DISCLAIMER: I DON'T OWN ANYTHING EXCEPT FOR MY CHARACTER LING. EVERYTHING ELSE IS OWNED BY THE CREATORS OF Avatar: The Last Airbender.

Hey guys :) new chapter is up and I hope you enjoy it.

I don't mind constructive criticism as long as you aren't a jerk about it :)

Enjoy:

Chapter 10

They were able to fish their small-boat out of the river with the help of some of the rhinos from the ship after Ling ran back to fetch them. By the time they did the Avatar was out of sight and the pirates had fled. Luckily though, the small-boat wasn't as damaged as they had thought and they were able to mostly repair it on the spot, all other repairs would have to be done on the ship but for now they were able to paddle it to their ship. Ling had advised that they don't try to start the engine because it could blow up and that the engineer on the ship should take a look at it before they perform any unnecessary risks. Zuko agreed and they had fashioned out flimsy oars from the surrounding trees.

Iroh had gone with the team of rhinos back to the ship and Ling and Zuko were in charge of the small-boat. Zuko kept an eye out for the pirates behind them while Ling kept a lookout for the pirates or anyone else in front of them. When the ship came into view everyone, all six, breathed a sigh of relief. Iroh had most likely beaten them unless he found another shop but that thought was dismissed when Iroh walked to the ledge and began waving enthusiastically at them. Zuko, who had finally but not completely relaxed, muttered something about how childish his uncle was being. Ling, on the other hand, had to stifle a giggle that was threatening to bubble up. Instead, she just smiled and shook her head at General Iroh's antics.

After they secured the small-boat and had the engineer down in the hold they met General Iroh on the deck. While they had been doing that, Iroh had taken the liberty of setting up a small wooden table with a tea pot and two cups and three cushions around it, one of which was already occupied by General Iroh with his back to the door from which they came. Iroh didn't move nor did he say anything as they made their way over to him. Ling took the seat to Iroh's left and Zuko took the one in front of Iroh. Iroh silently poured some tea for Zuko and they all sat in an uncomfortable silence.

Ling didn't know what to say or do and so she just fixed her eyes on the table waiting for someone to break the awkward silence that was filling and thickening the air around them. Iroh, as usual, was the one to break it. "So, my dear, I hear that you marauded as a pirate for six months." His voice was monotoned and all she could do was nod her head and shot a look at Zuko who kept his eyes on his uncle. "So, which one were you?" He asked with a mischievous glint in his eyes but he didn't smile.

"The Fire Empress." Was all she signed and Iroh and Zuko both nodded.

"As long as you never targeted any Fire Nation ships then all is forgiven." Iroh said sagely.

Ling blinked a few times and looked at him as if he had just grown another head. Iroh must've taken that as her asking, 'What in the material world are you thinking?'

"The Fire Empress only targeted Earth Kingdom ships, did she not?" Ling nodded. "So technically, she was an ally of the Fire Nation." That was true but what they probably didn't know is that no Fire Nation ships sailed those waters until she quit being a pirate but she wasn't going to tell them that.

"I get it. Since I was technically a Fire Nation ally then I don't have to worry about any repercussions." She was surprised that they saw it like that but she wasn't going to argue about it.

"Yes, yes." Zuko cut in and Iroh gave him a pointed look along with Ling. "It's all well and good but the Avatar got away. Again. We need to catch up!" He got up and turned to the ladder that would lead up to where the captain was and barked up orders for 'full speed ahead'.

Iroh shook his head and blew out a sigh and Ling placed her hand upon his shoulder, hoping it would comfort him, and gave a small squeeze. "You must forgive my nephew. He has this thing in his head-"

"Say no more, sir. It's alright, I am already accustomed to his mood swings." She gave him a smile with her mask on but knew he could still tell and retired to her own room.

Once there she searched and got ready for bed but couldn't sleep. The whole year and a half that she had been on the ship with General Iroh and his nephew they had never discussed how or why the Avatar was so important to restoring Zuko's honor. They had always said that they would discuss it at a later date but never did. Ling was curious but never asked because she would have to reciprocate and tell him what had happened to her. All Zuko knew about that topic was that she was well trained and something bad had happened in her past and she didn't have any family left because of it. She didn't want him to know the ugly and horrible truth about what happened and what she was because it would possibly destroy them both.

