"Water... Earth... Fire... Air…" Katara voices over as the benders demonstrate as she talks. "My grandmother used to tell me stories about the old days, a time of peace when the Avatar kept the balance between the Water Tribes, Earth Kingdom, Fire Nation, and Air Nomads. But that all changed when the Fire Nation attacked." It journeys into the map showing the world and closes in on a bender displaying all the elements. "Only the Avatar mastered all four elements. Only he could stop the ruthless firebenders. But when the world needed him most, he vanished." He disappears from sight. "A hundred years have passed and the Fire Nation is nearing victory in the war. Two years ago, my father and the men of my tribe journeyed to the Earth Kingdom to help fight against the Fire Nation, leaving me and my brother to look after our tribe." It shows the Water Tribe men on their boats and Katara hugging her older brother Sokka holding up a lantern. "Some people believe that the Avatar was never reborn into the Air Nomads and that the cycle is broken, but I haven't lost hope. I still believe that somehow the Avatar will return to save the world."
Growing Feelings Bet
On the ship, Iroh drinks his tea with Zuko and Rin at a table in a cabin and Iroh pours Zuko some tea after he takes a sip of his tea then pours Rin hers. "Ahh! See, Prince Zuko, a moment of quiet is good for your mental well being." Iroh tells him as Zuko raises the cup to drink when a shock causes it to splash the tea all over his face. He wipes it away and gets up with Rin from the table, making angry noises.
On the foredeck, a young, dark-haired woman appears on deck riding a massive and hideous monster. Members of the crew scatter as the beast climbs the railing and onto the deck as Zuko and Rin come onto the deck. "Get back! We're after a stowaway." The young woman informs them of why she was aboard.
"There are no stowaways on my ship," Rin argues with her, as her men knew better than to allow this to happen. The beast, a Shirshu, proceeds to rip out a chunk of the deck plating and hurls it away. The beast sticks its head into the gaping hole smelling around for the stowaway's odour and follows after it as a nearby barrel falls over and a man crawls out, whimpering. The man crawls out onto the foredeck where the Shirshu quickly whips the back of the man's neck with its long tongue. The man falls down instantly onto the deck, conscious but paralyzed, with Iroh, Zuko and Rin looking on at the scene.
"He's paralyzed," Zuko states looking at his way to maybe catching the Avatar finally.
"Only temporarily. The toxins'll wear off in about an hour. But by then he'll be in jail and I'll have my money." The young woman tells them picking the stowaway up.
"But how did you find him on our ship?" Zuko inquiries.
"My Shirshu can smell a rat a continent away." The young woman praises and pets her beast as she gets back onto the saddle.
"Well, I'm impressed." Iroh admires her not at all ashamed then she cracks her whip and the Shirshu bolts off the ship down onto the dock. "Very impressed." He strokes his chin watching after them as Rin looks at Zuko with a smirk.
That night at a three-story building with many windows who can see that it's packed inside with people. In view of the front door is June's Shirshu and a few other patrons of the establishment can be seen. Suddenly someone gets thrown through the wall above the door, landing somewhere and cries out painfully upon impact.
Inside June is arm-wrestling a beefy man as there in the filled to capacity, tavern, the beefy man sweats in his attempt to best the bounty hunter with a curled red snake tattoo on her right shoulder. She doesn't even appear to be trying, when suddenly, Zuko appears, forcing his way through the crowd holding Rin's hand. "Out of my way! Step aside, filth!" Zuko pushes as one tries to get closer to Rin and Iroh follows behind them, addressing the people his nephew thrust aside.
"He means no offence! I'm sure you bathe regularly." Iroh tries smoothing things over as they make their way to the table June is arm-wrestling.
"I need to talk to you," Zuko orders her not at all politely.
"Well, if it isn't my new friends, Angry Boy, Bossy Girl and Uncle Lazy." June addresses them as the beefy man continues to grunt and struggles against her grip. Iroh laughs heartily for the moment before June ends the contest with one swift movement and the crowd erupts with a lot of money changing hands, much of it ending in a big pile in front of June.
"Your beast trashed my ship. You have to pay me back." Rin warns her smiling sweetly.
"Aww, I'd love to help you out, but I'm a little short on money." June lies as she ranks in the pile of coins. "Drinks on me!" She yells to the crowd and they cheer having lost money.
