I DO NOT OWN AVATAR THE LAST AIRBENDER! i'm hoping i can make this better since i have ideas for later on in the series and not much for the starting so i'm open for a few suggestions here and there on what you'd all like to see.
Cynder decided to ignore Zuko saying he found the avatar since she had a feeling it was a bunch of bull. So instead she just went to help fix something since she still had to work around the ship most of the ship was fine but the engine room needed constant supervision due to steam build up, over heating risks, and a lot of other stuff that can cause problems for this ship. So Cynder had to learn from the crew members over the years on how to handle this stuff.
She put her hair up into a ponytail and took of her shirt to where her under shirt that was a tank top was and she put of some black baggy pants and went down to the engine room to see if there was anything they needed help with.
She was releasing steam from the pipes when she felt the ship rumble from cutting through ice to get to the water tribe village Cynder sighed but flinched when she realized she let out a little too much steam from being distracted from the rumbling and quickly turn the valve to close the pipes.
"Everything ok over there?" the chief engineer asked in a knowing tone as cynder shrugged.
"I accidentally let out to much steam but I don't think it was so much it's critical." She explained as the chief nodded and wrote something down since every mistake needed to be documented while Cynder went back to doing other stuff in the room until the other engineers came back and Cynder was sent on her way.
After a quick wash up of getting the sweat and grim off her she came back out of her room redressed only to hear a lot of noise from above her. At it didn't sound like training, feeling something was off Cynder rushed out to see Zuko and a bald kid with arrow tattoo's seemingly trying to escape. Cynder wasted no time and formed a black fire whip with two fingers and threw it down at the kids feet making a loud "Snap" noise when it hit the ground along with a loud startled noise from the kid making him lean a bit over the ship's railing.
Cynder stopped her advance when it looked as though zuko had the upper hand but stayed ready in case something went wrong. Zuko threw some more fire ball punches while the kid twirled his stick until it fell out of his hands and Zuko pushed him off the boat.
"Ok. Now will someone tell me what's going on? Who the hell was that kid?" Cynder asked since she just walked in on this.
"That KID is the avatar." Zuko said as he went over to the railing and looked at the water. "We gotta fish his body out to bring to my father."
Cynder's jaw dropped at those words and rushed over to the side of the ship looking at the water in disbelief
"that was the avatar? The last airbender? WOAH! and here I thought you finally lost you mind!" Cynder stated as Zuko's head snapped over with a glare.
"WHAT!?" he snapped only to have that thought on hold when a torrent of water bursted from behind the boat making the two and a few guards who came up from under to watch in shock and fear. Cynder's eyes widened not sure if she should be amazed by the avatar's power and be scared since it looked like he was going to drown them.
Unfortunately she didn't have enough time to decide since she was thrown into the side of the boat while some of the others had the same happen to them and the rest (Zuko included) were thrown overboard.
Cynder shook her head to see a bison and three preteens, two water tribe the other was….
"the Air bender." Cynder said not really being able to move. The bald kid looked at her with an eyebrow raised while the other preteen was grabbing his stick.
"?" the kid just tilted his head while the water tribe boy ran over saying "yip yip" a few times while the bison took off, only then did she notice iroh who was obviously coming out from a nap. He blinked at the flying bison in disbelief and did a double check to make sure he wasn't seeing things.
Cynder looked over to where she heard the anchor chain rattling and went over to see Zuko climbing the chain to get on board. Cynder held out an arm with Iroh coming up behind her while Zuko took the helping hand and was pulled up.
"urrrgh, I swear baldy! …. Lose a few!" Cynder grunted as she pulled Zuko up who brushed off the comment to focus on the avatar escaping and shouted a quick "Shoot them down!"
The three rushed over to the center of the deck each with their own fire ball and threw them simultaneously at the bison only to have it knocked aside by the Avatar's airbending and hit the tip of the icecap making ice and snow come crashing down.
"Shit, Clear the deck!" Cynder shouted running the opposite direction of the avalanche with Iroh running behind and zuko soon after until they were at a safe enough distance to see the kids laughing as they flew off.
Cynder had nothing to say at the fact the kid was the avatar. Like you know that feeling of being so surprised you have no idea what to feel? This was what cynder was feeling.
