This chapter did not have many changes. I just brushed up some on a few grammatical issues. I've decided from these edits that the first two chapters were the only ones that were cringe worthy and the rest have not been too terrible. But I'm going to keep with this method because it's helping me get back into this story.

Chapter 12: Raging Storm

The fish sizzled in front of me as I watched it on the stove top. It was very strange cooking on metal instead of above a flame, but I was getting the gist of it. Jiho stood beside me, his eyes watching my cooking with thrill. I was making the crew dinner, which consisted of steamed fish soup. My mom and Gran-Gran shared the recipe with one another, and after mom passed the recipe was left in my hands. Jiho was excited to have me serve the crew, and I was happy to do so. They had all shown me nothing but kindness over the last few weeks of our journey. Also, Zuko had been down in the dumps since his defeat with the pirates twenty-four hours ago, so I wanted to do something to cheer him up.

"You seem pretty content tonight, Miss Crystal. Any reason?"

I blushed. My hand faltered as I went to drop more spice on the fish. "Just glad to help out everyone, that's all. I haven't been able to cook for a while, so it's nice to get back into the routine."

"You cook a lot for your family then?"

I nodded. "I usually cook dinner. My little sister is in charge of our breakfast."

"And your brother?"

I smirked. "He attempts to catch us food for both. Usually I would sneak behind him and help him out."

The man laughed. "You're a good sister."

His words made me frown slightly. Yeah… A good sister who never told her family she was a waterbender because of her fear… I was the sister of the year…

Another hour passed and dinner was ready. I'd made enough for the whole crew, to which Jiho helped me distribute in multiple bowls. The crew was in the mess hall, and I heard that Zuko and Iroh were there as well. I'd asked Iroh to convince Zuko to come to dinner with everyone else, to which the old man eagerly agreed and did so. When it was time to distribute the food, Jiho and I carried as much of the bowls as we could. A few other men helped us in our distribution, and eventually everyone in the large hall had their supper.

There were no tables in the mess hall, but the men were seated on the floor in circles chatting. Once the bowls were distributed, Jiho handed me my own portion and I walked over to join Iroh and Zuko. They were already digging in when I arrived, and I wondered if Zuko knew I'd prepared it. When I sat down in front of the two, Iroh smiled widely, swallowing a mouthful of the fish soup.

"This is delicious, Crystal! The finest soup I've ever tasted."

"I'm glad you like it," I said softly with a blush. "Don't say that to Jiho though… I don't want to outdo him as the ship cook."

Iroh chuckled. "Of course I won't… It is very tasty though. I'm so glad you can share your cooking with the crew."

Zuko glanced over at me in surprise. He must've not realized I'd cooked the food. He stared back at his bowl picking up another spoonful. He muttered softly, "That explains it then." I looked at him with question, but he refused to look my way. He continued eating the food, and I saw with utter relief that he was enjoying each mouthful.

Eating my own portion, I was relieved to find it tasted quite alright for using different ingredients and cooking methods. The fish tasted a bit spicier than I was accustomed to, but I knew the Fire Nation was a fan of spice… especially Zuko… Zuko loved spicy foods. With a few tips from Jiho, I was able to give the fish just enough spice to satisfy the crew. It burned my tongue and mouth, but I didn't complain. I cooked the meal, so the least I could do was eat it too.

"I hope there's enough spice in it," I said, trying to bring conversation to our quiet group. "I wasn't sure how much to use."

Zuko was surprisingly the one to answer. "It's perfect. You did a great job."

His compliment made my ears burn. Looking towards him, I saw he too was flushed as he kept his eyes on his soup. He'd been avoiding my gaze since we'd hugged one another the other night, and I was starting to wonder if I'd crossed the line with my action. The fact he was being kind though made me relax. I was glad he wasn't mad at me for hugging him when he showed a moment of weakness.

"Thanks," I responded. I took another bite of my food trying to not show the delight I felt in me from his compliment.

Iroh smiled widely from where he watched our interaction.

My bowl emptied faster than I expected, and I saw Iroh and Zuko's bowls had done the same. "I'll get started on cleaning up," I insisted, going to stand.