"Money isn't what I had in mind," Rin tells her as she grabs her hand as June raises her cup to her lips and she could feel the strength behind her grip was enough to shatter her bones. June looks up to look at the teens face to see her smiling sweetly but it never reached her eyes, they were so full of something June had never seen before, something dangerous.
They go outside the tavern front door with lamps illuminating the night when moths fly around the lamps. Zuko, Rin, Iroh and June stand around as the teen Prince holds out Katara's necklace he still had in his pocket.
"I need you to find someone," Zuko tells the bounty hunter.
"What happened? Your girlfriend run off on you?" June teases him but shrinks back when she sees the glare Rin gives her.
"It's not the girl I'm after, it's the bald monk she's travelling with." He corrects her not seeing the glare Rin is giving the bounty hunter.
"Whatever you say." June plays it off.
"If you find them, I'll consider the damage to my ship paid for," Rin tells her smiling at her.
"Heh! Forget it." June laughs and turns around beginning to climb onto her saddle.
"Plus we'll pay your weight in gold." Iroh tries negotiating with her, this gets her to smile and get back down before walking over to Iroh.
"Make it your weight and we got a deal." June renegotiates.
"You got it!" Iroh accepts laughing but feels a burning sensation on his back from the glare he was receiving from Rin.
"Get on," June tells them and grabs the necklace from Zuko. She walks over to the Shirshu letting it smell the necklace and it scans the area to find Katara's trail. Shirshu slobbers at the mouth as June jumps onto the saddle in front of Rin, Zuko and Iroh, then they take off on the trail to find the Avatar.
At the base of the hill in the old, decrepit town square, the Herbalist crouches down near the ground harvesting some planets. Near her, her cat Miyuki tenses up and hisses at the sound of the Shirshu approaching them. The Herbalist rises up and the old woman looks at the four atop the Shirshu. "Out for a bit of fresh air, are we?" The Herbalist asks them unafraid.
"We're looking for someone," Zuko answers her.
"I hope it's not Miyuki." The Herbalist jests, looking down at her cat. "Miyuki, did you get in trouble with the Fire Nation again?" She asks her cat but it just meows and backs away.
"The Avatar's been through here. Let's keep moving." June tells them and cracks her whip again then the Shirshu takes off.
In a village, the Shirshu and its riders enter as the Shirshu sniffs around the place before stopping. "Why are we stopping" Zuko questions June.
"Because the girl must have spent a lot of time here," June answers him.
"We have no time for this!" Zuko tells her grabbing the necklace from June. Zuko gets down from the Shirshu and helps Rin down before showing the Shirshu the necklace again. He narrowly avoids getting zapped by its tongue and moves Rin out of the way. "Hey, watch it." He warns it but all that gets is Iroh and Rin to laugh at him.
"Oh look, he like you." June leases him when Aunt Wu looks up at Iroh.
"Care to hear your fortune, handsome?" Aunt Wu asks him.
"At my age, there is only one big surprise left, and I'd just as soon leave it a mystery," Iroh tells her smiling. June whips the Shirshu, who takes off once again as Aunt Wu watches them leave.
"What a powerful aura that young girl has." Aunt Wu says softly to herself.
In the Abbey as a group of sisters make perfume, the approach of the Shirshu can be heard before it bursts through the gate, revealing the Shirshu and its riders. "We're getting close," June tells them. June whips the Shirshu again and it bounds out of the gate, up the road where Katara, Sokka and Bato used.
On the beach near Bato's boat are Appa, Aang and Momo. "Looks like we're going alone, guys." Aang sulks to the others before the Superior rushes up to him.
"Avatar! You must leave!" Superior warns him.
"Okay, I get it. Everyone wants me gone." Aang sulks some more.
"A group of people came to the Abbey looking for you," Superior informs him in a slight panic.
"Who?" Aang asks her in alarm.
"A fierce looking woman with a horrible monster, a young man with a scar and a young woman with blond hair," Superior tells him.
"Zuko and Rin!" Aang exclaims.
"The beast was using the scent of a necklace to follow you," Superior warns him.
"A necklace?" He asks then he realises and his eyes widen. "Huh! Katara!" He yells out in fear for her and the others.
On the road were Sokka and Katara walk down when Sokka motions for his sister to stop walking as a galloping sound can be heard from somewhere. The Shirshu jumps behind them scaring them and they run away with the Shirshu and its riders in pursuit. The Shirshu focuses on Katara and sees her completely coloured in purple to signal her own scent. "So this is your ex-girlfriend." June teases as Zuko hops down with Rin and approaches katara. "No wonder you left her. Rin's way more pretty than her." June comments getting the two teens blushing and look away from one another but stop to focus on finding Aang.