She finally fell asleep when the events of the day and night before finally caught up to her racing mind and for once, she didn't have a nightmare but just dreamed about an in-between world where nothing mattered.

She could tell before she even opened her eyes that it was going to be a bad day. It had been a day and a half since they lost the Avatar and Zuko had been on a rampage ever since. She had managed to stay out of it for the most part but she knew eventually Zuko would say or do something to make her mad and retaliate and then they would both be punished and she hoped to the Spirits it wouldn't be lunges or hot squats. She sent a small plea to the Spirits and got ready for the day.

She couldn't decide what to do with her hair so she put it in a ponytail, and realized that her hair had grown much longer than she thought because it stopped at the small of her back, and pulled her mask up. As soon as she excited she headed straight to the cafeteria knowing she had slept in thanks to the crew's noise that woke her up. I must've been far more exhausted than I thought, she thought as she walked into the cafeteria to see that it wasn't as late as she had originally thought. Some of the crew that were still eating breakfast told her that it was probably a little past sunrise. She got her breakfast and went back to her room.

Eating meals by one's lonesome was not by any means fun, but for Ling it was a necessity, and she was used to it. The last time that she had ever shared a meal with someone was about two years ago. Most of her time before her 'employment' on the banished prince's ship was spent traveling and when one doesn't stay at a place for too long, one cannot make friends, especially during wartime and willing to travel. Many had thought her crazy and had told her as well but she didn't let them get to her. She had to keep moving.

Iroh had been right, she was the closest the that Zuko had to a friend and vice versa for her. She didn't even know how real friends, like the Avatar and his friends, acted towards each other.

She glanced at her bowl and realized that she had eaten all of her food, whatever it was, in a daze. She pulled up her mask and exited her room, dropped her bowl off at the cafeteria and headed outside to see if anything interesting had happened or was happening.

She came out to the sight of Zuko staring through the telescope that someone had brought down and General Iroh a few feet in front of him. She took a few steps towards them and immediately she could tell something was wrong. She could feel it in the air, it was going to be a big one. General Iroh beat her in voicing this concern to Zuko.

He dramatically inhaled the air and said, "There is a storm coming. A big one." She knew he didn't have to smell the air for that, any fire-bender with the ability to produce lightning would be able to feel it, even the tiniest sliver and she could definitely feel this one.

Zuko on the other hand was not convinced. "You're out of your mind, Uncle." Zuko started making his way to his uncle. "The weather's perfect. There's not a cloud in sight."

"A storm is approaching from the north, I suggest we alter our course and head southwest." Iroh reiterated.

"We know the Avatar is traveling northward, so we will do the same." Zuko said crossing his arms behind his back like a military man and Iroh turned to face him, a worried look on his face.

"Prince Zuko, consider the safety of the crew." Iroh said sternly.

"Your uncle is right, you know. It would be wise to do what he says." Ling finally jumped into the conversation trying to persuade Zuko to do the right thing. Alas that had fallen on deaf ears, so to speak.

Zuko looked at them both, a stern look affixed on his face. "The safety of the crew doesn't matter!" It was only after he said it and that they all saw that Lieutenant Jee was coming out of the lower levels of the ship and had heard him, did Zuko's look falter. He quickly fixed it when the Lieutenant raised an eyebrow at him. "Finding the Avatar is far more important than any individual's safety." Zuko practically growled at the Lieutenant then stalked off into the tower.

Iroh, who had quietly walked up to Jee with Ling in tow said, "He doesn't mean that. He's…just all worked up." Jee was not convinced.

Ling sighed and turned away from the two men talking about whatever it was they were now discussing and left them to it. She followed Zuko's trail into the tower and decided to check and see if lunch was ready and she was right. The aroma hit her nose and all she could think about was grilled salmon and rice. She didn't know when they had bought or caught the fish but she was glad that they had.

