her hand. She rounded Zhao and this time he lunged at her. He was quick but not as quick as she was. He missed her and tripped. She laughed and attacked again. She was panting but kept going. "YOU WOULD MAKE THINGS SO MUCH EASIER, IF YOU WOULD JUST LAY DOWN LIKE THE DOG YOU ARE, AND LET ME KILL YOU!"

Zhao laughed wickedly. She threw the knife at him; just barely missing his face by an inch. I then stepped in to try and intervene. I put my hands up as in surrender and tried to calm her. "Hey, just calm down for a second…"

She glared at me then laughed. "Are you really trying to reason with me; A Fire bender. HA! You all are a murderous breed. Why should I spare his life? DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT HE'S DONE TO ME?"

I shook my head, "No. I don't… but maybe if you calm down for a minute we can talk about it."

"NO! IM TIRED OF TALKING. It's impossible to reason with you people!"

"No. It's not. My uncle is quite good at it." Uncle gave me a look that said, "Why are you bringing me into this?" She looked at me searching my face and Zhao took that as opportune moment to strike. He lunged at her. She hit the floor; Zhao sat on top of her, and slammed her wrists to the floor. She let out a small squeal. The once unconscious guards were now awake and came to Zhao's aid. They helped Zhao roll her onto her stomach and tied her hands behind her back. She still fought against them. Zhao pulled her off the floor by her hair; she let out cry. Zhao slammed her into the wall and held her by the throat. He pushed back a strand of hair that had fallen from his top-knot. He looked at her, his face just inches from hers, and spoke. "Now didn't I tell you to behave?"

She spit in his face and then she cried out. The smell of something burning filled the air. A scream erupted from the girl's mouth and she squirmed to get free of Zhao's grip on her hands. Uncle came forward and pulled Zhao away from the girl. She fell to the floor whimpering and trying to sooth her burnt flesh. Zhao put on a refined face and turned back to uncle and I.

"Now gentlemen I think we have had enough excitement for one night." Uncle opened his mouth to speak, but then shut it, and nodded in agreement. Zhao turned back to the girl and hissed in her ear, "We will… discuss this later tonight." I don't like that sound of that. He's probably going to beat the crap out of her once we go to be for the night.

"Prince Zuko, are you coming?"

"Yes Uncle" I replied and walked out the door. Zhao excused himself and we were showed to our rooms.