"Where is he? Where's the Avatar?" Zuko questions her.
"We split up! He's long gone." Sokka spits out defiantly.
"How stupid do you think I am?" Zuko asks him looking him in the eyes.
"Pretty stupid," Sokka answers grabbing Katara by the arm. "Run!" He yells and they run off, but the Shirshu paralyzes them both with its tongue before they get very far.
"What are we supposed to do now?" Rin asks the bounty hunter.
"It's seeking a different scent - perhaps something that the Avatar held," June answers her as the Shirshu moves forward and starts sniffing the paralyzed pair. The map scroll falls out of Sokka's backpack rolling onto the ground and it trails the lead back into the woods.
In the courtyard of the Abbey as they hastily repair the broken gate it gets blown open again as the beast and its riders bust through again, sending the sisters running away screaming in all directions as Shirshu begins walking around, sniffing. "What's it doing? It's just going around in a circle." Zuko snaps at June, then Shirshu looks up into the air to see a scent spiralling around. Suddenly Aang enters the Abbey courtyard on his glider and flies up to the monster, which jumps up to snap at him. Shirshu misses Aang but does manage to dump his riders onto the floor of the courtyard ground and also falls flat on his back.
"Aang!" Shouts Katara as June gets up whipping the ground and the Shirshu gets back up before roaring, June jumps onto its back. They charge after Aang as the pair bear down on him, right before impact, Appa gets in the way and ploughs right into the Shirshu, pushing him and June out. They plough into the wall of the Abbey, knocking a hole through it and Appa has a fiery grin on his face breaking heavily out of his nostrils.
Aang's smile soon turns to alarm as he turns away from Appa to face Zuko, whose hands are alight with fire as he advances on the young Avatar. Zuko fires a huge gout of flame at Aang, who blocks the flame by twirling his staff to break it up and they trade several rounds of blows, all of which miss or get blocked by one another. Finally, the two fire volley simultaneously and both are blown back onto the roofs behind them.
June is next to the Shirshu, both unconscious and Iroh rushes up to the bounty hunter patting the side of her face. She wakes up, rising to her feet, cracking her whip and says something unintelligible, then Shirshu rises to its feet, she jumps into the saddle and they head back into the battle. They charge at Appa who is on the other side of the courtyard, he soars into the air as they reach him, but the Shirshu lashes Appa's tail with his tongue. Appa lands on the other side of the courtyard struggling to stay standing, but fails and collapses in a cloud of dust, soon gets to his feet. The monsters charge at one another after June whips the Shirshu again, and they have a head-on collision, throwing June over Appa's head, whom she whips as she passes over him. She lands on the ground rolling away just as Appa's foot plants itself deep into the ground where she had just been.
Aang gets up groggily from where he'd fallen on the roof, his eyes go wide as Zuko charges him down the spine of the room. He throws a blast of the fire at the Avatar, who flips over Zuko's head to land behind him as they exchange blows with Aang eventually knocking Zuko off of the roof. He is instantly replaced, however, when June and the Shirshu jump onto the roof and pursue him by Rin's orders as she checks on the Prince. In the background, Appa turns down in the courtyard using his tail to create a gale that blows tiles off the roof as the Shirshu passes.
Katara and Sokka lean up against the wall of the Abbey as Sokka wiggles his arm a bit as the toxin begins to wear off. "I'm starting to get some feeling back!" Sokka cheers as a bunch of titles fall on them. "Ow!" He yells in pain as Aang is being pursued by June and Shirshu still as Iroh tests out the perfumes nearby. He finds one he seems to like, looks from side to side to make sure no one is looking the tucks the bottle into his robe, with a mischievous smile on his face.
Aang and Zuko duel once again, this time a covered well between them, they trade volleys and Aang suddenly sees Katara's necklace in Zuko's hand. "You've got something I want," Aang tells the Prince and they trade volleys again with Zuko soon destroying the wells covering. They dance around on the lip of the wall, neither one able to gain decisive advantages over the other. Aang keeps trying to grab the necklace but fails each time, then Zuko lunges after Aang and misses. As he passes, Aang uses his foot through the loop of the necklace, catching it, he then disappears down the well with Zuko firing a huge gout of flame after him in frustration. Zuko launches into the air as Aang reappears atop a huge jet of water landing in the foreground with rain from the huge jet of water begins to fall around him, quickly followed by Zuko hitting the ground.