Jiho had been walking by with a few empty bowls in his hand, and quickly stopped me. "No need, Miss Crystal. You slaved away in the kitchen for the last two hours. I can handle the cleanup."

I went to protest to the cook, but he'd taken my bowl and was already walking off.

Zuko grabbed my arm when I tried to follow. "You heard him. He'll handle it…" He'd stood only a moment after I did, so his sudden touch took me off guard. I looked at him a bit startled by his actions. "Uh… Do you want to get some air up on deck? The sun should be setting around this time."

His request surprised me, but I willingly accepted. We both left the mess hall, and Zuko led me through the belly of the ship back towards the stairwell. We went up three floors, down one hall, and up one more flight of stairs. Finally, we made it out on deck. The breeze was cool and felt good on my skin. I breathed in glad for the fresh air. Being in the kitchen had put smoke in my lungs, so it was nice to not breathe in fish scent and spices.

The sun was a beautiful red and orange color, its blazing orb lowering on the horizon. I'd seen it set before, but usually I was with Iroh or walking on my own. Zuko sharing the sunset with me wasn't something that happened often.

We ended up standing by the railing, our mouths shut tight as we stared out toward the horizon. Zuko didn't know what to say, and I didn't really want to start the conversation. I assumed he would speak when he was ready. As we stood side-by-side, I was mesmerized by the burning water that shimmered before my eyes. The sun almost made the water seem like it was on fire. It was magical from a distance, and I wanted it to last forever.

"I'm sorry about the other day," he said softly. "I don't lose my emotions like that often."

His words took me off guard. I looked over at him with a puzzled expression. "Sorry…? Why are you apologizing?"

My question made him hang his head in shame. He took in a heavy breath. "Crying is weak. I'm supposed to be strong and confident, but the other day I lost control. I hate that side of me. I'm sorry you had to see it."

"What? That's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard! If crying was weak then everyone would be weak along with you!"

Zuko gripped the rail hard. "A Fire Lord isn't supposed to cry. When I become a leader, I can't let my emotions overrun me like the other day. No matter how much I feel at a loss, I can't show anyone defeat."

"Zuko… Even the strongest men cry," I insisted. "It's human nature. You can't just bottle up your emotions. It's not healthy. Those who do are clearly mad men."

"My father would knock me on the head if he saw me the other day… Crying isn't something a future Fire Lord should be seen doing."

I punched him in the arm suddenly; I wasn't trying to hurt him. I just wanted to knock some sense into him. He cringed at my sudden attack, his eyes wide as he looked at me in surprise. He rubbed the spot I'd pounded. "What was that for?"

I turned to face him fully. Crossing my arms, I answered, "For being irrational." He was bewildered. I continued speaking. "Stop beating yourself up. You're a normal teenage guy with a lot of weight on your shoulders. You've been banished from your home, you can't return without some twelve year old kid, and the only family you have to care about you currently is your uncle Iroh. You're alone, angry, scared, and exhausted. Shedding some tears for your lack of fortune is completely expected."

Turning back towards the sunset, I let out a heavy breath and gripped the railing.

"My father is a leader, Zuko… He's the chief of the Southern Water Tribe. He has the same mindset you do. When he's around the tribe he puts on a façade to convince everyone he's strong and focused on the tasks at hand. However, I've walked in on my father numerous times seeing him in tears. Especially after my mom died… he beat himself up for months saying it was his fault. He'd cry, but when he cried that was his way of becoming stronger. Each tear he shed for my mother was a way of letting her go."

I could see my words were sinking into Zuko.

"Don't ever be ashamed to cry… If you keep it all in, the failure you feel will only continue to weigh you down. Don't apologize for being human."

My last statement hung in the air. I wondered if I managed to get through to him. I'd gone into one of my tangents, which was something I tried not to do. I was always concerned I'd bore or say something I shouldn't to my companion.

He seemed to take in what I spoke with calm thought. He looked contemplative as he stared down at the water below. His tense shoulders dropped as he found ease in the words I'd spoken to him. "You always see me as a human… No matter how much I don't act it towards you sometimes."

"Even when you turn back into your hotheaded prince-like self, you're still a human in my eyes. I told you before… I don't see you as a monster. You're my friend. I get angry at you when you become blind and arrogant… Sometimes hurt… but at the end of the day I don't see you the way I first did when I met you." I sighed. "Maybe I'm losing it a little though. I honestly don't understand my feelings towards you lately. I know you're my captor… But honestly, all I can see you as most of the time is my friend."