She got her food and water and walked back to her room, all the while knowing that Zuko truly didn't mean what he had said about the crew but his stupid pride had gotten in the way and now there was a fissure between him and Jee that he couldn't, not that he would, smooth over with words. She didn't know what to do with him but sooner or later his pride would be his downfall, she knew that much. That or his stupid honor that he so desperately wants from that man. Uhg, I really need to meditate.

She ate her food greedily but wasn't able to meditate like she planned because as soon as she stepped out of the top of the tower she saw thick black clouds rolling straight towards them. In that moment she wanted to kill Zuko or throw him overboard, she couldn't decide. She leaned over the railing and saw that Zuko, Iroh, Lieutenant Jee, and a few other crewmembers that she hardly ever saw were down on the deck. Instead of the jumping down and using fire to break her fall, she decided to take the ladder and slide down.

She quickly walked over to the group just as Jee, with his arms crossed and glaring at Zuko, said in a voice that sounded like something scraping on concrete, "Huh, looks like your uncle was right about the storm after all." I wonder if he might have a cold, Ling didn't know and didn't really care to find out.

Iroh, ever the peacemaker, tried to calm everyone down. "Lucky guess." He shrugged.

"Lieutenant!" Zuko snapped. "You better learn some respect, or I will teach it to you." He said jabbing Jee in the chest with two fingers.

"What do you know about respect?!" Jee countered and Ling smacked her forehead while Iroh made a gesture for him not to say another word. "The way you talk to everyone around here, from your hardworking crew, to your humble bodyguard, to your esteemed uncle, makes it seem like you know nothing about respect!" Now Iroh was the one rubbing his temples and all Ling could focus on was how the man had called her humble. That's a new one. "You don't care about anyone but yourself! Then again, what should I expect from a spoiled prince?" Jee spat the word like it was acid on his tongue, Ling blinked not believing what she just heard, and now Iroh was the one who smacked his forehead.

Zuko, who had been facing away from them and who had also not said a word, slowly turned around and got into a fighting stance. Jee followed suit and soon they inching towards each other. Ling tensed, ready to knock out both sides if need be.

"Easy now." Iroh said in a low warning tone walking over to the two, whose wrists were smoking against the others. He grabbed their wrists and lightly shoved the two away from each other but Ling didn't relax yet, waiting for one of them to bounce back and attack the other. "Enough! We are all a bit tired from being at sea so long. I'm sure after a bowl of noodles everyone will feel much better." He said in the same tone but with a coy smirk on his face. Zuko and Jee however kept staring each other down. Jee was the first one to turn away and he headed back into the ship. Zuko, however, turned to face the bow.

"I don't need your help keeping order on my ship!" Zuko bit out.

Iroh walked up behind him and laid his hand upon his shoulder and gave Zuko a squeeze which Zuko rudely shoved off. Iroh looked as if someone had just kicked a puppy and Ling wondered if that were true in metaphorical terms.

Iroh turned and left, heading inside before the storm hit and that left Zuko and Ling on the deck by themselves. She made her way over to him and stopped just a foot from him but didn't sign anything. She just stood there letting him steam in his anger. He was literally steaming but she was only making jokes in her head.

Finally he turned to her with a pointed look. "Thought you might need some company. You want to talk about it?" He sighed and shook his head. "Just a word of advice, if you keep on this path you will lose all of your allies and before you know it you'll just be all alone."

"Like you?" He said bitingly and his eyes went wide, realizing what he just said and that it proved Jee right, Ling just turned on her heel, leaving him truly alone on the deck. Yes, just like me, she thought bitterly.

She walked through the door only to meet General Iroh seemingly waiting on her. "I thought you might need some company, my dear." She nodded her thanks and they walked together until they heard Jee's voice coming from below and Iroh made the sign that they should hang back for a second.

"I'm sick of taking his orders! I'm tired of chasing his Avatar! I mean, who does Zuko think he is?!" Jee was shouting, waving his arm around as if he were waving to a long lost friend. He and two other crew members were down there venting about Zuko, and Ling nor Iroh could blame them.

"Do you really want to know?" Iroh said, stepping out of the shadows, startling the men.