Zuko gets up from the ground and the duel begins anew, this time Appa advances threateningly on Zuko, before Appa can strike him, however, the Shirshu lashes him three times in a row with his tongue. Appa tries to stay up as much as possible, but can't and kneels over, paralyzed.
The Superior puts some kind of perfume under Sokka and Katara's noses and they are then able to move much better. "That thing sees with its nose. Let's give him something to look at." Sokka tells them.
"The perfume?" Superior asks him and he nods. A pair of sister and Sokka move huge white pots of perfume out into the courtyard as Aang dodges Zuko's fire blasts and the Shirshu's tongue on the opposite wall. The sisters than about to drop the perfume but two hands stop them, they look shocked at the strength to see Rin standing there smirking at them. Katara is about to Waterbend when a gout of fire blasts her way, she ducks out of the way just in time seeing Rin with her foot out towards her but gets thrown down as Sokka tackles her to the ground. She gets up facing Sokka as the sister dump the perfume onto the ground as Katara waterbends the perfume into a huge sheet, moves it over the Shirshu and drops it. The monster shakes off the liquid, but it's revealed it is now terribly confused. Shirshu lashes its tongue out at Zuko, followed by Rin as she is about to advance on Sokka, who lands on top of Zuko and June.
"June! Noooo!" Iroh cries out as he catches the falling bounty hunter. The Shirshu rampages on breaking open a few more jars, pawing the titles of the roof of one of the buildings, the jumps over the wall and disappears. Aang picks up his staff, as Katara and Sokka approach him from behind while Zuko and Iroh lay flat on the ground with June draped across Iroh's chest and Rin over Zuko's but Iroh has his arm around June as Zuko and Rin see the position they are in can't help the blush they share.
"Uncle? I didn't see you get hit with the tongue." Zuko points out but Iroh just tells him to be quiet and June's eyes open, clearly displeased.
They made it back to the ship but the two teens couldn't look at one another the entire time they made their way to the ship. Lieutenant Jee walks over to see the teens still blushing red but Iroh couldn't help a chuckle escape his lips making the teens snap their heads to him, telling him to keep his mouth shut. But they should have never thought Iroh could keep a secret like that and soon told the crew what had happened during dinner knowing Rin would have her regular bath like every day at the same time while Zuko would meditate and had the chance to tell the crew what happened from start to finish. They all shared a laugh and soon started betting on when their fierce General Rin and brash Prince Zuko would admit their growing feeling for one another.
Sokka, Katara, Aang and Appa are being led through the forest at night by the rebels they had met earlier that day. "Jeong Jeong told you not to look for the Avatar!" Lin Yi snaps at Chey for disobeying orders.
"Hold on, you knew these guys!?" Sokka asks Chey.
"Oh yeah! Lin Yi's an old buddy! Right, Lin Yi?" Chey asks knowing the answer already.
"Shut up! Keep moving." Lin Yi orders him lowering his spear at Chey and they continue walking in the forest to their destination.
In the Fire Nation town, they had just visited in the now deserted central square of the town where some local guards are being interrogated by Admiral Zhao who is flanked by a few guards. "So, the Avatar was here and you let him slip away?" Zhao questions them.
"Yes, sir, but other than that the festival went off without a hitch!" The Officer replies proudly and a huge piece of burning wall falls down in the background with a massive crash. "No fights. Theft was way down." He adds.
"I don't care about your local crime rates! Which way did they go?" Zhao interrogates.
"They headed into the forest, up the river I suspect." The Officer answers pointing the direction.
"Ready the river boats. We're going after the Avatar." Zhao orders his men and they obey like usual terrified of him.
Aang walks over to the entrance to Jeong Jeong's hut and takes a deep breath, parts of the curtain before walking into the darkness. A dark figure seated cross-legged amidst a semicircle of candles, his back to Aang. "Get out." Jeong Jeong orders the young Avatar before he can even speak.
"Master, I need to learn firebending." Aang tries reasoning with him.
"Only a fool seeks his own destruction." Jeong Jeong replies wisely.
