Zuko sighed deeply, as his forehead leaned against Mais and his hands were wrapped around her slender waist.
"Be careful." he whispered.
"Don't worry." Mai smiled. "I have this new knife I have been really wanting to try out."
Zuko smirked amused.
"Just make sure to come back to me in one piece." Mai continued then reached up a hand to touch Zukos cheek and kissed him on the lips. Just then did Mai turn her head to face Zukos groups. "And if anything happens to Zuko. I know who I need to kill."
Zhau-Li blinked honestly startled while Piandao barely even moved an inch.
"Hey you know I would never hurt Zuko!" Ty Lee exclaimed holding up a hand.
"Well yeah. Ty Lee is safe. The rest of you though." Mai glared at them.
"Yes mam! Your fire Prince will be safe!" A tall lanky swamp bender by the name of Musk grinned.
The Northern water bender who stood next to him looked up at his fellow water bender. Clearly looking like one who still didn't know what to make of these weird people.
Haru looked kind of nervous, looking like he didn't really know what he had gotten himself into.
Then Aang came running and gave Zuko a hug. "I'll see you soon!" he beamed.
"AND WE'LL BRING SUKI!" Sokka shouted as he joined the hug making Zuko stumble backwards under the weight of the two boys.
"Erh… Great." Zuko said as he managed to find balance. "Looking forward to actually get to know her this time."
"You'll love her!" Sokka grinned.
"Okay enough now." Mai grabbed the two boys by the neck and pulled them off Zuko. "We need to get going and this one is mine when it come to final goodbyes."
"Erhm." Zuko halted only to have two hands placed on both side of his face and a deep kiss on the mouth. Then finally Mai let go, gently sliding her fingers down Zukos cheeks as she stepped backwards. "See you soon handsome." she finally said before turning around and approached Appa, letting the others helping her up before that group was off.
Zuko sighed deeply as he watched the bison disappear with a number of her friends.
Zhau-Li stepped forward as he looked up. "She's… Quite the woman that Lady Mai."
"Yeaah." Zuko sighed deeply. "She's great. Ahem." he coughed into his hand as he turned around to face his team.
Zhau-Li. Ty Lee. Jua of the Kyoshi warriors. Piandao. Haru. Musk of the Swamp Benders and finally Torruk of the northern water tribe.
It was quite the mixed group. "So erhm." Zuko coughed into his hand. "We need to get moving ourselves. Our goal is within the fire nation. Pack up, get your disguises. We'll meet at shore in thirty minutes…" Zuko halted as he looked up at Piandao. Okay it was weird giving orders to his own master.
Piandao smirked amused as he seemed to understand what Zuko was thinking. "I agreed to follow you Prince Zuko. And follow your orders." he said. "By my own free will. I am here to help you."
"Oh… Right… Thank you." Zuko swallowed. "Sorry I'm a little nervous."
"Stand tall!" Piandao demanded as he walked a step so he was right next to Zuko. And then he reached over a hand giving the centre of Zukos back a little push which forced Zuko to straighten up. "There you go. That's how you stand." he said.
Zuko inhaled deeply.
"Good. Firm breath." Piandao said. "Strong voice! When you speak. Speak steady and stand strong!"
Zuko kept breathing deeply as he took in Piandaos instructions.
"You have grown beyond just being a Fire nation Prince." Piandao said putting a hand under Zukos chin to lift it up. "You are a symbol. People look to you! Find inspiration in you. So they too may act in ways they believe would please you. What you have become is what Ozai always desired but could never be! To many people, you are now larger than life. Their inspiration. Their hope."
Zuko swallowed as he was honestly shaking in his boots.
"Don't worry. You have many friends with you. You are never alone." Piandao assured.
Zuko nodded. "Yeah… I know." he said.
"So stand tall." Piandao said giving Zuko another slap in the back making Zuko stand up again in shock. He hadn't even realized he started to slouch again. Piandao smirked slightly.
"Own your accomplishments. Prince Zuko." Piandao nodded and finally walked out as Zuko exhaled deeply.
Zuko missed his old group all ready. This new one was going to have a whole new dynamic he was absolutely not comfortable with.
Something was wrong. Azula had kept a keen eye on the movement around the capital. The eclipse was soon! And she had planned on letting the foolish Avatar and her even dumber brother come to her!
There should have been unusual movement outside of the capital by now. At the river or forest… but there was nothing.
This couldn't be right! Azula had collected her Dai-Li to deal with intruders doing the eclipse where the usual fire benders would be useless. They were ready!
But where… Was… Zuzu?!
Azula scowled as she scouted down from the air balloon flying over the island. There should have been a movement! Ships! Something!
NO! She couldn't be wrong! And she couldn't waste this! Father had forgiven her her screw up. If only she did what she promised. And get Zuzu now!
Azula seethed. She was going to find him! She was going to find little Zuzu! If it was the last thing she ever did!
Zuko sighed deeply as he saw the little island vanish behind them while his own boat sailed towards fire nation shores.
He glanced towards his own group who all were wearing fire nation garments to blend in.
Well, four of them all ready were fire nation. So easy enough for them. Zuko, Zhau-Li, Ty Lee and Piandao.