"General Iroh!" Jee exclaimed quickly getting to his feet. "We were just-"

"It's okay." Iroh cut him off, holding up a hand. "May I join you?"

"Of course, sir." Jee said quickly.

"Ling are you coming?" Iroh turned on the stairs and asked.

Jee eyed her with a frightened look and she shook her head, "I'm fine back here." She sat down with her legs dangling over the ramp and an arm wrapped around a support pole. Iroh just nodded and moved over to the group of men and sat down with them.

"Try to understand, my nephew is a complicated young man. He has been through much." Iroh said leaning forward. "It was when he still had hair and no scar on his face…"

It was just another regular day at the palace for Iroh. He was heading to the war council meeting in a good mood but knew that it would be squashed when those stingy old men began to open their mouths about strategy and the like. What he didn't expect was his nephew outside of the chamber arguing with the guards posted there.

"Let me in." Zuko demanded and Iroh hurriedly stepped in.

"Prince Zuko, what's wrong?" He said taking his nephew's shoulders and spinning him to where they could see the other's face.

"I want to go into the war chamber but the guards won't let me pass." His sentence came out rushed and his voice broke on the last word.

"You're not missing anything, trust me." Iroh said, trying to dissuade his nephew. "These meetings are dreadfully boring."

"If I'm going to rule this nation one day," Zuko looked up at Iroh with a bright twinkle in his eyes. "Don't you think I should start learning as much as I can?"

Iroh was at a loss for excuses, plus the fact that Zuko was looking at him as if all of his hope was hanging on him and Iroh sighed. "Very well, but you must promise not to speak. These old folks are a bit sensitive, you know?" Iroh hadn't known at the time what a grave mistake he had made in letting his beloved nephew go in there.

"Thank you, Uncle." Zuko bowed and they walked through the curtains and into the war room.

The meeting started and throughout the whole thing Zuko didn't say a word until the last plan was revealed.

"The Earth Kingdom defenses are concentrated here." An old general pointed to a spot on the map with a stick. "A fearsome battalion with their strongest earth-benders and fiercest warriors, so I am recommending the forty-first division." He said moving a piece representing the battalion onto the spot where the Earth Kingdom forces were.

"But the forty-first is entirely new recruits." Another General spoke up. "How do you expect them to defeat a powerful Earth Kingdom battalion?" Iroh had honestly wondered the same thing.

The general with the stick smirked and Iroh knew he wasn't going to like this. "I don't. They'll be used as a distraction while we mount an attack from the rear. What better to use as bait than fresh meat?"

Before Iroh could stop him Zuko was on his feet and yelling at the old general. "You can't sacrifice an entire division like that! Those soldiers love and defend our nation! How can you betray them?!" All eyes were glaring daggers at Zuko and Iroh knew in that moment that whatever happened to Zuko, he could not save him this time.

"Zuko was right, you see." Iroh said, and during the story everyone had scooted closer to Iroh. Ling was even on the edge of her seat but refused to get up and she hugged the pole tighter. "But it was not his place to speak out and there were…dire consequences." Iroh stroked his beard and Ling knew he probably relived that day every time he saw Zuko. She could hear the sadness in his voice as he recounted his story and knew that Zuko was still hurting from it.

She had been so curious before but now after all this time waiting she wasn't sure she wanted to hear the rest of it knowing that it had something to do with her past and hopefully Iroh wouldn't say anything about that. One thing was for sure though, she had never thought of Zuko in a pitying way and if she could help it she would make sure she didn't at the end of the story.

"After Zuko's outburst in the meeting," Iroh continued on. "The Fire Lord became very angry with him." More like furious, Ling countered in her head. "He said that Prince Zuko's challenge of the general was an act of complete disrespect and there was only one way to resolve this." Iroh looked down and again sadness covered his tone.

"Agni Kai." Jee supplied and Iroh nodded. "A fire duel."

"That is right. Zuko looked up on the old general he had insulted and declared he was not afraid, but Zuko misunderstood. When he turned to face his opponent he was surprised to see it was not the general. Zuko had spoken out against the general's plans but by doing so in the Fire Lord's war room it was the Fire Lord whom he had disrespected. Zuko would have to duel his own father."