At his final pronouncement, the candles flame up around Jeong Jeong to illuminate the entire tent, when the flames go out its pitch black. A vision for Jeong Jeong begins, as one candle lights up in front of Jeong Jeong and the other candles disappear. Instead of in the tent, there's a tree in the background behind him and in front of him, stands Avatar Roku. "You think I am weak?" Avatar Roku questions him.
"Avatar Roku! No! No!" Jeong Jeong denies inclining his head in respect. "I did not mean that!"
"I have mastered the elements a thousand times in a thousand lifetimes. Now, I must do it again. You will leach the Avatar firebending." Avatar Roku tells him.
"I understand." Jeong Jeong agrees but before he comes out of the vision he sees a glimpse of long blond hair and glowing purple eyes. He gasps at the mere glimpse of memories of sixteen years ago when he met someone much like that before he left for yet another fight but never saw her again. After that final thought, Avatar Roku raises his left hand and the tree behind Jeong Jeong bursts into flames and the vision ends.
"Yes, yes, I will teach you." Jeong Jeong agrees coming out of his trance still thinking about the glimpse he saw the woman he loved so many years ago.
"Really? That's great!" Aang cheers mostly for himself not taking much notice of anything else and this irritates the Deserter looking at Aang's enormously cheesy smile plastered on his young face.
Jeong Jeong turns around to face the boats which shoot fireballs at him, they land harmlessly all around him. Zhao looks ahead through a telescope from the main deck of his ship and lowers the telescope, smiling. Jeong Jeong, with a few powerful motions, produces an awesome wall of fire perhaps a hundred feet across the entire river in front of the ships. "Don't worry, men. My old teacher game up fighting a long time ago." Zhao encourages his crew. Jeong Jeong stands behind the wall of fire, when suddenly, Zhao parts the wall of fire just enough for him to walk through. "Master Jeong Jeong." Zhao greets his old master and Jeong Jeong drops the wall of fire. Zhao and his men stand against the lone Firebending Master. "Look at you. You were once so great. I can't believe my former master has become nothing more than a simple savage." He comments.
"It is you who have embraced savagery, Zhao." Jeong Jeong retorts.
"It's Admiral Zhao, now." He replies quickly proud of his accomplishments but he was still angry that a sixteen-year-old girl was a General way before him and he would get his revenge for his humiliation.
"That title will not help you against the Avatar. Do not try to fight him! You are no match!" Jeong Jeong warns him even if he was just a foolish man for it,
"I think I can handle a child." Zhao laughs at the ridiculous warning.
"I have never seen such raw power." Jeong Jeong states.
"Jeong Jeong!" Aang shouts out to him.
"We'll see. Men! Take the Deserter!" Zhao orders his men and Jeong Jeong is surrounded by five of Jeong Jeong's spearmen. Aang stops short in horror as they close in on him but Jeong Jeong just smiles and wraps himself in a massive ball of flame and when it dissipates, he is gone. "It's a trick! He's run off into the woods. Find him!" Zhao orders his men in angry and turns to Aang. "Let's find out what my old master has taught you." He inquires.
"YOU were Jeong Jeong's student? I thought maybe Rin was considering she's so powerful." Aang questions shocked wondering who had taught the teenage girl.
"Until I got bored. But Rin is no match for me." Zhao boasts thinking it was true and launches a fireball at Aang, who dodges that and another. "I see he taught you how to duck and run like a coward. But I doubt he showed you what a Firebender is truly capable of! He ran away whenever it got bad, poor girl, she died thinking he never loved her." Zhao rambles and launches another fireball at Aang. It flies over Aang's head as the young Avatar produces a flat, spinning whirlwind of air underneath him and balances himself on top of it with one finger.
"Who! Wild Shot!" Aang shouts and wonders why Zhao had mentioned something about a woman but why mention it now of all times?
"I'll show you wild!" Zhao shouts back at the young boy and fires several more volleys which Aang either dodges or breaks with airbending. Zhao's blasts have torched much of the surrounding forest and the sky fills with smoke.
"No self-control…" Aang says to himself as he looks over at the boats then back to Zhao.
"Stand and fight, Avatar!" Zhao shouts out to him.
"Oh, were we fighting? I thought you were just getting warmed up." Aang taunts him.
"I was!" Zhao practically screams losing all of his self-control and fires many volleys, all of which miss Aang.