"good news for the fire lord." Iroh started as Cynder turned curious to what her friend had to say. "the fire nation's greatest threat is just a little kid."
"That KID uncle, Just did this." Zuko said gesturing the half buried ship. "Dig the ship out!" Zuko commanded only to see his crew helping the frozen ones by lightly melting the ice away with their fire bending. "… as soon as your done with that."
Cynder sighed knowing they had their work cut out for them today.
Cynder watched the waters searching for her flying dolphin who disappeared the day the avatar popped up- two days ago- Cynder whistled and waited in silence for a splash, a squeak anything. The dragon sighed and leaned on the railing it was late at night and pretty much everyone was asleep. So she snuck into the ship basement and dragged out an iron dummy and carried it to the deck. She looked around once more then got into a fighting stance. Soon black fire was engulfing the iron dummy as she whipped, burned, hit, kicked and so much more to it. Hell she was tempted to even bite it but if someone was watching she didn't want to seem weirder than she already was.
She took a breath and blew out a giant stream of fire from her mouth but soon choked coughing on the smoke that filled her mouth while she was breathing the fire.
"You are having trouble with that one?" Iroh said as Cynder's head snapped over to the old man in his sleeping robe. She coughed out a few more black clouds while she slowly shook her head.
"I-I'm fine…" She gasped as she faced the dummy once more and breathed fire again and held it as long as she could only to feel the smoke fill her mouth and lungs making her stop and go into a coughing fit.
"you are to prideful Cynder, when you need help you always refuse it no matter what it is… and you really needed help that one time when you were on cooking duty, nearly killed everyone that ate it." Iroh said shuddering at the awful memory while Cynder blushed with humility at that blunder, no one was well for the next few days. Zuko was furious and was shouting about throwing her off the ship. And he would have to if it wasn't for Iroh.
"..Fine teach me how to breathe fire in this form." Cynder said in defeat as Iroh smiled and took a deep breath while flaring his nostrils then released a giant stream of fire at the dummy and held it a lot longer than Cynder did. When Iroh decided he needed to breath he stopped his fire breath and smiled at cynder.
"The trick? It's to let the smoke escape through your nose while you breathe fire. Keep them open and breathe fire through your mouth and smoke through the nostrils." Iroh said as Cynder nodded and got into position and took a very deep breath making sure to get her nostrils and wide as they can go then she let it all out, this time smoke didn't cloud her lungs but she could taste it. It tasted like coal but it was better than choking on it, soon she ran out of breath and started panting catching her breath with a winning smile.
"Good, now do it again. I want to make sure you got this technique mastered. Do it as many times as you can!" Iroh ordered as Cynder nodded and turned to the iron dummy with an open mouth.
Cynder panted while catching her breath from losing a lot by fire breathing, she clutched her knees feeling worn and slightly weak witch enraged her at how she can get tired more easily in this form. This would have never happened…
"You are comparing your human and dragon forms aren't you?" Iroh said as Cynder looked up in shock then quickly covered he head.
"You can read minds!?" she said in a panic now thinking he knows all of her secrets!
"HAha no. I can just tell." Iroh said as Cynder took a quick sigh of relief then stretched his arms high into the sky.
"Yeah, I gotta say a human's body is very weak compared to a dragon's body…. I actually miss being near invincible, but in this form there is more of a challenge to survive and I'm not going to lie…" Cynder clenched her fist with a big grin spread across her face. "… I love the thrill of near death."
"and may I remind you that your love of fighting and a challenge made you this way. Your selfish want for bloodshed and need for the thrill of battle was the main cause of your punishment. You need to take into consideration of what your actions do to others." Iroh stated in a serious tone while cynder just stayed silent at that as she just looked at him with a blank expression.
"right now stop walking in dragon shoes and start walking in the shoes of a human. Your feet are too small for shoes that big." Iroh said as Cynder shrugged confused at those words.
"there are shoes made for dragons?" she asked herself while Iroh yawned and said something about going back to sleep.
A whistle noise caught the dragons attention and she turned to see squirt swimming up to the ship happily.
"Yeah, good to see you too buddy." Cynder just sighed and looked at the sky once more before deciding she needed rest as well and went to her respected quarters and curled into her bed.
