Chapter 3: The Face of the Enemy

Dear Diary,

Sorry for the interruption earlier. But a lot of weird things have happened today.

And when I say weird I mean really freaky-crazy-it-could-not-have-actually-happened kind of weird!

You see it kinda started after Prince Zuko decided to take a batch of troops down to the Water Tribe village…

The village was small. So small in fact that it could barely be called a village.

There were barely even twenty five people and most of them were women or girls.

The only male's to be found were in a group of about five out of the eleven children hiding behind their children's legs. That and one teenage boy, probably a year or two younger than her.

Jade bit her lip as she looked down at said boy from the small balcony of the fire-nation ships' command tower.

He was thin and gangly, not at all tough in build, even though he was decked out in the ceremonial warrior's garb of his tribe.

"I heard the men have all gone"

Jade jumped in her spot and wheeled about to see Lord Iroh standing beside her, his cape wrapped tight about himself as he held a cup of hot tea in his hands.

He too was watching the tribe intently, his usually cheerful face surprisingly grim, even sad, as he watched the fearful people huddle together in fear of the approaching ship.

"Where have they gone?" Jade asked softly.

"Where else but to war" Iroh's grip on his teacup hardened "to help the Earth Kingdom on their coastal fronts"

"leaving their own families behind defenceless?" Jade frowned down at the snowy igloos below. They looked about as small as huts, some of them already looking like crumbling away.

"They weren't always like this." Iroh's murmured as he followed her gaze.

"Once the southern water tribe was a great nation. Many different villages lived and thrived all over the coastlines, and there was much cultural exchange with their sister tribes in the North Pole, and the Earth Kingdom and even the Fire Nation. But following the beginning of the war, much changed"

"What happened?" Jade gulped though she had a very bad feeling already in the pit of her stomach.

It didn't help her mounting dread when Iroh sighed heavily.

"As you very well know, the South Pole has always been geographically closer to the Fire Nation. You can imagine how dangerous such circumstances would be in war. Fire and water living nearly side by side with one another, both with equal power to wipe one another out. After the eradication of the Air Nomads, Fire Lord Sozin decided to deal with this problem head on…by capturing the South Pole's water benders. One by one, the raids continued till there were none left and the south pole was-"

There was a small sniff, and Iroh looked up from his cup of tea to see Jade rubbing at her eyes.

"It's ok sir" Jade snivelled as she made to wipe at her nose, avoiding Iroh's suddenly very worried gaze "It's just…I just…I'm sorry."

"No Jade do not apologise" Iroh turned his eyes down solemnly to the ground. "The world is constantly changing and sometimes those changes are not as good as we might hope for."

"Yeah well" Jade hiccupped "You know what they say. The world isn't fair. But sometimes I just wish that it was. I mean-to be locked up, to be persecuted because of your bending…because of who…or what you are. It's just so-so-"

"I know" his face softened considerably as he reached out to gently pat the young girl's shoulder. "You have a kind heart Jade, and I hope for your sake that you never have to face such cruelty in your life."

Now it was Jades' turn to look down to the ground mumbling softly under her breath:

"A bit too late for that"

Iroh quirked an eyebrow in confusion.

"hmm? What was that?"

"Nothing sir." She gulped quickly before pointing down to the bow of the ship "oh look they're getting ready."

"Oh yes you are right." Iroh suddenly chirped up as he peered over the edge.

After a moment of searching with his eyes he suddenly yelled down delightedly.

"Hello Prince Zuko! How are you feeling!"

Jade scowled a little at the comment, but her curiosity was quick to win her over and she made to peer down at the deck below. Sure enough Zuko was standing at the foot of the command tower, looking up to the balcony.

Even from this distance she could see that both his ears were bright red with embarrassment even as his uncle made to yell down encouragingly at him.

"It's ok you'll do great! I know it"

"Thank you uncle" Zuko called back awkwardly doing his best to keep his face straight as some of the guards behind him sniggered softly as they assembled behind them.