"Is that all you got? Man, they'll make anyone an admiral these days! Rin can do so much better!" Aang continues to taunt him hitting nerve after nerve. Zhao launches another errant fire blast with a dreadful noise of frustration, Aang airbends himself up onto one of the ships. "Ahoy!" He yells out sticking his but out at the Admiral and wiggling it suggestively. "I'm Admiral Zhao!" He teases him. Zhao looks angry then makes another noise of frustration and jumps up onto the main deck launching a blast of fire. It sets the bridge on fire, but Aang just jumps off unharmed to the aft section jumping the aft section of the next ship.
"I don't know why, but I thought you'd be better than Zuko or Rin." Aang taunts him more looking disappointed when he says this and hangs his arms by his sides, letting them dangle. His eyes go wide and fall flat on the deck fast, though, as a wall of fire passes over him. On the second ship guard railing, Zhao is visible through it on the deck of the first ship and he has just blasted a hole through the guard railing of both ships with the wall of fire Aang just avoided. "Sloppy. Very sloppy." Zhao cries in frustration and he follows Aang around the boats, spreading fire to each of them in his vain effort to get Aang. Momentarily out of Zhao's sights, Aang hides behind one of the deck cabins, Zhao lands behind him, however, having jumped down from the top of the deck cabin, Aang turns to face him.
"Nowhere to run now, you little smart mouth!" Zhao rages and launches a firebolt which Aang dodges by flipping over Zhao's head to land behind him. The bridge on the third and last of the ships now on fire.
"You've lost this battle," Aang states before airbending himself into their as Zhao sets fire to the third ship's prow.
On the Fire Nation Navy ship, a blond teen continuously sneezes as she stands next to Zuko on the deck. "Dear General Rin, you have been sneezing all day, have you caught a cold?" Iroh asks the teen.
"I don't believe so, it could just be someone talking about me." She points out looking out into the ocean as if it would give her the answer to who was talking about her.
"Yeah right," Zuko scoffs at the thought and walks away as Rin grins to herself.
"It must feel so bad if you're not the subject of everyone's conversations." Rin taunts him and he stops in mid-step and turns around looking flustered. "I'm only joking, come on Zuko you have to learn to laugh." She smiles at him and runs after him as she teases him as they walk away with the crew and his Uncle watching them walk away.
In a Fire Navy port, ships line the harbour in the background and in the foreground is a tent surrounded by guards. Inside is Admiral Zhao, looking over a map of the world. "He's heading North. The Northern Water Tribe. The Avatar needs to master waterbending. He's looking for a teacher." Zhao states and turns around to address the others in the room. His officers sit cross-legged on the floor like school children.
"Then what are we waiting for? Let's go get him!" Captain Li says determinedly.
"Patience, Captain Li. This isn't some little Earth village we can just march into. The Water Tribe is a great nation. There's a reason they've survived a hundred years of war. The frozen tundra is treacherous. The landscape itself is an icy fortress. We'll need a massive invasion force." Zhao tells them the plan.
The Fire Nation Navy ship is docked with the sound of stringed instruments can be heard playing a simple staccato tune. Lieutenant Jee plays one of the instruments along with General Iroh and the tune is then accompanied by drums and four men are around a campfire on the main deck of the ship. "Winter, spring, summer, and fall. Winter and spring, summer and fall. Four seasons, four loves. Four seasons, four loves." Iroh sings slightly out of tunes. During the song, two crewman dance in front of the fire, then a group of masked Fire Nation soldiers board the ship including Admiral Zhao. The music stops as the intruders are noted by the crew, Iroh and the others turn to look at the newcomers aboard.
Prince Zuko is in a dark cabin on the ship, his arms folded across his chest. The door at the far end of the cabin opens to Iroh leaning in but Zuko does not look at him. "For the last time, I'm not playing the sumki horn," Zuko tells his #uncle.
"No, it's about our plans. There's a bit of a problem." Iroh tells him as Rin and Zhao enter the room behind him.
"He's taking our crew," Rin informs Zuko.
"What!?" Zuko exclaims in outrage turning to face them.
"I've recruited them for a little expedition to the North Pole," Zhao tells them.
"Uncle, is that true?" Zuko asks him almost pleading.
"I'm afraid so. He's taking everyone." Iroh answers him, putting his arm over his face in woe. "Even the cook!" He cries out.