We both fell into silence then. Zuko was soaking in everything I had said to him. While he pondered over my words, I continued to watch the sun which was sinking lower and lower on the horizon.

It seemed a few minutes passed, and the last of the sun was visible to our eye. As our last remaining light illuminated our forms, Zuko said softly, "I didn't just bring you out here to talk. I wanted to give you something."

My eyes shot towards Zuko in surprise. He took something out from his pants pocket. He handed the cloth wrapped item over to me, and I took it carefully with surprise. Zuko had gotten me something? I'd never been given anything by anyone who wasn't my family. I'd never received a gift from a friend. Unwrapping the cloth, I was amazed when I found what was inside: A beautiful blue crystal necklace on a gold chain.

I'd never ever received anything of such beauty before in my life. Apart from my mother's necklace, which I gave to Katara to comfort her during her time of grieving, I'd never seen anything more radiant. However, the treasure Zuko handed me was by far the prettiest and most precious jewel I'd ever been given.

"Back at the market… I saw you looking at the jewelry on the table. I wanted to do something nice for you, as my way of saying thanks and stuff for not hating me. I know it's not much, but-"

Tears were falling down my cheeks and I shut my eyes. My chest tightened as I held the gift in my shaking hands.

"Hey! Why are you crying? I- I thought girls liked stuff like this," Zuko began.

Opening my eyes again, I looked over at the young man who was frazzled in front of me. "I'm sorry… I'm just…" I wiped my cheeks with my free hand. "I'm so happy. No one's ever given me something so precious before."

"It's just a necklace," he muttered, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly. "Nothing to be so happy about."

I still smiled, despite his words. "Thank you, Zuko. I'll treasure it forever."

My promise surprised him. He recovered though, taking up the necklace to help me put it on. "Here… Turn around."

I blushed as I turned. Taking my long hair, I moved it to the side so he could see. His arms came around me, and for a moment his hands were inches away from my chest where my heart was pounding. He moved around me, placing the necklace chain carefully around my neck, and after a moment managed to clasp it together. The stone pressed against my chest and the cool touch felt good on my burning hot skin. Turning back to Zuko, I saw his cheeks were crimson as well.

Flustered, I managed to ask softly, "How does it look?"

He stared at me full on, his eyes not dropping once. "Beautiful."

As his eyes gazed into my own, and not at the necklace, I knew he wasn't complimenting the stone alone. The thought made my heart accelerate and my breathing hitch.

Zuko POV

I knew I was probably staring like an idiot, but I just couldn't look away. From what remained of the setting sun, Crystal looked like she was glowing. Her azure eyes shined and reflected the sun as if I were staring out towards the sea and not at her. There was so much life and brightness in her gaze; I was too mesmerized to break contact. I was afraid I'd never see the same sight again. She was the most alluring girl I'd ever laid eyes on.

Stepping towards her to break the distance, I saw she didn't move as my hand reached forward and I brushed my thumb across her scarred cheekbone. She stood still as my skin made contact with her own, and I could tell she too didn't want to look away from my own gaze. She wasn't like other girls I'd met in the past. She had something about her that I didn't want to lose.

Leaning forward, I brought my face inches from hers. Her breathing faltered as our foreheads pressed against one another. Her skin burned against my own, but the feeling was nice. To my surprise, she shut her eyes and cupped her hand over my hand that still brushed against her cheek. She leaned forward herself, to the point where our breaths were becoming intertwined.

I asked with so much confusion. "Is this what friends do?"

She tightened her hold on my hand. "I… I don't think so…"

Leaning in more, I felt our breaths get closer.

"Prince Zuko!" As if a spell were broken, I felt Crystal and I break apart as reality sunk back in. My hand ripped from her face, and she stepped back in shock. "The Avatar's been spotted! Captain needs you at the helm!"

The annoying guard shouting across the deck was what broke our moment. My skin was on fire, and my hand ached as I stepped farther away from her. She was staring at me with bewilderment, her hand pressing to her cheekbone. What just happened to us? My heart ached for it to happen again, and I had to resist the urge to step up to her once more.

