Notes: Hey. Sorry this took a while. As said, work has just been keeping me busy and same with swimming. I'm finally done working though (Or at least I think…) so my schedule should be a bit free.

This chapter, I have something a bit humorous at the end for you all. It's something a good friend of mine sent me and I think you'll enjoy it. More or less, it's a dialogue of his first encounter with Zuko. (Thanks Sean!)

Almostinsane: Thanks and umm… Yea. I kinda write these late at night and after a day of swim practice and work so I kinda miss things like that when I proofread. Sorry.

Disclaimer: View Chapter 1.

Where we left off…

"It's a shadow stone. It gives off a pulse that I can sense and so can Midnight."

"Midnight?"

"You'll see when I find you at sea." She grinned and left the room with her bag.

After she was off the ship, Zuko told them to depart from the docks. The Fire Nation ship was out of sight from the island and the island was out of sight from the ship. Zuko just looked down at the black rock in his hand and shook his head. That girl's insane. I'll probably never see her again. At that thought, he felt his heart skip a beat and couldn't help but notice the sad feeling along with it. He just let out a sigh and continued looking in the direction of the island that they just departed trying to forget the feeling he just had.

Chapter 6

It was two days since she left his ship. Two days he wondered in the back of his mind if she'd keep to her words. Two days that his uncle kept bothering him about information of the youth who cured his leg. Speaking of Iroh, he was able to move around with the help of a cane and to get up and down the stairs of the ship he had the help of a crewmember. He was showing that he was feeling much better because he was up to his normal antics. By this, I mean, he was teaching by using his "wise man" proverbs, playing Pai Gow, and drinking tea. His normal life on the ship, pretty much.

"Are you sure about what you saw with this girl, Prince Zuko?" The retired general questioned.

"Yes. It was like she could control her shadow. It was behind her and looked to have a mind of its own." Zuko responded. Both of them were at a table drinking tea. Iroh resting his leg on a pillow to ease the pain. How he wished the girl had a more powerful pain medicine than the one's the doctor on this ship had. Iroh just sat there in his thoughts and shook his head.

"What you saw had to be in your imagination. Believe it or not, there is a myth I heard that involves people called Shadowbenders." Iroh stated as he put his hand to his chin and looked up like he was trying to recall the story.

"Can you tell me about this myth, uncle?" Zuko inquired. He was quite curious.

The old man looked at him with a blank expression. "I suppose so. It's quite interesting, actually. The legend says that these 'People of Darkness' who lived in what was called the 'Shadow Nation' at the time existed 500 years ago. They were ridiculed because their powers came from shadows and not one of the four elements. More or less, they called it witchcraft and considered it a bad omen to talk to anyone of this nation because the dark is supposedly something considered evil. Their land was attacked out of hatred, but you could say it was fear. Fear of the unknown and the four nations didn't try to take time to discover more about them. Fear was what made them hated and the fear of them being attacked again and again is what made these Shadowbenders go into hiding. Just one day the whole landmass, nation, and people were gone. Nothing of their existence remained. Most were glad, but others who crave knowledge were upset. Something that could have been the greatest discovery in the world was no longer around all because of something called fear." The man had a hint of sadness in his eyes.

"So… It's a myth, yet when you tell the story… You make it sound like it actually happened." Zuko said in a quiet, but confused voice.

"And that's how I heard it. As a myth, yet realistic in the tale. It would be very fascinating if they ever existed or were around now." Iroh responded taking a sip of tea afterwards. Zuko looked away, lost in thought, and took a sip of his tea. It was interrupted, though with the sound of someone pounding on the door. "Prince Zuko! Prince Zuko! You have to see this!" The crewmember opened the door right after this was said and Zuko stood up. "There's a giant bird flying this way! It looks as if someone's on it, as well!"

Zuko's mind went straight to the thought of the shadow stone he had in a pouch tied to the side of his belt. It couldn't be… "Help my uncle get on deck." He ordered as he swiftly exited the room and ran up the stairs leading to the deck. As soon as he got up on deck, he went to his telescope. Sure enough, there was a bird as black as night flying towards them and he got a view of the rider. It was the girl. She came back as she said she would. "Prince Zuko! We have the catapult ready!" A guard reported.

"No need. We're not firing at her." Zuko responded. "That's the young doctor who came and helped my uncle." At this the crew went at ease and soon after went back to their usual duties. The bird was now right above the ship and it glided down and landed on the deck making a draft of wind, as it's giant wings flapped to ease it's landing. Once it was landed, Kali jumped off of it's back and went around to its face. The bird was remarkable. It looked like a ribbon-tailed hawk only it was black instead of red. It was also as big as the riding animals of the Earth Kingdom, the ostrich. It had silver eyes and there was a pack around its neck that was against its chest. Also, two smaller leather pouches that were tied to its legs. The bird wore a pendant that consisted of a silver chain and had a white stone in it that shone like a star.

Zuko walked over to her and looked at the bird in a sort of amazement. Before he could ask anything, she started talking. "This is Midnight. She's a giant ribbon-tailed raven. I use her for travel and she's one of the best friends a girl could have." Midnight bent her head down towards Kali and she started ruffling the bird's feathers a bit with one hand and holding the strap of the chest pouch with the other. At this motion, Midnight started cooing and closed her silvery eyes.

"I've don't think I've ever seen anything like this. Correction. I know I haven't seen anything like this." Zuko turned to look at Kali and then he noticed something completely amazing. She didn't look like she did the day he found her. She had nicer clothes on to begin with and not to mention, she was wearing shoes this time. Also, her hair was a bit neater. It was tied back with a white string, but this time it looked as if she put a bit of effort into it and the bangs were hanging down again. She had the blindfold tied around the white band in her hairto which Zuko could only guesswas someplace for it to be held.

