CHAPTER 2-LU TEN

Iroh pulled the dark cloak over his body and removed his crown, as he snuck out of the palace. Just as dawn was breaking, he started walking to the wharf to find a way away out of the Fire Nation. Once there, Iroh hid behind crates and barrels until he overheard a captain saying that he was leaving Fire Nation waters. Without thinking about it for a moment, Iroh moved towards the ship.

"Hey! What are you trying to do!?" yelled one of the deckhands as he saw Iroh trying to sneak onto the ship. "We don't allow stowaways!"

Not knowing whether or not he should reveal himself, Iroh turned to the man, "I will be willingly to do work if I have to. I have never been on a boat before, but I am a quick learner."

The man hesitated for a moment, and nodded his head in agreement and let Iroh on the ship. He went straight to the bottom decks to find an empty bunk to call his own for his journey. Shortly after getting comfortable, young Iroh went up to the top deck and began to help out the crew get ready to set sail. Once out of the harbor, the other man, average in both looks and build, came up to Iroh and introduced himself "my name is Lu Ten, and yours?"

"My name…umm…my name is Iroh."

Lu Ten raised an eyebrow at his response, but did not ask any questions.

"So what is the purpose of you trying to sneak on the ship young Iroh?"

Iroh, confronted with his decision, was at a loss. He was not exactly sure what drove him to make this decision. The humiliation of being rejected sure, but more so the fact she saw him as a bully. There must be something more to me than just being a bully of a prince he thought to himself. His response came out as a simple statement: "I am here, to find my honor."

"Well that is a broad purpose." Lu Ten thinks to himself for a moment, "Stick close to me, and there won't be any problems. I really do hope you learn quickly, one mistake, and it's the end of the line for either you or someone else on this ship."

Quick learner did not accurately describe Iroh, rather it was the opposite. Iroh struggled with his daily chores. Lu Ten, however, got a good laugh out of watching Iroh struggle. Days turned into weeks, and weeks turned into months, and by this point Lu Ten & Iroh had become close friends, and Iroh finally got his sea legs. One late night as the two sat on the deck looking out at the sea, Iroh finally told Lu Ten the truth.

"I came on this ship, to hunt a dragon. It has been said that by killing a dragon, you will become a master firebender and find honor. I am here to embrace my destiny, as future Firelord."

Without skipping a beat, Lu Ten continued, "you know, Prince Iroh, destiny is a funny thing. You never know how things are going to work out. But if you keep an open mind and an open heart, I promise you will find your own destiny someday."

Iroh was shocked by the fact that Lu Ten knew he was the crowned prince! "But…how…how did you know?!"

"Iroh is not that common of a name young man," Lu Ten laughs. "As for your future as Firelord, I cannot tell you where destiny will take you, but I can tell you where the rumors say the dragons are hiding."

Iroh's back straightened up, and his face lit up with excitement at Lu Ten, "you know where to find a dragon?!"

Lu Ten nodded his head, "but before I do, Iroh, my friend, is killing a dragon really going to solve your problems? Is not being a master firebender really at the source of all of your problems?" Lu Ten paused for a moment, waited for Iroh's response, which never came. "Before I divulge that information to you, I would really like to challenge you to a game of Pai Sho, once you win, I will tell you where to find a dragon."

"Pai Sho?! That is a game old men play! I don't see any other option, so I accept your challenge."

Pai Sho is a game which required a great deal of focus and planning. In order to win, you needed to not only think multiple moves away, but one has to be patient. This game allows for a great source of meditation. To both Lu Ten's and Iroh's surprise, Pai Sho came to Iroh a lot quicker than working on a ship. He managed to win only after playing a few times.

After admitting his defeat, Lu Ten offered Iroh some advice, "Iroh, please don't under estimate the role of the white lotus. It has the tendency to help you when you least expect it."

Slightly confused at this comment, Iroh took it to heart, yet was eager to hear where the dragons were located.

"I will talk to the captain, and ask that we make a pit stop at the ancient civilization of the Sun Warriors," said Lu Ten.

"Sun Warriors?! You have to be kidding; they have been extinct for a long time now!" Iroh exclaimed.

"This is true, I told you, and they were just rumors. Do you want to stop, or not?"

Iroh thought for a moment, and agreed to Lu Ten's offer.

A few days past and they were on the shore of the Sun Warrior's civilization. "Goodbye Prince Iroh, while you are lost now, I hope that you find whatever you are looking for."

Iroh embraced his new friend, "I hope our paths cross again my dear friend. Thank you so much for everything."

Without saying a word, Lu Ten sent Iroh on his way, it wasn't until the ship had begun to leave did Lu Ten's eyes begin to water.