"I…" My voice was stuck in my throat, and I quickly cleared it. Trying to speak again, I managed to say softly, "I better go… Uh… You can find your way back to the room okay, right?"

She nodded, but she continued to stare at me with utter shock. She was just as confused as I was. It was good to know I wasn't alone in these feelings.

"I- I'll see you tomorrow… Don't wait up for me."

Turning on my heel, I left her quickly to head towards the helm. As I went, every ounce of me wanted to turn back and pull her in my arms. What was happening to me? Why did I feel this way?

Katara's words came back to me: "Wai- wait a second… Don't tell me… You like my sister?!"

I cringed and sped up to gain some distance between us.

So this was what it felt like to have feelings towards a girl…?

Crystal POV

My fingers fiddled with the crystal stone that hung on my neck. My cheek still burned from the memory of Zuko's sudden gentle touch. That was five days ago, but the sensation had still yet to leave me.

Currently we were journeying further north, and I was surprised Zuko had yet to realize where Aang and the others were headed. Iroh told me a few days ago that he had come to the conclusion it was the North Pole, but it was best neither of us shared our finds with the young prince. The last thing we wanted was Zuko trying to take over the North Pole to get to Aang. We knew he would be no match for such a powerful tribe.

Standing on deck, I could see land in the distance as we stayed on a path in the direction my family and Aang were headed. I wondered if they'd landed to give Appa a break. What was it like journeying with the avatar? What was it like traveling so much on land? I tried to picture what adventures they were probably having. Aang was a goofy kid, so I had a feeling Sokka and Katara were having the most fun they've had in years.

I was proud of them. I was proud of Sokka and Katara for staying by Aang's side. They could've returned to the tribe after Aang was saved from Zuko, but instead they chose to help the Avatar save the world. They were so strong and brave. I on the other hand… I wasn't doing much to help the world… All I was doing was trying not to anger Zuko or get tossed overboard whenever the ship lurched.

I was pretty useless to the war effort compared to my twin brother and little sister.

"Don't take your eyes off the sky for one minute!" Zuko was shouting orders across the deck to members of his crew. "I want everyone to be alert for any sign of the Avatar! We're close, so there's no time to laze around!"

The young prince paced back and forth across the deck, troubled by the fact that yesterday we had sight on the Avatar's flying sky-bison, and today we didn't. Once night hit, my family had disappeared in the distance headed towards land. We only briefly caught a glimpse of Appa this morning, but they disappeared once more leaving Zuko and his men at a loss. The young prince only took time to eat and sleep for about four hours, so I could only imagine how tired he really was.

Exhaustion seemed to reveal his temper more and more as the days passed by.

Iroh stepped over to Zuko eagerly, who was looking through a telescope for what seemed like the fifteenth time in the last hour. The old man had been staring at the sky a few moments before and looked uneasy about whatever he saw.

"There is a storm coming," he spoke to his nephew. "A big one."

Zuko lowered his telescope, and turned to Iroh skeptic. "You're out of your mind, Uncle. The weather's perfect. There is not a cloud in sight."

He looked back out towards the horizon with his telescope again, continuing to search the sky for his one and only target.

Looking up at the sky, I could see what Iroh was saying. Everything around us was still. The air was dry and there wasn't a bird in sight. Whenever we had snowstorms back at the South Pole it would get like this. There would be a moment of utter silence, and then we'd be pounded by ferocious blizzards. Iroh was right.

"The storm is approaching from the north. I suggest we alter our course and head southwest."

Zuko's fist tightened when he heard his uncle's suggestion. He refused to do such a thing, because it would take him away from his original path. "We know the Avatar is traveling northward, so we will do the same."

I stepped to the side of Zuko to tell him my own feelings on the matter. "Zuko… Maybe Iroh's right… I can feel something too, and my gut doesn't like it. If anything, we should at least anchor the ship and wait out what's coming."

"We're not stopping!" Zuko turned sharply to me. "I will not change my mind! The Avatar is heading north, and we will do no different!" His shouts made me grimace. I backed off a bit knowing when Zuko was irritated, the best thing to do was let him cool down.

