In the last few days my burn has healed extremely well. Iroh was really careful about change the bandage. Even Zuko did it once! Today was the first day I wasn't wearing a bandage. The burn kind of looks like Zuko's scar now, just around the neck. I guess I'll always have this scar. The greatest reason I want to go to the Northern Water Tribe was so that I could learn how to heal major things. Maybe, they could heal this too!
When I was alone with Zuko, he was actually pretty nice. No more bugging me about where Aang was going. He never kept me locked in my room. He was actually kind of sweet. But as soon as someone walked in the room, even if it was Iroh, he would turn to his normal self and was stone cold and angry. He did however hang out with us a little after dinner most of the time! He listened to my stories of before I ever met the avatar. He didn't talk, ever but he at least he listened.
I breathed in the stormy air. There was definitely a storm coming and the water bender in me was excited. I mean, don't get me wrong, I'm not stupid enough to actually stand outside with the storm. I just loved the way storms made me feel powerful. Hopefully, I wouldn't be using any of this power.
"A storm is coming," Iroh stated and turned to Zuko. "We should alter course for the crew's sake."
Zuko snarled. "The safety of the crew does not matter."
That made me a little upset. I hope he didn't mean that or that he didn't think of me as part of the crew. Maybe he was just being nice to me to get to Aang. I couldn't believe I was actually falling for a spoiled palace brat.
"Figures that the Avatar would be more important than your crew," Lieutenant Jee growled coming up to Zuko.
"Capturing the Avatar is more important than anyone's individual safety," Zuko barked and walked away back into the ship, slamming the door behind him.
"Zuko doesn't mean that," Iroh said, obviously stating it to make me feel better. "He's just worked up."
Jee huffed and went back to work, getting the ship ready for the storm.
"Come Anna. Let us get inside," Iroh smiled and led me inside to his Pai Sho table in the control room.
Iroh has been teaching me Pai Sho overtime we had free time. I was really getting the hang of it. Only once did I beat Iroh and the game was so intense, most of the crew gathered around to watch. I loved learning from Iroh. If I didn't understand something, he was able to teach it another way just as easily! It wasn't just with Pai Sho either. After my little outburst with Zhao, he helped me get back on track with my meditation. I was afraid of myself but now I'm much better.
Zuko came back into the control room and looked out the window.
"Look's like Iroh was right about the storm. How surprising," Jee smirked.
Zuko turned around on his heels. "I am ordering you to be more respectful to me or else I will teach it to you."
"You only care about yourself! You know nothing about respect based on the way you talk to your crew and your esteemed Uncle!" Jee exclaimed. "You're just a spoiled prince."
"How would like an Agni Kai," Zuko grumbled as the both got into a stance.
"No, no," Iroh said breaking the two up before anything happened. "We are all just tired and hungry. Why don't we take a little breather and get ready for dinner?"
Jee and the rest of the crew dispersed. Zuko turned to Iroh.
"I don't need your help to keep order on my ship!" Zuko snapped.
Iroh placed his hand on Zuko's shoulder but he shrugged it off and went outside to the bow of the ship. Iroh sighed and came to sit with me again at the Pai Sho table. I looked at him concerned and I put a hand on his shoulder. He looked up at my smiling face and smiled back.
"He's just worked up," He told me.
I was hanging around the fire with a couple of the crew members and Jee. I actually liked hanging with the crew and I think they liked me too. Although, they may just like the presence of a woman. Whatever, I liked being with them. But tonight, all Jee did was rant about Zuko. I didn't show it but I was kind of frustrated. I mean, I know that Zuko wasn't the most wonderful person to be around but he was the prince of the Fire Nation.
"Who does Zuko think he is?" Jee laughed.
"Do you really want to know?" Iroh said coming into the circle and sitting down next to me, he started the story of Zuko. "Zuko was a fearless child. He was making his way to the Fire Lord's war room when he was stopped by guards. He was not allowed in. He told me all he wanted to do was learn so he could be a great ruler one day. So, I got him inside but warned him to stay quiet. The old generals were sensitive. But, one of the generals had suggested taking an entire division of new recruits and using them as a distraction. Zuko got made and spoke up harshly saying that sacrificing an entire division of loyal soldiers was betrayal. Honestly, I thought he was right but because he spoke out of turn, there were dire consequences he must face."
You could only hear the sound of the fire crackling. I sipped my tea as I waited for the next part of the story. So this is why Zuko was always angry. This story probably had something to do with his scar too. This was getting good. I mean, it was sad but it was a good story.
"The Fire Lord got angry with Zuko. He said that speaking against the general was an act of complete disrespect and needed to be corrected with an Agni Kai. Of course Zuko accepted. But on the night of the fight, in front of a crowded room, Zuko was ready to fight the general. But he wouldn't be fighting him," Iroh sighed sipping his tea. "When Zuko turned around, he found that he was facing the Fire Lord."
