AN: ATTENTION! I AM DISCONTINUING THIS!... Well, not really. I just needed to get your full attention. So many people skip over the ANs, you know. I need your guys opinion. Alright? OK.

The Season Finale has brought my fic to a crossroads. Zhao or no Zhao? I can take my plot either way. So I'm leaving it up to you, reviewers. If you want him gone, I'll simply replace him with Azula. Mind you, it will take a while for the next update then, simply because I want to learn more about Azula before writing her in my fic. If you want him to stay, I'll bring Azula in on my own time and you'll get both her and Zhao (yay, immorality surplus!).

I'll let you guys vote on it. So I suggest you voice your opinion, for only you can save a villain.

Disclaimer: It's not mine, so if any international tv networks want to sue me for all my money (a total of $O), I'm completely safe. :P

Learning to Play with Fire

Chapter 4: A Serious Lack of Morality

Within a day Zhao's naval fleet had caught up with Zuko's solitary vessel. Two of the mighty behemoths pulled abreast of the Prince's comparatively diminutive ship. Their towering sides effortlessly overshadowing the deck of the smaller ship. The remaining ships of the fleet were drifting aimlessly about them.

The Fire Heir himself stood rigidly on the deck amongst his crew, his uncle loyally at his side, glaring up at the dismal grey sides of the Admiral's massive vessels.

"What does he want?" Zuko demanded irritably, his golden eyes noting his hated nemesis' insignia displayed proudly on the vessel running starboard of them.

"A cup of tea, perhaps?" ventured Iroh, though the pessimistic set of his mouth and the guardedness of his stance revealed that he suspected nothing of the sort.

A ramp lowered from the closest ship. A loud clang was heard as the metal ramp landed solidly on the equally metallic deck. Zuko's eyes became a notch narrower as Zhao appeared at the top of the ramp and descended with at least thirty soldiers trailing after him. The Admiral disembarked from the ramp, his men filling onto the deck and lining up behind him. Zhao's lips twitched with amusement as he took in the sight of Zuko, Iroh, and their rather ragamuffin crew gathered before him. The exiled teenager carefully schooled his features to look indifferent before stepping up before the Admiral. This facade slipped as the smirk on Zhao's face was brought into sharper focus by their proximity and Zuko jutted out his jaw defiantly.

"What do you want Zhao?"

The said Firebender clucked his tongue in mild disapproval before speaking. "Such rude behavior Prince. You must learn to control that temper of yours, it may get you in trouble one day."

Zuko's eyebrow lowered as he detected the thinly veiled threat in Zhao's comment.

Iroh chose that moment to remind the world of his existence. The old General tactfully placed himself between his nephew and the Admiral. "Now, now, Zuko," he stated, effectively interrupting Zuko's delivery of a pithy comeback. "I'm sure that Admiral Zhao has a perfectly inviolable reason for being here." His cunning yellow eyes darted to the aforesaid man as he tucked his hands together in his sleeves.

Zhao seemed to regain himself. "Yes, in fact, I do. Thank you for reminding me, General."

"Retired General," Iroh commented out of habit.

Zhao bent slightly at the waist so as to look Zuko in the eye, folding his hands behind his back. He leaned around Iroh, his visage taking on an unpleasant resemblance to a shark.

"I've come to put you and your crew under arrest for entering Fire Nation waters without the Avatar in captivity."

"What?" yelled Zuko. "But I have captured the Avatar!" Too late, Zuko realized his mistake.

Zhao grinned maliciously. "Really? Well, you haven't alerted anyone of this."

"You know very well why," snarled the Prince.

Zhao raised his eyebrows in mock surprise. "You expected that I would steal him from you? Surely you haven't forgotten, Prince Zuko, that I am not the traitor here."

"Could've fooled me!" spat Zuko, lunging for the leering Admiral. Iroh held him back.

"Calm yourself, Prince Zuko."

Once he was sure that Zuko could be trusted to remain still, the retired General turned to face Zhao. His normally mild gaze flashing. "I suggest that you leave now Admiral. We may have failed to send ahead notice, but that does not change the fact that we have the Avatar in custody. So we would appreciate it if you allowed us to continue on to the Capital."

Zhao smirked and shook his head.

"I'm afraid that I cannot permit that, General. You see, I have plans that require the Avatar in my custody. Funnily enough, those same plans also require the absence of you, your traitorous nephew, and the crew of this disgusting excuse of a ship." He raised his voice, speaking to his men. "ARREST THEM!"

At Zhao's command, the battalion that had accompanied him surged forward. They quickly overcame Zuko's crew whose resistance was halfhearted at best. Iroh, having recognized that the odds of victory were slim, made no attempt to fight and sustain unnecessary injury. Zuko, however, was only too happy to resist.

He ran forward, his fists igniting as he brought them up to send a blast of white hot fire directly at Zhao. The Admiral masterfully blocked the attack, his arms sweeping the flames to his sides, where they dissipated. He then wordlessly signaled for an unoccupied group of soldiers to take Zuko.

It took five fresh Firebenders to detain the Prince.

Zhao didn't waste time (gloating would commence later) in providing further direction for his men.

"Take them to the prison hold on my ship along with anyone else found on board. Place the Avatar in the cell I've had prepared for him. I want this vessel commandeered by capable soldiers and following my fleet within the hour."

Zhao's orders were hurriedly obeyed; sloth was dishonorable after all. Oddly enough, its status as a well known Deadly Sin was ignored by the Fire Navy. Sin wasn't a vice in their books. It's entirely possible that if it was, the war would be little more than a vague dream of the homicidal psychopaths that had been running the nation for over a century.

AN: As always tell me your opinion. And also take my earlier query into consideration please. Till the next time then.