But the prince didn't pay them any heed. His eyes had travelled from his uncle's face to Jade's.

There was a very tense pause in which green and amber both met solidly in the middle, the latter's stare as piercing as a hawk's eyes, and yet somehow strangely…worried?

Jade gulped as she felt the back of her neck prickle. It was almost like she could feel all eyes in the vicinity turned on her, waiting for her response to the prince's unasked query.

But why the hell would he want to talk to me? To apologise perhaps?

But no sooner had she thought this Zuko coughed loudly and impatiently.

She squinted down and saw to her absolute disgust that he was smirking with derisive triumph up at her.

"What? Nothing to laugh about my battle tactics now is there?" he sneered.

But if he was suspecting the young kitchen maid to just back down meekly, he was very much mistaken.

"No!" Jade spat haughtily folding her arms, her lip curling upwards as she added quickly "but your inflated head could do with some work. But who knows, maybe all that hot air might help you take down the last Air-bender. That is…if you catch him!"

The sniggers behind Zuko grew louder, almost threatening to become chuckles. The young prince's gut burned hotly as he glared up at the tower.

"I will get him!" He snarled "Just wait you'll see! I'll defeat him just like I defeated you!"

Now Jade really did laugh. The sound carried loud and clear over the boat, bouncing eerily off the ice bergs around them. It did nothing to alleviate the towering temper growing once more in the prince even as she snorted down at him.

"You didn't defeat me you drama-queen! We never even got to finish the fight properly. If you could even call it a fight!"

"Then we have a rematch!" Zuko snapped up to her "After I capture the Avatar. A one on one, hand to hand match at sunset! First one to the ground for five seconds loses"

"First one to the ground for five seconds loses and" Jade's smirk widened "has to make a great big fat apology to the winner. In front of the whole crew!"

Zuko bristled uncomfortably as the proverbial spotlight seemed to shine on him. But nonetheless he gave her a solid nod with a small smirk.

"Then I suggest you get ready with your little apology! Because I don't plan on losing! Not to you or the Avatar."

"Oh yeah! Well neither do I!" Jade snorted pulling away from the railing of the balcony. "See you at sunset Princess!"

"WHAT DID YOU JUST CALL ME?!" Zuko roared, but too late. Jade had disappeared from sight leaving only Iroh to stand alone with his tea on the balcony.

Well at least they finally have agreed on something

Iroh, the old general sighed heavily to himself.

Even if it is a fight…

Yeah I know. It was stupid to pick another fight with the prince! But seriously diary he's really starting to peeve me off with his attitude. Though being honest I think he gets on everyone's nerves including my father's…and for good reason.

If any of the guardsmen were scared of Prince Zuko's temper they did not show it even as he growled under his breath.

"Stupid girl! Who does she think she is calling me princess! How dare she challenge-"

"Ahem!" someone coughed and Zuko wheeled about with a glare only to come face to face with Jade's father Ruishi.

"Pardon my rudeness Prince Zuko, but all of us are ready and awaiting your orders." The older man's eyes were steely even as he made to gesture to the small team of troops behind him.

Zuko nodded, straightening up to his fullest height in an attempt to meet his best lieutenant's eye as he took a deep calming breath.

"Very well then. Fall in behind me. And make sure you stay on your guard we don't want the avatar to slip from our grasp do we?"

Ruishi's eyebrows rose though he did his best to keep himself as calm as professionally possible as the younger man before him glared up at him.

"no we don't sir"

It was hard to tell whose face was currently showing the most contempt. Indeed, many of the guards about the two of them shuddered at the icy tones.

This didn't help Zuko's mood, for the lieutenant's stony glower was uncannily similar to his daughter's, and she currently was the cause of much of his ire.

And yet for all of her stubborn temper, she had been upset as she had talked to Iroh on the balcony?

Just what was it that uncle said to her? hang on why the hell do I even care about this?! she's probably crying her eyes out over the stupid water-tribe peasants!