Cynder noticed right off the ship was docked when she woke up. Obviously for repairs from the damage the avatar did. She groggily got up and ready for another day as a human and came up to see the damaged front let down onto the dock and looked up to see other fire nation ships and like always theirs was like the runt of the litter. She sighed and went down the ramp to see captain Zhao walking up to Zuko and Iroh. She listened for a bit to see that the uncle and nephew were terrible liars so she just gave us a chuckle catching the attention of the three men.
"you two are terrible liars you know that?" Cynder said making the two flinched. Zhao turned over to her with a smirk.
"Oh are they my lady? Why don't you tell me what happened to the ship?" Zhao said looking the fine figured woman up and down without her noticing unlike Zuko and Iroh who both glared at this.
"Is… there something wrong with how I dressed? Nearly everytime I walk by you or some other guy they look me up and down." Cynder asked making Zhao's eyes return to her face.
"no my lady it's just such fine clothing you wear that I just want look get a good look at the beautiful dragon designs on it." Zhao stated as Cynder made a slight noise with a nod.
"Now care to explain about the damage?"
"Gladly, well it's true we did crash but it wasn't into an earth kingdom ship. It was into a glacier, once we crashed a giant hunk of it came hurdling down along with an avalanche burying a part of our ship. Now that wouldn't have happened if SOMEONE didn't tell the captain to go the wrong way." Cynder said jabbing her thumb towards Zuko.
"Hey! I wasn't the one who told the captain to go towards the glacier you did!" Zuko said playing along while Cynder rolled her eyes. Zhao just raised an eyebrow with a gin and slowly nodded.
"If that's the case I'd like to hear all the entertaining details. Join me for a drink you three?" Zhao said leaning in on Cynder who just stared blankly at the advance. Iroh took her wrist and gently pulled her away from the commander.
"sorry but we have to go." Zuko said turning away.
"Zuko, show commander Zhao your respect. We would be honored to join you." Iroh said slightly pushing Cynder towards Zuko while he followed Zhao. "do you have jing sang tea? It's my favorite."
Zuko clenched his fists in anger while Cynder just look Zhao's way and shuddered in disgust.
"I don't like him Zuko. When I'm near him I get this bad feeling in my gut…. Like I want to take a few bathes after I interact with him…" Cynder stated. Zuko looked at her then nodded.
"Don't worry as long as you're a crewmember on my ship he won't get his hands on you." Zuko stated as he started to follow his uncle with Cynder following a few steps behind to the fire nation tent.
Cynder ignored most of what was said between Zuko and Zhao and silently played some card game that Iroh taught her since the only two really speaking was the prince and commander while Iroh messed around with the weapons.
"and then the earth kingdom capital will fall under our rule by years end." Zhao said as he walked back to his seat brushing the palm of his hand past Cynder's shoulder. "the fire lord will finally claim victory in this war." He continued as if speaking to Cynder instead of Zuko. Making her send a deadly glare over the commanders way while he sat down saying something in reply to zuko's smart comment… whatever that was Cynder completely missed it.
"so… how is your search for the avatar going?" Zhao said as Cynder hear a noise and quickly looked up to see weapons toppling over her way making her yelp and quickly roll out of the way of the sharp objects.
"holy shit…" she half whispered while panting at how many weapons landed where she was sitting. Iroh noticed his blunder and checked on her.
"sorry, my fault entirely." He said patting her head as she nodded.
"we haven't found him yet." Zuko said as Cynder noticed the guards getting tense as if getting ready for something. Something was up and she didn't like it.
"If you'll all excuse me, I need to go do something. Don't wait up." Cynder said as Iroh blinked and scratched his head since Cynder usually just comes and goes as she pleases. Cynder approached the guards and they just watched her go. She something was up and wasted no time to get to the ship and find three of zhao's men on their speaking with the crew. Cynder growled and stomped up shutting the crew up when they saw her coming up behind zhao's men.
"please continue, what happened after the avatar escaped?" one said as Cynder's icy glare went to the men of her ship who flinched.
"Unless you two have permission from General Iroh or prince Zuko. I suggest you three get off this ship." Cynder snapped making the men jump startled by the sudden appearance. But they soon just laughed a bit and turned away.