Iroh was horrified at what Zuko had done and the Fire Lord was infuriated so that no one could see his face in the flames surrounding his throne. "Prince Zuko!" His voice rang over the crackle of the fire and throughout the whole room. "You have disrespected one of the most highly regarded generals in my war room. You will have to make this right. You will duel an Agni Kai tomorrow at noon." The flames were almost licking the ceiling by now.

Zuko turned to the old general and proclaimed that he was not afraid and would beat the military man and prove that his plan was wrong. The Fire Lord immediately dismissed the meeting and Iroh basically dragged Zuko out by the elbow and didn't say a word until they were away from prying eyes and eavesdropping ears.

"Zuko, do you realize what you have done?!" Iroh whispered harshly, making Zuko flinch.

"I'm sorry, Uncle, but it was just wrong and I couldn't stand to let all those people die for nothing."

"I know, my nephew, but now you have to fight in an Agni Kai and you must win. Do you understand?" Iroh took him by both shoulders and looked him dead in the eye. He didn't tell him he would have to duel his father because it would surely psych him out completely and Iroh would not be able to handle that.

"Yes, Uncle." Zuko sounded defeated and Iroh sent him off to bed so that he would be well rested for the day to come. Iroh, himself however, could not stop thinking about all the possibilities that could happen should Zuko win or lose.

Iroh awoke early and set about to getting his mind in working order and hoped and prayed to all the spirits that Zuko would win, and if not that the Fire Lord would have mercy on him.

After all that was done it was around the time that the duel would start and Iroh made his way to the arena. It was nice and had plenty of seating and looked as if it was created just the other day. It was on a risen dais and had a trench around it that was about Zuko's height.

Iroh took his seat behind Azula who greeted him. "Good morning, Uncle. A lovely day for an Agni Kai isn't it." She asked smirking and Iroh knew that she was enjoying this far too much.

"A lovely day for tea as well." Iroh countered and Azula clicked her tongue and turned around in her seat. Iroh sighed and a bell chimed, signalling the start of the match.

Zuko walked on first and took the kneeling stance that was part of the opening. When he heard his opponent come in Zuko turned and Iroh saw him freeze up with a look of absolute horror on his face. Zuko immediately fell to his knees and begged his father not to make him do this but his father wasn't listening.

"Please, Father, I only had the Fire Nation's best at heart. I'm sorry I spoke out of turn!" Zuko pleaded with his head hung in a submissive way but it seemed to enrage his father even further.

"You will fight for your honor!" The combination of his words and tone left no room for Zuko to argue but he did it anyways.

Zuko bowed so low to the ground that his nose was almost touching it. "Please. I meant you no disrespect, I am your loyal son."

"Rise and fight, Prince Zuko!" Ozai's voice was low and calm but Iroh knew better than that. This was the beginning of the end and all Iroh could do was sit there and watch. Zuko refused to fight which made his father all the more angrier, if that were even possible. "You will learn respect and suffering will be your teacher!" Iroh looked away but he could hear the fire crackle out from the Fire Lord's fist and Zuko's scream of agony and he almost screamed out, himself. The smell of burnt flesh was everywhere and Iroh was almost sick right there.

Everyone cleared out and Iroh had rushed his nephew to the palace doctors but the wound was too deep and Ozai's fire had cauterized it and all they could do was put a salve on it and bandaged it. They didn't have a problem with this because the poor boy had passed out from the pain on the way there.

General Iroh finished his story and everyone was silent for a minute. Ling sat in the dark trying not to curl in on herself because she knew that a day before the war meeting Zuko had angered the Fire Lord and it was all her fault. Iroh was not the only one to blame for what happened and Zuko had only been trying to defend her and look what it got him. She renewed her resolve to make sure that Zuko never found out who exactly she was because she was too ashamed to face him. Especially after what she caused.

Jee was the one to break the silence. "I always thought that Prince Zuko was in a training accident."

"It was no accident." Iroh said angrily. "After the duel, the Fire Lord said that by refusing to fight, Zuko had shown shameful weakness and as punishment, he was banished and sent to capture the Avatar. Only then, could he return with his honor."