"Fall in line" the young prince growled as he stalked off to stand at the front of his small squad.

Ruishi sighed heavily to himself.

This was going to be a long day.

Well as you can see diary, the prince is not exactly popular with the other adults either.

The real thing that bugs me more however is that the others are letting him get away with such behaviour. I mean if either Shen or I ever talked back to father so rudely we'd probably get a great big hiding that would have our backsides sore till next week.

I mean, I'm not even aloud to talk back to the older crewmates and some of them can really get on my nerves. Its not like they're bad people, they just give me these really annoying knowing looks…like Quan the helmsman…

There was a jolt, a clang and a groan of pain as the ship finally jerked to a sudden halt.

"Ow"

Jade straightened up, nursing her elbow as she pulled away from the wall.

"You alright sweetheart?" an elderly voice chimed kindly.

"I'm fine Quan. But thanks anyway." Jade quickly smiled up at the aged helmsman, a small thin old man with a face like a wrinkled jolly old baboon.

"It's nearly been two years." he smirked, shaking his head with gentle amusement. "and still yer haven't gotten your sea-legs"

"And I don't think I ever will" Jade snorted as she rubbed the back of her neck. It had begun to tingle again, just like it always did whenever she could sense -

"Lunch rush will be starting soon." She mumbled softly to herself. "And his royal crankiness will no doubt want his afternoon snack after he finishes playing capture-the-avatar"

She paused as Quan sniggered from his spot at the helm.

"What's so funny?" she quirked an eyebrow.

"Oh Jade" the old helmsman smiled at her, a knowing gleam in his eye. "I'm amazed you yourself can't see it"

"Can't see what?" she pouted irritably.

"Let's just say." Quan snorted "That for someone you supposedly can't stand, you still go out of your way to feed him properly"

"Only because I'll get chucked off this ship if I don't" Jade scowled but the old man only chortled softly to himself.

"Of course she'd say that"

"Of course I'd say what?" Jade's eyes narrowed but Quan waved her off.

"nothing! Nothing! Now child off with yer chores quick-smart."

"Fine" Jade grumbled as she turned to leave only to wince as Quan shouted loudly to her from the helm.

"Oh and by the way good luck with that duel"

"Yes thanks Quan" Jade waved the old man off casually, though in her head she was seething as she looked out the window and down to the village.

There in the distance she could see what appeared to be the young teenage water tribe warrior running with a loud war cry towards the bow of the ship, which had lowered itself into a small ramp.

Her fists tightened by her sides as she saw his target, none other but royal crankiness himself, deftly and effortlessly fling him aside to land face first in the snow.

Just you watch yourself Prince Zuko.

She snarled to herself.

Whatever hurt you pull on those innocent people, I'll give you tenfold in our duel!

Sorry Diary.

I'm getting on a bit of a tangent again, and you're probably bored with my complaining. Or you would be if you were a real person.

So where was I? Oh yes. Our delightful (aka stupid) Prince of the fire nation, decided to grace the poor small water tribe village with his presence…

"Where are you hiding him?"

Prince Zuko glared around at the group of silent and stunned people before him.

There could barely have been more than the crew that were aboard his ship, and most of them were either below their teen years or way beyond their middle age.

It was one of these elderly people, a woman, that he quickly grabbed hold of to show off in front of the frightened crowd.

"He'd be about this age. Master of all elements"

But like before there was only silence and fear.

Without much thought he shoved the old woman back into the arms of a young teenage girl with whom she shared an extraordinary likeness, especially with the blue eyes. Her hair was a dark brown and tied back into a plait with two hair loopies pinned back, as was customary of her people.

Granddaughter.

Zuko surmised quickly as he glanced over her face which quickly turned into a glare of defiance.

A defiance that would have to be snuffed out quickly if he were to succeed.

Quickly he aimed a blast of fire over the civilian's heads.