"get going little bitch. We're not scared of you." One said while the crew blinked at the one who said it then at Cynder face seeing it changed from mad to furious in a split second.
Next thing everyone knew Zhao's men were running from Cynder's fire whips and stream of flames until they were clear away from the ship. Cynder then turned to the crew and formed her fire whip and cracked it against the floor.
"now…. Who first spoke about the avatar?" Cynder spoke in a sweet voice and all the crew pointed to one who quickly looked at all the others then at cynder who cracked her fire whip again.
"so you let this woman chase you off the ship?" Zhao said to a guard who's helmet was still flaming while he quickly nodded.
"she's now guarding the ship not letting anyone on without permission from general Iroh or Prince Zuko." He reported while Zhao looked over the Cynder who was sitting on the rail of the boat glaring at the front where the front was let down making sure no one came on board except her superiors.
"I see that… I'll be going back to the banished prince now." Zhao said as he walking off to the tent while eyeing the black haired girl who started to get bored and start just idly started to comb through her hair with her fingers.
Zuko glared at Zhao as he returned from assembling his search party for finding the avatar.
"now once I'm out to sea my guards will escort you back to your ship and you'll be free to go." Zhao announced while Zuko glared with a clenched fist.
"Why? Are you worried I'll try and stop you?" Zuko asked with a growl only for Zhao to laugh at that and start going on at how and why Zuko was unfit for this mission making the prince's anger grow until he challenged the commander to an agni kai. Only to get an unpleasant surprise even Iroh wasn't pleased by.
"You want who!?" Zuko roared stepping up from Zhao in shock while Iroh also stood up from his seat while Zhao cleared his throat
"I said I also want Cynder, I refuse the agni kai if she isn't on the table. Shipmates talk Zuko and what I heard is that she is a powerful fire bender and a well-respected and feared one on your ship- that's impressive for a woman. Plus she is wasted on you since she can never use her power to the fullest. With me she can do that and even more. Think about what powers her children could bear." Zhao said with a sick grin making Zuko and Iroh grimaced at the thought of Cynder being used for such a thing.
"No I cannot allow that. Cynder is the granddaughter of an old friend of mine and I promised to protect her. Plus she is never good with new people heh you should have seen what she nearly did to Zuko when she first met him! she literally threw a table at him heh heh~. but all that aside Cynder is still awkward around normal people due to the barbaric ways she was taught and she is still learning about the ways of a normal person." Iroh said trying his best not to spill that she wasn't truly a human, zuko flinched remembering that time when she nearly did that. hell if he didn't duck he would have been hit right in the face and possibly worse if Uncle didn't step in.
"I see… shame it would seem I would have to reject your request for an agni kai. I'll have my guard escort you to your ship after I leave." Zhao said marching off as Zuko quickly thought for and alternative but couldn't think of anything else.
"I'm sorry Cynder." Zuko thought before looking up at Zhao's back. "WAIT! ... I accept the terms... if I lose… she's yours…" Zuko said looking away a bit not wanting to see the sick smirk on zhao's face.
"Excellent I'll see you at the agni kai arena. Have her ready to leave for my ship." Zhao said with a laugh while he exited the tent while Zuko just glared at his feet.
"Zuko…" Iroh said as Zuko just glanced sideways at him.
"I'm sorry uncle I can't afford to lose the avatar to zhao…"
Cynder waited until around sunset when Iroh came up to her.
"where's baldy?" Cynder asked taking a quick glance around not seeing the other teen (if you count Cynder being a teen, you know being a dragon and all?)
"He is about to partake in an agni kai where the search for the avatar is on the line. But that was the idea until Zhao wanted something else on the line. And he would not accept the agni kai unless prince Zuko agreed to the terms." Iroh said in a serious tone as Cynder thought for a moment then remembered what and agni kai was. It USED to be a fire bender fight that settled arguments any fire bender could partake be it male or female where the loser is the first to get burned. Until fire lord Sozin took the throne now it's a fire bending battle to the death where letting the loser live is a sign of weakness instead of graciousness and mercy.
"so what else is on the line? Can't be that bad can it?" Cynder asked shrugging as Iroh hesitated for a moment then sighed.
"well… the thing is. Zhao wants you as the other prize." Iroh said as Cyder flinched.
