A/N: The next chapter! This is sort of a filler. I've been struck with writer's block :/ Please read, review, follow, and favorite :)

Prince Zuko loomed over the world map trying to figure out where the Avatar was headed next. He knew the young boy still needed to master Water, Earth, Fire. "He's gotta be headed to the North Pole." he whispered to himself. He also noticed that they were close to the Southern Air Temple. There was a soft knock on the door. "It's unlocked!" he shouted, immediately recognizing the knock. Mina entered the room.

"What are you doing?" she asked with interest.

"Trying to figure out where the Avatar is going next." he said plainly. "I think he's going to the Southern Air Temple. I was about to go tell the helmsman to set course to it."

"I think we should wait until after he visits the temple before attempting to capture him again." Mina was nervous for Zuko's response.

"Why?" he asked with an annoyed edge in his voice.

"Don't you think it's weird that the Avatar is so young? And that he's oblivious to the war?" she asked.

"Yeah I do, but what are you getting at?" The prince was curious.

"I don't think he knows about the war. Or what the Fire Nation did to his people." she explained.

"And how does this relate to not capturing the Avatar at the temple?" he asked.

"He's going to be devasted Zuko. I know that you want to go home but I really think you should leave him alone until after he's come to peace with what's happened and what's going on." she said.

"Why should I show any kindness to the Avatar?" he sneered.

"Because he's just a little kid Zuko. And his world is about to come crashing down around him." she explained. Zuko sighed.

"Alright, fine." he agreed. "Where do you think he's been all this time?" he added.

"Your guess is as good as mine." she responded. The room was silent for a moment.

"So, uh, why did you come to my room?" Zuko asked, the awkwardness he felt was revealed in his voice. Mina only came to his room when it was storming outside and there wasn't a cloud in the sky today.

"You haven't come out of your room all day, I wanted to make sure you hadn't moped yourself to death. And I was bored." she explained. Zuko couldn't help but laugh. He was used to Mina making jokes at his expense.

"I can't help but be depressed." he said.

"Why is that?" she asked concerned.

"I-we could've been on our way home by now if I had captured the Avatar. I let us, Uncle, and the entire crew down by failing." he said. Mina could tell by the pained expression in his face that he felt as though he had failed her.

"Zuko, don't worry about me." she said. "I don't care if it takes the rest of our lives to find the Avatar, I'm sticking with you. Truth be told I'd prefer a life at sea to the a life at the palace any day."

"Well I guess now I only have to worry about the crew hating me." he laughed.

"If it makes you feel better, I think they've hated you since day one." Mina said.

"How is that supposed to make me feel better?" he asked raising his voice.

"Well they don't hate you because you didn't capture the Avatar. They hate you because you're a moody, brooding, angry sixteen year old boy." she explained.

"Gee, thanks." he scoffed.

"At least I'm honest, darling." she said with a coy smile. "So what do you wanna do?" she added.

"Well I was going to sit in here and continue brooding over yesterday but I was rudely interrupted by a nosy, bored, overly honest sixteen year old girl." he said, mocking her previous tone.

"Well, what do you wanna do now?" she asked.

"I don't know." he said. "We could spar if you wanted. You could give me a lesson, if you want." he offered. Mina walked over from the table they were standing at and flopped down onto the Prince's bed.

"That requires too much effort." she sighed.

"Hey I just made that!" he exclaimed.

"So?" she retorted.

"Well what do you wanna do?" he asked her. She thought about the question.

"I don't know." she said as she continued thinking. "We could go for a walk around the deck. Or we could go get something to eat. Surely you must be hungry. You've been holed up in your room all day." Zuko suddenly became aware of his hunger as many often do once the subject of food has been brought up.

"What was for lunch today?" he asked.

"I don't know. I haven't eaten since breakfast this morning." she answered.

"Then let's go check it out. Now that I think about it, I'm starved." he said.


When they got to the mess hall Unlce Iroh was there. "Well I'm glad to see somebody decided to come out of his room today." he smirked. "Did you have to drag him out kicking and screaming.?" he asked Mina. She contain her laughter.

"No. I got hungry." Zuko explained plainly.

"Well we've got noodles for lunch!" the old man exclaimed.

"Sign me up!" Mina said, matching his enthusiasm.

"How can you guys always be so happy all the time?" Zuko asked annoyed.

"Zuko, it's noodles. Who wouldn't be happy?" Mina explained. Zuko rolled his eyes. They all sat down to eat their lunch.

"So Prince Zuko, where are we headed next?" his Uncle asked.

"I think the Avatar is headed to the North Pole. He needs to master waterbending." he said. He didn't mention anything about the Southern Air Temple. Mina was right about the Avatar needing time to take everything in.

"So are we just going to follow him across the world?" Iroh asked.

"We haven't got any other choice." Zuko explained. "The only way we can go home is if I capture the Avatar. It'll be worth it once we're all living easy back in the palace again." Iroh shot a look at Mina as he listened to his nephew. Iroh knew Mina didn't want to go back to the palace. He also knew Mina didn't want a life without Zuko. They had become each other's only friend.

"Very well. We'll continuing sailing north until we get on the Avatar's trail." Iroh said. "And I suppose if they opportunity presents itself, we'll try to capture him before we reach the north pole." They continued eating. "What have you been up to today Mina?" Iroh asked breaking the silence.

"Well I practiced a few firebending routines and updated the ship's log and then went to bother Zuko for a while." she said.

"Well you've done more than me, that's for sure." Iroh responded with a laugh. "All I've done is drink tea and play Pai Sho by myself."

"Do you wanna play Pai Sho later?" Mina offered. "I still haven't beaten you once in the past two years but my day is coming!"

"I'm always up for a game of Pai Sho! Maybe Zuko will even play the winner." Iroh laughed.

"I don't think so. That game is for old people and Mina." he said.

"Way to be a party pooper Zuko." Mina sighed. "And to think we've put up with you for the past two years." It was meant to be harmless comment, but Zuko took it the wrong way.

"You weren't the one that was banished!" he shouted.

"I know." she said lowering her voice. She really didn't want to start an argument.

"So why are you always complaining?" he continued on with his raised voice.

"I wasn't complaining, Zuko. You know how I am. I was just joking." she tried to explain.

"That's always your excuse when in reality you're just trying to cover up how unhappy you are and how irritated you are by me." he retorted.

"Zuko that's not true." she was trying to stay calm. His last comment had really stung.

"Yes it is! You know you didn't have to come with me!" he yelled.

"Actually I did!" Mina raised her voice.

"Why!?" he shouted. The room went silent and Iroh, who had been watching the entire argument, alternated looking at both of the teenagers he was responsible. He wondered if Mina was going to tell Zuko why she had accompianied him on his quest.

"I-I can't." was all she could utter.

"Why not?" he asked, his voice finally getting quieter. He knew whatever the reason was it had to do with those awful bruises she had the day they left the Fire Nation. She couldn't hide the ones on her face but even the bruises on her hips went noticed. She could hardly move for the first week and had constantly been in pain.

"I just can't okay." she had tears in her eyes now and she ran out of the mess hall to her bedroom.

Zuko looked over at his Uncle. "I'm such an idiot!" he exclaimed punching the nearest wall.

"You sure are." Uncle sighed as he got up and left the room.