Kalihad a pair of faded black, baggy pants on and they were tucked into a pair of black boots. She had an orient, button-up styled shirt on that reached to about the middle of her thighs and under the orient styled shirt was a white long-sleeved shirt. The orient styled shirt was beautiful. It was a black silk like material and the trim and buttons of it were silver. (A/N: If you seen the episode titled The Waterbending Scroll, it's based on what Zuko's training outfit looks like only different colors, a white shirt under it, and a bit more decoration to clear up any confusion.)

Also, there was a silver and white emblem stitched on the shirt over her left breast and it appeared to be a nation symbol. How the Air Nation has three air currents and the Fire Nation has a flame and etcetera, etcetera. The symbol on her shirt was a wisp sewn in silver thread, like other nations have in their emblems, but diagonal to it in the northeast direction was a similar symbol. The second symbol was a thinner stitch, half it's size, and sewn with white thread instead of silver. It was like the wisp had a shadow behind it.

Zuko stared at the symbol and tried to think of what it was or if it may have been a symbol of a city she came from. He must've been staring for too long because Kali made an attention-grabbing cough and made his eyes avert to hers and interrupted his thoughts. "You do know that it's not nice to stare, right?" At this Zuko made a quick glance around to see if anyone noticed his little mistake. No one was staring at him, but more so staring at the strange girl. Thank the gods. Was all Zuko could think at the moment and let out an unnoticeable sigh.

"You have to excuse my nephew. He sees something a bit different and he'll gawk at it all day." Zuko straightened and his eyes widened a bit. Damn… Uncle Iroh noticed… Was all that went through his mind as he sweat dropped. He turned and squinted his eyes at his uncle in a sense that was saying "Don't embarrass me right now." Iroh picked up on it and grinned slyly at him. He turned back towards the girl. "Why did it take you so long to get here?"

"Well, when I left that day I had to go back to Tsonsera and Azer, the older couple I was staying with if you remember, and bid my farewells. Not to mention, just spend a bit more time with them. Then when I finally got out on flight, I had to stop that night for a bit of rest and to eat."

"Still shouldn't have taken that long." Zuko replied.

"Well you're on a giant ship traveling in the ocean… I'm on a bird that flies at a slower pace and needs to stop to rest. I think the time I got here was very reasonable." After she said this, Kali looked over Zuko's shoulder at the old man standing behind him holding himself on the cane and shook her head in a disappointing manner. "You shouldn't be up and around, sir. You should be resting your leg." She walked over and stood in front of him. Like Zuko, she was taller than the man and had to tilt her head down to meet his gaze.

"I rested all day yesterday and all day today. I want to move around a bit and get some fresh air. You can't blame an old man for wanting that." Iroh responded with an innocent smile.

"I can't blame you, but I can be against it." She said as she crossed her arms and her lip curled into a small grin.

Trying to change the subject, "My nephew's manners must be slipping. He never introduced us properly." Iroh stated and looked at Zuko with his eyebrow raised.

Zuko just gave him a small glare and let out a barely audible growl. "Uncle Iroh, Kali. Kali, Uncle Iroh." He said as he pointed from the one to the other then crossed his arms after he completed his short introduction. Iroh gave him an exasperated look and said, "It's hard to believe you're the prince of the Fire Nation, sometimes."

"You asked me to introduce her and I did." Zuko said giving him another glare.

"You could've been nicer about it."

"It was nice enough."

"You're so spoiled sometimes."

"I'm not spoiled!"

"You should try to be a bit happier in your life."

"You should try to get off my back sometimes!"

They were interrupted by laughter. Simultaneously, they looked at the girl with a surprised expression. She had her hand up to her mouth with her eyes closed giggling away. She said between laughter "It apparent… you two care for each other a lot… to fight like that." She brought her hand down and opened her eyes to show a content smile and feeling.

Zuko just stared at her wide eyed and tried to think how their argument was amusing and Iroh gave a small smile back to her because he understood what she meant. "So, Miss Kali. What nation are you from? You're not wearing any specific colors that would denote the obvious and I'm quite curious."

"Curiosity killed the cat." She said with a slightly annoyed smile, but tried to hide it.

"I have eight more lives, then." He said with a grin.

Kali just looked at him and then looked to the side. It appeared she had a bit of sadness in them. It was like she didn't want to answer. After a bit she let out a small laugh and said, "You wouldn't believe me if I told you."

"Try me. I'm an old man and have been around for ages. Seen many things and nothing too surprising." Iroh said giving her a smile that said she could trust him.

She let out another laugh only this one sounded a bit nervous. Still looking away and refusing to meet their gaze she let out, "I'm from the Shadow Nation." At these words, the two men looked at her with wide eyes as if she were insane.

Sean: Does it hurt when I doooooooo… this? -pokes one part of his burnt side-

Zuko: Quit it...

Sean: How about this? -poke-

Zuko: Quit it...

Sean: Ohh! Ohh! How about this? -pokes with two fingers-

Zuko: -snaps and begins to burn the crap out of Sean- I SAID QUIT IT!

Sean: ... -cough- -puff of smoke comes out of his mouth as he coughs-

Mari: -comes in with a first aid kit- Now what did we learn today, Sean?

Sean: ...Not to poke burn victims 'cause they'll use their magic powers to kill me?

Mari: That's right. -pats him on the head-