"Prince Zuko," Iroh began with disbelief. "Consider the safety of the crew!"

Prince Zuko scowled at his uncle again. "The safety of the crew doesn't matter!"

His words shocked me. I didn't like this side of Zuko. I knew the side I saw a few days ago was something rare and still very confusing, but it was better than this demeanor. When Zuko went all gentle and caring on me the other day, I was taken off guard but I was happy. I wanted him to go back to being that kind and gentle young man I was coming to know so well. Currently, he was being stupid and irrational.

I didn't like Zuko's hotheaded side.

A growl came from behind us. The three of us turned to see Lieutenant Jee was glaring daggers at Zuko for what he'd just said. As if to defend his point, Zuko stepped over to Jee and snapped, "Finding the Avatar is far more important than any individual's safety."

His words made my heart ache slightly. I knew he was just clouded by anger and not thinking before he spoke, but his words hit me personally. Did that mean he didn't care about my own safety? I clutched my necklace in hurt and disappointment. I had hoped maybe Zuko would get some sense in his head when he saw my reaction. However, when he looked my way it was like he was avoiding my gaze completely. He looked past me at some guards who were also glaring at him. He scowled and stomped off, probably to escape the spite he was receiving from his men. Once he was gone inside the ship, slamming the door behind him, Iroh apologized for the tension.

"He doesn't mean that, he's just all worked up."

The crewmen scowled and continued on with their work. Iroh sighed heavily, shaking his head in disbelief. I gripped my necklace harder, wondering how Zuko could go from being so sweet one minute to a total jerk the next. I knew he had a heart, but this determination to capture Aang kept bringing back his stubborn side.

I cared about him and wanted him to be happy. However, this hotheaded prince was a side of him I really didn't like."

"Crystal… Are you alright?"

I frowned when Iroh asked. My answer was a deep sigh. "I just don't get him… His mood swings drive me crazy. He was so relaxed and kind a few days ago, and now he's back to his cocky evil prince self."

"He just needs to blow off some steam… His anger clouds his judgment so much that all you can do is just give him space."

I nodded, still agonized by the young man who was pouting below deck. Letting go of the necklace, I let it hang once more. "When do you think the storm will hit?"

"Five or six hours. I have a feeling the crew won't be getting much sleep tonight." He started to walk off. "I'm going to alert the captain. You may want to head down below when the storm approaches. It will be a rocky ride."

Once Iroh was gone, I sighed heavily making my way over to the railing. Leaning against it, I stared down at the water with a deep frown. The small waves below would probably be monstrous once the storm hit. I wished there was some way I could assist the men instead of sitting uselessly below. It wasn't right to have everyone working so hard to keep the ship afloat while I sat comfortably out of danger.

I wanted to do something useful for a change.

A few hours passed, and just as Iroh said there were dark clouds on the horizon. Zuko reemerged from below deck, and I could tell he was surprised to find his uncle had been right about the storm. As he started to walk in the direction towards me, five members from the crew stepped in his path. One of them was Lieutenant Jee, and I could tell he wasn't happy.

Jee crossed his arms. "Uh! Looks like your uncle was right about the storm after all."

As if on cue, Iroh walked over with a weak smile. "Lucky guess."

Zuko ignored his uncle, and I could tell the anger that had diminished was returning. "Lieutenant, you'd better learn some respect, or I will teach it to you!" He jabbed two fingers at the man's chest. Iroh shook his head in disbelief.

Jee smacked his hand away. Zuko scowled and walked away from the man towards me. I stayed silent, not wanting to be in the middle of something that could possibly turn into a fight.

"What do you know about respect?" Jee turned sharply towards Zuko with fury. "The way you talk to everyone around here, from your hard working crew to your esteemed uncle to even your prisoner shows you know nothing about respect. You don't care about anyone but yourself! Then again, what should I expect from a spoiled prince?"

I cringed at the man's harsh words. Zuko did care… he was just being an idiot at the moment.

Zuko growled and turned towards the man. He prepared to firebend at him, getting into an offensive stance.

"Easy now," Iroh begged.

Zuko paid no heed to his uncle's warning.

"Zuko! Stop!" I rushed over with concern for both Zuko and my friend Jee. They both had stepped up to one another and crossed their fists prepared to duel. I ran straight at Zuko, grabbing his shirt sleeve. "Please! There's no need to fight!"