There were shrieks and squeaks from the children and their elders but other than that none of the flames had actually hit any of them.

But none of that mattered to Zuko as he yelled loudly.

"I know you're hiding him!"

People drew back from him and the fire bender's that flanked him. All save one.

The young warrior from before had gotten up from the snow and was charging at the prince with a club in hand.

Pathetic!

Zuko rolled his eyes with irritation as he ducked under the boy's attempted attack. It bowled him over in the process so that he rolled once more into the snow just as the prince aimed a blast of fire in his direction.

But the boy was quick to roll to his feet and whip out something from his blue jacket pocket.

Zuko jumped back as a metallic bent shape suddenly flew out in his direction, barely missing his armour by a centimetre before flying off into the air high above.

He snarled angrily as a little water tribe boy cheered the young warrior on chucking him a whale-tooth spear.

"Show no fear!"

Zuko quickly stood his ground and raised his hands high as the boy charged him again. Swiftly he broke the spear, but not before poking it at his opponents head.

Though if he thought that he was far from done with the attacks he was sorely mistaken.

Clang!

"Ugh!" the prince grunted as something heavy thudded into the back of his helmet.

He glowered up just in time to see the boomerang the boy had thrown at him before, return to its owners hands as it was snatched up out of the snow.

Small children sniggered from behind their mother's legs at his face.

How dare they…

Zuko's eyes both narrowed as he clenched his fists, fire igniting and sparking at the tips of his fist.

But even as he made to step forwards something heavy orange and yellow, collided with the back of his legs.

There were great cheers from the water tribe villagers and stunned silence from the five fire nation guards as their prince was bowled over backwards to land in a collapsed lump on the snowy ground.

"Hey Katara, hey Sokka" a voice called out to the old woman, her granddaughter, Katara, and the warrior boy, Sokka, that Zuko had just fought. It was he that made to reply half in relief half in apologetic tones.

"Hey Aang…thanks for coming"

Zuko raised his head from the ground.

The sound had come from…a twelve year old boy?

What the?

Zuko's eyes widened as he looked the kid over. He was short for his age and dressed in what appeared to be monks clothing, though it was dyed in bright yellows and oranges. His head was bald too, and had a strange blue tattoo on his head shaped like an arrow.

With a quick gesture to his other guards Zuko raised his hands into a defensive stance as the new boy, Aang, made to stand up, a wooden staff in his hands.

No…but it couldn't be…

The prince's winced as suddenly the boy before him swept the staff on either side of himself, and a huge gust of wind blew up, sending snow flying about him and right over all the fire benders faces.

"Looking for me?" he spoke when Zuko wiped his face off snow his eyes wide.

"You're the air-bender?" he breathed. "You're the avatar?!"

Yes dear diary, we found the Avatar.

And he's only a twelve year old kid.

But that's not the half of it.

Even as they circled one another Zuko could not help the way his heart hammered with shock.

"I've spent years preparing for this encounter" He spat quietly. "Training. Meditating. You're just a child!"

"Well you're just a teenager" Aang tilted his head in confusion and Zuko scowled.

This was not right! This wasn't supposed to be like this.

After all that time… all that searching…nothing could have prepared him for this.

He growled in frustration as he punched forwards a blast of fire, which the young air bender blocked with by bending the air about his twirling staff.

Zuko struck again, this time from a different angle, but again it was blocked.

Another hit, another block, another hit, another block.

There were small squeaks and screams from the villagers as sparks and embers flew dangerously close over their heads.

At the sounds of the panic behind him, Aang looked back and his face fell.

This was just too dangerous. There were too many innocent people that would get hurt if this continued.

As soon as the fiery blast had dissipated in his block, Aang straightened up and looked Zuko calmly in the eye.

"If I go with you. Will you promise to leave everyone alone?"

For one horrible moment there was silence as the prince seemed to consider his options.

But then quietly he straightened up and nodded.

"No Aang! Don't do this!" Katara cried out as guards made to grab at both the young air bender's elbows.