"Sorry, you won't be there to watch me capture the Avatar. But I can't have you getting in my way again. Also General Rin, you are welcome to join as my second in command." Zhao offers but Zuko charges him in anger, thankfully Iroh prevents him from tackling him, who walks over to inspect the curved broadswords on the wall, the same used by the Blue Spirit. Zhao's face, swollen in anger as he recognises the blades as he remembers the events of his encounter with the Blue and Purple Spirits. He takes one off the wall, then Zuko's eyes widen and mouth open, clearly recognising the danger he was in but Rin just closes his mouth. Iroh, visible over Zuko's shoulder, does not seem to see the danger his nephew is in along with Rin. Zhao begins to practice with the sword he removed from the wall. "I didn't know you were skilled with broadswords, Prince Zuko." He comments.
"I'm not. They're antiques. Just decorative." Zuko answers cooly.
"Have you heard of the Blue and Purple Spirit, General Iroh?" Zhao asks him, purposely ignoring Rin and Zuko.
"Just rumours. I don't think they are real." Iroh dismisses it.
"They're real alright. They're criminals, enemies of the Fire Nation." Zhao retorts and hands the broadswords to Iroh. "But I have a feeling that justice will catch up with them soon." He moves to exit the cabin past Rin and Iroh. "General Iroh, General Rin, the offer to join my mission still stands if you change your mind." He reminds them and closes the door behind him.
"Was it just me or did you want to hit him too?" Rin asks the men but Zuko just looks at her with a look of gratitude in his eyes, he was glad her and his Uncle stayed by his side even now.
Back on the Fire Navy port from earlier, Zhao begins to speak. "I'm very impressed," Zhao comments as he sits at his desk, a small chest and a lamp in front of him. Two men face him across the desk and it's realised that they are the same pirates that Zuko, Iroh and Rin had encountered before. "You all seem highly qualified for the mission I have in mind," Zhao tells them as a pair of hands reach out for the chest and pulls it towards the entire pirate gang, including the Captain, which he has opened the chest to reveal glowing riches inside. The Pirate Salesmen removes a gold piece from the chest and bites down on it.
"That's some tasty gold!" Pirate Barker says in glee and the Captain grabs in putting it back in the chest. The Captain leans forwards looking sceptically at Admiral Zhao over the table.
"What do you need us to do?" The Pirate Captain asks him.
"I believe you're acquainted with Prince Zuko and General Rin?" Zhao asks them smiling evilly.
It's night time on the Fire Nation Navy ship docked with the crew standing outside the ship and one of them yells 'good luck!' with Rin hugging them goodbye as the part ways. But Prince Zuko isn't there he's lying in his bed in his cabin inside the ship when the door opens and Iroh sticks his head in. "The crew wanted me to wish you safe travels," Iroh informs his depressed nephew.
"Good riddance to those traitors." Zuko scoffs knowing it wasn't true but he was angry all the same.
"It's a lovely night for a wall. Why don't you join me? It would clear your head." Iroh asks him smiling but falls away as Zuko refuses to respond. "Or, just stay in your room and sit in the dark. Whatever makes you happy. Rin will join you I'm sure as she seems to have taken the crew leaving hard." Iroh adds but tries to get a response from his nephew but he still stays silent. He leaves, closing the door behind him but the door opens again to Rin walking in and sits on Zuko's bed by his feet, they just stay in silence enjoying each others company.
On the prow of the ship, Iroh's silhouette can be seen walking down the gangplank onto the dock, humming a song he was singing earlier to himself. As he passes by the Pirate Captain's green parrot flies by, some time passes by before on the main deck where the pirates climb aboard the ship. The Pirate Barker goes over the opposite railing of the ship and lowers down some ropes with hooks at the end, below in a small skiff are two more pirates with barrels of explosives. They attach the hooks to the barrels of explosives which are then hoisted up, one of the pirates on the deck almost drops the barrel, but luckily recovers it. "Careful with the blasting jelly!" Pirate Barker whisper-shouts at them as he turns one of the door latches. It makes a much louder noise then he thought.
The noise travels through the ship, making Zuko sit straight up in bed as he and Rin look at each other in alarm. "Uncle?" Zuko questions getting up from his bed with Rin behind him and open his door looking out into the corridor. "Uncle, is that you?" He asks into the corridor then turns to Rin then jumps out into the corridor in a fighting stance with Rin walking out behind him. They warily advance to the bridge, ready for instant combat around every corner while Rin puts Zuko behind her to protect him.