Not to my surprise, Zuko used his elbow to shove me off of him. I tried to catch myself, but clumsily I fell back landing on my back hard. My whole body ached as I managed to sit up on the deck. My hair fell over my face as I tried to hide the hurt I did end up feeling. Even though I knew Zuko was angry and would shove me off, I mentally wasn't ready for it. It hurt not just physically but emotionally.

Iroh finally stepped in and shoved their fists apart. "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."

Zuko stepped back, completely ignoring me as he looked sharply towards Iroh. Jee was already walking away with rage, so he didn't stick around to hear Zuko snap, "I don't need your help keeping order on my ship!"

"That may be… But you do need help with your anger! Look what you did to Crystal!"

At Iroh's words, Zuko came to his senses only slightly. He turned and looked down at me with surprise. Then the anger in his eyes started to fade. He grimaced and hung his head in guilt. Walking over to me, he held a hand out to help me up. I just stared at it, my arms too stunned to move. He said nothing to me, and I said nothing to him. I took his hand finally, but I refused to meet his gaze. He said nothing more to me, and I knew I didn't really have anything to say to him.

He left us then, heading back the way he came. Once he was gone below deck, Iroh let out a heavy sigh. "Stubborn."

Turning away from Iroh, I noticed my vision blur and my chest tighten. Iroh saw my melancholy and stepped over to me. Placing a hand on my shoulder, he said softly, "Don't let it upset you too much, Crystal… He just needs to cool himself down. Are you hurt?"

I shook my head. "No… I'm fine." I pulled from Iroh. "I'm going to walk around the ship until the storm starts."

As I walked away, I heard Iroh sigh heavily once more.

Another hour passed, and the storm-clouds grew darker and closer. I saw the crew was starting to get more anxious as time passed by. I was still sore from Zuko shoving me down, and I tried to tell myself repeatedly he didn't mean it. My mind told me to be mad, but my heart couldn't be bitter towards him.

I was hurt, yes… I was frustrated, yes… But I couldn't hate him.

I pitied him.

The wind suddenly picked up, and I could tell the water was growing rougher. The crew started to scramble as a terrifying rumble started to be heard in the distance. This would be my first storm that didn't involve snow. I'd heard thunder and seen lightning before, so the noise and flashing in the distance wasn't something foreign (during one rare snowstorm, somehow lightning was created in the mix of the flurries. It was the first time my family ever saw lightning and heard thunder. We were amazed). However, the humid air and the rain I could already feel starting to drop was something different from our storm back at home. I had a feeling I was in for a wild ride.

"Miss! You should head below!" One of the crewmen had caught sight of me, and shot me a warning. "Storms aren't for young girls like you!" He didn't take time to see if I heeded his advice. He rushed off to prepare for the storm that we were being consumed by.

I didn't go below deck. In truth, I didn't want to run into Zuko again. I would stay on deck, and I would help keep the ship afloat. I was tired of being useless.

Another thirty minutes passed, and the wind picked up immensely. With the wind came the rain. The deck was pounded, and I was soaked to a bone. I made no move to run below for dry ground. Instead I raced to the side of the ship where massive waves were crashing against the starboard side. The ship rocked heavily each time a wave sent it up. I managed to keep balance by freezing my feet to the deck with the rain falling around me. The crew shouted in the background, but I blocked them out trying to concentrate.

Feeling for the element I knew so well, I caught one of the waves with my bending as it shot towards the ship. Quickly, I threw the wave aside to keep it from crashing directly onto the ship. I continued this technique for a few minutes. Some of the crewmen who were securing items on deck, stopped briefly to watch me with awe. Others cheered me on. Then there were a few who were scolding me to get below deck. It seemed for a good twenty minutes I was battling small waves that just crashed harshly into the ship. However, the further north we moved, the harder the rain and wind became.

My vision began to blur, and the ice around my feet continuously cracked. The waves grew much more potent and monstrous. Another wave shot up, and this time it was huge. I knew this one would hit the deck, and I was ready. With all my strength, I shot the water in the wave backward causing it to crash back into the ocean. As I destroyed one wave though, another crashed into the ship hard and the ice around my feet broke again.