"Don't worry Katara, it'll be ok." Aang did his best to smile back at his friend, though his eyes were sad as he was led away and up into the big dark Fire Nation ship.

And now this diary is where all the trouble really starts…

To say that Zuko was cheering inside for victory would be the understatement of the year, and it took all within him to keep his face a stern mask even as he faced the small avatar that stood before him.

"This will make an excellent gift for my father. I suppose you wouldn't know of fathers. Being raised by monks." he mused quietly as he took the air bending staff from the guard beside him.

Aang just glared up at him defiantly even as Zuko made to bark out orders to his crew.

"Take the Avatar to the prison hold, and take this to my quarters" he jerked the staff at his uncle who had just walked up beside him.

As soon as his young nephew had turned his back, Iroh turned to Ruishi who stood behind him.

"You mind taking this to his quarters for me."

"Sure thing sir" Ruishi nodded though his hands were a tad reluctant to take the item into the command tower. As he went through the doors he chanced a glance behind to where a small bald head was sinking down the stairs that led below deck.

His heart twinged with pity.

Enemy or not, the avatar was still just a boy…

But of course diary, when it comes to the Avatar nothing is as it seems. And it wasn't long before our guards were all yelling one thing.

"The Avatar has escaped! GAH!"

People yelped as what seemed like a miniature whirlwind blasted through corridor after corridor of the metal ship.

"Sorry!" Aang called back chirpily even as he sped himself not just on the floor, but over the walls and even the ceiling as he turned a corner.

He didn't quite know where he was on the ship anymore. Most of the hallways looked very much the same as they were all plated with dark metal and lined by multitudes of piping.

But even as he turned another bend, he stopped short and sniffed.

Was it just him or was something delicious cooking somewhere close by?

Food? I must be near the kitchens!

He paused for a moment and looked about. The path about himself looked completely deserted, however one door someway up a head and on the right was open a jar and hot steam was billowing out of it.

What smells so good?

But then Aang quickly shook his head.

What was he thinking? He should be looking for his staff and get out of here, not drool over food.

But even as he turned another tendril of hot but really nice sweet steam wafted past his nose and his hungry stomach grumbled.

Well maybe just one snack wouldn't hurt…

He reasoned in his head. After all he hadn't eaten a bite of food since he'd been unfrozen from the ice berg.

Quietly as a shadow, he tiptoed up towards the open door and peeked inside.

It was as he had guessed correctly, the kitchens and it was full to bursting with foods of all kinds.

Aang almost drooled at the sight of a tray filled to the brim with pastries and sweets especially the-

Is that custard tart?

He reached forwards to the pastry his eyes wide and shining. But before his fingers could even graze the desert there was a gasp.

He looked up and to his surprise saw a girl standing there in front of him.

She was a few years older than him, probably only sixteen at most, with long brown hair and light green eyes that were currently staring agog at him as he quickly backed away from the tray.

"Sorry" he mumbled with a small gulp. "I didn't mean-I just thought um…"

He flushed red as his stomach gurgled loudly.

Jade suddenly snapped to her senses.

"Oh! Here take one" she blurted out grabbing one of the custard tarts and holding it out for him.

"Are you sure?" Aang blinked in surprise.

"Uh…yeah." Jade shrugged before adding with a small nervous laugh "don't worry there's plenty more where those came from."

Aang's face seemed to brighten up at once.

"Oh ok! Thanks"

Jade giggled as the small boy at once began to wolf down the treat with much gusto. For one who was supposed to be the most powerful being in the world, he sure still was a boy at heart.

She coughed quickly to compose herself as the young Avatar smiled up at her as he wiped crumbs from his mouth.

"These are really nice"

"I'm glad you like them" Jade smiled doing her best to conceal the way she swelled with pride. "My name's Jade. What's yours?"

"I'm Aang" Aang grinned before scratching the back of his head "Say. You work on this ship. Would you happen to know where my staff is?"