"So that's why he's so obsessed." Jee spoke the one thought of the whole group, including Ling. She felt that they all understood Zuko a bit more now. "Capturing the Avatar is the only chance he has of things returning to normal."

"Things will never return to normal." Iroh corrected and Ling felt as if he were talking about her as well. "But the important thing is, the Avatar gives Zuko hope." She felt bad but knew that she couldn't let the Avatar fall into Zuko's hands no matter what. The war needed to end and the Avatar was the key to doing it, it wasn't just about her anymore, she could see that now and when the time came she would do what she needed to do.

Before anyone could say another word a loud crack rocked the ship and they all knew the ship had been struck by lightning. They all got up and ran to see what had been hit forgetting about their stools and drinks. Ling followed after and they all ran out on the deck meeting Zuko there. One could hardly see anything in this weather. The rain was a stinging pounding needle of wetness that drenched them in not even ten seconds. "Where were we hit?" Zuko had to shout to be heard over the roar of the wind and sea.

"I don't know." Jee shouted back and everyone was having a hard time keeping their balance with the ship tossing and water spilling over the sides.

"Look!" Iroh yelled and pointed to something on the tower and only when Ling squinted could she see it was a man. It was the Helmsman! Zuko and Jee took off to go help the poor guy while Ling worriedly watched them climb up the metal ladder. "Ling!" Iroh yelled and she turned just in time to see two lightning bolts headed their way. One was headed toward the bow of the ship while the other was heading towards the ladder Zuko and Jee were climbing.

She didn't hesitate when she thrust her own lightning, with her right arm, at the bolt and then channeled it like General Iroh had taught her with her left arm and into the sea. She came out looking a lot like General Iroh. Both of their clothes were a little scorched and their hair was sticking up in all directions crackling with left over electricity. She didn't have time to laugh it off because she saw the helmsman's grip slip and he went plummeting down…until Zuko caught him and handed him off to Jee.

They safely managed to climb down and one of the other crew members helped the dazed helmsman inside. Just then the Avatar flew right above their ship and Jee asked Zuko what he wanted to do and Zuko surprised them all by saying, "Let him go. We need to get this ship to safety."

"Then we must head directly into the eye of the storm." Iroh wasted no time in explaining how it was the safest spot for now. She didn't know who was steering but they apparently had the same idea or saw Iroh pointing because before she knew it they were headed to what looked like calm waters and she, plus the whole crew, breathed a sigh of relief. She walked over to Zuko and Iroh and began to sign. "We made it." And for good measure she drew a smiley face in the air.

Iroh smiled but Zuko stared at the ground. "Ling, Uncle, I'm sorry."

Iroh spoke for them both. "Your apology is accepted." Iroh said before heading inside. And again the Avatar flew right over the ship but Zuko made no move or order to pursue him and again he surprised the crew.

Everyone had made their way back inside and Ling couldn't stop herself from tapping Zuko's shoulder. "I'm sorry." Zuko looked at her dumbfounded.

"What are you sorry for? You haven't done anything wrong." Zuko stared down at her but she refused to meet his gaze.

"Maybe you'll find out in the future but just know that I am sorry." She left him like that and headed to her room for a nice change of clothes and a nice hot shower. She didn't know if he would ever find out in the future and if he did, she didn't want to think about what he would say or do or think about her. She fell asleep on her bed only to be awoken by a nightmare and decided to see if it had stopped raining.

It had and she was grateful she was alone because she turned her back to the helm and pulled down her mask for the first time in what felt like forever and breathed the ocean's scent. She replaced the mask and moved over to the railing and sat there in thought, looking out over the beautiful scene in front of her.

The clouds were still there but some sun rays managed to break through and shine upon the water, making it sparkle and glisten. She sat there for minutes, hours, days, she couldn't tell but she almost jumped out of her skin when she heard a throat clear behind her and turned to see Zuko. "Uncle said to fetch you for dinner." She nodded but realized that he wasn't going anywhere until she did so she sighed and hopped down the short distance between the deck and the railing and motioned for Zuko to lead the way. She wished it was always this calm and beautiful in her life.