On the main deck where the Pirates light a trail of gunpowder before running off the ship as Rin and Zuko walk around the bridge as the lit trail of gunpowder shortens. At last, Zuko turns around and looks out one of the bridge windows to see the Pirate Captain's green parrot, it croaks at him and takes off. Zuko realises what the bird's appearance means strikes him and he turns to Rin but it's too late, the lit gunpowder reaches the barrels of blasting jelly. The bridge deck and main deck explode, blasting Zuko and Rin out the bridge window holding onto each other. Another explosion rips the vessel completely open mid ship as Iroh walks down a dirt road, the explosion in full bloom behind him. He turns around after hearing the noise to look and his face contorts with surprise and fear for his nephew and Rin. "Zuko! Rin!" Iroh shouts in fear for them and begins running back to the ship. Iroh reaches the dock, to the burning debris falling all around him, he feels dwarfed by the massive fireball that was the ship. Iroh's face is well lit up by the blazing fire in front of him that is the ship. "Zuko… Rin…" He whispers lowering his face in sadness not wanting to look at the burning ship.
Somewhere in the Fire Nation with a red background, Iroh and Zhao are having tea opposite one another at a low table. A map of the world hanging on the wall beside them as he pours more tea. "I'm devastated to hear about Prince Zuko and General Rin. Just devastated." Zhao tells Iroh but it didn't come across that way as Iroh's look of pain crosses his face and closes his eyes as he feels the pain.
"The Fire Lord will not be pleased, when he learns who was responsible," Iroh tells him opening his eyes to look at the Admiral.
"You know who… was behind the attack?" Zhao asks him suspiciously, frowning at the older man.
"Yes…" Iroh answers, slamming the table with his first. "Pirates! We had a run in with them awhile back." He tells him though it wasn't all true and Zhao's mouth which was a frown now turns into a smile. "They wanted revenge." He adds for effect to clear any suspicion.
"So, have you reconsidered my offer?" Zhao asks him changing the subject after taking a sip of his tea.
"Yes, I accept. It will be an honour to serve as your General." Iroh replies raising his glass in a toast like manner. "To the Fire Nation!" He cheers as Zhao too raises his glass.
"To victory!" Zhao cheers as outside of the naval base and the Fire Nation flag flutters in the wind.
On the Fire Nation navy base, the ships line the dock as Iroh walks down a corridor in Zhao's ship as two guards walk in the other direction. They stop when near one another avoiding looking like they are talking. "Our plan is working perfectly. Zhao doesn't suspect a thing." Iroh informs the two soldiers in a soft quiet tone.
"You didn't have to do this," Zuko tells his Uncle as the two soldiers remove their guard masks to reveal the beaten up faces of Zuko and Rin.
"No nephew or a dear friend of mine is going to stow away on a ship without some backup!" Iroh retorts.
"Thank you, Uncle," Zuko says.
"Thank you, Iroh." Rin whispers.
"Someone's coming!" Iroh announces as they hear a sound and the two teens replace their masks. "Stay hidden until we get to the North Pole and the Avatar will be yours! Good luck!" He tells them and they go their separate ways, the two teens go around the corner and Rin doubles over slightly, Zuko catches her with worry for the girl he has grown strong feelings for.
"Do your ribs still hurt?" He asks her with concern.
"I'll live, I'm a fast healer, we just need to get the Avatar before that big head," Rin argues and looks up at Zuko, she couldn't see his face but for some reason, she could still feel his concern and she couldn't be happier that he couldn't see the blush spreading on her face.
On the upper decks of Zhao's ship are Iroh and him on the outside walkway around the bridge. "My fleet is ready. Set a course for the Northern Water Tribe." Zhao orders his men as there are dozens of Fire Nation navy ships firing up their engines in preparation to launch the final assault on the Northern Water Tribe.
Somewhere on the ship, Zuko sits with his mask still covering his face as he looks around thinking about Rin and how he feels about her but he couldn't decide if he should tell her or not. He felt lonely without her by his side right at this second, he hears the sound of footsteps and looks up to see a soldier walking over to him, he could tell it was Rin from the height and stands up to face her. She removes her mask and he does the same, he felt horrible for the way she looked with cuts and bruises on her face, he felt responsible for them. He had to stop himself from caressing her cheek in affection as she looked so down about their situation. "We'll be there so and we can go home with the Avatar," Zuko tells her and she just nods not really caring about going back to the Fire Nation. They both sit down with one another and Rin scoots herself closer to Zuko thankfully she didn't look up at him as he was blush bright red.