Chapter Two – An Unexpected Detour

Haru took his stance and waved his arms away from his body, paused for a moment, then pulled them back to his side. With that the ship heaved to the left as a wave crashed against the side of the boat. The motion threw most of the Firebenders down to the ground; the few that were standing were standing only because they had hit something which stopped them from falling.

Haru took the time to move out of the doorway and farther on deck. He brought his hands slowly above his head and with them watery tendrils rose above the sides of the ship. As the crew recovered from their fall Haru took his stance and prepared.

Seconds later the first burst of fire came from a Firebender a little to his left. He dodged the blast and brought his hands down and the water he held up moved to surround his body. Haru entered in to a series of rapid waterbending techniques, which manipulated the water that now circled his body to form a stream that hit the Firebender and knocked him over backwards

By this time there were more people on their feet and more fireballs were launched in Haru's direction. He brought the water back to him and used it to create a shield of whirling water in front of him. The fire balls dissipated when they hit his shield and after a brief pause in the barrage there was a column of steam rising from the water.

"Leave him," someone said. "This Waterbender is mine." Haru let the water fall to ground and saw the crew members backing away to the edges of the boat; directly in front of him stood a young man, the commander who had captured him. The man had a bright red scar covering his right eye and his hair was pulled up in a ponytail.

"Quite impressive," Haru said. "To think a child could command this much authority."

"I'm no child!" he yelled as he threw and arc of flame from his hand. Haru flicked his hand upward and the water that had covered the deck rose and blocked the fire. "I am Prince Zuko, son of Fire Lord Ozai and heir to the throne of the Fire Nation."

"Well, Prince Zuko… What are you waiting for?" The water rose again and Haru pulled it toward himself before pushing it toward Zuko, who kicked upward and split the current of water with an arc of fire. Haru sent the water around both sides of Zuko and pulled the current towards him. Zuko, who was between the water and Haru, was knocked forward as the water made its way to surround Haru. Zuko whirled around and sent fire from his feet which hit Haru and knocked him a few feet backwards.

In response, Haru sent a sheet of water to Zuko's left, which he blocked, then froze the water beneath their feet. Zuko was still not balanced enough when the water froze and he fell sideways on to the ship's deck. Haru froze The Prince's ankles to the deck and slowly ice crept over his wrists and soon his torso was frozen to the deck.

"You're pretty good," Haru said, squatting down. "You were more of a challenge than the other guy who captured me. Course I did fight him when it was nearly a full moon. Nevertheless…" Zuko looked as if he wanted to murder him, but slowly his face softened until it showed only mere contempt.

"Are you going to finish this?" Zuko asked, spite present in his voice. "You've already beaten me."

"I'm not going to kill you," Haru said. "I just want to get my boat and be on my way." Zuko was silent. Haru released the ice that bound Zuko to the deck. Zuko stood up, as did Haru.

"You are a powerful bender," Zuko commented, which struck Haru as strange. He thought he saw the faintest of smiles appear on Zuko's face, but it disappeared behind his face returned to its normal, indifferent state. "For a Waterbender, that is."

"Do you want me to beat you again, Prince Zuko?" Haru had become tense and impatient. "Now let me leave."

"You might be even more powerful than the Avatar." Zuko didn't try to hide his smile this time. Haru's previous anger was replaced by curiosity and his facial expressions showed it. "Is that why you travel, to find the Avatar?" This was followed by an awkward silence.

"It is," Haru said slowly. He found it fascinating that this young prince could read his expressions so well. "Have you fought the Avatar?" Zuko turned and walked toward the middle of the deck.

"I have, many times," Zuko stopped and turned to face Haru. "It is my… Job, to capture him." Haru stepped forward so that he was barely a foot away from Zuko.

"Let me join your crew, let me help you capture the Avatar," Haru didn't know exactly what he was getting himself in to, but if it allowed him to get to the Avatar, he didn't care.