"Like… what? He doesn't want me as a mate does he?" Cynder asked with a nervous laugh as Iroh looked away.
"I'm not sure. But if prince Zuko loses Zhao can do with you whatever he desires since you'll be on his ship and under his command." Iroh explained. Cynder immediately felt the hair on the back of her neck rise along with a feeling she became familiar with… fear. She hated it this feeling made her feel weak and helpless and now her freedom could be riding on the shoulders of the banished prince named Zuko.
"I came to get you so you wouldn't be man handled by Zhao's men." Iroh finished as Cynder slowly nodded trying to put her bravest face on and followed Iroh to some type of arena place. Zuko and Zhao were already in place for the fight and cynder gulped Zhao was obviously more muscular and bigger than Zuko and no doubt more trained with fire bending.
But she did have hope with the ones who raised her -the Komodo tigers- it is known that size doesn't always matter just tactics and quick thinking and heavy hits to your enemy. Unless you are to under trained then the bigger one will kick your ass and possibly kill you.
"remember your basics Prince Zuko. They are your greatest weapon." Iroh said.
"good luck Zuko, you better win." Cynder added as Zuko stood up and glanced at both of them.
"I don't need good luck I refuse to let him win." Zuko stated turning around to face Zhao and both got into position. Then the gong rung but both stayed put for a moment until Zuko started by throwing a few fire punches Zhaos way only for them to be easily dodged and blocked without Zhao breaking a sweat. Cynder saw Zhao smirk her way and she glared at this gesture now knowing he was telling her "I'm going to win."
Cynder watched with fear filling her every second Zuko was obviously losing and it didn't look like he was going to win when he was knocked over cynder's eyes widened and she was about to step in and help when Iroh threw and arm in front of her.
"Iroh, you can't just expect me to stand here when your nephew is in danger!" Cynder snapped as Iroh just kept watching as Cynder quickly turned back to the fight to see Zhao throw what looked like the finishing blow when Zuko literally did a head stand and spun his legs and knocked Zhao over with a kick literally knocking the commander off balance and catching him off guard.
"YEAH! Now that's what I call some crazy foot work!" Cynder cheered in glee and amazement. Zuko smirked at Zhao as he then started pushing Zhao back over and over with a fast barrage of his fire bending until zhao was knocked down and zuko marched over quickly ready to threw the final blow meanwhile Cynder was cheering happily inside that she didn't have to go with Zhao.
"do it!" Zhao screamed as Zuko threw the last fire blast intentionally missing Zhao's face and stood up with pride.
"that's it? Your father raised a coward." Zhao said while Cynder and Iroh made their way to the two.
"next time you get in my way I promise I won't hold back. And I'm leaving you with a warning leave my crew out of anything you have against me." Zuko said before turning away. Cynder smiled but noticed Zhao's body movement and quickly stepped in front of the fire ball and quickly but easily blew it back with her own black fire. Her blue eyes locked in zhao's shocked ones.
"I would most like it if you left my new friend alone. He won fair and square." Cynder said as she slowly marched up to the commander only to have her advance stopped by Iroh.
"This is how the great commander acts in defeat? disgraceful." Iroh stated while Zuko glared over to zhao but was also stopped by Iroh. "even in exile my nephew has more honorable than you." Iroh finished as Cynder silently agreed.
"thank you for the tea it was delicious." Iroh said before The two men started to leave but cynder just looked at Zhao with a deadly glare.
"Commander Zhao. If you ever want to fight someone for me. Fight me, I'm always up for a fight. Don't bring my friends into it." Cynder stated loud and clear as Zhao just looked at her as she then stalked off muttering a 'let's go' To Zuko and Iroh as the three made their way back to the ship.
"did you really mean by what you said uncle?" Zuko asked as Iroh smiled.
"Of coarse i told you jing sang tea was my favorite." Iroh said while Zuko just smiled knowing that his uncle knew what he ment. then turned to the black haired woman walking on his other side.
"So you consider me your friend now?" Zuko said while cynder grinned.
"Yup, you helped me by winning that agni kai. So you're my friend now. but don't think i'm going to stop calling you baldy" Cynder said placing her elbow on his shoulder with a chuckle as he just grunted in annoyance.
"whatever..."