"Your staff?" Jade frowned and Aang nodded.

"Yeah. The angry guy with the scar on his face took it from me when I came on board. You wouldn't happen to know where his room is?"

Angry guy with scar on his face! HA! Good one!

But even with her amusement, Jade had to cough to hide her snort of laughter.

"Yeah I do. The angry guy with the scar is called Prince Zuko. And his room is upstairs in the command tower."

"upstairs. Command tower" Aang nodded then he grinned up at her. "Thanks"

"No problem" Jade smiled back only to wince as a blast of wind brushed past her.

When she opened her eyes it was to see just herself standing in the kitchen.

All alone.

Yeah diary.

That was how I met the avatar. I fed him a pastry and sent him on his merry way.

Honestly I don't know why I did it. Maybe I was just shocked or maybe I really am just as mental as many others seem to believe.

That being said it's a pity we're on opposite sides because he seems like a really sweet kid.

I will admit I'm a bit afraid of what will happen if Prince Zuko finds out I helped him. He might really chuck me overboard then or worse.

But being chucked overboard is the least of my worries now. You see, after Aang left, he kinda wreaked havoc on the entire ship.

Well not so much wreaked havoc as much as he nearly brought the house (or rather the iceberg) down on all of us.

There was a great shudder and Jade looked up.

It had been nearly half an hour since Aang had left the kitchens and she was now listening intently to the sounds outside.

From the sounds of things, the boy had managed to fight off most of the guards, and if those familiar yells were anything to go by, he was now battling Prince Zuko aboard deck.

Jade pursed her lips as half her brain cheered on for the Avatar's victory and the other half worried itself almost sick as her thoughts dwindled back to her father and brother.

She hoped they were both alright, because from the sounds of things, the avatar could pack quite a punch.

There was another great shudder, and Jade had to grip the countertop before her to hold herself steady as what sounded like some sort of great animal groaned loudly from above.

What the hell is that?

She frowned at the sound just as the ship shuddered again.

"Hurry up Sokka!" a girl's voice called out in annoyance only to be answered by a boy's sarcastic cry.

"I'm just a guy with a boomerang! I didn't ask for all this flying and magic! Yip-yip! Yip-Yip!" he added in a bleat.

At once the ship shuddered and swayed as something heavy seemed to lift from the top of the deck.

Oh crap! Not again.

It took all Jade had to gulp down the horrible burning sensation in her throat as the ship began to sway ominously. She clapped a hand over her mouth just as the strange beast outside once more bellowed out a call as a familiar voice yelled out.

"Shoot them down!"

There was a great big boom, as if a cannon had been blasted. Jade gasped as she dashed to look out the kitchen window just in time to see a giant ball of fire shooting up at the sky.

Something that looked like a giant fluffy six legged-

"Flying… Bison?" Jade's eyes bulged in her sockets as the strange creature grunted loudly as it tried to speed up its flying. But the fireball was still hurtling fast towards it.

Jade gaped as she watched the flame's progress only to gulp as a small blur of yellow and orange leapt forwards off the Bison's back, twirling a wooden staff in its hands.

The fireball immediately flew away as a small tornado blew it off course sending it crashing right into the ice berg the ship was sailing by.

Jade whooped loudly at the shot only to quickly gulp as she caught sight of the giant cracks begin to ominously form in the ice berg's side before it quickly began to fall.

"Oh crap"

There was a scream.

A crash.

Then everything turned black.

Dun-Dun-DUUN!

phew! i finally managed to get that bit done! It took me a while to come up with an original way for Jade to meet Aang, but since i've been re-watching the first season i noticed that our favourite little air bender has quite a sweet tooth and since Jade can cook it seemed right she should give him a small treat (w)

seriously though, even after all these years, Sokka's line of "I'm just a guy with a boomerang!" just gets me every time!

Lol gotta love the boomerang.

Hope you enjoyed and keep R&Ring for more.