Haru pulled off fire nation clothes pretty well, he even had the hair to make a good top knot. The Kyoshi warrior Jua also seemed totally fine with the clothes and her re-arranged hair.
Musk how-ever, being their swamp bender was very unhappy about the clothes and kept scratching himself all over his own body.
Torrak of the Northern water tribe whom was already unhappy that he had to wear this hated red glared at the swamp bender. "Would you stop?" he asked.
"How can you even stand this?" Musk asked. "My skin needs air. It can't even breath." he said as he twisted and turned.
"We're barely even wearing anything. It's not even furs just silks." Torruk huffed.
"Why in tarnation would anyone wear furs. That has to be uncomfortable. As if this aint scratchy enough" Musk commented as he was scratching his side.
Zuko looked from one to the other. You would think the two water benders would be able to get along. But no… It was easy to spot the two who was sure to bud heads the most here.
To top it off. Looked like Torrak was pretty disgusted by this newfound knowledge of there even being such a thing as swamp bending. Degrading what to him was his art.
And Musk just thought the idea of refined water bending… Or refined anything really was weird.
"So Hi." Ty Lee smiled up at Haru. "I'm Ty Lee. We never got to talk much!"
"Hi." Haru blushed slightly. "I'm… Haru." he said. "It's nice to meet you."
Ty Lee beamed up at the boy who was now beet red in the head and… Ty Lee had done it again. Somehow Zuko wasn't even in doubt that Haru would be putting up Ty Lees tent for her… and role out her matt… And carry her bags.
"This is going to be fun." Jua smiled. "Show me those chi block techniques again!" she asked Ty Lee.
"oh sure! I need a model though. Haru could you…" Ty Lee began.
"Of course!" Haru said. "What do you need?"
"Take off your shirt." Ty Lee asked.
"I… What?!" Haru asked.
"I need to be able to see your back so I can show Jua your chi points!" Ty Lee beamed.
"Oh… Right… Okay." Haru swallowed as he finally removed his shirt and the two girls giggled.
Zhau-Li lifted an eyebrow. "This is… Hardly the military." he commented and couldn't help speaking a bit dryly.
"It's going to be okay. They are all part of an elite." Zuko assured. Though he was all ready rubbing his forehead…. Okay so this wasn't really any worse than the core team Avatar. They would also always fool around and somehow get out on top.
Unwillingly Zhau-Li looked at Musk who had already made a mess off himself.
"In the name of Tui at least try to use soap!" Torrak asked.
"Soa-what now?" Musk asked.
Torrak gaped. "You're joking right."
"I'm just messing with ya." Musk smirked. "Of course we have soap! Boiled from good old bore fat!"
Zuko wrinkled his nose then shook his head as he turned away while the two continued their bickering.
Piandao as the only one looked perfectly calm as he was sitting with all the dignity befitting his station with his sword gently resting against his shoulder.
Zuko hesitated as he looked Piandao over, then carefully tried to copy his position and calm breath.
Piandao opened his left eye just enough to glance at Zuko who was doing his best to sit straight and calm too. Then closed his eyes again before anyone even noticed it and didn't say a word.
"Listen up." Zuko suddenly spoke in a firm voice and everyone silenced. Then Zuko opened his eyes. "I understand this is new for everyone. Some of us don't even know each other. But our lives are going to be on the line and very soon. We will be relying on each other and have each others back no matter what!" he said. "I will be relying on each and everyone of you. And I hope you will trust me enough to rely upon me." he said. "We are all here for the same cause. To free the world from Ozais grip. We all have friends and family who depends on our success. This is bigger than any of us." he inhaled a deep breath and then exhaled. "We must trust each other okay. We are from all across the world! Fire nation, earth kingdom, water tribe and even the swamps. I selected that on purpose. We will be sending a message. To the Fire Lord himself." he said. "It is him against the entire world! That's the war he is fighting. And that's the message we are going to send. So we need every body all right?" he asked.
There was silence and then everyone nodded.
Zuko nodded in return. "Thank you all for lending your aid." he said then put a fist against the palm of his hand and he bowed his head. "It is an honour to be on this trip with you. And it will be an honour to fight alongside you." he said.
"Geeh Zuko you don't need to be so formal! We are the honoured ones getting to fight with the Prince and all." Ty Lee smiled while blushing.
"It is always an honour to be by your side sir." Zhau-Li stated surely.
"Well it sure is going to be a story to tell to the tribe." Torrak smirked. "I was the one on Crown Prince Zukos team."
"I just want to make sure the fire nation wont burn my swamp down." Musk shrugged. "That would be real nice."
"We're with you." Jua said in a smile.
"Yeah!" Haru agreed and Zuko exhaled deeply.
"Thank you." Zuko replied sincerely. "It's good having people I can rely on."
And they all beamed. Zuko couldn't help but glance up at Piandao and realized he was smiling too. He even seemed to look… Was Piandao looking proud? Or was Zuko just making that up?
Zuko shook his head to dispel that thought. Then he took a deep breath to settle himself down. They were going to be fine! They had a plan and they were an elite!
Then Zuko looked up… He just sincerely hoped that his friends would be okay too.
Yes of course! They would all be okay. They would soon see each other again and all be laughing in triumph. For sure!