Everyone gasped. Thunder boomed and lightening cracked. The shipped rocked side to side getting one of the crew man to the point where he had to walk away from the circle to probably get sick.
"Zuko begged for mercy and refused to fight his own father. He had told his father that he only had the Fire Nation's best interest in hand but the Fire Lord was keen on teaching him a lesson that he would never forget. His father demanded that he stand and fight but when Zuko didn't, he declared that Zuko would learn respect with suffering being his teacher. I admit, I had to look away while the Fire Lord scarred Zuko," Iroh stated.
"I always thought that Zuko was in a training accident," Jee mumbled.
"It was no accident!" Iroh exclaimed. "The Fire Lord then banished Zuko because he had shown shameful weakness by refusing to fight. He was only able to return back and regain his honor by capturing the Avatar."
"I understand now," Jee whispered finishing up his tea.
"The avatar is Zuko's source of hope, like the rest of the world."
A lightening cracked and the ship rocked. That definitely hit. We all got up and ran out to the deck.
"Anna, deflect the big waves! We need to make sure that no one falls of this ship!" Jee commanded me.
I nodded and started running back and forth from one end of the dock to the other trying to calm the bigger waves but I couldn't calm them all. I tried calming the water already under the boat but I had over estimated this storm. I went back to running back and forth on deck calming the waves one by one. I saw Zuko had come outside. He probably had noticed the lightening hit the ship and wanted to see where it hit.
"Zuko! The crow's nest!" Iroh yelled.
Up in the crow's nest was a man hanging on for his life. Zuko and Jee started up the ladder. I tried calming the waters underneath the boat again so they could safely reach the man. Focusing all my energy on that left me defenseless.
"Anna!" I could hear Iroh call out but I didn't look back.
I should have.
A huge wave had come over me, crashing me into the floor of the deck and sweeping me over the side. I caught the edge of the deck and dangled there. I didn't trust myself enough to have the water rise from under me and help me up. Not in this storm. As I hung there, I saw Appa flying over the ship. Aang and Katara... where was Sokka though?
"Prince Zuko, what do you want to do?" I heard Jee ask.
"Leave them and head for calmer waters!" Zuko yelled.
"Let's head to the eye of the storm!" Iroh yelled at the crew.
I could see the eye. If I could just hang on for a few more minutes, in the eye I could pull myself up. But my hands were slipping. I tried re-adjusting and re-gripping but it was no use. I reached for one of the vertical railing poles and held on for my life. I was drenched and cold. The waves kept banging me against the side of the ship. Water went up my nose, in my mouth, in my ears and eyes. But then suddenly, it stopped. I opened my eyes slightly. We were in the eye. I hoisted myself up to find a long package fall in front of me. I looked up to the sky and there was Appa with Katara, Sokka and Aang waving to me. I sat with my legs dangling off the side of the ship and waved back. When they had disappeared into the clouds I turned my attention to the package. I got up, and picked it up. There was a scroll tucked into the package.
-Anna
We miss you!
We all agreed that it was to risky to try and save you from Zuko. We all thought that you wouldn't want us risking it anyway. Besides, we know you can handle yourself! Sokka really misses your fish catching. He ate all that fish you caught for him the day after you were captured. Momo and Appa are still upset about you and are excited to see you again! Whenever that may be. We thought that you could use these! Sorry, Sokka was playing with them and the handles are a little dirty, and one is blade is dented near the handle. So sorry about that.
Until we meet again,
The Gang.
I miss you guys too.
I opened the package. In the cloth were my long sword, my dual blades, and my dagger. I smiled at the thought of Sokka trying to use the dual blades. I bent the water from my clothes and hair and threw it back into the sea. Since everything seemed to be calm on deck, I went straight for my room. Not wasting time I put the blades out on my dresser, organizing them. I looked at the long sword blade near the handle. I wonder what Sokka was doing when he bent that.
"Anna?"
I whipped my head around. Zuko was standing in the doorway with his head down, looking at his feet.
"I wanted to say I'm sorry if I had upset you in anyway today," He mumbled rubbing his head. "I didn't mean to say all those things today. I was just worked up."
I went up to him, threw my arms around his neck and hugged him. I couldn't believe I was hugging the world destroyers son. But, I understand now. I understand why he's always angry. I understand why he must search for the avatar. I understand he thinks regaining his honor is the most important thing. I understood and I felt sorry. Sorry for all the crap I had given him every time we fought. I was sorry that I was so stubborn that first few days aboard his ship. I was sorry for not understanding.
Zuko hesitated but not for long as he wrapped his arms around me and hugged back.
He was so warm. I want to stay like this forever.