I fell back with a shriek, and the next thing I knew a wave hit me. My body slid slightly across the deck, but I managed to freeze the water around my hands to stop my movement. Once the water settled around me, I was quick to melt the ice and stumble back to my feet.

A guard managed to maneuver over to me with concern. "Hey! You've done enough to help! Get below deck kid!"

The ship lurched again, and I felt the wind smash against me at the same time. I gasped as I stumbled back. The guard had stumbled too, only his loss of balance actually sent him falling to his belly on the deck. The ship leveled out, and then lurched the other way. As the slope changed direction, I stumbled again trying to catch myself.

A sudden lightning strike smashed against the helm of the ship. The strike was louder than anything I'd heard, and I felt my ears ring from the deafening crash. The guard who had shouted at me earlier, was on his feet again and stumbling to the ship railing. He grabbed hold trying to catch his breath.

"Where were we hit?!"

The sudden shout of Zuko's voice caused me to look across the deck in surprise. Though Zuko was too far to really see through the pouring rain, I could tell it was him and a group of men.

Jee's familiar voice rang out. "I don't know!"

Iroh finally shouted, "Look!"

I wasn't sure what caught Iroh's attention until Zuko shouted loudly, "The helmsman!"

As their chaos ensued, the ship lurched sharply again, and the guard near me let out a scream. My eyes shot back to him, and I watched in horror as his body disappeared over the railing he'd been clutching for dear life. He'd just fallen overboard!

"No!" Racing over to the rail, I frantically looked over and saw with relief that the guard had grabbed hold of the rail. He was hanging for dear life though, and the waves below looked rough and deadly. "Hang on!"

I quickly froze my feet to the deck again, and then bent over the rail enough to grab his hand. He was surprised, his horrified eyes meeting my own with relief. He was probably late thirties, and he didn't look too heavy. Freezing our hands together, I shouted, "I'm going to pull you up!"

He was amazed by my determination, but he didn't question me. A wave crashed against the ship again, and he gasped, grabbing my hand with his other one. I used both of my hands to try and pull his body up. Gritting my teeth, I pulled with all the strength my little arms could find. The guard used his feet to step against the side of the ship and by pure adrenaline I helped hoist him back over the rail. When he was safe, the ice around my feet melted and I dropped to the deck in exhaustion.

The guard spoke in between breaths, his body shaking on all fours. "Thanks… you… saved… my… life…"

I breathed heavily too. "Any… time."

The guard stood shakily again, and stepped over to me. "We- we need to get you below. It's not safe anymore."

I didn't argue this time. He offered his hand, and I eagerly took it. Just as I stood up, and he started to help me across the deck, another wave came out of nowhere and crashed against the opposite side of the ship. As the deck slopped, my wet hand lost grip of the guardsman. The next thing I knew, I was sliding across the deck straight at the railing. My body hit the railing hard, my arm cracking as I used it to shield the side of my head. I cried out as sharp pains immediately radiated through me. Trying to stand back up, I only used one hand because I was pretty sure my right arm was broken.

"No! Stay down!" The guardsman shouted loudly, but as he did a wave crashed again. This time when the ship lurched, it sloped enough that my body flipped over the rail. I gasped as I went airborne, and my body fell towards the crashing waves below.

I had just gone overboard!

I couldn't swim! I refused to drown!

As fear rushed through me, I used my only good arm. Shooting my hand forward, I froze a wave that shot straight towards me and created a solid slide. My body slid down the icy slope, and frantically I created more ice to slide on. Eventually my sliding stopped, and I was stuck lying on a sheet of ice that continuously melted from the warm water below it. It seemed I was freezing the rocky water beneath me for a good solid five minutes. I refused to fall into the water below. I refused to drown and die.

However, my one arm grew tired and the ice below me cracked. The next thing I knew, a wave crashed against me and I was sucked into the sea. My vision turned black as water filled my lungs. I kicked and struggled to resurface, but I didn't know what I was doing. I had no clue how to swim. My lungs burned, and my chest tightened. The water dragged me down as if a million hands were pulling me from air. Then my body felt light as I stopped my struggles and drifted deeper into the empty darkness. My consciousness left me as the world above drifted further away.